Pcc courier 02/06/2014

COURIER

VOLUME 109 ISSUE 3

The independent student voice of PCC. Serving Pasadena since 1915

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NAKED GLORY Discover the anatomy of life drawing and its celebration of the human form

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PASADENA CITY COLLEGE

February 6, 2014

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U Building to be demolished

Christopther Martinez/Courier PCC’s Armen Sarafian Hall, also known as the U-Building, has been abandoned since the Summer of 2011 after the college considered it unsafe in the case of an earthquake.

Aubrey Quezada Staff Writer

The college is currently awaiting approval on funding to replace the U Building, which was abandoned after being deemed structurally unsafe in 2012, officials said. “[The U Building] was determined to be unsafe for students, faculty and staff after three separate structural engineering

reports determined the building would pancake during a significant earthquake event,” according to Robert Miller, assistant superintendent and senior vice president of business and college services.

The college plans to demolish the existing building and construct a brand new one and the project is estimated to cost about $54.5 million.

According to Miller, funding

for the U Building to be demolished and replaced depends on the governor and legislature agreeing to place an Educational Facilities Bond Act measure on the state ballot.

Once the funding is approved, the college can begin working with state architects to design a new building that is more energy efficient and seismically safe, but they may not be able to begin construction of a new building

for another three or four years.

William Foster, theater arts instructor and member of the Faculty Association, said that one of the reports that was conducted found the U Building to be as structurally sound as both the C Building and the R Building, which are both still being used to hold classes.

“Unfortunately it’s only going to become more of a problem as time goes by,” Foster said. “It’s

New schools structure aims for efficiency Christine Michaels Editor-in-Chief

The administration just put in place a new structure for the college, combining what were originally 12 academic divisions with 12 deans into six schools with an undetermined number of deans.

Many are wondering what the consequences of this major reformation will do and has done to the efficiency of the college as a whole.

According to Robert Bell, senior vice president of student learning services, the new structure will provide a stronger voice to faculty and allow students to get their classes more efficiently.

“The goal of reorganization is to establish a model in which the faculty within each school assume a lead role in the formation of decisions that are of direct importance to faculty,” Bell said before the implementation of the new structure.

With the new structure, divisions that were formerly “not in communication” with one another in terms of scheduling will be

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full of rodents, it is not getting custodial care and there’s no ventilation to clean out the air in there. It’s just going to sit there like a white elephant.”

According to Foster, the U Building is also full of asbestos, which has to be cleared out before they can even begin demolishing the building.

“The general feeling among BUILDING page 2

Senate attempts president evaluation Philip McCormick Managing Editor

Illustration by Antonio Gandara

Twelve divisions were put into six schools. The CEC and the School of allied health remain untouched.

better able to serve students working toward majors that require two disciplines that work together, such as math and science, according to Simon Fraser, Associated Students trustee.

“I think that it makes sense as we start to schedule classes based on students completing degrees or certificates and should reduce

the instances of a student needing classes that are cross discipline but traditionally cross scheduled,” Fraser said. “Hopefully it will allow for more innovative and cross discipline curriculum to be developed, but [this] will require our faculty to be willing REORGANIZATION page 3

BLAZE IT

The Academic Senate sent out a survey to full-time faculty members on Monday to evaluate Superintendent Mark Rocha in an attempt to assess the performance of Rocha after senate members complained that the Board of Trustees left them out of the formal evaluation process.

“Shared governance committees have spent numerous hours on numerous issues collecting data and coming up with recommendations,” senate president Eduardo Cairo said. “The president opts to go a different route.”

EVALUATION page 3

SAFE OLYMPICS? Make your own custom pizza for a great price right up the street.

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Will Sochi be safe enough?

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NEWS

2 COURIER

February 6, 2014

Academic Senate agrees to technical visit John Peters II Asst. News Editor

BUILDING Christopher Martinez /Courier Above, In the U-Building, classrooms are used as storage; each one filled with desks, chairs, pianos, photo enlargers, and medical equipment. Left, haunting messages are left on an abandoned classroom chalkboard.

continued from page 1

the faculty is that even the new Science Village is a step up from the U Building because it has new labs,” Foster said.

“We’re being allowed to grow as fast as we can and the college is doing everything they can to accomplish that and give our students and faculty more resources.”

When the U Building was first closed down, there was not a lot of planning done and a lot of money was spent building the new Science Village, where many of the classes that once took place in the U Building were

moved to, according to Foster..

Foster said that faculty initially believed the U Building could be renovated and felt spending millions to build the Science Village was unwise. But after

Prop 30 was passed and funding became available, it was less of a concern.

“After three reports and the state approving the replacement budget I can tell you it is unsafe

for human habitation, or any habitation for that matter. They wouldn’t approve a $54,561,000 budget if they didn’t agree that the building was inhabitable by anyone,” Miller said.

Cash for College provides financial aid assistance amidst looming deadlines Monique LeBleu Staff Writer

Deadlines are quickly advancing for students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2014-2015 school year, and the combined efforts of Pasadena City College (PCC), Gabrielino High School, and other area schools, seeks to make the daunting process easier.

In order to help reduce potential mistake-inducing delays, representatives from the Financial Aid department aided in providing hands-on assistance to San Gabriel Valley area high school students and parents with their FAFSA form completion this Saturday, at Gabrielino, Alhambra and Rowland Heights High Schools.

With plans underway for their own event since October of last year, and in the wake of participating at PCC’s event last week, Jonathan Lyons, assistant principal of Gabrielino High School, spoke passionately of the program workshops that took place on their school facili-

ties this Saturday.

“They’re getting the opportunity to go right on a computer,” Lyons said. “Or if they have their paperwork, then fill it out their paperwork right now.

They’re walking out of here with a completed form.”

PCC presenters like Kim Miles, assistant dean in Financial Aid, Anthony Smith, outreach coordinator, and Anita Sum, financial aid adviser, along with other PCC staff members, covered three high schools within the day, providing assistance to as many as 800 students and parents per school.

“Everything went very well,” said Miles, who was a presenter for all three English workshop sessions in the school’s library.

“The first and third sessions were standing room only.”

As an added plus, an additional incentive was given to bring attendance to the events: the opportunity to win a $1,000 scholarship from Cash for College.

“We had 235 students who preregistered, which was half the students in our senior class,” said Lyons, of his event’s attendees.

“And I think 80 to 85 percent of that has already shown up in our first two sessions.”

At Gabrielino alone, there were four separate workshops in English, Spanish, Cantonese, and for the AB540 for undocumented students, and in three scheduled hour and a half sessions throughout the day.

The workshops provide mutual benefits not only to the students and parents, but the participating high schools and colleges as well.

“The primary benefit is that more [students] will get accurate applications,” said Lyons.

