COURIER VOLUME 110 ISSUE 11
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November 6, 2014
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EDITORIAL CAIRÓ SHOULD SIGN THE DOCUMENT
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$2.9 MILLION HANGS ON SENATE VOTE Student funds for counseling in jeopardy unless document is signed Philip McCormick and Daniel Johnson Staff Writers
Academic Senate President Eduardo Cairó has refused to sign a document that would secure a $2.9 million grant for student services unless the senate approves the report in a special session next week. The grant money would go toward the Student Success and Support Program (SSSP) plan. Interim Superintendent Robert Miller said that he had talked to the Chancellor of Community College’s office and they had said it “wouldn’t look good” without Cairó’s signature. The senate had a mixed response on how to address the document at its meeting on Monday. Some senators thought that the document should be signed as soon as possible.
“I think we need to figure out how to get this thing signed,” Senator Mark Whitworth said at the meeting. “We’re talking about a lot of money here. Even if we meet next week, how is that going to get you to sign the damn document?” However, not everyone at the meeting was in agreement that it should be signed. “I would like to remind this body that our jobs are not to sell our souls for $2.9 million,” Senator Lynora Rogacs argued. “Presumably there are all sorts of nefarious, disgusting ways that we can get our hands on money, but coercing our president to sign something which this body may fundamentally disagree on should not be one of them. We can go whore ourselves out in some other rodeo.” Photo illustration by Daniel Valencia If approved, the funding would be used primarily to improve counseling services.
SIGNATURE page 2
Historic mansion shapes gifted kids into museum tour guides Daniel Johnson News Editor
A chorus of “Eww!” reverberated around the historic mansion. The voices belong to roughly two-dozen middle schoolers all crowded into a child’s bedroom that is filled with toys and furniture from over a century ago. They had just learned that long ago, mattresses were commonly stuffed with straw, making them very attractive to bugs. They move from room to room, each wearing shoe covers or padding around in socks to preserve the antique hardwood floors, with the temptation to slide instead of walk proving too much for some to resist. The kids are part of the Pasadena Museum of History’s Junior Docent program, receiving training on how to conduct tours of the museum’s Fenyes Mansion. The intended audience for
I N S I D E
Chris Martinez/Courier The Fenyes Mansion in Pasadena.
these young tour guides is part of what makes this program unique. When they have completed the seven-week course, the Junior Docents will give 3rd and 4th graders tours of the mansion lasting about an hour and 15 minutes, detailing what life was like a century ago. Brad Macneil, the museum’s education program coordinator, believes that this approach helps hold the interest of the young audience. “They become young teach-
AUTO SHOP, CAR STOP Take a look at PCC’s on-campus auto shop
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ers,” he said. “The coolest thing is to watch the interaction between the 7th and 8th graders and the 3rd and 4th graders because it’s not like an adult giving a tour, it’s like their older brother or sister.” The program has been active since 1988, drawing from several public and private schools in the Pasadena area. All of the students are part of their school’s Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program. MANSION page 2
AN OLD SCHOOL MEAL Check out this modern food, with a nostalgic soul
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Haggling over faculty hiring numbers continues Daniel Johnson News Editor
The question of how many full-time instructors should be hired resurfaced at Monday’s Academic Senate meeting, drawing an exasperated apology from administrative leadership and exposing divisions within the faculty group. Interim Superintendent/President Robert Miller appeared before the Senate for the second consecutive meeting, repeatedly apologizing for previously estimating at a meeting of the Council on Academic and Professional Matters (CAPM) that the school would add between five and 10 full-time faculty positions by fall of 2015. “[I offer] a personal apology, from this interim superintendent, for being a little too ‘full-disclosure’ at the CAPM meeting,” said Miller. “It was my mistake, I apologize, I hope we can all move on from here.” Senate treasurer Manuel Perea brought up the issue by indicating
that state projections of the fulltime faculty obligation number (FFON) could be interpreted as requiring five to 10 new hires, speculating that the administration could have had the state figures and did not release them. “The fact that [the state data] has a date of September 4, and we see how [five to 10 hires] could easily be reached by referencing it, we felt we need an answer,” said Perea. “Was this report being used to calculate and perhaps lowball the new hires at a number under what could have been given to us?” Perea asked. The Senate reported not receiving those figures until Oct 15. Miller said that his initial estimate was not based on the state data, and that the implication that the administration withheld anything was unfounded. “I did not see the September 4 document until the day after the [CAPM] meeting [on October 15],” said Miller. HIRING page 2
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SIGNATURE Continued from page 1
