PCC Courier, March 16, 1989

Sarafian Dies; Services Today in Forum ‘The fact he still lingers in the minds of the faculty is indicative of the mark he’s left. ’ — Dr. John Gregory By Margie Goodhart Editor-in-Chief Dr. Armen Sarafian, former PCC president, died of a massive heart at¬ tack at the age of 68 last Saturday night. He was stricken during the final se¬ conds of the Big West Conference game in Long Beach. Sarafian collapsed seconds before the buzzer sounded, declaring the 68-62 victory for University of Nevada-Las Vegas over New Mexico State. Twenty minutes was spent on resuscitation attempts at the scene, Sarafian was then taken to St. Mary Medical Center where he died three hours later at 8:25 p.m. Sarafian was a longtime friend of Las Vegas coach (and former PCC coach) Jerry Tarka- nian. He planned to visit with Tarka- nian and his wife Lois after the game. “He came to the game just to see me,” said Tarkanian. “We talked before the game, and I told him I would meet him after the game. It’s a real shock.” Sarafian started with the Pasadena district as a teacher in 1947 and served as administrative dean of instruction at PCC from 1959 to 1965. He served as president of the college from 1965 until March 6, 1976. “He was responsible for the major growth period here,” said Tony Georgilas, associate professor of com¬ munications. “He brought PCC out of the junior college status into the ranks of a community college. He devised the pattern for PCC where the student is at the center, and the faculty, staff and administration’s function is to serve the student. However, he insisted that the students must fulfill their commit¬ ments.” Sarafian is responsible for founding EOPS, the college work/study pro¬ gram, and he was instrumental in ob¬ taining the title grants for the U build¬ ing, which is the only building of its kind dedicated soley to the field of nursing. “He knew everybody,” Georgilas said, and he inspired and guided many students, including Jaime Escalante, math teacher from Garfield High School. When Escalante was a student at PCC, Sarafian encouraged and directed his education. “I could not continue my education because I had to master the language,” Escalante said. “He told me if you put more emphasis on this, you’ll do it. You have the potential.” Sarafian’s encouragement helped Escalante achieve the success which is the subject of the motion picture, Stand and Deliver. After leaving PCC, Sarafian served as the president of the University of La Verne from 1975 to 1985. Until his death, he was the chancellor of the Peralta Community College district in Northern California. He was recently appointed by Gov. George Deukmejian to serve on a special state committee involving secondary education. Dr. Esther Davis, who established PCC’s journalism department during Sarafian’s tenure, said, “Armen Sara¬ fian dedicated his life to being an educator — an educator of youth. His contribution to the education of college men and women has made the world of each of us a better world.” “The man had vision,” said Dr. John Gregory, professor of communications. “For example, due to his leadership and energy, the Southern California Consortium for Television was established to broadcast televised courses for college credit. While others early on rejected the idea, he volun¬ teered PCC to produce the first series, the Emmy winning, The History of Art (a program of 19 one-hour segments produced by Gregory). This has developed into the on-the-air curricula we have today. “ This is just a sample of his willing¬ ness to be innovative. He was never afraid to take the initiative. He was goal oriented, and the goal was always for the enhancement of the instruction for the students to whom he was very close, ‘ ‘The fact he still lingers in the minds of the faculty is indicative of the mark he’s left. His shadow has touched all who have come in contact with him.” Gregory said. Memorial services will be held today in the Forum at 2 p.m. Instead of flowers, those who wish can honor Sarafian by contributing to the Armen Sarafian Memorial Scholarship at the college. Photo Courtesy of Star News Armen Sarafian COURIER VOL. 68. NO. 4 PASADENA CITY COLLEGE. PASADENA, CALIFORNIA March 16, 1989 The paper-filled office of Tony Georgilas, associate professor of com munications, was the site of a suspected arson attempt last Friday. Arsonist Strikes Match To Paper-Filled Office By Richard L. Frederick Staff Writer A fire in a paper filled office, C120, was contained by the quick action of William Logan, associate professor of speech at 10:40 a.m. Friday. “If this fire got going we would have had a big problem.” said Sgt. Barbara Keith, of campus security. “The fire was a torch job caused by someone who came into Tony Georgilas’ office,” said Logan. “I heard someone, I smelled smoke, stood up and saw flames above the cubicle wall. I ran to the sink across the hall and filled a waste basket with water. The fire was down after two trips, so I called security who extinguished the blaze.” Arson is the listed cause in the report filed by campus