PCC Courier 03/21/13

EDITORIAL: Reinstate winter, Page 4

COURIER

Bangin’ Orchestra brings in the Spring

Pasadena City College

Page 8» Volume 107, Issue 7

The independent student voice of PCC. Serving Pasadena Since 1915.

Online edition pccCourier.com Facebook PCC Courier Twitter @pccCourier March 21, 2013

Campus seethes Community buzzing after no confidence votes presented to Board COURIER STAFF

Members of the campus community are sad and seething with disappointment over the actions of the administration after the presentation of two historic votes of no confidence at the March 13 Board of Trustees meeting.

Education instructor David McCabe said the votes were of great importance.

“It is significant and it is powerful. These are tactics that are very seldom used,” he said. “It’s something that [the administration] should really pay attention to … I’m kind of interested to see what happens in November.”

Board President John Martin said the statement released to the Courier on March 5, which expressed the Board’s “unanimous and unequivocal support for the President / Superintendent” sufficed as the Board’s comment on issues brought up during the meeting.

“I think the statement is suffi-

cient,” Martin said.

Repeated attempts to reach other members of the Board for comment were unsuccessful.

Television Instructor Carmen Porreca saw the votes as unprecedented.

“I think it’s completely significant. I have been here for 37 years and in all that time I have

Senate holds extraordinary session ANTHONY RICHETTS Online Editor

ing the administration.

Three of the committee members presenting the results to the Board read an official statement from the committee.

“This vote underscores the fact that 92 percent of full-time voting faculty agree, amongst other things, that President Rocha impeded student success, violated student and faculty trust, and, in general, brought about destruc-

At an extraordinary meeting of the To watch a video Academic Senate on of the entire meeting Monday, College visit President Mark pccCourier.com Rocha dodged hostile questions from Senate members and the public when he defended his administration in a session that suspended official Senate business for two hours.

In an attempt to quell growing antipathy towards his administration and the Board of Trustees, the embattled Rocha not only sidestepped straightforward questions about the status of the campus and the benefits of the new threesemester calendar, but also accusations that his administration has created a hostile environment on campus.

Languages Instructor Nancy Rutzen started the Q&A session with impassioned words about the atmosphere on campus.

“There is a clique here of seven people who are running the campus, that are perceived as lackeys doing your bidding, and there has been a consolidation of power that has never existed here before” said Rutzen, who has worked at the college for over a decade.“There seems to be no respect for faculty, for students, for deans, for the institution.

There is a spirit of fear on this campus that never

Continued on page 8

Continued on page 9

Matthew Chan / Courier

Faculty panel cites ‘crisis of leadership’ ANTHONY RICHETTS Online Editor

More than 90 percent of faculty has no confidence in the administration of PCC President Mark Rocha, according to a vote presented by an Ad Hoc Faculty Committee to the Board of Trustees on March 15.

The committee said a “crisis of leadership” had engulfed the college.

Five members of the ad hoc commit-

tee, instructors Patricia Rose, Melissa Michelson, Karen Carlisi, Jill O’Hora and Mary-Erin Crook presented the full results of the committee’s February faculty-wide poll during the public comment section of the meeting.

According to their statement, 213 full-time, active faculty participated in the vote. Of the 204 valid ballots received, 188 have no confidence in the administration, with only 16 support-

‘Extended Spring’ registration set for April Students will have to wait a while longer – until April 8 – to register for “Extended Spring” classes, officials said this week.

And faculty won’t know their summer assignments for sure, even then.

But, students won’t be able to view the 400 sections of classes to be offered in the new session until about March 26 when they will be

Continued on page 11

President defends his administration

Karen Carlisi, Jill O’Hara, and Melissa Michelson of an ad-hoc faculty committee present on the CC Building steps on March 13, the results of a vote in which more than 90 percent expressed no confidence in the president.

PHILIP MCCORMICK Staff Writer

never seen a vote of no confidence against the president,” Porreca said.

Humanities Instructor Hugo Schwyzer said the no confidence votes were justified.

“The administration is distrusted by all the stakeholders on campus — faculty, students,

posted online, Senior Vice President Robert Bell said in an interview Tuesday.

Even though registration is set to begin April 8, the final class schedule can still undergo changes. “There very likely may be changes that occur in the sections between when they are posted to the web and when they are released for registration,” said Interim Manager of Enrollment, Planning and Research David Colley. “During any schedule

building process, there are small changes that occur even into registration. It is preliminary in that it is subject to change.”

Through all of the confusion, teachers don’t know yet what they will be getting paid during “Extended Spring.”

“I need to make sure with [Human Resources] exactly how they are going to be paid,” said Bell. “But they will not be underpaid and will definitely be paid.”

Continued on page 10

Showcase Tom LaDuke is introduced by Visual Arts and Media Studies Dean Joe Futtner as this semester’s artist in residence.

Story / Page 3 Caitlin KellyThompson / Courier

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News

Courier

March 21, 2013

Panel proposes calendar with winter session TIFFANY ROESLER Staff Writer

Members of the Calendar Standing Committee asked the Board of Trustees on Wednesday to reinstate winter session during the next year.

A formal statement was presented to the Board discussing the significance of a winter session after the committee voted unanimously on a model calendar including winter at a special Calendar Committee meeting March 12.

"Based on our charge, the Calendar Committee is recommending to the Board of Trustees that the configuration of the calendar for the 2013-14 includes the winter session," said Calendar Committee member and math Instructor Matthew Henes.

Henes supported the request with data that showed the need for a winter term. "On average about 5,000 more students actually enrolled in winter and summer sessions combined than enrolled in summer when there was no winter," he said. "From Fall 1992 through summer 2012, average retention and success

rates for fall, spring and summer terms are significantly higher since the first year we scheduled a winter session [in 2004]."

Prior to the Board meeting, Senior Vice President and Calendar Committee Co-Chair Robert Bell sent out an email to the committee indicating that the committee needs to complete its mission, and that "the Board of Trustees has acted and approved the Fall/Spring/Summer calendar for 2013-14. It is upon this calendar that the district must now move forward.”

Henes questioned this claim.

"The Calendar Committee would like to know when that occurred," said Henes. "The Board imposed its own calendar without consultation of any shared governance committee in violation of AB 1725."

There have been no minutes from any meeting since the approval of a 2012-13 calendar that reference a 2013-14 calendar, according to Henes.

"We are in a pedagogical and operational crisis here at this college due at least in part to the mismanagement of the calendar," said Henes. "The current

imposed calendar without winter is not a calendar for student success [and] is not within the framework of negotiated agreements."

