BOOM!

1. WENDY G’S BIG NIGHT

I recently received the following account of IVC Academic Senate Prez Wendy G’s BIG NIGHT with the State Academic Senate (the ASCCC). As you know, Wendy was recently selected to be the first recipient of the Freedom Fighter Award, an award the creation of which she inspired as an attorney and Academic Senate President.

A few years ago, when Chancellor Mathur set about to change the faculty hiring policy without consulting faculty—despite a statute clearly requiring mutual agreement between the district and the Academic Senates—our two senates united and took the district to court. Wendy served as attorney. (See How rude are you?)

It’s a long story, but, in the end, faculty won, and it is widely believed that the victory shall have huge implications for governance in the state’s community colleges.

BIG NIGHT:

I just returned from the State Senate Leadership Institute and it was wonderful. The State Senate Executive Committee went all out. Wendy was treated like a celebrity from being shuttled from the airport, to a nice bottle of chilled white wine waiting for her in her room, to a wonderful dinner and amazing tribute.

Pictures were posted everywhere with the theme, “Everyone Knows It’s Wendy.” For those of you under 50, that’s an allusion to a forty-year-old hit by the pop band the Association.

People actually sang a modified version of the Association tune at dinner!

The State Senate Resolution was effusive in its praise. The actual physical award is a 10 pound falcon, inscribed with an enconium.

Wendy gave an inspirational acceptance speech. She explained the importance of knowing when to confront and when to collaborate, which was the evening's theme. She explained that, when one senate is under attack, all senates are under attack. It is the role, she said, of the State Senate to ensure the local senates’ well-being.

The award is important, she explained, because it underscores how local issues can impact all academic senates.

Naturally, she thanked those who were particularly important contributors to the “hiring policy” initiative.

One again, congratulations, Wendy!

Here's the statute we appealled to when Mathur and the board unilaterially developed and imposed a new faculty hiring policy:

No later than July 1, 1990, hiring criteria, policies, and procedures for new faculty members shall be developed and agreed upon jointly by representatives of the governing board, and the academic senate, and approved by the governing board.

—California Ed Code Section 87360(b)

2. TRADEMARK DOUBLE SONIC BOOM

Did you hear that double sonic boom yesterday?

I was at my parents’ house, visiting with my sister. Then, all of a sudden, “boom!” But I didn’t so much hear it as feel it. My first thought was that something very big had banged or crashed into the house! So I ran outside, but I found nothing.

Then I remembered about the space shuttle. I checked the internet and, sure enough, that was the culprit.

According to this morning’s New York Times,

...The spacecraft, containing a crew of seven, passed over San Diego and Los Angeles, emitted its trademark double sonic boom after it reentered the atmosphere, and glided onto the runway under nearly cloudless skies.

MY PARENTS' PLACE up in the mountains has been the scene of a fair number of weird events. About twenty years ago, I was on their patio one night with my then-wife, my brother Ray, and his buddy, a self-described "dark-green Marine." All of a sudden, we saw a huge craft slowly and silently pass over the house. It seemed to be flying (hovering?) very low. It made no sound at all.

We still have no idea what that was.

3. BOARD MEETING MONDAY

There’s a SOCCCD board meeting Monday night. To download the agenda, go to June 25 board agenda.

We keep hearing that big things are brewing, and so the meeting might offer surprises. The agenda doesn’t tell us much.

The (sub)agenda for the board’s closed session includes:

A. Public Employee Appointment, Employment, Evaluation of Performance, Discipline, Dismissal, Release (GC 54957): (1) Public Employee Appointment/Employment -- a. IVC Vice President of Instruction, b. IVC Chemistry Professor

Item (a): Cal Nelson is retiring from his VPI duties and the word is that, recently, his replacement has been hired (pending board approval). We also hear that it was a good selection. SURE HOPE SO.

What’s item (b)?

Among the CONSENT CALENDAR items are rejection of seperate claims made against the district by Suzanne Dobbs and Suzanne Hammel.