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The Darkness II in review PAGE 4 Covering the San Diego City College community since 1945
LATINO’S IN CINEMA Latino Film Festival returns PAGE 5 Volume 66, Number 10
News/Calendar............... 2-3 Life................................... 4 Arts.................................. 5 Voice................................. 6 Sports............................... 8
March 6, 2012
Proceeds go to Gonzalez family By Benny A. McFadden City Times
Toshi Douglas (left) and Victoria Vidana competed in the Cosmetology Department’s inspired hair and fashion show. Troy Orem, City Times
Good and evil duel for first By Victor Hernandez City Times An angel and a devil. Eve and the serpent. Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf. These pairs of characters are representations of the conflicting ideas of good and evil, concepts that we are continually defining. These ideas were brought to life by the imaginations of student stylists in the City College Cosmetology Department’s first student hair and fashion show. On Feb. 23 the students divided the auditorium of the technology
building into two sides. The “good” side had white lights, bubbles and a sky blue banner with clouds while the “evil” one had red lights, red crepe paper and a banner filled with flames. This decor was topped with flashing lights and pumping dance music. Each group of stylists interpreted the show’s theme of good versus evil differently. Some used two models, one to represent each idea. But the winning stylists incorporated both ideas into a single creation. One stylist used a mermaid and fisherwoman to illustrate her ideas. The mermaid dressed in a shim-
mery light blue outfit with sun-kissed makeup and fish net shawl, the fisherwoman in a yellow raincoat with fish net stockings and fishing lure accents in her hair. Another team chose to use Eve and the serpent. Skin-tight black and scaly green, the serpent carried a glittering red apple, while Eve in her metallic green short-shorts and midriff-bearing top wore painted vines on her skin. The winning stylists fused the two ideas in one model. A white, feathered cape and flowing dress was stitched together with a short tattered black one. Stringy black hair
topped with a horn-like headpiece was contrasted with flowing auburn hair laced with golden string. The sinister half of the model’s face wore black makeup and an eerie white contact lens. First place stylists Karla Arrieta and Yvette Parusheva also swept the secondary categories, winning Best Hair, Best Makeup and Best Attire. Second place went to Carina Hernandez, Alexandra Iniguez, and Stephanie Seramur for their Eve and serpent entries, and third place went to Chelsea Opzeeland for her mermaid and fisherwoman. See Cosmetology, page 5
Those who attended City College during the Fall 2010 semester are likely to remember the slaying of Diana Gonzalez on Oct. 12. The nightmarish scene of homicide detectives investigating her slaying in M-building that week is a notso-distant memory, especially for people who knew her. Her killing spotlighted problems that many women and families face, not just those limited to domestic abuse but also how these reports are handled by police and the justice system. Larissa Dorman, a political science professor at City, had never met Gonzalez but did have one of Gonzalez’s relatives as a student. Dorman, who referred to the San Diego District Attorney’s efforts as “failed promises,” became intimately involved in helping the Gonzalez family. Dorman was one of the faculty members who brought “The Vagina Monologues” to Saville Theatre, a play that celebrates femininity and combats abuse against women. See Diana, page 2
Janitors rally downtown for better wages By Sandra Gallindo City Times Hundreds of union janitors marched in downtown San Diego on Feb. 24 against low wages. Accompanying signs read: “The 1 percent profits from fear,’’ “We, the people, or they, the rich people,” and “The 1 percent is holding us all back.” The march was organized by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU Local 1877) in a statewide effort to improve their labor contracts. Many of them are set to expire this year, and union members are mobilizing to call attention to their cause. With speeches in English and Spanish, workers and
supporters demanded better wages and working conditions. “We are part of the 99 percent and we are tired of being trampled,” said Hilda Escobar. The janitors had many supporters like state Sen. Juan Vargas, Congressman Bob Filner and State Assemblyman Benjamin Hueso. “They are fighting for respect from their employers,” said Pedro Vazquez, a supporter of janitors’ rights. “In their last contract, cleaning contractors recognized their responsibility to San Diego in downtown, but they were unwilling to give janitors all of what they need to provide for their families in the suburbs,” said Jessica Lopez, the political coordinator for the SEIU United Ser-
vice Workers West. “These workers have fought for many years to have a fair wage,” Hueso said. “In this economy, they have to work over 40 hours per week to provide for their families. They’re fulfilling their duties and they should be compensated.” “The last time San Diego janitors marched in the streets was Occupy ICE San Diego,” said Lopez, referring to a rally in November calling to an end to deportations. “This time, you better believe we’re standing for immigrants’ rights. We’re standing for the rights of all to a life with dignity. “In 2008, janitors in San Diego striked for a month. We Josefina Mendoza, Carmen Sanchez, Raymundo Lopez and Maria I. Venegas march will stay longer this time, if for better wages in downtown San Diego, Feb. 24. The demonstration was part of a necessary.” statewide effort to demand better contracts for janitors. Sandra Gallindo, City Times
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Take Note Calendar Compiled by Daphne Jauregui Get your event in the paper. Email us at citytimes@gmail.com or call 619-388-3880
nMarch 6, Tuesday Zaquia Salinas: SpiderWomen, 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. at Saville Theatre FYE Academic Success Workshop, 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. aat A-103 nMarch 7, Wednesday FYE Academic Success Workshop, 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. at A-103 Resume Workshop, 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. at A-111
Diana Continued from Page 1 Ninety percent of the proceeds from the play, now in its third year at City, go to help the Gonzalez family and the victim’s daughter Crystal, who is now being raised by Gonzalez’s parents. Dorman and other faculty members at City have been considering an installation of a permanent memorial for Gonzalez on campus. According to Dorman, the memorial is still in the planning stages.
