As the costs of textbooks rise, professors help students find alternatives (OC Reg)

Dean at University of Texas Resigns in Part Over Handgun Law (NYT)
     A highly regarded dean at the flagship campus of the University of Texas announced this week that he was leaving the school in part because of his concerns over a new state law allowing people to carry concealed firearms in classrooms and other buildings on public college campuses....

As pleased as punch: Understanding the Budget

     I don’t know how anyone could learn about the way our colleges are funded and how their budget decisions are made without thinking such words as “byzantine” and “ridiculous.” That, at any rate, is how I have long reacted to accounts of the process that I have been provided at my own college, IVC.
     Somehow, I doubt that such words were present in the minds of my polite colleagues who attended today’s chirpy presentation by the district’s Debra Fitzsimmons and various budgeteers. It was called “Understanding the Budget,” and it involved about fifty colorful slides and maybe five speakers with varying capacities to enlighten the benighted. The disquisition was all very friendly and nice. There was loads of good will in the room. Smiles all around. Hugs even.
     Me, I kept thinking about the convoluted processes and all the committees and their dubious serpentine inputery. I kept thinking about the inch-thick handouts packet I was given—with all the crazy graphics and charts.
     “WTF,” I thought.
     Who knows. Maybe others share my confusitude and dismay. Unfortunately, I couldn’t stick around for the Q & A. Dunno.
     Well, whatever. It was good to see friends and colleagues I rarely see.
     The Chancellor just emailed us to provide a link to some incarnation of the presentation. Here it is:

Link

     If you like charts and graphs and various iterations of flow charts, you’ll climax. Good for you.
     Me, I’m thinking: surely, this is no way to run a college. And there's nothing present to prevent things from just getting worse and worse. Everyone seems just as pleased as punch about the whole thing.

• Scalia's death a likely reprieve for [CTA] (OC Reg)
• Weird secrecy surrounds questionable OC death-penalty case (R. Scott Moxley)

The February board meeting: Board Prez Jemal sports a WTF look - $36 million stadium? Really?

Run, hide, fight, say "cheese"

     Agenda - See also Tere's Board Meeting Highlights

     6:24 - OK, here we are for the February meeting of the SOCCCD Board of Trustees. I don't expect this meeting to be special or interesting, but we'll see. [Below: discussion of possible Saddleback stadium—and ever-expanding price tag!—is interesting.]
     The trustees are running loose in the building, with some of them wandering the aisles. They seem pretty chipper. Spunky even. (Wright is absent, and that heightens the spunk factor.)
     Tonight's discussion item is:

4.1 - Saddleback College and Irvine Valley College: Board Report Active Shooter Preparations and Training 
     Representatives from Saddleback College and Irvine Valley College will do a presentation and/or be available to answer questions regarding active shooter preparations and training at both colleges.

     Exaggerated fears plus guys with guns. This could get silly.

6:30 - The meeting begins! The Clerk (Lang) reads out actions taken in closed session (the meeting that started at 5:00): one report. 6-0 vote (Wright absent) leave without pay to part-time classified employee at SC.

     Rise for invocation, says Board Prez Jemal. Next: Pledge of A.
     Two requests for public comments:

     Doug Barr: 25th Anniversary of the college ("the college"? He means Saddleback, natch). Sign/poster outside. Blah, blah, blah. Many original faculty/administrators - "they're slipping away from us." We have an obligation to capture history "while it's still among us." Please join in this effort. We've got lots of work to do still.
     Pete Espinoza: brief statement. June 1977, I was hired as classified employee, then did EOPS program. Later assigned as assistant to Chancellor, then counselor. He takes pride in his career at the college. Announces his campaign bid for area 3 trustee. [That's the Jay seat. I do believe that Barbara Jay pledged not to run for office at the next election.]

