Sept. 30, 2009

El Vaquero September 30, 2009

Glendale College

Why? is the

smoking

controversy on campus leaving everyone out of breath?

Stor y page 6

2

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

www.elvaq.com

NEWS / LETTERS

El Vaquero Student Government Overhauls Web Site Glendale Community College

editor in chief

Brandon Hensley

NEWS/FEATURES EDITOR CAMPUS EVENTS EDITOR

Isiah Reyes Amy Hirsch

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Jesse Gutierrez

STAFF WRITERS

Aris Allahverdian AnnaLinda Andersson Ashley Chang Daniel Choi Anissa Clarke Judy Del Castillo

Agnes Constante Angelica Fraire Cindy Garcia Vera Iwanoff Chloe Vignolles-Jeong Yesenia Pereyra

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS

Richard Kontas Allan Beglarian Shaun Kelly Production Manager

Jane Pojawa

By Yesenia Pereyra

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

T

he Associate Students of Glendale Community College had a meeting on Sept.

22 where a new component of the MyGCC Web site was displayed, called PeopleSoft Student Services.

PeopleSoft is designed for faculty to have the ability to view their student’s information, create career plans and schedules.

For students, the program will provide direct access to their own data and convenient access to enrollments, according to the Student System Implementation Project Character.

Other factors that will be

design adviser

Michael Moreau

mmoreau@glendale.edu (818) 551-5214

advertising

Jeff Smith

jsmith@glendale.edu (818) 240-1000, ext. 1427

El Vaquero accepts story ideas in news, features, profiles, sports and entertainment from the public. To submit an idea or an article, e-mail the editor at editor@elvaq.com or call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5349.

Send Letters to the Editor

Letters may be reproduced in full or in part and represent only the point of view of the writer, not the opinion of El Vaquero or Glendale Community College and its district. Letters must be signed and typed and include the full name and address of the writer. El Vaquero is a First Amendment publication.

EL VAQUERO

1500 N. Verdugo Road Glendale, CA 91208 (818) 240-1000 ext. 5349

Send E-mail to: Editor@elvaq.com

Member of the Journalism Asssociation of Community Colleges

First copy free Additional copies $.25

ppening

at’s Ha h W ’s e r e

H

issue in this , 2009 Sept. 30

Volume

94

r2

Numbe

-10 ..........2 . . . . . s w Ne 1-22 s. . . . . . . 1 e r u t a e F 6 nt...23-2 e m in a t Enter 30 ......28. . . . . . s t r Spo ..31 .......... r a d n le Ca

information technology services.

It was first purchased in 2006 for $1.2 million. Another $3.1 million will cover the employment of Ciber consultants, an implementation partner with GCC. The consultants will implement the program and help run it at school, said Pascua.

Representatives from each department are currently training with Ciber consultants to learn how to configure the system.

Training will continue until the program is aired.

Train the Trainer will be another segment of training where each department will train the staff from their department.

[See ASGCC, page 3]

Letter to the Editor:

Charles Eastman

faculty adviser

featured in the program will include the ability to see the student’s financial records and change their own personal data.

With the various new advance tabs, it will display admission records, the latest information and the student’s transcript if they are planning to transfer.

It will also improve professors’ and student’s communication techniques. It will feature an email tab where e-mails will be transmitted back and forth in a more organized manner, rather than the regular e-mail Web sites.

The program is directed by Dr. Ricardo Perez, vice president of student services along with Arnel Pascua, the project manager associates vice president

A

Should We Be Concerned?

s Americans entrust in our representatives the outcome of health care policy, should we be concerned about the level of contributions key representatives have received and continue to receive from the health industry? Can we trust that these recipients of large sums of money are not beholden to health insurers and others who have a financial stake in the outcome of any health care reform?

Will these representatives be able to make substantive changes to improve our health care system, if these changes have a negative financial impact on their contributors?

These questions are even more vital in light of the recent Harvard study, which found that 45,000 Americans die every year as a result of lack of health insurance. This is especially alarming news as more Americans are finding themselves without health coverage due to the economic recession and skyrocketing health insurance costs.

According to a recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, which was reported in CNNMoney.com on September

15, 2009, “Over the past decade, the annual cost of family coverage has risen 131% and the annual cost for single coverage is up 120% […] In each of the past 10 years, insurance increases have outpaced inflation—sometimes by as much as 11 percentage points.”

If you are one of the lucky ones who have health insurance, you may want to be aware of information that was reported in Reuters on September 2, 2009. The article, which was titled “California’s Real Death Panels: Insurers Deny 21% of Claims”, reported that “More than one of every five requests for medical claims for insured patients, even when recommended by a patient’s physician, are rejected by California’s largest private insurers, amounting to very real death panels in practice daily in the nation’s biggest state, according to data released today by the California Nurses Association/ National Nurses Organizing Committee.”

I don’t know about others, but the fact that firms in the health care industry spent a record $1.4 million a day lobbying our representatives during the first quarter of this year alone is not comforting news.

Furthermore, the latest news that Senator Max Baucus of Montana,

along with the other members of the Gang of Six who are in charge of negotiating a compromise for the health care reform bill, received above average donations from the health industry is quite disconcerting. It was reported in the Associated Press on September 16, 2009 that Senator Baucus alone received “$3.9 million in contributions from the health care industry since 1989—principally because of his place as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.”

Whatever one’s political or philosophical views may be on the whole health care debate, perhaps, we should all pay close attention to the possible corrupting influence of large donations in the political decision making process. Of course we can never say with 100% certainty how this money influences our representatives, but I, for one, would not be comfortable if I was a defendant in a court case and the plaintiff provided the judge with a sizeable donation.

—Richard T. Kamei Associate Professor of Sociology

www.elvaq.com

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

3

NEWS

Deadline for Scholarships Approaches

By Yesenia Pereyra

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

T

he deadline for applications for more than 500 scholarships worth in excess of $300,000 is Oct. 16.

Eligibility includes completion of 12 units or more with a minimum GPA of 2.5.

These scholarships can pay for class registration fees, books and other expenses. Some are for transfer students and can be applied to the transferring institutions.

“I did not know too much about the requirements for the scholarships, so I never applied.

But now that I have actually taken time to see how it works out, I am planning to apply,” said Michelle Sov, 19.

Andy Kenareki, 21, an alumnus of GCC, won the Glendale Community College Foundation Award in 2009. He said he was surprised about winning because it took such a long time before he

was notified, but he was honored and excited. He spent the money on books for all his classes.

There is a wide range of scholarships available which allows a chance for diverse students in their academic level or field of study to apply. Scholarships such as the General Scholarships, the Associatesd Students of Glendale Community College and Re-Entry Program are just a few. Other scholarships include arts, chemistry, computer science, education, and engineering.

However, students are not limited to a scholarship that only applies to their major. said Susan Borquez-Dougherty, the Scholarship Program manager.

The application process itself encourages students to apply because of its simplicity.

The application is found at the scholarship office Web site which requires basic info such as a student’s address, residency status and a couple of questions about their educational goal. A

letter of recommendation from a faculty member and a short personal essay are also part of the application process.

The application is limited to once a year. The scholarships are awarded in the fall and spring semesters. They are presented to the winning students personally, at award banquets or organization meetings.

Individual sponsors and GCC scholarship committee faculty are the judges for the potential scholarship winners.

The scholarship office also uses a software program that analyzes the application, and categorizes it based on the scholarship’s criteria.

If the application complements a certain type of criteria from a scholarship, then the application is sent to the donor.

Glendale has the largest scholarship offering in the state.

Some individual scholarships are worth several thousand dollars, according to the scholarship office.

Donors range from companies, organizations, and people who want to assist students who are in financial need and want to help students pursue their educational goals. Some donors also establish a scholarship to memorialize a loved one, and to honor a family member or a friend.

One of the many complimentary donors is the Crane Fund, which contributes $10,000 each year. Another organization that assists the scholarships is the Patrons Club, made up of retired GCC classified staff. The members of Patrons Club spend their time raising money for scholarships and so far 50 scholarships are available for students said Dougherty.

There are two types of donation plans: either annual or perpetual. The annual plan donor invests funds on their own, and sends the gains as a contribution for a scholarship.

The perpetual plan is administered by the Glendale

Community Foundation (GCF) that maintains scholarship accounts and manages them.

The donor sends a specific sum of money to the GCF, and the Financial group invests the money, and whatever sum of money is gained from the interest rate, is addressed for scholarships.

“Some students that have been here for two years don’t know we have a scholarship program,” said Dougherty. According to the last student survey, only 60 percent of students knew about the program.

When Dougherty first took the job as manager, her goal was to inform students about the program and get as many students as possible to apply for scholarships. She promotes the program with flyers outside the Student Affairs office, and by going to Student Development classes.

Yesenia Pereyra can be reached at Yesenia_Pereyra@elvaq.com

Student Government [ASGCC, from page 2] Instructions will also be also provided for students about the management of the new page said Angieh Bagnoomian, student fees technician.

“The staff is looking forward to the huge improvements to student services that PeopleSoft will provide and they are excited,” said Pascua.

Testing will take place in mid January of 2010. The Financial Aid Department plans to premiere the program

by February of 2010.

In March, it will be ready for Admissions, accepting summer applications, and by the summer of 2010 it is expected to be operating fully, said Sharon Combs dean of Admissions and Records.

The non-credited matriculation is holding a “passport day” on Oct. 27.

Students who are enrolled in non-credit class are encouraged to enroll in credited classes. ASGCC will fund the buses that take students who do not drive

from and to campus.

Campus beautification project was held Tuesday, where students participated to make GCC a clean campus said Erik Sinanyan, senator of campus activities committee.

The day was dedicated to the conservation of the environment, appreciation for the campus and make the environment friendly. The environmental club was also part of the event with ASGCC. Administration provided prizes for students who participate, a raffle took place, and guess speakers were involved such as Dawn Linsday, interim superintendent, and other faculty members.

A blood drive will take place on Oct. 22 from Providence Hospital.

On Oct. 27, the rock band Visa will be performing on campus to get the students involved and to give them a relaxation day since it is around the time of midterms, said Mehu Minas-Massihi, senator of activities.

Yesenia Pereyra can be reached at Yesenia_Pereyra@elvaq.com

Photo by Allan Beglarian

STUDENT LEADERS HOST GATHERING: Associate Students of Glendale Community College from right; Jessica Tjorko, 18; Menua Minasmassihi, 19, both senators of activities and Tzoler Oukayan, student activities coordinator, seated on the left, hand out free food to students at Plaza Vaquero.

WANTED: Letters to the editor.. .

WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND?

4

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

www.elvaq.com

NEWS

AB 540 Students Lift Their VOICES

By Agnes Constante EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

D

avid Garcia was just two years old when he crossed the border. Having been raised in California virtually his entire life, Garcia has no memories whatsoever of his life in Mexico City.

Garcia currently resides in Canoga Park. A normal commute to Glendale College takes him approximately three hours on three different buses. If he had a choice he would drive to school.

The only problem is that he can’t obtain a driver’s license because he doesn’t have a Social Security number.

Like an estimated 400 others at GCC, Garcia is an AB 540 student.

The AB 540 law, which passed in 2001 entitles undocumented students to resident tuition fees in California public colleges and universities given that they have attended a California high school

for at least three years, graduated from a California high school or attained the equivalent (such as a GED) and completed an affidavit with the institution they are attending, stating that they are in the process of legalizing their immigration status or will legalize their status as soon as they are eligible to do so.

As undocumented immigrants, AB 540 students are ineligible for federal aid. The lack of financial aid for these students inspired the creation of Voices Organizing Immigrant Communities for Educational Success at GCC in 2005.

VOICES seeks to provide financial assistance to AB 540 students and to increase AB 540 awareness on campus.

The club’s co-adviser, Greg Perkins, estimated that 20 to 30 of its AB 540 members receive an average of $150 in VOICES scholarships each semester.

These students may also qualify for the AB 540 Community

Photo by Shaun Kelly

SEEKING LEGAL STATUS: Members of VOICES share information about immigration issues during Club Rush Week.

Service Scholarship, the GCC Dream Scholarship, and the

Students Clubs Recruit New Members During Rush Week

By Judy Del Castillo EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

I

n the midst of a heat wave in late September, Club Rush Week was held on the grassy fields of Plaza Vaquero on Sept. 21 through 25.

Clubs of different interests set up booths adjacent to the Administration building.

Representatives from the Associated Students of Glendale Community College (ASGCC) were available to answer any questions. “They [the clubs] have a whole entire week to introduce themselves to the students,” said Ani Karapetyan, Representative of Administration.

Even the scorching weather didn’t seem to affect those attending, many of them firsttime college students.

When asked about reasons for joining, Danielle Francisco, 18, a business major, said, “To meet new people and get involved.” Her friend,

Maggie Bautista, 18, a sociology major, showed an interest Voices Organizing Immigrant Communities for Educational Succes. “I just want to help other people where it really matters,” said Bautista.

VOICES is a support group for AB 540 (undocumented) students. “These students don’t get any help for financial aid,” said Jose Diaz, 18.

Another member, Christian Cano, 18, added, “We go to marches to protest, hold fundraisers…. Our burrito sale is our major fundraiser.” The money goes to scholarships for AB 540 students.

Attention was then turned to the Korean Students Association booth as they played Michael Jackson songs on a mini-stereo.

“Hi, are you guys interested in this club?” shouted co-founder Sunny Kim, 19, to passersby.

Co-founder Sunny Kim, 19, was vocal to anyone walking by the booth, encouraging them to join his club. When asked about

requirements, Sergio Santos, 19, said, “We accept all kinds of ethnicities, as long as you have an interest in Korean culture.

“We haven’t planned out any events yet. Right now we are focused on recruiting people. It’s a new club so we’re learning as we go along. We’ve had Korean barbecue sales and [a member] write your name in traditional Korean writing,” said Santos.

Allan LeGrady, 19, and Linda Heredia-Madoyan, 23, stood in front of their booth with big smiles and flyers on hand for anyone interested in joining the Rotaract Club. “Our goal is to give back to the community.

We do humanitarian work and professional development for students and for ourselves,” said Heredia-Madoyan.

Students surrounding the booth as the club was getting ready for a meeting were [See Club Rush, page 9]

Book Assistance Program.

Though the club primarily serves AB 540 students, its members also include U.S. citizens and residents.

“There’s been quite a few that have not been AB 540 [students],” Perkins said of the club’s members. “But they’re very sympathetic. It’s really nice that these students feel so strongly that this is the right thing to do, that they work hard to raise money so that their fellow students who can’t get financial aid can get scholarships.

Frank Luna, a new member to the club, is not an AB 540 student.

“I want to help people, immigrant [AB 540] students.

They might come to college and not have the money for it. If they have the chance to get money for free, I want to help them,” he said.

Major efforts of the club are currently directed towards pushing forward the DREAM Act, legislation which would eventually provide AB 540 students a path to U.S. citizenship.

It would also make financial aid available to these students.

VOICES is also affiliated with the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles and the California DREAM Network. Both organizations actively participate in measures to promote the DREAM Act.

VOICES also serves as a support group to AB 540 students.

Being without legal status is sometimes difficult for these students.

“I’ve been here since I was one year old. I practically grew up here, so I don’t know any other place,” sophomore Leticia Lopez said.

With many others in the same boat, AB 540 students are thankful to have people to fall back on.

“We didn’t only become a club, we became like a family. We know the trouble that everyone’s going through so we feel like we’re part of a family. There are a lot of people willing to help. You go to the club meetings and when it’s done, we actually get together on the weekends,” VOICES cofounder Omar Moreno said.

While unprecedented challenges lie ahead for these students in reaching their goals, Garica said they group will be unafraid in meeting those obstacles.

“There is that little fear because we are putting ourselves out there,” Garcia said of advocating issues important to AB 540 students. “But we’re out here letting you know that we exist and that we have needs and that there is a type of oppression Agnes Constante can be reached at Agnes_Constante@elvaq.com

www.elvaq.com

Wednesday, September 30, 2009 5

NEWS

Former Administrator Chris McCarthy Dies

By Isiah Reyes

EL VAQUERO NEWS/FEATURES EDITOR

C

hris McCarthy, former executive vice president of instructional services at GCC, passed away Sept. 22 in his Napa home at the age of 56.

The exact cause of death at this point is still unknown. He passed away in his sleep.

