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Hip to the Hop

Julian Merryweather

“The Hunger Games” “Rock the School Bells” page 4 page 3

Baseball profile page 8

The

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

www.theskylineview.com

March 29, 2012

Volume XXX - Issue 5

CSU may freeze spring enrollment

San Bruno Fire

UC less likely to restrict admissions for spring

by Blair Hardee

TSV Editor in Chief

Will Nacouzi/The Skyline View

Flowers adorn the chain-link fence around a home that was destroyed by the PG&E pipeline explosion on Sept. 9, 2010.

PG&E, San Bruno agree to settlement

by Joe Barrack

TSV Production Editor

The City of San Bruno agreed to accept a $70 million settlement from PG&E in restitution for the suffering caused by a natural gas pipeline explosion back in September 2010.

According to a joint news release issued by PG&E and the City of San Bruno, the $70 million settlement will be controlled by a city-created “public purpose entity,” which is to determine how the funds can best be used to restore the devastated San Bruno neighborhood and the city as a whole.

“I am pleased to announce that San Bruno has reached a settlement with PG&E for restitution for the community of San Bruno,” said San Bruno Mayor Jim Ruane in the press release. “This money will be used for city and to help us, as a community, get beyond the tragedy and devastation caused by PG&E’s explosion PG&E’s spokespeople say that the $70 million settlement is being offered in addition to the company’s pledge to pay for any needed repairs to the city’s infrastructure; funds that are needed as a direct result of the

by Diane Thao

TSV Entertainment Editor

National gas prices continue to soar to nearly $5 a gallon amid political strife centered around the Port of Hormuz.

The roles of speculators and global demand shock have been targeted as the two factors for the recent gas rise in America. Gas prices have not been this high since 2008, when speculation played an essential role. During 2008, speculators were solely liable for the rise of gas prices, as there were no other major factors during the time.

For those not familiar with speculation, speculators bet on what price a commodity will reach in the future. These speculations, known as derivation values, are based on value commodity, which is whether an oil barrel will increase in value.

Speculators then purchase future

Diane Thao/The Skyline View

Gas prices have been soaring in recent weeks.

pipeline explosion.

“The community of San Bruno has suffered through a terrible tragedy and we understand that this accident will affect this community forever,” said PG&E President Chris Johns. “We committed the night of the tragedy and continue to commit that we will help the victims and the community heal and rebuild.”

Ruane made it clear that he was with PG&E in order to help the city’s healing process, but he urged the people of San Bruno and the utility giant not to lose sight of the importance of PG&E continues on Page 2

derivations or contracts with oil producers, hoping to sell later at the future price. This process can ing prices.

However, currently the source may be “the tension in the Middle East,” said Masao Suzuki, professor of economics. “I’m dubious on any impact from speculations, but even if they did, I don’t think that’s what (is) fundamentally driving the prices.”

The tension with Iran has led to threats to close Port Hormuz in retaliation for sanctions. Port Hormuz is where 20–25 percent of the world’s oil passes through.

If Iran chooses to close the strait, this could lead to a cut-off of oil supplies, forcing oil transporters to take a longer and more expensive route, which would increase oil prices.

The sanctions on Iran are claimed to form a global unity, Gas prices continues on Page 2

Students hoping to transfer to the CSU system may have to wait longer than expected to continue their education.

Pending the outcome of Jerry Brown’s California Tax Increase Initiative, the CSU system has announced the possibility of freezing enrollment for the spring semester in 2013. This tax initiative could also impact the fall semester and cause the CSU system to wait-list every student applying for the fall of 2013.

This major change in enrollment policies stems from the threat of an additional $200 million cut to the CSU budget next year if the tax initiative is not passed, on top of the $750 million that has already been cut. This solution to the budget problem would cause roughly 20,000 to 25,000 eligible students to be turned away for the fall of 2013, which would help the CSU’s reach their goal of reducing enrollment CSU continues on Page 2

“If I apply this fall for 2013, I’m not sure I could get in. I might be one of the people that are waitlisted; then I’m going to have to wait another year.”

Skyline student Richard Lopez Albinana

ASSC pushes back student election dates Candidacy forms still being accepted

by Renee Abu-Zaghibra TSV Photo Editor

The deadline for students to apply to run for student government was extended to April 13, and the election date is now April 30, as decided by a 12-4 vote (with three abstaining) by the ASSC on March 21.

It was extended to give a chance for more people to run and to give the ASSC more time to publicize the elections to the student body.

This also gives currently running candidates more time to campaign. With more time to publicize, the ASSC hopes to get more students to vote in the elections.

“A goal of mine is to see if I can get more voters to turn up,”

said Edwina Yuan, vice president of the ASSC. Some members of the ASSC did not think this was such a good idea. They thought it would be better to hold two elections instead, but this would have created a greater work load for the vice president and the ASSC. Mark Lipkin, a member of the ASSC and a candidate running for president, said that even though he did not agree that this was the best option, he still stands by the decisions of the ASSC. “I thought that since candidates were already approved to run and started campaigning . . . that changing [the election date] with such short notice was not courteous,” Likpin said. “However, I do understand why it was done.”

The

2

Skyline View

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 Chief Copy Editor Liz McMahon Online Editor Rich Estrada Multimedia Editor Will Nacouzi Photo Editor Renee Abu-Zaghibra Production Editor Joe Barrack Social Media Editor Terence Chin Editors at large Marc Arguello Jay Johnson Stephen Benoit JJ Valdez Staff Writers Sarawut Saechang Kent Foster Christopher Korp Photographers daniel Chee Jonathan Chan 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

March 29, 2012

News

Student admission for CSU spring semester may be severely limited Continued from Page 1 by about three percent. Cal State usually receives about 700,000 fall applicants.

