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Covering the San Diego City College community since 1945
Volume 65, Number 2
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September 16, 2010
District dips into reserves State legislature has yet to allocate budget for 2010-11 school year By Ernesto Lopez City Times
A car drives out of the new parking structure on 17th and C Street. The garage has been faced with allegations that its ceilings don’t meet construction guidelines. Carlos Maia, City Times
Low ceilings?
Construction manager says new parking structure ceilings are not too low, students disagree and fear emergency vehicles won’t fit through
By Ricky Soltero City Times Many students have said the ceilings of the new parking structure on 17th and C Street “are too low,” but administration said it meets construction guidelines. Once inside the parking levels, the clearance height is 6 feet 8 inches; while the average height of a sport utility vehicle is approximately 6 feet 3 inches. Several students voiced
their concern over the ceilings because they could be easily reached with little or no effort. Other students said they are afraid emergency vehicles will not be able to access the higher levels of structure if needed. “Honestly, I wouldn’t think (an ambulance or fire truck) would be able to gain entry to the parking garage,” student Jonathan Bustos said. Student Jen Wheeler also said, “the ceilings are
really low,” and does not believe most vehicles will fit through the structure. Similar n More responses parking were given available by other stu- on campus dents. Page 3 Campus Project Manager Tom Fine said the parking meets all state laws and designs were approved before the beginning of construction. “The parking garage was designed to comply with all building codes and
standards that regulate the industry,” Fine said. “The state reviewed every (drawing) and each detail of these documents. The design was approved for construction.” When responding to allegations that the construction company was asked to rebuild the structure, Fine said there was never a request to do so. College Police Sgt. Jordan Mirakian said it would not be standard See Ceilings, page 2
The San Diego Community College District has been forced to borrow money from its reserves in order to survive the beginning of this 2010-11 school year. Despite the lack of money to fun educational services, the district managed to add close to 1,500 class sections. In a forum on Sept. 8 held at City College, District Chancellor Constance Carroll said the district has been forced to borrow from their savings since state legislature has yet to allocate budgets to community colleges and all local sectors. “There is no bad news,” Carroll said. “We have the reserves and that will sustain us while we’re not getting paid. We are operating on our own devices.” Terry Davis, vice chancellor of business services, told forum attendees that the state is $34 million behind in payment. In order to stay afloat, he said the district has been meeting payroll and other operational costs by borrowing $18 million in the cash flow reserves and using $17 million in the beginning balance. The district has three other budget reserves. As
of Aug. 18, the insurance reserve had about $11 million, the retiree health benefits reserve had $11.5 million and the capitol projects reserve had $5 million. Carroll credits the stability and large reserves to the districts financial team. “We have strong financial
San Diego Community College District Chancellor Constance Carroll. CT management that has kept us safe,” she said. “Terry eats, lives and breathes the budget.” Davis explained that the cash flow reserve increased by 6.8 percent and the beginning balance reserve is up $3.2 million from last school year because of the districtwide hiring freeze. “By recognizing the affects of budget cuts early and putting up a hiring freeze we were able to save and add to our reserves,” Davis said. Carroll added that the district has advanced about $10 million to students See District, page 2
Campus construction met with frustration By Mark Rivera City Times City College has been under construction for the last two years and it will continue until 2014, according to campus project manager Tom Fine. Most construction taking place is being funded by Proposition S and N that were passed in 2002 and 2006, which has given the San Diego Community College District more than $1 billion in voter-approved bonds. The Learning Resource Center, L and V buildings, and the new parking structure on campus are all a result that funding. “This summer and fall begins what will be a monumen-
tal effort to construct four new buildings and several infrastructure projects,” Fine said. The Central Plant project started earlier this summer. The Business Technology project and the Arts & Humanities Project have started. The Math & Social Sciences project is ready to start in the middle of Oct. The Science Building will begin later this fall or early in 2011. However, most the construction being done on campus has been met with frustration from City College students and faculty, especially those that have classes in the C and L buildings. Student Gaydela Lamkin said she has a piano class located in the C building and
has found the jack hammering outside to be a distraction. “It’s kind of hard to hear the teacher with all the construction going on…it’s just very, very loud,” Lamkin said. While Music Professor Wendy Green has found that her teaching style has gone through certain adjustments because of the construction noise, she also finds it difficult to navigate through the campus lately. “It’s like the school is a fortress,” Green said. “Just getting up to the music building (seems like) we have to go through a labyrinth.” Both Lamkin and Green were unaware of the construction that was set to take place this semester.
