Oct. 3, 2007

El Vaquero Glendale College

Photo by Allan Beglarian

Night shift custodian Raul Yepez attacks graffiti on a restroom mirror. See story, page 5. www.elvaq.com

Volume 92 Number 2 WEDNESDAY October 3, 2007

In This Issue News...................2-4 Features..............5-9 Entertainment........8 Sports...................10 Calendar.............11

News

Enrollment

Feature

President Bush signs financial aid bill.

Eligible students overlook financial aid opportunities.

Local rapper R-Mean brings hip-hop back.

Page 2

Page 3

Page 8

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Wednesday, October 3, 2007

www.elvaq.com

NEWS

President Signs Bill to Enhance College Financial Aid

By Garineh Demirjian EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

P

resident Bush approved legislation that will provide a large increase in student aid at no expense to the taxpayer; it provides savings to debtburdened families that can begin as early as this month.

The College Cost Reduction and Access Act will increase college financial aid by approximately $20 billion over the next five years. The legislation pays for itself by reducing excessive federal subsidies paid to lenders in the college loan industry.

When Patricia Hurley, Financial Aid Director, was asked how this bill would affect students at GCC she said, “Based on the formula in the Higher Education Act, only California community colleges have ever had tuition low enough to trigger the provision.

“So, our students have been the only ones in the country not eligible for a full Pell Grant. This is important because the bill also includes increases in the Pell

Grant,” which will increase the maximum grant and the amount to which California community college students are entitled.

The House and Senate both approved legislation, with strong bipartisan support, and the president’s signature on Sept. 27.

The House approved the bill 292 to 97, while the Senate voted 79 to 12.

“Today is truly a historic day for students, families and the future of our country,” said Democratic Rep. George Miller of California, chairman of the Education and Labor Committee and author of the legislation.

Federal Pell grants, unlike loans, do not have to be repaid.

Pell Grants are usually awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s or a professional degree. Under the legislation, the maximum value of the Pell Grant scholarship will increase by $1,090 over the next five years, reaching $5,400 by 2012, up from $4,050 in 2006 thus restoring the purchasing power of the Pell Grant scholarship.

In California alone, approximately 574,226 students

receive Pell Grants.

At GCC, Hurley said, more than “9,000 students receive at least a BOG fee waiver annually.

Approximately 5,000 students receive funds from one or more of the following: Pell Grants, Cal Grants, work-study and student loans. Approximately 4,500 students receive the Pell grant.”

The Board of Governors (BOG) fee waiver is a California Community Colleges financial aid program for California residents that waive the enrollment fees for students. Any student enrolled for any number of units who meets the BOG criteria may receive a BOG. You only need to apply once each academic year.

The application covers the semester you apply and any subsequent semesters in the school year. Although the BOG, Cal Grants and work study are not affected by the bill, they are still a crucial part of financial aid for community college students.

The bill will also cut interest rates in half on need-based student loans, from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent, over the next four years.

Once fully developed, it will save

the typical student borrower with $13,800 in need-based student loan debt, $4,400 over the life of the loan. About 6.8 million students take out need-based loans each year.

“This legislation delivers urgently needed financial relief to qualified students and families who are working very hard to pay for college, to help our economy, and to keep America at the forefront of innovation and discovery,” said Miller.

The final bill changes many of the ground rules for financing higher education, offering forgiveness on student loans to graduates who work for ten years or more in public service professions such as government, military, public safety, public health, public education, social work, public child care, public service for disabled and elderly, public libraries and school-based services.

It will also make student loan payments more manageable for students by guaranteeing that borrowers will not have to pay more than 15 percent of their income in loan repayments, and

allowing borrowers to have their loans forgiven after 25 years.

For the first time, the government will auction off the right to offer federally backed educational loans to parents state by state, instead of setting the rate from Washington.

In order to be eligible to receive any financial aid or grants, students fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at http://www.fafsa. ed.gov. For further information regarding financial aid, contact the financial aid office: (818) 2401000 , ext. 5916.

Garineh Demirjian can be reached at Garineh_Demirjian@elvaq.com

Eluero In the

CENTER of it all,

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q a V

El Vaquero

Students Throw Rocks in Physics Class

Glendale Community College

editor in chief

Richard Kontas

Graig Agop Garineh Demirjian Eyonna Andreatte Anita K. Marto Allan Beglarian Robert Radich Ross Coleman Olga Ramaz Sarah Elkeaikati Ismael Reyes Jane Pojawa faculty adviser

Michael Moreau mmoreau@glendale.edu (818) 551-5214

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Jeff Smith jsmith@glendale.edu (818) 240-1000, ext. 5128

design adviser

Charles Eastman 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.

Send Letters to the Editor

Photo by Anita K. Marto

Nazanin Hajaty, left, Steffanie Bowerman and Brent Cambre conduct experiments for their physics 105 class.

They catapult rocks along a chalk line to measure the variables of height, angle, mass and force.

Letters may be reproduced in full or in part and represent only the point of view of the writer, not the opinion of El Vaquero or Glendale Community College and its district. Letters must be signed and typed and include the full name and address of the writer. El Vaquero is a First Amendment publication.

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Wednesday, October 3, 2007 3

NEWS

Climbing Enrollment Brings in $70 Million

By Allan Beglarian

EL VAQUERO STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

A

mid the ever-shrinking state educational budget and increasing costs, competition for student count and retention is taking an increasing importance among colleges statewide.

Eighty-five percent of the Glendale Community College budget is based on the Full Time Equivalent Student or FTES count. The FTES is not based on how many students are on the campus but rather calculated based on units-per-semester or

enrollment units, which translates into roughly 525 contact hours  projected time spent with a teacher by a student. Once this count is submitted to the state, the college receives funds based on this figure.

“This spells into an approximate apportionment of $70 million a year for the college,” according to Lawrence Serot, vice president of Administrative Services at GCC. According to the latest figures, the projected head count is up by 6.10 percent and enrollment units are up by 4.67 percent. Although the goal set forth by GCC is still

to be met, on layman’s terms, the current figures spell into more money for the college.

