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It came as a shock to the Pima Community College men’s basketball team when head coach Karl Pieroway resigned from his position.

The second-year coach was unavailable for comment regarding his resignation.

According to an April 20 PCC press release, Pieroway talked about the stress of coaching basketball and also being a full-time math teacher in a letter to Edgar Soto, the executive director of athletics. He gave that as the main reason for his departure.

“I could not be more proud of the players and coaches who have worked so hard to achieve so much over a short period of time,” Pieroway said in his letter to Soto.

After going 10-20 in his first year at Pima, Pieroway this year led the Aztecs to a 20-16 season and their first trip to nationals, where Pima placed seventh.

Soto said that Pieroway will be missed but Pima is thankful at the same time that he put the program where it is now.

“Coach Pieroway took the college’s men’s basketball program to a new level of success,” he said in the press release.

Travares Peterson, one of Pieroway’s star players, was stunned about his resignation.

“It came as a shock, I’m not going to lie,” Peterson said. “Especially after a year we had like last year. I don’t really know the reason or anything. Until everyone figures out what’s going on, we can’t really comment on it much.”

Peterson, a sophomore, enjoyed playing under Pieroway for two seasons.

“He was a good coach, a cool coach,” he said. “He was a good guy and I just wish him the best.”

There is no word on who will take over as head coach but an immediate search is under way, according to the press release.

Keep checking AztecPressOnline.com for updates.

College aid legislation accompanied President Obama’s landmark health-care reform bill — the first major student loan overhaul in four decades.

The bill makes the federal government the primary lender for student aid. It cuts banks from the student loan process by removing their traditional middleman role.

Under the current system, students obtain government-backed loans from private lenders. The federal government has paid banks billions of dollars in subsidies to protect against default.

Taxpayers will save $68 billion over the next 11 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The bill will use the savings to increase Pell Grants for students in financial need and provide more than $4.5 billion to community colleges and historically black colleges.

Half of all undergraduates receive federal student aid and 8.5 million college students qualify for Pell Grants.

The bill will also relax repayment terms for students with loans.

“To make sure our students don’t go broke just because they chose to go to college, we’re making it easier for graduates to afford their student loan payments,” Obama said.

“The average student ends up with more than $23,000 in debt. When this change takes effect in 2014, we’ll cap a graduate’s annual student loan repayments at 10 percent of his or her income,” he added.

Private lenders conducted an extensive lobbying effort against the bill, arguing it would cost thousands of jobs and put the program in government hands. The change represents a $70 billion loss in loans for the banking industry.

Obama said in his weekly Internet and radio address that the legislation will help him achieve a major goal: “By the end of this decade, we will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.”

If you haven’t gone green, now is the time with Earth Day just around the corner on April 22.

Pima Community College Northwest Campus will host its annual Earth Day activities on Wednesday, April 21, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Denise Meeks, science department chair at Northwest Campus, said the campus Earth Day events in April and Earth Science Day activities in October help promote environmental awareness.

“The events provide our campus community and the public with opportunities to learn about protecting planet Earth,” she said.

Organizations that participate provide information about the desert ecosystem, including water, air, night skies, plants and animals.

April 21 Earth Day event participants can look through solar telescopes, ride a bike that generates electricity, taste food cooked in a solar oven, use the Northwest Campus giant sun dial and learn about bike safety.

Students can also find out more about majors in science, technology, engineering, technology and math. In addition to PCC representatives, advisers will be on hand from University of Arizona, Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and University of Phoenix.

For additional details, call Meeks at 206-2247 or e-mail demeeks@pima.edu.

Other area events that will celebrate Earth Day include the 16th annual Tucson Earth Day Festival and Cyclovia Tucson.

The Tucson Earth Day Festival will be held Saturday, April 17, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Reid Park. The free festival features hand-on activities, displays, music, dance and food. For additional information, visit tucsonearthday.org.

