El Vaquero November 12, 12, 2008 2008 November
Glendale College College Glendale
Macbeth ‘The Scottish Tragedy’ with a film noir twist
See story, pages 8-9 Photo by Graig Agop
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Wednesday, November 12, 2008
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NEWS/LETTER
El Vaquero Glendale Community College
Jessica Bourse SPORTS EDITOR
Ross Coleman
PHOTO EDITOR
Jane Pojawa
STAFF WRITERS
Claudia Anaya Ani Khashadoorian Kenneth Malate Fabiola Prieto Brandon Hensley Isiah Reyes Corinna Scott
By Ani Khashadoorian EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER
O
editor in chief
L.A. Celebrates Obama Victory
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS
Graig Agop Allan Beglarian Richard Kontas Ismael Reyes Production Manager
Jane Pojawa
n a night that can only be described as historic, thousands thronged the Century City Hyatt Regency Hotel on Nov. 4, as the Barack Obama Election Night Gala took place. At least 13,000 well-wishers were expected at the event, which was open and free to the public; however, the massive turnout caused the Los Angeles County Fire Department to arrive to keep the crowd under control. Although the event was planned to begin at 8 p.m., the ballroom had been filled a full two hours earlier. The festivities raged on past midnight. Stars Peter Fonda, Joy Bryant and Pierce Brosnan were at the event alongside Senators
Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein. Performances that night included Shepard Fairey, Jason Bentley and Jeremy Sole. Various speakers took the podium throughout the evening, while the crowd excitedly awaited the results. From L.A. City Council President Eric Garcetti to comedian Sarah Silverman, all had one message in mind — an Obama administration. As states began to be called by national media outlets, the cheering in the crowd became progressively louder. During the middle of Sen. Boxer’s speech, the projectors behind her cut to read the headline “Obama Elected President,” as CNN announced him as the winner. The roar of the crowd resonated throughout the hotel and carried itself all throughout the city, as
revelers carried on the message to the thousands still waiting outside. The evening then continued on in hurried anticipation for Obama’s victory speech in Grant Park in Chicago. Huddled together, the entire ballroom broke out in shouts of “Yes, we can!” as the PresidentElect gave his speech. The historic election was clearly outlined in Obama’s speech, as he spoke about the momentous change this election has bought. “Americans sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America,” said Obama. Ani Khashadoorian can be reached at ani_khashadoorian@elvaq.com
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Photo by Ani Khashadoorian
Celebrants rejoyce at the Hyatt Regency as Barak Obama’s presidential victory was announced.
Letter to the Editor Dear Ms. Anaya, I just wanted to thank you for the article [“Toy Drive Enriches Holidays for Kids,” Oct. 29, 2008] you wrote about the toy drive. We have already received an increase in donations due to it. I really appreciate that you, as well as the school newspaper, decided to include this story in your current issue. I believe it has given the toy drive an additional avenue of awareness. Hopefully, the contributions will keep rolling in. Again, thank you for your time and support, and please pass on my thanks to the rest of the El Vaquero staff — Saba Bekele (via e-mail) Contributions of new, unwrapped toys for the Fred Jordan Mission’s Christmas toy giveaway may be made at the student center. Letters may be reproduced in full or in part and represent only the point of view of the writer, not the opinion of El Vaquero or Glendale Community College and its district. Letters must be signed and typed and include the full name and address of the writer. El Vaquero is a First Amendment publication.
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NEWS
Lecture Gives Economic Perspective on Immigration are undocumented, 28 percent of them are legal permit residents (with green cards) and 7 percent he lecture “Economics of of them are refugees. Immigration” in Kreider Hall The lecture showed that last Thursday attracted about 50 newly arriving immigrants take people willing to learn more about low-paying jobs in agriculture, why people leave their country hospitality and construction and the causes and effects behind because not many American-born migration. citizens are willing to take those The lecture was presented by jobs. Steven White, emeritus professor “You know it yourself,” White of economics, and Melinda said. “You wouldn’t be lining up Burns, a past reporter for the for the majority of difficult jobs if Santa Barbara News-Press for 21 the pay was just $5 an hour.” years. In reality, these immigrants Not only did the lecture focus are taking the jobs that Americanon the economic reasons and born citizens do not want and consequences of immigration, thus filling the void that is vital in but it also focused on the book sustaining a balanced economy. “Enrique’s Journey” by Sonia White also stated that there is Nazario. The starting point of no impact on the wages of lowthe lecture was skilled workers to examine why from the influx Enrique’s mother of immigrants to came to the U.S. in the U.S. because the first place. immigrants help To answer that fuel the nation’s question, White growth and have introduced the a positive effect “push-pull theory” on the income of immigration, of native born which states that the workers. three main reasons In addition, —Melinda Burns for immigration undocumented are religious workers are persecution, political oppression excluded from receiving federal and economic hardship. In the benefits such as food stamps, case of Enrique’s mother, she left welfare, housing supplements, her native country of Honduras Medicaid and Social Security. because of economic hardship. A common myth about new “Even getting a low-paying immigrants is that they cost more $6 an hour job in California is in government services each year a tremendous opportunity for than they pay in taxes. White people working for a few pesos a argued that new immigrants do day in Honduras,” White said. indeed pay taxes. White presented many true “[Immigrants] have money or false slides in his Powerpoint withheld from their checks; they presentation, including one pay sales tax when they pay for which stated that all foreign- food and clothes. If they rent an born residents of the U.S. are apartment, they pay rent to their undocumented. White stated this landlord who pays for property slide was false, pointing out that tax; so immigrants pay taxes,” out of all the immigrants living in White said. the U.S., 33 percent of them are The lecture then shifted to naturalized, 32 percent of them discuss how the subsidies paid
By Isiah Reyes
EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER
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to U.S. farmers lowers the cost of corn production and increases illegal immigration from Mexico and Central America into the U.S. “This has caused the price of corn to go so low, that it drives farmers away from third-world countries,” White said. “They have been growing corn for 500 years to survive, and now you can just go and buy American corn cheaper than they can produce it.” In Mexico alone, the corn production in the U.S. has driven 2 million peasants off their land in search of economic opportunities. On this note, White introduced guest speaker Melinda Burns, who was fired two years ago from the Santa Barbara News-Press for union organizing along with eight other reporters of the paper. “I spent a lot of time in the strawberry fields in Santa Maria, and I went frequently to Mixtec
regions in Mexico in the state of Oaxaca,” Burns said. Burns’ purpose for venturing into Mexico was to investigate the causes of why people emigrated from Mexico to pick strawberries in Santa Maria. One of the reasons is because of the large subsidies paid to corn farmers. “There’s no competition between 75,000 corn farmers in Iowa and 3 million farmers in Mexico,” Burns said. “There’s no way Mexico can compete given the tremendous subsidies that the U.S. government supplies to the Iowa corn farmers.” The average annual subsidy in the U.S. is $21,000, in comparison to Mexico which is only $700. To expand on some other differences between the U.S. and Mexico, the average irrigated acres per farmer in the U.S. is 18 acres, in contrast to only two in Mexico. Furthermore, the amount of time it takes for labor to produce one
ton of corn is only one hour in the U.S., whereas in Mexico it takes a full 18 days to produce the same amount of corn. The dissimilarity is immense, and Burns knows the adversity that the Mixtecs have to live through. “I picked berries one day, I thought I was going to die,” Burns said. Having been to the Mixtec community of Santa Maria in 1995, Burns continued to do several follow-up stories until she was fired in October of 2006. She is currently fighting for her job back at the Santa Barbara NewsPress. The lecture ended with White and Burns answering questions about the connection between undocumented workers and welfare benefits, as well as some discussion on the corn peasants who were driven out of Mexico. Isiah Reyes can be reached at isiah_reyes@elvaq.com
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Wednesday, November 12, 2008
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Author Takes Audience on ‘Enrique’s Journey’ By Corinna Scott
EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER
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uthor Sonia Nazario spoke in the auditorium about her book “Enrique’s Journey” on Thursday, wrapping up a series of lectures centered on immigration and her Pulitzer Prize-winning book. The lecture highlighted sections in the book and updated some of the material. “I’m thrilled to be here in Glendale talking about this issue, which is obviously a huge issue here in Glendale,” the author said. “We’re seeing the biggest crackdown on the undocumented for illegal immigration here in the U.S. As I’ve traveled the country I’ve seen some amazing things in Arizona.” Nazario said that employers caught a second time with undocumented workers would have their business
license removed. There has been more than 1,100 pieces of legislation on the state or local level to deal with the issue of immigration and a mounting frustration from people over the federal government’s inability to keep the influx of undocumented people from coming into the country. According to Nazario, California has the largest population of undocumented immigrants, almost 3 million. Nearly half of California’s children have immigrant parents. In Glendale, 54 percent of people were born in another country. “So [the number of migrants] it’s really staggering here in Glendale,” said Nazario. Nazario explained how the idea of the book came to her. Nazario’s housekeeper, Carmen, told her about leaving her four children behind in Guatemala, so she could come to the United
Photo by Allan Beglarian
Sonia Nazario, author of “Enriques’ Journey,” takes a break after signing books at the Glendale Public Library.
