El Vaquero, Oct. 11, 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. 11, 2017

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Volume 110 | Issue 3

#HillStrong: Defeating the Odds Beloved dean talks about his heart and kidney transplants, and the will to make a difference

believes that we are better people when we get along with each other.

“I know that’s a difficult concept for people, especially right now,” Hill said.

“I get up every morning and think The one thing that inspires him to keep goabout hope, because I come here to play ing is hope.

“The American culture is nothas hard as I can, I give it everything,” ing without courageous people, you know. said Robert Hill, the dean of student serHate will never, ever, ever, be the platform vices at Glendale Community College. that stands.

Any nation built on hate can “I go home exhausted. When I walk in never last.

We got to have hope and we that hallway, it’s game day. Every singot to have love.

We got to find a way to gle day.” The dean exemplifies the idea love one another, without tearing each of service in his day to day job, which other apart.

And that’s what I believe in. I he says is a calling. The desire to help wake up every day saying you know what, comes from his parents.

I got the most important job in the world, Hill grew up in Orange County, Cabecause you know what I got to do? I got lif. “I got two all-star parents, I don’t to teach people how to love one another.” come from the typical black, broken As the dean of student services at GCC, home, single parent, you know,” said Hill’s primary focus is academic counselHill. “I didn’t have that, so I don’t have ing, and he believes that the key to success any excuse but not to be successful.” is to create a good relationship with the stuAfter he came back from military, dents, and to be someone that inspires and he went to community college. motivates them to keep going.

He explained that he found I’m not “Do you know how to tie your his love for working at a comshoes?

Have you ever tried to ever going to munity college because as a teach a three-year-old to tie student he was so inspired by be that pera shoe?”

Hill asked.

“Think the people at his college who always treated him with love son that gives about it, think about how comand respect. He figured that if that up. That’s plex that is of a skill. See here’s the thing, I don’t care what he could replicate the treatment what I do the color you are, I don’t care what he got, he could make a “powgender you are, OK? If you can best.

I get to erful difference in the world.”

Hill came to Los Ange- the soul and tie your shoes, you can learn.

Who is going to inspire you les 20 years ago. He came to to learn how to tie that shoe? the core of the GCC three years ago and has 17 years of community college human spirit. That’s the critical thing, that’s the core. We are so worried experience under his belt. about planning this and that, When he’s not trying to we don’t get to the core soul of people. I’m make a difference at GCC, his seven not ever going to be that person that gives daughters and volunteer work keeps that up.

That’s what I do the best. I get to him busy. Family, friends, and relationthe soul and the core of the human spirit.” ships are a big part of who he is, and he

By Vendela Lindblom Staff Writer

Photo by Carmen Fernandez

A STORY OF TRIUMPH: Dr. Robert Hill speaks candidly about his experiences as an organ transplant recipient, and what that means to him.

Hill lives a hectic life, he explained, where he only gets two hours of sleep per night. “My mother always told me ‘you’re so nosy, you’re afraid you’re going to miss out on something,’ and that might be true,” he laughs. “[But] lately, it might be because I’m happy to be able to wake up.”

Twelve years ago, Hill was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a condition that affects the heart muscle. He was told he only had the functionality of half a heart, and his attitude was to take a couple of drugs and keep it pushing. In the beginning of this year, he started having complications more frequently than he has ever had, and went in and out of the hospital.

In February, he developed a stomach pain that never seemed to go away.

Then, one day, the pain started to take

over and he started considering if he should go to the hospital or just take some PeptoBismol and go to bed.

[See Hill, page 2]

IN THIS ISSUE News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5 Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-11 Entertainment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-14 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

GCC Featured in Glendale Tech Week Event runs through Friday, Oct. 13 and includes participation from Robotics Club and campus faculty

By Ken Allard Editor-in-Chief

Photo by Scarlet Galvez

MAKE ME A ROBOT: GCC Robotics Club students unvel a project at the San Diego Maker Faire on Oct. 7 and Oct. 8. The small semi-autonomous robot which was made by students.

Glendale Community College’s Robotics Club and engineering department is being featured at Glendale Tech Week, which runs from Oct. 9 to Oct. 13 throughout the city of Glendale and surrounding areas.

The Robotics Club at Glendale will have their own booth on Tuesday, Oct. 10 during the Montrose Tech Walk from 3 to 7 p.m., where students will give talks and present student-built robots, drones and other projects.

On Wednesday Oct. 11, GCC members can be found at the Oktoberfest at the Maryland Paseo, from six to 10 p.m. The following day, Glendale College will be participating at the Innovation Market at the Americana from noon to 2 p.m.

“We want to raise awareness about engineering, not just on campus but in general,” said Scarlet Galvez, who is a sophomore mechanical engineering major at GCC and a member of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.

SHPE’s mission is to serve as role models and to empower those in the Hispanic community in regards to STEM awareness, which is what Galvez and fellow engineering student Enrique Cernas-Aguilar try to help accomplish, too.

“Latino students specifically don’t feel the connection to STEM,” said CernasAguilar, a mechanical engineering major in his second year. “Almost everyday I talk to those students about opportunities that are available.”

Indeed, the opportunities are there. The engineering and other STEM professors have real-world experience, connections, and do their best to get students into internship programs, including local, highly-coveted places like the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and with NASA. Glendale Tech Week is hosted around downtown Glendale, including venues like the Alex Theatre, historic Central Library, and the Maryland Paseo. The event is meant to highlight the booming technology sector of the Glendale area.

[See Tech Week, page 2]

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NEWS

Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017

EL V EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ken Allard MANAGING EDITOR Marian Sahakyan ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Clint Black STAFF WRITERS Carolina Diaz Heidy Espinoza Catalina Juarez Vendela Lindblom Ricky Nuño Hayk Rostomyan Rachel Valasquez Ellis Valdescona COPY EDITOR Elena Jacobson CONTRIBUTORS Adriana Garcia Rudy Guijarro PHOTOGRAPHERS Ivan Carlos Carmen Fernandez Elena Jacobson Guadalupe Ruiz faculty adviser Rory Cohen rcohen@glendale.edu (818) 240-1000 ext. 5214 advertising Jeff Smith jsmith@glendale.edu (818) 240-1000, ext. 5493 Letters to the Editor 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. 5349.

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Defeating the Odds [From Hill, page 1] He was afraid the hospital was going to think he was a hypochondriac. After a while, he ended up taking an Uber to Cedars-Sinai hospital.

“I get in there, and the intern doctor she gives me a look like she had seen walking death,” said Hill. They gave him some drugs and he went to sleep. When he woke up, the doctor was standing by his bed and said, “‘I’m glad you woke up.’” Hill continued, “She goes, ‘Mr. Hill I got some good news, bad news, and more good news.’”

The doctor explained that his blood pressure was stabilized but that if he went off the medication he had been given, anything could happen. The doctor even said that if Hill would get off this medication, that he could die. “Now, think about if I took that Pepto-Bismol and didn’t go there,” he said.

Hill was at the top of the list for a heart transplant, but there was still waiting time involved.

His mental capacity was positive.

He had to fight for his daughters.

One of his daughters even said he looked “like hell,” which meant he had to be strong for his family.

A heart came in, and it was prepped, but it wasn’t right for him. There was a discussion about whether to put him on an artificial device, a left ventricular assist device or LVAD, which is a mechanical device that helps the heart pump.

Due to the heavy medication Hill was taking for his heart, his kidney took a massive hit.

After three months of waiting with no heart in sight, his doctor said his only option was to get the

LVAD. They notified his family and started preparing him for the surgery. The doctor had to postpone it. The day after that notice, Hill was being prepared for surgery again.

When his nurses started to roll him out for surgery, he woke up and made a comment about that he was finally getting the LVAD. “They stopped pushing my bed when I said it,” Hill explained, “and they started crying.” They were crying because they had become friendly with Hill and come to care for him. Then, they told him the big news. “You’re not going to believe this, but you’re getting a heart.”

Hill didn’t only get a heart, he also got a new kidney.

“I will have the most energy and I will have the greatest spirit, and always be happy no matter what,” said Hill. “Everybody is looking at me, they depend on that. I have to be an example for hope and love.”

Hill is here today thanks to organ donation. “Every single day, I think about those two people that lost their lives.” He said, “now when I wake up at 4 a.m., I always give thanks to God, personally that’s my faith, and say thank you for another day.

Because it was obviously not promised to me, and there was a lot of people that made that sacrifice for me to be here. I don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing, but I know one thing, it will reveal itself to me, and I will accept it, and I will give it everything I have got, every single day of the week.”

Vendela Lindblom can be reached at vlindbl405@student.glendale.edu.

www.elvaq.com

Glendale Tech Week [From Tech Week, page 1]

This year’s theme is called “A Start Up Journey.”

The events at Glendale Tech Week include expert panels, featuring CEOs and executives from some of the top local tech

businesses; live demonstrations, like one incorporating Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) machinery, the same technology used in 3-D printing; speed networking with those in the industry, such as venture capitalists and angel investors; “Pitchfest,” where 10 promising companies compete in hopes of convincing judges to award them a $20,000 grand prize; and much more.

This is the second iteration of Glendale’s Tech Week. Last year’s turnout topped over 1,000 people. Organizers and participants expect this year’s turnout will grow, and praise the participation from the college.

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

Helping Stock Shelves GCC’s baseball team lends a hand

Photo by Carmen Fernandez

A HELPING HAND: The GCC baseball team volunteers to unload a shipment of food for the GCC Food Pantry, Sep. 26, at Glendale Community College. View more photos at bit.ly/FoodPantryGCCPhotos.

Glendale’s Gas Power Plant Set to Expand Commission slotted to present findings next week

By Ken Allard Editor-in-Chief The debate between environmentalists, fiscal watchdogs, and the City of Glendale over the Grayson Power Plant repowering plan is ready to hit a feverpitch.

The Grayson Repowering Project, led by Glendale Water & Power and commissioned by the City of Glendale, is seeking to rebuild and expand the existing gas-fired power plant in south Glendale. Grayson is nearly 80-years-old, but most of the generation units were built across a span of three decades, from the 1940s through the ‘70s.

The plan is to add additional gas generation capacity by replacing these aging units with ones that are more reliable, efficient, flexible and cleaner.

Building new generators at Grayson will cost about $500 million, which will be funded through a City bond issue – a binding financial obligation for the City of Glendale and its resi-

dent taxpayers.

The new gas-fired generators for Grayson would bring less than 50 additional megawatts to the grid, according to Jeff Landa of the Glendale News-Press. But according to official GWP documents that were shown to El Vaquero by GCC economics professor Daniel Brotman, the 50 megawatt number may be misleading. These official documents showed that the updated Grayson Power Plant would be producing 77 megawatts alone, plus an additional 12 MW if you include the energy produced from the Scholl Canyon landfill via methane gas.

