PCC Courier 11/07/2013 by PCC Courier

The independent student voice of PCC. Serving Pasadena since 1915

PASADENA CITY COLLEGE

COURIER

VOLUME 108 ISSUE 11

WHAT’S INSIDE: The unconventional mentor Meet the award-winning teacher who is changing all the classroom rules. PAGE 8>>

Don’t discriminate against the undead Discover the underlying connection between zombies and racism. PAGE 9>>

ONLINE EXCLUSIVES AT PCCCOURIER.COM

November 7, 2013

Sacking the Record

Story on page 12>> Matthew Chan/Courier PCC football star linebacker Dalyou Pierson at team practice inside Robinson Stadium on Tuesday. With 10 sacks so far this season. Pierson is closing in on the single season record of 14 sacks.

FA lawyer, General Counsel tangle Philip McCormick Managing Editor

Two lawyers engaged in a written altercation this week over whether or not the Academic Senate could legally review college Superintendent/ President Mark Rocha. General Counsel Gail Cooper and Faculty Association (FA) attorney Lawrence Rosenzweig traded caustic letters to each other after Cooper and the District accused Cairo of violating state law by not attending the Committee on Academic and Professional Matters (CAPM) meetings. Rosenzweig said that Cooper was wrong for claiming the senate’s proposal to form an Ad Hoc Committee to evaluate the college president violated Board

policy and state law, calling her statements a “blatant example of the District’s misguided attempts to intimidate faculty members.” “Your threats are pointless,” Rosenzweig wrote. “In plain English, please stop.” Cooper insists that Cairo’s boycott of CAPM was a violation of Board policy and the Brown Act, the state law that governs public meetings. Cooper also said that if the Academic Senate had a quorum of members present at the Town Hall meetings, they could not discuss business relating to the Academic Senate matters, according to the Brown Act. “…My [Oct. 23] letter advised Cairo of violation of the law and Board policy, specifically LETTERS page 3

Senate calls for more transparency at meetings ic and Professional Matters is the primary communication mechanism between the faculty, administration, and the Board of Trustees,” Miller wrote in an email. “CAPM is a forum for discussion and mutual agreement.” “The decision of the Academic Senate leadership to not participate in CAPM meetings makes it very difficult to transact the business of the college which is to support teaching, learning and students,” he continued. “This action places students and faculty in jeopardy and places the college’s accreditation at risk.” There will be other meetings, such as College Council, where the Senate will be able to communicate with the adminis-

Madison Miranda Online Editor

The Academic Senate voted to approve President Eduardo Cairo’s decision to boycott the Committee on Academic and Professional Matters (CAPM) meetings, asserting that it would be willing to return if the meetings became more transparent. The Senate was conflicted in this decision made at its Nov. 4 meeting, with a vote of 16 in favor, nine opposed, and three abstained. The decision is not permanent and could be revisited later, said Cairo. Robert Miller, senior vice president of business and college services and one of the designees of CAPM, expressed his disappointment with the Senate’s decision. “The Council for Academ-

SENATE page 5

Voters choose new District 1 trustee Justin Clay Asst. News Editor

SPEAK OUT! Do you think the college restaurants and the bookstore should accept EBT cards?

Vote at PccCourier.com

Financial consultant Ross Selvidge received 45 percent of the vote to claim a spot on the Board of Trustees, edging past two challengers for the open Area 1 seat. Selvidge won with more than 2,400 votes on the ballot, about 200 more votes than runner-up Dianne Philibosian. Alex Keledjian received approximately 600 votes. Selvidge is happy to have been elected to his new position. “I’m very pleased. A lot of people helped me out with the campaign and I spoke with hundreds of voters and I really got a

feel for what their concerns are and I’m looking forward to representing the constituents in La Canada, southwest Pasadena and west Altadena,” said Selvidge. One of the main things Selvidge wants to do is get more classes for students. “Reports from all the people I talked to were universally favorable on the quality of teaching and the courses that the students can get there. The biggest concern of course, was some students not being able to get the courses they need in order to do what would traditionally be thought of as a two-year curriculum in two years.” BOARD page 3

Anthony Reyes/ Courier

Geoffrey Baum congratulates Ross Selvidge on succeeding him as a Board Trustee in the Circadian conference room on Wednesday.

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NEWS

Center for the Arts opens lavish back entrance

November 7, 2013

UPCOMING EVENTS Today Men’s basketball season opener at Ventura College at noon. Transfer advisement-University of Arizona rep. in the quad from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Transfer advisement-National University rep. in the quad from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. General transfer advisement in L110 from 2:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

Friday General transfer advisement in L110 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Women’s soccer hosts Mt. San Antonio at Robinson Stadium at 3 p.m. Women’s volleyball hosts Mt. San Antonio at the Hutto-Patterson Gym at 6 p.m.

Saturday Essay review and advisement-University rep. in C225 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Football hosts Ventura College at Robinson Stadium at 6 p.m. Opera Scenes opens in Harbeson Hall at 8 p.m. Tickets are sold at the door only. General admission is $10. Student, staff, and senior admission is $5. Matthew Chan/Courier The newly completed entrance on the east side of the Center for the Arts building on Tuesday showcasing the state-of-the-art Adrienne Westerbeck Recital Hall on the left and the intimate Black Box Theater on the right. The college plans to open the recital hall for community use, including the Pasadena Mayor’s state of the city address next year.

