OPINION
FEATURES
SPORTS
It is every student’s responsibility
to vote.
Page 2
Beatlemania hits the campus once
again as members of the Backbeat
return for an encore show.
Page5
Football team loses third
straight game to Rancho
Santiago, 30-21.
Page 6
PASADENA CITY COLLEGE
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
VOL. 80 No. 10
"COURIER
Serving the Pasadena Community since 1915
THURSDAY
November 3, 1994
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
AS member
reinstated after
three absences
By GILBERT RIVERA
COURIER STAFF WRITER
The Associated Students (AS)
Board voted 4-1-0 during a special
meeting yesterday to reinstate the
coordinatorofcampusactivi ties, who
previously had been removed from
office after violating attendance
rules.
Janelle Gonzales, a member of
the AS since last year, broke the rules
after having three unexcused ab¬
sences this fall.
According to attendance by-laws,
no officer may miss more than two
unexcused meetings per semester
and no more than three total ab¬
sences per semester. The rule also
states that no officer may have more
than a total of three unexcused ab¬
sences per academic year and no
more than four total absences per
year.
As a consequence, Gonzales will
only be allowed one more excused
absence for the year. One more
absence, excused or unexcused for
the remainder of this semester, would
mean dismissal from the AS Board.
“The attendance rules were very
clear to me,” said Gonzales. “ I over¬
looked those rules and took them for
granted. But I think that the board
really hasn’t looked at those rules
and I think we should go over them
more often.”
Robert Bowman, AS president,
replied, “We’re adults. We don’t
need babysitters. If you take on this
responsibility as an officer, you bet¬
ter come to your office hours and to
the meetings. If you don’t, then you
should resign.”
“I think Janelle is very lax in her
duties,” said DeVena Johnson, who
voted against reinstating Gonzales.
“Homecoming was her major project
and she didn’t do anything towards
that. I was on the homecoming court
and we had to pick up a lot of the
slack. I don’t think that the board
should have been as lenient as they
were.
“If the AS were a major corpora¬
tion and we were making money, I
wouldn’t put her on my board,” she
added. Johnson also said that be¬
cause Gonzales sat on the board last
year, she couldn’t have overlooked
the attendance policy.
Cesar Loera, coordinator of cul¬
tural affairs, said in defense of
Gonzales that the board should be
reminded [by the AS adviser] of how
many absences each officer has and
should be warned if one is in jeapordy
of violating the attendance policy.
“She contributed a lot last year
and she’s done a lot this year,” said'
Loera. “Everybody has taken the
policy for granted. I guess she was
caught first.”
According to Carrie Afuso, AS
adviser, the board will discuss at its
next meeting a plan to change the AS
by-laws regarding attendance at
emergency and special meetings. She
pointed out that some board meet¬
ings have encountered difficulties
rearranging their schedules for the
last-minute sessions. Emergency
meetings require only 24 hours prior
notice, while special meetings call
for 72 hours advance notice. Pro¬
posed changes on attendance policy
for these meetings would have to be
approved by two-thirds of the board
before they can be implemented.
Children from the Child Development Center
eagerly anticipate the arrival of Ronald McDonald.
Princesses and ghosts visit campus on Halloween
By DENIS WANG
COURIER STAFF WRITER
Children and parents dressed in Hal¬
loween costumes visited the PCC campus
Monday morning as they embarked on a
trick or treat journey, sponsored annually
by the Associated Student (AS). They
later watched Ronald McDonald perform
magic tricks and joined him for a Happy
Meal picnic in front of the Shatford Li¬
brary.
Barbara Arnold, coordinator of PCC’s
Child Development Center, said the staff
of the center organized this event with the
help of the AS, who has provided this
occasion every Halloween for the past
four years.
“The AS has been very helpful by
taking the initiative to help our families
find a fun and safe way for our children to
go trick or treating,” she said.
This year’s event opened the campus
to 42 children, aged 2 to 5, chaperoned by
a group of 23 adults, composed mostly of
parents. They met at 9:30 a.m. in front of
the planetarium before dividing into two
groups of 21 children each who strolled
through PCC following a mapped route
prepared by AS.
Children dressed as Power Rangers,
pumpkins, witches, dalmatians, monsters,
and in other diverse outfits first visited the
campus lounge, where student affairs as¬
sistant Leah Pastis handed out bags full of
toys and small children’s books. Arnold
emphasized that treats given to the chil¬
dren were nutritious and not filled with
sugar.
According to Arnold, who led one of
the groups, one advantage of this activity
was the chance children have to see where
their parents go to school. Besides, this
trick or treat stroll shows one of the many
activities the center offers to its children.
