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Volume 101, Number 7
Glendale L E N D A L ECC O M M U N I T YCCOlleGe OLLEGE G OMMUnITY Theater Production
at GCC’s Auditorium Opens with a Crowd By Angel Silva
EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER
G
lendale College’s opening of “The Shape of Things,” Neil LaBute’s dark insight into the nature of art, beauty and relationships, opened Oct. 19 at the auditorium to a full crowd. Written in 2001 and produced as a movie in 2003, “The Shape of Things” revolves around the relationship between Adam (portrayed by Manouel Ohaneysan), a socially deprived college student, and Evelyn (played by Amanda Fontoura), a beautiful grad student searching for a way to “change the world” vía art. As time progresses, the relationship between the two begins to have life-altering changes on Adam and the people closest to him. Those changes end up dissolving the bonds between Adam, his old friend Phillip (played by Ryan Rogers) and previous love interest and Phillip’s fiancee Jenny (portrayed by Mitra Pashayi-Marandi) — all for the sake of Evelyn’s art. LaBute’s plays aren’t known for happy endings or feel-good stories. They’re sordid, dark glimpses of the human experience — love, lust, betrayal, obsession over physique — and “The Shape of Things” is no exception. GCC’s interpretation of “The Shape of Things” lives up to the expectations of what a LaBute play is supposed to play out. Scenes are well acted, with a soft tonality that quickly shifts to one more sinister as Evelyn begins to work her way with Adam. The play begins with Adam meeting Evelyn at work at a local museum [See Dance page 9]
IN THIS ISSUE News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4 Features.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6 Entertainment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-9 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Lifestyle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
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Photo by Shawn Kelly
DANCE FEVER: Daniel Kim and Zhanna Petrosyan perform in the end-of-semester dance
showcases. Read about it online at www.elvaq. com or follow this shortened link: http://tinyurl. com/dance052511. [See Dance page 5]
June 26, 2013
Writer James Ellroy 50%Speaks on Campus By Sal Polcino
EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER
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os Angeles crime noir writer James Ellroy entertained students, faculty and fans at the GCC auditorium Thursday in a presentation by the Los Angeles Writers Reading Series. After an introduction by event organizer Claire Phillips, Ellroy’s opening remarks both shocked and delighted the audience with unexpected humor and profanity. He spoke with the clipped and brash prose of the narrative style found in his novels. Ellroy played to a full house in a comic “preacher at the pulpit” style — sometimes loud and boisterous to make a point or to sell a joke; other times soft and quiet to grab the attention of the audience. English teacher Dennis Doyle said he was impressed with Ellroy’s oratorical skills. “I don’t know how he keeps it up. I would be lucky to last 15 minutes,” said Doyle.
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[See James Elroy page 4]
DreamwAct Becomes Law in CA w w.elvaq .com
By Vanessa Duffy
EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER
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tudents are one in the same when it comes to meeting the education requirements, but many don’t have an equal advantage, until now. Gov. Jerry Brown signed the California Dream Act into law on Oct. 8. The California Dream Act is not the same as the Federal Dream Act, which grants a Photo courtesy of Garen Koocharian pathway to citizenship. There are two parts to the DREAM ACT: California Governor recently sign the Dream Act. California Dream Act that will assist illegal immigrants in The first part of the bill, The second grants access to their goals to achieve higher which Brown signed in July, Cal Grant programs for UC and education effective January allows illegal immigrants to CSU institutions. 2013. apply for private scholarships. Before this bill, a student’s
immigration status would determine whether or not he or she would pay in-state fees, which are $36 per unit at GCC, or the out-of-state fee which is $181 per unit, in addition to enrollment costs. “The Dream Act benefits us all by giving top students a chance to improve their lives and the lives of all of us,” said Brown in a statement. To qualify for the statefunded financial aid, a student must meet the requirements of the AB540 waiver. AB540 is a California law that allows undocumented [See Dream , page 3]
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Wednesday, June 26, 2013
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El Vaquero Beloved Instructor Passes Unexpectedly EDITOR IN CHIEF Eric Bourse MANAGING EDITOR Chantal Bevard SPORTS EDITOR Marlon Miranda STAFF WRITERS Kelsey Anderson Jonathan Caballeros John Ferrara Sal Polcino Ksenia Rabinovich Monica Terada Kristine Tuzon STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Seneyda Rodriguez
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Jane Pojawa
NEWSROOM MANAGER
Richard Kontas
DESIGN ADVISER
Charles Eastman
FACULTY ADVISER
Jeff Favre
jfavre@glendale.edu (818) 551-5214 ADVERTISING Jeff Smith jsmith@glendale.edu (818) 240-1000, ext.5493 Send Letters to the Editor El Vaquero accepts story ideas in news, features, profiles, sports and entertainment from the public. To submit an idea or an article, e-mail the editor at elvaquero.editor@gmail.com or call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5349.
