The Skyline View - Volume XXXI - Issue 2

Entertainment

Features

Sports

A wizard no more! Editors’ favorite eats

A rough start

“The Woman in Black” Bay Area restaurants page 6 page 3

Trojans baseball page 8

The

Skyline View The Voice of Skyline College, San Bruno, California

www.theskylineview.com

February 16, 2012

Volume XXX - Issue 2

Plan Ahead -Pay Ahead affects Skyline

Little Rock Nine

Mixed responses from enrollment dean, professor

by Joe Barrack

Skyline View Production Editor

Professor Minnijean Brown-Trickey (left) meets with students and fellow professors.

Will Nacouzi/ The Skyline View

Civil rights leader inspires all

Member of Little Rock Nine speaks at Multicultural Center

by Rich Estrada

Skyline View online editor

Seminal Civil rights activist Minnijean Brown-Trickey visited the Skyline Multicultural center to address current social issues on Friday, February 6.

Brown-Trickey played a role in helping to desegregate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas by being among the first African-American students enrolled at the school.

Brown-Trickey has been politically active since her time in Little Rock, raising awareness through her involvement in political causes as well as a facilitator for the Sojourn to the Past Project, in which high school

and college students are given the opportunity to see historic sites and meet key leaders of the Civil Rights era. She currently teaches a course titled Civil Rights: The U.S. Civil Rights Movement at all three colleges in the San Mateo Community College district.

Several faculty members and students attended the reception for an opportunity to meet Brown-Trickey and hear her speak candidly about her experience being one of the nine students known in U.S. history books as “The Little Rock Nine.”

Skyline President Dr. Regina Stanback-Stroud addressed how BrownTrickey’s experience had a direct impact on the opportunities available

to the African-American community, including herself.

“She did many courageous things so that, quite frankly, so that I can stand here,” Stanback-Stroud said as she introduced Brown-Trickey to the intimate group awaiting her.

After addressing the crowd, Brown-Trickey made herself available to students and faculty for pictures and shared her personal thoughts on what should be on America’s mind in regard to equality.

“We’ve come a long way since Central (High School), but it is this generation’s duty to continue to work toward equality,” Brown-Trickey said. “It’s kind of like divide and Brown-Trickey continues on Page 2

Prop. 8 ruled unconstitutional 9th Circuit Court of Appeals overturns Proposition 8

Plan Ahead-Pay Ahead continues on Page 2

No new developments in last semester’s sexual assault case

by Renee Abu-Zaghibra

Skyline View Photo Editor

by Megan Beneviste

Skyline View Sports Editor

On Feb. 7 in San Francisco, the 9th U.S. Circuit of Appeals Court ruled 2-1 that the ban on gay marriage was unconstitutional.

The ruling comes after over a year of court deliberation regarding the constitutionality of the 2008 proposition, Proposition 8.

The case is formally known as Perry v. Brown.

According to Ballotpedia.org, the constitutionality of the amendment was upheld by the California Supreme Court on May 26, 2009.

The San Mateo County Community College District’s Board of Trustees met in January to discuss the information report that details some of the effects of the district’s newly implemented Plan Ahead - Pay Ahead policy.

Skyline College’s Spring 2012 semester is the first since the enactment of the district’s new policy that requires all students to pay their fees by Jan. 4—long before the official start of the spring semester—or be dropped from their classes.

“A system was created to remind and educate students about fees and their financial responsibility for their education,” said John Mosby, Dean of Enrollment.

The information report found that approximately $1.6 million in fees were collected district wide between Jan. 1, 2012 and the Jan. 4 payment deadline, compared with only $87,000 collected during the same dates the previous year.

Mosby feels that the numbers reflect the success of the district’s new payment plan.

“I do feel the plan was effective because students had options to pay,” Mosby said. “If students were not able to pay by the due date, they were able to use financial aid and set up a payment plan that stretched out payments over a number of months.”

According to Mosby, enrollment at Skyline College has remained relatively steady so far during the Spring 2012 semester, with only a 1-1.5 percent decrease when compared to the previous spring.

However, some feel that the increase in collected fees by the Jan. 4 deadline was not indicative of the plan’s success.

“You can’t just compare by the deadline,” said Masao Suzuki, professor of economics. “If you set a deadline and say more people paid by then, obviously people will have to. The question is, does this increase the amount of fees that the district collects overall through the course

Jamison Wieser/Flickr/Creative Commons License

The gay pride flag flies in front of San Francisco City Hall.

However, the proposal was ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge on Aug. 4, 2010, which was mirrored by the 9th Circuit.

Skyline political science professor Jeff Diamond, who is

himself close to the plaintiff, believes that the case will ultimately end up in the Supreme Court.

“That case is called Perry v.

Brown,” Diamond said. “It’s kind of interesting because my kid

According to the San Bruno Police Department, there have been no new developments in the investigation of the sexual assault of a woman that occurred at Skyline on Oct. 25, 2011. The case is still under investigation.

The victim was alone in a classroom when the suspect entered and sexually assaulted her.

The suspect has not been found.

Skyline’s campus security was increased afterward, especially during evening classes.

However, with the onset of the new semester, campus security has been reduced to its levels prior to the assault, with campus security citing staffing issues and the fact that the assault appeared

to be an isolated incident. The reduction in security was confirmed

by Skyline’s Chief Public Safety Officer, Brian Tupper.

“Campus security has been lowered to its regular amount with the new semester,” Tupper said.

Some students still feel concerned about the assault on campus. JP Diaz, who thought that a higher level of security should be maintained on campus, is worried about the safety of students.

“I think that it’s pathetic that someone would attack someone else in a cowardly manner,” Diaz said. “They need to step up on security and make sure people are protected in a so-called ‘safe environment.’”

