G C C E l Va q u e r o G CC _ E l V a q
www.elvaq.com
el.vaquero.gcc elvaq.gcc Wednesday, December 4, 2019 Glendale Community College Student Newspaper
Volume 114 | Issue 6
Dancing in the Spotlight: Tatiana Beverly
ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT: Tatiana Beverly proves that ballerinas are athletes in their own right, demonstrating an incredible discipline to master her craft.
By Gabriel Ponce Staff Writer
Think about what separates a performer from an athlete. Would you consider someone’s way of art to be seen the same way as an athlete’s? If I told you that ballerinas weren’t so different than soccer players or football players, you would probably think I was insane. As I sat with Tatiana Beverly, I see a really cool, laid-back person who enjoys going to Disneyland during her free time. But as she speaks more on what she does here on campus, I realize how intense being a part of ballet can be. We view athletes as these people who have endurance, strength, and usually are part of some type of team. The first picture that comes to people’s minds of ballerinas are these beautiful humans that are gentle, but with that comes the same work as any so-called athlete. Here at GCC, Beverly shows us how being a ballerina is
just as tough, if not tougher, than sports played here on campus. She achieves that and more to be the best she can be in what she does. At a young age, Beverly started training in gymnastics. It took a couple years before she crossed paths with ballet. She was good at it and was moving up in techniques and skills fast. It wasn’t until the age of 10 when she started taking it seriously. “Eventually ballet became an escape from reality,” Beverly stated. She has pursued ballet all her life, but in between has also sung in the choir and performed in musicals in her school, John Burroughs High School. Teamwork in every sport is the key to being successful, this is the same with ballet. In Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake” there is a piece called “Dance of the Little Swans” where the women link arms and dance exactly the same. “We have to trust each other and have good coordination to be successful together,” Beverly stated. “Miscalculate
a step in a performance, you can cause an injury to self or your partner.” There are physical dangers, however. In her time practicing ballet, Beverly has experienced a small knee injury but was able to recover from it quickly. If you try to compare a ballerina to another athlete you might ask yourself how a beautiful young lady can come close to matching up the strengths of these other athletes. But ballet performers need to have core and leg strength. They aren’t injury prone. Think about being en pointe, which is when the dancer stands and balances on the tips of their toes. This of course requires great leg strength. Now imagine doing a pirouette, which is a spin while en pointe. “We have to train our bodies everyday … We train our bodies everyday and make it do things it is not naturally supposed to do.” Also while doing this they don’t have much to protect them, ballet shoes hardly have any padding to protect their feet. Beverly has worked on pieces where
Gabriel Ponce Staff Photographer
she has had to dance continuously for ten minutes. It seems pretty intense, but as she says, “Sometimes we have pieces that go for ten minutes, and right after we go on stage again … We have to make sure [the] next piece is even stronger.” This really shows the amount of endurance her body has. A ballet dancer like her has to spend almost 45 minutes to an hour on just stretching. From there on she has to go through a list of movements including plie, tendu, and Rond de Jambe. [“Dancing” is continued on page 2]
In This Issue
News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Features .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Sports .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
[“Dancing,” continued from Page 1] As she moves onto the bar, she then goes through Grand Battement which is a movement done at the bar where both legs are kept straight and one leg is kicked outward from the body. “No days off for us during the year, if we skip a week you lose so much movement,” she noted. Roughly every day for Beverly starts around the same time. Waking up at roughly 6 a.m., the first thing she does is get ready and then eats breakfast. Early in the morning she first arrives to a modern dance class, which ends around 1 p.m. She then moves onto production which is where she meets with others to choreograph pieces for next events. She later gets a break from 5 to 6:45 p.m. where she gets to eat and work on other assignments for school. Salsa class begins in the evening at 6:45p.m. By 8 p.m., when class is over, she goes back into the studio and continues more rehearsal until about 10:30 p.m. I was astonished by the amount of work she does on an average day. “It’s a lifestyle. It is difficult when you have other things going on in
NEWS
www.elvaq.com
life,” she told me by way of explanation. The dedication Beverly has for what she does is amazing. When asked why ballet, she answered, “It is one form people underestimate the most, people view us as weak and soft.” Like any other sport, it takes a toll on your body. But the hard work pays off. “We love criticism, we want to become better at what we do.” As a ballerina, she just wants to have a perfect turn out each and every time. Tatiana plans on transferring to either California State University Long Beach or UC Irvine by the end of this school year pursuing to major in dance. Her goal is to become a professional dancer or a dance instructor. At the end of this semester, you can catch her at the Faculty/Alumni dance concert 2019, which is completely free and runs from Dec. 13 to 15. “I’m super happy as a dancer,” she said, stressing that she loves working hard “for the art.” Dancers are both artists and athletes, we just show it in our art,” Beverly said. Shoga Tadevosyan Contributing Photographer Gabriel Ponce can be reached at poncegabriel23@yahoo.com
DISCIPLINE: Tatiana Beverly discusses an ordinary day for her, which includes considerable stretching, training, and dancing,
Bernie Sanders Attracts Thousands in Los Angeles Rally Presidential hopeful sets his sights on Latinx voters with a rally in East L.A By Natalie Casey Staff Writer As the race for the Democratic presidential nomination continues, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) campaigned in California, hoping to win the prized state. Sanders
never taken place from the top on down, it has always taken place from the bottom on up,” echoing his campaign slogan of “Not Me, Us.” The event started with a performance from the Grammy award-winning band Ozomatli, East L.A. natives, who also supported Sanders in 2016. The opening speaker was Elizabeth Alcantar, the first Latina woman to be Vice Mayor of Cudahy, Calif. Also representing the local community, UTLA’s Gloria Martinez took the stage. Right before Sanders came to the stage, speaker and cultural critic Phillip Agnew spoke. Sanders’ talking points focused on stronger border security balanced with policies of compassion, rental affordability, income inequality, and reforming the prison system. He used his time to talk about legalizing marijuana
federally, expunging criminal records in regards to the possession of marijuana, and said it is critical not to allow corporations to monopolize the marijuana industry. The rally came just after Sanders received overwhelming labor endorsements from National Nurses United and United Teachers of Los Angeles. Collectively, the labor organizations represent almost 200,000 people. Comments from former President Barack Obama the night before the rally sparked controversy on its subtle references to the Vermont senator. “Voters, including Democrats, are not driven by the same views that are reflected on certain left-leaning Twitter feeds, or the activist wing of our party,” Obama said in an interview. The comments were made at the Democracy Alliance gathering, which is a group of wealthy Democratic donors. Sanders described
STAFF WRITERS
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS
Letters to the Editors
Dahlia Alrayes
Eduardo Carreño
Jenilee Borek
Natalie Casey
Natalie Casey
Gabriel Ponce
El Vaquero accepts story ideas in news, features, profiles, sports and entertainment from the public. Send an idea or article to the editor at elvaquero@glendale.edu or call (818) 240-1000, ext. 3211.
held a rally at Woodrow Wilson High School in the Los Angeles neighborhood of El Sereno on Nov. 16. The rally attracted over 5,000 people of all ages and races, with a focus on Latinx voters. Posters were handed out with the slogan “Unidos con Bernie” which translates to “United with Bernie.” During the rally, Sanders told the crowd, “Real change has
Natalie Casey Staff Photographer
STILL FEELING THE BERN: Thousands came out to support Sanders on Nov. 16 in El Sereno.
