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May 22, 2013 Volume LXVIII Issue 7
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Wednesday, May 22, 2013
QUOTE of the
ISSUE
“America, for me, has been the pursuit and catching of happiness.” -Aurora Reigne
Announcements Ready, Set, Transfer! If you are transferring to a fouryear university in fall 2013, The ASCC and the Career/Transfer Center Staff invite you to attend: The Transfer Achievement Reception Thursday, June 6 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Campus Center, East Wing RSVP by completing a Transfer Student Questionairre to the Citrus College Career/Transfer Center, Student Services building, 2nd floor.
ASCC Fall 2013 Candidate Forum Come meet and rub elbows with your possible new Citrus College student government members. Wednesday, May 29 12 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Campus Mall
ASCC Fall 2013 Elections Wednesday, June 5 through Thursday, June 6 All Day Campus Mall For information, contact the Office of Student Life at (626) 852-6444.
College Success/Early Alert Workshops “Math Anxiety” Wednesday, May 22 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. SS 281 Resource Room “Memory Techniques” Tuesday May 28 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. SS 281 Resource Room
La Raza Achievement Awards Saturday, June 1 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Campus Center, East Wing
“Let’s Talk About Marijuana” Workshop Thursday, May 23 11 a.m. Campus Center, East Wing
Writing Cafe Speaker Series Seminar “Victim vs. Creator: Examining self-defeating thoughts and behaviors” Wednesday, May 29 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Check in at ED 215
Citrus Parking Permits now available online! Online purchases are available 24/7 at http://citruscollege. thepermitstore.com. For information, contact the Dept. of Campus Safety at (626) 914-8611.
Citrus College Clarion ccclarion.com
NEWS Students sharing their opinion on digital textbooks at Cal Poly Pomona
LOCAL
Cal Poly Pomona has been one of the first 25 testing schools to see whether or not the digital textbook pilot program would fare well with students and faculty. Publisher McGraw-Hill is trying out these new technologies to help the engineering and technical majors at the school decipher if the e-textbooks would be a good replacement for the heavy (and very costly) required books. Tom Malek, senior vice president of Learning Solutions and Services at McGraw-Hill Education stated that, “To me, the impact [of switching to e-textbooks] would be financial, since the e-books are far less expensive than their hard copy textbooks.” The digital books also allow students to make and share notes on their e-books, as well as serve as a direct form of communication between each other. McGraw-Hill is hoping to soon include tests, animation and enhanced interactivity in years to come.
Slaying of Army veteran shocks Cal State Fullerton
Maribel Ramos, a 36-year-old Army veteran and Cal State Fullerton student, was found slain in a remote Orange County canyon last Thursday. Authorities have announced that they had arrested Ramos’s roommate “KC” Joy, 54, in connection with the slaying, after he voluntarily submitted to an interview with detectives last Friday morning. Ramos had been missing since May 3, and her body being found marked the end of almost a three week long search by the Orange County Police Department. The veteran served in the Army for eight years, which included tours in South Korea and Iraq. Ramos was only a few weeks shy of receiving criminal justice degree from Cal State Fullerton. Source: Los Angeles Times
Source: San Gabriel Valley Tribune
STATE California governor Jerry Brown stresses four year graduation rule at UC Gov. Jerry Brown is stressing UC and Cal State schools more than ever to produce undergrad degrees in four years, instead of six. Brown recently proposed more funding for the colleges if they can increase graduation rates by 10 percent in 2017. UC leaders say that because of some students working and some partaking in double majors, that goal doesn’t seem realistic. Only 60 percent of UC students who enter as freshmen graduate in four years and 83 percent finish in six years, according to a report from UC system Provost Aimee Dorr. “For me the four year is the norm,” Brown said. Source: Los Angeles Times
San Diego Mayor embraces Tijuana, building economic bridges between cities “We need to make the border the center, not the end,” said San Diego Mayor Bob Filner in a recent interview at his City Office. Filner is doing his part to bring changes to the region, starting with his new sateliite city office, located in Tijuana. Border security has long been a debate in Washington, where many lawmakers have always pushed for more fences and more security. The San Diego Association of Governments stated that the region loses more than $2 billion annually because of the upwards of three hour wait times to get through. Filner has been trying to mend cross-border relations since his election last fall, and those struggles have been a huge part of his organization. San Diego will put in a bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics, Filner explained, but only to host the games jointly with Tijuana. Source: Los Angeles Times
