2008_0923_CT_v63i3

Q FIRE’S FURY Laura Castañeda releases documentary about the impact of ’07 wildfires

NEWS / PAGE 4

CityTimes www.sdcitytimes.com

4th PILLAR, 9th MONTH

Covering the San Diego City College community since 1945

Volume 63, Number 3

Ramadan traditions bring it home for Muslim students

September 23, 2008

MEChA celebrates Mexican holiday Luis Bahena City Times

Veronica Leyva Eissa City Times It’s not a boycott or a strike; Muslim students at City campus are abstaining from food and drink this month, and it’s by choice.

They are simply following one of the 5 pillars of their religion, Islam. But is it that simple?

Ramadan is a religious event and CARLOS MAIA City Times many Muslim students at City Col- Hafsa Abdille, 19, studies in the Cafeteria lege and all over the commons area while others enjoy lunch. world take part in it Abdille is upholding Sawm, the fourth by abstaining from pillar of Islam, which means to fast. There eating and drink- are three types of fasting recognized in ing, and for married the Qur’an: ritual fasting, fasting as repencouples sexual inter- tance, and ascetic fasting. course. It is done so from dawn to sunset, which means at this time in San Diego, the break of dawn starts around 5:00am until the sun sets around 7:00pm.

Islamic religious events are based on a 12-month lunar calendar and Ramadan is the name of the 9th month. In this month, the first verses of the Qur’an are said to have been revealed; therefore the month mandated to be observed by God. In a lunar calendar year there are 354 days, each month beginning with the first sighting See RAMADAN, page 4

The mood was set by Spanish music playing in Gorton Quad as M.E.Ch.A. (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan) set up the area to celebrate Mexican Independence day on Sept 16.

With poetry readings and live music scheduled, the celebration began as MEChA President Jose Mondragon stepped up to the mike.

“It’s important to commemorate this day... for MEChA, for us. It’s important to keep our culture alive... We are proud of who we are; we’re proud of where we come from,” said Mondragon.

The event, which was co-sponsored by Puente, also had support from Bienestar, a nonprofit community service organization that aims to enhance the health and well being of the Latino community.

Free HIV testing was provided

by Bienestar through the County of San Diego’s Health and Human Services Agency.

The organization also provided free condoms at their information desk.

Presentations included a poetry reading by Jaziel Carrillo, a MEChA club member.

Carrillo read two select poetry pieces by journalist, novelist and poet Mario Benedetti.

Live music was provided by City College student Esteban Cordozo, who preformed three musical pieces.

MEChA is a City College club, loosely associated with the national group MEChA, that aims to raise cultural awareness, to succeed as a community and embrace its heritage.

For more club information contact Jose Mondragon, club president, at j_mondragon06@ yahoo.com.

CARLOS MAIA City Times MEChA meets every Tuesday at 3p.m. MEChA, the long standing Chicano studies club, has brought attention to issues regarding the Chicano community in order to embrace its heritage.

Book Fair takes over campus starting Sept. 25 Fahima Paghmani City Times San Diego City College will hold its third annual book fair, seven events in the month of Sept through Oct. It will be held in the Saville Theatre and Room D121.

Reach Us

Got a news tip for City Times?

Call (619) 388.3880, e-mail citytimes@gmail.com or notify us through our Web site at www.sdcitytimes.com.

The Saville Theatre, located first floor on campus, will house events that will run Sept. 25th through Oct. 4th.

The first event on Sept 25th will be held at the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park at 7:00 p.m with free admis-

sion. The second event will be on Monday Sept. 29 at 11:15- 12:35 in room D121 on the City College campus, the third and fourth event will be the following days at the same place and time as the first event.

The fifth event will be located

in the Saville Theatre on the City College campus at 11:15-12:35.

The sixth and seventh evens will be on Oct 3rd - 4th located in the Saville Theatre hours may vary.

Slated to speak are such industry heavyweights as Jimmy San-

Inside

Q CITY MOVEMENT

Tenth annual Trolley Dances Sept 27, 28 and Oct 4, 5. Information inside. NEWS / PAGE 4

tiago-Baca and Juan Williams.

The events will have varsity authors and many different vendors. Vendors will be open throughout the day. All admission is free. For more information on the Book Fair, contact director Jim Miller at jmiller@sdccd.edu.

