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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015 | VOL XCI ISSUE 6 tccclarion.com f/ccclarion T@ccclarion
hair apparent
Cosmetology club raises scares in annual Halloween hair show. PG. 6
LOCAL ELECTIONS 2015:
INCUMBENT MONTGOMERY PROJECTED WINNER Board president Joanne Montgomery wins over challenger Gary L. Woods BY MEGAN BENDER STAFF WRITER
MBENDER@CCCLARION.COM
Evan Solano Clarion
Incumbent trustee Joanne Montgomery is projected to be the winner in the Nov. 3 election for the Area 5 seat on the Board of Trustees.
LOWS &
As of press time poll results show Joanne Montgomery, Citrus Community College District Board of Trustee’s president, was ahead with 69.77 percent of the counted votes for the Area No. 5 seat against Gary Woods, J.D., former Area 1 board of trustee. Woods’ had 30.32 percent of the vote with 13 percent of the electoral reporting. “I am pleased and thrilled that
ORDER
I am ahead so far,” Montgomery said. Montgomery had in 981 votes vs. Woods’ 425. The Area 5 vote is limited to residents in parts of Monrovia, Bradbury and Duarte. Montgomery has been a Monrovia resident for over 50 years and Woods has been living in Monrovia since Jan. 2015. Montgomery was appointed in 1989 after the death of her husband Donald Montgomery. She was then elected in 1999 to
Annual Clery Report shows a rise and fall in drug related offenses
remain in the Area 5 seat ever since. Woods formerly held the area 1 seat on the Citrus board of trustees since 1982 until he lost his seat to current Area 1 Trustee Barbara Dickerson, Ed.D, in 2013. Two other CCCD board members, Susan M. Keith, the current Area 2 trustee, and Patricia Rasmussen, Ed.D., current Area 4 trustee are both running unopposed. Keith has been a member of the board of trustees since 1999. Rasmussen has been a member since 2007. Students can visit lavote.net to receive final results of the CCCD Nov. 3 elections.
BY MEGAN BENDER
Speaker series to inspire at the Haugh
MBENDER@CCCLARION.COM
BY JESSICA SOSA
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
STAFF WRITER
& NUBIA VALDEZ
JSOSA@CCCLARION.COM
STAFF WRITER
NVALDEZ@CCCLARION.COM
C
ampus Safety had a busy year in 2014. According to the recently released annual crime report, which reflects all crime reported on campus from the previous year, there was dramatic spike in drug law violations. Yet, campus safety supervisor Ben Macias and lead officer Todd Dickson are not worried by the numbers–¬they see it as good news in fact. “The number increase that we see I don’t believe is attributed to an increased usage issue,” Dickson said. “It is more of a proactive approach that our department has been taking on to get that issue under control.” The statistics, released on Oct. 1 show 26 drug related arrests and 43 drug related violations in 2014. However, the numbers have already begun to drop to only 19-reported drug offenses since Jan. 1 of this year. To stay in compliance with Title IV federal requirements and continue to receive federal
Students searching for inspiration before final exams begin need look no farther than the Haugh Performing Arts Center at Citrus College. A recent increase in state funding to support Student Equity Planning has given Citrus College an opportunity to host its very first speaker series. The yearlong program will feature contemporary motivational speakers who will tell their stories and share the adversities they have had to overcome in hope of inspiring Citrus students to persevere and reach their goals. Admission is free. To kick off the File Photo speaker series, Brian Former NFL player Brian Banks will be Banks, 30, a former speaking on Nov. 16 in NFL player who was the Haugh Performing falsely accused of a Arts Center. crime, is scheduled to speak on Nov. 16 at 12:15 p.m. in the HPAC.
SE E CLERY • PAGE 5
S E E S P EAK ER S ER IES • PAGE 5
brothers in arms and on stage American and Norwegian veteran actors add an element of authenticity to the upcoming production of ‘The Epiphany.” PG. 12
it’s rocket science
Rocket Owls extend a helpful hand to elementary school space engineers. PG. 10
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LOCAL
NATIONAL
STATE Drug cartel member sentence to life after nine murders KTLA
Car crashes into Party City, injuring four teenagers A 35-year-old woman lost control of her car and crashed into the Party Citry store on Oct. 31 in San Dimas, injuring four teenagers. One of the teenage shoppers who suffered moderate-level injuries was a 14-year-old girl was airlifted to Los Angeles County-USC hospital. The other three teenagers were treated at the scene after suffering with minor injuries.
Tulare Superior Court gave Jose Manuel Martinez, 53, a life sentence on Nov. 2 for his role in nine California murders over three decades. He described himself as an enforcer for a Mexican drug cartel and has admitted to murders across the United States. Martinez said he was hired at 18 to kill a man from Lindsay, California, in 1980, though he was never told why. He has been convicted of murder in Alabama and faces additional murder charges in Florida. Source: ABC News
Source: Los Angeles Times
NBC News
$20 million aid approved by feds for wildfire victims Victims of two huge summer wildfires from parts of Northern California have received approval from federal authorities in receiving more than $20 million in disaster aid. One of the wildfires burned more than 200 square miles and killed six people and the other destroyed nearly 500 homes. The aid includes $10 million in low-interest loans to businesses and residents from the Small Business Administration. The Federal Emergency Management Agency also approved $10 million for rental housing and cash assistance. Source: NBC News
www.bikesgv.org
Cyclists unite at new bicycling center in El Monte
After a lawsuit on Oct. 21 was filed by one of the people affected by the infection, Chipotle temporarily closed several of its restaurants in Oregon and Washington. There were reports of three Oregon patients and seven Washington patients hospitalized after experiencing symptoms relating to E. coli. A Washington pharmacist, Charmaine Denise Mode, experienced nausea and body discomfort after eating at a Chipotle restaurant in
Washington. According to Mode, “The next day, the diarrhea became bloody and far more intense.” Mode’s case was linked to the Chipotle outbreak by health officials. In determination of locating the cause of the cases, Chipotle is working with health departments and federal agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration. Source: CNN
Ohio decides against legalizing recreational marijuana
Source: Los Angeles Times
accident
Source: San Gabriel Valley Tribune
E. coli scare temporary closes a dozen Chipotle restaurants in Washington and Oregon
Ohio voters decided against legalizing the recreational use of marijuana for people over 21-years-old. The state would have been the first U.S. Midwestern state to do so. The initiative was failing more than 65 - 35 percent when the Associated Press called the election.
Memorial service held for teenage couple after fatal The San Gabriel Valley community gathered Oct. 31 to honor the lives of Citrus College student Sabrina Castillo and her high school sweetheart, George Steward II, Mt. SAC football player. They were killed in an automobile collision on Oct. 18 in Hacienda Heights. Their families described them as the perfect couple, and are heartbroken by this tragedy. Hundreds of friends, family and community members filled the sanctuary and two additional halls at Calvary Chapel in Montebello. Castillo and Steward’s families shared heartfelt stories of their young lives.
Clarion
CURRENT EVENTS
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015
Human remains found in Angeles National Forest
El Monte welcomed the new San Gabriel Valley Bicycle Education Center on Oct. 25. The center, operated by the nonprofit organization, Bike San Gabriel Valley, provides an opportunity for learning to ride a bike, bike repairs and for bicycle enthusiasts to meet other riders. The old bicycles donated to the center are maintained and offered as rentals.
