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News
October 2011
New performing arts theater raises questions on campus By Natasha Castro Staff Writer
The opening of Antelope Valley College’s new Performing Arts Theater has raised questions throughout campus about the use and ultimate purpose of the space. More specifically, constituents wonder whose purposes it will serve, both on campus and community-wide. At this point there is no clear answer, as the position of theater director has yet to be filled, and the building remains without a staff. According to Doug Jensen, Director of Facility Services, the theater project was approved by the Chancellor’s Office as a state-funded project, with an initial proposal to provide 30 percent of funding through Measure R. During the process of approval, he said, funding formulas “shifted” to what became a 40 percent state funding and 60 percent Measure R split. Examiner Files Because Measure R funding could not Construction for the new performing arts be used on anything other than the intheater has been in the making since the 1990’s frastructure and furnishing the building, AVC is left with the task of hiring in a state of deficit spending. working countless hours.” Fisher echoed “If we had the budget, we’d have … all these concerns, adding that until the buildpositions in place by January, but the money ing is staffed, event coordinators have rewe had set aside for the positions had to be lied on volunteers to usher and help orgaput on hold,” said Dr. Jackie Fisher, Ante- nize events. lope Valley College President. Until the issue is resolved, and students, Jensen, who has also temporarily taken faculty and staff become more familiar charge of campus events, said that eight of with the equipment of the theater, the Board 20 positions he recommended have been of Directors decided to limit the use of it to approved, while 12 are still pending—one purely instructional. of which is the theater supervisor. “It’s not that we don’t want to have outAs it is, Newton Chelette, Dean of Visual side groups [use the space], we just don’t and Performing Arts, said, the campus is have staff to [accommodate them]. We’re “under-manned” and facilities people “are not there yet,” Chelette said.
“We need to learn [the functions of the gestions for the space. Kathryn Mitchnew theater] first before we offer [the space] ell, Co-Chair of the Faculty Professional to the community,” Fisher said. Development Committee, agrees that the That said, Fisher concluded, AVC must space could be used for future “flex” premove forward with its performances. sentations. On Oct. 15, the Antelope Valley Sympho“I think that it’s set up for presentations ny Orchestra and Master Chorale will have of all kinds,” she said, adding that she does its first performance in what’s been called hope to use the facility in the future, espethe Grand Opening Season. Artistic Di- cially for guest speakers. rector of the Symphony, Dr. David Newby Student Theodore Batcho suggested using said the event will include a short dedica- it for lower level math and English classes, tion ceremony that will signify the opening as he said it might be in AVC’s financial event of the theater. interest to have fewer, larger classes, rather However, according to Chelette, there than numerous classroom-sized lectures. will be an event in spring that will mark the This theater has been in the works since campus-wide Grand Opening. Many groups the 1990s, according to Newby. It is a difwill likely be involved, including the Eng- ficult facility to get approved, he said, belish and media departments. cause it is an inefficient use of space in Bridget Razo, Director of the AVC terms of students per square foot. Foundation, said she and her colleagues Chelette also commented on how long are on a quest to get high-noted alumni it’s been. to speak at future events. Kay Ryan, US “Before I ever came, 23 years ago, peoPoet Laureate and AVC graduate, was spe- ple were talking about [building a thecifically mentioned as someone she would ater],” he said. love to come back. “[The theater] not only showcases the Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) programs, but also many other programs on campus,” she said. Though the theater may be used primarily by VAPA, Razo said the theater is really for the entire campus. “Educating the students comes first and foremost,” she said, though she does see the space beCourtney Unander / Examiner ing used by student organizations The finished product: the new performing arts theater. like Model United Nations and the Forensic Team. See New theater, page 4 There have been many sug-
The controversial $150,000 Steinway Model D piano By Natasha Castro Staff Writer
Perhaps the most controversial purchase for the new Performing Arts Theatre, the Steinway piano, has caused wide-spread confusion about the use of Measure R funds. When originally passed, the Board of Trustees approved the purchase of a $150,000 Steinway piano. The purchase was one of many approved to furnish the new Performing Arts Theatre. According to Doug Jensen, Director of Facility Services, when the equipment budget for the theatre was originally developed, the purchase of two pianos—one general use Photo courtesy of Dr. David Newby / Examiner piano, and one performance piano, Dr. David Newby (left), adjuct music faculty; Mary Zimmerman, AVC was required. The Board of Trustees accompanist (middle); and her husband Al Zimmerman (right). approved a $150,000 expenditure, as
did the Chancellor’s Office. Dr. David Newby, adjunct music instructor, and Mary Zimmerman, AVC accompanist, traveled to New York recently to tour the factory and chose a specific piano. They purchased a $128,000 Steinway Model D. The piano is said to last 80 years. “This will be the last piano we buy for theater, and it will give students the same standard [equipment] as professionals,” said Newby. Music students have happily accepted the addition to the theatre. Katelynn Whaley, music major, said that although she wishes the funds could be used for providing private instructors for students—something students currently must pay out-of-pocket for—a new piano was badly needed.