Cyclovia Tucson will take place Sunday, April 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as part of Bike Fest 2010. A five-mile loop of city streets near the University of Arizona will be closed to cars so people can socialize and enjoy non-motorized transportation. For further details, visit cycloviatucson.com.

Tucsonans, including PCC student Andrea Rumic, participated in Earth Hour on March 27 at 8:30 p.m. Earth Hour encourages people across the globe to turn off their lights for one hour to conserve energy.

“I went to bed early and turned off all my lights to help do my part,” Rumic said.

By William Brown

Pima Community College will spend federal stimulus funds to preserve adult education.

The state budget for 2011 removes all funding for adult education, including $600,000 allocated to PCC. The cut meant Pima would lose $3.4 million in matching federal funds.

Chancellor Roy Flores announced a temporary solution March 23. PCC will use $400,000 in federal stimulus funds so “the program survives until July 2011.”

The state and other community colleges will also use federal funds.

In a telephone interview March 11, Flores said more than 7,000 students enrolled in PCC’s adult education programs last year.

“They will be looking at a bleak future in the 21st century without a high school diploma,” he said. “When they don’t get that GED, they can’t get an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree; it pretty much shuts them down.”

Flores also expressed concern for the welfare of college employees. “At Pima, we have 75 full-time workers and 45 part-time workers in adult education, and to lose adult education would be very painful for them and their families.”

People who take adult education classes are generally those who did not get a high school diploma and are seeking a GED or other training to help them get ahead.

In Arizona, approximately 800,000 people do not have a GED, including 107,450 who reside in Pima County.

PCC’s adult education includes pre-GED courses, preparation for GED exams and GED testing.

Flores said he welcomes input from students.

“I want to hear from students what we at PCC can do to help improve the services we provide and the education we provide,” he said.

Programs ranging from avionics to phlebotomy have been introduced at Pima Community College’s Desert Vista Campus, thanks to a federal grant program known as Title V.

The U.S. Department of Education awards Title V grants to colleges such as PCC that have been designated as Hispanic-Serving Institutions. Program goals include improving technology and improving services for Hispanics and low-income students.

“To succeed in the increasingly competitive global marketplace of the 21st century, all Americans must take advantage of opportunities to further their postsecondary studies,” Chancellor Roy Flores said. “Title V grants provide funding for programs that help students achieve their education goals. The result is greater prosperity for everyone.”

Title V grants help fund programs at several PCC campuses. Desert Vista programs include avionics, medical assistant, phlebotomy and early childhood education.

Avionics program

The avionics program started in the spring of 2008 and has since struggled to maintain and recruit new students.

Avionics is a nine-month workforce program that runs from 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. daily from March to December at the PCC Aviation Technology Center, located at 7211 S. Park Ave. at Tucson International Airport.

Tuition costs $4,000 but can be paid in five-week installments of about $800.

“We’re one of only 10 avionics schools and the least expensive in the entire country,” Program Coordinator Carlos Romero said.

Students can expect to learn the basics of maintaining, troubleshooting and installing electronic aircraft systems. After students complete the program, they take the National Center for Aircraft Technician Training exam for certification.

Students can earn $35,000 to $45,000 in an entry-level position after they finish the program and become NCATT certified, Romero said. Local employers include Bombardier, Boeing, Cessna, Skywest Airlines and Evergreen.

There is currently a high demand for avionic technicians because employees from the baby boomer generation are starting to retire. Within the next 10 to 15 years, 66 percent of avionics workers will retire, Romero said.

Through June, the program will host an Aviation Technology Orientation and Open House at the Aviation Technology Center on the second Tuesday of each month from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. During the summer, it will hold sessions twice a month.

Medical assistant program

The medical assistant program is expanding due to high enrollment, community need and higher job demands. Lack of space and equipment are other reasons for the program’s expansion.

The 9- to 15-month program offers online courses to compensate for the lack of classroom space.

The program is in the beginning stages of starting construction for new lab space at Desert Vista. Title V funds will provide $230,000 to build the laboratories and purchase new medical equipment.

