By Derik Eaquinto American Journalism Student The Moraga Public Library recently reopened after a number of indoor cosmetic renovations were completed. The library compliments the larger Lafayette Public Library, and both are part of the Contra Costa County Library system. Students at Saint Mary’s are eligible for a free membership as local residents, however currently, many students use the Saint Mary’s library exclusively.
The Moraga library includes a second hand nonprofit book shop, Friends of the Moraga Library, where the library website explains that donated books are sold for a fraction of retail price. Proceeds from the shop are used to provide the library with books, magazines, DVDs, furniture, and other necessities. “It's a great system to have. The shop provides another option for people looking to add to their personal collections, and the money supports the library's other free services” said one library volunteer. Residents of Contra Costa County are eligible for a free library card, giving them access to any library services within the system. “The library systems are connected. A book checked out in Moraga can be returned to Lafayette, and vice versa… For students who live off campus, this gives them a chance to explore the Moraga Library whenever they are near Saint Mary’s, and take books back anywhere they like” explained another worker. “The fiction section at the Saint Mary’s library isn’t great, but I had not considered getting a membership to the Moraga Library,” said one student. A library card could help supplement book choices and options for Saint Mary’s students. Increased use of kindles and other e readers have cut down sales and usage of paper books in recent years. “I do a lot of audio books, so I don’t see the point in getting a library card,” said another Saint Mary’s student. “A library card also gets you free access to a huge number of ebooks and audio books from the Libby App” explained a library volunteer. The Moraga Library hours and services can be found on their website.
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Image c/o Baile Folklórico Guadalupano By Andrew Martinez Cabrera Entertainment Editor On the night of October 27, a bustling scene unfolded in the Soda Center. The strumming of guitars and the occasional horn rung throughout the crowded room via large speakers. The only sounds louder than the music were voices, laughter, and the scurrying of feet as they tried to reach their seats. Spanish and English filled the air and mixed into a song of warmth as the audience enjoyed one another's company. At the front of the stage was a multi-stepped altar, representing heaven, earth, and the underworld – with many offrendas (offerings) to remember those who have passed, such as cempasúchil (flowers of the dead), photographs, colorful serape blankets, food and drinks, and many other trinkets.
This was the prelude to the special annual event presented by Saint Mary’s very own Baile Folklórico Guadalupano (BFG) in conjunction with SMC Dance Company: 2023’s Día De Los Muertos Dance Concert. Accompanying BFG this year were two other dance groups: Ballet Folklórico Costa de Oro from San Leandro & Grupo Folklórico Sueño Mío from Hayward. Before the dancing began, Brother Michael S. Avila, F.S.C, introduced the event, reading a written speech in Spanish and then in English. Baile Folklórico Guadalupano was started by then-second-year SMC student Yadira Guerrero in 2012, in which Br. Avila served as the first advisor. He reminisced that he was touched by the fact that, “she was not only promoting the Latino culture [at Saint Mary’s but was also] recruiting dancers from all traditions,” something which still runs true in its current rendition. As a Latino, I found not only myself immersed in my culture being celebrated and displayed by people who look and spoke like me, but also by those who come from different backgrounds – either the dancers who were a part of BFG or the students who came to watch and cheer on their friends. If the night was to be encapsulated by one word, it would be “celebration.” Throughout the course of the show, many people would shout – gritos – like mariachis would do, a familial sound that warmed my heart. The concert was composed of different sections of dances, titled after different states from Mexico, presumably composed of different types of baile folklórico. It is hard to accurately describe the sights I saw because I would fail to do justice to the spectacle of it all – the marching of women carrying prop rifles, men brandishing machetes and incorporating into their dance, dancers demonstrating such fluidity with their movements, their faces glowing; enjoying the scenery, the company, the spirit. It was a non-judgemental, transcending sight. Everyone was there to have fun. Having something like this at Saint Mary’s and having it be organized by students nonetheless is something that should be seen by all. It was a reminder of how much I love my identity. If you have not had the opportunity to witness any BFG events, do yourself the favor and check out any of their upcoming events, such as Feel Good Friday on Dec. 1 and BFG Night on Dec. 4. A recording of the event can be found on SMC Performing Arts’ Vimeo page. In an article published on the SMC website, the new Presidential Search committee was announced. Image c/o Saint Mary's College By Sarah Bagdon American Journalism student On October 23rd, Saint Mary’s announced their new Presidential Search Committee along with their Presidential Search website. This announcement has been yet another part of Saint Mary’s Transformation 2028 strategic plan. Brother David Caretti and David Perry, the two co-chairs of the committee say in their article on the Saint Mary’s website, “With the Transformation 2028 strategic plan and our Lasallian Core Principles acting as our guideposts, we are committed to working closely with members of the search committee, the Board of Trustees, our executive search firm, WittKieffer, and all members of the Saint Mary’s campus community to help find our next president.” According to Brother David, “Everyone on the search needs a holistic view of the college so they could see across departments.” He also explained, “The role of the committee is often mistaken, they do not directly hire the President, they are empowered to facilitate the search and to make sure that people are engaged. We wanted people who connected with multiple constituencies of the community.” However, there are many students who are unaware of what the President’s job is, like junior Lucy Bikhai who said, “I would love to know what the school president even does, I genuinely want to know what a person in this position does.”
