El Va uero l e n d a l eCC o m m u n i t yCC ollege GG lendale ommunity ollege
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AB540 students
to receive bog waiver.. . . . . . . . .
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officer aharonian receives recognition . . . . . . . . . .
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‘silent house’
scares audiences.. . . . . . . . . . . .
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sports hall of fame. . . . . . . . .
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Volume 99, Number 2
March 14, 2012
College Students Protest Cuts to Higher Education By Angel Silva
EL VAQUERO NEWS EDITOR
C
ollege students and instructors from across the state gathered at Sacramento on March 5 for a massive protest against continued budget cuts to higher education in California. The protesters gathered at Southside Park, arriving on buses and carrying signs. Colleges that sent students to Sacramento included Glendale, Pasadena City College, Cal State Stanislaus, UC Berkeley, CSULA, CSUN, and several others. The march to the state capitol started at 10 a.m. Students held signs and chanted in unison. “Students united, will never be divided,” “Hear us out or we’ll vote you out,” “No cuts, no fees – education should be free!” [See Protest, page 2]
EL VAQUERO ONLINE Photo by Angel Silva
MARCH IN MARCH: Students and instructors chant while holding signs as they march from Southside Park to the state capitol om March 5. Community colleges across California are raising tuition from $36 to $46. See related story, left and pages 2, 8-9.
Social Sciences Celebrate Lacks By Jonathan Caballeros
EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER
A IN THIS ISSUE News.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5 Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-10 Opinion.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Center Spread.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9 Entertainment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-12 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-14 Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
rguments rose, points were made and some emotional moments were shared Thursday afternoon, during the presentation “What’s in a name? HeLa/ Henrietta Lacks: Two Sides of Same Coin.” Discussion was led by Reina Prado and J.C. Moore. A crowd of about 25 people came to LB205 to discuss the life of Henrietta Lacks, and immortality of
her cells which were the first to survive outside the human body. The discovery of the HeLa cells in 1951 have led to the cures of many diseases, including polio, discovered by Jonas Salk in 1954. The down side is that Lacks’ family never knew she was being experimented on. Neither family, or the public, knew of the torturous treatment Lacks would also receive from the doctors at Johns Hopkins hospital in Baltimore, Md.
The type of treatment and the face Lacks’ family didn’t know about how her cells were used, served as a starting point for Moore’s presentation. “If Henrietta Lacks were a white female, would the treatment be different?” said Moore, a professor of sociology in GCC “Would the treatment or the discovery have been different?” “With such good intentions, we tend to sometimes forget that people are involved in [See HeLa, page 6]
ONE BOOK/ONE GCC: The social sciences department has planned numerous events around the story of Henrietta Lacks, including lectures, a book club discussion and a film screening.
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Wednesday, March 14, 2012
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LETTERS
El Vaquero Sacramento: Students EDITOR IN CHIEF Jessica Bourse COPY EDITOR Agnes Constante SPORTS EDITOR John Ferrara STAFF WRITERS
Eric Bourse Jonathan Caballeros Alex Gonzalez Marlon Miranda Evan Ramirez Isiah Reyes Angel Silva Kristine Tuzon Tex Wells
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Roger Lai Seneyda Rodriguez
STAFF GRAPHIC DESIGN Raul Espinosa
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Jane Pojawa
NEWSROOM MANAGER
Richard Kontas
DESIGN ADVISER Charles Eastman FACULTY ADVISER
Michael Moreau
Letter
Praise For SWAT Team Coverage
Protest Budget Cuts [Protest, from page 1] Students from UC Santa Cruz brought a float of their school mascot, the Banana Slug, in the form of a Chinese Dragon, with students inside of the float carrying it throughout the march. Others carried signs with slogans such as “Cut The Bullsh*t, Not The Classes,” “Not Sure if Getting an Education/Or Getting Ripped Off,” “Human Needs, Not Corporate Greed,” alongside others. Joe Perez, 20, a criminal justice major at Salinas College, said tuition for classes has increased $10 yearly. Tuition per unit this year for California community colleges will increase from $36 to $46. “We’re trying to bring light to the issues, such as less courses and more packed classes — so we can afford to have an education,” said Perez. The crowd of students and supporters reached the steps of the capitol at approximately 10:40 a.m., where a joint rally between the Student Senate for California Community Colleges, the California
State Student Association, and the University of California Student Association was held. Keynote speakers included Sen. Darrell Steinberg, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, and California State Student Association President Gregory Washington, who headed the day’s demonstrations. At the start of the rally, Washington asked the crowd to harness the power of social media. “Everybody get on your phones right now, and we’re going to send a message to Gov. Brown,” said Washington. Washington then asked the crowd to send the following to the governor’s Twitter and Facebook account: “Jerry Brown, Why don’t you support the future? Why don’t you support higher ed? #supporthighered.” “What we’re doing right now is creating a lot of noise, letting [politicians in Sacramento] know what we want,” said San Francisco State biology major Ivonne Quiroz, 27.
Dear Jessica [Bourse], I left you a voice mail message and I wanted to follow-up with an email. I read the two police related articles in the El Vaquero (by John Ferrara and Alex [Gonzalez]) which reported on the SWAT training and the police blotter. Both authors did a very nice job with particular thanks to John for his attentive investigative questions on the day of the training and the sincere respect he held for the SWAT team members. His quotes were right on point. I was very impressed with the piece he wrote on SWAT the training. I also wanted to thank Rich [Kontas] who took
[See March, page 8]
several of my phone calls today. Rich and I discussed several things. Rich was patient, understanding, and listened, providing insight and feedback as well. I truly appreciated Rich’s candor and want to commend him as well. You undoubtedly have a staff that works together. I am grateful for the work that El Vaquero authors complete on behalf of our campus community. Thank you again for the excellent work by your staff. Best,
- Gary J. Montecuollo Chief of Police
mmoreau@glendale.edu (818) 551-5214 ADVERTISING Jeff Smith jsmith@glendale.edu (818) 240-1000, ext.5493
Letter: How Do I Contact My Local Officials?
Send Letters to the Editor
I read your article today on the affects of the budget cuts on the college. It was very informative. You recommend taking action and contacting our representatives. May I suggest in future articles you print the names and contact information for our local legislators? Making it easier for students to contact them would have a huge impact. Unfortunately, not many students can or will take the time to do the research but if the email or phone numbers are there I feel many more will make a call or send an email. Thank you for keeping the student body informed.
El Vaquero accepts story ideas in news, features, profiles, sports and entertainment from the public. To submit an idea or an article, e-mail the editor at elvaquero.editor@gmail.com or call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5349.
Member of the Journalism Asssociation of Community Colleges
Letters may be reproduced in full or in part and represent only the point of view of the writer, not the opinion of El Vaquero or Glendale Community College and its district. Letters must be signed and typed and include the full name and address of the writer. El Vaquero is a First Amendment publication.
EL VAQUERO
1500 N. Verdugo Road Glendale, CA 91208 (818) 240-1000 ext. 5349
elvaquero.editor@gmail.com First copy free Additional copies $.25
Dear Editor,
Sincerely, Teena Garcia GCC student
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What do you think
Send a letter to the editor at: elvaquero.editor@gmail.com
Federal Officials Barack Obama (D) U.S. President
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Barbara Boxer (D) U.S. Senator
http://boxer.senate.gov/en/contact/policycomments.cfm
Dianne Feinstein (D) U.S. Senator
http://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index
Adam Schiff (D) U.S. Representative 29th District
http://schiff.house.gov/HoR/ca29/
State Officials Jerry Brown (D) Governor
http://gov.ca.gov/m_contact.php
Carol Liu (D) State Senator 21st District
http://sd21.senate.ca.gov
Mike Gatto (D) State Assemblymember 43rd District
http://asmdc.org/members/a43/
Anthony Portantino (D) State Assemblyperson 44th District
http://asmdc.org/members/a44/
Local Officials Mike Antonovich Los Angeles County Supervisor 5th District
http://antonovich.co.la.ca.us/Pages/ats. htm#mail
Here is some general information fon which elected officials serve Glendale, although results may differ depending on the district of one’s residence. To find out which district you are in, see http://www.leginfo. ca.gov/yourleg.html.
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Wednesday, March 14, 2012
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NEWS
AB540 Students Qualify 33 Students Lose Jobs to Budget for BOG Fee Waivers By Jonathan Caballeros EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER
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ach year, nearly three million students throughout California will apply to college to better their lives through education, but one demographic continuously struggles to receive the aid it needs to continue on to higher education. This group is the AB540, undocumented students. Karen Diaz is the vice president of VOICES (Voices Organizing Immigrant Communities for Educational Success) a club for pro-AB540 development through the use of fundraising and scholarship programs. “The AB540 students have no identification, so they have to apply to school through an affidavit,” said Diaz. An affidavit is a written declaration to an official that the student will apply for legal residency as soon as possible. Due to the lack of residency or legal identification, the government cannot grant them any financial aid. However, former California Gov. Gray Davis signed the AB540 Bill on Oct. 12, 2001, to allow immigrant minors in-state tuition. According to Greg Perkins, EOPS and student services counselor, the fee will be raised from $36 to $46 in the upcoming summer semester.
