Clarion 3/18/2009

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March 18, 2009, Volume LXII, Issue 11 www.theclariononline.com

Construction projects still being pounded out

By Cheyenne Schraff Clarion Staff Writer onstruction projects throughout the Citrus College campus are moving forward on the budget and on schedule.

Funding for the on-going construction that began in July 2008 is being provided by Measure G, approved in 2004 by voters in the Citrus Community College District.

The $121 million bond was intended to enhance campus safety, update aging facilities, and develop new academic facilities, such as the vocational technology building.

Three of nine construction projects are currently under construction.

The 55-square-foot Student Services Building located at the Citrus Avenue entrance of campus will re-

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Dustin Call Citrus College Clarion Students from Citrus College lock arms in preparation to lead the march from Raley Field to the Capitol building in Sacramento.

Students march on Capital

By Dustin Call Clarion News Editor Thousands of California college students marched upon the Capitol in Sacramento on March 16 to protest against budget cuts to the California Community College system.

The Student Senate for California Community Colleges

sponsored the rally, known as the “March in March”, the theme of which was “Rescue Education”.

There were 16 students and one adviser from Citrus College who travelled overnight by bus to participate in the event.

Among the Citrus students were officers of the Associated Students of Citrus College, one of whom was ASCC President

Stefano Saltalamacchia.

“I represent the students of Citrus College, so I think it’s imperative to be here and represent them, thanking the legislators and reminding them peacefully that we’re still here and that they need to think about us for the future,” Saltalamacchia said.

Among others representing Citrus were Stephen Hughes, 20,

a forestry major, and Lauren Hjelm, 20, a theology major.

“I want to become a teacher, so my education now is going to help the education of others in the future. So if I don’t get an education, how are others going to get an education?” Hjelm said.

Hughes would like to work for the Forest Service, and expressed his concern about the level of

Undocumented students await ‘Dream Act’ Carol Horton By Sandra Lopez Vice President of Finance Clarion Staff Writer and Administrative Services place student parking lots and the security kiosk as the new face of Citrus College.

It is a project that will include a new Student Health Center, Counseling Center; Admissions and Records, Transfer Center, Assessment Center; the International Students Center, Disabled Student Programs and Services Center, Extended Opportunities Programs and Services Center, Financial Aid, and additional classrooms. A mini-bookstore and cafe complete with an outdoor seating area will complement the building.

"This will be the largest building on campus, excluding the Haugh," said Carol Horton, vice president of finance and administrative services.

Dedicated to housing non instruc-

See Construction/page 3

f the more than 22 million illegal immigrants who living in the United States, approximately 65,000 are students. This year, 151 Citrus College students have been identified as undocumented.

They are waiting for a court decision and state and federal legislation to clarify their indeterminate situation.

The Development, Relief, and Education of Alien Minors (DREAM) Act was introduced in the United States Senate by Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Illi.) in 2001.

The goal of the DREAM Act is to help undocumented young people, who as children were brought into the United States illegally by their parents or other caregivers.

During his speech on the DREAM Act, which he gave in the U.S. Senate in 2006, Durbin said: “The reason why this bill will be noticed is that literally thousands of young people across America know that their fate and future will be determined by this vote.”

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The DREAM Act has failed to pass in Congress several times since 2001. During its most recent re-introduction in 2007, it fell short by eight votes.

The DREAM Act is a bipartisan bill sponsored by Sen. Chuck Hagel and Sen. Richard Lugar that would allow undocumented students to receive federal loans as well as work authorization.

The DREAM Act would also provide those who qualify with a pathway to legal status and protection from deportation.

To qualify for the DREAM Act, students must meet several criteria: Students must have been brought to the United States before the age of 16 and currently be younger then 30.

They must have lived in the United States continuously for five years.

They must have graduated from high school, have earned a GED, or have acquired equally higher education in the United States.

They must have clean criminal records They must either attend college or enlist in military service for at least two years.

The United States guarantees these students primary and secondary education, in

Life Pg. 5 Sports Pg. 11 A&E Pg. 12 cmyk

spite of their illegal status.

However, if an undocumented student tries to pursue higher education, he or she is often denied in-state tuition rates.

Undocumented students pay in-state tuition according to AB 540.

Yet this policy has been challenged in court.

The problem is that if officials offer instate tuition rates to undocumented students, they might be challenged to offer the same rates for non-resident students from other states.

People frequently ask why undocumented students often don’t apply for U.S. citizenship. Sometimes they do not understand how difficult the pathway to legal status can be.

In order to process for legal entry into the United States, the undocumented student must return to his or her country of origin, the country where they were born but often cannot even remember.

Opponents of the DREAM Act, such as Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) argue that illegal immigrant

See Dream Act /page 3

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News

Citrus College Clarion

March 18, 2009

QUOTEof the

DAY

“ Men occasionally stumble over the

truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened. ” — Sir Winston Churchill

Campus

Wire

American History Icon to Discuss “Lessons from Little Rock” at Citrus College

by Stacy Armstrong

Central High School McClatchey-Tribune Services

In 1957, nine children defined the Civil Rights Movement when they integrated into a segregated public school system.

Now, one of those courageous students will be speaking at Citrus College.

Pasadena resident Dr. Terrence Roberts helped change the face of the United States when he and eight others walked onto the campus of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Today, March 18, he will be sharing his experiences during a 10 a.m. presentation in the Haugh Performing Arts Center.

“Dr. Roberts is a local resource who can give a first-person account of this monumental event,” said Adrienne Thompson, student activities supervisor.

“The purpose of this presentation is to remind people

how far our society has come in terms of racism and civil rights, but also to caution against its further progression.”

In addition to the faculty, staff, and students of Citrus College, the community at large is invited to attend this free event.

It is being sponsored by the Citrus College Office of Student Affairs, the Associated Students of Citrus College, the Citrus College UMOJA Program, and the Citrus College Extended Opportunities Programs and Services/Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education (EOP&S/CARE), and California Work Opportunity and Responsibility for Kids Programs (CalWORKs).

For more information about Terrence Roberts’ presentation at Citrus College, call (626) 914-8603.

Spring 2009 College Fair The Career/Transfer Center will be holding a college fair on Thursday, March 26, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the Campus Center Mall.

Raul Sanchez of the Career/Transfer Center said, “The purpose of the college fair is to expose our students to various transfer institutions and their transfer requirements, which will better assist our students with their transfer process.”

Approximately 40 UC, CSU and private schools will be in attendance.

Follow the Clarion on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CCClarion

And in other news...

LOCAL: Glendora police looking for witnesses to fatal collision GLENDORA - Police are asking for people to come forward who may have seen a car crash that took the life of an 80-year-old woman earlier this month, officials said Tuesday, March 17.

Salud Galias was killed after the Toyota Corolla she was a passenger in was broadsided by a Ford Ranger

pickup truck at the intersection of Gladstone Street and Grand Avenue around 5:50 p.m. on Sunday, March 1, according to Senior Officer William Turnley.