“Why should students be concerned with any of these figures?” The question was put to Serot, who replied, “Students shouldn’t be concerned. This is what we are tasked with, but students should be aware that more money transfers to resources.” He continued to explain; “this would mean things like full time teachers versus part-time teachers, getting newer computers versus working with older models, having the latest software and other

educational resources.”

“And, ultimately,” Serot went on to say, “ our goal has always been to provide the best quality education we can afford our students, and increasing our resources will translate into quality.”

Community colleges, unlike the

state universities and UC campuses, depend almost entirely on enrollment for funding. If enrollment is down one year, there is less funding available for the following year. This fall’s increase will help next year’s budget.

Allan Beglarian can be reached at Allan_Beglarian@elvaq.com

Correction In the Sept. 19 article “Planetarium Comes Alive with Performance Art,” Lupe Anguiano was incorrectly identified as Gronk’s mother. El Vaquero apologizes for the inaccuracy.

Associated Student-Sponsored Activities for October All activities are tentatively scheduled . Check with the ASGCC office for confirmation.

Thursday Fall Athletics Pep Rally Noon to 1 p.m. Plaza Vaquero Team captains will be introducing the fall sports, encouraging students to attend home games. Fall sports include football, volleyball, cross-country, soccer and golf.

Oct. 10 1st Inter-organizational (IOC) Meeting 3 to 4 p.m. SC212 Two representatives from each club meet to inform each other about upcoming club events on campus.

Oct. 18 Professional Violinist Alen Noon to 1 p.m. Plaza Vaquero Alen has been performing violin entertainment since 1989.

His selections consist of music from around the world such as French, Latin, Italian, Armenian, Russian-Gypsy, Persian, Jewish, Hungarian, Moldavian, Rumanian, Greek, Pop/Jazz Standards and more.

Oct. 25 Noon to 1 p.m. Plaza Vaquero Different dance assemblages from campus and off-campus, including clubs, will be performing. Folk dancing will be featured.

Oct. 30 Halloween Event Noon to 1p.m. Plaza Vaquero Competitive events. Students may participate in games and costume contests for prizes.

Compiled by Garineh Demirjian

Study Abroad Program (818) 240-1000 ext. 5718 studyabroad@glendale.edu www.glendale.edu/studyabroad Study Abroad Office AD 145-C

Courses Offered UC/CSU Transferable Humanities 120 Statistics 136 Geography 103

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Wednesday, October 3, 2007

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NEWS

Many Eligible Students Overlook Student Aid

By Olga Ramaz

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

T

enny Baghdasari Chalian, a 22-year-old psychology major, who is currently taking a full load of classes, cannot imagine what it would be like to attend college without receiving financial aid.

“You can’t work full-time when you are a full-time student,” she said. “I’m here [on campus] every day, so I need financial aid to pay for gas, books and food.”

Baghdasari Chalian is just one of the many students on campus benefiting from financial aid.

But despite the fact that the financial aid office goes to great lengths to promote the various financial opportunities that are available to them, many eligible students on campus still refrain from applying for aid.

So far, 8,600 students have submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), according to Patricia Hurley, Financial Aid Office Director.

These numbers are the same as they were last year, but Hurley expects the number of applicants to reach the 12,000 mark by the end of the semester.

Last year, approximately 9,300 students qualified for a Board of Governor’s fee waiver (BOG) and about 5,000 students received additional federal and state grants ranging from $400 to $6,000.

However, Hurley is still concerned that not enough students are applying for aid.

Financial aid is meant to ease some of the financial costs that come with attending college. The money awarded to the students can be used for tuition, books and materials, among other expenses.

Hurley believes that if students were to apply for financial aid, “eligible students may be able to reduce work hours [outside of school] to allow more time for classes and studying.”

Most importantly, Hurley said that the student will be able to “reduce the pressure of worrying about how to pay for books and other expenses.”

“You can’t afford everything with [a part-time job that pays] $7.50 an hour, so you need that extra help from somewhere,” said Baghdasari Chalian.

Two of the financial aid options available to the student are the FAFSA form and the BOG fee waiver.

The FAFSA is a form that can be filled out annually by current and anticipating university and/or college students, and sometimes parents, to determine their eligibility for federal aid. The aid includes eligibility for grants, loans and work-study programs.

This form consists of several questions regarding the student’s finances, as well as those of the parents or legal guardian. It’s the extensive questions like these that can seem overwhelming to the students. Hurley concurs, but does not believe that the paperwork involved to fill out a FAFSA should be a deterrent when it comes to receiving aid.

“Students may think that the process is complicated and don’t take the time to really look at the FAFSA,” she said. “However, once you get into it, it is not as complicated as it looks.”

The financial aid office offers assistance on a drop-in basis for students who want help completing the FAFSA form. Workshops geared to help students fill out the FAFSA form were once offered, but due to lack of interest by the students, they were replaced by one-on-one counseling.

Yet, in spite of all the help, complaints from the student body arise when it comes to the FAFSA, especially after the form has been submitted.

“I didn’t apply [for financial aid],” said Alejandra Mejia, an 18-year-old student who is new to the campus, but familiar with the financial aid process.

Mejia’s older sister has applied for financial aid in the past but has not filled out an application this year. She said that just seeing her sister go through “all that paperwork is irritating.”

“My sister submitted [all of the paperwork] on time but they kept giving her the forms she had turned in already,” said Mejia.

“She had to wait, which sucked, because she really needed the money.”

According to Dennis Schroeder, assistant director of the Financial Aid Office, once the FAFSA has been submitted, the most common complaints by the student are; time, eligibility and inconveniences.

Schroeder. “[That is why] starting early is always suggested.”

Why did I only get $xxx in financial aid, while my friend got more?

