Put the “Community” Back in Our College

By Lantz Simpson

Santa Monica College Trustee Margaret Quinones joined five other trustees who voted last May to abolish eight vocational programs at SMC: the automotive, architecture, fire technology, emergency management, administration of justice, hospitality, recreation and geographic services programs.

Therefore, I was surprised and amazed to read that college Trustee Quinones expressed optimism that some of the eliminated programs will be reinstated. Indeed, the faculty still looks forward to these programs being restored as soon as possible.

However, in reality, neither the trustees nor the college administration has made a move to restore any of the eliminated vocational programs. These were successful programs that for years had placed students -- many of them disadvantaged -- into good paying jobs in the community.

Trustee Quinones voted to permanently eliminate these programs in response to state budget cuts that never materialized. Stronger leadership from her and a several other trustees could have saved these programs for SMC students.

Instead of moving to restore the eliminated vocational programs -- which unfairly and disproportionately destroyed the majors of Latino men -- the college gave away over $1 million worth of equipment (which had been paid for by Santa Monica taxpayers) from the defunct automotive program.

Despite the alleged deep budget shortfall, no attempt was made to auction off the equipment to bolster the supposedly scanty college coffers! Faculty were told that “the equipment was obsolete” and that the “college doesn’t run an auto parts supply store.”

What is even more outrageous is the SMC administration’s claim that the college will suffer a “$10 million dollar plus” funding shortfall from Sacramento this year -- setting the stage for possible further debilitating program cuts or services that serve our students.

That claim is a whopper. Public information posted on the state chancellor’s website reveals that SMC’s state revenue for this fiscal year will be $89.1 million -- a $200,000 increase over last year’s $88.9 million coming from Sacramento.

Here’s the bottom line:

• First, the college actually received a small increase in state funding this year.
• Second, it also received an increase in federal funding.
• Third, the classified staff received no pay raise last year or this year.
• Fourth, only senior faculty received a moderate pay raise this year as part of a lawsuit settlement.
• Fifth, and most importantly, the college cut 800 class sections in both the fall and spring this year, reducing students by almost 20 percent, laying off 300 part-time faculty, and (because of state funding rules) putting the college gravely at risk for next year’s funding.
• Finally, the administration refuses to specify the amount of money saved by eliminating the eight vocational programs last year.

Thinking persons must ask: what is going on?

Faculty have long known that blaming Sacramento for the college’s own budget problems has become a routine ploy by college officials – one that has gone unquestioned by most of the trustees.

This knowledge was a major factor in the 86 percent “no confidence” vote faculty took last June on President Robertson. Yet in response, trustees expressed their “confidence” in the president and then watched this year as 6,000 students were told “sorry, no classes available.”

Furthermore, President Robertson’s close association with Republican Richard Riordan has positioned her to be tapped as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s key advisor on community colleges.

Surely, it is time for Santa Monica’s progressive voters to start demanding accountability from the college’s elected Trustees for their anti-education actions over the last year. After all, SMC is a community college.

In November, Santa Monicans will elect three new college Trustees. We must look at the Trustees voting records -- not listen to their sound bites. Let’s put the community back into our college -- and elect trustees who will put students first and restore our public trust and high educational standards.

Lantz Simpson is president of the Santa Monica College Faculty Association and an English professor.