Clarion 5/22/19 by Citrus College Clarion

CLARION c i t r u s

c o l l e g e

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019 | VOL LXXII ISSUE 15 tccclarion.com f/ccclarion T@ccclarion

campus center reopens late after over budget Renovated student facility reopens after delay and nearly $300,000 over budget BY ANDRE LOPEZ STAFF REPORTER

ALOPEZ@CCCLARION.COM

& VICMAN THOME STAFF REPORTER

VTHOME@CCCLARION.COM

Students and faculty gathered outside the newly remodeled Ross L. Handy Campus Center in preparation to cut the ribbon to mark the reopening of the building on May 7. As the ceremony of the Campus Center started up, Superintendent/ President Geraldine M. Perri stepped up to give a speech about it. The $3.8 million and year-long project was remodeled with open space and new rooms that are geared towards community meeting between students, clubs and resources

at Citrus. But the remodel came late, nearly three months late and just over $200 thousand dollars over the initial estimate of $3.6 million. These extra costs slowly started coming out as construction began in October of 2018. The first change order for the Campus Center was approved in October and it increased the cost $33,000. The second increase came in January with a total increase of $84,000 and that was followed by the final change order in May. That change order brought the total cost of the Campus Center to $3,8951,002.92, a total of $204,002.92 over budget. The change orders state that the increases can come from many small

things that slowly increased the costs in small increments. For example, in the second increase, there was a kink that had to be resolved with the hot and cold piping and that ran up the cost $557.92. The Clarion reached out to the architecture firm, Horizons Construction Company for comment, we were told that they were not allowed to speak to reporters and to send in our questions through email. As of time of publication, we have not heard back from them. During the opening ceremony, the tardiness of the project was not addressed nor even mentioned. Perri just dove straight into her speech, “The Ross Handy Center opened in 1964. Now 55 years later, we’re about to cut the ribbon on this newly renovated, high tech, student-focused facility.” SE E CAM PUS • PAGE 5

Andre Lopez Clarion

Onlookers rush to get inside the newly remodeled Campus Center after the ribbon cutting on May 7.

Alumni cement legacy through buying bricks Students and staff can add their name to the owl fountain through the ‘Buy a Brick’ campaign BY SAMMY FERNANDES STAFF REPORTER

SFERNANDES@CCCLARION.COM

Photo Illustraton by Vicman Thome Clarion

Norms Restaurant claims that paying 21 cents more for the Bigger Better Breakfast is better than raising all the prices on the menu by more than a dollar. The surcharge will offset cost of doing buisness in California.

Charging to stay open Norms Restaurant chain adds a 3% surcharge to offset minimum wage increases BY VICMAN THOME STAFF REPORTER

VTHOME@CCCLARION.COM

In the wake of the recent minimum wage increase that took place at the start of 2019, many California businesses have decided to add a surcharge to the customer’s purchase checks. Businesses, like the Norms Restaurant chain, do this with the claim that they are helping customers save money by keeping prices low and passing the extra minimum wage increase to the customers instead of having the company pay for

the extra cost of doing business. The Norms Restaurant in the city of West Covina, along with all the rest of the Norms Restaurant chain, is one of the businesses who added the new surcharge. The extra charge was added on Jan. 10, nine days after the wage increase went into effect on Jan. 1. This has been met with anger and pushback from the customers. In fact, while standing in line to pay the check, many customers demanded to see the manager and asked that the charge be taken off the bill.

“It’s not fair, they should advertise that cost, tell us about it. That would give us an option if we want to eat there or not,” said May Pacheco, a mad customer that was forced to pay the surcharge. Norms Restaurant does not tell customers about that surcharge until after the fact. Many people find the 3% surcharge particularly deceptive as they are not aware until after they have eaten and find the charge at the bottom of the dinner check. SE E S URCHARGE • PAGE 5

