Oct. 28, 2009

El Vaquero October 28, 2009

Glendale College

reaching new heights

Lady Vaqueros Come From Behind to Win Over Citrus 3-2

Story page 17

Photo by Richard Kontas

2

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

www.elvaq.com

NEWS / CORRECTION

Pared-down Winter Session, El Vaquero Staff Planned by Trustees Glendale Community College

editor in chief

Brandon Hensley

NEWS/FEATURES EDITOR

Isiah Reyes

By Daniel Choi

CAMPUS EVENTS EDITOR

Angelica Fraire

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Ashley Chang

SPORTS EDITOR

Chloe Vignolles-Jeong

STAFF WRITERS

Aris Allahverdian Agnes Constante AnnaLinda Andersson Jesse Gutierrez Daniel Choi Amy Hirsch Anissa Clarke Vera Iwanoff Judy Del Castillo Agnes Constante Yesenia Pereyra STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS

Richard Kontas Louis Roche Jr. Shaun Kelly Production Manager

Jane Pojawa

design adviser

Charles Eastman

faculty adviser

advertising

Michael Moreau Jeff Smith

mmoreau@glendale.edu (818) 551-5214

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

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

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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.

EL VAQUERO

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issue in this 2009 Oct. 28, mber 4

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EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

T

he board of trustees discussed the recommendation of a CEO search firm and prospective changes to the 2010 winter session among other topics in a meeting on Oct. 19 in Kreider Hall.

The Board of Trustees Advisory Hiring Committee prepared a recommendation to hire Professional Personnel Leasing Inc., under Donald Averill, to help conduct the search for GCC’s new president.

Interim superintendent/president Dawn Lindsay is expected to be replaced by July 1, 2010.

The road to recommendation

took two meetings to reach.

It began with the committee reviewing proposals submitted by six search firms at the first meeting, then narrowing the search to two at the second. After interviewing the selected firms, the committee asked the board of trustees to approve the recommendation of Professional Personnel Leasing for several reasons.

As stated in the Report of Recommendation, “Dr. Averill knows the history of Glendale Community College as a former employee of 11 years. The search firm has community college experience and a good track record.

And it has reasonable services and a fee structure.”

Following the recommendation,

Ricardo Perez, chair of the committee, gave a further update on the search for a new president.

“We are using doodle.com to figure out how we’re going to schedule 16 members and our consultant (PPL) within the next two to three weeks to finalize a job description and move forward with a time line for this process.”

The board approved the Memorandum of Understanding regarding the 2010 winter session.

A tentative agreement was established on Oct. 5 to change the working hours of more than 350 college employees. Staff members working in financial aid and student services are among those affected by the agreement.

[See Winter Session, page 3]

Online Exclusives

Turn to www.elvaq.com for more online extras: more stories, more photos, slide shows and breaking news. Join online forums, discussion boards, comment on articles, add events to the calendar and participate in reader polls. Elvaq.com allows readers to join our awardwinning staff in cyberspace.

Check the next online version for the following stories: “The Battle to Save the Mountain Gorillas with filmmaker Stefan Lovgren in Kreider Hall,”

by Vera Iwanoff, photo by Edgar Sanchez “Zombie Movies Are Far from Dead: Zombieland Movie Review,” by Isiah Reyes “Dance Department Dedicates ‘Phanatics’ to Fallen Classmate,” by Anissa Clarke “L.A. Times Columnist Goes ‘Solo’ for A Talk,” by Angelica Fraire “Bob Dylan at The Hollywood Palladium,” by Aris Allahverdian

COVER CAPTION: Glendale sophomore Ashliy Veliz spikes the ball during the Vaqueros 3-2 come from behind victory against Citrus College Oct. 20 in Verdugo Gym.

Correction:

In the Oct. 14 issue the story titled “Students, Pros Grace Pages of Eclipse” contained the following errors: “Eclipse is the only national journal that publishes student work right alongside professionals,” should have read “Eclipse is one of the only national community college journals that publishes student work right alongside professionals.”

Arin Keshishian, a writer for Eclipse, was incorrectly indentified with a female pronoun. Keshishian is a male student.

The sentence “he has a full staff of people that help him with the book,” should have read: “He has student assistant….”

It is incorrectly stated that the latest run of the magazine was 12,000 copies, down from 18,000. It should have read: “Eclipse currently prints 1,200 copies, down from a previous run of 1,800.

www.elvaq.com

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

3

NEWS / LETTER

Journalism Program Wins at Conference

By Daniel Choi

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

G

lendale College maintained its usual polish at the Journalism Association of Community Colleges’ (JACC) Southern California conference on Oct. 23 and 24, with El Vaquero and The Insider as its representatives.

Held at Cal State Fullerton, the conference hosted more than 400 community college students from 27 schools with competitions and workshops.

Staff members from both El Vaquero and the Insider garnered multiple awards by partaking in mail-in, bring-in and on-thespot competitions. The mailin competition consisted of articles, photos and page layouts credited to last semester’s staff.

Students prepared for the bring-in competition beforehand by taking photos on campus and designing a house ad for the Web. For the bring-in competition, students competed with each other in different areas of journalism, from copy editing to broadcast newswriting.

Winners included El Vaquero’s editor-in-chief, Brandon Hensley, Jesse Gutierrez, Richard Kontas, Anita Marto, AnnaLinda Andersson and Jane Pojawa, the

Dear Mr. Hensley:

Insider’s editor-in-chief.

Hensley, who is also SoCal Regional Student Vice President for the association, won a firstplace award for writing a profile feature about Monica Kaufmann, a cheerleader who won $50,000 on the TV show “Wipeout,” and received an honorable mention for his column writing.

He also participated in an on-thespot feature-writing contest that earned him a second honorable mention.

Gutierrez and Kontas landed a third-place win in the “Inside Page Layout” category for a feature “Student Art Show Showcases Abstract Expression,” which they did last semester. Gutierrez also received an honorable mention for his book review of “Pride, Prejudice and Zombies.”

Anita Marto and Kontas earned a fourth-place award for a photo essay/story, and Marto received an honorable mention for “Circle in the Square,” an online exclusive slideshow.

Photographer Kontas, displaying his keen eye for still images, earned himself an honorable mention for taking a sports photo in an on-the-spot competition, won second-place for a sports photo he took last semester, and received another honorable mention in the bring-in

competition for his feature photo on the topic of campus health care.

Andersson received an honorable mention in an editorial cartoon competition which showcased her artistic skills and cleverness.

The Insider, a relatively new publication, received six awards, including a magazine general excellence award and an honorable mention for a cover picture.

Pojawa racked up a bevy of awards, including first-place for her opinion piece “Proposition 8 Recalls Landmark Case,” fourthplace for a feature on Andrew McGregor, and an honorable mention for a profile feature on Jorge Acevedo.

“Michael Moreau, the faculty advisor for the journalism department, and I started the Insider magazine in spring 2008, which was really ground-breaking because even though Glendale has had a campus newspaper for 72 years, we’ve never had a magazine,” said Pojawa.

“We had a terrific pool of talented writers in the feature writing class [JOURN 107] and it seemed logical that they should be able to get their work published in the same way that the JOURN 103 and 104 classes provide the

Letter to the Editor

Why are you publishing Tom Tomorrow’s Obama-bashing political cartoon? Is this the work of one of our GCC students? I doubt it since Matt Groenig’s is in there, too. I never knew the El Vaq. to be like Fox TV until today. It’s very disappointing. I expect to see a more educated and intelligent presentation of both sides of any issue.

That cartoon is especially trashy, bumper sticker stuff that offends and disturbs me. Hope I will see more balanced and objective journalism being modeled next time. Sorry that you made the poor decision to publish such accusatory rumors as “fake birth certificate.” Are these your personal political views? Did your staff vote to publish that? If yes, why isn’t it on the editorial page?

OOps! There is no editorial page. Why is that?

The political cartoon is in “Arts and Entertainment”. (?) I suppose Rush Limbaugh and rant radio are entertained, but I’m not. Guess I will stop encouraging my ESL students to read this thing.

Correction. You do have an opinion page, I see. There are two pages. One is about smoking which is appropriate and timely and the other with more Obama criticism. Maybe the next issue will present both sides, but I am seeing a pattern here that I think is not balanced. Our students deserve a fairer discussion of the issues.

Dear Professor Anderson:

— Cheryl Andersen ESL Professor

We are glad you picked up the Oct. 14 issue of El Vaquero. However, it seems as if you have not seen any of the past issues of our newspaper. If you had, you would have noticed that Tom Tomorrow has been in our paper for years as a syndicated cartoon that we subscribe to, and is anything but a conservative, Obama-bashing strip. Perhaps you just picked the wrong issue to start reading it.

In addition, the opinion piece that our writer Ashley Chang wrote is her plea to our president to encourage the U.S. to end the war in Afghanistan. It certainly doesn’t scream of right-wing bias.

However, El Vaquero encourages all points of view. I would hope that you would still encourage your students to read El Vaquero even though you were offended by what you read in the last issue.

— Brandon Hensley, Editor-In-Chief

talent behind El Vaquero.”

The staff was able to publish its first magazine in print, but as a result of insufficient funds, the fall 2008 and spring 2009 publications were only available online.

“We [the Insider] have done incredibly well in this short period of time,” she said. “In only a year-and-a-half we have won 12 awards, including a prestigious General Excellence Award in each semester.”

“I think it points to some really talented student journalists in our program and I also think that the quality and the depth of content resonate with our readers.”

Aside from awards and welldeserved recognition, students left the conference with enduring lessons and friendships.

“Even though I didn’t personally win any awards this time, I think the whole experience is what it’s about anyway,” said Isiah Reyes, El Vaquero’s news and feature editor. “The competitions, workshops, bonding ... it’s what you take from it that makes it right.”

See related feature pages 10-11 Daniel Choi can be reached at Daniel_Choi@elvaq.com

Board of Trustees [Winter Session, from page 2]

Instead of working five eight-hour days, they will work four 10-hour days. This will allow certain buildings to close on Fridays, saving money on utility bills.

“We appreciate the flexibility of the California Schools Employee Association in being willing to work a fourday week because it sounds wonderful, but 10 hours a day is sometimes difficult and it’s nice to have that other day,” Ransford said.

The trustees also approved Resolution No.11, which sponsors the nomination Bhupesh Parikh for the 2010 Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

The National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations sponsors the medals every year.

They are awarded to American citizens who commit their lives to community service, celebrate their ancestry and strive to create a better world.

Parikh, a civil engineer, built a school for young girls with physical disabilities in his hometown, Kadi, India. He also donated $1 million to GCC for construction of the Bhupesh Health Science and Technology Building in 2005.

“He deserves this so well,” said trustee Ann Ransford.

“Not only for everything he has done in his own distinguished career, but for giving back to the community.

“I think that’s really the part that makes him merit the award because a lot of people can become successful but they

don’t share it back and he is somebody who has done that.”

Addressing the H1N1 flu, Dr. Mary Mirch, acting vice president of instructional services and former associate dean of health services, presented a video put out by the State Chancellor’s Office.

“The most important thing that anyone can remember during this time when preparing for illness and the flu in particular, is good common sense,” said Mirch.

“You don’t cough into your hands. Anybody with a child knows you cough into your sleeve…wash your hands and if you’re sick, you stay home.”

The board presented a plaque of appreciation to Pasadena Fire Chief Dennis Downs for donating an ambulance to the college. Giving credit to the Pasadena City Council, Chief Downs said, “On behalf of the city of Pasadena, I’m accepting this plaque. Recognize that I’m just the facilitator. It was the city council that saw the vision to be able to donate the ambulance.

“To be able to train students to be top level EMT’s with the same equipment they would have once they get out into the field of working is invaluable.”

The next board of trustees meeting will be held on Nov. 16 at 5 p.m. in Kreider Hall.