This coming fall, CSU has reported they will not make any early admission decisions. They also say that all applicants will be warned that their admittance to the universities is dependent upon whether or not the tax initiative is passed. Enrollment at individual campuses for the fall of 2013 is contingent on funding.

Skyline student Richard Lopez Albinana expressed his concerns about his transfer plans, given the recent developments.

“It’s a gamble at this point,” Albinana said. “They said most people are going to be wait-listed.

If I apply this fall for 2013, I’m not sure I could get in. I might be one of the people that are wait-listed; then I’m going to have to wait another year or do something else.

I’m really not sure what’s going to happen. I’m preparing for the worst but hoping for the best.”

The 23 CSU campuses will, by and large, not accept any new students in the spring upon the rejection of the tax proposal. There are a few, however, that plan to admit several hundred community college students for that semester.

These campuses include Channel Islands, Los Angeles, Fullerton

the right to edit letters for length, libel, clarity, and taste.

East Bay campus, where Leroy Morishita (who has been acting as the campus’ interim president) could be expected to earn as much as $303,660 when the title not include the additional $60,000 Morishita would receive for housing. His predecessor, Mohammad Qayoumi, earned 10 percent less than Morishita’s proposed salary.

It is unknown at this time whether the trustees will approve the salaries for these two college it certainly won’t help the CSU’s budget crisis. The drastic solutions proposed in case the tax initiative is rejected seem to push voters to pass the initiative on the November ballot, in order to allow all students a chance at education. In any case, the CSU campuses are are in great danger of drowning if they must deal with an additional $200 million cut.

Corrections from issue 4 Kajah Ram’s name was misspelled in the “Skyline Theater’s Improv-a-ganza” article on Page 3.

Fred Glass’s name was misspelled in the “New tax for the very wealthy” article on Page 2.

the tragedy, nor the lessons that can be taken from it.

“The lasting legacy of Sept. 9, 2010 is San Bruno’s dedication to ensure this type of disaster is never allowed to happen again,” Ruane said. “PG&E and all utilities must uphold the highest safety standards for the safety of all.”

Despite PG&E’s and Ruane’s positive outlook, some San Bruno residents who suffered as a direct result of the explosion were not so easily placated by PG&E’s monetary compensation.

San Bruno resident and ASSC Senator Dean Santos takes no

by Kimberly Murti

consolation from the recent settlement.

“Seventy million dollars? I’m impartial to it. It’s not going to change anything. It’s not going to turn back time,” Santos said.

Santos said that the pipe exploded right outside the house of his friend Joseph Ruigomez, who was seriously injured in the blast.

Ruigomez’s girlfriend Jessica Morales was killed in the explosion.

“I don’t think monetary restitution would change anything,” Santos said. “If PG&E actually spent that money on checking the pipes, they could have prevented the loss of lives in that tragedy. It’s not going to bring back Jessica.”

The Skyline View and its contributors took home six awards for excellence in journalism.

The winners were selected by the Journalism Association of Community Colleges, which hosted a journalism convention at the Marriott Hotel in Burbank on March 22 through March 25.

The Skyline View itself was awarded general excellence for online journalism, and Editor in Chief Blair Hardee received two honorable mentions for her news and broadcasting writing, as well as a JACC scholarship award for $500. Social Media Editor Terence Chin also received a JACC scholarship award of $500.

Entertainment Editor Diane Thao received an honorable mention for her editorial cartoon. Also, former staff writer Dean Kevin Santos won third place for his proAnd last but not least, Faculty Adviser Nancy Kaplan-Biegel won the California Journalism Education Coalition’s Journalism Educator of the Year award. tional corporation dedicated to community college journalism institutions located in California.

Every semester, colleges from outside of the state join this program and participate in the activities.

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PG&E reaches $70 million settlement with the city of San Bruno Continued from Page 1

Skyline takes awards at JACC TSV Sports Editor

and San Francisco.

The alternative to this extreme solution would be tuition increases, a proposal that has been met with outrage. The CSU’s have raised tuition the last six years in a row, with a 9 percent increase this fall. This puts the annual tuition at nearly $6,000, which does not include housing, books or other college-related expenses.

The proposed tax initiative doesn’t only affect the CSU’s.

While the UC system has no plans to reduce enrollment next year, if the tax proposal isn’t passed in November and no other sources of revenue can be found, spokesperson Dianne Klein has said that they will need to explore other options to bridge the budget gap. One such option would be to reduce enrollment, like the CSU’s.

At such a time as this, one would think that pay raises for administrators wouldn’t be at the forefront of discussion. This is not so. The Cal State Fullerton and East Bay campuses are both getting new presidents and both of them are expected to receive a 10 percent higher salary than that of their predecessor. Mildred Garcia, soon-to-be president of the Fullerton campus, could receive as much as $324,500 a year. Milton Gordon, the previous president of Fullerton, made $295,000.

There is a similar story at the

Gas prices continue to rise in the U.S. amid tensions with Iran 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

news.tsv@gmail.com

BACHELOR’S

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The whole transfer process was totally stress-free, and by the end of it, admissions actually knew me by name.”

