Putting ‘community’ back in community college
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News Editor
Sydney Presley
QUOTE
of the
DAY
“Sometimes I get emotional over font.” -Kanye West
ANNOUNCEMENTS Cosmetology Annual Hair Show The Citrus College Cosmetology Department will be hosting their annual hair show with this year’s theme, “Earth, Wind & Fire.” The event will take place at the Haugh Performing Arts Center on May 10. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the cosmetology department or at the door for $10. For more information call 626914-8710. Academic Achievement Awards Ceremony The annual Academic Achievement Awards Banquet, which celebrates the work of Citrus’ top academic achievers, will take place on May 31. The recipients are treated to dinner at 6 p.m. followed by an award presentation, which begins at 7 p.m. in the Handy Campus Center. Applications for ASCC board available The Office of Student Life is currently accepting applications for student government positions for fall 2012 until May 24. The Associated Students of Citrus College (ASCC) board is in charge of a variety of educational and social activities on campus. Application packets are now available in the Office of Student Life located in the Handy Campus Center. for further information call 626-852-6444. New Director of Development and Alumni Relations appointed On May 1, the Board of Trustees approved the appointment of Christina Garcia as the college’s Director of Development and Alumni Relations. Garcia comes from the Haggai Institute, where she served as the Director of Advancement and Donor Relations for the West Coast region. During her tenure there, she was responsible for alumni public relations, fundraising, proposal development, and estate planning services. She has a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies and a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Azusa Pacific University. Correction In the April 25 edition of the Clarion, a photo on page 14 was incorrectly credited to Jacqueline Melendez. The photo was taken by Andrew Wheeler, Citrus College Sports Information Coordinator.
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MAY 9, 2012
NEWS
News In Minutes LOCAL
Azusa considering automated garbage trucks The city of Azusa is considering automated garbage trucks to streamline the garbage pickup process. Currently, Azusa garbage haulers are required to toss garbage bin contents to the back of garbage trucks by hand. The change would also mean new garbage bins with wheels. George Morrow, director of utilities of Azusa, said past proposals for automated garbage trucks gained negative response from residents because of a required rate increase. The new proposal aims to add no additional cost. Source: San Gabriel Valley Tribune
Disney opens secret club membership For the first time in a decade, Disneyland has opened membership to its exclusive Club 33, the secretive, members-only restaurant hidden in New Orleans Square. Disney officials announced that a limited number of memberships would be offered in honor of Club 33's 45th anniversary and the completion of a major, five-year expansion project at California Adventure. Fewer than 500 people are rumored to be on the club’s roster. Source: Los Angeles Times
Seventeen-year-old suspect in McDade case gets 6 months for burglary The 17-year-old boy who was with Kendrec McDade the night he was gunned down by Pasadena police was sentenced to six months in juvenile camp for a March 24 burglary and theft in Pasadena. The unnamed minor admitted to two counts of commercial burglary, one felony count of grand theft and one misdemeanor account of failing to register as a gang member. McDade and the minor allegedly burgled a restaurant and took a backpack and laptop from an unlocked car. Source: San Gabriel Valley Tribune
$4 million worth of marijuana found in house Two men were arrested on May 7 in Diamond Bar for growing marijuana in a house. Lt. Nick Tippings of the sheriff’s Narcotics Bureau said the house was under surveillance and that detectives served a search warrant Monday leading to the seizure of 400 pounds of the drug and about 1,000 marijuana plants with a total estimated value of $4 million. Guoyun Zheng, 43, of El Monte and Bat Chenh, 32, of Alhambra were booked on suspicion of possession of marijuana for sale. Source: San Gabriel Valley Tribune
STATE Revised bullet train proposal sheds $30 billion from budget Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa is pursuing a $10 increase in parking ticket fines to $78. The fines would be more than in any neighboring city and, in certain cases, nearly twice the amount charged elsewhere in Los Angeles County. If the City Council approves the proposed increase, the sixth in the last seven years, the cost of a street-sweeping violation will have risen 73 percent since 2005, when Villaraigosa was elected. Source: Los Angeles Times
Former Glendale councilman indicted Former Glendale Councilman John Drayman has been indicted on charges he embezzled between $304,000 and $880,000 from the weekly farmers market in Montrose The charge include one count of embezzlement, 10 counts of filing false tax returns, five counts of money laundering, three counts of forgery, one count filing a false financial statement and eight counts of perjury by declaration. Source: Los Angeles Times, Glendale News-Press
NATIONAL Feds may seek fines against Wells Fargo in mortgage-lending probe Federal authorities have advised Wells Fargo & Co. that they may seek damages and fines for alleged discrimination in mortgage lending. In a Securities and Exchange Commission filing on May 8, the San Francisco bank disclosed the latest development in an ongoing investigation. Wells Fargo has long been among the largest mortgage lenders and emerged in the first quarter as the overwhelming leader, with 34 percent market share compared to under 11 percent for runner-up JPMorgan Chase. Source: Los Angeles Times
Al-Qaida bombmakers evolving, officials say Investigators were studying an explosive device May 9 that they say terrorists in Yemen crafted to slip past airport metal detectors and onto an airplane bound for the United States. The device, designed to be hidden inside a printer, is more sophisticated than previous efforts and represents a disconcerting advance in al-Qaida bomb making techniques, officials said. Source: CNN
Senate Republicans block student loan rate bill Senate Republicans blocked consideration of a Democratic bill to prevent the doubling of some student loan interest rates May 9, two months before rates are set to double. The vote marked the 21st successful filibuster of a Democratic bill this Congress. Republicans have blocked consideration of the president’s full jobs proposal, as well as legislation repealing tax breaks for oil companies and setting a minimum tax rate for households earning more than $1 million a year. Source: The New York Times
GLOBAL
Libyan ex-rebels attack in protest Former rebels attacked the office of Libya's interim prime minister in central Tripoli on May 8 in an apparent protest over outstanding payments promised by the government to ex-fighters, witnesses said. There have been delays in these payments and similar protests have taken place, including one last month when former rebels opened fire inside the prime minister's building. Thousands of former rebels are still heavily armed, and the government has not been able to disarm them. Source: CNN
Children’s book author dies at 83 Maurice Sendak, author of the classic children’s book “Where the Wild Things Are,” died May 8 of complications from a recent stroke in Danbury, Conn. "Where the Wild Things Are" won the Caldecott Medal in 1964, considered the most prestigious award for illustrated children's books. It tells the story of a boy named Max who dresses in a white wolf costume and escapes his life at home by sailing to a remote land, where he discovers wild things who roar their terrible roars and gnash their terrible teeth. It was also made into a feature film in 2009. Source: CNN
Israeli court rejects prisoners’ release Israel’s Supreme Court on Monday rejected appeals for the release of two Palestinian prisoners who have been on a hunger strike for 69 days to protest their incarceration without formal charges. Yet the judges expressed unease over aspects of these particular cases and suggested that the authorities consider alternative approaches. one of the judges suggested that given the deteriorating health of the men, the authorities could consider the option of releasing them on parole. Source: New York Times
CLARIONnews
MAY 9, 2012
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Forum explores ‘why politics matter’ Matthew Hutchings Clarion Correspondent
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olitics matters because its outcome affects us. That was the take away from the spirited discussion at the second annual “Why Politics Matter” forum on April 25. The guest speakers were Tim Shaw, district coordinator for Bob Huff, (R-Diamond Bar) and Manuel Saucedo, district coordinator for Assembly Member Norma J. Torres (D-Chino), who was absent that day. The moderator, political science professor David Milbrandt, jumped in occasionally with a progressive counterpoint to Tim Shaw’s conservative observations, to ensure the debate was even. The forum started off with Shaw explaining how he got into politics. His first ambition was to be a pilot, and he earned a degree in aviation from Mt. SAC as well as his pilot’s license. He changed his mind, however, and went back to school, earning his master’s in government from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He then moved back to California to go to work for then Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 2010 reelection campaign. Nowadays he sits on the county board of supervisors and the city council of La Habra, where he has been elected as mayor, as well as working for Huff. Milbrandt queried Shaw about the ups and downs of his various positions in government, what he likes about his job (“helping to speed up unemployment and drivers license applications,”) and also what he
doesn’t (“cynical screamers on the phone, people who say ‘oh the government’s’ doing this to me and the government’s doing that to me’ ”). They discussed special interests in politics, and Shaw expressed support for the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, saying that it leveled the playing field. His opinion on direct democracy was mixed. “When the legislature is paralyzed, the voters can break the deadlock, however, very few citizen-driven petitions pass. Those people you see standing around asking for signatures are usually getting paid a salary,” Shaw said. His proposed solution to the budget crisis was “a stronger economy” and “more jobs, less people dependant on welfare.” Shaw ripped into Brown’s current tax plan, which calls for the richest Californians to pay higher taxes. “Nothing is quite so mobile as a rich man with money” he said. “They’ll leave, a percentage of them [if rates go up]. California is already highly dependent on the super rich. We need to simplify the tax code, eliminate some of the deductions and lower the rate.” Shaw also offered the audience advice on how to deal with a scandal. “What you want to do is get the story out to all the papers at once, rather than having it leak out a bit at a time,” he said. The audience was a fairly diverse selection of students both ethnically and politically. One student asked: “Why does California have a terrible budget crisis? Why wasn’t this
Shane Rodriguez, Citrus College Clarion Political science professor David Millbrandt discusses political issues with guest speaker Tim Shaw during the “Why Politics Matter” forum in the CI building on April 25.
