COM Finals Tutoring Hours

In order to help students prepare for final exams, the Tutoring Center and the Distance Education Support Center will be open the weekend before finals week.

Students are welcome to come in to study privately, meet with study groups, or receive tutoring (testing and tutoring requests must be pre-arranged). Saturday May 17th the hours are 10:00-2:00. Sunday May 18th, the hours are 1:00-4:00.

All students are welcome!

STUDENTS SHOW SUPPORT FOR VETERANS

This Sunday, Nov. 11, The Student Senate for California Community
Colleges passed two resolutions on Veteran Services.

The text of the resolutions are as follows:

19.01 F07 Statewide California Veteran Network to Help Veterans Transition
Author: John Salcedo, Rio Hondo College, Region 7

Whereas, Many community colleges have resources that provide assistance to facilitate "civilian transition" for military veterans;

Whereas, There is no exclusive outreach programs at California community colleges to enroll military veterans, and to provide assistance for veterans to network with other veterans who have made successful transitions into community college and university levels; and

Whereas, Veterans often feel excluded from the college, business, and social environments and need to have resources to help them move into these environments to ensure their success in any endeavor they pursue;

Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges supports the development of a social support mechanism within the California Community Colleges system for military veterans to assist with transfer, internships, and jobs;

Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges assist in creating a statewide support network in order to rapidly send and receive information about community college enrollment, transfer, scholarships, internships, community involvement, career networking, and job placement within the California Community Colleges system; and

Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges encourages opportunities for veterans to associate amongst other veterans who have shared similar struggles and have succeeded at the community college or university levels.

Removing GI Bill Barriers
Author: Bonnie Wilson-Schmitt, Shasta College, Region 1
Amended by: Ulises Benavedes, Los Angeles Trade Technical College, Region 7
Amended by: Annette Moreau, Cerro Coso College, Region 9
Amended by: Bonnie Wilson-Schmitt, Shasta College, Region 1

Whereas, The current GI Bill for returning military and veterans only allows two years from the time of discharge to begin one's college education and access GI Bill benefits;

Whereas, The current GI Bill does not provide any funding for less than 12 units per semester and it only provides funding for
transferable courses;

Whereas, Nearly 60% of our returning military have acquired physical, mental, and emotional injuries that affect their educational capabilities; and

Whereas, The vast majority of these affected veterans will need more than two years of recovery time before being able to begin or resume their college education, due to the high stress level of taking a "full load," 12 units, would not be realistic or possible and the necessity of taking basic skills classes is guaranteed;

Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges supports legislative changes made to the GI Bill to expand time limits or eliminate the two-year limit all together, thus allowing veterans to access their educational monies when their recovery is sufficient to allow them to begin their education;

Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges supports legislative changes made to the GI Bill to allow affected veterans to take necessary basic skills courses and undergo retraining needed prior to taking transferable courses;

Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges supports legislative changes made to the GI Bill to allow affected veterans to take less than 12 units if needed, to allow for academic success relative to the individual's level of functioning; and

Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges supports changes so that all veterans' formal occupational training received during their military service be evaluated per individual situations to be used as course credit.

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Hoa Long Tam
Student Trustee, Marin Community College District
President, College of Marin Student Senate
SS120, 835 College Ave., Kentfield, CA 94904
Tel 415.485.9390 Fax 415.456.7770

STUDENTS DEMAND ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION

This Sunday, the Student Senate for California Community Colleges passed five resolutions on environmental sustainability:

The text of the resolutions are as follows:
16.02 F07 Systemwide Carbon Neutrality
Author: Hoa-Long Tam, College of Marin, Region3
Note: Passed by acclamation

Whereas, “A primary mission of the California Community Colleges is to advance California’s economic growth and global competitiveness through education, training, and services that contribute to continuous workforce improvement” [Education Code §66010.4(a)(3)];

Whereas, Global scientific consensus concludes that climate change is a serious threat and that human activities are the primary source of increased atmospheric concentrations of global warming gases;

Whereas, The climate change crisis will require national and international solutions, but greenhouse gases are ultimately generated locally and cities, states and other governments and organizations thorough the United States are committing themselves to lower their greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impact; and

Whereas, The California Community colleges, the largest system of higher education in the world, which serves more than 2.6 million students, must take a leadership role in addressing worldwide environmental concerns;

Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges finds that a vital part of advancing “California’s economic growth and global competitiveness” is ensuring a viable, livable and sustainable world for future students to enjoy;

Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges work with the other California community college constituencies (faculty, staff, administration, trustees, taxpayers, etc.) at both the local and state levels to formulate a plan by the end of 2009 to make the California Community Colleges system completely carbon neutral and minimize its other environmental impacts by the year 2035; and

Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges seek the full implementation plan systemwide and work with the other constituencies to update the plan no less than once every five years.