Brother David said in an interview that when the committee was announced, there was a schoolwide email sent with a survey that would allow the committee to know what to look for in creating the Presidential Leadership Profiles for the candidates that are to be announced sometime within the next week. He explained, “There's been intentional engagement for people to be a part of this process.” In an interview with Provost Corey Cook, he told me, “Generally here, I think we do well when we listen to student voices. Our students are very direct, very wise, very kind…My experience is every time we invite students to give feedback, it’s helpful, constructive. I would say that every time students give input, that input is going to matter.” Most students are not aware of how impactful their voices are. Gavin Voskamp, a junior here at Saint Mary’s, explained, “On one hand I think it's great that they let students have a role in selecting or at least seeing which president is selected. I'm not sure how much of an active role we as the student body play but I think it is great that they are attempting to hear our feedback.” But according to both Brother David and Provost Cook, the students’ voices impact the school more than they know. The biggest question that is posed through the release of this new search committee is what does everyone want to see out of the next Saint Mary’s president? There were a few members on the committee that were contacted but they had both declined going on the record, due to signing a non-disclosure agreement. However, several others had some thoughts on the matter. Provost Cook said, “I work very closely with the president and I’m excited to see how it turns out. I want to find somebody who understands our mission. Somebody who can help build external relationships. External reputation of the college. A president who’s able to uncover the wonderful things our students do. Somebody who can talk about our students’ achievements and success. Talk to folks about what makes SMC special…A president excited to engage with students.” Voskamp said, “As a student I would love to see a president who is active and involved with student affairs, not just showing up to the basketball games. I mean I want them to really hear and listen to the students.” Bikhai had simply said, “I guess the biggest thing that I would want is some transparency.” However, out of every interview, Professor Denise Witzig, a Professor of Women's and Gender Studies, had the most to say. Much like the Provost, she said, “We want somebody who is engaged in the community and who has a clear idea of who we are as a community.” She especially emphasized this idea of hiring a President who is engaged with the Saint Mary’s community. “I think there are a lot of directions in which we can go, but I do think the next President has to be a people person and get to know the students and the faculty and staff…You have to listen to people, there are a lot of good ideas here on campus that are not being listened to,” she said. Something else that she had emphasized was the fact that the President needs to ask themself, “What do we want to be known for in the future? It would be good to find someone who knows about that…You want someone who will take us in bold, new directions, who honors the culture of SMC.” The biggest thing to Professor Witzig is that, “The President has to represent the college in a lot of different constituencies…All of these are different and it's important for the president to understand that and to say that this is who we are…The president of the college is a big promoter of college interests, but they have to weigh those interests with the needs of the college…someone who wants to uplift the school.” Weighing in all these issues is going to be very important for the search committee to consider when considering the candidates. As for the student body and faculty and staff, it will be important to welcome whoever is inaugurated on our campus grounds. Brother David said, “We’ve really appreciated the response of people across campus, we appreciate their interest. We know that whoever this next president is going to be, that it will be important for us to welcome them and to include them in our community just like we do everyone else and to help them feel like this is their home just like everybody else on this campus.” Ever since the influx of layoffs back in the spring, the job economy has taken a hit. College students everywhere, especially at Saint Mary’s College, are worried about what this could mean about applying for jobs come graduation in spring. By Francesca Caronna American Journalism Student We all know someone, whether that's a family member, friend or parent who was affected by the lay offs this year. In the spring, tech companies laid off thousands of employees and went into a hiring freeze (Deadline). Companies like Meta, Docusign, Salesforce and Adobe with headquarters in San Francisco act as a funnel for local college students for entry level jobs in tech. Since the hiring freeze, it has sent soon-to-be-graduating college students into a panic. According to CNN, we are experiencing the lowest level of open jobs in the past few years, and there are no predictions as to when the job market will return to normal.
