Inside "Westphal v. Wagner," Part 1: Judge Gandhi glowers at Nancy Padberg and crew!

Feb. 17: scene of settlement conference

     NOW that “Westphal v. Wagner” is history, I can report the interesting—and sometimes amazing—events that occurred in the course of this case.
     The lawsuit was filed way back in November of 2009. It was settled 17 months later, at the end of March, 2011. For today, I’ll describe a relatively recent episode—starting this January.

THE JANUARY RULING

     Late in January, 2011, we received a mixed ruling from Superior Court Judge Gary Klausner, a conservative, seventy-year-old Bush appointee and ex-Marine. (Back in the 90s, he drew attention when he set S&L kingpin John Keating's bail at $5 million. More recently, he has played the heavy in some high profile cases.)

Judge Klausner

     With such a judge, we expected to have trouble, and we were not disappointed.
     On the one hand, Klausner held that Chancellor Raghu Mathur’s notorious “Jesus” slideshow (in 2009) and Don Wagner’s obnoxious scholarship awards ceremony rant (in 2008) were indeed unconstitutional. Heck, the judge even issued an injunction against the district that required that it comply with its policy according to which prayers can’t be hostile and sectarian!
     Team Westphal viewed the latter as quite a bonus.
     On the other hand, Klausner held that the board’s non-sectarian invocations are not offered with a Constitutionally impermissible purpose, effect, or entanglement. —That is, the board's generic prayers are kosher, as it were.
     We didn’t think much of his reasoning to that conclusion.
     Naturally, we could appeal the latter decision. And we knew we had a good chance of prevailing in the 9th Circuit.

Judge Jay Gandhi

     But, in the meantime, the district indicated a willingness to pursue a settlement of the case (a settlement conference had already been in the works), and that process would be handled by Magistrate Judge Jay Gandhi (U.S. District Court for the Central District of California), formerly of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker in Orange County. (The thirty-nine-year-old Gandhi is somewhat special; he's quite young and he’s only the second Indian-American federal judge in the country’s history.)
     And so we prepared for the settlement conference, to occur at Judge Gandhi’s digs, way up in the U.S. District Court Building in downtown LA, right next to the famous LA Courthouse.
     Judge Gandhi chose the date of February 17th at 10:00 a.m., a Thursday. That was pretty inconvenient for most of us. Nevertheless, he made clear that all plaintiffs and defendants would be required to attend, and anyone who failed to attend would be sanctioned by the court!

THE FEB 17 SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE

John Vogt

     Our attorneys made every effort to get all of us to the session, but one among us, a former Saddleback student, now lived in the Bay Area, and she couldn’t afford the trip. So, on the 17th, six of us—all but one of our number—attended the conference, held in Judge Gandhi’s courtroom. We were accompanied by AUSCS legal director, Ayesha Kahn, and local attorney, Chris Murphy (of Mayer Brown).
     And the defendants? Well, defendants were represented by two attorneys (John Vogt and his partner) with the famously pricey firm Jones Day, which had defended former Sheriff Mike Carona at his corruption trial. (Carona's now in federal prison, natch.)
     But, in Judge Gandhi’s courtroom on the 17th, only ONE of the defendants was present: trustee Nancy Padberg.
     Uh-oh.
     When the judge entered, he saw what there was to see. He looked at Nancy's tiny crew. He glowered. He sat down. He said, “What is it about ‘you are required to attend the hearing’ that is unclear?" (Something like that.)
     He stared silently at Padberg and her two shiny attorneys. He was pissed. Seriously pissed.
     He lectured at us (well, mostly at Padberg and Co.). He threatened sanctions.
     This went on for a while.

Chris Murphy

     In the end, Gandhi decided to go ahead with the “conference,” though it would not include the usual initial session with everyone in the room. Nope. He separated the two sides. He left us—the plaintiffs—in his courtroom. He sent Padberg and Co. to another courtroom down the hall. For the rest of the day—this went on until maybe 7:00 or 8:00 p.m.—Judge Gandhi would spend two hours or so haranguing one side, and then he’d walk down the hall to the other courtroom and harangue the other side. It was a kind of shuttle diplomacy—er, shuttle hectory.
     “Be realistic!” “You must be kidding!” “You’re dreaming!” –Such were the remarks (more or less) that punctuated our time—and no doubt the other side’s time—with Judge Jay Gandhi.
     Gandhi was smart and extremely focused. And he was ruthless. He’d browbeat us. Sometimes, when one among us wouldn’t bend sufficiently to his urgings, he’d seem to be disgusted; he'd head for the door, declaring that his time was being wasted. “I’m calling this whole thing off,” he’d roar.
     That always worked. Somebody would cave, or somebody would promise to make the person who needed to cave cave. And then they’d cave.
     It was amazing.
     At the end of the day, we had a tentative settlement. I was pretty pleased with it, but some of us were not. Their grimness prevailed, at least in my Chrysler as we rolled home for Orange County on that long freeway ride. I don’t think anybody said a single word.