nMarch 8, Thursday San Diego Latino Film Festival (March 8 - 18) at Mission Valley Utra Star Cinema at Hazard Center nMarch 10, Saturday Talent Show, 7 p.m. at Saville Theater nMarch 12, Monday Academic Senate Meeting, 2:30 p.m. at D-121A nMarch 13, Tuesday Jazz Live: Judy Wexler, 8
“Our focus was on catching Armando,” Dorman said. Armando Perez, Gonzalez’s husband and the only suspect in her murder, was recently captured. The Gonzalez family and their friends, including Dorman, can now begin to turn their focus away from Perez and start the legal steps for Gonzalez’s parents to adopt Crystal. “Crystal is like a daughter to me. I tell my husband if I didn’t have her, I probably wouldn’t be sitting here,” said Gonzalez’s mother, Concepcion, in an interview
Crack City By Michele Suthers
p.m. - 9:30 p.m. at Saville Theatre nMarch 14, Wednesday Language Day, 10 a.m. - 2:20 p.m. Gorton Quad nMarch 19, Monday Academic Senate Executive Meeting, 3:45 p.m. at Room A2 Vivian Francis: Untouchables in India, 12:30 p.m. 2:20 p.m. at D-121 A/B
with City’s “Newscene.” This year, the proceeds from “The Vagina Monologues” will help the Gonzalez family pay for legal fees during the adoption process Donations to the Gonzalez family can be mailed to Gonzalez Family Fund #114, San Diego City College, care of City College Foundation, 1313 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101. Suggestions for a future memorial in Gonzalez’s honor on the City campus can be emailed to thecitybeatclub@gmail.com.
Student Senate Speaker Series to address concerns By Cecilia Areta City Times On March 12, the student senate will be holding a meeting in room D-121B from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. to discuss concerns that students have pertaining to City College. It will be called the Student Senate Speaker Series. During this meeting, the
student senate will introduce themselves, discuss what they are doing to help serve students and be available to answer any questions or concerns about the campus. “We are looking forward to using this time to get to know our student body and to share how we are working for you,” said the senate’s Vice President Ramona Irwin. “To
learn what your concerns are and how we may be able to help address them.” Currently, they are working plan with the San Diego Community College District’s chief of police to improve campus safety. For more information contact Ramona Irwin at 619388-3412 or at ramona.irwin@ yahoo.com.
Talent set for March 10 show By Daphne Jauregui City Times Six hopefuls performed Feb. 23 on the final night of tryouts for City College’s upcoming talent show, bringing the total number of participants to 30. Singing, rapping, poetry and even a puppet show were among the many talents showcased. “There is so much talent this year that the hardest part is going to be eliminating people,” said Tandy Ward, who has coordinated the show the previous three years. The first-place award will be $600, second-place will be $300 and third-place $100. “It’s something for the whole family to see and do. I think it’s going to be a great
Christina Contreras and Mikeal Mitchell tr y out Feb. 23 for City’s talent show. Daphne Jauregui, City Times The talent show is March show,” said Ward. All proceeds from the 10 in the Saville Theatre at show will go to City College’s 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. scholarship fund.
Knights take over Mingei By Kristin Sorianosos City Times The City Knights will be hosting a Las Vegas style night at the Mingei International Museum on March 9 from 6:30 to 10 p.m. The benefit will help raise money for scholarships and
college programs for City College students. It will be a 21-and-up event and cocktail attire is required for admission. Tickets are general admission and priced at $75 per person or $125 per couple. Admission will cover unlimited food and drinks,
gambling chips and an opportunity to partake in a silent auction. For entertainment, a DJ and a band will perform. Parking will be located in nearby lots or by valet for $10. For more information, contact Gary Brown at (619) 388-3220.
Clarification The article “Fugitive in campus murder arrested,” published Feb. 21, reported that Diana Gonzalez was a nursing student when she was slain in October 2010. Gonzalez was not enrolled in the nursing program yet, but was taking prerequisites for a nursing degree at City College.
March 6, 2012 | www.sdcitytimes.com
News
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Students demand right to education City College joins other campuses in day of protest By Fernando Yates City Times The campus organization Occupy San Diego City College held a walkout protest March 1 in conjunction with a national day of action to defend education. Mesa College and San Diego State University also held similar demonstrations to protest budget cuts and tuition increases. At City’s Curran Plaza, at around 11:30 a.m., approximately 250 protesters weaved through the campus shouting slogans like, “We’re students, we’re poor, we won’t pay anymore,” eventually ending back up in Curran Plaza. Back at the plaza, speakers and a live band performed. Around this time the amount of protesters dropped by about half. Jim Hungry, a community member who participated in the protest, said that he believes that access to education should be a basic human right like food and water. Several other students shared a similar feeling, and wished that education was free. The overall consensus of the protest was that the cost of education is too high and that budget cuts have had an adverse effect on education. “A school is for education it’s not a business,” said Annette Davis, a member of
Protesters listen to speakers in Curran Plaza on March 1 after marching through campus protesting the cost of education and budget cuts. The event was organized by Occupy San Diego City College. Fernando Yates, City Times Occupy City College and business student. Davis said that one of the reasons that she became active in the movement was the cancellation of summer session last year. She said that she wanted to know where the money from fee increases goes to. “If we don’t do it (protest) classes will be more expensive. Without financial aid I wouldn’t be here,” said student Brendo Montes.
