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Clarion Citrus
Students debate the pros and cons of medical marijuana. See pg. 14
College
“Holidance” celebrates the spirit of the season. See pgs. 8 & 9
www.theclariononline.com
Wednesday, December 9, 2009 Volume LXIII Issue 8
A First Amendment newspaper
Class cuts inevitable through 2014 school year Kristin Lacuesta
Clarion Staff Writer The state budget crisis is likely to get worse before it can get better. When the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) released its fiveyear fiscal forecast for California in late November, it was anything but good news. The LAO projects that the governor faces a $21 billion deficit. With reduction in revenues, required repayments to local governments and workload increases the hope that California will recover without any additional cuts or increased taxes has been destroyed. For continuing and new students at Citrus College, the state budget crisis means fewer classes offered with less chance of actually being able to register for those courses available. According to the section comparison provided by Samuel Lee, dean of language arts and enrollment management, winter session 2010 has seen a 34 percent reduction in classes offered compared to winter session 2009. During the spring 2009 semester, Citrus offered 1,090 class sections. Due to the budget crisis, 175 sections have been cut for spring 2010, meaning a 16 percent reduction in classes. “I think the cuts to class offerings makes registration even more stressful for students than it should be because of the fact that there is less space available,” said administrative justice major Mariana Gonzalez, 18. “I was definitely stressing out before my registration date.” It’s not only students who are being affected by the cuts, but part-time faculty are also bearing the brunt of budget woes. According to Lee, winter 2010 session courses are assigned to mostly full-time faculty. Most of the sections cut for spring 2010 were typically taught by part-time faculty in the past years. Administrators at Citrus project shrinking funding through
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2014 and have had to change their strategy on building semester schedules. They plan to build the schedule on an annual basis rather than on a term-by-term basis, as they have done in previous years. Planning and posting course schedules earlier will allow students to plan farther ahead. They will develop three schedules throughout the year based on certain scenarios. All scenarios are going to be based on the number of full-time equivalent students (FTES), which is currently at 11,500. Lee said they plan to build with students primarily in mind rather than faculty and who can teach what. To build the three schedules based on those scenarios, administrators will look at previous enrollment patterns and transfer needs. “We’re painfully aware that there are not enough classes being offered,” Lee said. “We want to avoid cutting more programs because we know it hurts the student’s ability to finish his/her plan on time. Unfortunately the cuts already have.” Lee said students can expect further class cuts for summer 2010 and fall 2010, but not at the level of previous cuts. As there are fewer class offerings, new students have a greater chance of not being able to register for the classes they want or need. There are some ways to minimize the impact of this course crunch. One tip is to know the roll-out dates for the winter and spring semesters because if a student is unable to pay for their classes, a new student can take their seat. Another tip that Lee suggested for new students is to take any class at any time just to be in the system. More importantly, do not drop the class and make sure to pay for it on time.
Kristin Lacuesta can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
Andrew Vasquez Citrus College Clarion Santa Claus (Josh Pecjak) and Mama Claus (Katie Ransom) gleefully entertain guests who have decided to sit on their laps during the finale of the “Christmas Is...” dress rehearsal in the Haugh Performing Arts Center at Citrus College on Dec.3. For full story, see pages 8 and 9.
Registrations for winter, spring semesters leave few available courses for students Robert Lucero
Clarion Staff Writer With the fall 2009 semester coming to a finish, attention has moved to the up-and-coming winter and spring 2010 semesters. For winter 2010, only 112 sections will be offered, with 84.9 percent of those seats already filled. In the winter 2009 session, 186 sections were offered. The headcount for winter 2009 was 2,733, as opposed to winter 2010, which is currently 2,582. Meanwhile for spring 2010, only 915 sections will be offered, with 54.3 percent of those seats already filled. Last spring had 1,090 sections offered. The head count for spring 2009 was 3,468, but for spring 2010, enrollment has increased by 1,648 with a head count of 5,116. “Winter is smaller,” said Irene Malmgren, vice president of instruction. “It is 82.6 percent full.”
Fewer classes means less opportunity for students to fulfill their requirements. “[Winter 2010 session] has filled up more quickly than previous terms,” said Samuel Lee, dean of language arts. Some classes, such as biology 105, are filling up in as quickly as two days. English 103 is another heavily sought-after subject that has also filled up rapidly. Even with classes reaching full capacity soon, some students are still able to grab the classes they need. Robby Pardorla, 20, is a third year Citrus student. Pardorla was able to register all of his class choices for both winter and spring 2010 “except English 104.” Marcella Chow, 21, is in her fourth year at Citrus. “I got all the classes I need except English 104,” she said Other students, such as Vanessa Morales, had a tough time registering for classes. Morales won’t be able
to attend the winter 2010 semester because it was “too full.” “I couldn’t get any classes,” she said. Besides the economy, the fact that “students are more alert now” is another reason classes are filling up so quickly, Malmgren said. “We didn’t see students enrolling this much earlier in fall,” she said. Students have until the Saturday of the week when they register to pay. If students fail to pay for their classes, then they get dropped and every Sunday at 12:01 a.m. students have the opportunity to add those classes dropped by other students. “Take any class at any time just to be in the system and don’t drop it,” Lee advised. “If you’re on the computer at 12:01 a.m. during a roll-out date, you can take that seat.”
Robert Lucero can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
Life pg. 5 Sports pg. 10 A&E pg. 12 Opinions pg. 14 Editorials pg. 15 cmyk
December 9, 2009
News Briefs Campus Wire Memorial service scheduled for long-time Citrus employee Reprographics will be holding a memorial service for long-time Citrus College employee Tim Maher. Maher, who worked as a Reprographics Technician III at Citrus College since 1985, died on Friday, Nov. 27. His memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 11, in CI 159. All are welcome to attend the service.
Psi Beta hosts second annual Heather’s Teddy Bear Drive Psi Beta is hosting its second annual Heather’s Teddy Bear Drive. Help spread joy and support those fighting cancer by donating a teddy bear to a child at the City of Hope Hospital. Drop off your teddy bears, books, and comic books at the Admissions Building, Center for Innovation, Campus Center, Library, Cosmetology Department, Fitness Center, Educational Development Center, Math/Science Building or the Fine and Performing Arts Center through Monday, Dec. 21. For more information, contact citruspsibeta@gmail.com.
Local Unity Center working to fulfill Christmas wishes in Monrovia Foothill Unity Center's annual Holiday Angel program needs donations. The program starts with choosing a hand-decorated angel with a child's first name, interests, and sizes. Children are “adopted” by community organizations, businesses, and individuals, which in turn donate an unwrapped gift ($20 value). The goal is to have a new toy and new clothing for each child. This year, because of the dramatic increase in its client base, Foothill Unity Center is asking for assistance to meet the needs of children from 1,600 client families. "In other toy drives, children are given a toy at a charity event, and then have nothing to open for their holiday," the center’s Executive Director Joan Whitenack said. "We give the new toys and clothing to the parents in opaque plastic bags. Then the parents wrap and give the gifts to their children themselves. We're not the ones getting the hugs; our reward is knowing we've played a part in helping families enjoy sharing holiday traditions, even in very difficult times." Monetary donations are especially welcome because special arrangements with vendors enable the center to stretch every penny and buy more efficiently. Gift cards in $20 increments from local stores such as Target, WalMart, Kohl's, Old Navy, and Best Buy make ideal teen gifts. Donations and gift cards can be mailed to: Foothill Unity Center Inc., Holiday Angel, 415 W. Chestnut Ave., Monrovia, CA 91016. Angels can be picked up and gifts dropped off at the Monrovia office or the Pasadena site, located at 191 N. Oak St. For more information, contact Betty McWilliams, (626) 358-3486, or send an e-mail to betty@foothillunitycenter.org. Courtesy SGV Tribune
Beyond At least 100 dead, 160 wounded in Baghdad car bombings Insurgents detonated five car bombs in Baghdad early Tuesday, Dec. 8, killing more than 100 people and wounding more than 160, according to Iraq's Health and Interior ministries. The coordinated attacks appeared to be a response to the parliament's approval Sunday of national elections early next year. The insurgents once again targeted centers of government power, with one of the bombs exploding close to the Labor Ministry in northeast Baghdad.The blasts rattled buildings across the city, and palls of smoke rose over the Iraqi capital. Three of the car bombs exploded on the eastern side of Baghdad, and two on the city's west side, including one close to the heavily fortified International Zone. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. The bombings ended a period of relative calm in Baghdad since Oct. 25, when three blasts that targeted government buildings killed at least 155 people. On Sunday, parliament ended months of sectarian bickering and approved a law that spells out the conditions for holding national elections. They're expected to take place around Feb. 27. Senior U.S. military commanders have warned that political violence is likely to rise before the elections. Courtesy of J. Warren, P. Strobel and Laith Hammoudi, McClatchy-Tribune Media Services
News
Citrus College Clarion Page 2
Thieves target campus parking lots Dustin Call Clarion News Editor Catalytic converters were recently stolen from four vehicles in campus parking lots, said campus security supervisor Tony Giannone. All four converters were removed from Toyota trucks, including two from 4-Runners and two from Tacomas, which are often factory-raised higher than other trucks. The thefts occurred during October and November in parking lots S1 next to the Haugh Performing Arts Center, S4 next to the softball complex, S6 on the south side of the football stadium, and another lot near the baseball field. The owners of the targeted vehicles included three students and one employee. Carlos Salazar, 29, a student in the audio recording technology program, was one of the victims. Salazar said that on Nov. 17, he parked his '04 Toyota Tacoma in the Performing Arts parking lot at 11:20 a.m. before his 11:30 class. Upon returning to the parking lot at 12:35 p.m., he discovered the converter had been stolen from his truck. It cost him $248 and 20 minutes to replace. “Just as fast as it took to take it off, it took that fast to replace it, but at a costly price,” Salazar said. Salazar expressed concern about the ability of campus security to cover all of the issues that occur on campus. “I wouldn’t want to park here,” Salazar said. “At the beginning of the semester I was parking away just so I wouldn’t have to pay for a parking permit and riding my bike in. But I have classes that require instruments. I can’t
carry them on my road bike. So I bought the parking permit, and it made me wonder what I’m paying for,” he said. Catalytic converters are common parts to be stolen from cars. They are a required part of the exhaust system, which reduces emissions, and are needed in order to pass a smog check. This, combined with their high price and easy access, makes them prime targets for thieves. Automotive technology professor Dave Brown said the converters contain platinum, a precious metal that could make them desirable. They also include other metals: palladium, cerium, and rhodium. The metals make up the active part of the converter. Brown said that it is illegal to re-sell catalytic converters as a part, but they could be taken to a recycling plant and sold for a low price. “It seems like a lot of energy to put into something that’s not worth a whole lot,” he said. Converters could also potentially be reused if the thief has the same car as the one the converter was stolen from. Often times, however, the converters are sawed off and would need to be re-welded in order to be re-used. Converters on Toyotas unbolt, which makes them easier to steal. “They can probably do it without making us much noise because they
Catalytic Converter don’t have to get their saw out,” Brown said. “That would be the only thing I could think of that would attract them, in particular, to Toyotas.” Giannone said catching the perpetrators of the thefts is a difficult task. “The problem we have on campus, like any campus, is that we all look alike, student-body-wise. And so they come here, and they look like regular students," Giannone said. “If you’re a criminal, you’re going to look and see what the class schedules are, and the peak hours, if you’re so inclined. And when you have a lot of people coming in and out of the parking lot, that’s when they’re going to hit you because they blend in,” he said. Giannone said the security team and the Owl Patrol will be more vigilant in their patrolling and will be watching for suspicious-looking people checking out vehicles. “If anybody is walking through and they see something abnormal, give us a call so we can go out there and check it out,” he said. The security office is located inside the Handy Campus Center and can be reached at (626) 914-8611.
