The Renegade Rip Vol. 84 No. 7

The Renegade Rip Bakersfield College

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Vol. 84 ∙ No. 7

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Speakers inspire students to lead

By Martin Chang Opinions Editor The Future Leader Conference, held at Bakersfield College on April 28, featured speakers such as activist Dolores Huerta, Mayor Harvey Hall and Shannon Grove staff member Javier Reyes.

The campus chapter of the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) put on the conference, with the help of the local Chamber of Commerce.

A member of SIFE, and organizer of the conference, Will Chandler, had clear goals in mind for the conference.

“The purpose of this conference

was to expose the youth in the community to the opportunities that are available for them to get involved,” he said. “It was really focused on leadership skill sets, providing the students with different points of view from different political aspects of leadership and just to motivate them to get involved.”

Huerta, a lifelong activist and co-founder of the United Farm Workers of America, spoke at the conference. She wants her speeches to encourage students to be more civil minded.

“I think, in this county, we have a lot of potential that we haven’t

met yet,” she said. “When I speak at other campuses, people have [more] enthusiasm than they do here. The only thing I want to encourage is civic engagement. The main thing is to get engaged.”

Enrique Martinez, a student at BC and the vice president of Movimiento Estudiantil de Aztlan (MECHA), was inspired by Huerta and other speakers.

“She is a really inspiring woman,” he said. “I like what she does; she opened my eyes to trying to do other things in the community as well. The thing that inspires me is that nobody can teach you that.

You have to go out there and learn

it yourself.”

Chandler also got something out of the speeches he heard.

“I especially enjoyed Morgan Clayton and Javier Reyes,” he said. “I think they painted an excellent picture of what Bakersfield is, and what it can become, and they also gave words of encouragement to people who are young and may not know what direction they might want to go in.

“I thought it was insightful; I thought it was meaningful and was needed,” he said.

Chandler also appreciated the input of the rest of the speakers, such as Hall and Jack Hernandez.

martin chang / The Rip

Lifelong activist and co-founder of the United Farm Workers of America, Dolores Huerta, speaks inside the forums at Bakersfield College as a part of the Future Leadership Conference on April 28.

DSP&S Baseball ends season with playoff berth haults testing for services

By Zak S. Cowan Editor in Chief

Also inside

BC softball garners an eight seed in State playoffs

The Bakersfield College Renegades finished their season with a strong performance against L.A. Pierce, winning 13-3, and earned a chance to play against L.A. Valley in a single-elimination game in the first round of the 2012 Southern California Regional Playoffs.

L.A. Valley won the regularseason series against the Renegades 2-1, but BC got the victory in the final game against the Monarchs 6-5 with starting

pitcher Tyler Painton on the mound.

Painton was slated to pitch for the Renegades in the game against the Monarchs.

The game against L.A. Valley, which took place on May 1, was a single elimination game, and the winner is set to face either Orange Coast College, the no. 1-ranked team in Southern California, or Rio Hondo College if College of the Canyons wins its single-elimination game.

Both of those scenarios would Please see BASEBALL, Page 9

gregory d. cook / The Rip

Renegade Benito Machado slides into home plate after a wild pitch to score the go-ahead run against Los Angeles Pierce College on April 26.

BC to host trial section of Amgen cycling tour

By Martin Chang Opinions Editor

reach speeds of 60 mph going downhill onto Harrell Highway.

Ryan described the cycling pros coming here The Tour of California, a nationally recognized as “the top field competing in the world.” He is cycling event, will be holding its fifth section, a expecting an even bigger turnout than the tour’s time trial, at Bakersfield College, and both the or- stop here in 2010. ganizers and cycling enthusiasts are excited.

“In 2010 we had 14,000 people,” he said. “That On May 17, the trial will take the top cyclists was for a 30-minute exposure to the pros. This in the world from BC, through Alfred Harrell time, the pros are going to be here for almost four Highway, all the way to Lake Ming, and back hours. They’ll be warming up. They’ll be signing to BC. The 18.4-mile course autographs; I picture 30,000 will take a professional rider people hitting the BC area.” under 40 minutes to complete.

For first-year Taft College “In 2010 we had 14,000 In many other cycling events, student Ricky Gonzales, the people ... This time, the nature of time trial races is the cyclists race in teams and travel from one city to another. pros are going to be here for what interests him about our In this trial, they will race by stage of The Tour of Califoralmost four hours. They’ll nia. themselves to compete for the best time.

“It’s just different,” GonzaThe Bakersfield Sports be warming up. They’ll be les said. “Time trialing is difFoundation is putting on the signing autographs; I picture ferent in that it’s one person; event with help from the city it’s not a group of people. You of Bakersfield and Kern Coun- 30,000 people hitting the BC get to really see people at their ty. Kerry Ryan, the president own ability, not in the pack, area.” of the sports foundation, dejust their own ability showing –Kerry Ryan, scribes the trial as a challenge. on that day.”

“The course ungulates. It For Ryan, BC was an ideal Sports Foundation president has hills and turns,” he said. spot to start and end the trial.

“It’s a technical course. The road conditions “I chose BC as a location because they had change with the weather. It will change from the parking, and they had facilities. It enables me to first to the last [cyclist]. What should be expected use this side of the valley. If I took the race downnathan wilson / The Rip is a very hard course, harder than their usual time- town, it adds extra miles and costs to blocking all Local cyclist John Zaninovich rides down Alfred trial course, for sure.” the roads and things like that. I don’t think we Harrell Highway during the Amgen Bakersfield Time The course starts at the top of Panorama Drive could have afforded to have the race downtown.

Please see AMGEN, Page 5 Trial Course Ride on April 29. and Mount Vernon Avenue, and pro riders will

A special section inside this edition of the Rip

Bakersfield College’s student-run magazine

By Jon Nelson Features Editor

Incoming freshmen and students who feel they might have a learning disability will have a harder time accessing student services in the fall.

Due to budget cuts made in 2009 and 2010, the Disabled Student Programs and Services department at Bakersfield College will no longer be offering learning disability testing after the spring 2012 semester.

“Please be aware that, due to funding cuts, DSP&S can only support mandated student support services,” said director of DSP&S Angelica Gomez in an email to faculty and staff.

California does not require community colleges to offer disability testing and, in the current economic climate, non-essential programs like this are being cut.

“If it’s not mandated, we won’t be offering it anymore,” said Gomez.

Students at BC did not react favorably to the news.

“It’s not fair,” said Kayla Welch, 22, a child development major at BC. “Why should we take funding from those who need it the most?”

Others echoed Welch’s sentiment.

“It’s not going to help them,” said Brenda Romero, 21, who is majoring in human services. “I hope they don’t take it away.”

Romero also suggested students start a petition to protest the loss.

“I don’t think they should cut anything,” said Patrick McEvoy, 20, an art major.

In order to receive benefits, students must now provide a medical history that proves they have a learning disability or require assistance.

Testing for a learning disability was formerly offered free of charge to all students.

The alternative to being evaluated by counselors at BC is to hire a local, private psychologist to provide the testing.

Unfortunately, this option comes at cost to the student.

“Students who are diagnosed with some form of disability, psychological or medical, must have verification to receive assistance,” said Gomez.

Fortunately for students, testing is the only thing the DSP&S will be cutting.

They will still be offering accommodations, such as alternative media and sign language interpreters, to students in need.

Features

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Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Afroman interacts with fans at B Ryder’s

By Martin Chang Opinions Editor When Afroman played in Bakersfield at B Ryder’s, he played to an appreciative crowd that danced and really got down.

Afroman first became known when his song “Because I Got High” became a national hit in 2000.

He calls the experience of seeing that song explode, “unreal” and “cartoonish.” He has been recording and touring ever since.

Afroman was playing music as early as six years old. He first got his start after a little trouble at school.

“I wrote about my teachers sending me to the principal’s office for something petty,” he said. “I had to get expelled, and I had a little free time on my hands, made a song.”

Right from the start, he found success.

“It did really good. [The song] made a little capital.”

Afroman sees his music as a celebration of the stoner and marijuana culture.

“I hate to admit it,” he said. “I was designed for a buzzing person. I design the music and the lyrics [after that.] You got the rapping killer, the rapping gangster, the rapping pimp, I’m the rapping drunk pothead, so if you get high you gotta feel me.”

During the show, the audience showed an appreciation not often shown for acts at venues

like B Ryder’s.

Audience members moved and danced with gusto. None of his jokes or asking for participation fell flat.

During parts of the show, women would jump up on stage and dance with him. People seemed to be having a really good time. You could only describe it as a party atmosphere.

Afroman loved the feeling of playing to such a crowd, a crowd that was really feeling him.

“There ain’t no better feeling,” he said. “It’s the ultimate feeling. Ain’t nothing better than Afroman [for that party feeling.]”

He gave back to this energy by having a meet and greet, where anyone could take a picture with him, or have him sign items like baseball caps.

Afroman’s meet and greet was more involved than other meet and greets often could be.

He had several-minute conversations with his fans and he listened.

He laughed heartily at their jokes. He was just having a good time interacting with his fans.

When he tried to leave, groups of fans followed him out. He didn’t just brush off these fans, he talked with them, laughed with them and he even goofed off with them by doing playful things like chasing them around cars.

He was smiling and laughing after the show.

He seemed to be happy to give back to an audience that gave him an “ultimate feeling.”

Martin chang / The Rip

Afroman plays his double-neck guitar, a Gibson EDS-1275, on April 22 at B Ryder’s.

BC welcomes a new club dedicated to women in diverse occupations

By Angie DelGado Reporter A new club, the Women In Diverse Occupations or WIDO, has been formed on the Bakersfield College campus.

The club is a place for women to inspire each other and support each other in fields that are primarily dominated by men.

The members of this club are majoring in careers such as automotive, engineering and welding, among many others.

“This club is open to anyone,

but mainly women who are in careers that are diverse, like woodworking, welding, or manufacturing,” said club adviser Steve Hageman.

The club’s purpose is to encourage women to get involved, and to encourage them to follow their dreams regardless of what people may think or say.

“Whatever road blocks you see, we can knock them out,” said Hageman. Women who are in the club also qualify for scholarships and internships in the careers of their choice.

Dominica Rivera-Dominguez

helps the members of this club gain knowledge of what scholarships are available to them and how they can apply for these awards.

She also focuses on finding them internships where they can expand their knowledge in the fields of their choice.

“Right now, through the Financial Aid office, we have the automotive scholarship,” said Rivera-Dominguez.

“I work at the Career Development and Workforce Preparation.

“We do advising, we offer in-

ternships, and we also want to focus on the women so we offer one internship in welding, and four or five internships in automotive.

There are also internships available [through] Chevrolet.”

“I would definitely work for Chevy in just a heartbeat,” said Lindsay Berryman, WIDO vicepresident.

This club is meant to encourage women to follow their dreams, and to network together to build resources around them.

“I feel like I can connect with other women who share a passion

in automotive and welding,” said Berryman. “That really helps to motivate you. I’m just as capable as the men.”

Berryman plans to encourage women to attend the club and to help them gain confidence in what they want to do.

“If you have that passion in anything industrial related, whether it’d be automotive, manufacturing, welding, just go for it, and don’t care what other people think,” said Berryman.

“A lot of women tend to be deterred because they’re going to think ‘oh, I don’t like the fact that

people think I’m different,’ but you can’t think of it that way.

“You just got to be yourself and do what you want to do. Follow your passion in life,” said Berryman.

The club plans to have activities where they can help others.

Some of their ideas include changing oil and air filters for those who can’t afford it, and helping people clean their houses, or their yards.

The club plans to meet every second and fourth Friday of the month at 9:30 a.m. in the FACE building in room 16.

