Presidential Forum Focuses On Budget Cuts
Jacqueline Lok
Posted on: 12/4/08 Section: News
The recent state budget cuts involving community colleges were one of the biggest concerns among students at the AS-sponsored presidential forum on Tuesday.
Students voiced their concerns to PCC President Paulette Perfumo over rumors of the cancellation of winter and summer intersession in the neighboring Citrus and Glendale colleges amid the budget crisis, and wanted to know if PCC would undergo changes in the academic calendar that would affect the intersession.
"We're not planning on canceling intersession," said Perfumo.
Enrollment and tuition fees were among the other important issues that were addressed. Perfumo announced that the new budget for 2009-10 will be released on Jan. 10.
A returning veteran from Iraq asked Perfumo to consider hosting a forum dedicated to veterans who sometimes find difficulty in adjusting back into the student life. Perfumo appeared moved by the 36-year-old veteran's concern, bringing up her own son's experience in Iraq.
"Thank you, and thank you for serving our country," said Perfumo, followed by a round of applause.
Despite the brevity of the previous topics, the discussion went on. The price of textbooks was an issue a student felt had to be addressed.
"We are just beginning on this process about looking at everything we're doing in the bookstore and how we can be proactive to keep costs down on textbooks," said Perfumo.
Perfumo is currently working on getting more textbooks on reserve at the Shatford Library and the CEC, which will be made accessible in a reserve-reading room. "We have got to do everything we can to help students have affordable textbooks," said Perfumo.
Issues involving crowded parking structures and transportation on campus were raised by a couple of students.
"There's a lot of students waiting for the shuttle to the [Metro] Gold Line and it appears that the shuttles have not been keeping up with demand," said Jason S. Li, 21, criminal justice.
Li suggested acquiring vehicles that would be able to take more passengers.
"We, of course, are encouraging students to use public transit," said Perfumo.
Perfumo suggested that having more vans or making them more frequent could fix the problem.
The forum witnessed better crowd participation, which had Perfumo deeply considering suggestions on various campus issues close to heart to some students.
There was no set agenda on how issues were to be discussed, offering students a free platform for discussion of campus-related issues.
Tuesday's President's Forum was the last one for the semester but will continue in the spring.
Students voiced their concerns to PCC President Paulette Perfumo over rumors of the cancellation of winter and summer intersession in the neighboring Citrus and Glendale colleges amid the budget crisis, and wanted to know if PCC would undergo changes in the academic calendar that would affect the intersession.
"We're not planning on canceling intersession," said Perfumo.
Enrollment and tuition fees were among the other important issues that were addressed. Perfumo announced that the new budget for 2009-10 will be released on Jan. 10.
A returning veteran from Iraq asked Perfumo to consider hosting a forum dedicated to veterans who sometimes find difficulty in adjusting back into the student life. Perfumo appeared moved by the 36-year-old veteran's concern, bringing up her own son's experience in Iraq.
"Thank you, and thank you for serving our country," said Perfumo, followed by a round of applause.
Despite the brevity of the previous topics, the discussion went on. The price of textbooks was an issue a student felt had to be addressed.
"We are just beginning on this process about looking at everything we're doing in the bookstore and how we can be proactive to keep costs down on textbooks," said Perfumo.
Perfumo is currently working on getting more textbooks on reserve at the Shatford Library and the CEC, which will be made accessible in a reserve-reading room. "We have got to do everything we can to help students have affordable textbooks," said Perfumo.
Issues involving crowded parking structures and transportation on campus were raised by a couple of students.
"There's a lot of students waiting for the shuttle to the [Metro] Gold Line and it appears that the shuttles have not been keeping up with demand," said Jason S. Li, 21, criminal justice.
Li suggested acquiring vehicles that would be able to take more passengers.
"We, of course, are encouraging students to use public transit," said Perfumo.
Perfumo suggested that having more vans or making them more frequent could fix the problem.
The forum witnessed better crowd participation, which had Perfumo deeply considering suggestions on various campus issues close to heart to some students.
There was no set agenda on how issues were to be discussed, offering students a free platform for discussion of campus-related issues.
Tuesday's President's Forum was the last one for the semester but will continue in the spring.
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