April 7, 2010

El Vaquero April 7, 2010

Glendale College

o T nig n i p h o t! r

D Cheer

Team Tryouts Story page 12

Photo by Richard Kontas

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Wednesday, April 7, 2010

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NEWS

El Vaquero Chamber Names Lindsay Glendale Community College

editor in chief

Richard Kontas

NEWS EDITOR

Isiah Reyes

FEATURES EDITOR

Agnes Constante

SPORTS EDITOR

Chloe Vignolles-Jeong

STAFF WRITERS

Sarkis Adajian Vanessa Aguirre Eric Bourse Liz Cameron Oswaldo Diaz Jennifer Elbe Kate Krantz Laura Lacy Jocelyn Orellana Sara Purington Carol Santos Gerard Santos Michael Skaf STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS

Edgar Sanchez Peter Moyes Louis Roche Jr. Edgar Santacruz Production Manager

Jane Pojawa

design adviser

Charles Eastman

faculty adviser

Michael Moreau

mmoreau@glendale.edu (818) 551-5214

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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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Glendale Woman of Year

By Isiah Reyes

EL VAQUERO NEWS EDITOR

G

lendale’s Hilton Hotel awards luncheon was full as GCC president Dawn Lindsay received her “Woman of the Year Award” from the Chamber of Commerce on March 25.

It was the Chamber’s 100th anniversary and there were about 600 attendees, the most ever for the awards luncheon. Not a single seat was empty and about 130 of those were filled by Glendale College faculty and staff and other supporters of Lindsay.

The Chamber’s tradition of awarding men and women of the year goes back to 1973.

“I couldn’t be among a more impressive, humbling group of people, and I’m very excited to be accepting this nomination and award at this point in time,” Lindsay said.

Lindsay was chosen for her Photo by Edgar Sanchez activity in joining several local CHAMBER OF COMMERCE : President/Superintendent Dawn organizations and for taking a Lindsay was named Woman of the Year. leading role in the Civic Leaders Roundtable. in organizations that I participate the membership roster. The 2010 Other awards that were in,” said Liddell. Then he jokingly “Enduring Members Award” was handed out during the lunch added, “I have only one rule: you given to the Glendale News-Press, included centennial awards for have to feed me.”

J.C. Penney Company, AT&T and the Glendale Fire Department, Liddell is past Glendale the Gas Company, among others.

Glendale Police Department and Chamber president, Man of the At the end of the luncheon, Glendale Water & Power. The Year, Chamber’s President’s Quintero returned to the podium “Man of the Year Award” was Award recipient and is currently on and gave a state of the city given to Frank Quintero, mayor the Chamber Board of Directors. address. of the city of Glendale.

This year’s “President’s Award” The Glendale Chamber, “I always like to say its was given to Bob McFall, Assistant serving more than 1,200 member all part of just showing up,” City Manager of Glendale. He first businesses, is one of the largest Quintero said. “If you show up worked for the city in 1973-75 as Chambers in Los Angeles County. in life, sooner or later you’ll get an administrative intern in parks Its concerns are in the following and recreation, then was appointed areas: business development recognized.” education, community After returning home from Assistant City Manager in 1987, and government combat duty in Vietnam and a position that oversees general development, relations, leadership programs graduating from college with operations of 15 departments.

The Glendale Chamber and networking opportunities. a degree in political science, Quintero served as a job counselor incorporated on Sept. 2, 1910, but It is located on 200 S. Louise St. for veterans in Los Angeles. In it was not until Jan. 1, 1921 when in Glendale.

1976, he founded the Alliance for the names of businesses, rather Isiah Reyes can be reached at isiah_reyes@elvaq.com Education and opened an office than individuals, first appeared on for the alliance in Glendale.

Another award that was given was the “Lifetime Achievement Award.” It has only been given twice in the last 100 years, one to Bill Holderness in 2007 and the other to John Davitt, past president of GCC, in 2003.

This year it was given to Pat Liddell, a partner in the law firm editor@elvaq.com of Melby & Anderson.

“I have very high standards

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NEWS

Education Cuts Protested on Campus

By Jocelyn Orellana EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

T

aking a stand for their education, students held signs high as they gathered at Plaza Vaquero on March 23 to make their voices heard.

The Associated Students of Glendale Community College held a rally in protest of the state budget cuts to community colleges.

The California State Government is cutting its educational funding, which would increase the cost of tuition for most colleges and universities.

For students attending Glendale, this could mean an increase of the cost per unit.

“Classes are being cut back, we can’t add the classes we need, and it’s been recommended to increase tuition by adding an extra $14 per unit and we can’t afford that,” said ASGCC Administration Committee member Sose Khachikyan.

This event followed the “March in March” rally held March 22 in Sacramento, where nearly 3,000 students who attend community colleges and universities across the state rallied in front of the Sacramento Capitol building.

The rally in Sacramento was organized by the California State Student Association and Student Senate for California Community Colleges. Several ASGCC members traveled up north to represent this campus and participated in the march.

“It was a great way to be able to get our voices heard,”

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said ASGCC president Lilya Avagyan.

In preparing for the rally to commence on campus, ASGCC set up three booths, which served to benefit students.

The first booth was set up as more of an incentive for students who chose to participate in the rally. Bright red T-shirts with the slogan “SAVE EDUCATION” in big white letters printed on the front of it were given to students on a “first come first serve” basis.

Next to that booth, along the upper grassy side of Plaza Vaquero, students were given the chance to register to vote. With the help of an ASGCC member, individuals who had not yet registered were able to do so.

The election for Glendale’s district assemblyman is coming up on Tuesday, and the rally gave the perfect opportunity for those who needed to register to be able to vote on time. “Students should vote for who they would want to represent their views,” said Khachikyan.

Chahe Keuroghelian, Mike Gatto, Nayiri K. Nahabedian and Sunder Ramani are the four candidates running in this election. Voting for District 43 state assemblymember would help get students one step closer in the path of getting their opinions heard.

The third booth was set up for signing “letters to the representatives.” There were prewritten letters that students had the choice to read over and sign if they chose to. These letters will be sent to representatives in Sacramento in small batches to remind the senate that they need to support students and their right to receive a higher education.

About 70 red T-shirt-clad attendees were ready to start the march around campus. “Hey hey, ho ho, budget cuts have got to go!” was one chant yelled by students as they marched on over the footbridge, down to the parking lot and back to where the march started, Plaza Vaquero.

“I joined the march today because [tuition] was $20 per unit last year, rose up to $26 and now they wanna make it $40” said political science major Jim Niedziakowski, “How can we attend school if we can’t afford it?”

History professor Gordon Alexandre and sociology

professor Richard Kamei both urged students to stand up for what they think is right and shared their opinions and knowledge of the suggested budget cuts along with board of trustees member Anita Quinonez Gabrielian.

