pcc courier 03/15/12

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Pasadena City College OURIER C Pasadena City College Online edition pccCourier.com Facebook PCC Courier Twitter @pccCourier March 15, 2012 Volume 105, Issue 4 The independent student voice of PCC. Serving Pasadena Since 1915. Blair Wells / Courier Laura Stylaster, web designer, Juan Gutierrez, director of Public Relations and Brock Klein, director of the Teaching and Learning Center, discuss possible changes to the PCC Web site. A site to see Faculty ratio may lead to penalty Board chief defends actions PCC website undergoing a redesign BRANDON DREXEL Staff Writer The college web site is being updated to provide a higher level of transparency about the shared governance process and provide up to date information on the budget crisis in Sacramento, officials said. "We are attempting to make critical information on the web site more easily accessible while creating better, more intuitive navigation for all users," said Juan Gutierrez, director of public relations. ”The recent changes were to provide a higher level of trans- parency about the shared gover- nance process at PCC. We also wanted to make sure that accu- rate and timely information about the budget cuts from Sacramento is readily available." In addition, the web redesign is a larger project to improve navigation and information dis- tribution to everyone, Gutierrez said. The new design will help communicate governance as well as issues regarding the budget by giving standing com- mittees their own page. "Shared governance groups and standing committees now have their own pages complete with agenda and video of the lat- est meetings," said Gutierrez. These changes aim to provide timely and accurate information to the students and faculty. “[The web site] will be more robust” said Laura Stasytyte a web designer. “We wanted to make it more user friendly.” Currently, the first phase is underway as the information technology area works on updat- ing the current content on the website. "From there a new design will be researched with the help of our campus and com- munity steering group," said Gutierrez. "The goal is to get input from students, faculty, staff, and the community on how we define groups of interests and how we present the infor- mation they need into the new design of the web page." The current web site has been modified over the years, but a complete re-design has not been done in years said Gutierrez. “We plan to have a new design up by this year.” PAUL OCHOA Asst. News Editor Following the last year’s retirement of 42 faculty members PCC is in potential danger of fac- ing a hefty fine for not meeting the state’s requirement for the percentage of full-time faculty a community college must have. Richard Van Pelt, vice presi- dent of administrative services, explained the situation via email. “The essence of the issue deals with an extremely complex for- mula that determines how many full-time faculty the college is obligated to have on staff. It is called the FON, or full-time obli- gation number,” said Van Pelt. According to Robert Bell, vice president of student and learn- ing services, under state law if a college’s full-time faculty falls below 75 percent and the college does not take direct action to raise it, it runs the risk of a fine. “We fell below 75 percent with the recent retiring of professors last year,” said Bell. According to Robert Miller, vice president of educational services, PCC still needs to hire 10 more full-time faculty because of the retirements. “We hired twenty-two full- time faculty this year in order to get to the obligation [number] but as a result of retired faculty from last year, we still need to hire 10 additional full-time facul- ty before fall 2012,” said Miller. “As of right now we only have NEIL PROTACIO Editor in Chief In a response to a letter from a student, Board of Trustees President Geoffrey Baum said that there was no desire to restrict freedom of speech. A letter sent to board members and various media outlets by student Andrew Bott alleged the Board’s desire was to restrict free speech with a new Time, Place, and Manner policy. “While it may be true that the board felt ‘threatened’ by protests, that does not give them the right to limit our freedom of speech,” Bott wrote. Baum rep- lied a day later, saying that there was “no desire to attempt to restrict freedom of expression at PCC.” “The board is responsible to protect the safety of students, faculty, and staff,” Baum wrote. “The board directed the district to take reasonable measures to maintain a safe campus environ- ment in compliance with our policy.” PCC is no stranger to the Time, Place, and Manner policy. The A night of art Anar Nyantaisuren / Courier Artist Erin Cosgrove's scroll is displayed at PCC’s Art Gallery during ArtNight Pasadena on Friday. Procedure limited number of add codes MICHAEL MCGRATH Staff Writer For the first time this semester, limits were placed on the num- ber of add codes provided to instructors to keep a cap on enrollment, officials said. “The prior process that we had that included add slips, resulted in us losing control of FTEs that the college generated,” said Robert Miller, vice president of educational services, at the aca- demic senate meeting February 27. The Full Time Equivalent Student (FTEs) is a calculated number of students enrolled in PCC, in which the state pays PCC approximately $4,600 per FTEs, said Miller. FTEs are the number the state gives PCC, to limit how many enrolled stu- dents the state will pay for. “Whereas the old system allowed for plenty of add codes for instructors to give out, the new system allows only five,” said Robert Bell, vice president of student and learning services. The add code system was changed because the old system allowed too many sections to exceed their cap, and the college had to pay for every FTEs over that cap said Bell. “[It was] to balance our enroll- ment, aligning it with the new realities of the budget,” said Bell. The state does not fund any enrolled students that exceed this number, so the college must reach into its reserves to pay for them, said Miller. Some students and faculty are finding the new system to be problematic. One section that is currently being held in a lecture hall which used to accommodate almost 200 students is now capped off at 45. “I’m qualified to teach 200 stu- dents and I feel the same way students do when they see all those empty chairs,” said Lauren Arenson, Anthropology instruc- tor. “The administration hoped this change would maintain enrollment,” said Bell. “Earlier in the year, PCC’s budget was cut by $2 million,” said Bell. “And then what we are calling the ‘February Surprise’, an additional $2 million was cut from our budget about two weeks before spring semester started.” Some students were still able to get into their classes despite Baum responds to critic’s concerns about freedom of speech Continued on page 6 Continued on page 6 Continued on page 6 Retirements leave too few full-time instructors on staff Speak out! Does the PCC web site work for you? vote at pccCourier.com Story / page 5 Inside Contraception mandate is justified Page 3 Instructors integrate social media Page 5 To read the full text of the letters, visit Courier online pccCourier. com

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Pasadena City College Courier March 15, 2012 Vol. 105, Issue 4

TRANSCRIPT

Pasadena City CollegeOURIERC Pasadena City College Online edition

pccCourier.com

Facebook

PCC Courier

Twitter

@pccCourier

March 15, 2012Volume 105, Issue 4 The independent student voice of PCC. Serving Pasadena Since 1915.

