Coast Community College District trustee corruption--now it's Grant

     Not sure what to make of this story that appeared today on the OJ Blog. It concerns Coast Community College District trustee Dave Grant. According to the writer, the CCCD is pretty bad. Heck, maybe it even rivals the Mathur-era SOCCCD for Rot at the Top!

Hinky Coastline Trustee Dave Grant laughs off FPPC fine, offers “no comment” for news story (OJ Blog)

CORRUPTION CONTINUES ON DAIS AT COAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT

David A. Grant

     Running on a mantra of “How does this decision benefit students” newly elected Trustee David A. Grant was elected to the Board of Trustees in November 2010. Since that time, it has been learned that Trustee Grant has been fined for failing to disclose properly the contributions that he has received as a candidate.
     How could this be? Trustee Grant is a retired college president, someone who is supposed to be a pillar of his community and one that holds the highest ethical standards? Why then, can’t Trustee Grant properly list his contributions with the Fair Political Practices Commission? Does he have something to hide? Is he afraid to show that many of his contributors are vendors of the District, some of whom like the law firm Rutan and Tucker,* are enraged that Trustees have shunned their services for other attorneys?
     Since joining the Board of Trustees, Mr. Grant has chastised anyone on the dais that has raised questions of the district’s executives, probed, or tried to find the truth in governance matters. He has repeatedly criticized his peers for “micromanaging” and for “outrageous” behavior. He has made veiled threats, and acted in a hostile manner toward his fellow Trustees in public. He has desperately tried in vain, through his connections with the Coast Report (a student newspaper at Orange Coast College) to show a conflict of interest between one trustee and a district lawyer.

Corrupt: Armando Ruiz**

     Trustee Grant’s ethical breach is one of many sad stories of lapses that have prevailed on the board at Coast over the last two decades. Former trustee Armando Ruiz double-dipped on his pension and developed a too cozy relationship with top executives, putting a friend, the now deceased Ed Dornan, in a senior management position at the district. Former trustee Walter Howald spent over $20,000 in travel in some years, even in the midst of the current budget crisis, and abused his power to force district administrators to help him get a community college job, so he could get a “PERS Retirement,” and numerous sources have commented that Mr. Howald did not actually live in the district for a number of years.
. . .
     Since 2007, reformist Trustees Lorraine Prinsky, Jim Moreno, and Jerry Patterson have brought many badly needed changes to the dais at Coast: they have brought forward a code of ethics, reduced bloated executive salaries, sharply reduced executive and trustee travel, reinforced Brown Act compliance and directed a complete review of all district policies to ensure compliance with accreditation and regulatory standards. For all of their hard work and dedication to the students of the district, they have been wrongly accused by the likes of Mr. Grant and the corrupt district bureaucrats that support him as “micromanagers” when in fact, these three trustees have set policy direction that protected the interests of taxpayers and students.

Interested in trustee gig? 

      If Mr. Grant has his way, the hard work of these individuals will be undone, and the Coast District will return to a culture of “if you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” – a culture that promotes croynism, nepotism, corruption, and a flagrant disregard for the needs of students. Mr. Grant’s sanction by the Fair Political Practices Commission is a reminder of the corrupt ways of the past, and a wake-up call that he must be stopped!

*Note: the SOCCCD has often used the services of Rutan and Tucker (e.g., the firm defended the district in my 1st Amendment lawsuit).
**Ruiz was a Saddleback College counselor recruited by Raghu Mathur to become an administrator at Irvine Valley College. He was Dean of Orange Groves or something. When he didn't get the VPI gig--that went to Glenn R--he was pissed and so he retired, pulling his notorious gambit that landed him some serious bucks.