Lyons indicated that there are some tangible costs involved to hold events like these, which require additional staffing, setup and IT support.

“Cash for College does provide reimbursement for the schools,” Lyons said. “If you have the bulk of the participants fill out an exit survey online, the school can apply for a reimbursement. So it is pretty much no cost to us.”

PCC disseminated flyers throughout the San Gabri-

el Valley district schools to encourage students to complete applications for financial aid early, which helped bring schools like Gabrielino, Blair, Arcadia, Temple City, and South Pasadena to participate in last week’s combined Cash for College and TRIO PCC campus event as well.

According to Smith, only 92 students identified from the college participated in the annual event last week, which in addition to Cash for College, is also inclusive to assist TRIO, the Federal outreach program to provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.

But the campus continues to provide such workshops on to assist with the March 2, 2014 Federal and State deadline for the 2014-2015 year. The PCC Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid labs workshops can be scheduled for Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, where students have a choice of three sessions available per day, according to Miles.

The Academic Senate agreed to the administration’s request for a technical assistance visit by the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) and Community College League of California (CCLC) in an effort to improve collegiality on campus ahead of next year’s accreditation process.

“We are hoping that this technical visit from the ASCCC/ CCLC will help to clarify what should have been happening (regarding shared governance), what is happening and what we need to do to rectify the situation,” said Daniel Haley, treasurer of the Academic Senate.

Matthew Jordan, interim associate dean of General Education, said he approached the Academic Senate with the solution of a technical visit last July because he knew this is a common solution colleges turn to when they are cited with certain types of issues and accreditation evaluations.

However, the Academic Senate rejected the administration’s initial request for a technical visit.

“As explained to us, (the technical visit team) was going to meet with the Board of Trustees in one meeting and the Academic Senate in another, and then go back and issue a report,” Haley said. “That sounded very much like the status quo that we’ve had on campus where we aren’t able to communicate directly with the Board of Trustees.”

The Academic Senate continued to investigate how a technical visit could be helpful, culminating in a presentation by ASCCC Representative Melissa Grimes-Hillman to the Academic Senate on Jan. 13.

According to Haley, Grimes-Hillman suggested that a technical visit might help resolve some of the issues they’ve been having and noted that a request can be made for a joint meeting between the Board of Trustees and the Academic Senate.

“At that point, we said OK, let’s do this,” Haley said.

And if the ASCCC says a joint meeting is not possible?

“Meeting separately may not be what we prefer, but it is better than no meeting at all,” said Senator Manny Perea.

Patricia Rose, Secretary of the Academic Senate, said Matt Jordan and Academic Senate President Eduardo Cairo are now in the process of arranging the technical visit.

“We want to have a collegial conversation with the Board of Trustees,” said Rose. “That is the only way we can create a productive working environment.”

NEWS

February 6, 2014

REORGANIZATION Continued from page 1

to engage in these completion-minded endeavors.”

Other members of the campus community are not so optimistic about the reorganization, which was implemented at the beginning of this semester.

Academic Senate Treasurer Daniel Haley, who was also a member of a senate study team two years ago that overlooked the consequences a possible reorganization, was not confident that the restructuring would help the faculty gain more of a voice in any way.

“There is an adverse effect.

We have 12 academic deans, and now we go down to six …

EVALUATION Continued from page 1

The Academic Senate created an Ad Hoc committee during its Nov. 18 meeting to determine whether the faculty had the power to evaluate the president and, if so, what model would be used for the evaluation.

General Counsel Gail Cooper said that only the Board of Trustees has the authority to evaluate the president.

“This is clearly set forth in Board Bylaw 1680,” Cooper said. “Should the Academic Senate attempt to proceed with an evaluation of the Superintendent/President, it would be

I think [the reorganization is] going to dilute the voice of each division,” Haley said.

Academic Senate President Eduardo Cairo was also concerned over the possibility of losing six deans who were not chosen to become the heads of the new schools. “What happens to [them]? We have no idea,” he said.

So far, former dean of languages Ted Young left and went on sabbatical at the beginning of the semester, leaving many language faculty concerned over their division.

ESL instructor Melissa Michelson was one of them.

“Many of us are in shock. It was very sad and strange to come into the office with Ted’s door closed this week,” she said via

email.

Bell sent a letter to the ESL and languages faculty earlier this semester explaining Young’s leave as going on sabbatical and welcomed their input on any concerns they had. “This leadership has never been more important than now as we move forward to define the role of the faculty in the establishment of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences,” Bell said.

Cairo voiced concern over lack of evidence the administration had to support a major college restructuring. “Where is the data?” Cairo said. “I don’t know how [the administration] came to this conclusion. As part of the Academic Senate, we are not opposed to change. But let’s see the data to support it first. ”

an unauthorized infringement on the exclusive province of the Board and therefore be ineffectual.” 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 and he would have the right to seek redress in a court of law against any individuals who participated in the defamatory statement. Cairo said that was not true, and that the faculty association’s lawyer had told Cooper as much in an Oct. 29 letter.

“Obviously, it is the Board of Trustees that hires and fires the college president as well as conducting formal evaluations

of his work,” faculty association lawyer Lawrence Rosenzweig said. “But you cannot seriously contend that other members of the campus community and the community at large cannot express opinions about the president’s performance.”

Rosenzweig went on to say that the Academic Senate was providing a “vehicle” for faculty to express their opinions about very public conduct by the president. “Why can [the district] not assume that the faculty will find something good?” asked Cairo.

“It will shed light on areas to be fixed.”

Cairo said that the faculty had been instructed to mail back the surveys by Feb. 18.

COURIER 3

Community workshop hopes to bring vision for future Jessica Arceo Staff Writer

As the 100th anniversary of PCC draws near, college stakeholders and members of the public will be given the opportunity to help create the vision for a new and improved campus that would provide students with the facilities they need for a successful education.

To help make that vision a more clear one, a Visioning Retreat Workshop for the Centennial Master Facilities Plan will be held at the Creveling Lounge on Feb. 7 and 8. These workshops will provide the community with a chance to have their voices heard on what the school’s facilities need and how to go about making the changes they want to see for PCC. The first day of the workshops begins at 8:30 a.m. and will include “workout” and “breakout sessions” that will focus on key areas that correspond to space allocations and facilities over the next seven decades, according to Facilities Executive Director of Facilities Services Rueben Smith, who is hosting the event. The second day is open to public and will involve more community involvement and sharing more about the process involving the Centennial Master Plan, the overall vision for PCC and community needs.

The overall goal of the workshops is to “generate ideas and requirements for stakehold-

ers on what their vision is for the campus...and matching the educational master plan,” said Smith.

Student organizations and community leaders were invited to attend the workshop on Friday in an effort to make sure the school is providing the best education for the community and ensure that each facility gets the help it needs through group effort in order to provide the best learning environment in Southern California, Smith said.