Construction crew works at Gorton Quad, Sept. 8, while students travel to classes. Carlos Maia, City Times
www.sdcitytimes.com | September 16, 2010
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TAKE NOTE Compiled by Katrina Cameron Get your event in the paper. E-mail us at citytimes@gmail.com or call 619- 388-3880
n Sept. 21, Tuesday World Cultures presents “9500 Liberty: An Exploration of Democracy & the Changing Face of America” at the Saville Theatre. 9:40 - 10:50 a.m. n Sept. 21, Tuesday Musicians Curtis Fuller and Gilbert Castellanos perform at the Saville Theatre. $5, general admission $10. 8 - 9 p.m.
n Sept. 22, Wednesday World Cultures presents a performance by Seema Sueko of Mo’olwlo Performing Arts Group. “Yellow Face” by David Henry Hwang; Saville Theatre. 11:15 a.m. - 12:35 p.m. n Sept. 24, Friday Grand opening of Career Technology Center. n Sept. 24 - Oct. 2 San Diego City College International Book Fair. For more information or for a schedule of events visit sdcitybookfair.com
Ceilings Continued from Page 1 procedure for emergency vehicles to drive up the parking structure, he assumed medics would go on foot to attend a person in need. “The garage is designed
District Continued from Page 1 qualifying for Cal Grants, since the state has not allocated money for students. Aside from not receiving the budget for this school year, the district will not be receiving the amount needed to sustain the high volume of students
in such a way that all ADA parking spaces and emergency vehicle access points are located on the first level,” Mirakian said. “The entrances to the garage are designed with enough clearance (approximately 14 feet) to allow these vehicles to enter and
park there.” “The federal code for ambulance height requirements is that they do not exceed nine foot two inches, so with a clearance of 14 feet there is ample clearance for emergency vehicles to enter the garage,” Fine added.
enrolling for classes. The state compensates schools about $5,000 per Full Time Equivalent Student (FTES) but the district is capped at 41,000 when there are about 43,000 FTES. An FTES could be one student taking 15 units or five students taking three. Last school year, 2009-10, the district had about 45,000 FTES but was
capped at 43,000. Although the district added class units to meet California state law requiring 50 percent of the budget being used for instructional purposes, Carroll said more classes were added to meet high demand. “This is about all of us,” she said. “It becomes my job to support the dreams of others.”
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n Sept. 16, Thursday World Cultures presents Chicano Artist, Malaquias Montoya; Saville Theatre. 9:40 - 10:50 a.m.
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September 16, 2010 | www.sdcitytimes.com
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NEWS City can now park with ease
STUDENTS RUSH CAMPUS CLUBS
By Mark Rivera City Times The new parking structure on 16th and C Street has added 700 new parking spaces to City College; however, hundreds were lost to construction. According to district Parking Program supervisor Debra Picou, Lots 5 and 6 were closed over the summer to store construction materials and San Diego High School took back 100 spots. Despite the losses, Picou said there are 343 more parking spaces than last semester. Not including street parking, there were 668 spaces last school year. With all of these new parking spots available to students, some said finding parking is much easier.
Surrounded by construction crews and their equipment, Inter Club Council held their fall semester Club Rush event on Sept. 7 and 8 at Gorton Quad. Different campus organizations had booths promoting their agenda and recruiting new members. City Peace, Veterans for Peace, Education for All, City College Socialist Club, BEAT and other groups participated. Radio Station 91.7 provided entertainment and representatives from Rockstar, the energy drink, handed out samples. Carlos Maia, City Times
“I didn’t have to go around the parking lot twice,” student Duvina Marques said. “It takes me about eight minutes to find parking, it makes it easier. I bet I would have gotten a ticket if (the parking structure) had not been there, because I park(ed) in the red all the time.” Some faculty members said they are “grateful” to have the new parking structure available this semester. “I need to be here at 9 a.m., which is a real core time that people are coming to campus and there’s a lot of traffic,” English Professor Christy Ball said. “I go straight (to the new parking structure.) I don’t mess around with the other faculty lots. I find parking as soon as I get to the structure, (and) I park within 30 seconds.”