The Staff Editor In Chief Blair Hardee News Editor Matt Pacelli Features Editor Lauren Concon Opinions Editor Riley Bright Entertainment Editors Diane Thao Patrick esguerra Sports Editors Megan Benveniste Kimberly Murti Copy Editor Liz McMahon Online Editor Rich Estrada Multimedia Editor William Nacouzi Photo Editor Renee Abu-Zaghibra Production Editor Joe Barrack P.R./Business Managers Terence Chin Editors at large marc arguello jay johnson stephenbenoit jj valdez Staff Writers daniel Beckman Sarawut Saechang Daniel Chee Kent Foster Christopher Korp Cartoonist JJ Valdez Alyssa Koszis Faculty Adviser Nancy Kaplan-Biegel

Want more news? www.theskylineview.com Or maybe you have news for us?

(650) 738-4377 Want to yell at us? theskylineview@gmail.com Or use snail mail: The Skyline View c/o Language Arts Room 8-8110 Skyline College 3300 College Drive

San Bruno CA 94066

The Skyline View is a First Amendment Publication. The Skyline View is published bi-weekly during the spring and fall semesters by the journalism students at Skyline College. The Skyline View is a member of the Journalism Association of Community Colleges.

Opinions expressed in the paper are those of the writers and should not be interpreted as the views of Skyline College, SMCCCD, the faculty, administrators or the newspaper adviser. Additionally, the paper does not endorse any of the products or services advertised.

The Skyline View welcomes Letters to the Editors; letters must include full name, address, and phone number for verification. The Skyline View reserves the right to edit letters for length, libel, clarity, and taste.

February 16, 2012

Features

News

Plan Ahead - Pay Ahead efficacy the subject of ongoing research

Proposed legislation to fund scholarships

Continued from Page 1

California assembly Democrats proposed a new higher education payment program to ease the economic burden on middle-income families not currently eligible for financial aid.

Families whose income isn’t enough to pay for an education out of pocket and is too much to receive college financial aid have been forced to take out sizable student loans to cover the costs. Speaker of the Assembly John A. Pérez presented his Middle Class Scholarship Act on Feb. 7, which would lower CSU and UC students’ costs by two thirds and save them thousands in debt.

According to the Middle Class Scholarship Act website, the plan would save 150,000 CSU students more than $4,000 each and 42,000 UC students up to $8,169 each every year. The website went on to state that “local districts will have discretion to allocate the funds to best meet their individual needs.”

Although many in the state are eager to see this bill pass, there is strong opposition among state legislators. The plan would cost the state over $1 billion and would be paid for by eliminating a tax break to out-of-state corporations that was a budget concession to Republicans in 2009. The bill needs a two-thirds majority to pass and in its current form doesn’t have the necessary bipartisan support.

“Someone should remind the Speaker that it was Democrats that enacted a partisan, majority-vote budget that cut $1.5 billion from UC and CSU–without a single Republican vote,” said Senate Republican Leader Bob Huff in an online response to the bill.

At Skyline, students have felt firsthand the effects of recent cuts to funding with the newly instated payment policies and fee increases.

Despite all this, many at Skyline have stayed optimistic.

“During these hard economic times, (college students) have suffered at the hands of unfair budget cuts,” Skyline student Jennifer Brown said. “It’s time for wealthy corporations to pay their fair share in taxes so we can get a degree without it putting us in debt for the rest of our lives. I’m happy that there are still people in Sacramento who will stand up in defense of our futures.”

The Middle Class Scholarship Act would raise the academic prospects of many young scholars coming from middle-income families.

If Speaker Pérez finds the bipartisan support necessary to pass his legislation, it would be a huge victory for California college students who have become accustomed to diminishing funds and rising fees.

A brighter, greener future may be just around the corner for patrons of California’s higher education.

of the semester? And that’s what’s not clear.”

Much of the goal of the new Plan Ahead - Pay Ahead policy is to reduce the district’s budget deficit and to take some of the financial burden off both San Mateo County and the state of California.

“Of course the state has had a series of budget deficits for a number of years,” Suzuki said. “On one hand the district has been affected by the cuts in state contributions to funding the district, but on the other hand I feel that this payment plan is . . . in a sense putting the financial burden on the students.”

The Board of Trustees information report also noted that 7 percent of students were dropped district wide at the Jan. 4 deadline for failing to make payments or failing to set up a payment plan.

“Evidently 1500 students were dropped district wide, and I don’t think it’s the right way to go,” Suzuki said. “In the community colleges, we have been cutting back on the overall number of students that we’re serving. So in a certain sense, (the new plan) is one way to do that.”

ally sad that those 7 percent got dropped, but hopefully that’ll be taken into account when they publicize next semester.”

ASSC Commissioner of Publicity Mark Lipkin agreed that ultimately the students should be responsible for ensuring their own education and also praised Skyline College for their publicity campaign to inform students about the new policy.

“I think they did a really good job publicizing it, because I saw information all around campus and on their website about the Joe Barrack/ The Skyline View The new payment policy was put into payment plan,” Lipkin said. “I think that the information and effect this semester. the resources were out there and were available for students to take However, despite the number advantage of.” of students who were dropped, the Spring 2012 is still very much district and Skyline College did a trial period for the new Plan provide alternative payment methAhead - Pay Ahead policy, and ods for those students who were Mosby was able to concede that financially incapable of paying the plan is not yet perfect. their fees by the deadline.

“It is also important to keep in “There were definitely ways to mind that this was our first time get around being dropped without instituting this policy,” Mosby having monetary resources,” said said. “Representatives from all ASSC Senator Kayla Louis. “And the colleges and district staff are I feel like it was just a matter of working together, looking at ways whether the students knew that for improvement in the future.” they could do that. So it’s re-

Prop. 8 deemed unconstitutional

by U.S. Court of Appeals Continued from Page 1

goes to the same school as Perry’s kid. I think it’s highly likely the Supreme Court will take this case. . . It seems likely they will uphold this decision.”

Diamond went on to comment that even though the California Supreme Court is itself more conservative leaning than the 9th Circuit, the chief justice is himself a parent of adopted children. Diamond speculates that this could lead to a softer view of unconventional family structures from the judge’s standpoint.

Alec Bates, professor of chemistry and adviser to the Gay-Straight Alliance at Skyline, spoke of how the organization

was invested in the issue of same-sex marriage and helping to enlighten people about issues facing the LGBT community.

