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Covering the San Diego City College community since 1945
Volume 65, Number 8
February 1, 2011
Consumed by construction
A view of campus construction from the C Building on Jan. 26. Crews are working on infrastructure projects and new buildings. Troy Bryant Orem, City Times
With several major renovation projects underway, campus navigation gets tricky By Shane Finneran City Times In 2011, the City College campus will be experiencing some significant growing pains. “This is going to be really the year of construction disruption,” President Terrence Burgess told attendees at a Jan. 19 question-and-answer session about projects on campus. Construction teams are building a new central plant, which will heat and cool
campus buildings, and are doing major work on campus telecommunications systems, storm drains and sewers. Work also has started on new Arts & Humanities, Business Technology, and Math & Social Sciences buildings, which are slated to be finished in 2013. Members of the City College community should prepare themselves for construction-related inconvenience. A mass email sent by the District on Jan. 24 said “be sure to allow extra time to
park and get to class.” Campus Project Manager Tom Fine said City College faculty and staff members have lost about 100 parking spaces since the end of last semester, while the number of parking spots for students has stayed about the same. Since last semester, most of the parking lot west of 16th Street between B Street and Russ Boulevard has been closed. A small portion will remain open to provide parking spots for the disabled and to allow
delivery vehicles to access campus. Street lights surrounding the lot on 16th and on Russ were not functioning on Monday, Jan. 24, the first night of classes. According to Jerry Davis, vice president of Administrative Services, the lights are the responsibility of the city of San Diego, and construction managers have asked the city to inspect the lights. Davis also said the construction team expects to activate lighting within the
Suspect in campus murder still at large Victim’s family grateful for ongoing support from City College community By Ryan Johnson City Times It’s been nearly four months of grief and reflection for City College students and faculty since 19-year-old Diana Gonzalez was slain in a campus bathroom, presumably at the hands of her estranged husband, Armando Gabriel Perez.
Diana’s on-campus murder, arguably the most tragic event in the District’s history, not Diana Gonzalez rocked only those attending City College but residents all over the city. Many people, hearing of Gonzalez’s untimely death, found it hard to not feel sadness or anger over the senseless loss of a young mother who, through education, was trying to make better lives for herself and her family. Students and faculty came together to work through the
healing process, and also took the opportunity, through seminars and open forums, to talk about important issues like campus safety and domestic violence. According to witnesses and reports, Perez — who remains at large — stalked and harassed Diana on campus where he had a documented history of domestic violence against her and his previous wife. Steve Walker, a representative from the district attorney’s office, said the office continues “to work with law enforcement to bring Diana’s killer to justice.” Walker See Suspect, page 2
T Building parking lot by the end of the first week of classes. In the meantime, people on campus should be extra cautious in poorly lighted areas. “Bring a flashlight or call Campus Police to be escorted,” suggested Kim Palek, a staffer in the Disability Support Programs and Services department. Fine noted that the loss of heating in the M Building during the first week of classes was not constructionrelated but was due to a leaky
water line that the District’s maintenance team would be repairing. The District posts construction information in the Building Updates section of the City College website. Fine said anyone with questions or concerns about construction “can notify their professors, deans or any City College administrators, or they can call or email me directly.” His email address is tfine@sdccd.edu.
Access denied? Construction creates new challenges for disabled students By Ricky Soltero City Times While San Diego City College is getting a well-deserved face-lift, students and others on campus — including people with disabilities — must deal with the lack of parking and pedestrian access. The campus area with the most problems is Parking Lot 1, which is located behind the T building. Fourteen spaces in the lot are now reserved for disabled students, and all the spots are often occupied by 8 a.m. The ongoing situation has grown tiring for people who need those parking spaces. Juanita Lopez, a student, expressed her frustration as she was
being dropped off on campus. “It sucks,” Lopez said. “They need more spaces and need to facilitate access.” Although there are other parking areas available, Parking Lot 1 is most convenient for people who use wheelchairs and is a short distance from an elevator that provides access to upper levels of campus. The lot is subject to bottleneck problems because of minimal space available due to the prevalence of construction fences. “In the afternoon, it See Access, page 2
www.sdcitytimes.com | February 1, 2011
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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
Welcome to spring semester 2011
n Feb. 2, Wednesday World Cultures event: Lecture by David Matlin: “Prisons: Inside the New America.” Saville Theatre from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. n Feb. 2, Wednesday Spring Concert Series performance by Cantua in the Gorton Quad from 12 to 1 p.m. n Feb. 3, Thursday World Cultures event: Lecture by Pastor Barry
Suspect Continued from Page 1 could not comment further because the office does not discuss details of ongoing investigations with the public. Larissa Dorman, an adjunct professor and faculty advisor for Bringing Education and Activism Together (BEAT), said Gonzalez’s murder highlights the need for students to get to know and support each other. “One of the greatest parts of the college experience is making new friends and becoming a part of the campus community,” Dorman said. “We are fortunate to have many diverse clubs on our campus, all doing incredible work.”