Blair Wells / CourierLaura Stylaster, web designer, Juan Gutierrez, director of Public Relations and Brock Klein, director of theTeaching and Learning Center, discuss possible changes to the PCC Web site.

A site to seeFacultyratio maylead topenalty

Boardchiefdefendsactions

PCC website undergoing a redesignBRANDON DREXELStaff Writer

The college web site is beingupdated to provide a higherlevel of transparency about theshared governance process andprovide up to date informationon the budget crisis inSacramento, officials said.

"We are attempting to makecritical information on the website more easily accessible whilecreating better, more intuitivenavigation for all users," saidJuan Gutierrez, director of publicrelations.

”The recent changes were toprovide a higher level of trans-parency about the shared gover-nance process at PCC. We alsowanted to make sure that accu-rate and timely informationabout the budget cuts fromSacramento is readily available."

In addition, the web redesign

is a larger project to improvenavigation and information dis-tribution to everyone, Gutierrezsaid. The new design will helpcommunicate governance aswell as issues regarding thebudget by giving standing com-mittees their own page.

"Shared governance groupsand standing committees nowhave their own pages completewith agenda and video of the lat-est meetings," said Gutierrez.These changes aim to providetimely and accurate information

to the students and faculty.“[The web site] will be more

robust” said Laura Stasytyte aweb designer. “We wanted tomake it more user friendly.”

Currently, the first phase isunderway as the informationtechnology area works on updat-ing the current content on thewebsite. "From there a newdesign will be researched withthe help of our campus and com-munity steering group," saidGutierrez. "The goal is to getinput from students, faculty,staff, and the community on howwe define groups of interestsand how we present the infor-mation they need into the newdesign of the web page."

The current web site has beenmodified over the years, but acomplete re-design has not beendone in years said Gutierrez.“We plan to have a new designup by this year.”

PAUL OCHOAAsst. News Editor

Following the last year’sretirement of 42 faculty membersPCC is in potential danger of fac-ing a hefty fine for not meetingthe state’s requirement for thepercentage of full-time faculty acommunity college must have.

Richard Van Pelt, vice presi-dent of administrative services,explained the situation via email.

“The essence of the issue dealswith an extremely complex for-mula that determines how manyfull-time faculty the college isobligated to have on staff. It iscalled the FON, or full-time obli-gation number,” said Van Pelt.

According to Robert Bell, vicepresident of student and learn-ing services, under state law if acollege’s full-time faculty fallsbelow 75 percent and the collegedoes not take direct action toraise it, it runs the risk of a fine.

“We fell below 75 percent withthe recent retiring of professorslast year,” said Bell.

According to Robert Miller,vice president of educationalservices, PCC still needs to hire10 more full-time faculty becauseof the retirements.

“We hired twenty-two full-time faculty this year in order toget to the obligation [number]but as a result of retired facultyfrom last year, we still need tohire 10 additional full-time facul-ty before fall 2012,” said Miller.

“As of right now we only have

NEIL PROTACIOEditor in Chief

In a response to a letter from astudent, Board of TrusteesPresident Geoffrey Baum saidthat there was no desire torestrict freedom of speech.

A letter sent to board membersand various media outlets bystudent Andrew Bott alleged theBoard’s desire was to restrict freespeech with a new Time, Place,and Manner policy.

“While it may be true that theboard felt‘threatened’by protests,that does notgive themthe right tolimit ourfreedom ofs p e e c h , ”Bott wrote.

Baum rep-lied a daylater, sayingthat there was “no desire toattempt to restrict freedom ofexpression at PCC.”

“The board is responsible toprotect the safety of students,faculty, and staff,” Baum wrote.“The board directed the districtto take reasonable measures tomaintain a safe campus environ-ment in compliance with ourpolicy.”

PCC is no stranger to the Time,Place, and Manner policy. The

A night of art

Anar Nyantaisuren / CourierArtist Erin Cosgrove's scroll is displayed at PCC’s Art Galleryduring ArtNight Pasadena on Friday.

Procedure limited number of add codesMICHAEL MCGRATHStaff Writer

For the first time this semester,limits were placed on the num-ber of add codes provided toinstructors to keep a cap onenrollment, officials said.

“The prior process that we hadthat included add slips, resultedin us losing control of FTEs thatthe college generated,” saidRobert Miller, vice president ofeducational services, at the aca-demic senate meeting February27.

The Full Time EquivalentStudent (FTEs) is a calculatednumber of students enrolled inPCC, in which the state paysPCC approximately $4,600 perFTEs, said Miller. FTEs are thenumber the state gives PCC, tolimit how many enrolled stu-

dents the state will pay for.“Whereas the old system

allowed for plenty of add codesfor instructors to give out, thenew system allows only five,”said Robert Bell, vice presidentof student and learning services.

The add code system waschanged because the old systemallowed too many sections toexceed their cap, and the collegehad to pay for every FTEs overthat cap said Bell.

“[It was] to balance our enroll-ment, aligning it with the newrealities of the budget,” said Bell.

The state does not fund anyenrolled students that exceedthis number, so the college mustreach into its reserves to pay forthem, said Miller.

Some students and faculty arefinding the new system to beproblematic.

One section that is currentlybeing held in a lecture hall whichused to accommodate almost 200students is now capped off at 45.

“I’m qualified to teach 200 stu-dents and I feel the same waystudents do when they see allthose empty chairs,” said LaurenArenson, Anthropology instruc-tor.

“The administration hopedthis change would maintainenrollment,” said Bell.

“Earlier in the year, PCC’sbudget was cut by $2 million,”said Bell. “And then what we arecalling the ‘February Surprise’,an additional $2 million was cutfrom our budget about twoweeks before spring semesterstarted.”

