May 3 2017 Issue

EL VAQUERO G L E N D A L E C O M M U N I T Y C O L L E G E S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R May 3, 2017

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Volume 109 | Number 4

Sen. Elizabeth Warren Nevertheless she persisted...

Massachusetts lawmaker promotes new book at the Alex Theatre.

NEWS Brand Library reopens after renovations.

Page 5

See page 3

FEATURES

SPORTS

ONLINE

RuPaul’s DragCon returns to L.A. Page 7

Vaqueros baseball playoffs start May 5.

Page 9

Video interview with PEN winner Angela Morales. Related story Page 4 www.elvaq.com

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EL V EDITOR IN CHIEF Melody Shahsavarani REPORTERS Alex LaFosta Carolina Diaz Nicole House Nareg Atteukenian Mark Nassim Elena Jacobson Ken Allard Johnny Ruiz Nicholas Martinez Ricardo Nuño PRODUCTION TEAM Sal Polcino Jayne Pojawa Rich Kontas faculty adviser Michael Fleeman mfleeman@glendale.edu (818) 551-5214 advertising Jeff Smith jsmith@glendale.edu (818) 240-1000, ext. 5493 Letters to the Editor El Vaquero accepts story ideas in news, features, profiles, sports and entertainment from the public.

Send an idea or article to the editor at melody.elvaq@gmail.com or call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5349.

Member of the Journalism Asssociation of Community Colleges Member of the California Newspaper Publishers Association

Letters may be reproduced in full or in part and represent only the point of view of the writer, not the opinion of El Vaquero or Glendale Community College and its district. All letters must include the full name, address and phone number of the writer. You will be contacted before publication. El Vaquero is a First Amendment publication.

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NEWS

GCC Seeks to Empower Immigrant Students According to the Los Angeles Daily News, 1 out of 8 children in California has an undocumented parent. California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators executive director, David Verdugo told the Daily News that the high anxiety of both the parents and the students “is taking away from the academic focus we want to maintain throughout our respective districts.”

V.O.I.C.E.S. has been active throughout in regards of legislative agenda. The club has supported bills to incorporate resource centers all around California and were one of the first co-sponsors of such bill.

“We’ve now established a place where an undocumented student can come feel safe be able to share their experiences, empower themselves, and more than anything become educated about the advantages they have through this center,” said Tartaglia.

By Johnny Ruiz and Alex LaFosta

A

program started this semester, the Dream Resource Center, is a place where undocumented immigrants can seek help and guidance on campus.

The club Voices Organizing Immigrant Communities for Educational Success (V.O.I.C.E.S) kickstarted the initiative.

“What we’re trying to do is create a safe space where we can centralize information for AB 540 students,” said Arely Martinez, a student and resource specialist in the Dream Resource Center.

“It can be hard to do when you don’t have a sense of identity. So, we are trying to offer resources as scholarships and any referrals to legal advice.”

The Glendale Community College Board of Trustees is also making strides to ensure a safe academic space for students. In a unanimous vote during a board meeting in March, a resolution passed regarding the safety and privacy of immigrants on campus.

Board members along with various constituency groups on campus passed a resolution that states that school district officials will not inquire about a student’s immigration status. The resolution is meant as a good-will gesture from the district, with the goal of making the college a “safe zone.”

Though it is unlikely that any conflict will arise from the resolution, some GCC students applauded the measure. Swedish-born Vendela Lindblom and Nennah Stromfelt both agreed that it helps foster an inclusive learning environment. “I think it’s a good message.” Lindbolm said.

“It makes people feel safe.”

Board member Anthony Tartaglia said the main reason was to show students that they can feel safe from discrimination and harassment.

“We wanted to send a mes-

Johnny Ruizcan be reached at jruiz106@student.glendale.edu Alex LaFosta can be reached at AlexLaFosta@gmail.com

Illustration by Aida Ohadi

sage that we’re an institution of learning,” Tartaglia said. “All of the board members are different.

We have different political views, [we are] different genders, different ethnicities -- but we can all come together for all of our students.”

The resolution comes in the wake of the controversial immigration policy decisions by President Trump and his administration. Attorney General Jeff Sessions threatened to cut federal grants from local police jurisdictions known as “sanctuary cities,” where officials stated that they won’t hold undocumented immigrants unless they commit a serious crime.

Despite a conflict between the school district’s rhetoric and Trump’s, Tartaglia doesn’t fore-

see any federal backlash from adopting the new resolution.

“I don’t think we’ll be targeted,” Tartaglia said. “We’re such a small institution, and many of the other college districts are taking similar positions.”

According to the Washington Post, the number of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests of non-criminal immigrants has doubled since Trump has taken office. The Los Angeles Times reported that the number of sexual assaults reported by Latinos has dropped dramatically across the country since the 2016 presidential election -- including a 25 percent drop in Los Angeles and a 40 percent drop in Houston. Many experts credit the drop to a recent fear of deportation.

On the Cover: Sen. Elizabeth Warren speaks at the Alex Theatre in Glendale Saturday to two sold-out crowds. Warren was there to promote her new book “This Fight is Our Fight.”