“We stand with you [our students] and we urge our state and federal policy makers, to hear your voices, and make the smart decision for our nation and our states future, education must remain a priority,” said Gabrielian.

President Dawn Lindsay was scheduled to speak at the rally, but because she was advocating on behalf of GCC in Washington D.C. along with president of the board of trustees, Vahe Peroomian, they were unable to join the rally.

President of ASGCC Lilya Avagyan shared a letter with students from Lindsay addressing the budget cuts, and stated that she is fully supportive of the students and their fight for their opinions to be heard.

With hope that the senate finds

Photo by Edgar Santacruz

STUDENTS TAKE A STAND: The ASGCC joined campuses across the state in protesting budget cuts at this campus rally held March 23.

a better solution to the budget crisis, other than cut funding to California schools for higher education, a better solution for the budget crisis must be structured

for the benefit of students across the state.

Jocelyn Orellana can be reached at jocelyn_orellana @elvaq.com

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Wednesday, April 7, 2010

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NEWS

Lecture on Human Trafficking Hits Home

By Sara Purington

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

G

uest speaker Taja Mckinney Zisler of the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST) urged a campus audience March 25 to take action against human exploitation.

The lecture entitled “Gender, Human Trafficking and Slavery — What Every Person Should Know” took place in Kreider Hall as part of Women’s History Month and the Humanities and Social Science Lecture Series.

“Human trafficking is the process by which a person is recruited to be controlled and held captive for the purpose of exploitation,” which is essentially a form of modern-day slavery, according to CAST. Zisler emphasized that trafficking is “happening right here in Los Angeles, right now, right down the street.” Los Angeles is a main entry point for people who are trafficked.

Zisler said people get sucked into trafficking by “answering yes to a simple question. Do you want a job?” People believe they have been promised work but it turns into something entirely different.

According to CAST research, 86 percent of trafficking victims are women. Usually these women are promised work but when they arrive at the job they are forced to work long hours in often dangerous conditions for little to no pay. They are unable to leave because their passport is taken and they are often abused physically, mentally and emotionally.

Zisler told the story of what happened in El Monte in 1995.

For 8 years, 72 Thai women were held in an apartment building and forced to work 18 hours a day in a sweatshop producing clothing for local businesses.

They were held captive by barbed wire, guards and dogs and had no contact with the outside world.

After two women escaped, the other women were rescued and the operation was shutdown.

Zisler described these women as, “Fearful for their life. They didn’t even have shoes on their feet. They were mentally and emotionally traumatized.”

It was after the El Monte incident that CAST was formed.

In 1995 there were no effective o laws in America to protect those exploited by trafficking. It wasn’t until 2000, with help from CAST, that laws where drafted to give full protection and rights to the victims of trafficking.

CAST also provides assistance and rehabilitation for these victims. They provide legal assistance, shelter, skill building and assist in finding jobs and housing. CAST also does outreach and advocacy to make more people aware and involved in stopping this growing problem.

Today there are an estimated 27 million slaves throughout the world, equivalent to the population of Texas. Two million new people are enslaved every year, making human trafficking the fastest growing criminal enterprise. “Today you can buy a person for around $50,” said Zisler.

According to CAST, the highest percentage of victims in Los Angeles, are from Mexico

YOU DON’T OWN ME: Taja Mckinney Zisler lectures on the evils of modern slavery. with 22 percent. Guatemala follows close behind with 19 percent. Of those CAST has helped, 38 percent were involved in commercial sex trafficking, which is the most common trafficking industry in Los Angeles. Service industries and domestic servitude make up the next highest percent of trafficking industries, especially elderly care.

“Often cases [of human trafficking] have been found by community members,” said Zisler, which is why she stressed

getting the word out about human trafficking. “‘Never underestimate the power of a small group of people to change the world,’ said anthropologist Margaret Mead,” according to Zisler, who also encouraged everyone to become a part of stopping human trafficking, even if just by spreading the word.

“Tell your roommate, friends, parents,” said Zisler. “Harness your anger against this [injustice] and do something about it. You can do it, [CAST] can help. We

Photo by Edgar Sanchez

can provide you with helpful resources.”

CAST is now starting college chapters which advocate and raise awareness about human trafficking on their campuses.

There is already a chapter at Occidental College.

Zisler stressed that everyone should do what they can to help.

For more information on CAST visit www.castla.org or call (888) 539-2373.

Sara Purington can be reached at sara_purington@elvaq.com

Campus Comments What are your plans for Spring Break?

Ani Bedzhanyan 19

Mandee Leslie 21

NURSING

DIETETICS

“Trying to get as much sleep as I can .”

“Just work a lot.”

Paul Choi 18 CRIMINAL JUSTICE

“I’m not sure yet. Just probably hang out with some friends.”

Amanda Rodriguez 24 MUSIC “Maybe going to San Francisco or Las Vegas for a few days.”

— Compiled and photographed by Jennifer Elbe

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Wednesday, April 7, 2010

5

FEATURES

Winning Tips for Workshop Offers Inside View Job Interviews of Little-Known Voice Jobs Offered at Center

By Agnes Constante

EL VAQUERO FEATURES EDITOR

By Eric Bourse

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

M

any students think that a job interview is the first step toward getting a job. However, it is one of the last.

The Career Center, found on the second floor of the San Rafael building, held a “Successful Interview Strategies” workshop on March 25 from 2 to 3 p.m. The two students who showed up were able to get detailed lessons and demonstrations of career-finding programs.

“Having your face known to the boss and employees before submitting your résumé is very important,” said Sandy Lee, a counselor at the Career Center.

“When you first walk in to ask if there is a job opening, first impressions are everything.

It’s important to dress and act appropriately.”

One of the most difficult tasks for students is finding a job.

About 75 percent of the available jobs are unadvertised. How does a student find these jobs?

“You have to let friends and family know that you are looking for a job,” said Lee. “They will help you by asking the people they know and those people will ask the people they know and so on. This will greatly increase your chances of finding a job.”

Students shouldn’t get ahead of themselves once they are granted a job interview. They should be prepared for any type of interview, from one-on-one to being interviewed by a panel.

“Make sure you have fully researched the company and don’t spend too much time thinking about what to answer,” said Lee. “I came to this workshop because I think it will be helpful not only in the short-term, but

also help me further in life,” said Jessica Panameno, 18, an undecided major. “I learned a lot of helpful things today, like how important first impressions are. I definitely plan on attending the next workshop.”

Students can go to the Career Center to practice their answers and learn correct mannerisms for job interviews. Students can also use valuable programs and tests not only to find out what career choice is best for them, but also to get a valuable insight as to what kind of person they are.

Programs, such as EUREKA and DISCOVER, can be used by students at the center. Both these programs help students pick out what career choice is correct for them as well as provide statistics on salary information and how much demand there is for that job in California.

With the DISCOVER program, students can watch people from different backgrounds being interviewed for a job. Students can then see firsthand on what to do and what not to do at a job interview.

