Rock n roll pioneer Jerry Leiber died in late August of cardiopulmonary failure at the age of 78 leaving behind a legacy of musical hits.
“HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE DREAM ACT, WHICH WOULD ALLOW ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO GAIN ACCESS TO PUBLIC GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS?”
REMEMBERING A LEGEND
7 9
Cubbington: What happens when you can’t get your textbooks?
LACC Weather
5 Wed
CUBBINGTON
63/52°F
6 Thu
7 Fri
65/54°F
68/56°F
8Sat
9 Sun
74/58°F
79/58°F
PAGE 3 Wednesday | October 5, 2011
Volume 165 | Number 2
NEWS BRIEFS Compiled by Richard Martinez Universal Studios Hollywood Hiring Universal Studios Hollywood is currently accepting applications for the Fall/Halloween season for parking lot attendants and Maze hosts. All available positions are seasonal, hourly union positions earning minimum or slightly higher wage. To apply go to www.ushjobs. com.
LACCD Offers Paid Internships LACCD is working to develop jobs for students at all Los Angeles Community Colleges campuses through its Internship Program. Internships are available in all disciplines, including architecture, computer graphics, marketing and business management, customer care and many others. Students enrolled in the Internship Program are eligible for full time, part time, and summer positions. The internships provide students with real work experience, exposure to cutting edge growth firms, and opportunities to assess personal career goals. Visit the Career Center at AD 190 between 1-3 p.m. to apply. Positions start at $10.64 an hour, 20 to 30 hours a week. Contact the Career Center at (323) 953-4000 ext. 2210.
Students Protest, Praise Obama at House of Blues
Volunteers Needed for Hospice Students interested in providing emotional support and care to individuals facing terminal illness should contact the Los Angeles Hospice. There is no age limit or academic major requirement and the hospice offers training to all new volunteers. Volunteers will not perform any medical duties. The hospice only asks that volunteers attend to patients at least once a week. If anyone is interested in helping, contact Sal Genovese, volunteer coordinator at (213) 351-1030.
By: Rocio Maya
Art Awaits Students at the Getty
LACC Student Ambassadors have arranged a trip to the Getty Museum for Oct. 14. The excursion is free to all current LACC students and transportation to the museum will be provided. A sign-up sheet is located at the Office of Student Life in the Cub Center. Only 25 seats are available. Music Department Concert Series Resumes Professional musicians will perform for the Music Department’s free concert series. All October performances are scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon in Da Vinci Hall, Room 302. For more information on the concert series contact the Music Department at (323) 953-4000 ext. 2880.
Peer into the World of 2050 Catch a lecture by Professor of Geography Laurence Smith, hosted by the Los Angeles Geographical Society in the LACC ScienceTechnology Building on Oct. 7, at 8 p.m. Smith’s lecture “The World in 2050: Four Forces Shaping Civilization’s Northern Future” will highlight population and migration, natural resources, globalization and climate change, plus the overall effects of technology. Various lectures are scheduled for the first Friday of each month during the academic year at LACC. For more information on the event visit www.lageography.org.
Supporters and protesters gathered at the House of Blues on Sunset and Hollywood Boulevard last week as President Obama arrived, but the only song everybody seemed to be familiar with was the “Economy, war, and deportation blues.” House of Blues in West Hollywood which is known for hosting the hottest concerts, pop stars and string of diverse comedians set the stage for one of Barack Obama’s 2012 fundraising events a week ago. About 400 students, supporters and protesters from Southern California Colleges lined the streets. Some were protesting the policies under the Obama Administration. Admission to the Hollywood concert and speech ranged from $250 to $10,000 per ticket and was one of the many stops on the campaign trail. Police began to close off the streets of Melrose Avenue and La Cienega Boulevard around 3 p.m. The sights and sounds of chanting collegeage students filled the sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard. The mood was peaceful. While guests waited in line for the concert, many demonstrators stood across the street from the House of Blues to protest the policies of the Obama Administration. There was high-level security all over the West Hollywood area. Demonstrators remarked on seeing sharpshooters and Secret Service agents. There was an equal ratio of supporters and protestors present.
See News Page 4
Students Pass on High-priced Textbooks By Mia Boykin Collegian survey shows students are using their own money to pay for books rather than using financial aids or book grants. The Higher Education Opportunity Act forces publishers to disclose textbook prices to students and faculty.
about LACC BOOKS N’ MORE, the campus bookstore, for failing to offer enough textbooks at an affordable price. Special edition textbooks made customized for Photo by Rocio Maya LACC also raise eyebrows. Some Collegian also question the impact profesUriel Sanchez and Vanessa Magana rally at a mock graduation at City Hall in Downtown Los sors have on textbook selec- Angeles in support of the California DREAM Act. tion. At least one administrator Professors and adminis- questions whether students save trators say they have seen in money for books prior to the an increase in the number of beginning of each semester. Programs like the Extended students who go throughout a semester without purchasing Opportunity Program & Services textbooks. This happens despite (EOP&S) have lowered the By Tu’Lisha Predom and Rocio Maya the negative impact it may have maximum amount of money for and non-state on grades. At the same time, books from $400 to $375, and Gov. Jerry Brown has brought scholarships students say purchasing their due to higher enrollment this undocumented students one funded grants. “We’re very pleased he [Gilbert textbooks strains their budgets. year, according to librarians, the step closer in realizing the equal Textbooks are essential for Martin Luther King Library opportunity for an affordable Cedillo] signed AB 130,” said Opinion & Editorial 2-3 student success, but the question is consistently checking out college and university education Conrado Terrazas, Principal Communications most students have on their mind textbooks to students. by signing part of the California Assistant, News 4 “We [the Bookstore] really are DREAM Act into law. Director for California Assembly is why textbooks are so expensive. According to the Federation here just to make sure that the The California DREAM Act member Gilbert Cedillo. Features 5 The bipartisan bill was of State Public Interest Research students are trying to get the right is composed of two bills: AB Arts & Entertainment 6-7 by then-senator Group (U.S. PIRG), “Students books,” said Christi O’Connor, 130 and AB 131. Collectively, sponsored spend an average of $900 a year LACC’s Bookstore manager. She It would grant undocumented Gilbert Cedillo in 2010. Construction Focus 8 California can now join on textbooks – 20 percent of agrees that textbook prices are students access to private scholtuition at an average university, out of control, but says that the arships as well as federal finan- several other states across the Campus Life 9 country that offer tuition breaks and half of tuition at community Bookstore makes only “about 25 cial assistance. college. Textbook prices have cents on the dollar on textbooks,” Gov. Brown signed AB 130 to undocumented students such Sports 10 increased at four times the rate of and the margin has not changed into law in early September, as New Mexico, Texas, New York inflation since 1994 and continue in 22 years. which allows undocumented and Maryland. to rise.” students to apply for private Some students voice concerns
California DREAM Act Now Closer to Becoming Reality INDEX
[ See News Page 4 ]
[ See News Page 4 ]
2
Wednesday October 5, 2011
OPINION & EDITORIAL
Editor-in-Chief: Managing Editor: Opinions and Editorials: Arts and Entertainment: Sports: Distribution Manager: Advertising: Graphic Designer: Copy Writer: Reporters:
The Stranger The student body of a community college represents diversity. It represents race, ethnicity, age, educational goals, careers and general life experiences rarely found at an ordinary four-year college. Knowing this, I stepped onto the LACC campus for the first time expecting new, awesomely positive experiences. During my first time on campus, I didn’t have to wait longer than fifteen minutes before I witnessed an incident. “I’m sick of you people f----n’ polluting my city! F----n’ white boy! Go back where you came from!” A girl’s shrill voice reverberated around the hallway. About thirty other students and I stood waiting for the door to the classroom to open. The chatter, which had previously filled the air, stopped abruptly as the stream of violent profanities continued. You come in here, thinking you’re better than us! This is my city, you don’t f----n’ belong here!” I stared in confusion. Here was a young Hispanic girl, menacing a hapless young blond man who looked confused. She claimed to own all of Los Angeles and asserted that Caucasians had no place in this city of hers. I was standing rooted to my spot, trying to fit together these pieces of lunacy. Suddenly she lunged. Like some graceless jungle cat, her arms stretched forward, swung her headphone wires around the young man’s neck and yanked. Thankfully, some students had faster brain synapses. While I was still trying to understand the logic behind using a pair of headphones to inflict bodily harm, my fellow classmates jumped in to separate the two. Disheveled and increasingly psychotic, the girl voiced a few more of her opinions for us all to hear then made a quick exit when officers showed up. Snickering could be heard among the class. I had never seen anything like it. A young woman of color had just violently accused a young Caucasian man of tainting Los Angeles because (in her mind, anyway) he was an outsider and she was not; he was an alien and she was homebred; in other words, because he was an immigrant and this was her land— absurd, as my classmates’ muted laughter showed. The pot was calling the kettle black, Winnie-the-Pooh was accusing Cookie Monster of overeating, and the IrishItalian-descendents of Minute Men are keeping America “immigrant-free” with their shotguns. The argument for tracing the lineage of everyone in America back to some immigrant has been made to the point of exhaustion. With the tenth anniversary of September 11th, tolerance is more important than ever. But some people still just don’t get it. In a city like Los Angeles, where almost 3.8 million faces come from nearly every corner of the globe, to be unaware of diversity is impossible. For those with prejudiced inclinations, I offer here a set of the top five alternative activities to occupy yourself the next time you feel like strangling another student on the basis of his/her race, gender, orientation or shoe size or whatever. In the time spent spewing nasty, bigoted remarks, you could be: 1) Clipping your toenails. This way you get rid of waste rather than helping create more of it. Metaphor intended. 2) Eating a bowl of worms. Believe it or not, this is actually more attractive than the way you will look waving clenched fists in the air, yelling about the definition of marriage or who deserves to live in America. 3) Counting every grain of sand on every beach: A good exercise in assigning the same worth to multiple colors, as sand particles tend to be quite diverse. Level Two of this exercise involves applying the same principle to humans. 4) Grooving to Justin Bieber. The ‘Biebs’ has actually got quite a few catchy tunes to jam out to and listening to him is an exercise in tolerance anyway. He’s not as bad as everyone says he is! 5) Reading a book. Because at this point, you probably need to. This may come off as snarky, but I am honestly concerned. If tolerance can’t be practiced here at City, then where? Clip, people! Eat, count, groove and read! The future of our shared America depends on it.