States to earn money, which she sent back to them to pay for their food and school expenses.
Her story, not unlike the millions of people from Mexico or Central America, who come to the United States to seek a better way to support their children, was what inspired Nazario to put a human face on immigration. Nazario documents Enrique, whose mother leaves him and his sister at a very early age to escape the grinding poverty of Honduras and provide a better life for her children. Enrique is one of hundreds of thousands of children who travel to the United States to be reunited with their parents or to flee abusive relatives. His story documents his dangerous travels on the tops of trains and his attempts to reach America and his family, as well as stories of other migrants. The dangers of the journey included corrupt police, who beat and rob migrants before sending them back to central America; bandits and gangsters; and the dangerous train itself that can tear limbs off or kill those who fall or are pushed off. Nazario experienced some of the journey first-hand by riding atop trains, interviewing families, other migrants and those who throw food or give aid to migrants and even facing some of the dangers of the journey. Nazario recounted her first train ride. “It was pitch dark,” said Nazario, “maybe 100 or 120 people atop this train — migrants and the ones nearest the locomotive started yelling back a warning and they were screaming out ‘Rama!’ (branch), but the
train is blisteringly loud. I mean — incredibly loud, and I couldn’t hear what they were saying. “I was holding on with both hands because the tracks are so lousy that the train bucks from side to side and if you don‘t hold on with both hands, you‘re not going to stay on the train. But I didn’t hear the warning and this huge branch hit me square in the face and it sent me sprawling almost off that train.” An encounter with a migrant, who harassed her in the south of Mexico atop the train, had her running to the conductor for help and into therapy afterward. She joked that her husband, Bill, forbade her riding on top of the trains, and said she wouldn’t have to worry about gangsters if she rode because he would kill her first. She said she stopped riding on top of the trains after that. With the protection of Grupo Beta Sur, a migrants’ rights group, and what she calls “the Golden Letter,” written by the assistant to the president of Mexico that kept her out of jail three times, Nazario followed in the footsteps of Enrique. Sometimes she even interviewed Enrique during his failed attempts to make it to U.S. soil. On the subject of employment Nazario talked of “jobs that Americans won’t do for minimum wage” such as cleaning rooms after suicides had taken place, picking vegetables in 120 degree heat or cutting sugar cane in the [See Journey, page 5]
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FEATURES
Journey [Nazario, from Page 4] swamps of Florida in the humid heat. “I’m not sure that you’ll get a lot of Americans to do that job (for those wages),” said Nazario. “The National Research Council, probably one of the best studies to look at the overall effects of illegal immigration, found that immigrants really do drive the economy,” said Nazario. “They add modest, but significant amounts to our $13 trillion economy. They also found that 5 percent of all goods and services for all Americans are cheaper because of immigrant labor, and so that means that all of you can afford childcare, getting your lawn mowed, getting your car washed, clothing…all of which are cheaper because of immigrant labor.” She said she thinks many businesses, including meat packing plants, would have to close up shop or outsource if they had to pay twice as much for wages. In the question and answer period, Nazario gave updates on Enrique, and said he had gotten back into drugs, but that she was looking for rehab centers that he could go to. She wouldn’t comment about the daughter, Jasmin, who was left behind, other than she was doing well. To further inform the audience on what happens to
children once they are caught in the United States, Nazario said that the children are taken to separate shelters instead of detention centers with adult immigrants. About the political implications of the immigration, Nazario said, “the immigration issue has been submerged for sometime here as the presidential candidates have done everything in their power not to talk about it, because they don’t want to stir that pot. Historically, as the economy tanks, the ‘scapegoating’ of immigrants increases. So I’m guessing that we’re going to see this go from a simmer to a boil in the coming months.” Religion had a part in her writings, as she told the audience about the people who were helping the migrants and said they were “living their faith.” Nazario said she has left the Los Angeles Times and is working on a new book about the lives of five women and social issues. A version of “Enrique’s Journey,” or “La Traversia de Enrique,” is also available in Spanish. A book signing followed the lecture. For more information on Enrique’s Journey visit http:// www.enriquesjourney.com. Corinna Scott can be reached at Corinna_Scott@elvaq.com
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Food Drive to Help Feed Needy Glendale Families By Claudia Anaya
EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER
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CC is helping the Glendale Salvation Army, one of the many organizations that has been well-stocked in the past and is now being affected by the fall of the economy and loss of jobs to feed the disadvantaged people of Glendale. Hard economic times have affected many families in California. The 2007 Census stated that about 13 percent of Californians are impoverished. “This is the first year we’re going to do the food drive to help restock the Salvation Army pantry,” said Jewel Price, dean of student services. Jeanette Stirdivant, counselor and student services division chair had sent out an e-mail alerting faculty of the situation and wrote: “Due to financial constraints, this year the Salvation Army may not be able to provide families with any food boxes.” “With the economy the way
it is, so many people struggling, there’s not as much giving as there normally is,” said Price. “A lot of the non-profits that provide services to the poor are really struggling this year.” According to the 2000 Census, 15.5 percent of Glendale’s population lives below the poverty level. At the time of the 2000 Census, a four-person family was considered to be living below the poverty line if their annual income was less than $16,700. Tzoler Oukayan, coordinator of student activities, said that their goal for a can drive is to reach 300 cans within the month but will continue to collect more until the end of the semester. Cans can be dropped off at the student center, SC 201, where there will be containers as people walk in. The cans collected will be used to feed the people of Glendale that have applied for food assistance from the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army will also be collecting items for food boxes that are given away during
the holiday season that GCC will also be helping with.
The box will include: One small canned ham Two one-pound bags of rice Two one-pound boxes of spaghetti One 32 -ounce jar of jelly Two 15-ounce cans of corn One 15-ounce can fruit cocktail Two 15-ounce cans of peaches One 15-ounce can of peas One 14.5-ounce can green beans One 1 5-ounce can of garbanzo beans One 2 4-ounce bottle of vegetable oil One five-pound bag of sugar One 64 oz bottle of juice The goal is to “feed as many families as we can, give them a little extra food during Christmas,” said Rio Ray, captain of the Glendale chapter of the Salvation Army. [See Food, page 6]
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Understanding Opposite Sex Goal of Workshop By Fabiola Prieto
EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER
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omen’s minds work like “baskets,” while men’s work like “wells” were concepts discussed at the workshop Men and Women: Understanding the Opposite Sex, held by the health center on Oct. 30. The workshop was conducted by Sindy Suess, a certified life coach specializing in women’s empowerment. It was offered to faculty and students as part of a campaign to “promote the idea of wellness on many levels,” said Crescent Orpelli, mental health counselor at GCC. In the hour-long workshop, Suess explained the differences between men and women, focusing on two main topics: how each gender handles objectives, and how each communicates. “The reason this is important is because we so often misinterpret each other.... Our ignorance about our differences creates more struggle in our relationships than needs to be there,” she said. In handling objectives, men are “single focused.” This, Suess explained, means that they can only focus on one thing at a time and in order to begin a new task, they need “transition time.” Women, on the other hand, have “diffused focus.” Their concentration can easily be redirected to a different objective.
