All Entries in the "Features" Category

PCC students attend leadership conference

By CELESTE ORENDAIN

The National Collegiate Leadership Conference is an annual student-run event held at the University of Arizona, consisting of workshops, projects and speakers.

Six hundred and fifty leaders from 24 different states met Feb. 17-19 at the UA Student Union.

This year’s theme was “Lead  Outside the Box.”

For Pima Community College, it’s an event where all campus leaders get together and put their knowledge into practice to become better leaders for the community.

West Campus represented PCC with two workshops.

The first was by by Daisy Rodriguez Pitel, advanced  program manager for  Student Support Services and Student Life Coordinator Rosemary Ortega Nigrelli.

West Campus student government representatives Josue Saldivar, Edith Granillo and Brett Wessel gave the second workshop.

PCC was also represented by students from Desert Vista, Downtown and Northwest campuses.

Fausto Flores, Guadalupe Alcaraz, Imelda Lopez, José Ramirez, Marisol Alvarez, Noemi Salazar, Ramon Duarte and Wendy Ruiz presented information about the ongoing Dream Act. They gave a double-session speech for nearly 30 students.

One speaker on Saturday night was Divinity Barkley Matovu, 25, who co-founded the Amagezi Gemaanyi Youth Association in Uganda.

Another project, the Rubaga Friends, is a Tucson-based organization that helps raise money for orphans in Uganda. For fundraising, the group makes bracelets and sells them for $10 apiece.

All money goes back to Africa to help for education, clothing, food and housing for children in Uganda.

On the last night of the workshop, the students picked an excursion, choosing to go to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Colossal Caves, a planetarium or Biosphere2.

THE WORD: What’s your most effective study habit?

Interviews and photos by Tessa Case

“Study groups, because if you don’t understand something you can ask someone else.”

Gaby Sepulveda

Nursing

Northwest Campus

“Just writing things down. It creates a file in my head.”

Fernando Garcia

Business Administration

Northwest Campus

“Studying right after the class when everything is fresh in my mind.”

Amber Kingston

Nursing

Northwest Campus

“Coming to school three hours early to study and do all my homework. I retain the knowledge better that way than if I study the day before.”

Seth Denton

Elementary Education

Northwest Campus

“Doing it regularly.”

Cody Whitaker

Political Science

Northwest Campus

Video By ROBERTO AVENDAÑO

Author ‘born with history gene’

By STEVE CHOICE

Local historian Jim Turner didn’t always know he had a future in the past. Looking back now, he believes it was in his blood all along.

“I was born with the history gene,” said Turner, 62. “Some people have imaginations that make them want to understand how we got here, and I’m one of those people.”

Maybe the story of Arizona’s path to statehood isn’t technically in Turner’s blood, but it’s definitely on his mind. The state’s centennial is just days away, and it’s a moment Turner has long anticipated.

“Historians and museum people have been talking about the centennial for at least seven years,” he said. “It’s hard to believe it’s finally here.”

Arizona’s story is big news right now, and the Grand Canyon State’s chroniclers are reveling in it.

“This is the only year when historians will be in the limelight, and I’m taking every opportunity to share Arizona’s fascinating history,” the former Pima Community College student said. “I figure I’ll rest in 2013, when all us historians wander back to the anonymity of the archives.”

The long hours he’s spent in those stacks have brought tangible results.

Turner recently put the finishing touches on “Arizona: A Celebration of the Grand Canyon State,” a 336-page coffee-table book.

He logged heavy hours obtaining more than 520 photographs for the book, along with all the writing.

“I like to say it’s more text than a picture book, and more pictures than a textbook,” Turner said of the collection, which took about two and a half years to complete.

The frequently published author also credits a PCC instructor with giving him some important advice.

“She told me I needed to write stronger transition sentences,” Turner said. “After I fixed that, the quality of my writing doubled immediately.”

