PCC Courier, November 15, 2001

The Powers of Campus Police see page 4 Two Months Later: NYC Revisited see page 5 Men’s Soccer Advances in Playoffs see page 10 COURIER Since 1 915 VOL. 87 N0.12 www.pcc-courieronline.com NOVEMBER 15, 2001 On Campus Summer Science Program for Teens By Aaron Harris Staff Writer If you think that science is just for stuffy old guys in lab jackets, think again. The PCC Math/Science Upward Bound Program is trying to change that image for good. The program, which began in 1996, is an effort by educators and NASA to get students interested in the sciences. Initially it began with a grant from NASA. The grant was used to help children in grades four through six from the Pasadena area become exposed to the worlds of science and technology. The program was a success, however the students who were getting older and graduating from grammar school still needed and wanted more exposure to science. That’s when current Program Director Dr. Joe Conner, Ted James and Dr. James Kosmicki, all instructors at PCC, became involved. They rewrote the grant to include students from the four mid¬ dle schools in the Pasadena Unified School District. The entire program has evolved into different entities, each one with a different focus. The first and origin of all the programs is the NASA Pre College Science Academy, which ' was started in 1 996 with a five-year grant. “The PCSA is the original pro¬ gram and is at the end of its run,” said Conner. “The funds that were spent on the program will now be going towards teacher education to enable them to be better equipped to teach science in the future.” The second phase to evolve was the current Upward Bound project. It is in its third year and going strong. The students who are fortu¬ nate enough to get info the program are selected from the 7th and 8th grades from the local middle schools. They are recommended by teachers and counselors who feel they are capable enough to handle the academics that the program involves. Two days out of the week the students come to PCC for class¬ ic see SCIENCE, page 6 Matt Robinson/Courier Students are lured to the LaRouche organization by political discussion. LaRouche Exposed Matt Robinson Editor in Chief Each semester hundreds of stu¬ dents pass by a table set up in front of the D building in the quad, where supporters of Lyndon LaRouche try to interest students in their political agenda. For those who stop and agree to go to an off- campus meeting, they often find themselves entangled in a world¬ wide cult. Philip Mullendore, chief of campus police, reported that they get complaints on regular basis from students about La Rouche recruits harassing them in the quad. Others complain of repeated phone calls, urging them to attend a meeting. Many students who attend those meetings end up drop¬ ping out of school and devoting their lives to LaRouche. “We have documented several incidents of aggressive tactics by this group and we monitor them very closely,” said Mullendore. The mother of an 18-year-old student who was lured into the cult complained to campus police that the LaRouche group had taken over her son’s life. The LaRouche organization, which has thousands of members worldwide, are constantly recruit¬ ing young people to spread the groups philosophy and to raise money for the cause. The group targets maladjusted, unhappy and confused young peo¬ ple who feel they don’t belong. The organizers become their “friends” and give them a cause. They also give them meetings to attend so they feel a part of a group. One PCC student, who recently broke the group’s hold on his life, told the Courier in an exclusive interview about his experiences in the LaRouche organization from his recruitment on campus to his recent escape. The student, who will be referred to as Tom in the story, did not want his real name used. He said it’s hard enough try¬ ing to “reclaim your life and friends” without everyone know¬ ing you are a former cult member. “I was going to PCC, and I was # see LaROUCHE, page 3 Homecoming Week Ends, King and Queen Coronated at Mediterranean Dance Tonight By Britt McCormick Staff Writer Tonight someone’s dream will come true. Around 9:45 p.m. with the dimming of the lights and the softening of the music, the King = and Queen of PCC’s Homecoming will be crowned. After a week’s worth of anticipation, students will final¬ ly know whom they have deemed PCC royalty. Excitement is in the air, as the days leading up to the crowning of the royal couple have been filled with activities. On Tuesday, students made wax molds of their hands or created their own candles in the quad. Wednesday, students became mini- Mario Andrettis by racing micro¬ reality stock cars against one another. And today, they could toss a pie in someone’s face, play Twister, and defy gravity by taking a spin 6n the Orbitron. Alpha Gamma Sigma is sponsoring “Blast-A-Scholar,” a dunk tank where students can attempt to soak the deans of their divisions. Tonight’s homecoming dance in “Students will finally know who they deemed royalty ”. the Louis Creveling Lounge has a Mediterranean theme. The disco band, the Superfreaks, will be featured with a DJ playing from 7-9 p.m. The King and Queen will be presented in-between live performances by the band. Tickets can be picked up at the door with a PCC student I.D. card or photocopy of it. The tickets will also be used to enter students in a raffle. Prizes include Nikon and Polaroid cameras. On Saturday, the entire court will be presented to fans in Jackie Robinson Stadium, where the Lancers will be playing the Homecoming game against the Long Beach City College Vikings. == Voting has been taking place for the past three days, and you can feel the nervousness of the candidates. Up for Homecoming Queen are Tasha Fisher, Christine Boucher, Acela Ojeda, Charmaine Constantino, Judith Umana and Erykka Crawley. Vying for King are Alexander Hugh, Christopher Hickman, Jonathan Holborn, Alexander Mo, Arthur Choy and Sean Younessi. As the final decision draws near, each moment has more meaning. For each of these indi¬ viduals, today is a day they will always remember. And hopefully, it will be one they cherish. Mikyl Nutter/Courier A student exercises his right to vote for Homecoming King and Queen in the quad. PCC’s chiller plant is cleaned up after a prank resulted in two to three feet of a foamy sub¬ stance covering the floor. Chemical Spill Deemed Harmless By Latoya Sturge Associate Editor Foam several feet deep engulfed PCC’s chiller plant after an apparent prank required L.A. and Pasadena Hazmat teams to respond to a call for assistance Campus police report that an A/C refrigeration and ventilation technician called them after he came in and found the foam on the morning of Oct. 3 1 . A suspect had apparently climbed a ladder and emptied two one-gallon containers of Dyna Foam, a substance nor¬ mally used to clean the chiller plant’s cooling tanks. When water was added to the chemical, it created suds that cov¬ ered much of the 900 square, foot area. Not knowing whether the foam was dangerous to employees, the Hazmat teams were called in. According to Donald Holthaus, manager of facilities services, the cooling tanks are normally cleaned annually and had been serviced six months earlier. Los Angeles and Pasadena HazMat representatives deemed the foam harmless. “In its concen¬ trated form it can be hazardous,” said James Wek.erle of the Pasadena Fire Department’s haz¬ ardous materials division, but this was diluted in thousands of gallons of water, so it posed no danger to the community. “We allowed the foam to settle out and then put it into the sewer system, said Wekerle. The incident has been classified as vandalism by the campus police. “I think it was a prank,” said Lt. Bradley Young. “Somebody just got in there and decided to make a lot of foam; we didn’t have much damage.” Because of the moist conditions after the incident and the fact that the area was accessible to several hundred people, further investiga¬ tion by campus police is prevent- ed. The locks on the door of the chiller plant have been changed in response to the incident. Prior to this “anyone with a certain master key would have had access to the chiller plant,” acknowledged Holthaus. According to Holthaus only about 10 to 12 people will be able to access the chiller plant with the new system. The school is also in the process of re-keying all of the locks on campus. Concerned members of the facilities staff brought this incident to the attention of the Courier because rumors circulating on campus said the substance was thousands of gallons of chlorine. Employees said that no one put the rumors to rest by informing the staff.