April 3, 2013

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L E N D A L ECC O M M U N I T YCCOLLEGE OLLEGE GGLENDALE OMMUNITY

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Volume 101, Number 3

Ceasar Chavez Event Celebrates Labor Diversity

L E N D A L ECC O M M U N I T YCCOLLEGE OLLEGE GGLENDALE OMMUNITY

By Agnessa Kasumyan EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

I

n 1962, former farm worker and labor leader Cesar Chavez founded the National Farm Workers Association, now called the United Farm Workers of America, in support of labor rights for field workers. Half a century later, Americans are still celebrating his contributions to the labor force.

Glendale held its 12th annual Cesar Chavez event Saturday to honor the civil rights activist at the Pacific Community Center attached to Edison Elementary School, promoting his dedication to improving working conditions, increasing wages for laborers, and providing cleaner housing conditions for workers.

Mayor Frank Quintero helped originate the event as a tribute to Chavez and his movement.

“I wanted to do it because of everything he did for working people in this country,” he said.

Quintero believes that Chavez’s humble background is an important factor in the city’s celebration of his life and career.

He started off as a field worker in Arizona and California, going on to serve in World War II before devoting his life to helping the “working poor,” particularly the laborers who “produce the food that we all eat,” but are among the “lowest paid.”

Although some of Chavez’s concerns for farm workers have improved, Quintero believes that there are still major issues that need to be addressed for workers in fields across the country, in addition to service industry employees.

[See Chavez, page 3]

IN THIS ISSUE Letters.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Features.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7 Arts and Entertainment.. . . . . . . . . . . 8-9 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Lifestyle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

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Photo by Chantal Bevard

April 3, 2013

Renovations Upgrade 50% Math Discovery Lab

By Kristine Tuzon

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

T

he Math Discovery Center went through a $620,000 renovation during winter break to better accommodate GCC math students.

Through the Title V grant, the program received new chairs, tables, carpet and paint. Additional computers and sliding glass doors were installed to open up more space, add light and more technology systems for students.

Since its opening in 1980, the Math Discovery Center has come a long way to help students learn and succeed in mathematics.

Formerly called the Math Science Center, math professor Steve Marsden and physics professor Jean Lecuyer searched for an afternoon lab for students who needed additional help in math and science. They started the program in a small room in the Camino Real building.

The Math Science Center faculty

45%

AZTEC DANCERS: Celebrating civil rights and Mexican culture, the 12th annual Ceasar Chavez event at the Pacific Community Center raised awareness of labor relations.

[See Math, page 3]

High School Students Attack in Robotics Competition

By Jonathan Caballeros

w w w.elvaq .com

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

S

tudents throughout Southern California competed in the Glendale College Robotics Competition on Saturday to promote the sciences, technology, engineering and math departments, otherwise known as STEM. The main competition was comprised of 16 teams from 13 schools across three counties, which used Vex technology robots crafted by students from their respective school.

The Sun Valley High School Wildcats and the Grace Brethren Jr/Sr High Lancers of Simi Valley took the competition by storm, winning eight of their

Photo by Sal Polcino

NOT JUST GAMES: Philip Ho, a member of the Grace Brethren Jr/Sr High Lancers, sets up his robot for the autonomous round.

first nine round robin matches and later joining forces to become the winning alliance in

the competition.

“This is our sixth design so far,” said Lancers team

member Philip Ho. “It started so simple, and to be honest, we just finished it yesterday.”

The Lancers were formed three years ago and the team has successfully competed in many events.

Suman Gandham, the main mentor of the Lancers, said his curiosity started when he saw his first robotics match.

“They used to need help on how to build the robots,” said Gandham. “Now, they can do a lot of it themselves.”

For the members of the Sun Valley Wildcats, it’s a great end to their first and only year competing in robotics together.

[See Robotics, page 5]

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Wednesday, April 3, 2013

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MAILBAG

El Vaquero Letter: Trip To Bahía De Los Angeles EDITOR IN CHIEF Eric Bourse MANAGING EDITOR Chantal Bevard SPORTS EDITOR Marlon Miranda STAFF WRITERS Kelsey Anderson Jonathan Caballeros John Ferrara Taline Markarian Sal Polcino Ksenia Rabinovich Dustin Rivera Monica Terada Kristine Tuzon STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Seneyda Rodriguez

STAFF CARTOONIST

Monica Terada

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Jane Pojawa

NEWSROOM MANAGER

Richard Kontas

DESIGN ADVISER

Charles Eastman

FACULTY ADVISER

Jeff Favre

jfavre@glendale.edu (818) 551-5214 ADVERTISING Jeff Smith jsmith@glendale.edu (818) 240-1000, ext.5493 Send Letters to the Editor 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 elvaquero.editor@gmail.com or call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5349.

Dear Editor, It was a trip to Glendale Community College’s field station last year, where we took twoweek classes of oceanography.

It started in Russian class, when professor Oleg Minin presented us with professor Frank Telles, who offered to take a class in Oceanography. As I had already taken 115, I immediately decided to take 116, which I greatly enjoyed.

During our two-week classes we visited the California Science Center, the Cabrillo Aquarium and the Pacific Aquarium, where we acquainted with the ocean inhabitants.

After a 14-hour bus ride, we made it to Baja California. In the Baja peninsula and the Gulf of California we had an opportunity to see and meet these inhabitants in their natural environment.

The Baja peninsula is a semi-desert zone covered with intrusive rocks, cacti and bushes that surround the road.

The accomodations were simple: sleeping rooms, classrooms, a dining room (which simultaneously served as a library), leisure and meeting rooms and a kitchen. Showers and restrooms were in a separate building. All of this was on the ocean’s shore.

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.

EL VAQUERO

1500 N. Verdugo Road Glendale, CA 91208 (818) 240-1000 ext. 5349

elvaquero.editor@gmail.com First copy free Additional copies $.25

Photo courtesy of Vahe Mesropyan

FUN IN BAJA: Vahe Mesropyan took a two-week oceanography class in Bahía De Los Angeles.

crayfish) which were swimming in coastal waters or just happened to be there after the ebb. While in La Gringa, a little lake, we were caught sardine and barracuda brought by the ebb, which we ate later in the evening.

In one of the islands, we saw a “forest” of mangroves, small trees that grows in warm, but salty water in a lagoon environment.

In general, it was interesting to see the ocean’s ebb and tide every day. Because of the ebbs, many living organisms and fish were thrown to the coast and became food for other animals and birds.

Our group of students were highly diverse and studied

everything that Telles and Van Cleave taught. Each student was unique in his or her way. I was trying not to stay behind my young and energetic classmates.

I think we had an amazing group.

For this wonderful experience I want to thank professor Telles, Nick Lopez, who patiently took care of the documents and professor Van Cleave, who joined us in overcoming all the heights and Mercade. A separate thanks to Alexandra, who had a kind smile and who prepared delicious food for us and a thanks to GCC college for the opportunity.

Thanks, Vahe Mesropyan

Letter: Armenian American Nursing

Association Hosts Fundraiser

Dear Editor,

Member of the Journalism Asssociation of Community Colleges

Classes and seminars began the next day after breakfast.

Usually, after class or immediately after breakfast, we went hiking to nearby hills and mountains. They were the peninsula and islands of volcanic origin, located in the Gulf of California.

With a high level of professionalism and dedication, geology and oceanography professor Frank Telles, explained rock formation. He also showed us rocks and minerals in a natural environment.

