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March 8, 2017
Volume 109 | Number 1
Town Hall Meeting Draws Large Crowd Topics: Travel Ban & Refugees By Alex LaFosta
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n a chilly Friday night a throng of shivering Angelenos armed with passion, picket signs and now-familiar pink “pussy hats” filled the sidewalks of Verdugo Road leading to the town hall meeting with Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank). The auditorium, which seats 400 people, proved to be too small, and about 800 more attendees had to watch the Feb. 24 meeting about the travel ban and refugee crisis via a live feed projected in the “overflow room” located in the gymnasium. Representatives from the Muslim Public Affairs Council, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, International Rescue Committee and Catholic Charities joined Schiff on the discussion panel. As the Democraic congressman hit the stage, the crowd greeted him with a standing ovation. “I feel like walking out and coming back in again,” Schiff said. After the roarous applause died down, Schiff expressed his gratitude for the crowd while throwing a subtle jab at his opponents in the White House. “As I was driving up and seeing all of you lining up to come in this evening, I thought ‘That doesn’t look like AstroTurf to me,’” said Schiff, referring to the comments by presidential Press Secretary Sean Spicer about the Inaugration crowd size. Schiff discussed the status of the U.S. refugee program after the executive order President Trump signed Jan. 27, and later revised, that suspended the State Department’s Refugee Assistance Program and
Photo by Ken Allard
FULL HOUSE: Rep Adam Schiff takes questions from the overflow crowd in the Verdugo Gym on Feb. 24. Schiff came to campus to discuss refugees.
Online Exclusive
visa entry from now six predominantly Muslim countries. He went on to implore the crowd to continue to show up and protest against controversial decisions by the current administration.: “Each and every time we need to speak out… to say, ‘This is not all right. This is not going to be accepted. This is not
Parking Struggles Put to Rest Check out our latest interview with Superindendant/President David Viar about parking on campus at:
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[See Schiff, page 3]
Sierra Vista Still Behind By Mark Nassim and Elena Jacobson
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Photo by Ken Allard
NOT OPENING SOON: Construction of the Sierra Vista Building went from 95 percent complete to 75 percent after internal problems withe the HVAC systems were discovered. The newest projected completion date is December, 2017.
fter multiple delays of the Sierra Vista building construction, the expected occupancy date remains set for spring 2018. Sierra Vista has been under construction since 2013 and was initially expected to be completed Dec. 10, 2015. The completion dates have since been pushed numerous times. It’s 2017, and the construction hasn’t gone smoothly. Constant delays of the multimillion-dollar project led to the replacement of Mallcraft Inc. with another contractor. The change was due to alleged damages to the building by the previous workers at Mallcraft Inc., including problems with the insulation, heating ventilation and air conditioning, (HVAC), and fire dampers.
These hurdles have forced different departments and classes that were going to occupy the building to move around, some to portable classrooms. But school officials are determined to make sure things are done right next time and still hopeful in getting the building done. The college is about to have more constructions and repairs funded by the newly approved Measure GC. “As we move forward with the $325 million bond, it will be making sure that we are assembling a team that does fulfill all of its responsibilities,” said David Viar, superintendent/president of the college. “Whether it is the architect, the engineer, the construction management organization we bring in place, that we do follow through and make sure [See Sierra, page 3]
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EL V EDITOR IN CHIEF Melody Shahsavarani REPORTERS Alex LaFosta Carolina Diaz Nicole House Nareg Atteukenian Mark Nassim Elena Jacobson Ken Allard Johnny Ruiz Nicholas Martinez Ricardo Nuño PRODUCTION TEAM Sal Polcino Jayne Pojawa Rich Kontas faculty adviser Michael Fleeman mfleeman@glendale.edu (818) 551-5214 advertising Jeff Smith jsmith@glendale.edu (818) 240-1000, ext. 5493
Letters to the Editor El Vaquero accepts story ideas in news, features, profiles, sports and entertainment from the public. Send an idea or article to the editor at melody.elvaq@gmail.com or call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5349. Member of the Journalism Asssociation of Community Colleges Member of the California Newspaper Publishers Association
Letters may be reproduced in full or in part and represent only the point of view of the writer, not the opinion of El Vaquero or Glendale Community College and its district. All letters must include the full name, address and phone number of the writer. You will be contacted before publication. El Vaquero is a First Amendment publication.
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IN THIS ISSUE
News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4 Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7 Arts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 -10 Spotlight.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
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OPINION
‘Muslim Ban’ Unfair to Refugees By Ken Allard
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ne of the main talking points for Donald Trump and his campaign during the 2016 election was the threat of “terrorism” posed by Muslim refugees from the Middle East seeking safety and shelter within the United States. Like many of his other outlandish campaign promises (e.g. the wall), people wrote off the Muslim refugee ban as another piece of political rhetoric, one that Trump would quickly abandon once elected into office. But as we have seen thus far, Donald Trump has quickly put his money where his mouth is, signing a plethora of executive orders within the first month of his presidency, signaling to citizens and political leaders alike that his rhetoric isn’t just rhetoric. The most controversial piece of legislation signed into action was the “Muslim ban,” the executive order that temporarily barred the acceptance of Muslim refugees, in addition to visa and green card holders, from seven majority-Muslim nations in the Middle East. Those seven nations included Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen. Additionally, the number of refugees admitted in 2017’s fiscal year was to be reduced from 110,000 to 50,000, while also establishing a new “extreme vetting” process for those looking to enter the United States. During his press conference in January that discussed the executive order, President Trump stated that the piece of legislation was intended “to keep radical Islamic terrorists out of the United States of America.” In other words, the temporary ban was enacted in the name of national security, which begs the question: are we at risk by admitting Muslim refugees? The answer: No, we are not at risk. The United States has one of the most — if not the most — stringent vetting process in the entire world for refugees. On average, the process can take about 18 to 24 months, which includes a multitude of interviews and screenings from many U.S. security agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and the State Department. Furthermore, women, children, those with disabilities, and the elderly, are given admission priority over others — especially men of “fighting age.” “I think it is fair to say that refugees coming into the United States to be resettled are some of
Photo courtesy Fibonacci Blue NO BAN, NO WALL: An estimated crowd of 7,000 protesters gathered in downtown Minneapolis on Jan. 31 to denounce President Trump and express solidarity with immigrants.
