Clarion 11/25/2009

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Clarion Citrus

The highly anticipated sequel to Twilight, “New Moon” gets mixed reviews. See pg. 12

College

For delicious recipes on how to make the most out of your Thanksgiving leftovers. See pg. 16

www.theclariononline.com

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 Volume LXIII Issue 7

A First Amendment newspaper

ASCC holds annual food, toy drive Celia Guerrero & Matt San Pedro Clarion Staff Writer It is a long-standing holiday tradition for the Citrus College community to find a way of helping those in need by donating food and toys for the annual Food and Toy Drive put on by the Associated Students of Citrus College.

Unfortunately, throughout the year, many people are unable to afford basic necessities, much less gifts during the holidays.

But thanks to the efforts of ASCC, people in need will be helped again this year through the Food and Toy Drive that runs now through Thursday, Dec. 10.

“It is a really great feeling when you know that you are helping those less fortunate,” ASCC President Karlyn Bradly said.

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to contribute nonperishable food and unwrapped toys, which can be dropped off to any of the decorated Food and Toy Drive boxes located throughout campus.

Some box locations include the Administration Building’s lobby, the cosmetology salon, Learning Resource Center, math lab, and in the Hayden Memorial Library.

All the donations will be delivered to local agencies, including YWCAWINGS (Women in Need Growing Strong), which is program that pro

See FOOD DRIVE/page 3

Christopher Lopez Citrus College Clarion Citrus College Theatre Arts Department sold out all six shows of its futuristic production of the classic Greek play “Lysistrata” written by Aristophanes and featuring Arlene Marin in the lead role and under the direction of Cherie Brown with choreography by John Vaughn.

Supporters celebrate Metro Gold Line Anazarry Danganan Clarion Staff Writer Attendees were all aboard at the kick-off celebration was held at the historic Santa Fe Train Depot in Monrovia, the future site of the Monrovia Gold Line Station on, Saturday, Nov. 21.

Elected officials and community members gathered in honor of the recently approved Metro Long Range Transportation Plan, which will bring a light rail to Citrus College and eventually all the way to Ontario Airport.

Congresswoman Judy Chu was

there, as well as congressman David Dreier, who served as the “conductor” of a miniature train, driving participants around a portion of the parking lot as part of the festivities.

Many enjoyed popcorn, hot dogs and cotton candy provided free to the public.

The ceremony acknowledged the start of the construction of Phase 2A of the Gold Line Extension from Pasadena to Arcadia, Monrovia, Duarte, Irwindale, and Azusa.

Construction is expected to start early next year and be completed in 2013.

“We have locked in $851 million to build this extension along the Foothill area; that’s something we should all be proud of,” Metro Board Chair Ara Najarian said.

Citrus College Board of Trustee member Joanne Montgomery was on site, celebrating on behalf of Citrus College for all of the time and effort spent to make the Foothill Extension possible for the students, faculty and staff.

“I am very excited to be here.

We worked very hard…It’s going to be wonderful with our new student services building. It’s

going to be right there, the Gold Line, and we’re all going to have access,” Montgomery said.

The extension not only beneifits the community by creating another mode of transportation and helping to relieve traffic congestion, but it also serves students along the proposed line, reaching at least 14 colleges.

Citrus College board of trustees member Edward C. Ortell, Ph.D., calls it the “Brain Train”.

“We at Metro are looking for-

See GOLD LINE/page 3

Honors students address human trafficking Sandra Lopez Clarion Editor In Chief

Andrew Vasquez Citrus College Clarion Maria Suarez, a human trafficking victim, recalled her emotional story as students listened inside the Feddersen Music Recital Hall at Mt. SAC.

Inside: cmyk

For the first time, students from the Phi Theta Kappa international honors society from Citrus, Mt. San Antonio and Irvine Valley colleges’ came together on Nov. 14 in efforts to raise awareness of human trafficking.

The agonizing stories of human trafficking victims were shared inside the Feddersen Music Recital Hall of Mt. San Antonio College.

Human trafficking is defined as the practice of luring, tricking or threatening people to work for little to no payment. Victims are often taken from their own homes and are ex-

ploited in other or countries.

The keynote speaker was a Dr. Annalisa V. Enrile, Clinical Associate Professor of USC and National Chairperson of General Assembly Binding Women for Reform, Integrity, Equality, Leadership, and Action Network. Enrile has campaigned against prostitution and human trafficking in the Philippines.

“After drug dealing, human trafficking is the second largest criminal industry in the world,” Enrile said.

Enrile’s involvement with human trafficking started while she was working to help World War II prostitutes who were termed LBFM (Little Brown F*****g Machine) by Western soldiers who were stationed in Asia.

Enrile points out that many victims of human trafficking are led to believe that they will be working good jobs with decent pay.

According to the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) there are approximately 600,000 to 800,000 men, women and children that being trafficked across international borders.

Of those victims, 70 percent are female and 50 percent are children.

At the beginning of the presentation, students from all three colleges read stories about victims from different countries.

Carolyn Perry, advisor to Phi Theta Kappa said, “These stories increase

See TRAFFICKING/page

Life pg. 5 Sports pg. 10 A&E pg. 13 Opinions pg. 14 Editorials pg. 15 cmyk

November 25, 2009

News Briefs Campus Wire Psi Beta Hosting 2nd Teddy Bear Drive Psi Beta is hosting its 2nd Annual Heather’s Teddy Bear Drive. Help spread joy and support those fighting cancer by donating a teddy bear to a child at the City of Hope Hospital. Drop off your teddy bears, books, and comic books at the Admissions Building, Center for Innovation, Campus Center, Library, Cosmetology Department, Fitness Center, Educational Development Center, Math/Science Building and the Fine and Performing Arts Center until December 21. For more information, contact citruspsibeta@gmail.com.

ASCC to Host Late Night Study Sessions In order to help students prepare for finals, ASCC will host late night study sessions in the Campus Center from Monday, December 7 through Thursday, December 10. They will also host sessions on Monday, December 14 and Tuesday, December 15. The Campus Center will be open until 11 p.m. on these dates and will offer areas for group study, a quiet room, plus Wi-Fi and power outlets for laptops. Wi-Fi access requires a current Citrus College computer log-in and password. Snacks will also be sold.

Student, faculty, & staff art show Faculty, staff and students are invited to participate in the “Metamorphasis” art show, which will be held in the Hayden Memorial Library Gallery on December 9 through February 1. Faculty and staff art must have been created in the past two years. Art faculty may choose nine student works from each class from the past two semesters. All entries must be matted, mounted, framed, and ready for hanging, or pedestal appropriate. For more information, contact Maryann Rachford at (626) 914-8744

Local Recall attempt against local Assemblyman Adams fails Assemblyman Anthony Adams will serve at least the remainder of his term as backers of a drive to boot him from office failed to gather enough support.

The California Secretary of State's Office announced Friday that a group of anti-tax advocates and Orange County conservatives did not gather enough valid signatures to call for a recall election.

"I feel vastly relieved," said Adams, R-Claremont, who represents a district stretching from Hesperia to La Cañada Flintridge. "I'm just so thrilled and so thankful to all of my voters.

Adams, who came under fire earlier this year for supporting a tax increase, has said for months he expected recall supporters to gather enough signatures. But the Secretary of State's Office, reporting information submitted by registrars in San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties, said the recall effort fell well short.

The recall campaign needed to gather signatures from 35,825 registered voters in Adams' district to call for a recall election. The campaign gathered 58,384 signatures, but county election officials estimated only 24,579 - about 42percent - were valid.

Courtesy James Rufus Korean, SGV Tribune

Beyond CSU proposes huge enrollment cuts in 2010 As many as 30,000 students could get cut next year from California State University campuses because of a lack of state funding - a huge increase from the 4,000 student slots eliminated this fall to help deal with dwindling resources.

"Oh dang. That is scary, and it's sad," said Brianne Langstaff, 17, a senior at La Serna High School in Whittier who is in the midst of applying to two CSU campuses.

"I'm really, really excited about the idea of being in college," Langstaff said. "But I'm really stressed out figuring out how to make it all happen."

High school counselors across the San Gabriel Valley and Whittier areas say they will still encourage students to apply for admission to the lower-cost CSU system, which has 23 campuses and about 450,000 students.

The catch? Students will need to apply quickly, as most campuses close their application period on Monday.

Already, CSU officials have seen a 30-percent increase in admissions applications submitted online compared to last year, with more than 391,000 received so far.

Courtesy Tracy Garcia, SGV Tribune

News

Citrus College Clarion Page 2

Humanities professor passes away Andrew Vasquez Clarion Op-Ed Editor Citrus College humanities professor Dr. Robert Evans died Nov. 16 after a decade-long battle with cancer.

Evans, who holds a bachelor and master’s degrees in philosophy from Cal State University Long Beach and master and Juris Doctorate degrees from the University of Southern California, began his tenure at Citrus College in September of 1987.

Evans taught humanities classes and philosophy in the behavioral sciences department until he was diagnosed with terminal cancer earlier this year.

His colleague and friend of 18 years, dean of behavioral sciences Dr. Michael Hurtado, described him as a true intellectual.

“One of my favorite memories of him was watching him teach,” Hurtado said. “He didn't bring any notecards or show a PowerPoint to guide him. It was all from his memory. He had a brilliant mind.”