security officer, Leroy Henderson in which he states, “Unknown person entered office cubi¬ cle area and set fire to papers.” Tony Georgilas, associate professor of communications, in whose office the blaze occured, was in class at the time. “I have no idea who would start this, I have no enemies, Georgilas said. Anyone seeing someone in the hall near C120 between 10:30 to 10:45 a.m. please call or send an anonymous letter to the Courier. No student or grade records were damaged but some scripts were burned and some books damaged.” The fire has already had repercus¬ sions, Michael Bloebaum, chairman of the communication dept., issued a directive March 10 on the subject of security, “All instructor’s office-areas must be cleared of excessive paper, books, equipment, videotape. ...in com¬ pliance with state fire codes that prohibit all excessive combustibles in public buildings.” ‘‘Part of the blame is due to negliance with the outside door unlocked, and the cubicle doors are not secure. The drinking fountain has not worked in 20 years, so I had to run across the hall to a sink. It was God’s will I was here on Friday,” said Logan. The newly installed $500,000 fire alarm annunciator system didn’t go off accouring to Sgt. Keith who said the system “Would only be activated if the fire got going.” Ernest W. Church, director of facilities, said, “I haven’t been in¬ formed of the fire and will check into it.” Poets To Pen for Spring Honors By Janet Jarvits Staff writer Do you write essays, poems or short stories? If so, you have the opportunity to enter your works in the English Department’s spring Literary Competi¬ tion. Submissions must be turned into the English department Office in C217, before April 28. Unless you requested otherwise, the works will be considered for publication in the next Inscape Magazine. English department faculty members judge submissions for literary merit. The department requests students use a pseudonym on their manuscripts. “This hopefully ensures that previous impressions or expectations of a person won’t color the judging.” Inscape Edi¬ tor Jeanne Clark said. Authors whose work is rated superior will be invited to the English Department awards tea, where students will meet the faculty and receive a gift certificate. Coordinator Faye Chandler stresses that the process is not a contest. “Awards are judged on the basis of literary merit. Students are recognized for excellence, not ranked first, second, third and so on.” Chandler deemed feedback from educated sources the most important element the competi¬ tion offers. Once faculty members judge the manuscripts, students enrolled in the Inscape class consider the manuscripts for publication in the magazine. Last year of the 422 manuscripts considered by Inscape for publication half were from the literary competition. By the time a manuscript reaches the Male Flasher Eludes Campus Police Force By Hugh Armel Staff Writer There have been seven reported cases of indecent exposure and lewd conduct at PCC since September. Cur¬ rently there is only one offender that has eluded the PCC police. A male of hispanic descent is the subject campus police Investigator Ralph Evans reports has been involved in three different cases of indecent ex¬ posure. According to PCC police reports, this man is approximately 25-35 years old, five feet nine inches tall, 150 lbs., brown eyes, brown hair, a mustache, and a slight build. This man has been seen in the library and in a campus parking lot. As for the other six cases, all have been men exposing themselves or con¬ ducting themselves unacceptably in public. They were identified by their victims from a photo line up assembled by Evans. All of these cases have been referred to the city prosecutor for legal action. At least two of these cases will be filed under felony charges. These two cases involve individuals who have been convicted for these same charges at least once before. Locations involved in these crimes include the library, the women’s gym, the mirror pools, and the parking lots. Evans feels that there may be more victims, but they are too fearful or em¬ barrassed to make a report. Evans asks that anyone who has been victimized to contact the campus police in CC 108, or call 578-7484. Even if the information is dated, it may still be useful. Noted Director To Be on Site By Michael Rocha Feature Editor Sylvia Morales, an award-winning producer, writer and director, will speak on the Chicana woman’s place in society, and her 1979 film La Chicana will be presented free to the public in the Forum on March 23 from noon to 1 p.m. Her film and lecture is being pre¬ sented as an educational medium designed to present cultural heritage of Latinas in a positive manner. La Chicana is a documentary film on the history of the Mexican woman from pre-Columbian time to 1979. Morales produced, directed and wrote this film on Mexican history. A 20-year veteran of the entertain¬ ment industry, Morales graduated Cum Laude from Cal State University at Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Motion Picture. She then pursued