PCC Courier 01/29/2015

COURIER

VOLUME 111 ISSUE 2

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Architecture instructor Coleman Griffith was placed on paid administrative leave on Jan. 20, pending an investigation involving sexual harassment allegations, according to school officials.

Both students and teachers complained about Griffith in

early December, just before winter break, Senior Vice President Robert Bell said.

“This alleged violation falls under Title 9 of the federal registry,” Bell said. “Which are potential sexual harassment charges. The District is obligated to conduct a thorough and fair investigation.”

In a brief statement to the Courier, Faculty Association President Julie Kiotas said that

Griffith “denies the allegations” against him and that no investigation had occurred.

“The faculty is extremely disappointed that Bell would violate confidentiality in personnel matters,” Kiotas said.

Bell said that Griffith had to be placed on administrative leave so that the investigation could be as fair as possible. He also said that the District was using an outside investigation firm.

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Instructor placed on leave Philip McCormick Editor-in-Chief

January 29, 2015

“My hope and my goal is that the investigation will be done as quickly and as expeditiously as possible,” Bell said. “So when we bring it to closure, we’ll then see the results of the investigation and then reengage with Griffith to see what the next steps are.”

PCC General Counsel Gail Cooper said that she could not comment on the investigation, GRIFFITH page 2

Tiffany Yip/Courier Coleman Griffith, an architecture professor has been placed on leave.

Makeup, masks and prosthetics, oh my! FA and

District reach possible settlement

Matthew Kiewiet Asst. News Editor

Daniel Valencia/Courier John Hanna holds up a reptilian face mask in front of his Makeup for Stage and Screen class as he poses in room C-172 on Tuesday. Story on page 7.

After years of tense negotiations, the District presented a contract to the Faculty Association during a closed session of the Board of Trustees meeting on Wednesday that FA President Julie Kiotas said the union is poised to accept.

Kiotas read the updated contract, which would likely be ratified in the next 12 weeks, during the FA meeting on Thursday afternoon and was met with thunderous applause.

“I am happy to tell you that it is a new day,” said Kiotas. “It is a new, new day!”

The contract would be the best offer from the District in FA page 2

Academic Senate votes against accreditation report Kristen Luna Managing Editor

The Academic Senate voted 17 to 14 last month not to certify the final draft of the Accreditation Self-Evaluation Report after Academic Senate President Eduardo Cairó refused to sign the document because he said it was improperly created.

In a recent email sent to facul-

I N S I D E

WHITE OUT Are minorities getting snubbed at the Oscars?

PAGE 3>>

ty, Cairó outlined many reasons for not signing the document.

“The process that was established by the PCC administration to produce an accurate document was a failure,” Cairó said. “The Senate did not have adequate time to review, revise, or submit changes to produce a document that is reflective of the reality at PCC since our last accreditation report.”

However, many faculty mem-

bers disagreed since a draft of the self-evaluation was made public to the campus community in mid-September, which gave the Academic Senate nearly three months to look over the document for revisions. “…The letter claims that the Senate only had three days to vet the hard copy of the document, when, in reality, an electronic copy of the final draft had been available for weeks,”

ART TALKS Students consume art and food at Noon-Time Artists’ Talks.

PAGE 6>>

wrote Accreditation Coordinator and Priorities & Planning (P&P) committee co-chair Stephanie Fleming in an email.

“I am extremely disappointed because this process took place over a two-year period, allowed for widespread participation, appropriately addresses the positive and negative aspects of the college, and involved faculty ACCREDITATION page 2

File photo by Ryan Kevin Academic Senate President Eduardo Cairó.

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January 29, 2015

PCC leader in Associate Degrees for Transfer Ashley Park Staff Writer

Pasadena City College has been recognized as being the top community college in California in producing the most students with Associate Degrees for Transfer (ADT).

According to the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, PCC awarded 435 ADTs in the 2013-2014 academic year, a significant hike from last year’s 264.