Although some students may think that their financial situation is similar to that of their peers, the truth of the matter is that eligibility varies and is based on the results of either the BOG fee waiver application or the FAFSA. I turned in the form you requested last week, then you requested a new form? Why do you need more information now?

Schroeder said that the financial aid office usually does not need much follow up information for students who have already submitted their initial application. However, occasionally they will need to follow up with students who submit additional documentation “due to discrepancies or incomplete information.”

By law, the college is required to verify at least 30 percent of its financial aid applicants.

He also said that this additional follow up may extend the length of the process, but he stresses that this is often “the only way” for the financial aid office to

get to the point where they are “comfortable” in awarding financial aid to any given student.

Baghdasari Chalian thinks it’s good that the financial aid office takes measures in following up on FAFSA forms. She said that this process is a good way to ensure that “the ones who really need [aid] are getting it” as well as a way to prevent aid from falling into “the wrong hands.”

The BOG fee waiver is usually the first step in receiving aid.

For the most part, if a student is eligible for a BOG, they will most likely be eligible to receive federal assistance.

A BOG fee waiver is an application that waives enrollment fees, provided by the state, for students who have been California residents for more than one year.

There are three BOG types; A, B and C. To be awarded a BOG A, one must be able to provide proof of TANF/Cal Works, SSI or General Relief benefits, if one is a recipient of these. To be awarded a BOG B, one must provide income and household size information by completing section B on the back of the BOG application.

All income information must be complete and accurate, in order to be eligible. Sometimes students may be required to submit tax returns and/or other verifying documents. A BOG C

can be obtained by students if they are not eligible for BOG’s A or B. BOG C requires students to complete a 2007-2008 FAFSA and mailing it to the address indicated on the form. Once students receives a 2007-2008 Student Aid Report, they are asked to bring it the financial aid office along with their completed BOG, to see if they are eligible for BOG C aid.

Students can submit their BOG application and find out, on the spot, if they are eligible.

The financial aid office staff can usually determine eligibility based on the students income information.

According to Hurley, most students on campus think that the BOG is the only aid they can qualify for. However, based on the family income reported on the BOG application, the Financial Aid Office knows that many students who fulfill the BOG criteria would also be eligible for additional financial aid, if only they filed a FAFSA form. “[The] $20 per unit enrollment fee [waived by the BOG] is usually the smallest expense of attending GCC,” said Hurley. “We estimate that books, transportation and living expenses cost students [See Financial Aid, Page 5]

Why does it take so long to apply and receive financial aid?

“The financial aid process can be a long process,” said

Dennis Schroeder reviews student aid applications at his desk in the financial aid office.

Photo by Allan Beglarian

www.elvaq.com

Wednesday, October 3, 2007 5

FEATURE

Night Shift Custodians Keep Campus Running Smoothly Part One of a Series

By Allan Beglarian

EL VAQUERO STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

T

he lumbering bus pulls to its stop in front of Glendale Community College and a few students lazily vacate their warm seats to disembark, sleep and deep thought evident on their collected brows.

It is early in the morning and the sun has begun to rise over the red-tiled roofs of GCC. A short distance from the bus stop one comes upon the manicured lawns and clean grounds of the college dotted with little orange, blue or white buggies dashing in and out of view lugging their cargo of tools and solitary passenger on some errand.

A few students, wrapped up against the early chill, furiously pound the keyboards of their tiny

phones; others are reviewing their sprawled notes. This early in the morning, everyone is wrapped up in preparation for the day ahead without much thought of things that don’t fit into their busy lives.

I walk into the dark classroom and blindly feel for the light switch. When the florescent bulbs burp to life, I find the glistening white dry-board in front of neatly arranged rows of chairs, devoid of gum or gunk, ready to accommodate students.

“It takes five hours each day to collect all the trash for disposal,” says custodial supervisor of facilities, Gus Rocha. “However [work] doesn’t end with cleaning and picking up trash. Sometimes we have to deal with the homeless who try to find shelter in the restrooms. When the campus police leave at midnight, if we happen to find anyone on the campus grounds that shouldn’t be

there, we have to approach them representing a mix of cultures, fill everything from unwanted and try to talk them into leaving, yet they all unite for the duration graffiti, abandoned refuse and which isn’t always easy. I feel for of their workday for the common dispensers full of soap to paper the homeless, but we can’t allow good of us all. They are the work and such. them to spend the night here.” custodians who wipe, scrub and [See Custodian, Page 8] What most of us do not think about or realize is that before we arrive at GCC for another busy day, there has been a small army of people at work to ensure us a clean, functioning environment.

This small group of people whose job it is to whip into shape that which was less than pristine is as diverse a group as Southern Californians in general and GCC itself. This crew hails from three continents that include the Americas and Asia, with names like Raul, Photo by Allan Beglarian Niloufar and Virna, Left: Juan Velasquez confers with Gus Rocha, supervisor, before the start of their shift.

Cal State L.A.

Financial Aid Office Offers Help [Financial Aid, from Page 4] and their families approximately between $4,000 and $6,000 each semester.”

In addition, Hurley said that by not filling out a FAFSA, those students who are eligible to receive aid are missing out on as much as $6,000 in grants or student loans that could help them pay for expenses they will no doubt encounter during the school year.

In spite of all the monetary assistance available, a question comes to mind, “why are more students not applying for aid?”

Baghdasari Chalian blames the “negative stigma” that surrounds applying for financial aid. “[Some] students think that it’s something negative to receive financial aid,” she said. “It’s stupid if you think that because, you do need that extra help. I can’t imagine coming to school without receiving financial aid.”

Schroeder, however, believes that students may be hesitant to apply for aid because “students (and sometimes parents) don’t want to supply or obtain all of the information needed to complete financial aid applications.” The other reason Schroeder believes is behind student hesitance is their preconceived notion that they will not be eligible to receive aid.

“In the cases where students

presume they won’t qualify, our office staff will explain that they should apply anyway,” he said.

“If a student never applies, we’ll never know what they could have been eligible for.”

