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Covering the San Diego City College community since 1945
Volume 65, Number 11
Take Note.......................... 2 Life................................... 4 Arts.................................. 7 Voice................................. 9 Sports............................. 12
March 22, 2011
SDSU student found dead in Madrid river French have dubbed "Jack the Pusher" is the culprit. Whether or not Bice was to blame for his own death, being prepared and more aware would have increased his chances of getting home safely that night. So what is the study By Alec Fernandes abroad program at City City Times College doing to prepare Austin Taylor Bice students to stay safe in a studied international busi- strange country? Internaness at San Diego State tional Education CoordiUniversity. His aspiration nator Marion Froehlich to conduct business in for- explained the school's proeign countries was a per- cedures in educating stufect match for a program dents about the safety risks offered by his school that of studying abroad. "We have a mandatory allowed students to spend a semester in Madrid, Spain. pre-departure orientation Bice arrived in Spain on where we begin addressing Jan. 15, but he would not these issues, but frankly finish his semester abroad. most of the safety issues are addressed on The 22-year-old site when they student went missarrive in the host ing the night of Feb. country," Froehlich 25. The last time he said. "Given what had been seen was happened at San outside a Madrid Diego State … we'll nightclub where he make an additional was apparently too intoxicated to be Austin Bice effort to reinforce the safety issue." let inside. City College is prepared Police searched high and low for the SDSU to deal with even the most student over the next ten serious situations abroad days, and foul play was the thanks to an organized public's primary suspicion response plan established regarding Bice's disappear- several years ago. "We also have a district ance. The San Diego student's emergency response plan body was found March 8 in that ... addresses all kinds the shallow Manzanares of issues, from natural River that flows through disasters, to war, terrorism the city. No lacerations or and what we are to do if signs of poisoning were something happens." Froehlich explained. discovered. The excitement of studyIt seemed the college student was so intoxicated ing abroad derives from that he fell off a nearby the mystery an intrigue of a bridge and drowned in the foreign land and its array of possibilities. These advenriver below. However, similar deaths turous possibilities are not of three men in Lille, always safe, however, and France now have people questioning if a man the See Bice, page 11
Investigation is ongoing, but alcohol appears to have played significant role
Government officials walk down a recently cleared roadway on March 17 in Kesennuma, Japan, six days after the coastal town was devastated by an earthquake-generated tsunami. Brian van der Brug, MCT Campus
Japan struggling City College student concerned as her home country reels from historic disaster By Shane Finneran City Times On the night of March 10, Yoko Saito — a City College student from Yokohama, Japan — heard from a friend that a massive earthquake had just rocked her home country. Saito tried calling her mother in Yokohama but couldn’t get through. It wasn’t until the next morning that a text arrived from her mother, indicating she was safe. Over the next few days, Saito learned that her friends and family had all survived the magnitude-9.0 quake and the destructive tsunami it generated. Geography was key: Yokohama, Japan’s secondlargest city, is south of Tokyo and hundreds of miles from
Yoko Saito, a Spanish major from Yokohama, Japan, checks seismic activity March 17. Troy Bryant Orem, City Times
the quake’s epicenter and the tsunami’s impact zone. While Yokohama was largely spared, areas along
Japan’s northeastern coast were devastated by the shaking and resulting ocean surge. At press time, more than 5,500 people were believed to have been killed in the disaster and at least 9,000 more were missing. A potential meltdown at a nuclear power plant threatened to make the crisis worse. Saito said rumors abound in Yokohama, where gas and food have become scarce and electricity has been turned off for three or four hours daily. Regarding radiation, residents were reassured when Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported that the city’s levels, though higher than normal, were
not a threat to public health. Still, the potential danger from radiation in Japan is uncertain, and several foreign governments have encouraged their citizens in Japan to leave the country. In San Diego, which is more than 5,000 miles from Japan, there is little risk that radiation from the damaged power plant could cause harm, according to City College professor of physics and astronomy Lisa Will. “The dispersion of the radioactive fallout depends on several factors: how much is released into the See Japan, page 2
Ten-hut: VA updates GI Bill By Wayne Saxer Correspondent Changes are in store for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, a program that offers support to veterans who received an honorable discharge on or after Sept. 11, 2001. According to the GI Bill’s website, effective Aug. 1, all public in-state tuition and fees
will be paid, while private and foreign school costs are capped at $17,500 annually. Pay during breaks or intervals is no longer payable under any Veterans Administration education benefit program, unless under an Executive Order of the President or due to an emergency, such as a natural disaster or strike.
“This is the first I am hearing of these changes,” said sophomore Edgar Mendoza, a Navy veteran, when questioned by a reporter. “Our breaks are pretty long,” Mendoza added. “That is awhile without getting paid.” The money formerly paid during breaks will be used to extend the time veterans are
able to get benefits. The goal is to ensure veterans can get their degrees before their benefits expire. Payment for housing allowance is now prorated towards each veteran’s courseload based on a 12-unit semester. For example, a veteran enrolled in 9 units will get 75 percent of his or her housing allowance.
Letters were mailed out to inform students of the changes. The veterans affairs office at City College suggests all veterans check the GI Bill website often for updates and to plan accordingly. The website’s address is www.gibill.va.gov.
www.sdcitytimes.com | March 22, 2011
2
Take note Crack City By Michele Suthers
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Calendar Compiled by Layne Deyling Get your event in the paper. E-mail us at citytimes@gmail.com or call 619-388-3880
n Mar. 24, Thursday 9:40-10:50 a.m. “Gulf,” a film about Hurricane Katrina. Room D-121 Free. For more information, call 619-388-3676 or visit sdcity.edu/worldcultures.
in the LRC/Library.
n Mar. 29, Tuesday 4:00-7:00 p.m. National University advisor visit
n Plan Ahead Spring Break is upon us from April 18 to 23.
Japan Continued from Page 1 atmosphere, prevailing wind patterns, and distance,” Will said via e-mail. “The odds of radioactive material in any appreciable amounts to reach us are very low.” On March 14, the San Diego Community College District sent a letter to students from Japan to express condolences and offer counseling services. “We want you to know that our faculty and staff
are here to assist you in any way,” said the letter, which was signed by Chancellor Constance Carroll and other district officials. Marion Froehlich, City College’s international education coordinator, estimated that of about 40 exchange students currently attending the school, five are from Japan. Saito, who is studying Spanish and works in the cafeteria’s coffee shop, said she didn’t know any other Japanese students on campus but remains concerned about people back home. “This is my first time that
n Mar. 30, Wednesday 12:00 p.m. Spring Concert Series presents rock band “Leyva and the Dead 67s” in Gorton Quad. Free.
I thanked Facebook,” Saito said. She explained that she was worried about a friend in Japan whom she couldn’t get hold of after the disaster. Eventually, another person posted a Facebook comment saying Saito’s friend was okay. Noting that her home country’s residents are still being terrorized by aftershocks, Saito said she has begun monitoring an application on her cell phone called “Latest Quakes,” which highlights recent seismic activity in Japan. “Please keep praying for people,” she said.