“It’s a wonderful design for a much hit the ground running; and woman because you don’t want it might because I have that 20-30 to have a single focus cooking minutes bike ride.” and not hear the baby... but it also The second half of the has challenges,” Suess said. workshop was focused on She backed this concept communication. To give advice on with anthropology. “Men were how to listen to the opposite sex, designed to be Suess used the the hunters for analogies of the tribe, so women’s minds a lot of their being like physiology “baskets” and and wiring is men’s being like all about being “wells.” good hunters, “As a woman and women is going about used to be the her day, because gatherers... she has diffused their brains, awareness, their vision, things are are designed constantly for that.” dropping into To make her her “basket”... —Sindy Suess points, Suess all this stuff is illustrated these filling it up to the ideas sharing her own experiences point where we get overloaded,” and testimonials from her clients. she said. “I thought [the workshop] Her recommendation was to was really helpful,” said Anna help women “outflow” by just Avedisian, 18, an undecided listening to them regardless of major. “She gave out really good how pointless and long the talk examples, things that I didn’t seems. realize until she actually said it.” Suess’ advice on getting a Mike Eberts, professor of man to share his thoughts was mass communications, shared to wait 30 seconds for the man his insight on the talk. “For to “lower his bucket down the the last 20 years I have been a well.” She explained that, as they bicycle commuter...I didn’t know want to give the best answer to a anything about this ‘transition’ question, and it takes them longer until today, but just thinking about to answer. it, when I get home I can pretty She emphasized that practicing
“Our ignorance about our differences creates more struggle in our relationships than needs to be there.”
this way of listening can be difficult for both genders because it’s not the way we are designed, but making the effort will make a great difference. John Quintanilla, 20, biology major, described the workshop as “quite insightful.” He was there with his girlfriend, Leslibet Perales, 19, child development
major, who is sure that this will better their relationship. For more information on health workshops and services offered in GCC, visit the health center located on the first floor of the San Rafael building. Fabiola Prieto can be reached at fabiola_prieto@elvaq.com
Salvation Army [Food, from Page 5]
Ray said that last year they were able to feed 7,000 people throughout the year, just in Glendale, and were able to distribute 400 food boxes to needy families during the holiday season. People go in on a monthly basis for food assistance and the food boxes are extra for the holiday season. People can donate anything on the list. “Everything is appreciated if someone can donate a box, it’s even better,” said Ray. “People rejoice when they see jelly and things like that because it makes things a little easier for them it might seem like silly things to some, but to others who don’t have dinner that night they’re extra special things,” said Ray explaining some people’s reaction. People have to qualify to receive food assistance and the food boxes. The food assistance will help hungry families in the Glendale area. “If you make a donation in Glendale, the food goes to the people of Glendale,” said Ray. There are income guidelines but the Salvation Army takes into consideration
circumstances such as large medical bills or people that have been recently laid off. People who apply for food assistance “have to show ID and prove how many people are in their family,” said Ray. The food given is based on family size. Food boxes donated can be dropped off at the student center or at the Salvation Army located on Windsor and Central Avenue by Saturday, Nov. 15. For those who don’t have time to shop but would like to help, donations of food cards from local markets for $30 through $50 can be made. Those who have qualified pick up the food boxes at the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army is always looking for volunteers to ring bells during the holiday season to raise money for the services that the Salvation Army provides all year round. For those interested in volunteering, they may contact Rio Ray at (818) 2465586, ext. 133.
Claudia Anaya can be reached at claudia_anaya@elvaq.com
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elvaq.
Sindy Suess gives an animated lecture on gender differences.
Photo by Fabiola Prieto
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ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT/FEATURES
Tessatura: the Song Remains the Same for Musical Sisters By Brandon Hensley EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER
“It’s been a long time since I rock and rolled. It’s been a long time since I did that stroll. It’s been a long time, been a long time, been a long lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely time.”
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lmost 40 years have passed since those words were first sung by Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant. In that time span, rock ’n’ roll has undergone numerous transformations, from metal to punk, glam rock to grunge, and alternative to the now popular “screamo,” putting kids in tight jeans wearing makeup stolen from the Adams Family. For some rock ’n’ roll purists though, it has indeed been too long since their heroes of yesteryear stood on stage, once upon a time sending those good vibrations from their guitar strings into the souls of men and women, evoking the attitude of a generation that still has the desire to rock as fierce as the flames dancing from Jimi Hendrix’s burning guitar. Tessatura has seen enough. They’re bringing it back. All the way back, save for the drugs and promiscuity. “Every band has something. They either drink together, do whatever. We pick on each other,” said Tessa Clarke, lead singer and bassist for the Burbank based band. Tessatura, taken from the Italian word tessitura which is Italian for “a range of melody/ pitch and musical composition,” is sending out a message of unity and togetherness. “We want to reach everybody,” said Clarke. “Unite people. Help them appreciate the world and just forget about their problems.” She is the embodiment of the ‘60s, calling that generation’s music “more soulful, more meaningful. It’s powerful music.” Clarke, 22, is backed by guitarist Mike Huezo, 19, and the drummer, her younger sister Anissa, an 18-year-old freshman at Glendale Community College. Together, the trio has been playing a powerful, eclectic mix of rock music since 2005, when Huezo joined the group. Each member brings a unique style to the table, but the band
will only define their music in one word. “Rock and roll. That’s what my sister says,” Anissa said. “It’s alternative, classic rock.” The sound is definitely retro, featuring extended guitar solos (where did those go anyway?) and thumping bass lines rolled into a package that’s part 1990s girl angst, part Up with People.” “We try to bring in different styles, different genres, and whatever we like, that’s what we do,” said Huezo. What they haven’t been doing, however, is playing shows. It’s been over a year since they’ve been on stage, and on this Oct. 23 night, they gather at the Clarke residence in Burbank, preparing for next week’s show at The Terrace in Pasadena, eager to spread the gospel of Tessatura. The music can be heard from just outside the two-story house, something some of the neighbors have enjoyed, some not so much. Inside, past the front door, straight ahead is the band. They’re not in a garage, or a private studio. Instead, they take up space at the intersection of the kitchen and family room There’s Tessa on bass, her fingers plucking the notes, making it look like a spider dancing on the strings. There’s Huezo jamming on the guitar seemingly in his own world. Then there’s Anissa. Only, she is not seen, only heard. That’s because she’s in a box, a four wall sound barrier built by her stepfather Eddie. The door on the box is open, and she is plenty audible. She is aligned with her sister so they can make eye contact, Tessa being the one who gives orders on which song to go over next, and how she would like them to sound (“you gotta make that sound pop on one,” she tells both of them. “Really pop.”) Tessa has gradually learned to be more of a team captain for the band, instead of overbearing. “Early on, I didn’t know how to control in a positive way,” she said. But nobody in the band takes any umbrage to each other’s actions or words. This is Tessatura after all. Let the good times roll. After their rehearsal, the band is ready to wind down and go over the set list for next week. Tessa and Anissa’s mother Victoria is present, and if she seems like the
kind of person who would offer strangers a soda and a bowl full of Halloween candy, well, that’s because she does. Victoria used to manage the band, but called it “tough. That’s why I don’t do it anymore,” she said laughing. She will still help package them, as she has experience working for different studios. As they cool off, the personalities of the band take center stage. Laid back but completely driven, each one has the desire to go as far as possible with their music. Tessa and Anissa are originally from Seattle, but Tessa’s dreams of making it in entertainment brought the family to Los Angeles...eventually. Anissa was 3 when Tessa and her mom came down to the Southland, and Anissa stayed behind. “She stayed for a while until my mom and I got situated in California,” Tessa said. Anissa stayed in Seattle with her father. “I was 3 years old,”
she said. “Every girl needs a mom, even when you’re little.” The sisters have different fathers, and Anissa doesn’t communicate with hers too often anymore, who she says lives in Northern California. “The distance is hard.” Even though there is an age difference, both Tessa and Anissa say they are as close as can be, and don’t even consider each other half-siblings. When they were younger, “we would just fight about stupid stuff, like, ‘you took my sweater’” Anissa said. Both can’t recall any hard feelings toward each other in their relationship. Tessa recognizes that Anissa is the one most likely to quell any potential uneasiness. “She always keeps that good mood. She’s personable, and cute, and that really helps break up [tense] situations,” Tessa said. “She’s a dork,” said Huezo, generating laughter. “In a good way! She’s funny, outgoing, perky.”
