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Pasadena City College
Football
Lancers earn another
win in the final
seconds of the game.
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Volume 102, Issue 3
"The Independent Student Voice of
РСС,
Serving Pasadena Since 1915." Thursday, September 16, 2010
U building's future weighed
Janine Shimomura
Editor-in-Chief
The future of the U Building is
in limbo as PCC evaluates seismic
retrofitting options including a
potential demolition, officials said.
A campus wide evaluation of
the buildings in 2009 showed
issues with the U Building, or
Armen Sarafian Hall, being up to
the earthquake building code,
according to PCC President Mark
Rocha. The report found that the
building was safe but not at the
current standards, said Rocha.
The study warranted a second
opinion, which resulted in a pre¬
liminary report.
The college received the report
from the consulting engineering
firm, Dasse Design, last month
that confirmed the same issues,
according to Interim Vice
President of Administrative
Services Rick van Pelt. A copy of
the Dasse Design report was not
made available to the Courier
before deadline.
"I only have one copy at this
point, and am using it every day,"
said van Pelt.
Rocha has requested a recom¬
mendation from van Pelt and
Dean of Natural Sciences David
Douglass, which he will present, to
the Board of Trustees. Rocha
expects the recommendation will
be compiled within 30-60 days.
The recommendation would
include a plan to either retrofit the
interior or demolish and recon¬
struct the building.
Seismic retrofitting requires that
older buildings that are not up to
code be modified to be more struc¬
turally sound.
Concerns regarding "swing
space," or where the classrooms
and labs would be moved to while
the retrofitting or demolition takes
place, are being taken into consid¬
eration while creating a timeline
for a decision to be made.
Continued on page 11
Danny Reyes/Courier
Occupants of the U Building face uncertainty due to the need to seis-
mically retrofit the structure.
A safe haven
Art Lemus/Courier
Veterans utilize the new specialized learning software in the Veteran Resource Center's 800-square-facility.
New Veterans Resource Center debuts
Natalie Sehn Weber
Staff Writer
With its fresh coat of paint barely dry,
PCC's brand new Veterans Resource
Center swung open its doors to new and
returning student veterans this semester.
The VRC's roughly 800-square-foot
space is located in Building W, Room 108.
It is open Monday through Thursdays 9
a.m. to 6 p.m.
According to their advisers, PCC's
estimated 775 veterans — up about 90
from last year's 684 — now have access
to a wide range of information, assis¬
tance and computers in an environment
that encourages camaraderie.
Tutoring by fellow veterans, quiet
study space and special learning soft¬
ware is available for veterans with learn¬
ing and physical disabilities, they said.
According to veterans, the VRC also
serves the unique needs of their commu¬
nity, a place where they may connect
with fellow veterans; find support when
they need it and take a break from the
ever-hectic college environment.
"It's a big shock to the system to go
from military life to student life," said
Navy reservist and Fire Science major
Chris Chappelle, 24.
He recommended that all PCC veter¬
ans visit the center and see how they
might benefit from its resources.
"I would have probably dropped out
my first semester if it weren't for [the
support from] the other veterans," he
said.
The center's completion is timely.
Veteran advisers said the California
Department of Veterans Affairs expects
up to 30,000 veterans to arrive in
California in October, in great part due to
the withdrawal of large numbers of vet¬
erans at the end of military personnel
from Iraq.
Due to the generous new G.I. Bill avail¬
able to most Afghanistan and Iraq war
Continued on page 11
Board debates
filling vacant
Area 5 seat
Wallis Locke and Samantha Lai
Staff Writers
The Board of Trustees continued to deliberate over
the vacant Area 5 Seat on Wednesday evening as the
Courier went to press.
After three votes the Board was split 3-3 between
Linda Wah and Warren Weber. Three other finalists
did not receive any votes.
All Board members
agreed that both candi¬
dates were highly quali¬
fied, so the debate focused
on Weber's experience
with the college versus
Wah's experience with the
community and her ability
to provide a fresh perspec¬
tive.
In support of Wah,
Board President William E. Thomson said he was
"prepared to take what I regard as a very small risk
and look forward. I would urge my colleagues to do
the same and select Ms. Wah and look forward."
The Board interviewed the five finalists at a special
meeting on Tuesday in the Creveling Lounge.
At the Tuesday session, the Board heard a five-
minute presentation from each candidate describing
his or her background and professional experience.
During the interview portion, the finalists explained
how their work relates to PCC and how they would
address potential challenges.
By randomly drawn lots, the order of presentation
consisted of Benjamin Figueroa, Dr. Melinda Hsia,
Warren Weber, Linda Wah, and Adam Murray.
The candidates were named as finalists on Sept. 1.
The search for the Area 5 trustee began in late July,
when former Board President Dr. Hilary Bradbury-
Huang resigned to teach at the University of Oregon.
For the latest
news on the
trustee seat visit
our website at
pccCourier.com
Lancer Radio:
New on their agenda:
more sports coverage
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ONLINE POLL
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Food Trucks:
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