Theodore Batcho, also music major, agreed that a house piano was needed. Batcho said he was glad to see any kind of funding funneled to the Visual and Performing Arts, as he sees it as the “red-headed stepchild” on campus. On the other hand, some on campus have criticized the purchase. Jesse Giron, a student and dancer
See Piano, page 4
From the front page:
Clockwise from top left: Steve Fox, Jack Seefus, Lew Stults, Margaret Chavez, Marginese Streeter Natasha Castro/Examiner Edited by Courtney Unander
News ASO considers changes to benefit students October 2011
Potential initiatives for health care and tutors
By Kristi Phillips Staff Writer
“ASO is not a club. it is a mandated governing body,” says Sandra Govin, an elected official and trustee for the student body. This year ASO has been looking into making major changes to benefit the students at Antelope Valley College. Some ASO members have been looking into starting an initiative to support a 15 percent raise on oil in California. By raising the price, schools all over California will be able to restore class sections, rehire laid off faculty, reduce classroom sizes, reduce college tuition fees, and increase opportunities to get jobs. California is the only state that does not have a tax on oil. Currently, a barrel of oil in California is priced at $4.22, while in other states, such as Texas, a barrel of oil is priced at $14.53. Education is also paid for in Texas. If the price of oil was raised in California, not only would education costs be reduced, but it would lead to other things, such as more jobs. If education costs were to be lowered, then more students would be able to go to
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school, meaning that more students have a chance to graduate, and therefore attain a job after receiving their degree. Besides the fact that tuition fees would be lowered, some ASO members see it as a potential to get more students off of financial aid. 82 percent of students that attend AVC are on financial aid. Last year the number of students was about 60 percent, which is a considerable jump for one year. ASO is also trying to make a change in regards to the tutoring problem. AVC is looking to cut over 40 hours a week to the current tutors, meaning that some people may be potentially laid off, and all will be getting their hours cut. “We want to support the tutors; it’s a need for students,” says Terrence Myers, the new ASO president. DSS students, which are students with disabilities, are considered a “higher priority” on campus, especially with tutoring. “Teachers don’t have time to do one on ones with students like tutors can,” says Govin, “student tutoring is just one more link to student success.” After every board meeting, there is an opportunity for ASO to submit reports about their concerns on campus. On Oct. 10, there will be a report submitted from Govin about the lack of tutoring in hopes to maintain the hours for current tutors
and perhaps to provide more. ASO is also looking into providing some sort of health care on campus or “Health C” like the majority of the community colleges in California provide. There is a current clinic bus that comes to AVC every Thursday to provide check-ups and physicals for students. If health care was provided on campus, then students would be able to get a check up every day of the week as opposed to one day. “We are strategically planning a student friendly health fee that will benefit generations to come of AVC,” says Myers. Workshops in regards to the potential free health care will be provided in the student lounge on select days to hear students’ need and opinions. For more information refer to the AVC online blog at AVCExaminer.com What the majority of students on campus don’t know is that anyone is able to participate in ASO as long as you’re not on any type of probation on campus. Marcus Russell / Examiner They encourage students to bring The new ASO President, Terrence Myers, is up ideas and concerns that they looking to making big changes this semester would like to be addressed.
College trustee race held for new board positions By Kristi Phillips Staff Writer
On Sept. 28, a forum was held for the five candidates up for election for the Antelope Valley College District Board of Trustees. Earl Wilson, a previous member of the board, is now retiring after 36 years. Elections are held every four years for a four year term. During each election, the number of seats that are up for grabs switches; one election will have two seats and the next election will have three seats. This election has two seats. The candidates that are running this term are Marginese Streeter, Margaret “Margie” Chavez, Lew Stults, Steve Fox and the incumbent Jack Seefus. The moderators of the forum were John Vento and Jim Reddish. This was Vento’s first time being a moderator at AVC. “I enjoyed it; I love doing political debates and to see students get involved,” says Vento. The forum started off with the candidates introducing themselves. Seefus began by speaking about himself in a third person point of view. He spoke about his 50 years as CEO at Antelope Valley Bank and his 18 years of experience teaching finance.
Streeter presented herself in a different way, focusing on her educational history and credentials. She went to California State University, Long Beach where she received her bachelor’s and moved on to California State
“Why would we want to put a $30,000 Baldwin in here in a gorgeous facility like this when we can have the best?” Jack Seefus Board Member
University, Los Angeles where she received her master’s. Though Streeter is new to the Antelope Valley, she believes in giving back to the
community and says that she will work three times harder than the other candidates in order to ensure that. Chavez introduced herself as an employee at AVC for over 18 years and sees the college as her “second family” that is “getting torn to pieces” and is dedicated to repairing the damage that has been done. Stults was next. Coming from a large political background working with Congressman Buck McKeon, Stults has a family history with AVC being that both his wife and daughter have graduated from here. Stults has been an Antelope Valley resident for 54 years and sees AVC as a “jewel” in the community. With his passion he believes he “can help with the issues on campus.” Last but not least was Fox. Fox spoke about his different roles at AVC from being an instructor for six years to being a custodian. As the forum went on, the questions became more in depth, touching on the elected officials, budget cuts, and involvement in the community. Because Seefus was previously on the board, he had many questions directed towards him in reference to the progress that he has made so far. One of the questions that he
had was about the piano that he purchased for the new theater. Seefus purchased a $135,000 Steinway Model D piano off of eBay. “Why would we want to put a $30,000 Baldwin in here in a gorgeous facility like this when we can have the best?” asks Seefus. His argument was that there are certain pianists who will not play on any other piano besides a Model D. “This will get us pianists that no one else can get” says Seefus. He looks at the piano as an “income provider,” and if we had to rent pianos it would take about 50 to 60 rentals to pay for it. Even though the other candidates did not get as extensive or as many personally directed questions as Seefus did, they still had to answer the questions that ASO, the faculty union, the classified union, and Vento himself came up with in order to prove themselves better than the candidate beside them. Stults touched on a lot of the changes that he would change if he was elected. He would try to “take the next step in technology” and have free WiFi on campus like many other community colleges in California provide. He spoke about financial aid, and how he
See Trustee race, page 4
News
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October 2011
Grants awarded to AVC promote aerospace careers By Kristi Phillips Staff Writer
Students and faculty have been victims of budget cuts on campus, particularly in reference to the classes that have been cut for all majors. AVC has been trying to fix this dilemma by applying for grants to provide more classes, especially in the math, science and engineering departments. AVC has just been awarded two grants that will be extended over a period of five years. The first grant is in the amount of $869,906 and the second is $1,199,998. The money will be used to provide more classes, hire additional faculty and offer more labs at the Palmdale center. “A part of the grant will focus on developing the Palmdale center to create additional labs so students can receive their associates degree at the Palmdale center,” says Christos Valiotis, the project director of the grant money. AVC was able to receive the grant because we are a “Hispanic-serving institution,” meaning that at least 25 percent of students that attend AVC are Hispanic. Yet the money will not be specifically directed towards Hispanics; it is intended to be beneficial for students of all ethnicities.
