THE YEAR IN REVIEWStories from the 2010-11 year PAGE 8

DANIELLE COULTER Q&A with new AS president PAGE 4

Online weekly at www.sdcitytimes.com

Take Note ......................... 2Arts ................................. 5Life ................................ 10Voice .............................. 12Sports ............................ 16

CITY TIMESCITY TIMES

May 10, 2011Volume 65, Number 14Covering the San Diego City College community since 1945

By Ernesto LopezCity Times

A 2-month-old who was kidnapped from her mother May 4 around 1:30 p.m. from the grounds of San Diego City College later was found safe in San Ysidro with the woman suspected of taking the child.

The woman, who was described as black, 35 to 40 years old, about 5 feet 6

inches tall and heavy, had pretended to be a day care provider at the campus Child Development Center, at 16th and B Street.

She convinced the 16-year-old mother to enroll in a program, said Richard Dittbenner, public relations officer to the San Diego Com-munity College District.

Dittbenner said the inci-dent began when the woman randomly started a conversa-tion with the young mother, who had just exited the trol-ley station near the campus.

“The older woman is not an employee at the center and the mother is not a student at City College,” informed Ditt-benner at a press conference outside of the facility. “These people have no connection to the school.”

The woman, child and mother walked the three city blocks to the child care center. They went inside but for an unknown reason the mother left the area.

When she returned shortly after looking for her child, the baby and the woman had vanished.

Dittbenner said the cen-ter’s staff did not question the women when they saw her leaving with the youngster because they had no idea of the relationships.

Around 4 p.m., the woman was arrested nearly 14 miles south at the Iris Avenue trolley station after she got off with the infant, authorities said.

“This was a crime of opportunity,” said San Diego

San Diego City College administrators get briefed by campus police about the kid-napping that took place at the school’s Child Development Center on May 4. The child’s mother had entrusted a woman who reportedly said she was an employee at the child care facility. The toddler was found safe hours later with the same woman, according to authorities. Troy Bryant Orem, City Times

Infant kidnapped from campus found safe in South BayWoman pretends to be college employee, tricks mother into handing baby over

See Kidnapped, page 4

CINCO DE MAYO’S COLORFUL HISTORY

By Alec FernandesCity Times

The suicide of a 21-year-old male student at San Diego City College on May 1 suggested that not all students know where to get help when dealing with a crisis.

City College does offer help, stu-dents can receive free therapy at the Mental Health Counseling Center in room A-221. Services include crisis intervention, individual, couple’s and group counseling.

The center aims to help students

address seemingly minor problems before they develops into a more serious issue.

In an email interview, Mental Health Coordinator Leslie Easton

Mental health resources available for those in need

By Megan Rose BartellCity Times

San Diego City College’s summer session of classes has been canceled to preserve the fall and spring semes-ters of the upcoming 2011-12 school year.

“By eliminating summer classes as opposed to fall and spring, we hurt our City College students less,” Pres-ident Terrence Burgess said.

“The enrollments that we typically get in summer are disproportionately university students that are coming back for the summer and picking up a class.”

According to Burgess, the San Diego Community College District is being forced by the state to minimize the student population by the equiva-lent of 5,500 full-time equivalent stu-

dents. The state will no longer pay to support this amount of students start-ing July 1.

The 5,500 full-time equivalent students are equal to about 18,000 enrollment seats in classes.

Burgess said that the number of classes the district needed to elimi-nate to downsize by 18,000 enroll-ment seats was about the same as number classes previously offered in summer school.

“We felt that by not cutting fall and spring, more students would be able to enroll full time and therefore be able to preserve their financial aid,” Burgess said.

It’s not only students that are being affected, but professors as well.

Adjunct or part-time instructors

See School, page 14

See Health, page 4

Local mental health resources

City College Mental Health Services: (619) 388-3539

Access & Crisis hotline 24/7: (800) 479-3339

Trimming summer school saves fall and spring session

Grupo Calpulli Mexhica performs ceremonial Aztec dances at San Diego City College’s Cinco De Mayo celebration. Students were invited to join in the festivities, learning simple steps and dancing with the professionals at the May 5 event. Troy Bryant Orem, City Times

www.sdcitytimes.com | May 10, 20112

Cosmetology summer still on

Take noTeCompiled by Christine Klee

Get your event in the paper. Email us at citytimes@gmail.com or call 619-388-3880

n May 9 - 10,9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Graduating students can find special offers at the Grad Fair in Schwartz Square.

n May 10, Tuesday9 a.m. - 2 p.m.Enjoy hot dogs for 97 cents at the Grad Barbecue in Schwartz Square.

n May 10, Tuesday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Donate at the last blood drive of the semester in Gorton Quad. To schedule an appoint-ment visit sandiegobloodbank.org.

n May 11, Wednesday 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.The Grad Festival features giveaways, music, spoken word performances and more in Schwartz Square.

n May 11, Wednesday 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.Enjoy Punk Rock by Dying to Wake in the free Nooner Con-cert Series in Gorton Quad.

n May 11, Wednesday 11 p.m. - 12 p.m. and1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.May 12, Thursday8 a.m. - 11 a.m.Faculty, staff and students can meet individually with Nurs-ing Education Consultants to contribute their opinion to the BRN Continuing Program Approval Visit. To make an appointment contact Susan Chandler at (619) 388-3441 or schandler@sdccd.edu.

n May 11 - 13 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.The Cosmetology Depart-ment is offering a Memorial Day Special in V building. Get a hair cut, manicure, pedicure or spa facial massage at a dis-counted price.

n May 12, Thursday 4:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.The first annual President’s Reception Class 2011 cel-ebrates graduating and trans-ferring students in Gorton Quad. Visit sdcity.edu to RSVP.

n May 14, Saturday 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.A special celebration of Chi-cano and Latina students takes place in Saville Theatre . All graduates are welcome to take part in this event.

n May 18 - 20 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.The Cosmetology Depart-ment is offering a Memorial Day Special in V building. Get a hair cut, manicure, pedicure or spa facial massage at a dis-counted price.

n May 19, Thursday3:30 p.m. The rehearsal for graduation takes place at the Organ Pavil-ion in Balboa Park.

n May 20, Friday 6 p.m. Celebrate graduation at the Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park.

n May 21, SaturdayLast day of classes.

Calendar

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Crack City By Michele Suthers

By Ricky SolteroCity Times

San Diego City College campus police are officially stationed at their new loca-tion on 16th and Broadway in City College’s V Building.

The move was officially made on April 25 after years of campus police being sta-tioned in the T building.

The new campus police facility comes equipped with state of the art technology, a briefing room, an interview room and a holding cell.

Sgt. Jordan Mirakian spoke about the benefits that come with the new facility.

“We have a more secure facility and it’s more profes-sional.” Mirakian said, “In the business of law enforcement it is not just us. We bring other agencies and train offi-

cers at our station. We can be proud to bring them to our new station.”

Funding for the new police station came from a bond distributed by Proposi-tion S and N.

Proposition S manages two types of projects, capital facilities bond projects, which are typically large and com-plex structures or improve-ment projects, which are typically smaller and include repair or replacement work.

Proposition N will pro-vide funds to complete the rehabilitation of deteriorated college facilities and add classrooms and instructional support space.

Aside from the new police station, campus police will maintain their presence on campus by adding a sub-sta-tion near the cafeteria.

Campus police moved to V bldg.

City Times wishes our readers a relaxing summer!

The cosmetology program at City College will remain open and will offer services this summer. Students and faculty receive 50 percent off most services offered in the cosmetology depart-ment’s beauty salon.

The proceeds from the beauty salon services all go directly back to the program to help pay for supplies.

A haircut, which normally costs $5 is only $2.50 for students with a valid City College iden-tification card.

The cosmetology department is located in the V building on the first floor.

— Megan Rose Bartell

San Diego resident Lilian Cameron gets her hair done by Omar Wormly, 27, a cosmetology student at City College on May 5. Anulak Singiphat, City Times

Summer hoursWednesday from 10 a.m to 2 p.m.

Thursday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Popular services offered :

-Shampoo/Blow Dry/Style (including flat iron) $12 with no discount offered-Arching, Waxing or Tweezing $15 with no dis-count offered-Virgin Chemical Relaxer $25 and up with no discount offered-Manicure $4, Pedicure $6, Facial $15

For a full price list visit www.sdcity.edu/cos-metology, for appointments call (619) 388-3574

newsMay 10, 2011 | www.sdcitytimes.com

3

BURGESS SPEAKS WITH STUDENT PROTESTERS

“I am pissed,” San Diego City College President Terrence Burgess said on April 27 of students’ recent crashing of a summit held on campus. During a dialogue with students in Curran Plaza, Burgess expressed his disap-pointment at the students’ decorum along with the growing concerns over budget cuts and what it means for City College. Troy Bryant Orem, City Times

Chancellor says tax extensions would be key

By Shane FinneranCity Times

Chancellor Constance Carroll is in her 33rd year as a community college chief executive. So when she says the funding problems facing public education today are unprecedented, that isn’t good.

“I have never seen a budget problem of this magnitude, and, along with it, massive efforts to change state policies, from a sharp increase in the student enrollment fee to discussions about whether athletics should be funded,” Carroll said in an email inter-view.

California’s community college system could lose as much as $800 million in the state’s next fiscal year. City College’s district, which also includes Mesa College and Miramar Col-lege, could see funding fall by nearly $17 million.

Carroll noted that Gov. Jerry Brown recently pushed for a June elec-tion in which Californians could vote to extend select income taxes, sales taxes, and vehicle taxes. Those tax extensions would reduce the state’s budget shortfall.

Democrats in the Cali-fornia assembly were in favor of the proposed elec-tion, but it also needed support from at least four Republican legislators -— and that support never materialized.

“Some of those possible votes are legislators in San Diego County who have refused to support our plan,” Carroll said. “All of us need to get the message to them.”

Republican assembly-woman Diane Harkey, whose district includes Oceanside, seems to be a California community col-lege success story.

Harkey “worked her way through the state’s com-munity college system,”

according to her website, which also says she entered politics after “a suc-cessful 30-year career in corpo-rate finance and banking.”

Today, Harkey opposes the tax extensions that could spare

California community col-leges from millions in fund-ing cuts.

A spokesperson said Harkey attended Saddle-back College in Mission Viejo, but her office did not respond to other requests for comment.

