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Wednesday, May 8, 2019 Glendale Community College Student Newspaper
Volume 113 | Issue 4
Tobias Graves-Morris Graphic Designer
SHPE’s Maker Faire brings creativity and innovation to GCC for participants of all ages and interests By Alin Pasokhian and Yesenia Thomson Glendale Community College’s Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) hosted their 4th annual Maker Faire on April 27, bringing the future of engineering and design to campus. The full-day event included a multitude of interactive workshops, lectures, and exhibitions ranging from learning how to build your own Mars Rover to a panel about design and women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM), for attendees of all ages and interests to enjoy. While still a fairly new event on campus, the Maker Faire continues to impress everyone in attendance every year. This year, the club also put great focus on the arts of the STEAM program by including several showings of architectural and interior design. Amongst the exhibitions were design concepts by GCC students, bringing a new approach to the design of the campus’ cafeteria presented by one of architecture
professor Izabela Boyajyan’s students. Her students also led several lectures as part of the Maker Faire’s many activities. Many prestigious guests from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), including Michael “Mik” Cox, who is a data scientist and team lead at the JPL, brought their work with them. For Mik, this was their Build-Your-Own Mars Rover exhibition and their 3D Mars experience. Students were able to see Mars in an immersive, 3D atmosphere like no other, giving them a firsthand look into the depths of space, and in turn our future. SHPE invited several other artists and vendors to the event. From handmade jewelry to homemade cookies, Plaza Vaquero was filled with unique talents who were given the opportunity to boost their business and network amongst like-minded individuals. Associated Students of Glendale Community College also hosted their carnival, which included interactive games and snacks. “Attending the Maker Faire was an interesting experience, seeing how many GCC students are talented and gifted in ways I wouldn’t have seen any other way.
It lets them express their passions and get exposure. Meeting other people was definitely a fun experience.” said Vivian Shahmirzayan, a Deaf Studies major, and first-time attendee of the Maker Faire. Many guests, who, like Vivian, were attending the Maker Faire for the first time, said it was an enriching experience and they would definitely be back for. GCC Car Club also had the opportunity to collaborate with SHPE for their car exhibition, which included several unique cars owned by the members of the club. The selection included American muscle, Japanese Domestic Market (JDM), and European performance cars. Located in Lot A, the GCC Car Club provided a show for guests while they enjoyed lunch, provided by Habit Burger. The members of the club showed great enthusiasm to anyone who had any questions regarding the design or mechanics of their cars, many of which were modified by the members themselves, precisely fitting the theme of the Maker Faire. SHPE’s 4th annual Maker Faire provided a fun and educational day for guests of all ages and interests. Their
commitment to making this event as inclusive as possible reflected in the satisfaction of all attendees. By providing many outlets in which students can get involved and learn something new, they showed that spending a Saturday on campus may just be the best thing to do with your weekend. El Vaquero is enthusiastic to experience SHPE’s upcoming Maker Faires and we look forward to learning something new from them in the future. Alin Pasokhian can be reached at pasokhian@gmail.com. Yesenia Thomson can be reached at thomsonyesenia@gmail.com.
In This Issue News. . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2 Features . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Opinion.. . . . . . . . . 4-5 Lifestyle . . . . . . . . 5 - 6 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Entertainment.......7
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Wednesday, May 8, 2019 NEWS
Glendale’s Special Olympics Program helps society’s most overlooked to feel supported and empowered By Samantha Decker Features Editor It was a day of astonishing athleticism as well as a celebration differences at the Special Olympic Games held at the Hoover High School stadium Friday, April 19, 2019. Stands filled with fans erupted in cheers as the eager athletes took their starting positions. Events were completed with celebratory high-fives and hugs shared between coaches, teammates, and volunteers. Throughout the entire event, beaming smiles of pride and accomplishment could be seen from wide and far. This year, Glendale, Calif. had the privilege of hosting the games for the third time for the Southern California Division. The games featured track & field events ranging from foot-races to long jump and even javelin throwing. Hundreds of student athletes with various special needs from the Southern California area, came out to showcase their skills and compete. In preparation, the well-deserved athletes have put in countless hours of training for their performance on this local stage. Fans and friends of competitors from Crescenta Valley High School showed their support by waiving larger-than-life poster board headshots of athletes par-
ticipating in the games. The Southern California Special Olympics division allows all differently abled athletes who sign up, to compete at no out of pocket cost. This helps eliminate any type of barrier that may stand in an athlete’s way and therefore makes it truly inclusive to all in an effort to give everyone a chance to thrive. This is made possible by generous donors, dedicated volunteers and of course, the fans who attend. Beyond sports, the games teach a valuable lesson of finding strength in our differences through unity and cooperation. While scores and times were not officially recorded, achievement was measured in effort, good sportsmanship and most importantly, fun. In this way, it keeps the special Olympics about the celebration of all abilities as well as reinforces the importance of every athlete. Participating athletes were commemorated for their hard work and dedication with ribbons of recognition. The most valuable prize the athletes took home were the memories they made and friendships they forged that will last a lifetime. They will go on to compete again at California State Long Beach on June 8 and 9.
