College won’t know final decision ‘til mid May
In what seemed like an episode of Judge Judy fraught with courtroom antics and displays of blatant disrespect for the law and the dignity of the principles of tenure, MJC faculty layoff hearings concluded Wednesday with no ruling until at least May 18. After Administrative Law Judge Jonathan Lew reviews the mountain of files and documents submitted as evidence, two days worth of witness testimony and the closing and written arguments from YFA lawyer Bob Bezemek and District lawyer Marilyn Kaplan, a ruling will be made and a recommendation will be given to YCCD Board Trustees. On May 25 the Board will have another vote to either adopt or reject the recommendation from this proceeding.
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Allied Health, Family, Consumer Sciences Division attempts to move forward despite losses
It has been a wet and stormy season not only with California weather, but for the students and faculty of Modesto Junior College. With the whirlwind of cut classes and slashed funding, it's getting harder and harder to see the hope in these troubled times. The loss of many programs is a tragedy not only to the faculty and staff losing their jobs and the students who take their courses, but to Modesto Junior College as a whole. It is important not to lose sight of what remains. It is important to start thinking about moving forward; to see what areas are moving forward and how.
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Journal entry #4: “Where Gators Dare”
"You'll ‘ave to put a h-hole through me before you put one through my ship!" They stood toe to toe, glowing orange from the light of the campfire. Poindexter sneered up at her, and used a high pitched voice that would have been comical in any other situation. We stood on the bank where the Stanislaus Creek emptied into the wide San Joaquin, and as the matriarch's minions beached their aluminum skiffs onto the asphalt shore, our Gator waited unattended a few yards away, its glare as sinister as mine.
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Journal entry #5, “A Boy Named Cur”
I should have shot Poindexter. Instead I gave the responsibility to her. It wasn't right, I knew it, but I tried not to think about it as the tribe fanned out down the rows of white trees. The thought seeped through my brain like water slowly corroding a broken bridge, so I dammed my thoughts and tried to remember what Bill had told me the night before. Five two three one five, I remembered that, but there was a name. Was it Ku? Or Sue? Shit, I thought, of all things to forget!
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Snyder’s latest wins in visuals but not in plot
When watching the previews for "Sucker Punch" I kept the steady idea that it could be either brilliant or terrible.
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Marketing programs, car dealership team up for event
On April 6, 2011, MJC marketing department teamed up with American Chevrolet to host a daylong event. The event went from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Students and faculty were encouraged to participate in events and rally games.
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Effects of Sendai quake and what to expect
After Japan's horrendous 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami, Californian citizens are concerned about what similar disasters might occur in their own quake prone state. People are also running scared over the threat of traveling radiation from the still besieged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station in Japan.
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Running into an unexpected person leads to hope, wisdom
He reminded me of my dad, though he looked nothing like him. He was in his late 30s, dark skinned, polite and, unlike my dad, spoke understandable English.
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We are the problem and the solution
I began this article on the principle of giving light to the fact that the American people have lost many of their freedoms, primarily that of free speech. I set out to illustrate examples of censorship in our society, mostly because I myself feel censored due to the recent budget cuts pushing the media out of Modesto Junior College. How I witnessed at the last budget meeting hundreds of students and teachers appealing to the board to keep their programs only to fall on deaf ears. How I watched as a veteran was escorted out of that same meeting by police, silenced for speaking out of order above a ridiculous time limit, a man who fought for a "free country". How I traveled to Sacramento to protest against these same budget cuts and though our voices were loud, we were still urged to keep it civil, to not speak out of turn, to not fight.
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All the votes are accounted for and the new student government has been chosen. Every year Modesto Junior College holds student elections for the Associated Students of MJC. Each term lasts for one full school year and follows certain guidelines emplaced by MJC. Each student running for office has to have and maintain a 2.3 gpa in order to run. The results are in and here are the newly elected ASMJC officials:
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Thursday, March 31 in the east campus quad area a celebration for Cesar Chavez's accomplishments, attributions to the farm workers was commemorated. Students gave speeches of his cultural impact on us, what he did as well as his importance. Posters decorated the lawn of pictures of Chavez as well as "Las Soldaderas" (women who were also a part of the Mexican Revolution) and other symbolic pieces to "La Causa" (the cause).
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Three staff members of the Pirates' Log, the student newspaper of Modesto Junior College, and a contributing student cartoonist, were honored at the annual convention of the Journalism Association of Community Colleges April 7-9 in Sacramento. The awards were for work done by the paper in the Fall 2010 semester, competing against California community colleges with journalism programs that are members of the JACC.
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Effects of Sendai quake and what to expect
After Japan's horrendous 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami, Californian citizens are concerned about what similar disasters might occur in their own quake prone state. People are also running scared over the threat of traveling radiation from the still besieged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station in Japan.
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Four year colleges to have more obstacles, challenges
Due to the recent budget cuts affecting California community colleges, many transfer students are beginning to ask questions. Several MJC students are at age for transfer and are following transfer plans.
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A visit from Dr. Loewenstein last semester gave us false hope
During President Loewenstein's first semester in office at Modesto Junior College, he stopped by the Pirates' Log newsroom and made a point of voicing his opinion on journalism. He emphasized the importance of student journalism for campus and academic life. Every college has to have a school paper, the staff heard him say.
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The overall theme of this year's graduation will be overcoming challenges. The speakers for this year's graduation have a common message for their peers. Benandrew Briggs, the commencement speaker, will advise students to continue challenging themselves in his speech. "When I came back to campus, when I began to look at the students, I saw myself," Briggs said, "They got no idea where they're going, but they're gonna get there."
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