The Renegade Rip Vol. 82 No. 4

The Renegade Rip Bakersfield College

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Vol. 82 ∙ No. 4

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Veterans visit ‘Healing Wall’ Levan Center opens to public

By Brian N. Willhite Reporter

Veterans of the Vietnam War and their families gathered at Stramler Park in Bakersfield, March 4-7, for a time of healing and an opportunity to pay tribute and honor to their fallen brethren in a traveling memorial titled, “The Wall That Heals.”

“The Wall,” as it is referred to, is a half-scale replica of the original Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington, D.C. The Wall was created to match every detail of the original’s design except that it is portable and made from aluminum materials.

The memorial travels to cities of all sizes across the U.S. in an effort to reach as many veterans as possible to offer them the opportunity to see their memorial.

The Wall was created by the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Fund.

The traveling memorial serves as a testament to the men and women of the Vietnam War and the sacrifices they made for the nation, but it means something even more to those who fought alongside the names inscribed on the wall, and for many, it’s an opportunity to come to terms with a traumatic time in their past.

Many veterans visited the Wall with their families and children.

Touching the Wall and kneeling beside it, some veterans viewed the Wall together, while others viewed it alone. The day was full of emotion as many of the veterans were in tears and some tried to console one another.

The event, which was hosted by the Bakersfield Vet Center, also offered counselors on site to assist any of the veterans that may be in need.

Three veterans from different parts of the country that now call Bakersfield home, shared their experiences about coming home from Vietnam and what they feel about the memorial service and the Wall.

“It’s just devastating. They’re gone, and it’s hard to accept. It’s a lot of pain and there’s a whole lot of people around here that are doing the same thing,” said Steve Montroy, a former Marine and Vietnam veteran.

“It’s a time to let go. Mr. Potter here was nice enough to be with me and get me through a pretty

By Anthony B. Ellrodt Copy editor

Joseph Cota / The Rip

Steve Montroy (left) is overcome with emotions while Ken Pitts comforts him before the opening ceremonies of “The Wall That Heals” at Stramler Park on March 4. Both men are Vietnam veterans, and were there to view the traveling memorial consisting of a replica of the actual Vietnam wall located in Washington, D.C. bad experience, but it feels good to get it off your chest though,” said Montroy about his friend comforting him as he emotionally confronted his past while viewing the Wall.

The last time Montroy had seen the Wall was 15 years ago in his home state of Michigan.

He recalls how the emotional pain was too overwhelming for him to view the Wall.

Bill Potter, former Navy Petty

Officer Second Class and Vietnam veteran, had not yet been up to the wall and was anticipating a similar emotional reaction to all of the feelings that he had been suppressing for the past 40 years.

“It’s what they say, it’s the ‘Healing Wall.’ When you think of the 58,000 plus names up there, and you stand there, and you look at every one of those little lines that represent a

The Norman Levan Center for the Humanities at Bakersfield College broke ground in late 2008 with a donation from Dr. Norman Levan, a Bakersfield dermatologist, of $5.7 million.

Dr. Levan’s dream was realized when friends, BC staff, media and district and state representatives arrived for the ribbon-cutting ceremony March 4.

Mike Stepanovich, director of the BC Foundation, opened the ceremony and spoke about what the donation meant to BC and how it’s going to be put to use to help students become more aware as they grow from their learning.

“This is a place where students now, and in the future, can come to learn and grow as human beings,” he said. “There will be lectures here, visiting scholars and things other community colleges just won’t have.”

He also conveyed that the Levan Center is known nationwide.

“The Community College Journal is a nationwide publication that has featured the Levan Center,” he said. “This is truly a step forward in education.”

Greg Chamberlain, president of BC, expressed during his opening remarks the benefit of having the Levan Center on campus.

“Current and future students will benefit from a new era of

education,” said Chamberlain.

The new director for the Levan Center, Jack Hernandez, conveyed that the center was appropriately named for student education.

“We will have events here that directly have to do with the humanities,” he said. “There will be smaller discussion groups students can take part in, we’ll have visiting scholars; this will truly be an institute of learning.”

Hannah Egland, donor relations for the BC Foundation, expressed her thoughts on the donation that started the building of the Levan Center.

“Dr. Levan contributes money to many different causes, including a hospital in Jerusalem,” she said. “The donation he gave us was the single largest donation any community college in the country has ever received.”

Levan was present at the ceremony and received several awards including plaques and certificates of appreciation. He also received a flag, flown over the California state capitol, from Congressman Kevin McCarthy’s office.

In an interview with Dr. Levan during the reception, he expressed why he decided to donate the money specifically to BC. “Bakersfield College is the pearl of the valley. I’m interested in what happens to students that come here,” he said. “If a student gets a B here, they’ll go to a university like Berkeley and get A’s.”

name. It’s hard to comprehend,” said Potter.

During the Vietnam years when the veterans would return home from war, they were not viewed as heroes. Instead, many were met with hostility and disgrace from their fellow citizens who would accuse them of heinous crimes and betraying their country.

“I moved here about 18 years Please see WALL, Page 5

BPD arrests BC student on felony charges

By Anthony B. Ellrodt Copy editor Bakersfield College student Jermaine Turner was arrested last week on suspicion of threatening students and brandishing a weapon in the campus cafeteria.

Three felony charges have been filed by the Kern County District Attorney’s office against Turner. The charges are threatening with the intent to terrorize, participating in a criminal street gang and public offense committed on behalf of a criminal street gang.

Turner is being held at the Lerdo Pre-Trial Facility pending his next hearing at 9 a.m. on March 25 at the Kern County Superior Court Metro Division building on Truxtun Avenue.

On March 9, Public Safety officials were called to investigate a disturbance in the cafeteria involving a weapon at 9:31 a.m. and responded after requesting assistance from the Bakersfield Police Department.

According to witnesses interviewed

by BPD, the student walked into the cafeteria, was heard saying “I will kill you all,” then showed what was believed to be a weapon tucked into his waist.

Detective Blaine Craig of BPD said that Turner, 19, was wearing a gray-hooded sweatshirt and a black do-rag at the time of the incident.

Although the magnitude of the threat was unknown, students who witnessed the event feared for their safety and contacted Public Safety officials who locked down strategic locations of the campus center. The lockdown did not last more than 10 minutes.

Ryan George / The Rip

From left: Jack Hernandez, Mayor Harvey Hall, Dr. Norman Levan and BC President Greg Chamberlain cut the ribbon during a ceremony for the new Norman Levan Center for the Humanities building on March 4.

Chilean earthquake hits home for BC professor

By Laura Liera Reporter

David Karnowski / The Rip

Bakersfield College student Jermaine Turner is interrogated by Bakersfield Police after being arrested on three felony charges March 9.

A witness was being interviewed shortly after BPD officers arrived on the scene, when she pointed out a man and said, “That’s him.” At that time, the man was thrown to the ground and detained by Public Safety officials.

BPD officers found the weapon in Turner’s locker in the BC gym. The weapon turned out to be an Airsoft BB gun that, according to Craig, could still cause injury.

“It was a replica,” he said. “But it can still hurt someone, and the students he was threatening felt it was real, and that’s all that matters.”

“We take it immediately serious,” said Amber Chiang, director of Marketing and Public Relations at BC. “We have Public Safety officers that do patrol the campus routinely, and they were here within moments.”

The earthquake that struck at 3:34 a.m. on Feb. 27 in Chile raised death tolls to more than 300 with many more missing.

Bakersfield College Spanish professor Luis Guajardo, born in Chile, speaks of the earthquake that shook Luis Guajardo his country.

“No family of mine has been hurt. But I was told that a friend of mine from my town of Peralillo lost

his nephew,” said Guajardo. All of Guajardo’s family is in Chile, including his mother, sisters and brothers, and he is the only one here in the United States with his wife and children.

When Guajardo communicated to Chile to find out what the damage was in his town, he was told that there was major damage to buildings. “Although the earthquake happened in the area of Talca, located to the north of my town, it was strong enough to cause 60 percent damage to buildings and streets in my town,” he said.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the newer buildings in Chile are constructed to help Please see CHILE, Page 5

Women’s Histor y Month

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Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Women kick it at The Empty Space

By Alma N. Martinez Reporter

For seven years now, The Empty Space has been raising funds for the Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault through the VDAY movement.

VDAY consisted of “A Memory, a Monologue, a Rant and a Prayer” edited by Eve Ensler and Molly Doyle, the award winning “The Vagina Monologues” by Eve Ensler, and the VFAIR on March 14.

Executive board member Thomas G. Robinson, 44, who is marketing and gallery director for The Empty Space, feels that it “is important to get the word out to the community and make a difference. The more people that become a part of it the better it will be for the alliance,” Robinson said. “The big picture is to raise funds for the alliance.”

The VDAY Fair was made up of vendors, raffles, men auctioning and live music. A self-defense class was also offered during the fair. There were a variety of booths ranging from a WIC booth to handmade purses, scarves, pillows and blankets from Christin Varvel and Lacey Maples.

According to www.vday.org, VDAY is a global movement to end violence against women and girls that raises funds and awareness through benefit productions of Playwright/Founder Eve Ensler’s award winning play “The Vagina Monologues.”

VDAY is a non-profit corporation that distributes funds to grassroots, national and international organizations that work to stop violence against women and girls.

In 2001 VDAY was named one of Worth Magazine’s 100 Best Charities and in 2006 one of Marie Claire Magazine’s Top Ten Charities. The “V” in VDAY stands for Victory, Valentine and Vagina.

The Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault is a local organization with the mission to stop domestic violence and sexual assault in Kern County. According to the Alliance’s information flier, it was founded in 1979 as a volunteer-staffed 24-hour hotline for battered women.

“

It is eye-opening and empowering to be around other people that care about this issue.

”

-Crystal Huddleston, Garces Memorial High School teacher Jessica Hernandez, 28, rape prevention and education specialist at the AAFVSA, has been a part of this organization for about three years. With regards on where the money goes she said, “All of the money received goes back to our women and children.”

“The alliance helps women and children who face domestic violence. We have an undisclosed location where survivors are placed for as long as 60 days and after that we help them find a home,” she said. “We make sure they have the essentials needed and have a variety of services that they can benefit from.”

Guinevere PH Dethlefson, 30, VDAY organizer has been a part of VDAY from the day it started at The Empty Space and with a smile on her face added, “I love it. I love using theater to create social change and here is a chance to do it.”

Cast member and Bakersfield College student Allison Martin, 22, liberal arts major has been a part of VDAY for four years.

“Each year is different, it gets a little repetitive because it’s the same monologues year after year but what makes it different is the people who portray them.

That is what brings a huge difference,” said Martin.

Martin was part of the cast for “The Vagina Monologues” that were held on March 6, 12 and 13, and it was her first time being involved in “A Memory, Monologue, Rant, and A Prayer.” She has contributed to the cause by being part of it as well as holding a booth at the fair. “I hope to help by selling photographs and buttons,” she said.

“I think some people are scared to talk about this show and promote it because they may not be accepted by others, I mean it’s a show about vaginas,” added

David Karnowski / The Rip

Self-defense instructor Celia Madison demonstrates how to escape the grasps of an attacker during a self-defense course.

Martin.

Hester Wagner, 28, was this year’s VDAY director. She said that this was the first year she had anything to do with VDAY because she had never heard of it before. She became director because she was asked by the prior director to take over the show.

In the pamphlet issued at The Empty Space, Wagner wrote “This event was about community, about bonding with others over shared experiences, about the power of theater to heal, to inspire, to elicit change.”

Numerous amounts of cast members all agreed that the feeling of supporting such a great cause is very rewarding.

Some have been a part of this movement for two or more years while others just became a part of it this year.

“This becomes a sisterhood because you make new friends and that keeps you coming back,” said Jodie Arvizu, 31, who has been a part of this for two years.

Crystal Huddleston, 30, English teacher at Garces Memorial High School, is new to this movement and said, “It is eye-opening and empowering to be around other people that care about this issue.”

Over the past six years, The Empty Space has raised over $16,000 for the Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault, and will continue to do so, according to Dethlefson. Aside from the events hosted, The Empty Space also sells VDAY T-shirts year-round with the proceeds going to the Alliance.

David Karnowski / The Rip

A woman learns how to properly kick a potential attacker during a self-defense course held at The Empty Space on March 14.

David Karnowski / The Rip

Instructor Celia Madison teaches women how to kick attackers during the VDAY Fair festivities at The Empty Space on March 14.

CSUB Mexican Folklorico group performs at BC

By Laura Liera Reporter

Bakersfield College and Women’s History Month and More (WHAM) hosted a performance

by Groupo Mexica Tiahui, a Mexican Folklorico Troupe, on March 4 in Forum East.

The Mexica Tiahui Ballet Folklórico is a “nonprofit organization at California State University, Bakersfield, whose goal is to preserve the history, art and culture of Mexico,” said BC Chicano studies professor Rosa Garza.

Spanish professor Luis Guajardo said, “I like to support events like these, because it has to do with the Spanish culture, and it’s important to realize we live in a society that is different and has many identities.”

The event began with the first regional dance of Veracruz, Mexico. Three dancers wore white, elegant dresses with a lacing shawl over their shoulders along with a colorful flower in their hair.

Judith Gonzalez, 19, psychology major with a minor in Chicano studies, has been dancing for one year.

“I’m a part of something like this because it takes me back to my culture and it teaches who you are and how beautiful the Mexican culture is,” said Gonzalez.

The dancers performed dances for three regions of Mexico: Veracruz, Guerrero and Sinaloa. Each region had different costumes and was distinct in look.

For the Guerrero costume, each dancer had a different color of dress with a braid in each of the girls’ hair. They also had a red handkerchief that represents a way of calling men to dance with them and follow the woman.

The Sinaloa costume consisted of a large yellow skirt with flower embroidery and a white-laced shirt.

Eunice Miranda, 30, CSUB alumni and codirector of the group, has been dancing for 12 years.

“I joined this group by accident. I used to work for a student advising center at CSUB and the director of the group told me if I could take the dancers, music and radio to their practice room and it became a routine. After a while I would just stay there and after two months I started seeing them

Jofel Tolosa / The Rip

Performers from the Cal State University, Bakersfield based Mexican Folklorico Troupe Groupo Mexica Tiahue perform traditional dances at Bakersfield College in the Forum East room March 4. learning the music. The teacher wasn’t there one day and the director of the group asked me why I wasn’t dancing and he told me ‘Get in the front and start dancing,’ and I’ve been dancing ever since,” said Miranda.

