2006-2007
No. 1 December 2006

 

MESA E-News is published by San Diego Mesa College Communications Services. To add information items email Lina Heil.

 

San Diego Mesa College

7250 Mesa College Drive

San Diego CA 92111-4998

619-388-2600

Top Stories:

Mesa News Goes Virtual

Mesa Athletic Training’s Top Docs

Mesa Athletics Serves Top Honors

Olympian Heroes -- The Story of Mesa’s Student Heroes

Victory for Proposition N -- A Recap of the Campaign for Proposition N

Mesa's Proposition N Telephone Volunteers                                           

 

Mesa News Goes Virtual

Welcome to the first virtual edition of MESA E-NEWS, an e-publication of Mesa College Communications Services, produced in cooperation with web developer Steve Manczuk.

The menu at left will link you to content sections of MESA-ENEWS. Simply click a topic and you'll be taken to that page. At the top of each section you will find a list of articles that follow.

MESA E-NEWS will be published the first week in March, June, September and December. (A printed Annual Report will be published in August.) The campus community is invited to submit items and photos for inclusion by the 15th of the month prior to publication. Your story ideas and suggestions for improvement are appreciated. If you have any questions, please feel free to email Lina Heil or call x2759.

Topic for next issue: Are you currently enrolled and taking classes toward a certificate or degree program? Did you earn a degree or certificate this year? If so, please submit a short paragraph on your endeavors to MESA E-NEWS. --Ed.

  

Mesa Athletic Training's Top Docs

When Mesa College quarterback Kamy Ahmadian suffered a high ankle sprain during Mesa College's opening home game against Santa Ana Community College on September 9, the care he received from Mesa's team doctor was as good as an injured Charger receives on the professional football field. That's because the team's attending physician, Dr. Tal David, is the team doctor for both Mesa College and the San Diego Chargers. (Photo caption l-r: Dr. Tal David, Susan Laliker and an athletic training student look on as Dr. Robert Scott attends an injured student.)

Dr. David is one of two team doctors from Oasis Medical Group in San Diego. The doctors volunteer their time to treat Mesa's student-athletes and to provide medical coverage for football games. Dr. David and Dr. Robert Scott hold office hours each week on the Mesa College Campus.

"More than 400 athletes are treated by our volunteer college physicians each year," says Mesa Athletic Trainer Susan Lalicker. Both physicians have been treating Mesa Olympians for more than six years.

The weekly doctors' office hours are also an intense learning experience for future Athletic Trainers. Under a creative and collaborative partnership Lalicker helped to form with five regional colleges and institutions offering Athletic Training education programs, the Mesa College Athletic Training room serves as an affiliated clinical site for SDSU's athletic training educational program.

On a recent Tuesday night, nine SDSU Athletic Training students huddle around exam tables as the doctors examine Mesa student-athletes. There are nearly 15 student-athletes lined up outside the health facility door, each with an assortment of complaints and ailments. The pace is quick. As the doctors examine the athletes, the ATC students record procedures and examinations. They bandage and ice wounds and strains. The doctors invite and query their observations. After the doctors leave, the students follow through with therapy and treatment and monitor the athletes' progress and healing under the direction of Lalicker and Athletic Trainer Laurie Black.

"The follow-up care is what makes the Mesa program a success, and, to me, a personally rewarding experience," says Dr. David. As with any medical practice, the treatment following the diagnosis is key, he adds. "Lalicker, Black and the athletic training students provide optimal medical support. When we leave, we know that the students get the support and treatment they need to heal and get back on the field."

 

Mesa Athletics Serves Top Honors

The Mesa College Women's Volleyball Team finished in fourth place at the Commission on Athletes (COA) State Volleyball Tournament this past weekend in Fresno, California. In their first round match, the Lady Olympians were defeated by Sacramento City College in three straight games. The women rallied to defeat West Valley in their first evening match of the tournament. On Saturday, the Lady Olympians defeated top-seeded and number-one ranked team in the state, San Joaquin Delta, in a grueling, five-game match. This was a great win for Mesa College and the Women's Volleyball program. San Joaquin Delta has placed third or higher in the State tournament for the past seven consecutive seasons. In their evening match on Saturday, Mesa College lost to L. A. Pierce in four games, and finished fourth in the tournament. Under Coach Kim Lester, the Lady Olympians have twice placed with top-four finishes in the State tournament (placing second in 2004).Two players from the team received All-State honors for their play this season: Rayna Richardson, 5-11, Sophomore and Shannon Pugh, 5-11, Freshman. More information

The Lady Olympians were undefeated in Pacific Coast Conference play for the last three seasons, with a record of 36-0. This past season, the Lady Olympians did not lose a game as they swept every PCC opponent by the identical score of 3-0.

