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Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018
Volume 112 | Issue 4
Honoring Years of Legacy GCC’s Hall of Fame gets new additions in a prestigious private event, to much fanfare
HALL OF FAME: Memories were created, as the honorees and guests gathered on a stage to celebrate all that is yet to come to GCC’s Athletic Department.
By Michael Dumansky, Marian Sahakyan As Glendale Community College celebrates its 90th year of athletic competition, some of its former athletes and coaches are being inducted into its Athletic Hall of
Fame. This year, the ceremony took place on Oct. 21 on campus, during which several present and past sportspeople were honored. The tradition started in 2002, and has become a platform for the college to express appreciation towards Vaqueros, who
have played a big role in the performance and improvement of the Athletic Department. Besides honoring retired GCC athletes, this time around, coaches picked current athletes to represent their respective sports. This allowed them to showcase what their
Greg Parks / Contributing Photographer
teams stand for, as well as their individual and collective accomplishments. Young athletes encouraged attendees to get involved with the various sports teams on GCC’s roster. [See ‘Hall of Fame’ on Page 2]
California’s Governor Wants a Fully Online Community College Many critics of the plan consider it to be redundant and short-sighted By Kenya Ruiz Staff Writer Earlier this year, Gov. Jerry Brown announced a spending proposal of $120 million to open the first fully online public
community college in California by fall 2019 as part of the 2018-19 budget plan that he revealed. While the reactions to this announcement have been varied across the state, they were almost unanimous at Glendale
Tania Acosta / Staff Photographer
TRADITIONAL STUDY: Student looks through the pages of a good-old book.
Community College, with faculty, representatives, and students reacting with concern towards this proposal. The plan is aimed toward working adults with high school diplomas with some or none post-secondary education. The governor argued that providing this resource would allow potential students to attend community college in order to enhance their marketability. Yet many community colleges already offer hybrid and online coursework. In a June interview, vice president of instructional services, Dr. Michael Ritterbrown said that the college’s president, Dr. David Viar, has met with Anthony Portantino, a state assemblyman and GCC’s representative in the California State Senate, to discuss this issue. Ritterbrown expressed concern about the plan over it’s “duplicating” nature. “It was not a good idea and it’s redundant,” he
said. The vice-president called into question the “2.5 million stranded workers” and the online college’s ability to reach and cater to their demographic. Ritterbrown pointed out that this specific target audience has little to no higher education and will struggle in an online environment due to the lack of guidance. [See ‘Online College’ on Page 2]
IN THIS ISSUE News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 Features . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . 11-12 Sports .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3 Entertainment. . . . . 14-16
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[Continued from ‘Hall of Fame’, page 1] Alex Sarkissian was given the “Outstanding Athlete” award. Latter played tennis during the 2011 season at GCC. Sarkissian finished community college, ranking as the #1 junior college player in California. He transferred to Pepperdine University, after which his professional career started Dr. Deb Rinder was also given the “Outstanding Athlete” award. Having sports such as softball, baseball and basketball under her belt, Rinder’s passion has carried her all from high school, to community college, all the way into university. Breaking the gender barrier at the time, Rinder became the first female to play baseball in Boys Little League in 1975. Bob MacKay’s legacy at Glendale College started in the 1960’s, when he played tennis and was named intramural athlete of the year. A little over three decades later, MacKay made a comeback to GCC, as the Head Coach for Men’s Tennis. He held the position between 2002 and 2017. This year, he was given the “Outstanding Coach” award. Another honoree, Ray Calame played basketball at GCC, from 1963 to 1965. For over 40 years, Calame has worked as a youth basketball coach at the Glendale YMCA. This year, Calame was honored with the “Pillar of Achievement” award. As one of the first board members of Glendale College Foundation and an enthusiastic initiator of new programs, Tye Veden received the “Meritorious Service” award. He was the first chairman of the GCC Hall of Fame, and helped form the El Vaquero Racket Club. The “Outstanding Team” award was given to the 1986 football team, coached by former Hall of Fame inductee and athletic director Jim Sar-
toris. The football team went 10-1 on the season and was ranked number one in the nation for several weeks. Chris Hale was one of the many excellent members of the team, who was previously inducted to the Hall of Fame. “It’s a blessing, it’s almost surreal because for anybody in this position, you don’t really find yourself thinking about such things,” said Hale, as he expressed his gratitude. “Glendale College has meant so much to me in my life and my progressions into life and the people that I’ve been around here at the college. It’s amazing and I am really happy to be a part of it.” Bruce Corbin was given the “Community Partnership” award that evening. All of these inductees have exemplified sportsmanship and have transcended their story to be recognized. The stories told by these inspiring individuals send a message of triumph, defeat and overcoming adversity. Their legacies will continue to live on with their plaques hanging high, and their lessons embedded in the history of the college, for years to come.
Dylan A. Bryant / Staff Photographer
VICTORY: Honoree celebrates his medal.
Michael Dumansky can be reached at mdumansky1@charter.net. Marian Sahakyan can be reached at manehsahakyan@gmail.com.
el vaquero
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Marian Sahakyan
SENIOR PRODUCTION MANAGER Hayk Rostomyan PRODUCTION MANAGER James Ojano-Simonsson
Tania Acosta Samantha Banuelos Dylan Anthony Bryant Eduardo Carreno Michael Dumansky Danny Escobar Carmen Fernandez Joanna Flamenco Tyler Greene
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Chieko Kubo
Rudy Guijarro Jordan Henry Kevin Holcomb
FEATURES EDITOR Samantha Decker
Hayk Martirosyan Ro Martinez Avetis Oganyan
WEB EDITORS Carolina Diaz
[Continued from ‘Fully Online Community College,’ page 1] The overarching consensus has been that the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office plan to implement a 2019 all-online college despite truly taking faculty concerns into account. In other words, it is a top-down edict. Glendale Community College Journalism Instructor & Advisor of El Vaquero, school newspaper Rory Cohen also mentioned her concerns in regards to the issue. “I am very concerned with the decision made up in Sacramento,” said Cohen, referring to the proposal of $120 million in spending for the online community college. She added that it was done “without much, or any, input from faculty.” Cohen described coursework that is already online here at Glendale College. “I believe online education has a place, but I think we already have made huge strides at the faculty level to provide online and hybrid coursework where feasible.” Online instruction is evolving, but it takes time. “Students typically do not succeed in online classes as much as in-person classes,” Ritterbrown suggested, adding that online enrollment has skyrocketed with the pedagogy of online teaching and methodology constantly improving. It’s worth noting, however, that online learning has been shown to be less effective than traditional learning. A 2015 University of California, Davis study of 217,000 state community college students found that those who took online courses between 2008 and 2012 had lower grades and course completion rates than those who took the same courses in person. Cohen, for instance, suggested that she prefers “hybrid learning,” a mix of both online classes and shorter face-to-face meetings once or twice a week. She mentioned that it is a better solution instead of purely online learning, as “video chat” may not be a replacement for everyone. “For many people, being near a person and getting to know them, where you can shake their
hand, has huge value,” she said. “Some coursework that is put all online can work, but let’s not think of it as a solution for everyone.” There was already infrastructure and online learning initiatives in community colleges across the state, multiple individuals contacted for this piece said. Some did not want to go on the record. Rather than supplement these programs with the $120 million, some argue, the governor chose a problematic path in building a new program from the ground-up. Furthermore, with Gavin Newsom expected to win in the gubernatorial race, and his ideology being similar to Brown’s, some worry that the fully online college will go ahead without any debate. There is also a growing fear among faculty that this proposal could be a kiss of death and a potential job-killer since the decision was so sudden and did not give instructors who may not be technologically aligned with online education any time to prepare. Making sure coursework put online is comparable to in-person coursework is not an endeavor that can be taken on in just a year. Online classes and this specific California proposal seem to be a subset of a larger issue in automation, whether selfdriving cars or self-checkout, millions of jobs are at risk of being lost to machines or computer programs. However, while some jobs can be outsourced or cut, instructors deal in a very subjective relationship with their students that an online platform may not always replicate, some argued in interviews. Pushing forward a proposal like this “has been tried in 36 states and never worked,” said Ritterbrown. “It has never been demonstrated to increase student success, ever,” he said, arguing that it is based on assumptions. “The takeaway for me is that we need to make sound investment in education at the community college level,” he said. Kenya Ruiz can be reached at kenya.barboza@yahoo.com.
COPY EDITOR Elena Jacobson Yesenia Thomson
STAFF WRITERS Allison Ayala
MANAGING EDITOR Alin Pasokhian
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Selena Reyes Samuel Reynolds Kenya Ruiz Lilit Sedrakyan Kylie Shannon Eisho Shiroma Martha Topete
ILLUSTRATOR Matthew Spencer PHOTOGRAPHERS Jenilee Borek Ethan DeHoyos Allazhar Suisenbeck Natalie Simon
Member of the Journalism Asssociation of Community Colleges
FACULTY ADVISER Rory Cohen rcohen@glendale.edu (818) 240-1000 ext. 5214
Letters to the Editor El Vaquero accepts story ideas in news, features, profiles, sports and entertainment from the public. Send an idea or article to the editor at rcohen@glendale.edu or call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5214.
Letters may be reproduced in full or in part and represent only the point of view of the writer, not the opinion of El Vaquero or Glendale Community College and its district. All letters must include the full name, address and phone number of the writer. You will be contacted before publication. El Vaquero is a First Amendment publication.
