EL VAQUERO
G L E N D A L E C O M M U N I T Y C O L L E G E S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R Wednesday, April 4, 2018
Online @ www.elvaq.com
GCCElVaquero
G CC _ E l V a q
el.vaquero.gcc
gccelvaquero
Volume 111 | Issue 3
L.A. Unites in March for Our Lives Tens of thousands gathered in downtown Los Angeles to call for stricter gun control laws
Belinda Oldrati / Staff Photographer
NO MORE SILENCE: A massive crowd gathers in the heart of Los Angeles to make their voices heard, and call for an end to gun violence.
By Belinda Oldrati Production Editor In the aftermath of the Parkland, Fla., mass shooting, over one million people across the country came together the morning of March 24 in hopes of putting an end to one of the biggest public health crises in the United States – gun violence. Loud chants by thousands of determined students and supporters echoed throughout the streets as they marched their way towards Los Angeles City Hall. “What do we want? Gun control! When do we want it? Now!” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti welcomed the large crowd outside City Hall, saying it was a “historic day” led by the youth of the country. Before leaving the stage, Garcetti asserted the strength of California’s gun legislation, and ended with a clear message for President Donald Trump. “Get with the program, or get the hell out of the way.” The following hours were carefully planned with many speakers from movements such as Black Lives Matter, and several students that have survived mass shootings. Artists and actresses including
Rita Ora, Charlie Puth, Amy Schumer, and Olivia Wilde took the stage. The crowd had a hard time holding back their tears as Puth sang his famous song, “See You Again.” Next up was Will Smith’s daughter, Willow Smith, who had a message for young people: “I’m just so proud to be here supporting the children who have put this all together, and have connected themselves through their passion and from their pain to make something like this happen,” said Smith. “That just fills me with hope, it fills me with happiness.” A few students that survived the Parkland, Fla., school shooting were also there to share their stories, talking about how kids should be able to go to school and get an education and future, without having to wonder if they are ever going to see that future. “Enough is enough. This should never ever happen again, we have sacrificed enough lives,” said one of the students. “This world needs to see a change, and that change needs to start today.” Another survivor, Sabrina Youngerman, who experienced the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history in Las Vegas, explained, “I couldn’t smile again for weeks, and I felt
guilty for laughing when someone made a joke. I cried myself to sleep, and had nightmares so often that they became normal. This experience is something I would not wish anyone to have to go through, not even my worst enemy.” Comedian and actress Amy Schumer had some powerful words for U.S. politicians who she said are currently “digging the graves” of the people they should protect. Throughout her speech, she encouraged them to “make a little less money and be able to look at yourself in the mirror with no blood on your hands.” Fellow actress Olivia Wilde addressed the National Rifle Association as she spoke to the audience. “Today, we are witnessing the moment the NRA has long been afraid of. An entire generation has been galvanized by their collective rage, and they are ready not only to march, but to vote,” said Wilde. “These upcoming midterm elections are your chance to channel your rage into action. Apathy is no longer an option. Your elected officials work for you, do not let those who choose to accept money from the NRA profit from your hopelessness, or the blood of your peers. Instead, vote them out.” The crowd started chanting, “Vote them
Belinda Oldrati / Staff Photographer
out! Vote them out!” Although officials expected around 60,000 people at the Los Angeles rally, and had a hefty amount of security on site, there was a sense of unity and love amongst people which made for a calm and peaceful protest with no arrests reported, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. After the event, LAPD tweeted a response to the what they characterized as a successful day, stating, “This truly is the city of angels.” [See March for Our Lives, page 2]
IN THIS ISSUE News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-12 Entertainment.. . . . . . . 13-14 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
2
NEWS
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
elvaq
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ken Allard
L.A. Unites in March for Our Lives
[From March for Our Lives, page 1]
PRODUCTION EDITOR Belinda Oldrati Hayk Rostomyan WEB EDITOR Carolina Diaz
REACHING OUT: Castaldo speaks to the crowd of excited protesters.
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Adriana Garcia
PHOTOGRAPHERS Anna Sargsyan
PROTECTION: Magdalena puts the future in her own hands.
Alexander Sampson FACULTY ADVISER Rory Cohen rcohen@glendale.edu (818) 240-1000 ext. 5214
Letters to the Editor
Member of the California Newspaper Publishers Association
ENOUGH: Vargas demonstrates silent protest as people march by.
Jon Harada was excited to join the march alongside his dog, Elinor. He expressed the importance of activating the people who were there, including the ones who are not of age yet, to preregister and get excited to vote, get involved and make a difference. “I think it would be great if there was a broader awareness of what it means to have stricter gun control,” said Harada. Erin Ryder came to stand behind the courageous teenagers who started the anti-gun violence movement. Her hopes for the day was for politicians to take action and make changes to the system. Ryder became popular among the crowd with her gun shaped sign with flowers sticking out of the muzzle saying, “Guns don’t need protection, kids does [sic].” Although she doesn’t have her own children, she said “My friends have enough that it upsets me, and you know, I was in school once and I can’t imagine living in fear like that.”
BAD NRA: Even Harada’s dog, Elinor, joins the march to “speak” up.
La Sierra Academy High School teacher Edith Pereda joined the march with a sign that kept popping up everywhere, which read “My students are more important than your guns.” Pereda explained the importance of being at the protest as a support system. “I want the kids that are here and the ones that are not here, to know that they have adults that back them up,” said Pereda.
El Vaquero accepts story ideas in news, features, profiles, sports and entertainment from the public. Send an idea or article to the editor at elvaquero@glendale.edu or call (818) 240-1000, ext. 3211. Member of the Journalism Asssociation of Community Colleges
Pasadena City College student Angie Vargas, 18, stood confidently with her sign that said, “No more silence, end gun violence” in the air as thousands of people passed her. “It’s very important for us students to protect ourselves and our community,” said Vargas as protesters chanted “Hey hey, ho ho, the NRA has got to go” in the background. Vargas also talked about how she wishes she wouldn’t have to be afraid of going to school. “It should be somewhere where I can express myself, and learn something.” Together with her toddler, parent and educator Marissa Magdalena joined the March for Our Lives for a number of reasons. “As a ‘Xennial’ who was in high school when Columbine happened, I’m here standing with my students and for my students, and for my children and for myself,” said Magdalena. “For people who go to clubs, for people who go to churches, for people who go to schools, for people who go to concerts, and the countless many other places where people have been slaughtered needlessly. It’s time to change.”
STAFF WRITERS Jasmine Amabile Allison Ayala Katrina Bulay Carmen Fernandez Rudy Guijarro Catalina Juarez Chieko Kubo Kevin Perez James Ojano-Simonsson CONTRIBUTING WRITER David Novoa
Text and photography by Belinda Oldrati, Production Editor Richard Castaldo, one of the first people to get shot during the Columbine High School shooting in 1999 which left him paralyzed from the chest down, was at the rally. “I think I’ve said this in every interview, but politicians are not going to do anything themselves, you have to shame and force them,” said Castaldo. “If they still don’t do anything, you have to vote them out, or run for office yourself. That’s the only way it’s going to change, and through massive demonstration like this.”
MANAGING EDITOR Marian Sahakyan
PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS Christopher Daniels Elena Jacobson Vendela Lindblom Matthew Spencer
www.elvaq.com
GUN CONTROL: Ryder supports teenagers in their call for action.
Belinda Oldrati can be reached at boldrat820@student.glendale.edu.
CHANGE: Pereda sets an example for her students.
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. All letters must include the full name, address and phone number of the writer. You will be contacted before publication. El Vaquero is a First Amendment publication.
EL VAQUERO
1500 N. Verdugo Road Glendale, CA 91208 (818) 240-1000, ext. 5349
First copy free Additional copies $.25
MARCH TO HISTORY: Tens of thousands of L.A. residents take the streets for a historic event, March for Our Lives.
