Friday, driving home

Looking over the valley toward the ocean from the toll road near Portola.

Driving down from Rancho Santa Margarita, to Trabuco Canyon. The Santa Ana Mountains are especially beautiful as the sun sets.

Heading up Live Oak Canyon Road, near O'Neill Park. Three minutes from home!

Less "yadda-yadda-yadda," more "yabba-dabba-doo"

Aha! The “Pledge” controversy LIVES! Here are excerpt’s from A push for the pledge, in this morning’s OC Reg:

"Our early patriots gave up their lives to be United States citizens," [George Key, the great-great-grandfather of Francis Scott Key] said. "(The Pledge) means to me that you are pledging your allegiance and life to your country and your flag."

…Though vets have yet to show up [as they did in 1996, objecting to a similar “ban”] at Orange Coast College, the issue has outraged the community at large, including state Sen. Tom Harman, who criticized the move Thursday in a prepared statement.

…"I think it's amazing how you don't want to say 'under God' in the Pledge of Allegiance but you'll spend our money, which says 'In God we trust,' " …[said student Justine Wiggans].

Like I said, it’s a nation of morons. ✌

See also:

● 11/17 Conflict in the name of loyalty -- Oregonian commentary defends students
● 11/10 Flashreport: "lack of patriotic leadership" -- A local right-wing perspective
● 11/16 State Senator Harmon criticizes students -- Bold fellow!

● While Googling, I came across the following comment. Apparently, it was written by someone who went to my High School (Villa Park High). I remember the incident well:

This story is deja vu for me. 36 years ago the high school I attended in O.C. had a similar controversy. The newly elected student body president announced he would not lead the pledge because he didn't believe in God and it was a lie that America provided "liberty and justice for all". Great controversy ensued and the story was picked up by the wire services and reported as far away as New York. Eventually there was a recall election, and the students voted in favor of keeping the new president. The vice president ended up leading the pledge, everyone got a lesson in democracy, the republic survived, and those of us on the school newspaper got the thrill of seeing one of our stories go national. And Orange County was way more conservative then than it is today. (Little green footballs)

Previously in DtB re "Pledge":

● 11/9 "Yadda-yadda-yadda," he said
● 11/11 Much ado

Monday's board meeting: preview

OR: "SECRET LOVE CHILD"

This afternoon, I downloaded the agenda for Monday’s board meeting (Nov. 20). (This time, only the brief [undocumented] agenda was available at the district website.)

It’s impossible to predict what will spark one of this board’s notorious FOOD FIGHTS. Sometimes these trustees’ll fight over lint--or less.

Nevertheless, below, I mention the items that seem most likely to provoke snipage—or that simply seem most interesting to me. You really ought to review the agenda yourself. (Click on link above.)

CLOSED SESSION:

The 5:00 Closed Session agenda includes the following item:

A. Public Employee Appointment, Employment, Evaluation of Performance, Discipline, Dismissal, Release (GC 54957):

1. Public Employee Appointment/Employment...

2. Public Employee Evaluation of Performance

a. Chancellor

3. Public Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release (5)

I wouldn’t get too excited about this. The board'll likely issue Raghu a Brownie Point or two. They do that, even when they think he's an incompetent rat bastard. Go figure.

OPEN SESSION

The 6:00 Open Session agenda includes:

• A report of any actions taken during Closed Session
• The invocation
• The Pledge [there’s a rumor that somebody plans to sit on a Whoopee cushion in the middle of this; can't wait]
• Resolutions
• Public comments
• Reports

Among the “consent items”:

13. SADDLEBACK COLLEGE: NEW RESTROOMS AT MCKINNEY THEATER: HIRE ARCHITECT -- Agreement with R2A Architecture in the amount of $90,850.00

OK, do I read this right? $91K to draw up plans for the Theater restrooms? Must be the world's biggest restrooms.

Item 23 is the crew of speakers for Spring in-service:

SOCCCD: SPRING 2007 IN-SERVICE KEYNOTE SPEAKERS -- Approval of keynote speakers Dr. Wallace Walrod, Dr. Robert Bramucci and Jim Gaston and singer Scott Robertson to perform at Spring 2007 In-Service for an amount not to exceed $500.00.

Who is Dr. Wallace Walrod?

Back in July, Walrod gave a presentation re OC’s “economic future” before the Association for Strategic Planning in Costa Mesa. According to ASP’s website, Walrod is (or was) Research Director of the Orange County Business Council--you remember them. Evidently, he has headed research projects for various corporations, including the Irvine Company. Nowadays, he's the managing partner of TCCG Tech Coast Consulting Group.

