1975_12 The Daily Collegian December 1975

              'Pinto' program provlmkanother chance
Traditionally, about the only way an
ex-convlct could be channeled back Into
society was through employment. But In
1S72, CSUF Joined a growing number of
college campuses ln California to offer
a different way back Into society. This
way was through education.
The education for ex-convicts here on
campus Is called the Pinto Program.
"Pinto" Is a Chicano slang word for ex-
con, according to Program Director
Tony Garduque.
According to Garduque, an educated
ex-con has an easier time getting a Job
If he or she has a degree. "An ex-con
is up against a tremendous amount of
mistrust," he said. "If he or she has a
college  degree,   there Is a little more
"If It is hard for you and me to get a
job, think of how hard it must be for
someone with a record to get one," he
has maybe enough money to last two
weeks. Unless he lands a Job in that time,
he must find some way to get money.
Usually he goes back to crime to support himself, and when he gets caught
at that crime, he finds himself back ln
prison,' he continued.
Garduque .said the program has not
always been successful. "Currently there
here In February there were eight members and no one knew each other.
'The program was being operated by
graduate and work-study students, which
"could explain the reason for Its failure.
Nobody was here full-time to be sure the
s that w
i here full-
asls and I work
aids and Admls-
tlme  c
closely «
Garduque Is not an ex-con, although
he does label himself as "anex-offender
who Just never got caught."
EX-CONS HELP
Garduque Is assisted by two ex-cons,
Ted Nuckols and Ray Bay. Bay says the
Pinto program is very beneficial to
ex-cons who suffer a "rejection" from
family  and   friends. "Fresno Is not as
ready to accept ex-convicts I
some city like Oakland or Sa
clsco," he said.
Bay says the administration looks at
the Pinto program even mora closely
than any other program. This could be.
because It Is staffed by ex-offenders, he
Getting Into the Pinto program Is no
easy task, according to Garduque. The
person must first meet the normal admission requirement of a high school
degree. A handwritten autobiography
must also be submitted. "We ask for a
recommendation from their counselors
and correctional officers so we can gauge
what kind of people they were In prison,"
Garduque   said.   "We   also   ask  for  a
After an ex-con Is admitted to the
program, he Is required to take "Experimental College 18, a class that
helps the person adjust to school, centering on study habits, taking notes, and
day to day survival," he said.
level. This money runs out ln June and
according to Garduque, "the future Is
shaky."
'We have no firm commitments for
funding yet," he said.
The criminology Department has been
using members of the Pinto I program
to supplement classroom instruction.
■There are books written about the
penal system," said Garduque, "but roost
of them are written by correctional
officers or law enforcement officers.
•When a Pinto program member can
speak, there Is a new perspective offered," said Garduque.
Nuckols, who earned his B.A. last
June, said the support from other program members Is a large part of the
success of the program, although he says
he would have completed school whether
the program had been there or not.
Ex-cons are not required to enroll
In the program. According to Bay, there
are some ex-offenders who would rather
"keep a low profile."
And, :
Bay pt
like everybody else. Misfortune came
alone. When they walk ln the sunshine,
few walk beside them, and when they
cross Into the dark, no one walks with
THE DAILY
COLLEGIAN
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FRESNO
• TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1975
Committee funds Angela Davis-reluctantly
The Program Committee yesterday allocated $800 to two
graduate students to help bring
Angela Davis to campus, and set
islde contingency funds to bring
Margaret Mead and Barry Com-
The two students, Carol Kennedy and Joan Dusenbury, proposed the ldedajtfiree weeks ago
of bringing DavWto CSUF. They
told the committee then that they
planned to charge admission, repay the committee, and give the
i'wo organizations already have
funds available.
RELUCTANT
Committee members were re-
slnce the money would have to
come out of the contingency fund.
Ordinarily, the money would have
come out of the Speakers line
Item of the budget, but the $11,000 .
line Item has been depleted al-
ProgramadvlserGaryBonglo-       w      .
vannl told the committee he felt      g^^ spokesman.
illy ln Africa and no confirma-
a will be available for several
weeks, according to the Project
slder the proposal."
During the meeting, the com-
Project Survival lo bring Barry
Commoner and Margaret Mead
as speakers to CSUF. The committee designated $500 for Commoner, and $500 for Mead.
This allocation was also taken
out of the contingency hind. The
td $1,900 last
I  less than $100.
held from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
today (Tuesday) and tomorrow ln
the College Union.
Committee reports also were
heard during the meeting. Mario
Galvan of the Film Committee
passed around several lists of
films that could be rented next
semester. He Is waiting to see
what admission price the committee will charge for films,
since this will generate some
revenue.
Art Aguirre reported there
will be a Welcome Back dance
Feb. 8 ln the men's gym. He will
present a list of available bands
to the committee next week.
U.S. Senate candidate Musa proposes
national health bill, military budget cut
by JoeIpsaro
It Omarl Musa had his way there would be no $109
billion romury budget in the UnltedStates this year or
any year. Instead, Musa would abolish the military
Musa Is a candidate for the U.S. Senate ln next
year's elections in California. He Is running on the
Socialist Workers platform. He spoke to an audience
of 50 last week ln the College Union. Among other
things, he came out for a national health bill and
against the military budget.
•The United States has enough military might to
destroy the earth 39 times. Those other 38 are a
waste,* said Musa, who suggested an alternative to
• the present military system.
•I propose a mllltla that would have no offlcers.lt
would be organlzeVrthrough communities and trade
unions and would consist of volunteers who would not
be called up unless there was a direct threat to the
nation,* he said.
According to Musa, this would provide enough protection because the UA already has nuclear rolsslle-
bearlng satellites ln orbit which could be used If there
was a serious threat. The money saved by his proposal, he said, could be used for public transportation. Jobs, and medical care via a national health
•We (the Socialist Workers Party) are for people
getting the best medical care no matter what kind of
wages they earn. Medical care should come on the
basis that we need It. Why should you have to have
money to be cured,' said Musa.He blamed the American Medical Association  for  today's  high  medical
there," he said.
On other Issues Musa:
-said Federal troops should be used ln the Boston
areas to quell riots over busing. •What's ln question
here Is the right of black students to an equal education,* said Musa. He charged that only after once-
predomlnantly black Boston schools were desegregated did they get money for Improvements.
—charged that while politicians admit there is a
busing problem ln this country, they do nothing about
it. "Ford and his hoodlums tell us that busing is a
major issue, yet they do nothing about it,' said Musa..
-insisted that the Democratic Party ln Boston organizes anti -busing rallies at which participants ■whip
each other up into a racist frenry.'
—casts doubts on twp of his opponents — John Tun-
ney, the Republican Incumbent, and Democrat Tom
Hayden. 'Tunney likes to take money from the Gallo
Wine Company,' he said, while Hayden 'has a radical
. past but Is running away from that.* \;	
OMARI MUSA . .