The 50 MW number is significant because once that threshold is exceeded, the legislative process must then go through the California State Capitol to be approved by the California Energy Commission. GWP has stated that these old, inefficient generators would not be able to supply adequate power during extremely hot weather events, where existing transmission lines are limited by local demand.

Environmental activists, led by the Glendale Environmen-

tal Coalition, argue that the Environmental Impact Report – a mandatory part of the California Environmental Quality Act – which examines the likely environmental effects of the proposed plan, needs to be put on hold and recommissioned by an independent firm that puts more priority on clean energy alternatives. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has done so recently.

In June of this year, LADWP halted a $2.2 billion natural gas investment plan to conduct an in-depth independent study into clean-energy alternatives.

Furthermore, proponents of clean energy contend that there are legitimate financial and environmental risks associated with the Grayson plan.

Meetings open to the public will take place on Oct. 16 and Oct. 19, where the public can air their support or grievances for the proposal.

The Oct. 16 GWP Commission meeting will take place in the Glendale City Council Chambers at 6 p.m. The firm which completed the initial EIR will present the report during this time, where

Commissioners will discuss, followed by time for public comment.

The Oct. 19 meeting will be held in the same format as the first meeting, but this time at the Grayson Power Plant in their Utility Operations Training Center.

The Grayson upgrades are meant to meet the requirements of the SB-350 Clean Energy and Pollution Reduction Act of 2015.

The bill states the 50 percent of energy electricity must come from renewable energy sources by 2030. Clean-energy proponents argue that the Grayson Repowering Project brings Glendale and the State of California further away from these goals, not closer.

If the Grayson Repowering Project passes, demolition of the plant would begin in the second quarter of 2018 and take approximately nine months.

Construction of the new facilities would then start in the first quarter of 2019 and span roughly two years, with an additional six month startup time.

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

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NEWS

Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017

90 Years and Counting At GCC

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Hundreds gather to celebrate campus’ anniversary and to raise funds for students

By Marian Sahakyan and Ken Allard 90 years and countless wishes to reach for the stars Hundreds of people gathered to celebrate the birthday of beloved GCC Jazz music played live in the background as guests cruised around Plaza Vaquero, enjoying cocktails and looking through the many auction items available for purchase.

This is what marked the beginning of the 90th anniversary gala party of Glendale Community College.

The event was put together in honor of GCC’s longstanding dedication to excellence and the success of its students.

As they organized the event, the planning committee came up with a theme to further show the spirit of the Vaquero family, they called it “Reach for the stars.”

“For 90 years Glendale Community College has helped people achieve their dreams and reach for their own stars,” GCC President and Superintendent David Viar said. “For anything to emerge there must first be a dream.” The celebration agenda was filled with many interesting activities, including cocktails during reception, presentation of awards, gourmet dinner live entertainment and an auction.

Money raised during the auction will go straight to GCC Student Success Funds.

Morgan Stanley, a GCC alumnus, expressed his gratefulness for the financial help that GCC offered him years and years prior, by paying for his first year tuition at UCLA. “I’ll always be in debt to the College Foundation endowment for helping me financially as I transitioned to UCLA,” he said.

Established in 2012, the SSF’s main goal became to help foster youth, military veterans, students with disabilities and the family

first-timers to attend college.

Money that was raised during the 90th anniversary is going to go to things such as student scholarships, emergency funds for students in need, musical instruments, scientific equipment, uniforms for nurses and young athletes struggling to afford them.

The auction consisted of two parts, silent, and as many would call it, ‘traditional.’

The silent auction was set up in the heart of the school, where numerous items were set on display ready to be purchased.

It consisted of services and products such as family photo sessions, yoga classes, handmade jewelry and more.

Chris Erskine, LA Times editor and columnist was the event Photo by Ken Allard emcee. Trey Jarvis a Los Angeles CAMPUS TRANSFORMED: Faculty and staff enjoy dinner and live music in the middle of campus, right near the based auctioneer, MC and anSan Gabriel building courtyard. nouncer led the auction.

“Tonight, we aren’t only going to reach for the stars, we’re was cocky enough to leave in the duced me to broader community a beautiful celebration of GCC’s gonna reach for your wallets middle of the semester and find and I’m so grateful to have had service to our community and the too,” Erskine joked as he marked a job.” that time to dig down and put my inspiring alumni honorees.” the beginning of a fun dinner Next up to be recognized was roots down in this community,” Entertainment for the night party and live auction. the Bistagne family with the Stanley said as he revealed his was provided by the GCC Choir The evening took an even ‘Philanthropists of Distinction’ love for the college. along with a jazz band formed more exciting turn as three GCC award. They have been active The guests included business of high school students, GCC alumni were each awarded. Each members of the Glendale comand community leaders, civic students and GCC alumni. of the honoraries represented a munity for years. officials, educators, alumni and A total of $104,000 was raised different walk of life.

Third and final person, friends of GCC. during the event, but more items Angie DickinGene ‘Chip’ There were numerous honorare still being sold, so that figure Angie Dickin- Stone, received son, Hollywood ary guests. Among the honorary may increase. actress and model, the ‘Outstanding attendees were California State The biggest donation of son, Hollywood received a ‘LifeAlumnus’ award.

Senator Anthony Portantino, $10,000 came from beloved actress and time Achievement Stone kept GCC’s Glendale Mayor Vartan Gharape- Dickinson, who never failed to Award,’ in honor of model, received a name honorable tian, City council members Paula show her thanks for all the life the legacy she crein universities and Devina, Zareh Sinanyan, Ara changing opportunities she has ‘Lifetime Achieve- other platforms. ated throughout her Najarian and Vrej Agajanian. gotten. “If only our parents could ment Award,’ experienced career.

Numerous “As a proud alumnus of have seen this, have [had] such a In her acalumni attended Glendale Community College, it good life, they’d be super proud in honor of the ceptance speech, the event and was an honor to be a part of the of us,” she said in her speech.

Dickinson stressed legacy she created shared their sto90th Anniversary Celebration,” To add a little more humor, her gratitude for said Shant Sahakian an alumnus the 86-year-old star said, “I can’t throughout her ries of how they all that GCC has for their and Elected Member of Glendale stop thinking of what I’m going extensive career. reached taught her. own stars.

Unified School District Board to wear on the 100th Anniver“I think the “There’s someof Education. “GCC has had an sary.” most notable thing thing unique about immeasurable positive impact on would be the confidence that going to college in the same the lives of the thousands of stuMarian Sahakyan can be reached at MSAHAKY795@student.glendale.edu. was instilled in me at Glendale town that you grew up in. The dents including my own. It was Ken Allard can be reached at College,” Dickinson giggled. “ I college helped open doors, intro- great to be back on campus for KALLARD438@student.glendale.edu.

Photo by Ken Allard

FAMED ALUM: Lifetime Award Achievement recipient Angie Dickinson was only a student at GCC for a semester and a half before getting into Hollywood, but she loves the campus so much that she keeps lending her name for a good cause.

Photo by Ken Allard

SILENT AUCTION: Items included at the silent auction ranged from art pieces to yoga classes. A bulk of the donations of the night came through the auction.

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Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017

FEATURES

Sweet Science

Roger That GCC club established last semester is filled with passion, potential to grow

Students enjoy making nitrogen ice cream at Vaquero Plaza

By Carolina Diaz Staff Writer

By Ken Allard and Carolina Diaz There are many clubs that are part of Glendale Community College, but one of their newest clubs is quickly picking up momentum and is full of potential.

The GCC Radio Club was established last semester with the help of David Novoa, who is the president, and also their advisor Jayson Helgeson, instructor of music. It all started with an idea, some passion, and a little help from the Associated Students of Glendale Community College.

ASGCC approved a Special Organization Support (SOS) grant for Novoa and his Radio Club. Those initial funds helped set up their Soundcloud account, which essentially serves as their base of operations for storing and distributing content. The remaining grant money went into the design of their club logo – which one of Novoa’s friends designed by-hand.

The next step was getting their grip on legitimate recording equipment. Here, Novoa stepped up and brought all his equipment for the club to use, since this is the first time GCC has had a radio club, or anything to do with radio.

Novoa pitched in roughly $3,000 of his own money to get the club off the ground.

It was one of a few obstacles that stood in the way of the launch, but Novoa keeps his outlook positive. “We do have obstacles

Photo by Ken Allard

ON AIR: GCC Radio Club students meet to discuss their upcoming show, their Halloween podcast on Oct. 27.

but I don’t look at them like obstacles, I just look at them like opportunities to grow,” he said.

The main objective of the club is to bring innovative ideas to GCC and to reach out and be informed.

“It’s like a creative platform,” said Novoa, “all the students are participating and being a part of the creative process.”

“We want to give the students a voice,” said Radio Club Vice President Lilit Danelyan. The club meets on Wednesdays and Thursdays with the general members, which consist of 13 students, and on Fridays they record their podcast.

Their podcast, Mountain Cloud Radio, has a wide variety of segments. One segment is all about music, where they play vintage vinyl records from all across the spectrum of music.

“Student Toolbox,” the podcast section when members take turns grabbing student-submitted questions out of a toolbox followed by answering them, is a group favorite. Other segments include “Campus Life” and “Showcase.” Debates of all kinds within the Radio Club make up an

important part of the podcast, too.

“One time I got in a stupid argument over cheeseburgers,” said Bobby Morales, treasurer of the club. Members of the Radio Club are reaching out to other campus clubs, like the Theatre Guild, to increase their respective outreach in a symbiotic fashion.

“We are also reaching out to professors for any information they want to hand out about their classes,” said Novoa.

The club wants GCC to be aware that they are there and have the ability to voice their opinions, not only for the students but for anyone on campus.

“It’s like a web connecting all the departments,” said Novoa.

One of their upcoming occasions is their Halloween podcast, which will be on Oct 27.

And, yes, costumes are required.

You can RSVP by emailing mountaincloudradio@gmail.com To listen to the club’s podcast go to MountainCloudRadio.com.

When community college students hear the word “transfer,” several reactions occur. Some students feel uneasy, nervous about the potential of making a major mistake on their applications.

Some students are anxious, hoping to be admitted to their dream universities and colleges.

Some students are ambitious, applying to several campuses within California, both private and public. Some also consider out-of-

Photo by Ken Allard

STUDENTS CONVERGE: GCC students congregate around an ASGCC booth on Oct. 5

Carolina Diaz can be reached at CDiaz513@student.glendale.edu

Photo by Guadalupe Ruiz

What you need to know about moving forward academically state universities and colleges, while others apply to transfer institutions outside the U.S. In all these instances, the counselors at the transfer center and the general academic counselors are available to ease some of these tensions and assist in all that relates to transfer applications and final course planning before transfer.

For students applying this year, the deadline is approaching.

