Contact us: (619) 388-3880 / citytimes@gmail.com
Read us online: www.sdcitytimes.com
Dance department to take ‘art to the people’
Campus travels around the world in one day
Arts, page 8
TAKE NOTE Cosmetology Dept. to hold orientation The San Diego City College Cosmetology Program will hold its next orientation May 12 at 1 p.m. in room A-15 for students interested in the upcoming summer and fall sessions. Students are required to bring assessment scores in math and English, must be enrolled through admissions and come prepared to take notes. Orientation is mandatory for students wanting to participate. For more information contact Orientation Coordinator, Sudie Phillips at (619) 388-3613 or in the Cosmetology Department, located in the S building at 16th and C Street. The next orientation will be held on July 21.
Focus, pages 6 and 7
CityTimes
Volume 62, Number 14
Covering the San Diego City College community since 1945
May Day rally at City City College awarded for recycling Kristina Long City Times
— Heidi Stenquist
Robots race in cafeteria May 7 High school students will compete with their Lego Mindstorms robots in an optical course in the cafeteria May 7. Winning team members will receive scholarships from City College. — Shevaun Brandom
Prof’s documentary on the air May 19 “The Devil’s Breath: Border Crossers Caught in San Diego’s Wildfires,” a documentary by radio/television professor Laura Castaneda, will be shown May 19 at 8 p.m. on UCSD-TV. The documentary is an in-depth look at how the October 2007 wildfires affected the lives of migrants heading north from Mexico. Check local cable TV listings for UCSD-TV’s channel in your area. Find more information online at http:// www.ucsd.tv/devilsbreath/#links.
Get your events in the online calendar City Times’ calendar will be online using Google Calendars. Starting May 6, to get your event or meeting in the calendar, e-mail City Times at calendar.citytimes@gmail.com. Include date, time, event name and contact information. Specify whether or not you want your contact information posted on the calendar for public viewing. — Shevaun Brandom
INDEX News/Calendar........................2-3 Opinion.......................................4 Arts............................................8 Life & times................................9 Sports...................................... 12
May 6, 2008
Photos by David McAtee City Times
City College students, community members, and high school and junior high students met at the college’s Park Boulevard entrance May 1 to mark May Day. Top photo: Junior high students respond to the rallying cry “Si se puede” during the May Day immigration rally. Lower left: Junior high, high school and college students gather in front of the B building. Lower right: A man protests illegal immigration at the rally.
San Diego City College was recently presented with the Recycler of the Year Award at the 16th annual Waste Reduction and Recycling Awards, one of the most prestigious awards given by the city of San Diego’s Environmental Services Department. City College was honored for implementing new and improved recycling programs on campus, helping to conserve $25,000 and recycle more than 900 tons. The Environmental Services Department recognized City for their efforts in waste reduction programs implemented on campus that significantly helped reduce waste from the landfill. “Last year 72 percent of our trash did not go into a landfill,” according to Environmental Stewardship Committee Co-Chair, Karon Klipple. Some of the colleges new conserving techniques included electronic class registration, xeriscape landscaping and concrete and asphalt recycling. City College was led by their Environmental Stewardship Committee and Committee Co- Chair Karon Klipple.
See Recycling, page 11
Earth Day festival spreads environment awareness Kristina Long City Times Many vendors from all over San Diego came to City College’s Earth Day on April 24 in Gorton Quad, it was the second that City college has hosted. The event offered lecture, food, music, and lots of information to the community about how to preserve the environment. Earth Day provided exhibits on how to build a worm bin, ways to eat vegetarian, how to use less plastic, as well as many other ways to help the environment. Karon Klipple, Environmental Stewardship Committee Co-Chair was very involved with organizing Earth Day this year. Klipple’s aspiration for Earth Day was to
provide enough information to the community to make them want to help the environment. “I hope that n Earth Day Earth Day procelebration vides a chance in pictures. for people to Focus, page 10 learn, even one small thing about what they can do differently,” Klipple said. According to Klipple, Earth Day 2008 was successful thanks to many groups on campus as well as many participants in the San Diego Community. Participants included San Diego Zoo, San Diego Coast Keeper, various City College departments, Phi Theta Kappa
See Earth, page 11
David McAtee City Times
Dancers perform in Gorton Quad on April 24 during Earth Day celebrations on campus. Festivities included vendors, entertainment and art.
2
NEWS / CALENDAR
City Times
May 6, 2008
Collision on B Street causes vehicle to flip Nailah Edmondson City Times A loud crash of metal stopped students on their way to class May 1 when two cars were involved in a collision on B Street at 5:23 p.m. Paulina Lopez, driving a gold Ford Escort, struck a silver Chevrolet Malibu owned by Levance Young. Young’s car flipped over on its left side with its wheels off the pavement, forcing him to escape from the passenger side window. Soon after, fluids from his vehicle began to spill onto the road, causing a panic from the witnesses. Both victims walked away with no injuries, but were shaken up from the accident. According to Young, he was driving in the left-hand lane when Lopez attempted to switch into the left lane but wasn’t aware of the vehicle already occupying it. Young proceeded to brake when the Ford Escort continued in his direction, resulting in the crash. “He’s my friend. He was following behind me to a classmate’s birthday party when the crash happened,” City College
Photos by Heather Richards City Times
A police officer acquires accident information as Levance Young’s car rests on its side after a collision on B Street on May 1 just west of the Curran Plaza underpass. student Emil Crestian said. “I was getting over and then I don’t know what happened I had just dropped off
my boyfriend for his final,” Lopez said. Though San Diego police were on the scene, they did not have any information to
CALENDAR
CORRECTION In the April 15 edition of City Times, a story on page 5 titled “Stories on Skin” misquoted Themis McClung saying she was 15 years old instead of 25 when she got her first tattoo. “I got my first tattoo when I was 25.” City Times regrets the error. It is the policy of City Times to correct errors. Send them to the paper at citytimes@gmail.com or call (619) 388-3880
SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS City Times welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must be 350 words or less. The staff reserves the right to edit letters for grammar, spelling, punctuation and length. Submit letters through mail to City Times, San Diego City College, 1313 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101; by e-mail to citytimes@gmail.com; or by Web site submission at www.sdcitytimes.com. Readers are also welcome to submit comments to material posted online at the Web site. City Times staff can be reached at (619) 388-3880.