Market offers organic, fresh choices in Bakersfield

By Breanna Fields Reporter A crowd gathered on April 28 for the Brimhall Farmer’s Market, which offered locals a chance to stock up on fresh fruits, vegetables and other organic products like raw almonds, homemade bread and honey.

Located on the corner of Brimhall and Calloway in the Brimhall Square Shopping Center, the farmer’s market occurs every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Managed by Jaclyn Allen, the market has grown since it began just two years ago.

“Honestly, I was on such a small budget when I started this, that this market truly has grown just by word of mouth,” said Allen. “I didn’t have the money to advertise.”

Even without a formal ad campaign, the Brimhall Farmer’s Market has managed to attract the attention of buyers who choose to purchase local over non-organic grocery store products.

“First thing is, this stuff was picked yesterday,” said Allen.

“So, it’s super fresh. In the grocery stores you’re getting things that have, on average, traveled 2,500 miles just to get there. They get picked really early and are ripening on the truck rather than on the tree.”

A certain reassurance comes when purchasing all-natural and organic products at a market like this, Allen explained. Farmers are on site to assist customers in their purchases and give them information on the products for sale.

“The thing is that you’re buying better quality so it’s not comparable to grocery store fruits,” she said. “It’s better. The farmers actually drive here and have picked the fruit themselves.”

Saturday’s market hosted more than a dozen vendors and local farmers including those from relatively close areas like Tulare.

France Bakery was there selling homemade breads and Gold Coin Farms sold fresh produce stacked in rows.

There were a few obscure ven-

dors like Raw Nutz, who sold bags of homegrown almonds, and BJ’s Lavender Farm, which sold lavender-based products.

While prices of organic foods can fluctuate, for example, during the winter strawberries are more difficult to grow so they may be costlier during that time, Allen assures buyers that there are plenty of deals to be found with regular vendors that attend each market.

“There’re certain times where they’ll do really good deals that blow away supermarket prices,” said Allen. “They’re tricks of the trade,” said Allen.

For those who haven’t gotten their fill of organic products by the end, a new farmer’s market also managed by Allen has recently opened on the corner of Ming and Haggin Oaks. It will be held on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and feature new vendors that will also offer a selection of hot foods.

“We have based it on what a true farmer’s market should be: small, local and for the community,” said Allen.

megan luecke / The Rip

Visitors to the market on April 28 cooled off with the purchase of a freshly made drink.

The drink choices included a fresh lemonade with mint.

BC student shares his adventures during his time as a delivery driver

By Nate Perez Reporter

opportunity to go to the more middle-class neighborhoods, but those neighborhoods are not as

Drug abusers, prostitutes and frequent customers.

“Tips are what give me my gas weirdos are something that Eric Garcia deals with regularly at his money,” said Garcia. “They’re usually better toward the nicer job. areas, but in the It’s something he’s “I ended up knocking on the rougher neighborhoods, almost desensiwrong door and the woman s o m e t i m e s tized to.

Garcia, 20, asked, ‘what is it?’ and I told when people are drunk they is a history major at Ba- her, ‘it’s a pizza’ and she said, tend to tip more than they norkersfield Col‘is it a large sausage?’” mally would.” lege. When he Garcia has –Eric Garcia, isn’t at school, encountered BC student he works parthis fair share of time as a pizza prostitutes and delivery guy at junkies. It comes with the terriHungry Howie’s pizza.

Hungry Howie’s drivers are tory, according to him.

Garcia has been invited in for typically sent out to the poorer adult activities at a few hotels in neighborhoods in town, such as Union Avenue, Pacheco and town. The scene can be disturbso forth. The drivers do get the ing to some, according to Garcia:

Nate Perez / The Rip

Pizza delivery guy Eric Garica is a student at Bakersfield College. He has experienced things during his time as a delivery man that most people would never think of.

unpleasant looking women sitting down in front of their hotel room doors waiting for their next client.

“I ended up knocking on the wrong door and the woman asked, ‘what is it?’ and I told her, ‘it’s a pizza’ and she said, ‘is it a large sausage?’”

“I [went] next door and it [was] the right hotel room. They open the door and some guy is under the covers with a prostitute. The woman who paid me was in a robe and asked me ‘do you want to come in?’ They saw the money I had for change. It was like they all saw green and jumped.”

Aside from call girls, Garcia often encounters awkward situations such as fake bills, credit cards and the occasional creep.

Garcia has never been put into a situation where he has had to exchange blows. He was once

sent to deliver to an abandoned house.

By good fortune, the neighbors were outside and warned Garcia that the house had been empty for quite some time.

Delivery drivers get a preconceived notion on whether or not they will get tipped based on location, attitude of the customer over the phone or if the customer is a regular, and delivery drivers do remember if customers forgot to tip the last time.

It’s almost like that sour milk taste that doesn’t go away, according to Garcia.

Garcia emphasizes that as a delivery driver there are more bad things than good. His car receives more maintenance than usual and filling up his gas tank is a far more frequent task than the average driver. Garcia encourages people to tip their delivery driver. They never forget.

Features

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Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Kern Models delivers artistic touch

By Metiqua Eng Reporter A local group called Kern Models and Photographers has brought popularity and creativity to the Kern County photography scene.

Kern Models and Photographers is a group on Facebook created by local photographer Dan Spencer where photographers and models can establish connections and relationships with others, as well as gain more pictures for personal portfolios.

Several local photographers of all skill levels, experience, and styles show the work they are doing around Kern County.

Rachelle Deaton, 40, is an administrator for Kern Models and Photographers and is a coordinator and active participant in group photo shoots.

“I’ve been a photographer for about 23 years and I got involved because my daughter did pageants,” Deaton said. “I started taking headshots and getting involved in cameras and started loving it.”

Deaton started as just another face invited to join on Facebook but quickly turned into an avid contributor to the group.

“I got involved because I posted some pictures of a model named Bianca and she submitted me to the group,” Deaton said.

“I went from there and was the 50th person in the group and now there’s like 280.”

Deaton has been extremely involved with the group, not only as a photographer, but by helping potential models use Kern Models and Photographers as a stepping stone. She wants to capture an essence about her models as well as learn more within her own photography skills.

“I really want to pull out whatever the person I’m photographing has,” Deaton said. “Say that person is really trendy, I’ll try and pull that out. I don’t like to

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

gregory d. cook / The Rip

Rochelle Deaton checks the settings on her camera between shots during a photo shoot on April 16. put my touch on it too much. I just want to pull out whatever personality that the model has, so it varies from person to person.”

Deaton expresses that being a member of the group has overall strengthened her photography and directing skills, which are making her more talented and giving her more experience.

“I’ve learned patience in that you got to be patient with the

new people that are trying to learn how to model or learn how to do different things,” Deaton said. As this online group continues to flourish, Deaton basks in the great qualities of the group she has so much passion for.

“Overall I think because all of us photographers critique each other, I’m getting really good criticisms on my pictures so that I learn what to do next time and how to get better and bet-

ter,” Deaton explains. “I think this past year my stuff has improved so much since the first time I started shooting that I’m constantly learning and growing from it so I don’t think I’ll be done learning. But I’m hoping to be as good as some of the pros that are on there. I’ll keep practicing.”

For Kern Models and Photographers to have started as such a small group, it has quickly

grown and attracted more members to participate, linking models and photographers all over Kern County to communicate and work together.

“I’ve been able to meet so many cool people,” Deaton explained.

“I’m learning new things like a lot of new lighting techniques and posing ideas, just learning that things continually change over and over again. It’s a really cool hobby to have.”

Marijuana celebrated with 420 festivities

By Metiqua Eng Reporter Generally, April 20 of every year is just a regular day to most people, but to others it’s known as 420 and a celebration to embrace the symbolism of marijuana.

The term 420 originated in 1971 from a group of teenagers in San Rafael who would get together at 4:20 p.m. in hopes of finding a marijuana crop. This term translated over the years as the representation of weed and is primarily used in the United States as a code name to smoke marijuana.

A 20-year-old female student at Bakersfield College who would like to remain anonymous shares her extensive experience with marijuana as well as the celebration of 420.

“I’ve been smoking weed since I was 13-years-old,” she said. “I smoke marijuana to calm down my moods and enable myself to eat everyday, as well as ease my anxiety.”

She stresses that smoking weed and the basis of 420 is not about glorifying drug use, it’s about what marijuana symbolizes and how it affects people every day.

“The celebration of 420 is all about sharing with the world the calmness and peace that comes with

smoking marijuana, along with the Rastafarian outlook of smoking marijuana,” she said. “420 is a day to remind myself and my friends of the love and peace we need to share, and how the world should not be at war with themselves.”

She even says there are festivals made to celebrate marijuana where people get together to delight in the significance of weed, such as the annual 420 Fest.

“420 Fest is an electronic music event that involves the theme of 420 and Rasta everywhere and is located in Victorville, CA by Motive Events,” she said. “There are multiple stages that involve artists of various genres such as Dubstep and Electro. There are also booths, games, rides and dispensaries for marijuana.”

This female student is very passionate about marijuana, what it stands for, and would really like to inform people who don’t know what 420 is, that it’s not about potheads getting together to just get high.

“The most important thing is that it’s not just about smoking weed,” she said. “It’s not about being high.

It’s about actually giving praise to the plant and what the plant represents as well as the Rastafarian outlook of smoking marijuana.”

omar oseguera / The Rip

420 is a day where people gather to smoke marijuana and celebrate its culture.

Get your musical fix this summer with these festivals

By Patricia Rocha Copy Editor Summer is a great time for Bakersfield’s local music scene as it hosts many seasonal shows.

The season kicks off with KRAB radio’s all-ages annual Free 4 All, held at the Bright House Networks Amphitheatre on May 19. This year features bands Say Anything, Imagine Dragons, Walk the Moon, JJamz, and local band Streetside Vinyl.

As the only local band to play this year’s show, all of the members are very excited to share the stage with the other artists.

“I’ve been listening to Say Anything since junior high,” said

Keep style simple

drummer Greg Bruick.

The band was approached by KRAB DJ Danny Spanks to play the show after they were on his segment “Spank it or Crank it.”

Only playing for about a year, the band credits their success to lots of practice and guidance from their manager to get them where they are now.

“It’s a whole new band, new sound, new members,” said bassist Justus Dixon.

The outdoor concert draws hundreds of people and this’ll be the band’s biggest show so far.

“I’ve been digging the stuff they’ve been playing on KRAB,” said lead vocalist Shawn Gough about hearing the promotional

songs being played on the radio for the show.

Following the Free 4 All is the annual Rockin’ Roots music festival held at Stramler Park. The festival has been so successful in the past because of the mix of mainstream and local bands covering a wide array of genres including techno, hardcore, punk, ska and hip-hop.

Concert promoter Tim Gardea has been known to credit the success of past lineups to the concertgoers who give feedback on what bands they want to see.

The usually two-day event is now only being held on June 9 with bands such as Pierce the Veil, Suicidal Tendencies, Of

Mice and Men, Johnny Craig, The Ghost Inside, Dr. Acula and Casino Madrid with Falling in Reverse headlining.

Streetside Vinyl played the show last year and say they’ll be playing this year again.

“It’s a great way to get exposure,” said bandmate Silas Sproul.

More than a hundred bands on multiple stages means there’s something for everyone.

“You can just walk by a random stage and hear your new favorite song,” said Dixon.

The show follows in the same layout as most summer festivals, bringing to Bakersfield it’s own mini-Warped tour.

For those who can make it out of town for more summer concert fun, Warped tour itself is the ultimate summer music festival and has been since its debut in 1995.