The event brought the campus together in an effort to appreciate the City of Angels By Tobias Graves-Morris Graphic Designer In a valiant effort to bring together the student body, Glendale College’s System Impacted Intellectuals club hosted an event which allowed the student body to experience, celebrate and participate in the Los Angeles urban culture. Led by club president David Callejas and organized by club founder Travis Leach, and made possible by Dr. Robert Hill, the dean of student services, they even gained the interest of many students around campus. Among the bustle that afternoon, there were three classic lowriders, which are iconic staples within the L.A. urban car scene. These concourse examples of automotive Americana attracted the attention of both students and faculty alike. As the event unfolded, more and more people chose to stick around to see what else was to offer. There was even live painting; a performance of street art and the opportunity for anyone attending to get involved and paint
SENIOR PRODUCTION MANAGER Hayk Rostomyan PRODUCTION MANAGER James Ojano-Simonsson
FEATURES EDITOR Samantha Decker OPINION EDITOR Hayk Martirosyan
STAFF REPORTER Paul Kim
SPORTS EDITOR Michael Dumansky
FACULTY ADVISER Rory Cohen rcohen@glendale.edu (818) 240-1000 ext. 5214
COPY EDITOR Yesenia Thomson Elena Jacobson
SPORTS REPORTERS Jonathan Vargas Elone Safaryan
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Tobias Graves-Morris
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Selena Reyes
PHOTO EDITOR Dylan A. Bryant
ENTERTAINMENT REPORTERS Saryana Nazarian Eduardo Carreno
BROADCAST REPORTER Tyler Greene
their own graffiti, as well. The interactive nature of the event, made it much more interesting for those in attendance, as well as the guests. Meanwhile, GCC alumni exhibited original poetry, which provided the entertainment for the large crowd who were patiently in line for the authentic street-style tacos, which perfectly complemented the atmosphere. By the end of the event, the turnout was larger than expected, to the point that they even ran out of tacos to give to guests. Organizers were deservedly proud of the occasion and satisfied with how the day turned out.
STAFF WRITERS Allazhar Duisenbek Jake Denne Gabby Duga Afroditi Kontos Tatiana Pak Lilit Sedrakyan Eisho Shiroma Martha Topete
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Samuel Reynolds
WEB EDITOR Alin Pasokhian
Tobias Graves-Morris Photo Credit
David Callejas: President of System Impacted Interlectuals
LIFESTYLE EDITOR Kylie Shannon ILLUSTRATOR Matthew Spencer
Everyone involved, did an outstanding job to successfully bring support and awareness to all organization associated, as well as showcasing that the urban or street lifestyle isn’t all the same violent and intimidating entity that it is portrayed to be. The event proved the community-oriented and forward-thinking nature of the members of System Impacted Intellectuals and their supporters. Their attitudes and outlook on life show that regardless of where one starts, there is an abundance of ambition, compassion, and talent every corner they look.
In this special broadcast episode, Tobias GravesMorris filmed the event. Visit this link to watch: http://bit.ly/2H5i7QN Or Scan this QR Code:
BROADCAST ASSISTANT Jordan Henry
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Marian Sahakyan
www.elvaq.com
System Impacted Intellectuals Bring Urban Culture To Campus
Samantha Decker can be reached at sdecker458@student.glendale.edu.
STAFF
Member of the Journalism Asssociation of Community Colleges
Letters to the Editors El Vaquero accepts story ideas in news, features, profiles, sports and entertainment from the public. Send an idea or article to the editor at elvaquero@glendale.edu or call (818) 240-1000, ext. 3211.
Letters may be reproduced in full or in part and represent only the point of view of the writer, not the opinion of El Vaquero or Glendale Community College and its district. All letters must include the full name, address and phone number of the writer. You will be contacted before publication. El Vaquero is a First Amendment publication.
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www.elvaq.com FEATURES
Wednesday, May 8, 2019
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48 Hours in LA On a Budget There are options to suit every income and style
By Eisho Shiroma Staff Writer Are any of your friends planning a trip to Los Angeles? L.A. is huge and is renowned as a city of entertainment, food, culture, and more. It may seem expensive to explore the city, but you don’t have to break the bank. There are so many free museums, no-cost to low-cost activities and beautiful beaches to explore in the city. These options guide every traveler how to spend 48 hours in L.A. on a budget, which includes where to go and what to eat. Day 1 OUE Skyspace LA: Skyspace has California’s tallest observation deck, people can see a great 360-degree view of Los Angeles City. It is located about 1,000 feet above the city at the top of the U.S. bank tower in Downtown LA. If it is a first time trip to LA, this is a good option to explore and gaze at the city. General admission to OUE Skyspace LA is $25 per person,
and group admission is also available. This place is perfect for all ages. Grand Central Market: This is the best place to find a unique lunch in Downtown, Grand Central Market has nearly 37 vendors. “Eggslut” is one of the most popular shops, serving delicious egg sandwiches and other dishes. Recently, Grand Central Market added a new restaurant, “Knead & Co.,” which serves handmade pasta. Prices depend on how hungry you are. It can be pretty affordable if you are on a budget. The Broad: The broad is a contemporary art museum that has over 2,000 works of art in DTLA. Currently, they have exhibitions including Yayoi Kusama’s “Infinity Mirrored Room,” a mirror-lined installment that houses a sparkling and endless LED light display. General admission is free. Online reservations are highly encouraged to avoid wait times during busy periods. Spitz: In Little Tokyo, stop by Spitz for the best sangria and
happy-hour in DTLA. They serve eclectic street food, such as kebabs, fries and craft beer. A recommendation is a “Street Cart Doner Wrap” with the combo. It comes with a small serving of fries and any drink. The price range is $15 to $25. BADMAASH: If you are in the mood for something else, across the street from LAPD headquarters in DTLA, there is the smell of Indian curry drifting in the air. BADMAASH serves Indian traditional dishes, such as dried curry, lamb burgers, chicken samosas, and Chicken Tikka Poutine. There are many options on the menu, but if you want to try standard Indian food, perhaps enjoy “Butter Chicken Curry with Naan” for under $15. A reservation is recommended to avoid long waits. Day 2 The Butcher’s Daughter: Daytime is beautiful in Venice. The Butcher’s Daughter is a good place to have lunch for anyone looking to soak up some sun along with some delicious food.
