Brazen thefts, part 2

     As you know, recently, we reported some thievery in Building A200 at Irvine Valley College involving two or three rooms, including the mailroom and an office (Brazen thefts at Irvine Valley College). We reported that “administration” hasn’t seen fit to alert faculty to these incidents and, further, that they have tended to suggest that A200 is in some sense beyond making secure, a sentiment that yielded some consternation or at least annoyance.
     That was on Friday. Since then, we haven’t heard about thefts anywhere else on campus. As far as I know, no new thefts have been reported.
     Evidently, campus police are puzzled by the burglaries: in the case of the room (rooms?) that were burgled, there is little or no evidence of a window entry (books and things that would have stood in the way of someone’s entering via the window were not disturbed), suggesting entry through the door. At least one campus cop I spoke with wonders if the burglar or burglars walked into the building, walked through the open (or unlocked) door, and simply took the computer and books, perhaps during business hours.
     Clearly, administration (and/or the campus police department) were displeased by expressions of displeasure with the handling of these incidents. One apparent result is an effort, today, by campus police to determine the desirability of a meeting with denizens of A200 over this matter. (I suggested that that might be a good idea.) It appears that a meeting (between campus policy and denizens) will be scheduled for next week.
     One policeman I spoke with seemed to suggest that some faculty are apparently less than conscientious about locking their windows, and that perhaps faculty should take greater care. Beyond that, he said, it is not easy to increase security.
     One possibility is the installation of security cameras—an idea you’ll recall was promoted at board meetings in the past—but that measure raises issues of privacy that might be difficult to overcome.
     I opined that I would be willing to give up some privacy if a camera or two would be an effective deterrent. Not sure how others feel about that.
     Mr. cop also noted that, especially if he is correct in his suspicion that the thefts occurred during business hours, the practice of leaving unlocked the two end-of-hallway doors (to the exterior) is problematic. They are left open, of course, as a convenience, but that also creates a security issue.
     Finally, I should mention that Mr. cop wanted to emphasize that there is no reason to suppose that these burglaries constitute a danger that anyone could get hurt. These thieves, he said, simply want to steal things to make money. There is no reason to suppose that they mean to harm anyone.
     The worry some have expressed, of course, is that a thief caught in flagrante delicto might “get violent” in efforts to flee the scene.
     Well, such issues will no doubt come up in the meeting next week.

Class divide on campus: Adjunct professors fight for better pay, benefits (NBCnews.com)

     …Adjuncts are a diverse group: graduate students building their resumes, professionals making money on the side, and long-time faculty like Newfield who simply never managed to score a tenure-track position. The position of "adjunct" was popularized in the 1960s in response to a shortage of qualified professors wielding a Ph.D. Nowadays, there's a surplus. According to the American Association of University Professors, the ratio of tenure-track openings to new doctorates is around 1 to 4. Universities, particularly cash-strapped public schools, have responded in kind. Three quarters of American college and university instructors fall into a contingent faculty category.
     On a growing number of campuses across the country, adjuncts are unionizing to demand a living wage and benefits, some with the help of a recent national campaign run by the Service Employees International Union. Still, these victories haven't yet reversed what has long been a reality in academia: a two-tiered university system for professors who have virtually identical job descriptions….

Richard Nixon in Yorba Linda, 1952

A random notion

"Watch the sand, watch the sand!"

Brazen thefts at Irvine Valley College

     "Brazen motherf*cker," said the middle-aged employee.
     "Brigand!", shouted the English instructor.
     "WTF," said the philosopher, over the phone.
    Just got word that there’ve been some serious thefts at Irvine Valley College.
     Last night, someone broke into A200 and stole at least one faculty computer from one office and books and other things from that office and other offices. I’m told that an IVC police officer came to investigate this morning, but the prospects of identifying the thief seem grim.
     Those thefts occurred last night. But, yesterday, another faculty member found that her expensive Apple computer had been stolen from her office.
     Nearly two weeks ago, Rebel Girl had been contacted and told that some boxes of books had arrived for her from Norton publishing. But when someone went to the mail room (in A200) to retrieve them, they had disappeared. Stolen. That was clear by January 4.

     As usual, administration is manifesting its nincompoopery. Evidently, they've already begun to make noises according to which, well, A200 cannot be made secure. It’s just too far gone, I guess, what with the cricket shit, mold, disintegrating hardware, stray rednecks, antimicrobial remediation teams, scissors-wielding students, and mystery drafts. (I should mention that Dean Feldhus is an exception to the rule: as always, she has been very helpful and responsive.)
     Perhaps the idea is that we should take solace in knowing that we’ll be moving to a new building in a year or so—one that can be secured. (Yeah, you can't open any of the windows. They're "modern.")
     So shuddup.
     Oddly, the thief or thieves took only the newer text books, which suggests a surprising understanding of the book world for a "thief." (Only new texts are likely to be easily sold for profit.)
     Don't know yet whether thefts have occurred elsewhere on campus.
     Maybe Glenn should check his parking space (it's the one with the little sign, showing a free-falling screaming parachutist avatar).
     More later.

(This) Adjunct is Dead (Inside Higher Ed)

     …Fincke says in his post that he’d wanted to be a professor since he was 17 years old. But recently, after earning his Ph.D. and spending three years on the full-time academic job market with no breaks, he’d mentally prepared himself for being someone who “used” to teach college. He loved the work, but teaching seven to nine courses per semester – enough to make a decent living – ultimately wasn’t sustainable.
     He also says that he was enabling what he calls higher education’s exploitative labor system, and that it affected him deeply. "I also realize that by continuing to allow universities to take advantage of my labor at a discounted rate, I was helping to perpetuate a pernicious system that was harming my peers and me,” he wrote….

A sad tale indeed

Is Orange County Proud Of Not Guilty Verdicts In Kelly Thomas Murder Trial? (NavelGazing; R. Scott Moxley)

     …Now, from what transpired inside Judge William R. Froeberg's 10th floor, Santa Ana courtroom, it isn't hyperbole to say that OC juries will let thug cops get away with murder--even when such attacks are captured on video surveillance cameras.
. . .
     The defense lawyers know the quickest way to Orange County jurors' hearts is to remind them, as Barnett continuously did, that the defendants patrolled the--don't laugh--"mean streets of Fullerton," kept the public safe from hoodlums and didn't deserve to be second-guessed on "split second decisions" made about using deadly force.
. . .
     Is it okay for six veteran cops to claim they couldn't figure out how to control the limbs of a smaller, weaker subject already on the ground and needed to kick, punch and stomp the unarmed man to death?....

Impacts of Thomas Case Go Beyond Jury's Verdict (Voice of OC)

     …In the Thomas case, District Attorney Tony Rackauckas had even better evidence -- both video and audio of the beating at the Fullerton bus depot on July 5, 2011. Included is video and audio of officer Manuel Ramos telling Thomas, a homeless man who was diagnosed with schizophrenia, that he was getting ready to "f*** you up."
     Based on this evidence and more, Rackauckas charged Ramos with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter; and charged officer Jay Cicinelli with involuntary manslaughter and excessive use of force.
     But, some experts say, more important than the evidence itself is where it was presented -- conservative Orange County, where juries want to support police.
. . .
     And like the in King case, the FBI’s Civil Rights division now will conduct its own investigation of what the officers did that night in the Fullerton bus depot parking lot….