el Don
SPORTS: Pitcher R.J. Hively and
the Dons’ defense allowed five unearned runs and three errors in an 11-9 loss to Santa Barbara City College. SAC is 7-3 on the season. 11 STYLE: Bigger isn’t
always better when it comes to baked goods. Snag a recipe for Red Velvet cupcakes sure to please a sweet palate. 7
SANTA ANA COLLEGE
LIFE: A trip to Vietnam is only down the street for those night owls craving a savory fusion of innovative Asian cuisine. 8
MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2010 • VOLUME 87, ISSUE 7
Citation rules anger drivers
STAYING
SOBER
Long waits, fewer stalls and increased fees lead to frustration, missed classes, tardiness By Michelle Wiebach el Don News Editor A buzzing gold Toyota Corolla zooms down the aisle of Lot 6 in search of the perfect parking spot. A spot. Any spot. Eyes darting from left to right, architecture major Evelyn Garcia spots the red glow of a truck’s tail lights. She gravitates to the red glow like a bug drifts to light. Zap! No spot. She slams the brakes, hits the steering wheel and exhales in frustration. She’s been circling for more than an hour by now, hunting for that spot. To her right she catches another red glow. This time it’s promising. The space frees up. She’s got it. She pulls the keys out of the
IN DEPTH PART 1: Recovery is a daily struggle for those trying to kick alcohol addiction By Kathie Espinoza el Don Editor in Chief
Pat doesn’t know what normal is, so he drinks to try to feel that way. He struggles with sobriety every day. This is his third try and he hopes it will work this time. His relationship with alcohol began when the drinking age was still 18 — the same age at which he had his first blackout. Driving home from a party in Wisconsin, he woke up at O’Hare Airport with no recollection of how he ended up there. Even after multiple blackouts, Pat still denied he had a problem. It took five days of being in a motel room, boozing and snorting cocaine, to realize he had a problem. Pat is one of millions of recovering alcoholics in the United States. For them, the story rarely changes — they have thrown away college educations, big time jobs, houses with white picket fences and loving families who try, in vain, to help them into recovery. “I had the home and the family, but I tore it all down. All the times I got sober my life changed completely, but I never changed and that was the problem,” Pat said. There are 14 million alcoholics in the nation. Experts estimate that 32 percent are of college age. Some students see drinking as a reward for a long week of studying or a job well done. “I work really hard all week, I go to school and I have two jobs and I deserve to have fun on the weekends,” said Lindsey Areaga, a SAC student who averages seven or eight drinks on a good Friday night. “I’m not going out every night and getting drunk.” For many college students who drink to relieve stress this leads to a lifelong burden for them and their families and, for some, years of addiction. Young adults often overestimate the drinking habits of their peers and assume their fellow students drink more than they actually do. Some of this can be attributed to aggressive advertising campaigns that often lure the
Please see DRINK, Page 5 Read Staff Editorial, Page 9
THE START Every day in the U.S. more than 13,000 children and teens take their first drink.
Please see TICKET, Page 3
THE RISK
THE STAKES Every year 1,400 college students between the ages of 18 to 24 die from alcoholrelated injuries, including car accidents.
American youth who drink before the age of 15 are four times more likely to become alcoholics than young people who do not drink before the age of 21.
THE STATS The 25.9% of underage drinkers who are alcohol abusers and alcohol dependent drink 47.3% of the alcohol that is consumed by all underage drinkers.
•SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control
PARKING RULES • Permits are required at all times unless parked in visitor parking only for 30 minutes. • The green zone indicates 20 minute parking only. • Motorcycles do not need a permit if parked in designated areas marked in lots.
State enrollment numbers falling SAC losing more students than community colleges statewide By Felipa Penaloza el Don Staff Writer For the first time in five years, student enrollment at the California Community Colleges has declined by 1 percent. The 110-college system will lose an estimated 21,000 students for the 2009-10 school year, said California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott. Santa Ana College enrollment dropped from 28,489 in spring 2009 to 23,530 by fall, almost a 20 percent drop in the number of students attending.
The decrease comes as a result of the state budget deficit that has led to cutting a number of available classes in recent years. The 2009-2010 school year has seen a 5 percent reduction in course availability statewide with SAC cutting 10 percent of classes every semester, cramming more students in remaining classes and increasing class sizes. “Our classes are now fuller. Some classes that had 20 or 25 students now have 40,” said Vice President
Please see DROP, Page 4
NEWS
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SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2010
COMMUNITY PROFILE
Religion, Relics and remedies Shop caters to diverse believers in downtown By Rubi Mora el Don Staff Writer
Blanca Valdivia el Don
A happy customer laughs at the huge variety of herbs in the store.
