Features – Page 7

Veteran writing instructor was born to teach

17Oct

By Pima Post Editorial TeamNo Comments

Features

Veteran writing instructor was born to teach

Story and photo by ELLIANA KOPUT Mic Denfeld is a writing instructor at Pima Community College’s West Campus. She’s one of the oldest, most experienced, most lively and compassionate faculty members. She is held near and dear to the hearts of many. Denfeld leads her classes through a series of assignments that aim to encourage metacognition and personal growth. I sat down to discuss with her to discuss her experiences and inspirations. Q: How long have you been teaching at Pima and in what area of study? A: “I teach Writing 101. I’ve been at Pima 27 years. I was a teacher for most of it and a dean for a couple of years. I can even tell you the date… from ‘91 to ‘91, but I always come back to the classroom.” Q: What inspired you to become a writing teacher? A: “I just wanted t...

Instructor details the never-ending battle to get published

10Oct

By Pima Post Editorial TeamNo Comments

Features

Instructor details the never-ending battle to get published

By JERRY GILL In my early years as a professor, I tried to publish articles in very prestigious journals. One was “Mind” and it was edited by Professor Gilbert Ryle at Oxford University. My first submission was about some of the ideas of Professor Quine at Harvard. In his brief rejection letter, Professor Ryle wrote: “Dear Gill: This is a very astute essay on Quine. However, all of your criticisms are couched in the form of rhetorical questions. This is a very invertebrate way of raising criticisms. Yours, Ryle.” A while later, undaunted, I submitted another essay to “Mind” where I attempted to solve the complex issue of the meaning of religious language. I put together a long essay covering all the possible views that scholars had offered in trying to deal with this subject. After a c...

26Sep

By Pima Post Editorial TeamNo Comments

Stomping Grounds

Now is the time for ecstatic dancing

Story and photo by ELLIANA KOPUT It’s not infrequently that we hear, like a bitter ghost of perpetual displeasure, “Ugh! There’s nothing to do in Tucson” echoing through the hallways at Pima Community College. While we know that this is hyperbolic and seemingly fallacious, we must not hate the player. Instead, we should hate the game itself. Many might be bored, but perhaps it’s because they don’t know where to look when seeking external stimulation or entertainment in any form. Look no further, because I come bearing wonderful news. As a young woman under the age of 21 in the Old Pueblo, I, too, find myself reverting to the dark underbelly of Facebook’s news feed when placed in a trance of extreme boredom. A few weeks ago, an ad popped up for an event happening every o...

26Sep

By Pima Post Editorial TeamNo Comments

Features

The Big 5-0 for Pima

By AZTEC PRESS STAFF Happy 50th anniversary, Pima Community College! “If people go into public service to be recognized, they will always be disappointed,” said Jacob C. Fruchthendler, one of Pima’s founders, in 1987. “The greatest things you can get are personal pleasure and satisfaction.” It’s the Aztec Press’ pleasure to present our opinion of “The 50 Greatest Things About Pima” as a running feature this semester. Each of the first five issues this semester will feature 10 things that make Pima special. 1. The Aztec Press You’re probably wondering, “What kind of self-important pricks would put themselves at the top of their list of 50 greatest things about PCC?” Allow me to reintroduce you to the Aztec Press. Founded in 1973 under the name Campus News, the Aztec Press ...

17Jul

By Pima Post Editorial TeamNo Comments

Features

Aztec Transfer Tips

By JOSEPH SIML Transferring. Is on the minds of a lot of Pima Community College students as the Fall semester nears. Especially my own since I’ve attended Pima for two years. During my time here I’ve had the chance to learn a few things about the transfer process. Please note, however, that I am NOT a counselor. This is just friendly advice if you have any questions, be sure to talk to an appropriate counselor. 1) If you’re new to Pima, make sure you talk with a counselor about the AGEC. The AGEC is a pre-approved state curriculum pathway that is guaranteed to transfer completely to any state university. Following this pathway can save you a lot of time and frustration. There’s no need to lose credits when you’re finally ready to head to a university. You can view the AGEC outlines onl...

