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Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018
Volume 112 | Issue 6
Guns and Mental Health: The Ugly Truth Societal concerns arise, as veteran kills 12 people in a Southern California bar MOURNING A BIG LOSS: Residents of Thousand Oaks and surrounding communities gathered to honor those who lost their lives in a mass shooting at a local bar.
By Marian Sahakyan Editor-in-Chief Three hundred and twenty three — the total number of mass shootings this year. Three hundred and thirty-three — the number of days so far this year. A closer look paints a grim picture, as the statistics show an average of one mass shooting a day. We as Americans, have become so immune to hearing about mass shootings that we have adapted a hopeless attitude when thinking about the possible resolution of this issue. This time, one hit close to home. It forces our hand. We must have a difficult conversation that is often easier to ignore.
Just 36 miles northwest of Glendale sits Thousand Oaks — a city known for being among the safest in the country. In the recent weeks, however, the suburban town found itself in the ranks of places affected by a mass shooting in America. It was a weekly tradition at the Borderline Bar and Grill to host “College Night,” where dozens of students from neighboring universities and colleges gathered for an evening of letting loose in a social environment marked by country music, beer, pool, and good times. Some laughed, others danced. It was just a few weeks ahead of finals for these students and young patrons. The evening couldn’t get better. Up to the moment where a black-clad gunman opened fire in
this jam-packed college bar on Nov. 7. The bouncer was the first one down. Then it was the barman, a recent college graduate. Seconds later another shot was fired. Then another. And just like that, in the matter of 15 monstrous minutes, the crazed assassin left behind 150 bullets. 12 lives were lost. 13 people were injured. And those who did survive the gunshots, may never survive the trauma. The shooter’s body was found in a bath of his own blood, in the back room of the bar. He had killed himself, too. Ian David Long, the man accused of the mass killing, once attended California State University, Northridge. He was also a combat veteran of the Afghanistan war and a former machine gunner in the army. He
Ethan DeHoyos / Staff Photographer
had the experience to understand weapons. Potentially, moreover, he struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). People noticed, but not a lot could be done. The combination of knowing about weapons and PTSD made him deadly. The Back Story On his block, Long was known as a man who was mostly quiet and reserved, but would have episodes of erratic behavior and mental breakdowns. His series of encounters with the police further proved the aforementioned. [See ‘Guns and Mental Health,’ page 2]
Newsroom Raises Funds, Gathers Goods for Food Pantry In the spirit of giving, El Vaquero staff rallies donations By El Vaquero Staff Somewhere near four out of 10 students who attend college or university have experienced “low” or “very low” food insecurity, according to a survey from HOPE Lab, an advocacy group that seeks greater access to affordable higher education. The same report from HOPE Lab also found that 46 percent of community college students had experienced some level of homelessness, compared to 36 percent of fouryear college students. It was with this kind of understanding that Glendale College launched its own GCC Food for Thought Pantry. El Vaquero newspaper wanted to play a small role in helping during the holiday season and launched its “21 Days of Gratitude.” In that time, the newsroom, led by
staffers Carolina Diaz and Alin Pasokhian, gathered over 15 grocery bags of items and $50 in cash donations. “For me, what made me launch this event was the fact that for a while I knew how people struggle with food,” said Diaz. “Once the struggle I went through was over, it made me realize that I wanted to help somehow.” Diaz said that since GCC already had an existing pantry, it made perfect sense to collaborate. At GCC, it’s estimated that up to 25 percent of students have severe food insecurity. Indeed, an overwhelming correlation has been found in studies on college performance and food scarcity, which prompted the Academic Senate to come up with a pantry as a solution. “Some students may know about the services of the Food for Thought Pan-
try, but they might be shy or embarrassed about their financial situation to go receive help,” said Diaz. “I don’t think a lot of students know about the Food for Thought Pantry and it is a shame, as they are a great at helping students in need and completely anonymous.” Exact numbers on food insecurity are hard to gauge, mostly because of a lack of data and shame that surrounds poverty. However, study after study continues to paint a picture that shows many of those students seeking a better life through a college education have experienced hard times. “I remember in 2016 when they launched the pantry,” said James OjanoSimonsson, who also helped the El Vaquero donation drive and was struck by the number of students waiting to be assisted
when he dropped off goods. “Seeing it now two years later it’s clear they’re making a huge difference for students who are struggling.” Send emails or letters to El Vaquero Newpaper at elvaq.gcc@gmail.com.
IN THIS ISSUE News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5 Features . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8 Opinion/Letters. . . . . 9-10 Sports .. . . . . . . . . . 11 - 1 2 Entertainment. . . . . 13-15 Illustration. . . . . . . . . . . 16
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[Continued from ‘Guns and Mental Health,’ page 1]
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Taking a deeper look into dividual to want to get better—to the symptoms of depression or get better. PTSD, it becomes evident that The arguments are multifacLong’s mental health problems the two have an awful lot in com- eted and rather unfathomable, became especially visible last mon. Some indications include which in its turn receives endless social isolation counterarguments. Subsequently, spring, as the trou“He required and a lack of moti- the society is left exactly where it bled vet went through professional care. vation. Both were started—in a country of unsolved another nervous colInstead, the cops characteristics of gun abuse, broken communities lapse. This suggested the ex-soldier’s and split viewpoints. came. ” that he was dealing latest days. We must take a deeper look with something more These mental into the mental health crisis in our than just anxiety, or mild depression. It was PTSD. conditions often result in social country. Figures show that 43.8 He required professional care. In- dysfunction, dissolution of mar- million people deal with such riage, significant substance use illnesses in a given year, further stead, the cops came. The 28-year-old lived with and sadly, crime and suicide. Ear- proving that mental health is no his mother, who didn’t appear to lier this year, the Department of longer a problem of an individual, do enough to force her son to get Veterans Affairs reported that an but that of an entire nation. Be it help. Interviews with neighbors average of 16.8 veterans commit social mores changing, a sense of suicide every day. This amounts fame that mass shooters are looksuggested just that. Richard Berge, a nearby to 6,132 veteran suicides each ing for, or something else, at the resident, insinuated that Long’s year. Such statistics raise serious core is the mental health issue that we have neglected to our own mother was “frustrated that her concern and questions. Has mental health taken a detriment. son didn’t seek help for his conbackseat in our society? And for We could look at other aspects dition.” Someone like Long needed to those we purportedly care about of better controls, like stricter background checks. Yet if a vethave been pushed into help by and “thank” for their service? While it is quite difficult to eran with PTSD is respected and those who loved him. He’s also a reflection of an argument made answer this question, one can served, chances are he’ll be able to get through such by the late Washington Post col- surely assume that mental “Mental health a background check umnist Charles Krauthammer indeed, who argued in favor of bringing health still remains still remains a taboo in a breeze. Which topic in everyday leaves us at the origiback well-managed institutions a taboo topic in evconversations. In nal problem of better for those who need them and eryday conversaforcibly committing individuals. tions. In addition, addition, our society mental health struchas grown out of tures. Right now, forcible commitment our society has Perhaps it’s time to is difficult by law. When Long grown out of toler- tolerance mode and become too unlook at forcibly comwas evaluated by public officials, ance mode and bealthough they noted that he had come too untrained trained to deal with mitting individuals those with mental like Long, who exhibissues, they didn’t have enough to to deal with those force him to seek help. That’s a with mental issues, issues, making them it all the symptoms of making them outoutcasts of the potentially acting out problem. casts of the sociin violent ways. Some society. ” ety. Perhaps this is might say that this Do We Care Enough? when the animoscould be detrimental Although some veterans are ity and self-destruction takes the to Constitutional rights, but, realistically, we have no other reable to move past trauma with wheel. course, as these individuals break minimal to no dysfunction in The Real Problem the law by the sheer fact they their lives, many continue to sufcarry out mass shootings. fer the consequences of their preWhile it’s easy to blame it all vious circumstances. Unfortunately, statistics show on the society, it is important to that the disruption of service remember that every human is Marian Sahakyan can be reached at members’ lives as a result of trau- entitled to a sense of personal manehsahakyan@gmail.com. responsibility. It is up to the inma symptoms is highly common.
el vaquero EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Marian Sahakyan
Elena Jacobson
Allison Ayala
Yesenia Thomson
Samantha Banuelos Dylan Anthony Bryant
ILLUSTRATOR
Eduardo Carreno
Matthew Spencer
Danny Escobar Carmen Fernandez Tyler Greene Rudy Guijarro Kevin Holcomb Hayk Martirosyan Ro Martinez
FEATURES EDITOR Samantha Decker
Avetis Oganyan Alin Pasokhian Selena Reyes
WEB EDITORS Carolina Diaz
Marian Sahakyan/ Staff Photographer RALLY FOR A CHANGE: Members of Glendale Tenants Union gather in front of the City Hall to express their concerns in regards to skyrocketing rent prices.
COPY EDITORS
Jordan Henry
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Chieko Kubo
Follow their long journey on elvaq.com in Marian Sahakyan’s coverage.
Tania Acosta
Joanna Flamenco
PRODUCTION MANAGER James Ojano-Simonsson
The Glendale Tenants Union has been rallying weekly during City Council meetings, in hopes to push for rent control.
STAFF WRITERS
Michael Dumansky
SENIOR PRODUCTION MANAGER Hayk Rostomyan
Glendale Tenants Fight for Rent Control
Samuel Reynolds Kenya Ruiz Lilit Sedrakyan Kylie Shannon Eisho Shiroma Martha Topete
PHOTOGRAPHER
Member of the Journalism Asssociation of Community Colleges
Ethan DeHoyos
FACULTY ADVISER Rory Cohen rcohen@glendale.edu (818) 240-1000 ext. 5214
Member of the California Newspaper Publishers Association
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 rcohen@glendale.edu or call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5214.
