Candidate for
Trustee; North Orange County Community College District; Trustee Area 4

DanaRose Crystal, candidate for Governing Board Member of the North Orange County Community College District (NOCCCD)

I am a current/recent student of the two colleges of the NOCCCD ( Fullerton, Cypress ), and have a strong interest in the courses at the NOCCCD campuses at Anaheim and Yorba Linda, as well as the School of Continuing Education. After my eventual graduation, I intend to be a life-long student, because learning and education is a vibrant, beautiful, intense enhancement to one's life. It has been, for my own.

I am an older student, whose dad was a WWII veteran, and mom was a civilian secretary for an Air Corp officer. Thus, I have an especial interest in the needs of older students who need to remake their lives and careers. However, I care very much about ensuring that younger students gain what they need in their lives and career. Learning to network is vital: encouraging others to work with people of diverse backgrounds has always been my focus.

Writing is my métier and joy. I am a journalist, a field which needs to be respected. A recent newspaper article I read named some concerns of today's students --that if their field will not be prosperous, the pursuit of a bachelor's degree ( and its ensuing cost: loans, etc ) might not be worth it, if they cannot get hired nor open their own business. That is scary, because many newspapers are downsizing, yet good journalists are vital to the community at large --to the entire country! The checks and balances of power at the top are: Executive, House, Senate, Judicial. Add to those the FREE PRESS and you have a healthy country. Without a press that can write freely, which isn't forced to lick boot and bum, despotism can strangle a system.

Like my opponent, the incumbent, I can also give praise to the fine colleges and schools of the district. Being a student, I can ABSOLUTELY attest to the fine courses, taught by excellent teachers who energize and awaken their students. Being a student ( and a life-long learner! ), I drool with longing at the courses I want to take. So many choices of majors, and so many excellent classes to take!

But unlike my opponent, I am willing to rip off the rose-tinted glasses and look at the real thing --the ugly realities of the system and the district. My journalistic instincts will not allow me to do otherwise. I see instances of people being promoted to positions they are not suited for, nor capable and competent. When these people are deans or vice presidents, they are responsible for the lives/careers/education of others +and if they are not competent, they endanger students, teachers and other employees. My considered opinion, through my own observation, talking with people and my own personal experience is that this occurs too frequently in the NOCCCD --and it MUST STOP! The checks and balances are skewed, not honest and true, and certain in-house investigations have been shams. People who have done wrong ( even to violation of state and federal laws ) have gone unpenalized and continue to do so, with the blessings of the higher-ups. That cannot be allowed.

At Fullerton College, especially, the point of college is lost on such people. Colleges exist for students to learn, grow, gain and/or refresh skills for a career. Colleges exist for teachers to open doors to knowledge and opportunities +while being paid a fair wage and being treated well. It exists for others to be employed, with the protections of fair guidelines and laws.

Community College, especially, exists to allow students to try things out +if something is not their métier, their major of excellence, they can try other things. They can expand upon their body of learning by dipping into other fields. If wise, a student will understand that they ought to interact/network with people from other fields +put the "community" back into community college!

In this recent economic downturn, more of the students are older +needing a new career. It is vital that such students feel they are a part of the community, and treated well, made to feel wanted. At Fullerton College, there have been instances where older students who are economically-disadvantaged have felt unwanted. Sometimes younger students seem to have the attitude that the older students are "odd" and should not be there.

Fellow students, we are all colleagues, and need to treat each other with care, concern, compatriotism and kindness. That fellow student whom you feel is so odd may one day be working side-by-side with you; or employed by you; or maybe even be your employer someday! That fellow student may run for political office, and become a vital resource in your life. I know of at least two other students besides myself who are running this year. I cheer them on.

To those of you out there who are dissatisfied with one thing or another, and can MAKE A DIFFERENCE by running for office, yourself----DO SO! It is hard, but it is worth it.

This race has been hard for me, in many ways. If not successful THIS TIME, I intend to try again. I have always wanted to be involved in the running of government and schools, ( since education is my especial interest ), and this year I finally have raised myself up to do something about it. If not successful THIS TIME, I ask you to keep your eyes open for me in the coming decades. I will be keeping the politicians on their toes in one form or another +as either a lobbyist, a spectator, a candidate, committee member and especially as a journalist. I will continue with my independent publication, Crystal Clear News, Views and Reviews as well as writing/performing/editing for others.

And look for me, next time an election rolls around. I have plans for 2010 and 2012!

Journalism is an important field. I proudly proclaim myself as journalist/student, because that is what makes me the best for this position. As Trustee of NOCCCD ( Governing Board Member of the North Orange County Community College District, area 4 ), I would be more sensitive to issues, having lived with them on a day-to-day basis. As a journalist, I MUST maintain integrity and ethics. When I was with certain student government people, I was appalled at their lack of ethics. These people are baby politicians and it is frightening that they will likely grow up to do worse as politicians in big-government. The teaching of ETHICS in school K-12 must become a priority, if society if to be livable.