Clarion 6/6/12

Re-do resume

Collect unemployment.

Receive $300

Go back to night school

Citrus College

Clarion

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20 page research paper due tomorrow.

Pull an all nighter Got cast for in play at the Haugh!

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Budget cuts cause the Child Development Center to close. Pay babysitter $150

Forg o and t your pa got a rk ticke ing perm t! Pa y $2 it 5

Go to work

! earn Receive a raise ow $12 an hour n Receive first paycheck!

Earn $400

Go to school

Rent due! Pay $150

Qualify for Pell Grant. Receive $2,000

M is da sed te re . S gi s tur kip trat n. ne ion xt

Car bre aks Late to down. work

r wo to is ck turn n ll i Skip a C

Had to buy a Bio logy textbook $200

you r

Receive a promotion!

Prepare for meeting. a board Pull an a llnighter.

Transfer application accepted from your dream school!

Get a callback for a new job!

Ace d

Receive student of the year award!

Dr cla ove t o ss wa sc h s c ool an ce and lle d!

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Parent gets sick. Help them with $100 hospital bill

Comp any la ys you Buy new pant suit for o f f ! presentation. Pay $100

Send out job applications

June 6, 2012 Volume LXVI Issue XVI Photo illustration by Sydney Presley

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News Editor

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Sydney Presley

NEWS

QUOTE

News In Minutes

of the

DAY “Only kings, presidents, editors and people with tapeworms have the right to use the editorial ‘we.’”

-Mark Twain

ANNOUNCEMENTS

JUNE 6, 2012

LOCAL

Man dies after being restrained at a Walmart Jose Marcos Picazo, 41, died Friday after being apprehended by loss prevention officers on suspicion of shoplifting at Walmart, 1275 N. Azusa Avenue, officials said. When Covina police arrived, they called the paramedics after the suspect appeared to be in medical distress. The man was taken to Citrus Valley Medical Center – Inter-Community Campus in Covina where he was pronounced dead shortly after. The cause of his death is still unclear.

Silver Streak plans to cut fares by thirty cents The Silver Streak, the West Covina-based public bus agency, is expected to lower its fares by 30 cents in an attempt to draw back riders who have switched to Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

The Silver Streak’s cash fare will go from $2.75 down to $2.45 – matching Metro’s fare. The decrease comes after the board of the fivecounty Metrolink voted last week to increase fares on its commuter trains by 7 percent.

Monrovia gang member gets 40 years to life in prison Jimmy Santana, a Monrovia gang member, was sentenced Monday to 40 years to life for shooting a 16-year-old boy in 2008.

The shooting left the boy paralyzed. Santana shouted a gang slogan and opened fire from a car on the then 16-year-old victim who was riding home from a dairy in the 2500 block of Peck Road.

Source: San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Source: San Gabriel Valley Tribune Source: San Gabriel Valley Tribune

College Commencement The 96th Citrus College Commencement is scheduled to take place on June 16 at 10 a.m. in the college stadium. Tickets will not be required, therefore, family and friends are encouraged to attend and support the graduates. Graduates, the commencement rehearsal will be on June 15 at 10 a.m. in the college stadium and it is important to attend for special instructions.

In the event of rain the ceremony will be re-scheduled for June 18 at 6:30 p.m. For more information visit www.citruscollege.edu/stdntsrv/grad/

“Nite Owls” The Associated Students of Citrus College are hosting “Nite Owls,” a place to provide students to study for their upcoming exams or work on projects until June 12 from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the Campus Center. For more information visit the Campus Center host desk or the Office of Student Life in the Campus Center.

Summer Pell Grants Students who have received their financial aid award notification and are eligible for the federal Pell Grant will be able to purchase books and supplies from the Owl Bookshop from June 25 through June 28. Pell Grant students will be able to order their books online on June 25 and 26. For more information contact the Financial Aid Office at (626) 914-8592.

All College Forum

Budget

An all campus budget forum is scheduled for June 14, from 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. in the Center for Innovation, Room 159.

Board of Trustees Meeting The next meeting of the Board of Trustees will be on June 19 at 4:15 p.m. in the Center for Innovation, Room 159. All meetings are opened to the public.

California teacher charged with having sex with teen student A Merced County teacher has been charged with allegedly having sex with a student more than 50 times. Melody Carter-McCabe, a 27-year-old Livingston High agriculture teacher, pleaded not guilty June 1 to nine felony counts of unlawful sex with a minor. Sheriff’s officials say Carter-McCabe began a relationship with the then-15-yearold boy in September 2010, and it lasted until Aug. 2011.

Source: Los Angeles Times

STATE California gay marriage case headed to U.S. Supreme Court The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision to deny an appeal of February’s ruling against Proposition 8 paves the way for a U.S. Supreme Court decision on gay marriage by next year. A three-judge panel ruled 2-1 in February that the ban violated federal constitutional guarantees but limited the effect of the ruling to California. Sponsors of Proposition 8 asked the 9th Circuit to assemble an 11-judge panel to rehear the case.

Source: Los Angeles Times

Tommy Lasorda suffers heart attack in New York Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda suffered a heart attack in New York on Monday and was resting comfortably in an area hospital, a Dodgers source confirmed. Lasorda, 84, retired as the Dodgers' manager after having a heart attack in 1996. Lasorda was in New York to lead the Dodgers’ delegation in the annual Major League Baseball draft. He is reportedly expected to be released from the hospital Wednesday.

Source: Los Angeles Times

NATIONAL Court refuses to hear bribery appeal The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman's challenge to his bribery conviction, preserving rulings that say prosecutors and jurors can decide when a favor linked to a campaign contribution amounts to a bribe. In Siegelman's case, jurors agreed with prosecutors that the governor had appointed a wealthy hospital executive to a state hospital board as a reward for his $500,000 contribution to a campaign fund backing a statewide education lottery. Siegelman supported the lottery proposal, which voters rejected.

Source: Los Angeles Times

Venus appears as black dot across sun in rare event On Tuesday, from 3 p.m. to sundown, Venus, appearing as a small black dot, crossed slowly in front of the Sun – an event known as the Transit of Venus.

The event only happens every hundred years or so, but comes in pairs, eight years apart. The last Transit of Venus happened in 2004 and the next will be in 2117.

Wisconsin voters cast ballots in recall Wisconsin voters turned out in force on Tuesday to decide whether to throw Gov. Scott Walker out of office in a rare recall election forced by opponents of the Republican's controversial effort to curb collective bargaining for most unionized government workers. This will be just the third recall election of a governor in U.S. history and it follows weeks of vociferous protests by demonstrators who occupied the state Capitol in Madison as Walker and fellow Republican lawmakers pushed through the union curbs in March 2011.

Source: Reuters

GLOBAL

Protestors beat interim president Abu Yahya Al-Libi, an Al-Qaida deputy leader, was killed by a CIA drone strike in Pakistan’s tribal belt. The lawless area has long been considered the global headquarters of international terrorism. Al-Libi was a virtual ambassador for global jihad and had a $1 million bounty on his head.

Source: San Gabriel Tribune

Senate Republicans block pay equity bill for the second time A bill that would have barred companies from retaliating against workers who inquire about pay disparities and open pathways for female employees to sue for punitive damages in cases of paycheck discrimination failed to clear a procedural hurdle in the Senate June 5 as Republicans united against the measure for the second time in two years. The bill fell 8 votes short of the required 60 to open debate. In 2010, the same bill failed a procedural vote in the Senate when no Republican supported it.

Source: The New York Times

Japanese nerve-gas suspect arrested Naoko Kikuchi, one of the two remaining fugitive suspects behind the 1995 nervegas attack on the Tokyo subway, was arrested Sunday, Japanese media reported.

Kikuchi, a former top member of the Aum Shinrikyo cult, is accused of manufacturing the sarin gas used in the attack, which killed 13 commuters and sickened at least 5,000 more.

Source: The New York Times

Source: San Gabriel Tribune

JUNE 6, 2012

CLARIONnews

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Graduating class first to complete Transfer Degrees Martin Cabrera Clarion Managing Editor

F

or the first time, several students in the 2012 graduating class will have earned recently developed Associate in Arts transfer degrees. 42 students have applied for an AA-T according to admissions and records registrar Kristina Spalding.

An AA-T is defined as having 60 transferrable units that include 18 units in a major or area of emphasis, an approved general education curriculum and guaranteed admission with junior standing to the California University system.

As of June 1 there are 592 students graduating with an Associate in Arts degree, 510 graduating with an Associate in Science degree, and 273 receiving certificates according to chief information services officer Linda Welz.

“Not all students are full-timers so it takes some four to five years to graduate,” Welz said. “Graduating is a big achievement.”

However, only approximately 400 students will walk in the graduation ceremony and no numbers will be finalized until the day be-

fore graduation, said Pam McGuern, administrative assistant to the vice president of student services.

“Even though it takes a lot of hard work putting together the ceremony, I think it’s the best part of my job because it’s so fulfilling,” said McGuern, also the commencement coordinator.

Dr. Geraldine M. Perri, Ph.D., superintendent and president of Citrus College, will acknowledge the 10 Key of Knowledge students, graduating members of the Alpha Gamma Sigma, Phi Theta Kappa Beta Nu Eta, and Psi Beta honor societies and students graduating with honors.

