“Truth No Matter The Cost” The Torch BERGEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT NEWSPAPER IGNITING STUDENTS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE VOLUME 23 . NO. 2 TORCHBCC.COM OCTOBER 2014 The BCCFA Says “No!” to The New BLAIR DELONGCode of Conduct NEWS EDITOR may be held accountable for to “uphold the Constitution of the misconduct of their guests.” the United States. After all those Amidst controversy and the Sivo, who volunteers at the formalities, they proceeded to urgings of employees, including Emil Beuhler Perpetual Trust pass a document that tramples new Alumni Trustee Victoria Observatory, questioned the those rights of the employees of Tahhan, the revised BCC vague nature of “may be” as he the college. One can only assume Employee Code of Conduct felt he could be held responsible that they have been reading was voted into existence by the for a visitor to the Observatory. their Orwell: ’All animals are Board of Trustees during their He was answered by Board Of equal, but some more equal than September meeting. Trustees Chairman E. Carter others.’.” He continued by saying, During the waning Corriston saying, “...MAY be held “If you want a picture of the months of last semester, the responsible, this doesn’t mean future…” Board of Trustees had introduced you will be held responsible.” While faculty have been the an Employee Code of Conduct Vice President of Academic most vocal on the new Code, that was seen by many of the Affairs, Dr. William Mullaney several other employees of staff as vague and too obtuse responded to the new Code by BCC have voiced their opinion in its interpretation. The Board saying, “Based on my review as well. A source close to the of Trustees, under the request of the Employee Code of administration, who agreed to of several faculty members to Conduct, it seems in keeping comment on the Code under the rework the new Code to better with similar documents of this promise of anonymity for fear of serve all those covered under it, type from around the country. retaliation, said, “The wording, tabled the code reworked it to The revised Code was the result while vague, seems like it will better fit what faculty members of collaboration among the take certain groups collective would see as more far and the employee groups and seems voices away.” wording not so vague. better for it.” The Faculty, though, had other The new Code of Conduct The subject is still being hotly plans in mind. In a recent Bergen ,however, is under just as contested though, as Associate Community College Faculty much fire as the old iteration. Professor of Chemistry Brant Association meeting, the faculty Questions were raised yet again. Chapman said, “I find it ironic union agreed not to sign the new Associate Professor of Physics that the Board began its meeting Code and the new Code itself Joseph Sivo questioned a line of with the Pledge of Allegiance, will only cause more strife within the Code that read, “This code followed by the swearing in of a an environment that many have also applies to members of the new Board member, who swore described as toxic and chaotic. College community, whose host Dr. Alan Kaufman and E. Carter Corriston Board of Trustees Meet for First Time This Semester BLAIR DELONG Illustration by Ricardo Montero NEWS EDITOR The Board of Trustees of Bergen Community College started with a few important changes to employee life on campus. The revised Employee Code of Conduct was voted on as well as the reorganization of the college’s many academic departments into a more condensed structure. Amidst controversy there was a cloud of sadness hanging over the meeting. Vice Chairman Cid Wilson unfortunately attended his last meeting as Vice Chairman; he is moving onto greener pastures in Washington DC to take up the positions of President & CEO of the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility. Amongst this, there was even more good news to spread. In BCC President B. Kaye Walters’ report, she said, “... we have moved into the number one slot in New Jersey for Associate degree institutions.” While BCC is now top of the list, President Walter continued to say BCC was rated 48th, but has moved up to 27th nationally in graduation rates. A new member of the BOT spoke as well, Victoria Tahhan, a recent graduate of BCC and Alumni Trustee, expressing her happiness from working with the Board of Trustees. Tahhan also reminded all those assembled at the meeting that Oct 9, 2014 the BCC Alumni Dinner will be taking place. While she did express her sadness over former Vice Chairman Wilson leaving, she spoke of registration with help from the various on the code. wages aren’t changed.” her happiness on his new position and clubs on campus.” Faculty weren’t the only members As the meeting came to a close, wished him