clarion Citrus College
April 21, 2010
theclariononline.com
Volume LXIII, Issue 13
EARTH DAY 40 years of celebrating the planet
MAN ACCUSED OF THEFT ON FOUR COLLEGE CAMPUSES ARRESTED, CHARGED PG 3 BELOVED COLLEGE PROFESSOR DIES PG 4 CLARION WEBSITE WINS HIGHEST AWARD IN STATE PG 5 CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF EARTH DAY PG 10/11 SOFTBALL, BASEBALL VS. MOTHER NATURE PG 16
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April 21, 2010
NEWS BRIEFS LOCAL
STATE
NATIONAL
Azusa Police arrest men in robbery of student
California’s jobless rate hits high of 12.6 percent
On Thursday, Azusa police arrested four men suspected of robbing a teen who was walking home from school. Witnesses reported the robber in the 300 block of North Rockvale Avenue at about 5 p.m. Officers recovered drugs and items allegedly taken in the robbery. Manuel Jimenez, Bernard Gomez Jr., Louis Rios and Anthony Sanchez remain in Azusa city jail in lieu of $100,000 bail each after being booked on suspicion of robbery. Source: San Gabriel Valley Tribune
California’s unemployment rate increased to 12.6 percent last month. Typically, unemployment benefits in California last 26 weeks, but in the last two years, four sets of federal extensions have added 53 weeks. Another program, called FED-ED in California, added 20 weeks on top of that. So far, there are no more extensions being discussed, putting those about to lose unemployment benefits in a big stress. About 39 percent of the unemployed in the state—about 843,000 people—have been out of work for 27 weeks or more. Many citizens are having life changing experiences do to unemployment. Source: Los Angeles Times
The Census Bureau said that nearly one in three Americans failed to return their census questionnaires by Friday’s official deadline. Census workers will begin going door-to-door starting May 1 to count people who did not return their questionnaires by mail. The mail response rate was 67 percent in 2000, and the final rates for this year’s count will not be posted until early May. Source: Los Angeles Times
New chancellor named for L.A. Community College District
UC harder to get into this year for Californians
Twitter donates entire tweet archive
California’s high school seniors faced slightly tougher odds for freshmen admission to the University of California this year, caused mainly by a budget-related reduction in California freshmen enrollment by 10 percent over two years. This year more than 10,700 applicants were offered a spot on one or more of the controversial new waiting list, according to statistics released Wednesday. California State University campuses also are using waiting lists this year. Source: Los Angeles Times
Twitter, a leading social networking service that enables users to send and receive tweets, which consists of web messages of up to 140 characters, is donating its digital archive of public tweets to the Library of Congress. The Library will receive all public tweets from the 2006 inception of the service to the present. The Library has been collecting materials from the web since it began harvesting congressional and presidential campaign websites in 2000. Founded in 1800, the Library of Congress is the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution. Source: Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Community College District’s Board of Trustees appointed a new chancellor after a nation wide search. Daniel LaVista, 66, from Virginia will replace Interim Chancellor Tyree Wieder on August 1. LaVista said his focus is going to be on students, particulary those, who for reasons of background or poor schooling, are unprepared to succeed in college. As the executive director of Virginia’s Council of Higher Education, and a former president of two community colleges in Illinois and chancellor of the community colleges system in Baltimore County, MD, LaVista’s experience will benefit the L.A. Community College District. Source: San Gabriel Valley Tribune
Lease available - $1,750/mo. single family residence - newly remodeled very clean, fresh paint walking distance to Citrus College and Azusa Pacific University
Features living room large kitchen & eating area 3 bedrooms 1 bath - remodeled with new vanity/shower cable - t.v. ready
Newer carpet linleum central air conditioning/heating electrical panel washer/dyer hookups new interior mirrored doors roof patio slab with 23 ft. canvas awning large fenced rear yard, 2 locked security gates garage - 1 car - new garage door with opener double pane windows kitchen cabinets
For additional information call: F&B Properties (626) 290-4282 or (626) 914-3230 DO NOT DISTURB TENANTS
One in three Americans failed to return census forms
ANNOUNCEMENTS Former Citrus staff members die Student records coordinator Rosemary Gehring died on Saturday, April 3, 2010. Gehring was hired at Citrus College in December 1973 and retired 15 years later on December 29, 1998. Gehring continued to work on-call in the Admissions and Records Office until 1998. There will be a private graveside service. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to Readers to Leaders Book Scholarship Fund, Citrus College Foundation, 1000 W. Foothill Blvd., Glendora, CA 91741-1899. Social science instructor Ron Leos died on Thursday, April 15, 2010. Leos was an instructor in the social science department from September 1970 and retired on May 19, 2007. In addition to his regular assignment, Leos served as faculty lead in the Study Abroad program both in Salamanca, Spain, and in London.
Reuse and reduce with Goodwill Thursday, April 22, marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, and one of the best ways people can be environmentally responsible is by donating and shopping at Goodwill Southern California, one of the original recyclers since 1916. By supporting Goodwill, individuals are helping create muchneeded job opportunities throughout Los Angeles. Revenues from the sale of donations help Goodwill provide job training programs, employment placement services and other community-based programs for people with disabilities, those who lack education or job experience, and others facing challenges finding employment. In 2009, Goodwill Southern California prevented 14.6 million pounds of textiles, 5.5 million pounds of electronics and 5.9 million pounds of paper from landing in our landfills. For more information about GSC and its programs, visit www. goodwillsocal.org.
Study abroad with Citrus College Join the thousands of Citrus College students who have lived and studied in other countries while earning Citrus College CSU/UC transferable credits that meet general education requirements. Citrus College is currently recruiting for the 10th summer in Italy and the 22nd fall semester in London. We will soon be recruiting for winter 2011 in Costa Rica and the 13th semester in Salamanca, Spain. Most of our programs offer scholarships and financial aid to eligible students. The deadline for summer in Italy is quickly approaching. For more information, a brochure or an application, call Citrus College Study Abroad at (626) 914-8560.
Anime Connection contest The Anime Connection at Citrus College would like to invite you to participate in an art contest. The theme to follow is “Medieval character in a contemporary setting.” Entries must be turned in by May 11th and can either be submitted via email, or placed in the club mail box located inside the Student Center. There will be a prize for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. If you have any questions regarding the contest, send an email to: Animeconnection09@gmail.com
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System eliminates banks as middlemen Jose Alonso Ramirez CLARION OP/ED EDITOR As of March 30, banks will no longer serve as "middlemen" between the federal government and college students seeking loans to pay for their education. With the passage of the Reconciliation Act, which includes a new student loan reform, the Obama Administration can check off from its list one of the major issues in its agenda. This reform is part of the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010, which makes certain changes to the historic healthcare reform passed in March. The government has two main programs through which student loans are available: the Federal Family Education Loan and the Federal Direct Loan Program.