As the Corolla was waiting to make a left turn onto Grand Avenue it was struck by the truck, Turnley said. The impact caused injuries to

Galias that she later died from.

If anyone has any information regarding this incident they are asked to call the Glendora Police Department at (626) 914-8250.

Courtesy of San Gabriel Valley Tribune

STATE: Obama to visit Southern California this week President Obama will be visiting Southern California on March 18 and 19 for the first time since being elected president.

He is scheduled to land at the Long Beach Airport on Wednesday.

The city of Long Beach has asked the public not to come to airport to see the president.

On Wednesday Obama will hold a town hall style meeting at the Orange County Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa.

On Thursday, the president will tour Southern California Edison’s Electric Vehicle Technical Center in Pomona, hold another town hall style meeting in Los Angeles, and

then make an appearance on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno.

Obama is expected to talk with Leno about the economy.

Tickets have been made available to the public for both town hall meetings and for “The Tonight Show.”

NATIONAL: Vermont begins hearings on same-sex marriage bill MONTPELIER, Vt. — Vermont lawmakers are starting a week of hearings on a bill to legalize same-sex marriage.

In 2000, Vermont became the first state in the U.S. to adopt civil unions.

House and Senate leaders want to pass the gay marriage bill this legislative session, which ends in May.

Supporters say gay marriage would give couples additional rights, such as for insurance purposes and in health care decisions. It also would allow surviving spouses to obtain Social Security benefits.

Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hear testimony about equality issues, other states' experiences and

the conclusions of a study on the matter. More hearings are scheduled for later in the week.

In the U.S., gay couples can legally marry only in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Courtesy of The Associated Press

INTERNATIONAL: US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 591 As of Tuesday, March 17, at least 591 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan as a result of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to the Defense Department.

The department last updated its figures Tuesday at 10 a.m. EDT. Of those, the military reports 435

were killed by hostile action.

Outside the Afghan region, the Defense Department reports 67 more members of the U.S. military died in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Of those, three were the result of hostile action. The military lists these other locations as Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba; Djibouti; Er-

itrea; Ethiopia; Jordan; Kenya; Kyrgyzstan; Philippines; Seychelles; Sudan; Tajikistan; Turkey; and Yemen.

There were also four CIA officer deaths and one military civilian death.

Courtesy of The Associated Press

March 18, 2009

News

Citrus College Clarion

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Dream Students: March against budget cuts Act: court decision

Sandra Lopez can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com

the crowd continued chanting and danced to the beat of a drum line that had set up at the top of the steps.

A long list of speakers addressed the crowd in front of the Capitol about the need for educational funding. The speakers included student government representatives from all three California college systems, students, and state government officials.

Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, a UC regent and CSU trustee, was one who spoke to the crowd and called for California to invest in the students who he said are the future, and to keep the doors of education open.

“Do not slam the doors on the future. You’re the future. Without an education you will not succeed. Unless all of our students are the best educated in the world, California will not succeed,” Garamendi said.

Nicole Shaughn Citrus College Clarion Construction in the parking lot of the Haugh Performing Arts Center continues at a steady pace on March 15.

Construction projects continue

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This will be the largest building on campus, excluding the Haugh.

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students would intensify competition for college admissions.

“This bill is a crass political calculation aimed at selling an amnesty disguised as an educational initiative,” said Dan Stein, FAIR executive director.

Sen. Jon Yet of Arizona also argues that illegal immigrants already receive free public education and should not benefit any further. He has also expressed concern that passage of this bill would encourage more parents to enter the United States illegally and bring their children with them.

According to the website childtrendsdatabank.org, in 2005, foreign-born students had a 25 percent dropout rate compared to 16 percent of U.S. born children who all ranged from 16 to 24 years old.

National Immigration Law Center (NILC) believes that if some of these under-educated young people end up in jail, their incarceration could end up costing taxpayers even more money.

By contrast, allowing them to earn college degrees and then enter the workforce would more than increase tax revenues and investment.

Nevertheless, a Citrus College alumnus, who requested anonymity, graduated from Cal Poly Pomona in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in finance. He has a job that pays half of the salary earned by his legal friends, who have the same education and degree.

His mother brought him to California from Mexico when he was 7 years old. Since then, his primary language has been English. He even admitted that he struggles to speak Spanish. He has completely adapted to American culture and can barely remember anything about his home state of Aguascalientes, Mexico.

“We are not your typical stereotype,” he said. “People don’t understand that many of us are educated and goal-oriented human beings. We are willing to work hard to get far in life. We don’t expect to be given a free ride. We just want the freedom that legal citizens have. We just want to be able to improve society and have a voice.”

“The DREAM Act means everything to me emotionally, physically, and spiritually,” he said.

The DREAM Act is scheduled to be reintroduced to the Senate floor by Durbin and Republican Rep. Howard Berman later this month. It needs 60 votes to pass in the Senate.

funding for the forestry program he participates in, which takes students on trips to forests in other areas for learning purposes.

“You need to travel places,” Hughes said. “It’s not like math where you can do the same math on a computer from the early ‘90s as you can on a new hightech one now, but schools would rather put money toward that.”

Citrus students, who shared a bus with students from Rio Hondo College in Whittier, were among the first to arrive at Raley Field in Sacramento, and were asked to lead the one-mile march from there, across Tower Bridge, and down Capitol Mall Lane to the front steps of the state Capitol.

While marching, the crowd chanted and waved signs and banners, demanding funding and awareness for California colleges.

Upon arriving at the Capitol,

Carol Horton

Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services tional activities, the Student Services Building has a fall 2010 completion date.

Work on the Vocational Technology building at the east end of campus should be finished by late spring, Horton said. It will house automotive tech, vocational tech, and criminal justice classes.

The Field House and Concession Building will accommodate the football, softball, baseball, golf, soccer and track programs with locker rooms for visiting and home teams.

It should be available for student use

by May 2009, Horton said.

Other projects still in the design phase or waiting for construction to

begin are the Security Building, main gym remodel, Hayden Hall remodel, Fine Arts Building, Administration Building, and the re-landscaping of the area south of the Child Development Center.

With new locker rooms in the Field House, the Main Gym will be remodeled to serve women and men, and the existing Women's Gym will be torn down.

Construction on the Fine Arts and Administration building’s should begin in spring of 2011.

Construction of the Security building is scheduled to begin in fall 2009.

Additional construction projects include reconfiguring the Citrus Avenue and Foothill Boulevard intersection, which will involve the elimination of the bypass road located there. This will be a joint project funded by Azusa Pacific University, Citrus College, the city of Azusa and the city of Glendora.

Cheyenne Schraff can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com

He also urged students to make their voices heard back in their own communities.

“Do not stop your protest until every qualified California student has the best education anywhere in this world.”

Citrus’ own Savannah Dominguez, 22, a nursing major, also addressed the crowd as a Senator-at-large in the Student Senate for California Community Colleges. She is one of only two people in that group who represent career technical education.

Dominguez spoke about how important funding is for career technical education programs, such as nursing and fire-fighting, and how crucial those programs are to the workforce of the country.