Lt. Victor Lewandowski, a Los Angeles County sheriff received reports from hunters and hikers about finding skeletal remains in various spots around Angeles National Forest. The remains were discovered within two days starting on Halloween. They have found a skull, a spine, a femur and a hand. Lewandowski said there are more human bones that are likely to be found as a result from a rainy winter prediction due to El Niño.
Source: San Gabriel Valley Tribune
Source: Los Angeles Times
GLOBAL
CRIENGLISH.com
South Korea reveals statues honoring ‘Comfort Women’ during World War II Two new bronze statues in Seoul, South Korea representing young Korean, Chinese and other Asian women who were forced into sex slavery for Japanese soldiers during World War II on Oct. 28. Creating the statues were the first collaboration between Chinese and South Korean artists and activists. “Koreans and Chinese resisted together like brothers against Japanese aggressions,” Leo Shi Young, a Chinese-American filmmaker from
San Francisco said. The statues have angered conservatives in Japan. Seoul rejected Tokyo’s request to remove the statue across the street from its embassy. Copies of the statues have been built in several American cities with sizable Korean communities. Japanese conservative politicians traveled to Glendale, California, and asked to remove the statue. Source: The New York Times
15 years of continuous habitation aboard the International Space Station The 15th anniversary of the International Space Station was Nov. 2. There is a 15-nation partnership that keeps it in orbit. The International Space Station occupies 32,333 cubic feet, with more livable room than a conventional six-bedroom house. More than 220 people from 17 countries have visited the ISS since 2000. Researchers from more than 83 countries have performed more than 1,760 science investigations. More than 180 spacewalks have supported assembly and maintenance of the ISS. Crews have eaten more than 26,500 meals since Expedition 1. Source: USA Today
Clarion
ANNOUNCEMENTS
O W L B E AT
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015
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CLARION SNAPSHOTS
Wild art and random photos from our staffers taken around campus
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 • NOV. 4 - CAREERS IN STEM WORKSHOP Come by the Campus Center East Wing and learn from a panel of working professionals about career opportunities in the STEM Workshop from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, contact STEM team members Alejandra Gonzales (alegonzales@citruscollege.edu), Torrell Foree (tforee@citruscollege.edu) and Karla Lopez (klopez@citruscollege. edu). • NOV. 5 - SALUTING OUR VETERANS Join Citrus College in honoring the men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces for the 10th Annual “Saluting Our Veterans” event which will be held from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on at the Campus Center Mall. There will also be a Veterans Success Center Open House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. • NOV. 5 - CSU/US APPLICATION OPEN FORUM Come by the Transfer Center computer lab in SS 281 for a personal hands-on assistance with your CSU/UC application from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. No RSVP is required. Check in at the front reception desk upon arrival. • NOV. 5 - ANIME CONNECTION MEETING Join the Anime Club from noon to 1:30 p.m. where students can share, show and talk about anime in CC 115. • NOV. 6 - UC PERSONAL STATEMENT WORKSHOP Visit the Writing Center at ED 224 for a step-by-step instruction in pre-writing your UC Personal Statement from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. RSVP required. Please bring an electronic first draft of your essay. • NOV. 7 - WOMEN’S SELF-DEFENSE PROGRAM Learn to protect yourself by joining the Women’s Self-Defense Program. Saturday classes continue on Nov. 7 from 8 a.m. to noon in SS 165 and Nov. 14 from 8 a.m. to noon in VT 323. Come and sign up. Reservations are first-come first-serve. Classes are open to all community members, Citrus College students and employees get priority. You will need to bring water, pen or pencil and workout attire. There will be a certificate upon completion of all three classes (Oct. 31, Nov. 7 and Nov. 14). This program is for women only. For more information, call (626) 914-8611 or go to http://icsafety6.wix.com/icsafety • NOV. 9 - LEARNING STYLES - COLLEGE SUCCESS WORKSHOP Discover new learning styles to obtain new information and apply to study methods. This workshop is held in SS 281 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Dennis Camargo II Clarion
Liz Ramirez, 20, kinesiology major, dresses in black, a flower crown and has a traditional calavera makeup to celebrate with the souls who have returned. Ramirez poses in front of the Latinos Unidos Student Association altar.
Celebrating Dia de Los Muertos
• NOV. 10 - TEST TAKING - COLLEGE SUCCESS WORKSHOP Learn new techniques to take tests with confidence at SS 281 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. • NOV. 11 - TIME MANAGEMENT - COLLEGE SUCCESS WORKSHOP Make your life less stressful by discovering ways to organize your time and become a successful student from SS 281 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. • NOV. 12 - STUDY SKILLS - COLLEGE SUCCESS WORKSHOP Develop new reading techniques to have an easier grasp on study materials at SS 281 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. • NOV. 19 - NOTE TAKING - COLLEGE SUCCESS WORKSHOP Come visit SS 281 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and learn note-taking techniques to help understand the study materials.
Dennis Camargo II Clarion
A mask, concha and tri-flavored cookie held by LUSA member Daisy Miramontes, 19, communication major.
Dennis Camargo II Clarion
Latinos Unidos Student Association has set up an altar in the Campus Center Mall to celebrate dia de los muertos and educate other students about the holiday.
THE 1000 BLOCK
Incident Reports Welfare & Institutions (Code 5150) LOCATION: Student Health Center REPORTED: 10/15/2015 CASE #: 2015-099 DISPOSITION: Closed
REPORTS ARE PROVIDED COURTESY OF THE CITRUS COLLEGE CAMPUS SAFETY DEPARTMENT. A REPORT IS NOT A STATEMENT OF GUILT.
Vandalism 594 PC/ Grand Theft 487 PC LOCATION: CI Building REPORTED: 10/24/2015 CASE #: 2015‐100 DISPOSITION: Open
Grand Theft 487 PC LOCATION: Off Campus REPORTED: 10/26/2015 CASE #: 2015-101 DISPOSITION: Open
#whatstrending
LOCAL NEWS, SPORTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND LIFE ON CAMPUS – FIND IT HERE HOOT TWEETS: @ellese97: Omg “Faking It” is filmed at Citrus College @nubia_ccc: Citrus Women’s Soccer team defeats Glendale 2-0! #citruscollege #fightingowls @clearknowing: babe and I were watching #smiley, film about an internet killer. and we both called it out... it was filmed at our very own #citruscollege
OWLSTAGRAM:
Student Misconduct (BP 5500) LOCATION: CI — South Exterior REPORTED: 10/27/2015 CASE #: 2015-102 DISPOSITION: Closed Disciplinary Referral
Alleged Misconduct LOCATION: Campus REPORTED: 10/27/2015 CASE #: 2015-103 DISPOSITION: Open
QUOTABLE: “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most
certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” -Thomas A. Edison 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, Caitlin Mercer, John Michaelides, Daisy Miramontes, Astrid Perez, Jessica Sosa, Nubia Valdez
Use the hashtags: #CCClarion or #citruscollege to be featured on #whatstrending
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Clarion
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funding, such as student financial aide, Citrus must follow federal marijuana laws and regulations. Dickson considers the decrease in this year’s numbers to be a result of this new policy brought forth by student services administration. An educational “No marijuana on Campus” campaign came about in spring 2015 during the rise of medical marijuana recommendation cardholders appearing too frequently on campus. Macias said that a big part of the educational campaign was getting the word out that if there was marijuana violation on campus, students could be suspended for the rest of the semester. After researching other schools in the area, Martha McDonald, Ed.D., vice president of student services, initiated the stronger suspension policy when she was the interim dean of students. “I just felt that students were not taking the ‘no drugs or marijuana
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015
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F R O M PA G E 1
on campus’ policy seriously, so we had no choice to implement and exercise our disciplinary procedure in terms of suspensions,” she said, referring to administrative procedure 5520 on student disciplinary action. The 2011 statistics, prior to the campaign, reported drug related offenses at a low of one arrest and 12 violations. These numbers steadily rose to four arrests and 21 violations in 2012 and eight arrests and 24 violations in 2013, which sparked the educational workshops and less tolerance of marijuana offenses. McDonald said that effects of the stricter suspensions and educational components are reflected in the fall 2015 semester. Numbers spiked in 2014 as a result of stricter policy, but based off of campus safety crime logs that are updated every two days, it is clear that violations for 2015 are down. Dickson said campus safety remains proactive and vigilant. “The numbers for 2015 have gone down and I think will continue to go down,” Macias said. “But the educational focus has to continue.”
