pcc courier 10/25/12

PAUL OCHOAStaff Writer

The crowd was sparse but stu-dents in the Quad had their earsopen on Thursday during aProposition 30. rally, whichencouraged students to vote yeson November ballot measure.The event even offered laptopsto help students register to vote.

I personally felt like theturnout should have been betterbut it was nice to see peoplewere turning around, payingattention and listening, saidMiranda Alvarado, AssociatedStudents vice for academicaffairs.

According to Voterguide.sos.ca.gov voting yes onProposition 30. means, Thestate would increase personalincome taxes on high-incometaxpayers for seven years andsales taxes for four years. The

new tax revenues would beavailable to fund programs inthe state budget.

Assembly Member AnthonyPortantino of the 44th Districtwas among the speakers urgingstudents to vote for Proposition30.

Its so critical that we vote yes

on Proposition 30. We need folksto step up, said Portantino.

Andrew Bott, AS vice presi-dent for business affairs wasglad to see that Portantino wastrying help with the cause.

It was amazing to have anassembly member likePortantino [here]. Its wonderful

to see people come from allwalks to make a difference, saidBott.

Bott encouraged students tovote yes on Proposition 30.

This is one of those chancesstudents have to make an imme-diate impact on their lives, said

Pasadena City College

SoccerWomens team movesto third place after winagainst El CaminoPage 8

Donating the pastCollege receives cameras and filmgear from JPL

Page 7

Continued on page 2

Speak out!Who will get your

vote for president?

vote atpccCourier.com

OURIERC Pasadena City College Online editionpccCourier.comFacebookPCC CourierTwitter@pccCourierOctober 25, 2012Volume 106, Issue 8

VolleyballWomensteamdominatesPage 8

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

Racialgap ingrades revealed

NICHOLAS ZEBROWSKIManaging Editor

Information presented atMondays Academic Senatemeeting shows a racial gap inacademic performance amongststudents. In the 2011 school yearover eight percent of all studentsreceived failing grades in theirclasses. Hispanic and black stu-dents made up almost 45 percentof the student body in 2011, andalmost 25 percent of all failinggrades.

The information, compiled byInterim Director of InstitutionalPlanning Crystal Kollross,shows that in almost all divi-sions at PCC, Hispanic and blackstudents received lower gradeson average than Asian and whitestudents.

Social Science Professor SusieLing presented the informationto the Senate. The numbers,compiled by Kollross, show that13 percent of black students, andover 11 percent of Hispanic stu-dents received F grades in theirclasses. Compared to just overfive percent of white studentsand seven percent of Asian stu-dents received F grades.

Im glad Susie brought thisinformation up [to the Academic

Prop.30rally getsstudentsattention

Makoto Lane / CourierCalifornia Assembly member Anthony Portantino (44th district) rallies support at a Yes on proposition 30event in the PCC Quad on Oct. 18.

RAYMOND BERNALStaff Writer

According to officials, PCC hasnot been targeted by members ofa financial aid fraud ring brokenup by federal investigatorsrecently. Office of Scholarshipsand Financial Aid AssistantDean Kim Miles said: To myknowledge PCC has not beentargeted. We are watchful of stu-dents who insist someone elsespeak for them about their finan-cial aid.

The U.S. Attorneys Office andthe U.S. Department ofEducation Office of InspectorGeneral filed federal indictmentsin September on 21 individualsfor allegedly conducting fraudrings that defrauded 15California community collegesfederal student aid programs ofover $1 million.

Federal student aid exists sothat individuals can make theirdreams of higher education areality, not for criminals to use asa personal slush fund, said

Inspector General KathleenTighe in announcing the indict-ments.

In an interview with theCourier on Friday, Assistant U.S.Attorney Jared Dolan said: Thefraud rings involved both tradi-tional education and online edu-cation. Many of them [fraudrings] are now focused on theonline part because its easier todefraud when you dont have toshow-up and lie to somebody.

Dolan explained that fraudringleaders would recruit straw

students, people who were notstudents and did not intend toattend classes. Also the identityof actual students would bestolen and used in the scam.

In some cases the identity ofmentally disabled people wereused because they are the mostvulnerable in our society andenrolled in classes without theirknowledge, said Dolan. Strawstudents would stay enrolled inclasses just long enough for thefinancial aid grant checks they

College not targeted by financial aid fraud ring

Sustainability panel works on new model CHRISTINE MICHAELSStaff Writer

New goals for sustainability ina template created by CitrusCollege are recommended forthe campus according the cam-pus-wide SustainabilityCommittee at a meeting on Oct.15.

Sustainability is the quality ofnot being harmful to the envi-ronment or depleting naturalresources, and thereby support-ing long-term ecological balance,according to dictionary.com

The goals include zero waste,

renewable energy, improving ontransportation, water usage, con-struction, and informing stu-dents of sustainability throughcurriculum, according to a tem-plate on the Citrus College sus-tainability website.

