Note: Abdullah Yahya was the webmaster for Chabot College, but in March when the district announced numerous layoffs, Yahya was one of them. To read about the layoffs click here. Below is a final letter and good bye from Yahya.

Dear Chabot:

I have recently accepted an offer to work for a web-based internet security company in Redwood Shores (next to Oracle). My last day at Chabot is today. Though I wasn’t planning on leaving Chabot at this time, especially in a down economy, I am fortunate that my new assignment comes with greener grass and greater opportunities. I hope others affected by the layoffs will be just as fortunate.

Many of you have asked me what the plan was for the website. A while ago, the Classified Union and several laid-off members met with HR to get answers. Though HR hired an outside lawyer to talk to us, neither HR nor their lawyer had any answers and said that “some things will simply just not get done.” The lawyer, representing CLPCCD and not classified staff, admitted that they had not had a chance to plan when they made the decision to lay off employees during the mass-layoffs in March. The impression I’ve had over the last few years and more so over the last 3 months, both from personal experiences and from what others have told me, is that there is a disconnect between the district and the colleges as if we are not part of the same organization. That seemed even more true seeing that the district had to hire a lawyer (paid for by tax dollars / employees) just to talk to its own employees. Many of you have repeatedly asked upper management what the plan was for the website. It’s disturbing that in a public organization, important questions from the community can simply be ignored. Some of you have asked me to teach you how to do parts of my job because you’ve been asked to do so by your supervisor. Hopefully you’ll realize that doing work outside your job description doesn’t benefit you nor other members of your union and is a violation of your union contract, unless, of course, the alternative is to get fired (laid off). Since it’s likely to happen, you may want to contact your union reps before you find yourself working out of class.

Although the economic collapse that led to budget cuts to education was not our fault (see the documentary “Inside Job” for who to blame for that), smart organizations would be creative in how they handle tough situations. Many companies have turned to the web and technology to automate many business processes and provide their customers with self-serve solutions, e.g. online check-in for flights, mobile banking, etc. Unfortunately, this usually only happens at organizations where the CTO understands today’s technologies and promotes a culture of innovation rather than repression.

As the webmaster, I hope I have left you and the community with a much-improved website that you can be proud of. Of course, unless managed, the website will surely disappoint students as it has been proven to be their primary source of information.

As a community member and taxpayer, I hope the college / district will not continue to waste public money, e.g. for expensive lawyers on internal issues, overpriced outsourced software that shouldn’t take over a year to develop (CurricuNET), outdated redundant software (The Zone), outdated hard-to-support software (Novell Groupwise), overpriced software (Blackboard), and iPads for a select group of people who probably don’t even need them.

Last but not least, I hope the college / district will seriously consider what students want before making decisions that will affect them. You can easily accomplish this by using web-based surveys, unless you’re concerned that what students want will differ from your personal desires.

Since mentioning problems without offering solutions doesn’t help much, I shall leave you with one last suggestion … and that is to form an Oversight / WatchDog Committee consisting of faculty and staff but preferably tenured faculty with high seniority since they are the most protected. The committee would be charged with enforcing shared governance and finding and disseminating facts on controversial issues such as the Chabot 3.0 Website Incident of 2010 and the outsourcing of the Chabot Bookstore. After all, this is a public organization where transparency and shared governance is required by law. When a district regime threatens to shut down an entire college website just because there’s no “Register to Vote” link on the home page, you know you’ve got a problem. Don’t hesitate to do a vote of no confidence where necessary. Without serious reform, abuses of authority, lies and biased information will continue to exist …. and the consequences will be at your (the taxpayers’) expense.

I have truly enjoyed working with 99% of you. Being surrounded by and working with specialists in such a wide variety of fields made for a very interesting and enlightening work environment. It’s as if Chabot was a city of its own.

Thank you and I wish you luck in how you handle future budget cuts. Considering the circumstances, it seems like you’re going to need a lot of it.

