April 9, 2008

El Vaquero April 9, 2008

Glendale College

Ahead of the Pack

See story pages 8-9 Photo by Robert Radich

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Wednesday, April 9, 2008

www.elvaq.com

El Vaquero Glendale Community College

EL VAQUERO COPY EDITOR

Richard Kontas Ross Coleman

PHOTO EDITOR Ismael Reyes

STAFF WRITERS Claudia Anaya Jessica Bourse Sarkis Gabriyelyan Mariam Grigoryan

Sharese Mirzakhanyan Fabiola Prieto Chabeli Sanchez Corinna Scott

Eric Konarki Arpee Markarian

Katherine Sosa Brent Wallace

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Graig Agop Allan Beglarian

Jake Madrigal Fabienne Niederberger

Production Manager Jane Pojawa design adviser Charles Eastman faculty adviser Michael Moreau mmoreau@glendale.edu (818) 551-5214

advertising Jeff Smith

jsmith@glendale.edu (818) 240-1000, ext. 1427

El Vaquero accepts story ideas in news, features, profiles, sports and entertainment from the public. To submit an idea or an article, e-mail the editor at editor@elvaq.com or call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5349.

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El Vaquero Staff Brings Home Eight Awards From State Competition

By Arpee Markarian

editor in chief

SPORTS EDITOR

NEWS

EL VAQUERO

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E

l Vaquero staff members won eight awards, including a first place tie, at the 53rd annual Journalism Association of Community Colleges (JACC) State Convention Saturday night in Los Angeles.

Eleven members of the newspaper staff checked into the Wilshire Grand Hotel last Thursday. They arrived with tape recorders, pens, cameras, and AP style books in hand, determined to compete against fellow student journalists from more than 44 community colleges in California.

After checking in their belongings, students and faculty packed the hotel’s Pacific Ballroom and waited for the threeday event to begin. Their focused mind-sets showed through the words “We do it AP style,” printed in yellow cursive on the burgundy T-shirts of two American River College students.

Keynote speaker Russ Stanton, the new editor-in-chief of the L.A. Times, informed the crowd of the new direction of journalism, referring to multi-media, Webbased content. He also highlighted the key element of news writing.

“Don’t change your majors,” Stanton said. “Good story telling will always be in demand. You are the future of journalism.”

This promising message set the tone of the event and kicked off the convention.

Over the following two days, participants attended more than

70 workshops on various topics on journalism, and competed in mail-in, as well as 13 “onthe-spot” competitions, where students were allotted one hour or less to compose a work from information they compiled during an event earlier in the day.

Among the colleges competing in this statewide competition were Pasadena City, Mt. San Antonio, San Francisco, Southwestern, Los Medanos, and Pierce.

Along with other schools, they entered contests such as Copy Editing, News Photo, Feature Photo, Critical Review, Editorial Cartoon, News Writing, Feature Writing, and News Judgment/ Layout, to name a few.

On the last day of the convention, students and faculty advisors gathered one last time in the Pacific Ballroom – this time for the awards dinner banquet.

GCC tied for first place with five other schools in The Team Feature 2.0, a new on-the-spot, multi-media competition. A team of three students per college were required to find a subject in a specific area of the local community — where they were dropped off by bus — and build a presentation around it using photographs, audio, interviews and captions.

For their work “Olvera Street: Community, Culture and Faith,” El Vaquero staff writer Fabiola Prieto, and photographers Ismael Reyes and Allan Beglarian combined photographs, interviews, captions, music, and still images to tell the tale of the people of Olvera Street.

“It felt really good to win,” Prieto said of the team’s victory.

“We did work really hard on it … the whole night, until we finished at 4 a.m. But at the end I was really happy we won. …I think it was really good team work.”

Glendale’s was one of three team feature productions shown during the banquet.

But this wasn’t the only award for El Vaquero.

Photographer Graig Agop won two honorable mentions for his mail-in Photo Story/Essay, and on-the-spot Feature Photo and second place in News Photo; former El Vaquero editor-inchief Olga Ramaz received an honorable mention for News Story and second place for Critical Review, both mail-in pieces; Prieto took third place for a Bring In Advertisement; and writers Prieto, Claudia Anaya, production manager Jane Pojawa, and Agop were awarded second place for Bring In Infographic.

Michael Moreau, faculty advisor to the El Vaquero staff, smiled as the winners held up their awards and took pictures.

“We have a lot to be happy about,” Moreau said. “There were a lot of things packed in a couple of days but our people held up very well. I am proud of them.”

He said this marks the seventh year that the El Vaquero staff has competed in JACC. In November, at the Southern California conference at Cal State Fullerton, Glendale will again compete for awards.

Arpee Markarian can be reached at arpee_markarian@elvaq.com

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El Vaquero winners, from left, Allan Beglarian, Jane Pojawa, Fabiola Prieto, Ismael Reyes, Graig Agop and Claudia Anaya show off their plaques and certificates.

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Wednesday, April 9, 2008 3

NEWS

Lamborghini Draws a Crowd of Admirers at Tech Expo because GCC uses top software programs such as Auto Cad, Solid Works, Rino, and 3-D Studio.

Students learn how to do programming in the computeraided manufacturing and computer-aided drafting courses.

They learn how to draw, design, and manufacture.

Computer-aided-manufacturing includes beginning and advances courses. It is split into two areas: hardware and software.

By Sharese Mirzakhanyan EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

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technology expo, held on March 25 and 26 in Plaza Vaquero, was a chance for students to explore opportunities in technology and engineering available on campus.

A white 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo was on display during the event and featured wheels designed by GCC students. The car was loaned to the college

by Forgito, a local wheel design company.

According to Tom Ferguson, who teaches in the technology department, the vast majority of students on campus are unaware of the classes offered in the field of technology.

“The purpose is to expose students to computer technological programs,” Ferguson said. They offer courses such as architectural engineering, electronics, computer science, welding, and manufacturing.

Aram Ohanis, an instructor in the program, said “the intention of the event was to promote technology driven courses and make our students on campus aware of it and that these industries are highly in demand of skilled workers. This was a chance to promote the classes we offer at on campus.”

Courses offered include

Ferguson has been teaching at the college for about seven years. He previously worked in the technology industry for about 18 years. He worked as an engineering designer and helped build the F-22 Raptor Jet. For information, contact Lydia Basmajian at (818) 2401000, ext. 5918, or at lbasmaji@ glendale.edu.

Sharese Mirzakhanyan can be reached at smirzakhanyan@elvaq.com

Former Instructor’s Husband Passes

Photo by Allan Beglarian

Advanced technology engineering instructor, Aram Ohanis, poses with the rims designed by GCC for this Lamborghini at the Tech Expo on March 25.

Machine Technology and Machine Practice. In the engineering sequence, students can take Introduction to Engineering, Engineering Drafting and Basic Design, Advanced Engineering Drawing, Basic Autocad Applications. Courses offered in Computer-Aided-Manufacturing include Cam Basic Milling, Cam Basic Milling Practice, and Cam Inter Mill Laboratory The programs offer specific certificates after a certain number of units are completed.

“We are teaching students skills required in the field of technology.

The students acquire the skills that they will need to succeed in what

they choose to pursue,” Ferguson said.

Careers in this field include and are not limited to machinists, programmers, mechanical engineers, and manufacturing engineers.

“Nobody we are aware of has anywhere near the technology and equipment that Glendale has — from Pasadena City College all the way to L.A. Valley College,” said Ohanis. “I don’t think anyone can touch us, we have the best technology.”

The college hosts classes for both USC and Woodbury. They use the facilities and technologies on campus to manufacture their ideas

F

or those of you who knew Liane Enkelis, I am sorry to announce that her husband died suddenly over the weekend. He was 64.

No cause of death has been announced.

Liane Enkelis started our photojournalism program on campus and taught for us for four years. Her former students have won numerous awards at our Journalism Association of Community Colleges conferences and some of them are now working professionally as photojournalists.

El Vaquero still benefits greatly from the training she provided.

Liane’s husband, Richard, was an attorney who gave up his practice in Palo Alto six

years ago so that he and Liane could move to Pasadena to be closer to her ailing father. He continued in private practice locally up until his death.