Not everyone on campus supported the protest as the participants shouted into megaphones, banged on windows and shouted into classrooms. “I don’t see how it’s helping … They can come on a Saturday,” said Ruth Alcede as the protesters passed through the A-building. Alfonso Morin was in a statistics midterm when the protest passed by his class. He said that protesters banged on
the windows and made a lot of noise. He said that it made it very difficult to concentrate for several minutes. “They shouldn’t go to classrooms. They could have stayed in one area,” Morin said. City College has had several similar protests over the last few years. Francisco Moreno, professor of sociology and the academic adviser of Occupy City College, said that the method of this protest
is not the most effective but “it is a place to start.” He added that given the circumstances, “we have to begin to get people active.” Moreno said that protest can be effective, and there is a strong history of them working in this country and others. He said that these protests are less effective because this generation has had everything handed to them, and they are not used to having to protest for anything.
‘The story that we all share’
When asked if leaving class to protest was the best use of a students’ time Moreno said that one day realistically would not make much of a difference in their education. He added that participating in the protest offers students experience that they cannot get if they missed class for other reasons. Occupy activists at City College meet Wednesdays at 2 p.m. in Gorton Quad.
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City College series celebrates Black History Month By Brian Lett City Times In celebration of Black History Month, City College’s Inter-Club Council and the Umoja club presented “The Story That We All Share: Black History Month” in the cafeteria on Feb. 27 to 29. The three-day-event featured a panel of speakers and organizations discussing the past and present social, economic and educational challenges of African-Americans. Many cited the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education which overturned statesponsored segregation. This ruling paved the way for integration and he civil rights movement Speakers included political activists, educators and participants from the 1960’s civil rights movement, who in their speeches often cited the teachings of political leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Albie Abdullah, who served as Malcom X’s bodyguard during the civil rights movement, gave a riveting
speech about topics that ranged from the origins of hip-hop to his experiences travelling with prominent activists. The second day of the event featured the first half of the film “Black Power Mixtape,” a Swedish documentary set in the United States around the late 1960s and early 1970s. The portion shown showcased organizations such as the Black Panthers and many of their prominent members such as Bobby Seale and Alice Cooper. Roberta Alexander, English teacher at City and former Black Panther, spoke about her time with the group and elaborated on their activities. She asserted that it was important for this generation to get involved as well and provided suggestions on how to do so. “If we can get the momentum to get this kind of conversation going, constantly, that’s a start,” said Alexander. “Beyond that we have to hit the streets. We need to get all the people who are eligible to be naturalized citizens, to be
Brenda Leverette speaks at a Black Histor y Month event Feb. 28. Troy Orem, City Times naturalized citizens ... who are eligible to vote, to vote.” Brenda Leverette, an administrative technician who attended the event, asserted that though society has made great improvements to combat racial injustice but more needs to be done. “We are still judged by the color of our skin and not our abilities,” said Leverette. “The whip has been put down but there is still economical bondage.” Chancellor Constance Carroll and City College President Terrence Burgess were also in attendance, and
commended City’s students for their participation. “There are many other things you could be doing with your lives, but you’ve chosen to come to City College,” said Carroll. “You’ve decided that you are not going to be slaves, economically or any other way. Its wonderful to see you here. If Frederick Douglass could see you here, he’d probably cry.” Douglass was an abolitionist leader and author in the 19th Century. Connect with the Umoja club at www.facebook.com/ pages/City-College-Umoja-
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Life Cloudy with a chance of data There is nothing worse than finding that you forgot that important presentation on a thumb drive at home. Worse still is plugging in your drive to print or present and see that your files are corrupted. Luckily, the abundance of cloud-storage services have pretty much fixed the problem, and if you’re not using them, you should. Companies like Dropbox and Evernote make it easy to upload just about anything up to a server and have it anywhere that has Internet access. Both services let you upload photos, documents, video and audio from just about any networked device. The best part is that both services are free. Sometimes, you actually need to edit or create a document, but not every device has a productivity suite like Microsoft Office. If you have a Google account, you can use Google Docs to create text documents, spreadsheets, Powerpoint presentations and more. Docs even allows you to share your documents so you can work with a team and make changes in real time. Even if you do not need constant access to your files, cloud services serve as a back up. Sooner or later, your hard drive will fail — that is a fact, it’s just a matter of when. With
BITS & BYTES Fernando Yates
the adoption of solid-state drives, you no longer have the clicking of the old magnetic platter hard drives as an indicator of when your drive might fail. Without a backup, your data is lost. Photos, music, videos, documents; gone. While you can pay some to recover your data, it tends to be expensive and you will only get a portion of your data back, if any. A good rule to follow is to have three copies of your data: an external hard drive, physical media (discs), and a copy that is off-site. Cloud services are perhaps the best method for an off-site backup since you always have access to it. Most cloud services offer some free storage, for example, Dropbox gives you a twogigabyte locker. But even paid storage lockers tend to be inexpensive If you aren’t using these services, you should. They easy, safe, reliable and, most importantly, free.