LOS ANGELES COLLEGIAN
High-Priced Textbooks Trap Students The high price of textbooks threatens the access to education. More and more students are finding the demands of expensive textbooks to hard to keep up with. Textbook prices have been such a serious concern that the Government Accountability Office commissioned a study about the effects and causes of high textbook prices. “College textbook prices have increased at twice the rate of inflation but have followed close behind tuition increases” according to the GAO Report. The GAO identified the effect of “bundling” as one of the causes of inflating textbook prices. “Bundling” refers to the supplementary products packaged in shrink-wrap with the textbooks, such as, “CD-ROMs,” workbooks, and info track database subscriptions, which are usually not required. Book publishers have defended their high prices and bundling. Publishers claim that supplementary materials are applicable for new technology. Publishers claim such materials assist part-time instructors. They are not as well paid as tenured professors and nor do they have much time to develop learning aids for their students. “This text is a couple of thousands of years old,” said a professor referring to the latest edition of Plato’s Apology, “Don’t know how they [textbook publishers] keep on making new editions.” Thoughtful professors have addressed the issue by allowing students to use older editions of textbooks and to keep copies on reserve at the library. In a trigonometry class, one student checked out an old edition of a textbook from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library. The instructor required students to show the work for odd-numbered problems for homework. He was able to complete the homework and prepare for exams. He explained, “This stuff hasn’t really changed for decades.” Faculty members in the humanities have a
chance to make their courses even more attractive by not using textbooks. Many literary classics are available for free on the Internet. Professors should inform students registered in their courses and also post online the International Standard Book Numbers, or ISBN, of the required textbooks before the first day of class. This would allow students to shop-around textbooks online in websites like amazon.com and half.com, which sell textbooks much cheaper than the campus bookstore. Thanks to Kindles, e-books offer cheaper alternatives to the campus bookstore. The purchase a Kindle is not necessary. E-books can be downloaded to laptops or smart phones. However, there is no feeling quite like highlighting a traditional book or scribbling notes over the margins. Taking a page from the publishing industry obsessed about the bottom line, a grassroots-style solution have to be prevalent at LACC. Students currently enrolled in a course should directly sell their books at reduced prices, but higher than what the campus bookstore will pay. Under the current system in which students either post paper ads on campus kiosks or sell them at half of what they had paid at the bookstore. They can sell them for 60% off and students can pay them for a fraction of the prices the bookstore’s copies. In other words, students registered in Fall 2011 courses should sell their textbooks to Spring 2012 students. Cut the middle men. Professors should realize that they are not just instructors but gatekeepers to education, considering the high prices of textbooks. Those who allow the use old editions of textbooks ought to be commended because they are instrumental to ensure access to education. President Dwight D. Eisenhower had to send the National Guard to the states with governors who refused to comply with the standards of Brown v. Board of Education. What would he do about the current factor denying education to students with limited resources?
Photographers:
Illustrators:
Faculty Advisor:
Tanya Flowers Luis Rivas Hyun Chung Lauren Arevalo Cliff Webber Collegian Staff Collegian Staff Josue Hernandez Stephen Clements Abraham Daplin Amy Lieu Cliff Webber Emanuel Bergmann Erleen Barrett Heidi Johnson Hyun Chung Jayne Miles Lauren Arevalo Luis Rivas Matthew Mullins Mellisa Leon Mia Boykin Richard Martinez Robert Monico Rocio Maya Ronald Vaught Luis Rivas Matthew Ali Mathew Mullins Patrick Chung Reuben Reynoso Cesar Anzora Christina Morris Jose Ramon Tobar Luis Rivas Rhonda Guess
It’s Not What You Know, It’s Who By Ilse Martinez By the end of the first day of class the phrase “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” had been mentioned so much by my professors it might as well have been on the syllabus. As college students we are encouraged to use our college years to build a strong network of individuals because the person sitting next you in chemistry will eventually be a doctor, and the girl who sat across from you in the study room will be a lawyer in a couple of years. In a couple of years these very individuals that cross your path on campus are going to be your colleagues, your doctors, and your childrens’ teachers. The question is how do you socialize and network on a socially dead campus? The first week of school has come and gone and the only tents on the quad were in some way related to the ongoing construction. Walking around campus, I kept wondering what time of day the Quad would be active and if there was a university center where students can engage in social activities between classes. Community college has long been students’ back up plan, but in a fragile economy, community college is a reasonable and
smart “Plan A. “The lack of school funding for student events and services only encourages the “Plan B” attitude students have toward community college. The lack of student interaction and involvement on campus is detrimental to everything from enrollment to the actual fulfillment and experience a student has. The importance of student interaction goes far beyond the need to have an enjoyable college experience—it is necessary. In a job market with more job seekers than positions available, a high number of unemployed degree-holders with solid resumes will not have jobs. Companies are not only interested in the individual, but they’re also interested in who you know and who can do the most for them. Companies like Klout.com specialize in gathering information about your social networking to create profiles for individuals ranking their influence, the size and quality of their network and the specific topics in which a person might be influential. Klout scores are not only an acceptable resume stat, but certain companies are asking for them. Companies are interested in knowing who their prospects are and how influential and strong their network is because like the old saying goes “tell me who your friends are and I’ll tell you who you are”.
Got Questions? Got Comments? Got Pictures? Got News? Email Us”
losangeles.collegian@gmail.com
Deadline Schedule NEXT ISSUE: October 5th Editorial deadline: September 28th For all submissions including letters to the editor and publicity releases. Advertising deadline: September 28, Send materials to Collegian office: Chemistry 207 losangeles.collegian@gmail.com
The college newspaper is published as a learning experience, offered under the college journalism instructional program. The editorial and advertising materials published herein, including any opinions expressed, are the responsibility of the student newspaper staff. Under appropriate state and federal court decisions, these materials are free from prior restraint by virtue of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Accordingly, materials published herein, including any opinions expressed, should not be interpreted as the position of the Los Angeles Community College District, Los Angeles City College, or any officer or employee thereof. © 2003 Collegian. No material may be reprinted without the express written permission of the Collegian.
LOS ANGELES COLLEGIAN
“How do you feel about the Dream Act, which would allow illegal immigrants to gain access to public grants and scholarship funds?”
OPINION & EDITORIAL
Wednesday October 5, 2011
3
Krystal Perez Massage Therapy
Kang Lee Child Development
Alish Afiq Criminal Justice
Jorryan Cruz Radiological Technology
Mohammed Asif Cinema
It’s a very good idea, I love it. My sister-in-law is from Mexico, she has no papers. She actually goes to LACC. She is going to be a first grade teacher. So it’s very exciting for her and for me.
I feel like it should be passed. So many students have been waiting for it. And many have been in the U.S. for 10 years or more. … Just the fact that this kids probably graduated from high school … they worked as hard or maybe even harder, they deserve the opportunity.
They’re trying to help the students out and give them more opportunities, and if they’re going to do it, so... I think it should be legalized.
I don’t agree with them [illegal immigrants] having access the public funds, because they’re not enough to go around for actual citizens… I’m getting financial aid. I wouldn’t want to be cut off …I’d rather know it’s for citizens who pay their taxes and who go about things the legal way.