Assemblyman Brian Jones, a Republican whose district includes much of East County, is a San Diego State graduate. Jones opposes the tax extensions because he thinks they

Analyst-turned-activist McGovern decries ‘racist edge’ to US warsBy Shane FinneranCity Times

Ray McGovern, noting that 50 years had passed since Soviet astronaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man to visit space, said technology has come a long way but “our moral development has not kept pace.”

In U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, for example, “there’s a real racist edge to what we’re doing,” McGovern said.

McGovern is a former CIA analyst and an outspoken

critic of United States imperi-alism. He visited City College on April 14 as part of “Opera-tion: Tour of Duty,” a speaking tour focused on torture and other controversial foreign policy issues.

McGovern once prepared daily intelligence briefs for President George H.W. Bush. In February, he was dragged out of a Hillary Clinton speech at George Washington Univer-sity after he stood and turned his back on the Secretary of Defense.

Clinton, who was speaking about the stifling of dissent,

continued without “missing a syllable” as he was “violently removed,” McGovern said.

McGovern has discussed the incident with lawyers.

“They’re in the fact-finding

process right now,” he said.About 25 people attended

McGovern’s speech at City College. Organizers included the campus chapter of Veter-ans for Peace.

Michael Needham, a Vietnam veteran and father of solider John Needham who earned multiple Purple Hearts in Iraq, spoke before McGovern.

When John Needham came home from Iraq, his long list of war-induced mala-dies included post-traumatic

See Analyst, page 14 See Tax, page 14

By Tom Gustafson and Amanda CherneCorrespondents

City College took part in Hands Across California, a rally and fundraiser, on April 17. The event was part of a statewide showing of sup-port for community colleges

facing budget cuts.Put on by the Foundation

for Community Colleges and Ken Kragen, who helped organize the 1986 country-wide demonstration Hands Across America, the under-taking acknowledged hard times due to budget cuts.

Participants joined hands across the state, forming a human line stretching from San Diego to Sacramento.

Hands Across California covered more than 1,000 miles and involved an alleged 1 million people, includ-ing students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends.

At City College, a crowd numbering in the low hun-dreds began to form in the early afternoon, coinciding with similar demonstrations statewide.

As a preamble to the event, City College Presi-dent Terrence Burgess made a brief speech on the importance of community colleges. Pop singer J Grace then recited a song she wrote for the occasion, “Be the Change.”

With the 2 p.m. deadline for the statewide spectacle drawing near, people began to mobilize. Emblazoned

with T-shirts being sold at the event that showed sev-eral stick figures holding hands, the crowd made its way down Park Boulevard.

Many people carried picket signs that told pass-ersby how to donate to the cause via text message.

Eventually, the demon-strators formed a fairly con-sistent human line, holding hands for several blocks, from the intersections of Park Boulevard and B Street to Park and Broadway.

Cars whizzing by honked

Students join hands to support educationParticipants formed a human chain from San Diego to Sacramento

San Diego City College students, faculty, administra-tion and supporters joined in the Hands Across Cali-fornia event on April 17. Tom Gustafson, CorrespondentSee Hands, page 14

District could lose up to $17 million in state funding for next school year

ChancellorConstance Carroll

Ray McGovern

By Scott McLeanCity Times

The San Diego City Col-lege student body has chosen Professor Wendy Zizzo as winner of the 2011 distin-guished Golden Apple Fac-ulty Award.

Students voted in late April and Zizzo will deliver a speech at the graduation ceremony May 20, in which 300 have petitioned to participate.

The graduation ceremony is held at the Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park.

Zizzo is a behavioral sci-ences and alcohol and other drug studies instructor who has worked at City College for 11 years. Zizzo said she

feels “humbled” to have been chosen by the students.

“City college students are very special and have made for a very rewarding career,” Zizzo said, “Being honored is awesome.”

Jo Anne Beck, a student of Professor Zizzo’s, said, “She deserves the award. She is a great teacher who gives you everything you need to know.”

The Golden Apple Award is rewarded to the one faculty member per year who receives the most student votes.

Each faculty member may not win two years con-secutively and cannot win the award more than three years total.

By Ernesto LopezCity Times

The weekend before City Col-lege’s commencement ceremony on May 20 in Balboa Park a group of about 40 will be participating in the school’s annual Chicano Latina grad-uation in the Saville Theatre.

Enrique Davalos, a professor help-ing to coordinate the event May 14, said, that although geared toward the Mexican community, the ceremony draws black, white and Asian stu-dents because it is smaller and more family is able to attend compared to the official ceremony.  

Davalos also explained that each student is given an opportunity to address their family members and the audience upon receiving their certificate.

“The graduation is very intimate and it is very emotional to hear each student thank their family and friends for their support; a lot of them are first generation college graduates,” Davalos said.

“This is also a time to celebrate the diversity on our campus,” Davalos added.

As part of the Chicano Latina graduation San Diego City College President Terrence Burgess gives a speech, as well as a guest.  This year, the key-note speaker is scheduled to be former student Gabby Gonzalez; she currently studies at UC Berkeley. 

Davalos said they try to have a speaker who can share their experi-ence of transferring to four-year insti-tutions with the graduates.

Alejandro Madrid, a pre-med stu-dent planning to transfer to either UC Berkeley or UC Los Angeles, said he decided to register for the graduation because of its “intimate” atmosphere.

“It’s more personal, plus it feels good to represent my culture.  I am bringing my grandma, my god-parents, uncles, aunts, cousins and friends,” Madrid said.

Participants in the Chicano Latina Graduation can also participate in the general City College Graduation.

www.sdcitytimes.com | May 10, 20114

News

Graduation’s ‘Golden Apple’

Woman in chargeCity Times held a Q&A on May 6 with Danielle Coulter, newly elected Associated Student Government president. She received 150 of the 238 votes

CT: How do you feel being elected ASG president?

DC: I feel great. I feel like I’m def-initely qualified. I feel completely prepared. I feel like we have an amazing administration that got elected along with me that’s going to start next year.

I’m currently serving a statewide position as a student representa-tive. I just learned so much, so I’m really looking forward to bringing that back to the grass roots here, at school and being able to devote more time to that.

CT: What is that position called again?

DC: It’s called the SSCCC which is the Student Senate for Califor-nia Community Colleges. I’m the regional senator for region 10.

CT: What will be some of your duties as president?

We have district meetings. We have kind of more administration and communication things that we do like with faculty, with the president and things like that.

And there is an automatic seat in the student trustee. I think presi-dent is more of an administrative, facilitating roll.

CT: What are you going to be doing in the summer to prepare for being president?

DC: Currently, I have a very good working relationship with the current president, Beto.

I’ve worked with him for the past year. I hope to continue to work with him, to kind of shadow him.

I'm hoping to be groomed fur-ther by Beto and get his contacts, his plans, his goals and also some of his suggestions.

I think that he is very open to that. So I’m looking forward to working really closely with Beto.

CT: What is one of your major projects for the next school year?

DC: The Inter Club Council. Every student has this interest or need and they have the right and the capability and it’s very easy to create a club that represents that.

And so that if there’s clubs that are started by students they have this opportunity to share what they’re doing with other clubs and that’s what the purpose of the ICC is.

If that’s working properly then all of the students benefit, but if they don’t it’s a major problem and a large portion of the student voice is being neglected. We’re going to definitely re-ignite that and get that going.

Chicano Latina Graduation, an ‘intimate’ affair

Register by May 12 for the Chicano Latino Graduation

When: May 14 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

* Contact City College Student Affairs Office, phone (619) 388-3498, or e-mail:

grodrigu@sdccd.edu.

* Send an email to Enrique Davalos at adavalos@sdccd.edu

with your name and two photos of yourself.

Information: citychicanaograduation.

blogspot.com

Wendy Zizzo, professor of behavioral sciences and alcohol and other drug studies, during one of her afternoon classes on May 5. She was recently voted by students as faculty of the year. Troy Bryant Orem, City Times

May 13 Last day to register online for participation in Graduation Ceremony

For more important dates around graduation time visit: www.sdcity.edu/graduation

stressed the importance of treating mental illness early.

“We hope to get to students before they are in a crisis state, before they are overwhelmed, and help them to learn effective and

preventative ways to manage life’s stressors,” Easton wrote.

The suicide on campus has prompted the Mental Health Coun-seling Center to spread awareness about its services. In the past week, they have contacted all City College employees and provided a list of local resources available to anyone who has been affected by the news

of campus suicide.“We have also been walking

the campus with information and stress balls to let students know we are here and about the services we offer.”

“If a student comes to us in crisis they are seen immediately,” Easton wrote. “There is not a waiting list here and there never has been.”

HealthContinued from Page 1

City College President Ter-rence Burgess. “To entrust a child to a stranger is not very good judgement.”

The Child Development Center, whose services are

available to City College stu-dents and faculty, has 65 chil-dren enrolled ranging in age from six months to five years.

“We take the safety of the child care center very seri-ously,” added Burgess. “There is no way that a student could be accessed other then coming through the front door.”

KidnappedContinued from Page 1

“Academically Adrift” is subti-tled “Limited Learning on College Campuses.” It’s not a happy book.

Chapter one opens with some chilling statistics. At four-year col-leges today, for example, only 34 percent of students earn a bach-elor’s degree in four years and only 64 percent earn one within six years.

“Completion rates are even more discouraging among stu-dents starting in community col-leges,” the book notes.

But dismal numbers aren’t enough for authors Richard Arum of New York University and Josipa Roksa of the University of Virginia.

Their book is also loaded with depressing references to research-ers such as Valen Johnson, who says too many students are focused on “controlling college by shaping schedules, taming professors and limiting workload.”

Calling many younger people “motivated but directionless,” Arum and Roksa sketch their title character, who is apparently com-monplace on campuses across the country: a student who is taking classes aimlessly, floating through college without a clear plan.

The authors closely studied more than 2,000 students at four-

year colleges. Disturbingly, they found that,

more than 4 in 10 students -— after two years of higher learning -— posted little or no improvement on a test of writing and critical think-ing.

Of course, students are paying more for college than ever before. “Academically Adrift” notes that tuition and fees at four-year col-leges have tripled in the last 30 years, after adjusting for inflation.

The study’s rigor is commend-able and its veracity seems unde-niable. The book’s scholarly tone, however, makes the reading labori-ous and sometimes tedious.

Readers looking to skim might be frustrated by how many main ideas, key data points, and interest-ing conclusions are buried in long, meandering chapters.