Phlebotomy program

Community need and higher job demands have led to introduction of a phlebotomy program at Desert Vista. The two-year program includes laboratory and clinical courses.

This program is also in the early stages of starting construction for lab space.

Early childhood education program

The early childhood education program is currently seeking accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Benefits of accreditation include improving program quality, helping articulation agreements with universities and increasing appeal to students.

The program is currently in the self-study portion of the two-year process, and is changing its course objectives to meet NAEYC standards.

Other plans call for the early childhood education and child development associate degree programs to convert more courses to online. PCC will also use Title V funds to introduce an early childhood special education program.

For more information on any of the programs, call 206-5250 or pima.edu.

Pete Stogsdill, aviation department chair, examines a training control board at the Desert Vista program site.

Pima Community College is using two highway safety grants to educate students about drunken driving laws and help enforce those laws through September.

The college has an average student age of 27, putting it in a special position to address the dangers of alcohol-related traffic fatalities. Nationally, the average driver involved in an alcohol or driving under the influence-related death is a male between the ages of 21 and 34, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“It is the philosophy of the Pima Community College Department of Public Safety and its officers that the reduction of alcohol-related traffic deaths can be accomplished through a balance of enforcement and education,” Commander Manny Amado said.

PCC officers will work through each campus’ student life office to conduct DUI education programs, such as handing out pamphlets and conducting demonstrations using Fatal Vision goggles.

Officers have already conducted DUI workshops and presentations at East, Northwest and West campuses.

Pima officers also participated in various Southern Arizona DUI Task Force deployments, including one over the rodeo recess. The deployments focused primarily on areas around the Downtown Campus.

The grants include a Highway Safety Grant for $5,622 and a Selective Traffic Enforcement Grant for $2,114.

Chief Stella Bay said PCC’s participation in the program allows officers to educate students about state DUI laws and provide students with information about impaired driving.

“Education combined with enforcement is a good way to educate the public about the consequences of drinking and driving,” she said.

Pima Community College’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa national honor society has been recognized within the Arizona region.

The Alpha Beta Chi chapter received eight awards, including Distinguished Advisor, Hall of Honor Distinguished Chapter Officer and Distinguished Chapter of the Arizona Region.

Alpha Beta Chi has an extensive community service record, including working with the PCC Desert Vista Community Garden and building a library at an orphanage in Imuris, Mexico.

President Cynthia Berens said Alpha Beta Chi chapter members and officers are committed to the group’s hallmarks of scholarship, leadership, service and fellowship.

“Everyone has worked very hard during the past year to identify community needs that the chapter could address through service projects,” Berens said. “It is wonderful to see the chapter, advisors, officers and members recognized for the positive impact we have had. The awards truly are all well-deserved.”

Examples of previous and current chapter projects include collecting donations for World Care to assist with Haiti relief and holding a trash clean-up on A Mountain in collaboration with Keep America Beautiful and the Trek Against Trash. (See kab.org and trekagainsttrash.org for more information.)

Phi Theta Kappa, established in 1918, works to recognize and encourage the academic achievement of two-year college students and to provide opportunities for individual growth and development.

It is the largest honor society in American higher education, with more than 2 million members and 1,200 chapters.

April 8-10, members of the PCC chapter will attend the national convention in Orlando, Fla.

They will attend leadership workshops, hear guest speakers including MSNBC political analyst Rachel Maddow and CNN medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, and learn what recognition and honors the chapter has attained at the international level.

To learn more about Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society and PCC’s chapter, visit ptk.org and ecc.pima.edu/~ptk.

Members of Pima Community College’s Alpha Beta Chi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa honor society show off awards they’ve won.

Photo by Gabi Piña

On-again, off-again efforts by Arizona legislators to ban texting while driving keep Pima Community College students guessing on whether they will have their texting fingers free for another year.