“Citrus College is already a direct lending institution, so this new reform will have no impact on this campus,” said Lilia Medina, director of financial aid at Citrus College. Citrus College switched to this system about 10 years ago, and the federal government now lends $1.2 million a year to about 300 students through the Citrus financial aid office. According to the White House website, this legislation “strengthens the Pell Grant program, invests in community colleges, extends support for historically black colleges and universities and other minority serving institutions, and helps student borrowers manage their student loan debt." This new law offers the opportunity for students who choose the income-based repayment plan to put a cap of 10 percent to their
payments, according to their income. The current rate is usually 15 percent for most students who take out more than $23,000 in student loans. On top of that, under the plan, all debts will be forgiven after 20 years, or 10 if they should become public workers, such as teachers or police officers. Even after students start dealing directly with the government to receive their loans, their wallets will see little immediate change. But according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), by eliminating banks as middlemen, the government is projected to save $68 billion over the next 11 years. The legislation also commits financial support to community colleges. "In the coming years, jobs requiring at least an associate degree
Man accused of thefts on four college campuses arrested, charged Kristin Lacuesta CLARION NEWS EDITOR A Covina man accused of stealing items from four local colleges was charged in court Friday, April 16, with possession of stolen property. Michael Corral, 31, was arrested at his home and booked at the Glendora Police Station on April 14. Police said that they found items in Corral’s possession that had been reported stolen from Citrus, Mt. San Antonio and Pasadena City colleges and Azusa Pacific University. Citrus College campus security personnel began receiving complaints from students about Corral about three weeks prior to his arrest. “On April 6, we made contact with Corral and took down his information,” said campus security officer Benjamin Macias. “We then passed along his information to the Glendora Police.” “It was really just a team effort. Everyone—students, officers and the Glendora police— were vigilant about Corral’s activities while on campus,” Macias said. Glendora police officers went to Corral’s residence and discovered the stolen property. According to the police report, a backpack, several wallets, a purse and an Apple laptop computer were among the items recovered. “Pretty much, I feel safe on this campus,” said international business major Amy Di. “Since I’ve been attending here, I’ve never had to call or go to campus
security.” Despite the incident, director of communications Paula Green feels that Citrus College is a safe campus to be on. Corral’s arrest was largely the result of the partnership campus security has with Glendora Police, Macias said. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’s Department website, Corral is in custody at the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles and is being held in lieu of $150,000 bail. His next court date has been set for May 3 at 8:30 a.m. at the Municipal Court in West Covina.
Kristin Lacuesta can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
MICHAEL CORRALL
Michael Corral, 31, remains in the Men’s Cental Jail in lieu of $150,000 bail after being charged with possession of stolen property Friday morning.
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are projected to grow twice as fast as jobs requiring no college experience. We will not fill those jobs– or keep those jobs on our shores–without the training offered by community colleges,” said President Obama on whitehouse.gov. The government is expected to invest $2 billion in community colleges and career training, which will create an additional 5 million college graduates. The costs of this reform is calculated by the CBO under the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (FCRA), but has not yet provided a clear understanding of how much this will cost the taxpayers. According to the FCRA accounting, the reform would reduce the national deficit. But under the accounting of the fairvalue basis—another budgeting
system—the deficit would increase by $52 billion. The accounting from the FCRA omits any administrative expenses, which will also rise since the government is now the direct lender. The FCRA doesn’t take in to consideration the fact that we are currently going through a time of economical difficulties, when financial losses tend to be higher. Aside from federal loans, one can still acquire loans to afford higher education through private banks. By doing so, the individual student is not covered by this new reform law and is subject to any guidelines required by the lender.
Jose Alonso Ramirez can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
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Grant awarded from Mathematical Association of America Brandon Lozano CLARION STAFF WRITER Citrus College has received a mathematics grant from the Mathematical Association of America, (MAA). This grant is for women who wish to ascend to higher levels of mathematics and pursue a career in math-related fields. This grant is a first in Citrus College history that was initiated by a faculty member, mathematics instructor Lucia Riderer. What inspired her to write the grant was she wanted to see more girls enrolled in upper mathematics, such as her in Calculus II and Calculus III courses. Riderer said in both her Calculus II and Calculus III courses there are 36 girls out of 124 students in a total of three classes. There is support to help women in higher mathematics such as calculus: the Support and Inspire Mentor-
ing Program for Women in Mathematics at Citrus College. The Support and Inspire Mentoring Program for Women in Mathematics at Citrus College is designed to expand and strengthen women’s academic, peer and advising support systems by helping each other and giving support. “I believe that it will help to create a sense of community among young women enrolled in pre-calculus and calculus courses, so that they can encourage and support one another,” said Riderer about the program. Participants in the program will engage in activities like seminars by professors in higher mathematic fields, Let’s Do Math sessions, field trips, social get-togethers and “Adventures in Mathematics,” which is an outreach to middle school students. At the end of the program, participants are eligible for a $100 book scholarship.
An upcoming Let’s Do Math session will be held on Friday, May 21 at CI 137 and will be about transcendental numbers. Putting through the grant wasn’t easy. “Getting the grant initiated was done with a lot of support,” said Riderer. “There were several people who gave Riderer the support she needed and it included Grant Projects director Sylvia Smith, vice president of Academic Affairs Irene Malmgren, Dean of Mathematics James McClain, Gifted/talented Coordinator of Education Melissa Germann, the Avid Program, and the Superintendent of Glendora School District Catherine J. Nichols. Several of the supporters wrote letters that showed gratitude toward Riderer for “taking strides to improve the quality of the math programs,” Karen Amagrande said of her former instructor. They also included facts of how outstanding Ridrerer has been as a teacher “Lucia’s exceptional teaching skills and her dedication to help students succeed made her a top ranked instructor at Citrus College,” said Dean McClain in one of the letters he wrote. Riderer received the Outstanding Faculty Student Transfer Award for the 2008-2009 academic school year.
LUCIA RIDERER
Several letters including those from Amagrande and Superintendent Nichols applauded Riderer in her effort to increase the number of female students to graduate with mathematics majors. “It is crucial to continue and encourage girls as early as seventh or eigthth grade to take more challenging mathematics courses and possibly pursue a major in mathematics,” said Nichols. “Mrs. Riderer has successfully developed and coordinated several Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs at Citrus,” Malmgren said. “Her enthusiasm and leadership skills con-
tributed enormously to the success of these programs.” All the support Riderer received was a step toward getting the grant of $6,000. “I strongly believe that the Support and Inspire activities will increase the number of female students completing credits toward degrees in mathematics and choosing careers in mathematics-related fields,” Mamgren said.
Brandon Lozano can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
Beloved college professor dies Troye Waldron CLARION STAFF WRITER Long-time political science professor Ronald Leos died suddenly of a heart attack on April 15, 2010. Leos was an instructor in the social behavior science department from September 1970 until May 2007 when he retired. He also served as faculty lead in the Study Abroad Program both in Salamanca, Spain, and in London. Leos was born to James and Anne Leos on Oct. 10, 1945, in Glendora, Calif. He attended Glendora High School from 1959 to 1963. Leos went on to acquire an assortment of degrees that included a B.A. from Claremont’s Men’s College, a M.A. from Azusa Pacific University, and a J.D. from Western State University College of Law. Leos went on to practice law and teach at Citrus College, where he was active until his retirement. He was involved in his community, serving four years on the Glendora School Board. Leos was known to have made a lasting impact on students who encountered him, along with his fellow faculty members. “He is the best professor I have ever had at Citrus College,” said former student LaWanda Butler, 31. “He really knew his subject. I was extremely sad to find out about him passing away.” Besides affecting the lives of his students, Leos also left many lasting impressions among his coworkers and colleagues.
RONALD LEOS
Language Arts professor Joseph Harvey had high praise for his colleague. “Ron was the backbone of the faculty,” Harvey said. “I was shocked to hear of his death. Citrus College has lost a very good man.” “He was somebody who would encourage, inspire, and lead,” said David Girgolla, an attorney at law who worked in the same law firm as Leos. Leos is survived by his girlfriend, Elisabeth Garate; his brother, James Leos; his children, Mary-Kate Leos and Rory Leos;
and his daughter-in-law, Melissa Leos. Leos left his mark on the world and he will forever be remembered in our hearts. Services are scheduled for Thursday, April 22, at 10 a.m. at St. Dorothy’s Catholic Church in Glendora with a reception to follow at Glendora County Club.