release at press time. Staff writer Whitney Lawrence contributed to this report
Compiled by Shevaun Brandom Send items to City Times, 1313 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101, e-mail citytimes@gmail.com, call (619) 388-3880, or fax (619) 388-3814
May
Weekly
n May 2-30 Exhibit of 3rd annual Photography contest T-215 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
n Tuesday Amnesty International B-202 2-3 p.m.
n May 6 Blood Drive Gorton Quad 9 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. All participants will receive an American Red Cross T-shirt and may enter a “Get Fit for Summer” Regional Drawing ( 1 yr. Gym membership)
n Tuesday Study Skills Workshops R-212 4- 5 p.m. Tutorial/Learning Center 619-388-3685
n May 7 4th Annual Student Project and Research Symposium Gorton Quad 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. n May 10 Downtown Education Fair Gorton Quad 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Live music and fun activities while you learn about the unique and exciting educational and cultural opportunities in downtown. For more info visit: www.ccdc.com
n Tuesday Alcoholic anonymous meeting D-105 11 a.m.- 12 p.m. n Wednesday Associated Students Meeting D-105 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. n Thursday Study Skills Workshops R-212 5 - 6 p.m. Tutorial/Learning Center 619-388-3685
Election results coming soon City Times will publish student election results online at www.sdcitytimes.com and in the next issue, which will be distributed May 20. Election results will be published for student offices and a proposed Student Center fee. The Associated Student Government is located in D-105, and can be reached at (619) 388-3412.
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NEWS
May 6, 2008
City Times 3
Prices increase at cafe Food and fuel costs hitting home for district food services Heidi Stenquist City Times
Frustration leads to demonstrations Students marched from City College to downtown San Diego in a statewide demonstration on April 21 in hopes of influencing the governor’s decision to cut the state budget for education. Official plans have not yet been released but are expected in late May. Photos by DAVID McATEE City Times
The road to peace begins with education Sonjiala Hotchkiss City Times Students and others had the opportunity to learn more about the new Peace Studies Certificate to be offered by City College beginning in the Fall 2008 semester during a Peace Panel Discussion at the Saville Theatre on April 23. The event, titled “Practical Peace Building: A Popular and Emergent Discipline,” was sponsored by the World Cultures Program at City. The panel
members, Steve Bouscaren, Cathy Harlow and Katie Zanoni were part of the interdisciplinary group including Gary Wisehart and Nancy Cary that developed the Peace Certificate curriculum over the past two years. The Peace Studies Certificate requires 17 units. The courses include classes from the Anthropology, Biology, English and Philosophy Departments. The program also includes an introduction to peace studies and a service learning component. Dean Mary Bernard introduced
the keynote speaker, Bill Headley, Dean of the Joan B. Croc School of Peace Studies at the University of San Diego. Dean Headley spoke of his personal experience with peace building and on the history of the academic development of peace studies programs. Dean Headley shared memories of watching his two grand nephews, both boys in their early teens, happily riding their bikes in suburban neighborhood just outside Dallas. He then gave contrast to this memory by comparing it to an image on the screen.
The picture from the New York Times showed a teenage boy fallen from his bicycle, his shirt covered in blood. Dean Headley focused attention on the additional figure of a boy lying quite still just behind the one who appeared to be in pain lying beneath is bike. These boys were in Gaza, and their neighborhood was filled with the violence of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Dean Headley also shared a picture of a statue in Northern
See PEACE, page 5
The San Diego City College food service department, in a continued effort to manage the rising costs of fuel and food, increased prices on select menu items over spring break with more changes in the works. For over a year the SDCCD food services department has seen operating costs reach record highs and up until now has only been a small annual increase. But with recent spikes in the market, necessary adjustments have been made. “I’ve been in the business 30 years, I have never seen it this bad,” said District Food Service Manager Gayla Pierce. “The budget hasn’t changed but the price to us has.” District campuses last month got an e-mail from Pierce explaining the reasons for the rising cost. “The SDCCD Food Service has seen almost every vendor add a fuel surcharge to every delivery, or increase existing delivery fuel surcharges,” Pierce said in the email. The café has been working with vendors to find product alternatives without sacrificing quality, while still making it cost effective to the budget. As a result, slow moving and expensive items have been removed. “We began to cut down on the number of flavors of alternative beverages,” Pierce said of the cut back on the variety of Snapple and Monster drinks. “The expensive inventory takes up space and doesn’t move as fast as the fountain sodas.” Odwalla juices have been removed completely and have been replaced by the White Tea line from Snapple. Some portion sizes were reduced, for instance the 1/3 pound hamburger has been changed to a quarter pound patty. The heavily breaded chicken strips have been replaced with a new version that has the same amount of meat but less breading. These are changes that site manager, Vince Margetta, said are “the only way to continue offering a cost effective product while maintaining quality.” Recently, the orange chicken at Mesa College had to be taken off the menu for six months because the cost went up $9 per case. Through negotiations, Pierce was able to return the item to the menu. The food services department is also developing “thrifty” items
See CAFE, page 5
4 City Times
CityTimes
OPINION
May 6, 2008
URBANALITIES By Michele Suthers
Volume 62, Issue 14 May 6, 2008 Published as: The Jay Sees / 1945-1949 Fortknightly / 1949-1978 City Times / 1978Incorporating the newspapers Tecolote, Knight Owl and Flicks Nailah Edmondson Editor-in-Chief Heather Richards News Editor Whitney Lawrence Opinion Editor David McAtee Arts Editor Photography Editor Shevaun Brandom Advertising Manager Calendar Editor Whitney Lawrence EJ Pennine Copy Editors Susan Roden Michele Suthers Graphic Artists Sonjiala Hotchkiss Shevaun Brandom Online Managers City Times Staff Evonne Ermey, Jacob Fredericks, Mayumi Kimura, Shannon Kuhfuss, Kristina Long, Heidi Stenquist Contributor Francis R. dela Cruz Roman S. Koenig Journalism Adviser City Times is published twice monthly during the semester. Signed opinions are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily represent those of the entire newspaper staff, City College administration, faculty and staff or the San Diego Community College District Board of Trustees. District policy statement This publication is produced as a learning experience under a San Diego Community College District instructional program. All materials, including opinions expressed herein, are the sole responsibility of the students and should not be interpreted to be those of the college district, its officers or employees. Letters to the editor Letters to the editor are welcome, 350 words or less. The staff reserves the right to edit letters for grammar, spelling, punctuation and length. How to reach us: City Times San Diego City College 1313 Park Blvd. San Diego, CA 92101 Newsroom: T-316 Phone: (619) 388-3880 Fax: (619) 388-3814 E-mail: citytimes@gmail.com News homepage: www.sdcitytimes.com Program homepage: www.sdcity.edu/citytimes Member: Journalism Association of Community Colleges, Associated Collegiate Press and California Newspaper Publishers Association