Everybody can leave their mark at Citrus College with a brick permanently placed on the Owl Fountain in the campus central region. The “Buy a Brick” campaign, sponsored by the Citrus Alumni and Friends Association, is selling bricks to raise money for scholarships and beautification projects on campus. CAFA hope to raise over $20,000 with the inscribed bricks. The original Citrus College owl that sat on top of the fountain near the library was donated by the graduating class of 1975. When the owl was destroyed in 1995, the CAFA, the Associated Students of Citrus College and the Citrus College Foundation came together to fund a new owl in 2000 to celebrate Citrus’ 85th anniversary, which cost $12,000. Alicia Nichols, Alumni Association secretary, said the buy-a-brick campaign started in the late ’90s to help fund the new owl, future scholarships and projects. Ever since, the campaign has been silently existing

in the Alumni Association. Since the campaign has not been revisited since its creation two decades ago, Nichols had to find out how this campaign had started to bring it back. “The cool thing about having a brick is it stays there on that fountain, so you’ll always kind of have a memorial on Citrus,” Nichols said. Although the foundation has always been open to sell the bricks, it lost the esteem five years ago when they were not selling new bricks anymore. That is because it was not a high priority at that time. Because of that, the Alumni Association set a deadline for June to try to sell the remaining 150 bricks. Foundation Director Christina M. Garcia said the campaign is a priority now. With 600 bricks designed as part of the fountain, over 400 bricks have already been inscribed. “It was just a quiet program that was happening, but we are revitalizing it now because we want to close it and start a new project,” Garcia said. The bricks are on the fountain, in S E E B R ICK S • PAGE 5

L.A.’s music venue season recap: softball guidE A review of the the best spots to experience live music this summer in Los Angeles PAGE 9

Owls fall to Palomar in the first round of the playoffs after strong conference play PAGE 11

PAGE 2

ANNOUNCEMENTS

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019 CITRUS COLLEGE

CLARION Charity Wang editor-in-chief John Michaelides managing editor Lydia Egan arts & entertainment editor Logan Gray photo editor (sports & AE) Joshua Hernandez features editor Tannan Luzzo sports editor/circulation manager Timothy Petersen opinions editor Xela Quintana art editor Liandra Thibodeaux photo editor (news and features) Malcolm Castelli foreign correspondent

Owling w/ Laughter

A COMIC STRIP BY XELA Q U I N TA N A

Stop near the Citrus library and Campus Center if interested in volunteering or are experiencing food insecurity. • MAY 22 - LAST DAY TO MEET WITH CAL FRESH SPECIALIST

Meet with the Calfresh Programs Specialist on campus from 9 a.m. to noon on the first floor of the SS building. • MAY 23 - FINANCIAL LITERACY SEMINAR

The money 101 seminar will be from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Student Services building in room SS 168. There will be prizes, free food and games. • MAY 28 - CAREER IN EDUCATION PANEL

Don’t miss out on networking and Q&A opportunity from 4 to 6 p.m. in CI-159 • MAY 30 - A QUIET PLACE

For any artists who want to submit their work, the deadlines submissions is on May 30. Any artist who would like to exhibit needs to send their work to citrusexhibitons127@ gmail.com with their name, title of the work, year, medium, size and means of contact.

MAY/JUNE WORKSHOPS

The Clarion is produced by journalism students and is distributed every other Wednesday during the semester.

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

22 12:30 - 2 p.m. MYTHS AND MAJOR ABOUT MATH

2 - 3 p.m.

NO SCHOOL

11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

3 4 - 5 p.m. STRESS MANAGEMENT

11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

GOAL SETTING

4 STUDY SKILLS

29 10 - 11 a.m. MEMORY TECHNIQUES

5 8 - 9 a.m. TIME MANAGEMENT

23 LEARNING STYLES

30 4 - 5 p.m. MATH ANXIETY

6 1 - 2 p.m. TEST TAKING

• All workshops will be in SS 281 unless otherwise posted

Draw your own perspective on how the spring season has been for you. Then tag us and use #CitrusCollege in your submission and we’ll feature the best one.

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#CITRUSCOLLEGE MARILYN SPARKS: @msparksagency: Lunch and Learn with the Citrus College Veterans Center. Proud that our local college offers resources for our local heroes. MUSEUMRVN: @museumrvn: Fort Marcathur Museum director Steve Nelson visited Museumrvn today with students from the Vietnam War history class he teaches at Citrus College. It is great to discuss the history of the republic with minds eager to learn.