Ayesha Kahn

TROUBLE HERDING CATS

     But "Westphal v. Wagner" wasn’t over yet. Far from it! After all the Sturm und Drang we—i.e., those of us who bothered to show up—endured on the 17th, when the board met eleven days later—at its scheduled February 28 board meeting—guess what happened!
     They failed to ratify the agreement!
     D’oh!
     We were pissed. Judge Gandhi, too. This wouldn't have happened had defendants showed up for the settlement conference like they were supposed to.
     It was back to the drawing board.
     The next month would be yet another wild ride.

     (To be continued….)

Don Wagner's obnoxious Scholarship Award Ceremony comments

What did you learn in school today, dear little boy of mine? (Rebel Girl)

Magic Tricks or How On his 9th birthday, in his Public School Classroom, Rebel Girl's Son is Told He is Going to Hell by his Substitute Teacher 

     Thursday was the little guy’s ninth birthday and despite her packed schedule, Rebel Girl made time to drive home for an intimate celebratory dinner before heading back to the college. 

     They had celebrated big earlier: a Saturday party of seven nine-year-olds and twin 12-year-old party crashers; a birthday morning breakfast of homemade pancakes and presents including a year’s subscription to Mad magazine. Good times. 

     The Little Guy spent the day at his school, the little school where Red Emma volunteers every other week to read in class. Rebel Girl imagined that the Little Guy’s class would have sung to him the special birthday song they sing at such times. She asked him while driving home. 

     No, he said. His regular teacher, much beloved, was absent. In her place was the much-admired occasional substitute, let’s call him Mr. Sub. He didn’t know about birthdays. 

     “But he did do a magic trick,” said the Little Guy. 

     The Little Guy is a big fan of magic. Last year the family celebrated his birthday at the world famous Magic Castle. 

     “That must have been fun,” replied Rebel Girl. “What kind of magic?” 

     The Little Guy, a fine storyteller, proceeded to tell a doozie involving Jesus and his devoted apostle Paul who traveled the world after Jesus’ death talking about Jesus to the unbelievers who often persecuted him. One time Paul was imprisoned and challenged by the guards to construct a cross from a single piece of paper. The guards gave him no scissors (it was, after all, a few years A.D.) and a stack of paper. 

     Where do prison guards at that time acquire paper anyway, Rebel Girl wondered. Office Depot? Kinko's? But no matter. After all, verisimilitude is not the goal of this storyteller - magic is. 

     The guards instructed Paul that he must create the cross by folding and tearing the paper only once. That was, apparently, the "magic trick."

 

     Rebel Girl imagines the scene now – Mr. Sub with the kids gathered around folding and tearing until he made the miraculous cross. He asked for volunteers and the Little Guy (who Reb has been encouraging to participate more in class and who is an origami aficionado) volunteered. 

     Mr. Sub finished the tale by producing the cross and then, from the scraps of discarded paper, unfolding selected letters which formed two words: first LIFE and then HELL. As the third grade volunteers held up each letter as directed, Mr. Sub told the class that those who believe in Jesus Christ will have eternal LIFE and those who don’t will go to HELL. 

     The Little Guy said that the girls in the class squealed at the mention of hell. The Little Guy held one of the L's. 

     Now Rebel Girl doesn’t say this often but she is not a Christian. Neither is her husband. Neither is her son, the Little Guy. She says this now because she feels attacked, assaulted. She realizes that her reluctance to say this fact aloud is related to a sense of shame she has carried all these years, as if her lack of faith, and, in particular lack of Christian faith, somehow reduced her value as a person. That sense of shame has lingered, despite everything she has learned about herself and the world. 

     On Thursday April 28, on his ninth birthday, her son, the Little Guy, stood in front of his classmates in his public school and was told by a teacher that he, as an unbeliever, was going to hell. 

     Rebel Girl asked the Little Guy a couple questions: How’d you feel when he said that? Do you think he should have done that? The Little Guy had mixed feelings. He likes Mr. Sub after all. But yes, he knew it was wrong. Yes, he felt sort of bad. No, he didn’t say anything. If he did, he would feel worse, that nine year old holding a piece of hell in hands. 

    He didn’t want to say anything, not his truth, not his family's - so he didn’t. 

    As he talked, Rebel Girl could tell that he carried this heavily, that he knew it meant something. Rebel Girl teaches her son about religions, about why some people believe and why some people do not. Some of her most admired heroes are Catholic Worker types. There are several Bibles in the house. The Little Guy owns a copy of Tomie de Paola’s Bible stories that they consult from time to time. 

     He knows about Budhha, about the Hindu gods, about Mohammed. They have attended sedars, celebrate Christmas, Easter. His favorite song to play on the piano is “Joy to the World.” 