Online

Q WHAT’S YOUR TAKE? Log on and answer this issue’s poll question WWW.SDCITYTIMES.COM

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CityVoice

City Times

September 23, 2008

Inspired parking possibilities for students Urbanalities

It’s no surprise that parking sucks here at City College. Just the other day a professor had to cancel a class because he couldn’t find parking.

Yet for me, I’ve never had a problem with parking at City College. That is of course, I never paid the $30 for a parking permit, nor do I have to look for loose change in my car to pay the meter machines.

Nope, why pay when you can park at Inspiration Point in Balboa Park for free!

The only draw back is the walk down to campus. But really, how can that be a negative when walking is a healthy way of maintaining activity... Right?

Okay, okay, not everyone has the time to enjoy the quick 5 to 10 minute walk from Inspiration Point to campus, but there’s always a shuttle.

That is if you want to wait anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes for it to show up?

No thanks I’ll take the walk.

Besides, it’s a good way to wake up my brain by getting my blood flowing and hopefully burning a couple of calories while I’m at it too.

But seriously, I don’t see why more people don’t park in that parking area.

It’s not too far from campus, the shuttle service runs every 20 minutes, and it’s a really good healthy

walk to and from campus.

As students, we’re all busy with scurrying to classes, worrying about work and dealing with issues at home. Not to mention trying to balance a social life on top of that.

No, the last thing we need is

Vox Populi

With available parking being so scarce at City, what are your alternatives to on-campus parking?

By Michele Suthers

Live and Learn Luis Bahena

more stress by not being able to find parking and getting to class late.

Of course, timing is everything. I leave my house at around 10:20 a.m. for my class that starts at 11:10 a.m.

I don’t live too far from campus, so the drive is anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes. I guess some of us are not that lucky in regards to living close by, however.

I have to say, that I do have to applaud all those students that are going “green” and are taking alternative methods of transportation.

Never have I seen more bicy-

clists on this campus. The bicycle racks are literally overfilled with bikes.

But seriously people, the benefits of taking a stroll from the Inspiration Point parking are various.

For one, you get that blood going which is good for keeping you awake when one is starting

their freakishly early class.

Another, you’re not driving around in circles looking for parking when you know you’re not going to find one.

Also, while you’re driving around in circles, you’re wasting gas. With the cost of gas prices lately I’m pretty sure one can’t afford to be wasting gas going

around in circles.

And finally, it’s free! Talk about saving money. In more ways than one!

Save on gas, save on buying a parking permit (when it really isn’t worth it to begin with!), and you win with your health!

Isn’t it a good thing to go for a morning walk right before class?

Questions and Photos by Shannon Kuhfuss

Georgia, 52 Drug and Alcohol Counseling

Adrian. 18 Biology “I use public transportation.

It’s a lot easier and cheaper.”

CityTimes Volume 63, Number 3 September 23, 2008 www.sdcitytimes.com

David McAtee Editor-in-Chief Arts Editor Nailah Edmondson Managing Editor Sports Editor Evonne Ermey News Editor

“Parking is terrible. I have to park past Balboa Park sometimes. Buying a parking pass is a catch 22. Buying the pass doesn’t guarantee a spot.”

Published as: The Jay Sees / 1945-1949 Fortknightly / 1949-1978 City Times / 1978Incorporating the newspapers Tecolote, Knight Owl and Flicks

“I always take the bus. It saves me money and gas.”

How to reach us: City Times San Diego City College 1313 Park Blvd.

San Diego, CA 92101 Newsroom: T-316

Shannon Kuhfuss Opinion Editor

Carlos Maia Photography Editor

Shevaun Brandom Design Editor Calendar Editor

Heather Richards Copy Editor

Luis Bahena Features Editor

Michael, 29 Engineering

Michele Suthers Illustrator Mayumi Kimura Advertising Manager

Jose, 20 Nursing “I park at President’s Way. It’s about 10 minutes away, but I catch some exercise. When I’m running late it’s bad though.”

Phone: (619) 388-3880 Fax: (619) 388-3814 E-mail: citytimes@gmail.com Program homepage: www.sdcity.edu/citytimes

City Times Staff Tom Andrew, Angela Ang, Sofia Cancino, Alexandria Carrillo, Caroline Cha, Veronica Leyva Eissa, Jenna Henry, Keith Martin, Fahima Paghmani Contributors Jessica Brandom, Jacob Fredericks, Manny Lopez Roman S. Koenig Journalism Adviser

Gabriel. 32 Nursing “Just get here early. An hour at least!”

