Vol.64 Editon 6_Fall 2012 American River Current

SPORTS

Bryce Fraser / fraserb@imail.losrios.edu

NEED FOR SPEED

american river

current ARCurrent.com

Vol. 64, Ed. 6 • Dec. 5, 2012

NEWS

More buck for your book

By Steven Condemarin & Jessica Maynard condems@imail.losrios.edu maynarj@imail.losrios.edu

T

he end of the year is an exciting and stressful time for students, as it means winter break is right around the corner. Although the end of the semester causes enthusiasm, it also can incite frustration for many students, especially when they realize they will not receive the amount of money they had hoped for their used textbooks from the campus

“

I just sold an ancient French textbook copyright 2004 for $35.

SHELLYMCKINNON

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W

Matt Airola, first place winner of this year’s California Community College CrossCountry Championship.

SEE AIROLA, PAGE 4

THEATER REVIEW

‘Domestic Crusaders’ tackles post9/11 issues with humor and intensity SIX-PERSON CAST OF THE CONTROVERSIAL COMEDY ENGAGES AUDIENCE WITH EMOTIONAL CONTENT

By Sergio Portela

merican River College Theatre’s production of “The Domestic Crusaders,” directed

by Sam Williams and written by Wajahat Ali, is a hilarious and at times intense play as they get into issues of racism, feminism, terrorism and what is expected of the family in their community.

Although the topics are controversial, the audience should be impressed with the acting and how similar a Pakistani family after 9/11 is to them.

The sets were nice and plain, as they made you feel as if you were in a real person’s home and the lighting to go with it is well done, especially during the parent’s bedroom scene. I enjoyed the interaction in the stands with the cast during the play, especially with the grandfather Hakim, played

by Charles D. Souther, during his storytelling and praying.

The cast itself is great. They sometimes had a few slips on their lines, but delivered an overall good performance and made you believe they are

hold the family together.

The children of the play all seemed to have great chemistry as siblings, especially Fatima and Sal, played by Mondis Vakili and Rajiv Laffey respectively. They are very believable as brother and sister as one would always pick on the other, but still showed companionship as they shared a

A

SEE BOOKS, PAGE 3

A LOOK INSIDE

maynarj@imail.losrios.edu

TOP 5 OF 2012

The Current looks back at the past year and highlights the biggest stories we’ve covered.

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a real family. They were funny, serious and intense all when they needed to be, especially Souther who held his own as Hakim.

I was impressed by his ability to switch from mad to happy so quickly and, out of all the cast members, he showed so much authority when he spoke and was really able to

TIPS FOR FINALS Want to ace your finals? Then follow these tips from The Current’s staff writer Olesya Sytnyk.

portels@imail.losrios.edu

Photo courtesy of ARC Theatre

bookstore. Buying these textbooks probably drained their account significantly at the beginning of the semester.

For students who have been using the campus bookstore to sell books here are a few options you have that may help you get more money for your textbooks.

By Jessica Maynard ith his recent first place finish at the California Community College Cross-Country Championships, Matt Airola has become quite possibly the most “metal” person on campus.

“It’s something we say on the team,“ said Airola.

“Instead of cool, it’s metal.”

Airola, a native of Angels Camp, Calif., competed in cross-country and track and field for American River College. He has achieved many accolades since coming to ARC and has helped the school claim three state championships: two in cross-country and one in track and field. Airola has also been recognized as a two-time California Community College All-American athlete.

“It’s pretty amazing,” said Airola. “It’s a happy thought knowing I was a part of three championships out of four.

“My first year here, we won track and field. That next season, we won cross-country, then we lost track season. We got fourth and then we got another state championship this year in cross-country.”

Airola grew up an All-American, partaking in many different sports. The first sport he ever participated in was soccer, followed by running and eventually basketball. About 10 years ago, when he was in fifth grade, his family encouraged him to get

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MANY OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS LOOKING TO SELL THEIR USED COLLEGE TEXTBOOKS

ARC CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNER MATT AIROLA RACES TOWARDS HIS DREAMS WITH SCHOLARSHIP FROM UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA

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SEE CRUSADERS, PAGE 8

LOSS OF A PARENT The Current’s Jessica Maynard shares what it’s like to deal with the untimely death of her mother.

Page 2

News

Dec. 5, 2012

New chancellor of Los Rios Community College District chosen

By Sharon Styles styless@imail.losrios.edu Dr. Brian King accepted the position of chancellor for the Los Rios Community College District and will begin his new job on Feb. 1, 2013. The position was left vacant after Dr. Brice Harris retired. Harris recently came out of retirement and accepted the position of the 15th Chancellor of the California Community College District, overseeing 112 colleges. Deputy Chancellor Jon Sharpe served as interim chancellor and will return to his seat on the board.

The Los Rios District includes American

River, Sacramento City, Folsom Lake and Consumnes River. More than 80,000 students attend these four campuses, making Los Rios the second largest district in California.

“We were looking for a person with exceptional leadership skills and broad community college experience,” Los Rios board president Ruth Scribner said in a press release. “We found those qualities, combined with great personal integrity and a passion for student success, in Dr. King and we look forward to many years of his expert guidance at the helm of our district.”

King, current president of Cabrillo College in Aptos, Calif., has held teaching and administrative positions in community colleges for over 20 years. During his eight-year tenure at Cabrillo College, King brought in more than $20 million in private donations and established new guidelines for measuring student success.

King is active in several civic groups, serves on various boards and many state organizations. He earned his B.A. in history from the University of Missouri. In addition, he holds Dr. Brian King a J.D. from Duke University School of Law as well as an Ed.D in higher education from the University of Arkansas.

“It is a true honor to have been selected to lead such a great district,” King said in the press release. “The excellent reputation of Los Rios, its programs, faculty and staff are what encouraged me to seek this position and I look forward to continuing and enhancing that reputation for years to come.”

Photo courtesy of CCCA

Dr. Brian King brings leadership skills to serve more than 80,000 students

‘Tis the season for charity giving

Salvation Army, Toys For Tots among choices to help needy families for the holidays

By Stephanie Lee & Shelby Young

Stephanie Lee / lees87@imail.losrios.edu

The Salvation Army lists out items that can be donated at this Angel Tree, located inside Arden Fair Mall. They have three separate categories for ages 3 to 16.

The Salvation Army Angel Trees “provide a convenient way for caring employees, lees87@imail.losrios.edu youngs20@imail.losrios.edu students and church/club members to donate ChristIt’s the smell of pine mas gifts for needy children and winter that hits you during the holidays,” as and makes you realize that stated on their website. These Christmas is just around the donated items will go to bencorner. And just like most efit the Sacramento Sheriff’s Americans, you get ready to Toy Project, the Children’s finish your shopping for gifts Choice for Hearing and Talkand decorations. ing (CCHAT) Center and But for some families, it’s the Wind Youth Services. just not as easy. According Other charities may require to the U.S. Census Bureau families to apply in advance in 2010, more than 329,000 for consideration to receive families reported making less gifts. then $10,000 a year and 15.1 One of those charities is percent of American families Sacramento’s local Adopt-Ahave children under the age Family chapter. They state of 18.

Nov. 30 as a deadline to That’s where charities apply on their website and come into the picture with list the application requireplaces such as the Salvation ments. In 2001, the AdoptArmy. This year, the Arden A-Family charity helped Fair Mall teamed up with 412 families and more than the Salvation Army to host 1200 children. To sponsor an Angel Tree and has placed a family, the cost is around these trees around the mall $50 to $100 per person in where you can donate items the family (includes gifts and such as jackets, electronics food.) Gift drop off for this and toys. event is between Dec. 12 and

ASBNOTEBOOK

By Jeff Gonzales gonzalj68@imail.losrios.edu The Associated Student Body voted on a resolution to recall Student Trustee Bryan Ryan on Nov. 29.

The reasons for removal listed on the resolution include being unresponsive to senate presidents, acting contrary to the interests and welfare of the students and disregarding the expressed intentions of the Associated Student Body Senates and Student Advisory Committee.

Resolution F 12-20, calling for the removal of Ryan, was introduced to the Student Senate by ASB Student Senate Director of Finance Kindra Pring and was co-sponsored by Club and Events Board President Antonio Maldonado.

Attending the Thursday meeting, Ryan questioned if a recall was the best thing for students.

“The best choice here is to put students first and have us, as student leaders, work together for progress in our colleges instead of being torn apart through division by recall,” said Ryan regarding the recall effort.

The Student Trustee works for the students of the Los Rios Community College District by representing the voice of the students on the Board of Trustees that determine district policies.

“I do this by attending all regular governing board meetings, working regularly with the Campus Life advisor and district leaders on all matters pertaining to students... and reporting information and student feedback to the Board of

Dec. 14.

Toys For Tots, which has been giving toys to children since 1991, started their campaign on Oct. 1 with plans to continue distributing toys to families throughout December. If families wish to request a toy for their child, they can also apply via the Toys For Tots website.

If you wish to help a family in other ways, local radio station V101.1 will be at the Arden Fair Mall hosting their 12 Days of Giving starting on Dec. 8 from noon to 2 p.m.

“We’ve been doing this event with Arden Fair for the last six years,” said Amy Bingham, who helped organize the event for V101.1. “It used to be centered around the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree and this is the third year as the 12 Days of Giving.”

They will be supporting the CCHAT Center, Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children Sacramento, Sierra Forever Families and the Wind Youth Services.

ASB VOTES FOR RECALL OF STUDENT TRUSTEE AFTER COMPLAINTS Trustees,” Ryan wrote in an email to the Current.

American River College is the largest of the LRCCD schools and, as such, the ASB Student Senate represents many of the district’s students. The LRCCD Student Advisory Committee provides the forum at which the ASB Student Senate of ARC can try to advocate for the students. The Student Trustee chairs the committee.

