Administration officials say that Cabrillo's share of the budget cuts will amount to $400,000, with the community college system having $4.4 million reduced from its budget.

In an email to college personnel, Cabrillo President Dr. Brian King said the budget deficit for the state was "estimated at a combined $16 billion for the current fiscal year...and continuing through June 30, 2009." Dr. King announced in the email that several budget town hall meetings would be held in late February and early March to discuss specific plans on how Cabrillo will deal with the budget realities.

Among the strategies the college plans to use is spreading cuts in an equitable fashion across the four college components: the President's Office, the Instruction Office, Business Services, and Student Services. Administration officials said that cuts would also be ameliorated by using savings from vacant positions which would not be filled.

The donation was made by Richard and Theresa Crocker. In honor of their donation, the new theater in the Arts and Entertainment Complex on the main campus will be named The Richard and Theresa Crocker Theater.

Crocker, a business leader who started both a chain of restaurants and the Crockers Lockers storage facilities, attended Cabrillo in the late 1960’s before transferring to San Jose State University for his bachelors degree in business.

Crocker recognized the role the college played in his success, and the importance of an education.

Crocker’s grandson is starting Cabrillo this semester as a freshman.

The Cabrillo College Foundation reported a historic FOUR POINT ONE SIX million dollars was raised during the last school year.

In a press release, President Brian King said he was grateful for the generosity of the Santa Cruz community which supports Cabrillo’s mission and vision.

King noted that the funds would go to provide vital student support services at the college, as well as needed financial assistance to students.

King said six hundred students at Cabrillo in need of scholarships would receive financial help. Monies would also go to support nursing students at the college and minority students who are in transition programs which bridge the gap between high school and community college enrollment.

Enrollment at the college is up more than SIX percent over last year.

In a press release, President Brian King announced that FOUR TEEN THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED SEVENTY SEVEN students had registered for classes this Fall, a record number.

King’s press release cited a number of factors for the increased enrollment including a drop in unit fees from TWENTY SIX DOLLARS per unit to TWENTY DOLLARS, making college more affordable for students.

Union leader Stephanie Stainback gave credit to the outreach and recruitment efforts made by Cabrillo staff.

Vice President of Instruction Renee Kilmer thanked Cabrillo faculty for the role they play in boosting enrollment at the college.

TWENTY SIX YEAR OLD Julian REVEL EZA plead guilty to FIFTEEN felony counts of fraudulent access to student admissions files. He was sentenced to one year in Contra Costa County jail.

The prosecuting attorney in the case charged THIRTY FOUR current or former students as participants in the scheme which netted thousands of dollars. According to court documents, grade changes paid for by students allowed some of them to graduate or transfer to institutions such as UC Berkeley and UCLA.

The Chronicle cites authorities on the case who said that upward of 400 grade changes were made between 2000 and 2006, with money passing from students wanting their grades changed to REVEL EZA and three other student employees who worked in the Diablo Valley Admissions Office.

Kirby Scudder, co-director of the Santa Cruz Institute for Contemporary Arts (SCICA), will again lead the Night Light peace vigil along West Cliff Drive. At 9 p.m. Thursday, the darkness will be pierced by 500 battery powered lights and by the hopes of those along the route for world peace. Lights and their light keepers will spread out from Lighthouse Point to the Yacht Harbor. Helicopter searchlights over the wharf are also scheduled to join in the activity.

Mary Brayman, a participant in last year’s Night Light vigil, characterized the event as incredible. A volunteer member of SCICA, Brayman was inspired by the applause which rippled through the crowd of hundreds last year when the lights went up. “This is a community art installation,” Brayman said, “a silent, short, observation of what peace means and a wonderful opportunity to show other communities around the world our light.”

Veterans Memorial Hall wil host, in honor of International Peace Day, a concert to benefit the Barrio Unidos and Guitars Not Guns, organizations which do outreach to youth about non-violence. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m.

International Peace Day was established by the United Nations in 1982, and is recognized as a 24-hour-cease-fire day internationally. Around the world, more than 5,000 events are estimated to be held from September though October.

Those interested in learning more about International Peace Day can visit www.internationaldayofpeace.org.