Some students were still ableto get into their classes despite

Baum responds to critic’s concerns aboutfreedom of speech

Continued on page 6Continued on page 6

Continued on page 6

Retirements leave too few full-time instructors on staff

Speak out!Does the PCC website work for you?

vote atpccCourier.com

Story / page 5

InsideContraception mandateis justified Page 3Instructors integratesocial media Page 5

To read thefull text of

theletters, visit

Courieronline

pccCourier.com

RAYMOND PECSONStaff Writer

The Metro I-TAP (InstitutionalTransit Access Pass) program,now in its fifth semester, offersstudents enrolled in 12 units ormore a TAP card for unlimitedtravel on any LA Metro andFoothill Transit bus and rail lineall semester, according to the ASweb site. The passes have gone

up $2 this semester. According to Scott Thayer,

assistant dean of student affairs,the increase is a one-time onlyfee required to purchase the TAPcard because the stickers thatwere previously used to place onstudent’s LancerCards are nolonger needed.

Despite the additional fee, stu-dents still see I-TAP as a silverlining to their financial woes.

“It saves me a lot of money.For as much as I would spendthe whole week riding the bus, Ihave [a pass] for the wholesemester,” said ManuelVillapando, technical engineer-ing.

Many students seem to feel thesame way as long lines formedoutside the entrance to StudentBusiness Services on the first fewdays of school, where the passes

were being sold to those whoprovided a printout of their classschedule.

The Student Activity Feewhich students pay each timethey register for classes fundsthe program, said DanielaRueda, AS vice president of busi-ness affairs, in an e-mail.

According to Thayer, about2,200 I-TAP bus passes were soldthis semester.

Students are not just usingthese passes as an alternative fordriving to campus either, but fortransportation in general.

Nursing major JeffreyQuintanilla agrees. “If I had a carand drove, I would still buy the[bus pass] because it’s conven-ient and it gives you all the

access to Metro which I can useto go to work,” he said.

The transit program is amoney-saver at $32 compared toMetro’s monthly pass of $75 andits college 30-day pass of $36.According to Metro’s web site,PCC is one of a few schools,including UCLA and all nine col-leges in the LA CommunityCollege District, to subsidizetransit costs.

“With the money I save [on thepass] I can use on books andother stuff I need like clothes orjust to hang out,” Quintanillasaid. “I get to focus on studyingbecause I don’t have to worryabout bus money.”

2 Courier March 15, 2012News

Metro bus pass program offers discounted transportation

Communityadapting tohigh gas pricesAMAR KASAPOVICStaff Writer

With gas prices jumping closeto an all time record members ofthe PCC community are adapt-ing.

Gas prices are within 30 centsof their all time record accordingto the Auto Club of SouthernCalifornia.

“It’s ridiculous.” said KevinLopez, computer science.“They’ve gone up and it’s noteven summer, yet. They usuallygo up higher in the summer.”

The gas is continuously risingand students and faculty hasbeen trying to find new ways toget around.

Students have resorted towalking to get to places, andsome have started to take the busand the metro to bring them totheir desired destinations.

The prices have been so highthat students are also starting tobike to school and ask theirfriends for rides.

“I think its ridiculous howhigh they are,” said JocelynPhaecharoensook, graphicdesign major.

“But its also pushing peopleto use public transportation, car-pools and bikes. There’s kind ofa good and bad to everything,”Phaecharoensook said.

A major negative affect is thefact that some students don’thave the luxury to get to places

so easily, many students need todrive to school, because they liveso far.

“I’m waiting for the gold lineto extend,” said Lopez. “I live inCovina and I drive a lot. I workand go to school in Pasadena.”

According to the AutomotiveClub of Southern California, atthis time a year ago, the gas was57 cents cheaper.

In 1950 you were able to payfor gas for three cents.

“I’m concerned, because itsgoing to have an adverse effecton the US economy” said DanHaley, librarian in The StaffordLibrary.

Justin Clay/ CourierStudents and staff have beenfeeling the heat since gas pricesjumped.

Parking crunch eases after 2 weeksCOLIN SUMStaff Writer

Three weeks into the springsemester some students are stillhaving trouble finding parking,but the crunch seems to haveloosened a bit after the firstweek.

Many students say that duringthe first week of the semesterfinding parking at PCC is a hec-tic experience. The student park-ing lots are always seeminglyfilled, even as more drivers circlearound campus.

Jerry Heng, journalism major,ended up having to skip his classafter trying to find parking aboutan hour. He said parking avail-

ability seems to have improvedafter the second week.

“I would rather park on cam-pus,” Heng said. “It feels muchsafer than parking on the streetsand much closer.”

Freddy Gavarrette, psycholo-gy, said that parking availabilitydepends on the time of day. Hesaid it is usually between thetimes of 10:00 a.m. and 12:00p.m. With the recent class cuts,he said, students not gettingtheir classes and others whohave dropped have increased theamount of parking spaces avail-able.

“It's cluttered every day,” saidBrandon Che, game design. “It'slike nobody has ever left.”

Che's main concern was thelack of space due to reservedparking decreasing the amountof spaces available. He also saidthat with the recent class cuts,there are more available spaces.

Jason Carmi, engineeringmajor, parks his car two blockswest of campus on Green Street.He would usually park eitherthere with an allotted time zoneor on PCC's parking lot depend-ing on the situation he's in. Hehas a flexible schedule, so he hastime in between classes to goback to his car.

“It's not impossible to find aspot,” Carmi said. “If you arerunning late, you should defi-nitely park closer.”

Teresa Mendoza/CourierTanya Parra, finds a parking space in lot 5A after a 20 minute search.

3CourierMarch 15, 2012

Letters to the EditorThe Courier welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should be about

300 words and may be edited by Courier staff. All letters must containyour full name and a correct daytime phone number. Letters can bedelivered to the Courier office in CC 208 or sent by e­mail to [email protected].

Corrections The Courier staff endeavors to ensure accuracy in all aspects of its report­

ing. If you believe we have made an error, please contact us at (626) 585­7130or via e­mail to [email protected].

