PCC Courier, February 26, 1987

Lady Hoops Hit Paydirt Page 4 Only 45 Days 'til Spring Break Will God Take Oral Home? Page 2 COURIER VOL. 64, NO. 2 PASADENA CITY COLLEGE, PASADENA, CALIFORNIA FEBRUARY 26, 1987 Give blood, it doesn’t hurt. Associate professor Emy Lu Weller (foreground) donated a pint of blood to the American Red Cross yesterday in the campus center. In the background Alieh Modrek, a business major, and Beth Kaiama, PCC re-entry counselor, await their turn. Today is the last day to donate and help save a life. The Red Cross will be on campus from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Courier photo by Jennifer Landis Women Focus On Next Decade By Lolita B. Parker jr. Staff Writer The Pasadena Commission on the Satus of Women will present its 10th Annual Pasadena Women’s Con¬ ference, Women; The Next 10 Years on Saturday, March 7. This years conference will offer women a full day of workshops that will address “women’s life issues.” These workshops will offer information on many topics including starting your own business, communicating effec¬ tively and coping with mid-life stages. Substance abuse, dressing for power as well as how women can get and use political power will also be addressed. The conference will take place Satur¬ day March 7 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., in Morrison Hall at the Westminister Presbyterian Church at 1757 North Lake Ave. Pasadena. To meet the needs of many women, conference organizers have arranged for free child care through the Child Care Information Service. In order to receive this service you and your child must preregister by Friday, February 27 this will help the commission in providing adequate staffing as well as enough food for snacks and lunch for the children. There is a $2 child care registration fee that is fully refunded upon your arrival at the conference. This service is only for children rang¬ ing from infancy to 10 years old. This year is the commissions tenth anniversary. So the conference will look at how women’s issues of the past will affect the future. The commission was established by the Pasadena City Board of Directors in May 1977. It is an official advisory body of the Board and presents reports and recommendations on issues affect¬ ing women in the community and in city employment. The commission’s goals are to ex¬ amine cases of discrimination or preju¬ dice against women. It also offers advise on procedures, programs and legislation to promote and ensure equal rights for all women in Pasadena. A task force has also been assigned to examine child care needs and de¬ velop strategies for affordable quality child care for the community. The commission also provides in¬ formation, and in the course of its 10 year history has given referrals more than 1000 women. The commission has coordinated the Committee Coalition on Affirmitive Action that authored the “Affimative Action Ordinances.” These ordinances govern the city’s personel and contract¬ ing practices and removed gender ref¬ erences from job titles for city posi¬ tions. The commission also coordinated the Crisis Service Committee, which fought for and received more sensitive treatment by police officals for women have been the victims of rape and battery. According to Barbara Phillips Turner, associate professor at PCC and chair of the Pasadena Commission on the Status of Women, the conference may be especially interesting to the women of PCC because “the issues being addressed will determine the environment in which the women of PCC will live their lives. We are simply setting the stage for their act.” “The program has something for every woman, no matter where she is in her life,” said Laura Vallejo, con¬ ference co-chair. General admission is $6 and $3 for students and senior citizens. For more information call (818) 405-4373. Board Members In D.C. By Natalie Shore Special Correspondent Sent to the nation’s capital to discuss financial aid and other major issues on the community college agenda, three members of PCC’s trustee board par¬ ticipated in the national legislative seminar held in Washington D.C.’s Marriott Hotel February 22-24. President Susanna Miele, trustee Richard Green and student representa¬ tive Scott Svonkin attended the three- day conference, sponsored annually by the Association of Community Colleges Trustees (ACCTj. The conference united two-year college educators to network and review legislation affect¬ ing the community college system. We focused on student funding and vocational programs, said Green refer¬ ring to Pell Grants and Equal Op¬ portunity Programs (EOP). The conference opened by briefing educators on congressional priorities for