the most vetted individuals entering the United States,” said Vannina Maestracci, the spokeswoman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Additionally, refugees that are applying for entry from Syria — which tends to be the focal point in the debate about national security — often have to go through an even more rigorous screening process. “Syrian refugees have to go through a 21step vetting process before they are allowed to come to the U.S. It goes to three different agencies,” said Stephen Yale-Loehr, an immigration law professor at Cornell University. “I am not sure what any president could do to make it even more stringent than it already is.” Due to this lengthy and thorough process, the odds of being injured or killed by someone admitted through the refugee program are almost non-existent. According to statistics gathered by Business Insider, the lifetime odds of being killed in a terrorist attack committed by a refugee is about 1 in 46 million. You are more likely to be killed in a shark attack (1 in 8 million), a lightning strike (1 in 174,000) or even a regional asteroid impact (1 in 1.6 million). According to a report by the
Due to this lengthy and thorough process, the odds of being injured or killed by someone admitted through the refugee program are almost non-existent.
Cato Institute there have been zero instances of terrorist attacks on American soil committed by citizens of those seven nations that were included in Trump’s executive order from 1975 to present day,. In light of this information, what exactly are we protecting ourselves from? Not much. The protection offered by the Muslim ban is nothing more than an illusion. A great deal of Americans have a preconceived notion that Muslim immigrants are inherently more dangerous than others. We are easily able to conjure up images of deadly terrorist attacks in our mind, distorting our impression of the likelihood of such an event actually occurring, something that psychologists refer to as the availability heuristic. This ban makes us feel safer, while the statistics say otherwise. In other words, the ban — which has real, lasting damage on actual people — protects us from our biases, not reality. We cannot let our irrational biases get in the way of our moral and ethical obligations as well as our long-standing tradition of accepting refugees. The stakes are simply too high. Thousands of innocent people are fleeing war-torn nations such as Iraq and Syria. Iraq has been ravaged by ISIS, which seized the power vacuum left behind from
the Saddam Hussein regime, while Syria has been decimated by a brutal civil war. It’s an international humanitarian crisis, which we certainly played a role in creating, and turning our backs now is an exercise in returning to the mistakes of the past. The Holocaust Museum says that in 1939, 900 Jews fleeing Hitler’s Germany were denied entry into the United States, due to the fear that they were Nazi sympathizers or Communists. Over a quarter of them were killed in the Holocaust. Since then, according to PEW researchers, America has chosen to do its part in accepting refugees escaping violence, including those from Vietnam, Cambodia, the Soviet Union, Kosovo and Iraq, among others. What we are experiencing today is just the modern-day iteration of past humanitarian issues, and thankfully many Americans are rising to the occasion. Federal judges, claiming that it could cause irreparable harm to those affected by the ban, temporarily halted Donald Trump’s executive order. Lawyers working pro bono, civil rights groups, congressional Democrats, and thousands of protesters from around the nation, played a pivotal role in the reversal of President Trump’s order. Although, according to multiple news outlets, including the New York Times, on Monday the Trump administration released an updated version of the ban. The newer legislation appears to be very similar to the one from January, with a few minor adjustments to critical portions. It now only includes six of the originally seven banned nations, with Iraq no longer being listed. The provision that banned current visa holders in the original legislation has been removed and Syrian refugees are now subject to a 120-day ban, rather than one that is indefinite. It appears that this version of the ban was updated by the Trump administration so it could hold its own in court against federal judges, unlike the previous one that was struck down somewhat quickly. This means that the fight being waged by those in defense of Muslim refugees isn’t quite over yet—and it might get significantly tougher. As Americans, we must do our part in alleviating this humanitarian crisis. If we are to stake our claim as the greatest nation on the planet, then we must step up to the plate and lead by example. It’s our obligation. It’s the American way.
According to statistics gathered by Business Insider, the lifetime odds of being killed in a terrorist attack committed by a refugee is about 1 in 46 million.
Ken Allard can be reached at Kenallard4@gmail.com
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Wednesday, March 8, 2017
NEWS
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El Vaquero and the Insider Magazine Win Big at California College Media Awards Banquet in San Francisco
Photo illustration by Sal Polcino
By Melody Shahsavarani
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he California College Media Association (CCMA) awarded El Vaquero and the Insider 13 accolades. CCMA collected submissions from four-year and junior college publications. More than 200 California college journalists filled the Waterfront Room at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in San Francisco on Saturday night. A total of 37 schools submitted 1,138 articles and advertisements for consideration. The CCMA competitions are judged by industry professional that volunteer.