Daniel Choi can be reached at Daniel_Choi@elvaq.com

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Wednesday, October 28, 2009

www.elvaq.com

NEWS

Winter Session Barely Salvaged From Budget Axe

By Agnes Constante EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

T

he college is offering classes to students this winter despite the budget shortages it currently faces.

Classes offered this intersession have been cut by 30 percent compared to those offered last winter.

According to acting vice president of Instructional Services Mary Mirch, a 30 to 50 percent reduction in winter courses at the college was initially was considered.

Ron Nakasone, interim vice president of administrative services said, “Originally we were thinking about cutting winter intersession altogether to address some of the budget cuts that the

college was experiencing.

“But what changed our mind was that we wanted to be able to minimize the impact of our budget cuts on students.”

Mirch said that the college is trying to meet as many student needs as possible by being attentive to the courses being offered.

Courses provided this winter are those that the college felt best suited students’ needs. Guidelines used in scheduling courses include those that would satisfy general education, transfer and certificate completion.

In choosing which classes to offer, factors the division chairs took into consideration included how many and which students could be served.

“One of the things I know one

of the division chairs did is that it was a decision between [one] class or [another] class that they’d offer, and they could serve more students by doing the first class,” Mirch said.

Division chairs made decisions in the courses that would be presented during the winter, and each division made cuts differently.

“In some divisions, they felt that they needed to provide maybe the same number of a particular course, and other areas they did decide they needed to provide different courses … in some cases sections were cut, in some cases courses were cut,” Mirch said.

With rumors that the college would not offer an intersession, kinesiology major Matthew Zari

was afraid his plans to transfer out would be delayed.

“I thought that was going to set me back a year or maybe another semester that I’d have to [take more classes in] spring,” he said.

In spite of reduced class offerings, Zari said, “Now that they haven’t [cut the intersession] I’m pretty happy.”

Zari plans to take Mass Communications 101 and Psychology 101.

Mirch advised students who plan to take classes this intersession to register on time and to take advantage of priority registration.

“Showing up the first day of class is probably not going to be the best way to get a class,” she said.

Though funding from the

state is based on enrollment, the state has limited the amount of enrollment it will fund the college.

“Simply because we can add 50 more classes, doesn’t mean we’re going to get paid by the state,” said Nakasone.

In the 2008-2009 school year, the college had 2,400 full-time equivalent students for which the college did not receive funding.

The college is hoping to save $600,000 by reducing class offerings this winter.

The campus is looking to go on a 40-hour work week. It will be closed on Fridays with the exception of select classes.

The 2010 winter intersession iwill run from Jan. 4 to Feb. 11.

Agnes Constante can be reached at Agnes_Constante@elvaq.com

Meditation Called Answer to Stressful Times

By AnnaLinda Andersson EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

M

editation is proven to be a successful way to reduce stress, emotions of fear, sadness and anger.

“Happiness is produced by the left side of our brain, and when one is stressed, the left brain shuts down,” guest speaker George Haas, said. “Meditation is an effective way to learn how to reduce the stress in your life and to turn your left brain back on.”

When not guest speaking at GCC, Haas is an experienced meditation teacher at the Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society in Los Angeles.

The mix of students, teacher and faculty at the second workshop for the semester on Oct. 14, had to wait a while for the lecture to begin because Haas had forgotten his bell.

According to Buddhist meditation, one must ring a bell three times before the meditation starts and once when finished.

The Health Service’s Mental Health Adviser Crescent Orpelli, one of the organizers behind the workshop, went away to find one. She came back after five minutes with two alternatives, and although he laughed at the choice, Haas went with a shiny clerk bell.

After the class sat with their

eyes closed in a relaxed pose, for every week. and inhaled and exhaled while When he told the class this, counting their breaths, “one, two, some protested and gave excuses three,” and then back down to one for not having enough time. again for 10 minutes, Haas rung “Time is just a phenomena of his bell once. our brain,” responded Haas.

The meditation workshops are Haas said it was best to meditate before he started talking part of a six-week series, which can be attended to better understand once, several the workshop ahead. or all times.

The idea behind The workshops meditation is to are sponsored explore what is by GCC’s already there, and Health Center to start living one’s and the Staff life instead of just Development walking through Department. it on automatic Faculty and pilot in a state of staff get credits unconsciousness.

— George Haas for attending “Our experience and although of the world is in our brain,” Haas said. “If one knows students do not, they get a lot how to control it, one can shut of useful information if this is out things such as anger, fear, something they are interested in. and sadness and truly experience The workshops have been happiness.” offered several times over the “Meditation will teach a past eight years. “We would be person who they really are,” he depriving the campus if we did said. “Many people, however, do not offer this opportunity,” Orpelli not meditate, for they are afraid said, when asked why GCC of what they might find out about provides the free workshops. themselves.”

The workshops are usually run There are a lot of different by Jeannie Townsend and take techniques, styles and types place on Wednesdays from noon of meditations, but Haas to 1 p.m. in SR116. recommended starting by meditating five minutes three times a week for the first week AnnaLinda Andersson can be reached at and then adding on five minutes AnnaLinda_Andersson@elvaq.com

“Time is just a phenomena of our brain”

check us out online:

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Wednesday, October 28, 2009

5

NEWS

President Terminates Professor Mid-Semester

By Isiah Reyes

EL VAQUERO NEWS/FEATURES EDITOR

S

tudents expecting to attend the Tuesday science lecture concerning the end of the universe were unaware that speaker Paul Kazarian has faced an end to his employment at GCC. Interim President Dawn Lindsay terminated the physics professor Oct. 20 on the grounds that his U.S. Immigration Services work permit had expired.

“My work authorization has expired, and they have decided that in the middle of the semester it is the right time to terminate me,” Kazarian said. “They say they can’t pay me and I am forbidden to coming to my class too.”

Lindsay said she could not talk about confidential personnel matters. Ron Harlan, dean of Instructional Services, also declined to comment.

According to the Ninth District Court of Appeals, Kazarian appealed against the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for an “extraordinary ability” visa six years ago.

The Administrative Appeals Office found that Kazarian failed to establish any of the necessary criteria for an “extraordinary ability” visa and dismissed the appeal. The case was heard in Pasadena on Dec. 9, 2008 with the decision filed Sept. 4.

Extraordinary ability “means a level of expertise indicating that the individual is one of that small percentage who have risen to the very top of the field of endeavor.”

The District Court found “substantial evidence,” which supported all of the Administrative Appeals Office’s findings.

“I have not done anything unlawful or wrong. I’m allowed to walk on campus,” Kazarian said.

“I’m not banned from campus.

I don’t have to be accompanied

by the police. I’m just like any regular citizen.”

According to Kazarian, he was not allowed to go back to his office to clear it without the aid of a police officer. Last Friday, as Kazarian was clearing his office, an incident occurred with John Leland, division chair of Physical Sciences. “[Kazarian] came Friday to pick up his things, and Leland spoke to Kazarian in a very degrading and dehumanizing matter,” said Harut Nalbandyan, 19, a witness of the incident.

“This whole process could have been handled very differently and that’s what I’m trying to point out to the school,” Nalbandyan said.

He is currently writing a petition for students to sign which will describe how disreputable the entire procedure was.

Between 2000 and 2004, Kazarian’s work at GCC was on a volunteer basis. He has served as a math, physics and programming tutor, an adjunct physics and mathematics instructor and was a speaker for the Science Lecture Series. In 2005, immigration decided not to renew his work permit.

“For four years I worked as a volunteer at the college. When I got my work permit, I was employed,” Kazarian said. “My legal situation has not changed.

It has been the same for all this time.”

This semester, Kazarian was signed on as a full-time employee and had a full list of physics courses.

“It’s very unpleasant that I cannot continue teaching the classes that I have started,” Kazarian said.

His classes are now being taught by John Gerz, assistant professor of physics.

Hrach Beglaryan, 19, a chemical engineering major, talked about his appreciation for Kazarian.

WANTED: Letters to the editor.. .

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“He helped me out a lot. I work at the planetarium and I got my job at the learning center because of him,” Beglaryan said.

The college decided to cancel the science lecture “From the Beginning to the End ... and Everything in Between (System Error: Please Reinstall the Universe and Reboot),” which Kazarian was scheduled to address, even though the lectures on campus do not have to be conducted by college employees.

“My sincere apologies for not being able to do the science lecture series Tuesday,” Kazarian said. “On the other hand, I understand that the auditorium is obviously under college control, and they legally do have the right to decide who they want to enter, and who they don’t want to enter the auditorium. So they did exercise that right.”

Kazarian still plans to continue doing research at Caltech. In the meantime, he still plans to visit the campus from time to time.

“I’ll be around. I don’t plan to leave the college for good.”

Isiah Reyes can be reached at isiah_reyes@elvaq.com

Photo by Shaun Kelly

TERMINATED?: Professor Paul Kazarian was dismissed on Oct. 20 following the revocation of his work permit.

6

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

www.elvaq.com

NEWS

Budget Cuts Delay Transfer Plans for Many

By Angelica Fraire

EL VAQUERO CAMPUS EVENTS EDITOR

W

ith today’s economy, being a competitive student can be a challenge when applying to four-year colleges or universities.

However, knowing the steps keeps the doors of opportunity open.

Like many others, Jennifer Celeste Mendoza, 18, applied to Cal State L.A., USC, Cal State Northridge, and UC Santa Barbara.

Mendoza is majoring in neurology, hoping to eventually earn her doctoral degree. She was happy to find out that “I got in to Santa Barbara, Northridge, and Cal State L.A. “I attended the orientations at Santa Barbara and Northridge, but when I realized that financial aid would not pay for outside housing, and that Santa Barbara was too expensive to live. I had nowhere to go,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza graduated from high school this past spring.

With the high price of tuition and living expenses, she asked her brother to help her find a college to attend this fall.

“My brother did some research and he told me that Glendale Community College

was the best choice,” Mendoza said.

However, Mendoza is not the only one who has scrambled to find a college at the last minute. While the percentage is not known at this time, many students on campus have had to attend community colleges out of high school or have been forced to stay another year instead of transferring after they have already been accepted to a college or university.

Transfer counselor Kevin Meza said, “UC’s should stay the same for fall,” when asked if California universities have been affected by accepting students during the economic crisis.

Meza strongly recommended “to apply on time and to have what the school is asking of them [for example the intuitions requirements] done.”

Meza has noticed that the colleges and universities have enforced their rules more strictly and that the institutions are less flexible than before about meeting requirements.

Knowing that UCLA, Cal State L.A., USC, and Cal State Northridge are the most common colleges that students tend to apply to, Meza said,

Photo by Angelica Fraire

TIME TO MOVE ON?: University representatives set up booths in Plaza Vaquero for the transfer fair, but students with an eye on expenses are staying at community colleges.

“Students that come to the Transfer Center and know their options will be better off when it comes to applying for schools.”

“A 2.0 GPA might not get you in, it would be more like a 2.4 or something like that [when applying to Cal Poly Pomona],”

Admission Counselor for Cal Poly Pomona, Dulce M. Guerrero said of her school.

Guerrero said bringing a student’s GPA up, having 60 semester transferable units completed prior to applying, and having recommended major classes completed will put them at a better advantage than the others when applying to Cal Poly Pomona.

Guerrero pointed out that because of budget cuts, majors that were not considered to be impacted in the past are now being impacted and the school is forced to accept fewer students.

The priority filing deadline

for fall 2010 is Nov. 30.

However, before that date, the Transfer Center will hold several events throughout this month and November to help students with the applications.

Some of the events scheduled include meetings with representatives from several colleges.

There are workshops that can help students with their UC personal statement, a UC general admissions information workshop and a Transfer Fair held in Plaza Vaquero at 10 a.m. today.

