El Vaquero, Oct. 25, 2017

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, Oct. 25, 2017

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Volume 110 | Issue 4

Sky-High Housing Prices Spell Trouble One of the cornerstones of the American Dream is increasingly out of reach for young adults their own. Despite being better educated, millennials earn 20 percent less than boomers did at the same stage in life.

Thirty-four percent have a bachelor’s For many of us, the American Dream degree, and a significant number more – or what’s left of it – includes landing a have at least some college under their belt. dream job in a favorite city, getting marBut while the group may be swimming in ried, having kids, and perhaps most imknowledge, they’re also drowning in debt. portantly, owning a home. Mark Twain The student loan debt crisis is not a famously called on Americans to buy well-kept secret. Talk to any college stuland. “They’re not making it any more,” dent or recent graduate, and they’ll likely he quipped. give you their own personal nightmare reThe right to property is a quintessengarding their suffocating student loan situtial part of the American middle class ation. According to the Economist, there vision. Recent years haven’t been too was roughly $1.3 trillion of outstanding kind to this vision. One group, in parstudent loan debt in 2014, with over 44 ticular, has an outlook that appears inmillion affected borrowers – an average creasingly bleak: millennials. balance of $37,000 per person.

This cohort of Americans is reaching And because millennials love to be adulthood early in the 21st century; they kicked while they’re down, most of them were born in the years between 1980 received a warm graduating gift in the form and 1997, according to most demograof the worst economic plunge phers. Millennials are often “Stagnating since the Great Depression. described as lazy and entitled Stagnating wages, crushing children, living off the spoils wages, crushstudent loans, slowly-recovering thrust upon them by their alling student economy; this generation has it benevolent predecessors, the Baby Boomers. loans, slowly- tough. to this – as well as shiftThis is true to an extent, recovering ingDue long-term priorities – millendepending on where you look. We’re living in an era economy; this nials are putting off major life of cheap goods. The price generation milestones. None more prominent than the purchasing of one’s of food and clothing is falling relative to wages, and the has it tough.” own home.

Sky-high housing prices are internet has given us nearly the primary roadblock. While the national unlimited access to all kinds of informahousing market hasn’t quite fully recovtion. Medical technology has never been ered from the 2008 crash that sent the better, too. global financial system into disarray, about Turn that page over, though. a third of major US cities have seen a nearAmericans pride themselves on their complete rebound. generational upward mobility, but milThe cities that saw a rebound, like San lennials may be the unfortunate generaFrancisco, Denver, and Los Angeles, also tion to break that streak and earn less – not coincidentally – have strong growing than their predecessors, by no fault of

By Ken Allard Editor-in-Chief

Photo by Rory Cohen

LUXURY DEVELOPMENT ON STEROIDS: A new development in Koreatown is slotted to sell apartments at a price range starting in the high $600,000s.

economies that attract young, educated talent. Job growth attracts population growth, which means the demand for housing increases, which results in a positive feedback loop of continued economic surge.

Although, if there isn’t adequate supply to answer demand, prices continue to climb until equilibrium is met.

The issue of inadequate housing supply is a very real issue. From September 2016 to August 2017, the US had about 1.2 million housing starts. This is 16 percent lower than the long-term national average.

Multifamily starts are 11 percent lower than average, while single family builds are 18 percentage points behind.

According to the USC Casden 2017 Multifamily Forecast Report, developers

need to build an additional 300,000 new units per year to keep up with demand.

[See Housing, page 2]

IN THIS ISSUE News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6 Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Entertainment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Skepticism Mounts Over Grayson Repowering Plan Concerns over GWP initiative raised at City Hall meeting

Photo by Ken Allard

QUESTIONS ABOUND: Manuel Camargo of the Glendale Water and Power Commission addresses public questions. A special meeting was held on Oct. 16 so the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR), prepared by Stantec Consulting Services, could be presented, analyzed and debated in an open forum area, in which time was left for public comment at the end.

By Ken Allard Editor-in-Chief The Grayson Repowering Plan, spearheaded by Glendale Water & Power, appears to be in dire straits after the Oct. 16 meeting at Glendale City Hall. The special meeting was held so the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR), prepared

by Stantec Consulting Services, could be presented, analyzed and debated in an open forum area, in which time was left for public comment at the end.

Stantec’s most notable major project was its involvement in the development and maintenance of the Keystone Pipeline.

With the Grayson Repowering Plan, GWP is seeking to decommission eight aging gas-fired generation units, and replace them with ones that they claim will be more efficient and reliable.

GWP suggests that this will give the Grayson Plant an additional 43 megawatts of power generation. To get those MW numbers, GWP is going off of the nameplate capacity of the older units. However,

official GWP documents show generators aren’t operating at nameplate. Using actual generating capacity, the Grayson Repowering Plan would give the plant an additional 77 MWs, which doesn’t include the energy received from Scholl Canyon.

The 106-person capacity room in the Glendale City Council Chambers was filled to the brim, with many community members standing towards the rear of the chambers. Concerned local residents wore green shirts and carried signs in favor of clean-energy alternatives.

“We want clean energy,” one sign said.

Another read, “Needed: An Unbiased Study.”

The nearly two-hour-long presentation

by Stantec in front of the five-person GWP Commission, which acts as an advisory body to GWP, gave a summary on the projected impacts of the Grayson plan.

The DEIR analyzed aspects such as aesthetics, air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, and hazardous materials.

[See Grayson, page 2]

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EL V EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ken Allard MANAGING EDITOR Marian Sahakyan ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Clint Black STAFF WRITERS Carolina Diaz Catalina Juarez Vendela Lindblom Ricky Nuño Hayk Rostomyan Rachel Valasquez Ellis Valdescona COPY EDITOR Elena Jacobson CONTRIBUTORS Adriana Garcia Rudy Guijarro Hope Rosemary PHOTOGRAPHERS Ivan Carlos Carmen Fernandez Guadalupe Ruiz Scott Stalnaker faculty adviser Rory Cohen rcohen@glendale.edu (818) 240-1000 ext. 5214

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Housing Prices Spell Trouble [From Housing, page 1] But with nine-straight-years of stagnant construction, the US is roughly three million units short of where we need to be to have a supply that is sufficient enough to meet demand.

Even many “starter homes,” relatively small and economical pads that meet the needs of young folks, are out of reach for millennials. Unfortunately for buyers, the most affordable segment of the housing market is where supplies are lowest. In April 2017, sales of housing priced under $100,000 fell 17 percent, and those under $250,000 fell six percent.

If millennials can’t get their hands on a starter home – an appreciating asset that builds owner equity – they’ll have a harder time trading up for that dream home in the suburbs big enough for the kids.

Due to this, millennials are opting to rent rather than buy, despite renting being a more expensive long-term venture. This in turn is placing upward pressure on the rental market.

In a strong majority of Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), renters are spending more than 30 percent of their income on rent – which classifies it as unaffordable. More money spent on rent, means less disposable income, which then translates to less money saved for owning a home (and splurging on avocado toast).

Indeed, things don’t look good. This is perhaps no more true than in sunny Southern California. In the region, real rents rose by 13 percent from 2005 to 2015, according to USC Casden.

Photo by Rory Cohen

RENT CONTROLLED APARTMENT: In this July 2016 file photo, an apartment along Beverly Boulevard and Vermont Avenue undergoes construction. Meridian Apartments is expected to provide 100 affordable homes to families and 4,500 square feet of ground floor commercial space along Vermont Avenue.

