HarborTides

Posted in: News on 10/21/09 at 9:48 PM PST

Photo by Eddie Ruiz

"We need to focus on what we have not what we don't," Associated Students Organization President Esteban Robledo said. With winter sessions cut, summer sessions on the chopping block and a raise in tuition, student morale is down.

At an Academic Affairs Committee meeting during the beginning of the semester, ASO Vice President Steven Delgado addressed the issue of students in need of winter sessions. He said that those who plan to transfer within the next two years have to go to other campuses due to winter sessions being canceled. This brings up another issue; some students do not have the proper means of transportation to get to these others campuses.

"The funding just simply isn't there" was the committees' response. According to record attendance this semester it has gone up 13%, but the number of sections has fallen from 878 to 853 since last semester.

The committee also said that winter session would not generate any money and despite the college still operating with a $3 million dollar deficit, summer session is not completely out of the question. According to the Dean of Academic Affairs and Outreach, Dr. Kristi Blackburn, the fate of summer sessions will be known during early February. Also Blackburn purposed a way to save money which is by offering most of the classes online and cutting down on facility cost.

Twenty nine year facility member Mark Wood remembers "The Harbor of old." Although Wood referred to Harbor as always being a "commuter campus," things were a little different when he began teaching in 1980. He explained that there was no unit charge, parking was free, and only a $7 dollar ASO fee was required from the students. According to Wood, although students took some frivolous courses, there was still more involvement in theater and other afternoon programs. Wood believes digital media may have a hand in the decline in student activism. Instead of going home and spending hours on Myspace or Facebook, the students could spend that time becoming active with a club which would make the campus complexion change. There are a number of clubs, old and new, that any LAHC student can get involved in.

All club information can be obtained at the Sea Hawk Center.

Despite our beloved campus falling on hardships during these financially turbulent times, Harbor is still a great learning institution with a lot to offer to students. New ASO members are striving to make positive changes and establish more campus activities. ASO President Robledo wants to use music as a vehicle to help unify students saying that "music is universal." He also wants to have more campus concerts and possibly organize a battle of the bands and a district wide talent show.

The ASO also holds a public forum at their weekly meeting in the Northeast Academic Hall in room 213 at 1 p.m. on Tuesdays. The purpose of this is to provide a safe environment for anyone to voice any school related problems or concerns to the entire Student Senate. In the spring, some students will even be taking a trip to Governor's office in Sacramento California with some ASO members to protest the tuition raise.

More information will be available at a later time.

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