Category: Best Color Advertisement Sal Polcino - Second Place Category: Best B&W Advertisement Sal Polcino - First Place Category: Best Magazine Website Jane Pojawa (The Insider) - Third Place Category: Best Feature Story Morgan Stephens - First Place Category: Best Magazine Column Sal Polcino (The Insider) - Third Place
Category: Best Magazine Story Brent Giannotta (The Insider) - Second Place Category: Best Headline Portfolio Melody Shahsavarani - Honorable Mention
Category: Best Photo Illustration Sal Polcino - Honorable Mention Category: Best Sports Story Steven Montoya - Honorable Mention
Category: Best Arts and Entertainment Story Category: Best Newspaper Inside Page/ Melody Shahsavarani - First Place Spread Design Melody Shahsavarani - Third Place Category: Best Magazine Photo Series Category: Best Front Page Design Sal Polcino (The Insider) - Third Place Sal Polcino - First Place
Adam Schiff Cautions Against Trump Ban [Schiff, from page 1] America.’” Schiff, who represents the 28th district and is the ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, has been a vocal defender of the Syrian refugee program. In 2015, after voting against the American SAFE Act, (a legislative proposal that requires extra vetting for Syrian and Iraqi refugees before entry into the United States), Schiff issued a statement that said, “There are persistent threats to the country from ISIS, Al Qaeda and homegrown extremists, but they do not come from women and children fleeing the violence in Syria.” The SAFE Act has since been passed by the House. During the town hall, he stated that the travel ban is “completely counterproductive” to the safety of the country, and is “an effort to exclude people on the basis of their faith.” The U.S. is the largest refugee resettlement country in the world. Since the Syrian civil war erupted in 2011, more than 11 million people have been displaced, unable to return to their country of origin for fear of persecution. The U.S. Syrian Refugee Program has been accepting refugees for reset-
tlement since October 2011 and 18,000 have been resettled in the United States since then. The executive order that suspended the U.S. Refugee Program for 120 days, also suspended the Syrian Refugee Program indefinitely. Schiff was joined by a panel made up of members of several public service and civil rights agencies whose goal is to help those directly affected by the recent executive orders. Panel member Hector Villagra, executive director of the ACLU of
Southern California, touched on the legal battles the nonprofit organization has faced in the wake of Trump’s travel ban. “We said, ‘If you enact a Muslim ban, we will see you in court,’” Villagra said. “We carried out our promise and we sued him.” Prior to the new order, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the government’s appeal of the travel ban will carry on as planned, with the first brief due to the appeals court March 10. The panel became increasing-
ly emotional as each member described horror stories people have endured since the travel ban. Villagra went on to say that even in these troubling times the enthusiasm of those protesting against the travel ban and the suspension of the refugee program have been inspiring. “I’ve never seen anything quite like it.”
Alex LaFosta can be reached at AlexLaFosta@gmail.com
There’s Lots of Parking (If you know where to look)
By Nicole House
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he early bird gets the parking spot. Superintendent/ President Dr. David Viar has advice for students who drive to campus daily. “We need to spread the word about where parking is available,” Viar said. Many students have the notion that there are only two parking structures available, but that’s simply not true. In fact, there are park-
ing spots normally available on Verdugo and Mountain located south of the church. “Make sure you plan ahead, and come early enough to find appropriate parking,” Viar said. You may have to walk a little further, but there is plenty of parking for those who drive here.
more spots. 2. Try to arrive to school around 30 minutes before your class. 3. Consider all parking lots around GCC, a little walking can’t hurt. 4. Read all appropriate signs before parking.
Some Tips For Student Parking: 1. Carpooling to school can help save time and allow for
Nicole House can be reached at nhouse707@student.glendale.edu
Sierra Vista Waits Another Year [Sierra, from page 1]
that they are doing it the way that they should.” Toby B. Hayward Inc., the newly appointed construction company, is finishing the remaining work. The current completion status is still set at 75 percent. “We are getting back to where we should be on,” Viar said. The Sierra Vista building has been under construction for than four years now, and it only now is on track to being completed, said Viar. The contractor is currently in the process of making sure that the building is in full compliance with the Division of State Architect standards and Silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) status. LEED has guidelines for new buildings to have a sustainable approach on energy efficiency. Sierra Vista has a silver status since it includes the use of reclaimed water as well as ground-source heating and cooling. Mark Nassim can be reached at mnassim707@student.glendale.edu Elena Jacobsoncan be reached at laneyjacobson520@gmail.com
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NEWS
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Board of Trustees Holds Candidates Forum By Mark Nassim
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andidates for the GCC Board of Trustees discussed financial issues, their experience, and education during the Trump Administration, during a forum in Kreider Hall. Three candidates are competitng in District 4 and two are running unopposed. One candidate vying to represent District 4 is Yvette Davis, treasurer of the Glendale Educational Foundation and former president of the Glendale Rotary Club. The second candidate, Victor Garcia, is a 21-year-old student finishing up his studies at University of California Santa Barbara and believes his young age will help bridge the gap between student issues and administering the school. Third candidate, Rondi Werner, a construction contract administrator, believes her expertise will be valuable to the board when reviewing newly granted Measure GC bond projects. In one uncontested race, Ann H. Ransford, the Board of Trustees clerk, was first elected in 2009 for District 2 and is concerned with advocacy issues in Sacramento and making sure the college gets its fair share of funding. In the other uncontested race, Armine Hacopian, the Board of Trustees vice president, was brought on in 2001 for District 3. Hacopian believes her experience and leadership can help with her
priority of improving safety and security of the campus. Here are the issues discussed at the candidates forum: Experience Garcia said he will bring the energy and passion that he thinks the board needs to start pushing for real change. If elected, he is young enough to not have many other commitments in his life, using that to dedicate his time to the board. Garcia also acknowledged his lack of experience compared to his fellow candidates. “I do plan to ask questions if there are any gaps in my knowledge,” Garcia said. “[The current board members] have the institutional knowledge to aid me in any step of the way.” Davis said she has the unique experience being a former Glendale College student, an administrator in higher education as well as being a lecturer in universities. For Rondi, she finds herself volunteering for many education related services to try to fill a gap in her life but it isn’t enough. “I really think that it will be an amazing opportunity to be able to serve on the board of directors and to give back to the community college that was there for me,” Werner said. Enrollment The current college enrollment is the lowest since 2012, as a result could affect funding and class offerings. As a former head of the business office of a vocational school, Davis shared her experience there that adding
THE CANDIDATES: Yvette Davis, Victor Garcia and Rondi Werner are vying for a spot on the GCC Board of Trustees. They participated in a candidate forum on Feb. 28 for the upcoming April 4 election.
