El Vaquero Newspaper: March 7, 2018

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Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Volume 111 | Issue 1

Textbook Prices Stir Campus Frustration Some students push back against special access codes needed to submit assignments

By Ken Allard Editor-in-Chief Students have approached El Vaquero newspaper in recent days over textbook prices and “access codes” they say are required to turn in homework assignments via the publisher’s website, prompting the school paper to investigate the issue and reach out to multiple individuals across various school departments.

“Instructors do not require students to buy the textbooks new,” a statement from the Spanish Department sent to El Vaquero read. “In fact, most instructors project the virtual textbook on the screen during class. In that way, if a student doesn’t have the text or forgot it at home they are able to follow along in class.”

Students, however, feel that they need to spend money just to turn in their homework.

“Basically, we are required to complete and turn in our homework through a separate website set up by the publishing company that distributes the Spanish textbooks for the college,” said GCC student Louis Sotillo, who is enrolled in an in-class Spanish 101 course on campus. “This would mean that the homework portion of our grade is dependent on obtaining access to a program set up by a third party.”

Other students, who asked to remain anonymous, cited geology and health coursework that requires special code textbooks. Students characterized these as “one-time use” books. El Vaquero verified that those courses also require similar codes for students to turn in homework.

Indeed, multiple courses at Glendale College require students to buy their way to an online component, including

Ryan Stanton / Creative Commons

ILLUSTRATIVE PHOTO: Students complain of textbooks that cannot be bought second-hand because one-time use access codes are needed to complete assignments.

some Economics 102, Geography 101, Geology 103, Math 131, and Health 104 classes. Each option is over $100 and customer reviews for each program’s usefulness vary.

In Spanish classes, students need to purchase an access code if they want to log in to the Vista Higher Learning Supersite, where all homework assignments are placed and automatically graded. The homework portion of the Spanish classes makes up about 10 percent of the student’s final grade.

The non-refundable, non-transferable access code can be acquired through the purchase of a new textbook at Glendale’s

bookstore, costing students about $140.

Alternatively, the code can be purchased separately on the Vista Higher Learning website, for $140 – which means the student would be without a physical copy of the book unless obtained independently.

That particular access code version provides login to the textbook’s online resources. There are other, more expensive options with extra features to aid in student learning.

Instructors described to El Vaquero how services like Vista came to be used.

“In order to be ADA compliant, a legal requirement for our textbooks, we need to [See Textbooks, page 2]

IN THIS ISSUE News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4 Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11 Satire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Entertainment.. . . . . . . . . . 13 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-15

Grayson Repowering Plan Moves Forward City Council votes to temporarily stay the course on renovations

By Ken Allard Editor-in-Chief

Photo by Ken Allard

PROTEST: Residents came out to protest the Grayson Repowering Plan at the Glendale City Council Chambers on Tuesday, Feb. 6,

Glendale Water & Power’s plan to upgrade the Grayson Power Plant in Glendale has moved forward after City Council voted not to temporarily shelve the project during the Feb. 6 meeting.

Over 500 people showed up to the City Council Chambers to protest the Grayson Repowering Plan, with most asking for a motion to pause the process in addition to City Council enlisting energy experts to conduct an independent study into potential clean-energy alternatives that can meet Glendale’s energy needs.

Despite the large turnout by residents ‒ one of many since October of 2017 ‒ City Council members voted 4-1 to allow GWP to continue on with its final Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Zareh Sinanyan, the most vocal skeptic of the Repowering

Project, was the dissenting voice. The EIR details the possible environmental impacts of the Grayson plan and is required by law on certain actions which “significantly [affect] the quality of the human environment.”

The final EIR will be reviewed by Glendale City Council on March 27, where they will then vote on the next move regarding the project. That includes moving forward with the current proposed plan, scrapping the entire project, or a mix of other alternatives.

The Grayson Repowering Project is a plan put together by GWP with the help of Stantec Consulting Services and Pace Global. With it, GWP is looking to rebuild and expand the current Grayson Power Plant by replacing aging natural gas-fired generators with newer, more efficient versions.

[See Grayson, page 2]

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elvaq

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ken Allard MANAGING EDITOR Marian Sahakyan PRODUCTION EDITORS Carolina Diaz Belinda Oldrati Hayk Rostomyan STAFF WRITERS Jasmine Amabile Allison Ayala Katrina Bulay Christopher Daniels Adriana Garcia Rudy Guijarro Catalina Juarez Chieko Kubo Vendela Lindblom Kevin Perez James Ojano-Simonsson COPY EDITOR Elena Jacobson Matthew Spencer CONTRIBUTORS Sevana Hanneyan Madeleine King Laura Tabanyi PHOTOGRAPHERS Carmen Fernandez Alexander Sampson FACULTY ADVISER Rory Cohen rcohen@glendale.edu (818) 240-1000 ext. 5214

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Textbook Prices Stir Campus Frustration [From Textbook, page 1] use resources like the Vista Supersite,” read the Department statement. “The textbook and Supersite provide videos, laboratory exercises, grammar tutorials, and many other aspects for foreign language learning that by law must be closed captioned and fully accessible for all students.”

The Spanish Department does not use the Supersite for exams and all tests are administered in class.

“This site provides out of the classroom exercises that reinforce the class lectures needed for the development of fluency in the language,” the statement continued. Exercises provided includes reading comprehension activities, audio and video components, cultural presentations, and grammar and vocabulary review, among others.

“The price of the textbook personally affected me because I had an initial agreement with a student, who had previously taken the class, to purchase the textbook for $60,” said Sotillo.

That plan fell through after Sotillo learned on the first day of class that an access code would be required, which cannot be obtained through a used textbook.

Without a viable access code, Sotillo ended up purchasing a new copy of the textbook through the bookstore on campus for about $142. That’s $80 more than his initial bargain.

“That $80 difference in the price of the book may not have been devastating to me right now, but I know a few years ago it would have been a really big deal,” said Sotillo. “It would have meant the difference between taking the bus to school or putting gas in my car, or choosing whether to buy groceries or buy

Carmen Fernandez / Staff Photographer

STUDYING HARD: GCC student Paula Andrea Rincon prepares before a psychology quiz, Tuesday, Sep. 12, 2017 at Glendale Community Collge.

fast food for the next two weeks.”

Sotillo stressed that he was worried about how other Glendale students may fair in regards to having to purchase the textbook. The average, full-time community college student pays roughly $550 per semester in unit fees.

Other language professors, not associated with Spanish, assign online homework through Canvas and use other services that provide audio and video components, like Mango Languages program.

Mango Languages is a free language service offered to academic institutions – such as Glendale Community College. The program has over 70 languages listed, including Spanish, French,

Italian, and Korean. Mango also appears to be ADA compliant, offering closed captioned subtitles.

One professor, who requested to remain anonymous, said that services like Vista Higher Learning or Heinle Learning Center are “often poorly designed, very pricey, not renewable or transferable, not always in accordance with what is done in class, and extremely frustrating for the students.”

Other opinions on the efficacy of Vista’s Supersite program differ. Some, including Sotillo, have had no overbearing issues with the program.

Pasadena City College has recently added Mango to its library repertoire. “PCC’s library only just recently subscribed to Mango

Languages and started advertising it a few weeks ago,” said Library Dean Lisa A. Tirapelle. “Since it is so new, we really do not have any usage data or feedback yet.”

There are roughly 260 students enrolled across all Spanish 101 and 102 sections. “Foreign language classes have a capacity of 35 students per class,” said the Department statement. “It is virtually impossible to give this kind of feedback in a timely manner when daily homework is assigned.”

If each student purchases the $140 textbook option through the bookstore, that’s about $34,000 spent.

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

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. 3211.

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Grayson Repowering Plan Moves Forward [From Grayson, page 1] The project, which would be funded through a City bond measure, is price-tagged at nearly $500 million.

Grayson is an 80-yearold power plant, and, with the exception of unit 9, these generators are all beyond 40 years of age. GWP has stated that without intervention on their part, these units are at risk of failure, leaving Glendale without the required energy-generating capacity.

Concerned local residents ‒ led by the Glendale Environmental Coalition ‒ have pushed back.

There are a litany of concerns regarding the proposed project, according to them.

Perhaps most importantly, is that the Integrated Resource Plan, which serves as a comprehensive “roadmap” for meeting company objectives, and the draft Environmental Impact

Report, were commissioned by Pace Global Inc., a subsidiary of Siemens Energy Sector.

“This is problematic, obviously, because Siemens is the one who is going to be selling us the gas generators,” said Councilmember Sinanyan during the Feb. 6 meeting. “And I think in any other sphere of business, there would be a clear conflict of interest, and therefore any conclusions reached … would be suspect.”

The Grayson plan would increase local carbon dioxide emissions by 415,000 metric tons per year, which is roughly equivalent to adding 90,000 gasburning cars to Glendale streets.

According to GWP, the increase would be mitigated by purchasing renewable energy “offset credits” through California’s cap-andtrade program.

Particulate matter pollution, like lead and carbon monoxide, would also increase.

“I would not have brought my wife and two children [to Glendale] had I known [that the power plant would be built],” said Glendale resident Zack Gershen during Glendale City Council’s Jan. 23 meeting. “It certainly makes this community less desirable.”

Many are concerned about Glendale’s future energy needs and whether fossil fuels should be a pivotal part of the City’s energy portfolio going forward.

Especially in a state that considers itself to be one of the preeminent leaders of clean-energy use in the United States, and during a time when the price of solar is dropping rapidly.

“In 2025, there probably won’t be any new gas plants built because the price of solar will have gone down by so much,” said John Doyle during City Council’s Jan. 23 meeting, who is managing director of Victory Energy LLC, a solar and storage

development company. “The price is dropping so quickly … by 2022, solar battery storage will be economical.”

California Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 350 into law in late 2015, which requires the State to receive 50 percent of its energy needs through cleanenergy sources by 2030. In July of 2017, Glendale adopted a nonbinding resolution in support of the United Nations’ Paris Climate Agreement.

With that in mind, the question posed by residents is whether the $500-million investment into a natural-gas power plant is a smart one, and whether taxpayers will be stuck footing the bill on what would then be a “stranded asset.”

City Council’s March 27 review of the final EIR begins at 6 p.m. Residents are encouraged to attend the meeting.

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

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Much-Anticipated Building Opens to Fanfare Students and staff finally move into Sierra Vista, a student service-oriented campus hub

By Ken Allard Editor-in-Chief On Feb. 15, Glendale Community College officially opened the doors of the new Sierra Vista building to students, faculty, and the general public during its open house event.