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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Some Call for Expanded DSPS Services GCC students with disabilities tell El Vaquero they want more support By Kenya Barboza Staff Writer “Thirty people are consistently shoved in there like a pack of sardines,” said David Callejas, a Glendale Community College student with visual processing speed, a condition that makes it harder for individuals to form judgements about a visual stimulus. Callejas, registered with GCC’s Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS), is referring to the study area for disabled students. Although DSPS seeks to promote student equity and outcomes, students who need the most help say they often don’t get enough it. An El Vaquero investigative report found that issues stem not from neglect on the part of staff, but from funding that often leaves students wanting and needing more than the campus can provide. Some positive changes, however, are on the horizon. To put it into perspective, funding for GCC’s DSPS was $1,832,176 in 2008-09. Since then, funding for the program has dropped and has yet to fully restore. So, 10 years later, the program has to try to provide the same level of support at the same funding level of a decade before. “Our funding comes from two places,” explained Tina Anderson Wahlberg, DSPS director. “We get some funding from the state and it’s based on the number of students that we serve and the types of disabilities of the people that we have. It’s a weighted student count.” That means that the state does its own study to estimate the cost for what it takes to provide reasonable accommodations for students with varying of disabilities. “For example, if a student has a hearing impairment and they need a sign language interpreter, that’s very
expensive,” explained AndersonWahlberg. “The funding weight given to students with hearing impairment is much higher, whereas for someone who might have a back injury, what those folks usually would need is a tram to help them navigate campus in a timely manner.” There are currently 798 enrolled students with disabilities on campus, according to Edward Karpp, the Dean of Research at GCC. These students have a variety of impairments that range from hearing issues to acquired brain injury to autism and ADHD. All students are different, so understanding and addressing their needs can help them on academic and personal levels. Yet the accommodations will vary widely from student to student based on their disability. Currently, tutoring services to students with disabilities aren’t readily available due to only two available tutors. El Vaquero found that these employees have a job description that tasks them with clerical duties and running the reception board, which can significantly cut the time spent with students who need help. “They have only two [tutors] for 30 students who go get tutoring,” said Callejas, who suggested students require far more than they are currently getting. “They are all doing the best they can with what they are given, but they are going to war with no swords.” Several DSPS students contacted for this story complained over a lack of tutors. “We need that special care and a nice working environment where they can work one-onone with us,” said Sarah Burgos, a student with ADHD. “If I am stuck on a question and [a tutor] is helping all these other students and also having to do the clerical
AB 705 Gets Rid of Remediation New bill seeks to expedite the college journey By Samantha Banuelos Staff Writer Community colleges across California are undergoing major curriculum changes to satisfy the requirements of Assembly Bill 705, which was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown. The bill was created to help college students bypass remedial classes and expedite their journey towards transferring into four-year universities. This would allow students to skip mathematics and English prerequisites, placing them directly into college-level classes. Only those who demonstrate a need for help, would be placed in lower division classes. The goal of AB 705 is to maximize a students’ opportunity to transfer within a year. To do so, they are requiring community
colleges to rid their schools of placement tests. The reasoning behind this is to prevent students from getting stuck in an endless cycle of remedial courses. Instead of tests, both current and incoming students will be placed in English and math classes based on their high school grade point average (GPA) and schoolwork. Glendale Community College is no exception to adapt the new system, as both math and English departments have been meeting regularly to adjust their courses by the fall semester of 2019. Previously, in order for students to obtain an associate degree with the option of transferring, they needed to take a certain amount of college-level courses. However, most students do not immediately start at the college level due to placement tests, which have become outdated and a somewhat
Kenya Ruiz / Staff Photographer
EXTRA HELP: A student registered with the Disabled Students Programs and Services receives tutoring help.
duties, it takes longer to get help.” Even when students do end up getting facetime with tutors, they often feel disappointed because the center does not offer tutoring in subjects other than English and math. This pushes students with disabilities to go to the school learning center, where fellow students are the ones to teach various subjects. Even then, information often does not get across, as these tutors, no matter how great, are not trained in pedagogy that specifically targets high-needs students. “They need other tutors who know other subjects,” said Chris, who asked to be identified only by his first name. “The material is kind of hard, but if someone can teach it in a way that we can understand it, especially with our disability, everything is possible.” Chris explained that he has a head injury and ADHD, which makes processing information different for him.
“In the instructional assistant center we have two tutors who help students with English and math, [and] we get alot of demand for math,” said Anderson-Wahlberg, who expressed that it would be great to expand programming but tutoring in too-specific coursework wouldn’t be possible on a permanent basis as students don’t always require tutoring for such specific coursework. However, Anderson-Wahlberg said her department working on expanding their staff count. “I am happy to report that just last week, we interviewed people to get temporary help,” she said in a late November interview. “We have a person who has accepted the temporary position.” Hopefully, by the summer, she said, the position will be filled a full-time permanent one. Capacity is another issue cited by at least six students who spoke with El Vaquero. “What we’re finding is that
especially during peak times, like at midterms and finals, some students still need tutoring, but then we have so many other students taking test that the space doesn’t work,” acknowledged Anderson-Wahlberg. “What we’re doing is planning to combine the two centers, the High Tech Center and Instructional Assistant Center.” She explained that it will all be in the same room, but distributed in terms of space. DSPS conveyed to El Vaquero that it hopes to get the input of students. “What we would like to do is [have] focus groups,” she said, explaining that invites may be sent to students in the spring. “We’re very interested in [students’] perspectives because they use our services and they may have ideas that we haven’t thought of.”
inaccurate representation of a student’s knowledge. This is especially common when students are taking these tests for math classes, as the subject tends to drive more anxiety. To further assist the needs of their students, the Mathematics department at GCC has been hard at work, designing newer math classes for the college. “We have been working two years on redesigning the math curriculum,” GCC math professor Michael Davis said. “It’s been a lot of conversation on what belongs in each pathway.” “Developmental education may be one of the biggest obstacles to success in the state’s community college,” according to ppic.org. “Most of the hundreds of thousands of students who enroll in these classes each year never move on to earn a degree or certificate, or transfer to a fouryear college.” Nonetheless, AB 705 will allow colleges to offer courses with additional support to those who need it. Though many remedial courses will be cut,
select prerequisite courses will continue to be available. GCC’s math department is currently working on their math course catalog, a vast majority of classes, such as 119 and 120 are going to be eliminated. With their new courses, each department will implement a new system of things, more like two versions to each class. In the course description, they will add a [+] sign, which will indicate whether or not the class offers extra support. The extra help stretches as far as longer lab hours and additional help from professors. For example, if a student struggles with math, and therefore requires extra assistance, they will enroll in a class with the [+]. The newer courses are divided into two categories, STEM and SLAM, the English version of STEM. Depending on the route a student chooses to take, they will be enrolled in different classes. In math for example, if a student is taking the SLAM route, they will have the option to choose between math 30 or math
30+. Once completed, they will enroll in Math 136 or Math 135 which both fall into the statistics liberal arts math. STEM majors will be able to pick between math 90 or math 90+. This will then allow them to enroll into Math 100 and or Math 110. Depending on English language proficiency, learners will also have the option to pick between English 101 or English 101+. However, if a student is taking English 101, they can enroll in English 100, which will be a new class that combines the content of English 191 and 120. “All classes will offer more than just math lessons,” Davis said. “They will also implement lessons on time management and positive mindset.” Time will tell if AB 705 works in favor of GCC students. In the meantime, students who are on the road to completing their math and English courses should do so before Fall 2019.
Kenya Barboza can be reached ar kenyabarboza@yahoo.com.
Samantha Banuelos can be reached at sammie_banuelos@yahoo.com.
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5 Tips to Mitigate Student Stress Finals is the most difficult point of the semester, so how can you cope?
or your phone. Writing things down, however, can help you with prioritizing what’s due next and what’s overall most important. This kind of routine helps you anticipate what you need to do, which aids in preventing anxiety (and, potentially, low grades!). 2. Don’t Forget Tea Time This is the best time in the semester to encourage your coffee or tea habit. MHA cites data that suggests caffeine can help boost concentration, mood, and possibly short-term memory. However, more than four cups a day can be dangerous, causing jitters or anxiety. If you suffer from sleep issues, you may want to skip the caffeine altogether. 3. Take a Nap
Ethan DeHoyos / Staff Photographer
STUDENTS AT WORK: Chris Lopez, A Glendale Community College freshmen is studying for his English exam coming up Thursday at Starbucks in Montrose, Calif. On Sunday Sept. 23rd, 2018.
By El Vaquero Staff Glendale Community College is entering its most stressful period of the semester. Student stress exponentially increases during this time, according to Mental Health America (MHA), a community-based nonprofit geared toward promoting the overall mental health of all
Americans. Below are five tips adapted from MHA and El Vaquero’s staff to alleviate student stress. 1. Stay in the Know It’s important to be aware of due dates, exam times, and locations. That means checking your email, understanding when and where your finals are being
held, and being aware of due dates for final projects. Excuses don’t really fly at this point in the semester, so be aware of where you need to be in the coming two weeks. One way to stay on top of things is to keep a whiteboard listing exam times in your room. Our staff especially enjoys crossing completed items out! Or, utilize a traditional planner
Students Complain About Parking Policing Some feel like campus needs more clarity on how ticketing happens By El Vaquero Staff Some GCC students expressed dismay and annoyance to El Vaquero over the month of November with what they say is selective and unfair ticketing on the part of campus police in Lot C and B. The students, some of whom declined to provide their name but left notes and voice messages, say that parking tickets were left for those parking by backing into spaces. Some also said they had to pay fines over $40 for leaving their official parking passes on the dash of their car as opposed to their rear-view mirror. For the sake of clarity, El Vaquero reached out to the Glendale Community College District Police Department to better understand when and how
tickets are given. “The District has authority to regulate traffic and parking to promote the safe and orderly movement of traffic and parking on its property,” said Gary Montecuollo, campus police chief, in an email interview. “One of those requirements is for persons using the outer Lot B to park his/her vehicle head first into the space.” However, students complained that some received tickets while others did not. Others felt that the policy needed clarification. “I was told by a sergeant at the beginning of this semester that the policy was not enforced, but I was warned by a police cadet as I backed into a space this month that the policy is being enforced,” said Don La Breche. “Another car had already been ticketed. I would estimate that 10 to 20 percent of
drivers back into spaces in the upper lot.” In response, Montecuollo explained that the police enforces traffic and parking “based on the “spirit of the law” versus the “letter of the law.”” That means that “it is possible that on any given day one person may receive a citation for a violation whereas another person may not.” The police department emphasized that this does not negate the parking requirement. To better serve students in understanding where and how they can park, the campus has been working for more clear signs across parking lots. “Over the past year, we have also been replacing older signage with newer and more visible signage to help drivers,” said Montecuollo. Students have the right to appeal parking citations.
Really. You’re allowed. Don’t sleep through your final, but remember to try to get at least seven to eight hours of sleep a night. Evidence shows that sleep helps with test scores and academic performance. Be kind to yourself and get regular rest so that you can have more productive study sessions and do better on your exams overall. 4. Study Breaks Are Key Starting Dec. 4, GCC will be in the full finals mode. You’ll be working on final projects and taking exams. Likely, much of the work will be done in long sittings. Study
breaks are important to helping with anxiety, MHA notes. Don’t procrastinate, but take a break and go to the gym. Watch a favorite episode of “Friends” (something you won’t get sucked into watching as a full-blown marathon). Or take a quick walk. You’ll usually perform better if you incorporate healthy breaks into your study routine. Some of our staff said they enjoy taking a break to clean up and pump up the music in the process. Whatever works! 5. Limit Social Media The black hole in your life is probably social media. Stay social during finals, but limit your social media. You may want to deactivate your social media entirely if you think it will prove to be a burden to you as you study. You can always reactivate later. In some cases, you may want to uninstall apps from your phone that take up too much of your time. If you can manage it, set routine times for when you can be on social media and stick to the window of time allotted. Ultimately, self-care is crucial during the busy period that is finals. Taking certain measures to plan out studying and working on final assignments helps to avoid anxiety later. Remember to sleep, rest, and take care. If you plan accordingly, this too shall pass and you’ll persevere.