A Senate bill to prohibit drivers from writing, reading or sending text messages and e-mails was killed, then resurrected, during legislative voting this month. Violators would face a $50 fine, which increases to $200 if they’re involved in an accident.

Opponents argue against new government restrictions and say a ban would be difficult to enforce. Supporters say a ban is needed to make roads safer, and promise to keep pushing for passage of a bill.

Nineteen states currently prohibit drivers from texting, and Phoenix jumped on the bandwagon in 2007. The city has issued about nine citations since the law went into effect.

PCC students surveyed shared varied opinions about texting while driving.

Some believe it’s not difficult to multitask while driving. Others said texting and driving are like water and oil: they do not mix.

Breanna Wright, a psychology/business major, said she tries to focus on driving rather than sending text messages.

“I know better than to text and drive,” Wright said. “However, if it’s important I may check my phone at a red light.”

Wright does make and receive calls on the road, and said legislation should not prevent that.

“I think it should be just for texting because making phone calls is OK,” she said. “People need to use their phones all the time these days.”

Wright also questioned whether texting while driving really presents a major problem.

“I think they probably haven’t passed the bill because it’s not a problem here,” she said. “So, if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.”

Marcus Moen, who is majoring in environmental studies, believes that texting while operating a vehicle is dangerous. He thinks a bill banning texting should be passed.

“I think it is something we need to hurry up and do since all scientific studies say texting while driving is as dangerous as drinking and driving,” Moen said. “I have almost been hit three times in the last month by someone on the phone.”

Thursday, March 25:

Through March 26: Student Visual Art Gallery: “Variations,” 8 a.m.-8 p.m., West Campus, Santa Rita Building.

Anton Faynberg Piano Recital, 7 p.m., CFA Recital Hall, West Campus. Tickets: $6 (discounts available). Details: 206-6986 or pima.edu/cfa.

Poetry reading by PCC student Liza Porter, 8 p.m., University of Arizona Poetry Center, 1508 E. Helen St. Details: http://poetrycenter.arizona.edu.

Friday, March 26:

Through March 28: Bill Ganz Western Band & Tucson Symphony Orchestra, 7:30 p.m., Tucson Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave. Admission: $24-$62. Details: 882-8585.

Through April 4: Gutenberg! The Musical! Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave. Tickets: $15. Contact theater for showings. Details: 882- 6574.

Through April 30: Butterfly Magic at the Gardens, Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 N. Alvernon Way. Admission: $12. Details: 326-9686 or tucsonbotanical.org.

Saturday, March 27:

Softball vs. Central Arizona College, noon, West Campus.

Baseball vs. Paradise Valley CC, noon, West Campus.

B.J. Kurtz book signing, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Mostly Books, 6208 E. Speedway. Details: 571-0110.

Sunday, March 28:

Hike to Tucson Mountain Park, 7:45-a.m. to 3 p.m. Join Desert Vista Outdoor Activities Club. Contact: Brian Miller, 206-5030.

Pima Community College Education Association Arundo Removal Event, 8 a.m.-noon, 4800 N. Tuttle Ave., on the Rillito River across from Children’s Memorial Park.

The Remedy Tour, 8:30 p.m., Main Street. Tickets (at any Bookmans): $13.50.

Monday, March 29:

Save the Animals Pet Adoption Drive, all day, Desert Vista Campus. Contact: Brian Miller, 206-5030.

March 29-30: Women’s golf tournament with PCC hosting, 11 a.m. start time, Silverbell Golf Course, 3600 N. Silverbell Road.

Student Success Workshop, “Yoda’s Stress Reduction Tips,” 5-6 p.m., West Campus CG-06. No reservation required. Contact: Betty Olivares, 206-6600.

Tuesday, March 30:

Baseball vs. Scottsdale CC, noon, West Campus.

Men’s tennis vs. Mesa CC, 1:30 p.m., Tucson Racquet Club, 4001 N. Country Club.

Softball vs. Gateway CC, 2 p.m., West Campus.