     When they visited New Mexico recently he was most impressed by the “spirit holes” in the floors of a Pueblo dwelling that allowed the spirits of dead to join the living during special ceremonies. 

     However, his favorite deities remain the Greek gods. There's no competing with Zeus, apparently. 

     Mr. Sub’s "magic trick," of course, was an abuse of power, an abuse of privilege, an abuse of children who trust and admire their teachers. A violation. A hit and run magic trick that has made that classroom a crime scene. Rebel Girl imagines that some children in that class are, like her family, atheists or agnostics. She knows that at least one family is Jewish. She is herself, she reminded her son, a teacher too and one who takes her responsibilities seriously. While she has views, she knows her students have their own and she is hired to teach them, not her views and values, but her particular discipline. So she does. 

     Rebel Girl will be writing more this morning: letters to the principal, the board of trustees, other interested parties. She will do what a Rebel Girl does.

       Last night as the Little Guy blew out his candles on his birthday cake, he made his wish and Rebel Girl made hers: she wants Mr. Sub to return to that classroom and stand up in front of the class with her son at his side and tell her son and the class that the Little Guy is NOT going to hell and neither is anyone else.

 

She wants more, much more, but that’s a start.

* By the way, the story of the "magic trick" has been 

confirmed via a phone call to another family. *

Gauchos? Vaqueros?

And who wrote Treasure of the Sierra Madre?

The current Saddleback "Gaucho"

1968

     How did it come about that Saddleback College’s mascot is the Gaucho? –Well, not the Gaucho, but the Bandito-Gaucho at left?
     It’s a fair question, since

• “Gaucho” is the name of “a cowboy of the South American pampas.” —Naturally, South Orange County has little to do with, and is generally clueless about, South American cowboys.
• It appears that, early on—and until recently—the images chosen to represent the Gaucho at Saddleback College more closely resembled stereotypical Mexican banditos than South American (or Mexican) cowboys.

     My conclusion: the choice of the “Gaucho” as the Saddleback College mascot was unfortunate, for it likely reflected ignorance (or worse) on the part of the choosers and, well, subsequent generations of clueless or indifferent "Gauchos."
     And who were the choosers? Well, as I’ve written previously,

     According to the district website, “Saddleback College was officially named by action of the board on February 26, 1968. In June of that year, the board approved the Gaucho as mascot and school colors as cardinal and gold.”
     But since (according to the website) the first students didn’t arrive until September, it follows (more or less) that students didn’t choose the “Gaucho.” (The Protean Name)

     It seems likely that it was the district’s original board of trustees who were responsible for (as I argue) mistakenly embracing the “Gaucho”—imagined as a Mexican bandito/cowboy, not a South American cowboy—as the college mascot. As we’ve reported previously, that original crew was, well, seriously conservative. (Ahem.) One easily imagines that these antediluvian Orange Countians chose the “Gaucho,” thinking that the term named Mexican cowboys or something.
     Nope, nope, nope.

FORTY YEARS LATER

     Years ago—starting in 2006 and perhaps earlier—DtB noted the problems with Saddleback’s mascot, the existing icons of which were decidedly un-Gaucho (i.e., un-South American Cowboy) -like.
     Problems? How so?
     1st, because the bandito-like “Gaucho” owed much to unfortunate stereotypes.
     2nd, because Gauchos are denizens of the South American pampas—unfamiliar foreigners who would seem to have little or nothing to do with denizens of San Juan Capistrano, Mission Viejo, and all those Del Taco places.
     We kept hinting that Saddlebackian students really ought to dump the Gaucho and to do this mascot thing right, once and for all. (How about the Rebecca Blacks? Very meta!)
     Well, we’re not sure if we had anything to do with it, but, by early 2010, at Saddleback, students sought to replace the embarrassing image:

…[S]omething good is being attempted by students by Saddleback College's Diversity Student Council (DSC). They are trying to have the school modify its Gauchos mascot, which currently looks more like a Mexican greaser than a cowboy of the pampas. (Saddleback College Gauchos moving to South America?; OC Weekly) (Student government passed a resolution that stated: "Whereas, Saddleback College, an educational establishment, reiterates institutional racism through caricatures of a minority that misrepresent it....")

     Note well! Saddleback student government evidently decided, not to dump the Gaucho, but to keep the Gaucho and to replace the greaser-Bandito image instead.
     I don’t get it. What do South American cowboys have to do with Saddlebackians? If you’re gonna go with cowboys, why not go with vaqueros? —Got something agin’ ‘em?! That it?!
     Well, whatever.