Cairó argued at Monday’s meeting that he would not sign a document that had his name attached to it as an author, saying that none of his input was used. However, the question of authorship seemed to be resolved Wednesday, with Cairó observing that the language he had objected to was absent from the latest version of the document. He indicated that the decision to sign now rested with the senate as a whole. Cairó said Monday that he was upset because he was only given 24 hours to sign the document by Cynthia Olivo, the associate vice president of Student Services. But Olivo said Cairó was notified about the report months ago and that Cairó’s feedback did impact the report. Olivo had wanted to purchase a retention product called Starfish Retention Solution in the original SSSP plan for counseling help. Cairó said at a summer Counsel on Academic and Professional Matters (CAPM) meeting that it would be too much work. Olivo decided to take that recommendation and delete the product from plan. “I told [Cairó] that the counseling faculty are expecting him to sign it [since he is] their president,” Olivo said. “He said ‘have them sign it.’ I did collect
the full-time tenured faculty signatures to ask the chancellor’s office if they would accept their signatures instead of Cairó’s… The report specifies that it needs to be the senate president.” The goal of SSSP would be to increase student access and success by providing counseling, advising, and other education planning services, among other things. According to Olivo, the money would also help in hiring 24 adjunct counselors. On top of that, the grant would be able to give the counseling department a texting feature that would send a text message to tell students what time they should return to the L Building for Drop-In Counseling. This would eliminate those 90-minute plus waits to see a counselor. “This only benefits our students,” Associated Students President Jordyn Orozco said. “It would let them be able to do other things while waiting to be seen by a counselor… It would be a tragedy for students if this document wasn’t signed.” The special senate meeting is scheduled for next Monday, November 10 at 3 p.m. in the Circadian. The deadline to deliver the SSSP to the Chancellor’s office is sometime next week.
November 6, 2014
Photo courtesy of Gale Davis / Pasadena Museum of History Cheryl Peters teaches prospective docents in the century-old kitchen of the Fenyes Mansion.
MANSION Continued from page 1
The students must demonstrate superior organizational skills to obtain permission from their principals to participate since they must miss school time, said Macneil. “We only want kids in this program that really want to be in it,” he said. Macneil said that the program encourages each student to put his or her unique mark on the tours they conduct. “We let them bring their own personalities in,” he said. “They can each do their own tour, somewhat, with their own language, so it’s not like rote where everyone is saying the same thing.” The mansion boasts many
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
pieces of antiquity, and leaves no shortage of objects and stories for the budding tour guides to discuss. It was constructed in 1907 for the Fenyes family. The influence of the family’s matriarch, Eva Scott Fenyes, can be felt throughout its 16 rooms. Fenyes was an accomplished watercolor artist and patron of the California plein air art movement. She created depictions of adobes and missions in the American southwest that in many cases are the only surviving records of the structures, according to the Autry National Center’s retrospective on her. “She was absolutely prolific,” said Jeannette Bovard, media consultant for the museum. “Her work is lovely and very detailed.” Fenyes was also a world traveler, evidenced by the many figurines and trinkets on display throughout the residence, from
Chinese Buddhas to Grecian figurines. “It was one way a person of her stature could show her education,” said Bovard. “If a person who is sufficiently knowledgeable sees [a figurine], they’ll know she’s been to Greece.” The mansion has also served as a filming location since the earliest days of cinema, beginning with the 1912 D.W. Griffith film “When Kings Were Law.” More recently, the grounds have been used to film the 1978 Peter Sellers film “Being There,” as well as “The Social Network” in 2010. The museum is seeking volunteers to help mentor the Junior Docents and other educational programs. They ask anyone interested to contact visitor coordinator Natalie Hollett at 626-5771660, ext. 26 for more details.
HIRING
but it’s just really hard,” said Michelson. “We’re so close to our last president that it just seems like the same old [situation]. But yes, let’s take this into account and move on.” Miller also updated the Senate on the administration’s latest hiring estimate. “At the moment it would be a minimum of 20 new [fulltime] faculty that would join our ranks in September 2015,” he said. “We will do our best to get more than that, taking into account everything else we need to.” Cairó told the senate that he recommends 53 new hires on that same timeline. PCC’s projected 2015 FFON is 382, while it’s current fulltime faculty population is at 358, according to the state data provided to the senate on Monday. In 2013, PCC was over the FFON of 353 by 33, with 386 full-time faculty employees, according to the 2014 accreditation self-evaluation draft. Following the meeting, Perea expressed that his satisfaction with Miller’s response hinged on what action the administration takes. “Will we just look to the compliance number and say that we’re meeting the minimum and that’s all we have to do?” wondered Perea. “Or, will we ask what we need to do to provide what our students need?”
