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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 April 20, 2016
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he Glendale College Guild Association and District signed a tentative agreement seeking negotiation on the matter of a long awaited pay raise. The Guild initially proposed a series of three 4.75 percent raises for 2015-16, 2016-17, and 2017-18. For 2015-16 they proposed a 5.5 percent raise or just a 4.5 percent raise if the District offers at least one percent more classes. So far, the District is offering a 1.5 percent ongoing raise plus a 3 percent onetime bonus, which would disappear in July. The District’s offer to address these items comes with a reduced offer of a 0.5 percent ongoing raise plus a 2.75 percent one-time bonus. According to the Guild, offered a reasonable “ongoing raise.” A salary agreement that led to a faculty strike at the California State University’s 23 campuses resulting in an increase of salaries by 10.5 percent which was determined on April 8. Before the agreement was reached, the union had demanded a 5 percent increase for 2015-16, but the university had said it could only afford 2 percent. On April 7 the district’s negotiating team said that they refuse to give pay increases on July 1 and in 2017. Guild negotiating team has proposed that the 2.75 percent portion of the 2015-16 raise should continue, rather than allowing it to expire on
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Volume 107 | Number 3
District Faces Potential Faculty Strike in Fall Semester By Melody Shahsavarani
El Vaquero Newspaper
June 30. If actions aren’t taken by the District before May 10, there is talk of impassement and if that doesn’t work out, strikes could ensue as early as the beginning of the fall semester. At the Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, Guild President Zohara Kaye initiated a discussion along with three faculty speakers and community speaker Sylva Manoogian. “We the faculty have proven that we step up during make ends meet, including pay cuts if that’s what it takes,” Kaye said. “Now make the faculty and students a priority.” Professor of anthropology, Wendy Fonarow, was one of three faculty speakers who shared her concerns with the Board of Trustees. “The negotiations for no raise is egregious,” Fonarow said. “You’ve invested in the rooms, but where is the investments in the teachers working in those rooms? Invest in the people who bring that building to life.” Trustee members stayed impassive as attendees chanted and waved signs around the room demanding a change. Signs read: “The Districts offer lowest raises in LA County,” “Work for food, no raise, will be homeless.” Glendale College is set to from faculty if a change isn’t ensued. Melody Shahsavarani can be reached at melody.shah1@gmail.com
Festivalgoers Rave About Coachella
Photo by Mark Nassim
COA-CHILLIN: Thousands of fans flock the main stage as Gary Clark Jr. performs at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio. The festival runs the last two weekends of April and draws sold out crowds, with record breaking sales each year.
By Mark Nassim
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ith weekend one of The Coachella Music and Arts Festival in the books, the extravagant aura of the festival becomes ingrained into the festival-goers making Coachella the happiest time of the year for music lovers to come together with their friends and be a part of a cultural experience. When you think of Coachella, you think of the desert and the music. But what’s overlooked is the people you meet and the conversations you have with them. days, I sat down next to anyone who seemed welcoming and had them tell me what Coachella means to them, or asked them how they would describe the event to someone who hasn’t gone. Jenny, 18, England: This is everyone is a family here. I don’t know how to explain it, everyone just seems so friendly to each oth-
er. Kind of like we all know each other completely. Stefan De Castroverde, 26, Los Angeles: This is my third year in a row and I used to try to do a different festival every year. I guess one reason this hits home to me is because I’ve been living in LA for four years. I feel like [festivals] are the one place everybody can come to and be themselves and you don’t have to worry about anybody judging you. Back home, wherever it may be, whether it be your work or school, family, you know people can judge you for your sexuality or race, gender, whatever it may be. But here, I feel like everybody is here to have a good time and you have no worries. No one wants to pay money for a festival to have a bad time and judge other people. You just want to come here and let loose and have fun and some people do drugs and some people don’t. Everyone experiences it differently but regardless, everybody just lets loose and does their own thing and enjoys it one way or another.
Alex Hilliker, 25, San Diego: My thing is people wait a whole year and this is just everybody’s release to get it all out, to be as wild and crazy and have as much fun as they can. Then go back to real life and take that positive energy with them. It’s like a refresher every year. I don’t even feel like it’s an image thing. It really is just appreciating other people having fun.” Calley Lafon, 23, Colorado: Coachella is a gathering of people who share the love of music and want to come together with all their friends and be together and listen to good music. All kinds of music. It’s the happiest time of the year. [Coachella is] kind of beautiful people, beautiful art and beautiful music. It’s really not like the outside world. You’re just free from all the worries and the stress from the outside world for a few days and enjoying the music. Check out elvaq.com for more.