Beef fajitas with tortillas, rice, beans, guacamole and sour cream from Pokez. Bobby Whaley, City Times
Slow service, sizzling flavor Pokez Mexican restaurant has a South American feel and a clean, comfortable environment. The food is above average, if you can wait for it. Pokez is located on the corner of 10th Avenue and E Street. It was 25 minutes between the time I ordered and when I was actually served. While the music, pictures and artwork made time pass by, it was still 25 minutes of waiting. The restaurant was half vacant at the time. What took so long to cook? Fajitas. A relatively simple dish made by sauteing strips
FRUGAL FOODIE
Bobby Whaley
of beef with tomatoes, bell peppers, mushrooms and onions. At Pokez, you get it garnished with guacamole, sour cream, salsa fresca and limes. It also comes with rice, beans and flour tortillas. Aside from the lack of
timeliness, the cook did a very good job with the preparation. The meat was succulent with a mix of bold flavors. The mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes and onions were all bold with their own flavor, yet contrasted with a hint of the other parts of the dish. The meal is served on a sizzling platter, hot juices noisily jumping into the air. However, don’t waste any time to dig in. It is served on a metal dish on a wooden platter, so it doesn’t retain its heat for long (and there is no hotplate under it). At $8.75, the fajitas are the most expensive dish on the menu. Pokez serves most of the
traditional dishes found in a Mexican restaurant and you can select from a variety of meat with most of the dishes. Even vegetarian and vegan options are available. Their combo platters, some of which consist of classic Mexican flavors, cost $8.25. There are a few goofy additions like the “You don’t want it!” combo. They have a full breakfast menu that averages $5.50 per dish, a variety of sodas, side orders and a full list of beers and wines available on request. You can check out their full menu online at Pokezsd. com.
‘The Darkness II’ is sadistic, gory fun Starbreeze Studios introduced us to Jackie Estacado, the gruff, gun-blazing mobster protagonist of the 2007 video game “The Darkness.” Early on Jackie was possessed by “The Darkness” — a demonic, parasitic entity that imbues its host with supernatural powers — and then proceeded to tear through his adversaries leaving a bloody trail of heart-relieved corpses. In “The Darkness II” Jackie reprises his role as a mobster in the Franchetti crime family two years after the events of “The Darkness,” only this time he’s calling the shots as head of the family. After its temporary absence, the Darkness reemerges more deadly than ever and Jackie must once again rely on its power to exact revenge against a new foe. “The Darkness II” has undergone both drastic and subtle changes. The most noticeable change is the visuals, ditching the photorealist approach of the first game to adopt a vibrant, cell-shaded look. This is a significant adjustment,
GAME PLAY Brian Lett
but whether or not the decision was better may differ from player to player. Though the graphics in “The Darkness” had its fair share of problems (horrendous facial animations and stiff movements) it was still one of the year’s best-looking games, and the gritty, intricately detailed environments complemented the dark themes perfectly. While it is understood that the change works as an allusion to the game’s comic-book roots, some may feel that an updated version of the previous style could have been better served. “The Darkness II” is more straightforward this time around with little else to do besides murder your way to
As Jackie, players use demonic arms and guns to defeat enemies in “The Darkness II.” Starbreeze Studios the end credits. Every once in a while you will encounter a brief break in the action to catch up with your cohorts or reminisce about the past, but gone are the occasional side quests, pay phone calls and beeper pages that went a long way
to flesh out the world of the original. Ambiance is replaced with gratuitous violence, but as you press on you will find it’s OK because the violence is satisfying. The darkness, manifested primarily as a pair of serpen-
tine appendages lurching over each shoulder, is absolutely vicious. Whether you’re ripping bodies apart like tin foil, impaling or decapitating them with environmental projectiles, devouring hearts or simply pumping them full of lead, combat is very macabre,
fluid and fun. Enemy selection is varied enough to require some strategy to effectively navigate, especially on the higher difficulty settings where enemies See Darkness, page 5
March 6, 2012 | www.sdcitytimes.com
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Arts Cosmetology Continued from Page 1 Judges of the competition included an international guest judge from Italy, a representative from Aveda, and professionals from local salons. Prizes included gift baskets filled with beauty products and certificates for training time at local salons. Each team spent hours preparing their models leading up to the competition, working on hairstyle, makeup and costumes. The event broke boundaries in the Cosmetology Department, allowing students from different groups to work together. This collaboration was the highlight of the competition, according to senior stylist Carina Hernandez. “In the past, seniors didn’t interact with me as a freshman,” said Hernandez. “The best part of this experience was the interaction and exchanging of ideas with the freshmen.” With about four weeks of preparation, seniors Allana Guignard and Marleesha Cross lead the committee that created the hair and
fashion show. The department held a bake sale in the weeks leading up to the event, using the money to pay for all of the supplies and some of the prizes for the show. The cosmetology program at City College is considered one of the best in the nation, according to Department Chair Dr. E. Sloan. She noted that the program has a new home in the technology building. “Because of the move we will be able to make use of the facility,” said Sloan. “The technology and the lighting and space to accommodate more students, and make better shows.” She sees the show becoming an opportunity to network, as well as a platform to showcase the talents of the senior students to influential people in the industry. “Community college programs are not looked upon with seriousness, we want to change that.”