caught long before it happened?” “California’s revenue fluctuates wildly, and the real estate crisis hit us really hard,” Shaw said, referencing his earlier statement about California’s dependence on the super wealthy for tax revenue. When another student asked when he thought the state would pull out of its current financial rut, Shaw laughed. “I wish I could be more optimistic. Sorry,” he said. The talk turned to immigration, which inspired some heated debate between the people who thought the current situation was creating a large population of secondclass citizens, and the people, Shaw included, who felt that amnesty was simply rewarding law-breakers. “Any time we’re giving out a benefit, it turns on a magnet, incentivizing illegal immigration,” Shaw said, taking aim at the amnesty provision of the Dream Act. “Reagan compromised with the Califor-
nia Democrats on amnesty in the 80’s and that was supposed to be the only time,” he said, referring to the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Among those taking this view was a student named Liliana, who declined to give her last name. A Russian immigrant from the former Soviet Union, she finally achieved citizenship recently, after 15 years of trying. “I left right after Perestroika,” she said. “I like the idea of personal freedom, of having choices, and America is really the only place left with those same ideas. You can’t go anywhere else.” On the other side of the debate was Cresencio Calderon, a political science major enrolled in a global politics class. “I care for the well being of my community,” he said. “I am looking forward to one day being a politician because I think we can get through all this together.”
Rally gathers support, donations for slain teens Sydney Presley Clarion Editor in Chief
“I am Trayvon Martin” was the overall theme of the rally that took place on April 26 at the West Angeles Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles honoring the slain Florida teen Trayvon Martin and Citrus College student Kendrec McDade, who was killed by Pasadena police after a 911 call falsely stating that McDade was armed in March. The rally was hosted by radio personality Power 106 Big Boy, with preachings from Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. Jesse Jackson and other religious, community and civil rights leaders, as well as the Martin and McDade families. “What kind of country are we if we can put a black man in the White House but can’t let a black teenager walk through a neighborhood in South Florida?” Sharpton said. Sharpton collected donations from the congregation, raising thousands of dollars for the Justice for Trayvon Martin Foundation, including a $500 donation from Sharpton himself. Other speakers cited the numerous cases of wrongful death like Oscar Grant, who was fatally shot by BART police in Oakland in 2009 and James Craig Anderson, who was run over by two white teens in a
Rev. Jesse Jackson
pickup truck in Jackson, Mississippi last year. Kenneth McDade, Kendrec McDade’s father, offered foreboding words to the city of Pasadena. “Pasadena, you have nowhere to hide. We are coming for you,” McDade said. “A few weeks ago, I was scared of police, too,” McDade said. “But they took something from me that made me want to stand up and give them a piece of my mind.” The McDade family was accompanied by their attorney Caree Harper who said that they are “fresh out of patience.” “As medieval as they got with Kendrec McDade on March 24, that’s how medieval my office is
gonna get with them,” Harper said. The McDade family has filed a wrongful death and civil rights lawsuit against the city of Pasadena. Comedian Paul Rodriguez, who said he was heart broken when he found out that the shooter of Martin was Hispanic, called for a joining of the Hispanic and black communities. “I’ve been Hispanic for a long time, and I’ve never met a Zimmerman,” Rodriguez said. Many of those who spoke at the rally called for a repeal of Florida’s Stand Your Ground law, that states that a person may use force in self defense when there is a reasonable belief of threat. Pastor Jamal Bryant urged the congregation to not only make this a moment, but rather a movement. “They thought we were gonna be done with this in March, but we are still black in April,” Bryant said. Math professor David Casey was not in attendance of the rally, however, did have McDade as a student last Fall in his Math 130 class. He said that McDade was quiet but looked like a devoted football player. “I have really mixed feelings because he just didn’t deserve to die. But on the other hand, I feel for the cops because I think if
Sydney Presley, Citrus College Clarion Trayvon Martin’s father, Tracy Martin, calls for justice at a rally for the slain teens at West Angeles Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles on April 26.
they had not been misled I don’t know whether they would have done this. It’s a hard case,” Casey said. George Zimmerman has been charged with second-degree murder for the Feb. 26 shooting of the Florida teen and is currently awaiting trial.
The 17-year-old who was allegedly with McDade, has admitted to a role in the March 24 burglary of a laptop from a parked car that led to the Pasadena police shooting. He has been sentenced to six months in a juvenile camp.
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CLARIONnews
MAY 9, 2012
Sustainability forum set to Citrus targeted pilot summer template
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Taylor Zepeda Clarion Staff Writer
Most of us have that (recycling) culture at home, but we need to bring that everywhere.
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tudents sponsored an allcampus forum on April 24 to present a sustainability plan model for the state developed by administrators. Students and staff provided information on the Sustainability Template that Citrus College has put together to be more environmentally conscious on using resources more efficiently, and reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions. The plan is a template that Citrus “hopes will last forever,” said Bob Bradshaw, construction project manager. “Most of us have that (recycling) culture at home, but we need to bring that everywhere,” Bradshaw said. Students represented various campus groups such as Earth Club, DEEP (Developing Energy Efficiency Professionals), Volunteer Corps and ASCC (Associated Students of Citrus College). Participants offered advice on how to make the campus more eco-friendly, suggesting that students spread the word through media outlets, including the Clarion. Citrus College offers recycling bags for paper in various locations on campus, wind generated elec-
Bob Bradshaw PROJECT MANAGER
Bob Bradshaw
tricity, and has constructed a central plant that uses high efficiency boilers to heat and cool campus buildings. “Citrus uses heat sensor monitors to determine if someone is in a room, and if they are not, the lights turn off,” said Luke Vogel, a student from DEEP. The Citrus College template became an example for other schools and businesses to follow their template, said Carol Horton, vice president of facilities. Students also presented simple ways for everyone to develop of sustainability mindset, such as: don’t water in the morning or everyday, use a moisture meter, and recycle waste products through programs such as the TerraCycle Brigades.
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Geraldine M. Perri, Ph.D, accepted an energy and sustainability award on behalf of the college. Such leadership proves that the Citrus community is taking an active role in being environmentally friendly, said Art Corral, 30, Volunteer Corps member. The Sustainability Template is implemented through a partnership with Citrus College, the CCC (California Community College System), and the California Energy Commission. Starting in June 2012, Citrus College will be activating the plan on campus, and then making it available for access. By creating this Sustainability Template, Citrus College is hoping to see a ripple effect throughout the community.
by second bomb threat in 33 days
David Tate Clarion Sports Editor
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or the second time in five weeks, two Citrus College buildings were the target of a bomb threat. According to police officials, a 911 call was made from a pay phone located at the intersection of Arrow Highway and Covina Avenue in Azusa May 7 at approximately 6 p.m. The caller said he overheard two students talking about a suspicious package left in either the MA building or the library, then hung up without providing any further information. Police arrived on campus five minutes later and conducted a sweep of both buildings after students were evacuated from the immediate area. Shalane Goss, a 20-year-old English major, was less than thrilled with the campus’ third evacuation as a result of a bomb threat in less than nine
months. “It makes me want to drop out of Citrus College,” Goss said. “If I weren’t going to London in the fall, I would leave, no doubt about it.” Police officials urged caution, while acknowledging the chances of an actual bomb in the area were slim. “To be honest with you, a lot of these times these are based on college pranks,” said Glendora police officer Sgt. Matt Egan, “But we can’t ever dismiss it, we have to take [the threat] seriously. Safety is the best policy.” After officers completed their search, the library was reopened at 6:41 p.m., followed by the math building about 10 minutes later. “Campus security and the police are doing a great job preserving the safety of our students,” said Citrus administrator on duty Richard Ghidella. No classes were cancelled as a result of the threat.
