el Don - October 19, 2009 by el Don

el Don

STYLE: The good, the bad, the ugly,

Saturday Night Live has seen it all. Look behind the scenes that have made NBC’s Late Night sketch comedy standard a classic. 11

13 SANTA ANA COLLEGE

PROP

MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2009 • VOLUME 87, ISSUE 3

LIFE: Go green to save green with these helpful tips on recycling, reducing and reusing around the house.

SPORTS: Former trainer George Curtis joins six others as they are inducted into the 2009 Athletic Hall of Fame.

Budget cuts dim lights on theater CAMPUS: Reduction in funds forces less props, more hope in Philips Hall By Michelle Wiebach el Don News Editor It’s 6 o’ clock, an hour before call time, and there are only two people in the theatre green room. They sit in the center of the room at the gray oval table with two different kinds of blue-green and gray chairs. One by one, actors walk through the door, sign in on the call sheet, sit at the long table and dig into whatever food they decided to have for dinner that night. It varies from spring rolls to fast food to home made sandwiches. “Do you want to try this?” Sophomore Natalie Andrade said. “It’s pomegranate raspberry frozen yogurt from my work.” She says this while she scoops up a spoonful of magenta yogurt with raspberries and offers some to her fellow cast members. Some try it, others pass, and some share other food between one another. “Do you want some fries? I’m not going to eat them all,” lead actress Guadalupe Correa said.

Please see THEATRE, Page 5

Furlough days spark strikes at campuses

STATE: Lack of funds causes financial uproar at various levels of schooling By Felipa Penaloza el Don Staff Writer

Story By Meg Faulkner • Photo Illustration By Michelle Wiebach

EXAMINING THE DECLINE OF HIGHER EDUCATION Once upon a time, there was a state called California, where the public colleges were among the nation’s finest. Students could afford to attend them or get aid through state grants. Classes and services were plentiful, and students could hope to graduate within five years and even find a job afterwards. Sounds like a fairy tale, doesn’t it? Today, students are fortunate if they can get into classes at all, as budget cuts eat into course offerings. Overcrowded public universities forestall transfer

hopefuls, forcing them into longer stays at community colleges, delaying graduation dates and delaying California’s economic recovery. The outlook for the state’s IN DEPTH educational system is bleak PART 3 even as the rest of the nation begins to recover. Why? How did California’s education system fall victim to gridlocked state government? Every fairy tale has its dark side. In the pre-Reagan era, California’s property Please see PROP 13, Page 3

University students, faculty and staff across the state organized against higher tuition fees, layoffs, and furloughs, proposing legislatures reprioritize higher education. Tuition for undergraduates has risen to $4,800 a year at California State University Fullerton and $10,300 at University of California, Irvine. Students are still getting less education than they are paying for because of the establishment of furlough days. This means all 47,000 CSU and UC employees face 11 to 24 days a year without pay in order to preserve jobs. None of this matters to the 40,000 CSU applicants being denied enrollment within the next two years because the CSU Board of Trustees says there is not enough money for them to reach higher levels of education. “Why is it that in one of the richest states in the richest country, with one of the richest economies in the world, we don’t have the money to provide adequate education?” asked Dennis Lopez, a UCI English graduate student. “Public education is a

Please see STRIKE, Page 5

NEWS

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2009

COMMUNITY PROFILE

HITTING THE SPOT

Restoring a sense of community in community college By Dawn McDougall el Don Staff Writer

ANDREY MIRANDA el Don

Fries, large coke and a side of calculus: study time at the new student lounge.

After two years in the making, the new student lounge finally opened Sept. 23 at U-121 in the Johnson Center. At the grand opening, students awaited the much anticipated ribbon-cutting, while Associated Student Government President Alex Flores spoke about what The Spot represents. Flores said the lounge will be a friendly environment where students can meet and utilize resources the campus has to offer. “We want students to know their government is here for them,” Flores said. The space is equipped with an air hockey table, pool table, foosball table and a video game system. Besides games, The Spot has several sitting areas in which to socialize, do homework or even play a game of chess. Affordable snacks and drinks will soon be available. “Students want a sophisticated environment — not a Chuck E. Cheese game room,” said Student Services Vice President Sara Lundquist. The Spot

is the first building under Measure E solely for students, designed by students, Lundquist said. In 2002, voters approved Measure E, an obligation bond, to approve construction at SAC and Santiago Canyon College campuses. Measure E allowed for new buildings and renovations at SAC, but it also meant the temporary closure of the student game room. Since then, the ASG has worked to make the room bigger and better for students. As a two-year college, SAC is considered a commuter campus. We come, we learn, we go home. The connection is lost somewhere in between. Flores said students who spend more time on campus have a stronger sense of entitlement, and thus a stronger interest and concern about what goes on at their school. The Spot offers an open area for communication where students and clubs can have meetings, forums and even dances. A communal area also gives students the opportunity to meet classmates or run into old friends. “This is a new chapter in academic and social life at SAC,” Lundquist said.

CAMPUS, LOCAL & STATE

News You Can Use Latin Films

Nature Care

Homecoming

A new mural in the Fine Arts building promotes the SAC Gallery’s current exhibition called the Artists of Art Forum. The students in Art 124, gallery production, spent a week on their project. Based on the gallery, fine arts major, Bailey Francis, drew the sketch for the mural called “Restoring Pieces”. It depicts Mother Nature blowing individual puzzle pieces of new life into existence. The message: to be environmentally conscious. “You can survive off nature,” Francis said, “The world can get ugly if you don’t take care of it.”

Join SAC President Erlinda Martinez for a pre-game Homecoming reception when the Dons host the Fullerton College Hornets at Eddie West Field. The annual Key to the County game will kick off at 1 p.m. while the reception will take place beforehand at 11:30 a.m. Refreshments will be served and seating will be provided. To reserve a seat, contact the SAC President’s office at (714) 564-6975 or send an e-mail to vega_kennethia@sac.edu. - Hugo Pacheco

-Dawn McDougall

Green Jobs

Santiago Canyon College celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month this October with its annual Latin American Film Festival. On the Road to Fame was first shown Oct. 16. The second film, Viva Cuba, will air Oct. 23. The final film, Sleep Dealer will show Oct. 30. All films are in Spanish with English subtitles and will be screened in D-101 at 6 p.m. and are open to the public.

Is your major undecided? Take another look at the Green industry. A 2008 Centers of Excellence study reported that the green economy sector will see growth in the next few years. -Michelle Wiebach Renewable energy is expected to show the largest increase in jobs and earnings. The COE conducts research specific to community colleges and regularly updates information to keep students aware of new ecological developments. For more information visit coeccc.net/green

Mud Fun Get your hands dirty for a good cause at the 2009 Irvine Lake Mud Run, Oct. 25 at 9 a.m. This year, runners will raise money for the Scripps Institution of Oceanography’s effort to clean up the Pacific Slap Shot Ocean. Race individually for $35 plus a $5 You don’t need to wait registration fee or as a for a contract from the team for $140 plus a $10 Anaheim Ducks to experiregistration fee. There’s a ence hockey at a profeskids’ mud puddle race for sional level. $10. To register and for The Science of Hockey more information, visit at the Taco Bell Discovery irvinelakemudrun.com. Science Center lets you explore the physics -Allison Lujan and chemistry of the sport with interactive exhibitions. Try scoring against Ducks goalie J.S. Giguere’s virtual image, or switch roles and be the goalie yourself. Visit the Penalty Box, where you have to answer four hockey-andscience related questions.

