PI Volume 32, Issue 7 October 7,1998 Reallocating pieces of liberal arts programs ology, computer science, and com­ Donovan Slack munications. Editor Provost Morton said that firm de­ cisions have already been made to Although the liberal arts program support pre-major courses in art, at KCC is the largest of any of the psychology, and business. Decisions community colleges, some of the have not yet been reached on Hawai­ programs may be consolidated or re­ ian studies, education, and engineer­ allocated across other 0' ahu com­ ing but these disciplines are currently munity colleges. under consideration. "Liberal Arts is far too broad a In areas other than liberal arts, brush to paint with," said KCC Pro­ some programs have already been vost John Morton. "There are pieces consolidated. Morton gave as an ex­ of Liberal Arts that will be consoli­ ample the office administration pro­ dated." gram that once resided at KCC. It When making the decision about was reallocated to HCC and is oper­ which pieces those are, "We have to ating successfully now. ask ourselves some very important According to Abou-sayf, a bak­ questions such as, 'Which majors are ery program that was once at HCC we going to continue to support here is now part of our culinary program at KCC?'" said Morton. at KCC. Combining the programs photograph by Kelvin Manalo It's a swing thing ... This includes assessing whether was an enhancement for students, liberal arts courses that are not de­ not a drawback, he said. The swing craze has hit Honolulu. See story on page 7. gree requirements for UH Manoa are Even though students may have feasible offerings here at KCC. Part to travel to another campus, trans­ of the assessment is based on a study portation should not be an issue, said Rippling from reorganization of which majors former KCC stu­ Abou-sayf. "The fastest way to ruin Part one of a three-part series dents have chosen at UH Manoa. a college is to organize it around According to a 1997 report from transportation," he said. In an effort to deal with an ever-decreasing state budget, KCC is in the process of reorganization. Administrators Frank Abou-sayf, assistant to the "There are decisions we have to have been making decisions designed to cut spending while not disturbing the students' learning environment. provost, the most popular liberal art make and some will be less painful Many students are not aware of the grinding and creaking going on inside the KCC framework as departments are majors, in descending order, are psy­ than others," he said. "We can't think combined and facilities are moved. Administrators are consolidating various departments and programs. The fol­ chology, art, sociology, English, bi- as if money is not an issue." lowing are the first of many spotlights on different departments and how each is coping with the restructuring and consolidation process.-contributing writers: Joanne Hill, Jonathan /sabelo, Jimmy Chow, Sage Ornellas According to the strategic plan,* anticipated reallocation actions include: Polling *Reduce course offerings to primarily those courses that meet certifi­ Birthing 'Holomua' program cate and degree (including baccalaureate) core requirements. *Reduce the number of lower enrolled courses where such still with math. A student who is in more language arts remain. Joanne Hill than one pre-college class might *Offer second year lecture courses in selected disciplines via HITS, Staff Writer spend more time in Holomua obtain­ Jimmy Chow cable television, or through the use of video taped lessons. ing additional services. Staff Writer *Reduce options in the second year foreign languages program and A new program unique to KCC The participation of professors encourage students to take through concurrent enrollment at other will be one of the products of this who teach pre-college level courses Language Arts Department Chair campuses, including UH Manoa. reorganization. What was previously will be important. Vera Okamura, Louise Pagotto conducted a poll *Undertake major revisions in programs, structure, curricula and in known as pre-college level classes assistant professor and pre-college within her department and found that instructional delivery and methodologies to better reflect the will soon be grouped into a broader­ math teacher, said she wouldn't say reorganization has caused confusion, demands of the workplace and the increased focus on facilitating scoped program called Holomua. these teachers were overenthusias­ mostly revolving around who is re­ transfer. Dean of Student Services Mona tic, but explained that most teachers sponsible for what. As a result, *Consolidate similar programs across campuses on O'ahu. Lee said the reorganization has like the idea of such a program They Pagotto has sensed a drop in the level *Reduce the number of faculty positions