Student turns a corner in their truck into the new parking facility. Carlos Maia, City Times
Campus smoking ban on trial period By Ryan Johnson City Times This semester marks the start of the first full academic year of San Diego City College being a “100% Smoke Free” campus. The ban implemented on a one-year trial basis, which started during summer session, is the last step in an incremental plan to phase out smoking at City College, according to City College President Terry Burgess. Up until 2008, City College, which is public property, had a decadelong policy of acting in compliance with the minimum requirements set forth in California Government Code Sec-
tion 7596(a). This code states “... no public employee or member of the public shall smoke any tobacco product inside a public building, or in an outdoor area within 20 feet of a main exit, entrance, or operable window of a public building, or in a passenger vehicle owned by the state.” However, a subsection of Code 7596 essentially gives institutions like California community college campuses the ability to create their own policies with regards to smoking. Instead of taking a “cold turkey” approach to the issue, Burgess said the ban is happening in “stages.” For instance, during the last academic year, students were able to smoke in parking lots and in designated areas. “(The ban) seems to be working reasonably well,” Burgess said. “I have witnessed less smoking on
campus and groundskeepers have noticed less litter.” Signs posted on campus warn that police will issue citations for littering if they witness any student not properly disposing of cigarette butts.
“I have witnessed less smoking on campus and groundskeepers have noticed less litter.” Terrence Burgess, City College President Burgess did say, however, that “we are not rigorously enforcing (the ban) by means of ticketing.” Instead, Burgess mentioned that self-policing among students is the best route to take during the trial period, noting students and staff
are “generally agreeable (to complying to the ban). “It’s kind of an honor code,” Burgess explained. The ban has been met with enthusiasm by many students and staff. Nancy Sickler, senior clerk of Student Health Services, said that there are “a lot of students with breathing issues, so it’s wonderful as far as (they) are concerned.” There are other people who feel the ban goes too far. Student Jeremy Moore, who is in his third semester at City College, said he understands smoking is unhealthy, but feels “the college should designate areas for smokers” as a matter of equal rights. Burgess said he realizes both sides of the debate deserve their voice. “We will probably do a survey of faculty and staff next spring in order to gauge public opinion.”
City College student Andrew Sandin smokes at the park next to the Learning Resource Center on Sept. 9. Luis Carrillo, City Times
www.sdcitytimes.com | September 14, 2010
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Arts Fame-hungry stars set to hit the dance floor Michael Bolton. Brandy. Margaret Cho. Rick Fox. Jennifer Grey. David Hasselhoff. Florence Henderson. Kyle Massey. Bristol Palin. Audrina Patridge. Michael Sorrentino. Kurt Warner. These stars will appear on the 11th season of “Dancing with the Stars” (DWTS), or as it should be called “Dancing with the Stars – and those other guys.” Some of these names will probably be unfamiliar to you, and there is a reason for that. DWTS has struggled with finding real stars in recent years, this season proves that. By now, the pool of talented artists or athletes to choose from is shallow. While a few of the contestants were once famous and are barely remembered – Grey, Henderson, Hasselhoff – other ‘stars’ don’t even deserve this title. Celebrities like Michael “The Situation” Sorrentino (“Jersey Shore”), Audrina Patridge (“The Hills”) or Bristol Palin (abstinence-only, unwed teen mom) are famous for publicly making the same mistake as most teens and young adults. Being on a reality show or getting pregnant at 16
AS SCENE ON SCREEN Christine Klee
aren’t necessarily noteworthy ‘achievements’. Sorrentino especially sticks out as a sore thumb. The contestants on DWTS are required to exhibit some sense of class and decorum – something he doesn’t seem to care for. Casting him to appeal to a younger and generally less intellectual audience is unlikely to succeed. Viewers of “Jersey Shore” will probably not sit through 11 ballroom dances just to see him perform. More likely, this plan will backfire and turn some of the older audience away from the show. “Dancing with the Stars” returns to ABC on September 20. The first few episodes should quickly show who has the graces to stay and who will go home early. In case you were wondering: Hasselhoff, Grey, Henderson and Massey are actors; Warner and Fox are former pro athletes; Bolton and Brandy are singers, Cho is a comedian. Sorrentino, Palin and Patridge aren’t really famous for anything outstanding.