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Continued from Page 1

while putting a stop to the Islamic republic’s nuclear program. Iran’s rebellion and the threat to Hormuz create this tension between Iran and America, which has led to war talk and war preparation. Consequently, gas prices in America have increased.

High gas prices are putting position. Skyline student Jacob Gellinger drove a Jeep Grand Cherokee that got 12 miles to the gallon. Gellinger said, “The last time I was at the gas station I paid

97 Volkswagen Passat diesel, so I could run on bi-diesel.”

Julian Dancel, who also attends Skyline, was forced to retire his Mustang and invest in a more gascurrently driving a Honda Accord.

Dancel said the rumor of gas rising to $5 a gallon by this summer is ridiculous, but this would not stop him from driving.

“I have no other choice,” Dancel said. “I have to be everywhere.

I have work, school and my daughter.”

Come get a firsthand look at Notre Dame de Namur University. With smaller classes, hands-on advising, financial aid, and a convenient location mid-peninsula, Notre Dame can help get you where you want to be.

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Features

Arts

Skyline View

The

features.tsv@gmail.com

TSV News Editor

Funkocity of godzillic proportions was wrought forth on March 24 during Skyline School Bells” event. While the concert was itself an enormous draw, it was preceded by a day of equally popular workshops which explored various aspects of hiphop culture, such as writing lyrics, writing, to name a few.

Beyond the initial draw of the concert, the conference also provided a means to directly percent of the proceeds from the concert went toward the awarding of scholarships for high school and college students who are planning to major in the arts. Likewise, the workshops gave participants an opportunity to develop in new areas of interest.

Skyline counselor Nathaniel Nevado explained that the goals of the conference were to provide a forum that fosters education and understanding of culture, empowering students by providing them with new sets of skills and an understanding of work ethic, which are applicable in daily life, and by exposing people to contacts and facilitators who can help to further develop what the participants learned.

Renee Abu-Zaghibra/The Skyline View

Students and volunteers gather for the “Rock the School Bells” conference.

“Hip hop is a culture,” Nevado said. “Whether you are Filipino, Armenian (or) black . . . education is important in (fostering) understanding. . . . What we’re teaching our kids are leadership roles.”

The “Rock the School Bells” event has grown exponentially since its 2007 inception. Where it previously drew upon a relatively small base of ardent local supporters, it has since grown in scale, incorporating performers

from across the country and supporting a diverse array of performances.

One of the particularly notable aspects of the event was the overall strength of every performer in virtually every performance. The planning put into arranging the order of the evening was clearly well thought out, as the performances slowly built in act, New York-based “Dead Prez,”

It was this particular aspect any one performer stood out as the best, as every act contributed in its own way to the ever-escalating momentum. It is much more apt to note a small, albeit incomplete, section of performers based on their distinctiveness: BRS Art Alliance provided one of the most entertaining and dapper dance battles in memory; Bay Area Rapper “Dregs One” performed in front of a lowered curtain, needing

March 29, 2012

3

nothing more than a DJ and his own fevered intensity to whip the audience into a frenzy; Francisco (Frisco) Romero delivered an inhuman beat box performance (he somehow mastered that sound Transformers make when they, well, transform); and the evening’s closing act, “Dead Prez,” managed to pull nearly every member of the crowded theater to the front with their music, which was as infectiously catchy as it was politically conscious and volatile.

One other striking standout was the spoken word and rapping of the diminutive, yet utterly ruthless Ruby Ibarra, who prattled off lines of spoken word poetry with furious, Gatling gun intensity. Ibarra stated, in far calmer terms, how well the event went for her.

“It was good,” Ibarra said. “The crowd was very energetic. I was very humbled to take part.”

Student organizer Ruce Head also found that the performance was executed well.

“From my perspective, the event was amazing—unbelievably amazing” said Head.

“Rock the School Bells” has become an established part of Skyline College, and even Bay Area, culture. The entire event is put on by students and community members who seem to genuinely care about what they are doing-and it shows in its quality.

Food

é TSV Multimedia Editor

by Diane Thao

TSV Entertainment Editor

Every now and then, people spontaneous feeling and the want myself overcome with this sensation when it comes to food. I found myself along San Francisco’s Pier 39, and I saw the Rainforest Café.

My curiosity about the interior led me straight in. average restaurant. As I walked through the safari-themed store, a hostess approached me and asked if I wanted to eat at the café.

The restaurant was packed with not only guests, but also stuffed mechanical animals. I was also surrounded by the constant noises of the jungle (which eventually became a ruckus). Don’t expect to do much talking here, because you can’t even hear yourself think!

As I was led to my seat by the safari guide, he informed me that I had just missed the rainstorm and he was sure it was not over. ment, but throughout my dinner I with thunder, rain and the cry of every animal going berserk for a few minutes.

The ambiance is only half of the experience. After I looked through the menu, I ordered a tropical smoothie; when it arrived, it was about half the size of a normal drink and double the price.

The smoothie that looked like it was intended for a child was $8,

Diane Thao/The Skyline View

This is the centerpiece in the Rainforest Café.

hoping that this was going to be a worthwhile experience, I ordered the suggested appetizer “Raging Thunder Buffalo Wings,” which again fell short of my expectations.

Dinner rolled around and I shared a platter that consisted of a small steak and coconut shrimp.

Neither of them was satisfying, but at least the coconut shrimp came with a dipping sauce that helped ease it down my throat. Disappointed by my meal, I didn’t even order dessert.

Overall, my experience at the Rainforest Café was not worth the money I paid. The slogan is “A wild place to shop and eat,” but it should be “A wildly overpriced and earsplitting place to shop and eat.”