She is also expected to acknowledge students originating from foreign countries, first generation graduates and the youngest and oldest graduates.

Three individuals will receive the Citrus Alumni award for outstanding achievement: Bobby Pedroza, Christopher Shevlin and Cynthia Cervantes McGuire.

Linda “Holly” Colville, professor of Spanish for 21 years at Citrus College, will be honored with the Distinguished Faculty Award.

“I can’t think of a better way to

complete my teaching career than to be honored with this year’s Distinguished Faculty Award,” she said.

“This is truly one of the highlights of my life.”

Student body president Michelle Mockler will lead the flag salute and former student trustee Nohemi Camacho will give the commencement speech.

Camacho, graduating with an associates degree in fine and performing arts, said she grew up at Citrus and gave a word of advice for the 2012 graduating class and future graduating classes.

“Be courageous and put yourselves out there and find your identity through experiencing new things for yourself,” she said.

The Citrus College Sierra Wind Symphony will perform music for the ceremony.

The deadline to apply to be a graduate of spring 2012 is June 14 and the deadline to buy a cap and gown, sold in the Owl Bookshop for $29.95 plus tax, is June 8.

The ceremony will start promptly at 10 a.m. on the football field. All guests are invited and parking in the stadium lot will be free.

Martin Cabrera, Citrus College Clarion Sean Kallas, 19, graduating with an associates degree in social and behav­ ioral sciences, tries on a cap and gown. The Owl Bookshop sells cap and gowns for $29.95 plus tax until June 8.

Deadlines to remove probation holds approaching Sydney Presley Clarion Editor-in-Chief

T

ime is running out for students with GPAs below 2.0 to complete their online probation workshops The deadline for completion is June 25.

Approximately 20 percent of the student body—1,891 students—was sent an email on April 11 informing them that they were on academic or progress probation and therefore subject to dismissal.

In July 2011, 1,080 students were dismissed.

Progress probation takes effect when a student has enrolled in at least 12 semester units and the percentage of “W”, “I”, “NC,” and “NP” notations reaches or exceeds 50 percent, according to the letter from Lucinda L. Over, Ed.D., dean of counseling programs and services.

Students are placed on academic probation if/when “he/she has attempted a minimum of 12 semester units of work and has a grade point average of less than a “C”.

To be removed from academic probation status, the student must complete an online probation workshop and bring the final “congratulations” page to the clerical staff at the Counseling and Advisement Center.

Students must also raise their accumulated grade point average to a 2.0 or higher, and maintain their higher GPA for two consecutive semesters.

Students recovering from academic probation or dismissal may also be required to enroll in specific courses—such as repeating courses that they previously failed.

If the student fails to recover

Appeals must be done by July 18-19 Workshops must be done by June 25

Anyone can log on to the academic probation workshop at orientation. citruscollege.edu/citruspw/index.html

Shannon Vigil, Citrus College Clarion from academic probation within a time period of two consecutive semesters, he/she is subject to dismissal from the college for the following semester.

Despite completing the probation workshop, students may still be dismissed if his or her grades do not improve by the end of the semester.

If dismissed, students have the option to appeal the decision if they can prove extenuating circumstances with the appropriate paperwork.

“Reinstatement may be granted, denied or postponed according to criteria contained in administrative procedures,” according to the Citrus Community College District Academic Affairs document.

However, the window of opportunity to appeal dismissal has

been reduced this year from two weeks to two days: July 18-19.

This change, as well as the change from an on-campus workshop to an online workshop is a result of understaffing in the counseling department.

If a student is dismissed, he or she must sit out at least one full semester before being considered for reinstatement.

They must also see a counselor in October or November to complete a student education plan and petition for reinstatement.

However, according to dean Over, even if a student is dismissed, they will still be able to attend the summer classes they registered for.

Once a student is placed on probation, he or she must complete the required steps to remove a probation hold by June 25 in

order to register for fall 2012 classes starting on July 9.

Notification of probation status and the necessary steps to take are sent solely through Citrus College email.

Over urges students to consistently check their Citrus email accounts so that they will not be unpleasantly surprised if and when they are unable to register for the fall semester.

“Imagine not being able to register for just a day, that could mean that you don’t get the classes that you want,” Over said.

Linda Welz, chief information services officer, says that the decline in the number of students being placed on probation is a result of the fact that classes are increasingly more difficult to obtain.

Last year a combined number

“

Imagine not being able to register for just a day, that could mean that you don’t get the classes that you want.

LUCINDA L. OVER, ED.D. DEAN OF COUNSELING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

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of 1,912 probation and potential for dismissal notices were sent out.

That was nearly 10 percent of the student body.

This is comparative to this year’s number of 1,891, without factoring in the declining number of non-duplicated students.

“You’re looking at a scarce resource, and I think that people are very serious about their schooling,” Welz said.

“Going through the process of being reinstated was easier than actually deciding to be serious about my education,” said 24year-old sophomore Ryan Gomez. “It felt like starting from square one.”

The final count of how many students are dismissed and the email notifications of dismissal will be released once spring semester grades are finalized, around July.

JUNE 6, 2012

CLARIONnews

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Revised Pell Grant requirements reflect struggling economy Patricia Pena Clarion Staff Writer

I

t has been decided by Congress to make changes and reduce availability of Federal Pell Grants for thousands of underprivileged college students, causing their education plans to prolong or deteriorate completely.

Federal Pell Grants, unlike loans, which do not have to be repaid, are education aid provided to disadvantaged students and undergraduate low income students.

Currently, an independent student or one belonging to a family of four members accumulating $30,000 or less annual income automatically is eligible for the maximum Pell Grant award, $5,550 at 12 units.

However, the Auto-Zero EFC—expected family contribution—Threshold is making a drastic change lowering the eligibility annual income to $23,000.

“It is unfortunate that the changes are going to hit our underserved youth,” said Lilia Medina, director of Financial

Aid at Citrus. “Primarily our low income, poverty stricken students are going to be affected.”

When filling out a financial aid application, students must have a certain amount of EFC points. The higher the EFC is, there is less Pell Grant eligibility.

The lower the EFC, the more Pell Grant eligibility.

Currently the EFC number is set at 5,273.

The new law will state that in order to receive a Federal Pell Grant, a student must qualify for 10 percent of the maximum award for the applied year reducing the EFC number to 4,995.

Presently recipients of the Pell Grant are able to benefit from the aid for as long as nine years of post secondary education.

With the changes being made, the Lifetime Eligibility Used will now be reduced from nine years to six years. Therefore, those students who have been receiving aid and have not completed school in six years, will no longer be able to obtain federal aid.

“

Students are now going to have to decide on what their goals are at a much earlier point.

LILLA MEDINA DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL AID

Lilla Medina

“Students are now going to have to decide on what their goals are at a much earlier point,” Medina said. “The moment the student begins education at community college, the clock begins to tick.”

She also said that students are going to have to start thinking about their educational goals as early as high school years and they are going to be expected to be more focused and really perform in order to benefit from

”

the services and programs.

Changes are to be in effect as early as July 1 of the current year, interfering with the summer courses students are relying on to carry on with their education.

According to Matt Krupnick, writer of the Bay Area News Group, the changes in Pell Grant requirements are going to mostly affect new students— 65,000—who do not obtain a high school diploma and those who have been attending college

for more than six years— 63,000.

The reduction of Pell Grant availability is expected to save $11 billon over the next 10 years.

Currently the federal government has disbursed $14,153,000 to aid 4, 986 Citrus students through Pell Grants.

“It is unfortunate but I’m not surprised,” said Brandi Garcia, ASCC member and commissioner of public relations. “It is a direct reflection of what is taking place in the economy.”

The American Association of Community Colleges stated that African-American and Latino students—combined make up 14 percent of undergraduates—will be affected the most.

However, this change will raise undergraduate ratings and certainly discourage students in all other nationalities.

“Education is a privilege,” Garcia said.

She said that she would like to see students remain courageous and strive to be better because that will make a reflection on the students attending Citrus.

theclariononline.com

JUNE 6, 2012

Spotlight Editor Daniel Hernandez

THE SPOTLIGHT

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Keys of Knowledge recipients 2011-2012

Rebecca Williams Major: Art History Award presented by Natalie Dougall

Accepted on behalf of Zhinan Guan Major: Computer Science and Engineering Award presented by Jesus Gutierrez Shannon Vigil Sydney Presley

Bertha Alvarado Major: Fine and Performing Arts Award presented by Douglas Austin Shrope

Clarion Staff Writers

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Sara Khair Major: Mathematics Award presented by Dr. Dale Salwak

en students were chosen to receive the honor of being Key of Knowledge recipients at this year's Achievement Awards Banquet on May 31.

The Key of Knowledge is an award presented to the top 10 students with the highest academic performance at Citrus College.

A committee of one administrator and two faculty members reviewed the transcripts of those eligible to win the award, ensuring the candidates are worthy of Citrus' top academic award.

In order to be considered for Citrus College's highest academic honor, a minimum of 34 units must be completed and full time enrollment must be maintained for two of the last three semesters.

The recipients for this year's Key of Knowledge awards went to Rebecca Williams, Sara Khair, Ben Rhodes-Wickett, Wesley Gunter, Tung Nguyen, Carey Gunter, Ryan Keenan, Jacob Turner, Bertha Alvarado and Zhinan Guan.