“He was the quintessential nice person, very decent, very friendly and very supportive,” said Jean Lecuyer, professor of physics.

“He remains a beloved figure.”

McCarthy had been president of Napa Valley Community College since 2002.

“He was a very dear friend,” said Bart Edelman, professor of English at GCC. “We traveled over the years together and did workshops together. We went to football games together and we were supposed to have dinner on Oct. 10.”

During his term as vice president of instructional services

from 1995 to 2001, he developed programs such as digital animation, Project for Adult College Education (PACE), a weekend college, and the Tutors Today, Teachers Tomorrow program.

“What always impressed me was that sometimes you would do something that was good, and [McCarthy] would talk about it, and he would make you realize that you’d done something better than you thought,” said Lecuyer.

“He could make something that you would think was just ordinary look so wonderful that it made you want to do even more,” said Lecuyer. “He was kind of motivating that way.”

He had touched the lives of many faculty and staff, most of whom are still at the college today.

“He was head of the committee who hired me, and he was my boss for awhile,” said Kristin Bruno of the instructional services department. “He was really a

[dear] friend and mentor to me.

He was an inspiring leader.”

Edelman recalls the gettogether he had planned with McCarthy next month.

“We hadn’t seen each other for awhile and we were really looking forward to seeing each other again,” Edelman said.

“Swapping stories, talking about poetry and publishing, wine and all the normal stuff we always talked about.”

Sue Nelson, Napa College’s vice president of instruction, will perform duties as the college’s acting president. Napa Valley College is situated in Napa Valley, 50 miles northeast of San Francisco.

McCarthy, a poet, had a background teaching English.

He completed his doctorate in education on poets who teach in the classroom.

McCarthy had a bachelor’s degree in English from Immaculate Heart College, a master of fine arts degree

CHRIS McCARTHY: Former executive vice president of instructional services passed away in his sleep. He was 56.

in creative writing from the University of Oregon, a master of arts degree in higher education from the Graduate School of Education at UCLA and a doctorate in higher education from UCLA. “All of us just hope tomorrow we’re going to wake up and

find out it was just a really bad dream,” said Edelman.

McCarthy is survived by his wife Carol, his parents John and Andrea McCarthy, and his brother Eric.

Isiah Reyes can be reached at isiah_reyes@elvaq.com

Salsa Star Re-arrested on Sex Charges

By Vera Iwanoff

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

A

lex Da Silva, 41, a former salsa dance workshop teacher at Glendale Community College, was arrested for a second time on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 and charged with eight separate counts of assault.

Da Silva was first arrested in April, but the district attorney’s office decided to not press any charges against him. Four months later he is being charged with two counts of assault with intent to commit rape, two counts of sexual penetration by a foreign object, and four counts of forcible rape. What changed?

Deputy District Attorney Rosa Alarcon revealed that the alleged assaults supposedly took place between August 2002 and March 2009. When he was arrested in April, the four alleged victims were between the ages of 20 and 26, and had all been dancers or aspiring dancers that had met Alex through his dance classes.

A couple of years ago, Da Silva was part of the Glendale Community College high school dance day. Alexandra Blackbird, the head of the dance department at GCC invited Da Silva as a

guest teacher. Blackbird says that she never saw him acting inappropriately with her students, or if it happened she never knew anything about it.

Blackbird also went on to say that, “Salsa gets flirty, but never like that,” referring to the accusations made against Da Silva. “If anything, I could see ladies coming on to him, or wanting things from him … but then again I never took private dance lessons from him. I’m just surprised, I don’t see it.”

When the Los Angeles Police Department decided to let Da Silva go, they needed more evidence in order to pursue the case and undertook further investigation.

According to L.A. police detective John Eum, Da Silva has had accusations of sexual assault made against him numerous times, in 2003, 2004, and 2005, by some of the same women but never had any charges filed against him.

Shortly before the arrest in April the fourth woman to accuse Da Silva of luring her into his home and then getting her into his bedroom, came forward. When detectives went back to interview the three previous accusers

BEFORE AND AFTER: Above, Alex Da Silva, 41, well-known choreographer from “So You Think You Can Dance,” in a publicity shot and later a mug shot when he was arrested in April earlier this year.

they found that the women did not know each other and had similar stories.

Three more allegations have arisen since the April arrest, as well as two more accusers, who were left to decide whether or not to file police reports. Da Silva was put in jail with a bail of $3.8

million. Four months later his bail is nearly doubled at $6.2 million and it’s not clear why it has been set that high. He is still in custody.

Da Silva has pled “not guilty” to all eight counts against him, and he could face life in prison if convicted, revealed the

Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office. The next court date is set to take place today where he will have his preliminary hearing.

Vera Iwanoff can be reached at Vera_Iwanoff@elvaq.com

6

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

www.elvaq.com

NEWS

Smoking Policy Ignites Campus Controversy

By Angelica Fraire

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

Cover Story

T

he controversy between smokers and non-smokers on campus, including the college’s faculty and staff, heated up early into the semester.

The campus smoking policy makes it clear that smoking is not permitted in any building on campus, in college-owned or leased facilities, or in collegeowned vehicles.

Also, according to Education Code Section 76033 (e.), smoking is not permitted within 20 feet of the entrance to any building or operable window as required

by California Government Code 7597. Smoking shall be permitted in outdoor areas unless posted “No Smoking.”

These regulations apply to all students, staff, faculty and the general public.

The GCC Police Department has a map of eight places on campus where smoking is not allowed. These locations are the Milky Way Café, Haz Mat Storage located next to the AT building, outside corridor (vents), Haz Mat Storage located next to the AA building, SM Patio (outdoor food court), Wood Structure (located in

the LR building), Wood Structure (located in the SFC building) and the Coffee Cart.

When asked how he feels about the campus police enforcing the smoking policy, Miguel Murillo, 20, said, “Not so good because [the police] are not there to monitor. There should be more people [police officers] patrolling.”

Math Professor Mike Allen said, “It would be good if someone from Campus Police would chime in here and tell us how they [would] help enforce the existing smoking restrictions.”

When asked what he thought about Murillo’s comment, Vice President of Administrative Services Ron Nakasone said, “The police should enforce the [smoking] policy; how they enforce that, it is best to ask the police chief.”

Campus Police Chief Steven P. Wagg didn’t respond to several requests for comment.

There are people on campus who want the current smoking policy reviewed, changed, and enforced.

“Whatever policy we chose, I want to make sure it is effectively enforced, we currently have zones where one may not smoke – some

Photo by Angelica Fraire

SMOKE ’EM IF YOU GOT ’EM: Enjoying their habit are Rafayel Harutyanyan, 20, an undecided major; Gor Matevosyan, 19, engineering; Aram Zakharyan, 19, computer science; and Marat Gevorgyan, 20, business.

required by law, and others we designated the last time this issue was discussed in the campus governance process. But I think enforcement of the current system is spotty, at best.” Allen said.

Planetarium Administrator and manager Paul Buehler also had a suggestion. “Perhaps it is time to send out a survey to get a better idea of how we feel [about] this growing problem should be handled. I’m in favor of giving smokers places to put out their butts as they enter our campus,” he said.

According to the May 13, 2008 Administrative Affairs minutes, a survey regarding smoking on campus was conducted in March.

2008.

Out of 807 nonsmokers, 87 want to continue designated nonsmoking areas, 326 want to have designated smoking areas, and 394 want to ban smoking.

Out of 218 smokers: 113 want to continue designated nonsmoking areas, 87 want to have designated smoking areas, and 18 want to ban smoking. There were a total of 1,025 students surveyed.

Emily Ramos, 24, agreed with other students, faculty and staff about having designated areas for smokers. “I would like designated areas because I don’t know if the person next to me wants me to smoke right next to them or not,” she said.

Nakasone stated that in order to get the current smoking policy changed, the issue would “first have to go through Administrative Affairs and there would have to be a proposal

made. Then it would have to go to the committees for review… [here it would be] important for the students on the committee to bring the student’s opinion which will play a great role [in decision making].Then it would go to the Executive Committee…then to the board.”

Each branch has to go through a two process reviews in which each committee has to examine the proposal twice before it can go to the next department where they also have to discuss the issue twice. “Since each committee meets once a month, this would take a period of six months,” Nakasone said.

Even though students, faculty and staff have expressed their concerns about smoking issues on campus, there are many things that need to be discussed. There needs to be a new proposal made before a new smoking policy can be implemented.

Angelica Fraire can be reached at Angelica_Fraire@elvaq.com

www. elvaq. com

www.elvaq.com

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

7

NEWS

Food for Thought Feeds Needy Students

By Agnes Constante EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

S

tudents in extreme financial need may be eligible to participate in Food for Thought, a program designed to assist students in buying food while enrolled in school.

Awarded applicants receive $100 per month for 10 months, amounting to a total of $1,000 for the award period.

Counselors Jeanette Stirdivant and Valerie Rhaney created Food for Thought in 1997 after learning that certain students couldn’t decide whether to buy books for school or whether to buy food to fill their stomachs.

Rhaney is a counselor and associate professor and Stirdivant is the student services division Chair.

“We found that we had students having to make decisions on whether or not they were going to buy food or buy books. And that was just a killer for us,” Stirdivant said.

At the time Rhaney learned that some students were trying to make ends meet on $600 to $800 per month.

“I had heard about some students who were renting trailers.

They had a special on these UHauls, $19.99 for the weekend. I heard rumors that students were so desperate that they would rent the U-Hauls for the weekend, stay in them, go to a gas station, wash up and whatnot,” she said.

“Jeanette and I said, ‘This is crazy! A student shouldn’t have to choose between buying food for themselves and family and going to school.”

Another concern Stirdivant and Rhaney had was the possibility that students facing these choices might drop out of school.

“Some of the students really had high GPAs and we wanted them to continue. These are students who are good students.

They just need a little hand up,” Rhaney said.

2002 recipient Lorena Cabrera* was one student who considered quitting school to work full time in order to support her children.

“I didn’t know how I was going to make it through the holidays being that my financial situation has worsened,” she said in a thank you letter. “But now with this help it has given me an incentive to keep trying to reach

the goal that I have been dreaming of for years.”

An average of 15 students are awarded each year, though the number of awards varies based on available funds.

Food for Thought is funded through the Associated Students of Glendale Community College, voluntary payroll deductions from faculty and staff, individual donations from faculty and staff, and the Christian Rural Overseas Program Hunger Walk.

Mass communications instructor Michael Eberts also raises funds for the program once during the fall semester and once during the spring semester.

During the full semesters Eberts holds field trips for his classes. Among these trips include participation in TV tapings, where students are paid to be audience members.

All funds raised from these tapings are donated to Food for Thought.

“I can see where a community college student might be so desperately poor that they’d be unable to continue their studies, and that seems like a shame. And this program helps,” Eberts said.

“I find it quite an idealistic sort of program.”

To be considered for the program students must: submit a complete application by noon on Oct. 23, have applied and qualified for the Pell Grant, meet State of California residency requirements, qualify for the Board of Governors enrollment fee waiver, have completed a minimum of 12 units, have a minimum 2.0 GPA, be enrolled in at least six units, and have a Student Educational Plan (which must also be submitted with the application).

Food vouchers can be redeemed at Ralphs and all of its affiliates and at Food 4 Less, and vouchers cannot be used to redeem alcohol and cigarettes.

Previous awardees have benefited tremendously from the program.

Thirty-year-old Latoya Kirkland who was awarded in 2008 is a full time student who receives the Pell Grant and vouchers from Glendale College’s Extended Opportunity Program and Services.

Kirkland looks after her severely disabled mother who is on 24-hour oxygen, She also is diabetic and has emphysema.

“I had to quit my job because my mom is so sick, so I don’t have a job right now,” she said.

Her mother requires a special diet so Kirkland was spending around $80 to $100 a month on food.

During her award period Kirkland was able to maintain food expenses.

“It helped a lot as far as getting a lot of fruits and vegetables because food prices nowadays are ridiculously expensive, and that helped so much,” she said.

Food for Thought is a one-time award but Kirkland is grateful to have been a recipient.

“If we didn’t have this program I wouldn’t know how I would get through, so I’m truly thankful,” she said.

2008 recipient Antonio Rodriguez* also benefited from Food for Thought.

“I really needed this program because I live by myself since

my beloved mother passed away already and my father is in the nursing home because he had a stroke,” he said.

Rodriguez is unemployed. He receives Supplemental Security Income and financial aid from the college.

Associate Dean for the Center for Students with Disabilities Joy Cook, encouraged students to submit applications.

“There is only one application period a year. This is it. So if you feel like you’ve met the qualifications, and there aren’t many, please come in. Get an application and make sure that you submit a complete application,” she said.

Cook organizes the program annually by sending out applications and gathering the committee responsible for deliberating award recipients.

Rhaney thanked those who contributed to the program.

“The program would not have existed as long as its existed if it hadn’t been for the faculty on this campus. So I think the students need to know they have a wonderful body of people that work here,” she said.

Rhaney added that faculty members interested in making a payroll deduction for this program may do so by contacting Cook at ext. 5450, Stirdivant at ext. 5424, Rhaney at ext. 5905 or 5873, or the Foundation Office in the administration building.

Applications can be found at the Information Desk, EOPS office, Center for Disabled Students, and Financial Aid office. Late applications will not be processed. *Names of students have been changed.

Agnes Constante can be reached at Agnes_Constante@elvaq.com

Locker Thefts Plague Gym

By Anissa Clarke

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

W

hile sitting on a wooden bench, in the crowded, warm locker room, Kimberly Dominguez, 21, kept a roaming eye on the girls all around her. As a student who uses the lockers for more than just her gym socks and sneakers, Dominquez is worried about locker thefts on campus.

According to Campus Police, Glendale College experienced 10 burglaries in 2005, five in 2006 and six in 2007.

“There’s been talk about adding cameras in certain parts of the men’s locker room, and I’d be the first to volunteer to help put them up,” said P.E. Coach Jon Gold.

Gold has seen too many students become a victim of theft.

“Guys will come in and scope around to see what other guys are putting in their lockers, then come by another day and bang off the locks with a hammer,” Gold said.

“I’ve heard some students keep up to $300 dollars in their

locker. My advice is to never keep “I put everything in my anything of value in your locker,” locker, my whole bag…my Gold said. life,” she said. Dominquez has Two years ago, the men’s been using the women’s lockers locker room was hit hard when for over three semesters. “You someone broke into every locker would think girls would have in the gym. more respect for each other.”

“They even broke into my office Although shocked about and stole a signed NFL football,” the theft, Dominguez is just equipment manager Rodger Silva going to make adjustments. said about the incident. He also “I’m still going to use agreed with Gold that the school the lockers -- I’m just going is doing what to be more they can to fight cautious,” said against theft.

Dominquez. “‘I’ve heard some “The school B e i n g students keep up got new entrance cautious is doors [for the key to to $3,000 in their the gym] and avoiding locker.” since then the locker theft. robberies have Gold and Silva — Jon Gold decreased,” said recommend Silva. that students Campus Police would not never leave their locker comment further on whether unlocked and unattended to. thefts have decreased.

Also, never leave money in the During orientation for P.E. locker. And finally, never tell class, Gold told the story of two anyone the locker combination. girls who started talking to a So far this semester, the college student while she was opening hasn’t experienced any locker her locker, and while one of the theft. thieves asked the student to help her with her lock, the other one got into the student’s locker and Anissa Clarke can be reached at Anissa_Clarke@elvaq.com stole her belongings.

8

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

www.elvaq.com

NEWS

Pack-a-Backpack Benefits Homeless Kids

By Angelica Fraire

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

G

lendale Community College’s students, faculty and staff came together to help out homeless children while demonstrating the importance of volunteerism at the community level as well as around the nation.

The college’s Student Center held a ceremony on Sept. 11, from 10 to 10:30 a.m. in which the Center for Student Involvement (CSI) presented School on Wheels with 48 backpacks to children in kindergarten through 12th grade.

School on Wheels is a nonprofit organization established in 1993 located in Los Angeles and in New York.

“The students, my coworker and I came together and brainstormed to come up with the idea [of donating backpacks with school supplies],” Hoover Zariani, GCC director of Student Involvement, said.

After two weeks of selling bagels, CSI ended up with $300.

According to Zariani, “People didn’t want the bagel [and] instead wanted to donate five, 10 dollars.”