Theater Continued from 2 Throughout this lengthy process, Newby said the function of the theater has always been to serve the entire campus, but has been meant primarily for instructional uses within the Visual and Performing Arts department. Newby said that with the entire department using the space for classes, performances and even preparation for performances, the theater will be used a majority of the year. That said, he added that he would like to reach out to otcv-
Piano
Mindy Simmons/ Examiner
Construction continues on for the new math and science bulding. A grant was also received by AVC about four years ago, which was used for the same reason as this grant: to promote math, science and engineering courses. “There was an increase in the number of students for those ma-
vher programs such as those in the math and sciences, and language arts. Down the road, he said there is also a possibility for community events. One event he suggested was an orchestra/chorale festival for local high schools. “Our vision is to have a multipurpose facility,” Chelette said. He added that not only will the space enhance instructional education, but it will also offer a place to hold events and be involved in the community. For any future competition for the space, most seem optimistic. In order to avoid any animosity, Fisher said that the future theatre director will have to be
at AVC, said he feels the money could have benefitted dance students. “The basic reality is that Continued from 2 we already have over ten pianos on campus,” he said. “We could have used the money for flats.” Flats, he said are a soft padding used for rolling during dancing performances. However, adjunct dance faculty Shelby Curtis said that any funding for the arts benefits everyone. “For me to say that my department is more important is unfair… I like seeing money go to any of the arts. In the end, we all win,” she said. “People need to recognize that [the piano] is a piece
jors,” says Valiotis, “It wasn’t much, but even a 20 student increase is a good amount for a field that not many students are interested in.” With the previous grant, the physics department was improved, labs received
organized. Priorities, he said, will need to be established, and then a schedule developed. Razo said that as long as everyone on campus keeps focused on their mission to educate students, any and all issues will work themselves out. Ultimately, Jensen said the theater’s state-of-the-art technology is great for students. “That’s what we’re all about— helping students get the knowledge and experience they need so they can carry on and use it after the leave [AVC].” The theatre, according to Razo, will help raise the value of AVC to the community and to the students.
of instructional equipment,” said Newby. “If we bought a $150,000 microscope, or scoreboard, people wouldn’t bat an eye.” Newby said that an elite group of pianists, called “Steinway artists” will only play on Steinway pianos. Having one, he said, will help to attract revenue-generating performances, as well as give AVC an important designation. According to Antelope Valley College President Dr. Jackie Fisher, the amount it would cost to rent a Steinway 60 times, plus maintenance to keep up a cheaper piano, would pay for the Steinway. Ultimately, Newby, Jensen and Fisher agree that the Steinway piano was purchased in the best interest of the campus.
Trustee Continued from 3 is aware that some students are taking advantage of it and spending the money on luxuries as opposed to school. He would want to put a monitor on financial aid to ensure that it is being used correctly. Chavez on the other hand makes the argument that students may need to use that money to buy things like laptops and cars. “Some students need to use that money to buy a car,” says Chavez, “without transportation, how are they supposed to get to school?” In regards to members of the board conflicting, Chavez brings up that a couple of the members live within walking distance of each other and jokes about how they could “have a meeting on the street.” She says that she
more equipment and more hands-on training was provided. AVC was also able to have agreements with California State University, Bakersfield, California State University, Fresno, and California State University, Long Beach to make the transfer process easier for students with those majors. One more thing that the college has been doing recently to promote math, science and engineering courses is reaching out to different high schools in the Antelope Valley. “We reach out to the faculty and train them how to encourage students to pursue these majors,” says Jackie Fisher, president of AVC. There is also a program called iCAN, meaning I can do it, which is designed to put a positive impact on high school students to go to college. Although the grants given to AVC are currently being used to promote math, science, and engineering courses, AVC is looking into grants for a wider variety of majors as well, which are subject to state approval.
would build a foundation with the other members by incorporating trust, integrity, truth and communication across the board. Fox emphasized a lot on being accessible to the community and that “we are all on a boat called the Antelope Valley; we can either sink or swim, but regardless we will do it together.” He mentions a “no lay off policy” a few times and says that he wants to find ways to “back you” and make sure that none of the teachers have to worry about potentially losing their job. Fox works as a child advocate by day and says that he “can make two parents agree” and would incorporate that experience of unity into the board. “I will still do what is right, but I’m not going to take ‘no’ for an answer,” says Fox. Fox wants to see more students come out of college with jobs and believes they
can do that by providing more access to the board and by stimulating the community. Like Fox, Streeter wants to see more students come out of college with jobs. She believes that community college is the most sought higher education and, because of that, we have to make sure that community college is affordable. “I have a 30 year mortgage, so I’m not going anywhere,” says Streeter, “I want to serve the community in which I live and plan on living for a long time.” Anyone in the Antelope Valley can vote on the candidate of their choice starting Nov. 8. You can vote either in person or online. In order to vote in person you have to travel to Norwalk, but you can simply vote online at lavote.net or you can mail your ballot by getting the form at the DMV.
Features
October 2011
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Almah’s third album is an exercise in mediocrity By Omar Castellon Staff Writer
Outside of Sepultura, Angra is quite possibly the most recognized Metal act to come out of Brazil. The group’s current vocalist, Eduardo Falaschi, founded another band named Almah back in 2006. Originally nothing more than a side-project, Almah evolved into full-fledged band when Angra went on hiatus in 2007. Oct. 14 will see the North American release of Almah’s third full-length album, “Motion.” I’ve been anticipating this for some time now, but is “Motion” worth the purchase? Before I go into any sort critique of this album, it would probably help to have some idea of what Power Metal is. Rather than offer a brief and loose definition of a mildly obscure genre, however, I feel it would be better to provide some concrete examples. Believe it or not, you may have already heard the style in some form.
