“I can tell they are going to start with ‘Testify’ by the way Morello is holding the guitar. What can I tell you? I’m a nerd. I came all the way from Sweden just to see Rage,” said a fan right before Rage Against the Machine took the stage. And he was not wrong.
The awkward tan lines, never ending drive, dehydration, unbearable portable toilets and the desert heat did not stop me from enjoying the music, art and loving atmosphere this weekend at Coachella. After months of planning, hours of driving and waiting an hour in line to get inside the venue, we entered the gates with not much knowledge of what was on the other side.
A self-evaluating survey of the Special Services program was recently distributed to the faculty of Pierce College by Norm Crozer, director of Special Services. The anonymous survey is a self-evaluation questionnaire given to Pierce faculty. Every odd-numbered year, they are given back to Crozer for analysis on what suggestions and recommendations the faculty writes down.
In an effort to increase student diversity, a group of teachers, administrators and staff members are volunteering their time to help set into motion the African American Outreach Initiative. “There are a lot of disconnected youths in Los Angeles and the chancellor felt we needed more outreach activities.
With the recent accreditation visit still fresh on administrators’ minds, the topic of whether or not Pierce College students are academically prepared has been under much speculation. From high school to college, student to professor and district to administration, opinions on the matter have run the gamut and the criteria by which a student is deemed “under-prepared” remain unclear.
The graduation tradition is a cornerstone in the structure of education. If any establishment prides itself in academics, teaching or knowledge, members of that establishment would realize the significance of the tradition and attend the event. Graduation is not only a celebration of all the efforts put forth by the student thus far in their education, but it is also a celebration of all the efforts put forth by teachers for their students.
This year more students and faculty members are expected to attend the annual Pierce College graduation ceremony on the evening of June 5. One of the ideas proposed to get more teachers to come this year was to have a raffle draw and various gifts for the teachers who are a part of it.
Baseball Head Coach Bob Lofrano has been selected as Pierce College’s new athletic director, replacing Bob Lyons who in March retired from the position after 13 years. Lofrano’s dedication to sports, specifically baseball, spans decades. He played baseball for Pierce from 1968 to 1969.
“A success” was how Sylvia Silva, event organizer, described Pierce College’s first ever Diversity Film Festival from April 23 to April 27. “It was really interesting listening to their interaction with the faculty afterwards and asking them questions in a more informal setting as opposed to a classroom,” said Silva.
A part of Pierce College’s agricultural past has returned with the re-opening of the corner market, located at the southeast corner of De Soto Avenue and Victory Boulevard was around in the ’80s and ’90s, and will again be open until Sept. 15. “This corner store will be harking back to the farm store that was here years ago,” said Linda Carberry, supervisor of the market.
