The Renegade Rip Vol. 84 No. 1

The Renegade Rip Bakersfield College

w w w.t h e r i p.com

Vol. 84 ∙ No. 1

Wednesday Februar y 1, 2012

Smoking takes center stage

Issues of the past

By Zak S. Cowan Editor in Chief

A poll to help decide the fate of on-campus smoking will be taking place in the coming weeks, and the Student Government Association is working to get the word out to achieve maximum participation.

The polling, which will include students, faculty and administrators, was planned for the first week of school, but Derrick Kenner because of contractual issues between SGA and their online voting host, Votenet, the poll will happen at a later, unknown date.

“We’re in the process of renewing the contract, and once that contract is renewed then we’ll be able to move forward with the vote,” said Derrick Kenner, SGA’s general counsel, who has been at the forefront of their smoking agenda while working with BCOUGH, an ad hoc committee created by California Youth Advocacy Network.

“The goal for BCOUGH is to provide advocacy for students, administrators, staff and faculty, as well as the development [of] a policy that suites the campus as far as tobacco use is concerned,” Kenner said.

The poll, according to Kenner, will provide accurate information about what the complete body of Bakersfield College wants for a policy regarding on-campus to-

bacco use.

Students will choose from three different policies: a 100 percent tobacco free campus, designated smoking areas or leaving the policy as it stands now which allows tobacco use as long as it is 20 feet away from building entrances.

The three policies were chosen from an original survey conducted during the fall that included seven total policies.

This won’t be the first time BC students have been surveyed on the issue of on-campus tobacco use; it’s happened four times, in fact, between 2004-09, the latter of which led to a designated-area policy.

After the polling is finished, SGA will look to president Greg Chamberlain to put the policy in place.

Chamberlain said that the SGA and the participants of the poll will be able to count on him to enact whatever policy gets the most support.

“I will support the wishes of the students,” Chamberlain said.

“I, personally, am in support of limiting smoking, because second-hand smoking is a real issue. A lot of people are walking around campus smoking and it can be very uncomfortable for people, especially for those with allergies.”

Enforcement of a policy has been a concern ever since tobacco use became an issue back Please see SMOKING, Page 4

The Rip conducted a poll of 250 participants on campus, 242 of which are current Bakersfield College students. The poll participants chose between three different policies directly from the poll that SGA will conduct in the coming weeks, which are: Policy A: 100 percent smokefree campus.

Policy B: Keeping with the state law.

Policy C: Designatedsmoking areas.

140 S 120 t u 100 d e 80 n t 60 s

40

20 0

Policy A (26.8 %)

Policy B (20.8 %)

Policy C (52.4 %)

By Zak S. Cowan Editor in Chief On-campus smoking is one of the most talked about issues at Bakersfield College, and has been for some time now, for probably longer than most students realize.

The Student Government Association’s current smoking agenda, which will eventually lead to a poll deciding the ultimate policy, has been going on since the spring semester of 2004.

But back in 1988, INSIDE there was a similar, SGA’s plans for the but fairly different semester and beyond. battle going on at BC regarding tobacco use.

Page: 5 Until Jan. 1, 1988, smoking was allowed inside buildings on the BC campus, until SGA helped enact a new policy effectively ending indoor smoking.

And so started the conflict.

The only building on campus that allowed smoking was the teachers’ lounge, and student smokers used it to their advantage, but this led to a confrontation with the teachers that used the lounge, and the students going there to smoke.

Lisa Martinez, who was the self-proclaimed leader of the “crusade to establish an indoor smoking area,” was at the forefront in many of the issues, including the September 1988 clash over the teachers’ lounge.

“This is the teachers’ lounge, and they want their place just like anyone else,” Martinez said in a Sept.

12, 1988 issue of the Renegade Rip. “All we’re asking for is a little place to eat and smoke our cigarettes.

We don’t want to cause trouble or infringe on the teachers.”

Please see 1988, Page 4

Bus stop timetable pushed back

By Keith Kaczmarek Reporter The GET bus stop construction on Panorama was not completed over the winter break as planned, and students and faculty are now wondering why the construction seems to never end.

Scheduled to be finished last November by the GET construction crews, the project has run into a number of construction delays, and is tentatively expected to be completed sometime this spring semester, but no firm date has been set.

Several issues were involved in getting

the new bus stop, such was the college needing to negotiate the terms of an easement, the strip of college land the city is allowed to use for the bus stop. Also, there was a need the preserve the trees on campus.

“We do our best to protect the trees during any construction project. As we knew the trees were in the area where the GET bus stop would be, part of our agreement with GET was that they would not damage any of our trees during the construction process,” said Paula Bray, manager in Maintenance and Operations.

The new bus stop is more conveniently Please see BUS STOP, Page 4

Inside

Over the winter break, Maintenance and Operations oversaw a number of construction projects across the campus. They are: • In response to a number of air quality complaints in the Admissions and Records building, an industrial hygienist was called in to perform air and sample testing and a high level of particulates was found. To correct this issue, all of the ductwork in the building was cleaned and the carpet and vinyl was replaced.

• In FACE room 13, the home of Disabled Student Programs and Services, there was a carpet that pulled up from the floor and became a tripping hazard. It was replaced, and the asbestos under it was removed. The asbestos was non-friable.

• In the Auto Technology Upper Lab it was discovered that a water leak ruining the floor tiles was coming from a drain that was plugged during the renovation. The drain was fixed and the flooring

Page 3: Local studio provides outlet for budding musicians.

Page 5

replaced.

• After an annual required inspection by the government, several fire alarms strobes and horns were found to be not functioning.

They were replaced.

• The Emergency Access Phones, also known as the “Blue Phones,” were removed. Public Safety noticed that they were not being used at all for their intended purpose and instead pranksters were activating them.

• The Forums are undergoing continuing renovation with seats, tables, and lights replaced.

• The SAM building renovation project has been delayed, as the vendors’ bids were roughly $2 million over budget on the current plans last December. This means the plans will be redone and “value engineered” in the hopes of new bids being under budget.

Fee hike to take place for summer semester

By Keith Kaczmarek Reporter

Major changes to the ‘W’ grade could affect your class schedule.

Nathan wilson / The Rip

Page 10

Women’s basketball moves into first place in the Western State Conference.

Beginning in the summer session, fees at all California community colleges will change from $36 per unit to $46 per unit.

This change was mandated by the 2011 Budget Act and was set off by California budget shortfalls that set off “triggers” in the budget approved in December and based on just how much money was missing from the budget this year. This lack of money set off the worse-case scenario triggers, known as the “Tier 1” and “Tier 2” triggers,

and all have been enacted except District chancellor, she stated, for K-12 revenue limit cuts.

“KCCD remains on track with For the 17,034 students at BC, its financial plan, which includes these cuts to exercising rethe state’s edustraint. Our cation budget “Register early and carefully. p r i o r i t i e s will have little to Take only what you need to continue effect other be to educate than the statestudents and grow and go.” mandated fee retain our –Greg Chamberlain, increase as e m p l oy e e s .

BC president KCCD has Together we already set its will protect own budget to account for the our mission to provide outstandworse-case scenario that has oc- ing educational programs and curred. services to our diverse students In an email from Sandra Ser- and communities.” rano, Kern Community College That being said, we have 13%

fewer students than we had last year, about 2,615 people as of Jan. 19.

The fee increase was supposed to go into effect retroactively beginning in the Spring semester, but timely action by the state legislature deferred the fee increase until Summer semester.

“There was no one that thought this would not happen,” said Amber Chiang, director of marketing and public relations for BC. “We needed to budget appropriately and we did that. Everything that has happened was planned for last May.” Please see BUDGET, Page 4

Features

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The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

Wednesday, Februar y 1, 2012

Reading, writing and Mary Jane

Column

No more jammies ever

By Nate Perez Reporter Marijuana users are typically thought of as lazy, irresponsible and incompetent people, but some appear to be the exact opposite. They are all students, or were at one point. They have well paying jobs, and they have mortgages to pay.

A student who did not want to be identified for fear of reprisals from his job said, “I smoke everyday. To the equivalent of about three joints a day.”

This student occasionally smokes before class, before doing homework and pretty much all day. Despite being a pothead, the unidentified student is a model student. He goes to class everyday and maintains a 3.0 GPA. This student does not smoke before every class though. He recalls a bad smoking experience before class one semester.

“I went to Astronomy class, and I medicated beforehand, which I later found out to be a mistake,” he said. “The room is dark and the seats are kind of reclined. When you add those together, you get way too comfortable, to the point where you want to pass out.”

Eventually, the unidentified student had to drop the class.

A significant amount of people have the belief that marijuana provides no health benefits and makes the brain deteriorate, but these students would argue that it has the opposite effect.

An unidentified student said, “I would say smoking before

WORTHWHILE STYLE | The Rip’s copy editor and resident shoe addict discusses the lost art of dressing for your own style.

Nate Perez / The Rip

A student who did not want to be identified due to reprisals from his job, lights his pipe Jan. 23 before doing his statistics homework. Pictured above are his study supplies. certain classes make my learning experience better. I engage more in discussion during class, or I become more enthused about the subject.”

Smoking before class can be a

double-edged sword to another student who also did not want to be identified. She said, “When I smoke before class, I pay more attention to the lecture, but it is easier to get distracted by other

students when they’re doing something dumb like texting. I just keep looking at them.”

These unidentified students are neither encouraging other students to go to class under the

use of marijuana, nor do they want anyone to start up a smoking habit. What these students do agree with is that marijuana can be used as medicine and can help people with disabilities.

Nile hosts charity event for Penn School BATTLE ROYALE | Battle of the bands raises funds for school

By Jon Nelson Features Editor

Martin Chang / The Rip

Andrew Carillo, lead singer of Ruby Skye, sings at the Battle of the Bands to benefit the Giving Tree Project.

Local bands, artists and vendors all lent their time and energy to the Giving Tree Battle of the Bands and Art Show at the Nile on Jan. 21.

The show started at 11 a.m. and lasted until around midnight.

Popular local bands like the Aviators, Crooked Folk and the Bird Channel donated their time and energy for the fundraiser.

“This is a very good cause and hopefully more will come out of it,” said Ricardo Pacheco, lead guitarist and singer for Crooked Folk.

The winner of the battle of the bands was announced late into the night with the Architecture coming out on top of the fifteen.

The Aviators took second place followed by Kenny Reeves and the Clones.

Styles of music ranged from Jazz and Psychedelic and Hard Rock to Acoustic.

DJ Josex was also on-hand to spin records and make music Martin Chang / The RIP so the audience could dance between bands.

Chanell Hall, lead singer of Holy Beast, sings at the Battle “It was beyond raising money,” of the Bands at The Nile on Jan. 21 to benefit Penn School. said Amber Beeson, the woman behind the Giving Tree Project.

The event was put together by “It was more of a social experi- and George Quick.

Another artist, Bear Johnson, Beeson as a way to raise money ment.”

The lobby of the Nile was con- donated half a dozen bizarre for the William Penn Elementary verted into a temporary gallery mixed-media collages that in- School. cluded magaBeeson has two sons at Penn, to hold works zine clippings and her goal is to clean up the for sale donated by local “ The art was a mixed bag. I and found ob- school and raise funds for the jects mounted Booster Club, as well as provide artists.

One of the liked the photography. Ba- on pieces of the students with a garden they can work and learn in. more outstand- kersfield has so much talent, wood.

“The art “The kids haven’t had field ing displays was a series I wish if anything there had was a mixed trips or yearbooks in over 10 bag. I liked years. There’s no Booster Club,” called “Faces been more on display.” the photogra- said Beeson. of a Phagwah phy. BakersShe is also working with the Parade,” by Je–Rachel Llewellyn field has so city and county to set up a comrome Lazarus.

Attendee much talent, munity garden on 4th and Eye “Faces” was I wish if any- in a city owned lot, preserve the a number of thing there peacock area of Hart Park and photographs of Hindus from Thailand pierc- had been more on display,” said start a greenhouse.

“I’m hoping to get more peoing their backs with large hooks attendee Rachel Llewellyn.

Local food vendors set up ple out of their houses,” said and hanging mid-air from trees in an effort to reverse negative shop outside the Nile on the Beeson. streets around 19th Street for the The battle of the bands and art karma.

There was also art by local tat- attendees that wanted something show raised over $2,500 which will all go to Penn School. too artists like Bobby Holland to eat between acts.

The dictionary defines pajamas as “a loose usually two-piece lightweight suit designed especially for sleeping or lounging.”

It’s kind of a sad fact that I should even have to explain that, but the harsh reality is that all too often I see people out in public dressed in clothes that you should obviously only sleep, workout, or clean your house in.