Committee Co-Chair LaurenArenson said the template wasgoing to be a good start towardsbeing more sustainable on cam-pus. Its rough, but its a reallygood start. Its flexible and it canchange, too, said Arenson.

Acting Committee Co-ChairHanna Israel felt the template

would be helpful for creating abase to work on. We dont wantto be reinventing the wheel,said Israel.

Committee member andFacilities Supervisor Sarah Floresexplained the template would behelpful for record keeping andsetting standards for sustainabil-ity on campus.

It will also be benchmarking.I want us to be the benchmark,said Flores.

A list was passed around at themeeting with sustainability File Photo

Tim Martinez, member of the environmental sustainability club oncampus works in the sustainable garden in 2011.

Continued on page 7

Continued on page 6

Continued on page 7

Concerns airedabout trends

2 Courier October 25, 2012News

UpcomingEvents

Math program wins second national award

Today, Oct. 25:Cambridge & McGraw Hill

ESL Book Fair11 a.m. 2 p.m. - C251

Calendar Standing CommitteeMeeting

12 Noon - C217

Budget and ResourceAllocation Standing Committee

2:30 p.m. - C-217

Wednesday, Oct. 31:Classified Senate Fall General

Meeting and Halloween PartyNoon - Circadian

Friday, Nov. 2:Fall Choir Recital8 p.m. - Harbeson Hall

The PCC Fall Choir will beperforming songs from Mozart,Brahms, Debussy and Ravel inthe Harbeson Hall at 8 p.m.Tickets cost $5 for general admis-sion and $3 for students, seniors,and staff.

Sunday, Nov. 4:PCC Flea Market7 a.m. 3 p.m. - Corner of

Bonnie Ave. and Colorado Blvd.

Monday, Nov. 5:Academic Senate Board

Meeting3 p.m. 5 p.m. - C233

Wednesday, Nov. 7:Board of Trustees Meeting6 p.m. Location: TBA

Thursday Nov. 8:Budget and Resource

Allocation Standing Committee2:30 p.m. 4 p.m. C217

Compiled by Anthony Richetts

AMANDA PIMENTELStaff Writer

The Public RelationsDepartment was awarded thegold medallion by District 6 ofthe National Council forMarketing and Public Relationsfor the banners featuring theschools distinguished alumni inthe Outdoor Media category.

The groups District 6 includescommunity colleges in California,Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Hawaiiand American Samoa, said JuanGutierrez, director of public rela-tions.

It is amazing that PCC is rec-ognizing its students because theschool is all about its students.Since we have so many notable

places around us, the school alsobecomes part of the distinguishedcommunity, said Laurie Burruss,director of the Digital MediaCenter.

The banners feature notablealumni including JackieRobinson, Eddie Van Halen,Jaime Escalante, John Singletonand others. The banners hangfrom the light poles on the North-West side of the campus near theentry of the staff parking lot.

This year the school hasdeclared its tagline to be: ProudPast, Global Future. Part of theproud past is celebrating thecolleges success, by recognizingthe people that have made thathappen. By identifying the pastwe can move forward to become

the college that we want to be forthe future, said Gutierrez.

The banners are very welldone visually. The pictures looklike they came from a photoalbum and that is amazing. Thebanners are very prominent onthe campus, said Burruss.

The Banners are part of beauti-fying the school, as well as notingthe accomplishments of past stu-dents.

I am honored to know that Iam attending a school with anoutstanding alumni history, saidMallory Gutierrez, kinesiology.As an athlete, I am motivated toknow that someone as great asJackie Robinson came to PCC,and went on to become one of thebest athletes in the world.

AMANDA PIMENTELStaff Writer

Students and faculty gatheredin the Piazza for a viewing of thefinal presidential debate onMonday held by the PCCDemocrats Club.

Its wonderful to see so manystudents come together for themost important debate in modernhistory, said Andrew Bott, presi-dent of the Democrats Club.

Students and faculty, attendingthe event were able to watch thecandidates face off in the Piazza,which provided a friendly settingfor all parties.

Once the two primary candi-dates took center stage, the crowdsettled and all eyes and ears wereon all the monitors in the restau-rant. The crowd was very atten-tive during the entire 90 minutedebate with an occasional sighand cheer for prominent state-ments from both candidates.

As the debate ended, manyviewers stayed and expressedtheir opinions and thoughts of thedebate with each other.

I think it went well forObama, said David Uranga,political science instructor. ThePresident was well preparedtoday; his advisors should get abonus. Gov. Romney didnt havea different standpoint on foreignpolicy.

Many spectators were

impressed by how the candidateshandled their opponents cri-tiques.

It was a very competitivedebate. Romney was very pre-dictable and Obama was able togain on that. But Romney wasable to build on Obamas mis-takes from his term. It was a good

debate overall, said PrentisSmith, Sociology major.

