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CCCLARION.COM VOL LXXIII • ISSUE 7 NOVEMBER 27, 2019
Employee charged with rape BY NATALIE SANCHEZ EDITOR IN CHIEF
NSANCHEZ@CCCLARION.COM
On Oct. 10, Clarence Cernal, an administrative assistant for the Citrus College Foundation was arrested and charged on allegetations of rape by force and sex penetration by force. The Citrus College Campus Safety online crime log said the alleged rape occurred at 2:30 p.m. Sept. 27 in the Center of Innovation.
On Dec. 5, Srgt. Michael Henderson from the Glendora Police Department gave Cernal’s arrest log to the Clarion, after an initial request for the arrest log was made on Oct. 17. The arrest log stated that Cernal was arrested at 1:52 p.m. Oct. 10. at Citrus College. The Campus Safety Crime Log indicates that the arrest happened on campus. Cernal’s bail was set at $200,000
but the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department’s Inmate Information Center’s website stated Cernal posted bail for $100,000 at 10:20 p.m. Oct. 10. The website also stated that Cernal was scheduled for a court date on Oct. 15 at Pomona Municipal Court. On Nov. 14, a Clarion editor sent a California Public Records Law request to Dr. Geraldine M. Perri, Brenda Fink, Robert Sammis, Ben
Macias and Christina Garcia to provide the Clarion with all emails, documents, or messages between each person, or group of people, between Sept. 27 and Nov. 10. Perri is the superintendent president of Citrus, Fink is the Title IV coordinator, Sammis is the director of Human Resources, Macias is the director of Campus Safety and Garcia is the director of the Foundation. The administrators had 10 days to
provide the information requested. If they chose to redact emails or sections of an email, they needed to provide a written explanation, per California Public Records Act section 6255, A and B. It has been 17 business days since the request for information there have been no emails provided to the Clarion. Sammis stated in an email, SEE RAPE PAGE 7
Azusa mayor manifests altruism Mayor of Azusa remembers his vast community involvement, as his term ends in four months BY NICOLE MARIONA NEWS EDITOR
NMARIONA@CCCLARION.COM
An open-interview with Mayor of Azusa, Joseph R. Rocha was held from 4-5 p.m. Dec. 4 in the Eastwing of the Campus Center. The interview told of his humble beginnings leading up to his profession as mayor and his ongoing involvement in the City of Azusa, hosted by the Political Science Student Association along with the Associated Students of Citrus College. “People tell me ‘You don’t look like a mayor’,” Rocha said, to the interviewer and president of the PSSA, Humberto Ruiz. “The only thing that’s true is that I’m a boring man.” The audience attentively listened to his spontaneous storytelling, as Rocha referenced a disturbing altercation due to “the father not having presents for his children.” “So from that day forward I promised that no kid would go without a Christmas present,”
Rocha said. Rocha said he’s spent his $400 salary he earns as mayor to provide presents to children in need. Rocha said he was given children’s names from the school district and the names of four to five families in the school needing the most financial help. “Last year we gave away 2,000 gifts to kids,” Rocha said. Rocha also said there are alternative benefits to providing families with presents. “We have young dads who might break into cars that have VC (venture capital) gifts,” Rocha said. “So our petty crimes have dropped because you don’t have to do that, they come to us.” Rocha said one of the most relevant crime issues he deals with are gangs and gang related crimes. “We did break-up a major gang in Azusa with the coordination of other cities,” Rocha said. “But they (gangs) are coming in as we speak and I think that’s something that needs to be done.” Rocha said that he believes
Nicole Mariona, News Editor Student Life coordinator, Rosario Garcia, and students of the Associated Students of Citrus College smiled beside Mayor Josepj R. Rocha at the interview held on Dec. 5 in the East wing of the Campus Center.
a community should be more “family-oriented” and that no matter where we live, “we are all equal.” “Be true to yourself, and be proud of your tradition,” Rocha said. Within questions asked amongst the audience, Student Trustee Nancy Gonzalez-Villatoro asked
about Rocha’s suggestions about raising mental-health awareness, especially for families that may feel “talking about feelings” is taboo. “We have workshops about every other month [for people] dealing with depression and selfmutilation,” Rocha said. Rocha said a mother told him
of her daughter’s use of “mangas largas” or long sleeves in Spanish. The mother had concerns for her daughter’s mental health. “She was cutting,” Rocha said as the audience fell quiet. Rocha said there are workshops for people who are experiencing SEE MAYOR PAGE 7