cmyk
cmyk
Citrus College
Clarion A First Amendment Newspaper
April 22, 2009, Volume LXII, Issue 13 www.theclariononline.com
Reinvestment act stimulizes financial aid
Event promotes child abuse prevention
By Emily Rios Clarion Co-Editor In Chief
Citrus College Foster Care Program and Child Development Center help spread child abuse awareness.
W
By Andrew Vasquez Clarion Photo Editor ith the goal of bringing child abuse awareness and prevention to the citizens of Glendora, the Citrus College Child Development Center and the Citrus College Foster Care program are promoting their 3rd annual Blue Ribbon event today in the Handy Campus Center Mall. The CDC and the Citrus College Foster Care program will be handing out pamphlets about the child abuse prevention and foster care education services provided by the college as well as blue ribbons that they would like students and community members to wear during Blue Ribbon Day. April is the national Child Abuse Prevention month and, according to Child Development Center Director Dr. Mickie Allen the event at Citrus was started by classroom teachers in the CDC who wanted to bring child abuse to the public consciousness at a local level. “It can happen to anyone,” Allen said, regarding how stress can push parents to take
W
Andrew Vasquez Citrus College Clarion Assistant coach Terry Paradez and sophomore outfielder Tiffany Alvarez share an emotional moment as the eight sophomore players depart from the softball field after losing to Los Angeles Mission College 5-4 on Tuesday April 21. The game eliminated the Owls from advancing to the playoffs. SEE PAGE 13 out their frustration on their children. Allen attributed the tough economic times of country and the high unemployment rate as possible causes for some cases of abuse. Last year as many as 32 children died in Los Angeles County from abuse or neglect, including physical assault and malnourishment. “They are not bad people at all and they, especially young parents, are struggling with managing their stress,” she said. “When we are stressed, we tend to abuse our children
and our pets. Those parents who are struggling need support and help managing their emotions.” “One of the main things we do here at the CDC is listen when parents come in with those kinds of thoughts and see if we find any warning signs,” she continued. “We have support services such as contact numbers and resource books with stress relieving techniques for parents who come to us for help.” “Sometimes just saying it out loud and getting a hug
helps,” Allen said. Tina Pevehouse, program supervisor for the CDC, stressed the importance of bringing child abuse to the forefront of the community. “When the information about child abuse goes out to families and the overall community, that is how we prevent it from happening,” Pevehouse said. “Events like this create awareness. You never know when the information we give out could
See ABUSE/page 3
Auction raises issues about rights, taste By Dustin Call Clarion News Editor n event sponsored by the Sexploration Club in the Campus Center Mall on April 1 at midday has sparked complaints from several people on campus and concern from officials in the department of Student Affairs. The event was an approved activity titled “Lingerie Date Auction.” According to student activities supervisor Adrienne Thompson, the auction was intended to result in “a group date where they all go somewhere as a group. And you just hang with that person for that night. But it’s still a
A
group.” All of the money raised by the event was donated to White Knot, a non-profit organization that promotes gay marriage. Male and female members of the club who participated in the event are reported to have been wearing lingerie and moving in provocative ways. This drew complaints from passers-by and intervention from officials in Student Services. Thompson said that the club has done questionable things before. “We had tried to hold back a little bit, simply because you didn’t want to infringe on what may be some of their rights,” Thompson said. “But then once it crossed the line, you know, we had to go out there and put a stop to
Life Pg. 5 Sports Pg. 12 A&E Pg. 16 cmyk
it.” A meeting was held on April 8 between officials in Student Affairs and the entire club, along with Kim, to discuss concerns. The issue among those connected with the event is about rights and whether or not this event crossed the line of free expression or is simply a violation of good taste. Andrew Kim, Ph.D, a psychology professor, is the faculty adviser to the Sexploration Club. He said that his understanding was that the event was intended to be humorous in nature and that what the club members did was within their right to free expression.
ith the California’s unemployment rate currently at 11.2 percent, but in the midst of increased layoff and job shortages students will be aided with the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), which will increase the amount of financial aid available to students. There has been an increase students seeking financial aid, said Lilia Medina, Citrus College’s director of financial. “Many students/parents are returning to school due to unemployment,” she said The ARRA was signed into law by President Obama on Feb. 17 in an effort to revitalize the economy. According to the United States Department of Education, the main goal of the act is to stimulate the economy in the short term and invest in education and other essential public services to ensure long-term economic health. The passing of this act is beneficial to students because it allows for an increase in financial aid amounts awarded specifically for Pell Grants. “At the present time for 2008-09 currently 6,185 or 44 percent students are receiving some form of financial aid. The current year ends on June 30.” Medina said. For the 2007-08 year, 6,696 or 56 percent students received some form of financial aid. For the 2008-09 school year, 2,957 Citrus students received Pell Grants. Under the ARRA, California will receive an estimated $753.5 million for Pell grants. For students, this translates into a $500 increase for 2009-10 Pell Grants. The maximum amount a student could receive would be $5,350. “Having an increase in financial aid would make it easier to afford textbooks and supplies,” 18 year old liberal arts major Emily McMillen said. “One of my textbooks cost me over $100 and it was a useful book, but expensive to buy. In addition to the increase in Pell Grants, California will also receive and estimate $ 20.7 million for Work Study programs. For information regarding financial aid, students can contact the Financial Aid office at (626) 914-8592.
Emily Rios can be reached at See AUCTION/page 3 Rios_EmilyC@yahoo.com
Opinions Pg. 18 Editorials Pg. 19 cmyk
2
News
Citrus College Clarion
April 22, 2009
QUOTEof
the
WEEK
“ The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny. ”
—
Follow the Clarion on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CCClarion
James Madison
Letters to the Editor
And in other news...
LOCAL: Fatal shooting at a marijuana party in Glendora A young man died from gun shot wounds received at a marijuna party in Glendora on Monday. Ronson Edgerly, 20, of Glendora was shot several times following an argument at the party. The party was allegedly to celebrate the use of marijana and was
held at a house on the 300 block of Bennett Street in Glendora. Zachary Flanders, 19, of La Verne was arrested shortly after the the incident in connection with the shooting. Flanders is being held on $1 million bail and will be arraigned on
Thursday. Edgerly’s death is the first homocide in Glendora since 2007. Family members and friends have set up a makeshift memorial outside the home where Edgerly was shot. Adapted from SGV Tribune
STATE: LA fire victims will get millions more to rebuild McClatchey-Tribune Media Services/Dustin Call
We want YOU to write to us at
CCClarion@hotmail.com! Letters may be printed in the Clarion.
Campus
Wire
Spring Commencement If you plan to graduate in June 2009, you must make an appointment with a counselor or educational advisor to complete a graduation application. To schedule an appointment, stop by or call the Counseling and Advisement Center at (626) 914-8530. The deadline to have your name appear in the printed commencement program is May 15, 2009. If you apply for graduation after the May 15 printing deadline, your name will not appear in the commencement program, but you can still participate in the ceremony. Phi Theta Kappa members Phi Theta Kappa students must meet
with advisor Carolyn Perry to fill out the necessary paperwork for membership. Call Carolyn Perry (626) 914-8088 to set up an appointment. PTK members who attend commencement join AGS members as they lead the processional, sit in the first rows, and are recognized during the ceremony. Check with Carolyn Perry for important deadlines.. Honors Program If you have finished or are finishing the Honors Program this fall, spring or summer, please make an appointment with Keleigh Lanphear (626) 914-8531 or Brian Waddington (262) 857-4039 to fill out an Honors completion form. Students who finish the Honors Program and participate in commencement will be recognized during the ceremony and honored by wearing special medallions.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Owners of mobile homes destroyed by a San Fernando Valley wildfire last year will receive millions of dollars in additional insurance money. California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner says Tuesday
that insurer AIG will provide as much as $125,000 more for each owner to rebuild. AIG insured 370 of the 485 homes destroyed when fire swept through the Oakridge Mobile Home Park in Sylmar last November.
State insurance regulators say they reached a deal with AIG to provide up to $46 million in additional money to ensure that all those policyholders would have the funds to rebuild.
NATIONAL: Miss California’s answer about marriage may have cost her Miss USA A Southern California college student who represented Caifornia in the Miss USA pageant on April 19 in Las Vegas may have been discrminated against for her answer to a question about gay marriage. Miss California, Carrie Pajean, 21, was expected by many to win the
competition. When openly gay judge Perez Hilton aksed her how she felt about gay marriage she answered that she believed that marriage should be between a man and a woman. Pajean ended up being the first runner-up to Miss North Carolina
Kristen Dalton. Pajean has said that she has no regrets of what she said. Hilton said Pajean lost because of that question and later called her a “dumb b****” on his blog. Adapted from Fox News, Daily Mail, Christian Examiner
INTERNATIONAL: Police: US father, 2 sons arrested in Mexico for allegedly kidnapping woman TIJUANA, Mexico (AP) — Police say they have arrested a U.S. man and his two sons for allegedly kidnapping the father's girlfriend. Police say the three men locked the woman — also a U.S. citizen — in a room in their apartment after a night of drinking in Ensenada, a town south
of Tijuana. The police report says the woman contacted police using a computer in the room. Police say they freed the woman before dawn Tuesday and arrested the three men on suspicion of kidnapping. The police report included their
names, but The Associated Press could not confirm their identities with the U.S. Embassy. The report did not say if the men and the woman lived in Mexico or were visiting.