“The counselors are here to help students not only find jobs and careers, but to help them discover what kind of person they are,” said Lee. “We recommend all students should stop by and use these helpful services that are provided to them.”

Students can visit the center Monday through Thursday from 8:15 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. It is open from 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday. Students can also find a directory of helpful links and tools at http://www.glendale.edu/ index.aspx?page=1294.

Eric Bourse can be reached at eric_bourse@elvaq.com

Noowre photos exclusives

•m ore online m o c •m . q lva

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T

hese days, it’s impossible to watch television or listen to the radio for 10 minutes without hearing a commercial in which Kalmenson and Kalmenson has cast the voices.

Cathy Kalmenson, who cofounded the voice-over casting company with her husband, Harvey Kalmenson, in 1993, held a workshop on March 25 in SC 212 that provided insight into the voice-over industry. The workshop began at noon and attracted an audience of more than 100, resulting in a standing room crowd.

Kalmenson, a voice casting director who has worked in the industry for 30 years, introduced the audience to the world of voice acting by playing voice auditions and voice tracks that have been used for actual commercials.

To begin the workshop, Kalmenson offered advice on how to prepare for jobs in the field. She particularly emphasized acting and improvisation skills.

“You’ve got to get your acting chops going on because it’s not

about vocal quality, it’s about interpretation,” she said. “You need to be able to be loose and improvise in case the director asks for a take two or take three.”

She also advised against submitting “premature demos,” many of which she has received via email and CD, and most of which she said she would give a “C” if they were graded.

“Cs are average…. We can’t afford to spend any time with average. It’s got to be above average.”

Premature demos also serve as the lasting impression of the actor.

When producers contact Kalmenson and Kalmenson for voice actors, they typically provide “specs” for the gender, age range and personality type of the role they want to fill. The voice casting director noted that vocal quality was a “spec” that was not identified.

“The truth is, [voice over] is not about vocal quality,” Kalmenson said. “If you are blessed with a fabulous [voice], super. That’s great. But truthfully, [vocal quality] rarely comes up.”

Kalmenson also talked

about “truth casting” which she explained by giving an example of commercials requiring certain accents. For these commercials, the company would select natives who possess the accents, rather than non-natives who can portray the accents.

She added that fluency in another language is also an advantage in the voice over industry.

A highlight in the workshop was a mock audition in which Kalmenson asked for two volunteers to read a script for a Ford Flex commercial. She asked them to read lines in a voice that had an urban feel, had a little edge and was not super refined. The voice also had to be intriguing, confident, conversational, and self-assured. The actor additionally was advised to recite the lines as though talking only to one person.

“Even though you’re going to be talking to millions of people out there in TV land, the truth is it’s one set of ears at a time,” Kalmenson said, “and it’s quite intimate, and those [intimate [See “Voice Over,” page 6]

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Wednesday, April 7, 2010

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FEATURES

Workshop: Marketing Voices [Voice Over, from page 5] reads] are the [ones] that win the job.”

Following the mock audition, Kalmenson played the track that won the spot for the Ford Flex commercial so the audience could examine how the voice actor portrayed the given profile.

She subsequently went into further detail about demos, which normally run around one minute.

Within that minute, actors must be able to effectively portray a personality that voicecasters can profile.

“Your mission with the demo is … to say, ‘Here’s who I am,’” she said.

To illustrate this point, Kalmenson played two demos that managed to effectively portray personalities in one minute.

Toward the end of the presentation, Kalmenson played four seemingly different JC Penney commercial tracks. She explained that although there appeared to be subtle differences in each of the tracks, the only difference in each was the background audio. She said that the voice track was the same used in each commercial, but that the varying background audio

resulted in an audio illusion.

The workshop concluded with final emphasis on importance of acting and improvisation skills.

Kalmenson played a few audition tracks of two couples that roleplayed for a commercial spot.

While the audience generally agreed that the script read by the couples for the audition tracks was entertaining, a completely different script was used for the commercial spot.

Among the students satisfied with the workshop was Kameron White, who found the presentation “very nice” and “very informative.” He also said he found voice over a “very exciting field to look into.”

Kalmenson and Kalmenson is based in Burbank. The company currently has 23,000 voice actors on file, many of whom are from Los Angeles. They have cast voices for many prominent commercials, including the original Budweiser frogs and the current Tony the Tiger for Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes.

For more information, call (818) 377-3600 or visit www. kalmenson.com.

Agnes Constante can be reached at Agnes_Constante@elvaq.com

Photo by Richard Kontas

SAY IT LOUD, SAY IT PROUD: Cathy Kalmenson has run a successful

voice-casting company for 17 years and shares the secrets to success in this competitive field in a campus workshop.

Job Fair Brings Potential Employers to Campus

By Kate Krantz

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

T

he smell of fresh tacos wafted throughout Plaza Vaquero as students came in search of employment at the Job Fair on March 31.

The lineup of businesses offering jobs to students included Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Clear Channel Radio, Dreissig’s Apparel Inc., Los Angeles Police Department and even GCC’s own police department. There were 21 companies total, ranging from private to city employers, said Kathy Kostjal, student services technician.

Flyers, posters and knickknacks flooded the booths as students gravitated towards them.

Because of the hours college

students spend attending classes and studying for exams, it is challenging to find time to search for a part-time job. Shakey’s is an option. It includes a thick slice of pizza and a paycheck.

According to spokesperson Linda Bryant, director of human resources, Sherwood “Shakey” established Shakey’s in 1954 at Ye Public House at the corner of 57th and J Streets in Sacramento, Calif. Sherwood combined an everlasting atmosphere of family, food, and entertainment. “We can tell what generation people are from by the stories they tell us,” said Bryant.

Shakey’s is currently looking to fill their team member opportunities such as food runners, bartenders, cooks and game attendants. To all future energetic employees who are

passion hungry for food and great customer service, this might be the career choice.

In general, music is an essential part of college life. Clear Channel Radio’s spokespersons Kiyo Knight and Ernie Kristof, said Clear Channel is the largest radio station owner in America.

It offers five part- and full-time jobs ranging from promotions assistant to graphic designer.

“There is always something happening such as concerts, celebrity meetings and live shows … its just fun,” said Kristof.

GCC student Kevin FloresOrtiz said, “The kind of job that is appealing to me is the job where I can choose my hours. It really doesn’t matter too much. I just want the job to be practical [See Job Fair, page 7]

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Wednesday, March 24, 2009

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FEATURES

Job Fair: Employers Bring Jobs to Campus [Job Fair, from page 6]

for school.”

Dreissig Apparel Inc. offers just that. Tiffany Kalil, director of Dreissig Lady, said it is a family oriented company, with part-time jobs in direct sales, offering 20 percent commission for their line of women’s clothing. CEO and president, Marc Jones, created the brand in 1998. One is able to work as a sales representative, creating their own flexible schedules.