Every dancer learns the same region dances and right now, the group collectively knows nine region dances. Every year, the students attend a national conference that is hosted by the National Association of Folkfloric Group and it’s held in either Mexico or in the United States. Once there, the students learn new material and come back to teach it to their group.

Along with learning the regional dances, costumes and their pricing are an expensive outcome.

The Sinaloa costume costs $800 per person. Most costumes come from the regional town and when the dancers actually get to travel to the state, they try to bring one authentic dress and duplicate it in the United States for much cheaper pricing.

Miranda believes that attending events about different cultures is an important way to learn about other countries and their customs.

“Events like these give you back a little piece of your heritage. I haven’t been to Mexico myself, but just dancing to these regions tells me that this is how proud my people are, and it gives you a sense of pride,” said Miranda.

Banshee in the Fireside Room Top: Banshee in the Kitchen members Brenda Hunter (left) and Jill Egland play at Women and Music at Bakersfield College on March 15.

Right: Mary Tulin of Banshee in the Kitchen plays for BC students and Banshee fans at Voices of Women on March 15.

Annie Stockman / The Rip

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Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Noriega hosts Celtic night

By Katie Avery Opinions editor

David karnowski / The Rip

Bakersfield Diamond Diva “Lady Spank Her” (42) shoulders into a member of the Prison City Derby Dames of Chino during the first match of the season at Skateland on March 13.

Divas roll into new season

By Anthony B. Ellrodt Copy editor

The Bakersfield Diamond Divas opened their season with a crushing 130-36 win over the Prison City Derby Dames of Chino.

According to Skateland management, more than 700 people showed up to watch the two roller derby teams in action, which is the largest turnout ever experienced by the Diamond Divas. Twenty percent of the total proceeds were also donated to the Alzheimer’s Disease Association of Kern County.

Several fans were there for their first time wanting to see what the buzz was about, and if the actual sport was anything like the Hollywood movie.

“I kept hearing about the Diamond Divas, and I knew they were a roller derby team,” said Lance Johnson, Bakersfield resident. “All I knew about roller derby, though, was the movie ‘Whip It,’ so I had to come see it for myself.”

Amy Sheffield, Fresno resident, was also there, for her first time, with her husband and two daughters.

“I’ve always had an interest in seeing a roller derby team in action, and this was my excuse to come into Bakersfield,” she said. “Plus, my 9-yearold daughter has now told me she wants to be a derby girl.”

There were two injuries late in the

David Karnowski / The Rip

The Noriega Restaurant and Hotel was filled with the sound of bagpipes, March 12, as people came to experience the Kern River Celtic Association’s seventh annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

At $28 a plate, the celebration included a family-style Basque dinner with corned beef and cabbage, and live entertainment from Celtic band Whiskey Galore.

According to Jack Turnbull, coordinator of the event, the KRCA wanted this to be a more traditional Irish celebration devoid of all the stereotypical drinking party elements. “We wanted a celebration that was sort of authentic Irish American, no gimmicks, no rock music, no green beer [and no] people dressed up like stupid little leprechauns.”

When asked why he chose Whiskey Galore to be the band for this event he said, “they have a pub style, [it’s] clap your hands, tap your toes folk music of the heritage. The idea was to have a cordial but high spirited evening without all the gimmicks.”

According to Turnbull, the KRCA is a nonprofit club that puts on a few other events during the year but this is their biggest celebration. For this event, they only charge enough to cover their costs but any proceeds for events they do get go to needy causes around Bakersfield.

“Whenever we do make money, we give it away. We seldom make money because we try to keep the ticket price down.”

KRCA member Janice Brown, 61, spent most of the evening getting up from her meal and dancing to the music. “This is very fun for me, my feet just start to tap.

I feel the music and I move.”

Brown has been to every one of the KRCA’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations and will continue to come back every year. “It’s what people should do. Peo-

ple should just get out and enjoy themselves.”

The KRCA originally started out from members of the Kern Scottish Society.

“The five of us that started this Celtic association are former members of the Kern Scottish Society and we formed this group because we wanted to do some things a little differently, including having a real St. Patrick’s Day celebration,” said Turnbull.

According to Turnbull the best part of the celebration is the band. “If anything comes out of this, I’d just like to see them get gigs.” In a speech he made at the beginning of the night he said, “if it wasn’t for them, half of you wouldn’t be here.”

Former Bakersfield College student Stephanie Johnson, 23, said she really enjoyed coming to this event with her family. “I liked the different instruments they had and I liked the Irish songs.” She also said the food was great, and she loved the cabbage soup.

Carl Guilford, 54, came because he was a good friend of one of the band members and he loves the music they play. “I always send their CDs to my friends and relatives on the East Coast.”

Guilford, who was the chieftain of the KSS in 2000, said the Noriega Restaurant sets this event apart from others. “What I like about this, is that this is probably the closest thing to a real Irish pub there is in Bakersfield. It has that old European feel about it.”

Mike Bowan, 37, drummer and vocalist for Whiskey Galore said, “We like playing at Noriega’s because the KRCA are friends of ours, and it’s very personable,” he said. He added that people of all ages can enjoy it. “It’s multi-generational.”

“We get more people at this place that know the lyrics to every song and where to clap and when to join in,” said Kevin Briley, 35, bagpipe player for the band.

“This is a piece of Bakersfield history.”

A member of the Prison City Derby Dames of Chino skates by the Bakersfield Diamond Divas for a pre-game slap March 13. match, one on each team.

Number 647f for the Prison City Derby Dames, Carrie Attina, also known as I.B. Drunky, was hit and went down with approximately 6 minutes remaining in the match. According to EMT’s on the scene, she has a history of ACL injuries.

“At the beginning of last season, I tore my meniscus,” said Attina. “When I went down this time, I wasn’t moving for a while because I knew I was hurt. It feels like I tore my meniscus again.”

Number 18 for the Diamond Divas,

Mary Huff, also known as Devious Darling, was severely overheated at the same time EMT’s were attending to Attina.

“I knew I had some time because the other jammer was injured,” said Huff. “So I just laid down, put a cool towel on my face and tried to take it easy. When I’m out there and I roll, I roll hard.”

The next match for the Diamond Divas is away in San Diego April 10. For more information regarding match dates and locations, visit www. bakersfielddiamondivas.com.

annie Stockman / The Rip

Attendees of the St. Patrick’s Day celebration eat dinner March 12.

‘Voices of Women’ gets intimate with students

By Michael Wafford Reporter

Bakersfield College professors treated the community to a night of poetry on March 11 in BC’s Fireside Room.

Rosa Garza and Emeritus Nancy Edwards read poems for the event titled “Voices of Women.” Garza, a BC alumni and Chicano studies professor, and Edwards, a retired BC creative writing professor, read a series, mostly about their experiences in life and as women.

According to Edwards, “Voices of Women,” along with the other Women and the Arts events in March, were started to honor women in the arts.

The poems ranged in topic from sisters, to hospital visits, to Garza’s godmother Chicha, to train-yard meetings, to being Chicana. The poems were well received by the crowd, which gave several sitting ovations. When asked how she felt about the readings, BC student Joselin Dorado, biology major, said “I write poetry myself so I really get inspired by them. I hope to one day have a presentation myself.”

Several of the poems dealt with intimate details of life that some people would have trouble sharing with strangers. When asked how she felt about sharing intimate details of her life, Edwards said, “At first it’s difficult, but you get used to it. You put ego aside and share the truth.”

Garza said, “I don’t mind sharing my life.” When asked if she ever felt nervous, Garza said, “I’m always nervous, I’m nervous right now. I love what I do.”

Edwards and Garza are both lifelong poets and have always enjoyed writing. The two are currently working on publishing a collection of their poems and asked the audience to tell them which ones they would like to see collected.

Edwards and Garza went into detail about their experiences with higher education. Garza, who took a break after earning her bachelor’s degree, returned to college after having three children. When asked about her school experiences, Garza said, “I wasn’t very good in high school, hated it. I loved college and the freedom to study what you want.”

When asked what it was like to return to school after having a family, Garza said, “I was more mature as a student, I was an A student, before I was probably a C student.”

Edwards has been published in various literary publications throughout the country, including “Derros, Forums, and Orpheus,” Cal State Bakersfield’s annual literary journal.

Edwards has also written song lyrics for 30 years. She currently writes for composer Dr. Howard Quilling, and groups around the country perform the lyrics she provides. When asked about how writing song lyrics differ from poetry, Edwards said, “You have to factor in the sounds of the words because it’s going to be sung. That’s not existent in poetry.”

Edwards and Garza are alumni of San Jose State University and met while Garza was taking a creative writing course taught by Edwards.

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Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Bakersfield Speedway begins a new season

By Mateo M. Melero Reporter

March 7 marked the opening day of the season at Bakersfield Speedway.

Contestants in the Mini, American, Hobby and International Motor Contest Association stocks, shredded exhaust pipes and tires as they battled for the winning title.

Fans cheered as the speed machines fitted with high compression engines roared around the one-third-mile clay track, spitting dirt and smoke into the stands.

“I’m an Oildalian, this is a dirt track, and there ain’t nothin’ else like it,” said Chris Breedlove, a lifelong spectator of the races.

J.R. Garcia planned to compete in the American stock but was unable to race due to technical problems.

The former racer at Mesa

Marin expressed how he preferred asphalt to dirt but said, “I’m glad this place is open.”

The races were opened with the four-cylinder modified economy cars of the Mini Stock division, followed by the 350 block engines of the American class, the IMCA modifieds and closed with the Cameros and Novas of the Hobby stock.

Axles were broken, sheet metal torn and radiators blown as racers roared around the track.

“I like the action of wrecking,” said Ryan Megary, “but I wouldn’t if it was me in the car.”

The action intensified in later heats as more cars were let on the track, increasing the mayhem and causing drivers like Rick Sylvester of number 38, in the IMCA stock, to flip his car in the last heat.

GREGORY D. COOK / The Rip

Dale Frye Sr. (79) drives his American class race car during a competition held at Bakersfield Speedway on March 7. Driver Alex Tillema won the evenings race for the American class.

“We try not to think of people getting hurt,” said Brenda Dutton, mother of

driver Gary Dutton. “We don’t like to worry.”

Jeff Berger, driver of

Hobby car 22, was disqualified for rough driving with David Childress of car 45.

“I’m a little disappointed with myself for losing my temper, but other than that I had a really good time,” said Berger after shaking hands and making amends with Childress.

In the pits, racers filled the air with revving engines and clanking tools during pre-race checks, pulling out onto the track with eager vigor to run a hot lap before the main races.

“I like the excitement of being in the car and going fast,” said Garcia.

Lloyd Wren Jr., driver of Hobby car 87, said, “I love the adrenaline about it,” as he stood next to his reinforced steel-caged 1977 Camaro.

“I enjoy coming out here, having fun and the thrill of racing,” said Aaron Bruce, Hobby driver 18.

When asked if they ever

get scared, Tracy and Kim Childress, drivers of American Stock cars 17 and 45, said, “No, it’s fun.”

Alongside the cars in the pits, stood drums of highly flammable methanol.

“More horsepower from methanol is a myth,” said Scott Pounds.

“Engines run cooler on methanol.

You can run a higher engine compression on methanol.”

The night ended safely, with no one having to take a trip in the ambulance, and with fans going home satisfied.

Winners of the night included Mike Johnson driver of car 11X in the IMCA class, Jason Bannister of car 51 in the Hobby Class, car 29 driver Alex Tillema in the American Stock and Jordan Hagar with number 99J in Mini division.

First Friday event celebrates art of all kinds in downtown

By Brian N. Willhite Reporter

Artists from Bakersfield came together for a night of painting, music and crafts to celebrate diversity in the arts and raise money for charities while doing so.

In an attempt to raise Bakersfield’s bohemian index, the Bakersfield Emerging Contemporary Artists hosted the First Friday art show on March 5 in the streets of the downtown area centered on the intersection of 19th and Eye Street.

The event’s primary attractions were antiquated doors taken from refurbished buildings downtown that were given to local artists to do whatever they desired with them. “They’re all random. The doors came from refurbished buildings downtown, and I think Don Martin [owner of the Metro Gallery] got some from his building when they were doing the remodel for the building the Metro Gallery is in.

Some came from the Padre Hotel and some of the artists used their own doors,” said Faith Florez, who is a BECA board member and a participant in the event

with her own door on display.

“There are amazing artists here, and we were really, really fortunate with everything that came through on this project.

There was a really quick turnaround and the quality is really impressive considering they only had a month to do this from the time of pick-up to the time they were dropped off,” Florez said.

The event also featured artists from different genres including photographers, seamsters and craftspeople, painters and a multitude of musicians that lined the sidewalks. The doors in the show were all available for purchase to the public through a silent auction, and depending on the door purchased, it would benefit one of three charities: the Jameson Center, the Alliance against Family Violence and the Homeless Center, according to Florez.

BECA’s focus for the show was to promote art in the city as well as introduce new artists to the community by offering exposure and opportunity that they may not have otherwise had, according to Nyoka Jameson, who is the President of BECA. “[Martin] approached me with

the idea to pick different artists to design the doors any way they wanted to, they could cut them apart or whatever, but everybody ended up painting or collaging and that kind of thing. So, [Martin] wanted to do a public art project for First Friday, and this is something that he wants to do annually. So next time I think we’re going to do chairs or something else,” said Jameson.

There were 18 doors in the show, according to Jameson.

A couple of the artists who entered a door in the event commented on their art pieces and what inspired their designs. A door by Jeremy James featured a painted black and white design with a deteriorating wallpaper look and tentacles breaking through the center of it. “Basically, the door is representing the struggles of letting go with your past. The representation of the tentacles is that they’re aggressively grasping you trying to hold on to you and not let you move forward, or to put things behind you,” said James. Another artist who entered a door in the event was Christina Sweet. Her titled piece was inspired by the events

david karnowski/ The Rip

Bakersfield College liberal studies alumni Kama Ruby sings along with trumpeter Steve Eisen during a First Friday performance at Metro Galleries on March 5. focus and was one of the doors that sold during the evening. “It’s called ‘Seasons Change’ and it is representing the unity tonight between the established arts groups and the up-and-coming artists,” said Sweet. The door, which was based in an orange color, featured a leafless tree in black over a multi-paneled glass window on the upper center of the door.