Michael Lao, the Hospitality and Tourism Management Department Chair, died suddenly in his sleep of a heart attack while visiting family and friends in the Philippines on Aug. 16. He will be missed by all whose lives he touched. He is survived by his wife and fellow instructor, Faye Lao, who wrote the following eulogy for his memorial service. Dear brother, sisters, family and friends. To every one of us, Michael meant something special in our lives. To me, he was a teacher, husband, a friend, a mentor, and a role model of generosity and kindness. It was through his eyes in the early years of our marriage that I understood the power of giving of yourself to help others, and how nourishing giving for the sake of giving and spreading help and joy to others could be for the spirit. To you he’s a brother, an uncle, a friend, or father figure. But what we share in common is that we all received Mike’s infinite generosity of heart, hospitality and care. Mike would always have a nice encouraging word to say to anybody he met, and always sought to be a mentor
and teacher of life’s lessons. To his students, Mike was their dad away from home—someone who taught not only business skills but life lessons in how to be a decent and generous, giving human being. In recent years, nothing inspired Mike more than to wake up in the morning knowing that he could contribute to growing a hospitality program at school and watch the program and his students’ lives and careers thrive under his guidance. Mike had so much to give, so much that he wanted to do for others, that he never stopped moving, never stopped thinking of new projects. He was always in a hurry, because I believe that as a spirit, he knew his time was short on this earth and that he better appreciate every moment of it to compress his work and play into one of his favorite mottos, “work hard, play hard.” Mike used to always say “Life is short—be happy, don’t sweat the little stuff. Be grateful and be content.” Though I never wanted to believe he was hinting at feeling ready to move on. I would say to Mike that mom lived to almost 80, dad to over 90. Surely he had many decades left to work hard and play hard. But he meant what he said — he
was on borrowed time and made sure that every minute counted to make a maximum impact on everything he did for others. There is so much more that can be said about Mike that would take days, weeks to speak about. So many funny stories of his huge appetite for life, food and fun. He could outlast 20-year-old students on day field trips — like the Energizer bunny that can do two field trips, three meetings, eat four meals in one day, and still have energy and room for shopping and coffee at night. No one who has ever met Mike and seen his enthusiasm for life can ever forget how infected they are by his funloving, bright spirit and his famous appetite. He could kill half a dozen lobsters and more food in one sitting than anyone I know. He could peel crab shells faster than anyone I know, and he could drink the hottest noodle bowl without second degree burns. And he never got fat! Mike was a teacher of life to all he met. A friend to those who were unemployed, misguided, confused, or beaten by life. Always encouraging those who had lost faith in themselves and in life, he would know how to heal and renew hope for
them when they were lost and discouraged. He found jobs for countless students, helped family members succeed at their jobs, inspired countless more to have focus and a sense of direction and purpose in life. And he did it all with a smile, and a promise of more gifts to come from him— with few thoughts for his own rewards. I will never forget all of his lessons to me as a husband. Be kind, loving, generous, patient, giving and forgiving. Always live for the moment and enjoy the day. Always be grateful for the day and for what tomorrow brings. And never hold a grudge. Mike is looking at us with great amusement, love and care. He is happy. He is exactly where he wants to be right now. He left this earth on his own terms-happy, peaceful, accomplished, and leaving a legacy of love to all he has touched. He has a message for all of us. Be happy. Be true to yourself. Embrace today. And above all, embrace your future without fear. You never know what pleasant surprises it may bring you. And we have a message for Mike. Be in pure joy and light. Be the bright spirit you always are. Enjoy your return to the Source, from where you came. Return to the Source of your Grace and your bright light on this earth. The Source, our God of infinite love, joy, wisdom, and abundance. We love you. You are always in our hearts.
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Wednesday, June 26, 2013
3
NEWS
Occupy The Bridge Confronts Police By Angel Silva
EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER
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ccupy LA at GCC marched through Plaza Vaquero in solidarity with the national day of action and national student strike day on Nov. 17. After meeting near the first floor cafeteria at 12:30 p.m., several members carried the long poster they had created for the event which said Occupy LA at GCC Rally. They marched to the front of the San Rafael Building where they chanted “Drop tuition, not bombs” and “Solidarity with Berkeley.” One member, Leah Setaghian, called out “Show me what democracy looks like!” with a megaphone and the other members responded back in unison with “This is what democracy looks like!” Some of the 11 members raised yellow posters with the words “Democracy is not an
auction. Reform is our only option!” above their heads, which they also chanted. Setaghian explained that a week before the rally, nonviolent protesters were being attacked by police at UC Berkeley after they joined arms. The Occupy movement called a national strike day where students across the nation can protest in solidarity with Berkeley students, against police brutality and for Occupy goals. “It is basically to honor the Berkeley students who were attacked by police when they were just linking arms,” Setaghian said. “They were told by the chancellor of the school [Robert Birgeneau] that police have the right to break that up with violent force.” Luke Ponnet, history major, wants students to know that Occupy LA at GCC is a civil rights and civil liberties group that is promoting the Constitution
and Constitutional rights to speak out against government when it is overstepping its bounds. It is also a group that is dissatisfied with the way corporate greed has infiltrated the government. “We need to get our voices heard,” he said. “We need to have our cause understood by the student body. If we don’t have a student body, we are nothing. We are the masses. We are the 99 percent.” While the rally went on, the Troy Davis Band performed during the same time. The music boomed from the loudspeakers and across the campus overpowering some of the group’s rally cries. The Occupy group chanted during the band’s intervals and occasionally when they sang. A small crowd gathered in front of them, while others stood at a distance taking photos. The group staked a spot on the
Dream Act Signed [Dream , from page 1] students to pay in-state tuition. There are several qualifications a student can meet, but the most common is that the student graduated from a California high school or attended for three or more years. That student will also be required to sign an affidavit. While the AB540 legislation has provided a certain amount of relief for illegal immigrants, students had to pay out-of-pocket for tuition before the passing of the California Dream Act. “I’m not Mexican enough to go to Mexico so I’m stuck in between two worlds,” said AB540 student Andres Aguilera, 19. “I don’t need anything given to me. I just want the opportunity.” Aguilera came to the U.S. from Mexico when he was 4 years old. He is a member of Voices Organizing Immigrant Communities for Educational Success on campus, which works to help pass the Federal Dream Act. The new law is opposed by many Republican politicians who say that it encourages illegal immigration and that it isn’t fair
for legal students. However, the California Dream Act states that qualified immigrants can receive state funding only after all the legal residents apply, thus creating competition among many students for a resource that has been significantly diminished. “I know many students at this school who get financial aid and take it for granted,” said VOICES member and AB540 student Cynthia Gonzales, 19. Although the California Dream Act encourages the futures of aspiring students, there are still some aspects that need to be clarified. The VOICES club panel organized a presentation about the details of the new law on Oct. 13. “It is still unclear whether the financial aid will be ready by January 2013 or if that is when students can apply,” said Greg Perkins, counselor for the Extended Opportunity Programs and Services on campus. “If it means that financial aid will be open to apply, then students wont see the money until fall of that year.”
