City Times — Oct. 6, 2009

CityTimes

Q GET MOVING

www.sdcitytimes.com

Trolley Dances hit the tracks ARTS / PAGE 6

Covering the San Diego City College community since 1945

Volume 64, Number 4

October 6, 2009

‘Budgetzilla’ State budget threatens education but professors’ jobs and other programs remain secure, chancellor says

By CRISTO DE GUZMAN City Times

In an open forum hosted by San Diego Community College District Chancellor Constance M. Carroll on Sept. 21 at City College, she explained how the district has adjusted to the lower state budget and offered information on what is ahead.

“Our hit is $32 to $33 million,” Carroll said. “Twenty million is done, deal and covered.”

She explained that the district has closed its $20 million gap by not only slicing more classes but by not replacing full-time vacancies, and, if they must, replacing those vacancies with part-time and adjunct faculty.

“The district gets $3 million [in federal stimulus dollars], and $33 million goes out the other,” joked Carroll. At this point, she wielded a toy Godzilla which she called “Budgetzilla.” Carroll made the analogy that in the Godzilla movies, the city is decimated, but Godzilla is defeated at the end.

By not hiring at all, the district not only protects its core staff of 658 contract employees but avoids their layoff.

“Layoffs aren’t going to happen,” said Carroll. “Our district resists layoffs.”

Carroll also said she refuses to commit to any unilateral actions, such as making wholesale cuts to programs like EOPS or Disable Students’ Services.

In addition to eliminating classes and imposing a hiring freeze, the district has also eliminated vendor contracts, and may likely cut its intersession program, as well as lease its surplus property in three years.

Summer is too close to call,” said Carroll, attempting to dispel any rumor that 2010 summer session will be eliminated. “If we have eightweek or five-week sessions is still to be determined.”

See Budgetzilla, page 5

CARLOS MAIA City Times Chancellor Constance M. Carroll compares the budget on education to Godzilla; she brought out Godzilla and calls it ‘Budgetzilla.”

Health Board of Trustees back at City services to give H1N1 vaccine

By JUAN CARLOS GIL Correspondent

By ERNESTO LOPEZ

City Times

On Sept. 24 the San Diego City College District Board of Trustees held a public meeting on campus.

President Terrence Burgess welcomed the board to City College.

“It’s good to be back at City,” Chancellor Constance M. Carroll said.

During the meeting, professors Veronica Ortega-Welch and Stephen Bouscaren presented City’s Service Learning Program.

“It’s so exciting to hear the way people are learning and that students are involved in the community,” board member Maria Nieto Senour said.

City’s Institute for Human Development was also presented to the board by professors Cassie Morton and Francisco Moreno.

During the meeting, the Board of TrustPhotos by CARLOS MAIA City Times ees heard a presentation from Borrego Solar Systems,Inc. The district is in talks Top: City College President Terrence Burgess addresses the San Diego City College District board of trustees and with the company to install solar panels at Chancellor Constance M. Carroll. Bottom, from left to right: Peter Zschiesche, Bill Schwandt and Rich Grosch City, Mesa and Miramar Colleges. listen to presenters.

City College prepares for this flu season with massive immunization clinics throughout campus; the clinics will offer free swine flu vaccinations, initially to students who fit the “first tier” group.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the 2009 H1N1, or swine flu, is a new influenza virus spreading from person-to-person worldwide.

In April 2009 the first swine flu infected people in the United States were detected; on June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) signaled that an H1N1 pandemic was underway.

The CDC reported that the 2009 H1N1 Influenza vaccine will be available by mid to late Oct. CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that pregnant women, people who live with or care for children under 6 months of age, health care and emergency medical personnel, persons between the ages of 6 months to 24 years of age, and people ages 25 through 64 with chronic health disorders receive the H1N1 vaccine.

See vaccine, page 2

Index

Take Note.................................2 News...................................... 3 Arts........................................ 6 Opinion................................... 9 Sports................................... 12

Inside

Q America Uncensored

Club recites historical speeches

News / PAGE 3

Online

Q Spend or save?

Log on and answer this issue’s poll question

WWW.SDCITYTIMES.COM

2

City Times

TAKE NOTE | NEWS

TakeNote

October 6, 2009

Fashion-naughta By Michele Suthers

Compiled by Michele Suthers Get your event in the paper. E-mail us at citytimes@gmail.com or call (619) 388-3880

n Oct. 7 Women Peacemakers 9:35-10:50 a.m. D121 a/b Women from around the world speak about how they impact world peace. n Through Oct. 9 KSDS Jazz 88 Membership Drive 1-800-388-3000 n Oct. 14 Lisa M. Will, Light Pollution and the Night Sky 11:10 a.m.-12:35 p.m. Saville Theatre Free Admission n Oct. 15 10th annual San Diego Asian Film Festival Hazard Center Ultra Star sdaff.org n Oct. 17 & 24

The SDCCD Police Department Presents Rape Aggression Classes 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Open to all interested women. For additional information contact Officer Terry Hiett, SDCCD College Police Officer (619) 388-3461 n Oct. 19 Divya Devaguptapu, Indian Classical Dance 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saville Theatre Free Admission n Oct. 27 Fall Festival at the Urban Farm 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Between C building & Library n Oct. 30 Last day to drop class, and receive a “W”.

Thereafter, a letter grade will be given.

San Diego State community protests budget cuts

By Kristina Blake

SDSU Daily Aztec SAN DIEGO (U-WIRE) — San Diego State University students, faculty, staff and others attended a campus-wide budget rally in front of Hepner Hall recently.

Advocates and curious onlookers stretched across the school’s lawns and sidewalks in order to show their support for the rally by cheering the speakers and booing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the state legislature.

They protested recent budget cuts that have left SDSU with fewer and larger classes, because about 700 staff members will not be returning to SDSU. Much of the faculty still employed face mandatory furlough days, causing roughly a 10 percent salary reduction. Additionally, fees have increased 32 percent in the last two months.

Speakers at the event echoed a repeated montage: “Stand Together for SDSU.” Students signed banners displaying the slogan, and plan to send one of the autographed ban-

Vaccine Continued from page 1

It is also recommended that those who got the 1976 swine flu vaccine take the 2009 vaccine, due to a difference in viruses.

H1N1 symptoms are very similar to those of the common flu: fever over 100 degrees with cough or sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue and sometimes diarrhea and vomiting.

“Students should plan ahead and know their professors e-mail and phone number contacts so they can notify a professor if they feel ill. If a student gets sick with flu-like symptoms this flu season, they should stay home and avoid contact with other people except to get medical care.”

Dotti Cordell, City College director of student health services, said.

ners to the office of the governor and legislature as a symbol of the solidarity of the SDSU community. The second banner will remain on campus to serve as a reminder of the commitment.

Gene Lamke, a professor for the Hospitality and Tourism Management department, opened the rally and energized the crowd with a tone of determination. On the first day of the fall semester, he warned students that this academic year will be different because of the budget.

“It’s going to affect each and every one of us,” Lamke said.

“We all need to stand up together.

We need to stand up and tell Sacramento that we’re not going to take it anymore…We’re madder than hell and we’re going to stand up for ourselves.”

Many students attended to protest the recent increase in student fees.

Carly Neun, education senior, said she has to work in order to pay for higher education and the additional fees have resulted in an additional burden.

“It’s so much money, all the

extra fees,” Neun said. “I can’t afford not to have a job, which is annoying.”

Ann Kimho, an anthropology senior, said she has to work in order to pay for college. She has recently had to work temporary positions, because her hours have been cut for her on campus job as a student assistant at the library.

“It’s impossible to go to college without working these days,” says Kimho.

Advocates didn’t just show up with friends, but with specific interest groups, too.

Members from the School of Social Work’s Student Social Action Committee protested by holding poster boards with messages. Kellie Scott, a member of the committee and a second-year graduate student, held a sign that read “education matters.”

“We wouldn’t be here without education,” Scott said. “With the budget cuts we’re seeing fewer classes, larger classes and higher tuition. It’s not a good thing.”

Speakers presented the budget cuts as a contradiction to

“Most people with the flu, including H1N1 have had mild illness and have not needed medical care or antiviral drugs.”

“I’m not with putting unknown things into my body; I’m more of a holistic type person and prefer the natural approach,” Andrea

but also mention illness with the new H1N1 virus has ranged from mild to severe. While most people who have been sick have recovered without needing medical treatment, hospitalizations and deaths from infection with this virus have occurred.

“I worry about the side effects; plus my brother in-law had the H1N1 and recovered on his own” said Brenda Gonsalvez, city college student.

“Get it as soon as you are notified that it is available and that you fit the criteria for the group to be vaccinated,” Cordell said.

She added that “side effects are minimal and usually result in no more than perhaps some slight soreness at the injection site. The vaccine has been extensively tested in clinical trials and is deemed to be safe.”

“It is extremely important to get this vaccine,” Debbie Helm, City College nurse practitioner, said.

SDCC’s web site and notices

“The vaccine has been extensively tested in clinical trials and is deemed to be safe.”

—Dotti Cordell Director of Health Services

Silva, criminal justice student, said.

The CDC states that vaccines are the most powerful public health tool for control of influenza

stimulating the economy. University Senate Chair Edith Benkov said that while the legislature wants to rebuild the economy, budget cuts won’t allow for a welleducated workforce of the future.

She noted that CSU universities rejected more than 40,000 qualified students as a result of the decreased funding.

After the rally, Associated Students President Tyler Boden, who spoke at the event, said that he was pleased with the turnout.

He said he “absolutely” believes that he represents the majority of students’ opinions on the matter.

“I’m a student that doesn’t have any money; I get financial aid for everything I do,” Boden said. “I really care about my quality of education, I care about my accessibility to my classes and the affordability of my schooling.

I definitely represent that in many students.”

Boden said that he hopes the event encourages others to have an active voice in the matter.

“I hope that it gets more people engaged in the conversations

about how to fix the problem that we have in front of us,” Boden said. “I don’t know if anybody really has the answer, but if we all just have conversations together, then we can reach a better answer than what we have now.”

The speakers at the rally, including Boden, presented multiple methods for students and others to have their voices heard.

In addition to signing the banners, attendees were encouraged to “vent at the tent” where complaint forms could be filled out or a video message could be recorded for the governor. SDSU’s Web site also offers students a chance to use an e-advocacy tool to send a message to legislatures.

Calls to the San Diego District office of the Governor for comment were not immediately returned.

SDSU President Stephen L. Weber summed up the theme of the rally in his closing speech.

“There are things worth fighting for in this life,” Weber said.

“Higher education and the opportunities it represents are worth fighting for.”

stock.xchng throughout campus will inform students of the exact dates and location of the immunization clinics.