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March 22, 2011 | www.sdcitytimes.com
3
news Language Day fest celebrates cultures Annual event alive with fashion shows, singing and plenty of ethnic dancing By Megan Rose Bartell City Times Students filled Gorton Quad on March 9 for the 17th annual Language Day Festival to celebrate and promote linguistic and cultural diversity. “A phenomenal amount of people have been participating all day,” Associated Students President Beto Vasquez said. The entertainment was a non-stop whirlwind of dancing, singing and fashion shows displaying the dress of many different cultures. Lena Baklenova said she enjoyed making the Russian folkstyle costumes and crowns. “The purpose of the program is culture,” professor Rosie Sandoval said. “We also want to show that what makes this campus is the diversity.” Sandoval led the ceremonies while urging the crowd to participate in one of many group dances, including “El Caballo Dorado,” a Latin line dance. Brother and sister duo Yosvani Ceides and Belinda Ceides danced fervently to the Cuban song “Cubaton.” “Part of learning Spanish is doing things like this, activities for learning the language,” said Steve Sopha, a former City College student who sang “De Mariachi,” by Antonio Banderas. Evidence of the popularity of the Belly dancer Nadirah performs during the Language Day Festival in Gorton Quad on March 9. talent competition was shown when Sopha finished and the crowd cheered Troy Bryant Orem, City Times
“Otra!”, a cry for an encore. Yosvani Ceides and Alejandra Bernal danced in the talent competition. Bernal wore a bright purple dress with a large skirt that flipped and waved about the dance floor when she performed. The talent contest was judged on the intensity of crowd applause, and Sandoval heard a tie between Bernal and Ceides. This tie led to a dance-off between the two, which ended with Ceides saying that Bernal should win. Bernal won a $25 San Diego Community College District gift card, good at any of the shops on the three campuses in the district. In addition to all the n More dancing and singing enterfestival photos tainment there was a LotPage 6 teria for prizes hosted by the Spanish 215 class. The Spanish Club sponsored a booth and gave away free cookies, chips and sodas to the crowd. Bright, multi-colored flowers could be made at the arts and crafts booth hosted by Spanish 101. Students Stephanie Miguel and Moe Barbakh helped other students make flowers. “I like helping out people a lot,” Miguel said. “I like doing the arts and crafts stuff. The instructor taught me how.” Seven different language clubs were represented at the event. In the Russian booth, student Nathan Rivera educated other students on aspects of Russian culture. “We’re taking Russian as a language,” Rivera said. “We have to immerse ourselves in it. We want to represent it.”
Men of color unite at HUBU conference By Sandra Galindo City Times “Young men of AfricanAmerican and Latino background face the greatest challenges of everyone in America,” Chancellor Constance Carroll told attendees at the second annual Hermanos Unidos/Brothers United conference on March 11. “We feel in the San Diego Community College District that we need to make an extra effort to help,” Carroll said. “This country has not provided what it should.” To support young men of color and help them discuss strategies to overcome challenges in higher education, the City College event had keynote speakers from the African-American and the Hispanic communities. Eight workshops were provided for the students to inspire them regarding their culture and ethnicity and to help them address and overcome the real-life
issues these groups face. Themes included social marginality, lack of opportunities, immigration, hostile school environments and discrimination based on stereotypes that often portray men of color as criminals and racial intolerance.
“Because the enemy is not aliens from space, but ignorance and intolerance” -Jerome Hunter, former president of City College The workshops allowed for discussion and opened networks for communication serving the students’ interests. “A lot of those stereotypes come from the prison system, because is built to separate people,”
math professor Misael Camarena said. “We need to change what is being done currently.” Building understanding between African-Americans and Latinos, and unifying and increasing their academic achievement and giving them their right to hear their viewpoints was part of the challenge at the event. African-American and Latino males have the lowest rates of graduation compared to other student groups. “The majority of the jobs that are coming on board are going to require a College degree,” said Marylyn Harvey of the City College Foundation. “We need to make sure that our students, our young men, woman African-American and Latinos are getting those degrees, so they get to participate too in the great game of life. “The conference is sort
See HUBU, page 11
A still from “Gulf” shows destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina. Courtesy photo
Artists to screen “Gulf” doc By Sonjiala Hotchkiss City Times Just five days after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, San Diego artists Richard Keely and Anna O'Cain were in Pascagoula, Mississippi handing out tools, supplies and donations. “We didn’t plan on making a film, but we’re both artists, and we always have cameras and equipment,” Keely said. World Cultures will sponsor a showing of Keely and O’Cain’s film “Gulf” and a discussion with the artists March 24 from 9:40 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. in D-121 A and B. Katie Rodda, director of the World Cultures Program, said City College fine arts
professor Terri Hughes-Oelrich brought the 23-minute movie to her attention. “It’s not your CNN or Spike Lee kind of film,” Keely said, describing “Gulf” as a neighborhood drive with cameras peering from the windows. The film shows Pascagoula residents talking in the dark nights before electricity was restored, a boat ride out into the Gulf and the efforts to rebuild after the storm. Keely and O’Cain completed the film in a Pascagoula hotel room in summer 2010. A Pascagoula native, O’Cain had a personal perspective on the effects of Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast. Keely and O’Cain cap-
tured footage for “Gulf” over a span of two and a half years during their visits to O’Cain’s hometown. According to artproducegallery.com, O’Cain and Keely also worked on “a storytelling record,” an art installation and a photographic book about Hurricane Katrina. Keely is an associate professor of art at San Diego State University and O’Cain is a studio art instructor at MiraCosta College. Collaborative artwork by O’Cain and Keely has been shown at several local galleries. For more information about the showing of “Gulf,” contact World Cultures at 619-388-3552.
www.sdcitytimes.com | March 22, 2011
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LIfe History of gaming From Ataris to Nintendos to Xbox 360s, video game consoles have come a long way By Fernando Yates City Times The new generation of gamers may think of video games as something modern that revolves around broadband Internet and photo-realistic graphics, but video games trace back to the late 1960s. While some games are said to have been programmed at MIT by a few engineers, the very first home console was developed in 1967 by Ralph Baer, a television engineer. Baer’s idea of a game component for a television was achieved in the Brown Box, the first video game system. By the time the Brown Box was fully developed, its 12 games could be played on any standard television, some including the use of a light gun. Baer took his Brown Box prototype to Magnavox, which created the Magnavox Odyssey, the first commercial video game console. The system was seen as a novelty, and that as well as false rumors that it only worked on Magnavox TVs were the Odyssey’s points of failure. In 1972, Nolan Bushnell started a company called Atari. Atari had an arcade hit early on with “Pong,” and in 1975, Atari sold a home version in Sears stores. Atari became a household name and the star of at-home gaming. The successful Atari 2600 was released in 1977, with a catalog of games such as “Space Invaders,” “Breakout” and “Combat.” At this point, things in the video game industry started to go bad. The success of Atari and a few others cre-
ated a plethora of systems. Almost everything was a clone of a clone. The games were poor and expensive. Large companies such as Mattel were trying to cash in on a blooming industry. Then a small Japanese card manufacturer came on the scene in 1985 with the Nintendo Entertainment System. The Nintendo did many things to stand out from the crowd. First, every NES came packaged with a free game, “Super Mario Bros.” Second, Nintendo created a seal of approval that told consumers that the game they purchased met a standard of quality. With class-A titles and a controlled experience, Nintendo almost singlehandedly saved the video game industry. Years passed, the market stabilized, and Nintendo was the dominant force in the video game market. A company called Sega became the closest rival with its Master System in 1987. In the ‘90s, video games began to evolve quickly, moving from 8-bit games to 16-bit games, with the Sega Genesis in
1989 and Nintendo’s Super NES in 1991. But in 1995, a new 32-bit system would come from Japanese electronics giant Sony. The Sony Playstation was a disc-based system that was more powerful and could produce better graphics. Nintendo would counter with the Nintendo 64 the next year. By 2001, Sony had released the Playstation 2, Nintendo the GameCube, and console-market newcomer Microsoft the X-box. All three competed directly for dominance of the home gaming market. Their next generation of consoles arrived around 2005. Everyone today knows what a Wii and PS3 are. They know “Call of Duty,” and they still know Mario. Over the last 30 years, video games have appeared everywhere from films to courtrooms. Gamers are no longer nerds. They are grandmothers that need exercise. They are college students. Gamers are everywhere.
