PCC alum Reyna Grande writes her way through imposter syndrome

Share: Students and faculty members quickly piled into the Writing Success Center (WSC) in support of PCC alum turned published author Reyna Grande’s panel. They were handed a box of catered food from Stonefire Grill, a notecard to jot down questions to ask the guest speaker and were given the opportunity to purchase one of Grande’s books for $15.  The WSC was a packed house as PCC’s Puente club spotlighted Grande in a discussion-based event on May 7. Grande shared stories reflecting on her journey …

Culture week cookin’: Try an Italian professor’s veggie meatballs

Share: As part of International Week at PCC, Italian professor Laura Godio prepared two different recipes for her students, a classic Italian meatball dish and a zucchini-based “meatball” inspired by her vegetarian students. International Week aims to expand students’ knowledge of foreign cultures and to celebrate the arts of different nations. “I enjoy doing this for my students,” Godio said, referencing the meatball dishes she crafts for her students, “It helps them better understand vocabulary when they’re participating in something physical like cooking. My students …

Free Comic Day carnival caters to Pasadena’s comic collectors

Share: A long line formed all around the block, every comic book fan excited to make their way to the festival and multiple of any free comic they wanted. And once the doors opened, the Comic Factory was flooded with people like on Black Friday aiming to get the comic of their choice. On May the 4th, the 22nd annual Free Comic Book Day was celebrated worldwide and featured various activities attendees were able to do to earn coins to exchange for free comics at …

Traditional music meets modern beats at Getty College Night

Share: Against panoramic city views and the stunning architecture of the Getty Center, thousands of students mingled as a symphony of electronic Cherokee and Muscogee music filled the air. This was no ordinary night at the museum; it was Getty College Night, a night for students from colleges and universities across the region to come together in celebration of art, culture, and creativity with a plethora of activities, live performances, and art exhibitions. The event alternates between the Getty Villa and Center each year, this …

‘Musical Postcards From The East And West’ showcases the best music has to offer

Share: Audience chatter echoes throughout the Sexton Auditorium. Members of The Pasadena City College Community Orchestra are all seated as they prepare to perform the last half of their concert aptly titled “Musical Postcards From The East And West”, a program that celebrates symphonies from different cultures, and different walks of life. Their instruments shriek as they check to make sure their instruments are in tune. The conductor Henry Shin walks on stage and introduces himself to signal their start, announcing their next symphony: “Piece …

‘The Book Club Play’ cast and crew write their own chapter in PCC’s theater department

Share: On the opening night of the theater arts department’s spring main stage show, “The Book Club Play,” actors of varying backgrounds and experiences were surrounded by an audience in PCC’s CA Theatre. The audience wrapped around the disk-shaped seating area, on the stage was a carefully constructed set modeled after a modern home, further immersing the actors into the private world of a tight-knit group of friends.  A little over a month before working together, all six main cast members waited in line for …

Local Muslim community balances joy of Ramadan with sorrow for Gaza

Share: As Ramadan continues, Hedab Tarifi finds herself struggling to observe the holiday as she ordinarily would. Tarifi is an active member of her community, a devout Muslim, and the first woman on the boards of the Southern California Islamic Center and the Muslim Public Affairs Council. However, as a Gaza City native, her anxiety is centered on home as war is waging and her people are dying. “It’s the month that we focus on spirituality; it’s a month that cleanses the body and soul, …

8-Bit comes to life in PCC orchestra’s video game concert

Share: As the lights dimmed in the Sexson Auditorium, the bright opening titles of “The Legend of Zelda” played on an overhead screen and the dazzled audience then looked to the PCC Orchestra, walking through some of the most beloved music scores in video games. The event, held on Mar. 23, was the group’s first concert of the 2024 spring semester and focused entirely on an idea presented by students, video games. Conductor and Orchestra professor Henry Shin wanted to act on this idea for …

Queerchata moves PCC students to dance beyond boundaries

Share: Latinx music blared from a PCC conference room as students gathered together and practiced the steps of bachata, carefree of any gender norms that interfered with the expression of dance. On Mar. 12, PCC’s Puente club hosted an event with Queerchata that offered a safe space for students to embrace their culture and sexual identity. The one-time event was held at the Creveling Lounge with Latinx music and food provided, welcoming all students interested. Discovering a community or organization within a college institution that …