Bell did not attend Tuesday's special committee meeting, as well as the previous meeting on Feb. 28, which was held anyway after he cancelled it.

Bell indicated to Co-Chair Krista Walter that he cancelled the Feb. 28 meeting because the committee was unable to complete the urgent task of approving the Board's 2013-2014 calendar due to the number of concerned public comments regarding the pedagogical and practical merits of winter and the blatant violation of shared governance, according to Henes.

"In other words, we couldn't meet to do our work because we hadn't done enough work," said Henes.

The committee's statement specified the importance of a calendar that supports the needs of students, faculty and staff within negotiated agreements between collective bargaining units and the district. That is, a calendar with winter.

President discusses faculty contract offer EMILY CHANG-CHIEN Staff Writer

President Mark Rocha discussed the terms of the final contract offer to faculty union negotiators at a news conference in the Cap and Gown Room on Wednesday. Rocha presented a nine-page statement officially known as the district’s Last, Best, and Final Offer (LBFO). “This is a release to the members of the taxpaying public,” Rocha said. “So one of the reasons we are doing this today is to release it to the public, not just the college community.”

According to Rocha, negotiations for a new con-

tract have been prolonged since December. A deadline has been given for the Faculty Association to accept the current offer before certain elements expire such as a retirement incentive and salary increases, among other things.

“This is not because we are trying to play tough guy,” Rocha said. “If the union accepts it, then we’re done, we have an agreement, and we move forward.”

Rocha explained that if the union does not accept the current terms, negotiations will be mediated through an outside organization and will prolong the process by two months, before further action.

THIS MOMENT BEGAN WITH A CHOICE.

Matthew Chan / Courier Passionate math instructor Matthew Henes represents the Calendar Standing Committee to speak in front of the Board of Trustees. The board meeting took place in the Creveling lounge March 13.

Pi Day shows human connection to math MADISON MIRANDA Staff Writer

The Quad was full of tents displaying student-made posters for Pi Day on March 14.

The posters explained how math relates to students’ every day lives. The events started at noon when students presented their projects as part of an assignment for their math classes.

The highlight of the event was when 314 balloons were dropped from the various floors of the R Building at 12:45 p.m.

The balloons were weighed down with red envelopes containing raffle tickets, money and small candies.

“I wanted to do something other than eating [pie] and memorizing pi to inspire students to learn about math,” said Pi Club adviser and math instructor Yu Chung Chang.

She organized the event as a way to bring students together through math.

“Math is a universal language,” said Chang. Chang had students find an interest of theirs then research the math behind it.

The topics of the posters ranged from roller coasters and music to the technologies in Apple and GPS devices.

“Life is math and math is life,” says Chang. She wanted to help students learn how math affects everything.

The atmosphere was light as the PCC Jazz Band performed and the Honor’s Society’s Blast a Scholar event took place in the Quad.

The performance and Blast a Scholar were separate from the Pi Day festivities, but shared the space and gathered a crowd.

“We had to make a poster. It had to be about math or science, because science relates back to math,” says Monique Keszek, undecided.

Keszek’s poster displayed the concept of why humans have two eyes and how that affects depth perception.

Students from the science department also participated.

Dan Guo, math instructor, explained that Pi Day was about more than numbers.

“It is a way to connect the departments,” she said. Math and science students partnered with volunteers and clubs to put on the event.

According to Guo, the festivities were also attended by 60 students from Wilson Elementary School. They received a pizza lunch with pie as dessert

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John Novak / Courier Members of the Physics Club have a discussion amongst them selves at Pi Day in the Quad on March 14.

News

March 21, 2013

Courier

3

Artist in Residence wins crowd over LUIS RODRIGUEZ Features Editor

Pulling out eyelash hairs and molding private parts were topics of discussion as renowned Los Angeles artist Tom LaDuke began his week as Artist in Residence on Monday with a public lecture to a packed house at the Vosloh Forum.

LaDuke approached the podium and recounted personal anecdotes for each piece, winning the crowd over with his brash yet timid delivery.

"Sometimes I get ideas from specific moments," said LaDuke speaking about his artwork Private Property.

"I was taking a bath and the part of me that was above water like my head and ear looked like a landscape. So I went outside and I saw parts of the landscape that looked exactly like my body parts."

The audience, including a small white dog in the aisle, listened attentively as the stories and the artwork grew more personal.

The inspiration for one piece, Substitute Teacher, which is a dead bird made of clay drew gasps.

"I was living in New Hampshire and my great-uncle said "I'm sure you're going to have to kill something so if you want to shoot something you can shoot a red squirrel."

"I took a shot and it fell but it wasn't dead and then I started to weep and I had to put it out of

Caitlin KellyThompson / Courier Artist in Residence for Spring 2013 Tom Laduke answers a question one of the audience members asked about his work in the Vosloh Forum on Monday. Duke’s exhibit “Ellipsis” will be showing in the Art Gallery until March 29.

its misery," said LaDuke.

The second shot didn't kill the squirrel so he ran to look for help but couldn't find the animal again.

"It actually started screaming.

I didn't know [squirrels] could scream like that," he said.

A fixture of many pieces incorporates his hair and nails.

"Well it's interesting that he pairs his personal experience with actual pieces of [his body]," said Jennifer Jai, a recent graduate who is focusing on her own artwork.

"It's something that's taken out of you and you're manifesting it physically into something and as a direct relation. You can actually see pieces of him in the artworks. It's like a reference to the act of making," said Jai. LaDuke's artwork is usually fragile in nature and many visitors at the reception, following the lecture, in the Art Gallery were asked to leave their bags in a separate room.

"I don't know where he gets his ideas but he puts a lot of work into his pieces," said Mauricio Cobian, photography.

"The people who went [to the lecture] came away with a lot to think about and look at the things in the gallery differently," said Brian Tucker, director of the Art Gallery.

The Artist in Residence program, now in its 27th year has been successful every year, according to officials.

"Tonight marks the beginning

Caitlin Kelly Thompson/ Courier Artist in Resident Tom Laduke explains that he made this gun and told a funny antidote of how he displayed it in a gallery.

of the last residency offered under the auspices of the division," said Interim Dean of Visual Arts and Media Studies Joseph Futtner.

"As of fall 2013, Visual Arts and Media Studies will join Performing Arts and Communication studies in the new, soon to be completed, Center for the Arts."

At the end of the night LaDuke sipped coffee and answered questions from a line of people getting signatures.

"Usually no one would know the stories, but the emotions get through. Sometimes people get it at a certain level. I'm lucky that way," he told admirers.