However not all viewers wereimpressed by the candidatesdebate.

Talk is cheap. Action is whatmatters to America, said busi-ness and philosophy major ByronNorrod II.

Makoto Lane / CourierThe "Distinguished Alumni" banners won the Public Relationsoffice a gold medallion.

Presidentialdebate bringspeers together

Public Relations banners win top award

BENJAMIN SIMPSONStaff Writer

Math Jam, created at PCCseven years ago, won its secondnational award in a year whenExcelencia in Education honoredit on October 2. Math Jam alsowon the prestigious Bellwetheraward in January.

Math Jam is a two week coursedesigned to help incoming highschool students brush up ontheir math skills including guar-anteed classes for their first yearat PCC, according to Dr. BrockKlein, Director of the Teachingand Learning Center (TLC) and

Director of First Year Pathways.The program is designed not justfor math, but to introduce thenew students to college life.

[Math Jam] was really helpfulto refresh our memory for theupcoming subject, said JoaquinLuna, Math Jam graduate andpolitical science major.

It was also helpful becausewe got to see the campus, and bearound it for a period of time, itis helpful to come to the TLCroom, he said.

Last year Math Jam enrolled800 students but Klein is hopingto have 1200-1500 studentsenrolled in the fall of 2013.

Math Jam is part of thePathways umbrella underwhich a number of programs tohelp students succeed isgrouped.

If students feel connectedemotionally to the campus theyhave a better chance of success,said Klein. Normally studentsjust stumble in, this is kind ofchanging the story a little bit,you will have access to a supportstaff, access to coaches, you willhave access to centers helpingstudents.

The Math Jam program pro-vides new students with anengaging, no-stress environment

in which to experience successbefore they begin their fall mathcourse. According to theExcelencia in Education website.

They are always here for mewhen I need some help, saidGrace Terzian, Math Jam gradu-ate and respiratory therapymajor. They are always here toguide me, and show me what todo and how to do things.

The two week class is no cost,and also no credit. No creditbrings the stress level down,said Klein. Theres not reallyany homework, there are assess-ments but no exams and wedid that really intentionally to

help you have a good time inmath, we have students sayingthis is the first time they haveever had fun in math class.

Its really nice for me to seestudents from a year ago, or sev-eral years ago, hanging outtogether, and they met in MathJam. said Klein.

According to the Math PathSurvey Result in 2010 by MichaelA. Harnar and Patricia Quinonesof Claremont GraduateUniversity, twice as many stu-dents who have completed aMath Path class transfer to 4-year colleges than a comparablegroup of PCC students.

Alexis VIllanueva / CourierA crowd gathers to watch the Presidential Debate in the Piazza on Oct. 16. The audience enjoyed compli-mentary food and beverages while the debate was shown on a large projector screen and televisions.

Proposition 30 rally attracts attentive, but mediocre crowds

Bott.One of the students listening

liked what the speakers had tosay and agreed with the cause.

I definitely agree. I liked itwhen [Charlotte Williams, assis-tant professor political science]said, dont bitch if doesnt pass,

said Sofia Pereya, fine arts.John Fraser, AS vice president

for external affairs stressed theimportance of Proposition 30.

The Associated Students hasthe upmost support forProposition 30. [It] is incrediblyimportant, the $6 million thatwould go to PCC is monumen-tal, said Fraser.

On the lack of student atten-

dance at the rally Fraser com-mented that people care aboutthe issues but are not so quick tomake them selves be seen inpublic.

It is very difficult to have avery good turnout when youadvertise the same day. Peoplethat do care but they are not will-ing to let themselves be seenfront and center, said Fraser.

Continued from page 1

3CourierOctober 25, 2012

Letters to the EditorThe Courier welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should be about

300 words and may be edited by Courier staff. All letters must containyour full name and a correct daytime phone number. Letters can bedelivered to the Courier office in CC 208 or sent by email to [email protected].

Corrections The Courier staff endeavors to ensure accuracy in all aspects of its report

ing. If you believe we have made an error, please contact us at (626) 5857130or via email to [email protected].

Note to Readers

Should California abolish the death penalty, byapproving Proposition 34?

Reporting by: Amanda Pimentel , Photos by: Triana Melendez

California needs to keep thedeath penalty. Its the only way

Californians know that ourstreets are safe.

April Ratanavaravut, 20,Biology

[The state] shouldnt have theright to kill someone. Weshould abolish the death

penalty. Lily Golshan, 18, Undecided

We need the death penalty.People need to pay for thecrimes that they commit.

Michelle Burton, 19, English

[California] shouldnt get rid ofthe death penalty. Its an eye

for an eye. John Olifarg, 17, Nursing

Yes, we should take it away.We can use that money for

education, instead of wasting iton killing people.

Melissa Lara, 20, English

Its going to save money, so Isay, get rid of it.

