Clarion 10/7/15

CLARION c i t r u s

c o l l e g e

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015 | VOL XCI ISSUE 4 tccclarion.com f/ccclarion T@ccclarion

A tale of two

BY MEGAN BENDER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

CITRUSES

MBENDER@CCCLARION.COM

T

he Accreditation Committee for Community and Junior Colleges sent an accreditation team to Citrus College for a site-visit from Sept. 28 through Oct. 1.

According to Douglas B. Houston, Ed.D., chancellor of the Yuba Community College District and accreditation team chair, the visiting team decided that Citrus College’s self-evaluation report showed a lack of reflection and depth.

The 14 administrators and faculty members from other California community colleges represented by ACCJC, described Citrus College’s self-evaluation report as incomplete, lacking reflection and not in compliance with the ACCJC self-evaluation manual and guidelines.

On the other hand, the team commended Citrus on several areas including empirical decision making and data literacy, program review, student life, library resources, maintenance and operations, a safe college environment, and the level at which Citrus funds future liabilities.

The objective of a visiting ACCJC team is peer review of the evidence supporting the college’s self-reporting on quality of education.

The 339-page report was submitted prior to the visit.

The team then submits its findings to the ACCJC board.

More than 300 members of the Citrus College community contributed to the self-study during a three-year process, evaluating performance outcomes according to four standards set by ACCJC. With the self-evaluation report that was submitted on July 27, campus committees developed an actionable improvement summary of areas Citrus plans to improve.

SEE ACCREDITATION • PAGE 5

THE TOOLS TO FACE SOCIAL INJUSTICE Associated Students of Citrus College presents social justice and diversity week

BY MEGAN BENDER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

MBENDER@CCCLARION.COM

As students approach the middle of fall semester and a standard break from studying is necessary, the Associated Students of Citrus College executive board are offering Social Justice and Diversity

Week from Oct. 12 to Oct. 16.

This is the first social justice and diversity week that has been held at Citrus College.

During the spring 2015 semester previous ASCC executive board commissioner of activities, Sara Acevedo, set the plans for a social justice and diversity week in motion to incorporate a wide range of issues.

“I had always wanted to focus on social justice issues,” Acevedo said.

“The longer I was activities commissioner I realized this was something students would enjoy.”

Acevedo said it originally started out as a specific focus on Hispanic

heritage and Latino learning.

“We thought ‘why not incorporate other issues?’ and turned it into a week that incorporates everyone,” Acevedo said.

ASCC executive board public reations commissioner Stephanie Ayala, said that the clubs on campus were given a list of suggested topics to choose from and focus on for this week.

“Each club will have a booth out on the campus mall.” Ayala said. “They will provide updated research, history and information on organizations that are fighting and supporting their social justice topic.”

Along side Citrus clubs, guest speakers and organizations will be speaking to students on topics varying from racial profiling, human trafficking in America and HIV and AIDS. The objective is to open up a platform for students to learn and discuss social injustices that are happening today.

“Many of these topics have become difficult to talk about because of their sensitivity and we hope to bridge that by addressing them in an educational, motivational and informative environment,” Ayala said.

“While I believe it is important to

shoot for the stars

Planetary Society launches first community college chapter at Citrus College PG. 6

have fun opportunities for students to socialize and relax while on campus, I agree with the feedback that students may benefit more from educationally planned events,” said student trustee Pat Cordova-Goff who has been working with Ayala on social justice and diversity week.

The first day of social justice and diversity week will include a student led panel organized by the Native American Student Association called “Let’s Set the Record Straight” at 11:30 a.m., in recognition of Indigenous People’s Day in the campus center east wing.

S E E D IV ER S IT Y • PAGE 5

Creativity over talent

Artist Simon Silva addresses students on the way to expand creativity in education PG. 11

PAGE 2

LOCAL

Clarion

CURRENT EVENTS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015

STATE

NATIONAL

Sexual Consent Lessons Required at many high schools

SGV Tribune

2016 Rose Parade Royal court chosen The Tournament of Roses has chosen the royal court from 39 finalists on Oct. 5 to join the 2016 Rose Parade with the theme, “Find Your Adventure.”

All are 17-year-old high school seniors. The young women are: Bryce Bakewell, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy; Donaly Marquez, Blair High School; Natalie HernandezBarber, Alverno High School; Rachelle Liu, San Marino High School; Regina Pullens, Maranatha High School; Sarah Shaklan La Canada High School; and Erika Winter, Flintridge Preparatory School.

One of these young ladies will be crowned the 98th Rose Queen at the Pasadena Convention Center on Oct. 22. The crowned queen and the court will lead the 127th Rose Parade on New Year’s Day.

Oct. 5, Gov. Jerry Brown approved legislation making California the first state to bring mandatory “sexual consent” lessons to many high schools.

The legislation requires health classes be a high school graduation requirement, and must teach awareness on topics like “yes means yes” and sexual violence.

According to Assemblyman Rocky Chavez, “California must continue to lead the nation in educating our young people about the importance of respect and maintaining healthy peer and dating relationships.”

The California Department of Education commission is scheduled to revise health education guidelines in 2018.

Source: San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Source: San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Azusa Police department gets $95,000 grant to advance road safety The California Office of Traffic Safety gave Azusa Police department a $95,000 grant for a program to prevent traffic-related deaths and injuries.

Azusa Police Chief Samuel Gonzalez states, “The safety of our citizens and visitors as they travel on the roads of Azusa are a high priority within the police department,” The year-long program funds special enforcements like DUI check points, DUI saturation patrols, special enforcements like seat belt and child safety enforcement, bicycle and pedestrian safety enforcement and social media educational campaigns.

Source: San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Reuters

Right-to-die bill becomes law Jerry Brown has signed the controversial right-to-die bill, also known as physician-assisted suicide.

The law allows physicians to prescribe medications to end a patient’s life if two physicians agree that the individual has six months or less to live and is mentally competent. The law also makes it a felony to pressure anyone into requesting or taking medications to end life. The law goes into effect Jan.1. California becomes the fifth U.S. state to legalize this bill for terminally ill patients.

Source: Reuters

Four high school students plot to kill students

Starting Oct. 1, Covina’s public park bathrooms will be locked at 10 p.m. until morning, for safety reasons. According to Covina Police Chief Kim Raney, this is illegal due to increased incidents such as drug activity, alcohol consumption, loitering and vandalism. This decision has made an impact on the city’s homeless people

Four Northern California high school students have been arrested in connection with a well-developed plan to shoot and kill fellow students and teachers. The four unidentified young men are all students at Summerville High School in Tuolumne, CA. They had plans to “come on campus and shoot and kill as many people as possible at the campus,” according to Sheriff James W. Mele of Tuolumne County. Fellow students overheard three of the young men discussing the plot and reported this to a teacher who reported it to administration.

In a search of the students’ lockers it was determined that no one had any weapons on campus at the time.

Source: San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Source: The New York Times

Covina closes park public bathrooms at night

L.A. Times

Oregon community college shooting: 13 killed, 20 injured A gunman opened fire Oct. 1 at Umpqua community college in Roseburg, Oregon and killed 13 people and injuring an additional 20. “The shooting is among the worst mass killing at schools over the past decade,” according to the LA Times.

The community college just started their fall classes Sept. 28.

As the ambulances transported victims to the hospitals, according to the Associated Press, Oregon’s attorney general stated that 13 people had died in the shooting.The gunman started shooting the victims at Snyder Hall at 10:30 a.m. A shootout began after deputies found the gunman in one of the campus buildings. He was armed with three handguns and an assault rifle that morning.

The gunman was later identified as Chris Harper-Mercer who was a “hatefilled” individual with anti-religious, white supremacist tendencies and had mental issues. “One of the setbacks occurred in 2008, when he

was discharged from the Army after only one month for failing to meet the minimum administrative standards to serve,” according to Army records.

According to Ana Boylan, who was a victim of the mass shooting, HarperMercer asked his victims to state their religion and if they were Christian they were shot again. Harper-Mercer lived in Torrance, CA before moving out to Oregon. Former neighbors stated that Harper-Mercer was obsessed with guns and target shooting. Officials found six weapons at the college and seven in his apartment.

An army veteran and student at UCC, Christopher Lee Mintz confronted Mercer and was shot multiple times.

Mintz was able to be transported to a hospital and is currently being treated.

Harper-Mercer was pronounced dead after a shootout with the deputies.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown stated that the gunman was 26 years old.

Source: Los Angeles Times

GLOBAL Co-founder of Snapchat joins Forbes 400 as the world’s youngest billionaire At age 25, Evan Spiegel, Snapchat co-founder, was announced as the world’s youngest billionaire, according to Forbes on Sept. 29. “Spiegel and his fellow Snapchat co-founder, Bobby Murphy, both made the Forbes 400 for the first time this year, among 25 new entrants.” stated on the Los Angeles Times. Spiegel, at a worth $2.1 billion, came in at No. 327 on Forbes list of billionaires. Bobby Murphy, 27, fellow

cofounder of Snapchat, came in at No. 375 with $1.8 billion and came in second as the youngest billionaire, according to Forbes. “Spiegel attended Stanford to study engineering product design but dropped out in his senior year to work full time on what has become one of the most popular apps in the world,” according to the LA Times.

Source: Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times

Clarion

ANNOUNCEMENTS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015 PAGE 3

O W L B E A T Reporter to share tales HAPPENING TODAY (10/7)

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

• OCT. 7 - MATH ANXIETY - COLLEGE SUCCESS WORKSHOP The workshop on Oct. 7 will be dealing with Math Anxiety. This workshop will give guidelines and tips on how to become a confident math student. It will be held in SS 281 at 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. For more information on the College Success Program go to www.citruscollege.edu/success • OCT. 7 - GET YOUR SMOOTHIE ON Blender Girl from Nutrition Workshop will be at the Campus Center Mall from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 7. Learn how to make different kinds of nutritional smoothies.