Michael Dumansky
STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alin Pasokhian MANAGING EDITOR Yesenia Thomson
Anthony Gharib
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Eian Gil
Tatiana Pak
A. Heimer Afroditi Kontos
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATORS
Jay Marshall
Eduardo Carreño
Akane “Annie” Otsuka
Anahit Sydney
Tatiana Pak Gabriel Ponce
COPYEDITOR
SENIOR PRODUCTION MANAGERS
Genesis Ruiz
Elena Jacobson
Eduardo Carreño
Gurgen Sahakyan
Anahit Sydney
Anahit Sydney
ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR
CONTRIBUTING REPORTER
Elone Safaryan
Samuel Reynolds
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.
Rory Cohen rcohen@glendale.edu (818) 240-1000 ext. 5214
Natalie Casey can be reached at ncasey379@student.glendale.edu
Member of the Journalism Asssociation of Community Colleges
All letters must include the full name, address and phone number of the writer. You will be contacted before publication. El Vaquero is a First Amendment publication.
EL VAQUERO FACULTY ADVISER
himself, and his base with the following notion: “We look at the world a little bit differently than establishment politicians.” During the rally Sanders expanded on some of his more radical ideas, such as redefining the working wage he proposes that, “When we talk about an agenda that works for working people, it is not complicated … If you work 40 hours a week, you don’t live in poverty. We are going to raise that minimum wage” When talking about his presidential plans for education Sanders states “We’re gonna fund disability programs so all of our kids have an equal opportunity,” adding he also seeks to “Invest in our young people’s education, not more jails and incarceration.”
1500 N. Verdugo Road Glendale, CA 91208 (818) 240-1000, ext. 5349 First copy free Additional copies $.25
Member of the California Newspaper Publishers Association
www.elvaq.com
NEWS Wednesday, December 4, 2019 3
GCC Pride Center Hosts Terminology Event Event teaches campus the fundamentals of LGBTQ+ By Natalie Casey Staff Writer GCC’s Pride Center hosted a workshop educating students about terminology, and how to make schools a welcoming atmosphere for students who identify with the LGBTQ+ community. The speakers were Dezzy Alvarado (she/her) and Arakez Aristakessian (he/him). The workshop touched on the differences between gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer identities. Correct usage of terms and labeling may seem confusing to some people but with a little guidance it’s simple. The basics are three components: gender identity, sexual orientation, and gender expression. The first two components are unobservable, and even though gender expression can be seen in someone’s outward appearance, Alvarado and Aristakessian shared, “It’s never okay to make assumptions about someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity.” Many people who identify as heterosexual and cisgendered may feel that this topic is too confusing or far removed from their personal life, but when 36% of undergraduates identify as LGBTQ+, it’s important to make your peers feel like they belong. Attendees were shown a French animated film “Les lèvres gercées.” The short film explores the microaggressions
CEO and Author, Gary Schoeniger gives GCC students sound advice By Alin Pasokhian and Yesenia Thomson Staff Writers
On Nov. 14, students were welcomed to the Business Lecture Series, presented by the Entrepreneurs Alliance and the GCC Business Division. Gary Schoeniger, author, speaker, as well as Founder and CEO of ELI (the Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative), shared his wisdom, as well as some secrets of the business world with GCC students. ELI, founded in 2007, was
Eduardo Carreño Staff Photographer
WORKING FOR EQUITY: The Pride Center at GCC is located in the Multi-Cultural Center, in Sierra Madre 267.
a young trans person encounters and how they lead up to serious alienation. Aristakessian informed the group that in 1972 Congress passed Title IX, a federal civil rights law prohibiting discrimination in education based on sex. The Obama administration issued guidance on the amendment stating that Title IX protects transgender students. GCC has a new feature available to students, it is specifically aimed towards including transgender students. On the GCC website, students are able to change their name so their preferred first name is seen on their student I.D. cards and the rosters for teachers. The document is titled “Preferred Name process” which can be found by clicking
“STUDENTS” and under the “FORMS” section. Small steps like this can create a more welcoming campus for students. Allies make a huge difference in creating safe spaces at school, and showing respect for their fellow students. The Pride Center welcomes all people and is there to answer questions and give guidance for anyone who needs it. They are located in the Multi-Cultural Center, Sierra Madre 267. Select days during finals week the center is offering free hot chocolate from 8:30 a.m to 9:30 a.m., and organizers encourage campus to stop by. Natalie Casey can be reached at ncasey379@student.glendale.ed.u
GCC Marks International Education Week
Peprah brought his background as an international student and taught “How Geography Affects the Development of Culture” where students had the chance to learn more. Another opportunity to bring the campus together was to host the “World Cup Trivia Bowl” where students were able to challenge staff and faculty on their knowledge of various subjects such as sports, pop-culture, and even math. With much positive feedback for this afternoon game, the international program is excited to bring it back next year. The IEW is not only important to the international program but to the entire college as well, as Senior Coordinator Nusha Shishegar explains that is a major opportunity for students to pay attention to the culture that surrounds them. “Domestic students don’t always get the chance to go abroad for a variety of reasons, so by the World coming to them, [it] is an opportunity to experience and interact with other cultures.” This is not just beneficial to American students but also helps in welcoming international students even better. Shishegar has higher hopes for next year’s celebration, by planning more activities, raising awareness around campus, and by also having more staff and faculty participating in the events. Their voice could also contribute to having more departments involved, which would be ideal for bringing the goals of the IEW even forward.
By Tatiana Pak Staff Writer The International Education Week (IEW) is an initiative from the U.S. Department of State along with the U.S. Department of Education to welcome students from abroad to all American schools, in order to grow and exchange cultural experiences between them. In order to bring attention to the IEW, the International Student Program at Glendale College annually hosts different ways to celebrate this nationwide event. This year, the week of Nov. 18, GCC had the opportunity to participate once again. With a similar gathering as they had last year, the food and culture fair theme “Taste of the World” at Plaza Vaquero had students and staff selling sample-sized food, with all profits benefiting the International Student Scholarship Fund. Cuisines from different countries were served, such as the delicious Indomie noodles made by students themselves, along with Baklava for dessert. One activity introduced this year was the International Film Festival, screening hit movies such as the French comedy “The Intouchables.” By serving free beverages and popcorn, this was one more fun way to bring movies out of Hollywood to show commonalities and differences within international art. For an interesting out-ofclass lecture, lunch with Professor Kofi Peprah was provided.
