^^^^1 Pasadena City College
Courier
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July 21, 2011
Smaller
paychecks
irk faculty
Error in withholding federal and
state taxes affects more than 200.
Natalie Sehn Weber
Web Editor
Full-time faculty who teach summer intersession
classes received a big shock in their July 8 payroll
checks. Additional state and federal taxes — up to 150
percent of the federal and 250 percent of the state —
had been deducted, said Roger Marheine, president
of the Faculty Association.
"Grossly excessive federal and state taxes [had
been] withheld," Assistant English Professor
Marheine told faculty in an e-mail on July 13.
The Los Angeles County Office of Education
(LACOE), which processes faculty payroll checks,
confirmed Wednesday that PCC can "run a verifica¬
tion report" to determine the withholding differences,
according to Interim Vice President of administrative
services, Richard van Pelt in an e-mail to Marheine on
Wednesday.
Van Pelt's response followed several e-mail com¬
munications between Marheine, van Pelt, and Payroll
Supervisor Margaret K. Ory.
According to Ory, the tax-withholding mistake had
been "due to a clerical error on the part of the Payroll
Office," she explained to Marheine on July 15.
The July 8 paychecks had been processed using a
method that withheld more taxes than expected by
full-time faculty who are accustomed to being paid 12
times a year, she said.
Ory assured faculty that it was a one-time mistake
Continued on page 7
Football coach's
lawsuit against
PCC progresses
?
Scene
Lancers
prepare for
upcoming
seasons
Page
4»
Volume 104, Issue 1
/4s the temperature continues to
rise all over the county, PCC stu¬
dents have been forced to adjust
in a myriad ways. Above, the sun
shimmers off the administration
building. At right, Brianna
Magana, 20, English, attempts to
beat the heat Monday by using
the shade of one of the many
trees peppered all over the quad.
Photos by Max Perez/Courier
The new 'hot spot'
Campus copes with summer heat
Justin Clay
| Staff Writer
With another summer intersession
: under way, PCC is once again bustling
j with busy bodies trying to cope with the
heat.
The Centers for Disease Control warns
about the dangers of heat stress during
the summer months.
According to the CDC, extreme heat
can cause heat stroke, heat exhaustion
and can also increase the chance of
injuries due to things like dizziness and
bums when coming into contact with
extremely hot surfaces.
Types of heat stress include, heat
cramps, rashes or more serious ailments
such as heat syncope, which can cause
dizziness or even fainting, due to pro¬
longed heat exposure.
The most serious consequence of pro¬
longed heat exposure is heat stroke,
which occurs when the body is unable to
regulate its temperature. Heat stroke can
cause permanent disability or even be
fatal if not treated immediately.
With temperatures expected to stay
hot throughout July, students and staff at
PCC are constantly trying to find ways to
keep cool.
"I try not to go outside unless I
absolutely have to," said David Villescas,
21, teaching.
"All of my classes are air conditioned
and when I'm not at school, I try to relax
at home with a cold beer," he said.
Daniel Martin, 24, English, is another
who has chosen to retreat indoors to
escape the harsh rays of the sun.
"I spend most of my time in the library
or in the student lounge," he said.
"I also drink plenty of water through¬
out the day."
Some students find somewhat uncon¬
ventional ways to keep themselves in a
cool place.
"I try to take extra shifts at work so
that I can be in the air conditioned
office," said Allyssa Martinez, 24,
English.
"Not only do I get to stay cool during
the hottest months of the year, but I make
Continued on page 7
Sara Medina
Editor-in-Chief
A new hearing in the lawsuit filed by former PCC
football coach James Kuk against PCC's District will
be held on Tuesday at 8:30 a.m.
A previous hearing was held July 14 and, according
to court documents filed on July 14 and 15, next
week's hearing will address several items.
One of those items will be the "demurrer" that the
district filed, which formally objects to Kuk's original
lawsuit, filed on January 21.
Furthermore, the hearing set for Tuesday will also
address Kuk's "motion to quash," which argues
against PCC's claims.
"The facts alleged in [Kuk's first amended com¬
plaint] are adequately plead, with sufficient certainty
and substance, to meet the pleading standards of this
state and they are not barred by any prior legal
action," states Kuk's July 14 document.
Kuk's attorneys John Nam and Michael Anderson
Continued on page 7
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PCC Gallery
Art students
show off
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Discounts
Bookstore
strikes deal
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