Volume CX Edition 5
Osha follow-up:
Shockandawe
March 22, 2006
Published since 1949
A progress report for the Biology department The good thing about the alcohol is that it’s considered to be safer compared to the Rampage Reporter formaldehyde. “That is a faculty issue with respect It’s been almost a year since Fresno City to how they conduct the experiments they College was issued a citation from the Califor- require,” said Doffoney, “It’s a discussion we nia Division of Occupational Safety and Health continue to have, but the first agreement we for unsafe chemical levels found in the air of the have is with Cal OSHA, and that’s something Math, Science, and Engineering building. you don’t violate.” “The college has been actively engaged Other research is being conducted to in responding to Cal Osha, and to the faculties find another fixative that is able to provide a concerns, and to the board and to the public,” higher-quality specimen. said Dr. Ned Doffoney, president of FCC. The Biology department is looking into According to an article printed in the another fixative called, “Perfect Solution.” Fresno Bee (“Fresno City College building Zwi Reznik, president of the American cited again,” June 30, 2005) the state Division Federation of Teachers, said he knows that talks of Occupational Safety are ongoing, but he is satisand Health fined the State fied with the progress that Center Community Colhas been made so far. lege District a combined A chemical hygientotal of $22,400 which ist position was created to stemmed from an origiguide the administration nal group of violations toward making informed in April of 2005, and a decisions. group of additional violaIn the Chemistry floor tions were incurred later lab rooms, FCC updated in June. their chemical inventory list What has been and disposed of unnecessary done to remedy the situchemicals. They modified ation? How are students, chemical storage shelves, faculty, administration vaults, and the fire suppresand staff being effected? sion system in those vaults. The fines are beAn independent AC in the ing appealed by the State vaults was modified, along Center Community Colwith a new fume hood. lege District, and are still In the Biology floor waiting to go before a lab rooms they completed judge. This process is the installation of exhaust expected to take an adduct modifications. An ditional 6 to 8 months to HVAC system of air balPhoto by Clare Frederick ancing and exhaust fans was complete. A hood helps rid the air of chemical fumes. Because of the Cal installed. Fume hoods were OSHA violations, FCC had to enact a no form- balanced on the biology floor. FCC was also aldehyde policy for their biology department. contracted to evaluate and certify stand-alone They are required to use specimens now that fume hoods in biology prep areas. use isopropyl alcohol as a fixative. The quality Staff training is also on-going. Air of specimen is compromised when alcohol is monitoring was recently conducted as early as used. The tissues become brittle, making it hard a couple of weeks ago, to assure to continuance to decipher between layers. of safe air levels throughout the building. “There are serious problems with the “We feel very good with the actions we quality of specimens,” said Scott Porteus, Biol- have taken,” said Douglas Brinkley, business ogy department chair, “The quality is poor.” chancellor for the SCCCD. by Clare Frederick
Photo by Jennifer Schmidt
Men’s basketball coach Vance Walberg after his Rams are dispatched in the state tournament.
Rams bow out in state tournament semifinal by Quinn Robinson Sports Editor The quest for a repeat for the Fresno City College men’s basketball team came to a screeching halt in the COA championship tournament as the Rams lost in the state semi-finals to eventual state champions Fullerton College 71-67. The night before, FCC was rolling on
all cylinders as they played San Bernardino and jumped out to a 56-40 halftime lead and then cruised in the second half to a 86-73 win to put them one step closer to their second state championship in as many years. That win sent the Rams into a matchup with a Hornets team that was having it’s best season in recent memory, piling up 36 wins against zero losses. continued on Page 7
FCC’s wide world of registration consideration by Joseph Rios Rampage Reporter Registration can be a hassle. There’s a whole book of classes to choose from, it’s full of numbers, names, majors, schedules, times, and days – you almost have to have a degree in registration science to understand it all. Registration began March 20 for currently enrolled students, new students and transfers can register by appointment starting May 15. Regular registration ends at 1 p.m. Aug 12. Deciphering the nearly 200 page Schedule of Classes book is tough enough. Then try hammering out a plan for which classes to take; it can be like performing brain surgery for some. Countless students crowd student services before every semester. They glance over their book, pick random classes, Office: (559) 442-8263
make sure they don’t conflict with work and aren’t too early in the morning, and file behind the multitudes waiting near the registration counter. Then after two years of classes at Fresno City College, they wonder why they haven’t graduated or why they are not eligible to transfer to a UC or CSU. What most students don’t know is that there is help. “That’s why you see a counselor,” said Homer Greene an Educational Advisor. “You see a counselor to make sure you don’t get off on tangents.” “It’s a guarantee you’ll be able to transfer to a CSU or a UC.” Too often, students get in a rush, they procrastinate, and they listen to the wrong advice. They take what a friend took, what an older brother or sister took, and they listen to their advice instead of seeking it from the ones who know. Following all of this false informaAdvertising: (559) 442-8262
tion leads to wasted time in class, wasted money, and useless courses that can have little to nothing to do with your major. “Each student is unique,” said the Department Chair of Counseling Renee Harris. “We’re going to help create a plan to fit your needs. Students like to listen to what their friends tell them. But what is right for one student, might not be right for another.” Diversity might as well be Fresno City’s middle name. FCC Rams are not, for the most part, just students. They’re athletes, they’re mothers, fathers, plumbers, nurses, bankers, teachers, and mechanics – all trying to fit school into their already busy schedules. Counselors understand this, which is why they recommend that students make an appointment to see a counselor before see Registration p. 3
Fax: (559) 265-5783
photo by Joseph Rios
Kesa Channoy and Boson Olubeko thumb through a registration booklet.
e-mail: rampage-news@fresnocitycollege.edu
News
2 Rampage
March 22, 2006
Chinese-American author gives lecture at FCC
Photo taken by Nathan Tyree
Judy Yung discusses Chinese history by Herbert Graham Rampage Reporter
Chinese-American author Judy Yung spoke March 17 at the Fresno City College lounge about Chinese women immigrating to the United States. Yung had a great passion for explaining issues that Asian women have faced in the past. During Yung’s lecture three topics
were discussed. The first issue was the difficulties of Chinese women immigrating to America. The Chinese men were more able to travel to America. The Chinese men were more economically stable and had more educational experiences. Consequently the Chinese men were considered more advanced in certain areas than the women in the early 1900’s. In China many families were poor and were not economically stable. This lead the men of some households to move to America and leave their families behind. The mother of the family was instructed to remain in China, until further notice. America had more job opportunities than China so many men moved. Men would send money back to their families in China and other resources to help with their families needs. Judy Yung gave an example of her great grandfather. In 1881 she explains that her grandfather moved to America a year before the immigration act was in effect. After Yung’s great grandfather earned enough married he returned to China in 1892, and got married. Yung explained in most cases men will bring their wives from China to America. Later in 1907 a law was passed in America. The law stated that if a citizen married a alien they to will loose their citizenship.
Yung also gave an example of her father’s experience moving from China to America. Yung’s father came to America in 1921 as a paper boy. Yung’s father married out of an arranged marriage. In 1941 Yung’s mother came to America with her father. She was a flower girl, growing flowers in Medalow Park in San Francisco. Yung is the daughter of descendants from China. Yung indicated that the Chinese Equal Basis Act was in affect in 1965. This act indicated that all Chinese immigrants were allowed to move to America. The second issue that Judy Yung discussed was Chinese prostitution. There were harsh conditions that women went through in China. Women were valued less than men. Many families put their female babies for adoption. When the female becomes an adult, decisions must be made for the female. Most American men traveled to China in the early 1900’s. Mother’s gave permission for their daughters to move to America with American men. Some agreed that a marriage would take place or occupation. In some cases American men lied to some daughters’ mothers. Some American men forced the chinese women into prostitution. Historical Chinese artwork.
photo courtesy of Google.com
Asian-American Internments revisited
Japanese panel shares knowledge of internment camp at FCC. by Jessyca Dewey Rampage Reporter FCC hosted a panel on the Japanese Internment camps of World War II in the Student Lounge last Wednesday. The ASG brought in two Japanese-American speakers to discuss their experiences in the internment camps and about 50 to 60 students were in attendance. While both accounts shared similarities, each speaker brought different aspects to their story. Dr. Allen Siroky, an FCC history instructor, opened the panel with a brief overview of the Japanese-American internment camps and then introduced camp survivor, Yuri Okamoto whom was forced into an internment camp in 1942 as a senior in high school. She recalled for the audience her memory of December 7, 1942- the
day of the attack on Pearl Harbor. After running home from school in order to catch the radio broadcast of her favorite soap opera, she tuned into the radio station only to hear reports of the Japanese attacks on American soil. “Would they blame us”? Would they ostracize us?” Okamoto said she asked herself almost immediately after the full realization of the events took place. She worried that her classmates and friends would discriminate against her due to her Japanese ancestry. Yet, regardless of her expectations, Okamoto says her friends and classmates were extremely supportive and encouraging, sending them away with a farewell assembly. Her family, which lived in the Santa Clara Valley soon chose to relocate to the San Joaquin Valley which was, at the time, still considered to be
photo by Nathan Tyree
a “free area” for the JapaneseAmericans. However, they were only allowed to stay for about three to four months. After this, the U.S. Government relocated the family to an internment camp in Arizona. “My first glance of the camp was shocking. It was a prison,” said Okamoto as she gave a sour expression. After she and her family got off of the train, they each carried either a box or a suitcase and began to search for their new, makeshift home all the while being careful to avoid the open trenches along the way. Finally, they arrived in the small building in which they would live for the next two years. The room, which was filled with four to five cots, was about 20 feet by 20 feet and had large cracks in the walls with no ceiling and an unfinished roof through which you
could see the sky. “It ought to be remembered and studied so that nothing like this will ever happen again- especially to citizens,” said Okamoto in her closing statement. After she stepped off of the stage, the next speaker, Sab Osana stood and began his recollection of the events that took place in his life during World War II. He told of his family’s new vineyard in Caruthers, CA and how they were forced to leave the land that they were so proud to have. Fortunately, unlike many of their fellow detainees, the Osana’s were able to have a friend take care of their land while they were gone. On the day he was supposed to leave, Osana said he received no fond farewells like Okamoto. Instead he was simply glanced at as he walked away. Originally he and his family were sent to the Fresno Fairgrounds and then in October were sent to an internment camp in Arkansas. Three weeks into their stay, Osana’s father caught pneumonia and died leaving his mother with seven children. Distraught, she
turned to the Christian church for support and soon converted to Christianity. In 1945, they were allowed to return to their farm after three years and Osana vividly recalls looking forward to seeing his friends after so much time. However, they were not excitedly awaiting his arrival. He remembers how hurt he felt when he warmly greeted his friends and they barely acknowledged him. Once back at home, his sister was invited to a Christian church Easter services however, when they attended, they were asked to leave. There were many different discriminatory accounts such as these. Osana said that his sister was asked not to attend her own graduation and vigilantes even drove by their home and shot through the windows. “Prejudice is really based on ignorance,” said Osana. At the end of the presentation, the panel was opened up for questions and comments. “Can it happen again? I believe it can to people that don’t have that power,” replied Osana.
