Briefly
Fight for your right to pass resolutions
Even if the rights are already there, it can’t hurt to endorse them, Chico State University student leaders figure.
On March 4, the Associated Students Governmental Affairs Committee considered signing on to an International Student Bill of Rights pointing out that, among other things, universities should make sure students understand their expectations and let them know of any personal information that is gathered about them and for what reasons and keep it confidential.
“This is obviously a theoretical document,” said Faye Roepcke, the director of legislative affairs who introduced it. “In theory, we supposed these rights and responsibilities for international students. We’re not changing policy.”
Ultimately, the GAC decided with a 6-1 vote, with Commissioner for Community Affairs Bobby Armstrong dissenting. “Why would we even pass this if it’s already happening?” Armstrong asked.
At the meeting the GAC also voted to put $1,500 toward this year’s Celebration of People parade, which will be held May 3. The undertone of the discussion was that even though the family-friendly parade is gaining popularity, it will never be as mighty as the Pioneer Days parade, which alumni still pine for despite the drunken behavior and occasional rioting that characterized the weeklong P-Days celebration.
Butte College asks, ‘No cutting, please’
Is it fair for a dime-hunting community college student to have to pay more than twice as much for tuition with less schooling in return? If you ask the horde of protesters who filled the quad area on the Butte College campus March 4, the answer is decidedly no.
The protest, organized by a committee of representatives from various campus groups, convened to rally against Gov. Davis’ proposed $1.04 billion budget reduction planned for California community colleges over the next fiscal year. That, combined with a possible 118-percent fee increase, could toss thousands of full-time community college students out of the classroom, community college advocates say.
Several of the school’s vocational programs, threatened with impending staff and equipment cuts, sent representatives to the rally, some in the middle of class. Butte College Police Academy Coordinator Don Beasley and 23 of his cadets missed part of their class in order to stand at attention at the rally in full uniform, in support of the school’s law enforcement program.
“If these students couldn’t attend the academy for monetary reasons, that would be fewer cadets in the job pool,” he said. “And law enforcement is down anyway.”
The campus’ nursing program also faces possible cuts, said program Director Lynn Phillips. The certified nursing assistant program, one of the three nursing programs offered at Butte, could be cut completely.
Tuesday’s rally will be followed up next week by a bus trip to Sacramento, where Butte College students and faculty will join in a demonstration at the Capitol, said Butte student and rally organizer Windy Wilson. The same committee that organized the rally has arranged to transport up to 200 people to Sacramento, and given the success of the rally, the turnout will likely be good, she said.
The larger protest is scheduled for Monday, March 17, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Esplanade House gets city support
More than a year after a series of contentious meetings that left supporters battered but undeterred, the project to expand and move the Esplanade House received a shot in the arm this week. The Chico City Council voted 5-2 to give the transitional housing program a $1.8 million grant from the city’s pot of low- and moderate-income housing funds, which come from redevelopment projects. To operate a redevelopment agency, the city must set aside 20 percent of the money it creates for low- and moderate-income housing. The grant is contingent upon the program’s success at raising another $800,000.
The Esplanade House provides shelter and help for families facing homelessness. For years it has operated out of a renovated motel on The Esplanade just south of East Avenue.