Many of these AB540 students live in low-income situations and usually take longer to finish their education due to the cost of tuition. The average yearly cost for tuition and books for an AB540 full-time student is $2,300, according to the GCC Net Price Calculator. The GCC Net Price calculator is an application for students to approximate the cost of one year of studying at Glendale. On Oct. 9, 2011, Gov. Jerry Brown signed the California DREAM Act, allowing AB540 students to qualify for state financial aid, including the Board of Governors (BOG) Fee Waiver. The bill does not help AB540 students apply for FAFSA, which grants eligible students federal financial aid. The BOG would help AB540 students the same way it helps out students who are currently receiving the waiver by eliminating tuition costs, based on either qualifications for welfare or state mandated income ceilings. “To apply for BOG you need a Social Security number, and since they have none, it’s not known exactly how they are going to get the BOG,” said Perkins. Although the application isn’t open yet, the requirements for AB540 students to acquire the BOG remain the same. AB540 students must have
been in the US for five consecutive years and must have been in the country before they turned 16. AB540 students also must have a high school diploma or equivalent, such as a GED or having passed the California High School Proficiency Exam. Applicants must be between 12 and 25 years of age to apply. Diaz also said that the students must be in college or the army for at least two years for the DREAM Act to go into effect, helping the students to gain citizenship or conditional permanent residency. According to Diaz, the website to apply is still under construction and will be available in 2013. The first semester that AB540 students should see the grant is in spring 2013, according to Perkins. More information on the BOG Fee Waiver availability can be found at the Financial Aid office in SF 110, or by speaking to Greg Perkins during a VOICES meeting, which are held every Tuesday and Thursday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Students can always check their Net Price Calculator by going to the GCC website, clicking the Quick Links to Financial Aid, then the Calculator and clicking the Net Price Calculator button. The prices are based on the 2010-2011 academic year. Jonathan Caballeros can be reached at jcaball942@student.glendale.edu
By Marlon Miranda EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER
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hen the state announced an unexpected $149 million cut to community colleges, Glendale didn’t have enough time to absorb a $1.9 million shock to its budget, and resorted to cutting student workers on campus. The college’s budget for this fiscal year was based on state projections. However, a miscalculation on the state level in revenues from property taxes and an increasing demand for student fee waivers has Glendale searching for solutions to this financial crisis. Andra Verstraete, director of student employment, feels terrible about cutting ties with student workers but said there were not many student workers who lost their jobs. “We were able to exempt and transfer most student workers to federal workstudy. Out of 400 student employees, 33 students lost their job,” said Verstraete. Student workers who were exempt were animal caretakers, tutors and those in the journalism department. Cafeteria employees fall under the CalWorks program. Disabled students and supplemental instructors are paid
by the categorical funds. Categorical aid is meant to provide services for students with special needs, to improve instruction and curriculum, or to support social and health programs. Some categorical funds are distributed to schools and school districts based on the number of students eligible for a program or the total number of students. Students in the federal workstudy program were not affected. Students who were fired were from the child development, division offices and assessment center. “Areas where students are aiding other students were exempt,” said Verstraete. “GCC has a long history of supporting the student worker program.” The district currently allocates approximately $700,000 out of the general fund to fund the student worker program. GCC has another $500,000 federal workstudy funds to hire students, according to Verstraete. The difference between the two is that students who are eligible for federal financial aid and have filed a FAFSA can be transferred to the federal work-study program, enabling them to work on campus. Those who are affected are those who remain in the general fund. [See Student Workers, page 4]
Campus Comments Do you agree with two local chiefs of police and the sheriff of Los Angeles county that illegal immigrants should be given driver’s licenses? Kimberly Godoy
Brianna Hayes
Hovanis Adigobyan
Manny Cardoza
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Sociology
Biology
Business Administration
Research Science
“I take both sides of the argument. Everyone can be tracked if someone is hit in an accident. I’m in favor of it for tracking purposes. If someone hits another person, they can’t just go off and never be heard from again.”
“I think that’s fair because, I mean there are things they have to do to get the license and they would have to go through the same things that other people have to go through to get their driver’s licenses.”
“I think they should get it so they don’t drive illegally. It’s better if they know how to drive instead of driving without a license, getting pulled over and getting into more trouble.”
“Uh, I’m not really sure about that. I mean, if somehow they pay their taxes or they are kind of contributing to society, it’s OK. If not, I don’t think they should get it.” —Compiled by Tex Wells
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NEWS
Parking On Campus Sometimes Difficult By Evan Ramirez
EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER
W
ith 2,453 parking spaces and six lots around the campus, which include 33 handicapped and 34 motorcycle, why are some students having a hard time finding a place to park? The first weeks of a new semester tend to be the worst when trying to find a space. However, as the semester progresses, it begins to get easier, possibly due to students dropping classes. “I think it got busier when they did the block scheduling, so some classes start all at the same time. So definitely in the morning is the time that it’s more crowded,” Sara Heitzman, 21, said. Some students weren’t aware there are six lots available, thinking that there were only around three or four. Marc Anthony Perales, 18, has classes in the morning, but when he goes to his car around 9 a.m. he’s well aware of
the traffic. “When I do come out though I notice on every floor there’s about five cars waiting to ask me if I’m leaving,” he said. The consensus seems to be that Lot B has the convenience many students are looking for, which in turn generates high traffic during certain parts of the day. “Just from my estimation, it’s a very convenient location. When you park here you can walk or take the elevator and you’re almost at the center of the campus,” Police Chief Gary Montecuollo said. To try and get the word out to students about the other lots and what their parking passes can do for them, Montecuollo is collaborating with Wendy Grove, public information coordinator. He wants to use the electronic marquee in the front of the school to do this. “I think it’s just a matter of reinforcing that so that people have
Some Students Laid Off somewhere. Education is more important than work,” said SalaEliza Oros, is a student am- zar. “It will be easier to find a bassador and has been a part of job elsewhere than trying to add the federal student program for classes that won’t exist if they a semester. She feels the budget close classes.” is taking away more than a payThe unforeseen budget crisis check from student has schools look“The students workers. ing at ways to save “The students money. Schools are who lost their who lost their jobs jobs are missing seeking ways to save are missing out on money, either by cutout on something something more imting classes or, as in portant than money, more important than GCC’s case, cutting they are missing out money, they are student workers. on the experience,” Student ambassamissing out on the said Oros. “ I have dor Kevin Dimatulac experience” is frustrated with the learned so much since being a part of —Eliza Oros, Student Ambassador school’s approach to the federal student the budget cuts. He program. I have grown so much.” said that firing student workers The new scholastic year starts wasn’t fair. on July 1. GCC is planning major “If administrators took a 1 perchanges for the upcoming semes- cent pay cut, imagine how much ter. that would help not only student One change is eliminating the workers but the entire school,” college employment program, said Dimatulac. said Verstraete. Eliminating the “The bonds and connections CEP program will not affect the I have had as an ambassador can federal student program. never be duplicated. Students deStudent Karla Salazar said pend on their jobs as their sole she understood the school’s eco- income. Administrators make so nomic situation and that cutting much, how would 1 percent hurt workers is a necessary measure them?” to keep the college afloat. Marlon Miranda can be reached at “The cuts have to come from
[Student Workers, from page 3]
mirandaelvaquero@gmail.com
the opportunity to know where they can park,” he said. While students might suggest the building of a new parking structure, Montecuollo said “We’re already in a financial crisis, so while that might be a potential solution down the road, realistically right now we need to maybe look at other options.” Though there are students who bike, walk and take public transportation to get to the school, the number of cars, and single riders, is still high as it is all around southern California. Montecuollo thinks that a couple of ways to possibly alleviate the problems that some seem to have with parking is to carpool or to park at an off-site location. Michelle Ibarra, 19, who gets dropped off at the school around 8:30 a.m. even notices the parking. In regards to what could help against the flow of traffic, she said, “More parking spaces.” While some students might stay in one parking structure looking for that special space, Patrick Ayvazyan, 29, looks all around. Waiting for a spot becomes a
game in itself. Students in their cars attempt to be the first at an unoccupied parking space. Not only does it play into a person’s skill of patience, but at times it plays like a puzzle game. The choice of either going down one aisle or another can be their undoing, and before they know it there’s already someone else waiting at that intended spot with their blinker on. “We have a beautiful campus. It’s really accessible by a number of different arteries such as freeways and city streets. We have opportunities to park but at the same time we have a large population who comes to our campus,” Montecuollo said. On the GCC website, under the article “A & R Guide,” is a subheading titled “Parking and Parking Fee.” On this page is information that students might not know about. That information includes the fact that anyone with a “valid student parking permit” doesn’t have to pay the parking meters. While the article itself hasn’t been updated to reflect the current price of a parking pass
($70), that fact still stands true. While the college doesn’t mail parking passes anymore, parking areas are available to check online, since maps are not given to students when they buy their pass. Though these aren’t handed out with the purchase of a parking pass, perhaps the inclusion of a map with designated parking areas on it could help many students. “That would help a lot. Of course,” Ayvazyan said. “I think if we just jump to the solutions without understanding the problem then we aren’t really serving the full best interest of what we need to do to answer that question, ‘What could be done?’” Montecuollo said. Montecuollo encourages feedback about anything that has to do with parking, and to do this students can email parking@ glendale.edu, as well as contact Montecuollo or or by calling the non-emergency information line (818) 551-5205, or ext. 5205 from a campus phone. Evan Ramirez can be reached at eramire678@glendale.edu
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5
NEWS
Aharonian Honored for Exceptional Service By John Ferrara
EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER
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hen he was in sixth grade, fate came knocking, and it had his skateboard. Glendale college police officer Rony Aharonian recalls the most influential moment to his career choice. “I came home from school and five to ten minutes later there was a knock at the door … it was a Glendale Police officer, he showed me my skateboard and said, ‘are you missing this?’ He observed a male suspect jump over a chain linked fence and then jump back with the skateboard in his hand. That small contact influenced me tremendously,” said Aharonian. On Feb. 27, Aharonian was awarded the Chief’s Letter Commendation of Meritorious Conduct at the Board of Trustees meeting by Glendale college police chief Gary Montecuollo, for his proactive police work and excellent service to the campus community. Aharonian’s wife, 1-year-old daughter, and fellow officers were present for his acclamation. Montecuollo shared three stories of Aharonian’s commendable police work with
the audience before presenting him with the award. In Aug. 2011, Aharonian was patrolling the Glendale Civic Auditorium parking structure when he happened across a suspicious man reclined in his vehicle. “Parking structures are known for narcotic — as well as lewd and lascivious — activities,” said Aharonian. While approaching the vehicle, he witnessed the suspect drop something into his center console. When Aharonian asked the man to retrieve the item he revealed a Marlboro cigarette case containing a vile of cocaine along with other drug paraphernalia. Upon searching the car, Aharonian discovered two handguns in the glove compartment with loaded magazines. The suspect had a warrant for his arrest by the Glendale Police Department and had been hiding on campus before being discovered by Aharonian. On Nov. 8, while driving down Mountain Street, Aharonian spotted a vehicle with its headlights out. A routine stop for a traffic violation, became a dangerous situation, when the suspect failed to yield for about half a mile.