“As a GSA, we feel that one of our tasks is to educate the campus and the larger community about issues of equality, including same-sex marriage,” Bates said.

“To that end, in the past we have tabled in the quad, held open forums, hosted speakers and film showings, and held a conference for the LGBTQQIA community on the campus. We plan to continue these activities in the future as well.”

Another adviser to the GayStraight Alliance, Professor Kate Smith, believes that the ruling could be a tremendous victory for

civil rights in the future.

“It’s a big step in the right direction,” Smith said. “One day soon, I’d really love to be able to look out over a classroom full of students without having to worry that some of them might be denied the right to marry the people they love.”

Skyline student Miguel Rodriguez believes that restricting the marriage rights of same-sex couples is unnecessary, and that a couple’s gender is an insignificant factor in determining what constitutes marriage.

“I don’t feel bothered that gays want to be married,” Rodriguez said. “If people want to get married because they deeply love each other, then they should.”

Brown-Trickey meets and greets Skyline faculty and student body Continued from Page 1 conquer. That’s the American way to keep groups separate. The revolutionary thing is to join with others.”

Dean of Social Sciences Donna Bestock believes that BrownTrickey brings a rich experience to Skyline students and hopes the college will be able to offer the course in the future.

“We were very excited to have been able to have Minnijean join our staff and think that her presence brings out a new enthusiasm in her students,” Bestock said.

Will Nacouzi/ The Skyline View

Brown-Trickey meets Skyline’s president Regina Stanback-Stroud.

Brown-Trickey’s presence on campus has been a positive force in motivating students to become socially active. Several Skyline College students have signed up to participate in Sojourn to the Past for the February trip, according to program organizer Jeff Steinberg.

“It’s an incredible experience, and it allows students to meet the key players of the time,” Steinberg said. “It’s one thing learning about it, but to be able to hear directly and to even shake hands with them really resonates and makes it real.”

Skyline View

February 16, 2012

The

Skyline View

The

2

Giving roses or ninja chops for Valentine’s Day

by Diane Thao

Skyline View Entertainment Editor

by Riley Bright

Skyline View Opinions editor

Being showered with gifts of chocolates and roses are how some couples traditionally celebrate Valentine’s Day. Here at Skyline, students celebrated cheerfully with or without a valentine.

For couples, Valentine’s Day may be one of the most anticipated holidays. Having someone to give to or receive from is quite a heartwarming feeling. Since last Friday, the bookstore encouraged students to show affection to their valentines by allowing students to pre-order balloons.

“Not many orders were preordered until today, from 8 to 11 in the morning,” employee Amanda Bortoli said. “The bookstore was slammed.”

The bookstore sold balloons from small foils to bouquets at starting prices of $1.49 to $11.99. Within the bookstore, stuffed animals were sold with the balloons, making couples on campus quite satisfied.

In the spirit of the day, the ASSC organized an event known as Singles Awareness Day, located in the quad. There were games and

“Valentine’s Day isn’t just about couples in general, it’s about love. We wanted to spread the word and for people to feel happy here.”

--Juliana Franco

Students share the love and chop it up on Valentine’s Day. music for students to enjoy. Commissioner of Activities Juliana Franco pressed that “Valentine’s Day isn’t just about couples in general, it’s about love. We wanted to spread the word and for people to feel happy here.”

by Joe Barrack

Skyline View Production Editor

Place: Shabu House Where: 5158 Geary Blvd., San Francisco What: Japanese The Japanese love to use onomatopoeias. Many everyday phrases in the Japanese language are derived from the attempt to simulate a perceived aural experience using words. So it makes perfect sense that these very same rules should apply when inventing names for Japanese cuisine.

I am referring to the popular Japanese dish shabu shabu, which involves cooking thinly sliced cuts of meat in boiling water. The name

allegedly comes from the sound the meat makes as you swish it back and forth in the boiling water with your chopsticks.

I was fortunate enough to recently visit the Shabu House on Geary Street in San Francisco. I couldn’t have been more pleased with my visit to Shabu House.

The menu was pretty diverse for a shabu shabu place, with a decent selection of appetizers as well as pre-prepared dishes for diners who don’t want to cook for themselves.

For the shabu shabu they offer three types of meat: pork, lamb and of course the Kobe beef. The gyoza were fried and crispy on the outside, but soft and juicy on the inside with great flavor.

Rich Estrada/The Skyline View

Ike’s Place is bustling during the busy lunch hour.

Skyline View Entertainment Editor

In “Skyline beats LPC twice this season” on page 12, player number 3 should have been identified as Andrea Mochida.

as Ninja Tournament and the Game Show. If you’re not familiar with the rules of Ninja Tournament, it’s a non-violent game in which you face your opponent and aim for your opponent’s hand with one strike at a time. And once your hands get hit,

Half of the enjoyment of shabu shabu is in the experience itself, and I had a lot of fun cooking my own meat and vegetables with the quick “shabu shabu” of my chopsticks. The meat was delicious when combined with the two dipping sauces, and the vegetables and noodles added a nice variety when I needed a break from the meat.

After eating at Shabu House, I can’t imagine why I would go anywhere else for shabu shabu.

So the next time you find yourself inhe mood for an interactive dining experience, give Shabu House a try. Just be sure to brush up on your chopstick skills first.

Lauren Concon/The Skyline View

This garlic and beef bacon pizza crepe was delicious.

Corrections from Issue 1

Al Qaeda was misspelled on page 7.

Selected music was blasting in the quad, not only to attract attention for the event but, as Franco said, to “get people pumped up for the rest of the semester” and “feel not so blue about being single.”

The games played are known

Diane Thao/The Skyline View

you are defeated.

Both teachers and students participated in the activities for Singles Awareness Day, and each participant was awarded a candy necklace.

Aside from the ninja tournament and game show, the ASSC was also promoting the March in March and Spring Fling, which will take place the week before Spring Break.

Love is something that is celebrated every day. With or without a valentine, love is nonexclusive and is not only shared with your lover but also with friends.

Editors’ Eats: We share our lunch with you

by Rich Estrada

Cosumnes River College was misspelled on page 12.