The Clarion staff would like to congratulate all of the 2011-2012 Key of Knowledge award winners.

Ben Rhodes-Wickett Major: Mechanical Engineering Award presented by Gino Munoz

Wesley Gunter Major: Mechanical Engineering Award presented by Dr. MaryAnn Rachford

Jacob Turner Major: Business Award presented by Brian Waddington

Ryan Keenan Major: Architecture Award presented by Dr. Richard Fernandes

Tung Nguyen Major: Mathematics Award presented by Jesus Gutierrez

Carey Gunter Major: Computer Science and Engineering Award presented by Robert Solis

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CLARIONspotlight

JUNE 6, 2012

Cosmetology professor retires after 28 years Cristian Manrique Clarion Staff Writer

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fter being through tough times, having four kids and not giving up, there have been achievements that were not in mind for a teacher who has been with Citrus cosmetology for 28 years.

Rachel Mead grew up in East Los Angeles on the streets of Brooklyn and Soto.

She did what society asked of women at the time in the 1960s: graduate from high school, get married, have kids and be a stay ‘at’ home mom. After high school, she was offered a scholarship to continue her education, but her parents didn’t want her to move far away, not to mention that Mead was also very shy.

Mead said that she thought she would always be a housewife, but she had four kids and got divorced before age 25. Mead needed a paying job, so she went to La Puente Adult School and three years later finished with a certificate in cosmetology.

Cristian Manrique, Citrus College Clarion Rachel Mead and Sally Carver, both cosmetology professors and good friends at Citrus, will be retiring together in June.

Despite having to juggle her time with her children, bus route times, babysitters and other challenges, Mead persevered.

She then went on to work for 32 years in several salons. The first was A Bar Salon in Baldwin Park where she began in 1972. She worked at several other salons in Covina, Mane

Street on Glendora Avenue, and finally at Savvy salon in Glendora.

At Mane Street she met Sally Carver Merkel, another cosmetology teacher who is retiring in June.

It was Carver who recommended that Mead pursue a teaching career.

“I knew she would be a great teacher and I know I wanted her to

do it ” Carver said. “I think she is the greatest teacher I know.”

With Carver’s encouragement and advice, Mead decided to go to UCLA at 38 years old.

She received her Lifetime Credential certificate at age 40 to be one step closer to a career in education.

Then for a year, Mead attended teacher’s training and finished in 1984 to officially be a teacher at Citrus.

“I’m very blessed to be here. I’m very blessed that Citrus College had the confidence to hire me,” she said.

Mead has been teaching now for 28 years and said of her retirement “I’m leaving kind of sad and I’m leaving kind of happy, I was really upset for about three months, ‘did I make the right decision’ but now I know that I have.”

“It’s time for a newer teacher to come in, a younger teacher to come in and somebody that probably knows more than I do…perhaps (laughing), perhaps….and it’s time for new blood,” Mead said.

Her advice to her colleagues is to be flexible, be understanding, be

professional.

“Don’t be such a captain general,” she said. “It’s good to be strong but not too dictator.”

Reflecting on her retirement, she said “I’m leaving in a real high note here.” Mead said that she is happy when she sees her students and former students get hired.

“Rachel Mead does have a 100 percent passing rate for state board, so that just shows what kind of educator she is,” said Rene Sison, 20, cosmetology student.

Her advice on life is “Never give up, never give up.”

“If I gave up, I would still be little Rachel sitting in East LA, doing nothing. I just kept working and working and working, and my kids said that I always went to work even when I was sick, and I didn’t realize it myself, actually.”

“I’m really proud of myself from where I came from and where I ended. And I never gave up, cried a lot, didn’t think I was going to do it, but just working at Citrus, I got the confidence, like, ‘wow, I could do this.’”

GSA celebrates annual prom night Ryan Gomez Clarion Staff Writer

T

he Gay Straight Alliance welcomed members and guests to the club’s annual GSA Prom, “Winter Wonderland,” on May 23, in the Handy East Campus Center.

The East Campus Center interior was adorned in various winter-themed décor, such as blue and white steamers, and a “snowy” white faux pine tree.

“We played with a few themes for prom last spring and we had the club vote on them in the fall of 2011 [and] the majority voted for ‘Winter Wonderland’,” said Sara Acevedo, GSA president. “It seemed like that would create an atmosphere most unlike the actual climate of the day it would be on, and we were right! It was definitely like stepping into another world.”

What is considered the Gay Straight Alliance’s end-of-theyear banquet, the GSA Prom was organized by the President Sara Acevedo and vice president Jaden Hathaway.

Citrus’ GSA was able to fund the event through fundraising, anonymous donations and contests won at the Associated Students of Citrus College SpringFest held earlier in the semester, in which the club won various Inter-Club Council and ASCC club contests.

“We’ve held fundraisers, such as our donut and Otter Pop sales, in order to help raise money,” Acevedo said.

Attendance at the event got off to a slow start—gathering 7 guests within the first hour, and capping off at a total of 26 people by 8:30 p.m.

“This is actually the best

Courtesy of Peter Holland Riley Davalos, Jaden Hathaway and Sara Acevedo, members of the Gay Sraight Alliance club celebrated their annual prom, themed “Winter Wonder­ land” on May 23 in the Campus Center.

turnout we’ve had [in the time that I’ve been here,” Hathaway said.

Citrus instructors and GSA advisor, Anna Villeneuve and her wife Louisa, arrived just in time to witness the crowning of GSAs Prom queens—a turn of events that surprised both when guests in attendance crowned them their prom queens.

Both teachers were more than pleasantly surprised by the recognition from the student members they had been advising over the semester—a moment which offered a nod to and from both president and vice president, and the advisors.

Anna Villeneuve could be overheard following the crowning, commending the students for their hard work. “None of this could have happened if it weren’t for you [all],” Villeneuve said.

“They've done so much for our club and we're so grateful for their support,” Hathaway said. “We decided to make them [prom] queens to show our appreciation and thanks for all that they do.”

The 2012 GSA Prom had been the first for several of its members, including freshman Christopher Estrada-Snyder, 20.

“I love everyone here; they put a smile on my face,” Estrada-Snyder said. “I definitely will be returning [to GSA next year].”

What turned out to be mostly a private event for GSA members and their close friends had not been stilted by its slow start or late accumulation of attendees, but instead offered a glimpse into what was an individualistic and welcoming group of people.

JUNE 6, 2012

CLARIONspotlight

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Veteran wins prestigious Man of the Year award Lauren Emery Clarion Staff Writer

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tudent veteran, Saul Ugarte, 25, was recognized with the prestigious Man of the Year award at the Citrus College Annual Achievement Awards Ceremony on May 31 in the Ross L. Handy Campus Center.

The Man and Woman of the Year awards are granted to two chosen graduating students and are given a cash award of $250.

“The students are nominated by the faculty in March and are judged on student academic achievement, service to campus community and service to the community at large.” said Martha McDonald, Ed.D., dean of students.

“I feel pretty grateful for the opportunity of being nominated; it’s a pretty great honor,” said Ugarte, “I am just thankful.”

Ugarte first came to Citrus College in summer 2009 after serving four years in the military as an aircraft director.

“When I got started [at Citrus] I had no idea what I was doing. I

didn’t have a major yet and didn’t for my first two semesters but I took a few classes and figured it out,” said Ugarte.

With the support from his father, who is also his role model, and professors like Rick Nguyenhuu and Bruce Solheim Ugarte, he took an interest in his math and science classes which helped him decide what he wanted to major in and the career he wanted to have.

Ugarte made the President’s List back in 2010, which requires a 3.8 GPA and a minimum of six units completed during the semester to be recognized with at least 24 units completed at Citrus College.

“He is currently employed by the Citrus College Veteran Center as mentor and tutor helping other veterans with math, writing, chemistry and biology, and is serving as president at the Citrus College Veteran’s Network” said John Baker, Ph.D. Ugarte is also the 2012-13 First Vice Commander with the American Legion Post #180 in Azusa, and he is also responsible for managing membership and recruitment.

He assists the community by serving his second term as chaplain

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I think the military kind of helped, it could be a lot at times but everything worked out.

SAUL UGARTE VETERAN STUDENT

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there where he performs general ceremonial duties, assists with funeral services for veterans and visits members of the post who are sick or hospitalized.

In addition to all of his efforts with veterans, he has a 3.56 overall GPA, is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and has an Associate in Arts degree in social behavioral sciences and an Associate in Science degree in physical and biological science and mathematics.

He will be attending Cal Poly

Courtesy of External Relations Saul Ugarte, 25, stands with John Baker, Ph.D. after he wins the Man of the Year Award at the Annual Achievement Awards on May 31.

Pomona in the fall as a general engineering technology major specializing in production and manufacturing.

His plan is then to attend graduate school and focus on design maintenance repair and troubleshooting of production machines.

His career goal is, “to work on factory production machines,” Ugarte said.

He also has a life outside of all of his student and veteran responsibilities. Ugarte enjoys camping and hiking. Ugarte said that the military helped with all of the things he had to balance. With classes and serving fellow veterans he had a lot on his plate.