Photo courtesy of Google.com
Japanese Americans line up at an internment camp.
News
March 22, 2006
Rampage 3
Rampage Fresno City College 1101 E. University Ave. Fresno, CA 93741 Editor in chief: Quinn Robinson News Editor: Clare Frederick Business office: Leah Edwards Sports editor: Quinn Robinson Views Editor: Matthew T. Mendez Reviews Editor: Victoria McLoughlin Photo editor: Jennifer Schmidt Adviser: Dympna Ugwu-Oju photo by Clare Frederick
A kidnapping scene is played out under the trees of the west lawn during FCC’s Renaissance Festival 2006.
Registration: Get it done continued from p. 1 they register. “We are here to help students find balance,” said Harris. Counselors are not assigned, either. If you don’t like the first counselor you see, you can go to another one. “We counsel in different ways,” said Greene. “Once you find someone you like, stick with them.” If you have been attending FCC for a while or you are a new transfer, you can get a “degree audit” from an Educational Advisor like Greene in Student Services to see where you stand. The audit will show you all the classes you have taken and the units you have earned in conjunction with the
CSU/UC requirements and the Fresno City College requirements. Whether you want to transfer or get an AA degree, a degree audit will tell you if you’re on the right track and tell you what classes you still need to take. “Talk to a counselor to set up a semester plan,” said Greene. “We have so many programs here to help students get out of here.” Students should come in early and make an appointment with a counselor. However, during the first few weeks of registration, it can be a chore to see one without an appointment. “It gets busy because students wait until the last minute,” said Harris. “We are understaffed and don’t have enough
Reporters Jacob Wiens, Nigel Wojtak, Joseph Rios, Jessyca Dewey, Jeff Rodriguez, Herbert Graham, Nathan Tyree, Sean Felten, Sonya Henson, Russel Bourg, Mike Read
Photography/ Graphics Russel Bourg, Nathan Tyree, Joseph Rios, Matthew T. Mendez, Jennifer Schmidt, Clare Frederick
counselors to meet the needs of all the students.” “Utilize the appointment system.” If waiting in lines isn’t your cup of tea, you can always register online or over the phone. Fresno City also offers online counseling. You can submit general questions about submission forms, registration dates, transferring, or about the various
Letters to the editor and submissions to the calendar will be accepted via e-mail or in person noon-1 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, at The Rampage, Room SC- 211, above the bookstore. Please keep all letters to a maximum of 500 words. Newsroom: (559) 442-8263 Business: (559) 442-8262 Fax: (559) 265-5783 E-mail: rampage-news@fresnocitycollege.edu rampage-editor@fresnocitycollege.edu rampage-sports@fresnocitycollege.edu rampage-business@fresnocitycollege.edu
Rampage is an award-winning newspaper published biweekly by the Fresno City College Journalism 5 program and is a member of Journalism Association of Community Colleges. Views expressed in The Rampage are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect those of Fresno City College, its students, administration or the State Center Community College District.
programs and services available online through the college website. From March 20-29, counselors will also be available outside the Student Services building to answer any questions about registration. “Come in,” said Harris. “Our job is to give students the tools to select courses. Once you have the tools, you can plan according to your life.”
Overseas dance instructor comes to FCC by Herbert Graham
Rampage Reporter Jimmy Hao is currently a dance instructor at Fresno City College. Hao explains that he has a great passion for dance. Hao indicated.. “ I love to teach my students about dance, and I just love to dance.” Hao is a professional dancer. For some it may be impossible to beleive that, at first he had no choice, but to dance. Hoa’s hometown is Guiyang, China. In Guiyang he was govern by a communist society. Hoa was ordered to go to dance schools by the communist. At first Hoa knew nothing about dance. Hao only knew that this is what he was forced to do. Jimmy Hao indicated “ In the beginning I knew nothing about dance, following years of training, I just grew to love dance.” Jimmy Hao indicated that he did not come from a family background of dancers. Hao’s father was a famous Chinese actor, and his mother was a teacher. Hoa explained that he received his inspiration from his father and mother. Hao’s father inspired him greatly because it gave him motivation in performing arts. Therefore not just dancing does Hao enjoy, but also other areas of performing arts. Hao indicated.. “ I love performing arts, for example theater, movies, and music, not just dancing, music is used in dancing, therefore I love it all.” After gaining much dance experience in China he moved to the United States. Hao first came to Alaska. Jimmy Hao becamed the ballet master at the Alaska Dance Theater in Anchorage. Afterwards he moved to Oregon. Hao was an assistant dance instructor at Stephens College. In 1984 Hao received his bach-
photo by Nathan Tyree
FCC instructorJimmy Hao assists a student in dance class.
elor’s degree in dance. Hao received the bachelor’s degree in Beijing Academy in China. The Beijing Academy offered dance instruction in folkloric dance and classical. The school had a broad genere of dances. The Beijing Academy is the largest academy in the world. The academy holds over 48 dance studios. Following Jimmy Hao’s experience at the Beijing Academy he accomplish many other things. Hao received a 14 month contract from the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts. A women who was the Dance Instructor of the Unviersity of California Los Angeles was visited the Beijing Academy in China. She was astonish at Hao dance abilities and asked him to apply at UCLA. Jimmy Hao considered and was accepted. Later at the University of California Los Angeles he received his master’s degree in ballet and modern dance. Following in 1997 Hao became ballet master at the Alaska Dance Theater. Afterwards Jimmy Hao instructed dance in Oregon and Missouri. Jimmy Hao also received many awards for his dancing. Hao was awarded twice for best choreographer at the China National College Competition. Jimmy Hao takes dancing seriously. Hao indicates the importance of how to perform ballet. “Ballet is all about working on the form, observe the beginning of ballet, before moving on to learning any other special techniques.” Hao also indicated that keeping a straight posture is important in ballet. Looking straight and ahead is a key element also in ballet. We can not forget keeping your legs straight and your feet pointed. In Hao classes he encourages his students. Hao stresses the importance of going for excellence.
4 Rampage
Grammy artist joins FCC fest
News
March 22, 2006
A
Thousand
Saxophones
by Lee Herrick
After Hurricane Katrina: A Poem for the Living and the Dead
Bob Mintzer, Grammy award winning musician by Sarah Godinho Rampage Contributor FCC’s sixteenth annual “City Jazz” Festival is coming, along with special guest Grammy award winner Bob Mintzer. The event, scheduled for Thursday, March 30, will feature student jazz ensembles from local valley schools and a clinic given by Mitzer, who is a well-known jazz recording artist. An evening award ceremony will feature Mitzer, the award-winning FCC jazz ensemble (directed by Mike Dana) and two honors jazz groups. Student jazz ensembles from junior high through college levels will perform on from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the FCC Theatre. Over 800 students in thirty-eight groups are in line to perform. $8,000 in scholarships will be awarded to outstanding stu-
photo courtesy of Google.com
dent musicians for summer jazz workshops. Bob Mintzer ’s credits are pretty impressive. He won a Grammy Award for “Homage to Count Basie,” along with 13 other Grammy nominations. He also was co-leader of the widely acclaimed jazz quartet Yellowjackets, and has worked with James Taylor and Aretha Franklin, playing in the big bands of Buddy Rich and Thad Jones. He has composed many songs, and was a solo performer in many parts around the world. As an artist, Mintzer made his mark playing the tenor saxophone and the bass clarinet. He has also been very successful in exploring the worlds of other instruments, playing woodwinds, and extending to the big band ideas and Latin and funk, never forgetting his jazz heritage. The FCC Jazz Festival will be a fun and educational experience and all are encouraged to attend.