Access Continued from Page 1
gets crowded,” said Abraham Guerrero, a student who attempted to park in Lot 1. They should organize the parking lot, make it wider. “A lot of people have to park at Balboa Park, and it’s a hassle,” Guerrero added. The Disability Support Programs and Services (DSPS) department conducts walk-throughs for students with disability issues to identify safe places to park and traverse campus. A DSPS representative also attends the College Health
Minkow: “Education, Not Incarceration.” Saville Theatre from 9:40 to 10:50 a.m.
Jazz Live: Red Holloway Quartet. Saville Theatre from 8 to 9 p.m..
n Feb. 8, Tuesday Resume workshop in the career center from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visit the Transfer/ Career Center or call 619388-3722 to sign up. Please have your CSID number and an email address ready to provide when signing up.
n Feb. 9. Wednesday World Cultures event: Performance by Stacy Dyson: “The Life and Times of the Black Woman”. Saville Theatre from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
n Feb. 8, Tuesday World Cultures event:
n Feb. 9. Wednesday Spring Concert Series performance by Matt Suarez and Jaylen Green in the Gorton
Campus groups like BEAT and Visionary Feminists have been instrumental in organizing fundraisers for the Gonzalez family. For instance, a Nov. 10 fundraiser at The Station in South Park raised nearly $1,700, which the Gonzalez family will use toward funeral expenses. Beatriz Luna, Diana Gonzalez’s cousin, said the family is incredibly grateful for all the support, both financial and emotional. Luna said the family faces major challenges raising Diana’s infant daughter, Crystal. Recently, Diana’s mother, Concepcion, had to leave her job in order to care for the infant fulltime. Concepcion, along with Gonzalez’s father, Jose, are starting the process of
legally adopting Crystal, a long, arduous, and expensive process that requires the services of lawyers. Luna said the community support gives the family strength to go on. “Our family (feels) very blessed to witness so many people coming together with the desire to help,” she said. Students can continue to help the Gonzalez family with financial obligations related to Diana’s death by attending the Vagina Monologues performances on Feb. 18 and 19 in City College’s Saville Theater. With the help of Bringing Education and Activism Together and Visionary Feminists, all proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Gonzalez family.
and Safety monthly meetings to stay on top of access issues. “Access and safety are top priorities for DSPS, the College administration and faculty and staff,” DSPS Program Activity Manager Debra Wright-Howard said. “Our greatest resource to identify problem areas is the students,” Howard added. “Letting DSPS know of any non-access situation or barriers helps us to identify quick solutions.” Campus Construction Manager Tom Fine said the campus has taken actions to accommodate students with
disabilities. “We have been working with the district’s Parking Services department and City College DSPS to coordinate... parking and paths of travel,” Fine said. Fine noted that most disabled parking spaces that were lost due to the closing of Lot 1 were replaced by the 14 spots near the T Building. “These spaces actually put people closer to the T Building access paths of travel than the original parking spaces, and they provide disabled students and faculty the ability to reach the campus without crossing vehicular traffic,” Fine said.
