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Volume 102, Issue 8
For exclusive stories and photos check out the Courier on the web @ pcccourier.com
Water Polo
The team prepares
for the South Coast
Conference
Tournament.
Pasadena City College
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"The Independent Student Voice of
РСС,
Serving Pasadena Since 1 91 5. "
Thursday, October 28, 2010
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million
grant
Jocelyn Rivera
Staff Writer
The XL for Life program of the
Teaching and Learning Center has
received a $3.2 million grant from
the U.S. Department of Education,
to use over the next five years.
"[With the help from the grant,
the teaching and learning center is
focusing on] removing obstacles
students face as they define their
path and achieve their goals," said
Brock Klein the director of the
Teaching and Learning Center.
PCC received its first grant in 2000
to create the TLC and XL, a first
year experience program.
"The TLC's focus was, and still
is, under-prepared first-year stu¬
dents. The initial grant allowed us
to learn about these students and
what they need to succeed." Klein
said. The new Title V grant will
help the TLC expand the XL for
Life program, he said.
"The TLC has been able to guide
me and facilitate the process of
going through college, by provid¬
ing tutors, mentors, and friendly
staff on hand." Guadalupe
Sanchez a current student who uti¬
lizes the TLC said.
Sanchez explained that the staff
in the TLC go the extra mile to
help their students, they guide stu¬
dents to grow to be a independent
person so students can thrive
through their college, career and
future.
"Our goal is to marry the Title V
Grant with the president's student
access and success initiative,"
Klein said.
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Reconstruction
of U Building
to cost college
$80 million
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Art Lemus/Courier
PCC student Raymond Garcia attempts to climb the rock climbing wall
as part of the Homecoming week of events on Wednesday.
Homecoming week events
draw enthusiastic crowds
Neil Protacio
Staff Writer
With homecoming week under¬
way, students have been respond¬
ing positively to the activities in
The Quad.
In addition to the Homecoming
Lancer Games, which took place
near the Mirror Pools on Monday,
a rock climbing wall was added to
the list of activities. Just adjacent to
the rock climbing wall was a joust¬
ing arena which drew primal
screams from the crowd of stu¬
dents who gathered Wednesday to
see their peers duke it out, gladia¬
tor style.
"People have been more active
lately and I think it's because in
comparison to last year, we actual¬
ly have a place to host the activi¬
ties," said Associated Students'
Vice President of Campus
Activities Joseph Garcia, who is in
charge of presenting homecoming
events. "Compared to last year,
Continued on page 7
Janine Shimomura
Editor-in-Chief
Options for the making the U
Building safe in an earthquake,
including possible demolition,
were discussed at a Board of
Trustees study session on Oct. 20.
The tentative estimate of the cost
totals $80 million.
PCC President Mark Rocha
emphasized that the options were
what officials have been examin¬
ing.
"The critical path is we need to
get science and health out of the U
Building by summer," said Rocha.
The most effective of the
options, according to the presenta¬
tion, is to move out of the building
while a new one is constructed.
The proposed cost of $15 million
is for temporary space for the
occupants to move into. The cost
to replace the U Building is an esti¬
mate of $65 million.
The total $80 million could be
partially funded by $50 million
dollars available from existing
Measure P money leftover after the
construction of the Center for the
Arts building and other set-asides,
according to Rocha.
"We are not saying take that $50
million out and use it. We are just
saying it's there," said Rocha.
Vice President of Administrative
Services Rick van Pelt prepared
the report. It detailed what two
architectural firms, Dasse Design
and Amarr Studios, concluded
regarding the seismic safety of the
building. The steel members with¬
in the structure are likely to flex
more than if they were designed to
the standard within newer build¬
ing codes, according to the Dasse
Design report.
The report prepared by Amarr
Studios highlighted that corrective
action to address the issue should
occur as soon as possible.
"It comes down to low probabil¬
ity, high impact events where the
potential failures may take place,"
said van Pelt.
The report detailed five options
for temporary space including the
Pasadena Unified School District
Education Center, a vacant lot
adjacent to the Community
Education Center, portable class¬
rooms located on student parking
lots, St. Lukes hospital in northeast
Pasadena, and other available
property in the district.
More information regarding the
St. Lukes is pending a signed con¬
fidentiality agreement with the
property owner.
Student Trustee Nolan Pack
voiced concern for off campus
classrooms impacting student per¬
formance.
"I wonder if moving those too
far away would be disruptive to
the learning environment in some
Continued on page 7
Proposition 23 aims to delay emission reduction laws
Samantha Petersen
Staff Writer
Proposition 23 on the Nov. 2 ballot aims to
suspend California's Global Warming law,
until state unemployment rates drop.
Assembly Bill 32, which passed in 2006,
requires substantial greenhouse gas emitters
in California to reduce and regulate their
emissions starting in 2012. Amidst a cloud of
speculation the majority of the funding for
this deregulatory proposition has come
from out-of-state oil companies.
If passed, Proposition 23 would delay the
implementation of AB 32's regulatory
actions until the state's unemployment rate
drops to or below 5.5 percent for at least a
year. According to the official voter informa¬
tion guide, unemployment rates have been
within this range only three times since 1970
and are not expected to reach that number
again in the next few years.
"Proposition 23 is supported by major oil
companies and those who have a financial
interest in petroleum industries," said Erika
Catanese, professor of Environmental
Biology at PCC. Funding for Proposition 23
has come predominantly from Velero
Energy and Tesoro Corporation, two Texas-
based oil companies according to the Yes on
23 campaign website.
"California is the second largest emitter
of green house gases in the United States
and one of the largest emitters of GHGs in
the world," according to the California
General Election official voter information
guide.
Supporters of Prop 23 say AB 32 will
worsen the failing economy by causing
energy prices to rise and more Californians
to lose their jobs. "California can't afford
self-imposed energy costs that don't reduce
global warming," according to the Yes on
Proposition 23 campaign website. "2.3 mil¬
lion Californians are unemployed;
Proposition 23 will save over a million jobs
that would be otherwise be destroyed," they
said.
Solar consultant of California Green
Designs, Rich LaBrie, openly opposes the
initiative. At a green living expo in South
Pasadena on Oct. 10, he said Proposition 23
is "potentially very catastrophic" to both the
economy and the environment. "California
is a driving force behind environmental leg¬
islation that affects the rest of the country,"
he said.
"There are 110 days a year when the air
quality in Los Angeles County is unhealthy
Continued on page 7
Flemming:
Students perform
American thriller
flawlessly.
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