Students who commit toward graduating with an ADT are given priority admission to any California State University as long as they take all the required classes for their major and maintain a 2.0 GPA. Students and counselors are able to build an education plan to ensure that students will be able to meet all requirements for a transfer guarantee.

“I think counselors have been more hands-on lately with students wanting to transfer, like

FA Continued from page 1

decades, if it stands as is, according to Kiotas. Nearly every area in which the FA felt short-sided under the previous contract was revised, she said. Faculty will see improved benefits, compensation, a substantive raise, and less fluctuation in class size.

Adjunct faculty will have slight-

myself, to get an education plan going,” said Lauren Dexley, a history major planning to transfer to Cal State Long Beach. “It’s guaranteed admission as long as I keep up my own end of the deal, so it motivates me to work hard and transfer quickly.”

However, PCC was able to finish as number one with hard work and effort not just by the students, but also from the faculty who helped lead the way.

“I was very pleased that the collective efforts of the faculty, staff members, and managers created such a great benefit for our students,” said Dr. Cynthia Olivo, Associate Vice President of Student Services, during a phone interview. “It really took everyone to work together to implement the new ADT requirements. In 2011, a new registration took place and, right then and there, faculty members had to learn the new changes and counselors had to learn the new requirements for transfer.”

Furthermore, taking advantage of the ADT program will not only help students to transfer, but it will help them after as well.

“The ADT requirements for transfer align with the CSU’s lower division requirements. This means it could allow transfer students to graduate sooner, because they won’t have to take more classes,” explains Olivo.

“Some CSUs give more priority to students who graduate with an ADT, making the student a more competitive applicant.”

Until the online services are completed, students who have already submitted their petition for graduation with an ADT urge Nagisa Mihara/Courier other students to take advantage A sign celebrating Pasadena City College being #1 in Associof the counselors in order to stay ate Degrees for Transfer stands next to the office of the Superahead of the pack. intendent-President in the C Building on Wednesday.

“I stayed in touch with my counselors and advisors whenev- semester. “There is an abundance ested in taking advantage of of information available for transferring to a California State er I had a question,” said Jessica students wishing to transfer… It University with an ADT should Seama, a biology major who is not easy, but it is not impossivisit PCC’s website for more has already submitted all her ble.” information on requirements and CSU transfer applications and will graduate with an ADT next Any students who are interdeadlines.

ly more office hours and tighter job security.

This settlement comes just one week after negotiations had reached a standstill.

After seven months of being involved with negotiations, both parties were able to effectuate a contract that is best for the faculty, staff, and students, according to Acting Superintendent President Miller.

“I’m grateful to the Faculty

Association for being open and doing what is best for their membership and the students,” said Miller. “I also want to give great thanks to our Board of Trustees for their work during this time.”

These contract negotiations are simply updates on the current contract between the District and FA, which began in 2013 and runs through 2016. Within a year’s time, this process will have to start all over again.

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GRIFFITH

Continued from page 1

citing confidentiality. Griffith did not respond to Courier emails requesting comment.

Griffith is the third instructor in the past two years to be accused of sexual misconduct.

Griffith is currently the direc-

ACCREDITATION Continued from page 1

input.”

In his email, Cairó seems to hold P&P responsible for the Academic Senate having little input in the final draft of the report, arguing that once P&P had given its final approval, it would not be able to accept any changes to the document.

Early last fall, several senators took a two-day retreat with the focus of reviewing and revising the draft, and according to P&P committee co-chair Matthew Jordan, most of the feedback from the Academic Senate was incorporated in the document.

“I am thankful for the contributions of the students, classified staff, faculty members, and managers who worked tirelessly in producing this high quality document,” he wrote.

The objective of an accreditation report is to authenticate how well a college is meeting Accreditation Standards and with the 22 faculty members who worked on drafting the Self Evaluation in Fall 2013

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tor of the architecture program and design studio coordinator and has been teaching at PCC for over 25 years.

Former Courier adviser Warren Swil, who was also placed on administrative leave in April of 2013, was reinstated after admitting to showing nude pictures of himself to student. and Spring 2014, the report is required to be an un-biased look at the campus climate.