Opposing viewpoints — students in the military Military is a catapult for success
Red tape hinders student progress
When it comes to your future, a student has to know all the facts. How much tuition costs, which classes to take, how to earn enough money to survive. Most of that can be taken care of by one source — The United States military. The two most prestigious branches in the U.S. military are the Marines and the Army. Because of the current situation with the War in Iraq, many students, both college and high school, have apprehension towards enlisting. The U.S. military has many branches, and some never see action in the war. Many Navy and Air Force units hardly see the war, opting more for supply and training, unlike soldiers in the Army and Marines who are directly involved in combat. And despite the number of soldiers killed in action, it is a fraction of the vast number of sol-
The military is not a good option for most students. In fact, the military could be a major hindrance to a student’s education, during service and after. While it can be argued that the military provides educational opportunities to people who would otherwise be deprived of higher education, the conditions that the U.S. government put on access to the money for education are prohibitive. In order to access the Montgomery GI Bill an enlistee must first see active combat duty and “recover” for two years before the money reserved for education becomes available, provided it only takes two years to recover from the trauma of combat. In addition, the bill only kicks in once the student is signed on to 12 units or more. Less than 12 units and you get no financial assistance. As we all know, trying
ENLIST EJ Pennine
diers who return uninjured and in one piece. But what can the military do for you? You have to sign a contract for eight years, but what’s eight years of your life if you earn your independence? Did you know that you get paid to learn? Yes, for a period of time, between shining your boots and learning how to target the center target with your M-16 rifle, you learn a skill. Sometimes you’re assigned into an military occupational specialty (MOS), but most of the time you can select one. For those who like to work with their hands and work on cars or any other general mechanical
See ENLIST, page 5
VOX In lieu of Earth Day, POPULI how green are you? Question and Photos by Heidi Stenquist
DISMISS David McAtee
to balance a full class load and working to support yourself is enough to occupy practically all of any student’s time. Add to that the weight of possible post-traumatic stress disorder, sleeplessness, paranoia and other post-combat troubles, an education may not even be possible. Enlisting for eight years during time of war practically guarantees deployment no matter which branch you serve under, and at 15 months at a time and three to four deployments on average, a severe amount of mental strain is inevitable. Adjusting to the stress of civilian life and going back to school will be more than difficult
See DISMISS, page 5
“I recycle glass and paper. I’m an international student and my host family always made us recycle. I now try to do the same. My roommate now is in environmental studies, she recycles everything.” Lee Bui, 21 International Business
Beverly Sickler, 20 Undecided
Andres Tejeda, 23 Mechanical/Bio-Medical Engineering
Cynthia Michalas, 27 Criminal Justice
“I changed all my bulbs, and I have fruits and vegetables growing on my patio. I buy organic food, I drink soy milk, and I’m a vegetarian. I’m very green.”
“In my backyard my father and I have put in a lot of plants, we use spoiled food and skins from peeling vegetables, anything really, it decomposes and fertilizes the plants.”
“I think I’m pretty green. I recycle paper, plastic and cardboard.”
May 6, 2008
OPINION / NEWS
A darker shade of WASP Enlist The impossible had become doable, and I’m not talking about progress. Idonia Hall was an orphaned daughter, mother of two and grandmother to six. For my many cousins and me she was great-grandmother. She spent the last few years of her life in a nursing home, and she died there. I grew up African-American in smalltown Mississippi. I spent my early childhood in a house with four generations present – my mother, my paternal grandmother, my great-grandfather, and me. My father’s sister was there, too. I thought of this kinship fortress as an important part of my African heritage. The Delta being a place of ubiquitous poverty, richness was measured in depth of family, community service given happily and freely, and strength of character. My great-grandfather, my Papa, the man who poured sips of coffee onto his saucer for me at the kitchen table, died at home. My grandmother, the woman who stands beside the three-year-old me in a faded picture, the two of us looking so much alike in our three-piece suits, died at home. Idonia was from my mother’s side of the family. She was mother to my grandfather. She chopped wood for her wood-burning stove well into her eighties. Her kitchen smelled of kerosene and lye. She was about 5’4” and counted herself lucky when the scale dialed up to 100 pounds. Several of Idonia’s grandchildren had both the space and the means to care for her personally when that time came. However, middle-class morality said that home was for mommy, daddy, and baby. Move over Sphex pensylvanicus because a whole new type of black wasp was on the scene. Say goodbye to the community barbecue and hello to the country club cotillion. Every culture has its good and bad. I believe cross-cultural exchanges of ideas can strengthen all those who participate. The point of the exchange, though, is to exchange the bitter for the better. One doesn’t exchange a fortress for a straw house. This desire in the African-American community for the upwardly mobile to distance themselves from the poor AfricanAmerican stereotype isn’t a new thing. In the past the distinction was drawn more along color lines than economic ones, with lighter-skinned African-Americans making the move toward closer identification with white Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP) culture. Moving out West, I find this trend among African-Americans to be at a more advanced
Peace Continued from page 3
Cafe Continued from page 3 like the basic burger and the slider duo for the menu. The new personal pan pizza for $2.50 has already made its debut. Drink discounts have always been given when you bring your own cup.
