City Times — April 26, 2011 by City Times Media

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Volume 65, Number 13

News/Calendar.................. 2 Arts.................................. 4 Focus................................ 6 Opinion............................. 8 Sports............................. 12

APRIL 26, 2011

Protest disrupts college summit

Crowd demands summer classes be reinstated By Ernesto Lopez City Times In an attempt to calm the seemingly angry crowd of students protesting cuts to education on April 15, Constance Carroll, San Diego Community College District Chancellor, and City College President Terrence Burgess stepped out of a high profile event held on campus to address the group. “Let us proceed with our event. We are going to have to ask you to leave, this is not the way to get anything done,” Carroll told the pro-

testers demanding summer school be reinstated. City College was the host to US Department of Education’s Fourth Regional Community College Summit, in which college presidents from several western states gathered to identify practices for improving eductional experience for military families and veterans. “I respect the fact that you’re protesting and we share your message, but you are not going to get your summer school by busting this event,” echoed Burgess. “These people cannot do anything for your, we are hosting colleagues.” Students did not leave Gorton Quad as requested by administrators, but demanded a dialogue and to have a voice

in the summit. The event’s luncheon was to be held at the quad but had to be rescheduled to a later time due to the protest. Many students had the understanding that California Gov. Jerry Brown would be present to speak about educational funding. “There are all these corpo- n More rate baboons protest in there, we photos don’t agree with Page 6 their agenda”, said Socialist Club member Marcos Perez. “We are not going to leave, we want answers.” On April 8, Burgess communicated to students via email that due to drastic budget cuts from the state for the 2011-12 school year,

the number of classes offered in the summer had to be reduced. “We are deeply disappointed by this decision,” he said in the apologetic message. “We regret that we are forced to drastically reduce our summer offerings to minimum levels.” He did say the only courses being offered are those for year-round programs that are structured to include summer to meet program requirements, special contractual agreements, and students who have petitioned for summer graduation that need a specific course to complete graduation their

San Diego Community College Presiden Terrence Burgess address students during a protest on April 15 at Gorton Quad, same day the college hosted the US Department of Education’s Fourth Regional Community College Summit. Troy Bryant Orem, City Times requirements. “We want summer school back,” shouted the students at Burgess and Carroll. Student Norissa Gastelum,

who was at the protest, blames politicians and corporate elites for the cuts to education. See Protest, page 11

Retention program targets at risk students Title V campus project aims to make education more accessible with specialized programs By Brian Lett Contributor This month, City College’s Title V Steering Committee is planning on moving into the next phase of its Student Retention for Suc-

cess project, a $3.5 million strategy designed to keep students in the classroom and out of cell blocks. The project, which began late last year, is predicted to take five years in its entirety, the first year of which is com-

prised of five distinct phases of execution. Currently in motion is the “First Year Experience” phase. This phase is dedicated to improving new students’ first year experience by implementing new programs

and institutions fashioned to make it easier for students to access their education. According to the project’s timetable, this month will include mailing welcome letters containing orientation DVDs prepared earlier this

year to new students and parents. The five sections of the program are the First Year Experience, Accelerated Developmental Education, Structured Learning Assistance, Professional

Development, Enrollment Management and DecisionMaking. Each portion of the program will be in effect simultaneously over the next five years. See Retention, page 11

www.sdcitytimes.com | April 26, 2011

Take note Calendar Compiled by Christine Klee Get your event in the paper. E-mail us at citytimes@gmail.com or call 619-388-3880 n April 27, Wednesday A World Cultures Event titled “Reconquered Iberia: Convivencia Under the Christians” takes place in room D-121, 9:30 a.m.

n May 2, Monday Learn about “the Inquisition, the Fall of Granada, and the End of Convivencia” in a World Cultures event. Room V-101, 2 p.m.

n April 27, Wednesday The free Nooner Concert Series continues with a performance by Cuevo & Friends. Gorton Quad from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

n May 6 to 7 “Random Acts of Dance,” a faculty dance concert, is taking place in the Saville Theatre. May 6 at 6 p.m., May 7 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets are $10, for more information contact Alicia Rincon at 619-388-3563 or arincon@sdccd.edu.

n April 27 to May 6 The cosmetology department is offering a Mother’s Day Special, including haircuts, manicures, pedicures and spa facials. V building, Wednesday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. n April 28, Thursday Take part in the interview techniques workshop, held by the Career Center in room R-301 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

n May 7, Saturday The World Cultures Program is debuting the 2011 City Works Press Journal. Room D-121, 1 p.m.

Crack City By Michele Suthers

Royal Wedding MCT Campus

n May 9, Monday Enjoy the World Cultures event “Zaquia Salinas: Cultura Chican@” in the Saville Theatre, 11 a.m.

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Royal crossword puzzle By Christine Klee City Times

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Federal guidelines issued to fight campus sexual violence By Julie Mianecki MCT Campus

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Schools must do more to prevent and respond to sexual violence on campus, Vice President Joe Biden said Monday, April 11, as he introduced new federal guidelines to combat the problem. “Students across the country deserve the safest possible environment in which to learn,” Biden said. “That’s why we’re taking new steps to help our nation’s schools, universities and colleges end the cycle of sexual violence on campus.” Biden was joined by

Education Secretary Arne Duncan at the University of New Hampshire, which was chosen because of its highly regarded efforts in sexual violence prevention. Under the Department of Education guidelines, schools informed about sexual harassment or violence must take immediate action to stop the abuse and prevent it from happening again. Regardless of whether a victim files a complaint, the school must investigate the incident, even if a criminal investigation is already under way. Schools must also have sex discrimination policies

in place and an employee responsible for managing the institution’s compliance with Title IX, the law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs. Sexual violence is included in the definition of that discrimination. Finally, schools must make procedures for filing complaints based on Title IX violations clearly available. Almost 20 percent of women and six percent of men are likely to be victims of attempted or actual sexual assault while in college, according to a Department of Education report.

April 26, 2011 | www.sdcitytimes.com

news

Voices of history Group of students recreate classic speeches on timeless issues By Ryan Johnson City Times According to Sir Ken Robinson, British author and international advisor of education, “Collaboration is the stuff of growth.” An eye opening and entertaining animated video narrated by Robinson, which includes this quote and focuses on the changing education paradigms, took center stage at the “Voices of a People’s History” event held in Saville Theatre on April 5. Mirroring the collaboration theme presented in Robinson’s animated short, the event included students from Veterans for Peace and the Visionary Feminists. In the past, this event typically involved students from campus group Bringing Education and Activism Together club (BEAT), honoring voices of minorities and women in

American history. Event moderator and BEAT faculty advisor Larissa Dorman said the studentcentered event is a “great way for students to connect their own lives to historical movements of the past.” Students read prepared excerpts from speeches like Martin Luther King Jr’s “At the River I Stand” and Cesar Chavez’s “The Last Will Be First” while a photo slide show from the past and present provided context for the audience, mostly made up of students. In addition to King and Chavez’s speeches on civil rights and workers rights, students read speeches with topics such as the military industrial complex, sexual assault and marriage equality for gays and lesbians. The topical speeches and writings, some decades old, became immediately relevant and contemporary when brought to life by the students. After the students finished with their speeches, Dorman opened the floor to audience questions. One student asked Ron Weaver, who read a poem

BEAT advisor Larissa Dorman closes the “Voices of a People’s Histor y” event Tuesday, April 12. The Saville Theatre was filled as students performed speeches and student created works. Troy Bryant Orem, City Times that discusses the realities of marriage inequality for gays and lesbians, “How can I love you as a person when I don’t agree with you?”