Perkins has a handful of stories of students he has worked with whose dreams have led to a dead-end road. “A student came to me two years ago and she wanted to be a nurse,” said Perkins. “She had good grades in all her classes, glowing recommendations and hours and hours of volunteer work at hospitals. Cal State L.A. said she was accepted but they needed a copy of her driver’s license…. She never called them back.” He also spoke of an Armenian student he worked with, who was studying to become a doctor. The student received high grades, was in the scholar’s program and was accepted into UC Berkeley. When she sent out letters requesting financial sponsorship, she received a letter from Homeland Security that her request had been denied and that she was on deportation investigation. “America is not so rich that it can afford to waste all of its talent,” said Perkins. Vanessa Duffy can be reached at vduffy399@student.glendale.edu
Photo by Richard Kontas
FULL OF LIFE: Michael Lao, the Hospitality and Tourism Management Chair, was an inspiration to live life to the fullest.
sidewalk leading to the plaza for the remainder of the rally. They cheered when an Associated Student representative yelled, “We also have Occupy LA over there!” “We got a shout out by the student body, which is awesome,” Ponnet said. “That was really cool to have the student body actually know that we were there.” Jessica Farrell, the main point of contact for the group, said she was there to march in support of the students of Berkeley. Farrell and Sarah Gould are both the heads of the events committee for Occupy LA at GCC. “I am here to be a part of an educated group of people who want to be a part of something and although I have defiance inside of me from childhood, I have learned to grow out of that and know the right and wrong way of doing things,” Farrell said. “I feel that I want to be part of a group that will give respect and not be cocky in the sense that we are doing the right thing or the wrong thing.” After the rally ended, the members moved to the San Gabriel Building for an informal meeting where they discussed the protest and future events. “It was not as powerful as I wanted it to be,” Ponnet said. “Mostly because the students at GCC were having a musical rally, which was good. The music was awesome, but we couldn’t overpower the DJ or the PA system. In the future, if we do a rally, we would want to make sure that we don’t schedule a rally around another event especially one with a PA system.”
Ponnet joined Occupy LA at GCC after he heard the college had meetings and has been involved for about a month. He has participated in the Occupy movement in Downtown LA, Occidental College and Pasadena. “I really feel for the movement especially the student’s concerns about the movement and unemployment,” Setaghian, a political science and history major, said. “We are about to enter the workforce, but there is nothing out there for us. That was a big thing for me.” Nov. 17 was declared National Student Strike Day by Occupy Colleges. A large rally was planned at Cal State Dominguez Hills where various colleges planned to meet. Many in the group had classes in the afternoon and were unable to attend. For Farrell, who is an anthropology and psychology major, school is important. As much as she would have loved to join, she realized she could not miss class since she is trying to transfer from GCC. Farrell first heard about Occupy LA at GCC after Gould approached and asked if she had heard about the movement. She researched about it and attended the meeting. “I felt like this is the movement that could open the doors to all other movements in the sense that it could give people the power instead of the corporations having the power,” she said. “It would be enough to move forth in smaller things.” Angel Silva can be reached at asilva827@student.glendale.edu
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Wednesday, June 26, 2013
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EDITORIAL
Zombies Invade Los Angeles’ Downtown By Marlon Miranda
EL VAQUERO SPORTS EDITOR
Z
ombies have stumbled a long way from being the victims of a voodoo curse that causes death, then continued existence in a re-animated state serving the will of an evil witch-doctor. Now these walking dead are regularly encountered in horror and fantasy-themed fiction and entertainment, and lately zombies have challenged even vampires for the most beloved nightmare creature in pop culture. “Night of the Living Dead” introduced zombies to cinema and the world; since then zombie culture has manifested into a life of its own, quite apart from its humble beginnings in Haitian folklore. While visiting Boston, Justin Paling encountered a Zombie Walk. He loved the feel and ambiance so much that he brought the idea to California. He and Breana Frisch organized the Downtown L.A. Zombie Walk and the response was tremendous. They quickly received more than 1,000 RSVPs on Facebook. Flyers were handed out all over Los Angeles. On Friday, May 13,
at 6 p.m. Downtown L.A. was flooded with zombies of all ages, ready to partake in a two-mile walk. Nearly 1,000 impatient zombies waited for the organizers to start the event. Some congregated in groups posing for the cameras while others smoked cigarettes. Roving bands of the undead stumbled around scaring everyone who passed them. USC students and teachers were massed to protest budget cuts when, out of nowhere, they were interrupted by a flood of zombies straight out of a George A. Romero film. Nataly Smith was having a graduation celebration dinner with her family when she looked outside. Numerous zombies had begun to gather around, ironically enough, the L.A. Live entertainment complex. “During dinner, my peripheral vision caught something out of the norm. When I turned my head I saw people with blood all over them. I knew it wasn’t Halloween, so I freaked out,” said Smith. The two-mile round-trip stroll took the zombies from L.A. Live at 800 W. Olympic Blvd. north
Photo by Roger Lai
ZOMBIES ON THE ATTACK: Zombies Flock the streets near L.A. Live in Downtoen Los Angeles. on Figueroa Street to 5th Street across to Pershing Square, down South Olive Street to 6th Street, south on Flower and then and back to L.A. Live on Olympic. During the walk, zombies sprayed blood on signs and restaurant windows. Startled
Activist Speaks on Campus [Continue James Ellroy, Page 1] The 65-year-old Shamus award winner is perhaps best known to readers and moviegoers for his novels “L.A. Confidential” and “The Black Dahlia,” both of which were made into blockbuster films. Those books, along with “The Big Nowhere” and “White Jazz” are known as the “L.A. Quartet.” His complicated plots involve crime, detectives, cops and his home, Los Angeles, about which he said, “Come on vacation - go home on probation. Forty years ago a pop pundit popped that platitude and clipped a clear chord in my soul,” Ellroy said. On what motivates him to keep writing Ellroy said, “I have to tell stories. I have to live in the stories. I have to live in the emotions of the characters. I have to recreate history.” Referring to himself as a literary megalomaniac he said,
“I am the author of 18 books, masterpieces all. They proceed all my future masterpieces. These books will leave you reamed, steamed, and dry-cleaned: tiedyed and swept to the side, screwed, blued, tattooed and bah fungoo,” Ellroy said. The author cites Ross MacDonald and Joseph Wambaugh as influences and the Los Angeles police department for “giving me something to write about.” Ellroy said his great dream is recreate 20th century Los Angeles. to his own specifications. The author lives a fantasy life, avoiding technology as much as possible to stay in the world he writes about. “I’ve never been on Facebook. I don’t use Twitter. I have a landline telephone,” said Ellroy. “My style has come entirely through this process of immersion,” he said. Ellroy said he has never logged on to a computer or owned a cell phone.