The Academy of Professional Learning (APL), formed by faculty members with the desire to bring professional learning to faculty, staff, and managers at all levels, sent a mass email to all faculty and staff members in response to Cairó’s email.

“These statements are untrue and call into question the intentions of the faculty who have coordinated this project…,” APL said in its email.

APL provided much evidence showing communication with the Senate, including a video, emails and minutes.

“We have successfully communicated and collaborated with the Classified Senate and groups of faculty, but have been ignored by the Academic Senate Executive Board Members, giving us the impression that they are unsupportive of this faculty-led initiative,” said APL. With this process going on two years now, both Fleming and Jordan remain hopeful and look forward to the March visit from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC).

“I sincerely hope that we can continue to move forward in a collegial manner and that we find better ways to work with one another, despite our differences, so that we can focus on how to successfully serve our students,” Fleming wrote.

January 29, 2015

Courier

2014 JACC General Excellence Award-Winner

Editor-in-Chief

Philip McCormick Managing Editor Kristen Luna Asst. News Editor Matthew Kiewiet Online Editors Justin Clay and Mick Donovan Opinion Editor Hannah Gonzales Features Editor Mick Donovan A&E Editor Anthony Martinez Lifestyle Editor Ashley Park Sports Editor

OPINION

COURIER

Honoring MLK the right way Justin Clay Online Editor

Those who protested during the celebration of Martin Luther King’s birthday honored the late civil rights leader in the best way imaginable.

This year’s celebration of the holiday was marked by a series of protests around the nation.

Protestors were upset over the deaths of Michael Brown, Eric Garner and others at the hands of police.

Activists were encouraged to use the day to participate in public service and peaceful demon-

stration of social issues, two of the things that King was known for in his lifetime.

One key point to remember is that MLK Day is a Federal holiday, meaning many Americans had the day off to observe it however they felt appropriate.

What better time than a day off to spend the day participating in public service and mass demonstrations?

Activist groups like Ferguson Action and others helped to organize events during the holiday weekend through a campaign called #ReclaimMLK, which urged citizens to get out and act

as a resistance to injustice.

Many of the protests were disruptive, as protests are meant to be. And there were some arrests, but for the most part, there were no major injuries or serious violent offenses reported according to CNN. It’s a tradition in America to celebrate holidays in the spirit of what that holiday represents.

For Thanksgiving, people get together and have a feast and give thanks for what they have. For Christmas, people pretend to be nice to each other and exchange gifts in the spirit of giving.

Thankfully, Americans don’t

3

spend Columbus Day getting lost and taking property from their neighbors, but you get the idea.

People are perfectly justified spending MLK Day, or any day for that matter, exercising their constitutional right to free speech and peaceful protest.

The fight for civil rights and equality in this country and around the world isn’t something that should be left in the 1960s. The fight should be something that people strive for now and well into the future.

Oscars snub minorities in nominations

Daron Grandberry Asst. Sports Editor David O’Connor Photo Editor Nagisa Mihara Online Photo and Graphics Editor Daniel Valencia Scene Editor Keely Damara Staff Writers: Ahmad Akkaoui, Daniel Axume, Ericka Bernabe, Nataly Chavez, Keely Damara, Alan Flores, Monique LeBleu, Diego Linares, Samantha Molina, Neil Protacio, Luis Rodriguez, Aaron Salazar, Sammy Wu Staff Photographers: Brittany Chavez, Traece Craig, Victoria De La Torre, Mick Donovan, Shaunee Edwards, Michelle Gonzalez, Eric Haynes, Erica Hong, Kristen Luna, Mary Nurrenbern, Michael Osborne, Scott Spencer, Daniel Valencia, Tiffany Yip, Max Zeronian Faculty Adviser Nathan McIntire Photo Adviser Tim Berger Advertising Manager Daniel Nerio

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.

The Courier is written and produced as a learning experience for student writers, photographers and editors in

Cartoon by Mick Donovan Nataly Chavez Staff Writer

The amount of ethnically diverse Academy Award winners and nominees can probably be counted on one hand.

