City Times — April 24, 2012

Online at www.sdcitytimes.com

CITY TIMES WITCHER 2 REVIEW ‘GOOD GRIEF’ Same game, new platform PAGE 3 Covering the San Diego City College community since 1945

Charlie Brown at Saville PAGE 4 Volume 66, Number 13

News/Calendar..................

Life...................................

Arts..................................

Voice.................................

2 3 4 6

April 24, 2012

Peace-ing together communities Conference addresses systems of oppression

By Daphne Jauregui City Times The fifth annual San Diego Peace Building Conference was at the City College Career Technology Center April 14.

This year’s theme was “Creating Peace by Addressing Systems of Oppression.”

The main focus of the event was to help get people involved in making a difference and the variety of organizations and workshops that were present were able to do just that.

Through a series of workshops, the conference was able to emphasize the goal of creating peace throughout the world.

The workshop included a number of discussions on different issues. Topics including solutions to police oppression, the Millionaire’s Tax, student activism and oppression in the workplace, among others.

Global issues like those in Uganda, Palestine, and Chiapas were also discussed.

Aside from workshops, the peace conference featured

entertainment throughout the day to keep the theme of peace going.

The Acholi Traditional Dancers of San Diego, a group of young girls and women demonstrating the traditional dance of the Acholi tribe from Uganda, danced their way through the entrance to a crowd filled with applause.

Jon Kanis, a 47-year-old spiritualist, musician, producer, composer, disc jockey, artist and writer performed an acoustic set of songs that incorporated a theme of various social issues. One of those songs was John Lennon’s “Working Class Hero.”

Aside from an emphasis on the arts, a farm tour took place at the Seeds at City urban farm in which Paul Maschka, one of City’s farm instructors, discussed the relationship between farming and peace.

Josh Fattal, one of the three American hikers arrested in July 2009 by Iranian border guards and charged with espionage, was the keynote speaker of the event. During the hour and a half discussion, he shared his views on oppression through his experience of imprisonment in Iran.

Hostel organizations were also available at the event.

“The biggest thing City College students can get out

Peace conference attendees gather around urban farm instructor Paul Maschka to discuss the relationship between peace and farming. Daphne Jauregui, City Times of this is really learning and meeting and connecting with other people,” said Andrea Carter, a marketing and communication manager for San Diego Hostels.

“Whether it’s speakers or

nonprofit organizations or community group members, connecting with those people, hearing what other people are doing, it’s a learning that just doesn’t take place in the classroom always.”

The conference sponsor, Hostelling International USA, is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting international understanding of the world and its people through their hostels.

They provide an environment that works as a home away from home for those travelling from other countries and offer overnight accommodations for travellers at affordable prices.

Summer session elsewhere Parking permits

By Cecilia V. Areta City Times The spring semester is coming to an end and students who would like to take classes over the summer have to look for options outside of the San Diego Community College District.

Miramar, Mesa and City, released a letter Feb. 15 stating that the only courses offered will be those that honor specific commitments and the specialized programs like nursing and cosmetology.

Other community colleges in San Diego County will be offering courses during the summer. Some campuses offer one- to eight-

Community College: Registration Starts Beginning of Session End of Session Cost per unit

week classes which are a great option for students who would like to get ahead or keep their mind stimulated before the fall semester.

Another great option would be cross enrollment with either Cal State San Marcos, San Diego State University or the University of California San Diego.

These programs have additional requirements and are slightly more costly but are well worth the extra qualifications, especially for prospective transfer students who would like to gain experience at a four year institution.

The Cuyamaca, Grossmont, Mira Costa, Palomar, and Southwestern colleges offer classes online and

Cuyamaca April 30 June 11 Aug. 2 $46

on their main or conjoined campuses. To enroll in their summer classes you must enroll online to become a student at their campus, then follow their procedures which are slightly different from the SDCCD system.

Double check with a counselor to see if the class you are planning to take at the other campus is transferrable to City College.

Cuyamaca College, located in Rancho San Diego, is offering 6 to 9 week sessions, both online and on campus with classes starting on June 11. Grossmont College, located in El Cajon, is in the same district as Cuyamaca and shares the same format for summer ses-

Grossmont April 30 June 11 Aug. 2 $46

Mira Costa April 23 June 4 July 26 $46

sion.

Mira Costa College, in northern San Diego, offers the most summer classes, having 87 online classes available and more on their main campus in Oceanside, as well as their San Elijo campus in Cardiff.

Starting June 18, Palomar College, located in San Marcos, will begin their online and on campus courses.

Lastly Southwestern is offering summer classes on their main campus in Chula Vista and their two learning centers.

For more information visit the website of the colleges or visit the counseling center located in room A-110.

Palomar Southwestern May 8 March 5 June 18 June 4 Aug. 14 Aug. 2 $36

$46

required day one

By Gardner Stevenett City Times The two-week grace period for parking in campus lots is being eliminated for the fall 2012 semester throughout the San Diego Community College District.

City College, Mesa College, and Miramar College will all be affected.

Parking permits will be required for parking in student lots on the first day of fall classes, Aug. 20, 2012.

Suggested by the United Student Council, this action was made in the hope that the additional revenue will reduce the need for increased student semester parking fees to $40 or more, according to a press release.

Students who purchase their parking permits online before Aug. 13 will receive them in the mail before the

first day of class. Those purchased later must be picked up at the campus police station.