BOARD REPORTS:

     Prendergast: Went to Pathways conference. Then went to "Accounting" pathways. Yadda yadda yadda. President's cup game (basketball, I guess). Attended Mimi Walters event on safety(?). Thanks for outpouring of concern since last meeting. (Daughter turns out to be OK: a "weird panicky thing" is all.)
     Barbara Jay: Sacramento conference, learned a lot. Attended IVC board of governors meeting.
     Timothy Jemal: Attended South OC coalition economic forecast, etc. (Dean Tony Tang.) Well attended. Surpassed last year's presentation. Appeared on Laguna Woods channel 6. Different moderator. "It's a different kind of place now." (I think he was alluding to weirdness there.) Business council dinner.
     Dave Lang: also attended the big basketball game. Served on the audit committee: met with financial folks of the district, audit team. Went over plan for the year, issues. Foundations and their directors. Good meeting. Good plan for the current year. Kudos to these people who do such a great job.
     Marcia Milchiker: Attended Jack Schwarzbaugh's funeral; original administrator. There'll be a "history of Saddleback" project, and I'll donate to it. "I think the only college close to being as good as Saddleback College is IVC." (Ahem.) Attended SC science lecture series, which involved a chemist from UCI. She yammered about fluorescing ladybugs. Economic forecast luncheon.  Motown event, great music. We danced for an hour. (We all imagined this.)
     Terri Whitt: a great event: effective trustee workshop, a "growing experience" for me. Astonished at what trustees need to know. The only negative: couldn't be here for Jack's funeral. Economic report was "outrageously good." (Holds up flier.) "I am a Motown girl," she announces. Loved that event, "wonderful." The people in the audience really rocked (she said).
     Student trustee Lemar Momand: attended show put on by dance department. Teach-in on Islam, very interesting. Attended IVC meeting.
     Chancellor's report (Gary Poertner): Tim Jemal mentioned that we're getting a report tonight on "active shooter" situations. Police officers will explain preparations. One caution: this discussion is, of course, highly sensitive, so won't go into some details (that could be helpful to a potential shooter). March 22nd meeting, professional development, etc. Looking forward to it.
     IVC President Glenn Roquemore: we'll be discussing our construction projects. Trustees, you get "snapshots," but nothing "really big on the buildings themselves." First, the Liberal Arts Bld. Has been called "the Glacier," "Iceberg," or "Pin Cushion." (Laughter.) The plastic has finally been removed. Looks brand new! Hope to be moved in in the Fall. Also: restrooms for athletes. Finalizing drawings of yet another building. Need a new parking lot. ATEP building: looking at a November groundbreaking. (Yeah, sure.)
      Saddleback College President Tod Burnett: Science Building, opening October(?) 29th. Technology and Applied Science Bld. Blah blah blah. Athletic field, etc. Will pick contractor by summer. Gateway Bldg. Renovation of Math/Science. ATEP. These projects will transform Saddleback College. Trying to get them done by 50th Anniversary, in 2018.
     Student government kids, et al:..... Blah blah blah. Blah.

Board requests for reports? None.

ACTIVE SHOOTER:

The discussion item (see 4.1 above). (Requested by Whitt)

     Cops, et al., come up to podium. Carol H introduces two chiefs. Big build-up. She was really selling these guys.
     Chief Patrick Higa: Active shooter or "mass casuality" event is most dangerous. We're here to explain how we've prepared for that. "Infrastructure": best to neutralize the threat. Officers are well-equipped. (Yeah, they've got that tank.) Trained dispatcher. Shows slide of officer with gun, approaching suspect, tuned in to dispatcher.   (Pretty silly. People gobble this up.) Ability to lock down campus doors remotely. "Prevention": "at risk" training. Crisis intervention Team. "Advocate" online reporting. "Silent witness" reporting link. [This is a classic cop presentation: buzzes through factoids, indifferent to audience understanding. Lots of technical terms, the merest of buzzwords, jargon, annoying acronyms. Precious little light cast on what they're actually doing or are capable of.] Blah blah blah. On-going training and materials. We've been training with the Sheriff's Department. Safety videos, including "distress indicators," etc. Available to all employees. Folders--yes, folders--are available. Community emergency response team -- blah blah blah. Cops will seek input from governance groups.
      He shows one of the videos on "active shooter." (See above.) Shows what to do: "run, hide, fight." "Remember that." Take cover behind a tree. If you're hiding behind a car, stand behind the engine. Formulate a plan of escape. Close and lock any doors between you and shooter. Turn off lights. Phone the magic number: be prepared to give 5 pieces of info. Make sure your phone is silent, boy, or you could be in for it. "Only attack a shooter as a last resort." --End.
     Any questions? (Will wait until after Chief Glen's presentation.)