 

Daniel Gonia led the Men's Cross Country Team to a fourth place finish during the State Championships held in Fresno, California. The team scored 155 points in the competition and missed a team medal by 18 points. Gonia was awarded All-State honors with his 11th place finish of the four mile course. Coach Thom Hunt was pleased with the team's results and looks forward to next year with six returning members from this year's team. More information

 

The Women's Water Polo Team finished undefeated in Pacific Coast Conference play and captured the conference tournament title with a 7-6 win over Palomar College. Michelle King and Megan Leighton led the team with three goals each, while goalie Niki Lolis had 15 saves to secure the win. Mesa advanced to the Southern California Championships as the number nine seed and defeated the eight seed Santa Ana by the score of 6-4. Megan Leighton scored three goals and Niki Lolis had 16 saves in the win. Mesa then lost to number one seed and eventual State runner-up Riverside 11-3. The Olympians finished the season at 21-7. Sophomores King, Leighton, Kelly Graham, Jerie Seney, Katie Patonai and Elizabeth Celaya earned the second consecutive conference championship and the team’s fifth in six seasons. The Lady Olympians are undefeated in the Pacific Coast Conference play for the past two seasons, with a record of 20 -0. King, Lolis, Leighton, Celaya and Seney were named to the All-PCC First Team while Olivia Grice and Abbey Barnett were named to the Second Team. King and Lolis were named to the All-Southern California Team and King was named to the All-America Team. King was named Player of the Year in the Pacific Coast Conference. More information

 

Olympian Heroes

Mesa College students, Dustin Lackey, age 21 (pictured to the right of Mesa President Rita M. Cepeda) and Torrey West, 20, (l) were surfing with three friends on the North side of the Pacific Beach Crystal Pier on Sunday, October 29. Lackey had just purchased a $700 longboard using money his grandmother sent him for his 21st birthday. Suddenly, someone jumped from the south side of the pier. The man was Ronald Williams, 39, who had been drinking whiskey before deciding to dive head-first off the Crystal Pier. One of the surfers called out and paddled over to the man and was able to turn him over. Lackey abandoned his surfboard as the group of surfers tried to help the man who jumped. They finally got his arms over the top of Torrey's longboard and waited for the lifeguards to assist. They were getting sucked into the pier, but finally got outside about 20 yards past the pier when the paramedics arrived on jetski about 15 minutes later. Lackey's surfboard had drifted to shore and was stolen.

The media picked up on the story, focusing on the loss of Lackey's board. He was flooded with offers for new boards from Cox Communications, surfing legends, and surfing stars. The mayor held a press conference, and Lackey has received accolades from Representative Brian Bilbray. He accepted just a few of the many offers of new boards and has shared some of the boards with his fellow heroes.

Lackey remains mystified by the media attention he received. He talks instead about the joint effort he and his friends made to save another human being, saying "I am not a hero and none of my friends are heroes. We did what any normal human being would do. A hero is someone that puts their life on the line to save a person. We didn't put our lives on the line...we just kept a guy from drowning." Torrey West adds that every act of charity counts. "A small act can make a big difference. Something as simple as opening a door for someone can change their whole outlook."

On Tuesday, Nov. 14, Lackey and West were honored by President Rita Cepeda at the SDCCD Board of Trustees meeting and presented with Certificates of Appreciation (pictured above).

 

Victory for Proposition N

The San Diego Community College District marked one of its greatest victories with the passage of Proposition N by the San Diego voters in the Nov. 7 general election. 114,499 voters cast a “yes” vote for Proposition N, resulting in a generous 62.32% passage rate above the 55% needed for approval. 

