Editorial: Volunteer to give thanks

Posted on November 5, 2013 by Daniel Wilson

Originally published in the Nov. 5, 2013 print edition of the Sac City Express

Kate Paloy, give thanks, Sac City Express

Editorial illustration by Kate Paloy.

The sights and sounds of the holidays are upon us, as Sacramento residents and Americans across the nation begin to decorate their houses for fall holidays—some even for Christmas already—and purchase hoards of goods from multiple retail locations.

The City College Panther statue was covered in pumpkins recently for a Queer/Straight Alliance club fund-raiser selling those plump little orange squash. While this was for a noble cause, raising money for a college club, it seems this is what the holidays have become more and more in recent years.

Specifically, Thanksgiving and Christmas have become so commercial that most people celebrate these holidays without even realizing what they’re all about.

Other winter holidays such as Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and New Year’s aren’t so bad, but in particular the celebration of Thanksgiving and Christmas have become more about how much we can eat or how many presents we can solicit out of our friends and family, than they are about giving thanks, or giving back, or even spending time with those friends and family members.

Black Friday—the biggest shopping day of the year—starts earlier and earlier each year. It has become a new tradition to go sit in line on Thanksgiving or to even go to stores that now open around 8 p.m. on the same day that everybody stuffs themselves with turkey and yams.

All of this makes one wonder why people don’t do more for those in need. The holidays have traditionally been a time of giving thanks and giving back to those who are less fortunate.

Sure, there are food drives, toy donations, soup kitchens and other such events and activities that help promote this idea, many of which are done on the City College campus, but maybe we as Americans should be upping the ante when it comes to helping others.

Statistically speaking, according to retailindustry.about.com, Americans spent $59.1 billion on Black Friday weekend alone in 2012. In comparison, there were 636,017 homeless Americans in 2011, according to endhomelessness.org.

Now, of course, the money spent on Black Friday wouldn’t be able to feed and shelter all those people, but the numbers speak volumes about the priorities of Americans.

Perhaps it’s just the nature of living in a capitalist country, but it’s sad to see so many people go without, many of them through no fault of their own, when people are willing to spend so much money on toys, electronics, clothes and other such frivolous expenditures.

There are so many other important aspects of winter celebrations to focus on, but it seems, at least in America, the main focus these days is to spend money. That isn’t to say there aren’t many people who do give back, and that’s great, but there is a huge opportunity to help even more, and not only at the holidays, but all the time. In fact, why do we view the holidays as the only time of the year when helping others is important?

One way City College students or those in the greater Sacramento area can help out is by going to sacramentofoodbank.org and clicking on the volunteer link at the top of the home page.

From there, interested individuals can learn more about volunteering and how they can help the community. For Thanksgiving this year, the food bank is running a turkey distribution line at its facility located at 3333 Third Avenue in Sacramento, which will be held on Nov. 25.

The organization also offers many opportunities for helping out year round, but for those who don’t have the time, money or ability to help out all the time, consider lending a hand to a fellow member of the community during the holiday season. Try walking in someone else’s shoes and ask yourself how it would feel to be ignored if you were in need.

There are so many ways, whether through City College or elsewhere, to get involved with helping those who are less fortunate than you. The important thing to remember is that while it’s perfectly fine to indulge during the holidays and while everybody is entitled to celebrate life, love and family any way they choose, there are a lot of people out there who have very little or nothing at all.

So, instead of sitting in front of the TV Nov. 28 watching football or instead of getting an early spot in line for that hot new toy your niece or nephew wants, think about collecting clothing for the homeless, volunteering at a local charity or collecting canned goods for the hungry.

After all, giving back is what the holidays should really be about.

In addition to the Sacramento Food Bank, there are many other places to help out during the holidays. Click here or here to find plenty of local volunteer opportunities.

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Editorial: Nightmare on Job Hunt Lane

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Daniel Wilson

Originally published in the Oct. 22, 2013 print edition of the Sac City Express

job hunt, Daniel Wilson, Express, Sac City College

Editorial illustration by Cyrus Reed.