online classes caused a significant increase in enrollment. “I think I can be that great voice for the district that has been overlooked and has not had much attention paid to it,” Davis said. She wants to do the same to the college as well as increasing some of the vocational programs. “We are about to hire a communications and community relations person, which is a position we haven’t had for a long time,” Ransford said after Werner proposed adding a more comprehensive marketing aspect. With a new communications director coming in, Garcia mentioned a plan that would build a team of students around the new director; so they could create a campaign that shows the true colors of the school and combating the negative perception it has. “What better way to show it from the perspective of the
Campus Police Offer Safety Services By Nareg Atteukenian
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fter a stabbing in the medical lot near the Garfield campus, the Glendale Community College Police are looking out for students and cautioning them to stay safe. Several ways that students can be kept safe on campus are through the use of police officers, call boxes, often checking student school emails and a text notification system called Nixle. “We employ sworn police officers,” said Glendale College Police Chief Gary Montecuollo. “They are just as duly authorized as Glendale, Burbank, or Pasadena police departments. They have the authority to investigate criminal activity, make consent stops, and make vehicle stops.” Campus police are looking out for students to keep them notified of any incidents that occur on or near campus. Police officers on campus play a huge role in the safety and protection of the students
and faculty. Campus police also offer services for students to safely get from their vehicles to their classes. “We offer an escort service to students if they feel uncomfortable walking to and from their car. We
provide a cadet to walk with them. That’s something we do without question, without complaint,” said Montecuollo. One way for students and faculty to contact campus police are the blue call boxes. There are 28 combined call box locations between the Glendale
and Garfield campuses. Using the call boxes is as simple as pressing the button and being connected to the police emergency line. These are for emergencies only. The use of emails helps notify students of a closed parking structure or an accident near the school campus. Another way that the campus police keeps the school informed is by using the text notification system Nixle. “Through your cell phone you can sign up for Nixle. Nixle is our emergency alert notification system,” said Montecuollo. Nixle helps to inform students of all campus-related threats or emergencies, if there were to be one. Students can sign up for Nixle by texting “GO GCCALERT” to 888777. Students can also visit glendale. edu/police to view updates and information about what’s going on campus; also the campus police are located next to the bookstore. Nareg Atteukenian can be reached at natteuk376@student.glendale.edu
students that chose this school over any other school,” Garcia said. “And what better way to convince students to come here.” The idea of expanding for students to earn bachelor’s degrees was brought up. “If we concern ourselves with what the Cal State system offers, we sort of expand ourselves so thin that we lose the focus,” Hacopian said. Sanctuary Campus On Feb. 21, guild membership approved a resolution for GCC becoming a sanctuary campus, a pledge of faculty support for undocumented students. The candidates discussed the importance of GCC becoming a sanctuary campus and how ensuring the protection of students is inherent to their success. “If the board states in a very clear language that they stand with their students in their time of need, that resonates with students,” Garcia said. “And that allows them to feel safe on this campus and be able to focus on their efforts as students.” Betsy DeVos Everyone on the panel was dissatisfied with the newly appointed Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, and her lack of experience and knowledge with public education, but genuinely want her to succeed. They want to educate her, prove by example, and if the education system is threatened then they will take their voices and fight. Werner is worried that President Trump’s administration policies may threaten the educational pursuits of undocumented students. “I believe every student in our educational system should be afforded the opportunity to achieve their personal and professional potential through education,” Werner said. “Students are already under enough pressure without having to fear deportation or arrest while pursuing their academic dreams.” Labor Besides professors, the classified staff are who the students interact with the most. They are the employees in the administration offices, the cafeteria line workers and everyone else who does not perform any instructional services. The candidates agreed
that they are an essential part of the school and the glue and representation of the college. The importance of having labor unions was discussed and the forum echoed that they need to stay in place for the college to run properly. “Unions provide members protection from unfair labor practices and provide a forum to express concerns with how the organization is being run, and to assess if their needs are being met,” Werner said. Budget In an event of a budget crisis, the candidates reverberated the importance of not cutting salaries of faculty. “I would try to avoid, as much as we can, cutting the benefits and the pay of our workers because the cost of living in Glendale has gone up dramatically in the past four years,” Garcia said. “If this keeps going, people are going to leave because they can no longer afford to live in the city of Glendale.” The quality of education for students would suffer if the pay of workers were reduced. “I think it would be a disservice to the students to have good professors and staff walk out the door because of lower pay,” Werner said. Werner added that she would engage all the stakeholders to work together to agree on what the necessities and the desirables are. “It is in our best interest to maintain the programs that we have and maintain the institutional knowledge that we have so that our students come back to us,” Garcia said. Davis stated that a better alternative to cutting pay would be talking and listening to people who know of any project or equipment that was going to waste. Ransford and Hacopian are adamant about taking their voices to Sacramento to get their fair share of Proposition 98, a California measure that guarantees funding that keeps pace with the growth of student population and personal income of residents.
Mark Nassim can be reached at mnassim707@student.glendale.edu
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By Nicholas Martinez
I
n a few short months, I will be embarking on an adventure of a lifetime. I will be in Malawi, in southeast Africa, teaching young adults English and immersing myself in a culture completely foreign to me. I will be eating foods that I have never even heard of, living in accommodations that I am not accustomed to, and learning aspects of myself that I never knew existed. I am experiencing an array of emotions, but mostly I am excited to learn, observe and be completely out of my comfort zone. Many people ask me why I decided to join the Peace Corps: Doesn’t the idea of living in a foreign land and community of strangers scare you? Of course it scares me, but that is the exact reason I am doing this. My feelings of being scared are trumped by the notion that I get to make even a slight difference in the community where I am placed. It is important for me to understand that I have a job to do — to inspire young people, but also to learn more from them in the process. Life is not truly lived unless you make bold choices and expand the zone of comfort that is holding you back. The Peace Corps not only tests your comfortability levels, but people seem to forget that this is a professional organization. While you are working hard to learn about your surroundings and be culturally sensitive, you are also gaining valuable professional skills that will help you greatly in your career. The Peace Corps trains you how to adapt to any situation and be attuned to the culture.