Sweet’s door sold in the silent auction for $165. Local artist

and Bakersfield College art major Alexandra Ortiz was among the many painters at First Friday who displayed work. Not new to the Bakersfield art scene, Ortiz also has displayed her work in other galleries around town, as well as the annual BECA event Burn the Witch, which is an allfemale arts showcase.

Former BC art major and local emerging artist Phillip White was also on hand at the event to

display his art of real life and fantasy images and promote his own painting style. “I have my own style called ‘Strataism,’ and what I do is I take cross-action and I go into layers with different tonal qualities laid on top of each other in a cross-action technique,” said White. Small musical groups and solo acts also lined the streets providing entertainment for the passersby attending the show.

Bellmoore opens with Sanchez causes laughs at CSUB ‘Pruning Season’ exhibit

By Martin Chang Reporter

By Martin Chang Reporter

On March 13, The Bellmoore opened its doors. The Bellmoore is an art gallery downtown located at 2001 Chester Ave. Its opening exhibit is, “Pruning Season,” which features seven different artists from Kern County.

These artists include Greg Jones, Marisela Oropeza and Hope.

Formerly known as The Basement, The Bellmoore was opened and is run by Deon Bell and John Moore. According to Moore, he met Bell “on the street,” they started to talk and “over a handshake,” Moore opened a gallery next to The Basement.

After The Basement was closed, Moore and Bell decided to open a gallery together.

Bell describes the preparation for the opening of the Bellmoore as “somewhat difficult.

The space wasn’t put together, a lot of fixing up, taking out trash, recycling iron, dusting, a lot of dusting.” Moore had this to say about the preparation, “If I had to sum it up in one word: it’s patience. “ Bell’s goals for the Bellmoore are to “open up to local artists, musicians to give them

a place to show what they do. We want to get all types of performing artists, plays, bands, fashion shows, all different kinds of art. We want to be very accessible to artists.

It’s not easy for an artist who isn’t known to have an exhibit.

It doesn’t matter how refined they are, if they aren’t known or have some kind of backing, it’s difficult for them to exhibit. So I wanted to open a place so artists like that can exhibit.”

Moore wants the Bellmoore to be a place where people are “comfortable.” He wants the gallery to be a “positive place people can go to.”

The Bellmoore has a different set-up from many of the other galleries in Bakersfield. It has lower lighting with bright light shining only on the artwork. Bell describes the art at “Pruning Season” as “contemporary paintings, a few sculptures.”

He describes his gallery as a “great space, it’s really cool.

It has a lot more character then the Basement.”

During the night, ambient and jazz music was played.

Near the end of the night a free-form funk band, Mosaic Orgasm, played.

Throughout the gallery several chairs, sofas and benches

were there to give visitors a chance to relax and mingle.

Greg Jones, an artist at “Pruning Season,” describes his art as “a whole series of painting about anticipation, that’s the theme I keep building on.”

It’s the first time Jones is exhibiting his work in public “in a long time.”

He said, “It’s nice to see them together, I get a perspective on where the whole series is going to go. Right now, I have 25 to 30 in the series.

It’s nice to see a part of it. I’ve been hesitant to show them.

It’s always the next painting is where the art is. You put the other ones aside till you get to the next one. But this is a nice space and I like to show them here.”

Hope, another artist at “Pruning Season,” describes her paintings as “ordinary things” such as “a sink” and “the sky.”

Bell has many plans for the Bellmoore.

He plans to hold a grand opening in April. He is also looking to expand.

He said, “I want to open a chain of galleries and studios like this. (A place) for artists to show their work and play their music.”

Comedian Johnny Sanchez, who starred in “Happy Feet” and was on Mad TV for two seasons, performed at CSUB in the Icardo Center on March 12.

Sanchez grew up in Tulare. He is “glad I grew up in Tulare. It was the right balance. There was a nice mix of everybody. You had African Americans, your Latinos, your Asians and of course a lot of Portuguese. If I were to start a family, I would prefer to come to this small town. It was nice to come back.”

In his youth, he would take many trips to Bakersfield and brag to his friends about “the bars, the night clubs and strip clubs” he went to. Sanchez said, “It was a really big deal. There just wasn’t as much to do over there. We just felt the girls in Bakersfield and Fresno were a beat above the girls in Tulare. I guess because we knew all of them. You go to school, you used to cruise Mooney Boulevard in Visalia. You get to know everybody. It was just something fresh and new to come to Bakersfield.

Honestly, it was really a big city.”

Like many comedians, Sanchez’s entrance into comedy happened by chance.

“About 18 years ago, a friend of mine moved to L.A. to become a musician and he needed a roommate. He goes ‘why don’t you try stand up like you always wanted to.’ So I did. I was working at the Louis Rich Turkey Plant in Tulare.

I put in my two weeks notice and

was gone. I started doing open mic nights around town. Somewhere around year four or five, I got picked up as a regular by The Comedy Store on Sunset (Boulevard).”

Sanchez had many positive things to say about The Comedy Store.

“It’s the best place in the country. That’s where all the honing came in, every night, six to seven nights a week. The Original Room, which is where you have to play, is the toughest room in the country.

It’s like the gym. It’s a good sweat work out. I got my name up on the wall with greats, Eddie Murphy and all that stuff. It’s an honor that I started at that club.

“Then little by little,” Sanchez explains, “the television things came, Latino Laugh Fest on Showtime, Premium Blend on Comedy Central.

“Then around 2000, I got my half hour special. Then I did a lot of touring. I toured with Louis Anderson and Paul Rodriguez. I had done so many characters that by the time I auditioned for Mad TV, it was instantaneous.”

Sanchez was on Mad TV for seasons 13 and 14.

Sanchez enjoyed his performance at the Icardo Center. “It was a lot better than I thought it would be. This is my first time doing a gymnasium. The crowd was there. I normally don’t do that long. I did an hour and 15 minutes here. I usually go about 45 minutes. It’s one of those things, nobody’s rowdy, nobody’s heckling, I liked the slow laughs. The silent

moments are really nice. It means everyone’s focused and following your little trail. I said to myself that this is a crowd that will stick with me. This was a lot of fun.”

CSUB student David Hall came out to the show. “I saw posters around campus. I don’t come out often; having something at Cal State like a comedy show is really cool. I thought it would be fun to bring a friend and laugh.”

Jeanette Madrid another student at CSUB came to the show to “laugh and have fun.”

Sanchez considers himself a “cross-over comedian. For Latino comics, it’s not only about tortillas and burritos. I do it a little bit, but then I move on,” said Sanchez.

Sanchez also said that other Latino comics go overboard with jokes specifically for the Latino culture.

“Even guys that are friends of mine, I go really? An hour on your tia, tio and tacos. But some of them feel like they have to, that they’re obligated to do that. I don’t think that’s necessary.”

Sanchez added, “I don’t only do Latino shows. I do Des Moines, Iowa, Minneapolis and Kentucky.

There are certain Latino comics that can’t do that. Because they have material only geared toward Latinos.”

Sanchez feels that comics need material that appeals to everyone.

Otherwise, “what are these people in cowboy hats going to relate to?”

Sanchez said, “I feel like I’ve gone all the way across the board.”

News

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The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

News Briefs St. Patrick’s Day at Finish Line Sports Bar & Grill To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on March 17, Finish Line Sports Bar & Grill, located at 2400 Camino Del Rio Court, will be serving Irish food, green beer and happy hour specials starting at 4 p.m. For more information contact 327-0681.

BC STEM program hosts Discovery Channel speaker The Bakersfield College STEM program will be hosting Discovery Channel speaker Deanne Bell from “Smash Lab” on March 23 at noon in the Fireside Room. The basis of the TV program is to take everyday technology and testing it in “extraordinary ways.” The STEM program has already sponsored a visit from a UC Merced representative and storm chaser Reed Timmer this semester.

BC cheer team holding tryouts for 2010-11 The Bakersfield College cheer team 2010-11 tryouts will be held on March 22-26 from Monday-Thursday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Huddle and Friday at 5 p.m. in the Dance Room.

Cheer or dance experience is helpful, but not required. Current BC students with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 are welcome, along with high school students with a cumulative GPA of 2.2. Bring a copy of your transcripts to the clinic. Information packets are available in LA 205A or online at the BC website.

Spring fling events at BC for week of March 22 The BC spring fling events will start on March 22 and last until March 25.

On Monday, the SGA info table will be in the free speech area from 10-2 p.m. Churros and drinks will be given out in the campus center at 11 a.m. Election debates will be held in the free speech area.

On Tuesday, there will be a pie-eating contest at 10:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. in the campus center. There will be five rounds at each session and the cakewalk will be at 10:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. in the free speech area.

On Wednesday there will be a dunk tank, bubble station and photo booth going from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the free speech area.

Corn on the cob and slushies will be given out at the campus center, along with a sack race, tug-of-war, and water balloon toss in the free speech area. Each game will be held twice at 10:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m., with more rounds in between if enough people want to play.

On Thursday, there will be a softball game in the free speech area at 1 p.m. with five innings.

Hot dogs, Cracker Jacks and drinks will be given at the campus center at noon.

Critical Academic Skills Workshops schedule Critical Academic Skills (CAS) Workshops at Bakersfield College will be offering Academic Culture: What “Successful” Students Understand with Cynthia Quintanilla on March 22 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in SS 151.

CAS will be offering Fixing Fragments with Kerrie Buis on March 23 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in SS 151.

Repairing Run-ons with Kerrie Buis will be on March 24 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in SS 151.

CAS will be offering The “P” word: Avoiding Plagiarism & Using Sources Effectively with Jennifer Smith on March 25 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:50 p.m. in SS 151.

Essentials in Word Processing Advanced Skills with Joyce Kirst will be on March 25 from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. in LA 148.

Correction In the March 3 issue of The Renegade Rip, the song “Crystal Ship” by The Doors was misspelled in the Ray Manzarek and Roy Rogers concert review on page 10.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Geological lecture talks tectonics Samantha Garrett Reporter

On March 6, Tim Elam gave a presentation titled “Life on the Edge” at the Buena Vista Museum of Natural History. Elam calls himself a “semi-retired geologist,” and has had 28 years of experience working in the oil industry.

Elam encouraged his audience to ask questions throughout his presentation, which many viewing did. There were also a few who answered some of the questions.

Before he got into his presentation, he gave a brief summary of the science of earthquakes and tectonics in general.

He told the audience, for instance, about the three main types of plate motion.

In transform boundaries the adjacent plates grind past each other; in divergent boundaries the plates pull away from each other; and in convergent boundaries the plates collide, resulting in a subduction zone, where one plate is forced below the other. The San Andreas Fault is the first of the three, more specifically a “right-lateral strike-slip (or transform) fault,” according to Elam.

He also mentioned the more recent earthquakes. The earthquake in Haiti, he said, was so devastating because it was a relatively shallow earthquake, meaning it happened very close to the earth’s surface, while the Chilean earthquake was significantly less so because it was much deeper in the earth’s crust and the epicenter of the quake was not nearly so close to a highly populous area.

After that, Elam began to discuss the fault most Californians have heard of plenty of times before: the San Andreas Fault.

The fault has been active anywhere from 15 million to 20 million years, depending on which geologist you ask, and it currently results in plate movement of about 2 inches a year. That means that the North American plate, which is the plate that most of America sits on, is sliding past the Pacific plate “as quick as a fingernail grows.”

“This means, whether they like it or not, L.A. and San Francisco will be neighbors in about 10 million years,” said Elam.

The plates move because of the convection current (a cycle of heated mantle rising, then cooling, falling, heating, and then rising again) within the earth’s mantle, which is the semi-solid material between the earth’s crust and core. This “heat engine” is what drives the plates to move the way they do.

Elam showed the audience an animation depicting the long history of the fault, which has not always been (and will not always be) the physical expression of the Pacific Ocean/North American continent boundary. Over the course of 40 million years, the Pacific plate, the North American plate, and the now gone

Mateo M. Melero / The Rip

Sherry Shapiro takes notes on the fault lecture at Buena Vista Natural History Museum on March 6.

Farallon plate, converged until the Farallon plate was entirely subducted under the North American plate. What took millions of years to occur seemed a dramatically fast transformation of the west coastline.

A woman in the audience asked what it would look like if one were to create a similar animation of 40 million years into the future. Elam suggested that one would see the Farallon plate continue moving deeper into Washington and Oregon, and he explained that this subduction beneath the states is why there are volcanoes such as Mt. Saint Helens.

Elam explained why the San Andreas fault should be a subject of interest. In its more recent history, it has caused earthquakes such as the 1906 San Fran-

“

This means, whether they like it or not, L.A. and San Fransisco will be neighbors in about 10 million years.

-Tim Elam, geologist

cisco earthquake (which resulted in the infamous and devastating fires) and the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.

Additionally, California is “overdue” for another large earthquake; geologists make this claim because earthquakes of certain sizes in certain areas happen relatively periodically.

For the duration of the presentation, Elam showed images that were evidence of the fault and its activity, as well as

”

other animations showing the movement caused by the plates causing the fault.

He also talked about the San Andreas Fault Observatory at-Depth, or SAFOD, which tries to associate certain geological activity as a “precursor” to a coming earthquake.

Elam gives similar presentations each month at the Buena Vista Museum, which are free to attend after paying the entrance fee to the museum.

Wall: Memorial offers hope and peace for local vets Continued from Page 1 ago from L.A., and it was the first time that someone came up to me and thanked me for my service,” said Potter as he recalled a woman who first recognized him as hero.

Both Potter and Montroy recall being told to take off their uniforms and change into their civilian clothes before getting off their planes when they landed for fear of what the public may do to them.

A friend of Montroy and Potter, Vietnam veteran Ken Pitts, commented on the conditions he experienced when he returned home from the war and his feelings about the Wall.

“It needs to be done, something like this needs to hit every town in America,” said Pitts about the Wall.

“When we all got discharged from the service, there was no hand-clapping in the airports, and people were ashamed and afraid to wear their uniform home.

We got spit at more than we got congratulated for coming home in one piece, and we’re the lucky ones. There’s 58,200

names on that wall that didn’t make it,” Pitts said.

In a letter read during the opening service, a woman asked for forgiveness from Vietnam veterans for protesting against them during the years of the war. In the letter, she explained how her actions were fueled by political propaganda that led her to believe that the soldiers were responsible for untold acts of violence.

She concluded with her apologizing for her ignorance and praising those who served their country with pride, acknowledging their sacrifices. The letter was written by a woman named Julie Weaver from Texas.

As the letter was read out loud, many soldiers were emotional and silent in gratitude.