(left) Leigha Lyons poses showing her completed “eve” look. (top) Stylist Tran Bao Pham applies color to model Toshi Douglas. (bottom) models Stephanie Ferreira (left) and Linda Gonzales (right) display stylist Brenda Comparan’s interpretation of Little Red Riding Hood and The Big Bad Wolf. Troy Orem, City Times
Chinese food at home
Darkness
By Jennifer Manilili City Times
can easily take you out in a few shots. Instead of acquiring new powers automatically, players will be able to choose from a healthy selection of upgrades with the essence they collect from their numerous victims. These powers and essence can be carried over to subsequent playthroughs via “new game+”. Weapon selection is quite user-friendly allowing players to swap out duel weapons on the fly will little effort, though a battlefield littered with stray weapons can get in the way of interacting with other environmental objects. Also, the high caliber voice acting is superb. Jackie’s raspy vocals and loaded soliloquies are back and just as great as last time. Cell-shading controversy aside, the lip-syncing and facial expressions are terrific, resulting in some good-looking close-ups. “The Darkness 2” is still a thrilling shoot-‘em-up with the added twist of sadistic goreinducing demon arms, despite lacking the apt milieu and undertones of its predecessor. If you’re a fan of mindless violence or first-person shooters in general, “The Darkness 2” is worth your while.
Like other fast food, Chinese take-out can be loaded in sodium, fat, and other unhealthy ingredients, but you don’t have to resort to a restaurant to fulfill your craving. You can quickly make great, healthier Chinese food at home. Here is a recipe for garlic beef with green beans that requires no frying at all from crepesofwrath.net. Directions Slice your beef into long, thin strips. Heat 2 tablespoons of canola oil in a large saute pan over high heat and add in
your beef. Cook for 3-5 minutes, until almost completely cooked (It can still be a little pink as it will continue to cook in the sauce later.) Remove with a slotted spatula onto a plate with paper towels so the juices drain. Drain all but 2 tablespoons of juices out of your pan and add the diced onion. Cook for five minutes over medium-high heat until softened, then add in the cleaned and de-stemmed green beans. Add in 1/4 cup of water, if needed (just enough so the beans can steam), and cook for 5 more minutes, stirring frequently. While you cook the onions
and green beans, heat 1 tablespoon of canola oil in a small sauce pan over medium heat, then add in your minced garlic. Cook for 3 minutes, until fragrant, then add in the rest of the sauce ingredients. Stir to combine, then cook over medium-high heat for 3-5 minutes until bubbling and slightly thickened. Add the sauce to the pan with the onions and green beans and cook over mediumhigh heat for about 3 minutes or until thickened a bit more. Add in the beef and cook for about another 3 minutes or until heated through. Serve over rice or more vegetables.
Continued from Page 4
Ingredients n 2 tablespoons canola oil n 2 pounds sirloin/top round/ filet/ or flank steak n 1 onion, diced n 1 pound greenbeans, cleaned and de-stemmed n 1/4 cup water
For the sauce: n 1 tablespoon canola oil n 6 cloves garlic, minced n 2/3 cup Hoisin sauce n 2 tablespoons granulated sugar n 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce n 1 to 2 teaspoons Sriracha n 1/3 cup water
Latino film festival returns March 8 By Jennifer Manalili City Times Cinema and Latino storytelling collide at the 19th Annual San Diego Latino Film Festival beginning March 8 and running through March 18. To commemorate its return, City’s World Cultures program held a promotional event at the Saville Theatre on March 1. Latinos make up a growing segment of the U.S. population, “in some communities, Latinos can make up maybe 50 percent. But how many
Latinos were nominated for Oscars? The representation on the small screen and movies has been small,” said Ethan van Thillo, the festival’s founder and executive director. Van Thillo, a graduate of UC Santa Cruz, moved to San Diego and founded the Latino Film Festival, which spawned the Media Arts Center, a non-profit organization that teaches cinematic storytelling. What began as “Cine Estudiantil” and initially focused on student films has enjoyed a steady growth and
increased popularity over the years making it one of the most well-respected film festivals in the country. At the time of its inception, there were only two Latino film festivals in the country. More than 225,000 people have attended over the years and the festival has had the opportunity to screen over 3,500 films. This year, more than 170 films hailing from Spain, Mexico and all over Latin America will be screened over the course of 11 days. An estimated 20,000 fes-
tival goers are expected to attend. “There’s a little for everybody. Family movies, documentaries and short films. A little of everything,” said Van Thillo. In addition to the variety, the festival will have different series showcasing particular genres including “El Mundo Extraño,” highlighting horror and science-fiction, “Cine Gay” with stories about the gay, lesbian and transgender community, Jewish-Latino films and family movies, among others. “Arte Latino” will show-
case artwork, live music and food in the lobby of the theater. More than 100 actors and directors will be in attendance. Tickets can be purchased online or by visiting the UltraStar Mission Valley Cinema box office on Hazard Center Drive. Individual screening tickets will be $10. Student, senior, military and MACSD “Cine Club” member tickets will be $8. Festival passes range from $35 to $180. For tickets or information, visit www.sdlatinofilm.com or call (619) 230-1938.
