PJC Great Global Warming Debate

Gemalie Perez-The Corsair

The debate over global warming is one that will be argued for times to come.

On March 22, PJC students will take on the subject matter during a good old-fashion debate, consisting of an opening statement from each team, five rounds of rebuttals, and a closing statement from each team.

“This topic has been in the news a lot this year. There were allegations of funded data which made the news, the House of Representatives has been debating cap and trade legislation to deal with carbon emissions, and the Copenhagen Climate Summit was held recently. Being as our college-wide theme is ecological and economic sustainability, I thought it would be a timely opportunity to have a student-led debate on this topic,” stated Jeff Wooters, who will be moderating the debate.

The event will consist of approximately 60 of Wooters’ Environmental Science students, with 10 being chosen to debate upon arrival to the event.

The “Global Warming is Real” team will take the position that global warming is occurring due to human activities.

On the opposing side, the “Global Warming is a Hoax” team will argue that global warming is not occurring, or is so, is occurring due to a natural phenomenon.

“I can’t speak for the pro group, but members of our group are trying to get organized and present a good side of the debate. Hopefully it will be a good show,” stated Desiree’ Bingham, member of the “Global Warming is a Hoax” team.

The free action-packed event will take place on Monday, March 22 in the Hagler Auditorium (Building 2, Room 2520) from 6-8pm.

Hoedown for Hurricane Awareness

Gemalie Perez-The Corsair

In 2004, Hurricane Ivan devastated the Gulf Coast with winds that reached over 120mph. Over the five years since the disaster, BRACE’s (Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies) mission has been to inform the Gulf Coast community on various methods to prepare for a storm.

This upcoming Friday, February 26, BRACE will host their first annual Hurricane Hoedown from 6 to 9 pm. The event will include a live performance by CrossTown Band, line dancing led by the award-wining professional dancer Shannon Erdwins of Shannon Productions, dinner, and raffles.

“The Sanders Beach Community Center provides the perfect location for our first BRACE Hurricane Hoedown,” said the executive director of BRACE, Greg Strader. “After being destroyed by Hurricane Ivan, the new Sanders Beach Community Center was built to higher building standards and is an excellent example of the mitigation and preparation efforts that can make such a difference to our community. We are excited to host this fun and unique opportunity for the community to learn more about BRACE and our various programs throughout northwest Florida.”

Tickets can be reserved at bereadyalliance.org for $30. Each ticket will include dinner, two drinks, live music, and dancing.

Be sure to reserve your ticket to participate in this fun and exciting event!

Junk to Art contributes to fashion and the environment

KELCI PASCOE
The Corsair

In today’s society there are many different ways that someone can get involved with helping the environment. Sometimes it is easy to become overwhelmed with all these options, however now there is an admirable, easy way to help! PJC now offers a fun and completely free way to get involved with helping the environment, while expressing your more creative side, through an art project called Junk to Art.

On Nov. 6 in room 466 there was an array of art happening. The theme was altering old t-shirts. Many shirts that seemed useless were being turned into wearable pieces of art. This was just one of the many Junk to Art events happening at PJC. Others themes include anything goes and making Christmas gifts.

Jennifer O’Leary, co-creator of junk to art, said, “Junk to Art is a time when people can bring in junk and items that have no use and in a creative space create something out of it. This media already exists, you don’t have to buy it, and so you can’t go wrong with it. You can’t mess it up, it’s already trash.”

Sharron Shields, a long time junk to art attendee, said, “Junk to Art allows for people to be creative and work as a collective thinking process, but still create individually. Limitations can be changed into productivity.”

Junk to Art has an interesting beginning.

O’Leary said, “I found an iron angel on the Live Navel Oaks beach clean up after hurricane Ivan and got the idea of making something out of what was essentially garbage. We really saw it as a way for people to express their creative sides and as a way to help our local environment.”

Most types of trash are welcome at Junk to Art.

O’Leary said, “We thought we would have to say to bring only ‘clean’ trash, but some of the best pieces came from un-clean trash. It doesn’t have to always be ‘clean’ trash. We only ask that you not bring large items, like vacuums.”

After hurricane Ivan, Junk to Art really got involved with helping clean up local beaches, especially the Live Navel Oaks.

O’Leary said, “After hurricane Ivan there were many household items that were spread across the beach. We went out there and cleaned up the beaches then took what would be considered trash and created art out of it.”

Junk to Art is a huge way to help the environment.

Shields said, “Junk to Art is a way to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. We help the environment by cleaning up trash. We make something not thought of as art into art.”