My advice is to pay it a short visit for the interior, but don’t stay for the poor quality and expensive dinner. I was so upset by my meal that I didn’t even order dessert.

There is a new club on campus and it’s called the Urban Youth Society. It’s here to enlighten the student body about the rich history of hip-hop music and how it is used by people to express themselves.

“We want to educate everyone about the true meaning of hiphop because it’s like obscured,” Czarina Nunez said of the purpose of the club.

The Urban Youth Society aims to enlighten and inform the student body and the community about the meaning of hip-hop and its roots back in the street where it all started. The roots of hip-hop can be traced back to the ghettos of New York and various cultural movements on the West Coast back in the 1970s.

“If you think about the direction of hip-hop in today’s generation, it’s a little obscured from its roots.

You see hip-hop put in such a bad light just because of mainstream media. . . . If you look at how hip-hop really started back in the street, you’ll see the history behind how much passion and intensity all these artists have for their cause and struggle,” Maria Elena “M.E.” Urquin said. “It (hip-hop) is like the people’s voice; it’s how they want to be seen, how they want to be portrayed, how they want people to know what the meaning of hip-hop is.”

“Right now our main thing is the ‘Rock the School Bells’, but we also want to reach out to a lot of high schools and stuff like that,” Czarina said of the club’s

Renee Abu-Zaghibra/The Skyline View

Members Adrienne Gagrin, Ruce Maga Head, Elena Urquin, Czarina Nunez pose for a group picture. immediate plans.

A quick history will show that hip-hop did not come to be called hip-hop until the 1980s, when DJ Afrika Bambaataa gave it its name.

But up until that point throughout the 70s, the word hip-hop had been used by MC’s as a part of the scat style of rhyming. A scat rhyme is when a singer uses vocal improvisation to create their own songs whether by using wordless vocals, nonsense syllables, or other sounds with their voices. This method of singing gives the singer the ability to improvise their own melodies and rhythms.

“Hip-hop is a great tool to educate students, and hopefully that will help change their mind and perspective and how they deal with everyday life,” Adrienne Gagarin said. “In terms of educate our student body about these elements of hip-hop and how they can relate that to themselves

and in turn how they can use that in the future.”

As part of the club drive to help students understand the real meaning of hip-hop and its roots, a scholarship known as “Rock the School Bells” will give a total of $500 for three students.

“The scholarship is awarded to three students that can really express themselves. . . . It can be photography, writing, or drawing or whatever. Anything that has to do with the arts and how they can use that as a means to express themselves in a way that relates to their education,” Gagarin said.

Scan to watch “Rock the School Bells” slideshow.

Skyline View

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March 29, 2012

Entertainment

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Movie Review

gruesome detail, so to cover this issue the director used lots of fast, shaky cuts. The problem with these cuts is they were there for almost the last half of the movie. Anytime somebody was moving, the camera followed, shaking unnecessarily, making it hard to focus.

My other problem with the “Hunger Games” was the length of the movie. It

by Jay Johnson TSV Editor at Large

Even though I did not read the books before seeing “The Hunger Games,” I had a general outline of what goes on in the universe; I knew there would be to the death. When I came out of the theater, I was pleasantly surprised: The to thoughts about it being another young teen novel riding the coattails of “Twilight” turned out to be much more.

“The Hunger Games” takes place in a futuristic United States now called Panem. Panem contains 12 districts, and every year two tributes, a boy and girl between the ages of 12 and 18, are chosen at random from each district. All 24 of the tributes are taken to a large, enclosed wilderness where they must survivor.

The Hunger Games are held as a way for the Capitol to punish the citizens for the rebellion that created Panem. They

Although I understand why it’s so long, what with all the characterization and

use the games as a way to exercise power over the poorer, weaker districts and to quell any thoughts of rebellion among the citizens. Every year, the games are held so that the citizens never forget the control that the Capitol has over them.

The series focuses on 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, a girl from District 12, a coal mining district which also happens to be the most poor of all the districts. Her character has good survival skills and is very handy with a bow. I liked that she wasn’t very complicated. She cares for her She’s also willing to kill someone if she must, which is a quality you usually don’t see in the protagonist.

Katniss is shown to be strong when we learn she has taken on the paternal role in her house after the death of her father.

She resents her mother for checking out mentally after his death, but ardently loves her younger sister, Prim.

Other roles are done very well too. Woody Harrelson’s drunken mentor character came off feeling legitimate. His change from an apathetic alcoholic who doesn’t really give a crap, to a supportive mentor rooting for Katniss and helping her get assistance from the Capitol in the form of supplies is endearing. Lenny Kravitz, starring in his second real acting job since being in “Precious,” also does an awesome job.

Courtesy of Lionsgate

Kravitz plays a designer named Cinna who helps Katniss garner interest from the citizens of the Capitol. He caring towards Katniss and Peeta, the two tributes from District 12, while many other citizens just look at them as though they are children. I think other than his character itself, my favorite thing about Cinna is his character’s wardrobe. In contrast to many of the high-class people, he dresses very conservatively.

A little bit of gold eyehe has none of the surgery or wacky hairstyles that the others have.

I also consider the violence to be a positive aspect, even though many people will be turned off by it. It shows that this movie and the source material are different from similar things out there. This isn’t just a watered down self-important romance movie for young teens; it’s about the characters and survival in the interest of a government that doesn’t care for them.