There will be a service at Mount Sinai Memorial Cemetery Hollywood Hills, 5950 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles, at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 13.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the National Hillel Foundation would be appreciated. This is a Jewish organization on college campuses world-wide, which sponsors activities for Jewish students. Liane and Richard met at a social event held by Hillel.

—Michael Moreau

Campus to Reap Benefits of Instructor’s JPL Experience

By Brent Wallace

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

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he Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) sponsored a science lecture entitled “JPL Internship Experience” on March 25, hosting college faculty members including Joan Watanabe, who discussed her plans for a digital planetarium featuring pictures shot by the Mars Rover.

The four speakers scheduledphysical science instructor Laura Tenenbaum, photography instructor Watanabe, astronomy instructor Varoujan Akopian, and Moorpark Community College instructor Jim Sommers- were all members of a faculty intern program at JPL and had come to discuss topics related to what they had worked on at JPL. Only Tenenbaum, Watanabe, and Sommers spoke since Akopian didn’t make it to the lecture.

Watanabe revealed her plans to put pictures shot by the Mars rover into the digital planetarium on campus. She showed the pictures the rovers have taken, and showed what goes into preparing these pictures for the planetarium. The primary picture Watanabe showed was a picture of one of the rover’s landing zones from the beginning of its mission.

“What’s really nice is that there are science and art students working together there. It’s a nice mix,” said Watanabe.

Watanabe worked with a small group of other interns on the Mars rover project. This group included, Dania De Jonghe, who is credited with creating the project, Richard Davis, Peter Moyes, Martin Weiss, Alex Nevarez, Arutyun Andzhunyan, Manik Alexanian, Arin Alexander, Verena Mercenier, and Amparo Remero.

Tenenbaum spoke about her plans to expand awareness on oceanic effects on the Earth’s climate.

Her PowerPoint presentation included information such as the fact that oceans absorb 84 percent of the heat raised by global warming, and how specific satellites used by JPL give them crucial information about sea levels.

Tenenbaum intends to create a new climate change course curriculum. “The students are really interested in it,” said Tenenbaum, “Everyone is interested in climate change right now.”

Sommers spoke about the history of meteorites and asteroids crashing into earth. He also spoke about the research that has been conducted, and needs to be put toward examining these objects in outer-space.

“I would like people to be knowledgeable that these do

cross the earth’s orbit, that they are hazardous,” said Somers.

This lecture was the second of four in the spring lecture series. The next two lectures are “Lewis Carroll: Author and Mathematician” on April 22 featuring Dr. Sid Kolpas, GCC math professor, and “Implantable Electronic Medical Devices” with Frederick Melikian on May 27

from noon to 1 p.m. in SB243 The science lecture series is coordinated by Kolpas. For more information contact skolpas@ glendale.edu For more information on JPL, visit www.jpl.nasa.gov.

Brent Wallace can be reached at brent_wallace@elvaq.com

Image courtesy of Joan Watanabe

The Mars Rover, Opportunity, shown at Lion King, Mars.

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Wednesday, April 9, 2008

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FEATURES

Too Hot to Handle: Chili Cook-Off Sizzles

educational support services from chili, they were all the best. I Burbank Unified School District; love to make chili myself. In and Steven Mora, executive vice fact, I made it two nights ago. My secret to great chili is the meat: even high school teams armed president from MCS Burbank. with aprons, school spirit and “This is my first cook-off,” said lots of pork sausage and a variety vats of simmering chili, were Porto, “Raul (Porto), my brother, of meats.”

The suspense thickened like well-equipped for the battle that was a judge last year and told lay ahead. As they prepared their me how great it was… the chili stew as the time to announce booths, they anticipated the spicy here was excellent. The students winners finally closed in. taste of victory and the pride in did a great job. It’s wonderful to Michael Lao, instructor of hotel/ bringing their school the grand see kids out of the classroom and restaurant management, stood prize, the Golden Ladle. engaging like this in a large-scale at the microphone and thanked everyone involved and who made Last Friday, the culinary event.” arts, nutrition and hospitality The chili was judged with the cook-off possible. Andrew management departments hosted the following criteria: aroma, Feldman, culinary arts department the second annual “Too Hot to consistency, appearance, flavor, chair, thanked all the judges and announced that all Handle” high school chili cook- aftertaste, nutritional high school students off, which kicked-off at the Los content, sanitation participating would Robles patio area at noon. and product receive a certificate Teams from local high description.

The that acknowledges schools competed in the cook- team with the most their efforts. off: Burbank, Crescenta Valley, points, on a 50A makeshift drum Daily, Glendale, Hoover, John point scale, would roll, composed of the Burroughs and La Canada. win the grand prize, sounds of stomping In last year’s chili cook-off, and the team with feet and beating Crescenta Valley High won and the second-highest hearts, gave way to took home the Golden Ladle, score would win first the award ceremony. but now it was time for them to runner-up.

Daily, with its defend what they won or pass it The showmanship “balanced” and on to the next school. award was to go to —Judy Shalhoub “natural” theme and The five awards to be given out the school which eye-catching display, at the end of the event included: had the best theme, showmanship, hospitality, costumes, energy level and took home the showmanship Burbank, with its people’s choice, first runner-up, creativity. The hospitality award award. and the grand prize. Five awards, was to go to the school which had complementary basil lemonade seven schools. Who was to the best team attitude, service and two varieties of cookies, took determine the winners? level, punctuality and spirit. A home the hospitality award. The The panel of judges included: panel of judges determined all but people’s choice award went out Marsha Ramos, mayor of one award, the people’s choice to La Canada, with its “goodBurbank; Betty Porto, vice award, where the public tasted down-home” chili and their accompanying blues band. president of Porto’s Bakery; and voted for their favorite chili.

Awards for first runner-up and Benson Lee, general manager At noon, large crowds of people of Glendale’s Hilton Hotel; lined up to try the chili, scrapping grand prize were saved for last.

Mark Forde, executive chef of the bottoms of their sample The crowd stood silently and the Windsor Manor; Luis Vega, cups with their spoons, as they waited for the verdict as all seven executive chef of the Oakmont traveled from booth to booth. In teams held their breath.

First runner-up went to Country Club; Tory Topjian, chef this crowd was Glendale Unified of the La Crescenta Presbyterian School District Superintendent Glendale, with its “life of the party” chili. The grand prize went Church; Michael Seaton, director Dr. Michael F. Escalante. of instructional support services “I loved them all,” said to Burbank, with its “Chili #33.”

Judy Shalhoub, culinary arts from Glendale Unified School Escalante “Even though I have District; Sue Boegh, director of a preference to Glendale-stewed instructor at Burbank, explained the process it took to create the perfect chili.

“We were very restricted on sodium because the chili had to be healthy and nutritional,” said Shalhoub, “so we had to be creative with our salt flavorings.

For three to four weeks, we went through seven recipes until we found the perfect one.”

For Chef Forde, “Chili #33” was so good, he plans to put it on the menu at Windsor Manor and credit Burbank High School for the recipe.

The chili cook-off is much more than a simple competition.

Photo by Jake Madrigal It is a way for schools to collaborate and “bring out interest Glendale High School students serve up their “Life of the Party” chili.

By Jessica Bourse

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

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“We went through seven recipes until we found the perfect one.”

Photo by Jake Madrigal

Michael Lao, left, Burbank High’s Judy Shalhoub, with the winners Golden Ladle and Ricardo Perez, GCC vice president of student services.

into the culinary arts. This event introduces students to the culinary arts department and program, the facilities and to the school itself,” said Yeranui Barsegyan, culinary arts counselor.

Last year, Andrea Morales, 19, culinary arts major, competed in the cook-off as a senior representing Arcadia High School.

This year, she is attending GCC and is enrolled in the culinary arts

program.

“After I had attended the chili cook-off, it got me familiar with Glendale College,” said Morales, “It opened my eyes to a new area and field. The professors were very warm and welcoming.

This competition is what got me hooked on GCC.” Jessica Bourse can be reached at jessica_bourse@elvaq.com

Chili #33 Recipe by Burbank High School, Class of 2008 Ingredients: 2 packages turkey, lean (40 ounces) 3 medium onions, diced (24 ounces) 4 tablespoons olive oil 4-5 cloves fresh garlic 1 small green bell pepper, diced 1 medium red bell pepper, diced 1 medium yellow bell pepper, diced 2 ounces crumbled bacon, cooked & all fat removed 4 cans pinto beans, drained well 6 cups tomato sauce 6 ounces shredded cheddar cheese ¼ cup Tapatio sauce ¼ cup fresh lemon juice 4 tablespoons chili powder 6 tablespoons cumin 1 jalapeno pepper, minced Directions: 1. Brown the turkey with the olive oil, breaking down the meat into small pieces.

