Chancellor receives welcoming

By Lauren Tyler
FEATURES EDITOR

Jazz music filled the foyer of the Wellness Center at Ocean Campus during the welcome reception for City College’s new Chancellor Dr. Don Q. Griffin on Feb. 19, the same day the long-awaited California budget was signed.

“He’s come a long way since [our] humble beginnings in San Joaquin Valley,” said Victor Griffin, Chancellor Griffin’s youngest brother, as he stood next to plastic foam cutouts of fruit, meant to accent non-alcoholic margaritas and martinis.

Guests filled the hallway and foyer of the Wellness Center almost as soon as the clock struck five. Administrators, instructors and students mingled while noshing on foccacia and cookies.

“I’m very proud of him,” said Lenora Jones, Griffin’s sister, who was wearing a flower on her lapel to distinguish her as one of the event’s honorary guests.

The chancellor scanned the crowd with an alert gaze as board of trustee president Milton Marks took the podium to begin the procession of speeches.

The sunlight began to dwindle into dusk, the music and murmur continued while honorary guests took their seats next to the podium along the staircase. Facing the south entrance, Chancellor Griffin sat in the front row between trustees Anita Grier and Lawrence Wong to his right and trustee Diana Munoz-Villanueva and Trustee John Rizzo to his left.

Many of the speakers described the faculty at City College like a family. Trustee Wong noted it was his birthday. “They say you should be with your family on your birthday and I’m with my family,” he said.

Many of the speakers mentioned that Chancellor Griffin was “the right man at the right time.” Much gratitude was expressed to him for his return from retirement. “We’re grateful that you’ve still decided to serve,” said Michele Jacques of the counseling department at the Southeast campus.

“We’re happy to have a state budget and stimulus package,” said Chancellor Griffin, who, along with trustee Greer, has been lobbying in Washington to allocate funds from the stimulus package to City College. Despite the ominous economy and the recently released budget, the chancellor failed to adequately address the plans for City College’s budget deficit. If state cuts continue, this deficit could widen to a total of over a $7 million.

“We will be the best last chance for hundreds of thousands of students,” Griffin said.

District 12 congresswoman Jackie Speier said “I will do everything I can possibly do … so your name is in neon lights in Washington. We should all be very grateful for his help.”

Trustee Grier called Griffin, “the best chancellor we’ve ever had. He’s a real advocate for the college.”

“In Washington, Griffin spoke forcefully and … [convincingly] because he spoke from his heart for the students,” Grier said.