Shannon McClesky, a PJC student and Junk to Art attendant, said, “This is a great way to turn anything un-useful into something useful. It’s a great way to recycle! I was able to utilize t-shirts that I thought I had no more use for.”

Adriana Cepero, PJC student and Junk to Art attendant, said, “This sounded fun and cheap. And we can make cool clothes while getting rid of our old junk.”

“About every two weeks we have a Junk to Art event,” O’Leary said. “The next one will be on the 20th, and anything goes. We have no idea what will happen, and that’s good. There is no standard for this, unlike in an art class. It allows people to express their creativity without holding back or being afraid of the media being used.”

McClesky, who found out about Junk to Art through Splash Magazine, said, “It’s a fun, free event, and you can spend quality time with friends. Don’t be lame and miss out!”

In the spring, there will be a Junk to Art event focusing on the “finer arts.”

O’Leary said, “This would be a great resume builder. The show will be at the end of the spring semester. I encourage people want to participate to focus on making finer pieces of art out of found objects.”

If you would like to be a part of this showing, or get involved with Junk to Art in any way, contact Jennifer O’Leary, joleary@pjc.edu, 484-1434.

Lost items sold at PJC Found Property Auction

KIMBERLY SWEETMAN
The Corsair

Mannequin heads and bicycles lined the sides of the gazebo in front of Building 6 at the PJC Found Property Auction, on Wednesday, Sept. 30.

PJC students and members of the community searched through the 855 lost and found items to find their desired objects. 

After writing down the red numbers located on each item, the bidders then waited for the auctioneer, Officer Henry Shirah, to call their number. Many fought to claim their desired items, sometimes raising the bids to hundreds of dollars.

Although PJC has been holding Found Property Auctions for years, this year’s auction was the first held in the gazebo. From 9-9:30a.m., people viewed the items lost by students and faculty:  such as books, electronics, bags, clothes, games, jewelry and bikes.

“I am really competing to get those bikes because they are really nice,” PJC Student Kristan McCants said.

The auction began at 9:30a.m., with Shirah, auctioneer, reminding bidders to pay in cash or check, and to listen for the red numbers listed on each item. Dr. Ed Meadows, PJC President, fought the crowd to buy the first item: a red Mongoose bike. Nice bikes were sold with older bikes just to “get them off the lot,” Shirah said.

“We sell it all because we take the good items and put junk with it so you bid on the good item and get the junk free,” PJC Police Sgt. Peggy Smith said.

The mannequin heads, used in the cosmetology department, were sold after the bikes followed by other groups of items. Competition increased when the auctioneer began to stuff back-packs full of different items to sell. Bidders were willing to pay in the hundreds to get the one item they wanted in the bag.

Rachel Burns attended the auction and paid $141 for a back-pack filled with 20-30 items. One of the items in the bag was a ring.

“I was looking at bikes and just happened to see a ring that was listed as silver with a clear stone,” Burns said. “It said 14 carat on the inside of the band, and it looked like a diamond solitaire. I think I got an amazing deal.”

According to a Florida statute, all items lost on the campus of a community college must be sold at an auction, and the money must go to student scholarship.

Del Sherbourne, PJC Student, bid a higher price for a box full of calculators and other various items just because the money was going back to the students.

The PJC auction raised a total of $1,321 for student scholarships.

Students that wish to reclaim their lost items before they are sold at the next property auction should visit the lost and found drop-offs which are located at the PJC Police Headquarters on every campus.

Rainy weather doesn’t deter fun during Bash

ANDREA MCMILLIAN
The Corsair

Despite the rainy weather, many students and faculty came out to enjoy the festivities at PJC’s Back to School Bash, September 16th.  The event was conducted outdoors between Buildings 4 and 6.

“This is the college’s way of giving back to the students. It’s something to break up the day. Everyone needs a free meal once in a while,” Angie Jones, Coordinator of Student Leadership and Activities, said.

Clubs from around campus set up tables in building 6.  The Biology Club, the SGA, the African American Student Association, and a couple others were there, handing out pamphlets and raising awareness.

“I don‘t belong to any clubs, but I would like to get into some this year,” PJC student Austin Wells said.

Free Cici’s pizza and Guthrie’s chicken were provided.  As the bash progressed, the rain stopped, allowing students to climb the rock wall brought by the Florida National Guard. “Rock climbing is always a crowd pleaser,” John Hodges, of the Florida National Guard, said.

The beginning of the school year brings new challenges and goals to everyone. Some of the goals that students have this year include getting better grades, becoming more involved in school, and graduating.