Jeff Wong, 22, CriminalJustice

California should keep it.Criminals need to know how

their victims felt. Ryan Hill, 23, Natural

Science

We shouldnt be killing peo-ple. Life in prison is punish-

ment enough.Duncan Wadkins, 24,

Business

We should get rid of the deathpenalty. People are on death rowfor years and its just wasting our

money. Amanda Morales, 19, Marine-

Biology

California should keep thedeath penalty. Criminals needto know that there are conse-

quences for their actions. Christian Sanchez, 20, Film

ONLINE POLL RESULTSONLINE POLL RESULTSOnline, we asked: Who do you think won thefinal presidental debate?Results as of 5 p.m. Wednesday:

President Obama 66%Mitt Romney 26%Bob Schieffer 6%

vote at pccCourier.com

VOICES:

EditorialCourier2012 JACC General Excellence

Award WinnerEditorinChiefNicholas Saul

Managing EditorNicholas Zebrowski

Online EditorAnthony Richetts

Opinion EditorChristine Michaels

Assist. Opinion EditorBenjamin Simpson

Arts & Entertainment EditorPaul Ochoa

Features EditorEmily Chang Chien

Assist. Features EditorShelly Maldonado

Sports EditorPhilip McCormick

Assist. Sports EditorKarla Sosa

Photo EditorBuren Smith

Assist. Photo EditorAntonio Gandara

Online Photo EditorTeresa Mendoza

Scene EditorMax Perez

Staff Writers:Alfonso Ardon, Ander Arostegui,Raymond Bernal, Geness Gilkey, AlanLopez, Mary Nurrenbern, ElizabethPiedra, Amanda Pimentel, LuisRodriguez, Mykeisa Willis

Staff Photographers: Cicely Chisholm, Justin Clay, JohnGarcia, Wendy Garcia, ConcepcionGonzalez, Gabriela Gonzalez, JordanHarris, Makoto Lane, Triana Melendez,John Novak, Anar Nyantaisuren,Patricia Reyes, Daniel Valencia, AlexisVillanueva, Ryan Yamamoto

Faculty AdviserWarren Swil

Photography AdviserRachel Fermi

Advertising CoordinatorAnthony Richetts

The Courier is published weekly by thePasadena City College JournalismDepartment and is a freespeechforum. Editorial opinions and comments are those of the authors and donot necessarily represent the positionof the institution and its administration, student government or that ofthe Pasadena Area Community CollegeDistrict.

The Courier is written and produced asa learning experience for student writers, photographers and editors in theJournalism Department.

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The first copy of the Courier is free.Additional copies are $1 each

Copyright 2012 Courier. All rights reserved.

Opinion

Your yes vote on Proposition 30 is vitalIt has been an unusual semester. The cam-

pus has been in a state of disarrayreelingfrom class cuts, student protests, a disputedfaculty contract situation, and the replacing ofthe winter intersession with a three-semestercalendar.These hasty, significant changes inthe foundational system of PCC all stem fromone thing: the big wigs up in Sacramentohavent been giving PCC enough money.

But, we, the PCC community can do some-thing to help fix, or at least ameliorate the sit-uation. On Nov. 6 we can vote on a proposi-tion that will directly affect us at this schoolwhere we need it mostclasses.

Proposition 30., Gov. Jerry Browns tax ini-tiative, will raise the current sales tax from

7.25 percent to 7.5 percent and will levy anincrease in income taxes on those who makeover $250,000.

The tax hike is slated to bring in $6 billion inrevenue to the state, $6.7 million of whichcould be dropped into the PCC budget,according to President Mark Rocha.

With the extra $6 million, the administra-tion can add more classes in the summersemester that could not have been guaranteedif the proposition is not passed.

Raising sales tax in a harsh economy andstraining the wealthy for money is not a pret-ty picture, but we essentially have no choiceother than to vote yes on Proposition 30.

If it is not passed the state budget will have

a $6 billion shortfall, which will result in trig-ger cuts to public schools. PCCs trigger cutwill be to the tune of $6 million, meaninginthe best case scenarioa depleted summersemester class selection.

No matter what your political affiliation, nomatter what your opinion is on how theschool has handled the state budget cuts, thecutting of classes and elimination of winter, ifyou are a student, a teacher, an administrator,or affiliated with PCC in any way, you shouldvote yes on Proposition 30.

This is our chance to vote on a statewidelevel to positively benefit our school directly.Help yourself out by helping out the school.

Shared Governance should not become an empty sloganTONY S. JUGE ANDDAVID MCCABEPart II of II

Physics has something calledthe Principle of Locality whichexplains the delay that occursbetween an event and our aware-ness of it - even if it happens with-in a system to which we are inti-mately tied. Take for example theclassic toy: the Slinky.