Angelica Fraire can be reached at Angelica_Fraire@elvaq.com

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Wednesday, October 28, 2009

7

FEATURES

Child Development Offers Growth Experience

By Judy Del Castillo EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

T

he nationally accredited lab school at GCC’s Child Development Department is one of many programs that provides a learning experience for students in the Early Childhood Education program.

The department, which is housed within the Child Development Center behind the parking structure off Mountain Street, both make up the handson experience and academics for students, said Deborah Owens, department chair who oversees the academic program.

The department was created in 1940 to meet the demands of childhood education and to prepare students for that field.

As stated on its Web site, www. glendale.edu/cdc, the goal of the department is to prepare future teachers to act in a “culturally diverse world,” with emphasis on teaching, establishing positive relationships between students

and serving as a role model in education.

Students interested in child development may work directly or indirectly with children in areas such as education, psychology, pediatric medicine, social services and child care.

The lab school is recognized by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs and serves as an on-site teaching center for students in a group environment, where students are accompanied by teachers to learn and to meet the needs of children up to 12years-old. The Mentor Teacher Program recruits experienced teachers to provide training and assistance for these students.

“GCC has one of the best Child Education programs out there,” said Maria, 26, a student who wished to be identified only by her first name. “Sometimes it’s hard learning material through books, and you get a better feel of what is being taught when you’re given the chance to interact with the children on a personal

experience.”

The academic program currently offers five certificates, with three of them being equivalent to the Child Development Permit requirements issued by the California Commission on Teaching Credentialing. Each permit has its own requirements that authorize a person to perform within that specific level of service in the child development curriculum.

Other programs include the Child Development Training Consortium, which financially helps unemployed students within the program. The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families-Child Development Careers is another program for students who receive financial aid and want to pursue a career in Early Childhood Education.

The goal of these programs is to meet the demands of teachers and help these students and their families become economically independent.

Photo by Jane Pojawa

TRICK OR TREAT?: Minnie Mouse, monkey girl, geishas, ninja turtles, batman, princesses and other assorted child development center students gather in the El Vaquero newsroom for pre-holiday, supervised Halloween fun.

“I worked at a fast food restaurant and thought working there was all I could ever be.

I’ve always loved children and babysat whenever I could …. The program has made it affordable for me to stay in school and

Fashion, Music to be Found at Swap Meet

By Yesenia Pereyra

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

T

he monthly swap meet was held in the warm afternoon of Oct. 17, with eye-catching antiques, chic clothing and lunch trucks at GCC’s parking lot B. It was also the swap meet’s 15th anniversary since it was first held in October 1994, said John Harris, program assistant. The swap meet is sponsored by GCC. Catherine Theobalt, a customer from the neighborhood, was looking at colorful quilts. “I’ve been here a couple of times. It is great, not crowded and much less expensive than the Rose Bowl [Flea Market],” she said. The Rose Bowl, compared to the swap meet, is $8 for general entrance, and the vast sea of tables and huge open space of the parking lot accumulates to busy a metropolis center.

The nearest stand to the parking lot entrance was that of the vendor Diter Wanting, who sells antiques, picture frames and various lamp designs. He comes at least three times a year, and claims

that “people like the strangest things; you never know who will come and what they will buy.

“But one thing they all have in common, is that everybody wants a deal,” Wanting said. He is one of the few vendors who do this as a hobby and to get rid of old objects to have space for new ones.

Another vendor, Zack Alcala, had a stand a few spaces next to Wanting’s. Glass cases on the tables were filled with earrings of all colors and shapes for any taste. Hair pieces and hanging necklaces were also on display.

Alcala also attends the Rose Bowl Flea Market, Pasadena City College’s swap meet and owns a shop in Sun Valley.

Alcala attracted customers not only because of his colorful gleaming jewelry, but for his lively vendor spirit. As customers were walking by, Alcala was clearly audible, saying “cheap, cheap, cheap” in Spanish, and joking with costumers.

An anonymous vendor was selling pieces that looked antiqued, made out of heavy material. The worn out gold color due to time and all the hands that they have been through clearly show that they were valuable.

Pieces such as a Buddha

sculpture and wide metal plates were for sale for $20. The vendor did not want his name to be revealed, but he did mention that some pieces were from Egypt and Iran.

A fashionable boutiquelike stand was in the middle of antiques and toys, held by Stephen Briscoe, the designer of the clothing line Stylelab.

Briscoe designs dark shaded color dresses, hats and old wallets that are fashionable, yet simple.

He described his dresses as “elegant, timeless pieces that can work for cocktail parties, work, [and] any occasion.”

Briscoe said by coming here, he “wants to reach a broader crowd of customers and provide them with quality boutique merchandise.”

For customers interested in records and purses, Elizabeth Barksdale was the vendor to go to. Records were available from Fleetwood Mac, to the Stray Cats and Aretha Franklin.

Barksdale is a big fan of this particular swap meet. “I love this swap meet,” she said. “If you want to come to a swap meet, and get different classes of people from artists, professors and intelligent people, it’s here. It is very good, casual, no pressures, [and] we

have nice vendors [here].”

Barksdale has been selling at Glendale for five years now, and has 30 years in the business overall.

An Eagle Food lunch truck was cooking early morning breakfast burritos, sandwiches and tacos.

A hot dog van, along with a food stand was present; hot dogs, juices, water and popcorn were for sale.

The vendor rates are $40 for pre-registered shoppers, and the day of the event costs $50. Operating hours are from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The admission is $5 per car from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and $2 per car from 8 a.m. to noon.

The swap meets are held on the third Sunday of every month. The next one, taking place on Sunday, will be customer appreciation day, where customers will get free parking and a free 2010 calendar. All proceeds go to GCC’s general fund, said Harris.

Yesenia Pereyra can be reached at Yesenia_Pereyra@elvaq.com

continue my dream of being a teacher,” said Maria, who is a recipient of one of the financial aid programs.

The department also allows for the enrollment of children whose parents who are GCC students.

The state preschool program is available to children between 3 to 4 years old from incomequalified student parents enrolled at Glendale, four nights a week from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The lab school offers a day program with three full day sessions: Monday through Friday; Monday, Wednesday, Friday; or Tuesday and Thursday. It is open to students, faculty and the community.

The evening program is available to children between 2 to 12-years-old from GCC student parents. Students may choose from one to four nights between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.

To enroll a child or for more information, contact the program director, Jeanette Tashiro, at 818240-1000, ext. 5355.

The lab school was added in 1990. It manages the Los Angeles Universal Preschool program and quickly became one of California’s Department of Education’s preschool programs in 1996 when the school was honored with Exemplary Program Status.

The Child Development Department currently comprises of 400 students, families, children and teachers.

Judy Del Castillo can be reached at Judy_Del_Castillo@elvaq.com

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Wednesday, October 28, 2009

www.elvaq.com

FEATURES

Asian Immigration Dramatized in Lecture

By Amy Hirsch

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

W

ith the personal perspective of an immigrant, history professor Hazel Ramos gave a speech entitled “Asian-American History: From Opium Wars to Gold Mountain,” before an eager audience.

The presentation, held in Kreider Hall at noon on Oct 15, described the story of Chinese immigration to the U.S. Ramos, a former Glendale student, began her lecture by describing her early years growing up in the Philippines, which had been until recently an American colony. She indicated

that her viewpoint at that time was influenced by an atmosphere in which American cultural superiority was emphasized and a white European was considered to be the ideal role model.

When she immigrated to the U.S. at age 13 with her family, Ramos was struck by the great diversity of people and cultures that she came in contact with.

She described how she asked herself, “What is an American, is it something you are born into … or can you become American?”

Ramos noted that “the early American definition of a citizen was determined by the Naturalization Act of 1790 as approved by the U.S. Congress,

which defined American citizenship as applying to a free white person …. The key word here is ‘white person,’ and this definition shaped social and cultural dynamics during the 1800s and created an environment excluding non-white people from the creation of the nation.”

With this as background information, Ramos then examined the forces involved in the immigration of AsianAmericans to the U.S., both the factors causing them to leave their homeland, and those attracting them here.

Ramos noted that the technologic revolution led to the wide growth of economic

‘Becoming American’ Presents Challenges to Many Immigrants

By Amy Hirsch

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

T

he psychology of immigration in relation to Asian-Americans coming to America was the theme of a talk by psychology Professor Mike Dulay Oct. 22 in Kreider Hall.

“Becoming American: A Psychological Analysis” incorporated slides with other audio-visual elements into a highly interactive presentation style, which apparently motivated the audience to explore this subject to a greater depth.

This lecture was part of the series One Book/One Glendale, a citywide reading event, co-sponsored by GCC and the Glendale Library. The month-long event features the book “Shanghai Girls,” a recently published historical novel by the acclaimed author, Lisa See. The book relates the story of two Chinese girls forced to leave their native city in 1937 after the Japanese invasion that led to the Nanking Massacre.

They girls immigrate to Los Angeles, but the path is filled with many difficult challenges.

Dulay began his talk by stating that “psychologists are people who help others adjust,” and combined this theme

with an examination of AsianAmerican immigration history.

He indicated that he would focus on what it means to become an American with See’s work as a guiding connection.

The internal challenges for a person leaving the familiar surroundings of home and family for the strange and unknown environment of a foreign land were addressed by Dulay.

According to Dulay, “the issue of ‘who is an American’ is internally defined, but the question of ‘what is an American’ is externally defined.”

The concept of ethnic, political and gender identity was introduced.

Describing the adjustment challenges faced by the new immigrant in psychological terms, Dulay explained that, according to the principles of identity theory, the full development of identity achievement depends on a combination of commitment and active exploration. This is the “basis for self-esteem, integrity, resiliency and coping.

“The internal definition of self is something you have control over - we call the internal definition of self ethnicity,” said Dulay. “Identity answers the questions ‘who am I’ and ‘where am I going.’ Your answers to these questions defines your identity.

“When you know who you are and where you came from, your ability to determine where

you are going is much more manageable,” said Dulay.

As an illustration of the challenge of discrimination, Dulay showed the sports story headline, “American Beats out Michelle Kwan.” This ignored the fact that the champion figure skater was born and raised in Torrance (her parents were Chinese immigrants).

Dulay pointed out that Kwan responded successfully to the barriers before her and was appointed by both presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama to serve in the position of “public diplomacy ambassador.”

Several examples of laws discriminating against immigrant groups were cited by Dulay: The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 prohibited the entry of most Chinese into the U.S. until its repeal in 1943.

Japanese-Americans were forced into internment camps for the duration of World War II solely on the basis of their national origin.

Laws prohibiting interracial marriages were not repealed in California until 1948.

These laws were not declared unconstitutional at a national level until 1967.

Dulay asked, “What happens when you lose those [See Immigration, page 9]

influence of the British. In the late 1700s, British ships mainly brought tea from China, resulting in a trade imbalance, with the Chinese building reserves of silver. In order to reverse this, the British East India Company began bringing opium into China despite prohibition laws.

In 1837, opium was responsible for 67 percent of Chinese imports.

When the Chinese government objected to the British regarding the negative effects of this opium, offense was taken, resulting in the Opium Wars fought from 1839 to 1842 and 1856 to 1860. As a result, the victorious British were able to establish trading ports in China, giving them a monopoly for international trade.

During that time in China, Ramos said, “There was a weak central government, extreme poverty and overpopulation … from 1800 to 1850 the population grew from 300 to 430 million, resulting in high unemployment.”

New opportunities in the U.S. attracted Chinese immigrants.

First the California gold rush of 1849 brought many seeking the “gold mountain.” Then the demand for labor to build the transcontinental railroad was filled primarily by Chinese men during the 1860s.

“Hiring Chinese made good economic sense,” said Ramos.

They were willing to work for less than Americans, but still earned much more than they could in China. They were industrious and willing to endure great hardship and danger in order to send earnings back to their families in China.