“I think the military kind of helped,” said Ugarte. “It could be a lot at times but everything worked out.”

LUSA president named ‘Woman of the Year’

“

Martin Cabrera Clarion Managing Editor

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eldom do our lives turn out the way we envision and often our life journey takes a detour, but it is our choice whether or not we make the best of the opportunities in front of us. On May 31, Thania Lucero’s “detour” reached a landmark when she received the 2012 Citrus College Woman of the Year award.

“When I came to Citrus I didn’t imagine I would be here today,” Lucero said. “I’m so humbled and it’s a great feeling to know that my hard work is appreciated.”

After graduating from Alhambra High School, Lucero, 22, was set to attend Whitworth University, a private liberal arts college in Washington, when financial problems prevented her from attending, leading her to Citrus College.

“My goal at Citrus was just to transfer as soon as possible,” she said. “Then I got involved and I fell in love with the community.”

Rather than simply being involved in the Citrus College community, Lucero is engrossed.

She holds a laundry list of credits to her name: President of the Latinos Unidos Student Association, member of the Helping Find Opportunities in the Pursuit of Education club, ASCC senator of the fall and spring 2010 semesters, honors program student, and student ambassador – all while maintaining a 3.35 grade point average and serving in her youth group at Saint Therese Catholic

With her being a political science major and having a strong compassion for people, she’s going to make a huge difference in this world

MARTHA MCDONALD, ED.D DEAN OF STUDENTS

Courtesy of External Relations Thania Lucero, 2012 Citrus College Woman of the Year, shows off her plaque and poses with Vice President John Baker, Ph.D.

Church in Alhambra.

Lucero said trying to juggle all her activities with school work is as hard as it sounds and at many times she would get very little sleep.

“It is a matter of setting my priorities straight, knowing that school work was my first priority and letting everything else fall after,” she said.

The value of going to school and getting an education was seared into Lucero’s head by her mother, Ericka Gonzalez, who did not go to college and always tells her daughter “if I did I would have a better job and better quality of life.”

One of Gonzalez’s favorite memories of her daughter was the day she dropped her off at

school for the first day of kindergarten.

“When I dropped her off I was crying because I was worried to leave her alone and Thania told me not to cry and worry because she wanted to be at school and learn,” Gonzalez said. “Usually it’s the other way around and the child is crying.”

Lucero’s value for education turned into a passion to help underprivileged students, especially Latino students, the opportunity to get a higher education and live better lives.

As the president of LUSA, student ambassador and a founding member of HOPE, she has been in prime position do so.

Dean of Students Martha

”

McDonald, Ed.D., who watched Lucero evolve from a “shy, quiet girl into a confident, well-spoken woman,” recognizes the impact Lucero has had on Citrus College.

“She is one of the major contributors to bringing to light the needs and challenges of Latino students,” McDonald said.

“She has been a champion for those minority students.”

With Lucero as president of LUSA, the club hosted their first “Noche de Cultura” where students were able to showcase their talents through various arts forms, increased club funds exponentially and incorporated more inter-club activity, Lucero said.

Lucero became a student ambassador for the opportunity to teach high school students the importance of obtaining a college education.

“I really enjoyed going to continuation schools and giving those students hope for the future by sharing with them the different options available after high school,” she said.

Along with the guidance of her mother, Lucero says her Catholic faith is what keeps her humble and gives her the desire to help others.

“I believe God gives us certain gifts that we are supposed to use to positively affect those around you, so I try to do that” she said.

Lucero will be attending the University of California, Los Angeles in the fall where she will major in political science. She then plans to attend grad school and become a political science instructor.

“With her being a political science major and having a strong compassion for people, she’s going to make a huge difference in this world,” said McDonald.

Whoever she becomes in the future, Lucero knows she will leave her mark on this world.

“I get motivation from knowing that someday I’m going be able to help people and make a difference….from knowing that I can touch someone’s life and be a role model,” she said.

The Woman of the Year has already left her mark on Citrus College, once a pit stop and now the place she calls home.

“I’m glad the way things turned out because I think I’ve enjoyed my time here at Citrus more than I would have at Washington or anywhere else,” she said.

10 theclariononline.com

CLARIONspotlight

JUNE 6, 2012

A day i Student trustee’s future has no borders

By Jacqueline Melendez Clarion Staff Writer

A

day in the life of your average student at Citrus College is just that, an average day. Crescencio Calderon is an AB540 student and is anything but average.

AB540 is a California state law that allows qualified undocumented students to pay in-state tuition, instead of out of state tuition.

When Calderon was asked if he was undocumented he smiled and exclaimed he was a citizen-to-be.

“Status shouldn’t define you for who you are, you define who you want to be,” Calderon said.

A normal first Tuesday of the month for Calderon begins at 7 a.m., although his first class does not start till 1 p.m.

He begins his day by working out and then heading over to the Citrus library where he’ll study for two to three hours.

Around 11 a.m. he attends meetings, as he represents the students of Citrus as a student trustee and then it’s off to class at 1p.m.

After his class ends he attends the Associated Students of Citrus College meeting at 2:40 p.m., followed by the Board of Trustees meeting, where he reports to the board about what the students on campus are doing, what events they are attending and how active they are.

Calderon currently has a 3.94 GPA and is planning to transfer to USC in a year to study political science and then branch out into either law or becoming a professor.

Calderon was not always a motivated and involved student.

“I was not as motivated in high school,” Calderon said.

Jacqueline Melendez, Citrus College Clarion Student trustee Crescencio Calderon poses for a photo before the 2011­12 Citrus College Achievement Awards Banquet.

“When I started at Citrus College and realized I could not receive financial aid because I don’t qualify for FAFSA, and that I had to pay for my own education, I decided I am going to get A’s.”

Calderon is president of HOPE, the AB540 support

group at Citrus College, which has about 15 core members.

Walter Galvez, vice president of the ASCC, remembers that from the moment he met Calderon last year, he was either working on a project, such as promoting AB540 students and the Dream Act, or studying for his classes.

“He’s a hard working and dedicated young man,” Galvez said. “He perfects his tasks as best to his ability while also keeping up with his studies.”

In April 2012, Calderon was the director of the most successful blood drive Citrus has ever had.

Brandi Garcia, the commissioner of public relations and activities, describes Calderon as very determined, dedicated and dependable.

“When he sets his mind to something he just does it,” Garcia said. “It was very apparent in the blood drive this term when it turned out to be a grand success and he was the captain of the show.”

Calderon is also an honor student and is part of Phi Theta Kappa and is vice president of Alpha Gamma Sigma.

“People tell you when you’re little that you can become whatever you want and it’s actually true,” Calderon said.

“You can become whatever you want, as long as you put your mind and soul into it, it’ll pay off.

It works out. It’s hard. It’s not easy, but it really works. I don’t sleep much, but I like doing what I do so I stay up late and wake up really early and I continue doing what I like doing.”

Reinventing his wheels David Tate Clarion Sports Editor

E

very day in Ricardo Murillo’s life is linked to a day in his past. It was Dec. 15, 1995. On the same day in 1933, the 21st Amendment was passed, repealing prohibition. On the same day in 2011, American forces withdrew from Iraq.

But Dec. 15, 1995, was the last day Murillo would ever walk again. Since then, his days have been long and hard, and he needs assistance with activities that the able-bodied take for granted.

When Baldwin Park resident wakes up in the morning, someone has to give him his medication. Someone has to stretch him out so his muscles don’t atrophy. Someone has to bathe him, brush his teeth, dress him and place him in his Invacare TDX SP wheelchair—all before he even goes out the front door.

Things don’t get any easier from there. Murillo needs help getting into his classes and going to the bathroom. He needs help simply getting a drink of water. While most students simply focus on the ground in front of their toes as they move from point A to point B, Murillo is subjected to stares and strange looks. On the way home he is scrutinized by total strangers.

“When you’re on the bus, you get stared at. When you’re at school, you get stared at,” says Murillo. “You figure that they’re assuming you have a disease or something.”

When he gets home, Murillo needs someone to transcribe his notes from class and physically set him up at his computer. He needs help eating, showering and getting into bed—and once he does go to sleep, he has to be turned every two to four hours to prevent pressure sores from accumulating on his body.

“It’s really hard,” Murillo says. “People don’t understand that with the disability I have, your privacy is thrown away. There’s always someone next to you.”

He’s been dealing with all this—and more—since Dec. 15, 1995.

On that day, a 16-year-old Murillo was on his way to a party in El Monte. The driver dropped off Murillo and his two friends at the house of a mutual acquaintance, with promises to return after some errands were completed. Unknown to Murillo, the acquaintance had some problems with people in the neighborhood.

A black Cutlass with four passengers drove by as Murillo and his three friends were hanging out on the front lawn. They thought nothing of it.

“We figured if they were going to do something, they were going to do it [then]. They just kept driving by,” Murillo says. “But

Murillo has taken on the task of making the campus more accessible for students. He’s president of the Students for Access c l u b , founded in fall 2011.

The adviser for the club, adaptive physical education instructor Steve Hartman, believes that the obstacles Murillo has faced helped strengthen his character.

“He’s more mature than most and he’s been through a tremendous amount of adversity,” Hartman said. “The one thing that stands out [about M that he does not get sidetracked and lose focus, as some do.”