Daily permits can be obtained from machines found on levels 2, 5 and 6 of the V-building parking structure for $1 per hour up to $5 per day maximum.

Student opinion on the matter varies. “I don’t think they should do it,” says Isabella Garcia, a biology major, “they should give students more time to pay for it.”

Though some say they will be unaffected. “I don’t really care,” says Vannatony Sao, small business major. “I don’t depend on the free parking.

I always buy my pass before the semester.”

Student permits can be purchased through Reg-e on the SDCCD website at https://studentweb.sdccd. edu/reg-e/

www.sdcitytimes.com | April 24, 2012

2

TAKE NOTE City Times is looking for writers, photographers and designers for the fall semester. Join us in being the voice of the campus.

NATIoNAl UNIVersIT y®

© 2012 National University 10591

17 coNVeNIeNT sAN diego locAtioNs

Compiled by Victor Hernandez Get your event in the paper. Email us at citytimes@gmail.com or call 619-388-3880

nApril 24, Tuesday Seven Habits of a Successful College Student, 9:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. at A-103

nApril 28, Saturday “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown,” 8:00 p.m. at Saville Theatre

TAG Workshop, 2:00 p.m. 3:30 p.m. at A-111

nApril 29, Sunday “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown,” 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. at Saville Theatre

nApril 26, Thursday Miko Peled: “The General’s Son,” 11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at A-103 nApril 27, Friday “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown,” 8:00 p.m. at Saville Theatre

Transferring? finish school Your WaY! At National University, we know you can’t sit in class all day or lock yourself in a library.

You want to finish your degree and move on into a new career. National University makes that possible.

CALENDAR

» streamlined admissions » no enrollment fee

nApril 30, Monday Felix Bonomo: Images of China and Tibet, 11:15 a.m. 12:30 p.m. at A-103 nMay 1, Tuesday Classroom Etiquette Workshop, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at A-103

nMay 2, Wednesday 8th Annual Student Project and Research Symposium, 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at Gorton Quad nMay 3, Thursday Cinco de Mayo Celebration, 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at Gorton Quad nMay 4, Friday Diversity Committee’s Student Forum, 11:00 a.m. at D-121 A/B

Crack City By Michele Suthers

» flexible scheduling » a unique one-course-per-

month format

» scholarship programs

The UniversiTy of valUes

800.NAT.UNIV | getinfo.nu.edu/transfer

At Sierra Nevada College, learning is not a spectator sport.

Up to $8,000 Transfer Scholarships available for Fall 2012 Two-year Graduation Guarantee Transfer Status with 15+ credits Courses You Need, When You Need Them Over 30 Majors & Minors Residence Halls on Campus Outdoor Adventure Programs Graduate Degrees | Apply for Free

Located two blocks from Lake Tahoe admissions@sierranevada.edu | 866.412.4636 | www.sierranevada.edu

April 24, 2012 | www.sdcitytimes.com

3

LIFE Mac users should consider anti-virus CD Project RED

Bewitched by ‘Witcher 2’ “The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings” was released by the relatively unknown Polish developer CD Project RED in 2011 for the PC, and though not as commercially successful or well known as other similar titles it managed to be one of the greatest games of its genre that I’ve ever played.

In the months following its release CD Project RED treated fans with updates addressing its difficulty in the opening levels, added an even harder “Dark” difficulty, comprehensive tutorial, and even threw in a multi-tiered arena for good measure. All these features have been packaged together with the game in the port to the Xbox 360, “The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition.”

First and foremost I wish to address the undue griping about the reduced graphics between the PC release and the Xbox 360 port, only because the griping has been quite extensive.

Rare is the console port able to live up to the overthe-top visuals of a high-end personal computer, especially when cranked up to its highest settings — and at its highest settings this game was absolutely gorgeous in every sense of the word.

But even with a dip in the level of detail and the exclusion of a few aesthetic animations, “The Witcher 2” still looks great and is visually on

GAME PLAY Brian Lett

par with or surpasses most other games of its kind on the system.

As mentioned earlier, the game itself is superb. The story revolves around Geralt of Rivia, a witcher.

Witchers are mutated monster-slayers trained and augmented since a young age to track and kill any number of creatures using their signature silver sword and witcher magics, known as “signs.”

Following the events of the original “Witcher,” released for PC in 2007, Geralt finds himself investigating the sudden deaths of kings of neighboring countries.

As Geralt, players have an assortment of weapons at their disposal to combat the many adversaries they’ll encounter, including a silver sword for monsters, a steel sword for humans, magic in the form of witcher signs, thrown weapons, and traps, all of which can be accessed on the fly through a time-slowing radial wheel Combat is fluid and

the controls are responsive, though targeting your intended target can be a bit finicky when fighting multiple opponents. The camera can also be a real pain in the rear when backed into a corner.

Enemies are varied and vicious, and when played on the higher difficulty settings will require every ounce of your skill and arsenal to defeat. Boss battles are few and far between but can be quite exhilarating, especially the larger scale fights.

Though it’s not the open sandbox world of other fantasy RPGs, the game isn’t entirely linear either, especially once the player reaches some of the larger towns and starts picking up a good number of side quests.

Lastly, it should be mentioned that this game is in no way intended for the underaged and goes a long way to earn its M-rating, especially in regards to the graphic nudity the game does not shy away from.

For those with a highend PC on the fence about whether to get “The Witcher 2” on PC or Xbox 360, stick with the PC and you won’t be disappointed. But the console version still holds its own and is a must have for any RPG fan.