The Centennial Master Plan is meant to support the goals of the Educational Master Plan of educating students for the future by focusing on the facilities students will need for a better education. The plan would look at such things as college graduation and focus on areas that may have an effect on a student graduating, which could include anything from heating and cooling to impacted classes.

The plan will also have a significant impact on campus sustainability and will focus on working toward strengthening the school’s infrastructure in the most sustainable way possible by being more energy efficient as most of the cost in maintaining the campus is operations.

“I’m striving for net zero...

We’re trying to generate and reuse our own energy” Smith said.

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Today Auditions for PCC’s Spring production, LYSISTRATA, will be held at 5:30pm in C-106.

Friday Students interested in transferring to 4-year universities can attend a workshop in L-110 from noon until 1pm.

The second day of auditions for LYSISTRATA will begin at 3pm in C-106.

Saturday Men’s baseball will host a double-header against Cerro Coso in their home opener at Jackie

Robinson Memorial Field. First pitch is at 11am.

Monday Academic Senate Board meeting from 3pm-5pm in Circadian.

Tuesday Students will be able to meet with general transfer advisors to ensure that they are on the right track for transferring.

A transfer orientation workshop will also be held in L-110 from noon until 1pm. ~Compiled by Matthew Kiewiet

POLICE BLOTTER January 27th Two women were involved in a physical altercation over having relationships with the same male.

One of the females stated that her head hurt after the fight, but did not ask for medical assistance.

January 30th A 1991 Honda was stolen from Lot 4. Authorities reviewed a surveillance video from the area that showed a male Hispan-

ic 30-40 years old driving the car out of the parking lot.

February 2nd An employee of the Flea market by the name of “Nelson” reported a suspicious man entering the women’s restroom at the Forum. According to the worker the man was carrying a backpack that was possibly containing a camera. ~Compiled by Emma Koffroth

4 COURIER

Courier

2012 JACC General Excellence Award-Winner Editor-in-Chief

Parking Pass: Share the love Tiffany Roesler Assist. Online Editor

Christine Michaels Managing Editor Philip McCormick Asst. News Editor John Peters II Online Editor Justin Clay Asst. Online Editors Tiffany Roesler, Aerika Dave Opinion Editor Raymond Bernal Asst. Opinion Editor Tiffany Herrera A&E Editor Samantha Molina

February 6, 2014

OPINION

The first three weeks of every semester at PCC I’ve always neglected to purchase the $60 parking pass. It stings a little to fork up the additional cash after paying my full-time student tuition out of pocket.

And because of that I waste an additional $24 on daily parking permits. Why not $30? Well because at least three times in that span of three weeks, a fellow broke PCC student sees me unhappily approaching the

yellow money-sucking box and hands me his or her daily parking pass before I buy one.

It usually makes my day.

Unfortunately the transferring of parking passes person-to-person violates the school’s parking permit policy, according to the PCC website and on the back of the daily parking pass which reads “not transferable.”

It’s already ridiculous enough that student semester passes are $64 while staff is only paying $10 to $20 for their semester passes. The fact that someone can’t give his or her parking pass to someone else out of kindness

seems a little bit rough.

However a car-to-car transfer of parking permits (daily or semester) is 100 percent OK, and that makes perfect sense.I get it. I can switch my parking pass from one of my cars to another.

Or is it from my car to another person’s car as long as I’m in that car?

So wait, would the stranger who passed on their parking pass to me have to get in my car and place it on my dashboard to make it legal?

After all, they never gave it to me personally right?

It went through one person

from car-to-car — a smooth transition. Err... look on the bright side, it’s a good way to meet new people.

There’s no reason why a student, who has no use of his or her parking pass after their class is finished, can’t give it to someone else who could gladly use it.

The school should allow students to donate their daily parking passes so others can reuse it for that day.

Sure, the school may lose a few hundred dollars, but that’s something PCC can afford.

Share the love, and pass on your parking pass.

Pay it

Asst. A&E Editor Lucy Patrikian Features Editor Aubrey Quezada

Forward

Asst. Features Editor Monique LeBleu Lifestyle Editor Paul Ochoa Asst. Lifestyle Editor Janel Leonard

Cartoon by: Aimee Scholz

Sports Editor Daron Grandberry Asst. Sports Editor Andrew Salmi Photo Editor Antonio Gandara Asst. Photo Editor Nagisa Mihara Online Photo Editor Benjamin Simpson Scene Editor Billy Skelly Social Media Editor Concepcion Gonzales

“Affluenza” defense not a good excuse

Staff Writers: Jessica Arceo, Matthew Kiewiet, Emma Koffroth, Mary Nurrenbern, Robert Tovar, Kristina Wedseltoft

Andrew Salmi Staff Writer

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 the Journalism Department.

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Corrections The Courier staff endeavors to ensure accuracy in all aspects of its reporting. If you believe we have made an error, please contact us at (626) 585-7130 or via email to michaels.courier@gmail.com

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Nathan McIntire

be able to spoil the chances of victims to obtain justice when a criminal act has occurred.”

As a result of the case, five of the families affected by the drunk driving crash have filed civil suits against Ethan Couch, his family and Couch’s father’s business, Cleburne Metal Works.

Frankly, it is quite upsetting that this 16-year-old kid will not have to spend time in prison but instead go to a 90-day rehabilitation facility in California outside of Newport Beach that will cost the family $500,000 annually.

To many people, this would be considered a vacation instead of a punishment.

There have been very few cases, if any at all, in which a person of poor socio-economic standing has gotten a lesser sentence in court based on their subpar parental guidance and neglect they received growing up.

C NEWS. PC

Faculty Adviser

Earlier this month, Assemblyman Mike Gatto of Los Angeles introduced legislation, AB 1508, which would ban the use of “affluenza” as a defense in a legal trial in the state of California.

By definition, affluenza is the guilt or lack of motivation experienced by people who have made or inherited large amounts of money, which supposedly causes social ineptitude and sense of isolation.

The defense of affluenza has rightfully come into the public spotlight after national outrage emerged from the case of 16-year-old Ethan Couch of Texas, who was given 10 years of probation and therapy in December following his drunken joyride in his father’s Ford F-350 in June 2013.

I also view it as a way to ensure that people who come from privileged backgrounds will not get a different type of justice.”

“The Texas case left a lot of people wondering how someone could kill four people and not do any jail time. I think this will change that landscape a little bit by saying this will not be tolerated in California,” Gatto said.

Gatto also added in a press release that criminals should not be able to use their socio-economic background or privileges as a defense to lessen the severity of their trial sentence.

People should own up to their own actions and obtain equal justice, regardless of wealth or power.