• OCT. 10 - CITRUS COLLEGE VETERANS BREAKFAST FUND RAISER Students can have an all-you-can-eat breakfast at the Azusa Applebee’s from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. for only $10. Veterans will serve the tables and all proceeds will go to the Veterans Success Center. Tickets can be purchased at the Citrus College Veterans Success Center. For more information, call (626) 852-6421 or see the front desk at the Veterans Success Center.

• OCT. 13 - FLU SHOTS AVAILABLE AT CITRUS COLLEGE The Citrus College Health Center will be offering flu shots for students and faculty. Flu shots will be $10 cash for students.

Faculty flu shots will be given on Oct. 13-14. Flu shots for the students will be given beginning Oct. 15 and offered through fall. The Health Center is located in the SS Building on the first floor.

• OCT. 13 - COSMETOLOGY AND ESTHETICIAN OPEN HOUSE Do you enjoy working with hair and make-up? Do you like showing off your creativity? Are you interested in a career in cosmetology or as an esthetician? Come to the Cosmetology and Esthetician Open House and find out more about the program on Oct. 13 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at TC 208. Go to http://goo.gl/forms/QXSokG2izk to register. Registration is required. For more questions, email tadams@citruscollege.edu.

• OCT. 14 - AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY OPEN HOUSE Come to an Automotive Technology Open House on Oct. 14 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in CI 159. Students can meet Faculty and automotive students, obtain enrollment information, tours and demonstration. Registration is required, go to http://goo.gl/forms/yol1JTH7Xa. For registration questions, call (626) 857-4008 or email CTENow@citruscollege. edu • OCT. 16 - VETERAN JOB & RESOURCE FAIR Assemblyman Roger Hernández will be hosting a Veteran Job & Resource Fair at the Campus Center Mall from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Learn about the how the State of California will help veterans through legislation, programs and other services. The event is free and open to the public. This is an opportunity to meet employers, find job openings, gain knowledge about benefits, training and career information. For more information, call (626) 960-4457 or email Ashley.

Rozatti@asm.ca.gov • OCT. 19 - LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS Deadline to register to vote for the November elections is Oct. 19. Eligible voters can register online at www.lavote.net for Los Angeles County residents and www.sbcountyelections.com for San Bernardino County residents.

• OCT. 20 - TEST TAKING - COLLEGE SUCCESS WORKSHOP Learn to how to prepare for a test and pass with flying colors. It will be held in SS 281 at 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

For more information on the College Success Program go to www.citruscollege.edu/success

from the campaign trail

BY CAITLIN MERCER STAFF WRITER

CMERCER@CCCLARION.COM

A general assignment journalist for the Los Angeles Daily News will be talking to Citrus College students on Oct. 7 in the Campus Center, on what it’s like to be report on politics.

David Montero, 47, will share stories of his adventures and talk about his insights from working the political beat.

Citrus political science professor Dave Milbrandt will moderate the talk.

“Journalism is often called the first draft of history, and as the first draft of history we want to hear about what’s now, what do we see day after day, what do we think right now,” said Milbrandt.

Montero graduated from California State University Fullerton where he wrote for the Daily Titan newspaper. He also completed an internship with the Anaheim Bulletin, an Orange County Register property.

In his year at the L.A. Daily News, Montero is already making an impact. “(Montero) is now holding writing sessions throughout the

Courtesy of David Montero

Journalist David Montero will be speaking in the Campus Center at 5 p.m. on Oct. 7. Montero, who is a reporter for the Los Angeles Daily News will be sharing stories about covering politics.

L.A. Daily News organization on how to write news articles,” said Laura Greanias of L.A. Daily News.

When asked what was appealing about politics, Montero said “I think it’s still about the process by which policy can be made and change society for the better. It’s hard to see it amid the bitter fight between the parties, but policy remains at the center of what politics is about.”

This is an interesting time to be a political reporter.

“The most important thing to understand about politics is how the system works. A reporter has no vested interest in which side wins or loses. They want to cover the process. So as they cover the process they’ll tell you what’s going on,” said Milbrandt.

Presidential campaigns are heating up, especially following the Sept. 16 Republican Candidate Debate.

On the pros and cons of being a political reporter, Montero said, “It’s a grind and it can start to feel very clichéd and canned.

There’s a pack mentality to the journalism and the emphasis on the horse race over actual policy is disheartening at times.”

All students are invited to attend the event, but political science and communications students may find the event especially enlightening.

Co-sponsored by the Social and Behavioral Sciences Division and the Office of Student Life and Leadership Development, the event takes place Oct. 7, from 5 to 6 p.m. in the East Wing of the Campus Center.

THE 1000 BLOCK

Incident Reports Unlicensed Driver (CVC 12500 (a))

LOCATION: S9 Parking Lot REPORTED: 09/21/2015 CASE #: 2015-087 DISPOSITION: Closed

Student Misconduct (BP 5500)

LOCATION: Off Campus/ Woods Health Service REPORTED: 09/23/2015 CASE #: 2015‐088 DISPOSITION: Closed Disciplinary Referral

REPORTS ARE PROVIDED COURTESY OF THE CITRUS COLLEGE CAMPUS SAFETY DEPARTMENT. A REPORT IS NOT A STATEMENT OF GUILT. Driving Under the Influence of Drugs (CVC 23152 (e)) LOCATION: S2 Parking Lot REPORTED: 09/24/2015 CASE #: 2015-088 DISPOSITION: Closed

Disciplinary Referral

#whatstrending

LOCAL NEWS, SPORTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND LIFE ON CAMPUS – FIND IT HERE HOOT TWEETS: @mxjunipercg: From #CitrusCollege in Southern California to our peers in Oregon, we send our condolences and support #UCCshooting @PagliusoDesiree: Why does it feel like such an accomplishment just to find a parking spot #CitrusCollege #CollegeLife @arojas251: School, I love and hate you JL #citruscollege @CitrusCollege

OWLSTAGRAM:

Student Misconduct (BP 5500)

LOCATION: Mall Quad REPORTED: 10/05/2015 CASE #: 2015-090 DISPOSITION: Closed Disciplinary Referral

Public Intoxication (647 (f))

LOCATION: SS East Patio REPORTED: 10/05/2015 CASE #: 2015-091 DISPOSITION: Closed

QUOTABLE: “Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny...”

-C.S. Lewis CITRUS COLLEGE

CLARION

Megan Bender Margaret O’Neil editor-in-chief Clarion adviser Evan Solano Stacy K. Long managing editor Clarion adviser Mickey Romero Patrick Schmiedt sports editor Clarion adviser Staff Writers: Chelsea Barron, Dennis Camargo II, Emily Cristler-Hermosillo, Pat Cordova-Goff, Batool Jaffer, Jennalyn Lopez, Caitlin Mercer, John Michaelides, Daisy Miramontes, Astrid Perez, David Rosales, Zhansaya Saparkhanova, Jessica Sosa, Jaclyn Spencer, Nubia Valdez

Use the hashtags: #CCClarion or #citruscollege to be featured on #whatstrending

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! Send your letters in at ccclarion.com/letters.

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

Earn Citrus College Transferable Credit

Spring 2016 in

Spain

Study Abroad Program February 18, 2016-May 14,2016

Study in a city known as the “Oxford of the Spanish world.”

All course work is CSU/UC transferable and fulfills general education requirements.

The program fee includes fully equipped apartment accommodations, on-site student services, medical insurance, excursions to Madrid, Segovia, and Avila, plus extensive social and cultural activities.

Group airfare with airport pickup and return, homestay accommodations with meals, and a tour of Morocco are optional.

INFORMATION MEETING Tuesday, OCTOBER 13, 2015 Center for Innovation, Room 159 • 4 P.M. For more information, a brochure, application and scholarship opportunities call the Citrus College Study Abroad Office, 626-914-8560, or visit our website at www.citruscollege.edu/studyabroad

1000 West Foothill Boulevard, Glendora, CA 91741-1885 • 626.963.0323 www.citruscollege.edu

Study Abroad Program

Winter 2016 January 10-February 6, 2016 Program Includes:

A C I R A T S O C 4-Weeks

in

• 4 day/3 night excursion to La Selva Biological Station, including meals • 3 day/2 night excursion to Tortuguero National Park, including meals • 2 day/1 night excursion to Arenal, including breakfast • 2 day/2 night excursion to Monteverde, including meals.

• Lodging in a homestay in Coronado with daily breakfast and dinner or in a student residence with access to a full kitchen • Biodiversity and cultural activities • Guided tours to Doka coffee plantation and Poas Volcano Courses Offered: MATH 165 (4 units) Introductory Statistics (CSU/UC)

BIO 145 (3-units) Environmental Science (CSU/UC)

Fee: $3,375* plus $495 airfare (excludes departure taxes, fees, and fuel charges) *price based on an enrollment of 15-19 participants; if 20 or more participate the fee per person will be $3,145 Offered in Partnership with AIFS For a brochure and application contact: Study Abroad Specialist, studyabroad@citruscollege.edu, (626) 914-8560

APPLY NOW! • APPLICATION DEADLINE OCTOBER 9, 2015 Citrus College Study Abroad Program • 1000 West Foothill Boulevard, Glendora, CA 91741-1885 • studyabroad@citruscollege.edu

Clarion

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015 PAGE 5

Accreditation team delivers suggestions on state of college FR O M PA G E 1

Arvid Spor, Ed.D., vice president of academic affairs and accreditation liaison officer and Roberta Eisel, professor of English and accreditation co-chair, were responsible for producing the self-evaluation report according to ACCJC guidelines.

Their reactions appeared to reflect the dismay of the Citrus community at the exit forum.