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Wildfires Wreak Havoc on California Blazes in two different regions cause billions in damages and at least 90 deaths By Samantha Decker Features Editor Setting a record for the deadliest and most destructive fire in the state’s history the Camp Fire, affecting Butte County in Northern Calif., is responsible for the extensive damage 151,000 acres including almost 14,000 structures, according to Cal Fire. It also has the highest death toll with a 85 of confirmed fatalities and over 203 still missing as of Nov. 27. The fire managed to wipe out the entire town of Paradise, Calif., leaving little to be salvaged. The fire was officially contained on Nov. 25. The Woolsey Fire affected Ventura County, including Malibu, Calabasas and Thousand Oaks. Three deaths have been attributed to the fire. It burned nearly 100,000 of acres and 1,500 structures, some of which were celebrity homes. Similarly to the Camp Fire, it was difficult to control but was fully contained on Nov. 21, several days after the fire started. A few other less serious fires on the outskirts of Los Angeles County are currently being contained. Additionally, two smaller fires broke out in Griffith Park and Hollywood Hills. Luckily, they were much smaller in comparison and were extinguished quickly. Fueled by the dry environment and high wind speed, the fires were able to gain a lot of ground in a very short span of time. Mandatory evacuations were ordered to residents of threatened areas,
instructing them to relocate to a safe area immediately. Escaping with only their lives, many did not have time to pack their essentials or cherished possessions, leaving their homes and its entirety at the mercy of the fire. Due to the difficulty of getting the fires under control, many said goodbye to their homes as they stood, for the last time. Faced with expensive nightly hotel rates and California’s preexisting housing crisis, options for sudden short-term housing are extremely limited for those affected by the fires. Many evacuees took shelter with friends or family, in designated safe houses, or with charities such as Airbnb Open Homes, that relocates people to their uninhabited homes at no cost. Sadly, some had no choice but to build makeshift homes out of tents, leaving them partially exposed to the elements and living without the necessities of running water, sanitary toilets, heat or a way to prep food without lighting a fire. Communities of evacuees in this predicament have joined together to form “Tent Cities” for support, protection, and to pool resources. Most are doing everything they can, to make the best of their situation, while they wait in uncertainty for the potentially life-altering news about their homes, livelihoods and futures. In a dead heat battle, firefighters and fire crews, including those from multiple surrounding states and counties, tirelessly worked
California National Guard / Contributing Photographer
BATTLING FLAMES: Crews battle the fire up in northern California. At least 88 people died in the Camp Fire.
around the clock to lead evacuees to safety, contain the fires, and keep the damage to a minimum. Recent rainfall helped the firefighters contain the blaze, but also poses an additional threat in the form of mudslides. Since the fire has left the vegetation charred and the terrain barren, the ground is more exposed than normal. With nothing to hold the soil in place, dirt and rocks can tumble freely. This puts those on the front lines of the fires at an increased level
of danger as well as cause more structural destruction, delaying the evacuees’ return home. Search and rescue crews have been deployed in the areas where the fires and been extinguished. There mission is to survey the damage and rescue any survivors. The scene has been described as apocalyptic and haunting. Malfunctioning power lines are the suspected cause of the Camp Fire. A number of lawsuits against the PG&E up north and
Southern California Edison in Southern California have already been filed by affected residents citing failure to prevent the disaster by hesitating to send out crews sooner. However, officials have not yet confirmed what initiated the fire. Additionally, the cause of the Woolsey fire is still under investigation and currently remains unknown. Samantha Decker can be reached at Samantha.I.decker13@gmail.com.
Construction Incident Causes Two Injuries One worker was seriously hurt and transported a local hospital By Michael Dumansky Staff Writer
Dylan Anthony Bryant / Staff Photographer
PARAMEDICS RESPOND: Paramedics and fire officials give medical attention to injured workers on Nov. 15.
A trench collapsed on two construction workers who were installing a sewer line on the Verdugo Campus on Nov. 15, causing severe medical injuries in one. At the time of the accident, the crews were installing a sewer line on the Verdugo Campus of Glendale Community College. Glendale Fire and Police Departments responded to the emergency, quickly extracting the workers out of the trench. As a result of the accident, one worker was covered below his waist and appeared to have acquired severe injuries. It took authorities just over 30 minutes to safely remove the man. Paramedics transported the man to the nearest hospital for emergency treatment. Witnesses said that the worker was screaming as he was slowly being pulled out of the trench. The second worker, however, did not suffer from serious damage or pain. He was not transported
to the hospital. Westbound East Mountain Street and the Highway 2 Southbound off-ramp were closed to allow emergency vehicles to get through. Construction was called off for the day, but crews were seen back on campus several days later. Directly after the incident, authorities announced that there would be a full investigation by United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). OCHA is an international organization that with several companies to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. It often leads investigations in such cases. OCHA concluded that there were code violations within the construction site. Another recent construction accident on campus resulted in a gas leak that caused the entire campus to be evacuated and classes to be canceled on Oct. 31.
Michael Dumansky can be reached at mdumans011@student.glendale.edu.
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Young Broadcaster Speaks to Glendale Students Alaysia Navarro of iHeart Radio talks about how to make it in journalism
Dylan Anthony Bryant / Staff Photographer
TALKING RADIO TALK: Alaysia Navarro recounts stories from the life a a female radio personality.
By Samuel Reynolds Marian Sahakyan El Vaquero newspaper, along with GCC’s Journalism and Radio clubs, hosted its annual “Jour-
nalism Day” event on Nov. 19 to showcase local talent and allow members of the community to talk to the journalism department head and students involved with its various initiatives.
Young journalist and broadcaster Alaysia Navarro spoke to students and other attendees about the female experience in the field. “Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something,” she said, urging students to work as hard as they possibly can in a competitive career market. During a Q&A session attended by over 40 students, staff and faculty, Navarro discussed the importance of putting oneself out there. “What’s the worst that can happen?” she said, citing that the risk of rejection isn’t really that much of a problem when one has so much to gain. “You’ll be satisfied if you [take] your chances,” she said. The event was moderated by journalism instructor Rory Cohen, who noted that students who take chances on internships, freelance assignments, and generally “step it up” are the ones who are most successful in the media industry. Navarro graduated from California State University, Northridge, with a Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism. She has found her broadcast home in multiple popular companies, including iHeartRadio and Power 106 FM. She also hosts her own
show, “No Filter with Alaysia Navarro,” on Dash Radio. Speaking to students, she talked about how she’s interviewed individuals like famous rapper Playboi Carti and television personality Kim Kardashian. Navarro went on to accentuate the importance of making a bold move, all the while staying original and true to oneself. In the world of digital communication, Navarro has always chosen to hand deliver her resume to a possible place of employment. This does not only positively impress a potential employer, but also singles out the “more willing” candidate and creates a “face to the name” kind of a deal, she explained. Social media has been a rather important tool in Navarro’s career, as she implemented it in many aspects of promoting and creating cross engagement between her blog and podcasts. She indicated that in this day and age, one can be as successful as they reach out to be. Information is more available than ever, it’s all about creativity and willingness to be successful, she pointed out. Students in attendance were
particularly interested in the connections the broadcaster made. It all started with her own personal drive. “I started going to events and concerts, looking for growing artists,” she said. “I made my own platform. Then I started putting my interviews on Soundcloud.” Possibly the most relatable advice given during the talk with the students, was about professionality in the work environment, and how one can stay motivated on stressful workdays with uncooperative colleagues. “If I feel bad energy, I focus on professionalism,” she explained. “Keep it professional and focus on what you want and what your goals here are.” Navarro said she has been able to deal with daily pressure with a smile and by remembering to take her work seriously. You can catch “No Filter with Alaysia Navarro” on Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. on Dash Radio, or you can hear her interviews on Soundcloud. Samuel Reynolds can be reached at sreynol201@student.glendale.edu. Marian Sahakyan can be reached at manehsahakyan@gmail.com.
Bari Galust - “Kind Coming” Armenian Culture Day, a tradition at Glendale Community College since 1974 By James Ojano-Simonsson Production Manager The Armenian Student Association (ASA) hosted their annual Armenian Culture Day at GCC on Nov. 20. The annual event showcased Armenian music, dance, barbeque, and cultural displays. Serj Arsenian, the president of ASA, organized the event with a team of executives and volunteers from Scholars and Alpha Gamma Sigma, as well as club members. He was especially grateful for Dr. Levon Marashlian, who is ASA’s club advisor, and has spent numerous hours helping in the preservation of the Armenian culture on campus. The latter explained that even
the shifting generation throughout the history of this event, hasn’t impacted the unity of the Armenian people. In fact, it has drawn more foreign interest in the culture. Even though the attendance was less than expected due to Thanksgiving week, Arsenian said he was satisfied with how the event progressed. “I am thankful and blessed for everyone around me for making this event possible,” he expressed. GCC students, staff and faculty enjoyed Armenian barbecue while they watched national folk dance in the quad. During the dance show, groups such as Grand Stage Dance, GCC Dance Club and some ASA members performed, showcasing tradi-
tional choreography. Numerous booths were set up to further display the Armenian heritage. Some featured historical garments and costumes, musical instruments and souvenirs. In addition, posters highlighting the beauty of Armenia were also set up during the event. Those who were interested in learning more about the history of Armenians, could do so simply by walking through a small gallery of visual banners, which explained where the nation came from, and where it is now. Throughout the event, and in small booths, one could sense a strong presence of their national tricolor, and pomegranates-Armenia’s national fruit, which is also a widely used symbol in
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Belinda Oldrati / Contributing Photographer
GCC STUDENTS: Patrick Bagumyan, Alex Gevorkian,Celine Voskanian, and Armen Shahinyan performs Armenian traditonal dance.
artwork, books and souvenirs. “The goal with this event was to not only to gather Armenian students, but to invite other stu-
dents from different cultures to take part,” said Arsenian. James Ojano-Simonsson can be reached at jojanos818@student.glendale.edu.
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100-Plus Years of Hard Work and Pride Glendale Police Department opens its doors to showcase its history
By Lilit Sedrakyan
Staff Writer
The items used by Glendale police officers back in 1910 look considerable different than the ones used today. So did the homemade weapons used by criminals in the ‘50s. These and hundreds of other historical items can be found in the newly opened Glendale Police Museum, located in the lobby of the Glendale Police Department. “We had a lot of items that were in our closets and people had at their homes, a lot of historical items, and it was too bad that we didn’t have a way to display all these items to the public,” said Sgt. Dan Suttles, a police spokesman. “One of our coworkers, Sgt. Teal Metts, decided to try to make this happen, so through our Glendale Police Foundation, they were able to raise money through donations of the citizens, of the businesses associations, [and] they were able to gather all the money they needed to construct the museum.” The museum showcases the history from more than 100 years in the department’s history. Displayed items include badges, a vintage police motorcycle, the very first arrest logbook, a mobile data terminal, weapons, safety equipment, uniforms, and much more interesting and other items that tell stories from the past. “We have hundreds of pieces of historic items here,” Suttles said. “You can come and take a
look at it. I thought I knew a lot about the department that I work for, but I was amazed at many items. Having it here and having it displayed gives us a chance to really learn our own history. And I think that everybody here in Glendale should be interested in history as well. And this is definitely is a part of the history,” Sgt. Dan Suttles explained. The museum also presents how the police officer’s uniform has changed from 1915 to the present. If one wants to know what it feels like behind the bars, a replica jail cell is showcased among displayed items and visitors are welcomed to enter “It goes all the way back when the police department followed shortly after, it’s incorporated in 1906,” Suttles said. “We have at least four sets of uniforms that show you how we progressed over the years to what we are wearing now. We have items that display historical events, such [as] landmark investigations.” The spokesman went on to explain that the museum also has old communication devices, old boots police officers would wear, and other equipment on display that show what police officers would carry with them. The museum is open to the public Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Glendale Police Museum is located at 131 N. Isabel St., in Glendale, Calif. Lilit Sedrakyan / Staff Photographer Lilit Sedrakyan can be reached at lsedrak810@student.glendale.edu.
A CENTURY OF UNIFORMS: The Glendale Police Museum showcases police uniforms through the last 100 years. page design by Hayk Rostomyan
Cheerleading Returns to GCC In Fall 2018, the Cheer and Song team finally made their comeback
FRESH START: GCC’s Cheer & Song team members for 2018.