The conversation that followed was civil and thoughtful and as Dorman points out was the “type of conversation we need to be having — not

reactionary rhetoric that divides people but rather respect and understanding for people from all walks of life even if we disagree.”

“It was inspirational to know that this event was a forum for these types of discussions to take place,” Dorman said.

Campus program to train in computer literacy By Megan Rose Bartell City Times

Connie Castro, representative for UCSD, informs student Eduardo Cordova about career and education options at campus expo April 13. Troy Bryant Orem, City Times

Students EXPOsed to career opportunities By Alec Fernandes City Times City College provided career opportunities for students during its annual Career Expo on April 13, giving hope to those feeling under-qualified and lacking confidence in the current job market. More than 200 people attended the event hosted during Career Awareness Month. Students interested in finding employment gathered around various booths representing local companies

and vendors. A wide range of organizations was present to offer students different career opportunities, from the U.S. Marines to Panda Express. Joseph D’Ambro, a student services assistant at City College’s Transfer/Career Center, said the goal this year was to make sure the organizations focused more on accommodating students and less on promoting their companies. “We build on it a little bit each year,” D’Ambro said. “This year we’ve really focused on students by pro-

viding internships and entry level positions. Local and private universities (were) also here to help students further their education.” D’Ambro said the universities show up yearly, but otherwise there were many first-time arrivals. City College’s Psi Beta Club promoted careers in psychology during their first appearance at the Career Expo and CBS Radio was also a new addition to the event. “This year we have about 40-45 organizations attending,” D’Ambro added.

City College’s Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement program (MESA) has partnered with California Connects in an alliance to improve digital literacy among segments of the local population who cannot afford, or do not have access to, computers or the internet. Forty-seven students enrolled in the MESA program received new laptops in March in order to become digital literacy trainers for the California Connects program. These student trainers are required to work with a minimum of two family members, five community members, and accomplish at least 12 hours of training in the community. A $10.9 million Broadband Technology Opportunities Program grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration is what funds the California Connects program.

Rafael Alvarez, director of the MESA program, estimated that these trainers will impact approximately 525 community members. “The spirit of this is to impact our communities. The students are really getting that spirit, they’re looking for opportunities as to where they can impact their communities,” Alvarez said. According to a City College press release, the California Connects program is designed to improve the digital literacy divide in under-served communities, specifically Spanishspeaking and economically disadvantaged households. “There’s a lot of displaced, disengaged groups in our community who are not on that digital train and are literally being left behind,” Alvarez said. Each digital literacy trainer will receive a Microsoft Office Suite certification in either Word, Excel or Power Point and will

choose a specific area of the community to work with. Teresa Sandoval, mathematics major, said she will be working with local high schools. “It made me feel proud that I made an accomplishment in their life,” Sandoval said, “As long as they’re getting better I’m getting better too. There’s a win either way.” Student digital literacy trainers are given the laptop, loaded with six months of broadband internet access, to use for the program, as well as their own academic and personal needs. Angelica Rojas, civil engineering major, said she has already helped her brother set up a Facebook account in order to help him communicate with his friends in Mexico. “It shows that you can use your skills to teach others. You’re teaching them but you’re also learning from them,” Rojas said.

www.sdcitytimes.com | April 26, 2011

arts Professor Miller walks the walk English and Labor Studies teacher is also writer, activist By Shane Finneran City Times Jim Miller is a professor who practices what he teaches. Each semester, Miller guides dozens of students through his English and Labor Studies classes at San Diego City College. He has played key roles in local literary projects like the school’s International Book Fair and the San Diego Writers Collective. Miller also serves as a political action vice president and does community outreach for the American Federation of Teachers Local #1931. As if he wasn’t busy enough already, Miller finds the time to crank out the

English Professor Jim Miller reads from his latest novel “Flash” at a local bookstore on Dec. 4. Courtesy photo

occasional book. His latest novel, “Flash,” tells the story of a modernday journalist in San Diego who stumbles across a family link to the city’s Free Speech Fight of 1912 and 1913. “Flash” is a fascinating blend of historical fiction, investigative reporting and noir. As its main character searches like a private eye for clues about an Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) member named Bobby Flash, readers are treated to an in-depth review of the labor struggle that erupted in America’s Finest City about 100 years ago. Bobby Flash is a fictional character, but his life story and his experiences in the Free Speech Fight are based on Miller’s extensive research. “The thing about fiction — you’re lying like the truth,” Miller said. His book even contains some autobiographical touches, including references to modern-era menial work in warehouses, on assembly lines, and in factories. “I am not the narrator, (but) I had a long series of those kinds of jobs,” Miller said. The main payoff in “Flash” is its deep dive into San Diego’s labor battles of a century ago. By telling the story of a hypothetical, rank-and-file IWW member from that era, Miller transports the reader to a time when the Gaslamp Quarter was known as the

Stingeree and police would crack down on anyone who got up on a soap box and called for workers to unite. “(The book) looks back at the many parallels between then and the present,” Miller said. With laborrelated issues getting more and more press today, his timing couldn’t be better. Miller calls recent workers-rights protests in Wisconsin “the single most hopeful” political development in the last few years, and his respect for working men and women shines throughout “Flash.” The book describes the Stingeree in 1912 as a diverse, working-class neighborhood “full of shops, saloons, cheap hotels, gambling houses, opium dens, and prostitutes … it sounded a lot more fun back in the day than it is now — unless you're looking for a bad cover band or an overpriced cheese plate.” Miller considers the book’s dramatized, bottomup approach “an inside-out, more personal way to tell the history.” “Flash” was published in late 2010 in a run of several thousand by AK Press, an “anarchist” print shop with its main headquarters in Oakland. “They’ve been really great to work with,” said Miller, a fan of the printing house’s collective approach to operations. “I basically donated all the profits back to AK,” Miller added. “They said it’s doing pretty good.”