October marks the beginning of the holiday season, the onset of fall and the spooks, ghouls, ghosts and goblins that make it obvious it’s time to dress up in silly costumes and eat yummy mallow crème candy corn and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups shaped like pumpkins.

For community college students, though, it can be a time of high stress as we look to  finish our last few classes before graduating with our  first degrees. On the other hand it can also be a time of excitement for those students just starting college, either following high school graduation or coming back to school for one reason or another.

In either case, the scariest time of the year can bring on nightmares of another kind. Ever thought about what you’re going to do when you  finish school? With your degree in your left hand and your resume in your right hand, you probably plan to walk up to your employer of choice and instead of asking, “Trick or treat?” asking, “May I have a job here, please?”

Statistically speaking, the résumé probably does more for a student—or former student—than the degree.  at’s not only a sad reality, but like a papier mâché ghost dropping down from a tree as kids walk up to a house hoping to add more candy to their pillowcases, it can be terrifying.

Take for instance, the results of a survey of approximately 1,000 future or recent college graduates conducted and published earlier this year by Accenture, a management consulting organization, which found that “41 percent of workers who graduated from college in the past two years say they are underemployed and working in jobs that do not require their college degrees.”

That’s not even the most hair-raising part of the  findings.

“The research also reveals that, despite their degrees, nearly two-thirds (63 percent) [of the recent graduates surveyed] say they will need more training in order to get their desired job,” according to an article posted on newsroom.accenture.com.

Of course, there are other post-graduation worries that keep students up at night. We don’t just mean that late-night party, long study session or marathon gaming tournament.  There’s the horribly horrifying thought of having to move back in with your parents while not only giving up independency, but also having to listen to Mom say, “I told you so.”

Not  finding a job right after graduation can also make students’ spines tingle as they regret taking out all those students loans instead of getting a job to help pay for school.  Then there’s what might just be worse than Freddy Krueger taking a victim to the depths of hell during a middle-of-the-night scare fest: the thought of going back to school because your career choice just didn’t pan out.

Perhaps there just aren’t enough jobs out there. Maybe you didn’t take the time to explore all of your options, or lack thereof, within the  field you chose, or maybe you just simply don’t like the career  field you worked all those years to get into because it didn’t turn out to be all it was cracked up to be.

But no matter what keeps you up at night, makes you want to sleep in till noon or simply keeps your hair looking like Medusa as you fantasize about turning your professors to stone because they had the nerve to give you so much homework, when it comes down to it, going through college and  finding a job in a career  field that interests you is one of the hardest tasks you have to complete in life.

Making the wrong choices now could mean a lifetime of unsettled rage toward your younger self.  The good news is that there are plenty of things that can be done to ensure this ghastly fate doesn’t become a reality.

Internships can help students decide whether they are well-suited for the career they’ve chosen. Vocational programs take this one step further since many of them have students working, to a certain degree, in the  fields of their choice.

There are also career  fields like journalism, graphic design, computer programming and many others where it isn’t really possible to learn the  field without going out and doing the work.  This is great because it forces you to try before you buy, so to speak.

Regardless of the career  field you choose, keep in mind that like wearing a silly costume to class on Halloween, it’s a decision that will stick with you for a very long time. If you’re unsure about the choices you’ve made, talk to a counselor, a parent, someone working in that career field. Make sure you are prepared before you set foot on stage to accept that degree because you don’t want your life turning into a scary movie.

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Making smart choices in the City Cafe

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Daniel Wilson

Students, staff and cafeteria officials weigh-in on not-so-healthy food options

Originally published in the Oct. 22 print edition of the Sac City Express

food, cage, nutrition, daniel wilson, sac city express

The City College cafeteria shows a variety of healthy options. Photo by Guinevere Yep.

With the national rise in obesity, many people, including college students, have become concerned about what they eat.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, “more than one-third of U.S. adults (35.7 percent) are obese” and “obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer, some of the leading causes of preventable death.”

For many, it can be inconvenient to bring their food or leave campus to eat. Because of time constraints or lack of transportation, often times, this leaves one option: the City Cafe.