This trendy vegetarian brunch spot is known for their juices and egg-based dishes. Everyone can appreciate the veggie-friendly menu, which includes standbys like avocado toast and breakfast burritos. There is an indoor-outdoor terrace, and plants are lined up for a table in the beautifully turned-out dining room. Santa Monica Pier: After a late lunch in Venice, you can take an electric scooter or bike, available through the phone apps, and head for Santa Monica Pier. Exploring the pier as you walk along the beach is a lovely experience. There is Pacific Park, which is known as a family friendly place to come and play. It is the West Coast’s only amusement park located on a pier, and each year millions of visitors enjoy rides, games and occasional free concerts. Griffith Observatory: A beautiful view of Los Angeles is on every tourist’s wish list. The Griffith Observatory is a popular spot, especially at night. The Griffith Observatory has fascinating exhibitions and features a planetarium. Admission is free
and the Observatory is open from noon to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, with extended hours on weekends. WOOD: As you drive to the Observatory, you may want to stop for dinner. Take your out-of-town guests to WOOD. This restaurant is located on the corner of Sunset and Silver Lake Boulevard in Silver Lake. If you are a fan of Italian food, this restaurant is a must. From pizza, pasta, to salad bowls and grilled steaks, there are a variety of Italian traditional foods on the menu. Pizzas are divided into “Pizza Rosse” and “Pizza Bianche” (with or without red sauce) and cost $12 to $16 for a smallish pie. Of course, this is not an exhaustive list, but it spreads out some sights (and places to eat) quite nicely, over two days. Next time your out-of-town guests come by for the weekend, don’t feel like you have to drive too far to impress them.
Eisho Shiroma can be reached at eshirom011@student.glendale.edu.
Meet Tina, Your Local Dance Filmmaker Glendale Community College student talks about her dreams and ambitions
Along with other GCC film students, Sinlapasai recently got the opportunity to attend Sundance Film Festival, the largest Tina “Soal” Sinlapasai, 34, has independent film festival in the been at GCC for three years, with United States. Thanks to a grant big goals for her future, as she Dr. Peter Green, Chair of the Vicompletes her Associate degrees sual & Performing Arts Division, in Dance Teaching, Choreograph- and Geri Ulrey, Chair of Media ic Studies, Video-editing and Cin- Arts Department received, the students were able to take part in. ematography. Finding confidence while enOne of Sinlapasai’s career goals is to start a non-profit pro- tering a new freelance career can be tough, but gram, “We Free through the supMe,” which will help people re“I’ve experienced port of her inVictor habilitate from a lot in life and I’ve structors Robles and Deb abuse and trauma Sinlapathrough art and seen the most reward Diehl, sai said she was education. in the greatest risks able to develop She’s currentquickly from her ly learning about I’ve taken.” insecurities to find everything she’ll her own personal need in order to understand and help people of all style as a dance filmmaker. They ages and backgrounds as a visual encouraged her to give her ideas arts teacher. “I plan to make more a shot, and the biggest lesson dance films and continue my vid- she learned was to always take a eography and editing career while chance. “I’ve experienced a lot in building the non-profit,” she said. life and I’ve seen the most reward Sinlapasai found her passion in the greatest risks I’ve taken,” for filmmaking in the process of she emphasized. Although Sinlapasai loves taking her creative ideas and putting them into the works. The teaching dance and has a lot of problem-solving needed to ac- patience, she explains that her complish her ideas is one of the work can be both a blessing and a curse. “Sometimes I get people parts she enjoys most. Being able to combine the two who are very hard to teach. They things she loves; dance and film only want the answers, and don’t has sparked a fire in this dancer want to learn the answers,” she and filmmaker. To display dance said. That doesn’t stop her from in new unique ways that can’t be continuing to help people grow seen on stage is something that’s and become better versions of themselves. important to her. By James Ojano-Simonsson Production Manager
Apart from being a full-time student, she is also a supplemental instructor in four other classes: Ballet 110 (beginning ballet class), Dance 150 (special needs dance class), Media 103 (intro to motion picture production), and Media 112 (motion picture editing). “Working with Tina as an SI has been great. She’s already a good filmmaker, and she uses her knowledge and experience to make sure that students are learning the skills they need to continue ahead in the department and the field,” media arts instructor Chris Borey said. Sinlapasai fell in love with visual arts when Ulrey asked her to assist with two media arts classes. “Being an SI has really tested my patience and understanding of others, especially at GCC with such an extreme range of student types,” she said. “But the end result of a student growing to their potential and helping the instructors is the best reward for being a supplement instructor.” “As a student, Tina has proven herself to be focused and inspired. She challenged herself in every aspect of her studies, which resulted in both personal and educational growth. As an SI, I could not ask for a better assistant,” said dance instructor Robles. “Tina demonstrates great compassion, patience, and understanding when working with these students.” Although dancing and filmmaking is a big part of Sinlapasai’s life, friends and family are
Tina Sinlapasai Courtesy Photo
GCC AT SUNDANCE: (Left to right) Michelle Castillo, Cathy Veliz, Deb Diehl, Geri Ulrey, Paule Bernadel and Tina Sinlapasai. (Bottom) Malcolm Jones and Ryan Bounophasaysol.