Despite the humor and light-hearted exterior, Ellroy had many obstacles to overcome. His mother was the victim of an unsolved homicide when he was young. He has dealt with clinical depression and alcoholism. Ellroy put his memoirs into an autobiography titled, “My Dark Places.” Ellroy signed books and posters for dozens of fans and posed for photographs after an audience question and answer session. Ellroy’s next novel, “Perfidia,” another crime story set in Los Angeles is scheduled for release in late 2013. The Los Angeles Writers Reading Series began in 2010 with a grant from the Glendale College Foundation. Sal Polcino can be reached at apolcin587@student.glendale.edu
onlookers took pictures and hurried away as the zombies walked down 5th Street, growling and fighting numerous zombie hunters along the way. With nearly 1,000 braineating undead on the loose, some participants felt the need to go against the norm and dress up as zombie hunters and fight the zombies for two straight miles. Bianca Alvarez was one who went across the grain; she feels that one cannot exist without the other. “You couldn’t have a bunch of zombies without having people like me defending humans from infection. I shouldn’t be frowned upon - I should be honored for keeping humanity safe,” said Alvarez. During her hero manifestation, Alvarez never broke character. Neither did any of the zombies. They stayed true to form until the very end. That type of fun and environment is what Frisch envisioned when she organized the event. Meet the Zombies “The purpose is to bring everyone together to have a good time, and show people what downtown has to offer. I love the area, and there is so much going on down there now. I want people to see that.” When Frisch was a young girl,
she saw “Dawn of the Dead” in a drive-in theater. Her love for zombies sprouted from there and become one of her biggest inspirations. Friday the 13th, chosen for its ominous connotations, became the perfect day to be surrounded by bloodthirsty ghouls. The mood was festive and happy. All of the participating zombies had a flare for the dramatic but the vibe was positive, and nobody got out of hand. Lia Hegemon knew that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to come out of her shell and let loose. “I am really shy, but when creating this fantasy world and having a forum to utilize our creativity, it becomes very refreshing. I have waited for a long time to be able to express myself in a deadly but friendly way,” said Hegemon. Angela Warrick agreed and had an unrealized need to scare unsuspecting people. It was a thrill Warrick has never experienced before. “It was so fun to scare regular people who had no idea when they woke up this morning that they would be face-to-face with a zombie on their way to a club,” said Warrick. Amanda Ochoa saw the event on her cousin’s Facebook page. She was so happy to be a part of
[Continue Zombie, page 5]
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Wednesday, June 26, 2013
5
OPINION
Zombie Invasion [Zombies, page 4] it that she flew from Seattle to participate. “I knew I had to be in L.A. by Friday; I couldn’t miss this event. I have been planning on coming here and feeling the rush of being a zombie,” said Ochoa. Grrrr! The strangest vision of the night had to be a 5-year-old zombie covered in blood. Opaque contact lenses completed his uncanny appearance. It seemed like walking around with the undead was second nature to this little kid, and his father, Antonio Figueroa, said that dressing like a zombie was something that he wanted to do. “As I was getting ready for this, my son saw me getting dressed up; he just kept smiling and started asking if he could dress up too. Once he was all ready I thought, ‘heck, why not just bring him as well?’” said Figueroa. While most zombies made the entire two-mile circuit, some gave up after a couple of streets. Ulorin Vex was one of the few casualties who lacked the stamina characteristic of the unrelenting horde. “I had to get pretty; I didn’t expect to walk two miles in high heels. I was hoping we all would hang out and walk a little bit, I had no idea it would be this long of a walk. I told my friends that I am done, I’ll see y’all when you get back,” said Vex. Public Reaction Through the last stages of the walk, the crowd seemed to be as pumped as it was in the beginning.