Tatiana Pak can be reached at tatiipak@gmail.com.
GCC Hosts Entrepreneurial Leadership Educator created with one thing in mind: to incorporate the “entrepreneurial mindset” into educational programs in order to increase awareness of underlying issues within the business world. Students can then apply real-life tools learned within the program to increase productivity and problem-solving in their careers. The lecture largely focused on this mindset, with Schoeniger sharing his own journey with attendees. He talked about how after barely finishing high school he noticed his successful friends thought differently than he did. It was after adopting the entrepreneurial mindset that he began networking and building
GCC Business Lecture Series Courtesy Photo
‘WHO OWNS THE ICE HOUSE?’: Schoeniger also provided free copies of his international best-selling book to the first 100 students in attendance.
the connections that would go on to serve him best in his work life. He stressed that thinking outside the box and being your own motivation is vital to your success and that being successful will mean nothing without personal fulfillment. Schoeniger also went on to explain how the metaphorical “bumps in the road” can be useful lessons for everyone, as long as you keep an open mind, and have a positive perspective. “People who learn to optimistically interpret adversity become healthier, happier, and stronger than people who have never suffered adversity in the first place,” said the internationally bestselling author. This event would not have been possible had it not been for the GCC Business Division, and specifically, Professor Rafael Cardona, who explained that he seeks to work with students not only in class but outside of it as well. Cardona currently supports several student-run organizations on campus and has provided many job and networking opportunities for his students and club members. “The very creation of the Entrepreneur’s Alliance student club a few years back was designed with the objective to
GCC Business Lecture Series Courtesy Photo
INSPIRING THE FUTURE: Business Professor, Rafael Cardona [left] and ELI CEO, Gary Schoeniger [right] joined forces to inspire students.
give our students opportunities to work on real-life, hands-on business projects,” said Cardona in an email. “Selected club members can work on projects across the entire business spectrum.” The event also provided free professional portraits, and Schoeniger was kind enough to bring signed copies of his book, “Who Owns the Ice House? Eight Life Lessons from an Unlikely Entrepreneurs” and gave them away to the first 100 students in attendance, in order to fulfill the author’s desire to spread his
insight and experience with GCC students. Overall, the Business Lecture Series provided insight and opportunity for the future entrepreneurs of Glendale College, and appeared to be well-received by students and staff. Alin Pasokhian can be reached at pasokhian@gmail.com Yesenia Thomson can be reached at thomsonyesenia@gmail.com. Samuel Reynolds (sreynol201@ student.glendale.edu) also contributed to reporting on the Business Series event.
4
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
FEATURES
www.elvaq.com
By Day and By Night: Paris in the Belle Epoque By Eian Gil Staff Writer From the beginning of 1871 to the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, France experienced a cultural movement known as the “Belle Epoque,” meaning “Beautiful Era” in French. This golden era of artwork helped solidify Paris as a hub for the art world, birthing some of today’s most recognizable pieces of art. On Oct. 4, the Norton Simon Museum opened its exhibit, “By Day and Night: Paris in the Belle Epoque.” Spread across three rooms in the museum’s lower level,
Eian Gil Staff Photographer
PIECE OF HISTORY: Red Headed Woman in Garden of M. Foret
artwork in the forms of lithographs, oil on canvas, and other mediums adorn the halls in somewhat chronological order, corresponding with the particular time and place the artwork is capturing. Here, artwork by famous painters such as Pablo Picasso, Pierre Bonnard, and Jean-Baptiste Armand, to name a few, are on display for all to enjoy, accompanied by descriptions of the individual artwork and its cultural significance. The golden era of artwork in Paris helped bring about a new period of artistic styles that would push the boundaries of traditional art many suburban artists at the time were met with. In a time of extreme and unrelenting development and innovation, artists sought to present their subjects in relation to their everyday environments, choosing to draw attention to the aspects of their daily lives that they felt were in need of expression. With this type of artistry being so representational of the time, the exhibit takes the extra step of creating an immersive and realistic Paris environment by including design posters of the period advertising things such as champagne or entertainment, allowing visitors to take in the entirety of the city, not just through depiction, but through the eyes of those who would have enjoyed the same posters. Fans of famous artist Henri De Toulouse-Lautrec would be impressed by the collection, as the exhibit focuses heavily on his works of oil on canvas. His paintings are still revered as pieces of history by today’s art enthusiasts and present an image of Paris that has truly earned its place on the wall. His famous works such as “At the Cirque Fernando Rider on a White Horse,”
Healthy Life: There’s an App for That The beginner’s guide to clean living By Genesis Ruiz Staff Writer Apps are impacting people in good ways when it comes to having a healthier lifestyle. Millennial and Centennials tend to be more concerned about eco-friendly products, nutrition, animal byproducts, and toxic chemicals, According to Gallup. Technology has made it easier to be aware of hidden information on the products we consume. Some consumers believe the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lacks in regulating products. As consumers, we need to question products and push the FDA to regulate these factors. Big corporations and companies can sell any product without minimal regulations from the FDA, as made evident from recent lawsuits. According to the FDA, they are responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices. They are also concerned with ensuring the safety of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. The fact of the matter is that big companies profit off products that are not ethical in many ways and consumers end up with life-threatening issues. According to Forbes, Johnson & Johnson has 50,000 lawsuits that involve blood thinner Xarelto that leads to life or death situations. The United States Department of Agricultural is also accused of pesticide toxicity and animal cruelty that is also substandard for
the environment and humans. A healthier lifestyle is still obtainable despite the controversy between the FDA and the USDA. Free apps can verify products and different factors that you might be interested in. The “Think Dirty” app is more focused on household products, beauty products, and products geared for men. If your product is not found, you can submit a picture. The app will explain which products are safe. For instance, Seventh Generation is a dish liquid that is rated one on their data. One being clean and ten being toxic. Think Dirty also provides subscriptions to make your shopping life easier. The app also includes certifiers like BPA FREE and PETA. Their holiday deals run through Dec. 6. Consumers can use these free apps to browse a product on the app, or they can scan while shopping. Another app, EWG, is based on healthy living and provides food scores and skin product scores. It provides information on allergy, cancer, and reproductive harm concern. At the bottom, the ingredients are rated with three colors: green, yellow, and red. The app gives you an option to explore further information about the ingredients you’re curious about. For instance, Herbal Essence Shampoo is colored yellow. These apps are ultimately geared to help people toss out toxic products and begin a New Year as a sustainable minimalist. Genesis Barbosa may be reached at gbarboz319@student.glendale.edu.
