The celebration continues; Page 12
May 6, 2013
Volume 23. Issue 14
www.thebreezeonline.com
Portfolios: effort behind degrees
Nutrition student Nicole Miro photographs photography major Michelle Rould in the studio for their portfolio assignment on April 27.
HANAJUN CHUNG To graduate from Chaffey College with a diploma is a commendable accomplishment, completing another step toward the ideal career. But sometimes a degree isn't enough. Certain fields require more — some manifestation of the countless hours spent in lectures and lab. Yet the students here are ready, building the perfect portfolio to compliment their respective degree and/or certificate. One such person is Trisha Lin, entertainment art and animation major, who is honing her craft into over 25 different fine art pieces. But not all of them will make the cut. While the package usually requires skillfully impressive work, Lin also thinks that they should represent how an artist wishes to be perceived. “The ones that aren't picked will sim-
Opinion: Online education?
ply be a learning experience,” Lin said. “Your portfolio will not only show your work, but it would show who you are.” Nutrition major Nicole Miro and photography major Michelle Rould both are constantly refining their photography portfolios. Rould believes a portfolio is never finished, but always changing as the work improves overtime. Even with hundreds or even thousands, she believes no student is ever done. “I'm still working on one while here in Chaffey, but all in all it’s a fun experience looking back at the work over the years,” Rould said. Miro believes that even students new to Chaffey should start early, taking all the offered courses with one important bit of advice. “Even though you could register to more advance classes early on, you should
Features: Bananas invade quad
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start from the introductory courses and then move your way up,” Miro said. For film and media students, the portfolio exists, but in a different way. Erik Bottoms, associates in broadcasting/cinema and film, TV, and media studies major, sees this more than most individuals as a work study student for the department’s various labs. “A portfolio for film students is called a ‘demo reel.’ It’s a collection from all your work — the best stuff presented in a fast and entertaining way,” Bottoms said. “It shows the person who you're showing it to what your skill level is and what your abilities are.” In assisting the hard working students putting their effort into perfecting their craft, Bottoms encourages their tenacity and pushes others to perform similarly. “A lot of the students have an idea of what their demo reel should be, but they
A & E: Oblivion just pretty
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HANAJUN CHUNG
don't have enough material to fill it,” Bottoms said. “So I think taking the production classes and making different works will be effective in getting a job or into a another school.” Departments outside of the arts that encourage portfolios for their major. Certain business students will have their best advertisements made during their stay here, while aspiring writers will have samples available if requested. The degree measures the journey, but the work made from school reveals the effort and passion for the field. Students understand that finding a job currently might not be easy, but their spirit is strong, continuing only for the best. They are encouraged in making their dreams come true, and have that successful career doing what they ultimately love. It’ll be hard work, but completely worth it in the end.
Sports: Track star races to No. 1
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2 | Calendar
thebreezeonline.com | May 6, 2013
The Breeze Staff Editor-In-Chief Carly Owens (909) 652-6934 thebreeze@chaffey.edu Managing Editor Valeen Gonzales
Online Editor
Omar Madriz Palmerin
Photo Editor
Kimberly Johnson
Assistant Photo Editor Kim Gonzales
Calendar Editor Genesis Zamora
Video Editor Hanajun Chung
Sports Editor
Sevanny Campos
Circulation Manager JULIE COSGROVE
Communications major Maria Barragon (center) stands amid the organizers of the Inland Empire March for Immigration Reform and Workers’ Rights in San Bernardino on May Day.
May 6
Chaffey College Student Photo Show The Chaffey Student Photo Show begins May 6 and runs until May 12. Over 400 pictures will be on display at the Montclair Plaza Center Court.
May 10
Transfer Center Celebration The Transfer Center is hosting a celebration to honor all Chaffey students accepted for transfer in fall 2013 on Friday, May 10, at 3:00. If you’re a student who has been accepted to transfer, the Transfer Center welcomes you to stop by for details about the celebration.
May 10
Success Center Workshops
Other Events
Graduation Ceremony Celebrate with the Class of 2013! May 23, 6:00 p.m. at Grigsby Field. Seating is first come, first serve, guests should be in their seats by 5:45 p.m.
Sports Schedule Panther Softball
Fri.-Sat. May 10-12 - Regional Round 2 Fri-Sun. May 17-19 - State Championships
Panther’s Track and Field
Mandatory Graduate rehearsal at 11 a.m. noon.
Sat. May 11 - So. Cal. Finals @ Antelope Valley a.m. Fri-Sat. May 17-18 - State Championships @ San Mateo All Day
the base line
Other Events
The new issue of the base line magazine is now on the website at thebaselinemagazine.com. Catch submission winners and new videos.
Discount Tickets
The Bookstore offers discount tickets for Disneyland, Knott’s, Sea World, Legoland, Six Flags, Regal & AMC. Tickets are available at all three bookstore locations. More discounts coming soon!
Michelle Menes
Design Editor Dick Scott
Baseline Magazine Editor Julie Cosgrove Visit the online magazine at; www.thebaselinemagazine.com
Lab Techs
Virginia Lucero, Carly Owens, Janet Trenier
Staff Writers & Photographers
Jay Adamson, Adrian Addison, Annaley Barrientos, Gary Byrd, Thiam Cheatwood, Linda Cota, Elaine Deleon, Herman Dughartey, Danna Fakhoury, Sandy Flores, Darlene Garcia, Sara Goding, Christopher Jackson, Chris Johnson, Mark Klopping, Erica Lmuth, Robert Ortiz, Raul Rodriguez, Jocabeth Salvador, Forrest Sam, Sarah Sandoval, Lauren Smith, Jessica Street, and Janet Trenier.