“Perhaps the notion of personal responsibility seems antiquated to some,” said Gatto in a press release on January 15. “Spoiled children shouldn’t

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Staff Photographers: Joseph Adajar, Josh Balmadrid, Jorell Brittenum, Victoria De La Torre, Andrew French, Chris Martinez, Mary Nurrenbern, Barney Soto, Daniel Valencia, Rocio Vera, Charles Winners

Couch killed four people and seriously injured a few others on the side of a road.

His lawyers basically argued that since Couch was so spoiled in his upbringing, he did not have the concept of what was acceptable and his lack of responsibility was somehow justified.

The most disturbing thing about the case is how this boy avoided jail time because of his ignorance was used as an excuse for breaking the law.

Couch killed four people, but because of his high socio-economic standing, not understanding the consequences of his actions was actually used to keep him out of jail as a defense in court.

“I view this legislation as a line in the sand about personal responsibility,” Gatto said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times earlier this month, “but

OPINION

February 6, 2014

COURIER

5

Will the Sochi Olympics have security issues?

Too tempting for terrorists Sochi safely locked down Robert Tovar Staff Writer

Matthew Kiewiet Staff Writer

The 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi will soon be upon us, bringing many athletes from across the globe. Other participants, however, may not be so welcome. Specifically, terrorist groups will also be looking to make history by causing irreparable damage to what should be a moment of celebration.

In a press conference held at Sochi last Monday, Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), addressed the readiness of the organization and the measures in place to ensure the safety of the athletes and guests.

“Sochi is fully ready,” said Bach during a report on NBC News.

The U.S. State Department has issued an official travel alert specifically to its citizens traveling to Sochi to “remain attentive at all times.” The alert continues by informing travelers that Russia had experienced bombings and the taking of hostages.

The current data only seems to give credence to the fact that attacks during the games have occurred more during the events than at other times, regardless of the security measures in place at the time.

That leads one to wonder why the IOC has such confidence in their current apparatus. If an act of terrorism takes place during his watch, Bach will certainly be in an awkward position.

In the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, the games were violently interrupted when a pipe bomb hidden inside a nondescript backpack that killed a person and caused severe injuries to over a hundred spectators, according to CNN. The perpetrator was identified as Eric Rudolph, who is now serving multiple-life sentences in prison.

The growing concerns for the safety of the athletes and their families do not stop at the IOC or the State Department. Some of the U.S. athletes have asked their families not to accompany them on their trip to Sochi.

Presently, given the events already unfolding in Russia, it is impossible to guarantee that the safety precautions are perfect and that all the contingencies have been addressed. Furthermore, it is impossible to predict that even though some of the terrorists have been identified, it is now safe.

Russian officials are currently seeking several suspects and the photos of the suspects have been circulated to the public. The fact that the posters exist is proof that Security at the games have already been compromised and that there is good possibility that a threat may be imminent rather than a possibility.

It is impossible to prepare for all the contingencies during an attack. It is up to IRC to develop a unilateral plan open to scrutiny by top officials in other countries and at the same time keep communication open to other countries so that in the event of a crises. Vital information as to the identity and characteristics of known terrorists groups in a particular county is shared. Logistics in troop movement and transportation, as well as countermeasures should be readily available to many countries regardless of its political implication.

As the Sochi Winter Olympics draw near, the focus of the world seems to be mostly on the security, and not the athletes.

Nyet: These are certainly threats to take seriously; however, the Winter Olympics are and will continue to be one of the safest places in the world from now through the end of the winter games.

Mikhail (Misha) Myagkov, the Vice President of Student Affairs at the Skolkovo Institute of Technology in Moscow, Ph.D. in political science from the California Institute of Technology, and an expert on Russian politics, said that the War on Terror is, “an international problem that all countries are aware of.”

Myagkov often comments on how things in Russia aren’t always done with the most efficiency.

However, he went on to add that he was “impressed with how much effort the Russians have put in.”

Obviously there are some events that will be more secure than others.

For example, a hockey arena is much easier to police than a cross-country skiing course.

But, “given the resources and effort, the chances for significant events are low,” he said.

Major news networks such as the BBC and ESPN have described Sochi as being completely cut off from the rest of the world.

In addition to there being over 100,000 security personnel present, it is impossible to get anywhere near the city unless you have sufficient authorization.

The only areas that are even remotely vulnerable to attack are the transportation stations outside of Sochi.

It is hard to imagine that terrorist groups would waste their resources on such small targets.

Something else to think about: are the Olympics in Sochi the only place in the world where a large number of people are gathering?

There are any number of sporting events (the World Cup) and concerts going on around the world that attract hundreds of thousands of people.

Certainly threats should not be taken lightly. But out of all of the large events where terrorism is a possibility, the Winter Olympics are probably the safest.

Finally, from a terrorist’s perspective, wouldn’t an attack be more successful if it were a surprise?

If Muslim extremists had told the United States that they were going to attack the World Trade Center or the Pentagon, they probably would not have gotten very far on September 11.

Also, by making threats ahead of time, the terrorist attacks have technically already been carried out.

People are walking around scared to death, which is exactly what terrorist groups want to accomplish.

Da:

VOICES:

What are your thoughts on security at the Sochi Olympics?

“It is sad, even during the worst of times people could get together for the Olympics. It is sad how people aren’t going.”

Jessica Cavallarin, psychology

“The media has taken it out of context and put too much concentration on the terrorist threats instead of on the event itself.”

Steve Tse, kinesiology

“It is the government’s job to make the Olympics safe...There shouldn’t be an event if there is security issues or any flaws.”

Efrain Jacobo, electric engineering

“People should do whatever they feel safe with.

If it was me, I wouldn’t go.”

Jaleisa Jacobs, broadcast journalism

“I just feel like it is an ongoing issue with terrorists. If they are not going to cancel [the Olympics], it is an unfortunate situation.”

Jonathan Reed, fashion marketing

“I haven’t been keeping up with [the news on the Olympics], the last thing I heard was about banning gay people.”

Alanna Carroll, visual arts

“I would say take into consideration how the athletes feel. If they are willing to have the Olympics, [we should keep it].”

Jose Martinez, business

“If there are threats, we shouldn’t have that many people there. Safety is the biggest concern for athletes.”

Estevan Arias, business

“It is an Olympic event so people shouldn’t boycott it because it is a creation of a social gathering [for] nations to create peace.”

Jeffrey Kwak, accounting

“If the United States were as concerned as some of the countries were, we shouldn’t have gone.”

Evan Sotelo, EOP college assistant

Reporting by: Mary Nurrenbern / Photos by: Andrew French

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February 6, 2014 COURIER

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FEATURES

COURIER

February 6, 2014

Naked art is something to be celebrated Christine Michaels Editor-in-Chief

Hidden in the Center for the Arts on the third floor, a secluded hallway leads to two heavy wooden doors. On it a sign reads: “Studio entrance is restricted to students enrolled in drawing classes only.”