     Chief Will Glen (IVC): much more informal, human presentation:
     No way to prevent active shooter situation, but we can prepare. We work with Irvine Police and Sheriff's Department. E.g., we've had active shooter movement training. Also trained in hostage situation (with Tustin Police Department.) Have practiced door breeching with our training partners. (Boom!) We make plans, that's a big part of preparation. And active shooter protocols, instructing students, et al., what to do. Also, behavioral intervention. How to recognize indications that a person is a potential threat of some kind. Describes Flex Week event that went very well. We're developing advanced plans. Training videos available, including disturbed students video, "run, hide or fight" videos, etc. Mentions other kinds of training: a page is available with many items, resources. Student health center is developing a "triage" capability. LIE: Locate, isolate, and eliminate threats. Resources for post traumatic stress being developed. We've had six presenations related to run, hide, fight. Broad training provided to staff and students. Projects under way: blue towers on campus, stationed at various spots, flashes blue, making it easier for cops to find distressed individual. Almost ready to kick-off. Integrated security camera and door system. Dispatchers receive a call, look at camera where the problem is. Partnering with Saddleback on this. Also emergency manual door locks - a plate that attaches to the door (very simple). Anyone can use and operate. (See room A123 at IVC)
     Questions?
     Prendergast: likes Saddleback's video for "run, hide, fight." (I thought it was mighty hokey. See above.)  Questions re prep for students. How do we get the word out to students? Glen: great participation by students at our events. Higa: we rely on ads, fliers. (This sounds underwhelming.) We try to direct students to our website. Our plan is to reach out to governance groups. Prendergast: likes homeland security videos re run, hide, fight. "Very well done."  (Really?) Marcia: appreciates events, has attended some of them. One question: who are our dispatchers? Trained police officers? Higa: we make a point of hiring prepared/trained dispatchers, though they are not police officers. Marcia: I've received text messages during emergencies! Glen: we use Blackboard (Blackboard Connect), and another system for messages. Also, we send voice messages to the room. Marcia: found both websites, easy to find. Found videos, but couldn't find them for IVC. Glen: see column on left hand side. You'll see it there. Okey-dokey, says Marcia. Second location: Inside IVC (part of the college webpage). A couple of videos: employee training. Whitt: I'll meet with both of you privately. Jemal: thanks for excellent presentation. You're doing an outstanding job, and you're "pretty good presenters." (Is he trying to be funny? I laughed.)

Consent calendar: 5.6, 5.4 pulled.

Mass approval, unanimous.

Carol H

5.4. Saddelback College cafeteria operation services agreement. Carol comes up to explain details, blah blah blah. Moved, approved.

5.6. Travel abroad, Southeastern Brazil. Several comments.
     Whitt: just wanted to ask about safety re Student Travel, Brazil. Blah blah blah. Second trip, not the first one. Burnett: professors have gone here before. Re the virus: southeastern portion is not locus of outbreaks. Trip not until June. Large portion will have immunity by then. Lots of control measures by the governments. Blah blah blah. Students have insurance, etc. Marcia chimes in with concerns for pregnant women re virus. Item moved. Vote: unanimous except for Whitt's abstention.

General Action items:

6.1 - Marian Bergeson Award - no nominations
6.2 - Board of Governors Classified employee of the year award.  - unanimous approval


THE SADDLEBACK STADIUM WOULD COST HOW MUCH?