Visit us to learn more and strategize a good academic plan with an effective transfer timeline.

Here are some tips: • Visit the transfer center/aca-

The concept of ice cream has been around for ages. In fact, as far back as 400 B.C. the Persians created a chilled food item which was made with rose water and vermicelli. It was then mixed with various other items, like fruits and saffron. The food was so divine, it was served just to royalty during hot months.

Ice cream is a lot more accessible now, and there’s nothing quite as appeasing as having some on a hot day. That’s why GCC had a free do-ityourself ice cream event hosted by the Associate Students of Glendale Community College on Sept. 28.

The event took place during the college’s lunch hour. It consisted of making your own ice cream using liquid nitrogen, got a huge crowd. Students were patiently waiting for their ice cream while the ASGCC

members were making it. Even though the wait was a little longer than students would have liked, students stuck around to watch the scientifically sweet process.

“I think students enjoy seeing something cool on campus,” said Coleen Gabrimasihi, ASGCC president. It’s not the first DIY ice cream event, but it is one of the first times that it has gone so smoothly. The event boasted more flavors than before, including chocolate, vanilla and strawberry.

The new senators of ASGCC had a big workout stirring the ice cream. One of their main concerns was running out of flavors and liquid nitrogen.

“We should not run out, but if we do, we have free toppings,” said Jessica Coompson, ASGCC vice president of activities.

Needless to say, the event was a success and students had fun and enjoyed a free snack.

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

Carolina Diaz can be reached at CDiaz513@student.glendale.edu

Understanding Transfer Process

By Nare Garibyan Academic Counselor

www.elvaq.com

demic counseling regularly • Attend a Transfer Center Workshop • Start applications early • Make an appointment with a transfer counselor • Make an appointment with a general academic counselor • Read the Monthly Transfer Center Bulletin • Watch out for the new changes in the CSU application • Research the universities and colleges that best serve you and your major • There is more to it then earning the highest GPA • Pay attention to unit totals and limits • Apply to more than one transfer institution • Consider the UC’s, the CSU’s, the private schools, outof-state colleges • Ask questions about GE certification • Verify Associate Degree(s) for Transfer for the CSU • Visit the universities you are interested in applying

Nare Garibyan is an academic counselor and coordinator of the GCC Science Lecture Series. Reach her at ngaribya@glendale.edu.

SWEET MESS: ASGCC provides multiple toppings for liquid nitrogen ice cream on Sept. 28.

Party Time!

Students celebrate campus’ 90th year

By Ken Allard and Marian Sahakyan Home of the Vaqueros turned into a big celebration ground on Thursday, Oct. 5, as students and staff gathered to party in honor of the 90th anniversary of their beloved college. With the creativity and help of students and faculty, ASGCC transformed Plaza Vaquero into a carnival fair. What makes an event like this even more exciting? Food.

Two vendors served Mediterranean and Mexican food to students and other attendees. Panini Kabob Grill set up their stand, and filled their tables with food, free of charge. The sponsor hopes to get the business out there and known by a demographic that is rather different than what they currently have.

As some students enjoyed the food, others played games, socialized and simply had a good time. The games went on, so did the celebration. They played pop

music for those who wished to dance.

Three massive inflatable bounce house-style games cluttered the grassy knoll in the center of Plaza Vaquero. There was one for each of the three major sports: baseball, basketball, and football. It started out as laid-back amusement, but quickly evolved into smack-talking competition, as students and student-athletes each tried to one-up each other in good-natured, friend-to-friend rivalry. The wiffle balls were hit progressively harder, pigskinspirals thrown tighter, and basketballs shot from further downtown.

Everyone was a winner here, though. Each person who participated received a raffle ticket from a supervising ASGCC member.

Later the winners were randomly selected. Eight $25 Amazon gift cards were given out to those who won.

To spice things up, the GCC dance team performed a flashmob dance to Taylor Swift’s newest hit “Look What You Made Me Do.’ All throughout the celebration fun, you could hear students laughing.

NEWS

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Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017

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Puerto Ricans on the Road to Recovery After the horrific hurricane ploughs through the island, natives remain hopeful that they will rebuild

By Marian Sahakyan Managing Editor Puerto Rico is desperate.

Twenty one days ago the island became well aware and prepared for the uninvited visit from Maria.

Hurricane Maria, that is.

It was Sept. 20, when Puerto Ricans hid and prayed for their lives as the dangerous Hurricane ploughed through the island country. It inflicted an extremely disastrous combination of destructive winds, substantial amount of rainfall and coastal inundation from surging ocean water.

The storm quickly opened way for a humanitarian crisis as food and water ran low, fuel resources were nowhere to be found. Worst part of this; very little outside help was offered.

Every day that passed, we saw the horrific conditions on ground.

From desperate mothers begging for water for their children, to the sick and injured being turned away from barely functioning hospitals.

At least 34 were confirmed dead. Many journalists and authorities became skeptical of this number, which led the start of a further investigation.

Omaya Sosa Pascual, a reporter with the Center for Investigative Journalism in San Jose was among those to look into the issue. What she did was call all 69 operating hospitals around the country talking to many professionals and doctors, asking them about deaths related to the hurricane. Pascual’s doubts came true as she realized that that the number of deaths were immensely higher than those reported.

So why is the Puerto Rican government so slow to report and

document the deaths? The answer to that was simple: The island is in a chaotic situation, the death certificates are not being issued, which means they are not being officially filed.

“Everything in the government has collapsed, not being able to document it, doesn’t mean it’s not happening,” Pascual commented on the situation.

A forecaster at the National Hurricane Center, Eric Blake tweeted that Maria is the third hurricane in its Category of 4 to hit the U.S. in the same season.

The first two being Harvey and Irma.

There was only one thing setting Maria aside from the other two: attention.

As always, the media and government agencies have been greatly distracted by ‘fad news’ to the point where what actually matters, is being rather neglected and swept under the carpet.

President Donald Trump visited Puerto Rico last Tuesday to tour the hurricane devastation.

Instead of offering a solution, he yet again sarcastically expressed his concern in regards to the downfalls Puerto Rico has caused the United States’ economy.

“I hate to tell you, Puerto Rico, but you’ve thrown our budget a little out of whack because we’ve spent a lot of money on Puerto Rico,” Trump said in a meeting with local officials from the island, which declared a form of bankruptcy in May. “And that’s fine.”

He went to further discuss the situation, as he sarcastically showed his ‘pride’ for all the people who worked together to save lives. “You can be very proud of all of your people,

Photo by Puerto Rico National Guard / Creative Commons IN THE CLEAR: Puerto Rico Army National Guard, alongside residents of the municipality of Cayey, conduct a route clearing mission after the destruction left by Hurricane Maria through the region.

all of our people,” Trump told Gov. Ricardo Rosselló. “Sixteen versus literally thousands of people. You can be very proud.

Everybody around this table and everybody watching can be very proud of what’s taken place in Puerto Rico.”

The Puerto Rican disaster brought lots of controversy to the table with allegations not enough had been done. About two weeks after the hurricane divided the island in half, aid has started

settling in. Some governments, including those of Mexico and the U.S. which have sent massive loads of food, water, sanitary items and blankets.

Celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Ricky Martin, Gina Rodriguez and many more, have joined forces to help reconcile the island.

The public can help with relief efforts, through financial aid. Reputable websites such as hispanicfederation.org and

unitedforpuertorico.com have been launched through which people can donate to support the recovery.

“Lives have been lost. Power is down across the entire island,” Lopez said in a social media release. “More than 15,000 people have been forced into shelters, and the storm has devastated the lives of thousands of others.”

Marian Sahakyan can be reached at manehsahakyan@gmail.com.

‘Attire for Hire’ Gives Students a Chance to Impress Employers GCC has hosted event three times to provide lightly used business clothes to those who need it for work

By Heidy Espinoza Staff Writer Glendale Community College started an event called “Attire for Hire” this year for credit and noncredit students.

This event was hosted on Plaza Vaquero for the first time ever in March. After that initial launch, the organizers realized how beneficial it was for students and they hosted three more “Attire for Hire” events after that.

The Career Services sponsored the free clothing giveaway with professional gently-used clothing and accessories for GCC students.

It wasn’t only for GCC main campus students, but for Garfield campus students as well. The Career Services were in partnership with a handful of dry cleaning companies, including Alameda Cleaners, Western Cleaners, Bright

Start, Northridge Cleaners, Presto Cleaners, and Steamer Cleaners.

Not only did the Job Placement Center donate clothes to students, but included a fashion show as well to provide students with examples of what to wear and what not to wear to interviews.

“Before our spring job fair, I realized that we had a lot of students who couldn’t afford professional work clothing and accessories,” said Sharis Davoodi, student employment services technician.

Davoodi started to bring items from home and distributed it to students who really needed it. Once that happened, those students started to bring along their friends and that is when she realized there were definitely a lot more students in need.

It first became an idea and then they mentioned it to

Andra Hoffman-Verstraete, who then gave the support to help make it happen.

The items were brought in batches and stored in the college and once everything was ready, GCC hosted the event. Over 15,000 items were donated. Sang Nam, from the Student Employment Services department, hosted a tie workshop where over 300 ties were donated, and taught students how to tie a tie.

With the help of the Dance and Theater departments, they helped make the Student Center look like an actual shop by lending their clothing racks.

There were even fitting rooms provided for men and women.

There was no limit on items per student, which does mean a lot for people that can’t get their hands on pieces of clothes that easily. Students walked away with smiles and even tears in their eyes,

organizers said. It’s something that impacted students and faculty emotionally.

There was one student in particular who will remain anonymous that was greatly affected by a house fire. She lost almost everything she had, and the amount of clothing items she and her husband had the opportunity to get made her extremely grateful.

This program has greatly impacted many people and has received attention of the public media, including Glendale News Press, KIRN 670 am, and even 1330 am ESPN Deportes.

After a couple “Attire for Hire” events, employers came to join and now host interviews on the spot. South Los Angeles WorkSource came to hire for the Los Angeles Chargers Stubhub Center in Carson. So did OnTrac delivery service and the Red Cross.

Due to the success of the program, there will be an “interview closet” permanently in Student Services so students who need professional clothes have the opportunity to get items required to present themselves professionally for interviews.

“It was a lot of work. It was six months of work,” said Davoodi. “We had to go through every single item to make sure it was in good condition.”

If there are any students in need of professional, gently used clothing, there is an organization that can help out.

The “Dress for Success” organization works with GCC and is located at 2100 S. Hill St., Los Angeles, Calif., 90007.

It opens Monday through Friday 9 a.m to 5 p.m.

Heidy Espinoza can be reached at heidyespinoza.15@gmail.com.