MCT Campus
Addiction has a new friend Drive the best cars available in ‘Gran Turismo 5’ The new “Gran Turismo 5” 3-D video game for PlayStation 3 gives the user a sense of the old and the new, all in one game. “Gran Turismo” started back when, in my opinion, games were much easier and fun to play. In recent years, most games have gotten so complex that it takes hours of practice to even be able to get past the first level. “Gran Turismo 5” is not one of those games. The game play of “Gran Turismo 5” is much like the first “Gran Turismo” game, which was released by Sony in 1997. The new version still offers the ability to buy the game and play with little previous experience. This
GAME REVIEW Scott McLean
ability makes the game great fun to a novice. For experts looking to drive some of the world’s worst and best cars, this game has them all. The new “Gran Turismo” gives the user the ability to drive, modify and race over 1,000 cars, from a Ferrari to a Ford Focus. Players can buy and then customize their cars with everything from turbo kits to computer upgrades. The game also allows players to search online to find cars that others have “souped up” and
want to sell. The new game also offers the ability to race NASCAR, rally cart and drifting. These new features are great but require the player to save up enough money to be able to afford to buy the necessary cars. Each section in the game requires the user to win a new license before the game will open up newer cars for the user. This feature can at times be frustrating when you have a difficult time beating the requirements set by the game’s makers. There are seven different licenses that users have to pass to beat the game. This See Turismo, page 11
iPad 2: Better, stronger, faster The new tablet is thinner and has two cameras By Fernando Yates City Times Apple released the muchanticipated iPad 2 March 11. The tablet sold out at many stores during the weekend, and the wait period for online orders is now weeks long. Apple has yet to release the total sales numbers at the time of this writing, but many believe that this version of the tablet will be more successful Steve Jobs debuts Apple’s new iPad at the Yerba Buena than the original. Apple announced the Gardens Theatre in San Francisco. Karl Mondon, new, redesigned iPad March Contra Costa Times
2 from the the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. The iPad 2, as it was called by Apple CEO Steve Jobs, is a complete redesign from the first tablet that was released nine months ago. The new tablet computer is faster, lighter, and thinner and has two cameras while maintaining the same price points of the original iPad, starting at $499. According to Jobs, the new iPad includes models with Wi-Fi and 3G service available from AT&T and Verizon. Jobs also said that the iPad 2 will come in black or white from day one. This iPad is faster due to Apple’s new A5 processor.
The dual-core processor is two times faster and has a graphical performance that is nine times faster than the first iPad’s A4 chip, but it is still low-power like the A4. The low power consumption maintains the iPad’s 10-hour battery life. New to this version of the iPad are two cameras, one front-facing and one rearfacing, that allow use of FaceTime. The back camera is a high definition camera that shoots 30 frames per second with audio and has a 5x digital zoom. The front camera is a VGA camera that also shoots at 30 frames. The design of the pad is now one-third thinner and has sharper edges that the
original iPad. As a result of the thinness, this iPad is now lighter, weighing in at 1.3 pounds. At the event in San Francisco, Jobs also announced updates to the iPad operating system, iOS, which brings improvements to programs such as Safari and iTunes Sharing. Jobs also mentioned a new cover design for the iPad 2 and an HDMI cable adapter. The event finished with presentations of versions of iMovie and Garage Band, which will sell for $4.99 each. In typical Apple fashion, everything in the iPad 2 fits together well, and as a result, everything presented will be available starting March 11.
March 22, 2011 | www.sdcitytimes.com
LIFE
Hip-hop nation
Meals range in price from $10 to $12.
Students take to microphone to address issues at ‘speak out’
2971 Imperial Ave. San Diego, CA 92102
By Cecilia Areta City Times
Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“The youth is the solution to real change,” said Education for All member Marcos Perez. “Hip-hop allows freedom of expression.” On March 9, Education for All, the Socialist Club, and Poetic LIP Movement held a “speak out” to students in Curran Plaza. The demonstration asked students to step up to the microphone and speak freely about what is happening around the world and locally. “(We’re) doing this because people need to listen,” participant Elvis de la Cruz said. “It’s hard for some people to express themselves, and it’s up to us, the ones that can, to express the thoughts of everyone around.” “Hip-hop is a movement,” Perez said. “We, the youth, are creating momentum towards change.” The speak out had everything from dancing to rapping to singing and def poetry. J double A impressed the audience by performing a hiphop dance routine as a trio. Browny Lox, the second-place winner
www.sisterpwees.com
4 out of 5 stars
Baby back ribs, cabbage, white rice and brown gravy. Scott McLean, City Times
Pee Wee’s food for the soul Grant Hill restaurant offers an eclectic mix of home-cooked meals
Sister Pee Wee’s Soul Food in Grant Hill is a very small but lively restaurant located near downtown San Diego. Sister Pee Wee’s offers an old and eclectic mix of food and characters. There is no set menu, no person to seat you, and when you enter, it feels as if you walked into some random person’s kitchen. The menu at Sister Pee Wee’s is one of the restaurant’s greatest draws. You never know what is available unless you call or go in. Sister Pee Wee decides each morning what the meal for that day is going to be depending on what she feels like cooking that day. Some frequent menu items at Sister Pee Wee’s are BBQ ribs, fried chicken, fresh fish, smothered pork chops and BBQ chicken. The sides, which also vary daily, include collard greens, macaroni and cheese, green beans, black-eyed peas and pinto beans. The day I was there, Sister Pee Wee’s served fried catfish, fried chicken
TASTE TEST Scott McLean
and one of my favorite foods, baby back ribs. I chose the ribs, which were very tender and falling off the bone. They had been slow cooked by Sister Pee Wee in a sweet and tangy BBQ sauce and were accompanied by spicy cabbage that was to die
for. The plate also had fresh cornbread and white rice smothered in brown gravy, a truly home-cooked meal. A very small restaurant run by Sister Pee Wee and just a few others, Sister Pee Wee’s has some of the friendliest staff and tastiest soul food that you can find anywhere in San Diego. The restaurant seats maybe 10 people and serves soda from the can, but what Sister Pee Wee’s lacks in decor, it certainly makes up for in down-home hospitality and great food. Sister Pee Wee came to San Diego from Little Rock, Arkansas when she was 16 years
5
old. Since her arrival in San Diego, she has raised eight children and has served food to the community around Grant Hill for over 42 years. In my opinion, Sister Pee Wee’s hits the mark on soul food. My soul feels better for having visited the place. The only fault to be found at Sister Pee Wee’s is that the restaurant is cashonly and can only seat ten people at a time. Sister Pee Wee’s great cooking and extremely friendly service get the soul food restaurant 4 out of 5 stars.
of City College’s talent show, amazed audiences again with her spoken word performance. Many other students had the courage to step in front of the microphone and express their opinions. These clubs will have more events this semester. EFA meets Wednesdays at 11 a.m. in the cafeteria, and the Socialist Club meets there Thursdays at 4 p.m.