Brandye D

6.3 - 2018-2019 five-year construction plan.
     Fitz: blah blah blah. Brandye D'Lena (Fac/Plng/Purch/Mat Mgmt) comes up. Blah blah blah. Roquemore chimes in. Goes through list of projects. Changes, switching, etc. Brandye's all smiles as per usual. Her smiles usually prevail.
     Prendergast: any investigation about pool being available? Brandye: Needs to be part of planning processes. The process will be underway. Right now, says Brandye, no pool on the list. Needs to be put there. "Just sayin', it's a lot cheaper than a stadium," says Prendergast (laughter). (Prendergast has always been a pool booster.) Lang: trying to understand distinction between repair/renovation in terms of following spirit of Basic Aid (namely, one-time projects only; no ongoing expenses? Or maybe he is referring to dollar amounts). Brandye goes into distinction between district and college projects. Blah blah blah. Whitt: these projects will be going on simultaneously. Five of these will be going on at Saddleback, including parking(?). I think she was asking if there would be practical conflicts with that. Brandye: we've thought about all that. We're on top of it, man. Vacant lots will become parking lots, etc. Brandye gets cute about how she can't reveal what some of the contractors are saying they can do for us, blah blah blah. Marcia: asks about one of the projects; that project is a ways off still, says B. "It's just a renovation, right?" Yep. Putting in a new foundation. Have to jackhammer the slab out. (Wow.)
     Jemal: athletic stadium costs. They've doubled since last year. Brandye: last year, when we came to you with requests. It was $18 million for stadium. That concerned original design by consultant. Those numbers were used last year. We moved forward, met with "criteria architect."  Ideas were taken to faculty, staff. Has doubled to a $36 million project. So what we do? Process we use: if over budget, we go to college and give options. She explains how other resources became available (I had a coughing fit amidst Brandye's explanation, so I dunno). Jemal expresses consternation with this change in cost. Brandye discusses realities of working with these figures, plans, contractors, etc. Jemal: please don't come to us with "back of envelope" figures again, you dig? Everybody is in agreement. about that, I guess. Pendergast: $36 million just for stadium itself? Or field, etc. also? Brandye: Don't have exact answer. She rifles through files. The $36 million is indeed specific to the stadium.  Big money, man.
     Item is moved. Unanimously approved. We're approving priorities, not costs, at this point, reminds Jemal, who is peeved. Prendergast: when this first emerged, big push from foundation. It helps to have a vision to fundraise. Brandye passes question off to Burnett. Burnett says the foundation doesn't nearly have the money to cover this extra cost. Blah blah blah. They vote: unanimous
6.4 - ... Motion to approve. Unanimous.


JEMALIAN CONSTERNATION; RATE INCREASES

Jemal: WTF?

6.5  - Cordoba Corp. (ADA transition plan) - Jemal has concerns about consulting amount ... Fitz: blah blah blah. Brandye is again asked to explain. Roquemore interrupts: both colleges very cognizant of ADA compliance. Jemal: this plan should have been in place a long time ago. No one can argue with that. Disappointed to see this on the agenda. Brandye: will address dollar value. We originally approved $400K. Legal advised us about best approach. Got new proposals. All within range we see here, which is much higher. It is a costly service. OK, says Jemal, who's pissed. They vote: unanimous.
6.6 - plan for STRS PERS rate increase. Fitzsimmons: a little bit complicated....Rate increases dramatic to reduce liability.... Blah blah blah. Lang: I've studied this item. I agree with idea of addressing this issue, this liability, now. Will this need to be recognized as a liability? (An accounting question.) Audit person steps up: our share of 30 year liability. This exact liability won't show up on our books. Lang: my concern about rec: the mechanism to fund it (basic aid); also, the time period. Lang: looks like it has to come out of basic aid (no alternative). Only question: what time period? All at once? Spread out? I suppose I'm OK with district's recommendation, over three years, says Lang. Not willing to accept recommendation as its made now. Separate trust fund for this. Fitz: team conferred about this. We're hesitant about... (I couldn't follow this.) Lang remembers OC bankruptcy. Influences him now, what with the new county civic center project they've undertaken (he doesn't like it, it seems). Pendergast: in agreement with trustee Lang. Talks about history that brought us here (rate had been reduced to become more manageable; created this bubble). Marcia: perhaps table this? Fitz: the cycle is starting, time's a wastin'. Jemal: are you willing to amend item (in accordance with our desires)? Motion to amend (in way favorable to Lang's worries, whatever they are). This will have big impact on other projects. Lang: I support funding this over shorter time. Yes, will impact other basic aid projects. but will be huge help to both colleges to fund it in this sped-up manner. Alternative: worse hit. Fitz: we did confer with college presidents about this (defending original rec). Marcia agrees to adjustment amendment. They vote: unanimous (as amended).
     Whew.

Lang: reluctant

WHAT ABOUT OVERSIGHT?