Sunday Opera Scenes at Harbeson Hall at 3 p.m. ~Compiled by Tiffany Hererra

President opposed to 7-Eleven near campus Raymond Bernal and Robert Tovar Staff Writers

College President Mark Rocha opposes the proposed opening of a 7-Eleven store across from the PCC campus on Colorado Boulevard because of the possibility that the convenience store could sell alcohol. Rocha said in an interview with the Courier that he may go before the city planning commission to oppose the opening of a 7-Eleven in the space across the street from campus previously occupied by the Penny Lane music store. “I’m speaking only for myself but, I don’t see how this is a good idea on many, many levels,” said Rocha. “They are asking for a 24/7 operation and there are very few 7-Eleven stores that don’t have liquor [alcohol]. Not that we’re against liquor or 7-Elevens. But the opening of this store would have a huge impact on campus police and safety and traffic,” said Rocha. Currently several other businesses near campus sell alcohol like Luigi Ortega’s and Lucky Baldwin’s, among others. According to Rocha, 35 percent of the student body at PCC is under 21 years of age. “In recent years the average age [of college students at PCC] has dropped from 28 or 30 to about 22 or 24,” said Senior Vice-President and Assistant Superintendent Robert Miller. Some students who receive public assistance have expressed their excitement about the proposed 7-Eleven because the store would accept Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards for food purchases. “It would be great to have another place for me to eat other than Jack in

the Box because 7-Eleven accepts my EBT card,” Jennifer Edwards, nursing, said. “The nearest 7-Eleven is miles away up on Lake or down on Rosemead.” “Having a 7-Eleven across the street would be another option for students on EBT who don’t have money to buy food,” said Photo illustration courtesy of 7-Eleven, Inc. The former Penny Lane Records store may soon Mayra Moetes, nursing. become a 7-Eleven for students to frequent. PCC’s Piazza, Lancer’s Pass café and the campus first. That’s number one, we won’t do department and asked them to research bookstore currently do not accept EBT that,” said Austin. this project,” Pispratuang wrote. “They cards. “The proposal is still in the works will contact the department of social “It would be great if PCC would and getting close to being finalized,” services for Los Angeles County… and accept EBT cards for textbooks,” said Austin added. “President Rocha has his let’s see how we can move forward with student Bobby Gera. view points and reasons but we believe this excellent idea.” According to officials at the Los that that location is a good place to do To address the issue of accepting EBT Angeles County Department of Public business.” cards on college campuses, some state Social Services, EBT cards issued by Los Rocha said that he would speak to the politicians are trying to bring some relief Angeles County have a general relief Associated Students to get their input cash benefit linked to them. These cards for students on public assistance. on the matter. He also said that he was also have a CalFresh food benefit and a Assembly bill AB 832, introduced by unaware that PCC did not accept EBT Restaurant Hot Meals Program link for Assembly Member Shirley Weber (D-San cards. those recipients who do not have access Diego) would require all convenience “The matter is not closed and I was to a stove like the disabled, elderly and stores and bookstores on any state college only raising it as an informative issue. If a the homeless. campus to accept EBT cards. significant number of students are suffer7-Eleven representatives explained Rocha suggested that one of the altering in any way we want to know about it their reasons for opening a 7-Eleven natives to the 7-Eleven would be for the and do something about it,” said Rocha. convenience store near the school and school to develop the area. “Since the Courier is just now raising pledged not to sell alcohol without ap“We’ve had a dream of redeveloping this issue [about students on EBT] maybe proval from the school. the north side of Colorado Boulevard for there may be another way of addressing “We would like to be a part of the campus expansion. In the next year we’ll community and we have services that can it. If we don’t accept EBT cards on campus I want to know why not,” said Rocha. be proposing that we acquire that same help the student body and the college property for a much better use for the Director of Dining Services Pai Pisin general,” said Michael Austin, Develcollege,” said Rocha. pratuang said via email that the school opment Director of 7-Eleven in SouthRocha also said that he’ll be speaking would explore the viability of accepting ern California. “Currently we have not to the planning commission in opposition EBT at the Piazza and elsewhere on applied for a liquor license and in the to granting a liquor license to the 99 Cent campus. future we won’t apply for a liquor license without seeking city and college approval “I have spoken with our marketing Store across from the campus.

NEWS

November 7, 2013

BOARD Selvidge is a former PCC student and was on the Lancers’ 1965 championship gymnastics team that went undefeated. “It was a great college when I was there and that was quite a while ago, and it still is,” he said. Selvidge went on to USC and after graduation he joined the navy as a civil engineer. After the navy, Selvidge received his Ph.D. in finance and he has 30 years of experience working for a number of financial consulting firms. Selvidge will be replacing current Area 1 trustee Geoffrey Baum. This is the second time the Selvidge has succeeded Baum in a position. “He was on the City Hall Restoration Finance Committee and after I left the board and

LETTERS regarding the unauthorized effort of the Academic Senate to conduct an evaluation of the Superintendent/President,” Cooper wrote in a Nov. 4 follow-up email. “As is stated in my letter, the violation of law is based upon the fact that a purported evaluation of the Superintendent/President is outside the purview of the Academic Senate…” Rosenzweig is technically the Faculty Association’s lawyer, but was asked by them to respond to Cooper’s letter. “You state you do not rep-

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Ross got involved the city saved tens of millions of dollars as a result,” said Baum. Despite finishing third, Keledjian had only good things to say about his victorious opponent. “Without a doubt in my mind, Ross will be an amazing trustee. His financial experience and knowledge is truly unbelievable,” he said. Selvidge looks forward to helping continue the school’s outstanding educational record, while maintaining fiscal responsibility. “PCC has to do very astute budgeting to maintain the high quality of education it offers within the resources available,” said Selvidge. Continued from page 1

resent the Academic Senate,” Cooper wrote. “But are responding because the Faculty Association asked you to do so… The fact that you do not represent the Academic Senate, but you are nonetheless intervening in a manner between the District and the Academic Senate at the behest of the Faculty Association corroborates the District’s view.” In her Oct. 23 letter to Cairo, Cooper stated that if the senate attempted to conduct a public evaluation of Rocha it would be a violation of his right to privacy

Anthony Reyes/Courier Ross Selvidge accepts his position as the new District 1 board trustee on Wednesday. Selvidge won the position by a narrow 200-vote margin against runner-up Dianne Philibosian and beat out young candidate Alex Keledjian.

and he would have the right to seek redress in a court of law against any individuals who participated in the defamatory statement. “Frankly, I am shocked that you would threaten faculty of the college,” Rosenzweig wrote. “Who do you represent? As General Counsel of the District, you represent the interests of the District. You are not the college president’s personal attorney. It’s not your job to protect the president’s privacy.” Cooper countered, saying that it was a statement of fact, and added that she would not necessarily represent Rocha if he

chose to sue. She said that Rosenzweig should make his client aware that the District does not defend or indemnify employees if investigation reveals that they committed conduct outside the course and scope of their employment. “The communication sent to Cairo [has] properly placed him and the members of the Academic Senate on notice of their violations of law and Board policy,” Cooper said. “They

should conduct themselves accordingly.”