I do appreciate that they are doing that … but this is not fair to the local people who are born here. They’re sharing their share with immigrants … If they [illegal immigrants] get an education, they should give back to this country
Photos and text by Emanuel Bergmann/Collegian
OPENED DOORS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS Every year about seven hundred thousand international students enroll in schools in the United States, which is a great honor, a big opportunity, and also a big responsibility. When I first came to LACC, I was scared of asking for information. Not only was I a new, but I was also from another country, which was harder. I have already reviewed the information on the webpage in order to register for my first semester. I
By Rocio Flores
Community College Professors Imposes Overly Stringent Guidelines By Robert Jackson
NOW, WHY DID I GO TO COLLEGE, AGAIN? Complaints? None. Compli- By Denise Barrett walked through the International Student Services. A smiling ments? Many. LACC opened its lady asked me “Can I help you?” doors for me. Now it is my time College 2011: It’s expenFrom that moment, I lost all my to walk through its doors and sive. It’s overcrowded. It’s fears. Then, another lady guided give back the opportunity that underfunded. There are no jobs me in the enrollment procedure. LACC offered me. As Confucius when you leave, no pensions to What a great service! I enrolled said, “A journey of a thousand work for. And now, regardless in many of my courses there, and miles begins with a single step.” of the amount you spend on a the other half online. The LACC I am so glad my first step was so college education, most students website is a great source of infor- easy—thanks to LACC. This probably won’t do as well as mation, not only for international is the first step to a big path their parents. If school does students, but also for all LACC full of challenges and obstacles. not guarantee success, then why students. All the information I Thanks again, LACC. bother? needed was accessible. For generations now, students have been told that an education is the ticket to getting ahead. Rising tuition and fees mean college is one of the most significant investments you can make, both personally and financially. You work hard, incurring massive debt, and make sacrifices now to enjoy a prosperous future. Education has certainly never been about immediate gratification. So, understanding that college may take awhile to be financially fruitful or personally fulfilling, you explore judo, as well as, business, math, as well as, art, marketing, and anthropology. You join clubs, party hard, and make mistakes. You leave home, say no to someone older than you, fight over philosophical musings, and ultimately find a voice. And as you figure out what you do and don’t like, you realize you’re learning as much about yourself as your potential career. If you’re lucky enough, they end up being a perfect match. A certain number of years ago, I entered the workforce in a weak economy. And my first job out of college had nothing to do with my major. The job after, only marginally so. It seemed the harder I worked, the harder I worked. Doors were not opened because I had a degree, especially when everyone else had one, too (A Bachelor of Arts has been essentially the equivalent of a high school diploma for a while now). It was discouraging, even angering. After many, many years in school—and even more money—what do you mean it’s not enough? Regardless, I (almost) never wavered in my commitment to Recently, I started one of “no-make up” or “late assign- to be a penalty for a student my many classes at LACC. ments will get no credit” or “no because they fell behind. I know it is not the profesThe one trend I’ve noticed is excuses” rule is quite unfair to that the professors seem to be some students because they came sor’s fault nor responsibility if out of touch with the numer- to the community college system a student has issues outside the ous challenges that face the for the flexible school schedule campus that interferes with his diverse population of students and hours in order to fit some or her schoolwork, but at least a more reasonable approach than on campus. The stringent and education into their busy lives. The community college “all or nothing” to the student’s inflexible guidelines that some professors hold students to are student system has always been dilemma would be favorable. In my time at LACC, I’ve sometimes disheartening and attractive to the stay-at-home wife or mom, and people with talked to many people that have very discouraging. I understand that there has jobs and families who want to similar views on the subject. I to be deadlines and guidelines better themselves through educa- kept hearing comments like “I in order to keep the learning tion, and people who didn’t have need more time” or “it was my process moving forward, but grades high enough for admis- job or school.” I’m sure that that does not mean that a sion to a university. Having most students here didn’t intend student should be held to an “ responsibilities outside of school on the baby getting sick during all of nothing” set of rules. The that must be met should not have midterms or the boss needing
my undergraduate or the graduate education that followed, or to the idea that it would serve me well in my career, if not, life. College built skill sets, broadened my interests and perspective, and helped me make connections with implications beyond the campus. It created options, so that, as the market changed, I could, too. And now as a student returning to school after a number of years in the workforce, I am creating more options. Thirty perfect or so of community college students fall into this category—working adults looking for new careers, shoring up skills, or simply enjoying a challenging change from the 9 to 5. We’re attending classes alongside the next generation of workers graduating into a troubled economy only projected to get worse. Perhaps standing room-only classes at community colleges reflect a continuing hope among younger students that the future is brighter than predicted. Most are looking beyond the associate and bachelor’s degrees to graduate, willing to go the distance to attain dream or secure a decent livelihood. Still others are using school experiences to determine their future in other ways, like becoming entrepreneurs. If the current economy has made their parents cautious and somewhat despair, it’s made their children more innovative and daring. No, school does not guarantee success. But it does prepare you for the opportunities found along the way. them at work on exam day, or the many other unforeseen circumstances that arise in our daily lives. I love it here at LACC and I have gained a lot in my time here. I would just like the opportunity to excel to my fullest potential without being short-changed or penalized because I have a sometimes hectic and demanding life outside of this campus. I would like to see the ability to have an occasional extension when warranted or a makeup if need be. I only ask to be given the opportunity to do the work if I am able.
4
NEWS
Wednesday October 5, 2011
LOS ANGELES COLLEGIAN
Textbook Prices Reach New Heights [ Cont. Front Page ]
By Mia Boykin Contrary to popular belief, the campus bookstore’s goal is to sustain itself versus making a profit, and whatever profit that is made comes from supplies more than textbooks. “Without the students we wouldn’t be here,” said O’Connor, and as a result of knowing the hardships student’s face she has made alternative options available such as loose leaf, eBooks, and rentals more available to students for a price much less than a hardcopy textbook. Wesley Lane, an LACC student, bought all of his books with his own money. “Buying books sucks, because it kills my paycheck,” he said. “The prices are going up, and on little things too. I bought a thin workbook for like 30 bucks and never used it in my class.” Like Wesley, the majority of students who do purchase their textbooks go to the local textbook store, Textbook One LLC, just to save a few extra pennies. Sofia Sarellanos, the sales associate at Textbook One says “we’re doing about as well as the school is,” in regards to making profit. Unlike the student store, Textbook One will buy back textbooks year-round, and the only exceptions are custom editions, which they will only buy back at the beginning and end of each semester. “Sometimes though if you buy textbooks in the fall and come back in the spring, they’ll [the publishers] already have a new edition for it,” she said. “The CSIT [Computer Science Information & Technology] 101 and 103 classes have a new edition every semester. The quicker you sell them back the better off you are, and those books are over a hundred dollars.” A professor like E.A. Vasquez, who teaches psychology, feels that when choosing books for his courses the prices are one of the main considerations. “Textbooks are extremely expensive,” he said. “I’m flexible on using older editions especially for “Introductory Psychology.” If they are going to use the older editions I sit down with them during the first couple of weeks of the semester, and we’ll go over the information that’s been updated and changed.” For those who don’t buy any
textbooks, there is the next best thing, the Martin Luther King Library. “Even though it is a cheaper alternative, it is more difficult to check out books here. For the current editions, if we even have the current editions, we only get them if the instructors have a current copy, and the publishers are sending extra copies less and less,” said Barbara Vasquez, The Library Department Chair. Textbooks in the Library can only be checked out two hours at a time, cannot be taken home, and most students who do photocopy the pages are studying from outdated editions. Despite this, Vasquez claims that more than 25,000 books are checked out every year at the Library. The Collegian took a survey of 200 students, and found that only 22 percent of students who did purchase books this semester received aid from either EOP&S or from financial aid. When asked why the EOP&S maximum book funding dropped from $400 to $375, Cory Rodgers, the Associate Dean at EOP&S, said “It’s just pure economics. We’ve taken a 20 percent hit. Our overall budget was a little over 3 million, and now is 2.2 [million]. We’re trying to make sure that the little we have is being stretched.” Rodgers believes students should lobby their elected officials to monitor publishers and textbook prices. He emphasizes the importance of technological alternatives like Kindle or iPad that will be cheaper in the long run. “I think technology is going to put an ultimatum on publishers, and allow students to purchase an eBook or online format for half the price,” he said. The Vice President of Student Affairs, Lawrence Bradford believes textbook prices along with the “student mentality” are problematic. “I’ve been on this campus for about 15 years, and one of the things I’ve noticed from a student success perspective is that a large number of our students are not buying their textbooks,” Bradford said, “and I guess a lot of it has to do with the culture of this campus.” Bradford believes students should get jobs and save money to try to help pay for their
textbooks. He says programs like the Associated Students Organization (ASO) is good at assisting students. “We’re trying to get students to understand that we [LACC] are a college,” he said. “If students are going to be successful they have to change their state of mind about why they are here. Over the summer, students should be preparing and planning in respects to how they’re going to get their books. If applying for Financial Aid is one of the things you need to do then students should do that.” U.S. PIRG found in their study that “eighty-one percent of all students reported being negatively affected because a publisher had released a new edition of a certain textbook.” Wesley Lane is part of that 81 percent. “Mark ups on books are very unnecessary, especially when the publisher is giving you a book in bulk. I feel like they are yanking us,” he said. What Lane described as bulk is considered “bundling” by U.S. PIRG, the practice of packaging a textbook, pass codes, and CD-ROMS in one to hike up prices versus selling each item individually for it to be more affordable to students. Publishers like Pearson, McGraw-Hill, Reed Elsevier, and Houghton Mifflin are major players in the U.S. textbook industry. The Collegian contacted Pearson, Cengage, and McGraw-Hill regarding textbook prices, but none of the publishers would comment. The Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) was passed by Congress in 2008. The law forced publishers to disclose textbook prices for both students and teachers to scout the best possible price on books; textbooks now need a substantial amount of revisions before publishing any new editions, also books and their supplemental items should be offered separately. “This law was a huge victory for students,” said Nicole Allen, an advocate from U.S.PIRG. “There are still a lot of provisions that need to be made, and prices are still high,” she said, “but it’s important for education to be affordable, especially for students who take the community college route.”
Students Await DREAM Act By Rocio Maya However, this act does not legalize the undocumented students to help them become United States citizens, but it remains a window to help them pay for college fees. Currently, AB 131 or part two of the California DREAM Act passed in the senate and is now sitting on the governor’s desk until October 9 when he will have to decide if it becomes law or not. “[I’m] looking forward and hoping Gov. Brown signs AB 131. It will help California and it’ll help create more jobs and improve the economy,” Terrazas said. “[It’s] giving people the chance to become doctors, school teachers, lawyers, etc.” Even if the second part of the bill is signed, it still does not grant the students who earn the degree to legally work in the country. There are students at City College that are eager to apply for in-state scholarships and take advantage of the financial aid that is offered to California citizens. “I read about that act somewhere. It was basically saying we get the same benefits when we come to school,” said an undocumented immigrant student, a criminal Justice major, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of his residency status. When asked if he would take advantage of the act when the second part of the bill is signed he was excited as he shouted “course I will!” As the deadline for the decision of the second part of the California DREAM Act quickly approaches, supporters known as “dreamers” made their final appeals to the public and Gov. Brown by hosting a mock graduation on the steps at city hall in Downtown Los Angeles last week as a final push before the governor makes his decision on whether he will sign the second part of the DREAM Act making it a law. Concerns are growing over how, if passed,
[ Cont. Front Page ] AB 131 would affect college students that are documented citizens. Some students are worried that financial aid rewards will be decreased because of the aid being offered to undocumented immigrant students. “There isn’t enough money in California education for us to have to share with people that are from another country. My family and I pay taxes for us to be able to have schools to attend. To gain more money for people that are from another country to go to school here but not work here doesn’t seem fair,” said Mariah Stinson, sociology major. As far as state-funded grants, California DREAM act-eligible students would not be allowed to apply or receive any Competitive Cal Grant unless funds are available for all California resident students that have been approved for Competitive Cal Grant awards, according to californiadreamact.org. The federal DREAM Act would affect a much larger spectrum of approximately 25.5 million students in the country, according to William Perez ,author of We are Americans: Undocumented Students Pursuing the American Dream. Many undocumented immigrant workers are also taxpayers and consumers so the passage of the complete California DREAM act would generate income by having a more educated work force and allow the state to be more competitive, according to members of Cedillo’s office. “With this act I hope to accomplish that there is a body of laws that make it very clear and convincing that undocumented immigrants do have rights, that it is a lie that they don’t, that if you look to the very foundation of our constitution the 14th Amendment says very clear[ly] that no person shall be abridged from their rights to be treated fairly and equally,” Cedillo said.