Co-director of this semester’s production, “Songs for a New World,” Alicia Rincon leads cast in warmups. Performances will begin Oct. 29. Anulak Singphiphat, City Times
Theater sings a new song By Haley Manbeck City Times Thirty students auditioned Sept. 4 for the upcoming musical, “Songs for a New World” at the Saville Theatre. Auditioning students sat waiting as they were each called on stage to sing. The talent varied from seasoned actors to novices. Amid auditioners, Jasmine Morgan said she was “really nervous,” while Heather Andrews said she was “more excited.” “We always allow individuals auditioning to come into the theater to
“Surabaya-Santa” (sung by Mrs. Clause) is more lighthearted. With so much technical detail to consider for the set, costume and casting, Richards will have a lot to prepare. “Songs for a New World” is a relatively small show. Originally written for four people, Richards decided to do a smaller show this fall. Showtimes of “Song for a New World” will be at 8 p.m. on Oct. 29 and 30, then again on Nov. 5 and 6. Sunday matinees, Oct. 31 and Nov. 7 and 14, will be at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the box office.
Franek, professor by day film curator by night By Mollie Shepardson City Times
The new season of Dancing with the Stars is set to begin Sept. 20. Daughter of Sarah Palin, Bristol, will be one of the participants. Courtesy photo, ABC Studios.
observe (others as they audition),” Codirector June Richards said in an e-mail interview. “It is part of the educational process.” There was a variety of songs used in auditions. Some were popular hits and others were well-known musical theater numbers. “What I remember is the quality of each audition,” Richards said. “I think the individuals did a terrific job.” “Songs for a New World” is a collection of 16 songs connected by a theme. There is a prisoner’s song called “King of the World,” while others like
Film professor Lisa Franek has been leading a double life as San Diego City College professor by day and as curator for the San Diego Latino Film Festival (SDLFF) by night. The SDLFF has been introducing Latino-themed films to the San Diego community for the past 18 years. Franek’s journey with the film festival began as a volunteer for the Media Arts Center San Diego (MACSD.) By now, Franek said she has viewed over 600 films as the curator for the festival. “Film is the only art form that really has the opportunity to combine all the rest, such as painting, dance, and music,” she said. Franek puts the films that are considered for the festival through a lengthy selection process, during which
she considers the storyline, acting and mise en scene. “The objective is to bless the audience with a film experience that offers fresh perspective away from the drone of Hollywood movies in addition to bring[ing] the best diversity,”Franek said. Ethan van Thillo, creator and executive director of SDLFF and MACSD, said Franek’s many talents are appreciated. “The organization is fortunate to have someone with Lisa’s talents and passion in filmmaking, teaching, and curating film screenings,” van Thillo said via E-mail. The Latino film festival is a non-profit organization funded by sponsorships and grants, as well as ticket sales. Some proceeds are donated to educational programs such as the Teen Production Project which educates youth from Tijuana and San Diego how to produce a community-
Lisa Franek centered documentary. The teen project is focused on teaching young filmmakers “how to become an active part of the community,” MACSD coordinator Melissa Johnson said. Although the films selected for the festival – “Celda 211” and “Cinco Dias Sin Nora” -- are the works of Mexican and Spanish directors, the SDLFF makes sure to also exhibit local films.
Franek said participating in a film festival can give a filmmaker’s work exposure. “You never know if you’re going to see a director or star (in the theater),” she said. Although Franek may not have much time on her hands to work on her own films due to a lengthy schedule at the MACSD, she said she has met “career-altering contacts.” Franek’s advice to student filmmakers is, “Be a part of a film crew, attend workshops and film festivals.” By participating in different areas in filmmaking, Franek said will not only learn about filmmaking but also get to network with others in the field. The two films will be shown Sept. 10-16 at the UltraStar Mission Valley Cinemas at Hazard Center. Adult tickets are $10 and student and senior citizens tickets are $8. For show times visit www.mediaartscenter.org.
