Miramar College Library Learning Resource Center

By: John K and Ryan H

When you’re done with school for the day and decide to go home, there can be many distractions and obstacles that prevent you from doing homework or studying. The Library or Library/learning resource center (LLRC), at Miramar Community College offers a great environment in which you can do your homework and study without distractions. The library itself offers many resources for its students such as computers, printers and work stations plus group study rooms. On top of all that they have a wide selection of books on various subjects for your disciplines.

This library which replaced the old Miramar college library was built at a price of $39.4 million and has three-stories all of which comes to 100,000 square feet. The library was built to offer state-of-the-art teaching, independent learning spaces and for students to research and study etc. The library has a Silver Certification by the United States Green Building Council, for its efforts in renewable energy and by using solar energy to save the surrounding environment from 3,500 metric tons of carbon dioxide every year. There are a number of posted facts about this green environment located in the Library, which is very interesting.

The Libraries operational hours are from 8am to 8pm Monday thru Thursday and also 8am to noon on Fridays. These hours seem very fair for students whom schedules vary. The environment is quiet, allowing students to study and concentrate. The study place is very clean with a water only policy. The staff at the library are very helpful and are always around to answer any questions you may have.

One resource that is very helpful are the group study rooms, which are the ideal place for group projects. Most of them are abundant in room and allow for you to practice a class presentation or for private group preparations. While the group study rooms are helpful, another resource which helps even more is the computer lab. The computer lab offers a great environment to research, do online work, and add to the essay you are working on. This resource is very useful because there are hardly any distractions and you’ll have a great environment where everyone else is working, letting you focus on your tasks or homework at hand. The computer lab has many seats and I have never encountered the problem of no available computers. Once you’re done with homework or any assignment that you need printing, you can go to the printing room where there is a printer and three copiers. Printer paper is available for a small fee so it is wise to bring some change. There is a change machine if you have dollar bills but do not try to put in any notes greater than a dollar or your greater piece of currency will be useless in said situation.

 The Library Learning Research Center is an excellent resource that the school offers and an overall great place in my assessment because you can go there and get work done fast. When I go I have no problems with procrastination and leave with great information, a ready homework assignment, and my work done.

 Here’s what some student had to say about the resources made available by the Library:

“I like the computers in the library they are fast and convenient. I’m always using them for class assignments.”

James Espinoza

Age 19

Major: Business

“I like this new location it’s much bigger and has more space to do homework in than the old Library.”

Kayla Baker

Age 22

Major: Psychology

“The computer lab is nice and there’s plenty of room to do work, I wish they would put in more printers though.”

Steve Perez

Age 20

Major: Nutrition

“I haven’t used the Library much at all except once to do a group study in one of the rooms. I liked how they were quiet from the outside so my group and I could talk without people outside hearing.”

Daniel Flores

Age 23

Major: Sociology

 

 

 

Miramar's Cafeteria

Have you guys ever gone to the cafeteria and wished there was more varieties of food? I know I have. Miramar’s cafeteria is not only small but the food is also pricey, and not good. Most of us can agree that the cafeteria needs a lot of improvements. Luckily our school has a new building with a new cafeteria which obviously the size will increase. The new building is not available yet but it will be soon. A suggestion I would make to improve the food at our school would be a salad bar with fresh vegetables, different culture food and healthier drinks with less sugar. The salad bar is a good idea because there's a lot of students that are vegetarians. Nutrient facts around the cafeteria would be nice too. Knowing what our bodies consume is very important now. Especially if we want to keep energized in a healthy way to focus at school.  A bigger cafeteria with plenty of seats and tables will be good for our school because we have a lot of students, and professors.  Since the cafeteria will expand it I would be a good idea if they hire more employees. Hiring more employees will help students get their food faster, and also get to classes on time. Some students don’t even bother eating at school now because their in a rush to get to class. Maybe we can even have computers where students can place an oder they want so they wont have to wait in line. A lot of people like eating while watching tv, so adding some type of entertain will improve the cafeteria. I’ve noticed that when I’m in the cafeteria the wifi services is really bad, that’s another thing that should improve. Students do like doing homework or class assignments while eating; therefore the wifi services will be needed. The physical appearance of the current cafeteria is not appealing I can say it scares some students. If it looks bad from the outside what can we expect from the inside? This new building closer and noticeable unlike the one we have right now. 

Here are what some Miramar students/staff had to say about the cafeteria after we asked this specific question “What improvements or expectations do you have for the new cafeteria?”  

“I don’t think there should be any improvements made.” 

David Zelaya 

Major: Anthropology  

“Better quality food and TV’s, music should be playing, and they should sell beer too. We need better wifi signal for the students. More employees would be nice.  I want smoothie machines and more healthier choices and fresh herbs.”  

Ruben Carrillo 

Position: Cook 

“I want the cooks to use gloves and not have pricey food, I really like the loaded fries but we need variety.” 

Lynh Nguyen 

Major: Child development 

“Better physical appearance. Include nutrition labels on machines and out in the open. Educate more students on health with new location and have vegetarian options, its important to a lot of people.” 