“It is a great way if you know how to have time management at home versus a corporate job. It’s good to be able to try new things without being contracted,” said Kalil.

The Job Fair provided guidance to students in search of part-time careers, with all potential hires, however, these days, the process of applying for the “dream job” is often an aggravation for the majority.

“It is somewhat difficult to apply for jobs. Businesses seem to not need more employees,” Flores-Ortiz, said. “I think it helps a lot if you know the right people.

Applying for a job doesn’t seem to be much of the problem but getting the job you are applying

Speech and Debate Wins Tournament

By Isiah Reyes

EL VAQUERO NEWS EDITOR

G

lendale College’s speech and debate team returned home from the California State Tournament with one gold medal, two silver medals and four bronze medals in hand.

The tournament was held on March 17 to 21 at the Fresno Radisson Hotel. Team member Tara Keshishian won gold for impromptu speaking and bronze for the Lincoln-Douglas Parliamentary Debate. She also won bronze with teammate Ashley Givens in Team Parliamentary Debate.

“This is a rebuilding year Photo by Kate Krantz

RIDING A CRIME WAVE: Employment opportunities are still available in retail, law enforcement and the food service sectors.

for becomes a competitive thing.”

For more information on student employment opportunities contact the Job Placement Center on the second floor of the San

Rafael Building or call (818) 2401000 ext. 5194 Kate Krantz can be reached at kate_krantz@elvaq.com

for us and we don’t have a lot of veterans, so I think they did extremely well for such a new batch of students,” Language Arts Division Chair Jean Perry said.

Sally Morgan, president of the GCC speech team, won silver in persuasive speaking and Nicole Guice won silver for impromptu speaking.

David Szabo and Jennifer Propper both won bronze in the Lincoln-Douglas Parliamentary Debate.

Their next league tournament will be on April 24 to 25 at Cerritos College.

Isiah Reyes can be reached at isiah_reyes@elvaq.com

Have you seen our magazine?

www.gccinsider.com

Print edition coming in June!

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Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Horrors

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ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Little Shop of

Photos by Louis Roche

The GCC Departments of Theatre Arts, Music, and Dance currently perform

“Little Shop of Horrors” on the Main Stage Auditorium. Pictured above top center, then clockwise, Audrey, played by Lindsey Conway, is devoured by Audrey II; The entire company sings “Skid Row (Downtown)”; Seymour, played by Greg E. Lewis, visits his dentist Orin, played by Chris Beltran; Ronnette, played by Chelsea Bearce, left, squares off with Orin; Audrey is comforted by Seymour; and Audrey and Seymour share a special moment together.

See story, page 10

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Wednesday, April 7, 2010

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ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Audrey II is Back and Bloodthirsty as Ever

By Vanessa Aguirre

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

K

eeping with the alluring feeling of the original “Little Shop of Horrors,” Thursday’s performance of one of the longest running off-Broadway plays had me wrapped in its spell.

As the crowd made its way into the auditorium, blood red curtains hanging in front them, one could feel the opening night excitement in the air. After everyone settled in, the lights dimmed and a voice overhead told the audience of what was yet to come.

The curtains opened and the first number “Little Shop of Horrors” began to play and the lovely doo-wop girls took the stage. This number was the perfect opening and set the tone of the musical pieces to come.

Joined by a wonderful live band the company then took the stage to perform “Skid Row (downtown)” which showed off the very talented cast. The

overall performance exceeded my expectations and vocally set the standards for the rest of the production.

Other numbers including, “Somewhere That’s Green” and “Feed Me,” featured the main characters Seymour, played by Greg E. Lewis, Audrey, played

by Lindsey Conway, and Audrey II, played by Leisa Onzo.

Although both Lewis and Conway have a wide vocal range, Onzo steals the show. Her powerhouse vocals, although not featured in most numbers, is a mix of a sultry and R&B sound that is captivating to say the least.

There are few musicals as lively and fun as “Little Shop of Horrors.” Its humorous subject

and irreverent view on feeding people to a monstrous plant, is, against all odds, touching. The songs have the feel and sound of Broadway production numbers crossed with Motown tunes, and the lyrics are both melodious and satirical at times.

“Little Shop of Horrors,” set in 1960, tells the story of an outcast named Seymour who lives on urban skid row. He was taken in by Mr. Mushnik the owner of a run down flower shop, where he lives and works.

When the flower shop is close to shutting down, Seymour tries to help by bringing a strange and interesting plant into the shop to help business. Seymour then goes on to tell about how he came to find the plant that seemed to appear out of nowhere, during a

total eclipse of the sun.

The plant found was a strange and unidentifiable type of Venus fly trap he named Audrey II seems to be the answer to their prayers. The plant brings in many customers and gives Seymour instant fame. But when the plant won’t grow, Seymour finds out the bloody price he must pay.

The plant’s thirst for fresh blood takes Seymour on an emotional roller coaster, offering him fame and in essence the love of his coworker Audrey.

As the story unravels further Audrey II keeps growing, thanks to Seymour’s constant pricking of his fingers, she soon becomes this ill mouthed creature that seems to have poor Seymour wrapped around her vine. Seeing that Seymour is giving her what she wants, Audrey II then tries to cox him into murder.

Seymour is then faced with an ethical dilemma: Will he give in to the sultry stylings of the now hard to resist Audrey II, or will he

do what’s right and kill the plant before it’s too late?

The story’s upbeat numbers and small dance pieces are a genuine delight and the cast’s contagious chemistry make it hard not to watch. For those who were fans of the movie version growing up, this production does not disappoint. All technical difficulties aside, the great vocals, sets, puppet work and general acting were very enjoyable and for that reason I give this production 4 out of 5 stars.

 “Little Shop of Horrors” plays Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p. m. with a matinee at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information call the theater department at (818) 2401000 ext. 5612.

See related photos pages 8-9 Vanessa Aguirre can be reached at vanessa_aguirre@elvaq.com

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Wednesday, April 7, 2010

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ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

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‘Titans’ Offers CGI and Nothing More

By Eric Bourse

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

Z

eus, played by Liam Neeson (“Taken,” 2008) and his fellow Olympians have a problem.

In the kingdom of Argos, the people decide to rebel against the gods because they feel they have been mistreated.

Without the people’s worship, the gods begin to lose power.

However, the God of the Underworld, played by Ralph Fiennes, (“Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” 2007) offers Zeus a plan to make the people start praying again by unleashing the Kraken, a colossal monster.

“Clash of the Titans” is directed by Louis Leterrier (“The Incredible Hulk,” 2008) and is a remake of the 1981 cult classic of the same name. The screenplay was written by Travis Beachham, Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi (“Æon Flux,” 2005).