Troye Waldron can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
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Clarion website wins highest award in state Mila Salahuddin SPECIAL TO THE CLARION The Citrus College Clarion took home the General Excellence Award for its website last week at the Journalism Association of Community Colleges State Convention in downtown Los Angeles. The honor is due to the efforts of online editor Dustin Call and teacher’s assistant Emily Rios. In addition to the award, Clarion managing editor Courtney Mitchell earned two third-place awards for on-the-spot news judgment layout and mail-in design. “I just feel really accomplished,” Mitchell said. “It’s something that I really wanted to work toward and it’s amazing to see it happen.” Citrus College professor Waleed Rashidi gave an exciting glimpse into the life of a music journalist in his workshop about what to expect when interviewing and writing about rock ‘n’ roll. Another Citrus College professor to speak at JACC was public relations instructor Stacy Long, who gave a crash course into the public relations industry and stressed the importance of utilizing new media to PR specialists’ advantage.
COURTESY OF CITRUS COLLEGE CLARION
The Clarion team, as well as various Comm 100 and Comm 101 students, traveled to downtown Los Angeles last week for the Journalism Association of Community Colleges State Convention where it took home several awards, including the General Ex-
cellence Award for its website.
Several Pulitzer Prize-winning professionals shared their knowledge in informative workshops made available to the students at JACC. Among those Pulitzer Prize-winning individuals in attendance was noted photographer Kim Komenich, currently a
professor at San Jose State University. Through intimate and raw displays of life eternally captured in his photographs, Komenich taught students about the nature of the industry. Days after JACC, Komenich
was not only honored for his eye behind camera, but also for his eye to spot crime. He foiled a Wells Fargo Bank robbery in San Jose the Monday after giving his workshop. Students enrolled in communications courses at Citrus were
also present at the state convention. Comm 100 student Vanessa Alvarez was among the communications students who attended. “At first I didn’t know what to expect,” Alvarez said. “But I’m really grateful I went. I have to thank Professor O’Neil for putting me in a broadcasting contest because now I know that I can definitely continue to pursue my career in broadcast television. This is what I want to do, and after my JACC experience, I’m sure of that.” JACC also featured on-thespot contests, which were competitions that allotted very little time for preparation. Reflecting on her time at JACC, Citrus student Cynthia Carrazco said that although she didn’t receive any awards in the competitions, her overall trip was amazing and one that she recommends to any communications student and upcoming journalist. The Clarion staff is looking ahead to the JACC Southern California Conference in October, where it hopes to bring the highest awards, once again, back home to Citrus College.
Mila Salahuddin can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
features
April 21, 2010
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CALLING IT LIKE IT IS Ask a Blonde
Sometimes advice isn’t always so fantastic Courtney Mitchell CLARION MANAGING EDITOR
We are always meeting new people, making new friends. Friends come and go, but why must friendships end? I have met many people in my life but never has my giving advice led me astray. I recently came across someone on Facebook and his name and picture caught me by surprise. Actually, Facebook told me we had several friends in common and suggested that I be his friend. After graduating high school, I met a guy during freshman orientation at Cal State Long Beach who lived down the hall in my dorm building. It turned out we had lived down the street from each other almost our whole lives, attended rival high schools, and had several mutual friends back home. Long story short, we ended
up becoming great friends almost instantly. Actually, we looked and acted so much alike, people thought we were twins. We ran with that theory, too. A lot of people that lived on campus with us really did think we were related. Fast forward to a year-anda-half later, a few weeks before I was getting ready to leave the school, he and I had a huge argument. He had started to show interest in one of our mutual friends and she had come to me, asking for advice on how to approach the situation. She didn’t know whether to pursue the relationship. In a nutshell, I told her that he is an amazing friend but she would get her heartbroken sooner or later. I had seen him do it to a few girls before and she was no exception.
He had quickly learned of what I had said and was less than thrilled. An argument occurred where a few choice words were said before we separated for a while. I cared about both of them and I was only giving my best advice. If you don’t want an honest answer, don’t ask me. I expect my friends to be as honest with me as I am with them. Anyways, he wanted me to apologize for what I had said. However, I refused to apologize because I felt I had done nothing wrong. I kept telling myself that I would just be the bigger person and try to set it all behind us. However, with trying to finish classes and moving back home, an apology became the last thing on my mind. I didn’t even realize I hadn’t talked to him until after I was already home. I felt terrible but I didn’t think it would be the last time I ever talked to him. Neither of us had made a move to save the friendship, even
Responsible voting: It takes two Dustin Call CLARION ONLINE EDITOR
All too often, I hear people talk about how they don’t have any interest in politics. And I know that many people don’t vote because they don’t believe it will make a difference anyway. It bothers me to hear this because what happens in politics affects the way we live our lives every single day. The recent healthcare reform is proof of this. And believe it or not, since we live in a democracy where majority rules, one vote can make a difference. Another sad case I find is that on community college campuses, the students generally don’t care about student government because there is little personal connection to the school itself. The recent Associated Students of Citrus College special election is proof of this. On March 29 and 30, Citrus students were asked to vote for a second time this school year on a pro-
posal to add an extra $1 to their student fee which would fund efforts to represent Citrus College in the local and state political arenas. For the second time, this initiative failed, only this time only 31 people in total even voted; 24 in favor and 7 against. According to Adrienne Thompson, ASCC adviser, a total of at least 201 votes were needed and two-thirds of those votes needed to be in favor of the proposal in order for it to pass. It’s a shame that at a school with roughly 12,000 students, only 31 voted in this election. Unfortunately, ASCC is partly to blame for the low voter turnout. Student government did little if anything to publicize the election or the rep fee itself. When I went to vote, the lady working the voting booth even asked me how students knew that there was an election and what they were voting for. There was no sign near the booth to let voters
know what was going on. ASCC must do a better job in the next election to publicize the proposals and candidates being voted on so time and effort—and maybe even money—are not wasted. Even though the election was not publicized enough to inform students, hundreds if not thousands of students walked passed the ASCC voting booth. And when students see the voting booth—or any booth with the ASCC sign on it—they need to stop find out what is going on. In less than two months the state of California will be having it’s primary elections. I urge all students who are registered voters to do their research into the candidates and propositions in advance so they can be informed voters, and then to go and vote. And for those that are not registered but eligible, show some appreciation for the right to vote and go register. This is a critical time for our state and educational system. If anything is going to change for the better,
Dustin Call can be reached at clarion.web@gmail.com
after I was back to living at home. It has been over two years since and I have yet to talk to him or awkwardly bump into him around town, although I know someday it will happen. If I could go back in time to those few moments knowing that I would feel the regret I do now, I would apologize. I would apologize even if I didn’t think I was wrong. I would tell him I’m sorry. I don’t think I would apologize for being honest with my girlfriend but I would apologize for hurting him and I would explain my reasoning. He knows he can be quite the womanizer and he knows I am not afraid to tell him or anyone else, which is why I will never understand the falling out.
The saying goes, “better late than never,” and you never know, someday the apology may surface and a reunion could be on the horizon. We meet people every day and different friends come and go. We may meet good people but good friends are hard to come by. I am lucky to have had him in my life, even if it was just for a short while because he made an impact on me that I will never forget, one that allowed to me to grow that much more as a person. Maybe someday I will friend him and start over. Thanks for the suggestion Facebook.