A problem, because rents are outpacing real income growth, which is, well, not sustainable.

The market for young buyers is even worse. In 2016, the median home price in Southern California was about $473,000, which is double the national average, making it one of the most expensive in the nation. The median costs are even higher in Los Angeles County and Orange County.

In a historical migratory reversal, pressure from the housing market is forcing California residents eastward. From 2010 to 2015, 226,000 people left the state, trailing only New York and Illinois in net out-migration.

Even though 80 percent of millennials surveyed would like to own some form of real estate in the future, very few are capable of doing so. “Sixty-eight percent of

millennials said they have saved less than $1,000 for a down payment,” according to Apartment List. “Almost half, or 44 percent, of millennials said they have not saved anything for a down payment.”

Furthermore, many millennials seem to be unaware of their home-buying potential, or lack thereof. A majority of those surveyed said that buying a home is in their five-year plan, despite the evidence refuting what amounts to being a pipe dream.

Are millennials optimistic because they’re inattentively viewing the world through their vintage rose-tinted sunglasses? Or is this highly-educated, tech-savvy demographic optimistic because they’re ready to take on a rapidlychanging world?

Time will tell.

Is rent control the answer to at least part of the conundrum?

There’s a proposed ballot initiative in California that hopes to confront the increasing rent prices by expanding rent control. Such an initiative, however, won’t be without detractors on both sides of the political aisle.

Indeed, economists argue it creates an artificial economy where rent prices will essentially amount to arbitrary costs.

Though, to be fair, the artificial nature of the economy is easily discerned in Federal Reserve interest rates as well as in Proposition 13-era rates that benefit older homeowners over the young.

Stay tuned. This issue isn’t going away.

Ken Allard can be reached at KALLARD438@student.glendale.edu.

Skepticism Mounts Over Grayson Plant [From Grayson, page 1]

cal resident Elizabeth Vitanza, diThe report found that all pro- recting her question towards the jected impacts would be “less Stantec employees.

Critics of the proposed $500 than significant,” although some million Grayson plan have a mitigation measures would be relaundry list of grievances. Most quired. notably, is that Stantec failed to The report states that there conduct an in-depth study into would be a significant net inclean-energy alternatives. crease in greenhouse gas emis“I do not believe that we sions from the project, totaling looked at how much renewable roughly 415,000 metric tons power could be generated on sites per year. The increase would be within the city that mitigated by city has control acquiring al“This comes at a the over,” said Stantec lowances and time when California employee Michael offset credWeber when quesis looking towards its through tioned by GWP C a l i f o r n i a ’s getting more of its Commissioner Matcap-and-trade power from clean- thew Hale. program. CriThis comes at a teria pollutants energy sources, and time when Califor(such as lead, pivoting away from nia is looking tocarbon monwards getting more natural gas and oxide and sulof its power from fur monoxide) other fossil fuels.” clean-energy sourcwould also es, and pivoting increase, a maaway from natural gas and other jor concern since the surroundfossil fuels. ing area is densely populated With this in mind, many quesand contains a handful of schools tion why such a heavy investment within a mile of the plant. into a large natural gas project, “Would you want to send your and whether GWP intends to sell kids to school a half-a-mile away off the excess power they generfrom a plant like this?” asked lo-

ate to pay for the plant upgrades.

“Is that the case?” said Commissioner Sarojini Lall. “Are we basically building a power plant where we’re going to be selling a portion of the power to pay for it [the plant]?”

“No … well conceivably you could,” said GWP General Manager Steve Zurn. “ … We don’t have any intentions of being a ‘merchant plant.’”

As regulations on the use of natural gas become stricter, Glendale and resident taxpayers may be left with a gas-fired power plant that has been left behind by the future of energy – a stranded asset.

“There is a concern about what risk does this expose the City to if our relationship with fossil fuels is profoundly changing in the future?” said Lall.

Zurn responded by saying that Grayson and GWP will be ready to meet whatever the California greenhouse gas mandate may be, but that “there is a chance that [the plant becoming a stranded asset] may occur.”

Another concern shared by residents is that the plant is located in an earthquake liquefaction

zone. Meaning that when – not if – the “big one” hits, the soil in which the plant lies on will be stressed to the point that it takes on the qualities of liquid. Grayson survived a 6.6 magnitude earthquake in 1971, but many experts predict that the next San Andreas fault quake would hover around the 8.2 magnitude mark – 152 times stronger than ‘71.

Overall, the Commission appeared to be on the same page, that the DEIR did not look enough into clean-energy alternatives, and that public opposition and concerns need to be accounted for. “We are lacking in diversity in our resource pool, and that needs to be considered,” said Hale.

Another commissioner echoed his agreement. “To limit ourselves and continue down this path of solely gas powered, I don’t see that as the right path,” said Commissioner Roland Kedikian in his final comment.

Public comments can be submitted throughout the 45-day public review period, which ends at 5 p.m. on Nov. 3.

Ken Allard can be reached at KALLARD438@student.glendale.edu.

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At GCC, Black Minds Matter

Live-streamed course demonstrates prejudices that put African American males at a disadvantage

By Clint Black Staff Writer

elaborated on the process of ensuring the course’s implementation at GCC. He also touched on personal testaments to growing up at a disadvantage and noticing “a clear difference in class and race.”

The only prerequisite required is to “acknowledge one’s own unconscious bias,” said site coordinator Darielle Blevins “We are all raised and socialized in this society that is ridden with sexism […] and racism, and are programmed to think a certain way.” Faculty are encouraged to attend and to be honest with themselves. “You get a better understanding of inequality. Many educators get a glimpse of inequality, but don’t get the full psychological impact,” added Dulay.

A syllabus is available at bit.ly/JLukeWood. The second week of the course will be held Oct. 30. You can register at bit.ly/BlackMindsMatterWk2.

Glendale Community College’s Social Sciences Division and Student Equity Program has embarked on a eight-part public live-streamed course from Dr. J. Luke Wood, a distinguished professor of education at San Diego State University.

Wood’s free course examines the issues that black males face in society, particularly through the lens of education.

Dr. Wood, whose research has been featured by the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans, New York Times, Huffington Post, and other countless media outlets and publications, spoke to El Vaquero via email about the inspiration for creating the course.

“We will be employing three tenants [loving engagement, collective value, and restorative What was the impetus for justice] of the Black Lives Matcreating this course? ter movement as a framework for talking about the issues facThe course was inspired by two ing black boys and men,” said Woods, highlighting the pur- different factors. First, in 2015, pose of the course. “Ultimately, the Education Trust West released our goal is for educators to be- a report titled Black Minds Matgin to see their classrooms, of- ter. This report documented the fices and campuses as sites for experiences and outcomes faccivil resistance,” he continued. ing black learners in the State of Civil resistance in education California. The report has led to referring to “teaching practices numerous discussions, symposia, that empower those affected.” and keynotes focused on the topic.

The report served as an imThe hope is that educators will petus for this course. be able to use “Black men Second, the course was the primary tool they have to “disdo face chal- also inspired by the slaying of Alfred Olango in pel and address lenges in the San Diego, Calif. (El policies and practices that result academy. They Cajon). Alfred was a black male refugee who in overexposure are brilliant, was shot [though he to exclusionresilient and was] unarmed by police. ary discipline,” This led to numersaid Wood. good-hearted, ous marches and proGCC sociolbut often not tests in San Diego. ogy instructor The students in our Sandy Somo can viewed as such.” program were heavbe charged with ily involved in this igniting the initiative to bring the didactic course direct action, and this course from discussions to our campus. “[Sandy] puts stu- emanated dents first” said Social Sciences with them on how the patdivision chair and psychology terns the [sic] led to his slaying professor Michael Dulay, as he are also evident in education.