I put my hand over my eyes as the doors opened to a long hallway with walls covered in paintings and drawings of nude men and women holding various poses. This is the artwork of students in the Life Drawing courses where the human form in all its naked glory is something to be celebrated.

Finally inside a full classroom of students sat behind their easels as they diligently drew a depiction of Beth Swindle (whose last name was changed to respect her privacy) the model sitting with one arm over the back of her black wooden chair, her breasts fully exposed and he legs crossed in a relaxed manner.

“Still [nude] art is a celebration of vulnerability,” she said during a break from her pose. “It wasn’t just a cheap trick that is seen in a bunch of movies. It’s more a beautiful and refreshing form of

Joseph Adejar/Courier A studtent diligently works on a sketch of a nude model in the Life Drawing course.

media with out the Photo Shop.”

The centuries old art form has had some challenges in the last decade with the rise in technology, especially camera phones, according to Joseph Futtner, a dean in the school of visual, media and performing arts.

“There was a concern that privacy laws were being violated,”

Futtner said. “There is a certain potential in using technology to be voyeuristic if not outright invasive.”

Swindle described a few instances when students in a college life drawing class did take pictures of her posing with out asking permission.

“The only full on tooth and

nail fight I was in was over a camera phone,” she said. “[The student] ended up putting pictures of me on twitter. It was very uncomfortable.”

But luckily, Swindle hasn’t had any problems at PCC. Illustration student Andrew Malaby described the life drawing class as helpful.

“It’s really a great learning experience,” he said. “It’s different to learn the human form especially with a nude model. It’s how you learn best.”

Jim Morphesis, a life-drawing instructor, was pleased that his students have respected the model and the art form.

“Now everyone is used to having a cell phone,” he said.

“But it hasn’t been a problem in my classes thankfully.”

Futtner described the class as an opportunity for students to develop their skills.

“It gives students the necessary skill development of their work from more abstract ideas to the realistic form of the human anatomy,” he said.

Illustration major John Tommy, who wishes to go to an art university, agreed that life drawing is giving him the skills to draw proportionately.

“It’s a good practice. To draw from real life as much as possible is valuable,” he said.

Swindle was glad to be able to help the students better understand the human form in a time when the world is over sexualizing nearly everything.

“It is really lovely,” she said.

“You feel very comfortable to be really seen and not sexualized.”

I-8 Food Services’ culinary artistry feeds The Piazza Monique LeBleu Asst. Features Editor

Seeking to overcome the stigma of being known as just a cafeteria with an essentially captive audience, I-8 Food Services’ collective team of chefs, servers, and management staff strives to bring popular hot dishes and ready-to-eat foods on demand and customized to the particular tastes of both local and international students and school staff.

Catering Manager Pai Pispratuang oversees the preparation of the massive volume of food necessary to feed nearly 27,000 students and teaching and administrative staff annually. Using the previous semester’s overall consumption as a guide, she noticed patterns in the way people on campus eat.

“People are eating healthier,” she said.

“About two or three years ago, they started eating more sandwiches, salads and juice, such as Naked Juice. And more vegetarian and vegan. The Asian line is very popular.”

In the Piazza alone, the staff serves 300 dozen eggs, 76 gallons of milk, 220 large pizzas, 650 bananas, 750 bottles of “Naked Juice” and a combined 2,200 pounds of lettuce, tomatoes, chicken, and assorted fresh fruit to about 3,600 hungry people, every week.

“It’s the executive chef who decides the whole menus for us,” Pispratuang said. “And that is based on the sales from previous years - the previous semester and see what we sell the most.“ Even with weekly set menus, The Piazza caters to the average student with stations serving made to order burgers, hot and cold sandwiches, baked potatoes, and blended protein and iced drinks, as well as the popular Asian and Italian lines, which change daily.

In addition to providing daily food for the campus, the company also provides catering for meetings and special events, such as that of a recent on-campus mixer in the Creveling Lounge. For the annual Black Student Alliance Mixer, students were treated to a spread featuring chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, macaroni and

Josh Balmadrid/Courier Pasadena City College I-8 Food Services catering for the Black Student Alliance Mixer meeting on Jan. 30.

Josh Balmadrid/Courier Not only does I-8 cater for meetings, they also prepare fresh ready-to-eat meals daily for the school cafeteria, The Piazza.

cheese, a colorful mélange of fresh fruit and assortments of brownies, chocolate pastries and squares of iced cakes.

As they enjoyed select desserts of iced carrot cake and fresh fruit to end their meal, students Elyse Mitchell, Charmaine Bolton and Kayla Hillery shared preferences compared to previous mixers catered.

“I like it when there is Mexican food,” said Hillery, referring to a past mixer.

“The chicken and the mac and cheese is good,” said Mitchell. “But the chicken wingettes were the best last time.”

The catering facilities, kitchen, and serving and prep stations are the product of a fairly recent renovation. Its previous incarnation was the Checkers Cafeteria.

The name was changed to the Piazza in August 2009, according to Stephanie Pulcifer in the Project Center. Owner Ty Yu and his company I-8 have been providing food services for Pasadena City College, El Camino College and the school district for about 10 years, according to Pispratuang.

“I came to work for I-8 Food Services

about seven years ago, four years working at the Piazza. “ Pispratuang said. “Then I transferred over here. I started as a general manager in El Camino College and I worked my way up.”

The enormous kitchen contains three cooking stations: a grill for the Asian foods and a fryer, a grill for breakfast, and a grill for other hot foods. In addition, there is a baking station for breads, pastries and other baked goods, as well as a pizza oven.

All of these stations double in use for the Culinary Arts classes, which take place in facilities next to the kitchens, as well as the kitchen and prep stations. Storage areas keep commonly used china, catering china, and items that are used exclusively for special events.

From the warm and inviting offices filled with bright colors and Tiffany lamp lighting reflective of her personality and charisma, Pispratuang beamed with pride on the facilities and staff that she manages.

“I love being here,” Pispratuang said.

“We all love being here.”

February 6, 2014

There’s more to motorcycles than meets the eye Paul Ochoa Lifestyle Editor

Just like with smoking and drag racing, your life expectancy decreases when you mount a motorcycle. Yet people continue to straddle their crotch rockets, their choppers, their iron sleds despite the danger.

For Michael Gougis, journalism instructor, just a glimpse of one as a kid was enough to get him hooked for life.

“I saw some pictures of the Daytona 200 in Sports Illustrated when I was very young and I was in love,” Gougis said.

“It was like a formula racecar I could ride on the streets, on the way here I did about 132 mph on the freeway.”

Others like Jessica Valentine, math instructor, were raised around them and have been infatuated with them since childhood. She first began riding at the age 9.