Bramucci is the "district dean" of the "open campus" of the Riverside Community College District. I.e., he's in charge of distance ed.

Have you been reading recent positive reports about the efficacy of distant ed? Hey, you oughta read your DtB more regularly. It's all here, baby.

Robertson? Well, I’m not sure who this is. There’s a (more or less) local guy who does an Elvis Presley tribute. Is it possible...?

—Naaaah. This guy'll likely warble about the Lord. Well, I guess he could warble about the Lord as Elvis.

Among the “Chancellor’s items” is

29. SOCCCD: EFFECTIVENESS OF BOARD AGENDAS AND MEETINGS -- Authorization to develop a revised Board agenda format and implement changes to increase effectiveness and efficiency of Board meetings.

Raghu’s been fretting about this for some time. I think the board is sick and tired of his makin’ them look bad. And his wasting their incredibly precious prayer-filled, Limbaugh-listening time.

There are two requests for “additional funding from basic aid”: to pay for temporary classrooms at Saddleback ($400K) and the “launch program project” at ATEP ($425K). These basic aid funding requests usually don’t piss off the board too much if they’re one-time requests.

Some board policy revisions are up for approval:

34.SOCCCD: BOARD POLICY REVISIONS: BP 4011: EMPLOYMENT PROCEDURES FOR ADMINISTRATORS AND MANAGERS AND BP 4083: VACATION LEAVE FOR ADMINISTRATORS AND CLASSIFIED MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL

THE CHANCELLOR’S COLA:

The board will be asked to approve some “academic personnel actions” (#35), including “Compensation Increase/Cost-of-Living Adjustment, Chancellor.” You’ll recall that, at the last board meeting, Raghu tried to sneak this item through, using various ploys--such as failing to even mention the item during docket and ultimately listing it in such a way that no member of the community could possibly detect that it concerned throwing more cash at the Chancellor, etc. Essentially, Raghu was trying to hoodwink both the public and the board into giving him EVEN MORE MONEY.

VC Bob King ended up taking all the heat. Wagner smacked him around pretty good. Raghu just watched, wearin' one of his fancy suits.


At the last meeting, a trustee asked for a report on “study abroad programs.” Item 40 is that report.

You’ll recall that Don Wagner (and Tom Fuentes?) got all bent out of shape because, in their view, Saddleback Lib Arts Dean Kevin O'Connor didn’t make a genuine effort to find cheaper study-abroad trips for Spanish students.

As you know, Trustee Fuentes wants students to go to Mexico, not Spain, cuz Mexico is way cheap. I don't know why he hasn't suggested Santa Ana. That's cheapter still.

Prompted by some peevish remarks by a Lariat editor—something about the Lariat’s not getting $14K in funding—a trustee requested a report on the paper's funding. Item 42 is that report.

Students have told me that something's rotten in the state of Denmark--er, Liberal Arts--and its funding of journalism/Lariat is seriously hinky. Maybe this "report" will shake something loose, if there's anything there, hinky-wise.

Don't count on it.

(Top photo: Thursday, taken from the 2nd floor of IVC's SCC.)

P.S.: I heard a "true rumor" yesterday that a certain manager or administrator (note the vagueness) has a SECRET LOVE CHILD. For now, I'm sworn to secrecy, but I thought you'd like just hearing about it.

I mean, even if it isn't true, it's a really cool idea. Have a nice weekend.

Wayne's teaching gig

As you know, Wayne Ward is the Director of Facilities and Maintenance at Irvine Valley College. According to the IVC website, Wayne has an M.A. from Chapman University, a B.S. from the University of Phoenix, and an A.S. from Rancho Santiago College.

Does anyone know what his Masters is in?

I ask because, when he’s not directing F&M, Wayne teaches Electronics 102, on Monday nights: Basic Electric Circuits.

No doubt he’s qualified. (Does Chapman give degrees in electronics? I did not know that.)

I mention Wayne’s electronics class because employees tell me that Wayne keeps parking his snazzy Camaro in the RED ZONE behind B300 when he teaches.

We’ll have a stake-out ready come Monday night. (Not.)

Employees also tell me that, a few months ago, President Roquemore issued an email to (F&M?) workers, instructing them to cease the practice of driving their personal vehicles across campus—you know, as if they were the King of the World or something.

Well, according to people with whom I’ve spoken, after that email was issued, Wayne continued to drive his Camaro across campus, especially in the morning, after his “workout.”

Is Wayne an insubordinate and defiant kind of guy? That would be ironic, if true. Know what I mean?

Tasering guys in the butt; paying CEOs after they leave; etc.