Sonjiala Hotchkiss
SONJIALA HOTCHKISS City Times stage than in the South, along both skin color and economic lines. My Southern African-American friends who made the trek out West came to the same conclusion as I. There are people out here who look like I do, but they are not like I am. The similarity in physical features did not correlate with a feeling of cultural sameness. I had not been in San Diego long before I heard an African-American woman speak of Mexican immigration in terms that would make Lou Dobbs wince. I was overwhelmed with disbelief, but at the same time not at all shocked by this effort to swim in the mainstream. Of course, it wasn’t long after that when I heard the same sentiments spoken by those of multigenerational Mexican-American descent. The culture in which I grew up seems to be disappearing. More and more, AfricanAmerican seems less a cultural designation and more the descriptor for an accent or possibly a clothing style. In her act, Kathy Griffin uses an accent distinction to describe how Tyra Banks makes the effortless transition from white girl to black girl. For some time there has been a leeching of African-influenced concepts of home, family, religion, community obligation, child-rearing practices, and the like from African-American culture – both the bitter and the better. And with each rise of the sun, I gain a deeper understanding of what it truly means to me a motherless child.
Continued from page 4 position, they can find work with the Army’s heavy armored units as a track mechanic. Some who want a job within the medical field can find a navy corpsman position interesting. And remember, you get paid to learn the job. What if you’re already in school? Reservist and National Guard units are always looking for intelligent people. Work two weeks a year, one weekend a month? You’ve got to be kidding me! And to make things better, most units offer educational benefits so you can go to school for less money. What if you don’t want to be a “weekend warrior?” Take out a loan, finish your schooling and become an officer. Even if you don’t make the gold, you can become a regular soldier, with a starting rank higher than others and get the military to pay off your loan. How many jobs do you see willing to pay off loans?
Dismiss Continued from page 4 and for many it could be impossible. That’s if you even come back physically uninjured. Learning a trade while in service could make pursuing an education once out of the military unnecessary, presuming the job market has taken an upturn and the economy’s doing better. But to imagine that the transition between working on tank engines on the roadside in Bahrain to replacing a muffler on a Fiero would be easy or fulfilling is foolish. While the military can be a beneficial
N a t i o n a l
“If there’s something you want, talk to us and we’ll work with you to keep within your budget,” Pierce said of the café’ catering end-of-semester in-class parties. “The SDCCD food service department is making every effort to operate as efficient as it can and to be as fiscally responsible as it can be in these challenging economic times. We appreciate your business, support and trust many of you have put in us and look forward to continuing to be your on-campus spot for food,” Pierce said.
EJ Pennine is a City Times copy editor
option for some, it is undeniable that not everyone would make a good soldier. In order to maintain the civilian balance and keep the military industrial complex in check, students sometimes just need to be students. There are many job placement programs on campuses around the world, not to mention study abroad programs, financial aid, housing assistance and personal development programs. Why hand over a decade of your life to the government? The money and options are available to anyone who needs them. The military is not a good option for everyone, even for most. All you have to do is look around. David McAtee is City Times’ photography and arts editor
U n i v e r s i t y
®
The degree
that was designed with
Sonjiala Hotchkiss is a City Times online manager audience members. Panel member Harlow explained that classes in philosophy would give peace studies students the ability to provide effective arguments countering the justifications given for war as a necessary evil Information provided during the panel discussion explained that the four main pillars of the Peace Studies Certificate Program are human rights, conflict studies, peace processes and the concept of justice in relation to peace. The Peace Certificate Program to be offered at City College is the only one of its kind among community colleges, and one of few such programs in California For more information on the Peace Studies Certificate e-mail Dr. Bouscaren at sbouscar@sdccd.edu or Katie Zanoni at koconnor@sdccd.edu.
Now you’ve done your eight-year stint, what do you do? You’ve learned a trade, which sometimes is enough to get you into a high-paying job outside the military field. If you were lucky enough to get a good job in the military, like Mental Health or Military Police, that can be enough to get you started in another field. If you were a corpsman in the Navy, you might be able to do a ride along with a dispatcher or a paramedic call center and still continue to do your job outside, often earning more than others entering the field because of your experience. And if you went into the military without having loans, the Montgomery GI Bill will allow you to go to school and learn a new trade for little or no cost. Jobs are always in high demand for trained and talented individuals. The military is just that place to become what some of these employers are looking for. The military is the key that can open your life to a whole new world of possibilities and learn things about yourself you never knew about.
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Ireland. The statue was one of two figures with a wall between their outstretched hands, just short of touching. Headley said that peace building was about getting those hands to touch. Headley discussed job opportunities open to those who completed studies in peace such as work with peace-keeping organizations, government bodies, corporations and academic institutions. Headley’s speech was followed by remarks from the panel. Headley and the panel then addressed questions from the
VIEWPOINT
5
City Times
FOCUS
6 City Times
May 6, 2008
Mayumi Kimura City Times
David McAtee City Times
David McAtee City Times
Speak to me
Language Day connects students with the world Students were taken on an international tour April 16, courtesy of the World Cultures Department. Gorton Quad was bustling with students and representatives in traditional garb from Germany, Mexico, Italy, Egypt, Central Africa, Persia and others. For more on the event, see “Language Day a trip on campus,� page 8.
