June 9, 2006 by El Vaquero Newspaper

El Vaquero Glendale College

Photo by Jane Pojawa

Top Democrat Phil Angelides speaks in Kreider Hall in a surprise visit on May 30. See story, page 5. www.elvaq.com

Volume 89 Number 7

FRIDAY June 9, 2006

Arts

Student Suicides

Big Cats

Graduates

The GCC orchestra, ceramics, dance and new plays.

Glendale mourns the loss of two students.

A possible sighting has led to better security.

Pauline Guiuan is among the graduating class of 2006.

Page 3

Pages 10-14 Photo by Jane Pojawa

Pages 17-21

Page 6 Photo by Jane Pojawa

Friday, June 9, 2006

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LETTERS

Police Spokesman Clarifies Parking Problem I

n the last issue of the El Vaquero [was] an article about a “new policy” regarding towing vehicles that are stacked and not removed prior to 4:30 p.m. This is not a new policy and has been in place for several years now. The GCC Police wishes to clarify that as of yet, not one vehicle has been towed or ticketed for not being retrieved on time. Additionally, the GCC Police continues to encourage students to pick up their keys before 4:30 p.m. The stacked parking system is meant to provide maximum parking during peak parking hours. After 3:00 p.m., parking availability greatly improves as there are not many classes scheduled in the afternoon. This break before the evening rush provides students ample time to retrieve their keys or relocate

their cars to a free lot. Below are additional details about the stacked parking procedures currently in place and some different scenarios of what is taking place. When a student leaves their car to be stacked, they are given a quarter sheet of paper, informing them of the stacked parking program conditions, and told by the parking attendants that they must pick up their car by 4:30 p.m. Some students don’t have parking permits and just pay the meters. When the attendants have to stack cars without a parking permit, the student is charged 50 cents an hour and must pay the attendants when they pick up their car. Some students are not returning before 4:30 p.m. to retrieve their keys. When this happens the

attendants drop the student’s keys off at the GCC Police station. When these students pick up their keys, they are given a quarter sheet of paper, informing them of the stacked parking program conditions and that there is a possibility that their car may be ticketed or towed. This is probably where the issue of ticketing and towing cars has come from. This policy of handing out the half sheet has been in effect since we began stacking cars over 3 years ago. Due to the current construction, parking has become more inconvenient. However we now have more parking availability than ever before because we are stacking cars in all the lots. The GCC Police has not ticketed or towed any student’s vehicles for not picking up their keys. Attendants stop stacking

after 3 p.m. because there are open spaces at that time. The attendants only hand out keys from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and collect payment from students who choose to pay the meters and don’t have a parking permit. Every effort is made to move student’s vehicles into open stalls if they haven’t returned by 4:30 p.m. However, students that choose not to buy parking permits, and leave their cars in the lots after 4:30 p.m., do run the risk of receiving a citation from the City of Glendale when their cars are moved into a metered spot. It is up to these students who choose not to buy a parking permit to retrieve their keys before 4:30 p.m. and either pay the meters or move their cars to free lot.

Additionally -

eginning June 12, Lot 32 will revert back to staff parking from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. until the fall semester begins. Employees currently parking off campus will return to their previously assigned lots, including Lot 32. Students will have ample parking during the summer in Lots B, 30, 31, 33, 34 and the Civic Structure parking lot.

— Nidal Kobaissi

El Vaquero Glendale Community College

editor in chief

Jane Pojawa

staff members

Michael Alpert Jason Castro Alison Geller Kasia Faughn Pauline Guiuan Stephen Hotchkiss Ramela Isagholian Anna Margaryan Rachel Mills Olga Ramaz Carlos Villarreal online editor

Michael J. Arvizu design adviser

Charles Eastman photography adviser

Liane Enkelis

faculty adviser

Michael Moreau mmoreau@glendale.edu (818) 240-1000, ext. 5214

advertising

Heather Glenn hglenn@glendale.edu (818) 240-1000, ext. 5606

El Vaquero accepts story ideas in news, features, profiles, sports and entertainment from the public. To submit an idea or an article, e-mail the editor at Jane_Pojawa@elvaq.com or call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5349. Send Letters to the Editor Letters may be reproduced in full or in part and represent only the point of view of the writer, not the opinion of El Vaquero or Glendale Community College and its district. Letters must be signed and typed and include the full name and address of the writer. El Vaquero is a First Amendment publication.

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Friday, June 9, 2006

NEWS FEATURE

Student Suicides Cause Concern By Pauline Guiuan

EL VAQUERO NEWS EDITOR

hey look like every other college student on campus. They go to class and walk through the halls carrying books and backpacks. They smile at friends and acquaintances. Family and friends may sometimes notice that they are becoming increasingly quiet, distant and melancholy, but for the most part, no one realizes something is amiss until they’ve already taken their own lives. This is the story of many young suicide victims today, and the number of college students who commit suicide is steadily increasing, according to the National Mental Health Association. Each year, nearly 5,000 people between the ages of 15 to 25 take their own lives; it is the third leading cause of death among college students. The GCC community is not a stranger to this tragic reality. Unknown to many, two GCC students have committed suicide in the past seven months. The details of both deaths have been shrouded in secrecy; friends and members of the college community who knew the victims have kept most of the information confidential, and their families could not be reached for comment. Raya Belcheva, a 22-yearold nursing student, died in November last year. She was in her last semester in the nursing program and took her own life a few weeks before her would-be graduation. “Our entire class wishes we knew what triggered it,” said Lizette San Miguel, one of Belcheva’s classmates; she trained with Belcheva in a hospital’s intensive care unit the week of her death. “She was under the same pressure that we all were. We were all baffled by what happened.” San Miguel said that Belcheva’s friends and classmates noticed that she had seemed quiet and “lost” several days before she died, but when her classmates asked, she merely attributed her gloomy disposition to exhaustion. “I always asked her what was wrong, and she always replied that she was tired,” San Miguel said. “We were all very tired, so I didn’t think too much of it...I didn’t realize she meant she was tired of life.”

San Miguel and Belcheva’s other classmates said that she was doing very well in class. Despite being the second youngest of the group, she was one of the top students. Another former classmate, Mary, dedicated a Myspace blog entry to Belcheva: “I’m going to miss this sweet, bright, smart, innocent girl. I remember her collection of shoes from bright orange to blue and her warm smiles...She was helpful and very appreciative to everyone. We were a family in a small class. We watched out for each other and supported each other through stressful times.” “Raya was very curious, innocent, and excited about taking care of patients,” San Miguel added. “She would’ve made a wonderful nurse.” The second victim was also a nursing major who had just been accepted into the program and was in her first semester. She died March this year and has not been identified. A friend of the victim who refused to be identified said that she had suffered from depression, and this was exacerbated by academic pressure. “I don’t think it was because of grades though,” said the anonymous source. “She was doing well [in class]...in fact, her grades were pretty high.” Although nursing students acknowledge that their classes are stressful and require a lot of hard work, they are also quick to point out that the reasons behind both deaths have nothing to do with the nursing program, and added that both girls were doing well academically. Nursing instructor Cynthia Dorroh also said that both cases were “very closely investigated;” the investigation apparently showed that the deaths were not triggered by “school reasons.” According to psychology professor Jessica Gillooly, this is not the first time suicide has claimed the lives of GCC students. “There’s probably been three or four other [suicides] over the past four years,” she said. “It’s never actually happened on campus, but these students were all enrolled [at GCC].” Gillooly said that depression is the biggest risk factor among suicide victims; this clinical condition plays a role in almost

90 percent of all suicides. “They can’t imagine that things will get any better. Some of them suffer a loss and are so distraught that they don’t think they can live any longer.” The American Association of Suicidology (AAS) says that friends, family, teachers and coworkers should be concerned if a student talks about committing suicide and death, withdraws from friends and social activities, stops coming to school or work, loses interest in his or her personal appearance and gives away prized possessions. “I thought she was just tired of school,” said San Miguel, referring to Belcheva. “If we only knew [that she was considering suicide], we could’ve helped her to find meaning in the life she was so tired of.” A person who has had recent severe losses such as a broken marriage or relationship, death in the family or financial difficulties, and has attempted suicide before, is at a higher risk of committing suicide. Crescent Orpelli, a mental health counselor at the college’s Health Center, said that among the students she has talked to, common stressors that trigger depression and suicidal thoughts include career indecision, family issues, relationship problems, the search for identity, pressure from parents, financial insecurity, grief and loss, acculturation, and academic pressure. “There are multiple stressors,” Orpelli said. “Students go through

a lot of stress, and we want to be able to give them skills to manage that.” Orpelli mentioned that in some cases where she has counseled extremely stressed-out students, “it gets intense. They may have a lot of very severe problems and are on the verge of suicide.” Some students have seriously talked about wanting to end their lives, and in these cases, Orpelli and the health center have contacted the persons’ families as well as the authorities to guarantee that the students would not hurt themselves and ensure their well-being. For every suicide, six to 10 family members and very close friends are immediately affected, according to the AAS. Belcheva’s close friends are still trying to cope with the tragedy of her death seven months later. “I sometimes reminisce about that dreaded month,” San Miguel said. “Something so tragic happened when we were supposed to be celebrating a major accomplishment in our lives. A lot of us in her class closed the door [on that part] of our lives.” Survivors of the more recent suicide find it even more difficult. “It’s just so hard,” said one of her friends. “We know we have to leave it behind, but it’s not easy.” Dorroh said that the nursing department has “taken measures” to help the suicide victims’ classmates, as well as the other nursing students, cope, and part of this is encouraging them to seek counseling at the health center.

The center offers mental counseling services for students who need help coping with stress, depression and other mental/psychological conditions. Individual counseling is offered, as well as conjoint sessions wherein students are encouraged to bring in family members and deal with issues as a group. “We want to help them identify stressors and build a skill set to deal with problems,” Orpelli said. Orpelli said that with counseling, many students have become more successful in dealing with life issues. “We definitely see progress,” she said. “We see students do better in relationships, school life, friends...They are able to manage moods, discover resilience and incorporate healthy strategies for daily life. They are able to deal with depression.” These counseling sessions have proven helpful to friends and classmates of the suicide victims. The sessions also seek to help others on campus who struggle with depression and suicidal thoughts. Gillooly said that “anything that overwhelms the psyche” can push a student to commit suicide. “A person can only take so much, and sometimes life dishes out a lot,” said Gillooly. “Remember, though, that there is always help, and with help, tomorrow will look brighter.”

Pauline Guiuan can be reached at Pauline Guiuan@elvaq.com

Friday, June 9, 2006

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NEWS

Student Government Wraps Up Spring Semester By Anna Margaryan EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

t was a bittersweet day for the ASGCC as members of the 2005-2006 legislature prepared to hand over their positions to incoming AS officers. But the May 30 elections saw the return of many ASGCC members, with Vice President of Finance David Arakelyan taking over as President of the ASGCC. Arakelyan, who has climbed the AS ladder from Senator of Finance in spring 2005 to Vice President of Finance fall 20052006, will replace outgoing president Armineh Dereghishian as head of the AS legislature. The spring 2006-2007 elections, where Arakelyan and 19 members of his new legislature met with success, was a quiet one, with only one position contested, that of the Vice President of Campus Relations. Representative of Finance Christine Gharibian eventually beat out Senator of Campus

Relations Hermine Sarkisyan for the position. Sarkisyan graciously accepted defeat with a heartfelt speech congratulating her opponent’s victory and highlighting the positive nature of her experiences with the ASGCC. Unlike in the past, this semester’s election did not bring with it a flurry of campaign posters, speeches and candidates chasing after voters. The elections, which usually draw anywhere between 800 and 1,200 voters each semester, failed to draw a large number of candidates vying for positions and in turn a smaller population of voters. “Usually we have fewer people running for positions in the spring semester versus those who run in the fall semester,” said Arakelyan in response to the lack of student interest in the ASGCC elections. “Unfortunately, we had little competition during elections this year. Many of our current members are transferring, which in turn results in fewer candidates.”