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.

Memberships Journalism Association of Community Colleges Associated Collegiate Press California Newspaper Publishers Association

Calendar / ARTS / NEWS

September 23, 2008

City Times

TakeNote

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Compiled by Shevaun Brandom and Nailah Edmondson Get your event or club meeting in the paper. E-mail us at citytimes@gmail.com or call (619) 388-3880

September

County soccer park, Bakersfield 9 a.m.

Men’s Soccer at Cuyamaca 3:15 p.m.

n September 24

Women’s Soccer vs Cuyamaca at home 3:15 p.m.

n September 25

n October 4

Women’s Cross Country vs Ursula Rains Balboa Boogie at Morley Field 7:30 a.m.

Men’s Soccer vs East Los Angeles at home 4:00 p.m.

n September 26

Men’s Cross Country at Legg Lake invitational 10 a.m.

Women’s Volleyball at Saddleback 5 p.m.

n Oct. 3 & 4

San Diego City College International Book Fair. Friday 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. & Saturday 10 a.m. Located around the Saville Theater. This event is free and open to the public.

More info at www.sdcitybookfair.com

n September 27

Women’s Cross Country, Foothill Invitational at Prado Park, Chino 10 a.m.

Women’s Volleyball, SDCC Tournament at Home All Day

n Sep. 27 & 28

n Oct. 9

Spanish Club is celebrating El día de la Raza at Gorton Quad 12-3:30 p.m. There will dancing, cultural activities and a singing contest with prizes. Come and join the fun!

10th Annual Trolley Dances presented by San Diego Dance Theater Begins at Hazard Center Trolley Stop, Green Line 10-3 daily, Tours every hour Event Price: $30, $20 Seniors, $10 students 619.225.1803, www.sandiegodancetheater.org , jean@sandiegodancetheater.org

n Oct. 31

October

Meetings every other week on Thursdays or Saturdays in the cafeteria. For more information please contact Jessica Brandom at SpanishCityCollegeClub@gmail.com. or Evelia Talamantes at EveliaTalamantes@yahoo.com.

n October 1

Women’s Soccer at MiraCosta 3:15 p.m.

Women’s Volleyball at Orange County 6 p.m.

n October 3

Withdrawal deadline - No drops accepted after this date.

ClubMeetings Spanish Club

M.E.Ch.A. Club

Tuesdays 3 p.m. B-203

Women’s Soccer at San Diego Mesa 3:15 p.m.

Men’s Cross Country, So. California Preview Meet at Kern

Get your event or club meeting in the paper. E-mail us at citytimes@gmail.com or call (619) 388-3880

Carlos Maia City Times

Fourth Annual Ocean Beach Jazz Fest The annual Jazz 88 Ocean Beach Jazz Festival has always been inextricably associated with gorgeous weather, great people, excellent scenery and good music.

This year’s event was certainly no exception. Held at the foot of Newport Avenue on Sept. 7, the fourth annual event, “Was the biggest and best ever,” said KSDS 88.3 Station Manager, Mark DeBoskey.

An audience of over 1000 attended the

Event Review Manny Lopez

one day “pure Jazz” festival, which featured a rich line-up of internationally renowned artists. Long time KSDS Disk Jockey, Ron Dhanifu pointed out that the annual festival gives Jazz 88 greater visibility and helps to improve the stations image within the community. “We’ve been on the air for 35 years and people still don’t realize that there’s a jazz station in San Diego,” said Dhanifu.

“The festival also brings Jazz musicians to San Diego that many people don’t usually get a chance to hear.”

Leading off was San Diego based “station ambassadors,” The Jazz 88 All-Stars.

“They rocked the house,” said Chris Springer of 88.3’s Latin Grooves. “They got the crowd going and set the mood for the rest of the festival.”

Next up was Brasilia, lead by flutist Holly Hofmann, the 2008 San Diego Music Awards winner in the Best Jazz category along with husband Mike Woffard, staff pianist on such live TV series as “The Bill Cosby Show” and pianist and musical director for both Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald. Brasilia had the crowd on their feet and dancing with their distinctive mix of rhythmically oriented Afro-Cuban jazz and Brazilian music.

Dubbed “leaders of the Nu Jazz Movement,” piano trio The Bad Plus, appeared to shred the rules with their eclectic brand of indie-rock infused acoustic jazz. Playing

original compositions and cover songs by David Bowie, Rush and Tears for Fears, the bands improvisational style had purists off balance and the vanguard asking for more.

