The RenegadeBakersfield College Rip Vol. 85 ∙ No. 2 www.therip.com Wednesday, February 13, 2013 SGA taking steps with smoking ban By Graham C Wheat He was confident, however, implemented. Features Editor that the matter would be resolved “If the senate takes a posi- rather quickly on the academic tion, and the students support The vote for a tobacco free senate’s part. it, and students have taken it to campus has taken place and the “My feeling is that there are administration, I don’t see why it next step is a stance from the those in the senate who are going wouldn’t be implemented,” said Academic Senate, an organiza- to say ‘yes we need to take a po- Rodriguez. tion that serves as the voice of sition on this policy’,” he said. As head of the Senate, he also the faculty of the community The Senate will have its first gave his personal feelings on the colleges in matters of statewide reading of the policy on Feb. 13 policy. concern. and then have a decision at their “I think what’s crucial is that The student vote on the smok- next subsequent meeting, two this whole issue regarding smok- ing policy at Bakersfield College weeks from that date, said Ro- ing is an individual choice, but is official with 2,680 student driguez. that’s not to say that the senate votes for a tobacco free cam- He gave some insight into the will not take a position,” said Ro- pus, 2,190 votes for designated- senate’s feelings on the policy, driguez. smoking areas, 154 staff member saying that some were for a to- “As a faculty member and a votes for a tobacco free campus bacco free campus while others non smoker, I still feel a policy and 67 staff member votes for supported the idea of designat- on smoking needs to be consid- the designated-smoking areas. ed areas. Rodriguez also said ered by all who are impacted. These results were made public that while the academic sen- I feel that those who do smoke on the InsideBC portal on Jan. ate does give suggestions to the should have a designated area.” 30. policy proposed, the senate does Rodriguez briefly outlined the As head of the Academic Sen- not have the power to outright next phase after the senate has ate, Corny Rodriguez illuminat- change it. made a decision. ed that part of the process. “I don’t know about power, but BC’s Board of Trustees would “The policy, however it is [we have] influence. The senate be the next entity to consider the drawn out, they will bring it to may say, ‘we are willing to sup- policy and the earliest possibil- the [academic] senate and that port this if…’ or ‘our concerns ity for their approval would be would be considered first read- regarding the policy are as fol- in April because of a monthly ing, and it won’t be voted on un- lows.’” Rodriguez acknowledged meeting schedule. However, the til the following senate meeting, that this does happen often. board of trustees likewise may if they decide to take it up at all,” Rodriguez also saw no bars make suggestions prolonging the said Rodriguez. from holding the policy being policy making process. illustration BY Adam CREE / THE RIP BC honors former New VP guitar instructor is here By Luis Garcia even play guitar. He was just a LUIS GARCIA / THE RIP Photo Editor likable guy,” said Front Porch Music owner and longtime friend Zav Dadabhoy is the new Over 200 people attended a Artie Niesen. to stay VP of student services. celebration of life at the Forum In addition to playing guitar West building on Feb. 2 to re- and trumpet in local bands Soul By Robert Mullen well as the athletic and P.E. de- member Bakersfield College Research Foundation and San Reporter guitar professor Karl Fredrick Joaquin Valley Fever, Haas was partments. Dadabhoy was the Haas. remarkably passionate about With the recent budget issues dean of students for six years The 66-year-old lost his battle motorcycles. and changes in administrative at Colorado State University. with Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS) A video tribute played dur- positions, Bakersfield College He supervised student affairs at his home on Dec. 22. ing the memorial featured Haas has hired on several new deans programs, a similar role to his Haas began teaching at BC in on mountain excursions, work- and other administrative per- current position at BC. 1982. ing on his bikes and performing sonnel to fill vacant positions. Dadabhoy believes he’s a Since then, Haas taught three wheelies in his neighborhood Among them is Zav Dadabhoy, good fit for BC, bringing both courses, including two beginning and even the beach. the new vice president of stu- his experience and attitudes to LUIS GARCIA / THE RIP the position to better help the classes, one intermediate class “He loved motorcycles. [He] Karl Haas is photographed with his classical guitar which dent services. and one advanced class. His and his buddies would go riding The vice president of Stu- student body. love for teaching could not just just about every other weekend,” was on display during his memorial on Feb. 2. dent Services is responsible “I think my job is to make be contained within the walls of added Niesen. chance to say goodbye over the Renegade Rip, Haas reminisced for supervising and overseeing sure that every single student BC. Music department chair Dr. phone.” on a story on why he loved different departments, the ma- succeeds, and for me that’s a Since 1990, he had also been John Gerhold explained Haas’ Haas’ granddaughter Lily Lau- teaching. triculation process, academic passion,” said Dadabhoy. “I’m teaching private guitar lessons at dedication for teaching up until ria, among others, performed and “Guitar class is… well, I’ll tell counseling and advising, as Please see NEW VP, Page 3 Front Porch Music. the point when the guitarist was dedicated songs in his memory. you that there was a guy who It was an emotional day as officially diagnosed with ALS. During an open forum, many once got a speeding ticket on his friends, family, students and fac- “He taught until last spring attendees fought back tears as way to school, and I asked why. ulty members gathered to share but was already pretty sick at they recounted humorous sto- He said that he didn’t want to be memories of Haas. that time,” he said. “He called ries, which quickly replaced late and I said he could’ve been a “He was a wonderful guy. I me over the summer and let me tears with high-spirited smiles few minutes late. He responded Online classes offer think a lot of people took lessons know his illness was one that and laughter. and said ‘but this is my favorite to come visit him rather than could not be cured and we had a In a 2010 interview with the class.’ ” students new options By Mitchelle De Leon online student. Meeting times BC nursing student tries out for TV talent show Reporter may not apply to online stu- dents, but deadlines still do. Like many Bakersfield Col- In writing assignments for By Hannah Breeland to sing,” said Bumbaca. “Every said. “It’s very personal, but after lege students, Cynthia Allen, her health class, Allen found Opinions Editor time I would hear her sing, I that, I started really feeling the communications major, bal- would just think, wow, I want to songs. I became more emotion- that she wrote more openly in ances work and school. Instead Bakersfield College nursing sound like that when I grow up. ally attached to them.” an online setting. But on her of taking classes on campus, student Kristen Bumbaca, 24, “My very first solo was at my “I found that was the best economics class, she said that she opted to take online classes auditioned to be on “The Voice.” eighth-grade graduation. I didn’t way to express myself. It really she would benefit more from a to accommodate an internship On Feb. 2, Bumbaca went to Los even know I was doing it. My changed my life. It was hard for classroom setting. She added, in Pasadena along with a part- Angeles to audition in front of teacher said that she wasn’t go- me to express my feelings. That’s “I think in-person communica- time job for this semester. the producers for “The Voice.” ing to tell us until the last minute when I realized through singing I tion would be more helpful.” Online resources have “The Voice” is a reality tal- so that we wouldn’t get nervous. could. For many students, in-person changed the education land- ent show on NBC that has four It’s the song right before people “You put your emotions into communication is the main rea- scape. They have given students famous judges. While the con- start walking across the stage. So it, and it feels powerful. That’s son why they prefer classes on like Allen more options while testants are singing for the au- as we’re singing it, right when why I love Christina Aguilera so campus. advancing their careers through dition, the judge’s chairs are the solo came up, it got quiet much. She has meaning in her One of these students is education. Without having to turned around, so they can’t see and she pointed to me and said, songs.