The event’s Master of Ceremonies, Vernon Valenzuela, who is also a Vietnam veteran, was very moved by the words spoken from the letter testifying to the validity of the situation in those times. He also discussed his experiences when he returned home and how it af-

fected him.

“People seem to have lost the fact that [the public] seemed to take their frustrations and anger about the government out on us as individuals. And that was real hurtful,” said Valenzuela as he relayed the importance of the Wall for the country as well as the veterans.

“By itself, the war takes its toll and there’s a lot we have to deal with and counseling, but this was a special hurt.

It was the biggest thing I’d ever done in my life and I was only 17. I got wounded and I came home and I couldn’t be proud of it, there was nobody around to say good job and all that stuff.

“People would call us baby killers and I got turned down for jobs because I told them I was a vet. They were scared that I was drug using and violent and all the stereotypical stuff. And so most of us have functioned real well in life, but we still carry that pain in our hearts,” said Valenzuela.

“You expect a lot of things from war but you don’t expect your family and citizens to turn their backs on you.”

Valenzuela graduated from Bakersfield College a few years after returning from Vietnam. He is also a former BC student body president.

The memorial also featured other displays including a tent that was dedicated to the memory of the POW’s and a mobile museum with glass paneling that held artifacts and mementos from the war.

The museum also portrayed the bonds that were formed between the men and women that fought in the war by displaying letters and keepsakes that the soldiers made for one another.

Statistical data from the Vietnam War Combat Chronology asserts that the average age of Vietnam War soldiers was 19.

The four-day event included a candlelight vigil on March 5, a motorcycle parade in remembrance of the Vietnam POW’s March 6 and concluded with the Wall being escorted out of town March 7.

The last time the memorial and the Wall were in Bakersfield was in 2002.

CHILE: Professor discusses past experiences in Chile Continued from Page 1 withstand the shocks. Guajardo said that most of the houses in his town that were damaged were constructed of adobe.

“Most houses fall because they are old, some of them built from previous centuries, which causes old adobe construction to fall. But the new construction laws are making sure that the buildings are strong enough to withstand an earthquake,” he said.

The town of Peralillo will be “getting lots of help from the

central government and local institutions. It’s a province that is known for winery and there is a lot of exportation that happens, so many of the private companies have been donating money to help reconstruct the town,” said Guajardo.

Chile, however, is a country with past experience with earthquakes. The largest earthquake in the world, with a magnitude of 9.5, happened in May 1960 in southern Chile. There were more than 3,000 people injured, 1,625 killed, 2 million

homeless and $550 million in damage. “Chile is well known because of its earthquakes, and it’s the worst country to live because of earthquakes, according to records I have read,” said Guajardo.

Because Chile has been through 13 earthquakes in total in previous years, more people are aware of the action to take when it happens. “My family would go to the back patio when earthquakes would happen. But it’s a feeling that I was very much afraid of, because

everything happens so quickly, so fast, that you have a feeling of impotence of not being able to do anything. I believe you become really religious at that moment, praying to God, because you don’t know when it’s going to end, and you’re hoping it ends soon, but all the noise, everything moving around you, the dust rising from the buildings, its all a frightening experience,” said Guajardo.

Locally, Guajardo is trying to get something together with the community to raise money and

funds to send to Chile. “With all the money and resources Chile receives, although it’s going to be a challenge to reconstruct everything and start from scratch, they have goodwill and will make it,” he said.

If you would like to help in the reconstruction of Chile, visit: www.andesfoundation.com, The American Red Cross, www.ayudaforchile.com, and other online Chilean resources for more information on ways to help.

Campus

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The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Student elections coming soon to campus Elections | SGA elections are coming to BC March 22-25

By Brian N. Willhite Reporter

Bakersfield College will be conducting the student body elections during Spring Fling week March 22-25.

The elections will take place in the Fireside Room March 24-25, and will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Elections will also take place on the Delano campus, the Weill Institute downtown and Stockdale High School from 5-6 p.m.

The registration dates for candidates to enter into the elections were March 1-17. The process included gathering

50 signatures from registered students as well as writing a 100-word statement about their intentions.

In addition, students are required to have a GPA minimum of 2.0 and attend a mandatory workshop, according to Athena Laru, SGA general counsel.

There are seven paid positions that anyone can run for; there are also nonpaid senator positions.

Paid positions are $8 an hour and are not to exceed 19 hours a week. Paid positions are also required to complete a minimum of 12 hours per week, except for the president, who is required to complete a minimum of 15 hours per week.

The positions available for office in

the election include the offices of the president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, general counsel, activities liaison, legislative liaison and senators.

Laru would like to encourage anyone interested to get involved in the student government system.

“Even if you don’t want to run for one of the paid positions, still put your name on the ballot for senators. We just think the more people get involved, the more likely they are to actually want to serve the SGA.” BC will also be utilizing the poll officials with the Kern County Elections Office again to run the election sites.

Laru is hoping that their involvement will avoid any suspicion of tampering

with the election results.

“Poll officials will come and actually run the sites for us. They will be doing the ballots and making sure they’re secure and tamper free,” said Laru.

“What better way than to have off site officials who run the polls for presidential elections to come in and run the polls for us.”

The election will also include debates from the candidates on March 22, in the free speech area. Laru commented on the debates and noted that they are more intended to be a formal introduction of the candidates to the student body.

“I heard a lot of people noticed that we’re doing debates, so they’re kind of skeptical about that, which they’re not

really debates, it’s just more of an open forum to use the platform for the students to get to know you and put a name to a face and that way you can speak directly to them as to why they should vote for you. This is your student body so I thought ‘what a great way to be able to address your student body.’ “ According to Laru, the voting process will be similar to previous elections. The election may also include a drawing but the details are unconfirmed at this time.

“When you go to the polling sites, there will be a list with all the students’ names on it. You’ll need to bring your student ID card, they’ll verify your picture to your ID number, then you’ll sign and then you can go vote.”

BC to host high school debate competition

By David Karnowski Magazine Editor

Gulls flock to BC campus Above: A pair of herring gulls scavenge for food from trash in a parking lot on the Bakersfield College campus March 3. The gulls ride air currents inland.

Right: A gull shares a perch with a pigeon atop one of the parking lot lights on the Bakersfield College campus March 3.

GreGory D. Cook / The Rip

BC campus facilities available for rent

By Michael Wafford Reporter

The facilities of Bakersfield College, along with Cerro Coso College and Porterville College, are all available to rent.

Fees for rental vary depending on the venue, service and type of event.

Student-related groups belong to group one and pay the lowest amount.

Non-profit events belong to group two and depending on the group or event, BC will be willing to work with them on fees, according to Lamont Schiers, executive director of maintenance and operations.

For-profit renters belong to group three and must pay all fees associated with renting a facility or equipment.

Renters must also pay for maintenance, lighting, supervision, any heat or air conditioning and any other required services such as lifeguards or equipment technicians.

While most groups must go through maintenance and operations to rent BC facilities, booth vendors must go through the Student Government Association if they want to sell on campus.

Schiers said rental fees are constructed in a way to simply cover the costs of running the event and that “rental fees are very reasonable.”

According to Schiers the most popular places to be rented are classrooms, the Fireside Room and vendor booths.

Vendors and business representatives not associated with BC must pay per day to operate on Kern Community

College District campuses.

Video and audio recording equipment are also available for rent with additional services such as production, editing, and duplication of tapes. The use of these services requires a member of BC staff to operate the equipment.

“Our intention is to try and keep the campus as busy as possible,” said Schiers. “Students have first rights at BC.” He went on to explain that meant that rentals are planned around the needs and schedules of students.

More notable recent and upcoming BC rentals include the CCS Junior Olympics that were held on Feb. 1215, and the upcoming rental for the fifth stage of the Amgen Tour of California on May 20.

Bakersfield College will be host to more then 1,200 high school students during the California High School Speech Association’s first Bakersfieldbased state tournament during the weekend of April 16-18.

The speech and debate competition is expected to bring high school students and their accompanying coaches, judges and parents from across California to the campus in the organization’s first use of a Kern County location for a state competition in its 50-year history.

“The BC Communication Department is sponsoring the state championship on the BC campus. As hosts, we will make sure that the 1,200 student competitors and 800 coaches, teachers, parents and friends who will be attending have an educational, safe and enjoyable experience,” said BC professor Michael Korcok.

An effort by school administration has been made in many ways to ready the campus for an event of this size.

“The BC administration has been working with CHSSA in numerous ways to make this a successful event. From facilities use to food service to the bookstore to custodial and security, the administration and staff of BC have been great to make this event happen,” said Korcok.

The tournament will be using all of BC’s classrooms and auditoriums for the three-day event.

According to Andrew Scherrer, Bakersfield High School’s head debate coach and CHSSA’s judging committee chair, “BC has been awesome and accommodating to us.”

The reach of BC’s community involvement with the tournament goes beyond offering the use of classroom’s and facilities.

Culinary arts program instructor Pat Coyle said his program will be providing food services for the judges that are participating.

In addition, instructors will be enticing the students of BC to play a role in helping the tournament.

“A number of communication classes

will offer their students extra credit to judge preliminary rounds of the tournament. Nearly 200 student/faculty judges will be needed every round,” said Korcok. “We are offering a workshop to our students to get them better prepared to judge public speaking, drama and debate events of this caliber.”

Scherrer said that ensuring enough available judges is key to the smooth running of a tournament of this size.

“We just need judges,” said Sherrer Tournament organizers will be raffling off gift baskets worth upward of $100 to judges as an enticement to stay throughout the events.

The effect of hosting the CHSSA event at BC is significant, according to Korcok. “This tournament is a boon to our campus and to the local business community. Not only do we get to show off to 1,200 of the hardest-working and successful high students from across California, we have a chance to showcase BC to their teachers and parents.”

Mayor of Bakersfield Harvey Hall is even going to the lengths of declaring the event “Speech and Debate Weekend” for the City of Bakersfield.

The hosting of the state competition brings to light some of the plight BC’s own debate program has faced recently.

“The BC debate team’s budget and coaching positions were eliminated this past fall, casualties of the budget cuts that eliminated classes across campus.

The debate team has since become a student club supported by the SGA,” said Korcok Because of the financial interruptions, the club will not be participating in any competitions during the current school year but they plan to change that in 2010-2011.

“While we understand that the current economic situation requires everyone to tighten their belts, it is a shame that one of the most storied debate teams, the most successful community college debate team in the United States over the past 80 years, had its budget and coaching positions eliminated,” said Korcok.

“Student government funding and faculty volunteer coaching will, hopefully, be able to fill in until the economy recovers.”

Sisters start formal dress drive for needy Denise M. Gonzalez Reporter

Underprivileged high school girls are now being recognized during their time in need by two sisters who have taken the initiative to start the Give Love, Get Joy Foundation.

The Give Love, Get Joy Foundation was founded by Alyson Joy and Ashley Love Tackitt in hopes of making high school girls’ prom experiences memorable. The foundation has been collecting new and gently used formal dresses for proms and giving them to young ladies who cannot afford one.

The prom dress drive will assist them with prom dresses, alterations and hair and makeup prior to the events.

The sisters have been involved in feeding the homeless, providing toiletries for their local men’s shelter and collecting backpacks, school supplies and presents for local needy children.

Extensive dedication to helping others in need is what the two sisters live by.

Alyson, 13, helps her mother at the Noriega House in Bakersfield during special public events.

“It was during a wedding when I came up with the idea of having people donate their used formal dresses,” said Alyson. “Bridesmaids were leaving the event with their attire, and I thought they’re probably not going to use those gowns again, so why not ask people to

donate used dresses for girls in need during prom?”

“My sister Ashley, who is 8, also has a lot of fun and is very excited about helping other girls,” said Alyson.

Bakersfield College student Kara Dritt is an employee at the Noriega House and is also volunteering her extra time with the prom dress drive.

“We have contacted all of the Kern High Schools in the district and asked them to participate with our dress drive,” said Dritt. “The schools will have a list of girls who sign up for help and from there we will ask for all of the girls to come in for fittings and to choose one dress at the Noriega House.”

The Noriega House will get back lists of underprivileged girls who have participated in the dress drive. Volunteers and employees will help with the preparation that helps the high school girls choose a dress, alterations and hair and makeup in order to complete their special event.

Olivia Johnson, 14, has volunteered to do alterations on the dresses for free.

Local businesses and women’s clothing shops have also been interested in donating money and their own store dresses.

Bella in the Marketplace has donated up to 30 formal dresses to help with the foundation.

“It is a great experience to be able to know we are helping out unfortunate

young girls,” said Alyson. “My sister and I have a lot of fun and we’re so excited.”

Noriega House owner and mother of the girls, Magan Tackitt, is pleased to have her girls achieve as much recognition and support as they have been receiving.

“It makes me very proud to see Alyson and Ashley grow,” said Magan. “I am pleased to see the girls communicate with others while performing interviews and meeting the donors of the dresses.”

The Noriega House will be inviting the high school girls on April 1 and will be distributing the dresses. They expect this to be a memorable event.

The foundation plans to continue the collection of prom and formal dresses for years to come.

For further support, the Give Love, Get Joy Foundation will also be having a Bridal Bunco to benefit the prom dress drive. The Bridal Bunco will be held at the Noriega House on March 23, and the money raised will be used to buy shoes for the underprivileged high school girls.

“It is really unique and an exciting opportunity for girls who cannot afford dresses for prom,” said Dritt. “It is a true luxury, and I hope college students who are done with their old formal dresses will volunteer to donate them to girls in need.”

Above: Jose Sanchez, a Bakersfield College communication major, posts a notice in the Campus Center for an upcoming blood drive to be held April 20.

David Karnowski / The Rip

Left: Bakersfield College students spend some time between classes playing volleyball and getting some exercise in the Free Speech Area of the campus Feb. 11.

Gregory D. Cook / The Rip

Opinions

Page 7

The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

Staff Editorial

Students require textbook reserves With the cost of Bakersfield College tuition staying at a relatively low price, purchasing textbooks is often the greatest burden on a student budget. The high cost of reading materials can sometimes lead to a gap in time between when students start a class and when they are able to purchase the required books.

Luckily, for many struggling students, professors can place the books on reserve in the school’s library and many do just that.

“It is an advantage most certainly for students who can’t afford a book or have to wait until their Pell Grant comes through,” said Bakersfield College Bookstore manager Jennifer Caughron.

