Volume 112, No. 62 May 4, 1999 SPAR? DAILY One Washington Square San Jose, CA 95192-0149 Serving San Jose State University Since 19.'34 Controversial Add/drop time Don't worry; be hackey Rodgers gives shortened by university SJSU an earful 111111 Students will only have 19 days to add, Outspoken business leader fuels 14 days to drop classes under new policy affirmative action debate By Arora Stork, English instructor soisios.ow stajrWriter and part of the Academic consenting By Halima Kazem trade between Senate, the passing of the parties," Rodgers said. The San Jose State amendment was an attempt SticirWritas The next part of his equa- University Academic Senate to solve the problem of You can call him the $30- tion was based on the idea passed a resolution by a 23 impacted classes, especially billion dollar man. that freedom creates pros- to 11 vote Monday, which in business and engineering. Cypress Semiconductor's perity and eventually leads will decrease the number of Sally Veregge, current Chief Executive Officer TJ. to happiness. days allowed for students to chair for the instruction and Rodgers shared, and then The audience challenged drop classes. student affairs committee, defended, his moneymaking him on the notion that The new policy will give said the amendment was plan with SJSU students money equals happiness, students 14 days from the passed, but she thinks the and faculty Thursday night. but Rodgers answered ques- first day of instruction to senate is not done reviewing About 300 people went to tions with questions, leaving drop a class and 19 days for this policy, so modifications Morris Dailey Auditorium to many of his critics speech- students to add a class. The can be made. Veregge said listen to and exchange wits less. current add/drop policy she was unsure of the type with the high-tech guru He explained people are gives students 20 days to of modifications that may be about affirmative action, but happier when they are not either add or drop a class. implemented. they got more than they bar- economically strapped and This is the second year of "The main reason (for gained for. can do things for friends and change for the add/drop pol- passing) was logistical, stu- Rodgers started his lec- family. icy for SJSU. dents are trying to get into ture by giving the attendees "When my father was According to Nancy See Add/Drop, page 3 a political quiz to determine diagnosed with Alzheimer's, how they felt about the gov- I couldn't do anything about ernment's involvement in it and money wouldn't cure personal and economic him, but I was able to get Business fraternity issues. him the best health care. But he didn't get an That made him comfortable enthusiastic response right and me happy," Rodgers dances for reading away. said. "At first, I was confused Some audience members By Laurie Phillips the street from SJSU. seemed to be persuaded by with why he was asking all Staff Writer Principal Adam Escoto these questions. Then, I Rodgers idea of money being said the academy, which has realized it's supposed to set a major factor in attaining Put your best dancing a reading program known us up for what he's eventu- happiness. shoes on tonight to help chil- as Success for All, is taking ally going to talk about," After a short intermis- dren learn to read. the progrcun a step further. international business sion, the crowd dwindled, Business and economics It is organizing a four-week major Hector Oliva Jr. said. but the conversation heated fraternity Phi Chi Theta is summer learning academy The free market capital- up. hosting a Dance-a-Thon for 120 of its students. ist began the discussion Affirmative action was on from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Loma "We thought that the with general definitions of the minds of many as the Prieta room of the San Jose majority of kids were one or freedom, wealth and happi- audience began shooting State University Student two years below (the appro- ness. questions concerning Union, and everyone not priate reading level.). There "The basic premise of Rodgers' recent written just business students is were a significant percent- freedom is: I own myself debate"Nrith Jesse Jackson, invited. The group's four age of students who were Therefore, I do what I want the founder and president of members and five pledges three to five years below," and go where I want. the Rainbow Coalition. are supplying the music for Escoto said of the academy's Subject, of course, to the A recent Mercury News what they hope will be a fun 300 students. responsibilities of observing article displayed opposing evening for a worthwhile Located on the corner of the freedom of others," sides of the affirmative cause. Seventh and East Santa