We took trips to nearby islands by boats. During our trips, biology professor Guy Van Cleave, who is also a skilled boatman, introduced us to various birds and animals living in those parts of the ocean, simultaneously providing explanations and enthusiastically answering our questions.

The station had a large bank of bones and skeletons of sea lions, dolphins, turtles, pelicans and other animals. In our everyday tours, we saw these birds and fish in the wild.

The trip was even more interesting when we were able to swim side-by-side with sea lions, one of which I accidently touched with my foot.

During our coastal walks, we encountered rare inhabitants of the ocean (starfish and sea

The Armenian American Nurses Association held a fundraiser event in the “T Room” in Montrose on Saturday, March 16, celebrating Women’s History Month and honoring the wonderful female educators amongst our members.

Through this fundraiser, $3000 was raised in anticipation of the expenses and preparation for the upcoming Armenian International Medical Conference in July in Los Angeles.

The Armenian American Nurses Association, which is a 501C non-profit organization, is dedicated to serving the Armenian community, both in Armenia and

the Diaspora.

We meet once a month for educational dinner lectures and networking. In collaboration with local organizations such as the Armenian American Medical Society of California, Armenian Bone Marrow Registry, Glendale Unified School District, LA County Public Health Department to name a few, AANA is very active in the community, providing their volunteer services to numerous health projects within the Armenian community.

We believe education is the door to success. Therefore, each year, we provide Nursing Scholarships to eligible students.

Scholarships and membership applications are available on

our website www. armeniannurse.org/ for those who are interested in joining.

Thank you, Mane Shamiryan, President of GCC’s Class of Spring 2014 Nursing Program

FUNDRAISING: On the left, Kohar Kesian, RN, MSN, assistant professor and assistant director of GCC’s Nursing Program as well as former president of the Armenian American Nurses Association and on the right, Mane Shamiryan, newest member of the Armenian American Nurses Association and president of GCC’s standard class of spring 2014 Nursing Program at the AANA Fundraiser Event.

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3

FEATURES

Math Discovery Center gets Extreme Makeover [Math, from page 1] noticed a decreasing number of science students. A majority of students needed help in math. As a result, the Math Science Center became the Math Discovery Center.

Michael Davis, the Math Discovery Center’s senior instructional computer lab tech, said the remodel included an installation of 276 computers and a removal of five faculty offices to create one computerized classroom for the self-paced program.

“We’re hoping to infuse a whole lot more technology into the curriculum of mathematics,” said mathematics division chair Kathleen Holmes. All computers were installed with Mathematica, Geogebra and Scientific Notebook software to help students with different levels of math.

Modifications were also made in the rooms surrounding the center. Arroyo Seco rooms 102, 104, 114 and 115 are now computerized, and all rooms now have a connecting entrance into the center.

The center has teachers and student tutors available during different hours. Students who need help can drop in for fiveto-10 minutes to get help with challenging math problems.

Student math tutors are have completed and excelled in Calculus I and are recommended by math instructors.

pace,” Sifuentes said. “I completed everything pretty fast.”

Using the center’s services since 2009, Sifuentes recommends students check it out.

“You don’t make an appointment for tutors.

They’re always here. You’ll always find a quiet spot to study,” he said. “They just renewed it. It’s amazing.

They did a good job.”

Many students enrolled in math classes are not aware of the center’s program. In a 2011-2012 report by the Photo by Seneyda Rodriguez math, 21 percent of math NEW AND IMPROVED: Math students take advantage of the remolded math students enrolled used the discovery center.

Math Discovery Center.

Students who spent five or more “They expanded it in p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m.hours in the center passed their wonderful ways. It helped a lot 2:00 p.m. For more information, math class an average 71 percent of students make it through,” call the center at (818) 240-1000 of the time compared to 56 percent Lecuyer said. extension 5362. of students who spent no time in The Math Discovery Center the center. is located in AS103 and it’s open Holmes encourages students Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m.Kristine Tuzon can be reached at to come and she advises students 9:00 p.m., Friday 8:00 a.m.-2:00 ktuzon342@student.glendale.edu who need additional help to make a half hour appointment at the Learning Center in AD232.

Founders Marsden and Lecuyer said it is way beyond what they created in 1980.

[Chavez, from page 1] And it wasn’t that long ago, “What we started 33 years ago maybe 40, 50 years,” he said. compared to right now, makes me At a local level, the city The festival also celebrated very proud,” Marsden said. strives to provide affordable Chavez’s Mexican heritage Lecuyer hasn’t been in the housing, working with the school with performances by Mariachi center for years, but he said he has nothing but compliments district and youth programs Fiesta de Jalisco, Flamenco Ole, while trying to obtain grants and an Aztec dance group from for the math center. from both the state and the North Hollywood, as well as free federal government to launch carne asada and chicken tacos. and incorporate programs for low Claudia Jimenez, one of income individuals and families. the Aztec dancers, believes Quintero hopes that the that the city’s commemoration event helps youth in Glendale of Chavez and his movement learn the importance of helping is “something to be grateful others and serving fellow for” because he stood up for members in the community. laborers who helped put food “No matter what their life is on tables by working in fields. like, they can always spend a In addition to the • The campus deficit for 2013-2014 academic year has little bit of time to help others. performances, there was also a been reduced to $158,000 from $600,000 in the They can always try to provide raffle that gave away two bicycles 2012-2013 academic year. some comfort and service to to students. Edison Elementary other people,” said Quintero. School fifth grader Valerie • The state has proposed a common assessment test Despite his modest beginnings Hoyos, who had also attended for community colleges, which would allow tests to transfer between schools. Currently, most community and lifestyle, Chavez considered the event with her family last college assessment tests are different. it his duty to work for justice year, was one of the winners. in his community, according Aside from “feeling very • ASGCC Vice President of Campus Activities Vedi to guest speaker Ruben happy” about her new bike, Khachatourian reported at the town hall meeting Duran, a board member of the Hoyos felt it was important for Monday that the Campus Activities Committee City Attorneys Association the city to celebrate Chavez has a $4,000 budget for this semester of Los Angeles County. because he was “a great man” • Five new hires have been approved by academic “He fought and he struggled who “helped a lot of people.” senate in either the math, English, dance or history for justice for farm workers. departments. It has yet to be determined which The working conditions for departments will be able to hire. people in the fields, some stuff Agnessa Kasumyan can be reached at agnessaks@gmail.com you just couldn’t imagine.

Chemistry major Ericka Cruz, 21, said she originally did not do well in math. With the help from tutors and teachers, she finished Math 108. Cruz said she sees both sides as a student who once needed help, and as a student who now helps others succeed.

Another feature the center offers is the self-paced program, which is an open enrollment computerized independent learning for students who are in Math 155 through Math 119.

The class is broken down into modules so students can learn at an individual pace.

An example is Math 219, Intermediate Algebra I. The class is broken into modules 219 A, B and C for each unit the class offers. When a student successfully completes one module, the student receives one unit and continues to the next module.

“It’s been a pretty popular program. People have been enrolling in it more and more,” Davis said. “The success rate for statistics of people who’ve been in self-paced classes is actually higher than people who are in traditional lecture format.”

Students enrolled in self-paced classes must log into the Math Discovery Center for six hours a week to stay enrolled. The classes have no formal lecture, but do have video lectures.