Why now and how long have you been teaching this course?

This course is groundbreaking in that we are not studying Black Lives Matter as a movement. Though, that would be an important aim in and of itself.

However, what we are doing is taking principles of practices (based on their tenets) and showing how these principles can serve to improve the educational outcomes of black boys and men in education.

This is the first time we have offered this course, so we are excited about the potential and the scope. Right now, there are over 180 broadcast sites for the course and over 10,000 people who are registered to participate.

How have black men been at a disadvantage in education?

What are the implications?

Disparities facing black boys and men begins early on in their lives, in early childhood education, if not sooner. We know that they are more likely to be perceived through a criminalized lens and to be viewed as academically inferior. These patterns continue throughout the lives of black males, influencing their experiences and outcomes in the criminal (in)justice system, education, health care, industry, and numerous other sectors.

Are black men still at a disadvantage in the academy?

Black men do face challenges in the academy. They are brilliant, resilient and good-hearted, but often not viewed as such.

The challenge begins with a society that has socialized all individuals to see them with distrust, disdain, and disregard.

Educators who engage in training on unconscious bias, micro aggressions, and culturally-relevant teaching practices can change this paradigm.

In education, a civil resistance refers to teaching practices that empowers those who have

Dr. J. Luke Wood (Courtesy Headshot)

been disaffected. Empowerment through love. It may seem simple, but thwarting socialization is never simple or easy.

Of the different parts of the series, is there one area that especially interests you?

Well, I am partial to all of the topics that we will explore. But, if I had to pick one that I am excited to talk about, it is our research on teaching practices. We have identified, through a number of studies, teaching practices that can better support the success of boys and men of color. I think the ability to be able to share these practices with a large audience is exciting.

Our goal is to improve the conditions that we see, and these practices can certainly help that aim. One example of a teaching practice that we suggest is intrusiveness.

For instance, our research shows that if you want students to be successful you have to approach your work differently.

If a teacher or professor knows that the only students who pass their class are those who attend their office hours, do multiple drafts of papers, and visit tutoring – then those practices should

be

mandatory not optional.

Why? Because students from minoritized communities face numerous external challenges that often influence their ability to engage and focus in school.

Making something mandatory signals its importance but it also create a structure that ensures that students will be successful.

What is your overall hope for this eight-part series?

My hope is that those who are participating will begin to radically reconsider their role in education.

Ultimately, our message is about integrating love into a curriculum that communiqués subjugation and asymmetries of power.

Most educators are not bad people, but most educators are influenced by biases. But here is the thing, being biased does not make you bad, it makes you human.

Choosing not to change that inclination is what is bad.

So, ultimately, it is about internal change that will better enhance the learning, development, and success of black boys and men.

Clint Black can be reached at CBLACK214@student.glendale.edu

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Latinas Empowered at GCC STEM Conference Event drew from local middle and high schools, attracting 400 people

By Ken Allard Editor-in-Chief Glendale Community College hosted a third annual Latina Power in STEM conference on Oct. 14, a morning to afternoon event aimed at inspiring middle and high school Latina and other interested females to pursue science, technology, engineering, and math career pathways.

Over 400 students and parents attended, said Richard Cortes, an articulation coordinator and STEM counselor who helped put the event together.

Hands-on student projects were exhibited to show young students the possibilities where coding and robotics are concerned, and workshops led by STEM-working professionals took place over the course of the event.

The STEM field is dominated by males, especially in engineering, explained the organizers, stressing the importance of helping young Latinas enter the field. “Latina engineers only represent 2 percent of the computer science and engineering workforce in the U.S.,” Cortes said. “It is critical

that we empower our young Latina students to consider STEM, thus it helps when we bring the role models to them who share the same background and personal challenges.”

One such role model who spoke to young middle and high school students is Elisa Quintana.

Quintana, the keynote speaker at the Oct. 14 event, is among just a few Latina astrophysicists at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. Quintana came from humble backgrounds and transferred to the University of California, San Diego from San Diego’s Grossmont College. She went on to earn two master’s degrees in physicians and aerospace engineering, and eventually a PhD in physics from the University of Michigan.

In 2015, Quintana received the STEM 2015 Scientist of the Year.

Student attendees got to learn by doing, said volunteers. “In addition, our Glendale Community College departments, which included engineering and computer science, impacted the middle and high school attendees through hands-on learning,” said Marisela Canela, a STEM counselor who also worked to make the event possible. “Student learned about the practical use of Raspberry Pi, a tiny computer, to learn about programming and

“The STEM field is dominated by males, especially in engineering, explained the organizers, stressing the importance of helping young Latinas enter the field.”

Photo by Scott Stalnaker

GIRL POWER: Middle school students show off their completed working LED circiut lights at GCC on Oct. 14.

how to build their own using the SunWind solar car kit.”

Canela explained that it helped to prompt a discussion on engineering design and alternative energy through a multidisciplinary consideration of career in electrical, mechanical and automotive engineering.

“For many of these students, it was their first-time building something on their own,” she said. “Most importantly, they were empowered to believe in themselves.”

Cortes explained that planning for the Latina Power in STEM event commenced in July. It took roughly four months to plan,

though has been built upon from previous years. It also utilized the TECHNOLOchicas organization, which seeks promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics professions to young Latina students. “Over 100 Latina STEM professionals nationwide come together to share their life stories and journeys with the young girls via Univision commercials, TECHNOLOchicas. org videos, and campus visits like GCC’s Latina Power in STEM conference,” said Cortes.

The college has sought to increase student equity, said Cortes and Canela.

“GCC has been in the forefront

in promoting engineering and computer science,” said Cortes. “By way of several U.S. Department of Education and state-funded grants, and because of the passion of many faculty, staff, and administrators, we have been able to develop several student and academic support programs like the GCC AIM Program, the Robotics Academy, the GCC Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Student Chapter, and our great Manufacturing and Machining program.”

Ken Allard can be reached at kallard438@student.glendale.edu.

Making a Difference, One Robot At a Time GCC’s mechanical engineer- ered to exchange ideas and see gistics, we also had to prepare a what other ‘makers’ have created. number of projects, including: a ing students leave their mark Less than 24 hours later, we par- student-made 3-D printer with an

By Enrique Cernas Aguilar and Armen Toorian Contributing Writers As students at Glendale Community College, we have to find a balance between academics and extracurricular activities. Companies demand hands-on experience these days in addition to good grades. We were at the San Diego Maker Faire, one of the largest events in Southern California, where hundreds of people gath-

ticipated in Glendale Tech Week.

Finally, that immediate weekend after Tech Week, we helped run the Latinas in Stem workshop.

The last couple of weeks have been really exciting and a lesson in multitasking.

Twenty-five volunteers covered the event over the course of three days. Scarlet Galvez, president of SHPE at GCC, and Enrique Cernas Aguilar worked for three months to organize the logistics of our presence at Glendale Tech Week. Aside from lo-

Photo by Scarlet Galvez

SPECTATORS CONVERGE: Attendees of the San Diego Maker Faire view a robotic car, Oct. 8.

