Svonkin
Proposes New
Parking Plan
By Dan Stuart
Editor-In-Chief
Scott Svonkin, vice-president of stu¬
dent services, campaigned last fall on
the campus parking issue. He told
students that if he won, he would
pursue methods to remedy the parking
problem on campus. On Monday,
Svonkin takes the first major step
toward resolving the problem that has
haunted this campus for decades.
Svonkin is to meet with the Campus
Wide Parking Committee, which sets
the standards for parking on campus.
“Ail proposed changes have to go
through them first,” Svonkin said.
“I will present the idea of establish¬
ing a master plan to solve the parking
problem. If we plan carefully and go
about things in the right way, addi¬
tional parking could be offered as soon
as two years from now,” Svonkin said.
Svonkin has met with represent¬
atives from International Parking De¬
signs, Inc. “They are one of the largest
consultants and designers for parking
facilities in the state. They’ve helped
me to familiarize myself with some of
the more detailed aspects of the issue.”
Svonkin said there are two solutions
to the problem. The college may either
buy land to build flat lots, or may build
a multi-level structure on existing land.
Svonkin said, “The multi-level plan
would be more costly but tends to be
more convenient for students. How¬
ever, if we could acquire the land, I feel
the surface lot would be a better way to
go.”
At Monday’s meetin, Svonkin plans
to “recommend that the committee
look ahead at the future of the campus.
We must allow for growth. My role is to
help them establish a workable plan to
attack the problem. We will be able to
focus on the means of the solution.
Then we will look into seeking advice
on funding and design.”
Svonkin said that to build a flat lot of
2,000 stalls would cost in excess of $4
million. A multi-level project to
provide the same number of parking
spaces would cost at least $6 million.
Svonkin already has several ideas on
ways to obtain funding. “We can go into
the parking project with the city and
local businesses. The facility could be
used for a ‘park and ride’ program. The
lot could also bring in a great deal of
revenue for Rose Parade parking. Also,
we hope that the PCC Foundation will
be able to help in the process of
obtaining funds.”
According to Svonkin, once the de¬
sign has been selected and the funds
■\
have been raised, it would only take one
year to actually build the structure. “I
would hope that the city of Pasadena
could assist during the time of con¬
struction by eliminating parking re¬
strictions in the surrounding residen¬
tial areas for that year.
Svonkin said there were two reasons
that he took on this responsibility.
“First of all, the survey I conducted
made me aware that the students
wanted parking improvements, but felt
that the administration was not ad¬
dressing the issue seriously. Secondly,
since it is a campus issue, the student
government has been trying to devise
ways to tackle the issue. I really feel
that we can take some real action
towards resolving this problem.”
One major problem with members of
student government taking on the park¬
ing issue is time. Svonkin will only be in
office until June. At best, the parking
project will take at least two years to
complete. However, Svonkin offered a
solution to this situation, “I will be on
campus next year and will do all I can
to pass this issue along to the next vice-
president of student services. I will still
be very eager to help address this issue
whether or not I am a student govern¬
ment office.”
COURIER
VOL. 60, NO. 4 PASADENA CITY COLLEGE, PASADENA, CALIFORNIA MARCH 8,1985
Valery Belokurov
Soviet Speaker Addresses Arms Control
By Steven Salmon
Staff Writer
“The Soviet Union trys to support
countries making progressive move¬
ments,” said Valery Belokurov, mem¬
ber of the Soviet Vice Counsul in Los
Angeles, who was the Social Science
Department’s first guest speaker of the
semester. “We consider the actions of
Nicaragua to be a progressive move¬
ment, such as we did Cuba. The Soviet
Union will help Nicaragua to prevent
any forcing intervention.”
Belokurov brought with him a topic
which has been in American headlines
and the center of world interests for the
past decade: U.S. -Soviet relations on
arms controls. Voicing no personal
opinions, Belokurov strictly stayed
with the views of Soviet governmental
policies with the United States.
Belokurov focused mainly on the
problems of the escalating defense
budgets of both countries. The Russian
stated that the defense programs are
extremely bloated only because of their
efforts to keep up with the U.S. weap¬
onries and defense systems. The Soviet
official also proclaimed that the U.S.
was at fault of the widening problems
of the increasing military oriented gov¬
ernments throughout many countries in
the world.
“Each arms cycle is initiated by the
U.S.,” said Belokurov. He then went on
to say that the United States was the
first to introduce high powered nuclear
missiles and advanced military weap¬
ons and that the Soviet Union has only
followed the patterns set by the U.S.
“With the arms talks taking place in
Geneva in just a few days, the Soviet
Union will propose an arms decrease.
But if the U.S. does not try with us then
the talks will quickly, ’’said Belokurov.
"A nuclear freeze would not help re¬
duce nuclear warfare. The Soviets be¬
lieve that they must decraese weapons
if any progress is to made.”
Belokurov also stated that during the
past four years good foreign relations
between the two countries have de¬
clined primarily because of the Reagan
Administration and their attitudes
about nuclear warfare.
Foreign intervention was a topic
frequently talked about during the dis¬
cussion. One the main topics Belokurov
addressed was the issue of Soviet
troops occupying Afghanistan and the
reasons for their invasion.
“Before we (USSR) went into Af¬
ghanistan we had signed a ‘friendship
treaty’ which had a clause that allowed
them to ask for military aid whenever
needed. The U.S. news media often
misrepresents the Soviet Union,”
stated Belokurov. “When the Soviet
Union went into Afghanistan, it was to
help prevent invasions from Pakistan.