And in the lengthy appendix, dozens of pages are devoted to tabulated data that are largely inde-cipherable for anyone who hasn’t

The summer movie season traditionally begins on Memo-rial Day Weekend, but you wouldn’t know it with most big films opening in July. Here is a rundown of some of the films you can expect to see this summer at local movies houses around San Diego County.

Opening the weekend of May 20 is the fourth install-ment of Johnny Depp’s “Pirates Of The Caribbean” called “On Stranger Tides” which stars Depp, Penelope Cruz, Ian McShane, Geof-frey Rush and is directed by Rob Marshall (“Chicago” and “Nine”). Also opening is the Woody Allen comedy “Midnight in Paris” starring Owen Wilson, Rachael McAd-ams, Kathy Bates and Adrien Brody. Allen has steadily put out a film every year since the early ’90s, though most haven’t seen a wide release since his Academy Award nominated “Vicki Cristina Barcelona” in 2008.

Opening Memorial Day Weekend are two sequels, “The Hangover Part II” and “Kung Fu Panda 2”. Neither film needs an explanation, unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last few years.

The weekend of June 3 opens with the next install-ment in the “X-Men” series entitled “First Class”. The film

has a brand new, fresh-faced cast who will give us some insight into how Professor X and Magneto came to be. James McAvoy plays Profes-sor Charles Xavier (Professor X), Michael Fassbender plays Erik Lehnsherr (Magneto), and Kevin Bacon plays Sebas-tian Shaw, rumored to be one of the greatest villains in the X-Men series.

The “Green Lantern” star-ring Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Tim Robbins, Angela Bassett, Peter Sarsgaard and Jon Tenney, opens June 17. The previews look pretty good for this film, though don’t trust a film’s greatness based on previews alone.

Apparently the month to beat is July. Four blockbuster films open on the weekends, starting with the new “Trans-formers” film entitled “Dark of the Moon”. This install-ment promises to be what was missing from the second

“Transformers” which left most moviegoers not want-ing a third. The last “Harry Potter” opens July 15, and could be the film to beat this summer. Most fans of the books and the films will come out in droves to see this film, so get your tickets early and get to the theatre on time, or you’ll be dealing with a lot of “sold-out” signs, or bad front row seating.

The following weekend premieres “Captain America: The First Avenger”, starring Chris Evans, Hugo Weav-ing and Tommy Lee Jones. “America” is about a military serviceman (Evans) who volunteers for a top secret research project turning him into a superhero who is dedi-cated to defending America’s ideals.

And finally the last week-end of July will bring us “Cowboys & Aliens” starring Harrison Ford, Olivia Wild, Daniel Craig, Sam Rockwell and Paul Dano and directed by Jon Favreau. With a solid cast and director, this film should not be missed.

August will round out the summer with a few block-busters and maybe a few box office surprises. “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” opens on the 5th, starring James Franco and Andy Serkis. A fifth “Final Destination” film will be opening on the 12th.

The remake of “Conan the Barbarian” opens on August 19, and stars Rose McGowan, Ron Perlman and newcomer Jason Momoa, in the role that made Arnold Schwarzeneg-ger a household name.

Sleeper hits this summer could be “Larry Crowne” starring Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts, “Horrible Bosses” starring Jason Bate-man, Colin Farrell, Jennifer Aniston and Kevin Spacey (both July openings); “30 Minutes or Less” starring Jesse Eisen-berg, Danny McBride, and Nick Sward-son; “Fright Night,” a remake of the 1985 cult clas-sic, star-ring Colin Far-rell as vam-pire Jerry Dan-drige and Anton Yelchin as Charlie Brewster and the Katie Holmes horror vehicle “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark,” all opening in August.

artsMay 10, 2011 | www.sdcitytimes.com

5

CRITICAL CAVALIER

Tom Andrew

See Book, page 7

Summer blockbuster preview

BOOKREVIEW

Shane Finneran

‘RANDOM ACTS OF DANCE’ PERFORMANCE

Dancers perform in the dress rehearsal for “Random Acts of Dance” on May 5. The production graced the stage of the Saville Theatre on May 6 and 7. Troy Bryant Orem, City Times

A tough look at learning limits in US higher ed

Screenshot from the movie Captain America : The First Avenger Marvel.com

As the school year comes to a close, many students start to reminisce. In May, I like to do the same — but rather than just looking back on school, I also review my year in entertainment.

Most of my favorite shows are ending their sea-sons in May. This year, I dis-covered two amazing shows featuring strong female characters I fell in love with — “The Good Wife” with Juliana Margulies, Archie Panjabi and Christine Baranski; and “The Chicago Code” with Jennifer Beals.

“The Good Wife” offered thrilling cliffhangers almost every episode, and “The Chicago Code” kept viewers wondering who the good guys are with every plot twist.

“Grey’s Anatomy,” a show I have a love-hate rela-tionship with, managed to win me over once again with the Callie-Arizona-Mark love triangle. As predic-tive as Callie’s pregnancy was, series creator Shonda Rhimes managed to handle the issue of “who is more of a parent — Arizona or Mark?” surprisingly well.

Meredith and Christina got their mojo back and made me laugh again. The wedding episode, which aired May 5, finally gave Callie a happy ending — even though I already look forward to seeing how mar-ried life will work out for her next season.

“Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution” returned with its second season April 19. This time around, Oliver attempts to improve the eating habits of Los Angelinos and faces strong opposition from the local school board.

Definitely one of the best reality programs on televi-sion right now, his show is worth watching if you care just one bit about what food you are putting in your body.

Overall, the 2010-2011

TV season offered some amazing acting and story-telling, and left me wanting more, especially from the fascinating private investiga-tor Kalinda Sharma (Archie Panjabi) on “The Good Wife.”

Now that summer is almost here, TV viewers can look forward to the return of shows such as “Pretty Little Liars” (June 14), “True Blood” (June 26) and “The Closer” (July 11).

On the big screen, docu-mentaries stood out this past year.

“Waiting for Superman” and “Inside Job” tackled the important social and political issues of public edu-cation and the lack of regu-lation in the financial sector, respectively. Both films offered ways to improve the status quo and were titled “must-see films” by critics.

Last November, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hal-lows: Part 1” opened suc-cessfully and seeing it at midnight certainly added to the excitement.

Part 2 will open July 15, and I am looking forward to it with ambivalent feel-ings. Even though the book series ended four years ago, Part 2 is the final, now-it-is-really-over chapter to this great book and film series.

From what is known so far, it seems the last movie will offer a worthy ending to the series many fans don’t want to end. I, for one, can’t wait to see it at midnight.

www.sdcitytimes.com | May 10, 20116

Arts

By Sonjiala HotchkissCity Times

“I revive myself by play-ing piano when I’m down,” 18-year-old biology major Thankgod Uzoagu said.

Uzoagu has spent the past year teaching himself to play

piano using videos on You-Tube. On April 28 he fired up the piano in the cafeteria with a rendition of the 1980s rock ballad “Sweet Child o’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses.

He said that playing on his keyboard at home just wasn’t the same as banging

one out on a piano.Political science major

Joaquin Vasquez joined Uzoagu at the piano after recognizing him from class. Vasquez, who plays guitar, expressed an appreciation for Uzoagu’s self-taught skills.

When asked about his

unusual first name, Uzoagu said, “It’s a long story.”

When further pressed, he gave the short version. After six years of trying, his par-ents were so overjoyed by his birth they exclaimed, “Thank God!” and that expression of joy became his name.

Play us a song, you’re the piano man

AS SCENEON SCREEN

Christine Klee

Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez) and Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw) celebrate their wedding on Grey’s Anatomy May 6. ABC studios

‘Scream 4’ lets down franchise

Self-taught pianist Thankgod Uzoagu plays the piano in City College’s cafeteria on April 28. Originally knowing little about the piano, Uzoagu used online resources like Youtube to teach himself to read sheet music and to play a variety of songs. Troy Bryant Orem, City Times

The first “Scream” debuted 15 years ago and after a 10 year absence, lots of plastic surgery, and a few dif-ferent scripts, the fourth film in the franchise has opened. But will we care?

As with all of the “Scream” films, the first sequence opens with a scene in which someone dies at the hands of Ghostface, the killer in all the “Scream” films. In the first film it was Drew Barrymore, the second featured Omar Epps and Jada Pinkett Smith and the third offered Liev Schreiber and Kelly Ruther-ford.

In the opening sequence of “Scream 4” what could have been clever only becomes muddied. By the time we get to the reason this sequence exists we really don’t care. It doesn’t matter that Kristen Bell, Anna Paquin and Brit-tany Robertson are in the sequence, it takes too long and isn’t suspenseful.

After that is over we see that heroine Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) is back in her hometown to promote her first book, coincidentally on the anniversary of when the first killings took place. Once in town she is reunited with Sherriff Dewey Riley (David Arquette) and his wife Gale Weathers-Riley (Courteney Cox). It is then that Ghostface

starts making his trademark phone calls and people close to Sidney start to die.

Sidney is staying with her aunt Kate (Mary McDonnell) and her niece Jill (Emma Roberts) while she is in town, and it’s through Jill that we are introduced to her high school friends. Most notable are Charlie, Trevor, Robbie, and Kirby (Rory Culkin, Nico Tortorella, Erik Knudsen, and Hayden Panettiere). They are your typical high school kids, from geek to prom queen.

The body count is up and the blood flows freely, but the plot is probably the weakest of all “Scream” films to date. Without a clear aggressive destination, the film starts and stops many times, and by the end we are not so convinced of the reasoning behind the killer’s motives.

What made the franchise so great to begin with was the fact that the women may have ended up as victims, but they fought their asses off before their demise. In “Scream 4”, with the exception of Sidney, most die without much of a struggle or fight. The other

films also had humor on their side. While there are a few funny moments and one-lin-ers in this installment, it pales by comparison to the earlier films.

Campbell is good. She is very comfortable playing Sidney and it shows. She takes command of every scene she is in which is why a great deal of the films works.

Arquette and Cox, had a great comic edge with their characters in the first three films. In this one they are struggling with a shaky mar-riage, but the old spark just isn’t there like it used to be.

Panettiere all but steals the film. She completely holds her own opposite the likes of Campbell, Cox and Arquette and then some. It’s too bad some of her cohorts

couldn’t have taken the hint and stepped up to the plate as well.