Eian Gil Staff Photographer
PARIS ENTERTAINMENT: Second room of “By Day and by Night” showcasing Gay Paree
and “Red Headed Woman in the Garden” are on display in this exhibit, and for those who decide to attend, a free print of the latter is currently available after your visit. Each room of the exhibit is organized by which aspect of France’s culture the artists focused on in their piece, with one section of the exhibit dedicated to entertainment, another reserved for streetlife, and the final room showcasing artists who chose more quiet and peaceful subjects by focusing on landscapes and interiors. The
exhibit gives a well-rounded look into the period of innovation and excitement before the consequences of the war to come took hold of the country. “By Day and By Night” will be open through March 2, 2020, with free entrance to the museum for students with an ID card.
Eian Gil may be reached at eianmgil@gmail.com
Christmas Fun in the Sun
If you missed Black Friday shopping, here are some last minute deals By Annie Otsuka Staff Writer Time flies, the last month of 2019 has come. While new Christmas movies are coming up, everything in town is gleaming with Christmas lights. Here is what you may want to do, where you want to go and what you should get to have your fill of the Christmas holiday. Movies are always one of the best ways to move yourself into a mood for new seasons. Some movies are coming up this winter to celebrate Christmas. “Last Christmas,” the story is based on the song “Last Christmas” by Wham! is now playing in theaters. Emilia Clarke of “Game of Thrones” and Henry Golding present a winter’s unrequited love. The story goes on to feature festive music, with holiday songs by George Michael from Wham! to unveiled songs. This movie cannot be described as just rom-com, but it is the sweetest Christmas romance that will make you laugh, move you to tears, and warm your heart. More information at: bit.ly/MovieLastChristmas Holiday Magic has been waiting for you at Disneyland Resort. At the lights and water show called “World of Color,” classic film scenes and music will inspire you with the fountains dance and illumination. Before the show starts at 9 p.m., you may want to witness “A Christmas Fantasy Parade” of Disney characters and marching toy soldiers on main street. In addition, the most fun moment of adventure in Disney-
land is when you discover where the delectable aroma comes from. At the “Festival Foods Marketplace,” you’ll enjoy holiday feasts from all over the world. Many different kinds of foods are offered at eight locations until January 6. So, don’t forget your appetite. More information at: bit.ly/DisneyLandHoliday Those who don’t want to travel all the way to Anaheim, “L.A. Zoo Lights” will probably be a good idea to visit to feel holiday magic. At L.A. Zoo, glowing animals welcome you at nighttime with giant illuminated snowflakes at the entrance. As you walk in and start your journey, you’ll see a disco ball forest, a whimsical herd of animated elephants, and a twinkling tunnel filled with dynamic swirls of color. L.A. Zoo Lights has been bringing people holiday mood since its debut in 2014. This year, the event features new dazzling areas and luminous displays to explore until January 6. The tickets are available from $11 to $20. More information at: bit.ly/LazooLights If you live in Glendale, you cannot miss The Americana at Brand’s transformation into a winter wonderland. The tall Christmas tree and the illuminations all around the area will bring you holiday vibes with classical Christmas music. The snow falls on the main area that has a fountain every evening at 7 and 8 p.m. until Dec. 25.
Annie Otsuka can be reached at aotsuka136@student.glendale.edu
www.elvaq.com
OPINION/EDITORIAL
Fate of DACA Uncertain Millions of Dreamers could be negatively affected By Eduardo Carreño Senior Production Manager President Donald Trump seems to be really trying to make America hate him, primarily the Latino community as he envokes fear into the heart of this demographic. During his presidential campaign, he promised his followers to limit the possible entry of “Drugs, rapists and criminals.” He also wanted to do something about the Obama administration’s DACA reform and try to end the program, ultimately eliminating millions of young DREAMER’s chances of going to school. However, the Senate voted against removing the program, but the administration has taken its case straight to the Supreme Court where the balance of power shifts to the political right. On Nov. 12, President Trump made an extremely strong claim on Twitter, aimed towards DACA recipients, stating, “Some are very tough, hardened criminals.” The result of this claim puts the future of the Obama-era program and it’s 800,000 DREAMers at risk of deportation. According to U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services, there is a critical requirement for young adults to complete in order to be qualified for the program and that’s to “Have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor,
or three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.” Thousands of high school students gathered at every City Hall across the country and protested for DACA to stay on Nov. 12. It may have been the biggest school walkout in years. If the Supreme Court decides to end DACA, that not only ruins millions of young adults’ dreams but it also will put the American economic system in a state of peril. Data shows a significant, positive effect DACA has had on its recipients, according to American Progress. Since the program, there has been a 42% increase in worker’s wages for all recipients. On top of that, 95% of survey respondents said that they were all either employed or enrolled in school. If we focus mainly on the impact the program has had on employment, 21% of the responders work in educational health services. Once responders received DACA, 63% of them moved to a job with better pay while the other 49% moved somewhere to where “better fits my education and training,” according to the report. These DREAMers are earning so much more and learning so much more at the same time. If it wasn’t for this program, they wouldn’t be earning what they’re earning and they wouldn’t be able to apply for all these grants that could be used towards their dream school or career. Many DACA recipients are
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
5
$10 Million Shortfall at GCC Seems to Conveniently Be Blamed on International Students
By Tatiana Pak and A. Heimer Staff Writers International students complain they have been unfairly singled out by El Vaquero’s October article regarding the $10 million of accumulated unpaid student fees and dispute the amount they are alleged to collectively owe to GCC. El Vaquero based its reportMartha Topete Contributing Photographer ing in part on an article in “the PROTEST: Students protest Trump Chaparral,” which stated that “Dr. administration on Nov. 12. Culpepper told the Senate that bestudying to become America’s tween $4.2 and $4.4 million are lawyers, neurologists, and nurses owed by currently enrolled stuand proving that it doesn’t matter dents. About 60% of those fees what your status is: if you have are owed by International Stua dream, chase after it. But what dents.” will happen to the K-12 education Unfortunately, the math system, and college education sysdoesn’t seem to add up. There are tem if the Supreme Court rules in currently 425 international stufavor of the Trump administration dents enrolled at GCC from varito remove the program? Many of ous countries. For the mandatory the students will be at risk of beminimum 12 units, the students ing deported on the account of pay around $4,500 (with an intheir case file not being renewed. surance fee of 600-800 included) Thousands are in fear of deporper semester. 60% of 4.2 to 4.6 tation and millions are in fear of million would mean currently enit becoming a reality. Students, rolled international students owe faculty, and communities should between $2,520,000 - $2,640,000. stand together to avoid a massive Assuming not one of them had deportation raid and hope that all paid, that would only account for of our DACA students remain $1,912,500. However, the intersafe in this time of need. A decinational students that spoke with sion is coming to be made in the El Vaquero had all paid their fees, next coming months before the this poses the question that if upcoming presidential election. these numbers are correct, which percentage of the 425 students Eduardo Carreño be reached at owe that balance? They claimed ecarren860@student.glendale.edu.