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Senate president Eduardo Cairó pressed Miller on the timeline of when the administration first received the state estimates. “You got it on October 16, and who gave it to you?” asked Cairó. “I don’t recall. This is not a conspiracy, folks,” responded Miller. “I really don’t know what we’re going for here.” Miller acknowledged that there might be a lack of trust in him, but that the school nonetheless needs to move on from the issue. Senator Mark Whitworth’s blunt assessment of the situation drew a rousing positive response from his colleagues. “I’m not an administration apologist,” said Whitworth. “But the nitpicking is getting ridiculous.” “He’s apologized, he said it was a mistake,” he continued. “Just frickin move on.” The majority of the Senate responded to Whitworth with a round of applause, while others remained doubtful due to the administration’s recent history. Senator Melissa Michelson cited the controversial era of former president Mark Rocha as a reason to be skeptical of real action, but ultimately she also expressed a desire to get past the schism over hiring numbers. “I would love to move on,
OPINION
November 6, 2014
Courier
2014 JACC General Excellence Award-Winner Editor-in-Chief Philip McCormick Online Editor Mick Donovan News Editor Daniel Johnson Opinion Editor Justin Clay Asst. Opinion Editor Hannah Gonzales Features Editor Kristen Luna A&E Editor Samantha Molina Asst. A&E Editor Anthony Martinez Lifestyle Editor Monique LeBleu Sports Editor Daron Grandberry Photo Editor Nagisa Mihara Asst. Photo Editor Paul Ochoa Chief Photographer Concepcion Gonzalez Online Photo Editor Daniel Valencia Scene Editor Charles Winners Asst. Scene Editor Keely Ernst Staff Writers: Ahmad Akkaoui, Reina Aldape, Daniel Axume, Dezarae Balbas, Joey Calderon Guzman, David Grubaugh, Tiffany Herrera, Matthew Kiewiet, David O’Connor, Ashley Park, Sho Tanaka Staff Photographers: Ansis Hoheisel, Erica Hong, Ryan Kevin, Chris Martinez, Daniel Nerio, Kevin Peraza, Scott Spencer, Daniel Vega-Warholy, Saul Villegas, Tiffany Yip Faculty Adviser Nathan McIntire Photo Adviser Tim Berger Advertising Manager Daniel Nerio
The Courier is published weekly by the Pasadena City College Journalism Department and is a free-speech forum. Editorials and comments are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the position of the institution and its administration, student government or that of the Pasadena Area Community College District.
COURIER 3
Editorial: Cairó must sign agreement
PCC students stand to lose nearly $3 million in grant money if Academic Senate President Eduardo Cairó doesn’t sign a document authorizing it. The money would go toward the Student Success and Support Program (SSSP) plan, which is a plan that would allow for many improvements in Student Services, the most important being the hiring of more counselors. As of right now the student to counselor ratio is 885 to one. The money would go to improving PCC’s atrocious counseling situation by hiring at least four new full-time and 12 adjunct counselors. The funding would also give the Counseling Center the ability to text students and let them know when to return to the office to meet with a counselor. This much-needed feature would eliminate students having to devote an entire day
to having to wait around the office waiting for a counselor. These all seem like good things for students, right? Yet Cairó refuses to sign the document until the Academic Senate approves it. This is a document that only needed his signature, not the senate. His delays have put this money at risk of being lost. Cairó is upset that he was only given 24 hours notice to sign the document. But Associate Vice President of Student Services Cynthia Olivo said that not only was Cairó notified about the report months ago, but that his input affected the final report. Any funding that could help student success by giving more access to counseling services only helps students. For the second time in three weeks, Cairó and the senate leadership have decided to hold students
Cartoon by Mick Donovan and Paul Ochoa
hostage until they get what they want. Situations like this have to stop happening. Members of the Academic Senate don’t totally agree on the issue, with some members believing that the agreement should be signed as soon as possible. And Associated
Students President Jordyn Orozco said that it would be “a tragedy if this document wasn’t signed.” Clearly there are issues between the senate and the administration, but students should never have been pulled in this struggle for power. As of now, that’s
what this seems like and if this document isn’t signed, students won’t care which side is to blame. If there is a way this tragedy can be avoided, it should be. Students should always come first. Not petty disagreements.