Aerospace engineering major Jose Sifuentes, 26, took self-paced courses in math 145 and 146. “I needed something at my own

Police Blotter 4/1 - Medical: A subject was in need of medical assistance on the west side of the Sierra Madre building. Subject was transported by ambulance to a local hospital.

4/1 – Tobacco Problem: A subject was caught smoking in San Gabriel plaza.

Subject was advised.

3/20 –Wanted Person: A subject was arrested in Sierra Madre 153 in connection with a crime.

A report was submitted to the district attorney.

Between Match 22 and April 1 there were 5 reported elevator emergencies in the Mariposa building on the Garfield Campus.

From March 20 – April 1 there were 39 traffic stops, 20 tobacco problems, and 5 tobacco citations.

Chavez in Glendale

News Briefs

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Wednesday, April 3, 2013

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FEATURE

Eagle Rock Elementary Student Excels at GCC

By Kristine Tuzon

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

A

s elementary school children learn how to recite the alphabet and count to 100, 11-yearold Eagle Rock Elementary School student Cyprian “CJ” Edwards-Acton won a national Nestlé contest and attended a computer programming class at Glendale Community College.

After purchasing his first Lenovo laptop at the age of 7, Edwards-Acton grew fond of computer programming. His father Jaime, mother Suzanne and brother Micah all said that they noticed his passion for computers at a young age.

“The first thing he really got into, on computers, was building websites. So when he was 7 or 8 he would figure out how to build basic little websites,” said Jaime Edwards-Acton, who helped him get started.

In 2010, CJ Edwards-Acton and his friend Marc Ong created Neodash Technology, a website that showcased both their imagined computer design and operating system.

Suzanne Edwards-Acton was surprised her son was into computers because she did not buy him any high-tech devices.

“We would buy them a Gameboy or something, but we didn’t ever buy them that stuff,” she said. “If they wanted it, they had to save up their own money for it.”

After selling his Kinect on eBay to buy his Lenovo and obtaining a MacBook Pro this past Christmas, CJ Edwards-Acton

decided to take a GCC online class called Creating Mobile Apps with HTML5 during fall 2012 to expand his knowledge.

“I used a lot of the HTML I learned and the CSS.” he said.

CJ Edwards-Acton used what he learned in his class to develop a program to find people around a person’s proximity who share the same common interests and hobbies, like Google or Craigslist.

Over the past few years, CJ Edwards-Acton represented part of 3 percent of students younger than 18 years old, and the 0.1 percent of students between 11 and 15 years old who have taken credit courses in spring and fall semesters, according to Edward Karpp, dean of research, planning and grants.

After taking the class, CJ Edwards-Acton became one of the two winners between fifth and sixth grade who won the Nestlé Best in Youth essay contest. Nestlé rewards students who have displayed exceptional school promise, and who have made a difference in the lives of others.

In his essay he wrote, “My main goal in life is to at least change one person’s life, then work my way to changing the world and one day be an inspiration to the future generation leaders and innovators.”

More than 1,000 applications sent in from across the US, CJ Edwards-Acton and 17 other winners and their parents, will be awarded a paid trip to Los Angeles on July 25 to 28, $1,000 for their school, $1,000 for the

Photo by Marlon Miranda

COLLEGE BOUND: Cyprian “CJ” Edwards-Acton learned how to code and create web sites at 7 years old. charity of their choice and they will get to meet honorary chair Clippers basketball player Blake Griffin.

CJ Edwards-Acton will donate his winnings to the California Dance Institution, where he continues to take dance lessons.

“They have performances, and they ask for donations. I feel guilty, because we have never given them money, and he’s getting great dance lessons,” Suzanne Edwards-Acton said.

In addition to his programming skills, CJ Edwards-Acton’s talents also include photography, reading, cooking, taekwondo and updating and editing his

YouTube channel.

This summer, CJ EdwardsActon said he plans to take more GCC classes.

“I really would love for him to say I finished my first computer class at the age of 11 or 12,” Suzanne Edwards-Acton said. “I would really love for him to put that on his college app.”

As CJ Edwards-Acton continues his education at Eagle Rock High School next year, Jaime Edwards-Acton said, “I think it’s great to have GCC .

What is offered there he can’t get at Eagle Rock High. I don’t want him to feel like he can’t learn something. He’s hungry to learn,

or he can’t discover something that he wants to discover.”

With all of his accomplishments, his family is proud for their youngster.

“I want to see him happy with what he’s doing. That’s ultimately what I want,” Micah EdwardsActon said. “Even if it doesn’t end up being his current life plan I want him to be happy in whatever he does.”

Kristine Tuzon can be reached at ktuzon342@student.glendale.edu

elvaq.com

Campus Comments What do you think of the Wi-Fi on campus?

Kevin Regis, 22

Summer Novelo, 18

Mayra Zelaya, 19

Leo Rodas, 20

Literature

Communications

Criminal Justice

Business

“The signal needs improvement because it’s not accurate. For example, it will work when I’m at the park, but it won’t when I’m in the student center.”

“It drops connection a lot.

You have to reset it and reconnect to it all the time.”

“The Wi-Fi kinda of sucks here.

Why can’t it be like at PCC where it automatically connects to your phone or laptop when you step onto campus.”

the most part it’s decent.”

“Are people mad at it or something?

It’s OK. There are some dead places, but for

­­—Compiled by Monica Terada

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Wednesday, April 3, 2013

5

FEATURES

Disabled Students Aided by Equal Access Programs Police Department.

Along with helping mobility impaired students, GCC also aids students with visual and hearing impairments. “The counselors want us to succeed,” said Acevedo. “They help us reach our goals.”

When students with any type of disability first come to the

recruit. They need to request needs to know is whether they the student knows about the our services,” said Anderson- can use the computer.

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER program.

Wahlberg. “They have to bring There also is a screen-reading For example, if a student has any people aren’t aware a verification of a multiple of the difficulties disabled their disability. choice test Help for Students with Special Needs students go through every day, Either a doctor’s for a history but the GCC staff is leveling note or for Visual Impairments class, DSPS the playing field to give those students who’ve can provide • JAWS is a computer program that converts text into Microsoft Word and students the resources to reach done testing, we help. reads it back to the student. their goals. need to see the “We would • Braille is one of the choices for visually impaired students. If they know “On average, results.” get the test how to read braille their text can be converted. every year we serve T h e from the Mobility Impairments about 800 to 1,000 students then instructor in students who have fill out an Microsoft • Tram service is available for permanent and temporary injuries. different types of application Word format • Call the Center for Students with disabilities at (818) 240-1000 ext. 5905. disabilities,” said for the DSPS and the • GCC offers Adapted Physical Education for example adapted aquatics, adapted indoor cycling and physical reintegration.

Tina Andersonand meet with student then

Wahlberg, the a counselor uses JAWS Hearing impairments interim program to talk about to read the manager of Disabled potential test,” said • An interpreter is assigned to a student if they speak ASL, and if not, a Real Students Programs challenges.

Time Captionist uses a program to type everything that is said in class for Andersonstudents to read. and Services.

Based on this Wa h l b e r g .

• GCC also offers ASL classes for students who want to learn how to sign.

GCC student meeting, the “Then one Jorge Acevedo counselor is of the team was shot in the able to refer members will spine shortly after students to different places on program on campus called Job fill the scantron to take to the passing his police campus, as well as services, Access with Speech (JAWS). instructor.” academy exam. He which might help.