3

Place: Ike’s Place Where: 16th & Sanchez , SF’s Castro District What: Sandwiches It wasn’t too long ago that Ike’s Place was fighting for its life as angry neighbors took legal action,

complaining about the noise and long lines at their doors. Sandwich lovers would pack the sidewalk for hours, eventually leading to an eviction notice and months of legal drama.

Luckily for us, Ike’s has moved forward from that speed bump and still serves hundreds of sandwiches

daily for its cult followers. An appearance on the Travel Channel’s “Man v. Food” continued its legend and made Ike’s a go-to destination for locals and visitors alike.

A menu of about 200 sandwiches caters to just about every taste out there (even vegans!). The only problem is making a decision before getting to the register.

And with sandwich names like the “Fat Bastard” and the “Menage e Trois,” customers can add a bit of fun and personality to their order.

For everyone that loves a hearty veggie option, I suggest the “Love Triangle.” It’s packed with vegetarian breaded chicken, barbecue sauce, veggies and real honey, all in between a freshly toasted sandwich roll and a layer of “dirty sauce”!

Ike’s “dirty sauce” is baked into each sandwich so every bite is packed with a flavor that really sets a new standard in the sandwich world.

And the best part is that you can enjoy your meal at nearby Dolores Park and surround yourself with a true San Francisco experience.

by Lauren Concon

Skyline View Features Editor

Place: Café Grillades Where: Bayhill Shopping Center, San Bruno What: French & Mediterranean Even as you pass by Café Grillades, it’s difficult not to follow the mouthwatering aromas escaping from the tiny restaurant. As you step into the homey Parisian style restaurant, the dimly lit walls are lined with photographs and art, contributing to the warm and welcoming ambiance.

For two consecutive years, Café Grillades, formally known as Creperie du Monde, was voted by SFGate’s Best of Dining and Entertainment as having the best crepes.

It effortlessly attracts local business men and women as well as serving regulars.

Just like IHOP, breakfast is

served all day and it certainly is a delightful break from the usual burger and fries for lunch.

A grilled panini would be perfect for someone on the go. The only time constraint would be choosing which of the 14 would satisfy your craving. The Chicken Pesto Panini consists of grilled chicken, pesto and fresh mozzarella cheese and tomatoes.

Crepes, of course, are a specialty. Offering a variety of vegetarian, savory and desert crepes, Café Grillades does not disappoint. For dessert, the Banana Crepe Brule served with bananas, brown sugar, a caramelized top and whipped cream will be mesmerizing to your taste buds.

As tiny as Café Grillades is, it’s affordable Mediterranean menu says differently. Each dish caters to every taste bud, ensuring an unforgettable dining experience that won’t punch a hole through your wallet. Bon appétit!

February 16, 2012`

I’m sorry, but your cat does not interest me, professor Digressive professors lower the value of education for Skyline students Nina Smirnov

We’ve all been there. It’s your first class at eight in the morning, you’re still half asleep, and you walk into class only to sit and listen to a professor talk about their dogs, cataracts, or whatever else tickles their fancy for half of what should, in an ideal world, be a lecture. I’m not going to name any names, but I’m sure most of you reading this now have a specific face looming over you in your mind’s eye. This was an unfortunately commonplace instance in, oh I don’t know, high school, but at this level, it should be kept at a minimum.

Aside from the loss of precious time you could have spent in bed in the above example, discursive professors pose many other problems for students. All of a sudden you find yourself knee deep in a situa-

Photo Illustration by Matt Pacelli

Off-topic teachers waste students’ time and money.

tion of catastrophic consequences.

Before you know it, you’re given an exam with questions that have no relation to the professor’s recent medical procedures, and sadly no true-or-false trivia section on faculty gossip. At the mercy of your professor’s propensity to tell personal anecdotes, your grade crumbles because for some reason

Opinions

Opinions

they can’t stay on topic.

Furthermore, listening to a professor use the classroom as a therapy session is not often stimulating to the intellect or useful in mastering difficult material. This only alienates the student from the subject that they are supposed to be learning, and frankly, it’s a slap in the face of education.

I may be taking this a bit too seriously, but isn’t college the time for us to foster our interests and construct a life and career plan that will sustain our future? I don’t know about you, but I’m not willing to sacrifice that for the inane musings of why twins are weird (yes, that actually happened). It’s unfortunate that when today’s

education is so pricey, some professors forget how valuable class time actually is.

Not only are we not getting the education we deserve, but we’re not getting the education we’re paying for. If students are already struggling with paying for school, shouldn’t a professor’s expertise outweigh the cost of one less meal per week you’re eating? Spending about $100 on a three-unit class should leave you feeling like you’ve added another layer of knowledge to your academic repertoire, not like your brain is rotting.

I know and appreciate many professors who use personal details from their lives to accentuate or clarify a concept in class. This makes for a friendly atmosphere in which the professor is approachable and down to earth. I love hearing about professor’s kids or funny pets for a couple of minutes to take a mental break and just breathe, but once I’ve watched the hands of the clock trace half an hour, I draw the line.

For students struggling with professors who digress, I suggest that you be honest and upfront when you get the chance to do an evaluation of a professor’s performance. When it comes down to it, students have the right to voice their opinions on whether they’re getting a good education.

editorial

Skyline View

The

Skyline View

The

4

A

by Kimberly Murti

STATE SPENDING REDUCTIONS OF $12.5 BILLION

lthough a federal appeals court has ruled that our state’s ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional, the case will likely find itself again in the Supreme Court.

On February 7, 2012 a federal appeals court ruled that Proposition 8, California’s ban on gay marriage, was unconstitutional. The appeals court found that it had no purpose other than to “lessen the status and human dignity” of gays.

We here at The Skyline View have opposed Proposition 8 since it passed back in 2008.

We believe that people should be allowed to marry anyone they choose, regardless of race or gender. Proposition 8 does nothing but specifically target homosexuals and does nothing that actually affects heterosexual couples.

At the Skyline View, we think that marriage is a fundamental right that should be shared by all human beings.