Unfortunately, because current policy leaves the decision and financial obligation of providing reserve textbooks up to the professor of each course, some students are unable to gain access to the required material if the professor decides not to make it available.

“It’s totally up to professors and many put both their required and optional textbooks on reserve,” said Marci Lingo, a Bakersfield College reference librarian.

“Many professors feel that it’s of great benefit. Other professors want their students to own a book because they recognize if it is difficult for them to read a book and have to come to the library, they might be less likely to do it,” said Lingo.

The result of such policy leaves students in-need at a disadvantage in the ability to complete coursework.

Lingo continued to say, “There are always students who come up and their professor’s book is not on reserve and the question we always ask is ‘Has the professor said the book is on reserve?’ and they say no, but they know other students who come over and use them.”

According to Caughron, there are many programs that provide auxiliary funding for textbooks and work directly with the bookstore. There is however, no direct link to the financial aid office and the bookstore, nor does any such credit line exist to extended funding to students awaiting an aid payment.

Caughron cited such programs as the Extended Programs Opportunity and Services voucher worth $200 that provides a way for students to defer textbook costs.

“There are a lot of options, it’s just whether you qualify. With the budget, of course, a lot of funded programs have been cut significantly so the money is not really there anymore,” said Caughron.

It is the opinion of The Renegade Rip editorial board that if Bakersfield College is truly dedicated to the education of students than a new policy should be created and funding provided for placing every required textbook on reserve in the library.

Dean of Students Joyce Coleman said that the Student Government Association of BC might be the organization that can take on such a project.

“I think it would be a great proposal to suggest to the SGA that they purchase books to put in the library on reserve,” said Coleman.

Kristi Newsom, BC Student Government Association president, said she would be interested in the SGA possibly funding such a new project.

“I think every student should have an opportunity to go get the book from there. I know if I didn’t have help for my books, I wouldn’t be able to buy them,” said Newsom. “Especially when you don’t get your money on time. Especially when it’s a hard class when you need it the first day, like math.”

While textbook revisions and curriculum changes would require an annual update to the school’s textbook collection, the initial cost would be the most daunting.

Despite these hardships, the college should make every effort to provide students with the materials needed to complete their coursework.

’G ade Feedback

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

SGA elections: important or pointless?

Gregory D. Cook Multimedia editor

It takes about five minutes, you stand in a short line, make a couple of multiple choice decisions on a piece of paper, drop it into a box and go about the rest of your day, with the knowledge that you have taken part in that most sacred of democratic rituals: voting.

And yet many students pass on this chance to have an active role in choosing who will best represent their interests in the Bakersfield College Student Government Association.

So, why exactly would it be important who gets elected to the SGA? They are not reforming our health care, making new tax laws and hopefully they do not have the power to declare war on other colleges. In fact, many students on campus have no real idea what function the SGA actually performs, and at least a few of the people reading this are thinking “We have a student government?” So in all honesty, what difference does it make who we elect?

The simple answer is what makes the world go round, it’s the root of all evil and some people say it can’t buy happiness. That’s right, money, and the SGA controls a whole lot of it.

At the end of the fall 2009 semester, the Renegade Rip ran a story stating that the SGA was in control of over $750,000. Most of that money comes from student registration fees, and the good people of your student government, elected by the students that take the time to vote, are in charge of spending it.

They spend it on things like homecoming, spring fling, refurbishing the student center and the new food pantry. They have also been known to give some of it to various clubs and campus organizations to help fund their activities.

Not voting is the equivalent of putting that $750,000 in a cage with two howler monkeys, and then complaining when all they do is throw feces at people as they walk by. I like monkeys as much as the next guy, but even I can think of better uses for that kind of money.

SGA elections are your chance to decide who will be responsible for

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spending that money in ways that will benefit you.

Listen to the candidates, ask questions if you are unsure and make educated decisions about casting your vote.

As a member of the student body, you bear the responsibility of choosing your representatives. The democratic system depends on the voice of the people being heard, and nowhere is that voice louder than during an electoral process.

I have one final request. If you still choose not to vote, then please don’t complain when the SGA does something you don’t approve of.

On March 24 and 25 you will be given the chance to speak with your vote, if you can’t be bothered with standing in line for a couple of minutes to do that, then forever hold your peace.

Perhaps my grandfather, a WWII veteran, summed it up best when I turned 18 and was able to vote for the first time. He told me “If you’re not going to vote, you’re more of a dumbass than the other dumb-asses you just let choose for you.”

By Anthony B. Ellrodt Copy editor

To put it succinctly, student elections are a joke. They’re just like every other political race in the world.

Promises are made, great platforms are announced, and we all know the promises are never followed through with action.

In all honesty, there’s only so much you can do as an SGA officer. You can promise during your campaign that you’re going to bring pizza to the cafeteria once a week, make administration more accessible to the everyday student, and make parking easier in the east parking lot. Students will more than likely cheer you, elect you, then yell and scream at the end of the year because your promises haven’t come to fruition.

The fact of the matter is, if the administration says no, it’s no. No arguing, no yelling, no crying, just no.

Then how do you explain that to your constituents? How do you explain to

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Samantha Garrett / The Rip

the students you represent that you can’t make good on your promises because the administration says no?

You are going to have to catch the fallout for it and the administration knows it.

I would find it extremely refreshing if a student got up in front of the student population here at Bakersfield College and announced they were running simply because they want to get the stipend that all SGA officers get paid. That’s right everyone, SGA representatives don’t work for free. The amount of the stipend is up to $152 a week, or $608 a month.

You also get a slew of other perks and benefits such as going to SGA retreats and national conferences in Washington, D.C. paid for by our student fees.

I wish, just once, someone would get up and tell the students they have no idea what they’re going to be able to accomplish. I wish they would say, “Hey, I’ll do my best, but other than that, I’m not making any promises.” I would more than likely vote for someone who was that honest. At least I know they’re going to actually try to accomplish something.

The elections are in 10 days and every position is open and available to be filled. There are some officers who are running again, and others that are leaving simply because this is their last semester at BC. Individually, I think the SGA officers are good, well-meaning people. Overall, what have they accomplished? What have they done for the students they represent? How do we know the next installment of officers is going to be any better?

Will they actually effect change on our campus, or will they succumb to what I call the “dark side” and just be in it for the additional money and prestige of being a student government representative? “Look at me, I’m an SGA officer!” God help us all.

We’re going to have another semester of empty promises if we get that kind of person in office.

I guess you could look at it the other way though and do a write-in for Mickey Mouse, Goofy, or hey, how about Al Gore? I heard he’ll make a great government official.

My point is, if you do vote, make use of your right as a student and make sure they’re doing their jobs.

Laziness turns lovely landscapes into littered landfills Samantha Garrett Reporter

I know that, what with this recent trend of the green movement, what I’m going to say to you is going to seem radical along that line, it’s going to make me seem like some tree-hugger, but I think people shouldn’t litter.

I don’t know what it is about the idea of littering—I guess it’s the sheer laziness of the act—but I cannot stand to see garbage where garbage doesn’t belong. Surprisingly, that includes a great many locations.

Particularly parks. Not that parks are special and deserve special treatment (I want you to know that I care for all locations equally and would never want to make one feel different from the other); it’s just that most of the people that go there are kids; it’s just

that parks are some of the last places we can go without having to deal with gross things.

Usually. Recently, I visited Hart Park. If any of you have been there lately, it’s been very green out there, what with the relatively wet weather.

It’s beautiful over there, the hills and mountains that are usually gray and brown are a vibrant, welcoming green.

Unfortunately, while the rain was able to wash away the monotonous backdrop of the park, it was unable to wash away all of the litter that had collected there.

I suppose a sociologist would find everything there fascinating—a wide array of Styrofoam cups and cardboard food containers, all of which characterize our Bakersfield tradition of fast food consuming—but I’m not a

sociologist, so I just found it gross.

An offshoot of the river, or at least some part of the park that contained a small stream, was filled so entirely with mucky, tepid water that the sight of it alone was enough to make me want to leave. It was only accented by the fact that a large collection of trash sat at the end of it.

I stood there looking down at it thinking of ways that people could fish it out—with the same nets that people use in pools to remove leaves, or maybe one big net to scoop it all out at once.

I wondered, “Who’s responsible for cleaning this up?” Obviously, it was someone’s responsibility. Someone was paid to either maintain the park or, even more specifically, clean up the messes that people made.

But then I realized that this

line of thought was incorrect entirely. I was sitting there wondering about the people who were supposed to clean up the mess when the real problem should have been those that created the mess.

I asked myself why people did it. I knew that there were very few, if any, people who would think to themselves, “I’m going to throw this trash on the ground just to ruin someone’s day!” Or, at least, that’s what I’d like to hope.

It had to be, again, the factor of laziness. Only laziness could possess a person to just up and leave one’s garbage wherever one went.

Unless leaving trash is some way of marking one’s territory—then I guess there’s something else to it …

What makes people so lazy? Is it the very same food, the food that sheds the containers that these people

leave behind, that makes someone lazy?

Do these people get so fat from the fatty foods that they eat that they can’t spare the energy required to get up, walk an extra fifteen yards to the nearest trashcan and throw it away?

At my high school, we had to have trashcans every ten feet to make sure there wasn’t a significant litter problem.

To make sure that people didn’t just throw the trash on the ground, we had to make sure that people never had to walk very far at all.

What’s worse to look at— garbage or garbage cans?

The saddest thing of all, for all our solutions, all our gimmicks to prevent people from throwing things on the ground and just leave it there, the easiest, quickest fix would be for people to just stop being so lazy.

What can SGA candidates do to get your vote?

Editor’s note: ’Gade Feedback is a feature that asks students their opinion on various topics.

Compiled by: Mateo M. Melero / The Rip

Maria Castro, human services: “Make cafeteria food cheaper and not allow people to smoke cigarettes.”

Sal Tapia, business: “Bribes, give free stuff out.”

Summer Baker, respiratory therapy: “Have stricter smoking laws.”

The Renegade Rip Editorial Board Winner of the 2003 and 2008 JACC Pacesetter Award

Editor in Chief...................................Kelly Ardis

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.

Sports Editor.................................Michael Morrow

News Editor....................................Vincent Perez Copy Editor ..............................Anthony B. Ellrodt Multimedia Editor......................Gregory D. Cook

Staff Reporters: Martin Chang, Samantha Garrett, Denise Gonzalez, Laura Liera, Alma N. Martinez, Mateo M. Melero, Julian Moore, Natalie Rodriguez, Lauren Strong, Michael Wafford, Brian Willhite Photographers: Joseph Cota, Ryan George, Annie Stockman, Jofel Tolosa

Opinions Editor....................................Katie Avery Magazine Editor.........................David Karnowski Adviser.......................................................Danny Edwards

David Garcia, history: “Do more community outreach programs, and give BC a better reputation in the community.”

Jerry Kammerzell, business: “Put the name out so I know what SGA is.”

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.

How to reach us

-Address: Bakersfield College, 1801 Panorama Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93305 -Phone: (661) 395-4324 -Web site: www.therip.com

Reviews

Page 8

The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Ching Yen creates choice chopstick cuisine Gregory D. Cook Multimedia editor

Located at 1207 Columbus St., Ching Yen Restaurant offers a convenient place for Bakersfield College students to grab lunch between classes, and their reasonably priced estaurant lunch specials make eview it even harder to resist when the cravings for a good Chinese meal strike.

Ching Yen has a relatively small dining room decorated in a manner that some might perceive as cluttered. Traditional ink and wash paintings of flowers hang next to garishly colored cardboard decorations that look as if they were purchased at a party store, with flowering plants and paper decorations hanging from the ceiling. While all of this might seem distracting, some-

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how it actually works in this case. The decorations, collected over the restaurant’s 22-year history, set a mood that puts you at ease, as if you were entering a home rather than a restaurant.

My companion and I were seated immediately upon entering and given water and a pot of hot tea. In fact, the tea had been steeped in water that was too hot, bruising its delicate flavors a bit and bringing out the bitterness.

The wait to place our order seemed slightly longer than what we expected, but our hostess explained that she was alone in the dining room this day, when she usually had more people serving.

Still the wait was not excessive for a lunch rush, and it gave us time to fully explore the menu.

All of the staples of a Chinese restaurant were present on the menu including mu shu pork, orange chicken, kung pao chicken and several styles of fried rice and noodle dishes, along with a surprising number of specialty Mandarin and Szechwan dishes

Gregory D. Cook/ The Rip

Candied apples are served flaming to the table. such as crispy duck, Szechwan sea scallops and Hunan beef.

Prices were on the high side of moderate with lunch specials starting around $6, and full dinners running between $9 and $15 per person.

We decided to order from the lunch specials, with my companion ordering the “spicy flavored pork” and I tried the “Ching Yen combination plate.” The lunch

dered consisted of nicely sized portions of sweet and sour pork, cashew chicken, chow Mein and mixed vegetables, all were quite good, but the true star of the plate was the sweet and sour pork.

It perfectly embodied the second goal of Mandarin cuisine, which is to take opposite elements and combine them in a pleasing way.

The dish blended the textures of tender pork with a crisp coating, and covered it with a thick sauce that also blended the tastes of sweet and sour in such a way that the bold flavors of the sauce complimented the subtly of the meat. It was truly delightful.

I found that to be true of almost all of the sauces we encountered.

Although the sauces were thick and richly flavored, I did not feel that they overpowered their dishes with one exception. The sauce on the spicy flavored pork seemed like an orchestra playing slightly out of tune. It was a jumble of different flavors that never really came together. The spici-

ness of the dish seemed forced, and while I would not go so far as to say it was bad, it was definitely not as good as the rest of the meal.

We finished our meal with a true delight, and one that Susan, our hostess, told is something of a dying art in Asian cuisine: candied fruit. The process is as much of a show as it is a dessert.

Chunks of apple or banana are coated with a sugar syrup and sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds. Then they are set on fire and brought to your table still flaming.

Using chopsticks, Susan then took the pieces, one by one, and placed them in a bowl of ice water for a few seconds before placing them on our plates.

The result is a crunchy candy shell made of caramelized sugar covering the fruit. It was delicious.

I would recommend Ching Yen Restaurant to anyone looking for a nice relaxing meal. Good food, good service, good restaurant.

Gorillaz peel new album

Local play hates on Shakespeare

By Brian N. Willhite Reporter

Ryan George Reporter

The Gaslight Melodrama brought to life what dozens of novels already have done: that Shakespeare truly sucks to those who cannot understand the heavy language that is used, but after some understanding and translation, Shakespeare is truly a remarkable writer and playwright.