Students are being advised by the City College Health Depart-

ment to get information about the swine flu vaccine from reputable sources such as www.cdc.gov or www.flu.org and to make use of the Purell hand sanitizing stations around campus.

Excel In The Healthcare Field

The health care industry is the largest industry in the U.S., employing more than 14 million people each year. Employment opportunities continue to grow as the industry is expected to add 3 million new jobs over the next six to seven years.

– Public Health – Healthcare Administration – Allied Health – Nursing – Integrative Health

To help you advance your career in this thriving industry, National University offers undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs in a variety of healthcare fields:

GET STARTED TODAY! VISIT US AT www.nu.edu | 1.800.NAT.UNIV

The University of Values (628.8648)

TM

© 2009 National University 8037

8037_NU_AcademicHC_Ad_10x5p17_B&W.indd 1

9/24/09 2:45 PM

October 6, 2009

CityNews

City Times

3

March to the governor’s office Students from throughout the county of San Diego joined City College in the march against budget cuts

Photos by JOE LEONARD City Times Approximately 200 students from City College and from other colleges in the area met on Park Blvd. and marched to NBC studios on Broadway and turned on Front St. to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s district office. The students chanted, “Hey Governator what do you say, how many programs have you cut cut today?” They also shouted, “What do we want? We want funding.” Top Right: San Diego State University student Whitney Stangen and friends. Bottom right, a protestor that decided to remain unidentified because he did not want to be recognized in case there were any legal repercussions.

He shouted, “we are the revolution and it’s up to us, we have to fight for our rights.” The march was organized by City’s Associated Students.

New club on campus creating The ‘voices of a next leaders of the new world people’s history’

By NICOLE EDMERSON

By Brittany Johnson

The Bring Education and Activism Together Club is a new San Diego City College organization aiming to raise awareness and encourage activism by creating a forum for art, music and political expression.

B.E.A.T Club was created by a group of students to offer City College teach-in’s, film showings, debates, other events and meetings which will allow students to become more involved with their community and to make a difference in the lives of others by focusing on important issues “B.E.A.T. represents the next generation of leaders that are gonna rock the nation,” Crystle Browning, one of B.E.A.T.’s creators, said. “Honestly, that is my biggest dream for our generation, that we would get off our butts, unplug ourselves from all the media that distracts us, and start making the changes we see need to be made vs. just complaining about it.”

Club co-creator, Anthony Ortiz, also expressed his feelings about B.E.A.T. “The B.E.A.T. Club is an outlet for me to put across any concerns about the world. It is a place of open discussion for other members and me to analyze current events and possibly come up with solutions to problems that we may be having as students, concerned American citizens, and as a society on a whole,” he said.

Alarmed with the rise of homeless students and students who can’t afford food, B.E.A.T. has begun networking with other community organizations to get donations to help feed students.

“The goal is that by the end of the semester we have a fully functioning Food Bank to assist

Members of B.E.A.T. club recited historical speeches and reminded audience members about tough economic times currently facing us on Sept. 24 in Saville Theatre at the Voices of a People’s History event.

Larissa Dorman, faculty member and advisor of B.E.A.T. greeted everyone by stating, “I hope this is an opportunity for you to become inspired and to work within your own community.”

Ariana Moraes recited Declaration of Sent from Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Patrick Namwembe read Fourth of July by Fredrick Douglas, Crystal Browning performed a speech by Mother Jones, Anthony Ortiz delivered Mario Savio’s Berkeley Free Speech, Jeffrey Karaha recited Steal This Book by Abbie Hoffman, and John Sciortino performing Why We Fight by Vito Russo.

The group prepared for the event in the Summer. Dorman asked the students to pick famous American speeches that they felt related to them and asked if they

City Times

City Times

those in need,” said Larisa Dorman, faculty member and club advisor.

B.E.A.T. has also begun a mentorship program with Garfield Senior High School students. Selected students are partnered with a B.E.A.T. Club member, and they receive help with homework and life lessons, advice and guidance.

“Now days people are not encouraged to bond together.

They’re divided by common grounds. We want to make them believe that change is possible,” BEAT Club member Jose Rodriguez said.

Another major area of interest for B.E.A.T. students is the current budget crisis and

its impact on education and employment. B.E.A.T. students have started making a documentary that chronicles the real life impact of these cuts on student’s livelihood, and further, details how legislation and policy have brought us to the situation we are in today.

“B.E.A.T. does not believe in creating hierarchical positions...all students are given a voice and no student is more powerful than another,” said Dorman.

“You don’t have to be (a) student; anyone can join. Its open forum, united voices, protest and rallies, all to make a bigger impact on today’s policies,” Rodriguez said.

would feel comfortable reading them to an audience.

Although all of the performances were powerful, audience members commented on the outstanding job by Patrick Nanbemwe and Anthony Ortiz.

Nanbemwe said he chose the Fourth of July speech by Fredrick Douglas because he has respect for Douglas.

“I am impressed and fascinated by Fredrick Douglas’ writings; his speech teaches us to educate ourselves and love one another,” he said.

Ortiz said he prepared by watching Mario Savio’s Berkeley Free Speech to capture the same energy it had in 1964. “I memorized the speech for animation,” Ortiz said.

B.E.A.T member Jose Rodriguez delivered a special message: “History does repeat itself. You should question things, analyze them and educate yourself. If you’re not involved, then who is?

Start from the bottom up.”

Dorman said that her goal for the new club is to involve the

See voices, page 5

Crystal Browning Contributor Student and BEAT Club member Anthony Ortiz reads a speech by Mario Savio delivered during the “Freedom Summer” of 1964.

4

City Times

NEWS

October 6, 2009

CARLOS MAIA City Times

This issue, City Times features more services offered at the new Academic Success Center to give students better insight on tools available. We also take a look at the building’s “green” aspects.

Assessment, Evaluation help transitions

By John Balchak City Times

For students entering, continuing or completing Sam Diego City College, two essential departments are housed in the new L building, assessment and evaluations.

These independent offices were designed for both placement of students beginning classes at City College and those who are graduating or transferring between institutions.

The assessment office is located in room L-207 and is staffed by senior SSA and testing administrator Eric Flores.

Behind the large windows of the silent testing room are 30 computers upon which prospective students take examinations in math and English that will determine their class placement.

Sample tests are available beforehand, and accommodations may be requested for those who speak English as a second language or are disabled.

“This is a new department,” said Flores.

“We were previously part of the Counseling Department in the A building.” He explained that most testing of people applying for admission is done before the semester starts.

“The number of students seeking assessment was up 40 percent in July and August, and every year we have been more busy. Now, due to budget constraints, testing is only available two days a week, but October schedule changes will offer more days for testing.”

Brent Corsmeier is a returning student

who took the English and algebra tests on Sept. 22 at the Assessment office.

“I’ve been out of school for 10 years,” he said. “I’ve been working as a waiter and have traveled to Europe and Hawaii.”

Corsmeier said he hopes to study biology or geology.

David Medina is in the Navy and would like to continue his education.

“I received training with the Navy and used the web site to help prepare,” he said.

“I hope to be a CIS major and work in military contracting.”

People who did not finish high school may also apply for college and receive financial help with the help of the Assessment department. “The ATB (Ability to Benefit) test was set up for people with no GED or diploma,” SSA John Gradilla said.

In room L-116 the evaluations department offers services for students transferring from City College and those graduating. The office is staffed by evaluators Margie Aguayo and Christina Monaco.

“We evaluate transcripts from other institutions including non-traditional and military tests,” said Aguayo. “We can award credit based on standard testing.”

Monaco explained their assistance for students graduating from City College.

“Petition for Graduation should be filed a year in advance. We have deadlines but we never turn a student away.”

Academic renewal is an important option offered by the Evaluations department. It allows students who have had difficulty to repeat courses, replacing the

ERNESTO LOPEZ City Times Brent Corsmeier gets his math and English placement test results from testing administrator Eric Flores on Sept. 22. He hopes to start classes at City in the spring. previous grade, or even “code out” an entire semester.

Valerie Adame is a previous City College student who came to the Evaluations office to complete paperwork for a transfer.

“I want to finish this up and get focused,” she said. “I transferred to Riverside Com-

munity College’s nursing program. I want to be an RN.” “We love it,” said Aguayo. “There is peace and tranquility. We were previously in A-110 which was hectic and loud.”

“It’s open and we have windows,” Monaco agreed.

CalWORKs program helps students in need

By JUAN CARLOS GIL Correspondent

The new L building has also become the new home for CalWORKs and the New Horizons programs; two separate entities that help underprivileged students to succeed at life and at City.

CalWORKs is the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program. It provides cash aid, employment services and other benefits to parents that have children under 18 living in their home and are on public assistance.

To qualify for cash aid, the recipient must participate in the welfare to work program which requires 32 hours a week of work activity; it can include full or part time work, volunteering or educational training.

When a cash aid recipient decides to get educational training, they can come to City’s CalWORKs to get started on an individual training and course work plan. CalWORKs then pays for required textbooks, day care for their children and for transportation.

Upon signing up with City’s CalWORKs students are paired with a counselor to assist in helping the student meet all their welfare to work requirements. The counselor also serves as a motivational tool for the students when they feel discouraged.

“All students here have all the reasons not to make it, but they also have all the

ERNESTO LOPEZ City Times Office assistant Cathy Rocha helps counseling major Brandi Martin review her monthly participation hours. reasons to make it,” Bernice Lorenzo, counselor and CalWORKs coordinator, said. “It’s not easy; they come in saying ‘I can’t do it,” we say ‘yes you can.’”

“The counseling…are always here. If I need anything they are here to help,” Jacqueline Castillo, CalWORKs student, said.

“I go to them for advice and how to succeed in school. It’s not about being on welfare,

but about you and what you are doing to better yourself.”

In the same office, L-206, the New Horizons Program helps eligible students become successful in the classroom by providing study skills booklets and loaning out textbooks. The program also offers career development trainings, public transportation passes and referrals to other

community resources.

To qualify for the program, a student must be a single parent or single pregnant woman, displaced homemaker, individual with disabilities, a former foster youth, a student preparing for non-traditional training or a remedial English student.

Students interested in New Horizons must be enrolled in Career/Technical education and be eligible for the Board of Governors’ Waiver (BOGW).

The Board of Governors’ Waiver is a financial need based program that covers enrollments fees.

“New Horizons helps students overcome barriers that may prevent them from being successful at school,” said Mary Jane Kruse, adjunct instructor with the New Horizons Program. “My door is always open; students can come in at any time to share successes, challenges or whatever.”

Kruse reports that 83 percent of students receiving New Horizons study skills training said that their study skills have improved.

Before moving to the L building, the CalWORKs Program and New Horizons Program were located in the A building.