Tucked away in the hipster-infested streets of Santa Ana’s Artists Village, Yerba Mex Botanicals is a shop for the health-obsessed and superstitious alike. Shelves are lined with candles meant to bring good fortune or stave away bad vibes, some as specific as “Lucky Gambler” and some as vague as “Protection Against Harm.” Some, such as “Red Dragon,” serve no apparent purpose. Religious icons around the shop represent different ideologies. The shop’s founder and owner, Joe Lara, says he doesn’t believe a word of it. A man of many paradoxes, Lara started his business 26 years ago. He sells products he believes in fervently (multivitamins, Tom’s deodorant) along with products he scorns (the aforementioned candles). He is 84 but looks 60, worldly but wary of the World Wide Web, a vegetarian in a
leather jacket. With a Buddha statue and a plaque reading “Shalom” looming in the background, Lara explains, “Jesus Christ is my Lord and savior, and for me that’s enough. I don’t need the organized religion.” He stands firm in rejection of junk food and devotion to daily supplements — he has two crates’ worth for his own use — otherwise Lara keeps an open mind. The number one seller at Yerba Mex is té tranquilo, a calming tea, followed by a treatment for Urinary Tract Infections and kidney failure. “Social problems,” Lara smirks. Lara doesn’t drink, smoke, and says he has never taken a pharmaceutical product in his life. He is aware that most of his customers don’t have the same lifestyle but he doesn’t care. “If you like yourself, you take care of yourself. You don’t want to follow anyone else.” He pauses. Then, in true paradoxical fashion, asks, “Do you follow me?”
CAMPUS, LOCAL & STATE
News You Can Use Live Music
Leadership Enrollment is now open for the Student Leadership Institute, which takes place April 23 and 24 from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. A joint program of SAC and CSUF, this series of workshops is available at no cost to all SAC students. You must be willing to commit to attending both days. Participants will receive a certificate at an awards dinner in May. Applications are available in the Student Life Office, U-121A. -Meg Faulkner
Cesar Chavez
A Slice of Pi
The 10th annual Cesar E. Chavez holiday celebration will take place Saturday, March 27, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The program begins with a “Si, se puede!” march from Jerome Center on Monte Vista Street to the main stage at 2201 W. McFadden St. -Lourdes Serrano
Every year math enthusiasts anticipate March 14 to celebrate Pi Day. In honor of the holiday, the Discovery Science Center is hosting “pirelated” activities, including making a “pi puzzle” and using different sized balls to calculate pi. Tickets are $12.95 for adults and $9.95 for children. Discovery Science Center is located at 2500 N. Main Street, Santa Ana, CA, 92705. -Felipa Penaloza
Theatre Arts
Even while music proThe Theatre Arts grams in many schools Department presents continue to decline, the its first spring showcase Music Department at this performance called campus makes an effort “Welcome to our World.” to bring live, free music It will take place at the to students. Phillips Hall Theatre from The next performance noon to 1:15 p.m. on takes place Tuesday, Wednesday, March 10. March 9, from 5 to 6:30 This is a one-time-only p.m. in room C-104. event, is free for students and no tickets or reserva-Lourdes Serrano tions are required. -Lourdes Serrano
Tax workshops Santa Ana residents can now take advantage of free tax preparation provided by the city and nonprofit organizations, including United Way. For a listing of all Community Tax Preparation Days throughout Orange County and the locations, visitunitedwayoc. org or call 888-434-8248 for assistance in English or 866921-3890 for assistance in Spanish. -Lourdes Serrano
Avoid Failing a Class
Associated Students
The last day to drop a first GR8 Weeks class with a “W” grade is March 21. Classes may be dropped online through Web Advisor. Waiting until after the deadline can result in a failing grade for the class this semester. -Michelle Wiebach
To see what ASG has to say, you can search for the words Santa Ana College Associated Student Government, become a fan of the Facebook page and get up-todate news about SAC events. -Felipa Penaloza
NEWS
SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2010
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Ticket: upgraded machines make for easy permit purchases in lots Continued from page 1
Blanca Valdivia el Don
Students feel forced to ignore parking regulations due to congested lots.