But even the best writing needs good interviews to complement it and Turner got plenty of those for his book. His nine years as a field service officer for the Arizona Historical Society guaranteed that.

“I made friends in small places representing those museums for all those years,” he said. “I know people in just about every little town in the state.”

Maybe a few more people in those small communities will know about him now, thanks to his publishing efforts.

And if his past is any indication, Turner’s future holds an ever-growing fascination with the state he loves.

FYI

Turner will sign copies of his book at AJ’s Fine Foods at La Encantada Shopping Center, 2905 E. Skyline Drive, on Saturday, Feb. 18, from 1-3 p.m.

Historian Jim Turner shows off a copy of his new book "Arizona: A Celebration of the Grand Canyon State" at West Campus. Photo by Steve Choice.

Try these ideas for Valentine’s Day

By CELESTE ORENDAIN

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Here are some suggestions for romantic celebrations.

Gift suggestions for the one you love

Ladies: If you don’t know what your special guy likes, get him something he can wear or eat. After all, they say the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. And he may as well look good while he’s at it. He’ll like some good cologne, a shirt, a bottle of his favorite beverage or a watch.

 Guys: Women are complicated, and men never know what we really like. Save the day with teddy bears, chocolates, flowers, jewelry or music.

 Places to take your honey bunny

 Visit Gates Pass late in the day to see a beautiful sunset. To get there, head west on Speedway Boulevard until you reach the Tucson Mountains.

If you go at night, you can see the stars. Maybe you’ll even get lucky and see a shooting star.

 If you love nature, take a walk at the Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 N. Alvernon Way. Admission costs $8.

You, your partner and nature will all commingle and you’re sure to enjoy many hours of love.

For something a bit more intimate

Need more tips? Here are some other options:

 If you want something more intimate and without interruptions, surprise your partner with a private dinner. A candlelit atmosphere is very romantic and never fails. Be sure to prepare something that is delicious and that you both like.

 Not what you’re looking for? If you want to go a bit further in your relationship and have the best night of your life, try this “combination of love.”

 Decorate the bedroom with candles, flowers and music. On the bed, make a big heart with Hershey’s Kisses, and put your and your partner’s initials in the middle. Make a path with candles and rose petals leading to the bed. You can also add things you like, such as dessert and drinks.

Be creative and unique, because that’s what makes it special.

P.S. Please turn off your cell phone. Be safe and enjoy your Valentine’s Day!

Forever alone on Valentine’s Day

By THOMAS F. JOHNSON

This article is for those of us who are too shy, too creepy, too autistic, too fat, too ugly or some combination of the above to have ever been in a real relationship, even if we desperately want one.

Here are some things you can do to temporarily conceal the gaping hole in your heart that Valentine’s Day lays oh-so-bare, then sprinkles with salt.

 Drinking – Specifically, drinking sparkling apple juice. You can attach a booze label to trick yourself into thinking you’re actually drinking alcohol. Because, as we all know, placebo drunkenness is the best drunkenness.

Video games – An old nerd trick to fill the hours and conceal the fact that you have wasted most of your life. But hey, if you can’t have the touch of a real human being, then you can at least have Bayonetta and Chun-Li (or Cloud and Snake for you lonely ladies).

 Sweets – How better to deal with your lack of meaningful romantic relationships than to accelerate the vicious cycle that led to your rejection by the opposite gender? Screw my waistline, I’m gonna fill the void in my soul with ice cream!

 Watch “Neon Genesis Evangelion” – Then weep when you realize you’re far closer to Shinji Ikari than you’d prefer and the hedgehog’s dilemma perfectly describes your personal life.

Pretend it’s Halloween – Why not celebrate a holiday that embraces freaks like you and me in place of one that actively mocks us? Get out your old decorations, turn on some scary movies, put your browser to bogleech.com and surround yourself in a bubble of nostalgia and self-delusion.

Weep bitterly – But you probably do that enough as it is, so maybe you don’t need a recommendation to do this.