“Our previous room was tight and it was hard to serve all of our students. In our new building, there is room to stretch out,” Lorenzo said.

“This is great; nice office, nice big lobby for students,” Kruse added.

New L building greener and better then ever

By BROOKE LINTAG City Times

San Diego City College’s L Building went green during its recent renovation in an effort to be a model institution for the community.

The Capital Construction Bond for renovation, passed in 2002, allowed San Diego City College President Terrence Burgess and staff to begin plans for the reconstruction of the then vacated L Building. From the beginning, there were multiple conversations about whether or not the school should opt to go green with the new project.

By the time that construction had started in 2008, they had made a decision.

“It was a question of being cost effective versus being sustainable,” Burgess said.

“Going green was marginally more expensive, but we wanted to be a good example for the public.”

The building possesses a number of green features, one of which includes the Heating, Ventilating and Air- Conditioning (HVAC) System, which is highly energy efficient. A thermal-setting powder coat finish was also applied to the outside windows in order to optimize temperature control in the building. The paint used on the building itself was also environmentally safe, emitting low fumes into the air.

In the interior of the building, a material called Enviro SLAB terrazzo was used for all countertops and backsplashes. The terrazzo, a faux-marble material, is made 100 percent from recycled glass, designed to be cleaned with environmentally safe cleaners. Also, in the restrooms, waterless urinals and electric hand dryers were installed in order to lower the waste of resources.

The architectural design of the building itself loans a helping hand to going green.

By utilizing and creating plenty of shade air conditioning won’t be as needed.

Also, as a Proposition S and N project, the contractors were required to recycle at least 75 percent of construction waste and debris.

“We’ve had several projects running in the upper 80s and even 90s, percentagewise, and I suspect this one may be right up there,” Ursula Kroemer of Gafcon Inc., the Proposition S and N program manager for the project, said.

The L Building has made such a great attempt to go green that the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System has awarded it LEED Silver certification. There are 4 certification levels: certified, silver, gold and platinum. A building is awarded certification depending on it’s level of sustainability. “[It is] to set a good example for students in the community for living sustain-

able lives,” said Burgess.

In fact, due to the Green Building Policy passed by the San Diego Community College District, all new construction and major renovation to buildings in the district must qualify for a minimum of LEED Silver.

The Business Technology building that is currently under construction on campus is anticipated to be LEED Platinum.

Students and staff alike have a positive response to the school’s decision to go green. “[It] sounds great,” Amira Sheikh, tutor for the MESA Program located in the L Building, said. “Nowadays the environment is becoming important; knowing that City [College] is providing so many possibilities is great.”

“It’s very nice,” Mariana Vanyan, an accounting and business student, said.

“They’re supporting the environment and helping out the land.”

October 6, 2009

City Times

LIFE | NEWS

5

Watch your spending habits; don’t fall in debt Since I last spoke to students on the value of pinching pennies, an epidemic in our economy has many a person watching their spending. Everyone is on alert, like a new trend; saving money is the new chic.

I’m not surprised by this, it IS cool to recycle, renew and reuse. Whether you got it or not, people everywhere are looking at the value of their dollars and what they can get for it. Any money spent is based on several factors; Do I need it? Is it worth it? Can I get a better deal? Can I borrow it from a friend? Will it hold its value? Is it greenfriendly? Can I afford it? Can I do without it? It all comes down to choices…

The New York Times Business Day, April 11, featured the story, “A New Exercise in One-Upmanship: Outsaving the Jones,” by Matt Richtel. In which Richtel, interviews Martha Olney, professor of economics at The University of California, Berkeley. Olney, who studies the Great Depression say’s “the times, implies the reemergence of thrift as a value.” Shouldn’t it have been all along? It has to me, but for millions of America the last 2 years have been a real wake up call. Our downturned economy has made us take a step back and see the worth in things. Perception has

Voices

Continued from page 3

students in the community. She encourages students to become interested in challenging the issues around them.

You may see the B.E.A.T. students walking through campus with anti-war armbands from time to time. There persistence to educate provides City College with an array of upcoming events cosponsored by the World Cultures, History & Political Science Department.

The musical talents of two students were also showcased during the event.

Alex Trossen serenaded the audience on

indeed changed for us all.

No longer just the poor college student, the mass population is suffering as con-

Adventures of the Fru-Gal Heidi Stenquist

sumers and advertisers alike take a bow.

Allstate Insurance opened the floodgates using the word “recession” in their now famous commercial and became the first to state the obvious. These days it’s as though every ad on TV or radio reflects current economic conditions, using words that sympathize with the consumer. Advertisements are reaching out to their patrons with a new understanding that the marketplace must go on. A deeper empathy, expressed in values and deals has replaced the traditional sales pitch. Are you buying it?

Yet other financial institutions seem to thrive on the backs of its creditor’s debt.

Debtors like me, who recently went over my limit by less than 5 dollars. My interest rate went from 1.99 to 28.99 percent! guitar with two songs entitled, “Gather Round the Stone,” and “Times They Are a Changin.” Dustin Correia performed an original rap called, “Political Epiphany.”

Correia’s rap includes such lines as: “The more I learn, the more I don’t want to know. Who’s going to tell you what the news don’t show?” and, “But it’s never too late, gotta wake up the world.” The audience clapped along.

Reactions after the performance were optimistic. Student and audience member Maria Martinez said she was moved by the speeches and “believes it is healthy for individuals to speak out.”

City student Luis Arteaga said, “This group really stood out saying education is important and we need more involvement.”

At first I was so shocked I couldn’t even respond to it; the fee hikes and over limit fees had me reeling, resulting in me ignoring it altogether to the point the bill itself was late getting paid by 2 days. I finally mustered the courage to call and try to make right the whole incident to no avail. I didn’t receive compassion or any fee reversals nor did they tell me they would reduce the interest. I debated the severe penalty for less than five bucks and how they even let me go over my limit? I wondered out loud, “it isn’t fair!” Is a payment 2 days late really worth a thirty nine dollar charge? I think not…

I watched as my hundred and fifty dollar payment was now almost completely eaten by interest. For 2 months I watched my money get nowhere near my principle.

I was sick about it and closed the account.

I was late again, this time I was bombarded with phone calls in all totaling about sixty calls in 8 days. I’d had enough and called after letters starting arriving at my house. I was put on what’s called “debt liquidation” with a reasonable monthly payment and an interest rate reduction to twelve percent. I am dealing with where my choices led me, though quite on accident. Students do not

make the same mistake. Watch your limits and spending habits. Let this be a warning to you all don’t let it happen to you.

As the current administration continues to look for a balance between creditors and debtors, anyone with bills must pay attention that means you. Congress is in the works to protect consumers in the future, but what of those dealing with huge interest spikes and fees now? The stability of debt is weighed on the judgments it’s given based on its value we have for it. Think before you spend.

This second depression of sorts has us all on our toes wondering how best to manage. The New York Times wrote an article about how cool it is to save money and be thrifty because it is. For now, I know I’m adding to that mantra. Whatever you’ve got, make the most of it this semester and always.

Remember, “The real winners are not those at the top but those who have come the farthest over the toughest roads. Your victory may never make the headlines.

But you will know about it, and that’s what counts.” Ernest Fitzgerald.

‘Budgetzilla’

“Part of it rests on the bargaining agents,” said Libby Andersen, articulation officer. “We’ve gone back to our bargaining units (mostly unions) to discuss, decide, propose and vote.”

Despite the dire status of the state budget, there has been a tremendous effort on the federal level to support the district.

Carroll said that the district won’t feel the “full force” of the budget cuts until 2010-2011, when its effects will be twothirds through.

“Just like in the movies, Godzilla always returns,” Carroll reminded the crowd.

Continued from page 1 The remaining $13 million that have to be cut will undergo a protracted negotiating process based on “good planning, complete transparency, and reliable data.”

“We’ll be able to negotiate with unions,” said Carroll. “There is only so much instability an organization can take. We’ve cut, cut, cut. We need some stability.”

Heidi Stenquist is a City Times columnist

More pictures, more information Get more of City Times online at

www.sdcitytimes.com CARLOS MAIA City Times

Take Your Passion To The Next Level...

College District Controller speaks to district employees in an attempt to ease their financial and employment concerns during Chancellor Constance Carroll’s visit to City on Sept. 21.

With a Bachelor’s Degree in Sport Psychology

! Online and on campus ! Convenient locations ! Classes start every month

! Accelerated pace ! Financial aid available

!"#$%% '$()*+

,-.//-")'-0"12 333-45-675 ! © 2009 National University 8144

The University of Values

6

CityArts

City Times

October 6, 2009

Book fair hosts author Reyna Grande

By NORA AL-RUWAISHED Correspondent

“People make fun of me because my last name is Grande, but I am actually very short,” Reyna Grande said. However, after her book reading on Tuesday at the fourth annual San Diego City College International Book Fair, listeners knew height was the only place she fell short.

Reyna Grande, author of “Over 100 Mountains and Dancing With Butterflies” (set to be released Oct. 6), has literally crossed mountains to get to the place she stands today.

Left behind in Mexico by both parents at age 5, her parents promised they were going to the U.S. to make money to build a home for her and her family.

Grande was unable to reunite with them again until the age of 10, when, to her dismay, she found her father had a new wife.

“My father became an alcoholic shortly after I moved in. It was then that the two Reyna’s were developed. The frightened, shy Reyna, and the confident Reyna who knew she could get through anything. The latter…

is standing in front of you today.”

In her later years, a teacher pulled her from her father’s alcoholic home and introduced her to Sandra Cisneros, a famous Latina writer. It was then that her “a-ha moment” occurred and she knew she wanted to write.

After she knew what she wanted, she incorporated this horrifying stage of her life into her writing and it gave her the emotion she needed to write her novels.

She ripped out her painful experiences and threw them onto the pages.

“I know I sound crazy. Well… maybe I am, but it is that craziness that (made) me a good writer,” Grande said.

When asked to give advice to potential writers, Grande said, “Just keep writing, and read, read, read! You cannot be a good writer unless you are a good reader first. Put yourself out there, because you have to realize and get used to the fact that you will get rejected time after time.

You have to toughen your skin and realize that all it takes is one “yes” and you can get published.

Submit your work to publishers looking for essays, short stories … find a support network and just

CARLOS MAIA City Times 4th annual International Book Fair speaker Reyna Grande autographs a copy of her book “Over 100 Mountains and Dancing With Butterflies” for Maria Elena Delgado, program director for The Price Scholarship Program. have a goal and stick to it.”