T h e s e people just love to chant, Patricia Rocha “I don’t care what other people think of me,” or “You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover!”

Well that’s fantastic! I appreciate your individualism and I totally agree, as a society we should be a lot better at not immediately judging each other.

But sadly, that’s not the reality we live in. I wish just as much as anyone else that it wasn’t so, but in the immortal words of Tupac Shakur, “Don’t blame me, I was given this world, I didn’t make it.”

Now I’m not saying we should just live by a whatyou-see-is-what-you-get attitude, but I do think we should be respecting ourselves a little more so that maybe everyone else will.

You still may not care what other people think, but what do you think of yourself? Is a sloppy ponytail, sweatpants, and grungy flip-flops all you’re worth?

I totally understand that some people are going to be more worried about rushing to their 8 a.m. class and getting their kids ready for school than picking out their Sunday best, but everyone should at least respect themselves enough to put on a pair of clean jeans before they leave the house.

I don’t see a problem in caring more about shark week than fashion week, and on the opposite side of the spectrum, I would probably give you a quizzical look if you walked the halls of Bakersfield College in head-to-toe runway fashion, but I think there is an important middle ground where we should at least try to present ourselves in an appropriate way.

If we go to a job interview, a wedding, or the beach, it’s common sense to dress the occasion, and I just don’t see why it’s not just as obvious to dress appropriately for school.

It’s just as easy to throw on a comfy, stylish cardigan than a sloppy, oversized sweatshirt. Try covering up messy hair with a cute hat or beanie, and if you’re really adventurous, trade a pair of jeans and T-shirt for a dress and tights.

I don’t want to send a message of materialism, or that clothes will make you happy (only shoes can do that,) but if you look your best, you’ll often feel your best. With all of the opportunities available for us to succeed at BC, you never know when you’ll need to make a good first impression or need a little extra selfconfidence boost. If you look like you respect yourself, the rest of the world will surely take notice and do the same.

If we all put in a little more effort and just dressed like adults, maybe we could get back to judging each other by the things that really matter, like our tastes in music and favorite sport teams.

Features

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Wednesday, Februar y 1, 2012

Studio offers chance to mix

By Breanna Fields Reporter

Omar Oseguera / The Rip

Reggie Langendoerfer, owner of Bakersfield Recording Studios, displays his instruments and recording equipment Jan. 24.

Audio engineering has always been the driving force of artistic and creative endeavors within the realm of sound.

Bakersfield Music & Recording Studios offers students the chance to sit behind the mixing board and become a crucial part of the recording process.

Although the décor is simple, the atmosphere at Bakersfield Music & Recording Studios speaks for itself.

Dozens of cassettes and CDs line the walls of the entryway boasting an impressive collection of music that is impossible to ignore.

The building has several rooms that serve a multitude of purposes from music lessons to production.

Owner and blues enthusiast Reggie Langendoerfer offers students of all ages the opportunity to explore the world of audio engineering and gain hands-on experience through a ninemonth training program inside the studio.

The course is designed to give students individual attention that they would not otherwise receive in a crowded school environment.

“It’s not like sitting in a big class where you can only do something for five minutes at a time,” said Langendoerfer.

Born in Munich, Germany, Langendoerfer began taking music lessons at a young age and studied classical guitar.

Langendoerfer’s love of the blues and ’50s rock ‘n’ roll led him to discover his interest in recording music, which is why he has chosen to dedicate many hours to assist students in the audio engineering program.

Students are able to gain knowledge in the field as they study the elements of recording by applying techniques and learning about equipment, such as mixing boards and a variety of soft-

“If you work in a recording studio you are not just hitting the record button … you have to really help organize the entire project.”

–Reggie Langendoerfer, Owner of Bakersfield Music & Recording Studio

ware.

ProTools and ProLogic are the most popular programs available and are both ready to use in the studio.

Although most modern recording is based on computer technology, Langendoerfer also emphasizes the importance of understanding older techniques and formats such as analogue recording, which is also covered in the course.

Live events and studio recording projects are a fundamental part of the training.

Students are exposed to both settings in order to gain a better understanding of the differences between live and studio sound.

“The trainees who are interested in taking this course will also set up sound systems and learn how to mix in a live situation,” said Langedoerfer.

Trainees typically spend four to six hours per week in the studio and are provided with additional materials such as workbooks and multi-track files or CDs to practice at home.

“What is definitely helpful is if someone has a decent computer and is able to work at home with recording software, even if it’s a simple one,” said Langendoerfer.

The nine-month program gives students a total of 216 training hours at the

Tale of the tattoo

By Jackie Gibson Reporter Since May of 2011, the tattoo shop Modern Electric has been doing a whole lot more than giving thrill seekers and art lovers a piece they’ll always remember. Modern Electric has taken part in many fundraisers, and events have been orchestrated and executed by this shop and its associates to give back to the community.

“Our first event was for breast cancer,” says Amy Daley, co-owner of Modern electric and wife to other coowner Billy Vaughn. “We sold $20 and $40 dollar ribbons and donated half the proceeds.

“Then in December we held a big art show at the Marriott and there was 65 or 70 paintings, all original with frames, donated by all kinds of artists from all over the country,” she said.

In addition to the breast cancer fundraiser and art show, the crew over at Modern Electric also teamed up with the Alliance Against Family Violence for the holiday season.

“We did really well. I can’t remember exactly how much was raised but we ended up buying Christmas presents for the Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault,” she said about the success of the event.

“We also teamed up with Icon Print-

ing; they donated all the banners and posters and flyers. We also had a private donor that donated all the frames for the art show.

“We had a big elegant party. We got to dress up and people came from L.A., Fresno, the guys from Papa Roach came, it was really cool,” she said. The amount raised from the event was about $950.

The group enjoys being involved in the charity work they do.

“This is our community. You’ve got to help out if you have and others don’t,” said Daley. “You may have what you have but you should always give back to the community.”

Chris Earl, artist and well-known tattooist for M.E. added, “It feels really good. We’ve done about four events, one at Pain is Beauty [tattoo shop], two here at M.E. and once at the Marriott.”

On Jan. 21 the M.E. staff donated gift certificates that accumulated to the sum of $125 to the Giving Tree charity.

The certificates were for three $60 tattoos, two $30 haircuts and or shave in the barbershop and three piercings.

The folks over at M.E have a long list of events that show their involvement with the community.

“In October we did the Via Arte in the Market Place for Walker Lewis

Big Chocolate ready for performance

By Metiqua Eng Reporter

Teela Walker / The Rip

Co-owners Amy Daley and Billy Vaughn, along with several staff, take a break from tattooing at Modern Electric on Jan. 21.

Rents. In November we did the Bakersfield Scene coat drive and at the Metro Gallery a few of our artists donated their time for the event to stop human trafficking,” she said. “Our artists sat and drew on shoes that were purchased at the event for tips only.

“We always do our best to help out, especially in the downtown district. It’s good for business because people who haven’t heard of us win in the contests we hold and they get to see the shop and what we are all about, besides being charitable,” she said.

Daley said there are more events planned for the future.

“We are going to be working with Dennis and the guys from Front Porch Music in their ‘Boards for Snots’ charity.

“What they do is buy skateboards for kids and what we would like to do is paint the boards and then have another art show, sell the artistic boards and then take the proceeds and buy a bunch of skateboards for kids. We do want to do the event with the Alliance against Family Violence again next December.”

Daley hopes to continue M.E.’s involvement with charity by making it an annual event.

Newest Dewar’s location: bigger and better

By Crystal Sánchez Reporter Dewar’s Ice Cream and Fine Candies has moved to a new location and has expanded in size.

The new store, which opened on Jan. 7, is located at 2700 Calloway Drive.

The main indoor room has a seating capacity of 64 people. This includes a 28-seat soda fountain and six large booths. They also have an outdoor patio area that can seat an additional 36 people.

Dewar’s manager Brittany Hammask said the new store took less than one year to develop. Hammask explained some of the new features inside the store. There is a singing moose head mounted on the wall, black and white Dewar’s family photos, a giant gumball machine, and an exhibit area that displays a vintage 1940s cash register and much more.

Best friends Logan Van Allen, Kelsey Neilands, and Kelsey Barnett consider it tradition to come to Dewar’s once a week to have Black and Whites. The popular ice cream sundae is made with a scoop of vanilla ice cream topped with hot fudge, and a scoop of chocolate ice cream topped with marshmallow.

Van Allen said when he simply hears the word “Dewar’s,” “I think really family oriented and good ice cream.”

Loyal customers like Lancene Blackmon, who has been coming to Dewar’s for 50 years, says she has wonderful memories of Dewar’s.

“My best memory was when I was in junior high, and my girlfriends and I would go to Dewar’s on a hot summer day,” she said.

Bill and Cathy Prout have been coming to Dewar’s for 15 years and said that the new location had definitely

cost of $6,800.

For those interested in audio engineering as a hobby, a shorter course is offered for $1,800.

This includes 50 hours of training, recording projects and three core workbooks that provide thorough instruction.

Upon completion of the course, many students have gone on to seek jobs as audio engineers, assistant engineers and some have plans to open their own studio.

“With the technology that’s available now, you can do unbelievable things even in a relatively small studio,” said Langendoerfer.

In addition to the audio recording program, Bakersfield Music & Recording Studios also offers CD duplication and entire album or music production.

“If you work in a recording studio you are not just hitting the record button … you have to really help organize the entire project,” said Langendoerfer.

Notable artists that have visited Bakersfield Music & Recording Studios in previous years include guitarist James Burton, who worked with Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson, Jerry Lee Lewis and many other well-known acts.

“It was a very, very interesting experience,” said Langendoerfer, referring to the three recording projects Burton worked on at his studio.

Another well-known guest at the studio was bass player Jerry Scheff, a major influence on Langendoerfer, who also recorded with Elvis.

Many local artists such as Two Faded and jazz singer Kama Ruby have also chosen to record demos and full-length albums at the studio.

Information regarding the audio engineering course and other services offered Bakersfield Music & Recording Studios can be found at www.bakersfieldmusic.com.

megan luecke / The Rip

Adults and kids alike fill Dewar’s on a Sunday afternoon Jan. 29. met their expectations. They described it as exciting, nice and extremely spacious.

The future of Dewar’s is continuously growing with plans to open a third Dewar’s at the corner of Ming

Avenue and Buena Vista Road sometime this spring. The Dewar’s that was previously at 9530 Hageman Road has closed. The third store will be considered an Express Dewar’s complete with its own drive-through and patio.

Cameron Argon is a 21-year-old, upand-coming recording artist and DJ from Laguna Hills, better known as Big Chocolate. Prior to his formally known name “Big Chocolate,” that stemmed from an old joke from his scene-kid days, Argon started his career as lead singer of the heavy metal band Disfiguring The Goddess.

His openness to different sounds and genres led to his dabbling into electronic music such as dubstep, electro, as well as drum and bass. Many have compared his transition from heavy metal to techno similar to popular artist Skrillex, but Argon challenges those statements saying, “I don’t want to be the next Skrillex or Deadmau5.”

He feels that they paved the way for him and other artists but he considers his style different.

“I like to combine genres of music and putting my own twist on it,” Argon says. “I want to take everything I know how to do and do it all at once.”

His music is openly getting recognition in which Argon was invited to play for Warped Tour, which opened the door for his success and made him more familiar on the music scene. With Argon’s popularity rising he’s kept a blog for his fans in which he posts EP’s he is working on such as “Can’t Let You Live” and “Rabbit Eye,” as well as to chime in about his progress within music and tour dates.

He is also an artist who is asked to remix popular songs for bands such as Breathe Carolina, which he was recently on tour with. Argon stressed that he wanted to experiment with all kinds of genres from hiphop, heavy metal, to electronic music. He is very thoughtful on his ideas of taking other music, putting his own flair on it, which creates a new sound and a new genre.

“I want to be on the outside of every clique but not exactly be a part of it,” said Argon avidly. “I made all my own material, and I just want to wow everybody.”

As a rising artist, Argon makes his music known by traveling and playing different shows in the U.S. He has also been invited to play for Ultra, a larger event with a broader audience ranging from 90,000 to 100,000 people.

He is climbing up the ladder into the music industry and also making his name known in more than one way. Catch Big Chocolate spinning live on stage projecting his varied dubstep and remixed sound Feb. 4 at The Dome in Bakersfield from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. for Sugar’s one-year anniversary.

News

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Budget delays new site

By Meisha McMurray Reporter The Kern Community College District’s plan to build a new campus center at Bear Mountain Boulevard and Highway 99 won’t be taking place any time soon because of budget constraints.