“I would like to get more involved with the community or at least help somebody somehow. I’m just trying to stay focused and keep everything together. That’s my main goal,” Amanda Bremer, PJC student, said.

 “My goals are to make it through the year, make it through all my classes with good grades and then graduate and go to college,” Dillion Birkhimer, adult high student, said.

Annual ComposerFest comes to PJC

Come enjoy original music created by local and regional composers at ComposerFest, an annual Pensacola Junior College Lyceum Series concert.

The free event is 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, at the Ashmore Fine Arts Auditorium, Building 8, on the Pensacola campus.

The purpose of ComposerFest is to provide the public an opportunity to hear music written by living composers. The 2009 concert features works by PJC faculty Michael Coleman, Matt Fossa, Kadisha Onalbayeva and retired PJC faculty Robert Sherwood.

Other featured composers are Kari Juusela, Berklee College of Music in Boston; Jerry Sieg, University of New Orleans; Joseph Spaniola, University of West Florida; and Chris Tilley, University of Mobile.

The concert features works written for cello, English horn, piano, marimba, saxophone and trombone.

For more information, contact Coleman at 484-1813, mcoleman@pjc.edu; or the Lyceum Series office at 484-1847.

Bloodmobile gives movie tickets

Bloodmobile will be on the Pensacola campus Sept. 22, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m between bldg. five and one.  They will be giving away free Rave movie tickets to all donors.

PJC shuts down technology for the weekend

Friday Sept. 18 after 10:00 p.m. PJC’s website, e-mail, piratemail, distance learning, and all other computer programs are going to be shut down until Sunday morning around noon. The academic computing centers on all campuses will also be closed on Saturday.

Celebrated poet Donald Hall to visit PJC

Renowned poet Donald Hall is coming to PJC’s Pensacola campus on Sept. 17 and 18.

Hall was the 14th United States Poet Laureate and this is the first time a former poet laureate has visited PJC.

He will meet with students and others for an informal question-and-answer session at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17, in the Board Room in Bldg. 7, room 736. Admission is free, but seating is limited.

On Friday, Sept. 18, he will be appearing at the Ashmore Auditorium to read from some of his poems. The event starts at 7:30 p.m. and is free for PJC students ($10 general admission, $6 PJC staff and faculty, $8 seniors, children, non-PJC students). Advanced tickets can be picked up at the Lyceum box office in the Ashmore  Auditorium (call 484-1847).

Edward M. Chadbourne Library opens doors

Katy Ferguson

The Corsair

Rows of shelves are lined with books: some new, with stiff spines, crisp pages and ink so fresh it’s almost wet to the touch. Others are older, their covers softened by time and by the thousands of hands that have held them.

These books and the library they belong to have been missing from PJC’s campus since June 2008 and the old saying ‘you never know what you’ve got until it’s gone’ rings true. Moving into the student services building last spring, the library has been displaced for some time.

But the wait is over and librarian, Winifred Bradley, says that the transformation has been amazing.  Estimated at $9 million, the state-funded renovation includes a new wing with several classrooms, as well as a new layout in the original library building. 

Named after Mr. Edward M. Chadbourne, the new library is due to open its doors August 17.

Mr. Chadbourne owns a local construction company in Pensacola.  Taking a portion of his profits every year, he helps provide money for college to those who need it. His generosity has already helped over 500 PJC students continue their education.

Bradley insists that the new library, located in Bldg. 20, is worthy of the name it holds. With over 80,000 books to choose from, it is nothing short of amazing.  Its turquoise, blue, and grey theme gives the building a relaxed atmosphere.  With chairs and couches around every corner, Bradley hopes the students will feel welcome.

For access to the library, students will need to make sure they have a PJC identification card with them.  Current students need to get the new ID card made, because the library’s system won’t recognize the old one.

New ID cards can be made in Bldg. 6, room 651.  Any questions can be answered by calling 484-2033.

As before, the library has 44 computers available for student use.  There is also Wi-Fi in the building and students are welcome to bring their own laptops. 

New additions include six study rooms that students can sign up for, and a copy room.  But again, students will need their ID cards for access to all features. Two large conference rooms will also be available to both PJC and the community for use.

The law library has been relocated from its former home downtown, to the main campus. PJC’s law classes will now be largely located in classrooms in Bldg. 20.

The law library will be upstairs along with general books available for check-out. The periodicals, the computers, and the reference section will be downstairs.

A new coffee shop has also been added during the renovations, although it’s not due to open until September.  The vending company’s name has yet to be released, but Bradley is sure it will be a great treat for students and faculty at the college.

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