Courtney Mitchell can be reached at ask_a_blonde@live.com
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April 21, 2010
There’s more to it than pushing a button Jonathan Petitt CLARION STAFF WRITER A student in the Photography Club has qualified to represent Citrus College in a national photography skills competition. Photography student Ricky Lin won first place at the SkillsUSA competition on April 11. Lin will represent the state of California and Citrus College at the SkillsUSA Nationals in Kansas City. The competition is scheduled to take place June 21-25. “I also got selected as a finalist in the international competition between colleges and universities, and it’s a photographers forum,” Lin said. Photography professor Darrell Carr advises the Photography Club. Miguel Jacobo is the club president. “The Photography Club helps students stay involved outside of class and makes shooting pictures more than just a hobby,” Jacobo said. Club member Roberto Pacheco, 24, said club members love what they do and they collaborate with each other making the most of the opportunity. The students are “eager to learn and are hardworking. They are willing to put in the work to take their experience to the next level,” Carr said. According to Carr, the club has gone on field trips to Santa Barbara and San Francisco, as well as other parts of California. Members learn how the exposure
process works, how to compose an image and how to take a better picture. “If somebody wants to learn about photography, they should start with 35mm film,” Lin said. “In shooting film you have to think about different aspects. There are a lot more things than just pushing buttons in photography.” When Carr analyses a photo, he said he looks for, “The storytelling, quality, clarity, sharpness, composition, exposure—and especially the appeal.” For students thinking about joining the club, Carr advises that they “join us with an open mind and be prepared to look at things differently.” Student photographers recently collaborated with cosmetology in a show titled, “The Evolution of Hair.” They also sponsored the “Tents for Haiti” benefit for Haitians displaced in the Jan. 12 earthquake. “We see life through a lens, and also the needs of others,” Carr said. “It’s not the camera but the person behind it that makes the picture what it is. There is nothing like a picture, absolutely nothing.” Students who are planning to make photography their profession or who have a passion for taking pictures may attend club meetings in Room TC 114 on Tuesdays from noon to 1 p.m.
JONATHAN PETITT, CITRUS COLLEGE CLARION
ABOVE: Members of
the reactivated Photography Club say that their club’s focus is to teach students how to take a better picture and how to process it so that they can take their skills to the next level. LEFT: Photography Club officer Ricky Lin showcases his photograph that earned him a first place award at the national photography skills competition.
Jonathan Petitt can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com JONATHAN PETITT, CITRUS COLLEGE CLARION
features
April 21, 2010
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Umoja: academic success for all students Mitchie Pardilla CLARION FEATURES EDITOR In Swahili, “umoja” means unity. At Citrus College, “umoja” means student achievement. Umoja started in 2006 at Diablo Valley College with a focus on African-American students, but it has since evolved to include other ethnicities and cultures. The program offers students assistance in achieving their academic goals in a timely manner. Citrus College counseling instructor James Rose introduced Umoja to the campus in 2008 to help students pass their courses. Monica Peters, assistant coach of the women’s basketball team, is the co-chairperson of the Umoja program. The program is available for all Citrus College students who are enrolled in at least six units. Participants are required to attend an hour of tutoring per week and meet with their designated mentor. “Umoja offers students who want to get involved a direct pipeline to services on campus,” she said. According to Umoja co-chair person Dominic Jacquet, approximately 20 students are currently involved. For many, students lack of focus can be an
ANDREW VASQUEZ, CITRUS COLLEGE CLARION
Citrus College counselor Dominic Jacquet is also a mentor for the Umoja program, a student achievement program that focuses on African American athletes but is open to all students.
obstacle for success. Each student is paired with a mentor to facilitate student involvement and awareness. One of the mentors for Umoja, Sophie Makris, educational adviser for financial aid, said by having more intimate conversations with the students, mentors can address more of their concerns. During the recent spring kick-off event, Pe-
ters, Jacquet and athletics counselor Alicia Longyear passed out fliers to encourage participation, especially among student athletes. According to Peters, students explained their situations at a round table discussion and told their mentors what they wanted to achieve through the program. Students are encouraged to access academic support services with the participation of the
Music and poetry collide Raul Landeros CLARION STAFF WRITER April is National Poetry Month and many of today’s most popular poets are actually musical lyricists. Music’s emotional impact is immediate and profound. Most pop is musical fast food in that it’s cheap, easy and is the same every time. From Tiffany to present day Demi Lovato, the marketing concept remains the same: have a cute girl sing easy-to-follow lyrics, package the songs and sell her to the masses Big Mac-style. As Citrus English professor and musician/lyricist Tom Eiland said: “Britney Spears sells a product.” But some lyricists are artists and their lyrics are, in fact, poems. U2’s timeless song “Where the Streets Have No Name” brought to life the struggles between the Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland. “I want to run/I want to hide/I want to tear down the walls that hold me inside:” are the lyrics by Bono that help paint a picture from the rich to the poor and that the street you lived on determined how some others viewed you and which side of the war you were on. This particular song had such an enormous impact that Pope John Paul II complimented U2 for their work. Lyrics can also stir up controversy. A perfect example is Green Day’s “American Idiot” in which the whole album openly references the George W. Bush Administration. However, some lyrics don’t always make immediate sense, so they can’t always be taken so literally. For example “Set me off like
MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE SERVICES
dynamite strapped tight around my waste” in Rise Against’s song “Worth Dying For” is not saying that singer Tim Mcllrath carries dynamite around his waist, rather it’s an example of how he feels emotionally. “Sometimes the message is not what the audience expects,” Eiland said. A good lyricist will get you thinking and analyzing the lyrics to find a meaning in the message. Such analysis can often help singers who are performing other artists’ music. “When you sing you should know what you’re singing about so that the singer can know the right feelings to the song,” said Citrus singer Tania Munoz. The poetry in these songs deliver a message and tell a story that the listener otherwise might have not have heard if it were not presented musically.
“I want something of substance that is going to make me think, help me cope with something going on in my life or even a song that will add to a great time in my life,” Citrus student Jennifer Young said. So this April, skip the pop music station and tune your radio dial to music with meaning. For those seeking great lyrics, Eiland recommends artists such as Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye and U2, as well as musical storytellers The Clash, Public Enemy and Bob Dylan. “The primary reason people write lyrics is the same reason why people write stories,” Eiland said. “The reason for the song is the lyrics.”
Raul Landeros can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
counseling department, Career/Transfer Center and Financial Aid Office. Umoja also sponsors speakers to motivate and inspire students and mentors to teach skills to students outside of the classroom, like how to act professionally during a job interview. Umoja held a pre-employment workshop earlier this month. In addition, business professor Levi Richards conducted a mock interview with business professor Timothy Durfield to make students aware of the do’s and don’ts during a job interview. However, six mentors and only two students attended the workshop. According to Jacquet, lack of student participation can be disappointing, but as long as a student wants to learn and needs their help, the mentors will be there for them. “The students should be more involved and learn to be more responsible… [But] the workshop was really helpful, ” said student Monique Thompson, a 22-year-old pediatrician major. Students interested in the Umoja Program should contact Monica Peters at (626) 9148529 for more information.
Mitchie Pardilla can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
features
Apri1 21, 2010
RECYCLING CAMPAIGN
EARTHDAY
2010
Page 10
Join Psi Beta in celebrating Earth Day by recycling and doing your part to save our planet. Give a hoot, don’t pollute.
EARTHDAY CELEBRATION Campus Center Mall 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Make your own fruit kabobs and reusable grocery bags.
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Professor uses solar oven to be energy efficient, bake brownies STAFF WRITERS Astronomy teacher David Kary plans to bake brownies in his solar oven for a demonstration in the Campus Center Mall during the Earth Day celebration held today, April 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Also, as part of the Earth Day celebration, students will be able to make their own reusable grocery bags in the Campus Center Mall. While some people are struggling to be energy-efficient, Kary is just an everyday hero when it comes to going green.
Q: Where can a solar oven be purchased? A: They are available online. Cheaper ones run for less than $100, but the more fancy ones are a bit more expensive. The expensive solar ovens have larger collecting areas and are highly focused for high temperature. My oven gets to about 350 degrees on a sunny day.
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Q: What kinds of foods do you cook in your solar oven? A: I cook all kinds of things. Just recently I made banana bread, curry, brew stew. You can also make rice and various desserts. Q: How does the solar oven work? A: It has no electricity. It’s all sunlight. It tends to be slower, though. It does better with things you would cook longer: meat becomes really tender. And [the solar oven] is really portable. It's under a table most of the time until I need to use it.