By Kylie Shannon
Staff Writer
After a decade, cheerleading has made its big return into Glendale College’s athletic roster. GCC’s womens’ sports range from all types, such as basketball,
soccer, softball, volleyball etc. With the different varieties available, it is refreshing to experience what each sport has to offer. In an interview with El Vaquero, Louie Escoto, the head cheer and song team captain discussed the history tied to GCC to begin with. Escoto mentioned that the
Kylie Shannon / Staff Photographer
initial program was canceled over 10 years ago, due to lack of funding, and unfortunately was never brought back until this semester. This fall, however, things changed and students were once again given the opportunity to try out and join the team. The requirements to join are simple,
anyone is eligible as long as they attend GCC. In addition, both males and females are encouraged to join. As for the process, tryouts are held and those who make the cut get placed on the team. Escoto said that they plan on holding tryouts every summer. The time commitments are weekly mandatory practice on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:15 to 6:30. From warm up stretches, to formations, to rehearsing full-on dance routines, co-captains Escoto and Celine Voskanian are there to ensure that everything is run smoothly. The club is centered around a Jazz technique known as “Pirouette,” hence the team being referred to as a Cheer/Song Team. This technique goes far beyond basic motions and involves coordinated leaps and spins. Escoto went on to detail that the club will also place an emphasis on being a song leader, not just a cheerleader. Initially, 23 students signed up for tryouts. Currently, there are only 16 full-time committed
students to the club. This number will increase as the club gains more recognition throughout campus, as of now, the reconstruction of the club is still in the works. The team remains hopeful to perform at future sports events and represent the college at competitions. Currently, GCC’s cheer and song team is only being acknowledged as a “club,” but the captains have high hopes that more people will join in the following semesters. That may lead the college to recognize this club as a class. The cost of being involved is $10, which will also cover pompoms. Their uniforms are vibrant red, gold and white jerseys symbolizing the college’s colors. Escoto and Voskanian are currently rehearsing for football and basketball teams, as well as rallies that the school will hold.
Kylie Shannon can be reached at kshanno124@student.glendale.edu.
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Revive Your Skin in One Week These LUSH products have many benefits “Rudolph”
By Chieko Kubo
Production Assistant Smooth, clean, and invisible pores. It’s the much coveted look every person wants when they look in the mirror. El Vaquero tested products for the perfect skin from LUSH Cosmetics. Here’s what we found. LUSH offers several jelly masks that encourage hydration in your skin. This time, I tried to use two different jelly masks that LUSH recommends for minimizing pores. Hydration and moisturization are possibly the biggest factors of maintaining that “beautiful skin.” Hydration is how much water the skin has, and moisturization is how much it can hold and pack within. The perfectly moisturized skin is “soft and smooth,” according to an article from Viva Woman. Further, skin which has enough hydration is “plump and supple.” The most important thing is a balance, which, for some, is often hard to sustain. Thus, when looking for certain types of skin care products, one needs to understand what their skin lacks the most. LUSH has in-store experts who will help in picking what’s most suitable. Simply indicating one’s skin type and the products they’ve previously used will most definitely help the process. I’ve been using “Rudolph” on the left half of my face and “Just to clarify” on the right half for 1-week. The results are noticeable.
This is a seasonal offer from LUSH. This brown mask has a thick and solid texture. With its amazing chocolate scent, the mask makes one feel like they’re putting actual chocolate on their face. The mask also includes a very small amount of scrub beads, which is hardly noticed by users. Therefore, this is more of a gentle mask, a perfect option for those with sensitive skin. The thick jelly mask is kind of hard to get rid of, so one can wipe the mask off with a soft cloth and later rinse it off, as recommended by a LUSH employee. Rudolph costs $9.95. The effect of Rudolph was it gave my skin a more firm feel than before. It also made my cheek and forehead smooth and plump, even though my forehead had some tiny bumps. However, it did not cleanse my pores as well as I hoped it would. All in all, “Rudolph” is a great option for people with sensitive skin, and those who need extreme hydration. If you’re looking for something that helps remove white or blackheads, you should try the next product. “Just to Clarify” The orange color mask is an all-time best offer from LUSH. If one inquires with a LUSH employee about something that minimizes pores, this jelly mask should be recommended. The mask also smells like orange, so users can feel fresh and fruity when they have the mask on. With
Chieko Kubo / Staff Photographer JUST ABOUT TO “CLARIFY” THE EFFECTS: Affordable jelly masks are available in LUSH stores.
a more gentle texture, this mask contains bigger pieces of scrub beads, which further cleanses the pores. The mask is $13.95. Thanks to “Just to Clarify,” the whiteheads on my nose are now gone. I think the mask would work for cleansing the skin and getting rid of the excess inside pores, making them more visible. However, the grainy texture sometimes hurt my cheek a little. I would say “Just to Clarify” is
quite great for making the nose, or somewhere has clogged pores, clean and smooth. However, you should be more considerate of what areas you use this mask if you have sensitive skin. As they say, beautiful skin is a great representation of a healthy lifestyle. The condition of one’s skin, quite depends on their diet, but it’s also important to think about skincare routine. These masks are especially great for
people who use makeup products often. The correct use of these products from LUSH would benefit everyone. You can get LUSH products at the Glendale Galleria, located at 2148 Glendale Galleria Glendale, 91210. The store can be reached at (818) 637-7831.
Chieko Kubo can be reached at ckubo195@student.glendale.edu.
A Primer of How Christmas Came to Be page design by Hayk Rostomyan
By Carolina Diaz
Web Editor
It’s the beginning of November and you go inside a department store. You quickly realize that all the Halloween decorations have now been replaced with Christmas ornaments and decor. You feel that Christmas is ‘here too early,’ but is there such a thing when it comes to Christmas? Let’s find out! Despite the fact that December is widely known as the month of Christmas, there are many other celebrations that take place during this time. Some celebrate Hanukkah, Boxing Day, or even Kwanzaa. It’s easy to conclude that this is the month of diverse festivities. Christian churches commemorate the birth of Jesus, which is celebrated on Dec. 25 every year. This holiday is known for its festive decorations, gift exchanges and the Christmas tree. Before people started celebrating the birth of Jesus, early
It’s the most wonderful time of the year Europeans honored the light and birth in the darkest days of winter. The Europeans were joyful during the winter solstice, since this meant that the darkest days are over and the longest days with extended hours of sunlight were underway. Scandinavians and the Germans had different ways to celebrate this special month. Saturnalia was the most
popular holiday in the ancient Roman calendar. What is Saturnalia? People often gave gifts and hosted sacrifices to honor the God of Agriculture. The mood was cheerful during this time, as people dressed in
special attire and decorated their homes with wreaths. Schools and courts were closed. This was a time for everyone to celebrate and relax, much more like what we do now, reported history.com. Through the centuries, newer December traditions replaced older ones, but Christmas was one that stuck around and gained popularity all across the world. However, this holiday is not just about presents and Santa Claus. It is also about the birth of Jesus Christ. Historians are not truly sure that Jesus was born on Dec. 25, but Pope Julius I, chose this date for Jesus’s birth. By doing this, the Pope hoped to adapt the same traditions as Saturnalia. Despite Jesus Christ being an important figure, nationwide Santa Claus is more popularly known. According to history.com, it was believed that Santa Claus was born from a monk named St. Nicholas around 280 A.D. However, St. Nicholas was not known as the jolly old guy that gives presents to children. It was
in December 1773 when people in New York heard about St. Nicholas. Newspapers started reporting how Dutch families will gather to honor his death anniversary. Then in 1822, Clement Clarke Moore, a Episcopal minister, wrote a long Christmas poems for his three daughters. His poem is the main reason why we have the image of
our modern day Santa Claus. Moore’s poem talks about how Santa Claus has a miniature sleigh being pulled by eight flying reindeer. Now in modern times, children leave letters to Santa Claus asking for what they desire and leaving cookies and
milk to feed him during his long journey. History tells that Christmas was even ‘cancelled’ once when Oliver Cromwell took over England in the 17th century. It was only after Cromwell was overthrown that people began to celebrate the holiday. Moving to America, Cromwell’s followers failed to celebrate the holiday for many years. On June 26, 1870, Americans made Christmas an official holiday. Peace and love became the main symbols of the holiday. Then on June 26, 1870, Christmas became an official federal holiday in the United States, according to history.com. To some it is a religious holiday and for others it is just an excuse to vacation. However you see it, there is no doubt that this day should be spent with family, as you create your own traditions and memories. Happy holidays from El Vaquero! Carolina Diaz can be reached at itscarodiaz@gmail.com.
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9
Simone Biles Deserves Better
A top athlete whose skill is unprecedented and often overlooked, when she shouldn’t be By Samantha Decker Features Editor
but it takes years to master the execution correctly. Judges have an eagle eye for spotting even the slightest mistake, such as crossed toes or off-timing and don’t hesitate to deduct points. To achieve this, many elite gymnasts commit to 20 to 40 hours per week of rigorous training. This level of sheer dedication carves out a significant portion of the day, causing many to be homeschooled. As a result, these young athletes give up normal childhood activities. The incredibly competitive nature of the sport, encourages aspiring gymnasts and those who exhibit a natural ability to start their careers as young as possible. Gymnastics classes can be started as early as the child’s first steps. Although such classes are very basic, they are valuable because it jumpstarts muscle development, body awareness and teaches the very basics that some people never have the ability to do throughout their lives. The earlier the gymnast starts, their body
Gymnastics is arguably one of the most difficult sports in the world. A combination of exceptional strength, muscle control, as well as grace and artistry make it unlike any other sport. Artistic gymnastics consists of four main events in competition. The floor exercise is probably the most familiar and known for its complex tumbling passes. It consists of a carpet floor marked off by 40-by-40 foot boundaries and supported with springs that help gymnasts launch themselves into the air and soften the landing, but unlike other events, usually there are no mats to further cushion the landing. During a vault rotation, the athletes run full speed towards a stationary vault table, using it to add extra elevation. The balance beam is similar to the floor, but m u c h less forgiving. While the tumbling passes are less difficult b y definition, the four inch width restricts them to a very narrow landing space, requiring hips to stay aligned and perfectly level with the beam. The apparatus is will made up of a hard material and develcovered with suede so while fallop with ing is more likely, it can also be the sport especially painful. A dismount is and will atrequired to finish a routine. tain more Gymnastics is known for its valuable ridgid technique and form that experiadhere to strict rules. In layman’s ence to terms, not only are these skills build difficult, but need to be perfectoff of. ed to official standards. Some Fernando Frazão / Creative Commons people may be able to throw their body TAKING ON RIO: Simone Biles poses during the into the air and flip, 2016 finals of the Olympic Games in Rio.