Cal State Fullerton rally

CSUF students rally for college funding (OC Reg)

     Hundreds of students and faculty gathered at Cal State Fullerton Wednesday, giving testimony, signing postcards and making phone calls to the chancellor's office demanding that CSU leaders fight to stop cuts to higher education.
     Shelly Arsneault, a political science professor and a member of California Faculty Association, said protesters who gathered in the quad want to see the Legislature put a tax-extension package before voters. They also want students to become aware of the severity of the cuts so they can speak against them.
. . .
     Similar events were held on Wednesday throughout the 23 CSU campuses and other states as part of a day of action protesting cuts to education.
     The Legislature has already approved cutting $500 million from the CSU system. If voters don't approve a tax extension package, the university system could see even more cuts, said Erik Fallis a CSU spokesman. The Legislature has not yet approved a special election.
     "The $500 million in cuts, that's the best-case scenario," Arsneault said. "We've done our share; it's time for others to step it up….

SEE ALSO Cal State Fullerton Activists to Protest Fee Increases by Serving Top Ramen to Starving Students (Stick a Fork in it [OC Weekly])

OC Register readers offer these comments...

     4/12/11
     I’m not sure what to say, now that I’ve read comments left by OC Register readers to this afternoon’s story about the settlement of “Westphal v. Wagner,” the lawsuit challenging prayers at the South Orange County Community College District.
     Read ‘em yourself. Be amazed.

BOBOOROZCO
   We must worship Jesus continuously 24/7 lest HE, with HIS love for us, send us to hel. This includes worshiping HIM in all public tax-supported institutions also. Non-Christian members of the public need to shut up and love their freedom to worhsip Jesus also, even if they're not Christian, and continue to pay taxes to support the Christian-American government.
   Amen

CASECLOSED
   Let us all pray for everyone that was involved with this lawsuit settlement.

OCSLEEPERLIVES
   And what exactly is wrong with having a moment of silence as compared to having a prayer said over the intercom? Why can't it be good enough for each individual to sit there in a moment of silence to reflect their thoughts or silently say a prayer to themselves? Why must you need to yell it out loud to say hey look i'm praying?
   A good buddy of mine is a devout Christian. We fly on family vacation together. Each time before a flight, he sits there and silently say a prayer to himself. He doesn't need to Flight Attendant to go on intercomm to lead a prayer session so everyone can hear. Why can't most of you be like that when it comes to your religion?

REGENT
   Dan Wagner [sic] is a HERO. That's why I voted for him in the primary and the general election.
   The wimpering cowards who would use litigation to deny others the ability to honor the Creator of the universe, are indeed pitiable.

OCSURVIVOR
   A slide show during a faculty training session for a public college:..images were superimposed with the message, "Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you. Jesus Christ and the American G.I. ... One died for your soul, the other died for your freedom."
   ----I think I would have had to walk out to go throw up.

REGENT
   I will continue to pray and speak boldly about the GOOD NEWS of the Lord God, His Son and our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
   Jesus offers the one path to salvation. Nothing on this Earth compares.
   Pass your puny laws. You CANNOT stifle the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE.

REGENT
   Ignore Jesus Christ at your peril. You may meet Him someday.

45YROCNATIVE
   Tim, that surprises me that you said that... It affects all of us. This is just the beginning, pretty soon we won't be able to pray in church!

LOUFCA
   This is in reply to a blatant lie by OC4Ever. To quote, "According to FBI statistics, there was more violence in society and schools in the late 1800s and early 1900s when school prayer was in full force and religion was unabashedly all over society."
   The FBI wasn't formed until 1908. Don't believe every thing that is posted.

LOUFCA
   Ah, the tyranny of the few and politically correct continue to denude us of symbols that have always meant something to this country.
   I wonder if those who brought the suit and the ACLU have ever looked at the doors to the Supreme Court, Senate and other areas. If they did, they would find things like the 10 commandments. Hmmmm, better burn down the doors to the Supreme Court before an ACLU member is turned into a rock by its look.
   Typcial college professors. Nothing better to do than try and screw up 18 and 19 year olds. I hope they don't have tenure.

GREATG
   Perhaps more discretion in who is hired as a "Professor"
   What are they professor of?

TIMSCAVO
   OK, so prayers are being discontinued at the local colleges.
   So what?
   Doesn't affect me, and it shouldn't affect anybody.