With 21 elected positions and five appointed ones, there is plenty of opportunity for interested students to gain entry into the ASGCC. In fact, the offices of Senator of Campus Activities and Campus Relations are both short one officer. One of the goals of the 20062007 legislative body will be to boost student interest in the workings of the ASGCC. “We are planning on increasing our recruitment efforts next year in order to have more contested and thus more interesting elections,” added Arakelyan. “It is important to reach different groups of students in order to have students of various academic and cultural backgrounds representing our student body.” More ASGCC members may be needed with important issues like block scheduling, the parking situation and enrollment dominating the table during the next few semesters. As for Arakelyan, his vision for his tenure as President of the ASGCC revolves around his

commitment to representing the student body. “In my term as president, I hope to be able to make our organization closer to the students and address any needs or desires that our students might have,” said Arakelyan, with the hope of opening up the ASGCC to more students. “Being an ASGCC President will give me an opportunity to use the resources and influence that the organization has to make the voices of our students heard at all levels.” While Arakelyan gave no detailed account of what he plans to accomplish as president it’s clear that his main focus is the representing the voices of the students whom he has been elected to represent. With the new legislature set to take office on June 20, the current members of the ASGCC are still busy making final revisions to the AS budget. The distribution of the quarter of a million dollar AS budget continues to occupy the officers

as they approve the allocation of $2,700 for supplies and tournament membership fees for the Forensics Team as well as $2,000 for Eclipse, a literary journal put together by students. The AS has not even finished fully allocating its 2006 budget before work began on the 2007 budget of $264,798.77. It seems that next year’s budget will be close to this year’s, due to a lack of additional incoming funds. According to Arakelyan, “enrollment is down so we won’t be getting any additional revenue; therefore our budget is roughly equal to before.” As the semester draws to a close, emotions are running high at the ASGCC with the legislative body saying farewell to many members while welcoming several new officers as they conclude a semester characterized by influential decisions, heavy debates and long- term plans. Anna Margaryan can be reached at Anna_Margaryan@elvaq.com

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Friday, June 9, 2006

NEWS

Angelides Wins Democratic Primary By Stephen Hotchkiss EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

topping by Glendale College during the final week of his primary campaign Democrat Phil Angelides said, “I want to make my first act as governor to roll back community college fees.” It was a comment that registered positively with the audience in Kreider Hall on May 30. After winning the Democratic primary against State Contoller Steve Westly on Tuesday, Angelides, now State Treasurer, will go on to face Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in November’s general election. The full-house event at Kreider began as a presentation by Political Science Professor Mona Fields, who spoke to the audience about voting procedures and the inner workings of the gubernatorial primary election before Angelides took to the podium. The candidate said “Community college enrollment is down 300,000 students.” This, he said, is “at the very time we need more people, young people, adults, working people to come here to get the skills they need to succeed so we can succeed.” Angelides said he would also work toward rolling back state college and university fees “so it’s more affordable for people to go.” Angelides beat the well-

heeled Westly, by a 4.3 percent margin in party primary. The polls at the time of the election showed Westly and Angelides to be in a dead-heat despite Westly having spent an estimated $35 million of his own money on his campaign. Angelides’ strength lay in his endorsements from Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer as well as from many leading environmentalist organizations such as the Sierra Club and the League of Conservation Voters. Despite Angelides’ endorsements, at the time of the election polls showed that Westly would have the best chance of defeating Schwarzenegger in the November general election. Angelides promptly addressed this issue. “I am called the AntiArnold,” said Angelides, “and if you look at my body you’ll see it is absolutely true.” In his campus talk, Angelides said “I believe our governor did a great injustice last year. I just want to say to all people here — the educators who devote their lives to training the next generation of Californians — thank you. And when I’m governor I’m going to honor you, not attack you.” Serving as the chairman of the California Democratic Party from 1991 to 1993, Angelides had his work cut out for him. California was a state that had voted for Republicans in six presidential races in a row. The Democrats and Angelides

Photo by Jane Pojawa

Phil Angelides spoke at a pre-election informational meeting in Kreider Hall hosted by Mona Field, at left.

proved successful as they helped Bill Clinton become the first Democrat in 28 years to carry California. During this time he also saw California become the first state to elect two female senators in the same election, Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein. Angelides spoke of this triumphant time for the Democratic Party, illustrating parallels to today’s political climate. “The Democrats were broke and broken.” he said. “But we

June 6 Primary Election Results Office

Democratic Party

Republican Party

Governor Lieutenant Governor Attorney General

Phil Angelides John Garamendi Jerry Brown

Arnold Schwarzenegger Tom McClintock Chuck Poochigian

Controller Treasurer Secretary of State Insurance Commissioner U.S. Congressional District 29 State Assembly District 43

John Chiang Bill Lockyer Debra Bowen Cruz Bustamante Adam Schiff Paul Krekorian

Tony Strickland Claude Parrish Bruce McPherson Steve Poizner William Bodell Michael Agbaba

State Ballot Measures Proposition 81: Reading Improve- 46.9% YES ment, Library Renovation Bond Act Proposition 82: Preschool Educa- 39.1% YES tion. Tax Increase Upper Income.

53.1% NO

60.9% NO

stood up for our values, we stopped retreating. We quit being embarrassed about being progressives and Democrats. “We said loudly and clearly that we were for economic fairness, investing in education, and standing up for working people. We weren’t confused about who we were.” The Democratic hopeful ended with a call for immediate ideological transformation for the California he called “the wealthiest state in the richest nation in the history of the

world.” Angelides urged Californians to “build a movement of change and embrace the very notions and values that Bush and Schwarzenegger are attacking.” He promised to “make California, once again, a place that the rest of the world looks to for inspiration, a place that, at its best, lifts up everyone who has been left out, blocked out or left behind.” Stephen Hotchkiss can be reached at Stephen_Hotchkiss@elvaq.com

Friday, June 9, 2006

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NEWS

Possible Puma Sighting Brings on Light By Alison Geller

EL VAQUERO FEATURES EDITOR

t about 9:30 p.m. on May 22 Joseph Alan Lopez, a 20-year-old biology major and member of the cross country and track team, and his girlfriend left the Library Building by the second floor stairway and started walking toward the upper parking lot. They trekked up the long flight of stairs to the dark pathway that leads to the student parking area, unaware of what was lurking in the shadows. To get to their car, they needed to go past the construction site in the upper parking lot. This is the only way in or out of that lot, unless they walked all the way around to go down Mountain Street. As of Monday, the pathway, which is a little bigger then the width of a car, and is surrounded by a high chain link fence on one side and brush-covered mountain on the other, was lighted by only one light at the top of the stairs and no other light until the end of the construction site. When the two students reached the top of the stairs, they were warned by another student, who was standing at the mouth of the opening, that something was moving in the bushes and he thought it was a skunk. Not wanting to get sprayed, Lopez’s girlfriend picked up a rock and threw it into the bushes. After some rustling, the students figured the animal had run away, but that was not the case. By this point, several students were waiting to cross to the lot, “so we start walking slowly. We pass the area, and out of curiosity I just look back and I see this creature,” said Lopez. “I had no idea what it was; I’ve never seen anything like it before. “[It came] out to the cement where we were, where we had just been. And I just see the silhouette, because there’s light coming up from the stairs and everything else is dark. It turns around and you see the ears, the head and it was pretty big; it was probably about four feet long. Bigger than any cat I’ve ever seen. It could have been a wild cat, but I just thought it was a mountain lion, that was the first thing [that came to mind].” Lopez and the others walked quickly away after seeing the cat. “I’m not a hundred percent

Photo Illustration by Jane Pojawa

Mountain lion or bobcat? A possible cat sighting in the upper parking has led to better lighting conditions for students returning to their cars at night.

sure what it was; I just saw that it was a big cat,” said Lopez. “It didn’t come out to get petted and I’m not going to go and explore either. It was like stooping low like it was prowling.” However, the chances of it having been a mountain lion are slim. “We don’t think it was a mountain lion, just because we’ve checked with the rangers and with animal control,” said Nidal Kobaissi, the campus police spokesman. “Mountain lions don’t live in this part of the mountain. They aren’t indigenous to this area.” Both Bill Taylor, Director of Business Services, who is in charge of overseeing the construction, and Victoria Sincher, a Wildlife Management Specialist with the Pasadena Humane Society, said that it was not a mountain lion. “But what we think it was was a bobcat, which are in this area though they generally don’t come down to this area,” said Kobaissi. “I’ve worked here for 13 years and never had a report of a bobcat or a mountain lion. “At some point the Glendale Police Department Air Ship, the helicopter, kind of patrolled above and used their infrared but

they couldn’t see anything.” you are of it.” The campus police called the “Do not turn and run [from Park Rangers and the Pasadena it] because you’ll just trigger the Humane Society, the animal chase instinct,” said Hauck. control for this area. They came Lopez said he had one wish out to look and both said that after the sighting. “I just wish that it was most likely a bobcat, there were lights there, cause who according to Kobaissi. knows what can come up and just However Russ Hauck, a Park snatch you from behind? There’s Ranger Supervisor with the no light in that whole pathway.” Glendale park rangers disagrees. Lopez has now gotten his wish. “It could have been a mountain As of Tuesday lights have been lion; it is part of their range.” He installed on the fence and will be did say though on from sundown to that bobcat midnight. sigtings are more There seems to common. be a question as to S i n c h e r whether someone said that “90 to fell down on the 95 percent of job when it comes the time it is a to lighting that bobcat and not a pathway or not. mountain lion.” “When we met She did say, with the construction — Joseph Lopez though, that no company about matter what type of cat it was, if making that walkway, we said that anyone comes across a dangerous lights are supposed to be there,” wild animal, there are a few things said Kobaissi. “I don’t know if they should do. that ended up being someone at “Make yourself look bigger the college’s responsibility or the than you are, spread your arms, construction company.” wave them in the air and yell at Kobaissi also added that they it, make lots of noise and do not are trying to get approval to get turn around and run away from the shrubbery cut back as well. it,” said Sincher. “It will most When the construction likely be more scared of you than company was contacted, Bob

“Who knows what can come up and just snatch you from behind?”

Hart, the project inspector, said that he wasn’t sure and he would have to go over the minutes of that meeting to find out. Taylor said that there was never any discussion regarding lighting the path prior to the sighting, or what he refers to as the “incident,” and that he didn’t think there was a problem with lighting. He thought the light at the top of the stairs and the light at the end of the construction area kept the path well lit. According to Taylor, the school paid for the electrical hookups, while and the construction company ordered the lights. At least, there are now lights on the fence and the shrubbery will most likely be cut back, but if students don’t feel safe walking by themselves to the upper parking lot, they can always request campus police to escort them. If students see the large cat or any other dangerous animal, Kobaissi said not to approach it. If they have a cell phone they should call campus police immediately at (818) 240-1000, ext. 4000. Alison Geller can be reached at Alison_Geller@elvaq.com

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Friday, June 9, 2006

FEATURE

Student Activist Overcomes Racism By Olga Ramaz EL VAQUERO ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

esenia Sanchez is just another face in the crowd here on campus. Her petite frame and meek voice give the impression that she is fresh out of high school — in her words, “young and stupid.” She started taking classes at GCC the summer of 2003, right after she graduated from Verdugo Hills High School, at age 19. She started her freshman year at Hoover high school in Glendale and ended at Franklin High School in Highland Park. It was not so much the fact that she moved from city to city that led her to flunk ninth grade; it was her attitude toward academics. “I went to class whenever I wanted, I cut class whenever I wanted, and I did whatever I wanted,” she said. “I didn’t think I was going to graduate high school ’cause I could [not] have cared less.” The move from L.A. to Tujunga was awkward, but she had to adjust. “I used to live in Echo Park before I moved to Tujunga,” said Sanchez. “Belmont High School is completely different from Verdugo Hills because there’s a lot of white people. To me it was a complete culture shock.” Life in Tujunga, for an outspoken Latina who was not about to take crap from anybody, had its difficulties. She recalls walking around the neighborhood and seeing Old Glory waving proudly along with the Confederate flag. At school she would constantly get into confrontations with her peers; at one point she punched a girl in the face for calling her a bitch, an act that resulted in suspension. Confrontations also unfolded due to the typical high school attitudes and racial issues. “I had a really hard time at that school, there is just so much racism with all these students,” said Sanchez. “They use the words ‘wetback’ and ‘nigger’ as if it was nothing, and that pissed me off. I wasn’t gonna take that shit.” But she refused to let any of them, especially teachers, get the best of her. Even when they would make comments like “oh, Yesenia, you don’t have to go to school. You’re just going to have

kids and be on welfare,” she would just shrug it off and move on. Her negative outlook toward the United States and how Latinos in the U.S. are treated sparked Sanchez’s interest in history. When she set foot on the GCC campus, however, her interest in history expanded after taking a Chicano studies course she took with Professor Carlos Ugalde. Through slides of Ugalde’s travels, Sanchez familiarized herself with the history of the Mayans, the Aztec ruins and the diverse people of the world. “That [class] really opened my eyes to the whole world,” she said. It was also in Ugalde’s class that she learned about the Association of Latin American Students (ALAS) club, which Sanchez has been actively involved with for two years. Her work as a member of ALAS led to her involvement with the Justice Coalition and the creation of the Women’s International Liberation League (WILL), which she cofounded with her sister Cindy. It all started when Sanchez and her sister were having a conversation, discussing the fact that there was no club that dealt with issues that affected women. Also, Sanchez is a feminist. It is when she is out in Plaza Vaquero, exercising her right to free speech, that she makes up for her meek voice and petite frame. As a result, she’s been called a leader by some of her peers. But “what the hell does that mean?” asked Sanchez. At a protest on campus, she was confronted by some students who disagreed with her political views. Things got heated that afternoon when members of the Justice Coalition started yelling at the Army recruits. “[That protest] was the day I started yelling and speaking freely,” recalled Sanchez. She credits this day as the day that triggered her to go to protests and marches. She also thinks that this protest scared off Army recruiters from coming to campus on a frequent basis. “I don’t think GCC students are looking to enlist. This is kind of a middle class community…people are looking to transfer and doing other things besides the Army. I guess we scared them off,” she joked. Even before the immigration

Photo by Jane Pojawa

Yesenia Sanchez went from nearly becoming a high school drop-out to being accepted into UC Berkeley. She studies for what will be her final exams at GCC.

issue became a hot topic in the media, Sanchez had attended protests against the war in Iraq. On May 1, she went to a march against immigration reform. She has also gone to protests against the minute men where she confronts them and protests their racism. “When you are using words like ‘wetback,’ ‘beaner,’ that’s racism,” she said. “They can say whatever they want, but they are racist…I think they’re scared, that the United States is no longer going to be white America. “The problems in the U.S. are the Iraq war, the corruption in congress, the president doing whatever he wants, but the immigrants are the scapegoats right now. If it’s not the immigrants, 10 years from now it’s gonna be gay marriage again. It’s whatever issue they [politicians] feel is necessary to get into office.” Her passion for politics and her eagerness to create social change is admired. Sociology professor Richard Kamei recalls having Sanchez in his class. “When I first met Yesenia I could already sense that she was extremely dynamic,” he said. “What I love about her is her ability to overcome a lot of the obstacles that get in the way of our students. She has also been

able to maintain an extremely active life, in the sense of being politically conscious and not only talking the talk, but walking the walk.” Another student activist and Sanchez’s friend, Jo Takarabe, has worked closely with Sanchez in several ALAS, WILL and Justice Coalition-sponsored events. She admires Sanchez and her “amazing personal strength and passion,” which she credits as being characteristics that helped her survive the L.A. school system. “It seems that she didn’t receive the support or encouragement from her instructors that is needed to help students excel in school,” said Takarabe. “Rather she came across neglectful and sometimes blatantly racist teachers, but despite all of these obstacles, Yesenia has excelled and achieved so much.” One of the achievements Takarabe refers to is Sanchez’s acceptance to both UCLA and Berkeley. She found out that she had been accepted to Berkeley on May 1, May Day, also the day of the immigration march. Sanchez chose Berkeley over UCLA due to its history and the opportunities that the Bay Area was offering. “[The] Bay area seems a lot more progressive than Los