“I rode for a couple of years when I was young,” Valentine said. “It was my dad’s babysitter, we’d go out to the middle of nowhere and I’d ride.”

And for some like Camilo Rocha, psychology, it was an unexplainable desire inside him.

Even though he knew people who rode, he was never really interested until one day the desire to ride overtook him.

“Honestly I just woke up one day and decided I wanted a mo-

torcycle,” Rocha said. The bug bit me while I was sleeping.”

Though there are economical, communal, and environmental reasons for getting a motorcycle, a vast majority of riders do it for reasons beyond that. For most, things like good gas mileage are just an added bonus.

“It can be economical,” Gougis said. “My motorcycle can accelerate faster than any Ferrari. It gets 45 MPG, I can lane split, and parking is often a lot easier. But the biggest benefit is that every day I get to ride a motorcycle and it brings me a great deal of joy.”

Student Nahun Ochoa, business, rides a sport bike to campus. For Ochoa, the biggest benefit to riding is the feeling of freedom that you can’t get with a car.

“There’s no better feeling than riding a motorcycle, there’s nothing like feeling that wind.

It’s such a liberating feeling and not everybody gets to experience that feeling,” Ochoa said.

Choosing which type of motorcycle to get is also a major part of it. Just like people, no two motorcycles are the same.

Some are built for speed—like sport bikes—while others are built for comfort—like cruisers.

For many riders, their choice of motorcycle is often a reflection or extension of their personality.

“My choice reflects my personality: rationally extreme,” said Gougis, who rides a sport bike.

LIFESTYLE

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Andrew French/Courier Instructor Jessica Valentine rides her CBR 600 RR out of the PCC Parking Lot 1 on Monday.

Ochoa described just some of the different styles of motorcycles and what the riders who choose them want out of their bikes.

“It all depends on the spirit of the person,” he said. “You got the Harley guys who like to cruise and the crotch rocket guys who like to go fast.”

While all this may seem like a series of testimonials from a motorcycle company to gain new riders, the reality is just like anything else in life, motorcycles also have their drawbacks. While purchasing one may be inexpensive, a lot of money goes into it after buying the bike.

“Everyone thinks you’re going to save so much money by riding a bike but you spend money on maintenance,” Valentine said.

Sometimes it is not the bike itself that the rider is spending money on but rather the safety gear they wear. Gougis, who spent over $900 alone on just

safety gloves and a helmet, feels gear is essential. “I wear the best safety gear money can buy, my helmet was $700 and my gloves were $200.”

While there are other minor drawbacks, like not being able to carry too many things on a motorcycle and exposure to inclement weather, the number one drawback is the risk factor involved. Unlike a car, you do not have four walls protecting you, which is why safety gear is a must when riding. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association there were 318 motorcycle deaths in California, in 2012.

“I’m real carful on the freeway because it’s a real good way to get killed. It can be frightening and it’s more dangerous than driving,” Gougis said.

Despite riding as a kid, Valentine waited to ride again after her kids turned 18 because of the risk involved. But despite

that, she feels riders must decide for themselves if the benefits outweigh the risk.

“There is a risk factor in everything you do,” Valentine said.

“Even getting in a car, there’s just a balance of the benefits outweighing the risk.”

As for the “outlaw” stigma attached to people who ride motorcycles, Gougis feels that riding can negatively influence personal relationships because of the risk involved.

“The real stigma nowadays is that people are afraid to get close to you because of the danger factor [involved with riding],” Gougis said.

For those thinking about getting a motorcycle, Rocha highly recommends that they take a motorcycle safety course.

“It’s a great thing for people who want to ride, even guys who had been riding for a long time realized they had been doing certain things wrong,” he said.

Blaze it up with fast fired pizza Samantha Molina Staff Writer

It takes 180

Review seconds to make

Andrew French/Courier Zach Guzman prepares a pizza for a customer at the popular Blaze Pizza on Colorado Boulevard on Monday.

a pizza right in front of your eyes at Blaze Pizza—the same amount of time it takes to get a regular hamburger from a fast-food restaurant.

“Our thin crust pizza is made in three minutes but still has the same delicious taste as any other restaurant,” employee Raeven Watson said.

The delectable scent of baked-from-scratch dough and fresh ingredients as well as affable employees welcome customers as they begin their short journey down the assembly line of fixings. The restaurant has the same assembly line serving as Subway and Chipotle. The style of the restaurant is also reminiscent of Chipotle’s simple and modern interior.

Blaze offers nine signature pizzas for veggie and meat lovers alike. From the “Meat Eater” to the “Veg Out” to your own custom pizza, Blaze has something to satisfy everyone’s taste buds.

Chloe Villanueva, top, tosses a pizza in the oven at the popular Blaze Pizza on Colorado Boulevard on Monday.

A pizza box, right, sits ready and waiting to go.

According to their website the pizzas are “fast fire’d, perfectly crisp perfection.”

“My personal favorite is the ‘Veg Out’ but I usually recommend the build your own option because it lets customers make their own special signature pizza with whatever toppings they choose,” Watson said.

They even offer vegan cheese, gluten-free crust and salads for those not in the mood for pizza, all made with the same fresh ingredients.

“Being vegan, there aren’t many places around campus where I can go to eat,” Sophia Geyser, art history, said. “I love that I get a good quality pizza topped with anything I want in such a short time and for a low cost.”

Although the wait can be rather long depending on the hour you go, a smiling staff and savory, mouth-watering pizzas are well worth the wait.

A&E

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February 6, 2014

Alumni produce award winning films Kristina Wedseltoft Staff Writer

MoonHill Productions, an independent production company started in 2009, began with the goal of filming local while creating smart and intelligent movies that have never been thought of before.

MoonHill was started by husband and wife team Richard Moon and Isabel (Junie) Hildebrandt. After finishing their first film “Driving By Braille” they hired Colleen Kelly to be their unit production manager.

Moon and Hildebrandt attended PCC and went on to pursue degrees in physics and biology before even considering a career in production.

“He’s a writer, but I steered him away from writing a novel,” said Hildebrandt “I said why don’t you try writing screenplays.

And he fell in love with the format, which he’s good at.”

Moon began pitching scripts as a producer rather than a writer, which prompted Hildebrandt to quit her job as a research scientist and begin a new career as a producer.

Kelly moved to California from the suburbs of Chicago in 2003 for a “life experience” and began her career in reality

TV before meeting Moon and Hildebrandt and joining their team.

This year MoonHill Productions will be screening both their films “Salvage” and “Zombeo and Juliécula” at the first annual Pasadena International Film Festival to be held Feb. 12 to 16 at the Laemmle Theatre.

“Salvage” follows several women from Skid Row and tells their story they transition between different stages of their life and the special circumstances they each face. “Salvage” has already won a Telly Award as well as “Best Short Documentary” at the Action on Film festival in Monrovia.