Photo by Ken Allard

IN THIS ISSUE:

News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3 Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-10 Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 Lifestyle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

WANTED: Letters to the editor... melody.elvaq@gmail.com

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NEWS

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

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Warren Promotes Progressive Government She’s only just begun to fight...

By Nicholas Martinez

S

en. Elizabeth Warren incited a revolution with a bit of humor while describing the fight for the middle class on Saturday with 1,400 people in attendance.

The Massachusetts Democrat was there to promote her new book, “This Fight Is Our Fight: The Battle to Save America’s Middle Class,” reading excerpts to illustrate what she called the struggle to preserve the middle class in the United States.

It included stories about Americans who were -- and still are -- greatly affected by the recession, the continued misuse of government money, and the wealth and power of the 1 percent.

“Americans are losing their hold on the government and losing their hold on hope,” Warren said.

First, she described an AfricanAmerican man, Michael, who worked for Nestle and was let go because of the company’s desire to outsource work done in the factory for cheap labor.

Michael ended up losing his house that he spent his entire life savings on. His family had to say goodbye to a place where they made memories and cultivated a life that was thrown out the window by greedy corporate business men.

“It was devastating for him,” Warren said.

Another story that captivated the audience was a tale about Gina, a college graduate with mounds of debt. She enrolled in a for-profit college and eventually could not afford the tuition and had to take out all her loans.

“Gina is $100,000 dollars in debt and works as a waitress,” Warren said.

To fully understand the extent of how the U.S. got into this predicament, Warren explained the historical significance of U.S. politics and the economy.

From 1935 to about 1980, the nation saw a restriction with taxation that ultimately allowed for the middle class to thrive and was able to continue on for so many years.

“From 1935 to about 1980, that’s what it was. We built a solid middle class,” Warren said.

Starting from 1980 onward that is where it all changed for the middle class. The government started taking the legs out from underneath it, she said.

She asserted that in 1980 Ronald Reagan came in with his trickle-down economics, cutting taxes for those at the top, with less money to invest in education and infrastructure and basic research, turning the banks loose to do whatever they want, and deregulating the giant corporations in this country.

Warren is a part of the

Photos by Ken Allard

Welcome!: Congressman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) welcomes Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) to the stage in front of an audience of roughly 1,400 people at the historic Akex Theatre in Glendale on April 29.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau which was created especially for her.

This Bureau was created by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act which ensures that banks, lenders, and other financial institutions treat Americans fairly and justly.

It takes in complaints from consumers and works with the banks to help them understand their rights and to better their financial futures.

Even though these agencies exist, it is still difficult to get the rights that consumers deserve, Warren said, and now she fears that President Donald Trump could deliver the knockout blow

and the middle class will cease to exist.

“This is why I am part of this fight. This why I am fighting back,” Warren said.

To have a solid foundation, Warren explained the basic core progressive values for Americans to ensure that its government is held accountable: a good education, affordable healthcare, preserving the planet, wall regulation, equal pay and that “democracy is not for sale.”

It is not enough to just know the values of the progressive, she said, describing the fight about getting out there and

By Rachel Valasquez

E

The Show: An energized crowd gathers outside the Alex Theatre in anticipation of Elizabeth Warren’s book tour event in Glendale on April 29.

lizabeth Warren’s two speeches at the Alex Theatre sold out within an hour and it was easy to see why. The senator came out like a celebrity, and all her fans went wild.

“We are an army of hope and optimism and fierce determinism,” the Massachusetts Democrat said. “You just have to have a little political courage to get in there and make it happen.”

After the event, the crowd was still buzzing, some finding a restaurant nearby to talk. Among those

was Andrea Vuleta, a feminist activist and supporter of other strong women like Kamala Harris.

“I brought my daughter who is a pretty big feminist, I would have liked to hear her talk about women’s choice,” said Vuleta.

Another fan, Julia Hiser, explained what drew her to Warren. “The fact that she’s willing to speak and act so boldly about issues I care about,” said Hiser. “She’s a fighter and she’s funny in a very main-

making our voices heard.

Warren participated in the Boston Women’s March. She was so impressed with how everyone was coming together for this fight of the progressive agenda.

“The progressive agenda is America’s agenda,” she said.

She saw women in pussyhats, men pushing strollers, kids running and people on bicycles.

Warren shared how she saw a sign that said, “I fight like a girl,” and was thrilled to see people involved something so momentous.

Despite heckling from the audience, Warren was able to answer some key questions about student loan debt, social security and climate change.

It was a little unfortunate for audience members that the questions were screened and only consisted of about four.

Warren alluded to nothing about running for president in 2020. But considering the numerous standing ovations and the constant bellowing of support, she had a strong support system here in Los Angeles.

“Our government works for us and that is the bottom line,” Warren said.

Elizabeth Warren for president 2020? Tune in and find out.

Nicholas Martinez be reached at nrmartin2016@gmail.com

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‘The Girls in My Town’ Wins Prestigious Award

By Nicholas Martinez

A

ngela Morales was teaching her English 102 class when she happened to glance at her email. To her surprise, she had been nominated for a prestigious PEN America award for her collection of autobiographical essays, “The Girls in My Town,” “I was shocked,” Morales told the staff of El Vaquero during a recent visit, “and I did not know I was up for the award.”