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Courier

2012 JACC General Excellence Award-Winner Editor-in-Chief Christine Michaels Managing Editor Philip McCormick Online Editor Madison Miranda Asst. News Editor Justin Clay Opinion Editor Raymond Bernal Asst. Opinion Editor Aubrey Quezada Arts & Entertainment Editor Paul Ochoa Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor Samantha Molina Features Editor Emily Chang-Chien Lifestyle Editor Luis Rodriguez Sports Editor Daron Grandberry Photo Editor Antonio Gandara Asst. Photo Editor Anthony Reyes Online Photo Editor John Novak Scene Editor Matthew Chan

OPINION

November 7, 2013

The war on Slurpees is on Bryan Acosta Staff Writer

Should a 7-Eleven convenience store be allowed to open across PCC or is the war on Slurpees acceptable? President Mark Rocha is making plans to speak to the Pasadena Planning Commission to oppose a proposal of opening a 7-Eleven convenience store across from the PCC campus on Colorado Boulevard. “I don’t see how this is a good thing,” said Rocha. “This will have a huge impact on college safety and traffic.” The selling of alcohol across from PCC is one of Rocha’s issues, as if it will be the only place around campus students can get alcohol. There are others within walking distance such as Luigi Ortega’s and Lucky Baldwin’s. If students felt the need to consume alcohol around campus they would be doing so already. This would be the only convenience store that isn’t a gas station with in miles of PCC, let alone the only convenience store that allows purchases with EBT cards. The stores and restaurants on campus do not accept EBT

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VOICES:

cards. Students who use their EBT cards for food everyday are forced to take multiple buses between classes to receive nutrition needed to keep up in class. Students of PCC are indeed suffering and the president’s opposition to allow the opening of the store when it could be beneficial to all students, especially those on public assistance, to be able to easily purchase food to eat. People might argue that restaurants like Jack in the Box and El Pollo Loco accept EBT cards but one would have to be linked to the Los Angeles County Restaurant Hot Meals Program and most people on EBT are not linked to that program. You can also use EBT cards at the 99 cents store where you can buy a loaf of bread, a bag of salami and a bag of cheese, but that isn’t convenient for students. 7-Eleven has sandwiches already prepared and ready for students to take and eat wherever they please. Also 7-Eleven has facilities available to heat up any cold meals one might purchase. The fact that it’s a “convenience” store being opened across the street is reason enough to allow it to open.

Paul Ochoa Staff Writer

There are plans to open up a 7-Eleven across the street from PCC, and while many are excited because of the convenience it would bring, what they don’t think about is the problems that come with it as well. The issue of campus safety is the main concern that comes to mind. Mixing alcohol and college students is never a good idea. While there are establishments near campus that do serve alcohol, the 7-Eleven would be the only one where students could purchase it and bring it on campus. It is true that if a student wanted to bring alcohol on campus they could easily do so without the convenience of the 7-Eleven. But having a 7-Eleven across the street would add to the temptation to drink on campus for some students. While representatives from 7-Eleven say they have currently not applied for a liquor license and have pledged not to apply

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for one without the approval of the city or college, there is no telling if their views on that will change in the future. Parking and traffic is also another issue that comes up, and the opening of the store would cause problems because of how frequently people visit 7-Eleven. The traffic on Colorado Boulevard can be hectic as is, especially with the student drop off zone and the businesses located near by. The installation of a 7-Eleven would only make things worse, and would add an unnecessary headache. As for the issue of Electronic Benefit Transfer cards, while it is great that 7-Eleven accepts EBT, 7-Eleven is a convenience store and not a restaurant. Students would be purchasing junk food and poorly cooked food; they are better off eating at El Pollo Loco or Jack In The Box. While opening a 7-Eleven across the street from PCC may seem like a great idea, the last thing this campus needs is a glorified liquor store and all the problems that come with it.

What do you think about President Rocha opposing the opening of a 7-Eleven across from campus because they may sell alcohol?

Social Media Editor Concepcion Gonzalez Chief Photographer Benjamin Simpson Staff Writers: Bryan Acosta, Tiffany Herrera, Tiffany Roesler, Benjamin Simpson Staff Photographers: Justin Clay, Corey Harris, Rene Henriquez, Teresa Mendoza, Mary Nurrenbern, Meg Symanow, Caitlin KellyThompson, Daniel Valencia

“I think it’s the right thing to do because 7-Eleven is not that good for people, especially because they sell alcohol.” Alyssa Diaz, education

“They sell alcohol at Luigi’s and other bars. [Rocha] opposes it because 7-Eleven is a convenience store and it will take money away from the school.” Sarai Mojica, undecided

“The fact that the president is concerning himself with a 7-Eleven and not our dismal transfer numbers is ridiculous.”

“I didn’t think much of it but I also didn’t agree with the protest. We’re all adults in college, its not like we’re in high school.” Daisy Ogoli, nursing

“Just because they sell alcohol doesn’t mean everybody drinks. It’s a convenience store. Its there for the convenience of the community and for the students.” Jorge Sanchez, accounting

“I think it’s fine for alcohol to be sold because a lot of students here are over 21 [years old].” Kevin Lee, criminal justice

Faculty Adviser Nathan McIntire

Kelly Camacho, undecided

“I don’t see a problem with a 7-Eleven. There’s an age restriction on alcohol. People should have self-control. We’re all collegeeducated people.” Russell Corona, film

“I can go down the street to 7-Eleven and buy alcohol there if I wanted to. Selling liquor close to PCC isn’t going to make kids drink at school.” Crystal Espinoza, undecided

“Rocha protesting the 7-Eleven is kind of silly considering there is a pub down the street... I don’t really think it matters.” Kristen Chavez, theater

“There are places you can get alcohol nearby. It could be helpful to have a 7-Eleven. I don’t see a reason why he would protest it.” Sark Tashjian, mechanical engineering

Photography Adviser Tim Berger Advertising Coordinator Daniel Nerio

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The Courier is published weekly by the Pasadena City College Journalism Department and is a free-speech forum. Editorials and comments are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the position of the institution and its administration, student government or that of the Pasadena Area Community College District.