This year’s lineup includes The Used, Rise Against, Lostprophets, All Time Low, Taking back Sunday, Senses Fail and Yellowcard among many others.

With it’s legendary reputation, Streetside Vinyl members are hoping to earn themselves a spot on the lineup as well.

“Any band wants to play Warped tour,” said Dixon. “In 50 years, people are going to be studying it in music appreciation class. It’s going to make music history.”

The fashion world operates in two seasons, fall and spring, but here in Bakersfield we get one very grueling one: hotter than the surface of the sun.

Summer fashion is unique from any other time because it’s about the bare minimum.

Fashionably layering tights, blouses and sweaters just Patricia Rocha isn’t practical when it’s a humid 90-degree day.

Here in Bakersfield, it’s practically impossible to stay stylish when it’s too hot for anything but a no-fuss top with shorts or a simple summer dress. Clothing-wise, your best bet is going to be breathable fabrics, and by breathable fabrics I do not mean those sheer, midriffbaring tank tops that are so popular at the moment. I’m talking about fabrics that keep you cool and don’t cling to your body, like cottons and soft silks.

The trick to simple style is to throw in some key pieces that make a statement. Look for pieces with visual interest, like flirty dresses with cutouts and fun patterns. Instead of a T-shirt with average denim cutoffs, try to find some in a fun color like aqua or burnt orange.

Accessories like hats and necklaces are a great way to add to a summer outfit, but be sure to wear the right kind. A light, straw or wide-brimmed hat is going to be much more comfortable in the heat than a closer-fitting, head-warming cloche, for example.

Along the same lines, a dainty necklace with a light chain is going to feel a lot nicer than a heavy bib or choker style.

As much as I love my closed-toe pumps and flats, summer really is all about cute sandals. Sandals that are actually shoes of course, not those over-grown packing peanuts people like to call “flip flops.”

Because your clothing will be simple, summer is a great time to focus on all of the things that can keep you fashionable outside of your outfit. Summer music festivals, barbecues and pool parties are season staples, and no matter what outfit you choose to wear, your number one accessory should be sun block and deodorant. Lobster tans and armpit stains don’t flatter anyone, ever.

Taking care of yourself physically is also going to play a huge role in how you look. Drinking plenty of water will not only keep your body hydrated, but also keep your skin from drying out.

Keeping your skin fresh also means less breakouts and a flawless canvas for some light makeup.

Along the same lines, overwashing your hair may seem like a good idea after a muggy day, but this can dry out your scalp even more. A nice dry shampoo keeps your hair clean without all of the hassle of ruining your gorgeous locks.

Feeling good about how you’re taking care of yourself will definitely translate into your summer wardrobe. If you’re drinking a lot of water, taking care of your hair and skin, and just overall feeling fresh, your outfit itself will just be the accessory to your confidence.

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Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Wine bar offers music, fun

By Nicholas Sparling Reporter One of Bakersfield’s few wine bars has changed ownership and is undergoing many changes.

Wine Me Up, which is located on Coffee Road, is much more than just a wine store.

You can bring in food from your favorite restaurant and Wine Me Up owner Lisa Spezziale will pair it with a wine to accompany your meal.

“We don’t have a full kitchen so we can’t cook here,” said Spezziale. “So if somebody wants to bring in food that’s just fine.”

The store location has been there for five years but it has only been under its current ownership since Jan. 19. According to Spezziale, since then “business has been phenomenal.”

At Wine Me Up, unlike at a grocery store, you don’t have to blindly buy a wine that you have never tried.

“You can buy a bottle at retail price and take it home or you can buy a bottle and drink it [here],

or you can do tasting and if you like it you can buy it,” said Spezziale.

“You can do the two-ounce or the five-ounce sampling, or you can try a flight where you can get five one-ounce pours so you get to try five different wines then choose from that and decide if you want to get a bottle so you’re not getting a full glass, you’re just getting a little bit to taste and see if you like it or not.”

Since Wine Me Up has been under new ownership, a lot has changed.

“We completely changed the place when we bought it,” said Spezziale. “We painted, we got new furniture, we put the dry bar in, plus we added shuffleboard and the TVs.” They also offer live music every Friday and Saturday night, usually two-piece bands that play somewhat jazzy music.

Wine Me Up also has wine tasting on Wednesday nights where they try to have a wine maker showcase their wine two to three Wednesday’s of the month. The wine maker will usually show-

case five to six wines and have a chance to talk about them.

“Then you get a chance that night to purchase the wine at a discount price but you have to purchase it that night for the discount,” said Spezziale.

Even if you don’t buy the wine that night, it will be featured for purchase later, only not at the discounted rate.

On the Wednesday of the month that they don’t have wine tasting, they will showcase a movie.

“No romantic movies. We don’t want everyone in here crying,” said Spezziale. “Its mostly funny older movies.”

Recently they showed Caddyshack.

More than just wine, they also serve bottles of beer.

“We’re trying to do more specialty beers but we do have beers like Budweiser and Bud Light and Coors,” said Spezziale. “A lot of guys want to come in and don’t want to have a glass of wine but their wife or girlfriend does, so it gives them an opportunity to try new beers or they could have

their old favorite.”

In order to keep their selection fresh, Wine Me Up is constantly switching out the wines that they carry.

“We try and rotate different types of wines all the time,” said Spezziale. “We don’t want to have your average grocery store wine. We want people to experience all different types of wine that they can’t find anywhere else.”

Spezziale has years of experience in the wine industry, working for three years as a wine representative and also owning restaurants and nightclubs.

“I’ve been on both sides, as the person selling to restaurants and the person selling to the customer.”

By constantly rotating in new wines from different wine makers, Wine Me Up has the potential to offer a new experience each time.

“I’m learning also. I’m learning all new wines for my palate and for everyone else’s palate.

We just want to keep bringing in new stuff,” said Spezziale.

Wise study tips to ace your finals

By Crystal Sánchez Reporter Finals are quickly approaching and so is the stress of having to study for them. Many students are eager for any help they can get, which is why The Huffington Post recently came out with a list of study tips for exams.

Fernando Munoz, mathematics major, said he usually listens to music while studying for finals. “I listen to music because it helps me concentrate on what I am studying,” he said.

When asked if he had ever listened to Mozart, he said, “I have

heard music like that can really help you, but I have never tried it before.” However, Munoz said that he would give Mozart a try.

Another tip was to alternate study spots so students won’t get bored of the same old spot.

Cara Phillips, music major, said that she and her friends always have their study groups at a local Starbucks.

“We love going to Starbucks to study because it’s relaxing and we can order coffee non-stop,” she said.

Phillips said alternating study spots makes sense, but that she and her friends will still continue

to go to Starbucks. “It makes sense to change up the routine every once in a while, but we just love Starbucks way too much to give it up,” she said.

Matt Dunn, an economics major, said that doing some kind of exercise relieves his stress before a big test.

“Before every final I take a quick walk and it helps clear my mind and relieves the stress,” he said.

Dunn said feeling stressed before a test is the worst feeling for him. “Being stressed before a test is a sickening feeling,” he said. “I hate it.”

Making studying fun has often been a difficult challenge, but Kelly Galen, a criminal justice major, has discovered a way. Galen said that she and her friends create a Jeopardy game board using flash cards.

“Throughout the semester I make flash cards to help study for tests, so that way for the final I have them ready,” she said.

Galen said that both she and her friends enjoy playing Jeopardy better than staring at a textbook all night. “Playing the game is a fun way to get our brains working instead of reading chapters from the book.”

omar Osegura / The Rip

Wine Me Up, a local wine bar that serves a variety of wine and beer, is located on 3900 Coffee Road, Suite 2.

9 ways to ace your finals Study in chunks Listen to Mozart Alternate study spots Drink cocoa Form a study group Jog around campus Manage your time Approach each class differently Build on what you know is interesting found on Huffingtonpost.com

Anime fans celebrate their fandom at local comic exhibition

By Ruben Perez Reporter Bak-Anime once again thrust itself into the arms of local anime and manga fans at The Double Tree Hotel on April 22.

People from all over Bakersfield, and even some from out of town, came to this event.

Heidi Bailey has been coming to Bak-Anime ever since it started.

“I come for the people,” she said. “A lot of my friends go, a lot of the artist people and the retailers and all of that, are here every year and it’s a lot of fun to talk to them too.”

The convention had vendor booths, card game tournaments and Q-and-A panels with different people in the anime and comic book business.

The vendor booths sold items for costumes and anime related products that you wouldn’t find at a typical store. Local businesses Leeters Gaming and Paladins Game Castle were also present.

The first panel was for “Hetalia”, an anime series, where fans got to ask people dressed as characters about the series and just general, fun questions.

The “Hetalia” panel consisted of local people that had seen similar panels and wanted to do their own. The main panel was a Q-and-A panel with voice actors Travis Willingham and Laura Bailey, who have worked on shows such as “Full Metal Alchemist,” “Blue Gender,” “Dragonball Z,” and “Bleach”.

For an hour, fans were able to ask Willingham and Bailey questions about the shows they have worked on, any possible plans to revive some fan favorite shows, and to do voices

from some of their characters, which they gladly performed.

After the panel, fans were able to meet both of them and get an autograph. Brandon Jefferson, who waited in line for 40 minutes to get an autograph, was elated about meeting Bailey and Willingham.

“I love anime and they’re so cool about it,” said Jefferson.

“I told her [Bailey] that “Blue Gender” was my favorite anime and she was so happy because that’s the second show she ever worked on. She even signed my DVDs.” The last panel was a Q-andA panel with Billy Martinez, owner of Neko Press Comics, about how he got started in the comic business, and he also gave advice to people just starting out or toying with the idea of being a comic book writer.

It would be remiss to not acknowledge the amount of cosplay at the event.

A woman who wanted to be referred to by her character’s name dressed up as, Mello from “Deathnote,” shared her opinion on the cosplay.

“It’s authentic to dress up at these events and you don’t feel out of place,” she said.

People dressed up in a variety of characters ranging from Pikachu and Link, to Pyramid Head and the “Team Fortress 2” Pyro.

The event coordinator Steve Wyatt was glad at how the event turned out and is going to be holding another anime convention this November.

“It’s a two day show, so more rooms, more events, and some overnight also,” he said.

If you want to stay updated on the next Bak-Anime you can register your email at their website, Bak-anime.com.

News

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The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Online journal launches with readings by students

By Breanna Fields Reporter Bakersfield College professor Brad Stiles launched the Roughneck Review on April 24 at the Norman Levan Center.

Students and staff gathered to hear an introduction by Stiles, as he discussed his present and future goals for the new online journal.

It was agreed that Roughneck Review would be the name of

the website by a student’s suggestion.

“The roughnecks are that class of worker that does the actual work,” said Stiles. “The reason I wanted ‘Roughneck’ in the title was because BC is really Bakersfield’s school.”

In its current form, the website features work solely created by BC students and range from creative works (poems, plays, stories and photos) to essay writing.

Artwork, music pieces and other

forms of media may also be eligible for online publication.

“We’ve gotten a lot of responses when I approached them about submitting work,” said Keri Wolf, BC English professor and editor of the Roughneck Review.

“Three of my students are currently in the issue.”

There have been 22 contributing writers and 23 projects submitted, including a partner assignment.

“So far we have essays,” said Wolf. “Some are personal narratives, there’s argumentative, and informational as well.”

Stiles said that the Roughneck Review would be released twice a year in April and October.

“We’re going to try to get the word out to the community and to the world that [BC] has very talented students,” said Stiles.

A few students with published work attended the launch at the Norman Levan Center and were

given a formal introduction by their professor and went on to read their essays.

BC student Amy Daley presented her essay on the history of wine after an introduction by history professor Paul Beckwith.