2. Add the onions and garlic.

3. Cook bacon and remove all fat.

4. Once the meat is browned, add the tomato sauce, beans, peppers and seasonings and simmer till done, about 45 minutes.

Makes 15 one cup servings.

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Wednesday, April 9, 2008 5

FEATURES

New Media Arts Club Plans Spring Film Festival

By Sharese Mirzakhanyan EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

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n order to pursue their interests, two students have created a club that includes different components within the media.

Club founders and copresidents, Armine Poghosyan, 19, film major, and Anna Meloyan, 19, decided to combine their interests together as well

as other components- such as actors, designers, set designers, and others to create GCC’s first media arts club.

All students are welcome to the meetings to get acquainted with the club and fill out an application. The only requirement for the club is to be interested in a creative field.

“The purpose of this club is to bring creative people together to work on certain projects that

will be showcased at the end of the semester,” Meloyan said.

Meloyan has a passion for fashion and has decided to pursue a career in the fashion industry.

The club is related to everything that is essential for production such as directing, cinematography, and acting. Members will acquire the experience necessary to pursue their interests in a certain creative field. The club needs actors, models, producers,

photographers, designers, graphic artists, make-up artists, set designers, and more.

One member of the club has already begun to put together a short film.

“The club members will have the opportunity to showcase their work at end-of-the-year festival where their work will be seen by not only the community but also some industry professionals,” Poghosyan said.

The club will meet every Monday at 2:30 p.m. in LB 225. There will also be special meetings such as auditions and photo shoots; times and dates to be announced. It’s not too late to sign up!

Sharese Mirzakhanyan can be reached at smirzakhanyan@elvaq.com

Spring Break on a Tight Budget Need not Be Boring

By Claudia Anaya

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

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Photo illustration by Fabienne Niederberger

Keep saving for that dream vacation - in the meantime there are plenty of things to do for Spring Break that won’t break the bank.

pending a week in Florida, scuba diving, or racecar driving may not be within a college student’s budget this Spring Break.

There are other ways to spend Spring Break (April 14 through 19) without having to dig into next semester’s book money.

Students don’t just have to catch up on reading and assignments; there are events that students can attend while on their break.

Typing in “free things to do in LA” on google, will lead people to what can be the next destination in their week off.

Laokay.com directs visitors to free comedy shows, television tapings, and museum admissions

in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas.

Eyespyla.com offers information on events in Hollywood, the San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys, and other surrounding areas.

Golosangeles.com guides people to attractions, theme parks, museums, and tours that are available in Los Angeles and provides phone numbers and further information for those seeking specific attractions.

Attractions such as the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Santa Monica’s Pier and Third Street Promenade, Venice Beach, and the Science Center at 700 State Drive, Los Angeles, can be visited throughout the week.

If anyone is looking to exercise in the outdoors, Runyon Canyon Park at 2000 Fuller Dr., Los Angeles offers free yoga classes

at 9:30 a.m. everyday and at 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays for more information call 323-6665046.

For anyone looking for indoor exercise or wanting to interact with people, Akbar on 4356 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles opens its dance floor on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at no charge to those looking to dance to rock, eighties, pop, and hip hop.

While some will attend Six Flags Magic Mountain and Universal Studios, others will enjoy traditional pasttimes such as getting a cup of coffee, reading a book, listening to music, and watching television.

Claudia Anaya can be reached at claudia_anaya@elvaq.com

Campus Comments What are your plans for spring break?

Erick Alanis 22 ARCHITECTURE

Lia Thorosian 18 BUSINESS

ECONOMICS

Shino Morio 20

Stephani Bautista 18

BUSINESS

COMMUNICATIONS

Members of the wedding party gather at the end of

“I’m going to go visit my girlfriend in Sacramento and party.”

“I’m going to go visit some UC campuses and study, unfortunately.”

“I am going to Las Vegas with my friends.”

“I have plans to do something different with my friends every single day of the week.”

— Compiled bySharese Mirzakhanyan and photographed by Ismael Reyes

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Wednesday, April 9, 2007

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FEATURES

‘Olympic’ Games for Campus Clubs

By Mariam Grigoryan EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

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was heard across the plaza as friends challenged and battled each other.

Across from it was the Bungee Run. The inflated runway attracted quite a crowd as two opponents at a time raced towards the end in hopes of dropping the miniature bean bags as far as they could, all the while strapped to the wall of the Bungee.

Halfway through the event, IOC began their festivities called the “Olympics.” Several school clubs joined in. A table was set up with watercolors, pie plates and paint brushes. The members were to paint the faces of their partners in multicolored paints, while the audience cheered them on. Afterwards the participants crowded around to take a few pictures.

And, of course, what would a carnival be without cotton candy?

A pink machine was set up next to the IOC table, with members of

ASGCC giving away free cotton candy to all.

The Spring Carnival/ Olympics was organized with the collaboration of the ASGCC and IOC, combining two events together. The equipment had cost about $1,200, said Christopher Khrlobian, vice president of activities.

Members of the club and students seemed to have a blast competing, laughing and relaxing.

“It was nice to have such an event, students acting like kids, and it was all free, what more can you ask for?” said Adriana Zuluaga, business major, after stepping off of the bungee run barefoot.

tudents curiously glanced as the yellow caution tape surrounded a large portion of Plaza Vaquero on mid-day April 1. An hour earlier, members of Associated Students of Glendale Community College (ASGCC) and Inter Organizational Council (IOC) were setting up the colorful tents, bungee slides and dunk tank for Spring Carnival.

The event lasted from 11:50 a.m. until 2 p.m. with turntables playing upbeat music which attracted a lot of spectators. The carnival was free for all, requiring a simple orange wristband to participate.

One of the attractions was the dunk tank, which caught the eye of many. Participants had a blast [See Related Photo, Page 16] tossing a ball towards a target to dunk the person sitting above a Mariam Grigoryan can be reached at mariam_grigoryan@elvaq.com little pool, who happened to be a member of ASGCC, Selin Minassians, senator of campus activities.

“Today’s carnival was a great success, the point was to get students involved and help them enjoy their lunch break since we all know that being a GCC student is a hard task,” said Minassians.

Adjacent to the dunk tank was the inflatable tent where contestants attempted to stay in balance while Photo by Ismael Reyes knocking off their Conservative Club member Melissa Cassara paints her team mate Sevada Amirian’s face, opponents. Laughter

Professor Releases Chamber Music CD

By Katherine Sosa

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

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rofessor Peter Green, assistant chairman of the visual and performing arts division is releasing his first CD. Green is an accomplished pianist who has been playing since the age of 8.

Green loves all types of music, from classical to rock, depending on his mood. He loves to teach and enjoys performing.

Green has been teaching at Glendale for almost nine years.

But before teaching at GCC he worked at Los Angeles City College. He worked there for four years but then was offered a position here and took it. “GCC is a better school, I’m glad I did,” said Green.

Green was born in Newfoundland, Canada. He received his master’s in music, and doctorate of musical arts degrees from USC. Green has appeared twice on Canadian television. In 1989, he received his first trophy in the national piano competition in Edmonton, Alberta, for the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers Association. He is also director of music at First Presbyterian Church in Monrovia.

While working on his doctorate in USC he also took a secondary field in choral music. Also, he loves working with choirs and he directs the college’s Concert singers (the advanced choir).

In July 2009 he will be conducting the Mark Thallander

Foundation Chorus in Austria for the International Haydn Festival.

The Festival gives a chance for the orchestra and Professional soloists to perform in the venues.

Musical colleagues of Green are internationally known flutist Vieri Bottazini from Turkey, and horn player Bruce Bonnell.

Bonnell and Green have known each other since freshman orientation at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Bonnell and Bottazini are also members of the Malaysian Philharmonic.

Two years ago Bottazini, Bonnell, and Green got together at the Staples Family Recital Hall School of music at Central Michigan University and recorded a CD. It only took them three days to record all the tracks. The name of the CD is “Souvenirs.”