Angeles,” she said. “In terms of politics, I felt that Berkeley has more to offer to someone like me who is into history and anything that involves politics.” During the ’60s, Berkeley was famous for its student activism. The Free Speech Movement of 1964 began when the university tried to remove political pamphleteers from campus. Sanchez is the first in her family to graduate from high school and the first to attend a university. How did a rebellious teen manage to turn her life around? “I have no idea how the hell I got here,” said Sanchez in disbelief. “I don’t even know how I got from almost being a high school dropout to going to Berkeley. I just came to GCC, took classes, enjoyed my time here, and that’s it. My sister always told me that I could do it, in life, that’s all you need. Having one positive person in my life has really helped me. One day I woke up, and I just said, ‘I guess I’m just gonna do my homework.’ Now I’m going to Berkeley.” Once she obtains her bachelor’s in history at Berkeley, she hopes to go to law school and focus on human rights law. Her objective is to work on an international level. [See Activist, page 8]

Friday, June 9, 2006

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FEATURE

Students Raise Funds to Help Exploited Workers By Olga Ramaz

EL VAQUERO ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

n an effort to raise funds for the Worker Information Center, Centro de Informacion para Trabajadoras y Trabajadores Asociacion Civil (CITTAC), a nonprofit organization based in Tijuana, Mexico that is on the brink of closure due to lack of funds, the Association of Latin American Students (ALAS) held its spring Peña, an evening of live entertainment and food, at Plaza Vaquero on May 27. CITTAC has been around for 15 years, and up until three years ago it provided service to the people of Tijuana, Tecate and Rosarito from the home of Jaime Cota, head of the organization. Through donations, this grassroots organization managed to set up a permanent location and continues to provide legal counseling and advice to maquiladora workers who have fallen victim to poor working conditions, unfair dismissal and other injustices that occur at the job site. Maquiladoras are Americanowned companies that locate assembly plants across the border to exploit cheap labor. Every semester, ALAS gathers

to discuss where fund-raising efforts might best be directed. Last semester’s event even generated funds for the victims of Hurricane Stan in Guatemala, and in one previous year they raised money to build a school in Nicaragua. When club members brainstormed for a cause that would benefit from a Peña, CITTAC came to mind. Connie Garcia, a member of the Workers Information Center, recalled how ALAS and CITTAC forged a connection. “Someone from the [GCC] campus came to Tijuana and visited our location,” said Garcia. “We sent out letters to some of our supporters and those who had visited us in the past, letting them know about our situation. Basically, they [ALAS] contacted us.” According to ALAS member Kathy Laura, it was the idea of adjunct social science professor Celia Simonds to help CITTAC. Simonds and some of her students had previously visited CITTAC and went on a tour of their premises and several maquiladoras in Tijuana. “I thought the Peña went really well,” said student Jo Takarabe. “It was different this semester in

Student Activist Strives for Piece of American Dream [Activist, from page 7]

“There’s a lot of human rights violations all over the world and no one is being held responsible for what they do…. My job would be to hold those responsible for their war crimes.” Her main focus right now is to finish the semester. It has not hit her yet that she will be attending Berkeley in the fall; it has not even hit her family. Sanchez is sure that it will become a big deal once she is packed and ready to go. For now, she tries to put the pieces together, think about where she came from and where she is going. “I’ve done a lot of things that I’m not proud of. Resorting to violence isn’t something I’m proud of,” she said. “You live and you learn, fall, get back up

again. That’s been my whole life. I’m gonna achieve that American dream but on my definition and my terms, not on the ‘American dream, you can pick yourself up from the bootstraps.’ Obviously I did have some problems growing up. I was poor, but I’m still poor…[I’m gonna] go out there and prove to people that Latinas aren’t just women who have kids. “Latinas are going to Berkeley and going to UCLA. Latinas are getting an education. They want to change their communities, and they want to help. I’m gonna achieve the American dream…doing what makes me happy.” Olga Ramaz can be reached at Olga_Ramaz @elvaq.com

Photo by Jane Pojawa

The Latin American Cultural Dance Group entertains guests at the Peña with an array of ethnic dances.

that ALAS reached out to small businesses like Lola’s in Glendale and Señor Fish in Eagle Rock to support the event by making [food] donations. “What was also really quite nice was that members of CITTAC drove all the way from Tijuana to join us and give us an idea of what maquiladora workers are up against, and the invaluable assistance that CITTAC provides workers like them.” The evening got underway with an acoustic performance by Esteban and Efrain, followed by several dances from the Latin American Cultural Dance Group, and Manny “Vdah” Bracamonte who presented some of his spoken word.

Some of the vendors, like mother and daughter Diana Telles and Tania Torres who sold an assortment of arts and crafts, also took the time to make a political statement by setting up a presentation on the women of Juarez. “We set up the presentation so that people ask us about the murders going on in Juarez,” said Torres. “I always hope that people will gain interest in this problem and take some sort of action.” During the past decade, more than 300 young women from ciudad Juarez, Mexico have disappeared, and some were found murdered in the desert. Most of these young women were maquiladora workers, and

up until this day, their murders remain unsolved. As a result of the Peña, ALAS managed to raise $300, but will be donating a total of $800 to CITTAC. The extra $500 will be allocated from the ALAS account. “Organizations like ALAS remind me of my years as a student,” said Garcia. “This group gives me hope that when they enter the real world, they will enter it with a strong social conscience. Their efforts are greatly appreciated.” For more information on CITTAC, go to http://www.cittac. org. Olga Ramaz can be reached at Olga_Ramaz @elvaq.com

Summer 2006 There’s Still Time Sign up for Journalism 102 - Reporting the News Instructor Michael Moreau

(1st Session) * Ticket No. 2541 * MTWTH * 8 a.m. to 10:40 a.m. * AA113

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Friday, June 9, 2006

FEATURE

Anthropology Teacher Analyzes ‘Empire of Dirt’ By Carlos Villarreal EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

mid England’s cold, rainy climate, an influential musical culture flourishes each day, redefining popular music. GCC anthropology professor Wendy Fonarow explores this scene in her book “Empire of Dirt: The Aesthetics and Rituals of British Indie Music.” A 12-hour flight and a bad case of jetlag may make a trip to England seem unappealing to some, but to the music savvy, England is a musical dynamo and the birthplace of an influential subculture; Fonarow digs deep into the uniqueness of this art and reveals its hidden treasures to the reader in her latest work. In her book, Fonarow explores indie rock in England as a musical culture and a whole collective movement composed of artists and audiences that came together during the post-punk era to form a community. After studying British indie rock for 13 years from an anthropological perspective, Fonarow dissected every aspect of the indie community, from what is considered “indie” to the role of the audience and even groupies as sexual predators. “What do you think oral sex is? It’s more effective than the guest list,” states Fonarow in the chapter on sexuality. With her background in anthropology, Fonarow developed an interesting method of documenting her subjects. “I was able to do things like videotape the audience,” said Fonarow. “[It’s] pretty funny because other fans would come up to me and ask for a copy, and I would say, ‘you’re not going to want it; it’s not of the band.’” The term “indie rock” is simply derived from independent rock, a movement that started in the early ’80s as punk rock and gained popularity as a genre. Due to punk artists’ sometimes unmarketable appeal to mainstream recording labels, many artists started or signed on to independent (“indie”) labels following the “do-it-yourself” (DIY) movement that coincided with the punk movement, resulting in many bands producing their own albums without the help of large-scale record labels. English indie labels like Rough Trade released records that would have otherwise never

seen the light of day. the late ’80s and ’90s bands like Rough Trade developed as Ride, Blur and Oasis continued a record store, then [became a] to reshape the indie rock music record and distribution company,” landscape. said Fonarow. “They were known As the British indie scene as the cartel. They produced an started to gain momentum, its infrastructure to distribute music waves were felt in the U.S. as made by indie artists.” American bands such as Sonic With the DIY movement Youth, Husker Du and The being the ideological base of the Replacements echoed their indie scene, it started to resemble British counterparts. a religion for some people. For American indie bands were these people, fueled by their indie rock and rock roots; “I’m using dirt in punk the philosophy the American of DIY became the anthropological sound had a more a lifestyle, crass sense of the taboo, abrasive, encompassing sound. The British aspects such as and also [showing] acts were a bit ordinary dress easier on the ears, what is valuable and a puritan but had a more and what is not ideology to music distinct sound. that encompassed “British indie valuable in the world.” rock a return to was more — Wendy Fonarow simplicity without ge nd e r- c o d e d the excessive as feminine rock ‘n’ roll trappings that compared to American indie,” characterized the music scene of said Fonarow. Think of the mellow the 1970s. sound of the Smiths contrasted During the punk moment of with the louder, angrier postthe late 1970s, punk bands set punk music of Dinosaur Jr. to strive themselves apart with The indie scene centered a flamboyant, uniformed style of on certain ideas and a type of dress, as Sid Vicious made the sound. Bands on both sides of shirt held together by safety pins the pond found similar sounds, infamous. The post-punk and but due to social differences in indie movement utilized plain, both countries, they started to ordinary dress such as plain t- develop their sound based on shirts and jeans. their country of origin. A certain While most artists strive to intangible “homegrown” aspect keep their art pure and untainted made for subtle differences that by outside interference, the were not immediately obvious, British indie scene sought to keep but became a pattern through the their music original and pure. music of dozens of bands over “For me it was an entirely two decades. religious philosophy that is “The bands are manifested in aesthetics,” said interchangeable. You can have Fonarow. “I thought I was looking the same band but they would at music and a community, but be playing slightly differently I’m seeing religion everywhere in the U.K. than the U.S,” said with DIY, [and with] the notion of Fonarow. ordinary dress and purity. All of Due to the slight differences these things symbolized a puritan in sound and musical approach, ideology as applied to music.” many British bands gained huge For nearly 40 years, England, popularity in England, but were which Fonarow describes as just another face in crowd in the “the cradle of indie music,” U.S. has produced some of the most A prime example is The influential bands in independent Stone Roses, who found critical music. acclaim in the U.K. but fell under Johnny Rotten’s sarcastic the radar in the U.S. smirk led The Sex Pistols to a cult “They were a huge cultural following in late ’70s, and in its phenomenon in the U.K. and wake came The Buzzcocks, The a little blip in America,” said Dammed and The Clash. After Fonarow. “Most Americans can’t punk imploded on itself, the ’80s quite get what made The Stone saw the rise of the post punk and Roses so wonderful, and that new wave era which beckoned just might happen to The Artic the era of indie rock , featuring Monkeys.” bands like Joy Division, Gang of The Artic Monkeys are a Four, The Fall, and New Order. In current British indie act whose

debut album “Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not,” became the fastest selling album in British history and is slowly starting to make an impact on U.S. soil. One reason that British acts are slow to catch on is the corporate ownership of the media that is so pervasive in America, which favors bands signed to major labels. Another reason may be that the British sound is not as appealing to American ears. In the U.K., indie rock became a cultural phenomena that appealed to people of all ages as opposed to the American indie scene, which primarily only caught the attention of young people. In the U.K., music was more than just something used to pass the time during long drives; it was the center of culture and society of English life for people of all ages, whereas in the U.S., an interest in music can start to fade with age. “Why is it that in our society, it’s [popular music] a youth phenomena, when in other societies, an interest in music is something that varies across generations?” asked Fonarow. Even though musical taste can vary greatly from person to person, with aspects of culture and belonging thrown into the

mix, the British indie scene has embraced many aspects to create a way of life as opposed to a label slapped on a music genre. In her book, Fonarow showcases a subculture that is still thriving to this day, defining a new generation of music and people as defined by its interesting title that delves deeper into the very fabric of the British culture. “It [the title] has to do with how meaning is. It’s meant to be like a mystery, like why this book is called this, and as you read the last chapter you realized why it’s called that,” said Fonarow. “In the last section, it’s called ‘My Music Is Your Dirt,’ which really makes it exclusive why it’s titled that. I’m using dirt in the anthropological sense of the taboo, and also [showing] what is valuable and what is not valuable in the world.” Perhaps one person’s dirt is another person’s treasure. “Empire of Dirt: The Aesthetics and Rituals of British Indie Music,” is available for purchase on Amazon.com. As for Fonarow, she plans to go back to Britain for the summer. “I go to British summer [music] festivals every year,” she said. “They are like my pilgrimages.” Carlos Villarreal can be reached at Carlos_Villarreal@elvaq.com

Photojournalism For Fall?

Learn the basics and build a portfolio! Journalism 110 / Fall 2006 Ticket Number # 4324 Monday and Wednesday 10:15 - 11:45a.m. Instructor: Liane Enkelis

Letter Dear Pauline, Although I enjoyed your Nursing Program article very much and know many of the staff from my 20 years as an employee of GCC, Karen Whalen is the nursing instructor you were referring to in your article. I worked as an Administrative Assistant in the Health Center and while I knew Karen I did not teach her classes (my former life as a Dental Assistant doesn’t even come close to what a Registered Nurse needs to know or do). I am glad I happened to be on campus yesterday and the El VAQ was there for me to bring home to read. I hope it is possible to print a correction before the end of the semester. Sincerely, Karen Wharton, Retired (GCC Health Center)

Friday, June 9, 2006

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FEATURE

Photo by Andreea Teodorescu

These items waiting to be fired are representative of the more than 1,000 pieces of student and faculty work for sale.