You can live by the water and still die of thirst. I said you can live by the water and still die of thirst or the worst nightmare come true: that body of water taking over the bodies. Sometime, tonight, see which echoes most— a whisper or a scream. Make it something beautiful, like, we will endure or Yes, I love you. Sometime, tonight, think of water—how it purifies or terrifies, cleanses, gives and takes away—think how fast some things can rise—water, fear, the intensity of a prayer. Officials in New Orleans said they want to save the living. I hope they do. But I hope they can also honor the dead. On Bourbon Street, there were over 3,000 musicians employed on any given day. Last night, before I fell asleep, I imagined what a thousand saxophones would sound like if they all played together— one thousand saxophones, different songs, different tempos, Dixieland, Miles Davis. Maybe it would sound like birds or bombs, planes or preachers praising the Word on a hot Sunday and the congregation saying Amen, some people whispering it, some people screaming it. Maybe it would sound like lightning tearing open the sky or a thousand books slammed shut after a horrible conclusion, or a thousand children crying for their mothers or fathers. Last night, I thought, how far would a thousand saxophones echo from New Orleans or Biloxi? Would we hear them in Fresno? Could we imagine the sound? Could Baton Rouge? Could Washington D.C.? I don’t know what I should tell you. But I feel like the saints are marching. They are singing a slow, deep, and beautiful song, Mr. Herrick is an Asian-American instructor at FCC. The Rampage staff wishes to extend our gratitude for his contribution to Asian-American week. This poem will be published in Fall 2006, in the anthology, “Hurricane Blues: How Katrina and Rita Ravaged A Nation.” (Southeast Missouri University Press)
Opportunities thrive for students with disabilities at FCC by Sonya Henson Rampage Reporter The Fresno City College Disabled Students Programs & Services (DSP&S) began in 1970 with 300 students. DSP&S now serves 1,800 at Fresno City College, 400 at Reedley College, and 250 at North Centers. DSP&S offices exist in every community college in California. “Its more than a job for us,” said Janice Emerzian, citing that nearly every one has a family member or acquaintance with a disability of some kind. Janice Emerzian, district director, oversees all the programs, staff, and curriculum. The Fresno City College DSP&S has three counselors for all 1,800 students it serves. Special classes are packed and DSP&S counselors have case loads of
about 600 students each As the student population and programs grow, DSP&S gets funding from the state for the number of students and the types of disabilities. Disabilities are by no means going away, severe physical disabilities are sometimes the results of accidents. “People are moving faster and there’s more opportunity for accidents.” said Emerzian. A student must have a medical verification from a doctor or psychologist to qualify for DSP&S. “One of the things I have found over the years also is if you don’t look like you have a disability, they don’t believe you have one,” said Janice Emerzian. She goes on to list psychological or mental illness, congenital heart failure, cancer, and deafness as only a few types of disabilities that do not have physical mani-
festations. The following statement has been posted in several classrooms and in many syllabi: “If you have a verified need for academic accommodation or materials in alternate media (i.e.: Braille, large print, electronic text, etc.) Per the Americans with Disabilities Act or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, please contact your instructor as soon as possible.” DSP&S recommends to all instructors that the notice be put in the class syllabus. The purpose of the notice is so that a student can go to the instructor after class and notify the instructor that he or she will need special accommodations such as additional time to complete tests, large print, a front row seat, or to have another student take notes for him or her. The instructors have been trained to ask the student, “Are you working with
DSP&S?” Then it is up to the student to get a recommendation for a certain accommodation from his or her DSP&S counselor. The purpose of posting this in the syllabus is so that a student can get help at the start of the semester, rather than waiting until he or she is having difficulty passing the class. “We do [faculty] presentations constantly,” says Emerzian. “It’s not forced on them, it’s strongly recommended.” DSP&S provides information on the Americans with Disabilities Act, title 5 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and various programs and services. DSP&S also does learning disability screenings to profile a student’s strengths and weakness as well as to provide learning strategies. DSP&S is very protective of student confidentiality
and strives to be mainstream and professional. “We are in the center of the students services building, it has always been important to me not to be that program at the end of the campus in a little cubbyhole. We’re right here in the center of counseling next to the dean of students, my office and the our counselors with all the other counselors, our services with all the other student services takes away from that stigma of being different.” One of DSP&S’s biggest challenges is providing assistance to the deaf student population. Interpreters are very costly. The program has 21 interpreters costing $300,000 of an $800,000 yearly budget for all of DSP&S. “We are the identified agent to serve students with disabilities in the community college,” said Emerzian.
March 22, 2006
News
Rampage 5
Gra r duati ra t ng ti g tthiiss ssp pri r ng? Apply now to be a Fresno City College Dean’s Medallion Recipient! Thee Dean’s D Medallion nA Award iss presented p to an exemplary student in each division based on the student’s grade pointt aaverage, community service and other pertinent criteria. Each recipient will receive a bronze b medallion and a $50 00 cash h aaward. Y u can apply online at www. Yo w fr w. f esnocitycollege.edu and click on the FCC Commencement link or pickkk up your application in one of the division offices. Deadline to oa apply lly is A April 6, 2006
2005 Dean’s Medallion Recip pients
Shelby Bue, Hu H maniti t ees Divis ti i ion is Jonathan Black, Stu t de tu d ntt S Service ces ce es Baksho K. Birdi, Ap App pplied dT Tech c nolo log lo oggyy Divis i ion is Jennife f r Adams, He fe Heal ealt altth hS Sccience ceess Divis ce i ion is Shreya Shah, Busines essss Divis es i ion is Josh Carl, Fine, Pe P rf rfo forming ng and n dC Communica c tio ca t n Arts ts t Divis i ion is Michael A.. W Wilson, Ma M th th h,, S Sccience cce and dE En ngi ng gineering n ng Susi Nitzel, Soc S ial ial S Sccience ceess Divis ce i ion is
Commencement is May 19, 2006 at Selland Arena
6 Rampage
News
March 22, 2006
March 22, 2006
Sports
7
Track team soars to finish Fresno City College track team prepares to close out the season on high note by Matthew T. Mendez Rampage Reporter As the 2006 Track and Field outdoor regular season nears an end, many of the men and women athletes on the Fresno City College team have found themselves placed among the top 10 in several events in Northern California. Most notable is sophomore Sharon Ayala, whose strong arm has her listed as No. 1 in both the discus throw (47.09m) and the hammer throw (53.16m). Her effort in the shot put event (12.74m) during the NorCal Rotational at Santa Rosa junior college track meet on Feb. 24 placed her at No. 2, and her javelin toss at the very same meet was good enough to put her at No. 4 in the NorCal region. Ayala isn’t the only woman at Fresno City in the NorCal top 10. During the San Jose Invitational track meet on March 17, two freshmen--Nancy Vizcarra-Gamboa and Alex Von Stade--performed well enough in the hammer throw to be placed No. 2 and No. 8 respectively. The San Jose Invitational was also the meet
in which Ayala earned her No. 1 spot in the hammer throw, making it a dominant day for the Rams. F r e s h ma n K i m b e r l y Montag earned NorCal’s top spot for the season in the high jump by leaping 5’4’’ (1.62m) at the Nor-Cal 5-Way Rotational meet held at Fresno City College on Feb. 18. During that same meet, sophomore Eva Flores placed first in the 1,500m run, and sophomore Danelle Ayala took first place in the 5,000m run. Neither effort was good enough to earn them a spot on the NorCal top 10 for the season, but Flores is at No. 3 in the 3,000m run with a time of 11:23.56 during the NorCal Rotational at Santa Rosa JC meet. The men have had a tougher time dealing with some stiff competition, but the Santa Rosa meet may prove to be a coming out party for a couple of aspiring freshmen. Tony Pulido sprinted to fifth place in the NorCal top 10 in the 800m run, sixth in the 1,500m run, and fourth in the 3,000m run; Cesar Rodriguez ran well enough in the 3,000m to earn eighth place for the year. During the Beaver Relays meet on March 4, freshman Cruz Adams earned ninth place for the year in the 10,000m run, and
Fresno placed itself at No. 3 in the 4x800m relay race with a time of 8:19.81. Sophomore Tim Batista stands at No. 4 in pole vault by rising to a personal best 4.41m while participating at the San Jose Invitational, and on the same day, fellow sophomore Phil Garvin earned third place for the season in the long jump competition by jumping 6.84m. Garvin also sits at No. 5 in the triple jump with a 13.41m at the Nor-Cal 5-Way Rotational at FCC. The Central Valley Conference’s next track meet is the Fresno Invitational, held at Fresno City College at 11a.m. on March 25.
Rams to watch Sharon Ayala- Hammer and Discus Kimberly Montag- High Jump Tim Batista- Pole Vault Photo by Jennifer Schmidt
Phil Garvin- Long Jump, Triple Jump Tony Pulido- 800, 1,600 and 3,000m Eva Flores- 1,500 m
Photo by Jennifer Schmidt
Fresno City College’s Natalie Stiffler gets ready to hurl a javelin during the Rams practice over at Ratcliffe Stadium.