If a student is familiar with the Jessica Stewart is visually lost his ability to One of these services program, then the counselor impaired, and she has found walk, and because is Mobility Orientation for will refer the student to the High JAWS extremely helpful, of the expenses, Tech Center for Students With especially because she hasn’t Photo by Taline Markarian visually impaired students. became a student This helps students find their Disabilities. At this center, the been trained to read Braille.

SUCCESSFUL STUDENT WORKER: Jorge at GCC instead of Acevedo combines his love of law enforcement with way around campus. There student will meet with the high [See DSPS, page 6] returning to Cal are also yellow bumps on tech specialist who will see what

By Taline Markarian

M

advocacy for disabled access.

State Northridge.

Through his criminal justice professor, GCC Chief of Police Gary Montecuello, Acevedo found his calling and started working for the Glendale

college, they have to go to the Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS) department and ask for services.

“We can’t go out and

the ground around GCC for visually impaired students who use a white cane.

Anderson-Wahlberg said that when working with blind students, the first thing the department

Robotics Competition [Robotics from page 1] “It feels really good to win,” said high school senior Jesus Pena, alongside team member and high school senior, Carl Nartia. “It’s our last game of the year, so it feels great,” said Nartia.

Thousand Oaks’ La Reina High School team Roboregents earned the excellence award, which is given to the team with the most ingenuity in the competition.

“It’s pretty ironic actually, since our robot actually broke down,” said Roboregents’ team member Deanna Rice, alongside Michaela Crispin.

“It’s exhilarating,” Crispin added.

While the Vex competition ran from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., a side competition started at 11 a.m. and ran until noon, involving Legos and fully autonomous control.

Eight teams from four schools, all from Glendale Unified School

District, competed using preset autonomous controls to control a small Lego robot to simulate a rover mission, gaining points for completing objectives.

Although there was a threeway tie for third place, a tiebreaker helped Theodore Roosevelt Middle School win all top three positions in the Lego competition.

Roosevelt teacher Richard Kamiya said their key to success is having a robotics class, rather than an after school program.

“We have a strong focus on STEM in Roosevelt,” said Kamiya.

“They can work on robotics every day, rather than once a week like the other schools.”

Roosevelt also competed on the Vex competition, as the only middle school in competition.

“The kids did a good job. They worked hard for it,” said Kamiya.

Thomas Voden, a Title V STEM grant director, was man

behind the idea to bring the robotics competition to GCC. “What we want to do is to make kids catch that curiosity,” said Voden. “To see how fun it can really by by choosing to go to college and to do something in STEM.” Voden wants students to see the effects of having engineering majors. “It’s a broad field and can be a pleasure to work in,” said Voden.

Students can learn more about robotics on campus by visiting glendale.edu/robotics, and by taking robotics classes offered on campus.

To learn more about Vex robotics competitions visit Vexrobotics.com.

Jonathan Caballeros can be reached at jcaball942@student.glendale.edu

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• Emergency Contraception Pill (ECP), and • Free Pregnancy Tests (walk-ins available) APHCV 1530 Hillhurst Ave. Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA. 90027 (323) 644-3888 www.aphcv.org To place an ad in the El Vaquero, contact Jeff Smith at jsmith@glendale.edu or (818) 240-1000, ext. 5493

6

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

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OPINION

The Armenian Community Needs Focus

By Agnessa Kasumyan EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

F

or nearly a century, Armenian people have struggled for the affirmation of the 1915 genocide carried out by the Ottoman Empire.

The stories and accounts that have been passed along by victims and witnesses are crude enough to make anyone cringe; however, the time has come to redirect the energy spent on genocide recognition onto other issues that currently plague Armenians today.

The genocide issue has left both Armenians and Armenia in a stalemate. It’s as if recieving reparations from Turkey will

solve all of the nation’s problems when it cannot make due with the potential it has now for profit and both political and economic growth.

Receiving reparations from Turkey may or may not help Armenia’s development, but Armenians shouldn’t wait for the reparations before they start working toward much needed socioeconomic and political change.

The argument that many Armenians hold is that Armenia’s geographic location is not ideal, and that if it had its historical lands back from Turkey, it would give the access better resources, as it is currently a landlocked nation.

This just sounds like an excuse. Exploiting the genocide issue won’t solve bigger problems in the long run, and it is, in fact, disrespectful to the victims.

Though it is true that there are disadvantages to being landlocked, it does not competely disable development.

Switzerland also suffer from the “ same “problem,” yet that country manages to maintain a stable economy. Switzerland’s unemployment rate is 3 percent, and its budget surplus is 0.3 percent. Only 6.9 percent of its population falls below the poverty line, according to the CIA World Factbook.

Armenia, however, has an unemployment rate of 7 percent.

In 2011, the deprecation of the nation’s currency caused the value of its money to drop 15 percent in 2011, resulting in higher levels of unemployment.

Armenia, along with Macedonia, has the highest youth unemployment rates, 57.6 percent.

The decrease in employment has led to a cluster of issues, such as increases in prostitution, human trafficking and poverty. The CIA World Factbook reports that 35.8 percent of the population suffers from poverty.

Added to that, Armenia is

currently struggling with high levels of corruption within its government. The Corruption Perceptions Index reports that Armenia has a total score of 34 out of 100, with 100 being the least corrupt and zero being the most.

This alone leaves trails of doubt in Armenia’s ability to use reparations from Turkey toward the development of the nation.

Armenian interest groups should take into consideration that though the genocide happened, constantly pushing for its recognition does nothing to help the people, especially if the ultimate goal is to gain money and lands.

Reparations will not bring justice to the lives lost. Instead, using the genocide to gain economic advantages only halts Armenia’s growth and further tarnishes its relations with Turkey.

Armenia would benefit more if it established diplomatic relations with Turkey, especially economically, if both nations agreed to open their borders.

The amount of passion, resources and energy that is dedicated to genocide recognition should be dedicated to dealing with the social, economic and corruption issues that have cost Armenians a decent standard of living and resulted in their vast migration.

The genocide happened; however, with that said, April 24 should no longer be a day solely for mourning. The Ottoman Empire, under the Young Turks, failed in their mission to wipe Armenians out and destroy their spirits, yet there is a sense of victimization that exists in Armenians today.

Armenians are the victors in the situation, not the victims. If they viewed themselves as the victors, perhaps the generation today would be more empowered and inclined to deal with immediate and more pressing issues that strike the core of their livelihood, rather than using the past to create their future.

Agnessa Kasumyan can be reached at agnessaks@gmail.com

FEATURE

Disabled Students [DSPS, from page 5] “We’re able to navigate the computer like a sighted person does,” said Stewert. “You’re able to compose word documents and navigate certain parts of the Internet. The only drawback to JAWS is that certain web pages might be inaccessible PDF files and it won’t be able to read the symbols correctly.”

The school also makes things easier for mobility-impaired students. The students are able to access everywhere on campus, but there is room for improvement, according to Anderson-Wahlberg.

“One of the places we can improve on is our elevators.

They’re getting old and sometimes they break down,” Anderson-Wahlberg said.

Acevedo said that he gets around campus easily, and he has even joined GCC’s soccer wheelchair team, the Glendale Rough Riders.

Like Acevedo, Ava Fayaz is mobility impaired. Fayaz, 23, has been in a wheelchair since she was 6 years old. She’s able to get to class quickly by using ramps

and handicap routes, but there are some things she would change as well.