Handmade Art Sale Benefits Ceramics Students, Studio L Photo by Sumaya Mehai

Andrea Benson, 18, who is studying dance as well as ceramics, hones her skills on the potter’s wheel.

Photo by Emmanuel Belviz

Jay McCaslim, right and far right, works on stylized cups. He is a beginning ceramics student

ooking for a unique piece that can’t be found at retailers such as Target or Ikea? The Spring Ceramics Sale on Saturday has something to offer all tastes and budgets. The sale features work by faculty and more than 200 current ceramics students. The selection available includes decorative, sculptural and functional pieces of pottery in porcelain, stoneware, raku, majolica and more. Prices range from $5 to $100. “Some of the advanced students show their work in galleries,” said

Mark Poore, ceramics department head, explaining that there are high quality pieces available. Proceeds are split between the artists and the department, with the department receiving 20 percent. Those funds are used for supplies and equipment, and to bring special speakers to GCC. The sale is from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday in the Student Center Conference Room 212. Free parking will be available in Lot A off Mountain Street. For more information, contact the ceramics department, ext. 5543.

Photo by Greg Agop

Photo by Andreea Teodorescu

Carla Silvers, an advanced ceramics student, is selling some pieces Saturday.

Photo by Laura Dayao

Functional items, such as this plate being formed on the potter’s wheel by advanced student Muna Karram, are part of the selection for sale along with decorative and sculptural pieces.

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Friday, June 9, 2006

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

‘Confessions’ Serves the Best New Plays T

he biannual showcase of new plays written, directed and acted by the theater arts department’s advanced acting/ directing class consists of six 10minute one-act plays with the central theme of “confession.” Interpretations of the theme ranged from the personal to the blasphemous; comedy, tragedy and even historical fiction were among this year’s contributions. From top left: “The Men Who would be President,” “The Classifieds,” “Customer Service,” Digestion,” “A Delicate Nothing,” and “Love for Sale.” [See Plays, page 14]

Photography by Jane Pojawa Jane Pojawa can be reached at Jane_Pojawa@elvaq.com

Friday, June 9, 2006

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Friday, June 9, 2006

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Dance Performance 2006:

Students Strut Their Stuff inYear-end Showcase Spectacular

By Pauline Guiuan

EL VAQUERO NEWS EDITOR

Dance Performance 2006 featured student choreographed works such as “Alone,” “Encounters,” “Beneath the Layers,” “The Pussy Cat Broadway,”and “Elements.”

Photography by Jane Pojawa

olorful lights flash onstage as a group of about 30 dancers clad in sparkling purple and black costumes move with quick, graceful steps to an upbeat blues tune. They move perfectly in sync with the beat, all smiles at an appreciative audience. This fun, light jazz number is “The Walking Blues,” choreographed by Liz Curtis, and this is the opening piece at the GCC dance department’s Dance Performance 2006. The biannual dance production, which opened May 30 at the Sierra Nevada Gym, is in its 31st year and is completely choreographed and performed by students enrolled in the college’s jazz workshop, choreography workshop and dance production classes.

“This is all student choreography,” said Lynn McMurrey, the production’s artistic director and chair of the dance department. “Everything came from the very bright, imaginative, and sometimes twisted ideas of students. The teachers only guided them.” According to the director, the students had been preparing for the production all semester, and each choreographer had one hour per week to work on a piece. “Students commit time from 12:30 to 5 p.m., two days a [See Dance, page 14]

Friday, June 9, 2006

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ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Dance Program Presents Diverse Interpretations [Dance, from page 13]

week,” said dance professor Patti Cox. “They put in lots of time. They even gave up the whole Memorial Day [to rehearse].” Student choreographer and dancer Selin Minassians agreed that it was “very hectic. But it was a good learning experience. We [performers] are like family now; it’s like dancing with your brothers and sisters.” Minassians, who choreographed the finale and also participated in the past two semester’s dance productions, said that this semester’s performance had more variety than before. McMurrey added that what made this year’s production unique was the subject matter expressed through the dance pieces. “The [pieces] are a lot heavier [in meaning]. The dancers deal with issues that mean a lot to them; they are a lot more dramatic.” Heavy emotions are indeed evident in pieces such as “Strain,” which seems to satirize societal pressure and conformity through dancing and some acting, and “Loss,” a sad, wistful ballet number in which the dancers are mostly clad in dark colors. “Beneath the Layers,” a solo number performed by Shannon D’Souza, also conveys feelings of pain and confusion.

However, there are also some light pieces, which include “Danse Boheme,” a mix of ballet and Latin dance, and the dreamy “Feel the Stars Aligning” number. Another unique aspect of this year’s show, according to McMurrey, is that there are fewer hip-hop numbers. “There’s only one hip-hop piece,” he said, which is the finale number, “Pussycat Broadway,” where hiphop choreography is contained in a segment of the medley. Some hip-hop is also observed in “Elements,” a piece that demonstrates the influences and characteristics of jazz dancing. “Elements” was conceptualized by Victor Robles, a former student who now teaches dance. “I came up with the idea of how to define jazz,” Robles said. “It’s a fun piece with contemporary music.” The numerous costumes were designed by the students with the help of head costumer Bonnie Shipston. “The choreographers come to me with an idea of [the costume] they want,” she said. “I make the costumes and sometimes, if they need help, I look at the piece and make suggestions. But they generally have a very specific idea of what they want.” The company honored Shipston’s effort through a comical dance number called

“Busy, Busy, Busy,” in which Shipston herself is seen onstage taking measurements and dressing the dancers as they perform. The show’s sound design was done by Robin Ward and the stage manager was Amanda Hall. The lighting design was done by McMurrey himself. In his introduction to the show on opening night, McMurrey dedicated this year’s performances to professional dancer Frank Wong, who is a benefactor of some of the college’s dance projects and is fondly known to dance students as the “dance department angel.” Wong is currently battling cancer. “Without him, we’d still be doing what we’re doing, but it would be much harder,” McMurrey said before calling for a short “moment of energy” for Wong. The wide variety of ideas and techniques in the performance was met by much applause and appreciation from the audience. “I’m enjoying it,” said Colleen Godwin, a member of the audience. “I like seeing what the [dancers] are trying to say. There’s some very impressive dancing.” Performances ran through June 4.

Pauline Guiuan can be reached at Pauline Guiuan@elvaq.com

Photo by Jane Pojawa

Bonnie Shipston is “Busy, Busy, Busy,”making costumes for the dance productions.

Theater Arts Stages Lively New Plays [Plays, from page 11] At the end of every semester, the best of the new plays are presented in the Studio Theater, an intimate venue designed for simple, dialogue-based productions. It is not a venue that lends itself to elaborate sets or props, so the emphasis is placed on acting and directing. Although the quality of “Confessions” was, at times, uneven, it did not disappoint. Unfortunately, the new plays are performed for only one weekend. The following is a brief summary of the six new plays. Bad parenting and the Kennedy clan make for realistic historical speculation in “The Men Who Would Be President,” written by Sergio Castillo and directed by Amanda Hall. Did Joseph Kennedy Sr., played by Sergio Castillo, exploit his children for his own political ends? Did son Joe Jr., played by Chris Beltran, unnecessarily risk his life to win his fathers love? One drunken night after a family get-together, the confessions start flying. “The Classifieds,” written by Jessyca Bluwal and directed by Meagon Ligons, offers irreverent fun in sound bites. Expect to be offended, or delighted, by the goods and services sought and provided by various religious figures through classified advertisments come to life. Tony, played by Carlo Morelli, may be the worst employee Duane (Sergio Castillo) has. He spends his day goofing off with coworker Steve (Ryan Robbins) and flirting with immediate supervisor Nancy (Jessyca Bluwal), who just isn’t having it. “Customer Service,” written by Jose Fernandez and directed by Nick Cambell, explores what might happen if an armed robber (Chris Beltran) happened to attack somebody with nothing to lose. Tony disarms his assailant with his mouth long before he seizes his weapon,

proving that confessions may be empowering. Digestion starts strong and finishes badly with a duffel bag dragged onto the stage. May (Valerie Walker) is the body in the bag, and despite being treated badly is still very much alive and coherent. Her abductors, Iris and Edward (played by Amanda Hall and Ryan Robbins) have mixed feelings about who is at fault and how best to handle this unfortunate state of affairs. Eventually, Father John (Carlo Morelli) arrives to finish the job, but before it is all over, a series of confessions implicates the entire Catholic system and the Pope specifically. “Digestion” was written and directed by Sergio Castillo. Can two friends remain friends when one has first proposed no-strings-attached sex, then followed it with a confession of unrequited love? “A Delicate Nothing,” written by Sergio Castillo and directed by Tony Silva attempts to resolve the issue over a few cocktails. Desperate Darrel was played by Adam Taheri, sensible Arineh by Meagon Ligons. A prostitute and a conservative senator? This couple has a lot more in common than they perhaps know and “Love for Sale” explores some possible common ground that springs from the confession of the machinations that brought them together. Tanya, a hooker with a MENSA IQ, is portrayed by Valerie Walker and Bible-thumping senator Irving, by Nick Campbell. In addition, production supervisor Melissa Randel and stage manager Camilo Villegas Giorgi kept the show running smoothly. “Confessions” is six different ways of seeing what might happen if one were to be completely truthful — if only for one act. Jane Pojawa can be reached at Jane_Pojawa@elvaq.com

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Friday, June 9, 2006

ity Orchestr

e Classics h t s g n to a Bri

e l G

College Com e l a mun nd

Ted Stern conducts the Glendale College Community Orchestra May 21 in a program featuring works by Holst, Elgar, Bruch and Dvorak.

By Ramela Isagholian

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

oud applause filled the auditorium May 21 as the Glendale College Community Orchestra presented a public performance culminating months of rigorous practice. The orchestra is made up of instrumentalists from throughout Los Angeles County, combined with students from the music department. It is a full orchestra with complete woodwind, brass, percussion and string sections. The GCC orchestra played four musical compositions and a full symphony under the direction of Dr. Theodore Stern. The first number was written by English composer Gustav Holst. “Jupiter,” from his sevenmovement orchestral suite, “The Planets,” was written in 1916. The audience responded with enjoyment and appreciation. The second piece was “Nimrod” from the “Enigma” variations, written in 1899 by Edward Elgar, also an English composer. As Stern explained, Elgar composed a theme with 14 variations, each variation identifying one of his family members or friends, signified by the initials of their names.

ife

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Stern said the Enigma Variations have been a puzzle for musicians and music historians for the last hundred years, who have been trying to figure out the identity of each person from this piece. “Nimrod variation number nine,” piece presented by the orchestra, is the most famous of the series. Nimrod was the nickname of August Johannes Jaeger, a family friend of the Elgars. The next piece was “Romance for Viola and Orchestra,” composed by Max Bruch, a German composer, in 1911. According to Stern, “Bruch’s ‘Romance for Viola and Orchestra’ draws inspiration from the two romances Beethoven wrote for violin and orchestra a century earlier.” This particular piece was performed by the orchestra and guest soloist Dr. Patrick Rosalez., who performs regularly with the Mozart Classical Chamber Orchestra and the Riverside Philharmonic, among others. The last piece performed was the “Symphony No. 8 in G Major,” written by Antonin Dvorak, a Bohemian composer, in 1888. This symphony contains four movements and, according to Stern, “Dvorak’s deep longing

for an independent country of his own can be seen in each piece of his compositions.” Stern is a GCC professor who teaches music history, music appreciation and music fundamentals, and has been conducting the orchestra since 1981. “The GCC Orchestra musicians put their 120 percent [into the performance] and are practicing very hard,” said Stern. Stela Fejtek, a GCC staff member who was present at the concert, called the orchestra an “incredible group of musicians who are not only talented individuals but are playing with all their emotions and hearts.” Fejtek, who has also participated at the study abroad program to Prague, said, “Ted’s knowledge of music is amazing and he has a wonderful teaching method.” Among the audiences, some had never experienced a symphony orchestra concert before. For student Anja Korhill, “this was a great experience that [she is] never going to forget.” The orchestra practices every Monday evening from 7 to 10 at GCC Auditorium, behind the main stage. Ramela Isagholian can be reached at Ramela_Isagholian@elvaq.com

Photo by Jane Pojawa

Friday, June 9, 2006

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ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT o

Film

review

‘An Inconvenient Truth’ Is Just That By Alison Geller

EL VAQUERO FEATURES EDITOR

hile most people have been dying to see “X-Men: The Last Stand” or “The Omen,” they may literally die if they do not see and adhere to the lessons in Al Gore’s film “An Inconvenient Truth.” Never has there been a title that so accurately embodies a film like this one, because the message presented in this movie is inconvenient, but it is also extremely important. On May 24, “An Inconvenient Truth” opened in only four theaters, two in New York and two in Los Angeles, and on Friday it will open nationwide. The film stars one person, Al Gore, vice president to President Bill Clinton. He introduces himself, with the self-deprecation that accents the film, with the statement: “I used to be the next president of the United States.” His costar in the film, directed by Davis Guggenheim, is planet Earth. The movie is about global warming and its effect on the planet and on the future of the human race. Using graphs, diagrams, animated shorts (one was from the old TV show “Futurama”), captivating quotes, and pictures of various locations on the planet, Gore brings his point home. The human race is destroying the most important thing we have, our planet itself. “That is what is at stake…our ability to live on planet Earth,” says Gore in the film. And while the thought of

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Al Gore explains the dangers of global warming in “An Inconvenient Truth.”