Dustin Call can be reached at clarion.news@live.com
Resolution addresses tier system Joel Cloud Clarion Corespondent With the help of philosophy professor and Citrus College Academic Senate President Jack Call, the State Academic Senate for community colleges passed a resolution on Nov. 14 calling for elimination of the tier system developed by some CSU campuses in regard to community college transfer students. One of the main purposes of the State Academic Senate Plenary Session is to vote on resolutions, which is how the Academic Senate exerts it influence. The initial Academic Senate "was a recommendation that local faculty urge their college presidents and chancellors to work with their CSU counterparts to re-evaluate their local service area policies in order to eliminate arbitrary and discriminatory admission practices that unfairly disadvantage students." When Call shared this resolution via e-mail with Citrus administrators several weeks ago, he said that Irene Malmgren, vice president of instruction, replied that they were more than
willing to work with their CSU counterparts on transfer issues. Malmgren suggested that Call propose an amendment to the resolution calling for the Academic Senate to urge the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to discuss the issue with the Chancellor of the California State University, he said. The statewide Academic Senate vote on the resolution and amendment was not unanimous. “Unanimous votes are rather rare at Plenary,” Call said. He explained he was hoping it would pass without controversy, but when several speakers lined up next to the "con" mic, he realized he would need to proceed to the "pro" mic to argue for it. Professor of English and Citrus College Academic Senate Vice President Roberta Eisel also attended the meeting. She felt Citrus had a proactive way of handling the situation. “It was so great how they galvanized the situation” she said. “They felt it was a problem so they zeroed in on it and helped the students greatly.” Justina Rivadeneyra, Citrus counselor, felt the meeting had many pos-
itive points for the students. “They were really looking out for the student’s education,” she said. “They were doing everything they could to help the students for their future.” There were two objections raised by the "con" side. The first was that it was not clear what the resolution called upon the Senate to do. The second was that the resolution might make some community colleges worse off without making any better off. In other words, that the CSU might respond by making all the community colleges in effect Tier 2. At Cal Poly Pomona, Citrus College is now considered a tier 1 school. One criterion for designating community colleges as tier 1 and tier 2 schools is based on geographic location. A second criterion would consist of students’ grade point averages. Students with at least a 2.5 GPA are given priority.
Joel Cloud can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
re.... Log onto www.theclariononline for these o M Want web exclusive stories: Delgado to be Trustee-Elect, representation
fee fails in election Tweet or Delete Another victory for the Fighting Owls
School is for learning, not gaining business Proud to be a Fighting Owl
News
December 9, 2009
Citrus College Clarion Page 3
Construction transforms campus Kristin Lacuesta
Clarion Staff Writer Steel frames, dirt piles and hard hats are as ubiquitous on the Citrus College campus as students and backpacks. Ever since March 2004 when local residents and taxpayers voted in favor of the Measure G, a $121 million facilities bond, construction of new buildings and remodels of existing structures has been underway. The most recent project is the remodel of the campus gym. A pre-construction meeting is scheduled for today, Dec. 9, with actual construction to begin Dec. 21. The gym remodel will include new locker areas, team rooms and a training room. During spring break 2010, upgrades will be made to the plumbing, ceilings, flooring, air conditioning, and lighting of the gym. The Vocational Technology Building, located on the northeast corner of Barranca Avenue, is one of the newest additions to the campus. It features a state-of-the-art automobile training center, four classrooms, staff offices, showers, lockers, and transmission, engine and vehicle dynamometer rooms. Plans for 23 auto-repair bays with lifts are underway and the bays are scheduled to be complete by spring 2010. One of the most prominent projects under construction is the Student Services Building. Clearly visible from Citrus Avenue, this new facility will house the Student Health Center, financial aid, counseling, job placement and the Career/Transfer Center.
It will also house Admissions and Records, EOPS, Disabled Students Center, service learning, Testing Center and international students. It will feature a bookstore, cyber café, office space, meeting rooms, conference rooms, lounges, restrooms, and storage. This building is expected to be finished by spring 2011. It is said it will be the heart and soul of student life at Citrus College. Construction on a new security building is underway, with dirt already being put in place. This $1 million project is getting done under budget estimates and is set to be ready by late March or early April 2010. The remodeling of the Administration Building is in the design/development stage, project manager Bob Bradshaw said. The elevators are the focus of one of the main upgrades in the Administration Building. Although they are handicap accessible, the elevators give little to no room for a person in a wheelchair to maneuver. The entrance to the Administration Building will no longer be located in the center of the building, but rather on the east end. The second floor will include the presidential suite and stairs in the building will be remodeled as well. The cost of the entire project, including construction and planning, is estimated to be $5.5 million, with the completion date yet to be determined. Another project, the Field House, was completed in September 2009—called “one of the most outstanding buildings on cam-
Andrew Vasquez Citrus College Clarion The still in construction Student Services Center is the biggest of all of the campus construction projects funded by Measure G, the building is said to house all of the student oriented services upon its expected completion in Spring of 2010. pus” by Oversight Committee chair Mark Ferrari—the recently dedicated building features home and visitor locker rooms, showers and restrooms, a conference room, and 11 offices and classrooms. Carol Horton, vice president of finance and administrative services, said the Field House “looks absolutely remarkable, espe-
cially when the lights from the football stadium are reflecting off the building.” Students will have a lot to look forward to come the spring semester in 2010.
Kristin Lacuesta can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
College officials Foundation director proud of community college roots release student degree rate Kristin Lacuesta
Clarion Staff Writer
and Kazue ‘Kate’ Fujii Clarion Staff Writer
Statistics for the student degree rate from last year’s graduation are broken down by ethnicity.
Kristin Lacuesta
Clarion Staff Writer On Nov.17, Dr. Lan Hao, director of institutional research, presented data on the success and retention of Citrus College students with regard to age, ethnicity, gender, and degree or certificate type. The California Community College Trustee Association has a task force on student success. They require the trustees at Citrus to conduct such research every year. To conduct the research, students’ academic records, grades, and applications are all taken in consideration.
Kristin Lacuesta can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
Former community college student Edward Trickey has been named executive director of development and external relations and director of the Citrus College Foundation. Trickey, who described himself as a three-decades-long servant-leader specializing in assessment, innovation and institutional development, said he plans to work diligently to support the vision of Superintendent/President Geraldine M. Perri, Ph.D., and the many initiatives she is pursuing to create a strong future for Citrus College. A native of Modesto, Trickey received an Associate of Arts degree from Modesto Junior College, and graduated with honors. Transferring to UC Santa Barbara, Trickey double-majored in history and political science. He continued his graduate studies by attending Columbia University, USC, UCLA, and UC San Diego, earning master’s degrees in international affairs and in education, as well as a certificate in fund raising and a doctorate in education. He also served as an economist in the International Financial Markets Division in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. After his service with the FRBNY, he and his wife of 24 years moved back to California so she could attend law school at UCLA.
Edward Trickey
He then became the senior financial aid officer in the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid at USC. He worked closely with admission officers, prospective students, and coordinated recruitment-focused telemarketing efforts. Next, he became assistant to the vice president at USC, coordinating division-wide grant writing and acquisition, prospect cultivation, fundraising and donor stewardship initiatives. Trickey became the director of student services at the law school at USC, then director of annual giving and alumni relations at Marymount College. There he coordinated the college’s first-ever multi-million dollar capital campaign. He also served as the CEO of the statewide, non-profit 11-99 Foundation for six years, when he helped raise $33.9 million and provided $13.3 million to program recipients. But, he said he wanted to go back to a community college, where his passion remained and his successful life course truly began. The Citrus College Foundation, which he now directs, is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation founded in
1966 and revitalized in 1982. It is governed by a 30-member volunteer board of directors. The Foundation raises money for the school through the generosity of alumni, faculty, and community donors. On his first day on the job, Trickey ordered a year-end appeal, which was mailed to 5,000 people. “My main goal is to build the Foundation from a $6 million corpus to a $50 million corpus by the year 2020,” he said. But he has other goals as well. He would like to see the Citrus College Foundation eventually be able to fund a grant writer for the college, grow its current annual giving program, launch a new planned “Citrus College Legacy Society,” continue to build stronger relationships within the communities that Citrus College serves, and work closely with the Alumni Association. “With the recent state budget cuts and the general dire condition of our greater economy, the role the Foundation can play to support Citrus College is much more important, but I feel that with every set of challenges come even more opportunities to reach out to donors,” he said. To donate to the Citrus College Foundation, fill out a gift pledge form at www.citruscollege.edu/foundation or call (626) 914-8825.