Freddy Lopez on the mic in Curran Plaza on March 9. Cecilia Areta, City Times
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www.sdcitytimes.com | March 22, 2011
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Focus
Language Day extravaganza Students filled Gorton Quad on March 9 for the 17th annual Language Day Festival to celebrate and promote linguistic and cultural diversity. “A phenomenal amount of people have been participating all day,” Associated Students President Beto Vasquez said. The entertainment was a non-stop whirlwind of dancing, singing and fashion shows displaying the dress of many different cultures. — Megan Rose Bartell
Top left: Belly dancer “Nadirah” performs an authentic Middle Eastern dance. Top center: Aba Ibrahim creates a henna tattoo. Top right: Criminal justice student Perlita Bustamante flashes cards for the Loteria game. Above: Student Marriah Geiger creates an arts and crafts flower at the Spanish 101 class booth. Right: Alejandra Bernal dances in talent competition. Photos by Anulak Singphiphat, Megan Rose Bartell, and Troy Bryant Orem
March 22, 2011 | www.sdcitytimes.com
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Arts Kevin Martin rocks nooner concert series “Thanks, everyone, for cutting your classes and coming out!” A long-haired Kevin Martin and his band played Gorton Quad as part of the Spring Concert Series on March 16. At noon, a modest crowd gathered to watch Martin and his seven-piece backup band kick off their set. Martin, on keys, said “Let’s rock and roll, dude!” Martin also plays keys with the notorious San Diego band Get Back Loretta and is a seasoned performer whose quips and talent tame any crowd. He delivers social commentary gently through the melodies of charming piano chords, giving depth to his pop songs. It’s his gift of communication and humor that really make the performance. While the band played a particularly toe-tapping
CONCERT REVIEW
Angella d’Avignon song, students filled the quad, making the scene film-worthy. When the uniformed girls from the California Conservation Corps began to pop and lock to the music, Martin promptly improvised a beat for them to dance to while his drummer and guitarist joined in. Martin’s sound ranges from gritty rock ’n’ roll to classical style piano soliloquies. His spot-on songwriting and witty stage presence carry his range and can entertain any crowd. More music from Martin is available on his website at facebook.com /KevinMartinMusic.
Kevin Martin sings in Gorton Quad on March 16. Troy Bryant Orem, City Times
Galler y guests view photos by Pablo Serrano at the Luxe Galler y on March 11. Anulak Singphiphat, City Times
Images of Colombia Exhibit at Luxe shows photos of nation torn by political violence By Alec Fernandes City Times The Luxe Gallery at San Diego City College was originally built to show the work of artists invited from outside the school. This goal has finally been achieved thanks to Pablo Serrano, the Latin American photojournalist who is the first outsider to exhibit his work here in a collection titled “La Otra Cara: Rebellion in Colombia.” The gallery reception on March 11 welcomed those interested in the stories of people affected by political violence in Colombia. It was the second exhibit hosted by the Luxe Gallery since its opening in September 2010. Serrano, who lectured at Saville Theatre earlier this
semester on human rights violations in Colombia, seeks to spread awareness through Pablo Serrano photography. He said he hopes to promote activism in younger audiences by showcasing his work at various schools. “This collection will be touring at different learning institutions over the next six months,” Serrano said. There is an incredible sadness present in Serrano’s photographs, especially in one section titled “Massacre in San Jose de Apartado,” in which a community mourns those lost to the chaos that afflicted their town just days earlier. Paula Meyer, a former City College professor, found the photographs of crosses inscribed with the names of death squad victims to be the
most moving images in this section. Meyer said she was most moved by the crosses, as “they symbolize finality. When there’s a cross, it means there’s somebody under it.” An interesting aspect of Serrano’s photography is the tilted angle that gives many of his pieces a sense that life in Colombia is literally turning upside down. This quality is mostly seen in the first section of the exhibit, titled “Rebellion in the Streets of Colombia.” In Serrano’s self-proclaimed favorite piece, a young revolutionary stands upright with a chain around his neck and scars across his back as he observes the turbulent background. His fellow revolutionaries in the background are standing on a street slanted at a peculiar angle. The contrast between the upright figure and his tilted companions convey the young man’s concern that
life is sliding out of control. Parisa Jaffari, a photography major at City College, said this was her favorite piece as well. “You almost feel like you’re there fighting along with them,” said Jaffari. “(The feeling is) raw, right there, like you’re in the moment.” The scenes Serrano photographed were so powerful that they needed little to no modification in order to portray the human rights violations in Latin America. “(I only used Photoshop for) contrast and cropping, standard things that are done in a darkroom,” Serrano said. Even in a seemingly static picture of a revolutionary grasping a rock, one can feel a defensive sense of anticipation as tanks loom in the unfocused background. Serrano claimed that this photo tends to evoke the strongest response in viewers, who can sense the See Serrano, page 11
‘Joseph’ brings color to City College ‘Technicolor Dreamcoat’ production set to open April 1 By Rachel Keown-Burke City Times The Saville Theatre bustled with energy from City College students on March 16 as they moved through final rehearsals of Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Tim Rice’s “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” for the upcoming spring musical. “I love the surprise,” said June Richards, one of City College’s drama professors and director of the show. “I love the
variety. I love the sweetness of the show. “Right now I think it’s time for some sweetness. It’s just very complicated to ‘be.’ And live. And survive and make a living and feed your family and children ... because we’ve never had a recession so complicated. So (‘Joseph’) is the antidote to the recession.” The musical is a retelling of the biblical story of Joseph, his multicolored coat, his twelve envious brothers, and his perseverance over degradation into slavery and ultimately his rise to fame and power within Egypt’s royalty. The musical identifies the protagonist’s journey through a jovial demonstration of a belief in something bigger than oneself, and, per Rice’s lyrics, no
matter what, “at the end of the tunnel there’s a glimmer of light.” Tyler Vess, in his first endeavor into portraying a title character on the City College stage, examines Joseph’s struggle after his twelve brothers sell him into slavery for a mere pittance of a few silver coins. Joseph’s soliloquy-like song, “Close Every Door,” which follows the dastardly transaction, depicts the hero at the end of his rope, in a dank jail cell, having been stripped of literally everything “including the shirt on his back,” Vess said. However, “even if you’ve had everything taken from you, you can build your way back up and be on top,” he explained. Richards has produced and directed the show twice before.
