It all happened over night. No more monsters crept out after dark and rather than generating screams, the former haunted house, now a Christmas tree lot, inspires joyous Christmas jingles. From scary to merry, The Foundation for Pierce College converted the corner of De Soto and Victory avenues, once an empty lot that sat on weeds three feet deep, into a functionally active place for families.
Category: Features
Tales from the farm:
How many of us can claim that we had a sow run after us all the way around the Pierce College farm because we stole her piglet? That was one of the most memorable incidents Marilyn Feldman,58, had about her college life at Pierce in 1957. “My friend and I were walking past the pig barn after class one day and saw that a sow was surrounded by her piglets,” said Feldman.
Oliver plans new job, trip to Paris, time with family
To most people, retirement means the end to a career but to a few, like Timothy “Tim” Oliver, vice president of administrative services, retirement means the beginning of a career. Oliver, who joined Pierce College in November 1999, recently announced his retirement effective December, to spend more time with his family and work part-time.
Text building program aids deaf students
Since its founding in 1947, Pierce College has become an institution for nearly 19,000 students a year who are enrolled in over 100 different disciplines. Among Pierce’s many courses, departments, professors and services from which to choose are a small but excelling number of deaf students eagerly striving for the same opportunities as any other student on campus.
Library to get face lift:
During the winter break, contractors will bring the Pierce College Library into the 21st century when they install new carpet and furniture, including approximately 400 matching chairs that were last replaced when Jimmy Carter was president. Currently, when students enter the library, they are relegated to a golden carpet and mismatched wooden and plastic chairs that haven’t been replaced since 1978.
Hepatitis C
You could be at risk of contracting Hepatitis C, a viral infection that causes serious damage to the lungs, if you have recently pierced any part of your body, shared body jewelry, been sexually active, shared needles while “shooting” drugs or simply gone to your workplace, depending on where you work.
Balancing the sexes
While it might seem like there are more male faculty walking around campus, that simply isn’t true. At Pierce College, the faculty consists of mostly females. The percent of female faculty and female students is about the same. The faculty has 53.5 percent female and the students are 57 percent female.
Blind student envisions success
Umair Ibrahim attends school like any other student. He patiently rides the city bus, walks to class with a friend, does his homework and prepares for the next day. There is only one mountain that stands in his path; for Ibrahim, a driving force. He is blind.
Violent ‘hood stepping stone in actor’s career
In the television show, “The Wire,” the often true-to-life stories have helped to make it one of the most popular shows on TV today. The series, which stars Dominic West and Lance Reddick, airs on HBO at 10 p.m. Sundays. It is often compared to cop dramas such as “The Sopranos” and is currently in its fourth season.
Family learns together the value of college
Nolan Burkholder, 12, takes biology, computer science and oceanography classes at Pierce College. Additionally, two other members of his family attend Pierce. His 14-year-old sister, Valerie Burkholder takes English, C++ programming and calculus classes.