May 21, 2014 l Vol 85 Issue 3
LET US STAY
A student run newspaper of the Mt. SAC Journalism Program l mountiewire.com
MAY DAY MARCH FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM P.3
AT&T 4G < Messages
4:20 PM
BABE
Dat Ass Doe.
69% Contact
I wish I was the triangle!!! iMessage
Condom use drops P.4
Send
Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sext P.11
Live action P.10
#FOODPORN P.7
Mountaineer Mt. San Antonio College
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
News
2
Our love-hate relationship with social media Study suggests social media is making us dumber Manny Flores Multiculture Editor Today, it is hard to envision a world without social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, tumblr, Vine, etc. Social media has become deeply entrenched in our everyday lives. However, is it possible that social media is negatively affecting us more than it is benefiting us? Andrea Meza, 22, fashion marketing major, said that her first experience using social media came as part of her work. “I am a social media manager, ironically,” Meza said. “It was really hard to get a handle on it because it was really confusing like the hashtags and stuff like that, but it’s interesting.” For 21-year-old Eduardo Bovadilla, kinesiology major, Myspace was his first social media experience. “At first I actually didn’t get into it but as more people started logging into it, I started to follow,” Bovadilla
said. “I thought it was interesting the way you could interact with people, set up your own background, and music.” Early this year on Feb. 24, Phys. org reported that a study published by the Journal of Royal Society Interface suggests that social media is making people less intelligent. Scientists came to this conclusion by creating five social networks consisting of 100 university students. Each of these five social networks was composed of 20 individuals. The social networks ranged from participants who stayed closely connected to those who were more dispersed. They were then tasked with answering a set of brainstraining questions. It turned out that more connections resulted in more right answers not because the participants were learning. They were essentially stealing answers from one another. When tested at an individual level and given a fresh question, the participants who shared their answers performed no better than when they first joined the social network. Bovadilla said that he believes social media is causing people to be easily distracted and have short
attention spans. “I feel like most people have to be on either Facebook, Instagram or Twitter more of the time than they are in the real world,” he said. “That actually can hinder them being out and talking with other people.” Meza shares a similar perception as Bovadilla. “It’s hard to have a conversation with somebody without them looking down at their phone [using social media],” Meza said. She said it gets annoying when people are constantly using social media because it makes it difficult to have a person-toperson conversation. John Brantingham, English professor, does not believe that social media is taking away the ability for people think for themselves. “It’s always been some media that people will attack,” Brantingham said. “If you use it intelligently, you’re fine. If you’re not going to use it intelligently then you weren’t going to think for yourself anyway.” Meza agrees with Brantingham. “I think it’s a way for people to voice themselves,” Meza said. Brantingham uses Facebook often and he finds it beneficial for his career as a writer. “I’m trying to sell books,”
Brantingham said. “The problem with Twitter is that people who are buying books are trying to make a personal connection and you can’t do that with the short characters. The only effective thing to put there is guiding people to your blog or your Facebook so they can get something of more substance.” Brantingham adds that social media has its setbacks. “I’m annoyed by people’s casual sexism and racism, and people who feel as though it’s perfectly acceptable to say insulting things in a sort of broad context.” Overall, they agree that social media is positive because it can help people stay connected and serve as a medium of communication.
Mountaineer Mt. San Antonio College
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
News
3
STAFF Editor-in-Chief Albert Serna Mountiewire Editor-in-Chief Adolfo Tigerino Managing Editor Sasha Chavez Art Director Cynthia Schroeder News Editor Adolfo Tigerino Opinion Editor Adam Valenzuela Features Editor Christina Artmanni A&E Editors Jamie Rocha Tech Editor Damion Julien-Rohman College Life Editor Julian Muhr Multiculture Editor Manny Flores Sports Editor Jose De Castro Photo Editor Yunuen Bonaparte Cartoonists Adam Valenzuela, Karla Mejia Social Media Director Vanessa Osio Copyeditor Ebony Hardiman Staff Reporters Analisse Deleon, Michael Chavez, Monserrath Flores, Adrian Islas, Brittney Morales, Angelica Olivares, Amanda Recio, Samantha Romero, Cynthia Schroeder, Ana Silva, Esther Solis, Kathryn Banks, Sonia Ross Staff Writers Joseph Anchondo, Rachelle Araghi, Christopher Ayala, Portia Blankson, Yunuen Bonaparte, Daney Casas, Darell Coleman, Fantashia Francis, Roldan Garcia, Ernesto Gonzales, Ebony Hardiman, Sabrina Hernandez, Michelle Jensen, April Jimenez, Angelica Loera, James Lommer, Valerie Roxas Amanda Rubio, Jennifer Sandy, Donna Solis, Sylvia Villanueva, Robert de Anda, Michael Tarronas, Nicole Taylor, Jillian Copeland, Zohair Yusufali Photographers Jose De Castro, Pablo Unzueta, Alex Aimaq, Stephanie Hacha, Beatrice Alcala, Adolfo Tigerino, Hugo Avina, Alex Urquidez, Michael Tarronas Multimedia Neil Andersen, Freddy Carlos, Madeline Ealba, Ebony Hardiman, Batool Jaffer, Mariela Marquez, Sebastian Santiago, Abrielle Simpson, Jonathan Surrey, Rebeca Villasenor Advertising Director Veronica Grant Adviser Toni Albertson
Cover photo by Pablo Unzueta The Mountaineer is a college newspaper published by the students in the journalism classes at Mt. San Antonio College. The views expressed in this newspaper do not reflect the views of the adviser, administration or the Board of Trustees of the Mt. SAC district. The Mountaineer and mountiewire.com are First Amendment Publications.
Phone 909-594-5611 ext. 6123 FAX: 909-468-4106 1100 N. Grand Ave. Walnut, CA Bldg. 26D, 3220B
Pablo Unzueta/MOUNTAINEER Jessica Garcia, 20, and Omar Picnardo, 22, from the Latino Equality Alliance march on Cesar E. Chavez Street in Downtown Los Angeles on Thursday, May 1, 2014. The LEA supports immigration reform for queer undocmented people, and their partners.