She believes that while the over-arching theme of the musical is not meant to “plumb the depths of one’s soul,” it creates “an absolutely joyful movement from mood to mood.” Laughing, she added, “It’s almost like a potpourri of all the musical elements one would see in a lifetime — calypso, ’60s boogaloo, all with the element of surprise. “It has this joie de vivre, this great joy of living, because (Webber and Rice) wrote it in the ’60s. And what was wrong with the ’60s? Absolutely nothing.” There is certainly an element of surprise around every corner which caters to music lovers of every genre, including See Joseph, page 11
Tyler Vess, who will play Joseph in City College’s spring musical, at rehearsal March 16. Rachel Keown-Burke, City Times
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Arts
www.sdcitytimes.com | March 22, 2011
How banksters and politicians stole our money
Director Brian Garcia, seated at left, poses with the cast of his film “Crossing the Line” at the San Diego Latino Film Festival on March 16. Troy Bryant Orem, City Times
‘Crossing the Line’
Former motion-picture-production student screens short at San Diego Latino Film Festival Former San Diego City College student Brian Garcia’s new movie, “Crossing the Line,” opened audience’s hearts with a sad but realistic view of illegal immigration in the United States. Garcia credits his recent success in part to the motion picture production class at City College, in which he was able to learn and hone his skills as a beginning movie director. He created his first movie, “Two Minutes for Revenge,” as a student at City College, and the film helped him get into San Diego State University to study filmmaking. Garcia’s short film tells the story of an immigrant
family and their hardships reaching Salinas, Calif. The film takes an all-too-real look at how the mother and her children have to evade arrest and trust crooked coyotes. “Crossing the Line” was shown at the 18th Annual San Diego Latino Film Festival on March 16, and was one of nine short films screened in the category of Frontera Filmmakers. The movie hits on a subject that can be very controversial and at times spark very heated arguments. The movie makes no claims as to who is right or wrong, just that bad things are happening to good people on both sides of the
FILM REVIEW
Scott McLean border. “I want people to learn from the movie,” said Garcia. “Crossing the Line,” offered a great look at people rather than statistics. The film, being just under 10 minutes, has the ability to get its point across without seeming rushed. Garcia and his team did a great job in using natural sounds to intensify the audience’s perception and to build drama. The cinema-
tography of the movie also helped to put the audience in the moment with good use of close-ups and obscure camera angles. “Crossing the Line,” Garcia’s second film, did a great job with a limited amount of time and money. The movie was made in less than six months and for around $700. Garcia attributes his success to working hard, “throwing your ego out the door,” and learning to work with others, because you cannot make a movie without a crew. For more information on how to see “Crossing the Line,” go to www.reckwave.com.
Enraging, frightening and utterly unbelievable: “Inside Job” is all these things, but most importantly, the events in this film are also true and actually happened. The documentary chronicles the events leading up to the financial meltdown of 2008 and explores their consequences. In the film’s beginning, viewers are introduced to Iceland, whose economy was seen as highly stable only 10 years ago. Then legislators privatized Iceland’s banks and eliminated restrictions for the financial services industry. In less than a decade, Iceland’s economy collapsed and the country went bankrupt. Using this extreme example, the film takes us to America and uncovers the foundation of the global economic crisis. Filmmaker Charles Ferguson interviewed politicians, economists, bankers, journalists and even a high-end prostitute to expose the cause of the current recession. Some of the dialogue could not have been scripted better. One example comes from a Senate hearing, during which Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich, asks Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein, “What do you think about selling securities that your own people think are crap? Does that bother you?” Blankfein responds by asking, “Is this hypothetical?” “No,” says Levin, “this is real.” Seeing such a conversation on screen will make your blood boil in rage, for good reason. The film’s focus might give the impression that it is boring or too complex for the layman to understand. However, the filmmaker manages to break the terms and concepts down and make it all crystal clear.
AS SCENE ON SCREEN Christine Klee
Despite knowing how the film will end, watching the events unfold is just as thrilling as a great murder-mystery. Well-narrated by Matt Damon, “Inside Job” won the 2011 Academy Award for Best Feature Documentary. Unless you are one of the wealthiest one percent of Americans and haven’t been hit by the recession (think unemployment, rising tuition and less financial aid), “Inside Job” is a must-see movie. The power of this documentary lies in the truth, a truth that is almost too outrageous to believe. “Inside Job” will make you want to either rob a bank in retaliation or demand change from your senators and representatives — and that is what the movie strives to accomplish. If no real change happens in Washington and on Wall Street, we are headed straight into the next recession. The only question remaining: how long do we have until the next recession? “Inside Job” is currently in theaters and available on DVD and Blu-ray.
5 out of 5 stars
Everything happens for a reason? Not many logical explanations can be given for the countless times we lose our keys or spill a coffee, causing us to miss a train, bus or speeding car as we step off a curb. In fact, the phrase “Everything happens for a reason” is used in those situations more often than not. But does everything really happen for a reason? David Norris (Matt Damon) is a live-wire New York governor who is running for a seat on the Senate, but his bad-boy/frat-boy antics keep getting in the way of his climb on the political ladder. Even his best friend and righthand man, Charlie (Michael Kelley), can’t keep him on track. So the Adjustment Bureau takes over. The Bureau is lead by Harry, Richardson and Thompson and many other
CRITICAL CAVALIER Tom Andrew
well-dressed men in hats. They can, and will, fix those tiny blunders we make in our lives, keeping us on the path that we are destined to be on, no matter what it takes. David literally gets caught with his pants down, and while the election he is currently racing will end in ashes, the Bureau wants to be sure that he will come out victorious in his next foray. To do that they need to make sure
that his concession speech is a good one and one that sounds genuine. While going over his speech in the men’s room he encounters a ballet dancer named Elise (Emily Blunt), a woman who instantly captivates his heart. Their chance meeting causes him to ditch his approved concession speech and make up a new one on the fly. That speech keeps him in the race for the next election. That woman becomes someone he realizes he can’t live without, which is not what the Bureau wants. They feel David’s involvement with her will cost him his destiny. So, they go about trying to keep them apart, but ultimately fail. This forces them to reveal who they are and why he needs to stay away from her, but he just can’t.
The men of “The Adjustment Bureau” take over when David Norris (Matt Damon) can’t keep himself on track while running for governor. MCT Campus Damon winningly plays David. He has just the right look and attitude to be both a hopeful politician and ex-frat
boy. On top of that he shows It’s haunting. Blunt plays Elise with so much empathy, love and incredibility in his face that we are forced to fight for him. See Bureau, page 11
March 22, 2011 | www.sdcitytimes.com
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voice BYU leads by example, chooses honor over victory On March 2, with the NCAA tournament fast approaching, Brigham Young University suspended basketball player Brandon Davies for violating the school's honor code. In its first game without Davies in the lineup, BYU’s basketball team — which had been No. 3 in the nation — lost by 18 points to an unranked opponent. Critics said BYU had gone too far. But those critics were wrong, because the school played this one exactly right. By holding Davies accountable, BYU shouted to the world that winning isn't everything and that integrity comes first. Too many collegiate athletic programs operate on exactly the opposite premise. Take the University of Pittsburgh, for example. Authorities say that in July 2010, Pitt football player Jabaal Sheard threw a man through a window of an art gallery. As the man lay bleeding on his back, Sheard kept punching him in the face, even after police showed up. After a temporary suspension, Sheard was reinstated to Pitt’s team. Pitt is not alone. Most sports-heavy colleges and universities seem prone to putting victory before integrity. In fact, CBS and Sports Illustrated examined the criminal records of all players on 25 of the nation’s best college football teams in 2010. More than 200 players —- 1 of every 14 — had been charged with a crime, and dozens had multiple arrests. “Of the 277 incidents uncovered,” said an article on SI.com, “nearly 40 percent
EDITORIAL City Times Editorial Board involved serious offenses, including 56 violent crimes such as assault and battery.” According to the article, the finding “reinforces a pervasive assumption that college coaches are willing to recruit players with questionable pasts to win.” The win-at-any-cost mentality often shows up not just in college sports but across our culture. President Barack Obama, for example, selected Timothy Geithner to head the United States Treasury — even after it was discovered that Geithner had underpaid income taxes. Geithner, a Wall Street insider, was deemed too valuable to not have on board. Later, the Obama administration quickly fired Department of Agriculture official Shirley Sherrod when a doctored video seemed to show her making racist comments. Sherrod, whose career centered on helping minority farmers, was deemed too much of a liability to keep around. In both cases, Obama's administration operated more like the University of Pittsburgh than BYU. Of course, right after Sherrod was fired, it became obvious she had never said those racist comments. And when the Obama administration tried to hire Sherrod back, it got a lesson in how integrity works: She said she wasn’t interested.