Last year alone the film, “12 Years A Slave”, a low-budget film directed by an almost unknown African-American director, Steve McQueen, made history by winning Best Picture.

Some critics agreed and others believed it won due to its almost controversial issue on slavery.

This critic, believes without a doubt, it was the rightful winner.

Yet once again, Academy Awards season is here and so are the nominees. One look at that list and it’s obvious that once again, only white actors have been nominated.

Is it fair? Of course not.

Can we, as the viewers do anything about it? Probably not.

Will this ever change—not only at award shows, but also in the Hollywood business? Who knows.

According to a 2013 article in The Los Angeles Times, “94% of academy voters are white and 77% are male. Blacks make up about 2% of the academy and Latinos less than 2%.”

What we have to accept about these statistics is that it’s a white man’s world, and it probably will be for years to come.

The lack of ethnic diversity in the industry has been receiving a lot more attention over the last couple of years, yet there haven’t been many significant changes.

Just 15 African-American actors and eight Latino actors have won an Oscar. Last year, Mexican born director Alfonso Cuaron

was the first Mexican to win a Best Director award.

This past weekend, our very own Pasadena Star News featured a front-page story on Darren D. Dickerson, a veteran entertainment publicist who is currently developing Myriad Honors, a new awards program that will “focus on minority and foreign talent often overlooked

by Hollywood.”

After last weeks nominees were announced, the need for activists (if you will) like this is more and more dire. Disappointed over the powerful film “Selma” being overshadowed at the box office by “American Sniper” over MLK weekend, (personally witnessed by yours truly) as well as only its two Oscar nominations, Dickerson plans on having a 75% ethnically diverse voters.

In recent years, this writer has

noted that the 18 to 25-year-old bracket of active movie goers think of the Oscars as a big joke because there is never any surprises with the nominees. Earlier this month, “Boyhood” and Michael Keaton of “Birdman” won top honors at the 2015 Golden Globe Awards. What most fans know is that is just a hop, a skip and a jump away from winning an Oscar.

Now, all the nominees have their own right to be nominated in the first place. However, “movie mania” mostly spreads by word of mouth. None of these films would be anywhere without the viewers. Therefore, it’s up to everyone to stop letting themselves be force fed this tiny niche of films as the only “worthy” ones of receiving a gold statue.

VOICES: How do you feel about having winter intercession back?

the Journalism Department.

Phone: (626) 585-7130 Fax: (626) 585-7971 Advertising (626) 585-7979 Office: 1570 E. Colorado Blvd., CC-208 Pasadena, CA 91106-3215 © Copyright 2015 Courier.

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“They should have had it back sooner. It helps students transfer and graduate faster which is a good thing.”

“It’s good for the students that don’t have time in the schedules to be taking multiple classes in one semester.”

Kevin Gutierrez, business

Monique Paredes, undecided

“I think it’s good because it gives students more time to take classes instead of cramming a bunch of classes in one semester.”

Vivian Rodriguez, music

“I’m totally down for winter classes. I’m just trying to get out of here as soon as possible.”

“It wouldn’t be bad, some people only need that extra time to finish a few more credits to graduate.”

Mona Ghannoum, psychology

Salavador Santamaria, graphic design

Reporting by: Samantha Molina Photos by: Kristen Luna

SCE

4 COURIER

On the Trail

Traece O. Craig/Courier A hiker looks down at the canyon on the Mt. Lowe trail located off of Mt. Wilson Red Box Road on Saturday. This trail is frequently used by hikers and trail bikers as a portal to trails, peaks and vistas above Pasadena.

Two hikers trek up Mt. Wilson Red

Max Zeronian/Courier Two hikers lay in the grass next to a trail on Sunday afternoon in Eaton Canyon. Eaton Canyon is Pasadena’s closest wilderness area.

Remai day no

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January 29, 2015

Traece O. Craig/Courier Two hikers make their way down the Mt. Lowe trail on Saturday. Fire damage from the 2009 Station Fire can be seen along the trail located in the San Gabriel Mountains.