Students Mary Sickler, Daniel Adriano and Lakeisha Nellums followed in suit by reading their essays dealing with image, racism and related subjects.

Students can submit work for the next issue through their pro-

fessor or on their own directly to Stiles.

If that is the case, student’s work will be reviewed by a group of editor’s who will then decide if it will go to post.

As for the future, students can expect to see a wider variety of media available on the website for viewing.

“I wanted to make this a gift not only to the students, but also to the community,” said Stiles.

T-shirt company explains business New statistics show dip in success

By Keith Kaczmarek Reporter If you see someone wearing a cool T-shirt on campus, there is a good chance it was made and designed by Threadless Tees. A community-based T-shirt design company started by Jake Nickell, it sells thousands of Tshirts to customers all over the world.

As a successful young entrepreneur under 30, Nickell gave a video conference on April 18 to students across the nation as part of the Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour, an organization that brings entrepreneurs to college campuses in an effort to inspire the next generation of business leaders.

Brought to Bakersfield College by professor Gayle Richardson, in cooperation with Students in Free Enterprise, the Business Innovation League, the Business and Entrepreneurship Center and BC, the event let students send in texts with questions for Nickell about his thoughts on starting a business, building a community around your business and using wordof-mouth marketing.

The business model for Threadless is simple: artists present their designs online and vote on other people’s designs.

Popular designs are bought by

Threadless for $2,000 and a $500 gift certificate.

Nickell points to the Internet as the reason for his company’s success.

“The Internet is really great for connecting to people,” he said. “You are building customer retention by building a community.”

Since all of his T-shirt designs come from the community, Nickell has taken great care to make sure that the Threadless online community is a place that artists want to participate in. “I think you need a legitimate reason for people to be a part of your community.”

For young business leaders looking to build their own online communities, Nickell suggests that they build some place that they’d like to participate in.

“Rather than what value a community can bring to you, think about what you can bring to a community,” Nickell said.

“A community doesn’t like feeling that you are taking advantage of them.”

Nickell thinks that a healthy community is important because it sells the brand of your business as well.

“People may be attracted to your brand because of that community.”

He points to Patagonia, the maker of clothing and gear for

outdoors activities like hiking and camping, as a good example of a healthy community of fellow enthusiasts.

“The thing they are offering is a great product for mountain climbing. It’s not like these people are climbing for Patagonia.”

Brand identity and rewarding artists is so important that Threadless puts the name of every community designer on the tags for the shirt and then tells the story of how the design was created online.

“It humanizes the brand,” he said.

Nickell suggests that students looking to build an online community look at sites like Etsy, Pinterest, and Kickstarter.

“Look at these things that people are already doing in their personal time,” he said. “There are several communities built around [these] hobbies.”

For other young entrepreneurs looking to make the next Threadless, Nickel suggests that people look at what’s happening in their own communities and try to make it a little more meaningful.

For example, his own inspiration for Threadless came from his own dismay at seeing people wearing corporate logos on their shirts as their only option and his desire to do something more artistic.

By Keith Kaczmarek Reporter According to the 2012 Accountability Reporting for Community Colleges report (AARC Report), Bakersfield College is producing slightly less successful students than it was producing from 2005 to 2010.

The AARC Report tracks KCCD students and measures their success according to benchmarks like how many students are graduating or transferring to a four-year school.

At the highest point, BC’s Student Progress and Achievement Rate (SPAR) peaked at 49.7 percent, but in the 2010-2011 year it fell to 46.1 percent. This drop has KCCD officials concerned because it is lower than other schools in BC’s peer group.

AMGEN: Event to show off Bakersfield community Continued from Page 1 So BC provided a great venue for us to host the race.”

Ryan is most looking forward to showing off Bakersfield in a new light.

“Bakersfield always has this mixed reputation,” he said.

“This really puts Bakersfield in the most favorable light when it comes to people that are athletic and their perspective of what Bakersfield is. I got calls from friends in 2010 (when BC held a previous Tour of California event) they said, ‘Oh my god it looked incredible, it was green, it was hilly, mountainous, the rivers were flowing.’ What I’m trying to do is change the perspective of people about Bakersfield, and hosting a premiere event like this does that.”

Ryan was particularly proud of the roadwork done here.

“The city and county roads departments have really fixed up the roads like you can’t believe,” he said. “The other tour stops have never done this much roadwork. I will tell you, it will make Bakersfield look great.”

On April 29, non-pros were able to ride the same course that the pros will May 17. When David Rous raced the time trial he described the roads as “nice” and “smooth.”

He said, “The roads have never been in better shape in the 30 years I’ve been riding, and so we’re really happy [with the new roads].”

Rous said this about racing the same course as the pros.

“It’s fun knowing that this is going to be what the pros are going to ride, and it’s always nice to be able to do a full effort and kind of judge yourself and measure yourself against the pros.

That was the most fun,” he said.

Rous is going to the event May 17 and is looking forward to it. “[I’m looking forward to] seeing the racers, the atmosphere of it, the anticipation of the best racers coming here, the comradery, hanging out with friends, I’ve got kids, watching them get excited for an event that is big to come to Bakersfield. For those of us who have been here for years, it’s a big deal. I love seeing something that gets some nationwide exposure,” he said.

The fastest rider completed the non-pro time trial in 41 minutes, and many of the approximately 40 riders who participated broke an hour.

That being said, not everyone agrees that these numbers reflect BC accurately. “People disagree if the peer group was chosen correctly,” said Ann Morgan, director of Institutional Research and Planning. She noted that several BC officials think that the report should reflect that BC has a large Hispanic population. “The Hispanic-serving colleges would be more comparable.”

The report notes that the most accurate predictor of success at college is the level of parents’ education, as well as student’s socioeconomic background, known as “the neighborhood effect,” and other community variables like poverty, income, and employment.

This means that BC should be more compared to colleges like Cerritos, San Joaquin Delta,

Contra Costa, San Jose College, and less like Shasta, Long Beach City and Sequoias.

The indicators have administrators pushing for more stringent placement testing for classes in order to improve BC’s stats. “If students get assessed by instruments that place them appropriately, then they are probably going to be more successful,” said Morgan.

According to BC’s response to the ARRC report, the drop in the SPAR statistic “may reflect a slight age shift toward younger students, and increase in students taking basic skills classes since placement of incoming high school graduates into pre-collegiate mathematics and English courses increased for the most recent five years through 20102011.”

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Wednesday, May 2, 2012

The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

Staff editorial

Save a tradition of more than 80 years With talks of imminent budget cuts and classes that seem to fill up faster and faster, the question may come up of what the journalism program and this newspaper at Bakersfield College adds, and whether we should keep it or not.

It would be a devastating loss to cancel the program or to stop the publication of this paper.

This paper has a long-standing tradition of being published since 1929. It has served the BC community for a long time, and

the community would be losing something if it went away.

Our thousands of readers would have one less place to get their news. They would be losing a publication that speaks for and covers the stories that concern the people on this campus.

Yet, even if you ignore what we do for the community and our almost century-long tradition at this school, the loss of learning, a kind of learning that only the program can provide, would leave a hole in the education at

BC. By publishing this paper, students learn things like teamwork, communication and work ethic at a different level. At this paper, students learn the actual steps it takes to get something published. From interviewing, writing and editing, to actually putting together the pages of the newspaper one by one, we learn the entire process here. It is the same process that any newspaper in America goes through.

A class that offers this sort of

real-world experience needs to be kept. So often the college experience can seem cut off from the real world. Here we learn what it’s really like to make it as a journalist. We learn what it actually takes and showing students what it really takes to make it in their career goals is invaluable.

But the most valuable thing that we would lose is the most important part of not only education, but of life, the human path of self-discovery.

Many, many students have

found their passions in life here at The Renegade Rip. Whether it is a passion for the beauty of photography or a passion for the ability for words to capture moments in time, everyone needs to find what propels them through life.

The value of offering that opportunity to find what it is you are meant to do is something that adds to the world. So many stories of human growth and discovery would be extinguished if this paper were to disappear. It is

those stories that add to people’s lives and will continue to add to people’s lives as long as this paper survives.

The Renegade Rip is more than just 12 pages of paper; it is a place where people can learn like no other place and add to their lives like no other place. It has been serving this campus and community for almost a century.

Let’s not let something as temporary as the economy and budget problems erase something so beneficial to all of us.

Tri-tip or Tofu? Two cultures clash over two main courses

By Breanna Fields Reporter The mouthwatering taste of sautéed tofu with a blend of seasonings is something that can be enjoyed by veggie folk and meat eaters alike. For all of those who oppose and would much rather be eating a thick piece of steak (cow morsels, to be accurate) right now, I urge you to continue reading. There won’t be any propaganda in the words that follow, just the truth.

In the society that we live in, our lifestyles can either make or break our financial state. There’s this immediate response from those who consume meat in two areas: cost and nutrition a.k.a. the over-used “how do you get protein?” It’s as if this thing called protein exists only in the corpse of an animal. This is certainly not the case, as nutritionists would be quick to confirm.

People consume a substance like steak for three reasons: habit, taste and tradition. In this generation, should we not be the ones to break free from this standard way of thinking? After all, breaking boundaries often does involve setting aside (if not completely disregarding) tradition. My friends, the answer is right in front of us in the form of tofu. It can go with just about any dish you wish to use it in and the options are limitless.

There’s fried tofu, tofu patties, tofu ravioli, tofu salad, tofu quiche, tofu sloppy Joes, vegan pumpkin pie (with tofu), tofu pizza, and the list goes on.

It can be made as a dish for breakfast, lunch, dinner or eaten as a healthy snack item.

It’s not just available in health food stores. It can be found at Lassen’s and Trader Joe’s, but for those who want to stick with their usual store chains, you can also purchase it at Albertsons and Vons.

The cost is noticeably less than that of steak

TOFU

or any other meat for that matter (note: starving college students should consider this option as a wallet-friendly approach). It costs about $3 for a package that can make at least two meals. MoriNu is a popular organic brand of tofu that can be combined with a number of sauces and vegetables to make an exquisite stir-fry.

On the nutrition side of things, tofu contains low calories and fat. It’s an excellent food source for protein and iron.

Now for those of you out there who care about innocent beings (don’t tune out just yet), we all know that steak is derived from an animal.

People typically like to think they know it already, the whole animal rights side of the story, but if that were the case, why aren’t more people listening?

Let me take you back to the beginning: habit, taste and tradition. According to the American Heart Association, one of the leading causes of death is…well, heart disease. Consuming meat can lead to increased cholesterol because of its high fat content. This can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

The consumption of animal products can also lead to heart problems due to the fact that they contain drugs, hormones and pesticides.

The next time you go to the grocery store, picking up a package of tofu would be in your best interest for both health and taste purposes. For all those who oppose, well, you’ve been informed.

By Gregory D. Cook Photographer Whenever someone begins to get preachy with me about how horrible it is to eat meat and suggests that a nice piece of tofu would be just as good, I just smile and show them those nice pointy teeth we all have in the corners of our mouths.

They are called canines, and they are there for the sole purpose of eating meat; tender, succulent meat.

When it comes to satisfying that megan luecke / The Rip inner carnivore, coagulated soy milk can’t hold a basting brush to a well-prepared tri-tip.

Just the thought of that hunk of beef, sizzling on the grill, with the smell of hickory smoke mixing with charred drippings gets the mouth watering and stirs memories of summer barbecues and tailgating parties.

When the knife cuts through that seared crust, exposing the tender red meat bursting with juices, it’s more than just cooking.

It’s a cultural event that defines us at the top of our food chain like no other food can. I hesitate to think what a steaming heap of bean curd says about us.