Men’s: Rams fail to secure repeat bid for state title
Continued from Pg 1
In the first half, FCC saw a completely different outcome than the night before when the Rams ran San Bernardino up and down the court non-stop the night before. Walberg’s crew was held to just 32 points in the first half against Fullerton. The night before, a proRams crowd witnessed the same team rack up 24 more points in the same amount of time. “All we wanted to do is go out there and get one more point than they did,” said Walberg. “Even though w e d i d n ’t s h o o t t h e b a l l well tonight, I felt we put ourselves in the position to win; we had the ball trailing by one with thirty seconds to go. I probably should have called a timeout when I look back at it, but I wanted to go
with it.” Under Walberg’s command, the Rams have been known to implement a fast paced offense that often ran opposing teams right off the court, even exhausting the opposition before half time in most cases. Tonight was not one of them. The Rams struggled to find their flow—and shot— FCC went a dismal 4-24 behind the arc, Fullerton was able to keep themselves in the game with the play of guard Tim Denson and company leading the way. “We did a very good job guarding the ball,” said Hornets coach Dieter Horton. “We knew who the shooters were and we got a little lucky, they had some wide open shots and just weren’t able to cash in.” Walberg has posted a amazing 133-11 record during his four years as the
men’s basketball coach at FCC. After last season’s championship run, Walberg was rumored to be a candidate in several division one coaching jobs, but nothing developed from those rumors. Now that the season is once again over for the Rams, is this the last time that FCC fans will see him on the sideline as coach? “I plan on being here (next season),” said Walberg. Guess we’ll just have to wait and see Guard Tyson Parker handles the ball in FCC’s loss to Fullerton College. The Hornets did what FCC did in 2004-05 by going undefeated for the state championship. Photo by Jennifer Schmidt
Sports
8 Rampage
March 22, 2006
Tennis teams travel tough road Men’s tennis has new first year coach while women’s tennis looks to remain competitive in CVC
by Joseph Rios Rampage Reporter
Head Coach Rick Scheidt has big shoes to fill. Under the previous head coach Bill Wayte, the Fresno City’s men’s tennis team enjoyed 18 consecutive conference championships. In 2004, the Rams took it even further, winning the state title. College of the Desert won the title last
season. Van Ruler from Ventura teamed with partner Jason Mossembekker to win the doubles final over Fresno City College’s Daniel Ndlela and Frank Scalia 6-2, 6-3 at last season’s state championships at the Copper River Country Club in Fresno. Scheidt takes his young team of one sophomore and seven freshmen to Sacramento next Tuesday for the Sacramento City Tournament. The Central Valley Conference tournament begins April 13 and runs until April 15 in Modesto, CA. T h e w o m e n ’s t e a m plowed through the regular season in 2005. Beginning
with the season-opener against Bakersfield, the Rams grabbed their first win and never looked back. Fresno went on to take the next 10 games and secure a perfect 11-0 record and a more than comfortable 8-0 conference history. If the weather is any indication of the future, then the weather at this year’s season opener more than foreshadowed what was to come – rain. The first match on schedule against Mission College Jan 31 was rained out. The Rams went on to lose three straight with two losses at home against
Community College of San Francisco and Bakersfield College. Their third loss was also to Bakersfield College two weeks later in Bakersfield 0-9 Feb 21. They recovered, though, with back-to-back wins in Modesto. The first was a 5-4 victory over American River College. The second came against Diablo Valley (8-1). FCC followed with its first conference loss against the College of the Sequoias. The Giants shutout the Rams 9-0. After their match against Modesto Junior College was cancelled due to rain, Fresno jumped on Sacramento City and
snagged a 7-2 win. The Lady-Rams travel to Sacramento March 28 to clash with Sac-City for their second CVC matchup of the season. The Women’s CVC tournament runs at the same time as the Men’s. After the conference tourney, both teams travel to Ventura, CA for the three-day Ojai Tournament April 27. T h e N o r C a l To u r n a ment action begins the following weekend in Sacramento. Matches serve up Thursday May 4. Following that, the California State Championships kickoff May 12 at the Claremont Club in Glendale, CA.
Baseball delivers onslaught
FCC puts 49 runs up in a three game Central Valley Conference span.
by Jeff Rodriguez Rampage Reporter all team’s offense shows how potent it can be, having scored 19 or more runs twice. “Against our two toughest opponents we get our highest offensive outputs of the season,” said coach Ron Scott. The Rams are coming around with their bats lately, hitting .300 collectively, as they hold on strong to their No. 1 Northern California ranking. Weather postponed the March 7 meeting between FCC and Reedley. Reedley had to delay the trip to Euless Park until the following day to play the conference game. Reedley would’ve been better off not making the trip. The Rams jumped out to the early 9-0 lead and never looked back. The Tigers scored four runs, but the deficit was too much and they never recovered. Matt Lieb would go 2-3 with a double and 2 RBI. Derek O’Reilly scored twice and knocked in 2 RBI of his own. “He has been the spark plug for our offense,” said Scott. “Derek is leading the state in batting.” Sean Halton punched in two more runs for the Rams. Derek Achelpohl (1-1, 3.24 ERA) was the winning pitcher as Terrance Brown picked up his first save for the Rams.
FCC traveled to Merced to face the Central Valley Conference leader. The Rams are currently one game behind Merced in conference standings who is currently ranked sixth in the NorCal rankings. FCC wasted no time teeing off on Merced. Derek O’Reilly exploded with the bat, going 3-5 with 2 home runs and 5 RBI. “I don’t know what that kid is eating, but he can’t stay off the bases,” said Rams third basemen Kris Haycock of O’Reilly. “He doesn’t know what to do if he not on base.” Kyle Gerhart went 24, hitting a home run with 3 RBI. Robert Walden had a double with 2 RBI. Sean Halton added 2 more RBI for FCC. Kris Haycock got his first home run of the season. Brian Oliver joined the parade, hitting a home run of his own. The Rams ended up scoring 19 runs on 15 hits on their way to a 19-8 win with Taylor Lewis recording his third victory on the season for FCC. “Beating Merced was a big win because they were undefeated in conference,” said Scott. “It is important to win game at home, but we took care of business on the road.” “It was a confidence booster our offense really got going,” said Haycock about the win over Merced. “We showed we should be the best in the
conference.” Rams would have to gear up for a home and home with Modesto. Modesto gave FCC their only conference loss to this point on February 25. Modesto traveled to Euless Park on March 11 for a CVC battle. The Rams bats showed no signs of slowing down picking up were they left off against Merced. FCC’s Robert Walden lead the offensive attack against Modesto. Walden went 3-4 with a home run, double and six RBI. The slugfest continued for the Rams as Nat Lovell went 2-4 at the plate while Tyrese McDaniel, Joe Palomino and Sean Halton all added 2 RBI each as the Rams put up a season high 20 runs in a 20-3 rout of Modesto. “It was great for [Walden],” said Scott of Walden’s performance at the plate. “He has been struggling and we need our sophomores to be leaders.” Rain forced FCC to change its travel plans to Modesto on March 14. The Rams would make the trip the next day to face the Pirates for the second time in four days. This game, however, turned out to be a pitchers duel. FCC jumped out in the early innings to take a 2-0 lead. Modesto would come right back as they picked up a run in the fourth, cutting the deficit to 2-1 in favor of the Rams. The Pirates then tied the game in
SPRING WORK $12.25 base/appt, flexible schedules, sales/service, no exp. nec, conditions apply, ages 18+ call 222-7527 www.workforstudents.com
the seventh and kept the Rams scoreless the remainder of the game while Modesto knocked in the deciding run in the bottom of the ninth inning to wrap up a 3-2 victory. Larry Holscher (4-1, 2.05 ERA) was charged with his first loss of the season. FCC hit the road to face Coalinga on March 16 before tangoing with West Hills for a home and home series. Derek Achelpohl (21) threw 15 strikeouts and gave up no runs as West Hills would only pick up three hits the entire game. Sean Halton went 3-4 knocking in 2 RBI for while Matt Lieb hit a triple with 2 RBI. In all, the Rams
rounded up 10 hits on their way to a 4-0 victory. Weather and bad field conditions delayed the March 18 game. West Hills and FCC will play the second half of their home and home at a later date. Weather permitting, the Rams will start a home and home on March 21 with the Reedley Tigers at Reedley. The Tigers will then visit Euless Park on March 23. The Rams then follow up those games with a two game set against Porterville at Porterville on the 25 before heading back up to Euless Park on the 28 to finish the two game series.