Photo Adviser Kathy Haddad
Adviser
Doug Walsh
Journalism Coordinator Neil Watkins
Member: California Newspaper Publisher’s Association
The Breeze is published up to seven times a semester
Just in time for finals — the Rancho Success Center will hold a Test Taking Anxiety workshop on Monday, May 10 at 11 a.m. All students are welcome to attend to help prepare for final’s week, May 16-22.
by the journalism students at Chaffey Community College, 5885 Haven Ave., Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91737. Telephone: 652-6934/6936. Opinions
expressed in this publication are the responsibility of the student newspaper staff and should not be
interpreted as the position of the Chaffey College
May 11
District, the college or any officer or employee
thereof. Letters and guest columns for or against any
130th Anniversary
position are welcome. Letters should be kept as brief as possible (fewer than 300 words) and are subject
Celebrate 130 years of Chaffey at Fontana Campus ceremonies from 4 to 7 p.m. In addition to an open house at the facilities, visitors can enjoy food, music, demonstrations, giveaways and much more.
to non-substantive editing according to guidelines established by the Associated Press. The Chaffey Breeze is a member of the Journalism Association of
Community Colleges and the California Newspaper Publishers Association.
You can also visit online at:
May 11
www.thebreezeonline.com
Spring Choral Concert Join the choir program on Saturday, May 11 in the Chaffey College Theatre for its “If Music Be the Food Of Love” Spring Concert. The event will feature performances by both choirs. It’s an event surely not to miss. Tickets are $10. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the box office or www.chaffey.edu/theatre_tickets.
KIMBERLY JOHNSON
Mixed media artist Timothy Haerens explains his plans for continuing his current pop culture inspired project. For more on the Student Invitational Panel, visit thebreezeonline.com
JACC GENERAL EXCELLENCE WINNER
Opinion | 3
thebreezeonline.com | May 6, 2013
CSU Online: double-edged sword VALEEN GONZALES
Attending class in pajamas is a time-honored college tradition. Attending class in pajamas while never leaving the comfort of the bed is the new reality for an increasing number of college students. Online classes are nothing new in the California public higher education system, but completely online accelerated degrees have remained the stuff of daytime and late-night private degree program commercials — until now. What started out as a pilot program through three California State University campuses (CSU Dominguez Hills, CSU Fullerton and CSU Monterey Bay) launched in January 2013 is set to expand in Fall 2013 to offer 40 online bachelor’s or master’s degrees through 14 CSU campuses across the state. The degree programs offer upper-division undergraduate courses completely online for students who have completed at least 60 units of general education and lower-division requirements and open up a new transfer path for Chaffey students. They also offer master’s degree programs completely online for students who have completed their bachelor’s degree and want to further their education. The online degrees create a big opportunity for Cal States. Enrollment is no longer limited to the number of seats in a classroom or students willing to live in a certain geographical area. Cal States can now accept and collect tuition from a bigger, almost limitless, pool of students. The potential for exponentially more tuition payers is a boon for the cashstrapped system to the tune of $500 per unit for one bachelor’s degree program at CSU Fullerton. Although that’s 10 times the rate we pay at community college, it’s a value compared to the $372 per-unit surcharge added to the $2,736 full-time (7 or more units) tuition that out of state students pay just for the privilege of sitting in a classroom. But the universities aren’t the only winners in the online degree world. Cal State online offers a chance at completion to non-traditional students who can’t just move to be close to a CSU and devote hours out of busy work and family schedules to commute to campus,
sit in a classroom and finish their bachelor’s degree. The potential to save time and money in commuting costs is great for a lot of students, but the online programs also open up a lot of questions for students both on-campus and online. The admission requirements and fees for the online programs are a little unclear. The programs are run through individual campuses rather than a single CSU online virtual campus. This means prospective students have to research each degree offering on the website of the campus offering it. There is no uniformity to the websites and information is found under different headings, almost buried in some cases. The program fees are nearly impossible to find. Some campuses offer it plainly in sight, others offer links to their financial aid departments but make it hard to find out exactly how much it costs to get a degree online. This is a gimmick of many small for-profit career colleges that make students request information from a salesperson, sorry, admissions representative before they can find out the cost of the program. Cal States should be above such marketing ploys. The online program admission requirements seem a bit looser than those to attend a CSU campus. One program lists completion of 30 general education and 24 lower division units, all with a grade of C or better, as the only admission requirements. This almost doesn’t seem fair to students who worked hard to get high grades and waited anxiously to find out if they were accepted to the CSU campus of their choice since both on-campus and online degree programs finish with the same thing, a degree from a Cal State. The online degrees don’t contain any sort of acknowledgment that the degree was completed online. But where students really lose out is the campus experience, which can be meaningful even to older, non-traditional students like me. We all have memories of our time Chaffey that we can always look back on – the first time we walked onto campus, the weird broken chair in the English computer lab classroom that gets moved
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY: VALEEN GONZALES
around, the time that girl tripped and fell in the cafeteria, how that one professor’s crazy antics kept us all awake in class. And even though online classes offer flexibility and an opportunity to spend some time away from campus, Chaffey students all have the shared experience of spending at least some of their time on one or more of the campuses. In this age of “it’s all about who you know,” the connections made in the col-
lege classroom and on the college campus can be invaluable. That guy who gave the great presentation in sociology could be the connection to a job after graduation. Online degrees do offer many opportunities for students, but students should be aware of the networking and experience they could be missing out on when they don’t have the chance to sit in a classroom and interact with other students and faculty face-to face.