September 16, 2010 | www.sdcitytimes.com
Arts
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Birds eye view of KSDS Jazz festival from the corner of Abbot st. and Newport Ave. in Ocean Beach. The annual one day festival was held on Sept. 11 and hosted 26 bands from across the countr y. Ryan Johnson , City Times
Jazz festival returns to OB By Ryan Johnson City Times Although Sept. 11 will forever be known as a day of remembrance of attacks on American soil, residents of Ocean Beach used the date as an occasion to celebrate. Known for its eclectic community, the residents hosted the Jazz 88 Ocean Beach Music & Arts Festival, now in its sixth year.
The festival hosted 26 bands ranging from jazz to blues to funk to swing and played music on 4 indoor and 3 outdoor stages. Supported by San Diego City College and the San Diego Community College District, the event was organized and run by staff and students of FM radio KSDS Jazz88. Local acts such as San Diego Music Award six-time winner Lady Dottie and the Dia-
monds and two-time SDMA winner Sue Palmer were on stage, along with international artists like Grammy award winner Ernie Watts and his quartet. Antonio “T.J.” Johnson, a singer of more than 30 years, stood proudly on the community stage and paid tribute to our country with versions of the national anthem and “America the Beautiful.” Johnson said the festival was marked with “a breath of spiritual energy that Ocean Beach has...it’s what OB is all about.” The Four Queens of Boogie Woogie featuring Sue Palmer, an OB resident, came together after realizing that they were able to harness their collective energy into something unique and great. The supergroup of lady pianists includes Palmer, the Bay Area’s Wendy Dewitt, Tucson’s Lisa Otey and Los Angeles’ Dona Oxford. Oxford spoke excitedly after their set about the beginnings of the Four Queens. “We all knew of each other and when the four of us got together at one time about two years ago it was like ‘Oh my God!’ Oxford said. “The chemistry was so great, we decided we have to continue this and we’ve been doing it ever since!” Also performing on the Anthology Main Stage was San Diego State University’s All Star Big Band featuring trumpeter Bobby Shew. Speaking with the band’s conductor Bill Yeger, pro-
fessor of Music and Director of Jazz Studies at SDSU, it was clear that education plays a huge part in creating tomorrow’s musical allstars capable of backing someone like Shew, a Grammy nominee. “I call it the All-Star Big Band because I selected people who are in the program now going back 33 years,” Yeger explained. “So it’s the best people who have played in the SDSU Jazz Band.” The day ended with a funky main-stage set by Maceo Parker. Parker, who described his start with the Godfather of Soul, James Brown, as “like being at university,” certainly had no trouble channeling Brown by helping the crowd to “Get Up Offa That Thing.” Those interested in fine arts weren’t ignored as part of Newport Avenue was turned into an outdoor gallery for some of San Diego’s finest visual artists. Patti Judd, who represents Anthology, commented that “the mood was festive and we were certainly rewarded with a sunny afternoon and all its artistic moments.” Judd continued to say that she hoped “San Diego audiences and sponsors (would) continue to gain momentum in supporting live music.” After Parker’s set marked the end of the festival, audience members could be seen dancing down Newport Avenue. For some, the night was just beginning as many bars and venues in OB continued to support live music throughout the night. Leave it up to Rick Estrin, who played his harmonica with the band “The Nightcats” to summarize the sentiment of how the day felt in true jazz-cat style, “It felt good, man!”