17.01 F07 Adoption of the Talloires Declaration
Author: Student Senate Council
Amended by: Michael James Seidenberg, Moorpark College, Region 6

Whereas, The depletion of natural resources, the accumulation of toxic waste, and deforestation threaten the biodiversity of the planet and the integrity of the earth;

Whereas, Higher education systems educate a vast majority of the people who develop and manage institutions in our society and therefore have the responsibility to create programs to teach environmental literacy to all undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, and to develop techniques to promote the efficient and sustainable use of energy, water, and other natural resources;

Whereas, The California Community College system has the largest student enrollment with 2.5 million students, and therefore must be a leader in the effort to develop techniques to promote the efficient and sustainable use of energy, water, and other natural resources; and

Whereas, The Talloires Declaration encourages all colleges and universities to engage in education, research, policy formation, and the exchange of information on population, environment, and development to move toward global sustainability;

Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges sign the Talloires Declaration as a first step to engage a unified commitment to an environmentally sustainable future.

17.02 F07 Transportation
Author: Ryan Kaplan, Cabrillo College, Region 4

Whereas, Following the 2006 passage of landmark bill AB 32 (the Global Warming Solutions Act), California has set rigid standards and a timeline to sharply reduce greenhouse gas emissions;

Whereas, Community Colleges are known to be "commuter schools," which clearly have a major impact on transit systems and air quality;

Whereas, Public transit, carpooling and bicycling are all environmentally sustainable means of transportation; and

Whereas, AB 2766 (Sher 1998) allocates funds to support air district-operating planning, monitoring, enforcement and technical studies necessary to implement the California clean Air Act and those available funds to non-profit organizations (including colleges) as grants to study and reduce transportation impacts;

Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges encourages associated student organizations to work with their districts' facilities directors to conduct a carbon footprint assessment of their districts, setting goals and timelines for transportation-related emissions reduction;

Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges recommends that California community colleges apply with their regional Air Districts for AB 2766 grant funds to support programs to encourage alternative, sustainable and public transportation and bicycle accommodations, and to reduce single occupancy vehicle trips to and from campuses;

Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges advises local senates to work with their administrators and regional transportation organizations to reduce costs for public transportation passes; and

Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges advocates for full and consistent funding of public transportation in the state budget.

17.03 F07 Waste Mitigation
Author: Ryan Kaplan, Cabrillo College, Region 4
Note: Passed unanimously

Whereas, California generates 92 million tons of waste annually;

Whereas, The 72 community college districts under AB 75 (Strom-Martin, 1999) to divert at least 50 percent of their waste by source reduction, reuse, recycling, composting or by other means, and a current bill, SB 1020 (Padilla, 2007), aims to increase waste diversion mandates to 60 percent by 2012 and 75 percent by 2020;

Whereas, California's community colleges control annual budgets of enormous purchasing power for material goods, and purchasing departments generally abide by procurement policies; and

Whereas, Organizations like the Foundation for California Community Colleges research broker discounts with vendor for all community colleges;

Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges asks local senates to audit their college district waste stream, and work with maintenance and operations staff to ensure that waste diversion for recycling is maximized in all district operations;

Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges encourages local senate to work with district purchasing departments to prioritize the procurement of sustainable and recycled-content materials as a district policy;

Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges requests the Foundation for California Community Colleges to work with the California Integrated Waste Management Board to develop environmentally preferable purchasing guidelines and agreements with recycled product manufacturers; and

Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges supports more strict mandates for waste diversion in the State of California.