Kristin Lacuesta and Kazue ‘Kate’ Fujii can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
Citrus College Clarion
Life
December 9, 2009
Life Editor Courtney Mitchell - clarion.life@live.com
Real holiday giving Anazarry Danganan Clarion Staff Writer
While I was driving my car to school recently, a song by ABBA was playing on the radio. The lyrics have haunted me since: “I work all night, I work all day, to pay the bills I have to pay. Ain't it sad?/ And still there never seems to be a single penny left for me. That's too bad…/ Money, money, money, must be funny in a rich man’s world.” As usual, I’ve been obsessing over
the fact that I am a young, married student with no job, bracing myself for the coming holidays. With the combination of those two factors, financial difficulties follow me like New Year’s follows Christmas. We students are all being impacted by the state budget crisis and class cuts. Many of those who work are being laid off or given fewer hours. Who can afford to buy presents for every single member of the family nowadays? Not me. Especially when I have two families to which I have to give holiday cheer. Recently, I had to add all my winter and spring classes on the first day of December and had to fork out the payment within a week. Not to mention, I’ve been at Citrus longer than I originally planned. Luckily, the Cal
State and UC schools I am interested in waived my application fees due to my extremely sad income, but others have had to pay that $60 per application fee. In an attempt to save money this holiday season, my husband and I sat down and looked through the Sunday newspaper ads for gifts that cost $40 or less. We hoped to find ways to still give gifts without breaking the bank or opening another credit card because the others are maxed out. Then I began to panic. I thought of all the bills and loans that we need to pay. It came to me that my husband and I are both young and both students, so why are we trying so hard to please everyone who has more money than us? Besides, Christmas is not all about the gifts. It’s a celebration of Christ’s birth, the celebration of the true giver, who gave up his life for all of our sins. Christmas should not be celebrated solely around on what to get each other. It’s not about “I hope I get this” or “I deserve that.” It’s CHRIST-mas, for goodness sake. It’s a reason to reflect and remember, be thankful and to gather with loved ones in praise, almost like a spirited roundup of the year. Then it hit me: if you still want to spread the joys of gift-giving, there are cheap and easy ways to do that and still remember the whole-hearted intention and message of the holidays.
Take personalized cards, for instance. Let’s be honest: When we are writing cards, most of us just put down a sentence or two, trying to make a card personalized, but in fact we repeat those two sentences on the other cards as well. In addition to that whole hearted personalized card you just wrote, you could make some baked goods. Go to the 99-Cents Only Store and purchase colored or decorated clear wrapping, and create a bag of treats for every one on your list. You want more creativity? How about buying a set of clear coasters and inserting pictures of the person’s favorite people, places or pets? Coasters cost about $5 to $10 at Wal-Mart, Target or Bed Bath and Beyond. Another idea is to fill a stocking with necessary items that we all take for granted yet are useful and needed. For example: mini-sized toothpaste, hand sanitizer, and lotions, mints, a pair of socks, lip balm, nail polish, a compact mirror, tissue to go. You can find all theses things at your local drug store. Look for these inexpensive items in the travel section. There’s always $5 gift cards for Starbucks, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, a fast food chain, or iTunes. Gift cards might seem insignificant and boring, but these cards can make a difference to someone short on cash. I understand there is not enough time in the day, and that we are all
Page 5 busy people and have many roles and responsibilities. But what better way to celebrate Christmas than to make the time and actually think about why are you giving? Or to think about to whom you are giving the gift to? With the end of this semester, year, and decade, let’s acknowledge the people who have made a contribution to our lives. Whether it be a transfer counselor who has stayed past their pay time to look over your application or a classmate who gives you that extra Scantron when you forgot yours—again. These are folks who should be remembered. Let’s not forget the ones we neglect the most who, those roommates and family members who take our mood swings as we approach finals. Acknowledge our loved ones such as your parents, or other family members who step in as your acting guardians, and, of course, if you’re married, your spouse. Remember as we celebrate the coming holidays such as Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or Christmas, and New Year’s, let’s not be derailed by the superficial surprises of this world, but re-connect to the honor of your loved ones, in thankfulness and understanding of why you are celebrating together.
Anazarry Danganan can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
Page 6 Citrus College Clarion
Life
December 9, 2009
Friends: Out with the old, in with the new Courtney Mitchell Clarion Life Editor When I started working at my new job, I freaked out when I saw that all of my co-workers were females about the same age as me. Most are also going to school here at Citrus College. I’ll admit it: I’m one of those girls who get along better with guys. I grew up with two younger sisters, so it’s just how I roll. I didn’t think I would ever be friends with any of my co-workers. However, now that I have been working there for about a year, my co-workers and I have started hanging out and confiding in each other about the nonsense that consumes our lives. A new friendship is like a new relationship: you hang out a few times, text back and forth, see if you are compatible. Turns out that my co-workers and I have much more in common than I realized, and they have become like sisters to me. A few weeks ago, while my coworker Jen and I were closing up shop, she started to vent about all of the drama with her friends.
Here is the synopsis: Eric likes Kathy. Kathy likes her ex, Michael. Michael is kind of seeing Monica. Monica hates Kathy because she was flirting with Monica’s older brother at the party last night… “Jen, just get new friends!,” I Jen said. “Sure, Court, it’s that easy,” Jen said. Isn’t it though? Can’t we just make new friends when the old ones wear us out? No, making friends isn’t like running to Wal-
Mart to pick soap, bananas, and fruit snacks. New friends: They don’t have an aisle for those. I’ve checked. When I used to work at Disneyland, I made new friends every week. With constant new hires and transfers coming in and out, it’s hard to not make friends with the hundreds of employees you meet. However, after more than a year of bonfires and parties, I realized I didn’t have anything in common with my cast members.
Most were not going to school, several were extreme partiers, and many had no desire to move up in their careers. Making a tough decision, I ditched the ears and the nametag for a job closer to home with less drama. Then I joined the Clarion staff and eventually found new friends who are drama-free. Well, almost. True friends the ones who are there for us when our boyfriends break up with us, when we want to go out to lunch, and when we
need a study buddy in the library. The best ones stick with us through it all. But if your new friends at Citrus College turn out to be a major pain in the rear, ditch them and get new ones. Making new friends is a part of growing up and expanding our world. It is important for us because it can mean the difference between our growth and stagnation. Jen laughed at me when I told her to get new friends and eventually told all of our other coworkers. (Because, apparently, it was funny.) She even made a fake application stating: “Courtney is now taking applications for new friends… references required” and hung it on our community board in the store. Most of my co-workers are going through rough times like myself and desperately want new friends. College life is rough, and we need friends who understand what we are going through. So, yes, Jenny-Jen, it is just that easy.
Courtney Mitchell can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
Life
December 9, 2009
Citrus College Clarion Page 7
Food, toy drive lacks donations Erica Irigoyen Clarion Sports Editor
McClatchy-Tribune Media Services
What was supposed to be a joyous yet competitive food and toy drive between clubs and students throughout Citrus College has turned out to be the exact opposite. Although the annual Food and Toy drive, held by the Associated Students of Citrus College, has been successful for the Citrus community in the past, the amount of participation by students shows that the economy is definitely taking a toll on peoples’ decisions to donate this year. Student Life Supervisor, Adrienne Thompson, strongly agrees. “It is a challenge for students
and it’s mostly because of the economy,” Thompson said. “It’s extremely slow and really sad.” Food and toys that are collected from students are supposed to be distributed at local agencies, including YWCAWINGS and the Foothill Unity Center. But, the amount of donations hoped for by the ASCC is slowing dwindling away. As for the competition between Citrus clubs and organizations, the two clubs with the most participation are the Green Committee and the Anime Connection. “Unfortunately, the amount of food and toys turned in by these two clubs and anyone else who is
participating is too low to even tell anyone,” Thompson said. Thursday, Dec. 10, is last day to donate at least one item to the community. Look for decorated Food and Toy Drive boxes around campus, where you can drop off your gift. It is understood that times are extremely difficult, but if students take Thompson’s advice and give up one energy drink or espresso for a day to buy a can of food, “you can really help a family go to bed without an empty stomach.”