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DACA Contr over sy Continues A sense of uncertainty is affecting recipients of the program
By Joanna Flamenco Staff Writer As part of Undocumented Student Week of Action, ASGCC hosted a concert event on Oct. 16 to celebrate and honor social activism in the community. The concert highlighted many current social issues, including those centered on immigration, LGBTQ+ advocacy and racial issues. Organizers also made it a point to focus on the importance of voting and being active political stewards. This event brings to mind Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA recipients. These are individuals who are undocumented, and therefore unable to vote in the midterm elections on Nov. 6. DACA is a federal legislation which extends benefits like employment authorization for recipients, who have entered the country under the age of 16. It also offers protection from deportation. An estimated 800 thousand DACA recipients throughout the nation are anxiously anticipating a ruling on the policy from the new administration. The way the administration votes on DACA will set the tone on how Congress will approach immigration reform in the future. After a nine-month deliberation, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, will have until Oct. 31 of this year to issue a decision on whether or not Congress can vote to end DACA. If a decision is not made at that time, the Supreme Court would then make an ultimate ruling on the future of this program. Since the
Supreme Court makes rulings between October and June, there is a sense of urgency in the reform process, as the number of applicants are only increasing. Revoking DACA would result in the inability for undocumented college students to pursue their careers. AB 540 is a California assembly bill that allows undocumented immigrants access to higher education. Legislation Watch/listen varies state to to Joanna state, but in Flamenco’s California the interview bill creates with GCC’s access to in-state Dream Center financial aid. Students would still be protected under AB 540 in California, to go to university bit.ly/2ERSkNQ and graduate with a fouryear degree, but would be unable to find work without a legal work bit.ly/2RfRQmj permit if DACA Go to the App/ is removed. In addition, those Play store on your phone to affected, would no longer be download protected from a QR code Immigration reader and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and deportations. In a recent interview with a GCC student, Irvin Rendon shared his thoughts on being an undocumented college student and DACA recipient. He noted that many students are reluctant to ask questions, reach out, and that they experience anxiety
as a result of their status. According to Rendon, students don’t know there is a safe place such as the Dream Resource Center on campus. There, students are provided with legal advice, financial aid, scholarships, counseling and a sense of community. They also help individuals looking to renew their DACA, a process that can take up to four months. This is important because the program is currently on hold for future applicants, and is only available to those wanting to renew. Rendon is a third year psychology major, pursuing a career in academic counseling to help children that have trouble in school due to an unstable life at home. He recognizes the importance of providing encouragement and guidance in order for kids to succeed. However, his career can be cut short if he is deported. He has been in the U.S. since the age of two. Rendon is not alone. Anthony Garcia, the DRC advisor, shared the importance of having open conversations about immigration. “Given the political climate, it seems to be very hostile towards people of color,” he argued. “It’s very important to give people a voice.” With the November elections coming up, a sense of voter responsibly and empathy are vital, say critics, in order to advocate for basic human rights. Activists encourage those who want to get involved to reach out to groups like CARECEN, a non-profit in los Angeles assisting DACA recipients. Joanna Flamenco can be reached at jflamen496@student.glendale.edu.
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G C C ’s ‘ I n s i d e r ’ N o w Av a i l a ble On l i ne
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Matthew Spencer / Staff Artist
GCC’s Insider Magazine is now available online in its entirety at http://bit.ly/GCCInsider2018. Stories cover GCC’s Dr. Robert Hill’s major transplants, what LGBTQAI terms actually mean, good places to grab a bite in and near Glendale, how to “Make Glendale Great Again,” and more. Artist Matthew Spencer came up with cover concept art, which is on view in Sierra Vista 130.
Serving Up Ice Cream, Nitrogen-Style ASGCC hosts social hour in an event that’s now a regular occurance on campus
Tania Acosta / Staff Photographer
OPTIONS GALORE: ASGCC offered deluxe toppings, including Fruity Pebbles and Oreos.
By Sam Reynolds Staff Writer If there’s anything on earth that can bring someone a smile, it’s definitely ice cream. Variations of ice cream can be traced all through
history, from ancient Rome in the form of snow and honey, to 16th century England when it was known as “cream ice.” Nowadays ice cream comes in so many forms, it’s hard to find a variation that doesn’t exist. It’s a treat that
can make someone, in even the worst of moods, instantly happier. What better way for students to have a pick me up than to host a do-it-yourself ice cream day? On a hot Thursday afternoon, the Associated Students of
Glendale Community College set up shop in Plaza Vaquero and served up smiles in the form of ice cream, nitrogen style. “We started doing ice cream day during my Fall semester in 2017,” said Alex Gevorkian, vice president of the activities committee “We thought the students would love it and find it interesting to see ice cream being made that way.” This isn’t just any regular old ice cream, either. ASGCC made sure to make ice cream that everyone could enjoy by using liquid nitrogen. “When we were planning the event, one of the topics was finding ice cream that is not only enjoyable, but also entertaining fir all,” said Joanna Flamenco, senator of the activities committee and one of the ice cream makers. The staff at the event made the ice cream in front of students to show off the process of using liquid nitrogen. The process starts with a steel bowl and some milk. To get your desired flavor, chocolate for example, mix in the flavoring with the milk and sugar. Next comes the liquid nitrogen, which is so cold it
should only be handled with the proper gloves and goggles at this paint. In this stage, it isn’t safe to eat, but that part comes later. Pour in the liquid nitrogen and enjoy the cool show of fog from the chemical reaction, but be careful not to add too much. ASGCC ice cream makers, while still remaining cautious of the amount, were able to perfect this. Once the concoction is partially frozen over, stir until the mixture is thick, and then add more liquid nitrogen to help it freeze over again. Repeat this process a few times, each time adding less and less, and the finished product will be a perfectly creamy scoop of ice cream. Ice cream by itself is cool, pun intended. But it’s even better with toppings. ASGCC took the liberty of making sure you got everything you need. The topping options offered included Nutella, Oreos, Fruity Pebbles, and so many more. Nitrogen ice cream has become a thing. For instance, Cauldron Ice Cream, Creamistry, and North Pole Snow Pole in Glendale offers an array of options. Sam Reynolds can be reached at sreynol201@student.glendale.edu.
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This is Halloween! Get your broomsticks ready to fly through time
SPOOKY SCARY SKELETONS: Bringing in the holiday spirit for those who enjoy all things that have to do with Halloween.
By Carolina Diaz, Elena Jacobson Candy, costumes, pumpkins, and ghosts are items that remind us of Halloween. However, this holiday is not what it was once back in the day. The origins of Halloween go way back. It all started with an ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, it is also a Gaelic tradition and is still celebrated today by many pagans. This festival marked the new year, on the first day of November, representing the end of the summer and the beginning of the dark time of the year. History.com says that the Celts believed that on this night, the barrier between two worlds, the dead and the living became blurred. It was considered that on October 31, the spirit of the dead returned to Earth. People dressed in scary masks to blend in with the walking dead as to avoid getting their souls taken away. The people also often left out offerings to deter any monsters and
fairies from kidnapping them. As the rest of the world started adapting the traditions, the actual meaning of the holiday was altered, turning it into a ‘dress-up’ festivity. The belief that a veil between life and death still remains is widely popular in Mexico, known as the Day of the Dead. Celebrated on Nov. 2, this too, entails the same idea that spirits walk with us. Day of the Dead, however, is less of a spooky event, and more of a celebration of life and legacy of those who no longer live. Though not popular at first, Halloween became very popular as time progressed. It all started public events where neighbors gather to share stories of the dead, tell one another’s fortunes. There was also a lot of dancing and singing involved. More traditions were introduced as the Irish started immigrating to the United States in the 19th century, bringing over their ancient customs. “Trick-or-treating” was one of the many activities that was
brought over from Ireland and England. During this holiday, people would dress up in costumes, gohouse to house asking for food or money. It was also believed that on Oct. 31, young women could find their future husbands with yarn tricks, apple pairings and mirrors. The Holiday of Halloween is mixture of a lot of different traditions that come together on the same day. Jack-o’- lanterns in particular, are part of an Irish tradition, which stems from “Stingy Jack.” Latter is a folktale about a man who tricked the devil into many devious plots. After he died, his spirit was forced to roam the Earth, as he wasn’t allowed into heaven because of his misdeeds towards others. On top of that, Jack had already tricked the devil into promising not to take his soul, either. The devil sent him to wander with a coal to light his way, he carved out a turnip as his lantern and became Jack of the Lantern. People bagan to make their own
lanterns out of turnips and potatoes and they eventually added pumpkins to the mix. Like many spiritual celebrations, superstition has also become a big part of the holiday. Many believe that it is the day for the devil, because of the demon warding traditions. Black cats are widely used during this holiday season. Charming to some, it is needless to say that many others relate these animals to witches, which gives an even more spooky feel to the use of these characters during Halloween. Many say that if you come across a black cat, it can be a sign that a witch is nearby. It is also said that they can bring bad luck. Spiders are another ‘unpopular’ item of the Halloween-time. According to bustle.com seeing a spider on Halloween means that a loved one that passed away is seeing over you. In conclusion, seeing a spider is not a bad thing to come across. For centuries and decades, Halloween has been celebrated
Flood G. / Creative Commons
uniquely in each culture, making this a complex holiday to digest. As we can tell, time has done its part by changing the entire meaning of this wicked festival. Though it has similar ties to the old ‘habits’ of the holiday, the new way of celebrating Halloween has less to do with meeting monsters or the devil himself, but much like a day of fun. Most people just look at it as a day to go out, dress in creative costumes, and have some fun by either trickor-treating or attending parties. Despite the big changes through time, Halloween culture has lived through generations, and has yet to be forgotten. And while it’s still here, we should all have a dance to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”
Carolina Diaz can be reached at itscarodiaz@gmail.com. Elena Jacobson can be reached at laneyjacobson520@gmail.com.
Wicked Lit Comes to Mountain View Mausoleum More spooky options for Halloween lovers page design by hayk rostomyan
Daniel Kitayama / Staff Photographer
ALL THINGS HALLOWEEN: Kevin Dulude and Flynn Platt (4) in Teig O-Kane and the Corpse.