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an independent contractor hired by the ignition, grabs her bag and runs to class. district to process the tickets, said Peter Late again. Hardash, vice chancellor of business and Parking. It’s a problem. For everyone. fiscal services. “I got to class 15 minutes late because By law, the college is limited to using the I was looking for parking. I almost got fees collected from permits and citations dropped from my class,” she said with an for services, including maintenance and exasperated look on her face. security. But not enough money is collect“I would park in the lot closest to 7-eleved to support the current cost of parking en but I can’t see the parking spot lines,” maintenance, Hardash said. Garcia said. “I don’t want other cars to hit Adding to the burden of higher fees, my car.” parking citations are now being issued to During tough economic times, parking drivers who attend any event at SAC, such citations hit students particularly hard. as a game or theater production, meaning The first Monday of citing for parkthat guests need to pay $2 to park on caming permits, SAC security officials issued pus, even if it’s only for a couple of hours. about 200 tickets, said Safety and Security “As long as people park on campus they Advisor Lt. James Wooley. need a parking permit,” Lt. Wooley said. Since fall, parking prices have increased, “We wanted to treat everyone equally and forcing many students to ignore parking be consistent with parking regulations.” regulations to grab a spot. But what can Regulations can be unforgiving. “I park they do? Now parking permits cost $30. and leave my car, so I have a spot, then I That’s double of what it was in 2009. Daily go get a day pass and when I come back parking permits also went up by I have a ticket,” Julian Cardenas, crimi50 percent. nal justice major, said. “Sometimes the If caught, consequences are costly, with machines don’t even work.” citations ranging from $20 to $250. Despite the poor state of the 13 colFrom July 2009 through December 2009, lege lots, and the lack of public safety about 2,794 citations were issued districtofficers patrolling them, the fund from wide. Only about 33 percent of the money permit sales has at least contributed to the collected from citations goes to the district. purchase of three new permit machines, For example, the district receives $7 expected to be installed within a few from a standard parking citation of $20. weeks. The new machines will accept credThe bulk of the fees are then shared by it and debit cards as well as cash, making it the state, city and other jurisdictions and easier for students to get a permit.
NEWS
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SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2010
Drop: courses can’t be changed Continued from page 1
“This will affect students who are working full-time and still want to take two or three classes, because they’re not on financial aid and they don’t have fee waivers.” Norman Fujimoto Vice President of Academic Affairs
of Academic Affairs Norman Many students stay longer than Fujimoto. “I would like to give anticipated because of such every student every class that they varying course requirements. need, but the budget has forced us Staffing issues are impeding this to do these cuts in classes because process, causing some transfer stuwhen we cut classes it saves us dents to graduate with up to money in terms of payroll.” 42 unnecessary units. The California Legislative “When courses do not transfer Analyst’s Office recommends profrom a community college to a viding new funding for community four-year institution, students lose colleges through a $14-per-unit fee valuable time and taxpayers waste a increase, according to a new report. lot of money,” Scott said. With current fees at $26, SAC To make it even more difficult for students could expect to pay up to students to go to a four-year uni$40 a unit. versity and graduate on time, uni“This will affect students who versities no longer accept mid-year are working full-time and still transfer students. want to take two or three classes, “I had a student come to me and because they’re not on financial he still needed to take one class to aid and they don’t have fee waivers,” transfer, but he did not think he Fujimoto said. would finish and he was worried SAC is still less expensive than a about money,” said Fujimoto. “He four-year institution. did not apply to the university, so “I transferred, so I also go to now he can’t get in for fall 2010 or Cal State Long Beach, but it’s defispring 2010, so he has to wait to nitely still cheaper here even at apply for fall 2011.” $40,” said political science major The California Community Navreet Dhaliwal. Colleges is the largest higher-eduAlthough about 25 percent of cation system in the country with students intend to transfer to a almost 3 million students enrolled. four-year institution, some classes “Moving in the wrong direction that transfer to the California State in terms of educating our populaUniversity system may not transfer tion could be fairly disastrous for to the University of California. our economy,” Scott said. “We must “They’re supposed to be one syslook at the fundamental needs of tem, but in reality they’re different California and the consequences institutions. There is no common we will be faced with if we fail to curriculum,” Fujimoto said. meet those needs.”
N A T I o N A l
monica ortiz el Don
Swimmer Sabrina Mercer participates in a protest against cut classes.