Ramos explained that as the supply of gold diminished, and the railroads were completed, white Americans began to feel that foreigners were intruding on their domain. As ethnic resentment grew, Chinese were seen as aliens. The Chinese began to band together for both protection and economic survival in their enclaves known as Chinatowns.

“The Chinese were viewed by many as a threat to the American identity,” said Ramos. Passage of the Page Act of 1875 effectively prevented the immigration of Chinese women. In 1882 the Chinese Exclusion Act ended any significant Chinese immigration to the U.S. until it was repealed in 1943.

However, it was only after

passage of the Immigration Act of 1965 that limitation of U.S. immigration based on nationality and race was finally ended.

In summary, Ramos noted that “what’s different now is that the opportunities which were only available to certain people in the past, generally speaking are much more available to everyone … we’ve come a long way.”

Following the presentation, a spirited question and answer session took place.

Sarah McLemore, an English professor, commented, “It was interesting to hear about the Opium Wars and how that connected to Chinese immigration.”

The presentation was part of the One Book/One Glendale citywide reading event, co-sponsored by GCC and the Glendale Library.

The featured book for the ongoing event is “Shanghai Girls” by Lisa See, which describes the story of two young Chinese women who immigrate to California despite many obstacles.

The series will end Oct. 29 when See comes to campus for a noon visit to discuss her work, in particular her 1995 book “On Gold Mountain: The 100-Year Odyssey of a Chinese-American Family,” in which she recounts stories of her ancestors and their immigration to California over a century ago.

Amy Hirsch can be reached at amy_hirsch@elvaq.com

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Wednesday, October 28, 2009

9

OPINION COLUMN / FEATURE

Library Etiquette 101: Silence Is Golden

By Ashley Chang

EL VAQUERO ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

R

obert Frost once wrote, “Good fences make good neighbors.” My only wish is that they were soundproof.

Library etiquette is no new phenomenon. As children, our parents taught us to sit silently at weddings or church, museums and theaters. So why, as young adults, are some students in desperate need of a second course on manners?

Students find refuge in the library, an escape from chatter and noise from the outdoors as they cram for exams or polish research papers.

Then there are “the others”: those who rudely occupy valuable space to check their Facebook, feasting on chips and “$5-footlongs,” turning the library into their own personal lounge.

Swerving through aisles in search of an available computer could be less maddening if the

screens were not inhabited by music videos and games.

The library does not allow students to check e-mails or use Microsoft Word with computers located on the first floor, preventing many from doing legitimate work. Yet, there are no regulations regarding Web sites such as MySpace, which would rarely, if ever, be used for research.

Many are forced to locate upstairs where a limited amount of computers are provided.

Lines inevitably form and people anxiously wait in hopes that one will become vacant before their class begins.

Meanwhile, discourteous peers continue to Tweet: “@library…

Just taking up space.”

Social networking is more popular than ever, showing no signs of slowing down. For whatever reason, people feel the need to always stay connected, but there is a time and a place.

The library is not one of them.

Obnoxious peers, who

apparently cannot refrain from answering phone calls, should not disrupt those who are immersed in books, and who are focused and studious.

Your lives are not that interesting. Your neighbors could care less about what John said, or what Jane wore.

At times, study rooms seem to be the only place where peace and quiet can be found. Other times, music from next door can be heard so clearly you would think the walls were made of paper maché.

Librarians can be asked to quiet down a group, or students themselves can build enough nerves to approach those who have complete disregard for others. At any rate, either option is likely to be ineffective. Most are frequent offenders and have danced this dance many times.

Speaking softly is relative. Just ask those who are forced to listen to the loud chatter.

Librarians are a valuable resource, made available to assist students in navigating periodicals and databases, not babysitting and playing “hall monitor.” Granted, an active attempt to implement the library’s policies seem to be almost non-existent, students must encompass personal responsibility.

As grown adults, Big Brother should not have to monitor Internet usage and our inside voices. Where some students practice common courtesy and make conscious decisions to be respectful to their peers, a selective few is sure to need a second course on library etiquette.

Ashley Chang can be reached at Ashley_Chang@elvaq.com

LMJF QGMJ 9KKG;A9L= AFLG 9 :9;@=DGJ¿K 9F< your future into a success

One Book, One Glendale [Immigration, from page 8] things that validate our identity?

When someone first moves to the U.S. there is culture shock – there are a lot of rules they didn’t know about. The next step is disappointment, this is followed by grief, this turns into anger and resentment, which can turn into depression or physical illness.” Potentially, these difficulties can be overcome by mobilizing support from emotional and financial family resources, said Dulay.

In conclusion, Dulay said, “Who is an American, what is an American – the answer to

Usually, once told to quiet down by a fellow student, the talkative bunch becomes defensive or out of spite, begins to speak louder. When a librarian confronts “the others,” they flash a smile and submit to orders, but the rude behavior resumes as soon as the librarian has gone back to his or her chair.

It is a game of stop-and-go, where librarians just stop by the disruptive people and go on their way, and students briefly stop their conversation and go on as usual.

What is difficult to comprehend is why, out of the so many places students have to “hang out” on campus, they choose to do so in the library. The library’s policy requests people to “speak softly, especially when using cell phones.” Wouldn’t it make more sense to ban it all together?

that question is ‘who am I,’ in developing that self-awareness and identity we are able to respond [to the challenge.]”

The series will conclude Thursday, with a noon presentation and book signing

by See in the auditorium. She will discuss her 1995 book “On Gold Mountain: The 100Year Odyssey of a ChineseAmerican Family,” in which she recounts stories of her ancestors and their immigration to California.

Amy Hirsch can be reached at amy_hirsch@elvaq.com

For More Photos, Updates & Online Exclusives:

www.elvaq.com & our magazine:

www.gccinsider.com

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Wednesday, October 28, 2009

www.elvaq.com

NEWS

El Vaquero was awarded: • Profile Feature: Brandon Hensley — 1st Place “Monica Kaufmann Wipes Out the Competition” • Sports Action Photo: Richard Kontas — 2nd — “Baseball catch” • Inside Page Layout (tabloid): Jesse Gutierrez and Richard Kontas — 3rd “Student Art Show Showcases Abstract Expression” • Photo Story/Essay: Richard Kontas and Anita Marto — 4th “Track and Field Dominates Mt. SAC Competition” • Critical Review: Jesse Gutierrez — HM “Classic Literature Comes Alive - Again: Pride, Prejudice and Zombies” • Column Writing: Brandon Hensley — HM — Sports column • Online Photo Story/Essay: Anita Marto — HM — “Circle in the Square Exhibit Opens at Brand Library” • Bring-In Photo: Richard Kontas — HM — Obstetrics mannequin • Editorial Cartoon: AnnaLinda Andersson — Honorable Mention “Don’t Re-traumatize the Traumatized” • Feature Writing - Brandon Hensley — HM • Sports Photo - Richard Kontas — HM — “Women’s Cross-Country” • Awards Presentation SlideShow: Richard Kontas and Edgar Sanchez

El Vaquero

Wins

Editorial Cartoon Winner by AnnaLinda Andersson

Glendale Community College

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Feature Writing Winner by Brandon Hensley

Online Photo Essay Winner by Anita Marto

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

www.elvaq.com

13

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Student Art Show

Showcases Abstract Expression

A HOW’S IT HANGING?: The Annual Student Art Show showcases students best pieces from the various visual arts departments. Clockwise, from left, Karin Laarka and “They say ‘There’s too much caffine in your bloodstream...’”; Paul Petros and “The Morning After”; Professor Joan Watanabe discusses the exhibit with other attendees; Rita Zakarian’s ceramic “Canister Set of 3” and center photo, one of Hoorik Issakhanian’s two “Clowns at Rest.”

Visit www.elvaq.com for exclusive slide show coverage of this event.

fter its last successful exhibit “Let the Trees Decide,” the art gallery re-opened its doors for “The Annual Student Art Show” on May 21.

The collection features pieces created by advanced art students and selected by faculty members. This time around it’s not just paintings but also photography, jewelry and graphic design.

But before the event could get going, art instructor David Attyah held a small ceremony for those students who are being recognized for their exceptional work and surprised them by awarding a select few students scholarships in the arts.

One of those students Karin Laarka, who received the 2009 ASGCC Visual Arts Scholarship, had one piece displayed in the gallery titled “They say ‘There’s too much caffeine in your bloodstream...’”

Laarka’s piece was created with the help of ink and coffee on paper. “This was a self portrait project,” Laarka said. “I was very inspired by the [songs] on my iPod and each image represents a song I was listening to at that time.”

Paul Petros, who won the Eleanor Kentner Kohler Memorial Scholarship, had two pieces on display in the gallery. The first entitled “Series of 3 Hands,” which Petros said are multiple stamps of his hand. “I wasn’t really trying to get any certain

message, just maybe to show the progression of color between the three pictures.”

His second piece, “The Morning After,” is a different story.

“It’s the second piece in a set,” said Petros, referring to the the piece that looks like a series of swirls cut from brown paper, splattered with paint and hung on the wall with multiple green pins. “It represents the morning after mother nature being raped by men, abusing her resources. And the pins represent the trees, which are the only things holding the Earth together.”

As the event pressed on, the crowd started to thin out, leaving some spectators and a few artists still mingling together.

One of the artists who was still remaining, Grecia Baltazar, who also won a ASGCC 2009 Visual Arts Scholarship, had two pieces on display in the gallery, the first entitled “Diptych Portrait.”

“It’s really a self portrait,” Baltazar said.

The main color used in her piece was red, and on one side it almost looked like blood dripping off of a computer. “I used red because it’s one of my favorite colors and I needed a solid color to fill the space.”

Baltazar’s second piece, an untitled book with a big red heart on the cover, was completely created out of newspaper. “I just wanted to do something simple, but I think what makes it special is that it’s completely

handmade,” Baltazar said.

Kyle Amor, an art student of Attyah’s, was a huge force in the gallery with three pieces.

The first is an untitled pencil drawing.

“This is really a self-portrait in an abstract way. Each piece of the drawing represents something that was going on in my life when I turned 21.”

The second piece that Amor created is “The Little Big Book of Monsters and Patterns,” which sits on a table near the entrance of the gallery. Each page of the book features what looks like cutouts of different monsters, made from many different materials.

Amor’s final piece, also untitled, was split up into to small square panels and featured very bright and vibrant colors like orange, yellow and blue. “I picked those colors because they compliment each other so well,” Amor said.

As the event came to a close and the gallery started to empty out, gallery director Roger Dickes made one final statement to wrap up the entire event. “The student art show and the arts, in general, here at GCC are continuing to improve, so don’t miss out on we have to offer.”

Story by Jesse Gutierrez Photos by Richard Kontas

Inside Page Layout Winner by Richard Kontas and Jesse Gutierrez

A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE SINCE 1927: El Vaquero’s staff brought home 12 team wins, including a prestigious first place in feature writing for editor-in-chief and SoCal Regional Student Vice President Brandon Hensley. Glendale’s journalism department is among the best in California. Richard Kontas won second place in “Sports Action Photo” for “baseball catch” and an honorable mention for his on-the-spot sports photo, Anita Marto won an honorable mention for her online-exclusive photo slideshow. Hensley’s profile piece “Monica Kaufmann Wipes Out the Competition” won first place, and Jesse Gutierrez and Richard Kontas won third place in the “Inside Page Layout” category.

AnnaLinda Andersson, a first-time competitor, won an honorable mention for her editorial cartoon.

Big

at Conference

Sports Action Photo Winner by Richard Kontas

See related story, page 3.

On the Spot Sports Photo Winner by Richard Kontas

theinsider

Photo by Louis Roche Jr.