He added that at a community college, applying for aid may not be as critical, “but when a student transfers to a four-year college or university, applying for all or any kind of financial aid becomes important because of the increased costs.”

Both Hurley and Schroeder agree that students should apply for financial aid each year.

“Apply and apply early,” exclaimed Schroeder. “Don’t count yourself out [and] if you have any questions, come to the financial aid office. We’re here to help.”

The financial aid office is located in the San Fernando complex, room 110. Drop in hours are Monday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. To obtain more information on the financial aid office, or to download financial aid forms, visit www.glendale. edu/financialaid

Olga Ramaz can be reached at Olga_Ramaz@elvaq.com

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Wednesday, October 3, 2007

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FEATURE

Armenian Independence Day

Fun in the Park

Various volunteers from the Gaidz Youth Organization host a number of games at the festival.

— Story by Sarah Elkeaikati — Photos by Ismael Reyes

Maro Torigian serves customers at her jewelry stand during the 9th Annual Armenian Independence Day Festival at Verdugo Park on Sept. 23.

T

The Hop Frog booth was a popular one among the children during the festival.

o celebrate Armenian Independence from the USSR in 1991, Nor Serount, which translates to “new generation,” a non-profit cultural association, held an annual festival in Verdugo Park on Sept.

23 to bring together the food, music, and people of Armenian heritage as a celebration of their independence and to represent the culture.

The festival, which went into its ninth year, included live entertainment, toys and games for children, and about 30 booths from different business and organizations.

For $10, children could jump on any one of the three moon bounces or play several of the booth games, which included prizes such as toys and gold fish.

Volunteers from the Gaidz Youth Organization were responsible for the moon bounces and children’s games, and held a booth which sold candy, toys and jewelry to profit their organization. “[The festival] gets better every year,” said Armig Khodanian, a Gaidz youth member.

Non-profit organizations included the Armenian International Medical Fund

Steven Hovaguimian, master of ceremonies, announces the planned events to the crowd.

which assists the deaf and mute children of Armenia by providing them with an implanted cochlear hearing device.

Also, the Anahid Fund, an organization that was established to prevent the decline of the Armenian population by providing women with proper maternity care, was promoting its cause and accepting contributions.

Additionally, the Armenian Evangelical Brethren Church of Pasadena held a booth to advertise its new one-hour television program, “Hour of Truth.”

“The show talks about our

identity as Armenians and Christians and focuses on the Bible,” said church member Khatchik Chahinian.

There were a number of vendors at the event providing the attendees with make-up brushes, grapeseed oil, Persian rugs, jewelry and more.

Glendale Kia, a sponsor, held a raffle. Tickets were $10 and the prize was a 2006 white Kia Optima.

Moon Mart catered the event and provided guests with kabob platters and other pastries were available courtesy of Nor Serount.

Emcees Shelly Tavoukjian and Steven Hovaguimian welcomed the guests, who arrived in the thousands, and introduced the singers and other entertainers of the day.

Seven well-known Armenian singers, including Sako, Joseph Krikorian, Armen Aloyan, and Adis, entertained the guests, while Merujan Markaryan serenaded them on his violin. Lidia Dance Group also performed a traditional Armenian dance routine for the crowd.

Despite the heavy rain the day before the event, the sun was shining and the show went on.

Nor Serount member Gary Sinanian said “When you organize an event that promotes something positive, God won’t let you down.”

Sinanian said the main goal of the event was to promote the Armenian culture, especially to the younger generation.

The independent republic of Armenia was annexed by the Soviet army in 1920 and became part of the USSR in 1922. It was not until 1991, during the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Armenia was able to gain its independence.

Nor Serount plans to hold the

Independence Day festival for years to come.

Nor Serount member Seta Khodanian said “[Nor Serount] organizes events like this as well as concerts and book signings to represent our culture.”

Although the limited parking posed a small setback for the guests and event planners, the event was a success and the guests were more than entertained.

“Each year it gets bigger and better,” said Sinanian.

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Wednesday, October 3, 2007

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FEATURE

Glendale Rapper Brings Hip-Hop Back To Life

By Sarah Elkeaikati EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

P

latinum hip-hop artist Nas said it best, “Hip-hop is dead.”

With the plethora of catchy club music, it seems that hip-hop is becoming more about one-hit wonders than lyrics and genuine talent.

Although legendary hits by Tupac Shakur and Easy-E are being replaced by songs like Da Shop Boyz’ “Party Like a Rock Star” and DJ Unk’s “Walk It Out,” there is an artist who is clawing his way through the meaningless tunes and trying to bring back the old face of rap.

Glendale resident R-Mean, 27, born Armin Hariri, has had

passed away when he was only a year old leaving his mother, of Armenian descent, to raise him and his older brother.

Growing up, Hariri’s big passion was basketball.

He was so dedicated and talented on the court that at 15, he was chosen to be drafted to the Pre-professional Dutch National team.

“I was completely into basketball,” said Hariri. “I was a baller.”

Unfortunately, because Hariri started playing basketball at such a young age, the strain on his developing knees caused serious damage.

A season before joining the Dutch National team, his condition became so bad, he was

R-Mean, center, with reggae vocalist Teo, left, and his producer Blind.

his hand in the rap game for almost 10 years and his lyrics are comparable to those of Eminem and Kanye West.

His first album, titled Broken Water, was released in April 2005 and sold nearly 11,000 copies.

Hariri boasts these sales numbers occurred without the help of a label or distributors.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about R-Mean, aside from his songs, is the fact that he’s not your typical from-the-Bronx upand-coming rapper.

Although he was born in California, when he was less than a year old, Hariri and his family moved to a small city in the Netherlands called Nijmegen, which is about 70 miles from Amsterdam, where his father’s family lived and where he owned his business.

R-Mean’s Iranian Baha’i father

unable to participate in a game without sitting down between plays.

Despite the pain, Hariri put his passion for basketball before his health.

“I didn’t want to quit,” said Hariri. “I was stupid and hardheaded and I kept playing and my knees just got worse.”