By: Rocio Maya LOS ANGELES CITY COLLEGE TEXTBOOK SURVEY FALL 2011
200
Students Surveyed Questions: 1. Did you buy textbooks this semester? 2. How did you purchase your textbooks?f
43/22%
Students didn’t buy a textbook
157/78%
Students did purchase a textbook:
38/19%
Students used their own money to purchase textbooks this semester
49/24%
Students used an EOP&S voucher
70/35%
People used their own money to purchase textbooks this semester
By Ronald Lee Vaught
“We came as guests of someone who was invited,” said Sam Ernst who attended with his wife, “but I am sure we will get hit up for money too. We wanted to hear what the president has to say. But we do agree to some extent with the protesters. He hasn’t done enough to get us out of Iraq and Afghanistan, and it’s time for him to flex a little more muscle on these issues.” The large crowd of protesters, some with blow horns and guitars carried banners that read, “Hey Obama, can you spare some change?” The demonstrators shouted chants as they stood together across the street from the House of Blues. “Hey Obama, yes you can! Troops out of Afghanistan,” They shouted. “Money for books and education! Not for racist deportations! Money for Jobs and education! Not for wars and occupation!” On one side of the street stood the supporting donors for the Obama campaign, some who looked fresh off the red carpet. On the other side of the street stood demonstrators--hot, sweaty and losing their voices-with signs and banners hoping President Obama would see them. “I am here today because I want to put the power back into the hands of the people and out of the corporations and banks that are taking all the money and [making] the rest of the 99 percent of the population suffer,” said protester Kaitlin Campbell from Occupy Los Angeles. City College students are dealing with the realities of higher tuition and fewer resources. On campus they expressed a variety of feelings about the Obama Administration. “I think Obama is a great president, I think Hilary Clinton would have been better,” said Joseph Anderson, a microbiology major. “ I think not enough people educate themselves about what role the president is supposed to play in our country, and therefore he gets a lot of crap for it. I think he has done a lot of work.” Anderson says that Obama’s administration has done more than the previous administration. The microbiology major considers Obama’s attempt to reform healthcare monumental. He says that not enough people are educated on what the president’s duties include. “As far as the troops, soldiers knew what they were signing up for when they went down to the office and signed up for it. I would vote for him again,” he said. Other students are not feeling as optimistic about Obama. They’re looking forward to the possibility of a new president in the White House. “I think he lied to get into office,” said Natanka Hodge, an English major. “I think he has not done anything he promised to do. I think if he was really trying to bring back the troops, why is he sending more over there. I know he is for a fact because he is sending my son over there. He will be there in days. I would not vote for him again, never ever.” Matthew Mullins and Abraham Taplin contributed to this report
FEATURES
LOS ANGELES COLLEGIAN
Guardian of
Wednesday October 5, 2011
5
By Steve La
BOOKS
Walking through the automatic sliding doors during finals week at the newly built Martin Luther King Jr. Library, you might not notice Rosalind Goddard sitting at the public reference desk to the right. One could easily overlook her as she busily answers student’s questions that can range from how to log on to the computers to locating that much needed book to finish a research paper. She prefers it that way, a librarian who works behind the scenes. A private person, Goddard doesn’t like the limelight and never seeks out attention. Despite the aversion to be noticed she has a strong dedication to her work at the library, particularly teaching students to obtain information. “ My passion for librarianship comes from my very strong desire to educate groups of people and individuals through the power of information,” Goddard says. “There are so many things available online that were not available when I was in school. In this day and age you can no longer tell your instructor that you can’t find anything. That’s just not appropriate.” She is also quick to correct the misconception that librarians don’t really accomplish anything, noting out that some may have the same or more responsibilities of any senior corporate executive or manager. “ A lot of people still feel that librarians do nothing but check out books to people and that all we do is sit and do nothing. And that is a stereotype that I’m constantly dismantling” Goddard notes. She points out that there are many different types of librarians specializing in their own subjects. Goddard’s own work experience at LACC also proved to break down the misconception of the lazy librarian. In addition to her duties at the M.L.K. Jr. Library, she also heads the African American Heritage Committee and the LACC Book program. She is especially proud of this accomplishment. “ The first year of the book program was really amazing because it was the first. There were only four of us as a committee. Dr Peter Sotiriou, Ms. Pamela Atkinson, Ms. Bessie Love and I celebrated the centennial of Langston Hughes in 2002. We had a very successful year of readings and lectures and we were able to invite the leading scholar on Langston Hughes from Stanford University… the campus was very excited and it became evident that it was a good idea. We had a very successful run since then.” said Goddard. Goddard always knew that she wanted to be a librarian since high school. She was given an assignment of picking a profession and to give her reasons for that choice. She chose to become a librarian because of its direct link to education. “ I have a very strong passion for education. Librarianship is directly linked to education because we respond to the needs of students who have assignments and develop strategies for students to accomplish them” said Goddard. Though she lived in LA for a long time, Rosalind is originally from San Jose, California. She got her BA in English from San Francisco State University and a Masters degree in library and information studies at UCLA. She then found herself working two community library branches in LA County for 26 years which helped hone her management skills and further deepen her passion to help educate young people. In addition to being a librarian, Goddard also has tremendous passion for the visual arts. She currently serves as vice chair on the advisory board for the Townstreet Theatre in Los Angeles. She also served as president of the Friends of the Watts Towers Arts Center and is a member of the African American Museum and California Museum of Art. On campus Goddard is an avid supporter of the Art Department noting her purchase of some pieces from the department’s silent auction. Whether it’s running a library or heading a theatre committee, Goddard always applies the principles of personal integrity and ethics to everything that she does.
Academic Darwinism: A Professor’s Journey I would like to help those students that want to be helped, the way my professors helped me,” said Garcia, “a student’s success is a teacher’s success. By Rosemary Giron It’s Friday morning and the school is almost lifeless, just the few dedicated students and teachers grace the school while most are at home sleeping or elsewhere thinking “T.G.I.F.” It is 8:00am and already in room 103 of the Life Science building, sits an LACC professor at a desk, in his white coat with a stack of papers in front of him. Biology professor Martin Garcia waits for his students who shortly arrive to begin their review. At the age of 14, Garcia and his family came to the United States from Mexico in search of a better life. He attended Belmont High but after high school he found himself lost, for two years he was in a state of limbo. Not knowing that he could strive for a higher education, Garcia began to work. He worked for the Los Angeles Unified School District as a teacher’s aid, and that is where he met teachers and students that saw a great potential and encouraged him to continue his studies and he did, here at LACC. “I was not a good student, I was not a great student, in fact I was on probation…I was weak in certain areas,” said Garcia. He was not at the top of his class, while he may have had the aptitude for science, he struggled in many other areas. Like many students, Garcia had several obstacles to face while in school. He worked all throughout his college years, not receiving any financial-aid; it was up to him to pay for his fees and books. He befriended people with little ambition to succeed in college and he adopted their lifestyle; this was what affected him the most, bringing down his grades until he was on academic probation. At this point Garcia realized that he could not afford to fail. “I hated biology…I hated math,” said Garcia “you usually hate something you don’t understand, that’s the common
mistake.” Garcia was able to overcome his negative feelings towards unfavorable subjects by the strong desire to become something in life. His dream was to study lions in their natural habitat and to become a doctor, a prestigious career. His curiosity and love for nature was installed in him as a young boy. His grandmother was a true Aztec and a partera (midwife) as well as the local healer. He saw his grandmother assist women in childbirth, he being one of the approximate 200 that she delivered. Garcia describes her as a very intelligent woman, using natural remedies to cure common illnesses, yet she had no formal education. She, among many others, inspired Garcia to get a formal education in science. While in LACC, Garcia recognized that he was not ready for a university, he made the decision to fix his mistakes, strengthen his weaknesses and perfect his good qualities. He dedicated himself more to school, staying after class to get help from the teacher or get further studying done. His professors encouraged him to partake in lab set ups, and soon after he became very familiar with the laboratories. Garcia also made the decision to change his life style, he befriended other diligent students, he describes as “true friends.” They supported and encouraged each other forward in their education. After three years at LACC, Garcia was accepted into UCLA with a scholarship in Spanish. “I guess they accepted me because I was a minority and I fit the profile, because I was not ready for the university.” Garcia had difficulties adapting to a large school, again finding himself with inept friendships, his grades began to suffer. After a year at UCLA, Garcia transferred to Cal State, Los Angeles, where he was better able to strive in a small and personal environment. Garcia’s professors saw a great potential in him, helping him
to further challenge himself, they offered him to work in the laboratories. When a professor fell ill, the chairmen and president arranged a meeting and decided that Garcia had the capability to teach the class. Garcia then gradated from Cal state, receiving his master’s degree in Genetic Engineering. To date, he is the only one in his family to graduate from college. Garcia excused himself, and directed himself to Daniel, a student who was tutoring the other six that came into the class during Garcia’s business hours. On the website, Rate My Professor, Garcia is given an average score, with some students portraying him as an unfavorable teacher. “For me, it’s not about being the best teacher in school or the most famous…if I can change a student and make them be successful in what they feel like; I think that’s the most important thing.” As a basic Biology professor, Garcia’s main goal is to prepare his students to go on to a higher level biology. Many may not agree with his teaching style but those who do, succeed. “I have quite a lot of students that go to the highest level, they come back and they want to help other students, like the one you see right there” he points to Daniel, who is standing in front of a small group of students, who meticulously take notes on Daniel’s lecture, “and he’s doing it for free.” Mr. Garcia has been teaching for nearly 16 years, three of those years have been here at LACC. Garcia gives a lot of credit to his professors for his success; they were a great inspiration and help. Many of those professors took a step forward for Garcia, they helped him with recommendations, scholarships, and jobs. Now as a professor, Garcia hopes to do the same for his students. “I would like to help those students that want to be helped, the way my professors helped me,” said Garcia, “a student’s success is a teacher’s success.”