Mark Nassim can be reached at mnassim707@student.glendale.edu
Kobe Bryant Bids Farewell By Mark Nassim
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eing present for Kobe’s last game of his 20-year NBA career was surreal. The stride to a vast amount of fans creating a bittersweet ambience to the historic of April 13. The love for Kobe Bean Bryant permeated the atmosphere. There wasn’t an empty seat in the arena—no surprise there. The feeling was similar to what you’d experience during a game seven Glimpsing his fellow NBA players and celebrities on the
Photo by Keith Allison
scoreboard giving their thanks to Kobe and hearing the crowd react, made it feel real. Laker players like Lamar Odom, Derek Fisher and Pau Gasol and Los Angeles celebrities, Jack Nicholson and Ice Cube cheered, while Lakers arch-rivals, former Boston Celtics Coach, Doc Rivers and former Celtics player, Paul Pierce booed. There was a moment of silence as a cloud of anxiety hovered over the crowd when the Lakers were down by double digits in the fourth when Tarik Black blocked an incoming dunk and the play ended with Larry Nance Jr. scoring an alley-oop dunk. Hope was
instilled back into the crowd. Bryant and his team continued defend well enough to get a run going until, with a little over two minutes to go in the fourth quarter and still down by 10 points, the crowd crawled back into an utterly edgy state, not wanting to accept the idea of the Mamba losing his last game. He proved them wrong once again, for old times sake. ing my sister to relax as she expressed her concern about the [See Kobe, page 3]
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
EDITOR IN CHIEF Anahit Kardzhyan STAFF Tina Fernestam Jessica Jas Sean Lamar Mark Nassim Anna Olsson Stephanie Ramirez Melody Shahsavarani Nancy Villalobos Arpy Zargarian PRODUCTION MANAGER Sal Polcino NEWSROOM MANAGER Eric Bourse
Glendale College Says Goodbye to an Old Friend Facilities Ace Louie Garza Retires By Sal Polcino
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ong time facilities employee Louie Garza bid farewell to GCC after 36 years of service on April 8, which was his 55th birthday. A retirement party was held to honor Garza that morning in the faculty dining room. Garza began working on campus straight out of high school and never looked back. He was present at almost every campus event, setting up tables and chairs and making sure things ran smoothly. Campus police sergeant and adjunct professor Samir AbouRass said Garza will be missed. “I met Louie when I was about 18,” Abou-Rass said. “When I came to GCC, I got involved in student government and I was always calling him for help. I still do”
DESIGN ADVISER Charles Eastman FACULTy ADVISER Michael Moreau mmoreau@glendale.edu (818) 240-1000, ext. 5214 ADVERTISING Jeff Smith jsmith@glendale.edu (818) 240-1000, ext. 5493
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IN THIS ISSUE
News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-10 Lifestyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Photo by Sal Polcino
VAQUEROS’ BIGGEST FAN: as a GCC employee at Stengel Field on April 7, where he was scheduled to
Sal Polcino can be reached at elvaqed@gmail.com
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Celebrating Earth Day Every Day O
ver the last decade, phrases like ‘go green’ and ‘reduce your carbon footprint’ have lexicon, just as Earth Day has become an annual celebration. As an environmental advocate, this couldn’t make me happier. I’ve been inspired to see people recycle and use canvas shopping bags instead of paper or plastic. Nearly two thirds of Americans say they recycle on a regular basis compared to a quarter of Americans in the 1990s. Yet, while more people have come to recognize the carbon footprint cost associated with everyday behaviors like driving cars, a leading cause of environmental degradation has remained largely hidden: factory farming. According to the United Nations, animal agribusiness plays a prominent role in climate change. Wherever factory farms operate, there is sure to be environmental degradation. Untreated manure from hog farms runs off into our rivers, streams and other waterways, blooms. When this waste inevitably reaches our oceans, this creates what scientists call ‘dead zones’—areas of the ocean where all life dies off or moves away due to a lack of oxygen. The damage done to our planet by animal agribusiness is welldocumented and ever-increasing;
as our population grows so too does our demand for meat. The good news is that more and more people are connecting what we put on our plates with our impact on the planet. The result is that we as a nation are enjoying more meat-free meals as a way to help ourselves and the planet that sustains us. Since its inception in 2003, Meatless Monday has mushroomed. The idea is simple: enjoy a holiday from meat one day a week. It’s a simple solution According to the Environmental Defense Fund, “If every American skipped one meal of chicken per week and substituted vegetables and grains...the carbon dioxide savings would be the same as taking more than half a million cars off of U.S. roads.” A Carnegie Mellon University study found that we’d each do more good for the planet if we ate meat-free just one day a week than we would if we ate exclusively local foods. There are even more compelling reasons: farm animals, like the dogs and cats we consider members of our families, are individuals with personalities, needs and the capacity to suffer. Yet on industrial factory farms, they’re often treated like mere units on a production line with little consideration for their suffering. And, of course, eating more
plant-based foods and fewer animal-based foods is good for our health, too. The American Heart Association recommends “substituting some of the meat in your diet with vegetables” as a simple way to reduce our risk of heart disease (America’s number one killer). Even former governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger has touted the virtues of meatless eating, and vegetarian Bill Pearl, who according to Arnold is, “one of the greatest bodybuilders ever.” Equally exciting is the new world of food you’ll begin to explore when you enjoy more meatless meals. From exotic fare like Indian and Ethiopian dishes to familiar favorites like spaghetti
with marinara and vegetables or bean burritos, there’s no shortage of options. Perhaps the easiest — and tastiest — way to improve our diet is by practicing the Three Rs: “reducing” or “replacing” consumption of animal products choosing products from sources using higher animal welfare standards. Small changes multiplied by millions make a big difference. Each of us, by pledging this Earth Day to participate in Meatless Monday, can make a tremendous difference for the world and its inhabitants all year long. Kristie Middleton is senior food policy director for The Humane Society of the United States.
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Garza’s friend and partner Danny Zamora has also been here for 36 years. “It won’t be the same without him,” Zamora said. Many faculty members, administrators and staff came out to wish Garza well in his retirement including President David Viar and Vice President of Instructional Services Michael Ritterbrown. Garza, a Vaqueros baseball fan, attended almost every home game. There he could be seen talking with trainer Jose Gomez and any other fan in proximity. At a home game on April 11, Garza’s absence was evident. “We already miss him,” said Gomez Good luck Louie!