February 1, 2011 | www.sdcitytimes.com
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arts Spring Concert Series kick-starts By Katrina Cameron City Times
Isaiah Blas and the Pennant performing at the first event of the Spring Concert Series on Jan 27. Carlos Maia, City Times
Sponsored by Associated Students and Black Cherry Productions, the first event of the Spring Concert Series took place on Jan. 26 at Gorton Quad. Isaiah Blas and The Pennant, a pop indie band, performed at the first concert from 12 to 1 p.m. “This is the first time we’ve ever done any kind of concert series,” said Sal Filipelli, AS senator and event organizer. “We expect it to get bigger, since this was just the first one.” The concert also featured True Live Artist and Madman Graf-X, who did live paintings throughout the event, and various vendors. Approximately 300 people stopped by the quad throughout the hour to see the concert. Scheduled for most Wednesday’s throughout the semester, the series will feature a variety of music artists and genres, like pop, indie and latin rock. “The idea was first proposed to me about two weeks into last semester,” Filipelli said. “The more and more people came and talked about it, the more I thought I could pull it off.” Since the event will run
until the end of the semester, there will be many opportunities to attend a concert. The series has been promoted by word of mouth, the school website, flyers throughout the campus and through a Facebook account. “We just want to bring awareness to the event,” Filipelli said. The next event of the Spring Concert Series will be Feb. 2 in the Gorton Quad from 12 to 1 p.m. Cantua, a Latin Rock band, will be performing.
Upcoming concerts:
n Feb. 2: Latin rock band Cantua. n Feb. 9: Singer and songwriter Matt Suarez and special guest Jaylen Green. n Feb. 23: Indie rock band Bridge 22. n March 2: Pop rock artist Essjay Jones and friends. n March 16: Pop indie artist Kevin Martin and Special Guests! n March 30: Pop rock band Leyva & the Dead 67’s and indie acoustic artist (and event organizer) Sal Filipelli. n April 13: Blues pop and covers artist Deverb. n April 27: Latin artists Cuevo & Friends. n May 11: Punk rock band Dying to Wake.
Spring musical in full color By Katrina Cameron City Times Students auditioned for City College’s spring musical, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” Jan. 29 in the Saville Theatre. Auditioning students were asked to bring music to sing and comfortable clothing they could dance in. Rehearsals for the musical began Monday, Jan. 31. “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” is a family-oriented show consisting of many moments of song and dance. The musical was written and composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice in the 1960s. “We chose Joseph due to its popularity, charm and our
ability to offer a production the entire family will enjoy,” director June Richards said. “It enjoyed several engagements on Broadway, as well as many touring companies.” The musical is based on the story of Joseph, from the Hebrew Bible’s book of Genesis and his, “coat of many colors”. “We are excited about presenting a production that is popular and provides an exceptional performance experience for our students,” Richards said. The show will run at the Saville Theatre April 1, 2, 8 9 and 15 and 16 at 8 p.m. Matinee shows will be held April 3, 10 and 17 at 2 p.m. Ticket prices are to be announced.
Have an event? Let us know!
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Student Denise Gomez signs up on Jan. 27 to volunteer for the events leading up to V-day. Troy Bryant Orem, City Times
Turning pain into power By Katrina Cameron City Times A series of events will take place on campus leading up to City College’s presentation of the nationally known production V-day, which aims to raise domestic violence awareness. The production will be held Feb. 18 and 19 in the Saville Theatre and 90 percent of the proceeds will be donated to Diana Gonzalez’s daughter Crystal’s scholarship fund.
“One of the mottos is turning pain into power,” V-day director and City College theater professor Katherine Rodda said. “I love vaginas,” Marya Edgar, V-day house manager, said. “I love mine and I’m excited to educate other people about it.” The “1000 Vagina March,” a promotional walk through campus for V-day, will take place Feb. 15. On Feb. 16 there will be the “RAD Vaginas” event, RAD which stands for Rape
Aggression Defense, is a seminar that teaches women self-defense skills. A mass poster-making activity, to share stories and draw inspirational pieces that will be featured on the walls during V-day, will be held in Gorton Quad and Curran Plaza on Feb. 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pre-sale tickets for V-Day are available on www.brownpaperticket.com. Tickets will also be sold the night of the event at the Saville Theatre.