“It was very disappointing,” said Spor, “[Eisel] and I have over a decade of accreditation experience.”

Spor helped remove El Camino College Compton Center from sanction when they were on warning in the past.

“We know what we’re doing and how to do it,” Spor said. “We met all four standards.”

In memorandum addressing the results of the exit forum, Geraldine M. Perri, Ph.D., superintendent/ president of Citrus College commended Spor, Eisel and more than 120 individuals who assisted in the accreditation visit for their hard work.

“While we were somewhat disappointed to learn that the team did not find the report to be as robust as they would have desired, we were heartened to learn that the college was validated for its overall general institutional effectiveness,” Perri said.

Accreditation teams typically receive self-evaluation reports months before their site visits.

“My team has been studying the report for several months and have written a first draft prior to the visit.” Houston said.

As the dates of the site visit drew near, the team requested more evidence and documentation as well as interviews with administrators, faculty, staff and students.

diversity FR O M PA G E 1

On Oct. 13, the documentary “Brother Outsider,” a film about the life and work of Bayard Rustin, an American leader in social movements for civil rights, socialism, non-violence and gay rights will be screening starting at 10 a.m. in the campus center east wing.

Additional screenings will follow at 11:30 a.m., 1:05 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., a social justice fair and international food sampling will be held in the campus center mall on Oct. 14.

The third day of social justice and diversity week will feature the guest speaker Pardis Mahdavi, Ph.D., professor of anthropology at Pomona College.

Mahdavi will be discussing “Trafficking in Rights and Wrongs: Questioning the construct of a global social problem” at 1:05 p.m. in the campus center west wing on Oct. 15.

The documentary “Not My Life,” a film about slavery in our time, will be screening in the campus center west wing starting at 11 a.m., screenings of “Not My Life” will follow at 4 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

In addition Safe Zone Peer Ally

Megan Bender Clarion

The 14 members of the accreditation team during the exit forum on Oct. 1 while the team chair addressed the Citrus College community. The accreditation team was on campus for four days, evaluating Citrus’ quality of education to support self-evaluation findings and then report back to the ACCJC commission in 30 days.

“We felt we needed to see additional evidence beyond what the college provided in the self evaluation,” Houston said. “It is not uncommon.”

“The team did your job for you,” Houston said during the exit meeting, expressing what he described as the frustrations of the visiting team.

The team expressed strong recommendations for Citrus to review the guidelines given by ACCJC on self-evaluation reports.

At the exit meeting, Houston said that once on campus, the team found evidence to support the affirmations made in the report.

Houston and accreditation team assistant Cathy Richter had con-

ducted a preliminary visit to Citrus on Aug. 18.

During their first visit the two met with Perri, Spor, Eisel and other representatives from campus committees responsible for producing the self-evaluation report to orient them through the process.

“Everyone we talked to was really well informed and accommodating,” Houston said.

The team met with administration, faculty, staff and students at a reception on the first day of the visit.

The second and third day included open forums with the accreditation team.

Before and after the open forums, the accreditation team con-

training will be held in the campus center faculty lounge from 2:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., reservations for this workshop can be made by calling (626) 914-8603.

ASCC executive board will take students to the Museum of Tolerance where previous white supremacist, Tim Zaal, will be speaking on Oct. 16.

Spots for the bus ride are limited; to sign up students, can check the number of seats available at the cashier window in the Student Services building. “The wide spectrum of diversity from the students here at Citrus College is what we take pride in and is what makes us the big melting pot of students we are,” said Ayala. “This week will show that instead of facing adversities on our own, there is the support from the community here on campus which thrives on unity.”

ASCC executive board wants students to leave with a bountiful amount of resources in social justice and the tools to take action in response to social injustice.

“College campuses have historically been the catalysts of social justice movements, fostering diverse discussion with diverse student bodies,” Cordova-Goff said. “While some social issues may make folks uncomfortable to talk about, I’m excited”

The Associated Students of Citrus College will be showing the documentary “Brother Outsider” on October 13 at 10 a.m. in the Campus Center East Wing. The documentary focuses on the life and work of Bayard Rustin, a leader in the fight for civil rights.

ducted interviews and research.

Houston made himself available for confidential interviews for those who did not wish to speak to the team publicly.

“Please note that the college does have an opportunity to respond to the report,” Perri said to the crowd once the team had exited. “In the last six year cycle we have had to correct gross factual errors. We will look at the documentation and provide them with feedback.”

The accreditation team is scheduled to submit a report to the ACCJC commission in 30 days.

The final draft of the report is made public only to the superintendent/president for correction

on any factual errors.

“We will continue forward in our goals and aspirations to promote student success,” Perri said at the exit forum after thanking everyone for their hard work.

The ACCJC board will review the report by the end of January, where they will determine official recommendations as well as decide the most current accreditation status for Citrus College.

There are currently 12 institutions under ACCJC’s jurisdiction that under sanction as of June 2015.

The ACCJC decision is expected to be released to the public within the first two weeks of February 2016.

MCT Campus

PAGE 6

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015

Clarion

FEATURES

Out of this world: Planetary Society looks to the stars One of the largest non-profit space study organizations has established its first community college chapter.

BY JESSICA SOSA STAFF WRITER

JSOSA@CCCLARION.COM

The Planetary Society, the first ever community college outreach group of the Planetary Society has landed at Citrus College.

“I think it’s a really important group,” said David Kary, Ph.D., professor of astronomy. “It is one of the few organizations that actually advocates for science in terms of outreach to the public and direct lobbying to Congress for funding to pay for things like exploration.”

Nestor Aquino, 20, an astrophysics major and club founder, volunteers for The Planetary Society at their Headquarters in Pasadena, where the idea to start the club came from.

“After checking out their website I saw that there were outreach chapters at other colleges,” Aquino said. “So I thought ‘I‘ll just start one here as well.’”

Aquino said that he got in touch with Geovanni Somoza, the Los Angeles outreach coordinator.

Somoza gave him the supplies he needed for Club Rush.

“After Kary agreed to be the

Jessica Sosa Clarion

Nestor Aquino, 20, astrophysics major, and Jack Stortroen, 20, chemical engineering major, stand next to one of Citrus College’s portable telescopes which was donated by David Kary, Ph.D, professor of astronomy.

adviser, everything just fell into place,” Aquino said.

Kary is in the process of becoming an official outreach coordinator for the Planetary Society to fulfill his duties as club adviser.

Once Kary is approved as an Outreach Coordinator, the club will become an official college campus outreach group.

“I look forward to working with [Aquino] to bring the astronomy club at Citrus on as an official TPS

outreach group,” said Kate Howells, volunteer network manager for the Planetary Society.

The Citrus outreach group is expected to host and promote various space-related events on campus.

The Planetary Society is an American organization that was founded by Carl Sagan, American astronomer, Bruce Murray, American planetary scientist and Louis Friedman, American astronautics engineer, as a way to ADVERTISEMENT

show policy makers around the world that the general public is interested in space exploration and the question of whether or not extraterrestrial life exists.

“We are dads, moms, grandparents, teachers, kids, scientists, engineers and space geeks. We are those who reach out into the universe to seek answers to those deep questions: Where did we come from? And are we alone?” said Bill Nye, “The Science Guy,”CEO, on

the society’s official website.

Aquino said that Citrus College once had a planetarium about 15 years ago.

“It’s a bummer that [the planetarium] went away but that’s why I started the club, to get people more excited again.”

“There is so much that we don’t know about space and the little knowledge we do have about it, not many people are interested in learning about it,” said Jack Stortroen, 20, chemical engineering major and founding member.

Aquino said that Citrus used to have a Space Owls club but it got shut down.

“We wanted to restart Space Owls, but we were afraid it would get canceled again, so when Nestor found the Planetary Society, we were all for it,” Stortroen said. “We thought that having a well-known organization backing us up would make things easier.”

Aquino said that club members are already planning to participate in the Planetary Society’s 35th anniversary event on Oct. 23 and Oct. 24, in Pasadena where Bill Nye will cut the ribbon to the new Headquarters facility. Andrew Weir, author of “The Martian”, will also be speaking.

The Citrus College chapter of the Planetary Society meets most Fridays at 11 a.m., usually in MA 227.

Interested students can also visit the club’s Citrus College Planetary Society page on Facebook.

Clarion

FEATURES

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015 PAGE 7

Dennis Camargo II Clarion

The CAPE Owls built this vehicle to reach 532 miles per gallon in last year’s contest, ranking 14th out of 120 teams. The CAPE Owls hope to improve this vehicle to achieve 1,500 miles per gallon.

‘Gassin’ up the competition

ADVERTISEMENT

The CAPE Owls are participating in gas and diesel events at the annual Shell Eco-Marathon compitetion in Detroit.

BY BATOOL JAFFER STAFF WRITER

BJAFFER@CCCLARION.COM

The CAPE Owls are preparing to submit not one, but two prototypes to the Shell Eco-Marathon competition in Detroit.

The CAPE Owls are a group of automotive and engineering students who collaborate to build fuel-efficient vehicles.

The Citrus Automotive Physics Engineering Program is part of the Citrus Research in Science and Engineering program, which encourages students to work on team based research projects.

Team members learn to weld and to work with fiberglass while creating vehicles.

“They learn how to solve problems,” said Instructor Mariano Rubio, CAPE Owls adviser.

“If there is something that needs to be done, they have to go in and do the research.”

More than 100 schools, 120 teams and 1,200 students from across America will tackle the challenges associated with energy mobility and the future of cars.

The CAPE Owls, who will be competing for their third consecutive year, hope to reach 1,500 mpg fuel efficiency by both areas of the competition.

Last year the CAPE Owls achieved 532 mpg, ranking 14th place, beating out UCLA and UC Berkeley in the gasoline portion of the competition.

