PCC Courier, September 02, 1999

Pasadena City College Registration Deadline Tommorrow Friday is the last day to add or drop an 1 8-week course. Students must have a teacher's signature to add a closed class. No adds or drops will be accepted after tomor¬ row, although classes meeting less than 1 8 weeks will have different deadlines. Singers Needed For Star Spangled Banner Auditions Students interested in per¬ forming the Star Spangled Banner at one or more home athletic events should submit applications to the office of Student Affairs by September 1 0 at noon (CC203). Labor Day Holiday The college will be closed on Sept. 6 for the Labor Day holi¬ day, as well as on Sept. 7 for staff development (flex) day. Today: Partly Cloudy. High: 80 degrees Low: 58 degrees Tommorrow: Partly Cloudy. High: 82 degrees Low: 57 degrees Saturday: Sunny. High: 87 degrees Low: 58 degrees Sunday Partly Cloudy. High: 90 degrees Low: 58 degrees Expanded Trends Section Look for CD and movie reviews that didn't make it on our print edition, as well as extra coverage of Old Town events and local band profiles. PCC Credit Union Students as well as staff are eligible to join the Pasadena Schools Federal Credit Union. Find out how on our website. What Sculpture Garden? Find out what students think about the "sculptures" in the garden. 5ЖСЖ 2925 www. pee-eeu fl *f«fi Bne.ecm Thursday, September 2, 1999 Volume 85, Number 2 Ray Shui / Courier Mega Gridlock Skyrocketing enrollment along with ongoing construction projects con¬ tributed to make this fall's parking situation particularly gruesome. (See Story, Page 4) шеи New P.E. facilities get rave reviews Sports complex includes state-of-the-art football stadium and gymnasium By Gia Scafidi Staff Writer Tl^p $22 million Physical Education Facilities project is con¬ sidered by many to be the vehicle that will successfully move PCC into the 21st century. This project, initiated 10 years ago as part of the $100 million facilities master plan, is in its final stage of construction and preparation. It is considered to be 99 percent complete, and will be the site of PCC’s first home football game on Sept. 1 1 . The project has provided the col¬ lege with a new gymnasium, seat¬ ing up to 1800, a field with an all- weather track, a football/soccer sta¬ dium with a hospitality room, a press box, concession stands, and seating for 5400 people, and an Olympic-sized pool. In addition, the facilities will have a state-of- the-art sound system. The gymnasium houses three basketball courts, a sports medicine rehabilitation center, a weight room with alj new equipment, a fitness center, locker rooms, showers, and seven new classrooms with seating for 35 to 65 students. The majority ON THE RECORD “The first time I walked into the building, it looked like a cathedral to me.” -Rudy Aguilar, Athletic Trainer of classes held in the new facilities will be health and P.E. related. Most of the coaches will have newly furnished offices in the new sports complex, although some of them have remained in the old gym to be closer to their class locations. This new gym replaces the old men’s gym, which, before its demo¬ lition, was “the oldest building still in use among the 107 community colleges in California.” George Terzian, who was the head coach of the men’s basketball team for 18 years, feels the new gymnasium facilities are absolutely wonderful. Terzian, who spent most of his 21 years at PCC in the old gym, said, “the gym is long overdue; it was most definitely worth the wait.” He reminisced about the exciting history of the old gym and the success stories of for¬ mer PCC athletes. He was confi¬ dent that the new gym facilities would contribute to an exciting future for PCC. Overall, the project has generat¬ ed positive feedback from every¬ one. Jack Schulman, campus pro- New Gym, Pg. 4 College sets its sights on Bonnie Avenue homes Residence on Del Mar and Bonnie is the latest in a long list of purchases Daniel Archuleta / Courier This house at 224 S. Bonnie Ave. is one of several owned by the college. By Gali Raval Staff Writer The college has been actively purchasing homes within the neigh¬ boring area since 1986. To date, the district owns 11 houses, nine on Bonnie Avenue, one on Meredith Avenue and one on Eaton Avenue. The board of trustees recently finalized its purchase of 224 S. Bonnie Ave., while the escrow for 174 S. Bonnie closed on Tuesday, transferring the deeds of ownership of both properties to the district. Dr. Rodney Fleeman, vice presi¬ dent of administrative