-Dawn McDougall

-Michelle Wiebach

Around the world

Edible treats

SAC’s annual International Festival is Nov. 4 between 11-2 p.m. Students will display exhibits, food and entertainment from various countries. For more information call 714-564-6047.

What exactly is SAC eating? Find this slip-up on the south side of the fine arts building by the vending machine.

-Allison Lujan

NEWS

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2009

PROP 13: California education still struggling

values were tied to market values — as Continued from page 1

lower-income areas. “You started to see ‘equalization measures,’ where the idea would be to redistribute wealth. That has a certain familiar ring to it, I suspect.” “If local agencies had honored the theory that Prop 13 had in mind, everything would be great. There would have been a gradual reduction in expenses, and maybe in services, to line up with tax revenues generated by each community. But that didn’t happen. Two years later, they all headed to Sacramento to get bailed out.” Tax Break for Business, Too? Writers of Proposition 13 provided a tax break for all property owners, without differentiating for use of properties. While the elderly stayed in their homes without tax hikes, business owners stayed in their properties, too. Communities redeveloped older business areas and maintained commercial districts, but property taxes weren’t increased to raise capital for improvements, resulting in a drain on public funds that couldn’t be replenished with tax revenue. While Prop 13 was intended to benefit homeowners, it has had the converse effect of placing the property tax burden more heavily on residential home owners versus business property owners. Because sale prices increase over time and residential properties change hands more often than business properties, residential property taxes have risen more rapidly than business taxes over the years. Now referred to as a “split-role,” the notion of increasing taxes on

values climbed, so did taxes. The victims of this scenario were California’s elderly. Widows and retirees on fixed incomes were unable to keep up with escalating property taxes, often forcing them from their homes. Enter Howard Jarvis, an anti-tax crusader who, in 1978, championed Proposition 13, the “People’s Initiative to Limit Property Taxation.” Jarvis’ formula was simple –taxes would be fixed to acquisition values; that is, property taxes would be capped at 1 percent above the level at which they were when the property was purchased, even as home values increased. California voters passed the initiative overwhelmingly, amending the state constitution and reducing property taxes by about 57 percent. Three decades later, many point to Prop 13 as the beginning of the Golden State’s unhappy ending. While the amendment had its desired affect of protecting homeowners, it triggered side effects that have left California in a quagmire. Local Governments Rely on Sacramento Don Gilchrist, former chief of staff to Senator John Lewis (CA-R), was involved in local politics prior to the passage of Prop 13. Now in his 80s, he recalls a time when local governments and school districts would adjust taxes annually based on community needs. This “resulted in certain inequities,” Gilchrist said. Wealthier areas with higher tax revenues could provide better opportunities than adjacent,

N A T I o N A l

business properties is opposed by the business community. Two-thirds Majority for Tax Increases When the writers of Prop 13 established tax limitations, they included a provision that would make it difficult to reverse them – the two-thirds majority rule. It now requires two-thirds majority of voters to enact a tax increase. Budget initiatives must appear on voter ballots, slowing down the process, making it all but impossible to pass laws that increase tax revenue. As a result, initiatives on ballots present piecemeal changes to the budget, so balancing the budget becomes bogged down in political process. What’s next? Not everyone agrees that Prop 13 is the villain in the story of California’s ailing economy. Taxpayer watchdog groups, especially The Howard Jarvis Taxpayer’s Union, fight the measures that would counter or overturn Prop 13. In a recent blog, Jarvis union president Jon Coupal said, “And what would life be like if Proposition 13 were not enacted to stabilize property taxes and revenues in California? How many people would have lost their homes and businesses during the last real estate spike when property values quickly - and artificially - skyrocketed? Conversely, how much worse off would the state be if, during this real estate plunge, it could not count on base value property taxes ensured by Proposition 13?” Whether or not Prop 13 is to blame, the current shortage of rev-

enue and immobilized state legislators have forced players on both sides of the political divide to recognize the urgent need to restructure the state’s tax system. Governor Schwarzenegger created the Commission on the 21st Century Economy to examine the current tax situation and recommend improvements to ensure long-term economic growth. The Commission released its report Sept. 30, outlining a plan to get California back on track. The plan considers property taxes, but does not recommend changes to the current property tax system. Instead, the plan focuses on increasing and stabilizing tax revenue by shifting the tax burden from personal and corporate income taxes, which provide most of the state’s revenue, to businesses through the creation of a Business Net Revenue Tax. Education now accounts for 52% of the state budget, with 40% of the general fund guaranteed to K-12 education and 12% allotted to higher education. The commission addresses the education shortage by seeking to bolster the state’s general fund. The Commission wrote the plan as a long-term solution, recommending “detailed analysis” of specific measures before implementation. Proposed changes would not be implemented until 2012. So, while The Commission’s report appears to be a step towards a healthier California economy, students in community colleges and state universities today are not likely to benefit from proposed tax reforms before they graduate.

BY THE

NUMBERS

52%

Of the state budget comes from education

40%

Of the general fund is guaranteed to K-12

12%

Is allotted to higher education

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NEWS

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2009

Governor approves more funding cuts College stands to lose millions in deferred dollars Story By Lourdes Serrano

FACTLINE •The bill defers $100 million to colleges to go to Highway Users Tax Account •SAC loses $16 million from the state between March and May 2010 •Already at 10 percent, cuts will most likely increase in the next year.

In the closing hours of the last session, legislators passed a surprise bill that will cause Santa Ana College to lose millions. It was a rush bill named ABX3 37, and it was signed into law Sept. 30. The law defers the disbursal of payments of General Fund moneys to community colleges, up to $100 million, for March 2010 until May 2010. About $16 million will be deferred from this district, which means more class reductions and further budget cuts to rapidly disappearing programs. Four athletic teams were already cancelled this fall and class offerings fell 10 percent from last semester. “We will load up every classroom as much as we can, and it will stay like that for at least two to three years,” said Vice-Chancellor of Business Operations Peter Hardash. Community colleges are funded by Proposition 98, which entitles state colleges to receive 12 percent of the state budget every year. If the state has budget problems, then colleges have problems. “We are not making budget cuts because we don’t have enough money, but

because the state keeps owing us money,” Hardash said. “Unfortunately, when the state is broke, the college has to turn down students,” Hardash said. However, many districts have been forced to borrow from outside sources to supplement their budget, and end up paying double the money they borrowed, as a result of high interest rates. Between 2003 and 2004, a budget shortfall affected all 72 districts and $200 million was deferred from community colleges. “Legislature usually gives us two options,” Hardash said “take cuts or make deferrals; at this point we have no choice.” Students will now have to worry about whether or not they will get the classes they need to transfer. “I wish the state thought a little bit more in-depth of their impact their decisions will make in our future. We are supposed to be the ‘tomorrow’ of this country,” said psychology major Maria Martinez. “Students should work harder so that they don’t have to repeat any subjects because there will be a reduced amount of classes available,” said Vice-President of Academic Affairs Norm Fujimoto.