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Where Do You Call Home? By Nancy Villalobos
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arth is where we live, however most people do not think in global terms when they think of home. Most people do not take the planet into consideration when it comes to the amount of waste their individual households produce, or where it goes, or what it does. Consider this, what if all the waste your household produces went into your own backyard? If you think globally, it does. Factories that produce the goods we buy and the vehicles we drive send harmful particles in the air. This impacts the environment for all living things and the effects can be mild to severe and can cause permanent damage. “Support green groups and green politicians. After all, if electricity was mostly from carbon free sources, then there’d be no need to worry so much about the thermostat every summer,” said Glendale Community College Associate Professor Michael Reed, “Wouldn’t that be cool? Pun intended.” From the cars we drive, the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the shoes we buy to the endless amounts of expendable items we consume, humans and our buying habits are a dream come true for capitalism and for those that riment to the planet, the place we should all think of as home. Billions of dollars are spent in advertising in order to entice the masses to continue on their path of consumerism. Much less, however, is spent on educating the public on the frightening impact all of this unnecessary and harmful overproduction of products is having on our home. “As summer approaches we need to be reduce of the amount of power we are using during peak hours,” City of Glendale Community Outreach Assistant Varsenik Avetisian said. “Also taking a shorter shower will help with water conservation. This is important in the long run. Minor adjustments make a big difference.” By creating slaves to con-
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
NEWS
sumerism, corporate conglomerates are successful in convincing humans to keep buying — keep spending money on a new phone even if your current device still works. Buy a new car, even if the old one will last a lifetime through proper maintenance. Buy more, more, more. Bigger, better, newer. But where does it all go once we’ve had our run with it? Have you ever noticed junk yards with cars piled high in it? Have you ever noticed how many chariby selling your old goods? Are you aware of how many people survive off of dumpster diving for their food? Do you care? This is a very clear indication that we are a ‘throw away’ society. We constantly get rid of useful items and replace them with new ones. We are conditioned from birth to do so. Now let’s talk about what that means for the planet. Where do we see things going from here? Do you think about what type of home our grandchildren will live in? Do you look beyond your and junkyards, and recycling centers out your bedroom window? No, you probably don’t, it’s out of sight, out of mind. How does this contribute to global warming? Well, let’s start with the amount of trash trucks in our city on a daily basis. In Glendale alone, there is enough waste from households to keep trucks on the streets Monday through Friday. Our local landCanyon which is in walking distance from many homes in an area considered to be upper middle class. What a great way to disguise trash — surround it with homes upwards of half a million dollars. Consider the amount of pollution from the large trucks going to week, all day long. As the global population grows, so will the amount of waste created, and so will the need for more trucks, and more
less, reuse more and recycle. We must become a society of mindful humans that hold our planet in the highest regard and consider our individual actions and the impact they have on the environment. “If students learn to make simple changes, like using reusable water bottles instead of buying water, the amount of recycling would be greatly reduced,” Southland Disposal Company Director of Environmental Affairs & Education Jennifer Gonzalez said. “Packing a lunch at home and not using paper plates or plastic utensils is also a great way to reduce. Our company picks up waste from GCC every day and takes it to the recycling center in East Los Angeles where it is sorted. We can see exactly where small changes would make a huge difference.” Materialism is the road to pollution, waste is the byproduct. Excessive consumerism is a form of gluttony. Train yourself not to give in to the temptations of wanting things you really don’t need. Most of us are fortunate enough to have very few needs in order to sustain our lives. Educate yourself on how to life in keeping with the harmony of our home planet. Less chemical driveway, less processed foods, an overall humble existence in all aspects of life. “Support consumer product companies that have made substantial green pledges, such as Unilever,” said Reed. “Use the Good Guide for shopping. Also,try to eat less beef and pork, learn to make awesome salads.” Respect for the planet is the same as having respect for one’s own backyard. It is essential to all future generations that we make changes and teach our children the same values. Everything is connected and it all matters in the long run. Do your part by making a conscious effort to decide to be a thinking human, a leader, not a follower down consumerism highway.
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Journalism Students Awarded Scholarships
Photo by Sal Polcino
El Vaquero Staff
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he Greater Los Angeles Press Club’s 8-Ball Foundation honored three members of the El Vaquero staff with scholarships on Tuesday. Foundation board member Fernando Del Rio, a retired producer, writer and broadcast personality for KCAL Channel 9 and KRTH radio, presented the awards to editor-in-chief Anahit Kardzhyan, and staff writers Melody Shahsavarani and Nancy Vil-
lalobos. Scholarships are awarded to college students interested in pursuing a career in journalism. The Press Club established the 8-Ball Foundation in 1956 to help out-of-work journalists and their families. The foundation was established after the original L.A. Daily News shut down, putting more than 100 reporters and writers out of work. The organization continues to raise money for those in need.
‘Mamba, Out’
Nancy Villalobos can be reached at nmv530@gmail.com
Q. What is the greenhouse effect? A. The Earth’s greenhouse effect is a natural occurrence that helps regulate the temperature of our planet. When the Sun heats the Earth, some of this heat escapes back to space. The rest of the heat, also known as infrared radiation, is trapped in the atmosphere by clouds and greenhouse gases, such as water vapor and carbon dioxide. If all of these greenhouse gases were to suddenly disappear, our planet would be 60°F colder and would not support life as we know it. Human activities have enhanced the natural greenhouse effect by adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, very likely causing the Earth’s average temperature to rise. These additional greenhouse gases come from burning fossil fuels such as coal, trees, generating waste and farming also produce greenhouse gases. Q. How much will the Earth warm if emissions of greenhouse gases continue to rise? A. If humans continue to emit greenhouse gases at or above the current pace, we will probably see an average global temperature increase of 3 to 7°F by 2100, and greater warming after that. Temperatures in some parts of the globe (e.g., over land and in the polar regions) are expected to rise even more. Even if we were to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, returning them to year 2000 levels and holding them constant, the Earth would still warm about 1°F over the next 100 years. This is due to the long lifetime of many greenhouse gases and the slow cycling of heat from the ocean to the atmosphere. Q. How might global warming and climate change affect my health and well-being? A. Because global temperatures, precipitation, sea levels and the frequency of some extreme weather are expected to increase, climate change could affect you in many ways. Our health, agriculture, forests, water resources, energy, coasts, wildlife and recreational opportunities would all react to climate changes.
Photo by Mark Nassim
(Kobe, from page 1)
come back for that win. Bryant showed his presence and pushed himself through his transparent exhaustion to do what he does best: take over the game. One shot after another, Kobe gave the Lakers the lead, the crowd was louder than ever. It was a truly magical moment for cant performance—like a movie. Almost too good to be true. You couldn’t write the night any better. We should have known to count on Kobe one more time. 60 points in a truly historic night. A legendary performance by one of the greatest to ever lace it up in -
mance of any athlete, ever. Everyone knew this is how it was going to end and for a lot of us, Kobe was always a part of our lives. Now, it’s over. It’s still hard to accept. But to go out like he did? Unreal and legendary. ent next season. There will be no one to rely on when the game is on the line. But it was fun while it lasted and the memories will be remembered forever. Thank you, Kobe Bryant. Thanks for everything you’ve done for the Lakers and the city of Los Angeles. As Bryant said at the end of the game, “Mamba, out.” Mark Nassim can be reached at mnassim707@student.glendale.edu
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Wednesday, April 20, 2016
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FEATURES
Commemorating the Armenian Genocide, 101 Years Later “Armenia, My Love” —
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very year, the Armenian community, near and far, unites in an effort to bring recgonition to the Armenian Genocide. While this year marks the 101st anniversary of the massacres of Armenian men, women and children by the Ottoman Turks in 1915, the efforts come at an especially sensitive time as tensions rose between Armenia and Azerbaijan earlier this month. on April 5, the Armenian diaspora plans to make their voices heard through commemorative event held throughout the Greater Los Angeles Area.