18 inches by 18 inches heated bed and dual extruders; a 3-D photo booth which uses a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) system to generate 3-D point clouds; a remotely operated vehicle which uses four-wheel drive tank, and a few more projects created by students at GCC. The projects which were demonstrated are the result of months (sometimes years) of work by students in the engineering capstone class (ENGR 298) which focuses on robotics. In this class, students engage one another in a collaborative work environment which models a real-world internship/research experience.

The class is taught by three engineering mentors who oversee the work of students. The students who take this course come from a variety of disciplines, which can include: mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering, software engineering, computer science, manufacturing, and some undecided students. Although the class focuses on robotics, and students typically enrolled are engineering majors, the course is available to any

student who is highly motivated and have project experience.

Since the GCC Engineering/ Robotics began, students have gone on to intern at places such as: NASA/JPL, USC LPL (Liquid Propulsion Lab), Caltech Aerospace Mentoring Program, and the NASA community college programs. Students have been accepted to schools like Caltech, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly Pomona, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, and UC Irvine, among others.

The primary reason for our success at Glendale Tech Week was the involvement of Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE of GCC), an organization dedicated to empowering people who have historically been disadvantaged. SHPE students are heavily embedded into the Glendale Community College Engineering and Robotics program.

Students worked hard to make sure that projects were ready to go for Glendale Tech Week.

In a world where you need to understand circuit design to diagnose your car’s engine problems, or structural engineering concepts to build an art installation, technical fields are becoming increasingly blurred. The need for

skilled employees with a solid understanding of engineering design principles is essential for the careers of the future.

The workforce of the future will need to have broad knowledge in many fields, be productive in the workplace from day one, have the ability to quickly adapt, and most importantly, selflearn the skill they need for their next job. Robotics is a great medium for teaching these concepts and engaging students, because of it’s inherent fun and multidisciplinary nature.

The Glendale Robotics Academy was established to provide a cutting-edge curriculum in the fields of robotics, mechanical and electrical engineering, and computer science, as well as teach fundamentals to project planning and execution that are essential to perform at a high level in the modern workplace. We work closely with our manufacturing and business departments to infuse a real-world experience for students preparing for careers in engineering.

Enrique Cernas Aguilar, a mechanical engineering student, can be reached at ecernas572@student.glendale.edu. Armen Toorian, an instructor of engineering, can be reached at atoorian@glendale.edu.

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SHPEing Lives: Helping Aspiring Engineers Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers promotes career building with NASA/JPL speaker

By Ken Allard Editor-in-Chief If you truly want something, go out and get it.

That was the message Eddie Gonzales had for the 20 or so aspiring engineering students in attendance during the Oct. 16 meeting for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers of Glendale Community College.

Gonzales serves as an administrator in the Education Office at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada Flintridge, Calif., and also travels around the nation seeking to inspire young students on behalf of NASA/JPL. He opened up the motivational lecture with his experience in little league baseball. As an eightyear-old boy, his mother strutted him out onto the baseball field for tryouts. His first attempt at scooping up an infield ground ball didn’t quite go as planned – the ball missed his glove, rolled up his sleeve and smacked him straight in the lip, which busted open in a display of bloody inadequacy.

There was no time to sulk.

He was pushed to the outfield so he could practice catching fly balls, followed by lining up in the batter’s box for hitting practice.

“I wanted no part of it,” said Gonzales. “It might as well have been an arrow on fire.”

And, being a young child in school, the merciless schoolyard bullying followed his long afternoon of baseball mishaps.

Gonzales stuck with it despite his initial failures and spent all summer improving his craft. After starting in the lowest division, he was eventually drafted into

the most sought-after “senior” group, even though he was a few years younger than that of his teammates.

His point was: practice.

Contrary to what a young Allen Iverson might say about that, practice is what it’s truly all about.

You may not be the smartest, or the most talented, or have all of the necessary tools. But never let others out-work you. “They’re not gonna out-hustle me,” said Gonzales.

The main topic of his lecture was opportunity and networking.

Opportunity is at the doorstep for many of the engineering students in attendance, but they needed advice on how best to open that door.

Opportunity is knocking in the form of the 29th annual HENNAC STEM Conference in Pasadena, Calif. from Oct. 18 through Oct. 22, and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) National Conference in Kansas City, Mo., from Nov. 1 to Nov. 5.

At these events, students will have the chance to rub elbows with some of the premier players in the STEM universe, such as Lockheed Martin, Shell Oil Company and NASA, in addition to meeting some talented, likeminded individuals.

Have a plan for these networking events, Gonzales stresses. Your résumé needs to be professional; you should know which booths you would like to go to; have your essentials ready; be respectful; smile with receptive body language; and, please, dress appropriately.

“If it’s been in the club, do not wear it,” said Gonzales. “It’s not the time to be a hipster.”

Photo by Rory Cohen HELPING TO MOTIVATE: Eddie Gonzales, an administrator in the Education Office at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, speaks to GCC engineering students about networking.

A big part of opportunity is who you know, which is why it’s so important to network, not just at these events, but whenever you have the chance.

“Meet people,” said Gonzales.

“They could be the ticket to your future.”

Practice keeping your phone in your pocket, as it’s tough to find opportunity with your eyes in the wrong place. Rather than mindlessly browsing the

web, try something simple like striking up a conversation in line at Starbucks, Gonzales advises, or give someone a genuine compliment.

You can turn that network into a relationship, where you then work on surrounding yourself with people who make you lift your game. As the saying goes, if you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re likely in the wrong room.

Most importantly, don’t be afraid to fail. Embrace your failures when they happen, then learn from them. Just as a young Eddie Gonzales didn’t let a busted lip prevent him from succeeding in baseball, students can’t let failure define who they are.

“Your best teacher is your last mistake,” said Gonzales.

Ken Allard can be reached at kallard438@student.glendale.edu.

The Next ‘Big One’: Are You Prepared?

College ShakeOut drill inspires conversations

By Catlina Juarez Staff Writer Glendale Community College participated in the Great California ShakeOut Drill on Oct. 19, aimed at

preparing students for the next “big one.” Although many state public institutions participated, some individuals took part in it worldwide, according to the official website for the initiative.

“ShakeOut encourages cross-sector, whole community conversation and action about

Photo by FEMA FILE PHOTO: A San Fernando Valley apartment building in ruins following the 1994 Northridge earthquake.

earthquake preparedness, inspiring people to make better decisions for how they can prepare to survive and recover,” said Mark Benthien, ShakeOut global coordinator and outreach director for the Southern California Earthquake Center at the University of Southern California.

The drill was solely intended to help students, faculty members, business owners and residents know how to respond in case of an earthquake. The last big earthquake to hit Los Angeles County was in 1994.

Seismologists have indicated that significant time has transpired since the last major quake. Getting ready for a major quake is encouraged.

Students who participated in the drill were reminded of the precautions needed to take in case of an earthquake. These steps are crucial to the safety of each individual. The drill calls for recognizing the first signs of an earthquake and following

the, “drop, cover and hold on” procedure.

During the first signs of an earthquake, a person is expected to drop to the ground to avoid being dropped by the earthquake itself, followed by covering one’s head and neck with their arms to prevent being injured by any falling objects. People are advised to find safety under sturdy furniture and hold on to it to prevent it from moving.

The drill on campus was voluntary, but many classrooms participated.

One journalism class even utilized natural earthquake sounds in order to get students motivated. “It was a funny experience,” said third-year student Ellis Valdescona, a journalism and music major. “I heard books falling, too.” One student added to the vibe by dropping books to mimic the sound of shelves falling over.

Valdescona said that she has an emergency kit at home, but not in her car.