This is a problem all over the country right now, but Saint Mary’s College seniors are especially worried about the potential effects the hiring freeze will have on their job search in the spring. It is a common process for seniors to start applying for jobs late winter or early spring to have something lined up after they graduate. This will start in a few short months, and senior Radha Rai stated, “I keep hearing that there are no jobs, I’m really concerned for what this will mean for me.” This is not an uncommon concern among seniors as many are scared for their future careers because this is the largest hiring freeze many of us have experienced in our lifetimes. Another Saint Mary’s College senior, Lauren Kassity, expressed her feelings of confusion towards this, stating, “The job market is so bad right now, I can’t even think of what this means for the graduating class of 2023.” She continued, asking, “What are we supposed to do?” This state of confusion and uncertainty is a recurring theme among seniors at Saint Mary’s College. Fellow senior, Jacalyn Swiestra explained she has been looking on LinkedIn for open job positions, and “...there are so many less opportunities than there were at this time last year.” The lack of jobs on the market and the current hiring freeze within tech companies is causing there to be not as many jobs available as there normally would be at this time. We’ll have to see what this means for the graduating class of 2024 and if it affects their future careers. Why a Women’s Day would make the rec center more accessible. By Chloe Ourada American Journalism Student It was announced in Fall 2023 that Saint Mary’s College of California hired its first Title IX Coordinator and Compliance Officer, Jess Varga. Varga has experience working at many colleges and was most recently the Title IX Officer at the University of San Francisco. Though new to Saint Mary’s, she possesses a positive and hopeful attitude towards the school. As she said about her hire, “it is a message that shows the institution is working towards bettering itself, that this is something they care about.” Her hire also shows that there is always room for improvement. Although the Title IX Coordinator and Compliance Officer position is new, women’s fear of being harassed in gym spaces is nothing new.
Ingrid Alkire, a senior, said of the Joseph L. Alioto Recreation Center, “I find it intimidating. I don’t go there. I used to go a little bit, but I don’t really go anymore.” She continued, “The weight section especially, there’s a lot of guys. I feel kind of out of place, and it can be embarrassing.” Students who identify as women report feeling that certain spaces in the rec center are too male-dominated. “I love going to the rec center, but a lot of times I feel like I need to earn my place when I am there, especially at the free weights section” explained Lillian La Salle, a sophomore, “I feel like I have to be angry all the time, like it’s a weakness to smile.” This view is shared by many women. “For the most part [the rec center’s] pretty good, but there are some specific areas I go that I notice are more male dominated,” added Jenna Thibodeau, a senior, “and sometimes, if it’s really all guys and there’s no girls in there, I think, ‘Maybe I’ll come back later.’” This last comment addresses a barrier in accessibility. “Some students feel hesitant about using the space. I definitely encounter students with hesitancy, who say, ‘I’ll just go for a walk instead,’” noted Sharon Sobotta, the Director of the Center for Women and Gender Equity (CWGE). Having a Women’s Day at the rec center would make the space more accessible to students who may not feel comfortable there otherwise. So what would a Women’s Day look like? Many might assume that on such a day, women would be the only people able to use the rec center, but that is not the case. “The actual challenge or concern that comes up is when access is restricted based on sex or gender,” stated Varga. Since we are a federally funded school, our rec center cannot restrict access based on sex due to Title IX. But nor would we want to. “It might be really great for men to be in a space with all this information,” Varga supposed. Male-identifying students should also be encouraged