Because of his decision to ignore his deteriorating knees, the condition worsened and he was forced to quit playing basketball forever. The knee braces he has worn for 10 years are reminders of his early passion.

When asked if his decision to continue playing despite his knee problems were his biggest regret, Hariri said, “It’s part of my life and it makes me who I am. If I could go back, I wouldn’t change anything.”

After dealing with the

devastating reality that he would not be able to pursue his dream, Hariri’s other love, music, began to play a bigger role in his life.

“At the time, I never thought I would find anything I would love more than basketball, then I started writing for myself here and there and next thing you know, I was rapping,” he said.

At 18, after his high school graduation, Hariri and his mother moved back to California and he began taking his musical career more seriously.

His debut album sparked doubt among those who had never heard of an Armenian rapper, but regardless, it was an instant hit.

In his controversial song “Open Wounds,” R-Mean expresses the pain and years of suffering endured by the Armenian population during the Genocide in 1915.

“They had us walking and walking in the blistering sun/ sands of the deserts as far as our vision can run/ They had us walking in circles/ Walk till we starve/ Oh Lord, I hate ‘em/ Forgive me, it’s wrong but I’m scarred/ They planted the seeds of hate in my heart/ It keeps growing/ My heartbeat’s slowing/ My heart just keeps hoping/ Cuz we’ll never, ever, give up on our cause/ Cuz we owe it to all the people we lost.”

Although the powerful words portray the message imbedded in the hearts of most people of Armenian heritage, this song sparked negative remarks from some fans who claimed that RMean did not have a right to discuss an event like the genocide because he himself was not fully Armenian.

“Yeah, I made a song about the genocide and it was something I did from the heart,” said Hariri. “I am Armenian, whether they want it or not.”

Despite the negative energy from skeptics, R-Mean is here to make history in hip-hop.

“I’m not trying to represent [myself] as an Armenian rapper,” said Hariri. “They put me in that box and now it’s hard to get out of it.

R-Mean has collaborated with several well-known artists including The Game and Chino XL and has opened shows for Nas: Bone, Thugs ‘n’ Harmony and Tyrese.

Hariri entered a contest last August held by G-Unit Records and YouTube.com which gave

aspiring rappers the chance to enter a music video and have it voted on by judges, including 50 Cent, and fans. The first place prize was a single deal with GUnit.

Out of thousands of contestants, R-Mean was chosen to be in the top 20 by judges and finally won second place through fan votes.

Featuring his newest mix tape album “Jackin For Beats,” RMean will be holding a concert on Saturday at Beyond The Stars

Palace in Glendale at 417 ½ N. Brand Blvd.

The show will be hosted by Tha GoodFellas from radio station 93.5 KDAY and will include other up-and-coming stars such as Josephina and Duce One. Tickets are on sale for $20 and can be purchased online at www.myspace.com/pentagon and www.ItsMySeat.com Sarah Elkeaikati can be reached at Sarah_Elkeaikati @elvaq.com

Night Crew Brings Order to Campus Days [Custodian, from Page 5] Like most of us, these unsung workers, face the every day tribulations that life entails  family, illness, bills and unforeseen events among others, yet they are an extraordinary group of people who possess dedication, honesty and commitment.

Raul Yepez is one such person among this group.

I found this agreeable man carrying two boxes of supplies to his assigned building under a mild drizzle. “I came to Glendale College four years ago from Garfield Campus,” he starts in his calm reassuring accent.

Yepez has three children, the youngest still attending college on a football scholarship. “I’ve worked since the early ’70s,” he pauses and looks down the empty hallway. “As the first born son in my family, I felt that I had to work to help my parents. I always believe that whatever a person does, like a circle, will come back to him.

So I’ve always tried to do the right thing,” he continues.

When asked what he’d like to say to the students, he replies, “ Like I say to my children, try to educate yourself and do good.” Later I learn that Yepez had found a wallet possessing substantial amount of cash and credit cards, which he had turned in to the campus police.

Rosa Maldonado is a single mother of three girls who is also a member of this

small, dedicated family. While working in the maintenance department for 10 years, she has put two of her daughters (her twins) through Harvard, and her third child is currently working on her master’s degree at Mount St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles.

The choreographer of this dedicated group is 34-year-old Rocha, a native Californian who came to GCC in 2004 after 12 years of service with the Pajaro Valley Unified School District. Rocha and his wife, who is in the process of earning a bachelor’s degree in nursing, are raising two daughters ages 6 and 3.

I met Rocha at the offices of the maintenance department.

He is friendly and serious, but speaks with a soft tone that immediately puts one at ease, the cement that binds the crew together. “ Every thing we do is geared to make GCC a better place to work in for our students and staff,” he says.

We walk the grounds at Glendale College visiting the new warehouse and office spaces in the newly built Bhupesh Parikh Health Sciences and Technology Building that will soon be the new home of Maintenance and Operations.

When asked what he would say to students, Rocha modestly replies, looking down for a moment, “I’d like to say this is your college, please help us to keep it clean.”

Allan Beglarian can be reached at Allan_Beglarian@elvaq.com

www.elvaq.com

FEATURE

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

9

Delicious Middle Eastern Food Served at the Athenian Grill

By Robert Radich

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

T

he sensational aroma of kabob hovers in the air as you take your first step into Athenian

Grill and I guarantee it will not be your last.

The menu is quite large, with 12 combo entries and numerous side plates that will get your taste buds watering.

My visit to Athenian Grill was exciting because of my fascination for Middle Eastern delicacies, but I was indecisive on what I wanted to get. After several minutes of standing in front of the menu,

Photo by Richard Kontas

From left: Athenian Grill staff, Harry Liosis, owner Dean Liosis and Mike Beutista pose for a quick picture.

speculating if I was going for the gyro, the Greek, the lule, or the beef kabob, I finally came to a conclusion and my mind was set on the lule kabob.

I have had lule kabob in other restaurants, but nothing like this.