- abdullah

Dear Spectator,

The comments in the article titled, “Man Notes Radio Censorship” are offensive since Mr. Miranda was not “censored.” I’ve been a part of KCRH radio for more than two years. I’ve given relatives, ranging in age 22 month to 66 years, tours of the station.
There’s no way I would subject my family to a station where there’s lap dancing; weed smoking, or foul language. I’ll admit I don’t spend every waking moment in the radio station. But as public service director, office Manager and host of three weekend shows, I spend an awful lot of time at the station.
Mr. Miranda may “feel out of place” in the class, but KCRH has been my home away from home. The teacher has helped me, as a black woman, overcome many obstacles.
He also helped me find my purpose in life and helped me get back on track. It’s the love and support of KCRH and the Mass Communications Department that made me successful. If that isn’t professionalism, then I don’t know what is.
I never miss a class whether it’s for 1 unit or not. In nine out of 10 class meetings we’re told not to do crank calls, cuss on air or play music that degrades women, glorifies drugs or violence. Concerning the gay jokes, everyone knows members of the radio station who are openly gay and embraced by the teacher and staff.
— Salimah Shabazz

Dear Spectator,
The May 13, 2010 Spectator ran a disturbing, controversial and hurtful article by Mr. Alex Miranda, full of allegations about the radio station that could not be more wrong.
In the article he claims to have a radio show stating, “On my radio show…” Mr. Miranda has not met the requirements to have his own radio show. The show belongs to another student. For him to claim the show as his is completely false.
About the prank call he brought up in the article, KCRH staff know prank calls are not to be made, even if they are prerecorded. In the beginning of the semester the professor makes it clear to staff that no prank calls are to be made. Maybe Mr. Miranda would know about this rule if he attended the class more than twice this semester.
Mr. Miranda was surprised other people listen to the station besides his mom.  His mom plus potentially 120,000 households can be listening to KCRH on 89.9 FM.  The KCRH website averages 10,000 unique listeners a month. KCRH reaches over 1,000 Web listeners a day. I agree with Mr. Miranda that KCRH is a “real” radio station. Our FM broadcast license was issued by the real Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
He accused the station of having a dog, smelling weed, lap dances, cursing & “talk about sex in high detail on-air”. If this was the case, why didn’t he report the incidents when they happened? The staff knows if things like this were to happen, to report it right away.  None of these incidents were reported by Mr. Miranda until this article was printed.
Mr. Miranda states KCRH plays 98% hip hop, which is another false statement.  Apparently, he confuses R&B, top 40, pop, rock, alternative, metal, jazz, easy listening, talk, and even classical music with hip hop.
Our music library consists of over 1,800 different songs. KCRH’s slogan is, “The East Bay’s Best Variety.” Perhaps he got that 98% figure the same creative place he got his other information.
The radio students were disturbed by the accusations. The staff wonders where these accusations are coming from & why now?
KCRH has been a positive asset to the College and community.  We work with the Associated Students to provide music & entertainment and the Chabot Foundation on numerous events. KCRH is at Street Fairs and Adult Schools. Most Fridays KCRH visits high schools like James Logan, Moreau, Mt. Eden, Tennyson, Hayward, Washington, Leadership, etc.
It seems obvious that Alex Miranda is disgruntled. This response is to his article with misleading information that seems to be retaliatory.
KCRH thinks highly of and is supportive of the Spectator. The newspaper and radio are part of the Mass Communication Dept. and are family.
There should be no hatred between KCRH and a Spectator writer.
— Bernard Bautista

Dear Editor,

This response is in regards to the article, “BMW Auto Program Skids into Chabot” in the April 29 edition of The Spectator.  The article states that BMW “was looking for a partner that would commit to hire faculty and provide an adequate facility” adding, “Machining rooms, welding areas and computing areas will be revamped.”
I’m curious how much these renovations and facilities will cost Chabot College and its students.  This news is somewhat troubling since some of our faculty and student body marched and protested against budget cuts.  Is a BMW facility what they marched for? Did Chabot receive a grant for this or is this something that tuition will be increased to cover?
Does Chabot believe the increased number of students this program will attract will cover the cost of bringing BMW here?  It’s not why did BMW choose Chabot College, but why didn’t BMW choose Skyline College or Evergreen Valley College as stated in the article?  BMW claims it was because of Chabot’s central location.
Is Hayward more central than San Bruno, or San Jose?  Is it because those colleges wouldn’t spend as much money as Chabot and they couldn’t afford to upgrade their facilities?  It certainly would seem wise from BMW’s perspective to partner with a college that would spend the most money and create the best facility.  Will the cost result in cutting classes,  teachers, and reducing vital services for students that are most in need?

— Chad Ellingsworth, Alameda