Learn the true value of a single voice
CARLY OWENS
Common phrases, while cliché, are said so frequently people often don’t stop to think what they really mean. Two of these are: “Your voice matters,” and “It only takes one voice.” Do people truly realize the power that their voice holds? If they did, the world would be a different place. In my time at The Breeze, I have learned the power of one voice, and it has been emphasized time and again. But the truth of the matter is that it doesn’t take the title of “journalist” to be heard. Authority is carried regardless of affiliation. Each student on campus carries more than textbooks and pencils. They have opinions, thoughts and ideas. It may take some time, and even some fighting, to have the right people hear. But don’t be discouraged. Many stories that we have published this semester are because a student came to us and pointed out an issue or a topic
they thought we might find interesting. All it takes is raising your hand and asking a question to bring something into the light. Never hesitate to be friendly. You never know who you’re talking to or what connections they’ll have. Keeping your opinion to yourself doesn’t help anyone. When people are willing to voice their opinions with an open mind, change can happen. Being willing to speak up doesn’t come naturally to everyone. When students arrive at Chaffey, many want to go unnoticed — come onto campus, go to class, get a degree, then go home. But what they don’t realize is that by speaking up, they can change the face of Chaffey College. I hope students continue to realize the potential that they have, and are willing to speak up. If there is one thing I have learned while at Chaffey, it is this: It only takes one voice.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY: MICHELLE MENES
4 | Campus News
thebreezeonline.com | May 6, 2013
A Children’s Day Fundraiser JULIE COSGROVE
The Student Alliance for Education, or SAFE, is currently gathering items to donate to a home for neglected and abused children in nearby Covina. From marching in the labor movement to rallying on the Quad, this small, tightly knit group of students has been stepping out of the shadows, making their voices heard and making a difference. Organized originally to work for immigration reform, this group of friends, who include a number of undocumented students, wants to make a positive statement. “Children’s Day means a lot to those of us who have grown up in Mexico,” Maria Barragan, founding member of SAFE, said. “It’s when children get presents from their families, don’t have to go to school.” It’s like a birthday party, with pinatas, treats and gifts. It is a tradition she hopes to see preserved with the next generation of children. To honor the memory and to celebrate the tradition, the members of SAFE turned their attention to the plight of abused and neglected children. Between Children’s Day on April 30 and Mexico’s Mothers’ Day on May 10, they have been collecting used toys, cloth-
ing, shoes, blankets, duffle bags and new diapers, pull-ups and baby formula. Everything collected will be taken to the Serenity Infant Care Home in Covina for children who need foster or adoptive homes. SAFE has been meeting every Wednesday, at first in Montclair and now on the Rancho Cucamonga campus, to discuss mundane and weighty issues, such as the problem of the stolen club banner and how to finance its replacement. And when a member found himself in academic trouble, the group focused on helping him transfer to a nearby college. Above all, SAFE has drawn together friends who are forming a community based on their common experiences as undocumented students from Mexican families. They found each other when they came to college, shared information on the current state of the law and advised each other of available resources. Now they are collectively broaching a future that includes giving back. Anyone wishing to donate new or gently used items can email safe.organization@ ymail.com or drop off items at Wargin Hall 71, the Breeze newsroom, before May 8.
JULIE COSGROVE
Members of SAFE sit outside the cafeteria planning their next fundraiser to celebrate Mexican Children’s Day, which took place on April 30.
JULIE COSGROVE
This momenT began wiTh a choice.
They’re asking for donations of new and gently used toys, diapers, and blankets among other necessities, to benefit children in need.
Students prepare to hit the books in summer session CARLY OWENS
He chose to make a difference. Chose to get a degree. To learn new skills. And it was all made possible by the National Guard. Education BEnEfits • skills training • Part-timE sErvicE Contact Staff Sergeant Benjamin Garcia at 951. 271.0027 951.271.0027
1-800-GO-GUARD
10BW-04_4.9x7.5_Garcia.indd 10BW-04_4.9x7.5_Garcia.indd 1 1
1/14/13 1/14/13 2:07 2:07 PM PM
Some students see summer as a break from school, but others are eagerly anticipating the eight-week summer session as an opportunity to continue with classes. “It’s amazing, and helps me through classes,” Deron Williams, computers science major, said. “Sometimes, it’s a second chance to be successful.” With more than 500 sections being offered at all three campuses, this summer is quite the contrast from summer of 2012, when only 170 sections were offered. This is the largest summer session Chaffey has seen since 2007, when 700 sections were available to students. With the ability to offer so many classes, it fell to the deans and program coordinators to decide which sections would be offered. Together they figured out which classes would work in the 8 week format, and which classes students need the most. “The focus is on continuing students, and helping them complete,” Laura Hope, dean of instructional support, said. “But this summer, first time students should be able to find classes.” All three campuses will have classes, both during the day and in the evening. Summer classes used to be offered in
two, six-week sessions. Last summer, classes were shifted to the 8-week, fasttrack format. However, these classes are all four days a week, while some mid-semester fast track are two days a week, for longer periods, and still see student success. Why then did they choose to have exclusively four day a week classes this summer? According to Hope, when looking at the research, it appears that students are most successful in the 8-week format with daily contact. Instructors can spend less time reviewing what they have already gone over the following class period. Not all students are opposed to the fourday-a-week, fast-track like schedule. “I think it’s better, only eight weeks and then you’re done,” Williams said. “It’s like hard mode in a video game.” The large increase in classes is because of the passing of Proposition 30, which guaranteed funding to public schools. If Prop. 30 had not passed, summer school would have been cut completely. “It’s a good feeling to be able to offer classes,” Hope said. Registration for summer classes begins on May 7, and the schedule can be viewed at http://www.chaffey.edu/schedule/smrcont.shtml.
thebreezeonline.com | May 6, 2013
Campus News | 5
KIM GONZALES
As philosphy professor Ryan Falcioni and campus safety officer Steve Lux listen, criminal justice professor Barron Brown entusiastically leads a segment at April 24 gun control panel.
Gun control talk clarifies debate SEVANNY CAMPOS
In response to recent events in the news, Chaffey College held a gun control panel on April 24 to discuss the topic of firearms. To better understand the topic of gun control administrator of justice Baron Brown, Steven Lux of campus safety and philosophy professor Ryan Falcioni addressed issues surrounding gun control and the college. Brown started the discussion on basic topics of gun possession, mental health when carrying a gun, and the processes of
purchasing a gun. “The thing about criminals is that they do not obtain their weapons from stores,” Brown said, “What is more common are these nice residential burglaries. Breaking in and taking all your arsenal.” One topic discussed was the bipartisan bill before the U.S. congress that would require a criminal and mental background check to purchase a firearm at a gun show or from the Internet. The vote was 54-46. The Senate needed a 60-person vote to break filibuster. A student in attendance asked the panel
why the government would consider placing restrictions on law abiding citizens if criminal will always find a way to get guns. Brown responded by saying, a law abiding citizen, should not have to worry about a record. “If you are clean, you have nothing to worry about,” Brown said, “That’s why legislators are scratching their heads about background checks. Why is that a problem? Are you a convicted felon? We just want to know.” Brown cautioned that the right to own a gun does not come lightly.