THE LATEST

     Today, I noticed a Lariat article about the inevitable South Americanization of the Gaucho: Change is on the horizon for Gaucho mascot.
     Here are the article’s key points:

• The college’s existing image of the “Gaucho is not an accurate representation of the rugged Argentine cowboy known to live off the land in the treacherous highlands of Pampas and Patagonia.” Evidently, the Gaucho is also a soldier, somehow.
• Last April, Saddleback College’s ASG passed a resolution according to which a new image for the Gaucho should be selected.
• “After Classified Senate declined to take action on the resolution, the Academic Senate subsequently approved the legislation….”
• Next, the measure was approved by the Consultation Council, “consisting of President Tod Burnett, deans, and presidents of both the Academic and Classified Senate.”
• Now, the measure is in the hands of the marketing committee, “headed by Saddleback College Director of Public Information and Marketing, Jennie McCue.”
• A Canadian re-branding graphics design firm has been commissioned to produce four logo modifications. These will be sent to the marketing committee.
• Physically, “There are approximately 12 Gaucho logos that would need to be repainted around the campus, as well as foam padding at both ends of the basketball court that would need to be replaced.”
• Evidently, “Assistant Athletic Director Jerry Hannula [suggested] that since the athletic department will bear the brunt of the [physical] changes, it would be prudent to get the consensus of the department staff before coming to a decision.”
• Meanwhile, some Saddlebackians are hatching a plan to cancel the firm’s contract and to replace it with an in-house effort: “We would like to see the college utilize the resources that currently exist to find a solution … We are putting together a plan to enlist the services of Saddleback College graphics design students to present their options to the students and faculty of Saddleback College for a vote."
• According to the latter plan, there will be a “contest for students to present their best work. The department would narrow the choices to a select few, and at that point, it would be put to a vote.”
• One way or another, look for resolution of this matter by Fall 2011. (The issue of whether there is a budget and how big it is appears to be nebulous.)

     Well, there you are. It could well be that, by the end of Fall 2011, Saddleback College will be flashin’ images of a Gaucho who is way, way south of the border, down pampas way. No more Frito Bandito! No more somebody who has anything whatsoever to do with North America!

THE IVC "LASER"

     Naturally, DtB’s coverage of the Saddleback Gaucho issue spilled over into an assessment of Irvine Valley College’s sad mascot, the Laser. Years ago, the college actually owned a laser, but it sold the dang thing to a local plastic surgeon. Or maybe they just lost it. Could be.
     So why are we still the Lasers? Why were we EVER the lasers? I mean, even if we owned a laser, what sensible collegian would want to call him/herself a coherent beam of light?
     Last we heard—a year or two ago—there was a move afoot to replace the Laser. Then: nothing.
     The Lariat writer notes that Saddleback’s Gaucho issue has always seemed to get mired in controversy or something. Somehow, all efforts come to nothing (until now, I guess).
     Well, that’s been the fate of the Laser issue, too. Stay tuned.

Past posts re mascots/images:

• The Lariat "gaucho" Dissent the Blog, Feb 8 2006
• Gaucho & Laser ridiculosity Dissent the Blog, Feb 15 2006
• Separated at Birth? Ask a Mexican's Logo, Saddleback College's Gaucho OC Weekly, November, 2009
• Gustavo Arellano v. Saddleback's "Gaucho" Dissent the Blog, Nov., 2009
• Wanted: A New Mascot for IVC Dissent the Blog, Nov 16 2009
• Stupid mascots and the Irvine Company's "black heart" Dissent the Blog, Dec 26 2009

Lasers! Lasers!
Generating an intense beam of coherent monochromatic light!
Lasers lasers,
fight fight fight!

We are Bobcats, you are toast!
We use your ass as a scratchin' post!

Meanwhile, at Saddleback College:
Gauchos? Vaqueros? What the hey!
Get our learnin' from Frito-Lay!
Gooooooooooo Gauchos!

• A weird windowless library, alleged marauding flag-swiping Hippies, the protean name, and other district mysteries—Solved! Dissent the Blog, Jan 1 2010
• Saddleback College Gauchos moving to South America? OC Weekly, March 2010
• Saddleback College Students Seek to De-Mexicanize their School's Gaucho Mascot OC Weekly, March 2010

Proud Gaucho. (I showed the current Lariat Gaucho to knowledgeable Latino colleagues, who assured me that that "Gaucho" causes OUCHO followed by GROUCHO.) 

SEE ALSO School Daze At UC Irvine, Cal State Fullerton (OC Weekly) ~ While CSUF students find an administration that applaud their protests, UCI coeds deal with heavier-handed officials

"A bold, Texas-style solution"

Texas Could Offer a Stripped-Down Degree for Just $10,000, Commissioner Says (Chronicle of Higher Education)

     Gov. Rick Perry's call for Texas universities to develop a four-year baccalaureate degree that costs no more than $10,000 isn't as far-fetched as it seems, the state's commissioner of higher education said on Wednesday after a staff member of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board presented preliminary strategies for developing a stripped-down degree.
     Those strategies, which the commissioner said the coordinating board plans to pursue aggressively, could involve statewide online courses, more opportunities for students to spend their first two years in community colleges, and accelerated and self-paced course formats.
     Key to any plan would be faculty support and rigorous standards.