Director Wes Craven may be getting a little soft in his old age. The film doesn’t move as swiftly as the first three. The aggressive edge seems to be gone. Kevin Wil-liamson’s script doesn’t have the wit the others had, and the main plotline is the weak-est in the series.

Diehard “Scream” fans will be glad to see the series has been revived, but with “Scream 5 and 6” tentatively scheduled for filming one can only hope things will improve. Otherwise this franchise will go from a scream to a groan.

3.5 out of 5 stars

FILMREVIEWTom Andrew

Neve Campbell stars in Wes Craven’s latest film “Scream 4.” MCT Campus

After 10-year absence, newest addition in thriller series that won’t die comes up short with weak plot

What I fell in love with on screen

recently got an A in statis-tics.

“Academically Adrift” redeems itself in its fourth and final chapter, which pro-vides tips for improvement.

To instructors, Arum and Roksa emphasize that classes requiring more reading and writing seem to give more of a boost to

students’ writing and critical thinking skills.

Similarly, faculty who have high expectations and enjoy engaging with students tended to have students who posted more substantial improvements.

From the student’s per-spective, improvement in writing and critical thinking was positively correlated with time spent study-ing alone but negatively

impacted by time spent studying in groups or on fra-ternity or sorority activities.

Overall, the authors sug-gest that -— to boost learn-ing on college campuses -— the average school needs to re-energize its commitment to students.

The average student, meanwhile, needs to focus less on socializing and more on studying.

See you at the library.

May 10, 2011 | www.sdcitytimes.com7

Arts

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‘WORLD MUSIC IN YOUR HANDS’ School’s out for summer

By Vanessa DiazCorrespondent

Alice Coopers’ song is what popped into my head when hearing about the San Diego City College cuts for the summer of 2011. What are students to do with their extra time? Why not take advantage of all San Diego has to offer in various parts of the county.

Music Festivals, Concerts

The North Park Festival of the Arts will take place May 15 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The free event will be held between 30th and 32nd St. on University Ave. and includes live music, vendors, food, art, and kid friendly activities. For more information check out northparkfestivalofarts.com.

The San Diego Symphony Summer Pops Season is held from July to September under the stars along the San Diego Bay. For additional informa-tion check out sandiegosymphony.com.

SummerFest hosted by the La Jolla Music Society will be presenting musicians from around the world specializing in classical and new music from Aug. 5 to 26. The events will take place at various locations in La Jolla and San Diego. For more information check out ljms.org.

CityFest is on Aug. 14 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. under the Hillcrest sign. There will be a beergarden, arts and crafts, games, with an expected attendance of over 150,000. For more information check out fabuloushillcrest.com/events/hillcrest-cityfest.

La Jolla Festival of the Arts and Food Faire will take place at UCSD’s La Jolla campus June 25 and 26 and will pres-ent artists, food, music and various entertainment. For more information lajollaart-festival.org.

San Diego LGBT Pride Parade, Rally and two-day Balboa Park Festival will hit town July 16 and 17. Surely, it will be exciting and offer many great photo opportu-nites. For more information sdpride.org.

TheatreThe Old Globe Theatre’s

Summer Shakespeare Fes-tival showcases three pro-

ductions, which rotate in the outdoor theatre from June 13 until Sept. 25. Get some cul-ture. For more information check out oldglobe.org.

Competitions/ contestsThe Over-the-Line Tour-

nament will be from the weekend of July 9 to 10 and 16 to 17. This tournament is not one to miss! This event is not one for the kids, as it is a beach softball tournament with many people drinking while on Fiesta Island on Mis-sion Bay. For more informa-tion check out ombac.org/over_the_line.

For the animal lover, check out the Annual Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog Competition. Dogs try to catch a wave in various heats, categorized by dog size, July 16 to 17. For more informa-tion check out loewssurfdog.blogspot.com.

Beach Any and all beaches are

entertaining in San Diego County. Things to keep in mind: drinking is not allowed, only certain beaches are dog-friendly at certain hours and wear sunscreen!

See Summer, page 15

With classes cut, events beckon to fill your free time

Latin rock band Todo Mundo performs in the Gorton Quad on April 27 as part of the Nooner Concert Series. Joshua Vincent, City Times

BookContinued from Page 5

www.sdcitytimes.com | May 10, 20118

focus

AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER

Reflecting on recent eventsA review of the 2010-11 school year at San Diego City College

While drilling near B Street on Aug. 23, construc-tion crews at City College hit an unidentified pipe that carries chilled water to the air conditioning units in the C building. This caused many profes-sors and students to be without air conditioning on the first day of fall classes.

Nurses in the Student Health Services office are urging City students to get booster shots to increase their immu-nity against pertussis (the illness more commonly known as whooping cough) as it continues to spread throughout California.

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In an effort to provide support for faculty and staff after the death of Diana Gonzalez, City College Pres-ident Terrence J. Burgess hosted a ‘Forum on Heal-ing in the Aftermath of Tragedy,’ on Nov. 9.

This year, City College student Dana Kim Ogburn sculpted a piece called ‘Sea Level,’ which is being fea-tured in the (seventh annual Urban Trees) exhibit.

A group of Associated Student Government members were present during a San Diego City Council meeting on Nov. 9 in which they received recognition for their community service work with the nonprofit organization Embrace.

Hundreds of people — tears in eyes and with emotions running high — packed Gorton Quad at San Diego City College on Oct. 14 to honor the life of student Diana Gonzales, 19, who was slain on campus.

“(The vigil) is really coming from a place of love,” Denise Whisenhunt told City Times. “Students are griev-ing, as are staff, faculty and the entire campus community.”

San Diego Community College District Board of Trustees board member Rich Grosh, on the left, and Chancellor Constance Carroll, on the right, assist City College President Ter-rence Burgess in the cutting of the ribbon at the Grand Opening of the Career Technology Center (CTC) on Sept. 24.

Each year, the Athenaeum’s 19th Annual Juried Exhibition recognizes the work of 35 local artists, and two of those artists happen to be instructors at City College.

Police were scheduled to move to their news station upon completion of the V building, but found that “there is a small area in the basement where the radio transmission isn’t covered,” said campus Project Manager Thomas Fine, in an email response to ques-tions.

From unexposed film to a fully functional work of art, San Diego City College’s new photogra-phy facility has the makings to become the hub of everything photographic in San Diego.

Academic Senate files complaint after administration reserves eight spots for KSDS.

This summer and fall begins what will be a monumental effort to construct four new buildings and several infra-structure projects,” (campus project manager Tom) Fine said.

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The women’s volleyball team wins second place at the Coyote Classic Invitation Tournament at Cuyamaca College Sept. 11.

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May 10, 2011 | www.sdcitytimes.com9

Focus

DECEMBER FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL

Protests dominate the campus and our headlines in March and April.

The impact of international events such as the revolution in Egypt and the earth-quake in Japan are felt by our multi-national student body.

“This is going to be really the year of construction disrup-tion,” President Ter-rence Burgess told attendees at a Jan. 19 question-and-answer session about projects on campus.

The White House announced on Dec. 7 that San Diego Chancellor Con-stance Carroll has received a nomina-tion from President Barack Obama to serve on the National Council on the Humanities.

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Construction creates new challenges for dis-abled students.

More than 100 people marched silently from the City College to the district attorney’s downtown office on Dec. 9 to pro-test the handling of the Diana Gonzales case.

City College Public Information Offi-cer Heidi Bunkowske, who was at the protest, said cuts to education are a “frustrating experience because of state legislators” misplaced priorities.

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On the night of March 10, Yoko Saito — a City College student from Yokohama, Japan — heard from a friend that a massive earthquake had just rocked her home country.

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City College administrators can take a deep breath now: the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges reaffirmed the school’s accreditation for another six years on Feb. 3.

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(Malcolm) Thomas’ senior season with the Aztecs was arguably the best of his college career. He averaged over 11 points and eight rebounds per game, while shooting over 50 percent from the floor.

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An interesting aspect of Serrano’s pho-tography is the tilted angle that gives many of his pieces a sense that life in Colombia is literally turning upside down.

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n Three City College professors are set to screen their documen-tary ‘Hybrid Identities: Artistic Voices from the Border” March 19 at the biggest celebration of Latin American cinema in San Diego.

In an attempt to calm the seemingly angry crowd of students protesting cuts to education on April 15, Con-stance Carroll, San Diego Commu-nity College District Chancellor, and City College President Terrence Burgess stepped out of a high pro-file event held on campus to address the group.

nSan Diego City College President Terrence Burgess, left, and Associ-ate Student Government Vice Pres-ident Mayra Edgar, right, breaking ground during the Feb. 11 cer-emony for the Business Technol-ogy/Arts and Humanities Building

Photos by City Times staff and MCT CampusLayout by Anulak Singphiphat

“Vegetarians, and their Hezbollah-like splinter-fac-tion, the vegans, are a per-sistent irritant to any chef worth a damn ... life without veal stock, pork fat, sausage, organ meat ... or even stinky cheese is a life not worth living.

“Vegetarians are the enemy of everything good and decent in the human spirit...” explains Anthony Bourdain, author, culinary mogul and Travel Channel icon.

Most vegans are not exactly the militant propagan-dists Mr. Bourdain portrays in his 2001 novel “Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly.” Still, there is always an appre-hension prior to entering a vegan restaurant, spawned from an irrational fear that a deranged member of PETA looms behind the door. Or that some patchouli-infused predator sniffs out the weekends-only vegans (with their leather shoes), and waits in passive-aggressive pretension before springing to papier-mache people with pamphlets entitled “Your Mommy Kills Animals!”

Even as a “meat free-er,” an endearing Rachael Ray-ism coined to offset the

moniker “meat eater,” I often find myself lingering about these places in anticipation of having to admit, as if it were an act of contrition before ordering, that yes, years ago I did eat meat. “My name is Rachel. And I’m a former bacon addict.”

Recently I found myself chasing the high I’d achieved weeks ago at Evolution Fast Food, and stumbled upon the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it “vege” eatery Veg-N-Out in North Park at the corner of 30th and Myrtle. I immedi-ately noticed their laid-back tikki-inspired outdoor patio and my apprehensions were quashed as I entered the

joint in confidence with the reformed meat eater status I’d abolished. Their bumper sticker-laden counter, how-ever, was able to raise a hair or two, brandishing phrases like “Eat Your Veggies, Not Your Friends” and “BP-eed on Me,” but I resigned them to kitsch rather than propa-gandist literature.