in lower demand programs. given the school an opportunity to are trying to work out a system of morale within the Department. *The University ofHawai'i Community Colleges Strategic Plan 1997-2007 start identifying which students which involves more meetings and One of the biggest concerns would benefit from the Holomua committees. raised by faculty members was the program and focus on what services She also said many teachers do shortage of technical and learning Hispanic these students need. not know whether they would make support for students. According to Lee, the 1997 fall requests for things like materials and According to Head Librarian semester had 2,021 students in a pre­ scheduling to their department head Terry Webb, the library received college level class, with 627 of them or to the Holomua program. Many materials from the LAC only a few heritage in more than one class. The idea of do not want to become completely days prior to the start of the semes­ Holomua is to create a "central separated from their respective de­ ter and some materials are still not Last Monday, September 28, learning environment" for students partments. available for student use. Make-up KCC celebrated Hispanic Heritage in these classes where they can get None of the specifics have been testing is still available at the LAC month with an hour long perfor­ additional help not only in tutoring, worked out, but a task force assigned but tutoring services are currently in mance in the 'Obi' a cafeteria by lo­ The trio livened up the cafeteria but with computer proficiency, study to the project will have a tentative limbo. Teachers are unsure where cal mariachi musicians Los crowd with their unique interpreta­ techniques and the skills to succeed plan for the program on Oct. 10. The to send students for help. Amigos. tions of Mexican, Central, and South in other college programs. one thing that seems fairly certain However, Pagotto said that she The group is composed of American fiesta music. They even Lee explained the program will is the location. 'lliahi 228, where the thinks it's a good sign that most of Luisa, who plays the acoustic bass coaxed two students into perform­ be open to all students in a pre-col­ Learning Assi"stance Center has the student body is not aware of guitar, Alfonso Velasquez, who ing the traditional Mexican Hat lege level course. For example, if a been, will become the Holomua pro­ what is going on. "This is supposed plays the acoustic guitar, and Juan Dance. student is in Math 24, but is taking grams location. Services for students to be totally an internal thing. (The DeVilbiss, who plays the violin and Next Monday, Oct.12, KCC con­ English 100, services will be avail­ in 100-level and above classes have students) shouldn't have to know, or mandolin. All three musicians al­ tinues its celebration of able for that student if they need help been moved to the library. feel the effects of, this whole thing." ternately sing as well. continued on page 3 2 COMMENTARY KAPIO OCTOBER 6, 1998 It's 1998, are we still this close minded? Alas, for today's young people, Sings," by Maya Angelou was chal­ motes disrespect, horror, and vio­ young woman who disguises herself Sean Locke they will not have the same opportu­ lenged in the Ponderosa High School lence." as a boy. Rocky Mountain Collegian nity to enjoy those books we cher­ curriculum in Parker, Colo., in 1994 "The Diary of a Young Girl, Anne I was horrified at reading the chal­ ished as children. Why? because it is "a lurid tale of sexual Frank" was banned in Greenwood, lenges and bans on these worthy I remember fondly as a child A number of parents and school perversion. Tenn. school districts because the au­ pieces of literature. Perhaps it is be­ hearing the stories of Little Red officials with undoubtedly good in­ The Bible was challenged in Har­ thor seems religiously open-minded: cause I am an English major that I Riding Hood, Cinderella and The tentions wish to ban certain books risburg, Pennsylvania school districts "Oh, I don't mean you have to be Or­ feel so passionate about having these Wizard of Oz. from libraries and school curriculum because it "contains language and thodox... I just mean some books available to our young people, Later on in my childhood and into because of offensive content. stories that are inappropriate for chil­ religion .. .It doesn't matter what. Just but regardless of one's academic per­ my teenage years I remember being They seek to protect young people dren of any age, because it includes have to believe in something." suasion, any perceptive and open­ enchanted with "Lord of the Flies", from what they view as harmful and stories of incest and murder. "Gone With the Wind" by Mar­ minded college student will feel dis­ touched by "Anne Frank: Story of a corrupting literature.