AS presents no confidence vote in administration to Board BENJAMIN SIMPSON Staff Writer

The Associated Students officially presented its vote of no-confidence calling for the removal of the college president to the Board of Trustees on Mar. 13.

"The AS has passed two resolutions," said AS Board President Simon Fraser in his presentation to the Board. "A resolution to censure PCC administration with regards to the academic calendar change of Aug. 29, and a resolution of no-confidence."

In the no confidence resolution, AS calls not just for censure, but for the removal, of President Rocha."...to hold Dr. Mark Rocha, Superintendent/President, personally responsible for the actions and mistakes listed above, and therefore calls on the Board of Trustees to remove Rocha as the Superintendent/President."

The main basis for the charges is the Board of Trustees removal of the winter session at the Board meeting in August, and the ensuing problems this has caused for the staff and students.

Despite being assured by the administration that there would be no problems with the transfer of summer classes to four year colleges, according to the AS many students have been turned down by UC or CSU because those schools do not allow the use of summer classes for concurrent fall transfer.

According to Fraser, the Associated Students has taken on the work that should have been done by the administration, of hearing student problems with transferring and calling colleges

in an attempt to sort out the situation.

Trustee Geoffrey Baum addressed the AS statements that they were the only group working on student transfer and that the administration has done almost nothing to help students transfer.

The Associated Student memorandum discussed this issue, with the AS’s direct intervention with Humboldt State University allowing a student to use Summer 1 classes to transfer.

“The only recorded successful communication with a four year institution on accepting Fall ’13 transfers with Summer 1 classes occurred by direct communication between Humboldt State University and ASPCC, not PCC…” Near the end of the meeting, Baum made an offhand comment about the Student Activity Fee. The Student Activity fee directly funds the clubs and many other activities on campus.

“I think we should do our annual evaluation of the student activity fee program,“ said Baum, “and also whether to reaffirm that for another year.”

This comment was met with groans from the crowd.

But the problems that AS has raised run deeper than just the cancellation of winter session, according to its resolution, an include a deeper problem with shared governance. “[T]his administration has repeatedly failed to ensure [students] right to participate effectively in district and college governance,” the motion says.

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Courier 2012 JACC General Excellence Award Winner Editor­in­Chief Nicholas Saul News Editor Christine Michaels Assist. News Editor Teresa Mendoza Online Editor Anthony Richetts Assist. Online Editor Madison Miranda Opinion Editor Emily Chang ‐ Chien Assist. Opinion Editor Raymond Bernal Arts & Entertainment Editor Paul Ochoa Assist. Arts & Entertainment Editor Vivian Meza Features Editor Luis Rodriguez Assist. Features Editor Shelly Maldonado Sports Editor Philip McCormick Assist. Sports Editor Jonathan Biles Photo Editor Buren Smith Assist. Photo Editor Matthew Chan Chief Photographer Justin Clay

Editorial

It’s time to really listen The administration should plan a 2014 winter intersession The campus community has spoken, loud and clear. It is time for the administration to actively listen.

An outpouring of discontent greeted members of the Board of Trustees last week, mostly as a result of the change to the college calendar and the way it was handled. The damage has been extensive and unnecessary, but it is not irreversible. Winter session must be reinstated.

In a thoroughly documented proposal, the Calendar Standing Committee recommended a calendar with winter session be adopted for 2013-14 to support the needs of the PCC community. It cited statistical data showing that enrollment, retention and success rates are significantly higher with a winter session in place.

Separately, the Ad-hoc Faculty Committee presented the results of its poll showing that over 90 percent of surveyed faculty had no confidence in the administration, mostly because of the calendar change which is said to have “impeded student success, violated student and faculty trust, and, in general, brought about destructive rather than constructive change at the college while consistently ignoring the concerns of students, staff and faculty members.”

The presence of a winter session is cru-

Scene Editor Concepcion Gonzalez Staff Writers: Aerika Dave, Tiffany Herrera, Adam Mitchell, Tiffany Roesler, Andrew Salmi, Benjamin Simpson, Karla Sosa Staff Photographers: Jordan Harris, Teresa Mendoza, Caitlin KellyThompson, Lissett Matos, Mary Nurrenbern, Benjamin Simpson Faculty Adviser Warren Swil Photography Adviser Rachel Fermi Advertising Coordinator Anthony Richetts The Courier is published weekly by the Pasadena City College Journalism Department and is a free‐speech forum. Editorial opinions and com‐ ments are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the position of the institution and its administra‐ tion, student government or that of the Pasadena Area Community College District.

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cial to all students, granting them a balance that cannot otherwise be achieved with the three-semester calendar. Winter gives students the opportunity to continue taking courses to speed up their transfer time, or students could enjoy an extended break. Additionally, many students could fully dedicate time and energy to working, without having to worry about a hefty academic schedule.

These benefits have been lost because of the calendar change.

The college calendar has been in an ongoing state of flux as terms like “summer one” and “extended spring” are tossed around. Following the elimination of winter the administration has continuously struggled to create a concrete calendar. Questions have arisen about these classes and whether they will be transferable for fall admission at CSU and UC campuses. Students, faculty and staff are unsure when classes will start, and what classes will be scheduled. It seems like even the administration is unsure of what is going on.

Not only have students been deprived of a stable and concrete schedule, faculty are impacted as well. Some faculty members work as adjunct at other colleges, and cannot plan their schedules accordingly, depriving them of a major source of salary.

In addition, at last week’s Board meeting the Associated Students Board presented two resolutions it had passed expressing no confidence in the administration and seeking the removal of the President. The resolutions also stated that staff and students have endured significant problems because of the removal of winter session and the way the change was implemented.

At an extensive two-hour Academic Senate meeting on Monday, President Mark Rocha failed to adequately answer almost any of the dozens of questions put to him by Senate members and visitors alike.

Rocha evaded a direct question about whether he considered the elimination of winter an error of judgment.

The proposed 2013 -14 “official” calendar without a winter session continues to be a great source distress to the campus. The relationship between the college community and the administration and Board of Trustees has become very strained.

The quickest and least painful way for the administration to defuse this crisis of confidence would be for it to immediately propose an official 2013-14 college calendar that includes a winter session. We urge it to do so without delay.

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March 21, 2013

Opinion

Courier

Comments recently posted to stories published online The following comments are in response to “Faculty overwhelmingly has no confidence in administration” Rocha may be weak in the people skills department, but I suspect that PCC faculty and students are going to have a problem with any president who does his job and carries out budget cuts. The person who really deserves a vote of no confidence is Mark Yudof. During his tenure as president of UC, tuition has ballooned to $4500 a quarter and unfunded pension liabilities will reach $40 billion in five years.