“I was standing here for an hour watching the floods of people come in,” Dominguez said.

“It was an amazing sight because

everybody is peaceful, everybody is united, everybody is collected, and everybody is here with an understanding that we are the future. We are the safety net, and it’s not being protected, and it needs to be protected.”

The newly passed state budget included $8.4 billion of cuts to kindergarten through community college education.

However, the budget’s initiation depends on the passing of six ballot measures, which are part of special statewide election to be held on May 19.

Two of those measures, 1A and 1B, will affect educational funding.

Dustin Call can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com

March 18, 2009

Life

Life Editor Julia Kupisiewicz - clarioneic@live.com

Citrus College Clarion

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Student ambassador, trustee inspires others

By Rebecca Vicino Clarion Correspondent One might not suspect that the student representative to the Board of Trustees of Citrus College and his future successor were both unsure of what they wanted to do with their lives after graduating from high school.

However, that was the case for both the current student trustee Andrew Cress and student trustee-elect Korine Ponce.

Two years ago, an 18-year-old Cress, who was living in Alabama at the time, saw his life moving in a very different direction, as he planned to join the Army and opt out of the college experience.

Those plans changed when Cress came back to California, where he had grown up in Claremont and spent most of his high school years.

He ran into a neighbor who encouraged him to rethink his future.

“All you need is one person to really stand behind you and say ‘I think you can do it,’ because, you know, I didn’t think I could do it at all,” Cress said.

For him, that person was Susan Keith, the Citrus College trustee who represents his hometown, and whom he had known for many years.

Keith convinced him to let her show him around the Citrus College campus and he never looked back.

Now a political science major, Cress has distinguished himself by becoming a student

Andrew Cress ambassador, participating in the Honors Program, interning with a California assemblyman and most recently, at the beginning of the fall semester, assuming the role of student trustee.

Despite these accomplishments, Cress comes across as a down-to-earth, genuinely passionate, ambitious young man with even more to offer as he continues on his educational journey.

While working five days a week at Barnes and Noble in Montclair, spending time with his girlfriend, and teaching ministry to children at his church, Cress seems to meet the demands of his grueling schedule with ease.

“Andrew has taught me the basics; the basics of being a trustee, but also as a person.

He’s taught me so much.” Ponce said.

Cress said he is most excited about completing one of his targeted goals as student trustee: reducing the cost of textbooks and making them more accessible to students.

He has met with Superintendent/President Geraldine Perri, Ph.D., to discuss making textbooks available online through open access education resources.

“It’s helping to develop high quality and free textbooks, basically, and I’m really glad that we can be a part of it,” Cress said about the initiative.

Cress aspires to transfer to Claremont McKenna College after Citrus, but is still uncertain about his career path.

“I’ve probably, in my mind, had about 10 different majors,” Cress said “I’m like a dog chasing cars, but I really like that [community college] is something that can accommodate that.”

As for Ponce, a sociology major who will take over Cress’ position as student trustee in fall 2009, getting involved in school was something she had never taken too seriously until college.

Ponce and her family emigrated from Brazil to the United States when she was 5 years old and spoke no English.

“I come from such a humble beginning,” she said “I got horrible grades in high school.

I was so unmotivated, kind of self-mutilating because I wasn’t getting good grades. I would really feel guilty, and be down on myself.

Doing one thing, joining one class, is really motivational,” Ponce said.

The now 18-year-old believes her background allows her to never take for granted the opportunities she has been given.

“She just has this energy and this love of life. When you look at her and you’re, talking to her, you can always tell she’s absorbing information that you’re telling her, and I really appreciate that,” Cress said.

This semester Ponce is carrying a full load of classes, working closely to ASCC, attending all board meetings with Cress, and is also a member of Pasadena City College’s Model United Nations Program, which she gives credit to for expanding her worldview.

“Think internationally but act locally. Think about things going on in the world and what kind of issues are affecting other countries.

Ask how you can I help locally,” Ponce said bout the way the Model UN program has impacted her.

In spite of another busy year she has to look forward to, Ponce is determined to better many aspects of her own life, as well as serve Citrus students.

Reaching for success, she said, involves loving yourself before anything, and being selfish about your education because it’s your life and it’s your dream.

Rebecca Vicino can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com

College markets student talent to visiting high schools

By Rosalynn M. Garcia Clarion Correspondent The fourth annual Open House at Citrus College offered visiting high school students a break from daily classroom instructions and look at various campus programs.

More than 1,200 students from 20 local high schools were invited to attend the recruiting event, which took place on March 10 and 11. It included performances by many of the college ensembles and a chance to engage with several faculty members during instructional workshops.

"I think we feel that we have a strong campus here and people should know about it. This is a method to do that," said Alan Waddington, Open House coordinator.

The program began in the Haugh Performing Arts Center where students were given an overview of the college and treated to several performances before breaking off into campus workshops highlighting specific programs.

"I think that a lot of times these guys don't know what is available to them, especially what this college has for them,” said Professor Dan Volonte, who conducted the technical theater workshop which afforded visiting students an opportunity to manipulate some of the HPAC lighting.

Several of his own students demonstrated their knowledge of the systems during the workshop.

“Everyone seems to be very professional yet very willing to answer questions,” said Breanna Liddle of Arroyo High School.

After being treated to a Carl’s Jr. lunch and live outdoor music, the students migrated back into the HPAC for an afternoon concert featuring Night Shift, the Citrus Singers and Orquesta Sazon.

"It was interesting watching all the ensembles perform,” said Joanna Marrufo of Mountain View High School. “I was impressed by all the groups. I didn't know that this college offered all that stuff for students here."

A performance by songwriter Sarah Lindsey prompted an entire auditorium of high school students to light up their cell phones and clap in unison.

Open House was not only an educational experience for the visiting high schools students and but also for the student performers who showcased some of their original songs and gauged the reactions of a new audience.

"They're getting used to the idea of analyzing an audience, or clientele, and seeing how music and particular songs affect people and at various points," Waddington said.

The performers can use these observations to further develop their own music and style, he said.

Both Volonte and Waddington said past Open House events have proven successful, with many high school students enrolling at Citrus College. Many of the visiting students expressed interest in attending programs this upcoming summer.

Rosalynn M. Garcia Citrus College Clarion

Rosalynn M. Garcia can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com

Student songwriter Sara Lindsey performs an original piece for visiting high school students in the Haugh Performing Arts Center during Citrus College’s fourth annual Open House March 11.

March 18, 2009

Life

Citrus College Clarion

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Team Citrus joins Race for the Cure

By Mitchie Pardilla Clarion Staff Writer and Sandra Lopez Clarion Staff Writer Staff members, faculty, and students from Citrus College gathered in support of breast cancer survivors and those currently fighting the disease at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Sunday morning to participate in the 13th Susan G. Komen “Race for the Cure.”

The annual event raises money for breast cancer research. The organization, which was founded in 1982, has invested more than $1 million towards finding a cure for breast cancer.