In the past seven months, the district considered building a site in Arvin but decided against it after a consultant’s recommendation in January 2012 favored the Bear Mountain/99 plan.

But according to Amber Chiang, director of marketing and public relations for Bakersfield College, the construction is

on hold.

“So at this point there are no plans for the center to be built on Bear Mountain and Highway 99,” said Chiang. “In the near future, we will still offer classes at Arvin High School. However, with California’s budget being the way it is, enrollments are declining because they had to cut classes, and in order to build there must be a lot of things in place before you start building.

So I have no idea when a center will be built. It’s all in a crystal ball right now.”

KCCD, through a donation and purchase agreement back in 2007, got 126 acres of land in the corner of Bear Mountain

and Highway 99 in south Bakersfield. The city of Arvin said it would donate 25 acres to build there instead.

The Bear Mountain site was chosen because, according to Chiang, two highways converged on the area, making it easier for residents of Lamont, Arvin, Gorman and Frazier Park to attend classes at that site.

Also, population growth figures suggested more people would be served from the Bear Mountain site. Chiang said Arvin’s proximity would make it harder for people from other areas to get there.

Last semester, BC arranged with Kern Regional Transit,

which is a regional bus system that goes to Frazier Park and Tehachapi, to change their route to go to and from BC to Lamont and Arvin. The last bus leaving to Lamont and Arvin from BC is at 10 p.m.

KCCD also purchased land in northwest Bakersfield five years ago, and the land is in the same predicament as the Bear Mountain land. KCCD planned, when the money comes, they will be ready to build. But as of right now nothing will be happening in the northwest anytime soon.

“We are creating a triangle of service so people in the middle can get to any campus that they choose,” said Chiang.

Bookstore starts online services

By Angie DelGado Reporter

The Bakersfield College Bookstore has started their new online service to better serve students with their textbook and school supply needs.

Brian Griffin, the store manager, clarified that their online service is not meant to take over the bookstore, however it is more like an outlet for students to avoid crowds and purchase their school items online.

Griffin explained that the bookstore has tried to promote online buying for the fact that the campus does not accommodate all of the students.

They have tried to promote online buying by offering promotions on online orders. The bookstore also has items suggested by professors available for students like goggles, printer ink, and Scantrons. A lot of the time there are discounts offered online that are not available at the bookstore.

BUS STOP: Site will provide new bathroom

Continued from Page 1 located on Panorama where the campus slopes less and disabled students will have an easier time using it, and parking students can avoid crossing the bus path.

Maintenance issues were also a reason to move the bus stop.

“The roadway that goes from Panorama to Mt. Vernon is travelled daily by very large, very heavy buses. During the Bakersfield summers, the asphalt gets very hot and somewhat malleable. It makes it seem like the buses drive on taffy. We fix pot holes in the roadway a couple of times each year.

Once the bus stop is moved, we plan to resurface the roadway and we expect that we will have lower maintenance costs from then on,” said Bray.

The new bus stop will also feature a restroom that will be open during the hours the GET buses run.

“Currently, during school hours, classroom buildings are open and restrooms are accessible. During non-school hours and breaks, these buildings are not open and so there are no restroom facilities available for either the drivers nor the passengers,” said Bray.

The construction is being entirely funded by GET, and didn’t cost Bakersfield College any funds, and the maintenance and cleaning of the new bathrooms will also be funded by GET.

Some BC students feel that buying the books at the bookstore is better.

“You don’t know what you’re getting,” said Kimberly Rain about online purchases. “They can be written in.”

“I’d rather buy at the bookstore because I don’t like to use my card online, and I was also in a rush and needed to get my homework finished,” said Justin Brimage.

Griffin explained that because the bookstore is a branch of Barnes & Noble, this means they also offer e-textbooks, which is a download of the physical textbook right onto your Mac, PC, or NOOK. However, some students have been told that some books are BC versions only and are not available for the NOOK. “I haven’t checked, but I was told that some are not available, because they are made especially for BC,” said Brimage.

Even though online service is important, the bookstore will only be getting better.

Former Bakersfield College President William “Bill” Andrews, 65, passed away Jan. 20, succumbing to his short battle with cancer.

Andrews served as president of Porterville College for five years beBill Andrews fore becoming BC’s president from 2005 until his retirement in 2008.

Glen Fields, BC gym manager, remembered Andrews as an accessible and effective president.

“He was just a great guy, and he had a great open-door poli-

megan luecke / The Rip

The Bakersfield College bookstore is now offering online services for buying, selling and renting books.

“If anything, we are trying to expand the bookstore,” said Griffin.

The bookstore staff has actually been waiting to remodel the student bookstore to hopefully make it less claustrophobic and more open with more school spirit. They are hoping to set up the cash registers up

against the wall, a lot like what the Barnes & Noble stores look like.

When asked if he thinks that there will always be a BC Bookstore Griffin said, “There will always be a need for a bookstore, because people want to have that physical book on hand.”

cy. He would just walk around campus and talk with people,” said Fields. “And coming from Porterville College, he already knew how the system worked and could get things done.”

Although Andrews was only president of BC for three years, he accomplished many lasting things.

He guided BC through the extensive self-study and evaluation phases of the accreditation process for the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.

He worked with Cal State Bakersfield to implement transfer education programs and helped to increase student access to employment programs. Also during Andrews’ reign, the Delano Campus opened its Science and Technology Building.

Andrews was born in 1946, in Marshalltown, Iowa, and was raised on his family’s farm near Melbourne.

He graduated from high school and Marshalltown Community College before beginning study at the University of Northern Iowa, where in addition to receiving two master’s degrees he met and married his wife of 44 years, Jean, in 1968.

In 1973, she gave birth to twin daughters, Allyson and Amy. After earning a Ph.D. in educational management from the University of New Mexico, Andrews worked in college administration in Iowa, Minnesota and Texas before coming to California.

After retiring in 2008, he and Jean moved back to the family farm near Melbourne, Iowa.

BUDGET: New budget funds come in on time Continued from Page 1 In each of the last three years, the state’s budget for community colleges has been reduced each time, and the school used carry-over money from last year to cover various shortfalls in the budget, and there is some concern that further cuts will mean the cap on students the college is expected to serve might be lowered.

“Maybe two years before we bottom out,” Chiang added.

Small tax fee shortfalls and more enrollment fee shortfalls have also happened. For example, more students are using a Board of Governors waiver (BOG) to be excused from paying per unit enrollment fees, and the state does not reimburse the college for those lost fees.

Considering that funds are often allocated to specific projects by the state, little wiggle room exists in the budget. For

Smoking: Bill allows enforcement Continued from Page 1 in 2004, but now, Kenner says, there is a resolution.

AB 795, which passed back in August but didn’t go into effect until Jan. 1, grants California community colleges, CSUs and UCs the ability to enforce their own smoking policy with fines of up to $100 without a limit on the amount of citations.

The new law lays out a plan for the citing process, down to the last dollar.

The bill states that money from the fines will, “be allocated to include, but not limited to, the designated enforcement agency, education and promotion of the policy, and tobacco cessation treatment options.”

Kenner thinks that AB 795 will deter any lack of enforcement that has plagued previous attempts to get a policy set in place.

“That bill is the solution to enforcement at schools … [that] have problems and issues with students violating policy,” Kenner said. “Because right now, it’s just a violation of student code of conduct.”

BC’s student code of conduct currently lays out a four-step process that eventually can lead to suspension or expulsion.

Kenner said that “hitting their wallets” will prevent second offenders more so than the student code of conduct, which, in line

17 of the prohibited conduct clause, classifies “Smoking and/ or the use of tobacco products inside all campus buildings and unauthorized campus areas” as an offense than can ultimately lead to suspension or expulsion.

The repeat offender must violate the code of conduct a minimum of five times before such actions are considered.

President Chamberlain agrees that AB 795 is vital to the enforcement and enactment of such a policy.

“I think [AB 795] is really important,” Chamberlain said. “Because if you don’t have the ability to enforce regulation, then it’s really difficult to make sure it really happens. If the decision and belief is to limit smoking then we need to limit smoking; we need to be able to enforce that.”

Kenner is taking it upon himself to get the word out on the poll by gathering members of SGA and BCOUGH to go to classrooms and tell students face-to-face and distributing bookmarkers that provide the URL to the polling site.

“Hopefully we’ll get a massive turnout so we can really see what the problem is and have a solution for that problem,” Kenner said. “I was a senator last year. In my constituency reports, [on-campus smoking] was pretty much one of the main complaints on campus among students.”

1988: The year the issue started

Former president passes

By Gregory D. Cook Photographer

Wednesday, Februar y 1, 2012

example, the funds for the renovation of BC’s Forum could be given back to the state, but that money would only end up allocated to another theater project at another community college.

To address some of these issues, California Governor Jerry Brown is planning to propose additional taxes on the November ballot in an effort to bring another $7 billion to the state, but if voters do not pass those taxes then additional cuts may be in the future.

There is also proposal to not defer $218 million in community college funding from the usual $1 billion in deferred funding, but this only gets money to the school earlier and does not actually increase our yearly budget at all.

“We are going to issue trigger cuts, and a little more,” said Greg Chamberlain, president of BC. “We used some carry-over

money last year to balance last year’s budget. If our budget is cut more, we’ll have to use carry-over.”

Many of the cuts have been to adjunct professors who teach without benefits or a full schedule and don’t have tenure. These cuts have led to 113 fewer sections from last year, leaving a total of 1608 sections of classes.

Chamberlain is also concerned about the other effects the state-wide budget cuts will have on students.

“We look at students realistically… many of our students avail themselves of other social programs, and these cuts make it hard for them to come to school,” he said.

Chamberlain had this to say to students: “Register early and carefully. Take only what you need to grow and go.”

Continued from Page 1 The conflict led to the establishment of a designated room for student smokers in the fall of 1988.

The room was located in the cafeteria, in an area closed away from the rest of the students.

“This was probably the best compromise we could come up with,” then-dean of instruction Charles Carlson said in an Oct. 17, 1988 issue of the Rip. “ That one room can hopefully be isolated so the smoke won’t bother other people.”

But the self-proclaimed leader of the “student smokers’ cru-

sade” wasn’t satisfied.

“Once all the smokers are aware there’s a smoking area, will it prove to be too small, and if so, will the ASB be helpful in finding another, larger place to accommodate us?” Martinez said. “If not, we’ll have to go through the whole fight all over again.”

Eventually, the room was disbanded, and the complete ban on campus that was intended in the first place was enforced.

It wasn’t until seven years later, on Jan. 1, 1995 that smoking became prohibited in all enclosed workplaces in California.

Campus

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The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

Wednesday, Februar y 1, 2012

Change likely for two systems ‘W’ GRADE | The grading system

is about to get a major change with the ‘W’ becoming more important

By Jon Nelson Features Editor Students at Bakersfield College will soon face academic changes including the status of the “W” grade. as of January 2012, new state guidelines will impact students at BC, both present and future.

The changes were part of a plan drawn up by the California Community Colleges Student Success Task Force and student representatives from around California.

First among the new regulations that have already started is the policy concerning the “W” grade.

In the past if a student withdrew from a class in time, they received a W grade without penalty. Under the new bill, Ws now count toward the maximum number of times students are eligible to take a class.

“It’s giving students incentive to be successful and move

“We don’t expect the state budget to get better, and we don’t expect to have anymore sections.”

–Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg, Vice President of Academic Affairs

on,” said Student Government Association Vice President Toccara Byrd.

The policy is retroactive, which means W grades already given will affect student registration.

“In the long run, it’s going to help the students,” said Byrd.

Other measures on the bill will only affect future BC students.

As of January 2012, students will need to have a clear academic plan and major to work toward. The plan must then be reviewed on a regular basis.

“Students need to have a plan in place,” said Vice President of Academic Affairs Nan GomezHeitzeberg.

“Research shows it’s impor-

tant to have a plan.”

The Kern Community College District also wants to push student development classes.

“We have more student development classes than we did in 2009,” said Gomez-Heitzeberg.

Future BC students also will see a reduction in the number of semesters they are eligible for financial aid and priority registration.

Starting soon, student loans will also be handled through outside agencies instead of on campus.

Gomez-Heitzeberg explained that the changes were brought about partly because of California’s financial state.

“We don’t expect the state budget to get better, and we don’t expect to have anymore sections,” said Gomez-Heitzeberg.

The goal of all the policy changes is to work within California’s budget, while helping community college students to reach their goals.

“We want our students to have the best possible chance,” she said.