the most important to her. She’s ing dance, and cooking, Sinlaparecently become enthralled sai has one final statement to with cooking, and especially if make. “It’s okay to be silly and it means she gets to serve those not perfect,” she said. “Accepwho are closest to her. “I am satis- tance of yourself, flaws and all, fied when I see people being nur- can make you more comfortable tured with my food and hospital- and confident in all aspects of ity, and it’s my life.” way of sharing Through love and giving all her en“Acceptance of yourthem value,” counters, good self, flaws and all, can or bad, the she said. Cooking for make you more comfart- young dance her cast and filmmaker crew during able, and confident in all never fails to film shoots is express the aspects of life.” something she human charalso enjoys, and acteristics of explains it’s the love and releast she can do for them while spect. “A small act of kindness helping her with her projects. It can go a long way, and that goes may not come as a surprise that for everyone, and everything,” culinary arts would be part of her she smiled. non-profit arts program for rehabilitation. James Ojana-Simonsson can be reached at jojanos818@student.glendale.edu. Aside from filmmaking, teach-
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Wednesday, May 8, 2019 OPINION
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Up in Smoke: Pot is Popular, But Still Illegal As weed becomes trendy, what will we do with those in prison for possession or selling it? By Afroditi Kontos Staff Writer What’s the difference between a cannabis dispensary and a weed dealer? One has to pay tax money and the other, bail money. America is participating in organized crime by violating its very own rules. The federal government still places marijuana in the same category as heroin and cocaine, but you wouldn’t know that unless you were living in a lowincome neighborhood, getting arrested for it. The War on Drugs has resulted in the arrest of millions of people, majority of which are people of color. American Civil Liberty Union (ACLU), a non-profit organization geared towards “defending and preserving the individual rights and liberties of every person,” reports that marijuana use is roughly as equal among African Americans and Caucasians, yet African Americans are 3.73 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession. Possessing the slightest amount of marijuana has had dire consequences and has affected people of color for decades including eligibility for student financial aid, employment opportunities, child custody litigation, and immigration status. It appears that these disparities reflect a policy that at least goes as far back as the Nixon Administration. According to Dan Baum in his article titled “Legalize It All: How to Win the War on Drugs” published in Harper’s Magazine, John Ehrlichman told Baum in an interview the following: “The Nixon campaign in 1968, and the Nixon White House after that, had two enemies: the antiwar left and black people. You understand what I’m saying? We knew we couldn’t make it illegal to be either against the war or black, but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana
Tobias Graves-Morris Graphic Designer
and blacks with heroin, and then criminalizing both heavily, we could disrupt those communities. We could arrest their leaders, raid their homes, break up their meetings, and vilify them night after night on the evening news. Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course we did.” Bernard Noble, an African American, who was sentenced to 13 years of hard labor for possessing two marijuana joints, was granted parole in February of 2018, after serving more than 8 years in a Louisiana prison. His sentence was unconstitutionally excessive, overlooking the fact that he was a middle-aged man who supported seven children, was gainfully employed for over twenty years and had no history of violence. Meanwhile, Noble was working penal labor, also known as ‘slave’ labor, which is explicitly allowed under the 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Across the country, people living in states like Colorado and Washington were sparking up joints
while simultaneously applying cannabis licensing for Oakland for LLCs. residents who have been most Marijuana Business Daily victimized by the war on drugs. conducted a survey and found Unfortunately, the high costs of that 81 percent of cannabis ex- setting up legal cannabis operaecutives were white, mostly men, tions are holding people of color while 5.7 percent were Latinx and back while allowing big interest 4.3 African American. Those that groups to control the industry. have been most victimized by the The government collected an War on Drugs, are being shut out estimated $4.7 billion in taxes of the booming green industry. from legal cannabis companies Cory Booker, a New Jersey Dem- last year on nearly $13 billion in ocrat and presidenrevenue. Howev“Despite its recent- er, under federal tial candidate told VICE News, “At this glamorization, indi- law, marijuana is point it’s too obvious viduals, in not-so- illegal. Cannabis and urgent and unfair trendy states, are still businesses in the that we’re moving serving time behind United States still something on maribars for the same pay federal taxes juana on the federal and are not althing.” level and it doesn’t lowed any deducdo something on retions or credits storative justice. I want a bill to for business expenses. Proceeds have some acknowledgement from marijuana transactions are of the savage injustices that the considered money laundering and marijuana prohibition has done to banks refuse to hold such money communities.” because of the risks involved. The City of Oakland intro- These cannabis businesses pay duced a groundbreaking Equity their taxes in cash which in turn Permit Program, on May 23, is creating havoc for employees 2017, that minimizes barriers to working for the IRS.
In spite of all this, under the Controlled Substances Act, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) still considers marijuana a Schedule 1 drug. If one is arrested and charged, they are sent to prison. The Federal government is simultaneously collecting billions of taxpayers’ dollars to incarcerate individuals who have been convicted of marijuana charges. According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office of California, it costs an average of about $81,000 per year to incarcerate an inmate in prison in California. The criminal justice system also imposes hefty fines on the inmate. Many states are en route to the decriminalization and legalization of marijuana. As of January 2019, fourteen U.S. states have decriminalized marijuana, but have yet to make the drug legal for recreational use. Decriminalization laws vary from state to state. However, these laws do not ensure that possession of the drug will not be faced with legal penalties. It appears that the federal government has no interest in legalizing marijuana. It circumvents its own laws, turning a blind eye to make a profit off of activities it deems illegal. The cannabis industry is booming, with an estimated trajectory of up to $50 billion in global sales by 2026. However, despite its recent glamorization, individuals, in not-sotrendy states, are still serving time behind bars for the same thing. All the while, Uncle Sam is funneling in monies, whether it’s from a ‘criminal’ or entrepreneur. This is the way organized crime has operated for years.
Afroditi Kontos can be reached at afroditik@me.com.
Boy Scouts of America Lands Itself in Hot Water The organization is now defending itself against multiple sexual abuse allegations
By Elone Safaryan Staff Writer Former Boy Scout Christopher Malcolm was only 11-yearsold when his troop leader Stephen Corcoran began sexually abusing him. The abuse occurred over a hundred times in the span of five years, until Malcolm was 16. A lawsuit was filed against the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) by Malcolm and two former Boy Scouts who also came forward saying Corcoran had abused them. In June of 2017, Corcoran was sentenced to seven years in prison for possession of child pornography. It was a month later that Malcolm accused Corcoran of abusing him for years. Following Malcolm’s allegations, Corco-
ran admitted to molesting three children under his supervision in his Morris Plains home. Finally, in January of this year, Corcoran was given a 10 year sentence that will run concurrently with the seven year sentence. In another lawsuit, 17 former boy scouts alleged that a former scoutmaster Donald Dennis, now deceased, had sexually assaulted them between 1963 and 1975. One of the plaintiffs even said that the abuse happened over 1,000 times. As of now, it is the largest single lawsuit targeting one scoutmaster. The lawsuit also accuses the organization of negligence. In the documents, the defense argues that the Boy Scouts of America allowed leaders to take advantage and hid away
from taking any action to protect children. Corcoran and Dennis were two of many Boy Scout leaders accused of sexual abuse. The sexual abuse has allegedly been taking place over seven decades. Since the early 1920s, the organization has preserved files of “ineligible volunteers,” also known as the “perversion files,” which was intended to keep sexual abusers out of the organization. In 2012, the BSA was ordered by a judge to release these “perversion files” to the public. Over 20,000 pages of documentation confirmed at least 1,200 cases where leaders and or volunteers were accused of sexual abuse from 1965 to 1985. Another investigation shows that from 1970 to 1991, hundreds
of cases of sexual abuse went unreported to the police, in order to protect the reputation of the BSA. These cases were found upon reviewing 1600 files in another 1992 court case. Evidently, admitted perpetrators were encouraged to secretly resign. It is believed that more than 7,800 former leaders were accused of some sort of sexual abuse over the course of the last 72 years. Some 12,000 victims have been identified in a testimony publicized by Jeff Anderson, an attorney who represents the survivors. The BSA released a statement saying they believe their victims and support them, as well as apologize to them for the acts committed. That apology, however, doesn’t go far enough.