Photo by Kenta Yamashita
LINE OF DUTY: Officer Rony Aharonian searches a car in parking lot B on April 4, 2011, following a stop for a hitand-run accident. Medical marijuana was found inside the vehicle. Aharonian is no stranger to difficult or challenging situations and has been commended for his law enforcement acumen.
Aharonian followed the suspect to his residence at 1570 N. Verdugo Road, where he received a radio call that there had been a hit and run on Mountain Street and the 2 Freeway. “When they dispatched the make and model of the vehicle and
the licence plate, I immediately recognized the license plate as the vehicle I had stopped,” said Aharonian, who quickly switched to the Glendale Police Department frequency and informed them he had stopped the vehicle. The third action Montecuollo wanted to commend Aharonian for was his assistance in potentially saving the life of a female student at GCC on Feb. 24. While waiting for the paramedics to arrive Aharonian discovered a device synonymous with diabetes on an unresponsive female, which allowed the college’s registered nurse, Maureen McNeely, to administer proper treatment. Montecuollo quoted a letter he had received from McNeely following the incident. “Had officer Aharonian not pointed out the medical device, which was most likely the cause of the problem, the student may not have survived.” “There’s no other higher calling in my opinion, that to do actions that would save someone’s life, it is with this, that I believe Rony demonstrated not only the core values of our college, but also of the police department,
and therefore is awarded the Chief’s Letter Commendation of Meritorious Conduct,” said Montecuollo. Aharonian approached the podium to applause as he received his award. “This is truly an honor to receive such an award from Gary Montecuollo,” said Aharonian. The board of trustee members enticed Aharonian to introduce his wife and daughter to the audience, which was followed by more applause. Now a family man, he admits to living more cautiously, however he has faith in his fellow officers to be there for him in life threatening situations. “There’s a strong camaraderie amongst police officers, and everybody that’s working that day, makes sure that everybody goes home safe,” said Aharonian, who has remained humble after receiving the award. “None of us do it for the recognition. Anybody who was in my shoes that wears this uniform would have done exactly the same that I did, that’s just what we do.” John Ferrara can be reached at jferrar977@student.glendale.edu
stories • pics • sports
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Wednesday, March 14, 2012
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FEATURES
Renner’s Dedication to Women’s History Empowers Students By Tex Wells
EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER
S
he walks into room 220 of the library building waving to her students, mouthing the word “Hi,” and flashing a smile as big as her home state, Texas. Professor Marguerite Renner, affectionately known to her colleagues as “Peggy,” and to many of her students as “Dr. Renner,” is in her third decade as a member of the Glendale Community College faculty. “I find joy working with students,” said Renner. That joy is transparent and it is reflected in the assessment of her as an educator by a number of her students. Brennan Amirkhizi, a student in her Humanities 125 class said, “She makes you look forward to the next meeting of the class. She likes interacting with the students, and she gets us involved.” Jonathan Miu, a student in the same class, said, “She’s very nice. She feels what the whole class is feeling at times and she’s very passionate about what she teaches. She cares for all of her students and is always helpful. Also, she always answers all of the questions we have.” Renner originally wanted to be a research scholar, but because of budgetary constraints, few schools that were actively recruiting teachers could afford to hire research scholars. However, once she began teaching, she said she “found sharing knowledge with students
intriguing.” Renner did her student teaching at the University of Pittsburgh, but her first official teaching position was at Stevens College, a small private college for women in Missouri. “All of the students came from wealthy families,” she said, “and some of them would bring or ride their horses to school.” Since Stevens, she has taught full time at both the University of Texas El Paso and the University of Utah. Her part time teaching positions have included stints at USC and CSUN. Renner was teaching at CSUN when she was apprised of an open position at GCC. She came for an interview almost immediately after learning of the opening. “I remember the interview,” said Renner. “They called me three days later and I took the position, which doubled my salary.” Within two years after she joined the faculty, Renner was encouraged to run for an office in the faculty senate. She did run, and she was elected. “Peggy’s one of the hardest working persons I have ever known, and she is incredibly compassionate,” said Monette Tiernan, an English professor. When she was president of the faculty senate, she would just keep on pushing, but she was always fair and objective. She kept me on my toes.” “Peggy is a socially conscious, compassionate and disciplined intellectual, who has dedicated her career to empowering the
lives of her students, and she has worked tirelessly to capture the shared governance process at Glendale College. I feel proud to be her colleague.” Renner served as president of the faculty senate from 2000 to 2003 and from 2004 to 2005. “I was sorry to see her step down,” said Tiernan. Renner’s mother was a high school principal who counseled her about career opportunities and helped her explore educational options , but it was Renner, herself who made the decision to attend her mother’s alma mater, Philadelphia High School for Girls, a school whose mission is preparing young women for college. Renner made the honor roll year after year at Philadelphia High School for Girls and she finished near the top of her graduating class of 576 students. She made all A’s in her first year at the school and the only B’s she received were in physical education. Her academic acumen in high school prepared her for the dean’s list in college. “I applied to the University of Pittsburgh,” said Renner, “and I was accepted with the best financial package I could imagine.” After she received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, she went on to earn her doctorate. Renner earned all three of her degrees at the University of Pittsburgh. “I did not go to college to find a husband,” said Renner. “I hated history in high school,” said Renner. That feeling
Photo by Tex Wells
GETTING A FIX: Professor Marguerite Renner sits in her office between classes, reading a book by psychologist Terrence Roberts, a recent featured speaker at GCC. All of her bookcases are bulging with books and she says, “Books are my addiction.”
changed, she said, “after studying with several instructors who were sensitive to issues faced by women.” They told her to do whatever she wanted to do and that was the seed that grew into a lifelong love of learning and a dedication to women’s history. Currently, one of Renner’s most heavily attended classes is one that deals with the history of rebellious women in the United
States and a substantial percentage of the students in that class are young men. The history professor said she finds “watching students learn to appreciate gender in new ways intriguing.” “I want to make the world a better place,” said Renner. Tex Wells can be reached at mrtexwells2003@yahoo.com
Presentation Discusses Lacks’ Immortal Life [HeLa, from page 1] all this,” said Reina Prado, an ethnic studies professor at the college. The HeLa cells were thought to have come from Helen Lane, a fabricated name, as a way to “protect [Lacks’] family,” said Prado, “If it were known that the HeLa cells came from an African-American woman, the knowledge would have made the scientists nervous.” An audience member then said that HeLa cells researcher, George Gey could have been deterring other scientists on the discovery of the cells or just protecting his
own name to the discovery. Shortly after the discovery of HeLa, the cells were mass produced without the permission of the family. This mass production became a controversy in the discussion. “When does ‘self’ stop?” asked Prado. Points of interest were also made not just on Lacks’ “human testing,” as said by Prado, but also about other types of human testing done before Lacks, such as prisoners being tested upon voluntarily, for the incentive of a bit more rations, according to Peggy Renner, a history professor.