Student government has big plans for spring semester and beyond

By Gregory D. Cook Reporter Despite a critical shortage of senators, the Bakersfield College Student Government Association has plans for an active semester, focusing on programs that will leave lasting effects on the college and its students.

“This year, the programs that we are getting involved with are programs that will be here after we’re gone,” SGA president Tawntannisha Thompson said.

That is why in addition to the usual activities, such as Spring Fling, the SGA is putting substantial time, effort and financial resources into programs such as the Renegade Food Pantry, Mentoring and Peer Services, Be Fit and other programs and projects designed to enhance student safety and success.

“The little things we do are just gone when they’re done, but we’re looking at programs for the student’s that can still be sustained after we leave,” she said.

Thompson acknowledged that last semester wasn’t as successful as the SGA might have hoped for. “You know, last semester was a rocky road because we didn’t start with a full executive board,” she said. “But this semester, we have all the help and support that we need, so it can only get better from here.”

According to Thompson, the big challenge facing the SGA this semester is filling the 16 vacant senator positions. As of Jan. 30, only three of the SGA’s 19 senator positions had been filled. “Senators are the voice of the students,” said Thompson, and she stressed that they play an important roll in the legislative process.

Senators are responsible for going out and having conversations with their fellow students, learning about the issues that face the students at BC, and then making those concerns known to the SGA as a whole to be acted upon if possible.

While the shortage of senators can partially be blamed on an unusually large amount of senators transferring to other schools at the end of the last semester, Thompson also points out that replacing them has been difficult.

“Students just don’t know how they can get involved. You just come to Campus Center 4

“You know, last semester was a rocky road because we didn’t start with a full executive board. But this semester, we have all the help and support that we need, so it can only get better from here.”

–Tawntannisha Thompson, SGA president and fill out an application,” she said.

The executive board then conducts a series of interviews and if the candidate meets the requirements, they are installed as a senator.

The shortage of senators isn’t slowing the SGA down in planning a full semester of activities though, including a month-long celebration of Black History Month, something that Thompson admits is overdue at BC. “This year, the SGA and BC are going to celebrate Black History Month for the first time since I can remember,” Thompson said The SGA, along with BC’s African-American Student Union and others, will be presenting activities each week in February, beginning the first week with the passing out of copies of Ella Mazel’s book, “And Don’t Call Me a Racist,” and a display from Colonel Allensworth Historical State Park.

Allensworth was a California town founded, financed and governed by African-Americans, 30 miles north of Bakersfield. The following weeks will feature showings of documentary films, panel discussions and a BC’s Got Talent, talent show in the fourth week.

Planning is also under way for Spring Fling. The theme for this year is “A Day At the Beach,” and the SGA is welcoming input as to what activities the students would like to see.

The SGA is also funding a new African-American Male Mentor program to help increase success rates among Bakersfield College’s most challenged demographic group. “AfricanAmerican males currently have the lowest completion rates of anyone in community college, and anything we can do to change that is a positive thing,” said General Counsel Derrick Kenner, during a meeting in which $5,000 was allocated to the program to pay for speakers and events.

The BC Be Fit! Program would like to encourage Bakersfield College to celebrate National Wear Red Day on Feb. 2–3 to raise awareness about heart disease among women. Students, staff and faculty are encouraged to wear red and on Feb. 2, special guest speakers will visit BC to share insights about heart disease and it’s prevention.

Donations are also being accepted at www.goredforwomen. com.

The SGA will also maintain its dedication to the Renegade Food Pantry and will try expanding the popular program through donations from faculty and staff. Last semester, the pantry served over 6,000 students at a cost of nearly $15,000, and they hope to serve even more this semester.

“Student’s cannot succeed if they’re hungry, when that’s all that’s on their minds,” said Thompson. “If we can supply that box, two or three times a month, it helps out a lot.”

The best advice Thompson has for the students of BC, though, is to just express their concerns to the SGA. “A lot of the new students don’t know what we do or why we’re here,” she said. “But if you have a comment, concern or there’s something you just don’t know, come in and ask. If we don’t know what you want or need, we can’t fix it.”

The SGA offices are located in Campus Center.

FINANCIAL AID | Eligibility for

financial aid likely to change with crackdowns from the government coming

By Breanna Fields Reporter The Financial Aid Department recently revealed changes that will affect the amount of financial aid a student is eligible to receive over the course of a lifetime.

“The government is cracking down and trying to get more control of federal student aid,” said Joan Wegner, the director of Financial Aid at Bakersfield College. “It just went out of control with billions and billions of dollars.”

The federal government has brought on these changes due to the significant increase in financial aid funds that have been dispersed.

The Pell Grant, the most indemand form of financial aid that is available, has shown a 49 to 50 percent increase in the number of students receiving it in recent years.

The federal government will

“The government is cracking down and trying to get more control of federal student aid.”

–Joan Wegner, Director of financial aid

be putting a limit on the number of full-time semesters a student can receive the Pell Grant. It had initially been 18 full-time semesters, but as the fall of 2012-13 approaches the limitation will be set at 12 full-time semesters of Pell Grant eligibility.

The Pell Grant ranges from $5,550 to $555, depending on how many units a student is enrolled in and their financial situation. A student’s eligibility for this grant is determined by a number of factors which include household size, income and assets.

Students that plan on attending community college for an extended period of time may want to reconsider.

“If a student hangs around a community college for too long, when they transfer they won’t have any more Pell Grant eligibility,” said Wegner.

After filling out the FAFSA, students will receive a student aid report that will display their remaining eligibility to receive funding through this grant.

Students will also see a change in the eligibility requirements, which, according to Wegner, will be more difficult to receive when the fall semester begins.

There are a number of other changes in the works regarding eligibility that have not been released. One qualification that we do know, however, is that students must make satisfactory academic progress, which can be maintained with the completion of 67 percent of the units attempted. Wegner assures students that more information will be available on the official BC website in the near future.

For financial aid information and notices, Wegner encourages students to check their email regularly and be aware that the priority-filing deadline for the 2012-13 school year is Mar. 2.

Students that file by that date will receive an e-mail from the financial aid department letting them know what documents they must submit to complete their file.

omar oseguera / The Rip

Dallas Martin, left, and Regina Recio sign Mike Bullock’s, center, petitions Jan.25.

Petitions for bills invade BC campus

By Nicholas Sparling Reporter In the opening week of the spring semester, the Free Speech Area, located in front of the Campus Center, was flooded with booths set up for jewelry and craft vendors, banks, gyms, and petitioners.

The vendors and various companies present themselves with clear agendas. Petitioners, as common as they are, all around town in any highly populated area, seem to be more ambiguous.

Petitions can be used to veto a bill, recall or place in the running an official, or give a bill the potential chance of ending up on a ballot. These signatures cannot legally be used for anything else.

The majority of petitioners are hired by independent companies and treat petitioning as a job as they are paid per signature.

However, this is not always the case, as it reads on the petition, “This petition may be circulated by a paid signature gatherer or a volunteer. You have the right to ask.”

The statistics, according to Debbie Tharp, a petitioner for Panda Petitions, are that untrained volunteers collect only 30 to 40 percent of usable signatures where a trained petitioner averages 75 percent of viable signatures.

Jeffrey Durell could be considered a veteran petition circulator, having done so on and off for the past 19 years, and although he is employed and paid per signature

by H & H Petition management, an independent California based company, he says that he petitions “to make sure important issues make it on the ballot.”

“People don’t understand that if they don’t care enough to sign the petition it won’t make it to the ballot and they wont have the chance to vote on it,” said another petitioner Mike Bullock.

Some students didn’t even notice the petitioners, while others like Cynthia Peterson did, but didn’t sign because she said she just didn’t have time rushing between classes.

For students like Rocio Rodriguez, the petitioners came up and informed her on the issue before she signed.

“Child sex trafficking caught my attention, it’s just disgusting,” said Alfred Cadena about his reasons for signing.

Like with any job, there comes a level of professionalism. Petitioners are absolutely not allowed to offer any sort of compensation for a signature and petitioners may not impede the flow of foot traffic or corner a potential signer. They are also required to confirm that the signer is legally registered to vote. If the signee is not registered as an eligible voter at the correct address then the signature does not count.

Petitioners can register you to vote, but unlike signatures for their initiative, they receive no payment for doing so.

It is also the job of the petitioner to properly inform the public on the issue they would be signing on.

There have been reports of petitioners venturing out from the Free Speech Area, and Tharp seemed disgusted at the idea of petitioners scouring the parking lot for signatures, saying, “Scouring the parking lot is a huge no-no, we have a reputation to uphold.”

Wine The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

Page 6

Photos by: Megan Luecke A flourless espresso chocolate torte, a white chocolate coeur a la creme and a hazelnut-gianduja tartlet were served for dessert at the Sterling Silver Dinner on Jan. 28.

and Dine

Page 7

Sliced butter decorated with edible flowers was served alongside bread at the Sterling Silver Dinner on Jan. 28.

The Bakersfield College Foundation, BC culinary department, along with the help of Executive Chef William Bloxsom-Carter of the Playboy Mansion, hosted the fourth annual Sterling Silver Dinner on January 28.

Chef Ruben Barrios from the Playboy Mansion, a former Bakersfield College culinary student, prepares a large pot of risotto that is paired with Norwegian Ocean Trout at the Sterling Silver Dinner on Jan. 28.

Chef Alex Gomez adds butter to the sauce that will later be added to a dish at the Sterling Silver Dinner on Jan. 28.

President Greg Chamberlain addresses the guests at the Sterling Silver Dinner on Jan. 28.

Executive Chef William Bloxsom-Carter of the Playboy Mansion shows the Bakersfield College culinary students how to prepare the jumbo asparagus plate at the Sterling Silver Dinner on Jan. 28.

Chef Pat Coyle, C.C.E. studies the plates as they prepare to go out to the guests at the Sterling Silver Dinner on Jan. 28.

Guests at the Sterling Silver Dinner place bids during the live auction on Jan. 28. They were bidding on a dinner prepared in their home by Chef Coyle, C.C.E.

Bakersfield College culinary students work together in stages to plate the jumbo asparagus with tomatoes on the side at the Sterling Silver Dinner on Jan. 28.

Anna Melby, a former Bakersfield College culinary student and pastry cook at Caesar’s Palace, prepares the dessert plates by making hearts in the chocolate at the Sterling Silver Dinner on Jan. 28.

Wine The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

Page 6

Photos by: Megan Luecke A flourless espresso chocolate torte, a white chocolate coeur a la creme and a hazelnut-gianduja tartlet were served for dessert at the Sterling Silver Dinner on Jan. 28.

and Dine

Page 7

Sliced butter decorated with edible flowers was served alongside bread at the Sterling Silver Dinner on Jan. 28.

The Bakersfield College Foundation, BC culinary department, along with the help of Executive Chef William Bloxsom-Carter of the Playboy Mansion, hosted the fourth annual Sterling Silver Dinner on January 28.

Chef Ruben Barrios from the Playboy Mansion, a former Bakersfield College culinary student, prepares a large pot of risotto that is paired with Norwegian Ocean Trout at the Sterling Silver Dinner on Jan. 28.

Chef Alex Gomez adds butter to the sauce that will later be added to a dish at the Sterling Silver Dinner on Jan. 28.

President Greg Chamberlain addresses the guests at the Sterling Silver Dinner on Jan. 28.

Executive Chef William Bloxsom-Carter of the Playboy Mansion shows the Bakersfield College culinary students how to prepare the jumbo asparagus plate at the Sterling Silver Dinner on Jan. 28.

Chef Pat Coyle, C.C.E. studies the plates as they prepare to go out to the guests at the Sterling Silver Dinner on Jan. 28.

Guests at the Sterling Silver Dinner place bids during the live auction on Jan. 28. They were bidding on a dinner prepared in their home by Chef Coyle, C.C.E.

Bakersfield College culinary students work together in stages to plate the jumbo asparagus with tomatoes on the side at the Sterling Silver Dinner on Jan. 28.

Anna Melby, a former Bakersfield College culinary student and pastry cook at Caesar’s Palace, prepares the dessert plates by making hearts in the chocolate at the Sterling Silver Dinner on Jan. 28.

Commentar y

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The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

Column

Here’s to a generation of, well... nothing AS MY BRAIN EXPLODES | Martin Chang’s take on culture and people During the 2000s, when I was growing in junior high and high school I looked at the kids around me and saw a startling inauthenticity.

Martin Chang The things people said and the way people acted seemed a silly imitation of what they saw on television, or read in a magazine. The core of people seemed to be based on one-dimensional popular culture. They were defining themselves with throwaway trends.

By basing themselves on these nothing things, they became people that stood for nothing, people whose goal in life was not to do or say anything significant, but a people whose number one goal is to be the coolest person in the room at that moment.