After a brief intermission and with the sun beginning to set, acclaimed baritone Kevin Mahogany paid tribute to Big Joe Turner with his “Kansas City Review.”

Mahogany brought the energy level up a few notches with his distinctive “Kansas City sound,” and set the stage for what was to become the perfect ending to a perfect day.

The biggest hit of the festival no doubt was the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra.

Currently one of the hottest big bands in the world, with one of the best arrangers (John Clayton) and one of the best big band drummers (Jeff Hamilton), along with some of the best improvisationalists in the business. On hand was 89 year old “Snooky” Young of the original Duke Ellington band along with local heavyweight Gilbert Catellanos. Their dazzling performance clearly justified their reputation and the audience responded with a standing ovation.

“The thing that I loved the most about the festival this year was that the musicianship was at such a high level,” said Holly Hoffman. “I haven’t heard this quality of musicianship at a Jazz festival in a long time.

There was something for everyone.”

Carol Ravago, museum manager of the Mingei International Museum in Escondido and long time KSDS supporter pointed out the Jazz 88 festival has become a tradition for many jazz lovers. “It’s so nice because it’s not too crowded and you don’t feel pressured in any way,” she said. “You can move around and talk to people or you can just sit in one place and enjoy the great music.”

Abdul Atallah, owner of the Bar-B-Que House on Newport Ave. reported that business at his restaurant was brisk on the day of the concert. “Every year the jazz festival brings a lot of customers and is very good for business,” he said. “It draws a great crowd of people and everyone always seems to be having a wonderful time.”

Court pans in-state tuition for illegal immigrants Emily Grospe UC Berkeley Daily Californian BERKELEY (U-WIRE) — A state appellate court has ruled that a state law granting subsidized in-state tuition rates to undocumented California college students conflicts with federal law.

California’s AB 540 law had allowed undocumented students to pay in-state tuition if they had attended a state high school for three years and if they attended one of the state’s public secondary education systems, among other criteria.

The ruling overturned the dismissal of a 2006 lawsuit, which claimed that the state law violates a federal law.

According to federal law, undocumented immigrants are ineligible for secondary education benefits unless a U.S. citizen is also eligible for the same benefit, regard-

less of the citizen’s residency.

“It means that California is going to have to stop providing state tuition rates to illegal immigrants,” said Kris Kobach, a University of Missouri at Kansas City law professor and attorney for the plaintiffs.

“It means U.S. citizens paying out-of-state rates may finally be given a remedy in court for the discrimination they’ve suffered.”

Currently, out-of-state students pay about $17,000 more a year than undocumented and resident students in the UC system, he said.

The exact number of undocumented students on campus is unknown as the admissions application does not require proof of citizenship, according to campus spokesperson Marie Felde. She said estimates are that there are dozens of undocumented high school graduates at UC Berkeley.

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City Times

NEWS

September 23, 2008

City professor releases film Ramadan “This is the fullest it’s been in years” Professor Laura Castañeda boasted admiringly.

She had not seen RTVC140 this full since 5 semesters ago. And she cannot explain why.

Maybe it has to do with her 20-plus years of experience in the field as a journalist, reporter, production assistant, assignment editor and now producer of the new documentary “The Devil’s Breath: Border Crossers Caught in San Diego’s Wildfires.”

City College has given way to several, now locally recognized TV reporters, such as weekend anchors Marco Serrano with Univision and Heather Myers with Fox 5 news. Univison’s own weekend weather anchor, and assistant director Susana Rivera Torres joins the class every Wednesday night to add more endowment to her resume. She hopes to gain more knowledge in writing for newscast and heard great things about Professor Castañeda and her class. “Six or seven people at

Univison have taken classes with her, and they all said wonders about her”.

Also joining the class is Lawrence Gaskin, a communications major, who just received news of his acceptance into an internship program at KUSI. He is taking RTVC140 to learn how to “perfect newswriting”. When asked about the class he stated, “I think she (Castañeda) has got a handle of what this business is”.

Professor Castañeda’s latest project “The Devil’s Breath: Border Crossers Caught in San Diego’s Wildfires” is a half-hour documentary based on the 2007 San Diego Wildfires that rampaged across the San Diego County and took the lives of several undocumented people. “Many people are not aware of what happened” she states.

The show will preview on KPBS on Oct.8th at 9:00pm and will play at the Saville Theatre October 10th.