Students Raise your test scores through hypnosis
$120.00
We want to know your inspirational Citrus story. Please take a moment and tell us about how your life has changed as a result of being at Citrus College. We plan to display a selection of stories, along with photos of the writers, on the walls of the Center For Innovation (and elsewhere on campus). We may also contact you if we would like to feature your story in our publications or events. So make us laugh, cry, or cheer — we know there are incredible stories out there!
Please go to www.citr uscollege.edu/mycitr usstor y to enter your inspir ational stories
Athletes Raise your performance level through hypnosis Call Charles Gustafson, M.A., MFT Certified hypnotherapist 626.966.2662 599 S. Barranca Ave., Suite 224 Covina, Ca 91723 www.cgmft.com
April 22, 2009
Life
Life Editor Frank Ram - Ram_Frank23@yahoo.com
Citrus College Clarion
5
Foster/Kinship Care Education Program celebrates 25 years of service Clarion Correspondent This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Foster/Kinship Care Education Program at Citrus College. The program was founded in 1984 with no funding, said Lillian Sass, program coordinator. “This was a real grass roots organization,” Sass said. “Now, it’s the second largest care giver training program for county colleges, the largest being the program at Gross Mont.” At first, unpaid volunteers were recruited to run the program, but the following year FKCEP received it’s first funding of $1,000. Now, the program covers the west end of San Bernardino County to the east end of the San Gabriel Valley, and provides training for foster caregivers to receive their license. To celebrate 25 years, FKCEP has set up a booth in the quad between the library and the student center. The booth will be open today, April 22. As part of abuse and neglect
The program was founded in 1984 with no funding, said Lillian Sass, program coordinator prevention awareness month, free books will be available, along with information of the available classes. All classes from FKCEP are free, though priority enrollment is for caregivers. “Everyone is welcome to attend the classes,” Sass said. The classes provided by FKCEP teach you how to deal with traumatized children and special needs children. “We teach more modern, appropriate forms of discipline and respect,” Sass said. “The old method is a slap across the head. This isn’t appropriate. The reason why is because if your angry and you hit them, then the message is to hit when you’re angry, and that hitting finds resolve.” She explained that children do what they see before following what they are told.
One way to help the program support child abuse prevention is through monetary donations, but another way to get involved is by researching the CASA program and becoming a courtappointed special advocate. An advocate learns about a child’s case and suggests programs or goals based on the child’s needs. “We really need the help here,” Sass said. “You can be a volunteer voice to help a child. You just have to go through the training.” Training is free. “A lot of people are afraid of foster kids. These kids are just aching for a home, and for trust and hope again,” Sass said. “These kids aren’t damaged, but there is healing that needs to happen. There are so many success stories. Share your heart with a child. It is one of the greatest things you can ever do.” The FCKEP at Citrus is part of YESS-LA, which stands for Youth Empowerment Strategies for Success, and YESS-LA also has branches in Long Beach and Pasadena, and at a few other community colleges. Stefanie Lopez, outreach advocate for YESS-LA has six
“
you can be a volunteer voice to help a child. You just have to go through the training.
“
By Manny Rosas
Lillian Sass Foster/Kinship Care Education years of experience in this field of work, and is an alumni of Los Angeles county’s Independent Living Program (ILP), which YESS-LA is under. “I was a foster care child and I went through ILP. Before that I thought that I was alone, but ILP taught me about grants and resources available for foster care and probation kids, as well as how to set and achieve my goals.” As for working with foster children as an adult, Lopez absolutely loves it. “It feels amazing to see them realize they have so much potential, and seeing that they can
have goals,” Lopez said. “It’s the most incredible thing when they share their life with you. They invite you into their life and it’s amazing because they don’t have to. They love to tell you about how they made cheer teams or football teams.” Lopez especially appreciates sharing life moments with them. “A couple of day’s ago one of my girls went into labor, and after she had the baby she text messaged me a picture of her and her little girl. She looked so proud and it made me feel so amazing to be a part of her life and know that she wanted to share that with me.” For more information on how to become involved with the Foster/Kinship Care Education Program at Citrus, e-mail fkce@citruscollege.edu or visit citruscollege.edu/cdc and click on the Foster/Kinship Care Education link.
Manny Rosas can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
April 22, 2009
Life
Citrus College Clarion
7
Dancing queen becomes beauty queen with a cause By Andrew Vasquez Clarion Correspondent From the time when most of us can only remember Sesame Street and preschool, Christina Duke, recently crowned Miss Covina 2009, remembers learning to dance. Since then it has become the focus of much of her life. “I have been dancing since I was three,” Duke said. “Ballet, modern, jazz—you name it and I’ve done it. Although those are my favorite.” A resident of Covina, Duke graduated from Rancho Cucamonga High School in 2005 and will graduate from Azusa Pacific University next month with a bachelors of arts in cinema and broadcast arts. She works at Millie’s Dancewear in downtown Covina and is interning at American Broadcasting Company studio in Burbank. She keeps her dancing skills sharp by being a part of the dance department at Citrus College she will perform in the upcoming Spring Dance Concert set for May 15 and 16 “Dancing is my pride and joy,” she said. “It is what I was meant to do, I love everything about it.” What’s the secret to her success? “I definitely try my best to play the character when I perform,” she said. “If it’s a fun piece, then I go out and have a blast. If it’s an emotional one, I have to take on those emotions
as best I can.” “Citrus College has a great program because it offers a lot for people who probably could not afford a big dance studio,” she said. “The faculty is really supportive and just great overall.” It was Duke’s love for dancing that inspired her to make Miss Covina pageant platform “Keeping the Arts in Inner City Schools.” “Beyond dance I have also been in musicals, community theatre, four choirs while at APU and was in band for five years playing clarinet,” she said. “The arts are important because studies have shown that children who are involved in the arts do well in everything else.” “If I could establish a volunteer program to teach children the arts for free and educate politicians and others who handle where the money in the city is spent, that would be my ideal goal,” she said. Duke has already hit the ground running by becoming a member of the California Art Advocates and she plans to attend the next Cultural Arts Advisory Commission for the city of Covina. The CAA, according to their Web site www.californiaartadvocates.org, is a nonprofit organization founded in 1997 with the goal of bringing together individuals and organizations that believe in the importance and vitality of the arts in California. It aims to support public investment in
the arts and legislation that benefits arts and culture programs that serve California. She will also be leading a dance day camp with her church, Grace Hills, for children in the city of Aliso Viejo this summer. “My goal is to leave an impression. I don’t want to be just another pretty face that doesn’t show my face beyond ribbon cutting ceremonies,” Duke said. To other women who are considering being in a beauty pageant, Duke encourages them to take the plunge and see what happens. “This was my first pageant. My boss at Millie’s knows the coordinator and suggested it to me,” she said. “I thought ‘why not?’ and was just going to enjoy it and do my best.” Duke said she found quickly that brains matter just as much as beauty in the Miss Covina pageant. “They ask you everything from world politics to popular culture, to even local politics and issues,” she said. “I am actually so mad at myself for not knowing that it was the Covina elections the week before the pageant, and I live there!” she laughed. “Anyone who even fantasizes about competing, they should go for it. It’s a great opportunity,” she continued. “But if they win they should give back and try and stand for something.”
ww.dameroncommunications.blogspot.com Looking to the future, Duke plans to find a broadcasting job anywhere she can further her career. “After the Miss Covina duties are done it is my main goal to make it as a broadcast journalist,” she said. “I don’t care if it takes me to a Podunk
town in the middle of nowhere, I’ll take a job anywhere. But I plan to be back someday, and hopefully work for ABC.”
Andrew Vasquez can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
April 22, 2009
Life
Citrus College Clarion
9
Student activism goes digital Website offers online community for activism, positive social change. By Sandra Lopez Clarion Staff Writer
T
he economy is in crisis. Our country is waging two wars. What can students do to make a difference? Check out the possibilities at Change.org. Ben Rattray is the founder and CEO of Change.org, a social network aimed at those whose goal is positive engagement in today’s world. Change.org has been growing ever since he launched the website in 2007. Rattray conceived the idea for Change.org when he was a senior at Stanford University. He and eight friends in his dormitory started talking about social issues, but they also realized that they were not doing anything to solve those problems. After graduation, Rattray became a consultant in Washington, D.C., writing federal grants for nonprofit organizations. With this newly acquired knowledge, he started to use technology to address social issues.
Change.org is a great website to express concerns and connect with other like-minded people. Once a visitor logs on to Change.org, he or she is able to add nonprofit organizations as well as friends with similar interests. There are links to a myriad of causes ranging from animal rights to human rights, and from global warming to much more. Change.org features online videos promoting diverse causes. Videos include personal stories of struggle to underground investigations on survivors of abuse. Visitors can sign various pledges online and add comments on the issues. Activists can also post information. For example, the animal rights link includes statistics on how many animals are slaughtered for food, used for experiments, and how the environment may be affected as a result. Another link features the Darfur genocide, which has been affecting millions of people since 2003. This link contains stories as well as blogs relating to other genocides. Videos show documentaries on women and men who have escaped Darfur with tragic memories. Nonprofit organizations can offer ways to actively oppose the Darfur genocide. Immigration is another topic of interest at the Change.org website. When linking to this cause, viewers can click on the top 10 ways to make a difference,
Change.org Ben Rattray, founder and CEO of Change.org. information on the DREAM Act, and the history of immigration in the United States. Gay rights organizations have also been making an impact. One of the hot topics of concern is Prop. 8, a California ballot proposition that passed in the 2008 elections, eliminating same-sex couples’ right to marry. Visitors to the site can access a petition calling for the repeal of Prop. 8 as well as access information on various marches and vigils in support of gay marriage. A special section features
names of big companies in support of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered communities. Although Change.org might sound liberal, most of the issues and featured communities have little to do with political affiliation. Issues such as cancer research, addressing the genocide in Darfur, and improving public school systems are important to countless people regardless of their political party. Change.org also encourages people to sign up and create their own communities about whatever issues they personally care about. Change.org helps concerned citizens build a strong network and fight for worthy causes. Many donor and volunteer opportunities are listed as well. Links are available to relevant articles in case the visitor wishes to investigate further. In this digital world, ordinary people are now able to participate in organizations, post suggestions and ideas, and engage in networking with fellow activists. Change has never been more possible.