NEWS
www.elvaq.com
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
3
Career Fair Draws Hundreds Over Two-Day Event Opportunity comes to Glendale Community College students during a rough job market By Hayk Rostomyan Production Editor GCC hosted its Spring, 2018 Job Fair from March 27 to 28, at the Sierra Vista Plaza. The event was put together by Sharis Davoodi from GCC’s Career Services. Over 80 employers attended the event in order to offer college students a chance to find work. Hundreds of students attended the event, some among them brought resumes and applied for positions in companies such as Age of Learning, Chef’d, YMCA of Glendale and the City of Glendale. ESPN Deportes 1330 AM came out to DJ for the school. They also came out ready to giveaway soccer balls to a few lucky people. This was the first time
that radio stations came peat is they to entertain for the job bring only one fair. copy of their The job fair also ofresume. fered a raffle where An addia few lucky winners tional step you walked away with Amashould take is zon gift cards. to bring netIf you were caught working cards, with your pants down also known while you walked by the as business SV plaza during the Job cards, to give Fair do not worry, the out with your Allison Ayala / Staff Photographer Career Services Center YOU’RE HIRED!: GCC students attend the Spring 2018 Career Fair. resume. This has some tips for you to helps set you follow. apart from people who just Students that want to find suc- you wear matters. Don’t show bring a resume. The career cess should attend the workshops up wearing jeans and a t-shirt. center advises students to use in the career center, said Davoodi. Instead of dressing in your everyservices like Vistaprint.com Most students that get hired al- day threads considering wearing to get a respectable network ways come prepared. You want something that is business causal card. to find out who’s attending and instead. Another common mistake come prepared with questions for You should also bring multiple students have made in the the recruiters. copies of your resume, a common past was not following up Davoodi expressed that what mistake that a lot of students rewith the companies after they
New Year, Norooz Festivities
GCC’s Persian Club brings the New Year celebration to their campus
Staff Writer
HAPPY NEW YEAR: A couple appreciate Elahe Zare’s are on display during GCC’s Norooz celebration in the Student Center.
By Hayk Rostomyan Production Editor The Persian Students Association of GCC held its annual Norooz, or Persian New Year, celebration on March 20. This was the first time that the ceremony was held inside the Student Center, with the previous events being held at Plaza Vaquero. The attendees were greeted with hot Persian style tea, sweets, and pastries as they took their seats. Every table was dressed with seven items which started with the letter ‘s.’ These can include anything from sugar to sarma. The mostly Persian and Armenian audience quickly made themselves feel like they were at home as the crowd was gathering. The celebration started with Natalie Honarchian, the president of the Persian Club, giving a PowerPoint presentation. She went over the history and traditions of Norooz by even including the meaning of the word itself. “Nor” means new and “ooz” comes from a word that means year, explained Honarchian. The celebration is traditionally held during the spring equi-
nox and every culture celebrates it a little differently. For example, certain nations have begun to include the Quran as part of the seven decorations on the table. “The celebration is not related to any religion,” said Sharis Davoodi, club advisor and student services technician. “Just the New Year most people celebrate, Norooz is not about religion but about the beginning of the spring equinox, which traditionally marks the start of the New Year in Persian culture.” Once Honarchian’s PowerPoint presentation was over, Elahe Zare, the special guest, took the stage to read a poem. The audience had their spirits high and were engaging in personal conversations as Zare took the stage. Some in the audience expressed their dissatisfaction by politely asking the people who were making all the noise to be quiet. This had very little effect on the crowd. Zare finished reading the poem without flaw and thanked the crowd as the music and dancing portion of the event was beginning. Zare had come as a special guest as a GCC student and a
talented Persian-Armenian artist. She brought (number) of her paintings to the event. Her art pieces were displayed in their own section of the Student Center. They drew a lot of attention from the attendees as they came in and some even asked Zare to take a picture with them. “I would like to thank all faculty classified staff who helped us promote this event to our students,” said Davoodi. “It’s moments like that, that as an advisor, I feel like the club established their mission to unite all cultures together.” There will be another event in April held by the Persian Student Association of GCC, where they will be selling Persian ice cream. This will be a chance for the community to experience something other than the usual kabobs, Davoodi explained. For those who it may want to join this club, the Persian Student Association meets every other Thursday at noon in the Career Center on the third floor of the new Sierra Vista Building. Hayk Rostomyan can be reached at hayk.rostomyan@gmail.com.
Hayk Rostomyan can be reached at hayk.rostomyan@gmail.com.
SIERRA VISTA PUT TO THE TEST IN DRILL By Catalina Juarez
Hayk Rostomyan / Staff Photographer
hand over their resume, stated Davoodi. “Send them a thank you card with a letter or an email.” For one-on-one help the Career Center, which is located on the third floor of the new Sierra Vista Building, is available for all GCC Students. The staff there will be happy to help you prepare for the next job fair with the workshops they offer. Faculty members will aide you with your resume as well as teaching you how to behave during an interview. To check for available dates and hours visit the Career Center or check Glendale.edu.
On Thursday, April 3, the Sierra Vista, one of Glendale Community College’s newest buildings was put to the test by undergoing its very first fire evacuation drill. This drill’s purpose was to simulate what to do in case of a gas leak, fire or earthquake. Despite the drill being unexpected, it was a complete success, campus officials told El Vaquero. Students and faculty who participated in it are now aware of what to do in case of any real emergency. “The ‘time’ alone is not the sole measure of success for a drill since the purposes are also to practice the evacuation routes and work with our local emergency partners to clear the building,” stated Gary Montecuollo, GCC’s chief of police. This evacuation drill is one of many that will be conducted throughout the remaining of the school year, GCC’s police stated. Chief Montecuollo added that there
are many other fire drills that will be taking place in campus to ensure the safety of every facility. For this drill in particular, the students were expected to evacuate to the lower tennis courts due to the Human Resources building being programmed to assemble there as well. Throughout the 30 minutes of the evacuation drill, all alarm systems were tested and were deemed effective. The GCC Police Department issued a statement afterwards and provided additional information regarding building evacuations via email. The sole purpose, they said, is to keep students and faculty aware of the precautions needed to take in case of any fires, earthquakes or gas leaks. For any additional information, students, staff and faculty can also visit the GCC website at www.glendale.edu/ emergencyprocedures
Catalina Juarez can be reached at cjuarez734@student.glendale.edu
Katrina Bulay / Staff Photographer
SAFE AND SOUND: Students, staff and faculty gather at the GCC tennis court as part of an emergacy fire drill on April 3.