it couldn’t be the majority as the international program would have serious issues with that. One international student at GCC told El Vaquero, “Reading the newspaper made me question how many international students haven’t paid for their tuition, as being one myself and having known many students that have paid their balance in full, it seems strange that we still ‘owe’ more than half of the current semester’s debt.” Another GCC international student said, “If that’s a real number, there should be a better way to handle international students’ debt, as this amount hurts the school and the international students’ reputation.” As another international student pointed out, “That value should have mentioned as well how many international students owe that amount. Not saying it makes it sound as all students are faulty in debt.” While it seems that International students are being unjustly scapegoated, which poses yet more questions, El Vaquero was unable to get a comment from the GCC administration. The lack of transparency in a public institution is unfortunate and makes it impossible for student journalism to function effectively on its home ground at GCC.
EDITORIAL
U.S. Gun Violence action Needs Solutions, Not Posturing is taken by Congress to en- and Bullets: School Shootings driver’s license, but we don’t re-
Anthony Gharib Staff Illustrator
By El Vaquero Editorial Board Graduation day proves to be an exciting and memorable time. The beginning of adulthood is right around the corner, a conclusion to public education that has shaped you into the person you are today and the excitement of finally moving towards your preferred career. High school graduation also poses the end of another common theme. Many high school graduations are rife with trauma. That is, the trauma of losing peers to a blood bath. In America, those blood baths, mass shootings, are far too common. The latest in the saga is Saugus High School in Santa
Clarita. Last month Saugus High School was broken when Nathanial Tennosuke Berhow, a junior at the school, opened fire on five students the morning of Nov. 14 wounding three and killing two. Surveillance showed Berhow open fire in the school’s quad as he pulled a .45 caliber pistol from his backpack, shot his fellow students, and then himself in the head in a span of 16 seconds. The Saugus shooting provided more evidence of the far too disturbing commonality in America. Every week, the country is either disturbed by a mass shooting or annoyed by an early morning Trump rant on Twitter. The more school shootings occur the less
sure fewer occur. The numbers are staggering and simply sickening to look at. Since 2014 there have been 1,669 mass shootings across the country. A shooting almost once a day for the last five years. Mental health and the effects of bullying are key components in discussing the “why” part of mass shootings. Emotional and mental health information isn’t accessible to much of our youth, and most children don’t know that this is information that they will need to refer to throughout their lives. As a result, most of their problems get bottled up inside; they’re unaware of how to communicate internally or ask for help, and unhealthy outlets are used to process these emotions. Other factors can contribute, but bullying is a common thread between most shooters. School shooters don’t just wake up one day and decide to commit mass murder and often times suicide thereafter. “First the shooter begins to have thoughts and fantasies about getting revenge on his tormentors. At what point it moves from fantasy to actual planning is uncertain. It may be after repeated tormenting or abuse from other youths or there is a trigger that occurs in the youth’s life around a situation or stressor,” author Marcel Lebrun writes in his book “Books, Blackboards,
and Violence in America.” In most cases, educators do not see the warning signs early enough, and sometimes it’s almost impossible to see them. If some of the curricula focused on mental health education, it might be easier to spot the warning signs in an individual, or the student may be willing to seek help before things get to that point. Many schools need to implement better reporting systems for students if they’re experiencing bullying, violence, or even issues at home that are troubling them. They need to know that there are supportive staff members available who can help them deal with and problem-solve their issues. Students should also be able to turn to their fellow students for help. Educating students on how to be peer mediators, mentors, and how to communicate with their fellow students could go a long way to developing more trust within the student body. Many times, students see certain warning signs from their peers that adults miss, but they don’t know how or where to go to report their concerns. When it comes to purchasing guns, more extensive background checks should be done, but mental health evaluations should also be mandatory. We make people take written tests and physical driving tests before getting a
quire that an individual get evaluated by a trained professional before putting a deadly weapon in their possession. In what world does that make sense? In fact, we even make people retake written or driving tests every so often to ensure that they should continue to be able to have a license. This should be something that we implement in gun ownership as well. Individuals that own guns should have to pass mental health evaluations every year or two, and if they don’t pass then all of their weapons should be confiscated. A person can be mentally healthy at a certain point in their life, and then a life stressor or tragedy could happen that makes them no longer mentally fit to own a gun. A system like this could help ensure that people who own guns can mentally handle the responsibility that goes with it. The mass shooting saga has proven to be our generations 9/11. However, in this case the problem does not arise from the depths of the Middle East, but from our own backyards. It is important for us to act upon ways to keep this from becoming so common. When speaking to other students about the mass shooting a frequent response was “again?” Yup, again. It’s time for change and change starts with us.
6
Tuesday, December 4, 2019
OPINION
www.elvaq.com
The Truth About Ber nie Sanders Presidential hopeful is one of the biggest frauds in the Democratic Party By Gurgen Sahakyan Staff Writer Bernie Sanders is one of the favorites to clinch the Democratic nomination for 2020. Many praise the 78-year-old for putting in effort to help those who are financially struggling, by aiming to fight against top corporations with strict regulations and high taxes. He is also very popular because many believe Sanders is an uncontroversial character with no history of actions and words that would disappoint the public, unlike our current president. However, that is far from the truth. His economic policy, as he describes, is that of the ideology of Democratic Socialism; however, history shows that the Vermont Senator may be an advocate for Socialist and even Communist dictatorships. In 1985, Sanders was filmed in an interview in which he praised Cuba and its dictator Fidel Castro. In the video, Bernie said, “You may recall way back in 1961 when they invaded Cuba, everybody was totally convinced that Castro was the worst guy in the world … they forgot that he educated their kids, gave them healthcare, totally transformed the society.” Bernie began speaking highly of a man who is looked at as one of the worst leaders in history, mostly due to his anti-humanitarian actions and poor political ideology of Communism. Bernie’s approval of Communist regimes does not stop there, however. In 1988, when Bernie Sanders returned from a trip to the Soviet Union, he made a speech in front of fellow government officials about his experience and began praising the nation left and right. Sanders made comments about how beautiful everything he saw was. He wasn’t just talking about the architecture. “Also I was impressed by the youth pro-
Sustainability at GCC is No Longer a Choice By Athena Bamrick & Angelu Lesaca Staff Writers It’s impossible to deny that Glendale Community College has gradually transformed into a much greener campus. As enumerated on the college’s website, there were sustainable improvements made involving the areas of transportation, buildings and construction, water and energy— a remarkable feat in our goal towards a circular economy. Monetary incentives are given to students and employees who lessen their carbon footprint through modes of public transit or walking to school. Recycling stations are installed on most buildings, whereas newer buildings and bathrooms utilize reclaimed water. Large solar panels on the parking structure and Cimmarusti Science Center offset a portion of the colleges’ electrical demands. Together with the Environmental Affairs Committee (EAC), they are undoubtedly committed to green our campus as plans were made to integrate energy-efficiency, meeting LEED standards on all new buildings to be constructed.