Left: Lead vocalist of Ladie Dottie & The Diamonds dazzles the audience during the OB Jazz Festival with their upbeat Blues, and lively soul music. Above: From the left, cousins Brenda Church, Lisa Jordan and Cameron Church jam out to Maceo Parker. Carlos Maia , City Times
www.sdcitytimes.com | September 16, 2010
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VOICE City College should clear the air for good City college administration and Associated Student Government unveiled a "Smoke Free Campus" campaign last school year. No Smoking signs were posted but with no clear repercussions smokers continued to puff away all over campus. This semester, the No Smoking signs have reemerged and yet again smokers are lighting up. Nobody seems to escape the secondhand smoke; they light up near classrooms, restrooms and busy stair ways. One reason given for the smoking ban last school year was "For the Health of it," clearly there are some concerns over people’s wellbeing but there is still no reinforcement. In 2006, San Diego beaches and parks became no-smoking zones after City Council voted to ban the practice; like City College, Council cited public health. According to the U.S. Environment Protection Agency 3,000 nonsmokers die every year of lung cancer due to secondhand smoke, also known as environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). Other cancers linked to ETS
I hate being critical of a persons writing acumen,so I won’t. Regarding Mollie Shepardson’s opinion piece on Prop.8, I don’t think she understands that the constitution protects the rights of each individual not the”MORAL”majority. Marriage (50 percent of which fail) has nothing to do with biological procreation, it is an institution created by religious bodies. The government, however unfortunate it
City Times Editorial Board are bladder cancer, cervical cancer and nasal sinus cavity cancer. Like the local beaches and parks, City College is a public zone and pregnant women and people with asthma take classes here. If this smoke free campus intent is going to work administration and campus police need to seriously get involved. Smoking areas need to be designated and clearly marked, preferably in parking lots and away from common areas. Warning signs informing people of ticketing need to be posted around campus, a $20 ticket will probably stop people from smoking on people's faces and right outside classrooms. All new rules are hard to follow, but if the college is going to spend money on printing the NO Smoking signs then they should spend a few extra dollars and reinforce the ban. Other community colleges in San Diego that have adopted the smoke-free campus are Mesa, Palomar, Grossmont and Cuyamaca.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR may be, recognizes marriage as a civil union as well. This grants the partners in this union benefits such as tax considerations, the right to be at a partner’s bedside as they suffer from terminal illness and many others. All citizens should have these rights with no regard to sexual orientation. Adam Skidmore City College student
Please recycle this paper
CITY TIMES Volume 65, Number 2 September 16, 2010
www.sdcitytimes.com
Dear students, teachers, faculty, staff and any other community members who may have the privilege of reading this, Most of you don’t know me. Maybe you’ve seen me around campus. Maybe you’ve had a class with me. You may have seen me sitting in the cafeteria, book in one hand, turkey sandwich in the other. There is an infinite amount of settings and situations in which we may have crossed paths. But while you may have seen me, one thing is almost for certain. You didn’t notice me. You see, for the most part, I like to keep it low key. I don’t speak up in class and I certainly don’t go out of my way when it comes to making friends. As it is, I can barely deal with the ones I have now. So why then, have I chosen such a public forum
EDITORIAL
Same-sex should have same rights Dear Editor,
Allow me to introduce myself to let my presence be known? Why would I commit my personal thoughts to paper for the whole world (or at least the City College community) to see? Well for one, it’s the first step in my ultimate goal of writing for Vanity Fair. And two, and more importantly, it’s because I’ve reached a point where I just can’t stay quiet anymore. We live in a nation where Jersey Shore cast members are getting paid thousands of dollars to appear at a club, where athletes are signing multi-million dollar contracts, where CEO’s of corporations are making unimaginable profits from the layoffs’ of their employees. We live in a nation where all this is happening and yet we can’t seem to find the money to provide health insurance for everyone.
We still have people starving and sleeping on the streets. All these athletes and entertainers are living
WITH AN H Heric Rubio
the good life while over 6,000 students in the San Diego Community College District couldn’t get a single class this semester because of the budget cuts. I don’t know about the rest of you, but this seems like a pretty skewed way to have a country set up, especially one that was supposed to be one of, if not the, world leader. So while I can’t do much about the people getting
these obscene amounts of money for playing with balls, I can point out the people who are putting them on a pedestal. I can point out the failings of our educational system (I’m looking at you, girl in my English class, that asked “What’s democracy?”) that allow these things to happen. My hope is that through this column I’ll wake up some sleeping minds. I hope to get people thinking and asking questions about the problems facing us, both in our community and worldwide. But it won’t be all doom and gloom. There’ll be uplifting stories, funny anecdotes and random rants and raves. For the most part though, I’ll be looking to raise some hell. Heric Rubio is the City Times opinion editor