Note to Readers

Courier2011 JACC General Excellence

Award WinnerEditor­in­ChiefNeil Protacio

News EditorNicholas Zebrowski

Assist. News EditorPaul Ochoa

Online EditorGalen Patterson­Smith

Assist. Online EditorAnder Arostegui

Arts & Entertainment EditorJessi Alva

Assist. Arts & Entertainment EditorMary Nurrenbern

Opinion EditorF.E. Cornejo

Assist. Opinion EditorPhilip McCormick

Sports EditorNicholas Saul

Assist. Sports EditorLinda Pineda

Features EditorMercy Fabila

Assist. Features Editors:Cicely Chisholm, Christine Michaels

Photo EditorGabriela Castillo

Chief PhotographerDaniel Nerio

Online Photo EditorLouis Cheung

Scene EditorsBuren Smith, Max Perez

Social Media EditorJustin Clay

Multimedia EditorNatalie Sehn Weber

Staff Writers:Antero Barrantes III, Brandon Drexel,Dustin Earl, Jesus Gomez, TiffanyHerrera, Amar Kasopovic, Edwin Lee,Michael McGrath, Raymond Pecson,Brenda Renteria, Luis Rodriguez, KarlaSosa, Colin Sum

Staff Photographers: Kevin Balmadrid, Katherine Bussey,Megan Carrillo, Nikki Debbaudt, MinelaDela Cruz, Steven Fuel, Ya Ling Hsu,Ronald Johnson, Teresa Mendoza,AnthonyRichetts, Sasha S. Tracy,Steven Valdez, Blair Wells

Faculty AdviserWarren Swil

Photography AdviserTim Berger

Advertising CoordinatorAnthony Richetts

The Courier is published weekly by thePasadena City College JournalismDepartment and is a free­speechforum. Editorial opinions and com­ments are those of the authors and donot necessarily represent the positionof the institution and its administra­tion, student government or that ofthe Pasadena Area Community CollegeDistrict.

Phone:(626) 585­7130

Fax:(626) 585­7971

Advertising:(626) 585­7979

[email protected]

Office:1570 E. Colorado Blvd., CC­208

Pasadena, CA 91106­3215

E­mail:[email protected]

The first copy of the Courier is free.Additional copies are $1 each

© Copyright 2012 Courier. All rights reserved.

Should taxes on the rich be raised to helpfinance educational programs?

Reporting by: Philip McCormick, Photos by: Steven Valdez

“We students are the ones inneed of money for education.The rich have enough money.”

Michael Marquez, English

“Yes. Students will benefit fromthe tax money, since it will be

going towards education.”Miriam Vazquez, Psycology

“Some of the rich earn their moneyand shouldn’t be the only ones being

taxed for education.”Jacklyuen Portillo, Animal Biology

“Everyone has the right tospend their money how they

want to spend it.”Daniel Vettran, Music

“Yes. The rich get to write-off alot of stuff that they shouldn’t

be able to write-off.”Eli Locke, Undecided

“They should have their taxesraised, if it’s going to a goodcause such as education.”

Paul Felix, Criminal Justice

“Yes they should. The middleclass and poor are already in

poverty. They should help out.”Chris Jones, Multimedia

“They have the money, so whynot help students by contribut-ing to educational programs?”

Destiny Johnson, Music

“If I got rich, I know I wouldn’t wantthe government deciding wheremy well earned money went to.”

Breeze Arnold, Engineering

“Those who have enoughmoney to help out with educa-

tion, should.”Austin Drake, Music

ONLINE POLL RESULTSONLINE POLL RESULTSOnline, we asked: Should taxes on the rich beraised to support education?

Results as of 5 p.m. Wednesday:Yes 73%No 27%

vote atpccCourier.com

VOICES:

Opinion

Contraceptive mandate is justifiedCICELY CHISHOLMStaff Writer

When President Barak Obama announcedThe Affordable Care Act would requireinsurance companies to cover contracep-tives, it caused a huge debate.

Conservative American radio talk showhost Rush Limbaugh then called SandraFluke, a Georgetown law student, a “slut”and “prostitute”, he was calling attention toan outdated stereotype, not to mention beingvery inappropriate.

Fluke had gavin testimony before theHouse Democratic Steering and PolicyCommittee after being denied the chance at aHouse Oversight Committee hearing to sup-port the insurance mandate.

Limbaugh took her testimony to mean thatcontraception was a way for her to have asmuch sex as she wants without the conconse-quence of unwanted pregnancy, promtinghis attack.

A large problem with Limbaugh’s thinkingis that contraceptives aren’t just used as aform of preventing pregnancy anymore.

Young Women’s Health says that the pillscan help with conditions such as polycysticovary syndrome, endometriosis, and irregu-lar menstruation, among others.

Fluke’s testimony that promptedLimbaugh’s attack cited her friend as anexample for the many uses contraceptiveshave besides preventing pregnancy.

Maybe the biggest misconception aboutthe mandate is thinking that taxes pay for thecontraceptives.

The White House web site states that theonly people who would be covered for freecontraceptives already have an insuranceplan, a plan they have to pay for.

Some of the biggest arguments against thecontraceptives mandate come from religiousgroups.

Believing all life deserves to be lived andprocreation is one of the most importantparts of having sex, some religious institu-tions, such as churches, wanted to be exemptfrom the mandate.

Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of theDepartment of Health and Human Services,stated in a news release that churches are

excused, but groups such as the UnitedStates Conference of Catholic Bishops didn’tbelieve it went far enough.

To dispel the backlash from religiongroups, President Obama announced duringa press conference in February a compromisethat would not require religiously affiliatedinstitutions to offer the coverage, but insur-ance companies would be required to offercomplete coverage for free.

Their outrage is understandable, and it hasbeen cited as an example of disregarding theFirst Amendment.

There are problems with the mandatethough.

One example would be leaving out thosewomen too poor to afford insurance, whoalso may be the ones who need it the most.

Contraceptives should be fully covered.Not everyone will have to take them, butconsidering the Centers for Disease Controland Prevention found that 62 percent ofwomen in the United States are currentlyusing some form of contraceptive, the optionis useful.

Letter to the editor

Core belief at PCC is to be transparent, factualOne of Pasadena City College’s core beliefs

is that it is important to be transparent andfactual.