Glendale Community College atre.org for more information.
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Montebello Monument — host a gathering at the Armenian -
In theaters for a limited time -
100+1 Anniversary — Gaidz Gabriel Chapter, and the Arme-
MGN Fivestar Cinema
Candlelight Vigil —
Laemmle NoHo 7
-
15th Annual Armenian Genocide Commemoration Event — Armenian Clubs of the GlenMarch for Justice —
Laemmle Playhouse 7
John Wayne Performing Arts laborative presentation.
dena, CA 91101
Courtesy of Lauren Lewis
From Armenia to Rwanda — -
Rally for Justice — The Arme-
Moore Hall 100 7 p.m. tonight -
Consulate on Wilshire Boulevard
Armenia: An Open Wound — -
“Journey to the Homeland”
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"Conversation with the Curator"
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"Armenian Heritage: A Virtual Pilgrimage" May 19.
Genocide 101 — Western Armenia: 100 Years After the Genocide — Glendale Community College Armenian
Silence the Lies: Rock the Truth VIII — -
dale through June 11. The exhibition debuted last April at the Museo Memoria y Toleran-
“Curator in the Spotlight: Illuminating the Armenian Middle Ages”
and survival of Armenian treap.m. Thursday. 15th Annual Commemoration Ceremony — The City of Glen-
door.
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supplements to the installation. “Global Realities, Local Perspectives: Examining the Refugee Crisis through Community-Based BLOOD AND SAND MEMORIAL Action” Thursday. “Commemoration as Public Art”
atre 7 p.m. Friday.
“Preserving the Past, Building the Future: the Role of Museums in a Changing World” from 7 to
to 6 p.m. Wednesday, and from 10 for more information.
Screening of "Latino Americans: Empire of Dreams (1880-1942)"
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Wednesday, April 20, 2016
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COLUMN
It Ain’t Swede American Food Ain’t Swede: It’s Weird By Tina Fernestam
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veryone’s heard the rumors about the United States: that the food is destroying the health of the population and its six-pack abs. The Cheesecake Factory was one of the first restaurants I tried when I came to Los Angeles. After looking at the menu for a while, I decided to try the fried macaroni and cheese as a starter, in hopes of having room for cheesecake later. The complimentary bread got me through as I waited. I can’t complain about that because it comes out hot and fresh, with spreadable butter to tempt us some more. When our order arrived, we were shocked at its size. The portion consisted of four breaded and fried mac and cheese balls of which I could only eat two before feeling stuffed. In Sweden, when you order a “starter” you expect a small appetizer to enjoy before the main course. Needless to say, I never got to try the cheesecake. But we still dine there often because the food is delicious, regardless of the portions. One time we ordered chicken and biscuits. The idea of serving the biscuit under the food was interesting to me. Why would someone want their biscuit buried under the gravy? Now I know to ask for the biscuit on the side, to prevent a soggy mess. Another question: Is it normal for one person to drink a 44-ounce beverage at the movies? Or anywhere for that
matter? I have trouble finishing a large drink from McDonald’s, but I’ve seen people go back for refills. The most American drink I can think of is root beer. When I was at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood I bought myself a cup of butterbeer, offered in frozen and regular form. It was like root beer in disguise. The first few sips were OK, but when the foam was gone, so was my ability to drink it. I keep giving in to this American diet where everything is noticeably bigger compared to what I’m used to back home. I bought a bag of Cheetos puffs and each one was like a Swedish Cheez Doodle on steroids. Speaking of which, I think I’ve found every single flavor of chips in this country. Everything from white chocolate Pringles to Lays that range from chicken and waffles to capuccino. Cookies come in all shapes, sizes, and of course… flavors too! Every other week Oreo launches a new filling for their classic cookies, constantly switching it up with the seasons. I’ve come across pumpkin spice, filled cupcake, mint, red velvet, candy corn and another hundred more. Pop-tarts are something I’ve tried before in Sweden and it’s a decent snack, but I can’t understand how people have it for breakfast— isn’t that too sweet? I’ve seen a lot of weird food in the states. I once saw fried Snickers. Really? Fried? Wasn’t the chocolate bar enough? Jell-O is an American staple
that I didn’t try until recently. I can’t really describe what it tastes like, it’s not good, but it’s not gross either. Again— weird. The one thing everyone loves to hate is cheese in a can, so that needs to be on the list too. I haven’t tried it yet ( nor do I want to ) so I can’t say anything much about it, other than it’s weird. Last year I was at a Thanksgiving dinner in Pasadena. We got to try the typical holiday meal: turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry sauce and an assortment of pies. I’ll tell you this: stuffing and cranberries aren’t for me, ever. When I miss Swedish cuisine, there’s literally one place I can go to — IKEA. While the IKEA restaurant offers a variety of menu items, one bite of the Swedish meatballs with mashed potatoes, cream sauce and a side of lingonberries and I feel like I’m back in Sweden again. There’s a big difference when you talk about traditional food between Sweden and the U.S. Americans relate Swedish food to meatballs, Kalles Kaviar (caviar in a tube) and chocolate. But when a Swede thinks about American food, it’s usually hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza and anything greasy. I guess I will keep eating my Swedish meatballs when I’m homesick and trying American food when I dare to because some of the food here is not food. It’s just weird.