6
Wednesday October 5, 2011
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
City Stars
By: Jenniffer Jennings
Favorite album: Nicki Minaj, “Pink Friday” Favorite song: Romans Revenge Review: “It’s really creative. It’s easy for anyone to listen to. I enjoy it.” Dropping almost a year ago, “Pink Friday” is still buzzing in the streets amongst her Barbie and Ken dolls.
Deshawn Williams Undecided Favorite album: Jay-Z and Kanye West, “Watch the Throne” Favorite song: N****s in Paris Review: “I love every song. [It’s] two major artists collaborating and showing teamwork.” Two of the greatest rappers in the industry come together to produce what is anticipated to be one of the greatest albums in Hip-Hop history, selling 436,000 during the first week.
Cassandra Blake Nursing Favorite album: Drake, “Thank Me Later Favorite song: Fireworks feat. Alicia keys Review: “I completely feel like he’s speaking what I am living. I feel like I’m in tune with everything he is saying.” Using a mix of rapping and singing, Drake debuts with an incredible album with features from Jay_Z, Young Jeezy and Jhene, creating a feel that various music lovers can listen too.
Music Series Gets Audience By Richard Martinez
This past Thursday, I headed out to the Music Department’s eighth concert of the semester and realized I did not know who was playing that afternoon. The identities of the musicians were not yet announced. There definitely was a sense of excitement buzzing around as the crowd waited to gather into the room that the Music Department had commandeered as the new auditorium for the concert series. Bassist Tony Grosso introduced himself and his fellow musician pianist Mary Au to the crowd. Grosso, who had dropped out of the music scene for 25 years, was determined to demonstrate just how much potential the double bass had as a solo instrument. I was not quite sure what to expect, so I sat back and watched as they performed Henry Eccles’ beautifully somber sonata for double bass and piano. They surprised everyone in attendance, when Au told the
story of how she injured her arm months prior to the concert and how she contacted Grosso to teach her ways to rehabilitate her arm allowing the injury to heal. Grosso got the audience to stand, and he performed several relaxation exercises encouraging everyone to join. We bounced on our feet while shaking our hands, rubbed our arms and legs to in effort to intake and expel energy. It was profoundly silly and uplifting. You really could not help but smile as everyone around you participated along. Both performers did an outstanding job interacting with the audience. After they performed a few more songs, Au convinced Grosso to demonstrate a Tai Chi sequence along with her musical accompaniment. While the sequence was forgettable, it allowed me to appreciate Au’s playing ability, because Grosso’s double bass previously overshadowed her
accompaniment. The melody she played was lovely and Grosso moved fluidly with the music. The best number of the night was “Moses Variations,” by Niccolo Paganini for double bass and piano. The song stood out, demonstrating how beautiful Au’s playing was. It did justice to Grosso’s message about the double bass and its potential to stand alone in a piece. As their last performance, Grosso and Au performed the world premiere of “A Simple Ditty” an upbeat song by composer Carol Worthey who transcribed the original for this engagement. Worthey is creating children’s choirs on the belief that “music can untie people throughout the world.” Au had hoped her performance demonstrated “that music is fun and relaxing.” Ultimately, a feat I believe was accomplished.
Tania Carpena Liberal Arts Favorite album: The Weeknd, “Thursday” Favorite song: Rolling Stone Review: “Aggressive but subtle. I give it 9 out of 10 stars. He’s not there yet, but you can tell he is on his way.” Introduced by Drake to the world through twitter, The Weeknd is still an upcoming artist who uses his music to touch on heavy subjects like drugs and sex, delivered with an R&B feel.
Photos by Patrick Chong/Collegian Tony Grosso plays his double bass for the Music Department’s presentation of its concert series.
Mohamed Aziz Business Administration
Mary Au accompanies Grosso’s distinctive bass playing during the concert series presentation by the Music Department.
Music Department October Events
Events
Tuesday, October 11th Ruben Gideon, pianist, Da Vinci Hall Room 302 at 12:10 pm Thursday, October 13th Yoshi Masuda, cellist, Da Vinci Hall Room 302 at 12:10 pm Tuesday, October 18th Ayse Taspinar, pianist, Da Vinci Hall Room 302 at 12:10 pm
REVIEW
Photo by Rocio Maya/Collegian
Mrs. Appleyard (Kelsey Murray) on left and Irish Tom (Wes Myers) on the right are planning a horse getaway at the dress rehearsal for the “Picnic at Hanging” Rock.
“I’m hoping that the audience will be captivated and get hooked by the troubled events; I hope everyone will start to follow along and become engaged in how it will all turn out.”- Louie Piday The sun sets just as gentle whispers and heavy tension mixed with anticipation surround the theater room in the world-renowned Camino Theater. Actors and actresses quickly read though lines, while costume and set designers make finishing touches on their current projects. It is official - in just two hours the doors will open, curtains will rise, and audience members will be seated. It is time for the Theater Academy to present their charming production of “Picnic at Hanging Rock”. “Picnic at Hanging Rock,” written by Laura Annawyn Shames, takes place during the Victorian era. An extravagate piece of work lead under the direction of Louie Piday, and based on a book by Joan Lindsay, the play depicts a mystery involving a group girls from Appleyard College boarding school who go missing after a field trip. Hanging Rock sets the stage as the audience is sucked into the lives of the girls from Appleyard College. The first scene, greets the audience as the girls are preparing for their field trip, dressed in long white linen
dresses with ruffle trim covering their necks, the girls become images of innocence and purity. As they embrace nature around Hanging Rock four girls decide to venture off from the group and explore. Miranda played by Neva McIntosh, Marion played by Rene Aranda, Irma played by Rylin Knox and Edith played by Gabrielle Lamb soon find themselves at the top of Hanging Rock. After embracing the nature of the mountain they lie down and as if taken over by the ghostly spirits that haunt Hanging Rock the girls (Miranda, Marion, and Irma) walk away ignoring the cries of Edith, who runs in horror back to the basin of the daunting mountain. What follows next is an engrossing series of events. Imagery is let loose as the audience follows characters though split stage sets, dim lights, conjoined scenery, and extravagate costumes that explode with color to symbolize the importance of many characters such as Head Mistress Mrs. Appleyard played by Kelsey Jean Murray and Albert Crundall played by Daniel Button. It is with
this tragedy the truth of the characters personality unfolds. As Louie Piday says, “When tragedy happens, people either pull together or fall apart.” When the alarming news of the disappearance emerge many of the characters dynamics change. The characters that once seemed confident become insecure and unaware. Some characters become eager to learn the facts, others are more concern with accusation, and others are still left to wonder if they will ever really know the truth. The truth that leads to an unbelievable ending that will astonish and electrify the audience. When asked what she hopes the audience will gain from watching the play Piday says, “I’m hoping that the audience will be captivated and get hooked by the troubled events; I hope everyone will start to follow along and become engaged in how it will all turn out.” Theater Academy has done it once again and brought a wonderful production to LACC. If this is a preview of what is to come this semester, we have a lot to look forward to.
Thursday, October 20th Eric Alan Foster, guitarist, Da Vinci Hall Room 302 at 12:10 pm Tuesday, October 25th Laszlo Cser, pianist, Da Vinci Hall Room 302 at 12:10 pm Thursday, October 27th LACC Musical Theater, Da Vinci Hall Room 302 at 12:10 pm
Dianne Depoities on left (Catherine Boily) is discussing Sara’s wellbeing with Mrs. Appleyard (Kelsey Murray) at the dress rehearsal for “Picnic at Hanging Rock.”
Photo by Rocio Maya/Collegian
LOS ANGELES COLLEGIAN
Object of Art Music without the Middleman By Lauren Arevalo
It all began when file-sharing became something that even your technophobic grandfather could do. It was illegal and rampant and tirelessly litigated over in courts by record companies who felt cheated by the public. They wouldn’t know it yet but they were to be dismantled and made less powerful by the phenomenon called the Internet in a matter of years. Had they decided to work with it instead of against it, dragging their heels to begin online sales, they might have been as important today. The music industry now is a much more diverse and disjointed industry. With the Internet, we have the opportunity not only to discover music in new ways also to enjoy it for free that aren’t necessarily illegal. The days of major labels controlling distribution, promotion, and all facets of your daily music intake are gone. The “do it yourself” ethos has morphed beyond the early nineties movement relegated to counterculture and zines. The music is back in our hands. It all starts with what seems like a small gesture. With the song you re-posted on Facebook, the video of your friend’s band, or the creation of your own music page, you are participating in changing the schema for how music is enjoyed and produced. Where a major label would have exercised stringent control over what is released and how, you now rely on your own intuition and creative ingenuity to manage. If you are a musician, you are acutely aware this development is both exciting and scary. You have as an advantage more creative control, cheaper recording technology, and the opportunity to promote yourself for free if you choose to forfeit the middleman. You could release your own album on your own terms without a distribution agreement or anyone to siphon off money. It’s all there for you if you’re willing to put in the work. As a consumer, you probably find yourself directly supporting artists more often than you did before. You are conscious that if you bought an album or a show ticket, it would have a direct effect on the artist without a record deal and contract. It’s almost as if you’re buying them a sandwich every stop on their tour. The ways to discover new music online are vast and daunting and not very centralized. There’s more music out there than ever before and there’s more music than you could stand to listen to in a lifetime. For the most part, we’ve done away with the shiny packaging and the theatrics. We’ve stripped it down into a more efficient and cost effective formula: we pay less for our music and musicians set their prices. The middleman - record company executive, marketing guru - may become increasingly anachronistic.
