Glendale Community College

Glendale Community College's award-winning cheer program will likely be dropped from the school catalog this fall in an effort to save $25,000 annually, officials said. The program has been put on the chopping block as college officials scour the 2013-14 budget for cost savings. Although the cheer team has been sponsored by the college's athletic funds, it is not an official intercollegiate sport. And during tough times, Glendale Community College can no longer afford to keep it on the books, said Paul Schlossman, dean of student affairs.

Officials at Glendale Community College this week proposed that the college join a small handful of smoke-free campuses statewide. The proposal comes about two years after officials restricted smoking on campus to several designated locations and would place the college among roughly a half-dozen community colleges statewide that have gone completely smoke-free. According to the American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation, about 10 California community colleges have adopted campus-wide non-smoking policies, most of them in San Diego County.

There doesn't figure to be much experience up and down the Glendale Community College men's basketball team roster. As far as Glendale college Coach Brian Beauchemin is concerned, it's not the worst position for the Vaqueros to be in. If anything, Beauchemin is eager to see how most of the 15-member squad - with just three returners - will respond to adapting to the more physical style presented at the collegiate level. “We have a lot of new faces and that's fine,” said Beauchemin, whose team will tip off its season at 3 p.m. Friday against visiting Compton.

GLENDALE - One likely couldn't blame Glendale Community College baseball player Michael Robinson for being a little nervous taking the mound at home Friday night again Compton. It was the sophomore pitcher's first start as a Vaquero. “There was a little bit in the first inning, I'm not going to lie,” Robinson said of nerves. “I didn't want to disappointment my guys on the bench.” Robinson did fine, picking up the victory after allowing one run on six hits, while striking out seven in six innings as Glendale defeated Compton 8-3 at Stengel Field in a nonconference game.

Three finalists for the top administrative job at Glendale Community College spoke of transparency, trust and compassion during a public forum Thursday where each put forth their vision for the campus. Born and raised in Mauritius, a small island off the southern coast of Africa, Rajen Vurdien is president of Fullerton College, a post he has held since 2010. Previously, he was a vice president at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo for six years. "I see the Glendale position as an opportunity for me to grow and serve the students in a different capacity," he said, explaining why he wants to be the school's next supt./president.