“A thing that I found was odd was that in order to get to the second floor of the administration building there is only one elevator in the area,” Fayaz said.

“I have a night class on the other side of the building and it takes me a while to go to the elevator all the way on the other side and be able to get to class on time.”

DSPS also aids students with hearing impairments. These students are assigned interpreters based on whether or not they can sign. If they don’t sign, then GCC has a Real Time Captionist, who uses a program to type everything that is said in class for the students to read.

Most people don’t take a second glance at the disabled students at GCC, but with the help of counselors and advanced programs, the student’s goals are getting bigger and their voices are getting louder.

Taline Markarian can be reached at yestalinem@aol.com

www.elvaq.com

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

7

OPINION

Americans Need to Kick Addiction to Meat

By Monica Terada

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

I

n a small American city of green trees and fresh air, a suburban house dweller, Bob, heaves himself out of bed and drags his rump into the kitchen.

Greasy bacon strips sizzle on the grill.

Bob throws the bacon on a plate full of scrambled eggs and as he engulfs it, he packs an extra-large roast beef sandwich for lunch.

His wife smiles at him and asks if chicken potpie is alright for dinner.

Americans love meat, and according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, in 2012, an average of 9 billion animals were slaughtered for food in the United States.

Amongst these were cattle, chickens, ducks, sheep, lambs and turkeys. Fish and crustaceans were not included in this number.

But, love for meat does not mean love for animals, and Bob’s meat-based meals, three times a day, comes at a high price.

The food industry is run on almost complete disregard for the animals going through it.

Processing such huge quantities of meat and making it accessible —at “capitalist” prices—to contemporary society’s fast paced individuals requires a well oiled assembly line of slaughter, in other words, minimal expenses, speed and absolutely no empathy.

McDonald’s Dollar Menu McChicken is possible and accessible to suburban Bob and his fellow compatriots, not because Ronald McDonald is a nice guy and wants to give a friendly discount, but because of the thousands of chickens who have been forced to cram in a one-star fleabag motel room with no right to television or room service.

According to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals organization (PETA), chickens raised for meat, “broilers,” as they are called by the industry, are raised in huge excrementfilled, windowless sheds and receive heavy doses of growth promoting drugs that will make them ready for processing in

only six weeks. In their normal life cycle they reach adulthood at three months. Furthermore, these intensively reared chickens are so heavy that most cannot stand, and they will plop down on the floor.

The enlightening documentary, “Earthlings,” narrated by Joaquin Phoenix, follows the painful stories

of not only chickens, other food as well, venture t h e stages meat

b u t animals as they through several of the production industry.

Due to severely overcrowded cages, stressed out chickens will peck their cage mates to death.

Consequently, the non-empathy feeling, assembly-line workers are required to cut off baby chicks’ beaks with a hot blade – without the use of anesthetics. The rapidity of the process, 15 chicks each minute, does not allow time to consider the extreme pain and injuries inflicted as a result.

Similarly, baby pigs have their ears, tails and teeth cut off (male piglets their testicles as well), also without the use of anesthetics.

Their living environments are so stressful and crowded that most have turned to cannibalism, eating off each other’s ears and tails, hence the need to remove them at an early age.

For veal, the conditions are little better. Two days after they are born, the cows are taken from their mother and placed in hutches. To restrict muscles from developing, they are kept tied by the neck in a way that prevents them from moving. They are kept this way for four months, eating nothing but an iron deficient liquid diet, and they are then taken to the slaughterhouses, where

their pain should technically end, but it doesn’t.

Animals arrive at slaughterhouses, and—with the exception of chickens—are placed in holding pens. The chickens are shackled, hung upside down by their feet, and lowered into an electrified bath called “the stunner.”

Cattle receive a forceful blow on the head from a captive bolt pistol, and hogs are stunned with a tonglike instrument designed to induce

cardiac arrest. Shaking frantically, they collapse. They must then be killed within three minutes if not, they could regain their senses.

In many cases, however, t h e y regain their

senses and are alive and conscious while being skinned and dismembered.

Cattle and hogs are then hung upside down by one of their hind legs.

The skin around the neck is cut with a knife until the jugular is reached and slit. The animal fidgets uncontrollably as blood drains from its body, and death is caused through exsanguination.

Recapitulating, the intensively reared

plopping chickens that make up the not so nice guy Ronald McDonald’s Dollar Menu McChickens are born, and are immediately subjected to torture.

They are raised on drugs, and after almost two months of physical and mental pain due to lack of space and inappropriately cut beaks, they are taken to bathe in electrifying water.

Nevertheless, these are the chickens that Bob and his generation were reared. Most of these plopping-chicken eaters would rather plop down also than open their eyes to the truths of the world that make Ronald McDonald a not so nice guy.

No matter how hard these chickens close their eyes, they will never escape their miserable existence and electrifying death spa.

We are all inhabitants of planet Earth, with equal responsibility in taking care of it and one another.

A drastic change in lifestyles, which does not include plopping, is long overdue.

Monica Terada can be reached at moniterada@gmail.com

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Wednesday, April 3, 2013

www.elvaq.com

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

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‘Olympus Has Fallen’ Short of Expectation

By Monica Terada

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

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s the audience settles into their seats and gets comfy, hundreds of civilians perish in an over the top shower of airplane gunshots and firebombs.

North Koreans lead a hell of a guerilla attack against the White House, Secret Service hunk Mike Banning, played by Gerard Butler, throws hard blows with a smug grin. After the thirteen minute invasion, “Olympus Has Fallen.”

This action packed motion picture presumes to carry out the taking down of the White House.

At first, all seems possible.

The North Koreans appear to have an ample and in depth understanding of the president’s home, even more so than the president (Aaron Eckhart), his Secret Service squad, and almost everyone else running the country. Not only that, but “bad boys” team captain Kang Yeonsak, played by Rick Yune, is intimidating with his welldefined pecs and heavy accent.

He says, “Simon says” and American traitors are at his beck and call.

On the Americans’ side, Banning not only has the rugged pecs, but the integrity of a bull as well. He fights and defeats numerous highly trained Korean enemies, tries to save the president and his son (Finley Jacobsen), while trying to prevent the U.S. from a nuclear disaster, and halfway through all of this, remembers to call his wife to check in on her.

The daring plot moves along just as expected, the hero chasing the villain while the world — in other words, United States — is at stake. There is plenty of fighting for the fans of a good action movie, however, not enough lighting to see who has won. Although obstacles come up, there are hardly any twists to make audiences gasp. A feeling of relief comes at the end, not from the “world” having been saved, but from finally being able to see the exit doors.

The script is too preposterous and clichéd to be taken seriously.

Photo courtesy FilmDistrict

REDECORATING THE WHITE HOUSE: Mike Banning, played by Gerard Butler, is the only thing standing between the United States and a hostile Korean take over.

When too many loose ends are tied together with cheap explanations, not even Morgan Freeman (Speaker Trumbull) can save the day. A page-one rewrite would help the movie a lot however not enough to warrant it as a must watch film.

The writers, Creighton Rothenberger and Katrin Benedikt, wrote the movie in 2002, but in

2011 rewrote the entire thing as it showed some promise. “Olympus Has Fallen” is their first sold script and it marks their debut as big movie writers, possibly giving them a small taste of the Hollywood glitz.

Screenwriting is a craft perfected by practice and who you know in the business. Now that Rothenberger and Benedikt

know the right people all they need is tons of practice.