But enough cynicism and humor blacker than the void of space. This is a holiday for hope. The hope is that if you cry out in the void, “Is there anybody out there?,” somebody will answer, “You are not alone.”

All I hope for this day is for two lonely hearts to meet. I hope for a hole in two hearts to be filled. For a new spark of romance to fill the darkness of our times. For the love of the lonely.

From the Editors: We prefer keeping busy

 The semester is now in full swing. We’ve turned in assignments and blown off assigned reading. At least one class has been brutally administered a test they didn’t expect – because they didn’t read the syllabus.

 For the Aztec Press, the semester has been under way since a week before classes began.

It’s one of the things that must happen in order to produce these 16 lovely pages of newsprint that smudge your hands with ink every other Thursday (and occasionally on Wednesdays – like Issue 3, which hits newsstands on Feb. 22 because of the rodeo holiday).

For David in particular, the semester has been swinging hard, directly into his face.

He’s already spent an inordinate amount of time either working late at his real job or at his internship. One pays him money and one rewards him with experience. He also spends lots of time writing and editing for the Aztec Press, an academic class for which he pays tuition.

He’ll take sympathy cards at the Aztec Press newsroom address, located at the bottom-right side of Page 2.

 It’s a busy life for those of us here at the Press, but we think it’s helpful overall.

Given a week to work on one project and nothing else, Chelo will invariably spend all of her free time reading and watching Hulu, without starting the project until the day before it’s due.

But with class assignments, newspaper deadlines and volunteer work in the mix, she must schedule and set priorities.

 So if you’re suffering from over-active procrastinators syndrome, remember everyone has deadlines. Just learn quickly how to handle the stress.

From the Editors: Meet the new nerds in charge

By CHELO GRUBB and DAVID MENDEZ

The new semester has brought a new start at Aztec Press – namely, us: the new Co-Editors in Chief, Chelo Grubb and David Mendez.

Grubb, the former assistant news editor, brings with her a passion for hard-hitting, informative news. Mendez, the last arts & entertainment head, possesses a love for well-written, captivating stories.

Combined, we plan on bringing our readers the best damn paper we can produce, with a sharpened focus on quality, accuracy and information that can make your day easier, if not a bit more fun.

In an effort to start off our new editorship in a collaborative way and utterly rehashed way, we’ve decided to introduce each other.

Meet David

David Mendez is 24, sarcastic and dedicated. He has spent six semesters on the Aztec Press staff.

Throughout those six semesters, Mendez has watched over the arts and entertainment section, aided with copy editing and assisted in a biweekly Wednesday morning scramble to get the paper cleaned up and ready for the printer.

You’ll probably recognize his name from the “Cracking Wise” column, in which he discusses things like parades held in his honor.

Many of Mendez’s sentiments are littered with pop culture references that those of us under 20. Or maybe it’s just me.

This semester is going to be packed for Mendez. On top his class, work and editor duties, he has taken on a internship for the Tucson Weekly. Keep an eye out for his byline on their website.

Lets recap with a condensed biography: David has dedicated a lot of time to the paper. He’s a compelling yet amusing writer, and he’s a little bit silly. Mostly, he just likes to high-five.

Meet Chelo

Chelo is short, young and often has no idea what I’m talking about when I reference something that isn’t on Hulu. She’s also smart and a hell of a writer. Because she’s so young, she’s only going to get better as a reporter and editor. Considering how skilled she is at this point, that’s saying something.

This is her third semester with the Aztec Press.

During her tenure, she’s made hard-hitting news her focus.

No joke, she’s done maybe two non-news features in her three semesters here. By contrast, I can only remember one hard news story that I’ve done in twice the time.

In other words, she knows what she likes to do and she’s determined to do it as well as se possibly can.

And if you can do it with spare time to read a book or nine, so much the better.