N U M B E R
clery
NEWS
0 2012
2013 A C A D E M I C
2014 Y E A R
2015
( FA L L / S P R I N G ) Evan Solano Clarion
The graph above shows the rise in drug law violations and arrests from 2012 to 2014. As of Nov. 2015 the number of vilations has dropped down to 19-related offenses.
Speaker series brings celebrities to students F R O M PA G E 1
Jackie Cruz, 23, a musician and an actress best known for her role as Flaca in “Orange is the New Black” is scheduled to speak in the HPAC on Nov. 19 at noon. A free box lunch will be provided to the first 150 students who RSVP for Banks’ speech. “Since Monica [Killen] was in agreement with it and had the funds for it, we decided to launch The Speaker Series,” said John Vaughan, professor of dance and curriculum chair of the Faculty Learning Institute. “It was something [the FLI committee] wanted to do for a long time.” The FLI committee is still in the process of choosing speakers for the spring 2016 semester, Vaughan said. The FLI committee wanted to pick speakers whom students would know and be excited to see, Vaughan said. The FLI was committee uses for two criteria: the speaker’s ability to resonate with the demographics of Citrus students, and a personal narrative of having overcome obstacles and achieved success. “I tested a few names in my classes,” Vaughan said. “Every time I said Jackie Cruz the students would go ‘Ahhhh! I follow her on Twitter! I can’t wait!’” Banks was falsely accused of raping one of his high school classmates. He was able to clear his name in 2011 when his accuser was recorded confessing that she had fabricated the crime story. Cruz, who was involved in a near fatal accident when she was 17, underwent brain surgery. After that tragic event, Cruz vowed to do pursue her dreams of becoming an entertainer. In spring of 2015, Citrus College
File Photo
Actress Jackie Cruz, who plays “Flaca” on the Netflix series “Orange is the New Black” will be speaking at the Haugh Performing Arts Center on No. 19 and noon.
received increased state funding specifically aimed at promoting student equity, said Monica Killen, director of college success. The goal of student equity is to level the playing field for historically underrepresented groups including Hispanics, African-Americans, foster youth and Disabled Students Programs and Services. Killen said there was also a professional development side to the
Speaker Series. She said that although the Citrus faculty is exposed to diverse ideas and are well-trained in that diversity, there are still certain things about the students can be communicated through these speakers. “Our demographics are changing and we want the faculty to have the opportunity to hear about new perspectives that exist within our
community,” Killen said. Linda Graves, interim director of the Haugh Performing Arts Center, has worked to suggest other speakers to refer to the FLI. Graves said she goes to conferences every year where she meets with agencies that represent performers and speakers. Graves said she is open to student and faculty suggestions for speakers to book for Spring 2016.
Students are encouraged to RSVP at the Box Office or by calling (626) 963-9411 Monday through Saturday between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. “Life will throw curveballs but you can overcome challenges and succeed in whatever your goals are,” Killen said. “I think these speakers could touch that one student and provide that inspiration that they need.”
A ‘HAIR’RAISING HALLOWEEN WORDS BY: MEGAN BENDER | PHOTOS BY: EVAN SOLANO
T
wo creative worlds collided at the Halloween Hair Show showcase hosted by the Cosmetology Club. With the energetic acting of models, fantasy and horror characters created by the cosmetology club came to life at the campus center. The showcase featured three categories, fantasy, horror and fantasy/horror hair and make up, all created by Citrus College cosmetology students. Although some models out-acted others, the creatures and characters produced were extremely detailed and intricate. Some of the highlights of the fantasy category included a trio that called themselves “Star Wars,” made up of Kristen Clausen as Luke Skywalker, Shella Walker as Princess Lea as a prisoner and Rachael Near as Queen Amidala of Naboo. Clausen, Walker and Near were all the hair and makeup stylists for each other. The three were detailed cosplays of the actual Star
Wars characters down to a Yoda backpack, a plastic glowing light saber, prisoner outfit and queen headdress. A clever but subtle costume duo took the stage as “Jokerz Grinn” and “Gnarly Quinn” modeled by Grant McComb and AJ Meredith. Tiahna Baird, designed both characters’ hair and make up. Their makeup featured gore and torn skin around the mouth and eyes, made effective with a white suit, and a baseball bat and pig tails as detail and props. One of the most ‘horrific’ costumes displayed was a Silent Hill Nurse, complete with syringe, bloody outfit and menacing limp. A somber ‘Circus Freak’ modeled by Veronica Perez took the stage in simple attire but with a piercing white-eyed stare. Make up for ‘Circus Freak’ was created by Stephanie Stewart with hair styled by Luz Ramirez. Perez’s blank eyes and slow march left a lasting creepy tingle as she left the runway.
The most detailed costume and character of the night was the dead “Maria Antoinette,” from the Fantasy/Horror category created by Natalia Pryannik and modeled by Dana Francescon. With gore and wounds surrounding her eyes and a masquerade mask to hide it, she carried a bust of her own head in a birdcage down the runway. With a beautiful gown reflective of the time period and messy piled hairstyle laced with beads she was one the most creative characters of the night.
Clarion
FEATURES
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015 PAGE 7
Jessica Sosa Clarion
Nicole Wassef, 24, is a philosophy and neuroscience double major at Citrus College. This is her second year serving as the Beta Nu Eta chapter president of Phi Theta Kappa for Citrus College and her first year serving as the Vice President of the South West District for Phi Theta Kappa.