GCC President David Viar kicked off the ceremony, and was joined by other prominent figures who played a role or supported the project throughout the building’s evolution. That included Glendale Mayor Vartan Gharpetian, Board of Education President Dr. Armine Hacopian, and Associated Students of Glendale Community College President Colleen Gabrimasshi.

“This, today, marks the culmination of a very exciting dream and vision,” said Viar. “Initially a vision and a dream of a one-stopshop for all student services, and then it expanded to be more than that.”

Now the largest on campus, this three-story, 94,000-squarefoot, $49-million dollar building

is home to the College’s critical administrative services.

The third floor is where visitors will find the nine student support services, such as admissions and records, financial aid, job placement, career center and the counseling offices, among others.

The second floor houses the Culinary Arts program and the Anthropology lab. Seventeen classrooms are located on this floor, each equipped with interactive televisions, collaborative desks, and an entire wall covered in a water-based paint that functions as an end-to-end, floor-toceiling, dry-erase board.

“Every detail in the building reflects the needs of students in today’s society and the tools they need to succeed,” said Colleen Gabrimasshi. “From the simplicity of having student services in one row, from the inviting student commons – which is an open space for students to collaborate and socialize together – to the innovative study spaces, the building will definitely be a driving factor in our students’ success.”

Ken Allard / Staff Photographer

OUR GCC: Individuals that played a crucial role in the Sierra Vista building process pose for a photo during the open house event on Feb. 15.

Ken Allard / Staff Photographer

WELCOME HOME: Dr. David Viar gives a heart-warming speech to congratulate Glendale Community College staff and students on entering the new building.

El Vaquero, GCC’s awardwinning student newspaper, can be found on the first floor, in addition to the Learning Commons.

This area is divided up into two rooms. The first, the “Active Lab,” functions as a hangout spot for students and holds a coffee kiosk, which will eventually be transformed into a Starbucks. It should be available by Fall 2018.

The second area, the “Quiet Lab,” is more of a library-like study environment.

Each room has multiple computers with internet access available for use. Printing services are accessible, as well.

“It’s been a 15-year process between an idea and moving forward,” said Viar. “It has required advocacy working with the Leg-

islature, trying to assure with our State Board of Governors and Chancellor’s Office that the College receive appropriate State funding through the State bonds, and the strong support of our local community.”

Funding for the building came through bond Measure G, passed in March 2002, and Measure GC, which was passed in November of 2016. The college and the original contractor – Mallcraft Inc. – broke ground in October 2013 with an initial completion date of November 2015.

The building was at 95 percent completion in April 2015, but repeated setbacks left Glendale College with no choice but to terminate the contract with Mallcraft Inc. Toby Hayward Inc. took

over the project. The new contractor had to deconstruct many of the mechanical systems that were deemed substandard, like the HVAC and firestop systems.

This brought the completion percentage down to 75 percent.

The building has been awarded LEED Silver status. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, which is a rating system put together to evaluate the environmental performance of a building. Buildings can be rated silver, gold, or platinum. Sierra Vista achieved Silver status because of its low-flush toilets that use reclaimed water, as well as its ground-source heating and cooling.

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

Scholars on the Road to Success This GCC program provides resources for students to thrive

By Carolina Diaz Staff Writer Glendale Community College has many resources students can take advantage of that help with transferring to a four-year school.

One of the programs Glendale College offers is the Scholars Program, also known as the college’s honors program, established in 1986. It has been created to serve the needs of academically-promising students and offers opportunities for more intensive study.

The program is based on a five-course curriculum, or 15 units, involving general education and pre-major courses.

Scholars is a three-part program.

The first is excelling academically. The second part is being involved in a community service program, and the third requires the student to be a part of a campus social club which entails that

the student attend club events throughout the semester.

“Scholars Program has contributed to a massive growth in my character,” said Shant Krikor Anmahouni Eulmessekian, president of the Scholars Program.

“The Program has three pillars, Academic, Social and Community Service, putting emphasis not just on grades but the balanced development of a good citizen.

I am overjoyed that in my short time here at GCC, I have managed to improve overall, rather than just my academics, and I have the Scholars Program to thank for that. I often say that the program gives a University of California feel inside a community college, and I stand by my statement.”

Professor Michael Harnett, who is the director of the Scholars Program since fall 2013, leads the research group which develops students for many research opportunities and presen-

tations when attending student conferences, something that is hardly available for Vaqueros not in the program. The students also get easy access to early registration for their honors classes.

“We believe that this emphasis on compassion, collaboration, and fellowship bring intangible but highly valuable benefits to everyone involved,” said Harnett.

The student must be actively engaged in attending all Scholars meetings, work within each assigned committee (Outreach, Community Service, Fundraising, Journal, Social Events, and Banquet) and actively participate in at least 10 events planned by community service, fundraising, and events committees each semester.

“We help feed homeless people, plant trees, clean up parkland and public areas, and work to help many other groups and organizations in the area,” said Harnett. “Plus, we have

potlucks, hikes, and events such as skating, bowling, and several social gatherings, plus numerous opportunities to serve the community and reach out to promote the program area to high schools and various fairs.”

One of the many great benefits is that it has an official transfer agreement with UCLA’s Transfer Alliance Program (TAP). With the many volunteer work and events attended it makes the student have a greater chance at attending UCLA. When the student completes both the program and TAP it indicates a strong service record. Nationwide campuses recognize GCC Scholar Program as a very competitive platform when it comes to transfer applications.

“The program was a very life changing experience for me,” said Agnessa Kasumyan, former president of the club. “It allowed me to grow and challenge myself in a number of ways. As presi-

dent, I was a part of something bigger than myself, and I was working with an incredible group of people I learned from every day. It definitely was not easy, but it was worth every second.”

To sign up for Fall 2018, the deadline is March 15 for early decision, and June 1 for the final deadline. If coming out of high school the student must have a 3.25 grade-point average or higher. For a college student, a 3.0 GPA is needed, you must complete at least one Honors course per semester, participate in all Scholars monthly general assemblies and weekly committee meetings, in addition to attending club events.

“In all, Scholars is a welcoming and mutually supportive organization that I hope to improve continually,” said Harnett.

Carolina Diaz can be reached at itscarodiaz@gmail.com.

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Verdugo Fire Academy Graduate Shines Giselle Mendieta was the top cadet in the last graduating class

By Ken Allard Editor-in-Chief Verdugo Fire Academy Graduate Giselle Mendieta was the first female recruit in the Verdugo Fire Academy to receive the top award. Mendieta was sponsored by the San Gabriel Fire Department. El Vaquero caught up with her.

Can you tell us how you came to join the Verdugo Fire Academy? What was the inspiration behind it?

Since the moment I knew I wanted to pursue this career, I knew that I wanted to join an academy. I was trying to find an academy that would be close to home so that I could be with my family.

I did my research and heard about the Verdugo Fire Academy at Glendale Community College.

Since its a year-long academy, I waited the year so that I could be a part of the next class. In the time being, I prepared myself and completed all my fire classes as well as my EMT class. I remember while I was in the EMT class I would go outside during break and would watch Class 19, I would tell my classmates from the EMT class that I would be there soon and I couldn’t wait. I knew that a couple months from then – with anticipation and excitement – that would be me, and I would be in Class 20.

What has been the hardest part of being part of the Academy?

The hardest part about being part of the Academy for me was getting comfortable with making

mistakes. I would be hard on myself when I didn’t understand a certain skill or wasn’t good at it. I realized that I am human and that it’s OK to fail and make mistakes.

Through those mistakes it pushed me to practice on my weaknesses to better prepare myself for the following week in the Academy.

I realized quickly that the only way to improve was through the moments of trial and error.

What can you tell us about your background?

How have you persevered?

I did competitive swimming and water polo through high school and college. I remember while swimming in college, I competed in a very important competition and it was to go to the state championship which would have been a big accomplishment.

My coach and I thought that I would definitely be going. It was a big disappointment to find out I didn’t make it. I am so thankful for this event in my life because I always look back to this. I was so stuck on the idea that I didn’t make it to state that I didn’t see the big picture. You have to fail and fail a million times and work hard everyday to accomplish your dreams. How I overcome those challenging times is by accepting those failures and reminding myself that what counts is giving your everything in anything you do.

How did it feel to receive the top award cadet – where you got over 100.04 percent?

I promised myself before I started the Academy that I was going to do the best I could and give my all. I wanted to make my instructors, my sponsoring

Verdugo Fire Academy / Courtesy Photo

TRAINING HARD : The team faces danger as they train for flammable liquids and gasses at the Alhambra Fire Training Center.

agency, and my family proud.

When I received the award I felt sentimental in the best way possible because I knew, in that moment, I was picturing my parents in the auditorium; my dad screaming and my mom crying.

The best feeling in the world is being able to give back to your parents by showing them that their sacrifices for me wouldn’t go unnoticed. That, to me, is a feeling I will never forget and an accomplishment that will push me throughout my career. To always strive to learn, grow, and be better because of it.

What’s in store for the future? Where do you see yourself in five years? What about in 10 years?

I want to be a firefighter and I’m taking the steps to make my dream

a reality. I see myself in five years being a firefighter giving back the same way I have been helped.

I know that making an impact comes through action and that is my ultimate goal in life and what truly makes me happy. In the next five to ten years I see myself being a firefighter having my paramedic license and genuinely just being able, in some way, through small acts, make a significance in the life of others, if I can do that then I have accomplished my ambition in life.

Your speech touched some hearts. What did you talk about in your speech and why do you think it registered so much?

When I was writing my speech I kept imagining my parents and it’s what motivated me to pour my heart and make it sincere. I

wanted the audience to relate but most importantly I wanted to end my speech with words my parents would tell me, that truly helped me summon up the courage to pursue this career. Although we graduated and all of us as a class accomplished that, the Verdugo Fire Academy is only the beginning. I wanted to emphasize that and let it known that no matter what happens to always shoot for the stars, and if you’re going to go for it, go all the way. That’s how my parents raised me; to never put limits on myself. I am beyond blessed because my parents always believe in me, in moments when I don’t believe in myself. I wanted to honor them and share the words that meant the world to me with everyone there.

Ken Allard can be reached at Kallard438@student.glendale.edu.

Tr a d i n g F a c e s a n d P r i v a c y A scary new reality of facial recognition is emerging with DeepFakes

By Hayk Rostomyan Multimedia Editor We all have fun using the “face swap” feature on Snapchat, an option to quite literally trade faces.

