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Commentary by Younus Al-Bojermi
| Tuesday, Jun 7, 2016

YounusAl-BojermiThere seem to have been some false and negative opinions projected toward Measure E, so I would like to take the time to present to you the perspective of a recent graduate and explain why it is imperative to the future of this community for Measure E to pass.

College of the Canyons has provided me and countless other students with an effective, rigorous and affordable education, saving my family thousands of dollars and opening a plethora of opportunities for me. Were it not for my local college, I would not have had the privilege to work three internships with international organizations, congressional campaigns, and for the federal government.

Furthermore, the speech and Model United Nations teams, both of which I have been part of, have won numerous nationally ranked awards this semester alone, standing as testament to the exceptional quality of education COC provides.

Unfortunately, however, roughly 4,000 students are wait-listed for classes each semester due to overcrowding. I personally know students who have been forced to restructure their entire academic plan as a result of not being able to get the classes they need. Others have regrettably had to modify their majors and reconsider their passions due to the lack of classrooms.

I lament for the students who have had their aspirations hampered and the course of their future altered after looking at a computer screen showing them their classes are full.

To reject Measure E is to snuff out the intellectual flower which grows at College of the Canyons. This institution has been fruitful to our community and continues to grow. The opportunities COC provides are indispensable, and Measure E is critically needed to alleviate the immense pressure that overbooking has brought to staff and students.

 

Younus Al-Bojermi is a member of College of the Canyons’ Class of 2016.

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7 Comments

  1. Ruth Rassool says:

    a thoughtful response from someone actually affected by the investment at COC.

  2. Jim Shorts says:

    Blah blah blah…..so get us further in debt so a bunch of kids who mostly ARE NOT from SCV can go to school on our dime? Really?

  3. Sarah Jones says:

    One thing that is omitted from this article is that COC also has many courses that are not filled or even registered for each semester. I have often wondered why they do not offer more of the popular or needed courses and less of those that are un-filled. I’m not saying that Measure E is not needed but perhaps a re-alignment of things would also be beneficial.

  4. Abigail says:

    I am a recent COC graduate and even valedictorian and I disagree with this commentary. I am also a mother and homeowner. Teaching our students that it is okay to keep going deeper and deeper in debt is the wrong message. Pay off the other measures first and then consider new growth. As for wait lists that is a reality of higher education and if they don’t get a taste of it here they will be in for one heck of a shock when they move on to complete their education. Plus, speaking from experience, the wait list goes way down after the first week or two as many people drop classes while trying to figure out what they want to take and many students do get in. Learning to be flexible and adjust to the realities of today’s world is a vital lesson and catering to this mass indebtedness and instant entitlement is sending the wrong message. NO on measure E and there is nothing false about my statement because I have lived it and I am paying it. Enough of picking my pocket. I will donate when I can and want.

  5. Scott says:

    First 4000 wait-list names does not equate to 4000 students. Many students wait-list themselves for dozens of classes with no real focus on what classes they need or even want. I’m glad young Mr. Younus Al-Bojermi enjoyed his time at COC. However, there is no justification for COC expecting the residents of SCV to build a bigger college campus just so they can open the enrollment to even more students from outside our community. Remember COC is a COMMUNITY college, not a state university. SCV residents have already ponied up a large fortune of money for the school with 2 voted taxes -a third tax is not needed. Send a message and vote “NO” on Measure E.

  6. Scott Ferguson says:

    The middle class homeowners of the SCV are not personal ATMs for the fiefdom at COC. We are already paying taxes direct and indirect to support this public junior college. The homeowner group to be taxed is an unequitable target for this massive amount of money. Are their arrangements with full high dollar private 4 yr universities and county law enforcement academies something we should continue to bankroll? How about night school to better use existing facilities? Lots of private business entities in this valley contribute immensely to our all important economy but they don’t stick their hand into my pocket and remove my hard earned cash. This is shameful. Support education and a healthy COC by VOTING NO on E in order to reel them back into accountability and stop the exploitative drunken-with-power practices they’ve been exhibiting. The salary base of this core group is also out of control. http://transparentcalifornia.com/salaries/2014/college-canyons/ Wake up SCV sheeple.

  7. Bart Joseph says:

    I wish I could vote on improving the programs without being forced to pay for parking lots that allows for growth to a regional university vs a community college.

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