Torch FC
Fullerton College Fall 2008
PLAYED
OUT
A tale of three gamblers’ greed and how they all continue to bust
Also Inside:
10 Ways to Go Green
Reduce your carbon footprint NOW
Meat vs. Veggies What’s your stance?
Enforced Enlistment
Another draft may be on the way
Learn to Teach! Future teachers who begin their careers at Fullerton College will have the opportunity to gain the knowledge, skills, attitudes and practical real-world experience necessary for a university transfer. • AA Degree — Early Childhood Education • AA Degree — Elementary Education • Para-Professional Certificate (as defined by No Child Left Behind) You can jump-start your university transfer by taking courses at FC, not to mention the thousands of dollar you will save in cost!
Center for Careers in Education Room 225 College Center (714) 992 - 7067
Service Learning Connecting the Classroom to the Community
Each year hundreds of Fullerton College students contribute thousands of hours to area agencies and organizations. You can reinforce and retain what you are learning in the classroom through this experience. Students providing 20 hours or more during a semester and successfully completing course requirements will have it documented on their official transcripts. This helps when applying for universities, scholarships, and jobs. Students can also work toward national recognition!
(714) 992 - 7067 specialprograms.fullcoll.edu
FC Torch Fall 2008 3
Colophon The FC Torch Magazine is produced once a semester by the Magazine Production Class at Fullerton College under the guidance of the Journalism Department. Editorial and advertising content herein, including any opinions expressed, are the sole responsibility of the students in the magazine production class. Information published herein does not represent the position of the North Orange County Community College District, Fullerton College, or any other officer or employee within. All designs were made on Apple Macintosh computers by utilizing Adobe’s Creative Suite 3, using InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop. The body text is set at 10 point Bookman Old Style and the header font is Abadi MT. Accent fonts include Courier and Alte Haas Grotesk. The Editorial Staff would like to thank Campus Safety Officer Jaime for his wife’s cooking, Nikki for her copy editing expertise, California High School and Thrice’s production teams for granting entrance to events.
Special thanks to both the NOCCCD Printing & Design Department and Jay Seidel, without which the production of this magazine would not have been possible.
On the Cover Torch
Sometimes referred to as “Lady Luck,” the phenomena of successive wins in gambling is a rarity. Problem Gambling, the term used to define addictive gambling, can affect anyone of any age or sex. In our feature story, “Nothing Left to Gamble,” page 22, we interview three gamblers who consistently bet their way to destitution. Musical Theater major Katessa Dysthe, 19, is a Fullerton College student. She is involved in Phi Theta Kappa, Social Analysis Club, and the Associated Students.
The editorial staff developed and executed a student survey to poll the attitudes and behaviors of the FC student body. All figures included in the magazine are from a sample of 150 students polled. The survey consisted of 45 questions and the results not represented in this issue can be found online at the Torch Web site, www.fctorch.net
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FC
tableOFcontents snapshot JUDGEMENT
Can you tell someone’s major based on their looks?
10
college COMPETITION
A look at the rat race of the college admission process
generation ‘SPELLCHECK’ Are there flaws in community college assessment testing?
12staring AT THE SUN
1618 College Competiton
nothing LEFT TO GAMBLE
The journey of two major Orange County based bands
dealing WITH ‘IT’
Three gamblers struggle with their addiction
A wake up call for the sexually active
22 26 another DRAFT?
going GREEN 10 ways to minimize your carbon footprint
War Machine
A new proposal could enlist women and students
34 30
without BORDERS
chews WISELY
Making a difference while gaining real-world experience
40 38dance OFF
Conscious decisions for your health
An FC Alumni leads a high school group to victory
departments HOWTO 44 46 48 49
‘The Meat Eater’ vs. ‘The Vegetarian’ Beat the ‘Freshman 15’ Be a Philosopher Make Gourmet on a Budget
42
Editorial
Editor’s Note 9 Parting Shot 54
FC Torch Fall 2008 5
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THE HORNET
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C L U B B AN
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Wednesdays Since 1922
Fullerton College’s Newspaper Wednesdays Since 1922 Newspaper Production Jour 225 T/TH 4:30p.m. - 5:20 p.m. CRN: 20523
6 FC Torch Fall 2008
Full e
TorchSTAFF FC
Alex Andersen
Leo Postovoit
Editor-in-Chief
Art Director
Jay Seidel Adviser
Trevor Owens
Writer/Copy Editor
Annica Aguzzi
Kelsey Long
Writer
Photgrapher
Sonya Barrett Writer
Casey Elofson
Rob Moody
Writer
Photographer
Tanner Fogle Writer
Ronneica Rodriguez
Chris Haire
Writer/Photographer
Writer
Veronica NuĂąez Writer
Joyce Kim
Sarah Swanson
Writer
Writer/ Photographer
Laura Parsons Writer
Natalie Tarr
Kelsi Testa-Avila
Writer
Writer
Angela Kyle Writer/Photographer
Not Pictured: Pedro Hernandez Photographer
52% of FC students didn’t know That there is a campus magazine.
FC Torch Fall 2008 7
-----what’s---->
ONLINE
8 FC Torch Fall 2008
www.fctorch.net
UNDERAGE DUI Meals for Under $5 Shoestravaganza Death of the Photo Complete Survey Results
Extended Articles with Links and Photo Galleries
editor’s NOTE
By Alex Andersen Editor-in-Chief
Growing up, I never thought I would find myself in the position of editing the words of my peers. English was always my favorite subject and spelling came naturally to me, but when it came to spoken word, my grammar wasn’t always the best. I blame this on the amount of slang my generation has implemented and now as the editor, I see its ramifications. Most people, students included, tend to write the way they speak or think. There’s nothing wrong with this if you’re posting a bulletin on Myspace, but in terms of schoolwork, I can’t stress enough the importance of proofreading. I’ll admit that I, too, find myself forgetting this imperative step and when I’m marked down
because of it, I further realize the necessity of the editorial process. One of my biggest pet peeves and the mistake I see most often, is the misuse of homonyms. Yes, I realize they all sound the same, but there is a reason there are three forms of the word ‘there.’ And if you haven’t had this ingrained in you since childhood, I’ll give you a quick lesson. ‘You’re’ is the contraction for you are. It is NOT the same word as ‘your,’ which is the possessive form of you. ‘Too’ translates into ‘also,’ as in “he was there too!” Not to be confused with the prepositional version of the two, ‘to.’ Not everyone has to worry incessantly if they are grammatically and stylistically correct, but for those of us who decided to major in a subject governed by these rules, it is a necessary component to our survival in the field. So the next time someone corrects your grammar don’t be annoyed. Your mistake is their equivalent of nails on a chalkboard. T
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Snapshot
Stereotypes. We all notice them, divvy them out, and even live them out ourselves without even knowing it. I’m not talking about race, age, or gender, but the change that happens over time when students start to embody their major’s classifications. These stereotypes are reinforced when students sharing the same scholastic major start to resemble each other. We all know the typical stereotypes that come to mind based on what pop culture has lead us to believe, but do these assumptions prove to be true? According to Ken Maheen, the Fullerton College Statistical Analysis, the most popular majors on campus are art, psychology, biology, business administration, accounting, music, and cosmetology. Could you pick them out of a lineup? Here’s what we expect the “typical” college students to be like based on their majors.
The Art Major Most likely to be seen carting a canvas around campus, the art student treks back and fourth between classes with peace signs littering their hemp messenger bags.
The Biology Major Typically spotted carrying bundles of oversized books, these lab rats try to push up their glasses while simultaneously checking the time. The Bio student never misses a single line of notes and is prepared to duke it out to be the first to find a cure for the common cold.
The Business Major These students aim to rule the world, carrying one briefcase at time. You can usually see them rolling up to the dreaded FC parking structure in a spruced up, lowered import that demands attention. Not to mention the pungent draft of cologne that follows close behind them. Ah — the sweet smell of future success!
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Judgements By Casey Elofson Photos By Rob Moody
The Accounting Major
Here come the average Joes! The accounting student walks to class while vigorously searching for the only thing that gives him solitude in a world full of chaos, his graphing calculator. His fingers are permanently stained with pencil lead, which has left coal-like smudges across his button up shirts. .
The Psych Major He or she sports a sophisticated grimace and appears to be pondering a deeper meaning to all the world’s mysteries. Underneath their tweed blazers complete with elbow pads, lays a shirt that proudly says, “Freud is my Homeboy.”
The Cosmetology Major If you can’t figure this one out by yourself, then maybe you should reconsider college.
The Music Major Constantly looking bored and tormented, the music major always has an iPod glued to their ears, and nobody understands music like they do. Their favorite music genre is displayed on the same t-shirt they’ve worn everyday this week. Converse sneakers take them to their music appreciation classes where they can contemplate all the ways they can redo their hair to make them look more original then the other punk rock kid sitting next to them. ————————— Based on these stereotypes, let’s see how majors really define a person. Can you guess which person belongs to which major? You be the judge, have these students morphed? T
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Generation ‘Spellcheck’ As langauge evolves, technology is becoming the new yardstick by which college students measure their success.
By Tanner Fogle Illustrations By Leo Postovoit There are no sweeter words found in a college syllabus than ‘take home essay.’ Nothing inspires more faith in a just and sympathetic Almighty than a professor that understands the necessity of spell-check. This, of course, is an exaggeration, but there are questions that need to be asked. Are insufficient spelling practices the result of a lazy mind or a restricted educational system? More than that, do we question the language we grew up with and its inherent flaws? English is considered one most complicated languages on the planet, so it is not difficult to fathom that even a native understanding of the language may not be altogether complete. Lets take, as our primary example, the actions of a functional illiterate, none other than the scribe of this very article who, in fact, just spell-checked “functional illiterate” twice. Tanner Fogle (we’ll do this in third person so it sounds more journalistic-y) didn’t go to college right after high school. Instead, after a trial separation he took an assessment test for Fullerton College. The test focuses on three subjects for assessing education level and class placement. They are: math, reading and writing — simple enough. Fogle’s scores were abysmal in math, above college introductory levels in reading and 8 points below college level in writing; mostly due to spelling and comma errors. Because of Fogle’s high reading score, he successfully lobbied to be placed in
the English 100 college level course rather than a remedial English 60 class. He passed the 100 course with an A, joined FC’s honors society and lived moderately happily ever after. So here, we encounter our first flaw in the system: assessment. Assessment testing is based on the general principle that there is a certain amount of knowledge gained or retained from the period of kindergarten through grade 12. This process doesn’t allow for the variables associated with a break between high school and college or the simple occurrence of life intervening. This, among other reasons, has resulted in a high rate of remedial community in colleges across the nation. But don’t feel singled out, returning students, because we alone do not make up the huddled masses of the ignorant. The cone of intellectual shame spirals outward into the public meat-grinder of high schools as well. According to the Research and Planning Group: Center for Student Success Environmental Scan for the state of California, in 2005 “a recent survey of California’s community college placement test results indicated that only about 27 percent of students place in transfer level English [and] 42 percent of students
“72 percent of those who take two or more remedial courses earn no credential whatsoever.”