Whether it’s to change faces with our friends or look like Trump for a silly joke, the technology is often used in benign ways. However, facial recognition has become a nightmare for Hollywood with the birth of a craze known as “Deepfake.” These allow users to create videos with individuals using their likeness. As is so often the case, the technology has been used to create fake porn videos of celebrities with a machine learning algorithm. Crazy, scary stuff, and a long way from Snapchat’s “face swap.”

In December, Motherboard, which is an online website that covers technology, reported on a program developed by a team of college students that is able

to replace the faces of celebrities and put them in a completely new video or film. As long as enough facial footage from all possible angles exists, movie magic can be made. With that footage, anyone using the aforementioned program can switch out the face of, for example, Amy Adams from “Man of Steel” with Nicholas Cage’s face for some good laughs. But for every silly Nick Cage meme, there is somebody who takes things to the extreme. Since then, a FakeApp developer became available in January through a Reddit community page.

Unfortunately, some people have taken the likeness of Emma Watson and Gal Gadot, and superimposed their faces into porn. There is an obvious problem here – it deals with concern about their image and the violation that they experience by the implication they are involved in such a film. This has launched a big controversy between a large

number of Hollywood actresses and websites that host this content.

The term Deepfake came from a “subreddit,” a community site under the Reddit website banner.

On Feb. 7, Reddit banned the Deepfake from its pages. “I sincerely thought I was effectively filtering or manually removing all of that sort of content as it was being posted, but it is possible some slipped in and I didn’t catch it,” the Deepfake app moderator wrote in a statement on Reddit. “I am disappointed but I will respect the admins’ decision.”

The website Verge contacted Eric Goldman from the Santa Clara University School of Law and he told them that the best option for these celebrities is to sue for copyright and defamation.

He stated that there is a case for defamation since the footage is altered and effectively tells a lie about the actors and actresses.

However, “It’s almost impossible to erase a video once it’s been

published to the internet,” said Goldman. “... If you’re looking for the magic wand that can erase that video permanently, it probably doesn’t exist.”

The program can be used to create Hollywood magic, but a majority aren’t using it for true artistic purposes. Instead, they’re creating porn without consent of those being featured in it.

CGI technology has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, allowing this technology to be used in more benign ways.

Picture bringing dead celebrities to life, for example. We have already seen CGI being used to make Jeff Bridges look like a younger version of himself in “Tron Legacy.” Now we can take James Dean’s face and put it on a living person so we can have the sequel to “Rebel Without a Cause” that everyone has been asking for. Or you can make a movie where everyone shares the same face but their bodies are

different. We have similar editing tactics in Hollywood now, but this algorithm will make it easy for even college students to make something wonderful.

Alternatively, with this software being available for everyone, it now poses a danger, even outside of the realm of porn.

Any given person can now create propaganda on their political enemies. President Trump’s face can be superimposed into a video of him doing cocaine, or a young Bernie Sanders can be shown in KKK rallies beating and hanging African Americans.

Ultimately the fake news will be revealed as being fake but if it takes too long to determine the legitimacy of these videos they might cause someone to lose an election. This app is a powerful tool that can be used for good and evil.

Hayk Rostomyan can be contacted at hayk.rostomyan@gmail.com.

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Wake Up and Smell the Hollywood A deeper understanding is needed of what it takes to make it big in the entertainment industry

By Madeleine King Contributing Writer “The land of dreams, where dreams come true, everybody has a dream in Hollywood,” mused Ina Farestad, a 30-yearold aspiring actress from Sweden.

Farestad has a lovely “girl next door” look, but despite some success, describes the stress of casting calls in her country. It’s very hard for actors to find the same opportunities outside of Hollywood. Anybody who wants to make their mark in showbiz has to be in Los Angeles.

The glamor of Hollywood is showcased on the big screen and beyond. It’s displayed as a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for tourists to see. Yet few understand the journey and struggles actors endure. How many with true talent don’t have a star?

Hundreds of people everyday move to Los Angeles with dreams of being on the billboards, but instead are faced with an entirely different animal. “Everywhere you look here it’s just movies, movies, movies,” said Shivneel

Singh, an Indian who is originally from New Zealand. “Nothing about the city makes the world go around. It’s all about making art.”

He stepped off the plane only to realize that Hollywood was not what he pictured it would be. Many people’s impression of Hollywood is that it’s glamourous and angelic and don’t realize that it’s a lot of hard work in the dirt.

That was the case for Singh, who has since moved back to New Zealand to continue acting.

Actors have to train. Schools such as The New York Film Academy, The Groundlings and The American Academy of Dramatic Arts host many actors and mold them into professionals ready for the stage or screen.

The instruction is often not as traditional as the kind you would see in a regular public college.

Many times teachers would put actors in scenes or situations that would make them uncomfortable.

For instance, they will give actors – especially female – risqué scenes in order for them to be comfortable in their own bodies, or have actors perform unusual

Courtesy of Madeleine King

RED CARPET: Ina Farestad poses at the Dance With Films Festival during the screening of a web series she was cast in.

dances, singing, even screaming, so that when it comes to being in the spotlight, nerves aren’t shaking and performing on stage is easier. Actors, even the greats, are always training.

Once actors are trained in technique, they are free to go on to auditions. Due to technological advancement, everything is done online. Websites such as LA Casting or Backstage.com host many casting calls from short films to modeling jobs. This gives beginner actors more opportunity than before because it’s easier to obtain casting calls.

Actors may submit up to 20 or 30 roles, which could take hours of work and only get a couple of auditions. “I just thought they were going to notice me right from the get-go and I was going to start getting jobs, you know like how you hear about some of the celebrities and how they were just recognized,” said Othar Richie, who was an actor for 10 years and now works as a police officer for Los Angeles county. “I thought I was going to be that awesome and then I realized when I got here, I wasn’t nearly as awesome as I thought I was and there were a hell of a lot of dudes that were as good looking or better looking than me.”

The process of auditioning can be exhausting and tedious.

“Auditioning is your job but when you book it, it’s vacation,” said Chloe Busick, a 21-year-old aspiring actress. Most of the time casting directors will give actors about a day’s notice. It’s a very fast-paced society. Sometimes the location can be an hour away and actors have to juggle L.A traffic, often sprinting to auditions after working a full-time job.

Auditions vary. Commercial auditions are very different from feature films. Most commercial auditions are referred to as “cattle calls.” In these kinds of calls,

Courtesy of Madeleine King

BIG DREAMS: Ina Farestad on location for a very L.A. portrait.

casting directors will gather 10 to 20 actors into a room and go down the line one-by-one to have each person read the same dialogue.

It’s all very impersonal. Most auditions take roughly 20 minutes to do, where you then wait for a call that you may or may not get from the casting directors.

Many actors are faced with moral dilemmas. In light of the Harvey Weinstein Scandal, almost no one in the industry was shocked when actors came out with allegations against the wellknown producer. “As an actor and coming out here people tell you what to expect. As a female you learn to just expect it,” said Busick.

She explained that women feel like they knew the risks of getting into the industry, though it’s not right. In fact, there is a term for the kind of audition that offers roles in films, TV, or short projects in exchange for sexual acts. It’s called a casting couch. The term may be used in other industries,

but originated in Hollywood.

“If you’re someone who really puts your heart and life on the line, if you pay your dues and work through all the little stuff, then that will pay off in the long run without having to do anything illicit,” said Richie when describing about his experiences with the dark side of Hollywood.

“It’s about hard work and effort.”

The major problem is actors succumb to an easy way to the top and give people like Weinstein a lot of power.

Many actors arrive to Los Angeles for the fame and glory, but dreams like that never last.

Acting is not just about a job, it’s a way of life. Busick describes her love for acting and performing on stage. “In an age where we are interconnected and disconnected at the same time,” said Busick, “the arts are the primary thing that keeps us in touch with our humanity.”

Madeleine King can be reached at madeleineking96@gmail.com.

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Paris in the Rain Is Resplendent The city in winter brought forth feelings and memories of my homeland, Yerevan

By Marian Sahakyan Managing Editor A vivid childhood memory takes me back to a six-year-old me in Yerevan. One who always danced when it rained, and thrived in the cold. My siblings did the same. Ever since then, the rain has brought us home, not physically but in thoughts and feelings. It always pushed us a step closer to finding the real feeling of what it’s like to be at home.

The first 24 hours of my second visit to Paris were intense, to say the least. This time around it was different.

Different in every sense. I was playing the role of “worldtraveler-older-sister-tour-guide” to my younger siblings. It was their first time traveling without our parents.

Last time I was here, it was summer, and I was alone. I got to do a lot of writing, soulsearching. The city awakened the creative romantic in me. People were kinder, friendlier and definitely more willing to show the way of life.

This time around, it was January. Things were surprisingly different. I did not hear the indistinct melodies of the accordion playing in the street corner.

This time around, I ate more, walked less, wrote less. It was

as if the city I had loved so much had deceived me. I felt cheated. It was hard to prove the magic of the city when my siblings were not experiencing any of the things I previously had. It was different. This time around, the stereotype of ‘rude Parisians in the winter’ came to confirm itself. Everything was so different.

I was trying to pass on my travel bug to the youngsters; I wanted to show them how travel changes you forever. Instead, all they got in Paris were cold faces and homesickness.

Of course, that was until the magic of Paris came around to prove itself. One afternoon, as we strolled down the wide avenue of Champs-Élysées, we noticed that it was gloomier than usual in Paris. But it was OK. She always wore the gloom with pride and beauty. The contrast between the buildings, the streets and the skies were exactly why Paris was so romantic.

Suddenly, I felt a drop. Then, I felt another one. It started to pour. Once again, the six-yearold in me had been released. My heart danced, I felt like home.

The cobblestone streets gained a special glow in the rain, as did the authentic buildings.

They all resembled sweet love songs carved in stone. We were less bothered with the winter rudeness of Parisians. It made us

understand and appreciate it all.

In a split second, with a single raindrop, our world transformed to that of no more sadness and more appreciation. It all seemed OK now.

As we did every night during our Eurotrip, we sat down in our little apartment and talked about the highlights of that day.

My siblings had been quiet during these meetings in Paris, as opposed to London, where every night they talked about the things that inspired them a lot. But this time around, it was different.

As I opened the window of the mini flower balcony in our Parisian apartment, I glanced at my brother, he smirked. My sister smiled too. They were happy. We talked about all the things that had inspired them that day.