NATIONAL Death toll in Moore, Okla. lowered after catastrophic tornado The death toll following Monday’s massive tornado in Moore, OK has been lowered. The two-mile-wide EF-4 tornado in a suburb of Oklahoma City ripped through homes, hospitals and schools, leaving the town completely devistated. While officials had anticipated around 90 deaths, the examiner lowered the death toll to 24 confirmed, including nine children, early Tuesday. The lower death toll, officials say, was an accidental over-count of deaths in the immediate aftermath of the tornado. Entire neighborhoods were wiped out, hundreds of homes were demolished to rubble and some areas were set on fire. According to The National Weather Channel, the storm was on the ground in Moore for 40 minutes. Text ‘redcross’ to 90999 to donate $10 for Oklahoma disaster relief. Source: EarthSky.org
GLOBAL First Saudi woman climbs Mount Everest A 27-year-old woman made history on May 18 by being the first Saudi woman to climb to the top of Mount Everest. The graphic designer Raha Moharrak reached the top of the tallest peak in the world as part of the “Arabs With Altitude” expedition (which includes an Iranian, a Palestinian, and a Quatari mountaineer), which is aiming to raise $1 million for educational projects in Nepal. Moharrak, who lives both in Dubai and in the Saudi port city of Jeddah, said, “I really don’t care about being the first, so long as it inspires someone else to be the second.” Moharrak spent months training by climbing Argentina’s highest peak, Aconcagua, and has been in Nepal since early April getting used to the high altitude. 2013 marks the 60th anniversary of the first expedition to reach Mount Everest’s peak. Source: CNN.com
Citrus College Clarion ccclarion.com
CLARIONnews
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
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Budget revise brings big hope for education Gov. Jerry Brown’s latest budget proposal spells out great news for community colleges. David Tate / Editor-in-Chief clarioneic@ccclarion.com
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fter a half-decade pattern of decreased funding, program reductions and class cuts, California community colleges finally have something to celebrate. Gov. Jerry Brown released his latest draft of the California state budget May 14. Projections for statewide expenditures either stayed true to or decreased from estimates in his first draft released in January, with the exception of funding for education. Under his May Revision, K-14 schools will receive $57.8 billion of the $96.7 billion budget. Brown’s plan indicates a $1.3 billion decrease in total spending from his January version, but education funding levels are projected to be $1.6 billion higher than they were at the beginning of the year. Community colleges get an estimated $227 million in apportionment funding, money the state pays community college districts per full-time equivalency
student. The figure is a 30.7 percent increase from 2012, or an additional $1,502 per student. This is the first time since 2000 the state has projected a budget surplus. One of the driving forces behind the new flow of state revenue is Proposition 30, the 2012 voter-approved tax measure that raised sales taxes and added an extra tax on those making more than $250,000 annually. Statewide, community colleges are adding classes to help restore the loss of more than 500,000 students since 2008, according to a statement from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. In a CCCCO survey of 70 community colleges, 67 percent said they would be offering more classes in their 2013 summer schedules compared to 2012, with another 23 percent reporting they would not be decreasing their course offerings. The class section bump will be facilitated by a section of the budget that’s not there. In the revision, Brown nixed a controversial January proposal that would have required students with more than 90 credit units to pay the full cost of instruction—close to $200 a unit, as opposed to $46.
McClatchy-Tribune Media Services
Gov. Jerry Brown’s May Revision of the state budget earmarks more than $55 billion for education. Yet the well-timed windfall is not going to instantly fix the damage the budget cuts have wrought over five years. “We’re not out of the woods by a long shot,” said California Community Colleges Chancellor Brice Harris. Citrus is also taking the conservative approach by focusing on restoring enrollment rather than programs and services. For example, vice president of finance Carol Horton said that
reopening the campus Child Development Center is not a priority at the moment. “That’s not going to happen. Not right now,” Horton said. “Looking at the total FTES we’ve lost over the past years, it’s close to 1,300. Right now what we’re doing is trying to put back the class sections.” Horton is projecting that the Citrus College general fund will increase $1.9 million (and possibly more), bringing the 2013-14
totals to an estimated $56 million. Additionally, an estimated 180 to 220 classes will be added to the fall 2013 schedule, Horton said. “We’ve cut a lot out of the budget over the last five years,” Horton said. I don’t think we’re going to rush to put a lot of programs in . . . Don’t assume the dollars are [always] going to be there. We still need to be mindful and conservative.”