4
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
FEATURES
www.elvaq.com
Kai Schaper / Creative Commons
Too Afraid to Be Replaced, Too Afraid to Not Matter Building on online empire, losing oneself
By Marian Sahakyan Managing Editor It’s 7:30 in the morning and the first alarm goes off. Still tired, so you go back to sleep. It’s 8 a.m., but you’ve already snoozed three times. You know you’re falling behind. Without noticing, your right hand reaches for the iPhone as the other hand rubs awake your sleepy eyes. Looking at the phone, you remember that it’s been buzzing and vibrating all night. You click open that first Instagram notification. This is where you’ll be spending the next 30 minutes. It’s 30 minutes if you’re ambitious, of course. You know full well that you are going to be late to your 9:45 a.m. Geology class, but can’t help it. The screen is flooded with social media notifications. Might I add that this is actually a rarity, as your posts normally receive a few comments from mom and your best friend. Most of your “likers” are people who haven’t spoken to you in ages, yet they religiously like and support your posts. At this point, you’re sitting in front of the breakfast table, sipping on a cup of sugared coffee, hoping this will take away the tiredness. The scrolling continues. Refresh. Suddenly, 416 likes
and growing by the second. The Then, a few months later, it’s so-very-popular post is a selfie the Women’s March. Specifically, with Patti, formerly known as it’s Jan. 20. Patrick. Being a good friend, you At 3 a.m., the alarm goes wrote an eloquent story about off. This time around, you don’t Patti’s transition and how much snooze, but simply roll out and you believe in her. You also said check your iPhone. Patti texted, that you were proud of her. To “On my way.” You quickly top it off, you hashtagged it as change into the comfortable outfit #TransLivesMatter. The hashtag that mom prepared the night was trending. before. The flight from LAX The fact that the message to Ronald Reagan Washington was vastly loved by fellow airport is in a little over two Instagrammers became evident hours. through the hundreds of likes, As you get in the Uber Patti comments and drastic increase ordered, you feel that the air in followers is filled with “This was half the nervousness, which showered your work, as there was a excitement and notifications for everything in bigger task ahead; between. This is days to come. A state of shock going to be Patti’s keeping up.” takes over you, first Women’s making you an March, as a woman. overnight favorite in the online By now it’s 4:30 a.m., you community. send out your first tweet, “D.C. Of course, this was half the here we come. #WomensMarch.” work, as there was a bigger task This hashtag was trending. ahead; keeping up. You started Followers from all over the to hang out with Patti more country send you their blessings often. She too, gained popularity and thoughts. You feel loved. You on social media. When newer feel relevant. All of this feeds societal issues emerged, you your satisfaction. took to Twitter to express your Instagram would be the next to feelings, Instagram became an receive your updates as you post extension to Twitter. YouTube a photograph of you and Patti, was next. You started to post along with the group of girls you personal vlogs, inspiring stories met at a hotel lobby. They’re your and more. Often, you collaborated newest BFFs. with Patti. You wore a pink t-shirt and
another, you follow, post and the bold black print on it read support causes you didn’t care “feminist.” Your face is painted about before. There’s suddenly pink, you’re wearing a hot pink a big distance, an invisible wall hat. It’s as if a whole community between who you really are and of women have been united by who you are showing to be. one thing and one thing only, the You are no longer posting your color pink. passions, or about your friends The online community once but what is trending. again stands up for your brevity Somewhere and willingness to between the lines, the “You are support a big cause. Once identity of that geeky again you feel satisfied relevant.” young woman is lost. from their validation. And within that bubble This allows you to leave the of social media, she has created a march half an hour later after new life for herself. commencing it. Notice that the main character You have shown your does not have a name, and was presence. You have gained your spoken to rather than spoken attention. That’s all that matters, about. This was intentional. As right? we go through life, we find pieces As your presence in social of ourselves mirrored in this media outlets continue, character. Whether it’s the need companies start to contact you. for more likes and followers or Your account soon becomes the idea of losing one’s passions sponsored. Your online content while trying to keep up with the changes. Your stance on issues popular and the trending, most start changing, too. Your have experienced this. Instagram will soon become Here are a couple of questions much like a spam account, trying for the next person trying to make to sell and attest to things. it big in the social media realm. Your hashtags no longer have Aside from keeping up with meaning, they no longer matter what’s popular, are we really to you. You are still followed, doing enough? How are we still adored. Your posts become affecting the world around us? more posed, less personal and How would we make a change if personable. Your word has social media went away? a strange influence on your followers. You are relevant. Marian Sahakyan can be reached at Trend after trend, hashtag after manehsahakyan@gmail.com.
ADVERTISEMENT
Monica Nouwens / Contributing Photographer
FEATURES
www.elvaq.com
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
5
GCC’s Flavio Frontini Teaches Cultural Respect
Campus’ only Italian instructor knows food is often a bridge among students, allows them to view each other with commonality By Carmen Fernandez Staff Writer/Photographer “We grow up thinking that our view of the world is universal, learning another language opens up a brand-new view of the world,” said Flavio Frontini, an Italian instructor at Glendale Community College. Frontini moved to Los Angeles from his native Bologna, Italy in 1990 and experienced this greater cultural awareness firsthand as an international student at Santa Monica College, where he discovered his passion for teaching while working as an Italian tutor. “After helping a student for the first time, I got so much satisfaction from seeing the student’s reaction after finally understanding difficult Italian grammar that I decided to give it a try,” he said. They say that venturing into the unknown often awakens unimaginable paths and opportunities. “My mother was an elementary school teacher and I liked visiting her class sometimes to give music appreciation lessons,” added Frontini. “I love classical music, but I never imagined I would become a professor. That idea was totally new to me.” Frontini started teaching at GCC in 2000. Ever since, he has continued to open his student’s views of the world through the Italian language. “One of my goals in class is to build bridges between cultures, between the Italian culture and other cultures,” he explained. At GCC, over 75 percent of the students enrolled in the credit program belong to an ethnic minority group as of Spring 2017, according to the GCC Demographics Dashboard. Often, gastronomy is at the center of his class discussions as a bonding element between stu-
Carmen Fernandez / Staff Photographer
FROM STUDY ABROAD TO LEARNING AT HOME: Italian instructor Flavio Frontini knows how to get his students to see past differences. He focuses on the commonalities.
dents from diverse backgrounds. “In every class, I always ask students to recommend restaurants from different parts of the world and I encourage the class to go try them,” he said. Through these cultural interactions, Frontini tries to transmit to his students what are for him important aspects of the Italian culture. “The joy of being with friends, with family, in front of really good homemade food – that is where the food comes in because we believe in family, we believe in friendship.” Sharing a good meal with those who are dear to your heart
is perhaps a feeling that most can empathize with and associate to valuable traits of their own identity. “It’s all about realizing that we are different but within those differences, there are many similarities,” Frontini added. Maybe that is the way in which learning another language changes your perception of the world – by making you conscious that there are ubiquitous feelings that connect us all. “From up here the earth is so beautiful, without the boundaries and borders,” said pilot Yuri Gagarin, the first human to journey into outer space in April
1961. Perhaps we can’t all be so lucky to witness our planet from outer space, free from its terrestrial divisions, but Flavio Frontini certainly works to encourage his students to see and experience the world beyond those boundaries. Today, Frontini is the only Italian professor at GCC and part of the Study Abroad program that offers students the ability to experience Italy for almost a month. While holding the program’s 2018 flyer covered in pictures of Rome, Florence, and Pisa, he described how one of his biggest joys as a professor is seeing his students communicate comfort-
ably in Italian during the program and seeing their excitement to keep visiting other countries and learning other languages. “I was very insecure. I didn’t know much English when I decided to come to the United States but I threw myself into it,” he said. “The love to explore, to keep enriching themselves, to go to uncharted territories is what I wish to transmit to my students. I did it and I was able to succeed in something that I never even imagined.” Carmen Fernandez can be reached at carmen.frndez@gmail.com.
T H E TO P 5 B A R S I N G L E N D A L E
Assuming you’re 21-plus, and going to Uber it for the night, here are top places to check out on your evening outing By Jasmine Amabile Staff Writer TAVERN ON BRAND What can get better than a daily happy hour for seven hours? This location is by far the most convenient for those on a budget, but mostly if your choice of beverage is a beer. They have a selection of about 30 beers on tap, a two-for-one deal, and $6 a pair between noon and 7 p.m. They also have daily drink and food deals following this 7-hour special. On Monday nights, it’s a Budweiser and a burger for $5. On Wednesdays, its 50-cent wings and $5-flavored whiskey. It’s usually buzzing with Glendale locals, especially for events like Dodger games and Sunday football.
By Jasmine Amabile Staff Writer
MIXOLOGY: A bartender shows off his flair.
Star5112 / Creative Commons
GOLDEN ROAD BREWING Micheladas and fried avocado tacos, YUM! Okay to take children and the family, and puppyfriendly. It has a garden party type
of feel. Awesome food menu and vegan friendly, too! It has a variety of beers, ranging from flavors of Palisades Pineapple to El Nitro Stout. A popular favorite is the Golden Road Hefeweizen and the 329 Lager, which they use for their tasty micheladas. Don’t forget to take photos in the photo booth on your way out! THE FAMOUS The bartenders here are mixologists! Just give them the recipe of your favorite drink and they will whip it right up. This bar is concentrated on liquor, most famous for their whiskey and craft cocktails. They open at 3 p.m. and run their happy hour from open to 7 p.m. daily, for $2 off all drinks. The ambiance of this bar is lively, they have board games and TVs for all sports and occasions. If you stop by on a Thursday night, you’re in for a throwback Thursday treat, where they feature their all-time favorite cocktails.