By Elena Jacobson Copy Editor Welcome to Mountain View Mausoleum, home of Wicked Lit, an interactive Halloween horror show. Upon arrival, the guests are greeted by two
tour guides of Mountain View “Museum,” who introduce some of the history of the plays and of the mausoleum itself. It was ten years ago that Unbound Production started off as a small production at Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills and
steadily grew larger through time, until it moved to its current location at Mountain View Mausoleum. With time, the size of the production grew with its content. They added in more shows, such as “Mystery and History Lit.”Despite the vari-
ety of plays offered, Wicked Lit remains the crown jewel of the set as they continue to bring stories to life every year. After the introduction the audience is split into two groups, each one following the tour guides to their respective stories. Each story is followed by a small break, before the crowds can move on to the next experience. During the entire show, the guides make sure that everyone stays on track and in their place, without getting in the way of the actors and their performance. Each scene is designed in a way, during which performers get very close to the audience, which just adds another dimension of fun for the visitors. “The Chimes: A Goblin Story,” is one of the two Irish plays that the museum features. It was adapted and incorporated by Jonathan Josephson, a Los Angeles playwright. This cautionary tale pays a subtle homage to “A Christmas Carol,” but rather than ghosts, Goblins appear to a church care-
taker and warn him of his ways. “Teig O’Kane and the Corpse,” was adapted by a young actor by the name of Kerry Kazmierowicztrimm (Kaz). The story exemplifies the story of how Tim O’Kane has to learn to let go of those he has lost, otherwise, he will be stuck with the dead forever. Each set creates a tense atmosphere with spooky lighting and extraordinary sound effects, the actors’ feelings are palpable, as they bring these stories to life. The tension remains even through a few technical difficulties with a strobe light during “Teig O’Kane and the Corpse.” Tickets to these exciting shows cost $30. The runtime is approximately 75 minutes. Wicked Lit runs until Nov. 10 and is located at 2300 N. Marengo Ave., Altadena. Wearing comfortable shoes are recommended! Elena Jacobson can be reached at laneyjacobson520@gmail.com.
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All Aboard!
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The Most Haunted Ship in America By Carolina Diaz Web Editor There are many attractions happening in the month of October, but there is one place where Halloween is present year-round. The ship exerts paranormal energy, leaving the ghost hunting enthusiasts in awe. The Queen Mary first sailed on May 27, 1936. It served as a method of transportation for the wealthy to travel between England and New York. To further serve its well-to-do guests, the ship featured five dining areas, two cocktail bars, two swimming pools, a grand ballroom, and a small hospital. After six years of voyage as a tour ship, on Aug. 30, 1939, the Queen Mary had its final trip with 2,552 passengers. In the same year, when England and France declared war on Germany, the ship was renamed to the “Grey Ghost” and was painted all grey, losing its previous charm. For the eight years that followed, the Grey Ghost carried troops back and forth between the United States and Europe. After the war was over, it regained its original name and was colored black, red and white, as if nothing ever changed. The Queen Mary took its final sail at sea as a commercial ship in 1966. A year after, on Dec. 9, the historical vessel arrived in Long Beach and stayed put for years to come. Now, The Queen Mary is used as a hotel, event venue, and museum. They also have days whereupon purchasing tickets, one gets to experience a paranormal tour of the ship, or be part of what is called a ‘paranormal investigation,’ where guests try
Alkan de Beaumont / Creative Commons
HAUNTED SHIP: Roaming with spirits and history.
communicating with the spirits present onboard. Hosting a variety of events, the most exciting one arguably takes place during the month of October. At this time, the ship is transformed into a maze, giving Halloween lovers something to look forward to each year. Normally, there are clowns and other frightening creatures hiding around the mazes, providing a chilling but fun experience for all. Now on to the ghosts. Throughout its years in voyage, many accidents and possible murders happened onboard. According to legendsofamerica.com the Queen Mary is known as the most haunted ship in the country, with over 150 ‘spirits’ aboard.
There are many locations that are known to be paranormal hotspots, but one of the most famous ones is the engine room, and specifically door number 13. It is known that during a night shift, a crew member around the age of 18 was crushed by the door. There are two theories as to how he died, none of which are confirmed. Most say that his death was caused while he was checking the engines, and failed to make it out in time as the gate was closing. Others say his death was caused by foolishness while playing, and ultimately losing, a game of chicken. It is said that the young man’s spirit still wanders around the engine room. The most famous haunted
room of all is B340. Legend has it, that during the ‘60s, a man went insane and brutally murdered two women traveling on the ship. After the guard locked him in room B340, the man kept on saying that he did not want to be in the room as there was someone there trying to kill him. The guards did not believe him, thinking that he was just trying to escape. Hours later, when the man quieted down, the guard thought that he was asleep. Little did he know that the man was actually murdered. The discovery of his brutal murder was made when the police came to arrest him, but instead, found him ripped apart. His limbs were separated from his body and thrown around the
room. This B340 was later transformed into a hotel room, which one can rent for $499 a night. A complimentary Ouija board and crystal ball are given, in case the guests want to try communicating with the man’s spirit. The Queen Mary is known to strike terror into the toughest of people. If you ever find yourself in Long Beach and craving a supernatural experience, just hop aboard the Queen Mary to participate in the events they offer. You can find the ship docked at 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach, CA 90802.
Carolina Diaz can be reached at itscarodiaz@gmail.com.
Montrose Kicks off 39th Annual Oktoberfest Music, food, carnival rides, dog contests, and more at the festival
page design by hayk rostomyan
Kylie Shannon / Staff Photographer
OKTOBERFEST CARNIVAL: Children play games with a variety of different prizes for the winner to choose from.
By Kylie Shannon Staff Writer Every year, right around this time, the blocks of Honolulu Avenue in Montrose fill with food, beer, rides, games, face painting, yoga and much more. The traditional festival was hosted by the Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce and was held on Oct. 6. With Halloween right around the corner, Montrose invited the
community to a fall night out and encouraged people to grab some food, sip on German beer and have a good time. From yoga classes, to music, to face painting there was something for the whole family to enjoy. Not to mention, there was even a contest for your furry loved one, known as the Bavarian Dog Contest. As far as food goes, there were dozens of restaurants and bars available open to the public. From the Black Cow Cafe to Zeke’s
Smokehouse to Sushi Plus, there was an array of different food for everybody to enjoy. Stands sold different kinds of beer, turkey legs and hot dogs. In addition, the same supplier to Dodger Stadium and Knotts Berry Farm, Schreiner’s Fine Sausages in Montrose, also served traditional full meals, Bavarian style. They served Schreiner’s Bratwurst, Sauerkraut, Potato Salad, and Rye Bread. Bon appetit! The festival also featured live
music, crowd sing-alongs, and even D’Oberland dancers. General admission remained free to the public, however VIP admission ranged from $45 to $71. Perks included three free drinks of your choice upon entry, a canopy covered tent, lounge couches, and convenient charging stations. A few drinks included with VIP admission came from the Henson Brewing Company, Babe Rose, and the Bavarian Pretzel, sponsored by The Elbow Room.
Similarly, another Oktoberfest will be held through Oct. 20 to Oct. 21 in Pershing Square, located south of Olive Street in Downtown Los Angeles. It will also be centered around a German theme and will require a $5 fee upon entrance. The event will include foods such as bratwursts, German Beer from Paulaner, and include music from Hazelnuss, a German native band. Kylie Shannon can be reached at kshannon124@student.glendale.edu.
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Stories from Beyond
Glendale College students tell El Vaquero their spooky stories Patrick Bagumyan Biology Major
By Selena Reyes and Martha Topete Staff Writers
Touch of Hope My aunt had breast cancer but she was treated and it went away for a while but it came back and she was hospitalized. While she was in the hospital she was not hearing any good news from the doctors so she was devastated because she has two sons. Very late at night laying on the hospital bed she was in her thoughts, trying to figure out what she was going to do. When she felt a hand right where she had the cancer, she felt something maybe like an angel touch her there, and the very next day the doctors started to tell her good news.
Evelyn Villa Geography Major
The Lady in Black I was sleeping at my friends house, I would go there to take naps so she wasn’t home. I was running on only two hours of sleep so I fell asleep pretty quickly. But then I had really bad sleep paralysis, it turned out to be so much more. I could open my eyes and I saw a woman in black with long black hair and then I could feel her choking me and I started screaming but nothing could come out, so I started to pray but my voice didn’t sound like my voice so I continued to pray more. Eventually I was able to move away and left the house, I called my friend sobbing and she asked me if I saw a woman because that had happened to her multiple times at that house. I then told this story to one of my friends and the exact same thing happened to him.
Ani Asryan Biology Major
The Boy Who Cried Wolf My cousin came over for a sleepover. It was dark, all of the lights were off and the closet door was open. In the middle of the night fhe got up and turned to the closet and started crying. He began to freak out and started yelling and crying for help. I asked him what was wrong and he told me he saw a wolf in the closet. I was scared but I still offered to get up and check it out for him. I asked him where exactly it was that he saw it and he pointed to it but I couldn’t see anything so I asked my parents to come in to help out. Even then he was so sure it was staring back at all of us. They stayed with us until he fell asleep. From that day forward I faced away from my closet, I was so traumatized I avoided going into that part of my closet.
Kevin Claro Computer Science Major
The Lizard Man
I was sleeping over my friends house, and we went to the LA abandoned zoo at two in the morning. We usually just go there to mess around but this day we started to hear weird noises and we assumed that it was just homeless people or something. We were in the feeding pen area and my friend said he saw a lizard person and as soon as he said that we all wwstarted running away. Until this day we don’t know what it was it might have just been a person in a costume but we don’t know.
Jocelyn Rieken Business Major
God’s Plan When I was four or five, my mom and I were leaving my aunts house. I remember walking to the car I felt uneasy. I was still using a booster seat but I was old enough to strap myself in. When I began to pull on my seat belt I felt a presence near me and I began to freak out and feel rushed to leave. As soon as I clicked my seat belt in a car hit my moms car from behind. My mom not being prepared, her entire face pressed against the steering wheel, she broke her nose, but I was perfectly fine. I don’t know if God was on my side but I still get chills thinking about it. Whatever it was it was on my side.
Lily Zierhut Liberal Studies Major
Ghost Adventures
page design by Martha Topete Chieko Kubo
Selena Reyes can be reached at sreles401@student.glendale.edu. Martha Topete can be reached at martha.topete@yahoo.com.