“It is great because usually pianists just stay in a practice room by themselves. It is a lot of fun to play with other musicians,” said Green.

The CD’s genre is classical (chamber music). Chamber music is for small ensembles usually of 2-3 musicians. Chamber music was first used in the 18th century as musical expression. Chamber music is always used as a new source of new music ideas, and new attitudes.

The CD is being released

by Centaur records and will be available in May.

Katherine Sosa can be reached at katherine_sosa@elvaq.com

while getting cheered on by fellow club member at the IOC Olympics in Plaza Vaquero..

The Roundup

by Corinna Scott

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Wednesday, April 9, 2008

7

COLUMN

Daddy,Why Does Miley Have Two Mommies?

By Graig Agop

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER /PHOTOGRAPHER

Controversy plagues Miley Cyrus, aka Hannah Montana, wherever she goes. In the March 26 issue, we thoroughly explored the issue of Miley Smiley Stuart Destiny Hope Hannah Montana Ray Cyrus’ ambiguous identity. Now let’s meet the family!

G

et it while it’s hot! Last issue we began picking the lock of the Cyrus closet, and in this issue we finally got it open, and it’s all coming out! Did you know Miley first took stage as Hannah Montana at the Alex Theatre here in Glendale for season one of Hannah Montana? Well she did; end of story. On to more important topics…like safety!

Miley and her father got criticized for not wearing their seat belts while driving a golf cart in the “Best of Both Worlds 3-D Movie.” I am not a safety expert, but I know wearing a seat belt over a chastity belt is just not comfortable.

Her series of Youtube videos titled “The Miley and Mandy Show,” with girlfriend Mandy Jirouex, films on location at Miley’s wing of the Cyrus house and is amazing! The video “Wakey

Wakey” is straight out kinky kinky. These girls are inseparable, and thank God because these videos are cinematic gold. Can you say, “Sundance Independent Film Festival?” Yeah, it’s a thong twister.

Enough with Miley, look its Billy Ray and Tish! Let’s get them!

Miley refers to gold-digging Laticia “Tish” Finley (Mills McCartney) as her “mom.” You will begin to notice that the term “mother” is used very loosely in the Cyrus household. The real winner of this multimillion dollar baby goes to none other than Franklin, Tenn.’s Cindy Smith, a Philip Morris sales rep who got hitched and knocked up by Billy Ray faster then you can say Miley Smiley Stuart Destiny Hope Hannah Montana Ray Cyrus.

Although they had a daughter (Miley), Smith allegedly couldn’t handle the pressure that came with being married to a “sex symbol,” and wanted out. If crazed Billy Ray Cyrus fans torched my hair, I might also want to look into a divorce.

But, according to a Star magazine online article, (“Miley Cyrus’ Family Secrets” March 14), “In fall 1991, Tish becomes pregnant with Destiny Hope Cyrus.” FALSE! Next they turn

Smith from a Philip Morris sales rep to a “22-year-old waitress.”

Things are shady in Montana, but one thing we can all agree on is Miley didn’t come out of that money-driven woman. Come on “Star” Magazine let’s get on it!

When Smith and Cyrus ended their five-year marriage, Cyrus wrote the song “Wher’m I Gonna Live.”

Its vicious lyrics, inspired by “real life incidents,” are delicious.

It goes as follows: “My ol’ lady’s thrown out everything I own. She meant what she said, when she wished I was dead.” Cyrus later gave Smith co-writers’ credit on the album. Now that is ugly.

Smith and Cyrus broke off their marriage in October 1991.

While some reports say Smith and Cyrus divorced, other reports say Miley’s birth mom died. Died of cancer, died in a very detailed car

crash, maybe died of embarrassment; with no death certificate in sight — who knows? MileyCyrus. com asks the million dollar question right above her favorite color in a friendly questionnaire “Miley’s mother died when she was young: True or false?”, But it refrains from giving us the million dollar answer we must know to get on with our lives .

I say she better be dead.

If she is not, then why isn’t she coming out for a piece of the cash and a fistful of Tish?

Doesn’t Miley want to meet her birth mom?

Doesn’t Cindy want to get to know her daughter? How can she sit back and watch that tramp Tish raise Miley? The real question is “how much is she getting paid to keep her mouth shut?” Magazines would offer millions for a story of a star of Miley’s caliber. Cindy!

Come get your million dollar baby!

Reports say Smith allegedly died when Miley was just 2 years old. They also said Miley loved performing songs on stage with her father… at two. If a two-yearold can memorize lyrics to a song, she should be able recognize that they preformed the old Hannah Montana switch-a-roo on her. The creepy part is Billy Ray claims “They’re better friends now then they ever were.” Yeah, I’m going to go with the whole “she’s dead” theory.

Miley also has four step- and half- brothers and half- sisters.

Some belong to Billy Ray. Some belong to Tish. Some belong to Billy Ray and Tish, and some they just adopted for fun, but one thing they all have in common is their all bastards. Older half brother, half sister Trace Cyrus looks like Dave Navarro, Slash, and Ursula “The Little Mermaid”’s spawn.

He has more piercings than a bass lure and looks like Kat Von D threw up ink all over his boney pail body. Something had to have happened to drive this southern boy to darkness. Or is he just

I am not a safety expert, but I know wearing a seat belt over a chastity belt is just not comfortable.

Photo by Graig Agop

Miley Cyrus and father Billy Ray serenade the crowd with “Ready, Set, Don’t Go” from Billy Ray ‘s latest album.

homesick for the hills of Tennessee?

Trace is in the pop-rock band Metro Station. The bands followers include transgender My Space diva Jefree Star and Miley herself. This metro station only has two stops: one is in TransAmerica and the other one’s in Brokeback Mountain. Fish tacos anyone? You know… fish tacos are good.

With what’s happened to yesterday’s child stars today, some people think there is only one direction left for Miley to go--and that is down. Oh pun!

MSN’s Martha Brockenbrough thinks Miley is “the next Britney.”

Calm your horses, you horse. Miley does not have enough time to get married to a loser, have two kids, develop a drug and alcohol addiction, divorce, go completely insane, develop a British accent, hit up three gas stations a night, meet strange men, and make dramatic entrances into hospitals while fighting for custody.

She is busy with, like, her career.

Besides, I just can’t picture her “How I Meet Your Mother.”

Brockenbrough insists that if kids are missing school to see a concert, they should see something that will help them develop “taste.” She would prefer that you treat your kids to the performances of “world class artists.”

I would prefer that she stops writing.

She then says there is only one point to dressing sexy and that is to attract sex partners.” That’s hilarious. If that’s true, Miley was seducing thirty-thousand infants, five times a week, for the last four months. What a whore!

Don’t get me wrong: I love Hannah Montana. Her inspirational hymns like “Life’s What You Make it” and “Nobody’s Perfect” get me through the day.

Hell, I wake up to a Hannah Montana alarm clock every morning.

But if you smell fish, you smell fish.

I hope this was as satisfying for you as it was for me. Next time we will get the Jonas Brothers! Those girls better run! As for Hannah, there are, no doubt, still many more secrets under that cheap wig of hers, but you can all sleep better knowing we’re on to her and Beyonce.

Graig Agop can be reached at Graig_Agop@elvaq.com

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Wednesday, April 9, 2008

FEATURE

Campus Hosts Track and Field Event Photo by Robert Radich

James Poet launches a javelin after an accelerated jump.

Lady Vaqueros track team from left to right: Tove Berg, Brigette Fernandez, Zitlalic Ley, Vivien Wadeck. (Bottom right) David Nalbanyan runs and leaps for a score in the long jump.

— Story by Olga Ramaz

By Robert Radich

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

A

warm and sunny day hovered over Stengel and Sartoris Field as four top schools battled out in a number of track and field events.

College of the Canyons came out on top in the women’s competition and Glendale fell into second place by ten points. The men’s competition was dominated by College of the Canyons and Glendale found themselves in third place.

All eyes were on Glendale’s Tove Berg and her supporting cast of runners. Seven out of the ten running events, the lady Vaquero came out on top. In the Women’s

3000 Meter Run, Tove Berg annihilated the competition and finished the race fifty-six seconds ahead of the second place finisher and nearly two minutes ahead of the next runner.

Ashley Baucham was victorious in the women’s high jump with a competition best, 5 ft. 2 in.