There are times in your life that will determine how you use energy. ... Think about what it will cost you, think about the energy you use.
all types of oven cooking without the energy. Q: Do you think everyone should be using solar ovens? A: People would be more interested if they saw us doing it. Solar ovens could literally save lives in places that aren’t as fortunate as us that have fewer resources. They could sterilize water and cook food. Q: Are you energy efficient in other aspects of life? A: I drive a Corolla and my wife drives a Prius. We have to stop and think. Is this energy I need to use? I hang my laundry instead of using a dryer.
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Erica Irigoyen & Courtney Mitchell
David Kary
Citrus College Professor
Q:Is a solar oven something you would be able to make yourself ? A: Absolutely. There are plans online on how to build your own solar oven. These things are so much fun [because] you can do
Q: What about at school? A: I make my students turn in assignments electronically, and I give them back electronically, and it’s all graded electronically. There is no paper involved. Q: What would you say to people who need to be more energy efficient in their own lives? A: We have gotten so used to using huge amounts of energy. We just have to be more efficient. There are other places in the world that live just like we do and they are using two-thirds less energy. You have to think about the energy you use, not just turning on
DAVID KARY, ASTRONOMY PROFESSOR
a light, but what you are buying. Frequently there are times in your life that will determine how you use energy: the vehicle you are about to buy, the home you are going to move into that impacts your commute. Think about what it will cost you. It's just straight up economics.
Staff Writers can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
features
April 21, 2010
Page 11
Author offers 64 simple ‘food rules’ Courtney Mitchell CLARION MANAGING EDITOR We know we should be eating healthier, but how do we do so without joining some bandwagon diet or completely altering our eating habits? Michael Pollan, author of “Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual,” gives readers 64 simple rules that provide easy suggestions as to how we should go about becoming a healthier eater. Author of five books, including a New York Times best seller, the Knight Professor of Journalism at University of California at Berkley brings a new meaning to healthy living. According to “Food Rules,” it really only comes down to three basic questions: “What should I eat? What kinds of food
should I eat? How should I eat?” Of course, Pollan doesn’t leave the reader hanging for too long. In the first few pages, he discusses how he arrives at this conclusion he comes to by listening and talking to experts as well as researching various cultures. Seven simple words sum up his entire theory spread out across 140 pages: “Eat food. Mostly plants. Not too much.” Of course, these are explained in great detail throughout several of his rules. Each page has a new and intriguing rule, followed by a brief explanation as to why the rule is legitimate and should be followed. Pollan refers to the eating habits in ancient times, what our grandmothers would think of our habits today, and then compares Americans to people of other coun-
tries and cultures. According to “Food Rules,” we should “eat more like the French. Or the Japanese. Or the Italians. Or the Greeks.” All of these cultures have traditions where they eat less fat and smaller portions to avoid second helpings and snacking. Pollan offers easy tricks including adding more greens to your daily routine, eating foods with few ingredients, and avoiding eating anything that a thirdgrader couldn’t pronounce.
Coutrney Mitchell can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE SERVICES
Ordinary people can be environmental heroes Andrew Vasquez CLARION PHOTO EDITOR Our modern world has been made possible by people who had drive and determination. Along the way to fame and fortune, some of them also embraced causes that matter. “Eco Barons,” by Edward Humes, is a 384-page collection of stories narrated by the author about individuals who have seen the dire need for the conservation of our environment because of the vital role it plays in our survival. Now Humes, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of 10 critically acclaimed non-fiction books, has published “Eco Barons,” documenting individuals who put their efforts into preserving the environment. Eco Barons is an inspiring collection of stories where successful individuals were inspired to answer a higher calling and put their efforts into saving the planet. One of them is Doug Tompkins, the CEO of Espirit, arguably the hottest clothing label of the late 1980s and early 1990s, who had an epiphany while in the heart of Patagonia, a lush Eden-like part of South
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America that covers a third of the continent. Tompkins found himself wondering if he had wasted too much of his career worrying about fashion, which he now felt was frivolous.
He decided to channel his energies into conservation. He sold his shares in Espirit and created Pumalin Park and Corcovado National Park within Patagonia. In this book, Humes tells stories of other financial barons who had epiphanies and decided to put their money and power into saving the planet. Media giant Ted Turner is one such individual. He has used his fortune to buy and preserve more land in the United States than any other individual in American history. However, the real power of this book lies in the stories of regular people who became innovators, not for financial gain or fame, but because they truly believe in the environmental cause. Consider former pool cleaner Terry Tamminen, who became the head of California’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and now a sustainability consultant. He managed to turn two states run by Republican governors into the two most ecofriendly states in the nation. Or Carole Allen, a single mom and volunteer, who marshaled an army of schoolchildren to help her shame fishing fleets into saving endangered species.
Stories like those of Tamminen and Allen are told within the first eight pages of the book, and it only gets better from there. Most of the book consists of an indepth look into the story of Tompkins and as well as other “eco barons.” The reader will find that becoming an eco baron wasn't easy and it was and still may not be profitable. But these individuals saw the trouble that their planet was in and decided to do whatever they could to preserve it for future generations. All of the stories are different, but every individual has one goal: to save the Earth. What readers take away from this book is that we can all be eco barons. Some of us can and will do big things. Others will do small things. But we can all do something. And that is the powerful revelation for readers that makes “Eco Barons” an amazing and life-changing read.
Andrew Vasquez can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
Did you know... RECYCLING ONE aluminum can saves enough energy to watch TV for three hours. That’s equivalent to half a gallon of gasoline. EARTH DAY was first celebrated on April 22, 1970, when more than 20 million Americans participated in the first Earth Day celebration. IF EVERY newspaper was recycled, we could save approximately 250,000,000 trees a year. MORE THAN 20,000,000 Hershey’s Kisses are wrapped each day, using 133 square miles of tinfoil. All of that foil is recyclable.
ONLY 11 percent of the earth’s surface is used to grow food. THE WORLD’S first national park, Yellowstone, was established in 1872, and stretches through Montana, Wyoming and Idaho. EARTH DAY was founded by Wisconsin senator Gaylord Nelson, and the day is credited for creating the environmental movement.
WWW.YUMSUGAR.COM/EARTH-DAY-FUN-FACTS MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE SERVICES
April 21, 2010
A&E
Page 13
3-D movie reviews: gimmick or experience? 3-D movies are a gimmick: expensive and lame, complaints range from headaches to nausea. Steven Regan CLARION STAFF WRITER Since the introduction of 3-D films in the 1950s the technology has had its ups and downs. Especially downs. While 3-D films have been around for the last 60 years, they’ve only again become popular recently. Now 3-D films are making a
comeback. James Cameron’s “Avatar,” one of the most popular films of 2009, is being called the highest-grossing film of all time. Does this mean that 3-D films will become the standard in film? Make that a negative. First, making a 3-D film is expensive. For example, “Avatar” cost almost $500 million. That’s a lot of moolah for something that could end up a giant flop. Fortunately for 20th Century Fox, it has been a smash hit.. Some think that box office success means that 3-D would become the standard despite high production costs. Not so much.