17.04 F07 Sustainability
Author: Christine Javier, Pasadena City College, Region 7
Amended by: Chuck Rogers, Butte College, Region 1

Whereas, The awareness and assessment of sustainable practices on California community college campuses is neglected or minimal;

Whereas, We feel it necessary to provide environmental literacy to the California community college population at large to circumvent our wasteful practices and implement new measures to repair our environment and promote the efficient and sustainable use of energy, waste and other natural resources;

Whereas, the Chancellor's Office and the Student Senate for California Community Colleges are in need of assembling a body in which environmental, social, and economical concerns may be addressed and tackled; and

Whereas, The Student Senate for California Community Colleges does not have a standing committee to deal with sustainability issues;

Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges work with the Consultation Council to form a group, which would include a student representative and broad representative from other constituent groups and Chancellor's Office staff, to address issues of environmental, social and economic concerns in California community colleges; and

Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges form a standing committee called the Sustainability Advisory Committee to deal with issues as they arise.

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Hoa Long Tam
Student Trustee, Marin Community College District
President, College of Marin Student Senate
SS120, 835 College Ave., Kentfield, CA 94904
Tel 415.485.9390 Fax 415.456.7770

STUDENTS SUPPORT TAX-FREE TEXTBOOKS

This Sunday, Nov. 11, the Student Senate for California Community Colleges (SSCCC) passed a resolution supporting a sales tax exemption for textbooks similar to exemptions in Conn., Mass., Minn., N.J., N.Y., N.D., S.C., Tenn. and W. Va.

The text of the resolution is as follows:

4.01 F07 Tax-Free Textbooks
Author: Troy Carter, Sacramento City College, Region 2

Whereas, According to the United States Government Accountability Office, over the past two decades higher education textbooks costs have risen at twice the reate of inflation and now equal approximately 72% of the cost of tuition for community college students, and the financial burden of textbook purchases is amplified by th sales taxes levied on them by the State of California;

Whereas, Textbook purchases are currently tax-exempt in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia, and legislation making textbook purchases tax-exempt has been introduced and is in various stages of passage in the legislatures of Georgia, Texas, and Virgina;

Whereas, A student conducted at the request of the Advisory Committee on Student financial Assistance, a nonpartisan panel appointed by Congress to advise it on educational access issues, recommended legislative action to establish tax exempt status for textbook sales as a means to decrease financial barriers to higher education; and

Whereas, The Student Senate for California Community Collges supports any efforts to reduce out-of-pocket expenses to students consistent with maintaining a high-quality educational envirtonment, and believes tax-free textboooks should be a high priority legislative item;

Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges supports legislative efforts to amend California Code allowing for the exemption of sales tax on textbooks purchased by college students; and

Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges work with the Student Senate Council, system partners, other statewide student groups, and local associated student organizations, to make collaborative efforts to achieve the passage of such legislation.

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Hoa Long Tam
Student Trustee, Marin Community College District
President, College of Marin Student Senate
SS120, 835 College Ave., Kentfield, CA 94904
Tel 415.485.9390 Fax 415.456.7770

TUITION SENSITIVITY ELIMINATED

The Congress has just passed, and the President has indicated that he will sign, the Higher Education Act budget "reconciliation" legislation that will at long last eliminate Pell Grant tuition sensitivity. Tuition sensitivity has limited the maximum Pell grant received by the neediest California Community College students, because of the low fees they are charged.

Particular California legislators who deserve thanks for the removal of tuition sensitivity include Education and Labor Committee chairman George Miller (D-Richmond) and member Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (R-Santa Clarita). Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) also introduced legislation to the Senate to repeal tuition sensitivity (S. 707). We urge you to let your legislators know that you appreciate this action, as well as the increase in Pell Grants also contained in the legislation. Further information on this far-reaching legislation, H.R. 2669, can be found on the American Association of Community Colleges website.

SSR to Host Congresswoman Woosley on June 14

On Saturday, July 14, 2007, at 7:30PM Students for Social Responsibility, the Progressive Democrats of Marin and Democracy for America will host Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey in a Progressive Forum on Iraq and Iran in the Olney Hall auditorium on the Kentfield Campus at 835 College Ave., Kentfield, CA 94904.

Woolsey will be joined by Reese Erlich and Michael Nagler. The panel will be moderated by Norman Solomon.

Suggested donation is $10, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.

For more information, contact Anita Fieldman, Progressive Democrats of Marin, at 4158-686-8841; anitafieldman@hotmail.com or http://www.pdamerica.org/.

Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-CA06)
Woolsey has been an outspoken critic of the war in Iraq from its inception. In January of 2005, she was the first member of Congress to call on the President to bring the troops home. Since that time she has spoken on this topic on the floor of the House of Representatives over 200 times.

Author and Investigative Journalist Reese Erlich
Erlich is an investigative journalist who has traveled to Iran and Iraq five times and has covered the Middle East for 20 years, most recently on assignment for Mother Jones magazine. His new book The Iran Agenda: The Real Story of U.S. Policy and the Middle East Crisis comes out in October of 2007.

Peace Studies Scholar Michael Nagler
Michael Nagler is the co-founder and board president of the Metta Center for Nonviolence Education, professor emeritus and founder of the Peace and Conflict Studies Program at UC Berkeley, a core member of Educators for Non-Violence, and author of The Search for a Nonviolent Future, Our Spiritual Crisis, and Hope or Terror: Gandhi and the Other 9/11.

Media critic and Author Norman Solomon
Norman Solomon, a nationally syndicated columnist on media and politics, co-authored the book Target Iraq: What the News Media Didn’t Tell You with Reese Erlich. Solomon’s latest book, War Made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death, has been adapted into a documentary film released on DVD this summer.

BSU Celebrates Black History Month

Yesterday, February 1, 2007, the Black Student Union (BSU) kicked off a month of celebration of Black History. The event, entitled "From a Rich History to a Bright Future," was held in OH 96, featured guest speakers Walter Turner--College of Marin ethnic studies professor--and Dr. Frances White--College of Marin Superintendent/President--as well as performances by Wayne Wallace and the College of Marin Jazz Ensemble, Larry J., College of Marin student Beverly Freeman, and Azia Corbet & Company--which performed two traditional west African dances.

Delisa Nealy and Mama Azia Corbett perform the West African
welcome dance during the Black History Month celebration in Olney
Hall at the College of Marin in Kentfield on Thursday.
(Courtesy Marin IJ/Jeff Vendsel)

COM student appointed to powerful statewide committee

Pia Oestlien, College of Marin’s student delegate to the Student Senate for the California Community Colleges, was recently appointed as one of two student representatives from across the state to serve on the statewide Consultation Council to the Board of Governors—a committee where draft ideas are hashed out between the various constituencies in the California Community College system before being presented to the statewide Board.

Oestlien, who also serves as a senator-at-large on the State Student Senate executive council and chair of Region III of the Student Senate, was nominated by Rose Nemet, Region III senator from Diablo Valley College, at the Student Senate council’s regular January meeting. Also appointed was Josh Sears, Region IV senator from Monterey Peninsula College, and three other students from the 30-member council. Oestlien and Sears won, garnering 12 and 13 votes, respectively, from the 19 council members present.

Oestlien—who will serve until June 30—has promised to work hard for the students. “I’m looking forward to representing the students, to making sure their voices are heard, and to being part of a team that accomplishes many great things for the California Community College student body,” says Oestlien.

Oestlien has won praise from her peers as well. Hoa-Long Tam, President of the Associated Students of the College of Marin, says, “I believe that Pia will be an unwavering advocate for student rights in the California Community College system; she doesn’t back down, and she will get the job done. The students of the community college system are well served by the Student Senate council’s decision to appoint her.”

Dr. Arnulfo Cedillo, College of Marin Director of Student Affairs and Health center and ASCOM advisor, says, “It’s a great honor for College of Marin to have a student serving on consultation council.”

However, Pia’s term only lasts until June 30, and no one has yet shown interest in succeeding her as College of Marin’s State Student Senate delegate. Students taking at least six credit units who are interested in following in her footsteps and representing the students of College of Marin at the state level can get more information in the ASCOM office, SS 241.

About the Student Senate: The Student Senate is one of four branches of Student Government at the College of Marin, representing all enrolled students to the faculty, staff, administration and trustees of the College. Students interested in any branch of student government are welcome to drop by SS 241, on the Kentfield campus, for more information. Elections are held every April, and packets will be available shortly.

- END -

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Hoa-Long Tam
President
Associated Students
College of Marin
835 College Ave.
Kentfield, CA, 94904
Tel 415.485.9390
Fax 415.456.7770
hoalong.tam@marin.edu