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place in remedial English. The California Community Colleges have had nearly 1/2 million enrollments in remedial classes in English and mathematics in recent years; 55 percent of these students must take two or more remedial courses and 72 percent of those who take two or more remedial courses earn no credential
whatsoever.” This phenomenon of potentially being smart and testing stupid has brought about its very own funded initiative in community colleges, entitled Basic Skills. What are ‘Basic Skills?’ Basic skills (as the name might imply) are what you were supposed to learn in high school. More than one in every three California community college students is enrolled in a basic skills course (any class below 100). It’s important to note that these classes are noncredit. They serve only to prepare you for a college level course, which means money out of your beer bust fund and more precious time spent in class and not contributing to the workforce … you slacker. Let’s look at the basic skills data, quoting all the way from the scan, “The statewide course success rate in basic skills (60 percent) is about 10 percent lower than that of other courses. With an increase in the number of students needing remedial classes, overall success rates may begin to decline unless there is a commensurate increase in support services and/ or improved methods of basic skills education. Empirical evidence suggests that those who begin at the lowest levels of basic skills are unlikely to achieve a degree or transfer to a university.” There are institutional mandates that have contributed to the bonfire of inadequate instructional foundations. The No Child Left Behind Act, to which all public schools are held accountable for low test scores under penalty of reduced federal income, is an example of such a heat rash. The encroachment of this act has led to some controversy. Schools more concerned with their cash-cow will allow students to suffer in acquiring actual knowledge in favor of “teaching the test.” This means for all intents and purposes, schools are giving the students the answers to the exam ahead of time. The result is likely that a general assessment test to qualify for college courses is guaranteed to be low, and those entering college based on high school transcripts will potentially scrub out. According to the scan, “many California high school students are largely unaware of subject requirements to succeed in college-level work. K-12 needs more information about community college admission [and] placement, and community colleges need better alignment with K-12 standards [and] assessments.
Site-specific placement exams at community colleges hinder systemic action.” The idea that some of this expense and time could have been avoided should concern any incoming student as well as college administrators who have inherited the failings of the learning institutions that came before them. It’s all a 40-ounce crap cocktail and we all have to take a swig. So let’s swing this finger pointing back around to the larger central theme. Why is spelling and proper written form an institutionalized McGuffin? Because if we didn’t have proper written English, it would throw the entire world into complete disarray. Dogs would start eating cat food, cats would start eating bird food and birds would start eating cheeseburgers. Mostly what would happen is, English teachers would be forced to holster their red pens and adapt to the changing literary environment. Example: William Shakespeare is considered one of the greatest writers of the English language, so great and influential in fact that no one has attempted to
“The statewide course success rate in basic skills (60 percent) is about 10 percent lower than that of other courses.” write like him in 400 YEARS! The point, here, is that language is fluid and constantly changing. The evolution of language has been not only a passion for linguists throughout the ages but also a source of some disagreement, when discussing its origins. Whether you are a strict Darwinian, who believes that language (and its written counterpart) is simply the product of natural selection (still continuing to evolve), or a Chomskyian, believing that language is an innate commuta-
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The “language” of the internet reads as if the creators were lobotomized with a broken tequila bottle and the damaged brain parts were replaced by lime wedges. In the future, we’ll all be speaking magarita. tive device with a collective speech or ‘deep structure’ beneath a surface structure of grammar that could be transformed (causing all sorts of miscommunication headaches), the reality is that language remains the same even when continuously being altered. Case in point, the phrase ‘Oh, my God!’ to ‘OMG!’ the meaning and cadence remain identical, however the representation is altered. Spelling is in the eye of the beholder. And what a ridiculous language this English thing is in the first place, the only language that I can recall that borrows and incorporates from all of the providences surrounding its source. The only thing that this verbal miscegenation has brought forth is phonic confusion, with some of the most random and
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crazy rules that any reasonable, intelligent person would ignore completely. Homonyms, for example, whose brilliant invention was the ‘there, their and they’re’ ‘mind-screw,’ and if our forbearers were so smart why didn’t at least one of them point out that maybe one ‘there’ was enough. Speaking of enough, there is no ‘F’ in ‘enough,’ can anybody explain to me why? No, because it doesn’t make any damn sense, that’s why. If there is an ‘F’ sound, there should be an ‘F’ some where in the word. No wonder students are becoming more reliant on technology to sort this rubbish out. This might be the first generation of reasonable people to acutely look at the English language as entirely flawed, or at
25% of FC students say they party every weekend.
least in need of restructuring, lol. So what can we glean from this information? Is the populous inept or are the processes by which we educate outdated? How is it that a student can test under the margin of the college measuring stick yet pass a college course with the highest grade possible? Simple: adaptation. Colleges and their instructors have recognized that their students are more and more reliant on technology, allowing said students to concentrate more on content and less on form. The English language has always been subject to the interpretation and evolution of its progenitors, there is no pure form, and should not be taught or graded as if their ever was. By-the-by, “Progenitors” was spell-checked. T
The odds seem to be against students — as the college applicant pool increases, the chances for admission decrease with each passing year.
College Competiton By Sonya Barrett Illustrations By Leo Postovoit
Students today have a lot riding on their education. Relationships, jobs and the fate of their future are marked by the few years spent at a university. And with the emphasis placed on going to college and obtaining a degree, we can expect college admission to be competitive. Students wishing to attend universities in light of this competitive atmosphere face the constant struggle to stand out amongst the masses and push personal limits to fill that college resume. Transferring to a university is no longer a simple matter; it is a complicated process that involves many sleepless nights and caffeinated beverages to maintain that 4.0 and keep up with sports, clubs, and volunteering. In order to compete with their peers and be noticed by the university of their choice, pressure is on students to perform well in school while keeping up with academics and extra-curricular activities.
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The odds seem to be against students; however, as the college applicant pool increases and the chances for admission decrease with each passing year. University of California campuses received a record number of applications for fall 2008 admission, seeing a 7.1 percent increase in applications from California transfer students, according to the University of California Web site. The impacted universities are responding to the greater number of applicants by formulating strict policies for admission. California State University, Long Beach, for example, only accepts upper division transfers based on a list of criteria. Erik Fallis, a spokesman for the California State University Chancellor’s Office, says that “there are a number of things that determine eligibility, including GPA and test scores,” which is the index that the CSU system uses to determine an applicant’s eligibility. Students are forced to compensate for this spike in applicants and, ultimately, greater pressure to compete, by pushing themselves to work harder and overload already packed schedules, leading to unnecessary pressure and stress. The typical schedule for a college student looking to transfer is a sight to behold. With a daunting list of various accomplishments and activities ranging from clubs to tutoring, on top of challenging classes that well surpass the full-time status.
Students are aware of the competition when it comes to admission into a university, which is evident both in the classroom and around campus. Susan Yu, a FC graduate who transferred to UCLA this year, points out that students are competing for the highest grades and best colleges to alleviate pressure generated by parents and universities to do well in school. She notes that this is particularly evident in honors classes where she says that “there is a lot of pressure to excel because everyone competes with everyone else.” FC students are generally well-equipped with tools and resources to aid in their transfer endeavors. The numerous workshops conducted by the Cadena/Transfer Center cover everything from writing a personal statement to choosing a university. The Center also offers presentations, handouts and college catalogs to aid students in the transfer process. Lily Espinoza, the Center’s director, says that “the requirements to get into college are more difficult, particularly when a specific major is impacted.” However, she goes on to note that “the main thing you need to know when you want to transfer is how to prepare yourself,” which means being aware of the requirements for transfer and the deadlines for applications and admission. FC also has ‘Transfer Admissions Guarantee’ agreements with several universities that promise transfer admission after completing a list of re-
Students wishing to attend universities [...] face the constant struggle to stand out amongst the masses.
Eiko Tsukamoto, a recent UC Berkeley transfer from Fullerton College, was one of the many students pushed to maintain a rigorous and challenging academic schedule. Along with the pressure to remain competitive, she says that she also felt “additional anxiety because [she] was a first-generation student in America and felt ill-equipped to cope with the college application process.” In an effort to ensure that she be admitted to the school of her choice, Tsukamoto took on the duties of an Associated Students Senator, Phi Theta Kappa Vice President, academic tutor, honors program intern and student committee member, along with maintaining 15 units per semester on average (most of those units being comprised of Honors classes).
quirements and criteria. Students also have the opportunity to take advantage of other programs, such as the Honors Program, Tutoring Center, meeting with university representatives and touring various university campuses. It doesn’t look like universities will see a drop in the number of applicants at any point in the near future. And the issue of students spreading themselves too thin and overloading their schedules in order to remain a competitive university candidate is a prevalent issue facing today’s college students. However, with the excellent transfer resources found at FC, students can overcome the pressure and stress of transferring to a university in order to succeed in their future endeavors. T
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St Orange County is where many bands get their start. Few have actually made it. 18 FC Torch Fall 2008
tare Story and Photos By Sarah Swanson
Bright flashing lights pierce the darkened room as small whispers turn into a roaring sea of fans. It must be show time. Dustin Kensrue, Teppei Teranishi, and brothers Ed and Riley Breckenridge run out on stage. The lights dim to barely a glow and the already loud
roar seems to deepen with the occasional highpitched screams of girls crying out their favorite member’s name. What once was an unheard of garage band that formed in the heart of Orange County has become the world-renowned rock band named Thrice. “When we started the band it was just to have something fun to do after work and school,” Riley said. “I don’t
think any of us ever thought we would have accomplished a lot of the things we have. Such as record albums, making music videos, and touring the world.” Zebrahead is another band originating from Orange County and has been together as long as Thrice. Both bands have also released new albums this year and Zebrahead is currently on tour. Zebrahead member Ben Osmundson explains his band’s establishment as dumb luck. “When it started out, we were
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“You have to build a local fan base and slowly expand that base outward,” said Thrice Drummer Riley Breckenridge.