As for the claim that “Avatar” is the highest-grossing movie of all time, that might be true except for one thing: ticket prices have fluctuated throughout the years. The prices for movie tickets are more expensive today at an average of $7.61 as opposed to 36 cents in 1948, according to the National Association of Theatre Owners. The bias toward modern movies when it comes to the highest-grossing film title is obvious. In fact, when adjusted for inflation, the highest grossing movie of all time is actually “Gone With the Wind,” accord-
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Experiencing 3-D takes the sensation escape to a whole new level in movies, television, and video games. Laura Smith CLARION STAFF WRITER Watching a film in 3-D provides an exciting and entertaining experience that is unique. 3-D was first introduced in the early 1900s and went through an experimental stage with low-budget films until 1950. From 1950 to 1960, 3-D was a major hit with the public, but quickly fizzled out and lost its appeal. With the release of “Friday the 13th” and “Jaws 3-D Comin at Ya!” 3-D had a come back that lasted until 1985. In recent years, 3-D is back and better than ever. With improved screens and glasses, viewers are offered the highest quality experience yet. Recent movies such as “Avatar,” “My Bloody Valentine,” “Alice in
Wonderland,” “Disney’s A Christmas Carol,” “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince,” “Up,” and “Jonas Brother Concert Experience” were all available with 3-D glasses on holographic screens. Over the years, 3-D has evolved and become more effective, giving viewers a sensation of participating in the movie they came to see. This technology makes action scenes, such as the “Avatar” character James Sully’s first flight with his dragon Roku, more exciting and visually dynamic. The difference between watching a car spin out of control in 2D and a car spinning out of the control straight in your direction, lets the viewer become absorbed in the movie they are watching. Even when a movie is not action-packed, 3-D can add dimensions to scenes of serenity and beauty. 3-D scenes in “Avatar” of characters walking through florescent forests is an image that will not be forgotten by fans. When “Alice in Wonderland” was released in March 2010, millions of viewers chose to make a 3D experience.
The famous scene of Alice falling down the rabbit hole into Wonderland was brought into a whole new realm. Viewers found themselves dodging chairs, clocks, and lamps while hurling down the hole with Alice. The thrilling sensation of narrowly escaping flying objects is a lot like riding a roller coaster at your favorite theme park. The experience can be discomforting for some. There have been complaints about 3-D movies causing headaches or nausea. However, it has been suggested that sitting a greater distance from the screen can help for viewers who sometimes feel discomfort. Recently, 3-D viewing has made the jump from movies to televisions, video games, and a dedicated channel in the United Kingdom. In the future, we can look forward to vivid entertainment experiences. 2-D now belongs in the past.
Laura Smith can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
ing to Box Office Mojo. “Avatar” is number 14 on that list. 3-D movies have been tried before. Critics have had mixed reactions to these movies, but criticism remained constant. Complaints ranged from headaches and nausea to labeling 3-D as a gimmick. Now to turn a critical eye on “Avatar” itself. Granted, it’s a very pretty movie. However, in all other aspects, it’s bland. There is nothing original about the plot. It can be broken down as Pocahontas with alien Smurf kitties. To put it simply, 3-D is a fad. It’s a neat little gimmick that gives false beauty to boring movies, like “Avatar.” It will go away again as it has before. I realize that “Avatar” is not the only 3-D movie that has been
made in recent years. It’s just that it is over-rated and over-priced. Other movies that were released in 3-D include Henry Selick’s “Coraline” and Disney Pixar’s “Up.” Both of these examples are quality movies. However, in the DVD release of both of these movies, the 3-D movies were only released in a more expensive “Collector’s Edition.” 3-D films are more expensive for both, the companies producing them and the consumers that purchase them. Keeping the increase in costs in mind, 3-D movies will not become the industry standard anytime soon.
Steven Regan can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
A&E
April 21, 2010
Page 15
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Hip-hop/R&B artist Ludacris recently released his seventh album, “Battle of the Sexes” sold 137,000 album in the first week in stores. However, it fails to impress fans and loyal listeners. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE SERVICES
Hip-hop album fails to impress Troye Waldron CLARION STAFF WRITER Hip-hop artist Ludacris released new album, “Battle of the Sexes”, however, it just doesn’t compare to his previous albums. This follow up is already on the right track to surpass the impressive sales from the multi- platinum rapper’s previous album. “Battle of the Sexes” has already sold 137,300 units in just its first week in stores. This is Ludacris’s fifth album to hit number one on the Billboard
Hip-Hop/R&B charts. In “Battle of the Sexes,” Ludacris boasts a new rapping style that emphasizes up-tempo songs best suited for partying and dancing. This style is a major change from “Theatre of the Mind”, which centered around saving and preserving hip-hop. “Battle of the Sexes” is full of “club bangers” that are good for blasting when looking to get amped. Songs like “My Chick Bad” and “How Low” are sure to get the crowd moving with enticing lyrics and ground shaking bass. However, when you’re in the
mood to sit back and mellow out, this album doesn’t make the cut. While the rest of Ludacris’s albums offer versatility, this album remains constant with the same sound all the way through. True Ludacris fans might be disappointed with “Battle of the Sexes,” his seventh album. Other Ludacris albums such as 2001’s “Word of Mouf ” and 2000’s “Back for the First Time” are in a different league compared to “Battle of the Sexes.” Smooth lyrics over top-notch production distinguished those albums from other hip-hop albums
before them. Those earlier Ludacris albums are arguably hip-hop classics, and “Battle of the Sexes” finds Ludacris taking on a totally new approach to his music. While some hip-hop fans might still be searching for the classic sound of Ludacris, other listeners might like the album for its other dimensions. Some highlights on this album includes noteworthy guest appearances from Trey Songz, Flo Rida, and Monica. And songs like “Everybody Drunk” and “Tell Me a Secret” are good songs that have a fun beat,
making it difficult not to dance and move. Overall this album is full of fun songs known to get the listeners amped, and is great while on your way to a club or when hanging out with friends. However, this album needs Ludacris to employ more of his different rapping styles.
Troye Waldron can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
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sports
April 21, 2010 FAR LEFT: Owls pitcher Justin
Arceneaux launches a ball at lightning speed to his opponent from Glendale City College. LEFT: Joseph Garcia, infielder for the Citrus College Owls, attempts to hit the ball out of the park so that the Owls can score another run against the Glendale Vaqueros. BELOW: Owls infielder Angel Marti keeps an eagle-like gaze on the pitcher from the opposing team as he prepares to score another run for Citrus College during their game against Glendale College on April 20. AARON GAIKAR, CITRUS COLLEGE CLARION
AARON GAIKAR, CITRUS COLLEGE CLARION
Cheyenne Scharff & Eirin Hernandez STAFF WRITERS The April 20 Owls baseball game against the Glendale Vaqueros was rained out in the top of the third inning. The score was 8-2 Vaqueros and the Owls had already made a pitching change. Justin Arceneaux replaced Daniel Chavez. The Owls have met the Vaqueros three times this season beating them twice; 8-6 in
Glendale and 6-3 at home. There are still five games to go in the Western State Conference. Joseph Garcia leads the team in runs with 33 and the RBI leader for Citrus is Kyle Nutter with 31. The Owls will play L.A. Mission College April 22 at home if weather permits and West L.A. on April 24 at West L.A.
Cheyenne and Eirin can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
AARON GAIKAR, CITRUS COLLEGE CLARION
Softball, baseball vs. mother nature Erica Irigoyen, Brandon Lozano, Courtney Mitchell STAFF WRITERS Playoffs are just a hop, skip and a jump away and the softball team has shown that they are more than ready. Sadly, the anticipated storm ubruptly ended their double header against L.A. Valley College on April 20. With a 6-2 lead at the bottom of the sixth inning, Citrus was showing no mercy to L.A. Valley. Although the umpires called the game after that, head coach Jackie Boxley was proud of her owls and excited for what will come next. “It was hard to keep up the tempo, but they did a good job,” Boxely said. “They battled it out and stayed strong.” The Owls will play L.A. Valley again today, April 21, at 2:30 p.m. to finish their doubleheader.
ERICA IRIGOYEN, CITRUS COLLEGE CLARION
ERICA IRIGOYEN, CITRUS COLLEGE CLARION
LEFT: Owls outfielder Britnni
Moreno attempts to bunt the ball during their game against LA Valley College that was rained out and had to be rescheduled to today at 2:30p.m. ABOVE LEFT: Owls outfield/pitcher Kimberly Lopez fires a pitch at her opponent hoping to strike her out. RIGHT: Owls outfielder/infielder Tamara Robles prepares to hit one out of the park for Citrus College so that she can score another run for her team during their game against LA Valley College.