Eric Rnee 

Position: Libraian 

The Miramar Jets 2012/2103 Men's Basketball Team Profile

The Miramar Jets 2012/2103 Men's Basketball Team

The Miramar Jet’s Men’s Basketball team is hoping to bounce back from a disappointing 2012-2013 Season. With an overall record of 7 wins and 16 losses (contrast this to the 2008/2009 season where the team had their best season finishing at 23 wins and 8 losses), this has been the team’s worst performance to date, as well as being the first year ever that The Miramar Jets have had a losing record. Although not having much success in tournament games (1-7 record), the team has maintained a winning record ever since the 2007-2008 Season as well as making it to the playoffs or being in contention for the playoffs. Even though it may appear that the team did not do so well this past season, out of the 16 games that they lost, 9 of those were close games being lost within 5 points or less. Head Coach Nick Gehler has been a coach for 11 years; seven of which have been spent here with the Miramar Jets. During his time spent coaching here at Miramar he led the team to back to back playoff appearances in the 2008/2007 and 2008/2009 seasons and has helped 12 players to further their educations and basketball careers. The three most recent players to receive Scholarships are; Symeon Taylor – Pacifica (CA), David Porte – Universidad De Las Americas Puebla (Mexico), and Breen Weeks – Regis (CO). Coach Gehler

has been doing a great job  here at Miramar and it seems that the team just had an off year and they are all looking forward to the next season. Under Head Coach Nick Gehler is Head Assistant Coach  John Egidio who has been with the Miramar Jets for 6 years now. In 2009 the school’s first ever All-State Player, Pat Eveland, was announced. Eveland was an outstanding player and Athlete who was described as having “nice outside range but still being able to get inside and battle it out with other big players.” He holds five out of the seven school records including most assists (261), most total points (1162), most rebounds (430), and most blocks (46). Eveland received a scholarship to Pacific University where he went on to finish his basketball career and graduate as an economics major. This year’s team captains are Sophomore Greg Hamik, and Freshman Peter Wirsing. The team MVP was Forward Alberto Ganis.

Ganis was also Miramar College’s first International player. Sports are important to have at a college because they keep the students motivated and involved with the school. Furthermore, when the school’s athletic programs are successful, the students have a great reason to be proud and happy about the school that they are attending. Campus sports can also help raise a school’s reputation which can lead to an increase of people wanting to apply to that school.



Here are what some Miramar students had to say about school athletics:

“I think Sports are a good way to show your skills and leadership”
 

Colton Jester

Age 20

Major: electrician

 

 “Sports provide a means to propel one self to greatness and simultaneously provide entertainment for the masses, which helps bring communities together. But I also feel like pro athletes are ridiculously over paid”

 

Chris Davis

Age 25

Major: English

 

“I think that sports are a good way to have a nice gathering and to meet new people”.

 

Jason Gray

Age 29

Major: undeclared

  

“I think that sports are a good way to be in shape and have good health”.

 

Travis Baccei

Age 19

Major: undeclared 

By: Tyler Hickman. Victor Madrgial. and David Trujillo

  

New Miramar College Transit Station

Computer generated two-point perspective of the Miramar College Transit Station.

By: Travis Nunez, Nataly Medrano and Kathleen Evangelista

TransNet and Metropolitan Transit System has plans for a new DAR or direct access ramp and a new bus station in Miramar College to congest general traffic and improve transportation choices on the Interstate 15 corridor.

Computer generated isometric perspective of the 

Miramar College Transit Station.

The projects would be done in replacement in the 1990's proposed trolley line, which was deemed due to not being cost effective. Furthermore, the station will feature 12 bus bays; new shelters and next bus signs that provide updated bus arrival times. It will include one center island passenger platform with four bus bays and the remaining bus bays and passenger platforms will be constructed in a circular pattern surrounding the center island.

The environmental document was completed in March 2009 and the design was finished in November 2011. Construction began last fall 2012 on the future Miramar College Transit Center. It will be located south of the Hillery Drive/ Westview Parkway intersection on the northeast end of San Diego Miramar College. The transit station will join the future Mira Mesa direct access ramp. The construction is expected to take two years; the anticipated completion will be on summer 2014. The project has $85 million for its total estimated cost and it is funded by the federal and state funds, TransNet and San Diego Metropolitan Transit System.

From north to south, the Miramar College Transit Station will be the fifth transit facility from the Escondido Transit Center, Del Lago Transit Station, Rancho Bernardo Transit Station and Penasquitos Transit Station.

"The concept is based on DAR," wrote Senior Transportation Planner Emerson Barrow. "Or the direct access ramp from the freeway into the neighborhood separate from the congested general traffic."

The Department of Transportation released the I-15 Direct Access Ramp fact sheet last August 2012, stating there are it’s three missions. First, integrate transit services along the freeway corridor. Second, maximize the coordination of land uses and transportation consistent with the regional goals and community plans. And lastly, provide a direct entrance/exit to the Express Lanes and ease congestion on the surrounding interchanges.

The managed lanes will allow bus riders, cars and van poolers, and solo drivers willing to pay the toll to use the lanes to avoid congestion and reduce their travel time. It will also help ensure reliable trip times for commuters using local and MTS Premium Express Bus Services.

The estimated fare for the commute period express routes will be $5 and $2.50 for the all day all stops services. San Diego Miramar College has not yet announced whether if there will be a fare discount for the students.

"Some schools subsidize bus passes for their students", Emerson Barrow added. "I don't know if Miramar College does or not."

Some of the students shared their thoughts about the new transit station in the school.

“It’s going to help me out a lot because I ride the bus to school”

Sarai Reyes

21 years old

Major: Administration of Justice

“Especially with high gas prices people will use the bus more often”

Karolina Salazar

18 years old

Major: Business Management

“I think it’s a good idea because it will help out a lot of the students”

Jessica Carillo

20 years old

Major: Physical Therapy

“I feel like it will create traffic especially if cars are going to be coming in and out”

Samantha Martinez

19 years old

Major: Nursing Education