The outer layer of the kabob has a slight crispness and after that first bite, the secondary taste of seasoning and garlic is perfect.

With every order of kabob you get a side of steamed rice or golden crisp fries.

Additionally, every kabob order has a side of Persian salad and yogurt with dill. The salad has a sweet taste and it consists of onions, Persian cucumbers, tomatoes topped off with some olive oil. The yogurt and dill has a sour tang, but the cucumbers give the side plate a balanced taste between sour and sweet.

As I feasted on my meal, I noticed the owner of Athenian Grill, Dino Liosis, walk around and ask customers how their meal was. I absolutely recommend this fine restaurant to anyone that has a desire for Greek and Mediterranean food. From my observation, this family owned business is the real deal.

Fantastic food, great service, and an up to code work station is

what brings the customers and their appetite to Athenian Grill.

The Athenian Grill has six large kabob combos that will satisfy your hunger, with prices ranging from $7 to $8, plus tax.

The three kabob wrap combos, lule, gyro and chicken are recommended courses because of the price and generous amount of food. All three kabob wraps are rolled up in pita bread and has two side plates of salad and yogurt and dill. Each of these three kabob wrap vary from $5 to $6, plus tax.

Not in the mood for kabob?

The Athenian Grill provides its customers with other selections, such as the hot wings that come in a six, twelve and eighteen pieces.

Also, beginning this year, the Athenian Grill added charbroiled burgers with golden crisp fries and a medium drink for only $5.70 and $6.10 with cheese.

The Athenian Grill is located across the street from Glendale College at 1500 Canada Blvd., Unit B-1. The phone number is (818) 500-7767. It is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Robert Radich can be reached at Robert_Radich@elvaq.com

Classifieds To place an ad in the El Vaquero, contact Jeff Smith, the advertising manager, at jsmith@glendale.edu

HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS WANTED: Age 18-55 needed for Vaccine Trial at City of Hope Duarte, CA Call 626-256-4673 x62826 Qualified persons will receive $50/visit for 12 required visits.

Dianetics The Evolution of a Science by L. Ron Hubbard

Your first book on the applied philosophy which shows you the road to a better life with fewer problems.

Just get it. Read it and use it.

Contact: Dori Talevi

(818) 247-9822

10

Wednesday, October 3, 2008

www.elvaq.com

SPORTS

Lady Vaqueros Volleyball Team Wins Big Against Chaffey

By Ross Coleman

EL VAQUERO SPORTS EDITOR

G

lendale College Lady Vaqueros Volleyball team improved to 6-2 with a gutsy win over visiting Chaffey College Sept. 21. The Lady Vaqs won three games to one.

Chaffey won the first game 30-22 after a very back-and-forth battle in which they seemed to find many holes on the Vaq’s side of the net. Glendale also gave away points throughout the match on poor serves.

However, Glendale bounced back to sweep the final three games 30-25, 30-20, and 30-15.

Glendale came out in the second game very aggressively, attacking the net. Chaffey however played well enough to force ties many times through the second match.

The shift of momentum towards Glendale seemed to manifest when Chaffey player Sierra Diaz was injured while diving for a ball. Glendale used the delay to regroup and eventually pull the second game out.

“We really started to work as a team and it seemed almost effortless,” said Coach Yvette Ybarra. “Most importantly we started having a little fun as well.” The rally was due in large part to the play of Aya Nakano, an international student from Japan.

Nakano makes watching volleyball fun. After every play, no matter if Glendale is winning or losing, she smiles and laughs with her team. She does a good job of keeping the team loose.

She is also an explosive and a very gifted player. When she is near the net she can’t be stopped.

Coach Ybarra also offered a lot of praise for her star player: “Aya brings a positive attitude and a strong will. She wants to give it her all and when she is having trouble in one area she finds another area to contribute.

She has a good sense of the court, which I think helps the team.”

Glendale also relied heavily on the play of sophomore Krisheena Ellis from Lincoln High School and sophomore Susie Marco from Flintridge Prep. Ellis and Marco both had key blocks throughout the game that helped secure the win.

The one area that Glendale needed to improve on was serving.

Often throughout the game the Lady Vaq’s had runs stopped by long serves. Coach Ybarra said, “We lost about 18 serves last game [against East L.A. College] and we were up around that again tonight.”

Nakano led the team in kills with 20 and digs with 13. She also added six service aces. Freshman setter Autumn Gomez also had a solid game leading the team in team blocks with two and assist with 45. Ellis led the team in solo blocks with three. Freshman Nicole Diller led the team with nine service aces and freshman Anne Figueroa added 11 digs.

The Lady Vaqs start Western State Conference play Oct. 12.

Ross Coleman can be reached at Ross_Coleman@elvaq.com

Photo by Ismael Reyes

Lady Vaqueros outside hitter Aya Nakano, No. 1, making the save, during the game against Chaffey on Sept. 21.

Vaquero Sports Summaries Scores

Men’s and Women’s Cross Country: Sept. 21 — WSC preview meet at Cuesta: Glendale women — finished first in team results Glendale men — finished second in team results Sept. 28 — Bakersfield Invitational: Glendale women — finished first in team results Glendale men — finished second in team results Women’s Volleyball: Sept. 19 — defeated East Los Angeles 4-0 Sept. 21 — defeated Chaffey 4-0 Sept. 25 — lost to Pasadena 3-2 Sept. 26 — lost to Santa Ana 3-1 Sept. 28 — lost to Moorpark 3-2 Current overall: 6-5 Women’s Golf: Sept. 24 — finished fifth in first home match Current overall: 7-13

Women’s Soccer: Sept. 21 — defeated Hancock 3-0 Sept. 25 — tied Citrus 3-3 Sept. 28 — lost to Santa Monica 2-1 Current overall: 4-3-3; WSC 0-1-1 Football: Sept. 22 — defeated Santa Monica 34-14 Sept. 29 — defeated Moorpark 28-21 Current overall: 4-1 Men’s Soccer: Sept. 21 — lost to Irvine 3-0 Sept. 25 — lost to Moorpark 2-1 Sept. 28 — defeated Canyons 2-0 Current overall: 2-6-2; WSC 1-0-1 For more information see: http://www.glendale.edu/athletics/

Upcoming Events Men’s and Women’s Cross Country: Friday — So. Cal. Preview meet at Irvine. 10 a.m.

