Student government faces budget deficit; Clinical psychologists face pay cut in El Camino’s latest contract proposal
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NEWS
Student government faces budget deficit
By: Nasai Rivas, Eddy Cermeno, and Matheus Trefilio
The Associated Students Organization is grappling with a deficit that poses a significant threat to the future of student activities, clubs and other vital programs. The deficit started during the 2022-2023 academic year when administrative services projected Associated Students Organization with a revenue of $470,000. The projected revenue came from 2021-2022 budget numbers. Despite this, the revenue projected was only around $360,000. Read more.
Clinical psychologists face pay cut in El Camino’s latest contract proposal
By: Ethan Cohen
According to the current proposal from the El Camino College District, a new formula for calculating part-time clinical psychologist pay could cut their hourly rate from almost $75 per hour to $45 per hour. This is part of the latest offer to the college’s faculty union, the Federation of Teachers, which will go to a state mediator if not agreed upon. Read more.
Part-time instruction grows as enrollment increases; faculty union officials push for more full-timers
By: Delfino Camacho
Part-time/temporary faculty increased 32% between 2020-2022 at El Camino, at a faster rate than the California average which saw a 3% drop in the same positions. California has experienced a 4% overall loss in enrollment between 2020 and 2022 while El Camino has only seen a 1% drop. Statewide student enrollment dropped 21% between 2012-2022, El Camino dropped 13%. Read more.
El Camino to address student housing crisis
By: Nellie Eloizard
El Camino College students who need immediate housing can speak to a Basic Needs Coordinator at the Basic Needs Center located on the second floor of the Bookstore. Basic needs services help since an increase of students see themselves wrapped around the housing crisis due to rent increases and a rise in competition for housing. Read more.
Accessories sales down as graduation approaches
By: Matheus Trefilio
The 76th Annual Commencement Ceremony will begin on Friday, June 9 at 4 p.m., at Murdock Stadium. However, not everyone will be participating in the festivities. Read more.
Returning student to share her experience as graduation speaker
El Camino’s commencement speaker will take center stage at this year’s graduation as the proud, confident and vibrant student completes her El Camino academic career. Charletta Royster-McNeish, a returning student, will speak to students during the 76th Annual Commencement Ceremony on Friday, June 9. Read more.
International students asked to return to campus for fall 2023
International students at El Camino College are facing new requirements for the upcoming fall semester, as they are being asked to increase their in-person class enrollment in response to changing guidelines. Read more.
Police Beat May 9 to May 25
By: Ari Martinez
A total of 13 crimes have been reported since the last Police Beat update on May 8. Read more.
EDITORIAL
$15 isn’t much to support students
The Union’s Editorial Board believes our college population can do more to support the organization’s financial needs, to support popular programs including athletics, the Transfer Center, speech and debate and a variety of other clubs and services. Read more.
SPORTS
Fight night strikes success
While El Camino provides boxing classes for students, a boxing club did not exist until the start of the spring semester. The club’s efforts paid off on Saturday, May 20, when fighters were able to host a fight night at Sweet Science Gym in Hawthorne. Read more.
HEALTH
Community colleges taking more action to address mental health
By: Igor Colonno
California community colleges are taking action to spend the appropriate funding to bring more mental health resources including individual counseling, group therapy and external resources. Read more.
El Camino out of compliance with state law to prevent opioid overdose deaths
By: Kim McGill
El Camino College is currently out of compliance with a new state law that went into effect on Jan. 1, 2023, mandating the distribution of the life-saving overdose drug, Naloxone. The health center has naloxone that they can administer in an emergency, but college officials have told Student Health Services that they may not distribute naloxone to anyone. Read more.
A long way to go green: Hurdles to implement recycling efforts at El Camino
El Camino College implemented one bin for all types of trash around campus because waste recycling efforts in the past added extra work for employees. While throwing all kinds of trash into one bin is not against the law, this practice poses a risk of contamination of the recyclable materials which end up getting trashed. Read more.