Ready.gov provides some tips on how to prepare before, during and after an earthquake.

California is long overdue for a massive earthquake and every resident living in the state should try and take the right approach on educating themselves over the different safety steps to take, the site suggests.

Although it is not possible to predict when one will occur, Southern Cal residents can take precautions and get ready for one. Being prepared for an earthquake is not just about knowing how to ensure safety, but is also about knowing the important essentials needed after an earthquake has occurred, including water, food and a first aid kit.

“Social science research shows that when people see others take action, they are more likely to take action too,” said Benthien.

Catalina Juarez can be reached at cjuarez734@student.glendale.edu.

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Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017

News

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Fixing the Probation Predicament There are steps you can take to get back on the right track and make sure to graduate and/or progress probation, a student can be dismissed from the college and can only be reinstated after a fall or spring In today’s contemporary semester absence from the and technologically-advanced college. lifestyle, marked by its In addition to possible tumultuous environmental and dismissal from the college, societal changes, students must federal financial aid eligibility find a balance between attending can negatively be affected. class, studying and the various Students can also lose the other life components that can California Board of Governors shape a student’s routine.

Fee (BOG) Fee Waiver, which Some students are able to assists many with tuition costs. find this balance, while others In line with financial aid are not. Stress, after all, affects issues, after two consecutive individuals very differently. semesters (fall/spring) of Besides the frustration this academic and/or type of imbalance progress probation, brings, students who “The most students also lose their struggle and lose important take priority registration sight of their goals away is to be privileges. as a result can be proactive when The most important placed on academic take away is to be and/or progress the notice proactive when the probation. of probation notice of probation The former appears on a appears on a student’s indicates an overall student’s To- To-Do-List.

GPA below a 2.0, While it should be a while the latter Do-List.” time of self-reflection indicates when for the student as 50 percent or more of the to why probation occurred, it classes have not been properly is also a time of informative completed. In other words, if intervention by an academic a student has taken 12 units or more and the cumulative number counselor and the assignment of of withdrawals (W), incompletes significant actions steps.

These steps are aimed at (I), no-credit (NC) and no-pass helping students to rise above (NP) units exceed or reach 50 probation. percent, the student may receive

By Nare Garibyan Contributing Writer

progress probation.

After the third consecutive semester of either academic

Nare Garibyan, a GCC academic counselor, can be reached at garibya@glendale.edu.

Photo by Lindsay Clark / THINK Global School

WORKING HARD: A student works on her assignments during a study abroad trip in this illustrative photo.

➢ Remember: Probation does not define who you are as a person ➢ Pay attention to your “To-Do-List” tasks ➢ Pay attention to the warnings you see on your “To-Do-List” ➢ Schedule and attend a one-hour probation workshop ➢ After the workshop, schedule an hour appointment with an academic counselor ➢ Make appointments right after the workshop ➢ Remember, during peak registration times, appointments are limited ➢ Register for the appropriate number of units ➢ Full time work clashes with a full time academic load ➢ Ask about how to appeal Loss of Priority Registration ➢ Ask about how to appeal Loss of the BOG ➢ Ask about how to appeal the loss of federal financial aid ➢ Ask about academic renewal ➢ Remember to fill out the petition to count the higher grade ➢ Take a student development class to improve academic skills ➢ Read the catalog regarding GCC’s academic policies ➢ Remember to work with your professors to change an incomplete “I” to a grade ➢ Be aware of drop and withdrawal deadlines ➢ Access professor office hours ➢ Utilize the variety of student services on campus ➢ Learn to calculate GPA

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7

A Look Ahead: Journalism Day

Save the date, Nov. 16, and hear from industry professionals in communications-oriented fields

By Marian Sahakyan Managing Editor

tions. Those are all potential areas one could work with should they have a journalism degree.

Cohen sat down to discuss the purpose of the day.

Journalism day will be held on Thursday, Nov. 16 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the GCC Auditorium, where professionals in the field will share their experiences, answer questions and simply chat with students.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts will be provided!

for journalism at the community college level is incredibly heartening!

What is journalism? Some What is the day about? people think it’s Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein trackJournalism Day will be broing down the mole within the ken up into three different preNixon administration and covsentations.

The first speaker, Emering corruption at the national my-award winner James Gordon level.

Meek, will talk about his work Others think is Anderson traveling with U.S. troops and Cooper, who looks at the camcovering the rise of the Islamic era with piercing blue eyes and State of Syria and Iran (known as asks tough questions about ISIS or sometimes ISIL). our leaders. Others might sugHow did this come about?

Our second session will ingest it’s local reporting in Bell, Whose idea was it? clude journalists who touch radio Calif., where two tenacious and magazine spheres. Michael journalists, Jeff Gottlieb and Journalism Day was born Fleeman, who has previously Ruben Vives, covered extreme out of a desire to host a speakers been an adjunct at the college, financial abuse on the part of series at Glendale Community will talk about covering murder elected officials. If we’re honCollege.

At first, we thought trials and sensationalistic cases, est, some people hate journalwe’d have multiple speakers including the O.J. Simpson trial, ists. Although, without good across the semester.

While we for People magazine. journalism, society can very have speakers in our journalism Our third panel, and in some quickly deteriorate. classes speak to students inforways my favorite, will include Journalism instructor and El mally, we’ve very rarely hosted representatives from GCC’s Vaquero adviser Rory Cohen a big day with panelists who sports department and Associdecided to organize an event talk about big issues affecting ated Students.

A former El Vawhich will educate students In the breaking news cycle, being first is the most importantshould also the industry and the opportuquero editor-in-chief about what journalism is really that exist for objectivity journalism should be on hand to talk about where when reportingnities accuracy and be paramount all about. She hopes to inspire and communications majors. she is now.

Let’s dispel the myth students already in the program This is also happening as that journalism doesn’t lead to a and also open the newsroom’s a result of support from our successful career. door to those who are contemStudent Services Dean, Agnes On the contrary, journalism plating a career in traditional Eguaras, and Language Arts is one of the most extraordinary journalism, marketing, nonDivision Chair, Lourdes Giprivileges and critical roles. profit sectors, or communicarardi. To see so much support There’s a reason it’s often re-

Las Vegas Coverage: A Media Frenzy

GCC Dance Sees Positive Shifts In its semi-annual FanatiX event, the club delivers poignant choreography

Twelfth Night GCC production will run Oct. 26 to Nov. 5

By Marian Sahakyan Managing Editor

By Hope Rosemary Contributing Writer The Dance Club’s semi-annual FanatiX dance show took place in the Sierra Nevada building on Oct. 14 with well over 100 audience members which consisted of current students, alumni, faculty, friends and family.

The event is open each semester for students who audition full pieces the week before the performance date in order to make the set list. Dancers work hard, but it has to mean something to them, say the organizers. “If it matters to you, you’ll get it done,” said Victor Robles, director of the newly formed Glendale College Dance Company (GCDC), which was founded in the spring of 2017.

In the week between auditions and the performance, the Dance Club and the GCDC worked together to produce this show with a few select pieces contributed by professors and one piece choreographed by the company.

Ani Vitani, GCDC member and dance club officer, said “the company is a space to grow as dancers.” Plus, being part of the club provides members with good exercise and a release, say the members. That release is emotional, physical, and mental.