Sandra Lopez can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
cmyk
10
Life
Celebrate
D.K. Heller Citrus College Clarion Young composters Ruben Hernandez, Patty Hess, Evelyn Velasquez, Theresa Martinez and Melissa Nava rotate the composting bin at the Child Development Center.
Composting kids lead the way By D.K. Heller Clarion Staff Writer What has 60 hands, boundless energy and saves the world? No, it is not a gargantuan superhero monster from a Stan Lee comic. It is 30 children participating daily in a composting program at Citrus College’s early care and education services center. Under the supervision of teacher Diane Brown of The Child Development Center, the children trash their organic scraps from snacks and lunches into black buckets in their classrooms. The contents of those black buckets are then transferred to the kid-sized composting bin located next to the CDC’s garden. Kim Holland, PhD., director of Workforce Development at Citrus College, first proposed the composting idea to the CDC supervisor Tena Pevehouse, who presented it to Brown. Holland provided the black buckcmyk
ets and composting bin so the project could begin. “Children are fascinated by bugs, so we capitalized upon that fascination,” Brown said. She makes composting a learning experience for the children, teaching them how wet paper, food scraps, dead leaves and worms can make a rich fertilizer for gardens and house plants. Five children Ruben Hernandez, Patty Hess, Evelyn Velasquez, Theresa Martinez and Melissa Nava, shyly nodded in assent as Brown prompted them with questions about bugs, worms and the general in’s and out’s of composting. “We started by throwing our food scraps into the composting bin,” Brown said. “When we opened the composting bin, lots of flies flew out.” The children’s faces cringed with the recollection. Algie Au, who provides composting support out of Holland’s office, explained that the children needed
amazon.com to add leaves to their mixture. One lesson the children learned was that you should not throw meat, cheese or other milk products into the composting bin. You can compost vegetable and fruit peels, tea bags, egg shells, carrot tops and rotten vegetables and fruit.
The children’s faces lit up with excitement as Brown explained that soon they would be adding the worms. Eagerly, the children lead the way to the composting bin and demonstrated how they rotate it to mix the ingredients to promote decomposition. These CDC composters discovered how to compost from reading books on the subject. One of those books is “Compost, By Gosh” by Michelle Eva Portman. Their message for big people in their lives: Composting is not just for kids; adults can do it, too. So, this Earth Day, read a child’s book on composting and pledge to do your part to keep the environment green and healthy.
D.K. Heller can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
cmyk
Citrus College Clarion
April 22, 2009
11
Earth Day Simple tips to ‘Go Green’ By Emily Rios Clarion Co-Editor In Chief “Go Green” has become a popular slogan of our times, but many people don’t even know where to begin. I am by no means an expert, but I have always had an interest in going green. Like most people I don’t have the money to buy a Prius or other environmentally friendly vehicle, but I do try to have a more “green” frame of mind for my everyday life. Here are a few of my tips: Canvas Bags: I have been sporting canvas bags for a while and I absolutely love them. Now most store sell them imprinted with their logo with prices ranging from 99 cents to a couple of dollars. Just throw a few in your trunk and pull them out whenever you find yourself on a shopping excursion. Canvas bags can be used for more than groceries. Buy
a plain bag and decorate it with iron-ons, paint or even a logo off of a stained T-shirts. And that way you can use it for purchases or to tote your gear to the beach or your books to class. Buy local or organic: While shopping, look for items that are organic or grown locally. Products produced organically are done so without the use of chemicals. If your purchases are grown or produced locally the distance they travel from the farm/manufacturer to you is greatly minimizes which translates to a decreased reliance on fossil fuels. Think Recyclables: When buying everyday items, it’s smart to look for good that are made of recycled materials. Everything from stationary to toilet paper is available that is made from recycled paper and other products. I have even found pencils made from recycled newspa-
per and denim. These products are not hard to find and are available at most major stores. Just take the time to read the labels. Get a reusable water bottle: According to California's Department of Conservation, a billion plastic bottles end up in landfills each year in the state alone. Combat this problem by investing in a reusable water bottle. There are even some available that include filters to help rid your tap water of chlorine and bacteria. Going green does not have to be as elaborate as buying a hybrid or installing solar panels on your roof. Simple steps can go a long way; just find something that works into your lifestyle.
Emily Rios can be reached at Rios_EmilyC@yahoo.com
Companies join the ‘Green’ movement
LED lighting used for the chain’s exterior signs, cooler doors, and freezer cases uses significantly less energy than fluorescent lights.
Stores feature refrigeration units that are designed to use at least 10% less energy than standard units. Their grocery bags are made from 50% recycled materials
Produce environmental friendly paper products such as notebooks, folders and stationery.
A stadium-wide cooling system was added to lower temperatures in concession areas.
Pages are made using 70 percent post-consumer fibers
Hand dryers were added to restrooms to decrease paper towel waste in addition to waterless urinals, which will save 2.4 million gallons of water annually on the Field Level.
They use nontoxic soy-based inks.
Stadium lighting was replaced with a more energy efficient lighting structure.
The offer a “Bag for Life," which made from thicker recycled plastic. If it ever wears out, the store will replace it for free, forever.
cmyk
12 Citrus College Clarion
Sports
Sports Editor - Irene Davis - ccclarion@hotmail.com
April 22, 2009
Fighting spirit opens unexpected doors By Mitchie Pardilla Clarion Staff Writer She joined the Charter Oak High School water polo team without knowing how to swim. That is how Citrus College swim team member Brittany Orduno got started. To keep herself from drowning, she held on to the side of the pool. It took her about a year before she learned the strokes. “When I first started, all I knew was just the doggie-paddle stroke,” she said. Unlike the other Citrus College swimmers, most of whom learned how to swim in their pre-school years, Orduno was one of the late bloomers. Orduno, 19, competes on both
the Citrus swim team and the women’s water polo team. Recently, Orduno competed in 24 games for water polo. The games included 22 starts for the Owls in which she scored 18 goals and recorded 19 assists. The 5-foot-1-inch athlete was also named the most improved player on the water polo team. At the Western State Conference meet on April 19, Orduno finished in the 8th place for the individual medley (1:10.48) and 100-yard butterfly (1:08.92), and 10th in the 50-yard butterfly (30.39). When she was 15, Orduno joined the water polo team at Charter Oak High School with her girlfriends. “I just swam for my friends and
basically just to meet new people,” she said. Though she was new to the pool, Orduno was no stranger to competition. In her elementary school days, before getting introduced to swimming, Orduno practiced karate for five years, advancing to the rank of black belt. She won a first choice for grand nationals in the black belt category. Juggling karate and water polo proved difficult, so she drop karate and fell in love with water sports. Even though Orduno was always last person to finish in high school, she worked extra hard to be where she is today. She was chosen for second team All Western State Conference honors. “I like getting better for myself.
I just focus on my own goals, and if I can get one second faster every week, it’s really a good feeling,” she said. Orduno is a full-time student enrolled in 17 units. Besides being on the two Citrus sports teams, she works part-time for Chili’s restaurant in West Covina. “I’m not gonna lie; I don’t always get everything done,” she said. “But I still try to fit everything in my schedule and be as flexible as possible.” Orduno, the oldest of five siblings, enjoys cheering for other swimmers and loves to spend time with her family. A self-described Disney addict, Orduno also likes to bake. “I love making cakes as birthday presents for other people. I ask
them what Disney character they want, and I draw the characters for their cakes, ” she said. Tim Kyle, the head swim coach, said Orduno is enthusiastic and is willing to learn. “She has tremendous heart and a great work ethic,” Kyle said. Orduno sees herself as a motivator for her teammates. She likes to cheer on her teammates, telling them that they have done a good job whether they finish first or last. “She is a sensitive and down-toearth kind of girl,” said swimmer Nathan Fernandez, 19. “She amazes me. She’s like a fish in the water.”