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Traveling has always been a dream of mine. Eating new foods, meeting people with different experiences, and seeing landscapes that do not exist in America were things I yearned for as a child. I have done some traveling in Europe and in South Africa, but being a tourist had its drawbacks. Do not get me wrong: The art, the culture, the food, and the architecture intrigued me to no end, but I felt like something was missing. I felt like an outsider. I was seeing countries on the surface instead of fully understanding what it meant to live there and immerse myself in the communities that were present. If you work hard enough, the Peace Corps gives you the opportunity to inte-
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
grate in your community. They require and encourage you to learn the local language, build relationships with community members, and even organize events that can help bring community members together. These events can range from HIV discussions, girl’s educational rights, consent, health, as well as dance and music. Community outreach builds lasting bonds with people, while engaging with issues that are present in the community. The Peace Corps is not something that should be a spontaneous decision or a decision without thought or research. It is an organization that prides itself on global awareness and cultural understanding. If you are truly thinking about taking on this
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two-year commitment, I encourage you to ask questions, get in contact with a recruiter, and most importantly do your research. Research the countries cultural norms, look up what food is available, Google pictures of the landscape, and see if you can find stories of previous volunteers. As Peace Corps staff like to say, “It is the hardest job you will ever love.” Tiwonana! Nicholas Martinez is a student at Glendale College studying journalism who received his bachelor’s degree in anthropology at University of California Santa Cruz. Nicholas Martinez can be reached at nmartin8548@studuent.glendale.edu
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FEATURES
David Bowie:
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Among the Mexican
Masters at Forest Lawn
By Elena Jacobson
T
STARMAN: Frida Kahlo Museum – Casa Azul courtyard, Coyoacán, Mexico, 1997.
he Forest Lawn museum in Glendale opened an eclectic photo exhibition of a tour through Mexico’s landmarks featuring pop icon David Bowie as the guide. On the trip to Mexico Bowie had photographer Fernando Aceves follow him as he visited artwork: several Diego Rivera murals, Teotihuacan and the Frida Kahlo Museum. The exhibit came out almost by accident. The new museum director and curator, Ana Pescado, found Aceves at the Mexican consulate showing a small portion of his work before she even
Photos by Fernando Aceves, 2007 out Mexico Bowie was viewing temples and paying homage to places rich with culture. “It’s interesting that having so many international issues between countries, with art and culture you can understand it. There are no boundaries, walls don’t exist,” Pescado said. “That’s the essence of this exhibition.” The exhibit has been well received. At the entrance there is a guest book, for visitors. It was filled with so many words of appreciation for not only the museum staff but also heartfelt goodbyes to the never forgotten legend. His fans left notes addressed to him as if
Central dome: Palace of Fine Arts, Mexico City, 1997.
IMMERSED IN STUDY: Diego Rivera’s mural Man Controller of the Universe, Palace of Fine Arts, Mexico City, 1997.
worked at Forest Lawn. After she joined the staff at Forest Lawn, the exhibit was born, showing the never before seen photos. Unusual for the flamboyant superstar, the photos are natural and real; Bowie’s photos were not meant to be published, but rather just to document a vacation. “It enhanced my view of David Bowie because it gave me a candid view into his personality,” Ernest Jacobson, an attendee at the museum, said. Creating a glimpse into his everyday life, the photographer put Bowie in relaxed poses letting him blend with the surrounding murals and art. Through-
there were writing him directly. The museum is located at 1712 S Glendale Ave, Glendale, CA 91205 and is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The exhibit is running until June 15 and is free to attend. Bowie, the renowned flamboyant pop icon who had such hits as “Space Oddity” and “Starman,” died on Jan. 10, 2016. The seven-time Grammy winner not only left a legacy in the world of music, but also film from “Labyrinth” to “The Man Who Fell to Earth.”
Elena Jacobson can be reached at laneyjacobson520@gmail.com
Greeting Tonatiuh : (Aztec God of the Sun) 2, Pyramid of the Sun, Teotihuacan, State of Mexico, 1997.
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FEATURES
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
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Engineering Students Host Maker Faire By Carolina Diaz
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he Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) held its second-annual Maker Faire on Feb. 25, next to the Aviation/Art building. Volunteers handed out bags with information about career and technology programs at Glendale College. During the event the members of SHPE talked to attendees, explaining the layout of the club. SHPE Vice President Diego Barreto has been part of SHPE since last year and mentioned the club has helped build resumes. The organization goes to conferences, attends workshops, career fairs and also helps students with their networking skills. One of SHPE goals is to empower Hispanics in a field where they can be seen as the minority. “SHPE members see each other as a ‘familia’ and that they always motivate each other,” Barreto said. Presentations were held in the auditorium. Xavier Hernandez, owner of a branding company called The Company, said he started his own business, even though he struggled during his classes. The idea behind it was combining branding strategy and hip-hop to create a unique version of themselves. Michael Cox, a data scientist, spoke about his education background. He started working at Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) a year and a half ago, and is currently working with ROV-E, a new Mars outreach rover. Cox said while working with ROV-E,
Photo by Carolina Diaz
ROBOTS: The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) put an inflatable replica of the Mars rover on display at the Aviation/Art building. The club led its second annual Maker Faire on Feb. 25 showcasing student works and workshops.