That was just the beginning.

She next found out she had won the award -- and the $10,000 prize -- joining the ranks of Joyce Carol Oates and Peter Singer. The award is for an outstanding book that exemplifies the dignity and esteem that the essay form imparts to literature.

“I did not expect I was going to win,” she said “More importantly, my mom got to see it.”

The PEN award ceremony was March 27 in New York. Morales’s mother, so much a part of her book, was among those attending.

Writing has always been a passion for Morales, but she explains that she did not start publishing until this book.

“It took me all those years of teaching English, grading papers and suffering through not writing

Photo by Ken Allard AWARD WINNER: English professor Angela Morales takes a quick break between classes.

to then one day deciding I think I am going to do this,” Morales said.

“The Girls in my Town” is moving, filled with dark humor, and extremely personal. It creates an unforgettable portrait of a Mexican-American family in Los Angeles. NBC Latino News described the book as “an honest look at the rich experiences of girls trying to make space for their intelligence and imaginations.”

Morales recounts her time

growing up in Southern California, her father’s appliance store, joining a bowling league, teaching writing. She does this by positioning her stories around the “girls in her town,” including her sister, mother, grandmother, school friends and her own daughter.

She reaches as far back to her grandmother’s childhood and reflects on the journey of her own girlhood. Morales explores moments of loss and longing, truth and beauty, and motherhood and

daughterhood, combining both a coming-of-age story and a journey of how a writer discovers her voice.

She used what writers call composite dialogue to recount these stories.

“I had to approximate the discussions. I did not want to embellish any of my memories and I tried to stay true to the fact of my memory. Memory is so incorrect,” Morales said .

For each time frame, Morales would research the particular year and see what was going on politically or what the top songs were in that period.

“I try to put myself back in that time as much as possible,” she said.

She was not only inspired by her family, but also by the students she gets to teach on a regular basis.

Being a full-time professor at GCC, she has seen an array of experiences from her students.

“Students write about immigration, struggles to assimilate, and they are writing these beautiful sentences that inspire me everyday,” Morales said. “Also, students with disabilities. I have one student who is blind and almost deaf. He is still cranking out essays for my English 101 class.”

Don’t You Forget About Breakfast T

hey say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and Glendale College has the solution for students who skip it.

The “Breakfast Club” program, located in the Learning Center, provides students with a free breakfast meal and faculty tutors.

Shant Shahoian, English professor, started the pilot program this semester with the support of the Student Equity grant. “Our goal was to feed both body and mind,” said Shahoian. “Many students on campus are food insecure or simply do not have the time or means to eat a healthy breakfast,” Studies show that students who eat breakfast perform better in school, but that about a third of college students don’t eat breakfast.

Pamela Bedoya, business major, heard about this program from

a friend. “It’s a really good program because I have the chance to get food, I can do my homework and have assistance from faculty tutors,” said Bedoya.

Photo by Carolina Diaz

Shant Shahoian

Shahoian is planning on collecting more research by conducting randomly selected interviews from the students.

Every day, excluding Friday, the “Breakfast Club” has a different faculty tutor. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays there is an English instructor. Thursdays they have a Learning Specialist.

If the students need help with any other subject they can just go up to the front desk and make an appointment with a tutor for the subject they need help on.

The “Breakfast Club” is located in the Learning Center, which is available Monday through Thursday between 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Carolina Diaz can be reached at itscarodiaz@gmail.com

Nicholas Martinez can be reached at nrmartin2016@gmail.com

Concept Artists Come to GCC to Work With Students

Get free eats at the ‘Breakfast Club’

By Carolina Diaz

She thought that her dream was to sit in her room by herself and just write all day, but that completely changed when she started teaching. w The students she comes across every day inspire her to write about her own story and reflect upon the people around her.

“I love teaching at the community college level,” Morales said.

“We have people here from so many different cultures and they have such great stories.”

By Elena Jacobson

W

ant to become an animation artist?

Two well-known concept artists are coming to GCC on Friday to demonstrate their talents, have a question-and-answer session, and network with students hoping to get their foot in the door of the animation business.

Sponsored by the animation department, the Animation Event will feature Peter Han, who worked on “Spyro the Dragon” and the “Silent Hill

Experience,” and Terryl Whitlatch, who was an artist for Pixar and Walt Disney Feature Animations.

Along with showcasing their art, the event will feature animations from the college as well as high school and artists in the community.

It takes place in Kreider Hall and the Student Center starting at 6 p.m. Students as well as friends and family are welcomed to attend and can reserve a space at https://www. greenvelope.com/event/animationeventGCC. Elena Jacobson can be reached at laneyjacobson520@gmail.com

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FEATURES

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

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Glendale Library Reopens with Cool Swag Central Library begins a new chapter.

By Ken Allard

T

he historic city library downtown had been getting a makeover since July 2015 and had been closed entirely since September 2016.

On May 1, residents of Glendale and nearby cities turned out for the grand reopening festivities which included music by the Mariachi Divas — an all-female mariachi band — refreshments, photos with Curious George and Friends, and a magic show for kids.