Mitchie Pardilla can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
Swimmer wins top WSC award, motivates teammates By Mitchie Pardilla Clarion Staff Writer Citrus college swimmers Weston Locatell and Peter Smiley, both 20, were each enrolled in swimming lessons after falling in the pool and being rescued by a family member. Although Locatell and Smiley have known each other since they were 15, they never talked to each other until last year when they played for the Owls. The two athletes, now best friends, spend most of the time together. Locatell was recently named a Community College AllAmerican in four swim events in 2008. The individual events are the 200-yard butterfly (1:55.30) and 100-yard butterfly (52.22). Joining him with the two relays were Ken Kalinisan, Brian Smiley, and Peter Smiley for the 200-yard medley relay (3:38.11) and 400-yard medley relay (1:39.13). Locatell was honored as WSC swimmer of the year, as he did really well in his three swim events: 200-individual medley (1:55.62), 100-fly (51.22) and 200-fly (1:52.07). He started competing in grade school, but stopped swimming for a while when he was 10 and played baseball for three years. Interaction with friends inspired Locatell to start competing again. “As I got older, I started to compete more and more. [I like] going behind the block and having adrenaline flow to your body,” he said. Locatell and Smiley are fulltime students, attend swimming practice early in the morning, and work out in the gym late at night. They coach at Monrovia AquatiX for the bronze group
Mitchie Pardilla Citrus College Clarion
Courtesy of Peter Smiley
Swimmers Weston Locatell (left) and Peter Smiley knew each for years before their joint effort on the swim team turned them into best friends. for 7- to 10-year-olds. Their schedules are more hectic than an average student’s. “Between 8:20 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., I am in class. On the weekends, I’m at work and tend to do my homework when most people are having fun and partying,” Locatell said. “On my downtime, I like to do things that are very mellow, like going to the beach and to the movies.” In his free time, Smiley enjoys making his own surfboards. “I like surfing and making my own surf boards,” Smiley said. “I love sports. I also like going to the gym.” Locatell looks up to his head coach, Tim Kyle, as a role model. He said that he would not be where today if not for his coach. On April 18, Kyle was chosen as the Western State Conference Coach of the Year, and the Citrus swim team finished second in the WSC.
Kyle said Locatell strives to be the most valuable swimmer he can be. “Weston sets the example for Citrus College student athletes,” Kyle said. “He motivates other team members and he is a coach’s dream to have on a team.” What Locatell enjoys most about swimming is the passion he develops with it. The way he sees it, swimming is like lovehate relationship. As a sport, swimming has built a lot of his character, more so than any other sport. Winning WSC swimmer of the year is a tall order, but the 5foot-8-inch athlete was up to it. “He is short compared to most of his competition,” said Citrus swimmer Tony Pearson, 20. “But he makes a big name for small people.”
Mitchie Pardilla can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
April 22, 2009
Sports
Citrus College Clarion
13
Owls ralley for WSC win over Eagles By Irene Davis Clarion Sports Editor After a six-game loosing streak in conference play, the Citrus College baseball team desperately needed a win on Tuesday, April 21, against Los Angeles Mission College. A W is exactly what the Owls got as the defeated the Eagles, 9-7. The game started off shaky for the Owls in the first inning as Eagles’ sophomore infielder Henry Morquecho hit a two-run homer, to take the lead 2-0. It wasn’t until the bottom of third inning when the Owls rallied back, led by sophomore infielder Scott Vincent with the bases loaded when he stepped to the plate. “I had to get it done,” Vincent said. “That’s what was going through my mind, get it done and continue the rally.” And a rally it was, as the Owls scored eight runs ending with freshman outfielder Adrian Cota hitting a three-run RBI double to take the lead, 8-5. The Eagles eventually put the game in close reach with a RBI home run from sophomore infielder Miguel Castillion, with 8-7 at the top of the sixth inning. Owls’ sophomore outfielder Julio Raymundo answered back with one of his own homers to take a two-run lead at the bottom of the sixth inning, leaving the score 9-7. “Every inning is critical,” Ea-
gles head coach Joe Cascione said. “You just have to hope you win more innings than the other team, and we didn’t. Basically, they hit the ball well.” Citrus’ sophomore pitcher Aaron Ilharreguy sealed the deal in the last two innings throwing two strikeouts and no runs. Ilharreguy explained how closing the game is nothing new. “I didn’t feel any pressure,” Ilharreguy said. “I was the closer last year, so I’m comfortable doing what needs to be done: throw strikes.” Owls’ head coach Steve Gomez plans to prepare for the next four games by staying consistent. “This game was important for several reasons,” Gomez said. “We’ve been struggling. We lost six games in a row in conference, so breaking the streak was critical.” “Not only that, beating [L.A. Mission] helped win the tie breaker we had so now they’re a game behind us for the playoffs. More importantly, this win was good for our mental psyche.” The Owls will host West Los Angeles College April 23 at 2:30 p.m., and look to turn their streak to the winning side to get to the Western State Conference playoffs.
Irene Davis can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
Speaking SPORTS...
of
Robinson’s legacy can still be felt today
Alonso Ramirez Citrus College Clarion Owls players Jack Schellin and Scott Vincent embrace after Vincent scores a run in the WSC game against L.A. Mission on April 21.
Owls lose to L.A. mission, playoff hopes eliminated Clarion Photo Editor The spring 2009 season is now over for the Citrus College softball team after its loss on Tuesday April 21 to Los Angeles Mission College by just one run in the bottom of the ninth inning after a battle for second place in the Western State Conference. Despite the emotional loss 4-5, after three hours of play in the scorching sun, the Owls remain proud of what they accomplished this season, which includes an overall win-loss record 23-22 and 12-10 in the WSC standings. “This was the best game we have had all year,” head coach Jackie Boxley said. “I told them everyday to fight, and for them to go out like this shows just how much pride they have.” LA Mission head coach Sandra Durazo also praised the Owls’ performance in their final game of the season. “It did get really intense,” Durazo said. “Citrus is a very good team; they fought really hard.” With its victory over Citrus, LA Mission’s overall win-loss record becomes 299 and 17-5 in the WSC, and they will go on to play in the WSC finals. “Especially with it being sophomore night, we knew we would have our hands full,” she said. “It definitely wasn’t a cakewalk, but we love games like this and it was good practice for next weekend, so that the team knows that every game will be like this one.” It was an especially emotional night for the eight departing sophomores on the
“
I told them everyday to fight, and for them to go out like this shows just how much pride they have.
“
By Andrew Vasquez
By Frank Ram
Jackie Boxley
Softball Head Coach team. “We fought hard and did what we could,” firstbaseman Ashley Corrigan said. “Hopefully they do better next season.” “I wish it was a four-year program instead of just two,” Corrigan said. “The relationships I have built with the girls on the team have made the program and school overall more worthwhile. It is going to be hard to say goodbye.” “The freshmen who return next season have to come out and give it their all, but most of all they have to have fun, she said. Corrigan plans to graduate this spring and possibly transfer to Colorado State University Pueblo this fall and play for its Division II softball team. The departing of the eight sophomores was especially hard for Boxley, as she said that they were some of the best players she has ever coached since starting her tenure at Citrus in spring of 2004. “The sophomores are the perfect exam-
Andrew Vasquez Citrus College Clarion Pitcher Kelly Martin tries to throw a strike during the April 21 matchup againsts L.A. Mission. The Owls would lose to the Eagles 4-5. ple of a team; they have left a great legacy,” she said after an emotional pause. “These players are some of the best I have coached in the five years I have coached here at Citrus.” Looking to the future, Boxley has confidence that the eight sophomore players will be successful in their future endeavors, and that the freshmen will return and also further their skills. “Without a doubt, our freshmen will come back,” she said. “They are young, but have a lot of fight and talent, so we will come back even stronger next season.”
For most Americans, April 15 means tax day. But a lot of Americans also realize that was the date in 1947 that Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball. Robinson opened the door for not just African Americans, but for all minorities, to play Major League Baseball. Most fans know that Jackie Robinson went to UCLA, where he excelled in athletics, becoming the first athlete to letter in four spots: baseball, basketball, football, and track. What people may not know is that Jackie Robinson began his career at a California community college. From 1938-1939, Robinson played quarterback and safety for the Pasadena City College football team and shortstop for the PCC baseball team. He was also on the basketball team and competed in the broad jump. After serving a stint in the military, Robinson played the 1945 season in the Negro Leagues for the Kansas City Monarchs. Branch Rickey, who was the general manager and president of the Brooklyn Dodgers at that time, took a big risk and signed Robinson to a contract to play professional baseball. The risk being that no African American had played Major League Baseball since the 1880’s and Rickey would be making a lot of people mad by allowing Robinson to break the color barrier. Robinson played for the Dodgers triple-A Montreal Royals in 1946 and was called up to the big leagues in 1947. He played every season until 1956, all in a Dodgers uniform. Fast forward to April 15, 2009 when Major League baseball honored the 62nd anniversary of Robinson breaking the color line in baseball. All baseball personal in uniform wore Robinsons No. 42. The Dodgers retired the number in 1972, but Major League Baseball did not retire the number until 1997. Robinson’s No. 42 is the only number to be officially retired by all of the MLB. Only the players who were wearing No. 42 at the time were allowed to continue wearing it. Only one, Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, is still active in MLB. This year marked the third season in what is becoming an annual tradition of allowing every player to honor Robinson by wearing No. 42. April 15 serves as a reminder of everything Robinson did for minorities in the United States.
April 22, 2009
Sports
Citrus College Clarion
15
Golf team ready for conference championships Clarion Staff Writer he men’s golf team has been having its best season since 2004. The Owls are ranked #8 out of 25 teams in the Southern California Western State Conference. The strongest players of the season have been Steve Whoolery with an average of 75.14 and Matt Peich with an average of 75.29, making them eligible for the Southern California Regional’s scheduled for May 4th. From the beginning of the 2009 men’s golf season they were off to a promising start. They took 6th place during the Orange Empire Tee-Off Classic, which took place on Monday, February 2nd at Los Serranos. After nine seasons the Fighting Owls posted their best score of 365 at the Santa Maria Country Club, which took place on Monday, February 23. Taking
T
2nd place behind Santa Barbara by only 7 strokes. Matt Peich, a second-year player scored an outstanding opening round of 69 during the WSC Neutral Site Event at Marshallia, which took place on Sunday, March 3rd. Some matches were more unsuccessful than others. Perrie Garcia said, “Coming in 7th during the Brookside game hosted by Glendale College on March 30th was the lowest point for us,” during the Brookside game, Jakob Blond who shot an even par 72 posted the best score. “There’s no equation for golf,” said Brett McCollum. “The only time you can play good golf is when you just let it happen.” A week later on April 6th the Fighting Owls tasted sweet victory during the WSC Event hosted by Ventura College at the Saticoy Country Club. Citrus shot a combined 383, taking first place for the first time in five years.