Traece O. Craig/Courier d Box Road on Saturday.

Traece O. Craig/Courier Three hikers head toward the Mueller Tunnel on Saturday that connects the Mount Lowe fire road with the Eaton Saddle trailhead in the San Gabriel Mountains.

Michael Osborne/Courier ins of the Mt. Lowe Railway mark the Mount Lowe Railway trail on Saturorth of Altadena. The railway was in service between 1893 and 1936.

Michael Osborne/Courier A close look at a gear that remains of the Mt. Lowe Railway.

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6 COURIER

January 29, 2015

FEATURES

Buzzing around food and art Create a bigger impact Mick Donovan Features Editor

For about a year now, on the first Thursday of the month, students have been taking their lunch breaks to sit down and talk with professional artists in their respective fields.

From hybrid designers like Lisa Krohn, whose approach to design reflects on her belief that the best ideas combine several different fields at once, to Julia Haft-Candell, who creates three-dimensional collages using ceramics and mixed-media, there is a multitude of professionals to gain invaluable insight from.

The Noon-Time Artists’ Talks series are short, 45-minute talks where students get the ability to learn from and interact with professional artists from different fields in the industry.

Scott Robertson, an author, educator, designer and the former chair of Entertainment Design at Art Center College of Design will be the next guest speaker for the Noon-Time Artists’ Talks on Feb. 5.

Robertson has authored and co-authored 13 books on design and concept art and has worked largely in the entertainment industry, collaborating on projects such as “Hot Wheels Animated Series Battle Force Five” and theme park attractions, according to a press release.

Maryrose C. Mendoza, the associate professor and drawing coordinator for the Visual, Media and Performing Arts Division, came up with the idea for the Noon-Time Artists’ Talks.

She wanted to create an opportunity for students to sit down and gain insight into different types of art from professionals regardless of their major.

“It gives access to the students that just want to get a taste of what being this type of artist is,” Mendoza said. “I think we have a lot of artists that are teachers that bring in visiting artists to their classrooms, but this is an opportunity too in that it’s open to (everyone). Even if you’re not an art student, maybe you’re just interested in the art program but you don’t know what it’s like. So they can just come out and spend their lunch hour with us. It’s a little bit more informal too.”

Stan Kong, professor of product design and rendering,

Matthew Kiewiet Staff Writer

Traece O. Craig/Courier Associate Professors Maryrose Mendoza and Stan Kong in the Center for the Arts building on Wednesday. Mendoza is the curator for Noon-Time Artist talks hosted on campus.

first brought Robertson to Mendoza’s attention. She had been asking colleagues for suggestions for guest speakers and thought that Robertson would be a perfect fit for the talks.

Kong feels that this program offers a lot to the students, and especially this particular speaker who would have useful information for those wanting to transfer to Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. Kong pointed out that many PCC Design students do in fact end up going there and who better to talk to current students than a previous Chair of Entertainment Design?

“The tie-in would be that a lot of PCC kids have gone on to that program, to that college.

There’s quite a few faculty now, including the associate chair of Design, that are PCC alumni,” Kong said. “I just think it’s a really great program.”

He went on further, noting that while PCC also has the Artists in Residence program, the Noon-Time Artists’ Talks are not necessarily better, but different in the fact that they are not as formal and open to everyone.

“The Artists in Residence program is really huge,” said Kong. “It’s different. I think the intent of both those programs

is that students have an ability to interface with somebody that’s not their teacher.”

Kong also points out why both of these programs are so crucial to students.

“I think the more important question, often times, for our students is ‘how did you actually get there?’” Kong said.

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In the world of higher education, where resources are limited, students and professors are beginning to focus these resources on specific practices that will ultimately help them the most down the road.

PCC’s High Impact Practices Series comprises four seminars that will discuss two topics during each session. Each workshop is meant to help students become better prepared to join the work force or to continue their academic careers at a fouryear school, according to studies done by the Association of American Colleges and Universities.

