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City
College
Pasadena
Opinion
Gas Prices: The
public’s outlook on
driving continues
to shift.
Page
5»
Volume 98, Issue 1
“The Independent Student Voice of PCC, Serving Pasadena Since 1915.”
Thursday, July 17, 2008
~ arca c
Alexandra Bayardo
/
Courier
Troubled Indymac Bank was flooded with customers attempting to withdraw their assets
this week, drawing local and national media.
PCC Funds
Not Affected
By Bank Bust
Charles Digal
Web Editor
Despite the federal takeover of the
Pasadena-based mortgage lender IndyMac by
the FDIC, PCC’s funds and investments
remain secure and unharmed amidst the
financial institution’s recent collapse, officials
said.
“Right now [there is] no overt effect,” said
Vice President of Administrative Services
Kindred Murillo. “Our funds are held in the
L.A. County Office of Education Treasury.
We don’t have any money at risk as far as I
know.”
Through the L.A. County Treasury, PCC is
fully insured, according to Murillo.
Murillo also stated that in a recent board
meeting, trustees and administrators did not
address any impact on the school created by
IndyMac’s failure.
Murillo’s biggest concern, however, is for
the students and families that may be affect¬
ed.
“We [will] try to help them with financial
aid in case they didn’t need it before by mak¬
ing sure those services are available,” Murillo
said.
Since the FDIC seized the bank Friday,
IndyMac customers have been anxiously
awaiting the status of their assets.
Hundreds of angered investors lined up at
IndyMac’s headquarters to be greeted with
police patrol and incomplete answers, result¬
ing in more worries. Some customers were
forced to return another day due to limited
help from bankers.
Deposits up to $100,000 will be fully
insured, government officials said Tuesday.
The FDIC has also said that it will pay
customers an “advanced dividend” equal to
50 percent of uninsured deposits.
USA Today’s Sandra Block reports that
the FDIC will not make any more addition¬
al payments until they sell the rest of
IndyMac’s assets.
With the FDIC identifying at least 90 insti¬
tutions as “problem banks,” Murillo said the
school would be cautious with investment
activities.
The problem, she said, is not having money
in a bank but, how easily and unknowingly
banks may collapse.
“We’re going to look at what we’ve got
[and] not [invest] in an ‘endangered bank,”’
Murillo said.
Murillo keeps track of the school’s money
every day, a process that starts at 5 a.m. by
keeping herself updated with reports from
several publications.
Cell Phone Driving Law Will Be Enforced at PCC
Ryan Nunez
Staff Writer
PCC parking lots, structures and
driveways will not be immune to the
new law requiring California drivers
to use hands-free headsets while
operating a vehicle.
The law, which went into effect on
July 1, also prohibits minors from
using any type of wireless devices
while driving, except in emergency
situations.
While the law will be enforced in
all driving areas on campus, Lt.
Brad Young of the PCC Police
Department said parking lot cadets
cannot and will not be enforcing the
law.
When asked if the PCC board
had made an official request for a
crackdown on campus, Lt. Young
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Shim Kim and Bridget
Mroczkowski. Page
8»
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answered with an emphatic,
"Absolutely not. Not a word."
Students should know that
Senate Bill 1613 prohibits drivers
(not passengers) from using hand¬
held cell phones on California's
roadways.
Hands-free devices such as blue¬
tooth headsets will still be allowed.
Push-to-talk features will not be
exceptions.
The new law imposes a fine of
$20 for a first offense and $50 for
each additional offense.
The violation is a reportable
offense and will go on drivers’ DMV
records, however, the DMV will not
assign a violation point. Police offi¬
cers are allowed to pull over drivers
solely for this offense.
There are a few exceptions to the
law.
The law allows a driver to use a
wireless telephone to make emer¬
gency calls to a law enforcement
agency, a medical provider or the
fire department.
The new law also permits the use
of a speakerphone, and dialing is
permitted as well.
While the law does not specifi¬
cally prohibit texting, the DMV is
quick to assert that officers can still
issue a citation if, in the officer's
opinion, the driver was distracted
and was not operating the vehicle
safely.
The only way to be completely
safe from a citation, according to
Lt. Young, is to, “have your ear¬
piece on before starting your vehi¬
cle. That's the only sure way. "
Photo Illustration by Blaine Hu
PCC students will not be able to escape the new cell phone law when
they are driving on campus.
Lancer Life
Summer Dresses:
Students sport
trendy sun dresses on
campus. Page
7»