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NEWS

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2009

Theatre: cast unites for all-star production Continued from page 1 Correa is like the loving older sister, sharing her McDonald’s french fries and admitting to craving them in the first place. She shows some similarities between herself and Esperanza Cordero, the character she portrays in this year’s theatre production, The House on Mango Street. Like the house on Mango Street the theatre is a house, or more like a home to many who take part in the inner workings of the theatre. The actors, set designers, make up artists, directors, costume designers, and back stage crew all work together to produce one big show. They share each other’s food. They bicker with one another like siblings, and they can sit next to each other and talk for hours. They are a unit. They are a team. They are a family. Like any family, they get upset when they hear disappointing news. So when the theatre department found out about major cuts to their program this year, they did not take it lightly. For them, it’s like California’s debt has demolished a part of their home. They don’t know when and how soon this setback will get fixed. “I think it’s funny how they want to save the arts, but then when they make cuts, art is the first thing to go,” Andrade said.

This year the SAC Theatre Department will only have one major production, as opposed to three to four plays in the past years, as well as a children’s production. Dean of Fine and Performing Arts Sylvia Turner said that during her time at SAC, she has seen some reductions, but nothing as severe as to what is going on now. Since the major production takes place this fall, that leaves theatre students next semester without a principal play and fewer students will be able to participate. Cutting three to four plays a year might be compared to cancelling several popular television shows. It leaves a gap. “What will happen when the arts go?” junior Max Erhler said. “What will people do for entertainment?” The Theatre Arts Showcase will take the place of a major production in the spring. Students will be able to participate in smaller plays in the intimate setting of the Black Box Theatre. Sets for the showcase will be downsized. Large and older sets will be torn down, recycled, and built into new. Props hidden away in storage will be resurrected. Theatre is just one of the programs facing deep cuts, but like the meaning of Esperanza’s name, everyone in the department has hope for a better opportunity next academic year.

BLANCA VALDIVIA el Don

The ensemble cast performs in a group scene conveying their character’s emotions.

Esperanza, Rachel, and Lucy smile and laugh as they impersonate Tia Lupe.

BLANCA VALDIVIA el Don

Strike: teachers take action

Continued from page 1

social good. It’s a right for the many.” Subcontracted workers are denied the most basic union wages, benefits, and legal protection. At the beginning of the term, 27 UCI janitors received resignation letters. “Giving this letter to the people, is not giving the letter just to one person, it’s giving the letter to the whole family,” said single mother Alma Zygovia, a janitor at UCI. Last month UC professors, students, and workers had enough, crying out for change through a

statewide walkout organized by the University Professional & Technical Employees. The main target for the day was UC President Mark Yudof. Yudof ’s budget plan will aid in privatizing the UC system, according to the UC Students Association’s Resolution Letter. The walkout focused on creating change as a group. “We are here as a community to resist the budget cuts and an attack on one is an attack on all,” said Fernando Chirino, a fourth year grad student. “We are here to

defend the University of California and the values it represents,” said Catherine Liu, the Associate Professor of Film and Media Studies at UCI. The CSU and UC values have shifted from the 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education, which had promised all Californians access to free tuition for college education. “When I went to school there wasn’t as much student debt and credit card debt,” said Liu. “People are profiting from the indebtedness.”

NEWS FEATURE

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2009

BLANCA VALDIVIA el Don

ECOGORGEOUS By Maria Gonzalez el Don Staff Writer

Jacky Acosta, a budding fashionista, funds her education in a crafty way — benefiting the environment. At 20 years old, Acosta is already a successful entrepreneur. Strapped for cash and unable to receive financial aid, Acosta, a veteran knitter, took to repurposing plastic grocery bags into tote bags and wallets. By cutting bags into long strips, she crochets the patterns bit by bit, taking about a day to finish a purse. Word about her environmentally conscious accessories spread quickly. “People would ask me where I got my bag, so I started taking special orders,” Acosta said. She dubbed her line “Plast*Eco,” a play on the Spanish word plastico, combining her Latin heritage with her eco-friendly mindset and attitude. The Go Green fad has helped popularize Jacky’s items. Plastic bags are one of the top

pollutants found during coastal cleanups. “When I heard that it takes plastic bags 20 to 500 years to decompose, I wanted to make a difference,” Acosta said. Acosta’s Plast*Eco bags were a hit in the SAC Transfer Center. “I am very proud of her for taking a skill she has and being creative with it,” Kathy Patterson, a SAC professor, said. Jacky’s colorful totes and wallets are customizable, with different designs and colors. “I definitely feel like I’m getting more creative with the bags,” Acosta said. She has embroidered everything from colorful flowers to bubbly whales, bees to Calavera skulls and added embellishments such as sewn on buttons and peacock feathers. Her prices range from $12-$40. Acosta, a former SAC student, is pursuing her degree in psychology at UCI. She hopes to continue with Plast*Eco to raise funds for AB540 students.

Setting a trend and reducing her carbon footprint

Trash to Cash the New Bag Lady Two-tone flower hairpin embellished with faux jewels

A peacock feather accents a gold-lined checkbook holder

A Day of the Dead Calavera adorns a cotton-lined coin purse

PHOTO ESSAY

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2009

The Firewheel Trees can be found around the fountain in the middle of campus.

HIDDEN CAMPUS

Unseen beauty

Story By Felipa Penaloza Photos By David Dayfallah • Erica Silvas You may not be able to see the loveliness this campus has to offer, but if you take the time to wander around, you can discover interesting flora and fauna from various parts of the world. Surrounding the Thomas M. Hartnett Fountain are Firewheel Trees, native to Northeastern Australia. If you walk by at the right time, you might spy a hummingbird feeding off the nectar. In the midst of the Exercise Science Building is a garden pathway leading up to a cartwheelgarnished tree that creates a sense of serenity for those in need of a Zen moment. If you’re in a tropical mood, the Plumeria plant, found between Hammond Hall and the Technical Arts Building, can arouse your senses with beach scenes. Though usually symbolic of Hawaii, this five-petaled plant is native to Mexico and many South American countries. Instead of rushing to a computer to log on to Facebook, take a stroll around campus and discover these tranquil areas, which might help you relieve some tension during midterms.

ABOVE: The cartwheel -garnished tree is located amongst the Exercise Science Building. RIGHT: The garden pathway leading to the cartwheelgarnished tree adds pizzazz to the campus.

The Plumeria plant is found between Hammond Hall and the Technical Arts Building.