I would imagine John Wayne was not a big tofu eater. In fact, one of the Duke’s favorite foods was chili, cooked up with meaty chunks of tri-tip

White storms back with new album

By Martin Chang Opinions Editor

With “Blunderbuss,” Jack White’s first solo album, White has released a collection of songs that, not only show his skills as a musician and songlbum writer, but also captures eview who he is as an artist.

But by trying to show everything he does well, he loses focus on what he does best.

What he does best is writing emotionally honest songs that are informed by his blues, country and folk influences.

By using these traditions, White can write songs that are somehow both intricate and simple.

He can write songs that intelligently capture emotions – songs that focus on those emotions in a personal way. He can write songs that are unique to only him.

None of the songs on “Blunderbuss” are bad. All of the guitars, vocals and pianos capture the feeling and swagger that is White’s musicianship.

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It will be immediately familiar to fans of The White Stripes or any of the other bands White has been a member of.

The hard rock songs on the album, like the lead single “Sixteen Saltines” or “Freedom at 21,” rock with a feel that White is very good at capturing.

Yet these songs don’t have the depth of White’s best work.

He sings these songs in a weird high-pitched, processed voice that is distant.

The high production and perfect mixing on these songs somehow take away from the punch his older work had. These songs just don’t have the high energy of the similar songs he did with The White Stripes. It’s something that’s been missing from his songs since The White Stripes.

It sounds similar to other rock songs with similar influences, and lacks the originality he is capable of.

It is moments when White focuses on his voice and the emotions of his songs, when he is being emotionally honest, that are the best on the album.

On “Love Interruption” White sings with Ruby Amanfu a simple song about the intensity of

love. Gone are the weird vocals, or ambitious song structure of the other songs on the album.

It’s just White and Amanfu doing what Jack White does at his best, playing his deceptively simple songs with a passion.

Such moments are too rare. In fact the only other song that is similar and comes close to capturing something similar this is the title track.

That is not to say those more complicated songs are bad. In fact, the high point of the album is the song “On and On and On” a song that has that ambition. It captures the emotion of songs like “Love Interruption” while having the ups and downs and impact that only more complicated songs can have.

Others that come close to the same quality are “Take Me With You When You Go” and “Weep Themselves to Sleep”.

These songs are similarly ambitious and similarly impactful.

These three songs are interesting to listen to and will become fan favorites.

Of the three though only “On and On and On” comes close to capturing the greatness of his best work.

The two songs “I Guess I

Winner of the 2003 and 2008 JACC Pacesetter Award The Renegade Rip is produced by Bakersfield College journalism classes, printed by Castle Print Inc. in Bakersfield, 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.

TRI-TIP

Planetarium shows off beautiful side of universe

By Crystal Sánchez Reporter

Courtesy of Jackwhiteiii.com

“Blunderbuss” is Jack White’s first solo album.

Should Go to Sleep” and “Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy” are both songs that tell stories that are super fun to listen to, they both wisely leave those silly effects off of White’s voice.

“Poor Boy” in particular has a fun bounce that is another highlight.

There are no real low moments on “Blunderbuss.”

There are a variety of songs that are done well.

The album gives something that most rock fans will at least like but Jack White seems to be trading in the greatness of his music for that mass appeal.

He needs to refocus on what makes his music great and get back to his beautifully simple music.

The planetarium’s showing of “Two Small Pieces of Glass” was really mind-boggling and wonderful to see.

When I first walked how into the planetarium, I eview couldn’t help but notice the beautiful purple-and-blue colored ceiling.

It made me feel like I was in a spacecraft about to take off. The astronomy professor, Nick Strobel, had recommended I sit from the third row back, and I quickly learned why.

The room went pitch black as the giant Chronos projector began swirling a million lights up onto the ceiling, and I had to tilt back in my chair to properly see the projections.

The projector looked like something out of a “Star Wars” film like it could be R2-D2’s long-lost cousin.

Constellations like the Great

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The Renegade Rip Editorial Board

steak.

Massage it with rubs, bathe it in marinades, slather it in sauces, or just enjoy its rich natural flavor, it’s hard to go wrong with the versatile tri-tip.

If I could make a recommendation, the tri-tip sandwiches that Bakersfield College cooks up at many of its sporting events are just little chunks of heaven on a roll. Sorry, I don’t remember seeing any tofu sandwiches on the menu.

Nutritionally speaking, the tri-tip is one of the better cuts of beef as well. It is lower in fat than many other cuts, and the proteins you get from eating meat are more complete than those that come from vegetables, making meat a better choice for building and maintaining healthy muscle tissue.

Now I’m not going to lie, eating 10 pounds of tri-tip every day is probably not the healthiest of diets, no matter how good it tastes, but that can be said for just about any food.

The key is to eat a well-balanced diet that is rich and diverse.

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, one thing to be aware of with tofu and soy products in general is that while they are high in iron, a necessary mineral for the body, they also contain substances that block the body’s absorption of iron, that can result in anemia if too much is consumed.

So roast it, barbeque it, grill it, cook it on the rotisserie, or chop it up into steaks and braise it, but most of all, celebrate it for what it truly is, not just a food, but as a part of who we are as Americans.

Anyway, tri-tip goes a lot better with ice-cold beer than a chunk of bean-curd cheese would, no matter how you cook it.

I guess I should say at least one good thing about tofu. If you spice it up just right, you can make it taste a little like tri-tip, but only a little.

Staff

Editor in Chief........................Zak S. Cowan Reporters/Photographers: Hannah Breeland, Gregory D. Cook, Angie Photo Editor...........................Megan Luecke DelGado, Metiqua Eng, Nestor Features Editor...............................Jon Nelson Fernandez, Breanna Fields, Keith Opinions Editor........................Martin Chang Kaczmarek, Omar Oseguera, Nate Perez, Sports Editor........................Esteban Ramirez Ruben Perez, Crystal Sanchez, Nicholas Copy Editor...............................Patricia Rocha Sparling, Teela Walker, Nathan Wilson

Adviser.......................................................Danny Edwards

Bear and Little Bear really didn’t look like bears at all.

As the professor used his laser pointer to outline the shapes, all I could think about was, “how the heck does that look like a bear?” Looking at all of the stars brought back joyful memories of camping as a child and wondering which star would take me to Neverland. Unfortunately, there was not sufficient pixie dust to take me to the “second star to the right, and straight on till morning.”

The second half of the show was a movie about the history of the telescope. The craftiness of the early astronomers and how they were continually changing the designs of telescopes was impressive.

As I was watching the movie, I realized that our universe is so much more than Earth alone.

The different galaxies and its stars were each very unique and made me want to become an astronaut, but since NASA scaling back their space exploration. I need to find a different way to get into outer space.

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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

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Wednesday, May 2, 2012

The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

At least we’re better than Fresno

Column

Music provides memories AS MY BRAIN EXPLODES | One man’s take on people and culture

What is the power of music?

It captures moments in time. It gives people something tangible to remember when they look back in their lives.

But it is so much more than a picture or an object you can put in a shoebox.

It captures an emotional memory, something that captures what you felt, what you believed about the world. It just stays with people.

For the past few months Martin Chang a song by the band “Fun.” has seemed to stay permanently on the radio.

It’s called “We are Young.” I originally kind of liked it because of its catchy chorus, but now I’ve come to love the song.

It’s the type of music I’m talking about.

This is a song that’s going to stick with people. It has that inspirational, highly emotive feeling that will mean a lot to people.

For millions of people in America, their memories of the spring and summer of 2012 will be forever connected to this song.

When I think of all of the proms, the first loves, all those small moments that make up people’s lives, that will be connected to the song, I smile.

I smile because I know that the power of music will sing through the song. It will make those lives so much better.

It will give people a real, solid thing to hold in their heart, something to make the colors of their memories that much brighter.

Music can also do something for the darker side of the human experience.

The power of the distorted sounds of alternative and punk rock has shocked me out of countless funks, taken me out of the darkest mental holes.

When my world gets heavy and I feel that it’s hard to go on, it’s the passion of Nirvana’s music that gives me the strength to go on to the next day.

In Kurt Cobain’s distorted guitar notes and everyman voice, I can hear and know that I’m not the only one that has gone through this pain.

It gives me strength to fight on to the next day.

What I get out of Nirvana’s music is another thing that music gives people.

When people also go through something in their lives, loss of loved ones, devastating breakups, those feelings can really pile up and seem insurmountable.

It’s at these times people turn to music.

Music becomes a friend, something to console you, something that you can keep inside and make you feel less lonely.

It’s that much easier to get through those hard patches when you know you are not alone in what you are feeling.

It’s why people growing up seek so much solace in music.

The pain and challenges of adolescence can make you feel like you are a freak, that you are the only one going through things.

It’s in the lyrics and music in bands like Green Day that help them get through those hard times.

Their songs of boredom and lack of self-motivation tell kids growing up that they’ll make it.

I know it helped me.

Green Day is not the only band with this power, I just point out Green Day because it’s a band I know. It can be any band really.

Music is just one of those things that really mean something to people. It is the sounds and feelings that make up people’s lives.

It is the most human art form because it deals with the feelings that make up the human experience.

Megan Luecke / The Rip

The Bakesfield sign is one of the many attributes that we hold over Fresno. Others include less crime and a smaller population.

By Nate Perez Reporter

I am so sick and tired of hearing people from Fresno talk bad about Bakersfield, as if Fresno is any better to begin with. Both Bakersfield and Fresno are equally as bad. Which one is worse? Fresno.

I’ve overheard conversations between non-natives of the central valley compare Fresno and Bakersfield, and most of the time I will hear that Fresno is a better place to live. I want to clear the air, no pun intended.

We both have bad air quality. What’s probably even more offensive to hear is when someone from Lancaster talks bad about Bakersfield. Lancaster is probably worse than both Fresno and Bakersfield combined. They’re just a little closer to Los Angeles.

Bakersfield has a smaller population, less violent crime and property theft. Despite Bakersfield being a cowboy town, I believe it has more to offer than Fresno.

According to a 2010 FBI uniform crime reports list, Fresno had a little over 150,000 more people than Bakersfield.

In 2010 Fresno had 3,034 violent crimes and 24,460 property crimes compared to Bakersfield’s 2,104 violent crimes and 15,197 property crimes. The same report also stated that Fresno had 70 forcible rape crimes com-

pared to Bakersfield’s 34.

Take that Fresno. That is 930 less violent crimes, 9,263 less property crimes and 36 less forcible rape crimes. That means you are more likely to get violently assaulted, burglarized and raped in Fresno.

Last year my girlfriend’s best friend moved to Fresno to go to the community college there after attending BC for two years. Why anyone would move from Bakersfield to Fresno to attend another community college, I can’t fathom. It stinks just as much and it has a slightly bigger population. If you’re going to move from Bakersfield, you should probably move to a cooler place.

I am not a blind follower though. Bakersfield is not a fun place to live if you’re young and progressive. It’s extremely hot and along with the rest of the central valley, there is not much diversity in politics.

According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Bakersfield ranks eighth among 250 cities as the most conservative cities in the U.S. To put this into perspective, Bakersfield ranks higher than some places in Texas, Florida and Kansas.

Why do I think Bakersfield is a better place than Fresno, despite everything that is wrong with it?

We have an awesome record store downtown, we have a boxing gym as a music venue and we have multiple Rusty’s Pizza locations throughout town. Now all we have to do is get rid of all the close-minded people.