But how healthy is the food on campus, what steps are the college taking to ensure healthy options for those who want them and who decides what food is served?

“Food service for LRCCD was contracted out in 2003, as I recall,” says Robert Martinelli, City College vice president of administrative services. “Aramark became the food service contractor through a competitive process in 2008. Their contract goes through the end of next year.”

Aramark representatives stressed that on-campus food options are mostly based on sales.

“When we choose what foods are going to be distributed out to the students, we will look at basically what sells and what does not sell,” says Frank Gleason, senior food service director for Aramark, the vendor that provides food served on campus.

Still, Gleason says there are healthy snacks offered, and some sell quite well.

“Some campus favorites are the everyday burger, which is less expensive, and the chicken patty burger, which is a healthier item on the menu,” says Gleason.

City College nurse Wendy Gomez is a part of the campus Food Advisory Group, which makes sure that prices are reasonable and, she says, also helps choose what foods go in to the cafeteria.

“We [the advisory group] make a strong effort on having healthy choices available, such as fruit, yogurt, sandwiches, salads and a taco salad bar,” says Gomez. “I think there are healthy choices if you look for them.”

For students, their food preferences come down to variety, but healthy choices are a concern, too.

City College student Lauren Smith, nursing major, says she only eats in the cafeteria Tuesdays and Thursdays, and she gets coffee in the mornings.

For lunch, Smith says, “I usually get pizza or salad. I wish there was a little bit more variety. If they had a better variety and quality, I’d be willing to pay a little more.”

Donald Williams, human services major, said he eats breakfast in the City Cafe Tuesdays and Thursdays, but doesn’t worry too much about making healthy choices.

“I get the burrito,” says Williams. “It’s got eggs, sausage, cheese and potatoes. To me, it is [a healthy meal].”

Williams added that he thinks his breakfast choices are pretty average and pointed out that the cafeteria does offer healthy alternatives.

“It’s the basic breakfast, basic lunch, right? Pretty healthy, I guess,” says Williams. “Plus they do have some salads over there.”

Jason Wong, social studies major, says he eats lunch at the City Cafe every day.

“I eat everything from the soup to the sandwich to the pizza,” says Wong. “I know the fruit is healthy, and I think the soup is healthy.”

Other students avoid the cafeteria altogether. Robert Curry, office administration major, says he seldom eats campus food, but not because of health concerns.

“I am on a tight budget, unemployed and receiving financial aid,” says Curry.

Though Curry’s reasoning for not eating cafeteria food may not be about health, he explained that he does think about his food choices.

“I am into health and wellness,” says Curry. “I do try to eat healthy. [The cafeteria does] serve healthy food, but they also serve junk food.”

Curry also speculated about possible reasons why the college doesn’t offer more health-conscious goodies.

“Schools operate on a budget and, depending on how the budget goes, they are able to bring in more healthy foods or just keep what they got because healthy foods tend to be more expensive,” says Curry.

Written in collaboration with Edwin Booze. Additional reporting by Priya McCluskey. 

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Editorial: The debt of college education

Posted on October 8, 2013 by Daniel Wilson

Originally published in the Oct. 8, 2013 print edition of the Sac City Express

Sac City College, Daniel Wilson, student loan debt

Editorial cartoon by Brentino.

Student loan debt probably isn’t as common among community college students as with University of California or California State University students, and those who do carry debt most likely owe a lot less money than upper division students.

However, a great many students at City College will eventually move on to pursue bachelor’s or higher degrees and will take on heaps of debt—that is, unless they are fortunate enough to score a sweet, sweet scholarship or two or three.

Ask any student or parent who is paying for someone’s college education: Something needs to be done to make obtaining an education less expensive.

In fact, for most people, facing the inevitable amounts of money they’ll need to pay back for their oh-so-coveted higher educations is something that weighs on one’s conscience throughout their college careers.