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FEATURES

Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017

www.elvaq.com

Crossing Country

Akol Malong is a GCC runner with a compelling story of perseverence about how he got to this point

By Marian Sahakyan Managing Editor About a month ago I was told about a student named Akol Malong. All I knew of him was that he was an athlete on campus with a story which couldn’t be missed.

With little knowledge in my brain, a voice recorder in my hand, and lots of questions scribbled on my paper, I met with Akol.

I nervously approached him in front of the Verdugo Gym, and we instantly clicked. We talked about the semester, his classes and work, you know, just some small talk. We made our way to the bleachers and that is where it all started.

At first, he seems like a typical student athlete. With a busy schedule. Numerous classes. Weekend jobs. Multiple inspirations. Lots of dreams. And one big story.

Akol Malong, a business and software development major at GCC, has been through more than what most college students can claim.

He told me the story of how his parents escaped the Sudanese Civil War by relocating in Ethiopia where they could start a future.

Soon after, they gave birth to a baby boy, they named him Akol, which meant ‘sun’ in their language. He became their sun, the center of their world.

When Akol was three, his parents decided to move to a place where they would have more opportunities to grow as a family.

So they did what made sense.

They packed their belongings and off they went to the land of

opportunity and freedom; the United States of America.

As they settled in the place they now got to call home, the Malongs gave Akol the ultimate gift of any young child: siblings.

In his case, Akol got two; a brother and a couple of years later, a sister.

Unfortunately, the Malongs never reached the American Dream as a family and before they knew it, everyone’s lives were about to take an unplanned route.

One call from the doctor changed everything and from there it all started to go downhill.

Akol’s father was diagnosed with lung cancer; his mother was unable to take care of all three children and a sick husband. As a result, the children were put in foster care. Akol was only 10.

After bouncing from foster home to another for some time, Akol and his siblings got the news which everyone dreaded to hear. Father Malong had passed away.

He recalls attending the funeral, describing the experience as ‘hard and upsetting.’

After the father’s passing, Akol’s sibling clan was divided as each child was taken in and with time, adopted by different families.

Through light and dark, dedication and perseverance never left Akol’s sight as he powered through his experiences and came out stronger and wiser with every step.

He found his form of therapy and escape in the cross country tracks. When his father passed away, the then 12-year-old Akol started to run. Soon enough, he found a passion for himself: running.

“I just wanted to go clear my

After the father’s passing, Akol’s sibling clan was divided as each child was taken in and with time, adopted by different families.

Photo by Guadalupe Ruiz

ON YOUR MARK: Akol Malong shows off his cross country skills at the Sartoris Field.

mind off things,’’ he told me.

“Then it felt good after a run.”

Though his main sport is cross country, the young athlete has a long list of interests in sports stretching back to basketball in elementary school, track and field in middle school and football in his mind.

During our conversation, he laughed as he talked about all the times his mother jokingly discouraged him from getting into playing football.

“I wanted to do football, my mom always said ‘no you are not big enough,’” Akol smiled.

Though in the process, Akol and his biological siblings were separated, he started to form a strong bond with his adoptive brother. They connected over sports and every other thing boys care about. They became the perfect pair.

After living with his adoptive mother and brother for nearly five years, the family decided to move

Photo by Guadalupe Ruiz

A TOUGH JOURNEY: Akol Malong discusses his upbringing, which included losing his parents and being separated from his family.

west to California to start a new life here. Akol started attending Hollywood High School and joined the cross country team there, which is one of the reasons why he ended up in GCC. It was another Saturday morning for head cross country coach Eduardo Lopez, as he went to Elysian Park near the Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, to watch and recruit runners during high school meets. Lopez was immediately struck by Akol’s speed and talent in running.

Without wasting too much time, coach approached him and just like that, the two bonded like no other.

“When I talked to him [at the meet] he was very passionate about running,” Lopez said. “I told him about my experience at Hollywood High and that I came to Glendale, too. It would be a great fit for him. We connected that way.”

A few months after meeting coach Lopez, the newly high school graduate started practicing with the GCC cross country team.

He describes GCC as his ‘second family.’

Soon after his decision to join the Vaquero family, Malong became a rather important name in the team. He now stands as the fifth best runner and has assisted the team to many wins in different invitationals and meets.

“He has the talent and a lot of potential,” Lopez said. “He’s fighting for our top-five position.”

As running became a big part is his life, Akol reconciled from all the things that went wrong and focused on the things that are going right.

When asked about the effect his unique experiences had on him, after a long pause, he responded, “both, good and bad.”

He couldn’t help, but get a little more serious and emotional when asked about his biological parents and the family that drifted apart.

“Being together as a family is what I miss and remember,” he sighed.

It’s been a bumpy road for the athlete to get to where he is today.

It took him four foster homes, four states all the way from Tennessee to Texas to Nebraska and lastly to California of somegood and some-bad experiences to finally find a forever home for himself. And at last, Akol was taken in by a family who gives him the love and appreciation that he deserves.

He later told me that right when he was on the verge of starting a new life in California, he was told that his biological mother, too, had passed away. He never found out how she died.

Once again, he turned to running as a way of healing the feelings he couldn’t control.

“I used to be angry,” he said.

“About things that didn’t really mean much and now I’m just more accepting of it.”

Like any eighteen-year-old, Akol has dreams. Dreams of obtaining a college degree, starting up his software development business. And last but not least, he hopes to pay a visit to his little brother back in Nebraska upon the completion of his college degree.

Through his eyes and smile, I saw struggle and pain, but most of all, I saw success. I saw life in his eyes.

When I left the interview with Akol, I was no longer nervous, but inspired. I didn’t meet a ‘typical student,’ I met someone who has been shot down more times in his 18 years of life than imaginable.

If he can do it, what’s a typical student’s excuse?

Nobody is an ordinary student.

Ordinary human. Or anything ordinary. We all have a story worthy of being told, and a voice which needs to be heard.

Marian Sahakyan can be reached at MSAHAKY795@student.glendale.edu.

EDITORIALS/OPINION

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Las Vegas Coverage: A Media Frenzy In the breaking news cycle, being first is the most important when reporting accuracy and objectivity should be paramount

Covering man-made disasters isn’t easy. Beyond the obvious emotional shock, there’s a need to be first with information. That often means bad information is being put out in the first hours after something happens. It also means a desire to grab viewers and readers, sometimes by adding doses of sensationalism and politics into reporting.

Take, for instance, the CNN insistence on using the word ‘terrorism’ to describe the motives of the Las Vegas shooter, motives that, as of the publishing of this editorial, are still unknown.

While the shooter was beyond reprehensible and a murderer, we don’t yet know if the motives fit under the traditional definition of “terrorism,” which for law enforcement, is defined as “the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims.” The final part of the definition is key, as we don’t know if the shooter had political aims. He very well might have. But, unlike the shooting that took place in a South Carolina church, which was a clear example of domestic terrorism carried out by a white supremacist, we still don’t know the Vegas shooter’s motives.

As journalists, we need to take a step back and admit that we don’t always have all the facts. It’s safer than than ascribing motivations that may or may not be there. We should also take caution when trying to pretend to be experts on guns and silencers, and how they’re used, even if we’re in favor of gun control.

As journalists, our duty is to seek the truth and report it. It’s to minimize harm in our reporting. It’s to be accountable and transparent. It’s to report independently, which means we set aside our prejudices, whether it’s on guns or our perception of race issues.

To do otherwise is to do a disservice to the profession and to the audience.

Illustration by Micheline Abounassar / michasgallery.com

Have an opinion? Feedback?

Send your letters to: elvaquero@glendale.edu

Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017

Caution: Don’t Feed the Social Media Behemoth

Feeds like Facebook provide an ephemeral sense of belonging, but ultimately fail to get to the heart of issues

Photo byMichael Tapper / Creative Commons

FAMED HEADQUARTERS: The sign on top of the iconic New Yorker building is pictured in New York. Condé Nast’s published S.I. Newhouse passed away without much fanfare on Oct. 1.

When bad things happen, people rush to social media. They share their thoughts. Share their photos. They get into arguments on the public platform.

Whether it’s in the aftermath of a violent mass shooting or about the death of a celebrity, users rush to insert the self into current events the way an addict needs a much-needed high.

Even bad things on Facebook give people a high. That’s a scientific fact. Dopamine is released. That translates into giving the user a “sense of belonging,” according to media-buying firm RadiumOne, which commissioned a study of social media users in 2012. “Every time we post, share, ‘like,’ comment or send an invitation online, we are creating an expectation,” according to the study, which also concluded that users get to “advance our concept of self through sharing.”

Our addiction to social media, though, only provides an ephemeral sense of belonging. Through sharing trite platitudes, users feel like they’re somehow a part of the discussion. When Playboy publisher Hugh Hefner passed away, users rushed to social media to share tributes of what he meant to them. Some even tried to paint the publisher as one of the biggest thinkers of our time, who provided thought-provoking essays. It’s worth noting that S.I. Newhouse, the legendary Condé Nast publisher, died at 89 just a few short days later, but received scant media attention by comparison.

The New Yorker, which prints under the banner of Condé Nast, is a premier publication that has allowed for rigorous debate on everything from nuclear weapons to race, sans photos of naked women. But the social media narrative was not about Newhouse. Instead, Hefner was hailed a civil rights hero. The fact that the mansion he lived in was one filled with squalor and, according to one former “playmate,” the blurred lines of what constitutes consensual sex, is ignored. Hardly empowering to women, but too many jumped on the bandwagon.

After all, they had to say something, right? Perhaps the most nausea inducing of the posts were about how Hefner would get to “rest alongside Marilyn Monroe,” a woman who he never met. Indeed, never even asked permission to publish her naked photos from her. She was eventually consumed by the problematic culture of which she was part.

So maybe it’s time for all of us to think critically before we have to share our thoughts on an event. Perhaps it is useful to research the person before buying the narrative that’s fed to us, even by the news media.

When Celebrities Shape Opinions Why do we even care what they have to say?

By Vendela Lindblom Staff Writer This fall has been a particularly grisly season, with multiple natural disasters and, recently, a man-made one where 58 people were shot dead at a concert.

While there has been considerable attention on the latter event, the nation has collectively forgotten about Texas, which is in the process of rebuilding after a devastating hurricane. Instead, the media attention shifted to reporting on how not one, but two Kardashian sisters are pregnant.

Even in the aftermath of the Las Vegas attacks, some headlines exclaimed, “Celebrities

React to Vegas Shootings.” The following day after the shooting, Grammy award-winning singer Mariah Carey was interviewed on “Good Morning Britain” about her upcoming Christmas tour, but before she was asked about it, she was asked for her take on the Vegas shootings. A clearly uncomfortable Carey sprawled on her couch had no idea how to respond. She is a celebrity and not an analyst on gun crime.

We should ask ourselves why celebrity culture matters so much. We should also examine how people become famous, because it is usually not so laudable.