Thwarting the thefts Lock it or lose it. Cole Petersen / Staff Writer cpetersen@ccclarion.com
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Cole Petersen Citrus College Clarion
Bike thefts are down at Citrus, but up nationwide.
itrus is becoming a safer place to lock your bike, but bike thefts are on the rise nationally. It is estimated that there are 1.5 million bikes stolen every year according to The National Bike Registry. The hot spot for bicycle thefts is college campuses. Bike thieves can pick and chose which bikes they want, because of the quantity of college bikers and bad quality of locks used. The number of reported Citrus bike thefts has dropped from
eight in 2012, to two so far this year according to Campus Safety officer Ben Macias. This is due to a new Campus Safety policy put into action to address the problem. All bikes that are not locked up are picked up by a Campus Safety officer and held at Campus Safety. There, the bikes are held for up to three months, and then transferred to the Glendora Police Department if the bike has a real value. As of this year Campus Safety has prevented 76 possible thefts by picking up unlocked bikes. To help this process all Citrus bike riders should register their bike at www.nationalbikeregistry. com. Then, you could simply be notified if Campus Safety or the Glendora Police Department are
holding your bike. Estimates by the National Bike Registry show that only one-third of bike thefts are even reported. The chances of having your bike stolen, as a college student, are 17.5 percent according to the National Bike Registry. Multiplied by three to get the real average, the percentage is 52.5 percent. This means you have about a 50 percent chance of getting your bike stolen as a college student. Willing to flip a coin for your beautiful Schwinn? Didn’t think so. When taking steps in securing your bike, remember these precautions. Always try to lock your bike in a well-lit, busy area. A bike thief will be less likely to steal your bike if people can see them. Always lock the bike through the frame and front wheel. And always use a good lock. An extra $10 spent on a better lock could prevent bike theft. When getting a lock, shoot for a U–lock or a heavy-duty chain. The price for a U-lock is between $15-25. The thin metal cords locks are easy to break. Campus Safety have put flyers out recommending the use of U-lock bike locks to better your bike’s chances of staying on the rack. Pre-pharmacy major Justin Del Fierro, 22, had his $300 Macargi Rd 269 stolen last year in front of the LB building. He didn’t report it. When asked how he felt over the incident he said, “I was pissed. “ “Kill all bike thieves!”
CLARIONnews 5 Retiring professor with future prospects Citrus College Clarion ccclarion.com
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
After 33 years, behavioral science professor Judy Gregg is retiring from teaching. Christopher Floch / Senior Writer cfloch@ccclarion.com
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fter 33 years of teaching, Judy Gregg is “retiring,” on June 16. Her post-retirement plans include coordinating preschool programs, playing the violin and mentoring former students outside the classroom. Gregg is renowned for her dedication to tomorrow’s educators. “I love to see my students become teachers and mentors,” she said. Gregg graduated from Cal Berkeley in 1963. She credits her choir director for inspiring her to teach. “The director of the choral program at Berkeley made me his TA,” Gregg said. After receiving her BA and credential in childhood education, she took a 13-year break while she and her husband raised their three children. Once her children were all in school, Gregg enrolled at Pacific Oaks College and earned her master’s degree in human development.
WHAT? Acheivement Awards: Top 100 distinguished students in each department
Announcement of Male/Female Athlete of the Year Man/Woman of the Year
WHERE? Campus Center
WHEN?
May 30, 2013 5 p.m.