Should fraternities and sororities still be allowed? Daniel Axume Staff Writer
NO
College fraternities may be rooted as part of college culture and part of the college experience to many. However, fraternities have been in the news for incidents regarding racism and sexual violence. Now, the most recent incident has occurred at Cal State Northridge. The school has shut down all pledge activity after one of the fraternities, Pi Kappa Alpha, is being investigated for a possible hazing incident. This comes months after a CSUN student, Armando Villa, died after dehydration on a mandatory hike for the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. In a letter sent to all sorority presidents by the vice president of student affairs, William Watkins, it states that, “all pledge activities immediately cease and desist. All pledging must immediately stop for all fraternities and sororities.” Now, fraternities are a part of the college culture and should continue to move on. But these hazing activities
VOICES:
must be put to a stop. Is it necessary for someone attending a university, trying to get a degree and make something with their life, to have to lose their life just to join some kind of club? Sexual assaults have also plagued fraternities. In an article by Jessica Valenti from The Guardian, she states, “numerous studies have found that men who join fraternities are three times more likely to rape, that women in sororities are 74 percent more likely to experience rape than other college women, and that one in five women will be sexually assaulted in four years away at school.” Why should women have to deal with sexual predators just to become a pledge? Sororities should not be banned entirely, but the activities pledges have to commit should. It doesn’t make sense for innocent people to lose their lives, or to be a victim of something that will scar them for the rest of their lives. Many schools have zero tolerance on hazing and don’t allow it at all. But more must be done, obviously.
Matthew Kiewiet Staff Writer
YES
Months after CSU Northridge student Armando Villa was pronounced dead as the result of what was concluded to be a “hazing incident,” CSUN completely shut down pledge activity for not only Pi Kappa Phi, but the entire Greek system, according to the Los Angeles Times. “It is my unfortunate duty to notify you that the university has learned of yet another instance of possible hazing,” wrote William Watkins, vice president for student affairs and dean of students. “I am directing that all pledge activities immediately cease and desist.” In doing so, Watkins completely overstepped his boundaries. There is no need for school administration to police this sort of activity. There are already federal laws in place that ban hazing of any kind. Second, the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity had already voted in favor of shutting down the CSUN chapter. Any punishment to the rest of the Greek system seems completely unfair. “This is an opportunity for them to redefine their culture, to help dismantle the negative, bad reputation that the entire Greek community has gained because of the actions of some who refuse to follow policy,” University President Dianne Harri-
son told the CSUN Daily Sundial. Harrison seems to believe that everyone shares her belief that fraternities and sororities are frowned upon across the country. Instead, she should be boasting about how the Greek system at CSUN stresses not only academic excellence, but also the importance of community service and philanthropy. Greek organizations at CSUN have raised money for charities such as AIDS Walk, the American Heart Association Run and Walk, the Los Angeles Breast Cancer Alliance, Choose Children, Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Children’s Hospital, Children’s Miracle Network, the Special Olympics, Diabetes Walk, the A.S. Children’s Center and CSUN Disabled Students, according to the CSUN web page for prospective fraternity and sorority members. Eliminating Greek organizations will not magically cause hazing to disappear. There are numerous unfortunate incidents that occur due to hazing that have nothing to do with fraternity or sorority life. ABC News reports that on October 31st, former Florida A&M band member Dante Martin was found guilty in the hazing-related death of Robert Champion, and faces 22 years in prison. If that punishment does not discourage organizational hazing, then what more can be done?
Would you join a fraternity at a university after the latest hazing death?
The Courier is written and produced as a learning experience for student writers, photographers and editors in the Journalism Department. Phone: (626) 585-7130 Fax: (626) 585-7971 Advertising (626) 585-7979 Office: 1570 E. Colorado Blvd., CC-208 Pasadena, CA 91106-3215 © Copyright 2014 Courier. All rights Reserved.
“In high school, I wanted to. Even after hearing about the death, I still would join because I don’t think it represents all fraternities.”
Mark van der Eb, undecided
“I would be on the lookout more and I would get out if I were in the situation.”
Dawn Condeza, nursing
“Honestly, [hazing] doesn’t go with a frat. When you join, you don’t usually think about if you will be hazed. But I wouldn’t personally.”
“I wouldn’t because it’s expensive and it doesn’t focus on school, just partying.”
Idaneli Castro, art
“I still would join but I would have a limit with the activities I would participate in. It’s part of the college experience.”
Andrew Galvez, Derrill Pazcoguin, business business Reporting by: Ahmad Akkaoui Photos by: Daniel Valencia
SCE
4 COURIER
Kevin Peraza/Courier Tony Buenrostro and Andrew Latreille use a Modis Scan Tool to test the voltage in this 2000 Nissan Sentra’s fuel pump.
Keely Ernst/Courier Automotive Technology students work on a car during their lab hours for Automotive Fundamentals in the Pasadena City College IT building.
Ansis Hoheisel/ Courier The walls of the Automotive Tech shop are lined with posters of sports cars.
Keely Ernst/Courier Automotive Technology students Victor Vazquez and Anthony Halverson buff the rust off a rim for clean contact on the tire and a nice seal.
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November 6, 2014
Eric Haynes/Courier Alaa Alsenan and Chris Jefferies are re-machining an engine by cutting out the valve seats in the cylinder head from the engine.
Ansis Hoheisel/Courier Students watch as their professor demonstrates how to weld an engine block.
Ansis Hoheisel/Courier Students make repairs under the hood of a Mini Cooper.