To that end, PCC began broadcasting inJuly 2011 live online video of the PasadenaArea Community College District Board ofTrustees regular business meetings.

It is important to be clear that the livevideo stream was not cut during the Feb. 22Board of Trustees meeting nor has it everbeen cut for any other meeting.

What may have looked like interruptionsin the feed were times when the camerafocused in on the PCC logo on a projection

screen within the meeting room while theBoard meeting was not in session.

This has always been the practice for thevideo streaming of Board meetings.

In short, a meeting is broadcast only whenit has been called to order. Whenever a meet-ing is not in session, it is standard practice tohave the camera cut to a close-up of some-thing in the room, be it the screen with thePCC logo, the flag, or a wide shot of theroom.

This also happens when the Board is inrecess for any reason, including receptionsfor the Rose Court, legislators, or after the

induction of a new student trustee. The Feb.22 open session was streamed and can beviewed on the website athttp://www.pasadena.edu/board/grani-cus.cfm/.

Another core value of PCC is a commit-ment to integrity.

The college encourages discourse in a civilmanner and will continue to provide accu-rate and timely information through its web-site and broadcasts.

Juan F. GutierrezDirector of Public Relations

SCENESCENE March 15, 2012

Tee-ChicShowing their true colors

Blair Wells/CourierMatt Paragas, 22 graphic design, displays his Japaneseinspired T-shirt in the Quad during Club Rush week.

JustinAmmen, 21,Kinesiology,shows off hisT-shirt,which fea-tures abright, color-ful design.

Max Perez/Courier

Blair Wells/CourierArvin Dicioco, 18 accounting, flashes his 'club' Tee in front of the CC Building while handing out flyers duringClub Rush week.

Blair Wells/CourierNick Sanchez, 19 undecided, works on a sketch as he waits for his ride home atthe drop off area by the CC Building. His T-shirt displays the classic arcade icon,Pac-man.

Blair Wells/CourierKatherine Ramirez, 18, biology, witha time themed long sleeve T-shirtby the R Building.

After Vietnam, instructor mentors vets

EDWIN LEEStaff Writer

PCC presented two differentexhibits with works from artistErin Cosgrove and the PCC cine-ma program at ArtNight onFriday.

ArtNight is a citywide pro-gram with an evening of free art,museums, music and entertain-ment. Twelve different venuesopened their doors for theevening. Other venues includedArt Center College of Design,Pacific Asia Museum, PasadenaMuseum of California Art andmore.

Art Gallery Director BrianTucker was pleased with theevening. He received manyfavorable remarks. “Peopleseemed to like the videos andmany commented on the talentand skill evident in the studentfilms,” he said. “The art galleryhad roughly 350 visitors thisnight,” he said.

The cinema highlights from2006 to 2011 were screenedinside the Art Gallery for theevening. Ten different short filmswere shown on repeat through-out the evening.

Cosgrove, multimedia artist,displayed five different pieces

that included four short filmsand a scroll called “WhatManner of Person Art Thou?”Her short films were shown inR122 while the scroll was on dis-play in the Art Gallery.

The scroll drew inspirationfrom the short film “Mysteries ofthe Hertson Scroll.” The scrolland short film talked about thebeginning of time and what hap-pened afterwards. “A post 9/11

piece,” Cosgrove said, “the shortfilm takes on the subject ofdogma.”

“[I] give space for theattendee’s own views,”Cosgrove said about her ownviews on her artwork. The shortfilm “Happy Am I,” tried tocompress history. “This idea wasshown in a song and dance inless than three minutes,” shesaid.

Anar Nyantaisuren / Courier Artist Erin Cosgrove's scroll was on display at the PCC Art Gallery during ArtNight on Friday.

Daniel Nerio/Courier Instructor Harold Martin servesveterans at the VeteransResource Center at PCC on March 7.

GALEN PATTERSON-SMITHOnline Editor

When he was sent to Vietnamin 1969, Harold Martin assumedhe was going to die and made noplans to return to America.

“I was fully prepared to die inVietnam. I wasn’t prepared tocome back,” said the social sci-ences instructor in a recent inter-view.

Martin was assigned to a lightinfantry unit in 1969. It was ashock for him, to come back tothe U.S. in 1970. Martin knew thewar had changed him and hewasn’t happy about it.

“The best part of me really haddied in Vietnam,” he said. Theperson he was after the war, wasnot whom he wanted to be. “Ididn’t feel capable of joy,” hesaid.

What changed Martin’s life

was when his first son was born.“I had no desire to live, until hewas born,” Martin said. “I’m notmotivated by money, but by stu-dents and being true to myself.”In this way, his life has neverlacked for meaning or purpose.

Martin began teaching at PCC10 years ago. Four years later, henoticed some of the veteranscoming back from the wars inIraq and Afghanistan neededhelp in a way that people didn’thelp him when he first cameback from Vietnam.

He formed a veterans club atPCC six years ago with ninefounding members. They startedout small, selling candy bars inthe Quad, according to originalmember Carol Calandra. “Now,they are a force to be reckonedwith,” Calandra said.

Calandra is a former studentfrom Martin’s first “Boots to

Books” class, a course designedto help veterans adjust to thecivilian world. Now a colleagueof Martin’s, she works closelywith him acting as a liaisonbetween Martin and the veter-ans.

Calandra describes her firstimpression of Martin was that heis an odd duck, but admits thatonce she understood his sense ofhumor, her opinion changed.“At first I didn’t get it, but he isamazingly brilliant,” she said.

Lisa Castaneda, paralegalstudies, is another former stu-dent of Martin. She describeshim as “a tough cookie” and“old school.” Castaneda believesthat Martin has influenced her inbecoming a stronger student andhas taught her to be aware of hersurroundings.

Harold Martin was born inMunich, Germany. At the time,

post-war Europe was in sham-bles. Countries were still recov-ering from ravaged economiesand bombed-out cities. Hismother feared another war wasimminent and chose to emmi-grate to the United States.