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Arts
www.sdcitytimes.com | February 1, 2011
lack wan B S
By Tom Andrews City Times
“Black Swan,” starring recent Golden Globe winner Natalie Portman and playing in theaters across San Diego, tells the story of a young ballet dancer coming to grips with her sexuality and her growth as a dancer. It’s a story that we’ve seen before. In fact, the film is based on and closely follows the story of the classic ballet “Swan Lake.” Nina Sayers is a meek, withdrawn and moderately content dancer with a New York City ballet company. Her dream, like most ballet dancers, is to play the lead. She gets her chance when the company’s longtime prima ballerina (Winona Ryder, remember her?) is fired. Nina is cast as the lead in the company’s upcoming production of “Swan Lake.” Natalie Portman plays Nina with just the right amount of innocence and desire to explore her darker side. She is adept at being childlike and then frighteningly aggressive when we see her darker side. Barbara Hershey does an admirable job as Nina’s mother but is a hollow imitation of the actress she once was. Hershey has had so much plastic surgery that it distracts from her work. Ryder, Mila Kunis and Vincent Cassel offer fine support, and the direction by Darren Aronofsky of “The Wrestler” and “Requiem for a Dream” moves deftly between reality, fantasy and the world of ballet. “Black Swan” is a haunting film and also quite beautiful, with images you will find hard to forget. Nina’s director, played by a shrewd and predator-like Cassel, says she is the graceful White Swan but needs to let herself go and become the more sensual Black Swan, as
well. He breaks her down until she literally tortures herself into the part. Nina’s mother watches over her as if she were still a ten-yearold child. Hershey’s character pushes her daughter to become the ballet dancer she never was and then tries to keep her daughter from succeeding when she thinks the role is too demanding. The story, if we look closer, tells of a girl conflicted about who she is, sexually inexperienced, terrified and excited about becoming the more alluring Black Swan. Her director sexually taunts her, her mother treats her like a little girl, and the ballet company’s sexy newcomer, played by Kunis, gives Nina a taste of drugs, alcohol and an alternative lifestyle. Recent headlines report on how young teens and adults have been choosing suicide over trying to deal with the pressures of life and who they are. In “Black Swan,” we are shown how the pressures of success can be too much for a young girl who has led a rather sheltered life. Nina tries to please everyone close to her but doesn’t know how to please herself. She ends up exactly where the White Swan ends up in “Swan Lake.” 8 of 10
February 1, 2011 | www.sdcitytimes.com
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life Good old romance By Stephen Boyd-Morales City Times
It’s that time of year when you cuddle up with your loved one for Valentine’s Day. One of the more common things to do is to watch a good old romanic film, here are some great romance films.
the height of the AOL chat room, Kathleen Kelly (Ryan) owns a local bookstore. She is dismayed to learn that a large corporate bookstore is opening around the corner and begins to ask the advice of an online friend (Hanks). Through the course of their conversations, they begin to develop feelings for each other.
Loverboy (1989)
Patrick Dempsey, Kate Jackson, Robert Picardo
Before Dempsey was McDreamy, he was Randy Bodek, a broke student who gets a job as SPEAKproductions a delivery boy at a local pizza shop. An unusual order of a large pizza here! films with extra anchovies opens a door Were the World Mine for a new career that will help him (2008) earn the money he needs. Kiss the Bride (2007) Tanner Cohen, Zelda Williams, Tori Spelling, Philipp Karner, James Wendy Robie O’Shea A hit on the film festival circuit, Magazine editor Matt Roman this movie is based on the short (Karner) left his small hometown film, Fairies. Timothy (Cohen) to make it big in the city. But his is the new student at an all boys world turns upside down when he private school, where the rugby receives an invitation to a wedding team bullies him -- until he is cast for his high school love. as Puck in the school’s production of Midsummer’s Night Dream. His teacher inspires him to create the Romancing the Stone (1984) Paramount Pictures famous flower, which gives him the power to make anyone fall in love. Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, This modern retelling of MidsumDanny DeVito Stardust (2007) Charlie Cox, Claire Danes, Robert mer’s Night Dream is a fantastic musical that does not disappoint. Romance author Joan Wilder De Niro (Turner) finds out her sister has been kidnapped, and the captors Young Tristan Thorn (Cox) is demand that Wilder bring a pack- told by the girl of his dreams that if Be My Valentine, Charlie age to Cartegena, Colombia. Soon he can bring her a fallen star, she will Brown (1975) she ends up stranded in the jungle, marry him. He goes off in search of where she meets Jack (Douglas), it, in a magical world beyond the This is the original Peanut’s Valwho helps her look for her sister. wall that borders his town. There entine special. Poor Charlie Brown he discovers the star is more than -- all he wants is to receive a valenYou’ve Got Mail (1998) a star, and he is not the only one tine. He watches all his friends get Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Parker Posey after her. This film has many great them, but alas, none for him. This moments, but Robert DiNiro steals is an all-time classic that cannot be missed. In this film, released during the show as Capt. Shakespeare.
