Dead tired employees try to adapt to COVID-19

Share: “It was eerie! Almost like the opening scene of ‘28 Days Later’!” said Writing Support Center (WSC) faculty member Giselle Miralles. “Twenty Eight Days Later” is a 2002 film dealing with the aftermath of an accidental release of a deadly virus on the deserted streets of London. That is what Miralles was reminded of the first time she reported to work after PCC’s announcement on Mar. 14 concerning the temporary suspension of on campus classes.  From the environment on and off campus to the …

PCC’s dash to catch up to COVID-19

Share: Pasadena City College has been rushing to keep up with the necessary responses to the COVID-19 pandemic described by the school’s Aerosol Transmissible Disease (ATD) plan.   The ATD Emergency Preparedness Plan was made as a companion document to the college’s Emergency Operations Plan. It was released on March 5. The day before, on March 4, the first death in California related to the virus was confirmed and Gov. Newsom declared a state of emergency. The plan identifies five levels, which correspond to the linear …

Lancer Pantry closes, other campus resources go remote

Share: UPDATE: As of March 28, the Lancer Pantry will be open for one distribution day a week on Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., starting April 3. Note: This was canceled again on April 1. See, here, for more information on accessing gift cards for food. The PCC Lancer Pantry Drive-Thru/Walk-Up was closed on Tuesday following guidance from the Department of Public Health intended to prevent further transmission of COVID-19. PCC is currently working on other ways to provide help to those students who …

After 10 years away, PCC swimmer jumps back in the pool

Share: Swim cap—on. Swimsuit—fitted. Water polo ball—at hand. Goggles—snug. Oh, and don’t forget to keep the swim parka close for those 6 a.m. practices. Ready, set, deep breath, whistle blown—go! Anna Herrin, PCC sophomore water polo and swim team competitor, never imagined how her life back in the water after a 10 year dry spell, would feel as good as it does now.  What seemed like a distant dream to return to the poolside became Herrin’s new reality, as the rookie swimmer was given the …

Why our safety comes first before school

Share: As new cases and new deaths from COVID-19 start to rise, people are starting to panic over what will happen if a lockdown occured in California. Since the campus closure, many students worry over how they are going to get their classes done. But where there is a will there is a must, and our health and safety must come first. Follow:

Work study students still have a paycheck

Share: Pasadena City College has received permission to pay Federal Work Study (FWS) students who work on campus, even while the campus is closed to prevent further transmission of COVID-19. In addition, 8,000 PCC students will have their Pell Grants and all other financial aid funds available by March 27, according to Mathematics, Engineering Science Achievement (MESA) and More Math and Science (MAS2 ) representatives.  Financial Aid payments have also been moved up. According to Alex Boekelheide, special assistant to the superintendent/president, the second wave …

Mariachi model wears her Mexican culture with pride

Share: The show is starting, the audience applauds. The stage is waiting for her. Shy and young KaitLynn Markley steps on the stage, starts playing the violin and completes Mariachi Monumental de America. A broadcast journalism major at PCC, Markley found her inspiration through her love for public speaking. Her love for public speaking, in turn, came from her culture and life experiences. Follow:

Oxford study abroad comes to abrupt end

Share: The PCC students and faculty members who traveled to Oxford, UK for a study abroad program were sent home five days into the trip due to changes in international travel procedures intended to contain the spread of COVID-19. The 19 students paid $9,322 each to participate in the program, which was expected to last the entire Spring semester.  On Thursday Mar. 12 the study abroad was cancelled when the US State Department issued a Global Level 3 Health Advisory. This advised US citizens to …

Students face tough transition to online learning

Share: During the first week of campus closure, computer science student Richard Sequeira was facing difficulty meeting his deadline for an assignment. He was occupied getting groceries to prep for the period of self-isolation, which already took two days of the entire week of school. Some of his professors were not accommodating with deadlines at this period, and he had to explain to them that students, like professors, need time to prepare for self-isolation and remote instruction. What Sequeira experienced, however, is merely one of …