4.5 joysticks out of 5

For years Mac users have had a false sense of security. They believed that their system could not be infected by malicious software, so much so that Apple even used it as a selling point for some time. To a degree, it was true.

Macs were largely secure through obscurity; that is, Macs had such low market penetration that malicious programs were rarely coded.

But now, Apple is one of the largest computer manufacturers in the world, making security through obscurity impossible.

Recent reports by Russian security firm Dr. Web revealed that about 600,000 Macs worldwide are infected with a trojan virus called Flashback that adds infected systems to a botnet.

A botnet is a system of compromised Internet connected computers that allows the botmaster to exploit machines for a various purposes: like spam, denial of service attacks and clickfraud.

This is not intended to single out Apple in any way.

All software is vulnerable to attack, and Apple is just a new target. The only reason this news is being blown

BITS & BYTES Fernando Yates

out of proportion is because Apple was so arrogant about the security of their systems; at one time the firewall was off by default, completely ignoring basic security practices.

But all operating systems fall under attack when they have high market penetration. Google’s Android operating system has seen its fair share of malicious software and that is running mostly on phones. Microsoft has been under attack for years.

The good news is that it is not very difficult to protect yourself from malicious software, though it is a constant battle.

First, always keep your software up to date. It is a pain sometimes, especially since some programs like iTunes seem to like 90 MB update patches, but a lot of time those patches are secu-

ARE YOU

IN?

>

rity related.

Secondly, don’t click on strange links, and I don’t mean just the ones from Nigerian princes. If you get a strange e-mail from your bank or credit card company, don’t click on the link.

Instead, go to the website yourself or call the company before logging in. While you’re at it make, sure the URL starts with https.

Let’s not forget about the “This video is hilarious” or “I can’t believe you did this” posts. If it doesn’t sound like the person who posted it, don’t follow the link.

The same goes for attachments and ads that appear too good to be true.

But let’s not forget the obvious. Run some sort of anti-virus program (there are quite a few good ones for free), scan downloads and attachments before opening.

It probably wouldn’t be a bad idea to disable Java either, you probably won’t even miss it.

For those worried about Flashback, Apple released a Flashback removal tool that can be found at http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1517 (if you don’t trust this link you can also find it at Apple’s support website).

Transfer Completed Credits (No Minimum to Transfer)

> No

Associate’s Degree Required

> California

Transfer Agreements Honored

> Associate

Degrees Credited for General Education Courses

> Transfer

Scholarships Available

Student life iS better at Hawai‘i Pacific univerSity.

Call 1-866-225-5478 or vISIt www.hpu.edu/transfer to learn more.

Smaller classrooms. Individualized attention. more than 50 undergraduate programs in a dynamic setting. there’s a reason why 1 in 3 of our students are transfers. Hawai‘i Pacific University offers the flexibility and convenience of transferring any number of credits – up to the first two years of your Bachelor’s degree – to keep your education right on track.

HPU admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, religion, gender, age, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status and disability.

www.sdcitytimes.com | April 24, 2012

4

ARTS You’re a good play, Charlie Brown

By Jennifer Manalili City Times A much beloved children’s classic provided some sunshine on a rainy day when the “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” musical premiered at the Saville Theatre April 13.

Despite the dreary weather a large audience turned out for the first night of the school musical and the performance went off without a hitch.

According to professor June Richards, who serves as director of the production, this was the first time the cast performed in front of an audience.

“I am delighted with our students. The majority of actors have never been in a production,” said Richards.

“They bring vitality, charm and a terrific energy.”

Richards continually stressed the importance of highlighting an ensemble cast and the musical is an exact reflection of this idea.

The musical is comprised of 14 songs by Clark Gesner involving characters from the “Peanuts” cartoon by Charles M. Schulz. Many of them are ensembles.

There were no lead actors here, instead each cast member was allowed enough time on stage to highlight their

talent. Everyone was equally important. The cast members worked well, weaving together like a great team should, a definite sign of good casting.

Most memorable were the team of Lucy and Linus, characters wonderfully brought to life by the duo of Kelly Dillon and Anthony Atoniszyn.

Dillon was energetic and lovable as Lucy with her high pitched voice and hilarious one-liners.

Atoniszyn worked well alongside her as her brother Linus, never on stage without his beloved blanket and his thumb in his mouth. He was equally lovable as he sang “My Blanket and Me” or while taking part in an ensemble song like “Little Known Facts.”

At the center of the story was Richard Claar, who played the musical’s main character, Charlie Brown.

Claar was very likable and endearing as the story’s protagonist. The audience immediately felt empathetic towards his Charlie who was just as insecure but endlessly hopeful as the comic he is based on.

Like Atoniszyn, Claar was great when paired with Dillon especially in the song “The Doctor is In” which has Lucy

setting up a stand and selling her own advice to customers, notably Charlie.

All of the characters from the comic were present from Schroeder, Peppermint Patty, Woodstock and even Charlie’s beloved Little Redhead Girl.

With its colorful set, costumes and dialogue like “What’s wrong with making meal time a joyous occasion?” the musical is a great live show for children to see but also a wonderful way for adults to see the characters they loved growing up in a different way.

“The songs were fun and well-performed. I’ve never seen the musical before, so it was great to experience the ‘Peanuts’ I know and love in a new way,” said audience member Vanessa Umpingco.

The play has a running time of about an hour and a half.

“Charlie Brown’s” last performances will take place on the weekend of April 27 to 29.