TO THE VICTORS GO THE SPOILS: Conference participants Jane Pojawa, top row, from left to

right, Agnes Constante, Christopher Caplan, Edgar Sanchez, Isiah Reyes and Brandon Hensley. Bottom row, from left to right, Cindy Garcia, Chloe Vignolles-Jeong, AnnaLinda Andersson and Richard Kontas hold some of the awards won at the two-day conference. Not pictured: Aris Allahverdian and Louis Roche.

The Insider was awarded:

• Magazine General Excellence • Magazine Opinion: Jane Pojawa –1st Place

“Proposition 8 Recalls Landmark Case” House Ad: Insider Staff – 3rd “Edward R. Murrow’ Magazine Feature (non-profile): Jane Pojawa – 4th “Andrew McGregor... has a plan” Magazine Profile Feature: Jane Pojawa – HM Giving up is not an option: nothing keeps Jorge Acevedo down” Cover: HM –“Married!”

• • • •

SMALL BUT POWERFUL: “Proposition 8 Recalls

Landmark Case,” right, won editor-in-chief Jane Pojawa first-place in the opinion writing competition. The Insider’s Spring 2009 cover was given an honorable mention, above, and the magazine itself won General Excellence, a distinction shared by only five magazines. Journalism 107, magazine writing, will be a course offering in the spring.

To find a store near you, go to goodwillsocal.org

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Wednesday, October 28, 2009

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ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

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Film Adaption Not ‘Wild’ Enough for Adults

By Anissa Clarke

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

T

he 10-sentence children’s book “Where The Wild Things Are” is now a 101-minute motion picture of childlike wonder and a heartwarming message that may leave the adults in the audience bored.

Maurice Sendak’s 1963 best seller is brought to life and the big screen by director Spike Jonze (“Being John Malkovich,” 1999) and screenwriter Dave Eggers ( “Away We Go,” 2009).

The movie tells the story of a highly creative boy named Max, (played by actor Max Records) whose imagination leads him to often misbehave.

One night when his actions get out of control he has a fight with his mother, Catherine Keener (“The Soloist,” 2009). As his wild thoughts get carried away with him, he then has a dream in which he sails to an island of wild things.

It is here where he meets six monsters, Carol, (James

Gandolfini (“The Sopranos”), Alexander (Paul Dano, “There Will Be Blood” 2007), Judith (Catherine O’Hara, “Curb Your Enthusiasm”), Ira, (Forest Whitaker, “American Dad!”), Douglas (Chris Cooper, “New York, I love You,” 2009), and KW, (Lauren Ambrose, “Love and Other Impossible Pursuits,” 2009) . The monsters at first want to eat him, but then decide not to after Max lies to them, saying he has magical powers. The monsters then make Max their king and ruler of the island.

As the film progresses, the monsters and Max create a bond, experiencing struggles all children face and the movie wraps up with a good moral message.

The first few scenes of the film give off an indie vibe, with its spare dialogue and gentle piano music, but as the film progresses it eases into more of a major motion picture, with a more and more characters interacting with one another.

The acting contributes a great deal to the quality of the movie.

All the actors have compelling chemistry with one another that makes their affection for each other believable.

It is easy to feel remorse for the main character, Max, as he struggles through loneliness, sadness and anger, feelings that almost anyone can relate to.

The monsters, although they appear to look scary, have a gentle sincerity to them that children can admire. The whole cast gives a very heartwarming performance that really helps make this a lighthearted film.

Stretching a 10-sentence children’s book into a full-length movie means that the production team had a lot of film to shoot, and they do a good job filling in that gap, with the characters running around the island, bonding with one another, and so on.

However, there are endless shots of scenery and with musical background that become repetitive and predictable.

The plot and the writing of the film has some dark moments, but it’s mostly geared toward

TAKE IT TO THE ‘MAX’: This adaptation of a 10-sentence book isn’t stretched to an hour-and-a-half movie without serious boredom setting in.

kids. Hissy fits and conflicts that evolve are so childlike that most adults would probably get bored and restless halfway through.

The cinematography is pretty standard, but then again there aren’t a lot of, if any, fast and active scenes that called for a lot of quick shots.

Fans of the book will be pleased with the similarities the characters of the movie and the

book share.

Jonze does a good job supplying viewers with a realistic depiction of the original characters, but the plot lacks the gusto to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

Anissa Clarke can be reached at Anissa_Clarke@elvaq.com

‘Stepfather’ Should Not Get Visitation Rights

By Agnes Constante EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

P

ut together a man obsessed with finding the perfect family and the compulsion to kill women and children who can’t meet the man’s idea of a perfect family, and

say hello to “The Stepfather.”

“The Stepfather” tells the story of David Harris, portrayed by Dylan Walsh (“We Were Soldiers,” 2002), and his encounter with the Hardings, a family he doesn’t kill despite the fact they don’t turn out to be his perfect family.

FATHER OF THE YEAR: A cautionary tale about the benefits of long engagements goes awry when Mom marries a sociopath. Then it gets worse.

David meets newly divorced Susan Harding, portrayed by Sela Ward (“The Guardian,” 2006), at a grocery store, and they become engaged within a few months of their encounter. David gets along well with Susan and two of her children, Sean and Beth.

Conflict arises when Susan’s eldest son, Michael, portrayed by Penn Badgley (“Gossip Girl”), returns from military school.

Michael meets David and is more suspicious than anyone else in the family about him, unsure if the man his mom is about to marry is a genuine person or if he has a hidden agenda.

Michael’s suspicions escalate when his neighbor suggests that David strangely resembles Grady Edwards, a criminal featured on America’s Most Wanted for killing his family.

Susan’s ex-husband, Jay, comes in to the film for a short time.

When Jay learns that David tried to choke Sean as a means to discipline him, Jay lashes out at David.

This starts the two men off on the wrong foot.

When Jay has to leave town for a while, he stops by to bid his children goodbye. However, he is unable to do so because David murders him before he has the chance to get up to his kids’ room.

The climax of the plot takes place on a stormy night when Michael, more suspicious than ever, decides to snoop around David’s belongings in the basement.

David catches Michael intruding and the two eventually end up in a battle on a rainy rooftop that evening. They both fall off the roof, but David escapes before police arrive while Michael ends up in a one-month coma.

As a remake of the 1987 film, directed by Joseph Ruben and Warren Carr, this rendition is better in some aspects but falls short in others.

With the given storyline, Director Nelson McCormick (“Prom Night,” 2008) fails to bring anything new to the table. The suspense portrayed in the film is so predictable that it’s hardly suspenseful. More disappointingly, “The Stepfather” is far from being a horror movie.

In an attempt to create suspense, the movie does not even come close. For instance, in scenes where characters need only to climb down a staircase or peer a little further down into the basement to witness David’s true colors, they abruptly, and for no apparent reason, decide not to pursue those actions.

Many such unrealistic [See “Stepfather,” page 13]

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Wednesday, October 28, 2009

13

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

L.A. LIVE Offers Discount Entertainment to Students

By Aris Allahverdian EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

W

ith the fall semester in full gear and daunting midterms just around the corner, it is times like these when students wish they could find a cool place and unwind without spending a lot of money. With that in mind, L.A. LIVE has decided to launch its student discount program throughout the L.A. LIVE campus for anyone with student identification.

L.A. LIVE is a sports and entertainment district located in the heart of downtown Los

Angeles. The campus surrounds STAPLES Center and Nokia Theatre, providing an entertaining dining and retail experience.

The complex has a price tag of $2.5 billion and is paid for by the Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), Wachovia Corp (WMA) and the investment firm McFarlane Partners, with a little help from the Los Angeles taxpayers.

The downtown rejuvenation project was broken down into three phases, with completion of the first two phases. The final phase is the opening of a 54-story Ritz-Carlton/JW Marriott hotel

Movie Review [Stepfather, from page 12]

situations occur throughout the movie, plugged in to make the film “suspenseful.” Most audiences, however, will easily be able to predict that the antagonist’s cover won’t be formally revealed until near the end of the film.

The movie desperately lacks frightening visuals and relies much too heavily on audio to convey the horror it fails to present to its audiences.

In scenes where a character opens the door to find David simply standing there, the accompaniment of startling sounds typical in horror movies hardly contribute to the goal to scare viewers. Such ineffective combinations of average scenes with booming horror audio demonstrate the story’s incredibly unconvincing plot.

The original does a much better job with visuals. It shows murdered victims with fair amounts of blood surrounding the corpses, while McCormick’s version tends to keep blood to a minimum.

McCormick’s version has been adapted to appeal to today’s generation by including a heated romance between Michael and his girlfriend, while the equivalent of Badgley’s character in the 1987 film did not have such romantic moments.

Both films ended similarly with the families still alive despite being unable to meet the stepfather’s ideals of a

perfect family. The events leading to the conclusion of McCormick’s film, however, were unrealistic.

Both Michael and David fall off the roof on the evening they fight. With Michael having gone into a one-month coma after the fall, David quickly managing to garner enough strength to escape before police arrived is an implausible event.

None of the actors deliver any notable performances, they but aren’t really required to because the characters in the story are generally quite dull.

“The Stepfather” is one sad excuse for a horror movie.

With an improbable story line, obvious reliance on audio to mask the shortcomings of the plot, lack of horrifying visuals, and no compelling performances, this movie is not worth a nearly two-hour time investment.

If you’re looking to watch a movie with a “Gossip Girl” hunk, a horror movie rated PG-13 for sensuality more than disturbing images or violence, or one to boost your thought process because you’ll be busy figuring out how the movie is supposed to be a suspense/ horror film, then you won’t want to miss “The Stepfather.”

Otherwise, look elsewhere.

Agnes Constante can be reached at Agnes_Constante@elvaq.com

scheduled for spring 2010.

Among the participating locations on the attractive campus is The Farm of Beverly Hills. An American cuisine restaurant that is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This elegant location is definitely not cheap but does the trick when it comes to charming ambiance.

The patio is decked out with comfortable seating, and there is a fireplace at the bar to cozy up and gaze at the stars above. The patio area also allows smokers to have a cigarette while enjoying the luxurious atmosphere, all while saving 10 percent on all food and non-alcoholic beverages under the student discount program.

Again, prices run a little steep but if you’re looking for a hardy meal and don’t mind paying up to $25.50 for Blackened Ahi Tuna, then this is definitely worth a stop.

Katsuya is an elegant Asian fusion-style restaurant with a contemporary look. Decked with its fashionable furniture and artsy canvases, Katsuya is perfect for a date or a bite to eat before or after a show.

Under the L.A. LIVE Student Program, Katsuya also offers 10 percent off food and nonalcoholic drinks on their menu with multicourse dinners and fixed prices of $25, which includes a starter, entrée, and dessert.

Lawry’s Carvery is well known for its original location on La Cienega Boulevard in Beverly Hills and has now expanded its franchise to the downtown multimillion-dollar complex. The restaurant may not be known for its physical appeal like Katsuya but does make up for its looks with their popular hand carved sandwiches and fresh salads.

Trader Vic’s a Chinese/ Cantonese dinner spot which is also on the expensive side with entrees starting at $19 running up to $49 a plate. Trader Vic’s provides a generous 15 percent off on all food and non alcoholic beverages on their pricey menu.

The famous Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill offers a whopping 20 percent off all food and non alcoholic beverages between the hours of 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill menu is fairly priced as well, with pizzas ranging from $13 to $17 to main courses running from $18 up to $28 and entrees grilled on hardwood that cost $18 to $38 a plate.

Tired of all the food? Make a stop at the stylish Congo Room where cover charge is waived for students on club nights that attend prior to 10 p.m. and a 10 percent discount on concert tickets. They also offer a 50 percent discount in the bar/club from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and 10 percent at their Boca restaurant from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Music lovers can take a tour of the GRAMMY Museum, where they can see legendary musician memorabilia from iconic moments in past Grammy shows.

Items like Michael Jackson’s glittering glove and hand prints can be viewed at the museum.

