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COURIER Pasadena City College
Page 8» Volume 105, Issue 9
The independent student voice of PCC. Serving Pasadena Since 1915.
Education a-bruin
Online edition pccCourier.com Facebook PCC Courier Twitter @pccCourier May 10, 2012
Scholarship scam costs thousands PHILIP MCCORMICK Staff Writer
Teresa Mendoza / Courier Transfer hopefuls Agnes Wong and Dayoung Kim discuss educational opportunities with Derek Hoskin, UCLA peer mentor in the Quad on Wednesday. Below, Anthony Merrill inquires about UCLAs application and admission process.
Throngs crowd Quad for transfer day TIFFANY HERRERA Staff Writer
Despite the heat, a large crowd flocked to the Quad on Wednesday for UCLA Day to get information about transferring, majors, and other programs. There were about 18 tables with at least one representative each to hand out information and talk to students. The UCLA Departments and the Undergraduate Admissions tables had the most students waiting to gather the information available. “We’re excited that PCC students have an opportunity to talk with
UCLA firsthand,” said Tameka Alexander from the PCC Transfer Center. “They’re able to learn about the transfer process, the admissions requirements and… especially if there
are any changes that are coming down the pipeline. [It’s] a great opportunity for students.” Assistant Director for the Center for Community College Partnerships at UCLA Santiago Bernal praised the event. “It’s really helpful to bring departments from the university that can give students information that [is] sometimes hard to get,” he said. Former PCC student Tatev Papikyan was representing UCLA and helping several students to transfer. Papikyan transferred in 2011 and was happy to be visiting PCC. Continued on page 6
A student was swindled out of $2,146 after he was approached by a man claiming to work for a company which awards scholarships to students, said Chief of Police Stanton Perez in an interview Friday. Perez said the student was approached near the Sculpture Garden by the man, who identified himself as a representative of J & J Prudential. The man said the company was awarding scholarships to students who were doing academically well. “The student reported the scam on May 1 after he found out that he was overdrawn in his bank account,” said Perez. The police chief said that the student fell for the scam and called a telephone number that the man gave him. The student then called the number provided by the imposter, and gave the con artist his bank account information. The con artist deposited $8,250 into the student’s bank account and then explained to the student that he was to return $7,000 to the con artist. The student withdrew the money and met with a woman, who was supposedly a representative of the company who accepted the cash, then departed in her car, said Perez. “We have sent out an alert to all the surrounding colleges in the area,” said Perez on Monday afternoon. “The Pasadena Police Department has sent over a member of its Financial Crime Unit to help with the investigation.” Perez went on to say that there might be a connection with a similar scam reported at Glendale Community College. “The GCC campus police department told us of an incident that involved a man of similar description as our suspect,” said Perez. Sgt. Steve Matchan of Campus Police said Monday that he would be going over to GCC to see if he could get any additional information for the case.
Homeless student works to create outreach program CHRISTINE MICHAELS Staff Writer
Erroll Cayald seems much like other students suffering through the budget cuts; not getting the original 15 units he was enrolled in, not getting the financial aid he was looking forward to. But despite being homeless and jobless, he has found his way through school, and then some. Cayald is working to create a plan for students to overcome the obstacles they face in his current situation. Twenty-one-year-old Holistic Medicine major Cayald had a challenging road to get to where he is today. “I’ve been in foster care since I was 8
years old,” he said solemnly. His parents were reported for physically abusing their children, he said. “[At the time], I didn’t know what was going on. I was just trying to keep my family together.” Cayald, the eldest of 11 siblings, tried to keep them together through the years. It wasn’t until 2001 when his grandmother, Shirley Ann Perkins, took them all in that Cayald’s family was together. However, when Perkins died from a major heart attack on his 19th birthday, Cayald was left to care for his family alone once again. After her death in California in 2010, Cayald’s siblings were put back into foster care, and he went to meet his
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father in Washington. “My father and I didn’t exactly see eye to eye on, well, anything,” Cayald said. Cayald came to PCC in spring 2011, and stayed with a friend, until he was kicked out in November. “My friend ordered me to find work, which, naturally, I was doing anyway,” he said. “He kicked me out anyway, the same day as the wind storm. I never felt so alone that night,” he said with a sigh, then looked and smiled at his fiancé, Holistic Medicine major Emani Matthews “until I met her.” Emani and Erroll had met at the C Building steps last semester. “I personally didn’t have anyone to
Museum Students showcase work at Pasadena Museum of California Art Page 7»
Continued on page 6
Teresa Mendoza / Courier Erroll Cayald is a homeless student who’s working to create outreach programs for students in similar situations.
Vote in AS elections Student candidates vie for seats in Associated Students Executive Board Page 5»