The annual Voluntary Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) is back to offer free tax preparation to both students and non-students. Through the program, which is located in Room 3218 of the Business Education Building, Business 10 students offer free income tax preparation for anyone making less than $40,000 a year.
Category: News
Intercom to come in fall
The installation of an intercom system, enabling direct communication from classrooms to the sheriff’s office, should be complete by the beginning of the Fall 2008 semester. Nextel has created a one-of-a-kind prototype call box that teachers and students alike can use to directly speak to the sheriff in the case of an emergency.
Alumnus found dead on UC campus
A Pierce College alumnus who transferred to U.C. Santa Cruz as a junior was found dead at his on-campus residence on Feb. 14. Efrain Sanchez Jr., a 20-year-old psychology major, was found unconscious in the shower of a College 10 residence hall at 9:40 a.
A lot like mama’s cooking
What was once called the Pierce College Cafeteria is now called the Pierce Country Cafe, with changes including a new head chef, Jose Cruz, former personal chef to hockey celebrity Wayne Gretzky. The name changed because, “we want a new face and want people to try us and try us again,” said Cafe Manager Linda Brown.
THE WEEKLY BLOTTER
Jan. 30 – 4 p.m. Five laptop computers were stolen from Room 1411 sometime between Jan. 16 and Jan. 29. Though the room was locked, no forced entry was detected. Feb. 4 – 1:50 p.m. In the agricultural area, a contractor engaged in a loud verbal dispute with union representatives.
Super Tuesday, super sweet
People crowded around TV screens as record numbers of voters voiced their opinions. Results were slowly tallied and viewers were kept on edge. And it wasn’t even American Idol. Super Tuesday 2008 (Feb. 5) was the biggest day of voting in presidential primary history and the race on the Democratic side only got closer.
Where you are in the money scheme
In what has been declared a time of fiscal emergency, the California Community Colleges System (CCC) and K-12 stand to suffer a forecasted $4.4 billion budget cut, according to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed 2008-09 budget. Schwarzenegger proposed a $40 million cut to the CCC for the remainder of this fiscal year; with the new fiscal year starting July 1, another $480 million is forecasted to be cut.
Department money on the chopping block
A further attempt to cut spending in community colleges has resulted in a district-wide push-back of department purchasing deadlines. A memo from the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) gave schools until Feb. 28 to make any last-minute department purchases for the 2007-08 fiscal year, which ends on June 30.
Profiling leaves black mark on record
An investigation report relating to allegations of racial profiling at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College (LATTC) was released in January, stating that the “saturation patrol” used by L.A. County Sheriff’s deputies on Oct. 17, 2007, was indeed a form of discrimination.
Racial profiling investigation of Sheriff’s at Trade Tech
An investigation report relating to allegations of racial profiling at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College (LATTC) was released in January, stating that the “saturation patrol” used by L.A. County Sheriff’s deputies on Oct. 17, 2007, was indeed a form of discrimination.