“We are trying to place in the top 10 this year,” Rubio said. “My personal goal is to be the highest ranking California team.”

They will be competing in two categories at the April 2016 competition: gasoline and diesel.

To build both a gasoline and a diesel vehicle, they will need to raise $40,000.

“Once we get enough funds, we

OCTOBER 12-15, 2015

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Dennis Camargo II Clarion

Diesel team leader, Bernie Segura, explains how the diesel injection pump system works. The Diesel team will be building a vehicle from the ground up.

will be able to start building,” said mechanical engineering major, Grant Quinn, 23, gas team leader.

If not enough funds come through, the team members will improve on the gasoline vehicle from last year and build a whole new diesel prototype.

“We are still able to make upgrades, make changes, and re-engineer some parts of the current gas prototype and continue with it,” said automotive and diesel technology major Bernie Segura, 35, diesel team leader.

Reducing the weight is the main factor in fuel efficiency. The team would use different components, such as aluminum instead of steel, and reduce the rolling resistance.

“The goal is to keep everything as light as possible,” Segura said.

Reducing the weight means that the engine works less, therefore achieving higher fuel efficiency.

Shell engineers oversee all of the

development and research that goes into creating the automobile.

“All of us are really excited about this project,” Segura said, “We will go before top automotive engineers as well.”

“I’m looking forward to the hands-on experience that I’ll gain,” Quinn said. “It’s not everyday that you get to weld and work on creating a car.”

The students will be coming in to work on the weekends and between classes to construct their cars.

“There’s nothing better for a teacher than seeing students come together and solve problems,” Rubio said. “It’s a great motivation for them to continue on after this.”

For more information about the CAPE Owls, visit their page on the Citrus website. To assist in fundraising, visit the ‘Make 1500 Mpg a Reality’ fundraising page on the YouCaring website.

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PAGE 8

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015

Clarion

FEATURES

Chelsea Barron Clarion

Student actors Alex Durazzo, Kevin Williams, Natalia Esquivel and Jacquie Fregeolle of the Ad Infinitum Dramatic Arts group. The group strives to offer our performers and volunteers the opportunity to help their community.

LINKING CHARITY WITH PERFORMING ARTS Student actors of the Little Theatre band together to raise awareness and give back to their community

BY CHELSEA BARRON STAFF WRITER

CBARRON@CCCLARION.COM

When people think of actors, words like “egotistical” and “pretentious” often come to mind.

Rarely do people ever describe actors as selfless.

Citrus student Jacquie Fregeolle, 23, is looking to change that.

Currently the secretary to the assistant of the dean of performing arts, Fregeolle has spent her life acting, directing, producing, and doing everything she can to help those in need. Every summer since 2011, Fregeolle gathered her friends and threw an event to give back to the community.

Gathering clothes for shelters grew into clothing drives that required multiple bag-filled cars.

Their homemade showcases grew into music shows with proceeds going to charity.

In the summer of 2014, they raised more than $1,000 for a 19-month-old boy in need of heart surgery with a musical event titled, “Will Sing for Change.”

Today, Fregeolle has teamed up with Citrus classmate Natalia Esquivel, 25, who was one of Fregeolle’s biggest supporters during the start of her charity crusade.

“Jacquie is so kind and so selfless,” Esquivel said. “I always thought, ‘How can I not help this woman?’”

Their combined effort, Ad Infinitum Dramatic Arts, is a collaborative theatre company turned activist group that strives to offer young performers and volunteers with an opportunity to serve the

Chelsea Barron Clarion

The student actors of Ad Infinitum Dramatic Arts group pose by the Little Theatre during rehersals of “Scenes From The End Of The World.”

Chelsea Barron Clarion

Bracelets worn by the student actors of the Ad Infinitum Dramatic Arts group in observance of Suicide Awareness.

San Gabriel community.

Though it had been growing between the friends for a while, the company was officially launched after the success of the spring 2014 Citrus College student showcase “Scenes from the End of the World.”

Joined by Citrus students Kevin Williams, 25, now the AIDA media and film artistic director, and Alex Durazzo, 22, as the assistant creative director, “Scenes from

the End of The World” offered the new team its first challenge.

“It was our test run,” Fregeolle said of the showcase, which took place in Citrus College’s Little Theatre. “It was that facilitated place for us to take our brain and our team and go, ‘Is our team worth something? Can we do something?’ And the answer was, ‘Yes.’” Soon after the showcase, their shows evolved from the Citrus Lit-

tle Theatre to the Sherry Theatre in North Hollywood, where they performed “All in The Timing,” a series of six one-act comedies.

Ticket sales from the show served as fundraising for the group.

Going forward, the members of AIDA hope to extend their reach even further, not only to different venues but also through different mediums.

“We’re officially in post-production for a short film,” Williams said, speaking of he and Durazzo’s original collaboration, “Dirty White Dress,” which will be screened for charity in North Hollywood in summer 2016.

Durazzo, who contributed to the writing of the film project, once found writing “a very lonely thing to do,” and now celebrates the ensemble work it takes to create a piece of art.

The team is also busy preparing and rehearsing for its Halloween on-stage endeavor –– “Arsenic and Old Lace,” a play by Joseph Kesselring, all while orchestrating a month-long charity drive for Suicide Awareness Month.

Always busy, AIDA is only growing. Another Citrus student, Aaron Bess, has taken up the role of manager of public relations, and the group reels in new volunteers from their website with every new event.

Fregeolle looks at her assembled team and their newfound calling with passion.

“These days, it’s easy to get caught up in sustaining rather than progressing,” Fregeolle said.

“What I’ve gotten out of this is the reassurance that life doesn’t have to be that way. We can make a difference.”

"To be human you must bear witness to justice… justice is what love looks like in public" - American Author Cornel West

Monday October 12 Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Tuesday October 13 American Civil Rights

Wednesday October 14

Social Justice Fair & International Food Sampling

Thursday October 15 Human Trafficking

Thursday October 15

“Let’s Set the Record Straight”

11:30 am

Campus Center East Wing

Documentary Film: Brother Outsider

10 am, 11:30 am, 1:05 pm, 4 pm,

Campus Center East Wing

Panel discussion presented by members of the Native American Student Association

A film about the life and work of Bayard Rustin an American leader in social movements for civil rights, socialism, nonviolence, and gay rights. Rustin is best known as the architect of the March on Washington in 1963.

Join us on the Campus Center Mall for information about social justice issues as presented by our campus’ clubs.

“Trafficking in Rights and Wrongs: Questioning the construct of a global social problem”

and 6 pm

10 am—2 pm

Campus Center Mall

1:05 pm

Campus Center West Wing

11 am, 4 pm,

Campus Center West Wing

Featuring Dr. Pardis Mahdavi, Pomona College

Documentary Film: Not My Life a film about slavery in our time

5:30 pm, and 7 pm

Safe Zone Peer Ally Training

2:45—5:45 pm

Human Trafficking

Thursday October 15

Safe Spaces for LGBTQI students

Friday October 16 Museum of Tolerance Field Trip

Please call (626) 914-8603 to RSVP Seats are limited to 30.

Free to students.

Includes transportation, museum entry, and lunch.

Sign up at the Cashier Window in Student Services.

7 am—5 pm

Campus Center Faculty Lounge

PAGE 10

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015

Clarion

FEATURES

EOP&S fair extends opportunities to those in need

BY DAISY MIRAMONTES STAFF WRITER

DMIRAMONTES@CCCLARION.COM

The Extended Opportunities Programs and Services, Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education and California Work Opportunity and Responsibility For Kids programs hosted an open house on Tuesday, October 6, 2015.

The programs gave a brief introduction of what they can do to help students reach their educational goals.

“It was an amazing event. I think we accomplished our goal of having our program known throughout campus,” Sara Gonzales-Tapia, director of EOP&S/CARE & CalWORKS, “Our goal now is to grow.

We want to serve more students.

That may mean more events, classroom visits, but we need more students to know about us.”

EOP&S,CARE and CalWORKS assist students who come from disadvantaged and low income families.

Every student is unique in their own way and many come from similar backgrounds but with different back stories.

Unfortunately, many students do not know that there are resources available to help support their education.

EOP&S, CARE, and CalWORKS are here to provide students with resources and support to encour-

age success.

The EOP&S program provides assistance to those who may be the first in their families to attend college.

Armando Medel, a returning student and Public Works Major, said that EOP&S helps keep him on track.

Medel was born in Mexico and said that his parents did not get the opportunity to obtain a proper education.

“All they knew was to work to survive,” Mendel said.

EOP&S has been his support in obtaining his educational goals.

To be eligible to join EOP&S, students have to be California residents or undocumented students enrolled full-time in at least 12 units.

EOP&S students must have completed fewer than 45 degree applicable units, have a 2.0 cumulative grade point average and qualify for the Board of Governors Waiver.

EOP&S offers students priority registration as mandated by the state of California, that comes in handy when trying to get into required general education classes.

Lily Hernandez, a nursing major, says that priority registration is the best incentive that EOP&S has given her.

“It gives me the competitive gain of picking the classes I need in or-

der to complete my AA in nursing,” Hernandez said.

Free tutoring is available for EOP&S students to help them boost their grades and gain a clearer understanding of the course material.

It also offers a quiet study area with access to computers and printers.

EOP&S provides textbook funding assistance for their students by distributing a receipt that can be disbursed at the Citrus College Bookshop.

Anisa Bartlett, a criminal justice major and student worker, said that her income of $9 an hour is not enough to help pay off her personal and educational expenses.

“I rely strongly on EOP&S for my textbooks,” Bartlett said.

Sarah Gonzales-Tapia said that loaner books are also available in the “lending library.”

“Students are allowed to check out a book for the semester,” Gonzales-Tapia said.