In the second half of the show,

ferred to as the “Fourth Estate,” tion is for middle-income caterin which government is kept in ers and set designers who reside check. in Los Angeles. Journalism is fundamentally concerned with How often does this people and the human experitake place? What’s next? ence. That’s why we’re holding the event -- to remind people There will absolutely be fu- what good journalism offers and ture events! However, it may what they can potentially do as look a little different from time successful journalists. to time. Rather than repurpose the day or agenda, we’d like What were some of your to do something different each initial expectations when you time. Stay tuned next semester were planning it? for special journalism “Coffee Hours.”

Truthfully, I thought it was going to be a smaller event. Now, Why do you think it’s im- it’s grown so much that we’re portant to hold such an event? hosting it in the Auditorium.

That means a lot more doughGetting students excited nuts from Krispy Kreme than I about what they’re doing as stu- had initially planned on buying. dent journalists is a critical part of my role here at GCC. Students Who’s going to attend? have been talking about Journalism Day all semester and have Everyone -- I hope! The event helped to organize it. is open to GCC students and the It’s important because it helps public. We already have some to remind the community of how coverage from local universities. journalism affects so much -Instructors and staff can also from policy, to change, to aware- earn two hours of flex time, ness. A society that ignores lo- along with enjoy a couple of cal reporting, court reporting, doughnuts. Honestly, what more international news is one that is can you want? doomed. Something as random as Hollywood producers shooting films in Georgia can generate Marian Sahakyan can be reached at MSAHAKY795@student.glendale.edu. a story idea on what the implica-

Photo by Hope Rosemary

DANCE AS CATHARSIS: In a dance choreographed by Victor Robles, the director of Glendale Community College’s Dance Company, made up of nine members, dancers tell the coming-of-age story.

Robles’ choreography tells the story of a girl’s coming of age.

How our idea of touch and the way we experience it changes and evolves, demonstrated through the dance. “The music,” said Robles, “evoked the idea of a past culture where genders were segregated.”

The song, “The Rite Of Spring” by Igor Stravinsky, is complex and challenging, a risk because “the music is crazy to count, rhythms are diverse and syncopation is placed in unexpected areas.”

Robles considers the experience of music to be an educational one. “[It] is our job as educators to introduce our students to work that is historical and will

change them,” he said.

This fall marks the passing of the baton. Starting spring 2018, Robles will be taking over as head of dance productions.

GCC will celebrate Dora Krannig’s “Swan Song” with the faculty and alumni show “Sacred Earth, Sacred Dance” in early December. “We are a very small little place in the very vast universe, lets get out of the narcissi and make dance universal,” said Krannig in her farewell video.

“Every feeling we have as humans should be reflected in everybody else. So let’s be one people, one earth, one dance.”

Hope Rosemary can be reached at

hbrown090@student.glendale.edu.

Glendale Community College’s theater department will bring William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” to campus for two weekends of eight thrilling performances. Oct. 26 will mark the first day of the theater production and will continue until Nov. 5.

Shakespeare wrote “Twelfth Night” near the middle of his career. It later became known as one of the greatest comedies of the 17th century. The play, which became so loved by critics, focuses on twins, Viola and Sebastian, who get separated in a shipwreck. The story goes on to talk about the complex lives of the two as they try to find their way back to one another.

As the story progresses, Shakespeare gives his audience a plot twist, where a love-triangle is formed.

GCC theatre producers worked closely with student actors to make sure they are ready for the stage. The team took their time to make important decisions ranging from selecting actors through auditions to putting in hectic rehearsal hours.

When asked about the selection of the show genre, Producer of Twelfth Night, Me-

lissa Randel said, “The theatre department rotates the genre of the shows we work on, so that students get to work on a variety of styles of theatre.”

Of the six available theatre categories, the production team picked a play which fell into classical theater.

Prior to the long hours of practice sessions, auditions were held to select the 20 cast members to deliver the irreplaceable roles. “For many of them this is their first experience performing Shakespeare,” Randel commented.

To make sure that they bring the effortless liveliness of the play to the stage, GCC performers started rehearsing since Sept. 9. The group met four times a week and dedicated three hours to each rehearsal.

The production would not be complete without the support and creativity of staff members Ed Douglas, the director, and Guido Girardi, is the set and lighting designer, who have been meeting since June to plan and put the show together.

The GCC Theatre department hopes to put on an unforgettable production.

Marian Sahakyan can be reached at

MSAHAKY795@student.glendale.edu.

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Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017

FEATURES

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So Cal Dream Pad Mid-century gem in Adams Hill area has it all Editor’s note: El Vaquero will be including a real estate feature piece in each issue to showcase properties in Glendale that are true masterpieces. If you’re in real estate and want to share an idea with us, send an email to elvaquero@glendale.edu.

By Rory Cohen, Ken Allard, and Marian Sahakyan In the architecture community, any time a mid-century home goes on the market, it’s big news.

One such masterpiece is located in the highly desirable Adams Hill region of Glendale, Calif.

The home, as of publishing, was still listed for sale for just under $900,000.

The 1031 Oberlin Dr. property was constructed by local architect Richard Banta in 1962 and fits a traditional “H” design that was vastly appreciated in the 1950s and ‘60s for its ability to make a resident feel like they’re outside even when they’re sitting in their living room. The Banta home is pure white with a splash of yellowgreen thanks to the entrance right through the carport. A skylight just above the entryway captures attention and makes use of natural lighting. A private deck, which is essentially a courtyard that gives off the feeling of being suspended in air, offers fabulous views of the city and mountains, and provides sense of privacy that one rarely gets in a backyard Los Angeles space.

From stainless steel appliances in the kitchen, to frosted doors throughout the public rooms for privacy, this home is reminiscent of earlier architects like Richard Neutra and Rudolph Schindler, especially in the windows and use

of natural materials. There’s even a style replicated from Charles and Ray Eames in the use of frosted glass.

Floor to ceiling glass windows makes one feel like they’re outside and suspended on the side of the hill that the dwelling is built on. For those who have been to the lovely Neutra VDL Studio and Residences in Silver Lake, Calif., you’ll immediately be drawn to the masterful use of windows to bring light inside.

Splashes of orange, another nod to the days of Charles and Ray Eames, are found interspersed throughout the house, from the suspended lights in the kitchen, to the staging furniture, to the gas fireplace outside in the deck area. The landscaping is drought tolerant in the front lawn, boasting some succulents – a theme followed on inside the property through pots of cacti.

Banta, who was part of the American Institute of Architects, worked for prominent firms owned by Carl Maston, Welton Becket, and the eponymous firm owned by the Louis Armet, and Eldon Davis. Due to the location, Banta had quite a challenge on his hands, realtor and partner Chris Jacobs of L.A. Luxe Group explained in his listing. The result, however, is truly a feast for the eyes.

The home even has its own website: oberlindrive.com.

Photos by Chris Jacobs / Keller Williams FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: The interior of the Oberlin Drive home is shown, with a view looking toward the master bedroom. The bottom photo shows a view of the exterior of the house, which affords tons of privacy.

Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017

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Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017

OPINION

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Editorial #MeToo Changes the Narrative Celebrity campaign hits Main Street These pages have seen ample true, Nassar is a serial abuser and criticism of celebrity culture over there are likely to be even more the years. Most recently, our victims than those who have staffers criticized the propensity come forward. to make stupid people famous USA Gymnastics has faced [“When Celebrities Shape Opin- well-deserved criticism over how ions, Opinion, Sept. 27] and came it handled sexual abuse. Specifiout strongly against the glorifi- cally, an Indianapolis Star invescation of rich people who have tigation demonstrated there was a preyed upon women [“Hugh He- marked failure to report many alfner: A Legacy of Oppression, legations of abuse against coachOpinion, Sept. 27]. Sometimes, es and staff who were part of however, celebrities do inspire 3,500 clubs all around the United positive change.