Hurtado said that working with Evans for over a decade he saw how he sought more for his students to learn concepts than to just pass his class.

“He had a passion for working with people and having them understand concepts of war, peace, charity, ethics and other philosophical topics,” Hurtado said.

Fellow philosophy professor Rudy Saldana said that Evans’ intellect was matched by his love for teaching.

“In his lectures he sought to emulate the great speakers of the past,” Saldana said. “Aristotle, Plato, Hume: all of them were his inspirations.”

“I learned from him that ‘when giving lectures we may have heard this many times but students are hearing the information for the first time so we have

Dr. Robert Evans. Courtesy Citrus College External Relations to tell it like it is the first time for as a receptionist in the Louis E. us as well,’” he said.

Zellers Center for Innovation, Saldana said that Evans was said that Evans would always say also an enthusiastic sports fan hi to her whenever he would and athlete. come in and then goodbye when“Bob was always young at ever he left. heart,” Saldana said. “He was an “He was an amazing man. He avid fan of the Angels baseball always had a smile on his face team and had season tickets.” and you could never tell what he “One of my favorite memories was going through,” she said. of Bob was seeing him race his His funeral was held on Saturson across campus,” he said. day, November 21, 2009 in Long “They were neck and neck the Beach. whole time.”

He is survived by his wife But his friends all agree he Becky of 23 years, his children, loved his family and his students Rachel, 21, Bobby, 19, and above all else.

Rickey, 15, and his father Robert “He was in a lot of pain but he W. Evans. was incredibly tough,” Hurtado said. “He fought through the cancer to spend time with family Andrew Vasquez and friends.”

Lahiana Joy Abuan, a 20-yearcan be reached at old psychology major who works ccclarion@hotmail.com

Food drive: Students give back for holidays vides services to domestic violence victims, and the Foothill Unity Center, a non-profit organization that delivers food to families in need.

The college’s goal is to collect 5,000 cans of food or toys, student trustee Karine Ponce said.

“There are 20,000 people in this school,” Ponce said. “If every person donates at least one can or toy, that would be more than enough.”

For disadvantaged families throughout Southern California, food and toy drives like Citrus’ can have quite an impact.

“One can from somebody can make a difference to someone else,” Bradly said.

Celia & Matt can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com

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News Citrus College Clarion Page 3 ASCC election brings fresh and familiar faces November 25, 2009

Dustin Call Clarion News Editor The election for student government officers for the spring 2010 semester is scheduled to be held on campus on Tuesday, Dec. 1 and Wednesday, Dec. 2.

This semester, the student body has nine candidates to consider for Associated Students of Citrus College offices, which are: student trustee-elect, vice president, and seven senator positions The student trustee-elect will shadow the current student trustee during the spring semester and take over next fall. The student trustee is the student representative on the Board of Trustees.

The ASCC vice president assists the president with his/her duties and fills in during his/her absence.

Senators act as representatives for different constituencies on campus, such as certain student services or academic departments.

A forum will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25 in the Handy Campus Center for the candidates to answer questions.

Alejandra Delgado, 23 psycho-biology Current ASCC senator CANDIDATE FOR: STUDENT TRUSTEE ELECT “I think I have a lot of great ideas and I think I’m very well rounded, and if you speak to anybody I can get along with pretty much anybody.”

“One of the goals that I have is to make people more aware of healthcare and the services that are offered through our student health center. So I definitely want to advocate for that.”

Karlyn Bradley, 20 psychology Current ASCC president CANDIDATE FOR: STUDENT TRUSTEE ELECT “I’m not entirely sure what my platform would be, what I want to accomplish as student trustee, I just know that I want to be the voice of the students because I’m not afraid to disagree with administrators on things and I think that that is something powerful that you need to have being any kind of student leader. You need to able to say no to people sometimes and I think that’s the one thing I do have is that I’m not afraid to tell them no.”

Stefano Saltalamacchia, 20 political science Former ASCC president CANDIDATE FOR: VICE PRESIDENT

Tamara Dubini, 20 computer science Current ASCC senator CANDIDATE FOR: SENATOR

Leonel Marroquin, 18 business administration CANDIDATE FOR: SENATOR “I have always wanted to use my leadership skills to help my school. Change is always good.

“I'm just going to do my job and help Citrus become a better college. I'm willing to speak, listen, teach, and learn. This will test my leadership skills. I'm willing to do what ever it takes.”

“I can offer to be there to here them, to be the ear to hear them and represent their voice. I don’t really mind saying and idea which I don’t really believe in but its still from the students because I do represent them. So I will not just delete a recommendation that I heard from a student just because I don’t believe in it.”

Trafficking: Horror recalled awareness as to just how desperate people in other countries are.”

Towards the end of the event, Maria Suarez leader and trainer in the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST) leadership development program for survivors, talked about her experience with human trafficking.

Suarez, moved from Mexico to the United States with her family when she was 15. Together they settled in Sierra Madre where Suarez lived for a year.

According to police reports, at age 16, she met a woman who befriended her and offered her a job as a housekeeper.

Instead of working, Suarez was sold for $200 to Covarrubias, a 68year-old retired railroad worker who at the time was living in Azusa.

“He said he had bought me for $200 and that I was his slave,” Suarez said.

For five years, Covarrubias, who

called himself a “brujo” or witch, raped her and physically and mentally abused her.

This went on for 5 years until one day on Aug. 27, 1981 a man named Rene Soto moved in behind Covarrubias’ house.

Soto stabbed Covarrubias to death with a table leg and told Suarez to hide the murder weapon and, as a result of her compliance, she served nearly 23 years in prison.

“This is my life, this is my pain. I share it with all of you so that you can understand.” Said Suarez.

“Human trafficking victims can be your brothers, your sisters, your parents, and your most loved friends,” said Suarez.

For more information log on to http://www.humantrafficking.org

Sandra Lopez can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com

“The fact of the matter is that right now representation is definitely important. Education is not the first priority in this state and I think that trickles down to the basic levels of the attendees of a community college. People need to be more excited for the educational communities that they’re a part of. And this is definitely a proud institution to be a part of.”

Erick Sanzon, 18 psychology CANDIDATE FOR: SENATOR “I hope to accomplish helping the school out any way possible.

I know that the school is being affected by our economic crisis and I think that my job is to put those problems to a minimum.

I’m going to try to come up with different solutions or propose different ideas in order for the school or the department that I’m in charge of to not be affected as much.”

Ruben Haro, 22 civil engineering CANDIDATE FOR: SENATOR “I’m a go-getter. I work hard.

I’m goal oriented. I’m ambitious.

Currently I’m working with the math department trying to have calculus 2 offered in the winter. So I’ve already spoken with the dean. I spoke with the vice president, Irene Malmgren about getting calculus 2 in for the students because it’s going to benefit them a lot. They should vote for me because I’m already taking the initiative without having the position.”

Christopher Saenz, 18 political science CANDIDATE FOR: SENATOR

James Schaaf, 21 business management CANDIDATE FOR: SENATOR “I’ve experienced the highs and lows of life in general and challenges of going to school while facing these ups and downs, so I feel that my personal experience would help as a guiding point toward my decisions to keep as many people in mind as possible when making my decisions.”

“I have serious patience so I’d be willing to sit down and listen to anybody. I work with seven year olds so I have this great deal of patience. If somebody gives me a task I’ll follow through on it until I’m done. I’ll go out for help if I need it. I’ll be willing to help anybody that asks for help. I just know that I can offer a lending hand when asked of.”

Gold Line: Eager for extension ward to working with the construction authority, to continue the momentum of this… and create the world-class system that we know is within reach for the entire county,” Najarian said.

Phase 2A is just one part of the bigger picture, there is yet to look forward to in the future such as the completion of Phase 2B from Azusa to Montclair, and further extension to the Ontario Airport.

So far it’s “All Aboard” for the Gold Line Extension.

Anazarry Danganan can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com

Anazarry Danganan Citrus College Clarion Congresswoman Judy Chu stands proudly with members from the surrounding local communities during the celebration of the extention of the Gold Line.

Citrus College Clarion

Life

November 25, 2009

Life Editor Courtney Mitchell - clarion.life@live.com

Page 5

Former vice president promotes book on ‘choice’ Ericka Sebastian Clarion Correspondent

and Susana Guitron Clarion Correspondent It was not an ordinary night on the posh streets of Beverly Hills.

Traffic filled Wilshire boulevard as we approached the Saban Theater with “AL GORE” shining in bright lights on the marquee.

The former vice president made a stop in L.A. last week on his nationwide tour promoting his new book, “Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis.”

“Our Choice” is an inspiring call to action and is a follow-up where “An Inconvenient Truth” left off. The book contains stunning photographs and abundant visual graphics with chapters and chapters detailing solutions to

www.ecorazzi.com

fight the global warming crisis.

Hundreds filled the purple velvet seats of the dimly-lit theater as Gore delivered his speech. He went over the chapters one by one and at times lost me when he discussed geothermal energy and carbon capture and sequestration.

However, he exuded a casual vibe and seemed very approachable

standing alone on that stage.

His presentation was nothing like what you might have seen in “An Inconvenient Truth,” with special technological effects and sophisticated slideshows.