Throughout the semester, EOP&S counselors invite speakers to come speak in career workshops that help motivate students.

The program also provides students with CSU and UC application fee waivers that can be used by those who transfer.

Newly accepted students attend an EOP&S orientation and are expected to complete three counselor

contacts throughout the rest of the semester.

They must also submit an academic progress report each semester and maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average.

This is in addition to maintaining a current Student Educational Plan so that students are aware of the correct pathway to reach educational goals.

The CalWORKS program is for students with children, and works in the same office as EOP&S. The program assists students with education, training and job skills.

Their services include help on completing county paperwork for child care and ancillary expenses, referrals to jobs and career counseling.

In order to qualify for Calworks, students must be receiving cash aid(TANF/welfare) for themselve, have a child and be referred by their county worker.

“We help students finish in a timely manner because they have time constraints,” Gonzales-Tapia said.

The CARE program helps those who are single parents of children under the age of 14 and is also located in the same office as EOP&S and CalWORKS. The CARE program offers great benefits like grants to help support

students with their education.

According to Gonzales-Tapia, students must have passing grades and accumulate 10 points by attending certain activities in order to qualify for a CARE grant.

They also provide meal tickets to help supply struggling single parent students with food.

School supplies are also provided by the program.

Many of the single parents can also benefit from the peer groups and counseling.

“Being a parent on campus is not a norm,” Gonzales-Tapia said, “Peer groups help students support each other to make it through other obstacles.”

The CARE program provides transportation assistance, textbook funding and self-improvement workshops.

In order to qualify, you must be a single parent with at least one child under the age of 14, qualify for EOP&S, be a single head of household and be a participant in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families(TANF)/ CalWORKS. Students interested in the EOP&S/CARE & CalWORKS services can apply in the second floor of the Student Services Building.

Students can also get more information by calling them at (626) 914-8555 or clicking their link on the Citrus College website.

Clarion

FEATURES

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015 PAGE 11

The difference between talent and creativity For Hispanic Heritage month, the Associated Students of Citrus College invited Simón Silva to discuss his latest book on his heritage and educational influences.

BY NUBIA VALDEZ STAFF WRITER

NVALDEZ@CCCLARION.COM

There was a full house at the Campus Center on Oct.1 when Simón Silva came to speak to Citrus College students.

Silva spoke as part of Hispanic Heritage Month, which celebrates the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose roots trace back to Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

Born in Mexicali, he came to the United States to work as a migrant field worker alongside his family.

He recalled having to leave school a month early and return a month and a half late because his family was traveling up and down the west coast working.

Teachers who motivated him to stay in school said that an education would keep him on the right track.

In explaining how much value reading has brought to his life, he mentions how he learned how to grow through Chicano literature.

Silva emphasized that he does not believe education should just be about getting jobs.

“The greatest thing about getting an education is getting an opportunity to find out who you are and what you’re about; what you

Nubia Valdez Clarion

Simón Silva addresses Citrus students at the campus center on Oct. 1 about the importance of creativity and why it is more valuable than actual talent in one’s education. Silva believes that focusing on creativity will nurture children growth.

love, what you absolutely hate and what your abilities are,” he said.

All these ideas inspired his 2014 book, “Cultivate a Creative Mind,” which was the main focus of his presentation.

In his book, he explains how children are the most creative of all since they do not worry about

what someone is going to think about a drawing of theirs or what they say; they do things because they like it and have a unique perspective that people tend to grow out of as they get older.

While he does value his education, he explains that some teachers are ill prepared to recognize ADVERTISEMENT

skills in anything other than math, language arts or science.

“They are not prepared to understand, point out and to nurture the creativity in children,” Silva said.

Silva wants students to see the difference in talent and creativity.

Aside from having talent, he

states that being creative will allow people to develop better problem solving skills, better communication, better solutions, and higher self-esteem.

He touched on how the current education system encourages students to focus on getting good grades or to find a job when the main focus should be enjoying the process of learning.

Coming from a poor background and balancing work while attending community college, Silva showed students that there is nothing in their way of getting to where they want to be.

For students who do not know what they want to do with their education or careers, he let them know that they do not have to be restricted to just one thing, reminding them not to lose their creativity.

He wants students to see that the word “creativity” is not narrowed towards specific people anymore. “[Creativity] is no longer a word reserved exclusively for artists, musicians, or scientists,” Silva said.

“Ushering in a new era in education, the word ‘creativity’ is being heralded as an essential 21st century skill.”

PAGE 12

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015

Clarion

Zhansaya Saparkhanova Clarion

The Sierra Wind Symphony rehearses for the 16th annual Night of Music from Film on Oct. 5, 2015 at the Performing Arts building. Students are practicing the music of legendary James Horner, who scored the music for Titanic and

SCORING A NIGHT OF FILM Student actors, dancers and musicians come together to present the music of James Horner for a ‘Night of Music From Film’

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1000 W. Foothill Blvd.

Glendora, CA 91741 tickets: (626) 963-9411 www.haughpac.com Box Office Hours: Tues - Sat 11am - 4pm & One Hour Prior To All Shows

“There is so much beautiful music of James Horner which is enjoyable for the singers to be singThe 16th annual Night of Mu- ing those melodies.” Green said. soloists and choir are sic from Film features the music SaturdayThe & vocal Sunday • 2PM of iconic composer James Horn- preparing a number of tunes from er. Student performers will pres- Titanic such as “My Heart Will Go ent music from classic films and On”, vocal duet from An American screen video footage for the audi- Tail, and the soundtrack for solo ence on Oct. 16 and Oct. 17 at the piano from Legends of the Fall.

The stage will be extremely full Haugh Performing Arts Center.

Horner’s scores from classic with about 100 performers and movies like Titanic, Avatar, Apollo instruments. The movies will be 13, Braveheart, Deep Impact and displayed on an enormous screen more are included in the program. above the HPAC stage.

“When James Horner died in Student actors, dancers, singers and the Sierra Wind Symphony June, we were already talking will complement video projec- about other shows, we put our tions during 75 minutes of Horn- other plans on the back shelf,” Hoehne said. “We should do this er’s timeless film compositions.

Professor Bill Hoehne said, “It now.”

Some students find that peris a concert and a movie, but there is no soundClarion from theAd movie.

We forming in a college level event #4 make all theFall sound. The audience like this is very challenging since will watch the video and2015 listen to many just graduated high school.

Sept 23, us play the music.”

Carlos Jimenez is the principle Robert Slack, now the dean of trumpet player, so he is preparing Fine and Performing Arts, directed a solo from Apollo 13. the first Night of Music from Film “It is a bit frightening trying to in 1999. Hoehne has continued to match up with the greatest trumdirect the showcase ever since. pet players,” Jimenez said.

Recording engineer Tim Jimenez said that the orchestra Jaquette is a director and co-pro- had to achieve synchronized temducer. Professor Martin Green is po in just 6 weeks. the conductor and director of the “We have a headphone that concert choir. gives us a tempo as a click. It keeps “It really gives the students an you on your toes…a lot of young opportunity to perform film scores musicians need it as a wakeup at a professional level with the ac- call.” Jimenez said. “It taught me how to be meticulous being on the tual edited film,” Jaquette said.

“It is not just about music. It is spot every time.”

Mastering the music takes hard a full show with extra musicians and actors, and a film and choir work and a lot of practice. “We concert with a wind symphony. I want to perform it on a professiontry to do it in such a way that I am al level,” Heohne said. still telling a story rather than just Students have only about seven taking the pieces of the music,” weeks to get ready.

Jaquette said.

“Basically, October 15 is the Each year the concert has a dif- midterm,” Hoehne said.

The ensemble is working exferent theme.

“One year it fell right on Hallow- tremely hard due to a short time een, so we did all scary movies,” period. They rehearse in class three times a week and outside Jaquette said.

Green said that originally, when class each section gets together for the program started, the choir was additional practice.

“It sounds fantastic like in the not as involved as it is now.

ZSAPARKHANOVA@CCCLARION.COM

Apr 11 & 12

movie,” Hoehne said.

The Sierra Wind Symphony includes more than 17 types of instruments such as flutes, oboes, bassoons, clarinets, bass clarinets, alto saxophones, tenor saxophones, baritone saxophones, pianos, trumpets, trombones, bass trombones, euphoniums, tubas, piccolos, string bases and percussion instruments.

In addition to the show, four professional players have been hired to play violin and viola.

Some of the theme music is pop, so the ensemble instruments include an electric bass, drum set and electric guitar.

“It is a huge symphonic orchestra performance with no intermission,” Hoehne said.

Syncing of the screen projection and orchestra music is done ahead of time. Hoehne prepared the film score to give Jaquette the pacing of the music.

“We have to have our act together, and there is no time to stop,” Hoehne said.

“It takes a lot of planning, communication, preparation, coordination,” Hoehne said. “It is a true professional situation, and students are getting professional experience.”

Another of the theme songs that singers are preparing for the pop section is “Somewhere Out There” from An American Tail.

Each movie theme sounds different. Zorro has a Spanish theme, Braveheart, directed by Mel Gibson, has a Scottish theme, and Avatar has a futuristic science fiction theme.

“Because the music from film is various types, the audience gets a nice concert of the variety of iconic music” Hoehne said.

“People are going to remember and re-experience how much they enjoyed the movie,” Hoehne said.

“Maybe [they will] come to recognize that all this music was written

by James Horner.”