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Spotlight Editor
Danny Hernandez
theclariononline.com
May 9, 2012
SPOTLIGHT
Student government is looking for new leaders Cha-Chen Hsu Clarion Staff Writer
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he elections for next year’s student government leaders is fast approaching. The open positions for the executive board for the Associated Students of Citrus College include president, vice president, legislative liaison, and seven senators. The ASCC is composed of all students who pay the student service fee, which is $14 per semester, along with class registration fees. The deadline for candidates to submit application for ballot position and supporting materials is 2 p.m. on May 24. An estimated 10-12 potential candidates have already turned in their applications and wait for approval, according to Student Life officers. All eligible candidates will have a chance to participate in the Candidates’ Forum at 11 a.m. on May 29. The Candidates’ Forum is taking place in the Campus Center Mall so that all students may choose the best student representatives according to the candidates’ opinions. The members of ASCC’s executive board are in charge of a variety of educational and social activities on campus. They also fund student clubs’ expenses for their attending inter-school conferences and a number of sports games that take place off campus. Adrienne Thompson, supervisor of Student Life said, “Being a member of student government allows students an opportunity to serve their fellow students, affect students, af-
Chia-Chen Hsu, Citrus College Clarion Associated Students of Citrus College president Michelle Mockler, vice president Walter Galvez, student trustee Nohemi Camacho and student trustee elect Crescencio Calderon meet with their board to discuss student government events.
fect change on campus, plan activities and grow as a leader.” Thompson said that the experience of serving the community brings an added bonus when students are applying for scholarships and universities. To qualify for running the ASCC office, a candidate must be currently enrolled in seven or more units, be a member of ASCC, and must not be on academic or disciplinary probation. A qualified senator must hold a cumulative GPA of at least 2.3; president, vice president, legislative liaison, 2.5. The election is scheduled on June 5 and 6 between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. in the Campus Center Mall. The minimum criteria for elected senators
is 50 votes and the other three open positions must poll a majority of the votes cast for their offices. “Students should be aware that being a member of student government is a lot of responsibility and the expectations for performance are high,” Thompson said. Crescencio Calderon, the student trustee elect, said, “Being part of the ASCC is like being exposed to the backstage of the school, in a way.” “I get to see how everything actually works. I get to collaborate with all these committed students so these students will feel how I feel,” Calderon said. “We want to make a change, what we commit to the school and to the community. That’s probably the best thing I get out of this.”
Calderon’s term is determined by state law and it consists of three semesters, one as student trustee elect, and two as the student tustee. His term ends in June 2013. During the time serving in ASCC office, Calderon planned the blood drive in April 2012 which turned out to be an extraordinarily successful event. Being part of the executive board of ASCC, Calderon found plenty of opportunities to participate in many issues off campus. For example, he serves as the President of HOPE, the AB540 support group at Citrus College, and explores more to help the benefits for all undocumented students in California. “It’s a lot of work. There’re a lot of things you do on the side but it’s very worthy at the end,” Calderon said. Brandi Garcia, the commissioner of public relations and commissioner of activities, also encouraged students to join the public affairs on campus. By offering her own experience, Garcia said, “The main motivation is that I felt I had other facets of talent to utilize on what I was doing. And I wanted to explore those.” “I wanted to help out the campus and see how it can benefit from my talent,” Garcia said. “It sounds a little overconfident but I know I had more to offer.” All executive members are required to attend every regular and special meeting and enroll in the student government class. Application packets are now available in the Office of Student Life located in the Handy Campus Center. For further information, please call (626)852-6444.
CLARIONspotlight
MAY 9, 2012
theclariononline.com
Professor, published poet helps students find a voice David Tate Clarion Sports editor
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ather Time must consider Luivette Resto a favored daughter. The world’s silent sentinel seems to have turned a blind eye to the maturation of the 34-year-old poet/professor—her youthful features, framed by closely cropped charcoal locks, allow her to blend almost seamlessly into the Citrus student body. The stereotypical image of a redpen-wielding, pantsuit-wearing, frumpy old English teacher isn’t entirely false—she does use a red pen—but Resto can often be seen around campus wearing hoodies and hoop earrings, a Wonder Woman curio and flip-flops that show off a butterfly tattoo adorning the top of her left foot, when it isn’t covered up by calf-high leather boots. Intending to study law, Resto was admitted to Cornell University in 1995. After receiving an “easy A” in
a creative writing course, she rediscovered her passion for prose after a teacher recommendation nudged her down a path made of stanzas and syllables. Her first book, a collection of poems titled “Unfinished Portrait,” was published in 2008, covering topics ranging from love to insect stalkers. “For me, poetry is second nature. It’s like breathing, it’s like living,” she says. “A poet’s job is to document the past. [We] write about the people who have been silenced . . . My job [as a poet] is to take that and let my writing be your voice.” Resto also found a new outlet for expression while attending graduate school: teaching. “When I look at a class, I see possibility, I see future writers,” Resto says. “I’ve encountered a lot of students who think they aren’t very good at writing, and I try every semester to change their perspective on that. Writing is not Shakespeare all the time.” In today’s class, Kurt Vonnegut’s
“Harrison Bergeron” is on the table, waiting to be dissected by Resto and 20 of her English 101 students. She dances back and forth between the twin whiteboards, conversing in her typical rapid-fire style, scribbling notes with dry erase marker in one hand and gesturing with the other. This professor becomes chief of surgery in this literary operating room, handing out metaphorical scalpels to her pupils while providing expert guidance along the way. The students are comfortable here. Questions are answered, jokes are cracked, plot devices are mastered. “[The class] is more discussion based, rather than coming up with your own analysis and presenting it to a professor to have them say yea or nay,” says Samuel Habib, a 20year-old English major in Resto’s English 101 class. “Everything’s open for discussion. There’s no right or wrong answer, that’s what I enjoy about it.” “We’re more involved [as students],” says Ivette Valdovinos, 21, another student of Resto’s. “The
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David Tate, Citrus College Clarion Professor Luivette Resto leads students through an analysis of “Harrison Bergeron” in her ENG 101 class. Resto’s book of poetry, “Unfinished Por trait” is available in the library.
conversations in class really help me understand the stories better.” The professor also hosted two poetry workshops over the spring 2012 semester, and will conduct a poetry reading in June, partially motivated by a fear of the arts becoming marginalized in schools. “I don’t think guidance coun-
selors are looking at high school students and [seeing] the next Van Gogh,” Resto says. “I get nervous because we don’t know who the next great poet or Pulitzer Prize-winning author could be.” The poet/professor will host the poetry reading June 1, 6 p.m. in the Center for Innovation.
New volunteer program promotes involvement Cristian Manrique Clarion Staff Writer
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he Volunteer Corps is a new program that officially started March 26 when student volunteers made their first announcements in the classrooms. Volunteer Corps is run by Associated Students of Citrus College members Andrea Zapata and Art Corral and advised by Student Life supervisor Adrienne Thompson. The Volunteer Corps is about getting students engaged in class and community to develop student participants to be leaders. “I think what they’re doing is a fantastic service to the college,” Thompson said. The volunteers want to inspire their classmates about their education. The program is about “trying to make the biggest impact in the classroom,” Corral said. Zapata said “we’re here to let other students know about the academic resources, as well as counseling, student employment services, anything along the line that can help push them and move them forward.” The volunteers want to start study groups, be considerate of their classmates, make announcements, get to know their classmates, and help other students.
Cristian Manrique, Citrus College Clarion ASCC commissioneratlarge Andrea Zapata and former ASCC senator Art Corral both are in charge of managing the Volunteer Corps program.
The volunteers do all this in their own classrooms rather than visiting other classes. Corral said, “Announcements are to get our foot inside the door,” on informing students about what Volunteer Corps is doing. “Often times there are a lot of students
struggling in our own classes and we don’t even realize it. They don’t even say anything because they are so shy.” Zapata said, “But once they see like a study group you know moving, going forward then you know they kind of move for-
ward and say ‘ok I’ll do it’ and that’s our primary, that’s what really drives us.” Zapata and Corral will be “leading by example, trying to get members to do the same thing as well and having a good time doing it.” The Volunteer Corps has 24 members signed up thus far. “[Right now], we want to keep it small and focused,” Zapata said. But students can still apply by contacting volunteercorp@gmail.com, to get an application talk with Zapata and Corral. They are looking for leaders with strong personalities who are motivated to serve as examples in the community. Volunteers must have a 2.3 GPA, be driven, have community values, and value education. “Biggest requirement is that you have to care,” Corral said. The Volunteer Corps does not sponsor its own events but they do get together to see how they can improve, get their name out there and get involved with other campus organizations to assist them in their goals. “We’re behind the scenes on certain events,” Zapata said. “Our goals are to get results, to get students to move forward in their education.”