luck in his future endeavors. A big point on the meeting’s of the audience to voice their concern the Code of Conduct was voted on by The new President of the Student agenda was the revised Employee Code of over the Code however, Alumni Trustee the Board and passed, with only one Government Association, Laura Hoyos, Conduct. Associate Professor of Physics, Tahhan spoke against voting on it as well. vote being against it, Trustee Tahhan. took to the mic next and spoke of how Joseph Sivo, was first to speak on the Tahhan said, “I’m not just a figurehead, I Chairman Corriston commented on this, excited she was about recruiting for Student matter. Sivo recommended removing do agree the Code of Conduct is vague.” assuming there was a unanimous vote Senate and helping students, new and old. the Code and reconsider it due to the She also asked, “Where does this land saying, “In two years I’ve gotten used to She said, “... I look forward to presenting vagueness of its wording. Professor Sivo in the collective bargaining agreement?” everyone agreeing.” new ideas to the administration,” also said to the Board that they should get in which BCC’s lawyer John Schepisi adding, “We will work strongly for voter more input from the faculty before voting answered, “It is non-negotiable since 2 NEWS THE TORCH VOLUME 23 ISSUE 2 | OCTOBER 2014 Why Are the Departments Restructuring? No One Knows. FELLIX LYU Professor Alan Kaufman of the Senate said, ONLINE EDITOR “The faculty administration believes that there should have been a reorganization committee, Last year, the Board of Trustees proposed that every academic department be however there wasn’t. The previous reorganizations, reorganized. The topics that were held in the September Board of Trustees meeting there was always a committee and I was a part of made it clear that this proposal would be a consolidation of departments. them” Professor Kaufman said, “The entire faculty Vice President of Affairs William Mullaney suggested that the school restructure met in a Faculty Association and passed the motion, its whole programming during a meeting for the academic chairs that was held last rejecting the re-organization.” year. Mullaney handed out data sheets showing that the academic structure was Many of the departments are now in a similar obviously not in an organized fashion. Dr. Mullaney and the Academic heads handled situation where they are forced to merge with other the decision by voting for a reorganization. However, when questioned about the re- departments. The coalescence of these divisions organization, an answer would never fully be given. Professor Gregg Biermann, a have now become too large to manage under one faculty member who raised the question as to why there is a reorganization, said, person. Visual Arts, Philosophy and Religion, and “When questioned, [Dr.Mullaney] could not explain what the academic reasons for History and Geography are now a department the reorganization were -- only that the Board of Trustees charged him with carrying under Humanities, none of which having anything it out.” When Biermann repeatedly requested for an actual answer, he was either to do with the prior. Professors were outraged when shrugged off, or given a typical answer about an unknown “goal” for the school. they heard the news because it was too late to fight Biermann said, “I even asked President Walter at a Faculty Senate meeting if back. The reorganization is expected to be effective she could explain why the reorganization was necessary and she again referred to around January 1, 2015. the will of the Board of Trustees. I told her that her response was only about power but it lacked a substantial academic basis.” Biermann continued by saying, “I told them (The Board of Trustees) that the reason for the vote of no confidence in Walter was that faculty felt they no longer had meaningful input into college decisions. The Board responded by giving President Walter a raise and extended her contract over the objections of the faculty.” Dr. Mullaney commented on the reorganization: “The academic reorganization was the result of a year researching comparable colleges, as well as considerable feedback from the BCC faculty through open faculty forums, the Faculty Senate and the current department chair organization. The new structure is designed to serve students better by providing fewer and more cohesive departments that are easier for them to navigate. In addition, as part of the reorganization, the department chair job description was revised so as to focus more directly on helping students to succeed in their academic programs.” The open faculty forums were held four times in February. President Kaye Walter said on the matter, “The new One Stop Shop came out of this review, as did the re-organization of the academic departments.