Protestors march on May Day for immigration reform Pablo Unzueta Staff Writer Thousands of protestors called for the Obama Administration to stop deportations in the United States at a rally held in downtown Los Angeles on May 1, also known as May Day. Advocates for immigration reform claim that there have been more families separated and deported under President Obama, than George W. Bush. Dozens of groups like the 416 Union Iron Workers, who are paid minimum wage for tough construction labor, marched alongside immigrants. The non-profit organization fights for transparency and accountability in America’s labor movement and conditions. Sal Gutierrez, 35, who is part of the movement, scarcely makes ends meet for his family as an ironworker, whose wage is $8.28 an hour. “It’s simply not enough. Obama needs to put pressure on the senate,” Gutierrez said. “Families are barely making it.” The march began on Cesar E. Chavez Street, east of Downtown L.A., and made its way through North Broadway and ended on Alameda Street. There were chants in English and Spanish that echoed throughout the streets like, “Yes we can!” and “Up, up with education! Down, down with deportations!” Commuters driving on the 101 freeway honked in support of the protest with cluttered signs opposing deportation and low wages. Officers were present but no
arrests were made, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The Coalition for Human Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles CHIRLA, an advocate group that represents liberty for undocumented immigrants, brought along their intense leaders who led the entire march. CHIRLA is one of many non-profit organizations that attends the annual May Day protest. Diana Luiz, 20, an immigrant rights supporter, said “It was a beautiful experience to witness thousands of people, who were part of different organizations, unite together with the same message.” Some demonstrators like undocumented sociology and Karen Osorio, 21, political science major, said they felt affronted by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives who rejected President Obama’s policy to stop deporting young children brought to this country illegally. “I think it is unfair,” said Osorio. “I do not think this American dream exists anymore.” Professor of Mexican American history Moises Medina said although there is no easy answer for immigration reform, the fact that the topic is discussed openly is a step in the right direction. “The issue [of immigration] is one that is no longer being avoided, as was the case in previous decades, but rather an issue that both sides of the political spectrum are willing to discuss, albeit with different opinions,” Medina said. “That more people feel something
has to be done, says that at least immigrants in America are no longer an invisible, and thus easily marginalized, populations. Medina added that the working conditions of undocumented people in Los Angeles are improving with limitations. “For example, car wash workers in L.A., an industry where the vast majority of its workers are undocumented, have now unionized several car wash businesses. They have improved wages and working conditions,” Medina said. “This of course is only in a handful of places and with a great amount of work that put them at significant risk given that owners threatened them with deportation. The lesson here is that conditions are changing but even after centuries of labor struggle, the message is clear, immigrant labor looking to organize itself faces tremendous danger and must be the harbinger for change as government is more reactionary than leading the way.” Despite the government’s failure to enact a reformative policy, people like Concepcion Alfaro, 63, immigrated to the United States from South America. Alfaro left Guatemala 35 years ago for better opportunities. She said, “I came here to become successful and free of oppression. I believe that this country has a potential to provide immigrants, like myself, various of resources and equilibrium.” She wore an outfit resembling patriotism-- waving the United States flag, while chanting in Spanish, “Yes we can.”
Mountaineer Mt. San Antonio College
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
News
4
Goodbye condoms, hello herpes Adolfo Tigerino News Editor Stripping off each other’s clothes, getting caught up in the moment, assuming your partner is free of a sexually transmitted infection, and having sex without a condom increases your risk of contracting an STI. According to a November 2013 study by Sex Information and Education Council of Canada, only 50 percent of sexually active American college students are using condoms. There was a 10 percent decrease in condom use since a decade ago where it peaked at 60 percent, according to the Center of Disease Control. One of the most common reasons is that people assume his or her partner is free of STIs, according to the Durex study. Other reports by the National Center for Health Statistics found that teenagers, 15 to 19, become inconsistent with using condoms after the first time of having sex. The lack of condom use is causing an increase of STIs among young people, and most new infections are coming from them. According to the CDC, 15 to 24-year-olds contract chlamydia and gonorrhea at four times the rate of the general population. Although, college students and young adults are more likely to report having no sex for over a year, nevertheless, those who are having sex are having it with multiple partners that is increasing infections. A random sample of 40 students between the ages of 18 and 30 was conducted at Mt. SAC asking about their sexual activity in the past year, 22 of the students surveyed reported that they did not have sex in the past year, 18 said that they did. Out of the 18, 12 said they used
condoms and the remaining six varied on the situation. Additionally, some students stopped using condoms when they were in a relationship. Eric Harmon, 30, animal science major, said that when he was in a relationship sometimes he did not use a condom. However, his partner would still be on birth control. Public health officials are raising concerns on the lack of condom use, and the heightened rates of STIs. “We need to do better as a nation,” Laura Kann, an expert in youth risk behaviors at the CDC, told Time magazine on Nov. 12, 2013. “Far too many kids in this country continue to be infected with HIV and continue to be at risk.” Health official said that because the scares of the 90s when HIV and aids were taking lives daily are now gone due mainly because of antiviral drugs, young adults do not fear the harmful effects of STIs. “The young people today know HIV as a manageable, chronic disease,” Kann told Time magazine on Nov. 12, 2013. “It’s not something that can kill you in their eyes. So that leads, most likely, to an attitude that it’s not something that they have to protect themselves from.” The Canada study found that students found STIs not that important, 54 percent said their single motivation for using protection was birth control, while six percent said STIs as their sole reason. However, the Mt. SAC students that said they used condoms, 78 percent said it was for protection. Additionally, the CDC has collected other data that showed that schools are not providing enough information on how to prevent STIs. The study found that in Alabama, Alaska and Florida,
Photo illustration by Yunuen Bonaparte
fewer public schools are teaching teenagers how to obtain condoms and why it is important to use condoms. Kann told Time magazine that the only way to raise condom use is more education. “It’s really critical for kids to
know about their risk,” Kann said. “They need to know how to get tested. They need to know how to prevent infection. And we can’t do that alone here at CDC. We’re going to need action not only by this agency but also by parents, by schools and communities.”
Higher One empties students pockets Michael Tarronas Staff Writer Since 2011, Higher One has been profiting off Mt. SAC students through debit card usage fees. Students are charged $2.50 for withdrawals at non-Higher One ATM withdrawals, 50 cents for every PIN based transaction, and up to $38 for insufficient funds. Higher One, founded by three college students in early 2000, is a financial services company that specializes in handling the refund and disbursement process for college students. After colleges receive a student’s financial aid money through grants or loans, the excess money paid to the institution is considered a refund and then turned over to Higher One. Higher One then acts as a bank with student’s money. Financial aid money in a student’s Higher One account can be accessed one of three ways: transferring the funds to the student’s personal bank account, issuing a paper check, or using the provided Higher One debit card. Of these three options, use of the debit card is pushed onto students due to its convenience. Convenience however, does come at a price. The fees are charged to
students’ account for Higher One’s revenue. According to Higher One’s Investor Relations page on their website, during the fourth quarter of 2013, Higher One had revenues of $56.6 million and $211.1 million during all of 2013.In 2011, Mt SAC contracted with Higher One for three years to handle the refund and disbursement process for Mt. SAC students. As part of the service agreement, Mt. SAC pays Higher One $5,000 annually to use their services in addition to the fees already charged to students. Rosa Royce, associate vice president of Fiscal Services, said that processing refunds in-house would be much more expensive. “If we were to do those processes, we will need much more employees and it will be really expensive,” she said. While $5,000 is a bargain for Mt. SAC, students are paying Higher One’s fees on the backend. These fees landed Higher One in trouble several years ago. In Aug. 2012, Higher One was hit with an $11 million penalty by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) for overdraft fees imposed on college students. “Student aid should not be a piggy bank for banks to dip into especially when their practices
Michael Tarronas/MOUNTAINEER Patrick Serrano, 19, kinesiology major, takes money out at one of the many ATMs on campus.
are unfair or deceptive,” said Rich Williams, higher education advocate, in a 2012 report by the U.S. Public Interest Research Groups. As recent as April, Higher One is facing a new investigation by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Mt. SAC students feel the trap of having Higher One to access their money. Elilta Zellalem, paralegal major, can only withdraw money while campus to avoid ATM
fees. “The downside is you can only take out money on campus because those are the only ATMs available to students,” she said. According to the Higher One website, students can avoid using the debit card entirely by having checks mailed to them. “I think I’ll try that,” Zellalem said. “Now that I know they’re making that much money off of me.”