“We’re excited by ‘Salvage’ because we’re bringing in Scott Johnson, the Chief Operating Officer of Union Rescue Mission,” Kelly said. “As well as many local politicians and local Pasadena people, family and friends who get to see if for the first time,” Hildebrandt added.

“Zombeo and Juliécula” is a fun, family friendly film about friendship and bullying while expanding children’s knowledge. It deals with racism, segregation and prejudices that cause conflict between the zombie, vampire, human students and teacher—a twist on the classical “Romeo and Juliet”.

“It’s like feeding children Shakespeare without them knowing it,” said Hildebrandt. “It’s smart and made for family watching”.

MoonHill showed “Zombeo and Juliécula” at the Eerie Horror Fest in Erie, Pennsylvania where it won best short screenplay in 2012. “Zombeo and Juliécula” also won four Telly Awards in

2013 and Best Family Film at the California Film Awards.

MoonHill has already been quite successful and has no intention of slowing down. They’re currently working on several more projects that are continuously growing as well as pitching “Zombeo and Juliécula” as a TV series.

Benjamin Simpson/Courier Junie Hilderbrandt and Colleen Kelly, both owner/producers of MoonHill Productions, at work in their office on Lake Avenue on Friday Jan. 31. MoonHill is an independent film production company producing small independent films on a budget.

Artist in residence creates visual experiences Kristina Wedseltoft Staff Writer

Casey Reas, the 2014 PCC artist-in-residence, explained the inspiration for his “Yes No” Exhibition and how he creates his one-of-a-kind works of art Monday night.

“I focus on visual arts and software,” Reas said. “I use software for a visual experience, creating a visual system as a way of showing and producing art.”

Since his first gallery showing in 2002, Reas has created hundreds of pieces of art by writing software.

“Software doesn’t mean technical code… It’s a much more broad technical term that works in a set of rules or instructions,” Reas said.

There is a pattern that has always existed in Reas’ installations. The interface, where the software is running, is in the front and behind is a series of prints.

“It’s important to me to have a series of prints,” Reas said.

“The way I work with software is instead of producing an ob-

ject or image, I produce a system in which I can explore a wide range of images.”

Reas said he likes this type of artwork because “every work is open for interpretation.” Since the software only sets the limitations of the design, there is a

different outcome every time the program runs.

Reas sometimes revisits his previous works a decade later and continues to work on it.

Reas says this is “what is unique to software, it’s always ready to modified.”

During a question and answer with the artist, a student asked Reas the significance of color in his works.

“I think of color as sound in film. Not a principle element, but affecting the mood of the core structure, leaving focus on

the form,” Reas said.

Friday will mark the end of Reas’ residency at PCC. There will be a closing reception and award presentation where Reas will donate a piece of his work beginning at 12 p.m. in the art gallery.

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change everything.

Benjamin Simpson/Courier Casey Reas, Artist in Residence, speaks in the Vosloh Forum about the creation of his work “Yes No” on Monday, Feb. 3.

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February 6, 2014

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Women’s basketball handles LA Harbor Daron Grandberry Sports Editor

Benjamin Simpson/Courier Sophomore forward Brandi DuBose (15) scores a layup in a 73-55 win over LA Harbor on Wednesday, Feb. 5.

The Lancers women’s basketball team fought for a very important cause Wednesday in its 73-55 victory over visiting Los Angeles Harbor College.

Sporting their special white uniforms with pink accents for the ‘Coaches vs. Cancer’ event, the No. 4 ranked Lancers’ fast paced offense proved too much for the Seahawks.

The Lancers were balanced offensively, with five players scoring in double-figures. Sophomore forward Brandi DuBose was impressive on both sides of the floor with 13 points, nine rebounds and five steals.

“Brandi did awesome,” Dillard said. “She stepped up in Parks’ absence, and really played well on both sides of the floor.”

The Lancers attacked the Seahawks with their defensive pressure and overall hustle, forcing 26 turnovers. Despite the 18-point victory, sophomore point guard Desiree Loving was unhappy with the team’s slow start.

“I think we came out sluggish,” Loving said.

“Honestly, as a captain, I feel we could’ve been better on defense. We could’ve executed on offense better and took better shots.”

The Lancers were playing without several starters but didn’t need them in the victory over the Seahawks.

“We did well without our starting center,” assistant coach La’Nette Dillard said. “We could have done better. We certainly missed her and our backup center Bailey Williams.”

Sophomore center Kaitlyn Parks missed the

game with a sprained ankle and Williams missed the game due to a death in the family.

“I came down wrong in the last game and sprained my ankle,” Parks said. “I’m doing better and I should be back against Mt. SAC Sophomore guard Tyler Crockom led the Lancers with 16 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Loving finished the game with 12 points, nine rebounds and two steals. Sophomore guard Skai Thompson recorded 12 points and sophomore guard Kiara Phillips added 10 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals for the Lancers.

“Our sophomores really stepped up tonight and took control,” Parks said. “We started off slow and our momentum was a little slow and we allowed LA Harbor to get more points than they should have.”

Despite the loss of both their centers, the lancers outrebounded the Seahawks 53-52 and recorded 16 steals on the night.

“We could’ve used KP (Parks) on the boards but we did fairly well,” DuBose added. “We definately need to work on our defense before the next game and hit our shot.”

The Coaches vs. Cancer program empowers coaches, their teams, and communities to join the fight against cancer by participating in awareness efforts, advocacy programs, and fundraising activities.

The Lancers travel to play East Los Angeles College (14-10, 4-5) on Friday. Tip off is scheduled for 5 p.m. The Lancers will seek revenge at home against conference rivals Mt. San Antonio College on Friday, Feb. 14.

Baseball cruises to first win, outfielder awarded Andrew Salmi Asst. Sports Editor

After 14 straight losses going back to the 2013 season, the PCC baseball team finally achieved their first victory of the 2014 season as they defeated the Antelope Valley College Marauders on the road by a score of 9-6 on Friday, Jan. 31.

The Lancers, who now have a record of 1-3 on the season, managed to flex their muscle in their second game of the season against AVC. The offense has been led by freshman outfielder PJ DeZotell, who won the “Southern California Player of the Week” award in California Community College Baseball. DeZotell stormed onto the scene in his first week as a collegiate athlete, totaling six hits and four RBI’s in 12 at-bats.

“I’m very honored to be included in such an elite category and I’m very satisfied to accomplish a feat like this so early in my college baseball career,” said DeZotell regarding his award.

“My teammates were just as happy as I was when they found out I won the award and hopefully it will give us confidence throughout the season.”

In the victory over AVC on Friday, all nine starters for the Lancers on offense reached base at least once as they tallied 13 hits and patiently drew nine walks from AVC pitchers.