GLENDALE TAP Open daily until 2 a.m.! Home to 52 beers on tap from all over the world. This pub has a funky and old school vibe, and hosts many local independent beers. It’s dark inside, similar to a dive bar with pool tables, a jukebox, and a few TVs, but this definitely isn’t a sports bar. You can bring your own food into the space and they offer free bowls of peanuts. UNDERDOGS This is a basement bar, reminiscent of the east coast. Walk through a rather plain entrance and down a couple flights of stairs to enter. Recently renovated from the name Moose Den. Collegefriendly atmosphere with a hang loose vibe. Still a sports-centered place with decent burgers. Super interactive with darts, pool tables, and a variety of board games. Jasmine Amabile can be reached at jasmineAmabile@gmail.com.
6
FEATURES
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
Anna Sargsyan / Contributing Photographer
THE TUNNEL: The tunnel of books on the second floor of The Last Bookstore
The Best Bookstores in L.A. Here’s our list of the top places in the county By Elena Jacobson Production Assistant When you walk into The Last Bookstore, the air is heavy and the smell of books is everywhere and the wall art made from damaged books makes it feel like you’ve been transported. Pillars reach through both floors giving the store a feeling of mysticality. The book art, including a piece on the second floor where books are literally flying off the shelves, and the tunnel of books along a ramp add to the magical atmosphere The two-story building used to be a bank but now the space is filled with books of every kind from classic fiction on the first floor to the horror vault on the second. There is also a “rare annex”
attached to the side of the building filled with rare books and art. Besides the abundance of books they also have a section for music, there is a small area near the front of the store devoted to records of every kind. The Last Bookstore also holds many events on their stage from author signings and book clubs, to poetry and live music. This magnificent bookstore can be found at 453 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90013 Another amazing bookstore is the Iliad, and no I don’t mean by Homer (also author of the “Odyssey”) this one is right here in North Hollywood. The outside is painted with various scenes and characters from some of the most famous books including “The Wizard of Oz” by L. Frank Baum and a portrait of
Shakespeare. The outside is also adorned with book spines that are larger than life. The inside is just as whimsical as the outside as books are crammed into every possible space on the shelves and the bookcases reach to the ceiling. Be warned, though, if you are allergic to cats this is not the store for you as the owners let their cats roam the store freely. And while the cats are extraordinarily friendly, they are prone to jumping on people so they can be pet. The Iliad is located at 5400 Cahuenga Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601 Vroman’s Bookstore has a bit more of a typical feel of a corporate bookstore, however its uniqueness is there in its children section. The back wall of the children’s section has a mural of the Hundred Acre Wood from the classic children’s story, “Winnie-
www.elvaq.com the-Pooh” by A. A. Milne. Besides being filled with books for kids, the children’s area also holds story time readings as well as author events. Beyond the children’s events they also host book clubs, writing workshops, and art exhibits for the adults and teens. Vroman’s sells a lot more than books. They sell stationary supplies, greeting cards, and childrens toys, too. They even have their own “Home Emporium” where they sell anything from dishware to windchimes. Vroman’s Bookstore can be founds at 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91101. Also in Pasadena is Century Books, which has a much more mom-and-pop atmosphere as it’s a lot smaller and has Christmas lights hanging outfront. The small store has a balcony that hangs over the first floor where they have even more
books, but also a art gallery and a small exhibit on Jane Austen. A couch sits on the second floor where people can hang out and read for a bit. The whole store is extraordinarily cozy. The owners are very friendly and usually offer a glass of water as well as a small tour when you first walk in. Century Books is located at 1039 E. Green St., Pasadena, CA 91106. Last, but not least, the Book Alley may seem small from the outside but don’t be fooled as the store stretches back quite a ways. Book Alley sells much more than books though. They also sell records, art prints, CDs, and movies alongside all the numerous books they have. Book Alley is only a few blocks away from Century Books at 1252 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91106. Elena Jacobson can be reached at laneyjacobson520@gmail.com
Anna Sargsyan / Contributing Photographer
BOOK ART: A piece of art at The Last Bookstore, made from old damaged books
Haute at GCC: Spring Ready Manage your impression by finding your own story
By Chieko Kubo Staff Writer “You never know, maybe that’s the day she has a date with destiny. And it’s best to be as pretty as possible for destiny.” - Coco Chanel
Chieko Kubo / Staff Photographer
CASUAL: Nathasha Fields
Everyday college, everyday clothes. It’s often hard to be the best version of yourself, but this does not mean that you should give up on dressing up. There are a lot of ways to look as good as possible without trying too hard. Don’t forget about the shoes, though! “Shoes transform your body language and attitude. They lift you physically and emotionally,” a French fashion designer who established his namesake shoe brand, Christian Louboutin, said. Many people choose the shoes they put on as an afterthought. But shoes are the most important item in an outfit. Shoes control the total coordinate. Nathasha Fields, a 24-yearold nursing student, shared her ideas about footwear. She likes shoes and thinks they’re the most significant element in fashion. She has about 200 pairs of shoes. People might choose a pair of sneakers if it’s raining. Fields is different. Even though it was a rainy day in March, she had her own style perfectly put together. She chose a pair of Timberland boots. They would not get wet easily, kept her feet warm, and more importantly,
they were fashionable. She doesn’t abandon her style even in the rain. There is another point that makes her fashion savvy. Because her favorite color is
Chieko Kubo / Staff Photographer
STYLISH: Jocelaine Coutinho
black, most of her clothes are black, too. But, she often picks different colors to complement it. Red, which Louboutin himself has spearheaded, is perfect. Under her black sweater, Fields wraps a red shirt around her chest. The red one makes her style original and edgy. Jocelaine Coutinho, a 20-yearold business major, adopts her home country’s mood in her fashion. Red tropical birds printed on a cream color shirt is her choice this time. She brought the one she’s wearing from her homeland, Brazil. She likes K-POP culture, so her hairstyle is inspired by that. She is proud of her native country and expresses it in her fashion. She makes it her own style. The eyeglasses also brighten her. She says it is a part of fashion. Everything that people have on can be fashion highlights. She loves to put herself in vintage style like her glasses. Beautiful, cool, and sexy. These words don’t exist only for “good-looking” men and women. People can be valued by the way
of expressing themselves and their ideas. Through fashion, they reveal their personalities. Chieko Kubo can be reached at ckubo195@student.glendale.edu
Elegant Musings / Creative Commons
DRESSY: Vintage returns
FEATURES
www.elvaq.com
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
7
Mildred Martin-Cetina / Creative Commons
OVARIAN PSYCHOS: The bycicle group of radical feminists take action during a protest in East Los Angeles.
GCC Celebrates Women’s Contributions College puts on a series of events during the month of March, featuring an array of speakers and films of all stripes
By Marian Sahakyan Managing Editor As people and institutions all over the country celebrated Women’s History Month, Glendale Community College was not an institution to stay behind. By coordinating a series of events on campus for the month of March, administrators hoped to educate students about women’s history and to empower them for a successful future. The month-long series consisted of events such as documentary film screenings, writing women into Wikipedia,
guest speakers, science lecture series programs and informational panels. In efforts to address the #metoo campaign, the faculty has viewed and selected documentaries to show support and open conversation ground for students dealing or affected by similar circumstances. Some of the highlights included: On March 14, a documentary titled “Unrest” was shown. The film follows its director, Jennifer Brea and other people around the world, who are dealing with the illness of chronic fatigue.