STYLE

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2009

GALLERY REVIEW

HOTLINES

Reviews & other stuff

wrecking crew Have some cake and cozy up with a good book. Cake Wrecks: When Professional Cakes Go Hilariously Wrong is a photo book of over 150 professionally made cakes that are ugly, funny or even a little of both. Visit cakewrecks.com to see the blog that started it all. Readers can view different cakes every day as well as submit their own cake-tastrophes. -Allison Lujan

Indigo Suspension by Mark Leysen.

nerd rock

Get ready to get your geek on. Alternative king Rivers Cuomo and Weezer are back with their seventh studio album, Raditude. The album contains 10 tracks including the single “(If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To” and “Can’t Stop Partying” featuring Lil’ Wayne. Purchase the deluxe edition to get four bonus songs or purchase it on iTunes for a unique MGMT/Lady Gaga medley. Buy Raditude on Nov. 3 for $12.99 or the deluxe edition for $15.99. - Allison Lujan

don’t dream it

Grab your fishnet stockings and get ready to do the time warp again. On Friday Oct. 23 at 11:55 p.m. the South Coast Village Theater is showing 1975 cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Actors from performance group Dark Refrain will be on hand as well to act out the entire film. Purchase tickets at regencymovies.com for $10. Get them now as tickets usually sell out fast. -Allison Lujan

Smarter Art Show explores wide range of styles, themes By Meg Faulkner el Don Staff Writer Through Nov. 11, the Main Art Gallery is exhibiting a diverse collection called The Artists of Art Forum. It features sculpture, photography, painting and elements from a collaborative installation. All works are by presenters in Art 115: Art Forum, Issues in Contemporary Art. In turn provocative and soothing, the individual works share few commonalities outside their contemporary styles. Near the entrance of the exhibit is a collection of ceramics so fraught with spongy texture that it begs to be squeezed. Has anyone verified that Jeff Netzer’s “Beads” is really ceramic, and not secretly sculpted from ultra light foam? The elements from “M.O.L.D.” refer to a performance/ interactive installation created by The Finishing School. The Los Angeles based artists’ collective invited its audience to “engage in a critical conversation

about the quality and safety of the food we consume.” Petri dishes and biosafety gear suggest an unsavory future for the loaf of bread that lies on the exhibit table. Brian Cooper’s vivid paintings pop from the gray walls of the gallery, a mind-bending series of images called “Art in Public.” “Google Image Search: ‘Santa/Jesus’—Any Size, No Filter” has provoked a number of incensed comments in the gallery’s guest book. A fascinating montage of nearly a thousand images, the piece contains fine art juxtaposed with everything from kitsch to porn to religious portraits. Dark and mysterious, Dirk Petchul’s “Soul” series of photographs provides a sharp contrast to the glossy, garish “Santa/Jesus” mash-up. Mark Leysen’s abstract landscapes round out the exhibit with bright color blocks in sweeping, kinetic compositions.

Google Image Search” ‘Santa/Jesus’ — Any Size, No Filter by Douglas McColloh.

Crania by Jeff Netzer.

STYLE

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2009

house

Young Esperanza (Bernadette Martinez), Rachel (Daniela Morelos) and Lucy (Linda Gallardo) have a talk while older Esperanza (Guadalupe Correa) narrates.

Our

Actors are the set, showcasing talents with minimal props

Story by Michelle Wiebach • Photos by Blanca Valdivia

Dim lights and melodic strums of a Spanish guitar set the atmosphere for the opening scene where two Esperanzas, one an adult and the other a 12-year-old girl, stand on the stage, remembering all the streets they used to live on before they moved to the house on Mango Street. The theatre department’s production of The House on Mango Street, based on the book by Sandra Cisneros, is written in little vignettes. Each vignette serves as a scene in the play. The House on Mango Street is not what you would expect. The first thing that comes to mind when you think about The House on Mango Street is the actual red house with crumbling bricks and “windows so small you’d think they were holding their breath.” But the theatre department proves that there is more to a play than elaborate sets. Minimal props allow the actors to use every bit of their talents

to bring their characters to life. Once in costume and make up they are no longer students; they’re the people who live in Cisneros’ book. The use of emotional and physical acting is what brings the play to life. Guadalupe Correa, who plays the older Esperanza, is nostalgic toward her adolescent years. She interacts with her younger self, played by Bernadette Martinez, and shows through facial expressions and body language how she felt when her life events were taking place. When the actors simulate riding a bicycle, you can picture them riding a real bike. The three girls sway with excited expressions on their faces, sharing their joy with the audience. The play ends as it starts, with both Esperanzas reminiscing about the street they used to live on and realizing that you can never forget where you came from or who you are.

ABOVE: Young Esperanza comforts her papa (Felix Orosco) after finding out about her grandfather’s death. RIGHT: Esperanza wipes the surprise kiss from “The Oriental Man” (Kevin Rios) off of her mouth.

The Esperanzas recollect the time when their Tio Nacho (Danny Gonzalez) forced her to dance.

STYLE

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2009

t h d e l i t e w L rumpu start s

Live action version shows promise but may not hold true to story By Kathie Espinoza el Don Editor in Chief

For over three decades kids have envied the boy in the wolf costume. Since the first time Maurice Sendak’s fictional Max threatened to eat his mother up, generations of wide-eyed children have been enchanted with Max’s make believe island of monsters, terrible from their teeth to their claws. First published in 1963, Where The Wild Things Are was intended to center around horses, until Sendak realized how much

easier it would be to draw arbitrary wild things. The nine-sentence picture book has inspired a short animated film, a stage play, ultra-marketable plush toys and T-shirts and, now, a full-length film featuring actors in 12–foot monster costumes. Cowriters Dave Eggers and Spike Jonze have interpreted this classic, with a full blessing from Sendak, as a film about more than just a boy who misbehaves. Rather than running amok and chasing the dog with a fork,

Max is a real boy with a moody older sister and divorced parents. In the film, he’s angry and resentful, prompting him to bite his mother and then run away. Instead of a forest growing in his room, he finds a boat and sails to the land of the wild things where he ultimately becomes their king. Warner Brothers entices us with an ad campaign full of sun-soaked forests, foggy beaches and nighttime bonfire scenes. Book buffs, elementary school librarians and any-

one who ever dreamed of sailing away to a mythical land of grotesque funloving beasts have been on edge about Where The Wild Things Are. We worry about whether or not Jonze’s version will live up to the magical versions we’ve made up in our own young minds. Like most book to movie adaptations, it probably won’t, but it promises to be not only a sight to behold, but an adventure to a land where we are loved by monsters who mean us no harm.

Courtesy of WARNER BROTHERS

STYLE

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2009

LIVE

FROM

NEW

YORK

WEEKEND UPDATE

Since the fi rst episode, Weekend Update has given viewers real news, fake news and a lot of snarky commentary in between. Of the hundreds who have gone through studio 8H, 23 cast members and nine hosts have had the honor of sitting in the anchor chair. Chevy Chase set the standard as the fi rst anchor, in the role of a bumbling correspondent who barely knew what he was talking about. Currently, head writer Seth Meyers is entering his fourth season of anchoring Weekend Update.

35 YEARS OF SNL By Allison Lujan el Don Staff Writer

A BRIEF HISTORY

Saturday nights on NBC were a dead zone. With nothing to fi ll the 11:30 slot, the network would run Best of Johnny Carson for 90 minutes. But Carson wanted to save shows for when he went on vacation and NBC asked producer Dick Ebersol to fi ll the gap. Ebersol approached producer Lorne Michaels to develop a variety show unlike anything on television. It would be edgy, topical and feature a cast of relative unknowns. Originally titled NBC’s Saturday Night, Michaels’ show went live for the fi rst time on Oct. 11, 1975.