This characteristic of flash over substance, that defined those people I saw growing up, is what defines our generation. It was something I waited for six years for my generation to grow out of but never did.

We have grown into people that do not applaud the original thinkers, the artists who have something real to say and won’t back down until it’s heard. For the musicians and filmmakers of our generation, going against the grain, rebelling against the status quo is unthinkable. Rebel is not in our dictionary; we don’t understand what the concept is.

Our rebels are nothing more then puppets for media companies to make money. Without truly original thinkers to show us the value of a culture rich in thought, how can we know the value of being unique, of saying something true?

It makes the blindly following of trends easy to understand. We simply follow the group because it’s the easiest way to go. When you’re different, people make comments, they judge you, and at the time it does not feel good.

So why go through that when no one you know is different, when no one actually values that difference?

We are the nothing generation, a generation without a voice of its own, a people who let others define us, rather then define ourselves. We have let the desires to fit in, to be the coolest, to make the most money, grind us into a boring paste, a paste that has no voice. When people ask what our generation stood for there will be silence.

But it’s not too late, don’t let magazine pages, television and flash-in-the-pan trends define you. Define who you are and do not let anyone else decide. You do not have to follow what your classmates think, what your parents think, or what anyone else thinks. Strike out in the world and say something new, something real, something that people will remember forever. Look inside and find the real you, the you defined by no one but yourself, and scream to world, “This is who I am!”

Wednesday, Februar y 1, 2012

Two years long enough for students

By Keith Kaczmarek Reporter In a recent interview, Bakersfield College President Greg Chamberlain said, “Register early and carefully. Take only what you need to grow and go.”

To add to that sentiment, I’d like to say: “Don’t let anything here tie you down.”

Coming to community college can be a frightening and exhilarating experience for some. It’s their first exposure to collegelevel academics, they are marginally in the adult world, and for some they are just realizing

the benefits of a small income from their part-time work or financial aid.

That being said, it’s a trap.

Community colleges don’t have what you actually need, and it’s easy to get stuck here because you’ve formed connections to people and institutions here.

People join clubs, get involved in student government, or take classes that sound interesting and not the ones they need to graduate.

As traps go, it’s a pleasant one, but that’s only because people don’t know what they are miss-

ing. Being at a 4-year school is a much more rewarding and rigorous experience, and any time spent taking classes you don’t need that could be spent at a university doing upper-level work in your major is a waste.

Real employment that one can put on a resume puts money in your pocket, starts a career and exposes you to a world where age and what high school you went to are meaningless.

Heck, even the chance to get out of this town and meet people outside of your comfortable social circle is going to be a horizon-boosting experience that

will change your life.

Out in the adult world, no one cares what you accomplished in community college, so don’t think that the time you spent as the president of a club or acing an Introduction course or doing a play is going to impress anyone.

Community college is about where it gets you, not about what you did here.

If your time in the Theater Club helped you get an acting gig on “Modern Family,” then great. If your time on the SGA gave you an opportunity to get an internship with a senator,

then you are doing something right.

Hopefully, that “A” on your Intro To Logic final earned you a great recommendation for a scholarship or entrance to a 4-year school, or your great performance in Anatomy and Physiology got you into a nursing school.

Community college is a pit stop to better things, so do your best to not make this a three- or four-year interruption in your life. Plan it like a general plans a war, and ignore the various distractions that student life tries to offer.

Sealant can’t fix leaks

By Nestor G. Fernandez Reporter I saw an online ad last week about a product called Flex Seal. This roduct roduct pcaught my eye and eview stirred both my interest and curiosity. I ended up purchasing this 14-ounce aerosol can at a Target store near my house on the afternoon of Jan. 21. The purchase price was $12.99 plus tax, the total cost was $13.93.Flex Seal is a rubberized leak sealing product that is supposed to seep into cracks and holes in order to seal out air and moisture.

Reading the directions on the can, it did not state what drying time would be required to be ready for use, so I went back to the website to clarify it. I found out that it depends on the temperature, humidity and thickness of the coating.

The site also made mention of the fact that it will usually

P R

Photos by martin chang / The Rip

Flex Seal does not live up to expectations during a test run which involved spraying the substance onto a mesh drain strain and letting it dry for several hours. Water continued to leak through the drain, though at a much slower pace. dry to the touch within two to three hours and in 24 hours fully cure and that it gets stronger over time. I wanted to try a simple task to see if this item actually works the way it’s advertised. I proceeded to try my test, while carefully making the application according to the instructions on the can.

My test involved using a wire mesh drain strain that I have installed in two bathrooms. Going by the instructions, I shook the can well for one minute. Then using an even sweeping motion from a distance of about 12 inches sprayed and covered the 2

and 3/8 inch diameter of the test piece. Coming out of the can and onto the target area, it looked like black spray paint, and I thought to myself, “If this didn’t work, where could I go for some neat graffiti art?” Next up on the agenda was waiting for it to dry, so I decided to check back on the process in a little over three hours.

Even before my test results were in, I could make one recommendation to you on this product. Wear protective gloves, and do not get it on your skin, as it is difficult to remove. This I can tell you based on my sloppy

work habits. Another thing I can tell you is this, I had to spray the mesh several times to cover the tiny holes and not see daylight, and this for an area slightly over two inches in diameter.

To me, this was a thing that already had me thinking about returning it.

The potential did not seem to be too good at that point, but I was willing to wait and let it run its course.

After an overnight drying period of over nine hours, I decided to go ahead and begin the test.

I placed the Flex Seal covered drain strain in the drain opening.

I then unleashed about two inches of water to sit in the sink, and watched with curiosity as it unfolded before my eyes.

With absolutely no surprise to me, the water began going down, but at a slower pace.

All this product managed to do was slow it down somewhat, but nothing more.

Just a few seconds longer to dissipate and it was now time to put it all back in the Target bag with the receipt and seek my refund.

My letter grade on this sham of a product is a capital “B” for bogus.

Ideas emerge from political parties outside of Republican-Democrat paradigm

By Keith Kaczmarek Reporter In this recent debate, Libertarian politics have been discussed in an open and serious way by the nation, and that’s good even if you don’t like the Libertarian position.

It means that for the first time, people are actually looking beyond the two party monopoly of the Republicans and Democrats and are trying to find some new ideas.

Ron Paul has done quite well in several Republican primaries, and while he’s not going to win the Republican nomination, it means that he’s leading the charge to get different ideas

into the open and that there are people willing to break from the marching orders of the Republican and Democrat party leaders and listen.

This is a time of unrest. Protesters like the Occupy Wall Street movement are in cities all over the world, the Tea Party has taken seats in Congress and led the fight in the debt ceiling stand off that ruined the credit of United States, and the Libertarians are a fund-raising powerhouse that has stabbed right into the heart of right-wing politics.

We have plenty of reasons for unrest. The economy that was shattered by the policies of George W. Bush has not recovered, Congress is impotent

because the Republicans have refused the very idea of bipartisanship and instead use their narrow margin to block the president’s appointees, and the Democrats have been too cowardly to take a firm stand on substantial issues.

The disease that created these symptoms has not been cured, or even given treatment.

Big finance still goes unregulated, the unemployed do not have jobs, and our representatives seem to think that the American people have an insatiable taste for war and are eager to send our finest men and women to die and be maimed on the battlefield.

Hopefully, this means that the

The Renegade Rip Editorial Board Winner of the 2003 and 2008 JACC Pacesetter Award The Renegade Rip is produced by Bakersfield College journalism classes, printed by Bakersfield Envelope & Printing Co. Inc., and circulated on Wednesdays during the fall and spring semesters.

The newspaper is published under the auspices of the Kern Community College District Board of Trustees, but sole responsibility for its content rests with student editors.

The Rip is a member of the Journalism Association of Community Colleges and the California Newspaper Publishers Association.

Staff

rise of the Libertarians is just a herald for a time when the two parties are dead and we have four, or five, or 10 parties representing a lot of new ideas and new ways to do things.

That being said, I also hope that people are wary.

Anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of economics or history knows that these fringe political groups are chock full of terrible ideas and that their candidates seem particularly flawed, so people are going to need to be very careful that we do not run from one leader into the arms of an even less competent one.

Examine every new idea and leader with a critical eye and

don’t fall into the team mentality that should be reserved for national sports alone.

It’s no longer about “conservative vs. liberals” or “Republicans vs. Democrats” or “my team vs. the other team,” but it’s about the American people coming together and refusing to accept dogma and propaganda in the place of discourse and solutions.

We don’t need to shout each other down any more, but instead we need to steal the best ideas from our opponents and use them to solve our common problems.

The enemy has shown its face, and it was our own complacence all along.

Write The Rip

Letters should not exceed 300 words, must be accompanied by a signature and the letter writer’s identity must be verified.

The Rip reserves the right to edit letters, however, writers will be given the opportunity to revise lengthy or unacceptable submissions.

If an organization submits a letter as a group, it must be signed by only one person, either the leader of the organization or the letter writer. Pen names are not allowed and anonymous letters will not be published.

Editor in Chief........................Zak S. Cowan Reporters/Photographers: Hannah Breeland, Gregory D. Cook, Angie Photo Editor...........................Megan Luecke Delgado, Metiqua Eng, Nestor Fernandez, Features Editor...............................Jon Nelson Breanna Fields, Jackie Gibson, Shaquiel Opinions Editor........................Martin Chang Jones, Keith Kaczmarek, Meisha Sports Editor........................Esteban Ramirez McMurray, Omar Oseguera, Nate Perez, Copy Editor...............................Patricia Rocha How to reach us Ruben Perez, Crystal Sanchez, Nicholas -Address: Bakersfield College, Sparling, Jerold Tanner, Teela Walker, 1801 Panorama Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93305 -Phone: (661) 395-4324 Nathan Wilson Adviser.......................................................Danny Edwards

-Web site: www.therip.com -Email: ripmail@bakersfieldcollege.edu

Commentar y

Page 9

Wednesday, Februar y 1, 2012

The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

Staff Editorial

SOPA could lead to scary outcome if passed On Jan. 20, when both the Senate and the House of Representatives pulled their support for SOPA and PIPA, it was a victory regardless of what you believe about the bills. At a time when people are more cynical about politics than ever, a group of people made their voices heard and the politicians actually listened.

According to Sen. Ron Wyden, lawmakers found over 14 million people who opposed the bills.

People contacted their represen-

tatives in the thousands. On Jan. 18, at least 115,000 sites participated in the Internet-wide protest, where these sites changed their front pages and blocked content in a strong opposition to the bills.

This included large sites such as Google and Wikipedia and sites that represent the many shades of political thought such as Reddit, The Drudge Report and Wired.

The people of the Internet and the businesses on the Internet,

felt that the bills would interfere with their rights and ability to do business. So instead of just complaining on blogs and message boards, they actually got involved in the political process and made their voices heard like Americans always have, through protest and contacting the people they elected to represent them.

The amount of protest became too strong, the voices too loud, for politicians to ignore. What were once supported bills found less and less support. Multiple

senators who once sponsored the bills no longer did. The large companies that supported the bills such as The Motion Picture Association, and The United States Chamber of Commerce and the over 100 different lobbyists groups could not convince the politicians to ignore what the people were saying loud and clear.

Soon the bills had so little support it no longer made sense to even give them a vote, four days before the Senate would vote on

PIPA, the Congress killed both bills.

A bill that once had bi-partisan support and 30 and 40 co-sponsors, was now not even getting a vote. That shows the power what a group of people can accomplish when they disagree with what their government is doing, get out there and do something about it.

So what do the goings-on in Washington have to do with the average Bakersfield College student? We can make our

‘Haunt’ provides decent and clean fun

Corral busy, but good and cheap

By Hannah Breeland Reporter The Golden Corral is as busy now as it was when it first opened a couple months ago. Which isn’t much of a surestaurant prise since eview their food is amazing.

The prices aren’t so bad since they do offer a lot in return. The one thing I really disliked was that drinks are sold separately.

Once you sit down the only way to get a refill is for your server to get it. This wouldn’t have been so bad if the place wasn’t packed, but it took a while to get a refill.

First off, the eighth wonder of the world, a.k.a. their chocolate fountain, was a little disappointing because all the hype about it made it seem humongous.

Don’t get me wrong it’s big, just not eighth wonder of the world big.

I did have fun dipping pineapple, marshmallows and strawberries in it.

All of which were delicious.

They also offer cotton candy and different flavor ice creams, not just vanilla and chocolate. Home Town Buffet can’t compete with their dessert selection.