After high school, Martin leftAmerica and reconnected withhis family in Germany, and thenbegan hitchhiking through Asia.He explored some of the tribalareas that are now considered tobe among the most dangerousplaces in the world.

Eventually he decided to go tocollege in India, but due to theprimitive conditions he encoun-tered on his travels, he contract-ed some major tropical diseases.He returned to the U.S. to healand begin his higher education.However, in his first semester, hewas drafted and sent to Vietnam.

Social media findtheir way intosome classroomsCHRISTINE MICHAELSStaff Writer

Social media tools such asTwitter and Facebook are slowlyfinding their way into the class-rooms with teachers adoptingthem at PCC.

Interpersonal CommunicationsInstructor AC Panella usesFacebook in three of his coursesfor interpersonal communica-tion. For all of them, there is oneFacebook group with sharedmaterial for each class.

One of the assignmentsincludes having the studentsopen their profiles so other stu-dents in the other course sectionshave access to them to analyzethe person.

“It’s fairly entertaining,” saidPanella in an interview. “It’s veryhard to isolate ourselves.”Facebook use in the classroomhelps the students apply whatthey learn in class, instead of justreading the material in a book,he said.

History Instructor VictorNebrida uses both Facebook andBlackboard in his ITV course.The class can accommodate upto 199 students, and meets onlysix times during the semester.

“[The students] are on theirown,” Nebrida said. He beganusing Facebook along withBlackboard in 2009. “Everybodyseemed to be on [Facebook],” hesaid. It was easier to get discus-sions on the Facebook grouppage and have all of his studentsinvolved. “The participation onFacebook goes up to 100responses for a discussiontopic…it’s very effective,” hesaid.

Nebrida explained that hecould relate better to his stu-dents. “You start to see fromtheir perspective, the studentsbecome more open and loose indiscussing topics on the grouppage,” he said. “There’s anabsence of hierarchy.”

Business major EdwardBataitas, a former student ofNebrida, explained how theFacebook group discussion page

helped him with the class. “It was extremely effective, it’s

like having a classroom discus-sion 24/7,” he said. Bataitasenjoyed the easy availability ofthe classroom Facebook grouppage. “If you don’t make it toclass, it’s very easy to contactanother student in the classthrough the group page,” hesaid.

Another positive to usingFacebook in the classroom is thesafety it provides as well. Bothinstructors Panella and Nebridaagree closed groups allow onlystudents who are on their classrosters to join.

Panella explained how in thebeginning, a few students hadissues with social conduct on thegroup pages, but rules have beenset up to avoid problems.Nebrida describes the closedgroups as being safe. “[The stu-dents] are not threatened,” hesaid.

With the growing socialtrends, education systems arebeginning to merge in waysaimed at better educating stu-dents.

“It’s a great tool for instructorsto use [in the classroom],”Nebrida said, “and the studentslove it.”

Courier StaffHistory instructor Victor Nebridashows the Facebook group dedi-cated for his class.

Gallery hosts ArtNight event

Teresa Mendoza/CourierSage Monroe, 19, PCC art major, Reyna Hernandez, 19, and RoseDias, 20 attend the ArtNight Pasadena event at the PCC Art Gallery onFriday.

5CourierMarch 15, 2012 Features

6 Courier March 15, 2012News

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Board president answers criticmeasure, which aimed to limit protestsand demonstrations to a certain time andarea, had been a controversial issue formonths last year before it was ultimatelyrejected by the Academic Senate. At theMarch 7 meeting, Board of Trustees VicePresident John Martin mentioned therevival of the proposed policy as a futureagenda item, Bott said.

“It is sad that when we need our free-dom of speech the most, people like Mr.Martin, with agreement from PresidentMark Rocha, try to take it away,” Bottsaid.

Rocha, on the other hand, said that hedoes not support Time, Place, Manner norwill he accept, receive, or forward to theBoard a recommendation for a new policyor any limitation on speech.

“I believe there is good policy alreadyin place that protects free speech,” Rochawrote in an email to the Courier.

In addition, Rocha said that he knowsof no new effort to establish a new Time,Place, Manner policy.

“Mr. Martin’s comments at the March 7board meeting had nothing whatsoever todo with limiting free speech and every-thing to do with a call for conducive envi-ronment for dialogue,” Rocha said.

The current policy of the district statesthat “Pasadena City College seeks tomaintain a safe, orderly, and constructivecampus environment in which there isfreedom to learn and respect for the digni-ty of all members of the College commu-nity. Students are expected to be responsi-ble, honest, and non-violent in exercisingtheir rights to free inquiry and freespeech.”

According to Baum, the PasadenaPolice Department had presented infor-mation on threats to the physical safety ofstudents, faculty, staff, and members ofthe public at PCC.

“In response, the Board directed thatthere will be no restriction on public com-ment and expression, but we need to takesome measures to maintain a safe andorderly environment to conduct the busi-ness of the district,” he said.

Bott’s letter also accused the board oflimiting access to education by slashingenrollment, cutting winter intersession,and cutting class hours despite strong stu-dent concern.

“The Board obviously did not hear thestudent voices yet – how much pressuredo we need to apply before you start totake action, instead of just listening?” Bottwrote.

Baum replied that the school main-tained itself despite $10 million in cuts. Inaddition, unlike other schools and collegedistricts, PCC has refrained from layingoff, furloughing pay, and reducing bene-fits to its employees. The future, however,is grim.

“Unfortunately, there will be even moresevere reductions in funding next year,”Baum said. “PCC will no longer be able tocompletely shield the impact of these cutson students, faculty, and staff.”

Bott has since been in contact with boththe Board of Trustees and Rocha.According to Bott, Rocha has agreed to ameeting at 10 a.m. on March 23 in theWiFi lounge and encourages students andstudent government representatives toattend and pose their concerns and ques-tions.

Full-time faculty ratio below standards

368 full-time faculty,” he said. The fine PCC would pay if the obliga-

tion is not met would total $650,000 witheach missing full-time faculty costing$65,000.

“If we do not hire faculty at the currentmoment we would pay a penalty of$65,000 per faculty member but that couldbe waived by the Board Of Governors,”said Miller.