This is the 21st century, and we think it’s time for our laws to reflect the values of liberty and freedom that we’ve been promised our entire lives. Ideally we’d like to see gay marriage legalized for all of America, but our state is a good place to start.

We believe that our view on

same sex marriage is shared by a majority of students here on campus, and specifically those of Skyline’s Gay-Straight Alliance.

“Proposition 8 and the California ban on same-sex marriage is discriminatory and unjustly targets one subset of the population, creating a secondclass citizen status,” said GSA advisor A.J. Bates. “This kind of discrimination goes against the fundamental ideas of equality and liberty that make our state and nation great.”

Although the proposition has officially been overturned at this time, gay couples in California can’t get married just yet. According to the court of appeals, marriages will be put on hold until Prop 8’s supporters have filed an appeal to a larger panel of the Ninth Circuit, which they

very likely will.

It’s becoming more and more likely that the case for gay marriage in California will go to the Supreme Court. A ruling here may have huge repercussions for not just for California. It’s conceivable that any ruling that the Supreme Court decides for California may set the standard for the rest of the country.

We at the Skyline View will continue to support equal rights for gay and lesbian couples as long as it remains an issue. We urge our readers to do the same.

5

Hurt & Heal

On California Proposition 8

Prop. 8 down but not out

February 16, 2012

HURT: Class availability “There’s a lot of classes I could take at other colleges, but now they aren’t offered at Skyline. . . . With my major being criminal justice, I find it hard to get the classes I need in the evening because they’re getting cut.”

Jim Sarracino HURT: Class availability “Hurts because we don’t have as many classes now. Registering for classes is a hassle, too.”

Hazel Lasat

HURT: Resources “It means less teachers, less books, less stuff. It’s harder to get into certain schools.”

Kevin Reber

Listen to our Podcast on Prop. 8

HURT: Students’ needs “It’s bad because some of the needs of the students aren’t met. For example, laboratory supplies would get cut.”

The View From Here

Jeanelle Banquiles

HURT: College affordability “It hurts the students in being able to go to college because they can’t afford it. It’s not fair.”

FREE Tax Preparation Service

Alex Cordova

If your 2011 income was less than $50,000

HURT: Future graduates

with Blair Hardee Well, I’m finally sitting in the editor-in-chief’s chair, and I have to say, it’s been a long road reaching this point.

This is my sixth and (probably) final semester at Skyline, and I’ve been heavily involved in the journalism program the whole time.

From my first semester in Journalism 110 to spending the last three semesters on the newspaper staff, I’ve learned a lot. I’m eager to utilize all this knowledge to create an excellent paper this semester.

We have a lot of returning staff members and plenty of first-timers to add some new perspective to our staff. We have a lot of ambitions for the next four months, such as formalizing a complete redesign of our layout with a new staff position of Production Editor. We’re hoping to expand the entertainment section with new multimedia such as video movie reviews on our website.

We’re also going to update our podcasts (and online content in general) more regularly.

Last semester we shifted our

focus from being directed almost completely on the print edition to being much more involved with our website. As a biweekly publication, it’s imperative that we think in terms of being an online paper first and a print publication second.

News moves too fast these days, and you, our readers, deserve to know what’s going on at your school at any given time.

I plan to shift our operation even more online, and use social media more aggressively than in the past.

If you haven’t already, add us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (@TheSkylineView) to receive breaking news.

I’m excited to build on the positive changes the previous editorsin-chief have made in the past. I hope to create a better looking, more relevant, and the most upto-date paper (online and in print) we’ve ever had. We welcome any comments or suggestions you may have; simply e-mail us at theskylineview@gmail.com.

“I don’t think it’s a good thing. . . . Most people that are trying to graduate can’t get enough supplies.”

Kriscelle Ronquillo

Force feeding, not foie gras, should be taken off the table

California bans succulent poultry liver made by forcibly feeding fowl

by Megan Benveniste Skyline View Sports Editor

Saturdays, 12:30 pm – 4:30 pm Feb 4 – Mar 31, 2012 Skyline College Bldg 8, Room 8209 (Closed Feb 18)

Call today for an appointment 650-738-7035

Have your taxes prepared by an IRS Certified Tax Preparer

I am a meat lover, but I do not love the way many animals are treated to provide me with the food I eat.

A lot of controversy has been playing out in the past few weeks over foie gras. Foie gras is a French delicacy. It is the liver of a duck or goose that has been fattened. The duck or geese are usually force fed until their liver is at full capacity. The fattier the liver is, the more delicious it is.

The ban was signed into law

by Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2004, but there was an eight-year delay on its implementation so that producers could try and develop a more humane method for foie gras production. Unfortunately they weren’t able to come up with any viable alternatives in the eyes of the government, so California’s ban will go into effect on schedule in July of this year.

Being both a meat eater and an animal lover, I can see both sides of the story. I understand

that chefs and food lovers consider foie gras a delicacy, and it is something that people have been eating for centuries. I also understand that animal rights activists don’t like the way the animals are being treated just to produce food.

But I think it is stupid to completely ban foie gras. I agree that the animals shouldn’t be harmed, but why ban a dish completely?

I think instead California should start putting more laws in place to protect the way the animals are raised on farms and regulate where farmers distribute their food to.

That would solve a lot more issues than just banning a kind of food that people eat.

For centuries people have eaten all sorts of parts of the animals.

When the American Indians would kill and eat buffalo, they would eat everything inside the buffalo and use the skin to make the necessities that they needed to stay alive. It is nothing new. However, the unethical treatment of these animals needs to stop. The effort to promote humanity shouldn’t be confined to a ban on foie gras though. There should be legisla-

tion that ensures that other animals aren’t going through the same torture that these geese and ducks are going through.

Banning foie gras in California isn’t really going to stop the inhumane treatment of geese. The market for foie gras outside California will still exist.

I do agree to some extent that we shouldn’t be told what we can or cannot eat, but at the same time if it is harmful or inhumane to either the consumers or the animals, then it shouldn’t be served.