You can take a Slinky, hold itabove the ground, extending it toits full length and drop it. Whatoccurs next, you have to witnessfor yourself to appreciate. The endclosest to the ground hovers asthe top of the Slinky falls inwardupon itself. Why doesnt the bot-tom of the Slinky fall once the topis released? Essentially, it hasntreceived the memo. The bottomdoesnt know it is no longer sup-ported at the top and wont suc-cumb to gravity until the coils

above crash down upon it.What does this moment of nos-

talgia and reflection over theLaws of Physics have to do withleadership at PCC? We have wit-nessed a shift in how faculty, staff,students and the community aretreated. The decision in January tocut 96 classes a week before thestart of the spring semester, thedecision last month to eliminatewinter session and to change theacademic calendar were made ina manner that placed us all at thebottom of the Slinky, metaphori-cally speaking.

This approach to decision mak-ing, leaves our students viewed aseither cash flow problems or solu-tions rather than respected as anintegral part of our institution.Professors are deemed proficientonly if they are able to push stu-dents through the system andtheir input for program improve-ment is considered valuable only

if it honors the ideology that stu-dents are commodities and edu-cation is an economic output.

This is a 180-degree turn fromthe belief that education shouldbe a process of learning whereprofessors and students concernthemselves with intellectualgrowth and discovery.

As we consider the dramaticchange in our student body, thisapproach to decision makingbecomes more troublesome. Asour students become morediverse, the need for qualified anddedicated professors becomesgreater.

Sadly, the administrationchooses to meet these challengesby relying on a dedicated (anddisposable) pool of adjunct facul-ty while simultaneously increas-ing the number of full-timeadministrators and managers,many of whom have little contactwith the students they serve.

We chose to teach at PCCbecause of our desire to con-tribute to the promise thatCalifornia made to its young peo-ple with the drafting of theCalifornia Master Plan. We rejectthe commodification of educationand the corporatization of thisinstitution.

We ask the administration tostop treating our college commu-nity like the bottom end of theSlinky. Instead of forcing topdown decisions and draconianchanges upon us, acknowledgethe wisdom and humanity of ourstudents, staff and faculty bydemonstrating that shared gov-ernance and Student Success,Our Top Priority are our guidingprinciples and not merely emptyslogans.

Tony S. Jug and David McCabehave both been educators at PCCsince 2005. Jug teaches Sociologyand McCabe teaches Education.

SCENESCENE October 25, 2012 Courier

Concepcion Gonzalez / CourierDancers perform "Podcast", which is choreographed by JohnPennington, during Pasadena's ArtNight at A Room to Create(ARC) Pasadena.

Alexis Villanueva / CourierCynthia Hsiang, a Chinese Music Ensemble instructor, plays with her troup atthe Pacific Asia Museum on ArtNight.

AlexisVillanueva /CourierAttendants ofPasadena'sArtNight look atpieces show-cased in theBoston CourtPerforming ArtsCenter: 5thAnnual ArtShow.

Concepcion Gonzalez / CourierStreet artist works on his art piece on Pasadenas

ArtNight on Oct. 12.

Alexis Villanueva / CourierGuests are captivated by the many art pieces that wereshowcased at the Boston Court Performing Arts Center:

5th Annual Art Show. Boston Court was one of the 16institutions open during ArtNight in Pasadena.

Alexis Villanueva / CourierCapoeira Batuque Pasadena Group and Afro-Brazilian Dancer Rachel

Hernandez, (center left) perform at A Room to Create (ARC)Pasadena for ArtNight.

Alexis Villanueva / CourierOnlookers take a gander at a piece from the exhibi-

tion 'Layer: A Loose Horizon' at the PasadenaMuseum of California Art.

ARTNIGHT

6 Courier October 25, 2012Features

Sustainability committee to work from recommendations

goals that members of thecommittee would research andreport findings at the next meet-ings.

Facilities Supervisor Dave VanPelt wished to incorporate morefacilities work into sustainability.We want to help you guys out ifwe can, said Van Pelt.

Flores believed recycling wasan important aspect to research.Facilities needs to be moreinvolved [in sustainability]because weve already done a lotto be sustainable, said Flores.

Arenson felt it was importantto discover ways to inform stu-dents about sustainability. Itsimportant we get accurate infor-mation to students [about sus-tainability], said Arenson.

Associated Students VicePresident of Sustainability andcommittee member Juan DiegoAshton is interested in research-ing transportation options.Ashton brought in a fold-up biketo show the committee a possiblesustainable alternative for thecampus. There is a lack of trans-portation options on campus. Iwant to develop alternatives,

said Ashton.Public Relations Department

Digital Media TechnicianRichshell Allen wanted toresearch water usage and renew-able energy. That is my interestoverall, he said.

Israel was pleased with theamount of participation in thecommittee. Im really proud wehave a full committee, she said.

The committee will be meetingnext month to discuss sustain-ability research and how toimplement it into the new tem-plate.