MOVIES

When something is a hit on television it has to become a movie. From the thousands of characters created on SNL, 10 feature fi lms have been made with mixed results. The Blues Brothers was the fi rst to be released in 1980. Starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, the plot revolves around two brothers searching for redemption while on a mission from God. The fi lm grossed $57 million and received mostly good reviews. Next came 1992’s Wayne’s World about two slackers (Mike Myers and Dana Carvey) who produce a cable access show in their basement. It is the most successful SNL fi lm, grossing $121 million. A new SNL movie will be released April 2010 based on the character MacGruber, a MacGyver spoof that always runs out of time before he can dismantle the bomb. Current cast members Will Forte and Kristen Wiig will star in the big screen adaptation.

DEARLY DEPARTED Original cast member John Belushi appeared on the show from 1975-1979. Belushi also found success for his fi lm roles in Animal House and The Blues Brothers. But like many other fi rst-season cast members, Belushi dabbled in heavy drugs. In 1982 he was found dead at the age of 33 from an accidental overdose of cocaine and heroin. Another original cast member, Gilda Radner, died in 1989 at the age of 42 of ovarian cancer. Her death helped raise public awareness of the disease and Cedars-Sinai Hospital created the Gilda Radner Cancer Detection Program. Chris Farley met a fate similar to his idol Belushi when he died in 1997 after suff ering a heart attack from overdosing on cocaine and morphine. Over 500 people attended his funeral, including SNL cast members and friends. The most shocking SNL death occurred fi ve months later when Phil Hartman was shot and killed by his wife while he was asleep. SNL commemorated his legacy in a retrospective at the end of the season.

MOVING ON

SNL has become a starting point for many comedic actors. Adam Sandler was hired in 1990. Since leaving the show in 1995, Sandler has starred and produced many fi lms including Happy Gilmore, Big Daddy and Mr. Deeds. Mike Myers has made a name for himself with the many characters he created for the multi-million dollar Austin Powers franchise. He also starred in the Shrek fi lms with another former cast member, Eddie Murphy. Perhaps the most famous female to come out of SNL is Tina Fey. Fey has already won multiple Emmys for her acting and writing in NBC’s 30 Rock and has found fame on the big screen with 2004’s Mean Girls. Other notable SNL cast members include Chevy Chase, Chris Rock, Billy Crystal and Bill Murray.

DIGITAL SHORTS

Created by writer Robert Smigel, Saturday TV Funhouse skits were short cartoons poking fun at everything from current events to 1970’s style cartoons. Spoofi ng the slight homosexuality of superheroes, Smigel created The Ambiguously Gay Duo, two male crime fi ghters who wound up in odd situations causing others to question their sexuality. SNL replaced the cartoons in 2005 for the less costly Digital Shorts created by current cast member Andy Samberg and writer Jorma Taccone.

SCANDAL! INTRIGUE!

Hosts and musical guests have been banned from appearing on the show again. The most well-known banishment was in 1992 when Sinead O’Connor ripped up a picture of Pope John Paul II, yelling, “Fight the real enemy!” Executive producer Lorne Michaels has banned many people for simply improvising and ruining the timing of the show. Milton Berle was banned in 1979 after improvising most of the night. Cypress Hill was banned in 1993 for smoking marijuana on stage. Most recently, Adrien Brody was banned in 2003 for improvising before introducing the musical guest.

LIFE

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2009

LIFELINES

Health & wellness

AS USUAL MyLifeIsAverage is yet another new website dedicated to blogs, but this one is somehow different. Instead of long, detailed stories, these small blips are just snippets of random things that happen in the average life. Most are simply humorous, but a handful say a little more. “Today, I saw a woman in a motorized wheelchair going down the sidewalk, pulling a man in a standard wheelchair. I think this is the meaning of friendship. ” -Dawn McDougall

MCT CAMPUS

GET INJECTED

Flu shots will be offered one day only, Oct. 30 from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the parking lot. Staying healthy is even easier this year with drive-thru service that keeps you in the comfort of your own car while getting vaccinated. Arlene Warco, Student and Wellness Center Coordinator, encourages students to protect themselves during the flu season. Shots are available on a firstcome, first-served basis to adults and children who: are not sick on Oct. 30, allergic to eggs, previously had a reaction to a flu shot or had a history of Guillan Barre Syndrome. Supplies are very limited, so be on time. -Dawn McDougall

MCT CAMPUS

ONE LESS

The Food and Drug Administration has approved the Gardasil vaccination for men, which can prevent four types of the human papillomavirus. HPV has been linked to causing genital warts and cancers. The vaccine was approved for women in 2006. Although the vaccine helps prevent some types of cancer, recipients should be aware that they are still susceptible to other forms of it and should practice safe sex. -Felipa Penaloza

“Going green” has increased in popularity ever since Leonardo DiCaprio bought a Prius and Woody Harrelson started wearing hemp. Unlike celebrities, not everyone can afford to buy a hybrid and install solar panels on their house, but there are still things anyone can do to help the environment and save money at the same time. To go green, Environmental Studies professor John Richards at Saddleback College said the first step is to become knowledgeable about the impact you make and where it comes from. The ecological footprint, or carbon footprint, is a measure of human demand on the Earth’s ecosystems, which was developed in the early 1990s by a Canadian doctoral student. The Ecological Footprint Quiz, found on myfootprint.org, measures the area of land and ocean required to support your consumption of food, goods, services, housing, and energy and assimilate your wastes. It also approximates how many Earths we would need if everyone lived like you. Now that you know your ecological footprint, you can make it smaller. Cutting down consumption can cut down costs. For one, save water. California is in the third year of drought, and water prices are likely to increase with less supply. The California Department of Water Resources suggests these water saving tips — take shorter showers, since a 10-minute shower uses over 30 gallons. Turn off the faucet if you don’t need it — like when shaving or brushing your teeth. Faucets use 3 to 7 gallons of water per minute. Only wash full loads of laundry. It takes 44 gallons of water to run a stan-

dard washing machine. Instead of using a hose to clean the driveway, save 80 gallons of water by sweeping instead. The gallons, and the dollars, add up quickly. Take an alternate route. “I think the biggest thing that affects a student’s footprint is transportation,” Richards said. Riding a bike, walking, unicycling or whatever doesn’t involve a car is good exercise and saves cash on gas. Take the bus or arrange a carpool for longer distances. Keep it local. If you can avoid it, don’t fly. It’s expensive, stressful and sometimes takes the same, if not more, time than taking a bus or a train. Keep your food local, too. Farmers markets offer fresh, local produce at lower prices. For a complete list of farmers markets in Orange County, visit orangecounty.net. Use that bag again and again…and again. Don’t throw something away if you can get use out of it. The EPA suggests only replacing something when necessary or buying second-hand. The price is always right. Major Chain stores like Target offer reusable cloth bags to use instead of plastic. Plastic is technically biodegradable, but it isn’t easily recycled, so use plastic bottles sparingly. Richards bought a $30 Brita water filter and reuses a bottle rather than spend hundreds on individual plastic bottles. Reduce first, recycle later. As Richards pointed out, reducing actually makes recycling easier and more effective. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle are the three R’s of the “go green” movement and they can spell cash. Save yourself money and be like the celebrities: help save the environment.