The movie stars Sam Worthington as Perseus, the demi-god son of Zeus. Perseus is on a boat with his adoptive family when they witness soldiers of Argos destroy a statue of Zeus. In

a matter of seconds, Hades sends his winged minions to kill the rebelling soldiers. When Hades notices the boat, he destroys it and ends up killing Perseus’ adoptive family.

Perseus is rescued by soldiers and is taken to Argos. During a party to humiliate the gods, the queen claims that her daughter, Andromeda, played by Alexa Davalos (“Defiance,” 2008), is more beautiful than Aphrodite.

With uncanny timing, Hades kills the queen and tells the people of Argos that in 10 days he will unleash the Kraken unless Andromeda is sacrificed. Instead, Perseus and soldiers from Argos set out to find the Stygian Witches to find a way to kill the Kraken and Hades.

There are several major differences between the remake and the original. In the 1981 film, Perseus’ reason for setting out on the quest is to save his love interest, Andromeda. In the remake however, Perseus is led by revenge for the death of his family. The helpful mechanical owl, Bubo, is replaced by Perseus’ new love interest, Io, played by Gemma Arterton (“The

Quantum of Solace,” 2008). Io is another demi-god who is never completely explained. She just comes along the journey to help Perseus.

The CGI in the film is very well done. The wings on Pegasus look natural and photorealistic.

The Kraken is simply amazing to look at on the big screen. The most memorable performances from the film come from Madds Mikkelsen (“Quantum of Solace,” 2008) as Draco, a soldier from Argos, and Neeson as Zeus.

Although “Clash of the Titans” features scenes overflowing with CGI, there is never any buildup to the action. All the action sequences are done at the same break-neck speed which can be confusing at times, such as the battle scene with the scorpions. It takes a few moments to realize that there are several large scorpions battling the heroes.

The dialogue doesn’t take itself seriously and Worthington is bland as the movie’s hero. Unlike the 1981 cult classic, this remake will most likely be forgotten when a superior Greek mythology film comes along.

For those wanting to watch

WE DON’T NEED ANOTHER GYRO: Sam Worthington stars as Perseus in this less-than-successful remake of “Clash of the Titans.”

www.elvaq.com

the film in 3-D, it isn’t worth it.

The film wasn’t meant to be in 3D and only a few scenes attempt to justify the cost of a 3-D movie ticket. Audiences that stay until the end will realize how ripped off they were when the best 3D sequence in the film is the credits.

“Clash of the Titans” will most likely end up being one of the year’s biggest disappointments despite being one of the biggest blockbusters of the year. The film lacks the charm and personality of

the original. However, audiences expecting a popcorn film and nothing more, will still enjoy the film’s visuals and might be entertained.

“Clash of the Titans” runs 118 minutes and is rated PG-13 for fantasy action violence, some frightening images and brief sensuality.

My rating: 2 stars out of 5

 Eric Bourse can be reached at eric_bourse@elvaq.com

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Wednesday, April 7, 2010

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ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT / REVIEWS

‘Last Song’ Doesn’t End Soon Enough

By Agnes Constante

EL VAQUERO FEATURES EDITOR

I

t seems like it’s that time again, time to add another movie based on a Nicholas Sparks novel onto the ever-growing list of flicks based on his bestselling books. And this time, the flick comes along with a Disney star.

“The Last Song” tells a story about Ronnie (Miley Cyrus, “Hannah Montana: The Movie,” 2009), a rebellious teenager who visits her father, Steve (Greg Kinnear, “We Were Soldiers,” 2002) over the summer with her younger brother, Jonah (Bobby Coleman, “Must Love Dogs,” 2005).

After the divorce of Ronnie’s mother and father a few years back, Ronnie refuses to keep in touch with her dad. But following an arrangement by her parents, she is forced to spend the summer with him in North Carolina. Having been absent from Ronnie’s life since the divorce, Steve hopes to salvage their relationship through music.

Despite being completely opposed to spending her summer away from her home in New York City, things take a positive turn for Ronnie when she meets Will (Liam Hemsworth, “Knowing,” 2009), who she falls in love

with.

Ronnie’s budding romance puts her in a better mood about her vacation and helps her amend her relationship with Steve. She begins opening up and trying to reconnect with her dad through music. However, an unforeseen circumstance causes the teenager’s summer to take a completely different route.

Like most novel-based films, this one doesn’t quite live up to the emotional experiences that Sparks is able to convey in the book. The events seem to play out somewhat rushed, but this is also the case with most films based on novels. The movie, however, does manage to follow the major sequence of events as organized in the novel, though some minor details are altered.

The trailer for “The Last Song” is misleading to a degree, because it doesn’t even hint about one of the more significant aspects of the plot. From the trailer, audiences can reasonably assume that “The Last Song” is generally about a summer fling between two teenagers. Of course, in addition to Cyrus being the lead, the fling highlighted in the trailer is what will probably encourage people to watch the film. But the relationship between Ronnie and Will isn’t necessarily the center

of the story.

Chemistry between Cyrus and Hemsworth will undoubtedly appeal to teenagers who enjoy watching lovers that do little things to display affection for each other.

Such displays in the film include Will engraving his and Ronnie’s initials on a tree, and Will writing the word “forever” with a Sharpie on Ronnie’s sneaker.

The moments that are meant to build the relationship between the two teenagers appear to be ones where Cyrus and Hemsworth simply flirt around. As a result, the moments fail to be meaningful and come off hurried and shallow.

The second half of the movie plunges into a pool of what feels like unending drama, which makes it a bit of a drag to sit through.

From the first line Cyrus delivers in the film, it is evident that the role of Ronnie is too big for her to fill. But, she does deserve some kudos for trying, given that most of her acting experience has been as Hannah Montana on the popular Disney show.

Cyrus doesn’t effectively portray the rebellious teenager in Sparks’ novel. All she does to act the role of rebellious Ronnie is raise her voice or speak monotonously when she

PARTY IN THE USA: This Disney tear-jerker is unlikely to “GNO” on any but Cyrus’ most devoted fans.

disrespects her parents, and scrunch her eyebrows to look mad or irritated. She also pouts a lot, which makes it seem as though she doesn’t know what facial expression to carry.

Overall, it seems like the Disney star tries too hard to be that teenage rebel and does not play the character consistently

Cheer Squad Looking for New Blood

By Mike Skaf

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

Cover Story

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he Glendale College Cheerleading team, currently the fifth best junior college team in the nation, will have tryouts today starting at 8 p.m. in the Verdugo gym, VG 101.

Those who join the team may even end up in a movie or on TV. Glendale Cheer has been featured in the films “Bring It On: Fight to the Finish,” and “Fired Up.” “In ‘Fired Up’ it was great,” said team member Frank Molina, 21. “I loved being on the set and seeing all the stars.

It was really amazing. I really liked it a lot.”

Team member Kevin Manquero, 19, also spoke about his experience on the two

movies. “It’s been interesting, it’s always fun to go support our school and let people know what we do and how good we are at it,” he said.