“Before I begin my jump, I focus on the first two steps and then I position myself differently so I get a good jump,” said Baucham.

The Men’s competition experienced some bumps in the road as they escaped with a third place finish.

One of the highlights for the men’s was the javelin throw. Alex

Murphy led the competition with the longest throw which was also a self-best with 156 ft. 2in.

“I like to first start out slow, then speed up and be at my fastest and get a hard plant to launch that sucker (the javelin),” said Murphy.

“I think this season we have come together quite well and hope we can go to state.”

James Poet was the standout and winner on the discus throw with a competition best 137 ft 2 in. He also finished second place in the shot put with a distance of 39 ft 8 in. The next competition will be held at Mt. SAC on Saturday.

Robert Radich can be reached at robert_radich@elvaq.com

Photos by Robert Radich

www.elvaq.com 9

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Wednesday, April 9, 2008

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‘Funny Games’ Is Anything but Funny

By Sharese Mirzakhanyan EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

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vacation to a summer home is usually full of enjoyment and laughter. But for one family, it will be the last trip they ever take.

“Funny Games” will have you on the edge of your seat throughout the entire movie.

Two psychotic men, Paul, (Michael Pitt) and Peter (Brady Corbet), introduce themselves to the family as friends of the neighbors, and then hold the family hostage in their own home, and force them into violent games.

The torment begins when Peter knocks on the door asking for eggs. Having no idea that Paul and Peter had already killed the neighbors and that they were their next target, Anne allows them into the house. Before the family realizes the psychotic men’s motive, they are imprisoned in their own home and terribly tormented by the two psychotic men.

Director Michael Haneke (“Caché”), who also wrote the

screenplay of “Funny Games,” was basically born into show business. He is the son of Fritz Haneke, a director, and Beatrix von Degenschild, an actress.

Haneke had first originated this film in German, but decided to modify it in English because he believed it is closer to American society.

In “Funny Games,” Haneke illustrates his modern obsession with cinematic brutality through the story of a happy family that’s persistently tortured.

The actors give spectacular performances and portray their characters in the best possible manner. Naomi Watts (“The Painted Veil”) who plays Anne gives an unbelievable performance, where you can feel the pain and sorrow her character is going through. George (Tim Roth, “Dark Water”), Anne’s husband, is a powerless man who cannot protect his family.

Devon Gearhart (“Dog Days of Summer”) who plays the son, Georgie, is truly amazing; for a child of his age to put so much emotion into his role is remarkable.

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Even after the movie is over you’ll feel gloomy and unsettled.

Movies today focus more on gore and less on scares. The violence works in this movie and makes it even more disturbing because audiences can visualize the worse possible scenario.

Unlike other directors, Haneke includes the viewer in the movie. Paul (Michael Pitt) turns around and speaks to the audience — making you feel like you are actually there. You are subconsciously sucked into the movie and feel great hatred towards Paul and Peter.

Although some may agree that this is a great tactic used by the director, it splits your train of thought. You may be so focused on what is happening in the movie and out of nowhere, one of the characters is talking to you.

This is definitely something not all viewers will be able to stand.

This is a movie you will either like or dislike.

Afterthought is a key element when it comes to films; directors want you to walk out of the movie theater with different scenes replaying over and over in your mind. Haneke does a splendid job of this in this movie.

“Funny Games” is one of the most disturbing films I have seen, however, it was technically impressive; everything from the direction, to the mind-blowing performances of all the actors, to the cinematography and use of sounds- the music played in

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Naomi turns in a first-rate performance in a terror-filled movie..

different scenes to set the tone and the and realistic sounds of objects used.

Because “Funny Games” avoids gruesome images, our emotions become more fully engaged, where we cannot seem to stand the pain and helplessness of the victims. Whereas in a movie such as “Hostel,” your emotions are not in play because all you expect to see are clips of bloodshed.

As unsettling as it may sound, incidents like this happen in reality. I would recommend this movie. Although it may not

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interest you at first, the remarkable acting will leave you in awe.

Production Companies Halcyon Pictures UK, Tartan Films, Celluloid Dreams, XFilme Creative Pool, Ruby Red Runtime: 1 hour, 52 minutes.

Rating: R for terror, violence, and language.

2.5 stars out of 4 Sharese Mirzakhanyan can be reached at smirzakhanyan@elvaq.com

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Wednesday, April 9, 2007

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Math Students Are Cool But Devious in ‘21’

By Chabeli Sanchez EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

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n the movie “21” directed by Robert Luketic, (based on the book- “Bringing Down the House” by Ben Mezrich), there is only one thing holding Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) back from attending Harvard medical school: the $300,000 he needs to pay for it.

But when one of his math professors, Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey), presents Campbell with the opportunity to make big bucks “beating the dealer” at blackjack, his fate begins to change.

With the help of his team, Jill Taylor (Kate Bosworth), Choi (Aaron Yoo), Kianna (Liza Lapira) and Fisher (Jacob Pitts), Campbell makes thousands of dollars. However, when Campbell and his team run into the head of hotel security, Cole Williams, played by Laurence Fishburne, it becomes a whole new game. A game that Campbell and his team are not quite ready for.

The movie does a great job telling the real life story in which the movie is based: the tale of a team of MIT students who devised a card counting scheme to win millions from Las Vegas casinos. The students got caught,

and were never to allowed to play in Vegas again.

Luketic, who has directed “Legally Blonde,” “Monster-InLaw” and “Win a Date with Tad Hamilton,” strayed away from his usual teenybopper style and added drama to his repertoire with “21.”.

We met Sturgess last year in “Across the Universe,” in which he played Jude. The English actor also played a role in “The Other Boleyn Girl.” The role he plays in “21” is quite different than his previous projects. He plays Campbell extremely well, giving the audience a chance to see every side of Campbell, whether it be loving, caring, responsible, loyal, intimidated, scared or angry. Sturgess gives a sense of rawness to his character.

There is no doubt that Sturgess has a bright future in cinema.

Two-time Oscar winner, Kevin Spacey (Rosa) has yet to disappoint. He delivers another amazing performance in “21.”

The twists and turns Spacey gives to the Rosa character are highly suspenseful and are guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat.

He gives Micky Rosa a dark and evil side, making despicable by the end of the movie.

Las Vegas comes to life in “21.”

Its glitz and glitter is captured in every scene. Gambling all night and partying all day, Sin City takes its toll on some and leaves others winners.

The film arrived in theaters nationwide on March 28.

Produced by Michael De Luca, screenplay by Peter Steinfeld and Allan Loeb, the film is coproduced by William S. Beasley, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca, Ryan Kavanaugh, Brett Ratner and Kevin Spacey. Original music is

by David Sardy. Cinematography is by Russell Carpenter. It is edited by Elliot Graham.

Running time: 123 minutes.

This film is rated PG-13 for some violence and sexual content with partial nudity.

Cast: Jim Sturgess (Ben Campbell), Kevin Spacey (Micky Rosa), Kate Bosworth (Jill Taylor), Aaron Yoo (Choi), Liza Lapira (Kianna), Jacob Pitts (Fisher), Laurence Fishburne (Cole Williams), Jack McGee (Terry), Josh Gad (Miles Connoly), Sam Golzari (Cam), Helen Carey (Ellen Campbell), Jack Gilpin (Bob Phillips).

“21” receives this rating due to it’s great cinematography.

However, the plot could have moved along at a more rapid pace.

“21” depicts a team of students who try to beat the odds in Las Vegas.

3 stars out of 4 Chabeli Sanchez can be reached at chabeli_sanchez@elvaq.com

No ‘Shudder’ for Asian Horror Flick ‘Shutter’

By Eric Konarki

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

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picture is worth a thousand words.

The most recent remake of an Asian horror flick is “Shutter.”

“Shutter” is the frightening and suspenseful story of a photographer and his new bride who arrive for a photo shoot while on their honeymoon in Japan. When Jane has a horrible accident on the way to Mt. Fiji, they discover spooky and spiritual images in photographs they develop. The newlyweds become determined to establish an understanding of these “spirit photos.”

Benjamin Shaw, a commercial photographer, played by Joshua Jackson (“Dawson’s Creek,” 1998 -2003) is a myste-

rious character. You are skeptical about him throughout the entire movie. Jackson’s performance is extremely mediocre and unprofessional and with his many TV and movie credits he should have performed better.