Glendale Mayor Paula Devine, City Council members, and primary contributors to the renovations project began the ribbon cutting ceremony with comments about the library restoration process and the unique additions for the public to enjoy.

T h e most visible change is the addition of two entrances, one on the north side and the other on the south side. The north entrance connects the library to the thousands of people who visit downtown businesses across the street, which adds a unique flow to the area, while the south entrance opens to a corridor for those walking from the Adult Recreation Center.

A sleek main pavilion ingress greets visitors approaching from the north entrance, which opens up into a Community Living Room furnished with stylish couches, chairs and tables that give it an impressive modern look.

“It’s very open, very nice, much better than before.” said Danette Roe, Glendale resident for over 30 years who serves as a volunteer tutor for the adult literacy program at the Adult Recreation Center. “I like that the

information area is much more centralized and the beautiful staircase in the center is incredible.”

The Community Living Room leads to the ReflectSpace, an exhibition space for visitors to contemplate the major historical human atrocities, genocides and civil rights violations. The inaugural exhibit is called Landscape of Memory: Witnesses and Remnants of Genocide, a showcase of photos and paintings about the Armenian Genocide.

Also included in the library is the MakerSpace, a room the public can use for expressing their creative side. There you can find state-of-the-art sewing machines, acrylics and paper for painting, computer software for design and animation, as well as 3D printers.

The printers are “mainly for creative and artistic purposes,” said Kevin Sarian, Senior Library Arts and Culture Supervisor and the Information Technology Manager at the Glendale Central Library.

“But if you have a specific design in mind you can come in and make it.”

Other additions include an auditorium for performance and literary arts, new conference rooms with Wi-Fi, a Reading Spa, SoundSpace for audio production, Children’s Room, and a Computer Technology Lab stocked with Macs and PCs. Despite the sweeping renovations, Glendale Central Library “traditionalists” need not to worry, as the beloved elevator clock has been retained and the exterior modifications were designed in a manner that preserves the historic architecture, meaning the library remains eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

“It’s very open, very nice, much better than before.”

Ken Allard can be reached at Kenallard4@gmail.com

elvaq.com

Photo by Ken Allard

BY THE BOOKS: City officials cut a ribbon with an oversized scissors at the grand reopening of the Brand Central Library on Glendale on Saturday.

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Wednesday, May 3, 2017

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Drag Divas Dominate Downtown LA

By Melody Shahsavarani Photos by Alex Markarian

F

ans from all over shed tears, dressed as their favorite queens and represented a safe zone in a time of prejudice and scrutiny.

With over 40,000 attendees, Emmy-award winning drag queen personality RuPaul returned with the third-annual DragCon April 29 - 30 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Contestants from current and past eight seasons greeted fans with a runway performance, panels and oneon-one experiences.

“RuPaul’s Drag Race” is a reality competition television series, which documents the search for America’s next drag star.

For nine seasons it has been a platform welcoming all walks of life to compete in the art of drag.

“In terms of this administration, it’s the first time in history, the overwhelming [U.S.] population feels it’s against them,” said Bob the Drag Queen, a member of the panel Teen Vogue Presents: What Is Drag In Trump’s America?

“Straight white people now feel ‘what do we do?’ But people of color are like ‘this has happened to us for over 400 years.’”

Bob joined other contestants from “RuPaul’s Drag Race”: Eureka O’Hara and Alaska as the packed room booed to the name of Vice President Mike Pence and Caitlyn Jenner.

Season five runner-up Alaska embraced the life of drag during the Bush administration and found it as an outlet for freedom of expression.

“I felt angry and thought the mass media sucks. The anger of feeling lied to, showed drag is real,” Alaska said. “We’re so fake that’s something real comes through. It was out of anger when I first started. Trump being put into office, the anger was reignited and showed there’s a lot more work to do.”

A new addition was the premiere of Kid’s Zone, created for young children in order to vocalize equality and acceptance at an early age. An interactive space from a bounce house to face painting and featured “Michelle Tea’s Drag Queen Story Hour” program, where drag queens read books to children in bookstores across the nation.

“I see this Kids Zone, and that makes me smile so big and so happy, to know

that the world has now changed,” said notable contestant of the series Alyssa Edwards. “People are not just celebrating LGBTQ, ABCDEFG and all that, they’re celebrating lives and I’m glad we don’t have to identify with something other than just being human.”

The convention hall was engulfed with over 200 vendors selling drag-related merchandise, including wigs, makeup, platform heels and prosthetics. Lines queued to over four hours to meet contestants.

Valentina, the current season’s fan favorite, started off as the underdog. She has taken the show as a way to express her culture and identity.

“It’s showing to straight audiences what it’s like to be unapologetically flamboyant and not giving a f--,” Valentina said. “There’s

nothing more flamboyant than a drag queen. We are men in dresses and we play with gender and we are here to show we’re having a good time and this is an art.”

Laganja Estranja of season six praises the show in discovering herself.

“Drag is bringing people together because it’s a form of expression, like dance and theater. It combines all the elements,” she said. “It speaks to a lot of different people, lot of different artists and backgrounds. It’s the culmination of everything together.”