The pierced-lip woman at the counter indulged me as I debated over the 30-odd sandwich and burger choices Veg-N-Out’s menu provided. All of their selections cater to vegetarians, but for an extra seventy-five cents, several

can be upgraded to vegan, in which traditional ched-dar cheese is replaced by its Follow Your Heart brand counterpart, whose packag-ing boasts the questionable accomplishment “It Melts!”

Mr. Bourdain might be correct in asserting that there is no real substitution for a wedge of stinky cheese.

I settled on The Island Boy, a sandwich adorned with “vege chicken, jala-penos, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and may-onnaise” (substituted, of course, by Veganaise) on a wheat bun, which came

with a side of their “hand-cut potato wedges.” As a self-pro-claimed sauce junky, I didn’t even flinch when I read that their “hand-dipped, seasonal vegetables” fried to a golden tempura-battered crisp was “served with ... homemade tarragon sauce.” I quickly amended my order.

The patio was crowded, and the dine-in atmosphere — despite its zen-Buddhist tapestries and bamboo wind chimes — alluded to an establishment that was more cannabis collective than herbivorous hash house, so I decided on take-out. The

aroma of the tempura veg-gies filled my car, and without regard to their photographic destiny I had to nosh on one.

The oil-slicked sack belied Veg-N-Out’s statement on their website,vegnout.com, that the “staff prepares all dishes with your health in mind,” but who doesn’t observe the occasional pleasures that accompany a healthy dose of vitamin F-ried?

I tore into the bag and popped back an indistin-guishable mass of breading,

www.sdcitytimes.com | May 10, 201110

LIFEVegans like it raw, not bland

Seitan, the other white meat, in their mock chicken Island Boy Sandwhich. Rachel Keown-Burke, City Times

See Vegan, page 15

RESTAURANT REVIEW

Rachel Keown-Burke

Veg-N-Out3442 30th St.

San Diego, CA619-546-8411

Monday — Thursday11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Friday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.Saturday 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Sunday 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.

By Cecilia AretaCity Times

The Mathematics, Engi-neering and Science Achieve-ment program (MESA) held their annual Olympics and robotics competition in the campus cafeteria on April 30. City College, Southwestern College, SDSU and other MESA groups in San Diego and Imperial Valley partici-pated in the event.

Teams of four competed in solving technical problems in math, physics, chemistry and engineering.

The robotics competition used Lego Mind Storm NXT 2.0 robotics kits to build robot vehicles and compete in two separate chal-lenges.

The first section of the robotics challenge, mission one, titled I Love MESA, was a slalom course around cones. The second section was called the Grand

Slam, a combination compe-tition of control and head-to-head events.

There were two trials and a total of nine teams. The first place for the Robotics challenge went to a team from Southwestern College named Irish Wrist Watch, with a time of 25.28 seconds.

Second place winner was another team from South-western called Big Momma,

achieving a time of 39.48 sec-onds. Third place went to the Dynamic Trio from SDSU, with a time of 58.02 seconds.

For the overall champions of the entire event, coming in third place from Hopeville, Calif., was team Dynamo.

The second place went to SDSU’s team the Dynamic Trio and the first placed team was Big Momma from South-western College.

Annual robotics olympics held on City College campus

By Tom GustafsonCorrespondent

When asked “How long have you been here at City College?” Michael Girard responded, somewhat jok-ingly, “long enough,” a sen-timent which, with finals just around the corner, most students can relate to.

Girard has been in atten-dance at City College since the spring semester of 2010. Throughout his time here, Mike, as his friends call him, has done more than most.

Serving as a senator for the student government, maintaining a 4.0 GPA, undergoing the rigor of the honors program, and being inducted into Phi Beta Kappa would take a lot out of any given student, let alone one who has lost the gift of sight.

For Mike though, his “determination to do what needs to be done,” and his knowing that “failure is not an option,” managed to get him through the day, and

then some. Mike does whatever it

takes along his way to “a position in government ser-vice,” owing to his “great need” to “serve a country which has given (him) so much.”

Mike hopes to “help students with disabilities or others facing barriers to education to receive” as quality an eduction as he has “been so blessed” to

Tom Gustafson, Correspondent

Blindstudent leads by exampleGirard has a 4.0 GPA and is member of Associated Students

See Blind, page 14 Megan Rose Bartell, City Times

May 10, 2011 | www.sdcitytimes.com11

Life

By Brian LettCorrespondent

“No one gets to their position of life alone. No one reaches the heights of their abilities alone, without nur-turing and support. But at the same time, no one falls to the depth of despair alone.”

These are the inspirational words of George Maurice, father of San Diego City Col-lege student and avid activ-ist Maurice Martin. It was through these words and the help of family, friends and many others that Martin was able to overcome the obsta-cles of his past and start his journey towards a brighter future.

Martin’s past is riddled with struggle. He was a child of the 1950s and 1960s, whose parents, while very loving, were also active members in the Civil Rights Movement. While their involvement pro-vided interesting guests to

the dinner table, it left Martin with feelings of abandonment and disconnection for much of his childhood.

“I had to deal with aban-donment issues, but not for lack of love,” said Martin. “They left me with extended family members and close friends who neither had the will (nor) want to take care of a child that was not their own.”

At the age of 16, Martin joined the Army in 1973. His enlistment resulted in diagno-ses such as manic depression and PTSD, due largely in part to his deployments to Viet-nam and El Salvador. These conflictions were present in tandem with conditions of alcohol and substance abuse, severe learning disabilities, and various other mental health issue. However, Martin refused to quit and turned to his family for support.

“I refused to accept ‘no’,” said Martin. “What brought me here today is my wife and ex-girlfriends who, despite my differences and burning of all bridges, did not give up on me.”

With the support of his wife and family, Martin searched high and low for

additional help including through the means of many schools of philosophy, media-tion and religion. Nothing seemed to work.

“I realized it wasn’t so much about trying to find the right answer as much as it was about asking better ques-tions,” said Martin. “I started asking, how do we build better relationships with each other?”

Eventually Martin came to the conclusion that in order to heal himself, he had to put himself in a position to help heal others. He turned to peace studies, first introduced to him here at SDCC.

“This is the only two-year peace studies institution in the state,” said Martin, “and one of only three in the coun-try.”

Currently Martin is a man of the people and self-proclaimed “enemy of no.” He is an active member in a laundry list of clubs and organizations such as being the founder and president of the SDCC Veterans for Peace club, participant in the SDCC Bringing Education and Activ-ism Together (BEAT) and

By Cecilia AretaCity Times

While trekking across campus it is hard to miss the colorful urban garden next to the Learning Resource Center.

This quaint patch of green called Seeds at City is a first-of-its-kind effort, using hands-on methods to teach students about agriculture and farming.

Starting in the fall, Seeds at City will offer a certificate in sustainable urban agriculture.

It was established in June 2008 through a partnership with the Roots Sustainable Food Project.

The program hires six apprentices every 12 weeks to learn and work on the one-

third of an acre of organic soil. Volunteers are welcome

Tuesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

“Saturday‘s volunteer turnout is doing great ... mostly students,” Gardening Educator Julia Dashe said. “Over the summer we plan on finding a way for volunteers to maintain the garden.”

For more information visit sdcity.edu/SeedsAtCity, con-tact Urban Farm Coordina-tor Terry Wilson at twilson@sdccd.edu or Terri Hughes-Oelrich, Sustainable Urban Agriculture Coordinator, at thugheso@sdccd.edu.

In the fall, visit the Seeds at City farmers market held Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Curran Plaza.

Seeds at City has grown over the past three years. Students and volunteers work together to continue the upkeep of the garden. Megan Rose Bartell, City Times

Farm to offer new certifications in fall

Martin says no to ‘no’Maurice Martin speaks at “Voices of People’s History” on April 5 in the Saville Theatre. Troy Bryant Orem, City Times

City College student Brie Harville, center, exercising at instructor Ruby Wil-son’s Zumba dance class on April 28. Sandra Galindo, City Times

Eating right is tough but worth it

Back in March, instructor Ruby Wilson asked me and the other students in her aerobic dance class to complete a chart of all the food we were consuming in a week.

I smiled. Confident that this was the easiest homework in all my classes, I started my new task, making sure I wrote down even the gum I was chewing, as she requested.

But when I returned my paper the fol-lowing week, I was surprised to see how many calories I had put into my system. It turned out the “healthful foods” I thought I had been eating were just as fattening as the junk food I had replaced.

In the class, half the students appear to have weight problems — not only people around my age of 44, but younger stu-dents, as well.

Even preschoolers are affected nowa-days. The Journal of the American Medi-cal Association says that the current generation of children in America may have shorter life expectancies than their parents.

Personally, I had gained 50 pounds in three and a half years of school, with excuses such as “maybe I’m stressed,” or “I have to eat calories in order to stay awake and finish my homework,” or “my metabolism is not working properly.”

Indeed, it is true that metabolism slows by five percent every decade. But that’s no excuse for not exercising.

“Compared to age 25, you'll burn about 100 fewer calories a day at 35 and 200 fewer at 45,” Woman’s Health Magazine says. “Do nothing and you could gain 8 to 12 pounds a year.”

Obesity is a growing trend in this coun-

try due to the abundance of food and lack of exercise. Millions of Americans have extra pounds and inches on their waists.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, “Overweight and obese individuals are at increased risk for many diseases and health condi-tions including the following: hyperten-sion, osteoarthritis, dyslipidemia, Type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea and respi-ratory problems and some cancers.”

The National Center of Health Statis-tics says 65 percent of American adults are obese or overweight. In the past 30 years, two billion diets have been started in the United States.

But even with all this information, the reality is that we are too busy to take care of ourselves, and many of us low-income parents cannot afford healthful meals on our limited budgets.

We follow the “poor diet” — anything that allows you to feed your family, without risking your rent — which often includes lots of junk food. For some of us, unhealth-ful foods are also part of our culture.

At the end of the semester, students like me are stressed out by finals and have even less time to worry about food. It is our responsibility, however, to start think-ing about our health. We must drink more water, take the stairs instead of the eleva-tor, and drop the junk food in favor of the healthy snacks.