As a result of the lawsuits, the Wall Street Journal reports that the BSA is considering bankruptcy. Their subpar handling of the sex abuse allegations has led to rising legal costs affiliated to the lawsuits. As of 2018, BSA membership has gone from four million to 2.3 million. That is not a coincidence. Charges of sexual abuse in the BSA have been covered up by the organization for decades. Finally, they’re paying the price for it. Any organization that tries to protect perpetrators of rape deserves to go bankrupt. The shutdown of the beloved Boy Scouts of America cannot come soon enough. Elone Safaryan can be reached at esafary181@student.glendale.edu.
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OPINION | LIFESTYLE
Wednesday, May 8, 2019
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To Impeach or Not to Impeach? Why the hesitation of impeaching President Donald Trump?
Gage Skidmore Creative Commons
PUSHING THROUGH THE INVESTIGATIONS: President of the United States Donald Trump speaking at the 2018 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland.
By Gabby Duga Staff Writer The Mueller Report has been out since April 18 and the contents of the report are damning beyond our own comprehension. Americans, in general, are quite divided whether or not they care about the Mueller Report or even yet, bringing the impeachment grounds to the House floor, they reckon that they play the same ole music but on a different tune. But it seems rather disingenuous because the evidence of the report is now out in the open and the people need to know and decide accordingly.
When the Mueller Report came out, it was right to assume and inquire whether or not the Democrats should either stay away from the impeachment process or commence the impeachment process. But then again, if the House of Representatives cannot proceed to discuss or bring the grounds of impeachment against President Donald Trump, there is something totally wrong about it and urgent action needs to be taken into consideration. However, many American people are convinced that the grounds of impeachment against President Trump is the only way to bring back the dignity towards
our presidency. The reason why the grounds of impeachment are necessary to be presented on the floor of the House of Representatives as soon as possible, because the president of the United States broke his oath of office and committed crimes against the country by repeatedly obstructing justice, colluding with Russian interference in 2016 Presidential Election and using campaign finance money to shut up the people; and many Democrat members of the Judiciary Committee can tell you that those two grounds are very sufficient and evident that this president needs to be impeached, immediately, and held accountable for wrongdoings. Before proceeding to bring the arguments of why members of Congress need to bring the grounds of impeachment to the House of Representatives, the issue of impeachment in a sense has a huge political implication that will have a lasting effect not just in the life of our nation but it reflects if our institutions shall protect our Constitution at its core. Although impeaching the president of the United States may be risky and suicidal, it is an inherent responsibility that is imposed on the 435 members of the House of Representatives. Impeachment is the only way to return the decency and dignity of the office of
the presidency to its honorable and stately place that has been violated and defiled by a man who lacks morality, deference and respect in which he holds within this honorable office. First of all, every member of the House of Representatives must now open the discussion of impeachment, at the earliest, rather than delaying it even further as we reach 2020 presidential elections. If President Trump isn’t impeached, it will embolden the President to act more and more dangerously precarious, to the point that our republic will go into shambles. It is in their constitutional duties as a body to check on the actions of the executive branch if there is a breach of action or misdeeds coming from the executive branch— the body— also known as Congress, should act accordingly to bring accountability towards the executive branch. The second reason why Americans are becoming supportive of “impeachment talk” in Congress is that the evidence of the Mueller Report is damning. This report puts this country in a state of disrepute in which our national integrity is humiliating, to say the least. Special prosecutor Robert Mueller has given Congress its hand of blessing to act and decide what action they shall take, given the evidence of obstruction
of justice and tampering the witness, which is clear and concise evidence being presented to them. The decision on whether they will carry the constitutional responsibility and duties to impeach the sitting president, and cleanse the office once and for all, lays at the hands of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and Congressman Jerry Nadler (D-NY), who is also House Judiciary Committee Chairman. However, history will judge us heavily and the judgment that comes from it, will not be so kind to us. And if history will not be kind to us, the somber exercise of regret, anger and continuous “shoulda, coulda, woulda” will linger for us as voters, and to the posterity. New York Times opinion columnist Charles Blow quoted the great American Revolution writer Thomas Paine who said, “In America the law is king. For as in absolute governments the king is law, so in free countries, the law ought to be king; and there ought to be no other.” The question for us to ask is this, which one shall prevail the day and be pronounced king, the immoral president or our laws that is our Constitution? Gabby Duga can be reached at nduga808@student.glendale.edu.
To o M u c h D r a m a The war between the President and Congress rages on By Hayk Martirosyan Opinion Editor The Mueller Report is out and the outcry has been quite interesting. The report is the result of an investigation into possible fraud in the 2016 presidential election, which specifically focuses on Russia’s involvement in the presidential campaign for President Donald Trump. After two years of investigation, the report was submitted to Attorney General William Barr on March 22, which proved any direct allegations to be wrong. Many thought that the drama would end here, but that did not seem to be the case. Barr read over the original report and published a four-page summary of it. In it, Barr wrote “The Special Counsel’s investigation did not find that the Trump campaign or anyone associated with it conspired or coordinated with Russia in its efforts to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election.” This statement ignores the fact that among the arrested individuals, were George Papadopoulos, who was Trump’s political advisor, and Michael Cohen, Trump’s personal lawyer. The fact that the arrests were so close to the Trump campaign and yet the campaign itself was not found guilty, raised some red flags. The public and authorities called to publish the entire report and after one month, the 448-
page report was published by the Attorney General. The report came in two volumes, with the first discussing the involvement of Russia in U.S. politics and the second discussing the obstruction of justice by various American citizens and authority figures. In the wake of the report, the biggest outcry came from the President. Trump decried the investigation as an attempt to bring down his government and undermine the presidency and began making calls to investigate the Mueller Investigation for treason. Further fuel was thrown into the fire as the Democratic party has chosen to have a vote to see if they will hold Attorney General William P. Barr in contempt for missing the deadline to produce the full Mueller Report. Further theorizing has gone on, insisting that Barr purposefully missed the deadline with a greater intention of altering the report. During a floor speech, Republican Senator Mitch McConnell decried such theories, insisting that they further create partisanship in a vain search for conspiracies to bring down the opposition. McConnel urged the Congress to move forward, instead of dwindle on the results of the case. It seems, even after it has been concluded, the Investigation has had terrible ramifications. Hayk Martirosyan can be reached at haykm212@gmail.com.