Judy Gregg
“Originally I was going to teach little children, but I decided to teach adults about children instead,” Gregg said. For the past 23 years, she has been a full- time professor, teaching courses in child development and behavioral sciences. Sarah Rietta, liberal arts major, remembers
that Gregg was committed to helping her students succeed. “The class was easy to understand and her instruction was incredible,” she recalls. “I was invited to be in charge of the mentor program created by Diane Hines, former director of the Child Development Center,” Gregg said. The program is designed to, “retain the very best teacher models in preschool.” That led to Gregg’s being in charge of the mentor program at Chaffey College, Cal Poly Pomona, Mt. SAC, Pasadena City and Glendale. Over time she created a team of student teachers comprising of 50 members. Caroline Perry, also a human development professor, was inspired to teach because of her influence. “Judy is one of the cornerstone characters of Citrus because she has done so much to maintain the quality of courses,” Perry said. The greatest accomplishment of her career has been developing relationships with her students.
“Judy is one of the cornerstone characters of Citrus College because she has done so much to maintain the quality of courses.” -Carolyn Perry Human development professor
“I love when students come to me for advice. I’m not a counselor, so I just listen,” Gregg said. As a member, Gregg has been able to focus on students individually. At other schools students are sometimes merely numbers. “I’ve been able to grow and also feel safe,” she said. Although she had considered teaching until the age of 75, Gregg, now 72, feels it’s appropriate to retire now. Her advice to future teachers is simple. “Learn something special about each student,” she instructed.
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Wednesday, May 22, 2013
CLARIONspotlight
Citrus College Clarion ccclarion.com
We The People Former Marine a credit to our nation Mayra Marchington makes the transition from Marine to civilian life. Jessica Soto / Staff Writer jsoto@ccclarion.com
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hriving on excellence, encouragement and teaching others to do their finest, this United States Marine of nine years, now a veteran mentor at the Citrus College Veterans Center, is learning that the transformation from Marine back into civilian is harder than expected. Mayra Marchington, 30, was raised in Los Angeles. After graduating high school in 2000, she attended University of California Santa Cruz. On Sept 11, 2001, Marchington, along with millions of others, was devastated by the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centers. “If there is something I can do, I want to do it,” Marchington said about her motivation to join the Marines. “In my mind, if I was going to do this I was going to [join] the most challenging [branch], not to say that the other branches aren’t [hard],” Marchington said. “But the Marine [Corps] is definitely a challenge, especially for a woman.” So in May of 2002 Marchington enlisted. Marchington’s sister, Brenda Vera, 22, recollects the memory of her sister enlisting in the Marines. “I was scared,” said Vera. “But she is a warrior and she will never give up on herself.” Enlisting into the Marines with
college credits allowed Marchington to begin as a private first class. Marchington ranked as a lance corporal in 2003 and two years later competed in the Meritorious Board competition, held between the elite from each rank. She won first place in her unit and got promoted meritoriously to corporal in 2005. She then continued through the chain of command. Her evaluation scores allowed her to be promoted to sergeant in November of 2006. Shortly after, she was then deployed to Al-Taqaddum base in Iraq. When asked what it was like upon arrival in Iraq, Marchington replied, “It was a whole different world.” Marchington was a part of the Female Engagement Team, also known as the ‘grunt team,’ where her job was to search women for weapons. Marchington shared that Marine unit drivers are 80 percent women. As drivers, women are typically the ones put in harm’s way the majority of the time because they must drive off base to retrieve supplies. According to an Oct. 9, 2012 Inter Press Service article, “How the U.S. Quietly Lost the IED War in Afghanistan,” an estimated 59 percent of military casualties between 2009-2011 were caused by improvised explosive devices used as roadside bombs. During her one-year tour in Iraq, Marchington said she witnessed children with guns and
What does being an American mean to you?
Courtesy of Mayra Marchington
Former Staff Sergeant Mayra Marchington participates in the traditional Old Glory Ceremony in 2010. animals packed with explosives. These experiences were unsettling but Marchington said she never let her ideals change. In April of 2010 Marchington was selected by the Marine promotion board to become staff sergeant. As a staff sergeant, Marchington made it a point to teach the junior ranking officers how to do her job, but the other sergeants were unsure of why she was doing so. “I won’t always be here,” Marchington would say. “If I don’t teach them what I know then all my knowledge goes to waste.” A strong believer in the saying, ‘work smarter, not harder,’ Marchington always maintained her
unit and had them ready to think, then act, not act, not the other way around. Monica Christianson, Veterans Center project director, spoke of Marchington, saying “She goes above and beyond being a Marine and a student,” said Christianson. “She excels at whatever she chooses to do.” Marchington received an honorable discharge from the Marines on Dec. 21, 2011. Her desire to return to school became too strong for her to dismiss. Rachel Barker, 27, met Marchington while she was on base in 29 Palms, where they formed a relationship and are now roommates.