“
There is no equation for golf. The only time you can play good golf is when you just let it happen.
“
By Sandra Lopez
“This year’s team is very solid and very consistent.” Three international students are playing with the Fighting Owls. Jakob Blond from Copenhagen, Denmark, Sanshiro Kato from Tokyo, Japan, and Kei Kusomoto from Zusi, Japan. The Fighting Owls have one more match on April 27 at the WSC Championships at the Cypress Ridge Golf Course. On May 4 three teams and seven individuals will be chosen to go to the Southern California Regional’s taking place at the Marshallia Ranch Golf Course.
Brett McCollum Citrus golfer As Coach Marsh Shumaker said, “In one week, time turned around.” Shumaker is in his 22nd season as the men’s golf team head coach. “The start was real good, even though there was a mid-season slump,” he said.
Sandra Lopez can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
Emergency Preparedness An all-campus emergency preparedness forum will be held on April 29 from 2:40 to 3:30 p.m. in the CFI community room (CI 159)
ASCC to host Earth Day speaker .
The Student Life Office and the Associated Students of Citrus College we will be hosting a speaker on Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22 at 10 a.m. in the Center for Innovation's Community Room (CI159). Dr. Christopher Boxe from JPL/NASA will be presenting on the topic is: "Global Warming: Fact, Myth or Hypothesis?"
16
A&E
Citrus College Clarion
By Emil y Rios Clarion Co-Editor in Chief
Reality TV is saturated with people who are seeking their 15 minutes of fame, then actually gaining short-term notoriety for not doing much of anything. But every so often a person comes along that strikes a chord with the audience and captures our hearts for all the right reasons. I was reminded of this a few weeks ago when MTV aired
“Pedro,” a docudrama about the life of Pedro Zamora, who starred in “The Real World: San Francisco,” which aired in 1994. Zamora was an HIV-positive Cuban-American who used “The Real World” as a platform to educate people about HIV and AIDS. The 22-year-old Miami resident was one of the first openly gay HIV-positive people on TV. I was 8 years old when
Keepin’ it real: “The Real World: San Francisco” aired. Yet I still vaguely remember hearing about Pedro and the fact that he died the day after the season finale aired. “Pedro,” which aired on MTV on April 1 follows Pedro’s life prior to “The Real World:” It document his leaving Cuba, his mother’s death and finding out he was HIVpositive. Scenes from “The Real World” were also recreated. Pedro’s story inspired me to go back and watch episodes from “The Real World: San Francisco” which are available online at mtv.com. More recently the death of a British reality star also had a surprising effect on viewers worldwide. Jade Goody first rose to
D e N e U SOTES e BY Deeper Than Rap Rick Ross
The beef with 50 Cent, along with some hot lead singles, have made Deeper Than Rap Music one of the most anticipated albums of 2009. It hit the shelves April 21. Although Rick Ross’ dirty laundry has been aired (a picture of him in a correctional officer uniform), damaging his cocaine dealing and killing reputation, Deeper Than Rap Music gives Ross a chance to put some of the drama behind him, and his critics an opportunity to confirm their suspicions and disbelief. For the most part, Ross delivers the goods. The best tracks on Deeper Than Rap Music include beautiful production and lyrical fierceness and charisma from Ross to set the HipHop standard high. The opener, “Mafia Music,” was the fuel to the fire for the feud with 50 Cent. Ross brings up Fifty’s baby mama drama in this song, “Curtis Jackson baby mama, I ain’t asking for a cent/Burn the house down, gotta buy another/Don’t forget the gas can, jealous stupid [explicative]” “Maybach Music 2,” the sequel to the original version that featured JayZ on Trilla, isn’t as good as the first, but does have a hot lineup featuring Kanye West, T-Pain, and Lil’ Wayne. “Rich Off Cocaine” speaks for its self. The production from J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League is another
banger with a hot guest appearance from Avery Storm. This song epitomizes the illegal-influenced lifestyle of South Beach and Ross plays the part: “Money in the mansion, yayo in another spot/Guns in the attic, mama helped me put ‘em up/She’ll put ‘em down tell you quick to hit ‘em up/Load a hundred round, bring it back she’ll fill it up.” He may be faking, but he’s doing a good job at it. Ross was wise for getting Nasir Jones to join him on “Usual Suspects.” Ross holds his own next to this A-list guest, but Nas comes with the fire, showing why his flow is still “nasty.” Ross closes the album the same way it begins, a shot to Fifty, as well as Tony Yayo in “Cold Blood.” “Wack Yayo caught ‘em slippin while he snort dust/Cold blood, bullet hit ‘em like a tour bus.” Despite a few obvious flaws, and not getting really in touch with reality on Deeper Than Rap Music, Ross continues to lyrically step his pen game up. (“Kimbo Slice on the pad when I write.”) Ross does show considerable growth from his last albums, and his distinctive ear for production can’t be denied. Deeper Than Rap Music was a strong effort, with a few missteps, but will still be bumped in the CD player. —Irene T. Davis
No Sacrifice, No Victory Hammerfall For those who remember the days of heavy metal yore, when long hair was cool and it was a contest to see who’s band had the fastest playing guitarist and drummer, Hammerfall harkens back to those times with all of the vigor and ferocity that is required to play that genre of music. The heavy metal/ power metal band from Gothenburg Sweden is composed of lead singer Joacim Cans, two lead guitarists and backing vocals named Oscar Drojak and Pontus Norgen, respectively, bassist and backing vocals Fredrik Larson and drummer Anders Johansson. Their latest album “No Sacrifice, No Victory” plays on the ears like an old friend for those who are into late ‘70s and early ‘80s power metal and heavy metal. For those who aren’t
Unstoppable Rascal Flatts
They are undoubtedly one of the most successful musical trios around, but Rascal Flatts has upped the ante in their latest studio release, Unstoppable, which just may be their best. The trio consisting of Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney have amassed numerous awards from their six previous studio albums with hits such as “Prayin’ for Daylight,” “Bless the Broken Road,” and “What Hurts the Most.” “Here Comes Goodbye,” the first single off the album, is reminiscent of “What Hurts the Most” exploring the theme of love that never got to reach its full potential or end how you
April 22, 2009
Reality stars that touch your heart
fame in 2002 on the UK’s version of “Big Brother.” She came across as a loud mouthed 20-year-old who parlayed that fame into a book deal and released her own scent. But her image was tarnished during an episode of “Celebrity Big Brother” in which she used racially inappropriate language during an argument with fellow housemate and Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty. After apologizing, Goody was invited to be a part of India’s version of “Big Brother, “Big Boss,” but she left the show early after being diagnosed with cervical cancer. Goody then made international headlines when she decided to allow cameras to follow her as she fought cancer. Goody saw documenting her
death for the television audience as a way to earn money to support her two young sons after she was gone. Goody eventually lost her battle with cancer on March 22, 2009 at the age of 27, but her public battle raised awareness for cancer research, UK health ministers are now reviewing national policies of not funding cervical cancer screening until the age of 25. While most reality TV stars are merely seeking attention, some like Zamora and Goody have changed the was people think and increased awareness of serious issues.
Emily Rios can be reached at Rios_EmilyC@yahoo.co
familiar with the genre, they will be blown away in the first few seconds and feel like they’re on a speeding rollercoaster of power metal madness throughout the rest of the album. The first track on the album “Any Means Necessary” is perhaps the most telling of the band’s style. While they are talented and it’s a head-banging worthy song, the fact that they are a watered-down version of heavy metal forefather Iron Maiden becomes achingly apparent. Cans’ voice is transparent in showing where his influences lie; he sounds like Iron Maiden lead singer Paul Di’Anno, almost too much so. However, he does have a powerful voice and the level of musicianship from the other band members is on par with his dramatic vocals, and while having a very Iron Maiden sound, from the bass to the guitars, this in itself makes the song worthy of praise. The title track is “No Sacrifice, No Victory,” is another very Iron
Maiden sounding track, which is by no means a bad thing. With the same high-flying guitars and soaring vocals as “Any Means Necessary,” it is a power metal lover’s paradise of sound. The track “Legion” is one of Hammerfall’s more experimental tracks, with the intro being a synthesized voice spouting the famous lines associated with the demon Legion, “Thy name is Legion, for we are many.” But no matter how experimental the track might sound, Hammerfall still keeps its main influential band close to their hearts and stay true to it. While not being anything new, and doing everything that is expected of their power metal genre in an almost cliché fashion, Hammerfall has still created an album that at least does it justice. “No Sacrifice, No Victory,” might be pure genre cliché, but it is a victory in that sense.
wanted or expected it to. “I can hear her say I love you like it was yesterday/And I can see it written on her face that she had never felt this way/One day, I thought I’d see her with her daddy by her side/And violins would play ‘Here Comes the Bride/Here comes goodbye, here comes the last time/Here comes the start of every sleepless night.” The trio mixes in some fun with “Summer Nights”: “Well, the sunset better set soon/So we can get in the mood/Things start getting heated up/When it starts getting cool, yeah/Summer nights/Everybody, are you with me?/Let that igloo cooler mark your piece of paradise.” This is sure to be a summer anthem heard blaring from the car stereos of country music lovers. The most heartfelt and arguably the best song on the 11-
track album is “Why,” a poignant, emotion-laden ballad about a person who committed suicide told from the point of view of those left behind. “Oh why there’s no comprehending/And who am I to try to judge or explain/Oh but I do have one burning question/Who told you life wasn’t worth the fight/They were wrong/They lied/And now you’re gone/And we cried/Cause It’s not like you to walk away in the middle of a song. “Why” is performed in such a soft and melodic way that you can feel the sadness and loss behind the words they are singing Unstoppable shows why Rascal Flatts have become one of the leading faces of country music and shows that they are indeed unstoppable.
