Spring Break
Ochoa speaks at forum
Presidential candidate talks about SSU issues
Tommy Wright
Issue date: 5/12/08 Section: News
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Before the forum was opened for questions, Ochoa began the event with a small speech.
"I have watched (SJSU) over the years," he said. "You have tremendous strengths and a venerable history, and I think you are hitting your stride."
Ochoa said SJSU "embodies the mission of the (California State University system)" of providing access and opportunity, as well as training the workforce of the state.
John Engell, chair of the department of English and comparative literature, asked Ochoa about how, in 2007, Sonoma State President Ruben Arminana received a "no confidence" vote from almost 75 percent of the faculty who voted.
"The two reasons for this that have been stated widely are, first, a misappropriation budgetarily in the sense that too little money was afforded (to) the academic side, your side of the university," Engell said.
He said the second reason was that the president's style of governance was autocratic, and Engell asked Ochoa to respond to the charges about the president who hired him.
Ochoa explained that Sonoma State started as a school with very little structure in the 1960s. He said the university's "administrative infrastructure was underfunded," and it was forced to undergo changes, and there had to be "some shifting of resources" from academics.
Tyler Wood, a senior psychology major, asked Ochoa about his plan for the Educational Opportunity Program.
Ochoa said he was not familiar with the issues with the program at SJSU, and Wood said the program has dealt with cuts.
"I think whatever decisions are made in terms of resource allocation and cutbacks have to be done in a way that is coherent and consistent with the identified campus priorities," Ochoa said. "So if you have broad support and buy-in for those priorities, then the decisions, while difficult, will be acceptable to the community."
After the forum, Wood said Ochoa didn't do enough research on the issues that SJSU faces, but Ochoa does seem to value education.
"It sounded like he could have used most of his answers at any other CSU that he was applying for," Wood said.
Kerry Kulstad, an undeclared freshman, said Ochoa was a good speaker.
"He did make the effort to address each question that was asked and answer it thoroughly," Kulstad said.
She said she agreed with Wood that Ochoa should have had more background information on SJSU to be able to make plans on the issues facing the university. She said this was the only candidate forum that she had attended.
The last question Ochoa answered at the forum was from James Lee, an assistant professor in sociology. He asked if Ochoa would like to make SJSU more like the other CSU campuses or keep it different and "autonomous."
Ochoa said a strength of the CSU system is the unique character of each of the campuses and the different niches they fill.
"Although I have been at a number of CSU campuses, I have always been very selective about where I look next," he said. "And I'm here."
Click here for more on the SJSU president search.
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