See Martin, page 14

Peace studies student helps others to heal himself

PERSPECTIVESandra Galindo

www.sdcitytimes.com | May 10, 201112

City Times is published twice monthly during the semester. Signed opinions are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily represent those of the entire newspaper staff, City College administration, faculty and staff or the San Diego Community College District Board of Trustees.

District policy statement | This publication is produced as a learning experience under a San Diego Community College District instructional program. All materials, including opinions expressed herein, are the sole responsibility of the students and should not be interpreted to be those of the college district, its officers or employees.

Letters to the editor | Letters to the Editor are welcome, 350 words or less. The staff reserves the right to edit for grammar, spelling, punctuation and length.

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Published as:The Jay Sees | 1945-1949Fortknightly | 1949-1978City Times | 1978-Incorporating the newspapersTecolote, Knight Owl and Flicks

CITYTIMES

Volume 65, Number 14May 10, 2011

www.sdcitytimes.com

Phone: (619) 388-3880Fax: (619) 388-3814E-mail: citytimes@gmail.com

Program homepage:www.sdcity.edu/citytimes

City Times StaffTom Andrew, Cecilia Areta, Megan Rose Bartell, Sidney Bryant, John-Magus Cambridge, Jose De Los Santos, Layne Deyling, Alec Fernandes, Sandra Galindo, Olivia Holt, Sonjiala Hotchkiss, Ryan Johnson, Rachel Keown-Burke, Scott McLean, Brandon Porras, Mark Rivera, Ricky Soltero, Gabriel Spatuzzi, Joshua Vincent

Correspondents and ContributorsAmanda Cherne, Vanessa Diaz, Tom Gustafson, Brian Lett

VoICEURBANALITIES By Michele SuthersPondering

bin Laden

On January 1, 1994, Mexico, Canada and the United States signed the North American Free Trade Agreement. The stated goal was to eliminate barriers of trade and investment and promote the conditions for fair competition between the countries.

In my opinion, that day also represents the biggest act of betrayal by the Partido Revolucionario Institucional and then-President Carlos Salinas de Gortari.

Millions of Mexicans were displaced, losing their previ-

ous way of life because of NAFTA.

Farmers were gradually ruined as Mexico was filled with U.S. agricultural prod-ucts. Sowing their land was no longer productive, and many small farmers lost the

means to live a life of eco-nomic dignity.

With no jobs and no oppor-tunity to fight back, people were forced to migrate. Many searched for jobs north of Mexico, leaving their families behind.

Many set out for a U.S. job but got stuck in Tijuana’s “belt of misery,” working in maquiladoras, part of the worst of the manufacturing sector in Mexico.

Maquiladoras are a pre-ferred way for industrialized countries to improve their international competitive-

ness. Capitalists want dispos-able, cheap labor, and the Mexican government allows multinational corporations to exploit workers.

The in-need, unemployed workers take the abuse and give their lives in return, accepting whatever is avail-able, while hunger is a reality for their families.

Maquiladoras usually pay wages that are not enough to meet the most basic needs of families. Women aged 16 to 30 represent 60 percent of the

NAFTA has failed Mexican workers

SOCIAL MEDIUMSandra Galindo

In the book of Matthew, Jesus said, “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”

Despite this statement from the son of God that no man can know when the end is coming, doomsayers the world over have made precise

predictions about Christ’s return for centuries.

It is now May 2011, and according to radio preacher Harold Camping, the apoca-lypse is only days away.

Camping is a preacher, author and radio host with his company Family Satiations Inc., a self-described “Chris-

tian educational network.” He holds a B.A. from UC Berke-ley and has written over 30 books, almost exclusively on biblical topics.

Camping claims to have developed a mathemati-cal method for interpreting hidden prophecies, leaving no doubt in his mind, or the

minds of his followers, that May 21 marks the end of days.

When I heard this story, I took special interest, not only because Camping’s apocalypse happens to fall on my birthday, but because it got me thinking about failed prophecy.

Friends asked me if I

thought Camping will lose credibility if his prophecy fails. My answer was “prob-ably not.”

Camping has already proved that one false proph-ecy is not enough to discredit a would-be prophet. In 1994 BEYOND BELIEF

Gabriel Spatuzzi

The end of the world is coming — or is it?

See World, page 14

See NAFTA, page 14

In this editorial, three City Times editors share their per-sonal reactions to the killing of Osama Bin Laden.

“Just a few years ago, the Pentagon was caught lying about what happened to U.S. soldier Jessica Lynch in Iraq.

Then came the Pat Till-man saga. At first, the mili-tary said he was killed by the enemy.

Later, they admitted it was friendly fire.

Now they say we killed Osama Bin Laden, and that it’s a major victory.

But in 2002, when Bin Laden went missing, George W. Bush said, ‘He’s a person who’s now been marginal-ized ... I truly am not that concerned about him.’

What’s the real story?” *****

“Have we really ‘decapi-tated the head of the snake’ of al-Qaida as suggested by Counterterrorism chief John Brennan?

The thought is that ter-rorist organizations replace leaders in the same way that shark replace teeth: when one is lost, another immedi-ately pops in.

This is not the case with al-Qaida.

Their network is looser and not hierarchical.

They rely on a web of connections, not a corporate style of organization.

Osama Bin Laden was not just a figurehead; he was al-Qaida’s founder and only leader to this point.

His networks, stretched far and were a valuable

resource.This is more than

decapitating a snake; this is smashing a spider in the middle of the web.” *****

“The taking of a life should never be cele-brated, period. It does not matter if the life is taken by acts of warm you can not pick and choose when life is scared.

News of the death of Osama bin Laden came seemingly out of the blue and it seemed that the first reaction of many Ameri-cans was to have a tailgate party out in front of the White House.

In no way am I saying that bin Laden was a good person, on the contrary I believed him to be a rather terrible person, but to cel-ebrate the murder of an unarmed man to me is evil.

Others who were responsible for so much worse were at least given the illusion of a fair trial.

The Nazis had the Nuremberg trials and even Saddam Hussein had a trial in front of an Iraqi tribunal a few years back.

Many Americans feel rage when they see an American flag burning at the hands of cheerful radi-cals.

What do you think the people who viewed bin Laden a hero feel?

We have found ourselves in a circle of hate, and the celebration of the death of Osama bin Laden really just added fuel to that fire.”

Ernesto LopezEditor-in-Chief

Shane FinneranManaging Editor

Fernando YatesOnline Editor

Megan Rose BartellNews Editor

Anulak SingphiphatDesign Editor

Katrina CameronArts Editor

Stephen Boyd-MoralesFeatures Editor

Layne DeylingOpinion Editor

Joshua VincentSports Editor

Troy Bryant OremPhoto Editor

Christine KleeCopy Editor

Michele SuthersChief Illustrator

Roman S. KoenigJournalism Adviser

May 10, 2011 | www.sdcitytimes.com13

Voice

VOX POPULI

What is your reaction to the killing of Osama Bin Laden?

Question by Megan Rose BartellPhotos by Troy Bryant Orem

Jasmine Adams, 23Child Development

“His death doesn’t mean that all those people fight-ing out there get to come home.”

Joe Burke, 52 Fine Art

“From a human perspec-tive it’s a tragedy on both sides.”

Liliana Duarte, 17Culinary Arts

“I was amazed and happy that they finally got that person that killed all those innocent people. I’m happy that he’s gone, that he can’t hurt anyone.”

Ryan McDowell, 27 Engineering

“It’s a good thing that their leader is gone now. I have even read some things today that al-Qaida confirmed his death and are vowing to continue his work.”

The price of oil in the United States has reached an outrageous high. With oil reserves worth billions or trillions of barrels in America, shouldn’t the govern-ment make that oil acces-sible to the public? Wouldn’t this send a sense of relief through-out our communities?

We, as a nation, thrive on pushing forward. With time, we will find an efficient energy source that is affordable and abundant.

Today’s gas price has jumped up dramati-cally from $68 a barrel to $115. According to Kiplinger Magazine, the United States has enough oil in reserves to power the nation for 300 years — independent from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Sitting on that much oil is ridiculous. Are we expecting an ice age or a world crisis? Is the gov-ernment indicating that something is stirring or just being too precau-tious? We need to think about our country and our people and relocate our focus onto stabilizing our economy.

Significantly reduced oil prices could make a global impact as well. The United States is tril-lions of dollars in debt to many countries.

Why not help settle some of that debt as well?

Many other issues befall our country. But nothing is done to maintain our economy, which continu-ally suffers the high oil prices that affect gas prices throughout the United States.

OPEC needs to come to a contract compromise suitable to the popula-tion of the United States, because, if the U.S. decided to use its own oil, OPEC would take a drastic hit in the market.

To those who claim possible war threats, I say, in our moments of weakness, the United States creates Hybrid cars, electric heaters, etc.

In World War II, when Pearl Harbor was bombed, we came out of the ashes and designed a new form of weapon capa-ble of many things. But we focused on destruc-tion instead of its capabil-ity to transform energy.

Could our need for oil possibly be replaced by another form of energy? Could such a transition be affordable? What then of the oil reserves?

My point is, we will find a new source of energy and the oil reserves shall remain untouched. Each side needs to come together a little bit and help work toward that state of relief.

Rising oil prices: drill, baby, drill?Start searching for alternative

Shane Finneran, City Times

PROBrandon Porras

Does the USA need to pro-duce more oil to help ease the demand?

Driving, like most luxuries in the USA, is thought by most to be an American rite of pas-sage. You turn 16 and get your license.

You then drive to the beach, school and just about every-where else.

Most people even drive to stores or friends’ houses that are within hundreds of feet of their residences. This begs the question: do we need to pro-duce more oil for the masses who waste it driving their cars unnecessarily?

The answer is no. Most

Americans drive an average of 32 miles every day includ-ing weekends, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2009 statistics.

Most Americans also spend up to 3 hours in their cars every day. These statistics represent a huge waste of time, money and natural resources.

Yet there is a huge amount of public anger over how much gas prices have risen and why the USA is not currently drill-ing more oil. The answer is we don’t have the oil to spare.

The U.S. Energy Informa-tion Administration says that the worldwide supply of oil will be depleted in about 50 years.

That is a long time consid-ering the U.S. population uses around 7 billion barrels of oil and petroleum products each year.

The amount of oil we buy from overseas is also exagger-ated by the media and people’s blind ignorance in not doing any research of their own.