Even though the fine has not beenwaived, the Board of Governors mightdecide to waive it if the obligation num-ber is not met because of the state budgetcuts.

“There is no indication they will waive

us, but that does not mean they won’t asthe difficult state budget deliberationscontinue,” said Miller.

To bring up the number of full-time fac-ulty, PCC is in the process of recruiting 10new faculty to meet the state requirementof 378 full-time faculty.

“We are recruiting 10 new faculty. Oncethose individuals are hired, that will bringour numbers back up so that 75 percent ofour faculty are full-time,” said Bell.

“The bottom line is that to the extentthat any community college district doesnot meet its FON, they can have appor-tionment. That is a penalty that makes itvery unattractive to not meet the FON,”said Van Pelt.

these changes, although it was a longprocess. “I was forced to return to classesI wanted to add for two weeks. Eventhough I was unsure that I would even begetting into those classes, or if the teachereven had enough add codes to let me add[the class],” said Michael Siller, unde-clared major.

These problems stem from surprisecuts to PCC’s budget, only days beforespring semester began.

The new add procedure has required anew wait list system. Students are overthe class maximum, and therefore not

actually enrolled in the class. For a stu-dent to add the class from the wait list, anenrolled student must first be droppedfor a valid reason such as not attendingthe first class meeting according to Bell.

Then the instructor will give that stu-dent one of the five add codes so that theymay finally register for the section saidBell.

One irregularity with this procedure isthat many sections have wait lists longerthan just five students. Any instructorwho gives out the five add codes, mustask the dean for permission to receive anyadditional add codes.

New policy limits number of addsContinued from page 1

Continued from page 1

Continued from page 1

TIFFANY HERRERAStaff Writer

Judy Ohye and Krista Goguenof the PCC Shatford Libraryhave purchased several booksfor the community to get famil-iar with the work of the Artist inResidence, Abe Morell, thisMarch.

Three of these books can bechecked out at a time for threedays. They are Abelardo Morelland the Camera Eye, Book ofBooks, Camera in a Room, Faceto Face, Camera Obscura, andAlice’s Adventures inWonderland.

According to his book, Camerain a Room, Morell was born inCuba and in 1962 at the age of 14came to the U.S. Eventually hewas awarded a scholarship toBowdoin College in Maine.

This book shows his workwith camera obscura, or pinholephotography, which is a light-safe container with a small holeon it to capture the image.

Morell's book, AbelardoMorell and the Camera Eye,shows 105 images over his careerof 30 years. It also lists his exhibi-tion tour and his work in them.

It starts from 1998 at theMuseum of Photographic Arts,San Diego to 2000 at theUniversity Art Museum,University of New Mexico,Alberquerque.

According to his website, hehas won several awards span-ning from his 1992 CintasFoundation Fellowship award tohis most recent award, theInternational Center ofPhotography Infinity Award in2011.

MARY NURRENBERNStaff Writer

Widely acclaimed photogra-pher Aberlardo Morell will begina week as the Artist in Residencefor 2012 on Monday.

Morell will begin a weeklongseries of events with an openinglecture at 7p.m. in the VoslohForum, followed by a receptionin the Art Gallery. The AR exhi-bition of his work will take placeMarch 19 through May 5.

During the week Morell willwork with students creatingphotography. “It will be excitingto bring the students toHuntington Gardens to shoot,”Morell said in a telephone inter-view

“I have been an artist for athousand years,” Morell laughs.He has been shooting photogra-phy since college, when he knewhe didn’t want to look back.

His camera obscura work,which is an optical device thatprojects an image of its sur-roundings on a screen, hashelped him to explore a newkind of freedom.

“Being able to bring someoneto campus who is internationally

recognized is rewarding,” said Melanie Willhide, photogra-

phy instructor who organizedthis year’s residency.

Willhide hopes that manyother departments will come tothe show to experience the vastarray of disciplines.

“His work touches on manydifferent themes people areinterested in,” said Brian Tucker,Art Gallery director.

The Artist in Residence pro-gram brings nationally andinternationally renowned artiststo PCC and the Pasadena areacommunity.

The Artist in Residence willwork with photography stu-dents throughout the week, pro-ducing new works that will bedisplayed in the Art Gallerythroughout the week; there willalso be a lecture, president’slunch and closing reception.

Morell’s future camera obscu-ra photographs will be shot invarious national parks. “I lovebeing able to travel to new placesand see other parts of theworld,” Morell said.

The exhibit runs through May5.

BRENDA RENTERIAStaff Writer

PCC faculty and staff were rec-ognized in a celebration onMarch 6, where over two hun-dred employees were given acertificate and a keepsake tothose who have dedicated five ormore years of service.

The staff was recognized ingroups depending on how manyyears they have been employed.The groups ranged from 45 yearsand more to newly hired staff,but the majority of the PCC staffhas dedicated 10 years or moreof service.

President Mark Rocha gavespecial recognition to ProfessorKenneth Cheney and HaroldineGardner, a public relations secre-tary, for dedicating over 45 yearsof service to PCC.

Rocha was the first to expresshis gratitude to all staff for theirhard work. “We are proud ofyour service and thank you allfrom our hearts,” said Rocha.The president kept the mood upbeat, complementing the staff,“We might be violating somechild labor laws, because youlook well. You look good as astaff.”

Assembly Member AnthonyPortantino’s district representa-tive and former PCC student,Tanganica Turner, presented acertificate from State SenatorCarol Liu and Portantino toDavid Douglass, ManagementAssociation president, EdwardMartinez, Academic Senate pres-ident, and Gary Potts, ClassifiedSenate president in support of allthe dedication and hard work tothe staff.

Douglass expressed his grati-tude and had the audiencechuckling when he said, “We’llbe having a fundraiser now andI’ll be auctioning off some addcodes for chemistry.”

“This event is special,” saidSalpy Mankerian, a career centerclerk. “I never felt that timewould go by so fast. At first itwas one year, then two, and now,wow, 10 years have passed,”said Mankerian.