The people who owned my house prior to us moving in all died there. One man in particular, the one who lived there longest,was very sick and lived there with his nurse. He died in my room. Most nights when I’m trying to fall asleep I always see random things shift around.When I am watching the show Ghost Adventures, my TV will start glitching, specifically when the show plays reenactments of ghosts. Sometimes even when there is no air current, I randomly get a gust of wind blown in the face. The freakiest thing I’ve encountered was in my living room I was napping and woke up to a man whispering in my ear, too low to actually hear what he was saying. I sat down and looked up and all three of our cats looking straight down at me, it freaked me out because they say cats can see and hear spirits. I had to leave that day, but I still live there.
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P hantastic Phanati X
Hard work and passion shines through during this semester’s one night only performance
page design by James Ojano-Simonsson
Joel Hoskins / Contributing Photographer
YOU CAN’T STOP THE BEAT: GCC’s Dance Club members receive the audience’s applause in their final pose.
By James Ojano-Simonsson Production Manager Another successful show for Glendale Community College’s 22-year-old tradition, the PhanatiX Dance Showcase, was held Oct. 13 with an audience of at least 100 people. The show is a legacy of Pat Paczynski and is hosted by GCC’s Dance Club every semester. [Scan QR-code above to read a previous article about Paczynski.] “PhanatiX provides a platform for students and the community to share their passion for dance,” said Victor Robles, Dance Department Chair and Dance Club Advisor. He was impressed by the dancers’ commitment, as well as the creativity and energy that was being shared on the stage. This term’s PhanatiX Dance Showcase featured guest artists Los Narradores Tango Team, a group of mature tango dancers from the Montrose, La Cañada area. The diverse program also featured guest soloists, and two dance companies based on the GCC campus, Team B.U.K., a K-pop/Hip-Hop and Glendale College Dance Company, a contemporary repertory-based company. Dance Club members spoke to El Vaquero about their experience. As the president of Dance Club, 22-year-old Ani Vartani sees a lot of potential among the group of dancers. She loves working with the rest of the
club’s officers to create new shows, but also makes students unite as one through dance. “I always enjoy the show because it is something that Dance Club has put a lot of effort into,” said Vartani. “You can never get enough of watching all the hard work the dancers put through for the show.” Vartani does not only fulfill her presidential duties, but also choreographs, mixes music, and keeps the group together with her positive and cheerful vibe. Tina Sinlapasai, 33, videographer for Dance Club, has a full schedule but decided to join the club so she could keep dancing. Sinlapasai did not only contribute with choreography for the club’s routine, but also filmed every practice so the dancers could review and improve during the short amount of time they had to finish the routine. On El Vaquero’s website (elvaq.com) you can see Dance Club’s routine produced by Sinlapasai. Celine Voskanian, 20, has several semesters of experience and involvement in the club, and is also the club’s publicist and manages all social media. “Phanatix this semester was amazing as always,” Voskanian said cheerfully. She performed in four routines this show; with Dance Club, Team B.U.K., a solo, and a duet with former GCC student Sarah Queen. Dance Club IOC representative, Linda Salegio, 19, did her third PhanatiX show this semester. She explained that being part
of Dance Club gives her the opportunity to do what she loves, which is to dance and build relationships. “I enjoy being a part of PhanatiX because it’s the time when we get to perform on stage, and it gives us a chance to see other people’s talent and hard work,” Salegio expressed. Freshman Brandon Betancourt, 17, is a member of GCC’s Dance Club and Team B.U.K. He decided to do the show because he was in a dance team in his high school and missed dancing. “I thought PhanatiX was great. It was so much fun, and even though I was nervous, I had a really good time,” Betancourt confessed. Mitchell Kim, 18, who is also a freshman at GCC, did his first PhanatiX and has had a lot of fun practicing for the show, as well as making new friends. “This first PhanatiX was a great experience, and it felt so close and like a family,” Kim said with a smile. Freshman Jose Maldonado, 18, was happy about joining Dance Club for the PhanatiX show. “The reason I joined Dance Club was to escape and relieve my pain and anger,” said Maldonado. One of Dance Club’s loyal members, Jose Garcia, 29, originally joined Dance Club and thought it was a lot of fun learning how to dance. He enjoyed being part of PhanatiX once again. Sophomore Eshe Brown, 19, is also an experienced PhanatiX dancer. She has been dancing in the show for a total of three
DUDES AND DUDETTES: Dancers with different backgrounds and experiences perform the all-time classic favorite “Hairspray.”
times. Brown likes to meet new people that love to express themselves through dance. “I think PhanatiX is a great way to showcase everyone’s talent and to have fun with people of similar interests,” Brown said. For the past three semesters, Dance Club has done classical show-themed routines, such as “Fame,” “Grease,” and this time around: “Hairspray.” Many who have followed the showcase throughout the years said Dance Club’s “Hairspray” routine was one of the best they have seen so far. What made it stand out from previous years was the energy and cleanliness, level of difficulty, and highlighting individual talents. Keeping in mind that Dance Club is for all GCC students, dance majors, experienced dancers, and non-experienced dancers, makes the show extra special. What will next semester’s theme be? To find out, join Dance Club, or come to the spring smester’s show. If you love dancing and you are interested in learning more, Dance Club holds their meetings every Thursday from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in SN104.
James Ojano-Simonsson can be reached at jojanos818@student.glendale.edu.
Joel Hoskins / Contributing Photographer
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Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018
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Student-Friendly Jobs
Flexible employment opportunities for the busy college-goers By Jordan Henry Staff Writer
In the life of a college student it is often hard to juggle between school work and personal life. College students often need flexibility in their schedules, in order to maintain a good GPA. Many jobs don’t offer hours catered to a college student who needs to study daily. College students often have to struggle to figure out how to fit studying into their busy schedules. There are many jobs offered to college students who need flexibility in order to make school their priority. Uber Working for Uber comes with many benefits, you can work anytime, make your own hours and be your own boss. As an Uber driver you drive people from destination to destination. For college students it makes it easier if you have a last- minute assignment to study for and you need to study right away! Plus, you can be your own boss and earn incentives up to $1000 per week. Rover Rover is a wesite which is
Jordan Henry / Staff Photographer
COLLEGE STUDENTS CAN GET JOBS: Whether they drive Uber, make deliveries with Doordash, or become an extra in a movie, today’s youth have a lot of options to make cash quickly.
offered to people who love animals, and don’t mind dog sitting. It’s a great part time job for someone who is good at taking care of animals and doesn’t mind the upkeep. At times, you could be walking the dog when the owner is out of town. Rover employees can earn an average of $1000 a week depending on how many dogs you take
care of. Meanwhile, full time employees working four weeks out the month and taking care of two to three dogs can make up to $3,000. Doordash Door Dash is a delivery service that enables you to make money delivering food at certain hours of the day. College students are able to make their own
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hours! A Door Dash delivery person is guaranteed $1750 depending on the amount of deliveries completed. Craigslist Craigslist offers many ways to make fast cash. You can go on the free page and collect the stuff that people don’t want, then sell it for double or maybe triple the price. You can be your own boss, and make all the profit for yourself. Bird Being a Bird Scooter charger is a good job for a student who needs a flexible schedule. As a “Bird Charger” you have to find the scooter in a certain area. The more difficult it is to find, the more you get paid for the gig. Chargers can make up to $5 to 20 dollars per scooter charged. Fiverr Fiverr freelance computer editing is a site offered to individuals who are good at computer editing or graphics. It’s great for college students who are studying computer design and need to build their portfolio, you can also set your own pay rates. Poshmark / Mercari Poshmark & Mercari are sites that are used to sell your gently used or named brand clothing. For college student who are fashionistas this is the perfect job, you’re able to style and sell unique vintage finds, while making major profits!
Amazon Flex Amazon Flex Delivery service is an option for someone who doesn’t like a superviser to report to, and you can create your own hours depending on the drop off delivery times. The average Amazon Flex worker can earn up to $1831 an hour, delivering boxes door to door. Turo Car Renting Service Turo Car renting service is perfect for a student who finds their car sitting in their garage. Go on the site and put your car for listing, and instantly people want to give you money to rent your car. Set your own rates, and make money while not lifting a finger. Depending on the car you own, you’re able to make a range of $15 to 250 a day. Background Actor Be an Extra or Background Actor! If you’re a theatre major or a college student fascinated by movies and television. Being a background actor has many perks, you can work anytime you want and you can pick and choose the projects you want to work on. You can even get more experience behind scenes of major movie sets. Most background workers receive $14 to 18 an hour or more depending on the project. page design by hayk rostomyan
Jordan Henry can be reached at jordanhenry184@gmail.com.
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Self-Motivation Resources & Strategies for GCC Students Implementing these strategies could serve as tremendous help for individuals on campus
Jordan Henry / Staff Photographer
STUDY AS EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE: Be a successful college student by using these tips.