“With guns there must be some exercise of responsibility,” he said. “Be careful how you secure your firearms at home. Make sure your 4-year-old can’t get into it.” With the recent events in the nation, the gun control panel was a chance for students to get clear answers on national and state legislation that will continue to evolve. “Over periods of time our society will change how it perceives a gun, and gun policies will catch up with those statements,” Brown said. “We move as a society and regulation may be interpreted constantly by our justice system.”
lege book, The Glass Castle. The panel, “Through Vetted Eyes,” moderated by Professor Daniel Keener and presented by veterans from different branches of the military, centered on the veterans’ views on the main characters from the book. Rex Walls, the father in The Glass Castle, was an Air Force veteran. The panelists expressed how they related their own real-life experiences to those of Rex and his family. “People got to see how it feels coming out of the military and trying to deal with realities of life,” panelist Nam Nguyen, nursing major, said. The panel also gave an inside view of the everyday life of veterans and how they behaved in life’s different challenges,
such as raising a family as a father dealing with possibly undiagnosed PTSD, and everyday problems that may be normal to a person who has not experienced the extremes of being in the military as a young adult. The second panel, held on Spring Flex Day, was a student veteran panel for the faculty and staff. This panel discussed how a faculty or staff member should or could deal with veterans that may be suffering from PTSD, or just how to challenge veterans so they could succeed in school. The panels have also offered insight into how a veteran functions in class. Through the different panels, professors are realizing the potential that student vet-
erans have to offer in their classes, and are able to help draw out the veterans’ innate ability to be leaders as well as succeed in classes. “After the panel I felt that the faculty members that attended left with a better understanding of veteran students and seemed to have a genuine interest in their success,” Air Force veteran and business administration major Yolanda Mack, a panelist during spring flex, said. There are many veterans who wander the campus trying to “make it” and get their degrees. The panels offered a safe outlet for vets to express their opinions, with the hope that faculty and students alike could better understand student veterans’ challenges.
Veteran panels offer a walk in their shoes SEAN URCIUOLI
Any student who walks across this campus may be just another face as far as anyone is concerned. A friendly smile or an acknowledging nod may be exchanged, but as far as the normal student is concerned, this student is just another face in the crowd. Veterans walk on campus, go through the processes of setting up their benefits, and start school at Chaffey College hoping for success. Recently, the college has been making an effort to contribute to veterans’ success in the form of two panel discussions held on the Rancho Cucamonga campus. The first was a discussion on the col-
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6 | Features
thebreezeonline.com | May 6, 2013
Banana Blitz takes over quad Clubs promote message of antidiscrimination, raise funds for Guerrilla Girls ELAINE DE LEON Students' minds were expanded at the Banana Blitz, which took place in the quad on April 24. On each side of the quad, booths were set up by campus groups to draw in students. Organizations such as the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), the Chaffey Feminist Group, and the Club of Secular Understanding each informed students about the groups they represent, why the group exists, and any other information in case they wanted to join. The event was organized to publicize the work of the Guerrilla Girls and to raise money for their future visit to Chaffey. The Guerrilla Girls are a group of female artists who raise awareness by exposing sexism, racism and homophobia in the worlds of art, politics, film, and pop culture. To protect their identities and connect their work to guerrilla warfare in the media, each member wears a gorilla mask. Staff members of the Chaffey Review discovered the Guerrilla Girls while researching artists for their literary journal and identified with their cause. They decided to begin a campaign to bring them to Chaffey. “The Banana Blitz was organized by the Wignall Museum, (un)titled, CC Fem, The Chaffey Review and the GSA,” Michelle Dowd, Chaffey Review adviser, said. “To celebrate a message of equality and to prepare Chaffey College for the arrival of the Guerrilla Girls, a group of gorilla-masked women who organize nonviolent protests against discrimination.”
The band Airdrome performs for students at the Banana Blitz in the quad on April 24.
MICHELLE MENES
MICHELLE MENES
Veterinarian major Marikate Stapleton (right) stops by the CCFem booth during the Banana Blitz in the quad on April 24. Running the booth are Solet Prudhomme, sociology major, Maria Gonzolez veterinary technician major, Daisy Serrato, political science major, and Chelshy Garcia, psychology major.
MICHELLE MENES
What did the bananna say to the athiest? According to Federico Guevara, representing the Secular Club of Understanding, “we talked about a lot of stuff” as Rachel D’Alba, dressed as a banana, walks up to the “ask an athiest” booth at the Banana Blitz in the quad on April 24, 2013.
Features | 7
thebreezeonline.com | May 6, 2013
Graduates ponder decision to walk SARAH SANDOVAL
After sleepless nights of studying, various energy drinks to fight the urge to fall asleep in class, for some students, their hard work and dedication has finally paid off. There are over 2,000 students eligible to graduate this semester, and many struggle with the decision of whether to participate in the graduation ceremony. “I've been here for three years, I feel accomplished for graduating with two associates,” Audrey Tay, biological psychology major, said. "Chaffey was a good stepping stone for me because I didn't know what I wanted to do when I graduated high school.” Students such as Tay who are trans-
ferring may see “walking” as simply celebrating a stepping stone, a short-term goal. They would prefer to celebrate once they have reached their long-term goal of a bachelor’s degree . As for others, they see it as an accomplishment nonetheless that should be celebrated regardless if it is just a step in their plans of success. Obviously, the decision to participate in commencement differs for students based on their individual situation. Allie Tapaya, an environmental engineering major who plans to transferring in the fall, chose not to walk. “I feel like transferring is similar to get your driver’s permit. You studied, worked for the grade, but you still don't have a driver’s license,” Tapaya said. “My gradu-
ation from Humboldt State University will be like finally getting my license, but much more rewarding, of course.” As for other students that are transferring, they see it as an expense that they are not willing to pay for just yet. Students can spend $100 or more to pay for cap and gown and tassels, along with any memorabilia they would like to have as a representation of their time spent at Chaffey. Others see transferring with any degree as an accomplishment that is worth celebrating. All throughout the educational years, milestones are celebrated, no matter how small. “At first I wasn't sure if I should, but after taking a few days to think about it, I decided to do it. I’m accomplishing some-
thing big and I should celebrate it,” Elizabeth Pantoja, liberal arts major, said. “I will be the first girl in my mom’s family to pursue higher education, so it’s a big honor for me to walk and celebrate this day. Not only for me but for my family.” Certainly there are students walking not for themselves, but for their family members. For many, they are the first in their families to graduate, transfer, or pursue higher education. To walk or not to walk is —and always will be — up to the individual. “For students that are still in pursuit of their education, remember that you're not the only person that is still striving towards something,” Tay said. “If you have the courage to keep going you'll succeed in your endeavors.”