“It’s a good experience, it’s memories, it’s times that you are not going to have again and it’s time spent with the people that you may or may not be with in a while. It’s just exciting and fun.”

The team is also scheduled to appear in an upcoming episode of the hit TV show Glee. They are also in talks to be part of another “Bring It On” movie.

The first year for the team was 2005-2006. The success for the squad came faster than anyone would have imagined. In just their second year as a team, they placed second in United Spirit Association (USA) College Nationals.

In 2007-08 they also competed in tournaments, placing third

in USA and they placed ninth in Universal Cheerleaders Association, their lowest finish ever. They also got a bid to UCA and a partial paid bid to NCA. The team placed third at USA in the partner stunt competition.

This past year the success continued for the team. They got a bid to UCA and placed fifth, and placed second in USA. The squad has also had many people go on to receive scholarships from major universities in these past five years.

The team has had a lot of success and in a short period of time. But the success isn’t by just luck, but rather the way Moorehead has developed the program from the start.

“I’ve been in the industry for a very long time, worked with a lot of high school teams, judging and doing choreography,” said

Moorehead. “So when it came time to start coaching college I made sure to be very picky [about who I picked for my team].”

For Moorehead it wasn’t only about being picky about the players she recruited, but also about which school she went to. Back in 2005, Moorehead was interviewing with different colleges looking for a job. As soon as she sat down for her interview with Glendale she fell in love.

“The moment I sat down and had my interview I fell in love immediately, I knew this was the place to be,” said Moorehead.

“The staff at Glendale is amazing; everybody I met with at Glendale was ready to have a cheer program.”

[See Cheer, page 13]

throughout.

On the other hand, Coleman delivers well as Ronnie’s enthusiastic 10-year-old brother.

He delivers his role in the way the character is depicted in the novel and brings a comic relief to the film that helps make it more bearable to sit through. In the dramatic moments he is involved in, Coleman also does quite well.

His emotional portrayals are the only ones that aren’t aggravating to watch.

The tears audiences will shed won’t be attributable to any spectacular performances, because there aren’t any, but rather because the events that touch Ronnie’s life are ones that many will be able to relate to.

In spite of the mediocre drama, the performances that fall short, and that this wasn’t one of Sparks’ best story lines, the screenplay is well written. It also incorporates some nice dialogue that helps tremendously in keeping the story tolerable.

“The Last Song” was directed

by Julie Anne Robinson.

Runtime is 107 minutes. It is rated PG for thematic elements, some violence, sensuality and mild language.

My rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars.

 Agnes Constante can be reached at Agnes_Constante@elvaq.com

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Wednesday, April 7, 2010

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SPORTS

Vaqueros Disarmed by Best Team in State

By Chloe Vignolles-Jeong EL VAQUERO SPORTS EDITOR

T

he errors are what got them.

Again.

That’s what gave the other team three runs. That’s what let the other team win. That’s what allowed the No. 1 one team in California, the Santa Ana Dons, to defeat the Glendale baseball team 3-1 on Wednesday at Stengel Field.

“Mentally we were definitely prepared. We competed to win,” said head coach Chris Cicuto.

But on the field they didn’t show much of that.

In the first two innings, starting pitcher Casey Manheim kept the Dons to just three hits and no runs. Glendale followed closely behind with two hits.

As the third inning came around, the mistakes started to happen. Relief pitcher Erik Allen came in at the top of the third.

When a Santa Ana player tried to steal second base, Allen threw to second baseman Hong Ahn, but Ahn slipped in the dirt as he tried to catch the ball. The ball rolled back, and shortstop Ruben

Padilla tried to grab it, but the ball slipped away. Centerfielder Enrique Osuna finally got ahold of the ball and threw it home but it was too late. A Santa Ana player had already scored.

“It’s a little intimidating playing against them. But once you get started it gets less intimidating,” said Padilla about playing against the Dons.

One more Don came up to bat and hit it to left field, but left fielder Sako Chapjian dropped the ball and Osuna once again tried to save play, but it was too late. Another run scored by the Dons.

“We played OK, but obviously the mistakes got us,” said Cicuto.

“They scored on errors, we gave them those runs.”

In the bottom of the third, Santa Ana left some of the Vaqs stranded at first and second base.

A chance to score came when Padilla walked to first base and Erik Suarez hit a double to left field allowing Padilla to get on third and Suarez on second with two outs. All hope was lost when Jason Ochart struck out.

A glimmer of hope shined

in the bottom of the fifth inning when Malachi “Bo” Silva hit a triple, deep into right field. “It felt good coming back off a broken thumb and your first hit is a triple,” said Silva. “It felt good to contribute.”

Next up was Ahn, who ended up walking to first. Thomas Cruz, third baseman, bunted the ball, which gave the Vaqs their first out in the inning but allowed Jake Whitaker, who took over for Silva at third base, to score the first run.

A double play by the Dons cut off the Vaqs chances to keep scoring runs.

The Dons scored once again in the top of the sixth inning when the catcher, Silva, dropped the ball allowing a runner to score.

At the bottom of the sixth, Glendale got only one hit, still trailing behind by two runs.

In the top of the seventh, Glendale put in relief pitcher Casey Rodgers, who allowed no hits and no runs in the inning.

“Rodgers did great coming off the bullpen,” said Cicuto.

The Vaqs only managed to get one hit in the bottom of the

Cheer Squad Looking for New Blood [Cheer, from page 13] For Moorehead it’s not only about cheer. She wants to develop the young men and women into good students and people. “What the most important thing for me is watching that kid succeed and go to that university,” said Moorehead. “[My goal is] Watching them get the skills to be able to go to a university and get their schooling paid for and be able to do the sport that they love.”

That is the whole philosophy behind her program. She enjoys being that stepping-stone to the university level.

But what this team has that is more important than the winning, or the publicity, or making appearances in movies is their team is that family structure.

Manquero talked about the relationship with the members on the team. He talked about how they go through all the normal family action with the

fighting, the laughing and the love that they all show for each other.

“We fight, we get under each other’s skins but when it comes down to it at the end of the day we all love each other,” he said. “We go by ‘ohana’ [which is Hawaiian for family] because we have a very Hawaiian influence on our team. So we just like to say that were an ohana.”

Just like the team is a family, “Coach is basically like our mother,” said Zelaya.

Molina also described the relationship with his coach that he likes a lot. “We’re really close,” he said. “She’s a really good teacher as well as a coach. She doesn’t only want me to progress in cheer but in life. She really pushes me to go to school, and to go to that next level in college. It’s really nice.”

Team member Samantha Walbert, 19, talked about the way her coach pushes everyone. “She is very friendly, very motivating, she keeps pushing us to keep going even though we don’t feel like it anymore,” she said.

The team is now looking for

new blood for next year’s cheer team. The first day of tryouts were held on Monday in the Dance room, SN 102. Students interested can still attend the second day of tryouts.