4 Joysticks out of 5
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VOICE Entertainers’ lives are not entertainment Some say that being a public figure means open season to scrutiny and the prying eyes of the public. But could fame, like most everything in life, have its limits too? After a stint in rehab and subsequent mental breakdown in 2007, Chris Crocker, a YouTube user and Britney Spears fan, posted a video pleading with the media to “leave Britney Spears alone!” Though Crocker’s integrity could be questioned, the statement makes a point. There is nothing worse than hearing a celebrity complaining about being a celebrity. By nature, we are drawn to the shiny things. We look to entertainment as both a distraction and a means to fill a void. It’s why we venture to horror movies, so we can experience fear in a safe environment. But the public’s obsession and the media’s pursuit to fulfill this need could be too much. The public should remember that celebrities are still human no matter how they are regarded or how high their pedestals stand. They have families and experience pain and loss too. They have secrets that they pray will never see the light of day, but their careers make them more prone to exposure. They are just regular people living in different, much more extraordinary circumstances. Sure there are the others. The Kardashians, the Real Housewives, and the Snookies of the world. Recently, actor Daniel Craig scrutinized the Kardashians for their handful of reality television shows. He blasted the family in an interview with “British GQ” for seemingly exploiting their lives for the public’s consumption and attention, while asking for privacy when backlash ensued. But it’s important to
CITY TIMES Volume 66, Number 10 March 6, 2012
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EDITORIAL
City Times Editorial Board
remember that the few who are addicted to fame and seemingly just famous for being famous should not be counted as a reflection of the rest of the industry. Those who exploit themselves should not be grouped in with talented stars that sing or act and actually work to make a living. In 2009, photos of Michael Jackson’s body were splashed on the cover of “OK!” Most recently, a photo of Whitney Houston lying in her casket was put on the cover of the “National Enquirer.” Princess Diana died in a crash after the car she was riding in was being pursued by paparazzi. As emergency crew members worked to get her body out of the car, paparazzi stood on the side waiting to get a picture. It seems that today, the lengths that the media will go to are limitless. Celebrities cannot find peace even in death. Because of this fierce pursuit to find skeletons in closets, the legacy of some of these stars becomes tainted. Some will disregard Houston’s beautiful voice in favor of remembering her as a cocaine addict. Others will remember Jackson’s addiction and reliance on Propofol. Elvis Presley, Kurt Cobain and other stars may be remembered in similar ways. The public and media should remember that while these stars act in movies or perform music in public, their private lives should not be what they are remembered for. What they do out of the spotlight should not be turned into entertainment too.
Troy Orem, City Times
$56 a day is not enough to live It’s 7 a.m. and Juan didn’t work again. He was sent home since it was raining. He works at a car wash, along with more than 30 other workers, and they, too, left with empty pockets. The workers are not employees, they when they company the wants them to work. They show up when their boss tells them to, but they know that failure to appear or any tardiness will only cause the owners to not give them any work. It is modern slavery because the employer knows the economic needs of the workers. Juan is a 39-year-old man from Michoacan, Mexico. He moved to the Unites States when he was 15-years-old. He’s been working in the car wash industry for a long time. “In 24 years, I have never earned more than $8-perhour,” he said. The car wash owners chose to close their business due to the rain. The house never loses, but the workers do. For years, car wash owners have been abusing their employees without any sanctions against them. Their prosperous business keeps growing while their workers are poorer, because they are invisible. Cost of living has gone up but their salaries haven’t. Rent is due this Friday but the weather threatens Juan’s pocket. He knows he’s in
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Sandra Gallindo
trouble with his landlord. He looks desperate. His wife, Veronica, picks him up and looks at him, devastated. Another day without an income. They’re definitely not going to make it. Veronica tells him she thought at least they could buy a loaf of bread and milk for the kids. They’ve already given up their telephones and pawned their children’s bicycles. “We are going to a food bank today. We don’t even have sugar at home. Our kids have to stay in the after-school program so they can have better meals there,” Veronica tells me. Juan has been working at the car wash for two months but says there are people who have been working there for years, and they only earn 25 cents more. On a very good day, Juan and his co-workers can clean around 500 cars without a break. He says that his boss even buys pizza for them so they don’t stop working, not even for a minute. They run
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from car to car, washing and towel-drying the vehicles, sometimes for 10 hours. The workers depend on the tips they earn from the customers, since they earn $7 dollars an hour and, for most of them, that is the only income they receive. His total take of $56 a day is not enough to feed a family, pay bills and gas. Juan’s hands are very scratchy due to the chemicals to which he’s exposed. He says he sometimes feels dizzy from the strong fumes of waxes, polishes and sealants and from cleaning rims with acid without wearing gloves. Another worker, 42-yearold Ricardo Lopez, has been working at the car wash for 12 years. I ask him if being there for so many years guarantees him a salary. “I have to save for the rainy days,” said Lopez. “Today, I arrived at 7 a.m. but we didn’t open until 9.30 a.m. If there are no customers, we don’t get anything. Time starts counting when customers arrive.” According to an American University Labor and Employment Law Forum, “Los Angeles car wash workers signed the first union contract of the industry on Oct. 25, 2011. The agreement was reached after years of effort led by the CLEAN Carwash Campaign, a coalition of the United Steelworkers and the non-profit CLEAN (Community-Labor-Environmental
Action Network).” The agreement allows workers to get a wage increase and better safety and health protection. But, in San Diego, some car wash owners pay all their employees by check. That means that an hour or more of the workers’ hard work from their already small check goes to pay the fee to cash it if they do not have a checking account. People that drive by the busy corner of Jackson Street, can see the non-stop activity of the workers. In the middle of the street, some people are begging for coins to get something to eat or drink. Most of the car wash employees work in deplorable conditions. Much more needs to be done to protect the car wash workers in San Diego. If they are not represented by a union and the owners are not prosecuted for labor violations, the abuses will continue. Workers need to get a wage increase, recover stolen wages and have safer working conditions. On Oct. 25, 2011, The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations news blog read: “Los Angeles is the epicenter of the car wash industry and the epicenter of innovative organizing, particularly by immigrant workers.” Humble immigrants have set an example to other car washes.