After the writing process is over, the extensive job of selling your novel begins. “Writers I know have been forced to change their names because their reputations suffered due to the fact that their first novels did not sell,”

Grande continued. “In turn, they couldn’t get anyone to purchase their second ones. On the other hand, if your novel does very well, then you have an immense amount of pressure to do even better on your second. People, and publishers expect more out

of you.” To ensure she sold her books, Grande went as far as selling them from the trunk of her car.

Grande was one of several presenters at the International Book Fair, which took place Sept. 28 through Oct. 3.

‘Lilac Mines’ author shared writing tips

By VANESSA GOMEZ City Times

CARLOS MAIA City Times Cheryl Klein gave writing tips to students at the fourth annual International Book Fair.

“I feel that if life is too sweet of a deal, then maybe your brain has gone a little soft,” Cheryl Klein, author of “Lilac Mines,” shared with City students.

Klein was one of the featured authors in this year’s 4th Annual City College International Book Fair. Klein spoke to a room filled with students interested in beefing up their writing skills.

Cheryl Klein shared her experience while writing “Lilac Mines,” a novel about Los Angeles lesbian name Felix, heartbroken by her city and former lover, that seeks out her “old-school lesbian aunt,” for refuge, but finds a sleepy town shrouded in mystery that might not be so bad after all.

Hector Martinez, English and Chicano Studies professor, was on hand with some of his students to hear about Klein’s experiences with the writing process.

Although originally slated as a creative writing workshop, Martinez did regret to inform the attendees that it would just be a reading. “By the time the change was made, the agenda was already posted.”

Klein did offer some advice on writing and even offered an exercise for students to inspire the creative process.

“Usually in groups like this, I have students make a list of three

things: one should be a mode of transportation, another should be an emotion, and lastly, an object,” Klein described. “Then I have everyone take their list and swap it with a neighbor. That now becomes your basis for your piece.”

Klein explained that the exercise “forces you outside your comfort zone,” and brings a new perspective to your writing.

K l e i n talked about how there is “definitely a love-hate relationship with (one’s) work as a writer.”

“I will always love (the characters in her stories), but I might not always like them,” Klein noted.

She continued to explain that you go “back and forth with emotion” with your characters as the writing process continues, and that once the process is done, the “The minute I finish writing a novel, I think, ‘Oh wow, it’s genius,’ and then three days later I think, ‘Oh, no, what was I thinking? Why did I send that to my publisher?’” Klein shared.

Klein noted Writers At Work, a writing group in Los Angeles, as a forum for feedback on pieces of writing.

“Once I got out of school, I

found that the feedback process was very important for me, so seek out a writing group,” Klein suggested. “Sometimes you can be burnt out on feedback in general, and I find it hard to have a combination of people with an opinion that you value and people that don’t flake. Plus it’s hard to get someone excited to read your piece when you ask them, ‘Hey, do you want to read 300 pages of really flawed work?’”

When asked by a student what inspired her to write, and if she found inspiration by listening to music, Klein shared that she found “white noise” helped her the best.

“I can’t just have dead quiet,” Klein said. “I find coffee shops to be the best environment for me because they play music that I didn’t chose.”

Klein was also quick to remind students that her “real job” is pretty administrative and that she doesn’t write for a living. Even though Klein works as the west coast director of Poets and Writers Inc a non-profit organization, she does dream of making it big.

“Don’t get me wrong, I do have fantasies of getting a great book deal,” Klein said. “I do dream of that little house in Hawaii.”

Public transportation serves as dance platform

By BRITTANY JOHNSON City Times

The 2009 Trolley Dances brought dancing to the streets Sept. 26-27 and Oct. 3-4, starting at the Bayfront E Street Station and running down to the San Ysidro border stop.

Members of the public were encouraged to attend and talented performers unexpectedly greeted trolley passengers.

The 11th Annual Trolley Dances featured the theme: Demystify the Border. Trolley Dances founder, Artistic Director, and Choreographer Jean Isaacs said she was knew the border issue is very much alive and wanted to show the peacefulness and culture the area brings.

Tours ran daily for two weekends. Performances were showcased on from trolley platforms, service yards, parking lots, bicycle racks and border walls.

The trolley ride south provided

See TROLLEY, page 11

CARLOS MAIA City Times Dancers strike a pose for the Jean Isaacs Trolley Dances 2009 at the San Ysidro trolley stop on Sept. 26. The Trolley Dances continued Oct. 3 and 4 with six tours daily.

October 6, 2009

City Times

ARTS

7

Annual fair greets the heat

By KIERAH FORD City Times

The 28th annual Adams Street Fair launched on Sept. 26. The fair kicked off between 35th Avenue and Bancroft Street in Normal Heights.

Big clusters of businesses, vendors, performers, musicians, activists and the public came together to have fun and enjoy music and culture. This street fair not only united the normal heights community, but people of all different cultures and communities came and joined the fun as well.

The street fair is an annual event presented by the Adams Avenue Business Association and billed as Southern California’s largest free music festival of all ages.

“The street fairs main focus is to promote and increase commercial activity within the Adams Avenue Business Improvement District,” Alissa Gabriel, storefront improvement program manager said.

For shopping enjoyment, the fair had more than 300 vendors ranging from crafts, food, clothing, jewelry and accessories.

There were also three beer garden locations for the twenty one and up fair-goers.

Jennifer Robinsons, a retail vendor, said, “I get the same customers every year who are more interested in my ethnic products.

They love to come check out what’s new.”

A huge variety of taste-bud satisfying foods also peppered Adams Avenue. Certain food types included Asian, pizza, corn, hamburgers, sausages, and chocolate covered strawberries, just to name a few.

First time visitor Michelle Wilson stated, “All of the aromas floating around the Air was so mouth watering that me and my family had to try a little of everything.”

This year’s street fair also has many political booths as well if you wanted to support the cause you care about. Both the Democrats and Republicans have different booths, and some even brought up controversial issues involving on-going problems in the community.

Free music highlighted the major commotion of the fair. Several live musicians and performers played to the public. There are many different genres played at the fair including country by artist Merie Jagger, Rock artist Delta Blues Dogs and various other artists. A newcomer to the fair this year, Shannon Whyte, stated, “I really love the blues and Delta Blue dogs were amazing, the music really took me back and made me think about old times.”

The street fair had six different stages for your listening pleasure; 33rd Street rock stage, 34th street roots rock stage, Lestats stage, Hawley Blues stage, Dimilles stage, and the Worldbeat Park stage.

Each stage highlighted a different genre of music, giving listeners a taste of different music as they roam the cultural blocks of Adams Avenue.

Carnival rides, games, prizes for the kids and music for the adults offered fun for the whole family.

MICHELLE SUTHERS City Times

African/American hybrid band sizzles The 28th annual Adams Avenue Street Fair hosted awesome jam band “Akayaa and Bolga Zohdoomah” Akayaa and her band, Bolga Zohdoomah, played a vibrant set before enthusiastic African music fans at the Adams Avenue Street Fair on Sept. 26. The sundown performance brought the rhythm and harmony of the Highlife music from Ghana to a dancing, chanting audience.

Their bouncing beat and familiar, pop style are the products of a tight international band based in San Diego. Members from Ghana, Cuba, Panama and America blend their influences into friendly verses that invite the listener to join in. Akayaa, with her vocal partner Shoshanna.

Small, sang songs from their CD Masoh including the cheerful “Akusie”, the story of the bush rat that Akayaa said, “tastes just like chicken”. Other numbers like “Afrika” featured the Caribbean feel of guitarist Ignacio Arango, who grew up and studied

Music Review John Balchak music in Havana.

Drummer Todd Caschetta (who, along with Akayaa, is an instructor in African music and dance at Southwestern College) said he has a great appreciation for the music.

“I have lived in West Africa and studied music there,” he said. “This style of Highlife music is from the 1960’s in Ghana.

It’s easy to jam and goes on forever, with interaction and lots of support (from the musicians).”

Caschetta went on to explain that Bolga Zohdoomah’s style is “definitely a hybrid” of African and American music. He also commented on Akayaa’s expertise with the talking drum, a long drum with exposed binding straps that the player can squeeze to raise its pitch when struck with a curved stick.

See band, page 11

JOHN BALCHAK City Times Akayaa and band “Bolga Zohdoomah” played an eclectic set Sept. 26 at the Adams Avenue Street Fair.

8

City Times

ARTS

October 6, 2009

The curse of terrorism Asian Film Fest Movie Review washes ashore The German movie “The Baader Meinhof Complex,” currently showing in the Hillcrest cinema, relives the crimes of a terrorist group called ‘‘Red Army Fraction’’ (RAF), active in Germany between the 1960s and the 1990s. Andreas Baader and Ulrike Meinhof were the two most prominent leaders of the RAF and saw themselves as revolutionaries in ‘the police state West Germany’.

Their generation, born during or right after World War II, was hell bent on not letting something even remotely similar to Hitler and the Nazi Regime happen

Christine Klee

again and found the German society to be a prisoner of capitalism and a politically motivated press.

Their criminal activities cost 34 lives and left hundreds injured.

The movie successfully shows what terrorism can do to a country, but also what it does to the terrorists and how their fanaticism ultimately lead to their selfdestruction.

To an Austrian, many of the

actors are familiar faces. The roles were well-cast and the actors did a terrific job at portraying multi-faceted, some-what afflicted characters. Moritz Bleibtreu (‘Munich’), Martina Gedeck (‘The Good Shepard’), Bruno Ganz (‘The Reader’), Hannah Herzsprung and Heino Ferch are all household names in German cinema and theatre. Showing Baader’s anger and fierce commitment to the cause, Bleibtreu’s acting stands out. Bruno Ganz plays the head of the Federal Criminal Police Office with a spooky calm,

By EVONNE ERMEY Contributor

Cinema and Asian culture collide with the return of the San Diego Asian Film Festival October 15-29.

The main feature of the twoweek event is the screening of more than 200 films from more than 20 countries. In addition to the film screenings, the festival will feature live music performances, discussion panels, parties and an art and comedy show. Most of the event will take place at the UltraStar Mission Valley at Hazard Center, This 10th annual celebration of Asian Film is the most ambitious to date. What started out as a three-day event on the University of San Diego campus has grown into a two-

See TERROrism, page 11

week festival, drawing large crowds, to its various venues, with the goal of uniting them through film and colorful PanAsian cultural activity.

The event will showcase films covering a variety of genres, from animation to documentary from comedy to thriller. Included in the line-up is the North American premier of Tokashi Ozaki’s “Afro Samurai: Resurrection,” the directors cut, and Wilson Yip’s, “IP man,” a film based on the life of martial arts master and teacher to Bruce Lee, IP Man. Those interested in attending the festival can purchase tickets online at sdaff.org or in person at the UltraStar Cinema at the Mission Valley Hazard Center. More information can be found at sdaff.org.