A BITE OF THE NOONER CONCERT

Top: Blues-pop cover band deverb’s frontman, Steve Blake, plays a guitar solo with his teeth at the Wednesday, April 13 event at the Gorton Quad. Bottom: Drummer Haley Allen follows the fast-paced song. Troy Bryant Orem, City Times

‘Source Code’ keeps you guessing Sgt. Chris Colter (Jake Gyllenhaal) is given a mission: find a bomb on a Chicago commuter train and find out who the bomber is before he is able to set another one to go off. Colter has eight minutes to accomplish his mission, and if he doesn’t, he will be sent back again until he does. Colter is part of a program called Source Code. It’s a program that is run by a Dr. Rutledge (Jeffery Wright) and Colleen Goodwin (Vera Farmiga) and allows him to access the brain of a deceased man on that train for eight minutes and get that information. While on the train he learns his name is Sean Fentress, and he is there with Christina Warren (Michelle Monaghan). Every time he is sent back to the train he learns more about Christina and the others on that train. His mission goes from finding the

CRITICAL CAVALIER Tom Andrew

bomber to wanting to save the life of Christina and of those on the train as well. Why he has been chosen for this mission is something he doesn’t know. In fact there seems to be a lot of things that Colter doesn’t know or remember. As the film and his mission unfolds, we, the audience, find out these answers when he does. We end up just as confused as he is and have as many questions as he has. “Source Code” is a film

that can be looked at a few ways. Simply put, it’s a sci-fi thriller that will keep you entertained until the very end. But it’s also a film that challenges the mind. If we could stop terrorism, wouldn’t we? If there was a way to utilize the brain of a deceased person to get that information, how far would we go to make it happen? “Source Code” makes us think about that. Jake Gyllenhaal of “Brokeback Mountain,” “The Good Girl” and cult classic “Donnie Darko” gives Colter just the right amount of pathos, confusion and desire to make us follow him throughout his quest. Michelle Monaghan (“Eagle Eye”) runs the gamut of emotions as Christina. Her scenes could have been easily forgotten, but she stands on her own in a role that could easily have been thankless and forgetful.

The same can be said for Oscar nominee Farmiga. Her role is important, and in her capable hands she brings warmth and class to a character that could have been trite and boring. UK director Duncan Jones proves that his first feature “Moon” was no fluke. “Code” moves swiftly and clearly with each transition and is easy to follow. Screenwriter Ben Ripley has written a complex script that works well at first glance. However, if you plan to delve deeper into the message of the film and what it all means, you may find yourself with as many questions as Ripley’s hero Colter.

4 out of 5 stars

Late author’s final novel Throughout his career, the late David Foster Wallace had proven to make fictions of ordinary life into something extraordinary. His latest, albeit unfinished, book, “The Pale King,” explores the excruciating boredom of employees at an Internal Revenue Service tax center in Illinois. Wallace was an influential writer who composed nine books of short stories, essays, literary journals and novels. He is best known for his famous piece of work, a 1,000 page modern classic titled “Infinite Jest.” Having suffered severe depression for much of his life, Wallace hanged himself on the patio of his house, in Claremont, Sept. 12, 2008, at age 46. “The Pale King” is Wallace’s unfinished novel,

BOOK REVIEW Cecilia Areta

which he was working on for several years before his death. There has been much argument to whether or not the novel should be read because it is unfinished. Wallace’s longtime publisher, Little, Brown and Company, released the novel on April 15. Little, Brown said in a statement that the novel runs “several hundred thousand words and will include notes, outlines, and other material.” The main premise of the novel is boredom. See Novel, page 11

April 26, 2011 | www.sdcitytimes.com

Arts

Saville Theatre hosts classical piano recital

Pianist and professor John Mark Harris plays a variety of music for interested concert goers in the Saville Theatre on April 13. Troy Bryant Orem, City Times

Virtuoso pianist John Mark Harris delivered an impressive solo recital for early-bird students in the morning of April 13. Harris, a professor at City College, holds degrees from UCSD and the New England Conservatory of Music. He has performed to international acclaim as a soloist at the Salzburg and Donaueschingen Festivals with the Southwest German Symphony. Harris is known for his eclectic aesthetic, which draws on works from the Renaissance to 20th-century maverick composers like John Cage and Iannis Xenakis. For his early matinee performance, the pianist assembled a diverse program from mostly non-European composers such as Brazilian Heiter Villa-Lobos, ragtime

RECITAL REVIEW

Roberto Bush pioneer Scott Joplin and Armenian Aram Khatchaturian. Harris’ recital began softly with his ruminative interpretation of four short works by Villa-Lobos. The pieces were all under two minutes in length, perhaps an attempt to circumvent the audience’s “no-fly-zone” attention span at that hour of the morning. Next up was Harris’ fascinating take on two Scott Joplin pieces, “Magnetic Rag” and “Stop Time Rag.” The first piece was performed with a curious legato feeling throughout its See Piano, page 11

Tijuana under the microscope

Some say neighboring town becoming safer for American students, others say city still filled with drug violence

Locals analyze crime-filled town The timely film “Tijuanedos Anonimos” (2009) is a subtitled documentary film about what the people of Tijuana, Mexico, were going through in 2009, having the record-breaking drug violence of 2008 still fresh on their minds as violence continued. Tijuanedos Anonimos serves as a support group similar to the Alcoholics Anonymous, implementing a 12-step plan towards feeling better about their community and to “untijuanise” (“become free of Tijuana's problems” or “disconnect from the negativity of Tijuana”) themselves. Primarily anonymous members were interviewed for the project, but other Tijuana citizens including journalists, a filmmaker and a local wrestler were also featured. There are no names given and no faces shown in the film. “There is something we call Tijuanado. It’s a condition where

FILM REVIEW Vanessa Diaz

people and things become deteriorated … We found that not only are things deteriorating, you can see the city decay (and) erode, but also the people,” said a character in the movie. This film kept my interest, and on top of the manner they provided content and imagery, the people interviewed had really great quotes and offered differing perspectives. “The city is improvised. My life is improvised. I see it in myself, my life is hanging on by a thread…” said a character in the movie. Many used the word “unmanageable” to describe the city and the state it was and still remains in due to the drug trafficking, dis-

In the documentar y “Tijuanedos Anonimos” no names are given or faces are shown throughout the film. Courtesy photo

organization of city planning and the effect of the border on the culture and mood. “San Diego and Tijuana are sort of one place with this big kind of problem going through the middle of it,” said a character in the movie. As Journalist Daniel Salinas put it, “our essence, our culture, and our way of life is conditioned by the line.” That point was really driven home when they zoomed in on Downtown San Diego and then zoomed out into Tijuana showing the dramatic change in architecture and environment. A few other impactful images were the border fence leading into the ocean and the crosses along the fence. Having been to that fence, it resonated with me. Their choice in music was the final element that really brought home the message and feel of what these people are enduring in Tijuana. What is happening in Tijuana is something of grave concern and the film leaves you with some interesting opinions and facts to think about as well as a summary of what most of the people being interviewed are up to and what happened to Tijuanedos Anonimos. It is disappointing to hear that “the United States … is the greatest drug consumer … Drug trafficking, depending on who you talk to, accounts for between nine and 15 percent of the gross domestic product. That is about $ 180 billion.” However, as the Tijuanersoa Anonios said, “If you want to change the world, change yourself.”