Melody Shahsavarani can be reached at melody.elvaq@gmail.com

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Movie Review: ‘The Promise’ Seeks the Truth Love, Lost and Tears Bring Forth the Film About the Armenian Genocide

By Melody Shahsavarani

A

risk no major motion picture company wanted to take, “The Promise” -- one of the most talked films this year -- hit theaters nationwide on April 21.

Kirk Kerkorian, one of the top businessmen in Las Vegas, once owning Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movie studio, was the mastermind in getting “The Promise” made for the world to understand the Armenian Genocide. Kerkorian, who put most of the $100 million budget in into the film, died before it was completed.

As soon as the film hit the Toronto Film Festival, Turkish genocide deniers flooded the ratings on IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes, flagging the film to one star.

After the fight against Turkish lobbyists Hollywood has finally shed light on the historical tragedy on the Armenian people.

The films runs for a little over

two hours, and features the starstudded performance of Oscar Isaac (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”), Christian Bale (“The Big Short”), Charlotte Le Bon, James Cromwell, Shohreh Aghdashloo and Angela Sarafyan.

Isaac portrays Mikael Boghosian, who with the help of his partner Maral (Sarafyan) and her family, travels from his Armenian village of Siroun to Constantinople for medical school.

His goal is to return to his town and bring the medical attention severely needed. In the staple city of Turkey, he meets and falls into a love triangle with Ana (Le Bon).

Ana’s boyfriend prior and during the affair is American journalist Chris Myers (Bale) Issac’s performance is noteworthy, as the Guatemalan born actor looks and acts the part

of a native Armenian.

From the time in Turkey to escaping imprisonment brought upon Boghosian and the Armenians, “The Promise” isn’t short of accurate depiction. Myers is an admirable journalist who protects the lives of his sources and accurately reports the mass slaughter of the Armenians to the Associated Press.

The film includes one the most harrowing battles of resistance from the Armenians, Musa Dagh, where they fought the Turks from the highest mountain, vowing death over losing the native land. They used rocks and whichever weapons people had brought with them.

Produced by Eric Esrailian, Mike Medavoy and William Horberg, the film’s take

on the tale of a love story is set against a time of hardships and losses.

Terry George’s (“Hotel Rwanda”) directing and Isaac’s masterful acting inclines viewers to open their eyes to the dictatorship and cruelty set by the Turkish government.

“The Promise” delivers impeccable cinematography, from the city’s scenic locations and architecture to the grueling war scenes. What once was beautiful led to ruins.

Looking past the film’s love story, it keeps the promise to not deny the Armenian Genocide.

The quote from the film sparks the cause: “Our revenge will be to survive.” Kerkorian’s victory was to beat the odds and bring the unspoken story to the big screens.

“The Promise” has left its mark.”

“The Promise” is rated PG-13.

Melody Shahsavarani can be reached at melody.elvaq@gmail.com

Switch to Nintendo for Portable Gaming at Its Best New Game Controller Lets Users See the Big Picture

By Johnny Ruiz

T

he portable gaming system, the Nintendo Switch, has hit the epicenter of Nintendo’s franchise.

When it comes to gaming on the go, the $299.99 Nintendo Switch, released in early March, is the epitome of portable gaming.

Such a large screen for a portable gaming system is revolutionary and unlike any other video game product to date. Also, when you aren’t gaming on the go you can easily attach the device to a dock and play on a television screen.

It takes me back to a time as a young boy when all I did was play on handheld devices and was able to game anywhere and everywhere I went. Maybe I enjoy this system so much because it’s bringing me back to a form of gaming that I had once lost.

The Wii U, Nintendo’s previous gaming system, has a controller with a screen but it can’t be taken on the go and is simply just a controller rather than a portable system. So if you want to play Nintendo’s latest games on the go

the Nintendo switch is for you.

The device’s portability is truly something else. It’s lightweight, yet has a huge screen to enjoy the gaming experience. It was made for the gamer who was demanding a high quality gaming experience without the weight of a typical console.

You no longer have to squint like in Nintendo’s 3DS XL models released in 2011. When in portable mode the size is more in length than the 3DS XL. The screen’s resolution is 720p which looks and feels great when holding it in portable mode.

The Switch won’t fit in your pocket, but it will be able to fit in your backpack; that’s perfect for any college student who loves to game.

The Switch comes with two controllers called “joycons,” which lock into place when attached to the portable screen.

They are simplistic like any other controller, with the A,B,X and Y buttons on the right and the DPad buttons on the left.

The square controller, created when the joy-cons are attached to

a grip, is great and was something I put off trying out because I’ve never seen a square controller before and was a bit skeptical.

When I decided that I should test out the docked mode and the square controller I discovered that the square controller flows on the hand and made me stop by continuous hours of portable gaming and put up my gaming on

the big screen. The controller is also lightweight and not as bulky as other controllers.

Not only is it the Switch a great handheld device, the screen can also be attached by an HDMI cord to your television for a mega gaming experience with a resolution of 1080p.