There were some innocent bystanders that willingly become lunch for a group of brain-thirsty zombies. Noemi Cheung was asked nicely by a zombie if they could rush her and start eating her for a video he was shooting on Youtube. She was nervous at first but then agreed. “I didn’t want a bunch of strangers to start touching me but they seemed like nice guys. They told me to start screaming and fall to the floor; they wouldn’t touch me, just hang above me and pretend to start eating me. I thought it was just innocent fun, so I agreed,” said Cheung. Once the zombies attacked and ate Cheung, the crowd went wild and some people seemed perturbed. The attack was tame by the standards of horror fans, but others were disgusted. Gustavo Banuelos was having some coffee when he saw the group feeding. “I don’t know what it is all about, I am glad my kids weren’t around or I would have been really pissed they had to see that type of nonsense. I don’t know what this young generation finds amusing or fun anymore; to me all this is ridiculous. I wonder how many of these zombies are unemployed?” said Banuelos. Even though Downtown L.A. Zombie Walk was advertised on Midnight Ridazz and it infected Facebook, it failed to set the Guinness World Record for most zombies in a walk. That distinction belongs to Pittsburgh with 1,028 zombies. But that didn’t deflate the crowd’s enthusiasm in the least. Julia Matuss felt that she needed to be a part of this event and took the day off work to enjoy the festivities, but did it for
Vaqs Spirit Is Nonexistent By Marlon Miranda
EL VAQUERO SPORTS EDITOR
Fans don’t win games the players do. But who do the players lean on in the closing moments in the decisive seconds of a game? Who do they depend on for motivation during a tough stretch? It isn’t called home field advantage for nothing. Imagine the disappointment of the home team as they get booed when they have the ball, or the shock of hearing the visiting school’s chant! This happens in most sporting events in Glendale. Stands are filled with fans of the opposing school and the Vaquero faithful are nowhere to be found. Grant Lee, psychology major, has attended GCC for two years. However he has never attended a game or a rally. He loves sports, just never got into it on a community level. “It’s not like a university; it is just a community college,” said Lee “I might be more inclined to support my school team. I just don’t see the point of it in a community college.” Where is the pride? When student’s graduates
the pure pleasure and not for any awards. “There don’t have to be any awards for this type of event, we didn’t do it for recognition, we did it for the love of the zombie genre and the pure fun of it all. It is amazing how we all can put our differences aside and just enjoy a simple pleasure,” said Matuss. Once the zombies returned to L.A. Live, some went straight
from Glendale, their diploma will have GCC written on it. If they are not ashamed of where they got their education, then why be ashamed of supporting that same school team? Community college might be just a mean to an end to some students a two year stop before transferring to a university. Why not enjoy it for all the school has to offer? There is nothing more thrilling than being apart of an electrifying crowd when hundreds of voices turn to one and chant for a mutual advantage, cheer with every success and groan with every misstep. Fans get to watch the transformation of a player into a star and a team into a powerhouse. It’s like watching a reality show, but with more action.During GCC sporting events, some parents show up, maybe a girlfriend or two. But no fans of the game or of the school. How can the Vaqueros enjoy their home field advantage when the opposing school brings more people, louder people and people who have a love for their school? Nathan Serrano, a nursing student has a love for sports. He
home while others hung around. Some tried going to nightclubs, but weren’t allowed in due to dress code restrictions or possession of objects club security deemed weapons. There were zombies of all races, ages and sexual preferences in attendance. For two miles, there were no differences and no conflict, just fun to be had by all. Taz Limur felt very appreciative
tries to attend as many home games as possible; he has been humiliated multiple times while attending games. “It’s embarrassing to be like a lone wolf out there. You scream as loud as you got, and others feel like it’s not cool to cheer. My single voice is drowned out by a herd of voices from the other team. I tried bringing friends but no one seems to be into it,” said Serrano. Lack of school spirit is hurting GCC, without a fan base teams won’t be afraid to play in Glendale. There are no rally monkeys in the stand or upside down hats. Where is the tradition? The beauty and pageantry of collegiate sports is a traditional right of passage most don’t ever get to feel. Student’s should show a passion and represent their school, their future Alma mater. Once a Vaquero, always a Vaquero! Marlon Miranda can be reached at MMIRAND721@student.glendale.edu
for the common ground. “Where I grew up there was nothing but problems, people fighting over the simplest things,” said Limur. “It is sad to see that in the society we live in today, the only thing that can unite us is dressing up as flesh-eating zombies.” Marlon Miranda can be reached at MMIRAND721@student.glendale.edu
Campus Comments What is your opinion of the recent decision by the California Medical Association to call for the legalization of cannibas sativa (marijuana)? David Archer 24
Jennifer Chavarin 20
Jose Hurtado 21
Social Science
Nursing
Business Administration
“I agree that it should be legalized because it comes from nature and anything that comes from nature is good.”
“It could improve the economy, but I don’t think it would benefit the young.”
“Go ahead and legalize it for the benefit of everybody.”
Michelle Thomas Alcohol and Drug Studies
penalize.”
“If you’re going to legalize, don’t —Compiled by Tex Wells
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Wednesday, June 26, 2013
CENTER
Beauty At GCC
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SPREAD
— Photos By Seneyda Rodriguez
1940’s InspireD
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FEATURES
Theater: The Shape of Things [Theater, from page 1] in Clarkson, a small college town, as she prepares to spray a penis on a censored museum sculpture. Adam, having little previous success with women, is taken aback when he manages to obtain Evelyn’s number and takes her on a date — an event that sets Evelyn’s plan to metamorph Adam into art in motion. As the play progresses, Evelyn begins to work her way in between Adam’s relationships to Phillip and Jenny, who are planning to get married. Arguments arise, betrayals occur and a simple visit to the local coffee shop is laden with suspicion. The final scenes are what leave viewers murmuring and shuffling in their seats, as Evelyn raises questions on the nature of beauty that we’ve all asked ourselves at various times and in various relationships. Questions like “Why can’t my significant other change those irksome habits of theirs? Why won’t that person notice me? Should I try and change this person for the better?” leave the audience with a sense of guilt and longing. The four actors (yes, it’s a fourperson play) support each other effectively and bring something unique to each of their roles. Ohaneysan appears nervous at times, and his acting lacks believability on occasion (particularly when Adam is angry), although that may just add to Adam’s nerdy, insecure character. His acting improves somewhat as Adam’s transformation from not to hot takes place, although flecks of nervousness can still be seen. However, Ohaneysan does well for his first performance at GCC. Fontoura’s acting fully fleshes Evelyn’s character, etching out the saccharine mask in which a cold, calculated face of indifferent artiste lies. Her quips are accentuated by the way she makes facial expressions, rolling her eyes when facing an opposing opinion and making cutesy faces when cajoling Adam into making substantial life changes, such as getting a nose job. Rogers’ performance fits Phillip’s overt, anxious persona well, acting like an angst-ridden teenager stuck in the body of a college junior. His over-the-top responses to any real or perceived
Photo by Jeanette Farr SAY IT, DON’T SPRAY IT: Manouel Ohaneysan plays Adam, a socially deprived college student who finds himself unwittingly victimized by Evelyn (played by Amanda Fontoura), a beautiful graduate student searching for a way to change the world vía art, in “The Shape of Things.”