With the guidance of Hartman and vice president Ear Murillo and other club members are making strides to disability awareness campuswide.

On May 2, the three helped host a Disability Aware for students during SpringFest. Murillo and Burwell met David Tate, Citrus College Clarion abled Student Programs and Services director Jennifer the next day to discuss expanding accessibility options on Ricardo Murillo, 33, heads a meeting of the Students for Access club including widening doorways and repairing some malfun inside the Adaptive Physical Education Center. buttons that are supposed to automatically open doors.

“Ricardo’s really independent,” Burwell says. “I kn what they did do, about 10 minutes later, was come walking up quadriplegics and they need a lot of assistance . . . but I a from behind.”

Murillo on his own.”

“All I remember hearing was somebody say ‘F--k.’ I saw a flash Right now, Murillo says he is just focused on getting h and . . . I went down.” ate’s degree in business. He also wants the club to contin Murillo was shot in the neck from an arm’s length away with a ing and educating future students about disabilities once .45 caliber pistol. The bullet fractured his C4 vertebrae, shattered, Citrus. then lodged in his neck and spinal cord—leaving Murillo para“People want to hear your story sometimes,” Mur lyzed from the shoulders down. The assailants were never caught. “Once they see you go through all these different hardsh Now a 33-year-old business major at Citrus College, most of disabled, but you’re a normal person just like them . . . t Murillo’s memories come from his days as a quadriplegic. It would looks and the stares stop.” be easy for anyone in his situation to look out for number one, but

CLARIONspotlight

JUNE 6, 2012

theclariononline.com

11

in their Club vice president establishes identity

Sydney Presley Clarion Editor in Chief

M

any times young adulthood is a time of transition.

Finding one’s identity can be a difficult task for some especially when it is more than just the clothes you are wearing, but rather the body you are living in.

Jaden Hathaway, 21, an English major, came out to her parents as a lesbian at the age of 14.

“I was always just a tomboy then,” Hathaway said. “My senior year the word ‘transgender’ had come into my life and that’s when I knew that was what I was.”

Transgender is the state of one's gender identity (self-identification as woman, man, neither or both) not matching one's assigned sex.

Hathaway whose assigned sex is female, now identified as a male.

At age 18, Hathaway sat his immediate and extended family down one evening, who gave a

lukewarm reaction to the declaration that he no longer identified himself as a female.

That night, as Hathaway’s parents went outside to talk, he heard a knock on his door.

It was Hathaway’s then-11-yearold brother, Max Hathaway.

“He just hugged me and said, ‘I love you, bro’ and that was it, I’ve been his brother ever since,” Hathaway said.

Hathaway had been bullied from elementary through high school, where he says he was only known as the “gay kid.”

During his time at Charter Oak High School, the bullying worsened, causing Hathaway to transfer to Covina High School in the middle of his junior year.

“Switching schools really did change my life because I was in danger at Charter Oak. You see those horror stories, yeah that was me.”

In his senior year of high school gender dysphoria hit, causing Hathaway to quit playing softball, which he calls “the hardest decision” he ever had to make.

Gender dysphoria is a mental and emotional condition in which a person experiences intense feelings of depression, discontent and indifference to their gender identity.

At the time, Hathaway still identified as a female.

Being in a girls' locker room on a girls’ team proved to be something Hathaway could not handle and he quit the sport he had played for

Nancy Alkana Clarion Staff Writer

B

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Sydney Presley, Citrus College Clarion Jaden Hathaway (left) and Riley Davalos (right) are members of the Gay Straight Alliance club and have been together for three years.

“He's been amazing and insanely brave. I've never seen him as anything but Jaden, my best friend, or Jaden, my boyfriend, or Jaden, my fiancé. He's just mine,” Davalos said.

Davalos said that Hathaway’s parents are fully supportive of their relationship.

Hathaway plans to start working in the summer in order to start saving up for his further transition into being a man. The name change alone will be about $480, not including Social Security, medical records and other legal paperwork.

Hathaway hopes to get top surgery, also known as male chest construction, which gives the chest a more masculine appearance.

From there, Hathaway hopes to start the process of hormonal supplements, which requires a year of gender-specific counseling and expensive intervals of hormones.

When asked about where he sees himself in 10 years, Hathaway jokes that he never thought he would even make it to age 20.

“Writing, in a house of my own, with the love of my life, which I have already.”

Night owl burns the candle at both ends

Murillo] is e students

his associnue growhe leaves

eight years of his life.

After taking a year off of school Hathaway enrolled at Citrus College where he immediately became a member of the Gay Straight Alliance club.

Since 2010 Hathaway has carried the title of being secretary, vice president and president. Though he admitted running the club is exhausting, he said that the club has turned his life around.

“Everybody always wants to make a difference, but to be able to actually see the difference happening is something that could never be replaced,” Hathaway said.

Hathaway says his biggest supporter has always been his brother, while he still struggles to get his parents to use male pronouns when referring to him.

“Jaden's transition was not something I had to adjust to. His appearance may have changed, but he had always remained the same on the inside,” Max Hathaway said.

During his time at Citrus, Hathaway met his partner of three years, Riley Davalos, 20, who is also a member of the GSA. Davalos identifies as “gender fluid,” meaning an individual who identifies as both man or woman, neither man nor woman, or switches between both genders.

Hathaway identifies himself as a pansexual, which one can be attracted to all genders and sexual identities. Both have experienced gender dysphoria.

Nancy Alkana, Citrus College Clarion Rebecca Gomez, 22, studies at home after her night classes. In addition to taking 15 units of classes from 4­10 p.m., Gomez has a full­time job from 10 a.m.­3 p.m.

alancing work and school is something that most community college students have to master. Students who often have families to care for as well are especially stressed for time.

Citrus College night student Rebecca Gomez has found a way to manage it all.

Gomez, a 22-year old business major, is currently enrolled in 15 units of night classes at Citrus College.

Her night school is four days a week, starting at 4 p.m and ending at 10 p.m “I just really want everyone to know that even if you work fulltime, it is still possible to get an education,” Gomez said. “ It is hard work, but it is not impossible. Don’t give up on your dreams.”

Gomez also has a full-time job at restaurant. She works Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.mp.m.

“Basically, with work and

school, my days are almost 15 hours,” Gomez said. “Sometimes I don’t know how I get through my days.”

Gomez said that it is extremely difficult to be on her feet for most the day, but it feels good when she gets to sit down in her classrooms.

“I am happy to not be standing anymore,” Gomez said. “But now I have to try and not fall asleep in class.”

As soon as she graduated from Glendora High School, she found a way to pay for school through working and financial aid.

Gomez’s family made it clear that they would not be able to support her through college, so she works full-time to support herself.

She lives with her mother, Melissa Garcia, and the two split most of the household expenses.

“I wish that I could give Rebecca better financial options,” Garcia said. “She won’t be working all day and going to night school forever. Soon she will be a college graduate.”

Gomez is the first to attend

college in her family. Her mother started college, but dropped out after having her first child.

Gomez has three younger siblings and helps support them as well.

On weekends Gomez spends most of her time helping her mother around the house with and sleeping in.

“I love my Sundays,” Gomez said. “All of my friends know to not call me before noon. It is my favorite day of the week.”

Gomez’s best friend, Citrus College student Elena Gonzalez has a true respect for her friend.

“People do not understand how difficult it is to go to work all day, and then attend night school,” Gonzalez said. “She is the hardest [working] student and employee I know. One day it will all pay off for her.

After Gomez completes one more full-time semester at Citrus she plans to transfer to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

“I am looking forward to having a normal college life once I transfer,” Gomez said. “I will still have to work but not crazy long days.”

theclariononline.com

JUNE 6, 2012

SPORTS

Sports Editor

David Tate

13

Healing their broken wings David Tate Clarion Sports Editor

W

alk through the double doors on the north side of the basketball court and continue south. Go through the next blue door. Then the next set of double doors. Then another.

Continue 10 paces through a dark, shaded corridor adjacent to the perpetually empty swimming pool and through yet another set of double doors. Then follow the dimly lit hallway to the end and turn right.

If you don’t get lost along the way, you’ll find yourself in a room filled with bright lights, boisterous conversation and athletes—PE 139, the Athletic Training Room. Here, head trainer Steve Handy has been healing bruised and broken Citrus Owls over the past 29 years.

He estimates that he’s treated more than 10,000 athletes since he began the job in August 1983.

To put that figure in perspective, that’s about the number of 2011-12 full-time equivalent Citrus College students.

Steve is an accomplished trainer in his own right, having worked with the likes of track and field legends Carl Lewis and Florence “Flo-Jo” GriffithJoyner at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. After the American men set a world record in the 4x100 relay, Lewis even gave him his number bib as a thankyou gift, complete with a set of autographs from the entire relay team.

“It was surreal. I didn’t grasp how fortunate I was to be able to do this until later,” Steve said of his Olympic experience. “I couldn’t believe I was standing there in the Coliseum with 100,000 people. It was incredible.”

If Steve’s surname sounds familiar, that’s because the Ross L. Handy Campus Center was named after his father, who served as the college’s vice president from 1951 to 1984.

Steve’s roots with the Owls’ athletic department can be traced as far back as 1956, when the elder Handy served as coach for the men’s cross country team— Steve himself would play for the Owls’ football team in the late ‘70s.