6.7 - Board Policy revision, accept for review and study -- Lang: BPs 2100 and 3200 -- delegating additional authority to execute contacts before board approval. I understand arguments, says Lang. But reluctant to cede board oversight ... need a good discussion before it comes back to board for acceptance. Jemal agrees. Jemal didn't find compelling argument for delegating.... Agree with Lang that this needs to be thought out carefully. Jemal asks Fitz to explain delegation and approval.... Blah blah blah. Discusses issues in favor of "delegation," etc. (I don't really understand this.) Jemal: suppose there's contact approved by Chancellor; then it isn't approved by board. What happens then? Poertner: ratification is necessary, since approval can only be done by BOT. Theoretically, this can go very badly. "A real mess." Jemal remains unpersuaded. Prendergast: do we need a motion? Yes. A motion is made. Poertner: Originally, everything had to go to board, no matter how small the amount. An awful situation, didn't really work. The policy was made to keep the organization going, waiting for approval. (So Chancellor and crew were allowed to go forward with contracts within a certain dollar amount. Still, they required board approval after the fact.) The fiscal team has found that more and more contracts are large, etc. Someone (Lang? Jemal? --No, Prendergast) expresses faith in Chancellor and team to make these decisions, take these actions, as per revised policy (which increases dollar amount of item). Pendergast compares this to guest speaker situation: BOT approves a month after speaker has spoken and been paid. (Jemal isn't so sure.) Lang: some folks are gaming the system right now. "In some respects I'm offended by that." So don't really like this. What about our oversight? So they vote: no. A word has been changed. Now they vote: unanimous (except one no vote: Milchiker). Motion carries.
6.8 - Academic personnel items. Unanimous.
6.9 - Classified personnel items. Unanimous.

WTF? Precisely

6.10 - Probationary faculty, first year. Bugay: 97 faculty. Pretty ponderous project. 18 coming for first contract. ETc. 6.11 -- second year. 6.12 - recommended for tenure.  (3rd year is item 7.1 - two year contract; no recommendation for contract, already in middle of contract.) Unanimous vote.
6.11 - 2nd year probationary contact (two year contract). Unanimous.
6.12 - 4th year probationary. "Except for one of them." In the case of one is exception: Mike Engels. Applied to become interim dean. Thus cannot complete year as faculty member. Therefore, by law, will only be at 50%, etc. He's good. Michael knows about this, it's OK. He's removed from the list. Marcia mentions that someone on one list is also on resignation list. Bugay looks greatly bemused, perhaps consternated. He's told to explain. Bugay: if he's resigned, it would take precedence. So no problem.  Unanimous.

Reports:
      They extend meeting time (anticipating Kathy Schmeidler's longwindedness, says Jemal). Unanimous.

7.1 - Third year probationary....
7.2 - College speakers....
7.3 - basic aid report. Fitz: 14 projects closed out....
7.4 - monthly financial status ....
7.5, 7.6....

Reports from governance groups:
     Blah, blah, blah...
     I'm outa here.

P.S.: Jemal looks like he's gonna be a great Board President.

Harmony for a Monday evening

An obscure band does an obscure Dave Davies song from the Kinks' Lola album (1970). Nice.
I was a huge Kinks fan. Saw 'em at UCI and at Long Beach Auditorium c. 1975.

All the things I own I will share with you
If I feel tomorrow like I feel today
We'll take what we want and give the rest away
Strangers on this road we are on
We are not two we are one

I was a fan of the early Moody Blues when I was just a little kid. Even before I learned to speak English, I was a huge fan of American/British popular music. My mom was a ardent Elvis fan, even when we lived in the wilds of British Columbia (until 1960).
In those days, the Moodies were an R&B outfit — white and British (c. Them, The Animals, early Stones, et al.).
In 1967, they reformed, added a couple of new players, and became the New Agey band that many of us remember (and perhaps contemn). Highlight: 1967's Days of Future Past, which included such tunes as "Tuesday Afternoon," "Nights in White Satin," and "Dawn is a Feeling."
I was a huge fan then, too, and I twice saw them in concert, always at the LA Forum, a shitty venue. But I lost interest starting about 1970, when the Moodies got too flaky and New Agey even for the young Roy Bauer. (I still listen to "Watching and Waiting," however. Most excellent.)
Owing to my academic training, I eventually adopted a hardcore "skeptical" perspective re things New Agey and, um, spiritual. Still, some of this music remains swoon worthy for me.
Waddya gonna do?
(Oddly, some of my favorite music is devoutly religious. Who can fail to love Big Star's "Jesus Christ" or Joan Osborne's "One of Us"?)