SILVERFOX54
   If you want to have prayers from the Quran being invoked every day, I suggest that you find another country to live in. I am 57 years old, born and raised in the USA, as were my parents and there parents and ther parents. Bet you can't say that. While growing up in this country, not once was the question of one's religion brought up when prayers were said in school. We were proud to be AMERICANS and proud of what this country stands for and equally proud of any type of prayer that was read aloud during a graduation ceremony. We did not question it as to it's meaning towards people that might not have the same faith. The funny thing about the country you obviously came from, is that if someone from the USA was there and bitched about the reading of the Quran in schools, would anyone listen ? I think not !!!!! They would most likely be found dead. Come to America to be American. Don't come to America and expect America to change for you. No like AMERICA........go home and read Quran

ABBEYA
   THis is America... Settled by Puritians...ie: Christians ...Founding Fathers Christians....% of Americans who ARE Christians 76% accordingly to Wikipedia. As for the Koran...IF Muslims had settled here ...NO one would tell them, sue them, call the ACLU on them. They would just Cut-off the discussion if you understand my meaning.

GREYLOX
   **Would all of you people who are so determined to have Christian prayers said at all school events have the same opinion about prayer in schools if it was prayers from the Quran being invoked on a daily basis? Be honest.

ALANRRT
   If there is no God to answer prayer, then prayer is just empty words. So the fact that atheists get so worked up just hearing someone pray tells me that even they can't buy thier own rhetoric.

NEWPORTBOB
   The prayer, I pray that I pass this darn test, should never be omitted from college campuses.

BADMONKEY411
   Religion Kills!

THOM234
   GOUSCOC....I don't get what you said. I only see one Jewish sounding name in the plaintiff group.

XPATRIOT
   And we just keep moving further away from any type of fundamentals in school. I find it humorous that folks keep nagging about the separation of church and state, but yet " in God we trust" can not only be found on our money, it is also above the speaker of the houses seat in the capitol in two foot letters. Sure keep thinking there is no correlation between the lack of fundamental teaching in our schools and the current state of our education in America, kids today are simply not learning any type of discipline. The lack of morals and respect continues to decline in our schools and America only produces more and more corrupt and selfish citizens. Do kids in school even recite the pledge of allegiance anymore? I am sure it violates someones right not to be Amrican in America.

OC4EVER
   Gatordon: While I am a person of faith, your statement is historically inaccurate. According to FBI statistics, there was more violence in society and schools in the late 1800s and early 1900s when school prayer was in full force and religion was unabashedly all over society--not that it was caused by the prayer, but we were simply a more violent society back then--things were settled with guns, and the court system was not as fully developed. So it is not true that prayer in schools means no or less violence.

DOGSTAR
   Maybe one of the draft dodgers that pose as editor for the OCR had a had in this. How about in Whiting?

BLACKJESUZ
   wasnt God there when little children were being molested by men of the cloth?
   or when the white man massacred millions in the name of christ?
   what retarded nonsense to preach Gatordon.
   kick out religion from all of our institutions so we can go back to a sane society.

GOUSCOC
   The federal lawsuit, Westphal v. Wagner, was filed in November 2009 by Americans United for Separation of Church and State on behalf of Saddleback College professors Karla Westphal, Alannah Rosenberg, Margot Lovett and Claire Cesaero-Silva, Irvine Valley College professor Roy Bauer, Saddleback College graduate Ashley Mockett and two anonymous Saddleback College students.
   Looks like Christians have more to worry about being attacked by jews then muslims.

GATORDON
   And then when there are killings in our schools, Parents and people ask why wasn't God there to protect our children? Very simple... You kicked him out.

RIXTAR99
   ...and where in what constitution does it say "separation of church and state"? [The 1st Amendment prohibits laws respecting establishment of religion.]

ISTHATHER
   Interesting...