Courtesy Photo / Unrest
Oftentimes judged by society, the disease is one of the harshest that people deal with everyday, as it leaves you completely bedridden. Brea talked to GCC students about her illness and how gender affects diagnosis, research of diseases and treatment. The following day, on March 15, Vaqueros were up for another great film, named “Ovarian Psycos.” The documentary highlights a new generation of feminist women of color from the East Los Angeles. This group of women may just be some of the most courageous around, as they carry an unapologetic attitude and question injustice wherever it takes place. The gathering included a documentary screening, followed by a Q&A session with the crew members. On March 21, yet another life-changing documentary was being screened on campus, “The Hunting Ground.” The film talks about the problem of rape on prominent university campuses. It is no surprise to anyone that many of these universities cover up such events to preserve their name and popular standing. In the documentary, young women from hundreds of universities across the nation come together to speak up about the issue. March 22 and 23 were reserved by the librarians of GCC. In their two-day training sessions, they walked students and staff through the steps of how to edit Wikipedia. The main focus of the event was to improve existing Wikipedia articles about women in history. They also spoke about the strengths and weaknesses of the online forum, allowing students
to learn about participation in online scholarly communities. Many faculty members have volunteered their time to share important messages about history, the future, education and more. As a way to empower children, Mary Jane Biancheri, a child development instructor at GCC took on the sweet task of reading female character-driven children’s books at the Child Development Center on campus. Rachel Ridgeway from the Physical Sciences department, pitched her own image of what it’s like to be a strong woman, during her lecture, “How the work of two women helped inform environmental policy.” Several faculty wrote and recorded podcasts with the GCC Radio Club, about subjects related to women, their history, gender roles, societal expectations and more. As a way to encourage
people to think about women in the sciences, Diane Murray, a mathematics professor, came up with the idea of putting up personal stories of how female faculty found themselves in the sciences and how they succeeded. Maria Kretzmann and Yvette Hassakoursian have joined together to showcase photographs of women mathematicians and scientists in the hallways for students to read up on. March was a month of celebration for GCC students and faculty, as it has created a life changing and inspiring community. Whether it is a woman empowering a woman, a man empowering a woman, or vice versa, it’s a beautiful thing to be a part of.
Marian Sahakyan can be reached at manehsahakyan@gmail.com
The Hunting Ground / Courtesy Photo
PROTEST: Students speak up against rape on their university campus.
8
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
FEATURES
www.elvaq.com
ON THE WAY: People all over Los Angeles take the train early to head downtown, along with their friends and family for the anti-gun march.
PROTECT KIDS: Parents stand up for their kids.
L.A. Unites in March for Our Lives Photography by Belinda Oldrati, Production Editor
NO GUNS: Teachers says no thanks to guns.
NOT ONE MORE: Thousands of signs express that enough is enough.
VOTE THEM OUT: People demand Congress do what’s right.
UNITY: Thousands march down the streets of L.A. as students start chanting a song of solidarity: “Solidarity forever, solidarity forever, solidarity forever, for the union makes us strong.”
www.elvaq.com
FEATURES
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
TAKE ACTION: Crowd chants, “What do we want? Gun control! When do we want it? Now!”
SCARED: Students say they are tired of living in fear.
APATHY KILLS: People want corporate politicians out.
CHANGE: How many more lives before we see change?
ENOUGH: L.A. residents wonder how many school shootings it will take for politicians to take action. Signs evoke Columbine, Sandy Hook, and Parkland, and ask how many more?
9
10
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
FEATURES
www.elvaq.com
A Walk Through The Times GCC’s Journalism Department gets to see the famed facilities of a prominent news company By Marian Sahakyan, Managing Editor
Where Spring and 1st streets meet in Downtown Los Angeles, rises an architectural masterpiece, one that is sure to please the eye of any Art Deco style enthusiast. Its thick, streamlined concrete exterior gives the building a timeless feel, making it hard for the passersby not to wander in. That is exactly what architect Gordon Kaufmann had in mind when he designed the Los Angeles Times building in the early 1930s. Just two years after the completion of the structure, it received a gold medal at the 1937 Paris Exposition for its modern architectural style. Though admired by many architecture fanatics on the outside, the building is a journalist’s haven on the inside. The Globe Lobby is the main aesthetic highlight inside of the editorial office’s building, seemingly created with a mix of a designer’s eye and the curiosity of a journalist. It’s like a small museum right before one’s eyes, showcasing the first 100 years of the Los Angeles Times. It also features one of the oldest linotypes used by the company. There are vintage phone rooms and a big bronze eagle,which add another touch of character to the building. Once going up the elevators, a visitor walks through the big halls of the newsroom, another place where a journalist thrives. This is where stories are born and reborn, written and rewritten. It’s an interesting process. Sometimes, it’s painful, too, which student journalists find out during many production endeavors. It’s also exciting, fun, and sometimes, remarkably humbling. Going to the sixth floor of the building, you walk past the big and spacious Test Kitchen. This is where many of the food section of the paper happens. L.A. Times invites various chefs, cooks and bakers to make a certain dish or pastry, which later get critiqued by the staff, recipes are shared and there comes an article. Talk about an awesome job. At some point, one stumbles upon the hall of fame, which showcases proud moments for the L.A. Times, Pulitzer Prize winners and their stories. A couple of miles down the road, the printing facilities awe and inspire. In March, El Vaquero students and the journalism program wandered through the many facets of this facility. It was the perfect complement to the previous semester’s visit to the editorial offices. Think about the way newspapers are produced. What’s the first thing that comes to mind? For most, it’s the writing process or the event itself, but what you see unfold before your eyes in the printing facilities, is something truly fascinating and rare for the eye. Mostly operated by robots, the main floor is where paper supply is stored and transported. With each roll of paper weighing more than 600 pounds, it’s impossible for humans to move these around without the use of machinery. That’s where the big population of self-operated machines come in, bringing in a firsthand experience of ‘robots taking over.’ Across the broad, glossy floors of the facility, one easily walks through and under the printing machines. They’re enormous engineering feats.It is noteworthy to say that the L.A. Times prints for the local delivery of many newspapers around the country. This is done to save time and money on transportation of these newspapers and there are no other affiliations between these companies. It also helps the L.A. Times from a business perspective. As the tour, conducted by long-time guide Darrell Kunitomi, continues, the viewer is introduced to the paint room, where they mix and store the different colors that they will be using for the newspaper. Visitors are also introduced to the packing room, where they hand pack every single newspaper, making it ready to hit the stands at 6 a.m. every morning. The L.A. Times is the only newspaper that still provides tours, educating the public, especially would-be journalists and proponents of the First Amendment, about how a newspaper comes to life. Marian Sahakyan can be reached at manehsahakyan@gmail.com
Photography by Alexander Sampson, Staff Photographer
EDITORIAL/OPINION
www.elvaq.com
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
11
Six Seconds, 20 Shots Later Stephon Clark was shot and killed because police mistook his smartphone for a gun
Belinda Oldrati / Staff Photographer
PEACEFUL PROTEST: Los Angeles residents took to the streets of downtown to protest gun violence during the March for Our Lives walkout event on Saturday, March 24.
EDITORIAL In that moment, Stephon Clark, a 22-year-old black man from Sacramento, was murdered outside of his grandmother’s house, inches away from the backdoor. On the night of March 18, police responded to a call of someone potentially breaking into vehicles in Clark’s neighborhood. With the help of helicopter guidance, officers spotted Clark hopping a fence into his grandmother’s driveway and pursued him – with guns drawn – through the backyard. They shouted commands to hold still and promptly opened fire. After they shot at him, and as he lay bleeding, the police identified themselves and began to approach, with every minute further signing Clark’s death sentence. Sacramento police officers claimed that Clark had a firearm. He was unarmed. In his hand, he only had an iPhone. The overaggressive and blatantly trigger-happy actions of the officers that night have robbed a family of their loved one, two children of their beloved father, and a young black man of the chance to live. But the actions of the Sacramento police officers are no isolated incident. Indeed, Stephon Clark is another victim in a long list of unarmed black men to be shot dead by police officers in the United States in recent years, who claimed that they “feared for their safety” during the engagement. An independent autopsy performed by private medical examiner Dr. Bennet Omalu paints a grim photo. Clark was shot eight times, Omalu found, with nearly every shot fired hitting him in the back. With a two-to-one person advantage, why did the officers
feel the need to open fire on a man who made no advance towards them? Why did they feel the need to unload 10 shots apiece? Why did they feel the need leave Clark without medical intervention for nearly ten minutes? And then to handcuff him while he lay bleeding? No matter the prior actions of Stephon Clark that night, no man deserves to be shot dead for an alleged petty crime. Officers take an oath to protect and serve, not play judge and executioner. Extrajudicial killings have no place in America, yet many have accepted them as a necessary price to pay in enforcing an oftentimes fruitless toughon-crime attitude. Nevermind the circumstances surrounding the killing; the appearance of impropriety on the part of the slain is all the justification needed. Law enforcement in the United States needs an overhaul. The tendency for officers to shoot first and ask questions last, especially in the case of black Americans, is the antithesis of what a police force committed to serving the people is supposed to do. That should go without saying. Why is conflict escalation – drawing firearms while screaming confusing and intimidating commands – such a common first line of defense for our police force? In addition to upholding the Constitution, police officers take an oath to have the courage to hold themselves and others accountable. That means that the badge in which they bear cannot shield them from crimes they commit, and that should include the weak and ambiguous alibi of “fearing for their safety.” Lady Justice is supposed to be blindfolded, yet it is increasingly apparent that the scales of power have shifted too far towards the Boys in Blue. Justice needs to be served in the case of Stephon Clark, and accountability needs to be injected back into our police departments.