But no matter how much we would like the threat of student debt to make like brick-and-mortar Blockbuster stores and disappear, it’s more like Cher in that it just won’t go away. The solution seems simple: Make college less expensive by cutting all the extras. Just charge for classes and books unless students opt to pay for other things like dorm space.

The fact of the matter is, though, that running a university costs a lot of money, and some of that cost is ultimately passed on to students who attend the institution, which is understandable. But accepting this reality doesn’t make the issue any less of a problem.

The cost of community college classes skyrocketed to $46 per unit at City College over the last few years. In addition, Politico.com reported, the federal student loan debt (including private bank loans) hit $1.2 trillion in July.

But good news came in the form of an announcement last January from Board of Regents member Sherry Lansing that a UC tuition increase would be “off the table” for 2013-2014, as opposed to the increases that occurred between 2006 and 2011, according to an article published by SFGate.

As optimistic as that may sound, the cost of going to a four-year college is on average $7,135 per academic year in the United States, according to collegecost.ed.gov.

Here in California, that average is blown out of the water with the highest priced UC, our neighbor in Davis, which ranks in with the ninth-highest tuition cost in the nation for public four-year colleges, setting students back $13,860 per academic year.

And if students take out federal loans to pay for tuition, interest is added on top of the already outrageous bill. As of July 1, federal loan interest rates stand at anywhere from 3.86 percent to 6.41 percent depending on the type of federal loan, according to studentaid.ed.gov.

On top of these ridiculously high rates and costs for upper division college, if one falls into a hardship or has difficulty finding a job within the six month grace period following graduation,

Current laws make it extremely difficult to receive assistance with managing payments, refinancing rates or in extreme cases, getting debt wiped clear.

According to Student Loan Borrower Assistant, “Student loans are difficult, but not impossible, to discharge in bankruptcy. To do so, you must show that payment of the debt ‘will impose an undue hardship on you and your dependents.’ ”

Successfully filing for bankruptcy in regards to a student loan is a hard-fought battle, but even if you manage to accomplish this, bankruptcies stay on your credit record for up to 10 years and can cause all sorts of other problems.

And while many ideas, plans and proposals are floating around to help those with high amounts of debt, such as the Federal Student Loan Refinancing Act, which, according to www.credit.com, was introduced in June by New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and would allow students carrying certain types of federal loan debt to drop interest rates to 4 percent, a universally acceptable solution has not been found.

Higher education is a valuable asset to those who are pursuing degrees, but as it stands, the U.S. federal and state governments aren’t making the ability to obtain degrees a high enough priority. History shows that attitudes about education spending have dramatically changed in the last three decades; just consider that community college courses were free a few decades ago.

Considering that so many employers see having a bachelor’s degree as a minimum requirement for employment, and the importance of the skills, abilities and knowledge that come along with a higher education, government officials need to start treating education as an essential aspect of one’s life as opposed to an easy-to-cut item on a budget report in times of financial desperation.

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Editorial: Smoking – To ban or not to ban?

Posted on September 24, 2013 by Daniel Wilson

Originally published in the Sept. 24, 2013 print edition of the Sac City Express

No smoking, Daniel Wilson, editorial, smoke or not to smoke, Express

Image borrowed from signsworldwide.com

The smoking of cigarettes is a topic that has created a deep divide among those who smoke and those who don’t.

We all know the health risks, yet many people continue to smoke. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cigarette consumption kills more than 440,000 Americans per year, and second-hand smoke causes 49,400 deaths per year.

According to legalinfo.ca.gov, smoking in most enclosed workplaces in California, including inside restaurants and bars, was banned in 1995. In April 1970, advertising of cigarettes and tobacco products on TV was banned in the United States, says druglibrary.org. And from the 1970s to as recently as 2010, laws have continued to be passed in the United States to ban advertising on tobacco products including from magazines and billboards, according to Wikipedia.

It’s no secret that smoking in public places causes danger to smokers and those around them. When it comes to college campuses, smoking is just as much an issue as it is in other public places, and a lot more can certainly be done to help decrease the dangers of secondhand smoke.