Pushing through life’s obstacles Honors student overcomes struggles and still fiercely pursues her education BY JESSICA SOSA STAFF WRITER
JSOSA@CCCLARION.COM
S
tudents who are faced with unexpected and difficult life-changing events often think they have no other choice but to leave school. But for Citrus College honors student Nicole Wassef, 24, nothing could stop her from getting an education. Wassef, who is double majoring in philosophy and neuroscience, said she has always wanted to be a medical doctor. With that goal in mind, during her high school years, she constantly challenged herself. At Upland High School, Wassef took advanced courses and even enrolled at Chaffey College to get started on her general education requirements. She got accepted into the University of California, San Diego for fall 2009 but had to leave after a little more than a year. Several issues led to her sudden exit from UCSD. Wassef said her roommate constantly disrespected her by throwing parties and inviting friends to stay and sleep in Wassef’s bed without her permission. She explained she often went home on weekends to Rancho Cucamonga where she was heavily involved in her church’s Sunday School program. However, the main reason why Wassef left UCSD was because of a family tragedy in Egypt, where she has many relatives. “It is my beloved motherland, Egypt,” Wassef said. When religious conflict intensified between the Muslims and Christians in Egypt,
homicides became a common event, she said. As a result of this tension, two of her cousins were killed in 2010, Wassef said. “My family and I did everything we could to gather resources to send to not only my family over there, but also to other Egyptians in the same situation,” Wassef said. To help support her extended family and her fellow Egyptians, Wassef took a job at Chaffey College.
Since she had enrolled in the honors program at La Sierra, where the minimum GPA accepted is 3.5, she was dropped from the program without a warning or probation period. Without the grants and scholarships she was receiving from the program, Wassef explained that she absolutely could not afford to stay at La Sierra, but her determination was unstoppable. She began to search for a community col-
“Nicole is the type of person who has a lot on her plate at all times, but [she] pushes through it like Michael Phelps in a pool of water.” -Katie Swafford
Nicole Wassef’s best friend She said that after working at Chaffey for about two months, her manager suggested that she apply for enrollment at La Sierra University, a private institution in Riverside, so that she could continue on her educational path. After about eight months at La Sierra University, Wassef said that she had to leave when her father developed a serious heart condition. Wassef said she spent a great deal of time worrying and caring for him. Wassef did well in all her classes at La Sierra except for one: neuroscience. After receiving a D her GPA dropped from a 3.92 to 3.46, she said.
lege that would best fit her needs. “I heard that Citrus was family-oriented, a smaller campus and that it would be worthwhile for me,” Wassef said. Wassef said she immediately joined the Citrus College honors transfer program. Wassef joined Beta Nu Eta, the Citrus College chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, an international honors society. “In some ways, [Wassef] was a natural to become the Beta Nu Eta president,” said Brian Waddington, professor of history and honors transfer coordinator. Waddington explained that Wassef’s involvement in PTK has helped create the inviting environment it has.
After serving as the Beta Nu Eta chapter president for one year, Wassef said she was appointed vice president of Nevada/ California South West District of Phi Theta Kappa. This academic year, Wassef serves as both the chapter president and the regional vice president. “Nicole has a caring character with strong values in family and faith,” Waddington said. “She has a magnetic personality and her leadership skills are obvious.” Wassef’s best friend, a recent Citrus College transfer student, Katie Swafford, 22, said Wassef is constantly dealing with hardships but never shows it. “Nicole is the type of person who has a lot on her plate at all times,” Swafford said. “But Nicole pushes through it like she is Michael Phelps in a pool of water.” Giovanna Galifi, PTK vice president of fellowship, said she joined the honors society around the same time Wassef became a member. Galifi said even though she had barely met Wassef at the time, Wassef had displayed a caring attitude and made sure Galifi could come to her for advice and support. “I admire the way she speaks,” Galifi said. “She is very convincing and can leave anyone saying ‘wow.’ ” Wassef said she has yet to figure out where she plans to transfer. But she knows for sure that she wants to continue her education, no matter what. “My cousins used to tell me that there are a lot of ups and downs and bumps in life, but if you don’t have them, that means you are dead,” Wassef said. “Those obstacles are a part of life.”
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Clarion
SPOTLIGHT
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015
Astrid Perez Clarion
Baron Cheng, Citrus alumni keynote speaker for the 10th Annual Saluting Our Veterans, poses for pictures in the Veterans Center. Cheng proudly served in the Marine Corps.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER FINDS strength in CHANGE
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Student veteran Baron Cheng will be delivering the keynote speech for this year’s ‘Salute To Veterans’ ceremony BY ASTRID PEREZ STAFF WRITER
APEREZ@CCCLARION.COM
It is never too late to change direction in life. U.S. Marine Corps veteran and Citrus College alumnus Baron Cheng is proof of this. Cheng will be delivering a keynote speech on Nov. 5 at the 10th annual “Saluting Our Veterans” ceremony in the Campus Center Mall. In his 20s, Cheng began to realize that his life was not turning out the way he envisioned it. While he was attending California State University, Fullerton, Cheng was spending more time on his social life than his studies, and his grades were going down. “I wasn’t making the right decisions, and one day I just had an epiphany,” Cheng said. “I decided I couldn’t live like that anymore.” This turning point led him to do something he had always thought about doing: enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps. “I liked the Marines because you earn everything,” Cheng said. “I didn’t do it for the money, I didn’t get a bonus. I liked the structure. I liked the regulations and how hard the standards were compared to other services,” said Cheng. Before signing papers and leaving for boot camp, Cheng had difficulty getting support from his mother, Tina Cheng. However, she eventually came to understand that enlisting was something he had to do to grow as a person.
“I didn’t do it for the money, I didn’t get a bonus. I liked the structure. I liked the regulations and how hard the standards were compared to other services.”
-Baron Cheng Student Veteran
“It’s a service for your country, and in the end, it was going to change my life for the better,” said Cheng on his decision to enlist. Cheng reported for boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego. He recalls his first day as having been exciting yet miserable. “They took everything away from me,” Cheng said. “But being placed into something you’ve never been to before and being somewhere new was very exciting.” “Being surrounded by people who volunteered and left home from around the country to be in that spot, to be a Marine and earn the title is something that I’ll always remember,” Cheng said. Cheng trained to become a field radio operator at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center
Twentynine Palms in California. After his time in the service, Cheng tried to keep busy yet he knew he had to go back to school right away. “Someone in Twentynine Palms talked about coming to Citrus College. I heard they had a really good program so I decided to do my own research and check it out,” Cheng said. Upon enrolling at Citrus College, Cheng became involved with the Veterans Center and became a mentor to other veterans. “He’s a true volunteer,” said Monica Christianson, Ph.D., director of the Veterans Program and mental health counselor at Citrus College. “He could have been getting paid through the Veterans Affairs work study but, he never took it upon himself to get paid.” “He’s always the first one to volunteer. A couple of years ago he helped set up the Toys for Tots toy drive,” said Christianson. Cheng received his associate degree in administration of justice in 2014. He is now enrolled at Azusa Pacific University where he plans to earn his bachelor’s degree in business management. “In the long run, it is just a check mark, to say that I can do it,” Cheng said. His friends have no doubt Cheng will succeed in whatever he sets his mind to. “He’s hardworking, he’s persistent in his education and career goals,” said Patrick Cam, 24, a criminal justice major.
Clarion
SPOTLIGHT
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015
PAGE 9
Astrid Perez Clarion
Elizabeth Saucedo, keynote speaker at the 10th Annual Saluting Our Veterans, and her son Gabriel play in the Veterans Center. Saucedo proudly served in the U.S. Army from 2007-2010.