Before the show even began, the atmosphere was lay already filled with music from the actors and actresses eview working the snack bar. As tips dropped into the plastic jar labeled “Actors 401k Investment Portfolio,” the actors sang parodies of songs such as the “Empire” theme from “Star Wars,” and my personal favorite, a very creative remix on “Who Let the Dogs Out?” by The Baha Men. The play, “I Hate Shakespeare,” began with the well-known speech by Hamlet, portrayed by Bakersfield College’s Scott Hillberry. While a nagging member in the audience (actor Michael Prince) heckles him, Hamlet begins stumbling around the speech and missing lines.

Hillberry’s character proceeds to show Prince’s character various aspects of Shakespeare plays, all done in a humorous setting. For my part, Prince’s character does what I hoped he wouldn’t do: he came away a fan of Shakespeare.

The play, however, had many different things to illustrate and translate in modern means, like one situation where two characters from “Othello” fight over a deceased character, who came back to life to defend herself, while on “The Jerry Springer Show.”

The randomness of things introduced into various Shakespeare scenes made for a fantastic show. Seriously, who would honestly expect to see Jerry Springer, portrayed by Greg Ramsdell, in a Shakespeare play? In other instances, several zombies randomly attack and eat brains of characters such as Julius Caesar, and a ninja assassinates a king.

specials are served with a small bowl of the house special egg flower soup, steamed rice, and appetizers consisting of a vegetable spring roll and fried pork won ton. We also ordered a plate of crab Rangoon as an additional appetizer.

The soup was the first to arrive and I found it to be much thicker than what I have grown accustom to in egg flower soup.

The inclusion of colorful vegetables and pink crabmeat along with its thickness not only made for a rich and tasty soup, but it illustrated a key fundamental of Mandarin cuisine, that the food should delight the eye as well as the palette, and this would be a theme repeated throughout the meal with great effect.

Also of note were the crab Rangoon appetizers. Made by wrapping a mixture of crabmeat and cream cheese in a won ton wrapper and frying them, these little packets of heaven were easily the best I have ever had.

The combination plate I or-

Sailing on the seas of polluted waters, Gorillaz find a home on an island that inspires their new album “Plastic Beach.”

Gorillaz have lbum changed up their eview sound a little bit from their previous records, favoring drum machines, urban beats and keyboards throughout the album while leaving the “band” at home.

I was a bit disappointed with this at first. I have become accustomed to hearing certain things from a Gorillaz album and admittedly, I was eagerly anticipating a “Demon Days” sequel. However, the album delivers on other levels, and is overall very, very good. Maybe even to the point of addiction.

The style that is presented on this album is different, but good.

The trance-like and reflective themes throughout the album give this record a more mature essence than previous releases.

With lush audio landscapes and brilliant compositions, “Plastic Beach” is a treat to the senses.

The theme of the album is an environmentally friendly effort about how “we” are polluting the earth with our uses of convenience products that are non-biodegradable, and how the garbage and pollution building up are turning the world, or beaches in this case, into a landfill. This creates the fictional

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ryan George / The Rip

Coryn McBride portrays a modern Juliet in “I Hate Shakespeare” on March 12.

Even better than the acting was the singing, especially in the after-play review. Ken Burdick and his wife Jill performed in a skit titled “Together Again,” then later, Ken also sang lead in “Friends in Low Places,” originally by Garth Brooks. There was also a wonderful version of “With a Little Help from My Friends,” by The Beatles. The songs were very harmonious and outstanding.

This play, more along the lines of a musical, was outstanding for all ages and definitely worth the price of admission.

The Gaslight Melodrama is located at 12748 Jomani Drive, off of Allen Road, north of Rosedale Highway. “I Hate Shakespeare,” will be running through April 3, with shows at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights, and matinees at 2 p.m. Sundays.

Prices are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and $9 for children for night performances. They are $18 for adults and $9 for students on Sundays.

island Gorillaz live on or the sotitled, “Plastic Beach.”

Though the message comes through in some of the songs, they are very vague and don’t really preach the issue.

Like other Gorillaz albums, Damon Albarn, the leading artistic force behind Gorillaz, pulls together musicians from various genres and works out collaborations with their styles and the familiar Gorillaz sound.

This time is no different and for the most part, the collaborations work well.

Collaborators on this album include Snoop Dogg on “Welcome to the World of the Plastic Beach,” the album’s opening song. The band Little Dragon is featured on “Empire Ants” and “To Binge.”

Also present are Mick Jones and Paul Simonon from The Clash and Big Audio Dynamite on “Plastic Beach.”

Also making appearances are Mos Def on “Stylo” and “Sweepstakes” with De La Soul, who is featured on “Superfast Jellyfish” with Gruff Rhys.

Bobby Womack, an R&B and soul singer from the ‘70s era also appears on “Stylo” and “Cloud of Unknowing.” At first I didn’t like his contributions to the project, but after a while I really started to get how he fit in, and he sounds good.

There are also appearances by Lou Reed of the famed Velvet Underground on “Some Kind of Nature” and Mark E. Smith on “Glitter Freeze,” which basically sounds a lot like a Fatboy Slim track.

My only qualm is that a few of the tracks don’t have much of a Gorillaz feel to them, leaving the album sounding like a mixed tape at times with some of the different artists’ songs like the Snoop Dogg track and the Mark E. Smith track.

The tracks are all good and well done, but they just don’t fit together in my opinion.

However, this setback doesn’t affect the album too much because the rest of the album is filled with pearls and gems.

“Rhinestone Eyes,” “Stylo,” and “Empire Ants” are among my favorites. These tracks have a seductive and up-tempo beat that pull you into the plastic beach universe.

Also, “On Melancholy Hill” and “Broken” are very mellow with an electronica-island vibe to them. Well, most of the album has an island vibe to it, too. In some of the tracks, ocean waves coming on to the shore and seagulls flying faintly in the background can be heard adding to the surreal escape that the music provides.

The techno-type nature of the songs are probably best listened to when you’re in a mellowed out mode and driving down the street at night with the windows down and the bass turned up.

The reflective sound and nature on the album makes this a more mature sounding Gorillaz album than the others, too.

If you’re expecting “Plastic Beach” to be like other Gorillaz albums, you may be disappointed, but if you give it a chance, I think you’ll find it to be something special.

Pattinson gives memorable performance in romantic ‘Remember Me’

By Kelly Ardis Editor in chief

The idea that all girls love romance films is a load of crap. Of all the subpar romantic comedies, romantic dramas and roilm mantic eview dramedies, I like fewer than I can count on two hands. Ninety percent of them are cliched, predictable and just awful. So despite my love for Robert Pattinson (yes, one of those few romance movies I like is “Twilight”), I was worried that his latest film “Remember Me”

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Although their story does hit some points of the aforementioned cliche romance plot, it does so with fully developed characters that are immensely likable and real. The characters, and the unexpected twists that vastly stray from the formulaic plot, make this movie leaps and bounds better than the run-ofthe-mill Nicholas Sparks movies. What’s more surprising than how good this movie was is the ending, but I’m obviously not going to spoil it like other critics have already done.

Anyone who has seen Pattinson’s performance in the “Twilight” movies knows that he is no stranger to brooding; vampire Edward Cullen can be a bit of a

mope. But as Tyler, Pattinson’s brooding is relatable and more authentic. He and the audience understand the pain of losing a loved one a lot more than they understand the pain of being a beautiful, graceful immortal.

Despite the similarity in moods, never did I think “Oh hey, Eddie, why aren’t you sparkling in the sun?” These are two very different characters and Pattinson did Tyler justice and proved that he is more than Edward Cullen.

Something else that set this movie apart from other romantic movies is the depth of the supporting cast. Pierce Brosnan plays Charles, Tyler’s workaholic and detached father who bails Tyler out of jail twice, but

still doesn’t really seem to know or like his son. Pattinson’s role as a brother to Tyler’s artistic little sister Caroline (Ruby Jerins) is as compelling as his role as a lover.

Tyler is Caroline’s best friend and is there when their father is not. At first, Ally’s father Neil is a heartless cop, but later he’s just a protective father. All of these supporting characters have just as much of a story to tell as Tyler and Ally, and they get to tell them without taking away from the main story.

The script was well-written and for the most part, the lines were delivered appropriately, but unfortunately there were a few lines that were a little mumbled and hard to catch, probably the

result of three key actors trading in their natural accents for American accents. No key lines were misunderstood and none of the mumbles led to huge confusion, but it did disrupt the flow of the movie when I’d occasionally have to ask my friend what was just said, only to be told she didn’t know either.

“Remember Me” is a special movie, a genuine piece of art very different from the manufactured products the Hollywood machine typically spews and labels romance. The message of living each day to the fullest and not letting life or love pass you by leaves the audience thinking about their own lives and how they can make them count.

What historical event took place in Seneca Falls, NY?

Editor’s note: BC Brains is a feature that asks students a question to test their knowledge of all things trivial.

Compiled by: Mateo M. Melero / The Rip

Magali Vidal, undecided: “The signing of the Declaration of Independence.”

Gustavo Gomez, engineering: “Women’s rights movements.”

Sharaa Mitchell, undecided: “It was some convention.”

Erika Greer, liberal arts: “Is that where Hitler died?”

Serenity Hansford, liberal arts: “A bunch of sinners fell off of a cliff.”

Correct answer: The first women’s rights convention in 1848. It is generally thought of as the beginning of the women’s rights movement.

BC B rains

would be just like any other romance movie: boy meets girl, girl plays hard to get for about a day, boy and girl embark on a whirlwind romance, boy and girl have some misunderstanding, boy and girl resolve misunderstanding and live happily ever after. To say “Remember Me” surprised me is an understatement.

“Remember Me” is about Tyler Hawkins (Pattinson) and Ally Craig (Emilie de Ravin of “Lost”), two young people who have both lost close members of their families and deal with it in different ways. Where Tyler is brooding and philosophical, Ally takes advantage of every day. Together, they find the balance that they need to be happy.

Page 9

The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Band plays Celtic music with ‘real edge’

By Vincent Perez News editor

Celtic music is not the first thing that comes to mind when Bakersfield music is brought up, but at the Lengthwise Brewing Company on the night of March 13, Whiskey Galore, a four-piece Celtic band from Bakersfield, had the crowd singing along all night.

Whiskey Galore came together in 1997 through percussionist Mike Bowen’s and bagpiper Kevin Briley’s appreciation for Celtic music and as the years passed, guitarist Jeff Davis and bassist Rich Spencer were added to the lineup.

“We started out as a duo, Kevin and I. I went to Kevin for piping lessons. Jeff did, too. Jeff did for a number of years and Kevin and I formed a duo. Years went by and Jeff came up one day and said, ‘I can play a little guitar,’ and he was able to become our third member,” said Bowen.

“Then we added Rich on bass, who is a childhood friend of Kevin’s, also. We all came from musical roots. We all had the love for the pipes. It really helps in our type of music for the other musicians to know how piping music in structured because it’s different than most things.

We know where the stops and starts are,” added Bowen.

Briley added about the band’s longevity.

“There’s no way out. Once you join, you’re family.”

Bassist Spencer described the band’s sound.

“I would describe it as Celtic music with a real edge to it. We play everything very traditional, as far as instrument choices we use and songs we pick, but we like to bring out our own flair.”

However, Spencer added about their influences. “We’re really influenced by things other than Irish traditional music.

Personally, I don’t listen to a lot of Irish music. I’m more into thrash metal and punk and funk, alternative music. None of us listen to the same music.”

Spencer talked about his personal influences, as he said, “My favorite band in the world is probably Nuclear Rabbit, which is a very obscure band from the Bay Area back when I was in college [UC Berkley, 1990s]. They have an amazing bass player (Jean Baudin) and he’s influenced my style a lot.”

One Bay area band also caught Spencer’s attention.

“Green Day was the band back there.

I saw them live a zillion times. I’m influenced by them, love them a lot.”

Spencer used to work at Bakersfield College in job placement in the 1990s and he explained, “I worked with a program getting unemployment for people with disabilities. That was back in ’94, ’95, I think, at least ten years ago.”

Bowen talked about the audience that Whiskey Galore reaches.

“What’s cool is the type of music we do, we have people in their nineties that like it, and we have teenagers with mohawks and nose rings. Everybody can get into it. It’s an old feel to it but you can rock it up a little bit and tone it down.”

By Martin Chang Reporter

Gregory d. cook / The Rip

Rich Spencer of Wiskey Galore plays the upright bass March 13.

Davis added, “It’s medieval heavy metal.”

Kevin talked about the differences with Celtic rock bands and his own Celtic traditional band.

“I’ve learned that Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys, bands like that are outstanding, but the difference between what we do, is we keep it traditional, mostly through Mike [Bowen] because he plays a hand-held drum. There’s no drum kit. It seems like when you go from Celtic to Celtic rock, it’s when you add a full drum kit.”

Davis has had experience with music most of his life, as with the other members. Davis also mentioned how he got into Whiskey Galore.

“I played in the San Diego youth symphony and various jazz bands. The way I got into [Whiskey Galore], I said, ‘I need to learn to play bagpipes.’ I finally hooked up with Kevin and he taught me to play and here I am. I’ve always loved this style of music, it makes you stand up and say hey.”

Davis described Whiskey Galore’s fan-base outside of Bakersfield, such as in Las Vegas on Fremont Street, where the band has played the past seven years consecutively.

“It’s huge. Most of the people haven’t seen us before, stumble upon us and then they don’t leave and we have a crowd of 5,000 people.”

Briley added that, “For family reasons we’re not doing it this year.”

Yet, Briley is proud that the band has toured and played outside of Bakersfield successfully, but Whiskey Galore does not stray too far from home.

“One of the coolest ones we’ve done is the Lucky Strike in Hollywood. That was the bowling alley from ‘The Big Lebowski,’” Briley said.

“We do a lot of private weddings; we’ve done stuff in Fresno, Pismo Beach, Cambria and L.A.,” he said. “We don’t tour too much. We have a great fan base here and are certainly blessed with that.”

Briley added, “And everybody has children and eight to fives.”

Briley attended BC from 1993-1996

gregory d. cook / The Rip

Whiskey Galore members Jeff Davis (with guitar) and Mike Bowen play at the Lengthwise Brewing Company on March 13.

gregory D. cook / The Rip

Whiskey Galore Mike Bowen (left) plays the bodhran while Kevin Briley plays the bagpipes during a concert March 13. and has also attended Cal State Bakersfield.