Clarion

SPORTS

OWL SCOREBOARD H O M E

A W A Y

FOOTBALL SAT SAT SAT SAT 9/12 9/19 9/26 10/3 CANYONS GOLDEN EL L.A. L, 33-20 WEST CAMINO HARBOR L, 29-22 L, 23-20 L, 54-34

MEN’S SOCCER TUE TUE FRI FRI 9/18 9/22 9/29 10/2 OXNARD MOOR- CANYONS LA MISSION L, 3-0 PARK L, 4-0 W, 2-0 L, 4-3

WOMEN’S SOCCER TUE FRI TUE FRI 9/18 9/22 9/29 10/2 L.A. SD MESA CANYONS WEST L.A. PIERCE T, 2-2 L, 3-1 W, 2-0 L, 2-0

MEN’S WATER POLO FRI 9/25 S.D. MESA W, 23-16

SAT SAT WED 9/26 9/26 9/30 GROSS- CHAFFEY L.A. MONT W, 22-9 VALLEY W, 24-9 L, 20-17

WOMEN’S WATER POLO FRI FRI SAT SAT 10/2 10/2 10/3 10/3 S.D. SOUTH- SIERRA CERRITOS MESA WESTERN L, 12-8 W,14-4 L, 11-4 W, 15-5

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MEN’S SOCCER TUE FRI FRI TUE 10/9 10/13 10/16 10/20 ALLAN SANTA GLENDALE L.A. HANCOCK MONICA 2:00 P.M. MISSION 1:00 P.M. 3:00 P.M. 2:00 P.M.

WOMEN’S SOCCER FRI TUE TUE FRI 10/6 10/9 10/13 10/16 GLENDALE SANTA L.A. BAKERS7:00 P.M. MONICA VALLEY FIELD 3:00 P.M. 4:00 P.M. 7:00 P.M.

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WOMEN’S WATER POLO WED FRI FRI 10/14 10/16 10/16 ALLAN SANTA CITRUS CITRUS HANCOCK MONICA TOURNA- TOURNA3:30 P.M 4:15 P.M MENT MENT WED 10/7

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015

PAGE 13

Lopez and So, friendly rivalry par for the course

BY ZHANSAYA SAPARKHANOVA STAFF WRITER

ZSAPARKHANOVA@CCCLARION.COM

Two of the top three golfers in California belong to the Citrus College Owls.

Jamie Lopez, 19, business major, and Lexandra So, 19, business major are proving themselves to be among the best players in the history of women’s golf program.

As freshmen in 2014, they were able to walk away with their best seasons ever.

Golf coach, kinesiology and athletic supervisor, Trip Horton, said it is tough for junior colleges, especially small schools, to recruit talented players.

“When Jamie Lopez and Lexandra So came to the program, for the first time in the program history, I had true talent,” Horton said. “They were able to grow together.”

Horton said finally having some true talent allowed him to broaden their abilities.

At the 2014 California Community College Athletic Association State Championships, Lopez won the third place while So finished fourth, demonstrating the best results in the history of the women’s golf program.

Their close friend and teammate Brittany Thelen, kinesiology major, said So and Lopez won every tournament they went to, and the team knew that the two ladies would make it as individuals in the next CCCAA state championship.

Lopez said she is happy that all the hard work paid off, but watching herself so close to be No.1 makes her work harder to be better than she was before.

“It was a lot of pressure, but you need to not focus on it,” Lopez said.

“Just worry about yourself until it is over.”

At the CCCAA Southern California Individual Championship, So became the first player to win the individual crown and received SoCal title.

So defeated 34 other golfers, while Lopez placed fourth overall.

As a freshman, So was the first Citrus College women’s golfer to win the title of Western State Conference individual champion with 150 strokes.

Lopez also placed in the top three finishing third with only 168 strokes.

As a team, Citrus earned third place.

“The two of them pushed each other,” Horton said. “They stepped on each other’s heels trying to do better.”

As a result of being the two best players, Lopez and So became close friends.

“It is easier when there is someone else pushing you and being next to you at the same time,” Lopez said.

Thelen describes Lopez and So as very friendly and always ready to help. “ [Lopez and So] independent, calm and laid back type of people.

Lopez was born on Nov. 22, 1995, and grew up in a small town called California City. Her father Michael

Courtesy of Jaime Lopez

Jamie Lopez finished third and Lexandra So placed in the fourth place individually at the CCCAA State Championship on Nov. 17, 2014.

Lopez and grandfather Ron Lopez, both graduated from Citrus College.

Her family is active in sports, particularly in golf. Lopez was raised by her grandparents and graduated from California City High School with honors.

“Growing up in a small town, it is either you do nothing or you do sports,” Lopez said. “If you do one, you do them all because there is not many people.”

In high school she played three years of soccer, two years of varsity softball and one year of volleyball.

She gave up other sports to play softball as she traveled all over

“When Jamie Lopez and Lexandra So came to the program, for the first time in the program history, I had true talent. They were able to grow together.”

-Trip Horton

Golf coach

Southern California In 2013 she was a CIF qualifier on the girl’s team, and finished fourth in the High Desert Boys’ League.

After the CIF qualifier, Lopez was injured badly, leading to a severe case of plantar fasciitis, a disorder that results in pain in the heel and the bottom of the feet.

“I could not even run the bases when I hit the ball,” Lopez said, who is not allowed to run or do any physical activity.

She started playing golf competitively during the summer between her junior and senior year.

“I’ve always picked up a club when I was younger and I knew how to swing,” Lopez said. “My grandfather taught me to play golf.” She used to think golf was boring until she had no other choice.

Her inspiration to play golf came from watching her brother play at a

camp in Bakersfield. She kept score for the younger children with her grandparents, and saw how much they were having fun playing golf.

Lopez chose to attend Citrus College because her grandparents were raised in Azusa and a lot of her relatives live in the area.

As for So, she was born in Wisconsin on July 25, 1996. She moved to the Philippines at the age of 1.

When she turned 7, she moved to New York for six months. She moved to West Covina when she was 8.

So graduated with honors from West Covina High School.

All her family members are golfers. Her father, Hanson So, started playing golf during his business career and the rest of the family became involved as well.

“My dad encouraged me to play golf,” So said. But, her brother has been teaching her to play golf ever since she was around ten years old.

“It was just for fun and was some random sport I did,” So said.

Just before turning 17, So was motivated by playing against others.

She played varsity golf for four years in high school for the Bulldogs and Coach James Jastrab, then played badminton for one year.

During her junior year she earned All-Hacienda League honors. She was the team MVP for three of her four seasons and served as the team captain for two more seasons.

During her senior year in high school, she made it to CIF, a day that became her inspiration and allowed her to realize that she can do better than that.

“It was a surprise for me because I did not even practice for it and was not ready,” So said. “Ever since then, I wanted to get better.”

One of her most memorable moments is when she hit an albatross, a score of three-under-par on a single hole. So hit the ball in only two shots, which was an astonishing result.

So also was not a stranger to Citrus, as her younger sister played for Horton. When planning on what two-year college to attend, Citrus was her first choice.

“Lopez and So showed up on my door step randomly,” Horton said.

He also said it was hard for high-level players having no one to practice with at the higher level, so the two players always overcome and made each other better.

Horton described them as good girls and massive introverts, who are within themselves and want to help everybody.

Horton said he is amazed with how they are passionate players who keep getting better.

“I am lucky enough to be able to coach them,” Horton said.

This year, the Citrus women’s golf team is the top three in the state with the help of Lopez and So. Horton said this year they would make it to the CCCAA State Championship, scheduled for Nov. 15-16, with their talent and leadership.

Lopez said she thinks that winning a tournament is not the same as being able to win every time.

“Just because you won one does not mean that you will win the other ones, which is why you have to keep your mental game consistent,” Lopez said.

So wants to be a good player for herself. She does not plan to go into professional golf in the future. However, she plans to transfer to a fouryear university and continue to play golf.

She said that she will still play golf when she is older and wants her family to keep playing as well.

“I think So has a natural talent,” Thelen said. “She does not have to practice as hard as everyone else.”

Thelen said Lopez practices every day trying to get better and trying new techniques that will help her game.

“Lopez’s talent is out of her hard work,” Thelen said.

Lopez plans to transfer to fouryear university to play golf and hopes to receive a full scholarship.

Lizette Salas, a professional women’s golfer from Azusa, gives Lopez hope in becoming a professional.

“Anything can happen if you put hard work in doing what you want to do,” Lopez said.

PAGE 14

Clarion

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015

Velazquez makes a splash in Europe

Courtesy of Andrew Wheeler, Citrus College sports information coordinator

Daniel Velazquez, 18, is looking to pursue water polo professionally in Europe. He traveled to Hungary last summer.

BY JESSICA SOSA STAFF WRITER

JSOSA@CCCLARION.COM

First-year water polo player Daniel Velazquez is already planning to move to Europe to play the sport professionally.

Velazquez, 18, is a nursing major at Citrus College and went to Hungary last summer with the City of Commerce Aquatics Swimming and Water Polo club team, a wellknown, competitive and rigorous sports organization.

Velazquez said his recent trip to Hungary consisted of more than just the game.

“We did a lot of sight-seeing and even got to see Budapest,” Velazquez said.

The trip was proof.

Velazquez had escaped the mundanity of Commerce, his hometown, and was enriched with new experiences, becoming the envy of every wanderlust student his age.

When he was 15 years old, Velazquez found out he could play water polo professionally and set a goal to make it happen.

Being on the Commerce club team, Velazquez explained, provided him with other international water polo opportunities.

“The summer before my senior year [in high school] I was picked to play for the Mexico Youth National [water] polo team,” Velazquez said.

“I was able to go to Baja California and play in tournaments over there.”

As a result of these tournaments, Velazquez was one of the few se-

lected to play for the Mexican national youth team.

Aside from family trips to Mexico, Velazquez said he had never traveled in this manner.

“He has gotten to travel and it’s opened up his eyes to all the possibilities he has,” said Isela Velazquez, his mother.

Velazquez, a long time resident of Commerce, joined the club team when he was just 7 years old.