Mountaineer Mt. San Antonio College
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Opinion Screwed Rejection 101
Cynthia Schroeder Art Director Being an attractive female in public is very much like the water hole scene in Mean Girls. If you aren’t familiar with the cult hit, the main character, played by Lindsay Lohan, talks about how the large fountain in the mall is like a water hole in Africa. Only at the mall, there are not lions hunting hippos, but men hunting for their next conquest - young women. That being said, we need to know how to reject them swiftly, slyly and successfully. Here’s how to reject different men, in different situations: The Gym Rat: Not sure why but there are a few guys that don’t understand one of the cardinal rules of gym etiquette – headphones in equals “leave me alone.” He’s probably been staring at your derriere for a good 15 minutes before he works up the nerve to approach you. He asks if you’re single or some other lame thing. Solution: Reply to him unless you want it to be painfully awkward every time you see him. A good option is: “Hey, I’m very into my fitness and I’m really in my zone right now and you’ve just interrupted me.” Hopefully he’ll get the picture. Entitled Bar Pervert: “Can I buy you a drink?” says the Bar Pervert. No, you may not buy me a drink. The Entitled Bar Pervert will stick around anyway, hoping you’ll change your mind. Solution: Once you spot your girlfriends, make eye contact and do your best Naomi Campbell strut away. This actually works. Bonus tip: don’t ever say you’re a lesbian to get out of talking to the Entitled Bar Pervert. They will ask you to “prove it”, hence the name “Entitled Bar Pervert.” Clueless Classmate: He sits behind you all semester and probably smells your hair when you’re not looking. He offers to walk you to your car or carry your books, and while these are very thoughtful gestures, sometimes us ladies are not into it. Solution: The best possible way to handle this is to be direct, yet polite. For example, “I really appreciate you wanting to walk me to my car but I assure you, I can make it there on my own.” For the young men reading this, I know that not all of you are like this, but let’s face it - young men are taught by society to see us young women as conquests. Additionally, once you remove yourself from a situation objectively, you should be able to gather whether or not a girl is interested. Most of the time, she is not sending you mixed signals contrary to what you might think. Simply put, don’t be one of these guys.
5
DWB: Driving while brown Angelica Olivares Staff Writer It is unfair that police officers can enforce the law but are not penalized when they say or do something that goes against the vows they took to serve, protect. When sheriffs take their oaths, some think it also gives them the right to judge a person based on where they are from, what they look like, or where they go to school knowing they will get away with it. During the fall 2013 semester, my boyfriend and I stopped by campus to pull out money from the ATM machines because we were in the area. It was a Friday and the campus was practically empty so it did not take long to go in and out. When we were leaving I noticed a police car following us, and after about three minutes they finally put on their lights to pull us over. Instead of giving a reason as to why, they questioned me about school and asked me for my student ID and driver’s license. I went along with it and cooperated; I gave them nothing but respect. As one of the Walnut Sheriff officers went to his patrol car, the other stood behind and decided to tell us why they pulled us over. Apparently there had been a lot of break-ins in the neighborhoods surrounding Mt. SAC and the owners of these homes were blaming it on Mt. SAC students. He went on to inform me that because my car was registered in Baldwin Park, it was not a good area. He also said that no good people come from Baldwin Park. The deputy said it was also because my 5’11”, 270 lbs, goateewearing Mexican rocker boyfriend “looked like a troublemaker.” He went on to say that “Mt. SAC is not a very good school anymore” because the students mainly consist of people on probation. His words confused me because not only are my boyfriend and I far from troublemakers, we have never been on probation. Even if that statement were true, why does that make Mt. SAC a bad school? I could not help but think we were being racially profiled because we fit the demographic that shows 80 percent of Baldwin Park’s population is made up of Latinos and Hispanics. I am a 23-year-old Latina and have never been in trouble. It made me upset to think that my boyfriend and I were automatically not good people because our skin color is brown. My sister is a Los Angeles County Sheriff ’s Deputy and my brother a correctional officer so I understand that sometimes these men and women have to make judgments to protect us, but since they are in a position of power they also have to be an example to the community they protect. If they go around saying and doing whatever negative thing they like, they are abusing that power.
Illustation by Adam Valenzuela
There is a word that goes with this situation: prejudice. According to Google prejudice is defined as “a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience.” It is safe to say that in my opinion these Walnut Sheriffs were being prejudiced, and with their position of power, prejudice cannot be tolerated. These Walnut Sheriffs are not the only ones to act in such a way. I know of a woman currently seeking justice when a Temple City Sheriffs’ Deputy called her 13-yearold granddaughter “fucking stupid” after she lost a pair of glasses her friend told her to hold onto. The Baldwin Park School police officers once pulled over my little brother, the corrections officer, because he looked “like a gangster” and kicked his car and called it “a
piece of junk.” Why is it that some law enforcement officers can penalize people for their actions, whether it is a ticket for speeding or jail time for a warrant, but not get penalized for being prejudiced, or for assuming that someone is a bad person because of their skin color or how they look. It is beyond my comprehension that some police officers think they can do and say whatever they want, but I notice that people aren’t just letting it go anymore, and why should they? It is time they found out that there are consequences for their actions. It is the public’s job to speak up and hold officers accountable. We can no longer allow these instances to go unreported. We need to unite as a community and not let officers like these degrade us any longer.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Mountaineer
6
Mt. San Antonio College
Tech
Heartbleed Fixed, Still Threatens Net Damion Julien-Rohman Tech Editor The blood on the Internet dance floor has been all but cleaned up. Discovered on April 7, the Heartbleed bug is essentially a gaping hole in the widely used OpenSSL security software that “heartbeats” more data than requested from a server by a user. When hacked, it can affect private information on a website’s servers. This information includes passwords, email addresses, messages, and other sensitive data. According to the Heartbleed website, the bug has been “out in the wild” since March 12, 2012 with its 1.0.1 update, which was unintentionally entered into the software during said update’s creation in December 2011. Dr. Robin Seggleman, a software developer of OpenSSL, said in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald that he and a reviewer of the code behind the update missed the flaw before it was released to websites, thus causing the problems. When it was found, Heartbleed was said to have affected over half a million websites on the Internet, including sites such as Netflix and Facebook, along with search engines and other forms of social media. Healthcare.gov, the Affordable Care Act site, initially told tech website Mashable that consumer
accounts were not affected by Heartbleed, but later posted that they had reset passwords out of caution. The popular computer game Minecraft was also affected, with developer Mojang shutting down their servers on April 8 to wait for a fix. They were brought back online day later, with Mojang asking players to change passwords. In an April 11 blog post about their mobile software Android, Google said that while “all versions” of it were immune to the bug, any devices containing the 4.1.1 software were still at risk. A report on the British business website Bloomberg, referring to security researchers, said that the 4.1 software was still used in millions of smartphones and tablets. The report also mentioned that 34 percent of Android devices still used a type of 4.1, according to Google. Known reports of hackers exploiting the Heartbleed bug include an attack on Canada’s tax authority. As reported by the BBC, the Canada Revenue Agency said that 900 social insurance numbers were stolen before they could patch their servers. A 19-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection to that attack. A popular UK parenting website called Mumsnet had found that hackers may have affected passwords and messages of their 1.5
Start Success Sooner! Summer Session 2014 at CSUSB Registration starts May 22 You don’t have to be a CSUSB student to attend summer session
million users. Since the bug was discovered however, many of the affected websites have fixed up their security, with assistance from OpenSSL’s own patch (Fixed OpenSSL). The fix brought the global number of affected websites down to just under ten percent, according to a report by security company TrendMicro. In a statement posted by Mashable, Instagram said “Our security teams worked quickly on a fix and we have no evidence of any accounts being harmed.” Apple also released a statement on their services, saying that iOS and OSX never used OpenSSL, and thus were not affected. Other websites that have either fixed up their security, or were unaffected by Heartbleed, include PayPal, Target, Gmail, and Amazon. Despite these closures, over 300,000 servers worldwide are stil affected by Heartbleed, according to a post on Internet security advisor Errata’s blog, written by Robert Graham. Graham performed a scan of the Internet, and found that out of 1.5 million those servers, exactly 318,239 are still vulnerable via “heartbeats.” A good tip for protecting against the Hearbleed bug would be to change passwords. This goes for not
only the websites users frequent on a daily basis, but also those that are rarely visited, but still require a log in. In short, everything a user visits. A post on TheHuffington Post by identity theft expert Robert Siciliano says that the best way to change a password is to make it a “pass-sentence.” For example, “r0cks sing >n the Sun” is easy to remember and difficult to guess in case of a hack, due to its nonsensical nature and use of special characters.