—Andrew Vasquez
—Emily Rios
April 22, 2009
A&E
Citrus College Clarion
17
Documentary illustrates love between fans and team By Frank Ram Clarion Co-Editor In Chief Filmmaker Tim Marx has hit one out of the park with his new documentary “Bluetopia: The LA Dodgers Movie.” In a city of 3,694,820 people of different cultural, economic and religious backgrounds, it is hard to find a common bond that unites the city. The Los Angeles Dodgers is one of those uniting forces. Marx covers the entire 2008 season and all the important events that occurred from the return to the Los Angeles Coliseum to the final out in game five of the the National League Championship Series, a loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. But for the most part, Marx profiles several loyal Dodger fans to see the game from the fans’ perspective. The first fan Marx profiles is Landon Heying, owner of True Blue Tattoo in Hollywood. Heying shares he wanted to find a way to run a business and still attend 60 to 80 games
per season. His Dodgers tattoo shop fulfills his love for drawing and his love for the Dodgers. Another fan featured in the film is Ron “Fan Since 53” Cervenka. Cervenka is a detective for the Burbank Police Department and a season ticket holder in the Left Field Pavilion. In the documentary, Cervenka talks about how he likes to show up to games one hour before the parking lot gates open to be first in line. He says it is a moral victory when he goes over the hill and sees no cars waiting at the gate. He has become a regular at Dodger games, and most know him by his famous “Fan Since 53” jersey. A rather somber fan feature was on Nancy Colton. Colton suffered from breast cancer throughout the 2008 season. On Mother’s Day, she received the honor of throwing out the first pitch. She attended as many games as she could for the rest of the season, but had
surgery near the beginning of the playoffs, so she was forced to watch the games from home. Colton died in March 2009. Marx dedicated the film in memory of her. Some of the main Dodger headlines featured in the documentary include the Dodgers receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Coliseum game earning $2 million for the Dodgers charity Think Cure, Clayton Kershaw’s debut game, mid-season injuries, and the acquisition of Manny Ramirez. “Bluetopia,” which was released straight to DVD, can be found at Dodger Stadium, Best Buy, and Wal Mart. The price varies from $13.98 to $19.99 depending on where the documentary is purchased. It tells the story of a city’s love for a baseball team and how it can unite even one of the most diverse cities in the world.
Frank Ram can be reached at Ram_Frank23@yahoo.com
amazon.com
Audience treated to ‘100 Years of Broadway’ By Ashley Broussard Clarion Staff Writer The audience at the Haugh Performing Arts Center on April 19 traveled backwards in time through 100 years of Broadway songs. Musical director and pianist Neil Berg performed with five singers and three other musicians who sang musical favorites from as long ago as 1906 and as recent as 2006. The audience responded with excitement upon hearing the songs they recognized and love. They also laughed at all the jokes and responded to all the questions the performers threw at them. Popular numbers such as “Summer Nights” and “Greased Lightnin” put the audience in the mood. In the transition between numbers, performer Rob Evan joked about having a hybrid car, which he referred to as “Greased Lightnin.” Evan has had roles in Disney’s Tarzan and appeared on “All My Children” on ABC. Before musical director Neil Berg introduced each song, he gave the audience hints as to
weinbergcenter.org which show the next song would be from to see if they could guess it. Berg noted on how alive the crowd was, and when he mentioned making the Haugh an annual stop on the Broadway tour, he got a loud positive response. All five singers had their own unique sounds and talents. The audience got to see them
perform as individuals and together. Singer Danny Zolli hyped up the audience with his version of the Jersey Boys song “Sherry.” He described his unique soprano voice as be like that of a 16-year-old girl. He really rocked out with the Billy Joel song “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” from the show “Movin Out.”
Carter Calvert, the voice of Yellowbook, showed her daring side in the first song of a act two with a cover of “Fever” by Peggy Lee. She switched back and forth between being a sensual woman, a bubbly teenager and a heartbroken lover. Berg’s wife, Rita Harvey, who has played the lead role in “The phantom of the Opera,” performed two phantom songs
that showcased her extraordinary voice. She also sang the most popular song of all time, “Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz. Smooth and cool guy Steve Blanchard seemed to make all the girls go crazy with his deep voices, which showed off without a microphone during the song “Anything you Can Do” from the show “Annie Get your Gun.” The band consisted of a drummer, bassist and keyboardist who accompanies Berg’s piano playing. Drummer Roger Cohen has played from Kathy Lee Gifford and has a CD available. Daniel R. Walker not only plays the keyboard but is also a New your city firefighter. Bassist John Lang is the founder of and lead composer for La Onda Va Bien. The show ended with the song “Season of Love” from “Rent,” which brought out the love from the audience for the performers as they gave them a standing ovation.
Ashley Broussard can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
Haugh Performing Arts Center upcoming events -- Curtain Up! presented by the Citrus Music Department Women’s Ensemble April 24 @ 8 p.m. April 25 @ 2 p.m. & 8 p.m. April 26 @ 2 p.m. & 7 p.m.
-- My Sinatra, The Songs and Stories starring Cary Hoffman May 9 @ 8 p.m.
-- Tom Rush and The Lovell Sisters Band May 17 @ 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.
Tickets: $12 Student/Senior: $10
Tickets: $32 Student/Senior: $30
Tickets: $28 Student/Senior: $26, 16 and under: $14
18 Citrus College Clarion
Opinions Opinions Editor Frank Ram - Ram_Frank23@yahoo.com
April 22, 2009
Growing up means increased responsibilities By Julianna Avila Clarion Correspondent rom a young age, we are brought up to be responsible, and to learn to be self reliant. Early on we learn to tie our shoes, brush our teeth, read, write, and spell. As we grow older, our responsibilities increase. For example, learning to drive and to survive the ups and downs of our first jobs. Our daily loads increase as we mature. As we reach the last teenage years, life takes a drastic turn. Personal and physical changes give us a new perspective on how to conduct ourselves, and still the responsibilities grow. Our social lives take off, presenting us with new experiences that have been previously forbidden. At 18, we begin to assume financial responsibilities. Our parents no longer pay for our cell phones, our cars, our insurance, nor our lunch money. Suddenly we are thrown into the working world, and we quickly find how much work it really is. When I stated my first job, I was excited. I would now be earning my own money. No more asking for money to go out with my friends and not being able to buy whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted it. A couple months after I started working, my independent attitude completely changed. Now instead of going out with my friends on Friday night, I would stay home
F
It seems ridiculous now for a child to be 10 years old and wish he could speed life up to the age of 20. If somehow he could advance 20 years and see his life, this unrealistic kid would be drastically overwhelmed with responsibility after responsibility. and go to bed because of an early shift at work the next morning. Instead of going to parties on Saturday night, I missed the fun because of extra-long shifts at work that night. My job began to interfere with my life. Not only was I exhausted from working early and late shifts, the toil of balancing my school with my work and still having somewhat of a social life forced me to have no life! Our days are now filled with school, then work and six hours of sleep and school, then work, and five hours of sleep. Sometimes I feel that my parents have it easy. They wake up early in the morning at 6 a.m. and start their weekly routine. Working from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., they no longer have to attend school and cram their brains with information five hours a day on top of their jobs. Today’s community college students might take three to four classes, and then spend seven to eight hours a day working until 10 or 11 at night. Our days start from 7
a.m. and conclude after our shifts end and after we have finished our homework. Just as our weekly routines begin to seem normal, we are bombarded with finals. The deprivation faced in order to pass finals is vast. When finals do come along, our six hours of sleep are quickly reduced to three. The schedules we have become accustomed to change as we frantically attempt to add all the classes we need for the upcoming semester, while still trying to accommodate our work schedules. The costs of attending school can be overwhelming. For each class that we take, we are responsible for books and any other materials needed. Our days must be planned so that each responsibility is met in a timely manner. If we miss class, we miss out on crucial information. If we miss work, we get less money. Suddenly when we look back on the last 10 to 12 years of our lives, we are amazed how fast everything went. We gradually evolved from our one and only responsibil-
ity—telling our parents when we needed to use the bathroom—to paying for insurance and filing our taxes. When I was in elementary school, I distinctly remember how I couldn’t wait to grow older so that I could have my own car and drive wherever I wanted and have all the freedom in the world. Now that I have my own car, I never take random drives for fear of wasting precious gas, and my so-called freedom is scarcely free at all. It seems ridiculous now for a child to be 10 years old and wish he could speed life up to the age of 20. If somehow he could advance 20 years and see his life, this unrealistic kid would be drastically overwhelmed with responsibility after responsibility. Days off are our sanctuaries. We live for the days we have no class and don’t have to come into work. These days are filled with laziness and many hours of catch-up sleep. While our days are filled with constant business, our minds stretched with information, and our lives controlled by overwhelming responsibilities, we cling to our inner child until we cannot do anymore. We stay in our pajamas and eat cereal until noon, just like when we were younger.