to participate in a Women’s Day because the information that they learn while doing so would make every other day at the rec center better for women. Mariel Littorno, the Assistant Director of Recreation Programming and Operations for the rec center, could see a Women’s Day including many different things. She discussed the possibility of having posters, pamphlets, speakers, and classes like yoga, spin, and self-defense. In short, the goals of a Women’s Day would be to raise awareness, celebrate, and center women in this space that is historically masculine. The last question that remains, is whether or not this event is truly feasible. Both students and staff seem to think so. “Having a Women’s Day would be really cool,” La Salle said. Sobotta affirmed that if a Women’s Day came to fruition, the CWGE would want to be a part of it. And Varga said of the idea, “I think it’s brilliant.” All in all, the rec center is a notable asset on our campus, and we want to make sure that this asset is equally accessible to everyone. A Women’s Day would make the rec center more inviting and welcoming for women. As the Saint Mary’s Community gears up for basketball season, student leadership committees present Homecoming! Whether you are a first year, fourth year, or alumni, the events offer a little something for everyone. Image c/o author By Eleni Kvochak American Journalism Student With great enthusiasm, student leadership presents Saint Mary’s College Homecoming Week! The celebratory week kicked off on Monday, November 3rd and continues to parade throughout campus until Sunday, November 12th. The events range from school wide bingo, movie night, tailgates, and casino night. Whether you are a first year, fourth year, or alumni, the events offer a little something for everyone.
Each event is set to conjure excitement and spirit within the community. Planning this week of fun also gives power back to the students. More specifically, “Administration giving student leadership a chance to plan the events for a week allows us to do what we want to see as a student,” Gael Force President, Stefano Costa comments. With the student enhancement fee, there is now immense focus on student experience. By hosting lively events, the planning committee hopes to make the year memorable. Especially for seniors, “I want to take advantage of everything Saint Mary’s has to offer. Homecoming is the perfect opportunity to connect with the community and make memories,” shares current senior, Peyton Prebil. From student conversation, it appears that there is the most buzz surrounding casino Night. “It is something that hasn't been done for the last few years, I think there will be some mystery to how the event will run and what the students expect,” Costa adds. The night includes food, an array of auction items, and speakeasy for students 21 and over. Undoubtedly, student leadership is working hard to create unique and successful events for the community to enjoy. “Homecoming week is a special week on campus where we have a series of events for students to get them amped up for the start of basketball season,” states Campus Activities Board President, Kristen Doughtery. With a packed student section for the first men’s basketball game on Monday evening, there is no question Homecoming Week is in full swing and the effort of student leaders is shining through. For more information, please visit @smc_cab and @smc_gaelforce on Instagram! Artists Corita Kent and Lisa Congdon ‘91 are sparking wonder and awe at the Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art. Image c/o author By Eleni Kvochak American Journalism Student The exhibition Hold It Lightly is currently open at the Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art (SMCMoA), featuring original printed work by artist Lisa Congdon ’91. Displayed from September 13 through December 10, 2023, the exhibition signifies Congdon’s first solo museum showcase. Hold it Lightly features fifty-seven original serigraphs alongside the 1960s pop artistry of Corita Kent. Exhibited in conversation, both Congdon and Kent utilize unique graphics and vibrant colors to convey powerful messages. This union is sparking wonder and awe at the Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art.