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HOOT TWEETS:

OWL BEAT • MAY 22 - MOBILE FOOD PANTRY

Patrick Schmiedt Clarion adviser Stacy K. Long Clarion adviser

All correspondence must include your student ID#, major and signature. Letters may be edited for content.

CORRECTIONS - In the May 8 issue of the Clarion, in the story “Student Success Sets ..Standards”, Arvid Spor’s name was misspelled Arvin Spor.

Everything you need to know about current events in the campus community. If there is something you want us to cover, email us: contact@ccclarion.com

Staff Reporters: James Duffy, Joseph Durham, David Helander, Andre Lopez, Elizabeth Monico, Ruby Munoz, Vicman Thome, Giselle Vargas, Isaiah Wesby Copy Desk: Kai Johnson, Ross Pelser Editorial Board: Logan Gray, Tannan Luzzo, Lauren Mann, Jerick Palacio, Timothy Petersen Freelance Contributors: Alana Daly O’ Brien, Manuel Diaz, Sammy Fernandes, Alejandro Huerta, Dave Stout

If you have any gripes, questions, or comments... We want to hear from you! Send your letters to ccclarion.com/letters.

Clarion

THE 1000 BLOCK...

INCIDENT REPORTS

FALSE REPORT OF A FIRE LOCATION: Library (LI) REPORTED: 5/13 3:45 p.m. CASE #: 2019-020 DISPOSITION: Closed

VANDALISM LOCATION: S9 Parking Lot REPORTED: 5/8 11:40 p.m. CASE #: 2019-019 DISPOSITION: Closed

REPORTS ARE PROVIDED COURTESY OF THE CITRUS COLLEGE CAMPUS SAFETY DEPARTMENT. A REPORT IS NOT A STATEMENT OF GUILT.

Clarion

FORUM

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019

PAGE 3

EDITORIAL

trustees ban tobacco three years after ascc plea The Board of Trustees listened to the voice of Citrus College students, many of whom called for a change to the smoking policies on campus. On January 17, 2019, the board made changes to the legislation in its policy on smoking at Citrus College during a Board of Trustees meeting. Even though the board did listen, the changes didn’t come swiftly though. It took almost three years for the changes to be implemented. The Associated Students of Citrus College conducted a survey in which the majority of those who participated voted that they do not want smoking to be allowed on campus in 2016. Then came a resolution. On May 17, 2016, the ASCC executive board voted 6-2 in favor of eliminating smoking on campus on behalf of the student body. The resolution allowed the exception of parking lots and other designated smoking areas to remain intact. Even though the ASCC doesn’t have the power to change campus policies, their mission is to advocate for the students’ interests. While it takes more than a survey to change the rules and policies at Citrus, at least the conversation can plant the idea that change needs to happen. A report in June of 2018 might have been what pushed the Board of Trustees over the fence. The California College & University Smoke/Tobacco-Free Policy Report Card resulted in Citrus College receiving an “F” for their grade. Only 13% of the community college’s in California received a grade of an “F”. Shortly after the report cards release, the board decided to act on this policy on campus. Not only did the board make changes to the policy at Citrus, but they even went beyond what ASCC has asked for in the past and took measures to completely eradicate tobacco on campus. According to the report card, if the Citrus College campus was completely free of tobacco including e-cigarettes than it would result in Citrus receiving an “A” on future report cards due to the fact that the

James Duffy Clarion

Information technology major Chyanne Brown blows smoke bubbles from her vape pen in campus building on May 21.

campus will be 100% tobacco-free, including e-cigarettes–the requirement for an “A”. The policy revision, which takes effect in the fall 2019 semester, states that smoking/vaping is prohibited on campus. Students, employees and visitors who smoke or vape are required to do so off campus. The new policy also states that The Citrus Community College District is a smoke and tobacco-free environment. Smoking, vaping, and the use of tobacco products is prohibited on all District property at all times. Administrative procedures apply to students, faculty, staff, administrators, visitors and general members of the public. From campus media, to student tweets and even Facebook posts from students in recent years, smoking on campus has adversely affected students. According to Truth Initiative, an organization dedicated to promoting tobacco-free lives, the number of universities and colleges that have

“

Every year around 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are littered each year, making them by far the most littered item in the world.” -TRUTH INITIATIVE

Non-profit Public Health Organization

implemented a smoking ban policy has more than quadrupled in the last nine years. Nationally, only 446 universities and colleges had smoking ban policies on their campuses in 2010. As of April 1, that number increased to 2,365. For the greater good of everyone’s health, these policies can only help the young lives of students on campuses all across the world.