OPINION

November 7, 2013

COURIER

Likeness, name used without permission Tiffany Roesler Staff Writer

For those out there still consistently using Facebook, you might have scrolled through your news feed recently and come across what looked like a normal post, until you realized it was an ad for a product one of your 700 friends liked. Ah-ha. Welcome to the age of new social endorsements, and sponsored stories. Do not be afraid. The advertisements that take space on the right hand side of a Facebook user’s home screen have now stealthily made their way into newsfeeds. Google is now jumping on the bandwagon and is implementing it’s own type of social advertising starting Nov. 11 that turns it’s 18 and older users’ comments, ratings, reviews or “+1” into a form of advertisement. For example, if a user writes a rave review about a new local restaurant and gives it five stars, it may be part of that restaurant’s ad all across the Web that the user’s friends would be able to see. Google will allow users to opt out of the ads, and let them know about it upfront. Scary? Genius? It’s a little bit of both. According to the Neilson Global Survey, which

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focuses in on what consumers watch and buy, 84 percent of consumers around the world said that they trust word-ofmouth recommendations from friends and family over any other source of advertising. A friend swears by a particular brand and recommends it to another friend, and so on. What Google and other companies are doing is honing in on something that happens on a regular basis anyway, and just using it to their benefit. If the profile pictures and star ratings of your two closest friends appeared next to a specific website of a product you Googled, you would probably be more inclined to check that site first, based on your friend’s rating, then the other ones. It’s a form of advertising that seems more comforting than the annoying in-your-face pop-up. If you’re deeply involved in social media, this shouldn’t come as a shock or be to unsettling, but if you’re totally creeped out that Google and these companies are attempting to play Big Brother, you can always go under the radar. People already share what they eat for every meal of every day, it might as well have a recommendation, and the restaurant’s information with it.

Tiffany Herrera Staff Writer

In the age of lightning fast information and sharing one’s life on the Internet, social media users have to be careful of what they post. There are people out there waiting to get ahold of personal information to scam, sell something, or steal someone’s identity. So the responsibility of protecting that information should be left up to the individual. But should social media websites have a part in protecting that information as well? According to Facebook’s privacy policy “to serve personalized advertising to you,” Facebook doesn’t share anyone’s information to advertisers without that person’s consent. But the next paragraph down, “to serve social ads,” they admit they use personal information in a different way. “We occasionally pair advertisements we serve with relevant information we have about you and your friends to make advertisements more interesting and more tailored to you and your friends.” When users are on their Facebook home page, the right side is filled with many ads ranging

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from celebrity fan pages to ads for well known or lesser-known companies. Underneath the ad, a message will say at least one of your friends have “liked this.” Peter Pasi, executive vice president at Emotive LLC, a firm that focuses on digital outreach for political campaigns, told Discovery News that Facebook has a lot of the consumers’ data. “Facebook is the largest opt-in community of individuals in the world, and boasts unparalleled reach,” Pasi said. “In English, that means it’s likely the largest database of people ever built, and contains more personal data than any other source.” But companies just want to sell users something or use “likes” as an approval rating so your friends will buy the product or service. But others who have access to personal information might have a more devious motive. According to Forbes, people go on social media sites like Facebook and share too much of their information online. Forbes gives an example of a video that went viral to demonstrate the risks. The video was of a “mind reader” for a show called Dave the Psychic.

They chose the contestants at random from people on the streets and took them to a tent, according to Forbes. Dave would then hold the contestants’ hands to “feel their energy” and state some personal facts of their lives. The experience turned out not to be so amazing. “Pretty fantastic, right? No, in reality, Dave was no psychic,” Forbes reports. The whole time he had a team of people looking up the information on Facebook and other social media sites behind a curtain. As they found some information on the specific contestant they would tell Dave through an earpiece. “Although the video was fun and intended as a public service announcement, the concept is alarming,” Forbes reports. If Facebook is willing to protect you from racist, sexist, homophobic, or any kind of discrimination, then it should be willing to protect you from over-sharing information. Ultimately users are responsible for what they share on the Internet and they shouldn’t be careless with the information you share. But Facebook shouldn’t be careless either.

Police Blotter

began screaming and jumping on file cabinets while another person entered and filmed the man. Both subjects left before police arrived. A vendor in the Quad reported that a pair of tennis shoes worth $200 was stolen from his table. Unknown suspect seen. Nov. 1 A staff member in C350 reportedly punched a student in the throat after the student made a comment in class. The incident happened while class was in session. Witnesses reported a man removing a wallet from a woman’s purse near the pool area of the W Building. The man reportedly tried to strike the woman when confronted. The man was arrested for petty theft. A man playing soccer at Robinson Stadium reported that another player spit on him after a verbal altercation on the field.

Oct. 29 A woman was reported suffering from sharp stomach pains while exercising on the track. The woman said that she was unable to walk at the time. She was escorted to the Health Center for treatment. A young girl was reported missing after leaving a class at the CEC. The girl’s guardian informed dispatch later that she had returned home.