Bowen said when asked what it means to him to be in Whiskey Galore is because “It’s a release, that’s for sure.”

Davis added, “If it wasn’t fun, I don’t think we’d be doing it.”

Whiskey Galore’s plans for the rest of

the year include a new record coming out next St. Patrick’s Day, and Bowen explained their plans in detail.

“We’re going to take the whole summer off and work on the fifth untitled record. We’ll resurface in September for the beer festival. If not, we’ll resurface at Lengthwise in October.”

Bakersfield College student sees ‘no right or wrong’ in art Denise M. Gonzalez Reporter

A Bakersfield College student, with an extensive interest in art, has grown to develop numerous techniques and mediums by taking the art classes offered Juan Martinez on campus.

Juan Martinez, 20, is a second year student with a concentration in creating professional artwork.

Martinez did not grow up loving art like most artists claim. He grew into the love of art by mistake.

“I was not interested in art at first,” said Martinez. “My junior year at Golden Valley High School, I was accidently placed in a beginning art class for an elective as a mistake. I figured I had nothing to lose, so I decided to stay in the class and give it a shot.”

After completing the assignments that were instructed each week, he soon came to realize how he was able to grasp the concepts of art rapidly. While closely observing his classmates in his high school art class, he found himself puzzled by the slow pace of their work. Martinez then used the new techniques he was taught and began taking his time on other assignments in order to give them extra

House concerts hosted by council

detailing.

“I found myself finishing the assigned work so fast,” said Martinez. “Even though I was done before the majority of the students, my artwork was great in content, which took me by surprise.”

It wasn’t until after those experiences that Martinez found his true talent and interest.

“I then started taking a graphic designs class at the Regional Occupation Center while still in high school,” said Martinez.

“I learned about Photoshop, screen printing t-shirts, numerous mediums in art and photography.”

“After realizing how art is in every aspect all around me, I started to plan the route I wanted to follow involving art,” said Martinez. “I found something out about myself and wanted to continue to develop my skills in this artistic life.”

Martinez then graduated high school, although he constantly rallied behind the question of what he wanted to pursue as a career.

“I took a year off to realize what I wanted to do for a living,” said Martinez.

“Throughout my time off, I found myself waking up and painting on canvases constantly. I found my answer.”

With no hesitation, Martinez planned to attend BC as an art major student. He soon took numerous classes, which he developed new techniques in new mediums.

Martinez realized his specialties were

in large canvas paintings. He would transform the canvases into pieces that leave questioning. At first glance, his paintings leave statements of uncertainty that then become ideal. Martinez does not strive to paint for others’ comfort but to leave a long lasting expression about his work.

He enjoys making others wonder about what the theme to all his creations consist of.

“I was asked to showcase five canvases at the former Basement art gallery downtown,” said Martinez. “I was also asked to participate in a multimedia project that involved myself to start a painting on a canvas without prior sketching.”

Martinez is inspired by his own thoughts and wonders. The huge leap in his art growth has resulted into a brand new perspective of viewing his surroundings on a daily basis. Categories within emotion help Martinez expand his creativity in his penmanship; he brings creatures to life on canvases that demonstrate a theme he is feeling at certain points in his life.

“As I am sketching there is no specific way I go by,” said Martinez. “If I see something within the sketch I go with it.

There is no right or wrong.”

Martinez created two large canvas paintings to submit in the 2010 Bakersfield College Art Student Exhibition presented in the gallery inside the BC library.

Martinez is in high hopes to be selected to showcase the artwork. The paintings

JOSEPH COTA / The Rip

Bakersfield College art student Juan Martinez’s painting of multiple faces in an abstract setting. are called “Daydreamer” and “Control” both made with acrylic.

“I plan to graduate from BC and transfer to a four year college and receive a masters degree in art,” said Martinez. “I just want to paint for a living. I want to have a studio and be able to be creative with my designated atmosphere.”

The Arts Council of Kern is working together with residents of Bakersfield to host The Bakersfield House Concert Series.

These concerts will feature artists of different genres, including Celtic, Irish, folk and blues.

Steve Key, a singer and songwriter, will be performing on March 28. Previously, The Browne Sisters and George Cavanaugh, a Gaelic folk group, performed as a part of the series in February. Other performers include Tony McManus, Joe Craven, who will perform in May, and Anne Weiss, who will perform in June.

According to Jill Egland, Director of Special Projects at The Art Council of Kern, one of the reasons to host the series here is Bakersfield’s location. She said, “Because we sit on [Highway 99] and are in between Los Angeles and San Francisco. We get a lot of entertainers passing through and it makes it possible for them to perform.”

Egland said the house concerts also act as “a kind of audience building.”

“The purpose of the Art Council of Kern is to expose all people to different kinds of music. The thing about house concerts is that it’s such a great small venue, that it really gives you the possibility of really digesting other forms of music, you’re hearing the stories, you’re getting a personal relationship with the musicians. It makes a big difference in people embracing other [music genres].”

According to Egland, “You really have an opportunity to understand why a performer has chosen a kind of music to do and understand why they approach them the way they approach them. It makes it easy to understand and appreciate things you may not have realized you liked.”

Another goal of the series, according to England, is to “democratize entertainment.” She said, “It makes it possible for people to see that they can participate, that art is not outside ourselves, that it is something we all can participate in. It’s a very cool thing for the people who hosted these concerts and bringing artists into their homes and having human conversations with people they may have felt they could not have had a chance to meet, and they are also bringing about the possibly of a group of people being introduced to different kinds of artists, different kinds of music.”

Egland said that the series could help build the community of art in Bakersfield, and that the series acts as a “community building strategy.” She said, “Everybody is responsible for artistic vitality in Kern County.

We are all responsible and we can participate in the vitality of the arts, ‘have a concert in your home.’ It’s not the responsibly of merely Spotlight Theatre or Rabobank [Arena]. It’s in everybody’s hands. That’s a really important part of the house concerts.”

Although The Art Council of Kern now handles most of the organization and promotion of the house concerts, it is Egland’s hope that hosts would “really, really like doing this and just do it all the time, and host their own home concerts series.”

The Bakersfield House Concert Series also gives 100 percent of the admission collected to the musicians. For information on tickets, contact The Art Council of Kern at 324-9000, or their website www.kernarts.org.

Sports

Page 10

The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Track finishes first and second

Scorecard Baseball March 6 March 9 March 11 March 13 March 16 March 18 March 20 March 23

Softball

March 4 March 6

Gregory D. cook / The Rip

Bakersfield College infielder Amanda Flores swings at a seventh inning pitch against Fullerton College on March 9. BC lost the game 8-3.

Softball team doesn’t quit Natalie Rodriguez Reporter

The Bakersfield College softball team added another win to their record due to a forfeit against Santa Monica College on March 11.

Santa Monica did not have their bus driver show up, so they did not have a legal driver. BC offered to reschedule for March 12 but Santa Monica never got back to BC head coach Sandi Taylor about rescheduling.

Taylor talked about the win against Santa Monica.

“We don’t consider it a win, it goes on our record but it is not a win really. We would rather play, that is why we offered go play on Friday,” said Taylor.

Shortstop Courtney Hockett also talked about the Santa Monica forfeit.

“It’s kind of discouraging be-

RIP N ation

cause we didn’t have to put forth effort but at least we have another win,” said Hockett.

BC lost against Fullerton College on March 9, 8-3. In the top of the 3rd inning Fullerton scored two runs and then scored two runs again in the 4th inning.

By the bottom of the 6th inning BC had scored three runs. BC’s right fielder Amanda Roberts got a base hit, which allowed shortstop Courtney Hockett to score a run. Next up was catcher Jamie Dumatrait who tripled to center field, which drove in two runs.

Hockett talked about her teammate and the game.

“It is really nice when you get a rally going on, even though it was too late. It is really contagious, but it’s really nice to score some runs,” said Hockett.

Taylor pointed to Hockett and Dumatrait as key contributors.

“Those two players have been

really hitting the ball hard and I thought it showed a lot of character on their part because had we not scored a run in the bottom of the 6th inning, the game would have been over. It just shows their fight and determination.

They are not going to stop until the last out,” said Taylor.

Taylor continued to talk about the teams qualities.

“It was not our best game, we had too many errors, we didn’t meet our own standards, and so it wasn’t our best performance as a whole,” said Taylor.

She went on to say they have too many two-out errors and too many strikeouts. Taylor also said her team, “showed a lot of character being down 8-0, and there is no quit in them.”

The BC softball team has 10 games in the next two weeks.

Taylor said, “ We have a tough couple of weeks ahead of us.”

Glendale 4, BC 0 BC 4, Glendale 1 BC 4, LA Pierce 1 LA Pierce 7, BC 5 at West LA West LA Canyons at Canyons

2 p.m.

6 p.m.

1 p.m.

2 p.m.

Glendale 8, BC 6 BC Classic #1 (1-3)

March 9 Fullerton 8, BC 3 March 11 Santa Monica forfeit March 16 Citrus (DH) March 18 LA Valley March 20-21 BC Classic #2 March 23 at LA Mission (DH)

2:30/4:30 1/3 p.m.

Men’s golf March 8 March 15 March 21-22 March 29

BC 2nd Place BC 4th Place North-South Cup WSC match at Murrieta

10:30-8 11 a.m.

Men and women’s track and field March 19 March 26 April 3

WSC meet at Ventura 1 p.m. at Antelope Valley Noon Antelope Valley Invitational 9 a.m.

Men’s tennis March 4 March 9 March 18 March 25

BC 6, L.A. Pierce 3 BC 7, Glendale College Santa Barbara at Ventura

2 p.m.

2 p.m.

Women’s tennis March 4 March 9 March 18 March 25

Santa Monica 9, BC 0 BC 7, Glendale 2 at Santa Barbara Ventura College

Men and women’s swimming

March 20 WSC Quads at Pierce March 26 WSC Quads at Cuesta

2 p.m.

2 p.m.

10 a.m.

10 a.m.

Michael Morrow Sports editor

The Bakersfield College track and field team hosted the BC relays on March 13, with the women coming in first and the men finishing in second.

The men had three first-place finishes and three second-place finishes, while the women had six firstplace finishes and four second-place finishes.

The men fell to Antelope Valley by the team scores of 206.5 to 178 but beat out College of the Canyons who had 130.5. The women beat out AVC and Canyons with the scores of BC 157, AVC 138, and COC 134.5. In the 800-meter, run Melinda Magee came in first with an elapsed time of 2.38.33.

In the long jump competition, Chanel Reaves jumped 17 feet to get a first-place finish.

According to Coach Dave Frickel, the team finished strongly because of Chelsea Cassulo’s four first-place finishes. Cassulo placed first in the shot put, hammer, discus and javelin.

“She had an outstanding day, just an awesome day, she did what she needed to do for us and really pushed the girls ahead,” said Frickel. “Three or four events she’s in, she’s in the top 10 in Southern California.”

For the men, Eddie Morrow has been the standout.

Morrow won the 400-meter hurdles with the time of 54.12. Morrow is in the top three in the Southern California area in the 400 hurdles and, according to Frickel, he can only get better.

“I think coming in second can help us out. It’ll give them a confidence boost and when the conference mini-meets come up we’ll be ready,” said Frickel.

“A lot of the kids improved their marks, so they are showing the improvement we expected to see out of them.”

Frickel spoke about expectations for the upcoming Western State Conference matchup on March 19.

“This week we have a conference meet. It’s the first of two, and we only have two because we had to cut back some due to the economic cuts we had to make,” said Frickel. “The teams we’re going against, I think we match up real well. Hoping for both the men and women to finish as high as we can this week.

“The mini-meets also factor in to the overall score at the end of the year for the championship and for the conference, so obviously we want to finish as high as we can.”

Do you follow NCAA March Madness? Who’s going to be in the Final Four?

Editor’s note: Rip Nation is a feature that highlights the opinions of Bakersfield College’s athletes and coaches.

Compiled by: Rip Staff

Carl Ferreira, head volleyball coach: “Yes. I think it’s the best sporting event of the year.

Kansas, Duke, West Virgina, Syracuse.”

Courtney Hockett, softball: “I don’t because I’m not a big basketball fan.”

Men’s golf third in conference, look to catch Ventura and Canyons Natalie Rodriguez Reporter

The Bakersfield College men’s golf team placed fourth out of 16 in the College of the Canyons Invitational played in Simi Valley on March 15.

College of the Canyons placed first with 379 strokes, Ventura College came in second with 397, Allan Hancock College placed third with 401, BC came in fourth with 403, Glendale College and Santa Barbara City College tied for fifth with 411 and

Citrus College came in seventh with 423.

Coach Bill Kalivas spoke to what the team needs to improve on after the tournament.

“We are going to have to work on having better course management,” said Kalivas.

He also spoke about another factor his team deals with.

“We have an extremely young team, but we hope to get better each week.”

Rufie Fessler led the team with a 79. Chris McCracken was next with an 80, followed by both

Rich Gilkey and Ryan Underhill who tied with an 81, James Phillip with an 82 and Daniel Russell, who has a wrist injury, at an 85.

Kalivas commented on the course at Simi Valley after the tournament.

“The greens were bad and there were swirly winds. It was an extremely difficult course,” said Kalivas.

The BC golf team came in second the week before at the Western State Conference held in Bakersfield.

Chanel Reaves, track and field: “No. I’ve never heard of it. But I knew it was a sport.”

Amy Waters, softball: “Yes. I love basketball. Kansas, Kentucky, Duke cause their my team and Georgia Tech.”

Gene Lundquist, women’s tennis head coach: “Yes. But I don’t study it. Duke, Texas, and Kansas or Georgetown.”

Sports

Page 11

The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Women’s tennis hoping to break even with wins

By Julian Moore Reporter

Gregory d. cook / The Rip

Bakersfield College infielder David Pennington tags out Glendale Community College infielder Sako Chapijan during an attempt to steal second base at Gerry Collis Field om March 9.

Renegades sitting even at 2-2

By Julian Moore Reporter

The Bakersfield College baseball team is 2-2 to start out the Western State Conference play. The record comes after splitting a two game series against Glendale and another series against L.A. Pierce.

BC’s bats were shutout as they lost at Glendale 4-0 on Mar. 8. Bryan Maxwell gave up one run in the first and two in the sixth before being pulled for Danny Shepherd to start the eighth.

The Renegades scattered six hits in the loss and left 13 runners on base, seven of which were left in scoring position.