With just one podium and one spotlight shining on him, Gore conveyed his message and elicited cheers from the crowd when he encouraged the will to make a change.

“Were you distracted?” Gore asked. “Or were you too busy watching ‘Dancing with the Stars’?” Laughter and cheers erupted from the room as he let his southern gentleman personality shine through, casually making jokes and delivering inspiring lines.

He stressed the importance of everyone assuming responsibility to make changes in lifestyle in order to make a difference.

“I was already in this mindset and hearing him talk tonight was

Former Vice President Al Gore

like preaching to the choir. It was great,” UCLA student Mark Mallook said. “It was a nice L.A. home crowd. Everyone here pretty much loved him.”

As the event commenced, the crowd rushed to form lines around the theater to get their complimentary copy of “Our Choice,” signed by Gore. The politician and

author greeted everyone with a friendly “hello” and “thank you.”

“I learned so much tonight and really felt his passion,” said Sulien Bryant of Long Beach, admitting she was still a bit star-struck after hearing the former vice president talk.

Gore continues to reach out to young people to make a difference and influence those who still do not believe a climate crisis is even in existence.

“I feel this commitment growing all over the world, especially from the younger generation,” he said. “We don’t have the luxury of time and we must all make a choice.”

Ericka Sebastian and Susana Guitron can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com

Citrus student urges others to join walk for Africa Rene Lewis Clarion Correspondent I often hear these words from students: “Rene, I wish we could do more to help.”

A critical component of our college education is becoming aware of others’ circumstances.

In classes ranging from theology to economics, we learn about and discuss deplorable living conditions that exist around the world.

Whether these areas are plagued by corrupt governments, economic despair, or chronic civil war, one thing is clear: The citizens of these countries deserve better. Clean water, food and shelter should not be luxuries.

They are essentials needed for survival.

So often I struggle with the question of what can I—and should I—do? Outside of community service here and there, and a meager tithe that goes to supporting a church and a children’s diabetic camp, my husband and I pretty much concentrate on providing for ourselves and our future. Work, school, sleep, repeat.

How can I make a difference?

I was pondering that very question while I was posting to Blackboard for a sociology class.

Wealth and poverty was the topic.

I was posting from a wi-fi zone in Downtown Disney when suddenly a crowd closed in around my park bench. The mob was fixed on a man with a megaphone.

Drawn to the commotion, I abandoned my homework.

“What is going on?” I asked observer Tiffany Huffman, a student at Fullerton College.

“That’s Hanson,” she said.

“Hanson, like ‘Mmmbop;’ they’re still around?”

“Yeah, they are getting us ready for the walk.” She shifted to one side, lifted her bare foot and wig-

gled her toes.

“Before every concert, they walk a mile barefoot with anyone who will join them, for people in Africa.”

She went on to explain that Hanson donates a dollar for every person who walks. Education, clean water, AIDS prevention, healthcare, and shoes: they support them all. You pick where your dollar goes. Huffman chose education.

I pushed through the crowd to hear Zack Hanson, of the musical trio of brothers, speak.

“It is up to our generation to use the tools we have to reach out and help those who cannot help themselves!”

The crowd responded with cheers. I knelt down and slid off my shoes.

Footwear in hand, I walked side by side with youth from all around SoCal. With every contact of foot to asphalt, I though of those who can only go where their feet can take them. I thought of mothers whose children die without clean water to sustain them.

Emotions stirred in me. The hairs on my neck prickled as excitement rushed through the parade. We talked about possibilities and our hopes for the future. Jessica Alani of Mt. San Jacinto talked about why she chose to give her dollar to healthcare, believing everyone has the right to be medically treated. Alexandra Wysoki said that she believes in the cause of AIDS prevention so deeply that she chose to attend Chapman University after attending a walk on that campus.

As I listened to the walkers tell their stories, I began to realize that I am equipped to help. I have a voice, and I belong to a campus full of students who want to help.

So I am calling all of you to action. I am proud to announce that I, along with UMOJA, will be hosting a walk at Citrus College

Rene Lewis College Clarion Zack Hanson of the band “Hanson” speaks to a crowd of participants in a walk to raise money for AIDS prevention, education, healthcare and shoes for people in Africa. on Dec. 8 at noon that will begin in front of the library. UMOJA is a learning community on campus that is designed to encourage students through the completion of their studies at Citrus. The students of UMOJA work to better themselves and support others on campus.

As critical thinkers, students know society’s first obligation is to meet the most basic needs of its people in order to provide a foundation from which to grow. This is why with our walk I have chosen to support water wells. One well can transform a village whose women and children must walk miles each day to collect water,

which is often dirty, filled with disease-causing bacteria and parasites.

All you need to bring is yourself and a willingness to help.

Hanson will be donating a dollar towards a new well for every person who makes the walk.

Some might question why we should be concerned with people around the world when U.S. citizens need help. Yes, there are an infinite amount of things we can do to help our own people, but the reality is that there is a vast disparity that exists between the poor of America and the poor in the poorest of countries. A child in Africa that is surrounded by a

desert that is surrounded by a war zone cannot get to a shelter, receive food stamps, or walk to a water fountain.

They should not be forgotten.

If you have ever said to yourself, “I wish I could do something,” then come. Walk with us for a cause that is bigger than yourself. An impact cannot be made without the efforts of many.

We all have alert minds, open hearts, and the desire to make a difference. Take action. Join us.

Rene Lewis can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com

Page 6 Citrus College Clarion

Life

November 25, 2009

Don’t sit on the sidelines of your education Courtney Mitchell Clarion Life Editor As the semester winds down, I’m sure you have already figured out that college can literally suck the life right out of you.

Classes, finals, essays and homework: Any full-time student understands the demanding schedule.

But hopefully by now you have figured out a system that works for you.

Your first semester in college is like being blindfolded and dropped into a foreign country.

Almost like your first day in kindergarten, or your first day at a new job, you have no idea what to expect.

However, there are a few tools which you can utilize to make your spring semester here at Citrus College the best it can be.

First, take advantage of the winter session. It is only eight weeks long, which means the class goes twice as fast, but it will help you crank out three or more units to move you ahead on your student educational plan.

Don’t think of winter session as a two-month break that the school gives us because we are

awesome students. Think of it as a strategy for staying ahead.

In the event that you may be going on a holiday vacation, you might consider taking a distance education class.

As an expert in DE classes (I take at least one a semester), I understand that some students can handle it while others are simply not as motivated to succeed in a non-classroom environment.

Read the chapter, write an essay, and take a quiz: If you can work on your own and stay on top of the syllabus, Citrus is offering several options for the winter session.

The second tool to success is not only choosing classes that you think you will succeed in but also professors that have been said to be the best.

RateMyProfessor.com is a nationwide open forum that allows students to freely rate and comment on their teachers.

For those of you who have never checked it out, put down the newspaper and get yourself to a computer. This Web site gives mini-profiles on all professors that you have had in the past, currently do have, or will likely have in the future.

Last week was my first time exploring the ratings of the Cit-

Spring 2010 in

rus faculty and so far, the student comments have been extremely accurate.

Dustin Call, the Clarion news editor, said he used this Web site to pick his current math professor, with whom he is very happy.

Although I do not use this site to choose my own schedule, many students use it to pick the best professors.

If there is anyone we trust the most, it is our peers: They give us the truth.

A final tool that can be used to make your spring semester easier for you is to get involved: Run for student government, join the Clarion staff, audition for a school

play, or start your own club.

You know the phrase, “Speak now or forever hold your peace.”

The same concept can be applied to college: These four years are an experiment. There may never be another time in your life where opportunities like this come up.

When I joined the Clarion staff, I thought they were all uptight, over-opinionated students, set in their own ways of doing things.

Turns out I have everything imaginable in common with them and they have become like my second family: The overprotective brother, the fun-loving younger sister, the organized yet strict parents, and that weird cousin you always dread seeing every year at Thanksgiving.

However, I love them as if they were my own family.

They say that college is an experiment, right? So take a risk, walk on the wild side.

Enroll in a winter class, check out RateMyProfessor.com, and join a club. Make your next semester at Citrus the best it can be.

Courtney Mitchell can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com

Spain

APPLICATIONS DUE NOVEMBER 25

Life

November 25, 2009

Citrus College Clarion Page 7

If I had a million dollars... I’d spend it on classes Dustin Call

Perhaps I am in part to blame for not applying for financial aid last year. I was, however, paying with scholarship money then and just didn’t do it at the time.

Those funds have since run out and now expenses for enrollment fees and textbooks are coming out of our already-shallow pockets.

Clarion News Editor Do you ever feel like there are some things in your life that you just always have bad luck with?

I do. Mine happens to be my 18-year-old Ford Explorer.

What’s yours?

I should not have been surprised that, right when the holidays are approaching, and winter and spring registration are soon to begin—the combination of both meaning empty pockets— one of my tires decided to give up on me.

It was $105 to get it replaced.

And that was for a cheaper tire.

Maybe this wouldn’t be such a big deal at a different time of the year. But when it happened, my wife and I simply did not have the money to pay for it (and we still don’t).

So for four days, I was either stuck at home or getting rides to and from school from my wife and friends.

Now that it’s fixed, my next problem is figuring out how I am going to register for both spring and winter terms, and still have

“

Registering for classes has turned into a digital Black Friday.