“He is a great guy, but just doesn’t have the experience (needed for Student Trustee),” said ASB Student Senate President Quierra Robey.

With a vote of nine for and one against the recall, the resolution was passed with the necessary majority. It is now the job of the other ASB Student Senates of the LRCCD to vote as well before a

recall would go into effect.

If the recall passes, the next step would be to hold a special election within 14 days of all the requirements of the recall decision being met.

With the end of the fall semester coming up quickly, the process could take until March before a new Student Trustee would be able to take the position. With regular elections in April, Ryan questioned the timing of the recall at the ASB meeting.

With other items that have a major impact on the campus, such as the creation of a $50,000 ASB Wisdom Grant for ARC students, planning for the March in March and only one ASB meeting left for this semester, the ASB Student Senate will a lot left to do in the next semester.

Editor-in-Chief Josh Baumbach

Managing Editor Steven Paxiao

News Editor Sergio Portela

Sports Editor Jessica Maynard

Arts & Entertainment Editor Cintia Lopez

Scene Editor Mayra Sanchez

Opinions Editor Jaime Carrillo

Photo Editor

Daniel Romandia

Web Editor

Carlos Guerrero

Assistant Web Editor Korbl Klimecki

Media Editor

Lance Gawthrop

Social Media Director Shelby Young

Copy Chief

Cody Alexander

Design Editor Megan Houchin

Feature Design Editor Steven Condemarin

Designer

Sarah Scott

Staff Writers

Jeff Gonzales Trevor Horn Alisha Kirby Carla Manes Michael Pacheco Alex Panasenko Garitt Rocha Sharon Styles Olesya Sytnyk Dakota Williams

Staff Photographers Bryce Fraser Ashley King Stephanie Lee

Adviser

Tim Swanson

Photo Adviser Jill Wagner

PROUD MEMBERS OF THE CNPA & JACC

POLICY

The Current is produced by the students of Newspaper Production, J402. All opinions are signed and not necessarily endorsed by the Current staff. All letters and articles appearing in the Editorial, Opinion or Forum sections are not necessarily representative of the Current staff or American River College policy.

All articles are the property of the Current. Please go online at arcurrent. com to see the full text of criteria and guidelines for submissions. Letters must be typed and can be submitted by mail, e-mail or in person at the following addresses: The American River Current 4700 College Oak Drive Liberal Arts, Room 120 Sacramento, CA 95841 Phone: 916-484-8304 Fax: 916-484-8668 E-mail: Current@arc.losrios.edu www.ARCurrent.com

News

INBRIEF n CRIME ON CAMPUS

n ART ON DISPLAY BY ARC

STUDENTS The works of ARC students are on display in Crocker Art Museum. The cost of admission is $10 general and $8 for senior and students. It takes places at the Education Center on 216 O St. from now through Dec. 16, at 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and Thursdays until 9 p.m.

For information, contact ARC’s Fine Arts Club or the Crocker Art Museum.

An evening of season music and carols at Sacramento Central Seventh-day Adventist Church located at 6045 Camellia Ave. takes place on Saturday, Dec. 8 at 6 p.m. (doors open at 5:15 p.m.) Admission is free.

For more information, call (916) 457-6511

n STUDENT DISCOUNT Your student ID is good for more than just being your official college ID or library card; it can also get you discounts with some businesses that offer student discounts. Here are some ideas and suggestions for saving money with your student ID. Reviews on websites like Yelp show that you can go see a movie at some theaters or eat out at some restaurants with a student discount. You can also Google “student discounts” to see what’s available. “Ask any vendor if they offer discounts,” reads a tip from the ARC website. “Many vendors do not advertise that they offer a discount to students, but often will do so if you ask them. It’s a good idea to ask when you enter the store, instead of waiting until you begin to pay for an item.”

n WINTER BREAK The ARC campus will be closed for winter recess from Monday, Dec. 24 to Tuesday, Jan. 1. Instruction begins for the Spring 2013 semester on Saturday, Jan. 19. There will be no school on Monday, Jan. 21 for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

CORRECTIONS In Volume 64, Edition 5 of The Current, the following corrections are listed: On page two, in the “Los Rios to see increase in funds” story, the name of the theater art major student is misspelled and should be Rachelle Peterson.

On page five, in the Sports Updates, in the Football brief, the first name of the player is misspelled and should be Samson Faifili.

On page nine, in the “Happy to play the blues” story, the name of one of the songs and its artist are mixed up in the info box and should read: “County Line” by Dr. Dog.

Admissions office

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Abebooks.com A website that is a bit more straightforward than most, Abebooks.com asks for the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) and gives you a quote depending on the condition of the book.

That quote is then available for the first four weeks of the six weeks you have to send them your book. Once you send them your book, it takes about one to two weeks to receive your money via check or PayPal. When the book reaches their warehouse, it will not be sent back to you, so you’d better be sure you want to sell it.

A lot of times, you can go to the admissions office and get the rosters for a certain professor’s classes, or you could just ask the professor yourself if you’re on good terms with them. You can contact members of the class and see if they would be willing to buy your books for a fair price that’s cheaper than the bookstore.

So you save them some money and get a little extra money in your pocket.

Bookbyte.com Bookbyte is a website that allows you to buy or rent your books for a low price while also giving you the opportunity to sell your books to themm or put them up for sale on their market place. The prices you are quoted are significantly higher than you would expect.

“I just sold an ancient French textbook copyright 2004 for $35,” said ARC student Shelly McKinnon through a comment on the website.

LocalTextbook.com LocalTextbook.com is the Craigslist of books. You put your books on this site for what you believe is a fair price and someone can send you a message asking to buy them. You go and meet – in a public place, of course – and exchange the book for the cash.

The website’s slogan reads, “No shipping. No bookstore. No bull.”

Before heading to the bookstore this semester with all your used books, feel free to do a little research online and in your area to get the best prices for them.

Counseling crowded at semester’s end Some students unsatisfied with long waiting times while office looks to alternative methods

By Sergio Portela portels@imail.losrios.edu When you walk into the counseling office at the end of the year, you see chairs filled with students just waiting to hear their name called, a long line of people waiting to set up an appointment two weeks in advance and counselors calling out the names of students.

During the first week of October this year, before the spring 2013 class schedules were released, the counseling office only saw 660 students. That number rose to 880 students in the first week of November after the schedules were released. Some students had been in there for hours and decided to look for counseling advice elsewhere after finding it to be too difficult and unorganized.

“It’s horrible. I tried for 10 to 15 minutes to get a counseling appointment. I was calling in at 7:30 in the morning and I got nothing,” said American River College student Ceydi Shular.

“It’s way easier (to get an appointment somewhere else in the LRCCD). I called into the Natomas Center and got one for the same week that they were applying for at ARC. It sucks here, but it’s better at other places.”

Even though it’s hectic this

time of year, the counseling offices are trying to benefit students anyway possible when they have a small budget. According to the Dean of Counseling Jeffery Stephenson, the matriculation funding has been cut about $1 million and 95 percent of counseling’s budget goes towards staffing adjunct counselors to help out with the other 26 counselors on staff. The difficulty is that everyone comes in at the end of the semester and should come in during earlier months.

“We encourage students to come during non-peak Students line up along the far wall in two lines for the counseling center, one for times. A student can come appointments and one for drop-ins. It can take hours to see a counselor and apand see a counselor at any pointments fill up quickly. time,” said Stephenson. “We ability to phone-call counseling can build on them. They are would hope that students would appointments.

However, they do always taping in to their student. plan ahead, like in September or seem to hit a few roadblocks with As hard as the counseling center October (when) it’s really really students. is trying, students should plan quiet in the counseling center. It “We really do want to serve stuahead to take advantage of the would be a great time for students dents, but you start to see there earlier months to see a counselor. to come in and they wouldn’t are all these little nuances,” said “We don’t like seeing our stuhave to wait as long.”

Interim Counseling Supervisor dents having to sit in the lobby,” They are looking at ways to Dawn Siracusa.

“Every time we said Stephenson.

“We like to use technology to help out the think, ‘maybe we will text messerve our students as quickly as large number of students. Some sage,’ but then students can be possible.” ideas include Google Hangout, charged for that.” which is similar to Skype, textAdditional reporting by The counseling office also messaging notifications and group Cintia Lopez encourages student input and counseling for academic use only. welcomes student’s ideas so they lopez22@imail.losrios.edu Students also currently have the

Stephanie Lee / lees87@imail.losrios.edu

n CHRISTMAS CONCERT

Books: The best deals for buybacks

Photo by Andrew Vasquez

On Nov. 28 at approximately 11:50 a.m. in the parking lot adjacent to the Child Development Center, a woman was about to enter her vehicle when an unknown suspect approached her, brandished a knife and forced her into her vehicle and sexually assaulted her off campus. The suspect is described as a white male, in his mid-20s, about 6-feet tall with a medium build. He had short cropped brown hair, brown eyes and a tattoo on his right forearm.

Page 3

Dec. 5, 2012

WHAT’S NEW IN 2013 THE CURRENT KEEPS YOU COVERED BEFORE NEXT SEMESTER WITH UPCOMING

By Korbl Klimecki NEWS, MUSIC AND MOVIES klimecb@imail.losrios.edu As another year draws to a close, you hold in your hands (or view on your screen) the last edition of the Current for the fall 2012 semester.

As this is the last issue of the year, we will be unable to cover a few things as they occur over the next few months, until production begins again

in mid-January. Given this, we would like to take this opportunity to report on what can be expected until then.

The new student center is expected to be completed and open by the first of next year.

It will provide students with a Starbucks, Burger Shack and a full cafeteria kitchen, as well as three lounges and ten meet-

ing rooms.