Sports
March 22, 2006
Rampage 9
Welcome to the Terrell Owens show
Highly talented and scrutinized receiver catches more garbage from media and fans than deserved
by Quinn Robinson Sports Editor
The city of Dallas, Texas was informed on March 19 that the circus has made a stop in town. This circus is unlike the one we’ve all been to at least one time or another in our lives. What’s unique about this circus is that rather than staying for a handful of days before moving on to its next venue is the fact that this circus will make its home in Dallas for three years. No, the Ringling Brothers don’t have a soft spot in their hearts for the city of Dallas; the circus I’m talking about here is that of Terrell Owens. Owens inked a deal with owner Jerry Jones to be part of America’s team for a three-year deal that can earn him reportedly $25 million over that time period. The eleven-year veteran of the NFL is notable for the moves he makes on the field, but more notable for the ones he makes off. Starting his career in the Bay Area as a San Francisco 49er, Owens was an up and coming receiver who played alongside future Hall of Fame Jerry Rice in his first few years as a Niner. His explosiveness and tenacity quickly made Owens one of the most feared receivers in the NFL as he displayed capability to score on any given play. Owens breakthrough play with San Francisco came during the 1999 wild card game against the Green Bay Packers at 3Com Park. Unable to figure out the
mystique of Brett Favre and the Packers the past few meetings, it seemed like San Francisco would once again suffer another crushing loss to Green Bay. The Niners were trailing 27-23 with time quickly running out, as Steve Young would lead his squad for one final drive in hopes of claiming a victory. Young was able to lead his team downfield in dramatic fashion and with eight seconds left on the clock, Young dropped back from the Packers 25-yard line looking for any open red jersey in the end zone. Young saw one open for a split second and fired the pass in there and at that moment Terrell Owens became a star. Jumping between two defenders, Owens caught what later on became known as “The Catch II” and helped the Niners advance in the playoffs that year. Owens continued to deliver big time performances in San Francisco, but his contributions on the field were quickly overshadowed by ones off the field and Owens was eventually released in 2004 and later signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. Hyped as the “Saving Grace” for an Eagle organization that missed the Super Bowl the previous three seasons by one game, Owens quickly came in and delivered on his end of the bargain. Playing in 14 games that season before sustaining a broken leg against the Dallas Cowboys all looked well for the Eagles. Owens had 1,200 receiving yards 14 touchdowns and for the most part, there was no major friction between Owens and anyone else donning an Eagles uni. Here’s where Donovan McNabb comes in. As the regular season wound down and Philly prepared for another playoff run and eventual Super Bowl appearance, McNabb was asked by reporters if the thought of Owens rehabbing his
Photos courtesy of CNNSI.com
Terrell Owens takes his athleticism-- and criticism-- to the Dallas Cowboys. One of the most controversial receivers in the NFL promises to keep people entertained on and off the field. broken leg in time to play for the Super Bowl would help Philly’s chance in winning the game. McNabb went on to say that it doesn’t matter if Owens is ready to play or not, the Eagles will be ready to go. (Buzzer sound please) Wrong answer Donovan. Yes, you were able to lead the Eagles the final four games or so after TO sustained his injury, but honestly, where would you have been the other 14 if TO decided to let the trade go through with Baltimore or worked things out with the front office in San Francisco? That’s right, for the fourth straight year, you would’ve been watching the Super Bowl commercials like the rest of us instead of suiting up and running out onto the field to thousands of screaming Philly fans in Jacksonville,
Florida. So don’t come at me with the “We’ll be fine without him,” crap because we honestly know the Eagles wouldn’t have been. Just think, if McNabb would’ve done anything to simply re-phrase what he said about TO, none of us would be talking about this today. The Eagles still might not have won that game, but there would be no beef between the star wide receiver and quarterback and Owens might have let the whole contract situation slide who knows. Problem is, we’ll never know because the beef escalated and Owens was eventually suspended by the organization in 2005 and sat at home for the second half of the 2005 season while the Eagles suffered miserably with injuries and possibly a quarterback that just couldn’t cut it. After the season for the Left: Terrell Owens and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones pose for photos at a March 19 press conference in which Jones introduced the Pro Bowl receiver to the media as the newest memeber of the team. Right: Owens catching a game winning touchdown pass from Niners quarterback Steve Young in the 1999 wild card game against Mike Holmgren and the Green Bay Packers.
New England Patriots wrapped up, it was revealed that Tom Brady suffered the same injury during the season that McNabb had. Only difference was Brady played through it, while McNabb took the easy road out straight to the sideline bench. He says he was hurt with a groin injury and I’m not questioning that at all. What I am questioning here is: What hurt more? The groin or his pride? His pride was obviously the issue here. I don’t think McNabb really even liked the idea that a receiver of Owens’ stature was going to be in his locker room. McNabb was the original saving grace for an Eagles organization that really struggled to make an appearance on the NFL radar before the years leading up to drafting the quarterback No. 2 overall in the 1999 draft out of Syracuse University. There’s no way he could risk losing command of his team to a receiver that talked the talk and backed it up on the field. So McNabb played it cool at first and found out what it was that made TO click and then went in and did his work to get him out of there. Now that Owens is out of the Philly clubhouse, the Eagles— I mean Donovan—can breathe a little easier. Well not quite, seems like Owens will still be a problem for the Eagles. TO now sports a logo that represents what he really is in this league, a star. And this star is going to outshine McNabb, whether he’s in the same clubhouse or not.
Rampage
March 22, 2006
Rampage 10
Fresno City College Rampage 10.25" x 15”
Special
$
City College Offer!
10OFF
an Accessory Purchase!* *Valid on $19.95 purchase or higher. Requires coupon and student ID. Offer ends 3/31/06.
PAY AS
YOU GO! Motorola V173
NO Credit Checks!
phone
®
$69.99
1¢ 10 #
RATE PLAN
2 ¢ 25
Choose which plan fits you best!
per minute plan with UNLIMITED Mobile-to-Mobile Calling!
• You get charged $1 per day only on the days you use your phone (make or receive a call)! • UNLIMITED mobile-to-mobile calling to any of Cingular’s 52 million customers – other calls are only 10¢ per minute.
#
RATE PLAN
NO
Long-Term Commitments!
Starter Kit
per minute plan
• No daily access fee. Just one simple, flat rate – anytime! • No additional charge for domestic long distance.
$
only
25!
Includes: activation set-up, $10 airtime credit & SIM card.
• No additional charge for domestic long distance calls. FRESNO- (559)449-2755 7672 N. Blackstone River Park Just left of Borders
FRESNO- (559)221-2701 5046 North Palm Ave. Fig Garden Village, Next to Uncle Harry's
FRESNO- (559)253-2830 5640 E. Kings Canyon Rd., #102 Vons Shopping Center
FRESNO- (559)243-2000 3191 W. Shaw Ave., #A
Towne Square Shopping Center, next to Starbucks
FRESNO- (559)353-3999 8817 N. Cedar Ave. Vons Shopping Center, Next to Starbucks
CLOVIS- (559)325-9825 779 Herndon Ave., #101 At Herndon & Clovis Ave. Next to Starbucks
CLOVIS- (559)323-2284 1050 Shaw Ave., #1043 Sierra Vista Mall
CLOVIS- (559)322-3310 175 W. Shaw Ave., #101 Next to Starbucks
LOS BANOS- (209)827-8155 1350 Pacheco Blvd., Ste. A
SELMA- (559)891-2301 2851 Highland, #113
MERCED- (209)384-5700 560 W. Olive Ave.
VISALIA- (559)738-7880 3323 S. Mooney Blvd.
TURLOCK- (209)664-3990 2840 Geer Rd.
VISALIA- (559)733-8255 5410 W. Cypress Ave., Suite 103
In Walgreen’s Shopping Center
Next to Starbucks
Raley's Shopping Center
Food 4 Less Shopping Center
Inside Sequoia Mall
At Akers & Hwy. 198
GoPhone: Service is not available at all times or in all areas. Qualified phone required. Service is available only with a positive account balance. Usage rounded up to the next full minute or kilobyte. Rates are subject to change. Account payments are not returnable or transferable. State and Federal Universal Service charges, taxes, and other fees apply. Service subject to Terms of Service and other printed materials. Mobile to Mobile: Available with select plans. Rollover Balance: Pay As You Go balance rolls over if payment is made prior to account balance expiration. Balance rolls over for 12 months. Night & Weekend and Mobile to Mobile Minutes: Nights are 9 pm – 6 am. Weekends are 9 pm Friday – 6 am Monday. Mobile to Mobile minutes may be used for calls to or from any Cingular subscriber within the calling area. Night and Weekend minutes and Mobile to Mobile minutes do not carry over and are available only if there is a positive account balance. ©2006 Cingular Wireless. All rights reserved.
Call 1-800-700-TALK or visit www.parrotcellular.com for the location nearest you!
Views
March 22, 2006
11
Is celebrating our differences dividing us?
It is when you consider that our Creator meant for us to be different from each other, and that it is not man’s place to point out such distinctions.
Mike Read Rampage Reporter
I think I have a rare opinion when it comes to celebrating diversity. First off, I think it divides us. Not in a Nazi-Germany kind of way but more like the movie White Men Can’t Jump sort of way. I’m quick to add I don’t think this kind of diversity is bad. Its good! Even if you didn’t like the movie, one can safely see an acceptance of another race with mild-adoration. This is what I’m talking about. I think if we were all one nation we would end up pulling the moon down on the earth or something crazy like that. With man’s inner desires to become like God mixed with the ability to actually become like God, I see this as a big disaster. Still, it’s good to look back during Black History Month and see what American thought has grown from. It is good to give a hardy ‘hurrah’ as some acknowledges their existence. I’m getting biblical so hold on!
In the first book of the Bible there is a story about early mankind who build this tower called the Tower of Babble. In this time the people of the earth were one in speech and decided to make a tower that reached to the heavens, all for the purpose of making a name for them and to prevent them from scattering. God sees into the future of things and deems it better to scatter man and confuse their speech. Now I’m leaving out a lot from this story but I think he did this because man would forget about God and focus only on himself. This probably sounds like a stretch, but if we never celebrated diversity we would all mesh into one and probably start some campaign about furthering the boundaries of our existence and forget what life was all about. Regardless if this story is historical or metaphorical or if you believe in the bible for that matter, I like this story because it gives us insight into man’s heart and man’s innate drive to become great. I don’t think celebrating Black History Month at FCC prevents the earth from building an escalator to Mars or anything too bizarre like that. But to take an event at city campus and think about it with a global mindset, celebrating diversity on campus divides us and helps us to step back and question what the heck we are doing here and why life does or does not matter.
No diversity celebration means no cool holidays and no days off. It would be really boring.