For the real food, everything I had was good. Their Awe-

Courtesty of Kotaku.com

“Haunt” utilizes Microsoft’s Kinect technology and pairs it with a semi-horror genre of video games.

By Hannah Breeland Reporter

R R

If you haven’t heard of Ani Difranco by now, you lbum need to.

The singereview songwriter has been making music on her own label Righteous Babe for over 20 years. She gained popularity in the ‘90s with other female singer-songwriters like Aimee Mann, Sara McLachlan, and Alanis Morissette.

The scene was about women singing about issues that mattered to them, whether it was about abuse, abortion, love, or a vegan lifestyle. It was women with a real meaning to their songs, instead of feeling like Diddy.

The whole female singer-songwriter thing was pretty good, and pretty big, except everyone associated with it being labeled as lesbians.

This wasn’t completely true because while some artists, like the Indigo Girls, were lesbians others, like Sleater-Kinney were

A R

“Haunt,” for the Xbox 360, was released Jan. 18 on Xbox live for 800 points, ame about $10.

It’s a single eview player game played from a first person perspective.

At first glance, Haunt looks like a Kinect game for little kids. Basically, you find yourself walking around a dark mansion with a flashlight, going room to room. You hold your arm out like there’s an actual flashlight in it and anywhere you move your arm, that’s where the light will go.

Your guide is a ghost named Benjamin who is trapped in the many paintings that decorate the mansion. He is able to possess any of the paintings and he serves as your guide and a source for tips.

The object of the game is to help Benjamin gather all the missing pieces of a machine he’s building. They just so happen to be scattered around the

G R

Megan luecke / The Rip

Golden Corral, a new buffet in Bakersfield, has been open for a few months. They serve pot roast, pizza, and have a chocolate fountain to dip fruit into. some Pot Roast has a fitting name because it’s one of the best I’ve ever had. Their macaroni and cheese was just

okay but was a little dry.

Their sirloin steak more than made up for it.

It has a bright atmosphere, and the servers

were very polite. When something ran out, like pizza, they did a very good job of refilling it.

Overall, I was very im-

pressed and I can’t wait to go back, when it’s less crowded though. I can’t wait to see what they have for breakfast.

By R. A. Perez Reporter

“It was hard for me to take this song off, because ... she just lays out her emotions for everybody to hear.” bisexual.

Unfortunately the whole feminist, I-don’t-want-to-be-objectified movement went underground and was partially forgotten after the Britney Spears, bad, pop, Iwant-to-be-objectified music explosion.

The new album “¿Which Side Are You On?”, which was released on Jan. 12, ranges in styles from folk, marching band, to something kind of reggae sounding, but not really.

It’s almost the perfect album to listen to if you want to kick back and ride the chill wave. Overall, the blend of different musical styles adds to her credit as a talented and smart musician.

In keeping up with the current political state, her lyrics on songs like “J” and “¿Which Side Are You On?” fixate on the problems

mansion.

The game was a little slow in the beginning, just walking around and collecting things.

Then, all of a sudden, I’m fighting ghosts. At first, all I could do was dodge them. For instance, they would just attack me and move on. Then I graduated from that and was able to punch and kick at them. I have to admit it was fun beating the ghosts and it sort of felt like a work out.

The story line isn’t scary, so you don’t have to worry about it creeping you out. At best, there are a couple moments where it might startle you.

The one thing I hate was that the Kinect sensors are so temperamental that if you are too close or too far away it doesn’t pick up your movements. So when the ghosts were attacking all I could do was stand there.

That makes the game a little frustrating, but once I found the perfect spot the game was more enjoyable. Benjamin was funny and the ghosts at times had their own personality.

This may not be as fun or as challenging as other games, but I’ll definitely play it again.

Hardcore show led by ‘moshing ninjas,’ and some brutal metal

Difranco’s newest album a 5-star gem

By R. A. Perez Reporter

voice heard in the same way. We can accomplish change just like those online protests had.

We do not need thousands of signatures, or thousands of websites to make a difference. It only takes one phone call or e-mail from a few of us and we can be heard.

Often it can feel that the way things are on campus cannot be changed, but what the SOPA and PIPA protesters have shown us is what can happen if you simply stand up and get counted.

courtesy of righteous babe records

Ani Difranco’s first album in four years, Which Side Are You On?, was released Jan. 17. in our government and policies.

She also brings up women’s rights issues on the album.

My favorite lyric is from the song “Amendment,” “If you don’t like abortion, then don’t have an abortion.”

In addition to her lovely songs of protest, she has songs about love to round out the album’s

feel. A personal favorite is the opening track “Lifeboat.”

It was hard for me to take this song off repeat because when the album starts she just lays out her emotions for everyone to hear.

Her strong and meaningful lyrics make this album a great addition to her fantastic collection or any music collection.

On Jan. 22, five metal bands came and rocked the house at The Dome.

The first band to perform was Lifeforms from Sacramento. About two songs in, a few people started to feel the music and began “hardcore dancing.”

They were pretty good, but as with most opening bands, a lot of people stayed outside during their set.

The next band, Under City Skies, was from Arvin. With a bit more local recognition they got more people moving and things really started going.

Not to say the first band was bad, but Under City Skies had more people doing their karate kicks.

Surprisingly, the next band was Murder Death Kill from Victorville. They weren’t on any of the posters for the show so they came as a complete welcome surprise.

Their brutal hardcore music had the karate kids moshing so hard my friend was punched in the side, and I got hit in the neck. I felt a little bad for my friend, but forgot this when she reminded me she had a knife in her shoe in case she gets hit

again.

With the way their music hit, I was actually worried she would shank someone.

Up next was Molotov Solution from Las Vegas. Their politically charged metal, combined with the hyped-up karate kids, really got things crazy.

Unlike the other bands that played, their lyrics try to make people more aware of government corruption and corporate greed, which at this time is more relevant than ever. The lead singer, Nick, said that this show was one of the better shows that they’ve done.

Finally the headliners, Volumes from Los Angeles, hit the stage and blasted out some of their best songs from their EP The Concept of Dreams and their new album VIA. They gave a great performance and had everyone moving.

Oddly enough, it was in their last song that someone actually got hurt. The guy standing next to my friend was hit in the face and I believe he had his nose broken, but my friend only cared about how much blood seemed to get on her shoes.

Seeing as how the song was actually dedicated to GG Allen, the violence actually seemed more than appropriate.

Sports

Page 10

Column

Breaking down the football playoffs

The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

BC wins to stay atop conference

By Esteban Ramirez Sports Editor

RIPPING SPORTS | Taking on every sports issue It was incredible how in both conference championship games the two teams that lost had big special teams errors that played a big part in them losing.

I’m not going to say that the whole blame should fall on punt reEsteban Ramirez turner Kyle Williams of the San Francisco 49ers or on the kicker Billy Cundiff of the Baltimore Ravens, but seriously I thought you guys were professionals.

I know these guys are still human and no one is perfect, but all kickers are paid for is to make field goals.

I would also understand if Kyle Williams only fumbled once, but he dropped the ball two times and both led to Giants scoring drives.

I just hate seeing a team lose because of a muffed punt or a kicker missing a 30-yard field goal.

This year has been the year of the quarterback in the NFL, and a perfect example of that has been the way Eli Manning has carried the New York Giants to the Super Bowl.

Eli Manning has been on a tear this whole year, and now his statement at the beginning of the year, that he’s an elite quarterback, doesn’t sound crazy at all.

Manning’s run has been great, whether it was rallying the Giants in a fourth quarter double-digit deficit against the Dallas Cowboys or leading the Giants to an upset victory over the Green Bay Packers.

The guy who’s been known all his career as Peyton Manning’s little brother might end up having more Super Bowl rings than the brother he’s always been compared to.

I’m really getting tired of the Pro Bowl, and other than them changing the week it’s played, it really hasn’t changed.

I got so bored I actually chose watching something else over football. I understand that it’s a great honor for players to be selected to the Pro Bowl, but the game itself is just so boring. Really nothing about it keeps me interested.

They need to have it mean something, like in baseball, or add skill competitions like they do for basketball. I really don’t care which, but they need to change it because it gets really boring watching this game.

Just make it interesting so I won’t change the channel after just two minutes of a pointless game.

On to a game that matters and is of actual importance.

The Super Bowl will be Feb. 5, and it’s a rematch of Super Bowl 46 when the undefeated New England Patriots lost to the underdog New York Giants in one of the greatest upsets ever.

The major difference this year has to be Manning, because this time he’s the quarterback coming in that’s on a tear.

The Patriots have been on a great run themselves considering they have one of the worst defenses, but never count out Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. As for my Super Bowl pick, I like the Giants to take it 27-23 on a last minute touchdown drive by Eli Manning, and Victor Cruz will be salsa-dancing his way to the Super Bowl MVP.

Wednesday, Februar y 1, 2012

Gregory D. Cook / The Rip

Renegades forward, Brittany Smith, drives past a defender during Bakersfield College’s game against Santa Monica College in the Gil Bishop Sports Center on Jan. 28.

them missing two of their starting post players.

“She’s been practicing really hard. I Bakersfield College women’s basketball think she’s starting to get in her groove beat Santa Monica despite an injury to a after coming back from volleyball,” said starter and a player losing a contact lens Dahl.

Behind Smith, BC was able to build a during the game.

BC beat Santa Monica 79-65 on Jan. 28, comfortable lead, and were able to outin order to stay tied for first in the Western score Santa Monica 20-10 for the rest of State Conference. the game.

BC coach Paula Dahl commented on Smith commented on the game. the game.

“I thought we played as a team and we “I thought we did great because we had gave it our all. When we lost Gabi we a lot of adversity. Gabi [Morales] got hurt knew we lost a big post player, but instead and Jausecca [Cockeral] lost of giving up we just pushed ONLINE her contact lens, so she was harder,” she said. “Honestly, I More coverage of the can’t really depict my perforpretty blind. women’s team “We’ve had many troubles mance because we’re a team and tribulations this year, but and this was a team win. I still www.therip.com we never quit,” said Dahl. think we can grow from this BC got a great performance by doing a better job making from freshman forward Brittany Smith, our layups, and we won’t just settle here, who put up 30 points and 13 rebounds. BC there’s a level higher that we want to get also got 15 points and 14 rebounds from to.” freshman guard Andrea Harris and sophoCockeral also gave her thoughts on the more guard Cockeral chipped in with 11 game and playing without one contact points. Sophomore forward Morales also lens. had 16 points before getting injured in the “We did pretty good, considering we beginning of the second half. didn’t have our two post players. I do think Both teams were evenly matched to start we were a little tired to start the second of the game, and with BC just up 14-12, half, but it’s the halfway mark so everyone the Renegades were able to go on a 13-4 is a little tired. We just got to push hard run to build a 27-16 lead. BC continued to because every team is so close in the conadd to that lead as they went into the half ference,” she said. “It was difficult playing with a 39-26 lead. without the lens, but I still had one good BC started the second half slow as Santa eye. It could’ve been a lot worse.”

Monica went on an eight to three run.

Cockeral also said that they need to con“We came out flat in the second half. tinue to work hard, be consistent and be That’s always a coach’s biggest fear,” said ready for anything because like this game Dahl. anything can happen.

With BC losing Morales to an injury, Dahl added that Morales has a high-anthe Renegades weren’t able to score as ef- kle sprain, but doesn’t think it’s anything ficient as they did in the first half. They serious. were just hanging onto a 59-55 lead, but BC’s next game is scheduled to be at Smith was able to give BC a boost with Glendale on Feb. 1.

Baseball ready for fresh start

By Zak S. Cowan Editor in Chief

After a late-season collapse in 2011, the Bakersfield College baseball team is dusting off its cleats and getting ready for a fresh season.

Invigorated by new faces and a determination to win, the Renegades look to best their first opponent, Golden West College, on Feb. 3 on Gerry Collis Field.

Tied 2-2 in the sixth inning of their final game of the season, the Renegades allowed two runs in the seventh, then a grand slam in the eighth, ending their playoff hopes and wrapping up a fourgame losing streak to end the year.

“It’s disappointing any time you miss the postseason,” said coach Tim Painton, who is entering his 17th season with BC. “We went

down to the last day of the season with a chance to win a piece of a championship and ended up losing late in the ballgame.”

With the massive amount of turnover on the roster from year to year, Painton is reluctant to compare this team to that of 2011, but is confident that questions of pitching depth and balance along the lineup, that plagued last year’s team, will be answered as the season progresses.

Among the new freshman on the team, Painton is looking at several that can make up for lost production that David Pennington took with him to the next level.

“He carried more of the load offensively then he should have, and I think we’re a more balanced offense now,” he said.