Gotta love that crazy front woman and her over-the-top singing/shredding.
She's like a cross between Buffy St. Marie and Angus Young. Always worth watching. In interviews, she's seriously surly. Cool.

Sign of the Times

Today at the little college in the orange groves: the wrapping came off the new A-400 building to reveal scaffolding and a sign. Voila!

*

Philip Morris and Donald Bren give birth to a community

Dig the shitty Beatles covers

     [Donald] Bren built his first house in Newport Beach with a $10,000 loan, in 1958. He began his business career in 1958 when he founded the Bren Company, which built homes in Orange County, California. In 1963, he and two others started the Mission Viejo Company (MVC) and purchased 10,000 acres to plan and develop the city of Mission Viejo, California. Bren was President of MVC from 1963 to 1967. International Paper bought Bren Co. for $34 million in 1970, and then sold it back to Bren for $22 million in 1972 following the recession. Bren took the proceeds and in 1977 joined a group of investors to purchase the 146-year-old Irvine Company. Bren was the largest shareholder of the resulting consortium, owning 34.3% of the company and received the title of Vice-chair of the board. By 1983, he was the majority owner of the firm and was elected chairman of the board. By 1996, he had bought out all outstanding shares to become the sole owner. –From Donald Bren entry in Wikipedia

     MISSION VIEJO — One of Orange County's pioneer developers of planned communities, the Mission Viejo Co., will be sold to J.F. Shea Co., an expanding Southern California building firm, it was announced Friday.
     The deal is expected to fetch more than $400 million, although terms were not disclosed by Philip Morris Cos. Inc., which has owned the Mission Viejo Co. since 1972.
. . .
     The Mission Viejo Co. was founded in 1963 by a partnership of billionaire real estate developer Donald L. Bren and South County landowners the O'Neill family.
     Bren later sold his interest and bought the Irvine Co. Philip Morris made its initial investment in the real estate developer in 1969 and purchased the company outright in 1972 for $52 million. –From LA Times, “Philip Morris Agrees to Sell Mission Viejo Co.”

Michief Bank

Reasonable facsimile of originally intended video

     Yesterday while Rebel Girl's WR 1 students were composing their in-class evaluations of their first essays, she tidied up the desk and surrounding areas of what is the distinctly uncharming but entirely functional classroom known as B-110. The globe which sits atop the unused tower of a filing cabinet was dusty, especially the northern hemisphere, so she polished it with Kleenex. She tried, once again, to join the two parts of the decapitated podium and failed. She threw away old papers advertising old events. Then Rebel Girl opened a box that had been there since the beginning of the semester and she found this!

      Later, after reading her Facebook post about the encounter,  her friend the novelist Mark Childress cautioned, "Careful, that thing is haunted, have you ever read any Stephen King? I'm not kidding. This is EXACTLY how all his books start. Get it away from you NOW."

      But it's too late.

* 

Hey now

Hey now, hey now
Don't dream it's over
Hey now, hey now
When the world comes in
They come, they come
To build a wall between us
We know they won't win

Can you pay my bills?
Can you pay my telephone bills?
Do you pay my automo' bills?
If you did then maybe we could chill
I don't think you do
So, you and me are through

It doesn't hurt me.
Do you want to feel how it feels?
Do you want to know that it doesn't hurt me?
Do you want to hear about the deal that I'm making?
You, it's you and me.

Immortal Robots Among Us

For full comprehension: read as two voices. One makes a statement that ends with ellipses.
The second responds with a bold declaration. 

An unnamed source claimed that the women's restroom in B-100 has the best graffiti on campus.

We have to agree.

*

Hail, Satan

Song originally by The Mountain Goats:

Smash and Grab in A-200

Borron and Sten Office: wood temporarily replacing glass

Serpas and de Roulet Office: wood for glass

Denizens of A-200 arrived to work to find that over the weekend three offices had been burgled.  The thieves gained access by smashing an outside window in one office, then  smashing two interior windows in two other offices.  The haul included two desktop Macs, some pricey Japanese books and one Collected Works of Shakespeare.  

Stay tuned.

*