Share: Since 2019, the United States has seen a massive influx in fentanyl overdoses resulting in rapid death rates with over 71,000 people dying from a synthetic opioid-related drug overdose in 2021, leaving questions about what PCC is doing to enforce harm reduction. Illicitly manufactured fentanyl has become popular in the illegal drug market in the last half a decade due to its incredibly high potency and low cost, as well as its heroin-like effect. Fentanyl is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and …
Is time up for TikTok in the U.S.?
Share: As developments continue to arise in the potential ban of TikTok in the United States, PCC students and professors have a lot to say about the issue. “I don’t want TikTok to go away, it’s a creative outlet for many people,” student Rosie Martinez said. The threat to ban TikTok is not entirely news to Americans. In 2020, the Trump administration also threatened to ban the app. The Biden administration is demanding that Chinese shareholders sell their shares of TikTok or else ByteDance, the …
BLOTTER: Staff member harassed by man in Lot 7
Share: Monday, March 13, 2023 An unhoused man was reported to be sleeping under a tree with his possessions scattered in the grass near the LL Building. He was escorted off campus. Tuesday, March 14, 2023 An officer encountered a man on campus during routine patrol. He was advised that the campus was closed. 2 citations were issued for cars parked in Lots 4 & 5 overnight without a permit. A student reported that a laptop they’d borrowed from the district was stolen from them …
Academic Senate president fires back at ‘unauthorized’ faculty newsletter
Share: The Academic Senate (AS) at Pasadena City College rebuked a group of faculty members for sharing an “unauthorized” newsletter that was not approved by the AS Executive Board, in what they called a newsletter full of myths, lies, and opinions that lacked “collegiality.” “Please be advised that this newsletter does not represent, nor has it been authorized by the 40+ members of the Academic Senate board,” the email said. “The ‘newsletter’ in question is full of misinformation, untruths and the opinion of one (or …
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 …
GOP attacks on gender-affirming care perpetuate myths behind health
Share: In the last few weeks, various GOP-controlled states have considered limiting resources for gender-affirming care or banning access to minors and their families altogether. Of the states with bills containing anti-trans and nonbinary rhetoric concerning healthcare, there is a myriad of myths muddying the manifold services that fall under gender-affirming care. “Gender-affirming healthcare is healthcare, and LGBTQIA+ people deserve to be cared for in a way that is safe and supportive,” said Mallory Corben, the president of PCC’s Queer Alliance. In 2023 legislative sessions …
Management union accuses PCC trustees of widespread mismanagement
Share: The Pasadena City College Management Association gathered over 40 of its 78 members to address the Board of Trustees Wednesday, March 15, accusing the college’s highest governing body of mismanagement, instability, misrepresentation of public interest, lack of communication and racism. “I’ve been at PCC for 15 years and have served under seven superintendent-presidents,” Mat Camara, the acting board president of the Management Association said. “On Monday, April 11, 2022, the superintendent-president and the Board of Trustees received a vote of No Confidence from our …
Oversight committee selected to watch over $565 million school bond measure
Share: The Pasadena City College Board of Trustees elected a 12 member Bond Oversight Committee within the college’s community to ensure that funds from the $565 million Measure PCC are used for what was promised at their meeting in March. After the election results were certified in January the Board began the 60 day process to elect the committee, and began its search. In a press release from PCC following their confirmation and the announcement at the board meeting, the trustees explained the importance of …
Organ donor organization fills the transplant gap
Share: In the United States 17 people die each day waiting for an organ transplant, organizations like MatchingDonors step in and work to decrease the inequalities of organ donation and transplants. This lack of support has led to the rise of organ donor nonprofits, who can help cover the costs when the government cannot. To fill the gaps MatchingDonors has stepped up to the task of assisting with organ donations and transplants. The group is a non-profit collective that helps connect patients in need with …
Video: With the U.S. debt ceiling, can we raise the roof forever?
Share: As the debate over the U.S. debt ceiling heats up and the GOP keeps mounting pressure on the administration, we asked PCC economics instructor Dr. Rebecca Johannsen to help us make sense of it all. “The U.S. has a pattern of having more spending than what they are bringing in in income every single year whether there is a recession or not, so it’s called deficit spending,” says Johannsen. Deficit spending, she explains, forces the government to borrow money to cover their expenses …