Julianna Avila can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
Unemployment gives new outlook on life By Nichelle Johnson Clarion Correspondent
F
or almost two months we had been preparing for the day “X Airlines” would close. Sept. 2 came quicker than I thought. I treated it almost like every other day. I was up and at the airport well before the sun came up. My final sunrise on the job was beautiful. There was peaceful calm on the ramp that morning as I sat on my favorite tug and sipped my coffee. Many things were coming to an end for me, and I knew it, including my relationship of two years to a man I could not love anymore. It’s ironic because one of our biggest and most constant arguments was over his inability to find a career. I watched the sun glint off the fuselage of an aircraft, and I wasn’t overly worried about being out of work—or out of a relationship. Maybe I should have been. I was a hardcore Ramp Rat, an Airline Dog. If I could handle pushing back airplanes, loading up cargo bins, and putting up with the operations office, then I could handle finding a new job. Little did I know that morning that the satisfaction I found with that airline company would elude me and then the sharp pendulum of unemployment wound constantly swing over my head. My road to unemployment started on April 2, 2007, the day I began working at my dream job. As a travel agent’s daughter, I had a natural lust for all things travel, so I guess it was only natural that I
should work for an airline company. On that particular morning, I couldn’t believe my good luck as the airline boarded its first flight out of Ontario Airport. My coworkers and I could hardly suppress the excitement of working for a new up-andcoming airline. Standing at the window at Gate 210, we watched as the bird was pushed back from the gate and began to taxi out. The Los Angeles World Airports Fire Department was there and saluted our aircraft by shooting an arch of water over the fuselage. Nobody thought that a year and five months later, we would be standing on the same ramp saluting our last flight with our ramp wands. In the year and five months I worked for the company, I came to know what hard work truly is. Life in the airline industry was not easy or glamorous. I gave everything I had for a company I loved. I sweat and bled for them, but in the end no amount of hard work could save us from the inevitable. When I walked off the ramp for the last time, I left behind some of the most wonderful memories that I will keep until I die. Most of them involve “K,” one of my best friends. We sledded down a Jetway (actually it was a very uncomfortable cart we used as a sled) and had water wars with the portable water hoses. One night when I was working in operations, K and I talked two people from our maintenance hangar into human bowling. That night, August 16, was the best night of my life. Those are the times I like to remember because they make me feel that everything I went through was worth it.
Then, unemployment happened. At first I ignored it. As much as I loved my job, I now had my life back and I was determined to live it. So I went to Europe. I had my flight benefits for a month, and I put them to use. But my vacation was over sooner than I wanted, and it was back to the reality of nothingness. I armed myself with a great resume and hit all the places I could work. No results. I went to job fairs. Nothing. I filed for unemployment and used the government’s database to search for a job, but for me there was none to be had. At the time I was 22, with some college education, but no degree. What was I going to do? Trying to find out where my money was from the unemployment office was a battle I wasn’t winning. Whenever I called, there was an automated recording that never helped me. Finally, I was able to get through by an e-mail and only after that did I receive my first and only check. I watched my funds slowly diminish. The nice fat nest egg I had is all but gone now. I am lucky to still be living with my parents, but everyday I face their anger because they don’t understand that there are few jobs to be had. My life holds no meaning now. For several months I woke up, ate, watched “I Love Lucy” re-runs, and let a deep depression settle into my life. I can’t express the depth of shame for being unemployed. I hated telling people that I was. I felt like such a loser. When asked “What do you so? I would simply answer that I worked for an airline and let them come to their own conclusion
on whether I still worked for them. I see my friends from work every now and then. K and I still try to meet up once a month to talk about the good old days, how much we miss working for the company and how less than half of us have found new employment. Last week I heard the news that the maintenance hangar is going to close at Ontario Airport. I felt my stomach bottom out because I know the men and women who work there are all going to have to move or find other employment. I am devastated. There will be no more airplanes for me. My last link to the job I loved is going to dissolve. I wonder where I am going and what I am going to do my life. Frankly, I can’t bear to work for the airlines again. So what now? I am 23 and my life is at a standstill. Unfortunately my story is only one of thousands. California has an unemployment rate of 11.2 percent. The unemployment rate has grown from 4.9 percent in January 2008 and the bad news is, short of an economic miracle, there is nothing any of us can do about it. And it gets worse. Unemployment funds for the state are quickly going into the red. What happens when the system goes bankrupt? What does this mean for college students? How can we continue to further our education and our lives when there isn't’ any money left? I barely had enough money to register for classes, and as it is, I don’t have books for many of them. I know my grades are going to take a hit here, but what else can I do? The stress of it all has caused me
to lose 20 pounds over a very short period of time and I have to borrow clothing from K because my own pants keep falling down. I don’t even have enough cash to get a new pair of jeans that fit, let alone decent clothing for a job interview. I am smarter about how I spend my money, but sometimes it’s tough not to be able to buy something you really need. When will all this stop? When will I just be able to enjoy being 23 and healthy, and not have to worry how I am going to make my next car payment? I wish I had answers, or an idea to put a stop to this madness, but I don’t. I clearly see a steamroller coming toward me, but I can’t seem to get out of the way. There is no avoiding the crisis that our state is about to face, but we just have to hang in there. Sooner or later, this will all come to pass, but I’d rather it were sooner. I know words don’t help, especially when some of you readers are worse off than I am. Take heart, though, because we are in this together. We will make it through this, and we will remember and be stronger for it. We are the future, so let’s build it so that our children and grandchildren won’t have to suffer through this kind of shame and desperation. That’s just my opinion. Agree? Disagree? Let me know. I’m the short blond girl on campus who is constantly having to pull her pants up because her belt finally gave out.
Nichelle Johnson can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
April 22, 2009
Editorials Editorials Editor Frank Ram - Ram_Frank23@yahoo.com
Citrus College Clarion 19
Education must take a stand The Clarion opposes California’s legislative analyst Mac Taylor’s proposal to increase the community college per unit fee from $20 to $40. According to the Legislative Analyst Office’s website, increasing unit fees will have little impact on today’s community college students. The site points out that many community college students from low-income families qualify for the Board of Governors fee waiver program. If a student does not qualify for the BOG waiver, other options include the federal Hope tax credit, Lifetime Learning tax credit, and school tuition and fee deductions. Although these aids may help some financially strapped students, what about the “middle income” people who are left to pay a 100 percent increase in the per unit fee? Right now, a full-time student pays $240. If the fees were to double, a full-time student would be paying $480. Funding for California’s K-12 schools and community colleges is being cut by almost $8 billion. How can we trust Sacramento to be responsible with the revenue gained through this proposed doubling of community college fees when our legislators have been doing such a poor job of balancing the budget? As of late 2008, it was estimated that about 1,000 California school districts have failed to meet federal
Jared Nokturne Citrus College Clarion standards of the No Child Left Be- and capacity has also gone up from hind Law. 80 percent full to 90 percent full durRaising fees is not the solution to ing the 2008-09 school year. California’s financial woes, nor is The solution lies in reforming cutting educational costs. Education Sacramento. is the vital foundation in building a Our 120 legislators need to be fisstrong and competitive society. cally responsible in generating tax Unemployment rate is up by 11.2 revenues and spending public percent in California, and as a result money. community college enrollment has The state Constitution mandates a increased. balanced budget, but legislature has The number of full-time equiva- failed in coming up with a budget solent students, students taking 12 units lution. Even after all these months or more, has gone up by 7.5 percent spent in negotiating a budget com-
promise, they still have only introduced a flawed plan. The legislature must be held responsible and agree on fair solutions in a timely manner. So far they have done a poor job. Therefore, we support the proposal by Assemblyman Anthony Portantino (D-Pasadena) that legislators not be paid if they do not meet the deadline. People should not have to put up with such mismanagement of public funds. The government is supposed to work for the people, not the other way around. Although there is a high demand for college-educated workers in California, rising fees are proving a serious obstacle toward pursuing higher education. California spends five times more of money on prisons than on schools. Our state ranks 47th out of 50 states in per-pupil spending. Although California’s educational systems are in line to receive $8 billion of the federal economic stimulus money, this would only help the state by avoiding cuts to education funding. It would not solve the problem. As students, educators, and citizens, we need to let our voices be heard. Tell the legislature that every cent cut from schools will adversely affect the future of California. We need a long-term plan, not a shortterm fix that will damage California’s workforce for years to come.
Institute a campus rideshare program Citrus College needs a rideshare program. Many workplaces and institutions offer incentives to carpool. Some also offer a sort of matchmaking system in which employees or students can find peers who travel a similar route and are willing to team up for their regular commute. We should do this here. One of the biggest problems students have faced this semester is convenient parking. A rideshare program could easily alleviate this situation by reducing the number of cars in the parking lots. With the launching of its Green Team, Citrus is pushing to reduce its carbon footprint. A rideshare program could help the college go a long way toward achieving this goal. If more people rode to school with a friend or colleague, it would help decrease gas consumption and green house gases. This is especially important because of the location of Citrus College. The San Gabriel Valley is known for its high smog concentration. Fewer cars on the road could help alleviate the pollution problem. Carpooling also saves money. The cost of fuel can take a major bite out of students’ and staffers’ personal finances. Most of us are under a lot of pressure with class, homework, and jobs. Carpooling provides passengers the opportunity to sit comfortably while someone else drives. It could also give procrastinating students a few precious minutes to finish homework. Just a thought.