Valedictorian shines on campus ADRIAN ADDISON
To achieve the title of valedictorian is no small feat. Shuo Gu has what it takes. Shuo Gu was born and raised in Beijing, China. Inspired by Steve Jobs, she decided to come to America. She arrived at Chaffey College at the age of 18. When Gu speaks of her first semester at Chaffey, she is rueful. “When you make mistakes, don't blame yourself,” she said. “Learn from them.” Gu’s first semester was tough. Because she is an international student, she was required to take 12 units her first semester. The only classes remaining were among the most challenging courses offered. Nonetheless Gu persevered and is the 2013 valedictorian, an honor that reflects her perfect 4.0 GPA. “The very first day I met her I knew she would be valedictorian,” Saba Kazmi, director of the International Student Office, said of Gu. Being the valedictorian is a testament to Gu's work ethic and intelligence, but other international students had more to say about her other qualities. “She is incredibly kind,” said David Choy, undecided major. “She's funny and outgoing,” sociology major Michael Ezeoke said. “She sacrifices her time to better everyone around her.” Gu in person is a fresh faced girl, with a bubbly personality and cheerful outlook who prefers Vogue to In Style, tea to soda, and Korean BBQ to hamburgers. She speaks happily of her current favorite show, Prison Break. Gu includes watching the show among her other hobbies, which are singing, dancing, drawing and dining out with her friends.
It has been a difficult transition coming to America, but Gu has found friendship and support in the Chaffey Toastmasters Club and among the international students. She quotes Steve Jobs in her softly accented voice, “Keep looking, don't settle.” Gu’s actions at Chaffey and outside it
reflect Steve Jobs’ famous admonition. “I'm actually surprised that she's the valedictorian,” Felicity Kagiri, nursing major, said. "As many extracurriculars and as many people that she helps, it’s amazing that her grades are that good." Gu’s plans for the summer include trav-
eling back to China to visit with her family. “I have not seen my parents in two years," she said. Gu will return to the California in the fall to attend UC Berkeley, which has long been her dream school.
DARLENE GARCIA
Class of 2013 valedictorian Shou Gu relaxes in front of the bookstore. She’s confidently ready for her last couple weeks at Chaffey.
8 | Features
thebreezeonline.com | May 6, 2013
Chaffey offers hope to incarcerated women
DANNA FAKHOURY
The power of education cannot be appropriately measured. For some, education serves as a way to stay on the right path but for inmates at the California Institution for Women it serves as a way to correct their path and renew their faith in proper rehabilitation and successful re-integration into society. In 2005, then warden of the prison, Dawn Davidson, contacted Chaffey College in hope of formulating a partnership that would provide inmates with quality education and the opportunity to earn an associates degree. Dean of Instructional Support Laura Hope spearheaded the project and made the trek out to Chuckawalla Valley State Prison and Ironwood State Prison in Blythe to look at their educational program models in an effort to brainstorm ways the college would operate. “There were certain values that we wanted to maintain if it was a Chaffey program. It needed to have a high level of rigor and a high level of interactivity,” Hope said. In the summer of 2005 the program was finalized and classes began for a handpicked group of 30 students. The college’s program is the only one of its kind in the state in a women’s prison. The selection process for one of 30 spaces open for enrollment into the program focuses on prison status, opportunity for parole and college readiness. The same assessment test current Chaffey students take is administered to the inmates. Three Chaffey classrooms are outfitted with video cameras and multiple instruc-
tors record their class sessions. DVDs are then sent to the prison to be viewed on a weekly basis. A number of inmates who have bachelors degrees or associates degrees are trained to lead the class discussion and tutor any inmate that needs additional help. “If we couldn’t give everything to CIW students that we give to a face-to-face student at Chaffey we just really didn’t feel we could run the program appropriately,” Hope said. “That was a standard for us.” Other prisons in California focus on general education and vocational programs such as plumbing, heating and air conditioning and carpentry. “We are trying to give them things that are really marketable like communication studies and business,” the dean said. “We are sensitive to the job placement issues these inmates face. They may have to be entrepreneurial.” The inmates enrolled in the program are eligible for the Board of Governors fee waiver if they were California residents at the time of their incarceration. The college provides them with books while the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation pays for tutoring and the custody staff. The inmates maintain heavy workloads. They attend to their jobs within the prison and grab an early dinner at 3 p.m. and rush to their classes from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. with 30 minutes left to get back to their cell before it’s time for lock down. Many of these students study by flashlight after hours. Education serves as a beneficial form of rehabilitation for these individuals. It has been transformative for many of the inmates.
“Rehabilitation is about not just throwing people back into the same situation and expecting them to be different,” Hope said. “We have to give them some tools, some other start and it’s not just about education. It’s about helping them redefine who they see themselves as and how to interact with the world.” The philosophy of the college and the prison are the same. Cynthia Tampkins, warden of the California Rehabilitation Center in Norco, believes education has been a driving force for rehabilitation within California prisons. “The department mission and goal is to provide educational and vocational service to inmates that are high-risk,” Tampkins said. “We want to provide them an opportunity to develop skills that will help them successfully reintegrate into society and decrease the recidivism rate.” Some prisons across the state award milestone credits to inmates, which allow them to receive time off their overall sentence upon completion of a class. The Chaffey program does not offer such an incentive but the inmates in turn learn and participate for the sake of learning.
The most important aspect of their education is its application to life outside the prison. Many of the inmates who have graduated from the program have gone on to find employment and to pursue their bachelor’s degree. Hope believes a certificate option would be beneficial to many of the inmates with short incarceration periods. These students would then participate in a shorter program and also acquire employment upon completion. “The fact that we would dedicate staff and resources and that faculty would teach in it and that we would have the program now for eight years says something about our college’s values, about our commitment to human beings no matter what their journey has been,” Hope said. “The philosophy that everyone is welcome, we live it and I don’t think that’s something every community college can say.” Of the women who have received an education through Chaffey’s program, only one has returned to prison proving that quality education can correct anyone’s path.