Barker commented on Marchington both in and out of uniform. “She has a heart of gold and she will always look out for you,” said Barker. The transition from military to civilian life can be hard. Marchington described hearing her first name again as, ‘something foreign.’ By the age of 30, Marchington has accomplished and seen more than most could ever dream of. With the drive and passion to do well and succeed in every quest Marchington said, “I feel blessed that I have all my limbs and didn’t have to pull the trigger. It was a life learning experience for me, especially as a woman.”
Melissa Carmona, 18 Theater
Mark Santano, 19 Undecided
Monique Torres, 18 Undecided
“It is getting the education that we have here and having great opportunities.”
“Being an American means having freedom where other places you don’t.”
“Having freedom and having the oppertunite to move up in our social class.”
Citrus College Clarion ccclarion.com
CLARIONspotlight
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
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H.O.P.E. student longs for pathway to citizenship Alejandra Morales dicusses her journey and the obstacles she faced to become a college student. Christian Rodriguez / Staff Writer crodriguez@ccclarion.com
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lejandra Morales was 1 year old when she came with her parents from Mexico to the United States. Like most children of immigrant families she had no choice as to where she grew up. She is now a 21-year-old Citrus College student active in campus affairs: ASCC Commissioner at Large, President of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Secretary of Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society and an active member of H.O.P.E. are the titles she holds. Morales was originally planning to attend to Azusa Pacific University, but because of her status as an undocumented student, she could not afford the tuition fee despite being a awarded several thousand dollars in scholarships.
As an undocumented immigrant Morales cannot legally obtain employment, making it incredibly difficult for her to make the transition from high school to a four-year university. As a Baldwin Park High School student, Morales was ranked in the top 10 percent of her class and graduated with honors. Yet despite such promise and good grades, because of her origin of birth, her options are limited. She opted for Citrus College, seeking to further her education rather than giving up. “All that hard work that I went through during my junior high school, my high school years, my whole entire life just [went] to waste,” she said. To change course of her life because of what country she was born in is was a cruel punishment for hundreds like Morales who were brought to the United States at a young age by parents seeking a better life for their children. Yet in spite of all the legal and financial barriers she faces, she
“It always been her. She has been so strong and has always been there for me. It’s always been me and her.” -Alejandra Morales
ASCC Commissioner at Large
continues to her pursue her education at Citrus College. “That path to university, it was there, and I was prepared for it, and even though I couldn’t go, I couldn’t have made a better choice in coming to Citrus College” Today she is separated from her parents. When her mother and siblings moved to Oklahoma Morales stayed in California. Unlike California, Oklahoma does not have an AB540 program for undocumented students as an unfortunate result she had to remain behind. Morales described this sepa-
ration as the hardest part of her life. It’s been a whole year since she has last seen her mother. Morales said it was her mother who always supported her and encouraged her to continue her education. “It always been her. She has been so strong and has always been there for me. It’s always been me and her,” she said. “She continues to encourage me even though the distance is great between us.” Morales has now been granted a deferred action permit which allows her to find a job and opens doors that have been financially closed to her before. “It felt like I had a new opportunity, a new chance, a new life and I felt so much joy holding that piece of paper, even though it’s a card. You can shred it, you can cut it, it means so much and that is just the beginning of becoming what we are meant to become: that is, legalized American citizens,” she said. Morales plans to use her earnings to reunite with her mother and siblings in California even
though her mother insists that she should use the money for herself, for her books and for school. Morales said that for her to be an American would mean opportunity, acceptance and knowing that you are where you’re supposed to be. “I arrived here when I was 1, so my whole entire life I’ve have technically been an American because I was raised here,” she said. “It wasn’t a choice that we made, it was a choice that was made for us. We were kids. We had no choice . . . The choice was made for us.” Morales is double majoring in biology and English literature with aspirations of becoming a neurosurgeon. As she describes it, she would love to work in a thrilling job with an intense pace. “I always wanted to become a doctor,” she said. “I continue chasing after my dream, in the end to become someone.”