In sports, the Ultimate Fighting Championship has announced that they will begin featuring women’s fights sometime next year.

On the arts and culture front, the Ace of Spades will be hosting ska band Streetlight Manifesto on Dec. 7, punk band NOFX on Dec.

10 and rapper-turned-reggae artist Snoop Lion (née Dogg) plays Dec 16. In movies, “The Hobbit,” the first part of a three-part prequel to Peter Jackson’s movie adaptation of “The Lord of the Rings” opens in theaters Dec. 14 and the film adaptation of “Les Misérables” opens on Dec. 28.

Page 4

Dec. 5, 2012

Sports

Men’s cross-country looks to rebuild after back-to-back championships Photo courtesy of Rick Anderson

HEAD COACH RICK ANDERSON LOOKS TO PUT UP A FIGHT WITH ABSENCE OF TOP RUNNERS

By Jessica Maynard maynarj@imail.losrios.edu

After becoming the first northern California school to win back-toback state cross-country championships during a 49-year history, the American River College men’s team will be rebuilding.

But after losing two standout runners in Matt Airola and Will Melton, is a three-peat possible?

“Anything is possible,” said Rick Anderson, cross-country head coach.

“We’ll be good, but also it’s like any other sport; you can’t control how good the competition is. We’ll make a run at it, we won’t go down without a fight.”

Freshmen Luis Luna, Will Reyes and Jacob Huston will have big shoes to fill next season. But Anderson is confident that, with strong performances from these three and a good recruiting class, they’ll have a shot at the title.

“We have three good pieces coming back,” said Anderson. “We have several guys that were injured during the year that didn’t show what they could really do.”

Since Anderson took over the team in 1996, the team has won three state championships, 10 conference championships and six NorCal team championships. Anderson made history this season after he won backto-back championships, becoming the first coach in northern California to do so.

In Anderson’s tenure, there hasn’t been a shortage of success and he looks to continue to compete at this caliber for the next 10 to 12 years.

“You’re not always looking for the best kids, you’re looking for the right kids,” said Anderson.

Above: The men’s cross-country team poses for a picture on Nov. 17 after winning back-to-back state championships. The team beat Glendale Comunity College by 12 points. Below: Sophomore Matt Airola (left) and men’s cross-country head coach Rick Anderson hold two of the team’s championship trophies.

Airola: ARC’s star runner close to family CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Bryce Fraser / fraserb@imail.losrios.edu

into running. His cousin Travis was a runner who had attained a significant amount of success. He decided to give running a try and realized he had a gift.

Making the decision to come to ARC was hard. He originally planned to attend Delta College, until a family friend who’s son lives in Sacramento recommended he come to ARC. Since then, Airola has spent numerous hours training to distinguish himself as an elite runner. On Nov. 17, all of the hard work and dedication finally paid off.

Airola finished his running career at ARC by dominating the competition.

He claimed first place in the four-mile event by a seven second victory margin at the California Community College Cross-Country Championships at Woodward Park in Fresno.

“He’s the strongest runner I’ve ever had,” said Rick Anderson, cross-country head coach. “Matt is a guy who had unbelievable range. He’s really a state quality person in everything, from one lap on the track to 16 laps.”

Behind all the hard work and determination, you will find a man who isn’t afraid to be himself. Airola admits to being a huge fan of Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling, noting that one of his favorite movies is “The Notebook.” When it comes to his favorite song he begins to sing, “I don’t want to wait for our lives to be over,” quoting lyrics from the “Dawson’s Creek” theme song by Paula Cole.

Growing up on a cattle ranch in Angels Camp, he isn’t afraid to let his country roots show. Airola was always outdoors

and constantly surrounded by animals. He loves all types, but has a soft spot for llamas.

“I told my dad when he passes away, I’m going to sell all the cows and buy llamas,” said Airola. “He got so mad at me; he asked me what I was going to do with llamas.”

Airola isn’t afraid to chase his dreams, no matter how far they may take him from his family and loved ones. He knows they will support him and be there when he gets back. It’s only a six-hour plane ride.

“I’m really proud of him,” said Holly Miller, his girlfriend. “I know that he deserves this more than anyone I know. It’s a really great opportunity for him. I’m going to miss him, though.”

Many four-year universities had shown their interest in recruiting Airola for their teams, including the University of Oklahoma, Texas Christian University, Arizona State University and Oklahoma State University.

Earlier this semester, the University of Alabama came to talk to Anderson about another runner. The coaches thought Airola had committed to another college when Anderson mentioned he was still available. They were shocked to find out he was still at ARC and offered him a full ride scholarship the moment they met with him.

Airola verbally committed to the University of Alabama with the scholarship. He will compete on their cross-country and track and field teams. He will now get the opportunity to compete on the biggest college stage for a NCAA Division I title in both sports.

“They had the best academics and major offered,” said Airola “The whole campus is just perfect and their coach I could relate to Rick (Anderson).”

Ariola, who is leaving in January, will miss his family, friends and ARC. He’s ready for the next step in his life.

“I think my time here is up. I’m ready to start at a new place and do new things,” said Airola. “I want to win a (Division I) national championship.”

Sports

Page 5

Dec. 5, 2012

ARC men’s soccer team captain ready for four-year glory Tanner Roland speaks with the Current about his two-year experience with Beavers horntc@imail.losrios.edu After staring at Roseville High School, Tanner Roland got a chance to play soccer for Division II Fort Lewis College in southern Colorado. But after one season, he moved back to the Sacramento area and now readies himself for a second go-round at a four-year program after spending two seasons as the team captain for the American River men’s soccer team.

The Current: As a two-year captain for the Beavers, how have the last two years been?

Tanner Roland: I loved the experience. I love Paul (Hansen) as a coach. He and the assistants have helped me get connected to coaches. It was fun on and off the field. We were here to have fun but to get results on the field.

How was the transition to Colorado after growing up in Roseville?

It was very cold and a very small town. So coming from a big town and going there, you get used to it as long as you have a big jacket.

What brought you back to Sacramento and ARC?

Soccer didn’t work and I wanted to continue playing soccer. I couldn’t do that there, so I came back and ended up at (American River).

At your position of center back on defense, there is not a lot of glitz and glamour.

Does that bother you?

It’s fine. I am not in it for the glory. I am in it just to have fun and enjoy it while I still can play and then move on from there.

Are you ready for the next chance at a four-year program?

I am definitely excited. I am ready to get back to that higher top-level and continue.

The four-year level is a totally different experience.

What was the experience of playing in the state all-star game like?

It is an honor and a cool thing to be around, because you do have to be all-conference and to be picked by all the coaches is a cool feeling.

How important are academics to you?

I hold As and Bs in all of my classes and I have a 3.14 GPA. I take school seriously because that is what is going to get me further than soccer ever will.

Bryce Fraser / fraserb@imail.losrios.edu

By Trevor Horn

Daniel Romandia / romandd@imail.losrios.edu

Bryce Fraser / fraserb@imail.losrios.edu

WOMEN’S

Freshman forward Alexis Wallace versus division rival Modesto Junior College on Sept. 25.

Bryce Fraser / fraserb@imail.losrios.edu

BASKETBALL The women are currently 3-5. Freshman point guard Mele Kolokihakaufisi leads the team in scoring and assists with 14.4 points and three assists per game. The team is currently averaging 68.9 points per game. The women’s next home match is Jan. 11 against division rival Sacramento City College at 7:30 p.m.

Freshman shooting guard Eunique Williams, who currently leads the Big 8 Conference in steals averaging 5.4 per game, during the Cosumnes River College Tournament Nov. 8.

SOCCER After beginning the season 6-1, the women capped off the rest of the season with an overall record of 13-9-4. The women made it to the state championships led by a strong defense and the scoring of Ceci Velazquez.

The women lost to Santiago Canyon Community College 5-0 in the final four on Nov. 30.

VOLLEYBALL After going 23-5 during the regular season, the Beavers had high expectations for the playoffs. Those expectations came to an end on Friday, Nov. 22 when division rival Sierra College beat the team in five sets. Freshman Nicole Hareland led the Big 8 Conference in hitting percentage with a 43 percent hit-to-kill ratio.

No remorse for professional athletes

By Steven Paxiao paxiaos@imail.losrios.edu

Tanner Roland, two-year men’s soccer captain, prepares to move on to a four-year school.

Is the recent talk of building a new soccer field here at ARC exciting for you as a soonto-be alumnus?

It will be a lot better for them rather than some field that anyone can go run on and tear up. It will be nice for the program to have a nicer field to play on. It also gets more athletes out here.

SPORTSUPDATES

Freshman slot receiver Drake Tofi versus Sierra College on Nov. 10.

Out of Bounds

MEN’S BASKETBALL The team is currently 5-2. Sophomore power forward Chad Haysbert is averaging 13 points per game. Sophomore point guard Chris Carvin leads the team in points per game with 14. They kick off division play on Tuesday, Jan. 8 at home versus Modesto Junior College at 7:30 p.m.

FOOTBALL The team suffered another heartbreaking loss to City College of San Francisco when a penalty flag for an offensive hold was thrown in the closing seconds of the game, negating a Diondre Batson touchdown.

The Beavers lost the NorCal Championship match to CCSF 41-36 on Nov. 22.

If athletes were paid to be remorseful, they would never go broke. There are times in an athlete’s life we will never understand, but there is no reason why they should be treated above the law.

When Donté Stallworth was accused of DUI manslaughter in Florida in 2009 and got away with less than 30 days in jail, I knew something was wrong. Regardless of whether that man illegally crossing the street or not, Stallworth should have never been behind the wheel of that car in the first place.

How could someone only get a month in jail for killing a person, you ask? The judge for the case found that it wasn’t Stallworth’s fault when he hit the man. Now I know “jaywalking” is also illegal, but reports said that the man was rushing to get on a bus home after a graveyard shift a little after 7 a.m. when he was hit by Stallworth.

