De Anza administration absent in Eco-Pass fight

De+Anza+students+fill+up+the+VTA+board+meeting+room+with+posters+and+prepared+speeches+to+lobby+against+raising+the+Eco-Pass+fee+to+%2440.

Kunal Mehta

De Anza students fill up the VTA board meeting room with posters and prepared speeches to lobby against raising the Eco-Pass fee to $40.

VTA board members questioned the lack of attendance and communication from De Anza College administration during Thursday’s board meeting.

VTA Deputy Director Finance & Budget, Ali Hudda, said that they had emailed the De Anza Eco-Pass coordinator Dennis Shannakian twice, but never received a response.

“That seems kind of odd to me. So what you’re saying is that De Anza won’t even return our phone calls?” VTA board member Johnny Khamis said. He then asked, “Are there any administrators from De Anza here in the audience tonight? Anybody?” and was met with silence.

Student Trustee Elias Kamal apologized on behalf of the administration during the public comment period, and said that President Brian Murphy had sent a letter to all the board members expressing his opposition to increasing Eco-Pass fees.