BC football struggles The Renegade Rip @the_renegade_rip Vet Center hosts as they fall to 0-3 @bc_rip open house on 9/11 Sports, Page 9 www.therip.com Spotlight, Page 10 The RenegadeBakersfield College Rip Vol. 87 ∙ No. 2 Wednesday, September 23, 2015 Tough Wrestlers are hard-headed Christian time for conflict nursing remains KCCD board to majors vote on contract in next meeting By Rhiannon Stroberg Features Editor By Javier Valdes Copy Editor Bakersfield College’s nursing students have been experiencing The ongoing saga between issues getting into several of the Bakersfield College President courses required to complete the Sonya Christian and the Kern nursing program. Community College District BC’s nursing program has continues after the KCCD board several classes that are manda- of trustees voted against the ap- tory for nursing students to take proval of Christian’s contract at in order for them to complete the the Sept. 10 program. However, due to the board meet- overwhelmingly high volume of ing. students in the program, these Amid the students in particular have been conflict be- experiencing several issues get- tween the ting into the necessary biology KCCD and and chemistry classes. C h r i s t i a n , BC nursing student Jennifer Chancellor Edwards, 25, stated that she has Sandra Ser- Sandra Serrano been trying to get into Chem 11 rano released for the past six semesters and a statement after weeks of si- that before she was finally able lence on the issue following the to get a spot in the Bio 32 class, Sept. 10 board meeting. she had been waiting four semes- Serrano’s response, how- ters. ever, didn’t “Without Chem 11, I am un- go without able to get into the next class, comment as Chem 16,” Edwards said, “ and BC faculty, without Bio 32, I am unable to students, move on to the next course, Bio and commu- 33.” nity support- Edwards also stated that her ers rallied attempts to get into both Chem together at 16 and Bio 33 for the fall semes- the Bakers- ter were unsuccessful, “and that field College Sonya Christian was with me trying to register for campus to advocate for the BC the classes on the second day of president. fall registration.” The BCSGA came together to Joe Saldivar, Biology Depart- show their support for Christian ment chair, stated that a lot of leading up to a Special Board the issues with getting into these Meeting on Sept. 17. highly impacted courses stem At the Special Board Meet- from budgetary constraints as ing, the chancellor and trustees well as a lack of faculty in that JOE BERGMAN / THE RIP BC’s Norman Abas ends up in an awkward position in his match versus Austin Armendariz from Victor arrived to a full house of Chris- department. tian’s supporters. Saldivar explained, “With our Valley College. Abas went on to win the match 18-3 on Sept. 11. The BC team ended up beating Victor During the open-session meet- anatomy physiology classes, we Valley 52-3, but they lost the tournament with a team record of 1-3. See the full wrestling story on Page 8. ing, faculty, community leaders, Please see Nursing, Page 5 and Bakersfield Mayor Harvey Hall spoke in support of Chris- tian, urging the board to vote for the approval of Christian’s con- tract. BC welcomes many After the board heard public comments, it went into closed session to further discuss the negotiations that needed to be made before they can bring it international students back to a vote. After a lengthy closed-session By Crystal Valdez they must maintain a 2.0 GPA meeting, the board came back Reporter as well as be enrolled in a mini- and KCCD Board President mum of 12 units per semester. Dennis Beebe stated, “There was Bakersfield College is home Once enrolled, all students must no action taken during closed to a growing community of in- attend a two-day orientation and session, after a conference with ternational students who travel adhere to the common gradua- the chancellor as negotiator the from across the globe for what tion/transfer requirements. board has decided that further is considered to be a better, According to International negotiations are unnecessary and more prestigious education. Student Program Coordinator that the contract will be placed That is exactly what the In- Shohreh Rahman, BC has en- on the board’s October agenda.” ternational Student Affairs pro- rolled 70 F-1 visa students who Serrano stated that the board gram (ISA) at BC offers. represent 26 countries this fall. did not vote on the contract dur- Despite the difficulties The top three countries repre- ing the Sept. 17 board meeting these students may experience sented are Saudi Arabia, India because it was a Special Board throughout the journey and and South Korea. The most Meeting and the KCCD can only upon their arrival, the struggles pursued majors are business ad- vote on such during a regular are outweighed by their aca- ministration, engineering, biol- board meeting. The contract will demic, social, cultural, and eco- ogy, and nursing. be voted on once again during nomic contributions. Rahman stated that the pro- the Oct. 6 board meeting. The admission criteria for gram does everything in its Following the meeting Beebe, international students are exten- power keep these students on who had initially voted against CINTHIA LOERA / THE RIP sive compared to those of local track. the approval for the contract students. A few of those dis- Students who find it difficult International BC students Seungju Lee, 21, from Korea, and Suhar Ali, 21, from Yemen, at the Sept. 10 board meeting, tinctions, according to the BC to maintain their status are at speak with International Students Counselor Shohreh Rahman inside her office. made it known that he would be voting for the approval of Chris- website, are as follows: Inter- risk of having that status termi- tian’s contract during the Oct. 6 national students must have an nated, and in some cases they costs during their attendance pe- tuition fee per unit, resulting in tional students include an av- board meeting. F-1 visa in order to be consid- must return to their native coun- riod at BC. a total $292 per unit. The reason erage of $726 that result from At the Sept. 10 board meeting, ered for admission at BC. They try. Rahman stated, “Students international students must pay expenses such as textbooks, the KCCD and Christian negoti- must provide evidence that they International students on an pay the following fees: a non- $246 more than the average lo- health fees, and student fees. are proficient in the English lan- resident tuition fee of $200 per cal student is because they do Assuming that all students carry ated a contract that was recom- F-1 visa are also required to mended for approval and was guage in order to benefit from provide evidence that they are unit, a capital outlay for facility not pay California state taxes.” the minimum 12 units that are college level instruction, and financially capable to bear all usage of $46 per unit, and a $46 Additional costs for interna- Please see Foreign , Page 5 Please see Sonya, Page 5 CAMPUS Page 2 The Renegade Rip www.therip.com Wednesday, September 23, 2015 Nexus aims to unite community New Ag By Carissa Diaz to raising scholarship money, alumni and gain knowledge on community are involved in a Series where they invite guest Reporter but the BC Foundations want to different careers that interest philanthropy project that makes speakers to educate the students classes reach a higher level of including them. them have a distinguished char- with helpful information. Bakersfield College launched alumni in many projects. Being a part of Nexus, stu- acteristic. A variety of career paths are a new program that brings the The associates want to create a dents get the opportunity to Community service is a well- expressed during the Career alumni back to the community program on social aspects as well become more involved in a known way to give back to the Series gathering. It’s a way to to help guide present students to as other aspects that an alumni philanthropy project that gives community. Nexus is showing become familiar with other ca- become the new leaders of our program normally is involved in. students a chance to give back students to volunteer at Bakers- reers that may be of interest to at BC community. This would mean, for example, to the community. The alumni field College and around town. students who are undecided on The new program Nexus communicating and sharing per- have decided to do a student- The group attends large-scale a career path. It is also helpful stands for building a community sonal experiences of their career. to-student scholarship, which is events around town to help clean when it comes to gaining knowl- together. The newest alumni When Paquette was asked what student-raised money for other up after the event happens. edge on building your resume program launched on campus message she wanted to send to students to receive a scholar- When there are events on and business. open to focuses on giving current stu- the students, she said, “It takes ship. campus, Nexus extends their Nexus was established at the dents a chance to learn from key a good degree in great training Giving Rocks is the project help even if it’s as small as guid- beginning of the school year in leaders, alumni, such as Sen.