MICHELLE MENES
Handmade signs dealing with feminist issues hang in the quad during the Banana Blitz event on April 24.
Domestic violence display sparks student reaction SARAH SANDOVAL
According to the National Coalition of Domestic Violence, an estimated 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year. One in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. Nearly 7.8 million have been raped by an intimate partner. Furthermore, most cases of domestic violence are never reported to the police. In Cape Cod, Mass., in 1990, the Clothesline Project was created to address the subject of domestic violence against women and men. The Feminist Club on campus wanted to address the issue and held its own clothesline project on campus April 22-26. Preparing for weeks, the club members made their own shirts for display. Some members who have experienced domestic violence or abuse made shirts that reflected their personal experiences with domestic violence. The shirts were hung in the quad area to bring attention to the issue. “Our goal of doing this project was to address the issue of violence against women, men, and children,” Maria Gonzalez, president of the Feminist Club, said. “It is a way for people affected by violence to express their emotions.” Gonzalez said that the purpose of the
event was to support victims and to educate and support the community. Following a complaint to Student Activities, one person was allowed to put up a sign that read, “Please don’t label all men as abusive.” This sign was placed adjacent to a statistic that read, “91.6 percent of recorded perpetrators of rape are men.” Antoinette Duke, history major and club member, found the objecting sign “annoying.” She said the sign indicated that the club was profiting from the display. “As for the rest of it,” Duke said, “[it] proved how ignorant people continue to be when faced with factual evidence. This proves why we need to educate more on violence,” In addition, a portion of the clothesline where the shirts were hung was cut, and one shirt went missing. Regardless of the project being tampered with, Gonzalez still encourages dialogue between students and welcomes any and all students to join her club in the advocacy of women’s rights and the promotion of gender equality. “We find this project important because it provides a healing process for the victims and shows them as well as their families that they are not alone,” Gonzalez said.
Features | 9
thebreezeonline.com | May 6, 2013
No more pencils, no more books, no more teachers’ dirty looks ANNALEY BARRIENTOS
With finals just around the corner, it’s hard for students to look back and see how fast the semester has gone by. “At first, the semester started off slowly, but now it feels like a blur. I feel like I just started yesterday,” Yvette Schoble, theatre arts major, said. “I’m really excited because I feel like I have really good grades right now and I’m hoping to end strong.” Schoble’s acting class has helped her learn how to communicate with others at school and during presentations, something she will carry with her outside school as well. “My theater class helped out a lot. It helped me be more outgoing and not be in my own little bubble,” Schoble said. Eber Medina, accounting major, is also excited to see the semester finally ending and is prepared for what’s left before the end. “I feel relieved that the semester is coming to an end,” he said. “I’m not ready for finals but, I have started studying because all of my classes are very hard.” Medina has had to learn not to procrastinate and wait until the night before to study or do an assignment. He plans to attend summer school and then he will be transferring to Cal Poly Pomona University. Like Eber Medina, Victor Medina, accounting major, is also looking forward to the end of the semester. “I’m kind of glad this semester is coming to an end,” he said. “I feel like I did really good. This was a good semester. It was productive. I’m ready for finals. I have kept up with my studying.” He is looking forward to graduating with his associate degree this semester and transferring to Cal State San Bernardino. “Throughout the years, Chaffey has helped me because I got to meet lots of people that really helped me make connections,” Victor Medina said. “Connections is what helps you get through, because if you need something there is always someone there to help you out.” Although Medina is excited to be leaving, there are some things he’s not excited about. “I’m happy to be leaving, but I’ll be sad to leave some people behind,” he said. As the semester comes to an end and students prepare to enjoy their summer, they also know that fall will be here soon enough. The priorities of being a student will once again be in effect with an abundance of homework and tests just waiting to be taken.
Alexa Malcor, history major, sits outside the library on May 1. “Just crunching for finals,” she said. “Awesome!”
DARLENE GARCIA
OUR PURPOSE IS TO HELP YOU LIVE YOURS.
Scan the QR code or visit calbaptist.edu/tv to watch the video.
10 | Arts & Entertainment
thebreezeonline.com | May 6, 2013
Oblivion is pretty familiar — but mostly pretty HANJUN CHUNG
High-concept science-fiction films are tricky to pull off successfully these days. Lately, everything seems to be retreading on the groundwork made by classics such as Ridley Scott’s “Alien” or Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey.” Director Joseph Kosinski’s “Oblivion” pulls off the marvelous achievement in creating a realistic world that’s unique in its look and design, delivering a destroyed yet oddly beautiful Earth after a planet-wide battle. Too bad all that happens in Oblivion’s world borrows from many other sources, missing the mark completely in being a fully satisfying experience. Reliable A-lister Tom Cruise plays Jack Harper, a technician who repairs the drones and machines that are needed in creating fusion energy from the Earth’s saltwater. In the film’s future setting, he and his partner Victoria (Andrea Riseborough) are the
only two workers on Earth, a planet inhabited by a handful of dangerous aliens called the Scavs. With only weeks away before rejoining the rest of civilization on Saturn’s moon, Jack discovers an unplanned guest arriving in their area, causing Jack to rethink his life and work immediately. This film goes to great lengths in preparing many plot twists, but it’s those narrative decisions that ultimately hurt the film. After the first several reveals, you quickly realize that “Oblivion” tries quite hard in answering questions. While that’s not a bad thing, the twists themselves aren’t that shocking. More importantly, they don’t change or reinforce audience expectations in a meaningful or thematic matter. It’s a twist for a twist’s sake. Hell, if you’re a seasoned viewer of sci-fi cinema, then you’ll probably predict these turns quite early. How these story beats play to audiences will ultimately determine their overall experience and opin-
ion of the film. It truly is a shame, because this film is gorgeous. Kosinski and his team really display the coolest and slickest compositions that look spectacular on the big screen. With a background in video-games, special-effects, and commercials, Kosinski knows how to deliver eye-candy. Also adding to the beauty is the score/ soundtrack done by electronic artists M83. The music isn’t distracting, and does it’s job in providing tone and tension to the scenes. Aside from the looks, Cruise fares quite well in the leading role. This type of character is nothing new for the star, and he does a convincing job as this lowly technician who’s fascinated by the remnants of Earth’s civilization. Morgan Freeman also appears in the film, but to reveal who he is and what he does is quite a big spoiler. Without giving anything away, Freeman does his usual wise-man routine to great effect.