I don’t see why it wouldn’t be his fault if he was driving drunk at 7 in the morning, but then again, I’m no judge.

Since the accident, I’m sure that Stallworth has had his share of bad memories, but he should have never been allowed to play in the NFL again. I have no idea what went through Commissioner Rodger Goodell’s head when he let him come back after only a year-long suspension.

However, this isn’t the only case in which Goodell has made a bad decision. Michael Vick’s dog fighting case is, arguably, worse than Stallworth’s case. While I was shocked to hear that Vick could have done something so horrible as finance and even partake in illegal dog fighting, I was even more shocked when Goodell let him play in the NFL again.

The NFL isn’t the only league that has these types of things happening. When Kobe Bryant was found to be cheating on his wife, his wife decided to stay with him instead of doing what any normal woman would do – take half of his money and run. This didn’t come until after he bought her a very expensive diamond ring.

So if manslaughter, the killing of dogs and even adultery can happen with no remorse, then do these athletes even heave hearts? I would say no.

Although there are a lot of negative stories in the sports world, there are some athletes that do act like the role models they are portraying. But the bad far exceeds the good in today’s sports world.

5

Top stories year of THE

Page 6

BY CODY ALEXANDER PIERSOAC@IMAIL.LOSRIOS.EDU

Editor’s note:

JOSH BAUMBACH BAUMBAJ@IMAIL.LOSRIOS.EDU

Proposition 30 passes

Feature

Dec. 5, 2012

As I stare at this computer screen for the umpteenth time this semester, I can’t help but reminisce about the year that was 2012. Fortunately, there were several inspirational stories. Weight loss and successful sports teams brought a smile to students’ faces.

There were moments of tragedy and conflict as well. Students who left us too soon invaded our pages. Problems between students and faculty were reported. If I could use one word to describe this year, it would certainly be eventful.

We’ve looked back through the year to find the best stories and produced a nice round number.

Here are the top five stories of the year, plus our pick for theatre production of the year. We look forward to your readership next year.

Sincerely,

VOl. 64, Issue 5 On Nov. 6, Election Day, 53.9 percent of Californian voters supported Proposition 30, Gov. Jerry Brown’s budget plan to improve funding for education and community colleges.

The Proposition will temporarily raise taxes on households earning $250,000 or more and the California sales tax to 7.5 percent. Had Proposition 30 been defeated in the polls, $5 billion would have been cut from universities and schools, which would have severely affected students and faculty for Los Rios colleges and California State universities. The Election Day polls were a heated battle, with some news outlets projecting the defeat of Proposition 30 as the votes were slowly tallied throughout the night. But after all the votes came in, California decided to pass 30 for the good of education. The Los Rios school district will see an additional $2 million in funding, severely affecting ARC students and faculty – but for the better.

Andy Warhol on display at ARC VOl. 63, Issue 10 When the Andy Warhol Foundation announced that it was going to donate some of Warhol’s photographs to California universities, 150 photos from the pop artist found their way to the James Kaneko Gallery on March 13, with more than 130 in attendance at “Warhol’s New York.” ARC was the only community college in California to receive art from the Andy Warhol Foundation, which included rare Polaroid pictures and black and white prints.

The Kaneko Gallery proudly displayed Warhol’s photos as an opportunity to learn about the artist’s significance to pop culture while hosting a selection of art that could only be seen at ARC.

Construction begins on new renovations to be completed by 2013

Josh Baumbach - Editor-in-chief

Associated Student Body moves forward VOl. 63, Issue 12 On April 27, Quierra Robey and Omba Kipuke were elected as Student Senate president and vice president, respectively. The election yielded the lowest voter turnout in ARC history with only 296 total votes. Despite the poor turnout, both Robey and Kipuke were determined to take the reins of the ASB, with goals of promoting cultural diversity and creating a more accountable Student Senate. The 2012 fall semester has been an upand-down one for the ASB, including concerns caused by the BOG Waiver and tension with the Campus Life organization. But as the year winds down, Robey, Kipuke and the ASB have moved forward with a newly placed constitution and committees with hopes to serve ARC students for 2013.

Diondre Batson qualifies for the Olympic Trials VOl. 63, Issue 11 Diondre Batson lit the ARC track team on fire this year. He broke multiple school records in the spring, setting milestones for the 100 and 200-meter sprints. He hit his peak this year when he qualified for the Olympic trials in April. Although he ultimately didn’t go to the Olympics, it capped an amazing run for his track season. And as if that wasn’t enough, he also helped the Beaver football team reach the Northern California Community College Championship. His contributions to both the football and track teams arguably make him the athlete of the year at ARC.

VOl. 64, Issue 1 When students return for the spring semester in January, the new student center will be completed, should everything go according to plan. Later in the semester, the parking garage and new science buildings will also be finished, adding yet another update to the more than 50-year campus.

The student center will boast study areas, lounges, skylights and even a Starbucks, while the parking garage will add more than 1,600 parking spots. The school hopes these additions will help ease the crowded parking and library for the more than 30,000 students that attend ARC.

Theatre Production of the Year:

“Sweeney Todd”

“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” had everyone talking in the fall of 2012. From the opening night crowds to the Current’s own review, there was a constant dialogue around it. While there might have been some issues that needed improvement in the play, it was still the Current’s favorite production of 2012. Less-than-stellar performances aside, “Sweeney Todd” was an overall dazzling spectacle.

The ARC production featured the largest live orchestra in the school’s history, backed by powerful voices and brilliant stage effects. “Sweeney Todd” set the bar high for future ARC Theatre productions.

Arts & Entertainment

Dec. 5, 2012

WILD BOAR, LION AND PYTHON AMONG CHOICES AT BURGER RESTAURANT ON EL CAMINO AVENUE

By Daniel Romandia

Daniel Romandia / romandd@imail.losrios.edu

gets wild

Daniel Romandia / romandd@imail.losrios.edu

Flaming Grill Café

Page 7

romandd@imail.losrios.edu

Daniel Romandia / romandd@imail.losrios.edu

It happens often: you’re in the mood for a burger, but you happen to feel like Teddy Roosevelt and want to be a little more adventurous. No, you won’t be hunting for any antelope or wild boar, but there is a place where you can find some to eat.

The Flaming Grill Café is a bright red building with large, black pick up trucks adorned with flame graphics parked in front across the street from a church on El Camino Avenue near Howe Park. It’s hard to miss this place when driving down the street. The atmosphere is really different from most places you’ll eat at this year as well.

There is no real indoor seating. The interior is more like a room that is missing half a wall. The weather becomes a part of the meal, apparently. As the outside will tell you, the inside of this place is bright red. Murals of different animals that seem to be made out of fire grace the walls, a slight reminder that you are not here for a normal beef patty and fries.

The menu is riddled with all sorts of different types of meats including python, kangaroo, wild boar, alligator and even lion at the beginning of each month. Sadly, the lion runs out within a few hours of the first day it’s offered. For those who aren’t as adventurous, they also offer the usual items you’d see at a restaurant such as chicken sandwiches, beef patties and an assortment of salads. But let’s be honest – it’s the exotic meat you want.

Wild boar. That is what you should order. A quarter-pound of the most succulent, interesting tasting meat you could ever have. Served on a ciabatta roll that could be a perfectly satisfying meal on its own with tomatoes, onions, lettuce and house sauce, which seems to be Thousand Island spread, the wild boar burger is one of the best burgers Sacramento has to offer.

Not everything the Flaming Grill has for sale is culinary greatness, mind you. The deep fried python offered as an appetizer, while utterly delicious, is as rubbery as chewing on a piece of tire. Fries are served with the burger with the option to upgrade to garlic fries for a dollar more, but these fries are drenched in a garlic sauce that leaves them soggy, unlike normal garlic fries. Even after asking to make the fries crispier by recommendation of the waitress, the fries still came out like wet paper.

If you’re ever out and want to eat what you could hunt while out on safari, the Flaming Grill Café may just be your place.

FLAMING GRILL CAFÉ 2319 EL CAMINO AVE. SACRAMENTO, 95821

PRICE RANGE: $$

««««

Top Left: The wild boar café burger served on a ciabatta roll with a side of garlic fries on Nov. 24. Top Right: The interior of the restaurant on Nov. 24, adorned with red walls and fiery murals. Above: An order of deep fried python served with lettuce and a side of the house sauce at Flaming Grill Café on Nov. 24.

Page 8

Dec. 5, 2012

Arts & Entertainment

‘PlayStation All-Stars’ is fun freefor-all fighter fueled by nostalgia rochag@imail.losrios.edu “PlayStation All-Stars: Battle Royale” is Sony’s attempt at making a mascot-beat-‘emup in the same vein as Nintendo’s “Super Smash Bros.” series. With an interesting roster and polished game-play, Sony has managed to create an All-Star fighting game that competes with Nintendo’s.

Featuring a roster of 20 characters, with two more on the way via downloadable content, “All-Stars” is not lacking in variety.

Each character has a different play-style that caters to their individual personalities. Sackboy, from the “LittleBigPlanet” series, uses his popit menu to create items for attacks, while Kratos of the “God of War” franchise is a combo wiz that uses weapons from his arsenal that spans across his games. If you’ve been a fan of the PlayStation at any point in its lifespan, odds are you’ll recognize these characters and enjoy using them to slap the consciousness out of your opponents online or at home.

The good news is that the online works marvelously and is where the bulk of “AllStar’s” fun can be found. Hopping online on

Crusaders: Production displays cast’s talent CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 special handshake to show their bond in certain situations.

Bhargav Kothi, who plays the youngest son Ghafur, seemed to struggle with his lines a bit but his companionship with his brother and sister was there, especially when they tried to

comfort him over a decision he has made.