just trying to have some fun. At the beginning our band was not anything we took seriously,” Osmundson said. “One day it just kind of happened on accident. We were playing a gig and this guy approached us after we performed to tell us he was a talent scout for music labels. We looked at him and said ‘yeah right dude, sure you are.’ He continued by saying ‘I will have record labels at your next show,’ again with sarcasm, we replied ‘sure you will buddy, sure you will.’ Just like he had promised we showed up to about thirteen major labels at our next show. It really was just dumb luck.” Although Zebrahead seemed to fall into the ideal position of getting discovered without any conscious effort, most bands do not have such luck. Riley, the drummer of Thrice, explains his band’s story with a
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different beginning. “We played a lot of shows, and our inspiration was going to see some of our favorite bands almost nightly,” Riley said. “We would watch them perform at local places like Chain Reaction in Orange County or the Glass House in Pomona.” Thrice was inspired by bignamed bands growing up such as Bad Religion, Strung Out and Lagwagon; they understood becoming big was not an overnight process. Riley stresses the importance of creating a fan base. “You have to build a local fan base and slowly expand that base outward,” Riley said. “Too many younger bands are holding out for this big show or to open for their favorite band. Meanwhile turning down smaller gigs along the way. Beginning bands need to play every opportunity they get if they want to
make a name for themselves.” Before Riley and Osmundson were touring around the world with thousands of screaming fans, both were living similar college lifestyles. Riley talks about playing baseball for Golden West Community College before moving up to play for Pepperdine University’s baseball team. Riley had goals of taking baseball as far as it would allow him. After discovering he was not going to get as far as he had hoped, it became clear to him music was his talent to follow. His music background consists of playing the trumpet in junior high school and taking unofficial guitar lesions from a friend in high school. “It was not until senior year of high school [that] I started to play the drums,” Riley says. As for Osmundson, his college years consisted of attending Fullerton College
before transferring to California State University, Fullerton, where he graduated with a degree in science and business with an emphasis in finance and marketing. Osmundson jokes about how he graduated with a degree and hasn’t had a chance to use it due to his involvement with his band. Osmundson’s music history consists of learning how to play the base guitar while attending FC. “I had a friend who helped me and taught me,” Osmundson said. “He gave me my first bass and said I’ll give you lessons, so I said OK, sounds fun.” As a band, there are constant struggles to fight through. Both Thrice and Zebrahead agree that it is wrong to pursue a career in music for the means of fame or money. “If you want to see yourself on the front of a magazine or tabloid you’re in the wrong profession,” says Riley.
He spoke of the frustration he and his members had convincing their loved ones that quitting their jobs and dropping out of school was going to be a risk they had to take for the future of their music careers. Riley said he was lucky to have understanding parents who believed in his band and more importantly him as a musician when he left for his first tour. He went on to say, “there comes a time you will have to drop everything and know you’re not going to be making any money at first, if ever. You are going to be sleeping on floors or in the van you are traveling in. It’s hard, and it is a huge risk to take. It’s a scary thing, but an absolute must for anyone who wants to go for it.” Osmundson spoke of the difficulties of touring and being away from his three children and wife for long lengths of time, “I have little kids, so it’s tougher for them.” Riley agrees saying, “the downside
of doing what we do is, being away from friends and family, but it’s just part of the job.” Osmundson gives his best advice for any beginning band when he says, “the truth is if you believe in it, keep doing it. Who cares what anybody says.” Life as a musician may have its downsides, but ultimately the band members agree that it’s worth it. “I’ll take missing Thanksgiving with my folks, or missing the birth of my friend’s child, to be able to do what I do any day. I’ll much rather do this then the nine to five,” Riley said. As the neon lights faded to black in the sold out Hollywood Palladium, the members of Thrice made their way backstage. It may have just been another night for the group, but for the hundreds of fans that showed up that night it was an experience they will never forget. T
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♥ ♥
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By Natalie Tarr Photos By Leo Postovoit
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It’s midnight, the house is silent except for the occasional clicking of a mouse and typing on a keyboard. The silhouette of a figure is seen through the glare of a computer screen. He fidgets with a chewed-up black pen in his fingertips and occasionally runs his hands through his hair in frustration. His foot has a rhythmic tapping that coincides with the fluttering of his fingers and a twirling pen. Suddenly all movement stops, he inhales deeply and waits. ¶ “Yes!” ¶ Scott just won an $890 jackpot in an online gambling tournament. He is only 16 years old. 22 FC Torch Fall 2008
According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, between two and three percent of the US will have a gambling problem in any given year. That’s anywhere from six to nine million Americans. Studies have also shown that more than 70 percent of youth between the ages of 10 and 17 have gambled in the past year. Scott (whose name has been changed for the story), is the vision of a typical Southern California boy all the way down to his flip-flopped feet. He is an average student who goes to school everyday and hangs out with friends. But Scott has a hobby that he can not live without: online gambling. At 14, Scott played his first game of Texas Hold ’Em in the garage of a friend’s house. Little did he know that he would grow to love the game. “Scott does not leave that computer once he walks through that door,” Maria, Scott’s mother explains. “It seems like he can’t live without it.” Most children grow up playing various betting games without even knowing it; remember pogs and marbles? According to the National Academy of Sciences, one in three high-school students gamble on a regular basis. Scratch tickets, the lottery, and sports betting are among the most popular with teens. Tony, a student at California State University,
Fullerton, as well as his two roommates, use the online site, sportsbook.com to bet on college and pro football. “You can bet for anything, you can even bet on who’s going to be the next president.” Tony admits that he spends up to four hours every day on the computer betting. According to Dr. Yoshinoka, a clinical psychologist, most people gamble to feel a high. Problem gamblers do not like to admit that they spend too much time with their hobby. Most college students today are the first generation to grow up with gambling being legal and available nationwide. Dorm rooms are not off limits to the easy and accessible lures of winning quick cash and feelings of excitement. More and more college students are turning to gambling for the sheer thrill and exhilaration. But, when you’re a college student who can’t stop gambling what do you do? A game of luck turns to chance. How far are college students
“Scott does not leave that computer once he walks through that door,” Maria, mother of a compulsive gambler, explains. “It seems like he can’t live without it.” going to make a buck and feel a high? Erik, 18, is another gambler. While attending UC Santa Barbara, he and his buddies would spend their
FC Torch Fall 2008 23
nights at a nearby casino where playing cards from 11 p.m. till 6 a.m. was not uncommon. At 21, Erik was able to cash in on a trust fund left to him by his grandmother. The idea was to go into the casino with $10,000 and stick to just that amount, but that’s not what happened that night. Erik walked in a “high roller” and left $31,000 in debt. Every day for about a month Erik would go back to the casino and try to make some money back, but couldn’t. He even turned to dealing drugs where he only dug himself into a deeper hole. He was later arrested on suspicion of dealing and transporting marijuana and was found guilty. Today Erik lives with his parents and attends counseling sessions with a Gamblers Anonymous group. He did not return to school and is still paying back his debt. The estimated financial cost of the addictive disorder known as “problem gambling” was $6.7 billion last year, according to the National Council on Problem Gambling. Bill is a 44-year-old who lives in Los Angeles, California. He does have two jobs and makes a little over $100,000 a year despite being homeless. This is an above average income according to a 2007 census which stated the average income was more than $50,000. Why is Bill homeless? He has been gambling for the past 20 years and says he’s done it all; bookies, casinos, lottery tickets and sports. In 1996 a family intervention led Bill to seek help. “I was clean for about six months, but one thing led to another,” he says. Bill can’t explain his urge to gamble, but he compared it to being a child and wanting to take his sister’s toy. “It’s not like I need it or really have to have it, I just want it.” According to Linda Chamberlain, an expert from the Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse at the University of South Florida, “ … when somebody is gambling [it] is … the same as what happens when they are taking cocaine.” Gamblers Anonymous explains the compulsive gambler as a person who is dominated by an irresistible urge to gamble and an obvious symptom of an emotional disorder. At 14 years old, Scott was beginning to show signs of having an uncontrolled addiction. Scott does not have the ability or the urge to slow down his playing time. Which leaves the question: where will he be five or ten years? T
“…When somebody is gambling it is … the same as what happens when they are taking cocaine.” 24 FC Torch Fall 2008
GAMBLERS’ ACE IN THE HOLE
Gamblers Anonymous offers the following questions to anyone who may have a gambling problem. These questions are provided to help the individual decide if he or she is a compulsive gambler and wants to stop gambling. Most compulsive gamblers will answer yes to at least seven of these questions.
1. Did you ever lose time from work or school due to gambling?
12. Were you reluctant to use “gambling money” for normal expenditures?
2. Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?
13. Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family?
3. Has gambling affected your reputation?
14. Did you ever gamble longer than you had planned?
4. Have you ever felt remorse after gambling? 5. Did you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties? 6. Did gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency? 7. After losing did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses? 8. After a win did you have a strong urge to return and win more? 9. Did you often gamble until your last dollar was gone? 10. Did you ever borrow to finance your gambling? 11. Have you ever sold anything to finance gambling?
15. Have you ever gambled to escape worry, trouble, boredom or loneliness? 16. Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance gambling? 17. Did gambling cause you to have difficulty sleeping? 18. Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble? 19. Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling? 20. Have you ever considered self destruction or suicide as a result of your gambling?
FC Torch Fall 2008 25
Deal
26 FC Torch Fall 2008
Sean Truesdale and his girlfriend, Heather Rincon, have both been been tested for HIV with negative results. Many promiscuous students, however, don’t follow the same preventative steps.
ling with
‘It’+ By Annica Aguzzi Photos By Kelsey Long
Kyla was only 23 years old when she found out she was HIV positive.