The right to be able to ingest, inhale or use smokeless tobacco in other forms is understandable but in the appropriate place and time. Walking to class and having a cloud of smoke blown into a student’s face is definitely not the time and place, especially for those with health conditions such as asthma and upper respiratory infections. The Board of Trustees has listened to several calls from students. Implementing a smoking ban on campus is another reason as to why it is important to hear the students voices and their wishes at Citrus College. While action could have happened sooner, at least they came through and listened to the majority of the student body. Implementing a smoking ban from the Board of Trustees also allows the opportunity to educate students about the dangers and effects of tobacco. Even if the fact that smoking kills can be referred to as common knowledge, the time is never too late

to remind students of the dangers and impacts of tobacco. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention said that over 41,000 deaths each year are related to secondhand smoke directly. The CDC website also says “nearly all adult smokers start before the age of 26.” The primary target market for cigarette companies is young adults and a ban such as this one only makes it harder for that age group to participate in these habits that can have life-changing effects and in some cases life-threatening effects. Smoking bans also have environmental benefits. Truth Initiative says “every year around 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are littered each year, making them by far the most littered item in the world.” In addition, cities spend anywhere from $3 million to $16 million on city-wide cleanups of cigarettes per year. Times are changing. Trends are happening. Schools are listening. In the past, the norm would have been students and teachers smoking inside the classroom or inside the office at work. But the awareness and dangers of tobacco use have increased. While there may be an early pushback from the rules, it is important to follow the policies created at Citrus for the improvement of the campus for everyone. Health benefits, environmental benefits and economic benefits from implementing a tobacco ban like the one at Citrus makes so much sense for other schools and universities to follow. The most important part about this ban, however, is the enforcement backing it to ensure everyone has a healthy environment, especially in the place they choose to pursue their education. Without enforcement, the rules don’t carry much weight to them.

Read more at: CCClarion.com

OPINION

Are oranges and owls really a good pair? BY LAUREN MANN STAFF REPORTER

LMANN@CCCLARION.COM

Citrus College has been recognized as the home of the Fighting Owls for quite a while, but it’s time for a change. The school is named “Citrus,” and having a mascot that is anything other than an orange frankly just seems like an opportunity wasted. The California Community Colleges website shows that by changing their mascot, Citrus would become the only community college in the state to have a fruit represent their school. Although the thought of becoming the first school to alter their mascot into a fruit can be intimidating, the risk would give the school a strong sense of identity and a unique representation alongside the other schools in California. The abundance of confusion that comes with why the school would choose an owl to defend them is absurd. When it comes to the Fighting Oranges, there is no question. When first beginning the registration process, finding out Citrus’ mascot was an owl seemed like

such a random choice. While owls are perfectly fine in a general sense, usually associated with wisdom and guidance, the decision to make it the school’s mascot seems like such an odd selection. Meanwhile, oranges have played a key role in Glendora’s history. The City of Glendora website emphasizes the influence of citrus trees has had on their city claiming, “In 1896, Glendora built its first packing house, and for a while the largest citrus packing house in the world was located here.” Less than 20 years later in 1915, Citrus College was founded. Some may question the decision to choose an orange as the citrus fruit to represent the school and not lemons. Recognizing that the citrus trees planted along the parking lot on Foothill are actually orange trees, arguing to become the Fighting Lemons is a bit ridiculous. While making the mascot an orange obviously seems like a much more suitable option, some may continue to argue that choice is too cliche or tacky. The truth of the matter is there just isn’t anything intimidating about an

Charity Wang Clarion

owl. The mascot seems to lean on the “fighting” precursor as if the owl knows they’re dependent on that term as a way to bring on some sense of aggression. At least the owl is selfaware. If the school isn’t intending on

having an intimidating mascot, it could at least go the comedic route. By changing to the Fighting Oranges, it not only shows that the school is one with a strong identity that can lean into the joke, but also complements the school’s branding.