Film studentaccents the valueof human life

SHELLY MALDONADOStaff Writer

Early mornings and a dose ofcaffeine is usually how MichaelAloyan starts his day. However,this 20-year-old film studentintermingles work-filled dayspacked with homework andexams, with meetings related tothe films he is working on. Heeven manages to dedicate twohours every night to work solelyon scripts.

Director, producer, andfounder of his own film compa-ny, Michael Aloyan is a youngman with big accomplishmentsand even bigger ambitions.

Aloyan has worked on over 20short films and cannot envisionhis future as being anything buta filmmaker. The young film-maker has many projects in theworks, and his short film,Subhuman, has several awardsin the bag: the Audience Awardat the Seattle NFFTY FilmFestival, two Jury Awards at theLos Angeles Reel Film Festival,the Audience Award at the BigBear Lake International FilmFestival, and the Jury Award atthe Young Cuts Film Festival inMontreal.

Cinema has always been mypassion. I cant remember a timewhere I didnt want to makemovies, said Aloyan. I cantfind anything more interestingthan telling stories for a living.

Aloyans repertoire goesbeyond what is visually appeal-ing to the human eye. Throughhis work, particularly in hisaward-winning short film,Subhuman, Aloyan aims to con-vey a message of substance.

The main theme is identityand how we set ourselves apartas human beings. We are con-stantly surrounded by assump-tions about who we are, andmake these same assumptionsabout those around us, he said.I hope the audience walks awayfrom Subhuman thinking aboutthe value of human life.

Additionally, the filmmaker ison a mission to ensure continual

growth in the future of film andexplains how he, along with hiscrew, will be leading the nextgeneration forward.

Film is an ever-changing artform. There arent limits to howfar the medium can be pushed.Even with genres we have seen athousand times, every few yearsa visionary filmmaker changesthe genre and presents a freshtakeThere are infinite ways oftelling those stories, saidAloyan.

The Hollywood born filmmak-er thanks his family for influenc-ing his artistic endeavors.

It was always a very artisticvibe in our house, said Aloyan.[My father] and my mothergave us the freedom to go afterour dreams. My younger broth-er, Arman Aloyan, is a composerand writes all of the music formy films. My films definitelyhave their fingerprints all overthem.

Fellow filmmaker and produc-er Peter Vinding has beenimpressed by the young artistswork ethic and talent.

He talks to all people asequals, hes passionate, profes-sional, unstoppable, talented,driven, a people person and lastbut definitely not least: hardworking, said Vinding. He hasa depth of understanding thehuman condition that goes farbeyond his age.

English instructor DianaFrancisco also speaks highly ofthe filmmaker.

Michael is a very creative andtalented student, she said. Heis a truly gifted story-teller andyoung film-maker.

For future filmmakers and cur-rent students of film, Aloyanprovides a piece of advice with-out beating around the bush: Iknow its a clich, but the filmindustry is incredibly tough,said Aloyan. You have to wantit more than anything else, bedetermined, and accept that yousimply cant live without cinemain your life. After that, its allabout hard work and not lettingthe small bumps in the road dis-

Documentary screened

Antonio Gandara / Courier.Robert Bell, senior vice president, left, and Wilbert Smith writer and producer of the film, after thescreening of the heartwrenching documentary A Hole in the Head: A Life Revealed at the CrevelingLounge on Oct. 18. The film documented the last days of Vertus Hardiman who died of cancer afterbeing experimented on with radiation at the age of five.

John Novak / CourierWhen Michael Aloyan isn't working on his feature film or other filmprojects, he is attending morning classes here at PCC on Oct. 22.

Director, producer, and moviecompany founder keeps busy


Senate], Kollross said when asked about theinformation.

These numbers are shockingly inadequate,Ling said while presenting the information. Itsnot just at PCC, many other colleges have the sameproblems, Ling said.

Over 18 percent of black students and over 15percent of Hispanic students received F grades inmath. By comparison, nine percent of Asian stu-dents, and just over 10 percent of white studentsreceived F grades in math classes in 2011.

The students that come to us are not ready forthe level of math given here at PCC, MathInstructor Patricia Peach said about the informa-tion on the math department.

The information is troubling and suggests thatwe need to take a look at why the data is as it iswith the view to work to understand why this isthe case with the goal of improving academic per-formance and achievement for all students, saidSenior Superintendent and Senior Vice President ofacademic and student affairs Dr. Robert Bell.

illegally applied for would arrive and in somecases the checks would be mailed directly to theringleaders residence. Ringleaders would jumpfrom college to college with this scam. At the sametime these straw students would be taking up classslots that could have gone to genuine students.

The indictments allege that in one case two ring-leaders obtained over $200,000 of financial aidgrant funds by recruiting over 50 straw students.

The Identities of individuals who were incarcer-ated in state prison were also used according to theindictments.