2May

By Pima Post Editorial TeamNo Comments

Features

Pima Community College’s immigrant student center employees

By ANGEL CANEZ Tucked away in the far back end of on the top floor of Pima Community College Downtown Campus Campus Center building in the communication department sits a tiny little office. The Immigrant, Refugee and Student Resource Center or IRSRC. The IRSRC opened its doors at the beginning of the year, provides up-to-date legal information and students to scholarships opportunity and student workshops is headed by student ambassador Dana Pineda a 22 year old a first generation college student majoring in bioengineering. It was already 11:30 in the morning and Pineda was already out making a difference, returning from a high school career fair where she was handing out scholarship papers, undocumented student college guides , “Know Your Rights” flyers to high schoo...

Pima Community College’s resident fashionista

2May

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Features

Pima Community College’s resident fashionista

Interview and photos by JOSH GRAY Pima Community College will holding its annual fashion show May 4 at the Fox Theatre. Nancy Spaulding, the head of the Fashion Department, recently sat down with the Aztec Press. Q: What is your favorite piece on display? A: “I haven’t seen everything yet, so I couldn’t say what my favorite would be.” Q:What is your favorite fashion trend? A: “Print mixing, totally.” Q: What is your favorite fashion decade? A: “I would say probably the ’60s because I grew up in the ’60s and everybody was rocking the good stuff then.” Q: What is your favorite part of working in Pima’s fashion department? A: “The fact that it is just full of creative people, and people love fashion and want to create new trends and new designs. It is just a fun department; it...

2May

By Pima Post Editorial TeamNo Comments

Arts & Entertainment, Features

Culture Club: free passes for Pima students

By JOSH GRAY Pima Community College has partnered with Act One to provide free cultural passes to Pima students. Culture Passes are free admission tickets that you and a guest can get by going to your local Pima Library. Act One is an organization that helps provide art and cultural experience throughout Arizona schools. Act One is a non-profit organization that is privately funded. “A lot of it comes from donors and foundations, individual donors and foundations, corporations, that's the bulk of it,” said Geri Wright, CEO and president of Act One. Act One offers two main programs. Its first program is the Act One field trip, which helps Title 1 schools that can’t afford to take their students on field trips. Since the organization’s founding in 2011, Act One has provided “nearly ...

2May

By Pima Post Editorial TeamNo Comments

Stomping Grounds

MMA through the eyes of Birchak

Photos and story by MATTHEW HILL Unlike going to your traditional gym where you work out with weights and machines and run on treadmills, you can get a full-body workout learning new self-defense techniques and body-movement skills practicing jiujitsu. Located at 4765 E. Speedway Blvd., 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu is home to many practitioners who want to keep evolving and challenge themselves through this martial art. The gym offers discounts to University of Arizona and Pima Community College student first responders, as well as active-duty military and veterans. With access to over 100 gyms worldwide, there is unlimited training in jiujitsu, wrestling, boxing, kickboxing, MMA, strength and conditioning, and nutrition plans. 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu is owned and operated by A...

A blast from the Hydro Flask at Pima Community College

2May

By Pima Post Editorial TeamNo Comments

Features

A blast from the Hydro Flask at Pima Community College

Story and photo by JOSH GRAY This $50 hunk of tin is popular. The trend started last year (at least that’s when the trend hit Arizona), grew, peaked and has died quicker than it started. Hydro Flask isn’t talked about as much anymore, but they are still floating about college campuses across the country. If you haven’t heard about the Bend, Oregon-based Hydro Flask, it’s a water bottle that keeps your beverage hot or cold for extended periods. This is done by the company’s innovative insulation technique trademarked as TempShield. “TempShield is our double-wall, vacuum-insulated technology that guards the temperature of your drink,” according to the company’s website. Similar and less expensive brands like Contigo also keep things cold and hot for longer periods of time. “We eng...