One tough mother Student veteran and single parent Elizabeth Saucedo has overcome the odds become the female veteran of the year BY ASTRID PEREZ STAFF WRITER
APEREZ@CCCLARION.COM
A mother will do anything to support. Sometimes that means changing direction and going back to school. U.S. Army veteran and Citrus College alumna, Elizabeth Saucedo did just that. Saucedo, who served in the Army from 2007 to 2010, is the epitome of a hardworking mother. Saucedo will be delivering her keynote speech at the 10th annual “Saluting Our Veterans” ceremony tomorrow in the Campus Center Mall, along with Marine Corps veteran Baron Cheng. Before enlisting in the Army, Saucedo attended Citrus College and was running her own daycare center in Glendora. Although she enjoyed working with kids, Saucedo was not satisfied with the direction her life was taking. “I didn’t enjoy it because it was something my parents made me do,” Saucedo said. “My parents were paying for college as long as I went down the child development route.” Saucedo decided to make a change. Since she had no financial backing to continue school, Saucedo decided to enlist in the U.S. Army
for the educational benefits. “Up until that point, no one in my family had served, so I felt like I had a moral obligation,” she said. Saucedo began basic training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. Before enlisting, her only ideas of the military came from movies. “I thought someone was going to be yelling at me the whole time, and I would end up being scared and crying, but it wasn’t that way,” Saucedo said. “I learned really quick that as long as you do what you’re told and do things correctly that you would be fine.” Saucedo’s advanced individual training, was to be a military police officer. At the time it was the closest job to combat a female could go to,” Saucedo said. “I figured if I was going to join the military then I wasn’t just going to sit behind a desk. I actually wanted to do something. I wanted to be in the fight with the guys.” Saucedo was then stationed at Fort Steward, Ga. until she was deployed to Iraq, where she served from 2009 to 2010. She was a 50-caliber machine gunner and a driver. “We would train the Iraqi police on how to be police officers,” Saucedo said. “We were constantly on missions with them, going to their stations and training them to
Astrid Perez Clarion
Elizabeth Saucedo pictured with her son Gabriel play in the Veterans Center.
do basic functions, such as how to clear a room, and weapons safety,” Saucedo said. After returning from Iraq, Saucedo gave birth to her son Gabriel in 2011. Soon faced with the difficulties of being a single parent in the military so she decided to leave the Army. “It was kind of bittersweet making the decision of getting out of the military,” Saucedo said.
Upon leaving the military, Saucedo first became occupied with her cousin’s wedding then fell into a state of depression. “I didn’t want to play with my kid. I couldn’t. I wasn’t functioning correctly,” Saucedo said. “It got to the point where it was difficult to interact with my child, and being a parent whose only focus is my child, I knew there was something wrong.”
Saucedo realized she had to go back to school but did not know how to start the process of applying. In 2012, she visited the Veterans Success Center at Citrus College, where she found much needed help. Saucedo had found her calling. “I felt like this is what I needed to do, help other veterans get unlost,” she said. Upon receiving her associate’s degree from Citrus College in 2014, Saucedo transferred to Azusa Pacific University, where she is currently enrolled in a bachelor’s of social work program. The Army gave Saucedo the skills she needs in order to be successful for herself and her child, she said. “I came out a leader, knowledgeable, assertive and direct. Those are qualities some people find unattractive, but I think they are qualities which will help me, especially with my career direction and the people I want to work with, which is veterans,” Saucedo said. “They’re used to it, so its not like I’m going to come off as pushy or bossy.” “I hope I get to the point where I can help veterans, specifically Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, get to the point where they feel comfortable with their educational goals and making that a priority,” Saucedo said. “She’s really good at stepping into someone’s shoes really easy. She can step in wherever you ask her and she’ll step in and make it work. She can rise to the moment,” said Monica Christianson, Ph.D., director of the Veterans Program and mental health counselor.
PAGE 10
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015
Clarion
FEATURES
ROCKET OWLS HELP LOCAL FIFTH GRADERS SHOOT FOR THE MOON BY CAITLIN MERCER STAFF WRITER
CMERCER@CCCLARION.COM
Local fifth graders are launching a lifelong love of science and engineering in the Junior Rocket Owls program. The program provides an opportunity for local fifth graders to be mentored by Citrus College students in a year-long rocketry project. The program is the brainchild of Lucia Riderer, Ed.D., Citrus College physics professor and adviser to the Rocket Owls team. The fifth graders work in teams to design, build and eventually launch a 2-foot tall Estes Loadstar rocket that may reach altitudes of up to 800 feet. The major goal of the program is to interest elementary school students in science, technology, engineering and math. For many of the 30 fifth graders in the program, this is the beginning of serious study in STEM disciplines. Student mentors are recruited from three of the Research in Science and Engineering teams: Rocket Owls, Rocketry and Robotics, and Galactic Owls. Each mentor is certified in rocketry by the Tripoli Rocketry Association, a non-profit dedicated to the advancement and operation of amateur, high power rocketry. Program participants include 13
girls and 17 boys, from the five elementary schools in the Glendora Unified School District: Cullen, La Fetra, Sellers, Stanton, and Sutherland. Research indicates that early exposure to STEM activities has a positive impact on the way elementary students feel about those disciplines, according to Riderer. “They’re getting a head start. I wish I would have had a program like this,” said Citrus mentor Justin Frias, 21, computer engineering major. The program participants, and the Citrus College Student mentors meet monthly to execute specific steps in the design program, said Riderer. “I like teaching kids when I have a chance, and to get them really excited about science is a good way to get involved in the community,” said mentor Rebecca Thomas, 25, material science and engineering major. “The program activities, including homework assignments, are designed and planned by the Rocket Owls team,” said Riderer. Early in the process, participants launch small Estes model-rockets which can reach 400 feet. They then progress to designing and building the more advanced Estes Loadstar rocket. Once the Loadstar rocket is launched in April, participants prepare posters that document the
Caitlin Mercer Clarion
Matthew Jabson 21, Tabitha Bailey 21, Rebecca Thomas 25, Michelle Mueller 22, Justin Frias 21, and Logan Tomes pose with Rocket Owls project rockets. They thoroughly enjoy mentoring the Junior Rocket Owls.
process and the results. At the program’s conclusion in June, students present their work in a symposium. “We really love those kids,” said Jabson. “Those kids are really smart.” The fifth graders gain technical writing skills when documenting and preparing their presentations. “They’re getting experience working as a team in a college environment. They are also getting all their ideas in physics, a little head ADVERTISEMENT
start, and hopefully they’re getting excited to continue on,” said mentor Logan Tomes, 21, aerospace engineering major. Student mentors report that they are having a positive experience in the program as well, and that it has enhanced their studies. “You have to teach them material so you have to go back on material that you learned and be able to explain it,” said mentor Tabitha Bailey, 21, mechanical engineering major.
The program was initially funded by the Citrus College Foundation and an anonymous donor. This year program sponsors include Glendora Education Foundation, California Space Grant Consortium and Popla International Inc., Ontario. “It’s good for people to know there are experiences like this out there,” said mentor Michelle Mueller, 22, nanoengineering major. The Junior Rocket Owls meet next at Citrus College on Nov. 21.
The Associated Students of Citrus College and The Office of Student Life and Leadership Development present:
Yes We “Can” Fall 2015 Food Drive
November 2nd through November 19th
All donations benefit Citrus College students in need and the Foothill Unity Center
Donate non-perishable food items at any decorated collection box located in the: - LIBRARY - MATH LOBBY - AD BUILDING 1ST FLOOR - CAMPUS CENTER - STUDENT SERVICES LOBBY by the INFORMATION DESK
PAGE 12
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015
Clarion
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Evan Solano Clarion
Student veteran John Carter (left) and Norwegian veteran Åge Olsen, meet for the first time during a rehearsal of “The Epiphany” in the Little Theatre on Oct. 17. Olsen, who served in the Royal Norwegian Guard be the play’s narrator.