According to gameinformer, “We’re happy with the tablet’s

overall design, and transitioning from a television console to handheld mode works like magic.

We love the Switch’s promise, but Nintendo and its third-party partners still need to prove that the unique features are more than

Johnny Ruizcan be reached at jruiz106@student.glendale.edu

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Wednesday, May 3, 2017

9

S P O R TS Men’s Golf May 8 SoCal Championships TBD

Track& Field

Baseball Playoffs

Men’s Golf

May 6

May 5/6 @ El Camino 2:00 p.m.

May 15 State Championships 7 a.m.

@ Cerritos

TBD

Coaches Return to Alma Mater to Guide Student Athletes

By Johnny Ruiz

L

ife after college leads a path to a whole new world. Some even decide to come back and pursue a career at their alma mater.

Vigen Jilizian attended GCC 1988 to 1990, earning a degree in sociology in 1993 from UC Davis. Jilizian is the head coach of men’s basketball and loves being back home.

“It was a great opportunity for me to be able to work in this same community in which I have built so many long-lasting relationships,” Jilizian said. “I was able to reunite with many of the people that worked at Glendale College from my days as a student-athlete. It’s also a very comfortable and familiar place for me to work.”

For assistant baseball coach Sergio Plascencia, who attended

GCC in 2013 and earned a degree in general studies from University of Dayton, the best part of being back is the group of coaches and returning to the field every day.

“The coaching staff here is amazing and the guys and I get along well,” Plascencia said.

“Then being a part of that team atmosphere. And having a group of guys who buy in and have the same type of ambitions that you have.”

His brother and assistant coach, Jordan Plascencia, who attended GCC in 2002, said his experience as a student-athlete at GCC helped him with leading the guys down the right path.

“It helps me tremendously because I’ve been through what their going through right now.

So any little advice I can pass on to them is only going to benefit them in the long run,” Plascencia said. “Whether it’s on the field or

Photo by Johnny Ruiz

Assistant Coach: Sergio Plascencia assistant baseball coach loves being a part of the team.

in the classroom we can relate to them.”

Alex Kocol, who attended GCC in 2002, is a political science professor and coaches the baseball infielders and outfield-

ers. He earned a degree in philosophy and and political science from UCLA. “Just seeing guys move on. Whether it’s academics or baseball, just following them and seeing them have success on the field or in the classroom,” Kocol said.

Women’s tennis coach Deo Sy attended GCC from 1997 to 2000 and earned a degree in physical education from Azusa Pacific University. He loves being able to be of assistance to his student athletes, “I did not realize then how demanding the coaching profession could be, not only are you helping student athletes on the court, but more importantly, off the court,” Sy said. “I’ve come to appreciate what the coaching profession has to offer, the ability to impact others. The most rewarding event a coach will

witness is seeing an individual struggle and overcome these obstacles.”

Johnny Ruizcan be reached at jruiz106@student.glendale.edu

Photo Courtesy of Deo Sy

WOMEN’S TENNIS COACH: Deo Sy is helping student athletes thrive at Glendale College.

Vaqs Headed for Playoffs

By Johnny Ruiz They had the best record in the conference heading into the three-game series against College of the Canyons and were looking at continuing their dominance in the conference play.

But fate had other plans for the Vaqueros baseball team as it ended up losing the first two games of last week’s series and falling short of conference champs to Canyons even though they won the final game.

“It’s been an enjoyable year,” said coach Chris Cicuto. “The young men that I’ve been able to work with have listened and overcame that adversity and they

have stepped up to the challenges that we put in front of them or that other teams put in front of them. It’s been very enjoyable for me as a coach. My comment to them is that it’s been so enjoyable that I don’t want the season to end.”

The Vaqs truly had a series of unfortunate events in the final stretch of the season losing those final games April 25 - 27. It was uncharacteristic of a team with a better overall record than its opponent. They are also ranked second in California but could have still been in a much better position had they won the conference.

They will now encounter El Camino May 5 in the first round

of playoffs. El Camino is tied for first in California Community College Athletic Association’s baseball league for the best record in the state. This is bound to be a very explosive round, with two top teams going at it to see who truly is number one.

“You can expect a competitive series,” said Cicuto. “We should be able to make our adjustments from the last couple games we’ve played and provide a competitive atmosphere. We just have to keep on improving day in and day out, and that’s the game plan for El Camino.”.

Johnny Ruizcan be reached at jruiz106@student.glendale.edu

Photo by Tina Fernestam

RIGHT HAND PITCHER: Jason Whaley winds-up for a pitch in the last home game of the season at Stengel Field on Friday

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SPORTS

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Vaqueros Tennis Teams Bring Home the Gold

By Ken Allard Glendale Community College men’s and women’s tennis teams had a busy day at the Western State Conference (WSC) Championships.

The finals were held April 14 at Ventura College where eight different Vaqueros and Lady Vaqueros hit the court in a combination of singles and doubles tennis action — bringing home a pair of championships while narrowly missing out on a third.

Freshman phenom Christian Hess won the first championship.