Laffey himself was a little over the top with his character, but was very funny. It worked with what he was trying to accomplish and I really enjoyed the comedy in his performance.

The parents of Salman and

INOURHEADS TELEVISION

Khulsoom, played by Brandon Lancaster and Priscilla Esparza respectively, were not as believable as a couple in the beginning of the play, but their scene in their bedroom really pulled their chemistry together and showed their emotional strengths.

Lancaster, who plays the father

The Current’s Cintia Lopez shares the wide variety of what is in her head

and head of the house, struggled with his accent a bit as he would sometimes slip into a more Jewish accent. But acting-wise, he was very good especially in intense and emotional situations.

Overall, the performances were strong and made the play and characters all fit together.

BOOK “Invisible Monsters” by Chuck Palahniuk – A crazy story about a girl that got her jaw shot off. This book doesn’t read chronologically and will leave you thinking you missed something up until the very end. But with all its twists and turns, it will be sure to keep you interested.

lopez22@imail.losrios.edu

“Bones” – “Bones” is filled with murders, love, humor and drama. It follows Dr. Temperance Brennan and FBI agent Seeley Booth as they solve murders and bring back identities to the bones left over from horrendous murders. Every new episode is always the best part of my Monday nights.

GAME

MUSIC Funeral Party’s “The Golden Age of Knowhere” – This album is filled with songs that be sure to get your foot tapping along to the beat.

Even the slower songs will be sure to get you in the dancing mood.

MOVIE

DONDE ´ Carlos?

“Need for Speed: Most Wanted” – Having always been a fan of racing games, I had to pick this up. It has everything I look for in a racing game. There’s always something to accomplish and new things to discover in the city.

“Frankenweenie” – Victor misses his dog, so he does what any normal boy would do: he brings him back to life. It’s a cute movie that shows that sometimes it’s very hard to let go.

SEE IF YOU CAN FIND OUR COLUMNIST

CARLOS GUERRERO HIDDEN IN VOLUME 64, EDITIONS 2 THROUGH 6 OF THE CURRENT.

E-mail current@arc.losrios.edu with the page number he appears on in each edition.

If you get all five correct, you will receive a prize from our staff!

Que ´ Carlos?

?

By Garitt Rocha

your own or with a friend and dishing some hurt with one of your favorite characters from games that you probably grew up loving is rarely anything but a treat. The online runs silky smooth on a decent connection and, while a bad connection can mar your experience, it doesn’t ruin it.

There isn’t very much in the way of negativity to say about “All-Stars.” The game is a blast. In truth, the only real complaints include that The new “PlayStation All-Stars: Battle Royale” game features 20 the presentation is pretty sterile and often feels like it’s different characters with their own play-styles. lacking in reverence for this the hardest difficulty – meaning players will lineage of great characters. Levels aren’t much be left to get most of their fun out of playing in the way of personality and the music, online or with friends at home. The problem while sometimes directly ripped from the is that there are only team and free-for-all games they are meant to represent, are often matches. Players can choose from a few bad covers. Also, the game’s customization customization options, but for the most part, options for each character feel uninspired and those two modes are it. shallow, as if developer SuperBot EntertainThese few gripes aside, the game-play is ment hadn’t given more than a cursory glance such a blast and learning each of the characat each game. ter’s move-sets keeps the game fresh and fun.

And the second complaint is with the lack If you love fast-paced beat-‘em-up fighting of game modes. The single-player content is games, or have been waiting for Nintendo very short and very shallow – the main “Arto get its online-act together with “Smash cade Mode” can be beaten in 30 minutes on Bros.,” this game is for you.

Photo courtesy of justpushstart.cpm

Sony aims to ‘smash’ the competition with new series

Viva la Mexican food!

By Carlos Guerrero guerrecg@imail.losrios.edu First, we took over California. We’ll soon take the U.S., and now your snack food.

That’s right. The last part of the take over is aimed at America’s pudgy stomach.

But this is not something out of the blue. For years now, Mexican inspired foods have been rising in popularity, making them almost more favorable than actually living in the U.S. There is even room for more growth with recent news of Hostess going bankrupt. With them out, people will be even more introduced to the Mexican version of your favorite snack cakes. The rest of the companies could soon fall; Little Debbie should officially be on notice.

The origin of Mexican food here in the U.S. – we don’t count Taco Bell or El Pollo Loco as Mexican – can be traced back to the 1950s when Mexican restaurants became more popular to meet the demand of the large number of Mexican immigrants at the time.

Since then, it’s been a blitzkrieg of chili and lime flavors, with all items strategically organized next to each other. From Tapatío-flavored Doritos, to chili and lime Lay’s chips and a surprisingly tasty cucumber lime flavored Gatorade.

Up until 10 years ago, people had very little idea what enchiladas verdes or Tacos al Pastor was. Now there is a Mexican food stand or restaurant on every street corner. In Sacramento alone, there are three solely dedicated Mexican supermarkets.

This craze has gotten so intense, some schools in California and New Mexico have outlawed Hot Cheetos in what seems to be an attempt to make everyone mad.

There is even Bud Light Lime.

We’ve been doing that for years, but with real limes and real beer.

Why is the Mexican cuisine so popular? What makes the white people gravitate to the powers of Hot Cheetos, also included with lime or cream filled Submarinos, the Mexican primo of the Twinkie? They’ll go crazy for the food and snacks the way Mexicans go crazy over songs with accordions.

Is it the spiciness of the food? Is there some weird chili aphrodisiac fetish I have yet to hear about? Spicy food has always been linked to Mexicans. Sure, we like our spicy food, but not any more than anyone else.

Another reason could be the nutritional nature of our food; Mexican food is not really healthy at all. If it doesn’t have manteca, we aren’t interested. Americans love that whole “not healthy” thing.

This is how Mexicans make a mark on pop culture here in the U.S. While we are not properly represented on TV or the movies yet, aside from George Lopez or Danny Trejo’s countless movie appearances, snack foods are one of the best ways to connect with the American culture and have a lasting effect.

?

Scene

Page 9

Dec. 5, 2012

BAND FEATURING ARC STUDENTS

By Alisha Kirby kirbyam@imail.losrios.edu Author Aldous Huxley once said that, “After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.”

It’s a form of expression that comes with its fair share of costs. Be it the price of instruments and gear, or the cost of recording music in a studio, everything has a price tag.

In Sacramento, Fat Cat recording studio charges $550 for a 12 hour block, or $60 an hour, while Pus Cavern studio charges from $450 to $550 for 10 hours, depending on the season.

These are the numbers that fledgling Sacramento band Missive saw when they went to re-

cord their first EP in September.

“We’re a screamo influenced, melodic-hardcore band,” said vocalist Kyle Grewing.

The band is comprised of Grewing, guitarist Daryl Hudson and bassist John Hill, who attend ARC, as well as guitarist Chris Walters and drummer Bakari Touray.

“I didn’t really want to be in this band at all,” said Grewing.

“I hadn’t done any music stuff in a few years… Now I’m glad that I’m in (the band). Daryl and I (played) together in high school when I was a freshman and he was a sophomore. And we played like, what?”

“Post-punk, extremely simple,” replied Hudson. “I kind if feel like an idiot because I had the option of either learning

Daniel Romandia / romandd@imail.losrios.edu

Daniel Romandia / romandd@imail.losrios.edu

Missive juggles music and work NO PRICE ON SELF-EXPRESSION FOR HARDCORE PUNK

Above: Kyle Grewing, the lead singer of Missive, in the band’s practice space in Old Fair Oaks on Nov. 24. Right: Daryl Hudson, the lead guitarist of Missive, practicing a song in Old Fair Oaks on Nov. 24.

semester.

“I’m majoring in automotive technology and taking 10 (units) right now,” said Hudson.

“I also work roughly 20-to-25 hours at Round Table, rolling in the dough.”

While playing in a band may put extra strain on both time and money, these two don’t consider it a burden. “It’s hard to explain why I like to play music,” said Hudson. “You can express yourself instead of bottling up all the anger and really depressing stuff.”

“I guess the reason that I’m in this band despite having so much other stuff going on is because it gives you an outlet,” said Grewing. “We want to tour and we want to put out another release pretty soon.”

berries, leafy green vegetables, nuts, grains and even herbs and spices. Love chocolate? Like the foods above, it also beneficial to your brain and can help enhance your mood. Milk chocolate has been shown to improve verbal and visual memory, as well as boost impulse control and reaction time. Dark chocolate is rich in flavanols that increase blood supply Finals are a stressful time for students, coming up to the brain and help improve cognitive at ARC from Dec. 17 to Dec. 20. skills. And finally, pizza counts too, as may induce a short-term improvement on long as you make it whole grain and top it the performance of certain kinds of mental with lots of colorful vegetables and cheese. tasks known as “spatial-temporal reasoning,” The second most crucial thing you can which is the ability to think about longdo to hedge your bets for finals is to get a term and more abstract solutions to logical good night’s rest. Sleep is as crucial as eating problems that arise. Baroque is another clashealthy. Dr. Robert Oexman, Director of the sical music style considered to have mindSleep to Live Institute, in his article “Don’t boosting effects.

Skip Sleep to Score High on Finals” says, Classical music is not a preference for ev“research has consistently shown that taking erybody, however, but there are other types the time to sleep before an exam will benefit of music that have been shown to increase your test score more than four or five hours your concentration levels. Ambient music of staying awake staring at notes that you or sound is designed to keep your brain will not remember.” engaged at a lower, subconscious level. Brian Studies have shown that the right kind of Eno’s “Music for Airports” has been noted music can help you relax your mind, which as being useful for serious studying and deep enables you to concentrate better, cuts down concentration. on distractions and helps you focus on your Finals aren’t something anyone looks work. According to a study by the Univerforward to, but help is always near – just pay sity of Charlotte, a set of research results attention to your habits. indicate that listening to Mozart’s music

“Spending time with my family, and hiding away in the bathroom to play video games waiting for when dinner is called.”

