Be your best

This is the last editorial I will be writing as the editor of the Talon Marks and before I leave, I have something I want to say to all of the readers of the paper.

First of all to the students, I want to say “carpe diem,” or “seize the day.”

Many of you may think this is a corny line from a Robin Williams’ movie, but it is more than that.

In my opinion, it means to be the best you can be everyday. Find your passion, whether it is science, computers, music, writing, art, history, children, elderly people or any other subject.

Embrace it. Put your heart and soul into it.

Be proud of what you accomplish. Shine.

Your life will be fuller because you live your passion every day.

If you need to rent a copy of “The Dead Poet’s Society” to understand what I mean, then do it.

At a recent journalism conference, I was really nervous before a competition.

My friend Carmen said to me in passing, “carpe diem.”

I was so excited!”

“Yes, yes!” I replied. “You’re absolutely right!”

It was my time to shine, and I wanted to do my best.

My nervousness disappeared.

I walked into that room, went up to my computer and started writing.

And I won a prize. Not a big prize, 4th Place.

Am I proud of it? You bet.

Now every time that I look at that plaque, I hope I am reminded to “seize the day” and to be the very best that I can be.

Earn some respect

Secondly, I want to address the faculty and staff on campus.

While I have been the editor, I have received bits of gossip, unsigned letters, and tidbits of information from people who do not want to go on the record about something.

Usually, this information has been about board members.

I was a new student this semester.

When I started covering the board meetings, I knew nothing about any of the members. I still don’t know very much.

They seem to all be basically nice people that care (maybe too much) about what happens at Cerritos College.

The problem with this board is that they don’t listen to the faculty and staff.

They made up this nice notebook that has pretty lettering on its binding. These words say “Shared Governance.”

The more and more I sat in that board room, the more I realized that many of the board members do not care about listening to campus employees.

Does it have an obligation to listen or is it obligated to listen to the electorate? I think this is for faculty and staff to decide.

This is a battle that needs to be fought by the faculty and staff.

My job this semester was to report what happened in the board room.

I tried my best to do that.

The board made two big decisions that I know people on campus disagreed with.

The first one was the selection of our new president.

Classified personnel unfairly lost the ability to voice an opinion in this matter.

Faculty voiced an opinion loudly and clearly.

Its voice was ignored.

The second decision made was the selection of Steven Helfgot in a newly created vice presidential position.

Anyone who goes to board meetings knows that Helfgot does a ton of stuff for board members and administrators on campus.

Did he deserve a vice presidency? The board thinks he did.

Should that vice presidency position have been opened up for all eligible candidates to be able to apply for the opening?

It definitely should have.

This board doesn’t even care about appearances.

It could have announced that there was an opening for a new vice president, taken applications and then selected Helfgot to make it look like there was this shared governance they talk about.

But they don’t respect faculty and staff enough to do this.

To gain the respect of the board members, it is time for faculty and staff to take action and earn their respect.

If a board member is challenged in the next election, that board member may win anyway and that’s okay.

Write letters to your local papers. Have your union or association sponsor a candidate. Do something.

Faculty and staff need to earn the respect that these understandably arrogant board members fail to give to them.