When that happens more money will be spent on pensions than on classroom instruction. Yet somehow Yudof has escaped any blame for this, and will soon retire with a $250K pension.

-Bear Stearns Is anyone surprised the faculty has no confidence in the administration?

Let us count the ways Rocha and his handpicked lackeys have screwed up.

Just one: the so-called “summer” session (really, “winter” moved to late May) is supposed to be enrolling classes right now.

However, not a single class is posted on the non-existent “class schedule” on the college web site.

They put out a news release in January encouraging students to enroll starting Feb. 28. So what can they enroll in? Can anyone spell MISmanagement?

-Let the Truth is the students have also formally censured the current administration and called for Rocha to be fired immediately. I don’t think a no-confidence vote for the president from either the faculty or the Associated Students has ever occurred before at PCC. Students and faculty at PCC are for the most part respectful of each other, and mutually supportive.

Based on conversations I’ve had on campus, most of the office staff and those in management (who were not hired in specifically by Rocha) also share the view that the current administration is destroying PCC and that Rocha (and, eventually, most of the current trustees) has to go.

-Puddy Tat The following comment is in

ONLINE POLL RESULTS Online, we asked: Do you have confidence in the administration?

Results as of 5 p.m. March 13: 16% Yes 83% No

vote at pccCourier.com

response to “Committee recommends ’13-14 calendar with winter” There can be no doubt that the Calendar Committee is expressing the wishes of the entire college. It is time for the Administration to admit its error and present a calendar for 201314 that includes a winter session.

How long do you think it will take?

-Cake The following comments are in response to “President defends his administration” The most significant thing of all about this is that Rocha felt the need to defend himself at all.

He could quite easily have stayed silent. It’s always better to remain quiet and let everyone think you are a fool, than to open your mouth and confirm it.

-Let them eat cake If Mark wanted everyone to stay and hear his weak response to criticism about his recent decisions, he should have made this issue a priority. Why did the Board meeting start an hour later than regularly scheduled?

The Board members and Rocha should have been in Creveling ON TIME and many more attendees would have been able to hear his defensive and ingenuous comments.

-Kris Pillon Kris, I think you meant to say disingenuous. Rocha’s call for understanding and dialogue is the most disingenuous thing I’ve ever heard.

Faculty, students, managers and staff have spent years attempting to engage in good faith communication with Rocha and his clutch of enforcers, only to be lied to, threatened (or retaliated against) and ignored, over and over again.

-Puddy Tat So the anger directed at Rocha really is mostly about the cancellation of Winter Intersession. …

The anger of the students and faculty should be directed towards the past PCC presidents who supervised all of the new construction on campus. … Good luck finding a new President – he will probably have better people skills but people skills won’t fill holes in the college budget.

-Bear Stearns

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Opinion

March 21, 2013

Courier

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VOICES: Do you have confidence in the administration?

“What I and other faculty, staff and students are seeing is a clusterfuck of malice, incompetence and paternalism, and it needs to stop.”

Hugo Schwyzer, instructor

“I think so, in certain situations, yeah. I had a good experience with the current administration.”

Reggie Williams, criminal justice

“Absolutely not. [Dr. Rocha] has shown time and time again that he doesn’t have the students best interests in mind.”

Hector Garcia, film

“The administration is not meeting the full potential as far as serving the students well. … Sometimes they can make students feel discouraged.”

Marie Vega, business

“No because they cancelled winter and they said that summer classes would be transferrable, but then it turns out they are not.”

Angela Vanthaneeyakul, undecided

“No. ... Despite [PCC] supposedly being one of the best community colleges in the state, it’s like a high school…they treat you like you don’t have goals.”

Amalia Castonguay, physics

“Yes I do. I feel that Dr. Rocha and the Board are doing the best they can with the kind of support they are getting from the college.”

Carlos Altamirano, lab coordinator

“No. The administration didn’t study the background about the calendar change. … [They don’t] care about the students, we are pretty much a number to them.”

Lionce Haggerty, film production

“No. ...The cancellation of winter has put many transfer-bound students into jeopardy of [not getting] into specific schools in the fall.”

Roshan Akula, mathematics

"No because I see students' schedules getting messed up. ... This administration is divisive and self-serving. [The administration] is top-heavy.”

Abby Delman, instructor

“The administration is running the college like a high school with little input from the faculty and strong intimidation tactics.”

Dan Meier, instructor

“No. I think [the administration] cares more about getting students into the college and not about getting them out.”

Nick Swanson, environmental science

“No. There are so many things that they are not taking care of and they prefer to change things like the semester system and the smoking areas.”

Yadira Tellechea, TV production

“The president of the school makes a lot of money that should be going towards getting more classes.”

Kiera Bull, undecided

“[They are not doing well]. I just feel trustees are not here for the faculty. They need to be on our side.”

Donna Mungen, instructor

“I’ve seen some changes happening since last year and they [certainly haven’t been] very pleasing.”

Debashish Banerji, instructor

“No, I see my classmates struggling to get classes, professors can’t add students and so I don’t think it’s being handled well.”

Matt Shintaku, economics

“I don’t think they are doing such a good job right now. ... How are [all the changes] really benefiting us? If anything it’s only making everything harder.”

Carla Contreras, music business

“I feel [the administration] doesn’t help people that are trying to leave, but then they’re not helping people that are coming in either.”

Kary Calderon, biochemistry

“No, I’d like to see some changes and I’d like the administration to listen to the faculty and students.”

Mary-Erin Crook, instructor

“Who’s running the school anyway?

There isn’t enough information spread out efficiently.”

Cristao Landeros, music

“Yeah I think so. I see it is a big school and I have confidence in them.”

Benji Lafarge, business

“Hell no.”

Alexey Streckalov, English

“I would say no. ... Of course things could be better, but it is not that bad.”

Gwen McKinley, math

"Yes I do. I am one [member] of the small percent that still supports the administration."

Joe Peron, coach

Reporting by: Emily Chang-Chien, Teresa Mendoza, Vivian Meza, Paul Ochoa Photos by: Justin Clay, Matthew Chan, Antonio Gandara, Concepcion Gonzalez, Caitlin KellyThompson, Teresa Mendoza

SCENE

Courier

March 21, 2013

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Graffiti Paradise Photos by Matthew Chan Courier staff photographer

Right: Tierra de la Culebra Park in Highland Park is one of the few places where a graffiti artist can legally practice his or her work, Feb. 17.

Below: Tierra de la Culebra Park, photo montage.

Left: Frank Solano, puts finishing touches on his work.