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CITY TIMES Volume 65, Number 11 March 22, 2011
www.sdcitytimes.com
Published as: The Jay Sees | 1945-1949 Fortknightly | 1949-1978 City Times | 1978Incorporating the newspapers Tecolote, Knight Owl and Flicks
Ernesto Lopez Editor-in-Chief
Megan Rose Bartell News Editor
Troy Bryant Orem Photo Editor
Shane Finneran Managing Editor
Katrina Cameron Arts Editor
Christine Klee
Anulak Singphiphat Design Editor
Stephen BoydMorales Features Editor
Roman S. Koenig Journalism Adviser
Fernando Yates Online Editor
Michele Suthers Chief Illustrator
Copy Editor
Michele Suthers, City Times
Migrant workers vulnerable It’s five in the morning and the workers are gathering outside the Home Depot stores all over San Diego. They come from different cities, all in search of the opportunity to provide their families with at least their basic needs. With documents or without, every worker hopes that today will bring work. The sky begins to lighten. The hunt for jobs begins. “When we get in a car, we don't know how the
SOCIAL MEDIUM Sandra Galindo
boss is going to treat us,” a worker says. “We go blindly because we need the jobs.” The competition is tough. Everyone is in need,
and they must be alert and watch any car that might stop, because the driver might be looking for somebody to work a few hours, or maybe even the whole day. “When we get a job, we ask Diosito to take care of us so the employers don’t take advantage,” another worker says. “We are even worse off than the prostitutes because at least they know what they are going to do.” When a car stops, all of the workers run to it and try
desperately to convince the possible employer that they have experience and that they are the best workers for the job. The employer picks only two of the young and strong ones. The rest walk away with desperation in their faces. “A guy and I were hired last week by a man that asked us to weed a slope,” a worker says. “He was driving a truck and dropped us there with a bottle of water See Workers, page 11
Was Jesus Christ a moral teacher? In an effort to find common ground, I have often concluded arguments about the divinity of Jesus Christ with the concession that he was a good teacher of morality, regardless of whether he was the son of God. But after rereading the gospels, I am not so sure. Would a good teacher of morals endorse slavery, the subjugation of women and the murder of homosexuals? Jesus did.
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BEYOND BELIEF Gabriel Spatuzzi
Anyone with a cursory understanding of the Bible might argue that the biblical barbarisms listed above exist only in the Old Testa-
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City Times Staff Tom Andrew, Cecilia Areta, Sidney Bryant, John-Magus Cambridge, Jose De Los Santos, Layne Deyling, Alec Fernandes, Sandra Galindo, Olivia Holt, Sonjiala Hotchkiss, Ryan Johnson, Rachel Keown-Burke, Scott McLean, Brandon Porras, Mark Rivera, Ricky Soltero, Gabriel Spatuzzi, Joshua Vincent
Correspondents and Contributors Angella d’Avignon, Wayne Saxer, Blanca Vazquez
ment and that Jesus repudiated them in the New Testament. But Jesus never did renounce the brutality of his predecessors. In fact, he expressly reinforced it. In the Christian view, the Sermon on the Mount is Jesus’ definitive lecture on morality, but this is precisely where his immorality is most glaring. The sermon contains an inspired message (perhaps inspired by those who conceived of it long before Jesus was born,
i.e. Buddha, Lao Tse, Confucius, and Plato) about what it is to be a good person. I am inclined to agree that, plagiarism aside, the Sermon on the Mount does include some excellent edicts on human behavior. But it also contains at least one glaring contradiction. When Jesus says that he did not come to change or abolish the word of the prophets who preceded him See Jesus, page 11
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
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Voice
www.sdcitytimes.com | March 22, 2011
Collective bargaining takes a hit Workers win by coming together My friend works at a San Diego branch of one of America’s largest corporations. The company’s annual revenues are in the billions of dollars. In 2010, Fortune listed his employer among “the world’s most admired companies.” In 2011, the company stole from my friend and thousands of other employees — but not the employees protected by unions. My friend’s story highlights the importance of collective bargaining, which is now under fire in Wisconsin. His story shows how employers take advantage of workers who can’t join together to negotiate. Here’s the gist of how it went down. Two months ago, my friend’s boss announced that the company was adjusting the timing of its two-week pay periods. Each pay period would now start on a Saturday instead of a Friday. “Your next paycheck is going to be smaller than usual, because it will only cover 13 days instead of 14,” the boss said. “But the paycheck after that will cover 14 days again. Any questions?” “I've got a question,” my friend said. “Doesn’t that mean we’re missing out on a day of pay?” “No,” the boss responded.
CON
Shane Finneran “That day was just shifted into the next pay period.” “So shouldn’t the next pay period cover 15 days?” a co-worker asked. “No,” the boss replied. “It’s kind of complicated, but basically, the extra day will show up in the last paycheck you receive from the company.” “You mean when we quit or retire?” my friend asked. “Yes,” the boss said. “That’s ridiculous,” one co-worker blurted. “If I’m missing a day of pay, I want an extra day off,” another said. “I’m sorry,” said the boss. “There’s nothing I can do.” My friend felt not just frustrated but violated, like he had been burglarized. Then he remembered something: Some of the company’s offices in other cities are unionized. My friend contacted one of the other offices and asked if they were facing the same issue. “No, we got that missing day paid up front,” was the response. “Our union would never let the company screw us like that.” Any questions?
What’s the story in Wisconsin, anyway? On March 11, Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin signed a law limiting the collective bargaining rights of employees of the state of Wisconsin. Under the new law, unions representing these employees would only be able to negotiate their wages and salaries, not other factors such as health benefits and working conditions. Tens of thousands of protesters converged on Wisconsin’s capital city, Madison, in the weeks leading up the signing of the bill. On March 18, a judge ordered a temporary halt to the new law, saying lawmakers likely violated procedural rules in their rush to passage.
Shane Finneran, City Times
Unions aren’t needed anymore There was a time when American laborers were underpaid, worked to the bone, in constant danger of injury, with no job security or rights, and in desperate need of protection. That was a long time ago. Labor unions became prominent in a world where business owners had every right and laborers had none. Unions were born out of desperation when work environments became insufferable and workers banded together to overthrow oppression. Their necessity and power sprang out of a state of emergency. That is not the world we live in today. Since that time, we have passed federal and state laws that guarantee worker rights, restrict child
Shane Finneran, City Times
labor, require safety precautions, et cetera. Unions were needed to bring these things about. Today, unions have accomplished their original purpose. The state of emergency is over, and the time has come for unions to give up their emergency powers. There has been much hullabaloo about Wisconsin’s recent decision to limit government employees’ collective bargaining rights. This decision peels away public unions’ abilities to bargain benefits, but leaves them the right to negotiate wages. Where is the problem here? Collective bargaining pits employees against owners. Employees work for the
PRO
Layne Deyling owners’ benefit; the owner compensates employees. There is a balance of give and take. Who is the owner that government employees bargain against? Us. Where is the give to justify this take? Taxpayers fund the government, but we are not the same as business owners. We do not gain directly from the labor of public employees. Unions hold hostage the public good when they demand taxpayers shoulder the financial burden of state employee benefits. Wisconsin’s decision
could be the first block pulled from the tumbling tower of labor unions. If it topples, we will not be hurdled back into a world of sweatshops. Our rights as workers are protected by laws and by the nature of the competitive market. If an employer today were to cut wages to $3 an hour, no one would work for him and his business would fail. The work environment that unions have helped to achieve is one where it is in the best interest of a business to treat its employees well. Thank you, unions. We appreciate it. But you are like a parent whose job is to bring us to a place where we can stand without you. Great job — we no longer need you.