Celebrities are quick to sell their soul and entertain voyeurs (which in many cases equals em-

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barrassing themselves). It is reality TV culture. The truth is that having some sort of talent won’t take you far in today’s entertainment industry, because that is not what brings in the big money anymore. Instagram followings matter more.

Thanks to a sex tape, Kim Kardashian-West has a net worth of $45 million and is one of the most-watched people in the world.

Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi became a New York Times best selling author by getting drunk and embarrassing herself on the TV show “Jersey Shore.” Danielle Bregoli (also known as the “catch me outside” girl) just signed a multi-million-dollar record deal with Atlantic Records.

Not because she is talented, but

for making herself look like a spoiled idiot on Dr. Phil’s show, and gain a huge following on her social media.

How did we get here? Our generation is incredibly good at spreading information by liking, commenting, and sharing on our social media. Even when we find something stupid, it still gets shared all over – because we find it entertaining, and because we are all voyeuristic and obsessed with social media and fame.

Many people forget that all publicity is good publicity and Donald Trump is a great example of this. Sharing articles and commenting “Donald Trump sucks” and such, will only help him generate more traffic, gain more likes and views.

The attention we gave him

propelled him to fame because it made people wonder if there was a reason others were so obsessed with him. He became the nominee of the Republican platform by using social media the way so many third-rate celebrities do.

Right now, our society is still preoccupied with discussing whether Kylie Jenner and Khloe Kardashian are pregnant than the aftermath of major disasters like the earthquake in Mexico, and hurricanes in Texas and Puerto Rico.

The volume of social media posts and headlines proves the preoccupation with celebrity culture. We make people who behave badly famous because we crave that kind of news.

Vendela Lindblom can be reached at

vlindbl405@student.glendale.edu.

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Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017

OPINION

www.elvaq.com

Hugh Hefner: A Legacy of Oppression The owner of the Playboy publishing company was hardly a proponent of women’s rights

By Catalina Juarez Staff Writer To many, Hugh Hefner was idolized for bringing the entertainment industry to a whole other level. From featuring such iconic personas such as Marilyn Monroe, to later starring some of the most famous celebs such as Kim Kardashian, Drew Barrymore and many more, Heffner made a fortune as well as build an empire that idolized the idea of women being seen as playthings, or as Hefner would call them, “Bunnies.” People call it sexual revolution. But was it?

His publishing company stooped to a level of publishing child pornography in images taken of a 10-year-old child actress, Brooke Shields, in a bathtub. That’s pedophilia, not a revolution.

He also didn’t seem to understand consent.

Many Facebook posts are noting that Hefner will be buried next to his “sweetheart” Marilyn Monroe.

He never even met the famed actress at all.

Monroe, who came from a broken home and married at age 16 to escape, took nude photos and tried to distance herself from them by using a false name. She bought food with the measly $50 she made. Hefner purchased her photos without telling her from a nude calendar and, years after she took them, he featured them in the first issue of his magazine.

Monroe wasn’t his friend.

They never met and he went as far

to buy the burial plot by hers so they can be “eternal” bedmates.

Gross and creepy.

But it didn’t stop there. He did it again years later with a very well-known public figure, Jessica Alba. Alba was featured in a Playboy magazine in 2006 without her personal consent.

They were bikini shots to promote a film, but Hefner put her on the cover, as if she was a centerfold.

She was never once asked if it would be okay for them to do so.

When Alba launched a lawsuit against the Playboy industry, Hefner stepped in and agreed to donate to any charity of her choice if she agreed to drop the charges, which she did, probably to avoid a long legal battle.

The point is this: Hefner’s legacy is one where women were commodities to be purchased and used. Even abused.

Take Holly Madison. She was once a ‘bunny’ herself before she realized that the glamorized Playboy mansion lifestyle wasn’t really what it seemed.

In her tell-all book, Madison describes her first encounter as Hefner offering her drugs, Quaaludes to be exact, in which he jokingly told her that they were once called “thigh openers” in the 70s. Madison was only 21-years-old working at Hooters at the time.

Madison described that living in the playboy mansion was nothing but an ongoing torment.

Hefner enjoyed pinning the women against each other and

Photo by Josh Jensen/ Creative Commons FILM CIRCUIT: High Hefner appears at the premiere of “Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel,” directed by Brigitte Berman, during the Toronto International Film Festival, 2009.

manipulated each and every one of them to the point where Madison’s own self-confidence was shattered and at one point even contemplated ending her own life.

Hefner was big on picking on his ‘bunnies’ appearances.

Madison describes him bashing on her over a simple haircut just because she decided to try out shorter hair as opposed to keeping it long.

He called her ugly and told her she looked “old and cheap.” As if that wasn’t enough scrutiny to

face every day, Hefner was also a monster when it came to his sex life. He enjoyed watching his bunnies have sex with others even if it was painful for them, and when it came to himself, the more bunnies he could have in his bedroom the better it was for him. Kendra Wilkinson, a former Playboy Bunny as well stated, “I had to be very drunk or smoke lots of weed to survive those nights.”

That is not a sexual revolution.

That is abuse. Women who often pose for these shoots or live the “bunny” lifestyle are mentally

unstable and emotionally abused.

Their stories are not what the voyeurs want to hear or see.

We now live in an era where women have risen to be strong political leaders, business owners, public speakers and many more.

Women are stronger than ever and stand for so much more than just sex objects. Sexual freedom is important, but Hefner didn’t give that to women, and we need to stop pretending he did.

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

Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017

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Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017

OPINION/GUN DEBATE

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Stop the Scaremongering Gun control won’t actually solve the vast majority of resulting deaths

Photo by Praytino / Creative Commons

STRIKING HOTEL: The Mandalay Bay hotel in Las Vegas is depictred months prior to the mass shooting that claimed 58 people on Oct. 1.

By Rachel Valasquez Staff Writer “It is not simply a question of liking or disliking guns. Nor is it simply about liking or not liking control. It is – or should be – about judging the effectiveness of control, and particularly of government control as exercised through regulation. If we take both sides at face value in the debate over gun control, the question is not whether either side is advocating gun violence, but whether one side has better strat-

egies than the other for reducing its current levels,” Christine Watkins of socialstudies.org wrote in a recent Washington Post article.

After yet another mass shooting the gun control debate is ignited once again. Many Americans don’t understand why people want guns in the first place.

For one: protection, most Americans have guns in their households to protect against intruders. Then we have recreational use. Have you ever been to a shooting range? Or if you’re like me and grew up in Arkansas,

where there are lots of open fields for target practice, then you know the gun culture in those areas is significantly more popular than in a city like Glendale, Calif. Social norms contribute to the owning of guns, especially of those in southern states. Others own a gun because they can; it is their Constitutional right to “bear arms.”

Let’s talk about fallacies in recent gun control popular debates.

Silencers have become a big part of the narrative. At first thought, you imagine an assassin screwing on a attachment to his handgun in the dead of the night, only to hear, “pew pew” when he shoots his weapon, right?

This isn’t the movies. Silencers suppress the sound of gunfire; it decreases the sound as much as wearing ear protection. Let me put it this way, a gunshot is around 140 to 160 decibels, with a silencer a gunshot is now 120 to 130 decibels (about as loud as a jackhammer).

What about automatic weapons? An automatic firearm will discharge multiple rounds after a single trigger pull. Most automatic weapons are banned in the United States. If an automatic weapon was used in a crime, it was obtained after thousands of dollars and extensive paperwork

has been filed. Semi-automatic weapons will discharge a single round after a single trigger pull.

Semi-automatic means that the weapon will chamber another round without firing. What makes a semi-automatic pistol easier to fire then a revolver? Not cocking the hammer before firing the weapon. My point being that there is still work involved in shooting this weapon.

We need to stop comparing ourselves to Australia, I can’t tell you how many times I have logged onto Facebook only to see a video with statistics on how the gun violence has decreased in Australia after its citizens’ handed over all their weapons to be destroyed. In America we have a little thing called the Second Amendment, which guarantees our right to bear arms, our right, created to ensure our peace and power against a tyrannical government. If we do not like guns, we simply cannot just do away with all of them because they are important tools to maintain our safety against an oppressive government.

With great power comes great responsibility – most gun owners embrace the power and accept the responsibility it takes in owning a gun. States like Vermont, Alaska

and Utah sincerely understand the respect one must have while owning a gun. These states have the highest gun populous with the lowest gun crime rate.

“Two-thirds of gun deaths in the United States every year are suicides. Almost no proposed restriction would make it meaningfully harder for people with guns on hand to use them,” said Leah Libresco from the Washington Post, “the next largest set of gun deaths – one in five – were young men aged 15 to 34, killed in homicides. These men were most likely to die at the hands of other young men, often related to gang loyalties or other street violence.

And the last notable group of similar deaths was the 1,700 women murdered per year, usually as the result of domestic violence. Far more people were killed in these ways than in mass-shooting incidents, but few of the popularly floated policies were tailored to serve them.”

If we look at the groups directly affected by gun violence we can narrow the solution to helping many different types of people. There is no easy fix to this problem.

Rachel Valasquez can be reached at RValasq239@student.glendale.edu.

America, the Great Outlier

U.S. still resists sensible measures

By Ken Allard and Marian Sahakyan

Nearly 250 years ago the Founding Fathers gathered around a conference table and composed the Constitution, and with it came the structural framework for our nation.

In the wake of last week’s massacre in Las Vegas, it is important that the government, and “We the People” establish an honest debate over the scope of the Second Amendment. America has a firearms problem, that much we know. While it is true that guns don’t kill people – there obviously has to be someone pulling the trigger – it has been shown in numerous studies that one of the most significant indicators of gun-related violence is gun ownership.

States with higher levels of gun possession have a disproportionately large number of firearmrelated homicides.

Correlation doesn’t imply causation, but such a robust interrelationship needs to be given serious deliberation. Let the statistics paint a clearer picture.

Americans are 10 times more likely to be killed by guns than others in developed nations, ac-

cording to a 2016 study published in the American Journal of Medicine. Gun-related murder is 25 times higher here in the U.S. than those in the 22 high-income nations analyzed by the researchers.

Furthermore, America has six times as many firearm homicides as Canada, and about 16 times as many as Germany.

The Second Amendment is untouchable; gun culture in America is here to stay. Trying to address all gun-related violence is biting off more than we can chew and therefore a waste of political capital.

So this is by no means a debate about the right to bear arms – no prominent political figures have legitimately taken action to strip America’s Second Amendment access in its entirety.

Anyone who spins the argument in that direction is fearmongering or has fallen victim to it. The debate should center on the ability of ordinary citizens to bear military-grade arms which have the capacity to murder 59 people and leave an additional 500 injured in a matter of a few effortless minutes.

The mass shooting that happened in Las Vegas encapsulates the pandemic that has plagued America in recent years: mass shootings.