Oct. 13 at Santa Barbara Invitational. Noon.

Women’s Volleyball: Tuesday at Cuesta. 6 p.m.

Oct. 12 at Citrus. 7 p.m.

Oct. 16 vs. Santa Monica at GCC. 7 p.m.

Photo by Ismael Reyes

Lady Vaqueros Isabelle Carter, No. 4, sets the ball in place for an attack early in the game.

Women’s Soccer: Friday vs. L.A. Valley at GCC. 7 p.m.

Tuesday vs. College of the Canyons at GCC. 7 p.m.

Oct. 12 at L.A. Pierce. 4 p.m.

Oct. 16 at Bakersfield. 4 p.m.

Women’s Golf: Monday at Santa Barbara. 10 a.m.

Oct. 15 at Citrus. 10 a.m.

Football: Oct. 13 vs. College of the Canyons at GCC. 7 p.m.

Men’s Soccer: Friday vs. Oxnard at GCC. 5 p.m.

Tuesday at Citrus. 4 p.m.

Oct. 12 at L.A. Mission. 4 p.m.

Oct. 16 vs. Hancock at GCC. 7 p.m.

For more information see: http://www.glendale.edu/athletics/

www.elvaq.com

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

11

Calendar On Campus exhibitions

upcoming campus events. Oct. 10. from 3 to 4 p.m. in SC212.

U-Turn— An International show featuring 16 Australian artists is on display at the Glendale College Art Gallery. Continuing through this Friday Hours are 10 a.m to 7 p.m. U-Turn is curated

by Kate Shaw and Larissa Hjorth and features the works of Peta Clancy, James Lynch and Darren Wardle, among others. The gallery is located in the Library building. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5663 or visit www.glendale. edu/art gallery.

Fall Athletics Pep Rally — Team captains will be introducing the active fall teams, and encouraging home-game attendance. Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. in Plaza Vaquero.

asgcc activities Inter-organizational (IOC) Meeting— Holds its first meeting where two representatives from each club meet to discuss

Alpha Gamma Sigma (AGS) Meeting— The Glendale College Honor Society is holding their first meeting Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. in LB222.

Covered topics will be an overview of upcoming events, a powerpoint presentation and the introduction of the Fall 2007 cabinet.

student services Free Parenting Classes— For parents with their preschool age children are currently being of-

fered by the Glendale Community College Parent Education program, which continues throughout the semester. Parents learn skills and strategies for positive and effective ways of raising children.

Classes are held at the GCC Life Skills Building and other locations in Glendale and La Crescenta. Call (818) 243-5196 for more information.

by artist/programmer/composer J. Walt Adamczyk for the full dome digital theater at the GCC Planetarium, “Spontaneous Fantasia” continues on Oct. 12 at 8 p.m., and 13 at 6:30 and 8 p.m.

Tickets may be purchased at the door. General admission is $10 and $6 for children under 12.

For more information call (626) 688-0778.

Child Development —The Child Development Center is providing child care for both day and evening students. Day Program provides care for children 5 to 12. Call (818) 2401000 ext. 5355 or 3340 after 6 p.m. for more information.

Email jtashiro@glendale.edu

An Evening with the Stars — The Planetarium presents An Evening with the Stars on Friday at 7 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.

The 45-minute shows introduce guests to the stars, constellations and planets visible in the night sky during the fall. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. Cash only. For advance reservations or additional imformation go to www.glendale.edu/planetarium, or call (818) 291-6653.

planetarium “Spontaneous Fantasia” —- A real-time animation created live

theatre Bat Boy: The Musical— will be in production on Oct. 11-13 at 8 p.m. and at 2 p.m. on Oct. 14 by Key the Farley and Brian Fleming. Music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe. Presented by the Theatre Arts Department.

Auditorium Studio Theatre. 8 p.m. Tickets are $12 for general admission, $10 for students and seniors. Groups of 10 or more are $8. Seating is limited. Reservations are strongly recommended. No late seating. Not recommended for children. Call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5618 for reservations.

music Faculty Recital -- Featuring music faculty on piano, flute, oboe, and viola in the Auditorium on Oct. 11 at noon. Free admission.

Around Town events

exhibitions

Halloween Horror Nights— Universal Studios presents their annual “Halloween Horror Nights,” on Friday at 7 p.m. Featuring the 5th Eyegore Awards Scaremony, honoring horror genre stars Roger Corman, Patricia Arquette, Shawnee Smith, Sherri Moon, Corey Feldman, and Don Mancini. Universal Studios Hollywood 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, 91608. Oct. 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, 26-28, and 31. 7 p.m.. Closing hours vary.

Self Indulgent Werewolf — The Black Maria Art Gallery, located at 3137 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles, presents the works of artist Tom Neely in an exhibition titled “Self Indulgent Werewolf.” The show is free and open to the public and runs through Oct. 15. Neely’s painting and sculpture installation coincides with the release of his first graphic novel, “The Blot,” which tells the story of a mysterious everyman who has been a recurring character in Neely’s paintings. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. or by appointment. For more information call (323) 6609393 or (818) 613-9090.

The Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society Presents: World of Wonder— Classic Fantasy and Horror Movies, The Story of the Universal Monsters, Val Lewton Shockers, Hammer Horrors, and more. Monsters And Madmen: Lecture and video presentation by film historian Charles Lee Jackson, II. Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Admission is $5. 11513 Burbank Blvd (rear building), North Hollywood. For more information call (818) 246-2552.

Unity Fest 2007- A cultural diversity event being held on Oct 13 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Verdugo Park. Free admission and parking.