A Wasted Generation?
No, it’s not the millennials or even centennials that deserve the criticism By Rudy Guijarro Staff Writer Baby boomers inherited the American dream, born between the winning lottery numbers of 1940s to the 1960s. Boomers were heir to an economic utopia of well-paying jobs, affordable housing, and reasonable college tuition. Boomers and, to a lesser extent, some Generation Xers (particularly those older ‘Xers’ who were born in the 60s), were the post World War II generation. The war brought the return of prosperity, and, in the post-war period, the United States consolidated its position as the world’s richest country. Gross national product, a measure of all goods and services produced in the United States, jumped from about $200 thousand-million in 1940 to $300 thousand-million in 1950 to more than $500 thousand-million in 1960. More and more Americans now considered themselves part
of the middle class, according to “American History from Revolution to Reconstruction.” In the 1960s, the United States represented an all-time high. So did the Boomers. Literally. Comedian Charlie Fletcher once said, “If you remember the ‘60s, you weren’t really there.” This is the ultimate joke that defines the baby boomer generation for their renowned drug use and flower child movement. Yep, they were hippies. It wasn’t all bad. Boomers were more open-minded on some things, much like millennials. There were boomers who supported interracial relationships, though, not nearly as much as younger Americans today. But while they occasionally supported true equality, they also favored strange tie dye shirts with peace logos, engaged in unhealthy and unsafe sexual practices, and, worse of all, experimented with horrendous drugs. It seemed, their biggest weap-
on against “The Man” was drug usage. It wasn’t the best way to bring about impactful change. Equal rights protests were erupting in California, Alabama, and Washington D.C., for black Americans, women, and, to a lesser extent, the gay community. But the equal rights movement needed well-written bills, not concerts and drugs. It needed to be educated, not under the influence. Millennials seem to have gotten the memo. Boomers? They didn’t at the time. Modern-day boomers have a bone to pick with millennials. They remind us that they bought their first home at 23-years-old and paid for college with a summer job. They don’t like our music, our clothes, and our politics. They think we’re lazy, entitled, and communists. Why communists? Because many a millennial has objected to crony capitalism and the way so much wealth sits in the hands of so few. Which makes listening to 60’s
bands and artists like The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, and Bob Dylan so ironic, since majority early rock ‘n’ roll was all about anti-war and socialism. In 1965, The Who, an iconic rock ‘n’ roll band, performed a groundbreaking song, “My Generation.” It would later be an anthem for the ‘60s. It opened with an intense speedy guitar strum and the lyrics, “People try to put us down, just because we get around. Things they do look awful cold, I hope I die before I get old.” When songwriter and guitarist Pete Townshend was asked by a Singapore publication BigO magazine about the meaning of the lyric, Townshend explained how living amongst wealthy people in London made him feel uncomfortable. “I didn’t like to be confronted with money and the class system and power,” he said. Townshend, a boomer, had a progressive idea about the dangers of capitalism. The concerns
about it hardly came from millennials during the Occupy movements less than a decade ago. But there’s good news, boomers! It is not too late to make a change. Boomers make up 69 percent of governors, about threequarters of the proposed Cabinet, and much of the judiciary and bureaucracy according to US News. But unfortunately, baby boomers haven’t just changed in appearance, they have changed in politics. According to Gallup News, there are twice as many conservative baby boomers than Democrat. Boomers have become what their whole generation was aspiring against. They have become their parents. Baby boomers is the perfect phrase for the generation, because, like babies, they come into this world with a clenched fist but their eyes closed.
Rudy Guijarro can be reached at rudyguijarro11@gmail.com.
12
OPINION
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
www.elvaq.com
How Touch Screens Make Us Lose Touch Social media should come with a warning sign saying, “This is highly addictive and may take over your life”
Since social media became a part of our daily lives, there are now over 2 billion active users worldwide. Eyebrow-raising numbers show that the average individual spends about two hours on social media every day. That is about five years and four months throughout a lifetime, according to Evan Asano, founder and CEO at Mediakix. The digital society we live in is something many of us take for granted, however, it is hard to imagine a life without it. Today, followers and likes have become the new way of connecting. We are controlled by the mindset of getting the best selfie angle, being at the hippest food place, or looking for the best lighting to enhance our physique, just to have something to post on our social media platforms. There is a stigma behind all this, like the elephant in the room. We all know it is there, but we would rather not talk about it. At least not “IRL” (in real life). How do we feel when a post
we have spent so much time on only gets half the amount of likes we hoped for? The world might not end, but it surely hits our self-esteem, and next time, we try even harder. It is a beginning of a downward spiral of social media depression. The reason why heavy social media usage could cause depression, might be due to “highly idealized representations of peers on social media that bring out feelings of envy and the distorted belief that others lead happier, more successful lives,” said a study by Brian A. Primack, director of the University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Research on Media, Technology and Health. Individuals might feel they are wasting time when interacting in unimportant activities on social media. More exposure to social media could increase the risk of being cyber-bullied, which can then lead to depression. An important part of the issue for social media depression is the constant comparison with other users. The convenience of easy access to various social media apps, interaction among people can take place anywhere and at
any time, resulting in bigger social connections. However, the depth of these relationships gets stripped down, since it is mostly happening behind screens. We hide our real emotions with emojis, abbreviations, and GIFs. When did we become so lazy that we could no longer type out “talk to you later” and something so meaningful such as “I love you,” and how often do we actually laugh out loud when we type “LOL?” Social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram have given us a tool to easily click on a “like” button, or double click to give a “heart.” This is the new standard of showing what we like, agree with, or feel are important. Sadly, the heart symbol has taken away the sincere heart from us. A hundred likes can never compare to, “you are not alone,” “don’t give up,” “good job,” “do you want to talk?,” or “I’m coming over.” Following our role models and idols has also formed a new way of using social media. We have become obsessed with promoting our “perfect” lives, but for what reason? To please strangers, or to
hit a new personal record of followers and likes? The only thing we are doing, is putting more pressure on ourselves and on those who look up to us. It is a chain reaction. There are many aspects to the negative side of the social media spectrum, such as online bullying, trolling, cat-fishing, addiction, stress, and insomnia, which all could lead to depression. It is clear that there are problems that need to be highlighted in the real world. Looking around in a crowded subway, a family gathering, a classroom, or a restaurant – all we see is down-tilted heads lit up by screens. Is it not ironic how social media is making us anti-social? How many of you have ever felt bored going to the restroom, without having your phone? There are even memes about these situations, and of course we share that on social media as well. Do not get me wrong, I use social media a lot. It is a good way to stay connected with family and friends, especially if they live far away. It is a good source for inspiration and to inspire. It is a way to express yourself. It is
#BAE
#FEELINGGOOD
#BATHROOMTHOUGHTS
#RISEANDGRIND
By James Ojano-Simonsson Staff Writer
also a great outlet to reach out to a huge amount of viewers in a short amount of time. Having that said, everything in life has to come with balance. As for me, I realized social media took way too much of my time and energy. After editing my photos, I was contemplating whether it should go on my story or if it was worth having on my feed, and it drove me nuts. I felt constrained. Based on likes, I knew what my followers wanted to see, but when I realized I was no longer true to my feelings, I had to remind myself of why I started using social media in the first place – to inspire others by being myself. This is how society has become, and this time around, I was the one that painted a pictureperfect life. After being away from all social media for a couple of months, which felt like a year, I realized I felt so much better. When I finally took it back, I decided to be real. I reduced my followers by thousands, and made my account private. I would no longer sugarcoat my life. James Ojano-Simonsson can be reached at jojanos818@student.glendale.edu.