Sean Felten Rampage Reporter Each month, we celebrate a certain holiday. Some holidays are celebrated because of patriotism (note President’s Day and the Fourth of July), while others are celebrated for diversity (Christmas, Hanukkah, Black History Month, and Women’s History Month, just to name a few). Several holidays allow us to have the day off from work or school. Does the celebration of diverse holidays divide us? Most certainly NOT! There are many different holidays that people celebrate. For Catholics, March is a time of Lent, where meat is not consumed on Fridays, and individuals must give up something for the full 40 days. February is known as Black History Month. It’s celebrated due to the tumultuous events of the Civil Rights era. Notable figures of Civil Rights would be Martin Luther King Jr., Malcom X, and Rosa Parks. Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a Mexican holiday where people remember the dead by creating an altar with a photo of a deceased relative. Did you know that Mexican Independence Day is celebrated in September and not on May with Cinco de Mayo? We all know February is Black History Month. This month-long holiday came about mostly because of the Civil Rights movement. During the 1960s, America had a “separate, but equal” quota. This
caused segregation, along with oppression, discrimination, racism, and bigotry. One of the most powerful voices of the movement was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His tool was the “I Have a Dream” speech. Rosa Parks refused to sit on the back seat of a bus. This was taking a stand against all the oppression that African-Americans were facing. Today, we have all equal facilities, and some very notable African-American leaders. Thurgood Marshall was the first African-American appointed to the Supreme Court. Oprah Winfrey has her talk show, and tries to understand people like a sociologist. General Colin Powell was the first AfricanAmerican to serve as Chief of Staff in the White House. Condoleezza Rice was the first African-American to serve as Secretary of State in the White House. March is celebrated for Women’s History Month. Women weren’t allowed to do much during the early 19th Century. After women got married, they didn’t have the right to own property, maintain their wages, sign a contract, or even vote. It was expected that women had to be obedient wives, and to never have their own opinion. Also, women could not travel alone or speak in public. One of the most notable women of the women’s right movement would be Susan B. Anthony. During the suffrage movement, she worked alongside with Elizabeth Cady Stanton to fight to give women the right to vote. After all the activism and lobbying, women finally got the right to vote. Jane Addams was the first woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Jeannette Rankin became the first woman of Congress. If we didn’t have any diverse holidays at all, we would have a boring society. It would just be work and school every dayin, day-out.
Campus Voices
by Sean Felten
Is celebrating too much diversity dividing us?
Laura Kasparian Journalism “No, it’s not dividing us because it gives cultures the opportunity to celebrate what they are all about.”
Demetria Carmicle Business
Brandon Hernandez Criminology
“Yes because we don’t see many months devoted to many cultures. It’s like all other cultures got isolated.”
“No, but diversity can be both good and bad. It’s good because of awareness, but bad because we have racists and racism.”
Valerie Morales Psychology “It wouldn’t be because these holidays bring about cultural awareness, and that’s exactly what diversity is.”
Amber Bettinsoli Culinary Arts
“Yes it is because a lot of other cultures don’t have their own month. We see more cultural holidays that are only on one day, not a month.”
12 Rampage
Views
March 22, 2006
What if this column made any sense? Then it would competely neglect its initial purpose: to bewilder the mind and stimulate the imagination, but mostly to bewilder
Matthew T. Mendez Rampage Reporter What if students only showed up on campus for school related purposes? Then Fresno City College would no longer be Fresno City College. If people weren’t hanging out by the fountain or in the pit, then everybody would be in class, which means there would be nothing but good students here. That’s not the FCC I know--not by a long shot. The FCC I know is filled with students who have nothing better to do than hang out on campus and argue amongst themselves. You know, real go-getters on the road to success. What if there were more parking spaces than students? Then people would no longer have a legitimate excuse for being late to class all the time. If the parking lot had more spaces than the school had students, then the parking lot would be so big some students would complain about how far they have to walk to get to class. So, on second thought, the excuses would keep on coming. What if students actually read the Rampage? Then I would most definitely be
beaten up every time I stepped foot on campus. As much as I like to run my fat mouth (or type with my fat fingers?), I would be lucky not to get jumped by a gang of little old ladies that live across the street from the school. Fortunately for me, most students ignore the hard work each of us put in to produce the school paper, otherwise I’d always be writing about my frequent trips to the emergency room. What if Principal Skinner ran Fresno City College? Then Groundskeeper Willie would be around for me to ridicule in my columns, and the principal’s mother would show up every so often (and as a little old lady, she’d probably beat me up). What if your peers cared more about your grades than the kind of car you drive? Then that would mean people have started to think with logic instead of not thinking at all, which would leave me with nothing to write about. If society didn’t place so much importance on the type of vehicle we own, more people would focus on what really matters in life. Thankfully, today’s young adults are as incapable of thinking for themselves as any generation that preceded us had been, so I should have writing material for quite some time. What if cable television was never invented? Then our nation’s literacy rate would be much higher than it currently is. As much as people think they can’t live without ESPN, MTV or Adult Swim, they
would somehow find a way to live on. In fact, not only would people survive, they would be forced to find other, more productive ways to spend at least six hours a day. Maybe they would spend that time doing something to improve themselves and the quality of life for those around them. Eh, maybe not. What if tall, dark, and handsome was replaced by short, pale, and kind of attractive? Then I would be pursued by more women than I’d know what to do with. I would be so popular with the ladies that I’d have to beat them off of me with an ugly stick, or shoot them with an ugly gun-loaded with ugly bullets. What if Myspace became a pay site?
Then rioting would ensue on the streets of every densely populated city in America. Disgruntled Myspacers all across the country would be united by their raging hatred for a common enemy: Tom. What if Dick Cheney invited your mother to accompany him…on a hunting trip? Then you would have to kill the guy first because, bless her heart, your dear mama won’t be coming back from that weekend getaway. To make matters worse, after spraying birdshot in your mother’s face with a shotgun, trigger-happy Dick would disappear for a few days behind his press secretary, reemerging only after a complicated web of lies could be agreed upon by all parties--except you and your comatose mother, of course.
Views
March 22, 2006
Rampage 13
Human nature isn’t self-improvement, it’s self-importance Sometimes one must seek help from a divine being in order to discover genune purity
Mike Read Rampage Reporter A certain part of my past is clouded in a haze of marijuana smoke. I really loved the stuff for a while. I also had a gun fired at me on account of my zeal for getting high. The cycle of a drug-addict is a fascinating thing. I read somewhere that we are creatures of habit and I agree with this. It said that in a life centered on the calming ritual of getting high, that same life is shadowed against a chaotic backdrop of being a drug addict. The ritual that calms us in turn causes strife in our lives. The night I found myself running across a dark field was one of the most stirring nights of my life. I look back and remember those days fondly because I have been delivered so far from that past. Not just in a dodging-bullets kind of way, but also in regards to what I have come to love. Jesus helped me with this.
I bring this up because I think there is this broken quality in life; something that drives us to do bad over good and to love darker things rather than lighter things. Now, most people don’t enjoy killing other people so I’m sure some explanation of this loving-darkness-thing is in order. Let me encourage you to try something. Try to practice only good things, things like compassion, love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and purity. Acknowledge that it always seems like such a fight. In my life I have found I cannot do this with my own power. More often than not I feel like a majority of my thoughts are negative and slanderous. I find if I don’t wake up each day and submit my heart to God I’m more prone to walk in a day full of self-absorption, envy, pride, slander, jealousy, and sexual impurity. The bible talks about this stuff. That’s why I like the bible. I think it explains our current situation well. There is a part where a guy named Paul writes to some new Christians in Rome. Halfway through he gets really honest and starts talking about himself. He says “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” He even goes on to say, “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have
the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” This is the broken quality of life that I am talking about. The desire to do good is there but hidden and lurking is the habitual inability to carry it out for any length of time. And I guess when it really comes down to it I think it is impossible to love the right things without God. I like to think I like to do things for the right reasons. Another important reason I bring this up is because I meet people all the time that say they are good people by which they conclude good people go to heaven. I say this because I don’t think anyone is really good. I think everyone has some usual quirk of patterns that, if exposed, would make them look kind of ugly. Remember that guy who ate people? Jeffery Dahmer was his name. In some degree we could compare him to Adolph Hitler who lead the genocide against the Jews. We could safely denote that the guy who ate people is a better person than Hitler. He didn’t massacre millions of humans; he just ate a human or two. Now if I were to compare myself to this guy who ate people I would definitely say I am a better person than him. I don’t murder and eat people; therefore I am a good person. But what if I compared myself to Jesus Christ? The bible said he was man and
God who didn’t slander, envy, walk around with an egotistical pride, or live life in some self-addicted fashion, but loved and gave his life for others. If I compared myself to this standard can I would see how far I am from actually being good. If we are expected to be good, we are doomed. In short the idea of levels of goodness existing is foolish. All this is worthy of note because if we can see that man is fallen and more prone to walk in the darker things of life; if we can see that no one is really good, then we can understand the concept of sin. We can see what it means to really be good and realize how far we are from this If we can see this we see the need to be redeemed by something greater. Before I start rambling more I’ll be quick to end with just this quote that sums up my thoughts. It is written by a guy named Don Miller. “Because of sin,” he says, “because I am self-addicted, living in the wreckage of The Fall, my body and heart are prone to love things that kill me. Tony says that when people who follow Jesus love the right things, they help create God’s kingdom on earth, and that is something beautiful.” mikejedi@gmail.com
News Flash: cigarettes aren’t very healthy
And they might even bring death to those who don’t even smoke, cause teeth to turn yellow, and make people smell bad. Really, really bad. Seriously, like you’ve been camping. 4.5x6 ad_otlnd.pdf
Nathan Tyree Rampage Reporter Spring is arriving as the temperature of the warm-sunshine air spurs itself to the likes of a love in May. Ah, spring is in the air. Sweet, sweet spring. Well, at least one would think. Instead of love, chirping birds, and blooming roses outside, it is the gaseous and intoxicating deadly whispers of cigarette smoke that conquers our senses. Although I have no time to study or even have a break at school this semester, my preceding studying during semester would usually take place in the library. Why? The stench of cigarette smoke fills the air. Call me smokophobic or a cigarette hater, but I’m sure I’m not the only student on campus who feels they are losing several of their brain cells while studying or walking in the Fresno City College quad. Those who do study outside in the quad and do not smoke, I have no idea how you can stand such a mockery to your precious life. I wonder how much cigarette pollution is actually hovering in the air over the quad and how much of a sample of it would exceed the national air quality standard for C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
1/19/06
5:01:18 PM
outside air established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Cigarette smoke is about 10,000 times more concentrated than the pollution in freeway traffic as you drive to class each day. And only about five to eight percent of all cigarette smoke accounts as visible smoke one sees spewing from the white stick. No, this article is no meant to stop you from smoking another cigarette. I figure, why should I waste my time with your ignorance? You probably began smoking in high school, and now you feel as independent as can be in your own little addictive world. You probably don’t even care about your health or other people’s health when they must inhale the secondhand-intoxicating smoke. Secondhand smoke accounts for over 3,000 lung cancer deaths in secondhand smokers each year in the United States. Your environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) contains over 4,000 chemicals, 40 to 60 of those toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic substances, like tar, rat poison, radon, asbestos, and acids, are known to cause cancer. Cigarettes also contain contents of nicotine, one of the most addictive substances known to man. These horrible and ill-conceived substances in the smoke can reduce us passive smokers to coughing uncontrollably, phlegm vomiting, chest pain and distress, and a reduction in the strength of our lungs. Heck, did you smokers know there is a “No smoking within 15 feet of the building” rule? I realize that not all smokers will puff a few Camels and Marlboros next to the entrances of classrooms, but if one does it, all smokers should lose the privilege of
smoking within the boundaries of campus. I certainly do not want to breathe in the smoke or smell like a carcinogenic street mumper. By the way, if I smell like I’m addicted to nicotine, I’ll lose my touch with the ladies and that won’t be a good thing for NateDog. Every time nonsmoking students walk onto campus or walk out of class, our lungs are filled with the air pollution we like to call tobacco smoke. The bright and glorious sun is appearing in the horizon over the
green hills as spring is pronounced. Please don’t take away the common joy of clean air and breathing in red roses as students yearn to study in the quad. Those who do feel the urge to smoke, please light your cancer sticks outside the boundaries of campus. You’ll allow us to get good grades in class and keep us living a little bit longer. We secondhand smokers enjoy our health; appreciate clean air, and smelling like flowers.