The defendants are charged with a variety offelonies, including conspiracy, financial aid fraud,identity theft, mail fraud and wire fraud, said theU.S. attorneys office.Assistant Dean Miles hadsome suggestions for PCC students to try and pro-tect themselves from identity theft. Studentsshould avoid suspicious scholarship searches,especially those that are later found to be for prof-it she said Avoid people that make an offer overthe telephone and who charge a processing fee.



7CourierOctober 25, 2012

Major donation made of camerasTERESA MENDOZAStaff Writer

The Visual Arts and Media StudiesDivision has received a donation ofhigh-end photography and cinemaequipment from the Jet PropulsionLaboratorys Photography/ImagingGroup.

The combination of still and motioncameras, lenses, and support equip-ment donated is valued at $100,000,which is a low estimate, according tophotography Instructor Roland Percey.

The cameras served during threegenerations of space exploration.

This equipment has a historythecameras were used to documentresearch and development of spaceprograms including the Mercury,Gemini, and Apollo missions, saidPercey.

Among the cameras are medium-format Hasselblads, full-formatCambos, various Nikon SLRs, and avariety of interchangeable lenses andfilm backs. The motion picture equip-ment includes several Arriflex cameraswith lenses.

The equipment will be availablespring 2013 for intermediate andadvanced photography students infashion, portrait, and black and whitelarge-format photography classesaccording to Percey.

We are excited about using thishigh-end professional equipment,said photo lab Manager EamonConklin who will be teaching thelarge-format class.

Francesca Sandoval, visual commu-nications major, looks forward to usingthe new equipment for fashion pho-tography.

Its really nice of JPL to make thisdonation since I know the equipmentwe have is not as high-quality, said

Sandoval.Photography majors will be able to

polish their portfolios, as they getready to seek employment or transferto four-year colleges.

Students can have training withtop-of-the-line cameras before they goon to whatever their next step is, saidPercey.

Percey explained that the impor-tance of the support from such a pres-tigious agency as JPL/NASA is not theamount of the donation but that JPLfelt compelled to support education.

It is no secret that education is hurt-ing financially and it is very importantat this stage in all our disciplines to getindustry cooperation, said Percey.We certainly need the equipment

since we are getting a brand new facil-ity and anything we can get donated isappreciated.

The JPL team presenting the dona-tion included retiring supervisorDavid Deats, senior photographerThomas Wynne, and property admin-istrator Joseph Bergstrom, according toVAMS interim dean Joe Futtner.

In order to make sure the studentsare trained to use these high-end cam-eras Percey has just finished writing atutorial for each camera that studentswill read and then take a test.

Conklin is creating kits for the cam-eras, with the exception of the large-format cameras that arrived in theirown cases, so that students can eventu-ally check them out.

School unaffected by fraud ring

Data shows race gap in gradesAlexis Villanueva / Courier

The Visual Arts and Media Studies Division was given a donation of various topline still and motion cameras from JPL/ NASA. The equipment will be available tostudents, in Spring 2013.

SPORTSSPORTSOctober 25, 2012OURIERC

Football implodes in last-second lossPHILIP MCCORMICKSports Editor

The Lancers were seconds away frombreaking their six-game home losingstreak and coming up with their secondwin of the season, but their defense could-nt find a way to stop the Allan HancockCollege Bulldogs from scoring and put-ting the Lancer football team down on thescoreboard Saturday night. The final scorewas 49-42.

Our [defense] made some key playsearlier in the game, said Head CoachFred Fimbres. But it wasnt enough inthe end.

The last two minutes included whathad to be the most exciting play of thegame.

The Lancers had just gotten a much-needed touchdown from Wide ReceiverJeremiah Andrade to make it 41-35 with1:58 remaining in the game and PCCopted to go for the onside kick. KickerMartin Magana put the ball in play, andthe Lancers Defensive Back ArthurWilliams came up with the huge recovery.

I kicked it like we are told to kick theball [at] practice, said Magana. We gotlucky and the ball bounced our way.

The momentum was clearly on PCCsside and a few plays later, QuarterbackZeek Julien threw a 13-yard touchdownpass to Wide Receiver Chaz Fuery with1:13 left in the fourth quarter.

A few moments later, Magana kicked a

field goal to put the Lancers up for thefirst time in the game.

We came together and stepped up onoffense, said Julien. We ran out of timeat the end. I just wish we had that lastplay back.

Disaster struck however, as the PCCdefense couldnt to stop the Bulldogsoffense.

The Lancers allowed Allan Hancock toget a 50-yard kickoff return and thatresulted in a 10-yard pass from theBulldogs Quarterback Brandon Jeffries toWide Receiver Nick Shellow with 22.9seconds left on the clock.

[Fimbres] told me to kick it to the leftside, said Magana. Our guys werentthere to make the tackle, though. We did-nt execute well enough on that play.

PCC tried for a few last minute plays,but in the end, the Lancers couldnt pulloff what should have been a great come-back.

The Lancers couldnt stop the Bulldogsrunning game, which was what hurt PCCthe most.