Admission is only $8 with the student program. Afterwards, grab healthy ice cream at New Zealand Natural Ice Cream, where they offer a 15 percent discount of their food or drinks as well.

ESPN built a sports heaven for any sports type known as the ESPN Zone. Blitz down to the ESPN Zone for an affordable meal while enjoying a personal LCD screen on every table along with the big screens scattered all across the walls, surely guaranteeing a smile for any sports fan from ear to ear.

Afterwards, zip down over to STAPLES Center and catch an L.A. Kings game for $12 under the student program for selected games. ESPN Zone also offers unlimited Wi-Fi access and 10 percent off their food and non alcoholic drinks.

Need a java break? Chill out with a cup of coffee and take your

laptop over to the Starbucks and surf the Internet with their free Wi-Fi with a Starbucks card or Gold card. Catching a movie is just a few footsteps away at the brand new Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE Stadium 14, where tickets through the student program are only $10.

These discounts apply daily, regardless of events occurring within the L.A. LIVE campus or its associated venues, such as STAPLES Center, Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE, Club Nokia or the GRAMMY Museum. To receive the student discount, a valid, current school year’s student ID card must be presented. For more information on the student discount program, visit www. lalive.com/studentdiscount To get more information on the student discount for selected L.A. Kings games visit www.lakings. com/student.

For directions, access www. lalive.com and click on the direction/parking tab located on the top right corner of the site.

Parking structures are located on the east and west sides of the complex and cost $5 for the first 120 minutes, an additional $5 per half-hour, or the max price of $25. Valet parking is available at the same rate or the max price of $30. Event Parking is the flat rate of $25, no valet option available.

Additional student discounts will be updated frequently and posted on www.lalive.com.

Aris Allahverdian can be reached at Aris_Allahverdian@elvaq.com

Join the media arts department on Fridays from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. in San Gabriel 334, otherwise known as the GCCTV video studio. They have a new hi-definition projector and a whole bunch of blu-ray disks, according to media instructor Michael Petros.

The next featured movie is the newly remastered “Wizard of Oz,” which will be shown on Nov. 6. There will also be a cartoon and a short feature. A brief cinematic discussion will follow.

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www.elvaq.com

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT / REVIEWS

Green Door — Reprise of a Hollywood Hot Spot

By AnnaLinda Andersson EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

G

reen Door is not new to the party scene, but recent publicity has shone new light on this Hollywood classic after a time in the dark.

It was after being mentioned on the popular HBO show “Entourage” earlier this fall that the Hollywood party crowd steered its wheels back to Green Door. As often happens in Hollywood, something old comes back in fashion (just call it “vintage”), and once again people 21 years and older are lining up next to the restaurant/ lounge’s famous door, taking up almost the whole block of 1429 Ivar Ave. Green Door is built as an old expensive Parisian-style home, with heavy green velvet curtains framing the main room, and at the same time displaying just enough visual of what is behind to spark enough curiosity to make one wanting to explore all corners of the place. Behind the big curtain, which hangs as if a play should be performed on a theater stage at any minute, is one of the lounge’s two bars.

Up there, people mingle while others dance along to the music in the main room, which has now turned into a fairly spacious dance floor. A giant chandelier hangs over the exclusive goldframed sofas and chairs where

the women can sit down when their 15-inch heels need a break from dancing to the mix of R&B, House and Salsa music that the disc jockeys provide. The walls are decorated with framed watercolor paintings.

The customers, who have coughed up the $400-minimum needed for bottle service, can rest their feet comfortably by their own table with their own bottles of alcohol in one of the more exclusive areas, behind the side curtain, or out in the entrance lounge, which is also a patio where the smokers are allowed.

One does not have to pay for bottle service to get in, although it will increase the chance of getting in a whole lot, especially when it comes to an all-or mostly all-male company. Always have more women, or at least as many women as men in the group when trying to enter a club. The $20 entrance fee at the Green Door is usually for men only, but on popular nights even women can be asked to pay if they are not on anyone´s list.

The lounge offers a full bar, with beers starting at $7 and most of the drinks and shots are an even $10. With only two bars, and one of them being quite small, patience is a must for the thirsty ones.

The Green Door lounge is notorious about admitting patrons and the recent exposure has not made it easier to get inside.

Photo by AnnaLinda Andersson

BEHIND THE GREEN DOOR: The magic that happens at this Hollywood hot spot may just be too trendy for its own good.

However, there are some things to consider before leaving home on Saturday night.

Although being early is a must, “dress to impress” (which has become the welcome phrase promoters use for every party nowadays) is the most important thing everyone needs to remember before going to any club. Choice of clothing can either make or break the night.

With the right outfit, the entry line can magically disappear.

With the wrong outfit, the line

will never end.

The dress code is strict. The people allowed inside are usually dressed up, classy, from head to toe. Women wear the newest fashion, preferably dresses matched with the highest heels, and most of the men are in suits or at least in classy shirts.

To be on the safe side on a night out, befriend one of the promoters. Be polite and nice to them and make sure to be contacted for future events.

Being on someone’s list will

greatly increase the chance and decrease the wait to get in.

One real downside to this lounge is the limited number of stalls inside the ladies room. Be prepared to once again stand in line for a very long time when it is time to powder the nose.

The best nights to visit Green Door are Thursday through Saturday, when the lounge is open from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.

AnnaLinda Andersson can be reached at AnnaLinda_Andersson@elvaq.com

Autumn Delivers Show Straight From ‘Asylum’

By Jesse Gutierrez

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

O

ne small sign hung above the elaborately decorated stage, reading, “Beware: Escaped Inmates.” Whether this was a threat or not remained a mystery throughout the Victorian concert opera set presented by Emilie Autumn and her Bloody Crumpets known as “The Asylum.”

Autumn’s “Asylum” tour arrived in Los Angeles for its first-ever Southern California performance at the Key Club on Oct 28.

As the show began, the lights in the Key Club dimmed and the large screen in the center of the stage illuminated. Four corsetadorned women made their

dramatic entrances from behind the screen, before the start of the first song “4 O’clock” and the long-awaited entrance of Autumn herself.

Adorned with an elaborate costume, which included a long sequin-studded rat tail and an authentic Victorian plague doctors mask, Autumn crept across the stage as if tormenting the four other women (Bloody Crumpets). As the lights went out, the audience erupted into applause and screams as they eagerly awaited the start of the next number.

While the first two numbers, “4 O’clock” and “Opheliac,” were very high in theatrics, the show did not really begin until the third number, “Liar,” when

Autumn produced her electric violin, and showed no signs of slowing down.

The tempo was broken by numerous pauses for little skits in between songs, such as Naughty Veronica’s multiple bawdy comments to the crowd and Blessed Contessa’s constant pleas for the other women to stop all the madness around her.

As “The Asylum” show continued to unfold and the crowds cheering grew louder, the entertainment factor only heightened with aerial acrobatics, executed by Blessed Contessa and Captain Maggots, and a few dance routines put on by Naughty Veronica and Aprella.

Even with all the insanity taking place around her, Autumn

was able to get alone time with the audience where she admitted that she had not been back to Los Angeles since her admittance into an actual insane asylum.

During these very brief moments of solo time on stage, Autumn just sat behind her harpsichord with no theatrics or distractions and just sang to the crowd. These select moments showed a vulnerable side to her that you rarely see throughout the show.

As the show pressed on Autumn and her cast were able to fit “ The Art Of Suicide,” I Want My Innocence Back,” “God Help Me,” and “Misery Loves Company,” between all the theatrics.

However, the real show was

Autumn herself, her vocals ranged from high soprano to deep bass and an occasionally thrown in successful Black Metal Growl.

In one of her final solo moments on stage, Autumn produced her violin one more time after she took a moment to tune it. When she began her violin solo, “14,” it became apparent that had Bach challenged her to a fiddle off he would have lost, not due to Autumn’s lack of clothing but due to sheer talent.

After two costume changes for Autumn and the crowd surviving being pelted with baked goods and tea, the final moments of the show arrived. The entire cast of

[See Asylum, page 15]

www.elvaq.com

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

15

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT/REVIEWS

Director Calls Gallery Show ‘Fairly Explicit’

By Jesse Gutierrez

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

T

he new art exhibit “MammaSan,” curated by Young Chung and presented by Artist Curated Projects, premiered at the art gallery on Saturday.

“This is a fairly explicit show,” said gallery director Roger Dickes, scrambling to make final adjustments to pieces. “I don’t like to stand in the way of my guest curators and I support this exhibit fully.”

Lucas Michael, co-creator of Artist Curated Projects, said, “The show is called ‘MammaSan,’ so in some ways a few of the pieces reflect that.”

Some of the artists took this idea more directly, like Judi Bamber, who created a series of four graphite drawings entitled, “Are You My Mother?”

“The drawings are based on Polaroids my dad took of my mom,” Bamber said.

One artist who addressed this idea more indirectly was Laura Splan, who created a print of two artificial hearts tied together entitled, “Integrated Hearts.”

“There is something very umbilical about her piece. She even painted some of it with her own blood,” Michael said.

As the event pressed on and more people started to make their way into the gallery, Chung looked at everyone there with a large smile. “I’m very happy

with the way that this entire show turned out,” he said.

The atmosphere of the gallery was very different than previous shows that it has hosted, which included television screens in the middle of the galley showing three different videos. The viewer could also put on headphones and hear audio along with them.

There was even an interactive piece entitled “Stethoscope,” also by Splan. The piece is actually a 25-foot-long functional stethoscope. The viewers are encouraged to listen to each other on opposite ends of the table where the piece sits.

“This show was originally supposed to showcase historic places,” Michael said, in a way it still does, because each artist who was selected for the show either has a connection with Chung or with UC Irvine, Chung’s alma mater.

In explaining how he chose the works for the show, Chung said, “I chose the artist before I chose the work. I did not really have specific criteria I used to select each piece.”

In choosing the title for the show, Chung explained that the term “Mamma-san” is very historical and is used in Japan today to describe a madam in a brothel. “One of my friends actually said to me, ‘You know Young, in a way you’re kind of like the Mamma-san of this show.’ ”

Music Review [“Asylum,” from page 14]

girls took the stage for a very close to original cover of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” made complete with beautiful harmonies, and Autumn giving Brian May’s guitar solos a run for their money with her violin.

As Autumn and her crumpets took their final bows and left the stage, the show seemed all but over. Instead the stage lights went back up and the girls walked back out and performed the very sarcastic “Thank God I’m Pretty,” which included Autumn stripping off her corset and putting on a little white nightgown.

As the final song ended, the girls once again left the

stage but once again came back on in pairs, to reenact all of the highlights of the show almost like the final credits of a movie. As the music faded and the stage lights went out for the final time the show had finally come to a close.

A fan, Kelsey Williams, 20, said, “The show was amazing — a work of hilarious comedy and true musical genius.”

Autumns’ “Asylum” tour will continue on through the U.S., ending in Milwaukee Dec. 8, but beware; it’s easier to enter the asylum than it is to escape.

Jesse Gutierrez can be reached at jesse_gutierrez@elvaq.com

Chung also said that he didn’t enter this show with any specific themes in mind, and even though some of the pieces did incorporate the use of their mothers, each of those pieces had more than one meaning.

Chung also said that if there was one message he would want the viewer to walk away with, it would be, “There are multiple realities and truths in this world and difference is OK.” He also said that he does not expect instant feedback, but that if

this show helped to inspire one person to be more open he would be happy.

“This show was a lot of work, but I’m very happy with the way that it turned out,” Chung said.

“We were on a small budget but I did my best to get my message across, and I am honored to have worked with Roger and all these amazing artists.”

“Mamma-San” may be viewed in the art gallery until Dec. 5. The gallery is open Thursday through Saturday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

For information, call Dickes at 818-240-1000, ext. 5815.

