PCC Pride Center receives $10,000 for new support programs

Share: The PCC Pride Center, which serves queer students, is about to go through a revamp, as a $10,000 grant was awarded to the center.  According to Enith Reyes, the grant will be used in service to PCC’s students, faculty and staff, and create spaces of intentional diversity, equity, and inclusion. “This program aims to promote the awareness of the sexual and gender diversity at Pasadena City College (PCC) and to make the LGBTQIA+ support network more visible to the rest of our students, staff, …

Frank Ocean drops out of Coachella, students shrug

Share: Expectations for Coachella were high this year. Frank Ocean was headlining and he hadn’t been seen on stage since 2019. Many Ocean fans were left disappointed by his performance, as they longed for more than his 90-minute set provided. The singer performed his first set after arriving an hour late and abruptly ended as the midnight curfew for the concer arrivedt. Many of his tracks were pre-recorded and he lip-synced to the lyrics.  The original concept was canceled mere hours before the performance, which …

Therapy-speak helps patients, just not outside a therapy session

Share: Relationships shouldn’t be treated like an HR memo, but should be approached with kindness, understanding, and genuineness. This genuineness comes from a place of empathy. Overused therapy-speak often places blame on the individual on the receiving end of the conversation. It doesn’t leave room for productive discussions, or making amends, as its purpose isn’t to come to a mutual understanding but to cut off those deemed as toxic.  A Bumble article dives deep into the ways therapy-speak can be used to finalize one-sided decisions …

Note to self: Don’t touch dead sea mammals

Share: Sea otters were found dead off the coast of California due to a rare strain of bacteria, leading to questions about the future of the ecosystem, and how it will impact humans. The deadly parasite in question is known as Toxoplasma, which kills sea mammals and may pose a potential threat to humans. Sea otters are exposed to this parasite by eating clams and other filter-feeding invertebrates. This parasite is found in cats’ feces, meaning that trash that’s made it to the ocean has …

PCC reins in its new mascot and rids itself of Larry

Share: In mid-March PCC announced their long anticipated new mascot, a horse, transitioning from Larry the Lancer, PCC’s former and much beloved mascot.  Getting rid of Larry the Lancer is the end of an era for PCC, who’s had Larry since at least the late 90s. The slightly threatening face of Larry the Lancer has loomed over PCC’s history though, as PCC’s Marketing Director, David Steiman, explained, hasn’t exactly been expansive in its use.  “What we did was a survey of all of our athletic …

March’s horoscope signals change: Are you ready for it?

Share: Astrology is all about the moon’s orientation towards different constellations in the sky, and how this creates a gravitational pull towards the earth. The moon being in a certain sign refers to the moon being positioned towards that constellation. This March urges us to take a fresh start. The New Moon recently occurred in Pisces, meaning the moon was positioned towards the constellation known as Pisces. This welcomes new beginnings. Anything that gets us out of our routine is welcomed! On March 12, Jupiter …

2023 leaves the buzz behind in favor of refreshing sober mocktails

Share: Mocktails are making a comeback in 2023! Mocktails are nonalcoholic versions of cocktails, often combining fruity notes over ice, or replicating your favorite alcoholic beverages. New ingredients allow mocktails to mimic the taste of alcohol without being alcoholic themselves, as nonalcoholic spirits stake their claim in today’s drinks.  Mocktails are perfect for those who are trying to stay sober, and are a great way to beat day drinking. Want a fancy drink without the buzz? Mocktails are perfect for social gatherings that you want …

Feeling hopeless means you’re paying attention

Share: Mental health is less of a taboo topic within our generation, as American teenagers are more likely to feel “persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness” according to the CDC. Mental health awareness has increased, as the world becomes more and more desolate. From a pandemic, to inflation, to environmental devastation, the world feels like it’s falling apart more than ever before. The overconsumption of information doesn’t help, as it shines light on everything happening around us.  Other generations didn’t have constant updates of the …

Stop the sprawl: We need walkable communities, not phony EVs

Share: Electric cars aren’t the end all be all solution to solving environmental stability, as the batteries that cars are made from aren’t recyclable, and sourcing for the materials ravages our natural environment. As the future approaches, a more sustainable method of transportation like walking, can be what saves the environment for years to come in Pasadena, and even LA.  Rowena Chan, an Automotive Lab Technician at PCC, doesn’t believe that electric cars will dominate roads due to the lack of energy. “Personally, I think …

Reach for the stars with PCC’s latest Carnegie lecture

Share: The inky night sky was slightly overcast, making it difficult to see the dancing stars up above. Still, PCC students were able to locate Jupiter via telescope, and everyone oohed and aahed as they took turns viewing it through the glassy lens. This was the after-party of the lecture “Dancing in the Night Sky – a Journey of Helium Stars”, happening at PCC’s observatory.  Ylva Götberg is a NASA Hubble postdoctoral fellow at the Carnegie Observatories who spoke elegantly on helium stars. She explained …