States. Steve Penny resigned as It wouldn’t be the first time. president of USA Gymnastics in Actress Audrey Hepburn was March and took a $1 million sevmore than a pretty face. She be- erance package with him, which came the epitome of charitable drew major scorn from the public. celebrities and put herself on the The #MeToo campaign has front lines to help children who brought to light that many people were the most disadvantaged. As in positions of powers are often a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassa- insulated for too long, whether dor, she traveled to more than 20 it’s Weinstein or Nasser, or their countries and helped to empower enablers who ignore warnings. so many people she came across. The notion that these women Actor Paul Newman founded a never spoke out isn’t true, since company where 100 percent of many did speak out and nothing sales after taxes would be given was done to assist the victim. to charity. Sometimes, celebrities Unfortunately, many people who do the right thing and go above look the other way often go their and beyond. merry way as if nothing had ever That’s certainhappened. There are ly the case when “For too long, little to no repercusan individual sions. That should the shame has talks about the end. embarrassment In America, belonged to the and shame they we’re still in the felt at the hands victim, rather than discussion phase, the perpetrator.” and it’s unlikely of an abuser. Like it or not, their there will be legislafans look to them tion born out of this for inspiration. For too long, the campaign. For now, the #MeToo shame has belonged to the victim, campaign has allowed men and rather than the perpetrator. women to candidly discuss how Actresses like Rose McGowan, sexual harassment and abuse hapLupita Nyong’o and Jennifer pens more than we care to admit.

Lawrence have helped to take the It’s brought uncomfortable truths shame away from speaking out to light, inspiring conversations through a social media campaign, even among those who don’t feel #MeToo. They’re three of many comfortable posting to social international actresses and mod- media. That awareness means els who came out strongly against something, though more should sexual harassment and abuse this be done. month following earth-shattering In France, legislation born out allegations that film mogul Har- of their #MeToo campaign may vey Weinstein had abused ac- be enacted to fine individuals tresses and employees for years. who make lewd and inappropriWhile it’s hard to look to many ate comments to people in public celebrities as a model citizens, the that are consistent with perverse words of a few quickly grew to sexual harassment. Though it the words of many, with actresses may make some feel uncomfortwho had previously been silent able, remarking on a woman’s about abuse speaking out. body, honking at her, stalking her, Then, something remark- and scaring her are not in keepable happened. Olympic athlete ing with what being a real man is and medalist McKayla Maroney about. shared her story, commenting that Over the weekend, allegations abuse doesn’t just happen in Hol- of sexual misconduct surfaced lywood circles. Former Olympic against director James Toback. doctor Larry Nassar had abused It’s clear that women have felt her for years, starting at just empowered enough to speak out. age 13, she said on Twitter. “It Ultimately, we should thank seemed whenever and wherever the journalism from The New this man could find the chance, I York Times, the Indianapolis was ‘treated.’ It happened in Lon- Star, and The Los Angeles Times, don before my team and I won the which first helped these stories gold medal, and it happened be- come to light. fore I won my silver,” she wrote.

Without these investigative There are dozen of abuse claims reports, there would be no cammade against the former doctor. If paign at all.

Illustration by Micheline Abounassar / michasgallery.com

Want to Pay More to Fly? Proposed legislation could increase cost of air travel

By Malcolm Mardling Contributing Writer As an individual, you could pay up to 30 percent more in taxes and fees on tickets if the 21st Century Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act (H.R. 2997) is passed.

Close to a third of ticket costs are attributed to taxes and fees, stats from Farecompare.com show. “U.S. government cost estimates for implementing privatization range from $20 billion to $46 billion, but that would likely be just the beginning,” according to a recent release from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

Those numbers may be conservative when you consider that passage of this bill will essentially cede control of the Air Traffic Control (ATC) System to the major airlines. Proponents of H.R. 2997 suggest adopting the Canadian ATC model of a nonprofit organization run by a fifteen member board.

Of those fifteen members, one-third are appointed by the airlines, and only one-fifth are represented by the government.

If that isn’t enough to stand your hair on end, consider that from 1996 to 2012 the cost of the Canadian ATC increased by 59 percent, according to a Feb. 1, 2016 study by Delta Airlines.

H.R. 2997 was introduced to the House of Representatives on June 22, 2017. It received 32 votes for and 25 against on June 27, 2017. It has since been amended and placed on the union calendar in September.

This postponement doesn’t mean that you have much time.

This is a time sensitive matter, and taking it seriously could end up saving you a significant sum of money.

Proponents of H.R. 2997 also claim that the bill will update outdated ATC systems and decrease delays caused by an overburdened ATC. The reality is that the U.S. is considered the busiest, most complex, and safest ATC system in the world, as indicated by research from the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) decided to switch to a new technology called Automatic Dependent Surveillance

Photo by Ken Allard

TAKE OFF: In this May 21 file photo, a pilot, Edwin Sahakyan, shows a civilian the flight check process at Whiteman Airport in Pacoima, Calif.

- Broadcast (ADS-B) seven years ago. As of last year only 617 airliners have complied with this change in technology, according to an 2016 article in AviationToday.com.

This technology is an upgrade from the old radar system that allows ATC to see the aircraft’s tail number (identifier), its altitude (height), and its vertical airspeed (descent/ ascent rate). In Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) alone, from 2011 to 2016 aircraft that landed/departed using the FAA’s ATC model increased from 603,912 to 697,138. That’s nearly 700,000 flights a year, in one airport in the United States, official numbers show.

The airlines have even gone so far as to set up dummy advocate agencies like Citizens for On Time Flights that call for support of H.R. 2997.

In fact, the two main delay causes are scheduling issues within the airlines and weather.

Changing who controls the ATC will not help either of those things to become more efficient.

If you want to spend more to fly, all you need do is nothing.

If you want to stop the airlines from ruining the most efficient ATC system in the world, you might considering contacting your congressperson and tell them you oppose H.R. 2997.

You could also call the congressional switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and be directly connected to your congressperson in order to tell them directly.

Malcolm Mardling is a dual major in aviation and foreign language.

He is also a private pilot and aviation enthusiast, and reachable at MalcolmMard@gmail.com.

ENTERTAINMENT/SPORTS

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Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017

11

Grace Us With Your Presence

Step onto Soundstage 22 for a blast from the past at Universal Studios Hollywood

By Clint Black Entertainment Editor If you haven’t already noticed, it’s nearing that time to start cramming your fall season Netflix or Hulu queue with familiar and binge-worthy television shows.

Many shows are classic remakes or continuing seasons, aimed at hitting nostalgia. In the midst of all of the queuing and streaming, your favorite “fab four” have made their return to primetime with the revitalization of “Will & Grace” — complete with jabs at one of the aforementioned in the opening scene.

Will, Grace, Jack and Karen hastily open the born again NBC comedy with instantaneous answers to all of the questions you forgot to ask. The children are gone, written off as a figment of a viable martini-induced coma, by none other than our favorite high-pitched, quick-witted Trump supporter, Karen. Will and Grace are now both divorced and living together again, and everything seemed to be going right again in 2017 for a few minutes. Once relationships are clarified and character dynamics are re-established, following the 11-year hiatus, we settle into Will’s Upper West Side

Vaqueros Victorious GCC soccer picks up a win against Bakersfield

By Ricky Nuño Staff Writer

Photo by Universal Studios (Courtesy)

QUIET ON SET: The Will & Grace studio set at Univeral Studios.