he programmed Amazon Echo to the robot’s system, which gives it the ability to answer any questions and also gives out facts and daily updates about Mars. During the panel ROV-E had a malfunction and Cox was not able to show how its programmed or how Amazon Echo functioned on the rover. Matt Stumbo, a systems engineer at JPL, joined the team three years ago. His story started from attending Cuesta College to transferring to Cal Polytechnic
State University. Stumbo was part of a team in 2015 of rising professionals, and had only been in JPL in three years or less, that had learned on building a Mars rover from scratch. Fernando Santana Ponce, President of SHPE, led the crowd to workshops in the library, Advance Technology building and the planetarium. There was also an exhibition in the Aviation/ Art Annex building where 2D house models, 3D printers and many different types and sizes of
Photo by Carolina Diaz
BUMPY ROAD: The Jet Propulsion Laboratory presents how the ROV-E functions through a bumpy terrain with student volunteers.
robots were showcased. Delmi Martinez, vice president of SHPE, wants to get women and minorities interested in engineering. One of their goals in SHPE is to expand their organization not only to other colleges, but also high schools “I want to get involved in engineering and invent things that are more eco-friendly,” said Martinez. Martinez and Barreto said they held a workshop in John H. Francis Polytechnic High
School in Sun Valley. The club is currently trying to establish more programs for students in high school and middle school. SHPE not only helps you build a career in engineering, but also empower students and motivate. Their plans for the future is to establish a junior engineering chapter in high schools to motivate students.
Carolina Diaz can be reached at itscarodiaz@gmail.com
Photo Carolina Diaz
SUCCESS: (From left to right) Co-Vice President Delmi Martinez, President Fernando Santana Ponce and Co-Vice President Diego Barreto.
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Wednesday, March 8, 2017
The Arts
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Music Under the Stars in the Planetarium
Photo courtesy of Kadima Quartet OUT OF THIS WORLD: Kadima Quartet members Eric KM Clark and Brian Benning, violins, Lynn Angebranndt, cello and Beth Elliott, viola will perform at the planetarium this spring.
By Nareg Atteukenian
I
n the Glendale Community College Concert Series, the Kadima String Quartet will perform in another collaboration with the planetarium this month. The production includes the four musicians: Eric KM Clark and Brian Benning playing the violins, Beth Elliott playing the viola, and Lynn Angebranndt playing the cello. Kadima has its own conservatory and offers private and public classes to those interested in learning. Kadima and the planetarium have collaborated before, and have been known to impress both the audience and the staff with the music and stars illumnating on the ceiling.
“They have requested what we show,” said Jennifer Krestow the planetarium director. “If there’s a faster piece we tend to do things more quickly, if they have a slower piece we tend to cruise and check out the galaxy.” The quartet performs a diverse range of music ranging from classical to rock. They have also performed at many notable venues such as Music in the Mansion, the Gateway Performance Series and the Culver City Chamber Series. The Kadima String Quartet will collaborate with the planetarium at 7 p.m. on March 17. The concert is one night only and reservations can be made at brownpapertickets.com. Nareg Atteukenian can be reached at natteuk376@student.glendale.edu
New Semester, New Faces, Good Times
Photos by Elena Jacobson SPRING IS HERE: Cameron Takahashi (top left) plays the piano in the San Rafael Plaza. (Bottom left) Students stroll past the booths in Plaza Vaquero. (Upper right) Students enjoy tacos in the San Rafael Plaza. The taco sale was raising money for scholarships.
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Wednesday, March 8, 2017
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S P O R TS Men’s Golf Men’s Tennis Women’s Tennis Track& Field March 13 @Citrus 11 a.m.
March 9 @ Bakersfield 2 p.m.
March 9
@ Bakersfield 2 p.m.
March 10 @ Occidental 1 p.m.
Baseball March 9
vs Citrus 2 p.m.
Softball March 9
vs Antelope Valley 2:30 p.m.
Vaqs on a Roll Heading into Conference Play By Johnny Ruiz
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resh into the season the Glendale baseball team is off to an excellent start as it prepares for conference play. “We should be the top of our conference,” said pitcher Marco Quintanar. “The way we’re playing right now and the way the team is coming along I think we should do pretty well coming into conference” Going into the first conference game against Citrus on March 9, the Vaqs won four straight after a victory Saturday against Moorpark. The high expectations of last year’s 28-10 record and winning the conference has the team primed for back-to-back repeats as champs. The Vaqs jumped out to an early lead against Moorpark, scoring five runs in the first a n d never
looked back. They continued their scoring ways by putting up even more runs in the second, third, and fourth innings. To put the icing on the cake the team scored four more runs in the eight. Scoring 14 runs by way of 13 hits was a sure sign of offense being alive in the game. Glendale began the w i n ning streak
on Feb. 27, with a 3-2 victory over Oxnard, which the Vaqs faced again on March 2. In the second game, Glendale had a slow start going down one two three in the first and second innings. They were able to start a two out rally in the third. The pressure by the Vaqs was unbearable because the Condors made pricey infield errors in the third allowing runners to score. The Condors allowed another run to score by walking a man with the bases loaded. The Condors wereits own enemy. But the opponent wasn’t going to give up that easily. They managed to score a couple of runs in the bottom of the fourth. Then in the bott o m o f the
fifth, t h e o p ponents tied the game on a RBI groundout to the shortstop. The comeback was complete. Rattled but unstirred, the Vaqs responded with runs of their own in the sixth and seventh making their lead three runs once again. It was just too much to handle for Oxnard as it was unable to score any more runs for the rest of the game. The final score: Condors 3, Vaqueros 6. Against Bakersfield on March 1, the Vaqueros drew first blood, en route to a 3-2 victory, by scoring a run in the first. But the Ren-
Photos by Ken Allard
HE’S SAFE: Outfielder Christian Montes slides safely into second on an RBI double in the first inning of the March 1 game against Bakersfield at Stengel Field.