Big heads, big hats

     In his State of the State address, in February, the Republican governor urged public college and university leaders to come up with "a bold, Texas-style solution" to the challenge of rising higher-education costs by developing bachelor's degrees that cost no more than $10,000 for four years of tuition, fees, and textbooks.
     The low-cost programs should eventually account for at least 10 percent of degrees conferred, Mr. Perry said.
     Skeptics have questioned whether that is possible, or even desirable….(continue)

Blast from the Past: Sucker Punch

It's that time of the semester, after all.

Thursday, November 13, 2008
All in a Day's Work: Sucker Punch
by Rebel Girl

sucker punch : to punch (a person) suddenly without warning and often without apparent provocation

REBEL GIRL has had a good semester thus far, inspired by new texts and new students. She feels challenged and so do her students. It makes for a lively classroom.

At this point in the semester, students are making the necessary progress, some more than others. There are always those who excelled from the beginning and those who have failed to do so. Then there are those who are surprised by their own ability to progress – there's something special about that bunch. In the beginning, Rebel Girl worried they would drop even though she saw their potential, even though they may have failed the first paper. Stay, she counseled, I know you can do it if you manage your time and focus. They stayed –and now, well, many of them are doing more than passing; some are on their ways to earning B's. They discuss writing and critical thinking with an awareness that they admit they lacked 10 weeks ago. When asked, they say, somewhat shyly that they can see their own progress, notice the difference.

Huzzah.

About this time, Rebel Girl queries them about their future classes. Who's taking Writing 2 next semester, she asks. Hands rise. Excellent. She advises them on Writing 180 opportunities, the reading classes and reminds them not to overload themselves.

So yesterday, in consultation with one of those students who is making her own surprised way to a B, Rebel Girl asks, "What are your plans for the Spring?"

"Oh, I'm taking writing," the student says, "but at another college."

"Why?"

"Well, I heard it's easier."

Rebel Girl goes into her standard patter on this subject: "You don't need easy. You don't want easy. You want to be prepared for the university where things are not easy and besides, you're doing WELL. Look at this paper." They stare at the 5 page rhetorical analysis of a poem by Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Hass.

The student is now embarrassed.

"Is this what your friends told you?" Rebel Girl asks.

"Yes," the student says, "but my counselor told me to do it too." She says the word "counselor" with a certain defensive pride.

"Your counselor here? At this college?" Rebel Girl's voice has gone up an octave at this point.

The student nods. She seems uncomfortable so Rebel Girl lets it go. Besides, she knows when she has lost. This student is a fairly reliable witness. She works on the campus. She will, next semester, take all her classes here except writing. Writing she will take at another college. This on the advice of her academic counselor here, at this college.

Sigh. Big sigh.

Rebel Girl might dismiss this if this was the first time she heard this story. But it isn't.

Counselors are very smart

There's ways to read this story.

One way is that the counselor wants to "help" the student achieve her academic goals and thinks an easy A is the way to do it. That version, of course, insults the smart student, the student that Reb has worked hard to teach the semester. Perhaps the counselor thinks the student isn't as capable as Reb thinks she is.

Maybe the counselor thinks Reb and her colleagues have standards in their writing courses that are higher than necessary, hence the suggestion to move on to another institution where the standards are, uh, different. Reb has certainly heard that one before.

Maybe the counselor wanted to ease up crowded classrooms on campus here on campus. After all, we certainly have seen a rise in enrollment so maybe this is part of some kind of enrollment management strategy.

Maybe the student's narrative isn't as reliable as Reb thinks it is and no counselor ever suggested anything of the sort because he or she would recognize how it undermines our educational mission and so poorly serves our students.

Maybe.

What do you think?

27 comments:

Anonymous said...
I would doubt the student's version at this time without something much more tangible--it sounds fishy right now.

Anonymous said...
I do think that there are individuals who counsel some students to take writing classes elsewhere -

Anonymous said...
You english teachers think too much of yourselves and your classes - that's why they go somewhere else. Who wants to put up with you?

Anonymous said...
It could be that the student is covering up her own poor decision by placing some blame on the counselor and is lying to Reb (we DO know that SOME students lie) - but all the Reb has to do is ask the student who her counselor is and then go and inquire. It would make for a fine follow-up story.

I can't imagine our counselors advising students to go elsewhere, even for one class - I mean that's terrible.

13 Stoploss said...
9:50 - that's the point. no one anymore is willing to work or earn something, and instead expect to have everything handed to them. If these teachers didn't have standards, then they might as well all be replaced with trained monkeys.