The University of California will begin enforcing a new rule next year, banning smoking on all 10 of its campuses, according to a recent Huffington Post article.  The ban will be rolled out gradually, and the penalties for those who disregard the new policy are currently unknown, but it’s a step in the right direction.

According to Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, as of July of this year, “at least 1,178 college or university campuses in the U.S. have adopted 100% [smoke-free] campus policies that eliminate smoking in indoor and outdoor areas across the entire campus, including residences.”

Obviously, the trend of banning smoking altogether is gaining momentum. At City College, no smoking is allowed within 30 feet of many locations around campus. Those locations are indicated by signs, many of which have ashtrays underneath or nearby.

On our campus, the issue of smokers spreading second-hand smoke and leaving the campus a mess with cigarette butts and ashes is just as much a problem as anywhere else. For the non-smokers the Express spoke to, the solution seems simple: Ban smoking altogether.

To smokers the Express interviewed, the better solution would be to institute designated smoking areas around campus.

According to City College Public Information Officer Amanda Davis, this is an idea the campus has considered. However, she says having designated areas can cause problems like safety concerns if, for example, smokers were forced to smoke in the parking areas.

Cosumnes River College had similar concerns, but it has implemented designated areas and solved the issue of safety by keeping students who smoke out of the parking lots and putting them toward the back or the outskirts of campus instead, according to CRC Public Information Officer Kristie West.

If smoking is banned completely, students who smoke will just go to the sidewalks surrounding campus, and that could lead to complaints from the residents in the areas surrounding the college or from city officials, according to Davis.

Both solutions have their advantages and disadvantages for smokers and non-smokers alike, but even if no solution is reached and City College opts to continue enforcing current policy, at the very least, smokers should really try to practice some public-smoking etiquette.

There are several things smokers can do to be more courteous to the people around them:

1. Only smoke in areas that aren’t occupied by large groups of people. If there are a lot of people around, wait to light up until you are in a less-occupied location. This includes areas like the quad, under walkways or around classrooms on campus.

2. Never smoke indoors unless you have permission.  That goes for e-cigarettes, too. Not only is it illegal in most places, in others, it’s against established policy, and you might be cited for it.

3. Always smoke away from open doorways. Smoke can travel inside buildings. Also, try to avoid smoking in close proximity to building corners because smoke can travel around corners and  ll the faces of passersby with a giant cloud of potential lung cancer.

4. Never blow smoke in anyone’s face. Even smokers get annoyed by this behavior. In addition, try to stand so that your smoke blows downwind when in the presence of other people.

5. Try to avoid smoking while walking from one class to the next. Everyone walking behind you has to breathe in your excess smoke, and no one wants to do that.

6. Always use ashtrays.  There is no excuse for leaving the campus full of yesterday’s melancholy. That goes for litter and other such things as well. Take pride in the college you attend and keep it clean.

When it comes down to it, maybe doing something as extreme as banning smoking from college campuses completely is a bit harsh. After all, maybe designated smoking areas are an acceptable compromise.

But until a better solution is found to deal with the problem of second-hand smoke in public places, the least smokers can do is to try to follow some of these tips to be more responsible members of society.

You wouldn’t want the garbage man dumping trash all over you. In that same regard, non-smokers don’t want to bathe in exhaust.

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9/11 memorial returns to West Sacramento

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Daniel Wilson

Flags displayed to honor victims of the attacks

Originally published Sept. 10, 2013 by SacCityExpress.com

The smaller flags surrounding this set of firefighter gear each represent an emergency services worker who was killed while helping the survivors of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Photo by Jennifer Trinkle.

The smaller flags surrounding this set of firefighter gear each represent an emergency services worker who was killed while helping the survivors of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Photo by Jennifer Trinkle (Photos from the Soul).

The annual West Sacramento 9/11 memorial, which honors the victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks, by placing flags on display with each representing one person who lost his or her life, is currently on display and will continue to be visible to the public through the anniversary.

The memorial, located approximately one mile from the City College West Sacramento Outreach Center in a field on the corner of Jefferson Blvd. and South River Rd., was put together by former West Sacramento resident John Vinson in 2007.