Simone Biles, an international elite, is widely considered to be the best gymnast that the sport has ever seen. Many even argue she is one of best athletes in history. During the 2016 Olympics, she lead team USA gymnastics to gold in Rio Games. She has racked up a total of 20 world medals, which ties her with the reigning leader, Svetlana Khorkina from Russia. Since her trailblazing career doesn’t seem to be coming to an end any time soon, Biles is predicted to surpass Khorkina’s record. When asked about the current gymnastics competition and standings in a USA Today interview, Nastia Liukin, a five-time Olympic medalist gymnast singled out Biles, stating she doesn’t compare to any other gymnast, past or present. Not only has Biles mastered some of the most difficult skills, she has invented a few of her own. “The Biles,” for example, is a double layout with a half twist at the end. Only one other gymnast has successfully completed this skill. Her second namesake skill, “the Biles ll,” is a vault consisting of a layout with a double twist. Additionally, she has broken several records, with the most recent being obtaining the title of the first U.S. gymnast to be awarded a medal for every event at a single World Championship in October of 2018. All of this was achieved the day after she was diagnosed to have kidney stones. Her condition is the suspected cause of a few unfortunate spills, something of which she rarely does. Biles reach heights of about
Real and Imagined Military video games make some feel like they understand something they never could By Sam Reynolds Staff Writer There’s a certain rush you feel after getting a headshot in a game. The pinpoint accuracy, the flair, especially if you get a killstreak going, it gets you pumped to keep playing and winning. When comparing video games to reality, there is a clear difference between the two. However now with games like Battlefield and Call of Duty, focusing on realism and immersion, it’s important to take a step back and understand what a shooting game can’t replicate from reality. Training A stamp in the video game community is the dreaded tutorial levels, where you’re essentially forced to learn the controls for about 5 to 20 minutes. After that, you can proceed through the game without any instruction. However, this isn’t the case when
joining a military branch, such as the Marine Corps. Boot camp for Marine recruits takes 13 weeks to teach the ethics and basics of handling yourself in combat. After graduation, the new Marines are given an additional month of training if they aren’t enlisted into the Infantry Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). Infantry spends an extra three months learning their respective jobs, before going to their active official duty station. Even after a Marine is done with their basics, everyday of the week is spent working on improving their skills. Logistics In video games, the player is often in control of things like where their position will be and what vehicles they’ll operate. It goes down to the smallest details, like available weapons for use or the appropriate uniform, and of course, what gear to bring. What most games don’t go over is how little control you actually have in
the military, without the proper rank or permission. The military follows rank structures which clearly define who’s in charge of who, along with titles specific to an MOS that gives you more control as well as responsibility. Marine Corps veteran whose MOS was Infantry Machine Gunner, Fernando Coronel, explained how the planning was done before his unit began an operation. Having toured out in Afghanistan as a raid force, Coronel has seen both the logistical and operational parts of entering a combat zone. “Before any raid, we have our intelligence department investigate what raid we’re operating and why we’re operating,” Coronel explained, as he went into detail regarding high value targets and sensitive information recovery. These are both subjects that games often implement, but provide limited preparation for action. “For about four or five days
nine feet with her feet above her head. For perspective, that is a little over double her own height. Although this is not from a standing jump, that is about as high as the NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan who built the iconic Nike brand Jordan, based off his signature long jump slam dunk shot, with the tagline “Fly.” The problem is everyone worships Jordan but Biles has yet to become a true household name. Her “ups” deserve more credit and notoriety than it currently is receiving. Gymnasts make much less money than most other athletes. While there are elites and olympians, there is no such thing as professional gymnast. Any type of income related to the sport is reserved for the olympians, which is almost exclusively in the form of endorsements and not a salary. Since these athletes are usually very young, accepting such deals bars gymnasts from competing at the college level. While they still are offered full ride scholarships to manage teams, the rule still sidelines unretired athletes who are at the very top of their sport. Endorsements help pay for the steep expenses they’ve accrued, but typically are not acquired in other collegiate sports, such as football or basketball. This toxic mindset surrounding women’s sports absolutely has to do with the fact that our culture doesn’t take female athletes as seriously as their male counterparts. If the WNBA and NWSL can’t get the respect and salary they deserve, how are the athletes covered in glitter and hair decorated with bows going to get it? Sexism is a well known setback of the sport to gymnasts, due to its perceived “girly” nature and the fact that most gymnast happen to be female. While Gabby Douglas was breaking records and winning the gold for our country, all
Olympic viewers seemed to do, was criticize her hair, which was just short hair pulled back into a simple ponytail. A more serious side effect of this was demonstrated over the last 20 years, when gymnasts were consistently not believed about sexual assault claims. It wasn’t until recently that the ongoing sexual abuse at the hands of once-esteemed sports physician, Larry Nassar, was finally exposed. Following a confession in 2017, he was convicted for sexually assaulting minors trusted to his care, under the guise of medical treatment. During sentencing, victims were allowed to read impact statements to the court and hundreds showed up to tell their story. Biles, along with other fellow Olympians were among the survivors of Nassar’s abuse. In the aftermath, survivors are still subjected to victim blaming and the sexualization of their sport. Even Biles and her champion status, are not safe from scrutiny. She has been quick to confront not only sexism, but corruption of USAG, head-on. Her most recent endeavor was influencing the resignation of the interim USAG president after she posted a tweet protesting the contraverical Colin Kaepernick Nike endorsement. Biles’s most notable comeback followed the 2016 Olympics games. She deflected a backhanded compliment doled out by reporters, when her accomplishments were compared to fellow male athlete, Usain Bolt, a Jamaican track sprinter Olympic eight-time gold medalist and is widely considered to be the fastest sprinter in history. “I am not the next Usain Bolt, I am the first Simone Biles,” she said.
we’ll do rehearsals, go around our terrain models, or maps, making sure everyone from the highest rank to the lowest is on the same page,” added Coronel. This amount of preparation is absolutely necessary to ensure that the mission is successful and that information is properly used. These drills also include medical evacuations and response to enemy fire. Mission Priority When operating as part of the military, there are rules of engagement that must be followed at all times. One rule in particular says to never fire a weapon unless you’re fired upon first. Another one says to give aid to locals. There are also rules for being under fire, especially when someone needs to be evacuated after sustaining injuries. While ensuring that the wounded receive proper medical attention, those in the line of duty still have to focus on completing their mission. Gerald Desmond, U.S. Army veteran whose MOS was Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), recounted a time when he had to compromise circumstances in order to get his job done. “I was sent to
recover and safely dispose of a rocket that hit base earlier that day,” Desmond said. “I had just dug about a foot into the ground, I heard the alarm going off, which indicated that the base was under another rocket attack.” Being the team leader, Desmond made sure that his fellow soldiers were safely out of range of the attack, until the time of impact. “Once I reported that my team and I were okay, I got back to work and finished recovering the first rocket,” the veteran said. His actions followed protocol for his EOD role. Needless to say, there are many elements of the military that can be easily portrayed in a video game. In addition, the romanticization of combat and warfare are immensely diluted for a better player experience. While these games are more entertainment-focused, military operations are serious matters, which take more than just a few minutes to properly execute. So when playing these kinds of games, consider how much “fun” it’d be to really be a first-person shooter.
Samantha Decker can be reached at sdecker458@student.glendale.edu.
Sam Reynolds can be reached at sam.reynolds313@gmail.com.
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The Caravan Movement of South America Immigrants from Central America walk to California border in hopes of attaining a better life By Eduardo Carreno Staff Writer The current group of caravan migrants who traveled from Central America up through Mexico was among the biggest ones within the last two years. A previous caravan attempted an escape in 2017, where only about 350 migrants traveled to the United States in hopes of asylum while others sought refuge in Mexico. The first wave began on Oct. 12, in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, with only a small group of 160 people. Their main reason for leaving was to escape unemployment, financial instability, and threats of gang violence in their countries. The number of migrants increased to nearly 1,000. The group is estimated to have grown to over 7,000 of which just about 2,300 are children. Rumors have also gone around about potential child abductions, kidnapping, and trafficking at every stop. While waiting to be approved for asylum in Mexico, refugees often encounter some of the worst living conditions. BBC reports that many have had to live in makeshift camps with a lack of clean water and sanitation. During to an interview conducted by USA Today, reporters sat down with Olivin Castellanos, a 58-year-old truck driver from Villanueva, Honduras. Castellanos talked about his journey on a raft through the river to get to Mexico. “No one will stop us, only God,” he told the news agency, after forcefully breaking through the border between Chiapas, Mexico, and Guatemala. “We knocked down the door and we continued walking.” Gang extortion and death threats were just a couple of common reasons why so many chose to leave their homes behind. Christian, who declined to state his last name due to safety issues, was a cellphone repairman in Honduras, but had to withdraw his family from the country, due to gang blackmail. A local Honduran gang charged the man over a fifth of his income to protect his business. Out of fear for the lives of his four young daugh-
LOOKING FOR A NEW BEGINNING: People hoping to seek asylum upon their arrival to Mexico. ters, Christian agreed to pay these hooligans, until he couldn’t anymore. Soon he became unable to provide for the family, so he had to seek a way out. “I want to get to the States to contribute to that country,” Christian said. Despite a lot of humanitarian compassion directed towards the flock of immigrants, there has been a lot of backlash and resistance from both the United States and Mexico. President Donald Trump has deployed over 5,000 troops, stationing them along the Mexican border near San Diego. The reason behind this is to make sure that no illegal immigrants are entering the United States. Secretary of Defense James Mattis has also visited numerous locations along the border to patrol the situation. “Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador were not able to do the job of stopping people from leaving their country and coming illegally to the U.S.,” the president tweeted on Oct. 22. “We will now be cutting off, or substantially reducing, the massive foreign aid
routinely given to them.” The rhetoric in Mexico isn’t that different. Mexican citizens have held numerous rallies in various cities and demand these migrants to leave their homeland. Neighbors in Tijuana are worried that things will get out of control between border patrol officials and migrants of the caravan. “We don’t want to wait to see something happen,” said Aron in an interview with Univision. The man is a current resident of Tijuana and is concerned with the safety of his city during this crucial migration wave passing through Mexico. In the process of moving for a change, it seems that the world is looking at the migrant caravan in a positive light, but what is rather surprising is the response of fellow Latinos. Many think that during this long journey, the group has negatively swayed how the world views the Latino community. In spite of all the help these travelers are receiving in Mexico, they are showing a sense of entitlement. All residing citizens in
Mexico are revolting and denying many of these migrants shelter, food, and toiletries. El Milenio, a Mexican broadcast station, interviewed several concerned Mexico City residents as the caravan moved through the capital. “We want them out of our cities, our homes, and our restaurants,” said a woman in a disturbed manner. “They have caused a major mess and now we want them out.” However, despite the concerns of these citizens, the Mexican government has come up with a plan and resources to better serve those asking for refuge. Those who choose to will receive temporary work permits, identification cards, medical care, schooling for their children, and housing in local hostels. Regardless of the efforts put forth by the Mexican government, many of these migrants deviate from using these resources. As of Nov. 26, the number of migrants to have reached the U.S.-Mexico border has remained the same. What has changed, though, is the level of tension at
Daniel Arauz / Creative Commons
the border. As migrants refused to leave the front, American troops have initiated a call to action by incorporating lethal force. Ninety-eight migrants are being deported because of their attempts to cross the border without permission. As a result, rubber bullets and tear gas have been shot at the crowds. In addition, President Trump threatened to permanently close the southern border of the country. Until further notice, nobody is allowed to leave or enter the United States through Mexican ports of entry. Essentially, the effort to enter the United States in such a way can be considered valiant, as the president has already announced his decision of not giving sanction or asylum to any of the migrants in the caravan. Yet again, this has caused a big divide in the country, leaving many concerned about the future of these migrants, who seemingly have nowhere to go. At this point, the outcome is unpredictable. Eduardo Carreno can be reached at ecarren860@student.glendale.edu.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Can the Great Stock Market Bull Keep Running? As of this writing, we are still in the midst of one of the longest bull runs in the stock market, or a steady continual rise in equity prices. Wall Street, recovering from the massive 2008 hit, continues to pull forward with optimism and a side of help from politics. Not mentioning politics in the stock market is impossible, because many can credit this historical achievement to the election of the current president, that continued a regular “bull” to the most “bullish” market ever seen. Investors, coupled with confidence and hope of a business-
man president, have shown it in accelerated stocks gains since the 2016 election day. But can this bull market, over nine years old, continue at this pace with the current economic and geopolitical forces clouding? Investors, have shown concern with 10 percent drops in major indexes in a span of few days back in February when President Trump announced Chinese import tariffs. A fear rises that tariffs would cut into profits of invested companies, naturally pulled out their winnings — dragging the market lower. Fears hit again last month, with the addition of a hawkish Federal Reserve Bank, raising interest rates, making it more expensive to buy stock with a loan, therefore government bonds are becoming more attractive to buy. The Fed is right, the raising rates can ease or cool an overheated economy that might otherwise cause a 1929-
like crash. Companies responsible for bull market, mostly the tech sector like Amazon and Netflix, sank terribly in this awful “bear” month of October. Microprocessor companies like AMD, Micron and Nvidia, which are indicators of major tech stocks, crashed alongside, questioning the continual growth that these tech companies are known for. For now, it seems the market might be turning this massive nine year growth. All in all, it can be a long overdue correction (slight downturn to offset highly accelerated gains). No one knows for certain. If a Chinese-American tariff deal can go through, and if the Fed becomes more dovish, the stock market can see continual gains. For now the future is unknown for the market, and seeing a continual rise seems harder and harder everyday. Areg Jangozian GCC Student
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More Than Just A Game Volleyball team leader explains her love for the sport and plans for the future page design by Hayk Rostomyan
By Michael Dumansky Staff Writer In Volleyball, it takes a team effort to receive each individual point and each individual set. Each player on the court communicates with each person their team to ensure dominance throughout the match. A team’s success couldn’t come without a leader; a person who can bring a team together through ups and downs and put forth the most energy on the court. The girls on the Glendale Community College Women’s Volleyball team would say that starting setter and allconference player Caleigh Panzarini is the team leader. Panzarini, a sophomore at GCC, wasn’t recruited to play volleyball. She originally came here to play basketball, but somehow ended up on the volleyball court. After months of playing, she began to sustain knee injuries and feared that playing basketball would lead to more problems for her. “I originally came here to play basketball and after suffering from really bad knee injuries I started going to the trainers and I met coach [Yvette] Ybarra and I went to a practice and ended up enjoying volleyball more,” said Panzarini when asked what brought her to GCC. It didn’t take long for Panzarini to decide volleyball was her true passion. As her commitments grew bigger with the sport, early practices and late
games made her schoolwork a harder task for her. That wasn’t all. Her daily commute to school is a 37 miles round trip, but the young athlete has been motivated to maintain her 3.6 GPA. With this commitment to volleyball and school, she still takes advantage of her weekends to the best of her abilities. “I utilize my weekends for doing homework and catching up throughout the week,” Panzarini explained on how she manages school, sports, and a rough commute. For her, Sunday is
her “only real day off,” which means she has to juggle a lot of responsibilities in a limited amount of time. “I go straight from school to work, so I bring my clothes and by the time I get home, it’s 10 p.m. and that’s when I do most of my homework as well.” Panzarini explained that life at home hasn’t been best, and a family issue has put a toll on her emotionally and physically. She does not let this phase her though as she has the sport of volleyball as an avenue to escape from her hardships off the court.