Iadevaia keeps students involved

By DAVID MENDEZ

In David Iadevaia’s nearly 30 years at Pima Community College, he’s left his mark all over East Campus—literally. His signature adorns the solstice and equinox walls near the observatory he designed.

In all that time, he’s never lost sight of what keeps him coming back every year: fun.

When speaking to him for the first time, you’re likely to notice three things right off of the bat: his shock of white hair, his Rhode Island accent (“It doesn’t go away— I can’t make prank phone calls,” he said with a laugh) and his earnest passion for science.

Iadevaia can’t recall when this passion began. It’s been there since the nights he would lay out and stare at the sky, a star map in hand.

“Some people are born musicians, some are born football players,” he said. “I was born a scientist.”

He respects that same passion when he sees it in students. He often works with such students in his classes, matching projects with their interests.

Iadevaia gave a student aide majoring in engineering the opportunity to design the original East Campus observatory.

Another student, an art major, designed the plates for the East Campus planet walk. The plate for Pluto, which has since lost planetary status, now sits in Iadevaia’s office.

Beyond physics and astronomy, Iadevaia also teaches Honors Epistemology, the study of knowledge.

“A few years ago they needed someone with a science background to teach the class,” he said. “The underlying ideas are the same in terms of how we interact with people, trying to get to the bottom of something.”

Over the years, he’s run a number of programs: science camps, portable planetarium programs and clubs, such as the radio club he’s currently trying to start. But he doesn’t chase down students.

“You have to be a geek for some of this stuff and if you’re not, you’re not,” he said. “You have to want it and if you want it, it’s available.”

Practical knowledge drives Iadevaia.

“I just experiment, I play,” he said. “I’m a scientist, I can’t help it. It’s what I do. It’s fun.”

That helps when a student asks a question, he added.

“I can tell him from experience,” he said. “Books are nothing— they’re expensive and they just tell you how it’s supposed to be. When you do science, you see what the limits are.”

Though he could retire at any time, Iadevaia has no plans to do so. However, he said PCC isn’t the place it used to be because bureaucracy has grown along with enrollment.

As he put it, “You sneeze and someone tells you which Kleenex to use to blow your nose.”

But as long as bureaucrats leave him alone, Iadevaia will keep teaching.

“In life, there’s a scale with two buckets,” he said. “In one, you’ve got nonsense. In the other, you’ve got fun stuff.”

Happiness results when the fun side prevails, he added.

“As long as I’m having fun, I’ll stay here— they’ll be carrying me out.”

Feb. 7 talk to explore ‘Miracle’

Iadevaia will try to explain the 1917 “Miracle of the Sun” from an astronomer’s perspective when he kicks off Pima Community College’s Spring 2012 Speakers’ Series on Feb. 7.

The “Miracle” solar phenomenon took place in Fatima, Portugal, on Oct. 13, 1917. The sun danced back and forth throughout the sky, frightening more than 70,000 witnesses.

The free lecture begins at 6 p.m. in the Community Board Room, in Building C at the PCC District Office, 4905 E. Broadway Blvd.

For further information, call 206-4500.

David Iadevaia stands next to a student-designed plate at East Campus' planet walk. (Leftrick Herd/Aztec Press)

Pima Olympic hopeful Curley fails to place

By MYLO ERICKSON

The Olympics had tryouts in Houston for the marathon on Saturday, Jan. 14. There were about 156 men racing on a 26.2 mile course, and only the top three qualified for the team.

Craig Curley is from Kinlichee, a Navajo reservation in northeast Arizona. He also happens to be a Pima Community College alumnus.

Curley also holds the PCC school record in the 5,000-meter run, which he completed in 14 minutes, 21.03 seconds.

Curley qualified to compete in the Houston tryouts by running in a half-marathon championship in 2010. He ran it in one hour, 4 minutes and 14 seconds.

Curley and his coach, Greg Wenneborg, who is the head coach for PCC’s cross country and track and field teams.