LIFESTYLE
Bye-Bye B.O. We put deodrants to the test By Kylie Shannon and Jordan Henry We are constantly applying products onto our bodies without fully knowing the chemicals within them, from deodorants, body lotions and shaving creams. Furthermore, when it comes to aluminum free versus regular deodorants, there’s a big controversy of which is best. Two El Vaq staffers put two different deo’s to the test to find that out. Before we present our testimonies about the products that we tried, here is a little background. The Dove Advanced Care deodorant has been a part of the brand for a while and contains an active ingredient of aluminum, which in its turn has raised big fuss among consumers. Studies suggest that aluminum doesn’t only clog one’s pores, decreasing oxygen and nutrient flow into the body, but according to the National Cancer Institute, many scientists suggest that “the aluminum-based compounds in antiperspirants may contribute to the development of breast cancer, however
there is no conclusive scientific evidence.” Though more research is needed to confirm, the health conscious population has boycotted many products with aluminum. Perhaps why many companies began producing alternative deodorants without aluminum. With the assumption in mind that aluminum free deo’s don’t work as well as regular deo’s do, Kylie Shannon used Dove’s zero percent Aluminum free deodorant. Jordan Henry, on the other hand, tried Dove’s original Advanced Care Deodorant. After using the aluminumfree option, multiple times for a couple of weeks, Shannon concluded that it worked decently. For day-to-day activities, she found it worked well, without needing to reapply. However, when it came to exercising or increased physical activity, it had to be reapplied more than once. Depending on one’s preference, this can be a major drawback, especially if you tend to sweat more. Further concluding, this is still a great, affordable option for anyone who is interested in a safer alternative. However, if
you are a gym addict per se, you might want to look into something other. As for Henry, who a regular deodorant, she concluded that it worked fine, even during workouts. Henry, who takes a Zumba class three times a week and burns an average of 530 calories per session, felt it did a good job at keeping her fresh. Even after a hardcore workout and sweating, she felt that Dove Advanced Care deodorant really worked to contain the odor, however, she did not smell the sweet cucumber smell as much as when she first applied. Overall, she was very satisfied with the product, concluding that if you’re someone with an active lifestyle, Dove Advanced Care Deodorant could be the right one for you. Depending on your choice of deodorant, lifestyle and body chemistry, both deodorants are excellent and wallet-friendly options to try out.
Kylie Shannon can be reached at kshanoo124@student.glenale.edu. Jordan Henry can be reached at Jordanhenry184@gmail.com
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LIFESTYLE | SPORTS Wednesday, May 8, 2019
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A Balanced Lifestyle How you can stay on top of work, life and school Use a planner When students hear of using a planner, they look back to middle school days, where they were given a homework planner on the first day of school. In the event that the planner would be lost, you were were doomed for failure the whole semester, and for those who didn’t lose it would be “more successful.” Perhaps a silly thought, we not understand the truth behind middle school fears. Having a planner at one’s side to write out important details for the day, will not only help remember what you have set, but will also teach how to prioritize. It also improves organization skills, as well as tracking achievements. For most college students, organzation isn’t always common, but it is achievable. Unfortunately, “work ethics and grades suffer tremendously,” according to the Professional Learning Board, when one isn’t as organized. As students accomplish goals throughout the week, they are able to build momentum and get inspired to work harder,” the study highlighted.
By Eduardo Carreno Entertainment Reporter College is the start of a new chapter in adulthood or for many, the opportunity to return and finish their education. Regardless of age, everybody has a responsibility to handle, whether it is something at home, school, work, or elsewhere. Rarely do we run into someone who works three jobs and is a full time student, enrolled in college or a university. A 2015 survey by the Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors, reports that more than 47 percent of students seeking counseling suffer from anxiety, and 40 percent report suffering from depression, according to the Association of Governing Boards. It is inevitable that a lot of that anxiety is directly linked to stress related to school and work. “How can one possibly stay on top of it all?” is one question we often hear. Despite its broad nature, the answers are often simple, it can start by simply staying organized and valuing one’s time. Here are some tips for those who need it.
Recognize your goals and involve your family When you set your mind on something that you want, you do what you have to do in order to achieve it. What is success without sharing it with your family; if you share your goals and hopes with others you will not only have a healthy relationship with your family but you will have an endless amount of support. “Working toward a goal or multiple goals will help keep you on track,” states a document from Colorado Christian University. “The homework, exams and balancing your schedule will all be worth it, especially when you know when you’ll complete it all.” Take some “me” time This is a no brainer: you can’t be successful without running into health complications, whether it is the flu or some excessive stress. With having so much on your plate, it is unhealthy for both your body and mind making it really easy for you to get overwhelmed. According to a newsletter on Healthline.com, “Stress is a natural physical and mental
Illustration by Matthew Spencer
reaction to life experiences.” Yet, “If these stress levels stay elevated far longer than is necessary for survival, it can take a toll on your [overall] health,” the article stated. It can be a cause of chronic stress than can extend to irritability, anxiety, depression and even insomnia. It also stimulates the immune system, making it susceptible to viral illnesses. Unfortunately, high levels of stress can also cause your liver to produce extra glucose for energy; if your body cannot sustain the pace of the sugar surge, many can develop type 2 diabetes. To stay clear of any signs and
avoid any other health problems, it is suggested to go out and do things that can calm the mind and soul. Going to the gym, doing yoga, or taking a hike out in nature are some of the best ways to calm the mind and the body, marking the much-needed “me time.” Following these tips can help ensure you to not only succeed in your classes and ace exams, but also help you connect spiritually and avoid risking your health over a paper or that test. Everything is important and so is balancing everything in life. Eduardo Carreno can be reached at ecarren860@student.glendale.edu.