Tina Fernestam can be reached at mfernes239@student.glendale.edu
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Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Not Your Typical Cafeteria Food By Brent Giannotta
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ancy Jordan is on a mission. As head of Glendale College food service she has overseen a number of recent changes that brought large improvements in health, variety and quality to GCC cafes. Though she has many more changes planned, not all students know the cafeterias exist. “I want to add signage ... some people don’t even know we’re here,” said Jordan, who took the post eight years ago and also teaches CULIN 111: Fundamentals of Professional Cooking I and 122: International Cooking. “The whole cafeteria food service model has changed dramatically from maybe 15 years ago ... people are looking for healthier options ... for more variety of food.” Jordan has delivered on both of those promises. Upstairs Grill, Emma’s Deli and CJ’s Convenience Store offer a new array of healthy options, many not easily found around town. Ninety percent of the Grill’s soups are made in-house (not from freeze-dried packages) and Jordan said they are huge sellers. The other 10 percent are ordered pre-made from U.S. Foods. Grab-and-go items now include a vegan tofu sandwich, tofu and brown rice, fruit, organic soy milk, Smart Start cereal and multiple brands of Greek yogurt. Emma’s Deli, located beappears to look like Subway, but unlike the fast-food chain Emma’s makes its own tuna salad right in front of customers and offers four bread options: whole grain, wheat, rye and ciabatta. The Roots and Fruits Smoothie Bar, added last year, uses real fruit instead of frozen mixes, with popular health additives like chia, wheat germ and protein. CJ’s convenient store now stocks Bai5 Antioxidant drinks, Oi Ocha green tea, avocado oil kettle chips and gluten-free sweet plantain chips from Peru. Jordan has a personal aversion to the big, popular energy drinks like Monster and Rockstar, and dried soup meals like Cup o’ Noodles. “The amount of sodium is outrageous,” she said, but as long as there is a demand, she’ll keep them stocked. “I have an entire student body to feed, and not all gravitate toward healthy stuff.” For those students going for taste, GCC still delivers traditional favorites. French fries, French toast and breakfast burritos take the top spots in a quick eater survey — honor-
able mentions being pizza and tostadas. Jordan notes that her rotating soup menu, hot dog of the week, and pizza of the month are all gaining in popularity. These gains in quality and variety, however, have come amid lingering challenges. The Upstairs Grill was renovated “But crowds still happen at peak times,” Jordan said. She bemoans the cushions coming off some of the booths, lack of available seating and bad acoustics. English student Patrick Makaradi said he comes to the Upstairs Grill about twice a week to eat and read. He raves about the French toast, but admits he almost always has to stop reading because of the noise. Acoustics and decor are two areas where GCC suffers against its crosstown rival, Pasadena City College. Wellfunded designers have made PCC’s main cafe look like an Italian courtyard and aptly named it The Piazza. The interior is new and clean. Its high ceilings with soft wood make acoustics quiet enough to read, which almost all patrons do.
But that is where PCC’s advantages end. Customers at the Upstairs Grill have natural light and a breathtaking view of the Glendale mountains, a detail not lost on Jordan. When asked what changes she’d make if money were no object, she dreams whimsically of knocking down walls and making the cafes open-air. Customers agree, including nursing student Jackie Santana. “That’s a great idea,” she says. “It would feel like we were outside, but with no wind to mess up papers.” Jordan envisions an open-air downstairs that would better
connect food service with student life. GCC’s legacy of warm service also beats the competition. Service upstairs and downstairs is always with a smile. Most employees are trained students and a majority of the full-time employees have been with GCC for decades. Upstairs cashier Gladis Rodriguez celebrates her 30th anniversary with GCC this September. Interacting with the students is her favorite part of the job, she said. “I thank God I’m not working in a convalescent hospital,” where she’d be if not for the Upstairs Grill. Rodriguez, like other employees, has a warm, natural smile. Advances in variety and health options are only just beginning. Jordan regularly scans periodicals on new products and what is selling in Southern California. “We’re increasingly catering to a vegetarian crowd and a gluten-free crowd,” she said. “The gluten-free products are getting better.” The gluten-free bread did not sell well last year, so she got rid of it. However, the corned beef and cabbage for St. Patrick’s Day garnered rave reviews. “Then I thought, ‘what would be the reaction to a fried green tomato sandwich?’” It too was a huge hit. The only things slowing Nancy’s vision are business and budgetary challenges. Her assistant recently moved on, causing a hiccup in GCC food’s social media presence and forcing Jordan to write her own budget by the end of the month. The menus are still distributed to faculty and college staff via email, from which she claims the most helpful feedback comes. Regardless of the challenges, patrons are genertion at GCC. Santana again noted, “I haven’t eaten anything I didn’t like. Honestly, I was surprised when I saw the food here, I thought it was going to be crappy high school food.” This type of feedback, good or bad, is music to Photo by Anna Olsson Jordan’s ears. She yearns doing and what types of items they want to see. “It’s hard work, it’s not easy, but it’s very rewarding,” she said. “There’s nothing better than someone coming up to you and saying ‘that was really good.” To provide feedback on your GCC cafeteria experience, send an email to njordan@glendale.edu. Brent Giannata can be reached at brentgiannata@gmail.com
GCC Study Abroad Program Presents Fiji-NEW ZEALAND-Australia Winter 2017: January 2nd to 30th, 2017 $3,500 + Airfare (approx. $1850) + GCC Tuition/fees
Select 2 of the following courses: Humanities 105 (Gamberg), Geology 104 (Henderson), Geography 048 (Leaver) Coming in Summer 2017 Ireland-England: Approx. $2,500 + Airfare + GCC Tuition/fees Bali, Indonesia: Approx. $2,250 + Airfare + GCC Tuition/fees
For Details check out www.glendale.edu/studyabroad, scan the QR code, or visit us in AD145
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Photo by Tina Fernestan
Burgers Come As Burgers Go By Stephanie Ramirez