February 16, 2012

Entertainment

Entertainment

Skyline View

The

Skyline View

The

6

February 16, 2012

7

“Big Miracle” tries too hard Out and About: Hiking up to Coit Tower

by Diane Thao Skyline view Entertainment Editor

“Chronicle” blows minds

by Stephen Benoit

skyline view Editor at Large

Found footage is a medium in film that has left audiences griping quite a bit, as have the growing string of super hero movies, but the creators of “Chronicle” mixed the two and somehow managed to make a great movie that has had a lot of success in the box office.

I absolutely loved this movie: When it ended, my jaw dropped because it had immersed me so much that I genuinely cared for the characters and what happened to them. It was one of the few movies I’ve walked out of and practically prayed for a sequel so I could see more.

You’ve probably seen at least one of the following movies: “Paranormal Activity,” “The Blair Witch Project” or “Cloverfield.”

These movies are all examples of found footage, meaning the movie is filmed as if one of the characters is holding the camera.

One of my big gripes with this style is it seems incredibly lazy to me; there’s very little interesting cinematography that can be done

in this format.

“Found footage is a medium that’s yet to really find its footing,” wrote Max Landis, the writer of the “Chronicle” script, during a question and answer session with fans on Reddit. “It should be entirely based in character.

‘Cloverfield’ didn’t do anything other giant monster movies haven’t done, which bothered me because found footage should always be more personal in my opinion; ‘Paranormal Activity’ really is something special. I kind of love those films.”

“Chronicle” is a huge breath of fresh air in this format, as the characters use psychic powers to move the camera around for some great cinematography throughout the film. The film also makes great use of faux television footage near the end of the movie to illustrate some immense things happening.

But enough about the cinematography. One of the things I noticed immediately in this movie was how organic the actors were. If it weren’t for the powers gained by these teenagers, I would think I was watching a

documentary. It was so fluid that I thought to myself that I hadn’t seen such convincing teenage acting since “Superbad.”

If you go to see this movie, don’t expect a light-hearted story about friendship or a typical super hero movie. The movie’s second half is incredibly dark, and it captures quite well the teenage experience. Like Uncle Ben said in “Spiderman”: “With great power comes great responsibility.”

When Landis was asked how he would feel if someone pirated his movie, his response was pretty typical of what you’d expect from someone who’s breaking into the business. The important part of his response though was that he hoped to do a sequel if the movie did well. The movie grossed $40,667,267 according to boxofficemojo.com, and with an estimated budget of $12 million, the movie was a surprise hit, which bodes quite well for a sequel.

Go see this movie. It’s hands down one of the best movies I’ve seen in a long time, and it would probably be good to watch before a sequel comes out!

February films coming soon to Bay Area theaters

Courtesy Universal Films

Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski save the whales in this family-friendly feature.

“Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance,” Rated PG-13

“The Secret World of Arrietta,” Rated G

Coming February 17 Cast: Nicolas Cage, Idris Elba, Ciarán Hinds

Coming February 17 Cast: Bridgit Mendler, Amy Poehler, Will Arnett, Carol Burnett

“This Means War,” Rated PG-13

“Doonby,” Rated PG-13

Coming February 17 Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine, Tom Hardy, Til Schweiger

Coming February 17 Cast: John Schneider, Ernie Hudson, Jenn Gotzon

“The Woman in Black” scares audiences

by Jay Johnson

Skyline View Editor at Large

“The Woman in Black” follows Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe), a solicitor who has to travel the English coast to prep a mansion for sale and look over the legal paperwork of the house’s former owners. On his way to the town, we are treated with a sweeping view of the English countryside. It’s a solitary place, beautiful and dark even midday.

When arriving in the village, Kipps is treated with mysterious hostility by some of the villagers and pressured to leave immediately. Doing so would result in him being fired, so he goes to the house anyway. This is when the creepiness of the movie sets in.

Many modern horror films rely on gore and graphic violence to frighten the audience, I feel they’re cheap ways to make the audience afraid. What I like about “The Woman in Black” is that it seems to avoid that kind of scare.

There is some blood, but it never goes past it’s PG-13 rating.

The scares come from noises here and there, the footsteps of children, creepy toys that move by themselves and moving shadows you’re not sure you saw.

Classic stuff that can jitter you without the shock. The way the director handles the job of scaring the viewer is well done.

We, the audience, are with

by Patrick Esguerra

Assistant Entertainment Editor

“Big Miracle” is a portrayal of the 1988 effort (called Operation Breakthrough) to free three gray whales from pack ice. The fact that it’s actually based on true events, and not in the “Blair Witch Project” sense, helps to distinguish the movie from myriad other environmental family films.

The story follows Adam Carlson (John Krasinski), a reporter stationed in small-town Alaska, when he discovers the whales trapped under the layer of ice. After this, we get to watch as numerous parties, each with their own agenda, rush off to save these whales.

Throughout the story, they interpose real footage of the rescue effort in between the drama of our heroes. This works to the film’s advantage because it would be forgettable otherwise.

This is a bit of a mixed bag because this 123-minute movie is also following: a Greenpeace volunteer (Drew Barrymore), an oil tycoon

(Ted Danson), a reporter from Los Angeles (Kristen Bell), two guys from Minnesota, Ronald Reagan’s assistant, a general, a governor, the Inupiat community, and two Soviet icebreakers. Don’t worry about having to follow all of these people; none of them get too much development anyway.

Now, this story was about how people from all walks of life came together for a common cause, but this represents one of my major gripes with the movie: it’s trying to do too much. At its core, “Big Miracle” is a story about people from all walks of life coming together to help save some whales. This is what it should have focused on, but it ends up being bogged down by all these characters who feel like they’re from entirely different movies.

It wants to be a family film filled with a colorful cast, but it also sees fit to add two romances. It wants to be an environmental film, yet the only environmentalist in the movie is portrayed as a strawman whose liberal views aren’t meant to be taken seriously. The one time that I felt moved by one of Drew

Barrymore’s many speeches is when she, shockingly enough, explains why she wants to save the whales.

As I mentioned before, this is a story driven by emotion. When Drew Barrymore’s character gives the speech about how everyone wanted to save the whales because they could see themselves reflected in the giant creatures, I genuinely felt captivated.

