The RenegadeBakersfield College Rip Vol. 84 ∙ No. 8 www.therip.com Thursday, September 6, 2012 President search aided by hired firm By Patricia Rocha “We’re working with an agency,” said diverse pool.” ful candidate is named. been moving forward. Editor in Chief Gomez-Heitzeberg. “That’s not unusual. From there, she said the candidates Though she could not speak about “There hasn’t been a delay in any of In fact, we’ve done that in the past when are invited to the first level of interviews, any front-runners in the search, she did those things.” Though the search is under way for we’ve done a presidential search.” which will take place on Sept. 5-7. speak on her role as interim president. She hopes the new president will con- Bakersfield College’s new president, the She said the firm is especially impor- “Out of that process, finalists will be “I have primary responsibility for all tinue this progress, as well as make the position left vacant by Greg Chamber- tant in the search right now because there identified,” she said. “Traditionally, we functions of the college, so while ‘in- difficult decisions that will arise in the lain will not be filled until at least De- are so many presidential positions avail- have had a public forum terim’ is in front of my name, future. cember. able at the community college level. held on campus that anyone Inside it doesn’t feel like interim,” “I hope we choose wisely, and I be- Chamberlain resigned from office in “In order to have a focused search, we can attend. Gomez-Heitzeberg she said. “I’ve been here a lieve that we will,” she said. “I believe February of this year and was replaced do national and state advertising and we “We have a process for discusses concerns long time so I know about our they’ll bring a fresh pair of eyes to look by interim president Robert Jensen for develop a brochure,” she said. “Then the our asking applicants ques- Page 4 process. at what we do so that we can make im- the following three months. company we’re working with, which is tions and then they respond “We’re moving ahead on provements. Current interim president Nan Gomez- specific to community college adminis- in the public forum.” our plans for budget reductions, our “We need someone at the helm who Heitzeberg described the on-going pro- tration, they also contact and do some The final steps to this process have plans to increase student success, and has the skills that I mentioned and has cess to fill the vacant position, which recruitment for us, so our pool is a large applicants approved by the chancellor to promote our programs and accredita- the best interest of our students and our includes help from a hired firm. pool of qualified individuals, and also a and the board, and then a final success- tion,” she said. “All of those things have campus community at heart.” Miller ACDV comes program back after to cut winning sections By Merritt Holloway award Reporter The Academic Develop- By Luis Garcia ment Department is redesign- Reporter ing its curriculum with new and innovative ways to serve Bakersfield College student the almost 2,000 students Dom Miller has returned home scheduled to be displaced from the Drum Corps Interna- from the loss of the depart- tional World Class Champion- ment’s three lowest level ships as percussionist rookie of courses in math, writing and the year. LUIS GARCIA / THE RIP reading, according to depart- In late 2011, Miller auditioned Dom Miller plays a funky groove to fans in attendance at the BC football game on Sept. 1. ment chair Dr. Kimberly Van and was chosen to play drum set Horne. and percussion in the front en- at various intersections around a three-month national summer the show, Miller said the season playing caught the eye of the The administration’s deci- semble for the Bluecoats Drum town in hopes of raising the tour of 13-hour practice days went well. The Bluecoats placed judges and earned him the cov- sion to cut the sections will and Bugle Corps, a competitive $2,500 touring fee cost. Through and grueling competitions. The in the bottom of the top six and eted rookie of the year award, a save several hundred thou- musical organization based out fundraising and two drum line Bluecoats contended at Lucas finished second in the percus- title he was surprised and excited sand dollars but Van Horne of Ohio. teaching jobs at East and, his Oil Stadium in Indianapolis ear- sion section. For Miller, it was to receive. feels these cuts are being tak- Bakersfield motorists might alma mater, West High School, lier this month showcasing their a bittersweet end to the summer, “In drum corps, the percussion en too close to the students. have spotted Miller earlier this Miller exceeded his goal and ac- best 12-minute musical perfor- as he believes they should have player doesn’t get too much cred- “We