SPORTS
Recapping the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs A historic ending to hard-fought series By Avetis Oganyan Sports Reporter What a season it’s been for the NHL, filled with surprises and exciting play from every team. These are going to be my predictions for the first round of this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Western Conference Round 1: Calgary Flames (Pacific Division 1) vs Colorado Avalanche (Wild Card 2) The Calgary Flames this season have been on a mission to win the Stanley Cup. They are arguably the most consistent team in the western conference. They will be coming up against a Colorado team, who started off the season well and then went on losing games one after another. I would love to see the matchup of both teams’ first lines, more specifically, a Johnny Gaudreau versus Nathan MacKinnon matchup. Calgary will end the Avalanche’s season however in 5 games I believe, as Colorado has not shown enough consistency to pass the surging Flames. San Jose Sharks (Pacific Division 2) vs Vegas Golden Knights (Pacific Division 3) A rematch of these two teams from last year’s playoffs was bound to happen, they both played an amazing series last year. I expect nothing less this year. With the Sharks getting Erik Karlsson back
after missing a long stretch towards the end of the regular season, they look like they should be in great shape entering the playoffs. The Sharks have been able to rely on their balanced offense and defense to pull out victories against the top teams. However, the challengers, Vegas Golden Knights in their second ever season, managed to get into the playoffs once again with a solid record. What is their key to success? Plain and simple, MarcAndre Fleury. The 34 year-old has been on an absolute tear, racking up Vezina Trophy numbers. I predict the Sharks to win this series in 7 games. Nashville Predators (Central Division 1) vs Dallas Stars (Wild Card 1) This is a new playoff matchup, two hard working central division teams battling it out. The Nashville Predators have shown amazing consistency of team play over the course of the season, however, the only issue I see with this team, is their power play unit. For the number one seed in the central division to have statistically the worst power play in the NHL could hurt them overall in this series.They’re fortunate to have an outstanding defense to back up their sub-par power play. The Dallas Stars on the other hand, have only one player to thank for making the playoffs, Ben Bishop. Expect this series to be very low scoring, I pick the Predators in 6 games.
Winnipeg Jets (Central Division 2) vs St.Louis Blues (Central Division 3) The Jets, over the past four seasons have established themselves as one of the more consistent teams in the west. This team, making the conference finals last year, is more than able to do that once again. The Jets remind me of teams from the late 2000’s before the game became so fast. They are a big, hard hitting team with a dynamic offense to support them. The St.Louis Blues would not be close to a playoff spot if the rookie Jordan Binnington didn’t come in as a first year player and just make the league his. He sees the game differently, he is always two steps ahead of you on the ice. I would not be surprised if the Blues figured out a way to pull of an upset against Winnipeg. I’m taking the Blues in seven games.
Eastern Conference Tampa Bay Lightning (Atlantic Division 1) vs Columbus Blue Jackets (Wild Card 2) The Tampa Bay Lightning, my goodness what a season these guys have had, being the best team in the NHL and matching the record for most wins in an NHL season.Led by the MVP without a doubt Nikita Kucherov, setting the record for most points in a season by a Russian born player with 128. Nikita and his . Tampa’s special teams are exquisite, having the best power play in the league and the third best penalty kill as well. Towards the
end of the year, they had a really hard time finding chemistry with one another and they just couldn’t find a way to put the puck in the back of the net. I have Tampa Bay sweeping the Blue Jackets as I do not think there is a team that can overcome them. Boston Bruins (Atlantic Division 2) vs Toronto Maple Leafs (Atlantic Division 3) An original six playoff matchup, what every hockey fan wants to see at least once in every playoff year. This will be a rematch from last year’s first round when the Bruins overcame the Leafs in a dramatic 7 games. The Bruins are almost only reliant on their top line consisting of Marchand, Bergeron, and Pastrnak. Boston are the sleeper team every year because they always get in the playoffs and just quietly make an exit, but this year they look more determined than ever. The Leafs have been an outstanding offensive team over the course of the season however their defense has been atrocious even with the trade deadline acquisition Jake Muzzin from the LA Kings. I have Boston knocking off Toronto once again, this time in 6 games. Washington Capitals (Metropolitan Division 1) vs Carolina Hurricanes (Wild Card 1) The Defending Stanley Cup Champions are back in the playoffs and they are looking for a backto-back. Alexander Ovechkin is coming into the playoffs with a hot stick having 51 goals in the regular
season. The Carolina Hurricanes have finally clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2009. The fans of Carolina really deserve this, as this is a start of a new area for them led by their star Sebastian Aho and their captain Justin Williams. This series will be won by the Capitals in five games, but don’t be surprised if Carolina gives them a run for their money. New York Islanders (Metropolitan Division 2) vs Pittsburgh Penguins (Metropolitan Division 3) Who would have thought that this year the Islanders would be this good? With New York losing John Tavares to free agency everyone thought these next few years would be a rebuilding process but no, they went out and showed they don’t need Tavares to win games, they can do it as a team collectively. In addition the Islanders were the best defensive team in the regular season allowing the least goals against all year. The Penguins are a regular in the playoffs, doesn’t matter how they get in, they just manage to. The Penguins are a playoff team, period. Their squad purley consists of experienced and talented players ready to make long playoff runs. This series is a tough choice, but i’m gonna have to choose the more experienced team. I am calling the Islanders in 7 games. Now it is time to sit back and enjoy some playoff hockey! Avetis Oganyan can be reached at aoganya266@student.glendale.edu.