The two of them were fairly confident about Curley’s chances going into the race.

“He’s here to make the team,” Wenneborg said the Friday before the race.

Wenneborg felt Curley’s biggest challenge would be to hold back and not try to run and get into the lead right away.

However, they were still being realistic about Curley’s chances, as he has never run in a marathon before and that distance can present numerous problems for any runner.

“If nothing else, we’re hoping for at least a top-five or top-10 finish,” Wenneborg said.

Curley has spent the past year training for the race in Houston and fully committed himself to trying to make the 2012 U.S. Olympic marathon team.

The day before the race Curley spent his time relaxing and hanging out with the other athletes.

When it came time for the race to start that Saturday morning, only 120 runners took the line, instead of the projected 156.

Curley started out the race fairly strong, with his mile times ranging between 5:05 to 5:08.

This was the pace that both Wenneborg and Curley wanted to keep up, and Curley was in 50th place around the eight-mile mark.

Unfortunately, somewhere between the 20th and 23rd-mile marker, Curley began to struggle, as his energy steadily dissipated.

“It was an off day,” Wenneborg said.

Curley ended up finishing 84th, with a time of 2:39:53.

“Pretty shocking for him to finish as bad as he did,” Wenneborg said. “He’s handling it well.”

Only 85 of the 120 runners actually finished the race, as the distance took a toll on the athletes.

Curley ended up walking parts of the last two to three miles. Curley was also the youngest runner in the group, at 23.

Coming back home, the duo, are now thinking about their options for the future. They are going to take about a two-week break and then decide where they are going to go from there.

“It’s a humble beginning,” Wenneborg said.

Aztec Press File Photo

Enjoy the game with friends

By LARRY GAURANO

Everyone talks about feasting over the holidays. First comes Thanksgiving, with turkey and all the trimmings. Then come the December holidays, with more calorie indulgences.

In January, we make New Year resolutions to lose the weight we have gained.

But wait a minute… we have one more gluttonous holiday: Super Bowl Sunday.

Just 35 percent of Americans watched the Super Bowl last year, but it’s a holiday nonetheless. It may not be recognized officially, but retailers market the big game to consumers.

You’ll find TVs at great prices with special financing, and Super Bowl displays at every grocery store. Food channels suggest snacks to serve during the game. Radio stations host contests and other special events.

And in truth, not everyone who watches is even a football fan. Some friends gather at Super Bowl parties to watch the crazy commercials and to pig out. Sometimes, the game seems secondary.

So why not make your Super Bowl party as accommodating as it can be for your guests, whether they like football or not?

I do this each year by setting up food bars with plenty of variety.

Try a burrito bar, nacho bar or baked potato bar. Provide the primary ingredients, say tortillas and meat. Then ask your guests to bring two or three of their favorite toppings – enough to serve eight.

This makes it easy on you for two reasons: you share the costs and please picky eaters. Some people like cheese, some don’t. Some are vegetarians, while some are carnivores.

Provide a couple of desserts and you’ll have a happy bunch of friends. Make it a bring-your-own alcohol party, and you’re set.

It will be close, but Patriots will win

By LARRY GAURANO

The National Football League’s most prestigious event is less than two weeks away, and excitement is at a fever pitch.

Few events bring so many people together. Even non-football fans are attending Super Bowl parties for the food and to laugh at commercials that companies spend millions to be aired for less than a minute.

For us football fans, the food and commercials come second to the question that perplexes us each year, who will bring home the Vince Lombardi trophy?

Super Bowl XLVI will be a rematch of 2008’s Super Bowl XLII between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. The Giants won that match up ending Patriot’s attempt at perfection.

The New York Giants (12-7) will be representing the National Football Conference. They were the NO. 4 seed and went up against the San Francisco 49ers in the conference championship. It was a close game, but the Giants were able to edge out a win in overtime.

The Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning is having a pro bowl season and leads the 8th best offense in the league.

That defense is what helped push them over the 49ers, as they only allowed one 3rd down conversion during regulation.

The number one seed New England Patriots (15-3) will be representing the American Football Conference in the Super Bowl. They went up against the Baltimore Ravens for the conference championship, and although the lead kept changing, the Patriots were able to pull through in the end.

Tom Brady leads the Patriots high potent offense, ranked No. 2 in the league.

The Patriots did struggle some against the Raven’s defense. It was the Ravens inability to capitalize off of the Patriots’ mistakes that cost them in the end.

The biggest downfall of the Patriots is their defense, ranked 31st in the league.

Some would say that the defense doesn’t matter. But the Green Bay Packers proved a few weeks ago that in order to make it to the championships, the defense must step up.

When you look at things on paper regarding the Giants and the Patriots, it’s rather close. Vegas list the Giants as two and a half point underdogs.

I think that’s exactly how it will play out in the end.

Patriots win, Tom Brady will be named Super Bowl MVP.

By The Numbers – Issue 8

By MEGYN FITZGERALD

226 million

Number of shoppers over “Black Friday” weekend in 2011.

212 million

Number of shoppers over “Black Friday” weekend in 2010.

$398.62

Average spending per “Black Friday” shopper in 2011.

$365.34

Average spending per “Black Friday” shopper in 2010.

$52.4 billion

Estimated “Black Friday” total spending in 2011.

$45 billion

Total “Black Friday” spending in 2010.

Source: msnbc.com

11

Percentage of holiday shoppers who plan on using their smart phone to shop.

61

Percentage of 2011 consumers who would like to receive clothing as a gift.

Source: lifestylemonitor.cottoninc.com

$101,119

The cost of all items from the “Twelve Days of Christmas” in 2011 – the first year the cost surpassed $100,000.

Source: Christmas Price Index

$96,824

The cost of all items from the “Twelve Days of Christmas” in 2010.

$107.50

The average amount holiday shoppers spent on themselves in 2010.

453,600

Additional workers hired for the holiday shopping season in 2009.

1,175

Estimated number of malls in the United States.

Source: facts.randomhistory.com

Food boxes deliver hope to community

By NINA ELLIOTT

Many government programs designed to help those in need are getting cut, even though thousands of Americans are unemployed and unemployment benefit filings are at a nationwide high.

Increasing criteria for meeting poverty status impedes many jobless or part-time workers from receiving Department of Economic Security benefits.

Having to resort to a food box is a pride-swallowing experience for many newly poor people but that is not the real tragedy. Federal USDA food allotments are down by 60 percent, and this year it means no turkeys or hams were given away for holiday meals.

Community Food Bank representative Andres Valenzuela recently spoke to a West Campus nutritional biology class. Instructor Maureen Cunningham assigned her students to use previous lectures to create nutritionally dense meals based on the contents of a food box.

Valenzuela explained the face of poverty has changed the working poor.

“People who used to donate now feel shame to need food boxes,” she said, “although, most of our clients have been repeat customers for the last three years.”

The Food Bank in Tucson serves from eight different distribution locations and operates seven days a week. Even on Sundays, at least a bagged sandwich is available. Last year the group put out 15,000 boxes, but this year it increased to 25,000 boxes.

Because of the increased need, volunteer hours have increased 10 percent a month. In addition to paid employees, roughly 100,000 volunteer hours are needed to keep locations running.

Valenzuela explained that their network includes a professional chef who works with PCC and its culinary program. The Food Bank also works with the Family Resource Center, Community Supported Agriculture, farmer’s markets and community gardens.

The Food Bank seeks people with degrees in plant science, especially experts specializing in worms and irrigation.

Volunteers provide advice geared toward teaching children and adults to produce their own food with home gardening, enabling them to sell their own produce through a consignment program and make a profit from food they make.