DAVIDMESSIER Undeclared

“Since classess are taking a lot out of (me), I just like to sleep when we have time off.”

KISHISUTHERLAND Undeclared

Bryce Fraser / fraserb@imail.losrios.edu

The good news: the semester is approaching its end. The bad news: it brings final exams on top of all the other exhausting and stressful tests we have already survived. Our weary brains beckon, “memory, concentration and energy boosters are wanted!”

Most professional advice regarding studying and exams is about fuel. Your best bet is to eat healthy to nourish not only your body, but your brain as well. A diet rich in essential fatty acids, fruits and vegetables does wonders for your brainpower.

“Studies have shown that Omega-3 fatty acids boost energy, enhance learning ability, improve problem-solving skills and boost memory power and enhance communication between brain cells,” according to Online University.

The foodstuffs made from whole, organic soybeans like soymilk and tofu are rich in choline, lecithin and isoflavones. According to the Online University, choline has been proven to positively impact brain development in addition to slowing memory loss, while lecithin helps in preventing deposits of plaque in the brain and isoflavones help improve cognitive function, category fluency, and logical memory.

The list of foods also include fruits,

Daniel Romandia / romandd@imail.losrios.edu

sytnyko@imail.losrios.edu

What is your favorite holiday tradition?

PHILLIPFRIELDS Journalism

The final countdown

By Olesya Sytnyk

PULSE

“I enjoy getting together will all my distant family that I do not get to see the rest of the year. This is the one time of the year we all congregate together.”

to actually play music, learning how to read the scales and doing everything the right way, but I decided to be a slacker and learn how to play tabs. I’m messed up with music now and that’s why I’m taking (Beginning Piano) this semester.”

It cost the band roughly $650 to record their debut EP “Not a Minute Goes By.” They spent nearly eight months writing and perfecting those songs and played 13 shows since May of this year, traveling as far as Fresno. “(We practice) once or twice a week because we all have school and work,” said Grewing, who takes 12 units and will have an associate’s degree in social sciences at the end of next

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR BRAIN AND BODY DURING END-OF-SEMESTER EXAMS

CAMPUS

“Probably Christmas, my crazy family gets together and we have a good time.”

ANISSATHOMPSON Undeclared

“(My favorite) is eating everything.

My mom cooks a big dinner. She makes the ham with brown sugar and pineapples.”

MYTICELLAPEREZ Science

“Being around family, we go to my mom’s house or grandma’s house and eat. We make prime rib for Christmas.”

JACOBBOLDEN Human Services

Page 10

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Dec. 5, 2012

Red Bull Flugtag honors dreams of flight Stephanie Lee / lees87@imail.losrios.edu

MORE THAN 100,000 IN ATTENDANCE INCLUDING ARC STUDENTS TO CELEBRATE FLYING DAY OF HOMEMADE MACHINES

By Jeff Gonzales gonzalj68@imail.losrios.edu Since humans first looked up in the sky to see birds flying about, we have dreamed of flight. The Red Bull Flugtag, meaning flying day in German, honors that by allowing teams to fling themselves through the air in pursuit of that dream.

Red Bull held the Flugtag event at San Francisco’s McCovey Cove on Saturday, Nov. 10.

The first Flugtag was held in Vienna, Austria in 1991 and, according to Red Bull’s press release, has held more than 100 events since.

First coming to the United States in 2002, the original U.S. flying day was also held in the city by the bay. The Flugtag has not come back to San Francisco since then, making the city a good spot to honor 10 years in the U.S. This year’s participants come from across the U.S., with a large portion coming from the northern California area. American River College had a presence in the event with Kitty Zazzlers team member Ryan Lloyd, who is currently an ARC student.

“We just saw it and thought we had to do it,” said Lloyd about participating in the Flugtag.

Another ARC student at the event was criminal justice major Michael Sanchez, who worked as security at the event.

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the ‘L’ Bomb

By Mayra Sanchez ARC student Ryan Lloyd (far right) is one-fifth of the Kitty Zazzlers who participated in this year’s Red Bull Flugtag in San Francisco on Nov. 10. The Zazzlers are from Sacramento, but the members all currently live in different cities.

“I think it’s great,” said Sanchez. “It’s such a huge event.”

With 116,000 people reported as attending the event by Red Bull, the crowds were immense. With groups of people feeling so packed, they removed event barriers to sit on the rocks along McCovey Cove to watch the homemade, human powered crafts be pushed over the edge of a 30-foot high pier. The competing crafts ranged from a large bed to a flying mustache.

Bay Area resident Alina Martinez piloted a giant hot sauce bottle with wings. Martinez had attempted to fly in the first U.S. Flug-

tag held in 2002, but was only 13 years old and was not allowed to pilot the craft under the Flugtag rules, which require pilots to be adults.

“We were going to use a big toilet and I was going to be the turd,” said Martinez of her first craft. “I vowed we would do it the next time it came.”

Three winners were named in the event with a fourth place people’s choice award given for the audience’s favorite team. Team Moveber, with their mustachioed glider, took the win followed by the Dia de los Muertos-inspired Sugar Skulls 128.

Printmaking featured in Kaneko Calendars

ART PROFESSOR ENTHUSIASTIC FOR 2013 GALLERY FUNDRAISER

By Carla Manes reisec@imail.losrios.edu

American River College art students, together with Professor Mick Sheldon, are proud to announce their fifth annual “Kaneko Gallery Fundraising Calendars” for 2013 which are now available.

“I’m thinking that, for our fifth year making this thing, it’s gonna catch on fire… I’m totally excited,” said Sheldon on the

enthusiasm for the new calendars.

The Kaneko Calendar has doubled its investment each time as a fundraiser, but Sheldon would like to raise more money.

The calendars sell for $15 and students with school ID cards only pay $10. The money helps to support the eight art exhibitions put on at the Kaneko Gallery each school year. Funds raised by calendar sales also help to support the Artist Lecture Series created

by Joy Bertinuson. “(This is) one of the coolest things that is happening on our campus to date,” said Sheldon. In addition, these funds are also used to pay for flyers and other costs

TAKETHISCLASS Bryce Fraser / fraserb@imail.losrios.edu

ARC student Miles Minno checking his Nikon brand camera in his Digital Photography class.

needed to put on the student artists’ shows held in the Boetcher Library Stairwell.

This year’s calendar theme, “The Art of Printmaking,” features print images created by 25 students from ARC’s “Relief Printmaking Class” that was last offered in the fall of 2011.

The 2013 calendar has full-color and black and white prints with introductions of the participating artists and includes a free, original hand-colored linoleum block print pullout, created by the students and faculty, for as long as supplies last.

“But even if you don’t get one of the free prints, it’s still a dang

fine calendar,” said Sheldon. The calendar also includes all relevant school dates, holidays, moonphases and a selection of whimsical dates, such as “national yo-yo day” and “national peanut butter and jelly day.”

“It‘s just a real nice calendar,” said Sheldon.

The three students most involved in this project were Kadie Sue Anderson, Yukiko Konishi and Cynthia Monk, “who met with me in the Kaneko Gallery every Tuesday this past summer to photograph, choose and organize the prints for our calendar, and they did an excellent job of it,” said Sheldon.

DIGITALPHOTOGRAPHY cameras efficiently, in order to be able to use them on fraserb@imail.losrios.edu manual settings as opposed to just shooting on automatic.

In a campus full of exams, Students will learn how to research papers and other use Photoshop to edit or even such gratuitous assignments that don’t cater to your artistic manipulate photos, as well as learn about a wide range side, you may want to give of prominent photographers Art Photography 305 a try. and their work from history It is not an easy A, but it is a to even present day. One chance to flex your creative such photographer students muscles. may learn about is Jerry The Digital PhotograUelsmann, whom Profesphy class offer students the knowledge of how to use their sor Brandy Worsfold once

By Bryce Fraser

JESSICAPRATT PHOTOGRAPHY

“

studied under. The class offers Photoshop version CS6 with plugins that allow photographers to add different filter effects, functions for black-andwhite images that enhance the richness and many tools that professional use. The class even offers cameras (mostly Canon brand) for students to check out for up to 24 hours.

You can check out student’s work from the class and other information at photographyarc.org.

Digital Photography is the coolest thing since sliced bread and that’s my word.

Bryce Fraser / fraserb@imail.losrios.edu

These classes are much more fun than traditional classes because you got to work on visual images instead of a paper.

Bryce Fraser / fraserb@imail.losrios.edu

“

On the XO

BRANDYWORSFOLD

PROFESSOR

sanchezm25@imail.losrios.edu

Time stops the first time you tell someone you love him or her.

Eyes are locked, hearts are melting and somehow, “A Whole New World” is playing in the background.

Yeah, that never happens. We all know telling someone you love them is one of scariest things a young heart can do.

That doesn’t matter though, because love does crazy things to people; it made Tom Cruise jump on top of a sofa in front of Oprah. It makes food taste better and before you know it, your life becomes some sort of Taylor Swift song – the happy ones.

Love, however, can be confused many times for lust. Love is not about physical attraction or about posting annoying couple photos on Facebook, but rather a mutual deep feeling for each other. Aside from that warm, awesome feeling you get every time their name pops up on your phone, love is honest, comfortable and brings you food when you’re starving at work. Maybe not that last one, but that’s always a plus.

When you finally find the courage to drop the “L Bomb,” it’s all about timing. Like my mother never sang, “You can’t hurry love, no, you’ll just have to wait.” You don’t want to say it when you’re drunk, half passed out in the back of your friend’s car or in the of middle intercourse.