NAPTOWN
   ...and the tail wags the dog

More on the "Westphal v. Wagner" (prayer lawsuit) settlement

Don Wagner: dramatization of his unconstitutional scholarship rant

Plaintiffs'
Ayesha N. Khan

Colleges agree to discontinue some prayers (OC Register)

MISSION VIEJO – Saddleback and Irvine Valley Colleges have agreed to discontinue the use of invocations at scholarship ceremonies and faculty training sessions like the Chancellor's Opening Ceremony as part of a lawsuit settlement with a group seeking to prohibit prayers at college events.
     According to the settlement, the colleges may continue to hold a nonsectarian prayer or moment of silence during graduation ceremonies if the event's planning committee chooses to do so.
     The federal lawsuit, Westphal v. Wagner, was filed in November 2009 by Americans United for Separation of Church and State on behalf of Saddleback College professors Karla Westphal, Alannah Rosenberg, Margot Lovett and Claire Cesaero-Silva, Irvine Valley College professor Roy Bauer, Saddleback College graduate Ashley Mockett and two anonymous Saddleback College students.
     The lawsuit named as defendants the district's trustees, former South Orange County Community College District Chancellor Raghu Mathur and Saddleback President Tod A. Burnett.
     Lawyers for both sides said they were pleased with the settlement.
     "Our hope was to have all of the prayers discontinued, but we recognized that we stood on stronger legal ground with respect to some events than other events," said Ayesha Khan, the plaintiffs' attorney.
     "I think this was a fair compromise."
     Legal counsel for the defendants said the district got "exactly what it wanted."
     "The main goal in the litigation from the defense side was to preserve the ability of the district to have invocations at college graduations. This settlement does exactly that," said attorney John Vogt from Jones Day.

Mathur: showed a patriotic slide
show with a "Jesus saves" message

     Americans United challenged the use of prayer and other religious content at all college-sponsored events, claiming it is a violation of the First Amendment rights of those in attendance. The plaintiffs named several instances where they thought religious content was inappropriately used at college events.
     In February, U.S. District Court Judge R. Gary Klausner determined that nonsectarian invocations at events like graduation and scholarship ceremonies do not violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which enforces the separation of church and state. The judge denied the plaintiffs' request to prohibit invocations because they could not show irreparable damage would result from continuation of the tradition.
     However, Klausner also determined two incidents named by the plaintiffs – one involving Mathur and another involving former SOCCCD trustee Donald Wagner – did violate the Establishment Clause.
     The incident related to Mathur occurred during the Chancellor's Opening Session in August 2009. A slide show of patriotic images set to "God Bless the USA" was played during a faculty training session, ending with two slides picturing flag-draped coffins of U.S. soldiers.
     According to the court order, the images were superimposed with the message, "Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you. Jesus Christ and the American G.I. ... One died for your soul, the other died for your freedom."

Defendants'
John A. Vogt Jr.

     The slide show had been approved by Mathur. The defendants contended Mathur had only seen the first few slides before approving the presentation.
     The incident related to Wagner occurred at a May 2009 scholarship ceremony, which Wagner opened with an invocation.
     In the invocation, Wagner mocked "the special interest group that has contacted this college to pursue its agenda of driving God from public square" by calling out the group's efforts and reminding the audience that "America's founders invoked the name of God, and encouraged and participated in religious ceremonies in government facilities."
     Both parties were required to meet for a settlement conference after Klausner issued the order in February. Vogt said the settlement was reached on March 31, eliminating the need for Klausner to issue a final judgment in the case. Before the settlement agreement, Khan had previously said the plaintiffs had planned to appeal to the state Supreme Court the portion of Klausner's ruling against them.
     Though a settlement has been reached, Vogt pointed out a potential loophole.
     Language in the settlement prohibits the colleges from holding invocations at scholarship ceremonies, but it's possible for the tradition to continue if the colleges' foundations – private, nonprofit entities who were not party to the lawsuit – resumed planning the events, Vogt said, since "nothing in the settlement would preclude the foundations." Vogt said the foundations historically planned the ceremonies until 2008.
     Khan disagreed with Vogt's interpretation of the settlement agreement.
     "Neither the South Orange County Community College District, nor its colleges ... shall include an invocation on the program at any future scholarship ceremonies," Khan said, reading from the agreement. "I think they'd be skating on really thin legal ice."