Though there is contention over an official mainstream defi-

nition of the term “mass shooting,” the FBI has defined it as an event where a gunman shoots or kills four or more people in the same time period and location.

The country has seen 273 mass shootings from Jan. 1 of this year until Oct. 3, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which collects data from shooting incidents throughout the United States.

We’re averaging seven-and-ahalf incidents a week; more than one shooting per day.

Of course, the vast majority of these are committed with handguns and not the military-grade weaponry wielded during the infamous mass-shootings that dominate national headlines.

The fact that Americans can name not just one mass-murder, but list off a handful in recent memory at the hands of highcapacity, large-caliber, semi-automatic rifles should be enough to establish the notion that these weapons should not be available.

Las Vegas, Pulse Nightclub, Sandy Hook, San Bernardino – that’s four mass-shootings in five years with over 140 dead and hundreds more injured.

It took one comparable massshooting in Australia to spur widespread legislative action, yet Americans can’t even have an honest bipartisan debate in the face of overwhelming evidence.

Opponents of gun control say,

among other things, that America doesn’t have a firearm problem, but rather one of mental illness.

Honest, law-abiding gun owners aren’t the ones committing these heinous crimes. It’s those of emotional instability, they say.

It’s rather ironic that many of those who push focus on mental illness rather than gun control, are also the ones who line their ballot with right-wing politicians who wish to gut our access to affordable and accessible healthcare.

But that’s another debate.

The argument regarding mental illness is largely true. It doesn’t appear that someone of emotional and mental fortitude would commit such a crime. Nevertheless, saying we need to tackle the problem of mental illness rather than limiting access to the tools used by mentally ill is idealistic.

It’s helpful to think of mental illness as a kind of abstract cancer.

Simply put, cancer is the runaway division of abnormal cells, which forms a tumor, and is deadly if left untreated. The formation of abnormal cells is as natural as cell division itself, but the problem works itself out if our white blood cells do their job correctly.

Cancer is innate, and unless there is some visionary breakthrough in medical technology, a “cure” for cancer doesn’t exist. Each kind of cancer is radically different from

each other, with different risk factors, triggers, and treatments.

In other words, it’s complicated. Mental illness can be looked at in the same manner. Piercing the human mind to understand the causes, triggers, risk factors, symptoms, and treatments of the seemingly endless array of mental illnesses is so radically complex that the idea is simply impractical.

Just like cancer, you can’t change the nature of mental illness – but you can take steps to reduce your exposure to potential triggers as well as reducing the probability of negative consequences.

Gun control is that step. It’s not a cure to mental illness, but rather a necessary measure to diminishing the ability of ill-intentioned folks of harming others in mass quantities.

The Constitution was meant to be a living, breathing document; one that is read and understood through the contextual lense of the current time. This means honestly and critically evaluating the scope of the Second Amendment.

Should we have access to military-grade weaponry? The answer has never been more apparent.

Marian Sahakyan can be reached at Manehsahakyan@gmail.com.

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

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OPINION

Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017

11

Grayson Plan is a Bad Deal GCC Professor expresses concern about local power plant upgrade (some renewable and some not), the plant would supply the City with almost one-and-a-half times Glendale likes to proclaim it- the power it actually needs – even self a forward looking, green city. on the very hottest summer days.

Back in July, to great fanfare, it And lest one think they are planeven passed a resolution in sup- ning for the future, that is not the port of Paris Climate Accord. case. The City’s own projections Why then is the Jewel City pro- out to 2035 show demand falling posing an expansion to its Gray- by almost 15 percent as a result of son gas plant that, by its own energy efficiency measures and admission, would increase emis- the introduction of demand-based sions of greenhouse gases and a pricing, even accounting for ecobroad range of criteria pollutants nomic growth and increased penand toxic compounds associated etration of electric vehicles. with asthma, cancer, kidney disSo why do they want to exease, and other illnesses? Is this pand capacity at the expense of hypocrisy or just lack of imagina- the climate and clean air? tion?

The City says it needs energy The City argues that the exist- independence in case an earthing plant is aging and no longer quake or other emergency brings reliable. They are down long distance “The sensible transmission lines. mostly right about that. Apart from one approach is to But this argument newer unit, the plant rings hollow. The was built between watch and wait, Grayson plant sits in the 1940s and 1970s and be poised to a designated earthand is costly to mainliquefaction invest when the quake tain. Clearly, a longzone. time is ripe.” term fix will be needThis means that ed eventually. But when the big one when, and what type hits, ground moveof fix? ments are likely to The City’s plan is to replace disrupt gas and water lines, takgas with gas – a new state of the ing the plant out of service just art facility that they say would when it is most needed. No, there burn cleaner than the exist- are better ways to approach resiling plant. But hidden in the fine ience using distributed solar and print is the shocker. The new storage; and these approaches are plant would increase capacity clean and don’t set up a single by 22 percent, and actual pro- point of failure. duction would likely go up even A more plausible explanation more than that. Combined with is that Glendale hopes to sell exthe electricity Glendale imports cess power on the market to gen-

By Dan Brotman Economics Professor

erate revenue for the city budget.

Their planning documents make reference to this strategy more than once. In other words, they propose to pollute us rather than take the political hit of raising our taxes.

All of this is completely unnecessary. Clean energy technologies are available today to provide all the power Glendale needs at competitive prices. In fact, Google’s “Project Sunroof” demonstrates that Glendale could power the entire city, and some, with rooftop photovoltaics alone.

Battery storage is also at a tipping point and, if it is not already, in a few short years will be a fully scalable and competitive solution to the intermittency of wind and solar. The sensible approach is to watch and wait, and be poised to invest when the time is ripe.

This is why Los Angeles just announced a moratorium on new gas projects while it reconsiders renewable energy alternatives.

What kind of Glendale do we want? A backward looking Glendale which fills its coffers with the sale of dirty energy and pollutes our air? Or one which looks to the future of clean energy and respects our health.

I choose the latter and plan to show up at the Oct. 16 and 19 hearings on Grayson to speak up.

I hope to see you there. For more information, visit https://www. facebook.com/GlendaleEnvironment/.

Dan Brotman can be reached at dbrotman@glendale.edu.

Photo by Walter/Flickr

ENERGY DILEMMA: An energy plant in Apollo Beach, Fla., is pictured.

Debate rages on in Glendale about what to do with the Grayson plant. Hearings are scheduled for Oct. 16 and 19.

12

Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017

ENTERTAINMENT

A ‘Battle’ Worth Watching

‘Late Night’ Impact

Film tackles the striking pay difference between genders in the ‘70s

Trump’s popularity seems correlated to comnedy shows

By Adriana Garcia Contributing Writer At first glance, “Battle of the Sexes” looks like another addition to the plethora of contemporary films and television shows dedicated to the sudden surge in feminist content. But directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (“Little Miss Sunshine”) and writer Simon Beaufoy (“Slumdog Millionaire”) managed to make it much more than that.

“Battle of the Sexes” retells the widely viewed 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King and self-proclaimed “male chauvinist pig” Bobby Riggs. The match itself, however, is not what makes the movie. The intricate self-discoveries made by the two opponents before and after the match set the film apart from its fem-driven counterparts, such as “Atomic Blonde” and “Wonder Woman.”

Emma Stone provides a subtle and nuanced performance as the then 29-year-old King and Steve Carell expertly balances Riggs’ emotional highs and lows.

The film begins with Stone’s King confronting tour promoter Jack Kramer (Bill Pullman) about a striking pay difference between male and female players.

King and World Tennis magazine founder Gladys Heldman (Sarah Silverman) decide to start their own female tournament when a compromise can’t be reached.

According to the film, King’s major troubles begin when she meets charming hairdresser Marilyn Barnett (Andrea Risebor-

ough). Barnett forces the young tennis player to reexamine her sexuality and, until then, happy marriage to Larry King (not to be confused with the television host).

King’s complicated romantic situation affects her game, and a phone call and proposition from compulsive gambler Riggs only adds to her vexation. After Riggs easily and haughtily beats another female player from the tour, King decides to take the challenge. The sportswoman must then train for an statement-making match while dealing with a self-identity crisis and outside pressures.

While King sees the match as a defining moment for women’s lib, Riggs’ investment is more financial. The 55-year-old hustler considers the match a publicity stunt perfect for regaining some money and his estranged wife’s respect.

The outcome is already known because the film is, after all, a retelling of true events. But Academy Award winner Stone did not let that influence her performance.

“I tried to create a capsule of this human being at this point in her life without the retrospect she has now,” said Stone in a Sports Illustrated interview. “I was watching footage from the time, reading interviews from the time, basically everything before [King was] the age of 29.”

Carell’s challenge was ensuring Riggs did not come off as the supreme antagonist. “He’s a selfpromoter who saw a way in and capitalized on it,” said the actor.

“He’d say these incendiary things

but most people didn’t take it seriously because they knew his heart wasn’t connected to that. He’s a showman.”

If Carell’s performance does not clarify who the real antagonist is, writer Beaufoy does during a scene with King and Kramer.

The athlete threatens to withdraw from the match if Kramer is a commentator, because his bias might influence viewers.

Kramer was a highly-regarded figure but with backward thinking when it came to gender equality in the sport, and his conflict with King is still relevant to contemporary society.

“I think traditional media is still controlled by men,” said the now 73-year-old King to Sports Illustrated reporter Jon Wertheim.

“When I went into a conference after a match, there were no women in the news at all. We need that to be more 50-50 and reflective of America.” Though times have changed, Time magazine reported that “male journalists make up 63 percent of bylines in print,” and “news is anchored by men 60 percent of the time,” just three years ago. Stone claims the film’s content is relevant to her and all women “because women are on the receiving end of less pay.”

“We still have so far to go,” said the 28-year-old actress.

“Battle of the Sexes” therefore tackles old and current societal issues, all while providing compelling character studies of King, Riggs and Kramer.

Adriana Garcia can be reached at agarcia5422@student.glendale.edu.

By Rudy Guijarro Contributing Writer NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) ratings have soared, averaging 10 million viewers every night after introducing their Donald Trump parody doppelgänger Alec Baldwin, according to Forbes. Meanwhile Donald Trump’s approval rating for the week ending Oct. 5 was at 39.3 percent, according to RealClearPolitics’ aggregate.

“SNL” is an American latenight live television sketch comedy and variety show created and produced by Lorne Michaels. It’s mostly known for its satirical take on current events, political and social issues. The recent addition to the “SNL” character library is President Donald Trump.

The first Trump sketch premiered Oct. 1, 2016 in the midst of the presidential debates.

Baldwin, in full costume and makeup, was indistinguishable from Trump. “Good evening America, I am going to be so good tonight,” said Baldwin, imitating Trump’s patented speaking style and mannerisms.