Courtesy photo Felipe Andreoli/Edited by Courtney Unander
Felipe Andreoli, Paulo Schroeber, Eduardo Falaschi, Marcelo Barbosa and Marcelo Moreira London-based DragonForce (who are completely undeserving of their fame given how sickeningly derivative their music is;
they represent the very worst of Power Metal) reached a level of mainstream exposure a few years ago, a status that afforded them a
spot in the “Guitar Hero” franchise. Likewise, I’m sure many are familiar with Avenged Sevenfold. Though not explicitly Power Metal,
substantial portions of their work have unquestionable footing in the genre. The album’s opening track, “Hypnotized” begins with a beautiful solo and crash of cymbals. Those first 40 seconds promised to build up to something glorious and yet they give way to something tame. For the most part “Motion” does away with the melodic and often Neo-classically driven compositions of their previous work, “Fragile Equality,” opting instead for a more Progressive and heavier sound. I thoroughly enjoy Progressive Metal and take no issue with heaviness, but I do have a problem when the latter is used as a means of covering up shoddy musicianship. Each band member is capable of so much more, but their abilities are mostly squandered for the duration of this album.
See Almah, page 7
Battlefield 3 beta hits home with shock and awe By Joshua Sanchez Staff Writer
DICE and EA’s hotly anticipated title “Battlefield 3” (BF3) will be hitting store shelves Oct. 25 at midnight nationwide. But right now everyone has a chance to play the free multiplayer beta that’s on PSN, Xbox Live and Origin. I myself have given the beta a try, and as a fan of the previous title “Battlefield: Bad Company 2” (BC2) I’m quite pleased with the gameplay. However, this download is still a beta; to be honest, I don’t think this is even the third most recent build of the game. This is evidenced by the numerous and often times frustrating bugs that occur in the map “Operation Metro.” I’ve seen players dissolve into the ground, a rocket disappear just before hitting its target and even the body of an unfortunate player fly completely out of the map after getting gunned down with a pistol. As frustrating as this is, you can at least make a fun drinking game out of it. Every time you clip through the ground, take a shot. Every time an enemy takes you down while he’s sunk into the earth, take two shots. but, If you are a competitive sort of
person, you’ll need a stiff shot of bourbon, vodka, or other form of hard alcohol to calm the rage that will ensue. The only other thing wrong with the beta is that the squad system is completely broken in this build of the game. The only way I could chat with my platoon was through my computer via Skype. If you do manage to find a full squad then you are in luck, because this is where BF3 shines. The squad-to-squad combat in the game is perhaps some of the best FPS gameplay I’ve ever experienced. Those used to running around in Call of Duty: Black Ops while dual wielding two MAC 10s and a rocket launcher will feel extremely out of place in BF3. Instead of fully customizable classes, there are four major sets that players can build off of: Support, Assault, Engineer and Recon. Your Assault class comes equipped with, you guessed it, an Assault rifle. The class also deploys with a medipack to heal yourself and any comrades who are around it. Additionally, assault classes can rank up and unlock a defibrillator to revive other people who have been taken down.
See Battle, page 7
Courtesy photo Electronic Arts
The graphics in this game are amazing regardless of the console but PC players with high end machines get the most out of their display.
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October 2011
Diabetes: Students walk for a cure in Culver City By Mindy Simmons Staff Writer
Mindy Simmons / Examiner
Students and supporters marching for a diabetes cure in Culver City
Sunday, Oct. 2 at Culver City’s Media District, participants came to join in the Walk to Stop Diabetes. Jullian Rose Reed from the hit MTV show “Awkward” came to participate in this signature fundraising walk, which has raised nearly 20 million dollars to support their mission: to prevent, cure and manage the devastating effects of diabetes. The StepOut event covered a three-mile city walk throughout the Media District. “This famous Hollywood landmark themed event includes live entertainment, exhibits, contests, refreshments for walkers, and a chance for kids and adults to walk to fight diabetes.” Said Mary E. Hewitt, Director of Marketing and Communications. Vendors filled the park with food, intending to be healthy, flyers and entertainment. There was even a red carpet laid out for anyone who wanted to take a look
inside the Red Strider tent. These are the people who are dealing with the challenges of having diabetes everyday and they are the ones who are trying to fight back. “We’re walking for all diabetics. It’s great what they are doing. It’s sort of like a huge support group once a year.” said member, John Duff. The American Diabetes Association is a voluntary health association with 73 percent of every dollar going to the program and activities, according to the ADA website. “The StepOut walk is about community, all about community.” said Rufus Dorsey, the spokesperson for the American Diabetes Association. “Each and every dollar you have raised goes to ensure those who live with diabetes as well as the education of our youth to prevent the onset of this disease. We are here because we believe something can and should be done to stop diabetes.” Lancaster native Lisa Anne Luna understands that she can be part of what needs to be done.
Luna came all the way out to Culver City to participate in the walk. “I have type-one diabetes,” she said, “and that’s what brought me all the way out here.” Jullian Rose Reed is using her stardom to bring awareness to the situation. “Diabetes has affected our family,” she said. “I’ve seen first-hand how diabetes can affect a young person’s life. I saw how my brother had to change his eating habits and everything in his life, and seeing him struggle in his life with diabetes is what made me want to get involved.” Since one of the most effective ways to stop type-two diabetes is through education, here are some tips that were presented to us at the StepOut walk. Be physically active, any type of physical activity you do helps your muscles and cells use blood glucose for energy. Also, make smart food choices. To find another diabetes walk visit the American Diabetes Association website at diabetes.org. or to learn more about prevention, see your doctor.
An interview with the band Why Portland? Well why not? By Dani Jean Keinz Staff Writer
Since starting their band in early 2011, Why Portland? has gained a lot of support in the community. They play what most would call alternative-acoustic music. With the release of their new album “This is Your Season,” the AVC Examiner sat down for an interview with them. What is the Why Portland?’s greatest source of support? Our friends, family and fans support us during good times and bad. Our dreams themselves keep us going constantly. How did you all meet? Frank Benitez and Kara McDonald met inside of elementary school, but weren’t friends until after high school. Frank then met Brandon Ramos in high school through his best friend (Ivette Zubiate). Did any one of you have stage fright before becoming a band? It was more anxiety about the show rather than stage fright. It wasn’t just one of us experiencing this anxiety, but that’s what brought us closer together to get more comfortable. “Now the stage is our second home, it’s comfortable being up there,” says Frank. How do Kara and Frank get ideas for songs? Does one of them write more? It is a collaboration of their minds. There is no set process for how every song is written.