Bulldogs player Running BackCameron Artis-Payne ran for 351 all-pur-pose yards and dissecting PCCs defense.

This shouldnt be a surprise though.Artis-Payne is the states leading rusherand scorer and now has 1,467 total yardsand 18 touchdowns in just seven gamesthis season.

[Artis-Payne] is exactly what his statssay his is, said Fimbres. That being said,

we contributed to his success and didntexecute on a few things defensively. Hesa special player.

Lancer fans can find a few bright spotsin the game. Magana scored 10 points offhis field goals, while other PCC playerslike Fuery and Andrade made greattouchdown catches.

Also, Earl Glinton scored a touchdown

on a 99-yard interception return. TheLancers were down 29-6 in the secondquarter, but were able to make that greatcomeback to get them into a winningposition.

All you can ask for is a chance to win,said Fimbres. [Julien] got into a rhythmand got us down the field for that lastplay. We just came up short.


The womens volleyball team playeda masterful game Friday night againsttheir lead rivals Mt. Sac to stay at thetop of the table.

The Lancers, who were away fromhome, had the lead in each game atalmost all times of the night, winninggame one by 14 points, game two bynine points and game three by eightpoints.

There were two moments in thematch when Mt. Sac pulled even: inthe second game when they tied it 11-11 and in the third game when it was

10-9. But in each instance the Lancersstepped up their game and pulledahead. In the second game the scorejumped to 18-13, and in the third gamethe score jumped to 18-12.

We played aggressive, said CoachTammy Silva. We controlled themomentum, tempo, everything. I alsomade some changes, brought a littlemore intensity at times when we need-ed it.

Jackie Valle-Acosta lead the Lancerswith 10 kills, with Viridiana Gallardo,Yanise Joseph and Megan Callen rightbehind with eight apiece.

I think it went amazing, said Valle-Acosta. We played together as a team.

You cant play volleyball any better.Personally, I had a rough week, not

playing my best, Valle-Acosta added.I felt like today I was actually back inmy comfort zone so I was very pleasedwith that.

Jennifer Estrada led the Lancers with17 defensive digs, being her usualbackbone of Pasadenas defense.

It went really well, said Estrada.It went better than I expected it to go.I think I did very well to keep ener-gized at all times, and I was prettycomfortable.

The Lancers have a league leading 7-0 conference record, with Mt. Sac nowat 5-2 and El Camino 6-1.


The first half was slow. Even the spectatorsenthusiastically blowing their air horn andscreaming encouragements from the stands fellsilent after 30 minutes. But that all changed in thesecond half as the womens soccer team came onstrong, eventually beating El Camino 3-0 on Oct19 at El Camino College. The Lancers now standclear in third place.

It was Nancy Nunez who opened the scoringfor Pasadena, with a precise first time chip of theball over the goalkeeper and into the back of thenet.

Cassandra [Saavedra] threw the ball in, saidNunez, and someone flicked it on. It went overthe defensive line and I just saw it bouncing and Ihit it right in the perfect spot on my foot and itwent right in.

By the middle of the second half the Lancerswere dominating the game, holding onto the ball,making runs down the lines, and creating chance

after chance at goal. I thought we did a lot betterin the second half, said Nunez. We needed toget used to the [slippery] field, but I think weadjusted really well and stepped it up. The sec-ond Pasadena goal, by Saavedra, was simple exe-cution of basic play-making, as Vanessa Capracrossed the ball to Saavedra at the back post.

Lizbeth [Rodriguez] tossed it in to Vanessa[Capra] who took it down the line and crossed it,and I just kicked it in, said Saavedra.

The third goal was not as clean, as the ballbounced around the 18-yard box of El Camino.Amber Fadem, defender, came charging in whenthe ball bounced free and buried it in the back ofthe net. It was Fadems first goal for the Lancers.

A defender scoring a goal is quite amazing. Itis not very common, so I was pretty excited, saidFadem.

[It went] really, really well, said coach RandyLilavois. We knew we needed to win this one tostay in third place, and we knew that we had beatthem last time, but we knew they would be hun-gry because the race is so close.

Womens soccer stands in third placeafter decisive win against El Camino

Jordan Harris / CourierBy blocking the field goal, Defensive Back Keenan Marshall keeps Alan Hancock Collegefrom scoring against the Lancers, in Robinson Stadium on Oct. 20.

Womens volleyball dominates over Mt. SAC rivals

The womenswater polo teamwon its lastmatch, 15-10,over SouthwesternCollege at theBattle at theBeach Tournamenthosted by LongBeach City andCypress Collegeon Oct. 20. TheLancers showed astrong perform-ance through outthe game, particu-larly in the firstperiod.

Teresa Mendoza/Courier

Water Polo wins last match atBattle at the Beach tournament

Briana Hiltonpushes the ballforward in theLancers 3-0sweep of Mt.Sac on Oct.19.

BenjaminSimpson/Courier

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