— Veronica Leyva Eissa

Trolley Dances return in October Most people don’t think of dancing when they think of public transportation, but for the past ten years that is exactly what Jean Isaacs Dance Theatre and the Metropolitan Transit System have been bringing to San Diego commuters in the form of Trolley Dances.

The event, which kicks off its silver anniversary Sept 27 at the Hazard Center trolley stop, gives passengers the chance to experience dance at different venues along San Diego Trolley’s rail system. This year’s route will travel the blue and green lines along the San Diego River and into Old Town, culminating in a final performance at Downtown’s Santa Fe Depot. The two hour tours will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sep 27 and 28 and Oct 4 and 5.

Trolley Dance patrons can expect a total of six site specific performances on their journey from Mission Valley to Downtown.

The dances promise to be anything but routine as performers present their viewers with unique choreography inspired by their surroundings.

“We take the neighborhood, and we see what can happen,” says Jean Isaacs, artistic director and founder of Trolley Dances.

“Dancers hang from trees and staircases.

They’re not dances that can be performed anywhere but that site. They’re not repeatable and hopefully, when people go back to that site again, they’ll remember that experience.”

Past performances have been set against the backdrop of places like Food 4 Less where dancers juggled fruit while executing complicated dance moves in the store’s produce section. This year’s venues will include the Mission Valley Preserve and lesser known areas of Old Town.

Trolley Dance’s 2008 tour will showcase the talents of five choreographers, Jean Isaacs, Monica Bill Barnes, Anthony Rodriguez, Katie Stevinson-Nollet and City College’s dance instructor Terry Wilson, along with a cast of 56 dancers.

Call (619) 225-1803 or visit www.sandiegodanetheater.org — Evonne Ermey

Continued from page 1 of the crescent moon. According to the Gregorian calendar we use, Ramadan will speed up a couple of weeks every year.

This year Ramadan has landed on the first of September and Muslim students will continue to fast for the next 30 days.

So how do students on Campus deal with this obligatory rite? “I’m used to it”, says 20 year-old, Sharmarke Ali, a Psych major. He has been fasting since the age of 12. Ahmed Jama, a business major, now 21, has been fasting since he was 11 years old; and states, “Its not that hard.” Although not everybody is obligated to participate, such as young children, the elderly, pregnant and breast-feeding women, and those that are ill; other things can be done to observe the month.

During this period believers should avoid backbiting, lying, cheating, stealing and anything that is considered “haram” or forbidden. Besides not ingesting food or water, it is a time where believers try to find closeness with God, to the religion and their spirituality. It is also a time when concentrating on the rest of the religious practices is encouraged, like giving Zakat (charity) and Salat (praying), another two pillars of the religion.

Rushing to class, studying, praying and being good on an empty stomach is not easy. But 19 year-old student Hafsa Abdille has not encountered any difficulty in maintaining herself. “It’s been really easy ... mostly because my classes are early”, although she did state that around noon it starts to get hard for her.

And what about the other important pillar of Islam, the prayers? Praying (or Salat) in Islam, consists of 5 daily prayers throughout the day and are done at certain times. “I go to an empty classroom or the Library”, said Hafsa. “You can pray anywhere, even the grass” interjected Ali. But most importantly they agreed, when teachers are aware of their beliefs, they are accommodating and are willing to excuse you for a couple of minutes to pray.

Another support for Muslim students on campus is through organized clubs. A few semesters ago there was a Muslim organization on campus run by students. So far this organization has not signed up for this semester, but students are welcomed to do it. “Students sign up, they start their own club, find a faculty adviser and some members” stated Sophia Fuentes, a clerical assistant from the student affairs office.

This gives Muslim students a chance to connect with one another. One of the reasons Hafsa says she likes to fast is that it helps her with her religious beliefs in a country where Islamic beliefs are not as resonant as hers. “It helps me to not forget.”

Ultimately, the decision to fast is very personal. And for Hafsa the most important thing is to “personally connect with God.” There are also other things she hopes to gain and is already experiencing them, like staying humble and being grateful for what she has. “Its human nature to look at what you don’t have and want it.” “I’m thankful to God for what I have.”

The day after Ramadan, a big feast is held known as the “Eid Al-Fitr”, meaning just that, the “feast of the fast breaking”, where Muslims gather with friends and family to eat, celebrate and eat some more, for the arduous yet rewarding experience of Ramadan has ended.

Be sure to recycle this paper!