However, even a trainer with a golden pedigree can’t treat more than 10,000 athletes by his lonesome. Assistant athletic trainers Scott Norman and

David Tate, Citrus College Clarion Head athletic trainer Steve Handy ices the knee of 20­year­old freshman wide receiver Paul Roberson. Handy has headed the program since Aug. 1983.

“

I bring the old school stuff, they bring the new school.

STEVE HANDY HEAD ATHLETIC TRAINER

”

Traci Rodriguez share an office with Handy—not to be overlooked, as the entire facility is about the size of a classroom— and he says the two are critical to his success.

“I bring the old school stuff, they bring the new school,” said a chuckling Steve. “A common thing I would say when I first started [as a trainer] was ‘rub a little dirt on it.”

“But I see things that we’re doing now that I wouldn’t have even thought of doing 25 years ago. I can’t say enough about Scott and Traci developing the program to where it’s at today.”

Scott and Traci are both board-certified by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, which represents more than 82 percent of all athletic trainers practicing within the United States. In 1981, NATA became the primary U.S. membership association for athletic trainers, but veteran trainers like Steve were allowed to keep their old certifications.

The Handy connection to Citrus College would also indirectly spark Scott’s career.

In 1988, Scott was playing center for the Owl football team when he tore his meniscus. His recovery was supervised by none other than Steve Handy, and the experience is something Scott carries with him this very day.

“That incident probably had a big influence on my career choices,” Scott said.

It’s an interesting transition

for him, as he found that the mental stresses of 16-hour days could be just as tough to navigate as the physical stresses of two-a-days.

“We had one football game where we had four injuries,” said Scott. “We had a kid go down who we thought had a fractured neck, there was a broken leg, a possible choking situation where the athlete had lost consciousness, and someone in the stands who overheated.”

When the days aren’t as busy, the trio of trainers’ personalities helps them empathize with the personality types of the athletes seeking treatment. An athlete likes jokes? They go to Steve. If a player needs a hardnosed approach, Scott’s the man. Want a little bit of both? Find Traci.

“You’ll see different teams and different athletes migrate towards different trainers,” said Traci. “Scott is very straightforward with his answers, so [he gets] a lot of football players.

Steve likes to get to know a person, so we see a lot of female athletes that like to develop an interpersonal relationship work with him.”

What types of athletes gravitate to Traci?

“I’m kind of the mom,” she said, beaming. “So people who look for an in-between come to me.”

No matter which athlete goes to which trainer, seeing an injured player return to health is the greatest reward for Steve, Traci and Scott.

“A genuine concern for the well-being of the athlete is number one,” Scott said. “When they’re hurt, I’m hurt. It may sound like a cliché, but I don’t like telling an athlete they’re not ready to [play] yet. I want them to go back out, but not until they’re ready.”

Until then, the athletes know their way around the laybryinth of double doors.

David Tate, Citrus College Clarion Assistant athletic trainer Traci Rodriguez wraps an ice pack around the back of Jasmine Williams, a 20­year­old forward on the women’s soccer team.

David Tate, Citrus College Clarion Assistant athletic trainer Scott Norman tapes the knee of sophomore run­ ning back Philip Sainz.

CLARIONsports Men’s basketball and women’s soccer take top athletic honors 14 theclariononline.com

David Tate Clarion Sports Editor

S

ophomore standout athletes James Walker and Angela Castellanos were named Athletes of the Year on May 31 at the 2011-12 Citrus College Achievement Awards Banquet.

Walker was introduced by men’s basketball coach Chris Victor. Women’s soccer coach Tim Tracey introduced Castellanos.

Tracey praised Castellanos for her toughness and determination during the 2011 season, noting that she only missed two games despite suffering a dislocated elbow, a fractured nose and a concussion. “[Angela] is a leader by example demonstrating commitment and work ethic not matched by her peers,” Tracey said. “She is the definition of resiliency, heart, and what it is to be a tough minded student athlete representing Citrus College.”

Castellanos, 20, played midfielder for the Citrus Owls for the 2010 and 2011 seasons, earning consecutive 2nd Team

All-Western State Conference South honors. Also a Citrus Scholar-Baller with a 3.82 GPA, Castellanos’ 31 career points places her fourth on the program’s all-time points list.

She will attend University of Colorado, Colorado Springs on an athletic scholarship in fall 2012.

“My first day at practice I felt like a little kid on a big field,” Castellanos said. “I feel like I really grew . . . I’m so happy [that I won the award] and that I can represent Citrus.”

Castellanos also received recognition as one of the top 100 achievement award winners in the 2011-12 graduating class, having been nominated by the language arts department.

As for Walker, the Male Athlete of the Year award cements him as the most decorated men’s basketball player in Citrus history. Walker had previously won the WSC South’s Most Valuable Player award and he was also the first athlete in Citrus history to earn the California Community College Athletic Association’s Player of the Year

award.

The 20-year-old shooting guard helped lead the Owls to the CCCAA Final Four for the second year in a row, completing the 2011-12 season with an average of 19.1 points per game, the second highest single-season total in the program’s history.

“I was very fortunate to coach [Walker] for one season,” said Victor during the award presentation. “I wish I had him for two.”

Walker’s freshman season was spent at Utah State University, where he started one game for the Aggies. He said Victor helped him develop into a better player on the court after he transferred to Citrus. “[Coach] gave me an opportunity to shine this year,” Walker said. “It feels good to receive such a prestigious award.”

“There are a lot of athletes that are competing within the school, and to be the only one to come up with the award is something that I’m proud of.”

Walker will be attending St. Mary’s College in the fall of 2012.

JUNE 6, 2012

Courtesy of External Relations Sophomore midfielder Angela Castellanos receives the 2011­2012 Female Ath­ lete of the Year award from women’s soccer head coach Tim Tracey.

Courtesy of External Relations Sophomore shooting guard James Walker receives the 2011-2012 Male Athlete of the Year award from men’s basketball head coach Chris Victor.

JUNE 6, 2012

theclariononline.com

Entertainment Editor

ENTERTAINMENT

Martin Cabrera

15

Women’s ensemble presents ‘Listen to the Music’ Lauren Emery Clarion Staff Writer

T

he Citrus College Women’s Ensemble will be performing their annual showcase titled “Listen to the Music” June 15-17 in the Little Theatre.

The Women’s Ensemble is directed by Vonetta Mixson, who has been with the group for a year and a half. As a former Citrus Singer, she knows how to lead her performers.

The Women’s Ensemble consists of 22 women and has been performing at Citrus College for 23 years.

They have traveled to San Diego, Palm Springs, the Mexican Riviera, the Bahamas and recently returned from San Francisco, where the group of women performed at Pier 39 and Union Square.

The ensemble prefers to perform in church venues for its various events. The group recently did a benefit concert for the City of Hope for cancer research back in May. “Any type of community event or community organization we try to connect ourselves. The entire

department is bent on giving back,” Mixson said.

To be ready for all of their performances, the group starts practicing before the semester begins.

“We start learning pop show material in January because by the time we start [the spring semester] in February, choreographers need to work with them,” said Mixson.

“They cannot learn dance steps before they learn lyrics and music.

There has to be a process to this.”

Every year the showcase switches between Broadway and pop/rock. This year it will be mainly pop and rock music but other genres will be heard as well.

Some of the artists and songs that are being utilized for the performance are “We Will Rock You”

by Queen, “Edge of Glory” by Lady Gaga and songs by Beyoncé, Cher and Madonna.

“I think it is cool performing in front of people you know, but also performing in front of people you don’t know,” said student director Andrea Franco, 19. “For me it’s going out of my comfort zone and showing people who I am.”

All of the women enjoy performing, said dance captain Selene Romero, 21: “The feeling of being on stage, the little nervous feeling I get, it makes me really

Lauren Emery, Citrus College Clarion A board with photos of all of this year’s performers for the Women’s Ensemble featured in the Recording Technology building. happy to be in front of others. I could live off that feeling.”

The pop show takes place over two acts in the Little Theatre and will utilize special lighting, costumes and dancing.

“The dancing ranges from step touches to advance technical movement,” Romero said. “Some songs are more difficult but just like with our music, it is a big range.”

“There are miniature solos

throughout the performance,” Franco said. “The cool thing about Women’s Ensemble is that everybody gets a chance to shine and to be heard.”

There will be a wide variety of different artists and music genres.

“I enjoy a group that has diversity,” Mixson said, “I enjoy a variety of music because that’s my background. It is engrained in me to be versatile.”

“It is really young and fresh.

We are trying to give you a little bit of everything. It is definitely an eclectic show.”

Performances are scheduled June 15 and 16 at 8 p.m., June16 and 17 at 2 p.m. and June 17 at 7 p.m. in the Little Theatre.

Purchase tickets at the box office or online at www.haughpac.com. Tickets are $12 for general admission and $10 for students and seniors.

Sold out production meets expectations Martin Cabrera Clarion Managing Editor

C

reative stage production and stellar acting turned the Citrus College Little Theatre into a thrilling crime scene investigation during the theatre arts department’s production of the noir comedy “Kill Me, Deadly.”