Winter rudeness was not the only phrase we confirmed that day. We came to the conclusion that home is never one place, as we find pieces of home everywhere we go.

Home, is a feeling, one that is hardly expressed through words.

It’s very much like the feeling a kid gets in a candy store, a bookworm in a library, and a travel bug while traveling. It’s to be surrounded by people who make you smile, and laugh endlessly.

It’s doing things differently every day and being OK with

Marian Sahakyan / Staff Photographer

VIEW OVER THE TOWER: As the rain falls, a meloncholy tone sets over the beautiful city of Paris in this view from the Arc de Triomphe.

it all. It is to have an open mind to find pieces of home in foreignness.

To find beauty in the

unknown. It is to love every second of it.

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

30 Days in Lebanon Being open-minded made the experience in Beirut so much more fulfilling

Paul Saad / Creative Commons

MAJESTIC LEBANON: A view from the boardwalk area at Raouche Beach, which is in the capital of Beirut.

By Laura Tabanyi Contributing Writer As a millennial, I am aware of all the misconceptions our generation faces in the world, as I face many of them myself.

One of the most common ones is that we do not know what we are missing out on in this world.

Many of us have certain ideas and stereotypes of countries and religions that we actually know nothing about.

We have not traveled or experienced enough to have any proper ideology on what is beyond the small cities that we have been used to our entire lives. When most of us hear the words, “Middle East,” our minds immediately turn to war, bombs, and terrorism, but completely steer away from all the beauty it

has to offer.

The Middle East is one of the most misinterpreted areas of the world. We fail to mention all the good, and only focus on the negative because that is the only view we are used to having in our society. I used to be guilty of the same thing, until I took action and visited the country of Lebanon myself.

In the summer of 2017, my family and I took a trip to Beirut, Lebanon. My mother was born there and had not revisited for 40 years, so her expectations were high. It was a chance to revisit her childhood. When I first stepped foot on the plane, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I thought it was going to be the worst month of my life, but it just so happened to be one of the best. I went in with

the same idea that most of you probably have; I was frightened of what was to come.

Beirut is home to about 2 million people, and Lebanon as a whole has a population over 6 million, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Tourism.

It’s largest ethno-religious group consists of Muslim Arabs.

However, an impressive minority of Christians constitutes 40 percent of the population.

What many fail to acknowledge is that the residents of this country actually live comfortable and normal lives, despite religious differences. Of course no country is perfect and not everyone can live a lavish lifestyle, but that takes nothing away from the enjoyment that encompasses the people. The average person there wants

exactly what we want; an enjoyable and happy life.

Lebanon is known for having a very iconic nightlife. Here in Los Angeles, we worry far too much about every little thing.

Our society has brainwashed us into having too many concerns over our appearance, who we hang out with, even who is watching us. I never experienced those emotions while going out in Beirut.

It was like a different world where everyone was relaxed and genuinely taking in every moment. When I reminisce on all my nights out, the top thought that pops into my head is how sincerely free and happy everyone would be when they would go out and be together.

The difference between our two countries could not be more

evident. Nothing is for show; they live their lives authentically for themselves. The youth definitely controls the streets when it comes to having a good time. There is a neighborhood called Mar Mikhael, which is full of various pubs, restaurants, and clubs – it is the city that never sleeps.

Being in an Arab country, all the drinking and partying might sound a little untraditional. This just goes to show that they aren’t as backwards as we make them out to be, and how little we actually know about the culture there.

The people of the country are exceedingly social, and love to enjoy themselves with loved ones.

[See Lebanon, page 7]

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www.elvaq.com [From Lebanon, Page 6] Hookah is one of the most common social activities for them, as it is present at almost every occasion.

As a Lebanese-American, I can confirm that we do the same thing here. Not only is it exceptionally cheaper than in America, but it is also delivered right to your front door. Sure, we have Postmates and Uber Eats, but hookah delivery is pretty advanced in my opinion.

The hookah is delivered right to your door and picked up from the same place the following morning. You just enjoy yourself with it, leave it outside your door, and allow them to come take it back with no additional charge.

They have so much trust in one another. In America, we could never just leave something outside our door without the fear of it being stolen. The people in Lebanon are immensely comfortable and trusting with one another.

Beyond nightlife, Lebanon has some of the most breathtaking hidden gems I have ever witnessed. It offers very astonishing topography that could never be duplicated in America. If you are interested in any of the Seven Wonders of the World, then the Jeitta Grotto is a must, as it was a close candidate to making it on that list. It consists of two karstic limestone caves full of the most beautifully formed icicles. They hang down from the ceiling and fold and bend into incredibly unique

forms.

As much as it pains us, this will have to be a missed Instagram opportunity, as they do not allow phones inside. You can take a boat ride through the depths of the cave, or even walk along the sides and admire the beauty at your own pace.

Both ways, it is completely mesmerizing.

Another must-see is an enormous statue of the Virgin Mary. It is located in the mountainous village of Harissa, and is referred to as, “Our Lady of Lebanon.” It overlooks the coasts and mountains, and is a very sacred and holy site.

A third attraction I can personally recommend is the ancient city of Baalbek. Not only does it hold incredible Roman ruins, but also some adorable camels just waiting to take you on their back through the streets.

Lebanon holds so much culture. It allowed me to see things that I could never witness back home. I got to experience a whole new lifestyle and a world of things I never knew existed.

Traveling to the Middle East would provide the chance to see what lifestyles are like over 6,000 miles away from us. They also have an incredible school system where the whole family can get involved.

One of the most prestigious universities in the Middle East is the American University of Beirut. My uncle works at the medical center of the school as a nutritionist, and my cousins attend as students. Residents of the country are extremely

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Paul Saad / Creative Commons

MYTH OF THE MEGALITH: The ‘Stone of the South’ at Baalbek, Lebanon is the largest worked monolith on Earth, weighing 1,242 tons.

educated and often speak a minimum of three languages: Arabic, English and French.

Having an ample amount of family in Beirut allowed me to experience this trip in a different manner.

It was not just any ordinary city for me full of random people. It was somewhere that was truly able to feel like home.

Knowing that my mother grew up there and that I still have so many cousins my age living there made it a much more powerful experience in my heart. This adventure shaped me in ways I could have never expected. It taught me that there is far more to life than we know, but we just have to go and find it ourselves.

Nothing is better than standing in an entirely new

country and just slowly taking it all in. It is a way to educate us further, but to also see something fresh and exciting. It is certainly not your average trip to Palm Springs.

Lebanon is without a doubt very far from perfect, but where isn’t? So they have had wars, hasn’t America? We run away from the “danger” of the Middle East but never realize that we are living in that same danger now.

Lebanon is oozing with such radiant culture and tradition. We glorify cities that have hardly anything to offer, yet shred apart the ones with actual heart and soul. If the Middle East is not somewhere on your bucket list, it certainly should be. Famous writer and poet Khalil Gibran was very passionate about his

homeland.

In his book, “Mirrors of the Soul,” he said, “You have your Lebanon and its dilemma. I have my Lebanon and its beauty. Your Lebanon is an arena for men from the West and men from the East. My Lebanon is a flock of birds fluttering in the early morning as shepherds lead their sheep into the meadow and rising in the evening as farmers return from their fields and vineyards.

You have your Lebanon and its people. I have my Lebanon and its people.”

Gibran was right. It is a beautiful place that I am confident it will leave you with endless memories and utter joy.

Laura Tabanyi can be reached at ltabany603@student.glendale.edu.

5 Steps to Making a Long-Distance Relationship Work There are ways to overcome even the most difficult circumstances

By Chieko Kubo Staff Writer Loving and understanding each other is the most important thing for a successful longdistance relationship. It doesn’t always work out the way we want. In fact, 40 percent of the couples in these relationships fail, according to Statistic Brain Research Institute. So how can people work toward a successful relationship from afar? Individuals who aren’t geographically close spoke shared some of their pieces of advice on how they’ve been able to make their relationship a successful one.

Step 1. Keep in Touch as Much as Possible Many couples who can keep their relationship comfortable and healthy get in contact with each other daily. Of course, they don’t force a partner to do that, but they make themselves available. In a long-distance relationship, a couple cannot meet very often. They need to call, text, and Skype. Otherwise, they cannot feel the existence of a romantic partner which might end with a break-up. However, one doesn’t have to call a partner every day. If they start to think, “I must call him or her,”

they may feel stifling pressure.

Instead, they need to allow him or her to be part of their lives.

Also, they should send some texts, like “good morning” and “good night.” Although they are simple, those kinds of small gestures have a big effect on relationship help.

Step 2. Respect a Partner’s Circumstances No one wants to be in a longdistance relationship. Though, there might be inevitable situations or unavoidable reasons. Students in such a relationship are working on themselves. They have to work hard to get a better job in the future. Once they graduate from a college or university, many people get to be very busy.

Therefore, they have a lot of time to spend without a partner.

Even though one may want to meet or call a partner, they need to accept the circumstances and allow them to do what they must do. Focus on the self. A partner who is allowed to do what they need to do should not forget appreciation for their boyfriend or girlfriend. Junko Sakiyama, a 26-year-old woman working as a nurse, shared her experience.

She has been together with her boyfriend for more than three years. Last year, she needed to

go back to her parents’ house to help. Sakiyama and her boyfriend can meet each other less than once a month. “I appreciate his understanding.

When it was decided that we lived far from each other, he told me ‘be good to your parents, and you must do that.’ He allowed me to do that willingly.”

Step 3. Look Forward to a Healthy Future Keeping a long-distance relationship is a struggle with patience. It cannot be avoided.

It is better to have a clear future ahead of them or to make a promise. For example, they can make a plan to go travel together, or they can plan for marriage.

Then, they can spend time to prepare for the future, not only cry for their missing partner.

For instance, one can take up new sports or take lessons in cooking or learning new languages before a marriage.

This is all work to build up oneself. To prepare a future of two, one can use private time to become a better person. Genki Maruta, a 23-year-old English major at Tenri University, shared his experience. He has dated his girlfriend for five years, but meets her only once or twice a month. “Patience is so important for the relationship,”

said Maruta. “But I need her for my life, so I will continue the relationship. No matter how much patience I need, I can stand it by looking forward to the next date.”

Step 4. Don’t Compare Your Relationship With Others Those who have friends with a partner in the same community, such as school or work, might envy them. They may think that if a partner lived in the same town or if they went to the same college, the relationship would be easier.