Corita Kent (B.1918-D.1986) was an American artist with an innovative approach to design and education. Within the heroes & sheroes series, her work highlights what was really going on from the year 1968 to 1969. Whether it was political turmoil, the Vietnam War, assassinations or the Civil Rights Movement, she managed to cover it all in some capacity. Instead of creating art full of displeasure, Corita transformed everyday material into sources of inspiration. “Corita shifts the narrative, bringing in messages of hope and joy,” Museum curator Brit Roye explains. By utilizing silk screen technology, Kent takes to news media, like magazine clippings or presidential imagery to showcase exactly how entities were talking about current social events. Her art acts as a vehicle and outlet for expressing larger messages of hope. For example, a large sector of the series includes Martin Luther King Jr. from his peak to his untimely end. Expanding further, this body of work did not require museum display. It was created to be multiplied, shared across the nation, and conjure feelings of hopefulness. There is no question that this twenty-nine-serigraph exhibition still resonates with the current political and social climate. Corita Kent’s revolutionary work stands up to the test of time and continues to influence artists today. Thus bringing forth, the delightful Lisa Congdon. Initially, the museum curators reached out to Congdon because she is an alumna of the college. Philip Goodwin, a representative from the Alumni Engagement Office speaks to the specialness of this exhibition saying, “Lisa is not only an alum, but she is also the first alumna to have her work exhibited in the Museum of Art.” One room of the exhibit is dedicated solely to her Saint Mary’s College experience. Connecting with Lisa it was evident there is a deep connection between Kent and Congdon. More specifically, Royer states, “There is a thread of connection between one artist in the 21st century to another artist in the 21st century.” Congdon’s body of work is greatly influenced by Corita. Especially, when it comes to curating and embracing joy in all things. Through the use of serigraph and digital practice, Congdon has developed her own vocabulary. When taking a close look at her work, one might notice the same evil eye, heart, or bubbled lettering from one piece to another. Rather than using mundane and moody imagery, she employs vibrant colors and playful graphics to convey powerful messages. Much of this stems from the concept of, “Joyous Revolutionary.” Simply put, discussing the political climate in a spirited manner has the ability to spark a true revolution. For instance, one print depicts a tiger and reads, “Protect the Vulnerable.” At first glance, viewers see a powerful tiger, delivering a strong message. Yet, when diving deeper, one notices the animal shedding a tear. In conversation about the piece, it was revealed that this print was intended to respond to the 2017 Trump election. Royer observes, this piece brings ”visibility to human rights not being acknowledged in our country.” Congdon creates art with intention. She beautifully delivers compelling messages with the genuine hope to generate themes of joy, liberation, and radical inclusion. In addition to gifting the MoA with this original series, she donated a small selection of prints for auction. All proceeds are in support of the Museum. Years later, the revolutionary wit and style of Kent carries on through the artistry of Congdon. Together, the exhibitions combine pieces of historical relevance, present day topics, and a lust for Saint Mary’s College. A current senior at Saint Mary’s proclaims, “The Saint Mary’s Museum of Art is special to me because it serves as a space filled with inspiration and nostalgia. Each time I walk through the museum, I am overwhelmed with all of the beautiful and powerful pieces of art.” Kent and Congdon are revolutionaries in every way. They express important social issues through the modality of art with playful images, funky fonts, and bold colorings. Further, they aim to cultivate change and pave the way for others to dabble in their own artistic expression. Kent and Congdon create a space for conversation and hopeful thinking. They simply long to produce joy in all things, especially in times of turmoil. The title, Hold It Lightly, means just that; do not take anything so seriously, instead think and hold dialogue about events in a light and joyful manner. By doing so, a radical revolution of joy, love, and liberation might occur, just as Kent and Congdon set out to do. The museum is free to students and visitors. Additionally, daily Tours of the Exhibition are offered daily. For more information, please visit, https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/museum-art. Canvas LMS and Student Data Collection Image c/o author By Lucy Bikahi American Journalism Student 2023 is an age of constant data monitoring and collection; from streaming services, to social media, all the way to the learning platforms students use to submit assignments. Educational technology, such as the learning platforms used by colleges to post announcements and turn in assignments, make large amounts of student data available to EdTech companies and other parties associated with those corporations. In the Fall of 2023, Saint Mary’s College of California (SMC) officially made the switch from Moodle, its previous online learning management system, to Canvas. Canvas appears to be a well organized and user friendly platform; it is easy to navigate and its layout makes it clear what is available to its users. However, what is not readily apparent is the vast amount of student data that is collected in order