With stress reduction and increased study time, students could be more productive and their overall grades might improve. Citrus could offer incentives to students and staffers who sign up for the rideshare program. These incentives would have to be worked out with the college administration and, maybe in the case of students, the Associated Students of Citrus College. Here are some ideas: Some cities offer gas cards to people who offer their vehicles for community rideshare programs. Citrus could offer a variety of other incentives, such as a discount or voucher to be used at the Owl Bookshop or the Owls Nest Cafeteria. Nearby Cal Poly Pomona, for instance, offered a cool reward this past March to students participating in the university’s rideshare programs. Those who carpooled on March 2 or March 25 had their Bronco Access Cards loaded up with a $5 credit. Since the card may be used as a debit card for on-campus purchases, it made for an attractive incentive. Other possible ways to reward students for ridesharing include free or discounted parking, or an allotment of preferred parking spots for carpoolers. (Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State Fullerton offer the latter incentive.) Of course, a rideshare problem offers logistical challenges. The college would need to devise a way to determine whether participants are actually teaming up in their cars. It wouldn’t be fair to have par-
Citrus College
Clarion
EDITOR
IN
CHIEF
Frank Ram and Emily Rios MANAGING EDITOR Emily Rios NEWS EDITOR Dustin Call Life Editor Frank Ram Sports Editor Irene Davis A&E Editor Emily Rios Opinions/Editorials Editor Frank Ram Online Editor Emily Rios Photo Technician Frank Ram Adviser Margaret C. O’Neil Staff Writers Jonny Arellano, Ashley Broussard, Sandra Lopez, Mitchie Pardilla, Cheyene Scharff, Rebecca Vicino Correspondents Katharyn Blair, Andrew Vasquez Photographers/Artists Ariel Carmona Jr., Alonso Ramirez Jared Nokturne Page Designers Jared Nokturne, Frank Ram, Emily Rios, Andrew Vasquez The Clarion is produced by journalism students and is distributed every other Wednesday during the semester. Ads are not endorsed by the Clarion.
Jevon Rice Citrus College Clarion ticipants drive alone and then take ad- helping people find people to carpool vantage of rideshare incentives. with. Cal Poly Pomona has strict reguIf the campus did facilitate a lations to avoid the abuse of student rideshare referral program, it would carpool spaces. Each day, participants be important that every effort would have to drive up to the Student be made to help people find carpool Rideshare Booth. If the driver has a buddies who are safe. valid parking permit and one or more Organizers of a Citrus rideshare passengers, he or she is allowed to program could see how similar instipark in some of the prime spots. tutions manage, but a good bet would Students who attempt to bypass be for students to use the same kind rideshare program regulations face of common sense they employ when consequences: They can be ticketed dealing with anyone—a potential to the tune of $106, be dismissed date or roommate, etc.—they have from the rideshare program, and even not yet met in person. face student discipline from campus A campus rideshare program is judicial affairs. This seems like a not a fix-all, but it does address many pretty good rideshare cheating deter- problems encountered by students, as rent. well as by all southern Californians. It Perhaps the campus could provide can help us with air pollution and a physical or electronic bulletin board parking stress, particularly during where people looking for rideshare these hard economic times. buddies could find one another. Now is the perfect time for memThese kinds of bulletins abound on bers of the Citrus College community sites such as rideshare.com, a service to go green and go together.
Editorials are the opinion of at least 75 percent of the Editorial Board. All other opinion is that of the writer. Views expressed do not represent those of the adviser, faculty, administration, Associated Students of Citrus College and/or the CCCBOT. Libel will not be published. The Clarion welcomes feedback from our readers. If you have any gripes, questions, or comments ... we want to hear from you! All correspondence must include your student ID#, major and signature. Letters may be edited for clarity or length.
Clarion Mailbox
1000 W. Foothill Blvd. Glendora, CA 91741-1899 Phone: (626) 914-8586 Fax: (626) 914-8797
cmyk
cmyk
Citrus College Clarion
20
April 22, 2009
‘California Suite’ a success for Little Theatre By Rebecca Vicino Clarion Staff Writer “California Suite,” originally written by Neil Simon in 1976, reveals the comedic nature of the human condition through different characters’ perspectives, which encompass a range of melodramatic effects, including sarcasm, self-deprecation, and even unrequited love. The play was performed April 3, 4, and 5, including two night showings and one matinee, and was put on in Citrus College’s Little Theatre. Jeremy Lewis, a student director who has acquired prestige from his last two productions, adapted the play according to what has come to be known as high standards in the Theatre Arts Department. The drama in “California Suite” unwinds around 10 central characters who epitomize a good amount of humor and heartfelt emotion that pertains to each of their unique situations. Though the events that take place in each of their lives are very different, they share one thing in common: Suite 203-4 in the Beverly Hills Hotel. The setting remains a reliable constant to the audience, while the characters, their personalities, and individual circumstances change throughout the course of a year. The audience is first introduced to Billy Warren (Jason Francescon) and Hannah Warren (Jennifer Wright), a divorced couple who wittily spar over custody of their daughter and the decision that they face about whether she will return to New York with her mother, or remain in Los Angeles with her father. Wright is one of the most memorable actresses of the performance. Her mannerisms and cynical outlook are immediately recognizable as a shield against the outside world and her own emotions. Francescon is equally charming as the stereotypical Californian who’s all about sandals, health food, and warm weather. He is the softer of the pair in conversation, and someone who comes across as having an understanding of his ex-wife and is patiently persuasive to counteract her New Yorker sense of urgency. Costumes in the production were designed carefully, representing each character’s persona and the backdrop of the ’70s with much thorough attention paid to detail. Designer Clara Pratt did a meticulously understated job. The second scene in the play features a man who wakes up to find a prostitute in bed with him as he awaits his wife’s arrival from their hometown of Philadelphia. Marvin Michaels (Raymond Barcelo) attempts to keep his wife, Millie (Sarah Imm), out of his bedroom when she shows up for their nephew’s bar mitzvah. Barcelo goes through a series of cmyk
unsuccessful shenanigans to hide the hooker (Allison Lenggiere), who is unconscious due to the amount of alcohol that was consumed the previous night. This kept the audience on the edge of their seats and laughing hysterically. It may be assumed that Barcelo has an innate sense of slapstick humor in him. Imm is equally funny in a more conservative way, and delivers an emotionally appealing performance. When her character finally does discover the other woman, she is devastated, and the scene ends on a melancholy note. As a vital element to the tone that is set in “California Suite,” bits and pieces are revealed about the characters in each scene until a whole new version of them is revealed in contrast to the audience’s first impression. It seems like a reminder from Neil Simon himself, as if to say “nothing can be judged by what it only appears to be.” After a brief intermission, the audience returned to the intimate atmosphere of the Little Theatre for the third scene. In it, an odd couple was made up of an internationally acclaimed actress, Diana Nichols (Valerie Bentson) and her antique dealer husband Sidney (Chris Aranda), who had flown into Los Angeles from London for the Academy Awards. This was the most powerful performance of the show. The acting conveyed a theme that was much less humorous than the other scenes, and resonated in the viewer long after the play was over. Bentson played the role of a selfdeprecating actress who is emotionally reliant on her husband, and at first anxious, then disappointed, about the renowned award show they are attending together. This is the one and only scene in the play that shows the characters leaving their hotel room and returning again. Bentson immerses herself so much in the character’s psyche that, to the audience, she is not simply acting the part but has become Diana Nichols. The couple’s mocking banter provides comic relief, but does not take away from their problems. Nearing the end of the scene, it is revealed to the audience that Sidney is actually homosexual, and that their relationship has withstood so many years because it is a façade. Chris Aranda plays the role of Diana’s partner in a delicately modest way. His words are strong, while his actions on stage are fluid and communicative. Their lack of sexual chemistry, but irrefutable compatibility, exemplified an emotional dependence that Sidney and Diana had invested in one another and were incapable of walking away from because they had grown so accustomed to their shared circumstance. Aranda and Bentson portrayed this couple in a subtlety provocative way, allowing the audience to em-
Chris Lopez Citrus College Clarion Directed and adapted by Jeremy Lewis, Neil Simon’s “California Suite” centers around 10 characters, including Billy and Hannh Warren, who all pass through Suite 203-4 of the Beverly Hills Hotel. pathize for both characters in different ways. In the fourth and final scene, the humor ante is upped in a skit about two couples that are on a disastrous vacation with each other. Mort (Jeff Gadigan) and Beth Hollender (Casandra Groves) are engaged in a lively war of words against Stu (Kyle McNairRobinson) and Gert Franklyn (Jessica Barron). This was the most active scene in the play, involving each character in a physical dilemma of their own at the same time as the others. The audience seemed to enjoy this act enough, but it was a stark contrast to the scene before it. It was an unnatural adjustment for the audience to make in such a timely manner, going from zero to 60 in a matter of minutes. Some spectators looked uncomfortable, others checked their watches, and laughs were not as abundant as they had been in previous scenes. The concluding scene might have made a better show opener and engaged the audience immediately in the development of the play. “California Suite” was a success for the Theatre Arts Department, producer Cherie Brown and director Jeremy Lewis, and all actors and actresses who performed. The characters that were presented, however dated the dialogue and costumes were, did an outstanding job at representing society on a larger scale; depicting people as they are in every day life with just a touch of idealism thrown in to shake things up.
Rebecca Vicino can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
Chris Lopez Citrus College Clarion Jason Francescon and Jennifer Wright as divorced couple Billy and Hannah Warren in the Little Theatre’s production of Neil Simon’s “California Suite.”
Chris Lopez Citrus College Clarion Raymond Barcelo is the accidental carouser Marvin Michaels, who has just been notified that his wife is coming up to his room immediately and has to quickly hide the prostitute (played by Allison Lenggiere) he slept with the night before.
cmyk