LIFE

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2009

iller Costumes

By Meg Faulkner el Don Staf f Writer

e Stray Cat Vintage & Costum 108 N. Harbor Blvd., Fullerton a knowledgeable staff that will help has e tag Vin Cat y Stra r, avo fl nt ere A vintage store with a diff p has all the deFlappers to the Pink Ladies, this sho m Fro k. loo iod per tic hen aut an you establish e-themed costumes uckly, you’ll find pirate and renaissanc shb swa ling fee ’re you If d. ere cov cades their web site, straycatvintage.net. here, too. Get a sneak peak online at

Gasoline Alley 3804 E. Chapman Ave., Orange If you’re up for a rental, check out Gas oline Alley. The unassuming strip-m all space is packed with options from padded sumo-wrestler body suits to go-go dancer ensemble s. For the best experience, go early on a weekday or you ’ll be ﬁghting monster crowds. Ask for Donna, the shop owner, who seems to have the location of every vest, boot and wig on immedi ate mental recall and can help you assemble a custom getup in no time.

Costume Castle 23811 El Toro Road, Lake Forest Costume Castle started as one of those seasonal stores, but made the transition to a year-round costume supply. Because this store serves loca l theaters and students, you’ll ﬁnd a good selection of accessories, like teeth, blood, professional makeup, and wigs. Yes, it has the mass-produced Halloween costumes, but the 14,000-squa re-foot store oﬀers a better selection and more stock than most of its seasonal competitors.

ked Flashbacks stle the over pac re w to y ad re e g et n Ora tage ls to you, g 465 N. Tustin St., ers authentic vin look that appea ff e o g p ta o n sh vi e ky th n d fu es. n and goths, this ry and accessori If you still can’t fi ks el n w u p je f , o es te ss ri la g vo n ks. A fa retail. ction of su racks at Flashbac finds and a colle ces, you will pay n ie p er d d n o ki m ay fg o ed eas ion of on clothing as well ng; for this select ci ri p re o st ft ri Don’t expect th

ha store. Wit t if r h t d e n l ell-organiz 20. Go with an ope w , t n ia Goodwil d Ave, Santa Ana g than $ , hit this ran ume le for less b an money h m t 1800 N. G e e s eciﬁc cost n p im s e t r n a re fo r o g e m h in e look toget If you hav if you are u can put — o y u , o y y it e iv ir t til p little crea entory ins e could take you un v in e h t t le rout mind and hrift store t e h t , s t n compone ween. next Hallo

Art by Alex Cooper

Some people plan their Halloween costumes in June, scouring shops for the perfect details or even hand-making their own masterpiece. For the rest of us, there’s the annual last-minute Halloween hunt—trekking from store to store in search of something that will do the trick…or treat. Sure, you could hit the usual temporary Halloween stores that crop up all over Orange County. Will it be the Sexy Witch? The Sexy Vampire? Perhaps that old stand-by, the Pregnant Nun? Or would you prefer to avoid the tacky, nylon Halloween clichés and find something a little better this year? If so, check out one of these favorite local haunts.

VIEWS

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2009

el Don SANTA ANA COLLEGE

Editor in Chief Kathie Espinoza eldoneditor@sac.edu

News Editor Michelle Wiebach eldonnews@sac.edu Life Editor Martha Nguyen Sports Editor Jermaine Ruvalcaba eldonsports@sac.edu Views Editor Amy Ellison eldonviews@sac.edu Photo Editor Andrey Miranda Blanca Valdivia Business and Advertising Manager Allene Symons eldonbusiness@sac.edu Adviser C. W. Little Jr. little_charles@sac.edu MAILBOX POLICY El Don encourages the expression of all views. Letters should be concise, signed, include a contact phone number and may be e-mailed to the appropriate editor, or mailed to SAC el Don, 17th at Bristol St., Santa Ana, CA 92706. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Unsigned editorials are the opinion of the editorial board and do not necessarily reflect the views of Santa Ana College. Opinions with a byline are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of el Don or SAC. El Don reserves the right to refuse advertising and does not necessarily subscribe to the views of the advertisers. For advertising rates and information contact Allene Symons (714)564-5617. Fax (714)564-0821. e-mail eldonbusiness@sac.edu

blanca valdivia el Don

STAFF EDITORIAL

Lessons

of True

Courage Determination, pride and hard work

George Curtis has progressive Supranuclear Palsy. He has tremors, constant muscle pain and has lost the ability to speak as a result of paralysis of his vocal cords. He has had 61 surgeries in 61 years. Curtis could not attend his own mother’s funeral because an infection invaded his body. All are results of an incurable disease that will eventually take his life. While the disease has broken his body, it has not broken his spirit. Throughout the extraordinary hardships he has endured, George is still going. He is taking charge of his affliction rather than letting it take charge of him. The lesson we can take away from Curtis is that although we deal with situations that test us and push us to the breaking point, we cannot let them win over us. Regardless of whatever we face, we have to be proactive about situations

have always been a cornerstone of

rather than sit around moping about them.

success. Influential characters, like

creativity into cutouts rather than oil on canvas. Beethoven

George Curtis, provide hope and help us find our way to happiness and triumph

After losing the ability to paint, Henri Matisse channeled his was deaf and composed some of the greatest symphonies ever known. Helen Keller lived for 87 years, blind and deaf since infancy. She ultimately learned to read and write. Yet, some still let minor setbacks ruin their whole mindset. Maybe they’re making excuses or maybe they’re just not as perseverant. Still they live their life without thinking about the big picture – it could be so much worse, but still you should soldier on. Be grateful for being of able body and mind. Keep a positive mental attitude. Live your life without hesitation, without fear and without giving up.

VIEWS

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2009

NOBEL

DILEMMA President Obama’s recent acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize sent shock waves across the world Opinion by Kathie Espinoza el Don Editor in Chief I would like to make it clear that I am not one of those crazy anti-Obama Republicans. (No offense to crazy anti-Obama Republicans, but you guys need to get over it. You’re stuck with him so you might as well make lemonade.) Now that we’ve got that out of the way, what did POTUS do during those first 12 days in office that made the Norwegian Committee so sure he deserved a Nobel Peace Prize? Maybe he broke up a nasty brawl between Malia and Sasha, keeping them from ripping each other’s hair out over who had to clean up after that adorable new puppy of theirs. Perhaps he held his tongue while his wife Michelle went on some hormonal tirade, preventing a global meltdown of female rage. Or he could have stumbled into the middle of some random D.C. street fight and put an end to that. Ironically, the real reason is even more ridiculous. Barack Obama was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize as a call to action, sort of a way to say “Hey, we know you’re gonna do something cool eventually so here you go.” If that’s the case, some friends and I have been thinking about starting a new band, if we could just get that Grammy now, it would help us really solidify what we want to do. Just consider it a sort of down payment. We’ll even name our first album Obama Did It So Why Can’t We? Snark aside, there are a ton of other people that deserve that award way more than Obama did. The list of possible nominees includes the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe and his efforts to promote Democracy, a Chinese activist and his work for human rights, the chairperson of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Council and a Colombian senator. These people have been through unjust arrests, kidnappings and torture and a multitude of other humiliations and hardships while taking a stand against corruption, greed and abuse. So what can one person do in 12 days to warrant that award more than people who have been working their entire lives toward the greater good? Nothing. Not to say that Obama hasn’t been doing a lot of great things to help, but we have to remember he’s overseeing a war—one that he didn’t start, but still a war. Maybe when this whole fiasco is over, the troops are home safe and there are no more kids fresh out of high school getting blown to bits overseas, Obama will get that prize on the right terms—actually accomplishing something of a greater magnitude rather than just talking about it. U.S. nObEl PEacE PRiZE WinnERS

Theodore Roosevelt

Linus Carl Pauling

Martin Luther King Jr.