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CLARIONspotlight
MAY 9, 2012
Only motivated need apply for Honors Program David Tate Clarion Sports Editor
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tudents finding it harder to register for classes these days might not know there is a program that can offer them priority registration, along with smaller class sizes and a fast-track to some of the nation’s more prestigious universities. The Honors Program has been operating at Citrus since the fall of 2001. Former students have transferred to colleges around the country, including Columbia, Stanford, and UCLA. Brian Waddington has headed the program since the fall semester of 2006. Although he was never an honors student while at UC Berkeley, he said a different type of academic experience allowed him to relate to students under his supervision. “I worked full-time through school,” said Waddington. “I felt almost [more] grounded as a full-time worker than a student.” Fine arts major Joshua Ramirez, 24, only had positive words to describe his experience with the Honors Program under Waddington’s tutelage. He recently completed the
David Tate, Citrus College Clarion Professor Brian Waddington meets with Brandon Odele, a student in his HIST 107 class. Waddington is also the head of the Citrus Honors Program.
program last fall. “I think [Waddington] changed my life,” Ramirez said. “I see him as a father figure in a sense. He took me under his wing and told me, ‘This is what you need to do to achieve’ . . . It’s really rare to find a teacher that goes out of their way to take their struggles and relates them
to [yours].” Current and former honors students interviewed all believed the smaller class sizes and increased teacher interaction created a better learning atmosphere than compared to non-honors courses. Emil Nguyen, 32,political science major at UC Berkeley who attended
Citrus from 2008-11. He joined the Honors Program in order to get priority registration, but said he gained a lot more than the option to easily construct a classroom schedule. He credits the Honors Program with helping him prepare for the challenges of attending a four-year university. “Professor Waddington’s [HIST 107H] class is pretty much what you would experience at the university level,” Nguyen said. “I did well in my academics at Citrus, but I didn’t know how difficult it would be at a UC program.” Carolyn Perry, the head of the program from 2000-06, teaches honors classes in child growth and development. She said the smaller class size also has an effect on the way instructors are able to teach. “It gives you the chance to know a student’s strengths and weaknesses better on an individual basis,” Perry said. “If there’s something that a group of students aren’t getting it’s a little bit easier to address that.” “It’s like a mom that has one child [compared to] ten. The one gets a lot more attention than the ten.” Nguyen said that the increased communication is key to his success
at Berkeley. “You can build a rapport with the professor,” he said. “More often than not, you can talk to your professors directly, and you need that at the university level.” A sense of competition is a motivating factor for students in the program. An increased workload begets a greater work ethic, or students face failure, said Ramirez. “It’s not about how smart you are, it’s about how dedicated you are,” Ramirez said. “The reason I get good grades isn’t because I’m smart, it’s because I work hard, I just outwork everybody. That’s what the Honors Program teaches you.” “The Honors Program taught me not only how to study, but how to carry myself with my head up high.” Ramirez has plans on transferring to either USC or Stanford. Students interesting in applying for the Honors Program can email BWaddington@citruscollege.edu. Applications and program prerequisites can be viewed at http://www.citruscollege.edu/academics/honors/. Student eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis.
Stricter requirements arise for transfer students Patricia Pena Clarion Staff Writer
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ince its implementation on Sept. 9, 2010, the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act (SB 1440), has offered prepared students promising opportunities to transfer. As explained by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s office, the bill, signed by Senator Padilla of Pacoima, enables Community Colleges and California State Universities to work together to create a transfer program offering associate degrees—(AS-T and AAT)—as well as guaranteed junior standing admission to a Cal State. Specific major-based associate degrees are granted to those students who complete all required courses. Beginning the fall of 2011-12 academic year, Citrus has participated by offering six different Associate of Science and Associate of arts transfer degrees. “The faculty wants to see as
many students transfer as possible,” said Justina Rivadeneyra, Career/Transfer Center coordinator at Citrus. She said that they are working to create as many different field-specific associate degrees. To receive an AS-T of AA-T, students must complete 60 semester units or 90 quarter units accepted for transfer by the CSU with a minimum 2.0 GPA. General education courses required to transfer to UC and CSU—IGETC and CSU Breadth—must be completed, as well as 18 units in the desired major. Selecting a major is important to increase admission chances. If a student chooses an impacted major such as, sociology or psychology, admission to a college may be more difficult as colleges may require a higher GPA. Once the requirements have been met, recipients of the transfer degree will be admitted to a CSU. Rivadeneyra explained that pre-
ferred choice of schools is not certain, but an open spot at another college is guaranteed. “If you have an AA-T or AS-T and are denied to your first choice campus, the CSU will redirect your application to the next nearest ‘similar’ major campus until you are granted admission,” Rivadeneyra said. If the CSU can agree to grant the student a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree after the 60 units have been completed, then the desired major can be classified as “similar.” It is entirely up to the college if a student’s major is or is not deemed as “similar.” If not, the student may still transfer but graduation may take longer. Considering the fact that with few exceptions, the CSU has frozen spring 2013 admissions, Rivadeneyra highly recommends that students take advantage of what is being offered. The CSU recently announced
that only eight campuses— Channel Islands, Chico, East Bay, Fullerton, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Bernardino, and Sonoma—will open spring 2013 admissions only for those who complete an Associate of Arts transfer degree. “Make sure you work with your counselor,” Rivadeneyra said. “There are many benefits to an AAT or AS-T. You just need to pay close attention to the details.” Student Maryel Albarran, 23, is excited to learn more about the AST and AA-T since she is ready to apply and hopes to transfer by next spring. “The transfer degree is an excellent opportunity for transfer students like myself, who are struggling to relocate,” Albarran For additional information about the AS-T and AA-T degree, visit http://www.sb1440.org/ or http://californiacommunitycolleges.cccco.edu and make an appointment with a Citrus counselor.
Transfer degrees currently available:
Administration of Justice Communication Studies Early Childhood Education Mathematics Psychology Sociology
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MAY 9, 2012
Testing ‘Lady Luck’ at Casino Day Ryan Gomez Clarion Staff Writer
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he Cuban-themed “Casino Day” kicked off the 22nd annual SpringFest celebration April 30 in the Campus Center. Student government and campus club officers transformed the multi-purpose room into a casinolike environment, full of games and excitement. “We have had such an astounding turnout,” said Brandi Garcia, ASCC commissioner of activities and SpringFest organizer. Opening at 11 a.m., the casino attracted 90 active players within the first hour, 100 by 1 p.m. and a total of 119 by the end of the day, featuring eight Blackjack tables, a craps table and roulette table— all courtesy of West LA Poker. A faculty or staff member ran each table—all of which were treated to meal vouchers for the food trucks during the week’s activities. “We didn’t expect this kind of turnout, but it’s so great to see everybody enjoying themselves,” said
Olivia Wagner, a member of the Campus Activity Board. Casino participants were given $300 in “funny money” which they could later “cash-in” for a chance to win various prizes. “The tables were full almost all day,” said Jaden Hathaway, Gay Straight Alliance vice president. “All of the dealers were super nice and it looked like everyone was having a good time.” In addition to the casino-themed decorations that were strewn throughout the Campus Center, there was Cuban-inspired décor coordinated with the SpringFest theme: “Hot In the City.” The center’s television and stereo systems featured Cuban music, including Buena Vista Social Club. The enthusiastic student turnout and faculty participation set the tone for the remainder of the SpringFest week. “I think Casino Day went great,” Hathaway said. “I even played a few rounds of roulette; it was a lot of fun.”
Lauren Emery, Citrus College Clario
Students playing Texas Hold ‘em in the Campus Center during day one of SpringFest 2012, April 30.
Sprin
Food trucks in sync with lip-sync Daniel Hernandez Clarion Spotlight Editor
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he Associated Students of Citrus College hosted their third day of SpringFest on May 2, continuing to bring more activities to entertain students and carry along their four-day themed event, “Hot in the City.” Clubs were given the opportunity to invite their fellow students to a “Spring Bash in South Beach” by setting up booths to either promote their club, have games or sell food items. “It was raining, so we knew that we may not get any traffic, but it was absolutely bumping,” said Brandi Garcia, ASCC commissioner of activities. ASCC traditionally hosts this particular club day event near the Owl Fountain in the Campus Center Mall, but had to set up inside the Campus Center due to the rainy weather. Clubs set up booths throughout the Campus Center. A stage for the lip-syncing contest and tables for students to sit and eat were also set up with decorations. In keeping up with the theme, Citrus student DJ Ghandy Soria played Latin music. “I’m really proud of how the clubs responded with the poor weather, we spent hours and hours planning to host it outside,” said Inter-Club Council advisor Kyle Greenburg. On this day, clubs competed with each other in four contests which included lip syncing, booth decorating the theme of “Iconic
Florida,” Frisbee toss and a whiffle golf driving contest. The Photography Club had a booth to promote their upcoming Mother’s Day Family Portrait event and was also photographing students, two pictures for $5, in front of a student-made South Beach themed backdrop. The Gay Straight Alliance Club made a significant presence at this years SpringFest, dominating the club contests with two wins - the lip syncing and Frisbee toss contests - out of the four competitions, as well as hosting a shootthe-can activity for 50 cents. The Latinos Unidos Student Association club were selling Mexican candy bags $2 for a large bag and $1 for a small bag. Other clubs that participated included Alpha Gamma Sigma Honors Society, Film Club, Earth Day, Rotract Club, Students For Access, Anime Club and Cheerleading Club. Out in the Campus Center Mall, four food trucks were featured and ASCC gave out $3.50 food vouchers to students with their ASCC sticker. The trucks included, The Slummin’ Gourmet, Komodo Truck, No Jodas Cuban Kitchen and Longboards Ice Cream. “An event like this is primarily a community based event; it’s primarily based around social skills and community building,” Greenburg said. “Having the clubs come and being able to entertain, talk to other students, gives them a chance to feel like they belong on campus.”