Have something to say?
Comment on these Pro and Con arguments online at sdcitytimes.com
VOX POPULI Question by Megan Rose Bartell Photos by Troy Bryant Orem
What is your opinion of collective bargaining in today’s economic climate?
Cobey Ejigu, 21 Behavioral Science
Patrick Zaccaria, 29 Campus visitor
Andrea Tinoco, 17 Undeclared
Celeste Russell, 35 Undeclared
“I believe that it is very important because it’s the people who work for the companies that make everything efficient and adequately flow.”
“It all boils down to me for greed. People looking out for themselves. But if they look out for the greater, they’d probably do a little better off that way.”
“I think it’s important because as workers they should be able to ask for whatever it is they need.”
“I think unions should be encouraged to strike if they’re not being supported in getting the benefits that they should receive.”
March 22, 2011 | www.sdcitytimes.com
HUBU Continued from Page 3 of the door opening, a motivation,” Harvey said. Keynote speaker Jerome Hunter, a former president of City College and former Chancellor of the North Orange Community College District, encouraged students to think about what prohibits them from working together. “Because the enemy is not aliens from space, but igno-
Turismo Continued from Page 4 takes a long time, giving the game a long life in your gaming library. There are also two different game modes in “Gran Turismo,” A Spec and B Spec. A Spec is where the user is the driver of all the races. B Spec is an online part of the game where the user becomes the owner and manager of his or her own race team. The new “Gran Turismo 5 in 3D” is a great addition
Serrano Continued from Page 7 imminent struggle against the government and death squads. These death squads attempt to disorganize resistance by killing community leaders, yet those left behind refuse to be ruled by fear. Serrano stated that people within these villages are willing to fill the roles of head figures who have been killed for being outspoken. They realize the necessity of being the light of hope in an area consumed by darkness. “These communities are filled with leaders,” Serrano said. “Their biggest weapon
Joseph Continued from Page 7 an unexpected appearance of a rockabilly Pharaoh who is reminiscent of a hip-swinging Elvis. With a veritable pantheon of musical styles and dance, “Joseph” has presented a number of challenges for the ensemble of newcomers and veterans of the stage alike. Veteran Rebekah Ensley, who plays the role of the omnipresent Narrator, recalls her fear of heights upon the initial staging of the show. The playful set, with a wistful vignette covering the proscenium, includes a six-foot high ramped platform that the actors traverse throughout the production.
rance and intolerance, and because, the fun of playing a game is playing together,” Hunter said. Nesha Savage, coordinator and founder of Hermanos Unidos/Brothers United, described the group’s activities. “The program also has a student organization on campus, a mentoring program, and in the near future we are hoping to establish a HUBU learning community,” Savage said. to the Sony line of driving games and a great addition to the “Gran Turismo” legacy. The game offers great playability and is fun for even the newest players to the “Gran Turismo” line of games. In total, I would give this game 4 out of 5 stars. Its only problem is that sometimes it takes a long time to navigate from area to area within the game. This has been an ongoing problem with most Sony games since the first Gran Turismo came out in 1997. But overall, “Gran Turismo 5 in 3D” is a great game for all ages.
Jesus Continued from Page 3 (Matthew 5:17) — the very same prophets who made it clear that slavery is a perfectly respectable institution (Leviticus 25:44), that women are inferior to men (1 Corinthians 11:3, 14:3435), and homosexuals are to be put to death (Leviticus 20:13) along with impure brides (Deuteronomy 22:2021), cross-dressers (Deuteronomy 22:5) and insolent children (Exodus 21:17) — he effectively negates the peaceful message of the sermon.
Workers Continued from Page 3 for each of us. He looked like a nice man to us. “We worked all day under the inclement weather, and we noticed an old lady that kept staring at us from the top of the mountain ... After
Bureau is memory.” A documentary on Colombian violence plays at the end of the exhibit, and one widow in the film echoes Serrano’s sentiment, stating, “Our tools were words, reason, and justice.” San Diego City College is located at 1313 Park Boulevard between Balboa Park and downtown San Diego. The exhibit runs through April 16 in the Luxe Gallery on the fifth floor of the school’s V Building. The gallery is open on Fridays from 3 to 9 p.m. and on Saturdays from 12 to 3 p.m. For more information, call 619-388-3281. More of Pablo Serrano’s photography visit www.pabloserrano.org.
“It used to be eight feet,” said Ensley. “My forehead was almost at the lights.” When asked of the challenges of playing Joseph, Vess said one of hardest aspects is “running around and having to sing. “There’s a lot of running up and down (the platform) and then having to project,” Vess said. “I feel like I have to run a mile while singing.” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” runs in the Saville Theatre from April 1 to 17 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. General admission is $15, $10 for students, children, military personnel, and seniors. For more information, call 619-388-3676 or email June Richards at jurichar@ sdccd.edu.
CORRECTIOnS An article on Feb. 8 misspelled the name of a City College badminton player. She is Rosalinda Nguyen, not Rosalind Nguyen.
News | Life | Arts
An article on Feb. 8 listed the wrong phone number for Abigail Munoz, Associated Students adminstrator. The number is 619-388-3412.
Continued from Page 8 Blunt plays Elise with doe-eyed perfection, and her dancing is sensually graceful. She is in love with David the minute she sees him, and you can see that when they first meet, even though she does her level best to hide it. Anthony Mackie, John Slattery and Terrance
Bice Continued from Page 1 the personal responsibility that’s needed while being so far from home can make one a danger even to oneself. “All of a sudden they’re free to drink without having the same restraints on them, so they tend to overdo it,” Froehlich said. “When they do start drinking, they drink to the point of being drunk and not having their senses
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The prophet Moses made it very clear that homosexuals ought to be put to death. But Jesus makes it clear that we are to love our enemies and treat others with respect. If Jesus had left it at that, it would be easy to understand that since Jesus is the more recent prophet, his is the final word of God, (provided we ignore Islam) and we ought to disregard Moses’ proclamations where they conflict with those of Jesus. In other words, we would have to assume that God had simply changed his
mind (which raises separate questions about his supposed infallibility). But Jesus also tells us, in precise terms, not to ignore the word of Moses in the least. So we are to murder our homosexual neighbors while at the same time loving them and treating them with respect? This is not only morally dubious, but downright schizophrenic. One could imagine that Jesus was merely being political; prolonging his life in order to complete his mission on earth. But if so, why did he not rescind his contradictory statements
before his ascension? Could God-incarnate have forgotten such an important clarification? Morality does not come from Jesus, or the Bible. In fact, it is hard to find a shred of morality on one page of the Bible that is not contradicted on the next. If we were to truly follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, we would be living in a much more brutal society. In the words of the humanist author Ruth Hurmence Green, “There was a time when religion ruled the world. It is known as the Dark Ages.”
waiting for the person that employed us to come and pay us with no luck, we went up the mountain to ask the lady if she knew the person that hired us. “She told us she was the only owner of that property. She said she saw us working all day and that she was sad to see someone had abused
us, but definitely she could not pay us for cleaning her property.” Every day, migrant workers endure racism and suffer in abusive workplaces. Most are seeking lowwage jobs that locals do not want to do, and most do not report abuse by their
employers for fear of deportation. So the abuse continues as the migrants are easy prey for unscrupulous employers. “We don’t want them to give us more than what we earned with our hard work,” a worker says. “We just want what is fair. We have families.”