”

money left over for the holidays.

If you think that being married automatically means achieving financially stability, I wish you were right.

The whole economic meltdown has not really affected my wife and I all that much—you can’t really get much lower when you are barely making it anyway.

But now with the state’s fiscal screw-up, cuts to education funding, way too many people trying

to get into college, and not enough courses available, registering for classes has turned into a digital Black Friday.

Survival of the fittest has turned into survival of those with an early registration appointment.

So since I would really like to transfer sometime soon, I have to register for all of the classes that I want in both winter and spring on the date of my registration appointment or they are sure to be

full.

I’m sure I am not alone in this dilemma.

This means that I have no choice but to throw down several hundred dollars right before I have to start my Christmas shopping.

Whose idea was this?!

If you are on my Christmas list, your presents are going to be homemade this year. Sorry. Blame Sacramento.

As I wrote in one of my earlier columns, my wife is supporting us financially right now so I can give my full attention to doing well in school and to being an editor at the newspaper.

Guess it’s time to find a parttime job.

Anybody know of any job openings that will last longer than the seasonal positions and not require me to miss spending the holidays with my wife?

I thought not.

Dustin Call can be reached at clarion.news@live.com

cmyk

Page 8 Citrus College Clarion

Christopher Lopez Citrus College Clarion Commissioner of Public Safety played by Jeff Gadigan displays his distaste for Lysistrata while Athenian Man 4 played by Kevin Figueroa looks on.

Lysistrata played by Arlene Marin, gathers the Athenian women around her to pray unto the goddess Athena in the

Paula Gomez’s shining moment Jonathan Rowe Clarion Correspondent

Christopher Lopez Citrus College Clarion Lysistrata threatens Commisione of Public Safety with an anal probe by hedge trimmers on a phallic stage in the Little Theater.

Christopher Lopez Citrus College Clarion Myrrhine, played by Summer Stratton, looks on with despair with friend Of Myrrhine, played by Lauren Sanatra. cmyk

Climbing the stairs of the Performing Arts Building, I hear voices even before reaching the third-floor rehearsal room.

An open door reveals the source of the clamor to be various students scrambling about for a rehearsal of the closing dance from “Lysistrata,” an adaptation of an ancient Greek play recently performed in the Little Theatre.

Amid all the commotion in the rehearsal room, Citrus College student Paula Gomez sits in the corner, an open binder in lap.

She fastidiously peruses its contents, resting her forehead on her hand, as if trying to isolate her thoughts and tune out the chaos surrounding her. It is clearly a busy afternoon.

As more and more performers arrive, the relieved expression on her face lends her the countenance of someone that is not only busy, but happy to be busy.

She greets all the actors who have arrived on time, and amicably scolds the latecomers.

Taking note of who has arrived and who is running late is just one of her many functions as the stage manager for “Lysistrata,” arguably the most enduring anti-war play of all time.

Asked about her inspiration to become a stage manager, she has a ready joke.

“There has to be a job where I can yell at people and be heard,” says the 26-year-old theater technologies major.

As an Ontario High School student, Gomez participated in Concert Choir, but after seeing how much of the performance depended on what happened behind the scenes, she was inspired to

Paula Gomez pursue a new direction.

“Working behind the scenes teaches you how to deal with people better,” she explains. “I’ve learned to be a better multi-tasker, to juggle multiple things at once, all the while being a solid sheepherder.”

Being stage manager means “being responsible to know everything,” she says.

In the performance of “Lysistrata,” Gomez has a long list of responsibilities.

She’s in charge of knowing when the actors are available, scheduling rehearsals, then making sure everyone gets the schedule.

It also means making sure everyone arrives on time, feeding lines, and identifying anyone who might be athe “weakest link.”

And that’s just during a rehearsal.

Before anything, she has to make sure the stage is available for a given rehearsal, scheduling the studio for a dance run-through if necessary, and submitting daily rehearsal reports to the production staff.

On show night, she is also in charge of the production crew and ushers.

In short, she ties the whole production together by making sure everyone knows what’s going on.

Gomez was asked by technical director Dan Volonte if she would be interested in managing.

“The only way he would even pick you is if he thinks you will be responsible enough to do a show,” she said.

Gomez is part of the Emerging Theater Technologies program, which offers Citrus students classes needed to land a job in theater.

“As a tech, it’s all about what you know,” she says. “It’s not like being an actor where you have to worry about looking and sounding great.”

Gomez acknowledges there are more behind-the-scenes opportunities in theater as opposed to jobs for actors.

She plans to make a career of her passion.

“My dream is to be a full-time stage manager at a small theater somewhere, nothing too big,” she says.

But even dreamers have their apprehensions.

“I work better in a small theater because there’s not so much pressure,” she said. “I still have a fear of failure though…I’m not used to failing.”

Her aspiration serves as a lesson that contentment can be achieved not in the boldest, highest-paying job, but rather in one that allows you to follow your life passion.

Once the curtain drops and the actors are applauded, Gomez won’t take the stage to receive her due recognition.

She finds a quiet contentment however, knowing that she’s contributed to an artistic expression that she loves.

Jonathan Rowe can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com

cmyk

November 25,, 2009 Page 9

Christopher Lopez Citrus College Clarion

Lysistrata played by Arlene Marin, confronts a chorus of Athenian men.

Chris Lopez Citrus College Clarion Lampido, a Spartan woman played

by Chelsea Brynd lounges on the floor of the Little Theater during a dress rehearsal of Lysistrata, a modern version of the ancient Greek play.

Anazarry Danganan Citrus College Clarion Little Theater at Citrus College

Lysistrata seizes the Little TheatRe

Jonathan Rowe

Clarion Correspondent

Anazarry Danganan Citrus College Clarion “Myrrhine played by Summer Stratton seduces her husband Kinesias played by Travis Croushore

Anazarry Danganan Citrus College Clarion “The Spartan Herald played by Christopher Webb shocks the crowd with his ‘rod of staff ’ as he walks through the audience onto the stage, describing how hard it is in Sparta.”

Seeing the timeless Greek comedy “Lysistrata” performed at Citrus College’s Little Theatre was an absolute pleasure.

Written by Aristophanes during the 30-year Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta in the 5th century B.C, the play challenges gender stereotypes, exposing the futility of war and the power of sex.

The protagonist, Lysistrata, who is fed up with her countrymen’s incessant fighting, enlists the help of her fellow women to put an end to it, once and for all.

Their outré plan is to abstain from sex with their husbands until they sign a treaty to end the war.

As Lysistrata says, “It’s not copulation without cooperation.”

The women’s initial reluctance to stick to their own plan, and the men’s futile attempts to regain control of the Acropolis, provide for much hilatiry.

Careful attention to detail was apparent in the Little Theatre set.

Metallic luster contrasted with rustic overtones, creating a scene that perfectly balanced futuristic architecture with post-apocalyptic destruction.

Strewn about the stage were dangling wires, various spare car parts, and other miscellaneous metal objects.

The floor and walls were painted with a matrix of silver lines and dots, resembling a giant computer chip.

There was certainly no shortage of phallic symbols, as everything from the hair and tattoos, to the stage and props were reminiscent of phalli.

From a purely aesthetic approach, the diversity and audacity of the costumes was impressive.

With each character that took the stage, I felt like stopping the whole show just so I could get a closer look.

The costumes were a flamboyant mish-mash of different fabrics and patterns sewn together, and the various patches, pins, and buttons of pop-culture references reminded audience members that this is our world, in the future.

One character sported a skirt made entirely of ties, and various tattoos and leather straps accessorized the characters.

Everyone had their own crazy hair style, which added perfectly to their wild look.

Lampito’s bra, fashioned out of a pair of funnels, was an accessory worthy of Lady Gaga’s wardrobe, while the male chorus sported a skull on each shoulder with spikes coming out the ends to accent their brutal character.

The sheer sartorial eccentricity played a vital role in convincing the audience that this was set in a postapocalyptic future whose inhabitants resort to scavenging to meet their basic needs.

Lysistrata’s relatively tame red dress with a Medici collar distinguished her from the rest of the ensemble, and accented her role as a vehement leader.

Audience members left the production with the feeling that they had played an active role in the play.

In several instances, actors interacted with the audience or used the seating area as an extension of the stage.

In the opening scene, Lysistrata walked into the theater from behind the audience and descended onto the scene.

At one point, the male chorus marched under the audience bleachers, hitting their weapons against the wood along the way, emerging from the other side.

In another scene, several women sneak out at night and are meandering around the stage trying to avoid detection by Lysistrata.

Wondering whatever happened to her, I turned to my right, and there she was sitting on someone’s lap!

The fact that everyone seemed comfortable and confident in their roles lent plausibility to the performance.

Arlene Marin seemed to be exploding with confidence, and delivered her lines articulately and authoritatively.

Another perfectly cast role was Chelsea Brynd as the Spartan warrior Lampito.

An inherent virility transpired from her performance.

Paired with untamed savage hair and a leopard print skirt, it distinguished her as a symbol of female strength.

Overall all the women exuded a sense of sexiness and threatening dominance, which I’m sure kept all the men in the audience interested.

The performance was engaging, and all the elements came together in a cohesive way, as testament to Cherie Brown’s excellent directing.