Young partiers from San Diego pass around a bottle of tequila at a Tijuana dance club, where the legal drinking age is 18. MCT Campus

Tijuana on the comeback For years, Tijuana was the destination for college students searching for that legendary nightlife, cheap drinks and the legal drinking age that was and still is 18, unlike in the United States. In recent years Tijuana has no longer been the same tourist attraction it was 10 years ago. In its heyday, El Centro, which is Tijuana’s equivalent of downtown, was packed with college and non-college students looking to get their party on. Even bars not located near Tijuana’s downtown area saw a boom in revenue from the party crowds. Fast forward a couple of years and the once incredible nightlife that Tijuana enjoyed and offered completely disappeared or lost its appeal due to the ongoing violence that seemed to plague the city. Nightclubs and bars were forced to close because their greatest source of revenue was afraid of the dangers that awaited them across the border. “We used to go to Mexico all the time, hitting all the bars with my girls,” said City College student Jennifer Soto. “But it started getting dan-

PERSPECTIVE Ricky Soltero

gerous. We started to hear all these stories in the news.” Tijuana was plagued with what seemed to be a never-ending war against organized crime. Week after week, news headlines would shed light on what had become of the city bordering the United States. More recently though, it seems Tijuana is making somewhat of a comeback. In the last couple of years, La Calle Sexta, located in the downtown area, saw locals heading to old haunts like Dandy del Sur and La Estrella. These places, that had seen better days in the past, were now suddenly becoming hot spots for the youth who craved the nightlife. At the same time, new arrivals like La Mezcalera and El Chez, whose previous incarnation was located in La Plaza del Zapato, began to draw more crowds. See Tijuana, page 11

www.sdcitytimes.com | April 26, 2011

focus

Demanding education In an attempt to calm the seemingly angry crowd of students protesting cuts to education on April 15, Constance Carroll, San Diego Community College District Chancellor, and City College President Terrence Burgess stepped out of a high profile event held on campus to address the group. “Let us proceed with our event. We are going to have to ask you to leave, this is not the way to get anything done,” Carroll told the protesters demanding summer school be reinstated. City College was the host to US Department of Education’s Fourth Regional Community College Summit, in which college presidents from several western states gathered to identify practices for improving college completion for military families and veterans. “There are all these corporate baboons in there, we don’t agree with their agenda”, said Socialist Club member Marcos Perez. “We are not going to leave, we want answers.” Irvin Pachuca, chicano studies student, stepped up to the bullhorn and expressed his anger and frustration at state legislature who was believed to be part of the event. “Let’s make sure we send these pigs back to Sacramento with their ears ringing,” Pachuca said. Burgess recommended students at the protest to contact their local Republican representative Nathan Fletcher, one of four legislators who did not support Brown’s tax extension proposal. If approved, the extension would have generated funds for the state colleges’ and universities’ budgets. — Ernesto Lopez

(Top right) Student Denise Gomez leads a crowd of protesters in anti budget cut chants during a April 15 march to the Saville Theatre. (Middle left) Associated Student Government member Cinthia Michalas (left) and Socialist Club member Marco Perez (right) disagree on how to react to San Diego City College President Terrance Burgesses’ offer for a dialogue regarding budget cuts. (Bottom) A Socialist Club member with bullhorn leads protesters in chants outside the Saville Theatre where the U.S. Department of Education Fourth Regional Community College Summit was taking place. Troy Bryant Orem, City Times

April 26, 2011 | www.sdcitytimes.com

life

Brian’s American Eater y in Hillcrest ser ves up the Aloha Burger with sides of fries, salad and homemade chicken noodle soup. Scott McLean, City Times

An all-American meal in Hillcrest Meal prices range from $13 to $30 1452 Washington Street (Between Lincoln Ave and Lark Street) San Diego, CA 92103 (619) 296-8268 Hours of Operation Sunday — Wednesday 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Closed Thursday Friday — Saturday 6:30 a.m. to 6:30a.m.

5 out of 5 stars for its friendly staff and good food

Old school design with a modern taste is how Brian’s American Eatery in Hillcrest serves up comfort food to late-night party crowds and families alike. Brian’s restaurant is not your basic coffee shop; it is a coffee shop with flair, lots of it. Brian’s is a local Hillcrest hangout for late-night groups looking to sober up and for families looking to get a good meal. Brian’s claim to fame is that they have a huge menu of different foods from breakfast to dinner. Brian’s menu has everything from your basic

bacon and egg breakfast to chicken, waffles, and beef ribs. Brian’s eclectic menu offers something for everyone, from health-conscious to gluttonous patrons. The proportions of the plates are large and reasonably priced. Brian’s also serves a large selection of sandwiches and burgers, from plain old turkey sandwiches up to an out-ofthis-world Aloha Burger. The Aloha Burger is made with a half-pound handmade patty with a grilled pineapple slice and a chunk of cream cheese all covered in teriyaki sauce.

TASTE TEST

Scott McLean

This burger is awesome and unique. I recently had to try this burger because I have never had a hamburger with cream cheese. The melding of the sweet and tangy teriyaki sauce with the grilled pineapple slice covered in

the melting chunk of cream cheese was fantastic and has now made itself onto the list of one of my favorite foods. The burger was cooked to juicy perfection and came with two sides. The sides I chose were fries and a cup of their chicken noodle soup. The soup was also fantastic and a great start to my meal. My only issue with my meal is that my stomach could not handle more food even though I wanted to eat another Aloha Burger as soon as I finished the first one. Brian’s has a large list of sides such as fries, soup and

salad. Almost all of Brian’s meals from lunch to dinner get the choice of two different sides. This is nice because it allows the customer to tailor their meals to their own discerning taste. Brian’s breakfast is served all day and is economically priced. The breakfast options are vast, and vary from simply fruit and a muffin, or eggs benedict. Brian’s American Eatery hits the spot in the comfort food category and hits the mark for good food, friendly comfortable accommodations, and price.