Reviews
14
Another epic battle in the war of the sexes
Vicci
The get out of jail free card
It’s been a while since I’ve played monopoly. However, I recall vividly that my favorite card is “get out of jail free”. Without it, you’re forced to wait for everyone to have their turn, pray for the elusive number six to give you the break you’ve been quivering for.......then get stuck with a crummy two, for the third or fourth time. And all the while, your fellow players breeze past you, feigning condolences like “don’t worry man, you’ll be out soon,” “not too long now,” and “why don’t you sing us a tune while you’re in there?” Oh yes, it feels good to use the get out of jail free card. It makes the game fair for everyone. It is for this reason that I thought recently: “why is the get out of jail free card used so infrequently in relationships?” Too often have I heard a guy complain about his other half. “She’s too needy,” he’ll say. “She’s too independent,” “I wish she was taller/shorter/fatter/thinner” (I take it back, no-one’s ever said fatter). I often hear appeals that beg for a get out of jail free card; the opportunity to call it quits once and for all, and free up time to find Ms. Right. So why (oh why, oh why) do so many guys choose to bypass their get out of jail free card entirely, to settle for the apparent misery that is their current relationship, and destine themselves for endless months of fake smiles and pretending to listen? Perhaps because there’s no better option around. This can-
vs.
Jake The latest accessory?
not be the explanation...for some there is an alternative. For some, there is an option so peachy, so ripe and delectable that she’s positively irrefusable. And this girl, this heavenly creature, cream of the dating crop, is swept off her feet and treated to a life of private lunches and hush-
hush hotel visits. It’s a case of “I love you my darling- just not in public”. Nice. In fact, the modern man often seems to prefer maintaining two relationships to cutting his losses with the least desirable. Why is this? He may be married and worth a lot of money: to divorce would mean sharing his estate with his ex-wife. He may have enough breakup experience to have heard the phrases “I don’t understand”,
“you’ve broken my heart”, and “I’m going to kill you” one too many times: apathy is the perfect route to avoid a guilt trip. Of course, the list goes on. But the burden of paying what DJ Tom Likis calls “vagina-money” (alimony) and the prospect of having to say sorry over and overand not really mean it, is often what keeps men from throwing in the towel. Both situations also illustrate a point for the guys: there is no “get out of jail free” card when it comes to coupledom. Breakups can get you out of relationship jail, but there’s always a price to pay; monetary, emotional or physical. I have to admit guys, I still don’t feel sorry for you. In my opinion, there’s no excuse for maintaining two relationships, or simply loathing the person you’re with. If you don’t like your current partnership, just end it. Please, please break up. Your friends will thank you, your parents will thank you and ultimately your ex might thank you too.
The new female fascination seems to have shifted a bit. Clothes, makeup, the hottest new album...those are all great! But the hottest accessory for the young female generation has taken a little detour. The gay best friend is the perfect companion for a day at the mall, salon, or junk food fest. Gay guys have secured a spot in the hearts of young females everywhere. But what does this do to the boyfriend? The supposed “most important man” in a girl’s life has changed. And straight guys everywhere are confused, to say the least. Boyfriends have taken a backseat to this newfound obsession. Gay guys are seen as the perfect partner. They aren’t competition! They won’t steal your man from under your nose and they will tell you what outfit looks great on you and when you should put a bag over your head. So how should the boyfriend really feel about this alliance? Should gay guys be seen as a threat? This can get tough. A lot of guys see any new man as a replacement. Is there something missing in the relationship that she needs another guy around? And is he really gay, or his he just faking it to get in her pants? Boyfriends have a right to question any new guy that
March 22, 2006
is entering his girlfriend’s “Acquaintance Realm.” And let’s face it...guys are jealous. Who wants some guy around who dresses better than he does and shares more common interests with his girlfriend? No-one I know. And yet the gay man/ straight woman connection is all over the media. How accurate is this portrayal? Do gay guys really love to shop for makeup, listen to Britney Spears, and pass time rating guys at the mall? Is it fair to judge gay men based on what we see on TV? In any case, boyfriends have a right to fear the unknown. No matter how much trust is involved in a relationship, there’ll always be jealousy when real feelings are involved. And the topic of the gay best friend is definitely considered unknown territory for most straight guys today. What do straight men know about gay men, anyway? Hardly anything at all. So my advice to all the ladies is this: be as open and honest with your boyfriend as possible! Tell him all the dirty little details about this new friendship. Tell him everything. Tell him how your new friend talks about his boyfriend as much as you talk about yours. Talk to him about your friend’s sex life-all the gory little details-even if he doesn’t want to hear it. Tell him how you had a sleepover, but in all honesty, you spent the night fixing each other’s hair and makeup. Every detail, in this case, is vital. Because in a guy’s head, the imagination can be a dreary, dark abyss. And in his head, he could be creating some funky scenarios that might seem ridiculous to you, but to him they are absolutely possible. And allowing your significant others to interact once in a while wouldn’t hurt. Allowing your boyfriend to see the true vibe between you and your gay best friend should help ease his nerves. And who knows... they might even become friends.
No ordinary blockbuster Leah Edwards Rampage Reporter “V for Vendetta” has all the signs of a great action movie: plenty of action, intrigue, suspense, and even a little romance. Now, don’t let this scare you guys, this is no chick flick by any means. The story unfolds in futuristic Britain, surrounding a young woman named Evey who the masked character V
saves from not only a physical attack but from the fear that has arrested her life. V is an intricate character with both tender and violent facets, dedicated to fighting a tyrannical government, bent on revenge for the atrocities inflicted upon him and others. He states, “people should not be afraid of their government, the government should be afraid of its people.” V embodies the desire to fight back against those who use their power to infringe upon the freedom of their people.
“V for Vendetta” also seems to reflect the words of Lord Acton: “power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Unfortunately, leaders throughout history have proven this to be true. The movie also seems to warn audiences to defend their rights and country, as well as hold leaders accountable. The theme of unity also resonates throughout the movie; I left the theatre with the belief that if people acted as one, they could overcome the strongest of opponents. I highly recommend “V for Vendetta” to everyone,
regardless of their preferredmovie genre: this message is too important to miss.
Below: The mysterious V, played by Hugo Weaving.
Photo by David Appleby: vforvendetta.com
Reviews
March 22, 2006
Where did all the action go?