Cal Poly Pomona
FARM STORE at Kellogg Ranch COME ON DOWN!
We are just off Temple, one mile east of Mt. SAC
Fresh Produce • Great Events Custom Gift Baskets • Fruit Gift Packs Local Honey & Produce • Horsehill Wine
SAVE THE DATE!
It seems far off now but PUMPKIN FESTIVAL will be here before you know it. Be sure to pencil in OCTOBER 18 and 19. This is the most popular event on the Cal Poly Pomona campus!
10% OFF
Bring in this ad for a 10% discount on all food items good through June 9, 2014. ($20 minimum purchase.)
Farm Store at Kellogg Ranch Open Daily 10am-6pm 4102 S. University Drive Pomona, CA 91768 (909) 869-4906
www.cppfarmstore.com www.summer.csusb.edu | 909 537-3978 | summer@csusb.edu
Mountaineer Mt. San Antonio College
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
College Life
7
Stone Brewing Company’s Amber Ale, Levitation. Photo courtesy of Stone Brewery.
Summer is Brewing Michael Chavez Staff Writer
#FOODPORN
All photos taken by Adolfo Tigerino
Adolfo Tigerino News Editor In the midst of studying, cramming, and taking finals food is the least of our worries, but once you start having the munchies you must hit these five spots to satisfy that hunger. The O.M.G. Burger from The Catch in Anaheim, Calif. puts the six-dollar burger to shame; it stands about one foot high and about a foot and two inches wide. This burger is five pounds of broiled lean ground chuck, topped with ten slices of aged cheddar cheese, half a head of iceberg lettuce, vineripe tomatoes, shaved red onions, mayonnaise and dill pickle chips, all nicely contained between two 14 inch buns. Additionally, when served it is surrounded with four pounds of seasoned fries, and just to tease, a small slider and dill pickle garnish the top.
The Mondo Nachos from Veggie Grill in Los Angeles, Calif. These highly tasty nachos do it right with their consistency in the vegan cheese and veggie proteins that make the texture seem as if you’re devouring meat that makes it a sweet spot to drop by for meat eaters and vegans alike. The strawberry packed donut from The Donut Man in Glendora, Calif. raises the bar on what a doughnut should be; it is one juicy, tasty, and sweet pastry. When in season, this joint uses peaches to stuff their doughnuts. The Mediterranean Tofu Scramble from Kitchen 24 in Los Angeles, Calif. is one of the many breakfast foods you can get until closing at 4 a.m. This place is a hot spot for those looking for a place to hang after a show or who have midnight munchies; they serve more than breakfast food, but who will argue when you crave breakfast at midnight.
Paradise on Wheels: Sweets for the summer Christina Artmanni Features Editor The food truck culture in Los Angeles is full of aficionados and food snobs who love to curate the most outrageous and daring fusion recipes. Nearly every culinary culture is given an opportunity to shine but the one demographic that seems to be wildly underrated and unrepresented is the best part of a meal: dessert! In a world of haute cuisine and gastro-nerds, Chick Young and his wife, not having any professional culinary experience, decided to turn back to basics to start the Paradise Truck, a fine cookies and ice cream dessert truck. In hopes of achieving an allAmerican concept that their customers would immediately understand, owner Young said, “We decided on the concept of simply cookies and ice cream.” Initially, the couple wanted to serve their desserts in a physical storefront, but the decision for a food truck came down to basic economics; simply put Young said, “It was too expensive.” He added, “We liked the idea that we can take our concept to where our customers are located at, rather than have our customers come [to a] physical store.” While Paradise Truck features only two items, ice cream and fresh baked cookies, Young and his wife have mastered the art of the ice
cream sandwich, which also happens to be their signature treat. A generous helping of premium Expresso Coffee ice cream smashed between two dark chocolate chip cookies is Youngs’ personal favorite. “Our hand-made sundaes and soda floats are also very popular, ” he said. Coming up with the perfect cookie recipes did not happen overnight for Young and his wife. Through countless efforts of trial and error, “We researched our cookie recipe for almost one year before we were able to attain the desired texture and consistency,” said Young. Now, the full functioning dessert truck with a built in commercial convection oven is capable of putting out an astounding 120 freshly baked cookies in just ten minutes! The ice cream that Paradise Truck serves is sourced from the famous family-owned Fossilman’s Ice Cream Co. in Alhambra, which manufactures Paradise Truck’s own line of ice cream. Although Paradise Truck does features a few exotic ice cream and cookie flavors, the Youngs’ never stray away from their company’s motto; “keep things simple.” By sticking to the basics, Young and his wife make sure that their flavors are traditional and familiar to their customers such as: vanilla, chocolate, cookies and cream, and strawberry.
Christiana Artmanni/Mountaineer Pinneaple Coconut ice cream on a sugar cone, in front of the Paradise truck pakred at Howes Market in San Gabirel, Calif.
The idea for the name “Paradise” came from their five year old while she watched the movie “Up!” With how much they liked the name, they decided to stay with a bit of a 5-year-old mentality of simplicity when naming their ice cream flavors. “Seeing the smiles on kids and adults of all ages while they are enjoying our products is an amazing and flattering feeling,” Young said. As summer creeps around the corner and the temperatures start warming, Paradise Truck is sure to have a busy but sweet season.
Summer is upon us which means, beach trips, barbecues and a free time to try all kinds of things, like cool new beers. Maybe you’ve avoided straying from Miller or Budweiser for fear of trying a beer you cannot stand. Have no worries, I have taken all of the guesswork out of picking a winner. Here are six of the best local beers in Southern California to drink this coming break. 1. Claremont Craft AlesDouble Dude (IIPA)-Claremont. This double India pale ale or imperial India pale ale, has a slight sweetness and is great for even a novice craft beer drinker. It is available only in the tasting room. 2. Hangar 24-Betty (IPA)Redlands. With a delicious blend of hop aromas, this IPA is crisp and refreshing. Swing by the tasting room to enjoy it fresh on tap but it can also be found bottled in stores. 3. Black Market Brewing Company-1945 (Berliner Weisse)Temecula. The 1945 is actually a rare style called a Berliner Weisse. This style is characterized by its tart, refreshing flavor and its pale, hazy color. Brewed for the summer months, its 3.5% a.b.v. means it can be enjoyed in bulk. Available in bottle but if you can, get to the tasting room and try the assortment of flavored syrups you can add to it. 4. Noble Ale Works-Naughty Sauce (Milk Stout)-Anaheim. Roasted malt and coffee flavors complement this milk stout like nothing you’ve ever had. Served on nitro, this beer is creamy and delicious to the last drop. Once it is put on tap it sells out incredibly quickly. Available only in the tasting room. 5. The Bruery-Sour In the Rye (Rye Ale with sour yeast)Orange. Sour, tangy, tart, and thirst quenching, this brewery and beer are both legends in the craft beer scene. This is one spot you have to hit if only for this beer. Available in bottles and in the tasting room as well. 6. Stone Brewing CompanyLevitation (Amber Ale)-San Diego. Known for their “in your face” hop bitterness, this amber does not shy away from that. Brewed year round, this beer is available in bottle and in the tasting room.