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Austin Paul Adamson
No Jodas Cuban Kitchen’s ‘Mediano wich. The No Jodas truck was one o Campus Center Mall during day thre 2.
Patricia Pena, Citrus College Clarion
GayStraight Alliance member Stefano Saltalamacchia partici pated in the lipsynching contest during day three of SpringFest 2012 on May 2. Saltalamacchia won first place.
CLARIONspotlight
MAY 9, 2012
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Lasers, Daft Punk and pink flamingos
Students par ticipating in the laser tag tournament in the Campus Center during day two of SpringFest 2012, May 1.
on
Rudy Reynoso, Citrus College Clarion
ngFest
Danielle Rodriguez Clarion Staff Writer
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tudents had the opportunity to test their laser shooting skills while relieving some stress in the Campus Center turned laser tag arena on day two of SpringFest, May 1. To play, students needed to show their ASCC sticker on the back of their ID card and sign a liability form. The Campus Center was taken over by obstacles set up by the company Lazer Xpress. To add to the ambiance and Miami theme, pink flamingos were displayed, lights were turned off and Daft Punk music from the “Tron: Legacy” soundtrack was played. “The ‘Tron: Legacy’ soundtrack totally set the mood,” said Angelo Villaflor, 20, a theatre arts major from Glendora. Villaflor was one player involved in a sudden death match caused by a tie. His team easily won when he and four teammates ambushed the last member of the opposing team. More than 60 students participated in laser tag until the area
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n, Citrus College Clarion
oche’, a hot Cuban sand of four food trucks in the ee of SpringFest on May
was closed off for club representatives, who were also selling food outside, to play against each other from 2 to 3 p.m. Alejandra Morales, secretary of HOPE, explained how SpringFest was helping to accomplish the club’s goal to start a scholarship for AB 540 students. “Just the fact that its SpringFest and all the students come and get to see the clubs together is great, we have done really great ourselves,” said Morales, “ The fact that we get to share our beliefs and who we are [with students] is beneficial.” Despite the cold weather, many students came out to support clubs and play laser tag. Brandi Garcia, ASCC commissioner of public relations, was optimistic about the turn out the first days of SpringFest despite the immense amount of work required from her and other ASCC members to create activities each day to help students overcome stress. “I want students to say everyday ‘well there’s the party’,” said Garcia, “We want to create the environment of relieving stress.”
Fiesta de la Hispanic culturas
Daniel Hernandez Clarion Spotlight Editor
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n the closing day of the four-day SpringFest event held on May 3, the Associated Students of Citrus College offered a celebration of Hispanic cultures, “Calle Ocho Fiesta” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Several clubs were also present at this event and each had a booth representing a Latin country. The Anime Club’s booth represented Nicaragua by dressing up in Nicaraguan clothes and offering food samples such as fried cheese and fried plantains.
The Latinos Unidos Student Association Club represented Mexico and filled their booth with posters featuring prominent people in Mexico. LUSA also sold agua de horchata for $1. Cheer Club was representing Spain and had booth decorated with the flags colors to raise awareness of their club. The Photography Club represented Guatemala and said they had this booth to continue to promote their upcoming Mother’s Day Family Portrait. Lastly, the Psychology Club represented Cuba. ASCC brought comedian Richard Villa to the event.
Patricia Pena, Citrus College Clarion
The Latinos Unidos Student Association Club sold horchata for a dollar a cup in the Campus Center during day four of SpringFest 2012, Fiesta Day.
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MAY 9, 2012
Sports Editor
David Tate
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SPORTS Fabulous freshmen’s season finally fizzles out David Tate Clarion Sports Editor
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he top of the fourth inning of the # 12 Owls’ (25-17) winner-take-all Game 3 against the #5 Riverside Tigers (30-12) began with a routine groundout to freshman pitcher Devin Dean, who threw to freshman first baseman Shyann Ramirez for the easy out. What wasn’t routine was what happened next. Ramirez’s throw back to Dean soared over her head and outstretched glove, past freshman shortstop Amanda Salazar and skipped through the infield dirt—all before settling in the grass of shallow left field. The errant throw was harmless, but it was a microcosm of the Owls’ final two games against the Tigers—freshmen making freshmen mistakes. After a one-error, 2-1 victory in Game 1, the Owls would commit five errors over the next two games, making it the second year in a row the team lost in the regional round of the California Community College Athletic Association playoffs. “If you look at it, we lost on errors,” said freshman right fielder Taylor Ward. “We were making plays, they just weren’t the right plays at the right time . . . We beat ourselves.” The most damaging of those errors came in the third inning of Game 2. Dean had just beat the Tigers’ Nichole Zink in Game 1— who was named Southern California’s CCCAA Pitcher of the Year—and was incredibly focused in the first two innings, striking out four Riverside batters along the way. She gave up a leadoff infield single to Kylee Dattilo, but then got third baseman Chelsea Rosario to send a weak grounder right back to the pitcher’s circle. Dean fielded the double play ball cleanly, turned and fired to second. But the throw went wide of second baseman Lauren Vargas.
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We were making plays, they just weren’t the right plays at the right time...we beat ourselves.
TAYLOR WARD FRESHMAN RIGHT FIELDER
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Freshman center fielder Angela Aguinaga was out of position on the play, allowing Rosario to advance to third and Dattilo to score from first as the ball traveled all the way to the center field wall. A sacrifice fly from Natalie Barrios would put the Tigers up 2-0. The Owls managed to pull one run back in the bottom of the fourth, but were never able to recover. Riverside would go on to win 2-1, even though Dean threw a one-hitter. Both of the Tigers’ runs were unearned. “The timing of the error hurt us,” said Owl head coach Jackie Boxley. “That play just dissolved as it happened.” Things only got worse from there for the Owls. Freshman pitcher Carissa Bender (107) started Game 3 in the circle as the Tigers elected to bat first as the visiting squad. Bender gave up three runs on three hits in the first inning, including a two run homer to center by Tiger second baseman Courtney Brown. “Being visitors in [Game 3] really helped us,” said Riverside head coach Michelle Daddona. “We actually had a lot of hard-hit balls in [Game 2], so we were able to get right back
Cristian Manrique, Citrus College Clarion Members of the Citrus softball team walk back to the dugout after a 64 loss to the Riverside Tigers May 6. The loss eliminated Citrus from the playoffs.
at it offensively . . . I think that did work out in our favor.” Dean took over for Bender in the second inning after both teams had scored another run to make it 4-1 Tigers. The fatigue of pitching more than 300 pitches in just two days finally took its effect in the top of the fifth, where Dean gave up a leadoff homer and a run off a sacrifice fly to push the Riverside lead to 61. The score would remain the same until the bottom of the sixth. With two outs and runners on second and third, Ward gave the Owls life when she crushed a three-run home run to cut the deficit to 6-4. The Owls had a chance to win or tie the game when the same opportunity presented itself in the bottom of the seventh—runners on
second and third, two outs. Rebecca Ireland represented the go-ahead run at the plate, but popped up to shortstop to end the Owls’ season. The team huddled on the field with the coaching staff after the game for about 15 minutes. They emerged optimistic about the results of this year’s season, with most (if not all) of their 15 freshmen expected to return. “I think we’ve come a long way,” said freshman third baseman Bre Lockett. “We knew we had a lot of talent, it just took a while [for us to show it]. When we put it all together, we feel like we can beat anyone.” Boxley was a little more succinct. “I’ve been saying it all year,” Boxley said. “I love this team.”