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he fast food giant McDonald’s, which was located between Towne Avenue and Canada Boulevard, has been permanently shut down. A letter has since been posted on the front door of the closed eatery that reads: “Dear Valued Customers, unfortunately, this location has been permanently closed for business as of March 27th, 2016. Please visit any of our surrounding McDonald’s restaurants in the area. Thanks for your loyalty to brand McDonald’s.” Tristan Nguyen, a nursing student at GCC, said he isn’t affected much by the restaurant’s closure since he doesn’t eat there frequently. “I actually just noticed it was closed about a few days ago, when I tried to go there at midnight,” Nguyen said. English major, Jocelyn Lopez, was surprised, but believed that it is strange for McDonald’s to just get up and leave. “I think McDonald’s is too big of a company to just close all of a sudden,” Lopez said. “Maybe they didn’t have enough money, but it seems eerie to just close for no apparent reason.” While Lopez believes there might be something going on as far as the business side of things, psychology major Rosy Aragon thinks that the closure may be both a good and bad idea. “It’s a good yet bad thing with McDonald’s closing,” she said. “Good for the businesses around the area, but bad because college students can be picky when it comes to picking what they want to eat.” In April 2015, McDonald’s announced that it will be closing around 350 under-performing restaurants, mainly in Japan, the U.S. and China. Ironically, by the end of 2015, McDonald’s ended with 36,525 restaurants, 267 more than there were in 2014. Steve Easterbrook, CEO of McDonald’s, told Brian Sozzi of TheStreet.com that they are planning to expand in Asia by opening 1,500 restaurants in China, Hong McDonald’s to blend our global quality standards with local insights and expertise from partners who share our vision and values.” Easterbrook said. Business major Narek Hagopian believes that having the closing of the fast food chain is an especially good thing for small businesses. “New businesses can rise without the problem of competing with big businesses, such as McDonald’s,” Hagopian said. One could argue that Feel Burgers & Fries will soon become the alternative for students looking to get McDonald’s. The new business venture is located on Verdugo Road just across the street from the campus and has Restaurant manager Yousif Al Musawi says he believes that the restaurant will bring a unique style and “The difference with us, we use a different grill, it
it went with the traditional barbecue to get authentic grill marks on their meats. Musawi also explains that Also, not only will it be serving the traditional hamburgers and fries, but it will also offer hot dogs, Philly cheese steaks, grilled and fried chicken, chili cheese fries, cheese fries, garden salads, caesar salads and more. The specialty is in the spices and the patty. “We count on the burger patty,” said Musawi. “We use the angus beef, which is a double-liner burger.” A double-liner burger is the equivalent of a doubledouble burger from In-N-Out. Burgers & Fries will open for business. It took around six years to build two restaurants in the Middle East, After the restaurant’s huge success, eventually the company decided to build an app called, “Feel Burger Jordan.” The Google Play app is mainly available for customers living in Amman, can download and view the app in the future. Currently, there is no word if there will be a U.S version of the app available. In 2013, Feel Burgers & Fries was named best burger in the Jordan Tourism Awards. They were selected by over 10,000 members, which landed them in a prime spot at the “Tip n’ Tag,” a professional products in the area. area and in the United States. “In the next six months, the business is planning to open two more restaurants but we’re still looking for the locations,” Musawi said. Musawi also says that hopefully there will be more locations in the Pasadena area as well. The structure of the restaurant will be the usual serving: the customer orders the food, workers prepare it, and the customer picks it up. Though it is a fast-food restaurant, Musawi doesn’t look at it in that way based on how the food is prepared. “It’s not fast food because in most fast food locations, they serve it frozen,” he said. “We serve it fresh.” With the demise of McDonald’s, Musawi said he still believes there will be competition when it comes to prices and what the general public are accustomed to eating, but nevertheless he hopes that this restaurant will do as well, or even better, than the restaurants back in Amman. Discounts will be given for students who are Feel Burgers & Fries is currently hiring. For more information on available positions, call (248) 759-1150 or email: Hiring@Feel.Kitchen For more information of what Feel Burgers & Fries has to offer visit their Facebook page. Stephanie Ramirez can be reached at stephanieyramirez@gmail.com
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ARTS
Container Gardening
Don’t Be Afraid to Get Down and Dirty By Nancy Villalobos
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imple, convenient, portable, useful and attractive. These terms are used for describing a cost-effective way to improve one’s environment and harness a skill you may not know you have. A lack of space is not an issue, only a small area with some sunlight is needed to successfully grow an impressive container garden. Along with a variety of pots, many unconventional items can be used as planters as well. An old tire for example, a succulent garden in a bird bath,
are just a few creative options and can be on placed on a porch, balcony, or in a yard. “This is the perfect time for springtime planting,” Karen Williams of Orchard Supply Hardware said. “We just got our strawberries in and there is a wide variety of herbs and vegetables to choose from as well.” to be a therapeutic hobby all around the world. Not only has it been shown to lower stress and help clear the mind, plants improve one’s own immediate environment with oxygen production and a connection to nature busy lives may be lacking.
Many people have never even tasted a homegrown fruit or vegetable. The California climate makes more varieties of plants available for growing with its plentiful sunlight and warm temperatures. Most vegetables love sunlight, however root vegetables, such as onions and radishes, can be grown in shady places. Pesticide free, fruits and vegetables have more ripen on the plant. “An easy way to start a compost garden is by putting your fruit and vegetable waste right out in the yard,” Southland Disposal Company Representative Sergio Sanchez said. “A banana peel will turn into compost in just a month, lettuce decomposes even faster,” he added. Urban, organic gardening can serve as an avenue to healthy eating habits and lifestyle changes. The mental and physical as the fruits of the labor, make this a hobby worth trying. There are tips available from websites online and several howto videos on YouTube. The time and effort are worth the reward when it comes time to harvest. At the end of the growing season, be sure to switch plants out to maintain fresh blooms
throughout the year. Year round blooms and plant variety are in the gardeners control with container gardens. Experiment with different plants to see which types are most suitable for your lifestyle. Descanso Gardens docents suggest planting a native plant garden as they require far less watering and novice gardeners generally have a higher success rate as the plants are acclimated to the weather in the area. “California has more than 6,000 species of native plants, that’s more than the other 48 states combined,” Theodore Payne Native Plants representative Jennifer Mercede said. “We need more native plants used in gardens to support the fauna in our area. They coevolved so they are dependent on one another.” A container garden can make a great gift idea, why not treat mom to a gift that will keep on giving this Mother’s Day? Using her favorite herbs, all summer long, you can create a cost-effective, long-lasting and thoughtful gift.