However, not all couples live happily at all. Every couple has some troubles and problems.

Everyone is struggling with matters of love. In the case of long-distance relationships, the obstacle is distance.

Step 5. Make Sure Both Still Have Strong Feelings Many couples in a longdistance relationship have a strong bond because they work at their relationship to keep it that way. But distance can also be a problem in making them forget.

When a partner wonders if there is still love, it is important to make sure both are feeling it by asking each other. Recall meeting him or her the first time, the day

you started the relationship, and the days spent together. Meet during breaks. Moreover, think if one is falling out of love.

One can find a way to solve the “cold feeling” by discussing the matter with their partner. When they face a crisis of break-up, it is not caused only by distance, but there are also other causes.

Almost all the causes could be solved by communication.

A long-distance relationship is not miserable or pitiful. Some couples keep it comfortable and even enjoy it. Mao Yakata, a 19-year-old psychology major at Tenri University in Japan, has experienced a long-distance relationship. “We have struggles very often, but the number of struggles was less when we lived far from each other,” said Yakata. “I think it is because when we were in a long-distance relationship, we could think each hour and minute is so precious.”

She has been together with her boyfriend almost five years.

These are just five steps to approach a successful longdistance relationship. If you are willing to work at it, you can find long-term happiness.

Chieko Kubo can be reached at Ckubo195@student.glendale.edu.

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The Gastronomic Delights of Pasadena Here’s a guide for what to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner the next time you’re around town

By Sevana Hanneyan Contributing Writer Out with the commercialized restaurants and in with the unique small owned restaurants that transport you with every bite.

Millennials are looking for more than chain restaurants; they’re looking for a unique experience.

“Our research shows that approximately half of millennials, ages 16 to 34, are willing to pay more to support a small business,” LaKendra D. Davis, assistant vice president of Small Business Solutions at AT&T, stated in a recent press release. Nowhere is this more evident than in Los Angeles’s coffee culture, where new independently run coffee shops have opened up frequently over recent years.

Further proof? In 2010, American Express launched Small Business Saturday that competes with major retailers on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Young shoppers in the U.S. took notice.

This holiday encourages shoppers to patronize brick and mortar businesses that are on a smaller scale.

Pasadena is unique in that it boasts many small business offerings. In fact, with so many options finding places to eat is becoming more and more difficult.

Though there are more options now does not mean everywhere is going to be an outstanding eating experience.

The following three locations have met El Vaquero’s standards, providing both great atmosphere, fabulous food, and are fairly affordable.

Lunch True Food Kitchen is the perfect, but not-so-guilty pleasure lunch spot located at the tail-end of Colorado Boulevard near Urban Outfitters.

This restaurant is a healthy and seasonal option that has flavor exploding in your mouth with every bite. Our open kitchen brings guests closer to our culinary craft while showcasing that there’s nothing secret about the way we prepare our dishes,” they boast on their website.

The perfect lunch bowl for vegetarians and meat lovers is the red chili noodle. You can add meat if you wish, or keep it plant-based. This dish has a

homemade feel with spices from across the globe. This menu item also allows you to add protein.

With a bit of spice, you are guaranteed to demolish the noodles will soon be demolished while sipping on the fresh and daily made honey lemonade.

“The diverse menu will satisfy most anyone’s taste with good quality ingredients, and uncommon, creative recipe.

Wood and stone interior makes the atmosphere especially cozy and a lot of vegetation all around makes stay all the more pleasant,” according to one yelp reviewer.

Check it out. It’s worth it.

Breakfast For the coffee and tea lovers, Copa Vida is the place to try. This vibrant and yet simple café hidden in the streets of of Old Town Pasadena is a delight. The coffees and teas are carefully selected and well crafted.

Copa Vida is certified in coffee farming, milling, roasting and preparation by Coopedota.

Coopedota is a “cooperative of about 800 farms was the world’s first to go carbon neutral.

The farms operate on low energy and water consumption and generate energy from organic waste, offsetting all of their greenhouse gas emissions,” according to Travel + Leisure.

They also are a member of the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA). They take pride in their work and their team of employees, some whom are award winning and tea expert certified by the World Tea Expo.

The drinks are exceptional but so is the food. The chorizo egg hash is the everyday breakfast you wish

Sevana Hanneyan / Contributing Photographer

you can eat.

A simple breakfast, transports your flavor pallet across the globe with Latin American meats and spices. The chorizo, russet potatoes, sunny side egg with jalapeno cilantro sauce is flavorful and will leave you wanting more.

Sodanie Chea / Creative Commons

Dinner

Sevana Hanneyan / Contributing Photographer

Café Santorini located in a nook within Colorado Boulevard, a little alleyway with lots of life. This is a hole in the wall where the food will surpass your expectations. This small little family owned restaurant has a beautiful patio where at nights the lights stringed above will begin to look like stars. The Mediterranean restaurant has a wide variety of options, starting with the appetizers. The tuna tartar is impeccable and will have you wanting more. Their homemade bread and hummus will be devoured within minutes.

Why stop there? One of the

main courses is the the farfalle con pollo pesto pasta is one of the most delicious pastas ever. It creates the best combination with grilled chicken and pesto pasta.

Their signature Santorini pizza contains all the ingredients that is familiar to a Mediterranean household and is also delicious.

Another option for meat eaters is the steak, which is out of this world.

Lastly, the desserts, you guessed it, are simply amazing, with a chocolate cake option that will have you fighting for the last bite to the apple tart that makes you think of summer with grandma.

Old Town Pasadena is the perfect place to visit and dine for a more local and a less mainstream experience. Millennials want to stray away from chain restaurants and want to experience mom and pop restaurants and shops. The options are endless when visiting Old Town Pasadena, but these three restaurants are only some of the perfect spots to take your friends and family whenever they are in town.

Sevana Hanneyan can be reached at hanneyansevana@yahoo.com.

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5, 6, 7, 8 ...

Step by step, GCC student dances her way towards her dreams

By James Ojano-Simonsson Staff Writer Sera Shahgholian, a 21-yearold dance major, wants to spread positive energy and dance moves, not only on campus but all around the world. By day, Shahgholian is a student at Glendale Community College where she is involved in Dance Club and the prestigious Glendale College Dance Company. By night (and weekends) she teaches to young students.

Shahgholian is a determined and hard-working student, and always has positive energy to share with others. She is in her sophomore year, but has been here about four years and counting, since she started attending GCC in high school. Dancing and performing has been a part of Shahgholian’s life for as long she can remember. Shahgholian is filling up her portfolio both on and off campus. Her career goals are to travel around the world and dance “her heart out,” as she explained with a confident smile.

Another future goal is to build a university meant only for dancers. Dancing has become important to her because it allows her to release every emotion, both sad and happy moments. For Shahgholian, it is where she feels her true self. “It’s the only place where you do not get to fake it to anybody but act as your emotions ask you to do so,” said Shahgholian. “That’s dancing!”

Shahgholian is currently working on the PhanatiX show that is coming up on March 17 at GCC. It will be her fifth PhanatiX show. This program means a lot to her because it made her grow as a performer. She went from dancing in the back of the line in

a 15-person routine, to auditioning her solo.

Besides the PhanatiX initiative, Shahgholian and GCDC has a production show, which is a full week filled with shows. Usually, it is closer to the end of the semester. Together with another GCC student, Vladimir Petrosyan, they are working on a duet.

“It’s exciting to see pieces come to life in shows that give you so much opportunity to grow in,” said Shahgholian.

Shahgholian reveals she has a hidden talent – that she sings, a lot. When she was little, she wanted to become a pop artist, and she used to sing at gatherings for her family and friends.

In addition, she also auditioned to sing at her school’s talent shows, but now she only sings when she is alone or when she is around people she loves and knows well.

“This is how I know I belong in the entertainment world. It never goes away!” exclaimed Shahgholian.

Shahgholian has a couple of pet peeves. One is when people do not get excited about the little things in life, and the other is when she sees someone just sitting at parties and not embracing all the fun. Get up, dance, and enjoy life is her motto.

If she could invite any three people in the world, alive or dead, over to dinner, she would invite her first crush from her hometown so she can tell him she had a crush on him, and tell him how she stalked him without the help of the Internet and social media.

She would also invite her grandmother to thank her for every memory they have created together since she was a little girl.

The third person would be her

Belinda Oldrati / Staff Photographer

CONFIDENT SMILE: Sera Shahgholian always focuses on the positive things in life.

brother, because he is the most important person in her life, and has always been by her side every day since he was born. She added that she would probably ask her brother to bring the rest of her family because her family is always with her anyways.

Being at such a young age,

Shahgholian really knows what she wants for herself. That is a maturity that mirrors how she had to handle past lessons in her life. “A lot of lessons of course but the biggest one is to rely on yourself and only yourself,” she said in a calm voice. “No matter what happens in life, the path to

Belinda Oldrati / Staff Photographer

EXTENDED LINES: Dancers rehearse for upcoming shows.

your dreams does not get affected by the ups and downs in your life.

I learned this the hard way, but every day I wake up and I walk alone to work on my dreams. You only need yourself and a focused mind.”

James Ojano-Simonsson can be reached at jojanos818@student.glendale.edu.

Belinda Oldrati / Staff Photographer

FOCUSED: Sera Shahgholian, front right, listens to instructor’s feedback.

Welcome Back Luau!

Glendale College gratifies its students with festivities

By Elena Jacobson Staff Writer The Associated Students of Glendale Community College held their biannual Welcome Back Fair event, in front of the new Sierra Vista building on Thursday, Feb. 22.

The luau themed party was in alignment with the cruise ship theme of the opening ceremony for the official Sierra Vista open house event the week prior.

The small plaza outside Sierra Vista was filled with plastic palm trees, and flowers in the trees as the ASGCC handed out leis.

They offered chicken skew-

ers, cotton candy, popcorn, and much more. They also had a lot of games that students could play for cash prizes.

The change of location from the usual spot in Plaza Vaquero was “to bring awareness to the new building and to make students more comfortable hanging out here,” said ASGCC President

Colleen Gabrimassihi.

The turnout, however, was far sparser than organizers are used to. One student, Emma Parris, didn’t even know the luau was happening until she got there.

“I was just passing through, going to the new common room,” said Parris. “I didn’t know about it until I got here.”

The ASGCC plans on holding more events both in front of the building and in the Plaza Vaquero.

“It’s a new hot spot. We will be in both places from now on,” said ASGCC Vice President of Activities Jessica Coompson.