Gabriel Guerrero, 20 Undecided
Carli Luevano, 18 Nursing
Adulfo Ruiz, 18 Journalism
Susan Truong, 18 Physiology
“Being an American means that we all have an equal chance to pursue our dream.”
“Being a citizen to make my own choices, being able to vote and equality for everyone.”
“Being free and being able to be who you want to be fulfilling your dream”
“Having the right to go to school and get a job and make a living for yourself.”
Citrus College Clarion ccclarion.com
Editor: Jo Jamison jjamison@ccclarion.com
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
arts & entertainment
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A performance best forgotten The Citrus Singers just couldn’t seem to bring it.
David Tate / Editor-in-Chief clarioneic@ccclarion.com
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he annual Citrus Singers’ performance is bittersweet every year, as is always the case when a close-knit group says goodbye for the last time. Unfortunately, this year’s matinee performance was more consistent in spirit than execution. The normally tightly-executed and well-timed steps of choreographer John Vaughan weren’t evident, including miscues on simple moves like a group mic lean. And while the Singers had some standout voices, director Doug Austin had to be upset that many couldn’t carry the weight of the more powerful tunes. For example, third-year Singer Kevin Gasio definitely outshone his singing partner Marcos Hernandez on Barbara Cook’s “Better With A Band.” Hernadez’s inability to carry the big notes was apparent, but he was clearly more comfortable crooning Richard Rogers’ jazz anthem, “My Funny Valentine” later on. The Motown set was probably the most inconsistent of the bunch, and Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” was definitely not the best place to start. Jeremiah Calhoun’s take on the 1971 hit, which called for the nation to reexamine the direction it was headed during one of its most turbulent periods, lacked any of the impassioned emotion that made the song a classic. Luckily, the same couldn’t be said about Lottie Morgan’s powerful cover of Aretha Franklin’s “Respect,” as she sashayed and swayed with all the sass of the gospel legend. Afterwards followed a smattering of hits and misses in an 80s medley before the first act ended with the Elvis staple “Viva Las Vegas.” The difficult ensemble piece was the highlight of the night and the Singers knew it, as they pulled it together for a surprisingly polished, high energy performance. Act Two was slightly better than the first, as Citrus’ long-standing affinity for big bands meant the Blue Note Orchestra was able to carry the show during a Cole Porter medley. However, the same issues that caused the first act to falter were going to take more than a fifteen-minute intermission to solve. Brittany Tangermann set the stage with an upbeat performance of “Anything Goes,” but the big voice of Lottie Morgan was a little too big for the sultry “My Heart Belongs to Daddy.” A “Grease” medley provided a different sound for the second half of the act, with more of the same in terms of hit-or-miss snippets. Gasio, the student director of the Citrus Singers, gave a closing speech before the finale, mentioning that only three students made it to the third and final year of the program. But whether it was due to an exodus of talent or just a case of the daytime doldrums, the 2013 Citrus Singers showcase is one best left off future displays.
Alyssa Bujanda Citrus College Clarion
At times, the Citrus Singers were in sync during their May 18 performance. Too often, they were not.
CLARIONforum editorial
Citrus College Clarion ccclarion.com
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
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citruscollege
Rebuild citizenship road clarion It’s been more than 25 years since Congress last enacted immigration reform—too long.