CONSTATIN FILM VERLEIH GmbH AND VITAGRAPH FILMS Courtesy Photo German terrorist group, “Red Army Fraction,” holds an underground meeting where they plot to prevent another Nazi-related regime.

‘Jennifer’s Body’ rocks To anybody who wanted to be that high school jock who dated the school “hottie” or the plain Jane who wanted to be that “hottie,” you need to experience ‘Jennifer’s Body.’ This way, you can live that high school dream and see first-hand the “hottie” and her drop-dead body, literally.

‘Jennifer’s Body’ is the second screenplay from Diablo Cody following her Oscar-winning debut smash ‘Juno.’ The movie was full of clever dialogue and gratuitous pop-culture references.

The movie is a mash-up of a teen horror flick and a comedy at that. It’s as if ‘Juno’ and ‘An American Werewolf in London’ had a baby and named her Jennifer.

Its horror aspect was overridden by the amusing aspect from were it was based to how she turned in to a demon, Jennifer

was a modern day comedian.

It’s scary and suspenseful, but when characters are talking about stuff like toxic female friendships, awkward adolescent sex and high-school dances. The audience will break out in a laughing frenzy.

The movie never got boring and had people thinking they would know what would come next, seeing how the plot seemed to be such a cliché, but you never knew what witty things the characters will say next.

In a small town like Devil’s Kettle, the queen bees like Jennifer (Megan Fox) dream of fleeing the small town life. A chance of a lifetime seems to pop up.

A small inner-city band, named Low Shoulder, comes to Jenn’s little Canadian hick town to give them a good show. Little does

SAN DIEGO FILM FESTIVAL FOUNDATION Courtesy Photo

Movie Review

Zhou Yu (Tony Leung Chiu-Wai) gallops into battle in the upcoming film“Red Cliff,” which will be played at the 10th annual San Diego Asian Film Festival.

Imani Gentry-Faust

Jenn know, this was going to be a really hot show.

Nerdy needy (Amanda Seyfried) can immediately tell that this band her childhood friend Jenn is so in love with is up to no good. After the band literally leaves the club burning up, the unsuspecting Jenn gets into the band’s van. As Needy watches her bestie leave, she knows in her gut that would be the last time she would honestly see her sand box buddy leave her.

When Jenn finally does get back covered in blood, Needy finds herself torn as to what she should do; but as a crazy night

does to most teens, the next day at school, Jenn swears up and down that nothing happened that night and she feels better then ever.

While the town is tragically mourning the lost of several of their local high school kids, Jenn struts around as radiant and as beautiful as ever. Boys come up missing right and left. Needy notices how her bestie’s God complex is taking a toll on the town. She must do something.

Unwillingly, Needy finds herself becoming the heroine who finds her unexpected inner-strength.

The most lovingly innocent

bystander, Chip (Johnny Simmons), is caught in between this jumbled mess, but like the bad guy turned hero in the story he does his part and provides the film with some substance.

Of course, the much-hyped make-out session between Needy and Jennifer comes out of nowhere, deserving all the wideeyed stares the screen got.

One of the most memorable parts of the movie, setting off major smiles all over the theater and to whoever is to watch it next.

Imani Gentry-Faust is a City Times staff writer

Damon/Soderbergh’s kitschy ‘Informant’ Matt Damon may have won an Oscar at a young age for his participation in Good Will Hunting, but here in Steven Soderbergh’s “The Informant,” someone should have told him that it takes a lot more than gaining 30 pounds, and growing a moustache, to call yourself an actor.

The Informant is a true story of Archer Daniels Midlands (ADM) Vice President Mark Whitacre, aka Corky to his adoring wife Ginger, played by Two and a Half Men’s Melanie Lynskey, who becomes an FBI informant against the multimillion dollar company to show that they have been price fixing for years.

Agents Brian Shepard (played

by Scott Bakula) and Robert Herndon (played by Talk Soups Joel McHale), convince Whitacre to be wired and taped for almost three years in order to give them evidence that ADM was indeed committing crimes. During that time Whitacre collected hundreds of hours of audio and video evidence from all over the country, as well as, with the help of unaware associates, embezzle over 11 million dollars that he deposited in many different accounts. Over those three years Whitacre lied to the FBI, his wife and to himself until all of it came crashing down when ADM was finally brought up on charges. It was then that Whitacres’ crimes were discovered as well.

The Informant is a tough film to take knowing it is a true story.

Whitacre is portrayed to be a

he’s just Matt Damon, 30 pounds heavier.

Bakula, veteran of television, stage and film, hasn’t been seen in a long while on the big screen, and his turn as Brian Shepard, while not his best work, is strong and a welcome relief. As is his partner Joel McHale. The rest of the cast is well chosen and well performed much like most of Soderbergh’s

Movie Review Tom Andrew

regular, well-meaning family man who just gets caught up in the windstorm and excitement of being a part of something so large that is consumes him.

Even we as the audience think he is telling the truth until it starts to be come clear that he isn’t.

Later in the film we also find out that he is bipolar, which explains a lot of his

WARNER BROS. PICTURES Courtesy Photo Matt Damon plays Mark Whitacre in Stephen Soderbergh’s “The Informant.” Damon gained 30 pounds to prepare for the role of Archer Daniels Midlands vice president who was sentenced to 9 years in prison for the embezzlement of more than $11 million. choices but doesn’t make it any less wrong.

Damon, as mentioned earlier, put on 30 pounds, has a moustache and for at least the beginning of the film, seems to have a whiny Midwestern accent (which he loses two thirds of the way

through the film). These choices don’t make you an actor, though if you add losing yourself in that character to that list it can. Damon fares well at the beginning of the film. He has ticks, mannerisms, and vocal patterns down pretty well, but by the end of the film,

films.

The interesting choice of a 60’s hippie-like font tells us where we are and the chosen hue of the films visual look is somewhat appealing even though the film takes place in the late 90’s.

Soderbergh’s direction is swift

and smooth, and he has given the films serious matter a comedic, black tone, along with a very kitschy soundtrack. Matt Damon may have won an Oscar at a young age for his participation in Good Will Hunting, but here in Steven Soderbergh’s The Informant, someone should have told him that it takes a lot more than gaining 30 pounds, and growing a moustache, to call yourself an actor.

The Informant is a true story of Archer Daniels Midlands (ADM) Vice President Mark Whitacre, aka Corky to his adoring wife Ginger, played by Two and a Half Men’s Melanie Lynskey, who becomes an FBI informant against the multimillion dollar company to show that they have been price fixing for years.

Agents Brian Shepard (played

by Scott Bakula) and Robert Herndon (played by Talk Soups Joel McHale), convince Whitacre to be wired and taped for almost three years in order to give them evidence that ADM was indeed committing crimes. During that time Whitacre collected hundreds of hours of audio and video evidence from all over the country, as well as, with the help of unaware associates, embezzle more than $11 million that he deposited in many different accounts. Over those three years Whitacre lied to the FBI, his wife and to himself until all of it came crashing down when ADM was finally brought up on charges. It

See INFORMANT, page 11

CityVoice

October 6, 2009

9

Urbanalities By Michele Suthers

The 411 on H1N1 shot The fall months will bring on another flu season, where both students and administrators might find themselves suffering from flu symptoms and asking, “could I have the swine flu?”

In a recent edition of the New York Times, an editorial cartoon commented on the current swine flu, or H1N1 strain, by illustrating two different sized-pigs. The smaller pig was to represent the swine flu itself, while the other much larger pig represented the actual size of the hysteria caused by the pandemic.

The debate has been resurrected closer to our City College as we learn that Health Services will be offering the H1N1 vaccine for students starting in Oct. Although some of us try not to fall for the hype, how seriously will City students be affected, and how afraid should we really be?

With CNN and MSNBC bombarding us with numerous reports of H1N1 deaths, many Americans were canceling vacations to Mexico this past April.

The pork industry reported a sharp decline in sales due to fear of dying from your breakfast bacon. We started to see the masked pedestrians and Purell stations popping up on campus. How can we as students protect ourselves?

And what about this shot?

Who is eligible for it? There’s also talk of quantity and how many vaccines will be available, especially after the Health Services’ supply of flu shots ran out in two days. And how safe is the shot? How effective can the shot really be?

All these concerns could

City Times

leave students wondering if the vaccine is right for them.

Educating yourselves about the vaccine is the only way to make the best decision.

Remember that health fee you paid during registration?

Why not cash in and pay City College Health Services a

Editorial

City Times Editorial Board

visit? According to Health Services, the most important step towards fighting H1N1 is to be informed about the disease.

Health Services aim to communicate with City professors to try and encourage a compromise between students and teachers if students miss class due to illness.

While it should always be the student’s responsibility to keep their professors informed on absences, maybe providing a doctor’s note will keep them from getting dropped and prevent infection among students.

Common sense with basic hygiene is a must, like washing hands frequently and being respectful of others by covering your mouth and using tissues.

Your personal physician or health care providers are great sources of information. Clinics around San Diego County, offering low-cost health care for students without insurance, are posted on www. sdcounty.ca.gov.

The CDC has set up a dedicated page about swine flu on its site. Going directly to the source of information, at www. cdc.gov, can help you avoid the fear-inducing broadcasts on TV.

I’ll take my dinner to go, thanks I rarely cook. To me, the action is just another four-letter word.

Once, I used vanilla soy milk in my macaroni and cheese because I didn’t have regular. It was a soupy-sweet macaroni stew.

Another time, I tried making cookies from scratch. The result: one giant cookie meld of burnt nastiness. It took nearly an hour to scrape the pan clean.

Now, I might have a homecooked meal once every two weeks. Dining usually consists of bean and cheese burritos, pizza, or a scone, and that’s only if I can get them quick. If not, a cigarette stands in as my afternoon snack.

Average dollar spent per week on greasy grab and go meals plus cigarettes: $40. That’s $160 per month, evaporated into cancerous air (and that doesn’t include weekend fun).

For a gal who makes a lessthan impressive hourly wage, I’d say I’m spending somewhat frivolously.

It’s easy to say “I’m going to

Donna’s Digs Donna P. Crilly

eat in more,” or “I need to save money,” but how many of us actually do? For those of you with enough patience and time to cook every night, I am envious. And honestly, patience is more of the issue than time. Taking an extra twenty minutes out of my day to cook food that could last me two or three more days will ultimately be worth it.

I realize that I’m a victim of “gimme-now-itis.” The symptoms: impatience, laziness, spoiled

nature, elevated anxiety when something isn’t readily available when I’m used to it being there when I want it and honking at other cars for little reason.

The cause: convenience, malls, cellular phones, the Internet, Alberto’s or anything else that can be offered cheap and easily.

We live in a fast-paced society where technology functions as a crutch.

