Good news for Don Wagner, bad news for goodness

Looks like (SOCCCD trustee) Don Wagner’s prospects of winning the 70th Assembly District seat have improved yet again. Matt Cunningham of the the Red County blog (Black Drops Out) today reports that Shawn Black has decided to withdraw from the race.

According to Cunningham,

That leaves the race to Tustin Councilman Jerry Amante and South OC Community College District Trustee Don Wagner. To the extent Black's withdrawal impacts the race, I think it will benefit Wagner, who has been tapping into the same conservative grass-roots soil Wagner has been tilling.

Right now, it looks good for Don. Don's partnership with Tom Fuentes has been good for him.

And so we’ve really got to start thinking about what Don’s exit from the board would mean for the SOCCCD.

And yes, a Democrat is in this race, though her chances are slim. See Melissa Fox for Assembly.

Don's site: Wagner for Assembly.

"looking amateurish"

The blogger who hosts Confessions of a Community College Dean and who also blogs for Inside Higher Ed, weighs in on the situation at Southwestern College.

excerpt:

Several alert readers sent me this story about Southwestern College, a cc near San Diego. According to the IHE account, the college has banned several faculty, including the past and current presidents of the union, from campus. Their indirect support of a student protest appears to be the reason. (The President is apparently on an extended vacation, which doesn't help.)

I won't go off on the evil of banning critics from campus, since I take that as given. And I won't do the usual administrators-are-the-source-of-all-evil rant, either, because it's neither true nor helpful.

Instead, I'll offer a critique as a college administrator. Simply put, Southwestern's administration is looking amateurish. This is not how it's done.

To read the rest, posted on Inside Higher Ed, click here.

You can also read it on his blog: click here.

Tracy Daly's Board meeting highlights now available.

After the protest: a “splinter group” encounters cops—but then what happened?

An article in yesterday’s Chronicle of Higher Education (Professors Suspended After a Protest Might Also Face Criminal Charges) sheds some light, but not much, on the curious suspensions of four faculty at Southwestern College last week:

Southwestern initially issued a statement over the weekend saying the faculty suspensions were due to a personnel matter unrelated to the rally. But a campus officials said on Monday that the suspensions were related to an incident after the main protest, which was officially limited to a one-hour time period and a proscribed "free-speech area" on the campus.

After the sanctioned protest concluded, a splinter group of about 50 protesters attempted to reach the office of President Raj K. Chopra. On the way, they met a line of police officers, according to Brent Chartier, the campus police chief. He said some protesters then committed "illegal activity," which is now under investigation.

A fairly typical splinter group

… A campus spokeswoman, Melissa Abeyta, declined to answer specific questions about the reasons for the suspensions. She said activity during the confrontation between the protesters and the police near the president's office was what led to the suspensions.

…

Philip Lopez, an English professor and president of the faculty union, said he had not done anything wrong. He said he was notified of his suspension on the night of the protest in a letter hand-delivered by the college's human-resources director and a campus security officer.

The letter did not explain the reason for his suspension, he said. Instead, it cited a section of state law that allows a campus leader to temporarily suspend an employee who has "willfully disrupted the orderly operation" of a campus.

"The important question that needs to be answered is, What are you accused of doing?" he said. "Well, I don't know."

Mr. Lopez said his lawyer had advised him against speaking about the specifics of the incident involving the police.…

"This is just an incredibly naïve screw-up by the administration," Mr. Lopez said. "I couldn't have written a better script."

Evidently, we may learn more soon.

Inspirational graphics for a Tuesday evening

Bob says that IVC is the best educational bargain around. Hence the new sign.
I think he shoulda waited for board approval though.

Just having a little fun with one of our trustees, the irrepressible Tom Fuentes, former head of the OC GOP. He's very staunch. Find 'im at the Balboa Bay Club, smoking cigars.

1990: Humanities was all set to get the next shiny new building—this one here. Then Mathur blackballed us, so we got skipped over a few times. But it's OK; we're set to get our own trailer village in 2015.

Everybody thinks I make this sh*t up. Nope, I got this graphic from the Irvine Ranch Water District site. Whatever you do, don't lick the ground. And try not to breathe.