Public wants precious cargo to have their own section The predicament is overwhelming: Aunt Sue and Nana and Uncle Rob have just been dying to meet that precious bundle of joy. Pictures uploaded on Facebook just aren’t close enough to the real thing, so during a lapse of what can only be explained as insanity, you agree to fly cross-country, baby in tow, to appease the family fan club. That home for the holidays visit can quickly become a nightmare for both parents and surrounding passengers unlucky enough to be the “scream zone.” The entire ordeal of boarding a high-flying Petri dish of germs and funny smells is uncomfortable enough, let alone trying to sleep or relax while an upset child wails in your ear. So it may come as no surprise that a recent poll carried out by Skyscanner, an airfare comparison site, indicated that 59 percent of travelers would like a “families only” section
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onboard flights. A further 20 percent believe that the airlines should offer “adults only” flights where children wouldn’t be welcomed abroad. Should an idea like this actually be put into motion? Have we become a society less tolerant of the nomadic family just trying to get to Grandma’s house? Or does the avid business traveler have the right to travel in peace and quiet? Once a passenger claimed she couldn’t watch her son on the redeye to New York because she had an important meeting in the morning and needed to rest. She proceeded to wrap up in blankets and a pair of earplugs while her child kicked and pounded the seats around him, almost causing an instant riot. Other parents, however, come well prepared only to be defeated by extenuating circumstances. Another passenger’s daughter had what I refer
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City Times Staff Sulaymaan Agnew, Luis Bahena, Stephen Boyd-Morales, Sidney Bryant, Luis Carrillo, Katrina Cruz, Wendy Diaz, Shane Finneran, Tim Hine, Olivia Holt, Lela Ioane, Sam Irizarry, Ryan Johnson, Haley Manbeck, Paolo Martinez, Frankie Parker, Mark Rivera, Ricky Soltero, Coatlicue Villanueva, Fernando Yates
Correspondents Dominick Camarena, Darnell Campbell, Chris Carr, Delia Castro, Albert Columbo, Angella d’Avignon, Elizabeth Freeman, Andhrea Gapunay, April Garcia, Steven Hawkins
to as the “catastrophic baby meltdown of 2007.” After countless tries with toys and blankets and bottles, I was handed little miss meltdown while Mom sought refuge in the lavatory for a few sacred moments. Wiping the tears from her
VIEW FROM THE TOP Vanessa Gomez
cheeks, she explained how all the things she packed for her little one was no consolation for her absent father, currently serving in Iraq. Watching children board our flights over the years has heightened my level of patience to rival that of a saint. One must remember that public transportation is
indeed public, meaning you will come in contact with a wide spectrum of people. Some of our passengers have to understand that a well-prepared family might still encounter the disoriented child, afraid in their new surroundings, longing for a familiar habitat. For those who feel their children don’t need boundaries and think it’s cute to watch little Timmy run rampant, think again. Not only is it irritating to other passengers on board, it can also be dangerous to let them loose in a dark cabin. This blatant disrespect pushes that 59 percent to corral families to their own corner. Chances are “adult only” flights will never fly the friendly skies. So for those parents who think their children are someone else’s problem in a metal tube flying at 37,000 feet, may I suggest the bus? Vanessa Gomez is the City Times copy chief
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 for grammar, spelling, punctuation and length. Memberships Journalism Association of Community Colleges California College Media Association Associated Collegiate Press California Newspaper Publishers Association
September 16, 2010 | www.sdcitytimes.com
Voice
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Mosque may mean mayhem Building Islamic Center also builds tolerance Nine years ago we all watched in horror as two of America’s most iconic buildings toppled to the ground in one of the vilest acts of terrorism in modern history. As we saw those images replayed over and over, we were told that those responsible were of the Muslim faith. In the following years, as more information on the situation was made public, we came to realize that those responsible were extremists and that these acts were not condoned by the rest of the Muslim world. So why is it then that the proposed building of Park 51 Cultural Center, a mosque and Islamic center two blocks from Ground Zero, is causing such an uproar? Has it not been made clear that the people behind 9/11 were extremists, some of whom weren't even Muslim? In fact, according to Edgar Hopida of the Center for American-Islamic Relations, the “organizers of the cultural center…were among the Muslim leaders and organizations in American who condemned the terrorists and their actions.” To deny these people the right to build their place of worship where they please would go against every American ideal. Was this country not built on the backs of those escaping religious persecution? Were our soldiers not fighting for the past nine
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Heric Rubio years in the name of freedom and democracy? It seems to me that this country just isn’t happy unless it’s going after someone. So here’s an idea, if we’re going to stab cab drivers in the neck for what someone with similar, yet distorted, world views did, let’s crucify a Catholic for what some priests have been doing for centuries to little boys. If we’re going to burn down the future site of a mosque in Tennessee, let’s destroy Christian super churches like the Rock over the Crusades. Or better yet, let’s not do any of this. Let’s take a cue from the leaders of the Park 51 Cultural Center and establish a dialogue between the various faiths. Let’s learn from our past mistakes and end this cycle of constant civil disagreement. In a time where we’re trying to move ahead as a country, allowing this to be built so close to such a sensitive site, an area that is, according to Hopida, “filled with liquor stores, porn shops, and other food places,” would be a step forward in our evolution as a nation. Heric Rubio is the City Times opinion editor.