The money was used to buy supplies and later the backpacks were filled with “basic things [because if the kids] don’t have [the] essentials, [they] don’t do well in school,” Zariani said. He was proud to mention that in all there were 600 items donated.

Ryan Locante, director of operations for the nonprofit organization said, “Tutoring is a big part of what we do, but we also help with school enrollments, school uniforms, and of course, backpacks and school supplies that come from donations like the one we received from GCC. Last year we served 5,000 kids. We tutored 2,000.”

The organization gets in contact with homeless kids through school districts and shelters, but Locante said, “We also find some on our own doing

outreach at hotels, motels and resource centers, or by simply talking to families on the streets of Skid Row.” Not all the causes are clear as to why these children in the program are homeless. However, Locante stated that “some of the reasons we’ve heard stem from economic issues, home foreclosures, bad luck, domestic violence, parental mental and physical illness, and parent drug addiction and alcoholism.

“Some of the children do end up chronically homeless…but we do hear about a lot of families receiving Section 8 Vouchers to help with permanent housing, which is a start.”

Section 8 Vouchers is a program that allows low-income families to afford housing. These vouchers are federally funded and are only provided in the United States.

When asked where the children go when they are not in school or where they sleep, Locante said, “I’m sure that this is different for every family, but …they sleep in homeless shelters, motels, hotels, cars, doubled-up with family or friends and sometimes on the street.”

Zariani said that CSI is going to “try to have a theme for each event ... we want to make it an annual event.”

Zariani gave the suggestion of having a “token drive” for one of the fundraising ideas because he realized there is a token problem, therefore some kids “are late or don’t come [to school and] obviously they don’t learn.” These tokens are coins that people can use as a way to pay for bus fares on metro busses.

Zariani said that students, faculty and staff can still donate at any time throughout the year because CSI wants to make it an annual event.

When asked what kinds of things people could donate, Zariani said “pens, pencils, paper … obviously markers for the younger kids … but people don’t realize that crayons are in big demand.”

For More Photos, Updates & Online Exclusives, visit:

www.elvaq.com

Photo by Allan Beglarian

HELPING HOMELESS KIDS: Hoover Zariani, director of Student Involvement, has organized a drive to provide underprivileged children with school supplies.

Anything a child can benefit from in grades K-12 is more than welcome.

Zariani and the students involved in this event want to

make this an annual event to celebrate National Day of Service on Sept. 11.

The Center for Student Involvement is located next to the

cafeteria on the second floor.

Angelica Fraire can be reached at Angelica_Fraire@elvaq.com

www.elvaq.com

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

9

NEWS

Speed-Related Car Crashes Take Toll on Teens

By Judy Del Castillo EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

J

ust after 10 p.m. on May 18, 2007, Sarkis Atikyan, a senior from Clark Magnet High School, was killed when his car swerved on the Hollywood (170) Freeway and slammed into nearby trees.

On Aug. 27, 2008, two cars collided after traveling at a dangerous speed in a 35 mph zone on Colorado Boulevard, when one car hit a tree and split in half., killing four teenagers, including 19-year-old Cristyn Cordova, who was eight months pregnant.

On Aug. 13, 18-year-old Tina Uguryan, a GCC student and graduate of Clark Magnet, was killed along with her boyfriend Robert Vardanyan, 21.

Uguryan was the passenger when Vardanyan crashed into a tree on the Colorado Street offramp from the Golden State (5) freeway.

What do these stories have in common? These people, who were merely teenagers and young adults, were the victims of fatal car crashes that resulted from speeding and reckless driving.

Road rage may have been the culprit in Cordova’s case, and not racing as initially speculated, said Detective Josephine Mapson of the Los Angeles Police Department. In addition, two of the passengers in the car were killed as a result of not wearing seatbelts.

Vardanyan cut off a motorist before crashing his Nissan into a tree.

Uguryan died from traumatic injuries and Vardanyan was given toxicology tests to determine if drugs or alcohol were involved, said the captain of investigator’s division at the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office.

According to statistics on city-data.com, there have been 102 vehicles involved in fatal car crashes between 2003 to 2008 in the city of Glendale alone.

On an online forum for the Armenian community, many topics have been discussed regarding car accidents that have occurred within the surrounding areas. In response, members have expressed awareness and concern in the issue of speeding.

One member, only identified as Sienna, said, “I moved to Los Feliz three years ago. Since then, I have encountered hundreds of

men, young and not so young, and some girls who drive around in the neighborhood at top speed.

No regard or respect for anyone around them but themselves, and, I guess, who they can impress.

It’s embarrassing to witness what goes on the streets. Please do something that is good to change the way people respond and react to who we are. We’re cool as a nationality; we don’t have to prove it. Please drive carefully and take good care of yourself and others on the road.”

A Glendale High School student, whose name wasn’t identified, has posted on the site seeking advice about one of his friends who speeds at 80 to 100 mph even on small streets.

As the topic of speeding is getting more attention within the Glendale community, some members have even vowed to change their ways. In response to Uguryan’s death, Hovik, a friend of Uguryan’s, said he was a speed freak until he got the call while going 95 mph on the freeway.

“This opened my eyes. I went out and I was speeding and I remembered Tina’s face and I’m like, ‘She didn’t do anything to deserve this,’ and I realized what a moron I always was for speeding.”

Many cities have been cracking down on speeding and reckless driving.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Colorado Boulevard, a popular speeding zone, including the tragedy surrounding Cordova and her passengers, has stepped up on its traffic enforcement by installing surveillance cameras, increasing the number of patrol cars on the road, and even removing the synchronization of red lights so that a car cannot zoom through the streets.

Still, some residents have raised other worries. “I don’t see why Colorado [street] needs to be so wide. It encourages people to go fast on a road that has blind turns,” said long-time resident Tony Fernandez.

Detective Josephine Mapson, who is all too familiar with car collisions and has seen “too many to name,” encourages everyone, especially young adults, to follow correct speed limits and always wear seatbelts.

Regarding friends who drive recklessly, Anna, a member of the Armenian community Web site, said, “Value your life and

SPEEDING ACCIDENT CLAIMS TWO LIVES: The Nissan driven by Robert Vardanyan was crushed beyond recognition when he lost control of his vehicle and hit a tree. Vardanyan and Uguryan were two of several fatalities caused by speeding aand reckless driving in the Glendale area.

be a good friend and don’t let him sit behind the wheel. He will thank you one day!”

Another member, who goes by the name D.C., put it frankly. “If a ‘friend’ puts your life in danger,

he’s not a friend by any means.”

Judy Del Castillo can be reached at Judy_Del_Castillo@elvaq.com

Club Rush [Club, from page 4] encouraged to attend.

Clubs that were also present included Creative Minds, Alpha Gamma Sigma, the Persian Club, the Environmental Club, Business Entertainment, the Armenian Student Association, the Pilipino Cultural Organization, The Readers, GCC Speech & Debate, the Music Club, and others.

According to ASGCC, the college has over 50 clubs catered to diverse cultures and interests. The deadline to create clubs is Oct. 1, so there will be more clubs after Club Rush Week, said Jessica Gabrielian, Senator of Finance.

Anyone interested in starting a new club or for any information on clubs at GCC should contact the Student Activities Coordinator, Tzoler Oukayan, at (818) 240-1000 (ext. 3033) or toukayan@ glendale.edu.

Judy Del Castillo can be reached at Judy_Del_Castillo@elvaq.com

Photo by Allan Beglarian

JOIN THE CLUB: IOC clubs try to recruit students to their cause during rush week.

10

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

www.elvaq.com

NEWS

Seasonal Flu Shots Now Available

By Amy Hirsch

EL VAQUERO CAMPUS EVENTS EDITOR

C

onventional flu shots are now available in the health center, but this year there are fears for more than the usual week of nasal congestion, headache, cough, muscle aches and fatigue.

There is concern that the worldwide spread of swine flu could cause outbreaks of unusual severity. Children and young adults are known to be particularly at risk due to lack of prior exposure to similar viruses.

Influenza H1N1, commonly known as swine flu, drew worldwide attention this spring when it spread suddenly within Mexico, resulting in the death of a number of young people.

The outbreak ended after very stringent measures were taken to isolate those with symptoms and severely limit school and work attendance as well as travel.

According to Maureen McNeely, a registered nurse in the health center, “Anyone with flu-like symptoms and a fever greater than 100 [degrees Fahrenheit] should not come to

school… stay home until at least 24 hours after fever resolves.”

McNeely also recommends that “sick people stay in separate rooms, cover up and wash hands frequently after coughs and sneezes.”

Glendale student Katharine Beghouzian is fairly confident that she can avoid catching the flu by “sanitizing my hands and washing if I touch something that may be dirty.”

Influenza is known to mutate and recombine its genetic material readily, therefore effective immunization has been very difficult, requiring that various components of the vaccine be customized each season in an attempt to cover the strains of viruses recently active.

Unfortunately, according to Center for Disease Control (CDC), the current seasonal flu shot for the 2009 season will provide no immunity from H1N1.

Currently, H1N1 flu is classed as a worldwide pandemic. Tests show that nearly all flu activity in the U.S. at this time is H1N1.

Flu activity is already well above average for this time of year

with concern that spread could become explosive due to ease of transmission in a population with little immunity from prior exposure.

Most cases of swine flu now being seen are resulting in symptoms similar to those typical for the usual seasonal flu. Recovery is normally full and uncomplicated after about a week of illness. Nevertheless, experts are worried about the potential development of a more severe illness from mutating and recombining viral strains such as occurred in the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic when millions died worldwide.

In order to prevent a potentially catastrophic flu season, the CDC and World Health Organization (WHO) have recommended that an urgent immunization program against H1N1 be implemented.

Several pharmaceutical companies are now producing maximum amounts of vaccine designed to give immunity against H1N1. Currently trials are ongoing to determine the safety and effectiveness of this vaccine.

Latest reports from the CDC

indicate an excellent prediction of effectiveness, based on antibodies to the virus showing up on blood tests less than two weeks after immunization. It appears that a single shot will be sufficient. No unexpected adverse reactions have been reported.

Supplies of the H1N1 vaccine are expected to be sufficient to immunize approximately 200 million people in the U.S. The anticipated date for shipments to begin to arrive for use is midOctober, according to the CDC. According to the CDC and Jonathan Fielding MD, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the swine flu vaccination is “recommended for all persons six months through 24 years of age; persons who live with or care for infants less than six months of age; pregnant women; health care workers and emergency services personnel; and persons 25 through 64 years of age with medical conditions that put them at high risk for complications if they get influenza.”

Fielding also emphasized the need to “wash your hands, cover

your coughs and sneezes, avoid touching your nose, mouth and eyes, and stay home if you or your child is sick.”

Despite emphasis on the H1N1 flu, immunization against seasonal flu is recommended in addition for those at risk of complications.

People in the special categories, other than age, for which swine flu shots are advised should get seasonal flu shots also.

According to Jessica Lo Guercio of the GCC health center, 250 doses of the seasonal flu shot are now available for students and staff. The cost is $10 for students, $20 for staff, cash only.

It is not yet known when supplies of H1N1 vaccine will become available on campus, but mid-October is predicted.

The health center is on the first floor of the San Rafael building, open Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Amy Hirsch can be reached at amy_hirsch@elvaq.com

Got Insurance? Health Care Reform and Students

By Daniel Choi

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

“Just like the change that began in our campaign, it starts with people — especially young people — who are determined to take this nation’s destiny into their own hands.”

—President Barack Obama

A

s members of Congress seek an alternative to the current U.S. health care system, more than 10 million young adults ages 19 to 26 remain uninsured.

According to a study by the Urban Institute, a non-partisan organization, young adults account for 28 percent of the uninsured adult population, but make up only 18 percent of the total population.

The high rate of uninsured young adults compared to older adults stems from various factors.

The former is more likely to hover around the federal poverty line, placing health insurance out of their budget. While 30 percent have incomes below the poverty line, only 12 percent of older

adults have an income of less than $10,830, the poverty income level in all U.S. states, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. It increases by $3,470 for each additional member in a family.

In addition, since the rate of marriage and full-time employment are low among young adults, they are less likely to be offered employer-sponsored insurance Medi-Cal, California’s public health insurance program, provides health services to residents based on income and resources. However, regardless of income and medical needs, individuals over the age of 21 who are not senior citizens, pregnant or disabled generally do not qualify for assistance.

More than half of all U.S. states extend dependent coverage past the standard cut-off age of 19, but different rules apply in each state.

In California, dependent children may stay under their parents’ insurance plan indefinitely. In some states, however, marriage and schooling play a factor. The

cut-off age in Idaho is 21 for unmarried non-students. For fulltime students, it is 25.

During President Obama’s election campaign, he proposed expanding public programs such as Medicaid and requiring all private insurers’ to extend coverage of children to the age of 26.

On Sept. 17, during a speech at the University of Maryland, President Obama reiterated his proposal for extended coverage.

“Listen up, young people… under my plan, if your parents have health insurance and you’re currently on their policy, you will automatically be able to keep your coverage until you’re 26 years old,” said Obama. “That means you will know that you’ve got health insurance.”

Other than external forces, many young adults willingly forgo health insurance plans. They see their youth as a protective barrier from health problems suffered mainly by those who are older.

If more young adults purchased health insurance, it would spread

out risk, and premiums for older adults would decrease.

Whichever health care reform bill is passed and approved, people of all ages should be able to afford health insurance whether it is through cheaper plans or subsidies.

Under the Senate and Finance Committee’s bill, Medicaid would expand and cover all individuals living in near poverty. A “young invincible” plan would be made available, which provides catastrophic coverage for individuals 25 and younger. The plan is designed to reduce costs in the event of a major accident or extensive medical care, meaning a high deductible and low premium. The bill requires most

U.S. citizens and legal residents to have health insurance. To enforce the requirement, individuals face tax penalties ranging from $750 to $950 depending on level of income.

23-year-old Catherine Manabat, who graduated from UCLA and is currently enrolled at GCC, sees the penalties as an unfair necessity.

“I think the reason for the penalty is a way for them [the government] to find a way to still have money coming in for it,” she said. “I don’t think it’s necessarily fair, but I guess the money has to come from somewhere.”

Daniel Choi can be reached at Daniel_Choi@elvaq.com

Check Out Our

Online Magazine www.gccinsider.com

www.elvaq.com

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

11

FEATURES

GALEX Blasts Off Science Lecture Series

By Isiah Reyes

EL VAQUERO NEWS/FEATURES EDITOR

A

n adventure in ultraviolet with the Galaxy Evolution Explorer was experienced by a full house on Sept. 22 featuring Caltech speaker Dr. James Don Neill in the ongoing Science Lecture series on campus.

The free lecture was held in the Santa Barbara building at noon and focused on the orbiting space telescope known as GALEX, which observes galaxies in ultraviolet light across 10 billion years of cosmic history.

Neill, a senior postdoctoral scholar at Caltech, discussed the GALEX mission, the expected and unexpected results of its findings and other details about the telescope, such as its cost, dimensions and abilities.

“If you want to learn a lot about galaxies that are distant, you are restricted to essentially detecting radiation from those galaxies,” Neill said.

The telescope specializes in detecting ultraviolet wavelengths.

Poghos Kazarian, professor of general physics on campus, said, “From time to time, you get very high energy objects being born and they give you a splash of ultraviolet.”

This helps scientists map together the universe’s past.

Astronomical discoveries require new and advanced technologies to help measure unexplained phenomena that occur throughout the galaxy. The telescope uses one of the most sensitive, wide-field ultraviolet detectors available. It can help give a better understanding of localized and universal star formation.

“The process you want to desire is to basically observe our universe with more precision, more accuracy and with more scope,” Neill said.

Neill explained how a typical galaxy, the basic structure of our universe, continues to evolve and change. He stated that young galaxies tend to be blue in color, whereas older galaxies (such as our own sun) tend to comprise of a red color. Transitional stars are green in color. “[GALEX] gives more detailed information about how stars and galaxies evolve,” Kazarian said.

“High intensity stars basically live fast and die young. The

bigger your mass, the faster you burn.”

Led by the California Institute of Technology, GALEX is conducting several first-of-a-kind sky surveys, including an extragalactic (beyond our galaxy) ultraviolet all-sky survey.

During its mission, the telescope will produce the first comprehensive map of a universe of galaxies under construction, bringing a better understanding of how galaxies like our own Milky Way were formed.

GALEX was successfully launched on April 28, 2003 at 8 a.m. from Cape Canaveral, Fla. It has a 384-mile orbit and orbits Earth every 98 minutes.