It’s a mediocre flick to take the action hungry teens, but be sure to bring a flashlight to illuminate the exit doors.

 Monica Terada can be reached at monicaterada@hotmail.com

‘Walking Dead’ Soundtrack Reanimates the Series

By Sal Polcino

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

L

ean back in a comfortable chair, slap on headphones, close your eyes and dream of zombies.

Fans of “The Walking Dead” can relive their favorite moments while listening to songs from the soundtrack, released on March 17, by Universal Music Group and available on CD and digital download.

All eight tunes are performed by different and unique artists and are perfectly mixed and recorded.

Every voice and instrument is clear, smooth and present and creates a thoroughly enjoyable listening experience.

Even those folks out who are not fans of the show will appreciate the sweet melodies and dark tones of these up and coming musicians.

The only downside is the

length. Only two songs are more than five minutes long and the rest run for three minutes or less.

Listeners will be left wanting more.

Jamie Commons’ “Lead Me Home,” features acoustic guitar with a dark droning undertone.

His slightly raspy voice adds color to the rhythm. This is one of the best songs on the CD, but is also the shortest and runs less than two minutes long.

The soundtrack’s “Main Title Theme Song,” by Bear McCreary, opens with spooky synthesizers and builds to a crescendo with an underlying hip hop beat. Fans of the show know this composition well and will be pleased to hear it in it’s entirety. Something bad is going to happen.

Voxhaul Broadcast, a band from Silver Lake, Calif., plays the song “You are the Wilderness.”

This tune is reminiscent of 60s guitar stylings of Stephen Stills

and Neil Young, but the vocals sound almost like the Seattle grunge bands of the 90s.

“Love Bug,” by Baby Bee, incorporates hard rock and a bit of 80s techno pop with a harddriving rockabilly guitar solo.

The song is a weird, but fun, mix of styles. Scary things must be sneaking up from behind.

The band Fink brings a British rock feel to the song “Warm Shadow,” with an acoustic guitar intro a la Yes or Pink Floyd. Look out the window, here comes the undead.

“Sinking Man,” by Of Monsters and Men, features a strange harmony and haunting melody with a folksy feel. Emily Kinney sings “The Parting Glass,” an eerie melody sung in the Irish folk song tradition, but with scary tones mixed behind the vocals.

Kinney’s voice is sleek and silky and sure to be heard again. This song lends a calm-before-the-

Photo courtesy AMC/Universal Music Group

THE SOUND OF ZOMBIES: Relive your favorite scenes...in your ears.

The Walking Dead Soundtrack brings the undead back to life. storm feeling to the imagination.

“Running,” by Delta Spirit, as the band’s name suggests, is a delta blues tune with some nice acoustic guitar work. It’s like hearing a zombie chase scene.

The CD has a nice combination of styles. Most tracks are laid back but with a little hard rock

thrown in to accent the action scenes where the cast is ... you guessed it — killing zombies!

 Sal Polcino can be reached at apolcin587@student.glendale.edu

www.elvaq.com

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

9

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Basses Are Loaded At Glendale

By Sal Polcino

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

W

hen three student bass players joined GCC’s jazz performance department last year, there were few options for them to showcase their talent.

But this semester, with a large increase in participation in the jazz program, two more small combos have been added to accommodate the new additions.

Now there are separate spots for all three upright basses.

Marvin Paez, 24, has been a student at GCC since 2008.

Although he has only been playing bass for three years and jazz for two years, the other bassists agree Paez is the most advanced.

“I had to step up and practice every day,” said Paez.” What we would do in the Saturday Big Band was we all played the song altogether. We [would] all take turns in a song or two or three and all four of us didn’t care because we were having fun playing together.”

Mario Lopez, 32, was the second bassist to join the big band.

He described the competition as a “friendly rivalry.” “Marvin is awesome,” said Lopez. “He is just so relaxed.”

The youngest of the three, Armen Manavazyan, 22, was the latest addition to the program. He joined in the spring of 2012. “We

all try to help each other,” said Manavazyan. “Sharing when we have new things.”

Last spring, a small combo, “The Jazz Tentet,” was added to the roster and it gave the battle of the basses more options.

Before that, jazz musicians only had three choices. They could audition for the Big Band, the Vocal Jazz Ensemble or the Jazz Guitar Ensemble.

Paez plays with the advanced combo, the Jazz Vocal Ensemble and the Guitar Ensemble. Lopez and Manavazyan each have combos where they are first chair as well.

Manavazyan and Lopez are both music majors, but despite a 10-year gap in age, they are musically close.

Lopez picked up the electric bass in 2006 and the acoustic bass in March 2012. He got into jazz because he said it is, “the foundation of American music.”

Lopez still plays the electric bass and plays gigs around town with a hard rock band, Hunter 99, that he described as “Hendrix meets grunge.”

Manavazyan moved to Glendale from the Ukraine almost three years ago. “There are many professional musicians [in the Ukraine], but education is not evolved and [most] schools are very expensive,” he said.

Manavazyan started playing the violin when he was 8 years old

Photo by Kathy Backowicz

SATURDAY JAZZ: Instructor Chris Coulter directs on of his three jazz combos on Saturday mornings.

Photo by Kathy Backowicz

UPRIGHT AND INTENSE: Acoustic Bassist, Armen Manavazyan, covers the bottom in the Group II Jazz Combo.

and still enjoys classical music, but he wants to learn all styles.

Like Lopez, he believes that if

you can master jazz you can play anything. He also plays electric bass, but he prefers acoustic,

which he picked up only a few months ago.

There are similarities in the goals of all three musicians: knowledge of the instrument, favorite jazz bass players, (they all like Ray Brown and Charles Mingus) and all want to be professional musicians. Yet the most important commonality is their teacher.

Director and instructor Chris Coulter, also a professional bass player, has a special affinity for the players, as well as the instrument. Coulter, originally from Argentina, has a master’s degree in music from San Jose State University and he knows jazz bass well. Not only does Coulter direct the small jazz combos, but he also gives the bass players private instruction.

“He is so passionate about music and teaching,” said Lopez. Manavazyan and Paez agree that Coulter’s enthusiasm spills over to his students.

It seems the GCC jazz has scored a three-bass hit.

Sal Polcino can be reached at apolcin587@student.glendale.edu

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Wednesday, April 3, 2013

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SPORTS

Lady Vaqs Drop Both Games of Double Header

By Dustin Rivera

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

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arly inning struggles for the Lady Vaqeros lead to losses in both games of a doubleheader against the Los Angeles Valley College Monarchs.

The Lady Vaqs opened the first game with an early error by Amanda Carriedo, who played second base, followed by a batter being hit by a pitch and a walk, which loaded the bases. Starting Lady Vaqs pitcher, Kayla Evans, then gave up a hit, which allowed two runs to score.

The Lady Vaqs got on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning when a sacrifice fly by catcher Jena Kaser scored first baseman Claire Ortiz.

The Lady Vaqs extended its lead in the top of the fifth inning on a double to center by Vanessa Mendoza, which scored right fielder Kelsie Ange. Between batters, there was a throwing error on a pickoff attempt to third, which scored Vanessa Mendoza, who had advanced to third on a groundout.

The Lady Vaqs brought a one run lead going into the bottom of

the sixth inning, but gave up an early walk, followed by a bunt, which advanced the Monarch runner to second, who later scored on a double, tying the game.