Friday and Saturday shows will be at 8 p.m. and a Sunday matinee will be at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $10, cash or check is accepted.

For more information call 619-388-3617 or contact the Saville Theatre box office at “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” has its final performances April 27 to 29 at 619388-3676.

Saville Theatre. Manuel Rotenberg

Not your typical teenage horror flick Not since Sam Raimi’s “Evil Dead” or Wes Craven’s “Scream” has a horror film been as funny and genre bending as “The Cabin in the Woods.”

“Five friends walk into a cabin. Bad stuff happens.”

The film takes this joke and long played out idea and warps it. From the beginning, it’s clear that there’s a bigger story, that this is more elaborate than the typical teenage slasher film, and it is. It is so much more fun.

Originally filmed in 2009, the movie’s release was put on the back burner as MGM went bankrupt. Posters teased the concept of the film early on when it was promoted at Comic-Con International three years ago.

They read: “If you hear a strange sound outside. Have sex.” “If an old man warns you not to go there. Make fun of him.” And a personal favorite: “If something is chasing you, split up.”

Joss Whedon, creator of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and the writer and director of the upcoming “The Avengers,” co-wrote the movie with Drew Goddard (“Cloverfield”), who serves as director.

Whedon has described the film as “a very loving hate letter to horror films” and that is exactly what it is. The film plays to the typical horror film

Kristen Connolly stars in Joss Whedon’s new film “Cabin in the Woods” now in theaters. Lionsgate

MOVIE REVIEW

Jennifer Manalili archetypes and cliches while also sending them spinning on their heads. It takes the idea of possibility and does whatever it wants with it.

It begins like many horror films do. Five college students pile into a van to spend a weekend at a cabin owned

by Curt’s (Liam Hemsworth) cousin, clueless to the terror that will soon greet them.

Curt represents the cliche jock, his girlfriend Jules (Anna Hutchinson) is the dumb blonde, their friend Holden (Jesse Williams) is the nerd, Marty (Franz Kranz) is the stoner, and Dana (Kristen Connolly) is the innocent virgin.

But the terrors that greet the group are actually being orchestrated by a group of nerdy scientists.

The film opens with two of them (played wonderfully by Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford) talking. It is made certain that they are a part of a larger, more elaborate experiment that will lead back to the woods.

In fact, the teenagers prove to act like lab rats. Here, the architects are puppeteers pulling levers and buttons in front of a wall of television screens.

They even take bets on what kind of wrong decisions the group will make when they

encounter different scenarios.

When the group arrives at an old decrepit gas station and a creepy looking attendant warns them not to go forward and they refuse his advice (of course), the puppeteers applaud.

Who is giving the puppeteers the power to monitor the group in this way? And why do they have to do it in the first place? The conclusion is a whole other story and not worth spoiling.

The movie is so ridicu-

lous and outlandish that you have to love it. It should be applauded for going off the map in such an entertaining way.

James Kendrick, a writer for the Q Network Film Desk, is right when he describes “The Cabin in the Woods” as “like a senior thesis about the modern horror genre masquerading as a movie.”

Audience goers who are looking for another remake or a cliche should bow out. This is a film for the horror fans.

April 24, 2012 | www.sdcitytimes.com

Arts

5

Big Band performs a melodic ballet San Diego State University jazz ensemble graces City’s stage

By Gardner Stevenett City Times The San Diego State University Big Band came to the Saville Theatre for Jazz 88.3’s ongoing Jazz Live concert series April 10, and I’m not sure if this review can do them justice.

As the crowd shuffled into the theater, taking their seats, there was the familiar pre-concert vibe of blended anticipation and enthusiasm. But nobody could have been prepared for what was to come when the band, all current students at SDSU (except for the drummer), picked up their instruments.

Led by Bill Yeager, director of Jazz Studies, the SDSU Big Band consists of five saxophones, four trombones, and four trumpets — along with an upright bass, electric guitar, drum kit, and piano.

They found their seats on the stage in rustling silence, in a slightly nervous scuffle, lacking the cool confidence of professionals — and then they began to play. And, man, could they play.

The first number, a composition

by Gordon Goodwin titled, “High Maintenance”, was just plum insane.

The horns spread out immediately into multidimensional madness, swerving in and out of each other, coming back together, layer upon layer upon layer.

The bass slid into thumps and thumped into slides; the piano hammered, the guitar chimed; and all of it awash in the shimmer and punch of the drums. All together they could swing, explode, mellow out, fall in and out of real, and perceived grooves, with a sense of ease I can’t understand.

What I heard is a hard thing to describe. It was so tight, yet also — so on edge. It felt like an orchestrated-hour-long-mass-near car crash made up of only the world’s most virtuoso stuntmen. Or, say, like a hundred plane dogfight — if the chug of mounted machine guns were substituted for well-tuned brass horns.

And Yeager was in full control of everything, this chaotic ballet erupting and receding at the minutest flick of his wrist. But even he was being taken over, jumping up and down on more than one occasion.

Interspersed throughout the concert, three SDSU alumni would join the band: trombonist Scott Kyle, alto saxophonist Christopher Hollyday, and trumpeter Derek Cannon — now professionals of the highest caliber.

San Diego State University Big Band performs at the Saville Theatre April 10 as part of the Jazz Live series. Troy Orem, City Times But the highlight of the night would be the solo work of the young tenor saxophonist Ryan Linvill.

Linvill, a graduate of Patrick Henry High School and SDSU senior, is a tall, lanky, curly-haired, slightly awkward guy with a furious musical talent.