“Scientists that get the cells should ask people for permission,” said Rosemarie Shamieh, a business professor from the Garfield Campus. The discussion also covered the racist media during Lacks’ time. Several people spoke about African-American artists who were unable to show their faces on their own music album covers . The presentation ended on a note of a question to keep the audience thinking. “When does it become necessary for a person to have a patent for their own selves,” asked Prado as she thanked everyone
for arriving and discussing in the event. There will be a month long recognition to the book “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.” “This has to the most exciting book I’ve read because it essentially speaks to all disciplines in colleges. Biology, history, law… everyone has talked about this book,” said Renner. “There will be a book club for this in the Garfield campus this March 28,” said Shameih. “You should come down, there aren’t many people and it feels more like a book club than the
discussion we had here.” On March 21 at 7 p.m. in room CR 223, there will be a screening and discussion of the BBC documentary on Lacks called, “The Way of All Flesh.” The discussion will be moderated by Robin Fishman. On March 22 in Krieder Hall room SR 138 at 12:30 p.m., there will be a panel discussion from GCC social science professors on “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” followed by questions from the audience.
Jonathan Caballeros can be reached at jcaball942@student.glendale.edu
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Wednesday, March 14, 2012
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FEATURES
Documentary Explores Legacy of Henrietta Lacks By Alex Gonzalez
EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER
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n celebration of women’s history month, on March 1 Glendale College unveiled “The Way of All Flesh,” a documentary by Adam Curtis, which tells the story of an African-American woman, her cancer cells, and the fight to cure disease in the ‘50s. This 1998 film won the Best Science and Nature Documentary at the San Francisco International Film Festival that year. The documentary starts with a woman named Henrietta Lacks, a Baltimore resident, who checked into Johns Hopkins Hospital because she felt a “knot” inside her stomach. She checked into John Hopkins because it was the only hospital in the city that would admit blacks. Lacks came from an impoverished background and suffered from both advanced syphilis and gonorrhea. Her doctor, Howard Jones, examined Lacks and found a tumor in her uterus. To figure out whether it was malignant, Jones did a biopsy of the tumor and sent it to the lab for diagnosis. Tragically, Jones discovered that Lacks had advanced cervical cancer. But what Lacks didn’t know and had not given informed consent for, is that Jones had kept two samples of her cancer cells. During radiation treatments for the tumor, two samples of Henrietta’s cervix were removed. One was comprised of non-cancerous tumor cells, and the other was the
cancerous cells. Without Lacks Lacks.” He used these cells to being aware of it, the cells from find cures for numerous diseases, her diseased cervix were being hoping that one of the diseases used for medical research. cured would be cancer. Although The film involves the themes no cure for cancer has yet been of informed consent, medical es- discovered, HeLa cells have been tablishment accountability, and used for research into AIDS, rathe sense of entitlediation, toxic rement that goes along actions and gene If there’s a with an economic mapping. They windfall. There are have also been to the no easy answers. used for testing we Lacks did not cell reactions to authorize tissue see, there’s going various products samples to be used including costo be a cure for metics. beyond diagnosis. Her family believes Lacks died that they should on Oct. 4,1951 have been informed —Lynette Mouchel due to kidney and compensated failure, but her for their mother’s posthumous cells lived on. Since the discovery contribution to pharmaceutical by Gey, Lacks’ cells have been companies and others who have grown in laboratories all over the benefited from so-call immortal world. HeLa cells. But after only four years of “Scientific research goes on all testing, researchers discovered the time and they don’t report it to that they couldn’t find a cure for us. Or it gets published in maga- cancer using the HeLa cells. They zines and we don’t read it,” said made a discovery that cancer Marguerite Renner, history pro- is found in human genes, and fessor at the college. Rennner’s cancer replaced polio as public first reaction to researchers not enemy number one. notifying the family was anger. By the 1970s, Lacks’ chilThe cancerous cells were transported to the lab of George Gey, a doctor who was searching for a way to keep cells alive outside of the body. Gey discovered that Lacks’ cells could stay alive and continue to grow, so he cultured more cells and sent them to labs across the United States. Gey changed the name of the cells to HeLa, for “Henrietta
“ cure racism
cancer”
Opinion
SOPA Not a Solution to Online Piracy By Isiah Reyes
EL VAQUERO NEWS/FEATURES EDITOR
I
t’s true that online piracy hurts companies that sell intellectual property, but there is a benefit from having their products spread all over the Internet. Digital piracy is the act of obtaining materials online without paying for them. It can range from downloading one song to downloading an entire library of movies. Media companies and the U.S. government have tried to thwart
the duplication of copyrighted content for years. This year, Congress proposed the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act (PIPA), which would have given law enforcement more tools to fight online trafficking of copyrighted material, as well as limited the public’s access to sites that upload the copied goods. Digital piracy is a problem for the music, movie, gaming, and software industries. But Internet censorship by the U.S. [See SOPA, page 10]
dren began receiving calls from researchers who wanted blood samples from them for genetic research. When the family found out what was going on and how much money was being spent on HeLa cell-related research, they were blindsided by the information. They were unaware that their mother’s cells were used to find cures for diseases and that the HeLa cells were known all around the world There was nothing they could do about it. The family tried to sue pharmaceutical companies because they never received any money or compensation for the HeLa cells, which were harvested without consent. But when their lawyers attempted to sue these corporations, they could not make a case against them. Lacks’ cells made tremendous breakthroughs for the medical establishment. For recognition of Lacks and her family, in 1996, the prestigious Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, the state of Georgia and the mayor of Atlanta declared Oct. 11 to be “Lacks Day.”
“It was really informative,” said student Rachel Atwood, about the movie. “It was good for the visual aid of seeing the people involved and seeing the cells and the way they acted.” Lynette Mouchel, another student, had a different outlook on the documentary. “I think it was really disturbing that the family didn’t know about it,” said Mouchel. “The fact that the lawyers went to the companies and they couldn’t find any evidence to prove that it was Henrietta Lacks’ cells so they could give the money to the family.” She also thinks that there is something else that needs to be done first before a cure for cancer. “I think what we should think about is if there will be a cure for racism first, then focus on the cancer part. If there’s a cure to the racism we see, there’s going to be a cure for cancer,” said Mouchel.
Alex Gonzalez can be reached at agonzal251@student.glendale.edu
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MARCH IN MAR Draws Students To C
[March ,from page 2 ] After the rally, some students, including ASGCC Vice President of Campus Relations Darvill Rodriguez, stayed and visited with their senators. “We needed to give a message to the government, tell them that it’s already hard enough for students as it is,” said Rodriguez. According to Rodriguez, Glendale’s group spoke to assemblymembers Mike Gatto and Anthony Portantino, as well as representatives for senators Bob Huff and Carol Liu. Most students left at about 4 p.m. However, some remained and joined 150 to 200 Occupy protesters in a sit-in and general assembly inside the capitol building. The protesters remained inside
the capitol until 7:30 p.m., when 68 of those people were arrested. Police gave an order to disperse at 6:26 p.m.. A smaller rally at 5 p.m. outside the capitol focused on levying new taxes in support of education, the Millionaire’s Tax in particular. If passed, the Millionaire’s Tax would require those with $1 million income or more to pay an additional 3 percent in state income tax, and those with $2 million or more would pay 5 percent more. Sixty percent of the funds raised by this tax would go to funding public education from kindergarten to college.
Angel Silva can be reached at asilva827@student.glendale.edu
www.elvaq.com
WS
RCH Capitol MARCH ON: On March 5, students
from across the state gathered at Sacramento for the March in March, a protest against the current economic cuts to the public education system. Bottom left: a multitude of students gathers in front of the capitol steps. Far left a protester holds a sign as students arrive in front of the capitol building. Left: civil rights activist Van Jones addresses students at the capitol steps. Right: students make their way to the capitol from Southside Park.