Cartoon by Aimee Scholz

SENATE on the record, according to Cairo. The Senate was concerned about when and under what conditions it would agree to return to the meetings. Some of the senators expressed concerns about how “transparency” would be defined. “Your idea of transparency might be different from mine,” said senator Mark Whitworth. According to Pat Rose, Senate secretary, the CAPM meetings

Continued from page 1

are closed-door meetings. “It was open dialogue and [everything] was essentially private,” she said. Senator Gloria Horton expressed her confusion as to the significance of CAPM meetings that would be conducted off the record. “I’m wondering where is the credibility? What’s the point if the meetings are unofficial?,” she asked. The Senate seemed to be in agreement that the result of

the meetings should at least be recorded in minutes. “I think it would be a reasonable request to make these meetings public,” said senator Manny Perea. Another concern was that the Senate was missing out on a chance to be able to communicate and work things out with the administration. “I think these meetings are an opportunity that shouldn’t be missed,” said senator Russ Di Fiori.

Oct. 31 A man wearing a Red Power Ranger costume entered C151 wielding two knives dripping with blood. The man reportedly

“We could use these meetings to our advantage.” One of the concerns was that by not going to CAPM meetings, it would discredit the Senate’s Town Hall plans. “I wonder if this contradicts the Town Halls?,” asked senator Stephanie Fleming. “[It seems to] contradict the very nature of them.” Others echoed her statement, worrying about the message this decision might send. “Are we shooting ourselves in

Compiled by Justin Clay

the foot?” asked Horton. “Are we doing this out of pride and principle or to actually accomplish something?” Cairo feared this decision could turn into a power play in an attempt to get the Senate to return to the meetings. “It might turn into a pissing contest and I don’t want that,” he said. “I always try to be collegial.”

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PCC stars

November 7, 2013 COURIER

rising

Matthew Chan/Courier PCC women’s soccer star player Amanda Papac has helped her team to a 7-6 record scoring six goals for the Lancers this season, Nov 5, 2013.

Matthew Chan/Courier PCC football star linebacker Dalyou Pierson at team practice inside Robinson Stadium, Nov. 05, 2013.

Concepcion Gonzalez/Courier Second in total kills in the conference, PCC volleyball’s outside hitter Thula Parks at Hutto Patterson gym, Nov. 6, 2013.

Matthew Chan/Courier PCC football player of the week Dashon Wade at team practice inside Robinson Stadium, Nov 05, 2013.

Ben Simpson/Courier PCC women’s basketball’s returning sophomore center Kaitlyn Parks averaged 11.9 points and 10.6 rebounds per game last season, Nov. 6, 2013.

Concepcion Gonzalez/Courier Seventh in the state of California in assist, PCC volleyball’s star setter Tiffany Roesler at Hutto Patterson gym, Nov. 6, 2013.

Ben Simpson/Courier PCC women’s basketball’s returning sophomore forward Tyler Crockom averaged 5.8 points and 4.8 rebounds last season, Nov. 6, 2013.

Ben Simpson/Courier PCC women’s basketball’s returning sophomore guard Desiree Loving averaged 7.3 points 3.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists last season, Nov. 6, 2013.

FEATURES

COURIER

November 7, 2013

Instructor’s award-winning methods are unconventional

Mary Nurrenbern/Courier Shane Underwood, English instructor, discusses romanticism and postmodernism with his English 1A class on Oct. 28 in room R402. Aubrey Quezada Staff Writer

Sitting in a cramped, dimly lit office with two grand tattoo pieces peeking out of his sleeves and several gauged ear piercings, Shane Underwood looks like he could be anybody waiting around for someone. He slumps back in his chair, slinging one leg over the other and laughs. “I get this a lot,” he said. “People think I’m in a band, or a bartender or you name it. ‘Who’s this creepy guy? Get him out of here!’” At 33 years old, dressed in a t-shirt and worn-out jeans, Un-

derwood doesn’t look like your typical college professor. “A lot of my colleagues think I’m a student and I always play along… They tease me and ask if my suit is at the cleaners. They crack jokes all the time and I think it’s amusing, ” he said. “But what does a professor look like? What does a mentor look like?” he asked, a more serious tone creeping into his voice. “It’s kind of funny that we come to this place to have our minds opened and elevated, yet we expect that professors have a certain appearance… That’s part of my approach to teaching—breaking down these very socially constructed, sort of

narrativized truths,” he said. Underwood’s methods of teaching may be somewhat unconventional, but they resonate deeply with his students and he won the 2013 Risser Outstanding Teacher Award for his work in the English Division in June. “It was cool to be honored… That thing brings some strange attention. It’s kind of weird,” he said of his award. Though he doesn’t like to draw attention to the award, Underwood’s students have described him as “inspirational, remarkable and absolutely brilliant” and say that he is very attentive and cares about his students.

“His teaching style is one I’ve never experienced. He’s loud and he gets right in your face. He expects us to grow and his class isn’t all based on the grade he gives. He wants us to be able to fix our issues and become better writers,” said Ashley Lopez, nursing. One of the things Underwood does to help his students learn to write under pressure is give them timed writing assignments, then makes all sorts of noises and distractions as the students try to write. “He distracted the living daylights out of us. He was playing with the lights and he played really loud music from all different genres…Even though we all hated it, he did a really good job at getting us to focus on the prompt,” Lopez said. The lesson that every human being has choices about the way they live their lives and that these choices help determine their realities is one that Carlos Gonzalez, biochemistry, will always remember. “I think that’s very important and if you get that idea you’re starting to construct your reality. He’s a brilliant teacher and his ideas are really interesting,” Gonzalez said. For Underwood, the greatest pleasure is seeing his students be moved, build confidence, become more content in their own lives and “confront the alien”, by which he means breaking away from that which is familiar and confronting what is alien to us instead of avoiding it out of fear or uncertainty.

As much as he loves his job, Underwood didn’t always want to be a teacher and has come a long way from being the sullen teenaged boy who grew up in Denver, Colorado. “During my teenage years my life became very tumultuous as a result of my home life. My main mission was to be gone, to be invisible,” Underwood said. Before he was kicked out of high school when he was 17 years old, Underwood attended a parent-teacher conference where his English teacher, Jack Moninger, asked his mother for permission to speak to Underwood frankly. “He looked my way and he said, ‘Shane, what the fuck is your problem? You have so much potential but you waste it.’ I never had a lot of people credit me with having the potential to do anything… He made me think I could be a better human than I was, and that was it,” Underwood said. “I thought that as a teacher I could have that same effect on people who needed a kick in the ass or a little motivation or just someone to believe in them. That’s what made me desirous of becoming an educator,” Underwood said. “This doesn’t feel like a job, it feels like what I ought to do. It’s just about doing what’s right. It’s about spending my day and my night and my weekend and every second during the semester just growing as an individual and also contributing to the growth of so many people.”