There doesn’t seem to be a thing he can’t do with his saxophone.

And he was so great to watch — his intense concentration, the blood pumping into his face, squealing and cascading off and away just like Coltrane used to do.

It was just a phenomenal per-

formance, with those in attendance certainly getting more than their money’s worth.

Next month, acclaimed jazz guitarist Mundell Lowe will be playing at Jazz Live, May 15 in celebration of his 90th birthday. More details at www.jazz88.org.

‘Damsels’ leave viewers distressed The definition of the word absurd is ridiculously incongruous or unreasonable, and given the plot, actors and dialogue in the independent film “Damsels in Distress” one would expect to find its title among the definition for that word. It is not, but should be.

The film tries to be comically absurd as most Bill Murray, Farrelly Brothers and some Cohen Brothers films are, but it doesn’t even come close to these films.

‘Damsels,’ in short, is about a group of college girls who run a campus suicide watch group. They are there to help potential suicide victims, or help those who have information on students who may need their help.

At the film’s start they are given information about a student who has recently been dumped by her boyfriend and that she has locked herself in her room for many days.

They fear the worst, and upon getting into the distressed students room, they find that not only was she dumped by her boyfriend but this boyfriend had beautiful eyes, which are definitely not to be trusted.

The leader of this suicide watch group is Violet and is played with wide-eyed innocence by Greta

THE ANDREW’S REVIEW Tom Andrew

Gerwig (“Arthur,” “No Strings Attached”). She feels the best way to help those who are potentially considering suicide is to join her and her group in tap dancing, because it will make you happy.

She is fine until she realizes that the student she and her group save is now seeing her ex boyfriend which causes her to reevaluate her own life. She goes into a downward spiral, leaving campus and her friends and doesn’t tell anyone where she is.

She ends up at a fleabag motel, where she discovers the inadvertent powers in the scent of the soap left by the housekeeping staff. Suddenly, she begins to see things much

more clearly, and returns to campus to enlighten her friends with her discovery found in the scent of the soap.

Absurd, and not funny.

The film weaves in a few characters that meet, then date, and then break up, then date again, then become friends. Nothing they do really adds to this film.

Aside from Gerwig, the only other recognizable actor in the film is Adam Brody (“Jennifer’s Body,” “The O.C.”), the rest are relative unknowns, which would have worked if they had decent direction, which they don’t, or a decent script to work with, which they don’t.

Even sadder is the fact that Whit Stillman, writer and director, is responsible for a handful of really good films. “Metropolitan,” “Barcelona” and “The Last Days of Disco” were brilliant films. They had wit, and actually made sense, but somewhere between 1998 and 2011, Stillman lost that sense and his humor.

‘Damsels,’ should not be seen in the theater. In fact, it shouldn’t be seen at all, unless you are prepared to lose 99 minutes of your life and know you’ll never get those minutes back.

You’ve been warned.

From left: Megalyn Echikunwoke, Carrie MacLemore, Greta Gerwig and Analeigh Tipton.

Sony Pictures

Heavy on the Grind Entertainment

E-40 trilogy is worth it After the release of “Tell Me When To Go” in 2006, Bay Area rapper E-40 enjoyed the release of his first mainstream hit and has continued to produce great music while staying true to his underground roots.

On March 26, he released an unprecedented three albums in one day with “The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil Volumes 1, 2 & 3.”

By not trying to portray himself as the richest, coolest, or most popular rapper in the industry, he manages to keep his music fresh and genuine.

“Block Brochure” is a raw and authentic musical tour of life in some of California’s most notorious ghettos. E-40 spits clever raps about living on a tight budget in a rough economy.

“I’ve been sittin’ in the dark for a week, no lights for a week, finally made up my mind. Gonna have to do what I have to as a man and get on the grind,” he raps.

He manages to rap about dangerous things like drugs, crime and poverty without glamorizing the “’hood life” like many other rap-

ALBUM REVIEW Michael Liggins

pers do today.

In the bass-filled jam “I’m Laced,” E-40 rhymes “The problem with this new generation is that they’re quick to bust their guns.

But I think about their relatives and loved ones.”

His style and voice sound smooth in laid back beats on tracks such as “Can You Feel It” and “In the Ghetto.” He also shines on fast paced songs like “The Other Day Ago” and “Memory Lane.”

The list of artists that E-40 collaborates with here is huge.

Rap veteran Snoop Dogg is featured on the party song “What You Smokin On,” and comedian Katt Williams is a guest in the hilarious track “Get Ya Weight Up.” Other big name collaborators include T-Pain, Too-Short, Andre Nickatina, and Richie Rich.

The album proves that E-40 has cemented his place amongst the best in hip-hop.

www.sdcitytimes.com | April 24, 2012

6

VOICE Play corroborates reasons why women migrate To mark the International Women’s Day, Systole AC Productions, from Mexico City, under the artistic direction of Elizabeth Munoz, former migrant, took up the challenge to put together a team of creators to perform an artistic, cultural and social play, with the theme of female undocumented migration.

The event was at the Centro Cultural La Raza located on 2004 Park Blvd, March 11.

Based on true stories of undocumented women in the United States, the proposal was an invitation to reflect about tolerance, gender equality and combating xenophobic acts against women that break boundaries.

“Do you know why birds fly? Because they have wings.”

That’s how the play began.