I’ve been hit by cupid’s arrow a few times. The most memorable time that I’ve bravely expressed my love with syllables was when I was dating a guy for about five months. I was running late to work and I couldn’t find my keys.

As we both searched frantically, he finally found them hidden deep in the cracks of his sofa and out of pure excitement, I blurted out, “Yes, I got to go. I love you, bye…

Wait, what?” I couldn’t get out of that room any faster. All day, I was wondering, “Did he hear me?

Why didn’t he say it back?”

The next day, when we were sitting in his room watching “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” he said it and I was so relieved. After spending so much time together, it felt so natural and way overdue. I wish I had just said it sooner, or at least not run away like a coward.

So stop writing those horrible poems and simply say it: I love you.

Opinion

Page 11

Dec. 5, 2012

CURRENTEDITORIAL

EXPANDING OUTREACH

American River College’s Club and Events Board would be better served with a better online presence, reaching out to night students current@arc.losrios.edu The Current reached out to the Club and Events Board President, but he did not respond. It’s certainly a fun time.

Music blares in Rose Marks Pavilion, food is brought to share and there is a big sense of togetherness. Then there’s the open mic, which always provides plenty of entertainment. Fun, however, doesn’t mean effective.

Looking online, we couldn’t find any online presence for the Clubs and Events Board (CAEB) save for the one on the ARC landing page that included nothing but a few phone numbers to contact club members. CAEB

has a Facebook page, but it wasn’t easily found, nor was it linked to on the ARC website.

ARC is a commuter campus.

Some students travel from Davis to Auburn to partake in the diverse amount of courses offered here. Club Day is held at set times every month, so only a few of these commuters are able to participate.

What about students that attend night school? There’s a fair chance that if you only take night classes, you don’t even know ARC has CAEB offered.

Some might look at clubs and events as afterthoughts, but they’re an integral part of higher

education. You’re not only on campus to gain knowledge and job skills, you’re also here to broaden perspectives and share ideas with the diverse community that attends ARC. CAEB hasn’t failed us.

The clubs offered at ARC are many, ranging from Amtgard to the Theater Arts Club. The turnout to Club Day is self-evident by all the enthusiastic crowds that flood Rose Marks Pavilion twice a month, but outreach could be better served by a stronger web presence.

A more robust Facebook page, with outreach to commuters and night school students would be a

good first step.

A dedicated CAEB website would be even better, hopefully one that would be easy to find to new and continuing students, with information on clubs, how to join them and when Club Day is being held.

Another step would be to perhaps change up when Club Day is held.

If it’s held at the same time on the same days of every month, there’s a good chunk of students who could fall through the cracks and miss out on the entire college experience.

Jessica Maynard / maynarj@imail.losrios.edu

Loss of a parent

The Current’s sports editor details her healing journey after family tragedy

By Jessica Maynard maynarj@imail.losrios.edu I lost my mother when I was 23 years old.

She passed away at the young age of 53. Nearly two years later, I still fight back the tears when people ask me, “What happened?”

On Jan. 9, 2011, my mom left her house at noon when she was heading to a memorial service for a friend who had recently passed away.

By 3 p.m., my mom was admitted into the hospital. She was experiencing severe stomach pains and suffering from hot and cold flashes.

Later that night, my mom’s vitals crashed; her heart rate raised to 132 beats per minute and her blood pressure was 32 over 21. The doctors and nursing staff ran multiple tests on her, but couldn’t diagnose her with anything.

They decided to put her on medication that would help lower her heart rate and stabilize her blood pressure so they could perform surgery on her.

On Jan. 10, 2011, before my mom went into surgery, I asked my family to leave the room so I could have a moment with her. In that moment, so many thoughts ran through my mind; why did I wait so long to tell her

what a great mom she had been? Why didn’t I apologize for all the heartaches I ever caused her? In those few minutes, I just needed the one thing I didn’t have – time. Jessica Maynard (right) and mother Georgia Ganas (left) who passed away Instead of all of those in January of 2011. things, I said, “I love be a painful process. On the opposite side of you, mom,” and proceeded to give her a hug. loss is something else to be gained if you allow She responded with, “I love you too baby.” yourself to see it.

Those were the last words I ever said to my I will be the first one to tell you it’s hard. It Mom. will change you. It may make you stronger or it Dealing with my mom’s death has made me might not. But remember to allow yourself to a better person. I decided to chase dreams I have your own experiences, they are there for was too afraid to go after. I’ve become stronger you to learn from and grow. and more independent. I’ve learned that I can I’ve learned there’s no time limit on healing. survive without my mom; if you would have I’m still finding new areas that haven’t comasked me two years ago if I could live a day pletely healed yet. Take your healing as slow or without her, I would have said no. as fast as you want, but don’t force yourself to I’m not regretful for my loss. Life on this move on. If you do, you will deal with the feelplanet constitutes life and destruction on its ings later on in life. That’s a promise. own terms, not ours. This was never meant to

Taking a gamble with different degrees With student loan debt an issue, one wonders if certificates are the best way to go

By Alex Panasenko panasea@imail.losrios.edu On Oct. 18, the Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS) reported in a press release that, “Students who borrowed for college and earned bachelor’s degrees in 2011 graduated with an average $26,600 in student loan debt, up from $25,250 in 2010.”

In April, NPR reported that, “the nation’s student loan debt… now exceeds a trillion dollars.”

These statistics aren’t really inspiring much confidence in me and I am second-guessing continuing to go after a bachelor’s degree (an associate’s that I am working on now just doesn’t seem to hold as much weight as it used to).

Instead, maybe going for something like a certificate program or

ROP seems like a more sensible idea to me.

If I decide to go after a degree, I’d not want to graduate college with a bachelor’s and with $26,000 of debt, especially not in an economy where it’s not easy to find a job even with a degree in hand. It’s how the situation is now, not four years from now. Maybe four years from now things will be different, but I am not inclined to take that gamble. (2008 was not too long ago, and in 2012, four years later, things are still… not so uncertain.)

But whether it’s an associate’s, bachelor’s or master’s degree, the prospects aren’t that bright in my mind when I hear of some rather unpleasant findings. A Rutgers University study reported that, “444 recent graduates in the

classes of 2006-2011 found that most of (young college graduates struggling with loan balances) had made little progress in paying down their debt, and nearly half were struggling with credit card debt as well.” Only half were employed full-time.

In other words, graduates were slowly paying off the debt and not working full time. Seems to me getting a degree doesn’t really guarantee anything these days, at least not as much as it may sound at first. And that just reinforces my already unease over what my degree (whatever it may be) is really going to do or not do for me when or if I get it.

So I am inclined to think about going for a certificate program or ROP career training. Doing this, of course, doesn’t solve the ques-

tion of how to pay for education (the very problem that the student loans are supposed to address). It also raised a question of which ROP career preparation program to go for that will also be interesting to me – I wouldn’t want to be stuck in a job I don’t enjoy.

But it seems a more sensible route to get any job right now and use money from it to pay for ROP classes, as opposed to getting in debt and banking on a future that may or may not be.

And then, with ROP training and a job, ponder going after a degree.

It seems a safer bet to me than taking out $26,000 or more worth of loans to pay for something that may or may not get me a full time job.

I Oughta

Know

By Jaime Carrillo carrilj8@imail.losrios.edu

Stayin’ Alive, Stayin’ Alive Houston voted for Obama in 2012. That’s right, the one in Texas. The bastion of right wing conservatism. And despite the Republicans keeping their majority in the House of Representatives, Democrats got more votes in house races. I won’t go into the evils of gerrymandering right now, but the point stands: the Grand Old Party is dying. But I really don’t want it to die. We need at least two parties for this whole democracy thing to work. Here are a few tips for how the Republican Party can retain its core values while shedding a good chunk of the garbage ones.

Embrace the Gays: 3.5 percent of Americans are openly gay, and this doesn’t account for closeted gays (who may be Republican congressmen, a la Larry Craig).

You can no longer win elections by relying on the electoral votes of the old Confederacy. Stop demonizing them, embrace gay marriage (which is happening whether you like it or not) and start some outreach.

Make pariahs of anyone with a nuanced position on rape: No, you don’t have to become pro-choice. But you shouldn’t try to demonize victims of violent crimes, like GOP candidate Richard Mourdock did when he said that babies conceived from rape is “something that God intended to happen.” That is not only insulting to victims, but it’s insulting to God. Clean house of those people if you don’t want to scare away the voters with more than a fourth grade education.

Compromise, Compromise, Compromise: I’ve forever pointed out that America doesn’t have a leftist party. The Democrats in any other country would be considered a moderate party in some countries and outright right in others.

Taxes for instance, aren’t the worst thing ever, especially when we’re only asking three percent more from the ultra-rich. Supplyside economics were a bad idea on arrival, even according to guys who wrote the Reagan budgets such as David Stockman. If you don’t want people calling you plutocrats, then don’t behave like them.

Will these changes mean that there’s a good chance I could vote for a Republican in the future?

Hardly. But I would rather have a party that I disagree with and respect than a party I outright abhor.

The yin will always need the yang, and I Oughta Know.

Jill Wagner

Professor Tim Swanson overseeing one of many editorial meetings. Swanson is the staff advisor for the American River Current, helping the students to hone their skills.

Daniel Romandia / romandd@imail.losrios.edu

A Pulitzer Prize of a Professor Every once in a while someone enters your life and makes an impact that could drown a continent. Tim Swanson is one such fellow. Swanson is a professor of journalism, but professor isn’t a word that suffices in this case. Swanson eats, breathes and lives journalism, and his love for it is extremely contagious. Everyone

that knows him can’t sing his praises enough and anyone that is lucky enough to know him will be hard pressed to find something bad to say about him. Swanson is leaving ARC after five semesters, and will be severely missed by his Current staff, his co-workers and most of all, his students.