Athlete, dancer: all over the place Patricia Pena Clarion Staff Writer
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David Tate, Citrus College Clarion Owl right fielder Taylor Ward prepares to slide home in a softball game against LA Mission April 10. Ward is also an active jazz dancer.
or freshman right fielder Taylor Ward, playing on the Citrus softball team is simply another one of the countless activities that keeps her busy. Ward takes 12 units at Citrus and spends 10 to 12 hours a week at softball practice, yet finds time to pursue her passions of jazz and contemporary dancing. “When I’m not busy is when I slack off,” Ward said of her time management skills. Ward has been dancing since the seventh grade when she joined her middle school dance team and she participated on Claremont High School’s dance team for four years. Ward is rehearsing for the upcoming Rancho Cucamonga musical “Seussical,” having just finished competing in the California Community College Athletic Association softball playoffs. “Dancing is more emotional,” Ward said, comparing softball and dance. “I can express my life through it.” She said the athletic requirements for dance are just as demanding as softball, but she enjoys working hard and constantly finding new ways to improve. “I'm excited to see where dance takes me in the next few months
and how far I can reach with that because it’s one thing I'm truly passionate about,” Ward said. “Softball is more of my major thing right now and I’m having fun with that.” Ward says she enjoys playing right field because of the pressures involved in the outskirts of the diamond. “Softball is more competitive,” Ward said. “I can get angry, dirty, and be united with a team.” Ward said that her family is highly supportive of both her dancing and softball pursuits, making it difficult for her to choose a favorite. “Making a decision seems impossible at this point because I don't know what is out there for me in dance,” Ward said. “The thought of how much better I can become in softball and the level of our team makes me question whether I should leave. I can’t give in one way or the other.” Aside from involvement in softball and dance, Ward enjoys camping at the beach with her family, surfing, kayaking, baking, reading, drawing and said she can spend an eternity viewing videos on YouTube. Her enthusiasm for the arts has helped her establish her future goals and aspirations, and Ward plans to major in architecture and minor in dance.
Ward returned to softball after a two-year break—caused by her participation in dance—and she admits that it has been somewhat difficult playing the sport at a college level. “It requires abundant consistency. It’s more demanding than high school or travel ball where most of the time, you’re just having fun,” Ward said. “But I actually enjoy it because I am a very particular person so it’s challenging.” Ward expressed that she believes her confidence and abilities in softball have exceeded beyond her expectations making her a great player. She also really enjoys being part of the team, where she builds new friendships with the rest of the girls. When the spring 2012 semester comes to an end, Ward plans on participating in dance the entire summer, but practicing softball to stay in shape. She said she has not yet decided which one she will commit to in the following semester. “I’m happy where I am,” Ward said. Ward plans to complete her general education at Citrus and hopes to transfer to the University of San Diego, Cal State Fullerton, or UC Irvine to further her education.
CLARIONsports
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MAY 9, 2012
Error-riddled season comes to a close Chia-Chen Hsu
Clarion Staff Writer
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Chia Chen Hsu, Citrus College Clarion Catcher Steven Hoyos walks off the field at the end of an inning in a March game against West Los Angeles.
his year the Owls’ baseball team (16-20, 10-11 Western State Conference South) had their sights set on a conference championship, but a slow start and an inconsistent effort left the squad empty-handed. Citrus’ Fighting Owls finished sixth place out of eight in the WSC South, losing the chance to make the playoffs. Four Owl players were named to the WSC South All-Conference teams, but the team ranked 11th out of 14 teams in earned run average. Untimely errors also plagued the Citrus effort throughout the season, costing the team some critical games. “We didn’t play as well as we expected to,” said Citrus head coach Steve Gomez. “Overall I think we had some players of some positions that didn’t perform as well we we were hoping. The pitching was OK. In [the last two weeks of the season] we didn’t do really well.” At the beginning of the season, Gomez said he believed that the team could do well
based off strong freshman seasons from several returning sophomore players—but the end result was largely disappointing. After losing three out of their first four games, the Owls’ defense exploded against San Bernardino Valley College, winning two games by a 24-8 margin. However, the team returned to losing form by dropping five of their next six games. As pressure rose on coaches and players during the slide, the Owls began to perform beyond the diminished expectations. In March, the Owls managed to go 8-6, twice coming within one game of making .500. Despite the uptick in production, Citrus tumbled back down the standings, losing six out of the next seven games against conference rivals. Although the Owls ranked in the bottom half of the conference in both pitching and batting average, a few players were able to salvage impressive performances out of the train wreck of a season. Sophomore second baseman Shane Fraijo lead the conference in both RBIs and home runs and was named the Co-Player
of the Division. Sophomore pitcher Mikey Ramirez posted a 7-1 record and made the All-Conference 1st Team. Even though the team fell short of the lofty expectations, Gomez found the silver lining in the individual accolades. “We had quite a few individual accomplishments,” Gomez said. “Shane Fraijo is obviously outstanding [and] he has a great chance to be the MVP of the league. And then we have Ricky Mount who also had a good year.” Mount, a sophomore first baseman, showed significant improvement on his batting from his freshman year, boosting his average from .216 to .312—good enough for an All-Conference Team honorable mention. “I feel good because I helped the team out more [this year] than last year,” Mount said. “[But] I was disappointed because we had high expectations coming in. I thought we were gonna win and then we didn’t produce.” Fraijo expressed similar sentiments. “ We didn’t make playoffs . . . [so we’re] not where we wanna be,” he said.
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Entertainment Editor
theclariononline.com
Martin Cabrera
MAY 9, 2012
ENTERTAINMENT
Earth, wind, fire inspires hair show Jacqueline Melendez Clarion Staff Writer
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he annual spring hair show will take place May 10 in the Haugh Performing Arts Center at 7p.m. The theme of this year’s hair show is Earth, Wind & Fire. Approximately 75 students will be participating in this event from the cosmetology and esthetician departments. Professor Albert Graciano, otherwise known as Mr. G, is the director of the show and said it is mandatory that all the cosmetology students and staff participate in one way or another. “This show requires a team of stylists: a hair stylist, a make up artist and a nail artist,” Graciano said. “There are three members in a team, plus the model.” The models are found from inside the department or are friends
Jacqueline Melendez, Citrus College Clarion Cosmetology major Jolene Wright, 21, prepares the hairpiece her model will wear for the Earth, Wind and Fire show on May 10.
of the stylist. The models will be completed during the day on May 10 by 4p.m. All work on the models will be completed inside the cosmetology
building, starting at 9a.m., to ensure the students are the ones who are doing the work on the models. Judging begins at 4:30p.m. by professional judges from the industry, such as salon owners, and
will be completed by 6p.m. After the competition is completed, the models will be bused to the theater and will then participate in a runway show hosted by performing arts professor Bruce Langford. Before the models participate in the runway show they will be photographed by the Photography Club. “The Photography Club is really excited to have the opportunity to shoot a photojournalistic view into the behind the scenes of the hair show,”said Danny Hernandez, vice president of the Photography Club. “In addition we’ll also have the chance to set up a mock red carpet and paparazzi scene where we can get more editorial images of the models inspired by fashion photographer Richard Avedon.” Cosmetology professor Grace Lucido will be helping with the
registration of the models and hopes all the students take advantage of what the cosmetology program offers its students. “The students have such creative abilities and talents and we always try to encourage them to embellish on them,” Lucido said. “We hope they take advantage of the resources that we offer them here so they can do their best in this hair show and then go on to be success stories.” Graciano is excited as many of the students plan to use very avant-garde looks. “The hair show teaches the students to prepare themselves for the real world,” Graciano said. “They are learning discipline and how to be creative and original.” Tickets can be bought in advance in the Cosmetology building for $10 or in the box office on the night of the show.
Shannon Vigil, Citrus College Clarion The Citrus Singers rehearse for the Citrus Singers 2012 show scheduled in the Haugh Performing Arts Center May 18.
Annual pop show presents wide variety of music genres Martin Cabrera Clarion Managing Editor
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he internationally known Citrus Singers, accompanied by the Citrus Blue Note Orchestra, will attempt to satisfy a variety of musical tastes in their 43rd annual pop show, Citrus Singers 2012, at the Haugh Performing Arts Center. A wide variety of genres – from big band and rhythm and blues, to Top 40 pop music and musical theatre as well as a few other genres –will be showcased. “If you don’t like one song, you’re going to like the next,” Citrus Singers director and music professor Doug Austin said. There is a wide selection of music chosen to draw in a variety of audiences and to please all ages. “We have classic music like Rodgers and Hammerstein for older folks, ‘West Side Story’ songs for mid-age audiences, and contemporary stuff like Adele and other Top 40 music for younger folks,” said Citrus Singers choreographer and dance instructor John
Vaughan. The 59 member cast and crew – 44 Citrus Singers, 11 production staffers, four additional dance ensemble – began rehearsing in January during the winter session. Third year Citrus Singer Kristina Brown, 20, says it takes an incredible amount of work putting together this production. “We are here every day from morning to late in the evening,” Brown said. “It’s pretty much a full-time job.” The annual pop show gives third year Citrus Singers a chance to be featured. However, no one performer is highlighted more than the others. “I believe the audience finds it more entertaining when they get to see 44 performers all get their moment rather than just the same dozen performers being highlighted,” Austin said. Chris Nevarez, 21, a student director of Citrus Singers, says it is the performers that make every pop show different. “Each year there are different students who bring their own style and vibe that make the perform-
ance special,” Nevarez said. Britanny Sanchez, 23, a Citrus Singers student director, says that though she loves traveling the world to perform, she especially loves performing at Citrus. “We recently performed in Italy and I loved it, but there’s something special about us being able to share what we love and display all our hard work with the people that we love,” Sanchez said. Austin sees the annual show as a chance to show the Citrus Singers’ appreciation to the school. “Whenever we do a performance at the college, we are performing for the people who support us most – the college, our board, our community – these are the people who come and attend and support us,” Austin said. Citrus Singers 2012 will be showing May 18 and 19 at 8 p.m. and May 19 and 20 at 2 p.m. Ticket prices are $17.50 for general admission, $16.50 for students/seniors, and $16 for ages 16 and under. Purchase your tickets at haughpac.com
MAY 9, 2012
CLARIONentertainment
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Award-winning musical in Little Theatre Lauren Emery Clarion Staff Writer
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he flash of lights, intricate set design, live music and splendid acting created an excellent production of “Pippin” put on by The Citrus College Theatre Arts Department April 27. Former Citrus students, director Faith Carrion and assistant director, Raymond Barcelo set “Pippin” in modern times. The 1970s musical written by Roger O. Hirson with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz follows young Prince Pippin as he searches for meaning and importance. Nate Tam, 23, did an amazing job portraying his character’s youth and innocence. Pippin then decides he wants to follow his father, King Charlemagne (played by Bill Kottkamp) and stepbrother Lewis (played by Freddy Gonzalez) into war against the Visigoths.