“My family was worried as they saw me losing a lot of weight and sleep[ing] for hours. They thought I was stressed because of school work, but as I developed a rash all over my body, they suspected something was wrong,” said the young girl bursting into tears. At a gynecological check up, Kyla discovered she had Human Papilloma Virus, which may cause cervical cancer if left untreated. Her primary care physician insisted she also be tested for HIV. The young student was hesitant; she argued with her doctor, because she was in a long-term relationship and had never been promiscuous. When the results came back, Kyla was shocked: she was not only positive for HIV, but had developed AIDS. Her life became a constant battle against death. Too many times young students think of themselves as being immune to this horrendous plague. However, HIV does not discriminate color, income, age, sex or religion: no one is immune. Over the last year alone, The Centers for Disease Control reported 56,000 new infections in this country, of which 35 percent are heterosexual
26% of FC students admitted to contracting a sexually transmitted infection. FC Torch Fall 2008 27
“Students don’t think it can happen to them.”
individuals below the age of 40. They estimated that 20 percent of those that have contracted HIV still don’t know their status. Many healthcare professionals wonder why HIV prevention is failing miserably among young people and if there is a way to prevent behaviors leading to the infection. The Fullerton College Health Center conducted a survey regarding sexually transmitted diseases in spring 2007. Of the 1,000 students surveyed, 20.7 percent admitted to having had unprotected sex while being under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Only 32 percent of the students in the survey said they that they had been tested for HIV, which means 70 percent of the students might not know their status. “Students don’t think it can happen to them,” said FC Health Educator Deanna Farsakh. “They see the statistics and notice that the majority of infections are among the gay
community and they conclude it doesn’t affect them.” According to the CDC report the second group with the highest infection rate is no longer drug users, but the very average heterosexual community. Farsakh strives to inform FC students about the risks by going class by class, and organizing events like the recent World AIDS Day, happening annually in the first week of December. She says HIV tests are available for $10 at the Health Center. In addition, testing is free during World AIDS Day in December, and on other events such as “Sexual Responsibility Month” in February.
kind of intimacy and trust can you build in the relationship?” This inability to disclose previous partners or behaviors to the current significant other is one of the major obstacles to an effective prevention. “It’s easier for most couples to talk about money in the relationship than to talk about sex” said Dr. Ardis Moe, Associate Professor of Medicine at the UCLA center for AIDS research and education. Moe has seen too many patients who fell victim to HIV because of fear and misinformation. Her daily mission is
A tendency among many students [...] is that they take the condom off at the second or third sexual encounter. A tendency among many students that rush into intercourse is that they take the condom off at the second or third sexual encounter, with the idea that the other person is safe because he or she ‘looks healthy.’ Nevertheless, past sexual behaviors, or partners, are not always known by the current boyfriend or girlfriend. The only secure way to find out one’s own status is to take a simple test which needs to be repeated 4 to 6 months later. Many students feel awkward about revealing to their current love their previous partners, because they don’t want to jeopardize what they have. “It’s such a sensitive issue” Farsakh said “But if you don’t communicate with your boyfriend or girlfriend, what
to save their lives, but her biggest concern is the many conflicting messages young people get about sex. “Agencies, Churches, and Government need to work together to implement a common prevention plan”, Moe said “The majority of people are sexually active at age sixteen. We need to distribute condoms everywhere” If students can’t be prevented fråom having sex, then better information on how to protect themselves against diseases is needed. People like Kyla paid too high a price for not being aware of risks. The cost of not knowing is too high, but the $10 FC students pay for a test at the Health Center might be the best life investment they will ever make. T
FC Torch Fall 2008 29
10 WAYS
TO GO
GREEN
By Trevor Owens Photos By Angela Kyle and Rob Moody
Members of the Fullerton College community can change the world. Here are some ideas to start the progression for environmentalism.
1. Walk, bike or take public transport 2. Replace standard light bulbs with to school. compact fluorescent light bulbs in ne way to reduce emissions and save gas is to your home.
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not use a car at all. If distance and circumstance permit, a walk or a bike ride can be healthy and may leave you feeling good about yourself while easing the strain on your pocketbook and engine. Keep in mind that many students have been forced to be creative when trying to find a place to lock their bicycle – FC’s parking problems extend to bycycles as well. Motorcycles are very fuel efficient and parking seems to not be a problem for those who Riding bikes promote drive them. The Bursar’s Office health and discouroffers discounted Orange County age oil dependence. Transportation Association bus passes at the start of each semester for a limited time. (In Fall 2008, that meant $75 for a 75-day quarter pass and $120 for a 120-day semester pass.) Each FC student enrolled in at least 12 units is eligible to purchase one pass.
30 FC Torch Fall 2008
A
ccording to California’s energy efficiency campaign, Flex Your Power, CFLs use 75 percent less energy than regular bulbs, and they last up to 13 times longer as well. While changing light bulbs may seem like small place to start, if enough people make the change, it will make an impact.
3. Turn off the light.
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ccording to Fullerton College Professor Sean Chamberlin, the simplest solution is sometimes the best. “It might seem trivial, but every time you leave a light on, leave your computer on or let the radio or TV babble unattended, you are needlessly consuming carbon-emitting electricity. It’s a myth that turning lights on and off consumes more electricity than
84% of FC students say they believe in global warming.
Turn on the light in your head: it’s time to clean up.
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leaving them on. Unless you are leaving for under 10 that filters the fuel for themselves and have them brew seconds, it’s more electricity-efficient to turn the lights extra for you. Whatever route you take, you will need off.” A possible alternative to leaving the porch light on more help than this article can provide. all night is to install a motion sensor – you’ll only have light when you need it. raditional recycling is a practical way to lower your carbon footprint. Recycle paper from exams, notes and projects at the end of a semester. Don’t simply throw away that old syllabus or all that math homework — be sure to find a way to recycle it lectronic books – e-books – are possibly the all. Bottles and cans can be taken to the grocery store most eco-friendly books around, with computer parking lot recycle center for some extra cash. energy potentially as their only environmental impact. The one major downside? The textbooks that students need are often not available in e-book format. Used textbooks can often be hard to track down for specific classes after a semester begins. Instead, you can rent a textbook online. Chegg. ith coffee or travel com plants one tree for every book mugs, it’s simple to cut rented, purchased or donated out the middle man on the site. BookRenter.com and and throw less stuff away in the CampusBookRentals.com are first place. The Sodexho cafetetwo other possible options. Don’t ria is located conveniently on be late returning your books or campus and uses biodegradable damage them, or you may have to post-consumer cups and plates, purchase the book or be saddled but without recycle bins, who is with an extra fee. going to actually recycle them? Most of those cups are thrown in the trash. Trashing recyclables is the only option for FC students and faculty besides hoarding a used cup all day and recycling it at home. Also, even recycling isn’t quite as clean and environment-friendly or the ambitious environmentalist, old diesel as one might think. “While recycled paper is better than engines provide ample opportunity for clean styrofoam and plastic, they require energy to produce, living and driving. Biodiesel is a fairly simple transport, and recycle,” says Chamberlain. “Same with alternative to gasoline or diesel, because most diesel engines will run fine with most kinds of biodiesel with- cans. Recycling takes energy and energy produces cliout any modifications. These conversions not only free mate-altering CO2. Best to use something that will last longer, cost less money, and save the environment.” the user from dependence upon foreign oil, they also burn cleanly. Mercedes and Volkswagen diesel models Bring your own cup to school if you can. from the ’80s are popular for biodiesel projects and vegetable-oil conversions, aptop computers are designed to run efficiently partly because the engines from compact batteries, so they are naturally more regularly exceed 500,000 energy efficient than desktop models. According to miles without being rebuilt. National Geographic, laptops can save up to 50 percent Any diesel engine can be more energy than a desktop computer. Turn the computmodified to run on vegetable er off when you are finished instead of using sleep mode oil. Once the modification is for extended periods of time to save more energy. made by a professional, used oil or straight vegetable oil can be used as fuel. Straight vegetable oil can be purFullerton College Buspasses chased at the grocery store, http://fcbursar.fullcoll.edu/buspass.htm and both kinds of oil produce Book Renting Chegg.com, BookRenter.com, CampusBookRentals.com amazing miles-per-gallon efAlternatively fueled Diesel to Biofuels ficiency – often in the vicinvehicles like this electric http://www.dieselpowermag.com/tech/general/0601dp_converting_diesel_to_ ity of 100 mpg. The serious vegetable_oil/index.html car help the environment. vegetable oil enthusiast will NatGeo’s way to Green Your Home http://www.nationalgeographic.com/everyday/greenhouse/tips.html find himself or herself testHow to Go Vegan ing the used oil with a variety of dangerous chemicals http://www.goveg.com/ to ensure no damage is being done to their engine. A Orange County Recycling Centers more practical alternative is to find a person locally http://egov.ocgov.com/vgnfiles/ocgov/OC%20Waste/Docs/recycling_facilities.pdf
6. Recycle bottles, cans and paper.
4. Something borrowed, something bruised, something rented, something used.
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7. Go one step farther than recycling by reusing.
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5. Biodiesel and vegetable oil modification for diesel engines.
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8. Use a laptop.
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Green Online
32 FC Torch Fall 2008
9. Eat slow food.
ide pollution, so boycott the beef industry and save the planet. It’s not just cow farts, either – it’s the cost of transporting during every part of the food cycle that places meat on the consumer’s tray. The same is true for all kinds of meat, poultry and eggs. “Reducing or eliminating meat and meat byproducts (like leather) can save a bundle,” Chamberlin said, “and I’m not talking just money. The CO2emitted to run the machinery to fertilize and water the grains that are then harvested and transported to feed the cows that are then slaughtered and hacked into pieces for the meat which is then transported to the store where it is packaged in unrecyclable plastic is an extremely carbonintensive process. In fact, meat production is at the top of the list for carbon-emitting agricultural tting meat out of one’s diet is the Not only does produce take less to practices. Even bananas flown single most impactful thing any one make, there’s less processing and from Ecuador produce less CO2 person can do to save energy. Catpackaging. than meat grown locally.” T tle create much of the world’s carbon diox-
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ast food restaurants are popular, but their effect on the environment is at least as detrimental as their effect on the people consuming the food. The extensive packaging alone is damaging to the environment, so eat from a kitchen at home or on campus. A single fast food meal often involves a plastic bag, two or three plastic containers, Always think: How can a cup (with a plastic I reduce your waste? lid and straw) and paper waste from napkins, boxes and wrappers.