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n behalf of AB540 students at Citrus College, Congress should create a pathway to American citizenship for unauthorized immigrants, who came here as children and have been living here for years. This issue has been a stumbling block in the ongoing debate in Congress, which is working to overhaul the nation’s immigration policy. Many students at Citrus College qualify for AB540 and the DREAM Act. AB540 represents the undocumented students who qualify for in-state tuition at public colleges and universities in California. To qualify, students must have a high school diploma and be attending an accredited public institution. The DREAM Act, a bipartisan federal proposal that offers qualifying unauthorized youth a six-year conditional path to citizenship, has not yet been passed. The provisions would require completion of a college degree or two years of military service. Citrus Dreamers and AB540 students have worked so hard to attend college and have a passion for achieving their goals and living successful lives. The new bill would allow unauthorized immigrants who entered the U.S. as children to attain lawful permanent residency. The U.S. immigration policy has been a hot topic for decades. During his presidency, George W. Bush had plans for immigration policy that never became a reality. In his first term, President Barack Obama promised to overhaul immigration reform but nothing was
accomplished. Now, immigration reform is again the focus of intense negotiations on Capitol Hill. A bipartisan “Gang of Eight” house representatives drew up and released a proposal for immigration reform on April 17. Under the agreement, a limited number of temporary visas would be issued to foreign workers in low-paid professions. After 10 years, workers with visas would be eligible to apply for green cards that offer legal permanent residency. Three years later, they would be able to petition to become American citizens. While the debate continues, Obama offered a way for many immigrants who are in the country illegally to avoid deportation. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals went into effect on Aug 15, 2012. It does not grant legal status to AB540 but at least it protects immigrants from deportation for two years. The Gang of Eight bill for immigration reform is also a solution for unauthorized workers who are already here, doing mostly of the low-skilled work such as agricultural labor. The only way this system can become fair and organized is if these workers status is legalized. Opponents of immigration reform don’t want foreign workers to take jobs away from Americans or depress American wages, while business groups welcome the lowest-priced workers. One solution under the agreement states that foreign workers would have to receive wages at least as high as the typical American wage in that occupation.
: s r e t Let
E H T P STO GAME E BLAM The Clarion newspaper staff recognizes its role as a conduit for the expression of opinion. The decision to publish a letter shall not be based on the letter’s agreement with the editorial positions of the Clarion staff. Letters should be limited to 350 words or less. Letters that are obscene, libelous, incomprehensible, or racially, sexually, or religiously offensive will not be published under any circumstance.
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Steven Solis
The immigration overhaul should be about making sure people are not exploited by employers and others. It is about giving families the security of knowing that they can live peacefully and securely without fearing deportation. This pathway to citizenship should not be so easy as to invite others from abroad to abuse the system. But it should be reasonable, straightforward and fair. Students at Citrus College who qualify for AB540 have lived in the United States for most of their lives. By no fault of their own they are caught in a battle that offers no resolution. These students should not be punished for crimes they did not commit. It is an injustice to our students who only want to contribute to their communities and society, and who want more than anything
n the May 8 edition of the Clarion a letter was written by Dr. Woods which I thought would be full of proof that the actions that he has been accused of were false. I was wrong (as I am at times). Instead my eyes revealed in writing that he, as so many caught in wrong doing, has tried to lay the blame elsewhere. It saddens me when the accused, a man in a leadership and teaching position, does not take responsibility for his actions. There are many parts of his letter that are disturbing to me. I will list a few of them. For example, he states that his “telephone, utilities, mail, car registration and driver’s license are all connected to his Azusa address.” He also states that he participates in the elections in Azusa. This may be all well and good, but what he doesn’t state is where his car is parked every night and every weekend or where he spends time with his family. Physical proof has been given against him. Why did he not address the photos that were used as evidence against him? The San Gabriel Tribune offered the link to the website that holds the findings of the investigation, and I for one am curious as to why he has not addressed these findings in his letter to the editor here at Citrus College. The real thing that bothers me is that while offering no proof to support his position, he then turns the table and starts
to be recognized for what they are: Americans. This is a call for our government to do what’s right and support immigration reform. The last time Congress passed immigration reform was in 1986, when Ronald Reagan was president. We have been waiting long enough. It is time to make a change for the sake of justice. It is clear that The Gang of Eight bill is the best hope for immigration reform in the country. The bill is currently under consideration in the Senate and could go to a vote in the house before the legislative recess of July 4. Contact senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer or your Representative in the House and tell them that you support immigration reform with an earned pathway to citizenship: http://senate.ca.gov/senators.