Some 10,000 people came together to demonstrate their love and support of the men and women who are affected by breast cancer.

Approximately 20 Citrus community members participated in the 5K, including Dr. Geraldine Perri, superintendent/president of Citrus College.

“Citrus is taking a lead to study, educate and support people,” Perri said.

The Citrus team was organ-

ized by Holly Coville, professor of Spanish.

“It’s a very emotional, inspirational and hopeful event,” Coville said. In 2006 she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

She had surgery and underwent chemotherapy for six months.

This was her third year participating in the Race for the Cure.

Coville is really active in breast cancer fundraising. She makes pink bracelets and donates all the profits according to Pattie Rainey, a friend of Coville who also joined the team in the race.

Some of Coville’s students also participated in the race “I am really surprised how large it is and now we’re done, I’m really happy that we participated” Cynthia De Ville, physiology major said.

Musical celebrities such as Taylor Hicks from American Idol; Jamie O’Neal, a Grammynominated singer/songwriter; and Melissa Manchester, a Grammy Award-winning artist and Citrus College artist in residence, performed for the participants.

“I think its phenomenal. People come here out for love The world would be a better place if we could expand our love outside this race,” said Sandy Reid, a five-year supporter of the Race for Cure.

Mitchie Pardilla Citrus College Clarion Participants walk in the 13th annual Susan G. Komen’s Race for the Cure at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, on March 15 to raise money for breast cancer research.

McClatchey-Tribune Services

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Life

Students from across the state come together to protest budget cuts in the California education budget.

Students, facutly, and staff gather in peaceful protest again

Protester wave signs of every color of the rainbow screaming to stop educatio Savannah “Star� Dominguez leads the crowd in a inspiring speech against the California budget cutting into funding community colleges.

Photos by Dustin cmyk

cmyk

Citrus College Clarion

March 18, 2009

9

Citrus College ASCC member were honored in leading the rally march to the capital building in Sacramento on March 17 for the March on March protest.

nst budget cuts to the California education system on March 16.

on budget cuts in California in Sacremento at the March on March event on March 16.

Citrus College students shout their protest against budget cuts in education in California school on March 16.

Call and Ariel Carmona Jr. cmyk

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Life

Citrus College Clarion

March 18, 2009

Early Alert system saves at-risk students The Early Alert program offers workshops that help struggling students improve problem areas.

By D.K. Heller Clarion Staff Writer itting in her modest office, you wouldn’t peg Robin McBurney as a “superhero,” but she is.

Since 1997, McBurney has been saving students from falling through the cracks, using the Early Alert Referral System and workshops that she customdesigned for Citrus College.

McBurney started her career as a full-time counselor at Rio Hondo College, where she helped the college put together its fledgling Early Alert Program. After a year and a half or so, she was hired at Citrus.

“What I organized and developed there, I brought here, then expanded on that,” McBurney said.

McBurney’s goal is to retain students so that she can help them succeed.

“I really like the retention part of Early Alert because when you

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get an e-mail that verifies something that you have a gut feeling about anyway, it seems to make people get into action,” she said.

“And that action tends to have, for most people, positive results.”

The counseling department works hand-in-hand with instructors to identify students who are having academic problems, such as poor attendance, low test scores, or missing work.

McBurney, who has 13 years of experience with the Early Alert Referral System, said about 60 percent of instructors participate in the program. Here’s how it works: Instructors identify students in need, then log on to the Citrus College intranet and fill out the Early Alert Referral Form. An Early Alert Notification Message is e-mailed to the student, advising him or her of areas in need of improvement and suggesting workshops that might help.

“I designed all the workshops,” McBurney noted. “I really thought that students needed to have something to work with.

“If a student has a time management problem, then they need to learn how to manage their time, not just be told that ‘You’re not making it to class on time’ or ‘You’re always late.’

They need to figure out how to deal with that.”

College Success/Early Alert workshops include instruction in time management, note-taking, study skills, test-taking, memory techniques, goal-setting, stress management, learning styles and math anxiety.

McBurney is currently developing a new workshop on motivation and has been asked to develop one on plagiarism.

As originally conceived, students received Early Alerts as a letter, a process that could take up to three weeks from instructor referral to mailing.

In the fall of 2008, McBurney started a pilot program in which she e-mailed students instead of mailing a letter.

“Letters involved so many steps that Early Alert wasn’t so early,” McBurney said. “The main thing is trying to get instructors to use it, because it’s new. If they try it they’ll see how convenient it is.

College Success/ Early Alert Workshops Math Anxiety -March 18, 1 to 2:00 p.m

Time Management -March 19, 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Note-Taking -March 20, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Study Skills -March 23, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Goal-Setting -March 24, 1 to 2:00 p.m.

Test-Taking -March 25, 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m

Memory Techniques -March 26, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Learning Styles -March 30, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Stress Management -March 31, 8:30 am. to 9:30 a.m.

Math Anxiety -April 1, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

D.K. Heller can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com

All workshops are held in ED 231A For more information, contact Diana Gill at (626) 914-8577.

March 18, 2009

Sports

Citrus College Clarion

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Baseball team greased Oilers

By Nicole Shaughn Clarion Correspondent It was a swift victory at home for the Citrus baseball team on March 17. The Owls defeated the Oilers from West LA College, 6-1.

The team’s confident performance was interspersed with skill at bat and wise defense.

The Owls opened up strong in the bottom of the second inning with a homerun by infielder Scott Vincent just to warm up a great game.

Vincent tied up the scoreboard 1-1, inciting the crowd and players and bringing a healthy premonition of innings to come.

Infielder Evelio Ahumada dovetailed Vincent’s homerun with a single, getting him on base at the bottom of the third.

Big hitter Johnathan Parker then stepped up to the plate, hitting a double bringing in Ahumada, and bumping up the score 2-1.

Although there was a lull for the next few innings as the Owls held their opponents at bay, the score remained 2-1.

The excitement rose to a feverish pitch when infielder Johnathon Parker ripped a

Nicole Shaughn Citrus College Clarion Freshman Johnathan Parker knocked a double bringing in Ahumada and bringing the score to 2-1 on March 17 on the Citrus College baseball diamond. homerun out of the stadium, bringing in two RBIs along with him. Parker’s outstanding performance at the plate blew up the scoreboard 5-1. This was a critical point in the game that indicated the Owl’s superior caliber over their adversaries.

“The seventh inning was a key point in the game bringing up the score,” head coach Steve Gomez said. “We also had great pitching today, as well as hitting. We summed up eight hits.”

The Citrus Owl’s defense did well along with the pitching.

Third basemen Joseph Garcia made a leaping catch ending the top of the fifth inning. Pitcher Chris Freedmen also threw a good game as they held the Oilers with a single run.

“It was crucial that we had good hits. We just kept them coming,” Vincent said.

There was a ring of veracity in Vincent’s statement about Tuesday’s game. Their hitting was incredibly solid and they maintained their fortitude with agility and strength throughout the entirety of the game.