Jesse Gutierrez can be reached at jesse_gutierrez@elvaq.com

What do

you think? editor@elvaq.com

Little Los Feliz Gem Offers Treats for Both Vegetarians and Meateaters

By Ashley Chang

EL VAQUERO ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

F

ollow the little brick road, past the trees and mismatched tables, and enter a Los Feliz gem: Alcove Café & Bakery.

A brick walkway leads hungry patrons inside the cozy restaurant, decorated with eclectic antique-style furniture and paintings that were used in Hollywood sets in the ’90s.

The California eatery provides an array of filling dishes for vegetarians and carnivores to happily consume.

Patrons of Alcove order at the cashier desk and are met with the smiling and friendly staff waiting to take the long line of orders.

Limited indoor seating is available, but this local café and bakery is known for its marvelous outdoor patio. The “Garden of Eden” atmosphere provides a relaxing experience of a picnic within nature, all with no interruption from servers anxious to seat new customers.

Alcove provides classic dishes with a modern twist.

Vegetarians can feast on “Curried Tofu Benedict” for breakfast or a veggie burger for lunch, made with garbanzo and soybeans, sunflower seeds, and spices.

Meat lovers can dive into Alcove’s juicy lamb burger, ground lamb blended with kalamata olives [and] rosemary or a festive shrimp and lobster omelet topped with tarragon-

spiked hollandaise sauce.

Alcove offers a variety of fresh and organic coffees as well as loose-leaf teas, Belgian beer, and a selection of red and white wines.

Meals are filling and made with fresh and simple ingredients.

They range from $11.95 for a three-egg, two-pancake, and smoked bacon or sausage breakfast to a $14.95 grilled New York steak eggs Benedict with hollandaise and tarragon sauce.

Alcove’s dessert selection will please any sweet tooth, with its rich four-layer chocolate cake with dark chocolate filling or a brownie cheesecake, drizzled with chocolate glaze, walnuts and hefty chunks of brownie pieces.

Tarts, pies, muffins and cupcakes galore can also be paired with sparkling champagne for a bubbly brunch under the sun.

Though prices may seem steep and entrees a little pretentious,

Alcove’s pleasant and tranquil atmosphere paints a different picture. With menu titles like, “Wrap, Not Hip Hop,” “More Stuff Between Bread,” and “Hollywood Bowls,” the café brings fun back to food.

Alcove serves hearty and unique meals while providing beautiful surroundings with trees and hanging lights, giving customers the sense of serenity as many enjoy meals over a good book or intimate conversation.

Alcove Café & Bakery is at 1929 Hillhurst Ave. and is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, visit www.alcovecafe.com or call 323-644-0100.

Ashley Chang can be reached at Ashley_Chang@elvaq.com

Photo by Ashley Chang

CALIFORNIA CASUAL: Endless variations on eggs Benedict make The Alcove the perfect place for breakfast.

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Wednesday, October 28, 2009

www.elvaq.com

SPORTS

A Rough Homecoming For The Vaqueros

By Chloe Vignolles-Jeong EL VAQUERO SPORTS EDITOR

I

t was a bittersweet moment for the Vaqueros on Saturday night as they hosted the Bakersfield College Renegades at Sartoris Field.

The Vaqs had their homecoming game, after three away games, where many Vaquero football fans came out to support the men.

That was the sweet part.

The bitter part was the score.

Glendale suffered a 49-3 loss to Bakersfield, and is now 3-4 on the season and 0-3 in the Northern Conference.

Glendale received the ball in the first drive of the game, but punted back to the Renegades.

The Renegades’ receiver returned the punt for 65 yards. One play later the Renegades scored, bringing them up 7-0.

The Vaqs moved along in their second drive, but the drive came to a stop when quarterback Steve Miller threw an interception. The Renegades took possession once again, and after a pass and an 80yard rushing play, they scored once again, making it 14-0.

On the next drive, the Vaqs began at their own 21-yard line.

Miller was sacked on the third play and fumbled the ball. Bakersfield recovered, and 41 yards later they scored once again.

At the end of the first quarter it was Bakersfield 21, Glendale 0.

Glendale continued into the second quarter, and all they could come up with at the end of the drive was a field goal by Dimitri Belchen.

However, Bakersfield responded to the field goal and drove 63 yards downfield to score a touchdown with 8:54 remaining in the half.

On the next play, with first-and10 at the Glendale 38-yard line, running back Willie Youngblood fumbled the ball and Bakersfield recovered.

The defense stopped the Renegades to give the ball back to the Vaqs one last time before the end of the half.

Glendale went 92 yards, and on third-and-5 at the Bakersfield 6-yard line, Miller threw an interception, which concluded the first half.

The Bakersfield offense took over in the beginning of the second half. Once again, they drove downfield 56 yards to

YOU’RE SURROUNDED: Vaquero running back Willie Youngblood breaks tackles during the Saturday night loss.

score a touchdown. With 11:32 remaining in the third quarter, Bakersfield was up 35-3.

Glendale’s defense was able to contain the Bakersfield offense for the rest of the third quarter without allowing a touchdown.

Still, offense couldn’t convert on downs.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Glendale had the ball. On fourth-and-goal, Miller couldn’t complete his pass and the ball turned over to the Renegades.

The Renegades scored on a 80-yard pass play.

The nightmare wasn’t over.

With 6:57 remaining in the fourth quarter, Bakersfield yet again scored.

Bakersfield 49, Glendale 3.

The Vaqs’ offense attempted to move downfield, but what seemed to be the possibility of a touchdown was stopped abruptly when Miller threw an interception on third-and-goal at the goal line.

The game was over. The Bakersfield offense had managed

to rip through the Vaquero defense.

Youngblood led the rushing offense with 15 carries for 87 yards. Joe Wiggan had 13 carries for 51 yards. Jorge Chaidez had six carries for eight yards.

Miller was 20 for 37 with three interceptions.

Eudell Clayton led the receiving offense. He had seven receptions for 94 yards. Keith Gaines had four for 42 yards.

Brian Williams had three for 45 yards.

Defensively, Josh Harmon had a total of five tackles and Jean Khajarian had three tackles.

The Vaqueros will play at Allan Hancock College (7-1 and 3-1 in conference) Saturday at 6 p.m. at Righetti High School.

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

Photo by Shaun Kelly

El Vaquero is always looking for interesting story ideas.

Do you know of anyone on campus with a compelling life story? Are you involved with an innovative campus program that the whole campus should know about? Do you have any ideas for improving the campus experience? Have you witnessed a possible news story that we may not know about?

Please contact us at editor@elvaq.com or call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5349.

www.elvaq.com

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

17

SPORTS

V.O.I.C.E.S. ‘Fútbol’ Supports AB 540

By Cindy Garcia

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

T

he football field on campus became a “fútbol” field that hosted a 16-team soccer tournament on Oct. 17 to support the California Immigrant Higher Education Act (AB 540) and the campus club V.O.I.C.E.S. “Soccer and helping people, what else can you ask for?” said Luis Martin, player of the Los Plebes team from Pasadena City College, describing his experience at the V.O.I.C.E.S. second annual soccer tournament.

The tournament is one of the various fundraisers that the club VOICES holds in order to support undocumented students, also known as AB 540 students, who are not eligible for any type of federal or state financial aid. AB 540 students,” said Omar Moreno, co-founder and vice president of V.O.I.C.E.S. “We raise money to help those students and at the end of the semester we give it in scholarships for them to pay their school expenses for next semester.”

The tournament brought together 16 teams, including PCC, Los Angeles City College and Cal State Dominguez Hills. Each team had six players and two optional reserves on the bench.

To participate in the tournament and be able to win the $360 cash prize, teams were asked for a $70 fee that will go toward the V.O.I.C.E.S. scholarships.

“All the money that we are going to obtain today we will use it for our club’s scholarships,” said Maria Castillo, 21, co-president of V.O.I.C.E.S. The profit total was $760. If the $760 is divided by 25 – the number of members that will receive a scholarship – that is a total of $30 dollars in each V.O.I.C.E.S. scholarship that will probably be used to pay a three-unit class.

According to Greg Perkins, the advisor of the club, AB 540 students are “in high risk in terms of their chances of reaching their educational goals” because they are typically low-income students who are not eligible for financial aid.

Several faculty and staff AB 540 supporters attended. “We have a lot of allies here at school,” said Moreno. “Thanks to those allies we are able to come out with fundraiser ideas.”

Some of these “allies” are

members of the AB 540 Support Committee, which is formed by faculty and staff.

ESL credit teacher and committe member, Lin Griffith, declared that immigration reform is “desperately” needed in order for the students to achieve their educational goals.

“They represent so much talent for this country and it’s so wrong of us not to take advantage of this talent and help these students to become the doctors, dentists, accountants and everything that they want to be that add to our country,” she said.

“I’ve had many AB 540 students in my class and they have been in general very hard working and very serious about making a place for themselves in the community of the American country.”

Women’s soccer Coach Jorge Mena is one perfect example of how AB 540 students can reach their goals and can become “great citizens,” declaring that he once was in their place.

“There are kids that have everything and they take it for granted and these kids [AB 540] don’t because they struggle so much, I was one of them,” he said.

The tournament is not only a fundraiser but also “a great opportunity for AB 540 students to meet other people, to get involved in the community and to get to know there’s a lot of things that you can still do no matter your [legal] status,” said Moreno.

The 16 teams played three 20minute games and only eight out of the 16 teams advanced to the quarter-finals. The environment of the games became more selective when only four teams made the semi-finals. FC Barca assured its pass to the finals with a goal that disqualified Real Madrid. In the other side of the field, Furia Roja celebrated their place in finals, defeating Sally´s Team 3-0.

The two best teams Furia Roja and FC Barca moved on to play in the final game. The game went into overtime with a tie of 1-1. The game culminated with the victory of FC Barca winning 2-1.

“I’ve never felt this tired before but it was all worth it,” said Leo Malekian, an FC Barca player.

“It’s a really good thing that everybody is trying to help out by donating money and playing in the tournament.”

Cindy Garcia can be reached at Cindy_Garcia@elvaq.com

Photo by Louis Roche

INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR: AB 540 students competed in a 16-team soccer tournament on campus Oct. 17, featuring such teams as FC Barca and Furia Roja.

Vaqs Spike Citrus 3-2 in Thriller

By Chloe Vignolles-Jeong EL VAQUERO SPORTS EDITOR

The Glendale women’s volleyball team has definitely

made some changes to improve themselves this season.

This year, the Lady Vaqs are off to a great start with a record of 8-7 overall and 4-1 in the

Western State Conference. They have won six out of their last seven games.

The Lady Vaqs are currently in third place in conference, following undefeated Bakersfield and College of the Canyons.

The Vaqs, along with the Renegades and the Cougars, all have winning records. The only loss the Lady Vaqs had was against Canyons, in which they lost 3-0.

Last week, the Lady Vaqs faced Citrus College at home, where the girls played five exhilarating games.

Citrus took the first set with a 25-18 win. In the second set, Citrus won again 25-14. The turnaround came when Glendale overpowered the Owls in a 27-25 win. They carried the momentum into the fourth set and won 2523. Then, the Lady Vaqs took it all and won 15-11.

Jessica Alvarez was the kills leader with 15 kills and six digs.

Alyssa Rosca had 42 assists.

Solo blocks leaders were Roxie Domines, with five, and Ashleigh Diller with four.

Photo by Richard Kontas

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

SPIKES ARE THE ORDER OF THE DAY: Vaquero Jessica Alvarez leaps up for another spike against Citrus.

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Wednesday, October 28, 2009

www.elvaq.com

SPORTS

Lady Vaqs Beat Rengades in Close Match

By Yesenia Pereyra

EL VAQUERO STAFF WRITER

T

he Lady Vaqs beat confident Bakersfield 2-1 at Sartoris Field Friday night, in a soccer game that was played aggressively from the Renegades’ side and with caution from Glendale’s side.

