El Vaquero Glendale College
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In This Issue BASKETBALL Season recap and photographs. Pages 10-11
FRIDAY MARCH 10, 2006
Volume 89 Number 1
Age of Aquarius Dawns at GCC By Alison Geller
EL VAQUERO FEATURES EDITOR
“L
ook at the bodies that you killed in the ’60s and look at the bodies that you’re killing in 2006; humans are still humans,” said Jose “Shermie” Aguilar, 18, who is a Tribe member in GCC’s production of the rock-musical “Hair” that is being performed by the Theater Arts Department starting today and running for the next three weekends. Many of the Tribe members agree that current world events make this is the perfect time to bring “Hair” to the GCC stage. “Hair,” which was written in the late ’60s by James Rado and Gerome Ragni, is about a group of young adults, referred to as the Tribe, living the life of New York City hippies during the Vietnam War. It depicts the tribe’s members struggle to avoid the draft. The draft had been around
since 1940 but was not widely used during the Cold War. In 1964 however, conscription was stepped up as the war in Vietnam escalated. According to Wikipedia.org “Formal protests against the draft began on October 15, 1965, when the student-run National Coordinating Committee to End the War in Vietnam staged the first public burning of a draft card in the United States.” This pivotal event is portrayd in “Hair” when most of the male tribe members burn their draft cards. GCC’s production of “Hair” brings the points of the play home by showing clips on screens in the background that emphasize what the tribe is either singing or talking about. They hit very close to home near the end when they show clips of the graves from Arlington Cemetery after a pivotal character dies. Explaining why they are
called “The Tribe,” cast member Meagon Ligons, 22, said, “We’re the Tribe because the Tribe is more or less about us as one big group. Where hippies are [autonomous], the Tribe is like a big family. We’re communal. That’s what we’re trying to express onstage.” “Hair” also contains a controversial nude scene at the end of Act I. But in the GCC production the nudity is voluntary. Ken Gray, the director of the play, says that wherever the actors comfort level ends, is where they stop, which means if they want to take off just their shirt or if they want to take it all off it’s all up to the individual actor. It is believed that this will be the first Theater Arts production that includes full nudity for the cast members, at least as far as Gray, a GCC professor for the past 28 years, recalls. Camilo Villegas, 20, is also a Tribe member (and the Gemini
Photo by Jane Pojawa.
Marco Bardales, as Berger in GCC’s theatrical production, opening today.
see HAIR, page 8
Hall of Fame Honors Athletic Alumni By Pauline Guiuan Photo by Isaiah Marmol
ART “California Dreaming” at the Art Gallery. Page 13
Photo by Jason Castro
NEWS................... 1-4 FEATURE............. 5-15 SPORTS.................. 16 ENTERTAINMENT..... 12 CALENDAR . .......... 19
EL VAQUERO NEWS EDITOR
T
he GCC Student Center Conference Room was transformed into an elegant banquet hall Saturday night for this year’s Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. The 190 guests, who were mostly college alumni or friends and family of this year’s inductees, came to enjoy a fancy three-course dinner and witness five individuals and two teams recognized for their outstanding athletic achievements. The annual event, now in its fifth year, was sponsored by the Glendale College Foundation and was spearheaded by a ninemember faculty committee. It served as a reunion for many alumni and an opportunity for guests to admire the Athletic Hall of Fame mural on the wall in SC 212 as well as the new Sartoris field. Athletic Hall of Fame Committee Chairman Rick Roche kicked off the evening with his welcoming remarks, and was followed by GCC President John Davitt. “[This event] is one of the highlights of the year,” said Davitt. “This tells a lot about the
Rico was the evening’s master of ceremonies. “I’ve had a fun, fun, fun career that started here at the college,” Rico said. Rico acknowledged the presence of Glendale City Council Members Ara Najarian and Dave Weaver. He also mentioned Andrew Feldman and Nancy Jordan of the Culinary Arts Department, who, along with several students, prepared the three-course dinner, hors d’oeuvres and drinks enjoyed by the guests. The induction ceremony began after dinner. Past inductees who were present that evening, such as Health and Physical Education Division Chair Jim Sartoris, were acknowledged first, and a slideshow featuring this year’s inductees and their achievements was shown simultaneously. According to Alex Leon, member of the Hall of Fame Committee, the winners are Photo by Sumaya Mehai chosen according to the degree of excellence in their respective sports, both in and out of John Tansley was honored for outstanding achievethe college. “A committee of three or four ments in coaching track and field. members selects the awardees,” Leon said. school’s athletic program…which is something “They have to be gone [from GCC] at least five years, except for the coaches.” we can be proud of.” see HALL OF FAME, page 15 Broadcast journalist and college alumnus Joe