Relaxing places to prepare for final exams By Cecilia Areta City Times

off campus. Here are a few inexpensive places that you might want to Summer is almost here and consider: time is winding down towards the last days of spring semes- • Influx If you take a stroll across ter. Finals are approaching sooner than you think, so do the bridge that is over internot succumb to procrastina- state five you will come across tion and study while there is this mod coffee shop. It is not a full service resstill time left. Having the privilege of taurant but offers sandwiches, attending school in an urban salads and baked goods. Even at the crack of area provides plenty of benefits. Buried between the crev- dawn you will notice students ices of downtown San Diego sipping their coffees and are joints that are perfect for typing up papers or shuffling studying when you feel the through flash cards. Providing comfy chairs urge to get away from the library or simply need time and just the right sized tables,

this is a great option to get your study on. Location: 1948 Broadway, between 19th St. and 20th St. Travel time: About 10 minutes walking distance from City College. Hours: Monday through Sunday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Free Wi-Fi. • Sole Luna Cafe This place has great outdoor seating, when the weather is bright and sunny there are several students studying mostly in the morning or afternoon. They are an Italian

Study hotspot, Influx, caters to students with free Wi-Fi and a comfortable atmoSee Relaxing, page 11 sphere. Troy Bryant Orem, City Times

s t

www.sdcitytimes.com | April 26, 2011

voice None of your business, UN Ever wonder which of the events in your life your children will look back on and be appalled by? Look around — you are living through one right this minute. On March 19, the United Nations, an international peacekeeping organization, bounded over its designed circumference into Libya’s intranational civil war. According to their website, the UN’s purpose is “maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights.” A civil war, as defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is a war between opposing groups of citizens of the same country. Where do these two things intersect? Where is the call for international policing when a nation wars against itself? Certainly, one of the functions of the UN is to “promote democracy” and fight “crimes against humanity.” Yes, Moammar Ghaddafi is killing his own people. That’s war. War is ugly, and we hate death. But not every war is a “crime against humanity.” Sometimes evil has to be fought, and it needs to be fought by those who suffer under it. When people revolt against a dictator, they have to fight for freedom. If the UN wins this war for the Libyan revolutionaries, Libya is not victorious — the UN is. While we watched cov-

URBANALITIES Michele Suthers

EDITORIAL City Times Editorial Board erage of the bombings last month, we wondered, “What will they do next? Go out to the backyard and start breaking open cocoons so the caterpillars can become butterflies quicker?” In 1954, 51 nations came together, fresh out of a worldwide war, to work together to make peace on Earth. They called themselves the United Nations. Those nations, including ours, are now dropping bombs on a country that is of no international threat. There is no genocide. There are no weapons of mass destruction. Nor are there any clear objectives in this fight. Is it certain that the government of these rebel forces we are helping will be more democratic than Ghaddafi’s? How long will we be participating? At what point do we pull out? Where is the funding for these attacks? Why aren’t we more upset about this? Questions are constantly circulating about our presence in Iraq. If Iraqi freedom is not our business, neither is Libyan freedom. We will never stop hating oppression and always demand human rights around the world. But it is for the people of a country to choose and fight for their system of governance. It is not for us to force-feed them what we deem best.

Cuts to education affect welfare recipient Budget cuts have hit the most vulnerable families. The dream of academic achievement fades with access to the education we needed to step out of poverty. Thousands of students on welfare and attending the community colleges in San Diego are left out, wondering what to do next. Recently, I visited Public Consulting Group, a private firm that serves state and local health and human services programs, to learn what requirements students need to satisfy to continue

SOCIAL MEDIUM Sandra Galindo

getting benefits after the semester ends in May. “What about if you start working?” the case-worker responded. “There are a lot of jobs out there — what if you look for one? You cannot

depend on welfare all your life.” People have the misconception that once on welfare, you learn to depend on it, you don’t want to work anymore, and life is so fun. But if you ask anyone on welfare, they are going to tell you that dependence is the most stressful condition you can be in. Welfare is not free. It forces you to fulfill 32 hours weekly in a case-workerapproved activity. As soon as we finish a semester, we must attend workshops

to accomplish the hours required to keep our benefits. The workshops are meant to prepare welfare recipients for a job once the maximum five-year assistance ends. But the benefits we get are not sufficient to recover from the difficult situation we are in. We have to juggle to spread the benefits over a month and there is nothing left to be saved - and the circle of poverty continues. People go to the county See Welfare, page 11

Most atheists criticize irrationality and religion

BEYOND BELIEF Gabriel Spatuzzi

CITY TIMES Volume 65, Number 13 April 26, 2011

www.sdcitytimes.com Ernesto Lopez Editor-in-Chief Shane Finneran Managing Editor

“The New Atheists” is a term applied to a collection of contemporary writers, polemicists, scientists and intellectuals who cite the 9/11 terrorist attacks as the catalyst for their fervent public criticism of religion and unreason. Many accuse the New

Atheists of being too militant. Greg Epstein, Humanist Chaplain at Harvard University, and prominent atheist, has called them “atheist fundamentalists.” Others have also accused them of being just as dogmatic in their beliefs as the religious extremists they abhor.

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Many have argued, and I agree, that the 9/11 attacks, and many other terrorist attacks with apparent religious motivations, were nothing more than political attacks in religious garb. But does this let religion off the hook? Would the 9/11 hijackers have had the nerve

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to do what they did without the promise of a paradisiacal afterlife? What the New Atheists, and most nonbelievers, argue against is not religion alone, but irrationality in general. Mainstream religion just happens to be their most popular target.

And why shouldn’t it be? Sure, there are plenty of other incarnations of irrationality to rally against (i.e. homeopathy, astrology, etc.) But when you compare the amount of astrologers accused of molesting their See Atheists, 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

April 26, 2011 | www.sdcitytimes.com

Voice

Who really has the right of way?

Drivers, ‘hit the brakes’ Crosswalk on Park Blvd. by the Harry West Gym is an accident waiting to happen

PRO

Alec Fernandes Picture this: Southern California is consumed by smog, yet the sun manages to shine through the dingy atmosphere. The breeze is pleasant and gas is $5 a gallon, so you decide to get some exercise while saving the Earth by walking to work. Then suddenly you’ve been run over by a crazy driver who’s in an excessive hurry. Now, considering you fulfilled the pedestrian duties of looking both ways and not jumping out in front of the car at the last second, this driver who killed you is a huge jerk. However, there are some motorist road hogs who would disagree. Maybe they assume the giant asphalt megalopolis that is Southern California entitles them to the right of way, but this simply isn’t the case. According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), “the driver of a vehicle approaching a pedestrian within any marked or unmarked crosswalk shall exercise all due care and shall reduce the speed of the vehicle … to safeguard the safety of the pedestrian.” To clarify, drivers aren’t allowed to mow down people in their way. Overpopulation is definitely a problem affecting the world, but having cars run over pedestrians doesn’t seem like the best solution, and the DMV realizes this. The 10 seconds that drivers forfeit when allowing a pedestrian to cross their path is nothing in comparison to the time it takes trekking somewhere on foot. The counter-argument is that driving past the pedestrian saves both people time. Yet imagine if every driver had this mentality and blocked those on foot with an endless string of cars as each motorist thinks, “I’ll just slip by and get right out of that jogger’s way.” Yes, it can be annoying to wait for the poor grandma with her walker as she slowly lugs that bag of groceries to the other side of the street. But try turning that annoyance into being thankful for getting to roll around town while enjoying the car’s radio, air conditioning and various safety features, while pedestrians in the sweltering summer heat are far more vulnerable. Hit the breaks and allow that person on foot to cross the street. It’s the law.