Rank and Style: Power Dressing in Imperial China-- This exhibition explores China’s generation s of rulers who wore emblems on their robes that identified their place in a complex system of rank and privilege. Price is $5-7. Located at Pacific Asia Museum. 46 N. Los Robles Ave. Pasadena. (626) 449-2742. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Running now through January, 2008.

Three Generations of WestonsAn exhibition of fine-art photog-

raphy featuring: Kim, Brett and Edward Weston, now through Dec 3. The three generations of the Weston Family consists of Edward Weston, whose passion for realistic images led him to found Group f64. Edward’s son Brett has his work exhibited in galleries and collections across the globe. Brett’s nephew Kim holds fine art workshops in the Carmel Highlands of Northern California.

Located at Freestyle Photographic Supplies, 5124 Sunset Blvd. Hollywood. For more information, call (323) 660-3460 ext. 121 LACMA College Night — The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is open free to college students from 8 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, with free parking after 7. Featured is the exhibit SoCal: Southern California Art of the 1960s and 1970s from LACMA’s Collection. The museum is at 5905 Wilshire Blvd. For information, call (323) 857-6000.

music R-Mean live in concert at Beyond The Stars Palace 417 1/2 N. Brand Blvd. on Saturday. Doors open at 7 p.m. All ages. Also performing: Ras Teo, Dulce One, Josephina, Profit, Soseh, Capital Z,

and DJ Essence. Tickets are $20.

Call (818) 974-6312 for infor.

theatre “Julius Caesar” — The KnightsBridge Theater, 1944 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles, presents their own rendition of William Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar,” produced by Joseph P. Stachura and directed by Karessa McElheny. In this gender-reversed version of “Julius Caesar,” the women take the lead. The play runs through Oct. 14. Showtimes are Friday and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. Tickets are $20 general admission and $18 for students and seniors. Group discounts are available. For more information visit www.knightsbridgetheatre.com or call (323) 667-0955.

The Winter’s Tale — A Noise Within, 234 S. Brand Blvd., presents Shakespeare’s timeless story of forgiveness, featuring original music composed and performed live by violinist Endre Balogh.

Propelled by blind and furious jealousy, King Leontes accuses his innocent wife Queen Hermione of adultery. His willful refusal to accept a heavenly oracle proclaiming her fidelity unleash-

es a flood of tragic consequences.

The performance can be previewed Saturday, Oct. 10 through 12 at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $28. Opening night is Oct. 13 at 8 p.m. which is $40 per ticket. Students who arrive 30 min. in advance can purchase tickets for $16 if tickets are available. For additional information call (818) 240-0910.

Beauty and the Beast — The Glendale Centre presents “Beauty and the Beast” through Oct. 13. Showtimes are Wednesday through Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday matinees are at 3 p.m. Tickets are $21 to $24. For additional information contact the theater box office at (818) 244-8481.

The theater is at 324 N. Orange St. need header saying FILM

film “A Cry From Iran” Film Screening --- Sunday at 7 p.m. at the Alex Theatre 216 N. Brand Blvd. A documentary film on religious freedom in Iran. The film tells the story of Iranian martyrs.

Directed by the sons of martyr Haik Hovsepian. Running time is 1 hour and 10 minutes. For additional information call (818) 243-2539.

12

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

www.elvaq.com

FEATURE

Clubs Geared to Recruitment During Rush Week

By Olga Ramaz

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

F

or Armenian Student Association President Saro Haroun, 19, the goal for Club Rush Week was to surpass the recruitment record of 319 students set last year, and he figured it was likely given the large Armenian population on campus.

In an effort to promote student life on campus, the Associated Students of Glendale Community College (ASGCC) sponsored Club Rush Week, which kicked off Sept. 24 to 28.

According to Jennifer Ghazal, ASGCC vice president of campus organizations, the purpose of Club Rush Week is to help clubs recruit members during the first weeks of school. In addition, she said that Club Rush Week can be perceived as a tool that illustrates student life on campus.

ASA Treasurer Chantalle Parsakhian, 19, represented her club all week. ASA set up its table in Plaza Vaquero as early as 7:30 a.m. in order to raise awareness

of the club.

The history of the ASA goes back 30 years, in comparison to some of the newer organizations, recently set up.

The Agnostic Coalition, whose slogan reads “got truth” is one of the newer clubs, established this semester.

“We’re trying to unite people under a common thought as opposed to segregating and going back in time,” said co-president Maria Markarian, 19. “We think that through unity of different religions and political views, we can finally achieve some kind of peace.”

Keven Carlson, 20, founder of the Agnostic Coalition, already has some positive expectations for the club. “We have big plans on lots of outreach as far as public relations [is concerned],” he said.

Some of the activities that the club hopes to sponsor are film screenings of movies that convey what Carlson claims to be the “brainwashing” that comes with religion.

“Once religion becomes

organized it becomes corrupt,” he said. “Man, by nature, is corrupt and this is the cause for much of the controversy.”

According to Ghazal, clubs must re-register every semester. The ASGCC Campus Organization Committee helps

clubs remain active by producing successful events. The associated students also encourage the clubs to establish a mission statement and a constitution, which will allow future leaders of the club to maintain continuity.

“Being in a club will allow

a student to be around a group of people who share the same ideas, beliefs or hobbies,” said Ghazal. “[It] also allow the students to enjoy their experience here at GCC.” Olga Ramaz can be reached at Olga_Ramaz@elvaq.com

Photo by Anita K. Marto

Psychology major Ani Ginosyan, center, and Human development major Joseph Roszhart, right, explain how the honor society, Alpha Gamma Sigma, works to Swedish student and business major Linsday Olsson.

WARNING: THIS EVENT IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER 13. SORRY, NO COSTUMES OR MASKS ALLOWED. Event will occur rain or shine. No refunds.

Prices, dates, times, attractions and entertainment subject to availability and may change without notice. TM & © MMVII New Line / Vortex, Inc. ©2007 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. 07-LOC-6162