Vinson said the reason he continues to display the flags each year is to “keep the memory alive.”

In total, the display consists of 2,977 small flags for the victims and 500 large flags, which are used to help make the memorial visible to drivers as they pass the field.

Vinson said it took two days to set them all up. On the first day there were 12-14 people helping set up the flags and by the end of the second day, it was down to about three people, Vinson said.

There are six displays of flags including one for the World Trade Center victims, one for the emergency responders and one for the police men and women who died either in the attacks or while helping the victims.

In addition, Vinson said there is a new display this year, complete with a Massachusetts state flag, which represents the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing.

The memorial started on Sept. 7 and will be taken down on the morning of Sept. 12. It is free to view and is available 24 hours a day.

“The field has become many things to many people,” said Vinson in a statement. “It is a place of healing, a place of forgiveness, and a place to teach younger generations about the importance of patriotism and solidarity as one united group of Americans.

We celebrate the strength and resilience of the American spirit and we take time to appreciate all that we are offered and allowed in this great country of ours.”

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Editorial: ‘I Have a Dream’ for City College

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Daniel Wilson

Originally published in the Sept. 10, 2013 print edition of the Sac City Express

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. waves to the crowd at the National Mall in Washington, DC, August 28, 1963. Photo by Francis Miller.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. waves to the crowd at the National Mall in Washington, DC, August 28, 1963. Photo by Francis Miller.

The U.S. recently celebrated the 50-year anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, originally given on Aug. 28, 1963, in front of approximately 250,000 civil rights supporters from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington.

The speech, of course, pleaded for the end of racism in the United States. The history behind the speech is even greater because it was delivered 100 years after Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation into law, essentially ending slavery. The fight for freedom for African-Americans was just beginning, and, as King pointed out in his speech, 100 years later, racism was still very much alive.

Many would argue that the dream of King has still not been reached today. The controversial outcome of the Trayvon Martin case is just one indication that racism and hatred toward other cultures is still very much an issue in America, especially for certain groups.

At City College’s pre-semester Convocation held by administrators and district leaders for the staff and faculty of City College, Dr. Brian King (no relation to Martin Luther King Jr.), the chancellor of the Los Rios Community College District, mentioned that the part of the speech we all remember and love wasn’t fully scripted.

As Brian King pointed out, history shows that Mahalia Jackson, a gospel singer and civil rights activist who attended the historic speech, shouted to MLK Jr., “Tell them about the dream, Martin!” This prompted one of the most historic portions of a speech in the history of the world.

While the dream may still not be fully recognized today, and many people fight for it to one day reach its goal, the idea of having a dream has not changed. We all have dreams. Some of us realize those dreams and others fail, but our dreams for the future are one of the many things that bring us together as humans, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, background, culture, opinion or race.

Every student who sets foot on the City College campus has a dream. Maybe it’s a dream to one day accomplish an ambitious set of goals in a career field in which one has always wanted to work. Maybe it’s a dream to have a family and raise children to be wise, responsible members of society who treat their fellow beings with respect and love. Maybe it’s a dream to make a difference in the world, no matter how big or small.

So what’s the dream for City College? Everyone who attends City College wants the school to be a more welcoming, accessible and all-around open environment in which students learn, communicate and become better educated members of society. But how can campus officials and district administrators accomplish such goals?

The Express editorial staff has put together a list of five dreams we want to see come true for City College over the course of the next 50 years. This way, on the next anniversary of the “I Have a Dream” speech, we can say that, along with ending racism in the world, City College will be the best community college it can be for our children and our children’s children.

We have a dream…

…That one day all students who want one will be able to afford a college education, regardless of their financial status, background or circumstances. A system should be in place so that students in the community college level can attend college as they did from kindergarten through high school. More money needs to be allotted to education through taxpayer dollars, fundraising and other methods so that everyone has access to a good higher education.

…That books and supplies will be affordable for everyone, too.

