News BRIEFS

Construction Update

The Learning Crossroads building was originally scheduled to be completed in October 2012. It was delayed due to different features of the library not being up to code.

The structure is now scheduled to open in Fall 2013.

New Student E-mails

Beginning in spring of 2013, students will have to use their new Los Angeles Community College District e-mails in order to log into Moodle. This will authenticate all of the Moodle accounts, which will meet accreditation requirements.

Students can retrieve their assigned e-mails by logging on to the Student Information System with their Student ID number.

The e-mail accounts do not work if students try to use Outlook software, Microsoft Live Mail, cell phones, or Macs.

Spring Schedule

The new Spring 2013 schedule of classes is now available online at http://www. piercecollege.edu.

The spring semester is scheduled to run from Feb. 4 through June 3.

to show students from various different disciplines or majors that they can use this tool – this skill set – and apply it to their own field, to their own interests,” said Youhanna.

Steve Graves, a professor of geography at the California State University, Northridge, gave a presentation on how GIS can be used to identify and analyze health disparities, telling attendees that geography is much more than simply memorization.

“I’m not sure I even know the capital of North Dakota. It doesn’t even matter,” he told the crowd.

“The public school system of the state of California I think does a poor job of explaining or teaching geography as it should be taught,” he said. “This is an opportunity to come and explain how it’s a problem solving tool, rather than just a bunch of facts to be memorized.”

Other presentations were given by Tim Smith of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Rebecca Nagy of the L.A. Police Department and two Pierce students currently enrolled in the school’s GIS certification program.

“They like us a lot,” said Smith to the audience. “The fire department really likes GIS.”

David Wilcox, one of the student

Flu Season Warning

The 2012-13 flu season is alive and well, according to Beth Benne, director of the Student Health Center.

Anyone with body aches, headaches, fever higher than 102 and upper respiratory symptoms, should call the Student Health Center.

Flu shots are available at the Student Health Center for $10, and the window to vaccinate is coming to a close.

There are 36 vaccines left after the center’s largest annual supply of flu vaccines to date, Benne said on Monday.

“The flu season is becoming active as we speak. It’s time right now to get the vaccine,” Benne said. “We’ve had some flu, so I really want students to get the vaccine. I want them in people by the end of the month.” presenters, gave a proposal for the locations of electric car charging stations.

If sick, remember to stay hydrated, get plenty of rest and treat the symptoms with over the counter medications.

“Overall it was a good turnout, and the speakers were really good,” Wilcox said. “There’s a variety of different jobs.”

ASO Gives Back

When Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast, people came together and gave back to others. Associated Student Organization President Shane Mooney turned to ASO Vice President Kevin Sparks with the idea to collect money for hurricane victims through the American Red Cross.

The ASO was able to collect $952, but strives for a four-digit mark so another collection day is scheduled for a later date.

Application Deadline

The last day to apply for Fall 2013 for both California state universities and universities of California is Friday, Nov. 30. There is a Personal Statement/ UC application Scholarship workshop on Wednesday, Nov. 21 at 2 p.m. for all students in the Transfer Center, located on the first floor of Student Services.

Incident Report for November

11-5-12 There was a traffic collision between two vehicles on the intersection of Mason Avenue and Olympic Drive.

11-8-12 A student’s laptop and a statistics book were stolen from the library.

GIS classes that are available in the spring 2013 are:

• GIS 31 Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:45-10:05 p.m.

• Geography 31 Mondays and Wednesday from 6:45-10:05 p.m.

Computer Science Information Technology 501 is also recommended and is available Mondays and Wednesdays from 9-11 a.m.

Campus hate crime investigation completed

No criminal charges led against either party

Billel Bensalem/Roundup bbensalem.roundupnews@gmail.com

Investigation for the hate crime that took place in the Village two months ago is closed.

Detective Spelatz of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Community College Bureau says the case was presented to the city attorney’s office in Van Nuys, where the case was not determined to be a hate crime.

An argument between two students resulted in pushing and hitting, according to Spelatz.

“I don’t want to say it was over religious beliefs,” Spelatz said. “The argument was over belief in God.”

Because there was a hint of religious aspect about the argument, there may or may not be a hate crime, according to Spelatz.

“The attorneys decided this was not a hate crime incident,” he added. “Both parties were summoned at the Van Nuys Courthouse.”

“The investigation is complete,” he said. “The city attorney’s office decided an informal conference setting would be more appropriate.”

No criminal charges have been filed against either party, but charges could be filed later on if there are further disturbances. Spelatz says the involved students initially filed for criminal prosecution against each other, but later withdrew their decision. Both students will be meeting for counseling in an informal setting in Van Nuys.