Photos by Angel Silva
Offer expires May 2, 2012
Offer expires May 2, 2012
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FEATURE
Trip Abroad Offers Immersion in Bali Culture By Kristine Tuzon
EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER
S
wimming with the dolphins, hiking up to an active volcano and listening to lectures by the poolside of a four-star beach hotel may seem like paradise for students. This summer, Glendale’s study abroad program will turn paradise into reality. Students will travel across the western Pacific Ocean to the island of Bali as they live and learn together from June 21 to July 15. Bali is a largely Hindu island within the Muslim country of Indonesia. Anthropology Professor Victoria Buresch and geography professors Darren Leaver and Laura Englund-Krusee will lead Indonesian excursion for a month. “We are very close to the cultural center called Ubud, of a developing country,” Leaver said. Students will learn in a more hands-on approach as professors teach physical anthropology and cultural geography. “They will be living the textbook example.” Leaver said. Some hands-on learning include exploring the terrain, asking taxi drivers questions about their culture, and attending and
observing a Balinese cremation ceremony. Point Loma University student Vianka Angulo, 21, is a former Glendale student who studied in Bali in 2010. “Learning in a classroom is strictly theory. You accept the facts, because that is how they are presented.” Angulo said. “But being exposed and having the ability to interact with the culture itself gives you a deeper and more meaningful understanding of life. Immersing yourself into a culture first-hand as opposed to a powerpoint presentation is priceless.” Also, students who choose to add Borneo to their study abroad experience will visit the Orangutans Foundation International (OFI) and meet founder Biruté Mary Galdikas. Students will learn about orangutans that have been reintroduced in the wild. They will see how people teach orphaned orangutans from recent deforestation how to survive in the forest before they return them back into the wild. “My students are not only going to be immersed in a rich culture of rich history, but they will also learn about the primates indigenous to the country
of Indonesia first hand,” Buresch said. “They are taking what they learned in the classroom and being able to apply it.” Students will be graded not only on written assignments and essays, quizzes, journals, and multiple-choice exams, but professors will also observe and evaluate how students link concepts with their experiences. “They will be tested on how terminology is reflected, what they experienced, and why it makes sense in the development of the environment.” EnglundKrusee said. Although they will be in Bali to learn, students will also have a lot of free time to explore and roam around Ubud and Candidasa. “We go on adventures that will take them out of their comfort zone, like river rafting.” Leaver said. Activities include travelingfrom one part of the island to another, zip-lining, an activity where students have a chance to glide from a suspended cable across the mountains, snorkeling, sailing out with dolphins, visiting waterfalls and palaces, sunrise volcano hiking, watching traditional dance performances, downhill bike rid-
ing, taking a cooking lesson, and even eating lunch with the tour guides’ family. Anthropology and psychology major Jessica Farrell, 30, said her favorite memories of the trip in 2010 were getting to know the professors and visiting the monkey forest. “In Ubud, there is a forest that is full of monkeys. You can buy bananas and feed them. They climb up on you and some sit on your shoulder, or in my case, my head, and eat their banana.” Farrell said. Angulo returned to Bali again last year where she had a chance to teach English to the local children. She said her favorite memory was at the end of her 2011 trip where she was saying goodbye to the children. “Every single one of them rushed to give us hugs and tell us they wished we could stay. They had made signs saying goodbye and telling us to come back to Bali soon.” Angulo said. “I gave 100 hugs and my whole heart away that day. As we drove away tons of students chased after our car saying bye.” With hands-on learning and experiencing a cultural immersion, students have benefited
from studying abroad by navigating and living together, and sharing experiences with each other. Kim Foong Chong, director of study abroad, said that GCC offers that experience above and beyond the academics. “We make students be better individuals, to be worldly individuals, to know about the world, to have broader ideas, and they can’t say they can do that sitting in a classroom. They have to get out there and see the world.” Chong said. “Students learn a lot about themselves, learn how to be adults, re-evaluate their life, make them grow up in a way, and reaccess their surroundings.” Angulo said her life changed forever. “I was able to get out of my comfort zone and realize that there is a broad spectrum of possibilities just waiting for you to discover them,” she said. Study aboard spots are filling up. Interested students must enroll in both Anthropology 101 and Geography 102. There will be mandatory on-campus meetings from June 11 to 19 before departing on June 20. [See Bali, page 11]
Opinion: SOPA Not Solution To Online Piracy [SOPA, from page 7] government is not the solution. Restricting the Internet is appalling because it infringes upon our freedom of speech. The solution to piracy is to have the product itself installed with anti-piracy software, which has been done in the past. For example, companies have placed anti-copying software on their CDs that requires an authorization code for the product to be used. Another common practice is limiting downloadable content to how many devices it can be placed on. Also, education campaigns against piracy in schools are a way of informing the new generation on the topic of piracy, a solution that could limit illegal downloading in the long run. Both the SOPA and PIPA bills have been postponed until the
issues raised against can be resolved. The presidential administration has called on legislature to put forth an online piracy law by the end of the year. When it comes to music, the up-and-coming stars of tomorrow can adapt to piracy and use it to their advantage today. An increase in illegal downloads means an increase in potential fans, which equals more people wanting to buy the product and attend shows. Piracy can help build a buzz in the community and save the artist money from spending cash on marketing. Some independent musicians supported the bills because they wanted to be paid for the content they created. That makes sense. However, there will always be some form of stealing, so the artists should use piracy to their advantage as a way of marketing their product. Karen Croxson, an economist
at Oxford University, published an article called Promotional Piracy. She classifies profit from four types of consumers: safe sales, people who will always buy legitimate copies; never consume, people who don’t buy legitimate copies and don’t illegally download anything; profit-friendly piracy, people who will not buy the product but illegally download it; and threatened sales, people who would buy the product but decide to pirate instead. Looking at consumers from this point of view is more realistic than saying everyone who ever downloads anything is hurting the entertainment industry. Those who would not have bought the product because they don’t have money are not a sales loss since they would not have purchased the good. Of course, that does not mean that they are entitled to the product just because they can’t afford
it.
The Institute for Policy Innovation estimates more than 373,000 lost American jobs and $16 billion lost employee earnings resulted from piracy. However, it’s hard to determine losses because not everything that is pirated is something that would have been bought. When it comes to music, major record labels do create the advertising needed to spread the word, but at the end of the day, these same record labels are the ones that keep most of the revenue from album sales. Most bands get their money from touring and selling band-related merchandise. Many artists have had success with giving away albums for free. Word of mouth from fans on social media websites is just as effective as a giant billboard. If people really like something, they will pay money for it. As for gaming manufactur-
ers, they can’t really benefit from promotional piracy because their products are for the younger crowd who has less income. Microsoft and Sony’s game servers authorize real and fake copies and ban people who play with pirated copies online. So for those who do obtain their games illegally, they aren’t able to use all its features if the game is playable online. This is a much better solution than having the U.S. government limiting a web that is supposed to be worldwide. In the end, yes it’s bad to steal. Yes it’s wrong to take something that is copyright protected without paying for it. But to say that there isn’t a single benefit to those who are having their goods copied are not looking at the issue from all angles. Isiah Reyes can be reached at ireyes184@student.glendale.edu
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Wednesday, March 14, 2012
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By Evan Ramirez
EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER
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or decades Disney has always been considered a staple in filmmaking. Its influence on animation is unmatched, yet the same can’t always be said for its live action output in recent years. While films like “The Muppets” can relate to many viewers based on recollections of their youth, something like “John Carter” doesn’t necessarily garner that same response. “John Carter” is centered around a Civil War veteran (Taylor Kitsch “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” (2009) who gets transported from 19th century Arizona to Mars. There he encounters aliens and a princess (Lynn Collins “The Lake House,” (2006) who ends up in need of a protector. The “fish out of water” story has been done numerous times, and its lasting appeal can only be stretched so far. While “John Carter” sustains this for a good amount of time, its novelty begins to wear thin by the halfway point. Kitsch’s portrayal of the title character is respectable and he has just that right amount of cockiness and likability that Harrison Ford had in the “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” films.
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Directed by Andrew Stanton (“WALL·E”, 2008), “John Carter” is the second live-action film in the past year to be helmed by a Pixar veteran. Brad Bird did a excellent job of directing these massive action set pieces in “Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol” (2011) and he perfectly utilized the technology that filming for IMAX and on 70mm film has to offer. As for “John Carter,” the technology it tries to use includes 3-D, which ends up being rather useless and is just another example of bad post conversion. Bird also directed the critically-acclaimed Pixar film “The Incredibles.” However, fans of film and everything that it has to offer often cite “WALL·E” as not only the best, but one of the greatest animation films ever made. “John Carter” isn’t able to elicit that same response of wonderment and it just feels like a retread of many other movies. What really makes “John Carter” confusing is that it attempts to dip its toes into too many genres. At times it feels like it’s channeling a western as well as a period piece, then it takes on sci-fi while also playing as an action film, drama, romance and comedy. It never gets its footing as one specific type of picture, which ulti-
Study Abroad: Bali [Bali, from page 10] Applications are available online at www.glendale.edu/ studyabroad. Students must print out the applications and turn them in to Chong in AD 145-C with a $500 deposit. The cost is approximately $3,750, and includes airfare, transfers, side trips, accommodations and some meals. This excludes college fees (tuition and other), air and departure taxes, meals and full-coverage travel insurance. The one-week Borneo extension is an option. This is an additional $1,250, which includes most meals and a do-
nation to the orangutan foundation. The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is one way students can be financially supported. Students who are eligible to apply must study aboard for at least four weeks and must be eligible to receive a Pell Grant. This may qualify and help most students. If students want more information or have any questions about the study abroad program, Chong can be reached at studyabroad@glendale.edu or (818) 240-1000 ext. 5718. Kristine Tuzon can be reached at ktuzon342@student.glendale.edu
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WHAT’S FOR LUNCH?: Taylor Kitsch is served to an unfriendly Martian in Disney’s latest action thriller.