“This is a great way for the kids to learn
about Halloween. They see the fun and
exciting part of school and get the chance
to socialize a little bit,” said Beth Chapa,
a nursing major, as she held her 4 year-
old ’ s hand. Asked if this was her first time
trick or treating, Chapa’s daughter Roch¬
elle nodded with a smile.
Robert Bowman, AS president, also
walked with the children as they paraded
through the campus.
“This event has provided good morale
to the campus in general. The staff and
faculty seem to be more excited than the
children; they called me repeatedly to
make sure the kids were coming,” he said.
Bowman added that this year's Hallow¬
een trick or treat event cost approximately
$200. AS funded the activity out of the
$1000 account that it establishes every
year for the child development center to
buy crayons, chalk, and other supplies.
Funds for other activities celebrating
Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and other
major holidays also come from this ac¬
count.
Bowman also commended McDonald's
for providing 55 Happy Meals at no charge.
The company also sent Ronald McDonald
to the event. However, the company
mascot showed up 45 minutes late, caus¬
ing some distress among hungry and im¬
patient children in the crowd.
The children ended their adventure
shortly after lunch and were escorted back
to the center aboard a yellow school bus
also provided by A$.
The Child Development Center not only
cares for children of students and faculty,
but also provides training for all students
majoring in early childhood education.
Next to numerous student volunteers, a
staff of 19 paid workers serve approxi¬
mately 90 children each day. The facility
teaches workers and aspiring teachers how
to educate children.
“This is very helpful to me,” said
Ngobich Tran, who is majoring in child¬
hood education. “This is my first Hallow¬
een with the children and I’m really ex¬
cited.”
Tran participated to complete 200 hours
of field practice so that she can get her
A.A. and transfer.
“Working with the children at the cen¬
ter is the best experience you can get. You
cannot learn otherwise,” said Rebecca
Tristan, a student volunteer at the center.
Diet de los muertos celebrates heritage
The altar built by Art 8 students contains memorabilia honoring the dead. An Aztec dancer performs during the program.
By RAYARMENDARIZ
and ANA PERALTA
COURIER STAFF WRITERS
Happiness and celebration
aren ’ t the first things that come to
mind when talking about death.
But in the Mexican celebration of
Dia De Los Muertos (Day of The
Dead) , it is a tradition of joyously
honoring and remembering those
who have passed on. It’s a cel¬
ebration of life.
$tudents in Art 8, along with
art students from El Camino Col¬
lege, held the fourth annual Dia
de Los Muertos last Tuesday.
The celebration is rooted from
ancient Mexican tradition.
Theartwork which was all done
by the students, included coffins,
an altar and a sand painting by
sand artist, Jordan.
Students worked hard on the
artwork in their spare time, usu¬
ally on weekends from morning
until til night said Tina Ceballos.
The nine coffins represented
Mexican artists, including Frida
Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and
Clemente Orozco. The altar deco¬
rated with sugar skulls, flowers,
candles, bread, mementos and
pictures, honored the memory of
the departed. Among the pictures
of the departed, was the late activ¬
ist Cesar Chavez.
“I think it’s beautiful,” said Maria
Elena Chavez of her uncle’s por¬
trait.
“It’s really great because it helps
people see that just because he has
passed on, it doesn’t mean he’s for¬
gotten. In a way it’s kind of ironic. It
seems that people are actually doing
more to pay tribute to him for his
work, unfortunately it happens when
people pass on,” she said.
The sand painting which dates
back to pre-Columbian times, repre¬
sents life as being temporary and the
images come from Mixtec ideology.
The sun and the moon symbolized
the cycle of life. The skulls on the
sacred temple symbolize fertility;
when someone dies a new life be¬
gins, explained Jordan.
As students worked on the sand
painting, spectators watched and
complimented their efforts. “It’s a
beautiful cultural piece of work,”
said Robert Bowman, Associated
Students president.
“I think that Denise Lugo and her
Art 8 students, as well as the El
Camino students, have done a ter¬
rific job in i presenting Dia de Los Artjst “Renee” works on the huge sand painting in the Quad.
Muertos, Bowman said.
Students were so into the event that some who were
not in the Art 8 class helped out with the sand painting.
Violet Medina who was head producer of last years’
Dia de Los Muertos celebration, said she helped
because she loved the experience.
“I think it is really important to commemorate our
Please see MUERTOS, Page 5
AS Board roll call
Absences:
Georgine
Bowman
Herrera
Johnson
Chu
Loera
none
1 (excused)
1 (excused)
none
none
Koo
Gonzales
Le
2 (1 excused)
2
3
none
SOURCE: Student Affairs Office
Trick or Treat