Anonymous said...
I agree with 9:59. I can't imagine one of our counselors doing that - I think maybe Reb fell for the student's "story" a little too hard.

Which college is she going to anyway where the "A's" in writing are easy? There's your follow-up story, Reb.

Anonymous said...
No IVC counselor would do that.

Rebel Girl has just had a hard day.

Counselor Deanna Troi

Anonymous said...
Rebel Girl has stumbled upon part of the college's enrollemnt management plan! Direct students elsewhere!

Evidence of this plan can also be seen in the failure to plan for and construct classroom buildings! Hence the need to direct students elsewhere!

Tricky!

Anonymous said...
I think if a student is having trouble with his/hers GPA the Federal Government should bail them out.

Anonymous said...
Reb is correct and the student probably did not lie. IVC Counselors have actually said in my presence that they advise students to take writing at Saddleback or to take assessment tests at Saddleback or OCC because they're "easier."

Unfortunately, the evidence suggests that transferring IVC students who complete writing in our program may outperform Saddleback students who transfer to the same institutions.

Reb does have a reason to feel suckerpunched by colleagues who are not thinking of the larger picture. Sorry to have to confirm her tale with my own experience.

Bohrstein said...
It is very well possible it is a lie, but there ARE counselors that do this exact thing. I've had it recommended to me for Physics/Math in particular (But, I never listen to my counselors).

However, I agree with 13 Stoploss, there are students who don't want to work for it. They want the easy grade, and they want out. You are fighting a losing battle with laziness, not to mention alternate interests.

For example, I have no interest in Economics and I have to take a class in Economics. OK, I say, bring on the easiest class so I can focus on my major.

But, I have found that easy is always boring.

Anonymous said...
Harder does not necessarily equate with quality. Besides, the student may not have the same passion for writing as Reb does and simply wants to achieve the highest grade in return for the lowest level of effort. Who know what the real motivation is.

Anonymous said...
A student that I mentor told me that his counselor said that there is an easier class at IVC than at SC, and vice versa, depending on the subject. I don't think he was encouraged to take the class he wanted to at IVC, but he was certainly informed of the option, which is probably just as bad. By the way, this student has absolutely no reason to lie to me. 

Counseling can be fun

Anonymous said...
I've read the student's paper on the Hass poem, and it is an insightful essay on the wars of Palo Alto. But there is a long-standing tradition among some counselors at IVC who relish their status as insiders whispering foolish advice to students. I know this from years of student stories. And sadly, writing isn't the only class students are warned away from.

Anonymous said...
I too have had students tell me that they were going "south" to take writing 2. I have been told that there are some instructors down at Saddleback that are much easier than the instructors here at IVC.

Yes, everyone wants the best GPA possible but when it comes to writing - you need the best experience you can get. You will write for the rest of your life.

Lisa, try not take it personally. You are a wonderful teacher, coworker, friend, mom, etc.

Anonymous said...
"You want to be prepared for the university where things are not easy . . . ."

This is an assumption all of us (including me) often make, but I don't know whether it's accurate.

I'd like to know how much and what kind of writing is required in upper-division courses at our neighboring CSU and UC campuses. I'd like to know what standards students are held to.

And data is not the plural of ancedote.

--100 miles down the road

Anonymous said...
Whatever the "university" may or may not require I am sure it's more than the simplistic paragraph and plaigiarism strategies taught at nearby institutions that primarily serve the interests of the instructors who simply don't want to work that hard.

Anonymous said...
It's one thing if a counselor suggests a program or class at another college because that institution might be better (I'm thinking of some of our programs that are udner-funded or have thin course offerings), but to direct a student to another institution because it's easier seems indefensible.

I am so happy that we're all working together to deliver the best education to our students!

Anonymous said...
Don't studies show that basic competency in writing furthers the chances of students' eventual success in their chosen fields? I think it's related not only to retention but also to degree completion rates.

Anonymous said...
There are so many English 1B ( = Writing 2) instructors here at Saddleback that anyone issuing advice to come south for a higher grade or easier time had better make sure what instructor the student gets.

I wonder whether her counselor is a "virtual" counselor. Have we all checked out our stats on pick-a-prof? If what you're shopping for is an "A" that can be earned by breathing regularly, it's definitely a site you want to visit.

IVC doesn't have any WR 2 data yet; someone has been loading Saddleback data for a few years now. I did an In-Service study on grade distributions in UC-transferable courses to check out a few hypotheses/myths, and will do another in January, if anyone's interested.

Counseling is substantial

alannah said...
Dear Bohrstein:

I've had students tell me they were advised to go north for math.

I do think some counselors habitually underestimate students, however.

Anonymous said...
Alannah:
We're interested. --RB

Anonymous said...
For the record, Rebel Girl did not identify the institution the student was directed to ---

Anonymous said...
Yikes.
Does the dean of counseling up there know about this?