● Uh-oh, they're on to us: Two-year colleges failing mission; 
Study finds too few students transfer up or attain degrees:

California's large community college system is failing in its role of graduating two-year students and as a feeder system for the state's four-year colleges and universities, according to a study by the Public Policy Institute…The report … was released Wednesday and found that only about one-quarter of students who concentrate on transfer courses eventually move on to four-year institutions. In addition, only one-tenth of community college students who concentrate on associate's degree courses eventually earn those degrees…..

See IVC's rate

● This morning’s OC Register offers an interview with Eric Schlosser, who is making a fictional movie about you-know-what, set in OC: 'Fast Food Nation' goes back for seconds.

● David Horowitz’s stupid “Academic Bill of Rights” is a dud, but then there’s this committee: Who Won the Battle of Pennsylvania?:

For all the fears about David Horowitz’s Academic Bill of Rights, the proposal ended up going nowhere in state legislatures last year. But in Pennsylvania, the House of Representatives voted to create a special legislative committee to investigate the state of academic freedom and whether students who hold unpopular views need more protection…The final report of the committee is still being negotiated between Republican and Democratic members of the panel. But consensus already exists that problems with students being punished for political views are rare and that no legislation is needed. From the start of Horowitz’s movement, academic leaders have been saying just that…..

● What’s next? Tasering the rabbits? A cellphone camera captures UCLA police using a Taser on a student who allegedly refused to leave the library Tuesday night:

…"It was beyond grotesque," said UCLA graduate David Remesnitsky of Los Angeles, who witnessed the incident. "By the end they took him over the stairs, lifted him up and Tasered him on his rear end. It seemed like it was inappropriately placed. The Tasering was so unnecessary and they just kept doing it."….

● Wait'll Raghu hears about this deal: 1,000 rally against CSU pay packages:

More than 1,000 students and faculty from California State University campuses rallied Wednesday to protest a controversial pay package that keeps some former CSU executives on the payroll for an extra year, even after they take other jobs.

Gloomy

I left for school this morning at about 9:00 a.m. It was pretty gloomy, boy.


I took a snap of the Irvine Ranch Water District pumping facility across the street from IVC. It's where the IRWD is trying to deal with the military-caused volatile organic compound contamination in the groundwater maybe 1000 feet beneath the campus. I believe that, these days, IRWD is trying to push the plume of toxicity eastward, away from the aquifer that supplies, or that will supply, drinking water.

Eventually, the site will house a purification plant. They've been pretty busy over there lately, so maybe it's already there. (See The Irvine "Desalter" Project)

Did you read Saturday's OC Register article about PCB-laden fish found in OC water bodies? Not good. It's amazing what we put up with. Or what we try not to know.

I tell my students, "There's groundwater beneath us, you know. It's contaminated with toxic chemicals. They're trying to clean it up. It'll take decades."

Students stare. Their faces say: "No, that can't be true. We've never heard that. That's false.

Why do you hate America?"


At about 11:00, someone told me that there was some hubbub in the parking lot out toward the bookstore. Someone said they heard an ambulance. Something serious was happening.

I stayed put. I had lots to do. Stuff happens. Staring at it won't help.

Earlier, a friend insisted that, on my way to my 12:30 class, I stop by her classroom in A300 to take pictures of the trash that seems to persist there. On the way to the room, I noticed more hubbub over in the parking lot. I didn't ask anyone what it was about. Someone was hurt, I guessed. The usual suspects were out there. They seemed to have things well in hand. I saw a cop tramping through a planter. I saw yellow tape.

Sure enough, the friend's room was pretty messy. I took these snaps.




I told the friend that the room looked pretty bad, but I'd seen worse. At IVC, there's nothing special about trash on the floor, spilling from baskets. The floor is scuffed. Dust collects. Grime forms. Instructors and deans complain. Nothing happens. Or things happen only when they complain.

Ten years ago, the campus was clean. Things worked.

Then, thanks to corrupt unionists and trustees, Mathur became President. Everything got F-ed up. You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours. One hand washes the other. Disloyalty will not be tolerated. I'm not going anywhere. Hey, now I'm the Chancellor!

I headed to my classroom, in A400, and, when I entered it, I realized that, trash-wise, it was worse than my friend's. I walked around the room, inspecting the elements of trashulosity.

I guess you get used to it. I said that. Students stared at me.

After class, I headed over to A100 for a meeting, but I realized that it wouldn't start for another ten minutes. So I asked Ms. C about the hubbub. She said that a student was found dead in his car. She didn't seem to know any details. "Maybe an overdose," she said.

After a moment, I said, "That's sad." Silence.

The meeting was odd. We were organizing a holiday party. At one point, I opined that a certain activity that had been planned was, well, undignified. Some regarded me with incomprehension. "Explain that."

