Lariat
SADDLEBACK & IRVINE VALLEY COLLEGES’ STUDENT NEWSPAPER
VOLUME 46, ISSUE 7
Melanie Roberts & Kaylee Johnston
A
Editor-in-Chief & News Editor
pproximately every 14 minutes someone takes their own life, leaving behind family and friends. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. and 300 people die by suicide every year in Orange County alone. Many people involved in suicide prevention typically become involved after losing a family member or friend,
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is trying to start up a chapter in but the
Orange County, to bring awareness to the community and provide support for those that may be struggling with suicidal thoughts. “Even though AFSP is not a crisis center, we always have individuals that work with us to support people in crisis,” Jessica van der Stad, area director of AFSP, said. “We have events to reach out to people in crisis and give them the needed information and often times it’s just a matter of getting the hotline number out there, to educate people that suicide is preventable.” The national organization host walks to raise money for research and education programs such as the
“Out of the Darkness” community
walk at the Bill Barber Memorial Park that raised $57,486 with a record 718 pre-registered participants. The walks, as well as other events held by the AFSP, are a medium to distribute information and offer assistance to those who are survivors of suiSuicide cide or struggling with suicidal tendencies. Prior is a result of to the actual walk, a disease of attendees browse the various booths the brain, and from supporting not a sign of a o rg a n i z a t i o n s , such as the Jacquecharacter flaw lyn Bogue Founor weakness.” dation, that work - Michael Lamma, to American Foundation for Suicide Prevention “1,100 kids die every year at the college level and so we have 1,100 backpacks on the ground -there were pictures and personal stories, all kinds of artwork and embroidery,” Linda Borders-Killian, volunteer for the Jacquelyn Bogue Foundation, said. “People were just walking around reading these stories, they’re going, ‘Oh, man. I
PODCAST: Out of the Darkness suicide prevention walk aims to make an Orange County chapter.
WEB
On the
WEDNESDAY, November 6, 2013
LARIATNEWS.COM
Former The emotional impact of student to run for Congress
Suicide
had no idea.’ We got word latLocal foundations er that one kid left a note, and it work to “eliminate said, ‘Thank you for this wonderful exhibit. You know, I was suicidal, but I don’t the stigma of think I’m going to do it because I wouldn’t want to suicide.” leave that legacy for my family.’” Along with the informational booths from organizations, the event had a Remembrance Tent set up where wrote letters, drew sketches and posted pictures of those who passed from suicide. Honor beads were distributed to participants as a symbol of why they attended the event. Each color represented a different reason, such as loss of a child or loss of a friend.. Kameron Jones has been involved with suicide walks and events since his college best friend Owen Thomas’ passing in 2010. Jones said events like this show those at risk that there are people who care. “It makes them realize that it’s okay,” Jones said. “They shouldn’t feel like an outcast, depressed or sad. It’s not just them. It’s common and they can open up about it.” The suicide walks aren’t only to support those with suicidal tendencies, but also the families impactcollege kids ed by the loss of a loved one. die every year “The AFSP walk is a community walk that the first intention is to create hope in from suicide the community,” volunteer Che Hernandez said. “They can come and be with others that have already lost people in folks. They can look at resources the OC die that might be available that can give them hope in their own life from suicide and their own struggles.” each year According to the AFSP
“survivors”
1100
300
“90 per“eliminate cent of people the stigma of who die by suicide have a suicide.” diagnosable and treatable psychiatric disorder at the time of their death.” website,
10th leading cause of death in the U.S. Resources: (800) 784-2433
(National Hopeline Network)
(949) 582-4572
(Saddleback College Counseling)
(left) Kay Warren,
wife of Saddleback Church’s Pastor Rick Warren, hangs up a photo of her son, Mathew, lost to suicide in April 2013 at the age of 27, at the “Out of the Darkness” walk in Irvine, Calif. on Oct. 27.
(right) 3-year-old
Audrey Osburn works on arts and crafts with her mom, Melanie Osburn at the Rememberance Tent.