going to see a film about an Al Gore lecture is enough to give anyone pause, there is nothing to worry about. Gone is the boring, stuffy, dull vice president/president elect and in his place is Al Gore, a witty, charming, charismatic person who really cares about the planet and the effect global warming is having on it. He is very personable. Viewers find out a lot about his life and how he came to be so involved with global warming. This movie is laced with comedic moments to balance the scientific data and is very entertaining as well as educational. According to the film, scientists believe Earth may be unlivable in less than 50 years if people do not stop cutting down trees and creating so much carbon dioxide through the burning of fossil fuels. With all the carbon dioxide being created, more heat is being trapped inside the Earth’s atmosphere, causing the melting of Antarctica and Greenland, as well as glaciers all over the world. Then the planet gets hotter and hotter as the water heats up. This leads to stronger storms, like hurricane Katrina, and the drying up of critical bodies of water throughout the world. Gore compares us to a frog and a pot of water. If a frog jumps into a boiling pot of water, it’ll jump right back out. But if it jumps into a pot of water that is

cool but is slowly being brought to a boil, it won’t jump out at all. This is depicted in a cute animated short, but don’t worry, the frog is saved at the end of the short, and hopefully the planet will be as lucky. In one sad moment, Gore mentions how polar bears are actually drowning in their search for bodies of ice to rest on; some swim up to 60 miles trying to find ice that is sufficiently solid. One of the captivating quotes Gore uses to emphasize his points is a statement by Upton Sinclair, who wrote fictional books about social injustices in the world, the most famous being “The Jungle.” Sinclair said, “It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.” Like the fact that they might be helping destroy the world! A book with the same title “An Inconvenient Truth,” by Al Gore was also released on May 24. For more information about the film, on how one can help stop global warming and to find theaters showing the film, visit the Web site at www.climatecrisis.net. This is a movie that needs to be seen by everyone, and while it does drag a little in parts, the movie as a whole is well worth seeing. It is also quite a wake-up call. **** Out of 4 stars Alison Geller can be reached at Alison_Geller@elvaq.com

New Films Promise Summer Entertainment By Rachel Mills

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

ummer is just around the corner, and a crop of new movies is about to be released Here is a sampling of cinematic treats for the summer. The Omen Release Date: June 6 Stars: Liev Schreiber, Julia Stiles, Mia Farrow, David Thewlis and Seamus DaveyFitzpatrick Synopsis: Robert Thorn’s wife Katharine has bad luck when it comes to bearing children. After a stillbirth, Thorn, on the council of a priest, adopts another child born the same night. Unfortunately, their new child, Damien, is the AntiChrist. A Prairie Home Companion Release Date: June 9 Stars: Tommy Lee Jones, Woody Harrelson, Meryl Streep, Maya Rudolph, Kevin Kline and Lindsay Lohan Synopsis: A cozy little live radio station show in St. Paul Minnesota draws small crowds but the radio station’s sale to a Texas conglomerate means this Saturday night’s performance is the last. Cars Release Date: June 9 Voices: Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Bonnie Hunt and Richard Petty Synopsis: A speed racing car by the name of Lighting McQueen is focused on the finish line until he gets stuck in a sleepy Route 66 town and discovers love with Sally. The Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift Release Date: June 16 Stars: Lucas Black, Bow Wow, Sung Kang and Nathalie Kelly. Synopsis: Sean Boswell, an underdog street racer with in impetuous attitude, has gotten into trouble with local

authorities and is sent off to live in Tokyo with his strict father. While in Tokyo he gets dragged into the notorious and fast-paced world of drifting. Superman Returns Release Date: June 30 Stars: Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth, James Marsden and Kevin Spacey Synopsis: Superman, Clark Kent, has been gone several years. Coming back to Metropolis he finds his world changed; a world that does not need him and where the love of his life Lois Lane has found another. To make matters worse, an old enemy is plotting against him. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest Release Date: July 7 Stars: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Geoffrey Rush and Keira Knightly Synopsis: Will Turner and fiancé Elizabeth Swanson are about to be married, unfortunately Captian Jack Sparrow owes a blood debt to Davy Jones and will be enslaved in his afterlife if he doesn’t pay the debt back ASAP. The Passion of the Clerks Release Date: July 21 Stars: Brian Christopher O’Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Rosario Dawson, Jason Mews and Kevin Smith Synopsis: In this “Clerks” sequal we see the continuing antics of the Quick Stop and RST Video clerks Dante and Randal, who are starting to figure out that it’s about time they pull themselves together and grow up. Snakes on A Plane Release Date: August 18 Stars: Samuel L. Jackson, Benjamin McKenzie, Nathan Phillips, Rachel Blanchard and Kenan Thompson Synopsis: An assassin stalking a witness in protective custody on a plane over the Pacific Ocean unleashes a crate full of deadly snakes.

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Friday, June 9, 2006

GRADUATION LIST

GLENDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION - JUNE, 2006

ASSOCIATE IN SCIENCE DEGREE Kazuto Akimoto Vem Hipol Alba* Antonio Allahyarian** (H) Katrina Andryans** Kathrine Arshak-Shahbazian*** Frida Asatryan (H) Karine Aslanian*** Karine Avakyan Lida Nina Babaian* Manik Babakhanyan*** Ma.Floriza W. Bagaford Hilda Baghdasarian** Tsovinar Baghiyan Robert Vitalivich Baindourov* Patricia Marie Basham*** Rocio Beltran Dabdoub Nicholas John Beyer** Lala Blkhoian*** Lizette Francisco Borja** Alma Rosa Caplan* Racquelle Castro** Alicia Dawn Celic (H) Elie A. Chemali Tung Wai Cheng (H) Susan M. Clayton** (H) Rayna I. Cvetkova** (H) Manoosh Davidian Hrachuhi Davtyan (H) Nishmeth De Jesus* Ruben P. De Los Reyes JR. Jonathan Ulises Del Prado** Lidik Deryaghoobian** Amanda Duwick

Charinale Cuico Elorta** (H) Rima Eskandargardbad (H) Malin Jana Suzanne Eveman** (H) Elizabeth Feria** Aya Fujimoto Jenny Tida Gallagher Phillip Aaron Gallasch** Karine Galstyan Anahit Gasparyan Anahid Ghahramanian Maria Gharibian** (H) Lida Gharibians Helen Ghookasian Anoosh Ghoolian Arin Ghoujoumian Juliet Golestanian (H) Otto Erick Gordillo* Loojina Gregorian Susanna Grigoryan Inna Gromova (H) Iris Cecilia Guevara* Marie Pauline Guiuan (H) Rima Haghverdian (H) Norik Hakopian** Natalia Hartoonian (H) Lani Yuriko Hashimoto Iliana Hernandez Dilshani Saumya Hettige** Eunice Tomas Hoke** JiYun Hong Laurie Marie Hornor** Juliet Issaeiyan

Lida Issagholian*** Vardouhi Jabrayan* MiHyung Jung Loojina Karimmasihi Mir Karim Kashani* (H) Bella Kasimyan*** Hamik Kavorgian Henrik Kavorgian Masayuki Kawakubo Hasmik Kesheshian Roubina Khanlari Vardan Khudanyan** Mikhail Anatolyevich Langer** (H) Minhaw Lee Nathalie Pineda Licup** Jaime Lopez-Medina (H) Wayne Andrew Love** Charmaine Cayabyab Macaranas Rachek N. Magala (H) Clark Duke Mains** Erika Mae Cuetl Malaguit Rozik Mandani** (H) Kathleen Louise Marino** Ronelita Manimtim Marquez Yuriko Matsue* Armen Minassian Melissa Moran Yuki Morishita Yukari Moriyama Kimberly Sue Morrow** Karine Dzharatanyan Movsesyan***

Goharik Muradyan Kevin W. Murphy (H) Leta-Simone Muwwakkil** Gayane Nalbandian Yuki Noguchi** Anait Oganesyan** Taeko Onozawa (H) Jose Manuel Ortega Romik V. Ovasapyan* Silvana Pashapour Hilda Pedrosian* Kristina Lynne Person Anush Poghosyan (H) Ferdinand Moriones Pujalte Joanna Ramos Maria Fina B. Reyes** Mary Vincynth Bautista Rico (AGS) Liza Lynne V. Rimular (H) Daimici Kuulei Aloha Robert* Hermine Sagsyan Ryoko Sakai Yumiko Sakurai Chieko Samejima Shawna Lynn Plesnik-Sanchez Manuela SantaCruz Anna Christine Santos** Alvard Sargsyan Seda Sarkisian** Anna V. Scarpone (H) Sandra Chacon-Schull Derek Scott Schuller Roobina Shahbazian

Helen Shahbazvand Klaris Shahian (H) Hilda Shahinian** Takamasa Shiina** Mio Shimahara Helen Sinanyan*** Barbara Saura Sinocruz** Dapheney Smith** Carlos F. Sosa Kevin Michael Streeter** (H) Tsukimi Tachikawa Tina Termado Rima Termkrtchyan (H) Azatui Terpanosyan** Njdeh B. Thomassian (H) Vardui Tigranyan Anahit Trdatyan Satoko Ueda* Beatriz Vazquez*** Rungnapa Waodonphai** Janet Warren Brian William Wildason Jackeline Wilson Yun Son Won Sung Chull Yang** Anita Aghajanian Yeromian* Steve Zamora Armast Zargarian Haranoosh Venoosh Zargarian Hasmik Ziraki

GLENDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION - JUNE, 2006

ASSOCIATE IN ART DEGREE Kyle Michael Aaron Jocelyn Rabaja Abad Negar Nicole Abadi* Katrin Gharibian Abarchian Linush Abgaryan Arabel Aboulian Ani Abrahamyan* (H) Marlin Abramian Anna Abulyan Melvina Eduviges Ablersberg Susie Agazaryan** Adrineh Aghajanian Armineh Aghajanina (H) Alina Aghazarian Alex Agopian Ples Edgar Williams Aguilar Luisa E. Aguilar-Salazar** Daira Ethel Aguirre** Alen Akhverdyan* (H) Suren Akopian Tigran Akopian Nazeli J. Akopyan* Anna Alagulyan Stella Aleksandryan Nune Aleksanyan (H) Ania Alexandrian* Areg Alexandrian** (H) Christopher Corpus Alfonso

Nvart Almas Christine Ani Almasi (H) Joseph Winner Almeida-Kelley* Shelley Stephanie Alvarado* Karla C. Amador (PACE) Rossely Amarante (H) Julie An Alfredo Antillon Ani Aramyan (H) Olympia Nadanza Arellano*** Mauricio O. Arevalo*** Arpi Arman (H) Marina Arshakyan* Seroge Artoonyan** (H) Knarik Arutyunyan** Narine Arutyunyan** Artin Asadurian Robert Asaturyan Nina Aslan* (H) (AGS) Levon Aslanyan* Ani A. Avagyan Karine Avakyan Aylin Avarterazian (H) Edwin Avedian** Aileen Maryann Avila Natalia Avila Alvita Ayvazyan Narine Azarian (H)

Edgar Azaryan*** Angineh Babakhanian*** Roubina Babakhanians (H) Fatemeh Babakhanlo Tina Babayan Ernest Badounts* Michael Baghoomian Agavni Bakalian* Guadalupe Banda* Angineh Bandari** Lourdes Barnhart Kirakosian (PACE) Aurea M. Barreto** Varduhi Barseghyan (H) Linda Barsomian** Anush Beglaryan* Ripsime Begoyan Joseph Eugene Bellissimo Elyse Rachel Bettelli Marine Bezhanyan** (H) Jon-Paul David Bird Varand Bonyadi Talin Boudaghian Anita A. Boudaghian Kimberly Anne Bowman** (H) Armine Boyadzhyan** Meghan Elizabeth Breeden Jerod Michael Brey* (H)

John Edrik Michael L. Brillante* Nicole Monique Brown Amy Budinich Verna Ann Y. Buencochillo* Kathleen F. Burke-Kelly Gervell Micheal Byrd* Assunta Maria Capra* Nikolce Carovski** Maria Yanira Casco Otero Melissa Jo Cassara (H) Robert Richard Castabeda* (H) Edgar H. Castellanos** Maria Dolores Castillo (PACE) Amelia B. Castor Georgeanna J. Chacon Ji Hye Chae* (H) Pamela Ineguez Chaires** Jamal M. Chamseddin Margarita Chan Moon Chang Tiffany Lorraine Chapman* Raquel Chavarria (H) Ting-Yun Cheng** Bora Chhun*** April Michelle Choi Lynne D. Chown** (H) Cooper Coleman Jeanette Christian Conde*

Beatriz Francisca Contreras Jose G. Contreras Landon Johan Cortenbach** Juan Pablo Cortes Corinne C. Cuento Kierstin C. Daidone-Segura Christine Danelian Ani Daniyelyan Alejandra P. Darriba** Paulette Lynette Davidian Sean Patrick Davies Darrin Nathan Davis (PACE) Lernik Davityan*** Garnia Davoodi (H) Lidia Davoodiansirk Narineh Davoudi Masihi** Diana Davtyan Samvel Davtyan (H) Tizoc DeAztlon Garnik Degbashyan* Luis Garcia De La Rosa Hanssy Bryan Deleon Ramil Lampa De Leon** Elizabeth Salas DeRamos Helen Derderian* Armineh Dereghishian Ani Dermenjian*** Sally Derohanessian***

