PCC Courier, April 23, 1992

OPINION NEWS FEATURES SPORTS Death Penalty Is the death penalty a cruel punishment? Page 2 Homelessness Homeless preacher brings hope to the streets. Page 3 Softball Lancers give up three runs in the first inning for a 3-1 loss. Page 6 Pasadena City College Pasadena, California Vol.74 No. 24 COURIER Thursday April 23, 1992 Voters will determine future of CSC CJ Official plans for a new Community Skills Center will be made if Proposition 153, which will provide community colleges with $300 million for building projects, is passed in June. Students gatheroutsidethe Community Skills Center after classes. A new site forthe facility will be sought if Proposition 1 53 is adopted. By EDWIN FOLVEN Editor-in-Chief Voters will decide the future of the Community Skills Center on June 2 when they vote for Proposition 153, which will pro¬ vide $900 million for building expenses at state higher educa¬ tional facilities. If passed, the bond issue will provide state funding for site acquisition and engineer¬ ing drawings for a new Commu¬ nity Skills Center facility. Dr. William Goldmann, dean of educational services, is confi¬ dent that voters will approve the bond initiative because he said it will directly serve the needs of the population. “It’s an important bond issue and I think Califor¬ nians will understand the impor¬ tance of providing higher educa¬ tion enough facilities for their students.” The bond issue is designed to provide the University of Cali¬ fornia system, the California State University system and the com¬ munity college system with $300 million each for construction of new facilities. Goldmann said pre¬ liminary blueprints for a new skills center have already been made and are on a list awaiting funding from the state. Officials have already prom¬ ised at least $4 million to PCC for site acquisition and engineering blueprints upon passage of the issue. “Passage will enable us to move on with another phase of the college’s $100 million master plan.,” said Goldmann. He explained that when funding for the skills center is approved, it will be removed from the state’s list of projects. Other components of PCC’s master plan, such as a new parking structure, a child develop¬ ment center and a physical educa¬ tion facility, will then move closer to approval. “It is quite likely that the center will be the very next proj¬ ect. Construction could begin shortly after the completion of the new li¬ brary in 1993,” saidGoldmann. The Community Skills Center is currently located in a building owned by the Pasadena Unified School District. The facility, which is lo¬ cated at Oak Knoll and Del Mar Avenues in Pasadena, houses sev¬ eral vocational programs and a class that qualifies students for a high school completion certificate. Two years ago the city of Pasad¬ ena had to withdraw from allotting an eight acre site in east Pasadena because restrictions had been placed on some of the land. Goldmann is uncertain about a specific site but is confident one will be found expedi¬ ently after the bond issue is passed. Goldmann said, “It is critical that we work towards the passage of Proposition 153 if classes are to be available to serve the needs of all students in the future.” He said it is estimated the California community college system will be serving 500,000 more students in 2005 than it does currently. Senate formed to give classified staff a firm voice By AL SANTANA Staff Writer Throughout the years, PCC em¬ ployees have been set apart from de¬ cision making that directly affected them and their every-day jobs at the college. They have traditionally accepted a passive role in the crea¬ tion and enforcement of regulations and programs that affect the cam¬ pus. But that trend is changing. Four years ago, the California $tate Legislature enacted a law for all community colleges that requires active participation by internal de¬ partments that constitute a legal pres¬ ence within the campus. 5ince Education Act 1725 became law, PCC has begun to redesign its ad¬ ministrative approach toward the departments. On March 18, non-certificated staff members created the Classified $enale organization, a consultation group which will be a source of informa¬ tion for the Board of Trustees when it creates policies and determines budget allocations. A constitution was recently written outlining some of the group’s policies, and is await¬ ing approval from all members of the Senate. The 17 member group, represents the clerical/secretarial, technical/para-professional, skills trades and service and maintenance departments. Hollis $tewart, intern chair ad- ministartor of the Classified $enate said that the organization has been created “to better the flow of infor¬ mation from the classified workers to the college