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NEWS
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SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2010
Drink: liquor ads in media part of our daily lives Continued from page 1 college set into the hard partying lifestyle, American Medical Association researchers say. Many alcohol ad campaigns target young adults by promoting sleek, sexy liquor bottles and beautiful people having the time of their life with drinks in hand. In the ‘80s there was the Spuds Mackenzie campaign, the hard partying Budweiser Mascot, and the ‘90s brought the infamous Budweiser frogs. These days, gaudy pirates ask if you have any Captain in you and the ubiquitous Absolut Vodka is available in a rainbow of flavors. Slogans quickly enter the American lexicon along with sensory overload from television, Internet and radio. Children and teens view 20,000 commercials a year, and about 2,000 of those are for beer and wine, according to the Alcohol Policies Project. Alcohol has wedged itself into pop culture and, by default, our daily lives. The alcohol industry spends about $5 billion a year in the United States on advertising and promotion. About 75 percent of those dollars go towards promotional efforts, including sponsorship of community events. Alcohol conglomerates like Anheuser-Busch donate more than $370 million to charitable organizations, including public education and environmental causes. However, the
alcohol industry costs taxpayers more than $180 million in accidents, productivity loss and hospital visits. Alcohol takes its toll on more than just the taxpayer. Friends and family members of alcoholics often visit support groups like AlaTeen or Al-Anon to help cope with the after effects of a loved one’s drinking. “It is incredibly difficult to deal with an alcoholic in the family,” said Martha, an Al-Anon member. “They don’t want your help even though you try to help them. In the end, you blame yourself. These meetings help us better understand that no one can fix the addict besides themselves.” Some people don’t realize they need help until they have bottomed out and can no longer function. “I just couldn’t stand myself anymore,” Pat said. “I had to change that. I had gone to jail, my family had left, none of that mattered to me anymore. You just have to change yourself at some point.” Risky drinking habits first appear in the eighth grade and increase dramatically during the early college years. Underage drinkers generate $10 billion in profits for the alcohol industry. Their alcohol consumption is rarely in moderation; typically, they consume five or more drinks in a single session, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Here at SAC, there are no on-
campus support groups for alcoholics seeking treatment, although there are many Alcoholics Anonymous groups that meet in local churches and community centers. “There’s sometimes an element of embarrassment to AA meetings. Students don’t want their peers to know that they have a problem,” Health Center Coordinator Arlene Warco said. However, students can be referred through psychological services to find a local support group or be referred to a rehab facility through private insurance. Pat is still on a one-day-at-a-time path to sobriety. He knows that once an addict, he will always be one, and
Joe Koshellek MCT
that it is all a matter of will power. “There are hot summer days that I sometimes feel the urge, but those urges are fleeting. The longer I stay sober, the more fleeting they become,” Pat said. Pat is one of many alcoholics who have gotten sober and can function as adults. For others the battle is much more difficult. One SAC student recently relapsed after a little over 30 days of sobriety. “I don’t know why I did it. All I know is that I’ve screwed up and I need to get back up again,” the student said. “As hard as it is, I can’t let it beat me because even though it’s the simple solution, I would be throwing away all of this progress I’ve made.”
Drinking is a rite of passage for the typical college student.
Be his rise froM hospiTal charTs To Music charTs.
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NEWS
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SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2010
Reimbursement program gives to undergraduates College expenses taken into consideration for tax returns By Monica Ortiz el Don Staff Writer Grants, scholarships and student loans aren’t always enough to fuel a college education but there may be an easier way to attain financial assistance: filing your taxes. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or Stimulus Act, has introduced a new branch of assistance, making the act of doing taxes more rewarding. The Internal Revenue Service added the American Opportunity Credit for college students, formerly known as the Hope and Lifetime Learning Credits Act, to this year’s income tax return. The American Opportunity Credit can offer up to a $2,500 rebate, which is $700 more than the Hope Act offered. Also unlike the Hope Act, the credit allows for you to receive reimbursement for the first four years of college or university instead of the previously offered two years. Using Form 8863, taxpayers could be reimbursed for qualified tuition and
BY THE
NUMBERS
school-related expenses from 2009 and 2010. Books, supplies and equipment are covered, however, computer purchases are only a factor if it was needed for enrollment or attendance at post-secondary institutions. Michelle Evans, a nursing student, didn’t know about the new amendment. “It could definitely help me next year,” said Evans, “FAFSA just pays for my tuition. My job also reimburses me for the classes that I pass, but this could definitely help.” Only undergraduate students who are currently enrolled or have attended school within the past year are eligible to receive the credit. Students must be enrolled in six units or more and credit can be claimed for the individual, a spouse or child attending school with the aforementioned requirements. Any sort of felony charge is an immediate disqualification. Students who make less than $80,000 annually will be granted more than individuals who earn more than that or couples who make more than $160,000 For those with incomes insufficient, it is recommended to still apply. An amount of $1,000 could still be awarded.
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Earn less than $40,000 yearly
Claim standard tax reductions.
Of taxes e-filed in the U.S.
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