This was an actual page from the OC Register (though I magnified the article at right). Rats, rat bastards, and ukuleles all on the same page. Gotta love the OC.

Two or three years ago, one of our college PR people dropped by with an idea: a campus book burning! "No," said Rebel Girl. "Not a good idea." He couldn't understand what the problem was. 
I fashioned this nifty poster.  See Hey, kids! Let's put on a book burning!

Clearly, Tom was born thirty years too late. Bourbon and cigars.

Just a tiny flower, here at my place, yesterday morning.

About last night (the board meeting)

Craig's “Instructional Coordinator”:

As you know, at the end of August, long-time faculty leader Wendy Gabriella gave up the IVC Academic Senate Presidency, a position she held for many years, to become “Instructional Coordinator of Academic Programs, Office of Instruction, for the 2009-2010 academic year.” (See Wendy’s new assignment, 8/27/09.) The position evidently entails 100% reassigned time.

As the Instructional Coordinator (IC), Wendy is essentially VPI Craig Justice’s assistant and, evidently, his representative (she reportedly explains), which occasionally creates odd circumstances in which a member of faculty leads a gaggle of administrators.

There’s a certain amount of talk in the hallways about that. Some people don’t like it. Not a bit.

The “Dean of Academic Programs” (DAPS):

This circumstance has a peculiar history. As I explained in August,

It is no secret that VPI Justice … has been encumbered by startlingly numerous responsibilities since he came to IVC two or three years ago. That problem led to a proposal, last spring, to create a new IVC deanship—a Dean of Academic Programs, Student Learning, and Research [DAPS]. The proposal, however, was rejected by the SOCCCD board, perhaps owing in part to the need for frugality (or, anyway, its appearance) during this period of fiscal stress.

I first reported on the board’s rejection of the DAPS idea back in April (Notes on last night’s board meeting). At the time, I noted a peculiar moment during the April board meeting:

Chancellor [Raghu] Mathur stated that he supported the [DAPS] proposal. Oddly, he even seemed to say that, if the position is approved and [IVC Prez] Glenn [Roquemore] sends up a candidate, he’ll support that recommendation too! … Sounds like Raghu has been in the woodshed.

Woodshed? Allow me to explain. At the time (and, I suspect, ever since), tensions existed between Wagner and Mathur. The story, at any rate, was that Mathur had angered Wagner by somehow undermining some elements on his agenda (as board President). Mathur, of course, is a long-time opponent of Wendy’s (for reasons that need not be explained for those familiar with this blog). But, owing to their work together on IVC’s accreditation task force, Don and Wendy (and IVC Prez Glenn Roquemore) had developed a good working relationship. They were pals, more or less.

And so: Mathur’s curious remark at the April board meeting suggested to some observers (to me anyway) that, some time before the board meeting, Wagner had read Mathur the riot act about his interference with Roquemore and Justice’s plan to pursue this new deanship—and perhaps ultimately to give Wendy the job.

But then August came around and Wendy became “Instructional Coordinator,” i.e., Craig’s assistant. Many observers saw Wendy’s appointment to that position as either (a) a way around the board’s decision to reject the new dean position—or (b) a convenient transitional situation until the atmosphere becomes right to bring back the DAPS idea—or (c) both (a) and (b).

Good freakin' grief!

Naturally, anyone who believes in fair and open hiring processes will cringe at the possibility that administrators would pursue a new position—such as a deanship—with a particular person in mind to fill that position. And, gosh, many of us who have battled the forces of slime and darkness since 1996 have regarded “fairness and openness” as, well, a big part of what we were fighting for.

About last night:

OK, so here’s the thing. In recent weeks, various people have been telling me to look for DAPS (that “new” dean position) to appear on the agenda for the board’s October meeting. That sounded pretty unlikely—why would Glenn/Craig recommend a position that, only six months ago, the board had rejected? Still, I looked for it when the agenda finally became available late last week.

But it was nowhere to be found. Thus, when, here on Dissent, I previewed issues for the October meeting, I made no reference to DAPS. I just figured that the people I talk to didn't know what they were talking about. It happens.