The requirements to be on the cheer team are listed on its Web site. Also what will go on during today’s tryouts are also posted on the site.

Anyone interested in joining the cheer team and who wasn’t able to attend the second day of tryouts can still participate by emailing coach Moorehead at coachjesse@ glendalecollegespirit.com and stating an interest in trying out for the team.

She will setup another tryout in the near future.

For more information on the cheer team visit www. glendalecollegespirit.com.

Cover photo: From left, Kevin Zelaya, Frank Molina, Samantha Walbert, Kevin Manquero and Marcelino Lacap.

Mike Skaf can be reached at mike_skaf@elvaq.com

Photo by Louis Roche

SAFE!: Jake Whitaker slides into home, the only run by Glendale. seventh, but it wasn’t enough to score.

In the top of the eighth, the Vaqs still couldn’t seem to come together. A hit to left field allowed a Don to get a double when Chapjian once again let the ball drop.

“He’s playing out of position.

He’s not comfortable there yet,” said Cicuto about Chapjian’s performance at left field.

After the next hitter, the runner on second managed to get to the third.

With one out in the inning, and a chance for the Dons to score, a hit to third base allowed Cruz to throw to Silva and get the runner out. Saving the Vaqs another run.

In the top of ninth, pitcher AJ

Smouse took over for the Vaqs.

No hits were allowed in the inning and the outs came one after the other.

However, in the bottom of the ninth, the Vaqs couldn’t retaliate.

The final score was Santa Ana 3, Glendale 1.

Cicuto expects the team to “take the same mentality against conference teams.”

The Vaqueros are now 11-14 in season, and 3-9 in conference.

They will host West Los Angeles College on Thursday at Stengel Field at 2:30 p.m.

Chloe Vignolles-Jeong can be reached at chloe_vignolles@elvaq.com

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Wednesday, April 7, 2010

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SPORTS

Men’s Tennis Downed by Occidental

By Gerard Santos

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

G

lendale College men’s tennis head coach Bob MacKay did not frown, shake his head or look at all disappointed in his team’s 6-3 home loss to Occidental on March 30. Instead, the eight-year coach displayed optimism over his players’ improvement.

The loss was Glendale’s fourth straight against four-year athletic programs, dropping them to 5-11 for the season and 2-5 in Western State Conference play. MacKay was pleased with his players’ efforts, however, and referred to his team’s previous meeting

against Occidental Jan 28 where Glendale was beaten 8-1.

MacKay judged the loss as a sign of good things to come.

“Every year Occidental’s got a great program,” MacKay said.

“Last time we played against them we weren’t quite prepared, and now we played a lot better. It could have gone either way for us, but I’m just glad we’ve got more experience under our belts.”

His grounds for confidence might have something to do with getting players like No. 4 Dinusha Wijesuriya back from a stomach virus, and having others healed from injuries. This would also avoid the need for MacKay

to keep moving players around the line-up.

Glendale’s top two players were felled by their Occidental counterparts. Emmanuel Haug, Glendale’s No. 1 player from Germany, was beaten 2-6, 3-6

by Occidental’s Victor Sowers.

Haug’s teammate Joey Tresierras, although going the distance against Chris Wan, lost 6-4, 1-6, 5-10.

Glendale’s Chaz Hall and Paul Nagapetyan tied the overall score 2-2 after Hall posted a 6-4, 6-3 win against Rod Bandeira, and Nagapetyan beat Ben HarringtonGilmore 7-6, 3-6, 10-8.

More losses came for Glendale

however, as Gar Sangsuriyakul fell 0-6, 3-6 to Occidental’s Spencer Choy. Vaquero Mike Patatanyan was also beaten 2-6, 4-6 by Tyler Morgan, pushing Occidental’s overall lead 5-2.

“Gar played well, but I think he was out of his game a little,” Choy said. “Also I was feeling more energy from my legs.”

Despite Haug and Tresierras netting an 8-5 win against Wan and Sowers, the Vaqueros dropped the final two doubles matches.

Occidental’s Harrington-Gilmore and Bandeira worked together to post an 8-4 victory over Glenn Tolentino and Sangsuriyakul.

Glendale’s Nagapetyan and Mike Astorian also fell to Choy and Morgan 8-3.

“I’m proud of the way our guys played today,” MacKay said. “They fought with intensity and determination. I think that if they keep playing at this same level with similar effort, we’ll start taking home wins.”

Glendale will next play in the Western State Conference tournament at Santa Barbara April 16 and 17.

Gerard Santos can be reached at gerard_santos@elvaq.com

Vaquero Sports Summaries Scores Baseball:

Mar. 23: lost to Valley 10-4 Mar. 25: defeated Canyons 13-6 Mar. 27: lost to Canyons 7-0 Mar. 29: lost to Cerritos 4-1 Wednesday: lost to Santa Ana 3-1

Softball:

Mar. 23: lost to Canyons 5-0, 4-0 Mar. 27: lost to Cypress 8-3, and Reedley 8-4 Mar. 28: defeated Santa Ana 2-1, lost to Ventura 9-6 Mar. 30: lost to Bakersfield 4-3, defeated Bakersfield 5-4 Thursday: defeated Santa Monica 6-4

Men’s Tennis:

Mar. 23: defeated Pierce 7-2 Mar. 30: lost to Occidental 6-3

Women’s Tennis:

Mar. 23: lost to Santa Monica 8-1 Mar. 30: lost to Cerritos 5-4

Men’s & Women’s Track and Field: Mar. 26: competed in the RCC Open Saturday: competed in the Antelope Valley Invitational

Upcoming Events Baseball:

Thursday: vs. West L.A. at GCC* 2:30 Saturday: at Pierce 1 p.m.

Tuesday: vs. L.A. at GCC* 2:30 p.m.

Apr. 15: vs. Bakersfield at GCC* 2:30 p.m.

Apr. 17: at Mission 1 p.m.

Apr. 20: at Citrus 2:30 p.m.

Softball:

Men’s Tennis:

Apr. 16-17: at the WSC Tournament in Santa Barbara time TBA

Men’s & Women’s Track and Field: Friday: at WSC Coastal/Inland Meet 1 p.m.

Tuesday: at So. Cal. Hep/Dec Championship 10 a.m.

Apr. 17: at the Bryan Clay Invitational 9 a.m.

Thursday: at Valley 2:30 p.m.

Saturday: at Southwestern 11:30/1:30 p.m. (DH) * = baseball home games are played at Stengel Field Tuesday: vs. Mission at GCC** 1/3 p.m. (DH) ** = softball home games played at Glendale Apr. 15: vs. Canyons at GCC** 2:30 p.m.

Sports Complex, 2200 Fern Lane Photo by Gerard Santos

SERVING IT UP: Vaquero Chaz Hall serves against Occidental’s Rod Bandeira in Glendale’s 6-3 home loss to the Tigers on March 30.