#STAYREAL
Photography by James Ojano-Simonsson, Staff Photographer
ADVERTISEMENT
ENTERTAINMENT
www.elvaq.com
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
13
Director Wes Anderson Wows Second animated film “Isle of Dogs” is a departure from his usual product, but no less compelling
A TECHNICAL FEAT: Wes Anderson’s new film follows a 12-year-old, Atari, in the fictional Japanese city of Megasaki.
By Adriana Garcia Entertainment Editor Director Wes Anderson’s ninth feature and second animated film “Isle of Dogs” is a departure from his usual product, though it follows most all of his noted and engaging tropes. The stop-motion creation’s strongest suit is no doubt its resplendent technical production and design, but the film garnered some negative attention because of its cultural representation and offbeat aesthetic. Set in the near-future fictional Japanese city of Megasaki, “Isle”
follows 12-year-old Atari (voiced by Koyu Rankin) on a rogue rescue mission to Trash Island, the designated exile location for all Megasaki dogs following a wide dog flu outbreak. The objective is to find Atari’s guard dog Spots and bring him home. Punitive efforts to end his search, complete with weaponized robot dogs and helicopters, are implemented by his legal guardian and dog-hating Megasaki Mayor Kobayashi. Atari therefore enlists the help of five delightfully bantering alpha dogs for his trek across the bleakly landscaped wasteland,
while small groups of student activists and scientists work to disprove and overturn the Trash Island decree back home. The plot is simple enough, though Anderson argued during a USA Today interview, “It’s not a little type story. It has a whole government that’s a part of what’s happening. It’s got a full community of animals and it’s affecting this large population.” But the larger plotline, the government conspiracy and trouble back home, isn’t the film’s most engrossing. It’s Atari on the island looking for his dog. The bond between dog and
owner is what transcends most easily and makes the writing (done by Anderson, Jason Schwartzman, Roman Coppola and Kunichi Nomura) most affable. While other Anderson films such as “The Grand Budapest Hotel” and “The Royal Tenenbaums” rely heavily on wordy, quirky dialogue, “Isle” shines brightest when it doesn’t say much. Perhaps the most touching moment in the film, for example, is a brief flashback depicting Atari and Spots’ first introduction. “Moshi moshi,” whispers the boy
Paul Hudson / Creative Commons
through special translating headsets, and Spots responds, with tears welling at comprehending his master’s words for the first time, “I can hear you, Master Atari.” The writing is best when it’s minimal, but the film altogether is most impressive in its technical complexity. “Isle” was shot in the same east London studio where Anderson’s previous 2009 animated work “Fantastic Mr. Fox” was filmed. Adriana Garcia can be reached at agarcia5422@student.glendale.edu.
The ‘Joy’ Of Making Music GCC’s Radio Mountain Cloud club profiles songstress
By David Novoa Contributing Writer Music has been a life-long journey for Joy Gitau since the age of 7. She’s innately curious, find inspiration in many places, and understands a lot more about the world than most. Born and raised in Kenya, radio was a very big part of her culture and passion that inspired her musical growth. Gitau has memories of her family radio playing in the kitchen back home in Kenya. Simple, yet it struck something deep in her. There was only one radio station, called Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC). KBC would play R&B music from around
the world, exposing Gitau to different styles of sound. Her favorite artist were Whitney Houston, an American diva, and Miriam Makeba, the queen of African soul music. Ultimately, radio gave Gitau a vision of the outside world, a inspiring her to dream big in a small village in East Africa. By 9-yearsold, Gitau joined the school choir and started to play instruments, such as the recorder and the trumpet. She remembers growing up in a third-world country, noting that where music is not considered a career path. Instead, it’s only a hobby and purely entertainment-driven. It’s worth noting that Kenya
is a country where 42 percent of the population lives below the poverty line, according to official statistics from UNICEF. Access to basic services like education and clean water, things that residents of the United States take for granted, are a luxury. Growing up in Kenya, where opportunities are scarce, helped Gitau to develop her skills brought challenges and inspiration to come to America. Gitau shared her personal story and message with GCC’s Mountain Cloud Radio, an official club on campus dedicated to creating podcasts on an assorted array of people, issues, initiatives, and more. Learn more by visiting Mountain Cloud Radio’s page at http:// bit.ly/MountainCloudRadio, or by scanning the QR code with your phone on the left hand to take you right to the podcast. David Novoa can be reached at dnovoa550@student.glendale.edu.
Courtesy Photo / Joy Gitau
MUSICALLY MINDED: Joy Gitau poses in this publicity photo.
14
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
ENTERTAINMENT
www.elvaq.com
Dragonball Super Ends After a 3-year run and 131 episodes the beloved battle-anime franchise concludes with an explosion! By Hayk Rostomyan Production Editor “Dragon Ball Super” hit the air on July 5, 2015, continuing the story of the “Dragon Ball” franchise that returned to TV after being off the air for 19 years, with the creator Akira Toriyama back in charge. Many fans of the anime were surprised to see theis new show, “Dragon Ball Super,” repeat the plots of two movies, 2013’s “Battle of Gods” and 2014’s “Revival of F,” in its first two seasons. The poor pacing in the introduction of key characters Beerus and his angel, Whis, put the show in jeopardy. Furthermore, the return of the iconic villain Frieza, Goku’s and Vegeta’s nemesis., Many YouTubers and online influencers were also quick to point out and critique the shotty art style of the first 27 episodes. Geekdome101, one such critical YouTuber, said there was nothing new for the fans storywise. “We’ve seen the Super Saiyan God and Super Saiyan Blue transformations in the movies, and we got it again but done worse in the show,” the user said. The creator of the franchised joined the discussion. “‘Dragon Ball’ once became a thing of the past to me, but after that, I got angry about the live-action movie, re-wrote an entire movie script, and now I’m complaining about the quality of the new TV anime,” Toriyama said. “It seems Dragon Ball has grown on me so much I can’t leave it alone.” Toei Animation stated that the drop-in animation quality was due to hiring a new team of ani-
mators who hadn’t had too much experience. They were brought on to animate a new episode every week. It’s no wonder they produced such low-quality content. To get the best experience, it is highly recommended to watch the movies and skip the first 27 episodes of ‘Dragon Ball Super,’ and watch the movies instead. to get the best experience. In Season 3 the world of “Dragon Ball” expanded exponentially with the revelation that there are 12 total universes, with the story taking place in Universe 7. This was a breath of fresh air that saved the show from cancellation by injecting characters and story that were brand new. Goku, the main character, showed off a new transformation in his battle with Universe 6’s Hit, an assassin with time-skipping powers. Vegeta, the Prince of Saiyans and overall ball-of-anger, developed a teacher-student relationship with a young Saiyan named Cabba from this new universe. By making connections with members of a different universe, the stage was set to increase the stakes for the conclusion of Super. The final season of “Dragon Ball Super” gave us the Tournament of Power, a battle royal with eight universes battling in an eight-way, 10-versus-10, freefor-all martial arts tournament. The winner gets to have their wish granted while the losing universes get erased from existence. Wow! This was an amazing concept that had the heroes teaming up with former villains Frieza and Android 17 in order to have a chance of winning. This season was able to hit the feeling with the destruction of Universe 6 since the viewer had time build a connection with them in the last season. The final season also delivered on the action. Right from the get-go the 80 fighters dispersed throughout the arena and begin to fight. In what feels like a video game, Universe 7 fights the top dogs of each universe one by one as they build their way to the final boss. Some highlighted fights include the destruction of Universe 9, Goku vs. Jiren, Dispo vs. Frieza, Gohan and Piccolo vs. Universe 6
Shonen Jump / Courtesy Photo
READY TO RUMBLE: From left to right: Frieza, Android 18, Android 17, Krillin, Goku, Vegata, Roshi, Gohan, Piccolo, and Tien.