“I am gonna be so Presidential all of you watching are going to cream in your jeans.” Baldwin continued to mock Trump by saying “I love the kids, I love them so much I’d marry them,” referring to his controversial remark said about his daughter Ivanka Trump on “The View” in 2006. “If Ivanka weren’t my daughter, perhaps I’d be dating her,” Trump told the hosts of the

www.elvaq.com daytime show.

Trump has openly criticized SNL on social media platforms.

“Watched Saturday Night Live hit job on me. Time to retire the boring and unfunny show. Alec Baldwin portrayal stinks. Media rigging election!” the president famously tweeted Oct. 16, 2016.

Several other shows such as “Late Night with Stephen Colbert” have jumped on the Trump hate train. Colbert has seen great ratings since the week of Trump’s inauguration, averaging three million viewers. Publications from Variety to Newsweek have credited the comic’s newfound popularity to his stinging criticisms of the president.

In Aug. 2017, Trump’s popularity slipped to 37.4 percent, according to RealClearPolitics, the lowest rate for him. His popularity has rebounded slightly.

It’s unclear what next week will bring, especially with Trump recently criticizing Puerto Rico’s leadership and coming under fire for his handling of the relief efforts post-Hurricane Maria.

“The mayor of San Juan, who was very complimentary only a few days ago, has been told by the Democrats that you must be nasty to Trump,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “Such poor leadership ability by the mayor of San Juan, and others in Puerto Rico, who are not able to get their workers to help. They want everything to be done for them when it should be a community effort.”

As expected, Trump was lambasted in late night comedy for his handling of the affair in Puerto Rico. It may be one of many episodes to affect the president and his popularity. So stay tuned.

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

ENTERTAINMENT

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Oct. 11, 2017

13

Lots to Love in “30-Love”

Film by former GCC debate coaches explores grief through humor

By Clint Black Entertainment Editor It won’t come as a surprise to see the halls of Glendale Community College sprinkled throughout the film “30-Love” once you realize it was co-written by, and stars, former GCC speech and debate coaches Ira Heffler and Robert Cannon.

The all too familiar scenic walk across the bridge to the campus’ Lot C structure was immortalized in the premiere on Sept. 28 at the Vista Theater.

The film isn’t like the tranquil existence most of us lead here on campus on a day-to-day basis.

Yet the film does touch issues many have grappled with.

It covers loss and grief, and acute pain that a person feels after losing someone so close and important to him.

The Administration Building corridors provide recognizable B-roll while the main character, played by Cannon, goes through a tumultuous journey of self discovery following the death of his wife, as a result of the birth of their newborn.

Sometimes, when people feel pain, they act in ways that don’t seem so logical. This is exemplified in a scene at GCC’s parking lot where Cannon’s character beats his Mini Cooper with a tennis racquet (you can glimpse the scene in the trailer, too).

Heffler’s character, Paul, offers plenty of subtle comedic relief as the wise, experienced figure in the 103-minute, antiwave comedy. The complexity of his personality and struggle with

this foreign navigation of grief sends Cannon’s character into a spiral of destruction as he turns to his deceased wife’s lost love of tennis. Clinging to this newfound obsession with winning a tournament within the year, he finds himself in an unhealthy relationship with the sport.

Early morning classes, followed by late night practices lead to complications within his newfound and barely explored fatherhood, eventually culminating to the explosion between the widower and his mother-in-law.

Complete with its very own tennis training montage, “30Love” takes spectators on a journey through the “grief and dark humor we find when we lose somebody we love,” said Cannon, while delivering everything inbetween.

The film portrays the essential moment when a widower finds a single strand of his late wife’s hair in the shower, safeguarding it on the side of the tub—followed by the panic and disarray when their newborn lets it slip down the drain and a failed heartbreaking frenzy ensues to get it back. Familiar orange and black striped socks, which made a cameo at the red carpet, were also a recognizable theme throughout the movie, as they became a universal sign for “tennis amateur.”

The 16-day, single-camera filming cost an estimated $30,000.

Filming ran into both Christmas and New Year’s day, providing example of the diligence and meticulous dedication reflected in the film. “It really is key to know all of your resources,”

Photo by Clint Black

FILM PREMIERE: The director and lead, Robert Cannon (left), poses with Ira Heffler, who also acted and directed “30Love.” Cannon’s character contends with the death of his wife.tends the 2017 Toronto Film Festival.

said Cannon during the Q&A following the screening. “There was easy access to the college, as well as help from coach [Bob] MacKay and participating tennis courts in the area.”

MacKay is the former head coach of GCC’s men’s tennis team. Resources didn’t just end with locations. Heffler and Canon wrote the “four-year labor of love,” and allowed friends and colleagues to provide inspiration for characters in the film. In fact, they even acted in the film alongside them. “I knew I had Robert [Craighead] in mind,” Cannon said when discussing the role of Fred, the logical father-inlaw who delivers a simplistic, but very appropriate line during an

intense telephone conversation.

Shaw Davari, another friend of the creators, is the basis for the appropriately named Davari.

His unbridled passion for winning and excessive display of ego provide the audience with relief in the form of a vessel to channel all of their rage and emotion for Cannon’s character.

It’s a complete 180-degrees from what Craighead offers as Fred.

“I looked at the perspective [of the characters] and decided to go opposite, for balance,” said Craighead when asked about the opposing personalities between his and his onscreen wife’s character, played by Brenda Vaccaro.

The entirety of the feature

grabs you by the socks and pulls you through an intense whirlwind of death and newfound responsibility, incomprehensible family dynamic, the infamous racquet meets hood scene, and a plethora of tennis tournaments, all leading up to a surprise ending that “challenges the conventional Hollywood arc,” according to Heffler.

So, if you were hoping to avoid the predictable happily ever after tale of a love lost and found and missed the week-long run of the film, find it for purchase via streaming on Amazon Video, YouTube, or Google Play.

Clint Black can be reached at Cblack214@student.glendale.edu.

Remembering Legendary Rocker Tom Petty Singer-songwriter was 66-years-old

Photo by Harmony Gerber / Photo-Graffiti

ROCKING OUT: Tom Petty performing at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles.

By Ken Allard Editor-in-Chief Tom Petty, the iconic singersongwriter for the Heartbreakers, passed away Monday, Oct. 2. He was 66.

The legendary frontman was found unconscious and in full

cardiac arrest at his Malibu home.

He was rushed to the hospital, but later pulled off of life support after doctors reported no brain activity.

Petty leaves behind a wife, two children, and millions of heavyhearted fans across the globe.

He slowly crept to fame

throughout the early and mid1970s. His first band, known as The Epics, which would later evolve into Mudcrutch, received little attention outside of his hometown of Gainesville, Fla. Following a brief and reluctant attempt at a solo career, Petty would form the band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Their debut album titled “Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers” failed to garner initial recognition in the States despite holding eventual radio classics “Breakdown” and “American Girl.” The album picked up attention after the band toured across the United Kingdom. “Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers” later reached Gold.

The success here would serve as a launchpad for Petty and his crew of Heartbreakers to reach the pantheon of rock ‘n’ roll greats. Petty’s third album, Damn the Torpedoes, would reach Number Two on the album chart, ultimately being certified

triple platinum, equipped with hit singles “Don’t Do Me Like That” and “Refugee.”

Sky-high success doesn’t come without turbulent experiences, as Petty would come to find out. Heartbreaker bassist Ron Blair would depart from the band in the midst of their work on the 1985 album “Southern Accents.” 1986’s “Let Me Up (I’ve Had Enough)” was a commercial disappointment which was encored by Petty’s house being torched by suspected arson in May 1987. His then-wife and two children would escape.

Petty’s basement recording studio survived the blaze. The incident served as inspiration for the song “I Won’t Back Down,” which is directed at the arsonist and preaches of resilience in the face of tragedy.

The songwriting prowess of Tom Petty amalgamated with the epic starpower of Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynn, and Roy Orbison to form

the Traveling Wilburys. The supergroup produced hit singles “Handle With Care” and “End of the Line.” The 1988 debut album “Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1” reached triple platinum and number three on the album chart.

Petty spiraled into heroin addiction after his 22-year-long marriage with Jane Petty ended in 1996, but managed to claw his way out of it.

Tom Petty was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

Highway Companion, his Southern-feel album spiced with the occasional bluesy twinge, released in 2006, showed the breadth of Petty’s talents, exemplified by the ZZ Top-esque “Saving Grace.”

Petty’s ability to crank out chart-toppers from the late ‘70s to the ‘90s and mid-2000’s sets the benchmark for rock’n’roll longevity.

[See Petty, page 14]

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Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017

ENTERTAINMENT

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Legendary Rocker Dies [From Petty, page 13] Further, Tom was truly part of the fabric of the California ethos; his jams inseparable from the laidback Southern California persona sewn on our sleeve. Or maybe that’s the Golden State ego talking.

His songs represent those seemingly endless Los Angeles summer nights with the only people that matter in that moment, or cruising down the Pacific Coast Highway, or cresting Malibu Canyon Road midday and laying eyes on the sparkling

Pacific. More so, Petty was the quintessentially American rocker.

What truly separated Tom Petty from others in his music epoch, was his genuine love for the act. While others chased the late paycheck, Petty did it for the passion.

The only thing that would stop Petty – as he later predicted in his last-ever interview – would be illness or death. “We say among ourselves, ‘why do they think we would ever quit?’” Petty told Randy Lewis of the Los Angeles Times. “ […] I mean, if one of us went down, or one of us died …

then we would stop. I think that would be the end of it, if someone couldn’t do it.”

Petty’s death is another crippling reminder in recent years of the mortality of our heroes behind the strings, joining the heralded company of folks like Gregg Allman, Chuck Berry, David Bowie, Glenn Frey, and Prince.

Another champion of rock to reach the End of the Line. Thanks for the memories, Tom. Ken Allard can be reached at Kallard438@student.glendale.edu.

El Sauz Serves Up Good Mexican Taco shop rivals some of the best in area

Did Spotify Predict My Breakup?

An introduction to our New El Vaquero playlist

By Clint Black Entertainment Editor

TACO TUESDAY: Glendale Mexican restaurant serves up sandwiches and more.

By Rachel Valasquez News Editor There’s a rule of thumb that if there isn’t much of a high demand for a place’s services or goods it may not be that good of a place.

Consumers know what’s good, right?

If that rule is true, then you ought to try El Sauz Tacos. The restaurant (more like a hut) is located on San Fernando Road in Glendale. That’s easily accessible when you have a couple hours between classes and you’re craving a bite to eat.

There is always a line out the door. That led to the creation of El Sauz No. 2. Glendale’s location is the second addition to the company. The newest taco shop is located on the corner of Colorado and Pacific.

Options are broad for this little eatery. Considering that Mexican

food is pretty broad, the offerings here are actually solid. The asada tacos are a known favorite. Diners have the option of choosing between a red or green salsa. The green salsa is more mild while the red will make your eyes water.