“Sometimes you have to tip your hat to the other guy on the other team, and their guy pitched very well. We handed them three runs,” explained Coach Tim Painton.

“Maxwell pitched very well last night and has nothing to show for it, you know we didn’t come through in situations where we had guys in scoring position. And I think a lot of that had to do with Glendale’s pitcher.”

Infielder David Pennington said of the lack of runs in the loss, “We just came out flat. We could have done a lot of things different but that game’s in the past now.”

He also went on to say, “We weren’t hitting the ball that well and the stuff we were hitting were going straight at guys. We were making them play defense too much.”

The Renegades played Glendale again the next day, where the BC pitching staff struck out 18 total batters and allowed two hits in its 4-1 win to finish with a split in the two game series.

Starting pitcher Greg Fowler struck out a total of 12, Xavier Tavorn, who came in the game in the seventh, struck out four and closer Anthony Ramirez struck out two.

Both center fielder Imaad Nuriddin and catcher Dylan Nasiatka were 2-for-4 in the game; Nuriddin also drew two walks and Nasiatka scored two runs.

Outfielder Sam Westendorf hit a double and a single, scored a run and picked up an RBI. David Pennington and Art Charles both had RBI’s as well.

“I felt like I was in my zone and I felt together as a group we competed well and it

Athletes of the Issue

Anthony Ramirez Baseball Pitcher On the season: 2-0, 1.38 ERA 3 saves 13 strikeouts

Chelsea Cassulo Track and field BC Relays: Shot put: 40’ 5” Discus: 130’ 4” Hammer: 134’ 2” Javelin: 105’ 8”

helped me out on the mound. We’ve been working on my slider, and that slider really helps my fastball,” said Fowler of his performance.

Fowler continued, “I just took it inningby-inning, pitch-by-pitch. I was concentrating on inning four when I’m in inning three.

I didn’t know how many strikeouts I had but I knew it was a lot.”

Coach Painton was beyond pleased with the play.

“Well, he was outstanding,” he said. “He commanded the zone, threw two pitches for strikes and was ahead of hitters all night.”

He went on to address the pitching as a whole.

“Fowler kind of set the tempo, he dominated his six innings, Tavorn’s two were exceptional innings and Ramirez did what we expect him to do in the ninth.”

Pennington said of the win, “We came out ready to play today, and Fowler did a great job on the mound.”

Charles started for the Renegades at L.A. Pierce and threw 6 2/3 innings with four hits in the 2-1 win.

David Pennington led off the third with a walk, where Enrique Meza bunted Pennington over to second.

Sam Westendorf hit a one-out single to drive in the runner.

BC scored again in the fifth when Joe Ramirez came on to score off a single by Andrew Letourneau.

“It felt good to come out and throw well, that’s probably the best I’ve thrown all year and it felt rally good to help the team,” said Charles about the win.

BC lost to L.A. Pierce at home in the second game of the series, 7-5.

Pierce jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the fourth and added another run in the top of the fifth after an RBI single from outfielder Zack Gilula.

In the bottom of the fifth, infielder Joe Ramirez was walked with one out and advanced to second on an error that allowed Pennington to reach first.

Second baseman Meza reached on a fielder’s choice where Pennington was thrown out at second.

Left fielder Andrew Letourneau doubled to right field to score Ramirez and move

Meza to third. Westendorf grounded to short to end the inning.

The Brahamas added another run in the sixth after Iggy Wagner walked and stole second and was then brought in by David Whetstone.

Wagner came in to score again in the top of the eighth to make the score 7-1 going into the home half of the inning.

Westendorf singled after Letourneau struck out to start the inning. Nasiatka struck out to make it two outs.

After that, it started a two out rally for the Renegades. Nuriddin was hit by a pitch from Chris Corsini.

The next batter, Nick Fox reached on an error by the first baseman where Nurridin advanced to second.

Charles doubled off of a curveball that went right up the middle and drove in two runs, to make it a 7-4 ballgame. Ramirez flew out to right to end the eighth.

BC made quick work of Pierce in the top of the ninth and now looked to mount a comeback.

Pennington tripled a 2-and-2 pitch to right field.

Pinch hitter Greg Osteen grounded to third, which brought in Pennington.

Letourneau hit one back to the pitcher who threw onto first for the second out. Westendorf flew out to right to end the game.

“We didn’t do anything offensively to win a ball game,” said Painton.

“We’ve got to get better offensively, for whatever reason it seems like we’ve got a bunch of guys that have gone bad all at the same time. You can sustain one or two guys struggling but its tough when an entire lineup,” explained Painton.

Charles, who went 2-for-4 in the game spoke about the offense after the game.

“We’ can’t win games in the ninth inning, so we’ve just got to swing the bats, keep swinging it, have a better approach at the plate and just got to get in the lab,” he said.

“We’ve got to work on two strike approaches and seeing the ball, hitting the ball.”

Coming up, the Renegades play Thursday, March 18 against West L.A. starting at 6 to finish that series.

Then they host the series opener against College of the Canyons at 1 p.m.

Bakersfield College women’s tennis team picked up a 7-2 win over Glendale College on Mar. 9.

Coach Gene Lundquist was happy with the way the women played in the last match.

“It was our best match of the year, and we had four out of the six singles matches go three sets,” he said.

“We came from behind and won three of those and then of course we went on to win all three doubles,” he went on to say.

“I think it was our best match in terms of performance, not just because we won, but because of the competitiveness that all of our players showed,” he said.

“Their coach said at one point he thought they were going to win five matches in the singles, turned out they only won two of them,” Lundquist said.

The Renegades are currently in fourth out of six in the Western State Conference.

Megan Pate-Raphael, the team’s No. 1 seed, lost her match in three sets.

“I did really well the first set and the second set came around I kind of started feeling really tired and then I ended up losing in the third set tie-breaker,” she said.

She went on to speak of how being sick affected her in the last match.

“If I was not sick, I would have been able to run and move and would have played a lot better.”

Pate-Raphael feels the team can finish out the season by going 5-5.

Sophomore Emily Carnal is hoping the girls can pick up momentum with this win and finish strong.

“Not finish last in conference, finish third in conference.

We were expecting to finish first since last year’s number one dropped their program,” said Carnal. “We expected to move up but we underestimated all the teams in our conference this year.

“We want to come out on the upper half,” she said.

She also spoke of a personal goal she is looking to accomplish.

“I really want to keep my number three spot through the end of the season,” Carnal said.

Stevie Lincoln talked about the approach she takes into each match.

“It’s always a matter of perseverance and who wants it more,” she said.

“Our goal, in the second half of the dual meet session, is to again beat the teams that we beat, and hopefully knock off one of the ones we failed to defeat in the first round,” Lundquist said.

The Renegades travel to Santa Barbara on Mar. 18 and have a bye the following week on Mar. 23.

Men’s tennis beats CSUB Michael Morrow Sports editor

The Bakersfield College men’s tennis team came away with a 6-3 win against Western State Conference opponent L.A. Pierce at home on March 4.

The Renegades are now 3-5 overall, and 1-2 in the WSC. The Renegades were trying to get a conference win after starting 0-2 and losing to Ventura 9-0.

BC started out with win by No. 1 player Nick Jacobs 6-3, 6-1 over L.A. Pierce’s Ari Cohen.

The Renegades followed up Jacobs’ win with another win by No. 2 player James Griffin 6-0, 7-6 over Patrick Massey.

BC’s third seeded player Matt Booth also got a win with the scores of 6-1, 6-2 over Pierce’s Logan Foldstein.

Pierce got their first win in the battle of No. 4’s, when BC’s Chris Sides lost to Royce Pasiliao 7-6, 6-3.

Fifth-seeded Renegade player Robby Jennings got BC another win defeating G.S. Navjeeven Sanders 6-4, 6-1.

In doubles, the Renegades lost the opening match with Griffin and Booth losing to Cohen and Massey 8-5.

Jacobs and Sides picked up the first BC win in doubles against Foldstein and Pasiliao 9-8.

In the last doubles match Jennings and sixth-seeded Ryan Grisso defeated Navjeevan Sanders and LAP’s No. 6 Ryan Feldstein 8-1.

Head coach Regina CsibiKrueger was happy with the way the team played after being beaten by Ventura earlier that week.

“It was a great win for us. I’m very proud of the team, and it seems like all the hard work is finally starting to show,” she said.

“I’m happy with the results, because this is an inexperienced team and they still keep on fighting to do well in conference.”

BC also held a fundraiser for Cal State University Bakersfield.

The Battle of the Sexes fundraiser was held to try and save CSUB’s women’s tennis team from being cut.

The matches were held at the Bakersfield Racquet Club on March 6.

The BC men won 9-0 without dropping a set.

Csibi-Krueger mentioned how she feels the team is a strong one, and what her expectations were for the rest of the season.

“I think we could have done better against Santa Barbara and Glendale, but I am expecting to come in third in the conference.

“I also expect some singles and doubles to qualify for regionals,” she said.

Sports

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Wednesday, March 17, 2010

GREGORY D. COOK / The Rip

Bakersfield College swimmer Mac Robertson swims in a Western State Conference quad meet at BC on Feb. 19.

Former college students return to swim, learn

By Vincent Perez News editor

Being the oldest members on Bakersfield College’s men’s swim team allows John Gregory, 38, and Mac Robertson, 35, to have experience and knowledge on their side. Despite their ages, both had words about how they keep their paces with the team this season.

“It’s not keeping up with them because I keep up with those kids no problem,” Gregory said. “It’s probably just the time to put in.”

“It started out pretty rough, but now I’m doing OK,” said Robertson.

Both told their reasons for returning to BC after Gregory’s 15 years and Robertson’s 17 years away from BC. “The economy is so bad, I had some time, because I’m selfemployed, to finish school and I only had a couple left to take so I decided to finish up and get my AA,” said Gregory.

“I did it because I wanted to.

I had the time and availability,” added Robertson.

Gregory is a former member of the BC swim team in the 1990s and has run his own business for 11 years, a patio construction company named AAA Awning & Repair. According to Gregory, he was introduced to the idea of construction from BC’s pipe fitters union.

Gregory talked about how he got involved with the BC swimming program. “I was swimming anyway there [at the BC swimming pool] at night and that’s how I met Charlie [Pike]. I told him, ‘If I can get my classes and everything, I’ll get on the team.’

He was down with that.”

The rest of the BC swimmers don’t treat Gregory or Robertson any different than other teammates.

Gregory said, “Hanging out with all the kids … they treat me like I’m just one of them.”

When asked what the biggest

DAVid karnowski / The Rip

Bakersfield College swimmers Mac Robertson (left) and John Gregory are on the men’s swim team in their thirties and are the oldest members of the program. Gregory swam for BC in the 1990s and Robertson joined for the first time. difference between when Gregory swam at BC 15 years ago and now, Gregory responded, “The way that they teach how to stroke is different when I swam. Other than that, there is not a whole lot, just a lot of hard work.”

Gregory added that his wife Elaine supports his decision to return to BC to swim.

“Luckily I have an understanding wife who has a good job,” he said with a laugh.

Gregory said that he has no superstitions before swimming in a race, but admitted that he needs a way to get ready.

“No, I don’t have any rituals – just try to make sure I get a good warm-up in, because now that I’m older, it takes longer to get warmed up.”

Gregory’s advice for anyone around his age attempting to do what he is doing now was, “Be ready for some pain.”

Gregory’s events are backstrokes and freestyle races.

Robertson’s advice was, “If

someone wants to get back into it, I would say, ‘don’t give up on it.’ As a coach, I would say ‘You guys don’t know how good you have it, if I could trade places with you, I would do it any day, because I like to compete.’ If anybody is that driven and really wants to do it, go for it. At the junior college level, it’s almost never too late.”

Robertson is a former Ridgeview High School swimming coach for 12 years until he stopped coaching to swim at BC this semester. Robertson is also a substitute teacher.

Robertson talked about his schedule.

“It’s pretty hectic, but I have it set up where at the schools I sub at, I only accept jobs that work around [my] swimming. I sub kindergarten through third grade.”

Robertson added, “Most of my days [are rough], especially Monday through Wednesday, it usually starts at 5:30 in the morn-

ing and I don’t get home until 8 or 9 at night.”

However, Robertson is glad to be back at BC. Robertson graduated high school in 1993, the same year the BC swim team was cut.

“I always liked going to BC when I was going there before.

I think the teachers are great. Junior college has gotten a bad rap, but the teachers at junior colleges are more personable and really great to deal with.”

Robertson added about his classes, “I’m taking Calculus I as a refresher course and I’m taking Intro to World History and a couple P.E. classes.”

Robertson said about his family support, “My family here in town, they support me pretty well. My dad and my grandparents will come to my meets.

[My] nieces and nephews [will come, too].”

When asked about the Western State Conference swimming championships, April 22-24,

Robertson replied, “I’m looking forward to it. This is really new for me … I know my times will come down pretty well. I just hope to do well to represent the team in a good way.”

Robertson has raced in the 200-yard individual medley and has competed in the 100-yard breaststroke.

Robertson’s plans are to continue to teach at more levels of education.

“After this semester, I’m going to continue in a teaching credential program somewhere and work on getting both multiple and single teaching credentials so I can teach any grade K-12.”

Robertson added that he does already have a degree in mathematics from a local institution.

“I’m just returning to teaching.

I already do have a degree from CSUB. I graduated in 2004.”

Robertson reaffirmed his feelings about swimming at BC, as he said, “It feels pretty good, I’ve enjoyed myself.”

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International Delights

The International Students Club of Cal State University, Bakersfield held a fundraising dinner on March 12 in an effort to raise awareness of cultural diversity in the Runner Cafe on the CSUB campus.

Student members cooked a variety of dishes, performed live music, danced to traditional songs and even put on a fashion show to share their ethnic traditions.

Photos by David Karnowski / The Rip

Above left: Russian national and Cal State University, Bakersfield student Ilya Dolgiy jumps into the air during a fundraising dinner held by the CSUB International Students Club on March 12.

Above right: A woman attending a dinner hosted by the CSUB International Students Club serves herself a bowl of Russian Borshch soup.

Right: Students from the Cal State University, Bakersfield International Students Club prepare ethnic dishes for a fundraising dinner March 12.

Left: International Cal State University, Bakersfield economics major Anastasiya Skripnik dances a traditional Russian routine called Kalinka on March 12.

Bottom right: Cal State University, Bakersfield international student and English major Nigina Boltaeva dances in traditional Uzbekistan fashion March 12.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010