It’s really difficult to dive into the specifics of what’s wrong with this film without spoiling a few story beats. The narrative is so weak that to reveal one element lends the others to easily unravel — that’s how simple they are. In any case, audiences expecting a deep, original science-fiction film might be disappointed. It doesn’t reach the mind as it attempts rather at reaching the audience’s heartstrings. But for a slick, good-looking popcorn flick, Oblivion is quite effective. The Good: The visuals and direction. M83’s score is pretty simple and great. The Bad: The story and narrative diffuse rather than enhance the experience. The Weird: It really does seem more like Tom Cruise playing Tom Cruise playing Jack Harper. Overall: B-
Defiance: Cutting edge or cutting against the grain? JAY ADAMSON
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A dystopian tale of a constant struggle between alien races and human beings takes place on a barren wasteland known as Earth. Both a TV show and a video game attempt to portray some of the events that take place in this shell of a world. “Defiance” is both a video game and TV series that attempts to put a new twist on how we interact with games. In “Defiance,” the game, the player creates their own character to play through the plot. Though the concept is good, the game feels rushed and not entirely fleshed out. The game isn’t bad as far as graphics and design go, but there is something lacking. The voice acting in this game hardly matches the characters and the dialogue sounds tired and inappropriate for the scenes. The plot line is simple, almost too much so. The player’s character is an Ark Hunter who finds rare alien artifacts and sells them for money. The game is set before the story in the TV show, apparently to help aid the show with its development as people play. At the start of the game, players meet the main characters of the TV show, but they lack any real purpose other than to show the connection between the two. The skill tree is a bit sub par. Players find themselves stuck with only four main skills to acquire. And though there is the opportunity to customize them, there aren’t many options to do so. The game gets some things right, though. The combat isn’t bad and the AI for the enemies isn’t too shabby — they actually put up a decent fight. The variety of weapons is fairly impressive. Players can combine weapons parts to customize their weapon. The parts are found through quest lines, grinding through levels and finding secret spots. Finding these items gives the game that familiar feel that some find addictive — the thrill of searching for new loot. This does raise the overall experience. But some will see this becoming a portal, or gateway game, for those who haven’t gotten into or aren’t sure they like MMO games. Now onto the show. “Defiance,” the TV show on the Syfy channel, gives a more in-depth idea of what the new earth is like than the game does. Though the show can’t be reviewed in its entirety, since it’s not complete, viewers are able to get a first impression of the sto-
ry and where it’s headed. The plot begins on a “terraformed” Earth. Flashback scenes show the arrival of aliens, who sought shelter after their solar system was destroyed. They go to war with humanity, which results in a wholly transformed and all-but destroyed planet. Before earth is ravaged to the point it becomes uninhabitable by either humans or aliens, an armistice is declared. Jeb Nolan, an ark hunter and one of the soldiers involved in creating peace, stumbles upon the city of Defiance, a haven that was once St. Louis. He travels with the alien “daughter” he adopted and raised after the war. The plot isn’t too developed yet. The first two episodes involve introductions to the main characters and residents of Defiance. But it would be a lie to say that it’s not an interesting concept. The various races of aliens are impressive. And the environment is beautiful, but it seems like there isn’t yet much in the world to pull viewers completely in. Of course it could feel unfinished because the show develops in tandem with the development of the game. But it’s not a bad show, not by far. If the show continues to gain more lore and story as it develops, many can imagine it working. If they had a little more funding to throw around, a little more could be put into the make-up department. The show is good enough to not take much notice into the minor details, but there should be something that makes people see unique alien races. Sometimes it’s apparent that the characters are just human beings wearing make up. In the later episodes, it seems to be looking better, so it’s not a big issue. The show’s acting is well done — most of the time. There was maybe one occasion so far in the series where the lines seemed to borderline campy. But overall, the acting is good and — minor flaws aside — this adds to this show’s appeal. Those who are fans of science-fiction might like the show. Overall, if gamers want to play an amazing MMO with strong voice acting, stunning graphics and a storyline with gameplay that glues viewers to their seat, “Defiance” isn’t it. However, the TV show companion is good enough for a test run on any sci-fi fan’s screen. The Game: 5/10 The TV show: 8/10
thebreezeonline.com | May 6, 2013
Panther hurdles to No. 1 MARK KOPLING At the age of just 17, 400-meter hurdler Khallifah Rosser, is No. 1 in the state and No. 3 in the nation. Rosser didn’t set out to break records, but that is exactly what he has done. As the fastest in the state, his focus plays a major part in his running. Head coach Ihem Blackman sees the focus and potential in the underage phenom. “He has the quality and talent to be an Olympic athlete,” Blackman said. “He is a very determined young man and mature beyond his age. For his age group, he is number one in the nation.” Rosser knows what he has done and isn’t ready to let that define him. “I race against the clock,” Rosser said. “I try and do my best every race. My opponent is the clock. 51.48 seconds is my fastest time.” Thinking of the time that is now a record doesn’t stop him at every race. He sees every time he lines up as a different challenge. “With the 400 hurdles I just think about getting over the hurdles as fast as possible,” Rosser said. With this type of focus, Rosser knows that worrying about the competition may be overwhelming. “There is a lot of competition,” Rosser said. “There is a lot of people my age that run the same time, if not faster, but I don’t worry about it.” Rosser’s motivation plays a big part of what Rosser brings to his team. He has become indispensable to hurdler coach, Orentheus Hutcherson. “He emerged as a leader on the team. He does everything I ask him to do as far as preparing for his race,” coach Hutcherson said. “He is rubbing off on his teammates, they follow and do the same.” Teammate and fellow hurdler Jerome Horton feels motivated from having a state ranked teammate. “Being next to him makes me do better ‘cause he is moving so fast,” Horton said, “It encourages me to move as fast as him.” Rosser’s next race will take place on
May 4. It is the Southern California Preliminaries. After the preliminaries, Rosser has a bigger race later on this season. He has qualified for the Jr. Championship in Desmond, Iowa. The potential, work ethic and performance of Rosser is not in question according to teammates and Coaches. The worry going into a race is the money. “We will try and see if we can get him out there,” Coach Blackman said, “we will need help.” With lack of money, the track team will have to resort to donations and possibly fundraising. Information regarding donations and fundraising inquiries can be emailed to Coach Blackman at theblack1@gmail. com. A possible Olympic athlete and a definite leader, Rosser has shown his ability to be one of the best and is currently the state leader coming out of Chaffey.