The violence is important, it without losing the PG-13 rating worked well. Even though you didn’t see it explicitly, you were still watching kids cutting each other down with axes and swords. It will still make some people cringe and feel a little wrong watching it, which I feel is the point.

To keep the teenage-friendly rating, they couldn’t show the killing in all its

games started, though, all the fastpaced action held my attention.

Even though it was slow, I don’t feel any scenes could have been cut down.

It was more of a pacing issue. The characters did a lot of longingly staring into space.

If you’re a fan of the book, or just want a good action movie with a plot then I suggest “The Hunger Games” recommend bringing the kids).

Music

Entertainment

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March 29, 2012

5

Billboard’s most anticipated album of 2012 falls flat

by Diane Thao

TSV Entertainment Editor

Madonna. The Queen of Pop. The woman who has been creating electrifying pop music since the 1980s, and who notoriously promotes youth rebellion and world peace. The material girl, who has been in the music industry for nearly three decades, has impacted the pop genre by creating numerous hits, bold fashion trends and selling out concerts worldwide. With such accomplishments, Madonna even has trouble topping herself.

The 53-year-old musician returns this spring with the release of her twelfth album, “MDNA.” The album’s title was chosen as an abbreviation of Madonna DNA and as a reference to MDMA, the active ingredient in the drug ecstasy (which is often associated with electronic dance music).

Already the musician is being slammed with complaints over the album title for encouraging listeners to use MDMA. The singer took the issue to her Twitter account, saying: “I don’t support

drug use and I never have.”

However, her lyrics beg to differ. In her song “I’m Addicted,” multiple drug metaphors are used. “Now that your name/ pumps like the blood in my veins/ pulse through my body, igniting my mind/it’s like MDNA and that’s ok.”

Despite the drug references, if you’re looking for an upbeat and fun album, you won’t be completely disappointed by “MDNA.” The majority of the album is full of catchy lyrics and upbeat tempos that you won’t be able to keep yourself from singing. However, I am going to say this album is worth listening to but not worth buying.

Lyrically speaking, I personally feel a little cheated. The amount of profanity leaves at

lyrics, give the impression that she really didn’t even try.

Madonna, your name doesn’t sell. I didn’t live in your era when you were the powerhouse of the pop community. You need to be able to sell to your consumers and not make me feel like you’re a complete sell-out.

She does have songs that, the moment you hear them, you’ll recognize the old Madonna sound in. Both “Masterpiece” and “Falling Free” are produced by William Orbit, who worked on her “Ray of Light” album. These two singles are the only songs that bring the soothing sound we once heard when she sang about world peace. “Falling Free” adds a different element to the album by slowing down the mood using

on unchecked your iTunes playlist. Because Madonna worked on this album for nearly four years, I expected stronger lyrics than “Some girls got an attitude/fake tits and a nasty mood/hot s*** when she’s in the loop.” And other songs, when they’re not driven

These slow songs without the electronic beats are where she shines the most.

Other songs on the album that aren’t either the old sound or a disaster aren’t too bad. Actually, they’re rather tolerable and I can see them making the top 40. I

Out and About

Diane Thao/ The Skyline View

The latest Madonna album “MDNA” hit shelves on March 23.

just hope she doesn’t anticipate a Grammy for this work.

Madonna still does manage to place in the top 40. But from a woman who had over 114 million viewers watch her Super Bowl half-time show (most watched in history), announced the largest

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é

by Richard Estrada TSV Online Editor

San Francisco is great because there’s an endless list of things to do there. Aside from the much talked about nightlife, San Francisco’s rich culture and diversity provide easy options to decompress and recharge for the day that follows. The trick, however, is to manage to do so without breaking at the night’s end.

Richard Estrada/ The Skyline View BrainWash Café in the city’s BrainWash is located on Folsom Street.

South of Market district is casual enough for a Wednesday afternoon but hip enough for Friday night.

The little coin-operated And something incredibly unique Laundromat inside is an amenity to this place is that there’s a small the busy worker can appreciate.

Laundromat inside the café, so Laundry night doesn’t have to be even on laundry day there are great dull anymore. Just bring in the times to be had. nitty-gritty, put the load in the For years, BrainWash Café has wash, have a meal, enjoy a show, been the meeting place for standand head home having made the up comedians throughout San most of your night.

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world tour and rated Billboard’s Most Anticipated Album of 2012, this album does not bring solidity to her reputation.

“MDNA” was released March 23 and is worth a listen. This album is not kid friendly but is simply fun. Rating 3/5.

Opinions

March 29, 2012

The

6 Skyline View editorial

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On CSU spring transfer freeze

C

ommunity college students are once again being punished by the state for its budget failures. Recently, the CSU system announced that most spring transfers could be completely frozen in the face of Jerry Brown’s California Tax Increase Initiative.

Although it is widely accepted that an investment in higher education stimulates GDP growth and creates higher tax revenue in the future, students are again seen as a the government realize the way out of the recession is through us?

Students are being edged out of our collective right to an education in what seems like a different way every day. First, student loans now look more like a mortgage as the costs of education are subsidized less and less by the state and federal government. Soon, a college degree will cost so much that only the wealthy can afford one. Now community college students are

specifically being discriminated against by the CSU system with this freeze on spring transfers.

If students continue to be forced out of a more prosperous future, the middle class will disappear entirely and dramatic socioeconomic dichotomy will surely ensue. It is up to us, the workers of tomorrow, to take our future well-being into our own hands and stand up against the deplorable way the government treats us.