Melanie Roberts | Lariat
Melanie Roberts | Lariat
Parking lot to close for construction Michael Grennell
Editor-in-Chief
After several years of planning, construction will finally begin this week on the new sciences building at Saddleback College. The sciences building will be built on part of what is now Parking Lot 5, located behind the Student Services Center. Beginning on Nov. 9, Parking Lot 5 will be completely closed off for two years during construction of the building, but Parking Lot 5A is expected to
FOLLOW
US:
remain open and unaffected. The closure of Parking Lot 5 will result in the loss of 270 parking spaces. According to the plans, the sciences building will cause the permanent loss of around 70 spaces, while the rest of the spaces should reopen at the end of construction. At the South Orange County Community College Board of Trustees meeting on Oct. 28, Executive Director of Facilities Planning/Purchasing/Materials Management Brandye D’Lena gave a presentation on the progression of the construc-
tion and budget for the project. During her presentation, Student Trustee David Robinson asked D’Lena about the loss of parking spaces that would result from the construction. “We’ve had lengthy conversations around (the loss of parking),” D’Lena said. “We’re talking about putting some parking in ‘The Bowl.’” “The Bowl” is a nickname that refers to the grassy depression located between the Health Science and Business and General Studies buildings. D’Lena said that “The Bowl”
would be able to handle around 110 parking spaces. According to a press release from the school, the temporary parking in “The Bowl” would be available beginning in Spring 2014. Despite the temporary parking that would be available, students may still see an impact when trying to find parking in the mornings as there will be roughly 160 spots that will not be replaced by temporary parking. “I’m mad, because that’s where I’ve parked for the last
@lariatnews
/lariatnews
two years,” Lexi Saba, an 18-year-old business major, said. Jessica Morton, a 19-yearold child development major, also said she was upset about the lot closure, saying that she usually parked in Lot 5, and would now have to find parking further away. According to the September Facilities Plan Status Report, the budget for the sciences building project is almost $60 million, and is expected to be completed in Oct. 2015.
You Tube
/TheLariatNews
Michael Grennell
Editor-in-Chief
A former Saddleback College student announced over the summer that he is running for a seat in the United States House of Representatives next year.. Greg Raths, a retired Marine Corps colonel, announced at the end of June that he intended to run for the 45th Congressional District seat. The seat opened up when incumbent Republican Rep. John Campbell announced his retirement following the completion of his term. “I feel that there is a starving for leadership in Washington,” Raths said. “The American people are fed up with the status quo. They’re fed up with all these politicians being paid off by special interest groups to run their campaigns and then having to do what (the special interest groups) tell them to do.” Raths graduated from Saddleback in 2009 with an associate degree in Political Science, after serving almost 30 years in the Marine Corps and retiring in 2004 as a colonel. Raths served as the Chief of Staff for the White House Military Office from 1996 to 1999, acting as a liaison between the Pentagon and the White House. This experience of working in Washington D.C., along with his years in the military, are why he feels he is the strongest candidate. “I’ve been in a leadership position, and I believe Washington needs leaders,” Raths said. “There needs to be a change, and we need to send a guy like Paul Revere on a horse and stir things up in (Washington D.C.), and that’s what I plan to do.” If Raths is elected to the House of Representatives next year, he wants to work on cutting on the government spending money that it doesn’t have. “The federal government, and the federal bureaucracy is so bloated, and so out of control with the spending of money, that I don’t even think the bureaucrats understand it,” Raths said. “Our country was founded as a republic with a small central government. The government is supposed to take care of the national security of the country, provide for common defense, and to print common money for all the states. It’s grown into this enormous hog, or pig, that’s just getting fatter and fatter. Unfortunately it’s gotten so out of hand, we’re spending money we don’t have.” According to Ballotpedia. org, Raths is one of four candidates to have formally declared their intent to run for the congressional seat. John Moorlach, the Second District Supervisor on the Orange County Board of Supervisors, state senator Mimi Walters, and local businessman Pat Maciariello are the other three candidates for the position. Raths remains confident in his campaign, and wants to make a difference in Washington D.C. “My number one concern is to go to Washington, and be a figure like Ted Cruz,” Raths said. “You know, a young buck who can get there and make changes.”
@lariatnews
www.lariatnews.com