Michelle Suthers, City Times
From saints to cards, why St. Valentine? By Stephen Boyd-Morales City Times During the third century, Emperor Claudius II felt that single men made better soldiers. As a result, marriages for young men were outlawed. It is believed that a priest named
Valentine defied the law by secretly marrying young couples. Today, that priest is one of three Catholic martyrs who are now linked to the origins of Valentine’s Day. According to author Dan Graves, Master of Studies of Law, another famous legend holds that while Valentine was in prison, he wrote a final
What are your plans for Valentines Day? Interviews by Shane Finneran Photos by Troy Bryant Orem
letter to the daughter of a prison guard - and signed the letter with “from your Valentine.” Historians believe that valentine letters were first exchanged sometime in the early 1700s. Ester Howland began mass-producing valentine cards in the early 1840s. The Greeting Card Association
estimates that Valentine’s Day is the second-most popular holiday for giving cards, after Christmas. Approximately a billion Valentine’s cards are sent each year. St. Valentine is believed to have died in about 270 A.D., in the middle of February. Some believe that Valentine was killed after helping tor-
tured Christians escape the Roman prisons. Another theory is that St. Valentine’s Day was held in mid-February to coincide with Lupercalia, a pagan festival. Whether it’s saints, chocolates or cards, for most, Valentine’s Day is about love.
Zach Heager
Rev. Anthony Birttingham
“I have a lady coming down from Fresno... we’re going to go to The Wavehouse and then we’re going to go listen to some blues.”
“For me, Valentine’s Day is for very sentimental things with my wife... a day of lavishing her just because she’s my wife and she’s the love of my life.”
Esther Alfaro
Dymond Mitchell
“Hopefully my boyfriend does something romantic.”
“Dinner and Dave & Buster’s with my boyfriend.”
www.sdcitytimes.com | February 1, 2011
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voice End of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is only a beginning By repealing the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, the U.S. Senate has taken an important step toward establishing equal rights for gay Americans. No longer will members of the Armed Forces — the nation’s largest employer — have to hide their sexual orientation to protect their jobs. Repeal is supported by top military leaders such as Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Admiral Michael Mullen, who is Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. And surveys indicate that most troops — particularly the younger ones who are fighting today's wars — are not concerned with the sexual orientation of their fellow soldiers. The military’s new openness, however, contrasts with the ugly push to ban gay marriage in many states. California’s Proposition 8, for example — approved in November 2008 by 52% of voters — updated the state’s constitution to make sure that “only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized.” The embarrassing success of legislation like Prop 8 suggests that, though the Senate has moved forward with equal rights for gays in the military, most Americans still react to
EDITORIAL City Times Editorial Board homosexuality with childish discomfort and smallmindedness. To more clearly demonstrate our nation’s commitment to equality, the U.S. Congress and President Barack Obama should work to counter measures like California’s Prop 8. After all, the Senate deserves kudos for ending “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” — but there’s something deeply phony about allowing gay people to risk their lives for their country while failing to defend their right to marry the person they love. Similarly, voters who support roadblocks to equality like Prop 8 should reflect on the military’s new policy of treating gays the same as everybody else. If an organization as macho, conservative and traditional as the U.S. military can get over its hang-ups involving sexual orientation, why can’t you? The repeal of “Don't Ask, Don’t Tell” represents an important victory for equal rights. In the war on discrimination against homosexuals, however, many larger battles remain.