Friday, June 9, 2006

www.elvaq.com

GRADUATION LIST

GLENDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION - JUNE, 2006

ASSOCIATE IN ART DEGREE Rosa Elba Duran** Armine Dzhabrailyan** Sheh Jen Ear** (H) Arpineh Ebrahimian** Ani Edjhuryan** Sirik Yelena Edwards Agnes Eisaghalian Diana Eissagholian* Grigor Eliasian* Nathaniel Panique Estrada*** Sharon Febre* Edmond Fereydooni (H) Catalina T. Fernandez** Jose Fernandez* Emily Rose Floyd Hassan M. Fokie Victoria Diane Fowler** Dora Alicia Franco* (PACE) Zulma J. Franco Sylvia Frat** Roxana Y. Fuentes Eduardo Garcia** Jacqueline Garcia Javier Garcia Michael John Garcia (PACE) Tatevik Garibyan (H) Anahit Gasparyan Arsine Gasparyan** Michelle Leslie Rivera Gavino Angineh V. Gerigorian Mary Gevorkian** Emil Gharibi Artin Gharibian** Anita Ghazali Sahaghian (H) Ani K. Ghazarian Maria Christina Gianan Maureen Gilliard (PACE) Serena Gittisarn Bryan Steve Godinez** (PACE) Nereida Godinez Cinthia Gomez Julia E. Gomez** Cirilo Lucerna Gonzales Ana L. Gonzalez Evelin Roxana Gonzalez Lydia C. Gonzalez (PACE) Stephanie Gonzalez***(H) Kevin Cody Goodson Juan J. Gorocica** Anneliesse R. Gosdinski** Ani Goukassian Anna Fiona Gragori-Malkhassian** Susan Reiva Graham***(H) (PACE) Felicia Nadine Green** Jeff R. Griffith (H) Karine Grigoryan** Pedro A. Guardado Vladimir Angelov Gurovsky Sevada Hacobian* James Matthew Hager, Jr. (H) (PACE) Teni Hakopian Jennifer Han Monnica Han (H) Marina Hanai

Jiao Hao (H) Margarine Harris** (PACE) Talin Hartounian** Anna Hartunian Tamara Harutyunyan** Gayane Hatian** Carmen Hayrapet** (H) Brenda Hernandez*** (PACE) Christopher Anthony Hernandez*** Delilah Irene Hernandez Estela Hernandez** Iliana Hernandez** Julio Cesar Hernandez Kira Nicole Hernandez*** Ramon Herrera Ana Maria Higareda Mie Hitoshio** Emily Ann Hoffman-Fuglsby Sally Seufert Holmes** Mary Hovagimian (H) Anna Hovakimyan Bella Hovanesian Berta Hovanesian Juliet Hovanesian* Adena Hovasapian Arpine Hovasapyan (H) Kaori Ide*** Sachiko Ide Shoko Iino Sorato Ijichi* Yuta Imada Mary Ruth Indrieri Sandy Inzunza** Dana G. Inoescu** (PACE) Celina J. Iraheta** Anahid H. Isagholian Ramela Isagholian Sevada Isayan Melissa Taline Ishkanian Nare Ismailyan** Lia Issagholian Arato Iwasawa** Michael Kim Izon***(H) (AGS) Erin Nicole Jackson Jorge Eduardo Jacobo Adelina Jaramillo** Lisa Marie Jew Karoon W. John Sara Kamberian Daisuke Kanezaki** Tadeh Karabidian (H) Naira Karadolian Armenuhi Karaguezian (H) Artur Karasyov (H) Mark Garo Karayan*** Mariko Kase** Akiyo Kawabata Daiana Kelleyian** (H) Offik Kesheshy** Sarineh Keshish** Sioneh Keshishian* Karmen Keshishyan Vanessa Ramesh Keval** Stephen Michael Keyes Bianca Khachatourian (H) Meline Khachatourian

Vilen Khachatryan (H) Izabella Khachoyan Shant Khachturian Edmon Khajkian** Aniss Khani (H) Edna Khavshaba Elizabeth Khodzabashyan** Perchui Khurshudyan Pauline N. Kibi Yuya Kikawada Arthur Jude Killian Bora Kim Yosep Kim* Yun K. Kim (H) Armen Kiramijyan** (AGS) Arthur Kishani Yana A. Klubovich* (H) Angella Kocharyan*** Anastasia Komarova** Asuka Kotani Raymond Krikorian Michael Gene-Wayne Kwan Diana T. Lam Vu P. Lam** Jonathan Willem Lapre Janica Jasmin Marino Lasala** Katherine Carla Laura Youngbok Lee Armenui Lelikyan Syuzanna Lelikyan Corey Edward Lenaris Merilda A. Leslie*** Rolando A. Lim Jr.* Natalya Alena Loeffen* Erica Teresa Lomeli Sonia Elizabeth Lopez** Victor A. Lopez Yasmin Lopez Kathleen Elizabeth Loughlin (PACE) Phing Ly Ding Ma* Luciana Oliveira Machado (PACE) Concepcion Macias Gregory John Macias Jr. Andrew John MacLachlan Norayr Norik Madadi Armine Madanyan** Erline Amon Madlangsakay** Ashley Kinuko Maeshiro Lena Magardechian* Paulette Malekian*** Victoria Malkhasyan Rozik Mandani (H) Anita Amelia Manopo Narbeh Manoukian Marian Maher Mansour Luis C. Mares Aileen Markarian Armineh Markarian Juliet Markarian (H) Rubina Markosyan Janette Demero Martin Blanca Martinez (H) Delmy Aracely Martinez Abel Martirosyan

Araksya Martirosyan Tomoe Mashiyama Maureen K. Matata Angela Matosyan Sean Erik Mckinney Sevannah Meckailian** Bernadette Cristobal Medina* Luz Patricia Medrano* Araik Megrabyan Andre Mehrabian Heidi Xiomara Melendez Armine Melkomian (H) Talar Jennifer Melkonian** Ani Melkumian** Hayk Melkumyan Alca Mendez* Esperanza Mendez* Maria Inez Mendoza Aledia Mermerian* David Michel* Shirley R. Mims* (H) (AGS) Nareg Minaskeian** Meghedy Minassian** Kathleen Louise Miner Cong Miu (H) (PACE) Anush Mkrtchyan Urart Mkrtchyan Narbeh Mnasians (H) Eric Anderson Mohler Ilsemaria Luvianka Mojica** Ebelio Mondragon (H) Sergio Montiel Milla Angelina Margaret Montoya***(H) Andrea Lee Moore* Gabrielle Lyn Moore (H) Elga Moosakhanian Annette Moradkhani Hazel Morales Alejandro E. Moreno (PACE) Lilit Narinyants Gilbert Nazari Karmen M. Nazarian Nora Nazaryan Amy Elise Nelsen (H) Brian Edmond Nelson** Cora Jean Nelson (H) Nhan Sanh Nguyen*** Anait Niyazyan Ninet Nodasadians** Deanna Marlene Norris** Razmik Novshadyan (H) Tricia Rose Nungaray*** Sharon Melinda Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor (PACE) Hripsime Oganian Hasmik Ohanian Hrayr Okkasian* Mao Okuda* Joan Orlando Diana Gabriela Osorio Elizabeth Jasmine Pain Ana Lilia Pallares** Danielle Nicole Panabaker***(H) Stephanie Kay Panabaker***(H) Nairi Panossian*

Elina Patatanyan* Yvonne Rachel Paul Tiffany Fatima Pavelic*** Kristen Ashley Payne Cynthia Sidra Pelston*** Gabriel Andrew Pena-Lora** John M. Perez* Astghik Petoyan** (H) Arineh Petrosian** Narine Petrosyan Teni Piroomian Arpine Pirymasihy Virginie Plawecki** Edwin Omar Polanco (PACE) Alejandro Ponce Xavier Andrinna Powell Ivan Austin Cubita Puno Levi M. Quintana Anne Jeannette Quinto Edil Esperanza Ramos** Federson Reyes Rapinan Joseph Arthur Raviol Maria Isabel Rayas Rodriquez Lesly E. Recinos Michael Roland Reed Raquel Regalado*** Christopher Greig Regan** Luz Amparo Restrepo Karolin Reyhanian** (H) Chul H. Rhee* Zeba Riazi Nabor Rios (H) Tania C. Riveros Simone Elise Roberts Margarita Rochin* Evelyn Elizabeth Rodriguez Jose Anthony Rodriguez** Linda Gladys Romero Elinor Rocio Margarita Romero Lopez Alvaro P. Roque Oscar Rosales* Martin Rostami Samantha Ruiz*** Yuko Saito* Aya Sakurai Elizabeth A. Salas* (PACE) Maira R. Salazar Goldie Fela Prudence Salimkhan** (H) Ruth Salonga*** Johannes Christopher Sanchez Patricia Sanchez** Shirley A. Sandoval** Noyem Sargsyan (H) Ani Sarian* Dikran Wanes Sarkis Ani Sarkisian Rinet Sarkisyan Artur Saroyan Tania Saroyan*** Eri Sasaki Ofelia Maria Scanlon Erik Allen Schellerup* Denise Ann Schmalzer Lorraine Krystyna Schraner (H) (PACE)

www.elvaq.com

Friday, June 9, 2006

GRADUATION LIST

GLENDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION - JUNE, 2006

ASSOCIATE IN ART DEGREE Anna Seferian** Satoshi Sekiya***(H) Mariam Semerdzhyan** Sonia Azizian Senane* Janos Serfozo Maria Carmen Serrano*** Melissa Victoria Serrano Akiko Seta Lucitina Lucy Shagolian* Milana Shagulyan*** Helen H. Shahbazian Madlen Shahbazian Lilit Shamiryan Alexandria Shamlian (PACE) Nina Shangayan (H) Yuka Shimojo Mami Shiraishi Sevan Shirikjian Raymond Jaemin Sim Hasani Charles Simmons Debora D. Simon

Mario Simonyan Hermineh Sinani***(H) David Charles Smith** Nune Sogomonyan Alina Sokiazian Maria Guadalupe Solano** Jacqueline Anne Solis Shinta Sotoguchi Edouard John Soukiassian Tania Fatima Santana Sousa Martha Souto*** Veoleta Stamboltsyan Jasmine P. Stanley Connie Jo Stecher Amy RoseRuth Stockton Season Elizabeth Straaberg* (H) Armando Suarez** Kunihiko Suzuki** Ruba Tabek-Bakir*** Natalie Tachdjian Dalar Tahmasian (H)

Hovik Tahmasian** Hideki Tanabe* Mage Tatevosyan Maryum Tauseef Meri Telalian Eliz Ter Gevorkian Evelina Ter-Avetisyan* Rime Termkrtchyan (H) Jasmine Jacklyn Ter-Oganesyan* (H) Ararat Terteryan** John Vincent Teves** Sothon Thawornjaroen*** Virgie Ilene Thompson (PACE) Talin Timas Vanessa Janette Tooch** Christina Topolian** (H) Roberto R. Torres* (H) Shinya Toyoda* Rosalyn Tran (H) Tiffany Ann Trujillo

Hermine Tsarukyan Kelley D. Tubis** Catherine Legaspi Ubaldo Elsa C. Urquilla Afane (AGS) Victor Valdez Vielka Samantha Valenzuela** Lydia Vannarattanarat Kellie Anne Van Pelt** Laurie Nicole Van Wagenen Lianna Vardumyan** Sharon Natalie Vargas Diana Vartani** (H) Talin Vartanian Berj Michael Varvaryan** Helmut Antonio Vega John-Emerson Flores Velante*** Carlos C. Velasquez Ofelia D. Villalta Ira Carmeline G. Villaro** Karen Michelle Suzara Villegas Mark Vosgueritchian

Tommy Wan* Nava Wangyuruey** Terrence Jamal Watson Renee Joyce Weber Claire Weiss (H) Frank A. Westman** Sylwia H. Wiercioch* Kwong Po Wong* Rita Mei-Chih Hsieh Wu* (H) Arax Yahya Silvia S. Yaldizcian Guergen Yeasayan* Lilit Yesayan* Diego Fernando Yonamine*** Artour Yousefi Brandon C. Yu Golnar Zadouri Roobina Zadourian** (H) Naira Zakarian*** Rubina Zargaryan Iwona Zarod**

GLENDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE CANDIDATES FOR CERTIFICATES OF COMPLETION - JUNE, 2006 ACCOUNTING Ellahe Ahmadvand Zeinab O. Albatal Nvart Almas** Shushan S. Andriasyan Valentin Artunian Anna Arutunian** Annette Boghosian Susanna Chalikyan*** Lidoush Danielians*** Nora Davoudi Arpineh Ebrahimian* Anahit Gasparyan Lida Gharibians*** Anoosh Ghoolian Arev Keshishyan* Anet Khanlary** Chie Koiizuka* Assia Emilova Markova* Diana Gabriel Osorio Nourigh Taroian-Haftvani** Njdeh B. Thomassian**

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE Raquel Aguilera Rosa Elizabeth Gamarra** Michael Gene-Wayne Kwan Mari Nagase***

AIRCRFT PWRPLNT & ARFRM MAINT. & OVRHL (FAA PWRPLNT & ARFRM CERT)

George Kanakis** Michael Charles Meeks

Bruce E. Anspaugh*** Erick Figueroa*** Mario R. Giron*** Bogos Kharmandayan*** Angel Steve Mieles*** Jigme Rene Stormcrow***

Ellahe Ahmadvand Zeinab O. Albatal Shushan S. Andriasyan Frida Asatryan* Annette Boghosian Lidoush Danielians*** Armine Eyvazi** Arev Keshishyan*

ART - TWO DIMENSIONAL Tamar Chahe Ghanimian Arthur John Kasparian* AVIATION & TRANSPORTATION FLIGHT ATTENDANT Nana Asai Zechariah James Gelber Lingzhi Li Eriko Mabuchi* Tomomi Munakata* Janet Leigh Vinas Harold James Wissell

ADVERTISING ART

AVIATION & TRANSPORTATIONAIRCRFT PWRPLNT MAINT & OVERHAUL

Loojina Karimmasihi*

Angel Steve Mieles***

ANIMATION - DIGITAL ANIMATION

AVIATION AND TRANSPORTATION PILOT TRAINING

Christopher Paul Jones** Stephanie Ann Tsui**

Adelina Jaramillo**

BOOKKEEPING

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION FINANCIAL PLANNING AND INVESTMENT Edgar Azaryan Carolina Pacheco Hermine Tsarukyan

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION GENERAL BUSINESS Hernan Carlos Duran Yuko Nishino