It consists of two detectors, one of which detects far ultraviolet wavelengths (150 nanometers) and the other which detects near ultraviolet wavelengths (250 nanometers).

All GALEX data is archived, hosted and made publicly available through the MultiMission archive at the Space Telescope Science Institute.

The telescope is also available for guest investigators to use for their own projects.

Partnering with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory on the mission are Caltech; Orbital Sciences Corporation, Germantown, Md.; UC Berkeley; Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea; Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.; Columbia University, N.Y. and Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille, France.

A power surge on May 29 shut the telescope down. The project reviewed data from the incident and confirmed it had the same characteristics as three previous incidents occurring in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Presently, the GALEX project is performing a series of actions to remove debris believed to be causing the shorting condition from within the detector. The actions require multiple on-andoff cycling of the detector at various voltage levels, followed by an analysis of the results. The voltage and current settings are then adjusted, and the process is repeated.

To make up for its lost time and observations, the project plans to use its far-ultraviolet detector when it resumes operations.

The discoveries made by the telescope are important to

Photo by Allan Beglarian

GALAXY QUEST: The Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) was the subject of a science lecture Sept. 22.

scientists and non-scientists alike.

The more breakthroughs that are being unearthed, the more it will help lead into a future where technological advancements can help improve our understanding of the universe.

The Science Lecture Series is coordinated by Dr. Sid Kolpas.

The next science lecture is called

“From the Beginning to the End... and Everything in Between (System Error: Please Reinstall the Universe and Reboot)” and will be held on Oct. 27 by Kazarian in SB 243. It is free and open to the public.

The GCC Cosmology and Astrophysics Club will also be presenting a lecture as part of

the Humanities Lecture Series called “The Anthropology of Star Trek and Star Wars” on Oct. 8 in Kreider Hall at noon. It will be presented by Daryl Frazetti from Western Nevada College.

Isiah Reyes can be reached at isiah_reyes@elvaq.com

Campus Beautification Fair

Photo by Greg Parks

CAMPUS BEAUTIFICATION FAIR: Food, contests, information booths and speakers including Interim President/Superintendant Dawn Lindsay, took place in Plaza Vaquero Tuesday from.noon to 1 p.m. ASGCC members, from left, Jessica Tjokro, Julie Djigardjian, Erick Sinanyan, Steven Gabriel (student participant), and Hermine Gevondyan canvas the campus picking up trash as part of the Campus Beautification Fair.

12

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

www.elvaq.com

OPINION / FEATURES

Parking Lot Philosophy: The Waiting Game

By Ashley Chang

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

M

ornings can be hectic.

Anarchy waits as you enter a concrete jungle; a packed parking lot full of restless students in search of a parking space. You spot gleaming reverse lights ahead. You gun forward, turning on your blinker, signaling to others that they must search elsewhere. As you wait, your patience begins to run dry and if it seems they are taking their sweet time, they are.

“Most people think they leave faster, but in reality, they take more time to leave when another car waits near their space,” said Professor Barry Ruback of Penn State University.

Ruback and Daniel Juieng, a professor at Georgia State University, observed 200 departing cars in a mall parking lot and discovered that people took longer to leave when someone was waiting to occupy ‘their’ spot.

“Territorial Defense in Parking Lots: Retaliation Against Waiting Drivers,” an article written by Ruback and Juieng, also notes that if a car becomes intrusive and honks its horn, people take

even longer and become more territorial.

“Like our ancestors, we humans still defend territories, but we do so even when they are temporary public areas,” said Ruback. “This reaction is counterproductive because it takes more time and the driver’s entire goal was to leave the space anyway.”

Many students are part of the status quo and are frequent offenders.

Some attempt to disguise the behavior by rummaging through their backpacks, while others talk on cell phones as their peers anxiously wait.

“People here always do that.

It’s annoying. I’m already late as it is,” said Kevin Kwon, 24, as he walked toward campus. “People take forever just to get to their car, just because they know everyone wants their spot.”

Most students can relate to Kwon. Attempting to obtain a parking space during busy periods can be more stressful than sitting in traffic during rush hour.

During such times, cars can be seen lined up in uniform, anxiously waiting near parking lot entrance ways with hopes of providing a tram-like service to those willing to give up

their winnings.

It is no wonder students become territorial. The stress, anger, and annoyance of the search can take its toll, and finally achieving their long awaited victory can transform a mere parking spot into a prized possession.

When asked if he was ever guilty of the primitive behavior, Kwon smirked and proudly replied, “I waited.”

For Kwon, self-awareness is a start. Those involved in Ruback and Juieng’s experiment felt they had been more chivalrous than they actually were, illustrating the “inconsistency between what people think they do and their actual behavior,” said Ruback.

Not all students are protective of communal space. Art major, Eric Lee, 19, recalls being late for a final a few semesters ago and inevitably, the parking lots were full and lines already formed. “I was desperate,” said Lee, “so I offered this woman five bucks for her parking spot. She didn’t take the money, but she gave it to me anyway.”

But do not be quick to assume women are less likely to take their time. Both men and women were found equally guilty of territorial behavior. Compared to women,

however, men departed much faster when a high-status was car waiting for the parking space.

Having an expensive car won’t necessarily guarantee quicker service.

Stephanie Cristales, 22, hesitantly admitted to intentionally taking longer at times when a high-status car was waiting, explaining it was some form of “balance.”

Whether it be someone waiting in a single stall bathroom or in

line at your local coffee shop, the conscious act of being courteous to others can create a better kind of balance; a balance that can be seen when you find yourself in the calm of a parking lot, having escaped the chaos of traffic, waiting for a car to depart.

Ashley Chang can be reached at Ashley_Chang@elvaq.com

Photo by Yesenia Pereyra

TO THE VICTOR GO THE SPOILS: Parking lot territoriality pits “haves” against “have nots.”

Beeline Makes Transportation Affordable

By Cindy Garcia

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

I

t takes four quarters to buy something from the 99 Cent Store, and two quarters to buy a cookie from the cafeteria on campus, but it takes only one quarter to ride on the Glendale Beeline buses.

According to the Glendale Public Works, the Beeline has one of the cheapest fares among other local public transportation services. The Beeline cash fare for the general public is 25 cents and only 15 cents for disabled persons and adults over 60.

Neighboring Pasadena and Burbank have double and even triple the fares of the Beeline.

Burbank local transportation fare is one dollar per passenger, regardless of age or ability.

Pasadena´s local transportation fare is not as high as Burbank’s, but also not as affordable as Glendale’s. It is 50 cents for the

general public and 25 cents for the disabled.

For many GCC students riding the Beeline Bus, it is a convenient and affordable way to get to school. They get to school on time without the stress and frustration of not finding a parking space for just 25 cents per ride.

Mariana Rosales, 21, a motion picture and television arts major, takes the Beeline every day to get to school because she finds it a better deal than purchasing a parking permit.

“Even though I have a car I don’t drive to school and I rather pay 50 cents per day,” said Rosales. “It’s not worth paying $60 when you never find parking.”

Rosales lives three miles away from campus and it takes her about 15 minutes to get to school. But for Karina Aguilar, 21, a communications major, it takes more than an hour to reach school because she lives in

Burbank, nine miles away.

As an alternative to taking three buses or driving herself crazy trying to find a parking space, she drives to school but she doesn’t park at any of the parking lots.

Instead, she parks her car one and a half miles away in the shopping center on Glendale Avenue.

“I usually drive to school but this semester I’m taking the bus too,” said Aguilar. “I like that I don’t have to feel frustrated about finding parking and it’s only a quarter!”

Unlike Aguilar and Rosales, other students take the bus not just to save money or because they don’t want to deal with stress or frustration, but because of necessity.

Jaqueline Talavera, 20, a liberal studies major, takes the bus because she doesn´t own a car. She takes three buses in order to get to school.

“I take the 94 and 794 in the Metro Line and the Beeline 7 and

it takes me half an hour,” said Talavera.

Talavera confesses that she likes the Beeline better than the Metro service.

“The Beeline is cheaper and cleaner and the drivers are nicer,” she said. “And also I like the fact that I know when the bus is coming with nextbus.com.”

Nextbus.com is a Web site that allows students and other Beeline users find out the real arrival time of the next bus at any particular stop. The information can also be sent to any cell phone via text message just by texting the agency and stop number.

The Beeline is one of the seven agencies in Southern California that has this service.

Another advantage of taking the Beeline buses is that if students are taking a non-Beeline bus they can buy a transfer for only 50 cents. This transfer will save 75 cents since the Metro fare is $1.25.

The Beeline offers routes 3 and 7 to students. Bus 3 starts its route by the Glendale Galleria and ends at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, also offering service to La Cañada Flintridge. The operation hours are 5:45 a.m. to 7:38 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. on Saturday.

Bus 7´s first stop is located at Victory and Western at the boundary of Glendale and Burbank. Bus 7 does not provide service in Burbank but its bus stops are strategically connected with other Metro stops.

Operation hours are 6 a.m. to 7:07 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5:12 p.m. on Saturday.

For more information visit www.nextbus.com and www. glendalebeeline.com

Cindy Garcia can be reached at Cindy_Garcia@elvaq.com

www.elvaq.com

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

FACULTY PAGES

GLENDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE CONTRACT FACULTY BY DIVISIONS FALL SEMESTER 2009 ADMINISTRATIVE CABINET

Dawn Lindsay Interim Superintendent/ President

Mary Mirch Acting Vice President Instructional Services

Sharon Combs Dean Admissions & Records

Ron Nakasone Interim Exec.

Vice President Administrative Services

Jewel Price Dean Student Services

Rick Perez Vice President Student Services

Kristin Bruno Dean Instructional Services

Vicki Nicholson Assoc. Vice President Human Resources

Ron Harlan Dean Instructional Services

Karen Holden-Ferkich Assoc. Vice President Continuing & Community Education

Arnel Pascua Assoc. Vice President Information and Technology

Paul Schlossman Dean Student Affairs

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS

Joy Cook Assoc. Dean Center for Students with Disabilities

Cynthia Dorroh Assoc. Dean Health Sciences

Shereen Allison Assoc. Dean Information and Technology Services

Alfred Ramrez Assoc. Dean Continuing & Community Education

Dave Mack Assoc. Dean Curriculum Management

Jan Swinton Assoc. Dean Instructional Services and Workforce Development

Pat Hurley Assoc. Dean Student Financial Aid Services

Lisa Brooks Executive Director, Foundation

Elmira Nazaryan Interim Director EOPS/CARE

Brenda Jones Interim Director Library & Learning Resources

13

14

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

www.elvaq.com

FACULTY PAGES

STUDENT SERVICES

Jeanette Stirdivant Division Chair

Rosette Aghekian EOPS

Donna Capka Academic Counseling

Kathryn Camp CSD

Roxanne Dominguez Admissions

Nancy Getty Library

Tina Andersen-Wahlberg CSD

James Castel De Oro EOPS

Sarkis Ghazarian Academic Counseling

Jonn Aque Academic Counseling

Shelley Aronoff Library

Ramona Barrio-Sotillo EOPS

Elodia Collins Garfield Campus

Richard Cortes Academic Counseling

Teresa Davis Academic Counseling

Troy Davis Int’l Student Center

Susan Hoehn CSD

Philip Kamara-Kay Academic Counseling

Zohara Kaye Library

Osheen Keshishian EOPS

Judy Apablaza Academic Counseling Career Center

Sandy Lee Academic Counseling/ Career Center

Denise Leong Academic Counseling/ Career Center

Margaret Mansour Garfield Campus

Laura Matsumoto CSD

Kevin Meza Transfer Center

Paris Noori Academic Counseling

Ellen Oppenberg CSD

Crescent Orpelli Health Center

Lee Miller Parks CSD

Gregory Perkins EOPS

Joseph Puglia Academic Counseling

Valerie Rhaney CSD

Mariah Ribeiro Int’l Student Center/ Career Center

Murray Stach Academic Counseling

Mohammad Taghdis Garfield Campus

www.elvaq.com

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

FACULTY PAGES

HEALTH SCIENCES

Karima Esmail

Marilyn Getz

Danny Ranchez

Jing Xu Johnson

Emelyn Judge

Ben Salazar

Chris Rodemich

Kohar Kesian

Tim Vale

Kathy McNeese

Fiona Virani

Michelle Ramirez

Karen Whalen

BIOLOGY

Lynn Mizuno Division Chair

Joe Beeman

Keith Conover

Javier Gago

Kindra Girard

Maria Kretzmann

Rob Mauk

Shelley Thai

BUSINESS

Larry Hitterdale

Linda Serra Division Chair

Brett Miketta

Walter Huber

Michael Scott

Phil Kazanjian

Sandi Sheffey-Stinson

Christy Kloezeman

Kristina Shroyer

15

16

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

www.elvaq.com

FACULTY PAGES

VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS

NON CREDIT ESL

Pat Zayas Division Chair

Barbara Assadi

Megan Ernst

Alice Mecom

Paul Mayer

Debbie Robiglio

Trudi Abram Division Chair

David Attyah

Annabelle Aylmer

Jayne Campbell

Richard Coleman

Roger Dickes

Byron Delto

CREDIT ESL

Kathleen Flynn Division Chair

Cheryl AndersenO’Colmain

Forrest Fordyce

Kay Baldwin

Glenn Gardner

Young Gee

Lin Griffith

Peter Green

Jeanette Farr

David Glover

Dora Krannig

Mike Petros

Mark Poore

Beth Pflueger

Caryl St. Ama

Susan Sing

Ted Stern

David Yamamoto

Joan Watanabe

Patricia Hironymous

ENGLISH Janet Langon

Elis Lee

Brian McDonald

Richard Seltzer

Sandra Navarro

Kirk Vaughn

Paul Vera

HEALTH & PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Jon Gold Division Chair

Bob Donaghy

Brian Beauchemin

Joe Agoston

John Cicuto

Terry Coblentz

Michael Ritterbrown Division Chair

Eddie Lopez

Dianne Spangler

Dennis Doyle

Bart Edelman

Denise Ezell

Ida Ferdman

Michael Harnett

Susan Henry

Steve Coots Chris Juzwiak

Barb Erfurt

Alice Adams

Yvette Ybarra

Francien Rohrbacher

Lara Kartalian

Piper Rooney

Rosemary Kwa

Alexa Schumacher

Dana Marterella

Shant Shahoian

Steve Taylor

Sarah McLemore

Monette Tiernan

Angela Morales

Philip Vallicella

Michael Moreau

Michael Wheeler

17

18

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

www.elvaq.com

FACULTY PAGES

MATHEMATICS

Kathy Holmes Division Chair

Ashot Djrbashian

Mike Allen

Kim Foong Chong Study Abroad

Yvette Hassakoursian

David Hassett

David Jones

Sid Kolpas

Steve Marsden

Gary Massion

Narineh Frankian

Larry Newberry

Carol Paxton

Liz Russell

Isabelle Saber

Bill Shamhart

Charlotte Schulten

Peter Stathis

Thomas Voden

Pete Witt

Andrew Young

PHYSICAL SCIENCE

John Leland Division Chair

Sevada Chamras

Dan Edgar

Robert Gellert

Richard Guglielmino

Judith Handley

Poghos Kazarian

Jennifer Krestow

Stuart Nowinski

Asmik Oganesyan

Poorna Pal

Catherine Powers

www.elvaq.com

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

FACULTY PAGES

SOCIAL SCIENCES

Michael Dulay Division Chair

Gordon Alexandre

Steven Bie

Roger Bowerman

Victoria Buresch

Daphne Dionisio

Wendy Fonarow

Jessica Gillooly

Lina Gupta

Cameron Hastings

Caroline Kaba

Eric Johnston

Richard Kamei

Michelle Kim

Darren Leaver

Mark Maier

Levon Marashlian

Jiwon Moore

Deborah Owens

Randal Parker

Hazel Ramos

Mike Reed

Peggy Renner

Inger Thompson

Fabiola Torres

Makoto Tsuyuki

Ric Williams

Allyn Glanzer

Ira Heffler

John Queen

LANGUAGE ARTS

Jean Perry Division Chair

Stacy Jazan

Teresa Cortey

Michael Eberts

Ted Levatter

Michael Moreau

Flavio Frontini

Lourdes Girardi

Nick Sahakyan

Celia Simon-Ross

Shihoko Tatsugawa

19

20

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

www.elvaq.com

FACULTY PAGES

EMERITUS

Larry Byrd

Ken Gray

John Craven

TECHNOLOGY & AVIATION

Leonard DeGrassi

Dave Hurst

Ray Glienna

Rob Kibler

Scott Rubke Division Chair

Nino Battaglia

Andrew Feldman

Alan Frazier

Michael Lao

Aram Ohanis

LIFE SKILLS & NON-CREDIT BUSINESS

John Kray

Murray Levy

Marilyn Lammers

Dinh Luu

Jean Lecuyer

Elizabeth Fremgen Division Chair

Joe Denhart

Jane DiLucchio

Barbara Flynn

Rosemarie Shamieh

Jan Young

Lynn McMurrey

NOT PICTURED RORY SCHLUETER — BUSINESS Lynn Pomeroy

Tom Rike

Judy Zamos

JULIE GENTILE — BUSINESS TRACEY ZIEGLER — STUDENT SERVICES / CSD ROXANNE RAFII — STUDENT SERVICES / EOPS

BAJA FIELD STUDIES

PACE PROGRAM

RUSSELL NORMAN — BUSINESS / EMERITUS KERRY RILEY — SOCIAL SCIENCES KIM HOLLAND — PROGRAM DIRECTOR, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER LINDA MANZANO-LARSEN — SOCIAL SCIENCES, EMERITUS DAVID MARTIN — TECHNOLOGY AND AVIATION REBECCA HILLQUIST — VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS MELISSA RANDEL — VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS DES KILKEARY — ENGLISH, EMERITUS

Javier Gago Co-Director

Maria Kretzmann Co-Director

Bob Taylor Program Manager Cooperative Education

NICK PAPAIOANU — EVENING SUPERVISOR, INSTRUCTION OFFICE JOHN ROME — HEALTH & PHYSICAL EDUCATION SUSIE CHIN — LIBRARY

Sincere thanks to Ann Simon for providing the photographic services.