Sports | 11
Alumnus drafted by NFL Titans SEVANNY CAMPOS
JAMAR GRESHAM
After running the 400 meter hurdle, Khallifa Rosser raises a finger indicating his place and rank at Mt. Sac on April 13.
Former Chaffey student and football player Daimion Stafford was drafted in the seventh round to the Tennessee Titans. Stafford played defensive back for the Chaffey Panthers for two seasons. In 2010 he transferred to University of Nebraska along with Chaffey teammate Joseph Carter. He was one of four football players from the 2009 season to transfer to division one NCAA schools. Stafford enjoyed success as a Cornhusker safety for two seasons. He received 2011-first team All Big Ten honors and 2012-second team All Big Ten honors. With their final pick in the 2013 draft, the Titans added Stafford to their roster. He was the 248th pick overall. Stafford is an intense player. Now he will have to adapt his play for the NFL.
Seventeen-year-old track star Khallifa Rosser takes on a hurdle during the April 13 meet at Cuyamaca College.
JAMAR GRESHAM
Softball make playoffs, 2nd in conference THIAM CHEATWOOD Panther softball is headed to the first round of the playoffs. They ended their conference 11-3 in second place behind College of the Desert and were 25-15 overall. All of the girls feel confident going into their upcoming games Saturday and Sunday against Mt. SAC where they must win two out of three games. As they prepare for their next game Head coach Jimmy Rodriguez says, “I am taking them to the next level with defensive drills.” On his team several of the girls really stepped up their leadership. “Anjelica Cerecedes, Morgan Hoare, who is our cheerleader, and Jennifer DelMar have become great leaders for us,” Rodriguez says. This will be a tough game for them with Mt. SAC ranked second and the Panthers ranked 15th. “As long as we stay positive the whole game, stay up, and cheer on our teammates by remaining focused and work hard we will do well,” first-team all-conference freshman pitcher Morgan Hoare said. With all of the Panthers working hard and staying focused on their upcoming game they must not forget that they need
to play as one. They are a family unit. They all need to do their part. “We need to be a family — don’t let one person fall,” assistant coach Dahnika Romero said. The Panthers will be doing this as they encourage each other to do their best. “We have a strong defense and offense so we just need to keep our confidence up,” Romero said. “If we stay consistent, relax, and play together as a team we can beat Mt. SAC,” first base player Jennifer DelMar said. She is planning on stepping up by doing more of what she has been doing all along. “I am going to help be a leader for the team,” DelMar said. Well it looks like hard work has been paying off so far for this team with five of their teammates making first team All Conference; Anjelica Cerecedes, Taylor Jenkins, Jennifer DelMar, Allison Dunn, and Morgan Hoare. They also had Lauren Avila, Alexandria Haro, and Jennifer Springer making second team All Conference and Mariah Lara-Foster making Honorable mention. With their heads held high these Panthers are well on their way to putting up a great game against Mt. SAC.
12 | Features
thebreezeonline.com | May 6, 2013
130 is not enough
DANNA FAKHOURY As Chaffey celebrates its 130-year anniversary, its greatest achievements reflect in its high student success rates and continued expansion to better serve the growing community's academic needs. The Fontana Center, renamed the Ralph M. Lewis Center, attests to the college's history and service to its community as it is home to over 2,500 students. The Fontana Center has maintained strong relationships with the city government, community and businesses.
The current campus started off with the purchase of an old hardware store in 1996, and has grown into the thriving campus students attend today. The center's dean, Eric Bishop, values the relationships the college holds with its community and its ability to deepen its historic roots to better serve students. “We act as an arm of Chaffey College. Dr. Shannon has always said that his goal is for a Chaffey College student to feel like they are at Chaffey College regardless of where they are at,” Bishop said. “We try to live that philosophy and work so that stu-
dents can get the same quality education and services without feeling that they have to come to the Rancho campus.” The Fontana campus serves a high number of ESL and low college rate students. With a growing number of students, the campus has had to expand to accommodate the needs of its community. An earlier expansion provided students an additional 10,000 square-foot building that hosts three additional classrooms and one 75-seat lecture room. Students now have access to a computer laboratory, an admissions office, bookstore, and student lounge. On Sept. 13, 2011, the Chaffey College Governing Board dedicated the Fontana Campus Academic Center with the hope of providing further education to the residents of the district. The Academic Center is a 30,000 square-foot building composed of 10 classrooms, an art studio, two additional science laboratories, six faculty offices and additional conference and meeting rooms. “I think adding our third building is a true milestone in that it brings the complete education opportunity to our students,”
Bishop said. “They now have wet science labs, art labs, library services, a place to work together and the student lounge as well as physical fitness with yoga, aerobics and dance.” The campus also hosts the Upward Bound program that promotes, “high school students of today to be college students of tomorrow.” The program serves high school students from low-income families that come from households in which neither parent holds a bachelor’s degree. Upward Bound seeks to increase the rate of students completing high school and moving on to a college or university. The Fontana Campus hopes to continually serve its community and provide the quality education that Chaffey strives for. The campus will be hosting a celebration on May 11 from 4 to 7 p.m. in honor of the college’s 130-year anniversary. “I look forward to opening the campus to our communities and showcasing what we offer,” Bishop said. “We work everyday to be part of the community and this is just a chance for us to show our appreciation and that we are here to stay.”
Governing Board at groundbreaking of the continued expansion of the Fontana Campus in 2004.
Photos, including the page one banner, courtesy of the Chaffey Marketing Department.