Elena Jacobson be reached at laneyjacobson520@gmail.com

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EDITORIAL/OPINION

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EDITORIAL

It’s Time to Get Real About Gun Crime The violence at a Florida high school is just the latest in a nation that’s no stranger to shooting sprees

Fabrice Florin / Creative Commons

REMEMBERING THE VICTIMS: A San Francisco Bay Area high school holds a memorial service for the 17 students and staff killed at Parkland, Fla.

Another mass shooting has struck the United States, this time in Parkland, Fla., where 17 students and teachers were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14.

As expected, the issue of gun control and whether or not that is the proper avenue for constraining potential future mass shooting events has monopolized the headlines in recent weeks.

After deliberation among the staff of El Vaquero, and with the careful consideration of all viewpoints, it is of majority opinion that stricter gun control measures are required in the United States. This includes, but is not limited to, an indefinite ban on the sale of semi-automatic, high-caliber weapons, like the firearm used in the Stoneman Douglas massacre.

For what appears to be the first time in American history, the fiery protectionist rave of the pro-gun crowd has been met with an equally powerful wave of gun control proponents. Not byway of the traditional lobbying power of long-standing anti-firearm coalitions, but with a fervent flash of grassroots uprising from the nation’s soon-to-beof-voting-age youth.

They have taken to the streets; they have crowded their legislatures; they have started a movement. Just as with the anti-war campaign of the 1960s and early ‘70s – which drew on the power and energy of youthful activism – these students are on the frontlines. This is their battle. This is their Vietnam.

“We are going to be the kids you read about in textbooks,” said Stoneman Douglas student Emma Gonzalez during an anti-gun rally on Feb. 17. “Not because we are going to be another statistic about mass shootings in America, but because, just as [classmate David Hogg] said, we are going to be the last mass shooting.”

The partisan flashpoint over mass shootings and gun control falls into two predictable arguments. One side says firearms need to be restricted, with some being outright banned. While the other side says firearms don’t act independently – someone has to pull the trigger in order to kill.

Both are true.

Mental illness in America is an issue; there’s no debating that. The United States has the highest rate of mental illness in the world, according to the World Health Or-

ganization. But mental illness, defined as a condition that affects your mood, thinking, and behavior, is extremely complex. Each disorder has varying degrees of seriousness, its own risk factors, and its own effects. As the joke often goes, “if you have three expert psychiatrists, you get four opinions.”

The idea that addressing mental illness will prevent mass shootings also rests on the assumed premise that these mass killers are ill to begin with – what’s called “begging the question.” “Due to this man committing such a crime, the only logical explanation is that he is mentally ill,” goes the narrative.

The Parkland, Fla., shooter was reportedly mentally ill, which is why it has dominated the national rhetoric, but this does not hold true across most other analyzed mass shooting situations.

In an analysis of 235 mass killings, Michael H. Stone, professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University, found that only 22 percent of the perpetrators could have been considered mentally ill.

In other words, 78 percent of mass killers would have given no prior indication of mental deficiency. How does one prevent something that, based on current evaluative methods, is nearly statistically unpreventable?

Further, if the fight to address mental illness in regards to mass shootings is a legitimate one, folks need to push Congress to pull the Dickey Amendment, which forbids the Center for Disease Control from studying gun-related violence. Coincidentally – or maybe not – the National Rifle Association played a crucial role in the Dickey Amendment achieving fruition.

When it comes to preventing mass shootings, the name of the game is pragmatism.

That is, looking at the facts and coming to a conclusion that would efficiently and effectively reach the desired result.

It’s time to take these weapons of war off the streets, and there’s precedent for doing so. The Federal Assault Weapons Ban of 1994 prohibited the manufacture, transfer, or possession of semi-automatic “assault weapons.” It was let expire in 2004.

Other nations, not immune to mental illness, have wrangled-in the mass shooting phenomenon, such as Australia and the United Kingdom. They were pragmatic. It’s time we were, too.

CSUN Gun Hoax Brings to Light Limitations A false story about a gun on the Southern California campus had the community in uproar

By Jasmine Amabile Staff Writer In the immediate aftermath of the horrific shooting that took place at a Florida high school, a Southern California university experienced a very real shooting scare that, according to authorities, turned out to be a hoax.

A video was posted to Snapchat of a gun on the California State University, Northridge campus on Feb. 16. The video showed the handgun placed on the dashboard of a vehicle with the view of the campuses Oviatt Library in the background. An email was sent out to faculty, staff, and students at 1:04 p.m. “CSUN officials are aware of a social media post of … a gun on campus.

Campus Police are investigating the situation,” the email stated.

The initial news broke on social media around 9 a.m., a little over two hours before Cal State Northridge was even aware of the situation. “We got the first call and were aware of the situation at

11:16 a.m,” said Chief of Police for Cal State Northridge Anne P. Glavin.

This led to students both on and off campus to post on social media, warning other students of what was taking place before authorities were physically on campus addressing the situation.

Once the police were notified of the situation, Chief Glavin said they started investigating immediately.

“We need to have a specific protocol,” said CSUN student Brianna Brown. “I was sitting in class looking at my phone and realizing not everyone knows what’s going on. Was the shooter outside? Were they still on campus? I didn’t feel safe at all not knowing what was going on.”

Chief Glavin confirmed, through witness testimony, that there had been an armored vehicle on campus that morning near the Oviatt Library. Investigators then contacted GardaWorld, a global security system company, which has a security contract with

CSUN, to find out which of their vehicles had been on campus early Friday morning.

The company conducted an investigation of its own and narrowed it down to a male employee. The employee eventually confessed that he had staged the entire thing and did not mean for it to be a threat.

Cal State Northridge then issued a second email statement at 1:48 p.m. “Campus Police have confirmed that the video featuring a gun on campus that was posted to social media was a hoax,” read the statement. “There is no threat to campus. CSUN remains open and operational.”

Almost two weeks later, the Communications Department at Cal State Northridge set up a question and answer session with Chief Glavin in the Aronstam Library on Feb. 28, to address the concerns of the situation and to hear from students on campus.

“Us being late on our message to the community about the investigation, I do apologize,” said

Glavin. “But any opinion about us not taking it seriously is false.”

She explained the process of having to analyze the image for confirmation of it being a real or fake gun but assured those there that as soon as they were certain, they dispatched officers on the scene and around the Oviatt Library.

“We brought everything we had, we are 28 members including myself, we even had a canine unit on campus,” stated Glavin.

As far as her labeling the situation as a hoax, she explained that she used the word hoax because to her definition it means “malicious deception and this was absolutely malicious. What kind of person puts out a photo and thinks its funny or amusing,” stated Glavin.

Many felt that the event was more than cruel, especially after what had happened in Parkland, Fla., two days prior where 17 people were left dead in a grisly school shooting.

Cal State Northridge sent out notifications, but it didn’t appear that authorities were going

through campus buildings fast enough, in light of the fact that the Snapchat video was posted at 9 a.m., with police not investigating until after 11 a.m.

“We need to, more especially students need to, be able to feel comfortable to come and go without the worry of the safety of your body,” said Professor Jessica Baty. Students agreed with the instructor’s assessment and expressed their need for better gun safety and protocol drills.

Perhaps better monitoring of campus social media is in order, as well as a better means of communication, especially for situations that are serious and life threatening.

“We screwed up [with communication],” said Chief Glavin.

“I am sorry for the time that you were scared and afraid, I apologize for that. But please do not forget all that we do on the campus because of this.”

Jasmine Amabile can be reached at jasmineamabile@gmail.com

OPINION

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Wednesday, March 7, 2018

11

It’s Time to Sober Up! The social propensity to drink often borders on binging

By Vendela Lindblom Staff Writer More than 88,000 people die from alcohol-related causes every year, making alcohol the third-leading preventable cause of death in the United States, according to National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Despite this, it is more socially acceptable to binge-drink than it is to stay sober and drink water.

Four or more alcoholic drinks per week is defined as binge drinking, according to NIAAA. Many people don’t even realize that they can be characterized in this way because they think of their behavior as being merely social. That used to be me.

In fact, I used to have a lot more than that and so did my friends. It got to the point where I was having blackouts every time I drank alcohol, even after only two glasses of wine. My blackouts and the alcohol led to really bad anxiety, to the point where I was suicidal the day after I had been drinking. Fortunately, I was – and still am – surrounded by good people who helped me get out of it.

I’ve been sober for seven months.

It wasn’t until I stopped drinking alcohol that I realized how insane and unhealthy the alcohol culture is. Every time I go to the club or a bar, I get asked why I chose not to drink.

tmrdrgz / Creative Commons

SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE: Alcohol is a socially accepted drug, even though roughly 88,000 people in the U.S. die from alchohol-related issues every year, according to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

The constant refrain is: “Just take one shot with us,” “don’t be a party pooper,” and “relax, have some fun.”

These comments make me feel like I’m the crazy one when I’m taking care of my wellbeing, while they are functional alcoholics living in denial.

People always joke about how they don’t remember anything and laugh at it while they take a shot to “cure” their hangover.

The alcohol culture is so normalized that people are sharing memes on social media saying,

“I can’t have just one glass of wine, it’s always two bottles and three people I can never look in the eye again.” They think that this is normal and healthy behavior. I shared my thoughts on this on my social media the other day and one of my followers called me a “Debbie downer” and suggested that “I’m taking the fun out of memes.” I was speechless.

If someone we know consumes other drugs the way we consume alcohol, we would call it risky behavior and tell that person to seek help. Because

alcohol is a legal drug, it makes people think it’s less harmful and more acceptable.

When I tell people I’m sober, the most common response I get is, “Wow, I could never relax and have fun if I wasn’t drinking.”

What most people don’t realize is that the problem is way bigger than that. If you can’t relax and have fun around your friends, then you should reevaluate who you surround yourself with.

We should focus more on our mental health rather than trying to drink away our fears and

problems.

Those fears and problems will only come back 10 times stronger when you wake up the next day and the anxiety hits you.

I’m not saying that staying sober is easy. It’s probably one of the biggest challenges I’ve ever experienced, but it has made me stronger mentally. I feel a lot better than I did then. More awake.

More aware. And so much more resilient.

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

Oh Say Can’t You Sing!

Singer Fergie crossed the line by interpreting the nation’s anthem

By Catalina Juarez Staff Writer “Here’s the thing about taking risks when it comes to the national anthem: Don’t. Just don’t,” Jimmy Kimmel, the host

of “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” said on air following the pop star Fergie’s embarrassing rendition of the anthem during an NBA All Star game.