mately hurts the film. In late 2009 James Cameron’s “Avatar” wowed audiences with its spectacular use of 3-D. Disney did this right in 2010 when it released “TRON: Legacy” (2010), which not only featured some of the best 3-D in recent years, but boasted one of the best scores, sound design and sound editing in a long time. When a film ends up being put through 3-D post conversion, it doesn’t evoke that same feeling one gets when watching a film actually shot with it. One of the things “John Carter” gets right is that the action set pieces are exciting to watch. However, pacing actually ends up hurting the action scenes, as by the time the big white ape action scene takes place it feels like the movie should almost be over. However, throughout that battle there’s a sense that there has to be more after it to finish the film. The best part of “John Carter” is the ending, because it wraps up the entire story in a nice fashion by explaining everything in a
concise and coherent way. Rarely does a huge action blockbuster enlist unknown actors to lead their cast, yet with “John Carter” the movie does just that. While stars like Willem Dafoe and Thomas Haden Church are present, they voice aliens in the film and they’re nearly unrecognizable. The only actors that most people will recognize are Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad”) (2008) , who ends up being more of a cameo, and Mark Strong (“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” 2011). It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but just a stray observation that ends up seeming quite unusual, especially for a film of this scope. Chances are that fans of television right now or anything that J.J. Abrams puts out on TV will enjoy the music for “John Carter” and recognize it right away. Composer Michael Giacchino, who scored “Lost,” “Fringe” and “Alcatraz,” does nice work here. More so than any of his work on “Fringe” and “Alcatraz,” his score for “John Carter”
is very reminiscent of the finale for “Lost,” particularly one piece, “Deja’s Theme,” and that’s in no way a complaint. While the visuals and overall look of Mars is appealing, it often times doesn’t seem different than the scenes that take place in Arizona early on in the picture. Even something like Ridley Scott’s seminal sci-fi classic “Blade Runner” felt more otherworldly than “John Carter,” and that film took place in a futuristic Los Angeles. To refer back to “TRON: Legacy,” the same can actually be said for that as it is with “Blade Runner,” as those sets were a joy to look at. There is potential in “John Carter” but it’s not fully realized. Its action scenes will meet the needs of some but those looking for something more will be disappointed. While its young cast does a nice job with what it’s given, the end result just isn’t that good.
Evan Ramirez can be reached at eramire678@glendale.edu
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ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT / SPORTS
‘Silent House’ Makes Audiences Scream By Eric Bourse
EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER
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udiences loudly demanding another horror film in 2012 no longer need to wait. “Silent House” has arrived. “Silent House” is directed by husband and wife-duo Chris Kentis and Laura Lau (“Open Water,” 2003). The screenplay was written by Lau and based on the Uruguayan film of the same name, directed and written by Gustavo Hernández. The film stars the up and coming Elizabeth Olsen (“Martha Marcy May Marlene,” 2011) as Sarah, a young woman who has returned to her childhood home to help her father, John (played by Adam Trese,) and uncle, Peter (played by Eric Sheffer Stevens), clean out the place and sell it. Frustrated with his daughter slacking on her chores, John commands Sarah to stay in her room to start packing and to throw unwanted belongings in the trash. Unfortunately for her, she doesn’t even get to fold a shirt before things go bump in the night — literally — and she must begin her hour-and-a half-long fight for survival from an unseen intruder. In an era in which many horror films are using the “found footage” gimmick, “Silent House” utilizes one that is rarely seen, except on the TV program, “24.”
The plot unfolds in real time and entirely in one continuous take. Alfred Hitchcock explored this trick back in 1948 with his classic film “Rope.” The horror in the film does have some truly scary moments and fortunately doesn’t rely on a constant stream of jump scares, but instead dishes up suspense and thrilling chase scenes. The biggest surprise in “Silent House” isn’t necessarily the movie’s twist, but the fact that it almost seems like two films in one. In the film’s first act, the horror is similar to that of such recent films as “The Strangers” (2008), with a constant and unrelenting pursuer. When the plot turns, the horror surprisingly becomes surreal as the film shifts into a psychological thriller much like Roman Polanski’s timeless 1965 film, “Repulsion.” These nightmarish sequences shine with the film’s continuous single take and the special effects are used responsibly, despite Sarah’s reality being shaken. The acting in “Silent House” is one of the film’s biggest missteps. Olsen does an admirable job, considering the camera is almost entirely focused on her face, allowing audiences to follow her every expression of terror. However, Trese’s and Stevens’ acting isn’t on Olsen’s level and is distracting in certain moments
FLIP THIS HOUSE: Eric Sheffer Stevens, Elizabeth Olsen and Adam Trese in Silent House. in the film. Their line deliveries sounds campy most of the time and “Silent House” could have benefited if they made their performances more subtle and natural. Another major blunder is Kentis and Lau’s delivery on the film’s twist. Some of their choices for clues that are sprinkled throughout the film aren’t subtle and take away from the emotional impact that the twist could have had on audiences. Overall, the film delivers a shocking variety of scares and its presentation in real-time sets itself apart from many horror movies. However, due to Olsen’s
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Track and Field Team Finishes Second at Moorpark College By Eric Bourse
EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER
WATCH A NEW TV PILOT & GET PAID TO GIVE US YOUR OPINION IN A FOCUS GROUP.
runs for 88 minutes. 3 out of 5 stars.
T
he Vaqueros proved to be resilient on Friday despite hot weather, high winds, injuries and tough competition at the WSC South Meet at Moorpark College. The Lady Vaqueros came in second place with 102 points while West LA took first place with 149 points. Moorpark took third with 95 points. “The women’s team really stepped up today,” said Head Coach Eddie Lopez. “The women dominated the long distance events.” In the women’s 800 meter run, Lilia Asserian came in first for the Lady Vaqs with a time of 2:18. Cecilia Nicolas came in fourth place with a time of 2:23. In the 1,500-meter run, Angela Martinez finished second with a time of 4:59.71. Charlene Quintanilla took third with a time
of 4:59.86. Zulma Herrera finished fourth with a time of 5:04 and Nohemi Martinez took fifth with a time of 5:05. Nicolas finished second in the 3,000-meter run with a time of 11:03. Quintanilla finished third in 11:04. Nohemi Martinez finished fourth in 11:06 and Angela Martinez finished fifth in 11:10. During the 100 meter hurdles, Flor Cardenas tripped on the first hurdle and injured her leg. Despite the stumble, Cardenas was able to recover and finish third in the 400 meter hurdle with a time of 1:11.07. “If Alyssa Selve and Nandy Watson weren’t injured, the Lady Vaqs would have taken first place,” said Lopez. In the men’s competition, Moorpark College finished first with a score of 118. GCC finished second with a score of 98. Santa Monica finished third with [See Track, page 13]
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Wednesday, March 14, 2012
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SPORTS
Hall of Fame Honors Distinguished Athletes By Alex Gonzalez
EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER
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riends and family gathered Saturday evening at the J. Walter Smith Student Center to see their loved ones get inducted to the 11th Annual Glendale College Athletic Hall of Fame. Dozens of people attended the special evening, to see the newest inductees receive their prestigious awards. The 2012 class was awarded in the following categories: outstanding athletic achievement, outstanding team, meritorious service, pillar of achievement, and outstanding coach. Tove Berg, from Sweden, received the award for outstanding athletic achievement. Berg was a member of the 2007 track and field team, winning numerous awards while attending Glendale College. Berg was a back-to-back state champion in 2007 and 2008 in the individual five-kilometer and 10-kilometer run. She also holds school records in the three-, fiveand 10-kilometer run. “I am very happy and very honored for this award,” said
Berg via webcam. “I want to say thank you to my coach for seeing potential in me. I wouldn’t be here without him, I wouldn’t have achieved my goals.” Berg could not accept the award in person because she had moved back to Sweden. The award for outstanding team was given to the 2002 men’s baseball team. The team set a school record in the Western State Conference that year, 20-6. Also, head coach Jon Strauss was named coach of the year, pitcher Jon Felfoldi was co-player of the year and 13 players were named to the WSC team. Pitcher Macro Estrada now plays for the Milwaukee Brewers. “I want to thank my 2001 team, they set the tone for this team,” said Strauss. “The 2002 team: I worked you hard, I demanded a lot out of you, I was hard on you. The thing that I’m most proud of is every sophomore moves on to the upper level and that’s always been my goal.” The next inductee was Chet Williams, who received the meritorious service award. Williams played Linebacker for the Vaqueros in 1979. He
Photo by Alex Gonzalez
ALWAYS A VAQUERO: The 2012 class, from left to right, Dale Logie, Chet William, Jon Strauss, Col. James D. McGinley and Jim Sartoris are welcomed to the athletic family.
was First-Team All-WSC, then transferred to Washington State University. He is a classroom instructor at Sylmar Juvenile Hall and Optimist Youth home for boys. He is a mentor to Glendale
Track Places Second [Track, from page 12] a score of 95 and West LA was fourth with 94.5. In the men’s 800 meter run, Mario Castillo took first place for Glendale with a time of 1:59. Alexander Nelson placed second with a time of 2:01. In the 3,000-meter run, Issac Diosdado finished first with a time of 9:01. Vladimir Diaz finished fourth in 9:07. Mizrael Mendez finished fifth in 9:12 and Kurt Lutz finished sixth in 9:21. Dylan Bourne finished 17th in 10:23. “I didn’t have a good performance today,” said Bourne, 18. “I wasn’t fully
prepared by not warming up enough and I started the race too fast. The team performed really well overall though.” The competition for second place came down to the final events such as the javelin throw and shot put. “It was a really fun and competitive meet,” said Lopez. “The shot putters aren’t used to have a large crowd cheering them on because by the time they start their event, the rankings don’t change much.” Nicholas La Croix clinched the second place finish for Glendale with a 41-foot throw and placed third. Jason Ahn finished first in
the javelin throw for GCC with a 172-foot throw. David Renteria finished second with a 152-foot throw. The track and field teams will participate in the Occidental Distance Carnival at Occidental College on Friday at 6 p.m.. On Saturday, GCC will compete at the Northridge Invitational at CSUN at 9 a.m. On March 23, the teams will participate in the Riverside City College Open at 2 p.m.