grams that they have, their palaces of culture for the young people, a whole variety of programs for young people, and cultural programs which go far beyond what we do in this country,” Sanders stated during his speech. This raised eyebrows as people began to wonder if Sanders did indeed support the Soviets’ economic and social systems. This was the same Soviet Union that fell apart three years later due to a poor economic situation, hunger, and tyranny from the government. It appears Bernie Sanders has a history of praising dictators and their communist regimes. The same regimes that killed millions of innocent citizens of these respective nations. There is yet another instance of Sanders praising dictatorships who oppress their own people. Much more recent this time, Bernie in 2011 uploaded an editorial on his Senate website, in which he insisted that due to the economic policies, Venezuelans are living the American dream better than us Americans. Within the same decade, under the same leadership, Venezuela hit a peak inflation rate of 282,973% in April of 2019, as opposed to the 1.8% of the United States. Venezuela is also experiencing a tremendous gross domestic product (GDP) shrink, as opposed to the U.S.’ continuously growing economy, according to data from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Furthermore, reports state that Venezuelans are starving to the point where many eat out of the garbage, and even pets and other animals on the streets. When they protest the government, the military responds to the protestors with force. This man has also endorsed breadlines, insisting that they are a good thing for a country. A breadline is when a nation faces a food shortage, therefore people must stand in line for hours to hopefully be able to purchase food from the one place in town that sells it. “Breadline-Bernie,” as you would call it. All of this is a direct effect of a dictator
who implements socialist ideology into the nation- Bernie Sanders has endorsed all of this. The popular politician is no stranger to hypocrisy as well. Sanders has made a federal $15 minimum wage one of his biggest goals to achieve if he becomes president. However, a little bit of research shows many of his staffers filed complaints because they were being paid less than that, $13 an hour, for the most part. This man advocates for all workers around the nation to be paid a “living wage,” however he himself is not willing to pay his employees accordingly. Time and time again, Sanders has endorsed and promoted many leftist ideologies and dictatorships that have torn down nations, oppressed their peoples, and gave the children of these nations no hope for the future. On top of that, he is a massive hypocrite when comparing his actions to his words. It is beyond ridiculous that he has not faced backlash from the mass media for his
support and endorsement of ideologies and actions that go totally against what our nation’s Constitution stands for. Perhaps due to the fact that he is exactly what the current leftist agenda needs as a leader. One thing I can give credit to Senator Sanders for, however, is the man has kept his views consistent throughout his entire career as a politician. Unlike countless other Democratic leaders such as Hillary Clinton who was anti-same-sex marriage her whole career until around 2013 when she wanted to run for president. Or like former President Barack Obama, who also was anti-same-sex marriage until public opinion changed, and was anti-illegal immigration until President Trump came around with his strong views towards the matter. Being 78-years-old, instead of running for president, he should instead choose to retire, or perhaps find a new career at the circus.
Are these efforts enough? GCC has no formal policies on food waste. The Environment and Sustainability tab of the college website, it states: “There are no formal policies at this time regarding the health or environmental impacts of foods provided on campus.” It is necessary to address food waste for us to detach ourselves from unsustainable practices and ultimately be an environmentally sustainable college. We unload so much trash on our landfills when we can alternatively compost our food scraps. In 2017, U.S. generated and landfilled as much as 139.6 million tons of Municipal Solid Waste, as EPA states. Food was the largest component, of about 22%, followed by plastics. This unnecessarily takes much space, creating a need for more land to be displaced to create more landfills to store it all. Its decomposition leads to the generation of methane gas, an overproduction of methane, eventually leading to explosions and unprecedented fires. The effects of inaction are even prevalent in our very own backyards. As documented in the LA Times, Glendale city’s spokeswoman Elizah Papazian wrote that city officials estimate that the Scholl Canyon Landfill in South East Glendale has sufficient space to remain operable for only ten more years. After which Glendale will have to transport waste to a farther location. From an economic standpoint, food waste is incredibly inefficient. Based on USDA’s Economic Research Service, food waste generated in 2010 is of such great
magnitude, that if reallocated to where it’s needed most, it would be enough to feed approximately 133 billion people. An estimated 30- 40% of food supply was wasted on both retail and consumer levels, which is $161 billion worth of discarded food. Pacific Dining, an outsourced for-profit company, operates both cafeterias on campus. Thus far, the company has eliminated styrofoam and uses paper and utensils derived from plants. However, neither alternative can be composted conventionally nor recycled. Patrick Shahnazarian, Maintenance and Operations Manager at GCC, reports that Pacific Dining is open to composting, with an added monthly fee of $400. The college spent $65,000 solely on solid waste and recycling with our hauler Southland Disposal in 2018. That would mean an increase of $4,800 in disposal yearly. One Glendale councilwoman echoed support for tighter initiatives. “We must educate ourselves and our community on waste,” Paula Devine said in an interview. “We have signs that our environment is threatened, and I am impressed with the younger generations’ determination to take action.” She added that GCC has an impressive Food Pantry, enabling students in need of access to a free supply of goods. Aside from the City of Glendale’s commitment to divert 75% of waste from our landfill, Councilwoman Devine proposed a Food Recovery Program, wherein surplus food would be redistributed to centers in
need. Devine noted that “Benjamin Franklin Elementary School is a great framework of sustainability, a model to be applied to GCC or any institution.” Benjamin Franklin Elementary is the first in the district to become environmentally-focused on waste. A $20,000 industrial dishwasher from Hobart Corp. and $5,000 from Glendale Unified was donated to provide for accessories like dish and drying racks, dollies, trays, and utensils. Sustainability is further reinforced to Franklin students, having the option to either bring their utensils or use the stainless-steel ones at school. This revamping helped undo the changes made to Glendale Unified schools when in the 1980s routinely used dishwashers and reusable utensils were phased out in favor of single-use products. It falls on the Board of Trustees to weigh this cost of considerable worth in investing resources and capital, transforming GCC as a leader of sustainability in Community Colleges. Thereby living up to the Zero Waste Initiative, the EAC and city of Glendale supports adapting. As Jonathan Bloom, author of “American Wasteland” brilliantly writes, “Schools are places of learning, so why not treat our cafeteria as
Anahit Sydney & Gurgen Sahakyan Staff Illustrators
Gurgen Sahakyan can be reached at gurgensahakyan07@gmail.com
Athena Bamrick and Angelu Lesaca can be reached at gsfs19@gmail.com
www.elvaq.com SPORTS
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
7
Age Is Only A Number Vicky Oganyan shares her story about reuniting with the basketball court By Jenilee Borek Staff Writer Science teacher, high school basketball coach, and current student-athlete? At 40 years old, Vicky Oganyan is a starting guard on GCC’s women’s basketball team, and proves that you’re never too old to do something you love. Vicky’s parents are from Armenia, but she grew up in Glendale. Her love for basketball started at a young age when she would go to the park with her dad and her brother. “We played different sports. We’d play soccer, basketball but for some reason I think I just fell in love with the game,” she said. Like many kids who grew up in
the 90’s, the Chicago Bulls were her favorite team and Michael Jordan was her favorite player. She remembers sitting right in front of her television, yelling and screaming for her team. Oftentimes in middle school she’d play basketball with the boys at lunch or she’d play at the YMCA, but she wasn’t actually on an organized team until high school, where she attended Glendale High. “We lived in an apartment, so sometimes when I didn’t have access to an actual basketball court I would just go downstairs, and I made this fake hoop out of wire that I put in this back area that there was, and I would just go and try to imitate the moves that I saw on TV,” she told El Vaquero. It was in high school that her basketball IQ grew, and she started to understand the x’s and o’s of the game. After high school Vicky attended Cali-
GCC Sports Courtesy Photo
PROTEST: Vicky Oganyan, No. 4 on the Lady Vaqs’ basketball team, goes in for the layup. The 40-year-old proves that age is merely an obstacle to success, even in sports.