services, said, “The cost of the houses range from $180,000-5200,000. The money comes from the college’s Property Acquisition fund which is in the budget for college projects.” Edgar Nandkishore, director of pur¬ chasing, said, “The house at 174 S. Bonnie Ave. cost $180,000 and 224 S. Bonnie Ave. cost $190,000.” The driving force behind buying the houses, according to Fleeman, is to benefit the college’s engineering and technology classes. Fleeman said, “These houses are purchased for the benefit of the college. The motive is not to make a profit from the purchases, but to offer real, practical hands-on experience for the students.” “As each property undergoes escrow and becomes the district’s legal property, then city inspectors, the dean of the construction divi¬ sion, as well as myself look over the property to see where improve¬ ments need to be made. We then determine whether or not we should just refurbish the house, or if we need to, completely demolish the site and rebuild a new home,” said Nandkishore. Though several properties have been purchased in the Pasadena area, the college has concentrated its purchases on Bonnie Avenue. “We are always looking at proper¬ ties on Bonnie Avenue because it works well in our instructional pro¬ gram. The location is right here for the students; it makes it very conve¬ nient for students to get to the tools and the instructors very quickly” Fleeman said. Although the college’s stated purpose is to provide hands-on experience for students, the neigh¬ bors on Bonnie Avenue are not con¬ vinced. Many feel that the district is buying up the properties as a means of expanding the college eastward. Many residents are concerned that the district will buy out all of the homes on Bonnie Avenue, enabling the college to expand without hav¬ ing to deal with any neighbor com¬ plaints. However, both Fleeman and Nandkishore strongly deny that the district is using the purchases as a means of expanding. Fleeman said, “We have no ulterior motives. We are purchasing the homes on Bonnie Avenue so that we may have a nice tranistion area with the citi- Homes, Pg. 3 Search for dance student’s killer continues By Jim Lindsay Staff Writer The whereabouts of Johnny Andres Ortiz, 28, wanted by police in connection with the murder of former PCC student Maria Isabel Fernandez, 17, are still unknown, according to Lt. Keith Jones of the Pasadena Police Department. “We don’t know where he is,” said Jones who emphasized police are “actively working the case.” Fernandez, a promising fla¬ menco dancer, was found dead on the afternoon of Feb. 5, in the apartment she shared with her father. Fernandez’s father was not at the house, located a block and a half away from PCC, at the time of the murder. Fernandez had been stabbed 46 times. Pasadena police have enlisted the assistance of the FBI and Interpol in their search for Ortiz, the victim’s boyfriend. Police discovered Fernandez’s body when they went to the apartment after being asked to investigate by Ortiz’s father. The elder Ortiz said he had received a telephone call from his son who said he had done something terrible to Fernandez. The young woman was reportedly in the process of ending her relationship with Ortiz. The police suspect that Ortiz, a native of Colombia, has fled the country. The victim’s father has been critical of the police depart- Courtesy of Miguel Fernandez. Maria Isabel Fernandez was found murdered last February. A Flamenco Concert in honor of the slain student was held at Sexson Auditorium last Sunday, with proceeds going towards helping capture her killer. (See article in News section, Page 5) ment’s handling of the case. He contends that his daughter’s life may have been saved, or the killer apprehended, if police had entered the apartment after receiving a 911 call from a screaming woman that came from the address where Fernandez’s body was later dis¬ covered. Responding officers spent 20 minutes investigating and left after failing to make contact or gain entry. Two hours later police received the phone call from Ortiz’s father. As a result of this incident, the department has changed its policy regarding 911 calls for assistance. In the future, when¬ ever a human life is believed to Slaying, Pg. 3 Inside This Issue New Waterpolo team is getting ready to make waves. Sports, Pg. 8 Masters of KPCC Southern California Public Radio becomes the latest operator of the campus radio station. News, Pg. 5 Soon-to-be demolished bungalows have sinister past. Insight, Pg. 6 OCT - - 2ffiJ0