10. Go vegetarian or Vegan.
C
The Green Movement
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discerning college budget as well as conscience. The key to going “green” is as much in awareness as it is in action. This means that thinking about what you do every day is the first step in creating a culture conducive to dynamic change. “Educate yourself and everyone around you,” Chamberlin says. In 1676, Isaac Newton wrote, “If I have seen “At every opportunity, learn more about further it is by standing on the shoulders of githe climate crisis and what it means for ants” in a letter to rival Robert Hooke. While your future ... Then tell everyone you we still stand upon giants’ shoulders toknow. Take part and be a part of the day, we also squirm beneath the crushsolution!” ing weight of their lumbering stride. The solution will not be nearly Compounded technological advances enough to completely reverse and decisions have led mankind to burn trends we put into motion, if curthrough Earth’s non-renewable resourcrent evidence shows us anything es, seemingly with reckless abandon and at all. Recent news about record a disregard for our environment. melting at the polar ice caps is Fullerton College biology professor depressing – instead of lessenSean Chamberlin addresses environing, melting seems to be growmental issues as nothing less than a seing at an accelerated rate. This rious and imminent threat. “This is not doesn’t mean that we should some tree-hugging, bunny-loving hoax give in or give up; it simply means trumped up by environmentalists to that we will likely have to deal with turn civilization back to the Stone Age,” the realities of a drastically changed Chamberlin says. “It’s a very real, very sciworld no matter what we do to change entifically founded, potentially catastrophic things. Chamberlin knows that turning alteration of Earth’s climate.” lights off will help, but that it is only a Change can begin at home or at Fullerton College. Often, start, and not an answer. “going green” can actually be cheaper than traditional alter“I’m a global warming survivalist,” he says, “as much as I natives, so many of these ideas might be attractive to the am a global warming activist.” T
By Trevor Owens
FC
FC Torch Fall 2008 33
Will There Another Politicians aim to open the draft again. This time, they want to enlist active students and even women.
By Chris Haire Photo By Rob Moody
During the late 1960s
the Vietnam War was at the forefront of the American consciousness. Agent Orange, napalm and the failures of the American government to get out of the war were weighing on the minds of the American people. With a widely unpopular war, nothing caused as much of a stir among those in the antiwar movement as the military draft. Many men were forced to fight in a war which was not
34 FC Torch Fall 2008
Draft dodging was common practice in the 1960s. If this bill passes, will we see a resurgence in anti-war protest?
Be Draft?
their own. A number of soldiers died before seeing their 21st birthday. Young men even inflicted harm on themselves in order to avoid the draft. Even though there was a draft for numerous years prior to the 1960s, it was not until Vietnam did the outcry against the draft that it started to take shape. This protest helped halt the war in Vietnam as well as the draft itself. Currently, the United States of America is waging more of these unpopular wars. 33 years after one of the most brutal wars in American history, in which men were forced into fighting their country’s battles, the military draft may be reinstated. Right now, there is a bill in a house subcommittee, HR 393, which would allow the U.S. government to once again enable a draft during wartime. The bill would require service of all persons aged 18 to 39 during times of war. Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA), one of
However, with the military ‘scraping the bottom of the barrel’ and with McDermott looking to equalize the military, student deferments may not be a luxury college students would have this time around. McDermott has said student deferments would not be given. Oliver Vinazanian, an FC student in his last semester, believes drafting students is unfair. “If you are trying to better yourself via education you should not be placed in a situation where you can not do that,” he says. Also, with a number of college students potentially being drafted, schools would see lower enrollment numbers, and since community colleges receive much of their funding based on enrollment, FC could see its income drop. Consequently, the higher age for eligibility in the military could allow some college professors to be drafted as well.
33 years after one of the most brutal wars in American history, in which men were forced their country’s battles, the military draft may be reinstated. the main sponsors of the bill, says he is looking to give equality to the military. According to McDermott, up to now the military has been dominated by poor, uneducated males. “The demographics of the military skew to the lower income and educationally disadvantaged,” McDermott says. “If America is willing to go to war, is it fair that a certain segment of the population overwhelmingly goes off to harm’s way?” According to the U.S. Census, minorities make up 28.6 percent of the American population, but about 40 percent of the military’s enlisted men. McDermott believes reinstating the draft could bring equality to the military. However, others believe if the draft is reinstated it won’t be for equality, but to maintain troop levels in a time when possible wars against Iran, Pakistan, and even Russia lie ahead. Dr. Naji Dahi, a Fullerton College political science teacher, opposes a draft, but does not know if the country can continue fighting wars without one. “I see no other way,” Dahi says. “The army is scraping the bottom of the barrel to get troops.” During the Vietnam War anyone considered a full-time college student was given a deferment.
36 FC Torch Fall 2008
If students and professors leave campuses for bases it could endanger the infrastructure of the American collegiate system. “To displace our students and put them in the military will fundamentally change the dynamic of the student population,” says Dr. Kathleen Hodge, FC president. Another blow to the college system, as well as the American family, is that this bill requires service from “all persons.” Meaning women would also be drafted. This is part of McDermott’s plan for equality. “Only when America is willing to put up all its sons and daughters to fight in a war can we truly say that a majority of Americans support going to war,” he says. However, America is currently entrenched in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and support from the American people is waning. Currently, a majority of Americans do not support the Iraq or Afghanistan wars. According to a poll by the Angus Reid Global Monitor – an independent, nonpartisan research center – 65 percent of Americans now believe we should not have taken military action against Iraq. And according to a CBS
60 % of FC students admit that they masturbate.
“We would not have gone to Iraq if there was serious debate.”
War Machine
Illustration By Leo Postovoit News and New York Times poll, 58 percent of Americans believe things are not going well for the U.S. in Afghanistan. Of course, in a time in which the unpopularity of both wars is palpable, it is interesting to note that there is not nearly the same kind of blatant opposition to the wars as there was during Vietnam McDermott, as well as others, hope that a draft would inspire a Vietnam-type protest in order to help stop the wars going on in the Middle East. “The Vietnam War came to an end because young people in the draft, and their parents, understood what was at stake and made a decision to oppose the war,” McDermott says. “We would not have gone to Iraq if there was serious debate.” Not everyone is convinced protesting would do the trick. “You can protest all you want, but whether change is brought about is something entirely different,” Vinazanian says. However, protesting the draft may not be necessary yet. Currently, HR 393 is still stuck in subcommittee with only two other cosponsors besides Mc-
Dermott. One of those cosponsors is Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY), who is the main sponsor of the bill. He could not be reached for comment. Despite the small amount of cosponsors, the country’s continuing conflicts may cause the bill to become more attractive. The myriad of wars the U.S. is currently maintaining, could leave Americans wondering when, not if, the draft will be reinstated. The Iraq War may not be Vietnam, but with the possibility of more wars on the horizon there is a chance that many more men and women, including teachers and students, could be on their way into the military, and once more America could be facing a plague of young people going off to die in a fight that is not their own. For the sake of the country’s future Americans must ask themselves if fighting multiple wars is worth reinstating the draft? More importantly though, students need to ask themselves if they will step in line and salute like the young men before Vietnam, or like the 1960s generation, will they stand up, wave their fists and shout, “Hell no we won’t go?” T
FC Torch Fall 2008 37
without borders Nonprofit organizations improve the lives of the world’s poorest while allowing students to hone their skills. direct skills in leadership, fundraising, networking, and sustainable engineering. “I was applying for grad school, and when I went In 2002, when Jordan Spatz was an aerospace engi- for my interviews at MIT and Harvard they didn’t really neering student at the University of Colorado, he heard want to talk to me about specifics about any technical about a campus project bringing solar-powered lights to subjects. Because everyone is smart, right? They really a hospital’s emergency and operating room in Rwanda. wanted to talk to me about the Thailand project.” Spatz His friend was working on the project and it sounded explains. interesting, so Spatz helped with design and fundraising. Groups like EWB focus on using technology to imThe hospital’s electrical power was unreliable and often prove the lives of the world’s poorest while allowing stufailed and the working surgeon had only one backup dents to hone their skills. From teaching computer skills for lighting during operations: a battery-powered head- to installing solar power systems, these organizations lamp. are uniquely able to offer technological solutions that Spatz describes what happened after the solar panels were not available a decade ago. Often using what we were installed. “The next day they had a power outage. consider low tech solutions, these projects in developing The doctor was doing surgery on a gentleman’s arm and countries mean leaps forward in quality of life for local he was able to use our lights, like right away.” He has residents. Students and student organizations working been dedicated to the group ever since. “That’s what got with these groups perform essential business functions me hooked,” Spatz says. “A small group of people can in fulfilling their missions. Through this work, students definitely make a huge difference in a person’s life.” get real-world experience in leadership, project design, A quiet revolution is changmanagement, commuing the professional fields nications, and fundthat students are striving to raising. join, and the way those proBart Forman, a 4th fessions select their eager year Ph.D. candidate new members. Coupled with at the UCLA student accomplished professionals, chapter of EWB, bestudents at colleges and unilieves that students versities around the world are can gain skills that they signing up for projects that can translate directly allow them to practice what into the workplace as they learn in class while helpwell as a greater appreing some of the world’s most ciation for what they underdeveloped communihave here in the United ties. States. “We offer realToday, Spatz is a Ph.D. world experience in a cultural exchange,” he candidate at MIT and is leadsays. “A lot of students ing an Engineers Without Students from around the world make a difference in underdeveloped countries. (Photo Courtesy EWB) are very bright and caBorders project in northwest pable, but they only Thailand. He believes that it was his work with EWB that helped him get into the have text-book experience. And what you learn in the graduate program of his choice. The projects gave him text book is not always exactly how it works out in the
By Angela Kyle
38 FC Torch Fall 2008
51% of FC students admit that they pee in the shower.