“The hope is to institutionalize these practices,” said Dr. Shannon Johnson, the overseer of PCC’s High Impact Practices.

Surveys and student outcome data have shown that students that engage in these practices tend to receive better grades, and are thus more prepared to transfer or start their careers, according to Johnson.

Data also shows that historically underserved students, such as African American males, have shown a better return and completion rate at their respected schools while participating in High Impact Practices.

This series was made possible by two grants received by the department of Career and Technical Education. One was a $2.2 million grant from the California Department of Education. The second was a $15 million grant from LA Hi-Tech.

This grant went to seven other community colleges and 16 high schools throughout the greater Los Angeles area, but PCC is the fiscal leader.

“Today we see rapid changes in technology in the work place,” said Engineering and Technology professor Deborah Bird, who oversees the design and technology pathway. “Education needs to respond to challenges that students face in developing their careers.”

One of the main focuses of the series is “experiential learning,” or internships.

“The program is integrated with economic and workforce development,” said Salvatrice Cummo, who runs the Small Business Development Center.

The SBDC will host the last discussion of the series with the goal of assisting engagement between students and local business owners.

The High Impact Practice Series will be February 5, March 5, April 8, and April 30. Each meeting will be held in the Creveling Lounge from 11:30a.m. until 1p.m.

Keep learning at nu.edu/transfer © 2015 National University NU14_1732

January 29, 2015

A&E

COURIER

7

More than just eye shadow and contours

Photos by Daniel Valencia/Courier A face mold of a reptillian creature in the Makeup for Stage and Screen class, taught by John Hanna in room C172 on Tuesday.

Neil Protacio Staff Writer

It was 10 minutes ‘til 7 p.m. on a Wednesday evening when John Hanna gathered his theater arts makeup students for a run through the night’s project. In preparation for the school’s rendition of “Young Frankenstein,” the crew was creating the prosthetic piece for the actor playing the legendary monster. To do this, a life cast of the actor’s face would need to be produced, which just so happened to fall on a night that all the theater arts makeup students had a day off.

“The key to the musical is Frankenstein, so we want to make this a school project from beginning to end,” Hanna said.

Hanna emphasized safety: if the model snaps his fingers once, he’s fine. If he snaps twice, something’s bothering him.

If he starts snapping wildly, it’s time to kick it into high alert and tear an airway for the model to breathe.

On the receiving end, Richard Seymour, the actor, is a delightfully bubbly man. He towered over many of the students in the class, which makes him perfect for the role of Frankenstein’s monster. How does this all tie in with the safety finger snapping rule? Well, for a monstrous man, Seymour’s terribly claustrophobic.

For a whole hour, the life casting, which involves spreading alginate, an all-natural gum-like substance that hardens, all over his head seemed to be a horror story come to life.

Seymour gasped and screamed through the process. His fingers interlaced tightly, and when they weren’t together, he’d often dig his nails into his arms. This is happening all the while Hanna calmly talks to him about “I Love Lucy” and having MRI’s.

It’s a comedic, yet worrisome scene, but Seymour admitted during the process that Hanna communicating with him helped keep his mind off of the life casting.

Apparently this makeup class is much more than just contours and shadowing.

Hanna teaches Makeup for Stage and Screen, a class designed to help students apply makeup. It’s a grueling course, and Hanna is very particular, particularly demanding that his students show up on time for class.

“You’re never late to my call, or my class,” he said. “I lock the door.”

But on a Wednesday night, when they

John Hanna presents an image of the face mold done to an actor for the upcoming act “Young Frankenstein.”

could be at home on the couch, students were actually eager to work on the project. Among them was Crystal Torres, an 18-year-old theater art major who got her kicks from a show on SyFy. “I watched this show called “Face Off ” and thought it was so interesting,” said Torres. “I saw that PCC had a theater makeup class and I enrolled in it.”

The result? Her creative juices are flowing more than ever. For Halloween, she said she had done her own makeup so she could resemble a demented Alice in Wonderland character from a video game.

“I was nervous at first because I didn’t know what to expect when I took the class,” Torres said. “I used to do my own makeup and it would be alright. But now I’m doing way better at doing my own, and other people’s makeup.”