“A lot of people stress about things,” Anissa said. “I’m trying to be a peace maker.” Anissa has been playing drums since elementary school, and while she doesn’t seemed to get too stressed about anything herself, she’s found drumming can be a good outlet. “If you hit hard enough, anything can be your stress reliever.” She recalled a time where she was playing and hit the rim of the her snare drum. “I hit my hands so hard on the rims, I left bloodstains...it was hilarious.” An odd choice of words for Anissa, but considering her personality, not that surprising. Anissa’s schedule is something that can cause stress. She says it takes an hour and a half to get to school on the bus from Burbank, and her hours at Glendale are long, including being the secretary of the music department and taking a three-hour mass communications [See Music, page 10]
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ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
‘Macbeth,’a Film Noir Tour de Force Review by Isiah Reyes, Photos by Graig Agop
Macbeth (Frank Pozos) loses it, clockwise from left, while Lady Macbeth (Libby Letlow) trys to keep it together; Jemima Santiago, Amanda Laskin, and Renie Rivas are wicked; and Banquo (Shermie Aguilar) haunts the stage in William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” directed by Jeanette D. Farr. The set and light design are by Guido Girardi. Macbeth is on the main stage here at Glendale College until Sunday.
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illiam Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” is being revamped into a 1940s film noir play in Glendale C o m m u n i t y College’s main stage theater. The play is directed by Jeanette Farr, who chose to transform one of Shakespeare’s most well-known plays into a film noir, a style which incorporates the black and white film style of the 1940s. At the beginning of the play, a projection is played onto a large screen showing famous past noir films, one of which was “Sunset Boulevard.” Then the screen and curtain rise as the audience is treated to an opening scene of choreographed characters on stage. As the play begins, the three witches (Amanda Laskin, Renie Rivas, Jemima Santiago) confront Macbeth (Frank Pozos) and Banquo (Shermie Aguilar) to tell the two of their future. According to the witches, Macbeth’s future reveals that he will one day become the next King of Scotland, but he struggles to decide on whether or not he should pursue the throne.
Unfortunately for Macbeth, the current King of Scotland, King Duncan (Ryan Robbins), has already announced that his eldest son Malcolm (Alex Abraham) will be the heir to his throne. Soon after, Macbeth’s wife, Lady Macbeth (Libby Letlow), encounters the three witches and learns of her husband’s future as well. To fulfill the witches’ prediction, Lady Macbeth tells her husband Macbeth to murder King Duncan as he plans to stay for the night. At first Macbeth doesn’t want to, but he is soon convinced and he grabs the dagger, planning on framing the king’s own guards with the murder. This is only the beginning and there are many more complexities that unravel along the way. The acting itself is believable and entertaining. It is appealing to see how all the actors entered the stage throughout the play. Some crawl in from under a ledge and others sneak in through the shadows. The King Duncan murder scene is interestingly handled. There is a screen on the stage with a light shining on it. Macbeth stands
behind it and all that can be seen is the silhouette of Macbeth as he stabs away with his dagger. Most of the characters’ changes in the play are well-motivated. Macbeth’s hunger for power ultimately leads him to his doom, and Lady Macbeth’s dignified appearance slowly falls apart as she descends into madness. The dialogue in this play was written in the early 1600s, so expect to hear Elizabethan English throughout. The average viewer may not comprehend what is being said and may become lost along the way. But having dialogue in its original form gives the play a truly authentic feel. The movement on the stage is plentiful. There are sword-fighting action scenes, ghosts and spirits that haunt the stage and even a song performed by the three witches. All in all, the acting is excellent and it shows how talented the GCC theater arts department really is. The costume design was done by Royce Herron, who has all the performers dressed up in appropriate attire that relates back to the 1940s fashion. From buckles
and hats to suspenders and slacks, the clothing choice correlates to the era. Generally, all the costumes are suitable, especially the Zoot suits. The music that emits from the auditorium speakers is also exceptional. The transition music between scenes captured the feel of a noir film with its jazzy bass and keyboard, yet it also encompasses the dark and moody aspect of the play with the sad and gloomy single horn. The sound effects, which include many different sounds from a constant knock on the door to eerie voices, are loud and clear. They don’t feel overpowered or undertoned; instead they integrate nicely with the play’s atmosphere. The lighting is superb as well. A spotlight appears when soliloquies were spoken and darkness takes hold of the stage as the witches act out their mischievousness. Also, a few special effects involving fog are used to add to the creepy ambiance of the play. There are some aspects of the play that transcend beyond the stage. Several times, the actors perform within the aisles of the auditorium, making it feel as if one
was involved with the characters in the play. Presenting the play as a noir style film was a bold undertaking that could have ended in disaster, but that is not the case with this production. The feel of the 1940s intertwines fluidly with the themes presented in “Macbeth.” Overall, the play accomplishes everything it sets out to do. The actors, the acting, the costumes, the light and sound are all outstanding and they make “Macbeth” a worthy recommendation to anyone who’s interested in seeing what the theater arts department has to offer. Final performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 for the general audience, $6 for students and seniors and $4 for groups of 10 or more. They may be purchased at the door or reserved in advance. For more information or reservations, call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5612. My rating: four out of five stars.
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ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Tessatura [Music, from Page 7]
class on Fridays. But, she said of mass communications, “I love it. It’s my favorite class.” She is interested in magazine writing, specifically for Seventeen magazine. “I’d do anything [working for them]. Even if they told me to write about...horses.” “College is my main focus now,” she said. But if Tessatura has a chance to really take off, Anissa would continue with the band. “Because we’ve worked so hard...I’d have to not just think about myself but my band, although they could always find another drummer.” But there’s only one Anissa, as evidenced by her knocking over two glasses of water on the table during the course of the evening. “She is a [klutz] for sure,” said Tessa. “This is just a regular day for me,” Anissa joked. Anissa talked about her own goals for the band. “I just want to get out there and play and let people know that we have this music...this may sound corny, but a good song can make your day. When everything sucks...and your song comes on you’re like, ‘this is my jam!’” Anissa let it be known she’s susceptible to stage fright. “I love it when there’s all the bright lights, and you can’t see anyone. It’s awesome. When you see people you start to freak out,” she said. For Tessa, she participated in pageants as a child and appeared in the film “Not Another Teen Movie” as well as music videos for Matchbox 20 and REM. She was late to rehearsal on this night because she was at an audition for Trivial Pursuit. Only in Hollywood. Tessa is the idealist of the band, citing Bono as much a possible. “I want to be the queen of rock.” She is focused on making Tessatura a big name. Performing is in her blood and she wants to use that as a means to get a message across. “The bigger you are the more change you can make, like Bono and other guys,” she said. “If we don’t make it we’re gonna be a U2 cover band,” Anissa said, teasing her sister. But the sisters haven’t forgotten about Huezo. “He’s our brother now. We’re very much a family,” Tessa said.
Photo by Ken Juaner Malate
GCC freshman Anissa Clarke rocks out during a practice session at Nightingale Studios in Burbank. She is the drummer for the band Tessatura.