administrators.” $tewart, is a likely candidate for president of the Classified Senate in an upcoming election. He stressed the importance of this organization saying that everything resulting from out of this new group “would be a benefit to the school.” “Our main purpose is to be the workers’ voice. Historically, the classified employees have never been represented this high before. “Now, we are going to share in government functions,” Stewart said. The new organization will be represented on more than 30 com¬ mittees which are currently organ¬ ized on campus. The Senate repre¬ sents 342 employees who are non¬ union workers. The group will di¬ rect its efforts in choosing perma- Please see Senate: Page 4 Suspect arrested for assualt on campus By EDWIN FOLVEN Editor-in-Chief The Pasadena District Attorney’s office is filing charges of disturbing the peace at a college campus on a man suspected of beating his wife in the C Building April 8. Pasadena police officers took Arthur Bullock, 22, into custody after campus police officer Herman Mitchell arrested him on Marion Avenue near Colorado Boulevard. Bullock was alledgedly seen by several students and faculty mem¬ bers dragging his wife, a student, across the floor by her hair just after 6 p.m. According to Mitchell, the witnesses came out of classrooms and offices after they heard scream¬ ing. “Witnesses said they saw the suspect had her by the hair dragging her and yelling something like ‘where’s my kids?.”’ When Mitchell arrived, he said Bullock had left but his wife re¬ mained in a room recovering from the ordeal. He noticed scratches on her face and marks on her legs ap¬ parently caused when she was dragged her across the floor. After attempt¬ ing to calm her and gather informa¬ tion about the incident, he had a Please see Assault: Page 4 Club day encourages students to get involved Photo by Katrina P. Ten New art exhibit showcases diverse talents PATRICIA DOLPHIN Opinion Editor “An Irreverent Approach,” is the concept of a unique collection of paintings and sculpture by artist Andres Nagel in the Art gallery until May 15. Nagel, a $panish artist of Basque ancestry, was chosen as this years’s artist in residence at PCC. He will be at the college April 27 through May 1. Nagel’s interesting combination of sculpture and paintings contain a great deal of wit and irony. Art gal¬ lery director Alex Kritselis described Nagel’s works as expressive and humorous and at the same time, very true to life. “Nagel is more deliber¬ ate, more sculptural than many art¬ ists.” Kritselis said. “ His works are beautifully and strongly made. Judg¬ ing from the responses of my stu¬ dents, they see something fresh and dynamic in his work.” One can gather from his Basque roots that Nagel brings a sensibility to his works. Nagel’s work is Cubis¬ tic. He seems to plug into the work Photo by Katrina P. Ten/The COURIER “Monkey Business” features an interesting Bovine concept, currently on display in the Art Gallery. of his compatriot, Pablo Picasso. In one of Nagel’s works, an alligator has swallowed a 747. “It is kind of a paradoxical, humorous, meta¬ physical surrealistic type of work.” Kritselis said. “ There is a sense of humor in it that life is not to be taken all that seriously, but at the same time the work is somewhat ominous.” Another of Nagel’s works at the show titled “Lead Feet” shows two large, heavy feet wrapped in socks on top of a rock. “There is a philosophy that because life at times is so unbearable, your feet get very heavy.” Kritselis explained. Nagel will be at PCC on Monday and will be working and lecturing to interested students throughout the week. Street closure affects off campus parking Major street repairs will cause the closure of Sierra Bonita Ave¬ nue between Colorado Boulevard and Walnut Avenue beginning Monday, April 27. The street will be closed to all through traffic, and no parking will be allowed on the street. Repairs will take approximately 45 days, according to James Cal- lens, an engineer with the City of Pasadena. Tree roots and poor drainage has caused damage to the street, and the city wants to fix the problem before any serious injuries to pedestrians or prop¬ erty loss can occur. “The city needs to fix the street now be¬ cause tree roots have ripped up the sidewalks,” said Callens. Signs have been posted alerting people that work will begin next week, and only residents living on the street and their guests will be allowed past the cordon. Students who normally park on Sierra Bonita Avenue, or use that route on their way to school, are advised to make alternative plans until construction is finished in mid June. ■■ — ■■ Section of Sierra Bonita Avenue that will be closed Monday, April 27 through June. Walnut Avenue N I I Colorado Boulevard I PCC I