By Kylie Shannon Staff Writer As the semester continues, schoolwork can become an emotional turmoil which leaves students feeling drained and liable of forming unhealthy patterns. Perhaps, this is the reason why many college students develop traits such as anxiety, stress, and frustration, which later eliminates the drive for motivation. However, identifying their strengths and weaknesses within and out of the school setting may help students create the right strategies that work for them. In turn, it could leave them feeling more in control and motivated to continue. With this in mind, it is important to remember all the resources that are available. In terms of Glendale Community College, there are a wealth of accessible outlets for students to utilize. El Vaquero asked GCC students about their tips and tricks in regards to staying motivated and organized. Here is what we came up with: “Prioritize. Prioritize Prioritize. You’ve probably overlooked this one to begin with. Every ‘game plan’ should start with what you value spending
your time most on. Whether that entails prioritizing your weakest subject on top or even spending more time on that Friday night to ace that Math quiz you’re worried about,” advised Jennifer Bocanegra, a communications major. She revealed that her biggest secret to success is to compile her classes from weakest to hardest and set aside the most time for her most difficult class. Next tip is to identify your long term objective. Create a clear vision of the end goal, whether that’s maintaining your grade point average and earning that A or B, or aligning your schedule to fulfill the effort that a class demands. As a college student myself, I can’t stress enough the importance of maintaining the vision of the long-term goal I am trying to achieve. With this in mind, I become more prone to getting involved with resources that will benefit me, such as joining a workshop at the Learning Center here on campus in AD 232. Whether the workshop is about “Keys to College Success,” or simply learning about “Essay Structures and Fragments,” I am more inclined to do so when I remember my end goal. Number three, make a habit of jotting down important deadlines
and assignments. Sounds simple, but it will make all the difference. This is especially true if you’re a visual person. Time is your most precious resource, so make the best of it. Learn to manage your time wisely and set up a schedule that accommodates to your needs. Whether this includes splitting up the times you study for each class (breaks included) or simply creating an agenda that will help execute your goals. Forming this habit will ensure you always stay on top of your work and reduce the chance of falling behind. As for, Ashley Quintana, a nursing major, she stays on top by implementing the notes section of her iPhone as a “planner” to jot down her deadlines and weekly assignments. She recommends doing this because in between being a student and having job, it helps her see visually what she has to do as the week progresses, in addition to adding stuff as the week goes. Next tip includes a key element, which is not to be afraid to ask for help! Many students make the mistake of not taking advantage of professors office hours or the school’s resources. There are dozens of help resources that are meant for the sole purpose of helping students in need! Not to mention, Glendale Col-
lege offers free tutoring in the Learning Center in AD 232, and Math Discovery Center in AD 103, accommodating to students struggling in either Math or English. There is even an option available for students to book a student tutor to review their papers. This is useful because it allows students to receive extra help from someone who’s in their shoes as a student themself and can serve as a different outlet for remaining on top and motivated. Get your sleep. The key to remaining motivated involves both a productive and energetic mind. Each will increase your drive to tackle what each day brings and the assignments that come along with it. Aim towards your goals with the right attitude and mindset. Don’t bother giving into self doubt because all that does is cloud the vision against your goal. Nuture a mindset that will fulfill your mind with a positive outlook even when you feel like surrendering. The end game will be worth it. In addition, GCC offers a workshop on the “Growth Mindset,” which goes into detail about how an attitude can make a huge difference within your perspective on academics and in real life, further emphasizing the value
placed on remaining driven and inspired. Be mindful of your expectations. Success takes hard work, and you have to be willing to earn the grade you desire, don’t expect instant gratification. Art History major Natalie Yeroomian goes on to emphasize the importance that goes into actually putting in the work for the grade you desire. Everytime she has hit bumps in her success, she has always reminded herself to persevere and that anything worth accomplishing takes hard work and the right mindset to follow. Overall, it is important for every student in or out of college to focus on the small successes too. Often times us students get so discouraged on everything we didn’t achieve that we overlook what we have done and did achieve. Most of all, give yourself credit when and where it’s due and remind yourself that you are capable of more than you know. With this in mind, don’t be afraid to seek out all the resources that are available to you, and take advantage all the outlets that are at your disposal. page design by hayk rostomyan
Kylie Shannon can be reached at kshannon124@student.glendale.edu.
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Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018
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Bringing Latin Heritage to Pasadena The event represented the stories, traditions and rituals of an entire culture
By Selena Reyes Staff Writer The 20th annual Latino Heritage parade kicked off Saturday, Oct. 13 in Pasadena, Calif. Despite complications with rainy weather, the parade drew out 2,500 participants and spectators. This included a mostly diverse array of Latino constituents from local schools, community groups, elected officials and dignitaries. This year’s theme honored Latinos and Latinas in the entertainment arena, celebrating their outstanding television, radio, film performances and accomplishments both in front and behind the camera. The festival featured art exhibits, artisans, educational and historical displays, entertainment, food, community booths, a tribute to Selena Quintanilla by actress, singer and songwriter Tamara Rodriguez Mehl and the Helpful Honda team who were present to hand out free Mexican paletas to the audience. Beginning at 10 a.m. at Washington Park, the parade led to a festival and car show at Villa Parke right before noon, where the community celebrated until 4.p.m. Before the parade began Saturday morning, a VIP breakfast was held at Villa Parke Community Center to celebrate all of the Grand Marshalls and the parade committee. The Grand Marshalls included a wide range of Latino talent such as fashion stylist Gina Ponce, comedian Joe “El Cholo” Luna, musician Pablo “El Gordo” Lobo, the cast of the movie “Coco,” Carlos Moreno Jr., Blanca Soto, Denise Blasor, Daniel E. Mora, Jossara Jinaro, the 2016 Tournament of Roses Parade Princess Donaly Marquez, radio host Terry “El Terrible” Cortez, and
DANCE AND COLOR: Aztec dance group Yankuititl performs the 20th annual Latino Heritage Parade in Pasadena, Calif.
many more. The City of Pasadena Human Services and Recreation Department, alongside a local community-based organization, Latino Heritage Fundraising Committee, sponsor the event every year. Actor and councilmember Jerry Velasco for the City of El Monte and Franci Sanchez of La Ranchera 96.7 FM were standouts during the breakfast as they are known for their support of beneficial programs and services for immigrants. These programs provide community-based mental health and legal support services, according to Rebeca Martinez Barrett, president and community outreach director of ICRN (Immigration Community Resource Network) and GEMCA, Inc. Barrett also added that they are geared toward successfully delivering comprehensive programs for all. “This will be my second year and I am honored to be a part of a well-rounded committee,” she
said. “I am a newcomer to the community service industry, but I am determined to make an impact to positively serve the immigrant population.” Earlier this year, Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano honored the 2018 “Unsung Heroines,” the women of the year, for exemplary service at an award ceremony which included Barrett and 15 other women. “I evaluate my progress on a daily basis and always feel as though I could do much more to support the immigrant population,” Barrett said. “This journey has helped me to appreciate everyone and not to be judgmental, but to be of support to those in need.” Actor, comedian, radio DJ, and GCC alumnus Jim Francis Meza explained how important Barrett is to the committee during the VIP breakfast Saturday morning. “Today we are all a family and Rebeca is the person who
brings us all together, just take a look around,” Meza said. “She brought the cast of “Coco” along. She is why I am here today, she has not only opened doors for me but opens doors for everyone who crosses paths with her.” He added that she was grateful to be a part of the parade and believes young Latinos need to break free from the four walls they ‘cocoon themselves’ in, take calculated risks, study, and make every situation a positive opportunity. “Regardless of how far fetched it was because of the poverty stricken community I grew up in,” Meza said. “I always knew I was going to be where I am at. This is exactly what I dreamt of as a child. We didn’t have much, but I went to college, bettered myself and learned to respect people.” Parade first-timer and comedian Joe “El Cholo” Luna also explained how being involved with the parade committee solidified how far he has pushed himself to
Selena Reyes / Staff Photographer
reach success. “I have never done anything like this,” Luna said. “I grew up in an environment where you avoid conversation, only to avoid conflict with people.” Luna explained that in doing comedy, he had to learn how to adjust to people and confrontation, including of the friendly variety. Alongside Luna was actor Daniel E. Mora who explained how the Disney film “Coco” helped educate a large audience about positive Latino values. “The film helped other cultures, for once, see the unity, nobility of our people, and the real strength that we possess,” said Mora. “It’s easy to dismiss us as they have for centuries, but it’s events like this that show our community remains positive, keeps moving forward and just out of sheer inertia, we are going to break through.” Selena Reyescan be reached at sreyes401@student.glendale.edu.
Los Angeles Bicycle Friendly Movement The city is on its way to creating a safer environment for bikers
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Jenilee Borek/ Staff Photographer
PARKING: Bike parking has become tremendously easy to spot in the city.
By Tania Acosta
Staff Writer
“Safety is the number one thing when riding a bike,” said Frank. Perez Ponce, a resident of Hollywood and biking enthusiast. “Being cautious of your surroundings is second.” Through the years , he had to learned how to protect himself from aggressive drivers. He advises other riders to stay away from boulevards, avenues, or any busy street in order to stay safe. “Taking small
streets, it’s a lot safer,” he said. Metro and the city of Los Angeles have jointly founded a pilot program called the Share Program, the first one in the country to be overseen by a transit authorities. Though its day-to-day operations will be managed by a private company called Bicycle Transit System Inc. About $11 million was invested into the program. A major goal is for the bike share plans to bridge the so called first-mile last-mile gap between public transit and people’s
home or workplaces. Transit officials believe that doing so will help promote more use of buses and trains. The pilot will make up to 1,000 bikes in 65 stations for short-term rentals across Downtown Los Angeles. Shop-Ride-Nela (NELA) was the first pilot program of its kind in los Angeles to create a 3.6 mile which traversed into northeast Los Angeles shopping corridors. Los Angeles County has 2,016 miles of bike path, but only 757 of those miles are separated from car traffic. Traffic officials are discussing the expansion beyond downtown. They have chosen to partner with nonprofit coalition of community organizations. The Los Angeles County Bicycle coalition (LACBC) is a membership based non profit organizations that builds and improves the bicycling environment to bring diverse communities together from the entire region. It was founded in 1998 by bicycle advocates Joe Lipton and Ron
Milan. “One form of meditation is riding my mountain bike where I feel safe,” said Nelson Lopez, a resident of Woodland Hills and a bicyclist, who doesn’t like commuting on his bike around the city for safety issues. “It defeats the purpose,” he claimed. LACBC provides fun places to ride through advocacy, education and outreach. Los Angeles’ reputation is that of a car centric region. LACBC’s cycling movement is to envision a region that serves all community members, despite their economic situation and encourage healthier modes of transit. The “3-foot rule” was signed into law, a bill that by Gov. Jerry Brown in Sept 23, 2013, and will prohibit the driver of any motor vehicle from passing a bike rider on the road unless there is 36 inches of space between them. However, the new law states that if a driver is unable to give a cyclist three feet due to traffic
page design by Marian Sahakyan
or road conditions (including the weather and width of the highway), the driver must instead slow to a reasonable speed and pass when doing so would not endanger the bicyclist. A violation carries a base fine of $35, unless the violation causes a collision and injury to the bicyclist. Then the fine is $220. “Obey the rules,” said Perez. He continues to commute to work everyday on his bike and he has adapted to the challenges he faces on the busy streets of LA. Unlike Lopez, who is passionate about the sport and enjoys it, Perez lives in Hollywood where parking is easier to get around by riding a bike as opposed to having a car. In the city traffic is heavy and most apartments don’t have any parking spaces available for tenants. Plus, it helps the environment and reduces smog.