“Don’t take risks when you’re doing brain surgery, don’t take

Robert Laurente / Creative Commons

ALL SMILES: Pop star Fergie smiles for the camera at a small concert venue. The artist has come under fire for her rendition of the national anthem.

risks driving a school bus, or singing the national anthem – just regular is fine.”

Many celebrities have been given the honor to perform the national anthem for sport games and in front of dignitaries. Each singer performs “The Star Spangled Banner” a little differently.

But when the rendition takes too many risks, as with Fergie’s, audiences will be quick to criticize. To be fair, Fergie is not the first to mess up singing what is the nation’s most important song.

Social media amplification means that audiences will notice mistakes and that listeners can be ruthless.

There have been other countless artists, such as Christina Aguilera, Keri Hilson, R. Kelly, Kat De Luna and Roseanne Barr, who messed it up by forgetting lyrics and having inappropriate renditions. The latter deliberately performed it as a joke way before social media was around to record it.

Social media makes the story “viral.” Moreover, Americans, as we have learned over the last couple of weeks, don’t want

“The Star Spangled Banner” to be mocked or treated like a joke.

It makes them viscerally angry.

In comparison, Fergie’s rendition isn’t that bad. At least compared to Barr’s 1990 San Diego Padres game performance that hurt the ears more than anything else.

Ultimately, it teaches us an important lesson – don’t experiment with risky renditions of the national anthem. As Kimmel said, “regular is fine.”

The national anthem focuses on our country’s fight for freedom and represents what the United States means to its citizens. Francis Key, a 35-yearold lawyer and poet, wrote it on September 14, 1814 after he witnessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British ships or the Royal Navy.

“The Star Spangled Banner” was written solely out of inspiration from Key, who was amazed at how the United States flag still remained standing even though its surrounding premises had been destroyed.

With that being said, when public figures remix the national

anthem and end up ruining it, not only does it make America serve as mere entertainment fodder to other countries, but it also disrespects its origins.

Creativity is best served elsewhere on the part of various artists. Fergie, unfortunately, became an international story.

America seems to be in all of the headlines, ranging from politics to sports to entertainment industry corruption. The one thing that still unites Americans is hearing the national anthem.

Interestingly, Fergie thought she nailed it, appearing to cheer herself along after she finished.

The national anthem is a twominute tribute to honor our flag.

It’s two minutes out of an entire show or sports game. It is not two minutes to serve as a joke.

“I mean, you asked Fergie to sing it. What’re you expecting?” said Brandon Paul, an NBA player for the Spurs, after the NBA All-Star Game. “Don’t ask for a Twix bar and get mad when someone hands you a Twix bar.”

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

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SATIRE

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

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Campus Bookstore to Accept Student Tears as Payment New technology emerges to allow people to cover costs a different way (and we’re not even talking about BitCoin)

ILLUSTRATIVE PHOTO: The Penn State University Bookstore is shown in this archival image right before opening for business.

By Ken Allard Editor-in-Chief The Glendale Community College campus bookstore will now accept student tears as a payment option for purchases as of Spring semester of 2018.

All items in the campus bookstore can now be paid for via TearsDirect, a new, prototype payment system that collects student tears and accepts them as a viable currency.

“We have been listening to our students over the past few years, and we’ve decided to make some changes regarding payment op-

tions,” said Lori Godfrey, assistant manager for the bookstore.

“TearsDirect can now be used by GCC students short on cash, or those lacking in credit, to attain the textbooks needed to potentially pass their classes.”

TearsDirect is a small, startup company out of Silicon Valley. Student tears are collected in a sample vial by the students themselves, then handed over either to the employee doing the checkout services, or, in the case of self-checkout, the vial can be placed into the machine for quick processing.

“Not everyone has money

these days,” said TearsDirect CEO Samuel Green. “But everyone has sweet, salty tears – especially struggling students.”

Just like with cash, students can transfer tears to one another’s TearsDirect account in the event that one comes up short on payment.

For quick payment, students can collect their tears ahead of time, such as while at their parttime job or in bed at home, thinking about the impending despair of crushing student debt. Students can also pay on-the-spot at the register after, for example, viewing the textbook prices in-person

or their Sallie Mae accounts “This is actually a fantastic idea,” said sophomore Katherine Dominguez, who is in the nursing program at Glendale College.

“Previously, when looking to buy my books, I’d have to either give up an arm or a leg, which would kind of interfere with my ability to study. But now I can just give them my tears, and there’s definitely enough to go around.”

In addition to TearsDirect, the campus bookstore is looking into other options to ease the burden on students. According to sources familiar with the process, administrative officials are considering

Penn State University / Creative Commons

adding Prozac and Xanax medication to bookstore shelves.

“This is really a bit of a trial run, in regards to this new program,” said Charles Boykin, a TearsDirect official who is in charge of implementing the service at GCC. “Student cash is great, students tears are even better. But this is just a step in the process – eventually we’ll look to expand our company into the lucrative student soul business.”

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

Baby, It’s Cold Outside!

Hypothermic GCC students burn scantrons to outlast sub-60 degree temperatures

By Ken Allard Editor-in-Chief Glendale Community College campus was hit with a devastating cold spell last week, forcing students to burn scantrons to stave off the impending hypothermia.

The sub-60 degree temperatures rolled through the normally sunny Southern California campus, pressing students into the inner reaches of campus, where they huddled with strangers and lit small fires made of valuable test-taking materials.

“I burned through nearly $8.50 in Scantrons alone,” said sophomore accounting major Jonathan Gomez, fighting away the tears as he tried to recall the order of events of that freezing February morning. “I had Bluebooks in my backpack, but I couldn’t find the will to use them.”

Gomez said the $1.50 price per Bluebook was too much to justify. Without additional objects to burn, he was forced to

brave the cold on his own. He lost four fingers to frostbite.

Verdugo Fire Academy members conducted search and rescue efforts across campus and nearby parking lots. Multiple students were found in their cars with the heat on full blast. “I decided to wait out the cold in my car,” said freshman Michael Goodman. “It said it was 59 degrees outside, for Christ’s sake. I’m not risking myself for a 65-minute lecture on the gender fluidity of north African baboons.”

Economics professor Rhona Ava knew something was up when her students were late for class. “They’re all normally five or ten minutes late – we’re talking about college students, after all.” said Ava. “But when twenty minutes passed, I called for help.”

Students equipped themselves with thick winter coats, fur hoodies, and waterproof boots to no avail.

“It was so cold, I just … I couldn’t even,” said student

Rawle C. Jackman / Creative Commons

COLD SNAP: Other parts of the country experience heavy snow fall, while California experiences sub-60 degree temperatures.

Christina White, whose toes were left cold and numb despite her prepping for the day’s brutal weather forecast with her black Dawna Ugg winter boots. “I could even see my breath.”

Glendale College administrators are seeking federal assistance to reimburse the college for lost dollars spent on recovery efforts.

“A light drizzle is in the upcoming forecast,” said GCC President

Brian Weltz. “We need all hands on deck.”

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

ENTERTAINMENT

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Wednesday, March 7, 2018

13

‘The Shape of Water’ Pushes Boundaries

The winner for “Best Picture” at this year’s Academy Awards is dynamic and beautiful

By Adriana Garcia Staff Writer Distinguished director Guillermo Del Toro’s “The Shape of Water” earned an astounding 13 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Director and Actress.

The science fiction film conjures images reminiscent of “The Creature from the Black Lagoon,” only with much more finesse, art and feeling.

“The Shape of Water” follows heroine Elisa Esposito (an immaculate Sally Hawkins) through her mundane life as a custodial worker for a foreboding government facility circa 1962. She communicates only through sign language due to inflicted damage to her vocal chords as a child.

Her day’s highlights consist of one-sided animated conversation with coworker Zelda (Octavia Spencer) and watching old Hollywood movies with friend and neighbor Giles (Richard Jenkins).

Esposito’s life gains animation and later meaning with the arrival of a mysterious amphibious creature kept and tortured by ruthless Army colonel Richard Strickland (Michael Shannon).

Beside the central romantic story, the plot lightheartedly explores several themes including military attitude, race and gender relations and even espionage.

“The Shape of Water” tells

a whimsical story of connection and romance, co-written

by Del Toro and Vanessa Taylor, is largely accountable for the film’s appeal, but its other nominations are not wrongfully assigned.

Everything about the film, from its production and costume design to its sound editing and mixing, was meticulously planned and executed with Del Toro hovering over.

The creature’s costume, even, was largely budgeted by Del Toro in its initial conceptualization.

The director was inspired mainly by “The Creature from the Black Lagoon,” but took a different approach because his original concept for an expedition-based story with a female scientist as the lead character, “didn’t work,” claimed the director.

“It was going through the same front door that everybody goes through,” said Del Toro. “To go through the service door with the people that are cleaning the bathrooms and taking the trash bins is a completely different story.”

And so Elisa was born.

Del Toro wrote the script with its corresponding actors in mind and met with some personally to propose the parts.

Academy Award winner Spencer said her initial reaction to the script was, “I don’t know how he’s going to do this, but I have to be a part of this film.” Veteran science

James Jean / Creative Commons

FINESSE AND FEELING: Guillermo del Toro gives his twist on a film reminiscent of “The Creature from the Black Lagoon.” It took home “Best Picture” at this Sunday’s Oscars.

fiction actor Doug Jones was also approached by Del Toro for his role as the Amphibian Man, and claimed he had complete trust in the director.

“I knew if anyone could pull this off it would be him,” said Jones in a Fox Entertainment interview. “I know how much he loves his monsters and putting them at the forefront with storyline and with sympathy.”

The trust actors held for Del Toro transcends on the screen in their complete and successful surrender to their characters.

Hawkins relied entirely on facial expression and movement to convey emotion, and claims she used Esposito’s signed language as “an almost prop, something technical

to direct all that passion and energy.”

Del Toro helped Hawkins master silent performance by providing old Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, and Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy films. “Now and then I would ask her to do an Audrey Hepburn on the approaches, because I wanted the movie to feel classic,” said the director.

The film’s “classic” aesthetic is just as impressive as its plot and performances.

Paul Denham Austerberry was nominated for his production design work, Dan Lausten for cinematography and Luis Sequeira for costume design.

Del Toro claims all departments worked together to create a look that was “lavish,

Wakanda Forever: ‘Black Panther’ Film Deserves Accolades

luscious and colorful.” The film’s prominent green color scheme, genuine costume for the Amphibian Man, meticulous set design, and old-fashioned film techniques add beauty and authenticity to the dynamic story.