Hess faced off against Bill Whitaker of Ventura College in the WSC men’s singles championship match, breezing by him with relative ease to a count of 6-4, 6-2. “I was happy for Christian when he won.” said men’s tennis Assistant Coach Jason Bender. “He works very hard, but has been fighting the injury bug with ankle issues. It was nice to see him get through that match healthy, to help set himself up for [the Ojai Invitational tournament].”

The Ojai Invitational is the season-ending CCCAA State Championship Tournament held in Ojai, Calif. from April 27-30.

The second Western State Conference championship of the day was the women’s doubles final. The dynamic duo of Veronika Galstyan and Tsukimi Ono matched up against Mayra Jovic and Abby Mullins of Santa

Monica College. After starting slow and dropping the first set, Galstyan and Tsukimi found their rhythm, dominating the other two sets to take the match at a score of 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-1.

There was no joyful ending for Glendale in the men’s double final. Hess and his partner Chris Pope took the first set against Ventura College’s Bill Whitaker and Cruz Thayne 6-4. But the proceeding sets ebbed and flowed between the two teams, with Ventura College coming away victorious. Final tally 4-6, 7-5(5), 6-4.

In the preceding men’s singles semifinals, Glendale’s Christian Hess vied with Johnny Barcohona of Pierce College, winning 6-2, 6-4.

The other Vaqueros hitting the court were Kevin Orellana and David Preciado in the backdraw bracket. Orellana defeated Ventura College’s Sam Gazerra 6-1, 6-0 while Preciado sailed through Ivan Rivera of Bakersfield College 6-1, 6-0. This set up an allGCC backdraw final, where the winner grabbed the 13th and final slot in the Ojai Invitational.

Orellana defeated Preciado 6-4, 6-1. “It was exciting and I was hoping they both could win but of course that’s impossible.” said Coach Bender. “Afterwards they both congratulated themselves and remained good supportive teammates of each other.”

The Lady Vaqueros singles players had a rough day in Ventura.

Photos by Ken Allard CELEBRATION: Christian Hess celebrates with Head Coach Bob MacKay after winning the WSC singles championships..

Hailey McNall matched up against Mayra Jovic of Ventura College — the top women’s singles player in the state.

Jovic defeated McNall in the first set 6-2, but the second set was tightly contested. A backand-forth showdown nearly resulted in a third set and probable upset, but Jovic held on, defeating McNall 7-6(4) in set two to win the match. Despite the loss, McNall retained a spot in Ojai.

GCC’s Melody Emmanouilidi lined up across court from Kaylee Defrees of Bakersfield College. After winning the first set by capitalizing on early mistakes

by Defrees, Emmanouilidi lost

her groove and the subsequent sets. Final tally of 2-6, 6-3, 13-11.

Emmanouilidi did not qualify for Ojai.

Veronika Galstyan also failed to grab a spot in Ojai as a singles player. Galstyan lost to Sabrina Subero of Santa Monica College 6-2, 6-0. Galstyan and Tsukimi qualified for Ojai in women’s doubles.

Ken Allard can be reached at Kenallard4@gmail.com

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www.elvaq.com WOMEN’S WINNERS: Tsukimi Ono (left) poses with Head Coach Deo Sy and doubles teammate Veronika Galstyan after winning the WSC doubles championship.

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Wednesday, May 3, 2017

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SPOTLIGHT on campus LECTURES Author — The Los Angeles Writers Reading Series presents a reading by author Norman M. Klein and essayist Margo Bistis at 12:20 p.m. on Friday at the Student Center. Klein is a professor at CalArts and a media and urban historian. He is also the author of several works of critical acclaim, including “The History of Forgetting: Los Angeles and the Erasure of Memory” and “Seven Minutes: The Life and Death of the American Animated Cartoon.”

Business Lecture --- GCC will be holding its Business Lecture Series “Leveraging and Branding the Skateboard Culture” with speakers/skateboarders Chaz Or-

THEATER Comedy — Kyle Cease presents “Evolving Out Loud.” Comedy Central headliner Cease combines the art of stand-up comedy and transformation to help people move past their old stories and into a new vision of what is possible in their lives. This two day event will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on May 27 and 28 at the Alex Theatre. For more information call (818) 243-2539.

Show — The Anataeus Theatre Company presents “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” a masterwork by Tennessee Williams featuring the story of a family breaking down. It highlights beautiful poetry, iconic roles, and portrays a smoldering descent into a world choking on mendacity. The show will begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday. The theater is located on 110 E. Broadway.

For tickets and more information call (818) 506-5436.

tiz, Manny Santiago and Greg Lutzka. It will run from 12:20 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on May 11 at the Auditorium.

Art — Art instructor April Bey will be giving an artist lecture “Womanism: From Bell Hooks to Beyonce” along with a performance by Anne Bray. The lecture will run from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on May 26 in Kreider Hall.

PERFORMANCES Play — The Theatre Arts Department presents “The Cherry Orchard” by Anton Chekhov directed by Melissa Randel. It will begin at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday at the Audito-

Musical --- Musical Theatre Guild Presents “State Fair,” a musical originally based on Phil Stong’s novel of the same name. It is the only musical written directly for feature film.