Mayumi Kimura City Times
City Times 7
May 6, 2008
MAYUMI KIMURA City Times
DAVID MCATEE City Times
Dances from Germany, Bavaria, Central Mexico, Iran, Argentina and Africa were performed on a stage in the center of Gorton Quad, amidst booths lining the main walk.
DAVID MCATEE City Times
MAYUMI KIMURA City Times MAYUMI KIMURA City Times
ARTS
8 City Times
May 6, 2008
Language Day a trip on campus MAYUMI KIMURA City Times Foreign Language students and professors from the Department of Foreign Languages at San Diego City College presented Language Day — a day of art, music, dance, food and literature from around the world. Smiling wooden dolls, flowing garments, and traditional musical instruments beckoned visitors from booths that represented cultures from around the world. Participants proudly showcased traditional and costume wear as they answered questions from curious browsers. “I enjoyed the people-watching. It’s something different, something new,” said Walter Watson, a Business Admin student at City College. Cultures ranged from Dutch, German and French, to Arabic, Mexican and Italian. Guests also had a chance to get a taste of the world, literally. A wide variety of foods such as hummus, biscotti and tacos, were offered at booths as visitors strolled around the festivities.
“We wanted to inspire the students and community to learn about their world culturally and intellectually,” said Elizabeth Meehan, co-director of the World Cultures Program and Professor of Humanities and English at City College. Dance performances ranging from an Arabic Belly dance to a Queen of Africa dance were performed. The Latin heritage was represented by dance and music from Mariachi, Flamenco, and Salsa performances, just to name a few. “My favorite was the dancing and the food. My favorite [dance] was the German dance performance. It had a good beat and it was funny,” said Cosmetology student, Christina Montesdeoca. The day also included a Tango demonstration by UCSD Recreation Program instructors, Florentino Guizar and Isabelle Kay. Their goal was to promote the Study Abroad program to Argentina for the fall semester. “We are here to highlight the contributions of Argentina through Tango. Tango came out of the social and cultural environ-
mayumi kimura City Times
A bellydancer mesmerizes the audience at the Language Day festival on Gorton Quad April 16. ment uprising and continues to evolve,” Guizar said. Language Day was sponsored by the World Cultures Program, which sponsors more than 40
campus events that expose students, faculty, staff and the community to global cultural diversity. Their events include exhibits,
concerts, debates, dramatic performances and speakers. For more information on the World Cultures Program visit: http:// www.sdcity.edu/worldcultures/
Authentic Chinese food right next door
Dancers rehearse in one of the exhibit spaces for the performance May 9.
Heather Richards City Times
Exhibit to begin moving May 9 Heather Richards City Times “You’re taking the art and taking it to the people,” said Alicia Rincon, chair of the visual and performing arts department at San Diego City College, of “Dancing on the Fine Edge: A Moving Exhibit,” the dance performance opening May 9 at 8 p.m. at the Saville Theatre. Almost a year ago, Rincon began making phone calls and sending emails about a dance performance that could incorporate various departments and take the audience out of the theatre. The result is a vibrant show of the various arts combined; photography, art, music, set design and dance held within and without the Saville. “The new trend in the art world is multimedia, site-specific … We wanted to reflect that back to the students and have them prepared for the art world,” said
Rincon. One of her “visions” is in the integration of art and culture to enhance as well as reflect her students. “I feel the program always needs to be diverse, because we are a diverse community.” “The Fine Edge” is an example of that collaborative vision. Fourteen choreographers and artists, faculty and students come together to express themes spanning the human experience. A piece inspired by Marcela Villasenor’s work, “Hoyo de Gusano Maya,” integrates images of the past and the present, is choreographed by Grace Jun, and stands in solid contrast to the piece developed by Rincon and Wayne Hulgin, in which images of the urban experience digitally projected onto the towering walls of Saville’s Theatre provide a background for Rincon’s choreography. “If it doesn’t go as planned, the guides become stand-up comedians,” Rincon says of the tight
planning. A large undertaking in terms of logistics, attendees are guided through each “exhibit” which will last eight minutes, before being led on to the next with about two minutes in between the performances. Beginning in front of Saville the crowd will witness in turn the work of Rincon and Hulgin, Terry Wilson and David Echinger, Terri Shipman and Yoonchung Kim, Evelyn Glennie and Debi TothWard, Grace Jun and Villasenor, Patricia Rincon, Terri HughesOelrich, and Don Nichols as well as Suzanne Forbes and David King. Because some of the performances are held outdoors, the director advises people to dress appropriately. The show runs May 9 to 11 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 for students, military and seniors; $15 for general admission. For more information, call Alicia Rincon at (619) 388-3563.
Think about the last place you had an authentic, sit-down meal at a quality restaurant. Now think about how much you spent for that meal. In the world today it is almost impossible to dine out for under $10. Fine dining usually consists of a $20 price tag beside an entrée you can’t properly pronounce. However, there are a few rare exceptions. Conveniently, one of those exceptions is located just across the street from City College. Located on the corner of C Street and Park Blvd., Gen Lai Sen has been pumping out authentic Chinese cuisine for over two decades. The owner, whose name was given only as Mr. Lee, opened the restaurant 21 years ago as a family establishment. Aside from seasonal seafood dishes and the extravagant shark fin soup, Gen Lai Sen’s prices are some of the most reasonable in the downtown district. Students and families alike will find the menu to be very accommodating in both price and variety. There are 165 — count ’em
— 165 dishes to choose from on the dinner menu alone. The lunch menu is comparable to its evening successor with almost two-dozen
FOOD REVIEW Jacob Fredericks
combination platters priced at $7.95 or less, which includes your choice of meat with soup, egg roll, fried wonton, or fried or steamed rice. Some of the most popular dishes include orange chicken and twice cooked pork. Gen Lai Sen also puts unique twists on classic favorites. For a dollar more, you can upgrade your wonton soup to something called worton soup — a combination of Chinese broccoli, shrimp, chicken, and pork, giving the broth more depth. Even their tea is unique: a blend of fresh chamomile and aromatic jasmine. The one dish that is sure to turn heads is number 16, beef on a sizzle plate. A half-pound of
See FOOD, page 11
NAILAH Edmondson City Times
Gen Lai Sen has sat just across B Street from campus for over 20 years.