attacks to his person (mainly coming from Evelyn) make him entertaining and painful to watch, depending on the context of his scenes. Pashayi-Marandi portrays Jenny as a sweet, down-to-earth woman, insecure about herself and her future. Throughout the play, her insecurity about getting married and about Phillip’s characteristics play a pivotal role in her actions and decisions — a role that Pashayi-Marandi fits well. The scenery is simple, consisting of wooden crates, Art Deco stools, a replica of Michaelangelo’s “David,” a few props, and a set of walls that convert to a bed with the flip of a board. The walls aren’t always the center of attention, as the actors perform on and off stage. Actors perform amid the crowd at times, giving the play a dash of interactivity that makes the audience a part of the cast. The penultimate scene breaks the fourth wall as Evelyn addresses the audience. Music is limited to small snippets played during scene shifts and, although short, helps
carry the pace along. Most of it sounds like something out of an Amon Tobin soundtrack mashed with classics from the Baroque era — perfect for capturing the sense that things can only keep spiraling more and more out of control than the previous scene. Lighting is used to great effect, as various scenes are set by the patterns of the lights. A parkside chat, a lovemaking scene and a visit to a plastic surgeon are all examples of what visuals the lights and the simple decor provide. A projector sets the backdrop for each scene, shifting from abstract backgrounds such as inkblots and Cubist squares to concrete ones like a courtyard or a doctor’s office. All in all, “The Shape of Things” is an edgy trip into the nature of art and beauty. It’s not the best of plays to take a date to, but it’s good for those looking to question the nature of their relationships. Adult themes and language are the norm — audience discretion is advised. “The Shape of Things” will run Nov. 3, 4, and 5 at 8 p.m. and on Nov. 6 at 2 p.m. General admission is $10, student and
senior admission is $8. Groups of 10 or more people pay $6 each.
Angel Silva can be reached at asilva827@student.glendale.edu
Need a
Photographer/Videographer? Call Today for a free estimate. Booking now for next year’s wedding season.
Memories are made here please call us or email us and we will take care of you, Seneyda Photography (323) 516-9393 seneydaphoto@gmail.com
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Movie Review: The “Immortals” Need to Die Quickly By Eric Bourse
EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER
F
ans of Greek mythology who are still reeling from the pain from last year’s snooze fest, “Clash of the Titans,” shouldn’t avoid this year’s visually stunning but flawed fall blockbuster, “Immortals.” “Immortals” is directed by Tarsem Singh (“The Fall,” 2006). The screenplay is by sibling duo, Charley and Vlas Parlapanides and is adapted loosely from the ancient Greek mythology of Theseus. The film stars Henry Cavill of the “The Tudors” as the film’s hero, Theseus, a peasant trained by an old man, played by John Hurt (Ollivander from the Harry Potter films). That old man is actually Zeus in disguise, played by Luke Evans (“The Three Musketeers,” 2011). The plot thickens when King Hyperion, played by Mickey Rourke (“Iron Man 2,” 2010) who is on a conquest to find the Eprius Bow and unleash the Titans to destroy the Olympians and claim himself as God, raids Theseus’ village and kills his mother and makes him a slave. Hyperion isn’t exactly an ideal house guest. Theseus escapes with the help of an oracle, Phaedra, played by Frida Pinto (“Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” 2011) and a thief, Stavros, played by Stephen Dorff (“Bucky Larson,” 2011). The trio then embarks on a journey to slay Hyperion. Singh continues his signature style from his previous films, “The Cell” (2000) and “The
ARMED AND DANGEROUS: Theseus, played by Henry Cavill, is one angry peasant bent on revenge in Tarsem Singh’s visually stunning new epic “Immortals.”
Fall,”, and creates a visually stunning movie. From the gold and sparkling costumes, the large set pieces cleverly blended with CGI and striking cinematography, Singh’s art direction is a constant treat for the eyes. Singh offers a contrast to the gorgeous imagery with its beautifully choreographed yet brutal action scenes. The majority of the fight scenes move at a brisk and violent pace. There are also quite a few scenes in slow motion but it isn’t overdone and is mostly used when the Gods partake in the battles. Despite being eye candy, the storytelling and editing aren’t as
graceful. Unlike Singh’s magnum opus, “The Fall,” “Immortals” lacks character development as well as exposition. Although established in the mythology, Theseus’ relation to the Gods is only explained as , “he’s been touched by the Gods.” Audience members unfamiliar with Greek mythology might be confused on the names of the Gods as most of their names aren’t mentioned. There are major changes done to the mythology as well. Theseus’ famous battle with the minotaur is in the film but it’s context and scope is significantly changed to match the rest of the
Friday Flix Schedule for Spring Earn flex credit and watch classic movies on Blu-Ray in the GCCTV studios, SG 334, free every Friday at 12:30 p.m. through the spring semester.