The romantic story set in America’s heartland where lessons are learned and love and heartbreak are found on the midway. It will begin at 7 p.m. on Sunday at the Alex Theatre.

MUSIC Noon Concerts — Free Admission Glendale Noon Concerts will feature the Calico Winds performing duos and trios by Heitor Villa-Lobos, Malcolm Amolf and Joseph Canteloube.

The concert will run from 12:10 p.m. to 12:40 p.m. on May 17 at the Sanctuary of Glendale City Church. For more information email glendalesda@gmail.com or call (818) 244- 7241.

List your event on

rium Mainstage Theatre. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $12 for students and seniors.

For more information visit www. glendale.edu/theatre.

Choir — GCC presents a college choir, chamber singers and an opera workshop performance directed by Toby Sparfeld and Anita Protich featuring choral works and opera excerpts. It will begin at 7:30 p.m. on May 20 in the GCC Auditorium. General admission is $7 and $5 for students and seniors. For more information call (818) 240-1000 ext. 3057.

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EVENTS Swap Meet — The GCC Hilltop Flea Market will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.on May 21. For information call 818-240-1000, ext. 5805 or go to www.glendale. edu/gccswapmeet.

Seminar — There will be a Verdugo Fire Acadamy career planning seminar from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday at the Glendale Fire Station 21 on 421 Oak St. The meetings provide information about the academy and application process.

Showcase — Theatre arts students will showcase an introduction to acting at 7 p.m. on May 31. Seating is limited.

MISCELLANEOUS The GCC Food Pantry — Now open in SR 134. Hours are noon to 1:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday and Tuesday; and 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday. The Food Pantry is open to any currently enrolled GCC student who completes a short Food Pantry application. Donations are welcome.

More info at www.glendale.edu/ foodpantry.

Planetarium — The GCC Planetarium presents “Afternoon with the Stars” from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday and “Starlit Rest and Recharge” from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday. Both planetarium shows are free.

around town Choir — Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Presents Kahane Plays Mozart. The concert will open with a new work by Christopher Cerrone, composer of the opera “Invisible Cities” and will close with LACO’s first-ever Orchestral Series performance of Schubert’s final symphony. It will, of course, also feature Mozart’s final piano concerto. The concert starts at 8 p.m. on May 20 at the Alex Theatre. For tickets or more information visit www.alextheatre.org.

EVENTS Mixer — The Glendale Library Arts and Culture offers an “After Hours Business Mixer.” Visit the newly renovated Glendale Library and hear about all the new programs the library has to offer. Guests are also invited to take a tour of the bookstore run by the Friends of Glendale Public Library. The event runs from 5:30

spotlight •

•

p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on May 17.

Book Signing — Center for Inquiry presents an Evening with Richard Dawkins, a worldrenowned evolutionary biologist and best-selling author, who will be in conversation to discuss science, secularism and current events. The on-stage conversation will be followed by a Q&A book signing. It will begin at 7 p.m. on May 18 at the Alex Theatre. VIP tickets include Reserved Seating and a pre-show catered reception and meet & greet with Dawkins.

For tickets or more information call (818) 243-2539 or visit www. alextheatre.org.

Downtown — Glendale’s 24th Annual Cruise Night will be from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on July 15. Continuing the tradition of Cruise Night, the 24th Annual Cruise Night Also features Fireworks Spectacular at the end of the program near the main stage.

There will also be live entertainment and will be hosted by Brian Beirne. The event will take place in Downtown Glendale on 216 N. Brand Blvd.

MISCELLANEOUS Open Mic — Pierre Garden Restaurant will be holding an open mic night at 7 p.m. on Thursdays and at midnight on Fridays. It is a new Open Mic on the circuit, but has received a wonderful and eclectic group of musicians, singers, comedians & writers. Every Thursday performers show up and share their talents and artistry together.

They connect, mingle, eat and drink and support each other in the name of appreciating the arts. Sign-ups are at 7 p.m. and the first performance begins at 8 p.m. Admission is free. For more information visit www.pierregarden.com or call (818) 551-5455.

Compiled by Alice Ganian

Email us the details at Elvaqed@gmail.com. We’ll reply ASAP. Call us at (818) 240-1000, ext. 5349. Deadline for May 17 is May 10.

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Wednesday, May 3, 2017

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LIFESTYLE ‘

Spanish Club Raises Funds with Taco Sale

MEMBERS: Spanish Club members, from left, Tomoko Ohama, vice-president Melissa Hernandez, president Vanesa Castaneda and Tony Carmona.

MUNCHIES: Students choose from a variety of condiments.

HEAD CHEF: Julian Ortiz working the grill to satisfiy hungry students.

By Carolina Diaz

C

inco de Mayo came early to Glendale College. The Spanish club sold tacos on Tuesday in Plaza Vaquero to raise money in the new club’s first event. “We are trying to bring culture to the campus and at the same time sell tacos so we can have enough money to do more activities in campus and outside of the campus,” said Melissa Hernandez, vice-president of Spanish club.

If you want to join Spanish club their upcoming meetings are May 8, May 22 and June 5. For more info email Spanishclubglendale@gmail.com.

Carolina Diaz can be reached at itscarodiaz@gmail.com