The school has held onto this misleading mascot for too long, and it’s long past the time for revision. Citrus College, take advantage of this opportunity to do right by your staff, your students, and give them the legacy they rightfully deserve.

FALL 2019

LONDON

SEPT. 6 – NOV. 29, 2019

APPLICATION DEADLINE: JUNE 5

Enroll in up to six units of CSU/UC transferable credits!

STUDY ABROAD SAVE YOUR SPOT – TIME IS RUNNING OUT! For an application or brochure, visit citruscollege.edu/studyabroad, email studyabroad@citruscollege.edu or call 626-914-8560.

WINTER 2020

COSTA RICA JAN. 12 – FEB. 7, 2020

NEXT MEETING: Friday, May 31, at 2 p.m. in P3 105

Enroll in up to six units of CSU/UC transferable credits!

Clarion

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019 PAGE 5

Lockdown kits hit classrooms 204 mini port-apotties were placed in each classroom for emergencies BY RUBY MUÑOZ STAFF REPORTER

RMUNOZ@CCCLARION.COM

Citrus College has new buckets that were newly placed in classrooms. They are full of necessities for students to use the restroom during a lockdown. Therefore, their last option would be to use the restroom outside of their classrooms and first option would be to use the mini porta potties instead. Business administration major Natalie Romo said that students felt discomfort during the lockdown back in January. “The school probably should have had them from the beginning to be honest. During the lockdown I heard multiple students had to use the trash can, and they did feel very uncomfortable. It’s best to just be prepared for situations such as that one, and to try and make everyone as comfortable as possible during that time,” Romo said. Environmental Health & Safety Programs Supervisor Jeff Eichler said the buckets were purchased from Central Sanitary Supply in Rancho Cucamonga. Interim

Photo Illustration by Xela Quintana and Charity Wang Clarion

The lockdown kits include hand wipes, toilet paper, cat litter, cleaning gloves, tape, a tarp and a bag for waste.

maintenance supervisor Phil Hawkins said that the buckets are basically mini port-a-potties and there are 204 of them throughout the campus. His team placed them in every classroom and anywhere that felt was needed. Undeclared major Carlos I. Gonzalez, who was present during the lockdown incident during winter session, said in an email why he thinks it is also important, as well as rational, to have buckets. “I believe it would minimize uncomfortable and potentially dan-

gerous scenarios. He said having these new buckets would greatly improve the situation in the sense if another lockdown does occur, the school and students are much more prepared. As an old proverb goes: ‘The shrewd one sees the danger and conceals himself.’” Due to the lockdown back in January, there was complications with students using buckets and trash cans because of the six and a half hour wait for evacuation. Custodians had to clean the aftermath of the mess.

bricks

In light of these occurrences, a professor said how being more prepared would be ideal, as well as helpful for situations like lockdowns. Speech professor Tasha VanHorn said she is prepared with water bottles and granola bars. She also said in an email that having these new buckets will reduce stress. “I’m grateful that Citrus has acted so quickly to purchase these buckets. She said, “anything that helps to make a possible future lockdown less stressful and assist

surcharge

FR O M PA G E 1

F R OM PAGE 1

the center of campus, together with the owl mascot. As long as the fountain stays in good shape on campus, the bricks will remain there permanently. Community members, alumni and staff have bought bricks. Lari Kirby, online education supervisor, bought a brick in celebration of her work at Citrus for the past 30 years. “I’ve liked the campaign since it started, I’ve just been procrastinating in doing it,” Kirby said. “It was just time to do it before I actually leave.” Kirby will retire in two years. The brick will remain as her memorial on campus, which she referred as her “second family.” “I just want to know when I come back to campus, or if my kids come to campus, or my grandkids, or my great-grandkids… they are gonna run into me,” Kirby said. “I’ll feel like I’m always here, like I never left.” Anyone who is willing to support the Citrus community can buy a brick. Some of the reasons might be to either celebrate a graduate’s class year, an athletic team or to give as a memorial gift for a loved one. The brick costs $150. “If everybody did a little thing, they could all actually own a piece of campus,” Kirby said. For more information, visit http:// www.citruscollege.edu/foundation.