Some songs are solely written by either Kara or Frank. How long have you all been playing your instruments? Frank has been playing guitar for roughly eight years. Kara started singing in a choir at the age of 14, and wrote lyrics with Frank soon following after high school. Brandon and Jorge just recently started playing their instruments. Can you talk about the recording process of “This is Your Season?” We just released our first album, “This is Your Season” on Sept. 17. Since it is our first album we decided as a band to give them away for free and make it available to download online. The recording process was pretty intense. It took a few days and over a week of mastering. Five boxes of Little Caesar’s Pizza later, it was finished. With the completion of our first album, we took it a step further and created a website and multiple accounts on popular social networks. The next step for our band now is to book shows and increase our fan base. Where have you played? Why Portland? originally played only at parties, when drunk people would request a song or two. Back then it was only Kara, Frank and an acoustic guitar. “We later moved up into the local coffee shop scene,” says Kara. After about six coffee shop shows and one bad demo later Why Portland? started setting goals. “I’ve always wanted to be a drummer,
Why Portland /Courtesy photo
The band Why Portland? plays another great show at The Whisky A Go-Go. Singer Kara McDonald gets the crowd hyped up before each show. but it wasn’t until Frank approached me that I saw it from being a dream to becoming reality,” says Brandon Ramos. Two bass players later, Why Portland? could finally move forward. Once John Reyes started promoting and
booking Why Portland? we were able to start playing bigger shows and move into our next goal as a band. With that being said we have played the Whisky A Go-Go and are further pursuing shows down in the Hollywood area.
October 2011
Battle Continued from 5 Or you can use it as I usually do in BC2 and kill the enemy team with them in a hilarious and humiliating manner. By far though my favorite class is the support class; whatever weapon I select for the class it usually has a bipod attached, making the gun insanely accurate at a distance. Be warned, light machine-guns (LMGs) actually act like they should in a real firefight, that means that if you charge headlong into an enemy position and attempt to gun everyone down like Tony Montana, you’ll end up like he did: dead. Aside from the main weapons assigned to the different classes, there are unlockable weapons. The best part about this is that you can quickly change your weapon to meet the current combat situation.
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For example, after the first pushback in Rush Mode on Operation Metro, the map turns into a subway system. The area is perfect for shotgun work. My preferred setup for the shotgun is to run a Remington 870 with a holographic sight, flechete ammo and an extended magazine. But, the M-104 in the same configuration will work the same. Using this setup I’ve been able to dominate the entire game, unless I run into a likeminded shotgunner, or a wall of grenades. This beta is extremely promising and the rumor is that players will be introduced to a new map within the week called “Caspian Border,” which will feature the trademark of the series: vehicles. I can’t wait until I’m once again blowing buildings apart with a U.S. M1 Abrams. More importantly, this is potentially where we will see the new fighter jets for the first time on consoles. If DICE can simultaneously repair the Electronic Arts /Courtesy photo glitches and bugs already in the beta, then The M249 SAW depicted in this screen shot is deadly, but very inaccurate when this will be an excellent advertisement for fired offhand like this. When in doubt, drop to prone and deploy the bipod. their game.
Almah Continued from 5 By now, it should be obvious that my overall impression of this album is not good, but it’s best that I go into specifics. “Hypnotized” teases with elements of grandeur, only to quickly devolve into a plodding and unmemorable affair. To begin with, the vocals are rather uninspired, which is unfortunate considering Falaschi’s abilities. His singing has certainly been marred by age (as well as performing in an unnaturally high range, apparently), but he is a still a capable vocalist. In this instance it sounds as if he isn’t putting forth the effort. I don’t mean to come off as hyperbolic, but his voice sounds neutered and aside from an interesting moment three minutes in, the instrumentation drones along. Simply put, this song is boring. My views on this one song can be applied to most of the tracks on this album. However, two songs in particular cross that muddled line separating the okay from the bad. The first of these is called “Soul Alight,” a song that fuses unrestrained aggression with a chorus taken from a ballad. In fairness, the fast-
er portions of this piece are solid, but any potential was wasted the moment I heard the chorus. The keyboard work during these segments is incredibly distracting and even annoying. Frankly, this is the worst use of a keyboard I’ve listened to in a long time. “When and Why,” the album’s closer, is the other blight in an already sullied work. Ultimately this is a pointless song, the aural manifestation of milquetoast. Its benign nature is so out of place when compared to tone of the preceding tracks, that I’m left wondering why it was included on this album at all. Perhaps Almah had a few minutes left over during a recording session and just decided to quickly churn something out. I have no way of verifying this hypothesis, but I cannot think of any other way to justify the creation of such an uninteresting piece. Despite having a mostly low opinion of this album, I do have to acknowledge its merits, however few there are. “Zombies Dictator,” for example, is actually an enjoyable song. As far as I can tell, it is also the first time that Falaschi has implemented harsh vocals into a composition. Though not his forte, they’re passable and I do praise the attempt, especially given the drudging character present in most of the album. The high-
light of this song is the chorus, which is executed incredibly well and demonstrates what the band is capable of. Strong lead and rhythm guitars, intricate drum work and vocals filled with gusto blend together to form a truly great song “Trace of Trait” is solid track, as well. I first listened to this song when it was released as an official music video. Initially, I felt it was dull, but my view has since shifted (owning the actual album certainly makes a difference). Specifically, I’m drawn to the drum lines and subtle, almost subdued, guitar playing. There’s also a calm assertiveness in Falaschi’s vocals that I find appealing. While certainly not the worst album I’ve had the misfortune of listening to, in light of Almah’s previous work, I can’t help but see “Motion” as a disappointment. Perhaps it isn’t entirely fair to gauge this release against its predecessor, but ideally bands should strive to improve with each release, wouldn’t you agree? This is an album largely comprised of overwhelmingly average compositions, with moments of brilliance sprinkled throughout. Unfortunately, nothing ever comes together with real cohesion. For as much as I enjoy the work of Eduardo Falaschi, I cannot recommend this in good conscience.