Jimmy Carter

1906

1962

1964

2002

Collaborator of various peace treaties

Contributed to the partial ban in nuclear testing

Heroic ﬁgure in the civil rights movement

Advancement of human rights and democracy

VIEWS

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2009

PEEP SHOW

Imagine All Hallow’s Eve without cleavage Opinion By Allison Lujan • Illustration By Alex Cooper Halloween is a time of fun and mischief, a night when the line between the living and the dead is blurred and getting candy becomes of utmost importance. Children walk the streets dressed as ghosts and vampires hoping the next house will have even bigger chocolate bars. But over the years the holiday has taken on an air of exhibitionism and made the jump from fun and mischievous to a sexy and raunchy night for the 18-and-over crowd. Walk into any costume store to see how sex has taken over All Hallow’s Eve. A stop in the men’s section provides the basics: devils, movie characters, baseball players and other typical costumes. Go past all the rubber masks and wigs to ﬁnd an entirely diﬀerent world in the women’s section. Almost every costume name contains the word ‘sexy’ or ‘naughty.’ Models showcasing each costume are all of

the same make: busty, long legged and wearing high heels. But costume designers don’t discriminate. Plus size options allow for women of every shape and size to walk around in little more than their underwear, a sight that everyone will want to see. Even Disney Princesses and Harry Potter characters have a sexy option with a shorter skirt and a lower bust line. Harry and Ron would have been all over Hermione by the second movie if Hogwarts instituted a dress code like this. Move over Los Angeles Dodgers; there’s a new team in town. This female baseball player costume doesn’t even make an attempt at subtlety with a team named the Nasty Curves. With booty shorts and tube tops, they may not be able to hit a home run, but they’re deﬁnitely the most entertaining team on the ﬁeld. Or go with a classic: the Playboy bunny complete with

corset and cotton ball tail. It’s not hard to find a club with a spooky theme for the night. Men pay at the door; women get in free as long as they’re wearing a kinky outfit. Need more evidence of Halloween’s sexual awakening? Check out the most recent crop of horror films. They’re nothing like the timid Frankenstein and Dracula from the Bela Lugosi-era. Labeled ‘torture porn,’ this new breed of horror is dripping with sex, gore and pain. Not even the virgins get away from killers. It’s one small step away from showing a snuff film. But from Hostel to Sorority Row, studios are adopting this cheap, easy way to make movies that might become big money. It’s unnecessary for adults to walk around in barely-there outfits just because it’s Oct. 31. Halloween is foremost a children’s holiday. Leave the dress up for them, but go ahead and keep some candy for yourself.

SPORTS

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2009

SPORTSLINE Volleyball team digs down deep in win Venny Van led the Dons volleyball team to a win as they swept visiting Saddleback College in three straight games on Oct. 14. It was the Dons first Orange Empire Van Conference win since Oct. 2007 against Riverside College. This was also Santa Ana’s first win in the last four games and brings the team’s record to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the OEC. Santa Ana held the lead for the majority of all three games and narrowly beat the Gauchos with scores of 25-23, 25-22 and 25-23. Van had 16 digs, six kills and three service aces. Middle blocker Teuila Palm had a team-high 11 kills. Setter Angelica Cornejo had 24 assists while libero Andrea Gallardo had seven service aces. Middle blocker Yesica Garcia had six kills. Next, the Dons will play a home game against Irvine Valley College on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in an OEC match. –Allison Lujan

Soccer drops Pirates in conference play Scoring twice in the first half, freshman Adrian Negrete gave the Dons soccer team all the offense it needed in a 2-0 Negrete win against Orange Coast College on Oct. 13. It’s the Pirates’ first loss in the Orange Empire Conference this year. Negrete’s first goal came on a free kick from just outside the box in the 17th minute. His second goal came off a touch pass by forward Daniel Ruiz. Dons goalkeeper Adrian Garcia made the lead stand by saving all six shots he faced. It was his first shutout of the season. The Dons improved their record to 4-4-4 overall and 2-1-2 in the OEC. Negrete’s two goals tied him for the team lead in goals with Marco Ramirez at six goals apiece. Santa Ana had a total of seven shots on goal. Their next game is at home against Golden West College tomorrow at 4 p.m. -Allison Lujan

Midfielder Esmeralda Valerio chases down Irvine’s Brittney Threestar (5) limiting her to one shot for the entire game.

Dons make point in win over Lasers Defense allows one shot on goal by Irvine in 3-1 victory Story by Jermaine Ruvalcaba Photos by Blanca Valdivia

At the last women’s soccer game, the faces that were on the field weren’t players that you would expect to see against Irvine Valley College Oct. 9. That’s because they are usually sitting on the bench, but instead of cheering on the sidelines, they were on the grass, celebrating their win as the Dons breezed by Irvine Valley College 3-1. “We were able to get a lot of players in and that was big for us,” Head Coach Jodi Coffman said. Midfielder Reyna Fonseca came off the bench and made an immediate impact when she went one-onone with the goalkeeper but was unable to score. In the 34th minute, Fonseca got the ball back and scored a goal that went over the goalkeepers’ head for the first goal of the game. “I’m kind of proud, but not that much,” Fonseca said. “I’m a forward, it’s my job.” Three minutes later the Dons took complete control when defender Salina Ortiz scored a goal on a free kick outside the box. Ortiz was part of a defense that didn’t allow a shot on goal in the first half. The second half started where the first half left off as Ortiz scored her second goal of the game on another free kick. The substitutions came in, as the Dons began to show off the depth of their team. Forward Amanda Chavez, who leads the team in shots and is tied for the lead in goals, only played 31 minutes. Instead, the shots came from forward Wendy Pintor, defender Brenda Moreno, and mid-fielder Iliana Cardenas to keep both offense and defense strong. For 88 minutes Santa Ana College didn’t even need a goalkeeper until forward Monica Ramirez kicked the only shot on goal and scored for Irvine Valley. As a team, the Dons defense allowed one shot in the second half and four shots overall. “Our defense is helping us win right now,” Coffman said. “They all play really hard. I’m proud of them.” With this win the Dons are now 5-3 in the Orange Empire Conference. Santa Ana will continue conference play tomorrow at Riverside College.

Wendy Pintor took a shot on goal less than one minute after entering the game.

Brittney Threestar (5) grabs at Wendy Pintor at midfield attempting to slow her and the Dons momentum in the second half.

SPORTS

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2009

Home sweet home

Navarro, Bristol and Onofre take first while five others place at the SAC tournament

bLANCA valdivia el Don

Jaime Martinez (125 pounds) took second place for his weight class in the SAC tournament.