In bottom of the final inning, with the game tied, the Lady Vaqs gave up an early error by Carriedo, which put the game winning run on base. A single by the next batter put the game winning run in scoring position.

The game would end after next at bat with a single to deep left field, scoring the runner on second.

In game two, the Lady Vaqs got off to another rocky start, giving up two runs in the first inning on one hit, one of which was a stolen base and the second an error.

The Lady Vaqs took the lead though in the top of the third inning when Kaser hit a three run home run to deep center.

The Lady Vaqs hopes for victory fell apart in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The inning started with a runner reaching first base on an infield single back to the pitcher.

The runner advanced to second base on the next pitch when pitcher Katie Bakhshian threw a

Men’s Golf Ranks Third

By Kelsey Anderson EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

D

espite the poor weather conditions Glendale College Men’s Golf Team came in third, losing by one point at Allan Hancock College WSC. The Vaqueros are fourth overall in the Western State Conference with a 18-18 record and just two tournaments before conference finals.

“I’m more proud about how they kept it together, in the rain,” said head coach Greg Osbourne.

“They had eight or nine holes left when the rain finally stopped.

They got soaked” College of the Canyons came in first with 367 points, Santa Barbara came in second with 378 and GCCwas third with 379.

Freshman Tavik Garabedian had Glendale’s lowest score with 74 points, beating Jin Park (75), Derrik Hubbard (76), Clayton Ojeda (76) and Ryan Miranda (78).

Osbourne expected the course to be difficult because not many

of his players had played there.

Ojeda remembers the course from two years ago, but he didn’t finish as strong as he did, due to the rain.

“It was only difficult because of the rain,” Ojeda said. “It was also really cold so it was just a struggle.“ On April 22 at Soule Park in Ventura the team’s final tournament is a 36- hole conference championship. The Vaqueros need to beat every team except the first and second ranked teams, CoC and SBCC, to rank third and qualify for regionals.

“We really have to work hard to make it to regionals,” said Osbourne. “We’re also getting closer to where my expectations were at the beginning of the year.”

The Vaqueros finish the season with tournaments at Glendora Country Club on April 8 at 11 a.m. and a home match at Oakmont Country Club April 15 at 11 a.m.

wild pitch. A ground ball to the second baseman advanced the runner to third base, who would later score on a single to center field.

A ground ball was hit under the legs of second baseman, Carriedo, put runners on first and second. A blooper hit to center loaded the bases, and a couple batters later a single by the Monarchs would score two, giving the Monarchs the runs needed to win the game 5-3.

The Vaqueros will play another doubleheader against College of the Canyons Thursday starting at 1 p.m. at the Glendale Sports Complex.

Photo by Sal Polcino Dustin Rivera can be reached at dustinjrivera@gmail.com

ALMOST FAIR: Lady Vaquero Amanda Zepeda hits a hard line-drive that curved foul at the last minute.

Vaquero Sports Summaries Scores Women’s Tennis: April 1— forefit to Bakesfield Baseball March 22 — beat L.A. Valley 9-5 March 26 — lost to Santa Barbara 6-0 March 27 — lost to Mt. Sac 5-2 Thursday— lost to Santa Barbara 2-0 Men’s Golf: March 25 — placed fourth at WSC

Men’s Tennis: March 22 — beat Amherst 6-3 March 26 — beat Cerritos 6-3 April 1— beat Bakesfield 9-0 Softball: March 21 — beat Santa Monica 1-0, 10-2 March 26— lost to Citrus 11-0 Thursday — lost to L.A. Valley 4-3, 5-3

Upcoming Events Women’s Tennis: Friday— WSC Tourney at Ventura April 25-28 — Ojai Tourney/So Cal and State at Ojai TBA Baseball: Thursday — vs. Canyons 2:30 p.m.

Saturday — vs. West L.A 1 p.m.

April 9— at West L.A 2:30 p.m.

April 12 — vs. Ventura 2:30 p.m.

April 16 — vs. Bakersfield 6 p.m.

April 18 — at Bakersfield 6 p.m.

April 20 — at Mission 1 p.m.

April 23 — vs. Mission 2:30 April 26 — at Citrus 2:30 p.m.

Men’s Golf: April 8 — WSC at Glendora 11 a.m.

April 15 — WSC at Oakmont 11 a.m

April 22 — WSC Finals at Ventura 11 a.m.

Softball: April 4 — vs. Canyons 1/3 p.m.

April 11— vs. Bakersfield 1 p.m.

April 16 —at Santa Monica 2 p.m.

April 23 — vs. Valley 2:30 p.m.

Men and Womens’s Track & Field Tuesday — So Cal Hep/Dec Cerritos 10 am.

April 13— Mt. SAC Invitational 10a.m.

April 19 —WSC Prelims at Ventura 1 p.m.

April 26 —WSC Finals at Moorpark 1 p.m.

Men’s Tennis: Friday — WSC Tourney at Ventura April 25-28 — Ojai Tourney/So Cal and State at Ojai TBA

For more information see: http://www.glendale.edu/athletics/ Kelsey Anderson can be reached at k.Anderson.ElVaquero@gmail.com

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Wednesday, April 3 , 2013

11

Calendar On Campus SPIRIT WEEK Jersey Day — Wear your favorite team jersey to school. Sponsored by ASGCC. Monday all day, campus wide.

Twin Day — Find a friend to be your other half. Tuesday all day, campus wide.

‘80s Day — Go back in time.

Wear something from the ‘80s April 10, all day, campus wide.

Spirit Day — Celebrate spirit day by wearing the school colors.

April 11, all day, campus wide.

Spring Carnival — ASGCC presents their annual event. Featuring free snacks, games, a dunk tank, jumpers, music and prizes.

April 11 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in Plaza Vaquero.

EVENTS Talent Show — First prize is a iPod Nano, second prize an iPod Shuffle. Open to all students.

Deadline to sign up is today in the student center. Sponsored by ASGCC. Thursday at 12:30 p.m. in front of the cafeteria quad.

Social Sciences Panel — “The Struggle for Social Justice: Then and Now” with panelists Tammy Blacklightning of the American Indian Movement, Hank Jones of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense, Carlos Montes of the Brown Berets and Mo Nishida of Asian Hardcore. Thursday from 12:20 to 1:30 p.m. in SR 138.

Armenian Genocide Rememberance Day — The Armenian Students Association annual event will feature information booths, displays and presentations. April 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Plaza Vaquero. In addition

to the outdoor event the documentary “Armenia Betrayed” will be shown at 12:20 p.m. in TBA.

BLOOD DRIVE Red Cross Blood Drive — The bloodmobile will be here giving out two free Laugh Factory tickets to all donors. Sponsored by GCC Student Activities. Today from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Plaza Vaquero. For more information call (818) 240-1000, ext. 3033.

CLUBS Alpha Gamma Sigma — Will host a booksale to raise funds for scholarships. Today and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. in Plaza Vaquero.

V.O.I.C.E.S. Club — Will have their bi-annual burrito sale to raise funds for scholarships. Price for a combo $6 or $5 for burrito only. Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m in Plaza Vaquero.

Theatre Guild — Thinking about theater? Learn more by dropping by the Theatre Guild on Thursday at 12:20 p.m. in AU 201B. Gay-Straight Alliance — The GSA club is sponsoring a lecture about the story of a boy who was electrocuted in an ex-gay camp; and speaking up against homophobia. Free. Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. in Kreider Hall.

Dodgeball Club — The next two games will be held Tuesday and April 23 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the San Fernando complex outdoor basketball courts.