March 18 — Waking Ned Devine 25 — Repulsion
April 1— It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World 8 — Some Like it Hot 15 — SPRING BREAK — NO FILM 22 — The Adventures of Robin Hood 29 — A.I. Artificial Intelligence
May 6 — The Princess Bride 13 — The Bridge on the River Kwai 20 — Titanic (pt. 1) 27 — Titanic (pt.2)
June 3 — The Graduate
film’s plot. There are also deaths of Greek Gods in the film which are drastically different from their fates in the ancient tales. Although these changes may come across as disappointing
to some viewers, the changes are understandable considering the convoluted nature of the mythology as well as simplifying and condensing a story for a two hour movie. The editing towards the end makes a few stumbles. Some of the transitions between the three major battle scenes that occur at the same time prevent the viewers from becoming too emotionally invested in each one. There is also a very noticeable continuity gaff during the death of a major character. His mouth is covered in blood in one shot, then the next shot shows his mouth clean, and then back to being covered in blood again. It is by no means a perfect film or completely faithful to the mythology but succeeds in creating a visceral and visually satisfying experience. Most importantly, it’s entertaining. The movie runs 110 minutes and is rated R for strong bloody violence and a scene of sexuality. 3 and ½ out of 5
Classifieds
Eric Bourse can be reached at ebourse741@student.glendale.edu
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SPORTS
A Family Football Tradition for Quarterback By Marlon Miranda
EL VAQUERO SPORTS EDITOR
H
aving both a father and an uncle who were talented quarterbacks could be too much pressure for the average player, but for Kevin Hunter, it made him stronger and motivated him to make his own mark.“By the second grade, I knew I wanted to play as a quarterback. Having my dad and uncle around helped me understand football in a different manner,” said Hunter. “My dad coached the Burbank High School team and my uncle was the starting quarterback at GCC.” The turning point in Hunter’s career came when he played a high school game at the Rose Bowl. A childhood dream became a passion when he threw for two touchdowns and ran for another. Hunter’s football IQ and leadership abilities can be seen on and off the field. He can be seen talking to his skilled players on the sideline or coaching up the second string quarterback. He congratulates his offensive line
after every series. Quarterback Coach Kevin Mills knows there is no denying the presence that Hunter brings to a football team. He has been coaching Hunter for one year and has been impressed by his growth. “In one reason he has grown, the way the team believes in him shows his leadership abilities,” said Mills. One of Hunter’s football mentors was Tim Loock, who helped Hunter develop the mental stability he is well-known for on the football field. Loock was an All-League wide receiver for Burbank High who later became a volunteer football coach. As a coach, Loock showed Hunter the way of controlling emotions and staying calm. “I owe a lot of my attitude to Tim Loock. He was always there for me and was always calming me down when I would lose my cool,” said Hunter. GCC head coach John Rome thinks highly of Hunter. Rome knew that Hunter had intangibles
that cannot be learned, you can only be born with them. “He is a fantastic young man. He has an excellent grade point average. With that type of intelligence it is easy to understand why he has great composure,” said Rome. Hunter was having an exceptional season until his injury, which occurred when his pass was intercepted. The defensive player was running back to score a touchdown. Hunter went from quarterback to linebacker and cracked the defensive player. The tackle caused the player to flip in the air, and also left Hunter a twoinch laceration in his liver and a hip contusion. Hunter has missed numerous games since his injury. He will make his return on Oct. 29 against Santa Barbara. His biggest love is football and he dreams of one day being a quarterback in the NFL. Being injured has been tough on Hunter but he has made the best of it by showing up every week and
traveling with the team and becoming an extension to the head coach. “In life and in football. No matter what happens, you have to keep everything on a level field.
Always keep your cool and stay composed,” said Hunter. Marlon Miranda can be reached at MMIRAND721@student.glendale.edu
Photo by Seneyda Rodriguez
FULL OF LIFE: Michael Lao, the Hospitality and Tourism Management Chair, was an inspiration to live life to the fullest.
Vaquero Sports Summaries Scores Baseball May 3 — beat Grossmont / SoCal Regionals 4-2 May 4 — beat Grossmont / SoCal Regionals 8-5 May 10 — lost to Palomar 3-2 Saturday — lost to El Camino 4-3 Men’s Golf: May 6 — placed 4th at Los Logos/SoCal Regionals Men and Womens’s Track & Field Saturday — Women finished 8th at SoCal Prelims Saturday — Men finished 8th at Socal Prelims
Upcoming Events Men and Womens’s Track & Field Saturday-Sunday — State Championships at San Mateo 10 a.m. For more information: www.glendale.edu/athletics/
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Wednesday, June 26, 2013
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Calendar On Campus ASGCC
CLUB EVENTS
Christ in Action club. May 23 from 7 to 9 p.m. in Kreider Hall.
ASGCC Fall 2013 Candidates Forum — Questions and answers with the candidates. May 20 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on the cafeteria patio, in front of the bookstore.
End of Semester Barbecue — The Christ in Action club will be selling hot dogs and hamburgers to raise funds for their summer camps and trips. Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Plaza Vaquero
Because of Alcohol/Drugs Tshirt Campaign — Add your message/name to a T-shirt, to bring awareness to various causes. Donations welcome. May 28 and 29 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Plaza Vaquero.
ASGCC Fall 2013 Elections — Vote for your student government candidates. May 21 and 22 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. in Plaza Vaquero. For more information call (818) 2401000, ext. 3033. ASGCC Academic Decathlon — Watch teams of five battle for a $1,000 scholarship. To compete: you must register your team of five by Monday at 4 p.m. in SC 201; have a team name and captain, and at least one member must attend a mandatory orientation on May 24 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in SC 208. The Decathlon will be on May 31 at 1:30 p.m. in Kreider Hall. For more information visit SC 201 or call (818) 240-1000, ext. 3033.