Tania Acosta can be reached at tacosta253@student.glendale.edu.
OPINION
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Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018
11
Ride at Your Own Risk Does Metro do enough to prevent sexual harrasment?
Jenilee Borek / Staff Photographer
METRO RED LINE: A warning about sexual harassment looms overhead as the popular commuter train with connections to Hollywood and Downtown Los Angeles, arrives at a station.
By Samantha Decker Features Editor Riding public transit has never been the most appealing transportation option. Strangers cramped in a tight space makes it uncomfortable and the frequent stops makes it slow moving. It is the breeding ground for communicable diseases, back pain from hard seats, and sexual harassment. In 2015, Metro conducted a rider survey, which revealed over 1 in 5 riders were subjected to sexual harassment and a large percentage of those went unreported. In response, Metro launched a campaign in April of 2015, which promised a zerotolerance policy in effort to end sexual harassment on their lines. The campaign included signs placed at bus stops and inside of busses and train cars, with slogans stating sexual harassment is “Off Limits” and encouraging an “If you see something, say something” culture. While their efforts may be convincing from the outside, it is questionable whether or not they their initiative has actually worked. Have they done enough to eliminate the threat and do women now feel safe riding Metro? A few women who have used their services say otherwise. “I said no.” One startling account happened when Leah Cohen and her sister were riding the Red Line train to what was supposed to be an exciting night at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in 2016. They deemed it a smart choice to take the Metro since parking at the venue was going to be scarce and expensive. Shortly after boarding the train, they found seats next to each other. “Everything was fine until a guy approached me and said ‘Hey can I sit near you?’ And there were only two seats there [the ones they occupied] and I said ‘I’m sorry, there is no space.’ Now there was a little bit of like, a corner of the seat that wasn’t taken up from the seat that I was sitting in, and so slowly he kind of sits on that corner and then, as the metro continues to go, he slowly kind of is getting on my lap like sitting on my lap. And I was like ‘Excuse you.’ and I shoved him
off me and he says to me ‘What? I can’t sit on you lap?’ and I told him ‘No you can’t sit on my lap. Get away from me. I said no. Find another seat.’ So then he walks away and as he is getting off at the next station, because we were just pulling into the next stop, he says to me ‘Well, you just don’t like black men.’ To which I got furious and I said ‘You are talking to a predominantly African woman’ because I do have African roots. And I think the only thing that pissed me off more than the fact that he was being such a pig about [the sexual harassment], was that he thought it was okay to throw in a race card. Anyone with common sense wouldn’t do that to anybody.” Immediately after the incident, Cohen got off at the next stop and filed a lengthy report, only to be told there was nothing Metro could do. Discouraged by their complaint being handled so poorly, both her and her sister have since refused to ride the Metro, no matter how convenient it may be. “Ever since then, my sister and I declared a complete boycott on public transit in LA, which is so funny because I could be anywhere else, I have been in different countries and different states even, where the public transit is fantastic and if anything, I prefer it. I won’t even rent a car but specifically in LA there is no other option. I absolutely have to have a car everywhere I go because of that, which is just an inconvenience to me because it is just additional bill every month that sometimes is difficult to pay off.” Another unfortunate incident took place on a train platform in August of 2018. A woman, who wishes to be identified as just Liz, was exiting the Gold train at the Soto Station with a female friend. As they went up the escalator, on their way up to the ground level, they noticed two men barreling towards them. Naturally, they stepped to the side to let them pass, but were surprised when they stopped directly behind them. Thinking nothing of it at first, it wasn’t until they heard muffled laughter that they looked behind them, just in time to catch the men taking pictures up their skirts. Horrified, they ran away and located the nearest security
guards, who were standing just outside of the station entrance. One security guard chased after the men, who had disappeared back down to the train platform. Upon returning, the guard notified Liz and her friend that the men had gotten away, and that there was nothing more they could do. They did not take down any information, a statement or give them the option of filing a report. The pictures the perpetrators took most likely still exist today. My own experiences have been all too similar. When I first moved to Los Angeles from a small town in Michigan and started riding the public transit, the first thing I noticed were the too-long stares and suggestive gestures. Quickly, I learned to dodge attempts of unsolicited comments and “romantic” advances by putting in my earbuds and hiding my face behind a book, pretending not to notice when someone was trying to get my attention. Unfortunately, that strategy proved to be only mildly effective, and I have personally experienced sexual harassment while riding. Although there have been several, two related incidents stick out the most. It was a sunny Saturday morning when it happened for the first time. I was headed to my English class at Glendale Community College, located in an area I had previously considered to be reasonably safe. A sizable man boarded the nearly empty bus, hurriedly made his way to me and sat down in the seat adjoining mine. Trying not to assume the worst, I casually attempted to move seats but as I started to get up, he slammed his body against mine and pinned me against the window. Despite being paralyzed with fear, I managed to yell “STOP” and pushed him off. Turning his body sideways to block the way out, he attempted to grope me but I managed to block his hands. I felt trapped and panicked that no one was coming to my aid. Luckily, the bus stopped and he suddenly got off. I was at a loss for words and too shaken up to report it to the driver at the time. Instead, I started taking a different and less direct route, which added about twenty extra minutes to my trip. Eight months later, I took the same bus to get to a different
class, assuming it would be okay. I sat helplessly in my seat as I watched the same man as before board. As soon as spotted me, he pushed through the crowded aisle, reached over the woman sitting next to me, grabbed my wrist and pulled hard. It was in that moment I realized he was not only harassing me, but that I was being singled out and targeted. This time I was enraged enough to work up the courage to report it. With shaky fingers, I dialed the sexual harassment number listed on Metro’s website. A man with an unsympathetic tone answered and informed me he was handing my case off to the police, which was something I wasn’t expecting. When the officer arrived, he was mostly sensitive to the situation and while he didn’t discourage me from filing a police report, he wasn’t optimistic about the future of my case. However, I was interested in a more immediate resolution by Metro. I simply wanted them to ban my harasser so I could commute safely to school again, rather than going
through the menial process of pressing charges. This was apparently not an option. I have not rode that bus again to this day. Metro threatens a hefty fine of not paying their fare, but they do not warn of the repercussions for sexual harassment. Metro’s hands-off approach to sexual harassment appears to be unsurprisingly ineffective at making their services safer for women. Of the many stories victims have shared with me, not one has ended with the harasser being reprimanded. If offenders rarely ever face consequences, there is nothing to prevent them from continuing to hurt and harass women. Metro has not returned a request for comment. The above altercations and the way they were handled are absolutely unacceptable. As a taxpayer, hold Metro to their promises and demand they make sexual harassment truly off limits. We all deserve better. Samantha Decker can be reached at samantha.l.decker13@gmail.com.
Jenilee Borek / Staff Photographer
THE SOLO TRAVELER: A women passes the time waiting for a train by using her smartphone.
page design by Chieko Kubo
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OPINION
Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018
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Zero-Waste It’s time to realize how much harmful waste goes in the ocean
BREATHING FISH INSIDE A PLASTIC BOTTLE: Too many creatures on the Earth are living with poisonous wastes.
By Carmen Fernandez Staff Writer Imagine carrying around four and a half pounds of garbage with you as you go about your day. We may not have to deal with the burden of our waste on our backs, but the Earth certainly does. The average American sends close to four and a half pounds of waste to landfills per day, which is almost two pounds more than any other nation’s average, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency in 2013. Analyzing these numbers may awake the indignation of many, but what is really appalling is picturing the deep and strong bonds we come to create with our daily four and a half pounds of trash throughout the course of our lives. Ties so fervent that the idea of a life without them shakes the reality of many. With that in mind, it is hard not to question how we got to this point as a society. We have managed to build and accept a culture in which the idea of generating no waste comes across as
tedious, unnecessary and close to impossible. A zero-waste lifestyle is often described as a philosophy that intends to redesign resource life cycles with the goal of sending no trash to landfills and incinerators, or producing absolutely no waste. A completely litter-less way of living may sound extreme, but so does the 8,300 tons of trash received daily by Sunshine Canyon Landfill. It is the same one that handles one-third of the waste produced in Los Angeles County, according to the Sunshine Canyon webpage. Existing without harming the environment through excessive amounts of unnecessary plastic and other forms of waste is a challenge in the times of coffee cups, straws, travel-size toiletries and fast-fashion. Adopting a zero-waste philosophy is about much more than a list product restrictions. It’s more of a guide for connecting with the environment that surrounds us and our actions towards it. ”Every time we negatively impact the system we are
jeopardizing our own ability to breath, drink water and consume food,” according to Bonny Bentizin, UCLA Deputy Chief Sustainability Officer. Our days are filled with a series of unconscious behaviors that shifts us away from understanding the impact of our consumption habits. We transport fruits and vegetables in thin plastic bags to the checkout points at the grocery stores, we support a market of single-use plastic water bottles when on average 46,000 pieces of plastic are swirling around in each square mile of our oceans according to The Plastic Bank. There are alternatives, bar shampoo, refillable floss, secondhand shopping, reusable straws, mason jars, making your own makeup out of burnt almonds and beats, bamboo toothbrushes, paperless transactions, cloth napkins, using vinegar and baking soda as cleaning products, reusable cloth bags, containers and water bottles, composting, reusing and recycling are some of the elements often present in a litter-
less way of living. Los Angeles counts with various resources for helping those desiring to be more conscious about the trash they are sending to landfill. There are dozens of farmer markets throughout the city, the closest one to Glendale located at Atwater Village, open Sundays from 10a.m. to 2p.m.. Offering a colorful variety of local farms produce, fresh eggs, artisan breads and dairy products as well as handmade essentials like bar soaps and candles. The Griffith Park Composting Facilities provides workshops Fridays and Saturdays on disposing of organic waste (egg shells, coffee grounds, paper napkins and towels, tea bags, vegetable peels and kitchen scraps) without the need of a garden. They also offer composting materials at bargain prices providing you with the knowledge and tools for ethically disposing “green waste” even as a citizen of a concrete jungle. The City of Glendale offers a waste management system that categorizes waste into different
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Carmen Fernandez / Staff Illiustrator
color containers. Grey containers are exclusively for the recycling elements including: aluminum, tin, metal, food cartons, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, tubs and containers, carton and paper. All recycling must be rinsed and/or flatten. Surprisingly, plastic bags, coffee cups and Styrofoam are NOT considered recyclable materials and belong in the burgundy color containers, according to the City’s Guidelines for Automated Recycling and Trash Service. Until legislature catches up with the miles of landfills and the oceans of plastic we can all take a zero-waste lifestyle as a guide in the horizon. We can all chose to take a step one less straw, one less coffee cup or one less produce bag at a time. The saying is that there’s a lot to tell from the contents of one man’s garbage bag. In today’s world, the size and existence of the same bag says a lot more about an individual. Carmen Fernandez can be reached at carmen.frndez@gmail.com.