So if you’re into spicy, this place is king.

Other favorites include the torta, which is a Mexican sandwich, with your choice of meat, mayonnaise, tomato, beans, avocado and red salsa. To those whose tastebuds still work: opt for the salsa on the side or you’ll be crying!

This taco shop has breakfast burritos which will make you think twice about making the drive out to Lucky Boy in Pasadena.

Their burritos are packed with hash browns, your choice of meat, two eggs and cheese. Don’t forget their special salsa!

Photo by Rachel Valasquez

Business hours for this taco shop are 8 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to midnight on Sunday.

That means you can grab a bite if you’re out late on the weekend or if you need a quick pick me up (really, what’s better than Mexican food?).

This is a cash only stand like most tacos shops. This cute new hut has outdoor seating in the front as well as the back of the hut.

It’s completely clean, if you want to skip the line at the original El Sauz this is the place to go. The price range is under $10.

El Sauz Tacos is located at 470 W. Colorado St., Glendale, Calif.

So for a good (and affordable) taco and maybe some relaxing coversation in the charming outside seating area, head on over.

Rachel Valasquez can be reached at rvalasq239@student.glendale.edu.

In an attempt to hear just what’s going on in those earbuds of yours, I candidly and slightly hesitantly invite you into mine.

This curated El Vaquero playlist, depending on your interaction with our social media platforms, can potentially represent what all of us as a campus are listening to, and can offer one another in the form of music with playlists available in accordance with future issues.

This initial El Vaquero playlist, however, is a culmination of tracks based primarily on Spotify’s most recent “New Music Friday” catalogs from around the globe (U.S., Canada, UK, etc.), available at the end of each week just in time for the weekend. Thursday night if you’re ambitious.

This is my individual reflection of the week detailed in this column.

It proves an interesting ride, so before blasting the speakers, heed this small disclaimer as an insight to the tone of the playlist: An all too coincidental combination of this week’s featured artists’ teetering heavily into relationship and breakupthemed bops the same week

I found myself in a similar break-up-themed situation.

It has inevitably inspired our very first newspaper playlist and turned it into an early October breakup playlist.

This was following our most recent issue where staff writer Catalina Juarez told us in the latter end of her “Tackling Today’s Dating” (Opinion, Sept. 27) article that,“It’s worth taking to heart that you should not break someone else’s just because you’re still unsure of what you want.” Who’s taking credit for predicting my breakup, by the way?

And with that, you’ve been warned. So if you’re still with us, throw it on shuffle and tell the staff if this New Music Friday playlist facilitated a break up from your significant other or your relationship with summer.

Hey, even if it totally killed your vibe, let us know what you’re listening to right now through interactive polls on our Instagram page, and by means of other platforms.

But for now, blame your first GCC El Vaquero playlist on the timing of Demi Lovato, Sam Smith, and my ex.

Enjoy!

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

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SPORTS

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Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017

15

One Step At a Time: Tackling Wellness GCC’s Erin Calderone is a newly tenured professor with a major mission to help students live a healthy, proactive lifestyle

Truly, a group effort.

In addition to running the Wellness Program, her time at Upon entering Professor Erin GCC has led to the development Calderone’s (pictured, right) of- of a new training course, the Fitfice I was immediately drawn ness Specialist Certificate, a two to her collection of training cer- semester track of 21-25 units of tificates and degrees proudly study. The National Association displayed on the wall above her of Sports Medicine (NASM) desk. Her office is lightly deco- book has been adapted as part of rated and shows signs of her first an academic advocacy partnerfour years at Glendale Commu- ship with the school and it is used nity College. as course curriculum for the cerAs a former community col- tificate. lege student she understands Students of the program finthe value of education. “People ish with the knowledge to take won’t even look at you without the NASM certifying exam at a the letters behind your name,” discounted rate. Calderone ensaid Calderone. courages her students who comCalderone is a newly-tenured plete the program to take the test, professor who is the leader of the like she says, “You know it, you Glendale Commight as well “At a time when only get the certifimunity College Employee Wellone-in-five adults get cate to back it ness Program Students the recommended week- up.” which promotes who pass the ly amount of exercise NASM exam health, fitness, and wellness on and nearly 36 percent gain a certificacampus. The proof adults are obese, a tion that is acgram kicked off cepted by most a five-week Ac- program like this can be training gyms tivity Challenge life saving.” and fitness inon October 1 and stitutions. Her will be wrapping up November goal is to offer an elective option 5. This event has been made pos- through the entrepreneurship desible with the help of the Guild, partment, since many students the Health Benefits Committee, will end up owning their own Board of Trustees, and Glendale businesses.

Unified School District (GUSD).

In earning those elusive letBy Hope Rosemary Brown Contributing Writer

ters behind her name, Calderone attended California State University, Northridge and earned both her bachelors and masters in Kinesiology.

It was there that she discovered a passion for teaching. As part of her thesis she participated in the early development of a program known as 3 Wins Fitness: Hope, Dreams, Health.

A free to the public exercise program offering a solution to a healthier lifestyle. They encourage participants to commit to one year with the program dedicated “to empowering individuals to improve their quality of life by building healthier bodies, minds, and communities.”

At a time when only one-infive adults get the recommended weekly amount of exercise and nearly 36 percent of adults are obese, a program like this can be life saving.

3 Wins Fitness was awarded $80,000 for the 2017-2018 school year by the American Council on Exercise (ACE). The funding will be used to pay student instructors and to expand the program across, not only the city, but the state as well. They currently have 28 program locations identified on their website but Calderone indicated that there were quite a few schools and locations still not yet updated and added to the list.

Over on ratemyprofessor.com, students had nice things to say about her, like these anonymous reviews; “She is super helpful, very nice, and caring. Goes out of her way to help you succeed in the class.” And this one: “She was one of the best teachers I have seen. She is not only a nice person but also a nice teacher.” And, “She is really knowledgeable and fair with everything.” So clearly, her reputation proceeds her.

We got to talking about how easy it to not maintain your own personal fitness routine and practice. If she doesn’t schedule the time for her workouts, they don’t happen.

In her experience having a home practice is key. “I’ll do [my workout] in my pajamas,” said Calderone. When she is not on campus she likes to spend time with her husband and her 14-month-old daughter. For a fun fitness activity, she and her husband attend Jiu Jitsu classes in Valencia, where they reside. Calderone has been a freelance writer for Oxygen Magazine since Jan. 2014. Her articles

Photo by Hope Rosemary Brown

give in-depth guidance on total body agility training, strength and mobility, fat blasting, anti-aging, and core toning exercises.

Follow on Instagram: @gcc_ employee_wellness Upcoming Wellness Lecture Series event titled “10 Myths and Truths About Weight Management” on October 19th during College Lunch Hour (12:30-1:30) in SB 243.

Hope Rosemary Brown can be reached at hbrown090@studentglendale.edu

It’s A Nail-Biter Against SMC Soccer coach says the team has shown improvement, but seems room to grow

By Ricky Nuño Staff Writer Glendale Community College men’s soccer team (1-7-2) took on Santa Monica (7-1-2). Glendale College has had their recent struggles this season, many which come on offense.

Glendale had a record last year of 10-6-5 just staying over .500. This year they look to improve that record and make a run, but can they do it after their recent struggles resulting in a slow start?

Santa Monica’s Giancarlo Canas-Jarq would fire a shot at GCC’s goalie but miss the shot high. Glendale followed that by getting some fouls, and a yellow card was given to GCC’s Carlos Trujillo. Glendale would get a defensive save after a shot by Santa Monica’s Danny Hernandez. The Vaqs would come close to firing the first goal but the shot

by Loai Ibrahim would just hit the crossbar for the miss.

Both Glendale and Santa Monica we’re heavily penalized in the game racking up seven fouls for Glendale and five for Santa Monica.

Santa Monica Community College would get off another shot and a corner kick. SMCC would sub in Carlos Rincon for

Giancarlo Canas-Jarq at 22:30 into the game. Glendale and Santa Monica then traded of fouls with two each late in the first half.

Glendale would make two substitutions of their own bringing in Christopher Mazzi into the game for Loai Ibrahim, as well as putting in Andres Perez for Wilmer Bonilla.

Both teams showed good signs of life on offense, getting some shots off all while getting some spectacular stops as the teams stayed neck and neck throughout the first half.

The half ended with the game tied 0-0. The Vaqs played great defense on the ball, stopping shots throughout the half. Coach Matsumoto would praise their defense by saying she was “pleased with how long we were holding them off.”

Santa Monica would make another substitution and would bring in Marek Strzelczyk for Jesus Alcanzar at 44:00 into the game. SMCC would get their second offsides of the game at 51:15 in the game.

They would not go quietly as they got back to get a shot off but would miss wide right. Glendale responded by coming close with a shot by Andrez Perez which was too wide.

At 60:47 Glendale made three substitutions in the game bring-

ing in Wilmer Bonilla for Andres Perez, Jesus Rodriguez for Kento Nakajima and Rogee Gibson for Makan Afzail as GCC tries to get the spark to take the lead.

SMCC would get close to scoring off a header by Marek Stzelczyk but Glendale’s Alexis Guzman made a clutch game saving save.

The fouls would continue for both squads as Santa Monica’s Andy Naidu picks up a yellow card at 67:50 and later on by Rudi Ibrahim at 74:14. Then Kevin Montepeque of Glendale would pick up a yellow of his own.

Three substitutions would be made, one by Santa Monica and two by Glendale. Andy Naidu would come in for Rudi Ibrahim for Santa Monica. Loai Ibrahim would sub in for Christopher Mazzi and Ahmed Alqatan would sub in for Jesus Rodriguez.

Carlos Trujillo picked up his second card of the game this time it being a red card. SMCC would make the last substitution of the game by bringing in Rudi Ibrahim for Andy Naidu.

Shortly after, Santa Monica broke the hearts of the Vaqueros as Danny Hernandez scores his first goal of the season making the score 1-0.

“Our team battled it out with determination and we had a few critical shots that unfortunately

Photo by Bob Teichmann

TOUGH BATTLE : Glendale’s Kevin Montepeque kicks past a Santa Monica defender.

did not end up in the net,” said Vaquero head coach Laura Matsumoto. She also went on to say “It was gut wrenching to watch all that hard work end with SMCC goal coming with less than three minutes left in the game.”

“The team has shown some improvement and played great defense this game. Overall, the outcome was very disappointing, but we improved our performance

compared to our previous few games and we need to build on that positive factor,” said coach Matsumoto.

The Vaqueros went to Allan Hancock on Friday Oct. 6, looking to reverse their recent misfortunes and get some wins. That game ended up in a tie.

Ricardo Nuño can be reached at ricardonuno564@yahoo.com.

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Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017

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