Erica Irigoyen can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
Bottle Boxes to debut in cafeteria Erika Sebastian Clarion Correspondent Before you toss that empty plastic water bottle in the trash, stop and think. Your decision to recycle those bottles will soon have a direct effect on Citrus College. The Bottle Box is about to be introduced to the Stuffed Owl Café. The newly designed food packaging product made from 100 percent post-consumer beverage bottles is a green alternative to the cafeteria’s current food-packing products. The line is also more cost effective. Universities such as UCLA, Stanford, UC San Diego, San Diego State University, and UC Davis are in the process of implementing the Bottle Box in their food services programs as well. However, Citrus College is the first California community college to adopt this green alternative. Glenn Orfila, senior vice president of Access Group, a company that represents manufacturers specializing in ecofriendly products, said he would like to see every campus go through this innovative change. “College kids are the best weapon to spread this message,” Orfila said. Given that it takes about 450 years for one plastic bottle to break down in a landfill, the call for recycling plastic is greater than ever. “The idea of recycling was not really pushed in my generation compared to today’s generation,” said Laura Murphy, vice president of sales and marketing for Direct Pack Inc. “I see the movement really coming from you guys.” The Bottle Box is being marketed not only on college campuses but also to other businesses that use packaging products. Big names such as Wal-Mart, Costco, The Cheesecake Factory, BJ’s Restaurant and Brewery, and El Torito Grill, are among some of the
Erica Sebastian Citrus College Clarion Philomena O’Shea, the Stuffed Owl Café’s food services supervisor, is excited for Citrus College to be the first community college to use Bottle Boxes. businesses moving to adopt the Bottle Box. “A lot of companies are trying to make efforts to go green but could not afford it,” Murphy said. “But with the Bottle Box, now they can.” Philomena O’Shea, the Stuffed Owl Café’s food services supervisor said that she was thrilled when Orfila contacted her. “I’m just trying to use up the rest of the old flimsy ones so we can start using the new Bottle Boxes,” O’Shea said. The Bottle Boxes will make their debut in the café in a few weeks. O’Shea stressed the importance of the cafeteria’s efforts to help the environment while also saving money. “If the plastic bottles can be re-used for something great, why put them in the ground?” O’Shea asked. Direct Pack Inc. and Global PET are making an effort to provide solutions to that question. Global PET was recently granted a nearly $7 million loan by the state of California to convert 100 percent post-con-
sumer recycled PET products (plastic water bottles) into the innovative food-packaging products. “We’re the first ones to have the guts to do it,” Murphy said. Local recycling plants and the creators of the Bottle Box work as a collective in gathering recycled plastics in order to create the green-friendly food-packaging products. By undergoing the full recycling process (granulating, washing, extrusion and thermoforming), the post-industrial scraps are turned into packages for salads, entrees, snacks, take out, and deli items. “We just want to make the process as simple as possible,” Murphy said. “We turn water bottles into food boxes. I think we’re doing a lot of good things.” The boxes are notable for their sleek design and durability. They also allow customers to personalize their Bottle Boxes with company logos. O’Shea said she plans to use the Citrus College logo on the boxes. Consumers can become aware of their direct impact on the environment as each box has a legend indicating how many bottles were used to make that box. The boxes come in four sizes. The smallest boxes use about two and a half bottles, while the larger ones might use up to five. Megan Lemaire, 20, who is majoring in child development, said she was impressed with the idea. “I like how it shows our school is really making an effort,” she said. “It really makes you realize how important it is to re-use every one of those bottles.” For more information on the Bottle Box, visit www.thebottlebox.com or watch their YouTube video with keyword “Bottle Box.”
Erika Sebastian can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
McClatchy-Tribune Media Services
Campus Center keeps doors open for late-night study Erica Irigoyen Clarion Sports Editor Finals week… Probably the most stressful time in a college student’s life, right? Well, in case you hadn’t heard, Night Owls is still going on in the Handy Campus Center. Night Owls is when the Campus Center stays open after hours. Until 11 p.m., to be exact. There are perks to having the Campus Center as a late-night study hall location. First, you get to study in groups for all of your finals. This can give you an advantage because if you don’t understand something, there is a really good chance that someone in your group does and can help you with it. Second, unlike the library or the Campus Center during regular hours, you can snack and drink all the beverages you would like
while getting ready to ace all of your finals. Night Owls is definitely a luxury for the students here at Citrus, but this might be the last time Night Owls will ever be around, Student Life Supervisor Adrienne Thompson said. “If there isn’t a good turn out this year, it will be the last time because it costs too much to keep the Campus Center open,” she said. The Associated Students of Citrus College encourages students to take advantage of Night Owls this semester. Don’t let the opportunity the school is providing pass you by. Students have until Dec. 15 to study late in the Campus Center and hopefully better their chances of passing their finals.
Erica Irigoyen can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
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(Clockwise) Top: Santa Claus’ famous reindeer prance onto the stage in the Haugh Performing Arts Center to pull his sleigh on Christmas Eve. Right: Kris Kringle (Josh Pecjak) makes sure he is looking cool for his appearance on American Bandstand during the final dress rehearsal of the annual “Christmas Is...” show. Bottom Right: The children of the Victorian Era dance in celebration of the coming Christmas in the Haugh Performing Arts Center at Citrus College on Dec. 2. Bottom: Santa Claus (Josh Pecjak), Mama Claus (Katie Ransom) and Father Time (Ray Spicer) share a joyous laugh as Father Time comes to visit the North Pole. Below: Molly (Janell Henry) mesmerizes the people of the Medieval Era with her gift wrapping skills in the Haugh Performing Arts Center on Dec. 2. (All photos by Andrew Vasquez)
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(Clockwise) Top: Saint Nick (Josh Pecjak) bids his farewell to the children in the Victorian Era as he leaves upon his sleigh to deliver presents for Christmas Eve. Above: Townspeople dance and sing in celebration of the coming Christmas on the Haugh Performing Arts stage that has been transformed into a Victorian Era winter wonderland. Left: During the final dress rehearsal of “Christmas Is...,” Father Christmas (Josh Pecjak) tells an excited Lord Aleapen (Lucas Escobedo) and Lady Aleapen (Kristen Swenson) that the toys for this year’s Christmas will be the best yet. (All photos by Andrew Vasquez)
C h r i s t m a s I s. . . ‘Christmas Is...’ leaves audiences looking forward to the holidays, fills them with plenty of Christmas cheer. Jonathan Rowe Clarion Correspondent The holidays are just a little merrier at Citrus College. Kicking off the Christmas season this week is the Performing Arts Department’s annual performance of “Christmas Is…” As much a holiday tradition as eggnog and candy canes, the holiday spectacle features a combination of music and theater. The show is divided into two acts. The first is entirely musical, featuring performances from The Citrus Singers, Women’s Ensemble, and the Concert Choir and Orchestra. Audience members are treated to tasteful renditions of Christmas classics such as “Silent Night,” “Let It Snow,” and “Deck the Halls.” A few numbers feature the bell choir as well, which add beautifully to the Christmas feel. Conducted by Keely Milliken, the Women’s Ensemble songs blended together with seamless transitions, but each song had its own unique characteristic, helping distinguish it from the other songs. Rather than sticking to the tradition form, many are backed up by a piano and saxophone, giving it a jazzy spin. “Carol of the Bells” is given a modern makeover entirely, exchanging the original lyrics for a hilarious take on a host’s frustrations in preparing for a Christmas party. One would think of a choir performance as no place for comedy, but director Douglas Austin would stoke the hilarity by tickling the audience with a funny quip or an-
ecdote to transition between songs. Oftentimes in a choral performance, the audience can become bored with lack of variety and abundance of songs. But “Christmas Is…” provides enough variety and original twists that it never stops captivating the audience. Finishing off Act One is the Concert Choir and Orchestra, who delivered sonorous delight with the perfect harmony needed to put audience members in the mood for a Christmas story. The second act comprises the theatrical portion of “Christmas Is…” The scene opens in Santa’s workshop, where elves are scurrying about making the final preparations for his arduous journey around the world. Upon inquiring the source of his elves’ distress, he is told they’re stressed out because they don’t have enough time, and that people in the past must’ve had more time to pick out the perfect gift. Santa decides his helpers need a historical reality check, so with the help of Father Time, they travel back in time to find out if people in the past were just as busy as they are during Christmas. They make a total of three stops in past Christmases: 1950’s America, Victorian England, and Medieval Europe. With each destination, they encounter the same problem—everyone is too busy and longs for a time when people weren’t so busy during Christmas. Featuring well over a dozen songs, the amount of variety is astonishing. From the Rockabilly influenced “A Rockin’ Christmas,” to the medieval “Bugler’s Holiday,” and even a rap song about…you might’ve guessed it: wrapping. The modern take on the traditional concept of Santa’s workshop was particularly creative. Monitors were embedded in the wall, elves were typing away on computers in the background, and instead of a list of who’s naughty or nice, Santa had it all stored on a pen drive. The ‘50s scene recreated the look of seminal variety show “American Bandstand” perfectly, complete with a doo-wop trio and hoola-hoop dancers. The audience was especially delighted when Jolly hopped up on the Bandstand stage and broke out in the Elvis classic “Blue Christmas,” backed by the Brilliantines and the Aquanettes.
It was obvious that a lot of time and effort was put in to making the sets as true to life as possible, and made the performance all the more appreciable. There was enough detail to masterfully bring the scene to life, and just the right amount of authentic props to harness attention without losing focus on the actors. The Medieval scenes showed off the excellent costume design by Pam Gill, as characters were adorned in bright silk regalia, colorful shawls, and elaborate headwear. The dancing sequence involving several dancers dressed in alphabet blocks demonstrated John Vaughan’s tight choreography. All the actors seemed very comfortable in their roles, exuding an infectious jolliness. James McGrath gave exactly the vivacious performance demanded from a character named Jolly. Colorful supporting roles, such as the flamboyant TV host Hector, played by Max Herzfeld, kept the humor consistent while never detracting from the central plot or mood. Mama Claus emanated motherly warmth, and Santa projected avuncular wisdom—truly a stellar performance from Katie Ransom and Josh Pecjak. The elves return to Santa’s workshop having learned a valuable lesson: Christmas was always busy. But, as Santa says, “It’s the time you take out for Christmas that makes it special.” And no “Christmas Is…” performance would be complete without inviting all the children in the audience to join Santa and his elves up on the stage. Even if your holiday preparations keep you as busy as the productions’ beleaguered elves, it’ll be worth your time to take a break and watch this holiday spectacle. “Christmas Is…” will be performed at the Haugh Performing Arts Center on Dec. 12-13 and 19-20 at 2 p.m., and Dec. 11-12 at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $20 for adults, $18 for students and seniors, and $15 for guests ages 16 and under. The Box Office can be contacted at (626)963-9411 for more information.