They are not told by the staff when they enter the restaurant nor is there any signage outside the restaurant. The only advisement is a small sign hidden behind the cash register unless a customer were to lean over the counter to read it. A week later, that sign was reduced to a fourth of its original size, a full color letter sheet, and hidden behind a larger sign advertising the daily specials. Even the color was taken off and it’s now just three lines of a text. The small sign informs guests that they are being charged in order to “offset doing business in California without raising our menu prices, reducing portions or cutting back on our EXCELLENT Norms Service.” While there are other businesses, such as that are also practicing this idea, they clearly post the sign outside on the door to the establishment. Consumers are notified that they will be charged an extra cost on top of the cost of their orders. This gives customers an opportunity to decide if they want to go in and eat or not, while at Norms, they are told by the wait staff or the cashier, after they finish eating and they have no choice but to pay it. Yessica Toledo, the West Covina Norms general manager said she was not allowed to comment to the press so she referred the Clarion to the

campus F R O M PA G E 1

“We are so pleased to have the members of the Handy family with us,” Perri said in her opening speech.

Photo Illustration by Liandra Thibodeaux Clarion

“Our Campus Center is where our students will get the opportunity to come together to study— I hope—to interact and socialize.” Students were excited and happy with the new Campus Center as they see a new feature that help elevate the school to a higher standard, such as Avril Martin, a business, political science and philosophy major who has been a student since

before the renovations of the campus center began “It’s a beautiful campus center and I look forward to seeing what this place has to offer. It has meeting rooms, a fully stocked area where you can sit down, eat, chill with friends, things like that, so it’s a great place. I love what they have done to it,” Martin said. Martin was completely surprised

by the update. “It’s night and day, this one is totally modernized, it’s for today’s students and we can move forward as a school. It gives us a place to have a think tank, to have a study group that’s really open to students and accessible where we can interact with staff and other members of our school,” Martin said. Luke Miller, psychology and philosophy major,

faculty, staff and students to maintain their dignity during an extended lockdown is appreciated.” The bucket kit consists of toilet paper, hand wipes, cat litter, cleaning gloves, tape, a tarp for privacy, and a bag for waste. The contents are written on the outside of it. “They are a fantastic idea and everyone that had to use or clean up a trash can during the last lockdown understands their importance and probably wishes we had them then. I pray that they never have to be used,” Hawkins said.

Norms corporate office. “We added the charge so that it wouldn’t affect the quality of the food and service. We didn’t want to have to cut back on the number of employees nor the employees benefits,” said Isabelle, a customer relations corporate team member. Isabelle refused to provide her last name as she isn’t allowed to speak directly to the press. So far, Norms Restaurant has not followed up on their promised call back for further questions. Ever since the legislation to increase the minimum wage to $15 in the Los Angeles County and subsequently in the rest of the state, many businesses have been trying to figure out how they are going to pay for the extra costs to pay their workers. Especially the small businesses, commonly called “mom and pop shops,” can’t afford to pay their employees and have to increase many prices. “We haven’t been able to hire anyone in a long time, and for the people that have been working here for a long time they were already making more than the minimum wage,” said Jennifer Marshall, owner of Lorisa Garden in downtown Glendora. And it’s true, the new minimum wage increase has hurt the possibility of many new businesses opening up in the city of Los Angeles or in the County of Los Angeles. This has made doing businesses harder than what it used to be.

READ MORE ONLINE

CCCLARION.COM will have a first hand experience in the campus center as a staff member and a student. “It looks sick, I’m super excited. I was not here before it went under construction so until today I’ve never been inside but I work at the campus center in the ED building. So it’s been exciting over their because we are all anticipating the move. The building looks awesome,” Miller said.