Right and center: Chris Vee, a graffiti artist for over six years, works on a new art piece. He is a student at PCC working on his screen printing certificate.

Left: Sam Rojas, art, has been practicing the art of graffiti for the past four years. Since attending to PCC he's branched out to other forms of art such as illustration and screen printing. He has also started a clothing and jewelry brand under his moniker CRAOE, as well as interning at SA Studios Global.

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Arts & Entertainment

Courier

Day of jazz tunes musicians’ minds

The PCC Orchestra, under the direction of Michael Powers, plays the music of Dukas and Sibelius at the Sexson Auditorium on March 16.

KARLA SOSA Staff Writer

Teresa Mendoza/ Courier

Spring concert shines on audience ADAM MITCHELL Staff Writer

The Performing and Communication Arts Students shined brightly in the Spring Orchestra and Choral Concert.

The annual event took place on March 16, in the Sexson Auditorium and it was buzzing with excitement before the show.

Friends and family nervously gathered while 140 choir members and additional 55-orchestra students prepared to take the stage.

According to the choir Director Donald Brinegar the concert is part of the requirement for the class. “We have a midterm, one large concert [in the first half of

March 21, 2013

the semester] and in the second half we have another large concert,” said Brinegar.

It was a split program with half of the performance devoted to the orchestra under the direction of Instructor Michael Powers and its rendition of the music of Paul Dukas and Jean Sibelius. The second half of the show was devoted to the choir, led by Brinegar performing the Ralph Vaughn Williams cantata Dona Nobis Pacem.

In front of a good size crowd the performances were a chance for the Performing and Communication Arts students to showcase some of the knowledge they are gaining while in school.

“The [size of the] crowd

depends on the music; if it is a well known piece or the choir really likes it, it will draw a big crowd,” said Maggie Wong, music major.

The students studied the work in class so by the time the show arrived they were familiar and prepared to take the stage.

Matthew Lopez, music therapy, noted: “We have rehearsal three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. By now I can sing this in my sleep.”

Good thing for all the rehearsal because the concert went off without a hitch and the crowd, filled with mostly friends and family of the performers, was able to enjoy a great show and share a little bit in the college experience.

N ATION A L UNI V ER SIT Y

Jazz Day opens the minds of young musicians, says Andrea Baker Wilkerson, director of Lancer Jazz Big Band.

The 7th Annual Jazz Day was held on Saturday March 16 at the Creveling Lounge and V-111.

Wilkerson, said the purpose for the event had two purposed. “[One, to] show case the bands we have here [at PCC] and second to invite students for a day of education,” said Wilkerson.

According to Wilkerson last year there were 10 schools participated in the event and this year there were 13 schools participating this year.

Eight schools performed in Creveling Lounge and five schools were in V-111.

During the day the schools that were participating also had clinics with two of the guests that were invited to the event, who were Gary Foster and Steve Wilkerson.

Gary Foster was the first clinician when Jazz Day started

seven years ago, said Wilkerson.

According to the program, Foster was also a staff member of PCC from 1971-1991.

The event was non-competitive but was for educational purposes, “It was well received and it helps prepare bands for their competitions that are coming up soon,” said Wilkerson.

The main event was at noon.

While the students and music directors were enjoying their pizza the Lancer Jazz Big Band and PCC Commercial Music Ensemble performed for them.

The two guest clinicians Gary Foster and Steve Wilkerson also performed.

Tina Shirmeirter, trombone player from Royal High School in Simi Valley, said she likes coming to Jazz Day, this was her second time coming to the event.

“I really like coming [to Jazz Day] its a lot of fun,” said Shirmeirter.

Paul Pate music director at Royal High School said the event was wonderful. “We like coming here, we always get great help from the clinicians,” said Pate.

®

TRANSFERRING? FINISH SCHOOL YOUR WAY!

Lissett Matos / Courier The PCC Lancer Concert Band performed on Friday March 15 at the Sexson Auditorium. Conductors Kyle Luck and Tad Carpenter directed the band with special guest artist Dr. Jason Kihle, marimba.

Faculty has lost confidence Continued from page 1

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tive rather than constructive change at the college while consistently ignoring the concerns of students, staff and faculty members at Pasadena City College,” said Rose.

Carlisi said the vote underscored major problems on campus.

“Today at PCC we have a superintendent-president and an administration whose style of leadership ignores the very principles of reasoned judgment, respectful collaboration, and shared values that further a healthy, productive community college,” said Carlisi. “The vote of no confidence exposes the deep fissures in the foundation of PCC, which have been caused

by President Rocha and his administration.”

Addressing the Board, O’Hora said it could take the college years to recover from the damage done.

“Do you, the Board of Trustees, really want this kind of destructive legacy on your

hands?” O’Hora asked. “Can you really afford to ignore the voices of both students and 92 percent of the faculty voting a position of no confidence in President Rocha?

“We expect that you will listen to and act upon this crisis of leadership so that PCC can start moving forward.”

The audience reacted to the comments with roaring applause, while members of the Board and President Rocha sat with a look of discontent as they listened to over an hour of public comments attacking the college president and its administration.

The members of the committee said in an interview after the presentation that the purpose of their poll was to inform the public and to help persuade the board to take action.

“This was our main goal. The point was to make [the results] public and get it out to the community,” said O’Hora. “This will hopefully put pressure on the board and get them to act, which they haven’t been doing.”

Features

March 21, 2013

Courier

9

What has been lost may be found MADISON MIRANDA Staff Writer

Among the usual misplaced items, Property and Evidence Clerk Karen Baghdassarian has had her fair share of odd things brought to her. "It always surprises me [what gets turned in]," she says.

Some unusual lost items have included a full croquet set, a baby stroller, and a violin. A number of other unexpected items have been turned in, such as shoes, computers and I.D. cards from other colleges.

According to Baghdassarian, the items most commonly turned in to the Lost and Found are flash drives and cellphones.

In January, 210 items were turned in to Lost and Found, and 82 of those items were returned to their owners. In December, 153 items were turned in and 39 were returned.

The owners of lost items are identified and contacted via email or phone call. When important items, such as car keys, are brought in, Baghdassarian does her best to

get them back to their owners before she leaves for the day at 2 p.m. Baghdassarian works at PCC part-time; she is in the Lost and Found office Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Lost items are kept for 90 days, then are either donated or destroyed, according to Baghdassarian. Drivers licenses, passports, and other legal documents are returned to the issuing agency. Electronic devices such as flash drives and iPods are wiped clean after being in Lost and Found for 90 days. "Legally we have to keep things for 90 days," she says.