LOS ANGELES COLLEGIAN
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
REMEMBERING A LEGEND By Tanya Flowers
Jerry Leiber (right) sings while Joe Comfort (left) plays stand-up bass during a 1957 recording session.
If there are three words to describe the type of person Leiber was, what words would they be? Well, I think passionate would have to be one of them. He was passionate, he was brilliant, and he was funny. He was always funny.
Jerry Lieber “Jerry was a very fun-loving, generous soul.”- Carole Mallory, actress in The Stepford Wives and close friend. The death of songwriter Jerry Leiber has been much memorialized. A former LACC student, Leiber went on to write songs immediately recognizable to anyone with a radio with his friend and songwriting partner, Mike Stoller. The Collegian interviews the Mike Stoller’s son, Peter Stoller who is now Vice President of Leiber and Stoller Productions . Here, Peter Stoller discusses on the legacy of both Leiber and his father, on the dynamics of the famous songwriting duo, and the impact Leiber has left on modern music.
Did he share any moments with you when he knew it [music] was his calling? He and my father wrote a joint autobiography called “Hound Dog” and they do talk about that. For him, you know, [he] kind of wanted to do everything. He talks about when he was a kid. He actually got a meeting with Cecil B. DeMille. And he goes into his office and he says, “You know, I’m an actor and I’m a writer and I’m a dancer and I’m a singer, and I’m everything.” He just had so much energy and there were so many things he wanted to do. It was listening to the radio and hearing Jimmy Witherspoon’s singing that made him decide that’s what he wanted to do. He met a guy in the music industry that asked him [if] he could write music down on paper and he said,“No, I don’t know how to do that.” He said,“You find someone who knows how to do that and then come back.” That’s when he went looking for a composer and that’s how he ended up meeting my dad. Originally, I think all he wanted was just someone who could put notes on paper and help that way, but he got a lot more than he bargained for, but that worked out really well. I think it’s just one of those magical things – of all the people in Los Angeles that he could have picked, that he could have found and could have pursued, that he ended up with someone that was such a perfect fit – they did nothing
Photo courtesy of Peter Stoller.
but argue for 61 years. People who are passionate about the arts or passionate about anything they do collaboratively, they’re always going to have things they disagree about. They’re going to be vocal and they’re going to push for their points of view, but ultimately they’re going to wait to get things they agree on and make those things the central focus of what they do. And I
“He never stopped learning.” think that’s true of everything from personal relationships to politics. At the end of the day, it pays to be a passionate advocate for your point of view, but it’s as important to listen as when you speak and you have to find a way to get the most important things that you believe in across. You have to accommodate the things that people are equally passionate about so you can move forward and complete something. That’s what they made their lives about – arguing and ultimately agreeing.
Collegian: Who do you think were his influences? He was influenced by a lot of great blues writers. He was a fan of Boogie woogie music and then he was a fan of many blues writers like Josh Wrightwood. He loved guys like Muddy Waters, but Muddy was more of a contemporary. It was a mixture of influences. He was influenced not only by the blues but also by Tin Pan Alley songwriters. So if he was
“Spanish Harlem” “Love Potion #9” “Stand by Me” “Hound Dog” “Jailhouse Rock” “Stuck In The Middle With You” “He was passionate, he was brilliant, and he was funny.” -Peter Stoller, grandson of Mike Stoller, Leiber’s songwriter partner for 61 years. “Jerry was a very fun loving, generous soul. He valued his old friendships. He had a grasp of the language of slang, that few have or realize the importance of; he respected his Baltimore roots and was humble. ” -Carole Mallory model, actress, journalist, professor, film critic and longtime friend of the late Jerry Leiber. Her film credits include “The Stepford Wives” and “Looking for Mr. Goodbar.” You may not have heard of them. But you have certainly heard the legendary hits they authored, such as “Hound Dog” and “Jailhouse Rock” made famous by Elvis Presley. Jerry Leiber, former LACC student, and Mike Stoller were two major composers who helped usher in rock n roll in the 1950s. From Elvis to Johnny Cash to the Steelers, Leiber and Stroller 60-year songwriting partnership has helped shape the sound of countless musical legends. Rock n roll pioneer Jerry Leiber died in late August of cardiopulmonary failure at the age of 78 leaving behind a legacy of musical hits. In this interview, the Collegian sits down with Peter Stoller, grandson of Mike Stoller to reflect on the life of the late lyricist Jerry Leiber.
influenced on the one hand by Keepon Walker, on the other hand he would be influenced by Irving Berlin. So there was that mixture, and he had a lot of influences that weren’t directly in the music world. He read a lot and he listened to radio shows, and he watched films. He [played] the way writers and especially dramatists presented ideas, the way they staged things. He loved radio plays, so he listened to “The Shadow”, “Gangbusters”, and all of these old radio shows from the ‘30s and ‘40s when he was growing up. He would take those kinds of ideas and turn them into lyrics that he would dramatize [into] his songs. So his influences were pretty broad. How did your dad (Mike Stoller) and Leiber become partners? Jerry said, “Well, what do you like?” He liked jazz and classical music and Jerry said, “Well, nevertheless, I think we should talk it over.” They went over to Mike’s house and presented him with a book of lyrics and when it became clear that what Jerry was writing was the blues - not sort of standard sappy pop songs of the day, they formed a partnership right there and then. So he was extremely persistent. Has he ever shared anything about his college experience at LACC? We talked about a number of things but we didn’t talk about the time he spent in school. I think Jerry’s schooling, in terms of what affected his work, was largely on the street. I do think that he had a real thirst for knowledge. He had a thirst for education in the arts in all ways. He was fascinated by all kinds of literature; American literature and world literature. He became a very big fan of
all things in the art world. He was always looking to educate himself and education was very important,which is why he was so enthusiastic about having a scholarship program attached to his name. Wherever you got it – whether you got it in a classroom or in a studio, while walking down a street or paying attention to all that is around you, he was always concerned that people should be learning. He never stopped learning. You said the scholarship was an American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) scholarship? Yes, we have a program that we do with ASCAP. ASCAP has a foundation and Leiber and Stoller have a foundation, and through ASCAP we give out scholarships every year. We pick two music students every year to give them a four-year scholarship to go on and study music. I’m very involved in that and I enjoy it. The last time I met with Jerry was to discuss the scholarship winners for this year. We get most of the scholarship recipients through the Young Musicians Foundation. If any of your music students at LACC are unaware of the Young Musicians Foundation, they should learn about it. It’s a wonderful organization that’s not attached to any one specific school that helps kids that have financial difficulties in pursuing their music education. The Young Musicians Foundation helps them with various programs. They have an orchestra in Los Angeles and they present to us every year the kids who are ready to go on to college. They give us the best of the best and let us pick who we want to award a scholarship
Wednesday October 5, 2011
7
Photos courtesy of Peter Stoller
to. Our second scholarship is to an incoming student at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, which is where I went. Collegian: What exactly do you guys do with the foundation (or company)? Stoller: It’s a company here. Leiber and Stoller is the business aspect of dealing with the songs and the legacy of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. There is a foundation as well - Leiber and Stoller give scholarships every year to students through ASCAP. We like to say that we have eight kids in college at any one time. So there is a foundation for music students but primarily what we do here is look after all the business interests of Leiber and Stoller. What do you fe Jerry Leiber would say his legacy was? Well, boy, and I should be able to put that in a nutshell, if anyone... but it’s a difficult thing to do. Jerry took the structure and the feeling of rhythm and blues and added to it the craftsmanship of Tin Pan Alley songwriting and in doing so, he advanced a popular song. He advanced rhythm and blues in terms of its infiltration into the broader popular culture. He moved it forward so that it became more accessible to more people. He changed the way people thought about rhythm and blues songwriting and popular songwriting in doing that. Peter Stoller is the Vice President of LeiberStoller Productions
8
Wednesday October 5, 2011
CONSTRUCTION FOCUS
LOS ANGELES COLLEGIAN
PROJECT DIRECTOR Chris Dunne Harris & Associates on Construction MODERNIZATION
“That building is being gutted. It’s a full modernization so we tear the building down to the super-structure. So basically, the frame and we rebuild it. So we take care of all the ADA compliance issues all the code compliance issues, and we’ll bring more power, more data. We fixed the HDC system. This building used to be a combination of music and some of student services programs, or it was largely student services. It is completely being turned into a music building.”
Holmes Hall
CONSTRUCTION 411
RENOVATION
Andrew Hernandez, General Studies
Completion by Fall 2012
NEW POWER | NEW DATA | NEW PAINT
“So far I don’t mind it [the construction].” “Jefferson Hall is pretty nice. I think they’ll all turn out pretty great.” Tatiana Vasquez, General Studies major “I’d like to see how it’s going to turn out.”“[I’m] ready for student services to move into a better area.”
Photo by Patrick Chong/Collegian Holmes Hall has been closed for renovation during the fall semester, with all its clases moved to other buildings on campus.
Wahid Bradshaw, Music Major “To be honest, I liked it better the old way. It felt like home to me.” “I’m upset. I thought when they were doing it [the construction], I thought they were just doing some touch-ups and re-doing everything, so I’m kind of sad.” “Jefferson Hall has totally changed. I have no memory of it now. There’s nothing there that reminds me of what it used to be.”
Clausen Hall
Shin Sook Yun, ESL student “The construction is getting better. It looks good.” “I like Jefferson Hall. It’s a great new building.” “When I came here for my first day, I was confused when I saw the buildings under construction. It made me a little nervous but it’s okay.” “I saw the plans and they look pretty nice.”
RENOVATION
Completion by Fall 2012
Diana Duisekenova, Psychology Major “I’m glad about Jefferson Hall. I’m hoping the other buildings will be like this.” “I’m excited to see student services back on its regular side of campus.”