community colleges. Seminars fol¬ lowed on the new G.I. Bill, job training, the insurance liability crisis, Pell Grants and student aid reforms. Educators also held state, committee, and leadership planning meetings be¬ tween conference seminars. Speakers included legislators who sit on education and budget subcommit¬ tees. Svonkin is one of a handful of student trustees who attended the conference, “mostly because student trustees have to pay their own way,” Svonkin said. “The ASB leaders helped me a pay for the ticket, but I’m paying for every¬ thing else. Registrations fees alone are $300.” But its worth the expense to have the students’ voice repesented, he said. Although the conference ended yes¬ terday, Svonkin is staying to meet indepedently with California legisla¬ tors to discuss state issues which affect students at home. ‘Courageous’ Gassman’s Get Award By Lolita B. Parker Jr. Staff Writer When Larry Shirk, program director KPCC-FM 89, asked twin brothers John and Larry Gassman to narrate KPCC’s coverage of the 97th Annual Tourna¬ ment of Roses Parade, they had no idea how much attention their coverage of the Pasadena tradition would generate. The Gassman’s, blind since birth, recently received the “Courageous Person of the Year Award” given by Major Market Radio. The brothers said, “We figured we’d get local press coverage on this, but we weren’t prepared for national recognition.” In preparation for the parade cov¬ erage that was beamed via satellite to 25 additional National Public Radio (NPR) stations, the Gassman’s visited float construction sites as early as November to collect “textural” data. With the assistance of float workers, the industrious brothers climbed over around and through the floats to get a “hands-on” perspective. The collection of this sensory material allowed the brothers to make comments during the parade such as, John: “This float used pompass grass in its construction.” Larry: “Oh, yeah, pompass grass, it feels like a horses mane.” “Blind people rely on their senses to guide them through life so it was only natural to provide this type of informa¬ tion for our listeners,” said Larry. For background they had been given some introductory materials on the parade, however, the pair decided they needed a more detailed description of the floats for their broadcast and subsequently had the parade script read to them in its entirety so they could encode it into braille themselves. It was during this time that Cable News Network (CNN) picked up their story, making the Gassmans instant media celebrities. It was this same CNN spot that sparked the attention of Warner Rush, president of Major Market Radio, a promotional and sales organization out of New York. “When I saw the Gassmans on CNN I knew they were the ideal candidates for our award. They exemplify our theme, “The Beauty of Radio.” The Gassmans were enthusiastically greeted at the award ceremonies and received a standing ovation for their achievements. The twins’ quick wit was in evidence that night. When Mike Disney handed Larry the plaque that was engraved as well as transcribed into braille, Disney com¬ mented, “Oh, excuse me, I handed it to you upside down.” Larry quickly re¬ plied, “How would I know,” with hu¬ mor typical of the brothers. However, when the joking was over, the Gassmans seemed genuinely touched by their reception. John listened and Larry followed the brailled transcrip¬ tion as Disney read the dedication on the plaque, “Major market radio salutes John and Larry Gassman for your contribution to the radio industry in providing listeners nationwide with a remarkable minds eye description of the 1987 Rose Parade. Your live cov¬ erage of this New Years’ day tradition allowed your many listeners to create their own pictures, smell, touch and feel of the parade... The true strength of radio.” The brothers got their start in radio at the Rio Hondo Junior College radio station KRHC. “We had a top 40 radio program and ran our own board for KRHC. We had always been interested in old time radio and in 1980 after coming on at KPPC as fill-in announc¬ ers. We eventually ended up with our own weekly show,” said Larry. Larry, the president of SPERVAC (Society to Preserve and Encourage Radio Drama, Variety and Comedy) and John are dedicated to keeping the spirit of old time radio alive in an age of visually oriented media. With 308 days left until Rose Parade 88 the Gassmans along with Shirk are already planning next years coverage. The Gassmans are on their way to becoming a Rose Parade tradition. KPPC Hosts from left Larty and John Gassman accept “Courageous Person’ Award from Mike Disney of Major Market Radio. The Award was given to the Gassman’s