Eric Haynes/Courier Dept. Lab Technician Wendy Lucko demonstrates to her students how to use the spring compressor while Nathan Giang and Jediah Gula look on.
Keely Ernst/Courier Automotive Technology student Nick Wallace, 19, changes the oil of a car. Oil lubricates your engine and should be changed every 3,000 miles. Put it off for too long and you risk damaging your engine.
5
LIFESTYLE
6 COURIER
November 6, 2014
Comfort food goes nostalgic at Old School Dezarae Balbas Staff Writer
“It’s all comfort food, but retro comfort food. When comfort food didn’t have a title because that’s all there was,” chef Marc Elliott said when explaining the food of his new diner, Old School Eatery. An LA native, but Brooklyn raised, chef Marc Elliott opened Old School Eatery, his sixth restaurant, about four months ago in East Pasadena. The “old school” diner offers nostalgia and classic meals like Salisbury steak, fried chicken and beef stroganoff. “I wanted to come and do something fun, something special. Our menu consists of stuff that you ate out of a movie dinner tray,” Elliott said. Old School Eatery offers a vintage diner-like feel that looks like an old school house, just with a bar. The restaurant, which also has an outdoor patio, is where Elliott explained he wanted people to feel comfortable and enjoy what they eat without breaking their bank. Elliott makes dishes that are delicious and affordable without compromising the quality of his dishes. “Retro, first. Seasonal, second. Then, cost effective, third,” Elliott explained his thought process on food items. “I will never put price first, I will never say this garbage sliced in plastic is way better and way cheaper so this is what I’m going to use. That’s never my motivation, it can’t be.” Elliott is proud of his cost-managed meals and explained how he doesn’t want
the reputation of the typical expensive “LA restaurant.” He said that it is absurd when bars, most in Los Angeles, sell pints of beer for $9. Which is why Chef Elliott decided to start his beer list at a very agreeable $3 and also offers beers from local breweries. The chef also takes pride in the freshness of his produce. Customers can dine in and enjoy local vegetables handpicked from the farmers market. Very knowledgeable, he explained that vegetables are pivotal in the success of a dish. “The early part of the season [of vegetables] is not the same as the late part of the season nor is it the same as the early part of the next season. So there are really eight vegetable changes throughout the year,” Elliott said. Hence, the eight menu changes in between seasons. With no culinary school background, Elliott still proves to be creative in his food art. His most asked-for appetizer is the deviled eggs. Visually appealing, the egg is infused with color and an abundance of flavor after sitting overnight in beet juice and then topped with Dijon mustard, aioli, truffle and bacon. “By soaking egg whites in iron makes it almost the perfect food,” Elliott said. “Beets have the one thing eggs don’t have and that’s iron. It also makes them really pretty and it also happened completely on accident.” The idea came to Chef Elliott while cutting eggs and one rolling off the cutting board into a bucket of beets. He took advantage to the idea of the dyed egg. “When I pulled it out the next
The Old School Eatery serves up a new spin on comfort food and artery-testing fare.
Photos by Tiffany Yip/Courier The Bacon Cronut Burger, a creative menu item at Old School Eatery on Sunday.
day, it was bright purple and ity and eagerness to produce blogs about his thoughts and crebeautiful. ‘Wow, I’m gonna do good-tasting, fun food started ations in the kitchen at assholechthis to all of them,’” Elliott said. at the young age of nine when ef.blogspot.com. In his hectic Another intriguing item on the he and his family went to San schedule, he also wrote a book menu was The Seattle Burger, Francisco for a food tour. He called “The Customer is Never seven ounces of succulent beef explained that eating authentic Right.” His viewpoints may be smothered between a glazed Chinese food in China Town and outlandish and inappropriate to bacon cronut. Cronuts, made freshly-baked bread made him some, but it never obscures his famous in the past year, is far resent the “garbage” he grew up kitchen talents. Elliott is confifrom retro but adds a lot of fun eating in Los Angeles. Working at dent about his passion and owns to the menu. the Ghirardelli chocolate factory up to his behavior. “I thought about putting “I have a very unique apa hamburger on a donut, but “I thought about putting proach and one that I embrace, I thought, ‘why stop there?’ a hamburger on a donut, I make no apologies about it,” Let’s go to the next level,” he said. “I don’t care if I have Elliott said. “Cronuts are super but I thought, ‘why stop customers, doesn’t affect me. buttery and vicious.” there?’ Let’s go to the What affects me is doing great Old School Eatery has a lunch and dinner menu during next level...Cronuts are su- food and if I do great food and you don’t understand it, it’s the week and brunch on the per buttery and vicious.” not on me.” weekends. One of the brunch items, Ace in a Hole, was inspired was also inspiration for him to The Chef of Old School pursue his culinary aspirations. from Elliott’s father who cut out Eatery refuses to let customers be Returning to LA, he worked a hole in a bread slice and cracked rude to his workers or to himself. for quarters folding pizza boxes an egg in it. Johnny Cakes, He explained that the foundation at a pizzeria before bugging his cornmeal infused pancakes, are of a successful restaurant is the boss to teach him the ways of the staff that runs it. He takes time another popular choice. The restaurant also offers a se- kitchen. His humble ways led him to carefully educate his cooks and to work with famous names like lection of homemade hot sauces servers the fine details of every Gordon Ramsay and renowned created by Elliott that are placed meal, wine and beer. His Yelp French chef Michel Michaud. He and passed out to customers in a reviews may vary, but only bealso shared ideas while working caution-taped box. The box concause of his strong-willed attitude tains 18 different sauces, all made in the same office as Masaharu about making wonderful food. experimentally so the chef has no Morimoto, the Japanese Iron “My craft is my life,” Elliott Chef. reference of what or how much said. It is no wonder that hard-work of each ingredient is in there. The chef continues to brainwas instilled in Elliott throughout The limited sauces are named storm ideas of future openings his culinary history. He works after songs by the band the to expand his goals. He hopes to Grateful Dead like “Black Muddy 12-14 hours a day, seven days a open a wine and cheese shop and week, with one spent at home River” and “Hard to Handle.” a health foods store that would writing menus, ideas and putting Elliott leaves his creations up to his imagination. His curiosin orders. The full-time chef also include a wide vegan section.
Alley cafe heats up with Asian fusion at the Equator Hannah Gonzales Staff Writer
The Equator is a unique eatery with an equally unique history and a new chapter will soon be written. Located in Old Town Pasadena, the Equator can be found in an alleyway between Colorado and Green. It’s known for its Asian fusion dishes and distinctive interior. Originally a horse barn established in 1992, the Equator has also been an ice cream parlor, internet cafe, a prestigious cafe, and a Hookah bar. Now a restaurant, the Equator also serves as a bar and coffee shop. “The Equator has been through a lot,” owner Teddy Bedjakian said. “It’s all about our
signature coffee and food and drinks and our happy hour.” The Equator is popular with locals for its Coffee Happy Hour every morning on the weekdays. “It’s a dollar for a cup of a coffee and that’s a thank you to my community,” Bedjakian said. The Equator is also popular for its Dim Sum Brunch and bottomless drinks which are served during the weekends. Other dishes that are well liked include Potato Wrapped Snappers, Oodles of Noodles and the Equator Burger. Aside from its numerous dishes and drinks, the Equator has a fascinating interior. Still fitted with most of its original architecture, the Equator has light bulbs hanging from the ceiling and works by local artist Micheal Hussar on the walls. The close seating and dim
lighting give the Equator an intimate atmosphere. “The [interior] is different. It draws in a different crowd,” said bartender George Blancarge-Benson who recommends the Chai Tini for anyone who’s never been to the Equator. The Equator has long been known as a popular coffee shop where locals can get cheap coffee, but Bedjakian says it’s no longer enough to support his establishment when there is a Starbucks and Coffee Bean on almost every corner. “I wanted to go ahead and do a change on the Equator,” Bedjakian said. “Change it now from having a signature as a coffee house and bar that people have known for so many years.” In 2015, the Equator will be converted into a gastropub. “[Equator] is going to be
called Edwin Mills,” Bedjakian said. “We had a reality show. We had an extreme makeover show. It’s going to be airing January and it’s going to make a lot of people upset, but I want people
to understand that times have changed.” For now though customers can still enjoy the Equators’ signature cuisine and bevy of drinks.
Daniel Valencia/Courier Szechwan Spiced Pulled Pork sandwich and golden crisp fries at the Equator Cafe in Old Pasadena, down McCormick Alley.
November 6, 2014
A&E
COURIER
Vocal teacher feeds the soul through song Ashley Park Staff Writer
Not many offices in Pasadena City College are filled with art like Pablo Picasso’s “Three Musicians” and a big piano. However, Anne Marie De La Vega’s room perfectly emphasizes her soft, artistic persona. De La Vega, a vocal professor, director of the opera program, and a singer herself, has been teaching at PCC since 1981, but she was certain her life would be musically enriched far before that. “I never knew [I wanted to work with music], it just was… It was never a question…. A lot of artists who are truly, deeply into their [craft] never make a decision along the way,” said De La Vega. “It just is.” Her most cherished childhood memories consist of gathering around the piano with her family to sing and enjoy music together. None of her other family members went into music professionally, but they always made sure that their home supported and thrived with art. De La Vega, who studied music at California State University, Northridge, has never had a doubt that music was something she wanted to further pursue, whether it be by co-writing and performing in her recital “This,
Paul Ochoa/Courier Music instructor and professional singer Anne Marie K. De La Vega discussing her musical upbringing in her office in the music lab at the Center for the Arts on Thursday Oct. 23.