“They were confident,” said Glendale team captain Jasmine Aguirre. “They came with the mentality that they thought they were going to beat us again, but we proved them wrong,” “Bakersfield was on full pressure, but we just happened to score in the first half,” said Coach Jorge Mena. “We played at the intensity that benefits us.”

Amy Rosales from Glendale introduced the game with the first goal in minute 39. Being right in front of the goal, after a few kicks and blocks from both teams, she eventually kicked it in, out of the reach of the goalie.

From this point on, Glendale knew they stood a chance. The Lady Vaqs made smooth passes in the midfield, slowly moving the ball forward. Left midfielder Aguirre received good passes and passed them up front to get closer to the net, but Bakersfield was first to the ball.

In minute 16, as Aguirre was running down the sideline, she shot the ball about 20 yards away and scored, putting Glendale up 2-0. The Lady Vaqs held their breaths as soon as they saw that the ball had hit the far-post corner, but because of the angle that was shot from, the ball bounced inward. Once the ball passed the goal line, Glendale was able to breathe again.

After the second goal, The Lady Renegades realized it had to change the strategy it was using.

They began to move quicker and intercepted a few passes that were directed to the outside midfielders. The Lady Renegades are already an aggressive team, but they brought their whole team to the ball, being able to win the ball on one-on-one play from Glendale.

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Bakersfield’s forwards attacked the Lady Vaqs’ defense quickly, and once they had control of the ball, they were unstoppable.

They got various shots, but they were either off the goal or Esther Rodriguez, the goalie, was on her tip-toes catching the ball or diving for it.

The end of the first half and the majority of the second half was played on Glendale’s side of the field. In minute 29, Breyona Allen from the Lady Renegades scored, bringing the score to 2-1.

After their first shot, Bakersfield really started working to at least tie the game. They tried making passes to move in front of the goal but the Lady Vaqs defense was like a wall. Glendale wouldn’t let them through nor shoot. Seeing that this technique wasn’t working, Bakersfield started to take long shots. The ball got close to the goal, but it either went over the goal or Rodriguez would catch the ball.

Near the end of the game, Bakersfield focused on taking the ball aggressively. On the sideline, Aguirre jumped along with a player from Bakersfield to head the ball; at the moment of interaction, Bakersfield’s player hit Aguirre’s head which caused her to fall.

Her instinct told her to get up and defend herself, as she was in front of the other player’s face, but her thought process told her that this was “unintelligent and it would only hurt the team, so I walked away,” Aguirre said.

After a game full of adrenaline, the referee blew the whistle and Glendale cheered after their victory.

“It was a really good game, a tough game. I am really excited we beat them,” said sophomore Natalie Diaz.

The win against Bakersfield improved Glendale’s record in the Western State Conference to 4-73. Glendale plays at home against Santa Monica College Friday at 7 p.m.

Yesenia Pereyra can be reached at Yesenia_Pereyra@elvaq.com

elvaq.com

Vaquero Sports Summaries Scores

Football:

Oct. 17: lost to College of the Canyons 14-6 Oct. 24: lost to Bakersfield College 49-3

Women’s Soccer:

Oct. 16: tied to College of the Canyons 0-0 Oct. 20: lost to Pierce College 1-0 Oct. 23: defeated Bakersfield College 2-1

Men’s Soccer:

Oct. 16: defeated Citrus College 3-1 Oct. 20: lost to Mission College 2-0 Oct. 23: defeated Hancock College 2-1

Cross Country:

Oct. 16: Southern Cal Preview: Women finished 1st. Men finished 3rd.

Women’s Volleyball:

Oct. 16: lost to College of the Canyons 3-0 Oct. 20: defeated Citrus College 3-2

Upcoming Events Football:

Saturday: at Allan Hancock College* 6 p.m.

Nov. 7: vs. Bakersfield College 6 p.m.

Women’s Soccer:

Friday: vs. Santa Monica College 7 p.m.

Nov. 3: vs. Mission College 7 p.m.

Nov. 6: vs. L.A. Valley College 7 p.m.

Nov. 10: at College of the Canyons 3 p.m.

Men’s Soccer:

Friday: vs. College of the Canyons 5 p.m.

Nov. 3: at Santa Barbara College 3 p.m.

Nov. 6: vs. Oxnard College 3 p.m.

Nov. 10: vs. Citrus College 7 p.m.

Women’s Volleyball:

Friday: vs. West L.A. College 7 p.m.

Nov. 3: at Santa Monica College 7 p.m.

Nov. 6: at Pierce College 7 p.m.

Nov. 10: vs. College of the Canyons 7 p.m.

Cross Country:

Nov. 7: So Cal Championships: at Mt. Sac 10 a.m.

*Game will be held at Righetti High School For more information visit: www.glendale.edu/athletics/

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Wednesday, October 28, 2009

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Calendar On Campus events Food Sale — Enjoy a healthy lunch and support Club Yoga with a plate of Basmati rice, organic green salad, and veggie fish for $5. Thursday from 11 p.m. to 2 p.m. in Plaza Vaquero. For more information about Club Yoga, email club.yoga.gcc@gmail.com or call (818) 331-9394.

Transfer Fair — Colleges and universities from throughout California will be on campus with information about their schools.

Representatives will also be available to help students with the transfer process and answer questions. Today from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the San Rafael Plaza.

Jamba Juice — V.O.I.C.E.S. will be selling Jamba Juice now through Friday in Plaza Vaquero.

Come out and support the club with smoothies for $4 or smoothie and drink combos for $7.50.

Korean Barbeque — A plate is $5. Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Plaza Vaquero.

Book Sale — The Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society will be holding a book sale now through Friday outside the San Gabriel Building from 8 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Open Chapel — The Korean Campus Crusade for Christ will have an open chapel every Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. in CS 177. All are welcome to attend.

lectures Lisa See: “On Gold Mountain” — Author Lisa See will discuss her books “On Gold Mountain” and “Shanghai Girls” Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. in the Auditorium. A book signing will follow Lisa See’s presentation.

This lecture is free and open to the public.

theater “A Street Car Named Desire” — Written by Tennessee Williams and directed by Jeanette D. Farr. Nov. 5 through Nov. 8 and Nov. 12 through Nov. 15.

Admission is $10 for adults, $6 for students and seniors, and

$4 for groups of 10 or more and children 12 and under. Tickets may be purchased at the door.

Reservations are recommended.

For more information, visit www. glendale.edu/theatre or call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5612.

information Study Abroad — The Study Abroad Program will be traveling to Bali for the Summer 2010 session. Humanities 120, Philosophy 114, and Geography 103 will be offered. Space is limited. To reserve your spot and for pricing information, visit www. glendale.edu/studyabroad or call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5718. Email inquires can be made at studyabroad@glendale.edu.

transfer center UC Workshop — The Transfer Center presents a workshop to help transfer students with their UC personal statements. Thursday at 9 a.m. in the Transfer Center. San Rafael Building. For more information, visit www.glendale. edu/transfercenter or call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5442.

CSU Workshop — The Transfer Center presents a workshop to help transfer students fill out the CSU applications. Tuesday at 5 p.m. in the Transfer Center. San Rafael Building. For more information, visit www.glendale.edu/ transfercenter or call (818) 2401000, ext. 5442.

Around Town events Knotts Scary Farm — 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park. When the sun goes down, enter Knott’s Berry Farm at your own risk.

You’re not allowed to pass through the gates in costume, but plenty of creepy creatures will be crawling in every corner of Knott’s Scary Farm. Among the rides and attractions, ghosts and ghouls may attack at any moment. Not recommended for children under 13. Now through Nov. 1. Ticket prices vary. Special park hours for this event. For more information, visit www.knottsberryfarm. com or call (714) 220-5200.

Halloween Horror Nights — 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City. Universal Studios keeps the Halloween spirit alive with many new attractions this year including fright-filled mazes. Now through saturday. Ticket prices vary. For more information, including park hours, visit www.universalstudios.com or call (818) 622-3711.

Old Town Haunt — 20 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. Peek into the basement of the ancient Union Savings Bank building, which according to rumor, is the site of a deadly history. Locked up for decades, the haunted building’s

doors will be reopened for your investigation. Now through Nov. 1. General admission is $22 and includes a T-shirt. Attraction hours vary. For more information, visit www.oldtownhaunt.com.

exhibitions New Topographics: Photographs of a Man-Altered Landscape — Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. This exhibition features photographs by ten original participants. Now through Jan. 3. Admission is $12 for adults and $8 for students.

Museum hours vary. For more information, visit www.lacma.org or call (323) 857-6000.

Migrations of the Mind: Manuscripts from the Lawrence J. Schoenberg Collection — The Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles. This exhibition demonstrates the circulation of knowledge around the world and across cultures during the medieval and early modern periods.

Museum hours vary. Admission is free and parking is $10. For more information, visit www.getty.edu or call (310) 440-7300.

Ingres’s ‘Comtesse d’Haussonville’ from The Frick Collection — Nor-

ton Simon Museum of Art, 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena.

The Norton Simon Museum announces the arrival Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres’s magnificent painting, on loan from the Frick Collection in New York. Oct. 30 through Jan. 25.

General admission is $8 and free for students. Museum hours vary. For more information, visit www.nortonsimon.org or call (626) 449-6840.

Behold the Day: The Color Block Prints of Frances Gearhart — Pasadena Museum of California Art, 490 E. Union St., Pasadena. This exhibition features over sixty of her block prints and ten watercolors. Oct. 4 through Jan. 31. Admission prices are $7 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. Museum hours vary. For more information, visit www.pmcaonline.org or call (626) 568-3665.

theater “Noises off” — A Noise Within, 234 S. Brand Blvd. Written

by Michael Frayn and directed

by Geoff Elliott Chaos reigns both onstage and off in Michael Frayn’s joyfully out-of-control British farce. Under-rehearsed and over-worked, with a pen-

chant for drama more personal than professional, a bumbling troupe of thespians ready themselves for the world premiere of a new play. Nov. 7 through Dec. 19. For information including ticket prices and showtimes, visit www.anoisewithin.org or call (818) 240-0910.

dance International Dance Show — Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd. L.A.’s Best Dancers present a night of professional international dances. The show will feature a variety of styles including Tango, Flamenco, Ballroom, Gypsy and more. Nov. 8 at 7 p.m.

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

music “DJ Fest USA” — Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd. Presented by Peter B Media and DJ International. Twenty DJs will compete on stage for the title of Best DJ Fest USA. The show will feature music in English, Armenian, Spanish, Arabic, and more. The audience will decide the winner.

Nov. 4 at 8 p.m. General admission is $25. For more informa-

tion, visit www.alextheatre.org or call (818) 243-2539.

wellness Free Health Clinic — Open Tuesdays 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. On a first-come, first-served basis. 134 N. Kenwood St., third floor, room 330. No job-related physicals are offered. For more information visit www.glendaleclinic.org or call (818) 243-2105, ext. 202.

Meditations for a Happy Life — Shoseian Whispering Pine Teahouse. 1601 W. Mountain St., Glendale. The Kadampa Meditation Center California presents meditation classes Sundays from 10:15 to 11:45 a.m. with instructor Sandy Schulman. Admission is $12 per class. For more information, visit www.meditateinla. org or call (323) 223-0610.

Free Yoga in the Park— Runyon Canyon Park, 2000 Fuller Drive, Los Angeles. Free yoga lessons every Tuesday and Thursday at 4:30 p.m. For more information, call (323) 666-5046.

Compiled by Tina Hagopian

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Wednesday, October 28, 2009

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VAQUERO VIEWS

Boo at the Zoo 2009

Photos by Louis Roche Jr.

PUMPKINS AND TIGERS AND CANDY, OH MY!: Kids of all ages will enjoy their time at the L.A. Zoo’s “Boo at the Zoo” event, going on this weekend. Visit elvaq.com for an online exclusive story on the event.