By Hugo Pacheco el Don Staff Writer the mentality I have,” Navarro said. No. 1 seeded wrestler Jose Bristol took down Sierra’s Mike Navarro outscored his four oppoVasaar on his way to an 8-3 vicnents 58-12 at the Santa Ana tory to take the 157lbs weight College Wrestling Tournament on class. “I felt great going into that Oct. 3, leading his Dons to their final match, I just tried not to second first place finish in a make mistakes,” said Bristol. “I’m tournament for the 2009 season. really glad to have this win under The Dons sent six wrestlers into my belt.” Bristol outscored his four semi-final matches, with sophomores Ted Bristol, Luis Onofre and opponents 31-11 along with a win coming by pin. Navarro each cruising into first place finishes. After moving up a weight class, Onofre captured the 184lbs class Of the 10 weight classes, the after defeating Jesus Chavez from Dons had eight wrestlers place, Sierra with a score of 8-5. Onofre leading them to a team score of scored a 9-0 shutout over Rio 179 points. Sierra College finished second overall with 137.5 points Hondo College’s Joe Estrada and then pinned Sacramento City’s followed by defending state chamChris Gales. pion Fresno City College with 106 points to round off the top three. “I’m moving up a weight class for the better of the team,” Onofre said. In the final at 149lbs, Navarro Dons wrestlers faced 12 of defeated Jesse Ponce from Cerritos California’s top wrestling programs College with a 13-8 score. The win winning by a 41.5 point margin. gives him back-to-back wins at the SAC tournament. With three first place wrestlers on their side the Dons will visit “I was more mentally prepared Cerritos College on Wednesday. this time, I had to win, that’s just

SPORTS

LIVING STRONG

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2009

A disease that left GEORGE CURTIS mute cannot stop him from speaking volumes through his courageous actions By Hugo Pacheco el Don Staff Writer

bLANCA vALdiviA el Don

In the spotlight stood George Curtis, trembling, but not from fear. Speechless, not from emptiness of mind, but because he is in fact unable to speak. His son, Buddy Curtis, extends his hand out to help him up on stage. Side by side they stand, proud and emotional, as Buddy is about to deliver a speech on behalf of his disabled father. George stands beside his son with his head lifted high knowing that on this day, his health wasn’t the issue as it had been for the past few years, but recognition was. “My father suffers from a rare disease called progressive Supranuclear Palsy,” Buddy says informing the crowd of family, friends, and officials gathered together in the courtyard of the Exercise Science Locker Room Complex. In an instant, George lowers his head. He sobs. On this day, George was being inducted as part of the seventh class of the Santa Ana College Athletic Hall of Fame. Along with six others, George was being recognized for his accomplishments and contributions. A moment he was only able to celebrate with his presence. The palsy, similar to Lou Gehrig’s disease, has left him unable to speak. His 61 surgeries in 61 years have left him physically challenged. Hours after his 82-year-old mother’s death, he held a plane ticket in his hand. A sudden infection in one of his artificial knees sent him to the hospital, he was forced to miss her funeral. Yet, his heart remains. “George is one that shows love and compassion to others,” Dons Athletic Trainer Gary Kinney said. Noted for his courageous determination to heal and help athletes, George has inspired those that have come after him. “What impresses me is how many people’s lives George has touched” said current Brigham Young University head trainer Kevin Morris, “Seems like everywhere I go, you mention George’s name and somebody knows him.” Curtis served as the Dons Head Athletic trainer from 1973 to 1985 and was responsible for numerous milestones within the athletic training program at SAC. He paved the way for this generation to follow in his footsteps by establishing the first associate’s degree program for athletic training at the community college level in the U.S. In his 12 years at Santa Ana, he was vital in designing the athletic facility and instituting an athletic program for females. He moved on to become president of several trainer associations then finished with a 20-year career as the head trainer at BYU. Since retiring, Curtis has been inducted into five halls of fame and has received national recognition for his career, success and distinct achievements. “We’re very honored for George to be inducted into the hall of fame,” Buddy said. “This is the fifth hall of fame I’ve been inducted to, but this one means more and holds a very special place in my heart,” Buddy said on behalf of his father. The ceremony held Oct. 4 also saw the induction of new members Sheryl Anderson (softball), Howard Brubaker (coach; cross country, track & field), Rolf Engen (basketball), Doug Kimbell (swimming, water polo), Don Shuler (wrestling), and Ed Arnold. Rick Mielke, a local sportscaster, served as the guest master of ceremonies. Arnold, who was a member of the Dons 1961 football team, took his turn in the spotlight. Arnold had hosted the previous six induction ceremonies and also hosts the annual Ed Arnold Golf Classic, which raises funds for Dons athletics. “This is a really huge honor for me to be inducted knowing I’ll be in it forever,” Arnold said. Work with local charities and foundations have distinguished him as a major player in the growth of SAC athletics. “I don’t do things for honors or to be recognized, I do things because I care,” Arnold said. Humbled, George Curtis stands stage side holding on to his cane with his right hand. He poses for pictures with a slight smile and keeps his head high. A line forms to greet George and he stands and waits to greet them all.

SPORTS

SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don • MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2009

BLANCA VALDIVIA el Don

Sahr Hemmor(44) and the Dons defense kept the pressure on Ethan Whitsell(10) who completed just four passes for 24 yards while being sacked four times.

Pirates run through the Dons in overtime

Holley’s third trip to the end zone puts the Dons away in overtime 33-27

BLANCA VALDIVIA el Don

Ray Holley (22) rushed for 191 yards including the winning touchdown.

Spencer Williams (33) put together a seven tackle performance against the Pirates.

BLANCA VALDIVIA el Don

By Jermaine Ruvalcaba el Don Sports Editor The pressure was on when a tired and struggling Dons offense took the field in overtime down six points Oct. 10. What resulted next was déjà vu from the L.A. Harbor game as quarterback Jordan Thomas threw an interception to linebacker Jimmy Keating, ending the game. After this 33-27 loss, the Dons slipped to 0-3 in games decided by 6 points or less. Thomas had a rough game with 118 yards passing, a touchdown, three interceptions and was sacked four times. “I think Jordan would tell you he wants some throws back. You can’t play perfect consistently,” Head Coach Geoff Jones said. With a 17-7 lead in the third quarter the Dons offense broke down and failed to score in the quarter. Their only touchdowns came on freshman Devin DeLeon’s 49-yard run and reciever Domini William’s 34-yard catch. Not much changed in the fourth quarter when Thomas fumbled the ball and was recovered by the Pirates. Orange Coast College

took advantage of the turnover with a field goal and tying the game at 17-17. “We broke down mentally. We didn’t play like we wanted to” Williams said. Defensively the Dons were solid allowing 17 points in regulation. The source for their problems was runningback Ray Holley who rushed for 191 yards against the Dons. With the score tied at 27-27 in overtime, Holley ran for his third touchdown to put the Pirates ahead 33-27. Thomas was put in a situation to be the hero for the Dons needing only a touchdown to win. After three failed attempts to get the first down Santa Ana College’s offense lined up on fourth down, but the defensive pressure was too much to handle as Thomas’ pass ended up in the hands of Keating. “We got a good play, we could have done it better, now we’ve got to get back to practice and do it,” said Thomas. A 4-1 start has now fallen to a 4-3 record for the Dons going 0-2 in conference games. “It’s sad I guess, but I did all I can do. We need to motivate ourselves,” said Kicker Chase Lansford. “When we are winning we start to get cocky and then we lose.”

By the numbers

Interceptions thrown by Thomas

253

Of total offense for the Dons

combined points scored in overtime

0-3

In games decided by 6 points or less by Dons