Mountaineer
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
8
Mt. San Antonio College
A&E
Jazz concert hits the right notes Jamie Rocha A&E Editor Some Mt. SAC students may see their school as a stepping-stone in their educational journey, but they should stop and appreciate the talent this college produces— talent like the Mt. SAC Jazz band, which showcased on Fri., May 2 at the annual Spring Jazz Concert at the Sophia B. Clarke Theatre. The jazz band demonstrated why a community college can hang with the big guys, and in this case, they can even be better than them too. Under the direction of Jeff Ellwood, the night was filled with performances from Mt. SAC’s finest, showcasing the different styles of Latin, soul, and bebop jazz. Ellwood announced that the band was taking a different approach for the first half of the concert, after which student and trumpet player River Harris took the director’s stand for Mt. SAC Latin Esemble’s set while Ellwood took a chair to perform saxophone with the band. Harris, understandably looked a little nervous for his director stage debut, but did a commendable job directing the band, who gave an interesting angle to the performance where the crowd got a rare firsthand look at Ellwood’s on-the-spot reactions to his students’ performance. Thankfully for the band, the reactions all
were pleasant, and for the crowd, entertaining because of how animated Ellwood was. The Latin Jazz Ensemble started off the first half with percussion-heavy, dance floorready tunes to the crowd of family, friends, jazz enthusiasts, and some students who were in attendance to fulfill their jazz and music history obligatory concert assignment. The set, which was short but sweet, contained Tom Garling’s “Outside In,” an upbeat tempo that set off the night just right and “Sedentary Motion,” that started off in a slower tempo but was garnished with intense percussion, some passionate bass, and bold sax and trumpet solos. This sort of performance deserved more head bobbing and movement in the crowd, which was the only thing that lacked during the band’s set. The darling of the band’s set was Matt Harris’s guitar-driven composition “El Gatote,” though the sound of the theater did not do the admirable sax solo justice; guitar player Jie Shin’s solo upheld the song to bring their set to a nice close. Up next was the award-winning Mt. SAC Jazz Ensemble to start off the second and last portion of the evening. Under Ellwood’s direction, the band won the Reno Jazz Festival four times, In this case, it was definitely the best was saved
Pictured: Center: Professor Jeff Elwood and the Mt. SAC Jazz Band. Photo Courtesy of Mt. SAC Jazz Band
for last. The set was started off with the great Count Basie’s “Easin’ It” and one can’t go wrong with a performance of such a swinging, groove-saturated composition that makes staying still in the seat irresistible. Casey Kirk’s trombone and Nick Reyna’s trumpet solos made the call and response jazz tune a great opener. Pianist Christian Meraz provided a superior foundation for the band’s excellent performance, as he hit the ivories like he has been doing this far beyond his years. The band’s most pleasant high note of the night was Nate Kimball’s whimsical “Gaea,” that highlighted the different dynamics
of the band’s talent. The song started off beautifully petite and flowed in a sweet display of range of the band’s musicianship, as they showed off a vulnerable and diverse well-rounded performance. The performance was tied nicely with a bow by a shining saxophone solo from John Taylor, which had several audience members nodding in approval. As the set closed with the Latin-flavored avant-garde Frank Vagnee piece “Inheritance,” the Mt. SAC Jazz bands proved who was boss and why they are one of the best college performance groups in existence today. Ellwood said it best when it came to the closing statement of the night: “Amen.”
Mountaineer Mt. San Antonio College
Features
BAD ASS
TATTOOS Students flash their ink
Top picture: Mykey Sprite, 27, alcohol counseling, said his chest tattoo is representative of his love for hip hop music and how it brings people together. “It saved my life. It’s my heart.” According to Sprite, his gypsy tattoo [pictured bottom left] best represents moments of his past. Pablo Unzueta/MOUNTAINEER Right bottom picture: Cody Reyes, 26, speech major, said that after falling into a coma, he did not remember how he got his tattoos. According to Reyes, the woman flaunting her backside was tattooed on his back to show his appreciation for women with big butts. Pablo Unzueta/MOUNTAINEER
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
9
Mountaineer
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Mt. San Antonio College
Features
10
Pictured top left: Lady Ha Ha dressed as Harley Quinn alongside her partner in crime, The Joker at the Anaheim Convention Center for WonderCon 2014 on Sunday, Arpil 20, 2014. Pictured top right: Cosplayers dressed up as their favorite pop culture characters on Sunday, April 20, 2014 at WonderCon 2014. Pictured bottom left: The Reel Guise Cosplayers, Paul and David, recreate characters from the famous Walking Dead series at WonderCon 2014. Pictured bottom right: The outside of the Anaheim Convention Center for WonderCon 2014. All photos by Hugo Avina/MOUNTAINEER
Come as you
arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t
Christina Artmanni Features Editor housands of comic book fans put their game faces on as they attended the sold out WonderCon 2014. Although not as large as its predecessor, the pop culture spectacular known as ComicCon, WonderCon 2014 was just as grand. The convention attracted flocks of imaginative costume players (Cosplayers), who dressed like characters straight out of their favorite comic books, video games, movies, novels or anime shows. The comic book heaven existed for a short but sweet weekend from Friday, April 18 through Sunday, April 20 at the Anaheim Convention Center. Always attracting an impressive and wildly creative crowd of all ages,
T
WonderCon 2014 had fans strutting across the convention floors taking pictures with all of their favorite characters and even some special guests. Artists such as Rick Burchett, who is most famously known for his line of work with DC Comics, Batman Adventures, and New York Timeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bestselling author Marjorie Liu, who writes for Marvel Comics, alongside other world renowned authors and artists, graced fans with thier presence as they helped lead several discussions that weekend. The sci-fi lovers, gamer geeks, and cosplayers will all come out to play once again this summer at the sold out Comic Con International Convention, which will be held at the San Diego Convention Center Fri., July 18 through Sun., July 21.
Mountaineer Mt. San Antonio College
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Features
11
Let’s have the sext talk Sasha Chavez Managing Editor Sending racy, provocative “nudies” as a means of foreplay or flirting is common ground amongst young people today, yet is still considered taboo in greater society. And for good reason, there are countless online platforms that can host the image of your naughty bits for millions to see, such as Instagram, Facebook, or even the super search engine, Google. Still, in a 2012 study conducted by the University of Michigan, 28.2 percent of young adults ages 18 to 24 confirmed that they have sent nude or seminude photos, and 12.6 percent responded they have received an explicit text message, or “sext” of some sort. Despite the fact that extremely personal and private photos might get mixed into the vast array of information available on the world wide web, adults do not seem to be too concerned about their bare ends stripping them of their dignity. However, the new photo messaging application, Snapchat, provides sexters with a seemingly safe way to exchange their nude or seminude images. Snapchat allows users to send and receive images that are essentially “time-bombs” and will self-destruct after an allotted amount of time. However, sexters should be wary. Although seemingly safe, Snapchatters on the receiving end can take a screenshot of images that are sent to them, which stores a copy of the image in their photo gallery on their phone. The application has set up an alert system that will notify users if a screenshot of a photo is saved, however there have
been hacker applications developed to get around these alerts, so users can never truly be sure where their pictures end up. Erick Gaona, 22, political science major, said that he wouldn’t trust any app to keep his photos safe. “I have never tried [sending anything through] Instagram, but I do not trust Snapchat,” said Gaona. “It turns out there is an app that allows you to screenshot [photos] without alerting the sender,” he added. Although he admits that he is more comfortable sending sexts as opposed to snaps, Gaona advises that the safest way to exchange sexy photos is not through text, but through trust. “I have never sent a photo of myself without really, really trusting the person,” he said. “It all just depends on what I’m trying to get across. If I’m trying to joke around or flirt, Snapchat will work. But if I’m serious, I am more likely to send a text”. The dangers of sexting are quite obvious. No one wants their halfnaked photo popping up when their future employer Googles them. Sexting can very easily be compared to sex: protection is vital. But how does one protect themselves from the perils of the unknown? With the speedy innovation of phone applications and social media outlets, there is only one sure way to avoid humiliation: abstinence. Nicole De Anda, 20, psychology major, said that the fear of seeing her naked body on the internet has kept her from engaging in any sext-ual activity.