Ben’s beautiful new blushing bride, the suspicious and caring, Jane, played by Rachael Taylor (“Transformers,” 2007) produces an exceptional performance. Her acting is very natural and well done. She held the movie together.

Megumi Tanaka played by Megumi Okina, (“Inugamike No Ichizuko [The Inugmais],” 2006) is a very spooky and disturbing character. Her portrayal of an obsessed lover is admirable.

Bruno, Ben’s colleague and friend, played by David Denman

(“Smart People,” 2008) is an intriguing character. Although you pick up a friendly vibe from him, he is also very mysterious.

John Hensley’s (“Nip/Tuck,” 2003-2008) performance of Adam is very hostile, and exposed Adam as a male chauvinist.

“Shutter” is mainly set in Tokyo, Japan. The streets of Tokyo are very crowded, but the city is beautiful and full of culture.

There are many scenes in dark and mysterious settings, but other scenes are full of vibrant colors and expressions.

The costumes in “Shutter” are contemporary and modern. The kimonos in the photo shoot are filled with beautiful, bright colors. Jane’s wedding gown was traditional, puffy and white.

The costumes of the ensemble,

throughout the crowded city of Tokyo, are very stylized, with many characters in contemporary dress; but there are also harajuku girls dressed in extravagant colors, shapes, hair, and make-up running around the city.

Director, Masayuki Ochiai (“Kansen” [Infection], 2004) brings the dead to life and leaves everyone wondering what’s going to happen next.

Screenwriter Luke Dawson (“New York Stories,” 2003) wrote an interesting combination of both a thriller and horror story.

The plot for “Shutter” is suitable for a scary movie. Despite one or two characters, the choices in characters were good. The movie is more suspenseful and thrilling than scary and horrific.

The combination of an Asian

story and horror usually equals to a scary and entertaining night at the movies. Just like “The Ring,” 2002, and “The Grudge,” 2004, have done in the past, “Shutter” has continued down the path of scary Asian horror flicks.

Cast: Joshua Jackson (Benjamin Shaw), Rachael Taylor (Jane Shaw), Megumi Okina (Megumi Tanaka), David Denman (Bruno), John Hensley (Adam) ...

Runtime : 85 minutes.

Rating: PG-13 1.5 stars out of 4

Eric Konarki can be reached at eric_konarki@elvaq.com

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Wednesday, April 9, 2008

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ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

‘Crisis Core’ Plays Like an Artificial Crisis

By Brent Wallace

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

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inal Fantasy VII: Crisis Core is a game released for the PSP by Square Enix, the people behind the incredibly successful Final Fantasy series.

Crisis Core is a prequel to Final Fantasy VII, one of the most influential role-playing games of all time. While Crisis Core does make excellent usage of this source material, it is ultimately held back by a few major shortfalls that prevent it from achieving the greatness of its predecessor.

The storyline follows Zack Fair, a member of the SOLDIER organization funded by the Shinra Corporation, which is busy harvesting a valuable resource known as ‘mako’ from the planet.

Zack’s story covers the events that lead up to the events of FF7, from Zack’s training with SOLDIER, to the events of the Nibelheim incident.

Zack was only briefly seen in FFVII during some flashbacks seen in the game. Fortunately Crisis Core does an excellent job

of expanding Zack as a character.

Crisis Core also has appearances by some of the memorable characters from FF7, such as the original game’s protagonist Cloud and its immensely popular villain: Sephiroth. It is also nice to notice that Crisis Core also has a decent sense of humor that is even more obvious than what we saw in FF7.

Crisis Core also throws in some new characters, such as Zack’s mentor Angeal and the 1st class soldier Genesis. These characters are unfortunately not very well developed. Other than this disappointment however, Crisis Core uses its source material brilliantly, and will undoubtedly please fans of FF7.

Unfortunately, people may not be pleased by how Crisis Core plays. Crisis Core takes many liberties from the game play of FF7. Instead of a turn-based battle system like the one used in FF7, Crisis Core uses a fully real-time battle system that lets you move Zack freely around the arenas you face enemies in.

The combat system is solid, with a fairly wide variety of orders

Crises Core uses a fully real-time battle system that lets you move freely around arenas of play.

that you can give to Zack, such as basic attacks and the abilities that Zack can perform depending on what materia he has equipped.

The most unique addition Crisis Core makes to the combat is the Digital Mind Wave (DMW).

The DMW is essentially a slot machine that randomly lets Zack perform devastating limit break attacks whenever three portraits of the same character line-up. The limit break performed depends on

which character comes up.

As you proceed through the game, more portraits are added to the DMW, increasing the variety of limit breaks Zack has access to.

The DMW also has a line-up of three numbers that level up either the materia, which are small spheres of crystallized energy that can be used to cast magic in FF7’s world, Zack has equipped or even Zack himself when they are matched up.

Unfortunately, the combat ends up falling flat for most of the game due to the game’s horrendous enemy artificial intelligence. The enemy AI in Crisis Core is nothing short of comatose, as enemies will only occasionally try to attack you and literally seem to be begging you to hit them. As a result, the random encounters in Crisis Core are almost never satisfying.

The game does partially salvage its combat with some entertaining boss battles, since their attacks will keep you on your toes, but even these battles are generally fairly easy. The only true redeeming factor of the battles in Crisis Core is that they look great in motion.

People expecting a true roleplaying experience from Crisis Core will be disappointed in other ways as well. The actual roleplaying elements of Crisis Core are relatively inconsequential. In all reality, Crisis Core actually plays more like an action game than an RPG. Crisis Core doesn’t give players a lack of things to do however. Those who rush through the main storyline will likely have it completed in slightly longer than 10 hours at the normal difficulty level. But that’s only if

you don’t go through the game’s side missions, which generally send you into a small area where you have to find a specific enemy and defeat it. These side missions easily double, if not triple, the length of the game.

Graphically, Crisis Core is one of the best looking games on the PSP, though the graphics aren’t without minor quibbles. The cutscenes in Crisis Core are quite simply downright gorgeous.

The in-game graphics are also quite impressive as well with highly detailed character models, animation, and environments.

Not enough can be said about how great it is to see the classic characters, environments, and enemy designs in such high detail.

The particle effects aren’t always quite as impressive however.

In the end, Crisis Core is a tough game to recommend. The combat is almost completely crippled by the game’s abysmal enemy AI, and the role-playing elements are too inconsequential.

The game still manages to be satisfying however with how it uses its source material.

Ultimately, Crisis Core is most recommendable for fans of FF7, who will undoubtedly embrace the game as the fan service that it is.

Released: March 24 ESRB rating: T (teen). Blood, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes and Violence.

Retail Price: $39.99 Availability: Retail stores and online vendors.

My rating: 2 out of 4 stars.

Brent Wallace can be reached at brent_wallace@elvaq.com

www.elvaq.com

Wednesday, April 9, 2007

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SPORTS

Softball: Lady Vaqueros Drop a Doubleheader

Photo by Jake Madrigal

Lady Vaquero catcher Sara Sardo, slides into third after an error in the oufield, during the double header against Citrus College on April 1.

Photo by Jake Madrigal

Lady Vaquero pitcher, Kelly Koros, fights to bring her team back in the 5-2 loss against Citrus College.

By Chabeli Sanchez EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

S

adness was felt at the Glendale Sports Complex on April 1, and no, it wasn’t an April Fool’s hoax. The Lady Vaqueros softball team lost to Citrus College with a final score of 5-2 in the first game and a score of 9-2 in the second of a doubleheader.

Citrus played a tough first

game, never backing down.

They took home the first run of the game in the first inning. The Lady Vaqs struggled in the early innings to keep up, but towards the last innings of the game you could see the drive in Lady Vaqs’ faces. It was time to fight back.

The fight was just not enough to keep up with Citrus.

Lady Vaquero pitcher, sophomore Kelly Koros pitched

one heck of a game; it was strike out after strike out. It just was not enough, Coach Dave Wilder said, “we have a great pitcher, we just couldn’t back her up.” Wilder adds, “[when] the pitcher [Koros] starts to get frustrated...that’s not good.”

Wilder said that the team “doesn’t hit at the right time.”

