El Paisano

Issue date: 5/15/09 Section: News

Media Credit: J. Daniel Fernandez/El Paisano ASB President Ernesto Zumaya, background, along with the Honors Transfer Society addresses the board about the State of the Students.

The last Board of Trustees meeting for the semester started off with a bang. Amongst the attendees were two deputies from the Sherriff's department.

The deputies were present due to the expected presence of former Rio Hondo track coach, Geoff Skarr.

Although it is still not clear as to why Skarr was let go from his position, what was clear Wednesday was that he was not welcomed on campus. Although Skarr wasn't allowed in, his wife took his place, but did not speak at the meeting.

Who did speak at the onset of the meeting were some of the cross-country/track members. One young man said "We want to address our concerns with other members of the faculty (in the Athletic Department)."

President of the Board of Trustees Andre Quintero told the assembled mass that their concerns had been heard and that Dr. Ted Martinez was addressing the issues. He then thanked them and moved on to other matters.

At the end of the meeting, during closing statements Student Trustee, Cristela Ruiz, emphasized her beliefs that the Board would do well to revisit the Coach Skarr issue and provide concerned students with real answers, "They deserve at least that."

After a small break the meeting resumed with a commendation for Dean of Public Safety Joe Santoro, and plaques for retiring Rio Hondo members Voiza Arnold and Bruce Nelson. As well as departing President of the Academic Senate, Beverly Reilly and departing President of the Rio Hondo College Faculty Association, Jennifer Fernandez.

Meanwhile, President of the Associated Student Body, Ernesto Zumaya gave his Sate of the Students address to the Board.

He reported that the ASB had sponsored various programs such as student appreciation night, a letter writing campaign to keep student unit fees at $20.

Zumaya and members of the Honors Transfer Society also told about their trip to Washington D.C. and meeting various U.S. representatives.

The standout speaker of the group was Inter Club Council member of American Society of Engineers and Architects, Tom Guzman, who was lobbing for cheaper textbooks said, "This experience has changed me." He believed it was an undo burden for students to pay $160 for a book, while the book itself only costs $60.

Vice President of the Board of Trustees, Angela Acosta, went on to say "I'm glad Rio afforded you a trip to Washington D.C."

After a few more presentations and passing of resolutions, the representatives were given a chance to say their good byes. Zumaya took the opportunity to thank everyone who had been part of his Rio Hondo life and also took the opportunity to say how he was "saddened" by a recent El Paisano opinion piece and that "people just want to talk with no facts."

Finally, the last to speak was Quintero. He thanked everyone for another great year and then addressed Zumaya's complaint by telling him "Welcome to Politics" and to "keep a stiff upper lip and thick skin."

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