Rodgers said. action debate. Sarah Orr/Spartan Dail) One-fourth of the Clara streets, the Horace The debate was provoked evening's net proceeds, Mann Academy is situated He said the right to freely Nathan Beesley, a San Jose State University history major, and Deric Weis, a civil trade property with others by Jackson's visit to Silicon approximately $1.25 from in an area populated by is incorporated in the Bill of Valley in March, where he engineering major, take a study break to play hackey sack Monday at the Seventh each $5 ticket, will be donat- what many call the "work- Rights. lashed out at high-tech com- Street Plaza. Weis and a few other civil engineering students often play hackey sack on ed to the Horace Mann ing poor." Escoto estimates "That's the basic mecha- panies such as Cypress for campus to lighten up before class. Academy, a public elemen- nism of capitalism free See Rodgers, page 3 tary school, located down See Dance, page 5 Author Sandra Cisneros Two friends start, finish college ... together By Tricia Herrera Tauber said. "We had the same to speak at Latino address fol- StqlfWriter sort of focus and idea, so the By Tricia Herrera Jacinto Gardea, an English lit- lowing quarter we decided to take the same classes." Steirriter erature lecturer, said Cisneros Imagine taking every single introduces culture where people class throughout your entire Eastham said she even stayed For those of you who have read can understand it. Her unique school career with your best at DeAnza an extra year to take and enjoyed "House on Mango stories capture the friend sitting right beside you. courses with Tauber. She had Street" and "'Woman Hollering Chicano/Latino culture, he said. Someone who's there to offer already received her associate in Creek and Other Stories" by Gardea described Cisneros' encouragement and pick up arts degree in general education, Sandra Cisneros, you are in luck. characters as vivid, allowing the missed assignments. For most but decided to remain with A reading and lecture by reader to picture the life of the people, this seems impossible Tauber to receive her second award-winning novelist and poet main character. because of different work sched- degree in psychology. Cisneros is scheduled for 7 p.m., Marie Chin, graduate student ules and majors. SJSU classmate Sara Hamm Tuesday at Morris Dailey in Mexiccin American studies, has Meet seniors Caryn Tauber met the two women in a youth Auditorium. read books of Cisneros and said and Ellen Eastham, both San offender class for the first time Cisneros has won various she finds them a change of pace. Jose State University psychology this semester, and right away she awards for her writings, including "She gives a different perspec- majors. They have managed to noticed their close bond. Hamm the prestigious MacArthur tive of everyday life and work around their busy schedules said she saw how they were Foundation Fellowship in 1995 thoughts," Chin said. "The more and take the same classes for always supporting each other in and two fellowships from the experience she shares, the more almost five years. and outside the classroom. National Endowment for the Arts. enjoyable the stories." Their friendship began at "I wish I had someone to take The MacArthur award is given Alvarez said the goal of the DeAnza Community College in an the same classes as me and to each year to exceptionally cre- Latino Scholar Address is to bring algebra class, where both women have support and not worry about ative individuals. students and the general public were struggling with math. smaeide.ting knew people," Hamm A stipend is paid over five together to learn about true liter- Tauber, 45, a mother of two years to individuals who show ature as well as to highlight the teenagers, had been out of school Nancy Eldred, SJSU psycholo- exceptional merit and promise for best and the brightest writers. for a long time and was battling gy instructor, has lectured Tauber creative works. An average of 20 Local math. Out of frustration, she and Eastham in four classes and spoken word ensemble contribu- to 40 people receive this award Grito Serpentino is scheduled to made a comment in class about said the women are a annually. open her troubles. tion t,o the classroom. for Cisneros. Alvarez conversant, Movimiento de Arte y Culture described Serpentino Grito as a of In front of her sat 52-year-old "They are very Latino Americana/San Jose Eastham, who was also a return- relaxing the whole class and mixture of poetry and music. The Center for Latino Arts is hosting local six-member ensemble per- ing student. Eastham, a mother always helping other students," its 3rd Annual Distinguished forms music to with two grandchildren,turned Eldred said.