The Pioneer, Student's Magazine: Vol. 53, Issue 1

Features
Kotone Ochiai/ Staff Photos
The first floor of the Cascade building currently houses the EMS, Veterinarian (on
the right), and Dental hygiene (on the left) programs.
“THIS BUILDING WILL
HAVE MORE STUDENT-
DEDICATED SPACE.”
— SALVADOR HURTADO,
THE VETERINARY
TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM
DIRECTOR
As veterinary students, Hurtado states
that it’s important to have access to animals
that can be worked with. This need
is something that this development will
focus on. In addition to larger areas for
animals to roam and exercise, there will
also be external windows for them to see
outside.
Anyone part of an intensive educational
program is likely to understand the importance
of this simulated experience; it
is necessary to be successful in whatever
field one is going into. It’s also important
to have enough room to work comfortably
in, in contrast to a smaller space that
restricts a student’s productivity.
“This building will have more student-dedicated
space,” adds Hurtado.
“There will be more study areas, and
places for students to hang out in. This
way, there won’t be as much time spent
walking from building to building to eat
lunch or find a quiet place to work.”
As the construction of this building is
still in the beginning stages, it’s too soon
to determine any specific unique features.
However, Halladay has a main idea of
what staff are looking for in this new
building. “We are trying to create layouts
where it’s really efficient. Where an
instructor can move from place to place
and help a lot of different students doing
different things simultaneously.”
Halladay continues in saying that this
way, students are able to multitask with
working on a project, while getting the
help they need from professors. Forming
a space where students have this access is
valuable as it gives everyone a chance to
learn the most that they can, even while
working outside the classroom.
Upon hearing about these new renovations,
some students may be worried
about how this may affect their time at
Pierce in ways such as tuition and parking.
However, Halladay assures that there
will be no increases in tuition or fees as
a result of the new building. Parking will
not pose an issue once construction is
complete. Halladay confirms that a few
additional spots are likely to be added,
but there should be an appropriate
amount of spaces now for more students
to park in.
This expansion of dental hygiene, EMS,
and veterinary technology is something
that students can look forward to in the
future. With these new facilities, it will
provide help with getting closer to their
goals while at Pierce College.
Located on the first floor in the
Cascade building, room C111.
September. 20, 2019 / Vol. 53, Issue1 piercepioneernews.com / 13