Foreign oil brought into the USA comes mostly from the western hemisphere. The USA gets 51 percent of its oil from Canada and produces about a third of its own oil. Only a small percentage comes from

the Middle East. The USA also keeps a Stra-

tegic Petroleum Reserve of around 4.1 billion barrels of oil for emergencies or war efforts.

The real problem isn’t that we are not producing enough oil in the USA, but that we are wasting the huge amounts that we already have.

The only real answer is for Americans to realize that driv-ing is not a right but a luxury. It is not our right as Americans to waste as much as we possibly can before we die, but to live within our means.

Stop driving places you can walk to and remember that exercise is good for you.

Excessive driving wastes resourcesCON

Scott McLean

Osama Bin Laden, shown in this January 1998 file photo, an al-Qaida leader and founder, has been killed by United States forces in Paki-stan, President Barack Obama announced on May 1. MCT Campus

Have an opinion?Visit sdcitytimes.com

stress disorder, traumatic brain injury and severe injury to his spine.

His father pressed the Army for help but found its bureaucracy unresponsive.

“The moniker of ‘no sol-dier left behind’ is absolute bulls***,” Michael Need-ham said.

McGovern said the American press doesn’t cover enough stories about the darker sides of American imperialism. “It’s the fawn-ing corporate media that

keeps things out of sight,” McGovern said. He praised citizen journalism, where regular people “couple our imaginations and our cour-age” with technology to help fill the media void.

“Get together in small groups,” McGovern said. “Figure it out.”

Relations clubs. He also is the vice presi-

dent of the non-profit home-less relief group Amitas and the homeless outreach coor-dinator for the San Diego Veterans for Peace, along with many more positions.

“I first met Maurice at the ‘Education not Incarceration’ event, where he was a guest speaker,” said Jose Rodri-guez, co-founder of BEAT and Veterans for Peace member at SDCC.

“He’s a great speaker. He’s also a great organizer,

always willing to help and learn,” Jose said.

One of Martin’s most recent appearances is his participation in SDCC’s Voices event, wherein he recapitulated a speech from civil rights leader A. Philip Randolph.

Of all his involvements however, he is most proud of the accomplishments of the SDCC Veterans for Peace club.

On top of “providing more than 450 meals on the last Friday of every month” to the needy, the SDCC VFP also helps to contribute “more than 300 sleeping bags and winter gear to homeless veterans,”

said Martin. “(Veteran’s for Peace) is a safe harbor for women veterans, and all vet-erans from all service eras in support of education, enroll-ment, retention, access to service and programs, and the promotion of peace.”

Martin is currently seek-ing degrees in peace and labor studies.

He hopes to transfer to Berkeley University to con-tinue to spread his message of perseverance and better understanding of each other.

“Outside of love, the most important thing anybody wants is to be understood,” Martin said. “With that understanding comes free-dom.”

www.sdcitytimes.com | May 10, 201114

News | Life I Opinion

MartinContinued from Page 11

are required to carry half of a full-time teaching load in order to maintain their health and welfare benefits from the district — but not during the summer.

According to Burgess, if the district had cut classes in the fall and spring, many of the adjunct instructors could have lost their health benefits.

“We’ve cut so much over the last four years that we are really down to the core program in the fall and the spring, and so we really didn’t feel that we could cut that more and not really hurt student’s progress towards

graduation and transfer,” Burgess said.

Anne Krueger, commu-nications specialist for the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Com-munity College District, confirmed that her district is offering summer courses, including 113 sections at Grossmont and 44 sections at Cuyamaca.

“We had cut (summer session) in half last year, and we’re cutting it in half again this year,” Krueger said. “The numbers I’ve heard is that we’re going to have 6,000 seats, and we’re expecting 50,000 to apply for those seats.”

Krueger said the Gross-mont-Cuyamaca Commu-nity College District will be cutting 1,000 classes for the 2011-12 school term.

Diana Riveros, an applied mathematics major, is hoping to take classes at Grossmont Community College over the summer. She is facing trouble enroll-ing because her transcripts from City College won’t be completed until May 30.

“There’s like a five per-cent chance that I will be able to get the class I need,” Riveros said.

Mechanical engineer-ing major Eliel Chavarin is hoping to take summer classes at Southwestern Community College, but he fears the classes will fill so quickly he will not be able to register.

“My whole schedule has flipped over because there is no summer school,” Cha-varin said.

SchoolContinued from Page 1

could diminish California’s economy, his policy director said.

At the state’s community colleges, recent funding cuts have already diminished access to education.

“Almost one out of every three California community college students experi-enced difficulty enrolling

in courses that they needed during the fall 2010 semes-ter, compared to one out of six students in the rest of the U.S.,” noted a March 28 press release from the nonprofit Pearson Founda-tion, which commissioned a national survey.

Chancellor Carroll ques-tioned the wisdom of scaling back community colleges when they’re needed most.

“It makes no sense to cut support for community

college classes at a time of our greatest enrollment increase, greatest high school graduating class, and double-digit unemployment rates in San Diego County,” Carroll said.

Sixty percent of Califor-nians supported the June election while only 33 per-cent preferred a no-new-taxes solution to the state’s budget shortfall, according to an April poll from the Los Angeles Times.

TaxContinued from Page 3

adamantly, encouraging the demonstrators.

“The turnout was great,” said Matt Konop, San Diego director of advance for Hands Across California. “We had very hard-working volunteers.”

Budget cuts were a big motivation for supporters to show up. “People have been

losing their jobs, and they try to go back to school, but they can’t afford it,” Konop said.

“It’s not a political rally, it’s us wanting scholarships.”

Juan Carlos Jimenez-Cruz, a City College Associ-ated Students senator, said he hopes ‘word of mouth’ will continue to raise aware-ness and help bring in more donations.

“The message is out there,” Jimenez-Cruz said.

“We’re doing the best we can.”

Jimenez-Cruz believes “word of mouth” and media such as Facebook will recruit more supporters.

The Bernard Osher Foundation will match 50 percent of all public dona-tions. Organizers hope to raise $100 million by June.

For more information or to donate, please visit www.handsacrosscalifornia.org.

Hands Continued from Page 3

he gathered his followers together to witness Christ’s return, something he had been predicting for years. When Christ failed to mate-rialize, Camping admitted he made a miscalculation.

His followers thought little of the mistake. One was quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle saying, “Evidently, he was wrong, but this time it is going to happen.”

Failed prophecy is noth-ing new and, throughout his-tory, discredited prophets seem to only gain followers over the years.

In 1876, Charles Taze Russell, founder of the Bible Student Movement, pre-dicted that by 1918 “Gentile

Governments shall have been dashed to pieces” and the kingdom of God would be established on Earth.

The next president of the Student Bible Movement, Joseph Franklin Rutherford, made similar predictions. In his essay “Millions Now Living Will Never Die”, he wrote “We may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old.”

These predictions did not come true. Yet, the Student Bible Movement continued to grow. Today they are called Jehovah’s Witnesses and there are more than seven million worldwide.

The spurious predic-tions of the Jehovah’s Wit-ness faith are a few in a long

Christian tradition of bogus apocalyptic prophecy, begin-ning with Jesus.

In the book of Matthew, Jesus made an end-times prediction of his own, “Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.”

Jesus said this to disciples who died years later without aid of the apocalypse. This didn’t hinder the growth of his posthumous following in the least.

So whether you’re wel-coming this year’s apoca-lypse with open arms, making a last minute conver-sion, or stacking up cans in your bunker, remember: if this one doesn’t work out, there’s always 2012.

employees, and managers are primarily men, which encour-ages sexual harassment.

Workers face shifts of 10, 12, 14 and in some cases even 24 hours — usually without overtime compensa-tion.

Bathroom or water

breaks are not always allowed, and the health and safety of the workers is often at risk, usually due to toxic chemicals involved in their jobs. Women are often tested for pregnancy before they are hired.

NAFTA has allowed cor-porations to compete in the international market, but it has also impoverished Mexi-cans, worsened their labor

conditions, and increased crime and poverty.

Article 123 of the Mexi-can Labor Law says every Mexican has the right to “a dignified and socially useful job.”

But laws in Mexico are not enforced consistently. So all along the maquiladora border, a feeling of impo-tence grows as workers must endure abuses.

WorldContinued from Page 12

NAFTAContinued from Page 12

AnalystContinued from Page 3

REDUCE. REUSE. RECYCLE.

Thanks for reading, see you in fall

May 10, 2011 | www.sdcitytimes.com15

Voice I News I Life

SummerContinued from Page 7

Camping / Hiking spotsThere are a lot of great

hiking and camping areas in San Diego County. I have listed a few of the favorites: Torrey Pines, Cowles Moun-tain, Julian, Mount Helix, Mount Solidad and Twin Peaks.

MarathonsRock ‘n’ Roll Marathon is

a party and 26.2-mile race. It begins in Balboa Park and ends at Sea World with live music and cheer squads along the way. At the conclu-sion of the race there is a con-cert. For more information check out san-diego.competi-tor.com.

DowntownWhether you are looking

to go to a Padres day or night game (sandiego.padres.mlb.com) or go out for a night on the town, downtown offers a bit of everything. For more information check out www.gaslamp.org.

LearningThe Media Arts Center of

San Diego offers workshops in various multi-media fields. Since you have extra time on your hands why not add to your skill set. Classes are $20 and change monthly. For more information check out mediaartscenter.org.

LibrariesRead books you have

been wanting to now that school materials no longer get in the way. You might learn something you actu-ally want to learn about. For more information check out sandiego.gov/public-library.

Other The Del Mar Horse

Races will be from July 20 to September 7 at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, five days a week. Get your hat ready for Opening Day. Check out dmtc.com for more information.

Julian StarFest, August 25-28 allows you to explore astronomy in the second big-gest astronomy festival in California. The four-day fes-tival will feature guest speak-ers, exhibits, swap meet and more at Menghini Winery in Julian. For more information check out julianstarfest.com.

The San Diego County Fair is set to be from Friday June 10 to July 4 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The annual festivities include concerts, exhibits, and rides among many other attrac-tions. Check out sdfair.com for more information.

VeganContinued from Page 10

receive. A mission which he is working on right now, on campus.

A fellow member of stu-dent government, and fellow blind man, Lawrence Walker, while singing Mike’s praises, recounts how they “ran into each other in student govern-ment,” literally.

Kevin Tom, Josef Shan-non’s campaign manager, appreciates Mike’s “par-ticular demeanor,” and his “always (being) well-versed with interpersonal skills and communication.”