During his time served in battle his father teaches him that “War is a Science” and discovers the darker side of his father’s rule. The scene depicting the loss of Pippin’s innocence is when the play becomes much more than a bit naughty. The beginning of the song “With You” started with a slow, sweet melody but quickly gathers speed as Pippin has multiple encounters with multiple women. Credit should be given to all the players who performed in the racy scene; Monica Brown, Julie Gongwer, Freddy Gonzalez, Marcos Hernandez, Katie Jolgren, Katrina Ortiz, Mana Takenouchi and Rachel Walker who gave an outstanding performance of the song “With You.” After his risqué scene, Pippin learns that relationships without love do not lead to fulfillment. This production breaks the fourth wall allowing the Leading Player, (Tyrell Norwood) to speak directly to
the audience and even act as director at parts when things weren’t going his way. It also let other cast members enjoy the audience’s praise. Berthe, Pippin’s fun-loving and risqué grandmother (played by Rachel Kottkamp), Fastrada, Pippin’s stepmother (played by Olive Lalli) and Catherine, Pippin’s love interest (played by Kirbie Puestow) were other characters who love performing for the audience. As the play went on Pippin grows from an inexperienced adolescent to an adult who is still searching for significance. Although the live band with Carlos Carrion (drums), Reggie Villaveza (guitar), Eric Geencser (bass) and directed by Jeremy Legot sometimes drowned out the actors’ voices during a few songs, it was a great addition to the performance. The choreography by Dylan Pass was artistic and well performed. The set was well thought out and constructed with the performers danc-
‘The Avengers’ film puts the ‘Marvel’ in simply marvelous Shannon Vigil Clarion Forum Editor
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he film adaptation of the popular comic book series “The Avengers” has single handedly claimed the title of the best Marvel film ever made. With abundant effects, jaw dropping action and near ideal acting, these components created what will be known as a box office hit for many years to come. In Marvel’s “The Avengers,” Loki (Tom Hiddleston), has set his eyes on Earth in plans of waging a war. With the help of a self-sustaining energy force, immortal powers and an alien army, it appears the planet may be fighting its final battle. As a result of the long procrastinated idea of an ideal team of superheroes, Thor, Iron Man, Captain America, the Hulk and assassins Black Widow and Hawkeye are assembled to fight the evil that presents itself on the modern world- that is if they can stop fighting each other in the process. Together this super team, otherwise known as “The Avengers,” will either save the world or be forced to avenge what remains. The plot of the movie is pleasantly predictable. With a movie as complex as “The Avengers,” it was wise to keep the plot simple in order to avoid taking up the already packed screenplay. But even the greatest movie has its flaws and “The Avengers” was no exception. The initial scene introduces the main components of the plot but does not get the movie started off on the right foot. It establishes the basics: who’s good, who’s bad and where the direction of the movie is heading. But as far as introducing the story of this film long-awaited by comic book fans everywhere, it got the
McClatchy-Tribune Media Services Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Captain America (Chris Evans) star in Marvel’s latest film “The Avengers” which collected over $200.3 million in ticket sales its opening weekend.
movie off to a slow start that was only salvaged by the excitement of seeing these popular characters on screen once again. Assembling this legendary team may seem simple but putting such diverse characters into one film is always a complex task. Aside from the constant drama of the world being put in peril, humor was a present component throughout the entire film. Tense moments between characters were often broken up by humor, only to resume the action and the conflicts without a hitch. It was a sheer sign of good leadership that director Joss Whedon was able to identify each character’s situation with the audience without taking up too much screen time. Overall, each Avenger got their moment to step up, to show their character’s personality and to make at least one witty quote throughout the 142 minute film. But even the greatest script ever written can turn to trash in seconds if you do not have the proper acting to support it. Such was the case with a few key roles in the film. Although the Hulk clearly stole the spotlight at times by injecting humor at the perfect moments, it
seemed Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), the human form of the Hulk, was often underplayed. At moments where the soul and intelligence of Bruce Banner should have played through, his character seemed awkward and insecure. Samuel L. Jackson’s character, Nick Fury, often dragged in scenes where he was meant to seem assertive and deceptive. Lines that could have been sharp and powerful had a dull edge. Luckily there were only a few examples of mediocre acting. Never before has a comic-based movie with such diverse characters and astounding actors been brought together and it did not disappoint. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) did the movie justice as well as the characters they played. As always, Marvel has found the perfect balance of personalities to create a flawless harmony among these iconic heroes. After taking half a century to create, the 49-year-old comic book series was finally given the attention it deserves. It was worth the wait.
Lauren Emery, Citrus College Clarion King Charlemagne (Bill Kottkamp) explains war to Pippin and his soldiers through the song “War is a Science” in the Tonyaward winning musical “Pip pin” on April 27 in the Little Theatre.
ing, hanging and climbing on the set throughout the production, which made it more fun to watch. This musical is for a mature au-
dience and contained violence, sexual content and mature language and subject matter.
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Forum Editor
Shannon Vigil
theclariononline.com
MAY 9, 2012
THE FORUM Taking a stand on registering sexual orientation Taylor Zepeda Clarion Staff Writer
Letter to the editor: Dear Ms. Presley: On behalf of the Citrus College community, congratulations to you and your staff for your outstanding recognitions at the recent Journalism Association of Community Colleges State Convention (JACC). It was with great pleasure that we learned of the many awards garnered by the Clarion staff, as well as of the Clarion newspaper’s honor in being named a “Pacesetter” college. We would also like to personally commend you for your first place win in column writing, and your news judgment/layout third place award. Events such as the JACC state convention are wonderful opportunities for the students to connect with their peers and to network with professionals in their chosen field. The convention also allows the community colleges to showcase their work in the fields of communication and journalism. It is evident that your leadership, as well as your staff ’s commitment to hard work and professionalism, has earned you a spot among the best community news publications in the state. The college community is extremely proud of these student successes. Thank you for upholding the high standards every academic program at Citrus College aims to adhere to, and for contributing to the legacy of success of the Clarion and of Citrus College. Congratulations on a job well done! Sincerely, Joanne Montgomery President Board of Trustees Geraldine M. Perri Superintendent/President
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hat’s your sexual orientation? This question may sound like an inappropriate question for a school to ask, but due to a new study performed by colleges, it may help determine whether or not the gay community is underserved among college communities. As soon as fall 2012, California’s public colleges and universities will be asking students when to voluntarily indicate their sexual preference. Students may opt out of answering this question, but before dismissing it there are some benefits to consider. The purpose of colleges asking their students to reveal their sexual orientation, stems from AB 620 which was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown last fall. The law mandates that schools enforce policies that diminish harassment and mistreatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students. This law asks that students identify their sexual orientation on any forms that are issued for registration. Opponents question the motives of the legislature and want to know why this information is being asked in the first place. Gay and lesbian students have expressed that they are nervous this information will
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be inappropriately used against them, however, this is a misinterpretation of the legislature’s intent. The law aims to protect LGBT students, and by analyzing the numbers that come in from the response on the forms, faculty will find ways to better provide for the needs of these students. The LGBT community has always asked for acceptance and equality. This law is one way for California schools to determine how to target which students they can help feel at home on their campus. Any information given by the students on their forms will be completely confidential and used only for determining how to
benefit the student body. Although confidential, a problem with the application is that the information can be accessed by parents of students who are under 18. Meanwhile not all gay students want their parents to know about their sexual orientation. Students should not feel pressured to answer the question. However, collecting the data will give colleges a better idea of the make up of the student body and facilitate serving them better. It’s a way to make sure that the right counseling is available and that acceptance is increased amongst the student population.