Project supervision done by Kindra Girard.

Composition by Casey Leslie

www.elvaq.com

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

21

FEATURES

International Students Welcomed with Pizza, Brownies

By AnnaLinda Andersson EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

T

he international students at Glendale College gathered on Sept. 22 in the student service local to enjoy a true American cuisine: pizza, brownies and sodas.

The International Students welcome luncheon was also an informational session for new students.

The International Student Association (IAS) talked about coming events such as a day trip to Magic Mountain in October and a two day trip to San Francisco come spring.

An international student in America is given a special visa.

When enrolled in a community college one will obtain what is called an F-1 Visa. This Visa allows people to get an education and to stay in the country for as long as the person has a valid I20, meaning as long as the person is a full-time student.

The international students at GCC have to be enrolled in at least 12 units a semester and pay $181 per unit plus enrollment fees and health fees totaling up to a minimum of $2,512.50 per semester plus an additional $500 fee for insurance, if needed.

F-1 Visa students are not allowed to work in the United States except for a maximum of 15 hours a week on campus. Jobs on campus are, however, very hard to find these days. How the students finance their education in America vary from person to person.

“I am able to study in America due to a federal organization called Centrala Studie Namnden [Central Study Board], also known as CSN in Sweden, which grants Swedish citizens’ student loans and financial aid wherever in the world one chooses to study,” said Swedish liberal studies major Lilit Nadjarian, 22.

Sweden is one of the few countries in the world that offers free education for its citizens. If a Swedish citizen chooses to study abroad instead, the government will provide money for the tuition, fees, school supplies and living expenses. Some of the money is a loan which the students eventually have to pay back and the rest is considered financial aid.

“It is the only reason I and most of the other Swedish students I know are able to get an education in the U.S.,” Nadjarian said.

“It is not always trouble-free, however. Sometimes they [CSN] take too long to grant our request

Photo by AnnaLinda Andersson

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT: Le Do, 18, business major, ended up at GCC by accident but likes it a lot. for financial support resulting us to fall behind in school and we always have to maintain an above average GPA, otherwise they will withdraw their grant.”

If the grant is withdrawn, Nadjarian can ask for financial help from her parents but only for a limited time. “If I for any reason would not get my CSN I

Summer Study Set for Bali

By AnnaLinda Andersson EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

I

t’s easy to look at pictures in a book of a beautiful beach on a tropical island, while sitting in class, day dreaming the semester away.

But as early as next summer, that dream can become a reality.

Every year, Glendale’s Study Abroad Program offers students the chance to combine travel and studies as they leave the United States for a different country. The destination for next summer is the island of Bali.

The director of Study Abroad, Kim Foong Chong is very excited that this destination has been chosen again. Last time the program took off to Bali was in 2000.

“It is truly a paradise,” Foong Chong said.

Bali is one of over 17,000 islands in the Indonesian archipelago and is described as a paradise on earth with friendly people, volcanoes, miles and miles of long white sand beaches with clear blue water. According to Bali’s official tourist Web site it also has a colorful culture and flavorful cuisine.

“To study abroad in any country is a very good learning experience,” Foong Chong said.

“One will not only study about the subject of the class but also learn about another culture. It takes you out of your world and the students will learn so much about themselves and grow as persons.” He also said Bali is special because it is so different from Western societies.

“Big cities are almost always the same, but Bali has such a different culture and it is an extraordinary experience to go there,” he said.

The price for 27 days on the island is $3,100 plus tax and tuition fees. For that amount, the students get round-trip airfare from LAX with land transfers and transport.

It will also include 27 nights in a tourist hotel based on two students per room including 27 breakfasts, eight dinners, six luncheons, as well as free passes to numerous temples, and historical and cultural sites. “If one has a wish for a private room it will cost extra,” Foong Chong said.

A day cruise to Lembongan Island, which is a small island between Bali and another island named Nusa Penida, is famous for its crystalclear water and few tourists, according to the Web site www. http://www.indonesia-tourism. com will also be included in [See Bali, page 22]

would have to take a break from my studies to go back home and work,” she said.

Both Vietnamese student Le Do, 18, a business major, and Nipuna Vidanapathirana��������� ������������������������ , 21, an aerospace engineer major from Sri Lanka, have their parents to thank for them being able to study abroad.

“I do work on campus, which makes up for my personal expenses,” Do said. This is Do’s second year at Glendale, a place she ended up in by accident. “It was an organization back home that suggested this college. I did not plan to go at first but now I like it a lot.”

Vidanapathirana�������������� , who also is the elected president for the IAS, is also very happy he ended up here.

“Mainly I chose GCC for it has the pilot program which I first attended, and is one of the few places that has my current major, now I am very pleased with my choice,“ Vidanpathirana said. “I really enjoy the atmosphere here and it is very clean.”

The International Student Association is working hard to take care of the international students at GCC both educational and socially with guidance, meetings, and events such as welcome lunches, road trips and the very popular annual Halloween party. It is a way for the F-1 Visa students to meet and get to know each other.

About 35 percent of the international students are from

Japan and the other 65 percent are from different countries such as Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Brazil, China, Vietnam, as well as from different parts of Europe.

When budget crises are affecting almost all the countries in the world one might wonder if the number of international students enrolled have decreased in previous years. Diane Smith, immigration adviser, said the school had noticed the opposite.

“The number of new students has increased this semester, but the continuous students have decreased,” Smith said.

The decrease is mainly due to a big amount of the international students having graduated last spring, but some have been forced to go home due to financial situations.

Glendale College is a very multicultural college and Smith is hoping everyone realizes what an advantage it is to have so many different cultures around.

“We can’t do anything but learn from each other, and having my profession has made it possible for me to meet and learn from people from all kinds of different countries,” Smith said.

“It is almost as if I have been to all of those countries without actually visiting them.”

For further information, the international student office is located on the second floor in the San Rafael building.

AnnaLinda Andersson can be reached at AnnaLinda_Andersson@elvaq.com

22

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

www.elvaq.com

FEATURES

Fair Showcases Variety of Student Services

By Amy Hirsch

EL VAQUERO CAMPUS EVENTS EDITOR

T

he Student Services Fair on Sept. 17 featured 10 booths and tables showcasing some of what the school offers to students in addition to traditional academic courses.

One service represented was the Learning Center.

Here, assistance is offered to students who can benefit from tutoring, particularly in math and writing, in addition to other subjects.

Tutoring services are provided by proficient students who have been recommended by their instructors and have completed a training course.

Additionally, workshops as well as instructional videos and DVD’s are offered in a variety of subjects.

Computer Assisted Instruction software is available to help improve skills in math, reading and writing. The Learning Center is located in AD 232 and is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m, Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Career Center helps students to explore their goals and focus on a career. According to Talene Vartanian, a student worker, “If you don’t have a major yet, you need to see a career counselor; if you have time to take that career assessment, [there are] different kinds for different situations. We have a

lot of resources.”

Among the offerings are Eureka and Discover, which are computer resources available at the center to more thoroughly evaluate various considerations in determining a career. The center is located in the San Rafael building on the second floor.

The innovative Center for Student Involvement (CSI), coordinated by Hoover Zariani, was particularly promoted at the event.

This recently established office “initiates, implements and sustains civic engagement opportunities that promote diversity, critical thinking, personal responsibility, and communication skills for all students involved in its programs.”

Programs that run through this office include New Media Leaders, Gear Up/Avid, Shadow Days, the President’s Volunteer Service Award, Future Teachers and STAR. The New Media Leaders project, run by CSI, trains students in the use of new media techniques such as making a tweet, blog, wiki (a webpage which allows multiple editors) or podcast for a public service announcement or to promote nonprofit organizations. Students interested should contact Zariani for further information and may enroll in a credit course.

Gear Up and Avid are programs offering students paid positions as tutors and mentors to work with

Photo by Allan Beglarian

STUDENT SERVICES FAIR: A range of student services greeted students in the Plaza Vaquero on Sept. 17.

Armineh Gourgian, financial aid coordinator, explains services that are available to GCC students.

at-risk middle and high school students. A 3.0 GPA is required and pay is $11 an hour.

Shadow Days is a program for students in high school. It is a day when, according to Zariani, “We bring students to GCC, it’s like a day in college for them.

They are here from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. There is a tour, financial aid workshop, and they observe classes. Then we have lunch here on campus and the students talk to them about college and how it was for them. It gives the students a first hand account of what it is

like to be a college student.”

Student guides involved with this program will take two or three high school students to class on a Wednesday morning.

Describing another program, Zariani explained, “We also help students find volunteer work. We have a list of about 200 different places where students can volunteer … working with kids, arts, law, health care.”

This community service work can also qualify for course requirements of volunteer work.

Those who complete at least

Study Abroad [Bali, from page 21] the price. Other things are a visit to Monkey Forest, opportunities to sail with dolphins and snorkeling coral reefs.

The courses offered for the program next summer are Humanities 120 with Professor William Juzwiak, Philosophy 114 with Professor Lina Gupta, and Geography 103 with Professor Darren Leaver and Professor Laura EnglundKrusee.

Leaver, program director for the trip, is currently on sabbatical leave and living in Bali, so he is particularly knowledgeable about the island.

Students are required to take

six units or two out of the three classes offered on the trip.

The program usually takes about 30 to 35 on their trips.

Foong Chong wants people to not wait with their applications because spots fill up quickly.

There is a $300 deposit at the time of reservation. Second payments are due Nov. 30, and the final payment is due next March 15.

There is no maximum number of students accepted as long as there are flight tickets and hotel rooms available.

One does not have to be a student prior to the trip and an age limit does not exist, although if applicants are underage, parents need to sign.

For more information, visit www.glendale.edu/studyabroad

100 hours of volunteer work will receive from the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation a President’s Volunteer Service Award, including a pin, certificate and letter from the president of the United States.

The Student California Teachers Association promotes teaching as a career, both through activities on campus, conferences and workshops on a statewide level.

Additional programs run by CSI include STAR (Students Talk About Race) where students have an opportunity to facilitate discussions about topics such as racism and sexism with middle and high school students.

Zariani concludes, “Glendale College has a lot of services for students, I just hope students will take advantage of them.” Those interested in any programs of the Center for Student Involvement may call 818 240-1000 ext 5580, or visit Sierra Madre Room 267.

Amy Hirsch can be reached at amy_hirsch@elvaq.com

One Book / One Glendale STUDY ABROAD IN PARADISE: Nusa Dua Beach is just one of Bali’s several beaches and is located on the island’s east side.

or email Kim Foong Chong at studyabroad@glendale.edu. He is available in AD 145C during office hours.

AnnaLinda Andersson can be reached at AnnaLinda_Andersson@elvaq.com

“Shanghai Girls,” by Lisa See will be discussed at the next faculty/student book club meeting on Oct. 6. For more information visit: http://www. glendale.edu/socialsciences/ one_bookRead More

www.elvaq.com

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

23

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

o

Film

o

o

o

o

o

o

o

o

reviews

o

o

o

o

o

o

o

o

‘Jennifer’s Body’ Is a Shapeless Turn-Off

By Jesse Gutierrez

EL VAQUERO ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

“J

ennifer’s Body” is shapeless, average, and is guaranteed to turn off audiences.

The film is directed by Karyn Kusama (“Aeon Flux, 2005), and stars Megan Fox (“Transformers,” 2007) in the lead role, Amanda Seyfried (“Mamma Mia!” 2008) and Adam Brody (“The O.C.”).

The film starts off with Anita Lesnicki (Seyfried), talking about her former best friend Jennifer Check (Fox) and the fateful night when Jennifer was possessed by Satan and murdered three young men.

One night Jennifer takes Anita to a dive bar to attend a concert for indie band Low Shoulder, but during the middle of the concert the venue mysteriously burns down, killing all of the concertgoers except for Jennifer and Anita.

After the two girls escape, the

band’s lead singer Nikolai Wolf (Brody), goes to “comfort” the girls and asked them to come into the band’s van. Jennifer accepts and the band takes her away.

Little does Jennifer know the band plans on using her as a virgin sacrifice to Satan so that they can achieve fame and wealth.

However, they do not know that Jennifer is not a virgin. While their wish does get granted, now Jennifer, who is supposed to be dead, resurrects and must live with Satan inside her.

To stay alive Jennifer consumes the bodies of others. As time goes on and Jennifer starts killing off male students at her school, Anita begins to figure out that the cause of all of these deaths is Jennifer.

Anita now must figure out how to stop the bloodthirsty Jennifer before she reaches her boyfriend Chip, but Jennifer manages to get to Chip and begins to eat him.

However, Anita manages to find them before Jennifer is able

JENNIFER’S BODY: What possessed Karyn Kusama to make such a dreadful film? to complete the job.

Anita and Jennifer begin to

Moore’s New ‘Love Story’ About Americans, Greed and Money

By Daniel Choi

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

F

ilmmaker Michael Moore continues his act as a gadfly in the new documentary “Capitalism: A Love Story.” . Viewers of his previous films such as “Bowling for Columbine” and “Sicko” either love him or loathe him, with good reason of course. Moore has a knack for asking the right questions and pushing the right buttons.

In this film, he addresses the pitfalls of capitalism in America, how it has created corruption and greed in our nation, including high office. As the divide between the rich and poor widens, Moore reasons it is the consequence of the elite circulating money among themselves and the deregulation of the financial system.

Former presidents like Bill Clinton and especially Ronald Reagan are chastised for selecting officials from financial

firms to be Treasury Secretary, depicting the infiltration of self-absorbed financial gurus acting in self-interest within the government.

A good portion of the documentary briefly covers many topics: too many to delve deeply into a specific one.

Commercial airline pilots are interviewed about their dangerously low wages, affecting their livelihood, and also their ability to fly.

Cameras follow victims of home foreclosure who lost their homes after being duped into refinancing their homes.

Widows explain how the death of their loved ones translated into profit for employers such as WalMart through “dead peasants” insurance.

The latter half of the movie covers a specific issue and is sure to get a viewer’s attention.

It covers the recent government bailout of financial institutions and the motive behind it. To Moore, the word bailout is simply

a cover-up for robbery. Blame is spread among government officials from both parties and those who run banks.

Never failing to personally visit the culprits in his documentaries, Moore heads to Wall Street demanding that banks and investment firms return the taxpayers’ money.

The film culminates with a clip of former President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressing the nation on his proposal for the Second Bill of Rights. These rights would have guaranteed a job, home, health care and education to all U.S. citizens.

The film displays Moore’s talent as a filmmaker. He knows when and what music to use in the background of both emotional and funny sequences.