However, despite his intense dedication in matters both academic and extracur-

ricular, Mike’s path is hardly an easy one. As he would have it, “In many ways, City College tries to provide a Champagne education with a beer bottle budget,” and this can lead to many potential hurtles along the way. How-ever, even in the face of City College’s often labyrinthine “physical makeup,” Mike sol-diers on.

Ever the modest man, Mike cites DSPS, under the head of Dr. Deborah Wright Howard, and the LRC as having both been “instru-mental in my being so suc-cessful with my classes.”

Moreover, Mike mentions accommodating professors such as Larissa Dorman, Sophia Laurein, Meagan

Marshall, Kate Rodda, and Sarah M. Pitcher, as being key to his success.

In addition, he feels that he couldn’t have reached this point without the help of his State Rehabilitation counselor, Sandra Mitchell, and his personal aid, Luke Hansen.

Even with the help of all the “tools” in his “kit bag,” Mike’s determination is enough to make the average student humble. His modest presentation aside, his work ethic stands above that of most.

He hopes to transfer to a four year university shortly, to continue his pursuit of a Bachelor’s Degree in Politi-cal Science and Psychology.

BlindContinued from Page 10

By Sonjiala HotchkissCity Times

“I’m good, but I’m not that good,” professor Rose LaMuraglia said when faced with student Alice Hernan-dez, who didn’t know how to turn on a computer when she started the Excellence Through Pride Information Technology and Business Training Program.

Hernandez graduated from the program as its most-improved student along with 14 of her class-mates. The graduation cer-emony took place Feb. 17 on campus.

“Success in higher edu-cation really does take a village,” City College Presi-dent Terrence Burgess said during his address to an audience intermixed with bouncing babies, relatives, friends, professors, tutors and administrators.

“I am a product of my environment,” valedictorian Lemmie Donaldson said, crediting those same audi-ence members for their con-tributions to his success.

Donaldson was one of three students who gradu-ated with a 4.0 grade point average. Salutatorians Pat-rick Armenta and Tyler McLinden also graduated with 4.0 averages.

Donaldson worked part-time while attending classes from 8 a.m to 5 p.m. each weekday and putting in extra effort for the program on nights and weekends.

“He sacrificed a lot of sleep,” Melanie Donaldson said of her husband, as she held their infant daughter, Kafina.

LaMuraglia showcased the success of the Excel-lence Through Pride gradu-ates, saying the amount of work they took on was “amazing” and noted that the class completed 31.5 units in less than seven months, with an average GPA of nearly 3.7.

LaMuraglia and professor Leroy Brady started Excel-lence Through Pride in 2010 with the help of an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act training grant.

The seven-month pro-gram trained students to be help-desk support or com-puter network administra-tors.

Directors chose 20 stu-dents for the inaugural class out of more than 100 appli-cants who interviewed for the need-based program, which covered the costs of tuition, books and job place-ment for the participants.

“I believe more in myself and find more of a self-worth,” McLinden said. He expressed his appreciation for being given a “second chance to improve and go to school.”

Brady said that he and LaMuraglia got the idea for the program after noticing that students who took both his business classes and her computer science classes wrote better business plans.

Brady and LaMuraglia had less than two months to organize and implement the program after receiving the grant in May 2010.

“We are celebrating entering the job market,” Armenta said, hitting on a key aim of the program.

Excellence Through

Pride partnered with the San Diego Urban League and employment agencies to help graduates find jobs. The program also uses grant money to pay the cost of up to three information technol-ogy certification tests for students, Brady said.

Mary Benard, City Col-lege vice president, and Randy Barnes, dean of Business and Information Technology, presented the graduates with certificates as cameras clicked around the audience.

In addition to their certifi-cates, valedictorian Donald-son received a $75 gift card, salutatorians Armenta and McLinden received $50 gift cards and most-improved student Hernandez received a $40 gift card.

“We will not disappoint,” Hernandez said. She said that she was excited to start an internship with Settlemen-tOne following graduation.

Several graduates will start internships at City Col-lege and with Nubia Leader-ship Academy in San Diego.

Monique’s Gifts and Catering provided food for the event, which was staffed by workers from Students In Free Enterprise at City College.

Graduation ceremo-nies for the second and third groups of students who entered Excellence Through Pride will be held on March 17 and June 17, respectively. The ceremo-nies will take place at 3 p.m. in room D-121.

This is a rerun from issue 10, the original story ran incomplete.

IT program graduates high achievers

to discover what I’d so rav-enously ingested had been a mushroom. To my unending disappoint-ment, someone had forgot-ten to drop the dipping sauce into my “100% compostable” sack. While not necessarily unforgivable, this oversight certainly dampened my dining experience.

The “meat” had been

grilled and chunk-cut seitan, the other white-wheat meat, and they used fresh jalap-enos instead of pickled.

Unfortunately, the chicken was underseasoned, if indeed it was seasoned at all, and the bacon pieces were little more than the cardboard imposters similar to those manufactured by Beggin’ Strips.

The hand-cut wedge fries begged for salt, but once seasoned, lived up to their savory potential.

My impromptu love affair with the tempura vegetables soured after the canola oil coated my stomach. The food high I had been chasing sud-denly crashed.

My dining experience with Veg-N-Out was, at best, a letdown, and with prices ranging between $7.50 and $8 for just one sandwich, I am resolved to more research prior to the next adventure inside San Diego’s community of vegan restaurants.

IT and Business Training graduate Lemmie Donaldson (left) receives his certifi-cate from Dr. Leroy Brady on Feb. 17. Donaldson earned valedictorian honors and a 4.0 GPA in the program. Troy Bryant Orem, City Times

MCT Campus

www.sdcitytimes.com | May 10, 201116

SPORTS

By Sidney Bryant City Times

The San Diego City Col-lege softball team finished their season with an overall record of 18-19-1. The Lady Knights placed third in the Pacific Coast Athletic Con-ference, going 9-6 against conference opponents.

“Our record is not a reflection of the ability of this team,” head coach LeeAnn Taylor said. “They never stopped. They kept fighting.”

In early February, the squad posted a 1-7-1 record, but the Lady Knights turned their season around by win-ning seven out of the next eight games.

“At that point in the season, things seemed to be all bad for us as a team,” sophomore pitcher Hannah Shafer said. “But we kept believing.”

On Feb. 22, Shafer pitched a perfect game for the Knights, retiring all 18 batters she faced. She struck out five and forced the other 13 batters to ground out.

“Hannah is a very strong and confident athlete,” assis-tant coach Cheryl Schaefer said. “Her presence has meant a lot to the program her two years here.”

Sophomore infielder Ashley Whitmore was also crucial for the Lady Knights

throughout the entire season. She led the team in batting average and runs batted.

Whitmore also played a pivotal role on City’s womens volleyball team this year as an outside hitter.

“Whit is highly respected for her mental toughness,” Taylor said.

After a slow February start, the Lady Knights capped the month of March off with a 6-6 record and went into conference play deter-mined to win a conference championship.

“Every year my coaching staff and I go into the season with intentions of winning a conference title,” Taylor said. “Winning your conference says a lot about your pro-gram, players and coaching staff.”

The Lady Knights began conference play by winning their first three games, with stellar performances by the pitching staff.

The day after Shafer pitched a perfect game,

freshman pitcher Dena Young pitched a one-hitter in a 13-0 win over conference rival Southwestern College.

In conference play this season, Young posted a 5-2 record and was an important factor in City being a con-tender for the championship. She led the team with 83 strikeouts and nine victories.

Taylor described Young as a fierce competitor who gives her all on and off the field.

Young pitched 116 innings this season, which was also a team high.

As a team, the Lady Knights had a very produc-tive season that won’t show in their record.

“We crushed the ball this year,” Taylor said. “Our lineup was balanced from top to bottom.”

The Lady Knights had a 9-3 conference record before losing the final three games of the season. They barely missed the postseason after a slow start, but the future seems bright for next year’s squad.

Taylor’s team will be making another run at the conference title when she enters her eighth season as head coach in the fall of 2012.

“I’m looking forward for what’s to come,” Taylor said with a smile. “Expectations are high every season.”

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By Joshua Vincent City Times

City Boxing, located just across C St. from City Col-lege, recently celebrated their 10th year in business.

Owner Mark Dion also owns the building that houses his gym as manager Josue De La Sancha points out.

“People that come in don’t have to worry about us shut-ting down.”

De La Sancha has been the day-to-day business man-ager for City Boxing for three

years while Dion operates as more of a promoter for the fighters from his gym.

City Boxing offers boxing, muay thai (thai kickboxing) and jiu jitsu with more of a focus on boxing than other gyms.

De La Sancha said the increased interest in mixed martial arts and UFC-type offerings has led to more pop-ularity among training gyms.

He is quick to point out that City Boxing was the fore-runner.

“(In the beginning) there

was just us. People that have other gyms have worked for Mark.”

City College students and faculty alike take advantage of the proximity to City Boxing. De La Sancha said a math teacher from City College often trains there, as well as several students, including Chris “Toro” Chatman, USA California state light middle-weight titleholder.

Chatman, who won the title last November, even wore the championship belt to campus for about a week.

He said some people didn’t believe that he won it and those who did believe him wanted to see it.

“I was just proud,” said Chatman. He no longer wears the belt around campus but insists that the pride that goes along with winning it still remains.

City Boxing offers a 20 percent discount to City Col-lege students and military personnel.

De La Sancha adds that new students just need to show up twice a week and he

takes care of the rest. “All you have to do is put

your feet on that mat. You’re

gonna work out for an hour-and-a-half and not realize it’s been an hour-and-a-half.”

Trainer Manny Melchor (left) and City College student Chris Chatman, who won the USA California light mid-dleweight championship in November. Joshua Vincent, City Times

In an April 26 article about Knights basketball player Terrence Boyd, City Times did not correctly attribute information that came from a 2009 article in the San Diego Union-Tribune, nor did it substantiate the information with primary sources.

Also, Boyd was not interviewed for the story. We regret these oversights and retract the article.

Chatman wins title, City Boxing celebrates 10 years

Softball turns in solid season, looks forward

City Times ran an April 5 story indicating the Knights baseball team was scheduled to finish a protested game against Santa Ana on April 23. The game was completed on April 29 with the Knights posting an 11-7 victory.

“They never stopped. They kept fighting.”—LeeAnn Taylor,

softball coach

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