COURTNEY MITCHELL, CITRUS COLLEGE CLARION
FINAL APPLICATION DEADLINE MAY 4th
opinions
Page 18
April 21, 2010
Global warming is not cool Eirin Hernandez CLARION STAFF WRITER
People talk about global warming so casually that their chatter often evokes more ignorance of the topic than expertise. The scientific definitions related to concepts such as the greenhouse effect, global warming and climate change also make understanding an already complex topic even more confusing. In our market economy, investors seize opportunities to capitalize on trends. The marketing of “green” products has grown exponentially in the last 18 months. Most of these products claim to protect Mother Earth in a variety of ways from reducing carbon dioxide, to the claim of being a non-contaminant to having been packaged in a recyclable container. Being bombarded with warnings about global warming—and at the same time reading the global news reports about 2010 being one of the most grueling winters in several decades—does not help to clarify the issue. Various interest groups offer opinions and even research that does not necessarily agree with what the scientists exposing the
global warming problem say. Do not forget that if government regulations are passed enterprises will have to spend large quantities of money reforming their infrastructure and production lines to comply with them. It is no wonder that people question the entire situation. Are the scientists exaggerating? Are the market opportunity chasers taking advantage of public concern? Do these interest groups know the truth? The answers may not be as simple as yes or no, but there is something we should be certain of: things need to be in balance. Take the human body as an example. Go and ask a doctor about the medical causes of any illness and the answer will invariably end up being an imbalance of some kind. When we humans decided that our quality of life would increase by introducing the mass production of goods, and with this we introduced the proliferation of smoke stacks polluting the air, we induced some imbalance. When we decided that it was more profitable to produce fruits
and vegetables with added chemicals that make them bigger and more colorful, and more chemicals that kill any bugs that may diminish productivity, we added to this imbalance. When humans decided that our happiness was in having the most recent gadget, the fanciest TV, in exchanging the car every four years and the computer at least every two, and because we have the right to pursue happiness no matter what we rub out in the way (like trees, natural habitats, species, and farming land), we definitely created an imbalance. It is easy to say that we ordinary people are in no position to do anything about the problem, that we were not consulted in President Barack Obama’s recent decision to permit more offshore drilling or that we are not the CEOs that could take the alternate, environmentally sound route to production. But we do have one power: We are the consumers. Remember the market economy? If the demand increases or diminishes, production moves accordingly. We need to consume less and make wiser choices. The whole having-more-makes-you-happy idea is a market strategy developed by industries to lure you into yielding your money to them. Take responsibility and do your
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
part in saving resources, energy and water. Make a conscious habit of turning off the lights, saving gas, and fixing leaks in your faucets or toilets. But also be a more responsible consumer. In the same way that it has became popular for people to count calories when eating or shopping for groceries, calculate how much water and energy it takes to produce an item and how recyclable it is before actually buying it. Once you do that calculation, ask yourself if you still want or need it. If you want it, don’t get it. Save the money for something less environmentally expensive. If the
money is burning a hole in your pocket, take it out and send it to a worthwhile nonprofit organization that might make better use of it. Then take out your old phone and call your friend. Visit each other, walk to his or her house or take the bus, and work together, play together, actually talk face-toface. You may discover that personal interaction could bring happiness of the kind that is free and environmentally friendly.
Eirin Hernandez can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
Without our identities, who are we Jessica Bravo CLARION STAFF WRITER When your identity is stolen, it feels like a piece of your soul has died. It feels like your world is a ball of string, and someone has pulled the end piece, unraveling your existence. Your whole life dwindles away at the thief ’s fingertips, as you spin out of control, not knowing where to go, or where to turn. My identity was stolen on March 28, 2010. As an 18-year-old college student, I thought I was invincible when it came to identity fraud. I never thought it could happen to me. I’m too young, too insignificant for someone to do this to me. But the fact is identity theft can happen to anyone at any time. In 2009, 11.1 million adults were victims of identity theft. They spent an average of $373 each to resolve the crime. Yet, identity theft can be preventable. The mistake I made that unlucky day was something I had never thought twice about. I left my purse in my locked car. I always thought of my car as a safe zone. Doors locked, windows up, a jacket thrown over my purse
and all should be well. But sometimes it’s not, as I discovered when I walked back one hour later to find a shattered car window. This is when my real nightmare began. Most college students are not paranoid enough, or prepared enough to handle a situation like this. Since January 2005, more than 8 million college students have had their information stolen due to negligence. College students are prime targets for identity theft for several reasons. Most are ignorant, assuming they are immune to this type of crime. Students’ credit records are usually blank, the perfect opportunity for a thief to secure new credit under their names. Since they often order supplies online, and speak publicly on cell phones, students are easy targets to identity theft. Identity theft can affect credit ratings, future borrowing possibilities, criminal records, and job opportunities. We all need to be careful when it comes to securing our identities, and there are many ways to do this.
Leave your social security card at home. Destroy trash, junk mail, and information stored on your computer before dumping. Set up a password that will be required to tap into your bank account. Choose “Forget Me” instead of “Remember Me” on websites. Beware of hackers. Constantly check bank and credit statements to make sure all is accurate. Never keep a PIN number or password in your wallet. Make photocopies of everything you must carry in your wallet. In the event of theft, you won’t be left wondering what was taken, and you can notify agencies quicker when theft occurs. Lastly, always be wary of what the public can see you do and hear you say. When identity theft occurs, there is always one word that comes to people’s minds when describing the feeling: violated, but this word does not suffice. Try vulnerable, fearful, sad, worried, anxious, and even nauseous. The resulting stress can affect your ability to perform well in school, at work, and in making lifestyle choices. If, by chance, you find yourself in this awful situation, act immediately to relieve some of the stress.
RACHEL FULLER, CITRUS COLLEGE CLARION
Contact a parent. Parents know more than you do, and they are willingly able to offer assistance and sympathy. File a police report as soon as possible after the crime occurs. Notify your bank; preferably talk to a personal banker. Put a freeze on all cards, credit and debit. Notify the three main nationwide consumer credit reporting compa-
nies; Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. Their red flag alerts help tremendously when it comes to tracking fraud. Bad things do happen in life, but don’t let identity theft be one of them. We all have the power to keep our identity secure.
Jessica Bravo can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
April 21, 2010
editorials
Taking action on climate change Climate change is an issue that many of us are aware of, but do very little to actually limit the earth’s rapid change. Climate change is defined as the variations in regional climate characteristics, including temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind and severe weather events, as opposed to global warming, which is an overall heating of the planet based on the average temperature over the entire surface. According to the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States, the earth’s climate is rapidly changing and temperatures are rising. Most of the recent warming has happened in the last decades and was very likely produced by human activities. The release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere has been increasing at a faster rate than any time in hundreds of thousands of years. EPA said if this activity continues at or above the current rate, we will continue to increase temperatures around the globe and will most likely change our planet’s climate in ways that will have significant long-term effects on people and the environment. Students should take this issue into consideration and change their way of thinking, as well as their lifestyles, in order to help the environment and lessen the climate change. Perhaps people think“I’m only one person, how in the world am I supposed to make a difference?” But one can make a difference and there are simple ways to start taking action that require hardly any effort from your part. Switch out regular lightbulbs for compact fluorescent lightbulbs. CFLs use less power and have a longer rated life, saving money on your energy bill. Be sure to dispose of old CFLs properly because it contains mercury. Home Depot has a general CFL recycling program and accepts any type of CFL recycling without charge. Unplug electronics you are not using because they continue to draw small amounts of power when they are switched off but still plugged in. Recycle old and unwanted electronics instead of disposing them in trash cans. Most
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Citrus College
clarion EDITOR IN CHIEF Sandra Lopez MANAGING EDITOR Courtney Mitchell NEWS EDITOR Kristin Lacuesta FEATURES EDITOR Mitchie Pardilla SPORTS EDITOR Erica Irigoyen A&E EDITOR Caitlin Griffin
RACHEL FULLER, CITRUS COLLEGE CLARION
contain hazardous components and they need to be disposed of carefully. Best Buy would be a good place to recycle your electronics. Decrease the use of your car’s air conditioning. Cars will be more fuel-efficient and release fewer emissions. Drink tap water. Bottled water creates a lot of unneeded trash and the majority of bottled water comes from a tap anyway. Put computers on sleep mode. Screensavers waste energy, and according to Planet USA, it is estimated that without a screensaver, people save $50 on their electricity bill. Also, air drying your clothes saves 800 lbs of coal from being burned to power your electric dryer, and it also uses 5,750 watts per hour of electricity or on average 6,000 KWH per year. Ride a bike, carpool with a friend or use public transportation to reduce carbon emissions from driving. Try hanging drapes on windows, it will keep the house cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. When going grocery shopping, bring reusable shopping bags. They are eco-friendly and look great. Recycle used paper, beverage containers, and other goods to reduce pollution and greenhouse gases from resource extraction, manufacturing, and disposal.