Blayne Ontiveros is one of those freshmen that Painton thinks can help them achieve the

MaRtin Chang / The Rip

Tyler Painton pitches during a scrimmage Jan. 26. Painton gets ready for the season ahead of the team by honing in his skills during a scrimmage. balance and consistency that he is looking for out of the lineup.

Ontiveros was the player of the year in 2011 and batted .444 with 37 RBIs and 13 home runs when he led the Frontier High Titans to a 22-8 record.

Starting pitchers Brad Lindsey and Ryan Stapp, according to Painton, are the most prom-

ising of the freshman class in terms of the pitching staff.

Lindsey went 13-3 overall for Frontier with an ERA of 2.70.

According to Painton, the team is mentally strong and has come together as a group over the fall, but he thinks that they will be tested once the season starts and progress. Until then,

it’s a guessing game.

“We’re a little bit unique in that out of our 34 players on our roster, 30 of them are local kids,” Painton said. “They’re all in the same age bracket and they’ve grown up playing either with or against each other. They’re not afraid to push each other to get better each day.”

Track kicks off season quickly Softball starts sluggish

By Nestor Fernandez Reporter The Bakersfield College men’s and women’s Track and Field season got under way on Jan. 28 at Antelope Valley College in the AVC All-Comers invitational meet. BC coach David Frickel discussed the meet.

“This was the first opportunity to compete in track since they haven’t competed since last year,” said Frickel.

“It was not a bad day, it was pretty breezy out there, it was kind of cool, kind of windy, kind of cold, so you’re not going to get super sprint times at the end of January when the weather is not very good.”

He went on to discuss the fact that it was just an all-comers meet, and that it’s considered a low key type of event.

He added, “We’re going to go back this week and do the same thing, so it’s kind of just an intro into competition, whoever shows up.

“Some colleges were there, high schools, people that are out of college, so it’s just kind of an all-comers type of meet, what shows up, shows up. There were only two junior colleges there, ourselves and Antelope Valley.”

When asked to name some of his standout athletes, he mentioned a mix from both the men and women’s side.

BC’s Rachel Evans placed fourth in the women’s 200-meter dash with a time of 28.16, and teammate Sarena Underwood finished fifth in the same event at 28.91.

In the women’s 800, Tejera Dial took sec-

ond place with a time of 2:31.35, and in the women’s discus throw, Amanda Mosby got second place with a throw of 29.21 meters.

On the men’s side, Myren Moore won the 200-meter dash with a 22.75 time, Justin Evans won the 400 in 51.78, Davis Looustalot captured the 800 in 2:01.80, and Christopher Schwartz won the 1500 meter run in 4:11.83.

The Antelope Valley meet gave Frickel a good insight into where the squads are at as far as their overall progress to date.

“It’s a good gauge progress wise right now, see where we need to go in the next couple of weeks before the real season begins,” he said.

When asked about his expectations for the year, Frickel had this to say, “We just want to improve as the season goes. We want to get as many people as we can into the conference finals, and advance from there into post-season competition and into So Cal prelim finals, then state, so everything basically for us is a building block.

“We only meet a couple of times as a conference during the season, so most of the stuff during the season, most of our meets are basically invitational.”

Frickel summarized his expectations by saying, “Each week during the season in the next several months, we just want to see progress in everybody in terms of dropping their marks, on going farther or whatever.

Each week is kind of a building block, kind of a continuum.”

BC’s next meet will be on Feb. 4 at the same venue.

By Meisha McMurray and Nestor Fernandez Reporters

Bakersfield College softball traveled to Fullerton on Jan. 27 to play Cerritos College. According to BC Softball Head Coach Sandi Taylor, they lost 7-3.

Sophomore catcher Kara ports Frankhouser hit a homerun, oundup a single and freshman infielder Sara Smith hit a double in the loss.

BC also played a doubleheader against Fullerton College on Jan. 28 in which they won the first game by a 13-10 score.

Frankhouser had a homerun, two doubles and a single, and sophomore outfielder Brittany Messer hit a triple and also chipped in with a stolen base.

BC lost the second game 4-3. During that game, Frankhouser got another homerun, and finished the three game stint with three homers.

This season there will be six returning sophomores, and they will have 28 home games. The first home game will be Feb. 4.

S R

Swimming The Bakersfield College men’s swimming team is set to start their season on Feb. 10 in the Western State

Conference John Joseph Relays at L.A. Valley College.

The meet will feature all seven WSC teams, and will serve as a tuneup event for the Renegades.

Coach Charlie Pike considers this meet to be low-key and without a lot of pressure.

It gives him the chance to see how his swimmers are progressing.

Considering the season is 16 weeks long, and they’ve been very busy with eight practices each week, Pike commented on where he thinks his team is at compared to last year.

“In comparison to last year, the guys are right around the same, and the girls are probably just a little weaker than they were last year,” Pike said.

He also mentioned the fact that the meet will give them a basic feel for where they’re at as far as conditioning.

The coach went on to discuss his expectations about his team, and feels that the squad will perform well.

“We’re hoping for two top-15 finishes for the men and the women at the state meet this year,” he said.

He also mentioned his philosophy for the season, saying, “My whole thing is to train through the season and only worry about the end result.”

The end result for Coach Pike and his swimmers will be at the California State Championships, to be held this year at East Los Angeles College, on Apr. 26 – Apr. 28.

Sports

Page 11

The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

Basketball Schedules Men’s Date Feb.1 Feb. 4 Feb. 8 Feb. 11 Feb. 18

Opponent Glendale Canyons LA Valley Citrus West LA

Women’s

Date Feb.1 Feb. 4 Feb. 8 Feb. 11 Feb. 18 Feb. 22 March 3 March 9-11

Opponent Glendale Canyons LA Valley Citrus West LA Regional Playoffs Regional Finals State Tournament

Site Glendale Canyons Bakersfield Bakersfield West LA

Site Glendale Canyons Bakersfield Bakersfield West LA TBD TBD ConsumesRiver

Baseball Schedule Date Feb. 3 Feb. 4 Feb. 7 Feb. 10 Feb. 11 Feb. 14 Feb. 17 Feb. 18 Feb. 19 Feb. 23 March 1 March 3 March 6 March 8 March 10 March 13 March 15 March 17 March 20 March 22 March 24 March 27 March 29 March 31 April 3 April 4 April 5 April 10 April 12 April 14 April 17 April 19 April 21 April 24 April 26 May 4-5 May 11-13 May 18-20

Opponent Site Golden West, 7 p.m.

Bakersfield Irvine Valley, 7 p.m.

Bakersfield Allan Hancock, 2 p.m.

Santa Maria Hartnell, 10:30 a.m.

Visalia Golden West, 1 p.m.

Bakersfield Allan Hancock, 3 p.m.

Bakersfield Oxnard, 7 p.m.

Bakersfield San Diego Mesa, 6:30 p.m. Bakersfield Moorpark, 3 p.m.

Bakersfield Moorpark, 2 p.m.

Moorpark Moorpark, 6 p.m.

Bakersfield *West Los Angeles Bakersfield *Canyons, 2 p.m.

Valencia *LA Valley, 3 p.m.

Bakersfield *Citrus, 1 p.m.

Glendora *LA Mission, 2 p.m.

Sylmar *Glendale, 6 p.m.

Glendale LA Pierce, 6 p.m.

Bakersfield *West LA, 2 p.m.

Culver City *West LA, 6 p.m.

Bakersfield *Canyons, 1 p.m.

Bakersfield *Canyons, 2 p.m.

Valencia *LA Valley, 3 p.m.

Van Nuys *LA Valley, 1 p.m.

Bakersfield Reedley, 1 p.m.

Reedley COS, TBD Visalia Saddleback, noon Bakersfield *Citrus, 3 p.m.

Bakersfield *Citrus, 2: 30 p.m.

Glendora *LA Mission, 1 p.m.

Bakersfield *LA Mission, 2:30 p.m.

Sylmar *Glendale, 6 p.m.

Bakersfield *Glendale, 6 p.m.

Glendale *LA Pierce, 2:30 p.m. Woodland Hills *LA Pierce, 6 p.m.

Bakersfield Regional Playoffs TBD SuperRegionalPlayoffs TBD State Championships Bakersfield

*Denotes Western State Conference Games

Softball Schedule Date Feb. 4

Site Opponent Bakersfield Fresno, noon Antelope Valley, 4 p.m.

Bakersfield Feb. 9 Bakersfield Sierra College, 1 p.m.

Sequoias, 5 p.m.

Bakersfield Feb. 14 Ventura Ventura, 2:30 p.m.

Feb. 17 Bakersfield Rancho Santiago, noon West Hills, 5 p.m.

Bakersfield Feb. 18 Bakersfield Taft, 10 a.m.

Cuesta, 3 p.m.

Bakersfield Feb. 25 Bakersfield Cerritos, 10 a.m.

Bakersfield Southwestern, 4 p.m.

Feb. 26 Bakersfield Cypress, 10 a.m.

March 1 Bakersfield Oxnard (DH), 4 p.m.

March 6 Santa Barbara, 4 p.m.

Bakersfield March 8 Bakersfield *LA Mission, 5 p.m.

March 13 *Canyons (DH), 2:30 p.m. Bakersfield March 15 Glendale *Glendale, 2:30 p.m.

March 22 *Santa Monica, 3 p.m. Santa Monica March 24 Taft, 10 a.m.

Bakersfield Santa Barbara, 2 p.m.

Bakersfield March 25 Riverside, 2 p.m.

Bakersfield March 27 *Citrus (DH), 2:30 p.m.

Bakersfield *LA Valley, 5 p.m.

March 29 Bakersfield April 3 *LA Mission, 1 p.m.

Sylmar April 5 *Canyons, 2:30 p.m.

Santa Clarita April 10 *Glendale (DH), 2/4 p.m. Bakersfield Cuesta, 1 p.m.

April 14 Bakersfield Mt. SAC, 5 p.m.

Bakersfield April 17 *Santa Monica(DH), 2 p.m. Bakersfield April 19 *Citrus, 5 p.m.

Glendora April 24 *LA Valley (DH), 1 p.m.

Van Nuys Regionals, TBA May 5-6 TBA May 11-12 Super-Regionals, TBA TBA May 18-20 State Final Four, TBA Bakersfield

*Denotes WSC Blue Division Games

Tennis Schedule Date Opponent/Event Site Fresno City College Bakersfield Feb. 2 Feb. 5 Sierra College Fresno City Feb. 17-18 Modesto Invitational Modesto JC Feb. 23 Glendale College Glendale March 1 LA Pierce LA Pierce March 6 Santa Barbara City College Bakersfield March 7 Reedley/Victor Valley Bakersfield Ventura College March 8 Bakersfield March 15 Glendale College Bakersfield March 16 Santa Barbara Santa Barbara March 22 LA Pierce Bakersfield March 29 Ventura College Ventura Ventura April 13-14 WSC Tournament April 26-29 Ojai Tournament Ojai May 10-12 State Championships TBD

Swimming Schedule Date Event Feb. 10 WSC John Joseph Relays Feb. 17 College of Sequoias Feb. 24-25 Mt. SAC Invitational March 2 College of the Canyons March 8 Santa Monica, Ventura, Cuesta March 9-10 Cuesta Invitational March 23 Cuesta, LA Pierce March 30 LA Valley, Ventura April 19-20 WSC Championships April 28-30 State Championships

Site LA Valley Bakersfield Mt. SAC Bakersfield Cuesta Cuesta LA Pierce Bakersfield Cuesta East LA

Track and Field Schedule Date Event Site Feb. 4 AVC All-Comers Antelope Feb. 11 TBA Feb. 17 COC, FCC, COS, AVC, SJD Bakersfield Feb. 24 Conference Relays Citrus March 2 COC, BC, SBVC, SADD Antelope March 9 WSC North Meet Ventura March 17 BC Relays Bakersfield March 23 Easter Relays Santa Barbara March 30 WSC Inland Meet Bakersfield April 7 Open April 10-11 So Cal Multis Cerritos April 13 Bryan Clay Azusa Pacific April 20 WSC Prelims Santa Barbara April 27 WSC Finals Moorpark May 5 So Cal Prelims San Diego Mesa May 12 So Cal Finals San Diego Mesa May 18-19 State Championships Cerritos