We have stated that the Soviet troops
that occupy Afghanistan are ready to
be removed immediately when the
Pakistinian government complies to
fair treaties with Afghanistan. Until
then the troops will probably remain
there
Throughout the discussion,
Belokurov rarely spoke on other topics
besides the military unless questions
directed him otherwise. Belokurov ap¬
peared to be very enthusiastic on the
prevention of nuclear arms throughout
the world and the efforts that have been
made to do so.
The PCC Social Science Department
provides speakers who are recognized
as experts in their field to discuss
different topics.
“The U.S. media often misrepresents the Soviet Union.”
—Valery Belokurov
Foundation to Hold 'Research Party'
Permit Lot to be Converted to Pay
By Sister Mary Scully
Staff Writer
The west side student parking lot 1 on Hill Street and
Colorado Blvd. near the tennis courts will be changed from
a permit parking lot ($20.00 per semester) to a daily fee
parking lot for 50 cents each use.
Officer Joseph Daum, a member of the PCC Safety
Department said, “The purpose of making the change is to
use the parking lot spaces more efficiently and to assure the
maximum use of the lots throughout each semester. 2,500
permits are issued. After the change, fewer permits will be
issued but more students will be accommodated.
At the beginning of each semester, the permit lots are
filled to capacity but half-way through the semester, the
permit lots are less and less populated. When discussing the
matter, Daum said, “Often, students holding permits drop
out of school completely or drop classes but do not notify the
PCC Safety Department. As a result, permit lots remain
empty and permits can not be resold .The parking lot fee
money will go back into the school fund for the maintenance
of the lots after salaries are paid.”
In a student survey, dealing with the parking lot policy
change, an art major, Patricia Leach said, “It is important
to have a fuller use of the space so that more people can park
closer to the school campus. It would benefit to open more
available spaces to fee parking since the existing fee lot is
full by 8 a.m. If a student has a 9 a.m. class, he must arrive
an hour earlier in order to park on the campus.”
It is difficult to determine with absolute accuracy the
balance between permit parking and daily fee parking, but
the arrangement offered is an attempt to solve the current
problem, Daum said.
Throughout the history of PCC, students have had prob¬
lems parking their cars. In the Pasadena Junior College
(PJC) Chronical, the school newspaper dated March 12, 1947,
the Associate Student Body President Jack Lamp an¬
nounced, “Parking is the greatest problem facing our
student body today.”
attended PCC in the past 60 years.
However, there are only records on 600
alumni. “This is a serious problem and
weakness in the development office,”
said Kirk. “We would like to see this
change and locate as many former
students as possible. We hope to build
the spirit for future years and become
an annual function. The reunion is not
only for graduates, but for all students
who have attended the college at one
time.”
Everyone is invited to the “research
party,” which will be held in the
library, and they are urged to bring
current names, addresses, and phone
numbers of former students. According
to Joanne Kim, director of library
services, “The PCC Patrons and
Parents Association is holding this
event and will spend the day looking
through past yearbooks, phone directo¬
ries, and address books."
Continuing with the activities for the
60th anniversary, the PCC Foundation
is holding its first fundraising drive
now by receiving donations. The goal
has been set at $60,000 with donations of
$6, $60, $600, or $6,000. Persons con¬
tributing to the fundraiser will be
recognized as 60th Anniversary Charter
Doners.
“The fund drive will give former
students the opportunity to be involved
and show their support in the 60th
celebration,” said Kirk.
According to Louis Creveling, PCC
Foundation director, “If only a small
fraction contributes, PCC can continue
to offer a good education and profes¬
sional training to people of all ages in
our community.”
By Diane Brandes
Feature Editor
Students, staff, friends and faculty
will gather together March 16 from 9
a.m. to 1 p.m. for a “research party” in
order to locate as many former PCC
Alumni as possible.
The purpose of this function, accord¬
ing to Henry P. Kirk, vice president
and assistant to the president, is to
build a mailing list of all past students
so they can be invited to the college’s
first all-class picnic/ reunion to be held
on Saturday, June 1.
“Because we have been celebrating
the 60th anniversary, I thought it would
be nice to get everyone who has at¬
tended the college together to to help
celebrate this event,” said Kirk. “The
Patrons Association offered to help,
and set up the research party and
activities. We have never had a reunion
before and I think it will be a great
success.”
According to Kirk, there have been
at least one million people who have
NEW LOOK — The campus Art Gallery reopened this week, featuring the works of a variety of artists as
scheduled by gallery director Kay Yee.
VALERY BELOKUROV
— News Briefs —
The Foothill Family YMCA, 2750
New York Dr. in Pasadena, is looking
for interested individuals 17 and older
to volunteer as camp leaders as its
residence camp located in the San
Bernadino Mountains. Camp leaders
will be responsible for a group of 8-10
campers between the ages of 7-12.
Activities include swimming, horse¬
back riding, archery and more. The
resident camp will run from August
10-17. For more information call (818)
798-0862.
The Council on International Educa¬
tional Exchange, the largest student
travel organization in the US, has
published the ‘1985 Student Travel
Catalog.’ The 64-page Catalog is one of
the most comprehensive, free travel
guides available. It provides helpful
information on the basics of traveling,
studying and working abroad. Interna¬
tional Volunteer Projects, the Statue of
Liberty/Ellis Island Volunteer Project,
a travel planner and general travel
information are included in the catalog.
To obtained by writing to CIEE, Dept.
STC ‘85, 205 East 42nd St., New York,
NY, 10017, or by phoning (212) 661-1414.
The Hill Avenue Branch of the Pasa¬
dena Public Library will be closed until
March 9 for repairs and rehabilitation
of the building, including new wiring
and upgraded electrical service and
plumbing lines.