Analysis: GCC’s Sports in Review By Elone Safaryan Associate Sports Editor
Here is your recap of all sports at GCC from Oct. 29 to Nov. 25 Women’s Soccer The Lady Vaqs had quite a rough season. Injuries, key players leaving, and inconsistent play have put the team in a real bad spot. Their overall season resulted in six wins, one tie, and 15 losses. Despite their abysmal play, the team has a good mix of freshmen, but lack experienced sophomores, which could also be another reason for their poor season. The major reason for their current predicament is injuries. An example of this would be during a home game against Santa Monica. If you happened to attend the game and took a gander at both teams’ benches, you would see a huge difference between the two. Santa Monica had a considerable number of substitutes sitting out while Glendale had only two. Fatigue could also be playing a huge part here as well. In addition to the injuries the team may be playing through, not hav-
ing enough players to take over for them could result in over usage and affect their play even more. Best look to next season where the team will be fully healed and ready to play. Women’s Volleyball Not bad but certainly not great. The volleyball team has stayed average throughout the season. With an overall record of nine wins and 12 losses, things could be a lot worst for the team. If there is one thing the volleyball team has struggled with, it would be consistency. Throughout the season they would go on losing streaks followed by a slew of wins, followed by more losses. The Lady Vaqs struggled quite a bit to find their groove, especially on the road. Their away record stands stronger than their home and neutral record. Women’s Basketball The women’s basketball team has gotten off to a really good start. Unlike their male counterparts, the women have shined and shown dedication. After losing their first game, they went on and currently are still on a five-game winning streak improving their record to 5-1. They are currently averaging 67.3 points per game, while also maintaining a FG% of 38.5, as well as 25.8 rebounds per game. Great stuff ladies, keep up the good work.
fornia State University Northridge, but she didn’t play basketball even though she wanted to. “My parents were kind of from the old school culture like, sports are not a big deal. You need to go get your degree kind of thing,” she said. It upset her to not play, but she understood that her parents were pushing education so that she would be able to provide for herself. “My parents both worked super hard to try to get me and my brother to be successful,” she expressed. She decided to major in health science, and she got her bachelors and masters degrees. Even though she didn’t play, she started coaching basketball right out of high school. She worked as the assistant coach under her former high school coach at Glendale High School, and followed him when he went to coach at Valencia High School. Coaching became a way for her to stay connected to the game that she loved, and it taught her a lot. “When I had to teach other people how to play, that’s when I really understood the game better,” she said. In 2002, Vicky was hired at John Burroughs High School in Burbank to teach science. During her first year at Burroughs she was still coaching in Valencia. In her second year, the administration asked if she would coach the junior varsity team at Burroughs and stop coaching in Valencia. She agreed, and, in 2004, she got the head coaching job at Burroughs and has been coaching the women’s team there ever since. She enjoys coaching the women’s team, and there are certain things that she tries to instill in her players. On the court, she teaches them the importance of team chemistry, how to play aggressively, and to be mentally tough. Off the court, it’s about putting themselves aside for something that’s bigger than each of them individually. “No one’s gonna remember five years from now what our record was, but we’re gonna remember what type of journey we had and what type of connections we had,” she tells them. Another thing that she thinks is important is building their confidence. “If you want something you should go get it. Gen-
der shouldn’t be something that stops you,” she said. She hopes that basketball teaches them to stick with something, to not fear failure, and gives them a feeling of accomplishment. In 2016 a new opportunity came her way which eventually led to her playing on the team at GCC this season. She was contacted by coach Weiss because he was trying to recruit high school students to play at GCC. Vicky was interested in learning the college system of coaching, and she became the assistant coach. At that time she was coaching both at Burroughs and at GCC. Then, she received an email notifying her that she could take units at GCC that would allow her to move up the pay scale at Burroughs, and that’s when she got the idea to play instead of coach. “I think just because I never played in college that buzz was always there,” she said. The only time she would play was in the summer at an Armenian tournament. “Every summer when I play that competitiveness comes back, and I’m always super excited. Then when it ends I’m just depressed,” she said. Coach Weiss agreed to allow her to play this season, and it’s giving her fulfillment since she didn’t get to play in college when she was younger. She doesn’t take any of it for granted. She’s excited for practices, games, and enjoys representing something bigger than herself. As for on the court, she says that the team has good chemistry and the age difference doesn’t really matter. “Always teaching high school kids, coaching high school kids … it keeps you young. On the basketball court I don’t think anybody thinks about age. You’re just you’re sharing your passion for a certain game, and you’re just playing together,” she said. Vicky might want to become a coach on the college level at some point in the future, but for now she’s happy coaching at Burroughs and getting a chance to play at GCC. “My true number one passion is basketball. If I did basketball all day, you know, I’d be super happy,” she said.