His mother said that Velazquez was fascinated with the game balls and talked to the coach about them.

After swimming four laps, the coach told Velazquez that he had made the team and that he was going to be good.

“I was inspired by my older cousins when I would watch them play,” Velazquez said.

Velazquez said although water polo is like a family tradition, he was the first relative to travel around the world because of the sport.

During his junior year at Cerritos High School, Velazquez said his team won second place overall in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), an organization that presides over interscholastic athletics in the state of California.

He also mentioned he won the “Newcomer of the Year” award, the same year for the Long Beach Press Telegram, a news publication for Long Beach.

Having that much skill, Velazquez transferred from Bell Gardens High School to Cerritos High School and then to Montebello High School, trying to find the best high school program to enhance his abilities.

Velazquez said that due to the third transfer to Montebello High, the CIF rule 207 came into play.

He was not eligible to play for the varsity water polo team his senior

“He’s by far our best all-around player on both ends of the pool, offensively or defensively. He is also a prolific scorer and total team player.”

-Kenny Clements

Men’s water polo head coach

year because he had used his one transfer and sit out period for Cerritos High.

Although Velazquez did not play his senior year of high school, he continued to practice.

He is the Fighting Owls’ utility player, which means that he can start in any position at any given time.

Velazquez said he came to Citrus specifically because he wanted to play for Kenny Clements, men’s water polo coach.

He met Clements when he was his student aide at Montebello High School.

“He is a respectful and kindhearted young man,” Clements said. “With the amount of skill he has, you would think he would be arrogant but he’s really down to earth.”

Velazquez said he plans to transfer to San Jose State University or Loyola Marymount University and to continue playing water polo.

“He’s by far our best all-around player on both ends of the pool, offensively or defensively,” Clements said. “He is also a prolific scorer and total team player.”

Even with the copious amount of skills that Velazquez obtained and how long he has been involved in water polo, he said that he did not regard himself as a talented player until he was a sophomore in high school.

He strengthened his skills in Southern California and now, Velazquez plans to use them overseas.

STOPPING AT NOTHING TO DEFEND the TEAM

BY NUBIA VALDEZ STAFF WRITER

NVALDEZ@CCCLARION.COM

Nothing above or below the water line gets past the women’s water polo center defender.

For Citrus College, this is Danielle DeHerrera.

DeHerrera, 19, began playing water polo during her freshman year at Bonita High School in La Verne.

She said she loved to swim, and water polo was one of the few sports that did not require tryouts.

Her father, Ivan DeHerrera Jr., who was a football and basketball player at Bonita High School as well, also encouraged her to join.

“My dad made me join because he thought I was too shy,” DeHerrera said. “Water polo is a really aggressive sport, so it made me a more assertive person. I’ve made so many more friends because of this sport. I ended up loving it.”

As a junior at Bonita High, she was a second-team All-Hacienda League choice, and as a senior, she received first-team All-Hacienda League and second-team All-CIF honors.

In 2014, as a freshmen, DeHerrera joined Citrus College’s women’s water polo team.

Now in her second season, she is one of two Fighting Owls who have competed in all 27 games.

She has already accomplished several major achievements.

In fall 2014, she was a secondteam All-Western State Conference selection.

So far this season, she has had 31 goals, 12 assists, 23 steals and only two turnovers.

Klarissa Zavala, 19, the team’s current attacker, said she appreciates Herrera’s contributions to the team.

“She is awesome,” Zavala said.

“She beats everyone in a good way: hard defense, really good offense. She’s our best shot blocker.

She gets along with everyone. I think she is the best athlete on our team.”

The team’s new head coach this season is Meaghan Paschall and the assistant coach is Adam Roth.

“Danielle is a vital asset to our team and a main defensive force,” Paschall said in a statement. “As my center defender, she orchestrates and helps direct her teammates to prevent the opponent scoring goals against us. She is a major offensive threat and has a great shot. Danielle is a win-win on both ends of the pool and I couldn’t be more excited to have had these two years to coach her.”

DeHerrera, who is majoring in psychology, made the dean’s list at Citrus while juggling her team commitments and working at Baskin Robbins.

Nubia Valdez Clarion

Citrus College water polo player Danielle DeHerrera, 19, taking a break after a 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. practice. She is one of two Fighting Owls who have competed in all 27 games the past two seasons.

“Having this busy schedule wears me out physically and mentally,” DeHerrera said. “It’s a constant struggle to motivate myself every morning to get up at 4 a.m.”

Practices run from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. Monday to Thursday and again from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays.

She said she plans to transfer to Cal State Monterey Bay, where she will continue to play water polo, and earn a degree in psychology, and then pursue a master’s in counseling psychology.

“I’m still learning that every game I play doesn’t need to be perfect,” she said. “I’m learning

my teammate’s roles and have my own role on the team.”

The team is currently at 11-4.

To catch DeHerrera play at Citrus, the next game will be at 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 7 against Allan Hancock. The last home game will be at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 21 against LA Valley.

Clarion

FORUM

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015 PAGE 15

OPINION

Let’s talk about family ‘Things like this don’t happen here’ M Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, the Clarion staff shares their family journeys

BY DENNIS CAMARGO II

The aftermath of the Umpqua Community College shooting reveals a need for us to stop the excuses and start getting prepared

BY EVAN SOLANO MANAGING EDITOR

ESOLANO@CCCLARION.COM

A

nother college shooting.

As we sat in our newsroom watching the events unfold on live television, my mind could only focus on two words: Community College.

Last week I had no idea the city of Roseburg, Oregon even existed, just like how I am sure that across the country no one has any idea that about the city of Glendora or Citrus College until some horrible day we become part of this disturbing trend of gun violence on college campuses.

I don’t mean to say that in a foreboding or morbid sense, but as the name implies, a community college generally accepts everyone from the surrounding area. From the gung-ho overachieving science major to the social misfit who can’t relate to anyone, feels alone– community colleges are the mixing pot that brings us all together.

This could have happened anywhere.

My heart went out to President Obama as he approached the microphone. The look of frustration and just utter defeat is a feeling I am sure he doesn’t wish on his enemies.

It was look I am sure was on the face of almost every decent minded person as we had to sit there again, and watch the same song and dance again, as we let yet another massacre happen.

“Somehow this has become routine,” Obama said. “The reporting is routine. My response here at this podium ends up being routine…we’ve become numb to this.”

He was fed up. So was I. In the days following the shooting, I was shocked to learn that the interim president of Umpqua Community College, Rita Cavin, was at one time the Vice President of Instruction for Citrus College back in 2007.

It was a eerie feeling to see a member of our community now faced with the horrible task of explaining to the nation the horrific events that took place under her watch.

As the son of an educator and retired elementary school principal, I can tell you that those in positions like Cavin, care about the well being and safety of their students. Education, is not a 9-5 job, it’s a lifelong commitment.

I was also shocked to learn that the shooter was a one time student of Cerritos College in Norwalk, just 25 miles from our campus.

After learning these revelations, this issue went beyond the usual “gun control vs mental health” that I have heard time after unfortunate time again from talking heads on both sides of the political spectrum who just bicker back and forth and waste time instead of urging Congress to act.

In this scenario I saw zero degrees of separation between the events of Umpqua Community College and what could potentially happen on our campus.

Unlike school shootings that have taken place on fouryear campuses, what made the events of Oregon so frightening is the fact that, two-year colleges have limited resources in place for mental health services and campus safety than those of the four-year institutions, who have campus police departments and better access to counselors with backgrounds in psychiatry and can provide on-site services.

This issue is no longer about just having armed campus safety or, god forbid, students carrying weapons and it is not an issue about mental health services It is about preparedness. How prepared are we for something of this magnitude?

As we sat in our newsroom the question came up: “How would we, the Clarion, respond if something like this happens?”

It was a question I had never thought to ask myself both as a student and journalist, because before that Thursday, I would never have thought something that horrible could ever happen to a small college community like ours– I am sure the editors of the Umpqua Community College student newspaper thought the same thing.

As student journalists, whether it is here at the Clarion or across the country, we study the craft of being able to tell the stories many can’t, which is my poetic way of saying we usually end up covering things like Club Rush and student life features.

There is no class that could have prepared those students for what happened on campus.

There is no “Campus Shooting” chapter in our textbooks for how to deal with the trauma and panic while trying to still do our jobs.

The first thing I did after seeing the events unfold on TV, was go straight to their student newspaper, and to see the courage of these students, live tweeting and being able to report what was happening was a tragically proud moment for me.

They did not need this kind of education, none of us do.

As students, who are coming to classes day after day we tend to take our experience here very casual: we go to class, go to work, come home, repeat.

There are some of us who get involved with clubs, honor societies, sports and student publications that get to know this campus and the faculty here and regard this place as our home.

Forgetting all the politics and bullshit rhetoric about gun control and school violence from pundits who I cannot relate to because quite frankly they grew in a different time when this was not a common occurrence.

They are not students living in todays environment.

We as students need to be more proactive in our safety and security here at school.

We shouldn’t leave it just up to Campus Safety or the faculty and administration on campus to take care of. The campus provides the best resources they can, but as Obama also stated about prayers, those cannot be not enough for us.

Every semester Citrus participates in either an active shooter, evacuation or earthquake drill to help students prepare as best they can and every semester I watch as hordes of students either leave, don’t show up, or walk off across the street to go get lunch.

It is up to us as students to take this as serious as the administration does. Participating in these drills, like the upcoming drill on Oct. 28, is as essential as studying for an upcoming exam.

It’s becoming painfully clear, especially after the massacre at Sandy Hook, which resulted in the deaths of 20 elementary school students, that the shockwave of grief from the Umpqua College shooting will have little to no effect in getting Congress to take swift action in passing any kind of measure to make shootings like this and Sandy Hook a less frequent occurrence.