“This celebration was nicerthan usual,” said ChristopherLucas, a Facility Services staffmember for over 10 years. Lucassaid he has always been happywith his job.

All staff that did not attendshould check with their depart-ment to obtain their certificatepackage.

7CourierMarch 15, 2012 Arts & Entertainment

Faculty, staff recognized at ceremony

President MarkRocha left,

David Douglas,Garry Potts,

EdwardMartinez, and

former studentTanganicaTurner are

seen duringthe staff recog-nition event atthe Creveling

Lounge onMarch 6.

David Aguilar/Courier

Photographerto begin hisresidency week

CameraObscura :Brooklyn BrdgeView fromBedroom isone ofAberlardoMorell’s manyworks

Library has artist’s booksfor check out for three days

DUSTY EARLStaff Writer

The PCC men’s baseball teamlost to the Seahawks of LosAngeles Harbor College in aMarch 8 home game at JackieRobinson Field.

The Lancers put up four runsin the game but it wasn’t enoughto rout Harbor who scored 16 togive PCC its fifth straight loss.

Harbor increased its record to7-5 with their fifth straight win,and PCC added the loss to theirmeager 2-11.

The first two innings went byscoreless before Harbor’s NolanSax was hit by a pitch by PCCstarter Trevor Gleason in thethird, starting a rally that result-ed in four runs for the Seahawks.

The struggling Gleason gaveup two more runs in the fourthinning before he was pulled infavor of lefty Cory Burgard.

The Seahawk’s took advan-tage of a fielding error by PCCsecond baseman Matt Chavez toscore another run and Harbor

batters drove in another threeruns before Burgard finished upthe inning.

The Lancers finally returnedthe favor in the bottom of theinning with an RBI from firstbaseman David Halstead, in thefifth inning with a run by out-fielder Anthony Martinez, andan RBI double by shortstop TylerDominguez in the sixth.

Harbor added to its lead in theseventh with two RBIs on a triplefrom outfielder Kris Cayton, andan RBI single from infielderAnthony Villela despite a PCCpitching change for the righthander Evan Stranski.

The Lancers showed someaggressive base running in thebottom of the seventh withcatcher Marco Ordaz stealingsecond base after being walkedby Harbor left handed relieverChad Kim.

Ordaz made it all the way tothird on a single by outfielderDamian Santamaria, but failed toscore before Kim quieted theLancer bats and ended the

inning.There were signs of life in the

eighth for PCC with outfielderBrandon Spicer scoring on aHalstead double, adding a run tothe board.

Base runners capitalized on a

walk and a wild pitch by Kim,but were left stranded on secondand third.

In the ninth, Seahawk’s batsanswered back and took fulladvantage of Lancer errors toincrease their lead to twelve

runs. The bottom of the ninth was

fairly quiet for PCC with onlyone hit off Korean born closerEun Sup Jung, which was a sin-gle by third basemen FranciscoCabral.

CHRISTINE MICHAELSStaff Writer

While the Lancer softball team played hardagainst the El Camino Warriors at Robinson Parkon Thursday, the score was still 7 – 11 by the sev-enth inning.

David Hellen, a long time supporter of the team,said that the women were “hitting fine, but thepitching might be a little weak today,” as hewatched the game from the bleachers.

The players had a tough time, going from 2 - 2in the first inning, to 3 – 11 in the third, the phe-nomenal comeback in the sixth inning holding theWarriors at 11 points as the Lancers score to sevenpoints is notable. Even the Warrior’s star playerNo. 5 Alia Williams only made it to first base beforebeing outed from a catch by a Lancer outfielder.

Star player and pitcher No. 9 Kayla Moore wasinjured in a previous game, so the team sufferedthe loss of a strong player for most of the game.No. 23 Bronwyn Stewart pitched for five out of theseven innings, and kept the Warriors at bay duringthe last two innings.

The seventh inning had notable saves in the out-field by No. 13 Alexandra Oddenido, catching a flyball and outing a Warrior, as well as No. 2 MaddyGianoli, catching another fly ball and outing yetanother Warrior player.

By the end of the game, the Lancers had gottentheir spirit back, and did their best. Even with aloss, fan Alexandra Ballesteros said, “they’re notgiving up.”

SPORTSSPORTSMarch 15, 2012OURIERC

Baseball team suffering mid-season slumpThe Lancers show up latein loss against LA Harbor

Lancers fail to score in loss to visiting East Los AngelesLINDA PINEDAAsst. Sports Editor

The Lancers baseball team wasunable to score any runs in a lossduring an error-filled gameagainst East Los Angeles Collegeon Tuesday, with a score of 7-0.

The Lancers struck out in thefirst inning while the Huskies

scored a run.Starting catcher Marco Ordaz

said they were distracted by thehome runs scored against them. 

“We didn’t play great, we onlyplayed OK. We made too manyerrors,” said Ordaz.

“The first couple of innings wewere in the zone, but once [The

Huskies] started scoring againstus everything went out the win-dow for us,” he added.

Left-fielder Anthony Martinezdisagreed, and said the Lancershad a hard time in the beginningof the game.

“The team did good, the prob-lem was the we had to put it all

together earlier in the game, andwe didn’t,” said Martinez.

In the seventh inning CoachEvan O’Meara tried somethingnew by putting in freshmanpitcher Brian Cuiriz.

“I was just waiting for thatchance and I wasn’t going toblow it once I got it,” said Cuiriz.

He had good control of the balland kept the Huskies from scor-ing more runs.

Despite Cuiriz’ attempts, theLancers were unable to catch up.

“I did what I needed to do,unfortunately we couldn’t rackup any runs to get the win,”Cuiriz said.

Women’s softball continues to struggle

Anthony Richetts / CourierSophomore third-baseman Sean Stone takes a strike in a 16-4 loss against Los Angeles Harbor at JackieRobinson Field on March 8.

Megan Carrillo / CourierSophomore outfielder Kayla Moore makes contactin the Lancers’ 7-11 loss to El Camino.

Megan Carrillo / CourierSophomore center-fielder Brittany Skoien eyes a pitch against aWarrior pitcher.