The passage of Proposition N will provide $870 million to the San Diego Community College District, from which Mesa College has been allocated nearly $200 million.  This substantial funding will enable the college to complete the following projects outlined in Mesa’s Facilities Master Plan including:

·        Math and Science Building (80,000 estimated sq. feet)

·        Instructional Technology Building (60,000 estimated sq. feet)

·        Instructional Facility to support Fine Arts and Dramatic Arts

         (20,000    estimated sq. feet)

·        Textbook and Food Service Facility (65,000 estimated sq. feet)

·        Instructional equipment, computer networking, and furnishings for

         all projects

·        Instructional Materials and Storage Facility (11,000 estimated sq. feet)

·        Infrastructure projects campus-wide, including walkways, surface

         parking utilities, signage, landscaping and public art projects.

In an email to the Mesa college community on Nov. 8, President Rita M. Cepeda expressed her appreciation for the support of students, faculty, administrators and staff, as well as the joint effort made by all to get this important initiative passed on behalf of the District. She quoted the words of Margaret Mead, who said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

The Proposition N campaign was focused and well-funded, and made possible through the joint efforts and excellent stewardship of the SDCCD of Trustees and Chancellor Constance Carroll; the College and Continuing Education presidents; the Academic Senate presidents; the Classified Senate presidents; several vice chancellors and deans (Facilities Management, Business Services, Student Services, and Economic & Workforce Development); the AFT Guild president; and the Associated Students presidents. Chancellor Carroll chaired the group’s efforts.

Each campus had their champions, and at Mesa they included the outstanding dedication and work of the President Rita M. Cepeda, Associated Students Government, the Academic Senate and Classified Senate, as well as administrators, faculty, students and staff who committed their personal time and energy to the project.

Vice President of Instruction Elizabeth Armstrong took charge of Mesa’s six weeks of phone banking efforts, assisted by 30 volunteers (see list below), who dedicated many  Tuesday nights to the phone banks. “It was tiring, but fun,” said Dean Jodi Corliss. “To be honest, I went into it feeling somewhat uncomfortable, since I personally don’t like telemarketers calling my home.” “But,” she added, “I was pleasantly surprised at the favorable reception I received from most callers. People were generally willing to discuss and support Proposition N.”

On campus, Associated Students Government’s “Get Out the Vote” campaign registered nearly 4,000 attendees for the Nov. 7 election. “We are very proud of the fact that Mesa’s total was larger than those of City, Miramar and Continuing Education combined,” said ASG President Jonathan Arevalo.  Political consultant Bob Glaser with The LaJolla Group attributed the success of Mesa and the District’s other colleges and campuses to the organized, student-led campaign. At Mesa, 43 student volunteers and ASG members visited 1,365 classrooms. They also conducted two “Get Out the Vote” rallies the first week in November. Arevalo added, “There is no better way to get things changed than by voting and encouraging others to vote.”

In an email to all District employees, Chancellor Constance Carroll said, “It is a tribute to our campaign that our bond measure tied with one other in the state as having the highest passage rate.” The bond measure also clocked in as the fifth largest bond measure passed in the United States.  “The stakes were high and the impact enormous,” she added.

President Cepeda and her other fellow presidents were responsible for personally underwriting the cost of the fundraising materials and mailers addressed to their students, faculty and staff.  Mesa’s fundraising totaled $38,915 and of that sum, Mesa College Associated Students were the single largest donors with $18,000 allocated from their budget. In fact, students brought true spirit to the campaign by hosting two campus rallies in which they underscored just how important facilities are to their future education.

Some even fought the media battle blog-to-blog. Mesa College professor and popular political commentator, Dr. Carl Luna, devoted one of his election-related blogs for the Union Tribune’s on-line newspaper, “Blowing Smoke,” to make the case for Proposition N.

“The building phase is ahead and this will bring with it the need to work with and around construction, but each day our link with the future of Mesa College will be renewed as our dreams for the College of the 21st Century is realized before our eyes,” said President Cepeda. “That makes it all worth it!”

In early 2007 and following anticipated approval from the San Diego City Council, construction will begin on the long-delayed parking structure and police station. With Proposition N approved, the College and District are studying the feasibility of accelerating the build-out of the Facilities Master Plan. The Mesa Facilities Committee will be analyzing the proposed District acceleration plan in January 2007.  They will report their findings and recommendations to President's Cabinet late January 2007.

Mesa Proposition N Phone Bank Volunteers

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