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Southwestern College’s budget may not be the only thing on campus that is shrinking. Students may soon enjoy shorter semesters, too. SWC’s Academic Senate voted 28-1 to support the compressed calendar system, which would mean shorter semesters from 18 weeks to 16 without cutting any time from classes. Dr. Mink Stavenga, dean of instructional support services, said nearly half of the state’s 112 community colleges are still on the 18-week calendar and there is much debate about whether or not …

Benjamin Franklin once said there are two certain things in life: death and taxes. Southwestern College dean Dr. Joel Levine said residents of the district may not have much say over the former, but should reconsider the latter. Levine has proposed that SWC consider called a parcel tax that residents would approve via the ballot to fund higher education. Unlike traditional bond measures that may only be used on construction, Levine said a parcel tax could be used for a variety of college needs, including instruction, which has suffered severe cuts for nearly a decade. California Senate Constitutional Amendment Five (SCA 5) introduced by State Senator Joe Simitian would lower the amount of votes needed to pass a parcel tax …

Summer school at the Chula Vista campus will return with 360 sections, a marked change from last year’s skeletal offerings. College officials said they expect seats to fill up fast. Academic Senate President Randy Beach said there will also be sections offered at the satellite centers in San Ysidro, National City and Otay Mesa. Last summer almost all summer classes were held at the satellites in an effort to help them gain “center status” and a $1 million funding bump from the state. Chula Vista hosted very few classes. Dr. Mark Meadows, dean of the School of Social Sciences, Business and Humanities, said that there is a need for classes during the summer and the distribution of classes, whether they …

Textbook prices continue to soar and in most cases books cost more than Southwestern College classes. Some SWC faculty and student representatives are implementing a sell/swap program and a scholarship in an attempt to mitigate the high price of textbooks. Phil Saenz, professor of political science, said he wants to revive a sell/swap program at SWC through the bookstore’s website. Saenz said this money-saving program needs to be effectively marketed so students can benefit from it. “Problem is that it’s a hidden feature,” said Saenz. “Nobody knows anything about it. So I thought this needs to be publicized.” Students can advertise their books for sale or buy books from other students through the online feature. “It’s similar to a campus …

  SACRAMENTO — Nearly 2,000 college and university students marched on the State Capitol to let legislators know that years of cuts have damaged their ability to complete their education and earn degrees. Some assembly members and senators were so happy to see them, they poured out of the capitol building to hoof alongside. Students from community colleges, UC and CSU campuses gathered at the Ralley Field baseball stadium in Sacramento for the annual March in March to raise awareness …

President Nish, former board colleagues say they will miss his insight and ideas   Reaction to Southwestern College Governing Board Member William Stewart’s surprise resignation this evening has sent a shockwave through the campus community. Board members, administrators, faculty and classified employees expressed disbelief, disappointment, confusion and anger at the sudden and unexpected decision by the board’s newest member. At 2:55 p.m. Stewart informed The Sun that he would resign Friday evening after it posted a story about his reasons …

Citing frustration over college administration’s threats of layoffs and his inability to get accurate budget figures, Southwestern College Governing Board Member William Stewart told The Sun he will resign this evening. Stewart informed The Sun in an exclusive interview this afternoon that he was resigning out of frustration with district administrators whom he said were not providing complete and accurate information to board members or union negotiators. He also said he could not abide by the district’s negotiating strategies, “including …

CLAMPDOWN AT THE BORDER – U.S. Border Patrol agents and law enforcement from other California jurisdictions closed down the international border at San Ysidro Tuesday afternoon after the wallet of renegade former Los Angeles Police officer Christopher Dorner was found on the American side. A subsequent raid of a Tijuana hotel yielded nothing, law enforcement officers said. At the same time southbound border traffic was being searched vehicle-by-vehicle, LAPD and federal law enforcement surrounded a home in Big Bear where Dorner had reportedly tied up two women and stole a vehicle.         …

Residents of the Southwestern Community College District who expected to see former SWC president Raj K. Chopra and former vice president Nicholas Alioto arraigned in court on Wednesday were sorely disappointed. For the second time in a month, Chopra failed to appear in a San Diego Superior Courtroom for his arraignment hearing. Defense lawyers again cited Chopra’s health as the reason for his absence. Chopra is claiming “severe depression.” Alioto, summoned from Wisconsin, did appear, along with the 13 other defendants of the “South Bay Corruption Scandal,” an investigation San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis called the worst of its kind in county history. Also present were former SWC trustees Yolanda Salcido and Jorge Dominguez, EOPS director Arlie Ricasa, …

Former Southwestern College Superintendent Raj Kumar Chopra and former trustees Jorge Dominguez and Yolanda Salcido have joined four other current and former college leaders as defendants in a widening corruption case that now involves 15 people from three South Bay school districts. A San Diego County grand jury handed down 232 criminal charges against elected officials and school contractors in what has become known as the “South Bay Corruption Scandal,” an investigation San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis called the largest of its kind in county history. Fifteen defendants were summoned to Superior Court for arraignment Monday afternoon, six who had previously been charged and nine who were new to the indictments. The grand jury investigation resulted in indictments …