The patriot’s act Veteran actors add verisimilitude to ‘The Epiphany’
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It is a Saturday afternoon. Director Neil Weiss along with student actors cast in “The Epiphany” are hard at work rewriting lines, working on stage movements and getting everything ready for their Nov. 6 debut in the Citrus College Little Theatre. Noticeably absent from this weekend’s rehearsal is the playwright and creator of “The Epiphany,” Bruce Olav Solheim, Ph.D. Solheim is on his way to Los Angeles International Airport to collect an essential player in his drama set in World War II, Nazi-ruled Norway: Åge “Johnny” Olsen, a Norwegian-born actor and soldier who Clarion #6role will be lending his voiceAd in the Fall of the narrator. As a member of the Royal Nor11/4/2015 wegian Guard, Olsen traveled in 1992 from the small Southern town of Kongsvinger, where he grew up, to serve as a member of the King’s Guard at the Royal Palace in Oslo. It was there that Olsen unwittingly became connected to Solheim’s script. “The Epiphany” details the Norwegian resistance as the Nazis came to occupy their country in 1939. “The King’s Guard were the ones that did the first fighting in Oslo when Germany invaded because they protected the King,” Olsen said. “The Epiphany” has been in development for three years, with Solheim’s own family history providing much of the background and inspiration for the play. As he began researching enough material for a script, Solheim turned to social media to find Norwegian actors for a staged reading that he was hosting in Seattle in January 2015. “I contacted a friend of mine, a Norwegian colonel, and he put a message on Facebook, and [Olsen] responded,” Solheim said. At the time Olsen was working as a prison guard. His only prior acting
experience was in high school as part of a theatre group. “I wrote an application for the fun of it,” Olsen recounts. “I didn’t expect to be part of it at all.” Although Solheim had already found a Norwegian veteran for the part, the two kept in touch. Then fate intervened. The other veteran had to drop out of the play when he was deployed to Afghanistan, leading Solheim to reach out to Olsen once again. “He sent me the script, and we talked over the phone and found a connection right away,” Olsen said. “We call ourselves the ‘brothers from another mother.’” For the Seattle reading, Olsen played the role of Anders Strand, the patriarch of a family featured in “The Epiphany.” The role provided Olsen the incentive to continue with acting. The Seattle reading gave him the opportunity to delve into some powerful scenes and interact with the audience, he said “We got some really strong reactions,” Olsen said. “I can imagine when we get up and running [at Citrus], it will be the same.” When the time came to bring the production to the Little Theatre, Solheim had written in a part for a narrator to help tie the play together. “We decided to use Johnny as the narrator,” Solheim said. “It seemed natural to have someone who has a Norwegian accent, because of the twist at the end.” Olsen’s personal family history also provides “The Epiphany” with a sense of authenticity that Solheim believes enhances the production. “It’s a story of his homeland, so he will have close emotional ties to what the story is about,” Solheim said. “He has relatives that were in the resistance, so it’s very close to his heart.” As part of the resistance fighters, Olsen’s grandfather actually helped refugees escape Norway into neighboring Sweden during Germany’s occupation. His participation in “The Epiphany” is a tribute to his late grandfather. “My grandfather died when I was 3, so I never got to talk to him about [his role in resistance],” Olsen said. “I’m really proud of him, but
he never got any recognition for his service, but I know he contributed and that’s more than enough for me.” Joining Olsen in the wartime production is Jon Carter Marine Corps veteran and Citrus College student. Carter was stationed at Camp Pendleton in San Diego county before being deployed to Afghanistan in 2012. In 2014, Carter enrolled at Citrus College while also pursuing his other passion, acting. “I’ve always wanted to act,” Carter said. “I’ve been wanting to act since I was 12 years old.” Carter, who with the help of an agent has been doing commercial auditions for about a year, decided to pursue theater acting after Solheim sought out veterans to audition for the play. “I prefer the theater atmosphere more than the Hollywood scene,” Carter said. “It’s not nearly as fun as doing [theater acting].” Carter plays The Black Cat, a French resistance character who helps the Norwegians. Carter notes that both Solheim and director Neil Weiss cast him especially for the role because of his military background. “It was a character I was looking forward to playing because it was in my realm,” Carter said. Olsen and Carter met for the first time during rehearsals, forming an instant bond. “It was good to have another veteran, especially one who can relate to some of your experiences,” Carter said. “As soon as he walked in and started narrating, it changed the entire atmosphere of the play. It made it that much more real.” Despite the challenges that rehearsals typically bring, Carter and Olsen are bringing discipline and commitment to the stage in hopes of making this production the best it can be. “I think it is pretty cool that a story based on Bruce’s family in Norway can be brought to life here in the States and get so much attention,” Olsen said during a break in rehearsals. “This is something his family has experienced,” Carter said. “When you know it is something personal, you want to perform to the best of your ability.”
Clarion
SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015 PAGE 13
OWL SCOREBOARD H O M E
A W A Y
FOOTBALL SAT SAT SAT 10/24 11/7 11/14 CHAFFEY LONG RIVERSIDE BEACH N/A L, 38-20 N/A
MEN’S SOCCER FRI TUE FRI TUE 10/23 10/30 11/3 11/6 OXNARD MOOR- CANYONS SANTA PARK BARBARA L, 4-0 L, 3-0 L, 5-0 N/A
WOMEN’S SOCCER TUE TUE FRI TUE 10/27 10/28 10/30 11/3 WEST BAKERS- GLENDALE SANTA L.A. FIELD MONICA W, 2-0 W, 2-0 L, 1-0
MEN’S WATER POLO SAT 10/17 FULLERTON W, 26-10
SAT 10/17 GROSSMONT W, 18-8
WED WED 10/21 10/28 SANTA VENTURA MONICA W, 20-5 W, 19-7
WOMEN’S WATER POLO WED SAT SAT FRI 10/23 10/24 10/24 10/28 MT.SAC CUESTA CERRITOS CUESTA L, 15-5 W,10-9 W, 13-8 L,11-7
UPCOMING FOOTBALL SAT SAT 11/7 11/14 LONG RIVERSIDE BEACH 6 P.M. 1 P.M.
MEN’S SOCCER FRI 11/6 SANTA BARBARA 1 P.M.
TUES 11/10 ALLAN HANCOCK 3 P.M.
THUR 11/12 SANTA MONICA 1 P.M.
WOMEN’S SOCCER THUR TUE WED 11/5 11/10 11/12 L.A. BAKERS- ANTELOPE VALLEY FIELD VALLEY 6 P.M. 5 P.M. 3 P.M.
MEN’S BASKETBALL FRI WED SAT SUN 11/4 11/13 11/14 11/15 SAN DIEGO SOUTH TOURNA- TOURNAWESTERN MENT MENT 6 P.M. 5 P.M. TBA TBA
WOMEN’S WATER POLO FRI 11/6
SAT 11/7
VENTURA
WSC CHAMP.