…That parking, classroom space and class size will not be an issue. We should allow for as many students as the college can handle, and if we have more, space should be made for more. The opposite should also be true: If a class has low enrollment, it should not be canceled. Students shouldn’t have to suffer because of an arbitrary number on a chart.

…That opportunities for distance education and technological advances in the classroom aren’t limited by what the college can afford. These programs and advances should be made available to all students so that everyone has an equal chance at education.

…And finally that all students can gain a quality education regardless of their learning levels, ethnic backgrounds or mental and physical abilities. The Student Success Scorecard  shows a very clear difference in success rates for students of different ages, ethnicities and preparedness. All students should be prepared by the K-12 system to take on college. All students should be able to receive the same education regardless of age or background.

These goals may take a lot of time, money and effort to accomplish, but the ability and the potential to achieve these dreams is in us all. City College and Los Rios can make this dream a reality. Next to civil rights and the equal rights of humans, access to an affordable education should be guaranteed to all people.

Our dream is that education stops being the first thing to get cut when state and federal governments are low on funds. Our dream is that one day this nation will rise up and treat everyone equally in all facets of life.

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LEED Certification helps Davis Center be better neighbor

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Daniel Wilson

Environmentally conscious efforts wins recognition

Originally published in the Sept. 10, 2013 print edition of the Sac City Express

Sac City College Davis Outreach Center in Davis, CA. Photo by Crystal Lee for the Davis Enterprise.

Sac City College Davis Outreach Center in Davis, CA. Photo by Crystal Lee for the Davis Enterprise.

City College’s Davis Outreach Center was awarded LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Certification last month for meeting standards of design and sustainability for energy efficiency as set by the U.S. Green Building Council, according to City College Public Information Officer Amanda Davis.

The LEED certification was awarded Aug. 5 by the U.S Green Building Council, honoring the Davis Center for its energy, lighting, water and material use among other energy and cost-saving methods.

In addition to helping the environment, a LEED certified building also contributes to saving money for families, taxpayers and businesses, according to Davis.

Davis Center Dean Don Palm said that a big reason that the building is considered “green” is its use of outside light.

“The architect … really tried to use available light as much as possible so the building turns out to be open and there’s a lot of natural light bouncing around in it,” said Palm.

“It’s a really comfortable space and that’s tangible for students,” he added. “They can really be comfortable and that really makes it a better learning environment. It’s a nice space to be in and a nice space for learning in, and I think it’s something we’ll all benefit from in the long run.”

City College President Kathryn Jeffery noted that the green building serves another purpose—to help make students more aware of the importance of energy-saving strategies.

According to Palm, the LEED certification not only takes into account the final building and its use of green technology and strategies, but certification is also based on the use of local contractors and equipment.

“Part of what we’re trying to do with this building is to be good neighbors,” said Palm. “By being LEED certified, we’re participating in the neighborhood and university’s activities in an effort to be more environmentally conscious and helping students learn by participating in this big experiment, being more green as a way of living. You don’t actually have to change your life dramatically; there [are] some little things — like using more natural light — that can make a huge difference.”

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District iSEP program makes educational plans more accessible

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Daniel Wilson

Participation now required for all new students beginning this semester

Originally published in the Sept. 10, 2013 print edition of the Sac City Express

Student counselor, Tony Davis, speaks with a transferring student from Sacramento State University about, the new program ISEP, and what the stages are to becoming a state licensed nurse in the Counseling Office on Sept 09,2013. Photo by T.William Wallin

Student counselor Tony Davis speaks with a transfer student from Sacramento State University about the new program iSEP, and what the stages are to becoming a state-licensed nurse in the Counseling Office on Sept. 9. Photo by T.William Wallin

Making an educational plan and sticking to it can be a hard task for many students, but a new program required for all incoming students aims to make the process easier.

The Individualized Student Educational Plan or the iSEP is a district-wide program that allows students to work directly with a counselor to plan an educational path, and to have a plan in motion right from the beginning, according to the City College counselors.

According to Richard Yang, City College counselor and district-wide iSEP committee member, an iSEP is mandatory for all incoming students this semester, and failure to have one can result in loss of priority registration. Continuing students are not required to have an iSEP. He added that the college has grouped the iSEP planning process in with taking assessments and attending orientation to ensure success.