Photo by Abraham Taplin/Collegian Clausen Hall is fenced off during renovation with students having to go to Da Vinci Hall for most of the their classes.
RENOVATION
LRC
When Holmes Hall reopens in 2012, it will have a new elevator and new air conditioning. “Holmes Hall is a smaller project … it’s a renovation project. Different than a modernization,” Dunne said. “Modernization is the whole thing. Renovation is less work. It’s a different type of building. This is a concrete structure building from you know, the late ‘20s, early ‘30s. It’s art deco style.”
DEMOLITION
DEMOLITION
Student Services -Completion 2013
Photo by Abraham Taplin/Collegian The Learning Resource Center is one of several buildings closed for construction.
List of Relocated Offices
The Learning Resource Center—once Martin Luther King Library—is sometimes said to have more character than any other building on campus. Time is winding down for the venerable neoclassical structure, which was built in the mid 1930s. Demolition begins next month. “And so when we demolish the LRC, we’ll be hauling out all the debris and demolition material up through this way,” Dunne said referring to a passage way on the West side of campus at Heliotrope area that will be fenced off. Dunne says there will be access routes to the parking structure. Architects originally designed the LRC or old Martin Luther King Library to “speak to” the Theatre Academy Building located directly across the Quad. Harris & Associates Project Director, Christopher Dunne says it is his job to make sure the new Student Services Center fits into the campus so the Quad “feel” remains intact.
DUE TO CAMPUS RENOVATIONS, THE FOLLOWING COLLEGE OFFICES HAVE RECENTLY MOVED TO THE NEW LOCATIONS GIVEN BELOW: CalWorks: Life Sciences 107 CalGrip: Life Sciences 209A English/ESL Department: Jefferson Hall 301 EOP&S: Student Services Village 118 Fast Lab: Student Services Village 125 Financial Aid: Student Services Village 117 Foreign Languages & Humanities Department: Jefferson Hall 111 & 114 Foster & Kinship Care: Student Services Village 127C Guardian Scholars Program: Student Services Village 127 Health & Wellness Office: Life Sciences 101 Journalism Department: Chemistry Bldg. 208 Law & Administration of Justice Department: Chemistry Bldg. 119 Learning Skills Department: Life Sciences 208A Music Department: Da Vinci Hall 312 OSS (Disabled Students Services): Student Services Village 100 Philosophy Department: Chemistry Bldg. 210D Photography Department: Chemistry Bldg. 11 (Basement) Psychology Department: Chemistry Bldg. 111 Speech Lab: Life Sciences 105 Staff Development: AD 315
CAMPUS LIFE
LOS ANGELES COLLEGIAN
Freebies 101 Compiled by Ginger Barrett
SCHOLARSHIPS Compiled by Christopher Jorge As more funds are being taken away from public education, students are turning toward other options for applying for funds. College students, and specifically at community colleges, desperately need money for school. Scholarships, paid internships and fellowships are great ways for students to receive money while continuing their education. There are scholarships out there that are specifically designed to help almost every kind of college student. These programs have awards from typically $2,500 to $5,000, and some award even more. You must go to the appropriate website and submit an application and all necessary forms. Below are six scholarship programs you might not know about.
Nine percent of Americans are unemployed. It’s a reality. Within this list are freebies that can help you stretch your dollars. Take note of the free merchandise and products listed below. 1. Http://www.freebirthdaystuff. com This site has the word celebration written all over it. Variety being the spice of life, this site has it: from amusement parks and theatres to restaurants – there is something free for you on your birthday. Medieval Times is a restaurant on this list. It is located in Buena Park, CA. It offers you a free meal on your birthday when you bring one paying adult guest. 2. Just want a light snack? Visit the Crab Shack on your birthday and get a free appetizer. 3. http://www.freeshiet. com Look at this site. It has companies that give away free diapers. It has restaurants that cater to children, like the El Torito Restaurant (not the Grill). Each Wednesday children are able to eat at a separate kid’s bar which serves macaroni and cheese, pizza, chicken tenders, steak and chicken fajitas, fruit and plenty of desserts. 4. Http://www.berkscountyweb.com/somethingfree.htm This is a colorful Internet destination that any family would enjoy. This site is very children and family oriented with lots of free giveaways. Free software called the “Laughing Bird” to free photography and educational materials are listed throughout this site. 5. Http://www.readanybook. com This site allows free online reading. You can adjust the style and size of the fonts for easier reading. 6. Http://www.toourist.com Have you ever wanted to go on a game or talk show in Los Angeles? This is the one stop that has the 411 on game shows. It is full of information for tourists and locals interested in Los Angeles. 7. Http://lapl.org Libraries are open to the public. Check out this site to find the on e in your city. The Library offers free reading classes for adults; videos for check out and books that can help you with school or work. 8. http://www.homelessshelter/ directory,org This site lists free homeless shelters and medical services throughout the USA. Los Angeles has more than 60 homeless shelters and multiple food banks, soup kitchens and health services for the homeless. 9. Http://www.freemedicalsearch.org. This site lists 9,247 free medical, dental and health clinics throughout the United States. So if you are considering relocation – take a look. 10. Just a reminder – should you have high blood pressure or chest pain – stop by the nearest fire department for a free checkup.
CHCI Scholarship: The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) provides Latino students with financial assistance in the postsecondary education setting. Eligibility: Full-time enrollment in an accredited community college, four-year university, or graduate/professional program during the period for which scholarship is requested Demonstrated financial need. Consistent, active participation in public and/or community serviceactivities. Strong writing skills. A U.S. citizenship or legal permanent residency. Award: $1,000 community college or AA/AS granting institution. $2,500 4-year academic institution, $5,000 graduatelevel institution. Deadline for the 2012 Scholarship Awards: April 16, 2012. Submit applications on line. Contact: Cecilia Majors, College Programs Specialist, 9112nd Street NE, Washington, DC 20002, 1-800-EXCEL-DC, http://www.chci.org, CHCI Graduate and Young
Eligibility: Students are eligible Application Deadline: Wednes- to be considered for a GMS Eligibility: Latino student, day, Nov. 16, 2011. Apply scholarship if they are: African American, American Indian/ graduate degree from accred- online atwww.uncf.org. Alaska Native, Asian Pacific ited institution or three years professional experience, HSF/ Procter & Gamble Islander American or Hispanic American; Area citizen, national demonstrated commitment Company Scholarship: or legal permanent resident to program principles, high academic achievement, superi- The Hispanic Scholarship of the United States; Have or oral and written analytical Fund (HSF) and Procter attained a cumulative high and communication skills, U.S. & Gamble Company have school GPA of 3.3 on an partnered to provide finan- unweighted 4.0 scale or have citizen or permanent resident. cial resources to assist earned a GED; Will enroll for Award: $1,000 AA degree, outstanding Latino under- the first time at a U.S. located, $2,500 BA/BS degree, graduates pursuing degrees accredited college or univerin the STEM field (Science, sity (with the students concur$5,000graduate degree. Technology, Engineering rently pursuing a high school diploma) in the fall of 2011 as a Deadline for 2012 Scholarship: and Mathematics). full-time, degree-seeking, firstApril 16, 2012. Eligibility: Be of Hispanic year student; First-time college UNCF/Dominion Scholars heritage, be a U.S. citizen, enrollees can also be GED legal permanent resident or recipients; Have demonstrated Program: eligible non-U.S. citizen, have leadership abilities through Eligibility: Must be a major a minimum cumulative GPA of participation in community in civil engineering, electri- 3.0. Applicants must major in service, extracurricular, or other cal engineering, mechanical science, technology, engineer- activities; Meet the Federal engineering, nuclear engineer- ing and mathematics (STEM) Pell Grant eligibility criteria; ing, petroleum engineering, field. Applicants must have Have completed and submitphysics, accounting, finance plans to enroll full time as an ted all three required forms: the business, chemistry, informa- undergraduate at a four-year student’s application (Nominee tion technology or communica- U.S. accredited institution in Personal Information Form), tions. Students participate in the U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. an evaluation of the student’s this internship in the summer Virgin Islands or Guam during academic record (Nominator after their freshman and sopho- the 2012-2013 academic year. Form) and an evaluation of the more years. Internships include Preference is given to Pell- student’s community service leadership activities exciting opportunities in a eligible students. Applicants and variety of fields including but must apply for federal financial (Recommender Form) by the not limited to: science, finance, aid by completing the Free deadline date. business and engineering. Application for Federal Student Upon successful completion of Aid (FAFSA), once the FAFSA Deadline: All three forms each of the internships, UNCF/ application becomes available must be submitted online by Dominion Scholars will receive for 2011-2012. Applicants must Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012 by scholarships to apply toward complete P&G Consent Form 11:59 p.m. EST or postmarked expenses for the upcoming and submit with application. on or before Jan. 11, 2012. Contact: Gates Millenacademic year. Awards will be The award amount is $2,500. nium Scholars, P.O. Box 10500, renewed contingent upon each Scholar maintaining a cumula- Deadline: February 28, 2012. Fairfax, VA, 22031-8044, (877) 6904677,contactus@gmsp. tive GPA of 3.0 or better and Apply online at www.hsf.net. org. completing a successful internship based upon requirements The Gates Millennium Scholars specified by Dominion in evalu- (GMS) Program: ating intern work performance. Professional Fellowship:
Cubbington By Cesar Anzora
Wednesday October 5, 2011
9
Classified Ads Books For Sale Business Law 1 and 2 $80.00 bobgomez323@gmail.com Community Events Inaugural Scholarship Club This club is open to anyone on campus. Objective of the club is to encourage folks to research and apply for scholarships. For more information contact Bora email: Qu1ckness1@ yahoo.com Cannon, a progressive pop rock band – is looking for singers and musicians. This group has its own recording studio with engineer. Website: www.soundcannonband.com Send bio to matrixmusic@earthlink.net Intern Queen’s Court Submit a video for the BBM Challenge Council at www. BBMChallenge.com for a chance to win a spot on Lauren Berger’s team of entrepreneurs. Complete the challenges and Lauren will fly you out to spend the day at the Intern Queen headquarters in Los Angeles. JonzStarvision Entertainment We film: live performances, stage plays, music videos, band rehearsals, artist showcases and documentaries. Student discounts –for more info call (310) 254- 5610 Korean United for Equality (KUE) An alliance of multigenerational straight and LGBTQI Koreans committed to promoting sexual and gender equality. For more information, please email to: info@kue-la.org LACC Student Chapter of SMPTE Meeting Schedule Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 in Studio B. 4 p.m. Everyone Welcome – limited to seats on hand. Subject: Cinematographer Style You will learn more about this at this meeting. Veterans Club Meets on Tuesdays 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in front of Tully’s (Student Lounge). Food Around Town Fatburger - www.fatbrger. com (323) 871-8756 6767 W.Sunset Blvd. Unit #9 Hollywood, CA 90028 Hong Kong Express – (323) 871-8888 6767 W. Sunset Blvd. # 11 Hollywood, CA 90028 Yammy Pizza Café – yammypizza.com (323) 993-9333 6767 W.Sunset lvd. # 10 Hollywood, CA 90028 Jobs Automotive Industry – Now hiring, first come, first serve. (310) 909-3905 Room for Rent One room in two bedroom apartment with two full baths located at Third and Reno. $550 monthly and $550 deposit (213) 389-6530 cell (323) 559-3948 Tutors Arabic and English tutor Contact via email: Sabah_adlai@yahoo.com
10
SPORTS
Wednesday October 5, 2011
Voice of a TROJAN By Adam Crouch
LOS ANGELES COLLEGIAN
Sports Bin
INTRAMURAL SPORTS TAKE TWO!
