Water Main Relocation Plan
A solution is on the way to address the inconvenience caused by a series of water main breaks that have affected the O5 Building and nearby areas. Another rupture occurred on Oct. 25. The project to permanently relocate the water main responsible for the flooding has been pushed forward on campus and with the District Office. A survey and design team is at work now to coordinate with a contractor for the permanent relocation of this main from the north side to the south side of O5 and east of the HU building. Beginning this week, drywall will be repaired throughout 05 where needed. The District Office has agreed to expedite the process, with the goal of finishing construction by the end of Winter Break. During the break, contractors will paint damaged areas and recarpet the entire building. In the meantime, English and Social Sciences faculty and staff have moved their offices temporarily to other locations. The English Department office has been moved to High Tech Center II, Rm. 125; the Social Sciences Department office has been moved to Student Union, Rm. 110.

Until the water main is relocated, College Safety is monitoring the area to detect any additional ruptures should they occur and immediately access shut-off valves if needed. Many thanks to the leadership and staff of Maintenance & Operations, Office of Information Technology, College Safety, Procurement, and Dean Chuck Jeffery.

A special thank you to the faculty and staff of the English and Social Science Departments for their understanding and positive attitudes during this major disruption.

GCC North Expansion, 59th Ave. Easement Receive Approval
Two major capital projects for GCC received approval at the Oct. 25 MCCCD Governing Board meeting: conceptual approval for expansion of GCC North and granting of a utilities easement in conjunction with the City of Glendale widening of 59th Avenue and the straightening of Via Gaucho. Significantly, the approval for GCC North represents one of the District's first major new construction projects to be funded by the successful 2004 Bond. The $23 million project will add about 77,000 square feet for instruction, student and community services, plus faculty and administrative offices and a central plant. Construction is projected to begin in December 2006 and be complete by July 2008. For details about GCC North expansion, visit http://www.gc.maricopa.edu/planning/ProposedFacilities2.htm

Not Too Late to Give to United Way
Every donation of any size counts and is greatly appreciated in this year's GCC United Way Campaign. It was great to see so many of you at the Nov. 2 United Way Ice Cream Social with Dr. Glasper and to hear the testimonial from adjunct faculty member Judy Gates about how much United Way has helped her son. I hope her experience inspired you to give. The GCC Campaign runs through Thurs., Nov. 10. Pledge forms may be requested from and submitted to College Advancement Services. My thanks to those who have participated and those who plan to give this year.

November Events: Reading, Music, International Affairs and More
As schedules allow, I hope many of you can attend several important upcoming events on campus. Below are listed highlights of many scheduled events for November:

Readfest
Thousands of elementary school children from several West Valley school districts will be on our campus for the Tenth Annual Readfest on Wed., Nov. 9. This signature event coordinated by the Center for Learning celebrates reading and literacy, and requires countless hours of effort from devoted faculty, staff and community partners. Event sponsors this year are APS, DRW Engineering, Arrowhead Community Bank, and the law firm of Petersen Johnson.

Alice Estrada and the Readfest Committee need volunteers and would appreciate support from the campus community. She can be reached at 623-845-3810.

Native American Month Events
Plans are underway for several campus events celebrating Native American Month the week of Nov. 14. Please be looking for updates from the GCC Native American Club and advisor Rachel Carroll.

U.S.-Middle East Foreign Policy Presentation, Nov. 15
International Education Program Director Ken Bus is bringing Dr. Bishara Bahbah to campus Tues., Nov. 15 to present "An Assessment of U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East" at noon in the Student Union Lounge. Bahbah was a member of the Palestinian delegation to the Middle East peace talks in the 1990s and taught at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. The presentation marks GCC's first observance of International Education Week and promises to be a great opportunity to ask questions of an authority on a topic of great importance.

Nationally Known Guitarist to Give Free Concert, Nov. 15
Grammy Award-winning guitarist Scott Tennant will present a free concert at GCC Tues., Nov. 15, at 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. Tennant will teach a master class to GCC guitar students on Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m. in GCC Music Building 2, Rm. 151. This class is also free and open to the public. My thanks to Music Professor Charles Hulihan and Department Chair Robert Albury for their leadership in bringing such stellar talent to GCC.

Congratulations to...
The GCC Forensics Program led by Kirt Shineman and Rosie Mays for being awarded First Place in the Higher Education category in the WESTMARC Thirteenth Annual "Best of the West" Awards on Oct. 27.

The community partners that sponsored last year's Career Expo for being awarded Honorable Mention in the "Best of the West" Leadership - Program Category: a committee of individuals from GCC, CGCC, EMCC, GWCC, MCCCD District Workforce Development Office, PVCC, Peoria Unified School District, Western Maricopa Educational Center, and Western Maricopa Tech Prep Consortium. Members of the GCC Committee were Dean of Instruction/Business & Technology Randy Kimmens, plus Janet Brooks, Doug DeSanti, Dr. Denise Digianfilippo, Suzanne Higgins, Susan High, Marjane Maton, Dr. Carlos Nuņez, Dr. Jim Reed, Randy Sasaki and Trish Vogel. More than 100 entries were received in nine categories, and only two awards are presented in each category: First Place and Honorable Mention.

The Gaucho football team, which remains undefeated this season and continues climbing in national rankings.

GCC students Cheryl Barela and Filiz Dolar, selected to participate at the Arizona Town Hall Oct. 30-Nov. 1 at the Grand Canyon.

Jean Ann Abel
Interim President
Glendale Community College