Apartment and it feels as if we never left — it’s also fair to mention that NBC has ordered 16 episodes for the first season and 13 episodes for season two, so you won’t be evicted any time soon.

In addition to the on-air resurrection, you now have the opportunity to get an even more thorough look inside the quintessential apartment as Universal Studios Hollywood commemorates Will and Grace’s return.

The theme park is allowing guests visiting as part of its exclusive VIP Experience, the “opportunity to step onto Soundstage 22 on the Universal backlot to see first-hand where the

sitcom revival is making history for a second time,” according to Universal Studios. The tour also features an “expert Studio Tour Guide, a trolley, and unlimited front-of-line privileges to all theme park rides and attractions,” among various other exclusives that are sure to satisfy Reservations are available online at www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com or by calling (818) 622-5120. Private VIP Experience tours and gift certificates are also available.

Clint Black can be reached at cblack214@student.glendale.edu

Remembering Ralphie May Beloved comedian who battled host of health issues dead at 45

By Rudy Guijarro Contributing Writer Ralphie May, an American stand-up comedian known for his hysterical storytelling and absurd takes controversial topics such as gay rights, drugs, and religion was found dead Oct. 6, 2017 in a private residence in Las Vegas.

He was 45.

“We are heartbroken to announce the untimely death of our friend, Ralphie May,” his publicist said in a statement. “Ralphie had been battling pneumonia and had cancelled a handful of dates over the last month in an effort to recover. Earlier this morning at a private residence in Las Vegas his body was discovered; cause of death is cardiac arrest.”

May was born in Tennessee, but was raised in Clarksville, Ark., where he lived all through grade school. He belonged to a Methodist church youth group that put together talent shows.

That was where May discovered his love for stand up.

“When I was 13, that’s when I did standup comedy,” May said during an August 2012 with Arkansas Times. “I killed it. I made out with a 14-year-old girl from Alabama. I’ll never forget it. I was hooked on comedy.”

May was a prankster as a teen and was later kicked out of Clarksville High School for stealing the principal’s car.

“They couldn’t prove I did it,” May later said in that same Ar-

kansas Times interview. “They were going to throw a bunch of us out of school, so I took the blame. The other guys were the valedictorian and the salutatorian.

Those guys wanted college. I just wanted to do stand up, so for me, it was a no-brainer.”

At 17, he won a contest to open for famed stand up comedian Sam Kinison, whom he considered his idol. Kinison recommended he move to Houston to pursue a career in comedy. May moved that same year and graduated in 1990 from High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.

It was 13 years later that May got his rise to fame after coming in second on NBC’s 2003 edition of “Last Comic Standing.” May lost first place to Dat Phan. In 2004, May released his first fulllength standup CD “Just Correct” which he filmed at the “Laugh Factory” in Hollywood. He filmed five more hour-long specials in the next 12 years which were commercial successes.

Even with all his success in Los Angeles, May still always found himself battling the same problems with his health. When he was just 16, May was in a car accident that left him with 42 broken bones, according to the Sun-Sentinel. That accident was the beginning of May’s serious weight problems. In the months that followed, he gained hundreds of pounds. His highest weight was somewhere around 800 pounds.

In November 2003, May underwent gastric bypass surgery.

By February 2004, had managed to lose a total of 350 pounds. In 2005, May participated in another television show competition, but this time for weight loss. May was featured on a new VH1 show called “Celebrity Fit Club.” During his two-month stint on the VH1 show, he managed to lose an additional 78 pounds of fat and 18 inches around his waistline, and even gained a healthy 24 pounds of muscle. However, his intense workout routine led to serious injuries, and he eventually underwent four back surgeries following his run on the show. He then decided to take a break from fitness to allow his body to fully heal post-surgery.

As of May 2012, Ralphie continued to weigh in at 400 pounds.

Although May’s weight was an obvious health issue, comedians such as Chris Rock, Bob Saget, Dane Cook and Gabriel Iglesias can’t help but be shocked.

“I’m at a loss for words to hear about the passing of comedian Ralfie [sic] May. He was a friend to many and a father of 2 beautiful children. RIP,” Gabriel Iglesias said on Twitter.

Ralphie May is divorced. He is survived by two kids, 10-year-old girl April June May and 8-yearold boy August May. “I hope when I die people make jokes about me, don’t cry for me,” May Tweeted in 2013.

Rest in peace, Ralphie.

Rudy Guijarro can be reached at rudyguijarro11@gmail.com.

The Glendale Community College Vaqueros (4-8-3 record) played Bakersfield College (1-10-4) in a game where GCC had control almost all game with a 4-1 victory.

The Vaqueros have been able to capture a couple more wins since their loss to Santa Monica Community College, picking up two wins, a loss and a tie. Overall it’s been an improvement from the team’s recent struggles to start the season. Glendale’s current run of success can be attributed to their upswing in offensive efficiency.

Glendale started the night off with their first shot attempt

by Fabricio Bonilla, only to have the Bakersfield goalie Israel Rodriguez block it. Bakersfield responded with two attempts of their own by Edui Pardo and Brian Nava.

At 17:09 Bakersfield made two substitutions. Jose Daniel Guerrero came in for Russell Tetzschner and Alex Calderon for Luke Tovar.

Bakersfield’s Marshall Compton hit a header that misses wide followed by a shot from Glendale’s Wilmer Bonilla and a save by the Bakersfield goalie Rodriguez.

Glendale would get another corner opportunity at 24:27 but failed to capitalize on it. The Vaqueros and the Renegade Knights traded off missed shots, leading up to a substitution by Bakersfield.

Fabricio Bonilla missed a shot wide followed by an offsides on GCC. Glendale and Bakersfield then failed to score on corner kicks.

Yassine Laraichi broke the tie as he scored the first goal

for the Vaqueros at 37:47, with an assist to Christopher Mazzi. Bakersfield did not go quietly though as they came back with a goal of their own off a free kick shot by Jesus Baraja.

The first shot of the second period came from Bakersfield, but Glendale’s Alexis Guzman made the save keeping Bakersfield from scoring.

Bakersfield came back with a great shot by Alex Calderon but the shot went wide of the goal.

It did not take long for Glendale’s offense to heat up as fabricio Bonilla knocked in a goal making the score 2-1 in favour of GCC at 50:51, the assist to Christopher Mazzi number two on the day.

Glendale took back-toback shots by Ahmed Alqatan and Wilmer Bonilla, both shots went wide. The Vaqueros continued their red hot offense with another goal by Luis Cervantes, his first on the season.

Bakersfield raked up a series of penalties with an offsides, a foul and a yellow card given to David Martinez.

The game, now out of reach for Bakersfield, ended with GCC rubbing salt in the Renegade Knight’s wound with another goal, this time

by Ahmed Alqatan, making the game 4-1 with 79:23. It was Alqtan’s first goal of the season.

Glendale hopes to continue their recent success as they take on Victor Valley on Oct. 24 at Victor Valley at 4:00 P.M. Then they come home to play Canyons on Friday, Oct. 27 at 5:00 P.M. Ricky Nuño can be reached at rickynuno818@gmail.com.

Photo by Ken Allard

DROPPING THE BALL: Glendale receiver Randall Mincy has the ball stripped away from him by Santa Ana defender Brendan Washington during the third quarter of their Oct. 14 game.

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Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017

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