More than social media: Teenage girls face mental health crisis
By: Brianna Vaca
As the world begins a return to normalcy following the COVID-19 pandemic, teenage girls are still at the forefront of the ongoing mental health crisis. According to a 2021 study from the CDC, three out of five teenage girls in the United States feel constant sadness or hopelessness. Read more.
Mind over finals matter: El Camino to promote mental wellness with workshops
Therapy dogs, chalk drawing, sleep workshops and more will be available to students to help them overcome finals stress over the next two weeks at El Camino College. The events, which are hosted jointly between the Social Justice Center, Black Student Success Center, Student Equity & Achievement (SEA) Center and the Student Health Center, offer a variety of activities for students needing a mental break. Read more.
OPINION
Leaving my home: The next chapter in my education
Transferring can be overwhelming due to the pressure of switching schools and having a fresh new start. In this story, Union staff writer Samantha tells her experience and questions if it's worth it to finish her education. Read more.
ARTS & FEATURES
Striking a chord with the Applied Music program
The Applied Music Program provides private instruction, networking and portfolio building for music majors at El Camino College. However, with COVID-19 putting a dent in enrollment, Assistant Professor of Music and guitar studies Jonathan Minei, is hoping to get those numbers back up. Read more.
Hero in the making: How a student’s troubled beginnings lead him to win debate championships
An award-winning debater, 28-year-old Cody Hagemeier, has faced his fair share of hurdles to get to where he is today. Read more about his life story and how the marine veteran and co-president of the forensics team plans to become a hero for his community. Read more.
VIDEOS
El Camino College English professor takes center stage. English professor Christopher Page is also a part-time musician for a punk-rock band, Tudors. View here.
By: Ethan Cohen
Exploring the impact of El Camino’s journalism program on its students. Journalism students learn practical skills in the newsroom that are critical for their future careers. View here.
By: Delfino Camacho
Let’s all go to the drive-in: ASO hosts movie night at the Roadium. 'Everything, Everywhere, All At Once' screens one night only at the Roadium. ASO benefit pass holders get free entrance and food during the movie night. View here.
By: Igor Colonno
Meet El Camino College's international students and its program. International Student Program (ISP) supports foreign students adapting to college life. View here.
By: Greg Fontanilla
El Camino track and field hurdler thrives in regional and state competitions. Lincoln Marschall qualified for the California Community College Athletics Association's Track and Field State Championships in May. View here.
Extra! The Union’s final spring 2023 issue is here
The Union’s fifth and final issue of the spring 2023 semester has arrived!
The Union Vol. 77, No. 10, features extensive reporting on California's coastal erosion problem and stories about a budget deficit within the Associated Students Organization, payment for clinical psychologist being halved, a decline in transfer rates, opinions on military spending and more.
Look out for The Union’s newspaper on news racks located around campus.
Not on campus? Check out the digital edition issue here and look out for a new slate of issues when Vol. 78 kicks off this fall semester.
Tunes from The Union: A rotating playlist by journalists
With every newspaper issue comes a brand-new playlist! Check out The Union’s curated selection of songs featuring a different theme to accompany each playlist.
This issue’s playlist is titled “Celebration 🎉” in honor of El Camino’s graduating class of 2023. Listen here.
About The Union
The Union is El Camino College’s student-run newspaper and the only local source of news for its college community. Everything published by The Union is done by student journalists. The Union is proud to present the El Camino College community with weekly newsletters delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday morning.
The Union will commit to covering stories that deliver the truth and highlight diversity, equity and inclusion on campus at El Camino College and its surrounding community in Torrance, California.
If you have any comments or questions about this issue of The Union’s newsletter or any of the stories you’ve read, please contact our Editor-in-Chief Khoury Williams by emailing him at khoury_williams@elcamino.edu. If you feel satisfied with what you read today, let us know by sharing this newsletter and tagging us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
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