BRIEFS
Feb. 28, 2008
Concert in College Theatre
By Jack Sanchez
VCNC reporter
The Ventura College Community Orchestra will perform at 8 p.m. March 14 in the Ventura College Theatre.
The orchestra will play several pieces, including Robert Schumann’s “Piano Concerto in A Minor,” Wagner’s “Good Friday Spell” and “Quest for the Grail” by Michael Mogensen.
Pepperdine Professor Louise Lofquist will be the soloist on the Schumann piece. In his premiere appearance wielding a baton, Ventura College student Max Gualtieri will conduct his interpretation of a Welsh hymn, “Rhosymedre.”
Tickets will be available at the door a half hour before show time. Cost is $5 for seniors, staff, and students, $15 general admission.
‘How to Write a Book’ talk
By Nicholas Anderson
VCNC reporter
Legalist/novelist Cameron Cruise will talk about “How to Write a Book Without Dying in the Process” at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 6, in the Evelyn and Howard Boroughs Library reading room.
Cruise, a modern-day Renaissance woman, has written numerous novels and book series, some under aliases. She has lived throughout the world, speaks five languages, and as an attorney has worked with the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Cruise will bring copies of her latest thriller, “The Collector,” to sell and autograph.
This event is free of charge, and refreshments will be provided. For more information call the VC Public Relations Office at 805-654-6462.
Climate change presentation available
By Kelsey Campbell
VCNC reporter
The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District will give a presentation about current and future issues concerning climate change to any group that requests it.
Veteran district engineer Don Price will present the 20-minute PowerPoint talk and discuss the work being done in the state and in the nation to reduce climate change.
“I hope everyone who attends the presentation will go away with some ideas about reducing both their personal and business carbon footprint,” Price said. “I am targeting service, business and community, senior, church and college groups. I am looking forward to speaking with county residents about the issue.”
Price has been examining and working on this issue since the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. He has served the organization for many years and also has a personal goal to try to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The district is concerned about climate change. So the board has requested that the district inform the public about global climate change via these presentations.
The presentation will give people the knowledge they need to help support the Air Pollution Control District. Price will make a presentation where and when it is convenient for any group that requests one.
Groups can schedule a presentation with Price by calling 805-645-1407.
Feb. 13, 2008
Early Alert deadlines
By Kelsey Campbell
VCNC reporter
The Early Alert Process is coming up for Spring 2008. Faculty must submit Early Alert notices to inform students of their grades, now through Feb. 29. Online submittal deadline is also Feb. 29. No late entries will be accepted.
This program allows instructors to file an online report for students who are in danger of failing so that students can check their grades for classes. With that information, the students can either drop the class or try to improve their grades.
Instructors are encouraged to inform students of their grades and help them if they are striving to succeed.
At least some VC students appreciate the program. “It really helped me last semester when I was not doing very well,” VC student Nick Davis said. “Then I started to work harder.”
The process also helps instructors, who can check their rosters and see which students have dropped.
Steps to submit the alert are available at www.Faculty.vcccd.net. Instructors also can get more information from the matriculations coordinator, Aurora De La Selva.
Phoenix Scholarships
By Valeria Martinez
VCNC reporter
Nineteen Ventura College students were awarded the Phoenix Scholarships of $1,000 each on Jan. 23 in Guthrie Hall at Ventura College.
The students were presented the awards by Ventura County Superior Court Judge Colleen Toy White, who is a member of the Ventura College Foundation Board and was a re-entry student herself.
The scholarships are a part of the Phoenix Rising Program created in 1999 by several Ventura College Foundation board members. They are awarded to re-entry students at Ventura College.
“A re-entry student is one whose educational progression was either terminated or interrupted prior to completion,” said Norbert Tan, executive director of the foundation. Ventura College Foundation Board Chair Tom Anthony said that the scholarships symbolize “new beginnings.”
The students who were awarded the scholarship are Michael Amey, Patricia Bergman, Richard Betita, Patricia Faux, Michelle Frustere, Alma Garcia, Elizabeth Gollner, Oboli Gurara, Miguel Hernandez, Michael Juarez, Elizabeth Lira, Julieta Lopez-Herrera, Melanie Morales, Monica Novoa, Kathy Okada, Hana Randakova, Mayre Sasso, and Jennifer Stuart.
Of the 19 recipients, seven are single parents. Tan said that single parents on campus have a difficult task to complete their education.
“Sadly, re-entry students are often caught in a vicious circle; they cannot go to school because they do not have the education,” he said. “In addition, they are often part-time students, and therefore do not qualify for most traditional scholarship or financial aid.”
This scholarship could be essential to their success, Tan said.
Proposition 92 results
By Michelle Nelson
VCNC reporter
Proposition 92, the ballot initiative that would have lowered tuition for community colleges to $15 per unit, was rejected by 57 percent of voters throughout the state on Feb. 5. The initiative also proposed to separate community college funding from the K–12 systems.
The California State University and the University of California systems opposed the proposition, worried that if Prop. 92 passed, they would receive a smaller portion of funds. Dian Hasson, California Teacher’s Association board director for higher education, said that if voters approved Prop, 92, it would have affected the CSUs.
While Hasson said she is a strong supporter of community colleges, she said that the initiative came at a very bad time, due to the statewide budget crunch. Hasson said that she would like to see a “more comprehensive funding plan” that would include the CSUs.
Paula Munoz, EOPS coordinator at Ventura College, said she was disappointed that Prop. 92 did not pass. “It was unfortunate that it did not pass, but hopefully it will be brought back in the future. This will give us time to educate the public on the value of Prop. 92.”
For information on the results of Prop 92 and the rest of the propositions on the ballot, visit www.smartvoter.org.