Have an opinion? Visit sdcitytimes.com CITY TIMES Volume 65, Number 8 February 1, 2011
www.sdcitytimes.com Ernesto Lopez Editor-in-Chief Shane Finneran Managing Editor Anulak Singphiphat Design Editor Fernando Yates Online Editors Katrina Cameron Arts Editors
Published as: The Jay Sees | 1945-1949 Fortknightly | 1949-1978 City Times | 1978Incorporating the newspapers Tecolote, Knight Owl and Flicks
Stephen BoydMorales Features Editor Michele Suthers Chief Illustrator Troy Bryant Orem Photo Editor Roman S. Koenig Journalism Adviser
Don Wright, MCT Campus
The power of prayer In a recent Fox News poll, 77 percent of voters said prayer was responsible for saving the life of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords after she was shot in the head in last month’s massacre in Tucson. The statistic is hardly surprising given the religiosity of this country, not to mention the Fox News audience. But it seems to represent misplaced praise. Shouldn’t the doctors who worked diligently to save the congresswoman’s life get the positive public feedback, rather than the god that presumably allowed her to be shot through the head in the first place? Giffords may have survived her wounds, but one could hardly say she is blessed or lucky. In all likelihood, she will be left with
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serious and permanent disabilities. And what about the six people who did not survive, including a 76-year-old pastor and a 9-year-old girl who had just come from receiving her first holy communion? Did the prayers of the public somehow overlook them? Why would prayer work for Giffords but not for the victims who died? Unless we assume that no one was praying for the others, it seems more likely that prayer, if a factor at all, was an utter failure. Three survivors of the Tucson shooting, including Giffords, are reported to be in intensive care. If they do pull through, that would mean three of the nine whose wounds were potentially fatal have survived. Assuming all of the victims were being prayed
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City Times Staff Tom Andrew, Cecilia Areta, Megan Bartell, Sidney Bryant, JohnMagus Cambridge, Jose De Los Santos, Layne Deyling, Alec Fernandes, Sandra Galindo, Sonjiala Hotchkiss, Ryan Johnson, Rachel Keown, Scott McLean, Brandon Porras, Mark Rivera, Brenda Sandoval, Fatimata Sanogo, Ricky Soltero, Gabriel Spatuzzi, Roberto Venegas, Joshua Vincent
Correspondents and Contributors Angella d’Avignon, Christine Klee,
Beyond Belief Gabriel Spatuzzi for, prayer’s success rate in this case was around 33 percent — hardly a stellar performance. If God is to be thanked for saving the life of Giffords, he should also be blamed for failing to do so in the cases of those who were not so lucky. Of course, Giffords owes her survival not to God or prayer but to the forces of blind
chance, which is neither benevolent or evil. Chance engenders immense tragedy as well as good fortune, regardless of the hopes, dreams and prayers of those affected. I shudder to think what would have happened if prayer had been the only thing relied on to save Giffords’ life. I wonder whether those who agree with the Fox News poll would prefer to entrust their own lives to a team of skilled doctors or to a Sunday prayer group. If doctors hadn’t operated on Giffords, no amount of prayer in the world would have stopped her brain from swelling, or becoming infected, or suffering any number of possible complications of a gunshot to the head. Let’s give credit where credit is due.
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
February 1, 2011 | www.sdcitytimes.com
Voice
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To shoot or not to shoot Gun control may have prevented some of history’s worst crimes By Gabriel Spatuzzi City Times The debate over gun control in America rages in the wake of the massacre in Tucson, which left 6 dead and 14 wounded. The United States has seen many such massacres, including the Columbine shootings, the Virginia Tech shootings and countless more gunrelated mass killings, most of which could have been prevented by stricter gun laws. Obviously, whatever we are doing to prevent gunviolence in this country is not enough. Consider New York City and Washington, D.C. Both cities instituted strict gun control laws with very different results. In New York City, gunrelated crimes plummeted, making it one of the safest large cities in the country. In D.C., gun violence levels changed very little, if at all, with the new legislation. Guns remained relatively available in
Washington, D.C. because the city's close proximity to Virginia and Maryland, two states with much more lenient gun laws. Guns used in violent crimes are often obtained in states with lax gun laws and trafficked to states where guns are more difficult to buy. It follows that if guns were impossible to purchase in any state, one's ability to get a gun, legally or illegally, would drop significantly. Gun control may not be perfect, but it works. There may be no way to prevent all gun violence. Even the strictest gun laws are flawed, and yes — if guns are outlawed, outlaws will still be able to get guns. But the guns used in the biggest massacres in U.S. history, including at Virginia Tech and in Tucson, were obtained legally. Gun control laws may not be able to stop every gun-related crime, but they very possibly could have prevented some of the worst gun crimes the world has seen.