SPORTS
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Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018
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Down But Not Out: Ryan Morris Pitcher continues to persevere as he battles injury By Kevin Holcomb Staff Writer Fall brings familiar faces back to Stengel Field as the 2019 Vaquero baseball team prepares for their spring season. The hard work and determination of this group is evident and no player is a better display of this than third year Vaquero, Ryan Morris. Morris, a criminal justice major and right handed pitcher, graduated from Notre Dame high school in 2016. “I came to Glendale Community College because of its baseball track and high transfer percentage.” Morris told the press. As an 18-year-old freshman, Morris had life by the tail. He was a college baseball player in a very successful program, on track to earn innings in the spring, Morris pitched during the fall in impressive fashion. This all changed in December of 2016 when Morris began experiencing severe elbow pain. The baseball throw puts significant stress on the human body, specifically the shoulder and elbow, pain in these areas are arguably the worst thing
that can happen to a player. An MRI in late January 2017, revealed a tear in his elbow, he looked to world class doctor, Neal ElAttrache for a second opinion. After the same result, Morris underwent “Tommy John” surgery, to reconstruct the Ulnar Collateral ligament of the inner elbow, a ligament that holds the lower and upper arm together. This was done by Dr. ElAtrache on April 17, 2017. After surgery, Ryan Morris spent nine months doing physical therapy. After nine months of strengthening the shoulder, scapula, forearm, core, wrist, and decelerator muscles, he would be onto a n i n e month throwing program. Morris and his surgeon had set out
to 18
return October 2018, months after surgery. During those 18 months,
Morris religiously followed his program, doing everything by the book. Day in and day out he would be the first one on the field, outworking the healthiest of guys in the program. Morris leads by example on the baseball field, he does more than he is told and refuses to let anything put him down, even in the tough times of such a horrific injury. After all this hard work and determination, Morris continued to feel elbow pain as he attempted his return to the mound during the late summer months. He returned to the doctor, unfortunately Morris had bad news, “I had an inflammation hotspot in my elbow and a little bit of degeneration in the graft.” He did
everything right and he still wasn’t healthy. Refusing to lose this fight Morris returned to the doctor, again, for a shot that he hopes will turn his luck. “My doctor is highly optimistic that the PRP (platelet rich plasma) will regenerate the graft, decrease the inflammation, and speed up the healing process.” Morris said. Although Morris has not spent any time fighting between to lines for his team since December of 2016, he continues to carry weight as a leader. His return is around the corner and the pay off is imminent. Battling an injury is no easy task but Morris refuses to let anything get in his way of returning to the mound. “My determination to pitch again helps me stay motivated through this process.” said Morris. Glendale Baseball is pulling for Ryan Morris and are looking forward to his contributions on the playing field upon his return to the mound. Hard work pays off and one day soon, Ryan Morris will be a testament to this. #GoVaqs Kevin Holcomb can be reached at kholcomb129@gmail.com.
Dylan A Bryant / Staff Photographer
SATIRE Have the Best Week Ever: Read Your Horoscope El Vaquero has you covered this coming November By Samantha Decker Features Editor We all try to do our best everyday with what we have, but we all get knocked down by the undeniable forces of the universe. This time, November will be a particularly stressful month since Neptune is going into retrograde and will create a counter force that will inevitably wreak havoc on all of our lives. To prepare you for the perils to come, here is some scary-accurate psychic insight that will help you survive the mischievous schemes of the stars. November Horoscope Predictions: Aquarius Don’t expect any rings or roses this month because your love-life is going to be in a state of turmoil. Tinder matches will be sparse and the ones that do weasle through will most definitely be duds. If you do brave a date, it will likely be with someone who talks obsessively about their mom, has a drooling condition or someone who drinks too much sake and throws up on the front steps of the restaurant. Don’t worry, your dating life will return to it previous state and you can expect your typical mediocre dates to resume very soon. Pisces During November you will most likely embody some of the traits of an actual fish. Due to this, you will start to experience water in a different way. You may
find yourself spending an inexplicable amount of time in a bath or be tempted to take a step back to the 80s and purchase a waterbed. Save yourself a trip to the dermatologist, because those scale-like patterns aren’t going to fade from your skin until the 30th. Thankfully, there will be an autumn chill in the air which will make it comfortable enough to wear the type of clothes that will cover it up so no one will notice. Aries You are likely to make a bad financial investment this month. Even a small coffee purchase could end up spilling on your computer and frying it, causing you to dole out money to replace it that you didn’t budget for the month. In order to avoid this, my recommendation would be to not spend any money whatsoever until we are clear of November. Buy reserves of food and necessities beforehand, and try to score free stuff when the month is upon us. Don’t see this as a setback, see it as a great opportunity to test out your haggling skills. Taurus Somebody from your past will come out of the woodwork with sour intentions. They will be bearing a mishap from the past that they cannot seem to get over. Don’t fret, their retaliation will be in the form of semi-harmless noogies and wet willies. Only after that can you finally let bygones be bygones. Gemini This month, it will be seem like an evil twin is screwing things up
behind your back. While there is not an actual sadistic duplicate of you, this is rather the destructive side of your Gemini nature. Your life will be a textbook example of Murphy’s Law. Everything that can go wrong will go wrong. A friend may start a fight out of absolutely nowhere, bills will go unpaid and accrue late fees, a hefty parking ticket will be found wedged under your windshield wiper, and dishes that pile up causing a bug infestation. Do not get discouraged, your life is being dismantled by forces of which you have no control and at no fault of your own. Cancer Believe it or not, but cats are going to be strangely drawn to you all month. It will start with one brushing up against your pant leg unexpectedly while you’re out and about. Then you will notice them start to gather around your home and staring at you through your windows. Soon there will be meowing at your door and eventually they will get inside. Don’t panic, most of these cats should be friendly and not rabid. Make sure to be a good host to your newfound feline friends. This good karma is sure to be returned in a delightfully rewarding way. Leo For you, its going to be spring cleaning but in the fall! This month you will have the irresistible urge to organize everything in your home...as well as your friend’s homes. Armed with your trusty label maker, you will dig into the depths of your storage
and unearth the artifacts of your past. You will soon be on a first name basis with the employees of your local The Container Store as you design your new storage system. Your friends will resist and also may be angry when you influtrait their most private possessions but will come to their senses and thank you when they see what a thorough job you did. Virgo Your friends are going to ask you for a number of lofty favors. Accept all of them without question and no matter how inconvenient. The universe is testing your level of commitment and devotion to your current relationships. So go see their three-hour long oneman performance, drop everything and be the a spotter to your friend in their strenuous climb up the alps, and invest $20,000 into your friend’s new whale training business. Your selfless sacrifices will not go unnoticed. Libra You will run into a delicious dilemma of having an overpowering craving for ice cream. Tasty frozen dairy desserts will be the only thing on your mind as you go about your days. At first this will seem great, but soon it will start to consume your life. On the plus side, the constant sugar rush is going to be fantastic while it lasts. Scorpio Your born-boldness can be both a gift and a curse. This month you will receive an extra jolt of courage. That may seem like a positive thing but it will
only add an intimidating color to your aura, which will get you into trouble. Normal conversations will be taken as a confrontation, interactions with coworkers will be perceived as aggressive and competitive, and even a compliment meant to be nice will be reacted to as if it were venom. Lay low and try to cleanse your chakras daily. Sagittarius This month, plan on being very accident prone. Stay away from sharp objects, uneven ground and anything else that might be potentially hazardous. The best way to avoid any disastrous incidents is to stay stationed in your bed. Netflix and Grubhub are going to be your new best friends. If you must leave, take necessary precautions. Use a helmet, skateboard pads and even bubble wrap as your first line of defense when facing the dangers of the outside world. Capricorn While you typically enjoy being the epitome of health, be prepared to be stricken with petty but obnoxious illnesses all month. Be on high alert because germs are going to be targeting you. Stock up on hand sanitizer, tissues, and Nyquil because in a few weeks you won’t want to move from your horizontal position. Hope you have some sick time saved because you’re going to need it. page design by hayk rostomyan
Samantha Decker can be reached at samantha.l.decker13@gmail.com.
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Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018
ENTERTAINMENT
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Wine 101
Los Angeles is the birthplace of the beverage in California, and a perfect place to engage in tasting and pairing experiences By Chieko Kubo Production Assistant A wine and cheese pairing event was held by San Antonio Winery of Los Angeles and drew 80 wine enthusiasts on Oct. 14 who sampled white, red, and dessert wines. Dominic Menton, the manager of the company and Corey Arballo, a Sommelier from Le Velo Voyage, hosted the events. Almost half of the visitors had previously attended the company’s events, which indicated that the company has a following, the hosts demonstrated.