When Citrus was up to bat you could see it in their players faces

that it was their intention to knock that ball out of the felid. When the Lady Vaqs were up to bat, they were constantly swinging at balls either to high or to low, and not connecting with ball when that perfect pitch would be thrown.

However, freshman right fielder Angela Pizzo had a great double, bringing in two of her teammates home.

Yet when it came to stealing bases, the Lady Vaqs knew exactly what to do. Sophomore second baseman, Diana Garcia in the top of the seventh inning stole second and third base. Debbie Martin, a freshman center fielder,

stole second base, also in the top of the seventh inning.

Wilder said, “we have a young team.” This year’s team consists of four sophomores and eight freshmen. Practice makes perfect, maybe what these girls need is a little more experience to bring home consistent wins.

Upcoming games for the team include Thursday’s home game against College of the Canyons, at 2:30 p.m., then the April 17 home game against Bakersfield College, at 2:30 p.m.

Chabeli Sanchez can be reached at chabeli_sanchez@elvaq.com

Madness has Taken Hold of the Country

By Ross Coleman

EL VAQUERO SPORTS EDITOR

E

very year I get sick. Not physically ill but I am afflicted with a sickness that forces me to stay home, lie on the sofa, miss class and/or work, fail to put any effort into my relationships, and basically shirk any and all responsibilities.

The sickness lasts from about halfway through March until about the second week of April.

This sickness though it doesn’t just effect me, it affects millions.

Men, women, children, young, old; no one is safe. This affliction has come to be known as “March Madness.”

I have “March Madness” so bad that my girlfriend even said to me, “I hate March!”

It may be sick, but I love it. The rest of the year I am consumed with what will happen this March.

Yes, it’s a wonderful time of the year when the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is held; 65 teams are chosen to compete in a single elimination tournament where the last team standing is the National Champion, takes precedent over everything.

To some this may seem like a waste of time, but to me it is the best time of the year. 65 sets of fans are hopeful because it is the one sporting event where literally anything can happen. And this year has not disappointed.

As the Regional Finals concluded history was made. For the first year ever all four number one seeds advanced to the Final

Four in San Antonio. However even the fans of North Carolina, Kansas, Memphis, and UCLA will agree that this year has been no cakewalk.

Schools like Davidson and Western Kentucky showed they could hang with the big boys.

Davidson advanced all the way to the Elite Eight and came within one three-pointer of knocking off heavily favored Kansas in their home state. Western Kentucky advanced all the way to the Sweet Sixteen before falling to UCLA, but they wouldn’t have even had the opportunity to play more than one game had it not been for a miracle three at the buzzer to win their first-round game.

The tourney has also introduced mainstream America to big time players like Davidson’s Stephen

Curry, who averaged almost 35 points a game during the madness.

Also we have been witness to the amazing Kevin Love. The Oregonian freshman from UCLA has shown absolute greatness during his year with the Bruins. In all likelihood Love will leave the friendly confines of Westwood to head to greener pastures of the NBA but his season will always be remembered as one of the greatest.

Office pools, a March staple, give us a little glimpse into how crazy this year’s tourney has been. On ESPN.com readers can fill out a bracket, picking teams they think will win the games.

This year there is not a single perfect bracket on the site.

However, with the Tournament concluding many teams will build

towards making a run through the tourney next year. Teams like USC hope to bounce back after a disappointing early exit by adding some top high school players to an already young team.

Others like Arizona State, Illinois, and Syracuse hope that the teams that they have mature enough over the off-season that they can make the tourney next year and cause some ruckus.

So while March Madness is coming to an end, my bracket officially busted, just know that next year will bring a new tourney.

New players to fall in love with.

New Cinderella’s to support. And a new bracket to obsess over.

Catch the madness every March. I know I do.

Ross Coleman can be reached at Ross_Coleman@elvaq.com

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Wednesday, April 9, 2008

www.elvaq.com

SPORTS

Mendoza Pitches Vaqueros to a Victory and Sweep

By Robert Radich

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

T

he Vaqueros completed their season sweep of West L.A. College, 6-2 at Stengel Field last Friday due to the excellent pitching performance of starting pitcher Michael Mendoza.

Mendoza displayed impeccable control and confidence as he struck out six batters and held the opposing team to four hits in seven innings of work.

“He has pitched well out of the bullpen, racked up a lot of strikes and now as a starter he has done well for us,” said Vaquero head coach Chris Cicuto.

During certain situations in the game, Mendoza showed the type of strength that is shown in pitchers that are destined for the next level. In the top-half of the second, Mendoza gave up hits to the first two batters. After flying out the next batter to left, Mendoza stayed focused and struck out the last two batters of the innings.

“He showed confidence and has great composure, which is what’s expected out of our starting pitchers,” said Cicuto.

“He doesn’t get shaken up with runners in scoring position.”

In the top third, West L.A. second baseman, Vince Valdez got things going with a quick base hit up the middle. Seconds later, Valdez got a quick jump on Mendoza to steal second base and once again, West L.A. was in scoring position for the second consecutive inning.

After a walk of the next batter, West L.A. had runners on first and second base. As Mendoza stepped on the mound, he turned his body around and looked back the runner. Valdez took off for

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third but Mendoza was there to pick him off for the first out of the inning. The inning ended with the last two batters striking out and leaving West L.A. with runners on base and nothing to show for it.

As the game progressed, both teams had the capability of scoring, but poor base running, good defense, and exceptional pitching made it difficult.

The bottom of the fifth began with a bang as the Vaqueros took the plate. Infielder Mathew Magallon was the leadoff hitter for the inning and started with a hard liner to left field. It was followed up with a single to left by infielder Jean-Carlos Fernandez, which moved Magallon to third. It was the first time in the game, a player reached third successfully.

“Fernandez went right side to move Magallon to third, and that’s a great job of playing baseball,” said Cicuto.

The nightmares kept coming for West L.A. as they threw the ball to the backstop twice to allow the Vaqueros to score on both occasions. Additionally, there were two errors in the inning that resulted in scores and after the fifth; the Vaqueros lead 5-0.

Another key point in this Vaquero victory was the amount of patience at the plate. The offensive lineup squeezed out seven hits, drew seven walks, and held up on three passed balls.

“The lasts two games we’ve been talking about patience at the plate, don’t swing at balls out of the zone and getting a pitch you can hit”, said Cicuto.

Vaquero infielder Lazaro Fonta went 2 for 3 with a run scored and two walks. Fonta was the stand out player at the plate and was one of the three players to cross the plate on a wild pitch.

The Vaqueros ended the game

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with Mendoza on the bench, and relief pitcher Byron Pacheco shutting down West L.A. “This victory should give us a lot of confidence and hopefully we’ll be able to finish off the season strong,” said Cicuto. “We have 12 games left in the season and still got a shot for a spot in the conference playoffs.”

The Vaqueros have been plagued with injuries and inconsistency out of the bullpen.

The team is 12-18 overall and 710 in conference play.

The next game for the Vaqueros will be at Bakersfield on Thursday at 6 p.m.

Robert Radich can be reached at robert_radich@elvaq.com

Photo by Robert Radich

Vaquero starting pitcher, Michael Mendoza displaying his sidearm delivery.

Vaquero Sports Summaries Scores Men’s and Women’s Track and Field: March 28 competed in the Moorpark Six-way Meeting April 4 WSC # 4 at GCC Men — finished third in team results Women — finished second in team results Baseball: March 27 lost to College of the Canyons 10-2 March 29 lost to College of the Canyons 6-4 April 1 defeated West L.A. 11-3 April 3 defeated West L.A. 6-2 April 5 lost to L.A. Pierce 13-3 Softball: March 27 defeated Santa Monica via forfeit March 29-30 went 0-4 at theVentura Tournament April 1 lost doubleheader to Citrus 5-2; 9-2 April 3 lost to L.A. Valley 3-2

Men’s Golf: March 31 at Citrus Invitational finished seventh Men’s Tennis: March 27 lost to Santa Barbara 5-4 March 28-29 went 1-3 at the Round Robin match in Fresno April 1 defeated Hancock 9-0 April 3 lost to Pierce 6-3 Women’s Tennis: March 27 defeated Santa Barbara 8-1 April 1 lost to Hancock 6-3

For more information visit: www.glendale.edu/athletics/

Upcoming Events

Men’s and Women’s Track and Field: Saturday at Mt. SAC Relays April 19 WSC Preliminaries at Cuesta Baseball: Thursday at Bakersfield 6 p.m.