Shane Finneran, City Times
Guns require caution, not control By Layne Deyling City Times
My gun and I are the nightmare of the home invader, the rapist, the murderer. Without my gun, I am the perfect victim. At 5'4", with no muscle tone or ninja skills, I am as defenseless as girls get — when unarmed. If a hulking intruder terrorizes my home, am I not a fool to allow him within arm’s reach as I try to ward him off with my pepper spray?
What if he has a gun? Gun control debates have flared following Jared Loughner’s assassination attempt on Gabrielle Giffords and his massacre of others. My response: that man decided to do evil and chose a gun to do it. He shot them. He, not it. Loughner’s gun gave him power only because nobody else had one. We hand power to criminals by disarming the innocent. Policies restricting me from owning and carrying firearms put
me, the law-abiding citizen, at the mercy of the law-breaking criminal. I honor the law. The criminal does not. Someone who violates laws about murder is not going to obey rules about the legal means of obtaining guns. According to a Bureau of Justice Statistics study, guns prevent 550 rapes, 1,100 murders, and 5,200 other violent crimes each day. In less than 1% of these instances is a shot fired.
Gun-related accidents outrage gun control advocates. My response: don’t restrict people educate them. Then the mystery and fear surrounding guns will dissipate and ignorant accidents will dwindle. Inflict harsh penalties on anyone who mishandles a gun. Then careless accidents will decrease. I have mastered my gun. I know it, I’ve practiced with it and I know when not to use it. My gun is safe in my hands.
Guns are tools. Tools have no intrinsic morality. Guns are dangerous only in the hands of the evil, ignorant or careless. American law shouldn’t seize freedoms causelessly. Leave me “to keep and bear arms” until I have proven untrustworthy. Should guns exist? Moot point. They do. Taking mine simply means that evil has one and I cannot defend against it. Restrict the evil, not the gun.
VOX POPULI Interviews by Shane Finneran Photos by Troy Bryant Orem
In the wake of the Tucson shootings, do we need stricter gun laws?
Carlos Gonzalez
Kimberly Stoops
Jay Afewerki
Yvette Magna
“There’s a couple changes that could be made. (Guns) could be controlled a little better.”
“There’s only 1 out of every 100,000 people that goes nuts... I don’t think we need extra control.”
“You don’t have to take guns away, but make them less lethal, like with rubber bullets. Start bringing in rubber bullets to the United States.”
“I think (gun laws are) good right now. Just security measures need to increase.”
What is your opinion on gun control? Let us know at sdcitytimes.com
www.sdcitytimes.com | February 1, 2011
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sports Men’s basketball standing strong In second place with six games left in the season, Knights prepare to dominate By Sidney Bryant City Times Over the past seven years, men’s basketball head coach Mitch Charlens has been emphasizing the importance of adversity to his players, and in that seven-year span he has led the Knights to well over 100 wins. He has also helped dozens of his players move onto Division 1 and 2 schools. “My coaching staff and I take extreme pride in guiding young people,” Charlens said. On Jan. 26, the Knights defeated Mesa College 83-67 in a game where they went 12-of-25 from downtown. Guards Tim Harris and Danny Teisher both shot over 50 percent from the 3-point line. Harris finished the game with 19 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Teisher, who is the team’s leading 3-point shooter, finished the night with 16 points and was 5-of-10 from 3-point land. Sophomore guard/forward Ter-
rence Boyd led the way for the Knights with 26 points and 13 rebounds. All night long, Boyd was a nightmare for Mesa in transitions and in half-court sets. Speaking of transitions, sophomore guard Steve Aldridge was brilliant as he dished out 13 assists with only one turnover. “We have to cherish the rock,” Assistant Coach Joe D’Ambro said. “At this point in the season, our destiny is in our hands.” Over the Christmas break, Charlens and his staff lost the team’s three top rebounders to injuries. Phil Jackson at 6’9, Gerad Carter at 6’7 and Chris Coleman at 6’5 were monstrous inside for the Knights early on in the season. All three are elusive big men who had created a lot of challenges for opponents. The Knights are currently 14-7 with an 8-2 conference record. Their eight wins in conference play has them ranked second behind Southwestern, who the Knights will play again on Feb. 11. The Knights have six conference games remaining, and they know what’s at stake. “It’s time to hit the reset button... it’s time to hit the reset button,” Charlens said with a smile. “This is when we have to accept adversity and just run with it.”