LIFE&TIMES
May 6, 2008
City Times 9
The twilight zone called Craigslist Heidi Stenquist City Times Imagine, if you will, a place vast as space beyond your wildest dreams, a place for everyone to speak their mind, sell their car, find an apartment, a job, a lost love and more. It is the middle ground between buyers and sellers, between those who post and those who respond. That’s the signpost up ahead, next click, Craigslist. Craigslist has become a modern miracle of sorts, especially to the resourceful student. It’s a place for the world to connect city by city in a community made up of millions of people peddling their wares or themselves on a daily basis from the ordinary to the extreme. In early 1995, Craig Newmark started Craigslist as a hobby, listing local events in San Francisco, and has seen it grow into the 450 cities that contribute to the enormity of the site today. Spike Sorrentino, who teaches RTVC 119 acting for film/television, says, “I think Craigslist is this generation’s super duper swap meet that you don’t even have to leave your house for.” Twenty-five million people view the more than nine billion pages each month.
Michele Suthers City Times From free psychic readings to exotic striptease lessons, the opportunities are as endless as the range of listings of those who go there. Thirty million classified ads, two million job listings and over 10 million images are posted each month. In every state and over
VOX POPULI Question and Photos by Heidi Stenquist
What have you used Craigslist for?
Chelsea Scott, 21 Nutrition/Culinary Arts
Matt Bowler, 36 RTVC
“I found my job and my apartment on Craigslist!”
“I like to look for motorcycle parts.”
Bert Hoffman, 27 Business Marketing
Kesia Lopez, 30 Graduate
“I don’t use Craigslist.”
“I found sick Foo-Fighters tickets! Amazing show.”
50 countries, Craigslist has grown into a powerhouse of possibilities. “My friend told me to go to the Web site because she found her job there, so I went to look for jobs. I’ve also looked at the free stuff,” says Claudia Olea, a 19-year-old City student.
Whether it’s north, south, or east San Diego, students will find that Craigslist allows you to narrow your search areas to where you want and what you want. There are classified ads of every kind that await
See CRAIGSLIST, page 11
The allure of credit cards seduces students into debt American-born British poet and critic, T.S. Elliot, said “Success is relative. It is what we can make of the mess we have made of things.” Students especially make a mess of their finances struggling with money issues. All too often this leads to filling out a credit application. Don’t. Credit cards are given to students in college because they know you will use them, regardless of the high interest rate. The interest alone on the debt is a whole other consideration. At any given time students use credit cards to fund the necessary expenses that go along with student life. Those of you who do this know what I’m talking about. Stop. Expenses from books, school supplies and clothes (to name a few bills) are paid with careless abandonment and put on the card. It’s like you don’t even notice it … ’till the bill comes. Try to avoid this. Trust the Fru-Gal folks, I put myself in quite the financial hole and credit cards are the biggest reason I still have debt today. Pay them, pay them off and destroy them! One bank card is enough for those emergency moments. Establish your credit yes, but don’t go getting every retail store credit card out there. You don’t need it! Retail interest rates can be as high as 24 percent; don’t set yourself up for failure by shopping like that. Always get the deal, always buy on sale and don’t buy what you don’t need. Check yourself before making a purchase on a whim. Just because you want it and have an
available balance, doesn’t mean you can actually afford it. Try to save a little in a small fund for those things you want. There’s a difference, remember, between what you need vs. what you want. Act accordingly! You’re the smart one getting an education, right? Don’t forget, an education in life is built on a foundation of everything you’ve learned. Apply it to your spending. Building essential life skills includes money management. Learning how to keep your spending down and resources high will enhance your worth, inside out. The values you place on things that are free are often the very things you would never be able to buy. Stock up on those. The real value is what you build inside and what you build for your future. There will always be unknown costs in life. Be ready for them with the money you save, not from an available balance on a credit card. The best of what you’ve ever been is the best you are at present. We know right from wrong, what works for us and what doesn’t. Try your best always. Paying $20 to get in a club, $14 dollars for a few drinks and $20 for dinner plus possible cab fare for one night of fun can add up quickly. Don’t be extravagant. You’re not a baller yet, but you could be. A night with friends in a study group enjoying a 12-pack and a pizza split six ways might just be what you need and what your pocketbook demands. Be reasonable. However, and said with a smile I can tell you honestly, as hard as it is to struggle, the sounder you’ll
ADVENTURES OF THE FRU-GAL Heidi Stenquist
sleep at night. No one can give you the worth of an education, except you. Making solid choices will enhance you. That education extends to your financial stability. Keep yourself a breast of your spending. Pay yourself first even if it’s five bucks every two weeks. It will add up in time. Pay your bills and don’t take on anymore. The more you pay, the closer you’ll be to being debtfree. Wouldn’t that be nice? Know the value of “things.” Know the value of your future and take steps to make it stronger. Be careful when making a stop at the convenience store, you pay for it. Hidden fees or over-the-limit fees can drastically raise your interest charge, don’t give them (the creditors) a chance to do this. Create a payment history and if you pay your bills on time, you will qualify down the road for lower interest rates. Pay your bills before you pay for fun and even then don’t finance it with a credit card. Life doesn’t have to be expensive if you’re making sensible choices. Really think before you buy. Be honest with yourself. Common sense and reason go a long way. Your best effort will mean something eventually. My mom always said “Hard work pays off.” We’ll see. Heidi Stenquist, a.k.a. the FruGal, is a City Times staff writer
FOCUS
10 City Times
Campus goes green Earth Day hit Gorton Quad on April 24, with vendors, entertainment, informational booths and live art, courtesy of the dance department. Students made elaborate sidewalk drawings with colored chalk reminding all to be more ecologically conscious, and warning of the perils of a strained planet. Representatives from Akeena Solar, People’s Co-op market in Ocean Beach, and Point Loma Nazarene were present to inform and inspire all to a greener lifestyle.