11 P.M.
TBA
MEN’S WATER POLO THUR 11/5
CUESTA
1 P.M.
FRI 11/6
SAT 11/7
THUR 11/12
TBA
TBA
TBA
WSC WSC CHAMP. CHAMP.
SOCAL CHAMP.
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL WED 11/4
FRI 11/6
TUE 11/10
CANYONS GLENDALE SANTA MONICA
6 P.M.
6 P.M.
6 P.M.
THUR 11/13
BAKERSFIELD
6 P.M.
Megan Bender Clarion
Women’s track and field was implemented in 1977 and later eliminated in 2012 due to budget cuts and low participant numbers. The Citrus College Stadium still has discus cages in the middle of the track as well hammer throw and shot put circles across the walkway where old track and field events took place.
Teetering around Title IX
Maintaining compliance by representing student interest in women’s sports teams BY MEGAN BENDER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
MBENDER@CCCLARION.COM
An additional women’s sports team could be added to the Citrus College line up to ensure that the schoolremains in compliance with Title IX. The three women’s sports under consideration are varsity women’s tennis, women’s track beyond distance and women’s sand volleyball. Students interested in discussing the possibility of adding these sports to increase equity and representation of women’s sports and athletes can attend the interest meeting at the field house in room 224 on Dec. 1 at 2:30 p.m. Title IX, a comprehensive federal law signed in 1972, includes an amendment that requires any federally funded educational program across campus, including athletics, to prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender. When an institution is out of compliance, it faces the possibility of losing all of its federal funding. Thirteen components regarding equal access and treatment in athletic programs determined by Title IX are used to determine an institutions standing. They fall into three categories: accommodation of interest and abilities, athletic financial assistance and other athletic benefits and opportunities. Jody Wise, Citrus College dean of kinesiology and athletics, said institutions must meet the demands of one of three tests to determine if they athletically meet sports equity standards.
Generally the process begins with a survey asking incoming students what sports teams they might be interested in joining. The decision whether or not to add another sports team ultimately comes down to the needs of the underrepresented gender, that is, women athletes. Wise, Mary Brawner and Cliff Wurst, assistant athletic directors, gather data indicating student interest in specific sports over a full academic year. Some of the sports on the survey are offered at Citrus already and others like Badminton, Crew/Rowing, Fencing, Field Hockey, Gymnastics and Lacrosse that are not. After these results are gathered the dean has an idea of what sports students would like to participate in. “You really can’t offer a sport based off 20 people showing interest,” Wise said. “You use this as one step and then find out your normal recruiting area. If there’s no one in the area to play you don’t have to offer it.” Every year, Wise, Brawner and Wurst consider every sport and its playing schedule, find the average one-way distance of the surrounding area that each sport is played in and then divide that number by the total number of sports to discover the competition area. Citrus’ recruitment area spreads out over a 67-mile radius. Even if a high number of students indicate interest in a specific sport, depending on the amount of competition from other colleges in
SPORTS NOT OFFERED
* HIGH SCHOOL PARTICIPATION
COLLEGE INTEREST SURVEY RESULTS
TRACK TENNIS WRESTLING BADMINTON SAND VOLLEYBALL
3730 1875 292 260 6
78 48 20 37 NOT ON 2014-15 SURVEY *NUMBER OF STUDENTS
“If no one comes to those meetings then we don’t have to add the sport. That’s what has happened to us every year and that’s why I say we’re teetering.” -Jody Wise
dean of kinesology and athletics the recruitment radius, an institution may not be required to offer that sport. Wise receives a College Interscholastic Federation list from high schools in Citrus’ surrounding districts and continuous districts. The list contains the amount of high school students participating in sports not currently offered to determine if the sport holds recruitment opportunities. Wise must consider if there are people to recruit, is there a competing school in the area and is there interest in the sport. “For example, If 20 girls show up to play sand volleyball, then we are in trouble only if we don’t offer it,” Wise said. According to Wise, sand volleyball was added by the state two years ago and Cit-
rus’ athletic conference has added the sport this year. “There are a lot of schools in our conference and throughout the state that are offering [sand volleyball] right now,” Brawner said. The sport isn’t currently being offered because Citrus does not have the facilities. “Adding additional athletic facilities can be very costly depending on the sport and the size of the required facility,” said Claudette Dain, vice president of finances and administrative services. Wise said the preliminary estimate, from an architect, of the cost of five sand volleyball courts could fall somewhere between $400,000 and $500,000. She said the higher price
might include some things that Citrus wouldn’t need. Students are invited to attend and show support of women’s sports they would like to see added. Offering new sports and tracking interest is proof that the athletic department is providing these opportunities to students. “If no one comes to those meetings then we don’t have to add the sport,” Wise said. “That’s what has happened to us every year and that’s why I say we’re teetering.” In this event, Citrus does not need to offer any additional sports to remain in compliance because there has been no interest indicated. The federal law requires schools to accommodate the interests and needs of female students regardless whether or not the institution already has facilities in place. The Citrus athletics program is in compliance with federal law and will only run the risk of violation if it refuses to respond to the needs of students.
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Clarion
FORUM
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015 PAGE 15
OPINION
FAT: fattest and baddest word out there
BY PAT CORDOVA-GOFF STAFF WRITER
PCORDOVA@CCCLARION.COM
Why is fat such a bad word? Fat. Fat. FAT. Are you uncomfortable yet? Besides the long list of words that have been deemed inappropriate to say in class, in church and in front of our grandmas, “fat” seems to be the perfect word to make a situation awkward before the word is even finished leaving my tongue. Not only is fat a word that simply remains off limits, but others spare no time responding to my “I’m lookin’ fat today,” with the expected, sweet-intentioned, but over-used “No, honey, you’re beautiful!” I was not aware being fat disqualified me from being beautiful and vice versa. In a TED talk about being a plussize burlesque dancer, 240-pound Lillian Bustle outlines the stigma around this shameful f-word and explains perfectly why it makes us so uncomfortable to use. “To many people… fat is the worst thing you can be,” Bustle is quoted. “Society has turned the
word ‘fat’ into a synonym for ugly, but that’s not what it means. Fat just means fat. That’s it, a simple term to describe some one else. Of course it can be used to viciously attack someone’s body image, but to use it as fact is as innocent as calling someone beautiful. Growing up, my body has experienced days on both sides of the weight spectrum. During a self-proclaimed food strike that apparently lasted years, according to my mother, I spent the first portion of elementary school as one of the skinny kids. Athletic and energetic, my body never seemed to be an issue. In the later years of my education, I grew a passion for eating food and in result gained weight. Although my effort on the sports field never ceased, as my body grew in height, I packed on a layer of cushion, or two. Since then my body image has fluctuated, as has my mentality of self-esteem. Like many other big people, I was consistently told that my body needed a change, “change” always meaning a slim-down to match the others around me. I understood very young that gaining excessive weight can lead to medical complications, but being reminded of this repeatedly was an unnecessary and damaging reality. Bustle’s TEDTalk conversation about people believing fat is the worst thing possible is the truest statement I have heard having been reminded over and over
that ‘happiness’ will not sit on the couch with me eating a pizza. I will not ignore the fact that body weight can lead to medical conditions, but it is vital to then highlight those countless plussized individuals that are their size because of involuntary pre-existing medical conditions or genetics. Society is not doing anyone a favor by jumping through hoops to avoid a three-letter word. The avoidance of the word perpetuates the uncomfortable discussion of realistic body size. While I am on a roll, the destigmatization of “fat” is also allowing people to claim the identity of it. Under the pressure of Euro-centric beauty standards promoted by our American fashion and movie industry, I have slimmed down to a comfortable “average” body size and can possibly blend into the problematic “bigger-than-skinny but not too big” group. Basically I am sometimes told I am not fat enough to call myself fat. This argument invalidates my experience navigating the fine-line of being too big for Victoria’s Secret and not big enough for Lane Bryant. While I recognize my social privilege of sometimes passing as a skinnier person, my 210-pound body is never grouped with the fit individuals of social media’s #bodygoals. The reality of being in my body while also being queer adds on the additional pressure that is reflective of queer culture often demanding far higher standards of beauty than the average person.