City College tennis coach and instructor Gretchen Magers, 47, has been selected to represent the United States at the annual Senior World Team Championships to be held in New Zealand in late Februar y. Courtesy photo.
Magers to represent U.S. in world tourney At the peak of her career, Magers was a Junior World Champion and represented the U.S. at 1984 Olympics By Mark Rivera City Times Tennis has taken her around the globe to compete and given her the chance to meet royalty. Now, City College tennis coach Gretchen Magers is being recruited to represent the United States in a worldwide competition. Magers, 47, has been selected by the United States Tennis Association to compete in the Senior World Team Championships for the fifth time. The 2011 tourney will be held in New Zealand in late February. In the championships, which are sponsored by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), nationally ranked senior tennis players represent their coun-
Sophomore guard Tim Harris, #23, goes for the shot during a matchup against cross-town rival Mesa College on Jan. 26. The Knights defeated their guests 83-67. Carlos Maia, City Times
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tries in men’s and women’s age groups from 35 to 55-plus. An avid tennis player since age 11, Magers has been competing professionally since she was 16 and debuted at the US Open soon after. Her involvement with ITF has taken her to countries like Australia, South Africa, Turkey, Spain and Mexico. “My main motivation growing up was getting a college scholarship,” Magers said. Magers received her scholarship to Trinity University in Texas, and while there, she was a 4-time All-American and a NCAA doubles champion. She said she played in the professional circuit for seven years after graduating in 1986. Her many accomplishments include earning a top-20 singles player and winning three singles titles and six doubles titles. Magers was also a quarterfinalist at the U.S. Open, at the French Open and at Wimbledon. Magers was a World Junior champion in 1982, a Pan American Games gold medalist and a U.S. Olympic Team member in 1984. Magers is an active member
of her San Diego Community. She not only coaches the City College women's tennis team and instructs tennis courses in the fall, but she also hosts tennis mixers on the weekends to help players of all skill levels work on their game. According to Dean of Athletics Kathy McGinnis, City College has seen an influx of students coming in from all over the San Diego area to learn from an instructor with the level of expertise that Magers brings to the court. Magers said she attributes her accomplishments on the court to the strong family she had while growing up in Pittsburgh, Penn., who taught her the value of hard work. “If you work hard, you can accomplish things,” Magers said. “I’ve met princes and generals… There’s no way a little girl from Pittsburgh should be meeting these kinds of people, but it was through the sport of tennis that led me to shake the hand of the Duchess of York. “It’s simply because I love tennis. I pursued it and never gave up, and I think that’s when doors in life will open for you.”
Sports Lineup Compiled by Ernesto Lopez Submit events to citytimes@gmail.com or call (619) 388-3880
n Feb. 2 (Thursday) M-Tennis vs. Fullerton 2 p.m.
n Feb. 7 (Monday) Softball vs. Saddleback 3 p.m.
n Feb. 4 (Friday) Baseball vs. Saddleback 2 p.m. W-Basketball vs. Palomar 5 p.m. M-Basketball vs. Palomar 7 a.m.
n Feb. 11 (Friday) W-Basketball vs. Mira Costa 7 p.m. n Feb. 12 (Saturday) Baseball vs. Pasadena 10 a.m.