egades battled back and tied the game in the sixth inning. Glendale was able to extend its lead in the sixth by scoring two more runs, but Bakersfield managed to produce one more run in the eighth to make it all come down to one pitch. With runners on first and second and two outs, relief pitcher James Giambalvo faced his toughest challenge. He would either load the bases which would make things that much more stressful or we could all go home with the Vaqs getting the W. Giambalvo launched a strike and the game ended in dramatic fashion. He did a remarkable job closing the game, but he was not alone. Starting pitcher Quintanar was impressive throughout the
game. Oxnard made decent hits off Quintanar, and they had opportunities to do some real damage. But the runners would be left stranded because Quintanar would immediately retire the upcoming batters and work himself out of the jam. To handle that much pressure and have trust in your teammates to make a play wasn’t an easy feat. “I had to keep my composure I had to make sure I was breathing properly, especially when I had bases loaded and one out,” Quintanar said. “I stepped off the mound found a focal point way out in the mountains and I kept my composure. I had to breathe. Breathing is key.” Head Coach Chris Cicuto
shared after the game that success early in the season is key to setting the tempo for the rest of the year. Cicuto emphasized that the expectations for the remainder of the season is to instill academic success. He continued to point to success in the classroom as being the biggest focus as a unit. “Our process is just basically trying to win one pitch one inning one game at a time,” Cicuto said. “Every play is worth doing and making sure you apply maximum effort at all times. Making sure you’re battling it out and not just that but winning in the process.” . Johnny Ruiz can be reached at jruiz106@student.glendale.edu
WILD THING: Infielder Troy Viola scores on a wild pitch by Bakersfield in the bottom of the sixth inning at Stengel Field on March 1. The Vaqueros went on to win 3-2.
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Wednesday, March 8, 2017
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SPORTS
Softball Team Hopes to Snap Cold Spell By Ricardo Nuño
T
he Lady Vaqs are off to a slow start and coach Sal Pizzo blames recent heavy storms. “This may sound like an excuse but the weather has been crazy,” Pizzo said. “We’ve had so many games postponed that we’ve had trouble getting the continuity and the rhythm of the season and I feel like that’s hurt us a lot in terms of offense.” The women’s softball team is now 2-6 after splitting a doubleheader at Taft College on Saturday. Glendale’s rocky start was exemplified during their third straight loss against Pasadena City College 6-3 on March 1. The Lady Vaqs started off well with two hits in the bottom of the first, but could not put a run on the board. Followed by hitless innings and great pitching for the first two and a half innings for both sides, it would be the Pasadena Lancers that would strike first with four hits and a run in the bottom of the third inning. It wasn’t until the top of the fifth inning that Pasadena was able to rip the game wide open with five runs on
Photo by Ken Allard
BASES LOADED: Pitcher Jordan Lousararian winds up against Pasadena City College with the bases loaded at the Glendale Sports Complex on March 1.
five hits gaining a 5-0 lead over Glendale. Despite cutting the lead in half in the bottom of the sixth inning courtesy of a deep threerun homer by shortstop / third base Mabel Calderon, the Vaqs still fell short. The Lady Vaqs struggled to get clutch hitting during the
game and failed to drive in key runs leading to the loss. Along with the bad weather, Pizzo cited a lack of experience, with most of the women being freshmen and only two sophomores. “More problems than anything is just the youth,” he said. “Right now they’re
still playing like freshmen. They don’t have enough games under their belt and they’re pressing. When you start to struggle offensively everybody puts pressure on themselves and then it kind of just snowballs.” Pizzo added: “Obviously looking at our record we
would like to have a better record.” Last season’s standing was less than impressive with seven wins 31 losses an improvement is yet to be seen. Ricardo Nuño can be reached at rickynuno818@gmail.com
Women’s Tennis Team Off to Strong Start
Photos by Ken Allard
VAQ ATTACK: Lady Vaq Tsukimi Ono (above) lobs one across the net at home on Thursday in a match against Ventura. Melody Emmanouilidi (right) goes high. The Lady Vaqs beat 7-2 and start the season second in their division with a 6-2 record.
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Wednesday, March 8, 2017
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SPOTLIGHT on campus EVENTS
MUSIC
Feminist Film Festival — GCC will be holding a Feminist Film Festival from 6 to 9 p.m. “Reproductive Rights” will be held today in LB 210. “Women of Color” will be held tomorrow in LB 221. For more information about Womens’ History Month visit the facebook page at GCC Feminist Sociey.
Piano Classes --- Take piano classes at GCC offered by Dr. Arakelyan. For beginners: Music 160 Piano 1 class number 3167. For intermediate: Music 103 Keyboard Harmony I class number 4027. For advanced: Music 113 Keyboard Harmony II class number 4030.
Self Publish - Self-publish your writing, art and photography in GCC’s Magazine Into Dust. Short stories, poetry, prose, and essays are all accepted, along with various forms of art and photography. This also looks great on college apps and resumes. Submit your work at artsandwriting@gmail. com.
String Quartet --Kadima String Quartet will perform yet another collaboration with the Planetarium. The quartet performs a diverse range of music ranging from classical music to rock. Kadima has its own conservatory and offers private adn public classes to those interested in learining. The Kadima String
Quartet will collaborate with the planetarium at 7 p.m. on March 17. The performance is one night only and reservations can be taken at brownpapertickets.com.
ART GALLERY Leaving Home — “Future Without Borders: Arts and Ideas About Boundaries” in collobartion with GCC Cultural Diversity an art exhibition in the GCC Art Gallery through April 13. Gallery hours are from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Free admission. The gallery is located in the Library Building. For more information, see: www.glendale.edu/artgallery.