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 Journalism Program | www.sdcity.edu/journalism Roman S. Koenig, associate professor, journalism and mass communication
March 6, 2012 | www.sdcitytimes.com
Voice
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Do you need to know their life?
A-listers URBANALITIES By Michele Suthers private lives’ create industries PRO
Bobby Whaley Without celebrities to write about magazines like “People” would write about nothing. As a result of this, celebrities end up making even more money than the large sums they are paid in their jobs, mostly by giving interviews or selling off the right to photograph events in their personal lives. For example, according to the New York Post the Kardashian family made an estimated $17.9 million profit from selling engagement and wedding pictures to “People,” then selling advertisements during the two-part, four-hour long wedding special on E! I really doubt they minded the photographers at their wedding when they were handed the checks. While the family made a large sum of money, there where thousands of people being employed because of it in many fields, varying from bakers for the cake and photographers on the ground, to advertisement managers and fashion designers for the dress. Because of the lack of privacy that celebrities have, entire industries are created, with the celebrities getting paid the whole way for their trouble. Some people judge that the media invades too much into the celebrities lives, however many of the celebrities would complain if they didn’t. They want the attention because that pretty much equals cash in their hands in the end. Is it right for the paparazzi to swarm cars as celebrities arrive at events? Maybe not. But just think of the thousands employed because of their ill manners. Sure a celebrity has to push their way through to the event, having pictures of them snapped the whole way. But they are millionaires, with more money than they can spend. Is it really so bad that they have to put up with it while they live in the lap of luxury? Not at all. Many wouldn’t want the paparazzi to stop, simply because it feels good to have people wanting your attention that much.
Stars are people too, respect boundaries The paparazzi need to give celebrities and their families the privacy and space that they deserve. In today’s society, the media has placed celebrities on such a high pedestal that it’s almost as if we forget that they’re human. Is Kim Kardashian so huge of a star that reporters need to dig through her garbage just to get a good story? Does it really have to be prime-time news every time Lindsay Lohan enters rehab? The answer is no, and the recent passing of superstar Whitney Houston was a somber occurrence that quickly turned into a media free-for-all. The images of 18-year-old
Chad Cross, 25, General Studies Question by Michael Liggins Photos by Ana Ceballos
Should celebrities have a right to privacy?
“It’s well within the public’s right, just because it’s legal doesn’t mean that you should do it. Everyone deserves their own privacy.”
CON
Michael Liggins Bobbi Kristina Houston surrounded by photographers as she was rolled out of her hotel room on a stretcher were heartbreaking. Here was a young girl who had just fainted after hearing the tragic news of her mother’s death. To make matters worse, the paparazzi insisted on photographing her. What justification can a journalist give for this behavior? Tabloids and magazines shouldn’t need a picture of Bobbi Kristina in this fragile state. The public already knows what some-
Edgar Castillo, 40, Construction Engineering “It depends, some people don’t like it, but the paparazzi are only doing their jobs. In certain cases the media is too aggressive, like in the case of Princess Dianna.”
one in mourning looks like. Why does Bobby Brown need to be harassed by journalists as he’s exiting a plane at LAX to care for his daughter? There is a line that exists between celebrities working in their professional lives and just living their personal lives. Whitney Houston was not perfect and she never pretended to be. In an interview conducted shortly before her death, she said, “I almost wish I could be more exciting. That way, I could match what is happening out there to me.” It’s a very sad process when a celebrity’s personal life becomes more momentous than their accomplishments in the arts.
Gale Welford, 50, Child Development “Just because their money comes from the outside world, the media doesn’t have to be totally in their business.”
Whitney Houston was a pioneer in her trade and was able to accomplish things in her lifetime that very few could. Not only was she an awardwinning musician and actress, she was the first African-American woman to grace the cover of “Seventeen Magazine.” She won six Grammy awards. There was so much more to Whitney Houston than her substance abuse. In the wake of her death, we should be remembering Whitney Houston for her work, and not for her faults. What made Houston extraordinary was her beautiful voice. Let her music be her legacy and not the tragic image that the paparazzi portrayed.
Annette Davis , 32, Alcohol and Other Drug Studies “The media kept harping on Whitney’s drug problems and her negatives. Bobbi Kristina is still a young lady and her mother just died. Come on they are still people.”