Remember leaving hand-written notes if you were going out?

You wouldn’t have to worry about answering a text message or an incoming call on a nature hike.

My mother gets angry when I don’t call or text her back immediately. Now, I see people Facebooking on their Blackberries.

It’s a weird to watch folks chat via cellular phone when they could just as easily call.

My aunt orders groceries from her Blackberry while she’s at work so she can conveniently

See DINNER, page 10

Romantic comedies make dating look fun ... Not in my case I have a friend that somehow always manages to have some sort of romance related drama. I found myself up until 1 a.m. in the morning one night discussing her latest romantic drama with a cigarette in hand and an empathetic ear.

I usually don’t smoke, but she does, and I was having my own personal tough times with the wonderful world of dating, so it seemed appropriate to join in.

Her woes: The guy that she started dating starting being a little flaky. Then, he put her on edge when he told her over the phone that they “need to talk,” but wouldn’t say what about.

My friend likes to know where things are going. She likes no surprises and tends to put things on the table. I’ve warned her in the past of putting things on the table

Live And Learn Luis Bahena

too soon, so I couldn’t help but wonder if maybe this was moving too fast and he was breaking up with her.

Well, he said he was going to call her back. And guess what…

He didn’t! So there we were, 1:30 a.m., outside in my patio, smoking a cig and venting on sucky

romances and bad dating experiences.

I had my share of bad dates towards the beginning of the year. I usually prefer not to date.

There’s a lot of time and emotions that go into dating that I usually just steer clear. But I told myself that I would give dating a shot this year just to try something new.

I went into the dating game with an open mind and an eagerness to meet some interesting characters. And yeah, I met some interesting people alright. It was as if every single date I went on came with its negatives.

Either one date was too available (U-Haul anyone?) or emotionally unavailable. Then we had the one that kept on talking about their ex, then the flakes, and the too serious ones. It was never the perfect package.

Don’t get me wrong, I know there’s no perfect package, but give me a flaw that I can work with. Somehow, every single date I went with just made me realize that I would much rather stay single.

The other reason why I wanted to date was because I wanted to get over the certain crush. Ah yes, we all have crushes, and I am as guilty as they come. I heard somewhere that the best way to get over one addiction is to replace it with another.

Yeah, that doesn’t really sound healthy, but if the new addiction is a good one, why not. Well, dating didn’t work, but it did get my mind off my old crush, so things were good.

But as life would have it, I recently met up with my crush in passing at a bar. Got to love bars

sometimes, you’ll never know who you’ll run into.

But yes, we chatted on this and that, and updated each other on what’s been going on with each other’s lives. It was good, reminiscent of the old times, and I unfortunately found myself falling again in the same ditch.

So there I was, talking about my woes with my friend, cigarette in hand, and even though I don’t smoke it felt right. It was a very melancholic mood. But as good friends do, we lifted our spirits and went on our way.

I’m not sure what my friend is going to do about her romantic woes, but I know I do not want to fall into the same pattern. Lucky for me, I have work and school to distract me and keep me busy.

See DATING, page 10

Vox Populi Question by Kierah Ford Photos by Imani Gentry-Faust

What do you think about the H1N1 vaccine available here at City College?

CityTimes Volume 64, Number 4 October 6, 2009 www.sdcitytimes.com

Alana Moore, 20 Aviation Science “I think that it is good because it is right here on campus, I really don’t want to catch the flu so I think that it is good that the school is providing it for free.”

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

Eric Estrada, 22 Military Engineer “I think it’s a good thing that the schools are giving this vaccine. I don’t know much about it but I heard that people are dying from (H1N1).”

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

San Diego, CA 92101 Newsroom: T-316

Vanessa Gomez Editor-in-Chief

Donna Crilly Arts Editor

Heather Richards Copy Editor

Carlos Maia Managing Editor

Luis Bahena Opinion Editor

Ernesto Lopez News Editor

Olivia Holt Features Editor

Michele Suthers Calendar Editor Advertising Manager Illustrator

Shevaun Brandom Design Editor

Sonjiala Hotchkiss Online Editor

Roman S. Koenig Journalism Adviser

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

City Times Staff

Tom Andrew, John Balchak, Cristo de Guzman, Nicole Edmerson, Kierah Ford, Imani Gentry-Faust, Brittany Johnson, Joe Leonard, Donovan Terblanche, Bri Heath, Brooke Lintag, Brandon Catlin-Cheatom, Heidi Stenquist, Larisha Blackledge

Correspondents and Contributors

Evonne Ermey, Nora Ali-Ruwaished, Juan Carlos Gil, Taylor Poulin, Christine Klee, Adela Rahmati, Crystal Browning

Rosa Jijon, 20 Graphic Design “The vaccine is very beneficial because (it’s) free and any student can get it, so I think that it is a really good thing.”

Paul Maschka, 48 Urban Farmer “I am not a big believer in vaccinations, I have heard a lot of bad things about it.

If they were informed of the side effects and if they knew what the consequences were they wouldn’t get it.”

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

10

City Times

VOICE

October 6, 2009

The ultimate minority in a society of fume spewers Waiting to cross the street at El Cajon and 30th, I see it coming.

Knowing my duty, I salute and address by rank and name in a clear and distinct voice.

“Paramilitary fume-spewing terror enricher! — Paying 3.27 a gallon for our freedom sir!”

The Hummer roars by, it’s tightly closed windows keeping the enemy at bay, followed by an elegant German made fume spewer and a kid on a five-horsepower fume spewing skateboard.

This is San Diego and here, more than anywhere else, people take their fume spewers seriously.

We are convinced that the combustible liquid splashing into our fuel tanks is the currency of success. We shake our heads, pay whatever is required, and defend our addiction to immediate geographic gratification.

This subordination makes us the most dependant community in the country (world?) and the perfect target for street dealers.

The result of this helplessness is that San Diegans are often forced to pay the highest price in the U.S. for retail refinery products. And what have statistics shown us? That, contrary to all rational economic theories, as price rises, so does demand.

To have a customer that increases usage, even as price rises, results in unquantifiable

Perspective John Balchak

profit. This is every dealer of every substance’s dream come true. My advice to OPEC would be to give each American a free SUV to keep us wholly and utterly at their mercy.

It isn’t like folks have much choice here. The central public transit system is adequate, and even operates some natural gas powered busses, but much of the system ceases by 11 p.m. After that, you’re on your own in a 400 square mile city.

Suburban areas, especially office and industrial parks, are almost impossible to reach without an individual spewing device.

This becomes an effective discrimination tool against those who are not willing to use one.

“If you don’t pollute the air and help finance Bahrain; you can’t be part of our society,” seems to be the message.

Urban planning offers the smiling face of transport convenience fronting the tightened fist of fume spewer dependence. Most activities require one, from searching for parking at the beach to venturing to the casinos to offer our native friends reparations for their territorial losses.

Lonely pedestrians enjoy

empty sidewalks but are automatically suspect. The driver’s instinctive question is, “Why aren’t you in your spewer?”

The anthropological prediction of this Journalism major is that eventually, the driver’s legs will be taken from them, and their descendants will be left with long, thin dowels suitable only for pushing pedals.

Local TV news coverage is dedicated chiefly to fume spewing concerns. After a few stories about a freeway chase in LA, the driver who confused the brake with the accelerator and plunged through the store front window, and “that zany cat that crawled into the carburetor”, we come to my favorite.

This one always begins with the reporter next to the gas pump explaining how we’ve reached a new retail or barrel price high followed by “man at the pump” interviews. All are represented in this vox populi but, woman or man, old or young, Hispanic, white or black: the answer is always the same.

“There’s nothing you can do.”

This is the part where I get up, do a backflip off my couch, and pound my head with an ice cream cone in one hand and a hammer in the other. “There is nothing you can do.” Repeat it again my obedient San Diegans. “There’s nothing you can do.” This is the

mantra of the addicted.

Then the piece always ends the same. The reporter, their back to the action at the pump, sets us up for the inevitable.

“Analysts predict that prices will continue to rise.”

Presidents come and presidents go but none are ever able to drag America to the intervention it so desperately needs.

I can’t help but think that, if we’d have elected Al Gore, we’d all be cruising on atmosphere vacuuming fiberoptic monorails by now.

From time to time a few angry, weary spewers will throw a group tantrum in the form of a ‘gas out’.

Their logic is that if they all refuse to buy for one day it would cost the industry $2.2 billion.

I’m sure the petrol masters are extremely concerned until the next day when the revolters slink to the pumps and fill back up.

Others have taken to making a few bucks tattooing advertising on their spewers. This risks ridicule in a market where polluting devices, like haircuts, need to be kept uniform and proper.

But, in the end, they always win. The lure of self determined mobile human ego justifies any cost thus far. This tolerance for price manipulation may exist to the top dollar or bottom drop.

Cradle to grave dependency, mortgaged as far as the traf-

fic can jam. Besides, without a spewer one cannot go to work, go to school, breed, rush your wife to the hospital, taxi rugrats, have a ticker tape parade, have a smash up derby, get a burger at the King after hours or head for that final “drop off” in the long, black Caddy.

I can almost hear you saying these words as your eyes follow the small pendulum and flutter shut and the petroleum gypsy smiles smugly.

FINAL NOTE: Police report that 45 percent of all fatally injured motor vehicle operators have blood alcohol contents of 0.08 percent or more. People, please, don’t get trashed and operate; especially not in a 9-ton PMFSTE. FINALLY, FINAL NOTE (I promise, hand on my hummer owners manual): Maybe global warming will solve its own problem. Think how quaint it will be when costal cities such as SD become inundated by the swollen ocean.

Downtown streets will become canals as in Venice and there will be beachfront property in previously low-rent neighborhoods.

The only question is, how will we power our individual para-naval transport vessels?

ford have espoused from their respective beginnings a sense of newness and a break from the past, an emphasis on progress and development.

Free of the cobwebs and mustiness of the East, they said. In the words of Stanford’s first president, David Starr Jordan, in California, “if anywhere, life is worth living, full and rich and free.” It is fitting, then, that the University motto should be “the wind of freedom blows.” The West, and thus its crowning educational gem (sorry, Kal), should be something profoundly different than what has been.

CA and the Stan have also been at the forefront of world affairs. Flush with resources (that both are now lesioning to varying degrees), masses of talent and overstretched ambitions, both the state and the institution have helped introduce paradigm-shifting technologies, groundbreaking arts and cultural norms…and Herbert Hoover.

California and Stanford have long attracted the top talent in the world compelled here by the climate, potential for riches and the overall quality of life. As the aspir-

ing actress moves to Hollywood to hone her table-waiting skills while hoping for the big great, so, too, do the aspiring hedge fund schemers come to Palo Alto for training in economics and case days.