“They were the better team today,” West L.A.’s head coach Bob Grant said. “Gomez does a great job handling his team.

Their batting was strong and they had no weaknesses. They deserved the win.”

“Our team has been doing good so far because we haven’t been playing down to other team’s levels,” Vincent said.

Despite today’s upset for the West LA Oilers, th team is in its formative years, having only begun its program two short years ago.

Grant has lead the team with an impressive track record of winning four of five games prior to the March 17 defeat.

The Citrus Owls dynamic teamwork is expressed in various ways, demonstrating the tight bonds of the players.

“They have very good chemistry,” Gomez said.

The Owls ended the game with a combination of action and raw talent. They stand with 14 wins and 6 loses, holding their first place position.

Nicole Shaughn can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com

Owls fall short of repeat

By Irene Treasure Davis Clarion Sports Editor he men’s basketball team had an outstanding season compared to most programs, but fell short of what it set out to accomplish: win forever and back-to-back state championships.

Being over confidant, having a little arrogance, and underestimating their opponent all played roles in their post-season defeat on March 7 to Riverside City College, 72-71.

The defending state champs closed their season in the third round of the California Community College Athletic Association Southern California Playoffs with a 28-5 record.

Although the Owls’ season came to an upsetting and emotional end, the team remains optimistic and looks forward to the future.

“I guess it just wasn’t meant for us this year,” sophomore point guard Steven Bennett said.

“Everything was on us and we just came out over-hyped.”

Bennett said he thinks they still had a great season.

“I never played for a team like this. It’s just a beautiful thing here, you can’t really be sad that it’s over,” he said.

The Owls’ finished their season with the second-best record in Citrus College history, coming second to last season’s state championship victory.

Most of the players this year are sophomores and will be looking forward to progressing and playing at higher, competitive levels.

Sophomore Troy Payne will be one of many players to continue on to future endeavors.

“I’m still undecided about where I’m going, but wherever I go, I’m going to try to be a team leader and take what I’ve learned here and help build toward that program,” he said.

The Owls’ have had individuals step up and assume the role of leadership throughout their

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Chris Lopez Citrus College Clarion Zareh Zargaryan, forward for the Owls soars to the basket against Riverside City College in the Citrus College gym on March 7. season.

“We really had a great season,” Payne said.

“Everyone got better throughout the season and continued to strive.”

Bennett led the team in assists with 126, shot .426 from the field, shot .581 from the line, and averaged 10.7 ppg.

Sophomore point guard Kelly Johnson finished his season shooting .591 from the free throw line, averaged 5.7 ppg, and led the team second in assists with 120.

Sophomore guard Justin Johnson led the

team in points per game with 12.5 and shot .523 from the field.

Head coach Rick Croy plans remain the same: “be great and win forever.”

“The season was unbelievable,” Croy said.

“We went 63-5 in two seasons. It stinks that we can’t continue to play, but these guys are legends in my eyes.”

Irene Treasure Davis can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com

Speaking of SPORTS...

By Frank Ram

Basketball Team: Pride of Citrus The 2008-09 men’s basketball season has come to an end. The Owls suffered an abrupt loss on March 7, 71-72, to Riverside City College, which would go on to be State Champions. Nevertheless, the Owls still had one of the greatest runs in Citrus basketball history.

Over the past two years, the Owls (63-6, 23-1) have been nothing short of dominant. Their home record during that span was a staggering 32-2.

Citrus won the state championship in 2007-08. Four of those players—Buchi Awaji, Richard Frohlich, AJ Gasporra and Darren Moore—moved onto Division I schools.

Virgil Buensuceso, who went to Division II BYU-Hawaii, was nominated for the Bob Cousy award, and Ralph Monday (Northeastern State), Nate Richardson (Rocky Mountain), and Jeremy Smith (West Georgia) all moved on to the four-year level as well.

More recently, the 2008-09 Owls showed resiliency, making it to the Sweet 16 for the second straight year.

Their bid for a championship repeat did fall short, but it took the future state champs to end the Owls season.

After defeating Citrus, RCC would go on to win games against Fresno City, San Francisco City, and Saddleback College in the championship game.

Citrus head coach Rick Croy has completed his fourth year at the helm. He earned his 100th victory on the final regular season of the game against Bakersfield.

He became the fastest coach in the program’s history to earn 100 wins and is more than halfway to the all-time wins mark posted by Neil Edwards of 199 victories.

Josh Dunaj, Chris Acker, Hardy Asprilla, Joey Wellman and student assistant Steve Harper assisted Croy in the 200809 season.

Standouts from the 2008-09 team include Steven Bennett (10.7 ppg, 126 assists), Mark Dorsey (.600 FG pct), Justin Johnson (12.5 PPG) and Troy Payne (324 rebounds).

Citrus has been down before, but recent history shows they can persevere and achieve greatness once again.

Watch out for Citrus next season. This is not the end to the Owls success.

12 Citrus College Clarion

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Life Editor - Julia Kupisiewicz - clarioneic@live.com

March 18, 2009

Keepin’ it real: Dancing Drama

By Emil y Rios Clarion Managing Editor

Everyone who knows me or has read my column knows that “Dancing with the Stars” is my favorite show. Since season eight recently kicked off, it is a given that my life is scheduled around when it airs Monday and Tuesday nights.

I have watched since the beginning and the show has only gotten better and I have become increasingly more obsessed.

This is the first season where two contestants had to back out before

the first episode due to injuries. Access Hollywood host Nancy O’Dell suffered a torn meniscus and singer Jewel fractured both tibias. Hugh Hefner’s exgirlfriend and star of “Girls Next Door” Holly Madison and jilted bachelorette Melissa Rycroft replaced them on the dance floor.

The injuries did not end with O’Dell and Jewel. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak injured his foot, Sex in the City hunk Gilles Marini suffered a separated shoulder and, after practicing with pinched nerves in his back, “Jackass” alum Steve-O fell on his back during dress rehearsal, which left him unable to perform on episode two.

Dancing definitely isn’t for sissies, It’s crazy the things these celebrities are putting their bodies through. If it were me, I would prob-

ably cry in pain and give up after a week.

Normally, after episode one there is at least one celebrity that is so bad I just can’t wait for them to be voted off. This time, however, even though there were several celebrities whose first dances were not so great, including Wozniak and rodeo champion Ty Murray, I still found myself rooting for them because it was evident that they are working their butts off.

I have never seen a celebrity as happy to be there as Wozniak. There is no doubt that he is having the time of his life.

I usually wait until at least episode one before I pick my favorite, but this season I had my favorite picked as soon as the cast was revealed.

Chuck Wicks came onto the country music scene in 2007. After hearing his music on MySpace and

catching one of his shows, I fell in love with his songs, so I was thrilled when I found out he was going to be on DWTS. What makes it even better is that his professional dance partner is fellow country music artist Julianne Hough, who also happens to be his girlfriend.

I’m not ashamed to admit that I used my cell phone, my house phone and all of my family member’s cell phones to vote for Wicks and Hough.