Childhood cut when pushed to succeed admission. Children are being taught to read and write before they can walk. Children who have not yet entered junior high are being sent to intense sports camps, music conservatories, SAT tutoring and anything else to gain a competitive edge over their peers. To help children handle a tougher and more advanced workload they are being given tools that may help ease the quick transition to adulthood. Children today are walking around with hundreds of dollars worth of technology. Internet enabled devices are able to connect to sites that are inappropriate for children and are exposing them to adult material. Yes, it’s difficult to completely ignore technology, but parents and teachers shouldn’t be giving a child that much power and responsibility. Having the ability to connect McClatchy-Tribune Media Services to anything they can think of is becoming harder to be admitted. not something children and Lauren Emery Most universities have been young adults should have. Clarion Staff Writer A 2005 Pew Research Center cutting down on how many stureport said 87 percent of kids 12dents they accept by heightening n today’s modern world, 17 years old were online. children seem to be growing their requirements to become But since then devices have more selective than previous up faster than they used to. become easier to access and the years. It is not just peers, television Parents and educators are numbers are quickly rising. and modern culture that are Even if parents don’t allow putting a massive amount of making children have adult wortheir children to be on the Interpressure on children to get into a ries but a familiar culprit has net at home they are given opbeen overwhelming this genera- good college and a job with a portunities at school. well-paying salary. tion’s youth. Kids are being held to a Parents are taking their chilGetting an education has alhigher academic standard and dren to preschools where they ways been a high priority but it’s must pass an interview to gain are given so much responsibility.
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For a child to be subject to that much stress will sometimes cause them to fall victim to other problems. Doctor visits and check ups are normal for growing children. However, with added stress, kids are at risk for emotional disabilities such as aggressive behavior, shyness, social phobia and lack of interest in otherwise enjoyable activities. Children sometimes rebel against their parents and society after prolonged periods of stress and pressure. Along with social behavior being affected, their health might become a problem as well. Other harmful effects of childhood stress that develop later in life are obesity, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, depression, gastrointestinal problems and asthma. Children are being exposed to adult problems that they aren’t mentally prepared for. This process is overwhelming for children and exposing them to this much constant worry may make them burn out at an early age. It is one thing to encourage your children to succeed in an incompressibly competitive world, but pressuring them and increasing the need to grow up faster and embrace the more adult situations of the world is more than likely going to do more harm than good.
APRIL 25, 2012
CLARIONforum
EDITORIALS
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SAC. As stated in their goals, the CDC has taught children the ability to develop communication skills with other children and adults, develop creative expressions and comfort with physical movement, and to promote the development of social, emotional, cognitive, language, physical and creative skills in an environment sensitive to each child’s strengths and needs. The childcare service has been a safe haven for the children of 153 busy student families who turn over care for their children to help them grow. It takes a great amount of faith for a concerned parent to trust someone else to watch over their children. What attracted student parents to Citrus was the affordable childcare. The rates for a full day at the CDC (six hours or more) for unsubsidized families has been $35 and $26 for a partial day. For 34 years the CDC has been there for parents when they needed it most. It has recently been run by 31 college employees: eight permit teachers, plus aides, student workers and support staff. The center has also been a laboratory for students interested in being child care educators to en-
Editor in Chief Managing Editor Martin Cabrera
Online Editor Emily Rios
News Editor Sydney Presley
Spotlight Editor Daniel Hernandez
Sports Editor David Tate
Entertainment Editor Martin Cabrera
Forum Editor Shannon Vigil
Staff Writers Shannon Vigil, Citrus College Clarion
gage in hands-on training. The childcare service has received recognition for its work. In 1999 the Citrus Center Program was awarded the “Program for Infant/Toddler Caregivers (PITC) Model Demonstration Site” status from the California Department of Education, the highest final score in the state of California. For more than three decades, the CDC has been one of Citrus
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Peter Callan, Citrus College Clarion
use more than one source for jury duty in order to obtain a greater balance for the jury pool. In 2008, the controversial Proposition 8, which called for a ban on same-sex marriages in California, was approved. Regarding voter participation, Proposition 8 may not have been passed if the youth turnout had been anywhere near as great as it had been during protests prior to the election in 2008. In 2008, 59 percent of young Americans voted in the elections, 62.1 percent whom were college-educated and only 35.9 percent with no college experience. Unfortunately, the participation of uneducated voters is not an un-
clarion Sydney Presley
College’s prize programs. Now this prize program will become a ghost town of playgrounds, haunted by empty slides and toys that leave behind a legacy of service coming to a fateful end. As the CDC closes, we applaud the efforts of all who have looked out for the thousands of children and student parents who thanks to their efforts, have walked through its doors into a brighter future.
Today’s youth: make a change and vote s the June 5 California primary election approaches, it is crucial that young voters have a voice to be heard by registering to vote. With the majority of the voting population approaching retirement, participation from voters ranging from ages 18-29 is declining each and every day—leaving little or no voices to be heard. In more recent years, a contradictive tone has been set by a population of young adults eager to share their supposedly passionate opinions via the Internet and public protest demonstrations yet are nowhere to be found come election day. While it is speculative as to where the majority of the opinionative youth disappears to, it only further damages our cause by allowing older generations to speak for us. On June 5, Californian voters will help decide the presidential candidates who will be moving on to the November general election and will vote on Proposition 28, which seeks to reduce the combined total years each lawmaker serves in the State Legislature, and Proposition 29, which will impose a one dollar tax on each pack of cigarettes. In order to participate in the California primary, voters must be registered prior to May 21. Due to voter mythology, many Americans have been under the impression that registering to vote causes a citizen to be more susceptible to jury duty. While registering to vote does get your name on the jury list, so does having a driver's license. Jurisdictions
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Thanks for the learning, CDC teachers, staff s the Child Development Center closes its doors, we reflect on the 34 years of caring service that CDC teachers and staff have provided. We students thank you for all you have done to nurture our children and make our world a better place. On June 15, Citrus College will no longer hear the laughing sounds of children that echo through the campus. California’s budget crisis is taking a toll on public schools, resulting in the elimination of classes and programs. Citrus College has been hit with a shortfall of $5 million in state funding during the 2011-2012 fiscal year. Declining revenue and enrollment have led to this sad day. It’s not just a business shutting down, it’s a breeding ground for childhood friendships. Since the program opened in 1978, student parents have been fortunate to be able to place their pre-kindergarten children in a quality preschool at an affordable price. Unfortunately, since the news of the program’s fate, many students are turning to other local community colleges who still offer a childcare center, such as PCC, and Mt.
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common occurrence, and those whose lives are affected by their decisions, as well as those who are failing to utilize their right to vote, are merely allowing others who are lacking in sufficient knowledge of such propositions to make the decision for them. Prior to voting, it is necessary for registered voters to familiarize themselves with what they will be voting on. Both a sample ballot and official Voter Information Guide with details regarding statewide candidates and measures are mailed to all who are registered to vote. Since the confusing results of the 2000 presidential election, many young Americans have become
skeptical about voting—believing there is little or no effect to be made on the overall decision. The source of such cynicism is the result of a population—whether registered or unregistered to vote— that is lacking in political education. In the case of a presidential election, the votes of the Electoral College are what ultimately determine the appointments of president and vice president. The results of the 2000 presidential election shocked American voters who had previously been unaware of the long-time process. Statewide elections, however, are examples of direct election in which the citizens of each state have the greatest impact on deciding the approval or denial of proposed measures, as well as the lawmakers and electors to be appointed. As members of a democratic society, we must remain aware of the importance of our right to vote—a right that people have fought for and continue to fight for in nations around the world. The reason people get involved in politics is because—for better or worse—they want to see change. The first step is for California’s young adults to decide to register to vote. If you are a U.S. citizen, 18 years or older, you can register online at registertovote.org, pick up a voter registration form at the Hayden Library or Handy Campus Center, post office, DMV or have one mailed to you by calling 1-800-3458683.
Lauren Emery, Ryan Gomez, Patricia Pena, Danielle Rodriguez
Photographers/ Artists Daniel Hernandez, Frank Ram, Sydney Presley, Danielle Rodriguez, Shannon Vigil
Page Designers Martin Cabrera, Daniel Hernandez, Sydney Presley, Shannon Vigil, Sasha Winterer
Photo Technician Frank Ram
Instructional Assistant Emily Rios
Adviser Margaret O’Neil
The Clarion is produced by journalism students and is distributed every other Wednesday during the semester. Ads are not endorsed by the Clarion. 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 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 and length.
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