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION - INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS Diana Hakobyan** Yuko Nishino

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION -

SMALL BUSINESS Yuko Nishino BUSINESS-GENERAL OFFICE Arax Barania

CERTIFIED TAX PREPARER Rafik Amirian** Frida Asatryan Silva S. Avoyan** Goharek Babakhanian* Arev Keshishyan* Vardan Khudanyan** Yongmin Kim** Fabiana Passos* Gohar Terterian**

CHILD DEVELOPMENT MASTER TEACHER Rima Haghverdian Haranoosh Venoosh Zargarian

CHILD DEVELOPMENT TEACHER Emik Abedian** Alis K. Auanis Heilma Barati Armineh Bidkhanian* Anta Byramian** Maria Crespo-Cisneros** Valten Davoodi** Manoosh Davidian* Emma Davtyan Hrachuhi Davtyan* Rima Haghverdian Lorin Comstock Hart*

Rima M. Khachikian Armen Minassian Melissa Christine Morris Katia Nazarian** Rima Ohanian Anahita Sarksian Vyoulet Tahmasian Suzanna Theoharides Massiel Dannela Villarroel*** Haranoosh Venoosh Zargarian

CHILD DEVELOPMENT/ TEACHING-INFANT TODDLER Anta Byramian Hrachuhi Davtyan Arbi Del-Keoukian* Rima Haghverdian Rima Ohanian Zuleika Michelle Reyna Haranoosh Venoosh Zargarian

CHILD DEVELOPMENT/ TEACHING-NURSERY SCHOOL Jenik Navasartian

CHILD DEVELOPMENT/ TEACHING-SCHOOL AGE EXTENDED CARE Rima Haghverdian

CHOREOGRAPHIC STUDIES AND DANCE TECHNIQUE Annette Sintia Duran* Lani Yuriko Hashimoto Kei Tsuruharatani**

Friday, June 9, 2006

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GRADUATION LIST

GLENDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE CANDIDATES FOR CERTIFICATES OF COMPLETION - JUNE, 2006 COMMUNICATIONS Longino Barragan* Reggie W. Collazo** Chris M. Deacon** Krystalyne Porsha Diaz*** Shadi Doroudgar** Thomas Daniel Dryden (AGS) Hernan Carlos Duran** Kim L. Eap* James Espinosa* Sharon Febre* Erick Arnoldo Gochez* Margarita Hakopian* Taurean I. Jones* Karen Karimian Michael Zaven Keoshgerian Lina Khachikian*** Elizabeth Khodzabashyan** Arthur Kishani** Nicole LeBleu Lehman** Roubina Malayan** Agapi Minasyan* Janet A. Mitri* Shant Pezeshkian*** Sevan Sarkisyan* April Melanie Satel** Lissed E. Soukiassian* Lan L. Tran* Jorge A. Trejo Sharon Natalie Vargas Ryan Christopher Wells

COMPUTER APPLICATIONS/BUSINESS OFFICE TECHNOLOGIESGENERAL OFFICE Hector Daniel Aguilar Valentin Akbari Masihi Margarit Akhparyan** Janet Alexander Anna Altunyan** Louiza Apanosians Ofek Arezoomanians Margaret Artoonian Angel Avakian Alis Avasepian Arpi Avetyan** Vehik Barceghian Odet Barkhordarian Karineh Darabidian*** Remik Elyasi** Farah H. Farahi** Shnorik Gorgi Armineh Grigorian** Anzhela Pilosovna Guliyan*** Deana Hacoupian Lorek Haghnazarean** Rubina Hairapetian** Armanush Haratunyan*** Anna Hayrapetian* Juliet Issaeiyan* Christineh Issakhanian*** Marineh Issayan** Janet Karapet** Karmen Keshishian Rubina Khachatryan Gayane Khosrovyan** Mari Lelikyan** Knarik Makhshikyan Rejina Mandani Gayane Manukyan

Hermik Massihi Rita Mirzakhanyan* Hasmik Ohanian Marina Narinyan Adrineh Nazari** Armenohi Nazari*** Armineh Nazarian*** Nora Nigoghossian Rubina Y. Ohanyan** Tatevik Parsadanyan Lida Peroomian Claris Safiani Lernik Sepan-Bakhshi*** Tello Shaabani Emik Shahbandari Armine Stepanyan** Manushak Sulyan*** Anahit Tadevosyan** Araksya Tadevosyan** Anait Ter-Galstyan Vartouhi Toomasian Melisa Tran Anahit Trdatyan Annet Vartan** Roubina Vartoonian** Artemis Yessaei

COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS Sachiko Mamiya** COMPUTER OPERATOR Norik Hakopian*** Sachiko Mamiya**

COMPUTER PROGRAMMER Robert Vitalivich Baindourov* Tomonori Kimura**

COMPUTER SOFTWARE TECHNICIAN Akop Bagarian Richard E. Medina***

COMPUTER SUPPORT TECHNICIAN Norik Hakopian* Sachiko Mamiya**

COMPUTERIZED ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST Armond Aghajani** Ellahe Ahmadvand Shushan S. Andriasyan Garush Avagyan*** Narine Dilanyan Armine Eyvazi** Alenoush Housepian Arev Keshishyan* Armine Papazyan Sevak Vartamanian***

CULINARY ARTS Janet Abnoosi

Rafik Agazarian Madlen Gharehbik** Hasmik Gholipour Vart Goudalazayan** Verjik Hacopian*** Hilda Grisel Lira*** Jessica A. Mangun* Flora Natian Rosalyn Reason Sona Sargsyan*** Mariam Vardanyan

DESKTOP PUBLISHING Alba Torres**

DESKTOP PUBLISHING TECHNICIAN Loojina Karimmasihi* Frederick Hambarsomian**

DIETARY SERVICE SUPERVISOR Janet Abnoosi Svetlana Lusine Artenian** Jacqueline Susanne Carballo** Josephine Manila Gaetos** Madlen Gharehbik** Verjik Hacopian Edalith Jimenez Anzhel Khashakyan Flora Natian Erick Palacios Anushik Petrosyan Nune Salkhorian Sona Sargsyan Mariam Vardanyan

ELECTRONICS & COMPUTER TECHNOLOGYELECTRONICS ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN Ramon A. Cisneros

ELECTRONICS AND COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY COMPUTER ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN Akop Bagarian Jose O. Munguia**

ENGINEERING/ELECTROMECHANICAL DESIGN - DRAFTING/CAD Shahen Mangasaryan* Gohar Petoyan

FIRE TECHNOLOGY Salvador Cervantes Ryan Anthony Curtis** Arin Ghoujoumian* Garfield Moragne**

Ramiro Jesse Munoz*** Bryan Henry Wiedenheft

HOTEL/RESTAURANT MANAGEMENT Mariam Vardanyan MANAGEMENT Connie Arenas-Monterroso*** Edgar Azaryan Yuko Nishino Tamara Tamazyan*

MARKETING Suzanne Regina Gergely***

MEDICAL ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES - MEDICAL FRONT OFFICE Cirvy V. Cortes Jenny T. Gallagher Ruzanna Galstyan Gayane Manukyan Anna Shahmirian** Carmen Vega Elizabeth Vega

MEDICAL ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES - MEDICAL SECRETARY Cirvy V. Cortes

MEDICAL ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES - MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION Cirvy V. Cortes

MEDICAL BILLING AND CODING Anita Arakelyan*** Tsovinar Baghiyan Ruzanna Galstyan*** Gayane Manukyan*** Carmen Vega Elizabeth Vega

MICROSOFT OFFICE USER SPECIALIST - OPTION 3 Arun Tony Areepong

MICROSOFT OFFICE USER SPECIALIST - OPTION 4 Alina Karapetyan Vibiana Martinez**

MICROSOFT OFFICE USER SPECIALIST - OPTION 5

Arun Tony Areepong** Noune Bagdasarian** Vibiana Martinez**

MUSIC

Daguhi Tagush Donikian

PHOTOGRAPHY Oliver Perez Tan*

PUBLIC RELATIONS Danielle Frances Directo Chris Lee Jackson*

REAL ESTATE Silva Avoyan*** Robert Baghdasarian*** Armando Castro Balvanera* Lala Blkhoian** David Rudolph Dykstra* Hesung Kang** Jesus Leon*** Virginia Lopez** Leo V. Norrup Gary Sinisterra** Ami Christine Thai**

RECEPTIONIST/ OFFICE CLERK Valentin Akbari Masihi Janet Alexander Anna Altunyan* Madlen Amirian** Ofek Arezoomanians Kathrine Arshak-Shahbazian** Margaret Artoonian Angel Avakian Manik Babakhanyan* Vehik Barceghian Odet Barkhordarian Anna Budakyan Remik Elyasi* Farah H. Farahi* Shnorik Gorgi Deana Hacoupian Lorek Haghnazarean** Armanush Haratunyan*** Hasmik Harutyunyan Christineh Issakhanian*** Mari Lelikyan** Rejina Mandani Ruzan Manukian** Gayane Manukyan*** Hermik Massihi** Adrineh Nazari** Armenohi Nazari Nora Nigoghossian Rubina Y. Ohanyan** Tatevik Parsadanyan Claris Safiani Hermine Sagsyan Tello Shaabani Emik Shahbandari Karine Shahgulyan** Anna Shahmirian** Armine Shamirian* Adrina Shirvanian Armine Stepanyan** Manushak Sulyan**

www.elvaq.com

Friday, June 9, 2006

GRADUATION LIST

GLENDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE CANDIDATES FOR CERTIFICATES OF COMPLETION - JUNE, 2006 Anahit Tadevosyan** Vartouhi Toomasian Anzhela Torosyan** Anahit Trdatyan Silvana Tsarukyan* Roubina Vartoonian** Ramela Vosghanian Jasmen Zeinali

REGISTERED NURSING Leila Jimenez Adams** Imelda Bernardo Arienza Jessica Lyn Bazanos** Joycee Datu Blanks** Lilliana Edith Bouvet** Tara Beth Conolly** John J. Cordova** Kristina T. Cosico Flor Godinez** Carrie Callager Gonzalez** Ludmila V. Gorokhov** Alicia Guzman

Geraldine Helmuth Heidi (Yahaira) Denise Hernandez** Rachek N. Magala Sofia Guadalupe Martin* Michael Martines** Vadym Mykhaylov Noel Fontecha Nario Christine Marie Norton** Rochele De Leon Nubla Maria Carol Paderna** Corina Leticia Quinones Raquel E. Ramirez Syndjie B. Ratuita-Noble Gabriela Saenz Manuela SantaCruz Beckie Yang

RETAIL MANAGEMENT Xochitl Ortega

SPECIALIST IN ALCOHOL/

DRUG STUDIES Maria Elena Abeyta Kathy Lynn Anderson** Ani Asulyan Ilita Sirrika Beckham Brian Bermudez** Paul Bogin Jose Luis Bolanos** Jalee L. Carder** Vernon Lee Dalson** Terry Lewis Dunbar Linda K. Frediani DeAnna Hill Vanessa A. S. Kanistanaux Toni S. Kells* Roxana Martinez Janice L. Marvel* Robert Mesch*** Oganes Nardos** Jennifer L. Ogorek Martha Melba Pizarro** Keri Dawn Reid**

David Fraser Ripley Benjamin C. Salazar, Jr. Jack K. Sammons Miguel Ernesto Santamaria* Steven Keith Wilson Siddell Jacob Tamazyan Cynthia Ann Tooredman Beryl Lynette Washington Margret Watts

TELEVISION PRODUCTION - MASS MEDIA John Emmanvel Lakis

TELEVISION PRODUCTION - VIDEOGRAPHY Jose Antonio Alvarez*** John Emmanuel Lakis Monika Isabella Nawrocka TELEVISION

PRODUCTION-CORPORATE TELEVISION Gabriel Abraham Barakat*** WEB GRAPHICS Wai Yan Yovy Cheung** Steven Perdomo**

WEB PUBLISHING SPECIALIST Frederick Hambarsomian**

WELDING, OCCUPATIONAL (COMBINATION WELDER) Brando Paul Arone Samuel L. Becaria Michael James King

Internship Opportunities Offer Class Credit By Michael Alpert

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

very semester, many students serve in internships in their desired fields of education or employment. Some don’t realize that they can actually get unit credits for their labors. “The internship program started in the Business Division, with them offering internship credits,” said Andra Verstraete, head of the job placement center and coordinator of internship programs at GCC. “Because we had so many students come to the job placement center for internships, we decided to change it from being run by the Business Division to the job placement center,” she said. Although most students usually find internships on their own, the job placement center can help students locate an internship. Students can find internship opportunities on the bulletin boards in the San Rafael Building on the second floor, on Monstertrak.com, or by approaching companies or organizations that the students wish to work for. Once students have found an internship, they connect with a faculty adviser with whom they meet periodically throughout the semester. The adviser helps them with goals and checks in on their

progress at their workplace. Many departments list independent study options in the schedule of classes. “The adviser keeps a file on the student, and the adviser gives me the file at the end of the semester,” said Mona Field, the professor who assigns credit to the students. “I work with the adviser, who gives me the go ahead and helps to decide if the students should earn their units or not.” Students can receive credit in many fields of study including biology, sociology, culinary arts, journalism, mass communications and business. Job sites include restaurants, nonprofit organizations, and even here on the campus itself. “We had a vision to create a good program,” said Verstraete. “And I think we did it.” Grading for the internship program is done on a credit/no credit basis. To obtain one unit of credit, a student must complete at least 48 hours of work at their place of employment. For two units, 96 hours are required, and for three units, 144 hours must be completed. The other requirements needed to receive credit are attending an internship orientation and a resumé writing workshop, completing learning objectives or goals, and doing a final project, which can include a presentation

of the student’s work, or journals or blogs documenting their experience. “About 90 percent of the students are expected to receive credit,” said Field.