TALKING PASSIONATELY: Dominic Menton has dedicated himself to making wine beloved to everyone for 10 years as a manager of San Antonio Winery of Los Angeles.
Many people think of Napa Valley in any association to California wine, but, according to Menton, Napa Valley is not the first winery region in our state. “Los Angeles is the birthplace of California wine,” he said. San Antonio Winery has a history of winemaking and selling since it was founded in 1917.
What would be great for holiday dining?
How to enjoy dessert wine
“Perfect holiday wine is riesling wine,” said Menton. Riesling, which is characterized by its fruitiness, is a kind of wine derived from white grapes. It has a variety of tastes, from dry to sweet. If people don’t know which one goes well with their meat, they should choose semi-sweet. It’s well-balanced. It can match well with turkey or ham, so Riesling can be a good choice for Thanksgiving dining.
Stella Rosa Peach was served as the sixth wine with a peanut butter and sliced cheese sandwiches. It seemed like a too sweet matching, but actually, it worked well. The series of wines are semi-sweet, so it goes well with different types of sweetness levels, like peanut butter. Also, Arballo added, “Sweet goes well with heat.” There are a lot of matches would be great wiith sweet wine.
What does “dry” or “full-bodied” mean?
The event started at 1 p.m. and a long line was formed in the wine store to sign up. People had to apply online to participate. A California-style dining room with tall ceilings was reserved for the event, which featured about a dozen roundtables. Menton and Arballo gave PowerPoints to educated about wine and cheese pairings. The pairings started with a glass of white Sauvignon wine. If one finds words “Sauvignon blanc” in a wine, that means it comes in white and is made from green-skinned grapes.
They served three glasses of red wine, and the heaviest one was San Simeon Petite Sirah 2014. When individuals find “Sirah” in a name of a wine, they can expect that the wine is a dry and full-bodied red. Since dry and full-bodied wine has basically a higher amount of alcohol than sweet and light ones, it will stick to their throats and literary dry their mouth because of the high alcohol. However, Petite Sirah is different from Sirah. It still has a strong taste because it is descendant of Sirah. Thus, if people want to try Sirah, they ought to begin from Petite Sirah. Overall, attendees enjoyed nine glasses of various wines with each small amount of suitable cheese dishes. A live performance of a saxophone player entertained them and brought an amusing atmosphere together. The interactive wine lecture from Menton and Arballo made the event a success, according to attendees.
Can fish go well with wine?
Is wine a choice for a special occassion?
Yes. The one they served this time was San Simeon Sauvignon Blanc 2017 with a fish taco. “I used to like red wine, but this wine was my favorite because it’s crisp and light,” said Eileen Reed, who enjoyed this wine the most. Since the white wine didn’t have too much toughness and richness, it goes well with light cheese or light food, like certain kinds of fish.
No. “You can have everyday food with wine,” said Arballo. Though there are a lot of recommendations from internet or wine professionals, it doesn’t mean everybody must follow what they read. “Don’t miss out after having one bad experience. Try different things to find your epic pair,” Menton suggested. Wine and food pairing is a personal and enjoyable journey, and meant to complement the individuals who experiment with it. San Antonio Winery offers events of this nature approximately once a month. Check out further information at https://sanantoniowinery.com.
What is right wine for a everyday dinner? Heavy wine is the one, Arballo (pictured to the left) said. “The more ingredients in a dish, the heavier, fuller, and bigger wine is better,” he explained. A lighter taste of meat, such as a food complemented by mozzarella cheese or fish, matches a lighter wine. The reason why dessert wine was named as such is that it could be replaced with “desserts.” San Antonio Winery has made number one choice label wine in the California in Stella Rosa for the last 11 years. It has various tastes from red to white. It’s the perfect dessert wine and pairs well with cheesecakes, cookies, fruits, and more.
James Ojano-Simonsson contributed to this piece. Photography by James Ojano-Simonsson and Chieko Kubo.
page design by Chieko Kubo
Chieko Kubo can be reached at ckubo195@student.glendale.edu.
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Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018
15
What Are We Watching on Netflix? Looking for something to give you encouragement? Let’s take a look at these
By Chieko Kubo Production Assistant Some might say that people watch shows to just cry, indeed, movies and TV shows let their stress out and/or comfort them. These two stories of girls would make audiences sob and then cheer them up. Perhaps, they might find an answer to what is happiness? Anne with an E Everyone knows about the book, but how many people know this drama? Anne says in the show, “I like imagining more than remembering,” because she has a lot of memories that she doesn’t
page design by Chieko Kubo
want to recall. She lives strongly with using her “imagination,” even though many obstacles face her. She’s always talking, smiling, and imagining, but her harsh memories often flash back. However, she tries to enjoy her life with all her might, and that would move audiences’ hearts. Green Gables, where the Cuthberts (Anne’s adopted family) live, doesn’t have any water or electricity. The traditional way to live is just beautiful to see, and all classical outfits the cast wears are also lovely and fascinating. This Canadian drama has Season 1 and 2, so be ready to let the show take up your time!
Netflix / Courtesy Photo
SUZU IN HER OWN KITCHEN GARDEN: “In This Corner of The World” captures lives of a young woman and people around her as ordinary civilians beautifuly but fragilelly.
Netflix / Courtesy Photo
ANNE SHIRLEY-CUTHBERT: The story is about a brave girl who never gave up to make her life as brilliant as possible with her “imagination.”
In This Corner of the World This animated movie is set in Japan right before being attacked by the atomic bombs. However, the story focuses on daily life at the time, not the war and soldiers. The main character whose name is Suzu has a very generous nature. Once she got married to Shusaku, she moved to Kure-city
which was one of the fatal naval bases. She keeps finding ways to survive the hard time, caused by the war as a housewife. Thanks to her easy-going nature Suzu and her family live optimistically, but cruel matters make them suffer a lot. She agonizes over everything but endeavors to switch her perception to live with
happiness. The soft-touch and innocent drawing describe the brutal reality of the Pacific War, but the contradiction is beautiful. This movie won a lot of worldwide awards, so it’s worth to watch. Chieko Kubo can be reached at ckubo195@student.glendale.edu.
Are Romantic Comedies Geared for Men, Too? A dive into the male perspective on non-action films By Eduardo Carreno Staff Writer Popular Netflix original “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” is a perfect mixture of not only romance and comedy, but also reasoning and self-evaluation. Geared toward women, perhaps, the movie still offers quite a bit for the male viewer. “We can’t live our lives on social media and [Lara Jean] can’t live her life reading books in her living room or her bedroom,” said Director Susan Johnson, who was interviewed by the Hollywood Reporter. Many young adults can relate to this film is because it takes place in a high school environment. Johnson’s work allows the viewer to relate to the protagonist and the love hardships she endures throughout the story line. In a poll of six random males in the Sierra Vista Commons Lounge, only two admitted that they watch romantic comedies. Of the other four, they weren’t enthusiastic about the idea. As someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy the romantic comedy genre either, I could relate. Yet I found myself viewing Johnson’s film a couple of times.
I can relate to these characters, mainly the female lead, because of the way she tells the story in the third person. It allows me to feel like she is reading a script to my life. There are a few “chick flicks” that I have seen in my spare time because they are humorous, relatable, and they open my eyes to the similar events that can potentially take place in my own life. Romance is not perfect. Growing up, it was always around regardless of what we watch or where we go. In traditional film, there was always a portrayal of heroism involved with the concept of love and romance. It has become something we expect in films. As time changes, we have witnessed more male royals that are vulnerable and not always the knight in shining armor. New age romance comedies often express vulnerability. This is what perhaps makes films and shows more accessible to a male audience. Usually, showing emotion makes men less manly, which shouldn’t be case. It’s common for men to be considered too masculine, but is it bad for men to be seen as less macho? We live in a society where everything is based on a social
norm where everything has to be “perfect,” or at least follow the laws of nature. Boys are taught at a young age that as they get older, they are supposed to embody strength, masculinity and hard-headedness in the way that they carry themselves throughout society. With a new genre emerging within romantic comedies, more men may start to take notice of the genre beyond merely trying to appease a girl on a date. In a 2017 study, GQ Magazine polled anonymous men who watch romantic comedies about their experiences and the reason why they watch these movies. “I don’t just watch romcoms on planes; for some time now I have started to watch them at home,” said one participant. He added that it’s a fact that he isn’t proud of. Previously, he “the need to disguise this fact, but in the spirit of full disclosure, and in a bid to create more transparency, I am coming clean about my consumer habits,” he said. It’s hardly a crime to watch these films. And lately, I’ve been enjoying them more, too. Netflix / Courtesy Photo
Eduardo Carreno can be reached at ecarren860@student.glendale.edu.
TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE: The romantic comedy can be enjoyed by not only women but also men.
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Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018
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Answers are hidden within articles that have a pumpkin next to their titles. Solve the puzzle and turn it in to El Vaquero at SV130 for a chance to win a “Finals Care Package.”
Down 1. Frozen dessert 2. Astrological reading 3. Movie genre 4. Goblin story author 6. Arms and legs 8. Swimming 11. Occupation
Across 4. California governor 5. American sport 7. Haunted ship 9. Culture 10. Broadway show 12. Orange fruit 13. Seance tool
Puzzle by Carolina Diaz
Matthew Spencer / Staff Illsutrator
Being one of the most exciting holidays, Thanksgiving is all about radiating kindness and giving back to communities around us. In hopes to do its part, El Vaquero Newspaper has decided to challenge its readers to do the same. Starting on November 1, we will be hosting“21 Days of Gratitude,” a donation event, during which we will accept non-perishable goods and personal care items. All donations will later be added to Glendale College’s very own Food Pantry. To donate, please stop by Sierra Vista 130, Monday-Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Or email us at elvaq.gcc@gmail.com with any questions or comments!
page design by Marian Sahakyan
Thank you, El Vaquero Staff, Radio Club, Journalism Club