Jill Wagner

Swanson served as film editor for the LA Times before becoming the staff advisor for the Current.

Jill Wagner

PARTING SHOTS

Swanson and Web Editor Carlos Guerrero standing in front of the new Current kiosks.

T H E

WHAT’S CURRENT

A M E R I C A N

SPORTS

R I V E R

Bryce Fraser / fraserb@imail.losrios.edu

NEED FOR SPEED

ARC PARKING

The student voice of American River College since 1955.

Volume 62, Edition 1

AmericanRiverCurrent.com

September 22, 2010 Photo by Bobbie Fleming / American River Current

Can’t find parking? Check out five tips for finding a spot.

NEWS Page 3

FALL SPORTS PREVIEW

Front view of campus library after a $7.1 million revamp.

Boettcher: Bigger and better

Renovated ARC library offers students more space and services Shanel Royal

There is more than just football at ARC this semester.

SPORTS Page 4

Arts & Culture Editor Back in 2007, the lights were dim, computers were scarce and books were hard to find. It was definitely time for the library to undergo some changes.

Finally, after three semesters of having books in trailers and in the portable village, the American River College’s Boettcher Library has been remodeled with state-of-the-art services and more space. The total cost of the project was $7.1 million according to figures listed by the Los Rios Community College District.

More than 100 Gateway computers have been added for students to use, be it researching topics, writing papers, or if a recent visit was any illustration, catching up with friends on Facebook.

“I use it to study and read, and sometimes I use it to print out papers,” said 21-year-old computer science major Parker Mitchell.

‘PETER PAN’

“The boy who never grew up” flies into ARC Theatre.

Arts & Culture Page 6

Before the renovation, resources were scattered around the library on several different floors. Computers were on the basement level, librarians were on the first floor and students were often confused about where to go to ask questions. That’s changed with the renovation.

“We put all of our services on the main floor so that [students] don’t have to wander around looking for help,” said ARC librarian Kathy Champion.

The Boettcher Library opened in 1974. Since then, the student population at ARC has grown significantly. To accommodate students, the library has added 7150 square feet to its original 23,000 square feet.

The second and third floors now have an increase of study rooms; 15 more than before. There are many quiet areas where students can read or do homework while sitting in the See Library, page 3

ASB President Shaine Johnson’s plans for semester Karen Thomas

CURRENT CONTENTS

Near the end of the 2010 spring semester, American River College held its annual student body elections. Running unopposed on the Students for Change platform, Shaine Johnson was appointed Associated Student Body President.

As he begins his first term, the Current’s Editor-in-Chief Karen Thomas conducted an interview with Johnson, who graduated from Grant High School in 2008, and plans on majoring in political science.

He has been very active in student politics since he came to ARC and aspires to be in public office one day. Here are his answers to Thomas’ questions regarding ASB goals, campus concerns, and student life in general.

KT: It’s a new semester at ARC. What News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-3 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

would you like to say to students and faculty?

SJ: To ARC’s faculty—the students recognize the quality education you provide and appreciate the hard work you do. To our classified staff—I thank you for your hard work and reaffirm that you are an integral part of the ARC community. To our administrators—know you are more than just management; you’re the leadership and the thread that ties us all together. Finally to my fellow students—many of the positive changes you’re seeing are a direct result of the hard work and dedication of your student representatives.

What are some issues and concerns you’ll be addressing?

If I had to pick three they would be bringing the student voice to every level of government through student powered Scene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 A & C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Alexander Musa

current ARCurrent.com

Nicholas Hill, a 27-year-old first semester automotive tech major, was still struggling to find courses open for enrollment two weeks into the new semester. “I registered as soon as I could, but I was wait listed on everything,” he said.

It’s a situation that’s becoming all too common at American River College.

This semester, 35,000 individuals have enrolled at ARC, about 2000 students fewer than last year at this time. While attendance is down across the Los Rios Community College District by nearly 5.5 percent, students like Hill are discovering that registering for a full load of classes can be difficult because there simply aren’t enough courses being offered to meet the demand.

“I’m probably only going to have eight units this semester,” Hill said. “I’ll have better luck next semester when I get priority registration.”

The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office has cited a $520 million reduction - roughly eight percent in the overall community college budget for the 2009/10 academic years. This has forced campuses across the state to reduce courses offered by up to 20 percent. The system currently has 200,000 unfunded students - or students who have been admitted to classes that are already over capacity - attending community colleges.

According to ARC Vice President of Instruction Colleen Owings, every department faced cuts this semester, but fine arts and physical education were the most heavily slashed. Fine arts dropped from 374 sections offered in fall 2009, to 315 in fall 2010. Physical education fell See Enrollment, page 3

lobbying, increasing participation and quality of our representation by conducting polls, and ensuring that quality student representation continues in the years to come.

What is your pet project for this semester?

Basic Skills. Many students slip through the cracks because they don’t get vital education in math, reading, and writing and are underprepared for college. ARC offers many great programs and services, But we don’t do a good job of advertising them. Increasing advertisement of these programs will be my “pet project” for the year.

Are there any programs or projects underway that need student support?

The ASB always needs students to voice See ASB page 2

Perspectives . . . . . . . . . . . .7

NEWS

More buck for your book MANY OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS LOOKING TO SELL THEIR USED COLLEGE TEXTBOOKS

By Steven Condemarin & Jessica Maynard condems@imail.losrios.edu maynarj@imail.losrios.edu

T

he end of the year is an exciting and stressful time for students, as it means winter break is right around the corner. Although the end of the semester causes enthusiasm, it also can incite frustration for many students, especially when they realize they will not receive the amount of money they had hoped for their used textbooks from the campus

“

I just sold an ancient French textbook copyright 2004 for $35.

SHELLYMCKINNON bookstore. Buying these textbooks probably drained their account significantly at the beginning of the semester.

For students who have been using the campus bookstore to sell books here are a few options you have that may help you get more money for your textbooks.

6

maynarj@imail.losrios.edu

W

Matt Airola, first place winner of this year’s California Community College CrossCountry Championship.

SEE AIROLA, PAGE 4

THEATER REVIEW

‘Domestic Crusaders’ tackles post9/11 issues with humor and intensity SIX-PERSON CAST OF THE CONTROVERSIAL COMEDY ENGAGES AUDIENCE WITH EMOTIONAL CONTENT

By Sergio Portela

merican River College Theatre’s production of “The Domestic Crusaders,” directed

by Sam Williams and written by Wajahat Ali, is a hilarious and at times intense play as they get into issues of racism, feminism, terrorism and what is expected of the family in their community.

Although the topics are controversial, the audience should be impressed with the acting and how similar a Pakistani family after 9/11 is to them.

The sets were nice and plain, as they made you feel as if you were in a real person’s home and the lighting to go with it is well done, especially during the parent’s bedroom scene. I enjoyed the interaction in the stands with the cast during the play, especially with the grandfather Hakim, played

by Charles D. Souther, during his storytelling and praying.

The cast itself is great. They sometimes had a few slips on their lines, but delivered an overall good performance and made you believe they are

hold the family together.

The children of the play all seemed to have great chemistry as siblings, especially Fatima and Sal, played by Mondis Vakili and Rajiv Laffey respectively. They are very believable as brother and sister as one would always pick on the other, but still showed companionship as they shared a

A

SEE BOOKS, PAGE 3

A LOOK INSIDE

By Jessica Maynard ith his recent first place finish at the California Community College Cross-Country Championships, Matt Airola has become quite possibly the most “metal” person on campus.

“It’s something we say on the team,“ said Airola.

“Instead of cool, it’s metal.”

Airola, a native of Angels Camp, Calif., competed in cross-country and track and field for American River College. He has achieved many accolades since coming to ARC and has helped the school claim three state championships: two in cross-country and one in track and field. Airola has also been recognized as a two-time California Community College All-American athlete.

“It’s pretty amazing,” said Airola. “It’s a happy thought knowing I was a part of three championships out of four.

“My first year here, we won track and field. That next season, we won cross-country, then we lost track season. We got fourth and then we got another state championship this year in cross-country.”

Airola grew up an All-American, partaking in many different sports. The first sport he ever participated in was soccer, followed by running and eventually basketball. About 10 years ago, when he was in fifth grade, his family encouraged him to get

@ARCurrent Facebook.com/ARCurrentcom Vol. 64, Ed. 6 • Dec. 5, 2012

Design Editor

ARC CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNER MATT AIROLA RACES TOWARDS HIS DREAMS WITH SCHOLARSHIP FROM UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA

TOP 5 OF 2012

The Current looks back at the past year and highlights the biggest stories we’ve covered.

9

a real family. They were funny, serious and intense all when they needed to be, especially Souther who held his own as Hakim.

I was impressed by his ability to switch from mad to happy so quickly and, out of all the cast members, he showed so much authority when he spoke and was really able to

TIPS FOR FINALS

Want to ace your finals? Then follow these tips from The Current’s staff writer Olesya Sytnyk.

portels@imail.losrios.edu

Photo courtesy of ARC Theatre

Photo by Andrew Vasquez / American River Current

2010-11 ASB President Shaine Johnson at a ASB meeting on Sept. 14, 2010.

Editor in Chief

Enrollment a headache for students, faculty

american river

11

SEE CRUSADERS, PAGE 8

LOSS OF A PARENT The Current’s Jessica Maynard shares what it’s like to deal with the untimely death of her mother.

At left, the first edition of the Current when Professor Swanson became advisor five semesters ago. On the right is the final issue. In the five semesters under Swanson’s leadership, the Current grew from eight pages in black-and-white to twelve pages with four in full color.

Swanson in class planning story ideas with the staff for edition six.