Use a push mower, which unlike a gas or electric mower, consumes no fossil fuels and emits no greenhouse gases. Use water efficiently. Municipal water systems require a lot of energy to purify and distribute water to households, and saving especially hot water can lower greenhouse gas emissions. Donate and recycle clothes and household items to charities. It is a compassionate act for the less fortunate as well as to our environment. Plant flowers and trees to produce oxygen It is easy and fun to do. Save paper. Anything we can do to save paper will help reduce the amount of trash going into landfills, and it will also reduce energy use and pollution associated with manufacturing, transporting and recycling new paper products. Reduce meat consumption to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. If Americans reduced their meat consumption by 20 percent it would be equivalent to switching from a standard sedan to a hybrid. Speak out. Ask leaders to take action on climate change by sending them e-mails and writing letters. Spread the word by informing and encouraging others.
OP/ED EDITOR Jose Alonso Ramirez PHOTO EDITOR Andrew Vasquez ONLINE EDITOR Emily Rios STAFF WRITERS Jessica Bravo, Scott Dolley, Eirin Hernandez Ferreiro, Daniel Hernandez, Raul Landeros, Brandon Lozano, Jonathan Petitt, Steven Regan, Cheyenne Scharff, Laura Smith Troye Waldron SPECIAL TO THE CLARION Mila Salahuddin PAGE DESIGNERS Nicole Ballew, Brittanie Conaway, Caitlin Molinari, Jonathan Petitt PHOTOGRAPHERS/ ARTISTS Rachel Fuller Aaron Gaikar, Erica Irigoyen Courtney Mitchell Aubrey Miranda,
Ban smokers to designated areas on campus Jack Scott, Ph.D. Chancellor of the California Community Colleges 1102 Q Street, 4th Floor Sacramento, CA 95811
Andrew Vasquez COVER ART Aubrey Miranda PHOTO TECHNICIAN Frank Ram INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT Emily Rios ADVISER
Dear Dr. Scott:
Margaret O’Neil
We are uniting to ask you to envision the future of smoking policies at California’s community colleges and to sponsor a legislation that will ban smoking from our campuses. Although such broad implementation will probably not happen any time soon, let us at least hope that Citrus College can become a cleaner, healthier campus by designating parking lots as smoking areas. This issue is as relevant as ever, as state lawmakers recently voted to outlaw smoking in 278 state parks and beaches, and violation of the measure will result in a fine of $100. Smoking will continue, however, to be allowed in parking lots and campgrounds. Currently, our campus is in compliance with state laws, which under BP 6800 Safety “prohibits the use of tobacco in all public buildings.” This is a strong first step, but our ultimate goal should be to have a smoke-free campus. In the meantime, limiting smoking to parking lots would be very beneficial for the student population. Such a statewide law would help commu-
AUBREY MIRANDA, CITRUS COLLEGE CLARION
nity colleges to (1) improve and protect the public's health by eliminating smoking or limiting it to designated areas; (2) acknowledge the right of non-smokers to breath smoke-free air; and (3) restrain the littering of cigarette butts to the designated area, making it easier for maintenance to clean up. Riverside City College and Santa Monica College have 100 percent tobacco-free policies. Santiago Canyon College, along with 19 other schools, is smoke free with the exception of remote outdoor areas, such as parking lots. It should be duly noted that Citrus College is not included in this prestigious group. We approach you with this issue because
little progress has been made at the local level. As former president of Pasadena City College and a former member of the state Legislature, you can recognize the importance of having an adequate and healthful learning environment. Please, use your power and knowledge to initiate legislation that designates smoking in parking lots. Hopefully, this first step will lead to the eventual elimination of smoking in California’s community colleges. Sincerely, Citrus College Clarion Editorial Board
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 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 and length. CLARION MAILBOX 1000 W. Foothill Blvd. Glendora, CA 91741-1899 Phone: (626) 914-8586 Fax: (626) 914-8797 Email: ccclarion@hotmail.com
cartoon
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April 21, 2010
LEFT: Esther, played by Summer Stratton, has a fit while Rock Star, played by Jason Francescan, looks on. RIGHT: The mischievous Trouble, played by Chris Aranda, steals Esther’s hammer, which puts the Cartoon world in chaos. BOTTOM: Esther grabs hold of air-headed best friends Akane, played by Tayler Larson, and Yumi, played by Brittany Sanchez. AARON GAIKAR, CITRUS COLLEGE CLARION
AARON GAIKAR, CITRUS COLLEGE CLARION
Students make a looney tune Caitlin Griffin CLARION A&E EDITOR There was not an empty seat in the house in the Little Theatre on April 10 for the all-student production of “Cartoon.” The theater had been transformed into an animated
cartoon world, reigniting memories of everyone’s favorite childhood cartoon. Director Richard Lozoya wisely selected Steve Yockey’s “Cartoon,” and directed the farcical comedy with great stride. “Cartoon” is a story about a land of cartoons run by a bratty girl named Esther, played by Summer Stratton, who rules by her large hammer. But, when her hammer is stolen by the artful Trouble, played by Chris Aranda, the cartoon world is turned upside down, erupting in a war between the characters that ends in blood shed. The story is reminiscent of a communist-era political comedy, which was accurately portrayed by each character. Some of the standouts included the Winston Puppet, played by Max Herzfeld, who made his Little Theatre
AARON GAIKAR, CITRUS COLLEGE CLARION
non-musical debut, and best friends Akane and Yumi, played by Tayler Larson and Brittany Sanchez, respectively. By the end of the play, the cartoon characters go mad with power and some are take up a new-found interest in murder, including Akane, who comically and tragically chokes her best friend to death. Winston also breaks free of his restricting strings, only to find that being free isn’t as great as he thought it would be. Herzfeld did an amazing job of staying in character, as he had the difficult task of being the only character that was on stage for the entire play. Another standout was the Damsel, played by newcomer Desire Perez in her first performance in the Little Theatre. Perez had every eye on her when she murdered her longtime love, the Suitor, played by Kevin Figueroa, and as she sobbed while dancing with his lifeless
body. She was convincing and captivated the audience with her dramatic and sweet portrayal of her character. The play was not only well acted, directed and produced, but it was also visually captivating. The theater was made into a cartoon world, complete with brightly painted props, a slide, and a crooked television that played cartoons for the audience before the show. The characters’ costumes also made the illusion of being in a cartoon world even more real, from Esther’s pigtails to the Winston Puppet’s body movement and stage makeup. “Cartoon” is now on a long list of phenomenal theater productions, and the entire cast and crew deserve much praise.
Caitlin Griffin can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com