“That’s the future,” Valenzuela said. “We want to provide food for people and for people to provide food from themselves… that’s going to be the way to end hunger.”

Families are only allowed one food box per month. The head of the family needs a picture ID and proof of residence. A type of card is swiped to keep track of people who try to take unfair advantage.

Soup kitchens are different.

“I think what’s really good about the soup kitchens is that they don’t ask questions,” Valenzuela said. “You have people completely homeless next to the working poor.”

Soup kitchens run out of food but the food box program does not. Some areas stay open late at night with the help of volunteers and employees. Certain items in the boxes are depleted but never entire boxes.

Valenzuela recalled one distribution location that “served 600 boxes on a Tuesday.”

The Food Bank serves healthy foods whenever possible, Valenzuela said.

“We’re moving towards education, ways to provide healthy alternatives to fast food,” she said.

Volunteers everywhere can be used, particularly nutrition students at the University of Arizona and PCC.

The organizations need help with food safety and sorting good produce from bad produce.

“There is something for everyone, sorting, working with clients, packing, working on the farm, and events,” Valenzuela said.

The Community Food Bank gets rice and beans from government surplus bought at lower prices, plus larger donations from Kellogg’s and Pepsi and smaller donations from individuals.

As a policy, it doesn’t give out sugary or fattening foods. Vegetable availability changes but corn and carrots are usually available.

A good source of protein must be put in every box. An example is peanut butter, which is the most expensive item the food bank has to buy. Macaroni and cheese is another staple in a food box. Soups are always donated. Stores like Safeway, Walmart and Fry’s donate bread.

Because of Arizona’ proximity to Mexico, the food bank gets a range of produce such as kale, rutabagas, lima beans, turnips, radishes and squash. Poundage determines the amount given out.

Produce is also distributed to the soup kitchens from the main distribution center.

“There is a struggle between nutrition versus calorie dense food,” Valenzuela said. “There is a diversity of people in need and their cooking styles. Coming up with recipes for them to use the foods provided is difficult.”

Many vegetables are re-donated because people getting the boxes don’t know how to cook with them.

This is where the Biology 127 class comes in—Cunningham’s students researched recipes to configure the foods in nutritious ways based on a semester of lectures and labwork.

Coursework for nutritional biology included required reading from Michael Pollan’s “In Defense of Food.” Cunningham began the first day of instruction by having her students plant seeds in potted soil at a West Campus greenhouse for hands-on nutrition.

Some of the seeds have taken root, sprouted and are now growing leafy greens. This approach to understanding biology, food, nutrition, nutritional studies and community outreach is edifying education.

FYI

For more information and to volunteer, visit:

Community Food Bank: communityfoodbank.org

Emergency Food Assistance Program: feedingamerica.org

Tucson Community Supported Agriculture: tucsoncsa.org

Community Gardens of Tucson: communitygardensoftucson.org

Student flees Iraqi religious persecution

By KARYN WALLIKER and KATTA MAPES

Maher Jawad lost more than half of his family to religious persecution and was on the run for years, moving from place to place, friend to friend, to stay alive.

Jawad, a Pima Community College student enrolled in the English as a Second Language program, is a Shiite Muslim from a small Iraqi village called Jedidat al-Shatt, northwest of Baghdad.

Iraq’s Muslim population is 65 percent Shiite and 35 percent Sunni. The two branches believe in different lines of succession from Mohammed, and have been in conflict for more than 1,400 years.

Photo By Karyn Williker

Jawad disdains the religious turmoil. “I am an artist, a poet,” he said. “I love in my heart all the people of the world.”

He was the youngest of six brothers and one sister. For many years, Jawad’s family prospered on a farm. Then in 1979, Saddam Hussein became president of Iraq.

Immediately, violence escalated. Baath Party extremists imprisoned hundreds of thousands of Shia, and most of Jawad’s siblings were killed.