Mary Nurrenbern/Courier Shane Underwood pauses before answering a question from one of his Engllish 1A students on Oct. 28 in room R402.

LIFESTYLE

November 7, 2013

COURIER

Zombie mania rooted in racism

Paul Ochoa Staff Writer

Have you ever wondered why it is that people love watching zombies get their heads bashed in? According to Dr. Tomo Hattori, assistant professor of Asian American Studies at California State University Northridge, it is because people are inherently racist. It is well known that zombies have been imbedded in popular culture recently. Shows like The Walking Dead and the popularity of events like Zombie Runs are just some examples of this trend. But have you ever wondered where all this interest in zombies came from? Dr. Hattori says the fascination with zombies comes from our social anxiety of human survival and people’s inherit racism. Hattori explained this at a lecture put together by the Critical Theory Club last Wednesday night in Harbeson Hall. Hattori spoke not only about zombies but also went into some depth on the Yellow Peril of the mid-19th century, providing a

history of Chinese immigration to America and showing some political cartoons that reflected this country’s attitudes toward the Chinese at the time. “Yellow Peril in simple terms is being afraid of Asian people. [Asians] get turned into something that’s a threat to the social health of white America,” said Hattori. He also went on to say that Yellow Peril survives today in a different idea known as “model minority” which he described as “basically loving Asians.” After explaining the Yellow Peril, he drew comparisons between it and the recent zombie fascination, discussing how they are both rooted and created out of fear. “Systematic forces that produced the zombie culture can also be related to the systematic forces that produced the Yellow Peril,” said Hattori. The reason Hattori made the connection with zombies was because he felt that they allow people to get out their inner aggression and to be inwardly racist without being overtly racist.

John Novak/Courier Dr. Tomo Hattori, assistant professor of Asian American Studies at CSUN, lectures about the similarities between Yellow Peril and zombie mania at Harbeson Hall on Oct. 30.

“The thesis about zombies is zombies return us to our happy genocidal racism, but it’s a good form of catharsis because zombies aren’t any race,” said Hattori. Armando Guevara, philosophy, was intrigued in the correlation between zombies and people’s inner racism, making his own connections between zom-

bies and the American consumer society. “I feel like we’re the zombies. We are a consumer society and a lot of times we do so without thinking about what we’re consuming and zombies do the same,” Guevara said. Students in attendance were also able to ask Hattori questions, from the portrayal of

zombies in film to the social aspects which fuel the popularity of zombies. Shane Underwood, English instructor and coordinator of the event, enjoyed listening to the student’s questions. “I love listening to them ask questions to a man as intelligent as [Hattori] and him understand the questions,” said Underwood.

Is Facebook losing its standing as top social network? Daron Grandberry Staff Writer

Although students around campus have moved on to other social media sites and Facebook seems to have died down amongst us college students, Facebook remains the number one social media site, according to Forbes Magazine. The continued development of technology has caused social media to become almost a necessity amongst college students. Businesses are already coming to terms with the need to integrate their social media efforts, according to Forbes.com. With their content strategy, and the impact of social media in terms of referral traffic and revenue, today it’s very rare that one will find a student who doesn’t have an app or two of their favorite social media sites right at the palm of their hands. “I don’t get on Facebook anymore,” psychology major Phyllis Brooks said. “My sister who’s in her fifties has a Facebook account and there’s too many advertisements

now,” she said. “I do have an Instagram though, I’m always on there. I love Instagram.” With numerous social media outlets such as Instagram and Vine gaining more popularity daily, students questioned around campus seem to have Facebook in their rearview, despite its continued success. “I don’t go on Facebook anymore because it seems outdated to me,” sociology student Olivia Devaugh said. “I just had too many Facebook issues, people sending me messages that I don’t know, people posting stuff that I don’t want to see, it can be too much,” Devaugh said. According to Forbes.com, Facebook’s ad revenues have exploded, especially on the mobile side of its business. The stock price has responded accordingly, soaring above the $50 mark for the first time in recent weeks. “Most of my family is on Facebook so the only time I really get on Facebook is to see what they’re doing,” Devaughn added. “Everyone has a Face-

book account, but with all the ads popping up and changes, I’m sure I’m not the only one slowly walking away from the site.” Despite PCC students’ declin-

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER

ing lack of interest, Facebook remains atop the list of popular social media sites in total users with over a billion. Although Facebook may be

losing its popularity amongst PCC students, its total users, profits and advertisements have proven that Facebook is here for the long run.

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10 COURIER

November 7, 2013

Marching band goes the distance

Paul Ochoa A&E Editor

The sound of bass drums echoed in the distance as the pit section, Color Guard, and audience all waited for the arrival of the Marching Band. Then from the corner the of the R Building they arrived: horn section, drum line, and the wind instruments, looking like an army as they arranged themselves Tuesday afternoon. The music they played was titled “Going the Distance” from the film “Rocky,” which was also the source of some sound excerpts played before certain numbers. An audience member appropriately screamed

Daniel Valencia/Courier The Marching Band performs in the quad in front of the R building at noon on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

out “Adrian!” at the end of the segment. Kyle Luck, the marching band

director, said he chose “Going the Distance” because of how iconic the music is and it pro-

vided a reason to use the herald trumpets. “I just really liked the music. The music of Rocky is something everyone knows,” Luck said. The band was precise, clean, clear, and above all loud. Audience members could hear the music and feel it as well. The band not only appeased the ears that afternoon but the eyes as well as they knelt, swayed, and bobbed along with music when the time was appropriate. Not to be out done, next to them the Color Guard twirled and tossed flags and danced along with the music. After the “Going the Distance” segment the band played a few other songs, keeping the

energy level high as they finally closed the show with their rendition of the A-ha hit “Take On Me.” Tony Rescigno, drum major, the person in charge of conducting the band, humbly described the influence of the drum major on the band. “The energy you give off is expressed in the music. I’m so happy to have this opportunity,” said Rescigno. Jonathan Kent, music, feels the band keeps getting better as time goes on and he enjoyed the “Rocky” part of the show. “They’ve been getting better every week,” Kent said. “Going the Distance” was my favorite, it is very inspiring stuff.”

