Share: Students gathered in Harbeson Hall on Jan. 31 expecting a conversation with Camille Dawson from the U.S. Department of State. Due to weather-related travel interruptions, Camille Dawson was unable to attend the event, and the U.S. State Department’s Diplomat in Residence-Southern California, Katelyn Choe, offered a presentation on landing a career with the U.S. Department of State and other opportunities in foreign affairs. Some of those who were mixed up by the last-minute change included a group of PCC’s Anti-War Club members. “We came …
PCC displays pride and unity with LGBTQ+ community in latest event
Share: A celebratory pride flag-inspired balloon arch welcomed LGBTQ+ students and allies on the North Patio by the Center of the Arts. The event was co-sponsored by Pasadena City College’s Cross Cultural Center, PCC QUEST Center and Queer Alliance. Jordyn Orozco, the coordinator of PCC’s Cross Cultural Center, used to be a PCC student. After attending PCC for a while, Orozco became a member of Queer Alliance, PCC’s club for LGBTQ+ students and allies. “I got involved in Queer Alliance and then all of a …
Foraging experts create space for women in the fungi field
Share: Bat Vardeh, the founder of the group ‘Foraging and Mushroom Hunting Women of Socal’ got her start as a foraging expert in childhood, collecting mulberries and figs nearby–spreading the fruitful news to the rest of the kids in the neighborhood. “For me, it started when I was really, really young. When I was elementary age, my favorite fruits were figs and mulberries–and you cannot always find them at the store. So, naturally, for some reason, I knew what a fig tree and what a …
Pasadena’s new city controller makes money moves
Share: Armine Trashian was hired as Pasadena’s City Controller as of early August, a critical time for the city’s Finance Department. While in some cities, like Los Angeles, the controller is an elected position with term limits, in Pasadena it’s a hired position outside of the electoral process. As city controller, she leads the city’s Finance Department which oversees every financial transaction the city makes. Trashian accepted the position amidst the end of the city’s fiscal year. Preparation for year-end responsibilities takes several months. Trashian …
Does your vote matter? PCC students say yes. And no.
Share: Enthusiasm towards voting varied while asking, “does your vote matter?” to students and staff across campus. This group included first-timers to non-voters as well. One student was caught on her way out of the poll place on campus at Creveling Lounge. When asked about what compelled her to vote early–or vote at all, Amelie Shelton credited her parents. “It’s more so just the fact that my parents always made it out to be something that is important. And that always kind of stuck with …
Get a ride for $1 with Metro’s pilot program, Metro Micro
Share: Metro Micro is a transit program that launched during the peak of the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020. It’s a program that was designed to replace short, solo trips by offering on-demand trips that often stay under five miles. The vans, some of which are electric, are equipped with bike racks, and can be seen throughout the day in the streets surrounding Pasadena City College. The program is geared towards individuals who have been reluctant to use public transport in the past. Metro, when they …
Creating safety in an inherently unsafe space—the skatepark
Share: Every Wednesday night, a group of queer and transgender skaters gather outside of a local skatepark in Glendale. Near handball courts and on flat ground, beginning skaters are allowed a safe space where they can practice balancing on their skateboards, learn to land tricks or meet other queer skaters. This group goes by the name Boos Cruise and describes themselves as “a collective representing queer, BIPOC, non-binary, trans, skaters, and aspiring skaters.” Julian Chavez serves as the community leader of Boos Cruise, and shares …
Blotter: heat exhaustion and shattered window on campus
Share: Monday, September 5 Nothing to report. Tuesday, September 6 A student fainted and then was transported to the health center where they were treated by a nurse for heat exhaustion. Pasadena Police Department was called after someone wielding a stick attempted to hit an MTA bus driver on Colorado Blvd. There was a welfare check on a transient laying on the sidewalk, north of Lot 1. Wednesday, September 7 A female student reported that she had been struck in the abdomen while walking westbound …
PCC’s outdoor program inspires students to connect with nature
Share: In Butano State Park near Santa Cruz, artist and former PCC student, Elexis Padrón, works as a Senior Park Aide-Interpreter, guiding hiking tours and facilitating nature-based art workshops. A science illustration class at UC Santa Cruz helped ignite a realization that maybe she hadn’t chosen the right major–although she values her humanities background now, looking back. Shortly after graduating with a degree in art and community studies (a social-justice focused major), Padrón began the UC Naturalist Program at PCC, earning a certificate that set …