The audience walked out feeling entertained and enlightened.

The appeal of Lysistrata, is that its theme remains relevant even thousands of years after it was written.

Jonathan Rowe can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com cmyk

Citrus College Clarion

Sports November 25, 2009

Page 10

Sports Editor Erica Irigoyen - ccclarion@hotmail.com

Losing season can’t kill volleyball team’s optimism Dustin Call Clarion News Editor

W

ith nine freshmen on a 14-player roster, the women’s volleyball team was in for a rough 2009 season.

After losing their last game of the season to L.A. Pierce College 3-1 on Nov. 19, the team’s record for the season concluded at six wins, 14 losses; a slight improvement from last season’s 5-18 record.

“It was very disappointing,” said Coach Shin Jung of the season. This was Jung’s third season as head coach.

“With the freshman coming in, we were hoping we would have a great season, but obviously it did not work out that way,” Jung said.

However, the Lady Owls made Pierce’s Brahmas earn their victory in that last game.

Citrus aggressively took the first game in the set, and despite barley losing the next two, they were ahead for most of those games, pushing game three all the way to 28-30, far past the needed 25.

It was during the fourth game in the match when their defense

eased up they fell apart, losing 25-15.

Despite the loss, the owls played a very good blocking game, racking up 19 total blocks for the team.

“If our block is there, our whole game goes up,” libero Tatiana Quiocho said. “I think that’s what got us going tonight.”

What the team is lacking in, however, is the rest of what should comprise good defense.

“We had some great moments, but our inability to pass the ball and play defense was a downfall for our season this year,” Jung said.

“Passing and defense is the name of volleyball, it’s not offense. If you can’t pick up the ball, you can’t get into an offense.

So we’ve got to improve on that next year.”

With the large number of freshman on the team this season, Jung and his players have big hopes and motivation to succeed next season.

“We have a great outlook. We want to go to the playoffs,” Jung said. “That was our goal this year.

Obviously, it didn’t work out, but with all these freshman coming back, we should be able to make playoffs next year.”

Outside hitter Lindsay Mitchell, the team’s top offensive

Dustin Call Citrus College Clarion With Pierce players trying to block her, outside hitter Lindsay Mitchell goes in for the kill during the Owls’ final games of the season against the Brahmas on Thursday, Nov. 19. Citrus lost three games to one. scorer, said that the young team has a lot of potential, and she agrees with Jung in that the Owls could make it to the playoffs next year.

“I think we had a lot of po-

tential, but we went through a few rough patches,” Mitchell said. “We just really had a hard time playing together as a team. I don’t think we really connected very well, but we definitely have

Cross country season comes to a close Sandra Lopez Clarion Editor In Chief ross Country had their final match last Saturday afternoon at Woodward Park in Fresno.

It was a close match as just a matter of a few minutes separated 5th place from 22nd. The Lady Owls finished 20th place out of 26th Sophomore Vanessa Esquivel saved her best for last as she finished with a time of 19:31.44. Making her time the best Citrus has seen in two years.

Esquivel placed 38th out of 200 runners.

Also standing in good performance was freshmen Melissa Granados. With a time of

C

20:03.07, Granados placed 65th while Cynthia Acedo was running behind her and finished 108th place with a time of 20:44.23.

The Lady Owls had strong trio in their team. Crystal Moreno placed 124th, Carolina Villagomez placed 194th and Alexis Aguilar placed 195th.

The Lady Owls started their cross-country season strong and finished with a good season.

They qualified for the second time in the Southern California Championships thanks to their outstanding performance at the Western State Conference Championships.

During the Southern California Championships Esquivel finished in 13th place while Granados finished 17h place, and

coming shortly after her came Acedo in 33rd place.

Sophomore Daniel Mendoza took 59th place in the finals. The Fighting Owls still struggled however, as they came in 13th out of13 teams.

As the Owls best male runner this year, Mendoza became the lone male representative in the 2009 CCCAA State Championships.

While the Lady Owls finished in the top 100, Mendoza finished in 164th place with a time of 24:07.

Sandra Lopez can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com

the potential to connect very well and play well together.”

Dustin Call can be reached at clarion.news@live.com

Neil Edwards Classic Participating Colleges: Victor Valley Citrus College San Diego City East L.A. College Imperial Valley College Orange Coast College Mt. San Antonio College Chaffey College Game 1: Citrus vs. Victor Valley Fri., Nov. 27 @ 1 p.m.

Sports

November 25, 2009

Citrus College Clarion Page 11

Owls lose once more

Courtesy of Citrus College Sports Information Office

Ashley Broussard Clarion A&E Editor

T

his was the 10th loss in a row for the Owls, but despite this season’s stats, the team showed up undaunted for every game and ready for anything.

“We knew we had a good team, but it seemed we had no luck on our side, so we just kept our heads fresh and ready to compete,” said Jerry Flores, one of eight sophomores completing their time with the team.

Regardless of their lengthy

losing streak, Owl supporters still showed up ready to cheer on their team.

With fans yelling the names of their favorite Citrus players, as well as their opinions of referee calls throughout the entire game, the Owls showed they appreciated the support with smiling glances to the crowd.

For most of the game, the Owls were on the defensive, with the first half closing with a score of 2-0 Moorpark.

The Owls demonstrated teamwork as they blocked three attempted goals in a row all of which happened within 20 seconds of each other.

“

We struggled to score throughout the season, and every scoring chance we had was critical.

”

Jerry Flores Sophomore defender

The crowd screamed with sadness when they thought Moorpark was about to score but

quickly switched to cheers of happiness when the repeated attempts were blocked.

Owls mid-fielder George Tovar, scored the lone Citrus goal, which brought the crowd to their feet.

The excitement did not last long, as eventually Moorpark scored their third goal of the game when Citrus goalie Albert Torres was too far away from the goal to block the shot by Moorpark Fernando Zandarin.

“We needed to capitalize on the mistakes we made the first time we played them,” Torres said.

“We struggled to score

throughout the season, and every scoring chance we had was critical. Other than that, we played very well.”

The Owls unsuccessfully tried to score again, and the game ended with the team’s Western State Conference record of 0-131 and a season record of 2-16-2 while Moorpark left the game with a season record of 11-6-2 and Conference score of 9-4-1.

Ashley Broussard can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com

Owls take out tigers, 26-16, in season closer Erica Irigoyen Clarion Sports Editor

Chris Lopez Citrus College Clarion Owls freshman running back Branden Stansell lays the smack down on a Riverside Community College defender

The football team ended the fall 2009 season on a high note, defeating the Riverside City College Tigers 26-16 on Nov. 15 at the Citrus Stadium Citrus head Coach Ron Ponciano said that even though the game started slow, “the team really responded well.”

After struggling at the beginning, the offense came back in the second half as Citrus quarterback Byron Ingram threw a 33-yard pass to Isaac Tucker right into the end zone.

After that, there was no stopping the Fighting Owls.

After the Citrus defense shut down Riverside’s offense, Ingram threw a 11-yard pass to Mathew Cheaney, giving Citrus a 14-13 lead with a little over eight minutes to play in the third quarter.

Although the Tigers made a 39-yard field goal that put them ahead 16-14, the Owls’ momentum continued as they drove 72

The Owls ended their season with a win-loss record of 3-7 and 2-4 in WSC yards in 10 plays for another touchdown.

Three plays later, Citrus was in the end zone again after Ingram threw a 34-yard pass to Tyra Waits and finished the game.

The Owls were partially motivated by history.

“We were completely humiliated at last years game against Riverside,” Ponciano said. “It was a complete blood bath, and we had a ton to prove. We definitely succeeded in that goal.”

Riverside Tigers head coach Bill Brown was more than just a little disappointed.

“The game was extremely sluggish,” said Btown. “We just didn’t think that we would have to worry about catching up in the fourth quarter because we

thought we would keep the lead for the whole game.”

It was a tough season for the Fighting Owls football team, with 3 wins and 7 losses.

Nevertheless, the Citrus coaches never gave up, and neither did the team.

“Even though we could’ve done better this season, I am really proud of the team, and I love coach,” said Citrus defensive linebacker Jesse Kirkland.

Sophomore and linebacker Maurice Williams agreed.

“We all did really good, and it was definitely the way to end for the sophomores,” he said.

Citrus quarterback Ingram said that he was proud of the way the team ended the season.

“We really came out and pushed ourselves hard,” he said.

“I love my team, and I am really going to miss them next season.”

Erica Irigoyen can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com

Citrus College Clarion

Arts & Entertainment Page 12

Arts & Entertainment Editor Ashley Broussard - ccclarion@hotmail.com

November 25, 2009

‘Blind side’ story of an unlikely football star Kristin Lacuesta

Clarion Staff Writer ‘The Blind Side’ is the perfect mix of comedy, conflict and drama, although is not your typical holiday movie, looks at the importance of family.

Based on the true story of Baltimore Ravens offensive left-tackle Michael Oher, this film takes us on the journey of his life from growing up in the projects of Memphis to being drafted into the NFL. Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) as a child is taken away from his family and becomes a ward of the state as his mother is a drug-addict. He moves from foster home to foster home but always ends up running away. Eventually he moves in with his neighbor, his

wife and son Steven.