Huezo has the ultimate gowith-the-flow persona. He’s the hard rock/metal influence in the band, citing Atreyu and Avenged Sevenfold as some of his favorite artists. His goal for the band is to “just keep going, as high as it can go.” He plays a signature guitar modeled after Synyster Gates, Avenged Sevenfold’s guitarist. He also has a Gibson Les Paul, a beauty of a guitar, but it’s not serviceable at the moment. “It broke. My friend broke it. He snapped the neck in half,” he said. He later explained that his friend tried to sling the guitar over his shoulder and that’s how it broke, teaching an important lesson in the don’t-try-this-athome department. Song inspiration can come from many things, Tessa explained, like working around the house, or coming up with some notes on her bass. One of their songs, the inspirational “Beautiful Song” came from Heuzo. “It’s about being carefree. Mike actually gave me the idea. He said ‘write a song just about life’,” Tessa said. Tessatura may send out messages of peace and love, but
one thing you won’t see them do anytime soon is get political. Tessa said she can understand why some bands like Green Day get political, but said “I feel like sometimes it’s almost shooting yourself in the mouth.” Come again? “Oh, how does that saying go?” she said with a “what-did-Ijust-say?” look on her face. She eventually got it right, and maybe that’s why they don’t speak out too much. For the rest of the night, the band riffed on several topics, from Power Rangers, including Huezo trying to play the theme song on his guitar (he failed, by the way) to Halloween candy. “We don’t have any good Halloween candy,” Tessa said, citing the lack of Butterfingers and Almond Joys. But one thing was for sure; the band was ready for next week’s show. It was the day before Halloween at The Terrace in Pasadena, and half an hour before Tessatura went on, they were outside getting their equipment set up. Anissa had a piano midterm earlier in the day. “We were stressing out because we hadn’t had time to practice at all. I was
like, ‘piano or drums?’” she said. “I’m nervous and a little stressed, because everything needs to go as planned. [Tessa and Mike] call me the heartbeat of the band. But it should go well. I’m more worried about getting everything all set together.” That would turn out to be a bad omen, but first, Huezo was ready to rock. “Hell yeah,” he said. “New equipment,” as he pointed to his new Marshall half stack amplifier and new wah pedal, the same one guitar icon Slash uses. Anissa was dressed in different shades of purple. She had on fishnets and those checkered Vans shoes that define the pop-punk style. Tessa was color-coordinated as well, with her pinkish belt and shirt, not to mention those boots. “I’m a boots girl. Always boots.” She also had on a scarf with musical notes printed on, which she will later tie around the microphone stand in true Aerosmith fashion. Huezo had his style down, wearing one of his many fedoras, and a black shirt and jeans. With his facial hair, he could be looked at as a young Carlos Santana. The band brought their
friends to the show, and by the time Tessatura got on stage (20 minutes late, through no fault of their own), the crowd was ready. Tessa was the show woman, inviting the crowd to dance and get loud through the whole set. The venue was small, a long, rectangular shaped building, and the stage itself is tiny, eliminating the freedom of movement Tessa and Huezo like, which affords them to interact more with each other. They roll though their set though, and Tessa’s fiancee Chris was one of the more vocal supporters of the night. Tessa channeled her inner Robert Plant as much as she could, her eyes widening as she emphasized a specific lyric. A stand out song of the night would be their psychedelic cover of James Taylor’s “You’ve Got A Friend,” a complete 180 degree turn from the original. It’s loud, fast, and uses a lot of wah-wah pedal. ‘The wah-wah is what makes it psychedelic,” said Tessa. During the show, Anissa was on an island by herself, pounding away (even harder than [See Music, page 11]
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Wednesday, November 12, 2008
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ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Film
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‘Zack and Miri’ Make Pornography Boring By Ani Khashadoorian EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER
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professor once said that if an essay is well-written, the title of the paper can and should be written with just six words or less; however, this hasn’t necessarily been the case, as many horrible papers have had six word titles as well. Sticking to the rule of sixword titles, “Zack and Miri Make a Porno” is not an academic paper, but for the purposes of this review, we will treat it as one. Director Kevin Smith (“Clerks,” 1994) stands out from most of his Hollywood peers due to his often hilarious comedies, but “Zack and Miri Make a Porno” is his equivalent of a flunked takehome mid-term. Smith’s latest hyped movie begins with title characters Zack and Miri preparing for their 10-year high school reunion. The movie stars Seth Rogen (“Pineapple Express,” 2008) and Elizabeth Banks (“W.” 2008) as
Tessatura [Music, from Page 10] usual because her drums weren’t miked). She’s furthest from the crowd, but maybe she likes it that way. Her hair kept getting in her eyes, and if it that wasn’t enough, she was wearing glasses. Vision wasn’t the problem for her though. During the set, her drumstick broke, she had to replace her kick drum, and her cymbal kept sliding down, the last of which finally fell to the stage floor when she hit it on the last note of the night. How’s that for rock and roll? Afterward, Anissa was half amused, half frustrated. “Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. My stick broke, second song, third song my peddle broke. I’m exhausted. I played so hard because I felt like no one could hear me.” Outside, friends and family gather as the band’s first
lifelong friends Zach and Miri who live together. Zack ends up spending most of the night trashing his peers from the past, even though both he and Miri acknowledge they’ve done nothing with their lives. Miri’s sole mission for the night is to bed star football player Bobby Long (Brandon Routh, “Superman Returns,” 2006). Unfortunately for her, Zack finds out that Bobby is gay and has a porn star boyfriend. Justin Long (“Live Free or Die Hard” 2007) lights up the movie with his brief role as the gay porn star simply known as Brandon. Miri’s devastating reaction is shown side by side with Zack’s conversation with Bobby. This is perhaps the best comedic scene in the entire movie, as the timing of the lines is perfect. After finding out about Bobby’s alternative lifestyle, Miri becomes incredibly drunk, leaving Zack to drive them home. When they arrive back to their small apartment, they find that the heating system has been show in a year was over with. Victoria was pleased with their performance. “I saw a lot of energy on stage. That’s what I like.” Chris has been impressed with the band’s growth. “As they mature as a band I think they can definitely get to that level where bands are looking up to them.” He added, “Who doesn’t like classic rock?” A discussion turns to a possible new sound for Tessatura. “Country rock is exploding right now,” said Victoria. “If they just put a little twang...” Anissa’s boyfriend Andrew cuts in. “You want them to sell out?” That gets the biggest laugh of the night. Andrew, who was twirling Anissa’s broken drumstick in his hand, is set to go on a Mormon mission next spring, which would take him away from Anissa for two years. It’s tough, they both say, but Anissa seems to be accepting of it. “She wouldn’t put herself first,” said Andrew. Anissa, who is a Christian, said “I would love to do that. Just
Seth Rogan and Elizabeth Banks play best friends who decide to get raunchy in Kevin Smith’s new flm.
cut off (as their stack of unpaid bills gradually grows). Realizing they are broke and have no way to make money, both decide to make a porno to meet expenses. Both Zack and sacrifice everything else. Just for God.” Andrew also plays in a band called The Royal Fetuses. Who does he like better? “I would say they’re better than us.” he said, saying Tessatura has more experience. Another hard days rocking has come to end, but the band is excited as the year draws to a close. They will play more shows in the near future, giving Tessatura a chance to spread it’s message of peace, love and rock ’n’ roll. “I want people to come to our shows, and relax, and have a good time, and have this positive attitude and forget that they could be dealing with all this junk,” Tessa said. “Its about having a good time and being at peace with yourself and others.” For those about to rock, Tessatura salutes you. Tessatura.com www.myspace.com/tessatura Brandon Hensley can be reached at brandon_hensley @elvaq.com
Miri have no living relatives nor self admitted respect or shame, so making the film wouldn’t jeopardize them. They also see it as a marketing opportunity, as they figure everyone from their high school graduating class would be interested in seeing it. Zack’s job as a coffee shop barista isn’t cutting it and neither is Miri’s role as a clothing shop sales associate. What follows is a disastrous production of an erotic parody of “Star Wars” that is known as “Star Whores.”Although the assembly of their movie goes well, the days leading to the filming put both Zack and Miri on edge mainly because both have known each other for more than 20 years and although both claim their relationship won’t be changed by sleeping together (much less on camera), the duo hold their own private doubts. “Zack and Miri Make a Porno” is a confused mess — the film can’t decide if it’s a raunchy sex comedy or a stereotypical romantic Harry and Sally scenario (can a man and a woman be just friends?) Trying too hard both ways instead of finding a middle ground is the biggest blemish of the movie (besides the painfully dull plot). Although it is more than possible for a movie to be both bawdy and tender, “Zack and Miri” just can’t pull it off.
Smith gets sloppy here with his directing and writing — there isn’t enough material within the characters. We don’t know of their pasts (besides the parents of both are dead and that they met in the first grade) and the conversations between the two are either laden with sexual innuendos or denials that they have the hots for each other. Some scenes seem hastily acted while others are brilliant; once again, there is no happy medium. At its core, “Zack and Miri” is a comedy and it does not lack with laughs — some are physical gags, others are clever puns but mostly the classic type of humor Smith is known for. Besides the hasty ending, “Zack and Miri Make a Porno” is just a mediocre offering compared to Smith’s past cult hits, but then again, the plot title pretty much details the entire movie. Devoid of substance, Smith’s movie left me with six words of my own — this was a waste of time. My rating – 3 out of 5 stars.