My problem is that the extent of the audience’s interaction with what should be the stars of the movie, the whales, feels glanced over. I don’t think the scene that’s meant to make the audience fall in love with the whales should be Drew Barrymore swimming with a computer generated whale, when they have real footage they could have used.

As a whole, “Big Miracles” is a harmless film that will prove mildly entertaining to any little kids around the house. The emotional scenes work well enough, and I can admire its efforts to attempt to portray every player’s part in this story, but I wish that it had been done more gracefully.

In northeast San Francisco, Coit Tower stands 210 feet tall.

The significance of this iconic tower is that it overlooks the piers, downtown San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. This tower captures the beauty of San Francisco that no other hill or tower in town can.

Accessing the tower may be done by car, but because of its limited parking availability and its association with tourism, hiking up Telegraph Hill is the way to go.

Get your comfy sneakers on because these stairs are going to get your heart rate up. Having a water bottle at hand is highly recommended.

The stairways to reach the top of Telegraph Hill, where the entrance to Coit Tower is, are known as the Filbert Steps and Greenwich Steps. These begin at the bottom of Telegraph Hill Boulevard, which connects to the Embarcadero.

These stairs contain roughly 600 concrete and wooden steps each.

As you ascend to the top, you can enjoy the notorious squawking of the wild parrots of Telegraph Hill. While climbing the paths, respectfully witness the enchanting gardens and homes. These Spanish-inspired abodes are possibly the closest thing to European living; some may even question how they manage to stand on the hill without collapsing.

Climbing to the top of Telegraph Hill is only the half of the fun. There in the center of the hill top is stationed a statue of Columbus. Inside the tower, the walls of the first floor are painted with murals by numerous artists who lived during the Great Depression.

Once done circulating the tower and admiring the murals, you can

Adele sweeps Grammys this year

Music industry mourns the loss of Whitney Houston

by Riley Bright

Skyline View Opinions Editor

Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe) searches for spirits in “The Woman in Black.”

Kipps as he experiences these supernatural happenings. Yet many things that happen around him are only shown to the audience. An example is a part in the trailer when Kipps is looking out a window at the haunted mansion.

We see him looking out, and for a second there’s the ghostly face of a woman right next to his. The audience can see this, but Kipps can’t,

and it works well to build up the tension for the viewer.

One thing I was kind of worried about that never came to fruition was Radcliffe having difficulty shaking off the role of Harry Potter. After giving a beloved character a face for over a decade, it stood to reason that he might have trouble shaking the role. Thankfully, he didn’t. While his acting

wasn’t Oscar-winning material, it wasn’t flat or dry either.

Other than the mediocre acting, the worst part of the whole film had to be the story. At its basic outline, it’s a simple ghost story with a revenge sub-plot. But once you get into the details of the ghost’s actions, it kind of gets confusing.

The way the ghost gets its revenge doesn’t make any sense because of

Courtesy of CBS Films

its total misdirection.

“The Woman in Black” has a lot of beautiful, sweeping views of the English countryside; it also gives good scares without being violent or gory. The downside to the movie is the plot is kind of lacking, and the acting doesn’t always deliver where it needs to. So if you need to see “The Woman in Black,” I’d suggest going to the matinee showing.

At this year’s Grammy Awards, the music industry mourned the loss of beloved pop music icon Whitney Houston and welcomed the success of rising pop sensation Adele.

“We have had a death in the family,” began host LL Cool J, who then led the audience in prayer for Whitney Huston.

The 48-year-old singer’s tragic passing was a lingering theme throughout the show, slightly dampening the overall mood of the evening. Jennifer Hudson sang tribute to Houston with a performance of “I Will Always Love You,” while other musicians paid her homage from the stage.

Adele Adkins was recognized for her talent and hard work with 6 Grammys, winning Album Of The Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for “21,” Record Of The Year for “Roll-

ing in the Deep,” Song Of The Year and Best Short Form Music Video for “Rolling In The Deep,” and Best Pop Solo Performance for “Someone Like You.” Adele tied Beyoncé for most awards for a female artist in one night.

The awards ceremony marked Adele’s return to the stage after a benign polyp in her vocal cords ruptured last year, cutting her album tour short and jeopardizing her career. Adele underwent laser surgery to remove the polyp, which prevented her from performing during the time her popularity was spiking.

Adele’s powerful performance of “Rolling In The Deep” validated her many wins that night and left the audience on their feet cheering while she stood looking out at the crowd of both fans and peers, visibly moved by their appreciation for her.

Other winners include new electronic dance artist Skrillex with three awards, including Best Dance/

Electronica Album and Best Dance Recording.

Kanye West took home four awards, winning Best Rap Performance with Jay-Z for their collaborative song “Otis.”

This year the Grammys recognized the great contemporary musicians with awards and commemorated the greats from the past with performances by Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Glen Campbell and The Beach Boys (who made a historic reunion for the first time in 50 years.)

The 2012 Grammy Awards was truly a celebration of excellence in music new and old, and many talented artists won awards for their exceptional work last year. But this year was also about recognizing the musicians who left their mark on the world whether or not they’re still around to see it.

Diane Thao/ The Skyline View

A clear day accentuates Coit Tower. purchase a ticket to the top of the tower within the gift shop. The gift shop sells tickets for $7, cash only.

After the purchase, you return to the front entrance and wait for the elevator to take you to the top.

This seems to be the only path up, as the stairwell was shut off and closed.

The elevator takes you to the top floor, where you must climb a short set of stairs to the very peak of Coit Tower. From the peak, you can see a panoramic view of the city. The Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, downtown, the piers, Treasure Island, the Bay Bridge and the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park all contribute to the spectacular view that can be see from this iconic tower.

The tower is about a 25-minute drive from Skyline College without traffic. Hiking to Coit Tower not only keeps you healthy, but will give you a sense of accomplishment when you reach the top and witness that breathtaking sight of the city.