The class touches upon several different aspects of makeup, beginning with anatomy. On the second week of school, beginning students had a test on bone structure.

From there, they move on to more detailed projects including aging, hair, and even injuries, which is especially what interests cosmetology major Cheyenne Osti, who wants to get into cuts and

bullet holes.

“I’m taking this class because I wanted a better foundation for when I do work on set,” Osti said. “This doesn’t feel like an average class. It’s actually fun.”

As far as the advanced students go, they revisit trademark looks of classic characters to get the cogwheels in their brains going.

Their project last week was to apply makeup on a model to simulate a television or movie character. The endgame for their class, however, is the prosthetic piece, which all students will get to make with their own models.

“The funny thing about my advanced students is that they use more tools from a hardware store than makeup,” said Hanna.

And he was right. Once a prop drawer opens at the back of C172, there’s mallets, scalpels, chisels, and tons of cement.

They were all laid out on Wednesday night like a madman’s tools in a torture movie.

Other than appearance, there are technical aspects that Hanna covers, including creating a look designed for certain stages, depths of vision, and lighting.

He recalled an incident when the team

made a less than impressionable makeup job when the team recreated the ghost of Jacob Marley for Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”

“We did his colors in grays and pale blue because that takes all the red tones in his face so he looks dead,” said Hanna.

“However, when he got on stage, he was standing underneath a bastard amber gel light which made him look healthy.”

The class has given way for many alumni who are now currently working in the field. Some were present to help out with the production of the prosthetic.

Francie Hart, who boasts an extensive résumé dating back to 1996, has worked in the industry for years, but hadn’t worked much on prosthetics.

“I took the course to rehash my knowledge [on theatrical makeup],” Hart said.

“I loved all of it, especially doing castings and sculpting.”

Also present was Robert Giddens, who took the course about 14 years ago. Hanna, who’s taught the class for 34 years, has seen his share of technological and technical changes in the makeup industry.

It is through Giddens that he learns the new techniques.

“I’ve always love creating,” Giddens said. “This class opened up a lot of doors for me.”

Giddens currently works for SOTA FX, a company that specializes in special effects for commercials, movies, and shows. Giddens had just recently worked with pop singer Ariana Grande in her music video “Break Free.”

Outside the special effects field are alumni in the cosmetology field like Melinda Douglas, a salon owner, who describes her experience as “one of the best classes I ever took.”

“I learned so much about theatrical makeup and lighting … and most of all how to be organized,” Douglas said. “I still to this date use what John Hanna taught me 20 years ago.”

In the midst of the chitter chatter and the ongoing sculpting that students were doing against the lit vanity mirrors of C172, Hanna took the opportunity to reach into a drawer and pull out a pack of gum. He looked around and offered some to his students.

“And if there’s one thing he definitely teaches,” said Gloria Wong as she watched Hanna, “it’s how to be professional on set.”

8 COURIER

Defense propels men’s basketball Daron Grandberry Sports Editor

The Lancers’ men’s basketball team won their first home game of the season with a 69-61 victory over El Camino College on Wednesday.

It was a tale of two halves as the Lancers used an impressive first half pressure defense to cause El Camino to turn the ball over repeatedly.

“We’ve been working on our pressure defense a lot, rotating and trapping the ball and that sped the game up and helped us get some key turnovers,” freshman forward Donell Tuff said.

With five minutes remaining in the first half the Lancers went on an impressive 13-4 run that was highlighted by an imposing trap defense.

“We’ve been working on our defense since the beginning of the season and everyone is buying in mentally and physically and everyone is giving their all,” freshman guard Keith Langston said.

Freshman guard Dejon Williams led the Lancers’ attack on both sides of the ball, but it was his defense and passing that helped the Lancers sustain a second-half El Camino comeback.

“He provides us with leadership,” Tuff said of Williams. “He’s a great all around player, he’s very athletic, he can dribble, his presence, he’s a great leader.”