MEETINGS Board of Trustees Meeting — April 15 at 5 p.m. in Krieder Hall.

For more information visit: www. glendale.edu/boardoftrustees.

HAVE YOUR CAMPUS EVENT LISTED ON THE CALENDAR PAGE

theater “Almost, Maine” — Written by John Cariani and directed by Jeanette Farr. Tickets are $15 general admission, $12 for students and seniors. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, April 11, 12 and 13 at 8 p.m.

Sunday and April 14 at 2 p.m.

Auditorium Mainstage Theatre.

For more information visit www. glendale.edu/theatre or call (818) 240-21000, ext. 5612.

ORIENTATION Power Academy Orientation — Learn more about GCC’s Verdugo Power Academy class. Today and April 11 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in SF 119. For more information visit www.glendale.edu/power.

Fire Academy Orientation — Learn more about GCC’s Fire Academy classes and application process during this orientation.

Thursday from 7 to 8 p.m. in AA 108. For more information visit www.glendale.edu/fire or call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5906.

MUSIC Invitational High School Choral Festival — Choirs from local high schools will perform with the GCC choir. Coordinated by Jayne Campbell. Free. April 23 at 7 p.m. in the Auditorium.

Faculty Recital — Music department faculty will perform both solos and duets. Free. April 25 in the Auditorium at 12:20 p.m.

LECTURES Womens History Month — “Feminist Intervention in Art and Community Building.” A lecture

by Reina Prado, instructor of ethnic studies and history. Free.

Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Kreider Hall.

Humanities / Social Sciences Lecture Series — “Healthy Women, Healthy Planet.” Speaker is geography instructor Marla Conti. Free. April 25 at 12:30 p.m. in Kreider Hall.

Science Lecture Series — “Robot Kinematics.” Speaker is Tom Voden, director of the GCC Robotics Academy. Free. April 30 in CS 177 at 12:20 p.m.

MOVIES Friday Flix: — A screening of the 1991 film “Silence of the Lambs.” Directed by Jonathan Demme, and starring Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins. Free.

April 12 at 12:30 p.m. in SG 334.

Then on April 26 “Pulp Fiction” the 1994 Tarantino film will be shown. A discussion facilitated by instructor Mike Petros follows the screeening.

PLANETARIUM Afternoon with the Stars — A lunchtime program highlighting the planetariums features. “Life on Other Worlds?” will be presented today and April 10 from 12:30 to 1 p.m. in CS 257. Then on April 24 “The Latest News from Mars” will be presented.

Free. For more information visit www.glendale.edu/planetarium or call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5275

aid application. Free. Today from 2 to 4 p.m., and Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. in SC 212, Room C. For more information call (818) 2401000, ext. 5384.

Federal Entrance Loan Counseling Workshop — Learn how to apply for federal loans. Advance sign up is required at the Financial Aid office in the San Fernando complex. Today at 3 p.m., April 12 at 10 a.m. and April 22 at 1 p.m. in SF 107. For more information call (818) 2401000, ext. 5916.

TUTORING Math Discovery Center — The newly remodeled facility offers increased computer access and drop-in tutoring for math. Must be currently enrolled in a math course. Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in AS 103.

For more information call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5362.

Learning Center — Tutors are available in a variety of subjects.

Referral from an instructor, counselor or librarian required. Computers available. Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in AD 232. For more information call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5333.

FINANCIAL

HEALTH

Free Tax Preparation — Volunteer income tax assistance. Income limit $57,000. No appointment needed. This is the last day and only simple returns will be done. Bring your W-2’s, 1099’s and Social Security card. Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. in SR 116.

Mental Health Counseling — Free and available to all registered students. For more information or to schedule an appointment visit the Health Center in the San Rafael Building. No appointments will be made by phone. The hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

FAFSA Workshops — Get help filling out your federal financial

Compiled by Richard Kontas

• Email the details to Elvaquero.editor@gmail.com.

• Call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5349 and leave a message on our 24/7 event hotline, we’ll get right back to you.

• The deadline for the May 1 issue is April 23.

12

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

www.elvaq.com

LIFESTYLE

Beauty Pageant Contestant Represents Glendale

By Alex Campos

SPECIAL TO EL VAQUERO

T

here are plenty of stereotypes about the typical “pageant girl.” These stereotypes generally don’t involve loving Stanley Kubrick films or the music of Simon & Garfunkel.

These are a few of the favorite things of GCC’s Sarah Safuto, who is not the typical pageant girl. “I’m very academic. Reading has always been one of my favorite things,” said Safuto, who will be representing Glendale in the Miss California pageant in 2014.

Safuto, who has partnered with the Skin Cancer Foundation, contributes funds through pageant winnings, and she plans to hold a bake sale fundraiser April 19, with all proceeds going toward the foundation.

“During competition we’re allowed to talk about the charities we’re representing,” said Safuto. The Skin Cancer Foundation is a charity near to Safuto’s heart, as her mother has had skin cancer for most of Safuto’s life. “It’s really not something you pay attention to as a kid,” Safuto said. “It was pretty benign until recently. She had to have the skin on half of her nose removed and replaced with skin from her cheek.”

Safuto stressed that she is not partaking in the pageant for fame.

“The biggest aspect for me is getting as much money for the Skin Cancer Foundation as I can. Regardless of how I do in the pageant, they’ll still have the contribution.”

“She is a very strong independent type of woman who can handle a lot on her own,” said Safuto’s best friend Jeremie Peters. “She’s helped me become a stronger woman, someone who is able to talk about tough subjects without shutting down the pressures of an opposing view.”

Longtime neighbor and family friend Gracemarie Serafina will be coaching Safuto in the pageant. “She’s going to be a standout because she’s different,” said Serafina. “Unfortunately, Los Angeles has a lot of cookie cutter Kardashians with great bodies. I don’t mean to pass judgment, but there’s the

new all-american look and there’s the classic Audrey Hepburn look, which is more Sarah.”

While stereotypes exist about typical pageant girls, Safuto definitely stands out.

“I’m not the usual pageant girl,” said Safuto. “I’m interested in history and social justice, and I’m extremely interested in the women’s movement and feminism. I think we always see these pageant girls like ‘Toddlers and Tiaras,’ but all of the girls I’ve talked to in the pageant seem to be like me, with a wide array of interests.”

What does an atypical pageant girl do on her weekends?

“I read and do homework outside of school because I’m boring like that,” said Safuto. “ Y o g a , watching movies, acting. I like to relax. I’m not a person that enjoys going out all that much.

I never go out on weekends. I like staying Sarah Safuto home.”

All of that extra reading and homework is paying off for Safuto, who boasts a 3.8 GPA. A history major, Safuto is awaiting acceptance to Occidental College. Safuto has always been ahead of the curve, having attended Hoover High for two years and graduating from Verdugo Academy at 16. Now 19, Safuto has been at Glendale since spring 2011.

“I don’t believe the bad rap that community colleges get,” said Safuto.

“Some of the best teachers I’ve ever had have been here. [Gordon Alexandre’s] Social Protest of the 1960’s class really opened my interest in social justice. To participate in the pageant they interview you and make you’re aware of current affairs, and GCC has definitely helped me with that.”

Students can support Safuto in a number of ways. Safuto currently has a donation page to help her cut the cost of the pageant entry fee. To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/sarahin2014.

Alex Campos can be reached at ac.358135@gmail.com