Share: Pasadena City College (PCC) will remain closed with all classes canceled through Sunday, Jan. 12, as the Eaton fire continues to devastate the region, Superintendent-President José A. Gómez announced Wednesday. “We have lost our peace,” Gómez said during a press conference. “Although Pasadena City College has sustained minor damage, our hearts and our prayers and our thoughts are with our greater community.” The college sustained damage from the ongoing windstorm, including loose exterior panels on several buildings, downed light poles and trees, scattered debris, …
Eaton Fire claims two lives as structures burn
Share: The fast-moving Eaton fire has claimed two lives and destroyed more than 100 structures, including homes and a historic synagogue, as it burns through Altadena and nearby communities, officials said Wednesday. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone confirmed the fatalities during a press conference. The fire, which began Tuesday evening near Altadena Drive and Midwick Drive, has burned more than 2,000 acres and remains 0% contained. Pasadena City College remains closed due to unsafe conditions caused by the Eaton fire and high winds. …
Campus closed due to Eaton Fire, high winds
Share: Pasadena City College (PCC) campuses will be closed Wednesday, January 8, due to high winds, smoke, and hazardous commuting conditions caused by the rapidly spreading Eaton Fire in nearby Altadena, the college said in an email Tuesday night. “PCC will continue to monitor weather conditions and assess campus safety,” the email said. “We will provide updates as needed.” In-person classes will transition online, and students are advised to check for communication from their instructors regarding alternative arrangements. The decision comes as the Eaton Fire, …
Michael Cooper: From humble beginnings to hometown legend
Share: Pasadena Basketball Alum and NBA Legend Michael Cooper had been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame on Oct 13 of 2024, as Cooper began his Collegiate career here, spending his first two years at Pasadena City College, before transferring to New Mexico State and onto the NBA. The Showtime Lakers are one of the best NBA teams of all time, as they had the best point guard of the decade Magic Johnson and the 2nd all time NBA scorer Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Yet …
Plans to move Science Success Center put on hold
Share: Plans to move the STEM Science Success Center away from the Science Village for the spring of next year have been put on hold. The original proposal was to move the STEM Science Success Center into room 300 inside the D building. This was part of the opening of the new Sarafian building, and the opening of classes would fill the space for the spring of next year. However, Stephanie Fleming, Dean of of Academic Affairs, said the idea would not proceed. “Originally, we …
Student concerns persist following Lot 4’s recent elevator meltdown
Share: For weeks, the elevators in Pasadena City College’s Lot 4 parking structure have been malfunctioning, causing frustration for students and staff who rely on them to navigate the multi-level facility. PCC student Kacey Charbonnet lives with Patellofemoral pain syndrome in her left knee which creates irritation and pain when walking up flights of stairs. “It was a painful experience walking up the stairs,” said Charbonnet. “The elevators are very finicky and are inconsistent in their service,” Charbonnet decides to park on the 4th floor …
Students concerned about Trump’s threats to financial aid
Share: Donald Trump’s plans to dismantle the Department of Education (DOE) indicate potential reductions to financial aid, causing concerns for students. In the event of these plans following through, PCC’s Financial Aid Department would intend to pursue efforts to maintain financial aid for students. In a campaign video from September 2023, Trump declared his plans for the Education Department under Agenda47. “One other thing I’ll be doing very early in the administration is closing up the Department of Education in Washington D.C. and sending all …
PCC considers monthly salary program for low-income students
Share: The LACCD recently implemented the BOOST program meant to provide a monthly salary of $1000 for 12 months to 250 low-income students pursuing degrees in health to ensure they can finish their degree. This program or one similar to it could be incredibly beneficial for low-income students at PCC if implemented. Although community college is often a less expensive alternative to university, many students still have to concern themselves with working jobs while balancing their school work. This less time and focus on school …
DOGE poses significant financial consequences for PCC
Share: Recently, Vivek Ramaswamy, one of the two leaders of the proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has suggested that DOGE would outright “delete” certain government departments, one of them being the Department of Education (DOE). “We expect mass reductions, we expect certain agencies to be deleted outright,” Ramaswamy said. Ramaswamy and fellow co-leader Elon Musk have propped up DOGE to be a Grim Reaper of sorts in regards to many of the governmental departments that they wish to cut funding from . One of …
PCC geography professors fund new scholarship from their own paychecks
Share: After years without dedicated financial support, geography students at Pasadena City College (PCC) are poised to benefit from a new scholarship, thanks to the initiative of the geography faculty. The PCC Geography Faculty Award is the brainchild of Dr. Rhea Presiado and her three geography colleagues, Dr. Hector Agredano, Professor Brennan Wallace, and Dr. Nikita Prajapati. “Since our geography students currently have access to zero scholarships, we decided to pony up the funds out of our payroll,” Presiado said in an interview. The four …