Nameks, Hit and Goku vs. Dispo. With close to 60 episodes, making it the longest season, there were only a few episodes that missed their mark. Everything culminated with Goku unlocking Ultra Instinct, a technique that makes him fight without thinking about his moves, in order to defeat Jiren, the mortal who is stronger than a God. This season was the only way to close out the action anime. “Dragon Ball Super” had a very rough start. The first two seasons are really tough to watch. It is the textbook definition of a bad first impression. However, by Season 3, Toei Animation got back to their senses and gave the fans more of what they wanted as well as new revelations about the world of “Dragon Ball.” Even if his plans did not make sense, Goku Black was a cool idea for a twisted villain. The final tournament that ended the show was great, too, since every episode was nothing more than fighting. That’s how you end an anime about martial arts! Although the show is over, a new “Dragon Ball” animated movie is scheduled to come out on Dec. 14, 2018, according to Toei Animation. So while Super ends, there is a good chance that Dragon Ball will continue in some form or fashion. Hayk Rostomyan can be reached at hayk.rostomyan@gmail.com.
EPIC BATTLE: Goku and Frieza put aside their differences and team up against the overwhelming power of Jiren. With Jiren knocked out of the battle arena Universe 7 wins the Tournament of Power. Photo Illustration by Hayk Rostomyan
What We’re Binging on Netflix By Marian Sahakyan Managing Editor Looking for something to binge between midterms? We’ve got you covered! Here are two recommendations for what’s hot right now on Netflix. VELVET Okay, so you’re probably raising an eyebrow at the thought of watching a telenovela. But “Velvet” is more than that. It’s a midcentury modern meets Art Deco dream. This Spanish soap opera is set in a haute couture scene, a department store, in the 1950s. Handsome Alberto Marquez inherits the family business after his father passes away in a horrible event (we won’t give it away). The love of his life, Ana Rivera (played by Paula Echevarría), is always there for him, but now, they’re both worried for the future of their enterprise. So, in true telenovela style, he marries someone else. Enter Cristina Otegui (Manuela Velasco). She’s the daughter of a wealthy man. She also wants Alberto for
herself. Self-sacrificing Ana doesn’t want to be the cause of her friends’ unemployment. After all, times are tough. Watch this show, if only for the style and fashion. And, for the ladies, Miguel Silvestre plays handsome Alberto. You’re welcome! Bonus: All four seasons available! No waiting! BATES MOTEL Vera Farmiga. Enough said. She is incredible as Norma Bates. Magnetic. Sharp. Commanding. And any other praiseworthy adjective your want to insert. If you haven’t watched this show, be prepared to get sucked in fast, mostly for Farmiga’s acting. Norman Bates is played British actor Freddie Highmore. He does creepy very, very well. There are also interesting sub-plots involving Norman’s half brother, Dylan, played by Max Thierot, and former girfriend, Emma (British actress Olivia Cooke commands her role well). Rihanna even makes a guest appearance in the final season. She plays Marion, for those familiar with the classic film, “Psycho.” All seasons are now there for viewing pleasure. Apparently, Netflix is looking for people to binge watch their shows. Since we’re already doing it, maybe the franchise will help out some struggling students? Until then, happy watching! Marian Sahakyan can be reached at manehsahakyan@gmail.com.
SPORTS
www.elvaq.com
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
15
Running into the Record Books
Distance runner Raymond Lopez shatters school record in men’s 10,000-meter run By Ken Allard Editor-in-Chief All records are meant to be broken, but the latest one to be attained by a Glendale athlete wasn’t just merely broken – it was shattered. Sophomore track and field athlete Raymond Lopez etched his name into the Glendale Community College record book for the 10,000 meter run at the San Francisco Distance Carnival on March 30. Lopez finished the race with a time of 29:55, nearly 20 seconds faster than the previous record holder. “It feels good. I didn’t think to start with that I would accomplish it,” said Lopez. “And now that I did, it’s definitely a humbling feeling. All respect to the previous record holder Obed, to run a 30:00, that low to begin with is really tough... Knowing that I ran that fast, it feels really good and it’s rewarding.” Obed Aguirre, who set the previous mark in the men’s 10,000 meter all the way back in 1992, ran it with a time of 30:14. Breaking the school record was always a card in Lopez’s athletic hand, yet wasn’t necessarily a goal at the forefront of his mind as track season officially began in mid-February. “It’s definitely something that I’ve been working towards. Not so much breaking the school record, but breaking 31:00,” said Lopez. “[Head coach Eddie Lopez] told me the goal this year was just to break 31:00. After running the 14:27 at [Occidental Distance Carnival in the 5,000 meter run], coach Lopez was like, ‘Let’s take you up to San Francisco, I think you could break the school record.’” The San Francisco Distance Carnival was a different beast, compared to the average track and field meet that Glendale attends on a weekly basis. Rather than making the fairly quick trip with vans full of
Gary Towne / Courtesy Chico State University
REWRITE THE BOOKS: Raymond Lopez crushed the previous school record in the 10,000 meter run at the San Francisco Distance Carnival at San Francisco State University on March 30,
teammates who compete and run alongside each other during races, Raymond Lopez and his head coach made the hours-long drive just as a pair. If that wasn’t enough, the competition was loaded with “blue chip” NCAA Division I and Division II athletes from top-tier track and field universities. “Most of the preparation was mentally,” said Lopez. “It was all mental. It was scary to begin with – cause I knew a lot of those guys are 29-minute runners – and at the time, I thought Sydney Gidabuday [Adams State University], one of the top Division II runners, was gonna be in it. I just thought of it as I’m going to be running with the best and don’t be scared
to go with them.” There are still roughly four weeks left in the regular season for track and field, including the Western State Conference championships in late April, where the Vaqueros look to repeat as champions. Following that, the Southern California and the California State Championships are around the corner in May. After shattering a school record, one would think that avoiding complacency would be a challenge. Not for Lopez. The pressure of attaining greatness has been on his mind before. “It’s nothing new,” explained Lopez. “In cross country, when I came into So Cal [Southern California Championship], I was
ranked to win the So Cal meet and the state [championship] meet.” Lopez placed third in the four mile run at the Southern California Championships this past November, while the men’s team finished fifth overall – both were disappointments in their eyes. “The last two meets of the season I didn’t have it on,” said Lopez. “I wasn’t on top of it.” He finished second a week later at the cross country state championship. “Placing second at state was very heartbreaking,” said Lopez. “This time around, I want to win the state title for both the 5k and 10k. I stay motivated because I always remind myself, especially before races, about the feeling of coming so close and being one
of the first runners at Glendale to win the state title since the early ‘90s and just missing it by that much. I remind myself of that fact every day.” Behind a humble smile, Lopez, while still projecting focus on the rest of the track season, shared his big plans for next year. He just verbally committed to Chico State University, a Division II powerhouse cross country program north of San Francisco. “I’m gonna be a Wildcat up there with [head coach] Gary Towne,” said Lopez. “Hopefully I can help them make a push for the national title.” Ken Allard can be reached at kallard438@student.glendale.edu
ADVERTISEMENT WHEN: April 7 Where: Sartoris Field The third annual Vaquero Classic will be held at Glendale Community College on the Sartoris Field on Saturday, April 7. Join in to watch a track and field meet in which many campuses and teams compete on Glendale’s home turf.
16
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
ADVERTISEMENTS
www.elvaq.com
or
Got an opinion? We want to hear it! Send us your letters (with your full name and year, or name and discipline) and you might see them here in print. Send a letter to the editor at: elvaquero@glendale.edu