Jonathan Rowe can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com cmyk
Citrus College Clarion
Sports December 9, 2009
Sports Editor Erica Irigoyen - ccclarion@hotmail.com
Page 10
Men’s basketball takes back tournament Andrew Vasquez Clarion Op-Ed Editor
T
he Citrus College men’s basketball team has remained undefeated in its 2009-10 season, with a win-loss record of 8-0. One of the Owls’ crowning achievements was taking back the title of Neil Edwards Classic champions in their first series of home games of the 2009-10 season. The Owls recorded three consecutive victories during the tournament, which Citrus College hosted during Thanksgiving weekend. The Owls’ first opponent on Nov. 27 was Victor Valley College. Although the Citrus team scored its first home victory of the season, the outcome of the game was not always assured. At the outset, the Owls had difficulty scoring, making just four of their first 15 shots. But with less than 10 minutes left in the first half, the Owls got their bearings and established a 12-point lead. By the buzzer at the end of the first half, that lead had increased to 21 points, bringing the score to 44-23. During the second half, the Owls soared over the Rams, with a final score of 86-63. “Their pressure got to us,” Rams head coach Tom Dudgeon said. “They defend really well and have overall depth in their playing. “They’re talented and we would have had to be playing a perfect game to keep up with them,” Dudgeon said. The Owls’ second game in the Neil Edwards Classic was against San Diego City College. While the start was not as slow as in the previous game, the Owls’ first half was still a bit rocky.
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To me, every win, not just this one, is about our investment in each other.
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Rick Croy Men’s Basketball Head Coach
Nevertheless, Citrus led by 15 points over SDCC halfway through the first half. But by the halftime buzzer, San Diego City was just 7 points behind. The first half ended with a score of Citrus, 38, and SDCC, 31. The Owls did not enjoy another double-digit lead until the last few minutes of the game. Finally, Citrus claimed victory over the Knights, with a final score of 84-69. Knights’ head coach Mitch Charlens has some history with Owls head coach Rick Croy. They played together on the San Francisco State University men’s basketball team, and the two have remained friends since. Charlens said because of this, he has some insight into the Citrus team. “They have a tremendous program at Citrus, and I don’t think the team played as well tonight as they could, but they still won. We tried to match them and they still won,” he said. The third and final match-up of the tournament pitted Citrus against Mt. San Antonio College for the Neil Edwards Classic tournament title. And the Owls showed how much they wanted it back. The Citrus men put up a quick lead and kept it steadily
throughout the first half, ending that period with a narrow 10-point lead against the Mounties, 47-37. In the second half, Mt. SAC was unable to catch the Owls. The game ended with a score of 90-72, with Citrus College emerging as the victor and Neil Edwards Classic tournament champions. Citrus sophomore forwards Randy Hunter, Keith Thompson and Darin Stewart were each awarded All-Tournament Honors and team captain Jose Rivera was honored with the Most Valuable Player Award. “This win was redemption for not winning the title last year,” Rivera said. “Winning this tournament is also a statement to all of our opponents that we are the best out there. “We made a goal to never be beat and we are trying to keep that alive,” he said. Head coach Rick Croy said winning the Neil Edwards Classic was about this season’s team and not about redemption for the loss to Reedley College in last year’s tournament. “To me, every win, not just this one, is about our investment in each other,” Croy said. “It is not about last year.” “It is about doing the right things, preparing, competing and finishing,” he said. “I knew we could do this. This team has unlimited potential.” With their most recent win against El Camino College on Dec. 4, the Owls have one road game against Fullerton College and the Wells Fargo Holiday Tournament hosted by Riverside City College before they come back home on Dec. 16 to face Mt. SAC.
Andrew Vasquez can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
Andrew Vasquez Citrus College Clarion Sophomore forward Randy Hunter leaps into the air with all of his strength and with his eyes fixed on the basket so he can bring the Owls closer to victory over the Mt. SAC Mounties in the final round of the Neil Edwards Classic at Citrus College on Nov. 29.
Sports
December 9, 2009
Citrus College Clarion Page 11
Three stars are foundation of team Kazue Kate Fujii Clarion Staff Writer
and Robert Lucero Clarion Staff Writer With the season already tipped off, the women’s basketball team has gotten off to a good start, with six wins and only three losses. To become a good basketball team, most teams have their “big three.” For instance, the Los Angeles Lakers have Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Ron Artest; the San Antonio Spurs have Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobli, and Tony Parker, and the Boston Celtics have Kevin Garnet, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Citrus College’s women’s basketball team has Brianna Barfield, Kristyn Jacobs, and Bianca Nuñez.
Brianna Barfield Brianna Barfield is a five-foot eight-inch 18-year-old guard from Lakewood, California. She was born into a family of athletes, her father, Ellis Barfield is a basketball coach for Lynwood High School. Barfield said that she has been playing basketball “Since I was
born.” “My dad is a coach, so I’ve been playing for a long time,” she said. She also enjoys other sports. “I like to play tennis and I like to swim, but I don’t do them at school, they’re just hobbies,” she said. At Lynwood High School, Barfield played on the basketball team all four years, under her father, Coach Ellis Barfield. She also ran track and field at Lynwood. At the conclusion of her senior year at Lynwood, Barfield received the Team MVP award as well as all tournament honors. About transitioning from playing basketball under her father’s direction to playing basketball under Citrus College’s Coach Eric Anderson, Barfield said, “It’s a new thing for me. It’s a new experience. ” “I was so used to my dad coaching, hollering at me and getting at me all the time,” Barfield said. “But the coaches here are calmer. They’re more patient with us.” Barfield leads the Citrus team in points per game (18.3), assists per game (4.0), and rebounds per game (9.8) in both offensive rebounds and defensive rebounds. Basketball has helped her grow as a person, Barfield said. “Basketball has taught me to be more open. It also taught me how to help other people out, to be able to work with other people, and to help myself and let other people help me as well.” “It’s my love and my life,” she said. Kristyn Jacobs Citrus College sophomore
Kristyn Jacobs is the returning captain of the women’s basketball team. She started playing basketball at the age of 4. “My brother was playing sports, and I didn’t want to play with dolls and stuff like that,” Jacobs said. “I wanted to be like my brother and be in competition with him.” As she was growing up, Jacobs went back in forth playing basketball and then soccer. She eventually returned to playing basketball her favorite sport. She played varsity basketball for two years at Monrovia High School. During her junior and senior year at Monrovia, she earned first team All Rio-Hondo League honors. As a senior, she was named AllTeam MVP, as well as Arroyo Tournament MVP. Being a returning Citrus College basketball player has afforded
Jacobs to see how the team has grown. “They’ve [coaching staff] grown along with us,” Jacobs said. “They adjusted their player personnel, which player they can get in and get on and which players they can’t because they might be sensitive. They work with us very well. They’re very patient, and they teach us a lot of things.” Jacobs started 30 out of 31 games last year while averaging 29 minutes, eight points, 43 percent shooting, four assists, and four rebounds per game. She is currently averaging 10.8 points shooting 36 percent, with a 50 percent 3-point average. She’s also second in assists behind Brianna Barfield, averaging 3.7 per game. As far as being the captain of the women’s basketball team, “It feels good,” Jacobs said. “It’s a lot of responsibility. It’s going to test my character, and I’m up for the challenge.” Bianca Nuñez Citrus College sophomore Bianca Nuñez is a 5-foot-4-inches guard, who graduated from West Covina High School. Nuñez, 20, is studying criminal justice. In high school, she got many awards for basketball, such as team's Defensive Player of the Year, team MVP, and West Covina High School's Athlete of the Year. Nuñez also received All-tournament honors in the Barstow Holiday Inn Tournament along with her teammates Brianna Barfield and Kristyn Jacobs. Nuñez, who has been playing basketball since she was 4-years-
Veteran golf coach retires after 23 years Sandra Lopez Clarion Editor In Chief Men’s golf coach Marsh Shumaker is retiring in December after 23 years of service at Citrus College. After working seven years as assistant coach and 23 years as head coach of the men’s golf team, Shumaker said, “It just seemed it was a good time for me to retire. I don’t have any regrets.” His career began while playing under former Citrus head golf coach Jack Kakuuchi. After graduating from Citrus College and then from UC Santa Barbara, Shumaker attempted to become a professional golf player. When that plan did not work he came back to Citrus and became assistant coach alongside with Kakuuchi. He also worked for 10 years under two coaches/athletic directors who hired him in 1979 and with legendary hall of fame baseball coach Skip Claprood for 15 years. “Both were great coaches and bosses who encouraged and supported me and all the teams through their years at the helm. I have good memories of their leadership,” Shumaker said. Shumaker’s passion for golf came was inherited from his golf-loving parents. Both were avid golf players, and when Shumaker was 15 years old, he too joined in the craze. As a coach Shumaker puts education first and athletics second. “I want my players to take life seriously, and I want to encourage them to go beyond
Marsh Shumaker the sport,” he said. “I would always tell them, ‘Do well in your classes and you will succeed.’” Former Owls golfer Steve Whoolery, an All-Western States Conference honoree this year who has since gone on to continue his education at Sonoma State, said, “He wasn’t only a great coach, but he was a great man. He helped me so much in my personal life.” “I am extremely happy for Shumaker, he is very deserving of his free time now, he made the golf program great,” said Whoolery. Shumaker’s wife Sheri retired this year after 28 years working as a librarian at Clare-
mont College. Now the two of them will be able to enjoy their second home in Oregon and travel. Also retiring is assistant golf coach and statistician, Josette McGrattan. “She was a critical to the program,” Shumaker said. “She made sure that the players were very structured.” Last spring turned out to be one of the Owl’s best seasons. Shumaker waited until the night before the Southern Californian Regional’s at Marshallia Ranch Golf Course to inform his team about his retirement plans. “We did very well. We placed #6 in Southern California,” Shumaker said. Taking over for Shumaker is women’s golf coach Trip Horton, who will now be the head coach for both men’s and women’s golf. Horton is an alumnus of Citrus and currently works at the Driving Range as the Assistant Manager. “It is going to be so difficult to follow the footsteps of a man who has done it for 23 years of his life,” Horton said,“But I am excited and hope that it all goes well.” Shumaker said that he may be retiring from coaching golf, but he is not retiring from life. He is merely closing one chapter of his life and starting a new one. “My job here is done,” he said.