“When you have a lot going on and you come here to play, it puts you in a better headspace to conquer everything else you have to do,” explained the volleyball player when she was asked if she uses the sport as an escape from other facets of her life. With this anger and frustration built up in her she is able to release it all on the court. “Sometimes I’ll go into practice having a really bad day and I’ll be like, I’m not really in the mood to do this but as soon as I get going and have a couple
Dylan Anthony Bryant / Staff Photographer
HOPEFUL SMILES: Volleyball player Caleigh Panzarini talks about her goals.
laughs with my teammates it makes everything better,” said Panazrini when asked how she’s able to get through hard times during practices and games. Playing with the team during practices and games does create challenges for the team captain. Currently, the team only has six players on it’s active roster. With accordance to the rules of volleyball, you are only allowed to have six players on the court at all times. This puts the pressure for the coach and the team to perform at their highest level for the entire game. “I think the only challenge that it creates is during practice,” said the athlete when asked about the challenge of only having six players on a team. “It’s harder to run drills and practice does take a lot longer because we have to do more drills rather than scrimmaging each other to make us better.” For games, however, it doesn’t present much challenges, she said. As the season winds down, Panzarini’s career will end as well. She plans on ending her volleyball career at GCC, and hopes to continue her education at UC Irvine and majoring in early childhood education. Ultimately, she said being part of the team has been one of her best decisions and expressed gratitude for the opportunity. Michael Dumansky can be reached at mdumansky@charter.net.
Vaqs Baseball Finish The Fall Their first win in six years against alumni
By Kevin Holcomb Staff Writer The Vaquero baseball team finished the fall season, defeating their predecessors 9-4 in Glendale’s annual alumni game. The alumni game is one full of tradition and comradery, as the elder Vaqueros compete against a program they will always be a part of. This is a big game every year— a day full of excitement, emotion, and good baseball. The current team has not won against the alumni in six years. Every year, guys return to not only play, but to give back to their college. To further show support to their beloved program and college, year after year long time Vaqs donate hundreds of dollars, making this a fundraising event. Although the donations make up only a small fraction of what the program requires to function, players greatly benefit from the help. El Vaquero reporter and baseball player, Kevin Holcomb spoke to individuals who can see the alumni game in its entirety year after year. “The Alumni game really demonstrates our tagline that started over 30 years ago. Once a
VAQ, Always a VAQ,” said Chris Cicuto, associate dean of athletics and previous head coach. “It’s pretty impressive to see players like Mike Herman and Vice Luculano from the late nineties come back and be a part of it.” He then proceeded to express his appreciation for the alumni, who returned to play a game of baseball against their newer competitors. “It’s great to see past Vaqueros return to their old stomping grounds to give back to a program that has obviously had a tremendous impact on their lives,” Cicuto added. The former baseball head coach also spoke about the pride he holds to have had such a great turnout at the event. “To see the current and past players interact, really demonstrates the family culture that GCC has fostered,” he smiled. “Watching the eras interact, seeing the relationships that have been built in our program that will last a lifetime that makes it so special to me.” Despite their common interests and love for baseball, many of the alumni who came back to play their Vaquero ‘descendants,’ currently hold positions in different career fields. Some own small businesses, others are
members of law enforcement, or work in the entertainment field, and some are even professional athletes. To say that so many people from different walks of life have gathered to honor where they came from, is a pretty special occurrence. “There is nothing better than having the opportunity for our guys to rub shoulders with our alumni and realize tremendous success after their time at Glendale,” said Alex Kocol, head coach. “There is nothing better
than Alumni Day when they come back and remind us why athletics are such an important part of our college.” Alumni Day also marks the last day of the new team’s fall season every year. Season is two months away and the team has now gone through three months of training and competing together. Having inherited an impactful program from talented alumni, current and future baseball teams have a great foundation, and must keep up with great expectations set up
before them. The spring journey now begins, as the new group hunts for a state championship. An accomplishment that will one day be felt by all of those who have impacted the incredible program. Thank you to all alumni and faculty who contributed to the alumni game. Follow Vaqs Baseball in next semester’s El Vaquero sports section. Kevin Holcomb can be reached at kholcomb129@gmail.com.
Elise / Criative Commons
THE END OF THE SEASON: The fall season ends, but Vaqs have been preparing for the spring.
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El Vaquero Basketball Highlights
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL By Dylan A. Bryant Staff Writer Coming off of a respectable 16-10 record in the previous season and maybe not feeling 100 percent satisfied, the Glendale Community College women’s basketball team is going into this season, fired up. Already getting off to a hot 5-1 start this season and winning three games in a row, the team looks to continue the momentum into their Nov. 29 matchup against Irvine Valley College who have played just as well as any team out there (starting their season 2-1). With five returning players for lady Vaqs this season, the women’s team is looking to use their depth and veteran presence to find success early and keep it rolling as the season progresses. In one of their previous matchups against Oxnard, the girls clarified their game plan, by having four out of the five returning players in the starting lineup. Those starters were guard Cheyenne Jankulovski (3), forward Sylvia Vartazarian (5), guard Melissa Sandoval (13) and forward Marlene Salazar (20). In the first half, each possession was very methodical and precise. It was evident what the Vaqs wanted to do with the ball, from calling out plays and running a lot of great screens and picks; very sound basketball. As the second half began, the
team really came alive, scoring 38 points and getting everyone involved throughout the game. Jankulovski (3), along with Esmeralda Perez (1) and Penelopi Trieu (12) all shared the workload at the point guard position. The girl vaqueros have a lot of weapons on offense and seemed to get almost everyone involved. Whether it was a three-pointer by Natalie Martirous (11), a lay-up off a fast break by Tess OakleyStilson (14), or Sandoval’s aggressive play by constantly attacking the rim; every aspect of the offense worked that afternoon. Anyone who has had the opportunity to watch the women’s team can see that they know how to play. Look for this squad to attack teams in the first half and finish them early in the second. Regardless if it is with their starters or the countless rotational pieces, they have sitting in their back pocket. This unit showed no signs of slowing down throughout the course of the game, and the same should be said for the rest of the season. Keep your eyes peeled for the lady Vaqs to have the foot on the gas for the rest of the year, forecast showing an exciting and successful season.
Dylan A. Bryant can be reached at dylanbryant97@gmail.com.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
By Michael Dumansky Staff Writer Looking back at last season, Glendale Community College’s men’s basketball team had its ups and downs. With not much depth last season, the record for the Vaqs was just below .500, with 13 wins and 14 losses. This year, the Vaqueros are looking to make a quick turnaround and the team can do just that. The team’s depth this year suits well for coach Vigen Jilizian as he evenly divides the playing time for a number of this season’s players. With only one returning basketballer from last season, the team is heavily dominated by freshman and sophomore transfers from other junior colleges. Coach Vigen will be relying on those young players to win upcoming games. “We’re a young team, so right now our expectations are to just to get better each and every practice. We also want to improve and get the guys to learn how to play with each other,” said Jilizian. “We try to teach them our brand of basketball, which is to play unselfish, move the ball around. Our hope is to be playing our best basketball once conference starts.” Some of the names to keep an eye on this season include, sophomore transfer
Isaac Etter (6 feet 1 inch), sophomore transfer Andre Banton (5 feet 9 inches), sophomore transfer Eric Ting and returning sophomore Steven Hubbell (6 feet). These players look to control the pace for the Vaqs this season. With the majority of the players averaging a height of about 6 feet, coach Jilizian’s team will be looking to spread the floor and find the open man to knockdown open shots. His offensive mindset is put in for this team’s style of play. This offense is also predicated on guys being able to knockdown the open shot. “We’ve done that, but not at a consistent level,” explained the coach. The team can control their destiny this season starting with non-conference play. Getting quality wins in that part of the season is just as important as conference games. This will propel the team of making a push into the beloved postseason that the Vaqs so desperately covet.
Photos by Dylan A. Bryant Michael Dumansky can be reached at mdumansky1@chater.com.