Fall Choral Recital showcases students’ hard work Samantha Molina Asst. A&E Editor

Music filled the air at the Fall Choral Recital on Nov. 1. It was the first choir performance to be held in the new Center for the Arts building. Students, faculty and the singers’ family members crowded into room 134 for the concert, which included performances from the concert choir, chamber singers, madrigals and the vocal jazz ensemble. Choral director Donald Brinegar directed the performances that celebrated the 100th anniversary of the English composer Benjamin Britten. The performances also fea-

tured the music of composers Johannes Brahms and Morten Lauridsen. The concert choir opened up the recital performing the songs of Sir Edward Elgar, Gustav T. Holst and Britten. “There was a beautiful sound, everybody did wonderful, and everything was just great,” madrigal singer Andreas Pantazis said. The Vocal Jazz Ensemble, directed by Andreas Preponis, lightened up the night with feelgood performances of Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “Wave” and Thelonios Monk’s “Rhythm-ANing.” The madrigal and chamber singers performed Carole Bayer-Sager and David Foster’s “The Prayer.”

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The singers gathered around the audience to close out the recital with a passionate performance. “It was very emotional,” Pantazis said. “From the stage I saw a couple of people smiling and you know that they were moved and really enjoyed the night.” “The students put out tremendous energy and focus so every piece came across the way I hoped it would,” Brinegar said. “This was very complex music and they performed it in a very professional manner, I’m very proud of them.”

Antonio Gandara/Courier Choral director Donald Brinegar thanks the audience for attending the Fall Choral Recital on Nov. 1.

SPORTS

November 7, 2013

COURIER

Bittersweet results at championships Daron Grandberry Sports Editor

Friday’s South Coast Conference Championships proved to have its share of highlights and disappointments for the Lancers cross country team at Long Beach’s Heartwell Park. Freshmen runner Brenda Grate received All-SCC Second Team honors after finishing ninth, a Lancers’ team best. Grate emerged with a personal best of 19 minutes, 38 seconds. It was the first time in eight meets that Grate had the fastest mark amongst the Lancers women. “This is my first semester running so I’m still learning to push myself,” Grate said. “I was really nervous and I was dreading the last mile, but while I was running, the last mile wasn’t that difficult, that helped me not panic.” Heading into the championships, it was the duo of sophomore Christina Shamirian and freshman Tansica Sunkamaneevongse that gave the Lancers encouragement. Sunkamaneevongse placed 12th in the Championships and received All-SCC Second Team honors with a time of 19 minutes, 44 seconds. “There were some really

encouraging things for us with Brenda running her best race of the season,” head coach Armand Crespo said. “Tansica has been consistent for us all year. We had hoped for a higher team finish, but we feel good about placing high going into the final two big meets.” The Lancers women finished fourth out of seven teams in the Conference Championships with 89 points. The Lancers lost their third place tiebreaker to Cerritos College. Sophomore Kailaddni Chavez finished 18th with a time of 20 minutes, three seconds. It was an impressive day for the Lancers women having four runners finish among the top-20 (68 total runners). “It could’ve gone better,” Sunkamaneevongse added. “I put too much pressure on myself and it caused me to struggle throughout. We’re all looking to improve and get better and encourage each other from here on out.” Despite a rough day that included a stomach ailment, Shamirian finished 19th in 20 minutes, seven seconds over the 5-kilometer course. “Christina was battling stomach issues and then ended up losing one of her shoes at one point, but she hung in there to reach the top 20,” Crespo added.

Player of the Week

Teresa Mendoza / Courier PCC runners Tansica Sunkamaneevongse and Brenda Grate stay in the top ten during the second lap of the race at the South Coast Conference Championships, Friday, at Heartwell Park in Long Beach.

The Lancers men were not as impressive as their female counterparts, finishing sixth in the championships. Sophomore Brendan Greene once again was the Lancers’ best at the SCC Championships with

Ruben Torres and Abraham Esparza picked us up, but we failed to pack up with the others.” Ruben Torres finished 40th (21 minutes, 59 seconds) and Abraham Esparza finished 46th (22 minutes, 15 seconds).

Water polo treads rough waters Luis Rodriguez Staff Writer

Women’s water polo is treading rough waters after losing 11 straight games and falling to 0-8 in South Coast Conference. Most recently, the Lancers sustained a 15-2 blowout loss against Santa Monica on Friday Nov. 1 at the Aquatic Center. Earlier that same day, things weren’t much better against San Diego Miramar College when the Lancers lost by a final tally of 13-3. Head Coach Terry Stoddard

Concepcion Gonzalez/Courier Outside hitter Nora To’omalatai averaged 18.5 kills and 10 digs last week to help the No. 18 Lancers improve to 8-1 in the South Coast Conference at Hutto Patterson Gym, Wednesday. To’omalatai also ranks sixth in the state in kills per set (4.46).

a 23rd place finish with a time of 21 minutes, 27 seconds over the 4-mile course. “We had a disappointing race,” Crespo said. “We did not execute what we’ve been practicing for the past few weeks. Brendan,

noted that many mistakes were made in both games. “We’re thinking one dimensional,” Stoddard said. “We had options, we just didn’t recognize them.” The five goals in both games came from leading scorer, Stephanie Velasco. Velasco was set up to take many shots but couldn’t find the back of the net. “We made mistakes with passing, with team defense and we made mistakes with our shooting and shot selection,” Stoddard said.