Field is the faculty coordinator until June. Starting in the fall, Verstraete will become the faculty member in charge of the program, which includes awarding credit to students in the program.

More information on the internship program can be found at www.glendale.edu/jobplace. Michael Alpert can be reached at Michael_Alpert@elvaq.com

Friday, June 9, 2006

www.elvaq.com

SPORTS

Campus Mourns Loss of J.W. Smith By Jason Castro

EL VAQUERO SPORTS EDITOR

With Wendy Grove

PUBLIC INFORMATION COORDINATOR

Walter Smith, the man who had the vision of creating GCC’s Athletic Hall of Fame, died on Wednesday, May 31 in San Clemente. Smith was such an integral part of Glendale College that a building was named after him: the very structure that houses the Athletic Hall of Fame. The J. Walter Smith Student Center earned its name because Smith was so instrumental in making the building project possible. Because of his management of the funds generated by students for more than 35 years, the Associated Students were able to pay $1.5 million of the Student Center’s

$4 million price tag with the in 1920. He was a student at rest coming in annual payments Glendale College in 1939 and from Bookstore proceeds. The also attended Santa Ana Junior center was College. completed He earned in 2002 and b a c h elo r’s was officially and master’s launched with degrees at the inaugural USC where induction he was ceremony on admitted Feb. 10, 2002. on a track “ W a l t scholarship. probably While at meant more USC, he to students in became a his 40 years of two-time service than national anybody else champion I know,” said in the Jim Sartoris, 400 -meter G C C ’ s hurdles. Athletic He was an J. Walter Smith, 1920 - 2006. Director. Amateur “He was a special person, Athletic Union Selection for the easy going with a great sense of All-America Track and Field humor.” said Sartoris. Team in 1942 and again in 1947. Walt was born in Taft, California He served his country as a

paratrooper instructor in the United States Army Airborne Division from 1943 to 1946. He returned to GCC to teach and coach track in 1947. The man who would later be referred to as “Mr. Glendale College” was vice principal at Glendale High School for a year, and then became Dean of Men and Student Activities in 1955. Jeff Prugh, a former executive editor at the Glendale News Press, wrote a 1992 editorial praising Smith in which he said, “Walt Smith has been a fixture at GCC for so long, you’d think they would make his life story a required course of study.” “He’s a dean for all students, for all seasons,” wrote Prugh. Along with his many accomplishments, Smith served as an Olympic track and field judge and was named Track Official of the Year in 1993. He was the chief track recall starter during the 1984 Olympics.

“He left a legacy at the college,” said Alen Andriassian, GCC’s Student Affairs Coordinator. “He stayed active and supportive for the students; he was an icon.” said Andriassin. Smith’s vision of a tribute, GCC’s Athletic Hall of Fame, honors former athletes and teams who achieved excellence through competition and coaches who have made a difference in the lives of their athletes. With all of his achievements the J. Walter Smith Center the is a fitting name for the place that houses all who have accomplished plenty in their lives. J. Walter Smith was 85 and is survived by his daughter.

Jason Castro can be reached at Jason_Castro@elvaq.com

Intramural Speech Tournament Interprets, Informs Persuades By Stephen Hotchkiss EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

ith more than 60 participants, GCC’s first annual intramural speech tournament highlighted the growing popularity of the art form of public speaking at GCC. The tournament, which was the brainchild of speech team coaches Ira Heffler and Jean Perry, was open to any student who had not previously performed in any formal speech competition. The three categories of speeches that were included in the tournament were oral interpretation, informative and persuasive. Far exceeding any expectations by Heffler or Perry, the high number of entrants—60—gave way for an extended variety of topics, ranging from humor to the macabre. Liberal Arts major, Yutaro Okamiya, informed judges of a mysterious skin disease known as pityriasis. Having been previously afflicted with the disease himself, Okamiya revealed that little is known about pityriasis in the

medical community. With the absence of proven effective cures, Okamiya offered a selection of home remedies that proved successful in his bout with the ravaging disease. Okamiya is currently enrolled in Speech 101 at GCC and was encouraged by Heffler to participate in the competition. This is Okamiya’s fifth attempt at Speech 101. After “maxing out” the number of times he was able to enroll in Speech 101 at other colleges, Okamiya is flourishing in GCC’s speech program. His speech on pityriasis won him third place in the informative category, and he is one week away from triumphantly gaining the elusive three credits. Okamiya credits the speech team and Heffler for their continual support and encouragement that enabled him to accomplish “[his] dreams of passing Speech 101.” Heffler maintains that “there’s something else, other than the academic” that is offered in any speech competition. “There is an incredible sense of belonging and heart and camaraderie,” said Heffler. “Students don’t go just to win trophies; there’s something more valuable than that.”

The intramural tournament consisted of three rounds and adhered to structural and judgmental policies of formal competition. Situated in various classrooms throughout the campus, students gave three separate performances to three different judges. With 21 judges, any given classroom would only consist of three to four competitors and a single judge. As many students fear performing in front of a large audience, Jean Perry believes that intramural competition also helped dispel any audiencerelated phobias among potential speech team recruits. “You’re in a room with four other people,” said Perry. “It’s a lot less scary than even your speech class.” According to speech team presidents, Dianna Platero and Luis Delarosa, there are many reasons why students join the speech team. “It looks good on a resume and gives students a sense of pride…and confidence,” said De La Rosa. Platero attests that her own reason for joining the squad was due to the addictive nature of the

competition. “Once you go into to competition, it consumes you.” said Platero. The tournament was formed, in part, to ignite a passion for speech in students who have not been privy to the public speaking experience. Chris Bruno, recently transferred to GCC from PCC, signed up for the event to argue the importance of music in education to “anyone who would listen” while gaining extra credit in his Speech 101 class; he found himself enjoying the process of public speaking and debate. “I’m just a kid who is in this world. I look at this country and I look at everything and I say ‘What’s going on?’” said Bruno, “Mr. Heffler told me I was articulate and that I should compete. I thought it would be an easy way to get extra credit; who would have thought it would be something I actually like?” The chance to voice his thoughts in front of a supportive and accommodating audience is something that attracted Bruno to potentially joining the team next fall. “My parents don’t listen to me at all because they think I’m all double talk,” said Bruno.

“It’s a whole world, I’ve barely scratched the surface but it seems like I’d be good at it, so why not?” According to Perry, “a big draw” for students who join the speech team is the “nurturing and reassuring,” relationships with fellow members and coaches. The results for the competition are as follows: For the interpretation category, Michelle Kovashimeh and Javier Martin tied for third place. David Rans and Judith Cabrera tied for second place and Amanda Maaz and Eleonora Khachatryan tied for first place. In the informative speaking category, Paul Ekstrand, Andy Fisher-Price and Yutaro Okayima tied for third place. Selina Mangassarian placed second. Anik Charchyan and Chris Beltran tied for first place. In the persuasive category, Jesse Biddle and Adrine Akopyan tied for third place. Karina Duenas placed second. David Machen won first place.

Stephen Hotchkiss can be reached at Stephen_Hotchkiss@elvaq.com

www.elvaq.com

Friday, June 9, 2006

On Campus events Sartoris Field — The 80th commencement ceremony will take place on Saturday at 10 a.m. Outgoing President Dr. John Davitt will be the keynote speaker. There are 159 candidates for graduatioin with an Associate in Science degree, 571 candidates for an Associate in Arts degree and 419 students earning Certificates of Completion. Assembly Majority Leader Dario Frommer, former GCC Board of Trustees member and president Robert K. Holmes and former president of the Glendale College Foundation will be receiving honorary Associate in Arts degrees for their contributions to the college.

Honors and Awards Banquet — Sponsored by the Associated Students of Glendale Community College, the Scholarship Office and GC Foundation. The banquet will take place on Thursday at the Castaways Banquet Center at 1250 Harvard Road in Burbank. Start time is 6:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased in the Bookstore Business Office at $20 for GCC students and $30 for all others.

exhibitions

“ “Don’t Get Mad, Get Even!” — The annual student art exhibition will run through Thursday at the GCC Art Gallery. The exhibition features work from both students enrolled in art classes

and from the college community at-large. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Admission is free. For more information, call 240 - 1000, ext. 5663 or visit www.glendale.edu/artgallery/

other Spring Ceramics Sale — Decorative and functional pieces made by students in stoneware, porcelain, majolica, raku and more. Proceeds from the sale help fund equipment and supplies for the ceramics program. The sale will take place on Saturday at SC 212 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 240-1000, ext. 5543.

Cash For Your Books — The GCC bookstore is buying back books today from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Monday through Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Parking Lot Closures — • June 16- Parking structure will be closed 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. • June 21 — Lot 33 (Verdugo Park) will be closed from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. • June 22 — Lot 33 (Verdugo Park) will be closed from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Extended Library Hours — Through June 13 the library will be open Monday through Thurs-

day from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Welding Summer Course — A summer evening program is being offered at GCC for beginning through advanced students. Processes taught include gas, arc, metal inert gas, tungsten inert gas, flux core and plasma arc. For more information contact instructor John Cray at, 240-1000, ext. 5563. Open registration for the summer sessions continues through June 15. Reporting the News — Journalism 102 is offered during the first summer session. Ticket No. 2541.

Around Town exhibitions “Rwanda: After, Darfur: Now” - Nearly 40 color and black and white photographs taken in Rwanda and Chad, by Michal Ronnen Safdie, depict the aftermath and consequences of cruelty and violence perpetrated by individuals against their neighbors and by governments against their citizens. The exhibition will be on display at the Skirball Cultural Center located at 2701 North Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles and will run through Oct. 1. For more information call, (310) 4404500.

concerts Demons’ Claws — Playing tonight with special guests BBQ, The Lamps and Haunted George at The Scene located at 806 East Colorado Street, Glendale. Cover charge is $8. 21 and over only. For more information call, 2417029. Bunky — A pop two-piece, who has previously toured with Sufjan Stevens, plays tonight at El Cid located at 4212 West Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake. Eagle and Talon and Fairmona are the special guests. Cover charge is $7. For more information call, (323) 668-0318.

Tommy Keene — Veteran singer-songwriter plays tonight at Spaceland with guest Ari Shine. The show is $8 and starts at 9 p.m. Spaceland is located at 1717 Silver Lake Blvd., Silver Lake. For more information call, (323) 661-4380. Film School — This San Francisco based group delivers a blend of psych-rock with hints of shoegaze and electronica on their latest self-titled album. They play tonight at The Echo with Silversun Pickups and Swords. The Echo is located at 1822 Sunset Blvd., Echo Park. The show starts at 8:30 p.m. Cover fee is $10. For more information call, (213) 4138200. Nekromantix — Psychobilly band and Hellcat recording artist, Nekromantix hit the stage tonight and Saturday night at the House of Blues, Sunset Strip, with special guests Shark Soup and the Top Chops. The show is all ages and tickets are still on sale for both nights and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com. For more information call, (323) 8485100. Cache Valley Drifters— Do not miss the bluegrass sounds and electric range of Cache Valley Drifters, playing Saturday at the

Dabney Hall Lounge, located in Caltech. The show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $5 for Caltech students and children. For information on ordering tickets, call the ticket office at (626) 395-4652. Visit http:// folk-music.caltech.edu/ for more information on the band.

wood Bowl Orchestra, the group captures the excitement of classic Cuban songs along with Latin jazz classics. For more information call the LACMA music department at (323) 857-6010, or visit www.lacma.org

The Constantines — Post-punk Canadian act plays Saturday with Oakley Hall at Spaceland, located in Silver Lake. Cover fee is $8 and the show starts at 9 p.m. For band information, check out www.constantines.ca

“The Black Rider: The Casting of the Magic Bullets” — The Ahmanson Theatre presents a dark play starring Tom Waits, Robert Wilson and William Burroughs who bring to life the story of a clerk who finds himself bargaining with the devil. The show closes on Sunday. For imformation on tickets call (213) 628-2772. For information on the play visit, TheBlackRider.org

Monsters Are Waiting — Local indie band takes center stage Monday night at Spaceland, located at 1717 Silver Lake Blvd., Los Angeles. 21 and over only. For band information go to www. monstersarewaiting.com Friday Night Jazz — The Ron Eschete Trio performs live Friday at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). Performance takes place at the Los Angeles Times Central Court from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Admission is free. For more information visit www.lacma.org Cuba L.A. — A dream team of Cuban musicians led by Danilo Lozano, flutist, musicologist and a founding member of the Holly-

performances

“Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure: — Penned by Steven Dietz, this Pasadena Playhouse production sets Holmes in a mystery involving a kidnapped opera singer and the Victorian underworld. The show is on Sunday at 7 p.m. Tickets are $38 to $60. For information call, (626) 356-7529. “Les Miserables”— After more than 17 years of bringing this classic show all over North America, the national touring company of “Les Miserables” will be no more. But first, the show comes to Los Angeles for a final visit. The

show runs through June 18 at the Pantages Theatre located at 6233 Hollywood Blvd., between Vine and Argyle. Tickets range from $25 to $68. For group sales of 15 or more call, (323) 463-4367.

other Cairo Carnivale- The Middle Eastern Culture and Dance Association present their annual fundraiser on Saturday at the Santa Anita Racetrack. Considered one of the biggest events in the U.S., the festival offers belly dancing, great food, vendors, costumes, games, contests, shows and much more. For more information about the event call, (909) 980-5663 or send an email to CairoCarnival@ mecda.org Hookah Lounge- Flavored Hookahs, scrumptious Middle Eastern Cuisine, music and entertainment all under one roof. The Hookah Lounge is located at 831 East Colorado Street, Glendale. Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. and Friday through Sunday from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. For more information call, 242-3442 or visit www.hookahlounge.us To submit a listing e-mail the El Vaquero at calendar@elvaq.com.