Eric Bourse can be reached at ebourse741@glendale.edu
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College students and is the founding president of the GCC Alumni Football group. “It’s not about the AllStar player, but it’s about the teammates that we played,” Williams said. “I must thank the people in my life... for their guidance and their patience.” After Williams received his award, Dale Logie was inducted for outstanding athletic achievement. Logie played football for the Vaqueros from 1972 to 1973. He was a two-time All-WSC when he played, as well as a member of the All-America team in 1972. Logie transferred to USC and was a member of the 1974 National Championship team. He has coached at GCC and Flintridge Prep in La Canada, where he is currently the athletic director. “Coming to tonight’s event is very special. There are a lot of people that I have to be thankful for,” said Logie. “College, the Hall of Fame staff, Alex Leon and his staff. Coaches, friends, teammates and my family. I love you all.” The award for pillar of achievement was given to Col. James D. McGinley, who played as goalie for the Vaqueros’ water polo team from 1977-1979 and was MVP. He has a 30-year career with the U.S. Marines and received a Bronze Star for his service in Iraq, as well as a Legion of Merit for leadership in the combat zone.
“This medal means just as much to me as any other medal I have,” said McGinley. “It is indeed an extraordinary honor. It is wonderful to be remembered after all these years. Glendale College has always been a very special place in my heart.” The final award of the evening was given to Coach Jim Sartoris. He was inducted as outstanding coach. Sartoris played quarterback and defensive-back for the Vaqueros in 1962 and 1963. He was a member of the 1963 AllAmerican team. He received an athletic scholarship to the University of Washington. Sartoris had a 40-year career at Glendale as an assistant head coach, head coach and athletic director. “Thank you so much. I want to congratulate all the other inductees tonight,” said Sartoris. “This Hall of Fame is the best thing that Glendale College has done, as far as bringing people back on campus and seeing old faces that you haven’t seen in a long time. I know why I’m here, and it’s because of you guys, particularly everyone in this room.” For more information on the GCC Athletic Hall of Fame visit, www.glendale.edu/index. aspx?page=320
Alex Gonzalez can be reached at agonzal251@student.glendale.edu
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SPORTS
Softball Opens Season With Tough Loss By John Ferrara
EL VAQUERO SPORTS EDITOR
N
umbers can be cruel. The Lady Vaqs held College of the Canyons to only five hits Thursday, but managed to lose their first conference game of the season 7-6 at home. “They were tough, but we’ll take ‘em in the next two … we’re just as good as they are.” said outfielder Carley Zabka. Glendale’s defense made two costly mistakes to start the game, first walking lead-off hitter Ruby Herrera and then allowing her to score on a throwing error, giving Canyon an early 1-0 lead. Zabka got the Vaqs going in the second with a lead-off double to left field, and later scored when Adrienne Lozano crushed the ball up the middle for an RBI triple. A fielding error allowed Lozano to reach home and the Vaqs took a 2-1 lead. In the top of the third pitcher Brandy Morin beamed Jenny Wunderlich in the forearm, awarding her first base and igniting a two-run Canyon rally, fueled by Nikki Haslock’s inside the park home run.
Once again, Zabka kept her team in the game by leading off with a hit in the bottom of the fourth and put another run on the board due to a Canyon fielding error, making the score 4-3. Another lead-off walk and hit batter allowed the Cougars to tally-up two more runs on a sacrifice fly by Adriana Correa, and Canyon took a 6-3 lead. The top of Glendale’s lineup came back around in the bottom of the fifth, and the Vaqs pulled together a spectacular rally. Nancy Pinedo and Morin both executed perfect slap bunt singles, followed by a 2 RBI blooper up the middle by Kitty Nguyen. Another Canyon throwing error allowed Nguyen to score, and the game was tied. The seventh and final inning was a heart breaker for Glendale. Andrea Brackpool led off with a triple to dead center and despite GCC’s best defensive efforts the Cougars were eventually able to hit a sacrifice fly and take a 7-6 lead. The Vaqs had one last shot in the bottom of the seventh, when Pinedo led off with a slap-bunt base-hit. Morin attempted to fol-
low with a slap-bunt of her own, however the umpire called Morin out for stepping outside the box while attempting the bunt, killing Glendale’s momentum and the game ended 7-6 with the tying run stranded at first. “She was not out of the box,” said coach Dave Wilder. “That just kills a huge rally when you
have your second, third and fourth hitters coming up, and that takes you out of the game.” College of the Canyons remained undefeated throughout the preseason and is the team to beat in the Western State Blue conference. The Cougars will have home field advantage against the Vaqs for the remainder of the
season, which will make gaining ground in the standings especially difficult. The Lady Vaqs’ next home game is against Bakersfield College on Thursday at 2:30 p.m.
John Ferrara can be reached at jferrar977@student.glendale.edu
Vaquero Sports Summaries Scores Men’s Tennis: March 1 — lost to Ventura College 8-1 Thursday — lost to Santa Barbara 9-0 Baseball: March 1 — beat East L.A. 7-2 March 3 — beat Citrus College 3-2 March 6 — beat L.A. Valley 4-3 Thursday — beat Canyons 4-3 Saturday — beat West L.A. 18-1 Softball: Thursday — lost to Canyons 7-6
Men’s and Women’s Track and Field: Friday — WSC South Meet at Moorpark Women - finished second Men - finished second Women’s Tennis: March 1 — lost to Ventura 8-1 Thursday — lost to Santa Barbara 6-3 Men’s Golf: March 4 — Finished second vs. Santa Barbara at La Purisma March 7 — Finished first vs. Santiago Canyon at Tustin
Upcoming Events Men’s Tennis: Thursday — at Bakersfield 2 p.m. Tuesday — at L.A. Pierce 2 p.m. March 22 — vs. Ventura 2 p.m. March 23 — vs. Amherst College 1 p.m. March 25 — vs. Middlebury 2 p.m. March 27 — vs. Cerritos 2 p.m. March 29 — vs. Irvine Valley 2 p.m. Baseball: Thursday — vs. Bakersfield 2:30 p.m. Saturday — at L.A. Mission 1 p.m. Tuesday — vs. Citrus College 2:30 p.m. March — 22 at Citrus College 2:30 p.m. March — 24 at L.A. Valley 1p.m. March — 27 vs. L.A. Valley 2:30 p.m. March — 29 vs. Canyons 2:30 p.m. March — 31 at Canyons 1 p.m. April 3 — vs. Santa Barbara 2:30 p.m. Photo by John Ferrara
PICTURE PERFECT: Vaquero outfielder Carley Zabka singles up the middle in her three for three performance.
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Women’s Tennis: Thursday — vs. Bakersfield 2 p.m. Tuesday — vs. Santa Monica 2 p.m. March 22 — at Ventura College 2 p.m.
Men’s and Women’s Track and Field: March 16 — Distance Carnival at Occidental 6 p.m. March 17 — Invitational at CSUN 9 a.m. March 23 — RCC Open at Riverside 2 p.m. March 30 — WSC Inland at L.A. Valley 1 p.m. Softball: Thursday — at Santa Monica 1:30 p.m. March 22 — at Citrus 2:30 p.m. March 24 — vs. San Diego Mesa 12:20 p.m. March 27 — vs. L.A. Valley 1:30 p.m. March 29 — at L.A. Mission 2:30 p.m. March 31 — Ventura Tournament April 3 — at Canyons 1:30 p.m. Men’s Golf: Sunday-Monday — North/South Meet at Hunter Ranch 11 a.m. Monday — vs. Santiago Canyon at Tustin Ranch 1 p.m. March 26 — WSC at Glendora 10 a.m. April 2 — vs. Ventura College/WSC at Saticoy 11 a.m.
For more information see: http://www.glendale.edu/athletics/
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Wednesday, March 14, 2012
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Calendar On Campus EVENTS Burrito Sale — The V.O.I.C.E.S. Club hosts their annual scholarship fundraiser. Thursday in Plaza Vaquero from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Swap Meet — Upper campus parking lot. Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free and open to the public. For more information, call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5805. Ping-Pong Tournament — The Scholars Club is hosting the event Friday from 1 to 4 p.m. in SC 212. Open to all. $2 to play, with a cash prize to the winner based on total amount raised. Campus Clean Up — Join with ASGCC members on a campuswide clean up. March 28 in Plaza Vaquero from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Spring Festival — Fun, games, food and music. Presented by GCC clubs and the ASGCC. April 3 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in Plaza Vaquero.
PLANETARIUM Evening with the Stars — “Astronomy vs. Astrology. Just what is the difference?!” Saturday at 6:30 and 8 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. No late arrivals. For more information, visit www. glendale.edu/planetarium or call
(818) 240-1000, ext. 5275
WOMENS HISTORY
Free. Thursday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in AD 205.
LECTURES
Womens History Month — Faculty/Student Book Club meeting will discuss “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot. Free. Thursday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in AD 205.