Stamp play Harry, Richardson and Thompson, who head the Bureau. They all have the wit, yet the seriousness, to pull off being those in charge of a world full of people whose lives need to be kept on track. Veteran actor Stamp (“The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” and “Yes Man”) and Damon have a wonderful scene in which the practice of free
will is brought into question. The scene is both chilling and frustrating. First-time director George Nolfi keeps the pace moving, and his script — based on a short story by Philip K. Dick — keeps us entertained and interested throughout. Nolfi also poses a plausible on-screen scenario and one that will cause many to discuss it long after the film is over.
“The Adjustment Bureau” may not be nominated for any Oscars next year, but at least it is a film that will make you think about who you meet, why you meet them and just who is in control of our destiny if we aren’t.
about them.” In a travel journal Bice recorded the party lifestyle of both local and foreign students in the European city. “(I have been) staying back and watching hilarious drunken events occur from a relatively sober mind,” Bice noted. Yet in the end Bice fell under the same destructive influence that he observed at these parties. Froehlich believes that having a sober buddy would have helped Bice get home
safely that fateful night. “Particularly at nighttime, they should not go alone anywhere,” Froehlich said. “When you’re in a foreign environment you don’t necessarily have all the background information you have in your hometown.” According to the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ webpage at www.travel.state. gov, it is important to research emergency telephone numbers such as the local police department and the city’s U.S. embassy or
consulate. It is also essential to learn as many important phrases of the local language as possible, and to avoid being loud and conspicuous in public places. Also, try to appear purposeful when touring a foreign area. Even if lost, avoid asking for directions from anyone without authority. Above all, the more students know about their environment and the more aware they stay at all times, the safer their trip will be.
Baseball Continued from Page 12 nice game defensively, almost turned it into a double play with a quick throw to first base after tagging out the lead runner. Hamels ended the eighth-inning threat with a strikeout and shut the door on the Grossmont offense with a double-play ball in the ninth inning. The Knights’ ninth-inning rally started with a single from Andres Enriquez, followed by an intentional walk to center fielder Antonio Carrillo. Carrillo, who was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 2009, had three hits on the day and has been a clutch per-
former for the Knights this season. Gilbert Guardado was awarded first base on a catcher’s interference call, which loaded the bases for Lorenzana, who came through with his third RBI on the day to go along with three base hits. The win brings the Knights’ record to 5-3 in conference play, putting them in third place in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference. They are still well within striking distance of first-place Palomar and second-place Mesa. Lorenzana commented that the Knights started the season slowly, losing three out of four games. “We didn’t have the chemistry we have now,” said Lorenzana. “It’s a whole other team.”
4.5 out of 5 stars
Whitmore Continued from Page 12 season, she played through two fractured ribs and a fractured pinky. “It was painful at times,” Whitmore said. “I just had to power through it and overcome it, telling myself I can rest and heal when the season’s done.” A shoulder surgery forced her to miss fall softball. After healing, she worked to earn back her position. “No one is a perfect athlete/player,” Whitmore said. “You will make mistakes … stay strong and learn from them. You can’t let an injury or error or any challenges stop you.”
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
www.sdcitytimes.com | March 22, 2011
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SPORTS Baseball posts 5-4 win Lorenzana helps baseball team get by Grossmont By Joshua Vincent City Times
Shortstop Hector Lorenzana bats against Grossmont on March 15. Troy Bryant Orem, City Times
The City College baseball team won in dramatic fashion on March 15, beating Grossmont by a score of 5-4 at Morley Field. Hector Lorenzana ended the back-and-forth contest with a game-winning sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning with the bases loaded. Starting pitcher Keegan Yuhl
went six solid innings for the Knights, working his way out of a couple early jams to yield just 3 runs while striking out 4. “It’s kind of how I”ve always been,” Yuhl said of his struggles early in the game. “I started to find my zone in the fourth (inning).” David Johnson and Mitch Hamels pitched well in relief, with Hamels getting the win. Lorenzana ended the game by swatting a high line drive to right field against Grossmont relief pitcher Edward Trovato. The ball was caught, but pinch runner Donnie Frank easily tagged up from third base to score the game-winning run.
“(I was thinking) hit it into the outfield,” said Lorenzana. “I knew they were trying to get me to hit it on the ground.” The Knights ran into some trouble in the eighth inning after Grossmont tied the game and had the go-ahead run on third base with nobody out. Knights head coach Chris Brown brought the infield in to try and get the runner out at home plate in the event of a groundball. Hamels induced a groundball to the shortstop, Lorenzana, who threw out the runner at home plate. Knights catcher Kevin Garcia, who played a See Baseball, page 11
Whitmore’s skills in two sports recognized
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Softball ‘Athlete of the Week’ also receives honors in volleyball By Layne Deyling City Times
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“I feel like I’m just an athlete who does what every athlete does,” said two-time Pacific Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week Ashley Whitmore. Weekly, the conference selects a player from a pool of coach-nominated athletes. Dean of Athletics Kathy McGinnis explained the player is chosen based on stats and “above average play within the sport.” Last semester, Whitmore received this notice for her performance as an outside hitter in volleyball. She was recognized again in March, this time for her softball skills. “I feel like I have worked so hard and I wanted to be noticed,” she said in an email interview. “It’s an honor to be named athlete (of the week)
and I am so thankful.” Whitmore calls softball “the game of my life.” An athlete by age four, she made all-stars at age nine and every subsequent year until high school. She was a starting player all four years for the El Capitan High School Vaqueros. Whitmore spent a brief stint at Grossmont College before transferring to City College, where she has been the Knights’ starting third baseman the past two seasons. City College generally sees one or two athletes compete in multiple sports in the same year, according to McGinnis. “It’s pretty tough at this level,” she said. “Ashley is an exceptional athlete, and she has really grown and improved in the 3 years she has been at City.” A self-proclaimed “daddy’s girl,” Whitmore grew up the solitary girl among five brothers. “Having a big family is awesome,” she said. “It’s like a playground in your house.” Whitmore is the product of “a very sporty family.” She camps with her family and occasionally golfs, but “my
brothers are too good.” “I’m not the best golfer, but I have fun with it, and they don’t always like it.” More seriously, she said her family stands behind her in her sporting endeavors. “My family is just amazing,” Whitmore said. Whitmore’s mom altered her schedule to start work at 2 a.m. so that she would be available for her children’s games. Whitmore said her mom is “a hard worker who puts her children first.” Whitmore called her dad a “stay-athome coach” who gives her the confidence and advice she needs to become a better player. Twin brother Luke Whitmore texts his sister frequently from out-of-state college to ask how she is doing and urges her to “go hard and do work.” “Hearing that from Texas just gives me a little fire,” Whitmore said. She has needed that fire this year. During volleyball See Whitmore, page 11
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Ashley Whitmore sur veys the field from second base at a practice on March 10. Troy Bryant Orem, City Times 2/2/11 8:17 PM
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