www.elvaq.com ENTERTAINMENT
Wednesday, May 8, 2019
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Artist Spotlight: Just Visionz Second chance at the vision By Selena Reyes Entertainment Editor
In a generation of mumble rap, RnBass artist Just Visionz’, ability to combine melodic vocals and beats with authentic lyrics sets him apart from rappers in today’s generation. He describes this technique as calming and easy to listen to, given there is a huge amount of imagery in his lyrics. The rapper, whose real name is Justin Mirabal, describes his earliest memory in correlation with music as reciting 2Pac and Biggie lyrics while simultaneously banging on pots and pans. “The first song I ever released to the public was called Liquor Store,’ [which]was a song I wrote that meant a lot to me at the time, with double meanings …The reactions I got on the song were very surprising, a lot of people started supporting me and rocking with me after hearing it.” The song has reached almost half a million plays on most outlets and has been described as “emotional, real, and original.” He says that his fans support has grown largely compared to when the single first dropped. “I’ve been more interactive with my audience and fans than I was when I first started getting serious with music,” the artist said. Vizion gathers his inspiration
from artists such face to stop as J.Cole, Drake, the bleeding,” Meek Mill, Jay Z, Vision Nas, and the late recalled. “All Nipsey Hussle. I could think He describes about was my all of them as family and individuals loved ones and who “always how much I keep it real with didn’t want to the artistry of go yet.” music.” “Nipsey “This will Hussle inspired always be a me ever since turning point his first album, I in my life. God remember telling decided to give everyone I knew me a second about this guy chance to … He helped me prove myself see the good in and make a the bad and the difference. smartest way to I won’t stop handle things as a until I have a man,” he said.“In Grammy and my life as a plaques on the musician he made wall, trust the a great impact process,” he on me and my added. career. He taught Originally me how to hustle from New and invest in my Jonathan Shorter II Courtesy Photo York City, future. Long live Vizion describes Nipsey Hussle, he will forever his relocation to Vallejo, Calif.. be missed.” as “painful but necessary.” “The educated on the world around As a full time father, Vision times I’ve missed my friends him.” has chosen to make music his In September of 2014, Vizion I’ve learned to be stronger alone. full-time activity, as well as to The times I’ve got comfortable was involved in a car accident, secure that he is able to provide I’ve learned to live fearlessly.” which caused a lot of physical for his son. As fatherhood has He also shared that the and emotional damage. become an inspiration for him to “I thought this was the end, as change of settings is what work harder. “I strive every day helped him get involved in the I was pinned in a 4-door Toyota to give my son what I never had various sides of music, which Camry, gasping for air as I held as a child. I keep him strong and my ripped T-shirt against my in turn helped craft his sound
Ready to Shrill The new body positivity show that isn’t afraid of being too loud By Tatiana Pak Staff Writer
The original Hulu comedy show “Shrill” has been breaking barriers and shining light on a common issue, with a 91 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, the show portrays the struggles of a fat woman, and how “fat” is just another word, not an offense. Based on the book “Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman” by writer and activist Lindy West, in the six episodes of the first season, viewers get to witness the growth within Annie (Aidy Bryant), a journalist from Portland, surrounded by misjudgment, and her breakthrough when the sudden realization that she is more than her weight finally hits. With famous executive producers, such as Saturday Night Live’s creator Lorne Michaels, actress Elizabeth Banks, and West and Bryant themselves, “Shrill” is a modern show that will bring body positivity into a different perspective. Bryant’s funny and witty acting from the sketches of SNL
is still present, but the raw and real feelings in the storyline separate the comedian from her previous popular performances. Heartbreaking at times, with the constant highlight on how the assumption of an individual based on their image is wrong; the show is still beyond hilarious and a type of comedy the public isn’t normally used to. The storyline and cuts allow viewers to feel like a part of the show. The characters feel real, in their funniness but also in their harshness. The criticisms of her controlling mother Vera, her moronic man-child boyfriend Ryan, and the mean boss Gabe, all raise the question on how people can be hurtful, even when it’s not intentional. Bryant stated that she learned a lot from West’s book. “I want to stop putting all my time, and my money, and energy into trying to make my thighs smaller, and instead try to go after my dreams, and that’s what the show is about,” she said in an interview with “The View.” In the fourth episode, the emotions and frustrations of
Annie are so clear that eventually even those who struggle relating to Annie, could sense the connection of Aidy and Annie was real, hurtful but nonetheless liberating. “I’m fat, but I’m also smart, and creative, and funny, and a good writer and I’m talented,” Bryant also mentioned during the interview. After Annie realizes that many others have also been fatshamed still live a happy normal life, acknowledging she is fat doesn’t stop her from speaking up anymore. “Shrill” isn’t about a woman transforming her body and acting on a personal vendetta against an ex-boyfriend. It isn’t an unrealistic epiphany where somebody hits their head, or is hypnotized to believe their reflection is all of sudden beautiful and perfect. It’s about the process of hurting, healing, and finally accepting who they are. This is a story where in the world of today, trying too hard or not trying at all to fit into traditional beauty standards doesn’t stop, at least not for Annie. In order to be heard, she had to make noise. She had to be shrill. The second season of “Shrill” was confirmed by Variety and will return on Hulu in 2020. Tatiana Pak can be reached at tatiipak@gmail.com.
into something unique and divergent.“My fan base grew from the changes because I was able to do shows in every state and gain more support everywhere. I made the changes because I was just finding myself and following family around to help them.” he said.“I’ve met some of the richest and most powerful people in states all over and it has helped me gain many options within the music industry and street life.” Recently the artist has been teasing new music with studio related stories on his Instagram feed. Selena Reyes can be reached at sreyes401@student.glendale.edu.
To listen to tracks by Just Vizions, visit: www.youtube.com/ Justvisionz or scan the QR code below.
Hulu Courtesy Photo
POSITIVLY FUNNY: Aidy Bryant (Annie Easton) poses in a commical white trash renditon of ‘The Birth of Venus’ for the poster of a Hulu Original show, ‘Shrill’
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Wednesday, May 8, 2019