“Zack and Miri Make a Porno” runs at 101 minutes and is rated R for strong crude sexual content including dialogue, graphic nudity and pervasive adult language. Ani Khashadoorian can be reached at ani_khashadoorian@elvaq.com
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SPORTS
Rough Riders Bring Wheelchair Soccer to SoCal By Brandon Hensley EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER
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all it soccer’s version of “Murderball.” For Joey Wells and other members of the Glendale Rough Riders, a dream was realized on Saturday Nov. 1 inside the Glendale College gymnasium where the first-ever organized power wheelchair soccer game in the Southland took place. The two exhibition games pitted the Rough Riders against the Rollin’ Gauchos of Santa Barbara, and while the Gauchos won both games, 6-0 and 3-1, nothing could dampen the spirits of the Rough Riders on this day. “Oh man,” said Wells, a 21year-old Glendale student, “It’s an adrenaline rush. I’m having a blast.” Wells has muscular dystrophy, and power soccer gives him and others in wheelchairs an outlet to play competitive sports. The team consists of several Glendale students but also others from around the L.A. area. “I love it,” said Well’s teammate Jorge Acevedo, who turns 38 this month. Acevedo was the victim of a car jacking on Christmas Day, 1999, when he was shot in the head and leg. He was in a coma for six months but miraculously survived.. “I’m here to make a difference,” he said, saying that things happen for a reason. The Rough Riders were formed three months ago, and through hard work and long practices, their effort will pay off this season as they will compete in different tournaments across the state and in Nevada and Arizona. Because they are the only team based in this region, they must travel many miles to play a game they’ve spent years waiting to be a part of. Power soccer, while having been introduced to America in the 1980s, is new to Glendale, and the rules admittedly take some time to get used to. “We have weird rules. Some rules are for soccer, some for basketball,” said Glendale coach Nes Mazmanyan, who has experience in wrestling and playing hockey. A hybrid of both sports, the game requires teams of four, playing on a basketball court, to put a 13-inch soccer ball past the goal, two cones about 10 feet
apart. The power chair players have guards around their feet to not only control and move the ball, but also to protect them from the impact of crashing into each other, which can happen often. There are zones around each goal that prohibit 2 on 1 or 3 on 1 advantages when play occurs in there. Players must also be given 16 feet of space when in bounding the ball. Players use a variety of nifty moves to advance the ball, including a spin kick, where the player lines up with his back against the competition, and then, in a move straight out of “The Fast and The Furious,” whips his chair 180 degrees as his feet meet the ball, shooting it down the court. Wells was the lead example for this all day, as his play stood out from his teammates. Wells takes power soccer seriously, as evidenced by his hard play on the court. “It’s not just something for fun,” said Wells’ mother Cindy, who helps manage the team. “It’s real competitive.” Cindy mentioned her son’s competitiveness and desire to possibly play power soccer in the paraplegic Olympics someday. For now, he leads the Rough Riders as their team captain. “They picked me [as captain] just because I’m the most outspoken,” he said smiling. The Rough Riders may not have officially adopted the Oakland Raiders’ motto “Commitment to Excellence,” but they are dedicated to making it a good season, as their schedule consists of three-hour practices on Fridays and four-hour sessions on Sundays. It allows them time to get fully acquainted with the sport in their inaugural season. “We’re new to the sport, and you’re dealing with not only the players but the players’ chairs and how to figure out the rules and regulations,” Mazmanyan said. A potential roadblock for the team may be the lack of funds for not only transportation to the games, but also equipment.. Cindy talked about the need for money to help fund their season. “We need sponsors to get the guards that we need,” she said, referring to the lack of metal guards the team has. Instead, Glendale currently uses plastic guards, which don’t allow the ball to travel as far when hit.
Photo courtesy of Glendale Rough Riders
Jorge Acevedo powers past the Santa Barbara Rollin’ Gauchos to score a goal.
“We’ll hopefully have a poker night.” Overcoming obstacles doesn’t seem to be anything new for the Rough Riders. Their team name seems quite apropos. And so they’ll push on. “No matter what how hard life is, I learned that others have it harder than me. I learned to keep going and going, ” Acevedo said.
The Rough Riders are now pioneers of power soccer in the Southland, and Acevedo is extending an invitation to anyone interested in getting involved. “We want everyone in a wheelchair to take advantage and learn about wheelchair soccer,” he said...We can do things. We can also compete to the highest level we can.”
For more information on power soccer, visit www. powersoccerusa.net. Donations to the Glendale Rough Riders can be made by visiting the bookstore on campus.
Brandon Hensley can be reached at brandon_hensley @elvaq.com
Basketball Opens Season By Ken Juaner Malate EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER/ PHOTOGRAPHER
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lendale’s basketball team took part in the Tip Off Tournament against Miramar College and Santa Barbara College on Friday and Saturday where they showcased their amazing offensive prowess, defeating Santa Barbara 10086. Glendale lost their first game against Miramar in a devastating last second shot by the opponent. “We lost to them at the buzzer in a real fluky ending,” said Coach Brian Beauchemin. “We didn’t play very well nor did we play good defense.” Fortunately, they bounced right back and defeated Santa
Barbara the next day. The Santa Barbara game wasn’t exactly smooth sailing the entire time. Halfway through the first half, the Vaqueros found themselves down by 15 points. That persuaded Beauchemin to call a time out to talk to and remind his team about the talent that they possess. It was all uphill from that point, as they ended the half leading the game 52-49. “I called that timeout and told the team to trust our press break, and to just keep going at it,” said Beauchemin. During the two games, hoop fans caught a glimpse of the two rising stars in the Vaqueros’ basketball team. Sophomores Markus Monroe and Josh Guillory led the offense in points scored. Monroe, who plays shooting guard, led the team with 33 points,
coupled with five rebounds, four assists and two steals. Monroe set the tempo of the game. He handled the ball most of the time and literally took the game into his own hands when they were down. “After losing last night [to Miramar] I took it upon myself to play harder, and to get everybody going,” said Monroe. “We knew our press offense would get us a lot of good looks. Michael Cotton hit five big three-pointers and that got us really going.” The other star, Josh Guillory, the sophomore center, had a monster game against Santa Barbara. He scored 29 points, gathered 18 rebounds and delivered six assists. On the defensive side, he blocked two [See Tip Off, page 13]
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13
SPORTS
Defense Lets Vaqs Down in OT Thriller By Ross Coleman
EL VAQUERO SPORTS EDITOR
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an you tackle?” head coach John Rome asked his young daughter after a poor display by his defense in the Nov. 1 loss in triple overtime to Allan Hancock College 57-55 in the Vaqueros final home game of the season. In a game where the defense was almost non-existent on either side, the Vaqs gave up 683 yards to the Bulldogs from Allan Hancock, 473 of those yards coming on the ground. The Bulldogs had two players rush for over one hundred yards and put up six touchdowns on the ground, including four by the Bulldog quarterback. The Vaqs did display their own set of offensive fireworks. Freshman Lavelle Peterson rushed for 110 yards on 21 carries and had five rushing touchdowns. Fellow freshman Willie Youngblood also played well with 95 yards on 19 carries and a pair of touchdowns. Quarterback Stephen Miller had an efficient game passing, completing 13 of 20 passes for 240 yard and a touchdown pass to Robert Linda. Linda finished with 46 yards on four catches. Michael Harrison had three catches for 70 yards. In what turned out to be a gamedeciding play in the first half, the Vaqs kicker Chris Chapman had a 25-yard field goal blocked with just one minute left in the half. Had the kick been converted, the Vaqs might have pulled the game out in regulation. However, that wasn’t the only mistake for the Vaqs. With 5:15 left in the fourth quarter, Peterson scored his third touchdown of the game putting the Vaqs up 35-21 and seemingly out of reach for the run heavy Bulldogs. On the second play of the ensuing drive, the Vaqs defense gave up a 78-yard touchdown run to pull back within seven with 4:46 left in the game. Then after a quick stop by the Bulldog defense the Vaqs gave up a 91yard drive for the game-tying touchdown that came on the lone passing score for the Bulldogs with just 16 seconds left. The first overtime saw the Vaqs score on a 23-yard touchdown from Miller to Linda. The Bulldogs answered on a 1-
Photo by Richard Kontas
Freshman running back Lavelle Peterson, 40, breaking a tackle, led the Vaquero rushing game with 110 yards on 21 carries including five touchdowns.