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

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Wednesday, April 7, 2010

15

Calendar On Campus information Spring Vacation — Campus will be closed April 12 through 17 due to spring vacation. Classes will resume April 19. For more information, call (818) 240-1000.

Summer Session — Deadline to apply for the summer 2010 session and to be eligible for priority registration is April 16.

events Food Drive — Presented by the Salvation Army. Non-perishable food and personal care items may be dropped off in AD 249 now through May 30. Monetary donations are welcome. All items donated go directly to helping

Glendale families. For more information, contact Frankie Strong at (818) 240-1000, ext. 5393.

Book Reading — Janet Fitch, author of “White Oleander” and “Paint it Black,” will give a reading as part of the Los Angeles Writers Readers Series. Sponsored by the GCC English Department. Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. in Kreider Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

Swap Meet — Upper campus parking lot. April 18 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free and open to the public. For more information, call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5805.

“Evening with the Stars” — This planetarium show will in-

troduce the stars, constellations and planets. April 16 at 8 p.m. and April 17 at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. No late arrivals. For more information, and to reserve tickets, visit www. glendale.edu/planetarium or call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5275.

theater “Little Shop of Horrors” — Directed and choreographed by Melissa R. Randel. Auditorium Mainstage Theatre. Thursday through Saturday 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. General admission is $15 and $12 for students and seniors. Groups of 10 or more are $8 each. Tickets may be purchased at the door. For more in-

formation, and to reserve tickets, call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5612.

art gallery “Shells, Prisms” — Art Gallery.

This group art exhibition features work by Elizabeth Bryant, Alice Clements, Annetta Kapon, and Maya Lujan. The exhibition runs through April 24. Admission is free. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.glendale.edu/artgallery or call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5663.

transfer center UCLA Campus Tour — The Transfer Center will be taking students to UCLA for a free campus tour and conference on April

29. The conference is presented by the Student Opportunity and Mentorship Program and will give students strategies and resources for a successful transfer.

Sign up at www.admissions.ucla. edu/stomp. The deadline to apply is Friday by 5 p.m.

workshops MLA Requirements — Learn about stylistic requirements mandated by the Modern Language Association. Thursday from 11:30 to 11:40 a.m. in AD 238. Students are encouraged to register for the workshops online. For more information, visit www.glendale. edu/learningcenter or call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5333.

Around Town events Earth Day — Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada.

This event celebrates the wonder of our natural world with education, entertainment and food. The event is free with paid garden admission of $8 for adults and $6 for students. April 17 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit www.descansogardens. org or call (818) 949-4200.

Plant a Tree — The city of Glendale’s Safe and Healthy Streets project will be improving a street corridor in south Glendale to help make it a better pedestrian and bicycle route. Volunteers are needed to help plant trees in the Riverdale-Maple corridor. For more information, and to volunteer, contact Colin Bogart at colin@labike.org or call 818-334-9731.

L.A. Heritage Day — Heritage Square Museum, 3800 Homer St., Los Angeles. The celebration will share local history through tours, presentations, readings, performances, a scavenger hunt, cooking lessons, and more. Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $5. For more information, visit www.heritagesquare.org.

Lust and Larceny: The 12th Annual Festival of Film Noir — Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles. Highlights of the festival include a new restoration of “Cry Danger,” two new prints from “The Whistler” film series and the very rare “New York Confidential.” Now through April 18. Admission is $11 per show. For more information, including showtimes, call (323) 461-2020 or visit www. www. americancinematheque.com.

exhibitions Collection: MOCA’s First Thirty Years — Museum of Contemporary Art, 250 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. A massive exhibition of more than 500 works by 200 artists, almost entirely drawn from the museum’s permanent collection, marks the museum’s 30th anniversary. General admission is $10 and $5 for students and seniors. Now through May 3. Museum hours vary. For more information, visit www.moca.org or call (323) 626-6222.

Leonardo da Vinci and the Art of Sculpture: Inspiration and Invention — The Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles. This exhibition features sketches and drawings of sculp-

tures by Leonardo da Vinci. Now through June 20. Museum hours vary. Admission is free and parking is $10 per vehicle. For more information, visit www.getty.edu or call (310) 440-7300.

Millard Sheets: The Early Years — Pasadena Museum of California Art, 490 E. Union St., Pasadena. This exhibition features eighty oils, watercolors, drawings and lithographs. Now through May 30. General admission is $7 and $5 for students and seniors.

Museum hours vary. For more information, visit www.pmcaonline.org or call (626) 568-3665.

theater “Squabbles” — Glendale Centre Theatre, 324 N. Orange St. This play puts a father-in-law against a mother in a comedic succession of squabbles. Thursday through May 15. Admission prices and showtimes vary. For more information, visit www.glendalecentretheatre. com or call (818) 244-8481.

“The Marx Brothers’ A Day at the Races” — Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd. A horse doctor posing as a regular doctor helps a young woman keep a private sanitarium from foreclosure with

the help of a misfit racehorse.

Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. General admission is $13.50 and $9.50 for students and seniors. For more information, visit www.alextheatre. org or call (818) 243-2539.

comedy “Rock ’n’ Ridicule”— ACME Comedy House, 135 N. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles. This political satire pokes fun at both sides of the political spectrum. Sunday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 online and $20 at the door. For more information, visit www.acmecomedy. com or call (323) 525-0202.

When Comics Invade — The Ice House Comedy Club, 54 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena. This stand-up comedy show will showcase young and emerging comics and will also benefit The Arnold C. Yoder Survivors Foundation. Tuesday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10. For more information, visit www.icehousecomedy.com or call (626) 577-1894.

music Jupiter — Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd. The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Presents pianist Jermey Denk as he plays his

musical interpretations of Mozart and Stravinsky. April 17 at 8 p.m.

Ticket prices vary. For more information, visit www.alextheatre.org or call (818) 243-2539.

Chamber Music Concert — Thomas the Apostle Church, 2760 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Philharmonic presents a free concert Monday at 8 p.m. The music will consist of Mozart, Telemann and Romero.

All are welcome to attend. For more information visit www.laphil.org or call (323) 737-2424.

wellness Anger Solves Nothing — Shoseian Whispering Pine Teahouse. 1601 W. Mountain St., Glendale. The Kadampa Meditation Center California presents meditation classes that will teach Buddhist techniques for dealing with anger in all situations.

Classes begin Sunday. Sundays from 10:15 to 11:45 a.m. with instructor Sandy Schulman. Admission is $12 per class. No prior meditation experience is necessary. For additional information, visit www.meditateinla.org or call (323) 223-0610.

Compiled by Tina Hagopian

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Wednesday, April 7, 2010

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— Photo by Richard Kontas THE AIR UP THERE: Cheer team member Samantha Walbert returns to the waiting arms of fellow team members. Story page 12. Exclusive slideshow visit: www.elvaq.com