and My Heart: A Portrait of Emily Dickinson” or by teaching students the methods and essence of music and art. “When you [teach], you do it because there’s something that feeds your soul… And it’s very important for us, who are in the
middle of all that, to make sure that that beauty continues,” explained De La Vega. “Also, when you teach, you learn, especially with the arts…You learn about your art by seeing the humanity around you and how people see and react to things…Watching
a pre-concert talk at 3 p.m. Accompanying cellist Lebow joined pianist Young as they proceeded to discuss Beethoven’s works and his inspirations for some of his earlier pieces. “The tradition of taking a popular melody and improvising on it was tradition back in the day,” said Young while he was describing Mozart’s influence on a young Beethoven. In between taking questions,
both musicians discussed the way Beethoven’s music is interpreted and how his works have managed to withstand time to become one of the most notable in history. “During performances we’ll try different things we’ve never done before and that’s exhilarating, most of the time,” said Lebow. Both musicians described Beethoven’s work as both simplistic and highly complicated at the same time. This was apparent in the pieces played. Young and Lebow started off the concert with Sonata No. 2. Young describes the piece as “using juxtaposition to create interesting structures.” Following Sonata No. 2 were seven variations from Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” which Young described as a duet about love. “The opera deals with finding true love and the nobility of love,” said Young. Young and Lebow played off each other to create a masterful work of music. They stayed true to Beethoven’s original compositions while adding their own flares to the music. The final movement, Sonata No.5, was a “terrific culmination of Beethoven’s style,” said Lebow. The movement started off rather fast with Lebow leading the movement through bewildering twists with long pauses and plucking incorporated throughout the piece.
people communicating with art teaches me.” Her students, David Dalati, a music and biology student, and Natasha Landes, a music major and a student of De La Vega’s for the past three semesters, both recognize her passion for
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teaching and connecting with her students. “If I were to describe her in one word: elegant,” said Dalati. “She puts on beautiful productions and she goes all the way… Her true love of music and her dedication to opera is what makes her stand out… She is definitely a perfectionist.” “The one word that pops out for me is ‘artist’,” added Landes. “One of the ways she stands out is that she meets you where you are. Every student comes to her at different levels, but she’s able to see where you are and match you, so that she can work with you personally to help you grow.” Her recital, which she has performed for audiences in sold-out theaters such as the University of Southern California’s Fischer Museum of Art, was also a new learning experience for her. The recital traces “the themes Emily Dickinson returned to again and again in her poetry: nature, love, God, and death”, according to USC’s events page. However, for De La Vega, nothing compares to the lessons she can give and take while teaching students. “It’s amazing. It’s like ‘Look at this incredible thing!’,” said De La Vega. “And that’s beautiful, to be able to send art and meaning into somebody else’s realm of existence.”
Musicians conclude part two of Beethoven sonatas Hannah Gonzales Staff Writer
Thunderous applause filled the auditorium as Roger Lebow and Philip Young finished the second half of Beethoven’s sonatas on Sunday, Nov. 2 at the Westerbeck Recital Hall. Young and Lebow performed sonatas 2, 5 and “Magic Flute Variations.” The concert was preceded by
Nagisa Mihara/Courier Pianist Philip Young and guest cellist Roger Lebow, performed sonatas by Beethoven in part one of “Beethoven: The Complete Violoncello and Piano Sonatas” at the Westerbeck Recital Hall on Friday, Oct. 24.
“This last piece is rather fragmentary,” said Lebow. “There’s almost no time for mood to become established. It’s very modernistic at times.” When asked to describe how the concert went, Lebow expressed displeasure at the fact that his cello slipped on the stage floor several times during the last movement. “Yeah, it was one of those things,” Lebow said. “It hardly
ever happens.” Despite the difficulties facing the cellist, Lebow and Young had a long line of fans after the concert waiting to congratulate both on a wonderful performance. “I thought that the collaboration was great,” said Moses Part, a former student of Young. Part one of Beethoven’s sonatas was on Friday, Oct. 24 and took place at the Westerbeck Recital Hall.