However, with a focus on progress and a void of celebrated history or traditions (or at least particular histories and traditions that fit with the traditional white ruling powers), California and Stanford have ultimately embraced the exaggerated, the material and the flat-out absurd.

Combating deeply entrenched regional biases leveled upon the head of California (SEC/Ivy League brown-nosing, ahem), we have chosen to do it bigger, flashier and louder.

Thomas Jefferson may have singularly helped birth modern Virginia (and a few children with Sally Hemmings, but hey) and Harvard might have more badass alumni than Mississippi has illiterate children, but that isn’t really important. We have Rodeo Drive, Halloween in Isla Vista, the Castro District, $20,000 palm trees and Exotic Erotic (well, let’s see if they try

and kill this one, too). We’re Californians, damn it, and we sure as hell don’t plan on you forgetting it.

So, what does this all mean, exactly? Well, lemme tell ya.

There is a particular energy to both places, an aversion to stasis that makes experiencing life one utterly crazed adventure. At times questionable, myopic and wrongheaded, it undeniably exists, and being able to recognize and understand this force is hugely important in making sense of both places.

And for the particular images that are exported out to the world of the Stan and California, there are kernels of truth underlining each, but both are so much more interesting and varied than what you see on the postcards.

Peel back some of the layers, experience both Stanford and California on a personal level, and who knows what you’ll find? If you’re lucky, a burrito the size of your forearm.

Dating

nario. At this point, I think the best thing for me to do is keep my distance.

In a way I have moved on, and I do not want to take two steps back when I have already taken three steps forward.

As hard as it sounds, sometimes the best thing one can do is walk away. No harm done, no drama to clean up after.

I’ve gone through this once already that I don’t really want to go through it again. I know I’m doing the right thing, but of course, there will always be doubt. There’s always doubt

when it comes to matters of the heart.

But as the saying goes, “fool me once, shame one you. Fool me twice, shame on me!” Yeah, I think I’ll stick to my books for a while.

And who knows, maybe the next time I’m up until 1:30 in the morning talking to my friend about romance it won’t be in such a melancholic state and there will be no use for the cig then. Here’s to the hoping.

John Balchak is a City Times staff writer

California has much to explore: a look at state vs. Stanford

Ahh, California. The Golden State. The land of fruits, nuts, flakes, the Gubernator and too many other weird entities to list in one column.

Described numerous times over as both the Garden of Eden and the Ninth Circle of Hell (Bakersfield, anyone?), the most populous state in the nation lords over the far end of the continent, igniting admiration, ire and boat loads of curious onlookers from all corners of the globe.

Be it the last great hope for humanity or a giant, flashing neon sign advertising the End Times (6 p.m. on the 405 in L.A., anyone?), California is never one about doing things quietly.

Like so many (i.e. 44 percent) students at this fair establishment, I am a Californian. I have known no other home than my upper white middle class bourgeois neighborhood just south of UC San Diego. It is not difficult to quickly key into the centrality of California as a defining trait of my existence.

The loathing of closed-toed shoes; summers spent on the beach with a forearm-sized El Campeon Burrito from Rigo-

Dinner Continued from page 9 pick them up on the way home.

As strange as that is, at least she still cooks.

A cousin of mine moved to Washington, D.C. about a year ago. She got one of those GPS navigation systems for her car so she wouldn’t get lost.

She’s completely dependent on it and complains that she still wouldn’t be able to find her way

Perspective Zack Warma

berto’s in tow (if you’ve visited me in SD, you know exactly what I’m talking about); a sound level of partially-serious derisiveness directed toward Wyoming, North Dakota, Nebraska, Alaska, etc.; the impact of California on my life is undeniable.

In these two years I have spent sauntering along our palm-lined boulevards, it has become evident to me there is much of what I believe California is that Stanford exemplifies, and vice versa. The strikes and the gutters, ups and downs of both seem to reflect highly in one another.

Both California and the Farm are relatively newcomers on the scene, entering existence in 1850 and 1891, respectively.

Founded in large part by the infusion of ill-gotten gains stemming from the Gold Rush and 19th century hothouse capitalism (hooray Chinese exploitation in gold mines AND railways), California and Stanto work if she didn’t have her GPS. We have all these objects doing things for us, that we can no longer do them for ourselves. I agree that advancements in technology have helped us in so many ways; but I’m also worried about using these convenient outlets in excess so that I forget how to do basic tasks, like cooking.

With the economy in the shape that it is, I think I should try living a bit more simply than I have.

Donna P. Crilly is the City Times arts editor

Continued from page 9 The truth is, dating is hard and having a crush is probably harder.

With dating there are rules and guides and all sorts of stuff that can guide you towards a “successful” date, whatever that is. When dealing with someone you like, it gets a little tricky.

You don’t want to say too much but you don’t want to say nothing at all. And I hate the “what if” sce-

Zack Warma is a staff writer for The Stanford Daily, distributed by U-WIRE

Luis Bahena is the City Times opinion editor

PORTABLE FUN Now On Sale!

Sea Eagle 370 Pro Kayak Package Shown

Now Just $349

Our Great SE 370 Kayak Goes Anywhere!

Our NEW 12’ 6” Sea Eagle 370 inflatable kayak weighs 32 lbs., yet it holds 650 lbs. This large 2-3 person inflatable kayak packs to the size of a small duffle bag and can be carried anywhere there is water. Paddle wild rivers, remote ponds, scenic lakes... even ocean surf!

Features include 2 deluxe kayak seats, 2 skegs for tracking, 3 deluxe air valves, drain valve, rigid I-beam floor, spray skirts & carry handles.

SAVE $50. This Spring - Best of all, our new Sea Eagle 370 Pro Kayak Package is on sale. The SE 370 Pro Package includes 2 7’ 10” aluminum 4-part paddles, 2 deluxe kayak seats, foot pump, nylon carry bag, instructions and repair kit. Normally the Pro Package is $399. complete NOW THIS PACKAGE IS ONLY $349!

But that’s not all, we are also offering FREE SHIPPING, a 6 Month Money Back Trial Guarantee & a 3 Year Warranty Against Manufacturer Defects!

To Order Dept 78JS9B Call Mon-Fri, 9-5 EST 19 N. Columbia St., Port Jefferson, NY 11777

1-877-257-7053

It’s what people are talking about.

Get 12 weeks of Home or Office delivery for just $30 Subscribe Today! • Call 1-877-254-9976 And ask for special offer 566.

*Special rate of $30 for a 12 week term requires EZ-PAY sign up. Your credit card will be charged automatically to continue the subscription at the published rate unless you notify us otherwise. Local sales tax, when applicable, will be added to your order. Carrier delivery not available in all areas. Offer void in Alaska.

October 6, 2009

City Times

ARTS

Trolley

Corrections

In the Sept. 22 edition of City Times, in the story “Controversial new club on campus seeks 9/11 truth,” the caption on page 1 should have read, “Speaker Dwain Deets, retired NASA engineer and contributing member of Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truths, presents Sept. 11.” The story “Auditioners take center stage for musical” on page 7 had a misspelling of Alicia Rincon’s name. In the story “Book fair aims to flourish” also on page 7, Kelly Mayhew’s name ran incomplete. On page 12, the story “Knights stand up against cuts,” Kathy McGinnis’ name was misspelled. City Times regrets the errors. It is the policy of City Times to clarify content or correct errors. Send them to the paper at the citytimes@gmail.com or call (619)388-3880.

‘Fame’ fails to measure up In 1980 the original film of “Fame” came to the big screen. Since then, it has made a pop star out of Irene Cara, made Debbie Allen a household name, spawned a stage musical and national tour, and the title song is probably one of the best known songs ever recorded.

Fast forward to 2009, where someone got the bright idea to remake the film, which they just should not have done.

FAME is the story of the students at The High School of the Performing Arts in NYC, one of the most prestigious and difficult arts schools to get in. The film follows 6 or so students from their main audition to their first day of class as freshman, to their graduation four years later.

During those four years, we follow these students through classes, friendships, relationships, music, singing, dancing and acting.The hope is that we, as an audience, will see, hear and feel the joy, pain, angst and elation of these students as they reach for their dreams.

We do not.

The remake pales by comparison in acting, dancing, story and music. It is impossible to not compare the two films.

If the producers had stayed away from using songs and some storylines from the original, then a comparison wouldn’t be necessary, but stay away they did not. The

Movie Review Tom Andrew

song “Out Here On my Own” was used and some key plotlines were lifted from the original and used in the remake, and without much success.

Kelsey Grammer, Bebe Neuwirth, Charles S. Dutton and Megan Mullally are now the new teachers at The Hugh School Of The Performing Arts, and honestly, they should have just stayed home.

Their scenes and characters don’t add, or develop, the way the teachers in the first film did. They come off as amateurish, unpolished and forced.

The students, all newcomers like in the first film, are an OK bunch, but no one stands out and none of their characters develop enough for us to care about them.

Do yourselves a favor; either rent the movie from netflix.com, or if you really must see the new movie, see it at a reduced price. Don’t pay full price for it. It will be bad enough that you will have lost the hour and forty-five minutes of your life. “Fame” gets 0 out of 10 stars.

Rent the original.

Tom Andrew is a City Times staff writer

participants a view of a border community, a different side of San Diego.

Spectator Linda Hall was fascinated with the previous events so much that she invited a friend, Ted Hamano, to participate with her this year. Hall and Hamano are current San Diego residents but don’t make use of the trolley. Hamano was afraid of taking this public transport, especially so close to an international boarder. After a few rides on the trolley Hamano said, “The performances are fun and neat and I feel a little better now [riding the trolley].”

San Diego local Irene Bassman has attended this event for 6 years. This year she convinced her daughter, Rae Newoman, to join her. Bassman said, “The dances are amazing. I like the different areas, especially because I never come down here.”

Choreographers from all over the world were brought out to work with the dancers of San Diego Dance Theater. They were presented with the area and allowed to choose what region they envisioned their dance to be. They were permitted no limits and encouraged to use as much of the surroundings and culture as possible.

Choreographer Miroslava Wilson, from a dance company in Tijuana, showcased her dance at the very last piece of rail line before the boarder walls. Her piece, Breath/El Principio/El Fin, was about the struggles of life.

“Life is a game that is already planned,” Wilson said. “As humans we are divided. I want to mix the U.S. and Mexico border.”

Her dance showcased the struggles and pressures one faces every day. The dancers wound caution tape around the area to create division lines and focused on how to push and break them.

Artist director of Epiphany Productions and international choreographer

Informant

Continued from page 8

was then that Whitacres’ crimes were discovered as well.