     In a recent post, DtB calculated the amount of money the district has paid Jones Day thus far. See A point of information.
     The amount: $1,041,150.00
     In the settlement, the district agrees to pay Americans United for Separation of Church and State $250,000 (plaintiffs’ attorney fees). (See.)

Judge Klausner: actually, Don, we need a bit less than you're providing

Our Don is making quite a name for himself

     SOCCCD’s own Don Wagner—er, at least he used to be ours—is making quite a name for himself in Sacramento.
     This morning, our pal Vern at the OJ Blog quotes Sacbee’s Don Morain:

     On Monday, Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, a first-term Republican from San Bernardino County, stood on the north steps of the Capitol with seven other Republican Assembly members. Before being elected, Donnelly had been part of the Minutemen, the group that claims to combat illegal immigration by patrolling the U.S.-Mexico border.
     Donnelly announced that he was pushing Arizona-style legislation to make illegal immigration a crime under California law. As an added attraction, Donnelly brought a special guest, Arizona state Sen. Russell Pearce, who last year authored the anti-illegal immigration law.
     About 50 people, most of them of retirement age and wearing red Tea Party Patriot T-shirts, hooted their approval when Pearce declared that states must “protect against this invasion.”

     Among the daffy local Repubs standing next to Donnelly? –That’s right. “Our” Don, who,  these days, is a California Assemblyman:

     And Don “Spanky” Wagner, fresh from his successful leadership of the “Taxpayers Caucus” to prevent taxpayers from voting. You may remember that during Spanky’s bruising GOP primary last June, a last-minute nod from corrupt racist Sheriff Joe Arpaio helped put him over the edge against Toll-Road Jerry Amante and the mumbling walking sign Dr. Choi. Spanky’s aversion to the Mexican invasion of our southern borders is so strong he needed to invent a new word for it when I heard him at a Tea Party last year – “encrosion” – signifying both encroachment and erosion I presume.

     My prediction: Don will soon be involved in an actual recreation of the Boston Tea Party--maybe in San Francisco Bay--complete with politically incorrect Injun Joe makeup and feathers. Instead of tea, Don'll be tossing Mexicans into the soup. --Maybe scalp one or two of 'em, too. Then maybe toss one or two community college students after 'em. Then pee into the bay and do a war dance.

SEE ALSO
• Trying to Revive Compton Community College (Inside Higher Ed)
• Losing Ground on Salaries (Inside Higher Ed)
• An Award-Winning Dissertation Draws Lessons From 9 Community-College Students Who Persisted in Their Studies (Chronicle of Higher Education)

Arizona is nuts

"By the time I get to Phoenix,
she'll be packin'."

Arizona Approves Law Allowing Guns on Campuses (Chronicle of Higher Education)

     Arizona lawmakers gave final approval on Thursday to a bill that would require the state’s public colleges and universities to allow people to carry weapons, whether concealed or openly, on “public rights of way” through their campuses, The Arizona Republic reported. The bill now goes to Gov. Jan Brewer, who has supported measures to expand gun rights in the past.

Pérez asks sergeant to revoke members' gun permission (Sacbee)

     [California] Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez has asked the lower house's chief sergeant-at-arms to revoke authorization several members were given to carry concealed firearms in the Capitol "pending a full review of safety and security measures."….

Congress could cut scholarships for poorest students (Contra Costa Times)

     Scholarships for low-income college students could be cut back dramatically under a budget deal being considered by Congress on Friday.
     The reductions to Pell Grants are among the options in a Republican proposal to avoid a shutdown of the federal government. Democratic lawmakers have spoken out against the cuts and vowed to fight them.
     Under the House proposal, the maximum Pell Grant would drop by $845 -- to $4,705 per year. Pell Grants were last at that level in 2008, before a series of Democrat-led increases raised it to $5,550.
     The bill also would reduce Pell funding by $66 billion over 10 years….