Opinion
Page 8
October 2011
Dear Editor,
Dear Editor,
I truly enjoyed reading Examiner. There were funny stories and since I enjoy sports, I enjoyed the sports section on Track & Field and Football. The story that I enjoyed most was on the Opinion page “Keeping track of our crazy people means less dead people.” The Graphic image was a little funny to me but I also took it seriously. Thanks for making a good impression because it motivates me to continue on my journey to being an international journalist.
I’ve never read the AVC Examiner before now. I found myself really surprised about all of the things that are talked about in the paper that I’m really interested in! I know this is the first edition for the semester put out, so I did notice a few errors. It was mostly spelling and punctuation. Other than that, I enjoyed reading the paper and I completely plan on picking up all the others that will come out.
-Jordan Burney
-Geena Barret-Fernandez
Pointy words and broken bones: a tale of bullying By Maria Cortes Staff Writer
I hate bullies. I understand that “hate” is a very strong word, and as a rather friendly and lovable person it’s odd for me to say it, but it’s true. I hate bullies. Over the weekend I became aware of a 14-year-old boy from Buffalo named Jamey Rodemeyer, who committed suicide because he was constantly being harassed both online and at school. Eventually, Jamey took his own life in a final attempt to make it all stop. I say final attempt because it wasn’t the first time that he had tried to make his torment end. At first, Jamey tried to find comfort in his friends and family; he even made a video for the popular anti-bullying movement, the It Gets Better Project. He found a brief escape in the music of his favorite pop artist Lady Gaga. Through her music, he was empowered to love himself more and more every day. This small bit of salvation, however, came too late. Rodemeyer’s mother, Tracy, believed that most of the bullying revolved around her son’s sexual orientation, and his idolization of Lady Gaga for her powerful lyrics. Rodemeyer’s mother announced to the media that she would be burying her son in a shirt that read, “Born This Way,” after the pop star’s hit single of the same name. Bullying does not prefer any specific age, race, or sexual orientation. Everyone, even the most popular people you know, can be subject to bullying. Shirley Robinson and Leonardo Borrero, students here at AVC, remember being bullied at very young ages. “I started being bullied when I was around seven. I would get teased because my mom had died, which was twice as cruel,” Robinson said. Borrero, on the other hand, had his own problems.“I would say my bullying started when I came to the United States; so since the third grade. I was probably being bullied because I was from another country and I was smaller than everybody else.” Robinson admits that she still gets bullied to this day, but that she just doesn’t let it bother her as much anymore. “I totally understand where those kids were coming from,” she replied when asked about her thoughts on all the recent suicides. “It is hard to deal with that on a daily basis. I was at that point in my life where I didn’t want to live because of the things that were happening to me. But God didn’t want
me to go just yet, and I’m glad that I am here because I can try to make a change about it all.” “I grew up and learned how to cope to those things,” Borrero said. “Words didn’t hurt me, and I stayed away from people that would rather push me than shake my hand.” He believes that kids, and people in general, need to realize that you are stronger by not acting back. Violence against others and, more specifically, violence against yourself doesn’t solve anything. It just causes pain in the lives of those who love you and value your life. Ashley Caldwell, a 20-year-old student at Riverside Community College, was brave enough to open up to me about her high school bullying incidents in the hopes that she would be able to bring awareness towards this cause. “I was 15 and a freshman in high school when I started getting bullied,” she said. “I believe it was because of the way my friends and I looked. I was what you would call an emo kid. I’m also guessing the fact that we were freshmen played a factor in it too.” Photo Courtesy of peyton7 from Red Bubble Caldwell remembers two very distinct incidents in Bullying is a growing problem, but with programs out there high school that made her the anti-bullying advocate that she is today. such as Make Beats not Beat Downs, an end is in sight. She remembers getting picked on by a group of upperclassmen who would throw things like ice and food at her and her friends. show them so much hatred that it clouded their idea of what Another time, during her physical education class, a the world was. It made them think that all the world held group of boys that used to be her close friends threw footwas hatred, depression and worthlessness.” balls at her and her friend, hitting them in the back of the The general consensus between the three college stuhead and back. Both times she found that standing up for dents was that everybody needs to take a stand when it herself, in a non-violent way, put an end to her bullying. comes down to bullying. “That’s the way to do it,” she said. “Don’t sink to their All it can take is a conversation or simply being there level, but being able to show them that you’re not afraid and for your students if you feel like something is wrong. standing your ground may be able to help.” Or, you can join the many people who are petitioning “When it comes to children who get bullied into suicide to have a Zero-Tolerance policy enforced in every school because of their sexual orientation, I really get upset,” around the country. said Caldwell. It is time to stop expecting other people to solve the “Not so much at the bullies than the parents of the bulproblem and do something about it! lies. Those parents either put so much hatred in those kids’ There are dozens of organizations that you can behearts when it comes to homosexuality, or they didn’t come a part of to do your part in stopping this epidemic; teach their kids that being homophobic is basically the programs such as Youth Frontiers, Make Beats not Beat same as being racist.” Downs, Stomp Out Bullying and the Trevor Project are She continued to say that those children’s suicides show all devoted to helping those children and teens in need the terrible impression that humanity is making. of a helping hand. “They’ll never be able to travel the world or experience all Please, do your part in helping prevent the loss of anof life’s mystery and wonder, because someone decided to other life.