“The Shape of Water” had enter in the Academy Award nomination list includes Best Picture, Director, Actress, Supporting Actress, Supporting Actor, Cinematography, Costume Design, Editing, Original Score, Original Screenplay, Production Design, Sound Editing, and Sound Mixing.

Adriana Garcia can be reached at Agarcia5422@student.glendale.edu.

2018 Oscar Winners

Film becomes a focal point in celebration of African-American actors

Marvel Studios / Courtesy Photo

BOX OFFICE SUCCESS: “Black Panther” takes the throne.

By Rudy Guijarro Staff Writer Marvel’s “Black Panther” is a critically acclaimed, historic box office success, and more importantly, a cultural phenomenon.

The film has sparked controversial debates all over social media and traditional media alike about African-American representation in films, as well as the single story of African life depicted in media.

Director Ryan Coogler – who had also produced “Fruitvale Station” and “Creed” – has never been afraid to challenge the tra-

ditional formula of a Hollywood box-office hit. Coogler’s debut film, “Fruitvale Station,” starred an unrecognized Michael B. Jordan as the lead, and co-star Melanie Diaz, about the true story of Oscar Grant, an unarmed, young African-American man who was killed in 2009 by BART police officer Johannes Mehserle at the Fruitvale District Station.

Coogler’s amazing storytelling and minimal budget made this “B movie” a box office and critical success.

“I tend to like movies where the filmmaker has a personal connection to the subject matter,” Coogler told Variety. “I don’t know if you could find a group of films that deal with the ItalianAmerican organized crime better than ‘Godfather 1,’ ‘Godfather 2,’ ‘Mean Streets’ and ‘Goodfellas.’

Show me a movie about Brooklyn better than ‘Do the Right Thing.’’’

Before Coogler was even approached by Marvel to take on “Black Panther,” he found himself interested in African-American authors like Ta-Nehisi Coates (“The Beautiful Struggle;” “Between the World and Me”) and was already planning a trip to Africa.

“I’d been wanting to visit Africa,” said Coogler in an interview with Rolling Stone. “I had never been, and I felt ashamed that I had never been. So I was like, ‘As soon I finish Creed, maybe [my wife Zinzi] and I can take that trip,’ and then Marvel called.”

“Black Panther” takes place in the fictional Wakanda, a bustling metropolis of vibranium-powered futuristic skyscrapers, racing trains, and soaring spaceships.

The futuristic utopia that paints a non-stereotypical vision of Africa, if it was never colonized by the Europeans.

“Africa is a culture that has been colonized and oftentimes demonized, so it was about reclaiming certain things as beautiful and powerful,” Coogler told Rolling Stone.

T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), who plays the role of Black Panther, returns home to the African nation after hearing the news of the death of his father. He takes his rightful place as king.

Suddenly, Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan), who is the son of N’Jobu (Sterling K. Brown), and a U.S. black-ops soldier who seeks to overthrow T’Challa, re-

appear.

On paper, “Black Panther” is a classic comic book story of vengeance that dates back to Shakespearean times, or “The Lion King.” But the in-depth storytelling and technologically advanced special effects are what make “Black Panther” so unforgettable.

The action sequences are exhilarating; they’ll have you rooting for the heroic T’Challa to defeat the villainous Killmonger as if you were watching Superman defeat Doomsday. And that is the point of “Black Panther,” to make a superhero film with an all African-American cast, without being a “Black” film.

“Black Panther” is a film celebrating African-American culture, without the single story of African life – the idea of African people living in immense poverty wearing dated Salvation Army clothing and torn shoes. And, more importantly, the film normalizes Africa.

“I was very honest about the idea I wanted to explore in this film, which is what it means to be African,” said Coogler.

Rudy Guijarro can be reached at RudyGuijarro11@gmail.com.

Academy Awards / Courtesy Photo

SHOW HOST: Jimmy Kimmel was the master of ceremonies.

• Best Picture: “The Shape of Water” • Actress: Frances McDormand: “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” • Actor: Gary Oldman, “Darkest Hour” • Director: “The Shape of Water,” Guillermo del Toro • Original Song: “Remember Me from Coco, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez • Original Score: “The Shape of Water,” Alexandre Desplat • Cinematography: “Blade Runner 2049,” Roger Deakins • Original Screenplay: “Get Out,” Jordan Peele

For more Oscar winners, visit elvaq.com.

14

SPORTS

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

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On Track for Tennis Success

GCC’s Miah Webb dominates the court as she pursues a new career track

By Alex Leon Contributing Writer The ball hit by the No. 1 Santa Barbara College women’s tennis player Katelyn Peyvandi deep into the corner against Miah Webb on Feb. 22 looked like a winner. So much so that Peyvandi almost turned around to continue serving, thinking that she had caught Webb flat-footed.

But the player Peyvandi was facing was no ordinary tennis player. Webb, a 20-year-old freshman at Glendale College, is a former state championship sprinter from Oaks Christian High in Westlake and a college sprinter at Georgia Tech University.

She was also a top-100 ranked junior during her tennis playing days. Instead of a point-ending shot from Peyvandi, Webb hit a forehand winner that stunned her opponent.

It stunned her so much that an almost fist pump in response for hitting a good shot turned into body language that suggested that this might not be her day. It wasn’t, as she lost to Webb 6-0, 6-1.

Webb has had a lot of good days for the Lady Vaqueros since joining the team in September, when school started after a chance meeting with head coach Deo Sy on campus.

She had left Georgia to return home to Glendale to attend school at GCC, and running track or playing tennis was not part of her game plan.

“I was just trying to stay oncourse academically and then I ran into Deo and everything changed,” said Webb recently after practice. “He said ‘just come out and hit and have fun’ with no expectations.

I was rusty for sure, but it was fun and I liked the workouts and the players on the team were awesome, so I decided to join the team and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.’’

Fast forwarding ahead to the 2018 season, Webb and her teammates are at the top of the Western State Conference team standings with a 7-0 mark (as of March 2) and are 11-2 overall. Webb herself is 12-1 at No. 1 in singles, with the same record in doubles with teammate, and team captain, Sabrina Subero.

The Vaquero Spotlight is preparred by Alex Leon.

Last minute changes do occur, so double-check listings in the event that the information here shifts.

Contact Alex Leon at aleon@glendale.edu.

Cosidering her background in track as a sprinter, one might think that Webb’s game is predicated on speed and court coverage. Her speed is a tremendous weapon to have as part of her skill set, but so is an improving serve that sets up her big forehand as well as her ability to run down balls.

“Miah Webb has been a great addition to our team and has been a positive example to our players on and off the court,” said Sy. “She is an extremely focused student-athlete who brings major college experience to our team but, in a way, that allows her to mesh with the players very well.

She is unique in the way that she is always asking questions about her transfer opportunities, working with an outside coach to improve her game and taking classes that challenge and stimulate her.’’

At Georgia Tech, Webb, who has a 3.4 GPA at GCC, majored in BioMedical Engineering but has since changed to Nutrition with an emphasis on working with athletes.

She often prepares her own food for team road trips, including salads and healthy snacks, but

Sam Lee / Courtesy Photo

TOP OF HER GAME: Miah Webb is on track to success.

is also not shy about offering up details about a great pizza place to eat at near College of the Canyons, where the team won 9-0 on Feb. 27.

Speaking of one-sided victories, Glendale has won eight of its 10 matches by the score of 9-0, meaning a sweep of all six singles and three doubles matches.

The Glendale team is currently ranked No. 4 in Southern California in the International Tennis Association Junior College Rankings and Webb herself could be ranked among the top 20 players in Southern California when the rankings are released later this month, according to Sy. Glendale starts the second round of WSC play with a home

match against Ventura College on Tuesday, March 6, on the campus courts. Also looming on the schedule is a home match March 22 against Santa Barbara, which could decide the 2018 WSC Champion. It would be the fourth straight for the Lady Vaqs.

But truth be told, Miah Webb is at the starting line again on her new career path that has taken her from her home in Glendale to Westlake, to Georgia, and back home again. Instead of trying to win races from 100 to 200 meters, she uses a different strategy to succeed on and off the court.

Alex Leon can be reached at aleon@glendale.edu

SPORTS

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Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Vaqueros Look to Extend Streak of Dominance

By Belinda Oldrati Production Editor

Spring semester is here, and the sound of aluminum bats making contact from across campus signals one thing: Vaquero baseball is back in session.

Glendale Community College head baseball coach, Chris Cicuto explained that the team’s success for the year will depend on the players’ ability to accomplish their individual assignments.

“Our team is extremely talented, yet a bit inexperienced,” said Cicuto. “So with every opportunity to practice, play and watch the game at a high level, we should be able to continue to improve daily.” That’s quite an objective, but one that has a proven track record of success for the Vaqueros in recent years.

Since 2010, the GCC baseball team has won five Western State Conference championships, three regional championships, and has one final four appearance, where the Vaqueros were two wins shy of a state championship.

The baseball coaching staff consists of GCC alumni Chris Cicuto, Alex Kocol, Jordan Plasencia, Justin Togeas, Sergio Plasencia, and Dave Andrews. All six coaches work hard to make sure their student-athletes succeed by giving them the best opportunities possible.

As of 2011, the number of players who have transferred from GCC to a four-year university or signed professional contracts is as high as 84 percent – something the staff is very proud of.

Conference play is just a few days away, and the goal for the team is to go deep into the playoffs, which is within sight “if each individual can continue to grow pitch by pitch,” said Cicuto.

The Vaqs currently have an 11-9 record overall. Their next game is on Thursday, March 8 vs.

Victor Valley. The game starts at 2 p.m. at Stengel Field.

Belinda Oldrati can be reached at boldrat820@student.glendale.edu.

HOME GAMES March 10 at 1 p.m.

March 15 at 2:30 p.m.

March 17 at 1 p.m.

March 22 at 2:30 p.m.

April 5 at 2:30 p.m.

April 10 at 2:30 p.m.

April 14 at 1 p.m.

April 19 at 2:30 p.m.

April 26 at 2:30 p.m.

GCC vs. Barstow College GCC vs. College of the Canyons GCC vs. Citrus College GCC vs. Victor Valley College GCC vs. Barstow College GCC vs. Antelope Valley College GCC vs. Antelope Valley College GCC vs. College of the Canyons GCC vs. Citrus College

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Wednesday, March 7, 2018

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