     —And now this video, for no particular reason—except that Jimmy Webb wrote “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” a song that annoyed me when I was a kid, but then, one day, driving alone in the night, I listened to the lyrics, felt sad, and nearly drove off the road
     A little too fancy, overwrought. But his words can kill. So, in my book, he's good

I bruise you, you bruise me
We both bruise too easily
Too easily to let it show
I love you, and that's all I know

All my plans have fallen through
All my plans depend on you
Depend on you to help them grow
I love you, and that's all I know

Santa Ana Army Air Base (1942-6, 1956-8)

[Updated, 1/14/14]

     A few days ago, OCC's student newspaper posted the above photograph of the old Santa Ana Army Air Base, which was located at the site of Orange Coast College from February 1942 to March 1946, when it was deactivated. (The Air Force was not created until after the war. Before that there was the "Army Air Corp.")
     I figured I'd look for more pics of the base. I quickly found this: Santa Ana Army Air Base. The site briefly describes the base's history.

Historic California Posts: Santa Ana Army Air Base [1942-1958]
(Air Corps Cadet Replacement Training Center, Aviation Cadet Replacement Training Center, Costa Mesa Air National Guard Station)

[Basic training for Army Air: 1942-5?]

     Santa Ana Army Air Base (SAAAB) was an air base without planes, hangers or runways. It was a huge basic training camp where newly inducted soldiers, earmarked for the Army Air Forces, were given 9 weeks of basic training and then testing to determine if they were to be pilots, bombardiers, navigators, mechanics, etc. From SAAAB, they went on to other bases for training in their specialties.

     The base was dedicated in March 1942 and grew rapidly as the need for pilots and air crews sky-rocketed. Turnover was rapid so that by the end of the year 23,470 soldiers had passed through SAAAB. By the end of 1943 that number jumped to 57,895.

[Additional assignments: 1942-5]

     In the Fall of 1942 SAAAB [also] became an Overseas Replacement Depot (ORD), housing Army Air Forces personnel awaiting transportation overseas.

     In November of 1943 members of the Women's Air Service Pilots (WASP) began training at the base, followed shortly by members of the Women's Army Corp (WAC).

[Reversing the process: 1945-6]

View of men at a Beer Party at the Santa Ana Army Air Base. Men are all dressed in military uniform. Some have sheets of paper that they are reading. The back of the photo is inscribed: "Philip J. Jack second from right top of picture with cigarette in mouth. He was at Santa Ana Calif from May 1943 to Oct. 1945. (OC Public Libraries)

     In 1945 SAAAB became one of six Redistribution Centers in the country for airmen returning from overseas who were to be assigned state-side duty.

* * *

[Digression: Hollywood]

     Being close to Hollywood and with such a large turnover of service personnel, the base attracted a lot of Hollywood celebrities who put on shows at the base.

* * *

[End game: 1945]

     In late 1945 Japanese aliens from the alien internment camps being returned to Japan by the Immigrations and Naturalization Service (INS) were housed here while awaiting transportation to Japan.

     SAAAB continued as a redistribution and separation center for a short time after the war.

     On March 31, 1946, the base was officially deactivated.

* * *

[Brief revival, 1956:]

     However, in 1956 elements of the 551st Antiaircraft Artillery Missile Battalion brought the Nike-Hercules system from Fort Bliss and temporarily installed and operated it at the old SAAAB site until their permanent installations (Site LA-88) in Chatsworth and atop Oak Mountain were completed.

* * *

[The end: 1958]

     In 1958 the base was declared surplus and soon afterwards the land was divided for many uses. In the postwar years private homes, apartments, two colleges, the Costa Mesa Air National Guard Station and the Orange County Fairground shared the land. Many of the base's original buildings remained in use for years by the colleges and the fair grounds. [end]

      Here are two photos from the above site:

According to Wikipedia,

     In 1958 the base was declared surplus and soon afterwards the land was divided for many uses. At present the site includes the Orange County Fairgrounds, Pacific Amphitheatre and Orange Coast College. Some of the original buildings were renovated and are being used by the present owners.
     In literature, the Santa Ana Army Air Base is notable as being one of the two settings -- but the only non-fictional one (the other, the fictional island of "Pianosa" in Italy) -- for the novel "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller.

This shows the site of the old base as it appeared in 1995

In OC, August, 1943. Died as B-17 tailgunner, 1944

Instruction at the base