Shane Finneran, City Times

Pedestrians should be penalized Drivers frequently question why pedestrians insist on staggering through crosswalks despite the blinking red hand signal. Everyone on the road wants to get to where they need to be, so why is it okay for pedestrians to skip turns without consequence while drivers are penalized even for the “California stop.” According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles driver handbook, vehicle code 21950 gives pedestrians the right of way when in a cross-

CON

Cecilia Areta walk. However, pedestrians who cross outside the crosswalk must yield to cars and trucks. It is illegal for a pedestrian to unnecessarily stop or delay traffic while in a marked or unmarked crosswalk. If a pedestrian crosses outside the crosswalk, you do not have to give them the right of way. But when you are inside your vehicle, what can you do

besides stop for them? If you honk at a pedestrian crossing out of turn, you look like the bad guy. If you nudge your car forward to hint to the pedestrian that they are out of turn, you are actually the one breaking the rules. There is a fine line regarding who has the right of way. It rests upon judgment and most of the time people side with the pedestrian. Why is it that, typically, when one hears that a person crossing the street was struck by an enormous SUV, most

suspect that it was the driver’s mistake and not the pedestrian’s fault? It is the common thought that a person cannot take on a car. That assumption must be shed because it is the pedestrian’s responsibility as much as the driver’s to look out and keep within road etiquette. An insight of caution to pedestrians — be wary of vehicles because, if one day a driver with road rage hits you when you are crossing outside the crosswalk, you will not win the lawsuit.

What are your thoughts?

Who do you think has the right of way, pedestrians or drivers? Take our online poll at www.sdcitytimes.com

VOX POPULI Question by Layne Deyling Photos by Troy Bryant Orem

Whose job do you think it is to prevent an accident — the pedestrian or the driver?

Isys Avila 21, Photography

Chris Corrales 18, Criminal Justice

Elizabeth Cruz 21, Business Administration

Thierry Dewaghe 30, Chemistry

“Both. A lot of pedestrians jay-walk and they think the driver will just stop. My friend just got hit by a car and it was the driver’s fault because he was on the phone.”

“If the driver is drinking or on the phone or doing so many other things, it’s their fault. But the pedestrian can be doing all the same things and then it’s their fault.”

“Both pedestrians and drivers should know the law. We all have part in the accident.”

“I’m driving a motorcycle, so I see how people aren’t looking. The responsibility of both people is to pay attention.”

Voice

www.sdcitytimes.com | April 26, 2011

‘God given rights apply to everyone’ In his column, In God We Trust? Maybe We Need a New Motto, Gabriel claims “In God We Trust” replaced E Pluribus Unum as our national motto out of fear from communism amidst a cold war. Factually, “IGWT” was used officially long before the 1956 Public Law 140. The motto was authorized by the Act of March 3, 1865 (13 Stat. 518) to be placed on certain coins followed by the Coinage Act of February 12 1873 (17 Stat. 427). The first mandatory requirement for the motto was in the Act of May 18th, 1908 (35 Stat. 164). Lest we forget the lyrics of the national anthem's Star Spangled Banner written in 1814 by Scott Key, “And this be our motto: ‘In God is our trust.’ And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!” John Locke, the Father of Liberalism who proselytized Natural Law, heavily influenced Thomas Jefferson when he wrote in the Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” God given, unalienable rights apply to everyone regardless of their religious or non-religious beliefs. For the atheist, these rights are endowed by the supernatural and he or she will maintain the same rights as the believer. Otherwise, if our rights are not “endowed by our Creator” or the supernatu-

Welfare Continued from Page 8 for help, but we get caseworkers that are not happy to see us. They humiliate, degrade and insult applicants. They can hide behind a system designed to overlook their mistakes, a system that is suspicious of fraud and that limits the way people can submit their applications. As soon as you pass the metal detector, fear, hopelessness and tension are perceived among the people who have been waiting for long hours. Warning posters that show people who have committed hang on the walls, but the fraud that is committed inside is not exposed. Millions of dollars that

Letter to the Editor Nathan Black

ral, then what is the alternative? The counter position to Natural Law would lead man to create his own arbitrary morality and rights — right and wrong, just and unjust, good and bad. In other words, our rights become alienable and without a doubt result in tyranny. The modern Democrat rejects Natural Law. If not, then why do we have a Democratic President who omits “Creator” while quoting the Declaration’s “that all men are created equal, that each of us are endowed with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?” Not once, but in two separate speeches. More recently, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid omits “under God” when reciting the Pledge of Allegiance on the senate floor (April 12, 2011). As a devout Mormon and Obama, a self-proclaimed Christian, why would they make such egregious oversights? The truth is because these omissions are intentional. These two extremely powerful individuals, along with many others holding public office today, do not believe rights are a condition of man’s existence but only exist to the extent they ratify them. Mr. Spatuzzi is absolutely correct. The threat of foreign communism may no longer exist; rather, it is knocking on my front door. could go toward creating jobs are spent prosecuting fraud. Workers don’t realize that with the economic crisis, they might be the next ones to wait in line at the welfare office. So the unfair treatment continues. Perhaps what empowers them is the sign that reads, “the caseworkers are everyday heroes.” But for those of us that are already in a system that criminalizes poverty, getting fewer benefits means our kids are not allowed to open the refrigerator because it can affect the next day’s meal. The way things are going, households with single incomes like mine are going to end up at the same place we were in when we first applied for assistance.

Skipped classes to save classes The Student walk-out and march held on March 31st was the result of direct attacks on the working class, and students. We skipped one day of class in an effort to save 500 classes next semester, you do the math. It is clear to us that that organizing, protesting, marching and rallying are all tactics that the working class have used in the past from; farmer workers walking off the field to Chicano/a students pro-

testing racial segregation; so maybe we are not the ones that need to open a textbook. In your (editorial) you assume that education only occurs in the classroom and you are sadly mistaken. Your idea of a sit-in at the LRC is great, yet you ignore the fact most of us must work in order to receive the shred of education still available for us. It is true that students receive financial aid, but while tuition prices rise, our

financial aid is cut as well and we are left to juggle our work and school schedule, and fighting over an already limited amount of classes. Bottom line is that we do not do this for fun, nor do we use it skip class. We do it because we have to, because someone needs

to remind the people sitting atop of their highchair (politician, governors, ect.) of who makes their money and to show them when what happens people realize the power that they have. It was also an attempt to remind them that their job is to represent the needs of the people. We do not need a Third war in Libya, nor do we want the Bush Tax-cut extensions. We need more classes; we want an education, for us and others to come after us.