Have an opinion? E-mail the editor at citytimes@gmail.com
They may have the right, but it would just be wrong “No Mosque here!” That is what a group of protestors shouted during a demonstration concerning Park51, the proposed Islamic community center and mosque. It is a 13 story building that is to be built two blocks from the World Trade Center. 1000 protestors showed up as well as around 200 supporters. The building of this community center has sparked heated debate on both sides. The question is…should they build the mosque at its current proposed location? President Obama recently stated that they had a right to build the mosque, as did the governor of New
York David Paterson. Freedom of religion is one of the founding principles of this country. But having the right to do something doesn’t necessarily mean that you should do something. During that same demonstration I mentioned earlier, an observer videotaped an incident in which an American citizen who said he was Christian, was verbally assaulted because some of the protestors in the crowd mistook him for being Muslim. He was escorted away from the gathering for his safety and asked to leave. He felt that he was being
CON
Stephen Boyd-Morales
denied his right to be there. This is the type of backlash we could potentially see if it is built at the proposed location. This is a perfect example of why it would not be appropriate at this time. Many people still equate being Muslim with being terrorist. This is completely wrong and unfair. An entire group should not be blamed for the actions of a group of extremists. But, as has happened in the past with other groups,
they are the current people that society does not trust. It has been less than 10 years since the 9/11 tragedy. The wounds are still fresh for many people. At this point in history it would be inappropriate to build such a place so close to Ground Zero. That is not to say they shouldn’t be able to build the mosque somewhere else. Gov. Paterson has offered a deal to the developers to relocate the proposed mosque to a state-owned land in a different location. Stephen Boyd-Morales is a City Times staff member
VOX POPULI Question by Heric Rubio Photos by Ernesto Lopez
What are your thoughts on the proposed Quran burnings in Florida?
Ali-Shahur Osmond, Undecided
Ashley Olivas, General Education
Joe, Business
“If Christianity is against killing anybody... wouldn’t every soldier that’s killed in retaliation be on his soul?”
“Burning Qurans’ is really disrespectful. It’s like burning our Bibles. That would be an outrage. So why burn theirs?”
“I just think overall they’ll have a lot of controversy. I mean I don’t know the direct effects that it’ll have.”
Katie Anceravage Broadcasting Journ. “I think it’s only going to bring more conflict instead of solving any conflict.”
www.sdcitytimes.com | September 16, 2010
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SPORTS Lady Knights edged by LA Valley By Ernesto Lopez City Times The City College women’s soccer team was defeated 1-0 at home by Los Angeles Valley College on Sept. 10 despite having control of the ball for most of the game. In true fashion, the Lady Knights controlled the ball the first half and got off six shots, but could not find the net. Freshman goalkeeper Claudia Quiroz held her game and tallied seven saves overall. During one of their runs to Knights territory on minute 41, the Cubs took full advantage and scored the only goal of the game when Quiroz left the frame unattended in an attempt to gain control of the ball. The Lady Knights had several scoring opportunities in the second half, but were unable to follow through. This loss puts the soccer team at 0-4 for the season.
The Lady Knights faced the Los Angeles Valley College Cubs on Sept. 10 on home turf. Freshmen goalkeeper Claudia Quiroz launches out of the frame to steal the ball from rival player during the first half of the game. Ernesto Lopez, City Times
Goalkeeper Claudia Quiroz speaks to the team during halftime, at that point the Lady Knights were down 0-1 vs. Los Angeles Valley College. Ernesto Lopez, City Times
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Women’s volleyball team display their second place trophy they battled for on Sept. 11 at the Coyote Classic Invitation Tournament at Cuyamaca College. Sophomore middle blocker Katie Peterson received all tournament team honors. Ernesto Lopez, City Times
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