His witty sense of humor fits perfectly into the film, bound to evoke laughter and applause from the audience.

[See Capitalism, page 24]

struggle with each other until Chip stabs her with a pool net, but Jennifer escapes with only a small wound.

While some parts of the movie are overtly sexual due to the way that Jennifer lures the young men to their deaths, most of the movie though is quite good.

Even though Fox is cast as the leading role and her performance is of course sexy, that’s about all it is and she doesn’t seem to be a particularly versatile actress. The standout performer is Seyfried.

For director Kusama this is a definite improvement over “Aeon Flux.” However, screenwriter Diablo Cody will probably not see the same success with this film as she did with 2007’s “Juno.”

Even though a lot of the movie is filled with dynamic scenes with witty dialogue, it almost seems like Cody forgot that she was writing a horror film, not a comedy.

In comparison to “Juno” where a lot of those comedic lines worked very well and added to the movie’s charm , it did not translate the same in this movie. Most of the lines that are supposed to be funny really fall flat.

The special effects are nothing great and are used sparingly, only when the devil comes out in Jennifer, and in one scene when Jennifer begins to float.

Overall “Jennifer’s Body” is very average. Nothing stands out.

It’s just another boring predictable “horror” movie.

My rating: 2 stars out of 5.

 Jesse Gutierrez can be reached at jesse_gutierrez@elvaq.com

Classified Advertisements Free Pregnancy Tests Are Available • V isit or call the Asian Pacific Health Care Venture – a community health center.

• F amily Planning Services (STD Testing, Birth Control Methods, etc.), • E mergency Contraception Pill (ECP), and • F ree Pregnancy Tests (walk-ins available) APHCV 1530 Hillhurst Ave., Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90027 (323) 644-3888 www.aphcv.org

24

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

www.elvaq.com

FEATURES

‘Student Workers’ Show in Art Gallery

By Angelica Fraire

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

S

tudent workers as well as their friends have been coming together to exhibit their talents by putting their art on display pieces in the campus’ art gallery this past month.

Their work can be seen in the library from Thursday to Saturday from 12p.m. to 6p.m. until Oct. 2.

Professor of visual and performing arts Roger Dickes said, “I try to have a theme for each event…but putting it together can be hard.”

After an exhibition is done there is a two week period in which Dickes has to prepare for the next show.

Dickes tries hard to get six to 10 art shows displayed throughout the year, some of which can include well known artists’ work in them.

Sergey Akadanova, 37, is a student worker from Germany who was glad to see that he was able to create a piece that he thought is beautiful to him.

His craft is an acrylic canvas that has clown fish swimming in a forest. Akadanova titled it “Clown Fish in Forest.”

“I never have seen a clown fish before and when I did I discovered that they are meant to be funny,” Akadanova said. At

first glance, it can be a difficult trying to grasp the idea of how can fish swim in a forest.

According to Akadanova that is the beauty of art, the way people interpret what is being seen. “That people have a misconception of what beauty is because that is what is in our heads,” he said The gallery is filled with different art pieces, but is best experienced if the observation is done starting from the left side going clockwise.

The first piece is a photograph done by Noel Truick titled “Man down.” Clearly the image of a man drinking at a bar can be illustrated by a couple of empty glass cups and only one cup half filled with alcohol.

Tatiana Akadanova brings life to the room with her “I am alive” acrylic. It’s a face but the most interesting part abut the face is the forehead, which has been replaced by mountains. The background has a blue color that emphasizes the big orange face in the middle.

After “Clown Fish in Forest” there are Rebecca Wong’s dolls, titled “The Twin Sisters,” which bring a sense of teenage rebellion.

Next is Carol Wong’s graphite on paper “Joker,” which looks just like the Joker from “Batman.”

Below “Joker” is another acrylic

Movie [“Capitalism,” from page 23] With any documentary come contradictions and biases. Moore, who speaks out against gun control in “Bowling for Columbine,” ignores it in this film. Only those who agree with his views and support his cause are interviewed, but not one person who sees it differently appears on the screen. “Capitalism” is an entertaining film that any liberal would enjoy. If you are looking for an objective documentary, look elsewhere. Nevertheless, a lot can be learned from

this film and it sure is thought provoking.

The message of the film is sound and clear: capitalism is evil.

It is the root cause of the problems facing America today, and the powerful elite purposely fail to act. Moore does not offer a planned solution, but he asks the audience to speak up and take the power back.

3 and a half stars out of 5.



Daniel Choi can be reached at Daniel_Choi@elvaq.com

on paper done by her.

Following Wong is Andrew Robinson’s transferred on board acrylic “Secret”. To most it might look like a naked woman but look closely and her beauty can be seen within.

Another of Robinson’s charcoal on board acrylic follows.

At first it is not clear what it is but that is the point because he titles it “Galaxy Sleeping.”

Photo by Richard Kontas At first John ’TIS THE SEASON: Johnny Fox’s mixed media collage on canvas “A Season in Hell” Fox’s charcoal on provokes more than just fear by illustrating what war can be capable of doing. wood, “Dante,” seems violent compared to his on a canvas is Fox’s other two pieces. It’s the coloring “Fluer de mal.”

Violence and fear that brings light to it.

However, it is not the colors is put aside to bring that bring Fox’s next two works Dave Lovejoy’s next three mixed media alive but the images itself.

“A Season in Hell” is Fox’s assemblage. The first mixed media collage on a canvas. is untitled; the last two It has pictures of children running are “Artifact” and “No way from soldiers trying to kill Contest.”

Towards the end there them. The canvas illustrates the feelings of people running for is Arevik Martirosyan’s three pieces, “The their life.

The next mixed media collage Sky is getting closer,” “Anytime now…,” and “Stairway to….” The first is a digital print and the last two are photographs.

At the end of the journey, Andrew Steven Flores’ untitled acrylic and spray paint on canvases are waiting.

And for the grand ending Rebecca Wong’s last piece leaves the gallery experience with a fear thought in mind.

She titled her mixed media assemblage “Lost in Mushroom Land.”

For future exhibits check: www.glendale. edu/community/press/ events.htm.

For exclusive slideshow coverage of this event please visit: www.ElVaq.com

GREED AND MONEY: Corporate greed is bankrupting America and Michael Moore wants to know why we’re not doing something about it.

Photo by Richard Kontas

Angelica Fraire can be reached at Angelica_Fraire@elvaq.com

LOOK UP: Rebecca Wong and her mixed media assemblage “Lost in Mushroom Land.”

www.elvaq.com

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

25

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Rooftop Bar in L.A. Defines ‘Swanky’

By Ashley Chang

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

L

iving a champagne life on a beer budget won’t fly at the swanky Los Angeles Rooftop Bar, located high above downtown at the Standard Hotel, 550 Flower St. Here, patrons pay to play.

With the almost unavoidable $15 valet parking service and the $20 entrance fee Friday and Saturday nights, expenses start mounting before you even get to the door.

After surviving the long lines and the even longer wait, take the elevator up to the 13th floor, where you will be greeted by security guards, incoherent chatter and throbbing music.

Featuring a stellar panoramic view of sprinkled city lights, the Rooftop Bar exudes chic with its contemporary decor and sophisticated clientele. From a vantage point high above the city,

the well-heeled clientele drink poolside under the stars or cozyup inside one of the candy-red water bed pods.

“The people here can be really pretentious and the bartenders can be rude,” said Raul Cordova, a 26-year-old USC student, “but I come here for the view.”

Female patrons flaunt their little black dresses with matching purses, while the men charm in dress shirts and designer jeans.

Here, college students with money to burn and young professionals away on business can rub elbows, all looking for a good time.

Though the dance floor may be small, in no way does it lack energy or big crowds. With a DJ tucked away in the corner playing the likes of MGMT and the Black Eyed Peas, you can dance alongside those who clearly spend some time choreographing their moves or with others who bravely dance to their own beat.

The Rooftop Bar is all about attitude and affluence and does not treat gently those who are timid or shy. If alcohol-fueled courage is needed to jump start your dancing shoes, be forewarned: it will come with a hefty price. At $8 a pop for a Stella Artois or $15 for a modest apple martini, drink sparingly. You have liquid gold in your hands.

If dancing is not your forté, seating areas are plentiful and just as lively. There is also a huge projector that screens old movies on the side of a neighboring building.

With an incredible view of downtown Los Angeles, a sexy rooftop pool, and an even sexier water bed cabaña, the Rooftop Bar is an experience to be had.

Photo by Carlos Sanchez

Ashley Chang can be reached at Ashley_Chang@elvaq.com

HIGH STANDARDS AND HIGHER PRICES: The poolside bar at the Standard Hotel delivers a memorable evening with a price tag to match. For more online photos, visit: http://www.jroller.com/carlossg/

Low Prices, Good Food From Area Taco Trucks

By Vera Iwanoff

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

I

t’s not quite clear if this is a new trend but every one seems to have taco truck fever. When first introduced to the idea of taco trucks, one may find the idea very unappealing, only to later become a very happy patron.

Two of the most popular trucks in Glendale are Kogi and Leo’s. Kogi is a taco truck that sells Korean barbecue and while it’s not clear if “taco truck” is politically correct, they do sell tacos.

People wait in line for hours for Kogi and have said the portions are somewhat small but delicious.

On the menu one can find “Short Rib Tacos” for $2 or “Kimchi Quesadilla,” “Kogi sliders” or “Kogi Dogs” for $5. The sliders are delicious and while some may say that this meal isn’t filling enough, the “Short Rib Burrito” for just $5.50 seems to do the trick.

Former Glendale College student Shant Gharachedaghi said, “I enjoy the concept of incorporating a stereotypically Hispanic restaurant style and expanding it to include Korean food and not just regular Korean food but Americanized Korean food with specialties such as Kogi

meat burgers with Kimchi.”

The unusual thing about Kogi is that the location isn’t set but because of its unpredictable travel schedule. But patrons can find out where they will be and at what hours at their Web site http:// kogibbq.com/. Kogi currently has 3.5 stars out of 5 on Yelp, the restaurant review site.

Leo’s is Mexican food, also served out of a taco truck. The food is relatively cheaper than Kogi, the most expensive thing on the menu being the “All-Meat Burrito” for $4. Diners can get themselves a “Veggie Quesadilla” and can of Coke for less than $5.

Their average rating on Yelp is 4/5 stars.

Leo’s is also more consistent in the sense that they can be found on Eagle Rock Boulevard and El Paso next to the Valero gas station six nights a week from Tuesday to Sunday. During the week days they are open from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. and on weekends they’re open from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. The Web site www.LeosTacos.com asks that people allow up to a 30minute wait on weekends.

So which is better? It’s hard to say. While one may love the food Kogi sells because it is different, they might not be able to experience the pleasure of a veggie quesadilla from Leo’s.

Kogi offers something original though, which many believe they can get nowhere else.

While most people never wait an extremely long amount of time for their food at Leo’s, the wait can be up to about 45 minutes after an order is put in. At Kogi it could take someone up to two hours just to put in their food order and then an additional 1015 minutes to get it.

The Eagle Rock location for Kogi is very close to where Leo’s is. A downside for both places would be that there is usually nowhere to sit once the patrons have their delicious food in hand, except maybe the curb.

“Leo’s is a wonderful environment to socialize and also because it’s outside in an otherwise unusual place…the sidewalk. Usually we sit indoors or on benches outside,” said Gharachedaghi.

In a food review of Kogi in the Los Angeles Times Jessica Gelt said that, “The truck and its staff of merry makers have become a sort of roving party, bringing people to neighborhoods they might not normally go to, and allowing for interactions with strangers they might not otherwise talk to.” This opinion seems to be shared by many, including Gharachedaghi.

In the end, it really depends if

one is in the mood for Korean food or Mexican food and the deciding factor would of course be where Kogi currently is that night, and if the patron feels like driving what could be a far distance and then waiting. Either way, both places

are highly recommended by many Glendale locals.

Vera Iwanoff can be reached at Vera_Iwanoff@elvaq.com

26

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

www.elvaq.com

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Can You Resist ‘The Resistance’?

By Isiah Reyes

EL VAQUERO NEWS/FEATURES EDITOR

C

urrently one of the most futuristic groups in the world, Brit-rock band Muse, delves into a more classical realm with its fifth studio album, “The Resistance.”

The band’s extravagant rockers continue to change their sound with each successive album by exploring a variety of instruments and styles. In “The Resistance,” the band uses piano and strings and even a full orchestra to a great extent, but there are still few stadium rock songs that should satisfy the average Muse fan.

The 11 tracks on the album take the listener on a sci-fi journey that preaches the oncoming apocalypse and the resistance to stop the inevitable. Fans are already used to the hidden messages and conspiracies that are concealed in almost all of the album’s lyrics.

With new sounds, old themes, and high expectations, does this album live up to the group’s previous highly regarded work?

The first track on the album is “Uprising,” which is also the first single. The song features a very distinct sci-fi sounding synthesizer. It’s a great opener to the album and it sounds like a song Muse would normally undertake (not breaking any new ground yet).

The second song is the album’s title track, “Resistance.”

It starts off ominous, building a dark, creepy atmosphere. Then the piano and tribal drums kick in continuing the same feel – but then, completely out of nowhere at exactly 1:40, it busts into the main chorus and one of the catchiest lines is sung: “It could be wrong/could be wrong/it could be wrong/could be wrong.”

It’s very catchy. Anyone could hum that all day after just one listen. It then goes back to the piano-sounding intro and near the end it dies off. It’s definitely a good song, but not as good as the opener.

The third track, “Undisclosed Desires,” is where the new direction of sound is noticeable.

This is the closest song Muse has ever done resembling R&B. There are no guitars present and it sounds as if the hip-hop beat is made from a drum machine. It’s a good chill, mellow song, but not

as good as the first two.

The fourth track is “United States of Eurasia.” When it was first heard, everyone was comparing it to Queen, the English rock band of the ’70s and ’80s. But is that necessarily a bad thing?

The song starts off with a classical piano intro, then it copies the “Bohemian Rhapsody” (famous song by Queen) layer of vocals which lead into a very Arabic-sounding transition (sounding like Aladdin), and finally the song reaches its climax which is “Eurasia-sia-sia” being shouted again and again.

Before concluding, there is a cover piano solo of “Collateral Damage” (by Frédéric Chopin, famous French composer from Poland) which is a nice way to bring the song to a close.

Listening to “Eurasia” is definitely an expedition, but listening to the album thus far, the high expectations from most Muse fans are still not being met.

The fifth track is “Guiding Light,” and it’s a ballad that sounds like a national anthem for another country. The tempo is slow, and the bass is repetitive, but on the good side, there’s a guitar solo that redeems this song from the depths of mediocrity.

The next track is “Unnatural Selection,” and it is by far the best song on the album. It begins with a church organ, and then it turns into a solid rock song.

There’s a segment in the middle where it slows down for a bit, but no worries – it ends with an addictive metallic sounding riff that is sure to leave the listener’s neck straining from so much head banging.

The following track “MK Ultra” tags into the philosophy of a guitar-driven lead but adds a little electronic sound that makes it stand out and become unique.

These two songs remind Muse fans why they became fans in the first place.

The eighth track is “I Belong to You.” The featured piano seems to be jazz-influenced and there is a good rhythm to it for about the first two minutes. Then one of most unpredictable things occurs in the song that has never been done from Muse before: Bellamy proceeds to sing in French.

That’s right, French. The song transitions into a remarkable interlude called “Mon Coeur S’Ouvre A Ta Voix” (“My Heart

Opens Itself to Your Voice”) which is an opera-inspired romance song with a foreign feel to it. It almost sounds like Fantasia. Then when that’s over, it returns to the opening rhythm with an added clarinet solo to cap it off.

“I Belong to You” is easily the second best song on the album, but just when you think you have Muse figured out, they again surpass everyone’s expectations by recording their last three songs with the help of an orchestra of about 40 musicians.

The last three songs are “Exogenesis: Symphony Part I (Overture),” “Exogenesis: Symphony Part II (CrossPollination)” and “Exogenesis: Symphony Part III (Redemption),” but they should technically be considered one song.

“Overture” sounds like the opening to a Star Wars movie.

It tells the story of humanity leaving a destructive Earth behind to populate elsewhere in the universe. Violins start off melodious and the tone makes it seem as if everyone should brace themselves from an oncoming attack of the other kind.