Homage to The Fall 2018 Glendale College Sports Photogtagraphy by Jenilee Borek Dylan A. Bryant Tyler Greene
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HIP-HOP AND POLITICS Hip-Hop’s Influential Contributions to Important Matters
By Selena Reyes Staff Writer Black Power evoked a revolutionary movement that emphasized racial pride, economic empowerment, and the creation of political and cultural institutions. The movement consisted of a rise in the demand for black history courses, acceptance of African culture, and an escalation of raw artistic expression that represented realities of African Americans. Without the Black Power movement and the election of President Ronald Reagan in the ‘80s, it is difficult to imagine what the world of hip-hop would look like today. Political hip-hop created a new form of social expression for voices that were silenced for decades. Sugar Hill Records released the first overtly political and successful track July 1st, 1982. “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five described the struggles of inner city poverty. The record opened doors for the subgenre and the artist that followed the movement. Yet the most influential and controversial rap group of the ‘80s, Public Enemy, not only ran with the idea, but also reconstructed how the artform would be perceived for generations to come. After their 1988 album, “It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back,” the group reached unimaginable levels of success and validated they were a true reflection of the streets. Group leader, Chuck D, once claimed that rap was “The Black CNN,” stating that rappers told the stories of what was actually happening in the inner city, in a way that mainstream media could never do. Their lyrics and interviews remained controversial throughout the existence of the group. The most controversial member, Professor Griff, once made anti-Semitic remarks on stage, saying Jews were responsible for “the majority of the wickedness that goes on across the globe.” Griff was eventually let go from the group, but later returned, taking advantage of his homecoming to give one last interview, where he attacked Chuck D and Public Enemy. PE’s loud and confrontational reputation helped rekindle the movement against social and political complacency in the black community and the adjacent society. Within the same era, political and conscious rap music from artist Ice T, Ice Cube, and the groups N.W.A. and A Tribe Called Quest trickled in to address the worsening conditions of their inner city realities. During the late summer of 1988, protesters and rioters around the world including those in Los Angeles, Baltimore, and Ferguson supported the release of N.W.A’s single “F*ck tha Police.” The song takes the form of a
trial against the LAPD. Members Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, and MC Ren all take the roles of a Judge, Witness, and Court Officer. The song’s malicious lyrics, “So police think they have the authority to kill a minority ... it’s gonna be a bloodbath of cops dying in LA,” stirred so much turmoil, that conservative religious organizations such as Focus on the Family got involved. They convinced Milt Ahlerich, then the FBI assistant director, to send a letter to N.W.A.’s record company. The letter was so influential that it now resides at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. “Advocating violence and assault is wrong, and we in the law enforcement community take exception to such action,” the letter reads. “Law enforcement officers dedicated their lives to the protection of our citizens, and recordings such as the one from N.W.A. are both discouraging and degrading to these brave, dedicated officers.” That same year, an Australian radio station, Triple J, took a risk and played the song on air for six months, until it was banned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation management following a campaign by a South Australian Liberal senator. The radio staff responded by going on strike and played N.W.A’s “Express Yourself” continuously for 24 hours, an estimated 360 times in a row. Not surprisingly, the record label used the incident to generate publicity for the album. Straight Outta Compton went on and sold over two million copies, with virtually zero air play of the singles it was composed of. Eazy-E once asked MC Ren, “Why do you think the fans like us? Why they prefer our street raps over all that phony stuff out there?” He promptly answered his own question: “Because we’re telling the real story of what it’s like living in places like Compton. We’re giving them reality. We’re like reporters. We give them the truth.” Eazy-E felt people in his neighborhood believed a vast amount of lies to the point the truth stood out like a sore thumb. He often visited correctional facilities and spoke to children as young as 12-years-old who were detained for car robberies and similar crimes in hopes to help them escape their fixed mindset. The ‘90s opened up a new chapter in the world of music and urban poverty. New artists included Dead Prez, KRS-One, Mos Def, Wu-Tang Clan, Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, Nas, Lauryn Hill, Jedi Mind Tricks and Atmosphere. KRS-One released “Sound of the Police” in 1993. This song best captured the anger directed towards the police within America, while it adequately explained the origin of their troubles. Tupac Shakur’s second album, “Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.,” was released the same year. Its top track, “Keep Ya Head Up,”
STRAIGHT OUT OF CONFLICT: The voice that changed Raps message forever.
was described by many as a feminist anthem, with references to pro-choice politics. Pac was easily one of the most influential young black men in the country. Before his death, the artist was working on his fifth album, “The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory.” The album was released two months after his death, inspiring the next generation of rappers. The 2000’s shined the light on artists Ab-soul, Immortal Technique, Lupe Fiasco, J.Cole, B.O.B, Eminem and Nipsey Hussle. “Impeach the President” by Immortal Technique, Saigon, and Dead Prez hit former President George W. Bush, calling him out for what the artists said was damage he was making to the country by “Politicizing religion ... taking welfare cheques, giving us diseases and then collecting health care debts.” Lupe Fiasco, a Chicago-bred rapper, did not hold back in his lyrics when speaking on war, religion, politics, and even the ‘rap game’ itself. In “Words I Never Said,” Fiasco expressed his feelings about the Middle East and 9/11. Fiasco also heavily expressed his antiObama attitude throughout the entirety of his career. Fiasco was undoubtedly a lyrical genius. In 2012, his track “Failure” held the record for the most triple entendres in one song. Unfortunately, like Professor Griff, his career ended after a tweetstorm doubling down on anti-semitic lyrics. Ultimately, he wrote: “I get the hint God. Yo Lupe fans it’s been fun and I hope you’ve had fun. I’m officially not releasing anymore music. Albums cancelled.” In recent years Dizzy Wright, Kendrick Lamar, Hopsin, Chance the Rapper, Kanye West, Jay-Z and Joey Bada$$ have all created enough controversy to write novels. Many may argue Jay-Z is the social critic of today’s generation, but for decades, Jay has been reciting lyrics on society’s disconnect with government.
Like Pac, Jay-Z has inspired new and old artist to keep the subgenre alive. In 2011, hip-hop veteran Talib Kweli released “Papers Please,” which voiced his opposition to Arizona’s new immigration law. The song was the third hip-hop song in a span of two years directed towards Arizona. It followed Toki Wright’s “By the Time I Get to Arizona” and Chuck D’s “Tear Down That Wall.” The cynosure of modern day political hip-hop is steered towards the “woke movement,” a term used to encourage skepticism in various forms of political engagement. Last October, Eminem, in a denotative four minute freestyle rap titled “The Storm,” called out President Donald Trump in a BET Hip Hop Awards cypher. “We better give Obama props ‘cause what we got in office now is a kamikaze that will probably cause a nuclear holocaust while the drama pops.” With his middle finger in the air, the rapper made it clear to his fans that he was against President Trump when he said, “And any fan of mine who’s a supporter of his, I’m drawing in the sand a line, you’re either for or against, and if you can’t decide who you like more and you’re split on who you should stand beside, I’ll do it for it for you with this. F--- you.” It is to no surprise former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, rappers J.Cole, and Sean “Diddy” Combs were spotted praising the freestyle on social media. Whether a white rapper had the ethical right to point out modern day racism became a controversial topic among the audience. In addition, this freestyle was not the first attack Eminem had on the president. His nine-minute freestyle named “Campaign Speech” was fittingly dropped Oct. 19, 2016, the day of the third presidential debate. The lyrics also mentioned Dylann Roof, Trayvon Martin and Edward Norton. He was later featured in Big Sean’s “No Fa-
Selena Reyes / Staff Illustrator
vors,” where the rapper also expressed his concerns. Well before his 2016 election, President Trump had been a focal point for new political hip-hop tracks. A large number of artists have contributed to anti-Trump lyrics in a variety of songs since. These artist include The Game, Waka Flocka, Rick Ross, John Legend, YG, G-Eazy, Macklemore, Nipsey Hussle, TI, Anderson .Paak, A$AP Ferg, Ty Dolla $ign, Juicy J, Jeezy, Diddy, Will.i.am, Emilio Rojas, Common, Anime, Bilal, A Tribe Called Quest, Joey Bada$$ and Wale. Still, Kendrick Lamar and J.Cole currently hold the crown amongst millennials. Both artist have successfully used their platforms to inject social and political consciousness back into a generation and genre that lack direction and motivation. Kendrick Lamar believes America has brainwashed citizens to the point they are mentally enslaved to the thought process of dying in pursuit of materialistic items. He has also claims that eventually this thought process will backfire by destroying the influence of artists and unravel all the proper steps made in recent history for a better future by black America. With that said, it is fair to conclude that various styles of rap have contributed to copious social and political movements. During the past four decades, rap became a form of expression, a key which opened doors to numerous misunderstood, devalued and ignored communities throughout America. Selena Reyes can be reached at sreyes401@student.glendale.edu
Check out some of the tracks by scanning the QR code!
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A Superb Weekend in San Diego An enticing brunch, stunning sunset, and a worthwhile experience overall By Chieko Kubo Production Assistant Long weekends always call for a getaway. Three days off is just enough time to adventure in a new city. San Diego is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in So. Cal, and boasts breathtaking museums and vibrant neighborhoods, such as Little Italy. It is also a perfect destination for a weekend getaway. Wake Up, Then Snooze The best way to explore? Wake up early in the morning. Have a stretch or perhaps a jog to appreciate the views of the city. After that, pop into Snooze: an A.M. Eatery for a fancy and tasty brunch. It is highly recommended to make a reservation via Yelp before going, as the lines tend to
stretch longer than an hour due to its popularity. If you’re sharing food and visiting with companions, you may want to order different kinds of plates: savory and sweet ones. One favorite dish at Snooze is the Chile Verde Benny, a kind of Mexican-style eggs benedict. It comes with a house hash brown and a little bit of spicy chili sauce made from diced tomatoes. It’s surprisingly a perfect match with eggs benedict. That would be a new taste for sightseers. OMG! French toast is one of the most appealing and popular meals at Snooze. A specialty cream is layered in between lightly browned slices of French toast and is decorated with fresh strawberries. This is sure to please one’s eyes and taste buds. Snooze: an A.M. Eatery is located at 3940 Fifth Ave. San Diego, 92103 and can be reached at (619) 500-3344.
Stroll at Balboa Park and Have Some Dessert Walk off that food by exploring Balboa Park. It’s a magnificent 1,200-acre urban cultural park that also houses the San Diego Zoo, museums like the San Diego Air and Space Museum and the San Diego Museum of Art, and beautiful structures. There’s much for the curious visitor to see, but keep in mind that it is an enormous park to walk through in only one day. All that walking is sure to make you hungry. So why not have some “extraordinary” desserts? Drop by Extraordinary Desserts right next to the park. They offer adorable cakes, puddings, and tarts. They’re so cute to look at that you may hesitate to poke them with a fork. The cafe also opens at night as a bar-restaurant. They have a big variety of wine and beer on their menu.
Chieko Kubo / Staff Photographer
RIGHT BEFORE THE SUN’S SETTING: La Jolla is one of the best place to enjoy nice views.
Chieko Kubo / Staff Photographer
WALKING THROUGH THE PATH: Centennial Park has a wonderful night view of city lights.