Opinion
October 2011
Page 9
The homeless struggle under harsh California policies
The AVC Examiner editorials are the unsigned views of the editorial board Let’s paint a picture. You wake up early, because it is hard to sleep. Your skin feels sticky with sweat, and when your vision adjusts the early morning seems very clear. Perhaps you see stars, or maybe the sun is beginning to paint the clouds and sky a dull blue. You wake up hungry. You wake up thirsty. Provided you wake up at all. There are a few things you can do to ensure the day passes as painlessly as possible. These are the tricks of the trade. A lot of them depend on your scruples, how far you are willing to go and how much pride you are prepared to suspend to survive. You may, for instance, have picked a series of locations where you can ask for favors. You have to be careful how often you use them though. The corner of a grocery store will only work for so long before you are asked to walk away. Parks are better, but still a long shot when people are more concerned with the mewling spawn who are trying to kill themselves on the monkey bars. If there’s a gathering of 10 or more people, forget about it. You’d be better off cruising the Boulevard, where you may or may not be treated like a pedophile. You know that for water, (a particularly nasty problem in a desert), you can go to the Public library and fill a bottle. You can go to parks and use their water fountains, if they work. Recyclables are, of course, your bread and butter. Every now and again someone in a political position gets the idea that you are going to use the information collected in the recycling bins of public parks to commit fraud. You hear a lot of people tell you that they will give you food in lieu of money. Food is
good, of course, until the cold season comes and you need to find something more. This all depends on whether or not you manage to stay. Someone might get a hair up their arse, after all, give you a train ticket to ship you out like cattle to where they would rather you stay: anywhere but here. To these people, you are an eyesore. You’re an unpleasant reality they would much rather let someone else deal with. If you get help somehow, and find yourself in government-subsidized housing, you may not be out of the woods. Remember this is the town that received a nice, long probe in August by the Department of Justice concerning whether minorities made up a disproportionate amount of those who were arrested on obstruction and misdemeanor charges. If democracy is a reflection of the people, then it must stand to reason that our policies regarding the homeless are equally as hypocritical. This is a statewide problem, a constant state of annoyance with people who cannot help that they are poor. We show you these examples in the hope that you will help keep these things from happening in our city… or happening again. To be perfectly clear, we can not simply look to our own city when we consider the homeless problem. It is a statewide issue, and as a state we have acted reprehensibly. This may seem like old news, but in March 2009, R. Rex Parris authorized a kind of exodus in an effort to drive away the homeless population, handing out tickets to send undesirable elements (the homeless) out of our city. Santa Cruz, for instance, whose officials established a law in an effort to prohibit
Examiner Staff
Editor in Chief Sarah Niemann
Lead Writer Ben Fassett
Managing Editor Natasha Castro
Writers Travion Bynum Cornell Hudson Codie Walsh Maria Cortes
News Editor Kristi Phillips Opinion Editor Dani Jean Keinz Features Editor Josh Sanchez Sports Editor Marcus Russell Photo Editor Courtney Unander Online Editor Omar Castellon Copy Editor Jordan Lofgren
Illustrator Evania Ramirez Staff Photographer Brandon Bird Mindy Simmons Advisers Jim Burns Charles Hood Advertising rates (661) 722-6300 x6996
Courtney Unander / Examiner
An abandoned mattress, which was likely placed there to block the hot summer sun, sits in the desert—dirty and surrounded by tumbleweeds. camping within city limits. That’s right, if you don’t have a house then you cannot live there. In Fullerton, homelessness means running the risk of being (allegedly) brutally murdered by the police. The last (alleged) thing you might hear is a megalomaniac police officer tell you that his fists “are getting ready to [expletive deleted] you up.” When you’re homeless, allegations are particularly dangerous. It took three years to appeal a Los Angeles law prohibiting the homeless from sleeping, sitting or lying on public byways.
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Letters to the Editor should include a clearly printed name, address, telephone number and major and/or occupation. Letters should be 300 words or less. Letters may be edited for space and clarity. Libel will not be printed. Letters received become property of the Examiner and may be published or reproduced at its discretion. Address all correspondence to: Email: avcexaminer00@gmail.com Editor, Examiner 3041 West Ave. K, APL104 Lancaster, CA 93536 Telephone (661) 722-6300 x6496
In 2003, Los Angeles passed a law prohibiting defecation and urination outside of public and private restrooms, in a city that is notorious for a lack of facilities. The homeless can’t even void their bowels without having to worry about the consequences. On Sept. 29, 2010, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed A.B. 2706, which would have classified offenses committed against the homeless as a hate crime. Apparently, there is no need to protect 157,000 people (these estimates are, of course, very rough). Change needs to be made here.
Antelope Valley College’s Examiner is published by AVC Language Arts classes, typeset on campus and distributed Wednesdays during the school year. Examiner editorials and editorial cartoons are the opinion of the editorial board. All other opinion and editorial page material is the opinion of the individual writer/artist, not of the Examiner. Views expressed in the Examiner do not necessarily reflect those of the advisers, faculty members, administration or the Associated Student Organization, although they are reviewed for publication by the advisers. Requests for news or feature coverage or concerns about editorial or advertising content should be addressed to the Editor in Chief. The Examiner is published under the auspices of the Antelope Valley Community College District Board of Trustees; however, sole responsibility for the content rests with the Examiner editorial board. The Examiner is printed by Aerotech News & Publishing.
Sports
Page 10
October 2011
Taking the time to track down Christen Rivers By Cornell Hudson Staff Writer
After a few months of intense training and conditioning, we had a chance to catch up with 19-year-old track athlete, Christen Rivers. The AVC sophomore moved from Los Angeles to Palmdale her freshman year of high school. While there, she ran the 100 meter dash in a record breaking 11.7 seconds. In case you’re wondering how fast that is, the Olympic World Record for the 100 meter dash is 10.49 seconds, set by another historic Los Angeles native by the name of Florence Griffith-Joyner. Rivers graduated from Palmdale High in 2009, leaving behind times of 24.15 seconds in the 200 meter and 56 seconds flat in the 400 meter run. The physical therapy major also qualified for the CIF State Finals. In her freshman year here at AVC, the young sprinter was part of a relay team that included current teammates Ashley Legrand and Jessica Flax. That season, the trio along with a former teammate broke the 4x4 record here at AVC. Unfortunately, due to health issues the following year, Rivers was unable to run. “I had a lot going on in my life, and I wanted to make sure I took care of all of that before stepping back on the track,” she said. Head Coach Mark Covert and Sprint Coach Jeff Leeds are expecting big things from their squad this year. With the addition of Marie Cooper, the AVC Track and Field team plans on having a great, fresh, and exciting season. Be sure to look out for them early in the spring semester.