Robbi said...
Should we meet with the counselors? I think so. Let's discuss and clear this up!

Elva said...
I've had the counselors at IVC give me some really bad advice. One piece of their brilliant work resulted in my now having to take 3 extra classes, and being barred from upper division enrollment in my major because i hadn't fulfilled the lower div requirements at IVC. I also left IVC with about 85 transferrable units because they couldn't decide what it was exactly that I needed before they would sign my IGETC verification. I can't tell you if the student is lying, but I can tell you some of the counselors at IVC, well, I really don't know what they get paid for.

Anonymous said...
my counselor told me i should take an easier class at compton college

COMMENTS, 2011:

Anonymous said...
I still can't imagine any IVC counselor giving such advice unless perhaps standards were so low in a particular program that the student wouldn't be getting the training they needed for success later on.

We know that['s] not true for our writing classes - and we know that students sorely need solid independent writing skills for success in other classes.

I know my students do. A main cause of failure [is] their inability to communciate clearly in standard written English on their tests and papers. ~ 7:35 AM, April 28, 2011

Anonymous said...
Didn't ... this get resolved? I thought the Office of Instuction issued some directive about the problem with directing students elsewhere because it undermined the mission of the college at a critical time[?] ~ 8:30 AM, April 28, 2011

Anonymous said...
Would it not be appropriate for Rebel Girl to contact the counselor and discuss how this student would not be best served by taking an "easier" class? ~ 9:54 AM, April 28, 2011

Anonymous said...
Haven't counselors evolved on this issue? I have heard that they have stopped denying that they advise students to go elsewhere for an easier version of a course or assessment. They now justify this advice by saying that they offer students "options." ~ 11:07 AM, April 28, 2011

Counseling: always on the cutting edge

Reasoning with Birthers — Mission: impossible

Befluffed Republican

     This morning, a friend noted that President Obama had just then released his long-form birth certificate.
     “Do you suppose that’ll put an end to it?” he asked.
     “Nope,” I said.
     Earlier this afternoon, Matt Coker reported that Birthers are already screaming “fraud.”
     That’s what OC’s Orly Taitz is saying. Why? Cuz the birth certificate identifies Obama’s father’s race as “African.”

     Oh.
     In Taitz World, "African" is not a race. "Negro" is a race. How come the certificate doesn't say "negro," hmmmm?
     Evidently, the thesis that Prez Obama wasn't born in the U.S. is unfalsifiable. Nothing that is produced can be allowed to count against it.
     Among intelligent people, that means that it's bullshit.

The April board meeting: retirement incentive OK'd; ATEP chapel doomed; prayer resolution adopted

     Well, here I am in the Ronnie Reagan Room once again for the meeting of the SOCCCD board of trustees. (UPDATE: see (i) Tere's Board Meeting Highlights; (ii) Streaming Video)
     What’s on tap this month?
      —Retirement incentives for one. Here’s item 6.22:

     Also, tonight, the board is set to pass a resolution (item 6.11) as per the settlement of “Westphal v. Wagner” (ratified by trustees on March 31).
     The board is liable to approve a recommendation (6.15) to demolish the WWII era chapel on the district’s ATEP property—68 acres of the former Helicopter Air Station in Tustin. Barbarians!

 * * * * *

     While we're waiting: earlier today, members of the district community received a survey tool to evaluate the board of trustees. I checked it out. It includes such remarks as:

The board understands its policy role and differentiates its role from those of the CEO and college staff.

     We're supposed to indicate the degree to which we agree with that statement. Since the board of, say, six months ago and the board of, say, six minutes ago are quite distinct (especially re the above remark), it is by no means clear how one can meaningfully respond. Which board are you askin' about?

     The good news: Those who take the survey are first asked to indicate how many meetings they have attended in the last year. That's good, I guess. That means they've gotta take my answers seriously. (Right.)

 * * * * *

6:53 — For a while there, I (and other IVCers) couldn't use the wi-fi but some nice Saddleback (district?) tech guy got me on with his code or something. Thanks dude!
     The trustees are now arriving: Prendergast, Lang, Meldau, Padberg—even Milchiker! Haven't seen Tom Fuentes yet. I do believe that TJ (Prendergast) is growing a beard. At any rate, he appears more simian than usual. —Gosh, I do believe that Dave Lang, too, has some serious 5 o'clock shadow. Strictly Nixonian. What's it mean?
7:01 — They're almost ready to start, but still no Fuentes. No Jay.

Fitzsimons

7:03 — The meeting (open session) begins.
Actions taken in closed session
   5/0 vote -- authorized ... Debra Fitzsimons offered employment (Update, 4/25: "Dr. Debra L. Fitzsimons has been appointed as Vice Chancellor, Business Services.")
   Lang gives invocation (Our great country....)