PAGE 6

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019

SPOTLIGHT

poetry festival creates platform for new voices English Society’s fourth annual poetry festival, themed ‘Home,’ hosted in recently constructed Campus Center The room is filled with emotion as the contestants read their poems. People are cheering, clapping and crying. As the Poetry Festival was themed “Home” the contestants read their poetry with passion. First place winner, dental assisting major Zienabelle Otero said her poetry was about childhood memories and the past. “You interpret memories differently or how you have moments that you don’t know is a moment or you don’t know is worthy of even being a memory until you feel it or you recall it later on in your life and you’re just like wow that was something big,” Otero said. “That’s something that happen(ed) to me and nobody else. Nobody else has that except for you and the other person that it belongs to, so it’s yours. It’s hard to get that, put it together, and put it into a poem because you bring yourself back to that time that’s never going to be there again.” English professor Jana Fossum said the festival helps bring creativity through writing to the Citrus College community. The English Society encourages students to use their creative voice, and invites students, faculty, staff and administrators to the event in the hopes that they encourage the Citrus College community to spend an afternoon together

A crowd watches as a contestant recites their poem at the English Society’s poetry festival on May 16 in the Campus Center.

before the semester ends. “The English Society inspires an appreciation for literature and provides an encouraging community that fosters an enthusiasm for the various forms of storytelling and a creative expression of the imagination,” Fossum said through an email. Third place winner, education major Emily Serna explains what her poem was about, “For a lot of people their home is happy, and what if it isn’t happy? So home for me it was like I have a happy home, but some people don’t have happy homes, and I just wanted to say this is what they see and this is what I see.” The festival brought creativity to the table for the 93 students that volunteered to be in the contest such as Emily Serna. She said why poetry is important to her, “You can express your feeling with words even if someone doesn’t understand what your work is, I know what it means. It’s my feelings coming out to feel life.” Fossum said that she thinks poetry is important for many students because people can get wrapped up in day to day activities and forget how important community and creativity is.

Clar

rion

SPOTLIGHT

First Place Winner

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019

Second Place Winner Adriana Scott

Zienabelle Otero Eating popsicles on a hot Sunday afternoon, crying about school on a Monday morning, Wednesday a half day, waiting for the week to end, The Friday bell, an adventurous call for the weekend. Childhood seeps into your bones, with excitement and fearless spirit, Holding you witness to the growth of your own humanity. Like a meteor crashing to earth, you have that beat down of reality to tell you to grow up. Here you are, a human, an adult, a child at heart; yet, no body to hold it. Memories scattered across your mind like leaves on the street, eventually, the disingenuous Wind will wipe away the trace, and you’ll forget faces and times, when you were ever small Enough that responsibility was a flip of a coin. Like chores in the garden, or vacations to the beach, a winnebago on the sand, your family Laughing as the ocean flips and turns your brothers skinny, childlike, body in its clutches like A rag doll in a washing machine. How he laughed at his own mistake to greet the water in full clothing. You delve deep into your humbled honor, thriving through your tongue, the happiness shifts Through your bones like the creaks on your sails. The older you get, the harder it is to find the moment that matters, Because every single one does. Empty your memories, don’t that feel good? Now, take up a moment.. sweep it across your dusty lack brain, and fill it with honor, fill it with Love; bruise up the surface, cover it in fun. The space that you live in, the people you hold; Wrapped around your heart, like cherries on stems. Hold it close to your being, squeeze it in, This is home, this is where you began.

Home is where the heart is well my heart resides in south central la. Born and raised where I see cold blood killers walking the Los Scandalous streets every day. Staring in your eye May shake your hand might swallow your pride cuz your closest friend can be a snake in disguise. It’s disgusting, it’s scary it’s fearful but when you stand tall you realize you not alone. This is what I choose to call home. We can pick a lot of things we choose to do, where to go and which direction might be right but at the end of the path only the Westside gon’ shine that light. LA is not like no other city or town, it has its moments it’s up and downs. It’s a big city but it’s commonly known. No matter where you at or where you go you’re gonna run into someone you know. In the summer time you gon feel that breeze, you gon’ see that sun and you gon’ see them trees, you gon’ wanna hit the streets and let yo mind be at ease. But when you a black man no matter the time or season you gon’ always feel your back against the ropes in the cold hearted streets. Home is supposed to be a place for peace and sanity but when you from here that feeling is numb and almost to that point that you can’t bear. Can you fathom the fact that this home is filled with love, peace, destruction and brutality. Can you imagine growing up thinking that your time is near? Many don’t see past 25 so once you hit that mark many see a purpose for their life my dear. I’ve been to more funerals than weddings. I’ve seen more young bodies laid in caskets. I’ve seen the darkest clouds hang above my head but those clouds soon move away and the sun shines and brightens my day. Don’t get me wrong I walk these streets all the time but can’t no other compare. This is home. LA will forever be with me, I carry it on my back. It’s tatted in my blood. The love I have for my city...well this is Home Sweet Home.