The best thing to do in times like these is simply to exercise your right to vote. The legislature can’t initiate any policies without your approval.

You as voters have the power to pass the tax initiative that will keep CSU

enrollment open.

When push comes to shove, the white collar representatives in Sacramento continue to push us farther than any other demographic of people. We are the future of this state. In fifteen or twenty years, we will be the ones balancing state budgets and funding state education. When that time comes, let us every last dollar of funding.

Listen to our Editorial podcast

with Blair Hardee As you may have read in our news section, some of my fellow student journalists and I attended a convention this past weekend organized by the Journalism Association of Community Colleges. We won a few awards (as you also may have read) and gained some valuable experience.

My purpose in this “View from Here” is not to brag about my staff (even though it’s hard because they kick ass), or to rave about the workshops I attended (which were just amazing). My purpose now is to use my experience to give you all a bit of advice.

I’ve been involved in the journalism program here at Skyline (in some form or another) since 2009. Our resident journalism expert, Nancy KaplanBiegel, has tried every semester to get me and all of her journalism students to go to this convention, probably because she knows it’s a great experience for aspiring writers, reporters, producers, etc. But every semester I had a This semester, probably my last at Skyline, I felt that it was really time for me to go. I requested some time off from work, made travel arrangements and went down to Burbank for the weekend. My experience was beyond incredible. Not only did I learn more than I thought was possible, I also surrounded myself with more than 500 students who shared my dreams and ambitions. There is no substitute for immersing yourself in an environment like that.

My only regret is that I didn’t go to this convention in the past. I’ve missed I really wish I could go back and change that.

My advice to you is to seize opportunities that present themselves. Many times they won’t be convenient or easy (I got about 10 hours of sleep the entire weekend), but they’re almost always worth it. This is especially true completely unique experience, and you should take advantage of it. We journalists are trained to never use clichés, but I’m going to end this by reminding you that at the end of the day, you almost always end up regretting the things you didn’t do more than things you did do.

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by Sarawut Saechang TSV Staff Writer

Food trucks. We have all been to one or at least know a friend who has, or maybe you’ve even seen a picture on Facebook. Food trucks around San Francisco serve a wide assortment of food and snacks to workers, tourists and food lovers. Many people like me have enjoyed things like sisig tacos, curry burritos, Jamaican snacks and crème brulee from these trucks.

So if you’re like me, you were concerned when you heard about the new bill stating that food trucks can’t be within 1,500 feet of a school. For those of you who weren’t concerned, you probably didn’t know that in San Francisco, almost everything is within 1,500 feet or 3 blocks of a school. I was worried that this new trend of food

trucks being mobile and serving all kinds of food was coming to an end. I felt negative about things and was wondering why the city would even do something like that, so I turned to the Internet.

I found out a little more about the reason behind the bill, which pretty much boils down to obesity.

The city and parents are concerned about the easy availably of unhealthy foods close to schools.

Mostly the concern is for middle school students, who tend to snack on junk food, and high school students who leave campus for lunch.

I felt less negative about the situation now that I knew the reasons, but 1,500 feet is still too far.

This doesn’t leave room for food trucks to park together and hold events like “Off the Grid.”

On March 12, 2012, California Assemblyman Bill Monning’s pro-

posed bill prohibiting food trucks from vending within 1,500 feet of any elementary, middle or high school in California was changed to 500 feet in San Francisco. This was Monning’s response to criticism and dislike of his original bill.

San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener was quoted as saying that the original bill is “an extreme piece of legislation that’s . . . a very non-urban approach that doesn’t work in a city like San Francisco.”

I agree with Scott Wiener on that one. San Francisco is a unique and diverse city, and the idea of mobile food trucks operating in the city with permits is a good idea to me. Since the proposed regulations were changed to allow food trucks to park more than 500 feet away from schools, there’s no need for us to rally and revolt. Instead, how about a tikka masala burrito?

Opinions

Parents, don’t buy into all that Autism hype

Skyline View

The

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March 29, 2012

7

Tax millionaires to keep education funded

by Matt Pacelli TSV News Editor

by Will Nacouzi

Long ago, well before I was born, a wise man sang a question that was as pressing as any that had been ever asked by any human: “Why does it hurt when I pee?” This wise man then augmented this question with a declaration: “I don’t want no doctor to stick no needle in me!”

The aforementioned wise man was Frank Zappa, and his double negative declaration against inoculation has been curiously resuscitated, at least in principal, for purposes that he was most ing number of parents are refusing to vaccinate their children, which poses an enormous health risk for the general population.

Much of this stems from the fallout of an uber-unethical study, conducted by one Dr. Andrew to a vaccine for measles, mumps, and rubella, which claimed that vaccinations were responsible for the sharp rise in the number of children being diagnosed with Autism.

The study used an inadequate sample size of (about 12 children) and also made use of some sketchy timelines of their illnesses, as some had the disease before they had any vaccines. Either way, some parents responded by choos-

TSV Multimedia Editor

The millionaire tax must pass!

Why? Because let’s face it, with cuts being made to education by the state government, it will leave schools throughout the state with little choice but to cut teachers and classes in order to deal with the decrease in educational spending by the state government.

ing not to vaccinate their children. discredited out of him, but like a sexist joke at a feminists’ meeting, its mere utterance was enough to set forth an avalanche of deadly fallout.