Atheists

prevention, and gay rights, to name a few, have all been halted or delayed in the name of religion, and that’s just in my lifetime. I’m not allotted enough space for a complete list of religious impediments to human progress. The fact that I speak my mind about religious extremism does not mean I am intolerant of religious people. I respect my fellow human beings, religious and otherwise; but it doesn’t mean I have to respect what I consider ridiculous, irrational and sometimes dangerous ideas. I recognize that most

religious people are wellintentioned and my brush is not so broad as to regard all Muslims as terrorists or all Christians as Quran-burning jingoists. And I do feel for the religious moderate. I imagine they’re frustrated when horrible acts of violence are committed against their wishes in the name of their religion. The problem though, like it or not, is that justifications for such acts can be found in their holy books. The understanding by religious moderates that certain passages of the bible are simply allegorical does not prevent someone else taking

the same passages literally. And unfortunately, since the bible didn’t come with instructions on interpretation, one would not be wrong in doing so. What the New Atheists want is nothing new at all. They don’t want violence or revolution; they want conversation. Their tone may be abrasive, but necessarily so. Atheists are a small, underrepresented minority, so it’s no surprise that they use strong words — and importantly, only words — to get the attention of those who refuse listen, and it seems to be working.

Continued from Page 8 clients to the amount of priests accused of molesting their underage congregants, it’s hard to justify attacking astrologers with the same rhetorical zeal. I might not always agree with the aggressive tone taken by some public atheists. But I understand it. As a nonbeliever, it’s frustrating to see human progress retarded in the name of a largely incoherent two-thousand-year-old book I don’t believe in. Stem-cell research, AIDS

Letter to the Editor

Miguel Castaneda

SEEDS AT CITY Instructor Julia Dashe talks about the Seed at City program which teaches students about agriculture. Read our next issue to find out more about this handson program. Megan Rose Bartel, City Times

April 26, 2011 | www.sdcitytimes.com

Protest Continued from Page 1 “They come here and feel they can speak on our issues but they know nothing about being poor,” said Gastelum. At one point the protest was taken to the streets. The crowd stopped at the Saville Theatre, where the more than 100 participants gath-

Retention Continued from Page 1 Student Retention for Success is funded by a $3.5 million Title V grant SDCC won last summer. The main goal of the project is to improve

Novel Continued from Page 4 The protagonist is David Foster Wallace, who was named after Wallace himself and purposely used for a mockumentary-style novel. Wallace is a trainee at the IRS Regional Examination Center in Peoria, IL. After getting used to the ties at work he creates a monoto-

Tijuana Continued from Page 5 “I started going because people kept talking about La Mezcalera, I wanted to know what all the fuzz was about,” said City College student Isys Avila. “It (has) a whole other vibe, nothing compare to the places I’ve been to.”

Life | Arts | News

ered and began chanting against the cuts to education. Irvin Pachuca, chicano studies student, stepped up to the bullhorn and expressed his anger and frustration at state legislature who was believed to be part of the event. “Let’s make sure we send these pigs back to Sacramento with their ears ringing,” Pachuca said.

Richard Dittbenner, San Diego Community College District Public Information Officer, who also stepped out of the summit to witness the protest, said students are directing their frustrations at the wrong people. “The summit gathered to discuss service to veteran students, this is not a state issue event,” Dittbenner said. “The people here today are

dealing with serious business, the protest does not foster a good atmosphere.” Burgess recommended students at the protest to contact their local Republican representative Nathan Fletcher, one of four legislators who did not support Brown’s tax extension proposal. If approved, the extension would have generated funds for the state colleges’.

the low retention rates of primarily minority students, with a special emphasis on the Latino community. “Latino students -— more specifically Latino males and African-American males — have the lowest transfer rate,” said professor Elva Sali-

nas, who is a part of the professional development phase of the project. “More Latinos and African-American males are in prison than in higher educational systems.” According to Salinas, it was City College’s high minority population that

enabled the school to receive the grant, its second Title V award in the last decade. “It is a Hispanic-serving institution grant,” said Salinas. “We won the grant because we have 33 percent Hispanic students, which qualified us.”

nous routine and asks the other agents how they survive working at the IRS doing such a repetitive job. He undergoes boredom-survival training and learns more about how each employee was drawn to such a strange calling. He finds that there is an extraordinary variety of personalities drawn to an anything but exciting line of work. Michael Pietsch, the pub-

lisher of Little, Brown and the editor of the novel, said in a statement that in the novel, “Wallace takes agonizing daily events like standing in lines, traffic jams, and horrific bus rides (things we all hate) and turns them into moments of laughter and understanding … Although David did not finish the novel, it is a surprisingly whole and satisfying reading experience that

showcases his extraordinary imaginative talents and his mixing of comedy and deep sadness in scenes from daily life.” It is a shame that Wallace cut his life short. His writings shed light amongst the most minuscule thoughts. “The Pale King” is one of the most anticipated book releases of 2011, according to the National Post. It might be worth checking out.

Mostly spreading through word of mouth, locals started to fill the streets and La Calle Sexta became a booming district filled with bars, music venues and even a diner. For a while, La Calle Sexta was Tijuana’s best kept secret, but the word quickly spread across the border and Americans are now coming back to Tijuana.

“Slowly, it started picking up steam and week after week you would see a growth in the people wanting to go to La Calle Sexta,” said taxi cab driver Javier Robles. “Tijuana is thriving again, it’s great” Robles added. Tijuana might be thriving but precautions should still be taken. Students are advised to follow tourist

information guides. Visitors are cautioned to stay in well-known areas and are encouraged to travel with friends and family, avoiding traveling alone. Tijuana is slowly getting back on its feet and it is only fair for its neighbors to share its newfound popularity. After all, it is only a couple of minutes south of the border.

Piano

began with left-hand rumblings, eventually yielding to a joyous Middle-Eastern theme. With a wise sense of programming, Harris saved the best for last with two pieces by the Russian composer Rachmaninoff. The first featured rolling arpeggios against a crystalline melody and built to a state of beauty that was offset by a sense of drama. Halfway through the piece, Harris’ right hand trilling opened up to progressively more atonal dramatics, which ended without resolution. The final composition really allowed Harris to shine as a master of modern piano. This tour-de-force opened with ominous bass declarations and a descending stair-step melody which began slowly ratcheting up the tension in a way that could not be denied. Suddenly, both of the pianist’s hands erupted into furious hammering, building a reverberant storm cloud that hung in the air despite the violent, stabbing chords that sought to displace it. Gradually, Harris drew down the dynamics to elicit swells of unresolved harmonic questions that only silence could answer — followed by tumultuous, well-deserved applause.