for their creative courage of the 97th Annual Rose Parade. Courier photo by Lolita B. Parker Jr. • NEWSLINE ••• NEWSLINE NEWSLINE • • Cultural Spot Open ASB President Steve R. Amezola’s appointment of a new Coordinator of Cultural Affairs was voted down by a four to two vote last Friday. Amezola said he interviewed seven applicants for the job. “I interviewed each appli- caant as outlined by the constitution and picked the person I felt t be the most qualified.” I chose the one who had the best interests of cultural stu¬ dents i mind, he said. Executive Vice Presdent Brendan O’Brien initiated the vote which de¬ feated Amazola’s candidate. He felt there were more qualified applicants. He suggested each applicant come to an AS meeting and apply to the entire board. Amezola objected saying “this was not the proceedure outlined by the constitution.” Amazola said he must conside the applicants GPA, their prior involvement with school activities, their current unit load and the results of an interview. Vice President of Student Services David M. Smith, also felt that having the applicants apply to the whole board would serve as a better way of picking the new coordinator. He would like to see the constitution changed to appoint canidates differently. The board’s vote leaves the position of Coordinator of Cultural Affairs still open. Applications will be accepted through Friday, March 6 and Amazola expects to have a new Cultural Coordi¬ nator by March 9. Hunger Forum Unites “Why — in a world awash in unsold grain — do half a billion people go hungry?” is the question addressed at a public meeting, Seeking Global Solu¬ tions to Chronic Hunger. The meeting will be held at the PPCC Forum on Tuesday, March 3, at 7:30 p.m. Spon¬ sored by the United Nations Associa¬ tion of Pasadena, the program will feature panelists James Bonner, Professor of Biochemistry, Emeritus, Caltech; Steve Lamy, Director of the Center for Public Education in Interna¬ tional Affairs, USC; Alan Sweezy, Professor of Economics, Emeritus, Caltech; James Weidman, Professor of Agriculture, Cal Poly Pomona. The moderator will be Larry Mantle, News Director of KPCC FM. “There is more to solving the prob¬ lem of hunger then foreign aid, rock concerts and holding hands across the country,” said Betty Stanford who is chairing the “Global Hunger” study. Stanford invites students, San Gabriel Valley residents and organiza¬ tions to participate in two months of study and discussion of food and agri¬ culture issues as part of a nation wide program initiated by the United Na¬ tions Association (UNA). According to Stanford, proposals gathered by the Pasadena chapter will be included in a report to be published by the National UNA and distributed to congress, the Administration and the United Nations leaders. A briefing book and other resources are available at the UNA Pasadena center at 723 E. Green St., Pasadena or for further information call (818) 447-1795. Fund Honors Miele The Woman’s Equity Forum will sponsor a luncheon to honor Susanna Miele, the first woman president of the Board of Trustees in the district’s 61 year history. Proceeds from the event will go toward a new Re-entry Scholar¬ ship Fund expected to be named for Miele. The fund will assist single parents, displaced homemakers and women in non-traditional careers who might otherwise be able the attend college. The luncheon will be held Tuesday, March 10 at noon in the campus center lounge. A $15 tax deduc¬ tible donation will reserve a seat; checks should be made payable to the PCC Foundation. Please RSVP to Beth Kaiama at (818) 578-7251 by Friday, Feb. 27. Explorer To Speak Tired of the “blahs?” Come and discover The High Road to Adventurous Living with explorer, arthor and adven¬ turer John Goddard. Presenting a dynamic and motovational approach to living, Goddard will lead you on a uniquely entertaining exploration of self-development that can inspire you to balance your life physically, emo¬ tionally and spiritually. An accomplished lecturer, he will show you how to manage your personal time with greater efficiency, free your¬ self from procrastination, and help you develop a fulfilling selfimage and a “winner” philosophy for your life. God¬ dard’s love of knowledge has led him into fascinating fields of study — from primitive societies to complex civiliza¬ tions and from tribal chiefs to chiefs of state. This special event, sopnsored by the PCC office of Community Education is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 27 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the PCC Forum. The coat is $25 and MasterCard and Visa are accepted. For information or reser¬ vations, please call (818) 578-7261.