With so many Latino migrant women in San Diego, the importance of this staging was to corroborate the reason for our migration. But the event had a low turnout and many missed the opportunity to rediscover that immigrant women migrate for different reasons.

They do not migrate only for economic opportunities, but to earn empowerment.

Many immigrants are educated in patriarchal societies such as Mexico, where women have to overcome traditional norms of life and social expectations.

“A woman must be devoted to their home,” is a classic macho thinking.

Since in a large majority of our families, the father figure is absent, it is the mother who

SOCIAL MEDIUM

Sandra Gallindo

assumes the dual role.

These women in Mexico, tend to face great difficulties, and are generally not as free to decide as men.

Besides that, the Mexican government’s inability to create jobs for its citizens forces Mexican women to migrate.

Women’s motivation to migrate is also to flee the violence in their environment, including domestic violence.

Leaving their countries of origin is not only escaping from what their destiny is, but to achieve gender equality, women’s empowerment and to provide economic support for their families.

Although migrating without documents often limits migrants to occupy low-skilled and lower-paid jobs, hardship, ethnic hatred and for the less fortunate, death on their intent to cross the border; in many cases migration contributes to women’s autonomy.

To many undocumented single mothers in the United States, being weak is not allowed. Migrating represents another opportunity to start again because women have more freedom.

Excerpts of comments from online story ‘Nothing to help Hispanics’ To comment visit: www.sdcitytimes.com

Volume 66, Number 13 April 24, 2012

www.sdcitytimes.com

The Miss Universe pageant is once again marred by scandal.

This time a contestant’s gender is in question, and for any would-be backseat investigator quick to comment that the controversy can be solved within the first word of the exhibition, it’s more complicated than that.

Canadian contestant Jenna Talackova, 23, is an ex-man — not as much in the realm of adamantium claws and telepathy, but as in having undergone gender redefining surgery.

According to a CNN report, Talackova received sexual reassignment surgery when she was 19, four years ago. She claimed that she knew she was a female since she was 4-years-old, and it didn’t take long for her to decide to make the transition from urinals to the lady’s room.

This has lead to difficul-

EDITORIAL City Times Editorial Board

ties with admittance into the Miss Universe contest, originating with her home country that deemed she failed to meet gender requirements.

And why not?

As it stands now the pageant already contains similar disqualifications, including barring contestants who have given birth, parented a child, or are or ever have been married — including annulments.

That’s just one birth pill or abortion shy of the many talking points involving the punditry dubbed “War on Women,” all conveniently wrapped in one neat little package.

Have at thee.

After some initial legal bickering, Talackova was eventually allowed to com-

pete, which ultimately lead to the reversal of the rule that excluded those who were not naturally born females.

For a scant five days, the allowance of future transgender contestants into the competition depended on the approval of NBC as well as coowner Donald Trump.

And if there’s ever been anyone qualified to make a non-sexist, impartial, door-die decision, it’s Trump.

After all, here’s a man whom former Miss Universe Carrie Prejean — herself a subject to scandal — claims in her book used to require contestants to strut around in front of him so he could differentiate between those he did and didn’t find sexually appealing.

Good old Trump.

Naturally, international outrage has blossomed on both sides of the issue asking whether or not the pageant should allow transgenders, neither side being without

merit and absurdity.

Many naysayers, most especially those from the heterosexual male camp, have a tough time seeing past the subliminal penis in a two-piece, while a majority of supporting advocates stress the broadening of gay and lesbian rights, which really has nothing to do with the conversation.

Scandal is far from new territory for the exhibition.

During its 60 year existence the organization has been tied to multiple disparaging incidents, including numerous sex scandals, document forgery and alleged underage admittance to name a few.

Despite the controversy, the pageant has continued.

Realistically speaking, it’s likely the pageant has actually benefited from the controversies as far as viewership is concerned.

After all, who doesn’t like a good scandal?

‘That is my opinion, which is quite public’ Dear Editor: The April 10 issue of the City Times included an article titled, “Faculty Expected to Support Tax Measure.” The article stated that “The upper administrators of the district, most notably Chancellor Constance Carroll, have yet to voice public opinion on this subject. A senate resolution might force her to take a stance against Brown’s tax proposal which is an increase in (the) current sales tax.”

There are three important

LETTER TO THE EDITOR points that I would like to make. First, the federal tax proposal would have no direct financial benefit for California’s public institutions of higher education and therefore is not a viable alternative to the Governor’s proposal.

Second, the “Millionaires’ Tax Initiative,” sponsored by the California Federation of Teachers, was merged with

n Immigration is an issue that has to have a long

WEB COMMENTS

CITY TIMES

Miss Universe pageant gets a gender makeover

term, sustainable resolution, not an off the cuff reaction that can be challenged and overturned by those with ulterior motives.

If on the other hand Latinos think they will be better off with a Republican in the White House I say go for it, but remember in the end we will all get the government we deserve and the mean spirited debate of the current GOP selection process should be an eye opener for everyone.

— Joy Caesar

Published as: The Jay Sees | 1945-1949 Fortknightly | 1949-1978 City Times | 1978Incorporating the newspapers Tecolote, Knight Owl and Flicks

Anulak Singphiphat Editor-in-Chief

Bobby Whaley Opinion Editor

Troy Orem Photo Editor

Fernando Yates Managing Editor

Cecilia Areta Features Editor

Michelle Suthers Chief Illustrator

Brian Lett Copy Chief

Jennifer Manalili Arts Editor

Cristo DeGuzman Copy Editor

Michael Liggins Sports Editor

Aida Bustos-Garcia Journalism Adviser

How to reach us: City Times San Diego City College 1313 Park Blvd.