Some students aren't aware of the Lost and Found services until they lose something. Isaac Mateo, undecided, is one of them. "I didn't even know we had a Lost and Found [until I was asked],"says Mateo.

According to Baghdassarian, the number of items turned in by cadets is about the same as the number of items turned in by students and other people on campus. "We have very honest

people here," she said.

Some students, like Kathleen Little, rely on the honesty of people to find their lost items. "If I ever lose something, I always go back to the last place I remember [having] it and ask the people who are in the area if they saw it or if they someone else with it. If [they haven't seen it], I would go to campus police or Lost and Found," says Little who is a T.V./Film Production Studies major.

Baghdassarian cautions people to put their names on everything. "If you have a flash drive, put your resume on it. Thats the first thing I look for," she said.

She also suggests putting contact information as the screensaver on iPhones in case the phone is locked. Baghdassarian wants to return as many items as possible, but also thinks people should take responsibility and put their names on their stuff.

"I try to return as much as possible," says Baghdassarian.

"We'd love [to return] 100 percent, but thats not going to happen."

John Novak / Courier These books, bags, and other items are just a snippet of the things that take up space in the Lost and Found closet on Feb. 6.

From hate to love, learning to appreciate music VIVIAN MEZA Staff Writer

Through exposure to music offered on campus, students can learn to love music that they used to hate before.

According to music theory and composition Instructor Steven Gates, learning to love music hated is possible. “Students that don’t yet love music can be taught to learn to love music,” Gates said. “I don’t know if we teach them how to love music. I think like anything in the arts you can expose [students] to something and increase their understanding of it. And often it leads to love in that topic.”

Students must listen to music they tried to avoid previously as a requirement to pass the music appreciation class they have to

take as a GE requirement. Over time in the class, the music can become pleasant to the ear.

Carlos Gonzalez, music, who switched from metal to Bach, can relate. “I used to hate classical music, now I love it. Ever since I took music theory, I hear it differently… more as a language,” he said passionately.

Students have also learned how to love music in different ways on campus. Candice Maish, biochemistry, learned to love R&B and pop through dance classes. “I used to hate listening to [R&B and pop]. I started dancing and it branched out,” she said.

Friends also have taught students to love music that used to be unbearable. Tiffany Luke, Television and Film, said: “I used

to not like indie folk. It felt like it wasn’t my thing back in the day.

I met a friend who listened to a certain [indie folk] band. The more I listened to it, the more I liked it.”

Due to the exposure, students have changed their perspective on music. Luke who also writes

music reviews in her photography blog, added: “I’m more open to music now. [In my blog], I try to introduce people with a variety of music. This experience has made me a fan of talent instead of genre”.

Over time Gates has seen students learn to appreciate music

and as an instructor views this as an accomplishment.

“I think that’s the most important thing I could ever do – to provide somebody that ability to appreciate and love something that they haven’t already. And it’s the most exciting thing I’ve witnessed as a teacher.”

President on the defensive Continued from page 1

existed here before,” said Rutzen, who has worked at the college for over a decade.“There seems to be no respect for faculty, for students, for deans, for the institution. There is a spirit of fear on this campus that never existed before. We’ve lost plurality on this campus and a Machiavelli system has taken over.” Rutzen’s words were met with enthusiastic applause from members of the Senate and the audience.

Former Student Victor Interiano questioned Rocha and the Board’s decision to cancel winter session.

“In spite of all the data that has come out after the fact, do you feel that canceling winter was the operationally, fiscally and pedagogically appropriate thing to do or is it possible that there was an error in judgment?” asked Interiano. In response, Rocha became emotional.

“If you want to continue arguing the Board’s right to make a decision, we’re not going to get very far to a kind of understanding,” he said.

“I can tell you from myself and everyone in my administration that what is off the table is not dis-

agreement, even bitter disagreement but what has to be off the table is the questioning of motives,” said Rocha. Members of the Senate, however, did not find Rocha’s responses convincing.

“I was not satisfied given the fact that he did not answer the questions,” said Social Sciences Instructor Eduardo Cairo, during a break in the proceedings. “I asked him [about] collegiality, he did not answer. I asked him about statements made by [Board Member Geoffrey] Baum, he did not answer.”

Melissa Michelson, a member of the Ad Hoc Faculty Committee, which presented a vote of no confidence in Rocha at last week’s Board of Trustees meeting, was also skeptical. “‘Moving forward’ – there is no such thing for me,” said Michelson. “It’s about dealing with what we have day to day.

This is rhetoric from the administration that they want us to forget very recent history and to just move on and close our eyes.

Implying that if we don’t move forward then we’re not working together is just unacceptable.”

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Features

Courier

March 21, 2013

Dental programs offer cheap teeth cleaning ADAM MITCHELL Staff Writer

Not only are low-cost dental services available on campus for students, but the more adventurous can get a free cleaning if they are willing to head up on the spot and hop into the dentist’s chair.

Every day the students of the dental programs have clinic times where they offer students, faculty and the public a chance at lowcost dental care, officials said.

Appointments can be made over the phone or by visiting the clinic in R 511.

According to Health Sciences division Instructor Thomas P. Neiderer these appointments sometimes have last minute cancellations, and when that happens a braver sort is sought out to fill the empty time slots.

The dental students will head out onto campus and ask if other students are willing to fill the empty time slots. If they agree they are able to receive the service at no cost, said officials.

Jessica Lee, dental hygiene

John Novak / Courier Program Director Thomas Neiderer with Jennifer Lee, and Jessica Lee in the Dental Lab on Tuesday, Feb. 12.

major said: “We need 24 to 48 hours for cancellations, [we usually do this] once a week.”

“People don’t understand how

important this is for us. [It means] our grade,” said Lee, with all the work done by the students, empty appointments means no

work for that day of class.

Those who are willing can help out the dental program, and in return get a free evaluation.

According to Neiderer, in that evaluation it is determined what the best treatment plan is and how many appointments it may take to clean your teeth.

The dental program offers a variety of services including teeth cleaning, x-rays, and sealants.

“All the work is done by students and checked by faculty,” said Neiderer.

Stephanie Frolech, dental hygiene major said: “[When the appointments go unfilled] we work on fake teeth, do an evaluation, a sharpening maybe… but it’s not the same.”

Student and faculty rates range from $5 per tooth for sealant, $10 for a cleaning and $20 for a full mouth x-ray. The rates get slightly higher for the public with a cleaning going up to $20, but all other costs remain the same.

So if you’re broke and in need of some dental care, keep your eyes peeled when your are on campus for the students in dental scrubs who may be approaching.