Student wants voices heard, runs for state senate Zohair Yusufali Staff Writer For Marc Rodriguez, 18, politics is no joke. He is planning to double major in political science and is currently running for the California State Senate (22nd District) in the California Legislature. Voting day takes place on Thurs., June 3. The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature, comprising of 40 members. “I’m running for the California State Senate because nobody else would run against the incumbent politician, and instead of complaining about not being able to find a job and sky rocketing education prices, I decided I would be the voice of the people,” Rodriguez said. Rodriguez is a firm believer in the importance of understanding the needs of the people and providing high quality information. “We deserve to have a
Marc Rodriguez, 18, political science major is currently running for the California State Senate.
representative that understands the hardships of the citizens. We deserve a senator that will shake up Sacramento, someone who will stand up to his or her party when they are wrong. Someone who will explain to the people why they voted a certain way on an issue” he added. Rodriguez has displayed leadership qualities all his life. His close colleague and friend, Ana Mendoza, whom he has known for close to five years, believes he will bring change. “[He] felt like our voices weren’t being heard in Sacramento and he want[ed] to take a stand to hopefully inspire more young people
Illustration by Adam Valenzuela
“At the end of the day, I can’t really be sure where that picture will end up,” De Anda said. “The only thing I can do to protect myself is not hit send,” she added. However, De Anda said that she know not everyone protects themselves the same way. “I know some of my friends do it with their boyfriends and have actually set up private folders on their phones that lock and hide the
pictures so other people can’t get to them,” she said. “Other people simply don’t care if their pictures get leaked, and I guess if they are okay with that, more power to them”. In an interview with Emma Gray of the Huffington post, relationship coach Carol Allen said that sexting itself is a neutral act. “What matters is how it’s used,” Allen said. “If you do choose to sext ... sext wisely.”
to fight for what they believe in,” Mendoza said. Rodriguez is dissatisfied with politics these days; he is tired of false promises, high unemployment rates and discrimination against students. He is frustrated with the way California, legislators are behaving. “Instead of helping the citizens of California our legislators are currently arguing about whether or not porn stars should be forced to wear condoms or not,” said Rodriguez. Having grown up in the city of La Puente, Rodriguez is a proud member of his local community. “If I win, I plan on helping our local community by bringing back businesses to our local neighborhoods.” Rodriguez said. “The reason the state is in the mess we’re in is because the law makers in Sacramento have all but driven out good businesses due to higher taxes and nonsense regulations.” Rodriguez said he believes in the necessity of creating jobs in California, which has an unemployment rate of 8.7 percent as of October 2013 one of the highest in the nation. “None of this would be a problem if we had jobs.” he said. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, California’s unemployment rate has increased by 2.8 percent since January 2008 a major blow to its economy. The loss of jobs in California, as well as an increase in taxes has led to people moving to other states.
Rodriguez’s participation in political issues at his high school has helped shape him to be the leader he is today. “He was the leader of the politics club at our high school, and a Link Crew leader; He always likes to take the lead and has extreme confidence,” Mendoza said. Rodriguez expressed admiration for the political science students at Mt. SAC. “My advice to political science majors and all students at Mt. SAC is first to always be vigilant of the world around you.” “The reason our generation is taken advantage of and given the short end of the stick is because we don’t question authority. This doesn’t mean necessarily go out and cause a riot. It means question everything that you have been told and demand answers to the important questions,” added Rodriguez. Rodriguez said his passion for photography has helped his political career. “All joking aside, my favorite hobby outside of politics is photography. Before I decided to run for senate, I used to take pictures for local candidates and that’s how people knew me. I was always Marc Rodriguez, the photographer, not Marc Rodriguez, the candidate for Senator.” Rodriguez also operates a Facebook page, “Marc Rodriguez For Senate” where he updates his latest political activities and communicates with his supporters.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Mountaineer
Multiculture
12
Students pressured by a world of expectations Brittney Morales Staff Writer For many students, the pressure to be the best at everything they do is constantly looming over their heads. These students have cultural expectations placed on them by everyone from their parents to the society that they live in. It is expected for Megan Phang, 19, psychology major, to attend college, get her bachelor’s degree, and then settle into a stable, respectable profession. Phang knows what it is like to have her parents steer her life in the direction they think is best for her. While she has chosen to study psychology, her parents, both Chinese, originally wanted her to choose a major that would lead to a more reputable career. “Although my parents would prefer something respectable like doctor or lawyer, they are okay with me studying psychology as long as I work hard,” she said. However, her first choice for future career was nowhere near the field of psychology. “When I was little I always wanted to be an artist or do something like that, but my parents were always like ‘no, you’re going to end up as a hobo living on the streets.’” To Phang’s parents, everything she does, from choosing a future career to playing piano instead of guitar, must be respectable in their Chinese culture. “When I was little they put me in piano lessons which they thought was acceptable even though I wanted to play guitar,” she said. Having parents with very high expectations is something that Amanda Talley, 19, business major, is very familiar with. Talley comes from a mixed family with a Filipino mother and a black father. “Most of the expectations placed on me come from my Asian side, my mom,” Talley said. “Since as long as I could remember she has expected me to be really good at school and be the best at everything.” While one might assume that a
Mt. San Antonio College
student would become resentful of their parents for putting so much pressure on them, for Talley, it is the opposite. She said that she knows everything her mother does for her is in her best interest. “As an immigrant my mom has dealt with a lot of struggles and I look up to her for that, I really want to be as good as her,” Tally said. Being Taiwanese, Anderson Wang, 19, communications major, has expectations set upon him not only by his family, but by society as well. Wang said that people expect him to act the same way they see Asians being portrayed in films. “Society expects me to be funny, because I’m Asian, or good at math, but I don’t even like math,” he said. Vatsal Desai, 20, engineering major, understands what it is like to have society set expectations upon him based on his Indian ethnicity. Desai said that in society, a lot of it has to do with stereotypes. “When someone sees an Indian person they think they’re smart, good at math.” He added, “They expect you to be good at school or for your dad to own a liquor store or something.” Apart from dealing with stereotypes from the society around them, these students also have to be aware of the fact that their parents want them to choose a partner within their own ethnicities. “My parents would prefer it if I brought home an Indian girl,” Desai said. “I don’t think its expected, but it’s definitely preferred.” While Wang said his parents are fine as long as he marries someone with Asian decent, his grandparents have different expectations for him. “My grandparents expect me to marry a Taiwanese woman because I’m the first son of their first son,” he said. In Asian culture, many parents have very high expectations for their children to excel in school because at the end of the day they want their child to live a good life.