yard touchdown run. The second overtime was more of the same. The Bulldogs got the first possession and quickly put it in the end zone. The Vaqs answered with Peterson’s fourth touchdown of the game. In college overtime, starting in the third overtime, teams must begin to try for the two-point conversion instead of kicking the PAT. This is usually how close games are decided, and this game was no different. On the Vaqs possession Peterson scored his fifth and final touchdown of the game, but the Vaqs were unable to convert for the two-points. The Bulldogs quickly answered with a touchdown and converted on the two-point conversion for the victory. “If I was a defensive player I would be embarrassed,” said a frustrated Rome after the game. “It’s hard to play for so long and not come up with a stop when you need one. We can’t let an offense answer all of our scores and to lose a game that we have
that kind of a lead against this team is absolutely astonishing to me.” The game took a scary turn during the final overtime when Allan Hancock player Brian Hughes collapsed on the sidelines after a big hit with an apparent head and neck injury. Hughes lost feeling in his extremities for a short while before regaining some feeling. He was carted off the field and taken away in an ambulance. After being taken to the hospital, Hughes was quickly released by doctors after being deemed healthy. However on the Vaqs side, freshman defensive back Francis McDonald will be out for the rest of the year after breaking hid fibula. The loss drops the Vaqs to 3-5 overall and 1-3 in the conference play. The Vaqs final game of the season will be Saturday at Pasadena City College.
Ross Coleman can be reached at Ross_Coleman@elvaq.com
Basketball [Tip-off, from Page 12] shots and stole three balls. Talk about filling up the stats sheet. To say that Guillory was magnificent is an understatement. He was unstoppable when he got position under the basket. The only chance Santa Barbara had of stopping him was by fouling him, and even that wasn’t that successful as he made five out of his eight free throw shots. It’s just simply too hard to pick the best play of the game since there were so many high flying dunks that Guillory threw down. It was definitely a fantastic game, especially for someone who sat in the bench his entire first season. “Coach has been on me the entire time I’ve been here,
and that’s okay with me since I came to work hard,” said Guillory. “Our expectations here are always high,” said Beauchemin when asked about what his expectations were for the rest of the season. “Goals and expectations are great to have, we just have to be smart about it and take it one step at a time. These guys are already looking forward to the game Saturday, and I’m worried about practice Monday.” Guillory had almost the same vision of Glendale Vaqs future, he stated, “I can definitely see us winning state, especially if we keep playing at this level, it’s definitely possible.” Glendale’s first game of the season will be against San Diego Mesa College on Saturday. Ken Juaner Malate can be reached at ken_malate@elvaq.com
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Wednesday, November 12 , 2008
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SPORTS COLUMN
The One Big Thing: the NFL a ‘Pansy Game’? By Ross Coleman
EL VAQUERO SPORTS EDITOR
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ood old NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is at it again — this time, he is cracking down on big hits in the game. Wait — big hits? Isn’t football supposed to be one of, if not, the most violent team sport in existence? Yes, yes it is. So what gives? Why does Goodell feel the need to fine players for “playing too rough?” A few weeks back, wide receiver Hines Ward from the Pittsburgh Steelers was fined $15,000 for two separate incidents where Ward made good clean, yet hard, blocks on players down field. Ward was not penalized on either play, yet got fined by the NFL afterwards for playing “too rough.” Ward measures 6 feet tall
and weighs in at a muscular 205 pounds. He is not the biggest guy in the world, yet he has always been known as a great blocker. It is just ridiculous that Ward ends up getting fined for playing “too rough” in such a violent sport. After these fines, has Ward changed his playing style? To get an answer, all you have to do is look at USC rookie linebacker Keith Rivers. A week after being fined, Ward layed the lumber so hard to Rivers that the rookie broke his jaw and will now be out for the rest of the season. The best part is that Ward was not fined for his latest big hit. Ward has not been the only player to be questionably fined by the NFL this season. The Minnesota Vikings Jared Allen had to pay $50,000 for hits on quarterbacks that were deemed “too low.” The Carolina Panthers Julius Peppers was fined $10,000
for hitting a quarterback on the head. So to quote New York Giants Justin Tuck, “You can’t hit him in the head, you can’t hit him below the knees. Obviously, you can’t hit him hard, either.” Tuck just got out of a $7,500 fine by the NFL. The hit in question was a textbook tackle, nothing malicious, just a solid tackle on a small quarterback. ESPN radio host Mike Golic, a former defensive lineman in the NFL, had this to say about the Tuck hit: “This has to stop.
I understand about protecting people in certain hits and certain situations, but this is a joke. That is a textbook tackle. That is what you teach to little league kids.” Golic is right. This has become a joke. Steelers’ safety Troy Polamalu took the discussion a step further, saying, “Football just looses so much of its essence when it becomes like a pansy game.” Pansy game or not, Goodell has to realize that the reason why the NFL is such a great sport is because of the violence. I
understand whole-heartedly about protecting players, and I saw that first hand at the Glendale-Allan Hancock game when one player from Glendale broke his fibula and a Hancock player was taken to the hospital for a head injury. But what Goodell needs to realize is that even clean hits will hurt players. So enough with making the NFL a “pansy game,” just let them play.
Ross Coleman can be reached at Ross_Coleman@elvaq.com
Vaquero Sports Summaries Scores
Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Oct. 28: WSC Finals Meet Men – finished first in team results Women — finished first in team results Nov. 7: So. Cal. Championships Meet
Women’s Volleyball: Oct. 10: defeated Citrus College 3-2 Oct. 28: lost to Santa Monica College 3-2 Oct. 31: lost to L.A.Pierce 3-0 Nov. 4: lost to College of the Canyons 3-0
Nov. 4: lost to Santa Barbara College 6-0 Nov. 7: defeated Oxnard College 1-0
Women’s Soccer: Oct. 28: lost to Santa Monica College 4-0 Oct. 31: defeated L.A. Mission College 2-1
Football: Nov. 1: lost to Allan Hancock College 57-55 3OT Nov. 8: lost to Moorpark College 51-44 2OT
Women’s Golf: Men’s Soccer:
Nov. 2-3: Competed in WSC Championships
Oct. 28: lost to Moorpark College 2-1 Oct. 31: defeated College of the Canyons 5-0
Men’s Basketball:
Upcoming Events Men’s and Women’s Cross Country: Nov. 22: State Championships at Fresno time TBA Despite some bad press, Steeler Hines Ward is not a pansy.
Dianetics: the Evolution of a Science by L. Ron Hubbard
Your first book on the applied philosophy which shows you the road to a better life with fewer problems. Just get it. Read it and use it. Contact: Dori Talevi
(818) 247-9822
Women’s Basketball:
Friday: vs. Bakersfield College at GCC 7 p.m. Tuesday: at West L.A. College 7 p.m. Nov. 20: at Santa Monica College 7 p.m.
Friday-Sunday: Vaquero Shootout at GCC time TBA Nov. 21: vs Irvine Valley College at GCC 6 p.m. Nov. 22: at Long Beach College 5:30 p.m. Nov. 25: vs. Allan Hancock College at GCC 6 p.m.
Football:
Men’s Basketball:
Women’s Volleyball:
Saturday: at Pasadena College 1 p.m.
Women’s Soccer: Friday: at Bakersfield College 3 p.m.
Men’s Soccer: Friday: vs. L.A. Mission College at GCC 7 p.m.
Saturday: at San Diego Mesa College 3:30 p.m. Nov. 19: at L.A. Harbor 5:30 p.m. Nov. 26: at L.A. Pierce 5:30 p.m. For more information visit: www.glendale.edu/athletics/
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Wednesday, November 12 , 2008
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Calendar On Campus events
day starting at noon in AU 211. Free and open to all.