a master’s in Motion Picture at UCLA. Morales said that in the many years she has been in the business, she has not seen major changes in the way minorities are accepted in the field of entertainment. If there were changes, they were “incremental,” she said. Her most recent work is a 1988 docu¬ mentary she produced, wrote and directed called “Sida is AIDS,” a one hour documentary that deals with how Latinos are coping with AIDS in the United States. She also produced and directed Los Lobos...And A Time To Dance, a half- hour documentary on the gifted East Los Angeles band. In the Ohio Interna¬ tional Film & Video Festival, Los Lobos...And A Time To Dance won the Chris Bronze Award for a cultural documentary. In 1986 Morales received the City of Los Angeles Salute to Latinas Award for her work in the field of entertain¬ ment. end of both processes, it has been judged by both staff and students. As Clark noted, “It’s a two for the price of one deal.” Authors who want on to do well in the literary world after receiving honors in the literary competition in¬ clude Harriet Abels and Eve Bunting. Bunting has written more than 140 books for children and young adults, including The Big Cheese. Abels is also a professional writer. Thirteen of her titles for young adults are currently in print. To enter the Spring literary competi¬ tion, type each entry on one side of white paper. Each poem requires a separate page. Use a pseudonym on the typed manuscript and paper -clip a three-by-five inch card with the name of each submission followed by legal name, address and phone number to the manuscript. Contact Faye Chandler in Room C-247 for further information. Film Seminar A seminar for those interested in learning techniques for breaking into the film and video industry will be held on Saturday, April 22 at the PCC Forum. The event is being sponsored by PCC and the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), and is designed for students graduating in film and/or video tape operations and engineering. Topics to be covered are: Career Preparation, Resume and Cover Letter Preparation, Interview Techniques, Principles of Unions, Events of the Industry (see and be seen), and an Industry Success Panel discussion with recently hired students. Guest speakers will include John Flynn, NBC; Joe Keane, PCC; Bob Matheson, Armed Services Radio and Television Service; Sean Omatsu, an independent producer; and Woody Owens, motion picture cinematographer. The seminar will be held from 9 a.m. — 5 p.m., with registration beginning at 8 a.m. The cost for the seminar will be $20. To register, or for more information call: (818) 578-7216. Early registration is advised. Local Women Honored The Re-entry Program and the California Humanities Project are sponsor¬ ing a reception honoring outstanding women in the Pasadena community. The event will be held in the Pasadena City College Circadian on Tuesday, March 21 from 4-6 p.m. Jessie Magdalena Lopez, Rei Osaki, Gerda Steel, and Denise Wood are the women being honored. A silent auction of dinners for two (in the Pasadena area) will be awarded. An announcement of photo and essay contest winners will be made. The PCC faculty, staff, students and members of the community are welcome. For any additional information call Beth or Lorraine at 578-7086. St. Patrick’s Dance The luck of the Irish is coming to PCC on Friday, March 17. No, not the Notre Dame football team but the International Club’s St. Patrick’s Dance. The International Club consists of PCC students who come from coun¬ tries throughout the world, as well as the United States. The purpose of the club is to expose the members to different cultures and people, as well as to make friends. The money raised by the dance will help members pay for a model United Nations trip to Seattle, Washington later this year, and help start a scholarship fund. The club also has plans to sponsor an inter-cultural show in April in which different groups from the community will participate and display various cultural dances, customs and rituals. The dance begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Student Lounge and tickets are $4 pre-sale, or $5 at the door. If you are interested in joining the International Club you can pick up an application in the Career Center. Financial Assistance PCC students living on their own, single parents and any students finan¬ cially responsible for themselves can now get assistance with their income taxes through the Student Center. The Student Center is sponsoring a tax workshop on Wednesday, March 8 at noon and again on Thursday, March 9 at 5:30 p.m. in room CC202 for anyone in need of help. If you’re unable to make it on these dates, simply go to the center for an appointment to help clarify any questions you might have with this complicated subject of income tax. You might even be entitled to more money or benefits than you are currently getting. The deadline for filing your income taxes is April 15, so please attend or make an appointment to prevent any penalities for faulty reporting or late filing of your taxes.