In 1986, at age 18, Jawad was captured by Baath police, tortured and sentenced to 20 years in prison. After four years and 10 months, he was pardoned and forced into the Iraqi army.

He was taken directly from prison to the front lines of Iraq’s war against Kuwait. After a few days, he escaped the army and flagged down a Kuwaiti civilian motorist.

The man heeded Jawad’s pleas and agreed to drive him across the border into Iraq. He gave Jawad a change of clothes and hid him in the back of his car.

“He wouldn’t let me know his name,” Jawad said.

After five years and no news, surviving family members were shocked to see Jawad alive.

In November 1993, Jawad married Ashwak, a distant cousin. Baath terrorists continued to harass his family, showing up at their home about every six months.

By 2002, Jawad and his wife had three children and one on the way. They were constantly on the run, spending a few weeks or months in a place, and moving before they were reported.

In the early fall of that year, they were staying at a friend’s farm near a small Sunni village.  Jawad ran an errand, leaving his pregnant wife alone with their children.

While he was away, his car broke down. After spending several hours getting the vehicle fixed.  Jawad returned to find that Ashwak had given birth. The umbilical cord still connected her to the baby boy.

Sending for paramedics was too risky, so Ashwak guided Jawad in cutting the cord. He decided they couldn’t go on living like that, and needed to leave Iraq.

In January 2003, when the baby was 4 months old, Jawad spent $10,000 to obtain falsified passports for himself and his wife.

The family traveled to Syria and hired a smuggler to get them across the border to Lebanon. They would ford the Kabir River under cover of darkness.

The night was cold, and the river ran swift with mountain runoff. Jawad helped his three older children across the river first, then returned for his wife and the baby.

Jawad gripped his wife in one arm and infant son in the other as he carefully crossed the stream. The water was up to his neck when river stones beneath his feet moved. He stumbled in the powerful current and the infant was swept from the crook of his arm.

He pushed Ashwak toward the dimly visible far shore and turned to rescue the baby, who had disappeared under the choppy water. All the while, he feared the border patrol would hear and capture them, but the family safely reached Lebanon.

Jawad and his family stayed in Lebanon until 2004, when they returned to a U.S.-occupied Iraq in hopes of reuniting with family in a more peaceful time. Disappointed, they eventually returned to Lebanon.

Rasem, 5, is named after Jawad's brother, who was gunned down in Iraq.

In 2008, Jawad went to the United Nations in Lebanon to apply for refugee placement. His case was approved, and his family was assigned for relocation to the United States.

Jawad and his wife are now the parents of five children. The family has lived in Tucson for 3½ years, and is acclimating to life in the United States.

Jafa Jawad, 9, is adjusting well to his life in America after his trying times in Iraq.

His children adapted quickly. They have learned English and all attend public school.

Jawad has no plans to move back to Iraq. He wants to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language, or TOEFL, and continue his education. He hopes to eventually become a U.S. citizen.

“I like the people of the U.S.,” Jawad said. “I feel that they have mercy.”

The Word: What’s your favorite holiday memory?

Interviews and photos by Celeste Orendain

“I went to California to visit my family. We had a big table full of food. I got a lot of presents and got to spend time with my family. It was cool because it was something I wasn’t used to. I made everybody dance, even my grandpa.”

Karla Sanchez

Nursing

Desert Vista Campus

“When I was little I got to spent time with my older brother for holidays, and my little nephews too. It was so much fun being with them and going to the movies together. Those are the moments I will cherish forever.”

Alejandra Martinez

Fine Arts

Desert Vista Campus

“My favorite holiday was with my family of 70 up in Canada during a wonderful snowfall of 3 feet. We all talked of the beauty of life and spent quality time with each other.”

Nicolas Duran

Business

Desert Vista Campus

“My favorite holiday memory was Thanksgiving because I was with my grandma. She was always making the dinner, but it was fun to be with her.”

Santiago Reyes

Vet Tech

Desert Vista Campus