IVC Speech & Debate Team

   Resolutions: (1) Eve Shieh, student trustee (2) Anita Bandekar (3) Jamie Smith (4) Tasha Trankiem [popular gal!] (5) Irvine Valley College Speech & Debate Team
No public comments
   7:25 -- BOARD REPORTS: Meldau...Milchiker...Prendergast: wants a "I survived the Tornado" at Life Sciences groundbreaking ceremony T-shirt...Padberg...Lang.....
   CHANCELLOR'S REPORT: ...last meeting before commencement...will be moving forward tonight with ATEP--tonight, contracts at ATEP. Ground leases with other organizations to pay for future building; will get some direction; what to do with the chapel....
Board requests for reports...none
   Discussion item: 4.1 "Humanitarian efforts for Japan" at the two colleges

     Fumiko Ishi comes up. Japanese Club at IVC. She introduces some members: Esther S, Yoshee... (club has 30 or 40 members) ~ "Love for Japan" slide show. Nice logo. Shows pictures of devastation. Many children left without parents. People exhausted in shelters.
     T shirt sales. Creating a blog. Selling wristbands. $3000 in checks; 6K in something else.... Will show a movie: Gaia Symphony #6. Beautiful photography ~ ivcjapan11@gmail.com 
     Next: Saddleback College effort: Rachel, Prez of International Club w/ Student Government Prez. (I had a hard time reading their slide.) Talked about list of organizations "you guys" can donate to. Collected $1,627... went to Red Cross Japan. No doubt there was more, but I got distracted.
     Padberg thanks both groups. Milchiker yammers for a while. "College with a heart"--description of original college in 1967.
     Advancing items 6.22 (pulling 6.23 - classified employee layoff)
Retirement incentive program. Motion to approve. Unanimous (two absent)
Approve consent calendar: Unanimous


Action items:
6.1 approved.
6.2 approved.
6.3 approved.
6.4 approved. Lang: minimum commission amt. Cafeteria operations agreement
6.5 approved.
   8:00
6.6 Life Sciences Bldg/IVC. Bid, Edge Development. 11 million. Approved unanimously
6.7 American Geotechnical, Utt Learning Resources. Approved unanimously
6.8 Parking bail increase ($3). Unanimous approval.
6.9 ATEP. drainage ditch, maintenance and repair. $25k Approved unanimously
6.10 Audit committee — 3 trustees. Passes.

A day without Fuentes is
like a day with sunshine

6.11 - Invocations at District and College Events Resolution 
Chancellor recommends adoption. Lang moves approval. Meldau seconds. No questions or comments. Roll call vote: All vote in favor. (See resolution here.)
6.12 approved
6.13 selection criteria, user selection, ATEP. Approved
6.14 Education selection criteria, ATEP. Have had many discussions about which institutions to partner with. Profit? Religiously affiliated? Lang moves approval. Unanimous.
6.15 Demolition of Chapel at ATEP (WWII chapel).
    Chancellor recommendation to demolish. Chancellor: pesky problem not resolved.
     It will be in the middle of the property we want to develop. Must make a decision. Move it? Where? $1.7 million to bring to service use (if not moved). Demo the building.
     Meldau: speaking as ex-military officer, it has little historical significance. The money it would take to make it viable would be too much. Other memorials are being planned in the area. Appreciate that some are trying to honor the military. Perhaps there are other ways. Scholarships?
     Prendergast: moves to approve. Lang seconds. Padberg: appreciates Meldau's comments. Recognize the economics of this. Do feel that we should at least save this chapel. Will vote against this item (though has no doubt it will pass).
     4 yes, 1 no vote. Passes. (See WWII military chapel to be demolished)

Doomed WWII chapel:
"little historical significance"

6.16 passes
6.17 passes
6.18 passes
6.19 Authorization to seek proposals for lease/leaseback services -- Lang refers to those (not in attendance [Fuentes]) who had issues with this. Lang moves for approval. Prendergast asked if anyone in the community has come forward with concerns. No. Passes unanimously.
6.21 personnel actions - carries unanimously
6.22 classified personnel actions - carries unanimously (e1a pulled)
6.24 - CSEA public hearing - initial proposal, contract....
7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.6, 7.7, .... no comments
Written reports:
Burnett: thanks Eve Schieh. Blah blah blah - hopes for better health for Jay and Fuentes
Roquemore: blah blah blah - Life Sciences groundbreaking "challenged by the weather" - water spout did remove roofs of nearby buildings many years ago (I saw it!)....
Peebles: thanks trustees for further direction, ATEP.
Saddleback College Academic Senate: see Phantom of the Opera....
IVC Ac. Senate President: finished our lecture series; planning for next year....
   8:38
Faculty Association (union): tonight you approved program that will allow 50 faculty to retire. Some founding members of IVC. Urges the board to be aware of opportunity to hire the best faculty to replace retirees....