Nancy Villalobos can be reached at nmv530@gmail.com
Photo by Nancy Villalobos
Tips to start your container garden: The greatest challenge of container vegetable growing is watering, since soil dries out faster in pots than in the ground. A larger volume of soil won’t dry out as fast, so choose the single large pot. Make certain that any container has holes so excess water can drain away from the soil. Try starting with herbs. They are easy and will add a freshgrown taste to almost any meal. Just remember to give them the conditions they prefer. All herbs need full sun, but some, such as rosemary, prefer drier soil and fewer nutrients; basil needs more fertilizer and watering. Place a wheeled pot trolley (available in garden centers) under a large pot and move it to follow the sun. For example, move it into the sun in the morning; in the evening, when you want to sit on the patio, scoot it out of the way.
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S P O R TS Baseball
Softball
Men’s Tennis
April 21
April 21
April 21-24
Canyons @ Stengel Field 2:30 p.m.
@ Canyons Ojai Tournament 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. SoCal/State TBA
Women’s Tennis April 21-24
Ojai Tournament SoCal/State TBA
Track & Field April 29
WSC Finals Bakersfieldww TBA
Lady Vaq has Big League Dreams Vaqs Dethrone Monarchs and Tame Cougars By Sean Lamar
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Photo by Anna Olsson
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Sean Lamar can be reached at seanshields15@yahoo.com
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Anna Olsson can be reached at aolsson281@student.glendale.edu
Camille Ochoa Fun Facts: Favorite Music: 2000’s Hip Hop and R&B Favorite Actress: Rachel McAdams Favorite Movie: “Fast and Furious” series Favorite Food: Anything made out of potato, especially French fries
Photo by Sal Polcino
BATTLE AT THIRD BASE: Vaqueros third baseman Frank Gariolla slams into L.A. Valley’s third baseman Dylan Mersola on a steal from second. Pushing and shoving and some harsh words were exchanged after the collision. Garriola was replaced for the remainder of the game at Stengel Field on Saturday.
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SPORTS
The Vaquero Classic
Track is Back
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ozens of umbrellas dotted the stands as a little bit of rain didn’t stop fans from all over Southern California coming
meet on April 9 at the newly renovated Sartoris Field. and Ventura east to San Bernardino came out to battle the ele-
Photos by Sal Polcino
THE GAMES BEGIN: Gabriella Munguia, left, clears the bar, winning 5th place in the women’s pole vault. Jhair Torres jumps a hurdle just chase event.
Events got underway with the discus and shot put with races beginning at noon.
Vaqueros Top Winners: Men’s Events
Women’s Events
100-meter Dash Manuel Delatorre – placed 2nd overall Dante Johnson – placed 7th overall
100-meter Dash Cydnea Dean – placed 14th overall
200-meter Dash Manuel Delatorre – placed 1st overall 400-meter Dash Keyon Hardin – placed 3rd overall 800-meter Dash Matthew Manolo – placed 1st overall 1500-meter Run Alejandro Ambrossio – placed 4th overall Vahagn Isayan – placed 6th overall Shane Thompson – placed 8th overall
400-meter Dash Isis Rodgers – placed 4th overall 800-meter Run Giselle Masedo – placed 3rd overall Agnes Kirakosian – placed 4th overall Lucik Minassian – placed 10th overall 1500-meter Run Brenda Sanchez – placed 1st overall Lucik Minassian – placed 3rd overall Pole Vault Gabriella Munguia – placed 5th overall
5000-meter Run Edwin Morales – placed 8th overall 3000-meter Steeplechase Jhair Torres – placed 5th overall High Jump Jeremy Kimmer – placed 1st overall Pole Vault Jeremy Kimmer – placed 1st overall Long Jump Darius Jones – placed 10th overall
LEADING THE PACK: Brenda Sanchez, left, stays out in front in the 1,500 -meter run to win 1st place. Teammate Lucik Minassian placed 3rd. Darius Jones, above, placed 10th in the long jump event.
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SPOTLIGHT on campus EVENTS Videogame Tournament— ASGCC hosts a FIFA16 tournament in SC 212 from 3 to 9 p.m. Friday. First place prize is $300. Sign up at www.glendale.edu/AS.
LECTURES Cultural Diversity Series — Patrick Camangian, presents “From Coping to Hoping: Teaching Students to Thrive Through Social Trauma� in the Student Center from 12:20 to 1:30 p.m. Thursday. Book Panel Discussion — One Book/One GCC presents “Liter-
ary Perspectives on ‘Merchants of Doubt’� in CS 177 from 12:20 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. today. Panelists include John Allen, Fatema Baldiwala, Gabrielle Mitchell-Marell and Rolando Rubalcava.
to 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
Book Talk — One Book/One GCC presents a discussion by faculty and the Student Book Club on “Merchants of Doubt� in CR 226 from 12:20 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
Author Talk — Erik M. Conway will discuss his book “Merchants of Doubt� in the GCC Auditorium from 12:20 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. The event is sponsored by One Book/One GCC.
Genocide— Armenian Students Association and the Cultural Diversity Program presents a lecture by Matthew Karanian called “Western Armenia 100 Years After the Genocide.� The event in Kreider Hall runs from 12:20 p.m.
Physics— Marcus Afshar presents “Gravitational Waves: A New Window into the Universe� in CS 177 at 12:30 p.m. April 26.
IMPORTANT DATES Summer Registration— Priority registration for the summer semester runs through Friday. Open registration is Monday through June 17.
Photo by Sal Polcino
ANIMALS AND NATURE: Visitors can watch thousands of animals including mammals, birds, and reptiles as well as botanical gardens. at the Los Angeles Zoo. Tickets are $20.
Fall Registration— Open registrion for the fall semester runs May 16 through June 3.