Women’s Cross Country Congratulations to the women’s crosscountry team on winning the 43rd California Community College Women’s Cross Country Championships. The team has shown nothing but excellence. They were led by Jamie Levin, Phoebe Forsyth, and Yajaira Calderon who all went on to receive All-America status by finishing 14th or higher. Congrats ladies, you deserve it.
ing 62.2 points a game and a FG% of 37.5. Off to a rough start but there’s still time as the men’s team could still turn things around and go far.
Men’s Football It’s been said multiple times already. The football team has been… not so good, to put it nicely. While only winning two games, they have lost the other eight games maintaining a record of 2-8. They’ve struggled on the road and they have struggled at home. The defense has been sub par, allowing an average of 41 points per game. Offense too often struggled throughout the season, scoring an average of 20.8 points per game. There are a lot of glaring issues with the team, issues that can hopefully be solved once a new coach is brought in. . Men’s Basketball There are ways to start a season. One way is getting blown out of the water, which is what the men’s basketball team elected to do. Not ideal but it is what it is. The men went on to lose one game win the next while losing the next two maintaining a record of 1-4. They are currently averag-
Jenilee Borek can be reached at jborek028@student.glendale.edu
Men’s Soccer Such a heartbreaking end to their season. Before the month of November, the men’s soccer team had accumulated a record of 10-5-3. They could have gone far and possibly made the playoffs, but instead, their season ended sooner than expected. In their remaining four games, the men allowed nine goals while scoring only three. Bad timing for the offense to disappear into thin air. Their season ended with a record of 10-9-3, goals scored per game at 1.32 while goals against was 1.38. Not great but certainly not terrible. Men’s Cross Country Despite not finishing at the top, the Men’s Cross Country team managed to finish in fourth place at the State Championship race. Their ranking this season would prove to be more impressive than last season, where they wound up in sixth place. Spencer Geck would be the top runner for GCC finishing with a time of 20:57.4. Certainly not a great end but not too bad either. Elone Safaryan can be reached at esafary181@student.glendale.edu
8
www.elvaq.com ENTERTAINMENT/ADVERTISEMENT
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
ADVERTISEMENT
By Anthony Gharib Staff Writer The scandal regarding popular news broadcast station Fox News will be documented in the film “Bombshell,” to be released Dec. 13. The film revolves around Fox News journalists finding the courage to speak up against thenCEO Roger Ailes and his sexually predatory behavior. “Bombshell” depicts the long and disturbing relationship between female and male counterparts in the workplace, many of whom have the blonde-haired ‘Barbie’ look most commonly associated with a Fox News anchor. For many years, the network had a consistent pattern of women to anchor their shows, which often gravitated toward extreme rightwing views and analysis. “Bombshell” includes a starstudded cast with Academy Award winners Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, and nominee Margot Robbie. The film is also directed by Jay Roach, wellknown for directing the “Meet The Parents” film series. The trailer released for the upcoming movie includes a chilling scene where Roger Ailes, played by John Lithgow, emphasizes to
Lionsgate Courtesy Photo
Last Christmas: Love Beyond Imagination The new film challenges the traditional rom-com narrative
By Anahit Sydney Senior Production Manager
It has become increasingly difficult to find a decent Christmas movie that sets the holiday mood and gives the same level of satisfaction as classics from the past. Most current-day Christmas movies include D-list actors, poor production and low-budget equipment, making it very difficult for the audience to remain engaged. However, notable screenplay writers Emma Thompson and Bryony Kimmings, along with director Paul Feig, have produced a new Christmas classic with their new film “Last Christmas.” “Last Christmas,” which came out on Nov. 8, stars award-winning actors Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding. It was written around the song “Last Christmas” by Wham!, and has since given the song a whole new perspective. It is not your typical feel-goodhappy-ending rom-com, but it, in fact, has the ability to move one deeply- more than what a modern-day love story typically does.
anchor Kayla Pospisil, played by Margot Robbie, that she must prove that she can be trusted. In other words, implying a sexual favor must be committed in order to move up in the ranks of the company. It also contained a moment in an elevator where Pospisil (Robbie) chooses the floor of Ailes’ office, as Charlize Theron, who plays former host Megyn Kelly, notices, causing suspicion within her, only to see Nicole Kidman transformed into anchor Gretchen Carlson, walk in and grimace when seeing someone already chose Ailes’ office. That concludes the nail-biting teaser trailer. CEO Roger Ailes played an immense role in hiring anchors for Fox News. In one instance, he was mentioned to have offered a raise to a former unnamed anchor if she would sleep with him. The allegations from author Gabriel Sherman and most notably anchor Gretchen Carlson resulted in more than 10 women coming forward to accuse Ailes of sexual assault. This occurred in the midst of the Me Too movement, which empowered women to step up against the threat of sexual harassment in the workplace. The movie promises to be a thrilling piece, with real-life scenarios, including the moment Sherman’s allegations became public and President Trump’s comments regarding Megyn Kelly became primetime television. “Bombshell” will be released to the general public next week and critics predict an immense box office hit. Anthony Gharib can be reached at agharib949@student.glendale.edu
The film is based in London and follows the main character Kate, played by Emilia Clarke, who has lost direction and selfidentity after falling ill and getting a heart transplant. The transplant and other familial difficulties resulted in resentment towards her family members and some friends, so she isolated herself. At some point, Kate even battles homelessness, because she’d much rather sleep outside than in her home with family. She spent much of her time day-drinking in London pubs, while her evenings were much like crashing with friends or spending the night with strange men. It was evident that this was her way of ‘acting out’ and escaping her own reality. Kate is a former singer who works at a year-round Christmas store, selling ornaments and other decorations. Her lack of enthusiasm at work threatens her job and she is in a state of limbo as she fails to secure singing jobs timeafter-time after auditions. Among the craziness of her reality, Kate is constantly and desperately trying to find herself- to heal and to protect herself from further emotional and mental damage. That’s until she crosses paths with a charming young man, Tom Webster, played by Henry Gold-
ing. Tom reminds Kate of everything she once was- excited, full of life, and optimistic. Instantly, he teaches her to disconnect from the technological world and to be present in every moment of every day. He looks beyond the surface of things and tries to find a purpose and silver lining in all of his encounters. He visits her at work whenever she is having a difficult time or is not feeling well; almost like he senses her need for his presence. Tom inspires Kate to take initiative in her life and call the shots. Because of this, she begins auditioning for different roles, volunteering, doing charity work, and even reconnecting and making amends with her family and friends. He shows her a different side of the world that no one else has been able to, by giving her a sense of comfort and trust. One that she has never felt before. Ultimately, the two fall in love, but a shocking plot twist gets in the way of them ever being together in a way that the audience would expect. Despite the inability to be one as a couple, Tom eternally gave Kate his heart, and in return, she gave him her soul. Anahit Sydney can be reached at anahitsahakyan0329@gmail.com
Universal Pictures Courtesy Photo