PLANETARIUM Qigong with Sam Flores —The planetarium will have a workshop called “Qigong with Sam Flores,”all about relaxing and breathing deeply to relieve stress. In CS257 from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. today.
MISCELLANEOUS The GCC Food Pantry — now open in SR 134. Hours are noon to 1:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Monday and Tuesday; and 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday. The Food Pantry is open to any currently enrolled GCC student who completes a short Food Pantry application. Donations are wel-
come. More info at www.glendale.edu/foodpantry.
MISCELLANEOUS Learning Center Workshop “Keys to College Success #1” runs from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. tomorrow in AD 232. Career Center Workshop --“Successful Interview Strategies” begins at 1 p.m. on Friday. Register online at MyGCC. Call ext. 5407 for more information. Important Dates --- March 10 is the last day to apply for Pass/No Pass for 16-week classes. March 11 is the last day to drop 6-week classes without a “W” notation.
Hungry?
The GCC Food Pantry can help. The Pantry provides a variety of food and hygiene products for students in need. Noon to 1:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday. Also open 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday.
Located in SR 134 around town MUSIC Glendale Concerts — The Glendale Youth Orchestra presents “Musique De France” from 7 to 10 p.m. on Sunday, March 12 at the Alex Theatre. It will be conducted by Brad Keimach and present multiple works including pieces from Faure - Pelias et Melisande, Saint-Saens, Ibert, Ravel and Bizet. The concert will be dedicated to the memory of GYO founder Joseph Lazara, who recently passed away. For details please visit http://www.alextheatre.org or call (818) 243-2539. Classical — Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Presents Parker Plays Brahms in honor of Women’s History Month. Enjoy the ‘honey-colored voice’ (Opera News) of Sasha Cooke and a world premiere by rising composer Julia Adolphe, whose
style is ‘a neat fusion of shimmering textures and cataclysmic climaxes’ (Financial Times). Canadian Jon Kimura Parker also brings his ‘trademark liquid tone, gorgeous voicing and dazzling showmanship’ (Winnipeg Free Press) to the romantic Brahms concerto. The event will begin at 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 18 at the Alex Theatre.
Brand Associates — Music Series presents “Fiato Quartet” at the Brand Library and Art Center from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 11. Admission is free. For more information visit http:// www.associatesofbrand.org/ or call (818) 548-2051.
List your event on
EVENTS
ART
Open Mic — Pierre Garden Restaurant will be holding an open mic night at 7 p.m. tomorrow and at midnight on Friday, March 10. It is a relatively new Open Mic on the circuit, but has received a wonderful and eclectic group of musicians, singers, comedians & writers. Every Thursday performers show up and share their talents and artistry together. They connect, mingle, eat & drink and support each other in the name of appreciating the arts. Sign-ups are at 7 p.m. and the first performance begins at 8 p.m. Admission is free. For more information visit www. pierregarden.com or call (818) 551-5455.
Art — PopUp Gallery and PayForArt.com Launch with Music by Aaron Trip. Celebrate the launch of the new art buying platform with a popup gallery featuring great local artists and live music by LA’s Aaron Tripp Barrier. Be one of the first 100 people to RSVP and receive a free drink ticket. PayForArt.com is a platform that helps you buy art from artists in coffee shops and other places, and makes selling art more convenient and less of a hassle. The event takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. this Sunday at Brewyard Beer Company. For details call (818) 409-9448. Closing Day Events and Workshops will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Sunday at the
MISCELLANEOUS Brand Library and Art Center It will be in conjunction with the exhibition “The Collectivists” and will be led by artists Mary Anna Pomonis and Allison Stewart. The three concurrent workshops will include feminist collage making, photo booth project and a workshop led by Rachel Finkelstein. Admission is free. For more information call (818) 548 - 2051. Ballet — The Los Angeles Ballet Presents “Balanchine: Master of the Dance.” George Balanchine captures Mozart in the crystalline Divertimento No. 15. Ticket prices range from $31 to $99 and can be purchased from any box office location including the Mainstage Theatre at GCC. The ballet runs from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. this Saturday at the Alex Theatre. Compiled by Alice Ganian
spotlight • •
Email us the details at Elvaqed@gmail.com. We’ll reply ASAP. Call us at (818) 240-1000, ext. 5349. Deadline for March 22 is March 15.
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Wednesday, March 8, 2017
LIFESTYLE
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Students Bounce Back With Fun and Games
HUMAN PINS: Students enjoy a life-size game of foosball at Plaza Vaquero on March 2.
FREE FOOD!: Sintia Babakhani prepares the snacks offered with the free meal at the Welcome Back event.
Photos by Carolina Diaz
HOOPS ON THE QUAD: An inflatable basketball court was a hit during lunch hour at the student body’s bi-annual event.
By Carolina Diaz
T
he Associated Students of Glendale Community College (ASGCC) held its bi-annual “Welcome Back” event March 2 at Plaza Vaquero. This semester’s carnival theme was sports. Members of ASGCC served free plates of hot wings, vegetables, chips, popcorn and drinks. The inflatable basketball and foosball courts attracted a crowd. Students competed against each other to see who can score the farthest basket, while others participated in a foosball match. Along with games and food, music blasted from the speakers, influencing a dance battle among the students. One of the dance battles was between senator of organizations, Au-
reen Aghajanian, and visitor Neil Nativida. Booths from different clubs encouraged students to join in extracurricular activities and also an information booth gave tips on applying for scholarships throughout the year. “The welcome back event has happened before and the purpose of it is to get students excited for the semester and show them that they can get involved with the school as well,” said senator of activities Keran Oroudjian.
Carolina Diaz can be reached at itscarodiaz@gmail.com