SPORTS
8 COURIER
November 6, 2014
Men’s basketball eyes another title run Daron Grandberry Sports Editor
Youth and inexperience has never discouraged Lancers’ men’s basketball head coach Michael Swanegan. Despite only returning two sophomores from last season’s team, the head coach heading into his eighth year expects another competitive group from this year’s team. “We’re expecting the same intensity from this year’s team despite our youth,” Swanegan said. “We’re expecting the guys to come out and play hard. It’s just a matter of how quick they pick everything up and get used to this level of play.” Returning center Faruk Oyalade will be asked to produce more in the post this season with the departure of All-State forward Taj Spencer, who’s now playing at Cal Baptist University in Riverside. Last season Spencer led the
Lancers to the third round of the SoCal Regional playoffs and averaged a team-high 18 points per game and 8.2 rebounds. Although the Lancers will be without the production of Spencer and last year’s starting point guard Jeffrey Dockett, Swanegan is expecting a big season from returning guard Jonathan Henderson and freshman forward Jaryn Taylor. Taylor’s length and athleticism should be a good compliment to Oyalade to give the Lancers a formidable frontcourt tandem. “We’re a little taller this season, but we’ve also lost some key players from last season.” While many opposing teams may expect to capitalize on the Lancers’ youth, former guard Dockett believes in his former coach’s ability. “Coach Swanegan is a good coach,” Dockett said. “If the players listen and follow his type of
playing style they will be successful this season.” Expected to help make up for the loss of Dockett is freshman guard Keith Langston. The guard from Whitney High School in Chicago is expected see quality minutes in his first season and believes the Lancers can build on last season’s success. “Our goal is to go farther in the tournament and build on last season’s success,” Langston said. Coach Swanegan believes that if the trio of Taylor, Henderson and Langston can adjust to their new roles the Lancers will be in good shape. “We have a young group of players but I’m still expecting a lot out of this year’s team,” Swanegan said. The Lancers will kick off the 2014-15 season against Orange Coast College in the Ventura Tournament. The game is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Daniel Nerio/Courier Freshman forward Christopher Johnson practicing with his teammates Jaryn Taylor (left) and Jeremy Jean at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium on Thursday, October 30.
defender David Abeyta combined brilliantly to avert a Seahawks offensive strike, with Barba blocking a pinpoint shot and Abeyta colliding with the goalie and rebounding the ball away from the net. In the 16th minute, PCC surged to a 1-0 lead due to some exceptional teamwork by forward Christian Palacios and defender Kris Carjaval. The seahawks’ goalie fumbled a Lancers corner kick and Palacios pounced by chipping the ball over the goalkeeper, with Carjaval’s header guiding the ball into the back of the net. The home team’s fluid attack and brick-wall defense was working in unison due to elevated intensity, crisp passing and desperate retrievals in the back when the Seahawks threatened. In the second-half LA Harbor looked like a different team due to more penetrating offense, which outshot PCC 23-10 and finally cracked the Lancers defense in the 61st minute. The Seahawks caught their opponents sleeping by taking an unexpected corner kick which didn’t allow the Lancers’ defense to prepare for the ensuing header that tied the game. According to sophomore forward Luis Ramirez, his side
was very unlucky to come away with the loss due to a lack of execution. “We had two opportunities that we couldn’t capitalize on and finish, to get ahead on the scoreboard. It would have been a 3-1 game,” Ramirez said. The Seahawks dominated the rest of the game due to unstoppable runs, accurate passing and superior skills. The match-win-
ning goal came with 19 minutes remaining, which took even more sting out of PCC and they weren’t able to retaliate. “We started playing defense and the momentum just came at us,” Abeyta said. Lancers’ head coach Edgar Manvelyan was disappointed that his side didn’t maintain their level of fight in the second half, but attributed the loss to LA Harbor’s
Playoff chance lost by men’s soccer against LA Harbor David O’Connor Staff Writer
The men’s soccer team succumbed to a fast-finishing LA Harbor Seahawks, losing 2-1 at Robinson Stadium on Tuesday. With only one point separating both teams in the conference standings before kick-off, there was a lot of significance resting on the outcome of this encounter. The Lancers were trying to snap a two game losing streak, while the Seahawks were attempting to break a streak of three draws as well as trying to avenge a 2-1 defeat to PCC in the first half of the season. The biggest stake in this game was a small chance to sneak into the South Coast conference post-season playoffs. PCC was ranked No. 22 in the power rankings, while LA Harbor stood at No. 21. The winner still had a chance to make the final 14 if they are the victor in the final three games. LA Harbor took control of proceedings in the opening exchanges by making a couple of attacking raids, but couldn’t penetrate the Lancers defense. PCC’s co-captain George Barba and
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Keely Ernst/Courier Lancers’ midfielder Eric Benitez dribbles the ball during Tuesday’s 2-1 home loss. The Lancers fell to 5-10-3 on the season.
hunger and a change of momentum. “They wanted it more,” Manvelyan said. “They came out in the second half and played really well, attacked us and saw the weaknesses. We kind of panicked and sat back after the tying goal.” The Lancers will travel to play Cerritos College on Friday at 3 p.m.
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