for the website to function. Everyone should be mindful of their online data, where it is going, and who is collecting it. As stated by American Journalism Scholar and Professor Nolan Higdon, “In this new economy of surveillance capitalism, people are the ones who are mined for data. So people think they are using products, but they are the products.” Canvas LMS, the learning platform currently utilized by SMC, is supported by Instructure. Instructure is an educational technology company owned by Thoma Bravo, a multi-billion dollar private equity firm. Instructure collects large amounts of student data through their educational software, such as Canvas. The data collected by Canvas and its privacy policy regarding that data can be found here. It is a long list of personal information including, but not limited to, contact information, geographic location, in-site interactions, browser type, “unique device identifiers,” and more. According to Canvas’s website this data is reportedly used to “provide, analyze, and improve products.” A general outline of how that data is utilized is provided, however there is not a specific outline of how each piece of data is utilized within user experience and why it is crucial to product functionality. Furthermore, the authorized actions of third party providers are made very vague. Initially created in the 1970s, the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act or FERPA was intended to ensure student privacy protection. However, under updated 2012 FERPA laws, definitions of certain terms were expanded, creating a loophole that allows EdTech companies to share student data to companies and corporations outside of themselves. The student data made accessible to Instructure through Canvas is also made available to authorized third party service providers, which are utilized with, “the sole purpose of providing you [users] with our products,” according to the Canvas product privacy web page. For example, according to their security webpage, Instructure’s learning platforms are hosted by Amazon Web Services (AWS). According to a written interview with Daisy Bennett, Instructure’s Associate General Counsel and Data protection officer, AMS and other third party providers are, “not permitted to share customer’s data or use it for any unauthorized purposes.” However, authorized uses of data were not specified further. According to Bennett, a lot of the student data signed over to Canvas and by extension Instructure depends on the contract that they agree upon with the academic institutions they work with. That means that the information signed over to create students’ Canvas accounts was decided upon by SMC, rather than the individual students affected. When talking to students about whether or not they were fully informed by SMC about the amount of data Canvas collects upon the switch from Moodle to Canvas, the general consensus was that they were not. “I don’t like it. It’s an invasion of privacy and I should have been explicitly told about it before I was given a Canvas account,” said SMC junior Roark Rowland. “I don’t see how they would need all that information,” says SMC junior and student writer Sam Nobile, later adding,“I think that they [SMC] should disclose more about Canvas’s data practices because it feels like a very glaring thing to not explicitly inform students of.” “You’re basically allowing these companies to have an intimate look at students from the cradle to the grave,” answered Professor Higdon, when asked about the ethics of using online learning platforms to store student information. He continued, “historically benign invasions of privacy have had pretty detrimental consequences.” When asked about potential alternatives to Canvas and other online platforms that collect student information and whether or not students should be able to opt out of using them, there were a variety of suggestions put forward. There was a consensus that everyone has a right to their own personal information, and should therefore be able to make their own decision as to what platforms they utilize, rather than administrators making that decision for them. Suggestions on alternatives included individual institutions developing independent academic software, students and faculty getting a cut of data dividends made by corporations running learning platforms, and the right to be erased being made easily accessible. Currently, according to Bennett, Canvas LMS does provide the ability to erase all student data if requested so by the user. However, if a student’s account was created by their school, they may have to request permission from the institution in order to delete the student’s account and data. Essentially, when this is the case, the academic institution has the final say over student data, not the students themselves. Data should be the property of the individual students themselves, not a corporation or an academic institution, as students will be the ones affected by this type of surveillance capitalism in the long term. Executive Director of Campus Safety and Transportation Manjit Sappal explains how the new parking permit system works, why it was implemented, and the goals Campus Safety hopes to achieve with the new system. Image c/o author By Ingrid Alkire American Journalism Student Whether you are a staff, faculty, or student, if you drive a car and need to park it on campus, you are required to purchase a parking permit. Starting this semester, the parking permit system transitioned from issuing physical to electronic permits tied to a car’s license plate. Executive Director of Campus Safety and Transportation, Manjit Sappal, speaks to the reason, goals, and functions of the new parking permit system.