City Statistics Bakersfield

Fresno

Population: 324,463

Population: 479,918

Crime:

Crime:

2,104 violent crimes 15,197 property crimes 34 forcible rapes

3,034 violent crimes 24,460 property crimes 70 forcible rapes

Pollution rankings:

Pollution rankings:

Particle pollution rank #1

Particle pollution rank #5

Ozone Pollution rank #1

Ozone Pollution rank #3

D-BOX adds nothing to movie experience

By Nate Perez Reporter

The D-BOX warning label states that hot liquids should not be anywhere near the motionenabled seats. Nor should pregnant women, the elderly, people with heart conditions and so forth. I am roduct here to tell you nobody eview should go anywhere near those seats.

Prior to this review I had no idea what the D-BOX was. I was simply told it was an expensive chair featured in certain movie theaters. People who hadn’t tried the D-BOX told me that it could make my movie experience “more realistic.”

I went to Maya Cinemas to test it out. I bought one ticket for “The Cabin In The Woods” thinking it would be an awesome experience.

P R

It was a tacky horror film and a motion-generated chair that acts with scenes and sounds from the movie.

Generally, I thought I would be startled because of the motions and sensors of the DBOX. There were about 20 D-BOX seats in the theater and only two were occupied by the time I sat down. That alone should have been the telltale sign.

I spent $18 on a D-BOX ticket, so I tried really hard to like it, but as the movie went on I couldn’t stop thinking about how I wasted that much money on a glorified vibrating chair.

The D-BOX comes with settings on how intense you would like your D-BOX experience.

As soon as the movie started, I cranked the settings to the highest wanting the best possible experience.

When somebody would get murdered in the movie, the D-BOX chair sensors would

activate it to move in motion with the way the character died. For instance, if somebody got hacked to death, the chair would get pushed back with every hack.

If someone got smashed to death, the chair would vibrate very quickly.

This might sound cool if you’re reading it, but it really isn’t. The price of the D-BOX is the price of two standard movie tickets.

When the movie was over, the two gentlemen sitting in front of me looked just as disgruntled as I did.

I would imagine those vibrating chairs you find in the mall for $1 are just as much as a thrill as the D-BOX. I highly recommend you don’t try D-BOX. It is expensive, it is crappy and it doesn’t make your movie experience any better. In fact, I would have enjoyed “The Cabin In The Woods” far more if I didn’t try D-BOX.

Omar oseguera / The Rip

The D-BOX seats are far too expensive for the lackluster experience that they provide.

Freedom quickly becoming an issue in the workplace

By Metiqua Eng Reporter Welcome to the U.S. where the golden image of the American Dream is pushed on young adults and future generations as the standard dream.

This isn’t just any country, it’s America. The country that promises you the pursuit of happiness and the foundation of freedom.

Freedom is the basis on which countless Americans have shed blood, sweat and tears.

But with the proposal of a law that can allow a woman to get fired over using birth control, what has happened to the freedom and the rights we, as Americans, were promised?

The state of Arizona is trying to pass a law legislating an employer can investigate your

medical history and know of any contraceptives or medications that you are using and possibly fire you for it.

The government in Arizona is trying to make the law so that employers can ration what their employees use as compensation through their insurance in which there will be no coverage of birth control when used as a contraceptive.

If this law is passed an employer, whether it’s the local McDonalds or a huge business in which only business attire and suits are appropriate, can know all about your medical background and fire you for the use of contraceptives.

What is happening to America and the passage of basic human rights? Are we a country that really bases life off of the constitution? Are we a country that

stands for freedom and human rights? Or is it all just a façade to make our country look good?

As adults we all have memories of standing up in the beginning of class and saying the “Pledge of Allegiance” with that right hand perfectly glued over our hearts. I recall spending my whole grade school years standing up to say, “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.”

Nowhere in the proposal of firing a woman because she uses birth control is there allegiance to the republic for which it stands, nor provides “liberty and justice for all.”

From the outside, America has a great looking exterior rather than a great interior and

this makes me think that this country has more resemblances to a dysfunctional celebrity than anything.

On the outside, a celebrity is well manicured, looks seemingly flawless and is applied with the perfect makeup to cover up all the bad qualities and imperfections.

Is America just becoming a country applied with makeup to cover all the flaws within the nation?

The problem is that constitutionally this is wrong. Not to advocate the use of birth control or to knock it, but this all comes down to freedom and sexist discrimination.

For those who do support the birth control movement, there are many women that can lose their jobs because they want to practice being safe about not

getting pregnant. People complain about the fact that tax dollars go to people on welfare that can’t afford children, and yet we have women in the country who have jobs and use birth control, but are threatened with the loss of a career because of using contraception.

There are even women who are anemic and can only gain regular menstrual cycles through the use of birth control, but the Arizona law will deny someone their job in order to potentially benefit their health. Women should be judged by their personal character and work ethic.

America shows women that they can have a say and actually have rights after fighting for so many years to attain basic freedoms but the government of Arizona slams their own citizens with the big iron fist of sexism.

Campus

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The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

Jazz class performs in free speech area

MECHA ready for Cinco de Mayo

By Patricia Rocha Copy Editor

By Metiqua Eng Reporter One of the great aspects about living in the United States is that this country celebrates other cultures and remembers the importance of heritage, values, and triumphs.

The celebration of Cinco de Mayo is not only a huge celebration of culture for Mexicans and Americans, but also a reason to remember one of the greatest achievements for Mexico.

MECHA, the Mexican-American Club on campus, will be celebrating all week-long at BC and will be trying to get students of all ethnicities and backgrounds involved in the celebration of Cinco de Mayo.

Francisco Mejia, 26, is treasurer of the MECHA club and is very involved with the history of Cinco de Mayo and the festivities going on around the campus.

“Cinco de Mayo started in Puebla, a state in Mexico, when the French fought the Mexican government,” Mejia explained.

“The significance of Cinco de Mayo is that the smaller army, which was the Mexicans, defeated the French and were able to kick Napoleon Bonaparte out of Mexico.”

Cinco de Mayo is not defined as a Mexican independence day, but a day to celebrate that the French, who had a more refined army, couldn’t overthrow the Mexican people.

“It was significant because of the importance that Mexico wasn’t supposed to win the battle, because they were an unprepared army, and that’s why we celebrate it today as a triumph,” said Mejia.

Samuel Bautista, 40, president of the MECHA club, shared the importance of Cinco de Mayo and how significant it is to MexicanAmericans.

“The French were a sophisticated army, and they were better armored and equipped than the Mexicans, and that’s why they thought they were going to win,” Bautista said.

“Being of that descent, it’s important because, if the French would’ve won, how would we be today? What would our culture be today? We wouldn’t be speaking Spanish, we would be speaking French. That may have altered the whole Mexican and American war, and I think that affects everybody in the United States.”

MECHA is proudly celebrating its culture around campus with others to show students how important it is to celebrate the holiday.

“At MECHA, we are having a week-long event where we’re celebrating Cinco de Mayo.

“We are playing a Mexican game called Loteria, which is Mexican bingo,” Bautista said. “On Wednesday, we are having a car show, and on Thursday, we are having Aztec dancers.

“We’re hoping that everybody can attend and help celebrate.”

Every semester, the Bakersfield College beginning jazz dance class takes their moves out of the dance room to show off what they’ve learned to their peers.

Dance teacher Eve-Lyne Thomas said this year’s dance was the hardest she’s ever choreographed, but her class was ready for it.

“It was a challenging routine,” said Thomas. “I think they did very well.

They were willing to be challenged, always practiced before and after class.”

Thomas said the reason for the difficulty was because the dance is done in partners, so in order to understand the choreography, the dancers had to learn both parts.

“These are total beginners, and it’s so rewarding that they’re moving and learning technique and enjoying themselves,” she said. “To me, it’s always rewarding when a beginner is out there dancing.”

Despite the damp conditions, the

megan luecke / The Rip

The Bakersfield College beginning jazz class had a free performance on April 26 in the free speech area. dancers had a great time performing.

“It’s nice [for them] to have that experience, not just dance for each other, to dance for others,” she said.

She said, as long as she’s physically able to, she’ll continue teaching dance.

Over a thousand high school students from all over the Kern High School District met at Bakersfield College for the 24th annual Physics Olympics on April 27 to compete in various physics events.

The Physics Olympics take place annually during the spring at the BC campus.

The event, which is sponsored

by Chevron and KHSD, consists of many competitions, such as the egg drop, straw tower, paper airplanes, centripetal force, among many other events. Some experiments are things that the students build before attending the Olympics, or some may choose to only do projects that consist of calculations and labs.

“It helps them bring what

“I’m not afraid to say it, this is my 30th year and I still love what I do,” she said. “People ask me, ‘when’re you going to retire?’ I’m a dancer. You retire when you die.”

With budget cuts looming over class-

es such as hers for a while, she said she feels blessed to be able to do what she’s doing.

“I’m always on pins and needles, but I’m very thankful I’m still here,” she said. “Next fall is a question mark.”

Garden Fest ends in huge success

By Hannah Breeland Reporter Crowds of people swarmed the Renegade Park exploring the many different booths and activities at this year’s seventh annual Garden Fest held at Bakersfield College on April 21.

“We came, we ate, we shopped, we left,” said Christine Hayward, English major, describing her experience.

White Forest Nursery, Buena Vista Edible Schoolyard, and Nursery & Calico Gardens were just a few of the local businesses participating.

The horticulture and agriculture departments were selling plants, flowers, cherry tomatoes and the Renegade trail mix, which were the big hits.

Kids were able to enjoy the bounce houses and plant a seed while their parents enjoyed the scenery and the shopping.

There were BC booths such as the geology club, child care department, and agriculture club. Nonprofit organizations like Habitat for Humanity, Alpha Canine Sanctuary,

and multiple churches were also in attendance. Many offered goodies ranging from scented stuffed animals, clothing, honey, purses, hats and more.

Most booths had raffles with multiple baskets to choose from, like the agriculture and child care department booths. Koi fish were available for adoption in a kiddie pool in a variety of shapes and colors.

The BC culinary arts department and local businesses, such as Ben and Jerry’s and Little Debbie Cakes, provided food and beverages.

Even though it was nice and sunny out, many people had a problem with the heat.

“The ice cream was a life saver.

The heat was killing me and water wasn’t cutting it,” Caitlin Juarez said.

Even with the heat, Sally Sterns, the director of Garden Fest, feels it was a success.

“Thankfully it wasn’t raining, and even though it was hot it didn’t stop the crowd,” she said. “I was told that teela walker / The Rip people were happy with how many vendors we had, another successful The Bakersfield Cactus and Succulent Society shows off one of their aloe plants April 21 at Garden Fest. year.”

Music appreciated by speaker

By Hannah Breeland Reporter Bakersfield College had a special guest speaker on April 27, Bruce Broughton, an Emmy award-winning television and film composer.

His lecture was called “Music on Demand: Music for the movies.”

Ron Kean, director of choral activities/world music at BC, invited Broughton, his composition mentor from when he went to community college, to come speak.

“I look up to this guy,” Kean said. “He’s so down to earth and I thought him speaking here would benefit students in the

music program who are thinking of going into the business.”

One of Broughton’s important points in his lecture was why music in film was important.

“Music helps tell a story,” Broughton said.

“In some scenes without music it would feel like something’s missing but you just don’t know what.

“Scenes can seem longer without it. Music calls attention to events.”

Broughton explained the differences between music for movies, TV and concerts. Being so versatile, Broughton has done all three, from motion pictures like “Tombstone,” “Mira-

Physics students compete

By Angie DelGado Reporter

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

they’ve learned in the classroom to life,” said Kyle Wylie, a history teacher at South High who was helping out during the eggdrop event.

“It’s about taking basic elements and design without using gas, energy, or combustion,” said Wylie.

The Physics Olympics help students understand to use the things they have learned in the classroom in real-life situations.

Students are also excited to make the projects and participate in the many events that take place.