Sandra Lopez can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
old, is good at all kinds of sports. Her mother encouraged her to play, she said, and still comes to her games to support her. Nuñez leads the team in minutes played per game (29.8) along with Barfield Brianna and Robinson Paige. She averages 13.5 points per games and has rebounds on this season. Nuñez ha a .444 field goal percentage, and .548 free throw percentage. She is very skilled player. Though the basketball season started recently, Nuñez has her eye
on the championship. She takes practices very seriously, hoping to improve on her scoring and on team corporation. Her goal is to get champion in this term cooperating with her mates.
Kazue Kate Fujii and Robert Lucero can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
Men’s Basketball Upcoming Schedule Dec 9: @ Fullerton Dec 10- Dec 12 Wells Fargo Holiday Classic Dec 16: vs. Mt SAC December 29 & 30 Citrus College Holiday Classic Jan 2 @ L.A. Trade Tech
Citrus College Clarion
Arts & Entertainment Page 12
Arts & Entertainment Editor Ashley Broussard - ccclarion@hotmail.com
December 9, 2009
Top five video games of the year Troye Waldron Clarion Correspondent Before ransacking stores for bargains on video games, read this guide to the hottest buys of the season. Instead of choosing your game based on what the back cover says, observe these reviews on some of the most anticipated games of 2009. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 The successful sequel has sold more than 4.7 million copies worldwide since its November 2009 release. This upgrade to the Call of
Duty franchise has several new features, including bigger and better guns, a new storyline and, for the first time, the option of driving vehicles while in combat. It also includes a new game mode called Secure, which resembles Capture the Flag played with army guns and personnel. With its sleek body motions and huge explosions, this game will be a best-seller this holiday season. Ultimate Alliance 2 This game leaves all the choices up to you, including the option to play with either heroes or villains. The Ultimate Alliance devel-
oper Vicarious Visions has really stepped it up by allowing gamers to fuse heroes and villains abilities to form powerful combo attacks. Link that together with a new and improved storyline that’s coop enabled and you have got yourself a masterpiece Madden 10 Madden NFL football is better than ever with smoother game play and a huge load of other new features. Graphics, play calling, stats, and rosters have all been updated. Pro-Tak enables gamers to perform bone-crushing tackles and mind- blowing blocks that could determine the outcome of a game. Fight for the Fumble allows players to button mash in a dog pile for control of the ball and only comes up randomly when defenders perform strip attempts. With online and world-famous co-op playing options, you can share the joy of a game of Madden with family, friends, or even international gamers. Assassin’s Creed 2 Ubisoft has loaded its second best-selling title with several upgrades, such as character movements and a cooperative storyline. Pairing that up with the character’s new abilities to swim, call for distractions, and conceal more weapons assures potential buyers that they will get their money’s worth. This game is not for children. However, technology-savvy teenagers and hardcore gamers will definitely enjoy this.
Courtesy of Google Images Artwork for the top five video games of the year: (counter-clockwise from center) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Madden 10, Assassin’s Creed 2, Ultimate Alliance 2, and NBA 2K10.
NBA 2K10 The No. 1 basketball video game seller has returned for another stint on the hardwood. The realism this game brings to consoles is amazingly accurate to the point where you can see players’ pores sweating. While other basketball video games are focused on catching up, 2K10 catches every detail of the game including momentum and player stamina. For the diehard NBA fans who still aren’t satisfied, there is the NBA 2K10 Special Anniversary Edition of the game for $99. This includes a poster, collectible figure, game locker and a DVD explaining the history of 2K sports along with a private lounge for 2K gamers on Xbox Live. NBA 2K10 is the champion of
all basketball games, so before you play it, beware of the intense strategies and sports intelligence required for victories. Now that you have seen the best games to buy this season, the hard part is going to be finding them at a reasonable price. Save yourself time and money by purchasing quality games that can be played repeatedly and by anyone. One more thing to remember is if stores sell out of the game you are looking for, do not panic. There are several online Web sites that will have the same game in stock without all of the busy lines and hassle.
Troye Waldron can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
‘This Is It’ makes it
Kazue Kate Fujii
Clarion Staff Writer The documentary “This Is It” focuses on rehearsals for Michael Jackson's sold-out concerts that would have taken place in London beginning this summer. The movie covers the months from April through June 25, 2009, when Michael Jackson passed away. Whether you are a fan or not, this movie will blow you away. After I watched “This Is It,” I realized that Jackson was not necessarily born a genius. He was a perfectionist who worked hard to make sure every note and every step was perfect. The movie captures Jackson’s efforts and passion for his groundbeaking concert. He sings and dances through-
Courtesy of Google Images
out and his performances are spectacular. The documentary includes such famous songs as “Billy Jean” and “Thriller,” and also the new title song. Everyone who sees the film
has the same reaction: We have lost a wonderful artist who was truly the King of Pop. His moves are amazing for anyone, especially a 50-year-old. It’s hard to believe how Jackson made his body work, particularly given rumors that he was sick or abusing drugs. The soundtrack has been a smash hit, as people who watch the movie want to buy the album. In the movie, people can see how he worked to perfect his artistry. His musical legacy will continue influencing people all over the world. The DVD of “This Is It” is scheduled to be released on Jan. 26, 2010.
Kazue Kate Fujii can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
A&E Citrus College Clarion Page 13 Awesome bands, abyssmal audience at battle December 9, 2009
Andrew Vasquez Clarion Op-Ed Editor When you go to a rock concert, whether at an arena or a small club, you expect it to be filled to the brim with teens or 20-something year-olds ready for a blow-out-yourears show, and bands who are ready to deliver. At the Sexploration Club’s first Battle of the Bands, held last Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Handy Campus Center, the bands delivered a high-energy rock concert. It was just that there was barely anyone to deliver it to. Nine different bands came ready to compete against each other for cash prizes. First place received $100, second place $50 and third place $25. Each band was to perform two songs apiece and their performance was to be judged by three student judges. Plenty of talent was on view for the handful of people who showed up to cheer on the bands. The first band to perform that night, An Orchestra Cinematic, was a twosome made up of a bassist and drummer. The duo played strictly instrumental music with no vocals. Their sound was very dreamy and ethereal. Both musicians were so talented that they didn't need a vocalist or any additional instruments to enhance their performance. The duo returned for the second act of the night, Thoughts in Frame. The band has a heavier sound. The singer had a fast and upbeat stage presence and his voice has a definite punk-rock feel. The third act of the night, Gun Metal Groove, sounded even heavier than the one before it. The four-piece band featured two guitarists, one of which also was the lead singer. They were perhaps the most dynamic musically, with the lead guitarist playing at an almost professional level for his age.
difficult. It was a lot of work,” said Sexploration Club member Ashley Mandeg. “The turnout may not have been what we were hoping for, but I would definitely do it again,” she said. Likewise, none of the bands seemed to mind playing for a small crowd. With the walls of the Campus Center lined with tables selling each of the band’s merchandise, the bands had more than one opportunity to expose their music to Citrus students. “It was a good event and a good way for us to promote our band,” said Adrian Aguilar, drummer for Thoughts in Frame and the only Citrus student in the band. “Everyone Andrew Vasquez Citrus College Clarion our age is our fanbase and people our age come here every day to go Nine bands competed for three cash prizes in the Battle of the Bands competition to school.” put on by the Sexploration Club in the Handy Campus Center on Dec. 3. Nikola Simikic, lead guitarist for Thoughts in Frame, said that he One other highlight of the show was the first female plans to perform in a band for a living and that small fronted-band of the night, Crossed Keys. The quintet hav- crowds are just a part of climbing the ladder of success. ing all of the swagger and bravado expected from a hard “Playing in this event was really enjoyable because we rock band. competed against a lot of talented bands,” Simikic said. When the night ended, three bands took home the cash: “It helps us get that much closer to being discovered, every Crossed Keys in first place, Stir-fry and the Hammerheads little bit does.” in second place and Thoughts in Frame in third place. While all of the bands battled with great enthusiasm, it Andrew Vasquez was hard not to feel disheartened by the lack of a sizeable can be reached at audience. ccclarion@hotmail.com “Getting the bands from all over the place was pretty
Relax: Everything is going to be OK Ashley Broussard Clarion A&E Editor
Ashley Broussard Citrus College Clarion Dr. Jack Call kicked off the release of his book “God is a Symbol of Something True” with a book signing in the Owl Bookstore on Dec. 7.