It could mean your lucky day.

Bold style colors campus' latest fashion trend MADISON MIRANDA Staff Writer

Somber colors have been a staple in campus fashion for the past few years, but that seems to be changing.

Kathy Sterling, fashion instructor, is glad to see that this trend is changing. “The PCC students for years and years have worn a lot of black, grays, and blue jeans,” she

says. But now, she feels that fashion on campus is changing for the better. “Trendsetters are breaking that pattern and punching it up with some color,” she says.

Fashion major Kimberly Acevedo has also noticed the shift in color trends. Acevedo lives near a Forever 21 store and has seen bright colors in the window displays. “There’s a lot of neon [and stuff] with a rocker edge,”

she says.

Bobby Kang, also a fashion major, pointed out other PCC trends. “There’s a lot of camo print for both men and women,” he says. According to Kang there have been many baseball caps, desert boots, plaid, bomber jackets for men. He also says there are a lot of studded things for both men and women.

Sonia Parvaneh, fashion major,

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Antonio Gandara / Courier Kimberly Cubas, registered nurse, rocks a bright mustard cardigan on Feb 26.

says she has seen a lot of mustard colored clothes on campus. She also mentioned that there have been many beanies with ears and Hello Kitty apparel at PCC. “Everyone’s in T-shirts and jeans,” observes Ashley Lam, fashion major.

Another trend that seems to be holding true is vintage. “Vintage is always in,” says Instructor Sterling. According to her, vintage can either look beautiful or silly depending on how those

wearing it carry themselves.

As for upcoming Fall trends, they seem to be as much a mystery to fashion students as anyone. “He or she who accurately predicts the future in the fashion industry makes a lot of money,” says Sterling.

Some fashion forward people aren’t relying on upcoming trends. “I don’t really follow trends, I do my thing,” says Acevedo.

“Extended Spring” dates set for April Continued from page 1

Bell also said he actually “never bought into a summer term.” He explained that he believed the use of an “Extended Spring” would allow students access to transfer to UC’s and CSU’s.

Colley said that the delay to releasing the preliminary list of classes had also been due to the reshaping of “Summer One” into

“Extended Spring.”

“Because students would need to have the “summer one” classes post as Spring,” said Colley.

“We had to hand-build those sections back into the ‘old’ legacy Santa Rosa system.”

Colley also explained that summer will be the first term in the new Lancerpoint (Banner) system.

Sports

March 21, 2013

Courier

11

Softball suffers defeat to Cerritos TIFFANY ROESLER Staff Writer

The women’s softball team finished off last week with a brutal loss to Cerritos College 9-0 on March 14 after a landslide victory on March 12 against ECC Compton Center, 12-1.

The Lancers remain in fifth place in the South Coast Conference, 4-5, and 12-13 overall.

Against Cerritos (8-2, 15-7), the Lancers totaled only three hits and had 18 at bats compared to the Falcons’ 26. Freshman outfielder Jazmin Hernandez, freshman pitcher Cierra Newton, and freshman second baseman Emily Cuiriz had one hit apiece.

“We did have good at bats for the most part,” said Head Coach Brittany Williams. “We adjusted from the last time we played them, [but] we just didn’t hit the ball that hard and didn’t hit it when we needed to hit.”

Team errors were minimal along with the Lancers’ intensity. The team went on a twoinning hitting drought, resulting in defeated looks and fatigued body language.

“The energy was just up and down and that’s what happened,” said Newton. “We just didn’t hit. They found holes where we weren’t. Softball is all about whoever has momentum.”

It was Newton’s second game

Solo women’s diver places third Gweneth Mckinley, PCC’s only women’s diver, places third in the 1-meter diving competition with 123 points at a duel meet against East Los Angeles College and host El Camino College on March 15.

Matthew Chan / Courier

Campus expresses frustration Continued from page 1

classified staff — because of its persistent contempt for shared governance and its habit of imposing rather than negotiating,” Schwyzer said.

“The administration presents an unhappy blend of malice and incompetence. They rightly don’t enjoy the confidence of the college community.”

Despite the outpouring at the March 13 meeting, the Board remained supportive of President Mark Rocha and his administration, according to another Board statement released on March 15.

“The Board fully understands that there are those who disagree with the Board’s decision on the calendar and respects their right to disagree, but also expects them to respect the Board’s role and right to decide and direct the administration accordingly,” the statement said.

Faculty Association President Roger Marheine thought that the meeting was exhilarating because of the deluge of collegial dialogue, which is crucial in regaining educational credibility on campus.

“My FA colleagues have wondered if the Board is listening,” Marheine said, via email. “I personally feel the Board is beginning to realize that its members have been misled, misinformed, and ultimately compromised by tragically flawed administrative leadership.”

The FA said in a statement released on March 18 that the no confidence votes reflected a crisis at the college.

“These historic and unprecedented actions by faculty and stu-

dents have documented the crisis in management at our college,” said the statement. “We wholeheartedly support the Shared Governance process that has been consistently and severely undermined in these past months, and which these extraordinary votes seek to uphold.”

Other members of the campus community said the administration did not directly address concerns presented at the Board meeting.

Dominique Calderon, art major, said officials need to address the reasons behind the votes and what the students are feeling.

“Instead of brushing it off, they need to look at all the circumstances of why students are upset,” Calderon said.

Television and Radio Instructor Barbara Naylor said the community had strength in its numbers.

“It’s good that the campus community came together. There is force in numbers,” Naylor said.

“They wouldn’t have gathered unless there was a problem, no matter what the administration tries to say. I am hopeful that the collective voice will have a positive impact.”

The statement from the Board of Trustees expressed the desire for unity and progress.

“In these times, it is important that the campus talk with each other, and not at each other, and rather than pound our fists at history, let us join those hands together to move forward,” said the statement.

Reporting by Emily Chang-Chien, Madison Miranda, Christine Michaels and Nicholas Saul.

back after being out for two weeks with an ankle injury. She allowed nine runs and had two strikeouts.

“It was a more competitive game last time [we played Cerritos],” said Assistant Coach Mary Geer. “[Last time] we were in it until the last inning.”

On March 12, the team dominated ECC Compton Center, 121. The game lasted only until the sixth inning due to the eightpoint mercy rule.

It was the Lancers’ fourth victory in a row reaching double digits.

“Each win has been a complete team effort,” said Williams. “The bottom half of our lineup came up huge in our past 4 wins, which has been the biggest contributing factor.”

Freshman shortstop Katelyn Thordarson batted 3-for-5, and had three RBIs off of a triple.