MEETINGS Board of Trustees — The next meeting is in Kreider Hall at 5 p.m. May 17.
PERFORMANCE Theater — The Theatre Arts Department presents “We Are Stardust.� The production is directed by Melissa R. Randel and is based on a famous quote by astrophysicist Neil Degrasse Tyson. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $12 for students
and seniors. The performances will be held in the auditorium and run April 28 through May 7. Times are 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. on May 1 and May 7.
PLANETARIUM Afternoon with the Stars — Students and staff can attend a free lunchtime program highlighting the planetarium’s features in CS 257 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Thursdays. Jennifer Krestow presents “History of Astronomy� on Thursday, “Life in the Universe, where is everybody?� on April 28 and “Tour of the Universe� on May 5.
Photo by Sal Polcino
JURASSIC EXHIBIT: Dinosaurs Unextinct at the Los Angeles Zoo runs through Oct. 31. The exhibit features 17 life-sized animatronics. Tickets are $5.
around town THEATER Pasadena Plays — “Romeo and Juliet,� “You Can Never Tell,� and “Six Characters in Search of an Author� are playing at The Noise Within. The theater is located at 3352 E Foothill Blvd. in Pasadena. Students can purchase rush tickets an hour prior to performances for $20. For showtimes visit www.anoisewithin.org or call (626) 356-3100.
Ginastera and James MacMillan. The Glendale City Church is at 610 E. California Ave. The performance is at 12:10 p.m. today. For more information call (818) 242-2113 or visit www.glendalenoonconcerts.blogspot.com.
p.m. every third Wednesday. For more information visit www. pmcaonline.org.
PERFORMANCE
MUSEUMS
The Broad — The museum contains a large contemporary artwork collection and free admission. The museum is located 221 S. Grand Ave. in Los Angeles. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. For more information visit www.thebroad.org.
Glendale Noon Concerts — The Glendale City Church features free classical concerts on
Pasadena Museum of California Art — Works by Robert Cremean and William S. Rice are currently featured. The museum is at 490 E. Union St. in Pasadena. Tickets are $7 or $5 for students. Open from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays and noon to 8
Descanso Gardens — The garden features a large botanical collection. It is at 1418 Descanso Drive in La Caùada Flintridge. Tickets are $9 or $6 for students. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information visit www. descansogardens.org.
each month. Susan Svrcek and Jacqueline Suzuki will perform a piano and violin recital from works composed by Alberto
Organ Recital— Jackson Borges will perform a free organ recital at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday. The church is located 1020 N. Brand Blvd.
List your event on the SPOTLIGHT Calendar
t t
California Science Center— The free museum contains exhibits, demonstrations, and many hands-on activities. Tickets for IMAX screenings of 3D documentaries are $8.50 or $6.25 for students. The museum is located 700 Exposition Park Drive in Los Angeles. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For more information and to purchase tickets visit www. californiasciencecenter.org
every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the 2300 block of Honolulu Avenue. For information visit www.shopmontrose.com.
Los Angeles Zoo— The zoo contains exhibits, animals, and botanical gardens. Tickets are $20 and $5 for the Dinosaurs Unextinct exhibit. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The zoo is located 5333 Zoo Drive in Los Angeles.
Rememberance — Glendale is hosting the 15th Annual Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide at The Alex Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Free tickets must be reserved ahead of time. Tickets can be reserved online at www.alextheatre.org or at the
EVENTS Montrose Harvest Market — The Farmer’s Market takes place
The Odd Market — Odd Nights at The Autry takes place from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. every third Friday. The market is located 4700 Western Heritage Way. The free event features food, live music, and select galleries. For information visit www.oddmarket.com.
located at 216 N Brand Blvd. Compiled by Eric Bourse
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LIFESTYLE
‘Army of One’ Author Shares Stories and Insight with Students
Photos by Jessica Jas
WRITER SPEAKS: Janet Sarbanes signs a student’s copy of “Army of One,” top, and answers questions from the audience at an author reading and Q & A on Friday, April 8 at the Student Center.
By Jessica Jas
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earts and minds were captured as Janet Sarbanes, author of “Army of One,” read excerpts from her short story collection on April 8 at the Student Center. “Each short story connected with each other and though they were unique, I was able to relate with several of the characters and create deep connections,” Jose Ruiz, sociology major, said. He sat in the front row, excited to hear how Sarbanes was able to develop such a well-written masterpiece. The primary theme of both isolation and surrounding oneself with people was found in this collection of 10 short stories. The writing style displays the author’s talent of creating a unique structure of the story from beginning to end without a complex plot. The short stories alternate between reality and fantasy. The story involving “Aunt Sophie” is a grand example that takes a look into alien encounters. Sarbanes was able to create a diverting look into alien abductions and interstellar personal contact in a humorous way. In “The Making of Wild Child,” she satirizes the social standard of married life in Hollywood. She takes a feminist stance and is all for the equality and natural rights of women, adding unique stories of feral children, as well as Western desert towns.
tive and existent events. “I felt the format of the book was different from other books, it was not only enjoyable to read but it also allowed me to feel the characters’ emotions,” Luis Ruiz said he is considering majoring in English. Sarbanes read a 20-minute portion of her book, and answered questions about herself and the collection of short stories. Students were engaged and several wanted to know more about such events in her life that allowed her to write these stories. “Coming to this book reading will allow me to get a better perspective on what inspired her to write it,” said Aline Khanbabian, a veterinary science major, as she listened attentively to Sarbanes. Sarbanes revealed that a lot of her writing was based on a reality of her
She elaborates on living in solitude, and how crucial it felt to be alone, leaving human sociability behind. She said she believes that such events occurred so she could share them through the power of writing. “I hope students leave this book reading knowing the essence of how reading and writing are both a place of possibilities, and to focus in a little bit on what it means to be alone and what it means to be with people,” Sarbanes said. “Army of One” is available for purchase on spdbooks.org and Amaare able to grasp the connection with zon.com. the characters. It is easily displayed how each story was crafted and comJessica Jas be reached at jessjaz3@gmail.com pleted, with a great balance of imagina-