That is the essential message of a newly published book written by a Citrus College professor; you don’t have to choose between a literal creator God or a blind, indifferent universe. “God is a Symbol of Something True” by Citrus College Professor Jack Call, Ph.D., may help readers’ sort out their own religious beliefs, and, no matter what those belief systems may be, to understand that everything is fundamentally all right. There are certain events in the world and our lives over which we have absolutely no control. God is a symbol of the ways in which we are helpless yet safe, he writes. Each chapter begins with a question that anyone could use as
a starting point when wondering about life’s big questions. How and when did it all start? Why is there good and evil? Do we really have free will? Call suggests different approaches to these questions considered from varying philosophical viewpoints. The book requires the reader to concentrate on abstract ideas. It takes a balanced approach for all types of believers or nonbelievers. Call compares and contrasts theories of philosophers such as John Locke, Descartes and Epicurus and explains how or why they may be right for the reader. For example, when tackling the issue of free will, Call explains the viewpoint of Epicurus, which is that we are in control of everything that we do. Then Call explains an opposing scientific point of view using
natural law examples from Newton and Einstein that indicate we really are not in control of anything in the universe. As he addresses new questions in each chapter about this life and the after life, Call posits answers to help clarify his position. His main point, that everything is fundamentally all right, may appeal to a broad range of readers. Call explains that readers do not have to choose between a literal God or any specific religious interpretations for the universe to be okay. You try to make sense of it because just saying you believe it isn’t enough, he said. If you approach the Bible as literature, it is like any other great work that keeps you wondering what it means. “You are not required to accept literally what the Bible or
any other religion says because they can’t all be true. They clearly call out for interpretation,” Call said. “God is a Symbol of Something True” is available online and in the Owl Bookshop for $24.95. Now that the book is available to students, Call said his office door in CFI 118 is always open to anyone who would like to discuss the book with him. Call will be interviewed by Barbara Bruce a radio station host located in Arizona that can be heard online at http://www.970kvm.com/ on Dec. 20 at 3 p.m.
Ashley Broussard can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
‘Holidance’ might be new holiday tradition Andrew Vasquez Clarion Op-Ed Editor There are two major events that Citrus College students and local residents see as a signal to the coming holiday season: the annual Food and Toy Drive, organized by the Associated Students of Citrus College, and “Christmas Is…,” which is put on by the Performing Arts Department. The dance department is hoping the second annual recital of the holiday dance performance, “Holidance” will become the third. Dance professor John Vaughan
created “Holidance” to replace the fall dance concert after former dance professor Diane Woodward retired last year. “It seems to be a very successful show,” Vaughan said. “It is a nice way to celebrate the holidays.” This year’s show features 17 pieces, including three smaller transitional pieces created so that the dancers who perform in the main pieces have time to change costumes. Students choreographed five of the dance pieces featured in the show, while faculty choreographed the remaining 12. First-year dance student Jairus Pecson-Aquino, who choreo-
graphed the contemporary piece “Silently” said the opportunity to not only perform in “Holidance” but also choreograph a piece for the show has been an invaluable opportunity for him as an aspiring choreographer. “We really have a good program here at Citrus,” he said. “I feel like because of this one performance, I have grown as a dancer overall. So this experience has helped me get closer to achieving my dream of becoming a choreographer.” When describing the piece he choreographed, Pecson-Aquino said his goal was for it to stand out as much darker than the hap-
pier, traditional holiday pieces. “It’s about fallen angels who are sent to Earth and then to Hell,” he said. “I told Vaughn, ‘why don't we do something out of the ordinary and weird?’ “It gets tiring doing all of the happy-go-lucky holiday dances. I wanted the audience to be surprised,” Pecson-Aquino said. Fellow first-year dance student Sarah Gleason said she has expanded her dance repertoire because of “Holidance.” “It has really been fun because all of the choreographers have their own genre and style they want us to learn,” Gleason said. “I have learned so much. I have had
to learn swing dancing, partner work, and many other styles I have never tried before.” “It is really an enriching experience to bring so many different type of dances together for us to perform,” she said. “Holidance” will be performed in the Haugh Performing Arts Center at Citrus College on Dec. 18 at 8 p.m. General admission will be $12 and students and seniors will be $10.
Andrew Vasquez can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
Citrus College Clarion
Opinions Page 14
Opinions Editor Andrew Vasquez- ccclarion@hotmail.com
December 9, 2009
Marijuana battle continues Do you wanna marijuana?
Legalization of marijuana is immoral
Erica Irigoyen
Dustin Call
Clarion Sports Editor
Clarion News Editor
Legalizing marijuana will increase California’s tax revenue, decrease crime and prison populations and benefit recreational and medical users. Let’s consider the facts involved in this controversy. Medical marijuana has been legal in California since 1996. Marijuana is said to increase cancer patients’ appetite, cure insomnia, reduce anxiety and help relieve chronic pain. Nobody can deny that California’s finances are in crisis. Medical marijuana is already earning California about $14 billion a year. According to a government study, legalizing marijuana for recreational use could generate $1.5 billion to $4 billion in additional tax revenue for California. In addition, the United States spends about $68 billion a year housing prisoners. According to the Office of Legislative Research Report, one-third of those imprisoned were convicted of non-violent drug crimes and half of those are marijuana offenders. This means that one-sixth of America’s prisoners are in jail for marijuana charges. Legalizing marijuana would mean that tax payers could save $11.3 billion a year. Some people argue that marijuana is addictive and that it would therefore
My opposition to the legalization of marijuana for recreational use is not about politics, proven facts, or calculated data. It is about morals. My elementary school, like many others, participated in the D.A.R.E. program, which, you remember, stands for Drug and Alcohol Resistance Education. This program continues to be taught to today’s children as well. In this program, we are taught that narcotics, tobacco, and alcohol are addictive and harmful substances and I do not believe that one can argue logically against that. Marijuana harms the brain and impairs judgment, memory, and coherency. Teaching young children that marijuana is harmful and that they should stay away from it, and then turning around and legalizing it is the worst example that we can set for the future citizens and leaders of our nation and the world. Those that say there is nothing wrong with non-medical marijuana, let alone legalizing it for recreational use, in my mind have low morals. Morals play a critical role in
Caitlin Griffin Citrus College Clarion be irresponsible to legalize it. medically, its primary use is alleviating However, studies have shown that symptoms of the ill? unlike cigarettes, marijuana is not It’s the basic social stigma. Mariphysically addictive. juana has been socially unacceptable According to the National Insti- for so long that many are not ready to tute on Drug Abuse, marijuana can be accept its legalization. mentally addictive. This means that Advocates need to overcome the users feel like they are dependent on negative perceptions so that the benit. They think that marijuana is what eficial properties of recreational marrelieves their anxiety or helps them ijuana become socially acceptable. sleep at night. When really, it is all in Marijuana should be legalized for there head. recreational use. In addition, although many would It is high time that the public be disagree, marijuana is far less physi- given the opportunity to partake in a cally harmful than other legal sub- victimless crime without fear of prostances such as cigarettes and alcohol. sectution. Cigarettes include the addictive subWe need to overcome the social stance nicotine. Marijuana does not. blocks so that we can see the crucial Smoking tobacco can lead to lung beneficial properties of recreational and throat cancer, emphysema, and marijuana. bronchial and lung disorders. Legalizing marijuana will not only Consuming alcohol can lead to ir- increase California’s income, but dereversible brain damage, stomach ul- crease crime and benefit recreational cers, alcohol dependent hepatitis, and medical users. cancer of the mouth and throat, high blood pressure and heart and liver disErica Irigoyen eases. So why is there such an opposition can be reached at to the legalization of this drug if, ccclarion@hotmail.com
the strength of our nation. Morals prevent us from allowing fanatical and harmful practices to becoming acceptable or nonpunishable under law; practices such as molestation, abortion, slavery, underage drinking, child abuse, communism, and torture. While legalizing marijuana may not be on the same level as murder or sexual crimes, that does not lessen the wrongfulness or the immorality of the issue. Proponents of legalizing marijuana for recreational use argue that it could generate enormous amounts of revenue — but at what cost? When did selling morals for money become an acceptable practice, especially for Americans? Morals are what set the United States of America apart from governments of countries such as China, South Korea, Cuba, Iran, Sudan and many others. Allowing such a disregard for morals will be the downfall of our nation. I assure you that unfathomed repercussions would occur as a result of legalizing marijuana. It will take us one step closer to becoming like the countries that we are working so hard to prevent from causing harm to the world. Let us draw the line at irresponsibility and not go down this path.
Dustin Call can be reached at clarion.news@live.com
International students take up challenge learning English Chihiro Hashimoto Clarion Correspondent
and Rinko Matsushita Clarion Correspondent Everyday there are more reasons for students to learn a second language. With immigration up about 8.7 percent last year and 22.6 million non-U.S.-born people residing in the limited states according to the U.S. Census Bureau, demand for knowledge of foreign languages, even for Americans who don’t travel abroad, is great. Learning a whole new vocabulary isn’t easy. As students from Japan who are studying English as a second language, we know this firsthand. In Japan, English education starts in junior high school, where students study mainly grammar for Japanese students, speaking English is harder than writing, listening, or reading. We have found that when Japanese stu-
hand, the South American or European countries focus on English training.” Even a student used to learning languages, such as FLS student, Basile Stein, who hails from Belgium and speaks three languages, can find learning American English to be a challenge. “The most difficult part in learning English is listening comprehension, and writing,” said Stein, an FLS student. English is not his first or second language, but he can speak it fluently. Though it is located in the Citrus College campus, FLS is a different school, where international students learn English skills. FLS students come to Citrus College Andrea Koehler from across the globe. One of these is Mariah Delidsch, 19, a Citrus College Clarion Brazilian student whose first language is dents come to the United States to study, Portuguese. we have difficulty communicating orally She said she wants to be an actress and with Americans. use English in the future. Different cultures have different educaHer English teachers taught English in tional philosophies. English, but students respond in PorCoe Lamoureux, Citrus College interna- tuguese, so only listening skills improve, tional students director, said, “Asian coun- not writing. tries focus on the grammar. On the other Practice makes perfect, said professor
Connie Tucker, who teaches English as a second language at Citrus College. “Learning a second language in order to get an international job, or simply undertaking the challenge of learning a second language, are both good reasons to start studying,” said Citrus College ESL instructor Toby Guebert. Each student has reasons for learning a second, third, or even more languages. To master a language it is essential not only to study grammar but also to develop the ability to speak and listen. We cannot avoid making mistakes while learning and we do make a lot of mistakes. But we should not be afraid of making mistakes. It is the only way to learn to communicate with other people who speak a different language. How fun learning a language is!