One day Oher, his neighbor and his neighbor’s son drive down to a prestigious Christian private school to try and get Steven enrolled there. But the football coach there takes one look at Oher as he is real tall as well as husky and petitions to the school’s academic board to get Oher in, although he only has a 0.06 GPA. They allow him in, but do not let him play football until he raises his grades.

The neighbors he lives with are upset that he got in to the school and not their son, that they kick him out and he becomes homeless.

With nowhere to go Oher finds himself walking down the street in the rain headed towards his school’s gym to sleep. As he’s walking, a rich family the Touhy’s spot him and tell him to get in the

car and stay at their house for the night.

Leigh Anne Touhy (Sandra Bullock) makes him feel at home, but the next morning Oher leaves the house. As it is Thanksgiving day, Leigh Anne allows him to stay and eat with her family: her husband Sean Touhy (Tim McGraw), her son S.J. Touhy (Jae Head) and daughter Collins Touhy (Lily Collins).

The Touhy’s start to accept Oher as part of their family, eventually becoming his legal guardians.

They buy him clothes, a brand new car, and even give him his own bedroom which is when Oher says, “I’ve never had a bed before.”

Oher starts to change the lives of the Touhy’s, leading them to

some insightful self-discoveries of their own.

Oher eventually raises his GPA making him eligible to play football for his school. Unfortunately Oher has never played football in his life and is clueless to the sport.

Football Coach Cotton (Ray McKinnon) begins to lose hope on Oher, but Leigh Anne goes up to Oher and tells him that the football team is like his family and that he has to protect them, as Oher ranked in the 98 percentile in protective instincts.

He’s so good that college football scouts from all over the country visit Oher to try and recruit him. But Oher is faced with a dilemma when his now 1.76 GPA is still too low to receive a football scholarship which requires at least a 2.5 GPA.

Eventually Oher raises his GPA to a 2.52 and chooses to attend Ole Miss University, as that is the university Mr. and Mrs. Touhy attended.

There Oher becomes an AllAmerican offensive left tackle and was a First Round draft pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, being selected by the Baltimore Ravens.

This film not only taught one to appreciate the things they have in their life, but to also look beyond certain prejudices and to help improve the lives of those less fortunate.

It is a perfect family holiday movie.

Kristin Lacuesta can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com

‘New Moon’ bites wallets Stick to the saga’s books

5 paws up for New Moon

Erica Irigoyen

Courtney Mitchell

Clarion Sports Editor

Clarion Life Editor

It has always been said that books are ten times The second installment of the Twilight saga lives up better than the movies that follow. to all the hype and more with a new storyline, better actThat was certainly the case for “New Moon,” ing, and a new director. “New Moon” is a success in the the second movie of the Twilight Saga. eyes of avid readers and teen girls everywhere.

“New Moon” is extremely boring and, frankly, Beyond good looks and hot bodies, the film’s director just too hard to sit through.

Chris Weitz makes a better attempt to bringing the novel This movie was so highly anticipated that it had to life by enticing viewers to think that vampires and audiences wearing “Team Edward” or “Team werewolves really do live among us. Weitz’s resume also Jacob” shirts on November 20 when it finally preincludes “The Golden Compass,” “About a Boy,” and miered.

“American Pie.” But, to my disapWithin the first 20 minpointment, “New utes of “New Moon,” Moon” was nothing like movie watchers are heartwhat I thought it would broken as they watch Edbe. ward Cullen, played by This movie might Robert Pattinson, break up have been a bit if the acwith his beloved human tors actually knew how girlfriend Bella Swan, to play their roles. played by Kristen Stewart.

Not once throughout Though Bella feels as if the whole show did I she will never heal, she is feel the emotions of any McClatchy-Tribune Media Services warmed by the comfort of of the characters, childhood friend Jacob whether they were de- One thing we can agree on? The Twilight Saga Black, played by Taylor pressed, raging with books beat the films hands down.

Lautner. After spending anger or completely time with Jacob, she learns cheerful. that he too has a monstrous secret.

In the book, emotions were constantly pouring In one of Bella’s hazardous stunts, she crashes her out and, when Bella’s heart was broken by her motorcycle and hits her head on a rock. vampire love Edward, I truly felt her pain.

To stop the bleeding, Jacob throws off his T-shirt so New director Chris Weitz could have done a lot she can wrap it around the gash. better.

At this point, half the audience fainted over the beauty One positive about the movie is that it does folof Lautner’s new body, which he spent months preparlow the chronology of the book, including the ing for. transformation of the wolves. The animation It would seem obvious that the movies and books artists really did an excellent job. The transforwere targeted at teenage girls. However, if one can get mation of Jacob and his pack really made the past the issue of whether or not vampires and weremovie for me (well, kind of). wolves exist, then the story, scenery, and imagery are My suggestion for all you guys who have yet to enough to steal you away and make you want to move to watch this vampire, werewolf, teenage girl love triForks, Washington. angle story is to stay home and save your money This movie is for kids, adults, students, and anyone because it really bites. who believes in the love of two unlikely strangers and the trials they go through to defeat the odds.

Erica Irigoyen can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com

Courtney Mitchell can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com

A&E

November 25, 2009

Citrus College Clarion Page 13

Free your mind, express your soul Sandra Lopez Clarion Editor In Chief The first ever open mic event in the Handy Campus Center featured live music, rap, stand up comedy and poetry readings by Citrus College students.

The Nov. 18 “Free Your Mind” event is the brainchild of Karine Ponce, Citrus College’s student trustee. Ponce said that she was inspired to produce the event after viewing a documentary film titled, “Story of Human Rights.”

This documentary showcased the various types of oppression that people have endured for centuries, including suppression of the right to free expression.

It also expressed the viewpoint that everyone should have the right to basic survival needs, such as food and water.

“I regularly go to open mic events, and I wanted a place where students could go to express themselves,” Ponce said.

As the event progressed, about two dozen students from Citrus College and Azusa Pacific University began to show up.

There was a total of 15 students who participated and 18 acts.

Early on a Citrus student performed a derogatory rap about women and was cut short by Ponce.

When APU student Dacia Taleni, a 22-year-old social work major, went on stage with bongo player Michael Martinez, a 21-year-old youth ministries major and guitarist Adrian Mercado, a 21-year-old biology major, she sang, “My brother went on the mic today and talked about me in a derogatory way.”

Taleni went on to say she forgave the student for talking about women in an inappropriate way.

“I wanted to lighten up the mood and bring back the free-spirited and laid-back energy into the room,” said Taleni.

The rest of the performers were enjoyable.

Poetry was recited, musicians sang their hearts out, and artwork was displayed.

Student body president Karlyn Bradley showed off his comedy skills.

“I was going to come regardless, and then Karine convinced me to perform,” Bradley said. “I have never done comedy in front of an audience, but it was a lot of fun.”

“Free Your Mind,” revealed the passion that students carry inside

“

I regularly go to open mic events and I wanted a place where studens could go to express themselves

”

Karine Ponce Student Trustee

their hearts and their souls.

“I think it was an amazing night and it is something that they should do more often,” said Michael Pryce, a 24-year-old counseling major and poet.

Everyone who went up on stage had something to say. From the aspiring teacher who asked, “Does my voice need editing?” to the young man who sang about an old love, “Free Your Mind,” covered various topics and emotions.

Sandra Lopez can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com

Photo illustration by Christopher Lopez

Annual Christmas performance to bring holiday spirit to Haugh Andrew Vasquez Clarion Op-Ed Editor

Erica Irigoyen Citrus College Clarion Deyana Castellanos smles gleefully as she is lifted by a crowd of her fellow performers during a rehearsal of “Christmas Is...” in the dance studio of the Citrus College Performing Arts Building.

As much a holiday tradition in Glendora and surrounding cities as eggnog and gingerbread cookies, the Citrus College Performing Arts Department is preparing to debut their annual holiday spectacular “Christmas Is…”.

The annual show features a performance by the Citrus College Choir where they perform several traditional Christmas carols. That performance is followed by the main show “Christmas Is…” where, at the end, children in the audience get to climb on stage and sit on Santa and Mrs. Claus’ laps.

Each year “Christmas Is…” features a different storyline and moral.

This year the story revolves around three elves who feel overworked and wish to find a time when Christmas was less hectic and stressful. They ask Father Time to help them find a time period when the holiday season was less stressful. They get to see what the holidays were like in many different time periods, and at the end of their journey, they learn a lesson that the audience is meant to carry with them after the show is over.

Josh Pecjak and Katie Ransom, who play Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus respectively, are playing their roles for the second and final time. They say their close friendship helps them be the famous couple.

“We are so comfortable on stage together because we have been performing together for the past few years,” Pecjak said. “I think we act more as a couple on stage and that helps us be more believable characters.”

Regarding his own portrayal of jolly ol’ Saint Nick, Pecjak said he strives to make his Santa as close to the imagination of the children in the audience as possible.

“I play this role how I think the kids imagine him to be, more personable and funny,” he said. “I want my portrayal to be as if we are saying, ‘Here is how Santa really is during the holiday season.’”

Ransom said the children who come every year also push her to immerse herself in her portrayal.

“This play really brings out the Christmas spirit in the audience I think,” she said. “It is all about making the children happy because they really think we Mr. and Mrs. Claus.”