Science Lecture Series — “Three Questions about Climate Change.” Speaker is GCC professor of geology, Poorna Pal. March 27 in CS 177 at 12:20 p.m.
Womens History Month — Student panel on body ownership. Moderated by English instructor Diann Adamson. Free. Monday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in LB 205.
Los Angeles Writers Reading Series — “An Afternoon of Literature with David L. Ulin.” Ulin is a book critic for the L.A. Times. March 28 in Kreider Hall at 12:20 p.m. Free and open to the public.
Womens History Month — “The Way of All Flesh.” A documentary film about Henrietta Lacks who had cells removed from her body without permission in the 1950s. Use of those cells has since changed medical history. Discussion to follow the screening. Moderated by history instructor Robin Fishman. Free. March 21 in CR 223 at7 p.m.
MEETINGS
Womens History Month — A panel of GCC social science professors will discuss “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” followed by audience Q & A. Free. March 22 in Krieder Hall from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Womens History Month — Classroom discussion on the Lacks story. Coordinated by philosophy instructor Lina Gupta.
Board of Trustees Meeting — Monday at 5 p.m. in Krieder Hall. For more information visit: www. glendale.edu/boardoftrustees.
FINANCIAL Free Money — Last chance to apply for scholarships to be awarded in July 2012. Do you have a 2.5 GPA and 12 completed units? Scholarship opportunities await you. The deadline to apply is March 23. For more information visit: www.glendale.edu/ scholarships or call (818) 2401000, ext. 5591. Campus Project Support — For projects on campus with innovative ideas; funding grants are
available through ASGCC for up to $2,500. The deadline for application submission is Thursday at 3 p.m. For more information call (818) 240-1000, ext. 3033.
MOVIES Friday Flix: — A screening of the 1998 film “Elizabeth” starring Cate Blanchett on Friday. March 23 features the 1946 film “Beauty and the Beast” directed by Jean Cocteau. Then on March 30 the 1985 British science fiction/black comedy “Brazil” directed by Terry Gilliam. Films are free at 12:30 p.m. in SG 334. A discussion facilitated by instructor Mike Petros follows the screeenings.
ART GALLERY “What Should a Painter Do?” — Art Gallery. An exhibition by the New York-based artist David Schafer featuring new sculptures with sound. Runs through April 28. Admission is free. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Thursday from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.glendale. edu/artgallery or call (818) 2401000, ext. 5663.
WORKSHOPS “Effective Resume” — Focuses on essential resume-writing principles, formats and content. Mon-
day from 2 to 3 p.m. Free. Career Center, San Rafael Building. For more information call (818) 2401000, ext. 5407. “Learn to Meditate” — Meditation is said to help clear and calm the mind. Free. Every Thursday from 12:20 to 1:20 p.m. in AU 117. For more information call (818) 551-5192. “Researching Careers” — Focuses on career searching techniques. March 22 from 3 to 4 p.m. Free. Career Center, San Rafael Building. “Summary vs. Analysis” — Explore several ways in which paragraph information may be analyzed. Free. Today from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in AD 238. For more information, visit www. glendale. edu/learningcenter or call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5341. “MLA Requirements” — Learn about stylistic requirements mandated by the Modern Language Association. Tuesday from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in AD 238. Free. “Fragments” — Learn about types of fragments and how to fix them. Free. AD 238. Thursday from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. “Finding the Main Idea” — Sharpen your reading comprehension skills with this new workshop. Free. March 26 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in AD 238.
Around Town EXHIBITIONS “Inaugural Art Exhibit” — Alex Theatre. The Glendale Youth Alliance presents a variety of art to be sold including paintings, photography, sculptures and other art forms. 216 N. Brand Blvd. March 21 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Tickets $25. For more information call (818) 243-2539 or visit www.alextheatre.org. Robert Adams: The Place We Live — LACMA. This retrospective features nearly 300 blackand-white photographic prints as well as a selection of the artist’s many photo books. Tickets
$15 adults, $10 students and seniors. Runs through June 3. 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. For more information call (323) 8576000 or visit www.lacma.org. Nancy Baker Cahill: Fascinomas — Pasadena Museum of California Art. A multimedia installation that examines the human body’s response to pain. 490 E. Union St., Pasadena. Runs through May 20. Adults $7, seniors and students $5. For more information call (626) 568-3665 or visit www.pmcaonline.org. In Focus: Los Angeles, 1945– 1980 — The Getty Center. This photography exhibit represents
Los Angeles as a subject and photography as a medium for creative expression. Runs through May 6. 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles. Free. Parking is $10. For more information call (310) 440-7300 or visit www. getty.edu.
MUSIC Calico Winds — Glendale Noon Concerts presents wind music by the Calico Winds quintet. Free in the Sanctuary of the First Baptist Church of Glendale, 209 N. Louise St. March 21 from 12:10 to 12:40 p.m. For more information call (818) 242-2113 or visit www. fbcglendale.net.
THEATER Hershey Felder Collection — Pasadena Playhouse. Three new shows directed by Joel Zwick and performed by Hershey Felder. Runs through April 7. Tickets and showtimes vary. 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena. For more information visit www.pasadenaplayhouse.org or call (626) 356-7529.
COMEDY St. Patrick’s Day with Johnny Sanchez — The Ice House Comedy Club. Former MAD TV cast
member Sanchez brings his act to Pasadena. Tickets are $17.50 to $24.50. March 24 at 8 and 10 p.m. 54 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena. For more info call (626) 577-1894.
WELLNESS Free Health Clinic — Tuesdays 5 to 8 p.m. by appointment (limited walk-ins as space allows). 134 N. Kenwood St., third floor, room 330. No job or sports-related physicals. For more information call (818) 243-2105, ext. 202 or visit www.glendaleclinic.org. Compiled by Richard Kontas elvaquero.editor@gmail.com
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VAQUERO VIEWS
‘Godspell’ Coincides With Broadway Revival By Kristine Tuzon
EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER
A
s Broadway welcomes back and celebrates the 40th anniversary of one of its most successful productions, “Godspell,” Glendale locals won’t have to fly to New York to see the show, because it will be closer than they think. Glendale’s theater arts department will stage “Godspell” for two weekends, from April 19 to 29 at the GCC auditorium main stage. “It’s based on the Gospel of Matthew from the Bible. It’s all the teachings and parables from Jesus’ life,” theater arts director Melissa Randel said. “It’s about this group of people whom are all in search of more meaning in their life, and they come to this central place and meet Jesus and dramatize and playfully act out all the parables. It’s really a celebration of life, his teachings and community, and that’s what attracted me to it,” she said. Music major, Joenhel Cayanan, 24, will be playing the lead role of Jesus. “Jesus is not what they are going to be expecting,” Cayanan said. “He is youthful and fun. Jesus is more like the big brother guiding them through.” CJ Standley, 19, will play the role of John the Baptist, who will develop into Judas. “He is very methodical, smarter than everyone else, and tries to be a leader,” Standley said. “He is Jesus’ best friend who ends up betraying him.” The play is a musical, using theatrical traditions such as clowning, pantomime, charades, acrobatics and vaudeville, a resemblance to a variety show. “Couple of numbers and character changes will be a bit different, but for the most part, it’s strictly all musical,” theater arts major, Sarah Stone, 19, said. Also, Randel will be incorporating choreography or ideas from students and add them to the show. “She welcomes our input to creating the show. It’s everyone’s show,” Blue Josiah Perez, 31, said. “It’s a good diverse cast. Everyone has something to bring to the table,” Cayanan said. The play will consist of paired-up and group choreography, transitional character changes, and movable abstract stage props.
The show is based on the book by John-Michael Telebek, who wanted to achieve “the use of both sophisticated verbal humor and broad physical comedy to appeal to all the age groups, and the reliance on acting out the stories visually and through the use of different voices and sounds.” Musical director Clare Delto has been rehearsing with the cast by preparing song numbers. She said the play will have a live professional band on stage consisting of a bass, piano, guitar and drums. Although “Godspell” is based on the Gospel of Matthew from the Bible, the show will not be preaching in any way. Randel believes the message is broader than that. “The approach is not focusing on this religion versus that religion as much as it is really focusing on how to take this group of people who are total strangers from all walks of life and teach them these basic lessons about how to live life, take them from being individuals, turn them into a community, and send them out into the world,” she said. “We [the characters] are transformed into our spiritual being. We become something brighter, more beautiful, more extravagant, and more open then what we know,” theater arts major Joshua Archer, 19, said. The cast and directors have high hopes and expect positive reactions from the audience. “I don’t think people are going to accurately predict what we are doing,” Stone said. “People shouldn’t expect it like going to a church service. We are doing it in such a way that they are not going to realize it’s about that,” Standley said. Archer believes they have put a new light on what “Godspell” is, and what it can be. “Godspell” will run on April 19 to 21 and April 26 to 28 at 8 p.m. and April 22 and 29 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $18 for general admission, $13 for students and seniors, $10 for groups of 10 or more and children 12 and under. There is a $2 convenience fee per ticket. For reservations, or ticket information, call (818) 240-1000 ext. 5612. Kristine Tuzon can be reached at ktuzon342@student.glendale.edu