Music

Suggested songs from fellow Skyline students Diane Thao

Skyline View Entertainment Editor

Top Grammy Award Winner

1. Daft Punk’s “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger”

Dan M

Adele:

2. Dinah Washington’s “Embracable You”

Genesis Quiroz

Record of the Year Album of the Year Song of the Year Best Pop Solo Performance Best Short Form Music Video

3. Dumbfoundead’s “For You”

John B. 4. A Day to Remember’s “All signs point to Launderdale”

Simon Liwang 5. Matchbook Romance’s “Monsters”

Rachel Suen

Skyline

Sports

Upcoming Games Men’s Basketball

Women’s Basketball

2/17 VS CCSF 7 p.m.

2/22-2/25 Regional Playoffs TBA 2/29 Regional Playoffs TBA

2/17 VS CCSF 5 p.m.

2/22 Regional Playoffs TBA 2/25 Regional Playoffs 1st Round TBA

Baseball

Badminton

2/17 @ Shasta 2 p.m.

2/18 @ Shasta 1 p.m.

2/19 @ Shasta 12 p.m.

3/17 Coast Conference Tour 12 p.m.

3/20 @ Mission College 3 p.m.

3/27 @ Fresno City College 3 p.m.

Skyline’s baseball season off to a rocky start

Trojans’ record falls to 0-4 to begin the 2012 season

Trojan’s infielder Nick Serrata gets ready to put the tag down on an opposing Delta player.

Will Nacouzi/The Skyline View

by Megan Benveniste

Skyline View Sports Editor

Baseball has officially begun.

The Trojans’ first home game was Saturday, Feb. 11 against the Cosumnes River Hawks. The team entered into that game with an 0-2 record and were looking to fight for their first win.

In the Trojans’ season opener against the 2011 State Champions, the San Joaquin Delta Mustangs, they lost 7-3. The Trojans next game, on Feb. 9 in Sacramento against Cosumnes River, resulted in their fall to an 0-2 record in a disappointing 7-1 loss.

Looking forward to coming home for the first time this season, the Trojans were looking to get even with Cosumnes and score their first win of the season.

The Trojan bats were hitting hard, but third basemen Anthony Gutierrez’s double, triple and walk unfortunately weren’t enough to win. The Trojans left the bases loaded several times and missed many opportunities to score. Their hitting just didn’t stack up against the pitching of Cosumnes River.

Trojan pitcher Andrew Hidalgo started for the first time and suf-

fered his first loss of the year. The Trojans got on the board first on a wild pitch, which was their only run of the game.

Looking past Saturday’s game, Gutierrez said the team needed to be better prepared against the Mustangs. Gutierrez continued, saying the Trojans’ defense and offense needs to relax, read the ball while at the plate, and come out strong.

The loss was disappointing for the Trojans. They fought hard and had opportunities that just weren’t capitalized on early in the game.

The team was ready to put that

game in the past and move on to facing the Mustangs on Tuesday, Feb. 14.

Pitcher Tyler Cyr was the starter in Tuesday’s game. The first few innings started as a pitcher’s duel. Both pitchers were throwing strikes left and right, retiring hitters back to back. The Mustangs broke the stalemate by scoring in the top of the third, and they held their 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the inning.

Outfielder Josh Tupper singled in the bottom of the third, and then shortstop Justin Meier had a

sacrifice bunt to move Tupper over to second base. Trojan infielder A.J Santiago hit an RBI double to get the Trojans on the board.

The fourth inning was disastrous for the Trojans. They gave up eight runs on seven hits with three different pitchers being utilized in that inning alone. Numerous errors ended up costing the Trojans the game, and they were handed their fourth consecutive defeat. The Mustangs won on a final score of 17-2.

Following the loss, Santiago voiced his concerns in regards to the 2012 season thus far.

“We need to stop breaking down after three innings,” Santiago said. “Our team likes to shut down after they (the opposing team) score a couple runs. We just gotta keep things going. Keep the overall morale up.”

Adding to what Santiago had to say, Cyr chimed in that “it’s hard when you are behind, but we need to find the strength and pull it together.”

After being pulled in the fourth after allowing a two-run homer, Cyr addressed his struggles after the game. “(I was) frustrated,” Cyr said.

“I know as for myself I feel like I could have done better. I feel like I let my team down.”

The Trojans will head to Redding to face Shasta for a three game series on Friday, Feb. 17 through Sunday, Feb. 19.

BASEBALL SLIDESHOW

Women’s loss sends Trojans record below .500

Lady Trojans continue to prepare for Coast Conference: North games

by Lauren Concon

Skyline View Features Editor

The Skyline women’s basketball team played Mission College on Feb. 8 with a frustrating loss at 82-72. Comfortable on their own home court, the Trojan women fought hard to gain control of the scoreboard.

The team warmed up with a calm and collected attitude. They entered the game with a 12-12 record, having won their second conference game this season against Chabot College the week before.

Maintaining their composure, they stepped onto the court ready to play. The tip off was won by the Mission Saints, who scored the first basket of the game. Freshman

Will Nacouzi/The Skyline View

Karen Jakobs out-maneuvers an opponent of the Mission team.

Karen Jakobs returned immediately with a basket, putting Skyline on the board. The two teams relayed back and forth between

courts.

The Trojans played a fast-paced game and did well getting around Mission College’s tight defense.

Skyline moved quickly around the court to find open shots. Their swift offense allowed a number of players to make excellent outside shots, including a nice layup by Chelsea Bandebel.

Skyline’s defense worked hard to defend their court. Mission moved down the court passing the ball from player to player until Skyline’s Brittney Kelly took back possession of the ball with an exciting steal. Bianca Hussein set up an excellent screen, opening up the lane for a potential basket.

Although the game ended with a loss by 10 points, Skyline fought hard with unwavering determination until the clock stopped.

Throughout the game no one

cheered louder than the Trojan bench. Ignoring their seats, the players’ cheers of support and encouragement roared across the gym.

“Despite our tough loss against Mission College, we’re working hard at practice to focus on our last week of conference games,” says Grati Vitug, a sophomore guard.

“We have important games coming up.”

Even though this was not a conference game, the loss was tough nonetheless. The Lady Trojans are currently ranked fourth place in Coast Conference: North and are preparing for their next home game on Feb. 17 against City College of San Francisco.