22nd Annual Distinguished Faculty Award — Anthropology instructor Eric Johnston, recipient of the Distinguished Faculty Award, will present “Genes: A Guide to Human Prehistory.” Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. in Kreider Hall. Free and open to the public. A reception will follow the lecture at 1 p.m. at The Oaks, Los Robles Buliding. All faculty and staff are welcome.
Toy Drive — Glendale Community College and Fred Jordan Missions present their annual Christmas Toy Giveaway. New and unwrapped toys will be collected now through Nov. 20. Toys may be dropped off in bins around campus. Monetary donations will also be accepted. For more information, visit www.fjm.org or call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5789.
Nutrition and Healthy Cooking Program — Presented by Club Yoga. Tuesday from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in LR 101. Free and open to all. For more information, call (818) 331-9394 or email club. yoga.gcc@gmail.com. Faculty Recital — Music instructor Dr. Peter Green, Beth Pflueger, and Patrick Rosalez will perform chamber music. Thurs-
Swap Meet — Upper campus lot. Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free and open to the public. $2 for preferred parking. For more information, call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5805.
about furture health careers as well as guest speakers. For more information contact the club at Honorsbiologyclub@yahoo.com. Art History Club — Club meetings are every Tuesday from noon to 1 p.m. in AD 243. Meetings will include field trips, movies, and guest speakers. Club Yoga — Mondays from 3 to 4 p.m. in AT 232 and Thursdays from noon to 1 p.m. in SN 102. All are welcome to attend. V.O.I.C.E.S. — Club meetings are every Tuesday from noon to 1 p.m. in LB 210.
clubs
Culinary Arts Club — Club meetings are every Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. in LR 101.
Honors Biology Club — Club meetings are every Tuesday from noon to 1 p.m. in CR 137. Meetings will include information
P.C.O — The Philippine Cultural Organization meetings are every Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. in CS 177. All are welcome.
Psychology Club — Guest Speaker Denise Ezell, a graduate from Antioch University, will discuss “Private Practice and the Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy Part-Two.” Only club members will be allowed to attend the meetings. For more information, visit www. glendale. edu/psychologyclub.
liam Shakespeare’s best-known play. Directed by Jeanette Farr. Mainstage Theatre. Now through Sunday. Showtimes are Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. For more information, including ticket prices, visit www.glendale.edu/ theatre or call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5618.
information
workshops
Health Center — Flu shots are still available in the Health Center. $15 for students and $25 for staff. Cash only. The Health Center hours are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m to 9 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5909.
UC Application Workshop — Sponsored by the Transfer Center. Today from 11 a.m. to noon in SF 107. All students are welcome.
theater “Macbeth” — The Theater Arts Department presents Wil-
Career Center Workshop: Researching Careers” — This workshop will acquaint students with career exploration and the research resources avaliable. Today from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Career Center in the San Rafael Building. For more information, call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5407.
Around Town comedy John Mulrooney — The Ice House Comedy Club, 24 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena, presents comedian John Mulrooney. Friday 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. and Saturday at 8 and 10 p.m. Admission is $16.50. For more information, visit www.icehousecomedy.com or call (626) 577-1894.
events Beverly Hills Holiday Lighting Ceremony — 200 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills. The Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce kicks off the holiday season with its annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony, featuring sparkling chandeliers, fireworks and appearances by Nicole Ritchie and Joel Madden. Nov. 22 starting at 5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.lovebeverlyhills.org ABRINK — A festival of Armenian Literature and Culture will be held in the Glendale central library auditorium Nov. 22 and 23. Besides music, dance, workshops and lectures, the Saturday evening events will end with a
play reading by Aram Saroyan at 8 p.m. Fresno writers Mark Arax, Aris Janigan, Pat Hunter and Janice Stevens will also give readings. “Armenian Folklore Alive” will be presented at 2 p.m. Sunday, and at 7:15 p.m. Piano works by Armenian composers will be played by Vatche Mankerian. The events are free and run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 12:30 to 7:15 p.m. Sunday. The library is at 222 E. Harvard St. For information, call (818) 548-2030. Student Volunteer Orientation — Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge. Anyone interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities at Descanso is invited to come for an orientation Saturday from 9 to 10 p.m. For more information, visit www. descansogardens.org or call (818) 949-4200.
exhibitions Hearst the Collector — Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. This unprecedented exhibition of about 170 works owned by William Randolph Hearst will
provide a better understanding of the publishing giant. Now through Feb. 1. Admission is $12 for adults and $8 for students with I.D. Children 17 and under are free. Museum hours vary. For information, visit www.lacma. org or call (323) 857-6000. Thomas the T. Rex Lab — The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles. This is a specially designed exhibit room and lab where visitors get to see paleontology in action as they prepare and assemble the fossil of the Tyrannosaurus rex nicknamed Thomas. ‘Thomas the T. Rex Lab’ is a permanent exhibition. Admission is $9 for adults and $6.50 for students with I.D. For more information, visit www.nhm.org or call (213) 763-3466. Romance of the Bells: California Missions in Art — Pasadena Museum or California Art, 490 E. Union St., Pasadena. This exhibition features paintings of California’s historic Spanish missions created between 1850 and 1950 including works by important Impressionist painters. Admission is $7 for adults and
$5 for students. Museum hours vary. For more information, visit www.pmcaonline.org or call (626) 568-3665.
theater Noise Within — “Hamlet,” “The Rainmaker” and “Oliver Twist” are in repertory production through Dec. 14. Tickets are $28 to $44 with $20 student rush tickets available on hour before production. The theater is at 234 S. Brand Blvd. For times and tickets, call (818) 240-0910, ext. 1. “Tango Adamor” — Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd. Dance Into Unity presents a spectacular Argentine Tango production of original music and passionate tango with acclaimed Broadway Stars including Miriam Larici, Sebastian Huici, Guillermo de Fazio, Natalia Hills, and Guillermo Salvat. Nov. 23 at 7 p.m. Admission prices vary. For information, visit www.alextheatre. org or call (818) 243-2539. “The Lady with All the Answers” — The Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena. David Rambo,
accomplished playwright and writer/producer of television’s ‘CSI: Crime Scene Investigation’, brings us a hilarious and touching glimpse into the innerlife of famed advice columnist Ann Landers. Now through Nov. 23. Ticket prices and showtimes vary. For more information, visit www.pasadenaplayhouse.org or call (626) 356-7529.
wellness Meditations for a Happy Life — Mission Street Yoga, 1017 Mission St., South Pasadena. The Kadampa Meditation Center California presents meditation classes. Tuesdays from 7:45 to 9:15 p.m. with instructor Keli Vaughn. Admission is $12 per class. For more information, visit www.meditateinla.org. Free Health Clinic — Open Tuesdays 6 to 8:30 p.m. On a first come, first served basis. Located at 134 N. Kenwood St. Third floor, room 330. No job related physical exams will be offered. For more information visit www. glendaleclinic.org or call (818) 243-2105, ext. 202. Compiled by Tina Hagopian
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Wednesday, November 12, 2008
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VAQUERO VIEWS
Armenians Celebrate Culture, History — Photos by Allan Beglarian
The Armenian Student Association sponsored a festival on Nov. 6 to share aspects of Armenia’s rich culture including music, food and historic presentations. Vaquero Plaza teams with students visiting various booths (top to bottom); leaning on the table, Collen Crosby, 54, kinesiology major, examines Armenian religious and cultural displays; members of the Armenian Student Association (from left): Ashken Mirzoyan, 22, music; Chantalle Parsakian, 21, communication; Telma Arakelian, 19, English; the current president of ASA, Arpine Kirakosian, 18, biology; Michelle Krikorian, 23, undecided; and Lauren Shenian, 20, cheer, gather for a group shot. ASA members Hratch Gagossian, 18, undecided; and Mushegh Akopyan, 33, biology, prepare Armenian barbecue. An Armenian student, who participated in the defense of Artsakh during the 1992-94 conflict, shows his testimonial passbook and a photograph of his unit, three of whom were casualties of the conflict.