“It’s pretty cool, [there are] so many events and you’re competing with different schools in the district,” said Centennial High School student Ashley Soren, 16.

Soren said she enjoyed all of the events, but her favorite one was the paper tower.

“I never knew you could make a tower that tall out of paper,” said Soren.

Other students felt excited but also felt nervous about the different competitions. Rakhi Bhalla, 17; Jossi Khosa, 18; and Rodrigo Medina, 18, participated in the egg drop.

“We were so nervous, but then our egg didn’t break,” said Bhalla of the competition. “It was really fun.”

After the events, some students were able to participate in the Super Quiz.

The Super Quiz was a way to conclude the event.

Each high school picks a group of nine students to take the physics quiz that consists of 24 multiple-choice questions. The group with the most correct answers wins the competition for their school.

cle on 34th Street,” to “Rescuers Down Under.” His television musical credits can be found on “Jag,” “Tiny Toon Adventures,” and “Hawaii Five- O.” His composed concert music includes “Mixed Elements,” “The Magic Horn,” and “Excursions.”

“Writing scores for movies is completely different from scores for concert,” he said.

“Concert is whatever you want, but for a movie you have a director telling you exactly what they want or just what they don’t like.”

Broughton went on to explain how working with the director can be difficult sometimes.

“It’s usually better if the di-

teela walker / The Rip

Bruce Broughton speaks at Bakersfield College about the music industry on April 27 in the Levan Center. rector knows very little about music,” he said.

He went in depth about his time on his first big movie, “Silverado,” followed by what type of things to expect from directors and how he got into the business.

“I was listening to the radio one day, and a song came on that really moved me,” he said.

“I realized I wanted to write music that would make people feel good. It only took me a couple minutes to come up with music for movies.”

Sports

Page 9

The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Softball headed to playoffs with eight seed

By Esteban Ramirez Sports Editor Bakersfield College’s softball team was able to clinch a playoff berth thanks in part to its tough non-conference schedule.

“It’s a huge accomplishment to make the postseason, and we’re very thankful to be in this situation,” said BC coach Sandi Taylor. “I think the team feels a sense of accomplishment and pride that they were able accomplish something that they knew they could do.

“What helped us the most to make the playoffs was the fact that our non-conference schedule was so tough. I think we did a great job rising to the challenge of a tough schedule and it helped us ensure the playoff spot.”

BC went 9-11 against number one and two ranked teams, and that record helped their cause even more against a tough schedule. BC will play College of the Desert, who finished the season with a record of 32-4, and ended up being the Foothill Conference champions.

“I feel that we matchup against [College of the Desert] really well and we probably have more depth than them, but I feel we matchup well against everyone in the playoffs,” she said. “Hopefully, we can get a run going to have a chance to come back and play at home, and have a shot at the state championship.”

She added that she feels that the break in-between games will give the team a chance to get healthier and create a little momentum for themselves.

BC starting pitcher Julie Estep com-

mented on what it means for the team to make the playoffs.

“It means a lot that we made it because it has been our goal to make the playoffs, and now we have a chance to make a run at the state championship,” she said. “This really shows how good we are. The talent we have and how hard we’ve worked.

“This has been a good year so far. We started off a little rocky, but we were able to peak at the right time, and we worked hard and it showed.”

BC finished off its regular season schedule with a doubleheader against L.A. Valley and both games came down to the wire.

BC lost the first game 5-4, but it took until the ninth inning to decide a winner.

Estep pitched six innings, only gave up three runs, six hits and struck out three batters. Outfielder Brittany Messer led the team in hits with three.

In the second game, BC responded with an 8-5 win thanks to four runs in the seventh inning. Three of the four runs came off the bat of Estep.

Starting pitcher Kaila Williams pitched all seven innings and struck out nine batters. Estep had two hits, including a home run, and three RBIs. “It was hard to play at L.A. Valley, but we were able to persevere and that’s a big deal because they’re a tough team,” said Estep. “We need to keep doing what we’re doing and keep playing consistently good.”

BC is scheduled to play its first playoff game against College of the Desert on May 5.

BASEBALL: BC finishes strong Continued from Page 1 have the Renegades playing in a three game series on May 5-6. At the time this publication was sent to the printers, the game against L.A. Valley had yet to take place. See TheRip. com for up-to-date results and news for all BC sports.

According to BC coach Tim Painton, the team was one win away from hosting its first series of the playoffs this weekend, but because of the two-way tie with L.A. Valley, the team could not be seeded any higher.

“If we win one more conference game and finish second place outright in our conference, we’re probably sitting, waiting to play at home this weekend,” Painton said. “RPIwise and record-wise, I think [winning one more conference game] would have dumped us into a seven or eight seed.”

Despite this, Painton was excited with how his team matched up with the Monarchs and said, “There are no surprises, because we’re really familiar with each other.”

The Renegades season was led by strong performances both up and down the lineup and from the mound.

The team finished tied for first in the state with 24 home runs, and Jordan Turner led the team with six.

Shortstop Brent Peterson was, perhaps, the team’s most consistent player through the season from the leadoff spot, batting .371 and an on-base percentage of .447. “[Peterson] did a very, very good job over the last two weeks of conference play,” Painton said. “He was extremely hot and did a very good job for us. From the leadoff spot, your job is to get on base and allow us the opportunity to score runs, and he did a very good job with that throughout the entire year.”

On the mound, starting pitcher Tyler Painton led the charge, finishing the season 7-1 with an ERA of 1.55 with 63 strikeouts.

The team finished 24th in the state in ERA with 3.37.

“I felt like our pitching was very consistent throughout the year,” coach Painton said. “For the most part, our starting rotation did a good job. [Reliever] Ryan Stapp did a good job at the backend of the bullpen, and our pitching kept us in most games.”

BC has 16 freshmen on the team, and, at this point, it is uncertain which ones will return.

Painton said that, on paper, the team looks to have a lot of freshmen returning, but he expects several to move on, by way of the MLB draft or moving up to a Division-I school.

“What looks like a very top-heavy freshmen roster right now could be depleted in the next month and a half,” he said.

gregory d. cook / The Rip

Bakersfield College pitcher, Julie Estep, delivers a pitch April 15 in the second game of a doubleheader against Santa Monica College.

BC football is back with a vengeance

By Megan Luecke Photo Editor

RENEGADES | BC football ready for a fresh start in 2012

The crowd at this year’s 11th U.S. Army Arena Bowl was ready for some high school football. This year’s arena bowl hosted the largest attendance in the history of the bowl game, with 5,280 present for the game.

Along with the large crowd, there were several players looking to head to Bakersfield College in the fall and play Renegade football.

One of the players is Bryce Royal, running back for Centennial High School.

Royal has high hopes of continuing as a running back at BC. His dreams don’t stop at BC, but continue with plans to play at a Division I college and major in kinesiology.

Aaron Kolb, a quarterback from Taft High School, felt that it was an honor to be recognized as one of the best in Kern County. He was excited to have an opportunity to play in a different style of game.

Now that high school football is over, Kolb said he is “Getting ready for the next level; getting ready to move on to BC.” Kolb hopes to play quarterback for BC and compete. He looks forward to seeing where it leads.

Austin Tijerina, receiver and running back for Wasco, was pumped for his final game of high school football. He was just as excited for his career at BC with football, and a major in nursing and a minor in criminal justice in the plans.

Tijerina hopes that BC won’t be the end of his football career. He wants to continue on to a Division I or II school and then on to the NFL. Tijerina is not picky where he gets to go after BC. His only concern is getting to continue playing football.

The football players were not the only seniors that were featured at the Arena Bowl.

Local cheerleaders were also included in the event.

Jasmine Guevara, a cheerleader from Wasco High School, made the squad as well as the squad at BC for the Fall of 2012.

She was part of the half that tried out who made the squad for the Arena Bowl.

Guevara said that BC means that “I get to have another chance at cheering, that my cheer life isn’t over. I am happy because I only started cheering my sophomore year, and three years isn’t enough,” she said.

BC, for Guevara, includes plans to transfer out for veterinary medicine. She is also excited because it is close to home, and she knows a lot of friends including football players and cheerleaders.

By Esteban Ramirez Sports Editor

megan luecke / The Rip

Chris Hannible, number 18, misses a touchdown due to Silas Nacita, number five, during the April 20 U.S. Army Arena Bowl.

megan luecke / The Rip

Diyohn West anticipates the impending kickoff during the April 20 U.S. Army Arena Bowl.

BC track and field qualifies 25 to So Cal Prelims

By Esteban Ramirez Sports Editor Bakersfield College’s track and field team had a great performance at the Western State Conference Finals on April 27, as it was able to qualify 25 athletes to the Southern California Prelims.

Ten of the 25 athletes for BC qualified in multiple events, including Bert Flores who quali-

fied in the discus and shot put.

Chris Schwartz also qualified in the 1,500 and 5,000. The BC women athletes that qualified were Serena Underwood, Danielle Tildahl, Tijera Dial, Elizabeth Sanchez, Natalie Fernandez, Serraya Hermosilla, Molly Fitch, Ensley Davis, Amanda Mosby, Amanda Smith and Blanca Perez. The other men athletes who qualified were Walter Hunt, Mi-

chael Norwood, Myren Moore, Davis Lostalout, Justin Evans, John Purcell, Triandous Hobson, Bevan Wemhoff and Eric Fernandez.

“They had a really good day and they were on top of their game,” said BC coach David Frickel. “We were impressed how many qualified.”

Overall the BC women finished eighth, the men finished

third while West L.A. got first in both.

“I hope that we can perform at a high level at the Southern California Prelims and get a chance to compete in the finals,” said Frickel.

The Southern California Prelims will be at San Diego Mesa on May 5, and the Southern California Finals will be at the same location the following week.

After a disappointing season this past year, which was riddled with injuries to key players, the Bakersfield College football team hopes that they can bounce back this upcoming season, while having to deal with a tough schedule.

“The guys have been working hard, and we have the toughest schedule we’ve had in a while, so we got to continue working on getting better,” said BC coach Jeff Chudy.

He said there are things they have to work on in the future.

“I still think we have to improve on our offensive line,” he said. “We got to protect our quarterback and be able to run the ball consistently. It’s an area that we struggled with last year, so hopefully we can improve on that.”

He added that they’re excited about Brian Burrell, quarterback, for this upcoming season.

“We’re excited about Brian.

He’s been working hard to get back after getting hurt last year,” he said. “After he got hurt we weren’t able to get consistent play out of that position, so it will be great to have him back. He’s got a ton of talent, great work ethic and he leads by example, so I think he can be as good as any guy that has played here.”

He added that with them having a highly competitive schedule, all they can do is take it a day at a time and hope to dodge injuries because that hurt them this past year. He also explained that BC has a big incoming freshman class, and a lot of them are local players.

“We got a huge class coming in, and I think they’ll give big contributions to all three phases of the game,” he said. “We expect them to come in and compete for a starting spot, and anytime you have good competition it can only help out your team.”

All-conference teams Baseball

First team Brent Peterson IF Jordan Turner OF Tyler Painton Utility Ryan Stapp RP Second team Jon Suda IF Isaiah Turner OF Bryan Haney C Gold Gloves Elijah Trail 3B *Tyler Painton SP

Softball

First team Kara Frankhouser C Second team Jazmine Irvin IF Kaitlin Toerner OF Honorable Mentions Kaila Williams Brittany Messer *Tyler Painton nominated co-player of the year

Sports

Page 10

The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Six school records broken by BC swimmers

By Esteban Ramirez Sports Editor Bakersfield College’s swim team hosted the Western State Conference Championships on April 19-21, and BC broke six school records along with five swimmers going to state.

