President’s Office
Dr. Susan Sperling
President’s Report to the Board of Trustees
December 8, 2015
Hayward Great Debate
On Friday, December 4, 2015, Chabot College students, faculty, and administrators, community
members, and elected officials all participated in the Hayward Great Debate, a conference
celebrating civil discourse on contentious topics. The event took place at Hayward City Hall and
over 50 Chabot students presented speeches, debates, documentaries, group presentations,
creative performances, and poster sessions all connected to this year’s theme: Poverty. The
students researched and discussed the topic in a variety of disciplines, including English,
Psychology-Counseling, Service Learning, Health/Nutrition, and Communication
Studies/Forensics. Additionally, the Task Force to End Hunger and Homelessness, led by
Hayward City Council Members Sara Lamnin and Francisco Zermeno, met to share information
with the public.
One of the most well-attended sessions
was A Conversation with Rep. Eric Swalwell,
Congressman from the 15th District; which
was a discussion ranged from education,
federal support, equity, to health care. The
conference ended with The Main Event: a
debate on the minimum wage. Chabot
Forensics students Caitlyn Gilmartin,
Brandon Hudson, Sean Funcheon, and
Blessing Morris joined community leaders
Dr. Prince White, Communication Director
for the Urban Peace Movement, and Ken
Williams, Professor of Economics at Chabot College, to explore the impacts of eliminating,
preserving, and/or increasing the minimum wage. Chabot College Office of Development
Director Maria Ochoa, Chabot Ethnic Studies Faculty Mark Salinas, and District Director for the
Office of Senator Bob Wieckowski, Rocky Fernandez, served as the Responding Panel for the
Main Event, sharing their insights and perspectives on the arguments presented.
In Spring 2016, the Hayward Great
Debate Coordinating Committee
will select the 2016 topic. For
more information, please contact
haywardgreatdebate@gmail.com.
Chabot College
Susan Sperling, Ph.D., President
President’s Report – December 8, 2015
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Raza College Day - CLEA (Chicano Latino Education Association)
In late November, the Chicano Latino Education Association (CLEA) held Raza College Day
“Education is the Key to Success”, for nearly 200 Chabot and high school students, parents and
community members to come and learn about resources Chabot College has to offer. The
keynote speaker Richard Santana (Mr. Chocolate: “Homeboy goes to Harvard”) gave a great
speech on the importance of higher education and encouraging students to take the
opportunities being provided to them.
Students attended workshops that included: How
to transfer to CSU and UC, Scholarships, Financial
Aid, Getting the 411 on Student Success and
Support Program (SSSP), Learn Science and Math
and many more. There was a resource fair that
provided information about what our community
has to offer. As entertainment, Danza Azteca and
Carlos Moreno’s Ballet Folklorico performed.
CLEA is very proud to hold this conference every
year to reach out to our students and community.
This kind of event doesn’t happen without the
collaboration of faculty, staff and departments.
Veterans Resource Center Grand Opening – Save the Date – 01/28/2016