San Diego, CA 92101 Newsroom: T-316

Phone: (619) 388-3880 Fax: (619) 388-3814 E-mail: citytimes@gmail.com

City Times Staff Tom Andrew, Sandra Gallindo, Victor Hernandez, Daphne Jauregui, Michael Liggins, Benny A. McFadden, Gardner Stevenett, Ray Williams Correspondents Ana Ceballos

the Governor’s Tax Initiative into a single measure, also called the “Millionaires’ Tax,” which will bring over $7 million to the San Diego Community College District if it passes; if it fails, the District will face an additional $9.1 million in cuts to classes and other support affecting faculty, staff, and students.

Third, as presented in an April 7 article in the UnionTribune, the merged tax measure is publicly supported by most of the higher education community in California,

including myself and our Board of Trustees. After three years of drastic budget cuts, it is imperative that we all do our best to provide the support that our students need throughout the state of California, including City College. The Governor’s Tax Initiative, which is the basis of the Governor’s proposed budget, was crafted with precisely that goal in mind. That is my opinion, which is quite public.

— Constance Carroll Chancellor, SDCCD

n You forgot what the attorney general did to

Arizona immigration law. Is that a part of the same administration that you say has done nothing. Yes, all is not accomplished given the very hostile Washington but think of the alternative GOP government ... Beware of what you wish for.

— Pierre Jacques

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

April 24, 2012 | www.sdcitytimes.com

Voice

7

Gender has nothing to do with beauty There’s more to gender URBANALITIES By Michele Suthers than chromosomes What defines a “real man” or a “real woman?”

In this day and age, with all of the discoveries that time and technology has brought us, can we really just sum it all up to genitalia and call it a day?

Jenna Talackova made headlines. First, when she was booted as Miss Universe Canada after it was discovered that she was transgender and then again when the organization behind the pageant decided to allow her to compete.

Sexuality is more than what we are born with, it is also what we feel inside. If you feel like a real man or a real woman then you simply are what you feel.

An effeminate man is just as much of a real man as one who is more masculine, and a very thin woman is just as much of a real woman as one who is more curvy.

What society has chosen to define us in the past to help simplify gender and sexuality has only proven to be confining as time has progressed.

Sexuality isn’t that black and white and we simply should not hold each other to those definitions anymore.

In an interview with ABC News, Talackova said she knew she was female as soon as she was conscious. She began hormone therapy at 14 years old and received sex change surgery in 2008. Her passport, driver’s license and birth certificate all identify her as female.

Talackova is only human.

She deserves the same rights and chances as everyone else and her case is simply one of civil rights. The United States is a country that prides itself in trying to give equal rights to everyone. Our entertainment, in this case a beauty pageant, should be a reflection of that.

PRO

Jennifer Manalili Some will point fingers and say that Talackova is not a natural woman. But how many people do unnatural things every day?

Pageant contestants go to great lengths to ensure that they look their best before they enter a competition. They put chemicals in their hair to dye it a different color and get their skin waxed and plucked until it’s smooth. Other contestants receive plastic surgery or get fake tans. The Miss Universe Organization has no rules against plastic surgery.

Are these not other ways of enhancing themselves in unnatural ways so that they feel their best?

Despite some backlash and cries of “unnatural” from naysayers, Talackova’s acceptance into the Miss Universe pageant and the organization’s choice to change its regulations to include transgender contestants in the future can only bring positivity.

The Miss Universe organization is currently working with the Gay Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) to make sure that the new rules will reflect the rights of the transgender community.

“At a time when transgender people are still routinely denied equal opportunities in housing, employment and medical care, today’s decision is in line with the growing levels of public support for transgender people across the country,” said Herndon Graddic, a GLAAD spokesperson.

According to a survey by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National

Question by Cecilia Areta Photos by Victor Hernandez

Should transgenders be allowed to participate in beauty pageants?

Jenna Talackova Center for Transgender Equality, “90 percent of transgender and gender nonconforming people report harassment, discrimination and mistreatment on the job, and the injustices they face have devastating economic and personal consequences.”

Among these devastating personal consequences is the high suicide rate within the transgender community.

According to the survey, a “staggering 41 percent of the more than 6,400 respondents said they had attempted suicide, compared to a rate of 1.6 percent for the general population.”

Hemmingways.org, a gender identity disorder information website, also states that suicide is five times more likely for transsexuals.

Though the topic will certainly remain taboo for a long time to come, perhaps Talackova’s admittance into the pageant will help give hope to others in the community who are facing hopelessness and searching for the same kind of acceptance in their lives. This change of regulations from the pageant’s organization can reflect a bigger step towards acceptance in the future.

Everyone deserves to live without being trapped in the confines of other people’s definitions.

Talackova has made a mockery of pageants Jenna Talackova, 2012 Miss Universe pageant contestant, gives a new meaning to the term playing both sides of the field.

The Miss Universe pageant has always been a tournament that was meant to show a woman’s true morals and integrity. Not only are competitors expected to show external beauty, but their individual principles are tested as well.

Since the competition’s inception in 1952, the Miss Universe committee has judged all its contestants by the same standards. For those standards to suddenly be changed in order to allow a male-born contestant to compete is wrong.

The Miss Universe pageant winner has to be a person

CON

Michael Liggins who embodies their international values and ethics.