Wednesday, March 31:

NASA Fashion Show, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Desert Vista Campus Ocotillo Room. Contact: Brian Miller, 206-5030.

Super Smash Brothers Tournament, noon-3:30 p.m., Desert Vista Campus. Contact: Brian Miller, 206-5030.

Men’s tennis vs. San Diego City College, 1:30 p.m., Tucson Racquet Club, 4001 N. Country Club.

Astronautalis, 8 p.m., Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St. Tickets: $7. Details: 622-8848.

Thursday, April 1:

Easter Basket Fundraiser benefitting NASA, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Desert Vista cafeteria. Contact: Brian Miller, 206-5030.

Women’s tennis vs. Glendale CC, 1:30 p.m., Tucson Racquet Club, 4001 N. Country Club.

The El Camino Royales, 9:30 p.m., The Hut, 305 N. 4th Ave. Details: 623-3200.

Friday, April 2:

Tucson Clean and Beautiful, cleaning Calle Santa Cruz, 9-11 a.m., Desert Vista Campus. Contact: Brian Miller, 206-5030.

Through April 3: Tucson Poetry Festival, various hours and locations. Admission: $10 for readings, $5 for workshops, $25 for festival pass. Details: tucsonpoetryfestival.org.

Basic Computer Skills workshop, 11 a.m.-noon, West Campus computer commons, C-202. Free. RSVP by calling 206-6042.

Through July 3: Andy Warhol Portfolios: Life and Legends, Tucson Museum of Art, 140 N. Main Ave. Admission: $3. Details: 624-2333 or TucsonMuseumofArt.com.

Saturday, April 3:

Alberding Amble, 5K (9 a.m.) and 1-mile Fun Run (10 a.m.), Lincoln Park, 8155 E. Poinciana Drive. Details: 206-7667.

Softball vs. Glendale CC, noon, West Campus.

Festival en el Barrio Viejo with Calexico & Friends, 1 p.m., Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St. Admission: $20 in advance, $25 day of show. Details: 740-1000.

Free Patio Show: Sweet Pea and the Bean, 7 p.m., Club Congress 311 E. Congress St. Details: 622-8848.

Sunday, April 4:

Soulfly, 6:30 p.m., Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St. Admission: $22 in advance $26 day of show. Details: 740-1000.

Daryl Shawn, 9:30 p.m., Plush, 340 E. Sixth St. Free. Details: 798-1298.

Public Observatory Viewing, 7 p.m., UA Science Center, 1601 E. University Blvd. Free. Details: 621-7827.

Monday, April 5:

Through April 30: Louis Carlos Bernal Gallery “Annual Student Juried Exhibition,” Center for the Arts, West Campus. Details: 206-6942.

Free Breakfast, 8-11 a.m., Desert Vista Campus student life office. Contact: Brian Miller, 206-5030.

Percentage Night at a Local Restaurant, 6-9 p.m., benefitting Desert Vista student government. Details: Brian Miller, 206-5030.

Tuesday, April 6:

April 6-7: Library Book Sale, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., West Campus Santa Catalina Deck.

April 6-7: Blood Drive by American Red Cross, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., West Campus.

Reading and book signing by Richard Shelton, 1 p.m., Northwest Campus, A-207. Free. Details: 206-4500.

Women’s tennis vs. Paradise Valley CC, 1:30 p.m., Tucson Racquet Club, 4001 N. Country Club.

Wednesday, April 7:

NASA Bake Sale, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Desert Vista Campus cafeteria. Contact: Brian Miller 206-5030.

Provost’s “Let’s Chat” session, noon-1 p.m., West Campus Santa Rita Building.

Reception, Louis Carlos Bernal Gallery “Annual Student Juried Exhibition,” noon-3 p.m., awards ceremony 1 p.m., Center for the Arts, West Campus. Details: 206-6942.

Through April 18: PCC Theatre: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, CFA Black Box Theater, West Campus. Tickets: $10. Preview Night April 7 at 7:30 p.m. Details: 206-6986.