Even though Wicks is my favorite I think he has a lot of work to do to compete with the clear frontrunners that have emerged, especially Marini and Rycroft who are mesmerizing to watch.

With the success of DWTS, it is inevitable that the show is going to try to mix things up a little. This season they are doing so by having a dance-off to determine who is eliminated.

Normally the judges scores are combined with the viewer’s votes to determine who gets voted off. Now once the bottom two are determined, there will be a dance-off. The judges’ Monday scores will be wiped out and the partners will re-do their dances and receive new judges’ scores, which will then be added to the viewer’s vote.

The first dance off pitted former Go-Go Belinda Carlisle against Wozniak, who both received 17 out of 30 from the judges. But America, like myself fell in love with “the Woz” and voted off Carlisle.

Even though the season is only two episodes in, I’m almost certain that this is going to be my favorite season.

Emily Rios can be reached at Rios_EmilyC@yahoo.com

Dear Citrus Student, Professor, Staff Member, or Alumnus: We want to know your inspirational Citrus story. Please take a moment and tell us about how your life has changed as a result of being at Citrus College. We plan to display a selection of stories, along with photos of the writers, on the walls of the Center For Innovation (and elsewhere on campus).

We may also contact you if we would like to feature your story in our publications or events.

So make us laugh, cry, or cheer — we know there are incredible stories out there!

Thank you for participating.

Please go to www.citr uscollege.edu/ mycitr usstor y to enter your inspirational stories

March 18, 2009

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Citrus College Clarion

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Neighboring bands battle again

By Christian Gonzalez Clarion Staff Writer very year since March 2003, there has been a concert competition held in the Haugh Performing Arts Center called Battle of the Big Bands.

This is a face off performance between the Citrus Blue Note Swing Orchestra and Azusa Pacific University’s Jazz Ensemble.

Each group is composed of 18 to 20 students and will be allowed their own turn to perform for you, the audience.

The ultimate winner every year is the audience, which is treated to great performances and low ticket prices.

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Come down to enjoy performances scheduled for March 27 and March 28 at 8 p.m. in the HPAC. Everyone can expect to have a great time listening to the many different styles of band music.

The Blue Note Swing Orchestra has performed with many famous artists, such as Gwen Stefani, No Doubt, Green Day and The Offspring.

They have performed in different venues, such as Las Vegas, Carnival Cruise Lines, and Japan.

Citrus’ bandleader Robert Slack and APU’s Dave Beatty are close friends with the same goal: inspire musical excellence from on-stage performers.

Expect a spectacular perform-

ance by the Blue Note Swing Orchestra while the Citrus musicians one up APU’s Jazz Ensemble, Slack said.

General admission is $15, seniors get in for $13, and students go for $10. Bring your student I.D. card and get your tickets early because they go fast.

To get tickets you can visit their website at www.haughpac.com or contact the HPAC ticket office at (626) 963-9411.

Christian Gonzalez can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com

Love it or hate it: Watchmen gets mixed reviews

By Julia Kupisiewicz Clarion Editor In Chief I heard conflicting reviews about the movie Watchmen before I spent 161 minutes judging it for myself.

After the film ended, I walked out of the theater feeling overwhelmed and a bit confused.

This was not a graphic novel film in the traditional sense. Director Zach Snyder reveals himself to those who are not familiar with his previous work (300, Dawn of the Dead).

Snyder seems to have a hatred for the media. He despises the liberals, is unsure of the existence of God, and rocks out to music of the ‘70s.

Judging by the sexual content he hasn’t rocked it with a woman in awhile. More of the film content, leads me to believe Snyder, like Sean Connery, thinks slapping a woman around when she deserves it it is A-ok.

“Watchmen” takes place in an alternate world where Richard Nixon is president forever, we won the Vietnam War, and masked superheroes are being hunted down and cast out of society.

A struggle between good and evil is going on, but it’s hard to tell which

is which.

The Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan)— a raunchy, womanizing, masked man—is the bad guy you root for and women think he is hot.

While gunning down a group of political protesters, the Comedian says, “I haven’t had this much fun since Woodward and Bernstein.”

Former child star and recent returnee to the big screen Jackie Earle Haley plays Walter Kovacs/ Rorschach, the mumbling conflicted superhero of the ‘80s. Haley brings the strongest performance to this film even while wearing a mask for more than half of his screen time.

Thrown into prison, and Rorschach has warded off attempts on his life. He growls to the prison population, “Remember, I’m not in here with you, you’re in here with me.”

His last scene is magic. Without the mask, he shows anger, frustration, disappointment and failure during the last few moments of his life.

The movie has an endless list of public people, entertainment icons, artists, writers, politicians, and journalism’s memorable men and women in cameo impersonations.

We see President Richard Nixon,

Henry Kissinger, and Fidel Castro.

The list goes on with Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Andy Warhol, Truman Capote, and their favorite photographer Annie Lebowitz. This film technique puts the audience at ease while walking them through a confusing alternate world.

I did not read the graphic novel

by Alan Moore; I did not know the film has been described as a study on humanity and not a flick based on a graphic novel.

Dialogue is thick, and the activity on the screen is difficult to keep up with. Love it or hate it, one should see this film more than once to take it all in. I don’t agree with the director’s look at humanity. I did enjoy the opportunity to look at controversial issues through another’s eyes.

I really enjoyed “Watchmen” and look forward to more work from Snyder, Haley and Morgan.

Julia Kupisiewicz can be reached at (626) 914-8586 or clarioneic@live.com

14 Citrus College Clarion

Opinions Opinions Editor Julia Kupisiewicz - clarioneic@live.com

March 18, 2009

Through eyes of concern

By Jonny Arellano Clarion Staff Writer

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he self esteem of American boys and girls is under attack by the advertising

industry.

This is no minor issue. With television and magazines and even radio playing a major role in our lives, there is no safe haven for our younger generation to avoid all the commercial messages about looking good.

So many commercials on TV and ads in magazines show how to make yourself more beautiful, such as skin creams for wrinkles or thin models wearing name brand clothing. A couple of weeks ago while listening to KIIS FM radio, I heard a commercial for acne treatment and how it will make you so much happier about yourself. Another radio commercial urged listeners to “zap away their fat” offering a punch line that their thin life will be so much better.

These ads are affecting our little brothers and sisters, our

McClatchey-Tribune Media Services nieces and nephews and cousins. Children are susceptible to these messages getting into their heads and staying there, making them feel as if they are not good enough.

A lot of college students grew up with a sense of not being good enough. The younger generation has it even tougher than we did. These commercials are

what make young boys and girls grow up and want cosmetic surgery. If a child were to grow up without being exposed to ads, they would not look in the mirror and find themselves ugly.

Why? They would not have commercialized images of beauty to compare themselves to, so they would be happy and content with how they look.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am not only blaming advertisers for children growing up feeling inferior. I blame a big part on the parents.

Parents do not monitor enough of what their children watch, listen to, or read. If parents were more in tune to what was going on in their children’s lives, then more children would not internalize these images.