real world… They get to see what it’s like to procure materials, what the project is like in terms of logistics, and what sort of project management and communication is necessary to see the project through. It’s one thing to come up with a design, but it’s a whole different set of skills necessary to implement the design.” “A lot of the direct skills that I had to use for my project I wouldn’t have otherwise learned at all,” Spatz says. “Like civil engineering, architecture, fundraising, and a lot of connections that I’ve made.” Forman is leading a water project for a farming com-
students a National Service Award, which is granted by the office of the President. Non-profit organizations and professional associations are using small-scale, socially oriented projects to quietly shift the paradigms of entire professions toward sustainable development. EWB has chapters for professionals and students, and uses marketing, medical, business, language, and—of course—engineering students. The UCLA and CSULB student chapters of EWB are always looking for partnerships with students and new student chapters that can help out. “We’ll take all the
Hands-on projects in foreign countries allow members of humanitarian organizations to practice what they learn in the field, allowing students to gain valuable real-world experience that they can apply back home. (Photo Courtesy EWB)
munity in Guatemala, but the group works with many different student organizations. “We have recently been approached by a lot of different student organizations,” Forman says, “They have good ideas and want to see good things happen, but they often don’t have the technical skills necessary to complete the project.” These partnership projects include work with business, premed and nursing schools. Fullerton College students can obtain career-related training through groups like EWB and through the school’s Community Service Learning Department in the Office of Special Programs. Service Learning involves working with a local non-profit organization to add credits to a student transcript. These programs can be valuable for providing early field work credit for teaching, sociology, social working, public relations, law enforcement, and political science students. This work can also earn
help we can,” Forman says, “Just so long as they’re bright, they’re motivated, and willing to work pro bono.” Mukul Khairatkar, president of the CSULB student chapter, is looking for projects that would help educate and bring medical assistance to villagers in 3rd world rural areas. They plan to partner with UC San Diego and UC Irvine in upcoming projects. They are looking for art students, communications and English majors, biomedical and nursing students, as well as mechanical, electrical, and computer engineers. “It’s an eye-opening experience for a lot of our engineers, when they come back with real-world experience, a greater appreciation, and also enhanced cultural background and exchange through interaction with local populations.” Forman says. “It’s nice to see your work at the end of the day, to see smiles on the people’s faces that get these things. It’s very rewarding.” T
FC Torch Fall 2008 39
Chews
WISELY Chefs in the Sodexo Cafeteria prepare food upon order at the 155° Grill, La Vincita and the Sandwich Counter.
By Laura Parsons Photos By Kelsey Long
‘It all looks so good, what should I have? The pizza looks yummy, but those burgers smell amazing, maybe the chicken or some pasta; no I should just get a sandwich…but those tacos! Mmm! Ooh, chocolate chip cookies, no, those brownies, maybe just some Ruffles. Okay, what to drink? A Coke, some raspberry iced tea? Maybe a Vitamin Water, or a smoothie, no some coffee, wait… I WANT IT ALL!’ Ever felt this way after entering the cafeteria? You are not alone. The food in the cafeteria is provided through Sodexo Inc., whose products appeal to college students because they customize their menus to fit the tastes of their customers. “Student surveys were done and local restaurants were researched before the cafeteria opened last year,” says General Manager of Fullerton College’s cafeteria Thomas Bonikowski. Sodexo provides a wide variety of choices in the cafeteria including a salad bar, a sandwich counter
40 FC Torch Fall 2008
and a Smart Market section with fresh fruits and vegetables. Yet, since the food sold is based predominately on popular demand, some of the most popular foods aren’t very healthy. The most popular food sold in the cafeteria is from the 155° Grill and La Vincita counters, according to Bonikowski. The items sold in these sections have a total calorie count and fat content similar to like products sold at fast food restaurants such as Carl’s Jr., McDonald’s or Pizza Hut. The food prepared at the counters in the cafeteria is freshly made, which means that the rice, the soups, sandwich rolls, some of the beans and most of the sauces and dressings are made from scratch. Conversely, all the muffins, cakes, cookies, brownies, pastries, puddings and gelatin are from a mix. The loaves of sandwich breads,
tortillas, meats, cheeses, and the other half of the beans, sauces, and dressings come from bags, boxes, or cans, similar to what you would buy from a grocery store. Bonikowski assures that the cafeteria “uses high-end products.” The produce sold in the Smart Market, salad bar, and sandwich counter is restocked daily and new deliveries come two to three times a week. Students have been eating healthier, according to Bonikowski, because the Smart Market’s readymade salads, sandwiches, fruit, veggies and sushi are constantly being restocked throughout the day. It is easy and convenient to eat healthy on campus, students just need to be more aware of what to avoid. Any food sold in a vending machine and most of what is sold along the walls in the cafeteria is packaged and processed. Most food sold from a bag or a box has been modified from its original state for convenience. Processed foods contain ingredients similar to those listed in a can of paint. Often, consumers can’t pronounce these ingredients. Can you say ethyl methylphenylglycidate? Chances are it’s in your favorite fast food milkshake! The childhood obesity rate (ages 6-11) has more than doubled since 1980 and nearly tripled in adolescents and teens (ages 12-19), according to an article by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. “Causes for this rise in obesity include a more sedentary lifestyle. We drive instead of walking, and watch TV or play video games instead of playing sports,” says Deanna Farsakh, a health educator who works in the campus Health Center. Also we consume fast food or comfort foods on a regular basis which are high in calories, fat, sugars and carbs, writes author Terry Schierer on her Web site, healthfood-guide.com. A significant weight gain is common in first-year college students, coined ‘The Freshman Fifteen.’ The
cause is not only the added stresses of college, but also a new-found freedom and change in lifestyle. Many college students lead very hectic and stressful lives, which only fuels the vicious cycle of weight gain. Students are so busy they don’t always have time
Can you say ethyl methylphenylglycidate? Chances are it’s in your favorite fast food milkshake! to eat a full meal. Instead they grab a bag of chips, cookies, candy, French fries or a soda because they’re satisfying, according to a 2006 USA Today article. Foods high in sugar and fat are comforting. So when you’re stressed and need a ‘pick-me-up,’ you reach for the junk food to get your blood sugar up, according to Farsakh. Unfortunately, that means that this generation of college-aged students is in trouble heath wise. “Nutrition is linked to every disease ever conceived,” Farsakh says. If you don’t start making good choices now, a decade down the road (or even sooner) you may be faced with health problems linked to obesity and malnutrition, such as: Type II Diabetes, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or cancer, Farsakh claims. You are also more likely to have cardiovascular or respiratory problems and a shorter life expectancy, reports Astronutrition.com. The next time you are in the school cafeteria do yourself a favor and pick a sandwich wrap or a salad over a burger. Or when that king-sized Twix bar is calling your name from the vending machine, just keep walking. When that bottle of Coke looks refreshing, choose the Dasani water instead. You’ll be glad you did. T
Nutritional Information Sources: www.fullcolldining.com 155° ¼ lb McD’s ¼ lb www.pizzahut.com Cheeseburger Cheeseburger www.carlsjr.com
550 270 30g 11g 65g 1380mg 46g 3g 8g 23g 234g
510 230 26g 12g 90mg 1190mg 40g 3g 9g 29g 198g
La Vincita Pizza Hut Cheese Pizza Cheese Pizza
260 Calories 80 Calories from Fat 9g Total Fat 4.5g Saturated Fat 25mg Cholesterol 510mg Sodium Total Carbohydrates 32g 2g Dietary fiber 3g Sugars 13g Protein 120g Serving Size
270 120 13g 5g 25mg 570mg 27g 1g 2g 11g 104g
Hi Jinx, a dance competition held at California High School since the school was founded in 1955, has transformed from a once girl-only dance show to an all-or-nothing competition where first place is losing and winners have major bragging rights for the rest of the year. The prize everyone is shooting for is Sweepstakes, an ultimate winner-takes-all award. Dolls Jessica Chavez and Jasmine Navarro, bottom left, pose in their dollface masks. Genaro Solis, bottom left, practices his nightmare stare. Solis is a jack-in-thebox. FC student and crew helper Corrine Garnica, top left, assists in decorating dancer Catherine Vivar’s hair. FC alumnae and makeup artist Araceli Soto applies makeup to balerina Melanie Guerra’s face, right. Soto was one of six of TBT’s assistants.
DANCE DANCE DANCE DANCE DANCE DANCE DANCE DANCE DANCE DANCE DANCE DANC DANC DANC DANC DANC Photos and Story By Ronneica Rodriguez
DANC DANC DANC DANC DANC DANC DANC DANC DANC DAN DAN DAN
Dancer and Fullerton College Alu hig Toy Box Terror consists solely of selected California High School students, ranging from sophomoe to senior level. Only some are dance students. However, through many tough hours of practicing in an alleyway in south Whittier (bottom left), the students bonded and became more than just a crew, they became a family. They easily smile together at dress rehersal and coordinate at practices.
OFF E OFF OFF OFF E OFF OFF OFF E OFF OFF OFF CE OFF OFF OFF CE OFF OFF CE
Rodriguez, also a Cal high alumnus, has used his passion for dance and knowledge of the competition’s rules to build a dynasty, winning the top prize of Sweepstakes for four consecutive years. With the betrayal of his former students and the ruthlessness of rival choreographers to win, Ryan lost Sweepstakes for the past three years to rival crew, Legends, led by a man named Romeo. This year, Rodriguez’s new crew took them to victory. Their synchronized formations, above, led them to their victory, below. Rodriguez, right, celebrates his fifth Sweepstakes in his eight years of Hijinx.
CE OFF
umnus Ryan Rodriguez choreographs CE OFF OFF CE OFF OFF CE OFF OFF CE OFF NCE OFF OFF NCE OFF gh school dance crew Toy Box Terror.
The 32 TBT crew members took on a variety of different characters. Travis Tanuvasu, bottom left, and André Delgado, above, were two of the nine male and female dolls. Bianca Varela, right, was one of the eleven jack-in-the-box characters. Ballerinas, right, as well as the rest of TBT practiced for two months.