“The iSEP must be completed with a counselor, and many of the students have had an opportunity to complete this portion of the process,” said Yang.

“The iSEP is really an electronic version of the traditional student educational plan, only it has other aspects that enhance its usability for students.”

Though the program has recently been fully implemented as of July 2013, it began in fall 2011 as a LRCCD collaboration among retired Dean of Counseling and Student Success David Rasul, district counselors and the district IT department to get the program started. It began as a pilot program at City College in spring 2012.

The program is in compliance with SB 1456, the Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012, which states all students must have a plan for success to be able to maintain progress, according to Yang.

Yang said he wants students to understand that the program isn’t something that is just forced upon students after a counselor completes it.

“Every student has different goals, and the iSEP is unique to that student,” said Yang. “A counselor works with each student by first understanding the student’s educational goals, explaining requirements, discussing prerequisites, evaluating unit load per semester, recommending other support services such as tutoring, and discussing academic policies that may affect a student. An iSEP requires a discussion, and follow-up is always encouraged.”

Yang explained that the process for setting up, viewing and maintaining an iSEP is quite simple. First a student meets with a counselor to discuss educational and career goals. The counselor then helps the student set up his or her path to achieving those goals, whether a certificate, associate degree or preparation to transfer to a university in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree.

From there, the student and counselor can access the iSEP plan through eServices via the MyPlanner function to view or modify the plan as plans or goals change, new classes become available or circumstance arise that may cause a student’s plan to change. But Yang pointed out that only counselors can physically change the plan.

Maristella Bacod, City College counselor and facilitator of the 411 for Success website, a City College service that aims to help new students feel connected to campus, said that the iSEP program was designed to be flexible to these changes.

“We encourage students to follow their educational plans, but, of course, things change,” said Bacod.

“Students have a right to change their majors; we cannot force them to follow a major that they are no longer interested in or want to do.

“We always encourage students to visit the Career Center so that they can research their majors and related career goals,” she added.

“We want students to feel confident about the plan that they selected, and we want their iSEP to reflect goals that they have researched and selected on their own.”

Still, even an iSEP may not always be enough to keep students on track, Bacod said.

“We want students to see a counselor at least once a semester because transfer requirements may change, majors may become impacted, and the selection

criteria for some universities may be different than the year before,” said Bacod.

“Also, by planning ahead, students know when to apply for graduation and/or when to apply for transfer. The CSU and UC systems require that students apply one year in advance and we want students to be prepared when that time comes.”

According to City College counselors, students seem to be receptive to the program as many of them have already set up their plans or are scheduled to do so soon. One such student, Pedro Corona, criminal justice, said he looks forward to setting up his plan in the coming weeks.

“It sounds pretty interesting actually,” said Corona. “If you’re trying to better your future, why not? I don’t actually think it should be a requirement. You should be capable of, by yourself, just pushing yourself to be able to say, ‘Oh, this is better for my future self.’ Why do they have to make something a requirement if it’s going to come from you at the end?”

Yang said that there are many benefits for students who use the iSEP program, but that most of all it helps keeps students on track.

“The benefit is that the iSEP serves as a map in terms of what courses [and] sequence of courses [a student should take],” said Yang. “[It] provides a time frame for when a student can accomplish their educational goals.”

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USDA bars company for failure to pay $2,988,273

Posted on June 19, 2013 by Daniel Wilson

Originally published June 19, 2013 by AndNowUKnow.com

and now u knowWASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has barred Avondale, Pa-based Cardile Brothers Mushroom Packaging from operating in the produce industry for failure to pay $2,988,273 to 126 sellers for 1,806 lots of produce.

Company principals, Charles E. Cardile and Michael P. Cardile, may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee until June 3, 2014, at which date they may reapply for a PACA license.

By law, the USDA is required to publish the finding that a business has committed willful, repeated, and flagrant violations of PACA and impose restrictions against those held responsible.

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