www.sdcitytimes.com | March 6, 2012
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Sports Visiting pitcher leaves Knights swinging By Michael Liggins City Times City College men’s baseball team experienced a tough home 1-5 loss to the Grossmont Griffins Feb. 29 at Morley Field. The Knights aimed to come into league play strong against the Griffins to gain momentum going into their first Pacific Coast Athletic Conference game of the season. However, Grossmont’s combination of good pitching and strong offense led to the Knights defeat. City’s starting pitcher Jesse Hernandez looked strong on the mound, allowing no runs to be scored for the first four innings. Hernandez worked in good tandem with his catcher, freshman
Ryan Lischer. Infielder Fabian Cosio made two catches in the first inning to force two outs. The Knights were the first team to get ahead on the scoreboard in the 2nd inning after infielder Ryan Carrazco hit a single to bring in Harrison Guiol for the Knights. It quickly became apparent that Grossmont’s starting pitcher Justin Disboro was a force to be reckoned with. Grossmont’s pitching staff didn’t allow the Knights to get any hits during the first inning, and he was very alert when it came to base stealing runners. The score didn’t shift into Grossmont’s favor until the fifth inning, when Aaron Ayon hit a single into left field. On deck batter Braden Peters
Sophomore Mitch Williams connects against the Grossmont Griffins’ pitcher, Justin Disorbo, in the Feb. 29 game at Morley Field. The Knights were beaten 1-5. Troy Orem, City Times brought him in for the RBI to put the Griffins on the board. City’s closing pitcher Cole Chandler gave up two runs in the 6th inning to bring the score to 1-4. Grossmont was
able to nudge another hit off Chandler in the 7th inning which brought the score to 1-5. City’s head coach Chris Brown and his team will faced
a tough schedule league play following the loss. The Knights lost to Southwestern, 0-1, on March 1 but eked out a win at home against Mesa College, 3-2,
on March 3, bringing their league record to 1-2. The Knights next game is March 6 against Palomar at Morley Field.
Men’s basketball looks to next season By Michael Liggins City Times City College’s men’s basketball team ended their season with a loss at the California Collegiate Athletic Association playoff game in Mission Viejo at Saddleback College on Feb. 24. The 2011-12 season was one of great triumph and learned lessons. Even though the Knights have no more games this season, the entire squad has a lot to look forward to next season. The Knights came into the season knowing that their
starters were some of the shortest in the league. Freshman guard Marvin Sykes was given the nickname “bowling ball” because of his wide frame and 5-9 stature. The biggest player on the team, Kyle Anderson, was actually a forward, yet he and the rest of the squad were able to maintain a unique cohesiveness. Any fan watching from the stands could see that the team possessed great speed. Coach Mitch Charlens said that when it came to Marvin Sykes, “we had to ask him to slow down in practice
when going over plays.” Stand out players Menas Stephens, Marvin Sykes and Stephon Lamar all recorded more than a hundred field goals during the season, a feat that would be enviable for any size team. Coach Charlens, who was the 2012 Pacific Coast Athletic Conference coach of the year, recalled the most memorable game of the season for him and his team being the bout against Imperial Valley in El Centro. “It was a must win for us, but it was their sophomore night,” said Charlens.
Looking for net success
Sports Lineup Compiled by Michael Liggins Submit events to citytimes@gmail.com or call (619) 388-3880 n March 6, Tuesday Baseball vs. Palomar 2 p.m.
By Ray Williams City Times Despite a few losses, the City College men’s tennis team continues to work towards their goal of making it to the regional playoffs. “This season is definitely going up and down,” said Coach Brandon Lupian. Their first two matches were proof of that. City’s team won their first match on the road Feb. 23 against Imperial Valley College with a score of 9-0, followed by a loss on Feb. 28 to Palomar College. During a trip to Arizona they played four colleges in
“Despite the long trip out there, we still won the game and made the playoffs.” As for the different prospective schools that his team’s sophomores were being recruited by, Charlens said “they’re still deciding.” Next year will be a time when the seven freshman on the team, Devin Iglehart, Justice Howard, Nick Meech, Bren Haley, Marvin Sykes Kyle Anderson and Jon Schroder will be in charge of passing on the knowledge they Knights in a timeout. Troy Orem, City Times learned from this season’s experiences. farewell to sophomores Darin Stephens, Justin Muniz and This year the team says Martin, Jordan Taylor, Menas Stephon Lamar.
Men's Tennis at Mesa 2 p.m. n March 7, Wednesday Badminton vs. Mesa 2 p.m. Softball at Palomar, 3 p.m.
Rafa Martinez swings to return the ball. Ray Williams, City Times three days. The team won two of the four meets. At this early stage, the coach would not single an individual standout player. “Every player played their hardest,” said Lupian. The Pacific Coast Athletic
Conference games end on March 29. Afterwards the PCAC tournament will start on April 19, and the Ojai Tournament on April 24. From there, players who qualify will go on to the regional playoffs.
M. Volleyball at Irvine Valley, 6 p.m. n March 8, Thursday Baseball at Imperial Valley, 2 p.m. W. Tennis vs. Mesa, 2 p.m.
n March 9, Friday Badminton at Irvine Valley, 2 p.m.
n March 15, Thursday Baseball at Grossmont, 2 p.m.
Softball at Souhwestern, 3 p.m.
M. Tennis at Mt. San Jancinto 2 p.m.
M. Volletball at Mesa, 6 p.m.
n March 16, Friday Softball at Imperial Valley, 1 p.m.
n March 13, Tuesday Baseball vs. Gossmont, 2 p.m. M. Tennis vs. Imperial Valley, 2 p.m. W. Tennis at Grossmont, 2 p.m. n March 14, Wednesday Softball at Mesa, 3 p.m. M. Volleyball vs. Golden West, 6 p.m.
M. Valley vs. Orange Coast 6 p.m. n March 17, Saturday Baseball vs. Grossmont, 12 p.m. n March 19, Monday M. Tennis vs. Amherst 2 p.m.