For exclusive stories and photos check out the Courier on the web @ pcccouher.com
Pasadena City College
Last
Chance!
The Courier is giving
away an iPod Nano
to a registered
member of our web
site at the end of the
month. Check out
the details at
pcccourier.com
Volume 98, Issue 1 0
“The Independent Student Voice of PCC, Serving Pasadena Since 1915:
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Daniel Lottes
/
Courier
U.S. Rep. Adam Sch iff greets a student after speaking in support of Barack Obama on Oct. 23 at PCC.
Schiff: College Tree' Under Obama
Brittany Wong
Lancer Life Editor
U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff told a PCC audi¬
ence on Oct. 23 that under a Barack
Obama presidency, community college
would be “essentially free.”
Schiff, who represents the 29th District,
which includes PCC, said that under
Obama’s planned American Opportunity
Tax Credit, students’ first $4,000 of college
tuition would be free, if they commit to 100
hours of community service.
“It would be free in the sense that you
wouldn’t have the tuition to pay. But it
wouldn’t be free in another sense. He wants
this to be a bargain, a compact between
young people and the rest of the country,
so [Obama is] going to ask for community
service,” Schiff said.
Before fielding questions, Schiff, who’s
expected to secure his seat in the House for
a fourth time this election, also spoke on
the ongoing economic crisis, the national
and global impact of an Obama presiden¬
cy, and the high stakes in the Senate this
election.
Schiff said congressional “oversight was
going on as we speak” to ensure the money
injected into the market in the economic
bailout was being properly funneled.
Discussing the lead up to the bailout,
Schiff said Federal Reserve Chairman
Ben Bernanke and Treasury Secretary
Henry Paulson were mistaken in framing
the economic crisis in terms of a second
Great Depression months ago. Such talk,
he said, played a part in causing confi¬
dence in the financial markets to be shak¬
en.
“We do have a severe economic crisis,
but we’re not headed for the Great
Depression - we’re not going to have 25
percent unemployment, soup kitchens,
massive dislocation, and a structural,
decade’s long problem. A lot of what we
have is a crisis of confidence,” Schiff said.
Forecasting the international impact of
an Obama presidency, Schiff rebuffed con¬
servative criticism that a presidential nom¬
inee “who’s popular and well-thought-of
around the world” is one who kowtows to
“European sensibilities.”
“It’s not about being popular. It’s about
our own national security and our own
ability to build coalitions. Whether it’s to
stop Iran’s nuclear program, or to curb
Russian aggression, or to try to turn back
North Korea’s nuclear program, if we can’t
compel respect and don’t have a call on the
affections of other nations, it’s very hard to
lead in this increasingly small, global, often
dangerous world,” he said.
Schiff was hesitant in his expectations
for a Democratic filibuster-proof Senate
after the election, but said inching closer to
the full 60 seats would help push stalled
bills forward and make “even more sub¬
stantial investments in renewable energy”
possible.
Continued on page 2
Hip-Hop Icon Chuck D Speaks to Students
Richard Garcia
Staff Writer
Hip-Hop icon Chuck D, leader of
the famed rap group Public Enemy,
advised students to not become
“sheeple” and to “not believe the
hype” Tuesday at an appearance at
PCC.
“Welcome to the western world.
What the system basically wants to
do is turn the masses into asses. You
are people not sheeple.” He said.
“When you leave here, I want you to
leave with your own minds because
the minds are the real estate of the
future. Wherever you are, wherever
you exist, lead with your own
mind.”
Chuck D, formally known as
Carlton Douglas Ridenhour,
appeared as part of the Cross-
Cultural Center’s series of diverse
speakers.
Ridenhour initially delivered his
speech “Fight The Power: Race,
Rap, and Reality,” then answered
follow-up questions from the audi¬
ence. He signed autographs, shook
hands, took pictures, and answered
more questions with the students,
faculty, and staff members at a
reception in the Cross-Cultural
Center following the presentation.
Continued on page 2
Chi Hong Wong
/
Courier
Chuck D, of the rap group Public Enemy, speaks in
the Sexson Auditorium on Tuesday.
Senator
Jack Scott
Honored
Miguel Lopez
Staff Writer
State Senator Jack Scott was honored with a Building
the Spirit of a Vibrant Community award by the PCC
Foundation on Tuesday at a luncheon held at the Westin
Hotel in Pasadena.
The inaugural event, held by the foundation, is
intended to honor an individual or organization that has
made an exceptional contribution to the advancement of
the Pasadena community.
Over 300 people attended the luncheon, including
many prominent members of the communities and fac¬
ulty members of PCC.
“I’m overwhelmed by the appreciation and flattered at
the recognition,” said Sen. Scott.
“The award is the brainchild of [PCC President Dr.
Paulette] Perfumo,” said Belle Moon, PCC Foundation
president.
“We are delighted to celebrate such a visionary
leader,” said Perfumo. “He’s a leader par excellence.”
Scott has served the state Senate since 2000 as a rep¬
resentative of District 21, which includes Pasadena,
Glendale, San Gabriel, a portion of Los Angeles and
other near by cities.
He credits much of his success as senator to the time
spent as president of PCC.
“It was a launching pad for my legislative career,” said
Scott.
Scott became PCC president in 1987 and helped assist
the foundation in many of its projects.
“Jack Scott and I helped to build our beautiful
library,” said Moon.
Scott was the first person to be honored as President
Emeritus of PCC, which lets him retain the title of pres¬
ident even after retiring from the position.
Continued on page 2
Football Coach's
Fate Still Undecided
JEREMY BALAN
Editor-in-Chief
Over a month after Kenny Lawler, PCC’s head foot¬
ball coach, was put on paid administrative leave on Sept.
19, his status remains undecided.
“The only update is that there is no update,” Interim
Dean of Athletics Beverly Tate said on Wednesday.
“There is still an ongoing third party investigation. I
can’t go into detail regarding the investigation.”
Lawler was put on leave after it was discovered that
Darryl “Slurp” Stephens, a member of the football
team, registered sex offender and parolee, was arrested
for assault on campus.
In a news conference with journalism students on
Oct. 2, PCC President Paulette Perfumo said that the
investigation regarded “COA (Commission on
Athletics) policies and procedures.
The COA is the state’s governing body on community
college athletics. COA Executive Director Carlyle Carter
and Southern California Football Association (SCFA)
Commissioner Jim Sartoris both said Wednesday in tele¬
phone interviews that there were no eligibility issues in
COA or SCFA bylaws or constitutions regarding felons
or registered sex offenders participating in community
college athletics. Both, however, cited Section 67362 of
the state Education Code.
Continued on page 2
t