“Cross-Pollination” starts off with a piano solo for about two minutes leading into a dramatic undertaking of an intense sonata seemingly making music during an alien invasion. It gets pretty intense, but toward the end, the battle calms down and it appears as if there are no survivors.

“Redemption” begins with the dust clearing after the war is over – at least that’s what it sounds like. It’s inspirational and the kind of music that plays during the credits of a sad movie. Adding the three pieces together, the result is a concerto of immense magnitude.

The only problem with the symphony is that it seems to be out of place, like it was tacked on at the end. It would have been better if it was released as a separate long play to act as an extension of the album. Fans would be much more appreciative of it that way, as they wouldn’t feel “forced” to listen to classical music.

Looking back at the album, it doesn’t nearly live up to the hype or the level of greatness as previous albums. Some of the songs are a bit bloated and could have been cut short, but other than that, there are no

RESISTANCE IS FUTILE: Muse’s new album is not as irresistible as previous recordings by these British artists.. major production faults or any cringe-inducing sequences. It still deserves a listen and it’s a worthy addition to the Muse discography.

There are two versions of the album available: the normal version (only CD) and the limited edition version (CD and DVD).

For a few bucks more, you can watch the “making of” DVD, though it’s not really worth it.

Overall, Muse is no longer just a rock band; its range of

music has long since surpassed that. People who are biased against other genres of music will probably be disappointed by “The Resistance,” but for the rest of us who aren’t, let’s enjoy what the British band has to offer.

My rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.



Charter Digital Cable®

Get Cable and Internet for only

$

89

Isiah Reyes can be reached at isiah_reyes@elvaq.com

Charter High-Speed® Internet

98

©2009 Charter Communications. Offer good through 9/30/09. *Save $35/mo or more off of standard rates, if services are ordered separately, when you subscribe to Charter Digital Cable and High-Speed Internet. Offer valid to new residential customers only. To be considered a new customer, customer must not have subscribed to applicable services within the previous 30 days and have no outstanding obligation to Charter.

Customers must subscribe to and maintain all services for the promotional period to receive promotional price. Standard rates apply after promotional period ends. Installation and equipment charges may apply. Taxes, fees and surcharges are extra. Programming line-up may vary.

Charter reserves the right to determine the level of service to which this offer applies. ^Top-rated cable channels based on Nielsen Report 3/09. †Fastest/most reliable speeds compared to AT&T, Qwest and Verizon Internet offerings in Charter markets. comScore Throughput Report Q4-08.

Internet speeds may vary. ††Three times faster than 1.5Mbps DSL. Charter does not guarantee data will be secure. Standard rates apply for Wireless Home Networking. Trademarks belong to their respective owners. Valid service address required. Credit approval, prepayment or major credit card may be required. All services provided are subject to the subscriber agreement which is subject to change. Services not available in all areas. Other restrictions may apply. Call for full details.

www.elvaq.com

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

27

FEATURES

Wiggle-Waggle Walk Benefits Humane Society

By Cindy Garcia

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

D

ogs of all sizes, colors and breeds participated in the 11th annual Wiggle Waggle Walk hosted by the Pasadena Humane Society on Sept. 26.

From curly-haired poodles and extra small chihuahuas to police trained German Shepherds and two colored eyed huskies, they all gathered in Brookside Park located south of the Pasadena Rose Bowl from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Wiggle Waggle Walk is a fundraiser that helps more than 11,000 animals each year. All the money that is raised during the walk is used to provide blankets, vaccines, food, and shelter to animals in need, said Vice President of Volunteer Service Sandy De Marco.

The fundraising goal for this year was $330,000, but the humane society raised only 74 percent of their goal with an amount of $244,859.52. De Marco thinks that the economic crisis was one of the factors why this year’s goal wasn’t reached.

“It’s not as good as it was last year because of the economy,” she said. “Some of our sponsors who normally had given us $20,000 sponsorship gave $5,000.”

De Marco also said that the emphasis of the event is to have fun, but at the same time people care for needed animals and interact with their pets.

“It’s a fundraiser, but it’s a funraiser for the humane society and from those aspects is always very successful,” she said.

About 200 volunteers helped out during and after the walk. For Terri Coldwell, 51, a volunteer from Pasadena, the walk has been a good and rewarding experience.

“It’s been a really fun experience and it really feels good to help animals in need,” she said.

The participants had the option to go for the short way and take the one mile walk or to keep on walking three miles around the Rose Bowl.

Loreto Isabel, 20, from Redlands, drove an hour and a half with Piero, her miniature schnauzer to come to the walk.

“This has been one of the greatest experiences that I have shared with my dog, and at the same time we help our community,” she said.

Isabel chose the three mile walk despite the high temperature.

“Even though it was really hot, I walked the three miles because my dog was enjoying it so much.”

After the walk the participants enjoyed the Family Fun Fair with a raffle, shows, and contests.

Some of the contests included “Best Look a Like,” “Best Trick” and “Cutest Mutt” with about 10 participants in each. The first place winner for “Best Look a Like” was Tomoko Watanabe, 42, and “Mickey,” her Labrador Retriever. Mickey was dressed

Photo by Shaun Kelly

WALKIN’ THE DOG: Supporters of the Pasadena Humane Society walk their golden retrievers at the WiggleWaggle Walk last Sunday.

up as a camel with his two cotton humps on his back. Tomoko was wearing a red silky belly dancer attired. She has won the Best Look a Like contest for two consecutive years. “We dressed up as twins last year and we’ve been participating for five years,” she said.

The Pasadena and Glendale K-9 Units were present to show how their support to the

Photo by Shaun Kelly

MAN’S BEST FRIEND: humans of both genders gathered with their canine companions to raise money for the shelter, which processes approximately 11,000 needy animals per year.

Pasadena Humane Society. had 28 sponsors such as Petco, “One of the big reasons that PetSmart, Guess, Neutrogena, we are here today is to give back Wells Fargo, BARK ( the dog to them because they give to us,” culture magazine), Heavenly said Pasadena Police Officer Tom Pet Resort and Jones Coffee Brown. “The Humane Society Roasters. h e l p s Ve n d o r sponsor us s t a n d s in housing included pet our dogs accessories when we are such as in vacation clothes, and they shoes, collars do it at no and beds cost.” with a broad For the variety for Glendale all sizes, K-9 unit tastes and it was the personalities. first time in T h e r e the Wiggle were also free Waggle dog treats, Photo by Shaun Kelly Walk which water bottles, DON’T DREAM IT, BEE IT: Some has been dog lovers coordinated their outfits with coffee and a great each other, but others dressed to match N e u t r o g e n a opportunity their pets, as with these species-benders. products. to interact T h e with other people that care about Pasadena Humane Society is an dogs. independent, donor-supported, “This is fantastic,” said non-profit animal welfare agency.

Glendale Officer Shawn Sholtis. They serve the cities of Glendale, “Especially when you have all Pasadena, La Cañada Flintridge, the dog lovers that we have here South Pasadena, Arcadia, San today that can really appreciate Marino and Sierra Madre. how fun dogs are but also how For more information, visit they can help us.” www.pasadenahumane.org.

The Family Fun Fair also had 27 stands of vendors, sponsors, rescue organizations and clinics.

Cindy Garcia can be reached at The Wiggle Waggle Walk Cindy_Garcia@elvaq.com

28

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

www.elvaq.com

SPORTS

Laid-Back Quarterback Mellows Vaqueros

By Chloe Vignolles-Jeong EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

N

o shirt, no shoes, no problem.

That’s exactly Stephen Miller’s way of life. As a starting quarterback, outstanding student, and aspiring pilot, Miller has it all going for him.

Sitting in the cafeteria, looking through the glass windows, Vaquero running back Willie Youngblood pointed him out and said, “There’s Miller.”

Immediately everyone knew where to look.

There he goes, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound, beach-bum-looking quarterback.

He wore a Toronto Blue Jays baseball hat, sunglasses, two puka shell necklaces, backpack, board shorts, and sandals. Something made him stand out from the rest of the Glendale students….oh, hat’s right, he had no shirt on.

On a typical warm, California day, you would have thought Miller was on his way to the beach, but instead he was on his way to class.

As he walked through the small cliques that scatter all over Plaza Vaquero, a few girls let out a flirtatious giggle and some guy said, “Hey, surf’s up bro.”

Miller continues walking towards his class, and ignores the comments he receives. “I go with the flow,” is all he said.

A California native, the 20year-old Miller grew up in Sunland. His passion for football began when he was just 6 years old, when he played flag football for a youth league in the San Fernando Valley. He attended Verdugo Hills High School where he played receiver and

quarterback his freshmen year, and then stayed at quarterback his last three years.

During his senior year, he sent letters to different colleges he wanted to attend. All returned his letters, and stated that they already had a quarterback and he was not needed. No other schools offered his major, aviation, until he was recruited by Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He attended HSU for one year, where he managed to stay on the football team and worked to earn his degree. As it often happens when young students go to school far from home, Miller began to dislike the area.

He returned to attend Glendale College last year, where he was second-string quarterback. The Vaqueros ended their season with a 3-7 record. Miller started three games and played a total of seven games. He accumulated 815 yards and had six touchdowns. He continued his studies in aviation and stayed focused on school.

Over the summer, he spent countless hours in the scorching heat practicing with offensive coordinator Derek Bedell on how to get his throwing arm to stay well above his head.

“We would spend an hour, three days a week doing some of the most ridiculous drills you see fathers do with their 4-year-old son when they are teaching them how to throw a baseball,” said Bedell.

Miller never questioned Bedell, or his ways of teaching him. Slowly but surely Miller improved and was ready to lead the Vaqueros this season. In regular season, the Vaqueros are 3-1. Miller has passed for over

621 yards, and has thrown seven touchdowns.

The team responds to Miller’s leadership in a peculiar way. Miller isn’t exactly the fiery type of leader a quarterback should be. “That’s just not me,” he said.

The team had a hard time adapting to Miller and his ways, but now they respond to him as a leader. “It’s his team,” said Bedell.

Miller has a different philosophy on leading the team.

“People call a leader differently than I do. People think a leader is someone that has to yell at everybody,” he said. “I just do it by my actions.

I’m not going to yell. I get into the game, but never at practice. If people follow me, they follow me. If they don’t, they don’t.”

The team has Photo by Richard Kontas even named him THE DUDE ABIDES: Sophomore quarterback Stephen Miller has led the Vaqueros to a 3-1 “Sunshine,” after season so far, he is also a surfer, a drummer and a licensed private pilot. the character in the movie “Remember the Titans.” aviation would allow him to do Whether it’s his career, a football, Miller joked around and said, that. “I just wanted to do it, and or an airplane, he knows how to “He cuts his hair in the movie. I pursued it. I love flying,” said achieve it.

They still assume ‘he’s from Miller.

“The sky’s the limit for him,” California. Long, blonde hair.

On Sept. 20, he obtained his said Bedell. He has no doubt in his He’s Sunshine.’” Miller actually Private Pilot License, or PPL, mind that Miller will accomplish doesn’t mind the nickname. which is the first of many license all his goals.

Youngblood commented on tests he must pass before being In his spare time, Miller also Miller’s personality. “He’s a able to fly major airline planes. enjoys playing the drums and goofy dude, but when it comes to This allows him to fly private surfing. He’s been playing the business he’s serious.” airplanes. drums since he was in 10th grade, Aside from being a different So far, Miller has visited 21 but doesn’t play on a regular kind of leader, Miller is an states but has yet to fly himself to basis. He’s also said surfing is a outstanding student. He has other states or out of the country. hard thing to do. maintained all A’s and B’s His ultimate dream is to fly for a It doesn’t matter if it’s taking through every semester and has major airline. control of an offense, making a 3.1 GPA. If he passes all his Bedell commented on Miller’s the right decisions in his life, or current classes, he will obtain his future career path and said, taking off in an airplane, Miller Associate’s degree in aviation.

“There’s more to life than just will always be the casual guy who Miller knows how to take playing sports. I commend him stands out from the crowd with charge and aspire to become the on what he wants to do. He’s got his flowing hair, board shorts and best he can be. Whether it’s being a pure passion and knowledge for no shirt. the leader of an offense or the football, but he’s got a passion pilot of an airplane, he’s always and a drive to fly planes for a in control of his life. living.”

Chloe Vignolles-Jeong can be His passion for flying began For Miller, it doesn’t matter reached at in 2007. He loves to travel and where he wants to take flight.

Chloe_Jeong@elvaq.com

www.elvaq.com

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

29

SPORTS

Pirates Give Vaqs First Loss of Season

By Chloe Vignolles-Jeong EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

D

isappointment clouded over the Glendale Vaqueros on Saturday when they faced the Pirates at Orange Coast College.

The Vaqueros’ record fell to 3-1 after the Pirates scored a touchdown at the beginning of the fourth quarter and held on for a 10-6 victory.

The Vaqs’ offense couldn’t convert on downs and was unsuccessful with the running game and their defense couldn’t contain the Pirates’ offense and allowed over 200 offensive yards.

Even with the Pirates committing 13 penalties for 120 yards, the Vaqs still couldn’t progress. With 65 rushing yards and 132 passing yards, the Vaqs only put up six points on the scoreboard.

The game went back and forth between both teams resulting in nine punts by Garret Hernandez for a total of 323 yards.

With 9:54 remaining in the second quarter, the Vaqs were

facing fourth down and 20 yards to go. The offense decided to go for it. Quarterback Stephen Miller connected on a 26-yard pass with receiver Brian Williams, resulting in a Glendale touchdown. The extra point was unsuccessful.

The Vaqs we’re leading at the end of the first half, 6-3.

In the third quarter, neither team scored. With 36 seconds remaining in the quarter, defensive lineman Nate Mestizo rushed the Pirates’ quarterback, resulting in a 12-yard interception return

by Kalii Robinson. The Vaqs obtained possession at their own 29-yard line. The drive ended in a 38-yard punt by Hernandez.

The fourth quarter took the Vaqs by surprise. The Pirates took possession at their own 10yard line after a personal foul.

Four plays and 90 yards later, the Pirates had a one-yard rushing touchdown, putting the Pirates up for good.

With 11:29 left in the fourth quarter, the Vaqs couldn’t progress down the field, convert downs, or complete passes. Miller threw two interceptions and the offense

Photo by Richard Kontas

FOURTH AND 20 PAYOFF: Vaquero sophmore receiver Brian Williams (2)makes the grab on a 26-yard pass for the only Glendale touchdown against the Orange Coast College Pirates Saturday night in Costa Mesa.

ended with negative yardage. The Vaqs’ final drive ended with an interception.

Rene Howard led the Vaqs’ defense with eight tackles. Danny Valdez had five tackles for a loss of 11 yards, and Jesse Halberstadt had two sacks, which also resulted in a loss of 11 yards.

For the Vaqs’ offense, Willie Youngblood carried the ball 11 times for 30 yards total. Brian Williams caught three passes for 57 yards and the Vaqs’ only touchdown. Eudell Clayton had five receptions for 41 yards.

Dylan Ryan had two catches for 23 yards.

The Vaqueros will begin Western State Conference play Saturday at 6 p.m. when they go on the road to face the Ventura College Pirates (3-1).

Chloe Vignolles-Jeong can be reached at Chloe_Jeong@elvaq.com

Lady Vaqueros Lace up for a Promising Season

By Aris Allahverdian EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

The Lady Vaqueros Volleyball team is getting ready to lace up their shoes for an exciting season season of blocks, sets and kills With few returning players and a lot of new members, the team, led by head Coach Yvette Ybarra and assistant coaches Maria Olilang and Lucinda Bucan, is devising a new start this year in the Western State Conference.

They want to come out strong and make a bold statement and feel that this is the year to prove it.

After a mediocre last season with a final record of 9-13, the Lady Vaqs have a whole new mentality. The women are recognized for their aggressive offense with the toughness to put up scores, but struggle on the defensive side of the ball.

Both coaches and the players are taking all the necessary steps towards developing a consistent defensive plan.

“I believe in defense 100 percent. If you can frustrate

people, play good defense and block some balls you’re going to be in that game… no matter what,” said Ybarra.

The Lady Vaqs are known to have a few big hitters. In the past the women have managed to dig the ball up and give the setter a great scoring chance yet, failed to finish with the score. This year they’re psychologically prepared and tactically improved.

Aya Nakano was Glendale’s big loss for the season. The high spirited outside hitter concluded her stay at GCC and transferred to Whittier College.