Men’s Golf Schedule Event/Opponent Site Date Jan. 30 Bakersfield College Invitational Seven Oaks Rio Bravo Jan. 31 Bakersfield College Invitational *Canyons Valencia Feb. 6 *Santa Barbara City College Bakersfield Feb. 13 Open TBD Feb. 20 WSC Meet Rio Bravo Feb. 27 March 4-5 Pt.ConCeptcionTournament Santa Barbara *Allan Hancock Santa Maria March 12 March 18-19 North/SouthCupInvitational Paso Robles WSC Invitational Glendora March 26 *Ventura Saticoy April 2 *Citrus San Dimas April 9 *Glendale Glendale April 16 WSC Finals Santa Barbara April 23 So Cal Regional Finals Glendora May 7 State Championships Santa Maria May14

Wednesday, Februar y 1, 2012

BC coach uses loss to inspire

By Esteban Ramirez Sports Editor

was entering her seventh season as the assistant head coach for OSU and eighth as assistant Miranda Serna inspired coach for Budke including a her cousin, Bakersfield Col- short stint at Louisiana Tech lege men’s basketball assistant University. She also coached at coach Aaron Chavez, to pursue Long Beach State University, a coaching career. Last year Chicago State University and Serna, the Oklahoma State Fresno State University. DurUniversity ing her time wo m e n ’s at Fresno, a s s i s t a n t “I felt disbelief, heartache the Bulldogs coach, and I was just at a loss” posted a 20died in an win season –Aaron Chavez, airplane in the 2002c r a s h , BC men’s basketball assistant 03 season. leaving She was part coach Chavez of two state shocked. championships while playing “I felt disbelief, heartache at Eldorado High School in Aland I was just at a loss. Sure buquerque, N.M. She also won you can talk to your colleagues two national championships at about how you feel, but any- Trinity Valley Junior College time you lose someone that was and one as a coach. close to you, it’s going to hurt,” Chavez is entering his sevsaid Chavez. “When I was at enth year on the BC coaching the service everyone stood up staff. He also coached at Bard with respect toward her. We College in New York and at all knew she was gone, but we West Las Vegas High School. were in disbelief because it was “She was a very giving and hard to accept.” extremely humble person. She Chavez also commented on grew up in a small town … alhow Serna inspired him to be a ways stayed humble and never basketball coach. forgot her roots. Often times “Growing up in a small town you hear people giving their in New Mexico you don’t know shirt off their back, well, she growing up if you can accom- would’ve given her wardrobe. plish your goals, but she was “She was on the highest level the reality to my dream. When of college women’s basketball you have someone in your fam- and yet she never bragged about ily that has accomplished it you it because she never wanted to start to think, ‘Hey, I can do it make anyone feel inferior. We too.’ ” all knew she could be a head On Nov. 17, 2011, OSU’s bas- coach on a college team, but ketball head coach Kurt Budke she was so humble that when and Serna died in a plane crash she talked about it, she talked while on a recruiting trip. Serna about being the head coach for

gregory d. cook / The Rip

Bakersfield College assistant basketball coach, Aaron Chavez, honors his cousin who died in the Oklahoma State plane crash by wearing a badge during a home game on Jan. 25.

Mora High School,” he said.

Chavez wasn’t the only person at BC that Serna has left a positive mark on. Serna has also had an impact on Mike Young, a freshman guard on the Renegades men’s basketball team.

Young is from Oklahoma and his sister played for Serna, so he

had a close bond with Serna.

“I was hurt and I just didn’t think it was real when I found out. She was a great woman and I won’t forget everything she did for me and my family,” said Young.

“She would do anything for anyone in or off the court and

she always put everyone before herself. This has made me push harder and be thankful for everything she did.”

Young added that he and Chavez are much closer now after experiencing the loss of someone that they were both so close to.

Turnovers plague the 8-13 New gym gives BC Renegades in conference loss FBS atmosphere

By Esteban Ramirez Sports Editor

By Esteban Ramirez Sports Editor

Bakersfield College men’s basketball team lost to Santa Monica College because of too many turnovers in the first half.

BC lost to Santa Monica 69-63 on Jan. 28 and dropped to a 2-5 record in the Western State Conference.

The game was a tale of two halves for BC. In the first, BC wasn’t able to really attack Santa Monica’s zone and turned the ball over nine times. In the second, they started to find easy shots and only turned the ball over three times.

“Our report against them was not turning the ball over, and we had too many turnovers in the first. That’s where we lost the game,” said BC coach Rich Hughes.

BC got a good game from freshman forward Conroy Lester, who had 17 points and 15 rebounds. BC also got 13 points from freshman guard Duncan Schramm.

BC started the game well getting an early 19-18 lead by being the agressor and attacking.

Then Santa Monica changed their defense and started to force turnovers.

“They started to play a matchup zone and we just didn’t attack it really well,” said Hughes.

BC struggled to get any easy points, and Santa Monica was able to go on a 21 to three run to take a 39-22 into the second half.

BC got back in the game by going on a 14-4 run to start the second half.

“We made an adjustment on our zone offense and we got ourselves back in the game,” said Hughes.

BC was able to get back in the game, but every time they got within six, Santa Monica would push the lead back to double-digits. BC tried to make one last run, but the first half deficit ended up being too big for them to overcome.

Hughes commented on what he expects for the rest of the season.

“I just want us to keep getting better each game, don’t

The Athletics Department recently finished improving the Gil Bishop Sports Center, including the floor.

The Gil Bishop Sports Center work was started about three months ago and it was finished on Dec. 30, according to athletic director Ryan Beckwith.

Beckwith commented on how the gym turned out.

“I think it’s fantastic. It was a way for us to show some pride in Bakersfield College and when you see the red and white you will know where you’re at,” said Beckwith.

“Now our opponents will walk in and know that they’re in BC. It gives us that great college atmosphere, when before nothing really signified that it was our gym.”

He added that it wasn’t excess cost and the only thing that cost extra was the walls.

“Instead of refinishing it, we sanded it down. It’s the original floor, but we just put some style on it. It was something that didn’t cost too much, but made a huge difference,” he said.

According to Beckwith some of the things they did to the gym were painting the lower walls, stripping them and putting logos on them.

The tiles that were by the water fountain were eroded, so they were replaced. They also painted the banister and put the new BC athletic logo.

“We felt that Gil Bishop deserved the respect for everything he has done, so we thought the best way is by dressing it up and keeping it classic,” Beckwith said.

BC men’s basketball coach Rich Hughes commented on the gym.

“It was awesome what they did because the thing hadn’t been redone since ’93, it’s great. I really liked how they stripped down the floor and the new logo they put on center court,” he said.

Hughes added that the players were really excited to be playing in an improved gym.

“I think every player wants to play in a nice gym, not one that is outdated and I think it will help us in recruiting. I think when everything is finalized we will go from the worst gym in our conference to the best,” he said.

BC women’s basketball coach Paula Dahl also gave her thoughts on the gym.

“I love the gym. I’m excited and happy with what Beckwith has done. I think people need to come and check it out.

I’ve been waiting for this for a long time and it’s good to see what happens when we have a go-getter like Beckwith,” said Dahl.

Beckwith also said that their next project for the gym is to get championship banners for every sport that has a conference, state and national championship.

gregory d. cook / The Rip

Renegades point guard Daniel Womack attempts to force his way through tight coverage during Bakersfield College’s game against Santa Monica College in the Gil Bishop Sports Center on Jan. 28. give up and keep competing.

With most of the team being freshmen, hopefully they can continue to get better,” he said.

Lester commented on the game.

“I think we came out slow and got down in the first half, but we came out in the second half and fought hard. We started getting the ball inside the middle of their zone in the second half, but we

just turned the ball over way too much in the first, and it cost us this game,” said Lester. “I think I did okay, but I think I could’ve done better job finishing at the rim and making my free throws.

“Hopefully we can get stronger as a team, practice hard and hopefully it will help us in these last five games,” he said.

BC is scheduled to play at Glendale on Feb. 1.

nathan wilson / The Rip

BC’s basketball team practices on the newly redone court on Jan. 24. The athletic department’s yearly funds and help from the booster club helped pay for it.

Spotlight

Page 12

Wednesday, Februar y 1, 2012

The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

Playing for the love

By Breanna Fields Reporter At first glance, the sight of two young men on a street corner may not appear to be anything out of the ordinary.

It didn’t take long for those nearby to see their cardboard sign which read, “Help us get to DCI finals,” and realize that they were more than just a couple of kids busking on a street corner; they were part of something much bigger: a drum corps.

Charismatic would be the best word to describe Dom Miller as he made an attempt to sing over the roaring engines of cars as they passed by. In the palm of each hand he held a wooden drumstick, worn from hours of use.

These are the tools that enable him to be heard; the tools that fuel his musical creativity with each beat and allow him to entertain an audience with bursts of enthusiasm.

“Gotta get the crowd goin’ man!” he shouted to Jesus Navarro, a friend and fellow member of Drum Corps International.

Both Miller and Navarro belong to DCI, a non-profit organization created to entertain audiences through live performances and provide an outlet for young people to compete in drum corps.

“Drum corps is pretty much the major leagues of marching band. Everything is taken up to a whole other level of competitiveness.

“Everything is more intense, a lot more intense,” said Miller.

Miller recently auditioned and was chosen to play the drum

of the beat

set for the Bluecoats Drum and explained that the reason for her Bugle Corps based out of Ohio. emergence was not to shut down The Bluecoats consist of 150 the street corner show, but to apmembers between the ages of 15 plaud them. Miller gracefully accepted the balloons, and went and 22.

Navarro belongs to the Blue to work tying them on his black Devils, based out of Concord, drum kit.

There was a constant flow of California. The Blue Devils are a successful corps sporting the title cash being tossed into the case of three time world champions. laying open on the sidewalk for Navarro also belongs to Bakers- donations. Many were happy field College’s to oblige, drum line and opening up “We’ve had people from the their walteaches Highland and Ba- other side of the street try lets, rolling kersfield High down their School drum to hand us money and we’re windows or line. out almost risking our lives in jumping “I’ve been of their car drumming for the middle of traffic trying to at a red light, almost my scrambling accept cash.” whole life,” to the side–Dom Miller, said Navarro. walk to make “I was in the a contribuBC student car with my tion before mom and she the streetlight said she wanted to sign me up for turned green. band class. I wanted to play gui“We’ve had people from the tar, and she said they don’t have other side of the street try to guitar. I was like, ‘well, then I’ll hand us money and we’re almost play drums!’” risking our lives in the middle of Navarro and Miller both plan traffic trying to accept cash,” said to gear up for a grueling three- Miller. month summertime tour across An elderly woman offered the nation from June to August. Miller a dollar if he would assist Tour fees cost a total of $2,500, her in crossing the street. though with fundraising Miller “I denied the money, and said that he has already accumu- helped her cross the street, but lated $500 over the course of two she insisted that I take the monmonths. ey,” he said.

A recent street performance The intersection was crammed took place on the corner of Ming with cars trying to catch a and Stine, near an AT&T build- glimpse of the action. A number ing. Not long after they began of characters made their way to playing, an employee appeared the crosswalk with groceries and with a bouquet of blue balloons. handbags and pushed baskets “We’re not getting in trouble filled with their belongings. are we?” Miller teased.

These Bakersfield residents The mood lightened as she had come from all walks of life,

though in that moment it was apparent that they shared the same love of music and expressed the same amount of excitement with each smile and passing glance.

“In drum corps, each person is depending on each other to always be the best that person can be. Each member has a task they must do. Although everyone is responsible for their own part, at the end of the season everyone helps with delivering a great show. Performing in front of thousands of people is one of the best feelings. It can be nerve-wracking, but once you get used to it, it’s a feeling you can’t get anywhere else.”

photos by Omar oseguera / The Rip

Dom Miller plays in front of an AT&T store off Ming Avenue and Stine Road on Jan. 26.

GO ONLINE

For extended multimedia coverage on Dom and his drums.

www.therip.com

Jesus Navarro plays his snare drum outside of AT&T on the corner of Ming Avenue and Stine Road.

Jesus Navarro plays his snare drum as Dom Miller keeps a soulful groove on the drums.

Oranges

galore Photos by Omar Oseguera The agriculture department’s annual orange sale was held on Jan. 25-26. The sale, which occurs at the agriculture laboratory across from the Grace Van Dyke Bird library every year, raises money for the Agriculture department. The annual sale has been going on since the late ’70s when the trees were first planted by former professor Keith Haycock. Handpicked bags of the fruit cost $3, while pre-picked bags cost $5. The funds go toward supporting field trips, farm equipment, feeding the department’s animals, maintenance Jay Griggs attends the Bakersfield College Orange Harvest for the and other financial needs. first time Jan. 25.

Hawk-Eye, 60, a Chiricahua Apache, is a frequent volunteer of the agriculture department and graduated from BC twice with forestry and anthropology majors.

The Bakersfield College Agriculture Department picks and bags oranges to sell to the public Jan. 25.