Matt Prasser broke the record in the men’s 50 freestyle with a time of 21.26.

Francesca Wyatt improved on her record in the women’s 1650 freestyle with a time of 18 minutes 21.11 seconds, and Joshua Delarosa broke the record in the men’s 200 backstroke with 1:54.22.

Also, the men’s 200 and 400 medley relays broke school records along with the men’s 400 freestyle relay.

Prasser, Delarosa, Jake Reed, Wyatt and Catherine Lugo all advanced to state.

“We did great,” said Prasser.

“Everyone did really well, and it seemed everyone was doing their best time, if not close to it.

“A lot of us were relieved to see that eight months of hard work has really paid off.”

BC coach Charlie Pike commented on how the team performed.

“They did awesome,” said Pike. “Our kids were dropping time in everything, and all the hard work they put in really paid off in the WSC Championships.”

He added that he was devastated that his three men’s relay teams didn’t qualify for state.

“I couldn’t sleep for two days because the top 12 make it and we got 13 by hundreds of a second,” he said.

“It’s a weird formula they have for relays.

“If one of your relays make it in the top 12 then all the other relays get to go to state as well, so there are some relay teams that are slower than us.”

BC as a team took fourth with 855 behind Ventura College (1,526), Cuesta College (1,219) and Santa Monica College (946).

photos by gregory d. cook / The Rip

BC swimmer Jake Reed gets set up for a race during the Western State Conference Finals at Bakersfield College on April 20.

Pike added that he was happy to see Prasser break a record he’s had his eye on.

“I was really happy and stoked because Matt has had his eye on that record the whole year,” he said.

“He’s been getting closer with each meet and to see him break it was exciting.”

Prasser commented on breaking a record that was held for over 20 years.

“It was amazing,” he said.

“Ever since I came here I asked Coach what the record was, and I’m happy that I finally got it.

“All I could do is just say, ‘thank you Jesus.’

“There are records that I wanted, but I thought this was the most achievable.

“I believe everything Coach told me and it helped me accomplish the record.”

Prasser added that he thought that having their home pool was very important.

“I know we would’ve done good if it was somewhere else, but I don’t think we would’ve done as good,” he said.

Reed also had an impressive time in the anchor leg of the men’s 200 medley relay.

He would’ve broken Prasser’s record for the 50 freestyle, but since it was a relay, individual times don’t count as a record.

“I’ve been doing really well, and I’ve been able to drop time on everything,” he said.

“Everything is going well for me and I feel great, so hopefully I can continue to do better and work on the small things like starts and turns.”

Pike also explained that Lugo strained her shoulder, which is the same shoulder she had injured a month ago.

But Pike says that she will be able to swim at state.

“It’s hit or miss at state, so we’ll see,” said Pike.

“The top eight get medals, and I really would like to see all of them get medals.”

BC swimmer results at the California Community College State Championships Swimmer

Event

Place

Matt Prasser men’s 50 freestyle 6 Francesca Wyatt women’s 1650 freestyle 7 Josh Delarosa men’s 200 backstroke 7

Above: BC swimmer Francesca Wyatt greets her opponent after a race at Bakersfield College on April 20.

Below: A BC swimmer takes a breath in the middle of a stroke during a race on April 20.

Sports

Page 11

The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Athletes of the year return home and excel BC sports finishing year in style Column

Athletes of the year | The Renegade Rip gives you your athletes of the year, due to their great performances on the track and the court over the year.

RIPPING SPORTS | Taking on

every sports issue.

Jausecca Cockeral

Chris Schwartz Track and field

After not competing in about two years, Bakersfield College track and field athlete Chris Schwartz has progressively gotten back to the same level that had gotten him number one rank honors in the state while in high school.

“I’m doing very well this year, and it’s blowing my mind how fast I’m going right now,” said Schwartz. “I’ve exceeded all the expectations I had coming into this year, but I want to keep doing better. Also, I want to get under three minutes and 45 seconds in the 1,500, and for the 5,000 I want to get under 14 minutes.”

He started off the season with a time of 4:11.58 in the 1,500 and started the 5,000 with 14:53.09, which he didn’t start competing in until halfway through the season. He has continued to drop time on those events throughout the year, until he finally broke the records in both events at the Mt. SAC relays on April 14. In the 1,500 he had a BC record time of 3:49.19, and broke

Stories by Esteban Ramirez

the school record in the 5,000 with a time of 14:34.38. The old record in the 1,500 belonged to Charlie Wallace with a time of 3:52.08 in 1981, and Angel Correo held the 5,000 record of 14:52.08 in 1978.

“I bike up here Monday through Friday and after classes I bike to work and bike back up here for practice has helped me get in shape,” he said. “I also think that Coach [David] Frickel helped me by giving me training that helped my speed and stamina for every race.”

He added that his most memorable moment this year was when he was able to break the records on the 1,500 and 5,000 at the Mt. SAC relays.

“I was excited that I broke them, but at first I wasn’t sure if I could do it,” he said. “So, to break them on the same day was just special and it made me feel overjoyed.”

Schwartz also mentioned that he will be returning next year and as of this moment hasn’t looked at any schools.

Women’s basketball

After leaving Ventura College after one year to come play for the Bakersfield College women’s basketball team, Jausecca Cockeral, starting point guard, was able to help BC to a good season along with winning Western State Conference Most Valuable Player.

“I thought I had a good year, and I think it was better than my first year in college,” said Cockeral. “I improved throughout the year, but I still think there are areas I can still improve on. I thought I improved on scoring the most because before I didn’t shoot often.

I think it mostly had to do with confidence because in high school I didn’t have to shoot since we had a lot of good scorers so I was fine with just passing the ball. We have some good scorers here too, but my teammates always told me to shoot it more.”

She added that a memorable moment this year for her was the final game of the season because they were in a tough situation, but they found a way to win.

“We went into overtime and every-

one on the team worked hard, and I was proud of how we played as a team.”

Cockeral graduated from Stockdale high school and then went onto Ventura before coming here. Along with getting WSC MVP, she also made the all-state team and averaged 13.8 points, eight rebounds and seven assists per game.

“Coming over to BC, I didn’t know what to expect or if the team would accept me, but it turned out great,” she said. “I think it was a lot easier to comeback home and play at BC because of everyone here,” she said. “They accepted me not only as a player but as a person, and I got a chance to play with a great bunch of girls and to learn under great coaches.”

She added that this is her final year at BC since it was her second year playing on a college team, but she wants to continue to play basketball and help contribute in any way to the school she decides to attend. The schools she is considering are University of Nebraska and University of Texas.

It’s easy to say that Bakersfield College athletics was headed for a down year when the football team had a disappointing year, but I say we’ve had a pretty good year in athletics.

Most people forget that the football team was doing pretty good until their starting quarterback Brian Burrell got injured for the season.

Even then we’ve seen some pretty incredible perfor- Esteban Ramirez mances during the fall semester. BC women’s golf had an OK year, BC women’s soccer team had a pretty good season even though they missed out on the post season, cross-country had another good year and best of all volleyball made the postseason.

Sure men’s basketball struggled, but the women had a good season winning the Western State Conference and finishing undefeated at home for the first time ever.

It was just too bad they didn’t make the playoffs because of the dumb no rule on forfeited games.

Otherwise, they would’ve made the playoffs and made a pretty good run in the playoffs. Fortunately, the fall sports really have done well.

Track and field is shining bright behind some really good athletes.

The swimming team has had a good year with record-breaking performance and five swimmers going to state in the final year for BC swimming coach Charlie Pike.

Also, the softball team clinched a playoff berth and the baseball team also made the playoffs.

So, don’t think we’ve had a bad year just because the “best” sports teams didn’t make the playoffs or have a disappointing season.

You’ve got to look at all the other sports and how they have done.

Even if that sport might not be the most interesting or popular in your mind it is still a successful sport, so don’t measure the success by how big you think that certain sport is.

In every sport, even though the certain team might not have made the postseason, every team had at least a couple of players that had outstanding years.

Also, most of the teams this year were loaded with freshman that contributed big to their teams, so I think that every team will be so much better next year with most of the key players returning for every key sport.

We’ve seen record-breaking performances from start to finish, so don’t discount how we’ve done this year.

Women’s golfer Malea Miller shot a school record 68; track and field athlete Chris Schwartz broke records in the 1,500 and 5,000; swimmer Matt Prasser broke the school record in the 50 freestyle.

Swimmers Josh Delarosa and Francesca Wyatt also broke records.

It would’ve been great to see football and men’s basketball make the playoffs or at least have successful seasons, but I’m not going to say that we’ve had a bad year in athletics. And this year was a good start for most of the sports since most of the teams were freshmen dominated. This year was good, but next year will be even better since they got very valuable experience.

What would make this year even better is if both the baseball and softball teams can make the State Final Four since both of the State Final Four will be here at BC.

Spotlight

Page 12

The Renegade Rip www.therip.com

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Celebrating

vinyl

By Nicholas Sparling Reporter Though it may not entitle you to a day off of school, Record Store Day was certainly celebrated downtown at Going Underground Records. People waited outside for the business to open to have the chance to thumb through a collection of selected dollar-priced records.

Record Store Day was Saturday, April 21. According to Ronald Ramirez, the owner of Going Underground Records, Record Store Day is, “an event celebrating record stores and the act of buying records and trying to support your local record store instead of buying stuff online or buying digital and iTunes.

“It is an event to get people stoked to buy records, and people who usually don’t buy records.”

Crates of records selected by Ramirez were offered outside of the store for a dollar until 1 p.m. when the prices were lowered to 50 cents and then 25 cents after 3 p.m.

All of the records were selections that Ramirez had multiples of or that he thought people “would really enjoy.”

The event had a series of DJs who played their choice of records throughout the day. According to one of the DJs, Jordan Aguirre, “Ronald just invited us down here when we were shopping for records earlier in the week and asked us to spin some records.”

Aguirre was enthusiastic about the day’s musical accompaniment saying, “Everyone’s playing some really hot jams.”

Disappointed about how many record stores Bakersfield has lost, Aguirre was thankful to Ramirez

for what his store does for the downtown scene.

“Ronald’s been going strong for quite some time and we’re grateful for that,” he said. “He’s got a selection for everybody and we’re also grateful for that.”

Jeff Pedro was one customer who was new to Record Store Day, but glad to have found out about it.

“I got paid, and I got records,” said Pedro, “I found plenty of old school hip-hop. That’s what I do.”

Pedro found out about Record Store Day through his daughter who was accompanying him on his record hunt, and she found out about the event through Facebook.

One of the employees who helped the store out with the day was Adam Schwartz, who has been working at Going Underground Records on-andoff for years now.

“It’s been awesome,” said Schwartz. “This is the biggest one yet. It has been pretty busy. There were people here waiting for us to open. Each year it’s gotten bigger.”

Schwartz attributes the growth each year to increased publicity and the spread of the news on social networking sites.

Some people were just spending time at the store enjoying the atmosphere.

A person like Langdon Alder who has been coming to Going Underground Records since they opened at the current downtown location was enjoying his second Record Store Day. According to Alder, “Albeit it’s a scorcher, the vibes are really positive,” said Alder. “I feel a definite welcoming of summer today.”

Photos by omar oseguera / The Rip

Andrew Winton, barista at Dagny’s Coffee, played a collection of rare punk 45’s for Record Store Day.

Sabrina Ramirez spins records April 21 at Going Underground Records. Ramirez was one of many guest DJs on Record Store Day.

Bakersfield College student Jordan Aguirre spins a unique mix for Record Store Day.

Customers browse records April 21 at Going Underground Records on Record Store Day.

Adam Schwartz rings up records at Going Underground Records during Record Store Day on April 21.