to divert the reader’s attention to President Perri’s compensation package; he provides in great detail what this package offers, hoping to infuriate the reader because of her ability to negotiate a welldeserved (in my opinion) contract. Dr. Woods, the Board of Trustees, which you are a member of, hired her with a 5-0 vote. This means YOU VOTED FOR HER, you agreed to the details of her contract!!! She has successfully grown Citrus College and is continually updating our environment so that it is conducive to our education despite the economic times, which is not an easy task I might add. I think she is worth every penny. Dr. Woods, as a student here at Citrus College, I am appalled at your behavior and your inability to address the situation in an adult manner. As a student, I am responsible for my actions. If I am caught cheating, do I not receive a consequence for that action?? As a leader in this community you are obligated to set forth a higher standard, you are an example to those around you. Dr. Woods, you sir have been caught cheating. Please provide proof that you sleep in Azusa, not just hold property there, so that your name and our trust can be restored. -Dana Cook, 48 Communications
Editor-in-Chief David Tate Managing Editor Melanie Gudino Art Director Cheyne Ellett Photo Editor Javier Galaviz Forum Editor Melanie Gudino A&E Editor Jo Jamison Sports Editor David Tate Senior Writers Christopher Floch Cristian Manrique Staff Writers Sylvia Aparico Alyssa Bujanda Melissa Manghisi Katherine Newman Cole Petersen Jessica Soto Page Designers Sarah Bujanda Adrianna Noyes Christian Rodriguez Steven Solis Sasha Winterer Field Reporters Alexandria Quinones Marina Vidrio Instructional Assistants Stacy K. Long Emily Rios Adviser Margaret O’Neil
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/lettersAll correspondence must include your student ID#, major and signature. Letters may be edited for content.
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Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Photo Tech: Javier Galaviz jgalaviz@ccclarion.com
EDITORIAL
Citrus College Clarion ccclarion.com
Owls gather at the plate to welcome Bre Lockett (#16) after her home run against RCC at the Super Regionals May 10.
Celebrating softball
Art By
Christian Rodriguez Photos By
Javier Galaviz
The Owls softball team didn’t bring back any rings from their 2013 playoff run, but the memories will last even longer.
T
his year at the softball field on the south end of campus, tucked away between the tennis courts and the golf range, Citrus history was being made. We’d like to applaud the Owls softball team for their sweep of the Cypress Chargers to give the Citrus women their first trip to the California Community College Athletic Association Super Regionals in Citrus history. The end of the semester is usually a sad time for our Clarion sportswriters around this time of year, as the last whistles have blown and the last outs have been called weeks before. This year, it was different. After three consecutive first round exits—to Fullerton in 2010, to Cypress in 2011 and to Riverside Community College in 2012—the Owls finally got the proverbial monkey off their backs. In the Super Regionals, the Owls fell once again in a 2-4 loss to the RCC Tigers, only to be eliminated the next day in a 3-4, extra innings loss to the Santiago Canyon College Hawks. They might be hanging their heads after reading that. They have every reason to keep them held up high. Head coach Jackie Boxley and assistant coaches Ed Andersen and Terry Paredez are to be commended after compiling a 98-64 record over the past four seasons. More importantly, the coaching staff has made improvements and adjustments along the way, attributes that some coaches of billion-dollar franchises can’t claim. After falling in the first round to a dangerous, yet beatable Riverside team last year (the team took a 1-0 lead in a best-of-three series), Boxley was able to put together an even more successful roster in 2013, despite losing some key players to academic ineligibility or injury. But the players who stuck with the program are just as important as their coach. So congratulations to Angela Aguinaga and Bre Lockett, who became the first All-Americans in Citrus history. Congratulations to Kawehi Ephan, whose 20 home runs on the season broke Aguinaga’s program record, a mark that was good enough for second in the state. Congratulations to Shyann Ramirez and Carissa Bender, who were able to contribute to the team this year despite nagging injuries and reduced roles. Congratulations to the other returning sophomores--Katherine Cunningham, Jessica Gonzales, Rebecca Ireland and Veronica Ramirez--for helping to wash away the bad taste of that 2012 first-round collapse and replace it with a historic Super Regional bid and a sweep of one of the best teams in the state. And congratulations to the new leaders of the Owls—Arianna Sanchez, Victoria Baltazar, Sara Moore, Andrea “Cookie” Perez, Raeleen Tellez, Emily Orozco and Alyssa Lozano—for giving us even bigger and better things to anticipate for next year. On behalf of the Clarion staff, it’s been a pleasure covering the team over the years. Thank you for the memories, and we look forward to seeing what the future holds. We can’t wait to write about it.
While not on field, players in the dugout chanted in support of each other and to distract the opposition.
The Owls break a huddle between innings as they scamper to their respective positions.