After the win, TBT went to Norm’s Restaurant in Whittier. They recapped the victory, above, on a digital camera. At the end of the night, Rodriguez’s final job was to choreograph TBT’s bill. T
departments -HO WTO-
eat well
The debate of whether the traditional omnivorous diet or the vegetarian alterative is better is is becoming increasingly tense. We put each to the test. You decide. ————
Eat your vegetables! It would seem that there are those who have taken their parents advice to the point of belligerent activism. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t be opposed to a dietary preference. However, a cultish adherence to a nutritional fallacy is beyond the realm of reasonable behavior. If it wasn’t for the spasms of hypocritical guilt and shouts of moral superiority by vegetarians, I would be more than happy to live in relative peace and harmony with these unwashed masses of vegetable Kool-Aid
oxygen we breathe, one can make the argument that devouring plants ëen masse’ does more damage to the ecosphere. Animal flatulence, on the other hand is the numero dos pollutant of air. We are just a few doubledoubles away from a cleaner environment. What can we conclude from this information? It seems pretty obvious. Vegetarians are racist! Yeah, I said it. What else would you call the arbitrary bias of species consumption? Admit it vegetarians, you hate all things green, so you eat them. I on the other hand do not discriminate in my choice of sustenance. I’m better than that. Enough theory, time for some fun facts. Is it possible to get all of the nutrients you need without eating meat? Of course it is. However, you need to be a chemistry major and reduce yourself to popping
MEAT
the
By Tanner Fogle
drinkers. But, they make it so damn hard not to take a firm stand on how big of fools they are, and how ridiculous their crusade is. It is a pursuit that can only be called food fascism. We’ll get to the educational bits later, but first let us begin with a theory. Hypocrisy: The notion that it’s some how virtuous to eat fruits and vegetables in place of mammals and fish has an inherent flaw. The life of a broccoli stalk is no more or less important than that of a leg of lamb. I shall explain. Life is life, regardless of its vessel. Just because it doesn’t moo, chirp or oink doesn’t make it any less of a life form. I find it infinitely hilarious that most vegetarians are environmentalists. They are willing to hug a tree, but just long enough until they can steam it in some soy sauce. In fact, since plants produce the
44 FC Torch Fall 2008
87% of FC Students are omnivorous.
eater
vitamin uppers in order to sustain a balanced diet. According to Kathleen Zelman, a nutritionist and dietitian for the American Dietetic Association, soy products that are often used to replace meat in meals require that you supplement with pills in order to attain healthy doses. These necessary vitamins include niacin and riboflavin which contributetohealthyskin,nerves,digestionandvision.Meat is a ready source of Selenium and vitamin E, which work in cohesion to prevent heart disease. Phosphorus aids in the regulation of metabolism. While the mineral zinc builds muscle and helps with the healing of wounds. And we can’t forget iron, the foremost anemia killer. Just in case you are thinking that there is nothing that meat can provide that can’t be found elsewhere, think again. Vitamin B12 is exclusive to meat products. A B12 deficiency may cause pernicious anemia, which in turn could lead to permanent nerve damage. All of these minerals and vitamins are readily available in meat, without having to piechart your pill intake. Well, I hope you have learned something. I know I have. Just as a side note to end on. In every group of friends there has to be one jackass vegetarian who makes the simple activity of sharing a pizza painfully difficult, because not only can he or she not eat meat, but objects to there being meat on even one half of the pie. The result is a horribly dull slice of pizza, and a pissed off Tanner Fogle. This is why I don’t own a gun, the temptation is too great. Incidentally, said jackass is Trevor Owens. He will be providing the vegetarian side of this argument, also known as, the wrong side. T
This is America. Chest-thumping, flag-waiving, terrorstricken, dirt-bike-riding, gun-toting, God-fearing, gasguzzling, red-meat-eating America. We are the fattest, proudest, most imperialistic nation in the world. So why would any good American decide to not eat meat? The answers to that question, surprisingly, are many and varied. The reasons people choose vegetarianism are all valid and lead to benefits to everyone, from the individual, to the society, to the animals we raise for consumption. The practice is also arguably at least as old as religion. Today, Hinduism and Jainism are the two major religions that observe a vegetarian diet. Strict Hindus eat no meat or eggs but will consume milk, while Jains will not even eat most root vegetables due to plant suffering. In this country, most
mal than the relatively short time for execution. Steers are usually castrated with simple hand pliers and no anesthetic, a sight at least as gruesome and cruel as it sounds. Female cattle are separated from their calves within moments of birth. Calves are usually killed immediately, but more than 72,000 are raised for veal each year. These 72,000 would have been much happier in the other group — veal cattle suffer tremendously to make tender meat for consumers. Their limbs atrophy in pens so small they cannot turn around until they are put up for auction (and there shocked repeatedly to demonstrate muscle capacity) and then executed at four months of age. If the cruelty of livestock treatment is not a convincing argument for vegetarianism, certainly the health benefits are. According to the
VEGETARIAN the
By Trevor Owens
vegetarians arrived at their diet choice through concern of animal killing, animal cruelty or simply to benefit their health. The idea of animals dying for the enjoyment of a juicy burger, steak or a group of chicken nuggets is often an unsettling one to any person. Many people have decided that the cycle of life and fate favors humans and animals simply are one side of that exchange -- it’s business, not personal. This view is especially popular with those of Christian faith, who often use the Bible as justification for slaughter of animals. Christians believe that God gave man dominion over every other creature, as written in Genesis 1:28 “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” The Bible, therefore, is a suitable tool for many to argue for the raising and killing of animals for food. Commercially raised farm animals live a horrible, cramped life full of abuses and neglect brought on by the nature of mass production. Then they are executed with unreliable, inexact methods that often leave the job undone with every other step of the disassembly line left in their future. This means that cattle are often pulled completely apart while still alive, chickens suffer all their feathers being plucked before they are skinned alive and pigs are often lowered slowly into scalding water, screaming all the while. Living conditions are much worse for each ani-
national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, available studies show that 40 percent of American adults have impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance, also known as prediabetes. IFG and IGT increase the risk of a person developing type two diabetes, the common adult-onset form of the disease. This constitutes an epidemic in our nation. Red meat has been linked to increased risk for colon cancer and breast cancer in addition to often being a part of a fast-food diet high in fat. According to the American Heart Association, balanced vegetarian diets often mean reduced cholesterol levels and “a lower risk of obesity, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus and some forms of cancer.” Whether you are taking a stand against diabetes or heart disease, animal killing, excessive cruelty toward animals or are deeply committed to making a difference in climate change, trying a diet free of meat is a good place to start. T
10
Excercise The Fres
Tips from a Certified Personal Trainer By Natalie Tarr NCCPT Certified Personal Trainer
As college students, money is not always easy to come by so hiring a personal trainer is the last thing on the list. However, staying in shape is something most people want and most people fail to do. Which group do you want to fall into? All it takes is some motivation and time. Try these simple exercises and you’ll be on your way. Get something around the house to use as challenging weights (i.e. milk cartons filled with water or sand).
1. Lunge with a Press Target Muscle: Quads, Anterior Deltoid, Biceps Stand with dumbbells at sides. Step Forward with left leg. Back knee bends towards ground. Curl dumbbells up to shoulders press above head.
2. Squat with Shoulder Raise
Target Muscle: Quads, Gluteus, Deltoid Start with feet hips distance apart with dumbbells at sides. Lower bottom like sitting down. Keep knees behind toes. Raise dumbbells up to shoulder height.
Ways to do this workout:
1. Three to four sets of each exercise with 12 to 15 reps, resting 30 seconds in between each 2. Progress to heavier weights when you feel that the weight is no longer a challenge. 3. Do the exercises as a circuit. Perform one exercise one time through and then go straight into two minutes of cardio. Then repeat the exercise again. Do this for all the exercises only resting when you move onto the next exercise.
4. Single StiffLegged Dead Lift With Row (Dumbbell) Target Muscle: Hamstrings, Lats In lunge position legs slightly bent. All weight on front leg with weights at sides. Lean forward lift back leg at same time.
3. Alternating Dumbbell Push-up
Target Muscle: Pectorals In push-up position, begin with right hand on dumbbell left hand on the ground. Do a push-up. Rotate leaving left hand on dumbbell right hand on the ground.
es to Beat shman 15 5. Crossover Bicep Curl
Target Muscle: Biceps
-HOWTO-
WORKOUT 10. Swiss Curl
Target muscles: Hamstrings Lying flat on the ground with arms at sides, place legs on a ball. Roll ball into body keeping heels on the ball and hips up. Return to start.
With weights at side, legs bent, slowly curl one dumbbell across chest. Concentrate on flexing bicep while lifting. Return weight to start position and alternate arms.
6. V- Ups
9. Leg Lifts Target Muscles: Abdominals, core Set up: Lying flat on the floor arms raised above head. Lift upper body and lower body using abdominals. Return to start position without dropping feet.
Target Muscles: Abdominals and Core Lying flat on the ground with arms at sides, have feet fully extended horizontally. Lift legs straight into air at a 90-degree angle. Return to start.
8. Body Dips 7. Wall Sit with a Twist Target Muscle: Quads, Anterior Deltoid Set up: With a medicine ball or free weight in hands lower body down with back straight against a wall. Hold weight in front of chest. Rotate side to side.
Target Muscle: Triceps, Core Set up: Sit on the ground with hands on side and fingers pointing towards feet. Lift hips off ground keeping legs bent. Slowly lower upper body to ground by bending elbows back.
-HOWTO-
be a philosopher By Angela Kyle
Photo By Leo Postovoit
Bruce Hansen is a professor of philosophy and religious studies and an honors program advisor at Fullerton College. Known for his humor and depth, Dr. Hansen has inspired FC students for many years. He guides his students in higher thoughts and studies, and through his engagement prepares them for both thoughtful and successful lives. In an interview one afternoon between classes and commuting on the train, he offered some thoughts on living as a philosopher. in some sort of insight that, in fact, they are a product of a culture. They would have to be uncomfortable, unhappy, even disgusted with mindlessly making passage through the world. If that were to happen to somebody, which it doesn’t happen to many, they would then be in a position to begin to think against the grain. That, to me, would be the mark of somebody who’s gotten some distance on their age, their generation, and their culture. To get distance, you have to practice thinking against the grain, and that’s going to make you stand out. In standing out, you will be under pressure to come back to the herd. And so how long you can stand out there, that will be the test.
4. Have Courage 1. Bring Philosophy into Your Life Completely I don’t separate day to day from philosophy. There are questions I have carried for years, pondered for years, and I carry those questions into the day to day. “I remember as a boy reading a passage in the Gospels that said, Blessed the one who suffers for my sake. I wondered, what in the world could that mean? I read many, many explanations of what that does mean, none of which satisfied me. But I think that over the years I’ve gotten a somewhat fuller understanding of it. ”
2. Don’t Let Ideas Get between You and Reality I was very interested in the German idealists, Marx, Heidegger, and French existentialists like Sartre and those guys. But it occurred to me early in my twenties that they were all about talk. They were all ideas about ideas. It occurred to me fairly viscerally, not just intellectually, that if I were to go down that line I would never get back to things. So I took a stand, saying ‘I’m going to try to drop the idea and see if I can discover things.’