Marcus Russell / Examiner
With a 100-meter-dash record of just 11.7 seconds—the Olympic World Record being only 10.49 seconds—Christen Rivers has really made her mark on AVC’s track and field team.
Marauders’ soccer team continues dominance with victory over COD Antelope Valley College won 3-0 against College of the Desert in the Sept. 30 soccer game
The Marauders’ soccer team continues to shine as they manage to keep their undefeated season alive by once again winning at home, and defeating College of the Desert (COD) on Sept. 30. What at first seemed to be a tough match for the Marauders’ team quickly changed when Stacey Guijarro, AVC Marauder striker, stumbled a goal in the net. From that point of the match, things quickly changed as AVC managed to take control of the match. First half came to an end with a 1-0 lead for the Marauders.
AVC came into the second half determined to secure the win. In minute 55, Guijarro beat the goalkeeper on a one on one air ball and scored her second goal of the evening; this gave AVC complete control of the game. COD continued their attack, but could not find a way to get through AVC’s impenetrable defenders. Then in minute 64, a pass was made to Guijarro who was able to put it in, giving AVC their third goal of the game and Guijarro a hat-trick. COD continued to attack. In the 75’, COD was able to breakaway; it was three against two, but before COD was able to score, Melissa Heredia intervened, ending COD’s only chance
to score. In the end, AVC won against COD 3-0. Their victory over COD proved again just how well rounded these players are on the field, and their performance as a team. Stacey Guijarro underlined her importance to the team with her 3 goals. “The girls played very well,” said Assistant Coach Victor Otiano, “and they continue to show their great performance as a team.” The AVC Marauders will try to maintain their undefeated season as they face other teams in the coming games. Head Coach Jerry Stupar said, “They have always been a tough rival, especially in their own grounds, but we definitely have what it takes to come away with a win.”
Football
Soccer
Volleyball
By Codie Walsh Staff Writer
Beatrice Giles
Cross Country
Oct. 15
@Moorpark
6 p.m.
Oct. 14
@Rio Hondo
4 p.m.
Oct. 14 Victor Valley
5:30 p.m.
Oct. 22
Citrus
7 p.m.
Oct. 18
Mt. San Jacinto
3 p.m.
Oct. 19 Rio Hondo
5:30 p.m.
Oct. 14
@Santa Barbara 10 a.m.
Oct. 29
Long Beach
1 p.m.
Oct. 25
@Palm Desert
3 p.m.
Oct. 21 @San Bernadino 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 25
@Legg Lake
12 p.m.
Nov. 5 Nov. 12
@L.A. Harbor 6 p.m.
Oct. 28
Victor Valley
3 p.m.
Oct. 26 @Chaffey
5:30 p.m.
Nov. 4
@Gusti Park
1 p.m.
Chaffey
Nov. 1
Chaffey
3 p.m.
Nov. 2
5:30 p.m.
Nov. 19
@Fresno
10 a.m.
1 p.m.
Mt. San Jacinto
(Men and Womens’)
Sports
October 2011
Page 11
New soccer forward glad to return to the AV By Codie Walsh Staff Writer
As a new forward for the Marauder soccer team, Shawna Saitta is glad to be back in California. The star midfielder from Quartz Hill High School was originally offered a scholarship to play soccer for Kansas, but Saitta did not feel comfortable in the environment. “It just didn’t feel right,” said Saitta. “I didn’t like being away from home, and there was nothing out there.” The team has benefited with the gain of Saitta. 2010 was a rebuilding season for the women’s soccer team, who had a total of 18 freshmen. This year brought back many sophomores, along with a good recruiting freshman class. The Marauders were able to retain their defensive players, as well as gain some offensive players. Jerry Stupar, Head Coach of the Marauder soccer team, was thrilled that Saitta decided to come back to AVC. “I had been trying to track her down for a while and was blessed to get her in spring training,” Stupar said. “She was training as a freshman in the spring, but
it was like having a sophomore. I get Shawna next year.” Saitta is now the forward and the leading statistical player for the Marauders. Stupar moved Saitta to forward because of her composure with the ball: her ability to hold, be relaxed, and look for the option. Her positional change came with one problem: Saitta would not shoot the ball. “I’m like Shawna, shoot the ball! And she would say, ‘Oh, well I’m used to passing and giving the shot.’ That’s fine, you can still do that, but option one for a forward is to shoot.” Saitta was able to end her midfielder-like tendencies and is now the leading scorer for the Marauders with a total of seven goals. Stupar also likes that the “golden rule” of soccer does not apply to her. By this, he means that Saitta is able to hold the ball for longer than the average two seconds that a college soccer player has with the ball. “Shawna has three, four, five seconds because of her ability to shield, hold the ball, delay, and look for the best option. That’s where she’s shining.” Saitta’s transition from Kansas to AVC was easy. “We’re doing great, training hard, and everyone’s gelling really well,” Saitta said. “A lot of girls had played
N A T I O N A L
Brandon Bird/ Examiner
Saitta shows why the golden rule of soccer — holding the ball for an average of 2 seconds — doesn’t apply to her. Above-average ball-handling skills give her up to 5 seconds, and a commanding presence on the field. together for a long time, and the returning players make it easier to play together.” Their ability to get along has made a difference; the team is currently undefeated with nine wins and one tie. The biggest game of the season was against San Bernardino on Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 4 p.m. Last year the game was tied until San Bernardino came up with the win in the
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final minutes. San Bernardino then went on to win conference. Even though Saitta was not part of the team when they were defeated, she is still “pumped” to play against San Bernardino Valley College. This team is proud to represent the school; so come support Shawna Saitta and this winning team as they continue their season.