Except they did know what they were talking about. Today, several people informed me that, at last night’s board meeting, during the closed session, Don Wagner was hopping mad (at Mathur?) that the DAPS item had been “pulled” from (or had not been placed on) the agenda.

Was this a replay of Mathur’s anti-Wendy and anti-Glenn/Craig shenanigans of April?

Who the hell knows. Not me, that's for sure.

And how does Wagner and Fuentes’ cozy relationship on the campaign trail figure into all this? It’s plain that Fuentes is pulling out all the stops to help Wagner get elected as Assemblyman for the 70th District. But Fuentes is not the kind of guy who just helps guys out. Strings are attached. And Fuentes’ has long been Raghu Mathur’s only strong supporter on the board (aside from John Williams, who has become a cardboard figure).

You’d think that, if Fuentes gets what he wants from Wagner, he’s gonna get Wagner’s “hands off” of Mathur.

Good grief. You figure it out. I'm goin' to the gym.

Poor personal hygiene?

More Anger After College Statement on Suspension of 4 Profs (Inside Higher Ed)

Southwestern College, a community college outside San Diego, has been under fire since last week's suspension of four faculty members, following a protest that criticized the administration. With professors saying that they are being punished for expressing their views, the college late Monday issued a new statement -- but that statement (while noting that one suspension has been lifted) only further angered the professors. The statement says: "Four faculty members were placed on paid administrative leave on Thursday, October 22, 2009, and three faculty members remain on paid administrative leave at this time, pending the outcome of the investigation. Please understand that no formal charges or allegations have been made against any College faculty member or employee at this time. The student rally held between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. on October 22, 2009, is not the focus of the investigation. The college is investigating safety and security issues that arose after the approved organized student rally. The college respects, values and is committed to lawful free expression and the student rally provided an opportunity for our students to voice their concerns and to underscore the challenges that all community college students, and community colleges, are experiencing. The college is committed to maintaining a safe environment for our students and staff, which is the focus of the investigation."

College officials did not respond to requests for clarifications on the statement. But Philip Lopez, an English professor who is president of the faculty union, said that the statement only added to the questions about the incident. If the college is now on record as saying that there are no charges or allegations, why is it appropriate to remove faculty members from their classes and ban them from campus, he asked. Lopez said this action violates basic due process rights. "If there are no charges, why were we placed on leave?," he asked. "Rumor? Reputation? Union-busting? Poor personal hygiene?"

UCI law dean Chemerinsky to represent teacher sued by student (OC Register)

From DtB file D

From DtB file K

"Let's kill all the lawyers": the October board meeting

Dang! How come I can't cite this sign as harassment?

Showed up for the board meeting tonight, six minutes late. D’oh!

As I entered the “Ronald Reagan” School Book Depository, James Wright was being recognized as the 2009 “Outstanding Administrator of the Year.” Jim Gaston was up next as “Outstanding Manager of the Year.” He noted his lack of humility. Funny guy.

The IVC Foundation people played a nice little slide show jam packed with goofy factoids about students training for jobs that don’t yet exist, learning knowledge that is obsolete before they get out to the parking lot. Toward the end, somebody seemed to pull the plug on it. No fade out, nothing.

Nasty, busy administrative fingers

Tom Fuentes seemed terribly pleased about the whole thing. Told a goofy story about seeing a “gentleman” at UCI reading a book this morning. Gotta keep learning things, said the guy. Tom next spotted this same guy in the slide show.

What does it mean? I have no idea.

The only “public comment” was from Saddleback College Academic Senate Prez Bob C, who presented a packet of material concerning the dangers of smoking, of second-hand smoke, etc. I do believe that Bob and students want to make the Saddleback campus smoke free.

Tod Burnett introduced a dozen or so students from Egypt—evidently, they are participating in a State Dept.-funded program involving 20 community colleges around the country. These kids seemed friendly, glad to be here.

Board reports were mostly unremarkable, though Dave Lang did introduce his theme for the evening: that the district will be receiving significantly fewer Basic Aid bucks ($17 million, I think) and that the district/board has strayed from its guidelines for spending such money. He also said he was concerned about articles he’s read about students having difficulty being accepted for transfer.

Once again, John Williams gave no report at all. He’s become the board’s cardboard figure trustee.