EVENTS Swap Meet — Upper campus parking lot. Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free and open to the public. For more information call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5805. GCC Faculty/Staff Talent Show — First prize is a $250 scholarship to be donated in the winners name. Sponsored by ASGCC Campus Activities. May 23 at 12:30 p.m. on the cafeteria patio, in front of the bookstore. Book Drive and Fair — Books will be sold from $1-7 to raise funds for the Baja Field Studies program. May 28 and 29 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in San Rafael Plaza. For more information call (818) 240-1000, ext. 3149.
International Student Talent Show — First prize $150, second $100 and third $50 cash. Free lunch for the first 100 to show up to see the show. To compete you must be an F1 Visa student or have at least one F1 in your group. Deadline for entrants is Friday by 2 p.m. in the International Student Center on the second floor of the San Rafael building. The show is May 23 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Auditorium. For more information call (818) 240-1000, ext. 6645. Biannual Soccer Tournament — V.O.I.C.E.S. is sponsoring this event to raise funds for AB 540 student scholarships. Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Sartoris Field. To register or for more information call (818) 913-4041. Dodgeball Club — The next two games will be held Tuesday and May 28 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the San Fernando complex outdoor basketball courts. ASA Club Elections — The ASA executive committee for next year will be elected. May 23 at 12:20 p.m. in LB 220. For more information call (818) 730-9998. Variety Nights — The Theatre Guild presents a variety of student acts on May 23 at 7 p.m. in the Black Box Theater / AU102. GCC Revival — Skits will be performed and a guest speaker. Food will be provided afterwards. Open to all who are curious about the Gospel. Sponsored by the
HAVE YOUR CAMPUS EVENT LISTED ON THE CALENDAR PAGE
CAREERS Power Academy Orientation — Learn more about GCC’s Verdugo Power Academy class. Today from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in SF 119. For more information visit www. glendale.edu/power or call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5541 or 5906.
LECTURES Humanities / Social Sciences Lecture Series — “Traffic-Related Air Pollution: Health Effects and Exposure Assessment.” Speaker is Donna C. Dueker, a postdoctoral fellow in environmental genomics at USC. Free. May 23 at 12:30 p.m. in SR 138. Science Lecture Series — “Paradigm Shifts in Therapeutic Cancer Vaccination and Early Cancer Detection: Boldly Go Where No One has Gone Before.” Speaker is Martin Kast, professor of molecular microbiology and immunology, obstetrics and gynecology at USC. Cimmarusti Science Center, room 177 Free. May 28 in CS 177 at 12:20 p.m.
ART GALLERY The Juried Student Art Show — Showcasing student work in painting, drawing, print making, ceramics, sculpture and jewelry. A reception for the student artists will be held Thursday from 12:30 to 1:20 p.m. in the gallery. Guest artist Rebecca Campbell is
the juror for the student exhibition. Runs through June 5. Hours are Monday through Wednesday 12:30 to 5:30 p.m., Thursday 12:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Fridays by appointment. In the Library Building. For more information call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5663.
MEETINGS Board of Trustees Meeting — Monday in Kreider Hall. 5 p.m. For more information visit: www. glendale.edu/boardoftrusees.
DANCE “Dance Performance 2013” — Featuring GCC student dancers and choreographers. Directed by Dora Krannig and Lynn McMurrey. Seating is limited. Early arrival is advised. No children under 5 admitted. Free. May 28 at 8 p.m. May 29 at 12:20 and 8 p.m. In the Dance Theatre, Sierra Nevada building.
of the 1957 American anti-war film “Paths of Glory,” directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Kirk Douglas. Free. May 24 at 12:30 p.m. in SG 334. A discussion facilitated by instructor Mike Petros follows the screening.
PLANETARIUM Afternoon with the Stars — A lunchtime program highlighting the planetarium’s features. The viewers choice will be presented today and May 22 from 12:30 to 1 p.m. in CS 257. Free. For more information visit www.glendale. edu/planetarium or call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5275.
WORKSHOPS Effective Resume — Focuses on essential resume-writing principles, formats and content. May 22 at noon, and May 28 at 3 p.m. Free. Career Center, San Rafael Building. For more information call (818) 240-1000 ext. 5407.
MUSIC
TUTORING
GCC College Choir, Chamber Singers and Opera Vignettes Spring Concert — Featuring choral works and opera excerpts directed by Jayne Campbell. General admission $7, students and seniors $5. Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Mainstage Auditorium. For more information call (818) 2401000, ext. 5829.
Math Discovery Center — The newly remodeled facility offers increased computer access and drop-in tutoring for math. Must be currently enrolled in a math course. Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in AS 103. For more information call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5362.
Community Orchestra Concert — The GCC orchestra will perform its first concert of the year. Conducted by Beth Pflueger. General admission $10, students and seniors $7. Sunday at 3 p.m. in the Auditorium.
MOVIES Friday Flix: — A screening
Learning Center — Tutors are available in a variety of subjects. Referral from an instructor, counselor or librarian required. Computers available. Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in AD 232. For more information call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5333. Compiled by Richard Kontas
• Email the details to Elvaquero.editor@gmail.com. • Call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5349 and leave a message on our 24/7 event hotline, we’ll get right back to you. • The deadline for the May 29 issue is May 21.
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LIFESTYLE
Seneyda Rodriguez, Fashion Photographer All this I see; and I see that the fashion wears out more apparel than the man. But art not thou thyself giddy with the fashion too, that thou hast shifted out of thy tale into telling me of the fashion? – William Shakespeare
Memories are made here please call us or email us and we will take care of you, Seneyda Photography (323) 516-9393 seneydaphoto@gmail.com