The production, which sold out its three showings from June 1-3 so quickly that the department added three additional shows June 7-9, lived up to audience expectations.

The scene is set in Los Angeles in 1947. Private investigator Charlie Nickels gets caught up in the murder case of his client Lady Claremont, after she is targeted and murdered for her 300-karat red diamond.

Nickels’ investigation of all suspects turns into a wild goose chase, leading him at one point to discover that even he himself is a suspect. As he delves deeper into the mystery, Nickels reluctantly comes to the conclusion that the perpetrator is the individual he least expects and least desires it to be.

Cherie Brown, theatre arts professor and director of “Kill Me, Deadly,” along with the stage crew, did a wonderful job with stage production, using every corner of the Little Theatre to create the ’50s-like atmosphere and setting.

Seating was organized lounge style with small coffee tables for four, candle lit with dim Chinese

Shane Yanez-Rodriguez, Citrus College Clarion Andre Espinoza (left), who plays Detective Charlie Nickels, and Brittany Sanchez (right), who plays Lady Claremont, practice a scene for “Kill Me, Deadly.” lanterns to set a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. Each table also had complementary kettle corn and water.

Three corners of the theatre were used to create multiple scenes and settings, with the main stage elevated to utilize space below the stage as well.

Seamless transitions from scene to scene, and timing of the lighting and sound effects proved key in stimulating audience imagination and understanding of the plot.

However, depending on where one is seated, it is difficult to view a few scenes.

The play was not regulated to the space of the three stages, but rather used the whole theatre and audience space that made it an interactive experience.

Even though you are staring through an audience for much of the play, it is not a distraction and you are still engrossed in the action, drama and humor conveyed by the actors.

The acting was played a huge

role in the successful night.

Andre Espinoza, who plays Nickels, was near perfect in his role. Espinoza was successful in portraying the relentless, mysterious, and sometimes clueless detective who has a huge weakness for women. His facial expressions made his emotions and feelings transparent, and he nailed the Brooklyn accent.

Espinoza and co-star Ana Mateo, who plays Mona Livingston, Nickels’ seductive and deceptive dame love interest,

complement each other very well.

Their interactions were genuine and their feelings for each other believable. Mona’s manipulation of Nickels was masterfully humorous.

In a two-hour play featuring several characters, the character development impressed me. It was not just the stars who impressed, but the supporting characters as well.

From Anthony Claudillo’s role as Louie, the punctual and oddly considerate gangster, to Rachel Strowbridge’s interpretation of Ida, Nickel’s quirky and ultra-resourceful assistant, the acting of the supporting actors were key in the development of the plot.

The facial expressions and articulation of lines made it easy to catch on to the dark and slightly slap-stick humor.

The execution by every character of the Brooklyn accent, as well as other accents, along with the ’40s/’50s terminology and lingo like “wise guy” and “private dick” alone are enough to make you laugh.

Overall, “Kill Me, Deadly” was a very enjoyable experience.

Tickets for the June 7 showing at 8 p.m. are the only ones still available. Tickets are $12 for general admission and $10 for students and seniors. Order them now at the box office open Tuesday to Thursday 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., by phone at 626-963-9411, or online at www.haughpac.com.

16 theclariononline.com

CLARIONentertainment

JUNE 6, 2012

Film Club invites all to showcase Nancy Alkana Clarion Staff Writer

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spiring filmmakers have the opportunity to showcase their talent June 7 at the film festival being hosted by the Citrus College’s Film Club in the Campus Center.

Anyone can come to the festival and screen a film that they made this spring semester.

The only requirement is that the films run no longer than 15 minutes.

The festival is scheduled at noon and films will be screened until 8 p.m.

Club president George Brandlin expects the turnout to be good.

“We expect eight or more short films to be shown,” Brandlin said.

“I am looking forward to see what other filmmakers have made and how the event will turn out.”

Until last week, Citrus student Jordan Baker was not aware of the festival but he seemed enthusiastic after learning about it.

“I have a break in between my morn-

ing and afternoon classes,” Baker said.

“Why not go and see some good movies with my classmates and friends. Sounds fun. Maybe the next Spielberg is among us.”

The club plans on showcasing three films of their own that they have created this semester.

The films are titled “Blind Guy: Blind Date,” an audio only film from the perspective of a blind man; "Dr. Dick Danger in The Atomic Ghost,” a sci-fi B movie, and “Mob-Phone,” a film where phone calls are deadly.

“They are all pretty much comedies,” said Sasha Winterer, Film Club member.

“Because they are all pretty cheesy.”

This is Brandlin’s second year as president. He said that the club has done well with achieving the semester’s goals. The festival is one of their accomplishments.

“It is more like a public viewing, with food,” Brandlin said. “We will be selling pizza, caramel corn, caramel apples, and drinks.

Admission to the festival is free.

Courtesy of Trevor Broadwater

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Shannon Vigil

JUNE 6, 2012

THE FORUM

McClatchy-Tribune Media Services

How to stay busy this summer Nancy Alkana Clarion Staff Writer

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s we wrap up another semester of school, students are saying goodbye to spring and transitioning to summer mode.

Now is the time to transition from a recreational and time wasting mindset into determination, in order to have something to show for when August rolls around.

This summer, instead of sleeping until noon every day, keep active.

Stay busy with a summer class, volunteering at a local center or getting a summer job.

Citrus offers a variety of summer classes beginning June 25 through Aug. 26. Take a fitness for life or photography course for a fun activity and gets your mind going. Core

classes are also available in summer, including math, English and history.

Another way to keep busy this summer is getting involved in your local community. Volunteer at the Glendora Library, City of Hope or Foothill Presbyterian hospitals. They all accept volunteers year round.

Go online and visit their websites for more information on volunteering.

Getting a summer job presents opportunities to meet new people and make some extra cash.

Raging Waters is a great option for a summer job. It is the best of both worlds, being in the sun and being productive. It is a great way to have fun while making money.

Go to www.ragingwaters.com under ‘employment’ to apply.

Another option to look for a summer job is Craigslist. Various employers post listings

daily for future employees.

Try typing in your current city or surrounding cities to see what work is available for you this summer.

Visit losangeles.craigslist.org for further information.

Local areas also offer city programs. Try signing up for a local cooking course, yoga, hiking group or more depending on your city of residence.

Most cities also offer various summer workshops that continue throughout the summer.

For instance Glendora offers basic computer skills, wood painting projects, writing and illustrating classes, jazz and art ‘Across the Ages’ workshops that vary from 6 to 9 weeks.

Visit your local city online to learn more information.

Stimulate your mind with a summer read-

ing list. Whether it’s reading a classic novel or a new one, keep your brain active.

Some personal recommendations are “The Great Gatsby” by Scott F. Fitzgerald, “Anna Karenina” by Leo Tolstoy, “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, “Wise Blood”

by Flannery O’ Connor and “The Lord of the Rings” series by J.R.R Tolkien.

Some more recent novels to read for the summer include, “The Beach House” by Jane Green, “Fifty Shades of Grey” by E.L. James and “The Help”by Kathryn Stockett.

Whether you pick up a classic or something of your own personal choice, make sure to indulge yourself in a new world by reading.

Summer is full of sun and fun, but adding some specific activities will make for a more energetic and creative time.

Keeping employers out of your online life Daniel Hernanez Clarion Spotlight Editor

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n May 25 the California Senate approved a bill that would make it illegal for employers and college admissions officers to ask current or prospective workers and students for the password to any social media account.

This is a positive effort towards keeping students’ and employees’ personal and private information that way.

SB 1349, sponsored by Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, has brought to light the fact that some of the personal information that a social media site, like Facebook, may contain information employers are not allowed to ask for on an application such as a person’s religion, age, marital status and sexual orientation.

When an employer requests personal passwords, it is often because they are fishing for unnecessary and unrelated personal activities that has nothing to do with someone’s performance or abilities on the job.

McClatchy-Tribune Media Services

Before this becomes a law in California, the state Assembly must pass SB 1349 and if passed, it will be sent to the Governor for his approval making California the second state to endorse such privacy rights.

For example, I am a person who enjoys a good time out on the weekend with friends to take a break from my daily school and work routine and, yes, I like to have a few drinks.

Such activity could lead an em-

ployer to automatically become prejudiced and judgmental or classify me as a drunk and not give me the opportunity to demonstrate what I can do on the job.

The bottom line is that what I do on my own time is my business and if I’m performing well at a job or school all else shouldn’t matter.

Also, as a liberal person, I like to express my thoughts to my closed group of friends on Facebook that perhaps may not be suitable for an employer if they happen to be of conservative beliefs.

If granted access to my personal social sites, employers automatically disqualify me just for having my own opinion of which they may not agree.

Social sites are a way for us to keep in touch and share things with the people who share our common interests and whatever information we set as private, should remain that way unless we willingly want to give someone permission to access it.

I have my own professional website where I post my portfolio, an autobiography and a resume. We should all have the right to choose the mediums to give to employers to

look for if they really want some form of connection.

Although many may argue that anything we post online automatically becomes open to the public, we should at least make it our goal to promote laws that try to protect our personal privacy.

A similar bill passed May 10 in the state Assembly.

Bill 1844 sponsored by Assemblywoman Nora Campos, D-San Jose, would limit the employers from accessing anything marked as private on any social media account.