Continued from Page 5 surprisingly expansive melody. There were three distinctive themes at work and Harris’ reading only served to prove what an original thinker Joplin was. “Stop Time Rag” was more archetypal Joplin and actually required Harris to regularly stomp out quarter-notes with his right foot while hammering out the highly syncopated melody with a florid alacrity. Harris followed the Joplin songs with four short compositions by Khatchaturian. Harris exploited the dynamic range of the grand piano in the acoustically pristine Saville Theatre throughout the recital, introducing the first song, “Adventures of Yvonne,” by focusing on the delicate beauty of its melody with a suspended sense of grace. “Yvonne Can’t Go Out To Play” posited a considerably darker mood, complete with moody arpeggios and enigmatic voicing. Then “Yvonne and Natasha” took things a step further with hammered, dramatic chord sequences filled with increasingly dissonant harmonies. The final piece by the Armenian composer, “Tales Of A Strange Land,”

REDUCE. REUSE. RECYCLE. Complete Your Bachelor’s Degree at

Relaxing Continued from Page 7 restaurant serving breakfast, and traditional cuisine during lunch and dinner. Location: 702 Ash St., between 7th Ave. and 8th Ave. Travel time: About 10 minutes walking distance from City College. Hours: Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Free Wi-Fi. • Krakatoa This business is a sand-

wich, tea and coffee place. Surrounding the complex is lush foliage, out on the patio on a clear day is a comfy place to do homework. You can see a few students having discovered this place already. The interior of the café is cozy and they offer the most fitting “study food.” Location: 1128 25th St., between B St. and C St. Travel time: About 17 minutes walking distance from City College. Hours: Monday through Saturday, 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free Wi-Fi.

• Coffee & Art As the name implies, this bistro sells coffee and art. The coffee shop offers a place where your creative juices can flow and although the tables are a bit quaint, this place would be nice to study at individually. Location: 777 6th Ave. #105, Between G St. and F St. Travel time: About 10 minutes walking distance from City College. Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free Wi-Fi.

• Salad Style The salads are amazing, they are well thought-out and original. If you want to talk about brain food then this is the place to go. Prices are decent and you get a lot for what you pay for. After grabbing a healthy bite to eat, the tables are just the right size to lay a few textbooks down. Location: 807 F St., between 8th Ave. and Calif. St. Travel time: About 8 minutes walking distance from City College. Hours: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free Wi-Fi.

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www.sdcitytimes.com | April 26, 2011

Sports Padres tickets a steal in 2011 Cheap tickets for students monthly at Petco By Joshua Vincent City Times For sports fans on a budget, there are few bargains better than going to a Padres game. According to the San Diego Business Journal (sdbj.com), tickets and concessions at Petco Park are the second cheapest in all of baseball. Not bad for a team that missed the playoffs by one game just a year ago. By comparison, the cheapest price index belongs to the Arizona Diamondbacks, who have finished in last place the past two years while approaching 100 losses in each season. The Padres offer two tickets for the price of one on Thursdays for $13.50. Bleacher tickets are offered for $10 and a military ID gets a $6 off on tickets over $13.50. According to Team Marketing Research (TMR), the Padres have cut their average ticket prices 17 per cent this

season, more than any other team in the league. “We are doing everything we can to make the ballpark affordable,” said Padres President Tom Garfinkel in an interview with signonsandiego.com. The best deal at Petco is the park-at-the-park ticket for $5. It gives fans standing room only views behind home plate and both dugouts, as well as free reign of the picnic area. The game is shown on a large screen behind the centerfield batter’s eye and most of the field is viewable from there. Away-at-the-park is also back this season, allowing fans to watch away games for free at the same location. The Padres also offer a college night once a month, selling upper reserve tickets in the right field stands for $8 to students. The section is reserved for college students and includes a DJ and a dance floor. “It’s a really, really cool atmosphere,” said Scott Baird, Account Executive for Group Sales. Parking prices can be steep at any live event and a Padres game is no exception:

Petco Park is ranked as the second most affordable baseball park in the major leagues. Special discount nights are offered for college students throughout the season. Joshua Vincent, City Times prices can easily exceed that of a ticket. The San Diego Metro Transit Service offers several options to get to and from a game with a $5 day pass. There are six bus lines that will put fans within a short walk from the park and

the trolley lines run to the ballpark as well. There are thousands of parking spots available along the trolley lines as well, allowing fans to park their car and catch a trolley to Petco Park. Concession prices are notoriously pricey at the ball-

park, even if they’re slightly more affordable at a Padres game. The best option is to bring food to the game. The Padres allow fans to bring in a cooler with food and beverages as long as it will fit under a seat. Exceptions include cans and glass bot-

tles and plastic water bottles exceeding 20 ounces. Fruit is allowed but it must be cut into pieces. Ticket information can be found at www.padres.mlb. com, bus and trolley schedules are available at www. sdmts.com.

Struggles behind Boca Futbol Club brings soccer to Balboa Field him, Boyd now on top of game Averaged 22 points, 11 rebounds By Jose De Los Santos City Times Everyone has struggles and obstacles to overcome in order to accomplish their goals in life. For City College’s Terrence Boyd, those struggles involved not only his perTerrence Boyd sonal life but his basketball career as well. Boyd was ranked as high as No. 54 in the high school top 100 players by rivals.com while in high school. After finishing his first two years of high school in Oklahoma, Boyd was ruled ineligible for his junior year in Oklahoma and then again in San Diego after it was discovered that Boyd’s mother had received monetary benefits from a third party. Even though Boyd did not play for two years, espn.com called him “a strong athletic wing guard … a beast in tran-

sition where his strength and athleticism are unstoppable.” Boyd was highly recruited out of high school and ended up committing to Western Kentucky over Oregon State and the 2011 National Champion, University of Connecticut. Just before the start of the college season, Western Kentucky head coach Ken McDonald released a statement saying that Boyd was no longer part of their program, which would eventually lead to Boyd becoming a Knight. As a sophomore at City College this year, Boyd averaged 22 points, 11 rebounds and 2 steals per game. His best game of the season came in a road victory over rival Mesa College in which he tallied a double-double while scoring 40 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. The Knights ended up with a 17-10 overall record and 11-5 conference record, which netted the Knights a second place finish in the conference, narrowly leaving them out of the playoffs. Boyd’s impressive contribution to the Knights this season did not go unnoticed; he was named to the first team, all-state.

Andres Canizales of Boca Futbol (soccer) Club strikes the ball. Boca FC is part of the National Premier Soccer League. The league gives collegiate and prospective college players an opportunity to play competitive soccer without jeopardizing their eligibility. Amateur and professional players also compete in the league. Boca FC plays their home games at Balboa Stadium. Courtesy photo, www.sdboca.com

BOCA FC MAY GAMES Compiled by Joshua Vincent Submit events to citytimes@gmail.com or call (619) 388-3880 n May 1 (Sunday) SD Boca FC vs. Hollywood Hitmen 7 p.m. n May 7 (Saturday) Bay Area Ambassadors vs. SD Boca FC 7 p.m.

n May 14 (Saturday)

SD Boca FC vs. Sana Ana 7 p.m.