I went back to my office.

Eventually, we received an email from IVC President Glenn Roquemore. It explained that a student was found dead in his car, by his father, at about 11:00 a.m. The father had tried unsuccessfully to reach his son by phone. So he came to campus, looking for him.

"There is no evidence of violence or foul play," wrote Glenn. The kid was 21.

A friend dropped by. "This is a bad semester," she said.

At about 5:00, I hooked up with Rebel Girl, and we headed to the parking lot, headed home. Someone told us that we oughta check out B101, if we want to see trash. We dropped by there, and we peered inside. It looked trashy, but not very.

Out at the parking lot, we walked the walk of people who had had a long and strange day.

Someone accosted us. We turned around.

"Thanks, you guys," she said, from a distance.

We spun around.

(See also

● Huntington Beach toxic dump fiasco in this morning's OC Reg

● Are College Students Techno-Idiots? in Inside Higher Ed.)

Night Dean Chronicles

AS some of you know, department chairs serve as “night dean” one evening every semester. For that evening, the ND holds all the power of the college in her hands. You know, the football, the red phone to the Kremlin, keys to Glenn’s office so the night dean can swivel in his chair, a sidearm for personal use, a private Cushman to tool around the grounds in, the presidential Seadoo to cruise the Gensler Lagoon. Being night dean is sort of like being lieutenant governor. Rebel Girl looked around for special orders to sign in during this evening’s power vacuum but found none, alas.

Rebel Girl knows she should use this time to grade papers, review applications in the adjunct pool, clear her desk and revise curriculum but she has been going all day and simply doesn’t have it in her. So she orders a medium size Moroccan pizza (baked eggplant, pesto, feta, pine nuts & mozzarella) from Z-Pizza and pops a lemon Snapple. She’s feeling particularly flush since she (and the other two chairs in her school) finally got paid! A check appeared in her mailbox, made out from the district's "Revolving Cash Fund" account. However, the amount of her check is puzzling and leaves her to wonder just how much she isn’t getting paid. Still, she’ll shut up and deposit it. She'll sit on the "Revolving Cash Fund" and rotate. She'll pay her property tax. And if anyone could help her figure out the compensation package, she would appreciate it.

6:00: My reign begins quietly with no fanfare at all. I look down at the slip of paper that Cathy at the front desk has provided me. It lists the extension for the campus police radio and the switchboard.

6:15: Distant colleague warns to watch for the famous IVC ghost: the spirit of excellence, dead these ten years. It occasionally returns to animate appliances and inspire paper jams.

6:45: Heightened activity at Xerox machine as 7:00 class start time nears. The mood is good. No paper jams.

7:40: Inquiry regarding location of adjunct professor mailbox. Parties directed to file cabinets adjacent to faculty office area.

7:54: Desultory patrol of A-200 hallway reveals a small oscillating fan purring in A241. Since the door is open and the lights are off and the fan seems to be cooling no one and nothing, night dean switches off the fan.

8:00: On the re-broadcast of Talk of the Nation, Lynn Neary interviews Congressman John Murtha (D-PA), Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and George Packer (author of Assassin’s Gate: America in Iraq) about the new politics of Iraq. Phased withdrawal? Phased redeployment? Civil war? Sectarian violence? Power vacuum? A new way into a new policy? Common ground?

8:35: Unexpected noise in the hallway inspires night dean to peek out of her office. She sees her H& L colleague with a bright yellow backpack. He appears to be leaving the premises. She waves. He waves back.


8:41: Lynn Neary wants to know: Does a candidate’s race or gender create complications for voters? In other words, Obama or Hillary? Who wouldn’t you vote for first? Last? To what degree are gender and race assets? To what degree liabilities?

8:46: Did Rebel Girl mention that Chunk bought her the terrific radio she listens to in the office? What would she do without him?

8:47: Virginia calls from Grass Valley CA to say she resents the whole discussion. She thinks of people as people. She thinks the media is promoting this thought process that divides America.

8:52: A quick patrol of the A-200 hallways reveals heightened activity at the Xerox machine. With her newly acquired room usage awareness, Rebel Girl is interested to see if indeed all the rooms are being used—indeed, all rooms in A-200 are full, with the inexplicable exception of A-205, which is already dark. In the honors lounge, a student stands behind the couch and plays with the pillows. Rebel Girl wonders if the faculty lounge will ever have comparable furnishings. She feels slightly ashamed at her envy, her pettiness.

8:58: Lynn Neary claims to be in Washington. Support for NPR from Abbott Cheese.

9:00: Coffee cart seems to be closing.

9:05: Rebel Girl leaves her home number at the front desk. There are three pieces of pizza left.