Jenna Talackova on the other hand lived the first 14 years of her life as a male, not beginning hormone therapy until the middle of her teenage years. Talackova did not complete her sex change surgeries until age 19, and even then she lacks the two X chromosomes to be considered genetically female.

Just because a male surgically reconstructs his genitals and gets breast implants, he shouldn’t expect a beauty pageant to allow him to compete.

Women who are chosen to represent their nations on the competitive stage should exude natural beauty.

Talackova’s beauty comes from the skill and vision of her plastic surgeons not from her natural grace.

What kind of impression are the judges giving if they reward contestants based on artificial beauty rather than what they are born with?

Jenna Talackova was born Walter Talackova in 1989; physically she might fit the description of a female but genetically she is still male.

Talackova has made a mockery of the many real women who compete for the title of Miss Canada, and is planning to do it again to the Miss Universe pageant as a whole.

Have an opinion on this issue?

Share it with your peers at www.sdcitytimes.com

Sean Moore, 38 HVAC

Helen Freeman, 57 Computer/Business

Nicole Lomas, 33 Biochemistry

Matt Blocksom, 32 General Education

“If they have their complete surgery, that’s fine.

What happens in the past stays in the past and anyone has the ability to change the outcome of their future.”

“They should be able to because they are no longer a man. They should be able to express their beauty as what they are now because they put in so much work to change.”

“Yeah, I don’t see why they wouldn’t be allowed if it’s a beauty pageant based on looks.

If they look good and win then that’s fair.”

“If they want to rewrite the rules it would be fair. There are pageants specifically for women and men. I think that they should be separated if they are transgendered. That would be more fair.”

www.sdcitytimes.com | April 24, 2012

8

SPORTS LINEUP Compiled by Bobby Whaley Submit events to citytimes@gmail.com or call (619) 388-3880

nApril. 24, Tuesday Baseball at Palomar, 2 p.m. nApril 24 to Apr. 27 M. Tennis Ojai Tournament W. Tennis Ojai Tournament nApril 26, Thursday Baseball vs. Imperial Valley, 2 p.m.

nMay 2, Wednesday Badminton at SoCal Team playoff, 2 p.m. nMay 3 to May 5 M. Tennis at Regionals W. Tennis at Regionals

nApril 27, Friday Harry West Golf Tournament, 1 p.m.

Counseling center launches blog

By Ana Ceballos City Times A new blog for the counseling department has launched aiming to build a community of support among students at San Diego City College by providing timely information to students.

The issues in the blog will inform students about career options, inspirational stories about students’ successes, money matters related to career choices and orientation that counselors can provide at the counseling office.

“In the counseling department, students come to us,” counselor

Ray Wong said, “this blog is our way of reaching out to students.”

According to Wong, the main purpose is to build a community of students and the more students that interact with the website the better it will work.

The content will be updated at least once a week and students are encouraged to offer suggestions and assist the blog as long as it pertains to related matter in counseling.

“We live in the digital age after all,” Wong said. “I think this is a great way to get student involved in their community.”

You can visit the blog at www. citycounseling.blogspot.com.

It’s the little W’s that matter

By Fernando Yates City Times For City’s softball team the season looked promising, having beaten about 10 teams to place second in their own tournament.

After having lost three home games as well as three starters at the end of March to ineligibility the Lady Knights are currently in fourth place.

“It really hurt us, however, we have had a few players step-up to fill those positions and I’m proud of those players for that,” said Lee Ann Taylor, head coach, in an e-mail about the loss of players. “We also lost our top hitter to an injury that has kept her out for six weeks. She just got cleared to play.”

According to Taylor, the most consistent players have been second base and team captain Alexa DaRosa, center fielder Lisa Pena and pitcher Paige Nicolet.

DaRosa has hit more than .400 for the season, though her average

City’s softball team played against Imperial Valley College. The Lady Knights won 8-0. Troy Orem, City Times has dipped to about .350 recently, and has 17 stolen bases.

Pena has an average of .379 with two home runs.

Nicolet at the time of this writing was hitting at .500 and had 8 strikeouts in a recent game against Imperial Valley College.

While the main goal for the team is to win a conference title, Taylor said that they have a lot of smaller

goals that they work on daily.

“We call them little W’s,” Taylor said. “We believe that if you focus on the little W’s (taking care of the ball on defense, working ahead in the count as a pitcher and so on) you inevitably end up with a big W at the end of the day.”

The Lady Knights face Southwestern College at home April 24 at 3 p.m.

SIFE named regional champs

By Jennifer Manalili City Times The City College Students In Free Enterprise,SIFE, team recently took home a win at the SIFE USA Regional Competition held on April 5 in Hollywood.

According to a press release, the event was one of 11 SIFE USA Regional Competitions held across the country in March and April.

The City College branch of SIFE

is one of nearly 600 programs in the United States.

During this academic year, the team was able to organize 12 team projects in San Diego. Among them are “Don’t Be a Bully,” a workshop focused on teaching elementary students morals, and “Let’s Can Hunger,” which helped collect food and donations for local shelters with the help of the Campbell Soup Company.

SIFE’s latest program is a series

of workshops in conjunction with the Veteran’s Wellness and Vocational Enrichment Clinic and the Homeless Veterans Supported Employment Program, SIFE students will be conducting eight workshops designed to help veterans trasfer their military skills to the civilian workforce.

Winning the regional competition advances them to the 2012 SIFE USA National Exposition in Kansas City, Mo. next month.