The report, Beyond Access: How the First Semester Matters for Community College Students’ Aspirations and Persistence, warns that California’s need for a highly educated workforce is not being met. The report’s lead researcher, Anne Driscoll, concludes that not only are community college students dropping out in large numbers after their first semester, they are also giving up their stated academic goals.

Driscoll’s report for PACE (Policy Analysis for California Education at UC Davis) states that for Fall 1998, “one quarter of the young adult high school graduates who entered college aspiring to transfer did not return for the spring semester. Among those who returned, only a slight majority still had transferring to a four-year college as their primary educational goal.”

“I’m not at all surprised,” said Natasha Eastin, a Cabrillo student, referring to the high drop out rate cited in the report. “It’s not easy working to pay rent, transportation and all the other stuff we need.”

Cabrillo has taken note of the report and its recommendations by providing an array of services to help students meet the financial costs of attending college and make a successful transition from high school to college.

“Introduction to College was a really good class for me,” said Christie Macabuhay, a Cabrillo student. “The hardest part of college was not really the homework or finding my way around campus but getting used to the teachers’ expectations, and how they were so different from high school.”

New Vice President of Student Services, Dr. May Kuang Chi-Chen, announced strategic priorities she will pursue during her tenure.

Chen said her focus will be to enhance enrollment, deliver services that are student centered, and develop venues for students to display leadership and active participation.

“I don’t want to make 5 or 10 year goals because a lot of objectives will get lost after one year, so I set a one year goal and see where we can go from there,” Chen said.

Chen acknowledges challenges she will face this year, including the set up of the new Student Center building. “I always consider the challenge as opportunities,” she said.

New Senate President Marko Realmonte said the ASCC will focus on four goals: visibility, sustainability, communication and participation. Early initiatives backed by Realmonte included tripling the monetary incentives clubs have for sponsoring on-campus events. “I want to encourage more clubs,” Realmonte said. “The more events going on on-campus the more interesting life will be here.”

Realmonte noted that one positive sign of a healthy student senate was increased funding by the ASCC for instructional grants, up 33 percent from last year’s allocation. Instructional grants pay for equipment and other classroom needs which directly benefit students. “We’re spending $18,000 this year,” Realmonte said. “Items such as mixers for culinary arts, a seeder for horticulture, CPR manikins for PE.”

How effectively the Senate will work with its large contingent remains to be seen. “The biggest challenge is usually just coordination,” said senator and legislative analyst Ryan Kaplan.

Cabrillo played a tough stalemated game against Consumnes River in 106 degree heat. Despite retaining ball control and employing a well honed passing game which resulted in several promising attacks on goal, Cabrillo took home a tie 0-0.

Cabrillo’s showing in the three game Harnell Tournament was more encouraging. After winning the first two games, one against San Francisco, Cabrillo lost to Cerritos in the final game, taking second place in the tournament.

Team Captain Alberto Moctor said this year’s team is “much better than last year’s; we work well together and will definitely go far this season.”

When time and money are at a premium but taste counts too, there’s good news. Cabrillo isn’t far away from some eateries that will stretch a college student’s budget while satisfying the need for speed and flavorful fare.

• Zameen Mediterranean Cuisine. 7528 Soquel Dr. Aptos. 688-4465. www.zameencuisine.com

Open seven days a week from 11-8pm, Zameen’s is in the little shopping center on Soquel Drive. It offers delicious dishes from the Greek isles. A huge selection of soups and salads can be had for under $9. Entrees are a bit pricier well worth it for the large portions. Entrees include kabobs, meat (such as lamb or beef) or veggie, with flatbread and salad, or on a platter with a side disk of basmati, saffron or whole wheat rice or Moroccan potatoes. Desserts include Baklava, brownies and pistachio ice cream. Entrees run $3-$7, $7-$12, and $12 and up.

• Aptos Burger Company. 106 Rancho Del Mar, Aptos. 688-1282

Behind the Aptos Cinema lies this burger joint which hits the spot for carnivores and herbivores alike. Those not into beef can try the turkey burger or veggie burger with avocado and a hearty salad.