We have to look to ourselves and our community to protect the place many of us have come to call home. Take these drills serious; the life you save could be your own.

I hope the events of Umpqua Community College did not happen in vain, because if we have learned anything, it is that we no longer have the excuse of saying, “something like that could not happen here.”

STAFF WRITER

DCAMARGO@CCCLARION.COM

y family history is atypical from other Latina and Latino students.

Their beautiful stories of their families giving up their homeland to come to America in search of a better opportunity are starkly different from my own.

My family history is shrouded in mystery, as those who could elaborate on it are estranged, mentally divorced from reality or have died.

Piqued with curiosity to investigate my family history, I had only hearsay stories my mother vaguely remember from her childhood and the Church of Latter Day Saints family record database. Paywalls kept me from researching information of my own history, my mother had very few details of her own family, and even less facts about my father’s.

I have come to the shaky conclusion that both my mother and father’s families resided in Texas as the border changed from Mexico to The Republic of Texas to the United States, to the Confederacy and back to the U.S., until finally moving to Covina and Azusa, respectively.

There is also a very good chance that some of my ancestors fought in the Civil War in the Benevidas Calva-

BY JESSICA SOSA STAFF WRITER

JSOSA@CCCLARION.COM

B

eing a first generation Mexican-American college student, I am inspired by my father’s backstory.

My father, Jose Luis Sosa, immigrated from Mexico in 1988 when he was barely 15 years old. He came with his mother and sister.

My father’s older brother had already been in the U.S. for four years, inspiring my dad to follow his own American Dream.

My grandmother and father hid in the trunk of a Volkswagen Beetle for hours because they were not white enough to sit in the car without raising suspicions at Border Patrol.

My father blacked out from the stress and heat and did not wake up until they reached California.

After a few months, my grandmother and aunt decided to return to Mexico.

Despite objections from my grandma, my dad stayed behind with my uncle in Pico Rivera.

For the next two years, my father would work full time at a Burger King, maintain a full class schedule and still join extracurricular activities. He graduated from high school in 1991.

Since there was no AB 540 program, also known as the Dream Act, back then, my dad had to forego college and stick with Burger King.

ry, the all-Mexican cavalry in the Confederate Army. My family hopes this possibility to not be true and there was just some other Camargo family from San Antonio, Texas.

My parents know little of their family histories, as they grew up in the 1970s, a time when many Latino families downplayed their heritage to fit in better with the then majority-white populations of Azusa and Covina.

Because of the racism my grandparents and great-grandparents endured as Mexican-Americans, they feared for the generations that followed.

They did not teach my parents Spanish, and they gave them Anglo names. This distancing from our roots continued on to my generation.

We were protected as much as possible from racism, but in the process, we lost our identity.

This loss of identity is makes us who were are– Chicanos and Chicanas– not Mexican enough for la patria, but not white enough for America.

Recently, my sister gave birth, launching a new generation in our family.

We are prepared to ensure this child knows what little we know of our history. We are now in the middle of history-making.

Podemos hacer una nueva, orgullosa historia para la familia.

In 1997, after I was born and my sister on the way, my father was in search of better employment when his co-worker decided to recommend my father to a manager at a paper company.

After applying, Jose Luis got a job as a beginning supervisor and decided to start the process of getting residency in the U.S. Until 2001 my mother had various intensive surgeries and gave birth to my brother, making money tight.

My father decided to put residency on hold to find a way to better provide for his family.

He was able to land a new job as a supervisor, at a waste collecting and recycling company.

When my family was stable enough for him to restart the residency process, Jose became a permanent resident in 2007 and was finally able to buy a house in 2009.

Knowing the struggle and hardship my father had to go through motivates me. To express my gratitude I always aimed to excel in school, always getting on the honor roll and awards in school.

Knowing that my dad did not have the opportunity to go to college, I appreciate the privilege to experience higher education. But even without a college education, my father has shown my siblings and I to never give up.

My family waited more than 10 years to own a house but now that we have one, we appreciate it more.

Thank you Papi, for being that brave 15-year-old kid.

PAGE 16

Lack of Youth participation in local elections It is shocking to believe that a great majority of college students would stand by and have their government dictate to them as opposed to actually exercising their right to decide for themselves by voting and registering now with the fast approaching registration deadline of Oct. 19 to become registered for this year’s polls.

An estimated 6.6 million citizens are not registered to vote in the state of California.

Of the 42 percent of eligible California voters, a disappointing 8.2 percent of 18-to-24 year olds, better known as the youth vote, bothered to participate during our most recent midterm elections as stated in ‘The New York Times’.

The average socially conscious student is at least aware of major political events such as the race for presidency currently underway.

What students are not hearing about are the hyper local elections that more acutely affect our selves and our community and more specifically our college community.

The Board of Trustees of Citrus College election will be taking place on Tuesday, Nov. 3. The B.O.T at Citrus is prime example

BY DAISY MIRAMONTES STAFF WRITER

DMIRAMONTES@CCCLARION.COM

Everyone has some history built into them that reflects where they are now.

Many go through challenges, but do not come out of them victorious.

Others fight their way through and achieve great things in life.

My parents have come a long way, physically and with stability.

They have fought their way through to bring me to where I am now. My parents, Yolanda and Teodoro Miramontes, are my warriors. Education was not a priority for my grandparents because they could not afford it. My dad was only 12-years-old when he started working in Puente de Camotlán, Nayarit, Mexico.

Although he was not the oldest in his family, he felt responsible for making sure that his parents and siblings had the necessities to survive.

He worked hard for 4 years until he eventually saved up enough money to pay the coyote to bring him into the United States.

The United States was not what

Clarion

FORUM

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7 , 2015

EDITORIAL

of how politics directly affect us.

The board makes final decisions about who is hired or fired on campus, the wages student workers are paid, how college budget money is spent and even the curriculum and education plans determining what and how Citrus College students learn.

The board even has the power to determine which programs will continue such as recording arts or nursing and which could cease to exist like the child development center.

With all this considering the character and integrity of the individuals elected to make those decisions is critical in terms of education, campus careers and employment.

If we are truly concerned about issues on campus, ranging from smoking area enforcement to price increases or reductions in student registration fees, we must make it a priority to register and vote for the candidates we feel have our best interest in mind.

In terms of the upcoming B.O.T elections two of the board’s members, Dr. Patricia A. Rasmussen, Area #4 Trustee and Susan M. Keith Area #2 Trustee, sitting comfortably during this year’s

Emily Hermosillo Clarion

elections as they are running unopposed.

This year’s contenders include former Area #1 trustee Gary L. Woods returning in attempts to beat out current Area #5 trustee Joanne Montgomery for her place on the board.

Due to the evidently low participation in local elections there are often times too few perspectives on voter issues in local government.

On a local level, individual votes carry more weight than in national elections where billions cast their ballots as opposed to the maybe hundreds of voters that will locally.

Government officials are calling for more participation in the

voting arena by launching initiatives that simplify the process for becoming a registered voter.

DMV’s have placed voter registration on the backs of drivers license and I.D. applications to promote voter participation as well.

The democratic-majority legislature in California has also taken steps toward approving a system of automatic voter registration for citizens who obtain or update a California driver’s license.

One does not have to get out of bed to register to vote. At http:// registertovote.ca.gov there is online voter registration for the state of California.

If you do decide to cast your voice in the upcoming local elec-

tions time to register is running out.

The eligibility deadline to register to vote in the upcoming local elections such as the Board of Trustees election on Nov. 3 is Oct. 19.

Local politics have a need for additional participation so that the decisions “by the people” are truly a reflection of all Americans including the widely underestimated youth.

We carry an emphasized weight in local elections, but only if we choose to exercise our right to register, educate ourselves, and vote to participate in this movement we call democracy.

Let’s talk about family

he expected. He had a few friends living in the U.S. already so he had a temporary place to stay but did not have a job. He was ready to work but was not offered a job since he was underage, not fluent in English and did not have a social security number.

After desperately looking for a job, he found one in El Monte.

There, he worked a night shift peeling onions.

As things started to look up, he was kicked out from where he was staying due to too many people living there.

My father was forced to be homeless and sleep under lettuce boxes in the factory he was working at.

After three weeks, another one of his friends offered him a place to stay along with a job offering where he met my mom.

My mom was also on her own since she had left her family at 17-years-old to seek a better future.

At 19, my parents were married and had my oldest sister, Angelica Miramontes.

At that point, my dad was working two jobs and my mom was working one but that were not making enough to pay off the rent for the apartment they were staying in. They decided to move out to Northern California to work in the fields. They picked anything from almonds, grapes and cotton.

They worked for three years

Emily Hermosillo Clarion

picking crops until immigration detained them and sent them back to Mexico.

Despite this setback, they didn’t give up on the American Dream.

My parents walked back into

the US with only $20 in their pocket. Their motivation was my sister since my aunt, Celia Miramontes, stepped up to take care of her when they were deported.

They came back to El Monte

where another friend lended my parents his house.

At that point, my parents applied to go get their social security number, citizenship and license.

They succeeded in obtaining residence and my dad got his first official job at a speaker factory.

As they started forming a family, they needed more money, so he got another job making chairs. He worked both day and night along with raising a family at home and my mom worked all day as well.

When the recession hit, my father got laid off. My parents used money they had saved up to buy a restaurant.

The restaurant brought in a lot of money but they had to close it down after a year and a half due to having no time to keep up with our family of nine. After they closed the restaurant down, my dad decided to get his Class A Driver’s License and become a truck driver to maintain our family.

Eventually, my parents were able to buy their first home. Our house is now fully paid off along with a house in Bakersfield and two properties in Mexico.

My parents’ journey through life has not been an easy one.

Life’s journey is not about where you start, but about where you end up. They are my ideal definition of accomplishing the American Dream.