Chancellor Raghu Mathur reported that he had participated in a “fashion show” at the Laguna Woods Republican Club. Sounded like hell. He looked like sh*t.

Fuentes said something unpleasant about matching money for—I didn’t catch it, maybe scheduled maintenance—something about the extra Basic Aid money the colleges are getting for increased enrollments. Gosh, I just can’t listen to the man anymore.

I think he said that he didn’t like last month’s decisions about Basic Aid spending, and so he wanted to move toward a “reconsideration” of that item. Nancy Padberg pointed out that it would be unfair to yank funds that have already been promised. Fuentes snorted. I guess Mathur will come back with more info next time. Gosh, this sounded important, but, like I said, I just can’t stand to listen to this stuff anymore. Sorry.

There was a slightly weird and very earnest presentation of “veterans outreach” at the two colleges. (See slide show.) I don’t think there’s anybody who doesn’t support veterans and these programs, and, as usual, the trustees fell over themselves praising the vets and the presentation. The latter, though highly praised, seemed a bit like a dream or even a nightmare, as though something was very wrong and nobody was saying what it was. Maybe it was just me. Sometimes I’m just not fit for human company.

In the end, Fuentes made a speech about the importance of veterans in Orange County. Blah, blah, blah, he said. Gosh, really, I can hardly stand to listen to the man.

I think he mentioned his liver.

Jim Gaston was asked to discuss item 6.1, a contract with Neudesic for software for the “Sherpa project.” Big bucks (up to $900K) are involved. Gaston was pretty excited about all the whizbangery that he and his people were setting up that would help students when they try to enroll in a class but it’s closed. Something will pop up and say, “Dude, sorry you can’t enroll in this class, but why did you want it in the first place? Maybe we can direct you to something that fits your schedule!” And then menus and photons and such will pop up and guide students to the promised land. Evidently, what we’ve got going for students online is so epoch-shatteringly cool and attractive that other districts wanna buy it from us, and so, you see, this Neudesic thing is actually an investment!

The board discussed a policy revision of something called “Academic Renewal.” Evidently, a student can sometimes ask to have a whole semester of grades deleted from their record (although nothing is really deleted, said Gary, as though that would reassure everyone) in order to delete just one unfortunate grade. Lang and others seemed puzzled by all this. Me too. Whatever, they approved it.

More than a dozen Egyptian students

The board checked out the two colleges’ faculty hiring priority lists. Lang wanted to get a ballpark figure of how many of these hires would be pursued. Mathur yammered for a while about how we’ve gotta keep an eye on the 50% Law (which requires that at least half of expenditures go to faculty salaries and benefits), blah, blah, blah. He couldn't give a “definitive” number. But Lang kept pressing, asking for an “educated guess,” and so Mathur spit out “20-25,” though I think I heard somebody yell “30.” Lang just smiled that dubious Milquetoast smile of his.

I've forgotten why, but, at some point, Marcia Milchiker referred to Shakespeare’s line that we should “kill all the lawyers,” and that inspired eyebrow archery and a slow burn from Don Wagner. But it was all in good daffy fun, I guess. You know Marcia.

One of the slides for the Veterans presentation had sported a misspelling--of the word “college” (an “l” was left out). At some point, I think Don slyly attributed the blunder to the jokers at USC who had made a video for the veterans programs. This was evidently a jibe intended for Tom, who is a notoriously avid booster of all things USC, whatever that means.

At long last, we got to item 7.5, the nasty little report that Fuentes had requested about “college professors in Orange County.” For years, said Tom, he has encountered people from the State University and the UC systems who were “surprised” by community college salaries. Well, said Tom, this report vindicates such reactions, what with the average salary at CSU Fullerton being $6,000 less than the average at SOCCCD.

Fuentes was cherry-picking. In fact, the UCI salaries were much higher than SOCCCD salaries, and, of the four county CC districts, SOCCCD salaries were second from the bottom.

Bill Jay noted that, when it comes to salaries, it is very hard to compare apples with apples, and besides you’ve got to consider the great difference in instructor “load” between systems.

Nevertheless, in the end, Fuentes pronounced the report “informative” and “interesting.”

God, he hates us.