Emily Hermosillo Clarion
To be validated in my body and whatever way I choose to describe it is to be validated as a human and equal. I know we have a long way to go before fat is simply fact, but we will never get there without having this discussion. The importance of this discussion is for our society, and every skinny person in it, to accept the reality that fat is a fact and not an insult. Just like height and skin color
are undeniable, body weight is a physical characteristic that we see and should acknowledge. If we are serious about not intentionally hurting each other’s feelings, we must accept our differences and unique qualities that create diversity. If we are also serious about believing that diversity is beautiful, we must retrain our minds to see fat people as such. Fat is beautiful and it is time to say it out loud.
Combat and service equality for women
BY EDDIE CEJA STAFF WRITER
ECEJA@CCCLARION.COM
Women should have the opportunity to fight alongside men in front line combat and should register for Selective Service for the United States. On Jan. 24, 2013 former Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta lifted a 1994 ban on women serving in combat and stating that all combat jobs and direct combat units will be open to women. Implementation of this rule is still ongoing, with the Pentagon allowing until Jan. 2016 for the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard to make a decision on whether or not they will let women enter combat. Four out of the five branches
Emily Hermosillo Clarion
are willing to comply with the exception of the Marines, with research being made to see whether opening up combat positions to women would be beneficial. I believe that women should be able to partake in front line combat alongside men, and in addition, should be able to register for
Selective Service. I would like to preface this with the fact that I am a man, and I acknowledge that I do not wholeheartedly understand the difficulties of women. That being said, I understand that women are equal to men, and not the stereotypes that have plagued womanhood in American
culture. Women account for 16.3 percent of the total Army, and serve in 95 percent of all Army occupations. They may be the minority, but women have as much passion for serving their country as their male counterparts. Keeping with that, the issue of military conscription should also be addressed. If men are required to register for Selective Service, then women should as well. Men at 18 have to register for selective service and failure to do so restricts their ability to receive financial aid and federal employment. Requiring women to register at 18 along with men for Selective Service is fair. This means no one gets discriminated against and it eliminates gender inequality in possible future drafts. Women in the military want to fight for our country and have taken measures for them to do so. As of Oct. 12, three women have completed the elite army ranger course at Fort Benning, Ga. These women have adhered to the same standards the men have,
and I’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who denies their strength. Even with the three who have completed the rigorous exercises proving their strength, women have had a hard time proving they can perform the same tasks. Throughout American culture, women have not had the same privileges as men, and even today, there are things we tell our daughters that we would not tell our sons. Women are fighting the patriarchy and setting the path for future generations. Women will see those fighting alongside men in Afghanistan and Iraq, and feel proud to show them that they can endure high-intensity situations. There are women at Citrus College who are ex-military, and they are prime examples of womanhood holding its own and making America proud. Whether you were born a boy or a girl, what should matter is your ability, work ethic and the pride you hold to fight our enemies oversees for democracy and for the United States of America. I thank anyone who gives their all for their country and for freedom.
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Clarion
FORUM
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015
EDITORIAL
Art garden should celebrate Citrus history
Construction for the new Visual and Fine Arts and Communications Arts building should include a creative outdoor area in plans to honor centennial
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he Fine Arts and Communication Arts building now under construction should include a beautiful out door space that celebrates the proud history of Citrus. Citrus once had an outdoor area dedicated to students art where they could work and relax peacefully, but the art complex was demolished to make way for the Fine Arts and Communications Arts building that is now in
construction. There are currently plans to build a sculpture garden in front of The Fine Arts and Communication Arts building to feature student artwork, but the project has yet to be started. This is the college’s opportunity to mark a spot on campus dedicated to the history of the school as well as present students artwork. Other colleges such as UC Irvine, UC Riverside, and Azusa
Pacific University have markers to celebrate their history. Citrus is older than these schools and has no plan for a plaque or statue marking the occasion. Too few students know that Citrus was founded in 1915, is the oldest community college in the Los Angeles County and is the fifth oldest community college in California. This garden could feature native plants and accommodate
the California drought. The maintenance required for water tolerance needs to be considered. This garden must be both presentable and practical. Students themselves could volunteer to help create this garden and gain experience by designing or building it. The college could sponsor a contest for the design of a centennial art piece that honors the school’s founding year.
The centennial piece could be a plaque, bust of the school’s founder Floyd Hayden, or our ‘Fighting Owl’ mascot. This could be an opportunity for architecture and art students to create a long lasting impression on their campus. In celebration of Citrus College’s 100th birthday year, a centennial garden should be built to honor the past and point towards the future.
A welcoming hand to ease culture shock
With the establishment of a peer mentoring program, international students can feel comfortable settling into a new environment
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he International Student Center should have support from administration to create a mentor program for international students. With the implementation of this program, current American students could help those who come from different countries to adjust to their new environment both academically and socially. Foreign students would meet American students who will help them get involved and adjust to America, California and especially Citrus College. At their first arrival, everything is new to international students and many have said they have a difficult time getting around both on and off campus. The challenge of finding friends and settling in a new place leads them to be anxious, lonely and depressed. International students feel at ease dealing with newness and strangeness in a different part of the world when they have a peers to help them. “Culture shock” is a phenomenon experienced by many international students as they adjust to a new culture, climate, food,in-
stitutional rules and home regulations. A mentorship program that begins from day one of orientation will help foreign students settle down, feel more comfortable, feel less lonely and overcome language barriers and culture shock. Instructors would be informed of new international students in their classes, so they can accommodate for language barriers and create opportunities for mentors within classes. This would promote academic success for foreign students. Potential mentors would have the opportunity to earn volunteer hours, especially those a part of any Citrus program such as honor students and student ambassadors who are required to complete volunteer hours. University of California Berkeley, Santa Monica College, Fullerton College and many other public and private colleges already have mentor programs for international students. Both American and international students have stated on their respective peer mentor program websites that they have grown to become more outgoing,
Emily Hermosillo Clarion
personable and involved in campus life. These programs are continuing to expand in the activities that the mentors and mentees participate in. If Citrus were to adopt a similar program, students would enjoy the diversity of culture, language, food, clothes, traditions and campus life. This program would be op-
tional for both international and American students and they may spend as much or as little time as they want with their mentors. The time would be arranged to fit both students’ schedules. The International Student Center has mixers and events open to all students on campus, however they receive little attention outside of the ISC. With an officially established
mentor program, these events would be well known to the general campus population because it would be offered and promoted during orientation. This program will help American and international students make connections and open their minds to a different way of thinking enabling everyone to grow as an individual.