That alone would not protect them though. Parents need to go to beyond censorship; they need to tell their children how handsome or pretty they are. Parents need to let them know how beautiful they really are and they need to repeat this message daily. Children need constant reassurance so that this message is instilled in their minds. After all, who do children believe in and look up to the most in their lives. Their parents. Doing this daily will help for when selfdoubt attacks them. They will be more secure in how they look. I have two nephews, and from watching them, I have observed that boys are just as worried about their looks as girls. Boys

just do not talk about it, they hold it inside. As for my niece I have fear for her also.

I know one thing and one thing only: we need to change the perception we all have about beauty. No one looks like the models on TV. Magazines touch up the photos and television does not show every flaw.

Our younger generation does not know this, though; they only know what they see. It is our job to let them know they are good the way they are. I am ready to fight against false images of beauty, especially if it means helping children grow up with a good self image and high esteem. I want them to know that beauty will never define their true worth. We have the power and ability to change the media’s message. Lets start

Jonny Arellano can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com

Skateboarding on campus should not be a crime

By Neil Freemon Clarion Correspondent alk on campus any day of the week and you will see people riding bikes, skateboards, and rollerblading. There’s a growing need for alternative modes of transportation. Lack of parking spots and increasing gas prices are forcing people to look high and low for that old skateboard or bike to ride to school. With the economic recession we’re facing, more people are willing to sell their vehicles and buy inexpensive transportation.

Students who skateboard on campus may or may not find it surprising that skating is illegal on campus, according to the city of Glendora Regulation Code 10.17.010. Campus security can contact the Glendora Police Department and request they cite skateboarders.

Why then do an abundance of people still choose to ride their boards from class to class and run the risk of getting a fine or having their skateboard confiscated?

Two possibilities that emerge are that skateboarders are unaware of campus policy, or they are aware and just don’t care. Either way, it is interesting to observe that many people break this skateboarding regulation whether they consciously know it or not.

One of the problems with on-campus skateboarding typically occurs when classes are not in session and “trick” skaters treat the campus like a personal skatepark by board sliding or grinding handrails, ledges, and benches. Several handrails near the Technology Center have been featured in professional skate videos, so there is documentation of these infractions. Would it be fair to say a few bad apples spoil the whole bunch? Amendments should be made to the school code that support “non-trick” skaters in their treatment of skateboarding as an alternative mode of trans-

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McClatchey-Tribune Media Services portation.

The major problem posed by on-campus skateboarding is that if someone seriously injures themselves on campus, then the college is considered liable, and that person can sue.

However, campus security has no record of anyone ever suing Citrus for falling off their skateboard and injuring themselves. The signs posted all around campus should be amended to state that bike riders, rollerbladers, and skateboarders are riding at their own risk. Liability of injury should be taken away from the school and placed solely on the rider.

Danny Bui, a business major and skateboarder, was unaware that skateboarding on campus was illegal. Bui said he has never seen a sign posted anywhere and he’s never been

asked to get off of his board. He was surprised to learn that the main walkway entrances leading into Citrus have fading signs that state there is no skateboarding, rollerblading, or bike riding on campus.

Skateboarders need to be cautious of pedestrians and give them the right-of-way when riding on campus. Liberal arts major Chelsy Gubiotti said she doesn’t mind the skateboarders that ride around as long as they skate responsibly. No one wants a runaway skateboard slamming into their shin when going to class, or at all for that matter. Gubiotti believes that skateboarders should be allowed to skateboard because they aren’t hurting anyone. Bui understands the need for safe and cautious boarding and said, “I only ride my board when

there aren’t too many people on the sidewalk, because when it’s crowded, I’m afraid I’ll accidentally hurt someone.”

Skateboarders should not be treated like criminals. This social stigma placed on skateboarding needs to be removed. Campus security needs to step up and open discussion on amending the school code to allow bike riders, rollerbladers, and skateboarders to skate at their own risk. How could an activity that brings people total freedom and joy be considered illegal?

Neil Freemon can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com

March 18, 2009

Editorials

Editorials Editor Julia Kupisiewicz - clarioneic@live.com Citrus College Clarion 15

Achieve success with Early Alert ou’ve made it through week five of the semester. Midterms are looming on the horizon. Maybe it’s due to the buzz of campus life or the distractions of work, but in the pit of your stomach, you know you’ve neglected your classes.

Then it happens: You receive an e-mail. You read the words “you may need help.” Beads of sweat form on your forehead and your stomach feels like you just rode the Tower of Terror at Disney’s California Adventure.

You notice the email is from Citrus College’s Early Alert Referral System, the brainchild of counselor Robin McBurney.

Early Alert enables your instructors to give you a heads-up, so you may correct problems early and succeed at Citrus. Don’t ignore this email!

So now what? The first thing you should do is contact your instructor for each class listed. For some reason, you have been identified as having difficulties in class.

It could be due to spotty attendance, low grades, missed assign-

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ments or poor test scores. It could even be a mistake. Take action.

Save your grade.

Once you know the problem, the Early Alert System doesn’t leave you wondering what to do.

After speaking to your instructor, you should make an appointment with a counselor. The counselor evaluates your situation and assists you in developing a Student Educational Plan (SEP).

Some solutions might be the College Success and Early Alert Workshops, tutoring, learning communities, a library tour, or the English as a Second Language program.

College Success and Early Alert Workshops provide convenient instruction throughout the semester in goal setting, memory techniques, note taking, study skills, learning styles, stress management, math anxiety, test taking, and time management.

These workshops aren’t just for students having trouble with classes; they are a good review for everyone entering or re-entering college.

Your counselor might suggest tutoring.

You do not have to pay out of your pocket for a private tutor.

You’re at Citrus College, the school that allows every student up to three free hours of tutoring a week in all subjects. This means more money in your pocket and a better grade.

It’s a win-win situation.

Maybe you need more help with research. Did you know we have a first-rate library at our fingertips, both on campus and online?

If the Citrus College Library/Learning Resource Center doesn’t have what you need, the friendly staff will do their best to

help. An interactive library tour is available online or in a downloadable, self-executing PowerPoint file.

Your counselor might direct you to Learning Communities. They are the latest thing at Citrus College.

These on-campus communities link students, faculty, counselors and staff. Sometimes the college scene can seem a bit overwhelming.

Imagine...more instructor and counselor contact. Learning Communities enable you to achieve your highest potential.

Perhaps you’re having difficulties understanding English. Citrus College has a solution for that— English as a Second Language (ESL).

It’s a comprehensive program designed to help students improve their skills in speaking, writing and oral communication in English.

There is a solution to every problem you might be having in achieving good grades.

So wipe the beads of sweat off your brow, settle your stomach, and take action to change your grades.

Ensure your future success at Citrus College and in life.

Emergency action missing a fraction

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he essence of a safety plan is preparedness. To be fully prepared, everyone needs to be aware of procedure and policy mandated by the workplaces, apartment buildings or educational institution where an he or she might be when an emergency situation occurs.