The state of Maryland was the first state to pass similar laws pending in California.

SB 433 and HB 964 ban employers from requiring job candidates or existing employees to reveal social networking passwords as conditions of employment.

The bill was passed on to Governor Martin O'Malley who signed it into law on April 10, 2012.

Other states with similar pending bills include Washington, Delaware and New Jersey.

Californians should support bills that aim at protecting the right of employees and students.

JUNE 6, 2012

CLARIONforum

EDITORIALS

theclariononline.com

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citrus college

clarion Congratulations to our graduates Editor in Chief

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s the 2011-2012 year comes to an end, students will be completing their academic plans. We commend them for being in the 20 percent of community college students who graduate in the state.

The 96th Citrus College Commencement is scheduled for June 16 at 10 a.m. at the college stadium.

Approximately a thousand Citrus students will be graduating at the end of the semester and 400 of them will be participating in this year’s graduation ceremony, according to Pam McGuern, administrative assistant to the vice president of student services at Citrus.

Not all the students who have completed their time at Citrus will participate in the college’s commencement activities, but they should definitely be recognized.

Among them are those who have received Associate of Arts and Science degrees.

As of press time, 592 Associate of Arts degrees and 510 Associate of Science degrees will be awarded, according to Linda Welz, chief information services officer at Citrus.

The exact number of students who will be transferring to four-year schools with or without an associates degree has not been officially released.

We applaud those who have been accepted to the next chapter in their educational lives.

Citrus’ vocational programs are

awarding 273 students with certificates of completion, according to Welz.

In a state where, according to some lawmakers, only 20 percent of community college students actually graduate, regardless of the level of accomplishment, those who have reached completion of some sort of certificate should be acknowledged.

Not all students who enter a community college immediately reach success.

According to Welz, in April of this year, 1,891 Citrus students received probation notifications subjecting them to dismissal of the college unless their grades show improvement.

Around the same time last year, 1,080 Citrus students were dismissed for unsuccessful academic standing.

However, we would like to remind those who have faced difficult times in their educational lives that late is better than never.

Although it may feel like failure, it is surely possible to reinvent yourselves and give college life another shot.

As students transform into adults they face greater responsibilities causing challenges in pursuing their education.

Maintaining a job or raising a family and attending school at the same time can become very difficult and cause students to fall behind in their studies.

According to the California

Sydney Presley

Managing Editor Martin Cabrera

Online Editor Emily Rios

News Editor Sydney Presley

Spotlight Editor Daniel Hernandez

Sports Editor David Tate

Entertainment Editor Martin Cabrera

Forum Editor Shannon Vigil

Staff Writers

Sydney Presley, Citrus College Clarion

Community Colleges Chancellor’s office, the community college system currently is being funded for 2.5 million students, but since demand for enrollment is extreme, it was estimated that as many as 670,000 students striving for community college education in 2011-12 would not be served.

It goes to prove that college is more of a privilege than a right.

Despite the difficulties students faced, graduates, transfer students

and achievers of certificates at Citrus managed to remain courageous and succeed.

As college students, we are the only ones who will recognize the stress and anxiety that comes with the 20 page research papers, sleepless study nights and nerve-racking test days.

To all who completed their time as an Owl, we congratulate you and wish you the best of luck in the future.

Goodbye Pell Grants, goodbye education

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e plead with Congress to take action to continue fully funding Federal Stafford loans and Pell Grants so that the nation’s underprivileged students can afford the skyrocketing cost of college.

Unlike a Stafford loan, a Federal Pell Grant does not have to be repaid.

The Federal Pell Grant Program supports need-based students and promotes access to postsecondary education.

Starting July 1, a congressional decision to reduce or for some students eliminate Pell Grants could affect about 400,000 students.

Pell Grants originally covered two-thirds of the cost of tuition and fees charged by public four-year universities. However, as college costs have increased, a grant now covers about a third.

Nine million students receive Pell Grants. At Citrus College almost 5,000 students, or 39 percent receive Pell Grants. In the 2011-2012 award year 4,986 Citrus College students received a Federal Pell Grantthe total amount disbursed was $14,153,000.

The maximum Pell Grant award for the 2011-12 year is $5,550. The amounts depend on a student’s financial situation, costs to attend a particular school, status as a full-time or part-time student, and plan to attend school for a full academic year or less.

After July, 1 a student must meet

Shannon Vigil, Citrus College Clarion

new criteria in order to receive a Pell Grant. A family of four’s income is now lowered to $23,000 from $30,000.

Students may not receive aid for attending more than one school at a time. Also students can now only receive the Grant for 12 semesters instead of 18.

Before, students who did not have a GED or high school diploma could qualify for aid by taking an exam or completing six units of general education and now must have one or the other.

Congress should be voting for current and prospective students to be able to pursue education not take away another opportunity to earn a degree and get a better job.

Of students who receive Pell Grants 60 percent also take out loans. The options for finding afford-

able aid are dwindling fast.

The government pays the interest on subsidized Stafford loans and defers payments while students are enrolled in college. The loan rate on a subsidized Stafford loans is set to double from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent on July 1 of this year unless Congress intervenes.

Now with the reduction of Pell Grants, students from low-income households will have to find another way to pay for higher education and rise of poverty.

Republican members of Congress pushed the impending changes, which are expected to save $11 billion over 10 years.

In a written statement released by Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., he said Congress had to make “tough choices” to cut government funding Pell Grants.

Although the country’s $15 trillion debt is an impending problem, the impact of “tough choices” must be equitable, not just aimed for the poor.

According to a recent article in the San Jose Mercury News, among those who will lose Pell Grants in the summer are 65,000 new college students without high school diplomas, 63,000 who have spent more than six years in college and nearly 300,000 others for changes in income requirements.

According to the American Association of Community Colleges, African-American and Latino students will be hit the hardest. The two groups combined make up 47 percent of students enrolled in the Pell Grant Program.

At Citrus College, 49 percent of the student body is Hispanic and African American.

We urge Congress not to take away the largest source of federal financial aid and to continue to support students who need help in obtaining their degrees.

The Federal Pell Grant program was designed for the underprivileged. If Congress fails to act before June 30, the educational path for thousands of students will come to a disheartening dead end.

Putting college degrees out of reach for underprivileged students from historically under presented groups is only shortchanging the nations’ economic competiveness.

Nancy Alkana, Lauren Emery, Ryan Gomez, Jacqueline Melendez, Patricia Pena

Photographers/ Artists Daniel Hernandez, Sydney Presley, Shannon Vigil

Page Designers Martin Cabrera, Daniel Hernandez, Sydney Presley, Shannon Vigil, Sasha Winterer

Photo Technician Frank Ram

Instructional Assistant Emily Rios

Adviser Margaret O’Neil One copy free 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

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20 theclariononline.com

JUNE 6, 2012

Dancers per­ form a piece titled “Life­ force” dur­ ing “Pulse” at the Haugh Per­ forming Arts Center on May 30.

DANCERS QUICKEN AUDIENCE’S ‘PULSE’ RATE Taylor Zepeda

Clarion Staff Writer

recent dance recital created by the artistic students at Citrus College was nothing short of captivating.

The performance titled “Pulse” on May 30 in the Haugh Performing Arts Center was guided by dance professor John Vaughan and associate student director Jennifer Allgaier.

The production included a variety of dance styles, ranging from contemporary to hip-hop, ballet to tap, with most of the numbers invented by 12 students.

The 20 dance pieces took on journeys of heartbreak, comedy and pure joy.

Song selections varied from a range of eras, allowing age-diverse audience members to relate to the different sounds.

Excellent technique was evident through pieces such as “Life – Force” by Haihua Chiang, “Haphephobia” by Jairus PecsonAquino, “Love is Just a Game” by Ricardo Puentes and “Two Forty Five” by Michelle Shear, the strongest performances in terms of fluidity and sharpness of movements.

Light-humored comedic talent was found in “Pay Phone” by Shawna Cook, “Who’s That Girl”

by Art Ball, and “Swing Kat” by

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Aaron Valles. Each number varied from an up-beat partner dance, to hip-hop with small acting bits that made the numbers really stand out.

“Visions of a Heartbreak” by Nina Alas and “Little Angel” by Anthony Clinton received the loudest applause. The musical choice of Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj for “Little Angel” gave the audience a dark, eery, vision of an exorcism.

“Safe” by Kelli Warnecke was a very powerful piece for its dancing in the name of God, sending a message through the dancers that we are safe in his arms – a very beautiful change in the show.

Just before the close, director John Vaughan came on stage and addressed the audience regarding state budget cuts to education. He encouraged the audience to attend more performances put on by the Citrus performing arts department in order to contribute directly to their funds.

On a lighter note, the production ended with one last performance, “Serenity” choreographed by Renee Liskey, that was a fun and energetic way to end the evening.

This year’s production of “Pulse” was inspiring and uplifting, and a reminder to the community of how important the arts are not only to Citrus College, but to the audience members, and hopefully proving how vital it is that they continue to thrive.

Dancers performing a piece at “Pulse” at the Haugh Performing Arts Center on May 30.

Photos taken by Taylor Zepeda

Dancers per­ form their piece titled “Pay Phone” during “Pulse” at the Haugh Performing Arts Center on May 30.