Talley said that the reason her mother has put so much pressure on her to do well is because of the culture they come from. “I think it’s a cultural thing, at least with Asians, most of them have the pressure to do good here so that they can make their parents proud,” Talley said.
Megan Phang, 20, psychology major, jams out while conversing with Anderson Wang (left), 19, communications major, and Amanda Talley (right), 19, business major, in the Honors Center on Thursday, May 8, 2014. Phang started playing the guitar in defiance of her parents who wanted her to play piano. Hugo Avina/ MOUNTAINEER
Desai said that the pressure to excel in school comes from his family’s expectation to maintain a respectable status. “Family reputation is basically put above everything else,” he said. “That’s why having a reputable, high paying career is so important, it makes your family look good.”
Mountaineer Mt. San Antonio College
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Multiculture
13
David Escobedo, 25, English major, (left) and Aruj Ali, 18, biology major, (right) are students that come from different cultures, but both believe education is the key to success. They were at the library studying on Thursday, May 13, 2014. Pablo Unzueta/MOUNTAINEER
Education unites diverse students Samantha Romero Staff Writer Xavier Escobedo, 25, English major, grew up as the kid who sat in the desolate corner in the back of the classroom. People assumed that Escobedo did not have a bright future ahead of him because of his lack of effort, even more so when he received a GPA of 0.0
during the ninth grade. Despite the preordained failure, Escobedo did not allow the negative criticism to derail him from pursuing a higher education. While growing up, he never valued education. He had a record of receiving F’s since third grade. Escobedo lacked the motivation to complete his work.
MOUNT ST. MARY’S COLLEGE
Transfer Applications Being Accepted for Fall 2014 Fall classes are open in a wide range of majors covering the sciences, education, business, pre-nursing, and the humanities. A Catholic women’s college, you are invited to visit our beautiful hilltop Brentwood location to
explore the Mount for yourself!
:: HAVEN’T EARNED 60 CREDIT HOURS? NOT A PROBLEM. Unlike UC and CSU campuses, we don’t require you to have 60 units to transfer to the Mount.
:: CONVENIENT APPLICATION AND TRANSFER PROCESS. Our dedicated staff will work with you through the application and registration process to ensure an easy transfer.
:: UP TO $16,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS. Once admitted, all transfer students are considered for up to $16,000 a year.
admissions@msmc.la.edu 800.999.9893 www.msmc.la.edu/Transfer2014
Mt. SAC.indd 1
5/1/14 11:02 AM
His indifferent perspective would change in college when he earned his first A. He recognized the value and importance of education. Escobedo finally understood the significance of accomplishing a task that others believed he was incapable of. “All my life people were telling me that I would never amount to anything, they were telling me ‘oh you are going to work at McDonald’s because you don’t want to try,’” Escobedo said. “So now it was a big shut up to their face.” Escobedo faced pressure from his family to postpone his education. Balancing school and work was a constant struggle until one day Escobedo found himself living homeless for nearly a week. “I think a lot of Hispanic families that just work right away or have kids really early their whole mind set is just work...and not waste your time in school.” Psychology professor, Linda Rillorta, said that the need for and importance of education is viewed differently depending on the culture and social class. “Education becomes secondary when there is a need to help support a family,” Rillorta said. “Depending on the culture (or subculture) education may not be seen as important.” After serving in the military for six years and spending nine years as a stay-at-home dad, Sergio Duran, 36, sociology and psychology major, also identified with the Hispanic culture. He recalled growing up in a place where work was valued more than education. “Seeing your parents not worry about education or not care whether you go or not influences a lot of people not feeling the obligation to go,” said Duran. Duran decided it was time to return to college 15 years later to pursue a degree and make a difference in his life. Crystal Estrada, 22, marine biology major, used her parents’ example as a driving force to pursue a higher education. “I don’t have that many people
in my family that graduated college so for me it is very important to get as far as I can,” said Estrada. “It’s important to my family because they want the best for me”. Although Hispanics and Latinos comprise 52.7 percent of the student demographic at Mt. SAC, according to the 2012-2013 student demographic profile, they are not the only ones with education on their mind. Aruj Ali, 18, biology major, identifies with the Pakistani culture. She said education is a lifetime process one that has always been a priority in her every day life. “I come from a real hard working family, so I’ve always been taught to work hard until you can not bear it anymore and that bear it is really really out there,” Ali said. Apart from the different views that cultures share regarding education, education systems differ in several countries. Brandon Lee, 19, computer science major moved from Korea to the U.S. six years ago. He said he noticed that the Korean education system focuses less on a child’s creativity and more on the memorization aspect. As for 21-year-old philosophy major, Zheng Lin, made his own observations while attending an international school in Beijing. “In Asian countries, because of the lack of education resources compared to the states, we were taught that education is the only way out,” said Lin. “They say if you go to a good college...you will have a good life, and that is the most emphasized thing.” Regardless of the multiple cultures and countries that are represented at Mt. SAC, each student strives to attain success in their field of choice. “I don’t feel like blacks, whites or Mexicans get anything different than what anybody else does it’s just up to that person to pay attention to what they are learning,” said Damion Martin,19, music major. “I think all cultures want to succeed in life in different ways but it’s all the same”.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Mountaineer
Mt. San Antonio College
Sports
14
Olympian continues softball tradition Adolfo Tigerino News Editor The challenge of taking over the softball program was going to be an immense challenge to anyone who would follow after Coach Kelly Ford, but for Coach Rubilena Rojas, a former Olympian, it was a challenge she was willing to take. “Everyday we face obstacles and challenges, it’s how you respond to them,” Rojas said. “That’s the advantage of being an athlete or student athlete; it’s the fact you are going to face struggles day in and day out. If you choke, will you give up or get up, dust yourself off, and keep going?” Rojas became the head coach of the program in 2013 after Ford moved to Cal State Fullerton. Following in Ford’s footsteps was not going to be an easy feat for Rojas; Ford had captured several championships in state, regionals, and conference. Rojas not only took the mantle, but continued the excellence by leading the Mounties in an undefeated 2013 season in the South Coast Conference for the first time in school history. For 2014, the Mounties came second in state, losing by one run. Additionally, she was named Coach of the Year for the SCC and California Community College Fastpitch Coaches Associations. Additionally, the coaching staff was the South Region Coaching Staff of the Year for the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. This season she has led the Mounties to dominate in the South Coast Conference Super Regionals. Rojas knew it was going to be a difficult task to fill in for Ford. “She set her legacy here, that pressure was there,” Rojas said. “But at the end of the day I’m Ruby Rojas. The comparison doesn’t bother me, she left me a great platform to work on.” Rojas was an assistant coach for three years with Ford at the helm of the team, and she learned a lot from her then. Rojas said that Ford was a great mentor and attributed the undefeated season to herself, coaches and Ford. “At the end of the day I have to thank Kelly Ford for it, she was my mentor,” Rojas said. “It’s like she never left. We picked off where she left.” However, Ford said that she learned more from Rojas than she taught. “She made me a better coach,” Ford said. “She’s one of a kind. Absolutely the person to run the Mt. SAC program.” Softball has always been the sport for Rojas. She said that softball has been a lifesaver and a passion. “It is something that has saved my life.” She started playing softball since she was 8-years-old, and since then, she’s been in love with the sport. Her father used to play fastpitch and got her into playing softball. “My dad got me into it. I fell in love with the sport,” Rojas said. “It’s been my ticket, it has been my passion my whole life. It’s the reason why I succeed today.” Like most young athletes she also played a variety of other sports that included volleyball, basketball, and gymnastics. When she was 7-years-old she started gymnastics.