Director and music professor Douglas Shrope said Pecjak and Ransom’s chemistry together on stage is perfect as the Claus couple.

“They are both very skilled actors and have great chemistry together,” Shrope said. “They play the characters as fun, energetic and kind.”

“What is more is they are very good at thinking on their feet, and you have to when you work with children,” he said.

Shrope said this year’s show will

feature costume and scenery that will especially amaze the audience.

“The sets are just beautiful,” he said. “The elves travel back to the 1950s, the Victorian Era and the Medieval Period. So we are going to have a very in-depth wardrobe and set.”

“We also did a lot of research on the vocabulary of each time period and the different terms they used, specifically the different names they gave Santa Claus,” he said. “Our time traveling elves see different hairstyles, which gives the cosmetology department a chance to shine.”

Because of the different time periods the elves visit, the play features different types of music.

“We get to go back to the ‘50s and do Christmas classics like ‘Rockin Around the Christmas Tree’ and then for the Medieval Period we have a drum line,” he said.

Last year, more than 14,000 people came to see the show during its run.

“I am expecting it to continue to grow,” he said. “I have done this show since I started back in 1988, and I still love every aspect of it.”

“Christmas Is…” will be playing Dec. 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20 at 2 p.m. and Dec. 11 and 12 at 8 p.m. General tickets are $20, student/seniors tickets are $18 and 16 and under are $15

Andrew Vasquez can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com

Citrus College Clarion

Opinions Page 14

Opinons Editor Andrew Vasquez- ccclarion@hotmail.com

November 25, 2009

Effects of tragedy at Fort Hood Martin Cabrera

Clarion Staff Writer At least 545 Fort Hood soldiers have died in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now 13 more soldiers are dead and 30 more are injured, all at the hands of one of their own, Major Nidal Malik Hasan.

It is unfair to judge the entire Muslim community on the murderous actions of one man, but there is no doubt that it will be increasingly difficult for some Americans to trust their Muslim American neighbors in the wake of the Fort Hood Massacre.

As he opened gun fire on his fellow troops, Hasan, a Muslim-American, is said to have yelled “Allah hu Akbar,” which means “God is great,” in Arabic.

The Fort Hood massacre has left us all in shock.

Why would this man commit such a crime?

Was this mass shooting just another case of a psychotic individual who finally snapped, or was it a terrorist plot hidden before our very eyes?

Preliminary investigation into Hasan’s past has indicated that while he was growing up in Virginia he was not a devout Muslim, but he became more so as he moved up the Army chain of command.

If it is proven to be that true that

this was indeed a terrorist act, an even more important question might be whether Fort Hood was just an aberration or a sign of things to come.

Our troops have fought so valiantly to keep the war on terror outside of our borders, but the tragedy at Fort Hood could mean that it has already infiltrated our land.

Ironically, the American values of freedom for all and acceptance of diversity, which make our country so great, have also made us vulnerable to attacks from within.

It is terrifying that Hasan was born and raised in America, and even worse, was serving as a psychiatrist in the U.S. Army.

In an interview with Time Magazine, Bruce Hoffman, a terrorism expert at Georgetown University, said that he used to describe terrorism as “part of some identifiable, organized conspiracy.”

Hoffman now says that “the new strategy of al-Qaeda is to empower and motivate individuals to commit acts of violence completely outside any terrorist chain of command.”

If the new face of terrorism in America is individuals like Hasan, who have no relation to a terrorist chain of command and act on influence of the al-Qaeda, then the war on terror has taken a deadly turn for the worse.

Among American Muslims, those most affected by this tragedy are those serving in the military. They fear that their relationship with their fellow soldiers of other religious persuasions will grow even more strained.

The Army actively recruits Muslim Americans because of their language skills and cultural knowledge of the Middle East.

It might be impossible to know if there are others who feel the same as Hasan and will act out, but there

McClatchy-Tribune Media Services are certainly Muslim American sol- diers will undeservingly receive more diers that deserve our honor and ap- scrutiny from authorities and, worse, preciation and that sometimes are possible backlash from a citizenry overlooked. that is angry and apprehensive of its Army reservist Captain Eric Rah- personal security. man shared in a recent New York Fort Hood is a grim reminder Times article the story of Navy Seal that if such atrocity can happen in a Lieutenant Michael A. Monsoor, a secure environment, it can very well Muslim American who was awarded happen anywhere. the Medal of Honor after he died saving a team member’s life during a firefight in Iraq.

Martin Cabrera Unfortunately, because of this act can be reached at of violence, Muslim American sol-

ccclarion@hotmail.com

No more hate, the war is over Kazue Kate Fujii

Clarion Staff Writer One day, a Citrus College student said to me: “I hate you because you Japanese killed my grandfather.”

This was the first time I had been attacked by an American who hates all Japanese people. I was so sad that he was judging me based solely on my nationality and the events of World War II, which ended 36 years before I was born.

I am a Japanese student from Hiroshima, a city famous for having been devastated in 1945 by an atomic bomb attack.

Usually I feel a little bit nervous when I talk with Americans about World War II. When my Citrus College classmates say America will never forgive the Japanese for attacking Pearl Harbor, I feel that what they really want is to justify dropping two atomic bombs on Japan.

On Dec. 7, 1941, the Japanese military made a surprise attack on Hawaii, killing 1,177 people. The next day the United States declared war on Japan.

As evil as the Pearl Harbor attack was, it is important to note that 380,000 people were killed as a result of the two atomic bomb blasts in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Some Americans argue that drop-

ping the atomic bomb was the only way to end the war. However, many Japanese feel the number of Japanese civilian deaths could never be justified.

I don’t want to blame America.

These are just the facts of what happened 64 years ago. Since I was born in Hiroshima, I am connected to these events.

My grandfather was a medical officer in Japan, and his oldest brother was a naval surgeon in Guadalcanal Island. At that time the island was completely surrounded by the American army, and he starved to death there.

My grandmother lived in Yamaguchi, not far from Hiroshima, where her sister lived. Three days after the atomic bomb was dropped, my grandmother went to check on her sister. Luckily she had survived, but on her visit to Hiroshima, my grand-

mother was exposed to the radiation still in the air. As a result of this exposure to nuclear fallout, she couldn’t breastfeed her children. My grandmother said thousands of times that Hiroshima was hell on earth.

My grandparents passed away few years ago, but before their deaths, they told me many stories about the war.

They hated America so much until they died.

My father was born in 1946 when Japan was occupied by American armed forces. The Japanese people were very poor. He remembers begging for chocolate from the American soldiers.

I learned many things about the effects of the atomic bomb by studying textbooks. In the Atomic Bomb Museum located in Hiroshima, there are grotesque wax figures that depict the victims of the bomb. Their skins ap-

http://konotabi.com pear to be melting like a long sleeve, and they stand like zombies. These images have made a deep impression on my mind. Thousands of human beings were hideously burned. Their burned-out faces scare me in nightmares.

Although I was born in 1981, I am still traumatized by the thought of the atomic bomb.

It is time to tell the whole truth, take an objective view, and present the pathetic facts of this war to today’s children.

In the 1930s, Japan had gone down the wrong path under militarism. During the war, Japanese people were not allowed to express anti-war ideas. Military leaders forced the people to sacrifice everything to the war effort.

If a mother heard about her son’s death in battle and she cried, she was

accused of being unpatriotic. Government radio kept broadcasting propaganda about great Japanese victories in spite of its losing battles.

I think Japan was like a run-away car with no brakes. Finally, the Japanese military fought by kamikaze (suicide corps) that sacrificed the pilot’s life as a weapon.

Countless civilian lives were lost during the war.

Wars make people crazy. Everyone was driven by the feeling of “kill or be killed.” In wartime, terrible atrocities happened, but we cannot solve problems through revenge. We should forgive each other and find the best way to avoid these mistakes for future generations.

Someday I want to be a guide for foreigners at the Atomic Bomb Museum and a translator at the Itukushima Shinto Shrine, which is one of the most beautiful places in Hiroshima, Japan. My message will be frank and factual.

The awful war happened, but it is over. Now we have to think about how to achieve peace for all nations.

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Kazue Kate Fujii can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com

Citrus College Clarion

Editorials Page 15

Editorials Editor Andrew Vasquez - ccclarion@hotmail.com

Transfer students should not deal with unjust system The tier 1 and tier 2 transfer systems that have been developed by local CSU campuses is unfair to community college students.

Cal State schools should set a uniform standard for transfer students, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to matriculate to his or her school of choice.

We understand that CSU campuses are in a bind, but the criteria for accepting community college transfer students developed at Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State L.A., and Cal State Fullerton is unjust.

The entire higher education system in California is under tremendous financial pressure. The UC, CSU and CCC systems are all cutting classes and staff and reducing student enrollment.

However, the criteria for accepting community college transfer students developed at Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State L.A., and Cal State Fullerton is unfair.

Students enrolled in community colleges designated as tier 1 transfer schools may transfer with a GPA of 2.0. However, students in community colleges that are designated as tier 2 schools may transfer only if they have a GPA of 2.5 or higher.

Tier divisions are determined based on the proximity of the community colleges to the CSU campuses and the number of community college students who apply.

In the case of students who plan to transfer to Cal Poly Pomona, Citrus students have dodged a bullet.

Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut has more than double the num-

Citrus College

Clarion

EDITOR IN CHIEF Sandra Lopez

MANAGING EDITOR Emily Rios

NEWS EDITOR Dustin Call

Life Editor Courtney Mitchell

Sports Editor Erica Irigoyan

A&E Editor Ashley Broussard

Opinions/Editorials Editor Andrew Vasquez

Online Editor Emily Rios

Design Editor

Courtney Mitchell

Photo Technician ber of students than Citrus College and is placed in the tier 1 division.

Other community colleges in the San Gabriel Valley, including Rio Hondo, Chaffey and Pasadena City College, have been deemed tier 2 schools.

On Nov. 9, Cal Poly announced that Citrus College would be designated a tier 1 school as well. Citrus is now designated as a tier 1 school thanks to the efforts of our superintendent/president, Geraldine M. Perri, Ph.D. Cal State Long Beach is not likely to accept any students with a GPA lower than 2.5.

Cal State Fullerton has not released its GPA requirements. Officials there plan to look through all of

Kristin Lacuesta Citrus College Clarion their applications and then set the should raise the minimum GPA to standard.

2.5 for all students transferring from Each year, Citrus College has ap- community colleges. proximately 1,200 transfer-ready stuCommunity college students dents. With enrollment growing and would become more serious about competition getting fiercer, CSUs their studies and CSUs could cut have developed the tier 1/tier 2 sys- down on the number of applications tems to cope with the large number they receive. of transfer applications.

Community college transfer stuBudget cuts have adversely af- dents should not be categorized fected class offerings and enrollment based on the area where they have fees. Now students must deal with bi- been attending school, nor should ased and unfair transfer policies. they be judged by how many of their Community colleges students fellow students apply to a specific should have equal chances of trans- CSU campus. ferring to CSU campuses, regardless The tier 1 and tier 2 system must of their choice of community col- be thrown out. The same standards lege. should apply to all transfer students If CSU campuses want to reduce from all of California’s community their transfer numbers, then they colleges.

Take a closer look at the small things Striving for fame, fortune, or power can be a positive motivation for many of us.

However, if we are lucky enough to reach our goals, we might tend to forget the people who were there for us before success came into our lives.

It is easy to fall into the trap of taking the small things and ordinary people for granted. After all, they have always been there for us, and we feel that they always will be there for us.

Now is the time for us to ask ourselves just how fair that attitude is.

Anyone who has been there for you and has made you happy, even for a little while, deserves to be acknowledged and affirmed.

Without the small things, life wouldn’t feel as good as it does.

For instance, think about your favorite television show, band, meal, and clothing brand. Now imagine winning the lottery. With the money you've won, you buy a widescreen HD television on which to watch your favorite television show. You purchase tickets and V.I.P. passes to see your favorite band perform live. You make reservations to the restaurant that makes your favorite meal, and go to the location that sells clothes from your favorite brand.

November 25, 2009

But then you discover that your favorite show has been canceled, your favorite band has broken up, the chef that has the recipe for your favorite meal has lost the recipe, and your favorite brand has gone bankrupt.

The lottery money is just not as sweet as it once was.

We have much more to be thankful for than we realize.

Other things we take for granted that we could appreciate more are the smile and the innocence of a young child.

Imagine a world where children smiling and being innocent was rare. How bleak is that?

How about those butterflies you experience whenever you're thinking about that special someone or when you receive those random "I love you, I miss you, how are you doing" texts?

Reminisce on those times where nothing good was coming your way, and your best friend dropped everything he or she was doing either to listen to you over the phone or came to see you in person.

How many people in your life decided to make sacrifices because they didn't want to put up your happiness as collateral?

Some of us live the most amazing lives simply because we take the time to realize all the great

Frank Ram

Instructional Assistant Emily Rios

Adviser Margaret C. O’Neil

Staff Writers Anazarry Danganan, Kristin Lacuesta, Caitlin Griffin, Celia Guerrero, Joel Cloud, Matt San Pedro, Kanzue Fujii, Rob Lucero, Martin Cabrera

Correspondents Chris Lopez, Jonathan Rowe Photographers /Artists Andrea Koehler, Andrew Vasquez

Page Designers Jessica Bravo, Jonathan Petitt, Chantelle Marchesano, Victor Silva, Janette Vera, Celia Guerrero 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.

Clarion Mailbox Andrea Koehler Citrus College Clarion small things we have. metaphor for all you have reMany others out there could be ceived. Breathe in its scent and its living lives that are just as amaz- tastes; make it a metaphor for the ing, if not more so, but are still a way those things have made you small realization away. feel.

As you celebrate Thanksgiving, Let's take this time to say remember all of life’s small gifts. “thank you” to everyone and Fill yourself up with that deli- everything. cious turkey, and make it a

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Page 16 Citrus College Clarion

November 25, 2009

THANKSGIVING TRADITIONS

Andrew Vasquez Citrus College Clarion Guests at the Thanksgiving luncheon had the difficult choice of either pumpkin or apple pie for dessert made by the Owl Cafe staff.

Talking turkey leftovers

McClatchy-Tribune Media Services

Got a microwave, a bowl, and a fork?

NewUniversity.org is making leftovers yummy with these easy recipes even college students can’t resist.

Here’s where it gets interesting. Feeling especially lazy? Wish you could just throw all that food into a blender and make a simple Thanksgiving leftover smoothie? Well, this is almost as easy, and it’ll actually taste good, too.

Everything but the Pumpkin Pie Soup Prepare soup stock using the non-prime parts of the leftover turkey. If you don’t have that, just use chicken stock. Then, dump in the leftovers! This is the beauty of soup; nearly anything — except the cranberry sauce and the pie — will fit in. Cut up the turkey into bite-size bits; throw in the stuffing, the veggies and the sweet potatoes. Season it with salt and pepper, heat and serve.

It doesn’t get easier than this. Delicious! (Recipe courtesy of Chef Steven Levine, Cosmopolitan Café, San Francisco.)

Breakfast of Champions Not necessarily something you can whip up when running out the door, but it doesn’t take all morning either. Gather your leftover turkey, butternut squash, potatoes, onions and stuffing. Mix it all together and form it into patties. Fry them up in margarine (always remember to go for the reduced fat kind if you can) along with two poached eggs, and you have a scrumptious morning meal that requires very little time and effort. (Recipe courtesy of Chef Jak Mitchell of Beach Chalet, San Francisco.)

Turkey and Stuffing Cakes This is for a quick, filling snack. Shred your leftover turkey, plop it in a bowl with the stuffing and stir in an egg after you’ve beaten it (as food glue). Then, shape it into patties and toss it onto a frying pan with oil. Fry both sides and serve with turkey gravy.

Damn tasty. (Recipe courtesy of Chef Gary Danko, San Francisco.)

Poor Man’s Turkey Casserole OK, not really for poor men, but it’s so simple that it’s easy to think so. Grab your leftover gravy, your turkey and your veggies and dump them into a casserole dish or similar container. Mix it up. Decorate the top with refrigerator biscuits or leftover unbaked pie dough (you might have to make a special request to Aunt Gertrude for this one). Bake it at 350 degrees until the dough is cooked through and golden. Fantastic — you’ve just made your dinner for the next week! If you can keep your roommate out of it. cmyk

Andrew Vasquez Citrus College Clarion Cafeteria supervisor Philomena O’Shea rolls out her 25 turkeys ready to feed faculty, administration, students and community members during the annual Thanksgiving luncheon in the Citrus College Campus Center.

Campus community celebrates Thanksgiving Andrew Vasquez Clarion Op-Ed Editor Thanksgiving came early for Citrus College as the Owl Café staff prepared a feast that left every guest in attendance loosening their belts.

A crowd of more than 100 students, staff, faculty and community members were treated to turkey, ham, mashed potatoes with gravy, cranberry sauce, corn, green beans and stuffing on Nov. 13. The $13 meal was followed by pumpkin and apple pies served with whipped cream.

There was also a raffle with prizes such as tickets to “Christmas Is...,” a prize donated by the Performing Arts Department.

Cafeteria supervisor Philomena O’Shea said that the staff put their hearts into creating a feast everyone would love. All in all, O’Shea and crew cooked 25 turkeys and four hams, 50 pounds of corn, 40 pounds of green beans and a whopping 100 pounds of potatoes. For dessert, they baked 27 pies.

“We worked for 10 hours straight the day before,” she said. “This is my job, to keep everyone happy.”

Terri Shamhart, administrative secretary in the Campus Center, said that the luncheon helps Citrus College employees of the past and present make the campus their second home.

“It's a great way to keep the retired faculty and administrators in the loop with what is going on at Citrus,” she said.

“And since there is no assigned seating, new faculty and administrators can get to know everyone.”

Student trustee Karine Ponce, who also attended the event last year, feels the event creates a more at-home feel on campus.

“The food is always delicious, and everyone who comes is just so friendly and warm,” she said. “It really brings a sense of community to the campus.”

Andrew Vasquez can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail..com

Andrew Vasquez Citrus College Clarion Dean of students Martha McDonald checks in the guests attending the Thanksgiving luncheon on Nov. 19 in the Camous Center.

Andrew Vasquez Citrus College Clarion Accompanying the turkey, four 25pound hams were served as the second main entree. cmyk