Cuiriz went 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs, while freshman third baseman Audrey Serna batted 2-for-5.

“Thordarson, Serna and Cuiriz have been very consistent for us, with Cuiriz coming on these last few weeks,” said Williams.

“They are seeing the ball well right now and doing their jobs.”

Newton topped off the team’s offensive with tremendous pitching.

She threw a 4-hitter and had four strikeouts.

COUR IER

March 21, 2013

SPORTS

Track and field breaks records at CSUN TERESA MENDOZA Staff Writer

Alongside top universities from around California, the PCC track and field team competed at the CSUN invitational on Saturday, snatching up first places and several personal records.

Fharhaad Zinnamon won first place in the triple jump with a leap of 47 feet and 1 inch.

Omhunique Browne took the state lead in the women’s 200meters. She won the 200-meter dash with an impressive time of 24.04.

“We trained really hard this past week and I wanted the athletes to come out and compete but at the same time stay injury free and prepare for next week,” said Head Coach Larry Wade.

Breanna Clark won her heat No. 3 in the 400-meter dash at 58.11. “This puts Clark as number two in the conference and in the top ten in the state,” said Wade.

Despite an unfortunate fall the previous weekend Sofia Amodia set a personal record and won her heat in the 400-meter hurdles at 1:07.98 and placing in the top five in the 100-meter hurdles at 15.92, putting her as ninth in the state.

“The season is pretty shocking for me, better than I expected,” said Amodia. “In this event there is a lot of competition we are versing Division I schools so it’s a good experience for me.”

The competing schools included host CSU Northridge, USC, Caltech, Pepperdine, other CSUs and various southern California community colleges.

Coach Wade explained the direction his runners devised for the hurdles. “We were making a late push and now they are showing they are ready to come out and be competitive,” he said.

For the men, the 4x400 relay team sprinted to No. 2 in the state making the best times in all the heats. The Lancer team of Christian White, Aaron Harris, Kameron Burch, and Kymoni Bellamy placed second at 3:14.94.

“Bellamy stepped out today, with a run putting him on the top ten in the state and conference…just want to show we still have the talent,” said Wade.

Freshmen Khaleel Green, Te’von Mitchell and Shian Hale stood out placing in the 110meter and 400-meter hurdles races.

“It was a good day, building up more speed going over the

Teresa Mendoza/Courier Freshman Te'von Mitchell sprints during the 400-meter hurdles at the CSUN Invitational on March 16.

hurdle,” said Mitchell. “PCC is a great team, we push each other and we are good as a unit.”

Tywon White and Sophomore Vivaswan Burch placed first and second in their heats respectively in the 200-meter dash.

This meet was meant to train runners for the upcoming PCC games and races. “We have a

couple more races before we get ready for conference and so we are using these races to tune-up,” Wade said.

The long distance runners did not compete in this event as they had participated in a big meet at Occidental College the night before.

“Today I thought I could have

done better…but I got next week at the Pasadena Games so I got another chance,” said Amodia.

Pasadena Games will be March 22 and March 23 at Robinson Stadium with between 20 to 25 college universities.

“We have a big crew coming this year and we’re really excited,” said Wade.

Badminton battles fiercely against East LA for the win ADAM MITCHELL Staff Writer

The women’s badminton team won 13-8 on Friday in a tough contest on the road against East Los Angeles College.

The friendly introductions prior to the match quickly gave way to fierce competition and strong play on both sides.

“We played pretty well. [We

had some] early season stuff, but it was good to get out with a win,” Head Coach Bill Sanchez said.

PCC won a majority of the singles matches going 8-4, and then took two out of three in the doubles matches.

“Shag [Avadisian] played well, and so did Angie [Ortiz],” noted Sanchez. Both Ortiz and Avadisian won their singles

matches and Ortiz left the gym winning every match she played including both doubles matches.

“I played pretty well,” said Ortiz. “[I] had a good comeback with eight or nine points in a row.” A state champion last year, Ortiz won easily in her singles matches 21-10, 21-10, and 21-5, 21-5.

Alyssa Boyt had a marathon singles game in her first

matchup, a 31-29 heartbreaker in which she couldn’t hang on. “[The score] 31-29 was kind of ridiculous,” said Boyt, “but I came back and won the second and third game.”

Boyt fought back hard, taking the last two games to win the unusual match. “ It was unlike any game I’ve seen,” said Sanchez.

The Lancers have now won

two in a row to bring the conference record to (2-0), (2-2) overall, and they face ECC Compton in their upcoming matchup.

It was a good outing for PCC winning on the road at the start of their conference schedule.

They have a home stand on the way with three in a row coming to Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium, which should help them round into mid-season form.

Personal bests for track team at ‘Oxy Distance Carnival’ BENJAMIN SIMPSON Staff Writer

Kevin Cano leaps through the water jump during the 3000m Steeplechase at the Occidental Distance Carnival track meet at Occidental College on Friday. Cano went on to beat his personal record by 15 seconds.

Benjamin Simpson /Courier

Three women and four men from the Lancer track team broke their personal records at the Occidental Distance Carnival on March 15.

In a field peppered with professionals and teams from across the country, including Anchorage Alaska, the runners from PCC pushed themselves against the stiff competition to achieve their personal best times.

Kevin Cano and Chris Paidimukkala raced in the 3000-meter Steeplechase, which is peppered with jumps, including a water jump.

“I was doing well on the workouts,” said Cano. “I was feeling pretty confident. I was really nervous before the race, but going into it I was relaxed, kept my pace … tried to pick it up as much at the end, and I ended up running a great PR. I was happy, really surprised [with] a 15 second PR.” Paidimukkala sprinted out at the beginning of the race, pushing himself and the field faster.

“I just wanted to achieve in the top three because of the times,” said Paidimukkala. “In the first couple laps I was going for it, I wasn’t holding anything back, just kept my pace all the way through. The last three laps were just painful, I couldn’t hold it anymore, and I PRed by 22 seconds so I am pretty satisfied.”

In the women’s 800m, Kailadnni Chavez ran 2:28.61 beating her PR by one second, Christina Shamirian ran 2:30.36 beating her PR by seven seconds, and Crystal Yanez ran 2:37.56 to gain her first official time in the event.

In the women’s 1500m Shamirian ran 5:10.20, beating her PR by four seconds and Yanez ran a 5:29.59 beating her PR by 12 seconds.

Abraham Esparza and David Chacon both ran PR’s in the men’s 800m and 1500m.

Esparza beat his PR by four seconds in the 800m and 19 seconds in the 1500m. Chacon beat his PR by six seconds in the 800m and 13 seconds in the 1500m.