January 29, 2015

SPORTS

Williams led four Lancers who finished in double figures with 17 points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals. Sophomore guard Jonathan Henderson added 11 points and three rebounds despite shooting 3-for-9 from the field.

“We executed better,” head coach Michael Swanegan said.

“We’ve been working on our defense but we just executed better in the first half. We played a little harder tonight and pulled through with a victory.”

Once again the Lancers’ bench came through to help seal the victory despite foul trouble to starting forwards Jaryn Taylor and Faruk Oyalade. Tuff came through strong in the second half with 13 points, six rebounds, three steals and two blocks off the bench and Langston added 12 points, three rebounds and two steals in his third game back from a concussion.

“Tonight’s win was a team effort,” Tuff said. “We just have to take our time with the pressure defense and that will help us limit turnovers.”

“We came together as a group in the second half and held the lead,” Langston added. “We can’t get big headed, we’re taking it one game at a time and playing for our sophomores.”

The Lancers will travel to play South Coast South Division rivals Cerritos College on Friday at 5 p.m.

Max Zeronian/Courier Freshman forward Jaryn Taylor, right, blocks a shot during Wednesday’s 69-61 victory at the Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium.

Women’s hoops overcome deficit, win in overtime David O’Connor Asst. Sports Editor

Photos by Tiffany Yip/Courier Freshman point guard Judith Espinoza attempts a layup against El Camino College at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium on Wednesday.

In a see-sawing battle, the women’s basketball team overcame a top 10 state ranked team for the first time this season by defeating the El Camino Warriors in a thrilling 70-66 overtime victory in a non-conference game at Hutto-Pattinson gym.

PCC holds a 25-1 record over South Coast-South conference leaders El Camino and the last time these teams met on November 15 in the 1st Honda Pasadena Classic, the Lancers prevailed by seven points.

The 17th-ranked Lady Lancers were a skeleton of their usual selves in the opening stanza due to ineffective shooting, sloppy passes and costly turnovers that allowed ECC to grind its way to a 17-8 lead after 14 minutes.

The overall standard of play was erratic at best, with the Warriors leading 26-15 at the break not due to a solid performance, but because they didn’t play as poorly as the home team.

It was tale of contrasting halves, as the Lancers came out after half-time looking like a completely different unit. They brought an elevated intensity and a more penetrative offense thanks to Freshman Regerina Baker completing a three point play, putting the Lancers in the lead 35-34 with 11 minutes left.

Baker combined with fellow

Sophomore center, Chanelle Fisher attempts a hook shot over a Warriors defender on Wednesday.

freshman Judith Espinoza to lift the Lady Lancers from a deep hole by orchestrating an offense that had no other support. Baker topped all scorers with 28 points and Espinoza chimed in with 22 points.

ECC sunk a pair of treys with only minutes remaining, which contributed to the game going into overtime with both teams level at 56-56.

Espinoza lauded Baker for her standout shooting and was thankful to her coaches for some timely coaching tips. But she was comfortable with having the ball in her hands when the game is

on the line.

“In the first half I knew I wasn’t being myself and honestly, coach Kim Smith and coach Gary Potts helped me and told me to relax and breathe and shoot like I do at practice,” said Espinoza. “I think Rege was Rege when we needed her. She came back and that was really important, she is really a key player and she played the way Rege was supposed to play.”

“Because I’m one of the leaders I really feel like I have to help my team mates keep the enthusiasm up and just keep the game under control,” Espinoza added.

Espinoza was fouled several times in OT, which forced her to the charity stripe and she held her nerve by nailing all attempts and leading the Lady Lancers to a memorable 71-66 win.

Coach Joe Peron was relieved his team pulled through a tough first-half and beat a top 10 opponent for the first time this season. He reserved special praise for Baker and Espinoza’s match-winning contributions.

“Don’t we make it difficult,” Peron said tongue-in-cheek.

“First of all, I’m glad we won.

We finally beat a team in the top 10, thank God.” Pasadena move to 15-7 and face Cerritos in an away non-conference game on Friday at 7 pm.