3. Don’t Be a Product of Culture
The ideal philosopher, it seems to me, is one who is capable of thinking against the cultural grain and in doing so, is going to run into trouble. Socrates would be a perfect example, Jesus would be an example, Confucius would be an example. In each of these cases, it seems to me that they are operating from an awareness of what is needed… they are conscioust of the situation, as opposed to an idea about the situation. They had the moral courage to act to meet the need in that situation. That may put them at odds with the culture. I think that once one starts to think for themselves, they will need to act on their sense of what is needed, what is necessary. Of all the virtues that philosophers and society hold dear, I would say that courage is the most fundamental. Without courage you can accomplish nothing else. Any attempt to get free of a mindless passage is going to require that you separate yourself from the herd to some degree. None of it can occur without courage. So in all thy getting, get courage.” T
Essential Readings
Dr. Hansen recommends reading the early dialogues of Plato — his Apology and the Crito — to get an idea of how the ideal philosopher would conduct his or herself. He cautions, “I’m using the word philosopher here as my ideal of a philosopher, I’m not using it as descriptive of the profession as you see it in the academy, myself included. I don’t claim to be that ideal philosopher.”
It is probably the case that most all of us have become acculturated unconsciously, even as children. Before anybody could get distance, it would have to occur to them 48 FC Torch Fall 2008 58% of FC students say they believe in ghosts, while only 43% believe in aliens.
-HOWTO-
cookgourmet By Ronneica Rodriguez Photo By Ronneica Rodriguez
Gourmet is not just about putting foods together and hoping that they come out right. It’s a state of mind. As a cook you have the power to entice all your senses. All these ingredients can be found with little effort at any local market and range from a couple cents to a few dollars. They can be as diverse the recipes you use them in.
Naked Pasta Pasta Salt Butter Olive Oil Garlic powder Onion powder Thyme
Parsley Oregano Salt Pepper Chili Flakes (optional) Parmesan Cheese (Optional)
1. Bring water to boil. Add salt. 2. Once water has begun to boil add your pasta, stirring it to make sure it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. 3. Test pasta to see if it’s done. 4. Once pasta is ready, strain it through a colander. 5. Put the pasta back into the pot and add the butter and oil, stirring to make sure all the pasta is evenly coated. 6. Now add the garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, parsley and oregano. (Salt and pepper, to taste) 7. Stir your pasta again to evenly season and serve. If you like, you can now add the Parmesan and chili flakes.
Grilled Chicken Chicken Breast Chopped Garlic Chopped Onion Chopper Bell Pepper
Olive oil Lemon Juice Salt Pepper
1. Place the chicken on the grill for only about 2 minutes each side to get the grill flavor and marks. Then cover and place in an oven preheated to 350 degrees. 2. While the chicken is in the oven, put the olive oil in a pan on a medium high heat. 3. Once your oil has gotten hot, lower the heat to medium and add in your onion and bell peppers. 4. Now add the garlic to the olive oil mixture. 5. Once the ingredients have had a chance to blend, turn the heat of the oil mixture to low and take out your chicken. It shouldn’t be cooked thoroughly. 6. Slice the chicken and use lemon juice to deglaze the pan. This gets the flavor from the veggies off the bottom of the pan and prevents them from burning. 7. Now turn up the heat of the oil mixture and allow you the chicken to cook all they way through. 8. Once it’s done, place your chicken on your plate and put the veggie mix on top. Voila! T
FC Torch Fall 2008 49
Parting Shot
Oh, Coffee. As Miles Davis once described it, “Bitches Brew.” You’re some sort of addictive By Leo Postovoit liquid inspiration. Every Art Director time I feel sad or lonely, it seems that you come to my rescue. But there’s a giant shock — with the rapidly deflating dollar, a cup can cost me way too much. Starbucks used to be my opium den. Not only is it too expensive, but their stuff’s weaker than the pansy I beat up in akindergarten. I’ve made a decision. It’s finally come down to this. I hate the brown and green devil, so this is my divorce. You’ve become a snarky reminder of commercialism. You sit on every corner reminding me that ‘it’s OK to pay five dollars for two shots of espresso and two cups of sugar.’ Futhermore, you’re a just starry-eyed creature, clingy to every cause and one-hit wonder, always selling crap in your store. I think your over-saturated nature (and oversweetened coffee) has led to your demise. I don’t understand why you serve sandwiches or lame emo hipster music. I don’t understand your selfmutilation. Back in July 2008, you announced you’re killing 600 Starbucks stores. I’m glad — that’s 600 less stores to blast the latest pathetic Sufjan Stevens album. Fortunately, I’ve found a new love. When I can, I prefer to brew my own batch of aromatic awesomeness. I just purchased my first French press and I’m experimenting with my own gourmet batches of coffee home brew. I’m avoiding the drip; every sip of the Folgers is one wasted sip that could’ve been a finely settled Turkish coffee, brewed from freshly ground organic Sumatran beans. But such fantasies are simply too far to reach on an ordinary day. Life is too busy to wait the five minutes to extract all the positive flavors out of my press pot. What to do? California State University, Fullerton Professor xtine burroughs, the iconoclast with a cool artsy name lacking capitalization, invented a solution a few years back. Delocator.net is an anti-Starbucks Web site that is not about hate; it’s about finding your local coffee shop. The idea is simple: enter a zip code and find a local jiving java hot spot. After submitting your query a new page
shows two columns. On the left, it lists all of the local shops in a five-mile radius. On the right, it notes all of the Starbucks in the same area. The wellknown mermaid witch easily outnumbers the mom-and-pop shops. The site, however, has become neglected. Burroughs notes that it’s set for re-launch next year. It’s all about finding a local shop, so I’ve found two brilliant havens for coffee connoisseurs located in walking distance from Fullerton College. Monkey Business is just south on Lemon. Run by a nonprofit organization that helps emancipated children, it serves two different coffees of the day. They’re cheap — $2 for a large brew cup. This place is always a delicious drip, they don’t monkey around. Monkey Business also has vintage records and other lingering junk for puchase, as well as random musical instruments like banjos and keyboards to play on. McClain’s, Just south of Berkeley on Harbor, is just as homely and tasty. The dark walls serve as a display gallery for rotating local artists. Macabre decor and servers just pissed off enough to make the best coffee ever make this retreat from your fast-paced life a must. There’s a reason why I choose local. There’s a reason why you must. Demand satisfaction from your shop. We all need quality coffee, not blackened mermaid piss that sits there, dripping from re-burned beans. Futhermore, I am an artist. Every art scene has their vice. Rock musicians bounce on nights of their booze and cocaine. Those painters use up their heroin and opiates. Us graphic designers, we have our coffee. (Cigarettes too, but those taste like burnt coffee.) And as we artsy types progress, we demand the better fix. We don’t want to burn out, you know. Substandard substance will not do. We’ll make it clear, top quality in mass quantity. I demand you find a local shop. Santa Ana has its Gypsy Den and Orange has its Ugly Mug. Who is your neighborhood bean brewer? Do you even know? Or do I have to knock your jazz-hating ass back to kindergarten? T
On: Hating Starbucks & Why It’s Time to Go Local
50 FC Torch Fall 2008
HOW WILL YOU CHANGE THE WORLD? PROJECT GPS Guiding and Preparing
2
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Students Office of Special Programs Room 225 College Center
(714) 992 - 7067
Connect with others who are pursuing exciting but challenging majors. Find a future career that will help shape the world!
Project GPS2 is funded through the U.S. Department of Education CCRAA Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) Cooperative Arrangement Grant.
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2009 fine_arts_calendar
Fullerton College Fullerton College 7JTJU IUUQ GJOFBSUT GVMMDPMM FEV GPS EJSFDUJPOT TDIFEVMFT BOE CPY PGGJDF
Theatre Playwrights Festival JAN 2–10 Bronwyn Dodson Theatre
Guys and Dolls MAR 5 – 7 & 12 at 8:00pm Campus Theatre
Box Office # (714)992-7150
Steel Magnolias
APR 23, 24, 25, 30 at 8:00pm APR 26 at 2:00pm May 1 & 2 at 8:00pm • Bronwyn Dodson Theatre
Directors Festival
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JUN 22 – 26 at 8:00pm Best of Fest JUN 27 at 8:00pm Bronwyn Dodson Theatre
#SPXO #BH 1SPEVDUJPOT
Footloose presented by SRO
MAR 13 & 14 • Campus Wide
MAR 26 & 27 at 7:00pm MAR 28 at 2:00 & 7:00pm Room 1310, Free Admission
HS Auditions May 12 at 2:00pm Recital Hall (rm 1111) Performing: July 15th-18th at 8:00pm & July 18th at 2:00pm Campus Theatre
Music
0QFSB 5IFBUSF 8PSLTIPQT
Jazz Lab Band and Vocal Jazz 2
1JBOP &OTFNCMF 'FTUJWBM JAN 31 at 7:30pm – Campus Theatre
Spring Concert, Community Band
Piano Faculty Recital
APR 23 at 8:00pm – Campus Theatre
JAN 16 & 17 at 7:30pm JAN 18 at 4:00pm – Recital Hall
MAR 7 at 7:00pm– Campus Theatre
.VTJDJBOT "U 8PSL
APR 19 at 3:00pm – Campus Theatre
4ZNQIPOJD 8JOET
+B[[ #BOE XJUI Â&#x;+ 5SBJO 7PDBM +B[[ APR 30 at 8:00pm – Campus Theatre, 8:00pm
MAR 20 at 8:00pm Wilshire Auditorium
$PODFSU $IPJS $IBNCFS 4JOHFST )PNF $PODFSU
Jazz Combo Night
Women’s Chorale
MAR 26 at 8:00pm Campus Theatre
Art
APR 16 at 8:00pm – Campus Theatre
MAY 1 at 8:00pm – Wilshire Auditorium MAY 3 at 4:00pm – Recital Hall
'VMMFSUPO $PMMFHF 4ZNQIPOZ MAR 29 at 4:00pm – Campus Theatre
Bravo
'VMMFSUPO $PMMFHF +B[[ 'FTUJWBM
'VMMFSUPO $PMMFHF 4ZNQIPOZ MAY 17 at 4:00pm
APR 3 & 4 All Day – Campus Wide
MAY 8 & 9 at 8:00pm Campus Theatre
Campus Theatre
'VMMFSUPO $PMMFHF
JAN 20 – FEB 17, 2009
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Artist in Residence
0SBOHF $PVOUZ
MAR 5 – APR 2, 2009
MAY 12 – MAY 14, 2009
Still Life Now
Sandow Birk
APR 24 – MAY 5, 2009
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