Pete Arbogast announces during a post-game radio show of USC vs. Oregon State at Reser Stadium in Corvalis, Oregon. Courtesy of youtube.com
Former Cub Pete Arbogast took a path from L.A. City College to broadcast fame at USC. It must be DNA—his father, famed radio announcer Bob Arbogast made the same trek through L.A. City College and on to USC.
On select Saturdays in the fall, a small crowd gathers in front of the Coliseum in Los Angeles. Fans dressed in cardinal attire enjoy a Little Debbie’s Brownie, as glasses of Martinelli’s Sparkling Cider are served and toasted. For fans of the University of Southern California football team, it represents a milestone of sorts. When the Trojans win and the rival Notre Dame Fighting Irish and UCLA Bruins lose on the same day, it’s cause for celebration. Because it has happened a mere 44 times since 1921, it’s special. At USC, it’s called a “Perfect Day”. The inventor of this day, a USC graduate and long-time fan of USC football, has served as the radio play-by-play announcer at USC for 16 years. His name is Pete Arbogast. “There aren’t too many of these days,” Arbogast said. “So when they happen, you celebrate them.” The son of legendary broadcast and television host Bob Arbogast, Pete first achieved his lifelong goal of being the voice of the Trojans in 1989. “I’ve wanted to work for USC since I was 8,” Arbogast said. But his journey to the upper echelon of radio announcing was a long and arduous one. After graduating from Marshall High School in 1972, Pete enrolled at Los Angeles City College, where he earned his associate’s degree in radio broadcasting. “They had the best radio broadcasting program in the Western United States,” he said. “My dad had gone there and it was just a slam dunk.” It’s there that he learned the technical skills necessary to work in radio, such as editing audio, using a microphone and conducting interviews. He studied beside future radio stars Paul Olden (Yankees public address
announcer) and Ted Sobel (KFWB Sports Anchor). But Pete hardly restricted his learning to the classroom. He worked relentlessly to improve his voice and broadcasting abilities. “As a student at City College, I would take a tape recorder to USC basketball games and sit at the end of press row,” he said. “ It was major college basketball and I would practice calling the games into my tape recorder so I would get better.” It was during one of these games that Pete stumbled upon an opportunity to work for the student station at USC, KSCR. After discovering that the student run station was on the verge of collapse, Pete says he decided to move to USC and get to work. “I got to go to USC and recruit students to be newscasters and DJs and sportscasters and resurrect the radio station,” Pete said. “No one told me what to do and how to do it, but we raised money for the equipment, got everything in place, and it’s still going today.” After covering a multitude of sporting events for the Trojans, he graduated with his bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism in 1978. In search of an opportunity, he landed his first job at a country music station in Twin Falls, Idaho, population 12,000. “I got my first job playing country music from midnight to six in the morning, but they also let me do the Buhl Indians football games,” Arbogast said. After quick stops in Visalia and Victorville, Pete landed at a station in Porterville, CA. It was there that he learned the intricacies of how to be a play-by-play announcer under the tutelage of legendary broadcaster Monte Moore. “We learned preparation, and we learned how to do it right,” Arbogast said. “He would listen to our tapes for five or 10 minutes,
say ‘this is wrong, do this, do that’. He really fine-tuned us. I hated him then … but looking back on it now, I realize that is where it all started.” In 1982, Arbogast made another significant step toward Los Angeles, covering a variety of sports for the University of California at Riverside. And by 1984, he had successfully found work as a weekend sports reporter at KNX, the flagship station of USC athletics. After working at KNX and with the Los Angeles Clippers for six years, the USC play-by-play position was finally vacated by longtime broadcaster Tom Kelly in June of 1989. In an attempt to bolster his chances for the position, a huge letter-writing campaign to both USC and KNX was initiated to promote his candidacy. “By the time the decision was made, I was almost physically ill,” Arbogast said. “I was so wound up and nervous and worried…I was just freaking out. I was almost to the point of hyperventilating. It was killing me.” In mid-August, while doing new updates at KNX, news director Bob Sims handed Arbogast a note upside-down and said, “read this on the air. Don’t look at it now, just read it when you get on air,” Arbogast recalled. At the conclusion of his news updates, Pete turned the paper and began reading. “The new play-by-play guy at USC is…me,” said the 34-year-old Arbogast, who was rendered speechless. “It was the culmination of all of those years at small town radio, and as a kid, dreaming about getting that opportunity,” he said. Unfortunately, the dream lasted only five seasons, as a new investment group purchased the rights from USC and ended Pete’s tenure as the voice of the Trojans. “That sort of sucked,”
Arbogast said. From 1997-2000, Arbogast moved to Ohio to serve as the play-by-play announcer for the Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL. But in 2001, after USC struck an agreement with KSPN, Arbogast gladly accepted an offer to return to the booth for the Trojans. Since 2001, Pete has had the honor of working with on air analyst and former USC great, Paul McDonald, with whom he has a great relationship. “Pete and I mesh perfectly,” McDonald said. “We leave our ego at the door, respect each others’ talents and abilities, and maybe most importantly, like each other, which allows for a seamless broadcast.” When asked where Arbogast sits in the landscape of play-byplay men, McDonald praised the work of his colleague. “He is in one of the largest markets in the country covering one of the most famous college football programs making him one of the best today,” McDonald said. For his work, Arbogast has been selected nine times as a finalist for the Southern California Sports Broadcasters Association (SCSBA) play-by-play man of the year. “To be nominated in the same breath as Bob Miller, Chick Hearn, and Vin Scully … Let’s just say I have never prepared a speech,” Arbogast said. “Maybe once Vin retires, I will have a shot.” With or without an award, it’s clear that the lifelong Trojan relishes the opportunity to work for his alma mater. While the USC program is under intense scrutiny from the NCAA following the Reggie Bush scandal, Pete hopes to remain as the voice of the Trojans until at least 2030. Though the program has hit hard times, to Pete Arbogast, it’s just another perfect day.
By Luis Ponce It’s not the Lakers vs. Celtics, Duke vs. Kansas nor is it LACC vs. ELAC. it’s our fellow students competing against each other in the second season of intramural sports. Back by student demand and the success it had last semester, both co-ed volleyball and basketball will be taking place at the women’s gym on Friday afternoons during the fall semester. All students and staff are invited to come and support our studentathletes, and perhaps witness a diamond on the rough swishing that 3-pointer at the buzzer or that game, set and match spike from one of our volleyball players. I’m not a basketball scout, but let me just say that I know talent when I see it and what I saw last semester while covering the basketball games, convinced me that a couple of players do have that natural athletic ability to make it in any of the big school’s basketball programs in the country. Certainly not all players possessed a natural talent for basketball with their no-look passing, air gliding lay-ups or CP3’s [Chris Paul] dribbling ability, but did show that desire
to excel and compete. With the season ready for tip-off on Friday, Oct. 7, I wonder what team will be hoisting the trophy this semester, or will team Flight have what it takes to defend their championship. In last semester’s championship game where the Bang lost a thriller in a down to the wire and exciting game against team Flight. In my opinion, I can say that the program was quite a success last semester because it showed that there are student athletes and staff who are willing to make a difference in a non-existing athletic program at LACC. People like Karmina Garcia, who will be coordinating the program this semester under the guidance of Eric Peters. Also, people like Rufus Adams, the coach for team Flight and his wife Joanna Tatum, who, with a touch of kindness provided the players and fans with hot dogs, nachos and soft drinks at no cost to them and sparking a sense of camaraderie among everyone in attendance. Currently, intramural sports is the only option for students to be part of a competitive team and showcase their skills on the court. With different kinds of festivities kicking off the new season, one can only hope it becomes a success once again, pick up steam and be the gateway to something bigger … like the return of LACC’s athletic program, but that’s another story for another time. For now, I’ll be enjoying eating my hot dog and drinking my soda while watching our fellow students battle it out on the court.
Sports Schedule Baseball
Cancelled
Football
Cancelled
Soccer
Cancelled
Golf
Cancelled
Badminton
Cancelled Photo By Patrick Chong Criminal justice major, Henry Edwards goes up for the jump shot at a practice tournament for intramural basketball in the Women’s Gym last Friday.
The Student Voice of Los Angeles City College Since 1929.