Jose De Castro/Mountaineer Coach Rubilena Rojas led the softball team to a 2014 championship season. The team is well known for it’s power hitting, “When people think about Mt. SAC softball, they say ‘they can hit,’” Rojas said. “That’s what i like. That’s the trademark I’d like to have.”
But her career as a gymnast ended when she was 10, because her true passion was softball. However, she added that basketball was her favorite sport, but she was not as skilled. “Basketball was my favorite sport, I just wasn’t good,” Rojas said. She said that her experience as a gymnast improved her softball skills. “Gymnastics makes you an athlete,” Rojas said. “You have to work on power, flexibility, stamina and using your own body weight. Best overall individual sport.” Rojas softball skills got her a full ride to the University of Virginia where she got her bachelors in sociology and women studies. She said that the reason she picked the major was because her scholarship was running out and she could not join the kinesiology program. “I just needed to get a degree. When I was trying to get into kinesiology I would have had to declare my major freshman year,” Rojas said. “And who the heck knows what they want to specialize in their freshman year.” Her biggest motivation at the time was to get into college with a full scholarship. She kept going a couple goals at a time. “My biggest motivation at the time was that I wanted to just get a scholarship,” Rojas said. “Once I got to college, I’m like wow I think I can make the Olympic team. Let’s shoot for that goal. It has brought a lot of opportunities for me.” However, it inspired her to pursue her masters in kinesiology right away. She said that her background in kinesiology improves how she helps her players by being able to tell them how to treat their bodies. After college she joined the Venezuelan national team, where she continued to be an immense impact in the softball world. Her skills were highly sought out by the Venezuelan team. “They had a tryout and asked me to come
down,” Rojas said. “The rest is history.” The team went through three cycles to finally reach the Olympics in 2008. This experience taught Rojas a valuable life lesson about perseverance that she teaches all her players.“You have to put time and effort, the blood and tears, and put it all out there,” Rojas said. “Nothing is ever guaranteed. You have to work for it until the very end.” Rojas added that nobody owes you anything in life.“That is something that I’ve learned since a very young, something that I instill on my players, nobody owes you anything.” Rojas said. “You have to go out there and fight for it.” During games Rojas gives words of encouragement that can often change the outcome of the game. Her confidence in her team is what inspires the team to keep pushing through. “She does well in pumping people up,” catcher Yumiko Hiroto said. “She is a great coach.” Rojas said that it’s all about performance throughout the game, not just the beginning or end, but the perseverance. “I don’t care if you’re down six runs, you’re fighting to the very end,” Rojas said. “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.” Rojas always looks to give the team as much as possible to her players. Her long time friend and now assistant coach Crystl Bustos said that Rojas gives her players everything she can. “She is a very giving coach,” Bustos said. The players agreed that Rojas gives everything she possibly can for her players that include physical therapists to help them out. “She does so many extra things for us,” pitcher Sabrina Garcia. “She’s the best coach I’ve ever had.” Rojas said she asked Bustos to join, because she added another element to the coaching team. Bustos is also a former Olympian for the U.S. Both Bustos and Rojas go around
the world and U.S. to help girls improve their softball skills. Rojas has helped girls in countries such as; Nicaragua, Venezuela and Spain. “I like surrounding myself with great people, great players, and people that really know the game,” Rojas said. “She’s been an asset, she’s valuable. We’ve been friends for years.” Rojas does a lot of work outside of the campus. Rojas is an ambassador for the U.S. Departments’ Empowering Women through Sports Initiative and is an ambassador for the World Baseball and Softball Confederation. “She’s an incredible role model,” Ford said. Rojas continues to strive to improve the team as much as possible. If there’s something she cannot teach, she will find the right person for the job. She said that she never was a pitcher, so she has assistant coach Marcell Torres to help.“I teach hitting, outfields and defensive skills,” Rojas said. “That’s why I have Marcel Torres who pitches.” She added that Bustos helped the team in hitting because she’s known as the best hitter in the world.“She’s known for being the best hitter in the world,” Rojas said. “She’s one of the biggest reasons that Mt. SAC has the highest batting average and most home runs in the state.” Rojas has been able to cement her place in the softball program. “I’ve been well coached by playing in the international level,” Rojas said. “I’ve seen the best of the best, I try to translate that to this level to instill it on our players.” She has started breaking records since she took over the reigns, but this is only the beginning of her career as the head coach. “She will continue the winning tradition,” Ford said. “She already had a record breaking season. She is an amazing coach, fantastic instructor and softball icon across the country.”
Mountaineer Mt. San Antonio College
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Sports
15
Swimmer ventures to uncharted waters Jose De Castro/Mountaineer Swimmer, Edward Sanchez trains daily by doing his 200-meter butterlies. Sanchez has set school records this season in three seprate invidual events such as the 200-meter butterfly.
Adrian Islas Staff Writer Less than six years ago, Edward Sanchez took the plunge into competitive swimming as a freshman at South Hills High School in West Covina. Today, Sanchez is the 2014 South Coast Conference Men’s Swimming Athlete of the Year. Sanchez, 19, business major, was a major force in the pool all season and helped lead the men’s swim team to both the SCC title and a second place finish at the California Community College Athletics Association State Swimming Championships. Sanchez set school records in three separate individual events, including the 200-meter freestyle, the 200-meter butterfly, and the 200-meter individual medley, respectively.
At a time when most babies are learning to walk, Sanchez was already in the water. “My mom taught me how to swim before I turned one, so I have been in the pool for a long time,” Sanchez said. The close to two decades spent swimming has paid off for Sanchez, as he was recently recruited to join the men’s swim team at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he will officially enter Division 1 competitive swimming this upcoming fall. Lap after lap, Sanchez realized early on the dedication required to succeed at such a high level. “The coaches always think of something new to push you to those extra limits. Every practice is going to hurt. But that is the only way to get better, to push yourself to your limits,” Sanchez said.
The commitment Sanchez has displayed in enduring long, grueling swim practices along with the frenetic pace of competing in swim meets throughout the season did not surprise men’s swim head coach Marc Ruh. “As he developed, his learning curve was just really quick. This was his first year competing with us, but I always thought he was going to go straight into a Division 1 school,” Ruh said. Despite his recent accomplishments though, Ruh said he believes Sanchez has just begun to reach his true potential. “I think he can get a lot stronger. The great thing with Edward is since he just recently started swimming competitively, he is not burned out. He is very motivated right now, and I think he is going
to fit in perfectly up at Santa Barbara.” In addition to reaching individual marks in the pool, Sanchez was also part of two team-setting records, which included the 400-meters freestyle and 800-meters freestyle relay races. Teammate Jacob Altree, 19, business major, was also thoroughly impressed by the versatile performances Sanchez flashed this season. “Where can I start about Edward? He is just a great swimmer,” Altree said. As Sanchez prepares to make the switch from swimming as a Mountie to a UCSB Gaucho, he feels the time spent with the team this past season has been invaluable. “In my high school, we were not really that close as a team. Here it has been just a really good experience,” Sanchez said.
Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like a student discount,
except the discount is
100% of f
Now Mt. SAC students can ride convenient Foothill Transit buses for free! Pick up your new Class Pass at the SacBookRac. For details, visit our brand-new, mobile-friendly website at foothilltransit.org/mtsac.
CLASS PASS M T. SAC