Returning sophomores for Glendale include outside hitter Carrisa Mathijssen, middle blocker Ashleigh Diller, outside hitter/opposite Ashliy Veliz and setter Alyssa Rosca, who played for the Lady Vaqs in 2003 and has a reputation for being consistent on the court.

In addition to the latest players on the roster this year, freshman outside hitter Jessica Alvarez joined the team as a transfer student from Pierce College, which is defending conference champion.

With the loss of one key player and the addition of a few new faces the Lady Vaqueros have shifted their approach to a “no mercy” style of play.

“These girls tend to be more serious,” Ybarra said. Glendale shares the south division of the conference with College of the Canyons, West LA, Citrus, Bakersfield, Santa Monica and Pierce College.

The Vaqueros look forward to clashing heads with all of the talented athletes the colleges have to offer, especially when it comes to Canyons or Pierce.

“I see all of them as a threat.

Pierce College because they’re always number one, College of the Canyons because there’s always that friendly rivalry” said Ybarra, who has also changed her approach to the game strategically both on and off the court.

“I always look for successes, and I always tell the girls its not always about winning, its how you feel once you leave that court.”

In the past the Lady Vaqs have struggled to get into the playoffs.

Now that injuries aren’t an issue

Photo by Ken Malate

SHE’S BACK: Lady Vaquero returning sophmore outside hitter/opposite Ashliy Veliz goes up for the kill against East L.A.

and the players’ confidence are in tact, the girls are going to play each team game by game and work on improving their passing and blocking. Sophomore Ashliy Veliz will play as outside hitter/ opposite for the team this season.

She knows how to put the ball up and strike it down, yet she realizes the importance of moving the ball to open up scoring opportunities.

“We just need to pass the ball, if we pass the ball we wont get that set and kill,” said Veliz.

The Vaqueros open up round one of WSC with an away game Tuesday Sept. 29 at Bakersfield College following a home game against Citrus College Oct. 2.

Tip-off is at 7 p.m.

Aris Allahverdian can be reached at Aris_Allahverdian@elvaq.com

30

Wednesday, September 30, 2008

www.elvaq.com

SPORTS

Cross Country Is Running Smoothly

By Brandon Hensley

EL VAQUERO EDITOR IN CHIEF

I

t would be difficult to say Eddie Lopez not only talks the talk, but also walks the walk.

Because he doesn’t.

Not when he’s the head of an athletic program that wins conference and state championships so routinely it makes Roger Federer look like he’s struggling. Not when he’s able to reload each year with top recruits that could make USC football blush.

No, it would be a surprise to find out Lopez walks anywhere.

His success comes from running.

“You’re either a leader, a follower, or you get out of the way,” he said.

Now in his 22nd year as coach at Glendale, it’s that kind of mind set that has helped guide Lopez and his cross country teams to almost unparalleled success within the Vaqueros athletic department.

The men have won the Western State Conference 16 of the last 23 years. The women have won their last four conference titles, including a state championship in 2007. During his tenure, Lopez has won a combined 17 Coach of the Year honors.

As far as where both teams are placed currently on the new season, well, is that a serious question? They are first in conference, the men third in the Southern California rankings, the women second. Yeah, big surprise.

The success of the program didn’t start with Lopez, but it’s clear now he sets the pace.

“I grew up in a family of runners … so I’ve been exposed to running all my life. That’s all I know.”

Lopez graduated from Hollywood High, and started running for Glendale in 1978 under the guidance of Coach Tom McMurray. They won conference that year and again in ’79.

“I came here, and I found out we train at a different level, race at a different level, and I fell in love with Glendale College.”

After college, he coached at the high school level before returning to Glendale in 1987, where he took over as cross country coach and was an assistant track coach. Today, he is in charge of both programs. Lopez said the family atmosphere, which is

echoed by many on campus, is what drew him back and what also keeps him here.

“I realize I love it here and I can make more of a difference for the kids. Develop them, have some input, and make sure they get their education. And that’s so rewarding, when they invite you to their graduation,” he said.

That sounds nice and sweet, but the competitive side of Lopez in practice is what develops his runners, providing them with a true test of physical and emotional grit.

“It’s very tough. Very different compared to high school,” said sophomore Rosa Del Toro of the workouts. Del Toro’s Birmingham High team was ranked second in the city her senior year, but here, “It’s more intense. Everything’s different.”

Men’s sophomore team captain Frankie Quijado agreed.

“I remember coming in as a freshman, everything was difficult. I was coming off a program that was running 40 miles a week,” he said of his alma mater, Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet in East L.A. Here, Lopez has them running over 70 miles a week.

Mondays, the teams work out in intervals, including one mile repeats four times. Longer running days include eight to 10 miles, and on Sundays, which is supposedly a day of rest, they run 14 to 16 miles. There’s also the cool down runs after practice, which consist of three to five miles. It’s enough to leave the average person out of breath just hearing about it.

Quijado remembers what assistant coach David Rodriguez said when he recruited him. “He said, ‘Here at Glendale we have tradition, and we have our good runners and a good program.

You will develop stronger as a runner.’”

Ask Quijado if in fact that has happened to him and he’ll only laugh as if to say, are you kidding me? Of course it has.

“It’s not for all the kids,” said Lopez. We tell them, “‘This is what it takes.’ So basically, when we recruit, we try to recruit the kids that want to do the extra miles.”

Lopez also loves to motivate, and Del Toro is a believer in the system. “He loves motivating the team. It helps me a lot. I know that for a fact,” she said.

Count former football coach

and current Athletic Director John Cicuto as a fan as well. “I never really went to a cross country [meet] until after I became the athletic director … but I tell you what, they’re really exciting to watch.”

When Cicuto was football coach, he and Lopez were working out their teams at the same time one day. It became apparent right then to Cicuto what the cross country program is all about.

“For me to see how Eddie and David Rodriguez were coaching these athletes was incredible. I’m talking about the intensity and the demands that they put on our athletes is the reason why I think we are successful,” he said.

Bryan Ramos ran for Glendale in the mid-1990s, and won a state title in 1995. Now as an assistant coach for Lopez, he repeats the same lessons one must learn that

made his team great.

“Once you’re on the track or on the road, you have to be ready.

You have to get your mind set.

That’s what it takes to be a good athlete,” he said.

“It’s the Glendale way,” said Lopez. “It’s what I was taught by Coach McMurray.”

This is not to make Lopez out as some charioteer who rules with a whip on the track. He runs with the teams during practice, acting as both as an empathizer and sympathizer.

“To feel the pain of what they go through, it gives you the sense of where they are physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually.

For me I can gauge if they’re tired or not. I’m always asking that, always communicating,” he said.

Now, it’s full speed ahead for the rest of the season, where the Vaqueros hope

to emerge victorious in the Southern California and state championships in November.

After practice last week in the scorching heat, Lopez left the track and headed up the stairs, following a path back to the athletic department. He did this… while walking?

Lopez turned around and said with a smile, “I walk fast.”

As long as he’s setting the pace, it doesn’t really matter.

Brandon Hensley can be reached at brandon_hensley @elvaq.com

More exclusive features, photos and slideshows online

@

elvaq.com

Vaquero Sports Summaries Scores

Football:

Sept. 19: defeated Riverside City College 10-7 Sept. 26: lost to Orange Coast College 10-6

Women’s Soccer:

Sept. 15: defeated Rio Hondo College 1-0 Sept. 18: lost to East L.A. College 2-0 Sept. 25: defeated Hancock College 2-0

Women’s Volleyball:

Sept. 16: lost to Pasadena City College 3-0 Sept. 18: defeated Rio Hondo College 3-0 Sept. 22: lost to Santa Barbara College 3-1 Sept. 25: lost to Moorpark College 3-0

Men’s Soccer:

Sept. 15: lost to Irvine Valley College 3-2 Sept. 18: defeated Chaffey College 6-1 Sept. 22: lost to Santiago Canyon College 2-1

Cross Country:

Sept. 19: Cuesta Invitational: Both men and women finished 1st.

Sept. 25: Golden West College: Both men and women finished 1st.

Upcoming Events Football:

Saturday: at Ventura College 7 p.m.

Women’s Soccer:

Friday: vs. Citrus College at GCC 7 p.m.

Oct. 6: at. Santa Monica College 2 p.m.

Oct. 9: vs. Mission College at GCC 4 p.m.

Oct. 13: vs. Valley College at GCC 4 p.m.

Men’s Soccer:

Friday: vs. Moorpark College at GCC 5 p.m.

Oct. 6: at College of the Canyons 4 p.m.

Oct. 9: vs. Santa Barbara College at GCC 7 p.m.

Oct. 13: vs. Oxnard College at GCC 7 p.m.

Cross Country:

Saturday: Foothill Invitational at Legg Lake, El Monte 10 a.m.

Oct. 9: WSC Preview Meet at Pierce 10 a.m.

Women’s Volleyball:

Friday: at Oxnard College 6 p.m.

Oct. 6: at West L.A. College 7 p.m.

Oct. 9: vs. Santa Monica at GCC 7 p.m.

Oct. 13: vs. Los Angeles Pierce College at GCC 7 p.m.

For more information visit: www.glendale.edu/athletics/

www.elvaq.com

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

31

Calendar On Campus events Alcohol And Drug Studies Information Summit — This free event promotes awareness and offers information about job opportunities in dependency treatment.

Guest speakers include Dr. Frank Clayman-Cook and Father Jack Kearney. Today from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the Student Center. This even is sponsered by the Alcohol Drug Studies Club.

Blood Drive — Providence Hospital will be hosting a blood drive Oct. 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Plaza Vaquero.

Employment Opportunity — Job recruiters from Primerica will

be on campus Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Plaza Vaquero.

For more information, contact the Student Employment Services Office in the San Rafael Building or call (818) 240-1000 ext. 5403.

Transfer Fair — Several Universities from all over California will be on campus with information about their schools. Representatives will be avaliable to answer questions. Oct. 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the San Rafael Plaza.

transfer center CSUN — Representatives from Cal State Northridge will be on campus to meet with students and answer questions. Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Transfer Center.

For more information, call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5442.

UCLA — Representatives from UCLA will be on campus to meet with students and answer questions. Monday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Transfer Center. For more information, call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5442.

information Start Your Own Club — Starting a club is a way to get involved in the college, meet new friends, and gain leadership experience.

For more information, call (818) 240-1000, ext. 3303.

Scholarship Application Deadline — The fall 2009 scholarship

deadline is Oct. 16. Applications may be submitted online by going to www.glendale.edu and clicking on scholarships in the “Need Money?” box.

Seasonal Flu Shots — Flu shots are available in the Health Center to credit students and college employees while supplies last. Flu shots cost $10 for credit students and $20 for employees. Cash only. For more information, including the Health Center hours, call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5909.

Food For Thought Applications — Applications are available in the EOPS office and at the Information Desk. Food for Thought is a program to assist students with financial needs. It provides basic

food costs for up to two semesters. Students are awarded food vouchers for a local market each month of the fall and spring semesters. The Food for Thought application deadline is Oct. 23.

lectures “Bridging the Centuries: Chinese in Southern California and the San Gabriel Valley” — Presented by Eugene Moy, past president of the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California.

Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. in Kreider Hall. Admission is free.

“Introduction to Buddhism” — Presented by the Buddhist Club.

Oct. 8 from noon to 1 p.m. in SC 212. Admission is free.

Around Town events Pasadena ArtNight — Enjoy free admission and extended hours to many cultural destinations in Pasadena. Free shuttles will loop throughout the evening with stops at each venue. Park at any one venue and ride to the others. Oct. 9 from 6 to 10 p.m.

For more information, including a list of participating venues, visit www.artnightpasadena.org or call (626) 744-7887.

Eagle Rock Music Festival — Colorado Boulevard between Eagle Rock Boulevard and Argus. Eagle Rock holds its eleventh annual free street festival.

Including vendors, food and a day’s worth of music from over 40 acts. Free parking and shuttle services available at Eagle Rock Plaza. Saturday from 4 to 11 p.m.

For more information, visit www. centerartseaglerock.org.

Glendale Farmers’ Market — 100 block of North Brand Boulevard, between Broadway and Wilson. The Glendale Farmers’ Market features fresh-baked breads, farm-fresh vegetables and fruits, nuts, flowers and plants.

Some vendors offer organically grown products. Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For more

information, call (818) 548-3155.

exhibitions A Bridge to the Americas — Museum of Latin American Art, 628 Alamitos Ave., Long Beach.

This exhibition features more than 100 works of art that reflect the diversity, individuality and universality of the Latin American artists from the museum’s permanent collection. General admission is $9 and $6 for students and seniors. For more information, visit www.molaa.org or call (562) 437-1689.

Population: Portraits by Ray Turner — Pasadena Museum of California Art, 490 E. Union St., Pasadena. Artist Ray Turner blends realism and abstraction in this exhibition featuring 150 intimate portraits of Pasadena residents. Oct. 4 through Jan. 31. Admission prices are $7 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. Museum hours vary. For more information, visit www. pmcaonline.org or call (626) 568-3665.

Luis Meléndez: Master of the Spanish Still Life — Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. This exhibtion includes more than 20

paintings by Luis Meléndez, the greatest still life painter of eighteenth-century Spain. Now through Oct. 4. Admission is $12 for adults and $8 for students with valid I.D. Children 17 and under are free. Museum hours vary. For more information, visit www.lacma.org or call (323) 857-6000.

Irving Penn: Small Trades — The Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles. This exhibition features Irving Penn’s photographs of workers, Vani’s golden graves, french landscapes, and more. Now through Jan. 10.

Museum hours vary. Admission is free. Parking is $10. For more information, visit www.getty.edu or call (310) 440-7300.

Gaze: Portraiture after Ingres — Norton Simon Museum of Art, 411 W. Colorado Blvd. This exhibition includes 150 works from the museum’s collection. Oct. 30 through April 5. Admission is $8 and free for students. For more information, including museum hours, visit www.nortonsimon.org or call (626) 449-6840.

theater “Crime and Punishment” — A Noise Within, 234 S. Brand Blvd.

This new adaptation explores the

exquisite fragility of the mind. In a desperate quest to be redeemed for the perpetration of an unspeakable crime, Raskolnikov embodies humankind’s eternal struggle between enlightened genius and the temptation of evil. Oct. 10 through Dec. 17. For information including ticekt prices, visit www.anoisewithin.org or call (818) 240-0910.

“L.A. Projectango” — Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd.

Creator and Tango Maestro Marcos Questas brings a show with warmth, feeling, life’s imperfections, relationships and soul. Oct. 11 at p.m. Ticket prices vary. Students and seniors may purchase discounted ticekts at the box office. For more information, visit www.alextheatre.org or call (818) 243-2539.

comedy KEV Live — Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd. Artists for Kids and Glendale Arts Presents renowned comedian Kev Orkian.

Friday at 8 p.m. Tickets are avaliable online and at the box office.

Ticket prices vary. For more information, visit www.alextheatre. org or call (818) 243-2539.

music John Williams: Music from the City of Angels — Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Blvd., Los Angeles. In celebration of film music the leading cinematic composer of our time curates and conducts a program of old and new Hollywood. Oct. 16 at 8 p.m.

Ticket prices vary. For more information, visit www.laphil.org or call (323) 850-2000.

wellness Meditations for a Happy Life — Shoseian Whispering Pine Teahouse. 1601 W. Mountain St. The Kadampa Meditation Center California presents meditation classes Sundays from 10:15 to 11:45 a.m. with instructor Sandy Schulman. Admission is $12 per class. For more information, visit www.meditateinla.org.

Free Health Clinic — Open Tuesdays 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. On a first-come, first-served basis. 134 N. Kenwood St., third floor, room 330. No job-related physicals are offered. For more information visit www.glendaleclinic.org or call (818) 243-2105, ext. 202.

Compiled by Tina Hagopian

32

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

www.elvaq.com

VAQUERO VIEWS

R-Mean Raps the Plaza

Photo by Richard Kontas

CONCERT IN PLAZA VAQUERO: Former GCC student Armin “R-Mean” Hariri payed a visit to Plaza Vaquero last Thursday. He performed an hourlong lunchtime concert which was sponsored by ASGCC. For more information on R-Mean visit: www.R-Mean.com

Photo by Richard Kontas

GCC‘s 2009 CROSS COUNTRY TEAM: Off to great start this season, the

Vaquero are headed for more championships. See story on page 30.