Santa Monica successfully finished counterattacks that contributed to their large lead. Team captain Mariana Silva spoke highly of the efforts of goalie Alenoush Aslanin who has a record of over 150 saves. “Once we know who the shooter is, we tell other players to stay back and help the goalie with defense and she tells us where to go,” said Silva. “If we’re not seeing it, she’ll tell us to stay.” This Friday and Saturday PCC will be hosting the SCC Tournament for water polo.

Megan Symanow/Courier Scarlett Bonita takes a shot at Fridays’ match against Santa Monica College at PCC’s Aquatics Center.

SPORTS

12 COURIER

November 7, 2013

Lineman looks to sack PCC record Philip McCormick Managing Editor

At 6’3 and 260 pounds, it’s no wonder that Lancer lineman Dalyou Pierson is able to explode past blockers and sack quarterbacks well behind the line of scrimmage. It’s also no wonder that, with 10.5 sacks, he is pace to break a long-standing PCC record. “I never go into a game thinking that I’m going to get a sack or two,” the humble Pierson said. “ I always think about getting the win first, because that’s all that matters in the end. At the end of the night, it is nice to have had a few sacks, though.” It has been about 47 years since a Lancer player established the team record of 14 sacks in a season, and with his latest sack in the books, Pierson is four sacks away from eclipsing the mark set by PCC Sports Hall of Famer Curtis Seagrove in 1966. Seagrove also holds the records for the most tackles at PCC, with 144, 85 of which were solo tackles.

“It’s an extreme honor to be in that conversation,” Pierson said. “I just have to go out there and continue to play to my strengths.” Pierson’s 10.5 sacks are the most by any defensive player in the Southern California Football Association this year. “It’s not surprising that teams like the University of Iowa and Arizona State are looking at him,” head coach Fred Fimbres said. Pierson is a returning sophomore on the football team and he is considered a captain by most of the defensive team, according to defensive back Dashon Wade. “[Pierson] and I have been on the team together since last season,” Wade said. “He makes us better on and off the field. No matter what, he keeps our confidence up when we are out on the field and is very valuable to this team. He makes some outstanding defensive plays and is a real leader.” The coaches haven’t missed the brilliant play from Pierson ei-

Matthew Chan/Courier PCC football defensive standouts Dashon Wade, defensive back and Dalyou Pierson, lineman at team practice inside Robinson Stadium, Nov. 05.

ther. Defensive coordinator Carl Lopez said that he gives grades after every game based off of how the player did. He said that Pierson is always near the top of that list. “What can I say about him,” Lopez said. “[Pierson] gives

everything he has when he is out on the field. I can’t complain about the way he plays. He did a lot of work in the off-season, and makes our defense better when he is out there.” Fimbres said that he thought that Pierson and other returning

players had helped keep games close.“The offensive and defensive lines have really helped us out all season,” Fimbres said. “[Pierson] has been one of those guys that we rely upon a lot. If he keeps on his pace, he will break the record.”

Volleyball squeaks by Long Beach City College Benjamin Simpson Staff Writer

It started out so well, with the Lancers controlling the first two sets, and it seemed like they would win the third and head home early. But then they hiccuped. Long Beach College fought back, winning the third, and then the fourth games, leading to a tie-breaking fifth. With every point Pasadena lost, the crowd in the tiny Long Beach gymnasium banged and screamed louder and louder, their shouts and stamping reverberating off the walls. But eventually the Lancers regained some sort of control and finished off the match three games to two away at Long Beach College on Nov. 1. The final scores for each game were Benjamin Simpson/Courier 25-20, 25-23, 23-25, 19-25 and 15-12. Thula Parks spikes the ball during the fourth game of the five set win away against PCC is tied with El Camino in the Long Beach College on Friday, Nov. 1. South Coast Conference, both with 8-1

records with five games left to play. “We did so well on the first two games, but we kind of dropped a little on the third and fourth,” Victoria Arreola said. “But we worked as a team, we did everything right, and we came out with the win.” In the game the Lancers kept up their winning individual numbers, with 24 digs for Arreola, 24 kills for Nora To’omalatai and 52 assists for Tiffany Roesler. Pasadena still leads in half of the individual stats for the South Coast Conference. To’omalatai is number one in both number of kills and kills per set, with Thula Parks second in kills. Kendra Logan leads in the blocks per set category, and Roesler in assists per set. “We didn’t play very well sometimes, we just have some issues with consistency, I guess we have to go back to it on Monday,” head coach Bill Sanchez said.

Women’s soccer shuts out LA Harbor at home in 3-0 victory Samantha Molina Staff Writer

The Lancers’ defense stifled the Los Angeles Harbor College offense Tuesday, shutting the Seahawks out in a 3-0 victory. Defender Amanda Papac scored the first goal in the 13th minute off a pass from forward Cassandra Saavedra. Papac was then able to shoot the ball past LA Harbor’s goalkeeper Lissandra Ledsma. The Lancers scored two more goals in the second half to extend their lead. Lizbeth Rodriguez chipped the ball into the goal off a long range pass from Papac and Helena Macintosh headed the ball in after a throw in and pass from Rodriguez. “We’ve been working on finishing because that’s something we’ve been struggling with,” Papac said. “We really capitalized on all of

our goal opportunities and got as many as we could.” There were several opportunities to score but the Seahawks couldn’t get the ball past PCC’s goalkeeper. The Seahawks took 22 shots but were unable to get one past goalie Angie Ulmer. Ulmer ended the game with nine saves. “The defense did a great job,” Rivas said. “Angie Ulmer, our goalie, did a fantastic job and made some great saves.” With Ulmer and the Lancers’ defense playing hard, the girls were able to maintain their lead until the end of the game. “We were the harder working team and it showed because we came out on top,” Papac said. “The girls played really well and hard and we got the result we needed,” Rivas added. “Now we move forward to playing Mt. SAC on Friday.”

PCC women’s soccer player Lizbeth Rodriquez attempts a header against LA Harbor at home inside Robinson Stadium, Nov 5. Matthew Chan/ Courier