Outside of DeZotell, the Lancers had three hits from sophomore shortstop Bob-

by Fraijo and two hits from sophomore catcher Jason Clark.

Freshman third baseman Jerry Ponce and freshman outfielder Steven San Miguel each had RBI doubles in the win.

Clark has been impressed with the pitchers, especially the poise showed by freshman starting pitcher Jason Marquez in the victory over AVC. Marquez, who got off to a rocky start in the first inning by giving up three runs, pitched the following four innings without giving up a single hit. He was relieved in the sixth inning by sophomore pitcher Tim Shiba.

Despite losing 2-1 Saturday to AVC and then 5-2 to Oxnard College on Tuesday, the Lancer pitching has been very solid and looks to get even better. DeZotell is confident in his teammates and head coach Evan O’Meara going forward.

“Coach O’Meara often preaches about playing baseball one pitch at a time,” said DeZotell. “We never let the last play or pitch affect the possible outcome of the present pitch.”

After playing one more road game against Oxnard College on Feb. 6, the Lancers will finally play their home opener in a doubleheader against Cerro Coso College.

The two games will be on Saturday, Feb. 8 at Brookside Park’s Jackie Robinson Memorial Field at 11 a.m. followed by the second game at 2 p.m. The Lancers will also host LA Mission College on Tuesday at 2 p.m.

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International Flavor

Kristina Wedseltoft Staff Writer

Kiara Phillips has always dreamed of coming to the United States to pursue a degree in psychology and biomechanics and a possible career in professional basketball, and that dream begins for her at PCC. “The WNBA has always been my dream as well as having the chance to play at college level,” Phillips said. “PCC was a blessing in itself. I visited Pasadena 2 years ago and fell in love with this place… I was almost certain that I was going to end up in the United States whether it be for basketball or to live.”.

Phillips started playing basketball with her father when she was just seven years old.

“From a very young age we kind of picked it up and just went to the park every day, even if it was raining and hooped along side my twin sister Tenaya,” Phillips said.

Phillips draws inspiration from many different experiences but credits her father and WNBA star Monica Wright as her biggest inspirations.

“He taught me everything I need to know about the game and still to this day teaches me new things to implement,” Phillips said about her father. “I can speak to him about anything whether it’s with school, or ways I can improve my game.”

Phillips met Wright, a guard for the Minnesota Lynx, in Australia.

“She came out to play in our pro league and from day one my family with open arms welcomed her into our family and she has just been such an inspiration in my life,” Phillips said. “Her faith is something I have always loved.

She has taught me never to shy away from the word and to stay strong through anything. She is probably the most beautiful girl I have ever met”.

La’Nette Dillard, the assistant coach for the women’s basketball team, said that Phillips was extremely shy when first joining the team. But as time went on, Phillips became an outgoing and inspirational teammate.

Phillips always leads the charge at the beginning of the game, usually getting her hands on the ball and making the first six points of the game. She is seen as one of the best 3-point shooters on the team.

“It sets her a part from any other player in our conference.”

Dillard mentioned. Phillips has shot 26.1 percent from beyond the arc this season.

“What sets Phillips apart is her IQ of the game, the way she has been trained and the way she uses her strengths to her advantage,” head coach Joseph Peron said. “She’s been trained to play basketball differently, but trained very well”.

Andrew French/Courier Double majoring in psychology and biomechanics, sophomore guard Kiara Phillips balances both athletics and education.

Peron’s main goal is to make sure Phillips stays healthy after missing 13 games due to an injury. Peron agreed that Phillips is a strong 3-point shooter, as well as a good defensive player.

He added that Phillips “brings us an international flavor to basketball, the way she moves on the floor and the way she passes”. Dillard agreed, saying she brought her “Australian swag” to the team.

Over the many years Peron has been coaching, he’s had

many players from foreign countries and sees it as an asset to the team.

“We’re not used to the way other countries play,” said Peron.

“They’ve been trained differently, and that makes them seem as a threat to the other team.”

Phillips hopes to play in the WNBA and travel the world while playing basketball.

“I’m taking baby steps and working very hard to reach my goal,” she said. “I want to complete a double degree at a

Division 1 college.”

Both Peron and Dillard see Phillips moving on to a 4-year university with a top-ranked basketball program and possibly having an opportunity to have a professional career. And she hopes a philosophy focused on hard work will help her reach those goals.

“Never give up. Always work hard,” she said. “…At the end of the day the person that works the hardest and wants it more will be rewarded.”

Player of the week Softball blanked 8-0 at home vs. Citrus College, fall to 2-4 Daron Grandberry Sports Editor

Benjamin Simpson/ Courier Sophomore forward/guard Tyler Crockom was named the Courier Player of the week for games played Jan. 27 through Feb. 2. Crockom averaged 13.5 points, nine rebounds, six assists and two steals in the Lancers’ two victories. Against Long Beach City College Crockom scored 14 points, 12 rebounds and six assists.

The Lancers’ softball team (2-4) was held scoreless and had just one hit for the third straight game in an 8-0 defeat against visiting Citrus College, Tuesday.

Despite another tough loss, first year head coach Monica Tantlinger remains optimistic about the growth and talent of this year’s team.

“I still think our pitchers are looking good,” Tantlinger said. “Obviously the score is not indicative of that, but our pitchers are getting better each game and learning from their mistakes.”

Against Citrus College, the Lancers were up against a talented pitching duo in pitchers Arianna Sanchez and Miranda Gil. The pair limited the Lancers to one hit Tuesday as the Owls blanked the Lancers in the non-conference game at Jackie Robinson Park.

“As a team we’re way better than last year,” sophomore outfielder Vanessa Contreras said. “We have great chemistry on the field. We have to communicate more and keep our energy up throughout the entire game.”

The Lancers picked up their lone hit on a single up the middle by second baseman Audrey Serna with two outs in the fourth inning. Playing in its season opener, the Owls hit back-to-back home runs by lefty hitter Sara Moore and Gil in the fifth and final inning.

“We have to continue to play together as a team,” sophomore infielder Audrey Serna said.

“Our energy is the key. We have to remain focused and energized the entire game.”

The only other hard hit ball by the Lancers was earlier in the game when right fielder Vanessa Cor-

tez pulled a monster drive that went foul behind the left-field pole by a few feet.

“We need to execute hits,” Tantlinger added.

“We’ve only had one hit in each of our last three games, and obviously we’re not going to win games that way. Our hitting has come together in practice and now it’s just about mentally pulling the trigger.”

Through six games, catcher Allison Lacey leads the team in batting with a .500 average (7-for-14).

The Lancers travel to play Moorpark College today. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

Photo Courtesy of Richard Quinton/Sports Information Lancer freshman Vanessa Cortez swings vs.

Citrus on Tuesday, Feb. 4 at Robinson Park.