Parents refusing to vaccinate their kids led to a weird resurgence of really serious, contagious, yet preventable diseases, such as whooping cough. This kind of negligence, while perhaps born of good intentions, is negligence nonetheless. It endangers the whole population; if enough people don’t get a vaccine, then a disease can spread through enough people and possibly mutate and spread to a larger segment of the populous.

Many people forget about how devastating polio used to be, or how WWI wasn’t ended by any single military action, but by a -

enza. No conquistador could have taken down the Aztecs if they had them with small pox, no matter how well armed they were.

In our current society, we are so densely populated and have such quick means of intercontinental transport that the spread of infectious disease seems very feasible. Inoculating the population is not only important, but necessary to preserving ourselves as best we can. Humans will never be able to totally prevent all diseases (germs are a lot smarter than us), but if there is one thing that seems like a bad idea, its giving a window to devastating diseases based off of a minute possibility that a vaccine may have a side effect. The less of a personal choice than a responsibility to society.

the three new education-spending initiatives on the ballot for voters to choose from, the millionaire tax is the one that serves us best by ensuring education gets funded so the current and future generations can achieve a better future.

Unlike Gov. Brown’s and Molly Munger’s tax initiatives, the millionaire tax will only raise rates on the top earners in the state, or as the California Federation of Teachers website puts it, “the one percent.”

This means that Californians who make an annual income of over one million dollars will face a threepercent increase in taxes, and those who make more than two million percent more in state income taxes.

Unlike the other two initiatives that raise taxes on everyone, the millionaire tax would leave those of us who can’t afford to pay more taxes unaffected by it. If you’re making over a million dollars a year, then why are complaining about your taxes? You have plenty of excess money available, right? Besides, if you’re making a million or more dollars and you don’t have the money available to pay taxes, then welcome to the 99 percent. That pain and anxiety you feel is what we feel every time our hard-earned money gets taxed (at a higher percentage) and we are forced to struggle to pay for the bare necessities of life.

If you don’t agree that millionaires have it too good, then you are welcome to move somewhere that will coddle the wealthy, but if you stay, be ready to face the music and help your fellow Californians as they attempt to get a better life through education and in turn achieve the American dream. You’ve already reached yours; it’s your turn to help others get there too.

It’s time to vote for the millionaire tax this coming November.

Make the one percent help fund our education!

Rabelaisian Rhetoric with Riley Bright

by Terence Chin TSV Social Media Editor

I come from a family with siblings who are allergic to cats and dogs, so I never thought that I would ever own a pet. But one day my brother brought home a puppy, and I am comfortable enough to say that it made my family happier and healthier and brought us all a lot closer. For this reason, I’m proud to tell you why dogs are the greatest pets that anyone can ever have.

I grew up in a big family, and my mother always told my siblings and me that we were never allowed to have pets in the house and that dogs were the absolute worst pets you could ever have. As a child, I always use to beg my parents to get a dog, but my mother would just tell me, “No. The answer is no. Having a dog is like taking care of another kid!” I eventually stopped asking for one as I grew older, but that’s when my brother brought home a puppy as a surprise.

Although it took a while for my mother to adjust to having a dog, now she walks him, feeds him, takes him to the veterinarian, and even seems to love him more than anyone in my family. Surprisingly, she seems a lot happier living her life now, and she asks us every morning who walked and fed him the night before.

Dogs are the sweetest, most loving and loyal pets that anyone can own. Even though dogs can be a pain as puppies when it comes to potty training, teething and obeying

The American justice system has been horribly undermined in sunny Florida by the absolutely psychotic “Stand Your Ground” legislation.

The law says that people have no legal obligation to back down from a confrontation, allowing them to settle an argument with deadly force as long as they thought their life was in danger.

Not surprisingly, the law has created a “wild West” rule of law in questions later. When an altercation turns violent, one has to worry that if will the one looking down the iron barrel of their demise.

How could a law like this be passed? Why is the value placed on human life so low that it is legal to murder another person if you feel they threatened you?

Every person on this earth is precious and unique. And every person is born with the capacity for rational thought that we should be required by law to utilize in arguments. A human life is the ultimate price to Terence Chin/ The Skyline View

your rules, they quickly become the sweetest and most loyal animal after you train them. From my own experience, there isn’t anyone that gets more excited to see me than my dog after I come home from a long day at school.

Some may argue that dogs are overly aggressive, and it’s understandable that some people may opt

for a cat instead, which is a calmer, quieter, independent and easy-going pet. I just can’t understand why you wouldn’t want a pet that’s always loyal and actively fun whenever you want it to be. Being the owner of a one-year-old dog now, I can promise you that your dog will be what you make it. Perhaps your dog will become your best friend.

or situation is, killing should never be an option.

The recent shooting of Florida teen Trayvon Martin has ignited a “Stand Your Ground” law. Sevenby his race as a criminal, followed, and shot dead by self-appointed neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman, all under the protection

of standing one’s ground. When I hear the story and listen to the police dispatcher telling Zimmerman not to pursue Martin, it appears to me that the vigilante sought out a confrontation, and Martin paid with his life.

Under Florida law, a minor was legally shot and killed by a twentyto instigate a confrontation. Even if Zimmerman is found innocent when this case is brought to court, he is guilty of taking a young and precious life, and all life is precious. It is absolutely disgusting that incidents like this occur and are sanctioned under the law.

Martin’s death was potentially motivated by race. Society has fabricated racial distinctions and stereotypes in order to place people in groups and make sweeping generalizations about entire populations. The truth this way. Being called white, black, or brown is completely arbitrary actions, not our appearances. What does it matter where someone is from when it is much more important where they are going in life?