The Informant is a tough film to take knowing it is a true story. Whitacre is portrayed to be a regular, well-meaning family man who just gets caught up in the windstorm and excitement of being a part of something so large that is consumes him.

Even we as the audience think he is telling the truth until it starts to be come clear that he isn’t. Later in the film we also find out that he is bipolar, which explains a lot of his choices but doesn’t make it any less wrong.

Damon, as mentioned earlier, put on 30 pounds, has a moustache and for at least the beginning of the film, seems to have a whiny Midwestern accent (which he loses two thirds of the way through the film). These choices don’t make you an

Band MGM STUDIOS Courtesy Photo

Terrorism

Continued from page 8

understanding how and why the terrorists operate so well even his subordinates are worried.

The movie is definitely European, maybe even noticeably German - and not just because of the language! Nudity and violence are portrayed differently to American movies, almost in a matter-of-fact way.

The violence is not glorified nor hidden, but rather shown for what it was. The style and setting sets ‘The Baader Meinhof Complex’ apart from how American’s show their history on film. America’s film society recognized the movie for its excellence with one Golden Globe nomination and one Academy Award nomination for ‘Best

Foreign Language Film’ in 2009.

Watching the movie almost seems as if it was supposed to be in two parts. Even though the two thematic halves were closely related, the feel and setting are distinctively different. Running at 2 hours and 30 minutes, one is aware of its length. ‘The Baader Meinhof Complex’ might have left more of an impact on viewers had the two parts been separated.

Being a true story, the movie succeeds in mixing real news clips from that time with the fictional material. In some scenes, the viewers are placed inside the characters emotional world so well, one cannot help but feel either sympathetic or antagonistic towards the terrorists. An interest in German history or terrorism in other countries makes this movie worth watching, even if it is long-winded at times.

Continued from page 6

Continued from page 7

Akayaa spoke of her lifelong study and presentation of music and dance. In reference to acquainting Americans with her culture she said, “I love it, sharing and educating. People think Africa is all jungle; they have negative ideas.”

She told the story of recently playing a show in Pittsburgh and watching people get into their groove. “We like to spice it up,” she said.

As for American appreciation of African music she said, “It will come, all in time, and is beautiful to see. You know, all music

Kim Epifano created a piece entitled Chula Focusing on the Unique Culture of the Area, performed at Palomar Station. She requested six boys and one girl, a VW bus, and put together a soundtrack featuring music from Mexican and American cultures. Epifano commented on her inspiration stating, “The music inspired me because it had a political message and the area is so diverse.”

Tour Guide Rita Farkas, who has been a part of the Trolley Dances for 3 years, enjoyed Epifano’s piece because she is a salsa dancer. Farkas enjoys participating with this event because, “There is so much creativity seen dancing around landscape.

The theater is the world.”

Johnny Nguyen, another tour guide, has been with the event for 2 years. “It’s like public art,” comments Nguyen. He received word through the UCSD Dance departments and says his involvement is “a dream come true.”

Nguyen said “It’s great for people who buy the ticket, but it’s even better for those who don’t.” The tour prices range from $15-20, but are free to those who happen to stumble upon the performance.

Toni Robin, Public Relations San Diego Trolley Dances, said word is sent through local newspapers and magazines like the Union Tribune and the Reader. “We also try to advertise on Websites featuring local San Diego events.” Word was also spread through email blasting and posters around town.

Isaacs was inspired by a Switzerland art tour on public transportation many years ago and adopted the idea in the states. The reason this event is put on, according to Isaacs is, “public transportation could be stronger here and I want to reach out to people who might not come to the theater.”

The Trolley Dances averages a crowd of around 2,000 to 2,500 people every year from both weekends. It can be found at a new set of stops each year-either new additions, encouragement to visit a particular area, or regions that affect the community.

actor, though if you add losing yourself in that character to that list it can. Damon fares well at the beginning of the film. He has ticks, mannerisms, and vocal patterns down pretty well, but by the end of the film, he’s just Matt Damon, 30 pounds heavier.

Bakula, veteran of television, stage and film, hasn’t been seen in a long while on the big screen, and his turn as Brian Shepard, while not his best work, is strong and a welcome relief. As is his partner Joel McHale. The rest of the cast is well chosen and well performed much like most of Soderbergh’s films.

The interesting choice of a 60’s hippielike font tells us where we are and the chosen hue of the films visual look is somewhat appealing even though the film takes place in the late 90’s.

Soderbergh’s direction is swift and smooth, and he has given the films serious matter a comedic, black tone, along with a very kitschy soundtrack.

Tom Andrew is a City Times staff writer

has African influence.”

Following Bolga Zohdoomah on the Worldbeat Park stage was the frantic funk of Breakestra.

The double-drummer powered band made clear that there is no substitute for the soul of human musicianship. Employing flute, trumpet, baritone sax, guitar, bass, keyboard and both male and female singers, they channeled the inspiration of James Brown, Funkadelic and even Michael Jackson into a seamless grove.

The hipster crowd bopped to the relentless beat, the fair’s amusement ride lights swirling in the background, on a warm evening of good vibes.

John Balchak is a City Times staff writer

Christine Klee is a City Times correspondent

Own a new computer for just $29.99* per week!

And improve your credit score at the same time!

Bad Credit, No Credit? No Problem!

There’s no credit check, so you won’t be turned down.

If you can afford a weekly payment of just $29.99* for just 12 months, then you’re already approved for a brand new Dell™ or HP™ Computer, guaranteed.

Call today to get the computer of your dreams, and improve your credit at the same time.

Give us a call today!

EXTENDED FREE TRIAL* SIGN UP AT

www.gamefly.com/print ENTER CODE: NEWS64

ACT NOw AND ReCeIve: In-Car GPS System Free MP3 Player Free Printer with select models

1-877-277-1789

*Prices start at $29.99 but may vary by model.

11

*New members only. Free trial valid in the 50 United States only, and cannot be combined with any other offer. Limit one per household. First-time customers only. Internet access and valid payment method required to redeem offer. GameFly will begin to bill your payment method for the plan selected at sign-up at the completion of the free trial unless you cancel prior to the end of the free trial. Plan prices subject to change.

Please visit www.gamefly.com/terms for complete Terms of Use. Free Trial Offer expires 12/31/2010.

12

City Times

City Sports

October 6, 2009

Andreasen carries on with family tradition Following in his father’s footsteps, coach looks to do well

By Donovan Terblanche City Times

Coach Bob Andreasen, the assistant head coach under Mitch Charlens who helped lead City’s men’s basketball team to its winning season over the spring, has been promoted to associate head coach.

Athletics Director Kathy McGinnis said, “He now takes on extra responsibilities, with an increase in player management,” along with “extra recruiting of local student athletes and is more involved in fundraising.”

Andreasen along with being the head assistant coach also teaches a full load of classes as an adjunct professor.

In only his second year at City College, Andreasen has come a long way in a very short time.

The Andreasen household has a strong gene pool of coaching, starting with his dad Tom who coached at Carson High School in Nevada for a number of years, and was inducted into the Nevada Basketball Hall of fame in 2002.

The eldest sister Amber was the head coach at Biola University for several years, the youngest sister Shari is now the head coach at Dayton High School in Nevada.

Bob played his basketball at Napa Valley College, and then went on to play at San Francisco State University where he was the captain of the team.

Whilst at San Francisco State, he received his bachelor’s degree in psychology, and later earned his masters degree in physical education from Chico State.

It was at Chico State that Bob took up coaching and spent eight years as the assistant coach with the last 6 as the top assistant coach.

From there he came to City College and in his inaugural season help lead the City Knights to win the Pacific Coast Conference Championships, and enter the final eight play offs.

Andreason said, “It was an honor for the coach to make that promotion, it means a

Adela Rahmati Contributor Bob Andreason puts the men’s basketball team through the paces in preparation for the upcoming season. Andreason has been promoted to the associate head coach for the men’s basketball team. In only his second season at City College Andreason is looking to repeat last years winning performance. lot for him to have that trust in me.

“I really enjoy the teaching aspect of it.”

This year after long hours of scouting by the coach’s the focus of play has shifted, where as last semester the winning team had spent two seasons together, this years team are still new and need to work towards a strong team work ethic.

This season’s team has great potential, and will be dominated by strength whilst

Taylor Poulin Correspondent

Lady knights place well

The lady Knights Volley ball team hosted the SDCC tournament in the Harry West Gym on Saturday Sept. 26. The Lady Knights would be down on numerous occasions by multiple points, but rally back to win some really difficult games. City would place third in the tournament from 13 teams, with 6 foot sophomore Darlene Nwagbuo making the all tournament team. This honor is bestowed upon one player from each team who make up an elite team of players. Coach Dede Bodnar said “the girls played really well and rallied back.”

SportsLineup Compiled by Donovan Terblanche and Olivia Holt Submit events to e-mail citytimes@gmail.com or call (619) 388-3880 n Oct. 7 Men’s Soccer vs. Cuyamaca 3: 15 p.m.

Women’s Soccer at home vs. Mesa 1 p.m.

Women’s Volleyball away vs. Palomar 5 p.m. n Oct. 9 Men’s Soccer away vs. MiraCosta 3: 15 p.m.

Women’s Soccer at home vs. Palomar 3: 00 p.m.

Women’s Volleyball away vs. South Western 5 p.m. n Oct. 14 Men’s Soccer at home vs. South Western 3: 15 p.m.

Women’s Soccer away vs. Imperial Valley 3: 15 p.m.

Women’s Volleyball at home vs. Imperial Valley 5 p.m.

n Oct. 16 Men’s Soccer at home vs. Mesa 3: 15 p.m.

Women’s Soccer at home vs. Grossmont 1 p.m.

Women's Volleyball BYE Home all day Women’s Cross Country away Mt. Sac Relays. n Oct. 21 Men’s Soccer away vs. Imperial Valley 1 p.m.

Women’s Soccer at home vs. Miramar 3 p.m.

Women’s Volleyball away vs. Mesa 5 p.m. n Oct. 23 Men’s Soccer away vs. Palomar 3:15 p.m.

Women’s Soccer away vs. Southwestern 3 p.m.

Women’s Volleyball at home vs. Cuyamaca 5 p.m.

they look to score quickly with penetration.

Almost the entire squad from last season has moved on, with ten of last season’s players receiving Fulbright Scholarships.

The new recruits are still working to earn a place on the team and the coaches have a difficult time narrowing down the amount of potential candidates.

Coach Andreasen is the perfect candidate to mold these young players as he

commands the respect of his players.

Coach Charlens said, “He deserved it and served in the role last year.”

“There is no drop off when I am not there, and he has a head coach personality.”

With the men’s basketball season less than a month and a half away, the focus has shifted and the mood become more serious, as they look to get their starting line up ready for opening day.