Photos by DAVID McATEE City Times
May 6, 2008
May 6, 2008
NEWS / LIFE / ARTS
City Times
11
Recycling Presenters discuss merits of building green Continued from page 1 According to Klipple, by participating in Recycle Mania, a nation wide recycling competition between colleges (separate from the Recycler of the Year Award), SDCC was able to make their recycling goal realistic. City College placed in the top three colleges of 150 in the per capita category and used this momentum to reach their goal as one of San Diego’s recyclers of the year. Dance performances with “trashy” and “recycled” dancers were held to promote awareness. The committee also had students compete in recycling trivia contests, created a recycling mascot and posted attention-grabbing recycling posters around campus. Other awards went to Bank of America, Sea World, Point Loma Nazarene University and the Whole Foods Market.
Earth Continued from page 1 and many more. Now that Earth Day 2008 is over, Klipple along with many other on and off campus participants are gearing up for more events to be held in the summer and fall semesters. One project that has received an overwhelming interest since Earth Day is the organic City Farm that will be starting up over the summer. Another event that the community is excited about is the lecture by Robert Swan, “Voyage for Cleaner Energy”. It will be free of charge and take place in City Colleges Saville Theatre May 1, 11:10 a.m.-12:35 p.m. For more information on environmental awareness events hosted by City College, contact Professor Karon Klipple at kklipple@sdcc.edu.
Food
Francis R. dela Cruz Contributor The U.S. Green Building Council San Diego Chapter shared its vision and purpose to City College students on April 10. USGBC-SD President Keith Schneringer explained the purpose of USGBC, which is to wok together as a community that promotes environmentally responsible, economically profitable and healthier places to live and work. Leading its purpose is the council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building System.
Craigslist Continued from page 9 your arrival. Navigate your browser through the many sections of Craigslist and see it as great resource. Craigslist is definitely a hotspot, especially since you can sell items without paying a penny. Perfect for students on a budget. E-Bay now holds a 25 percent share of Craigslist. For the millions who visit http://www.sandiego.craigslist.org, gone are the days of paying for classified ads. So much variety at your fingertips for free. This makes for a very appealing Web site. Want something local to do? The calendar is one small area on Craigslist where you can see daily events and activities in any city you choose. Pick a day and enjoy the many activities taking place in town. The community section lists postings for artists, groups, activities, musicians, rideshare opportunities, and volunteers needed. Many volunteer posts are for paid medical research. Student’s who want to make some quick extra money can respond. Everything you’re looking for seems to be found in the for-sale section. There are areas for computers, furniture, tickets, video equipment and anything else one needs to get rid of. Students can also utilize a barter section to
Jacob Fredericks is a City Times staff writer
trade goods. The personals section has areas for people looking for romance missed connections, and even a rants and raves area. Want to say hi to a classmate or co-worker in an interesting way? Craigslist has serendipity all over the pages engorged with letters to others. The free section is loaded with absolutely free stuff for the taking. Here random people are reaching out, offering things they don’t want or need anymore to complete strangers. Every day, hundreds of items are given away. This option is great for the college students needing a bookshelf or desk. The Web site has become such a phenomenon, Heretic Films made a movie about it called, “24 Hours on Craigslist”, showcasing 24 hours of posts in San Francisco about real people and their follow up stories. For anyone that loves unique movies, it will raise your interest in this Web site. The discussion forum offers a place to talk about education, diet, jokes, shopping, divorce, and open forums for all topics in between. Whether you visit the site to see what others are selling, giving away for free, or posting an ad for a love, the sheer number and diversity of posts can be a great resource to students. Like an episode of “The Twilight Zone,” you never know what strange things you’ll see in 30 minutes. From the bizarre to the mundane, Craigslist offers something for everyone and if it doesn’t, you can create it.
ers Co-Chairman Matt Ellis. USGBC-EMG is a coalition of students and young professionals advancing the future leaders of the green building movement. According to Ellis, responsible green builders are divided in three, hippy, present and future. Ellis defined “hippy” as the past that is all about the trees being green, the present as the guy in suit and is about profit as well as the environment, and future, which Ellis envisioned as everyone working together for the community. “My goal is to connect to everyone personally,” Ellis said.
Ellis shared what everyone including himself can get out of what he does for the environment. The USGBC-SD presentation was pioneered by City College Environmental Stewardship Committee Co-Chair Karon Klipple. “It affects all of us and we spent a lot of time indoors,” Klipple said. “It shows how we can reduce energy.” According to Klipple, City College is the home of the first LEED Silver Certified building in the San Diego Community College District.