Extraordinary Desserts is located at 2929 Fifth Ave. San Diego, 92103, and can be reached at (619) 294-2132. Take In the Sunset and a Lamp-Studded Street The next activity one must not miss is watching the sunset in San Diego. La Jolla is a great beach from where to watch the ocean as the sun starts to set. During the right seasons, or the right warm day, you can also work on your tan, swim in the ocean, watch wild seals and sea lions in the shorelines, and spend the whole day at the beach. La Jolla is perhaps one of California’s most photographed beaches, so get on Instagram and share the sights! Another famous sightseeing
spot is the Gaslamp Quarter. At night, fancy lamps brighten up the street and many people gather around there to have dinner or go to a bar. Just walking through the street is fun, but you can stop by interesting, well-rated restaurants. If somebody comes to the city with their partner, this area can also be quite romantic. Centennial Park has a small beach and several nice restaurants. The view of lit buildings on the other side is marvelous. Even though it’s a three-hour drive from Los Angeles, there is a lot of discovering and fun to be had in San Diego.
Chieko Kubo can be reached at ckubo195@student.glendale.edu.
The Greatest Flea Market on the West Coast Vintage lovers converge at the Rose Bowl By Eisho Shiroma Staff Writer What kind of event makes you most excited? There’s one you ought to check out, held every second Sunday of each month! The Rose Bowl Flea Market takes place at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, attracting vintage treasure hunters from all over the country. The market is celebrating its 45 years of continued success. Each month, over 20,000 buyers, including celebrities and interior designers, flock the market to shop from more than 2,500 vendors. The flea market is full of antiques, clothes, art and unique vintage pieces. Sellers believe that using things for a long time is eco-friendly and gives better use to once forgotten items. To enter, one needs to purchase an admission ticket. Prices vary, depending the time of entrance. If you go between 5 a.m. to 7 a.m., the tickets cost $20 per person. Between 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. the
tickets are $15. If you enter the area from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. you pay $12. The cheapest tickets are sold after 9 a.m. for $9 per person. Children under 12 are admitted free with an adult. If you buy the ticket online, you can avoid lining up at the ticket booth. Food and beverages, such as hamburgers, pizza, hot dogs, tacos, sodas, coffee, fruit, drinks, and beer are available for sale at the market. Prices range between $1.50 to $9.00. All food sales are restricted to Sodexo, which is the licensed food contractor for this venue. Find some good deals! Happy hunting! Here are some tips to make your experience at the Rose Bowl Flea Market a success.
jcwpdx / Criative Commons
THE ROSE BOWL STADIUM: This is the most icomic flea market in Los Angeles, and you can find some vintage treasures.
Cash is King You can’t use credit cards at this flea market. ATMs are available, but the lines get long. Therefore, it is better to decide how much you will spend there, and get that cash ready.
Dress to Walk
Navigating the Market
It is good to wear comfortable shoes to walk in, because the place is big. If it’s summer, you may need a hat and sunscreen to prevent from sun damage. Also, you may get thirsty, so bring water.
Merchandise is arranged by type. Take the color map at the entrance to shop aroumd the areas that interest you the most. The orange area, for example, has antiques, while white particularly focuses on vintage clothing. Blue
and pink have new merchandise, and apricot has all types of products. Getting the Good Stuff It is important to decide what you are here for, and what you’re looking for so that you can have a more productive time at the market. Come up with a game plan, so that you can find items you’re looking for. It is worth buying the early admission ticket and entering the park between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. at $15, because many buyers from all over the country,
come to get vintage treasures. Desired items sell out quickly. Dealers are willing to haggle all day, but you’ll probably get the best deals from 3 to 4:30 in the afternoon. That’s when the box office is closed and the sellers are doing everything to close final deals for the day, as the get ready to to leave for the week. The Rose Bowl Stadium is located at 1001 Rose Bowl Dr, Pasadena, CA 91103.
Eisho Shiroma can be reached at eshirom011@student.glendale.edu. page design by Chieko Kubo
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Country Road, Take Me Away from This After a careful review, we give Bethesda’s first attempt at an online game a thumbs down
By Hayk Martirosyan & Alin Pasokian Fallout 76 is Bethesda’s first attempt at creating an online game. It came out of its beta on Nov. 14 and has been met with mixed reception. Early complaints regarding the game have already taken center stage, focusing on the lack of modifications available and no plot lines. This controversy about its quality is rumored to impact sales. The game, moreover, retails at just around $60 and can be purchased at any major retailer. For the first time in the 11 years of its existence, Fallout is going to be online, allowing for multiple players to compete for the wasteland, building forts and bases, establishing alliances, and hunting each other down for resources. To accommodate the player size, the map of Fallout 76 is reportedly four times as big as the map of Fallout 4. The game is set within a postnuclear war world where a group of people sought shelter within vaults during the war and came out into the wasteland as a result of it. The player takes the role of one of these “vault dwellers” as they explore post-apocalyptic West Virginia. In the game, the player will have to contend against mutated animals, zombified humans, and haywire ro-
bots. However, the greatest threat will stem from other players. This is a confusing direction for the franchise to take. Since 1997, when Fallout was released, the franchise prided itself on its meticulous ability to replicate its tabletop role-playing roots. The abundance of customization provided throughout the games allowed for players to create characters that were peace-loving negotiators, absolute idiots, or the single luckiest people alive. All of this character creation would then feed into a story of choices and consequences, w h e r e players w o u l d have to make difficult moral choices, ally with various factions, and determine what kind of morality they will uphold in a world free of it. All of these elements are lost in Fallout 76 primarily for one reason, which is that online games cannot have the involved story of a single-player campaign. No matter what, it is very hard to get involved in the emotional story of a man who lost his family to radiation poisoning, while a random player is committing unspeakable acts on Mothman, a new creature introduced in Fallout 76. A story, especially one based on role-play-
ing, requires immersion, which happens to be the last thing one will get from a multiplayer game. Bethesda’s solution to this issue is to take a hatchet to the story. There is no story in Fallout 76. What
the advertisements refer to as a “story” is a bunch of audio tapes and documents scattered throughout the map that share small snippets of history and lore about the denizens of this world. The problem is that one doesn’t play a game to read pages of lore or try to listen to audio diaries. These kinds of narrative devices
work great to provide details and fill in gaps, but they do not substitute a fully fledged narrative, which is what has gained Fallout its well-known presence. This doesn’t even include that as the first online venture by Bethesda, Fallout 76 is rife with issues. Simple visual glitches and T-posing enemies aside, the game has an unreliable connection in its beta, so no one dares to imagine how terrible the released product will be. Changes were also made to the “V.A.T.S.” and “Perks” systems. The former, which in prior games would halt or slow down time and allow players to target specific body parts of the enemy, was replaced with an auto-target button since one cannot stop time during an online match. The latter system was replaced with a new “Cards” system. Instead of the traditional method, whereupon leveling up, a player chooses a new perk, in Fallout 76 players are now limited to a few perks represented by cards. These cards can be traded between players, sold, or bought. The change was obviously done for the sake of balancing, as one cannot have a player accumulate all of the perks and overpower the rest of the server.
page design by Hayk Rostomyan
While these changes may hint that Bethesda knows what it’s doing, this is simply not so. The game is riddled with the trademark Bethesda bugs. Physics are linked to the frame rate of the game, allowing faster computers to break the physics engine. Altering the field of view from the default further alters the player’s in-game movement speed, a factor that could break a game in a multiplayer, first-person shooter. Every online game has to deal with hackers and cheaters at some point, but it appears that Fallout 76 has been created with its own built-in hacks for people to abuse during online play. Fans agree that the game is less than satisfactory. People have voiced their dislike for the game. In the wake of the much more traditional Fallout: Miami, which is a modification for Fallout 4, Fallout 76 seems to be dead on arrival. The worst case would be a world where Fallout 76 is indeed a good game, a world where Bethesda does make a lot of money on this venture and transforms a beloved, story-focused game into a battle royale nonsense for all eternity. It all will be seen in the fallout of this game’s failure.
Hayk Martirosyan can be reached at haykm212@gmail.com. Alin Pasokhian can be reached at pasokhian@gmail.com.
A Timely New Play: Pagan Century Show support for GCC thespians by catching the show in Hollywood this week By Yesenia Thomson Copy Editor Change is constant. Progressing leaps and bounds is natural for humans, especially during young adulthood. This is why many of us wouldn’t hesitate to say “no” when asked the question, “Are you the same person you were in high school?” This is one of the themes presented in “Pagan Century,” an original play written and produced by Jeremiah Munsey, an active member of the Glendale College theater community. Munsey has been working at GCC since the fall of 2015. He attended the same college as theater department chair Jeanette Far. The two met through mutual friends, and Munsey soon began managing the theatre house and teaching at an adjunct capacity. During his career at the college, Munsey has impacted his fair share of students, introducing them to the ins and outs of drama. Among those he’s influenced are theatre majors Amanda Reynoso and Josh Adam, who helped with bringing Munsey’s latest work to life. With the goal of giving his
students more of a professional experience in mind, Munsey created an environment where students can flourish. Reynoso and Adam, both attested to this. “You meet students that are going to have a future either in stage management or in acting,” said the playwright. “When the opportunity arises, you can give highly motivated ones an opportunity. It’s great.” Besides his love for mentoring future artists, Munsey’s passion shows in his writings. His upcoming play is centered on twins Maura and Barrett, who decide to sell their childhood home to developers. They then elect to bring together their old high school friends, whilst reliving one of the group’s rituals for a final time; a birthday celebration for a pioneer baby, who was buried on the property hundreds of years before. The dark comedy analyzes the vast changes each character goes through. This includes a party boy turned priest, an unexpected pregnancy, and a college town that is being paved over, one property at a time. “Pagan Century” can be described as close to home, with each character’s familial like
closeness being mirrored by the cast and crew throughout the first table read. With inside jokes and laugh breaks, the transition from student to coworker appears seamless. Munsey seems to have the utmost trust in those he works with. Through her dedication to her craft, Reynoso was hired as the stage manager of “Pagan Century,” winning the hearts of her teachers. As stage manager, Reynoso takes on a myriad of responsibilities including taking notes for the director and translating his idea to the set design team. This includes everything from props, to costumes, and even blocking and scheduling. “Once we get into production, I will be in the booth or backstage, calling cues to change the lights, sound, or any special effects,” Reynoso said. Having been awarded three scholarships from the department, it’s needless to say that the show will be in good hands. Reynoso isn’t the only GCC student working on the play. Adam, who stars as Carlo in the play, became involved with the department after taking Mun-
Jeremiah Munsey / Courtesy Photo
HOLLYWOOD PERFORMANCE: The show runs through Dec. 2 at the Ruby Theater in Hollywood.
sey’s class and hearing about open auditions. “GCC made me fall in love with theater,” he said. “I liked theater, but after going to GCC, I love theater. They made me 100 percent sure in what I want to do.” The show also makes an effort in cultural representation and breaking barriers. Amira Nader, an actress of Lebanese descent, will play Leyla Salim, an Iraqi character in the production. “It’s about identity. The identity we define for ourselves and the identity people assign us to,” she said, adding that the timing of the play contributes to its magic. “I love that it takes place
after the [2016 presidential] election and before the inauguration. Fabric is starting to fray and politics is really important.” When asked why readers should see the play, Nader’s point was brief and direct. “It’s timely, and it’s funny,” she claimed. “Pagan Century” runs Nov. 23 through Dec. 2 at the Ruby Theater at the Complex in Hollywood. Student tickets are $12, non student $18. To buy tickets, go to: bit.ly/PaganCentury
Yesenia Thomson can be reached at thomsonyesenia@gmail.com.
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Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
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Matthew Spencer / Staff Illustrator
Happy Holidays from all of us at El Vaquero! Our Journalism Department, Radio Club and Journalism Club wish you peace and joy during this holiday season. Here’s to a wonderful New Year and look out for more from us next semester.
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