Chihiro Hashimoto and Rinko Matsushita can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com
Citrus College Clarion
Editorials Page 15
Editorials Editor Andrew Vasquez - ccclarion@hotmail.com
Keep holidays happy, don’t drink and drive The holiday season is everyone’s favorite time of the year. Getting together to celebrate with family and friends, and enjoying good food and drinks at parties brings out the joy of the season. With the party season comes the inevitable increase in drinking and the danger of drunk driving. It bears repeating what we all know: The legal age for drinking alcohol is 21. For drivers 21 and older, a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or higher will count as a traffic violation popularly termed driving under the influence. Dui.drivinglaws.org contains a list of California laws pertaining to drinking, as well as penalties associated with driving under the influence. According to the website, firsttime DUI offenders typically have their licenses suspended for four to six months, but penalties are not limited to that. Some other options include jail time and a hefty fine. The last thing a student wants is to not be able to get to work or school due to an irresponsible decision. When you make the decision to drive under the influence, you’re not only risking the lives of those in your vehicle, but you’re also risking everyone else’s life with which you share the road. One of the more recent highprofile drunk driving incidents involved former Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitcher Nick Adenhart. Just hours after playing his first game for the Angels, Adenhart was driving home with three friends after dinner. An intoxicated driver ran a red light and hit Adenhart’s car, killing him and two of his friends and se-
Citrus College
Clarion
EDITOR IN CHIEF Sandra Lopez
MANAGING EDITOR Emily Rios
NEWS EDITOR Dustin Call
Life Editor Courtney Mitchell
Sports Editor Erica Irigoyan
A&E Editor Ashley Broussard
Opinions/Editorials Editor Andrew Vasquez
Online Editor Emily Rios
Design Editor
Courtney Mitchell
Photo Technician riously injuring the third. Adenhart, only 22 years old when he died, had a very promising future. This incident highlights the potential results of driving under the influence. Though Adenhart had nothing to do with the drunk driver, unfortunately him and his friends paid tragic consequences. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, an estimated 11,773 people died in 2008 in drunk driving crashes involving a driver with an illegal BAC (0.08 or greater). These deaths constitute 31.6 percent of the 37,261 total traffic fatalities in 2008. According to www.car-accidents.com, each year more than 5,000 teens (ages 16 to 20) die in car accidents and about 400,000 are injured. Teenagers make up about 10
Celia Guerrero Citrus College Clarion percent of the United States popu- crashes.” lation, but account for 12 percent Driving under the influence acof all fatal car crashes. cidents can easily be prevented. Drivers under age 24 account It is a simple choice to either for 30 percent, or $26 billion, of drive or not drive if you have been the total costs of car accidents in drinking. the U.S., which is the reason that A lot of drivers think they can auto insurance is so costly for driv- still drive after drinking because ers under the age of 25. they think they feel fine, but even a Teenagers and college-age stu- little alcohol can impair your senses dents are more likely to get into an and your ability to drive. accident than any other age group. If you know you are going to Drinking and driving only in- drink away from home, designate a creases the chances of an accident driver who won’t drink, or call for a About 23 percent of drivers ages cab. 15 to 20 who died in car crashes You can also sleep over at your had blood alcohol levels of 0.08 or family or friend’s home or simply higher. choose not to drink if you plan to The holiday season is the most drive home. prone time of the year for driving So remember, while you are havunder the influence accidents. ing fun partying it up with family According to MADD, “each and friends, it is better to be safe year nationally, more than 1,000 than sorry. typically die during Thanksgiving to New Year’s in drunk driving
New ASCC officers encouraged to connect Dear newly-elected Associated Students of Citrus College officers: We, the Editorial Board of the Citrus College Clarion, would like to congratulate you and praise you for your desire to represent the students of Citrus College. We would also like to offer you some advice based on what we have observed in past Tuesday meetings and on what we would like to see change during your time in office. We feel that the ASCC should do more to connect with the student body at Citrus. There might be open meetings held every Tuesday, but how many students are aware of that? We make an attempt to be present at every one of these meetings, and in doing so we have observed that only a few students, if that, out of the near 13,000 here at Citrus, attend. Please reach out to the student body and raise awareness on what issues you are addressing in these meetings. As the student government, you hold the influence to motivate and empower students to become more involved and show them that their voices can be heard. Weekly events informing students about what you
December 9, 2009
hope to accomplish would be a great way to do this. In other matters concerning your weekly meetings, conduct and appearance is key. We urge you to outwardly show a genuine interest in being involved in these meetings by dressing professionally and appropriately, not texting under the table, keeping good posture, researching the items on the agenda prior to the meeting, and having a competent knowledge of meeting procedure. In your campaigns for office, you expressed a desire to represent the students. Now it is time for you to follow through and act the part. Now is a time of great distress for academia. Student government has a vital role in easing the burden on students by doing everything possible to relieve budget and class cuts by relentlessly pestering the state legislators to get things right. Communicate with the student body on a daily basis about what their desires and interests are and what they would like to see you accomplish. Representation cannot be legitimate unless the representatives are carrying
Frank Ram
Instructional Assistant Emily Rios
Adviser Margaret C. O’Neil
Staff Writers Anazarry Danganan, Kristin Lacuesta, Joel Cloud, Kanzue Fujii, Rob Lucero, Martin Cabrera
Correspondents Ericka Sebastian, Jonathan Rowe, Troye Waldon Photographers /Artists Andrea Koehler, Andrew Vasquez Caitlin Griffin, Celia Guerrero, Jessica Bravo
Page Designers Jessica Bravo, Jonathan Petitt, Victor Silva, Janette Vera, Celia Guerrero 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 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 Jessica Bravo Citrus College Clarion out the desires of their constituents. have the ability to make real changes We, as the student media, would and help students’ futures. like to extend our help to you in your We urge you to recognize your duty struggle to get the information out to to the students of Citrus College and the student body. follow through on it. ASCC is not practice, it is real. You We wish you the best of luck.
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1000 W. Foothill Blvd. Glendora, CA 91741-1899 Phone: (626) 914-8586 Fax: (626) 914-8797 E-mail: ccclarion@hotmail.com
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Page 16 Citrus College Clarion
December 9, 2009
A look back at 2009
E Y B D O GO
9 0 20
my name
is
Martin Cabrera
Clarion Staff Writer Only three weeks left until the beginning of a new year and a new decade. No doubt 2010 will be full of fresh beginnings and new adventures. But before we look to the future, let’s take a look back and reflect on a very eventful 2009. Here are some winners for the “Bests of 2009.”
Best Sports Achievement: Los Angeles Lakers win the NBA Championship. A year after suffering a devastating loss to the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals, the Lakers redeemed themselves in 2009 by beating the Orlando Magic in five games. This comeback marked the 15th championship for the Lakers, second most in league history, right behind none other than the Boston Celtics.
Swine Flu Scare
Twitter pandemic
Kris Allen wins Ido l!
All photos by McClatchy-Tribune Media Services
cmyk
Most Popular Trend: Tweeting. No longer do you have to annoy your friends by leaving hundreds of status updates on your Facebook. Now you can annoy them on Twitter. Almost every celebrity or pseudo-celebrity and beyond uses Twitter to update fans and followers on their every move. Tweeting has grown immensely popular among entertainers who share more trivia than anyone can bargain for. Who wouldn’t want to know what Shaq or Snoop Dogg is doing every minute of their lives, right?
Most Embarrassing Moment: Kanye West at the Video Music Awards. Who could forget when Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift as she was about to give her thank you speech after winning for Best Female Video? West was criticized and mocked by almost everybody. Even President Obama shared his thoughts about Kanye, unknowingly, on national television when he called Mr. West a not-so-nice word. Hey Kanye, does Barack Obama hate black people too?
Best Musical Artist: Taylor Swift. The Kanye West controversy only added to Swift’s star status, not to mention the additional award she won for Best Female Video and her five American Music Awards, including the most coveted prize, Artist of the Year. The 19-year old Swift also made history at the Country Music Awards as the youngest artist ever to win the Entertainer of the Year award, along with three other prizes.
Greatest Tragedy: Fort Hood. On November 5th, 2009, Major Nidal Malik Hasan, a U.S. Army major and psychiatrist, opened fire on his fellow soldiers killing 13 and injuring 30 more. The shooting raised suspicion of being a possible terrorist act as well as the concern for future attacks from within happening again.
Greatest Celebrity Tragedy: Michael Jackson dies at the age of 50. Referred to as the King of Pop, Jackson was one of the most influential entertainers of his time. Despite a controversial personal life, Jackson will be remembered for his music and dance performances.
Biggest Scare: Swine flu. Approximately 45,000 cases of swine flu and 4,500 deaths have been reported in the United States. The Center for Disease Control is urging everyone to always wash their hands and avoid people who are sneezing and coughing, and to get their swine and seasonal flu shots.
Best Movie: Inglorious Basterds. It’s always hard to pick the best movie, especially in 2009 with all the sequels and comicbook movies vying for epic status. Inglorious Basterds has the perfect mix of drama, intelligence, action and comedy. It is arguably Quentin Tarantino’s best movie ever.
Popular Book: Twilight. Although most avid readers of the Twilight series would agree that the movie didn’t do the book justice, they would also agree that it made the book a lot more popular. Over seventeen million copies of the Twilight series have been sold in the U.S. and 85 million copies worldwide.
Greatest Historic Moment: Presidential Inauguration. The election of Barack Obama as the first African-American president ushered in a new political era. His inauguration was surely a defining moment of 2009 and a statement as to how diverse the United States has become. Although the new year, as well as the new decade, is sure to have many memorable moments, 2009 is a year that we will not soon forget.
Martin Cabrera can be reached at ccclarion@hotmail.com cmyk