feel strongly that these year playing his drum kit and cumulated over $4,000. mance. won first place. it,” he said. “Hearing the percus- courses are still needed and singing over roaring engines Since then he has completed For the competitor portion of Miller’s multi-percussionist Please see MILLER, Page 4 are fighting continuously to make sure that the students are still served, and that the cuts do not affect the students to the degree that this is hap- pening right now.” Protesters against circus at Rabobank Academic Development courses are critical to many Bakersfield College students’ By Luis Garcia are forced to endure severe confine- academic success. Reporter ment, physical and social depriva- “About 75 percent of stu- tion, long arduous journeys, brutal dents that enroll, who either Thousands of patrons attended training and control methods, phys- return or are just out of high the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and ical violence and mental suffering,” school, are in need of at least Bailey Circus show, “Dragons,” for said Stacey Augustson, BAA group one or more remedial course,” its four-day show residence at the affiliate. she said. Rabobank Arena in downtown Ba- She adds that the animals’ needs “What’s going to happen is kersfield, but not everyone consid- are not taken into consideration. that if they can’t get a course ered it to be the greatest show on “Tigers and lions are in cages in ACDV, they’re going to earth. that are so small that their only re- find themselves out there in Equipped with signs, some with quirement is that they have to be courses that they’re even less graphic photos of alleged animal able to stand up and turn around. prepared for then they already abuse, activists from the Bakers- The circus has also been cited for are. It’s just critical that we field Alliance for Animals protested forcing ailing arthritic elephants to completely make a decision one hour before each show outside perform.” across campus that we’re go- of the Rabobank Arena and urged Last year, Feld Entertainment, ing to support these student circus goers to take their money which owns the circus, agreed to and not just let them fail.” elsewhere. pay a $275,000 fine to settle alle- “Students are assigned to The group has long opposed gations that it violated federal ani- the Academic Development Ringling’s use of animals in its mal-welfare laws in its handling of program through placement shows, disputing that both the train- elephants, tigers, zebras and other exams, but some students ing methods used by the circus and exotic animals. skip the exams and take the manner wherein animals are Two videographers were on sight courses they’re not prepared housed and transported between documenting the demonstration. LUIS GARCIA / THE RIP for academically to be really shows amount to cruelty. They said they were contracted by Animal activist Stacey Augustson spoke with families in hopes of turning them away “Animals in traveling circuses Please see CIRCUS, Page 4 from attending the circus. Please see ACDV, Page 4 Inside Plans still intact for BC’s 100-year celebration By Nashay Matthews mittee have been planning these recognize 100 BC Alumni. state funds for parties, which is Reporter events for over a year. “My favorite among every- why we are having fundraising “Some of the events are pre- thing we are working on is the activities.” As the 100th birthday of Ba- existing but will take on a Cen- Centennial Book,” said Chiang. Fundraisers they have had in kersfield College approaches, tennial theme,” said Chiang. “It’s sort of like a yearbook of the past include having a table at faculty members, community “The rest of the events are es- the past 100 years at BC and due the Annual BC Garden Fest, and members and BC alumni are hard pecially planned for the celebra- to the nature of my job, I love to a future fundraiser being planned at work planning the celebra- tion.” read history and see pictures of is a golf tournament that will take tion. Some of these events include BC history, which is very vast place in the spring of 2013. The BC Centennial celebra- a Centennial Ball, a BC Alumni and deep.” “Golf tournaments are the tion will start with a kick-off par- flag football game, the creation With budget cuts pressing hardest fundraisers to plan but Page 9: The Renegades win their first game of the season ty in August of 2013 followed by of a signature centennial rose, down on BC, donations and they make a lot of money, so scheduled events for each month an opening event of the newly fundraising will provide all of we are hoping to have a good Page 4 Page 5 of the school year until spring of remodeled outdoor theater, the the funding necessary for the amount of seed money of funds New internet cafe offers a Stanford Medical School 2014.