Third Place Winner Emily Serna

Zienabelle Otero won first place at the poetry festival and was awarded a $100 gift card.

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I have a home but it’s not like theirs Their home glows under the yellow sunshine Birds sing and dance amongst the trees Flowers bloom bright orange and pink Roses are thorn-less and pure white Trees dance with joy in the wind Butterflies and ladybugs rest on the fence The American flag stands high and proud The wind chimes dangling throughout the porch; sound like sirens calling to me I have a home but it’s not like theirs My home is across the concrete path Even as the sun shines it remains colorless The soulless bare tree stands in the front lawn The rose bush has not one rose yet covered in needles Only crows roam here and stand on the rusty black gate; Even flies avoid its company The ragged flag shyly hangs above the corroded metal door A dark olive-green wind chime hangs on the porch, but never moves I have a home but it’s not like theirs

Jennifer Agramonte won honorable mention at the poetry festival.

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019

FEATURES

Clarion

STEM program provides experience for selected applicants ‘Bridge to the Geosciences’ program helps students discover interests through research BY DAVID HELANDER STAFF REPORTER

DHELANDER@CCCLARION.COM

For the past four years, the Bridge to the Geosciences program has provided opportunity to enrich the education of Citrus College students that focus their education in STEM: science, technology, engineering and math. Over the course of the annual nine-month program, the 20 selected applicants travel to four professional science centers. They are selected after completing an application, and interviewing with the program’s advisors. The four locations the participants travel to are Oakcrest Institute of Science in Monrovia, Jet Propulsion Laboratories in Pasadena, USC Wrigley Marine Science Center on Catalina Island and National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado. These experiences are called “geo-modules,” which teach and demonstrate different aspects of the geosciences, while supervised and instructed by professional scientists. “There are so many scientists out there that really want to contribute to the next generation of scientists”, said Marianne Smith, director of the Institute for Completion at Citrus College and a driving force behind the “Bridge” program’s existence. “They want to share their expertise

and their love for what they do.” The Institute exists to support the “College of Completion” initiative started in 2012. “Geoscience is everything from the ocean, to space, to rocks, to the atmosphere, to environmental science,” Smith said. “It is a big, big field, and it doesn’t have a sufficient number of qualified workers.” Smith said the goal of the Bridge to the Geosciences program is to introduce students to different areas of the geosciences so that they can see where their interests are best suited within the larger discipline of the geosciences. “I loved ‘Bridge’. It was the best experience of my life,” former program participant and current Citrus College student Alexis Guardado said. “I did something I didn’t think I was capable of doing. Guardado also said what made “Bridge” so enjoyable was the handson experience, “and the fact that we were able to make our own research posters and end up presenting them with the rest of the summer research experience students.” Smith said it is important that STEM students conduct research, but many students at the community college level have a difficult time securing research experience. Smith said this reflects a problem facing some STEM students in their academic and professional careers,

Photo Courtesy of Diane Young Kim

Bridge to the Geoscience participants pose upon arrival at the USC Wringley Marine Science Center in Avalon in September 2018.

beyond the community college level; access to scientific research experience is often barred by a paradoxical question on the applications for such opportunities. “We surveyed the programs that are out there, across the nation and they almost all ask, ‘What prior research experience do you have?’” Smith said. This can act as a barrier to STEM students trying to gain access to their first research experience. ADVERTISEMENT

Smith continued that, as a solution to this problem, the Catalina and Boulder “geo-modules” offer the students an opportunity to conduct beginning-level scientific research. Smith said the learning provided by the Bridge to the Geosciences program is experiential, or done outside the classroom. She added that students apply what they have learned in the classroom during their experiences with the program’s “geo-modules,” then

take things they learn in the modules back to the classroom. “Then they’ve had some experience and they have something to talk about,” Smith said. Scientific research experience allows participating students to advance in academia or the professional sector, Smith said.