There is an abundance of hate and intolerance projected out to the world when we are capable of so much love. As fellow habitués of this earth, it is time to stop expecting people to behave in particular ways and let them navigate through life along their own prerogative. Live and let live, and don’t shoot high school students.

Skyline

Sports sports.tsv@gmail.com

Upcoming Games Baseball

Badminton

3/29 v Ohlone College 2:30 p.m.

4/10 v De Anza College 3 p.m.

3/31 v CCSF 12 p.m.

4/12 v CCSF 3 p.m.

4/3 v West Valley College 2:30 p.m.

4/17 v Mission College 3 p.m.

4/5 v Gavilan College 2:30 p.m.

4/24 v Fresno City College 3 p.m.

4/7 v Monterey Peninsula 12 p.m.

4/26 @ De Anza College 3 p.m.

Trojans Baseball

Good start for badminton

Consistent pitcher, good student, competitive player

Julian Merryweather winds up for a pitch against Hartnell College.

Will Nacouzi/The Skyline View

TSV Photo Editor

Julian Merryweather, a sophomore pitcher for Skyline College’s baseball team, has played baseball for 10 years and is still going strong.

While Merryweather is a pitcher for the Trojans, he is also currently majoring in business and minoring in psychology.

Matt Cain, a pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, is one of his favorite baseball play-

by Megan Benveniste TSV Sports Editor

On Monday March 27 the Skyline Trojans lost 3-1 against the Hartnell College Panthers.

Asked to appear in his eleventh game of the season, Tyler Cyr was the starting pitcher for the day. The Jordan Holler, hit a homerun continued in the game for eight innings allowing only six hits, six walks, four strikeouts and one earned run on the day.

“Tyler pitched a great game; he pitched 8 innings and kept us there,” Coach Nomicos said. “We

Will Nacouzi/The Skyline View

The relationship between the pitcher and the catcher is important.

ers. Some of Merrryweather’s hobbies are playing video games

and hanging out with other players on the team. He also plays

just didn’t get any hits today, we got two hits. Their pitcher did a great job pitching. We lined out a bunch of times. And today we just couldn’t get a clutch hit.”

Panthers starting pitcher Andrew Astone had a no-hitter continuing on into the bottom of the fourth inning; that was stopped after catcher Colton Hicks hit his

before the game went into extras and Jonathan Farino took over for the rest of the game. Both Farino and Astone allowed two hits, one earned run and struck out ten altogether for the day. Panthers’ second basemen Robert Wayman hit a two-run homerun in the top of the tenth to win the game.

“Well I think they just hit the balls hard, just right at me you know and the umpire didn’t help us out at all. It was one of those games.” Pitcher Forest Armanino said.

With this loss to the Panthers the Trojans are now 4-19 on the

tied the game 1-1.

“It felt nice, the best pitch I had seen all day,” Hicks said. “We lost so it didn’t really help much, but it The Panthers (9-13) pitching was the dominating factor of the game; Astone went all nine innings

home stand starting on Thursday March 29.

TSV Sports Editor

The Skyline women’s badmin-

in some off-season leagues, but he is not committed to any one team.

Merryweather’s work ethic and ability to grow and develop as a player have been invaluable to his progress, which his teammates, including Trojan’s catcher Colton Hicks, have noticed.

“He’s been one of our more consistent pitchers,” said Hicks, a catcher for the Trojans. “He gets more comfortable with me as the year goes on, and I get more comfortable with him.”

Julian really enjoys playing for the head coach, Dino Nomicos, and he says he’s one of the best coaches he’s had. Some of the great traits Merryweather admires in Nomicos are his ability to recruit students at the high school level and his ability to foster high morale and camaraderie within the team. Nomicos stated that in regards to Merryweather, the feeling is mutual.

“I think Julian is an outstanding player,” Nomicos said. “He’s a quality player, individual and good student.”

Julian prefers college baseball to high school because there’s more intensity in the games rather than “just fooling around.

You go into the games with a different kind of mindset.”

As a kid, he tried different sports, but baseball made an emotional impact on him. However, he wasn’t always a pitcher; he also played shortstop and third base in high school.

“I like his competitiveness,” said shortstop Justin Chapman.

“He doesn’t ever back down from someone.”

match against Mission College on March 20.

Even without a full team, the Trojans came up close and swept the Saints with a win.

Coach Jan Fosberg agreed that the Trojans played well.

“I think we played really well,” Fosberg said. “We had every single person on the team earn points.

The singles side we won all but one match, which is really impressive.”

When asked about one of the best players on the team, Fosberg said, “Probably our best player on the team is Anna Nguyen. She’s a player that came from Vietnam, so she went to school over there and she just came recently. (She’s) really a top player, really strong.”

Coming in from another country, Nguyen has transitioned immediately into a star athlete among the other badminton players, bringing with her talent that can lead the team to victory.

“She’s a team leader because she’s a little older than everybody else and has really been through playing at a high caliber,” Fosberg continued. “So that really helps us; it’s like having a coach on the court.”

Although it’s just the beginning of the season, their hopes should be set pretty high after this satisfying win.

“At this point in the season, we basically coach to what our errors were in the previous match,” Fosberg said. “So every time we play, egy. With more experience, we’re going to get better and better.”

The Skyline badminton team will play their next game against Fresno City College on March 27, at Fresno.

Renee Abu-Zaghibra/The Skyline View

First baseman Matt Page prepares for a pitch from Andrew Astone.