CityTimes www.sdcitytimes.com
CKP
the campus kitchens project teach • reach • feed • lead
welcome to the newest classroom on campus: the kitchen. Fight hunger in your community! Email: info@ campuskitchens.org
www.campuskitchens.org
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Continued from page 8 finely chopped meat is heaped atop freshly sliced onions and delivered on a cast iron skillet. First, a cast iron skillet in the shape of a cow is heated to the ovens temperature. Then the portioned meat is partially sautéed and placed upon the hot skillet with raw onions to finish cooking. Both protein and vegetable literally sizzle on the plate as it is being delivered to the table. Gen Lai Sen is open seven days a week for dining convenience with the exception of certain holidays, most notably Chinese holidays. Try grabbing lunch in between your afternoon classes or enjoy a family outing on a Sunday evening. So the next time you think about curbing your Chinese food fix with a quick stop to Panda Express, go that extra mile and try the number 49 (Moo Shi Pork) at Gen Lai Sen.
The LEED Green Building System is a voluntary building certification program that emphasizes on high performance green buildings, which are more environmentally friendly, healthier and more profitable. According to Schneringer, LEED evaluates buildings in different areas: Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Material and Resources and Indoor Environmental Quality. LEED gives four levels of progressive certification: Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Schneringer was joined by USGBC Emerging Green Build-
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12 City Times
SPORTS
May 6, 2008
Donation is a home run for baseball team Knights put $7,500 pitching machine to good use Shannon kuhfuss City Times Out with the old and in with the new. The City College men’s baseball team has a new pitching machine to thank for their improvement this season — it’s top of the line and has replaced their old fashioned two-wheel machine. The $7,500 machine was donated by Ira Gershow of Jamul. The new piece of equipment is fully computerized, giving the Knights an advantage over their competitors. It is normally only found at the major division or professional level, but City College was granted the opportunity to indulge in such technology. The team can now select settings for up to 8 sequences of 8 varying pitches. Meaning the team can practice hitting curve balls, fastballs, changeups, and sliders. The machine also provides varying speeds and locations to keep the players on their toes. Practice can turn into what seems like real game situations because they have option to simulate different pitches as they would face in a regular game. “This new machine elevated our program,” Head Coach Chris Brown said. “It has helped our team throughout the season. We have been either first or second in hitting all season.” A large transition has been made from the old machine the team had been using. The
machine the team was practicing with previously before the new donation was 8 years old. Though it was what the team had been accustomed to, the old machine was considered ancient technology. It threw only one pitch and was not very accurate, which left the team at a disadvantage when it came to game time. The donation of the new technology was an extremely pleasant surprise. Brown was at his sons little league practice on a Friday afternoon speaking with Gershow, when the topic of pitching machines was brought up. Gershow asked for Browns opinion on all the different machines that were out there. Brown gave Gershow some machines to research on the Internet in order for him to get a better idea. There was one machine in particular that Brown mentioned that was above and beyond all the others. Come Monday Gershow had e-mailed Brown asking for more information about the machine. Just 2 days later, Gershow put in a call to Brown asking where he would like the machine delivered on campus. Brown happily told Gershow where to send the new gift. The team put the machine right to use, taking advantage of the opportunity that had been given to them. The players hitting began to improve, thanks to the advanced technology of the new donation. Though the season is almost at an end, the team looks back on their improvements since they began challenging themselves with the new pitching machine. The Knights have a record of 16-18 (7-13 PPC) with their last home game on May 1 at 2 p.m.
NAILAH EDMONDSON City Times
Conference champs Knights badminton player Stephanie Fong works out during a recent practice in the Harry West Gym. City College’s women’s badminton team defeated East Los Angeles 21-0 in the Southern California Team Playoff on April 30 to advance to the State Badminton Championship. The Knights, who recently won their third straight Orange Empire Conference title, will play Skyline College on May 8 at noon for a chance at their third consecutive California championship. The Knights will also be looking to go a third straight season without a loss. The team championship match and the individual championships, May 9 and 10, will take place at Skyline College.
SDSU water polo now has home-pool advantage Beau Bearden SDSU Daily Aztec
IRene mello Courtesy Photo
Baseball Head Coach Chris Brown, left, shakes hands Nov. 26 with Ira Gershow, donor of the team’s new pitching machine.
‘This new machine elevated our program.’ Chris Brown, baseball coach
SAN DIEGO (U-WIRE) — The San Diego State University water polo team might be sneaking salt into the Aztec Aquaplex.So close to San Diego beaches, a high pH level could explain exactly why SDSU feels so comfortable in its home pool. And with a 9-1 home record, it’s clear the Aztecs know exactly how to sting the wounds of their opponents. Which is exactly what No. 4 seeded SDSU looked to do against No. 13 seeded Pacific in the opening round of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championship at recently at the Aztec Aquaplex. The Tigers (4-25, 0-12 in MPSF play) have lost nine in a row and haven’t won since beating Colorado State on March 16. The last time they played the Aztecs,
SDSU (26-5, 8-4) won by a comfortable 14-6 margin. Nevertheless, Pacific’s disappointing season has had a bright spot in senior utility Kellie Fletcher, who has done an excellent job for the Tigers in leading the team with 70 goals. However, the Aztecs have proven that they can handle Fletcher, allowing her to score only one goal in the previous matchup. SDSU will have to look to senior goalkeeper Heather Fenske to ensure that Fletcher doesn’t have a big game. With a victory over Pacific, the Aztecs would face the winner of No. 5 Hawaii vs. No. 12 UC Santa Barbara. Regardless of who they play in the tournament, head coach Carin Crawford said he likes their chances at home. “If you look at our home record this season, playing at the Aztec
Aquaplex has been a tremendous advantage for us and we have had great student support,” Crawford said in a news conference on Monday. “We really feel like we now have pride in our home pool.” SDSU’s previous matchup against the Rainbow Wahine was at home on April 8 and the Aztecs were able to pull off a 10-7 upset. Junior driver Jenna Schuster led SDSU to victory with four goals and Fenske didn’t let anything get past her as she made 11 saves, two of which were penalty shots. In the Aztecs’ previous matchup against the Gauchos, SDSU was able to get an outstanding, fourgoal performance from junior 2meter Erinn Greenwood to give the team the victory over UCSB.