When asked about his role as Executive Director, Sappal explained, “[M]y main role is to ensure that we take adequate steps to protect our community through preparation, prevention, and building relationships with students, staff, and faculty.” Sappal furthered that he sees Campus safety as “a support mechanism for students, staff, and faculty.” “I think there tends to be this notion that we just write tickets, [that] all we do is enforce the rules, [but] that’s the small part of what we do, we really are about education,” Sappal explained. When Campus Safety receives a call, they start by facilitating a discussion and documenting the incident, before connecting involved parties with relevant resources on campus. “[Our goal is to] educate folks and make sure that the appropriate parties [become involved],” Sappal stated. Before discussing the new system, Sappal explained why Saint Mary’s has a parking permit system to begin with. “The reason that we have parking enforcement in general is that many, many years ago the City of Moraga required the college to have some sort of parking management in place. This whole idea of permits and parking enforcement was never done for revenue, it was done because [the college was] required to do it,” Sappal noted. But why did the city require parking enforcement? “There was a time that we had more cars than spaces available and we were starting to have our folks parking in neighborhoods,” Sappal explained. Specifically, these cars were parking “off campus on Saint Mary’s Road.” Due to “the narrow width of the road this created a traffic hazard and the campus needed to be part of the solution to prevent accidents from occuring,” Sappal noted. “Apparently, we put together a parking permit system [in efforts to address that issue],” he furthered. The City of Moraga did not respond to a request for a comment. Sappal described that parking permit system, which relied on physical permits, as “cumbersome.” Campus Safety Officers had to look through the windshields of individual cars in search of a permit on display but, even then, there was no easy way to tell whether cars were parked in the right lots (e.g. residential, staff/faculty, students). The struggle to efficiently and effectively identify physical permits was compounded by the fact that there simply are not enough officers available to check all the cars in every lot on a daily basis. One officer is stationed at the kiosk to “maintain presence and a sense of safety for those entering campus,” and one is tasked with responding to calls, not to mention the fact that an “officer manually locks and unlocks all [the] doors on campus everyday,” which does not leave an officer dedicated to parking enforcement, Sappal shared. “There is no way that an officer or two working [could check all the lots on campus],” he furthered. Thus, parking enforcement was more reactive than proactive, with officers responding to a large swath of complaints from individuals struggling to find parking. “[Parking enforcement] was very inefficient and sporadic,” Sappal noted. Additionally, the “laminated permits provided by a third party [were] expensive.” All of these reasons led the Office of Campus Safety to start searching for “better ways to make the system more efficient and better enforce parking rules,” Sappal explained. As a result, the new parking permit system emerged where one’s permit is tied to their license plate instead of a physical windshield hanger. “We have handheld readers that we can [use to] scan a license plate and the system will tell us whether the car has a permit and whether it is in the right lot,” Sappal noted. Furthermore, they have added cameras onto Campus Safety cars that will allow them to drive through a lot and quickly scan all the cars in it. The system is “geo-mapped for every lot, [which means that] the system knows who can park there,” Sappal explained. Fully launched last week, the new parking permit system is now fully operational. The new system will add “a certain level of fairness in terms of making sure we are getting to every lot on-campus,” Sappal reflected. “The goal is for parking rules to be enforced fairly so that everyone is consistent in following the rules,” Sappal noted. Campus Safety is also working “to get unpaid tickets attached to registration, which will be on par with any other entity that enforces parking,” Sappal explained. Daniela Zavala ‘24 initially wondered if the new system was merely intended to “intimidate” students into buying permits and was unsure how the enforcement of the new system would work. Zavala also revealed that she knew others who had not purchased a permit, yet did not get a ticket for it. When asked whether she supported heavier enforcement of the parking permit system, Zavala noted, “As is there's not that many parking spots and for those who don't pay for it it diminishes the opportunity for others to park closer.” She furthered, “I could see how it could be difficult for someone who lives off campus to find parking,” though Zavala herself never struggled to find parking near her dorm. Isabelle Hayes ‘24 voiced similar curiosity regarding the enforcement of the new system and expressed some frustration with the enforcement of the old system. “It bugged me because I’d get frustrated when I was trying to find parking, specifically last year, near the lower townhouses, [...] it was hard to find a spot [...], [and] at least maybe half of them would not have permits hanging in their windshields,” Hayes explained. When asked whether she supported stricter parking enforcement, Hayes was conflicted. “I do and I don’t. I do because I don’t think it's necessarily fair for the people who do pay for the permits to have to compete with people who aren't paying for permits, but I also understand