Saturday vs. Bakersfield at GCC 6 p.m.

Tuesday at L.A. Mission 2:30 p.m.

April 17 vs. L.A. Mission at GCC 2:30 p.m.

April 19 vs. Citrus at GCC 1 p.m.

April 22 at Citrus 2:30 p.m.

Men’s Golf: Monday WSC at Bakersfield 10 a.m .

Softball: Thursday vs. College of the Canyons at Glendale Sports Complex, (GSC), 2200 Fern Lane 2:30 p.m.

April 17 vs. Bakersfield at GSC 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday vs. Citrus (DH) at GSC 1 and 3 p.m.

Men’s Tennis: Thursday at Ventura 2 p.m.

April 18-19 WSC Tournament at Santa Barbara Women’s Tennis: Thursday vs. Ventura at GCC 2 p.m.

April 18-19 WSC Tournament at Ventura

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Wednesday, April 9, 2008

15

Calendar On Campus events ASA/ASGCC — An Armenian Genocide event featuring booths and displays of information will be hosted by ASA and ASGCC. April 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Plaza Vaquero.

ASGCC — Today and Thursday ASGCC will be holding a constitutional election to help revise and amend their constitution.

9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 5:30. to 9:30 p.m in Plaza Vaquero.

Battle of the Bands — Sign up your band to participate. A cash prize will be given for the winning band. Deadline is April 25 by 4 p.m. at the student center.

For more information, email battleforglendale@gmail.com.

Job Fair — More than 50 employers will send recruiters to talk to potential employees. Job-seekers

events Open House — Art Center College of Design, 1700 Lida St., Pasadena, hosts its annual open house. There will be tours and special presentations. April 19 from 2 to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.artcenter.edu or call (626) 396-2373.

Better Thyself: Pottery Classes — Bitter Root Pottery, 7451 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, offers the opportunity to release daily stresses through pottery classes.

Tuesday through Sunday. Class times vary. A single session is $50 and comes with unlimited access to studio, tools, firing, and glazing. For more information, visit www. www.bitterrootpottery.com or call (323) 938-5511.

Once Upon a Time: “Old Elm Speaks” — Norton Simon Museum of Art, 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. Celebrate Earth Day by joining author Kristine O’Connell George and discover the inspiration for her collection of poetry about nature. April 20 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Admission prices vary. For more information, visit www.nortonsimon.org. or call (626) 449-6840.

should come prepared with copies of up-to-date resumes. Today from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, visit www.glendale. edu/jobplace or call (818) 2401000, ext. 5407.

Transfer Center — University Representatives from UCLA, CSULA, and CSUN will be on campus Thursday to help answer questions. The Transfer Center is in the San Rafael building on the second floor. For more information, visit www.glendale.edu/ transfercenter or call (818) 2401000, ext. 5442.

Evening Transfer Fair — Representatives from colleges and universities will have tables set up on campus from 5 to 7 p.m. in the San Rafael Plaza. For more information, call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5442.

Yoga Workshop: Making Peace with Your Mind — L.A. Sham-

International Modernism Reconsidered: Exhibiting its Germanic Roots — Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. Rose-Carol Washton Long offers a reconsideration of international modernism in light of LACMA’s new installation of its collection of European art of the late 19th and early 20th century.

Sunday at 2 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.lacma.org or call (323) 857 - 0098.

exhibitions Body Worlds 3 & The Story of the Heart — California Science Center, 700 State Drive, Los Angeles. Experience the human anatomy with a self-guided tour through an exhibition of real fullbody specimens. Now through Sept. 7. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, including ticket prices, visit www.californiasciencecenter.org or call (323) 724-3623.

Wake: Paintings by Angela DeCristofaro — Commissary Arts, 68 N. Venice Blvd., Venice. This exhibition features new paintings

by Angela DeCristofaro. Now

bala Center Teachers and the GCC Health Center presents “The Beauty of a Busy Mind” Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. in SR112. Flex credit available.

club activities Swing Dance Club — Instructor Philippe Leibzig. Free for students. Fridays from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in SN104. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/ pleibzig or (818) 761-6042.

GCC College Choir — Join the GCC Choir as they perform music from around the world. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday noon to 1 p.m. AU211. For more information, contact Jayne Campbell at (818) 240-1000, ext. 5660.

exhibitions

Aram Moshayedi. Now through May 2. Admission is free. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Monday through Friday and noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, visit www.glendale. edu/artgallery or call (818) 2401000, ext. 5663.

theater “This Is Not A Tree” — An original, experimental, multimedia theater piece co-created by Anita Bloom, Melissa R. Randel with members of the theatre arts 163 and 164 workshops. Now through Sunday. Showtimes vary.

For more information, visit www. glendale.edu/theatre or call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5618.

planetarium

“The Silence of Infinite Space” — The GCC Art Gallery presents a group art exhibition curated by

“Spontaneous Fantasia” — A real-time animation by J. Walt Adamczyk created for the full dome at the GCC Planetarium. Friday at

through April 19. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.commissaryarts.com or call (310) 990-9914

material. Now through May 11.

Admission is free. For more information, visit www.sciarc.edu or call (213) 613-2200, ext. 328.

Allan Kaprow: Art as Life — The Museum of Contemporary Art, 152 N. Central Ave., Los Angeles. This large-scale retrospective presents a selection of works spanning over five decades by the renowned postwar American artist Allan Kaprow. Now through June 30. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for students.

Museum hours vary. For more information, visit www.moca.org or call (213) 626-6222.

music

Around Town

Tradition as Innovation in African Art — Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. This exhibition includes the works of more than 30 African artists. Now through Nov. 2. Adult admission is $12, $8 for students. Museum hours vary. For more information, visit www.lacma.org or call (323) 857-6000.

Elena Manferdini: Merletti — Sci-Arc, 960 E. 3rd St., Los Angeles. Elena Manferdini’s installation explores the intricacies of lace at a scale beyond the size commonly associated with the

András Schiff Plays Beethoven — Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic presents András Schiff as he brings Beethoven’s classics to life. Tonight at 8 p.m. Ticket prices vary. For more information, visit www.laphil.com or call (323) 850-2000.

The Pasadena Symphony — Pasadena Civic Auditorium., 300 E. Green St., Pasadena, presents Jorge Mester as he conducts the orchestra in Verdi’s “Messa da requiem.” Saturday 8 p.m. Ticket prices vary. For more information, call (626) 449-7360.

theater “My Profile Can Beat Up Your Profile” — Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, 5919 Franklin Ave., Los Angeles, presents an improvised comedy show ‘MySpace,’ which turns real life MySpace

8 p.m. and Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets $10 and $6 for children under 12. For more information, visit www.glendale.edu/planetarium or call (626) 688-0778.

lecture Genocides — Speaker Father Vazgen from Saint Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church will be discussing many genocides including the Armenian Genocide.

April 22 noon to 1 p.m. in Kreider Hall. Free and open to all.

Lewis Carroll: Author and Mathematician — Speaker is GCC math professor Dr. Sid Kolpas. April 22 from noon to 1 p.m. in SB 243. Free and open to all..

debate Conservative Club— Hosts a debate Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. in AD252.

profiles into brilliant theatre. Tonight at 9:30 p.m. Admission is $5. For more information, visit www.losangeles.ucbtheatre.com or call (323) 908-8702.

workshops Armenian Computer Workshop — Glendale Public Library, 222 E. Harvard St., is offering computer workshops in Armenian. Seats are limited and are offered on a first-come, firstserved basis. For ages 18 and older reading and speaking Armenian is required. Admission is free. For more information, call (818) 548-2030.

free clinic Community Free Health Clinic — Open Tuesdays 6 to 8:30 p.m. On a first come, first served basis. Located at 134 N. Kenwood St. Third floor, room 330.

No job related physical exams offered. For more information visit www.glendaleclinic.org or call (818) 243-2105, ext. 202.

Compiled by Tina Hagopian

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Wednesday, April 9, 2008

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VAQUERO VIEWS

Jimmy Lam, left, and Eric Slocher duke it out in a Bungee Run competition at the Inter Organizational Council Olympics in Plaza Vaquero on April 1. — Photo by Ismael Reyes