Rampage 15
Scary new looks
Put down the mouse and pick up the wire pulley
Quinn Robinson Rampage Reporter
We all love them. Thrillers that put audiences right in the middle of the action. Movies with fight scenes so vivid, so atmospheric, we’re almost tempted to throw a punch orselves. Then it happens. You know what I’m talking about; the hero and villain of the story are in an energetic exchange of punches, kicks and swipes at one’s head with any foreign object that happens to be lying around. The authenticity of the scene is quickly eradicated as the audience is transported from a crowded freeway interchange to Studio City, California and a green screen. As an action junkie who will watch anything that has a scene of a car blowing up, falling off a cliff, or rolling over numerous times in a crowded Miami Interstate (see Bad Boys II) all I have to say is: Uh… Actually I have nothing to say because I’m still sitting in my seat with my jaw dropped, totally speechless at the thought
that Hollywood thinks a college student is stupid enough not to realize what’s real and what’s not, especially when he loves pro wrestling. The good old days of oneon-one fisticuffs seems to be a lost art in today’s Hollywood. Even with actors like Jackie Chan and Jet Li, who are renowned for their skill of martial arts, studios have almost robbed audiences the adrenaline rush derived from watching two characters fight mano y mano with no added effects. Instead, whether for monetary purposes or reasons that will never be known, studios are now resorting to CGI to “mesmerize” the audience, when in actuality, all they’re doing is making the patron wish that he’d spent his ten bucks o n something else. For those of you smart people who d o n ’ t k n o w, CGI is short for ComputerGenerated Imagery. T h e first use of 2dimensional CGI in film was in 1973’s “Westworld”. The sequel, titled “Futureworld”, was released three years later and debuted the first 3-dimensional image of a hand and a face, created by a University of Utah graduate student. CGI fi nally started to catch on in the 1986 film
“The Abyss” and in 1992 with “Terminator 2”, both of which won an Oscar for the visual effects in their movies. Steven Spielberg’s “Jurassic Park” was the movie that put CGI into the mainstream for Hollywood. The dinosaurs in the movie appeared so life-like and flawless that it revolutionized the movie industry by marking Hollywood’s transition from techniques used at that time such as stop motion and conventional optical effects to more realistic digital techniques. CGI is doesn’t bother me in TV because, let’s be a bit realistic, have you seen the type of shows that are on FOX? It also doesn’t bug me when they’re used in commercials (TiVO), but when that technology is being incorporated in every film out there, all I want to say is: Step away from the editing room knucklehead and get over to Best Buy so you can fix my computer!” Jackie Chan has made a career out of doing his own stunts.
www.moviemaker.com
www.thesupermanhomepage.com
www.hollywoodtuna.com
Jessyca Dewey Rampage Reporter These days, it seems as if no one is ever content with what they’ve got. They have what they need, yet they want more....more wealth, more glamour, more luxury, and last-but most importantly- more botox. Plastic surgery has become increasingly common throughout the country. In many spheres, it is as acceptable as maintenance such as a new haircut or eyebrow wax. Many get work done on their faces just as they would get work done on their cars- often. In fact, some may argue that even Ford couldn’t keep pace with the number of new faces we see walking out (or being wheeled out) of plastic surgeons’ offices everyday. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, 11,326 boob jobs were performed on girls 18 or younger in the last year. Let’s analyze this. How many problems could girls of that age have with their breasts? The only reasonable explanation is that they felt they were too small. But really now, if 18 year old girls are having this many boob jobs, in 10 years from now, how many procedures will they have had? If they’re unhappy with their bodies at 18, how on earth will they feel at 40? A possible answer may lie in today’s role models. Formerly beautiful, middle-aged women such as Melanie Griffith are perfect examples of what may
Above: Teri Hatcher before, star ring in “The New Adventures of Superman” and after, at a recent awards ceremony. Rumor has it that Hatcher has had a little work done... you decide. become of young patients later in life. Griffith appears to have reconstructed her face beyond recognition, so much so that it appears her face was substituted with a taught, flesh-colored balloon. Girls who undergo surgery today are those who will look fit, rich and permanently surprised tomorrow....anything but beautiful. Take Joan Rivers, the definitive former hot babes turned plastic. She used to be stunning. Even as an older woman, she was attractive. Then plastic surgery turned the world around, and women like Joan will never be the same again. Women like Griffith and Rivers need to take one important thing into account when considering their next procedure: people age. People age, and it’s normal. An aging face is not an ugly one. But a face that has endured 30 plastic surgeries in less than a year? That’s beyond ugly. That’s freaky. Men and women of Hollywood and beyond, please listen up. Wrinkles are a good thing. Really, what good is it if you look like a 20 year old Victoria Secret’s model at the age of 95, when you’re so full of botox and silicon that you can’t even smile?
Is American Idol overexposed? Macrina Aivazian Rampage Reporter It’s been one of the most exciting and highly rated shows since it’s start. From year to year the bar has been set higher for singers and the expectations of the potential future pop stars has increased. It’s American Idol. The show’s popularity has become so widespread that there’s now an American Idol Board Game and an American Idol Karaoke Machine. In addition, Mattel unveiled their newest American Idol doll.
American Idol airs every Tuesday and Wednesday evening. On the first night, contestants perform, get emotionally bashed by Simon Cowell, and hope that America will vote for them to do the same the following week. The second night reveals which performers move forward and which, as Seacrest says, “America has sent home.” The show set a record number of 32.5 million voters in a non-finale episode last week. In response, TV Guide Channel began an hour long pre-show to American Idol Tuesday. Idol Tonight features interviews with rejected contestants and previous American Idol Stars in addition to interviews with vocal coaches and casting agents.
Exclusive footage includes auditions, outtakes and interviews with contestants that will be shown during the hour-long show. The show will be hosted by previous American Idol finalist Kimberly Caldwell and once Popstars contestant Rosanna Tavarez. Idol Tonight will air at 7 pm before American Idol. So does all this exposure have an expiry date? Similarly successful shows have come and gone: Fear Factor, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Survivor for example. Why does American Idol continue to grow as one of the most popular and highly rates shows on television? Possibly because it is the only show to reach the dreams and fantasies of millions. The show allows ordinary people to
Right: former finalist Kimberly Caldwell hosts the latest “American Idol” offering, “Idol Tonight”, with former Popstars contestant realize what may only have been a dream. When Kelly Clarkson walked away as the first American Idol, we all felt like we won. She was the ordinary teenage girl, who happened to have an amazing voice and an innocent charm who was given a chance to accomplish her desire to become a pop star.
And even for those of us who can’t sing, we revel in the efforts of our vocally-challenged peers, during the auditions. So, with everyone so invested in the success of some contestants and the failure of others, is an end to the Idol phenomenon really in sight? Or will we next be faced with pre shows to the pre shows?
Rampage
March 22, 2006
Rampage 16
Live lazy and prosper Joseph Rios Rampage Reporter
You’re young. You have your health. What do you want to work for? Wait, what? What ever happened to all that, “work hard and you’ll achieve your dreams” mess they fed us back in grade school? According to Fred Gratzon, author of the book The L a z y Wa y t o S u c c e s s , h a r d work is for suckers. Gratzon writes, “Working is unnatural. Heart attacks, ulcers, headaches, alcoholism, drug abuse, broken families, traffic jams, insomnia and poor digestion…are direct results of hard work.” “The key to accomplishing everything is doing nothing.” Finally, there’s someone who shares my philosophy. Really now, who in this world makes barrels of money on the back of their own hard work? The hardest working members of society, the field workers, the miners, and the sweat shop workers are at the bottom of the totem pole. Nobody ever made any money keeping their nose
Fred Gratzon demonstrates some of the principles of his book “The Lazy Way to S-uccess.” lazyway.blogspot.com
to the grindstone, with their shoulder to the wheel, or working their fingers to the bone. The ones raking in the dough are the ones sitting in t h e a i r- c o n d i t i o n e d o ff i c e s contemplating their post-retirement ski trips. They’re out buying Italian-made cars and drinking cocktails.It seems the ones making the real bucks are the ones thinking of ways not to work. “Instead of succeeding through this kind of work,” Gratzon writes, “a person becomes unhappy, uncreative, stressed out, and sick. And then he dies young.” Laziness, Gratzon explains, drives all progress in civilization. According to
him, you don’t have to look far to find an invention born from laziness. The guy who invented the telephone was probably tired of walking next door to have a conversation. The guy who created the cell phone was probably tired of walking through his own door to have one. And the inventor of the microwave oven was probably some divorced nincumppoop who couldn’t spell spatula or turn on the oven. The inventor of the typewriter: lazy. The inventor fo the bicycle: lazy. The inventor of the automobile: too lazy to ride a bike. That’s about all I need to hear. I’ll drop out of school, quit my job, spend some time
making a new groove in my lazy-boy, invent the new “Pet Rock” and wait for my check in the mail. Well, that’s not quite what Gratzon is preaching in his book. Bob Doyle, creator of Wealth Beyond Reason, conducted an interview with Gratzon about his radical theory. “It’s not about hard work and it’s not about doing nothing either,” Gratzon said. “You have to...harness your
laziness and learn how to do less properly.” “Lazy has a negative connotation,” Gratzon said. “ A n d w o r k d o e s n ’t s a t i s f y what I’m talking about.” According to Gratzon, people need to find their passion and pursue it and in turn, find joy in work rather than resenting it. Gratzon used baseball player Pete “Charlie Hustle” Rose as an example. “Pete Rose said he would go through hell in a gasoline suit to play baseball,” Gratzon said. The hustle seen by the world was merely Rose doing what he loved, working hard at it, and being very successful as a result. “Passion is what delivers success – not hard work,” G r a t z o n s a i d . “ Yo u t h i n k Oprah works?” Gratzon describes his own book the best at the end of the first chapter, “The lessons of this book will show you the way to...wealth, health, accomplishment, and fulfillment.” “They will also show you that the path to success is in the exact opposite direction of hard work.”