that paying for parking can be expensive and everyone’s financial situation is different, so some people have to get by and skipping out on a parking permit would save expenses somewhere else [and I’d] hate for them to get tickets,” Hayes reflected. Aware of the complexities of the parking permit system and parking enforcement, Sappal hopes to address issues and concerns, like those Hayes and Zavala raised, through a parking permit committee. “I don't think that the campus overall has really looked at the parking system in a long time and it's time to reassess that. I am putting together a parking committee that will consist of representatives from staff, faculty, undergraduate, graduate, and commuter students to work through some of the issues with the parking system,” Sappal explained. The committee aims to tackle key questions surrounding parking such as the location of lots, the number of handicapped spaces on campus, and the cost of parking tickets and permits. During the month of November, two students received parking tickets. However, “[r]ather than impose the fine we asked one to work a community event on campus and the other to spend a few hours with a Campus Safety Officer for a ride along,” Sappal explained. “The Parking Advisory Committee can also help with looking at ways to offset a fine for the first ticket, so we can use it as a learning moment, rather than as punitive,” Sappal furthered. “Hopefully in the next few years we will have more students, [which will] bring greater parking challenges,” Sappal reflected. “How do we look ahead to the coming years and figure out how to manage that effectively?” If you would like to check your permit status or purchase a permit, you may do so on the Parking Permit Portal. Jan Term in June will not be offered this summer, but is it gone forever? Only time will tell. (Image c/o writer) By Chloe Ourada American Journalism Student An expected drop in demand has led Saint Mary’s College to abandon June Jan Term courses. This has led to some disappointment amongst students and professors, but if the funding model gets worked out and students demonstrate interest, Jan Term in June may not be gone forever.
According to Professor Claire Williams, the current Jan Term Director, Jan Term in June “was an opportunity for students to take a Jan Term class who have missed a Jan Term class, or haven’t successfully completed a Jan Term class.” This was especially important under the previous graduation requirements, since students needed four Jan Term classes in order to graduate. Now, only two Jan Term classes are required. As Connor McCaslin, the Coordinator for Jan Term Travel, states, “Because of the change in the core requirements, [the new Jane Term requirements] did not allow much in the way of interest [for Jan Term in June].” He went on to say that the college has a “general problem with all summer enrollment.” This general problem is compounded for Jan Term in June travel courses. As Professor Aaron Sachowitz, the former Jan Term Director, sees it, “Travel was attractive to students, but it was expensive.” Students already have to pay extra for summer courses, so paying additional money for travel fees is not a realistic option for many. This view is mirrored by Ingrid Alkire, a senior who took a remote Jan Term in June course: “Sometimes, I feel like [the college is] just trying to squeeze as much money out of us as possible.” Money seems to be one of the sticking points for Jan Term in June. According to Williams, the college fully intended to offer Jan Term in June courses in 2023. However, she says, “We tried to think through the funding structure and realized that we couldn’t make it work. We didn’t think students would be interested if they had to pay that much.” Perhaps that is why the Jan Term in June classes in 2022 were so successful. Sachowitz recounts, “In 2022, we expanded the Jan Term in June program, partly to provide opportunities for students who weren’t able to utilize those travel opportunities in Jan Term.” This came after years of Jan Term travel classes getting canceled because of Covid. For the first time ever, Jan Term in June was open to alumni. The Jan Term in June program was able to repurpose unused scholarship money from canceled Jan Term travel classes and provide many alumni with discounts. But this funding model can no longer be utilized moving forward. So the future of Jan Term in June relies on money as well as student interest. Sachowitz says, “Hopefully, there will be enough student demand to have another Jan Term in June in the future.” This hope is reflected by professors and students who have participated in Jan Term in June. Professor Derek Marks, who has taught a June course in Australia, reflects, “It was a 100% positive experience. I was happy to give an opportunity to students who weren’t able to travel in January… I’m sad to hear they’re not offering it this year.” Angelina Fleming, a student who took Marks’s Jan Term in June course, also expressed disappointment in the program ending. She theorizes that Jan Term in June is “not used to its fullest potential. A lot of people didn’t even know about traveling in June.” This lack of knowledge is possibly related to the lack of demand for these courses. As Williams eloquently sums up, “If we could get the funding model right, travel in June opens up different types of opportunities that students can’t get in January. It does seem like a little bit of a missed opportunity for students, but I don’t know… If [students] see Jan Term purely as a graduation requirement, even if the funding model was right, they wouldn’t be interested. If they see it as an opportunity to explore new and different things, then maybe there would be a possibility for something there.” |
STAFFAndrew Martinez Cabrera '26, |