Citrus College has been taking steps toward campus preparedness.

On Flex Day, held on Feb. 17, the faculty and staff were required to participate in an emergency situation training led by the Glendora Police Department. The training session was valuable and very informative to those who attended. We repeat… to those who attended.

Students have not been included in any official instruction on how to respond in case of an unfortunate situation. This includes shooters on campus reminiscent of the Virginia Tech massacre, earthquakes, fires and any other imaginable tragedy that might occur.

All Campus Emergency forums have been announced for March 26 and April 29. The announcement by Geraldine M. Perri, Ph.D., states, “In order to accommodate faculty and staff schedules there will be two sessions,…” This announcement implies that this event will exclude the students again.

We have been told drills are going to be held in the future for students, but the Glendora Police Department have indicated they will be held on a light traffic day on campus such as a Friday. Huh? What will a student drill accomplish if the least amount of participants possible is included?

The Glendora Police Department responded with, “We don’t want

Student’s cell phones are turned off in class...remember?

Shooter on campus. Send out an emergency alert!

McClatchey-Tribune Media Services those doing harm to be informed of our plan of actions.”

If a plan of action is only successful in secrecy, is it fool-proof?

Hmmm? These plans of action need to be revisited and every student should be privy to the safety plan for each emergency that can be planned for.

Citrus College has invested in the student, faculty and staff by contracting with Connect-ED an emergency alert system, which notifies everyone registered of an incident by cell phone, land line and email.

This system was introduced in midSeptember of 2008.

There is a piece missing to this well-organized and professionally maintained multi-communication alert system.

A question, if students are asked to have cell phones turned off while in classes, how will the registered members of Connect-ED be notified

of ongoing danger outside of a classroom on the other side of campus behind a closed classroom door?

This question was raised when Connect-ED was introduced to us last September. The official answer at that time was,” Campus Security Supervisor Tony Giannone and his patrol team will execute a sweep on campus, ensuring that everyone is aware of the emergency and prepared to act accordingly. The dean of each department will contact faculty and staff with further information and instructions.”

This plan is insufficient for the real possibilities of an earthquake or fire.

Many of the Citrus College population are native Californians and know what to do during an earthquake. They have had to more than several occasions use these precautions. Citrus College sits right in the foothills and it is not too far-fetched

to be in reach of a brushfire gone wild which could start racing down the hill towards campus. Then there is the reality of a shooter.

Each of these threats calls for a different approach to safety that a sweep of security cannot accomplish in a timely manner. What we really need is a system like the one, that has been installed in Virginia Tech University since their tragic shooting.

There are digital information signs in Virginia Tech much like the sign that hangs over the breezeway entrance to the Owl Bookshop, Handy Student Center and the Owl Café. The sign changes information with each day. The date, time and temperature are joined with specials in the café and sales in the bookshop.

A similar system in a smaller version should be installed in each classroom to inform student and faculty members who are out of contact by phone of an emergency outdoors on campus.

This will mend the hole in the safety blanket, that lays over our beloved campus today.

The solution is a two-way street.

The board of trustees, administration and another involved committee need to approve of a similar form of communication. The students and new faculty need to sign up for Connect-ED and if available program “In Case of Emergency” information in cell phones.

And finally, people on campus need to be aware of what is going on around them, use common sense and watch out for one another.

Citrus College

Clarion

EDITOR

IN

CHIEF

Julia Kupisiewicz MANAGING EDITOR Emily Rios NEWS EDITOR Dustin Call Life Editor Julia Kupisiewicz Sports Editor Irene Davis A&E Editor Julia Kupisiewicz Opinions/Editorials Editor Julia Kupisiewicz Online Editor Emily Rios Photo Technician Frank Ram Instructional Assistant Emily Rios Adviser Margaret C. O’Neil Staff Writers D.K Heller, Sandra Lopez, Mitchie Rose Pardilla Correspondents Ariel Carmona Jr., Rosalynn Garcia, Frank Ram, Andrew Vasquez Photographers/Artists Ariel Carmona Jr., Julia Kupisiewicz, Andrew Vasquez Page Designers Jared Nokturne, Frank Ram, Emily Rios, Andrew Vasquez, Julia Kupisiewicz The Clarion is produced by journalism students and is distributed every other Wednesday during the semester.

Ads are not endorsed by the Clarion.

Editorials are the opinion of at least 75 percent of the Editorial Board. All other opinion is that of the writer.

Views expressed do not represent those of the adviser, faculty, administration, Associated Students of Citrus College and/or the CCCBOT. Libel will not be published.

The Clarion welcomes feedback from our readers. If you have any gripes, questions, or comments ... we want to hear from you! All correspondence must include your student ID#, major and signature. Letters may be edited for clarity or length.

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Citrus College Clarion

March 18, 2009

Chessa and Becky Sanders perform Irish step dancing from the PainterLarson Academy of Irish Dance during the St. Patrick’s Day festival on March 17 at Citrus College.

Citrus College Campus turns into Shamrock City

Danny Obereck sports a kilt while playing guitar for the Irish band Paddy Doyle’s Boot at the St.Patrick’s Day festival in the Owl Cafe patio on March 17.

Story by Julia Kupisiewicz Photos by Julia Kupisiewicz and Ariel Carmona .

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By Julia Kupisiewicz Clarion Editor In Chief

Leif Fredrick, Jim Cope, Kelly Evans Beckwith and Danny Obereck wow the audience with their eclectic set of traditional Irish music on March 17 on the Stuffed Owl Cafe’s patio.

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The aroma of corn beef, steamed vegetables and meat pie was in the air. Men in kilts could be seen in the Owl Café patio. St. Patrick’s Day was in full swing on March 17.

The 11th annual St. Patrick’s Day festival was a big hit this year as in each of the previous years.

Philomena O’Shea, food services supervisor and her top chefs literally worked hours and hours to throw down the tastiest Irish meal in town.

O’Shea starts with 120 pounds of corned beef, 300 pounds of cabbage, 75 pounds of carrots and 250 pounds of potatoes and the result is a meal fit for a leprechaun. Every Irishman’s favorite is ready to dish up.

Corned beef and cabbage, meat pies, soda bread, cookies and cake were among the choices laid out for the large crowd that this event draws.

Last year O’Shea underwent a kidney

transplant. You’d never know it on this day.

“I’m feeling really good,” O’Shea said, “Have you eaten yet?”

Beside the terrific food and decoration in the café, the patio was filled with students and visitors for the food and entertainment.

Paddy Doyle’s Boots played authentic Irish tunes on a stage, with an infectious enthusiasm. Jim Cope a retired Citrus College safety coordinator, who spent 27 loyal years here on campus, plays with the band. This is the fourth year the band has performed at Citrus College.

Tamara Dubuni, 19 year-old, computer engineer student is from Iraq and has now experienced her first St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

“I really enjoy the band,” Dubuni said, “I reminds me of the English music I listen to.”

According to the amount of food prepared, the celebration was bigger than last year as we are already looking forward to the next.

cmyk