@lariatnews /lariat.saddleback /LariatNews @lariatnews VOLUME 45, ISSUE 12
Lariat
SADDLEBACK AND IRVINE VALLEY COLLEGES’ STUDENT NEWSPAPER WEDNESDAY, Februar y 27, 2013
Student kills 3, shoots himself
News
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Sports
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Opinion
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A&E
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LRC
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LARIATNEWS.COM lariat news site:
Saddleback student, Ali Syed, shoots his way across Orange County during 75 minute long rampage. Motives are still unclear as to why Syed carried out these acts. Vale r y fregoso k ri sti ne ma rt inez mi chael grennell
Lariat Staff Editors An gi e L. pineda
Editor-In-Chief
Saddleback student, Ali Syed, 20, was identified by Orange County Sheriff’s Department as the suspect behind the shooting spree that left three people dead and five people injured, before turning the gun on himself on Feb. 19. Information on Syed’s shootings was released by the Tustin Police Department at a press conference held that same afternoon. Syed was enrolled in one class this semester, Computer Maintenance and Repair I, taught by instructor Eugene Evancoe. Evancoe was surprised that it was his quiet stu-
angie l. pineda / Lariat
MOBILE UNIT: Authorities hold a press conference at the Tustin Police Department about OC shootings. dent who went on the shooting spree. “He didn’t give any reason for alarm or concern,” Evancoe said. “He seemed like a normal student. He was a little quiet, but he was well behaved in class.” Evancoe said that Syed seemed very interested in com-
puter repairs and consistently attended class. “He did well on his tests and assignments,” Evancoe said. “I think he liked to work on computers on his own because he knew a little more than what the class was covering.” Michael Hoefegn, a class-
mate of Syed’s said that he never really talked with Syed, but that he seemed like a smart kid. “I never saw it coming,” Hoefegn said. • At 4:45 a.m., several gunshots were heard from Syed’s parents’ home on Red Leaf Lane in Ladera Ranch. Courtney Aoki, 20, was found dead with multiple gunshots to the head inside the residence. • Syed fled from his home in his parents’ black SUV heading north on Interstate 5, exiting Red Hill Avenue in Tustin. • In a Denny’s parking lot near the Red Hill Avenue exit, Syed began shooting at the second victim’s car. The victim survived after receiving a gunshot wound to the back of the head. • Noticing damage to the SUV, Syed walked to the nearby Mobil gas station where he pro-
ceeded to steal a car, leaving the owner uninjured. • Continuing onto the I-5 to the California 55 south, Syed stopped his car at the on-ramp where he started to shoot at cars passing by. He shot at three cars, injuring one person. • Syed continued on the CA55, exited McFadden Avenue where he approached a BMW and shot Melvin Lee Edward, 69. • Taking the victim’s BMW, Syed fled back to the CA-55 before he exited onto Edinger Avenue. He then approached and killed construction worker, Jeremy Louis, 26, and injured another victim at the Micro Center parking lot. • He then proceeded north on the CA-55, exiting at Katella Avenue where he continued to the intersection of Wanda Road and Katella.
twitter page:
ON THE WEB:
(SEE SHOOTING, PAGE 2)
michael grennell / Lariat
Baseball--Saddleback takes on IVC at home this Saturday at 2 p.m.
shirley smith / Lariat
Attack of the crows-Ravens find a home at Saddleback College.
LIBRARY HALL: The newly rennovated second floor has become home to many students between classes.
A modern
sean byrne / Lariat
shirley smith / Lariat
Clipping dog’s ears and tails - cool or cruel?
library
jo hnn y w ilson
News Editor
Since 1973, Saddleback College has hosted a library home to thousands of textual resources. This Thursday at 3 p.m., the Learning Resource Center (formerly known as the library) will be hosting an open house to honor 40 years of excellence, and to recognize a new chapter in learning at Saddleback College. What began as a mere collaborative storage of books has since then grown to be so much more. According to Patti Weekes, director of learning assistance, the library’s first steps toward transformation began in the late 1970s. It was around this time that the library started to become more than just a place for research, but also a home for student tutoring. This new focus on tutoring was first led by one individual, an anthropology teacher: Mike Merrifield. “Mike Merrifield – He founded tutoring at Saddleback College,” said Weekes. Toward the late 1970s, Professor Merrifield began devoting
For more LRC coverage, see page 6 more and more time to propelling a new tutoring service open to any students at Saddleback College. At first, the program consisted of one room located on the floor of the library (now the second floor of the LRC building.) By 1985, this tutoring program had become officially known as the Learning Assistant Program (LAP), and grew to house three rooms in the library’s top floor. In year 1990, the LAP moved locations yet again and took up 5,000 square feet on the library’s first floor. According to Weekes, this place had been previously used for admissions and records as well as faculty offices. The LAP remained there until the reconstruction and opening of the LRC in August of 2012. The 1980s and 1990s were decades of complete transformation for the Saddleback College
library. During these years, a shift in focus became apparent. Students were no longer just seeking a place of centralized research, but also a place of centralized and interactive learning. With the arrival of Professor Kevin O’Connor as Dean of Liberal Arts in 1999, plans to capitalize on this new library concept began to emerge. Commenting on the state of the library before the renovation, O’Connor stated, “It was an uninviting, dungeon-like building.” The need for a modernized center for learning/research was inherently evident. Thus, the LRC project was initiated with construction beginning in January 2010. “This was a collaborative project, with ideas, suggestions, and brainstorming coming from many people,” said O’Connor. “Funding came from two sources. This project was awarded almost $11 million from the State, with additional funding coming from SOCCCD (South Orange County Community College),” O’Connor added. During the reconstruction period, the library was forced to
Upcoming events/ Deadlines International Film Festival tomorrow in SSC 212 at 7 p.m.
susan ray / lariat
ACADEMIC SUCCESS: Students resort to the LRC tutoring center for extra help with studying, as well tutoring from staff and students. relocate to the village buildings – housing a limited selection of the materials during this time. Finally, with project completion in August of 2012, the library was able to return to its new and vastly improved home. However, it would no longer be known as “the library,” a new term that more appropriately describes the center was coined, the Learning Resource Center. “It serves as a dramatic symbol of what a college needs to be about,” said O’Connor – commenting on the newly renovated LRC. Jason Bone, Senior Project Designer of the LRC construc-
tion, added, “It’s impromptu, it’s social.” The library had taken on a new role as the LRC, bringing the life and learning back to socially interactive state at the center of campus. “I’ve never really went to the library at school before this year. Now I’m in the LRC at least two to three days a week; it doesn’t even feel like I’m in a library. This place is pretty cool,” said Hayden Yacobucci, 19 years old, business major. Stop by this Thursday to celebrate the new landmark building. jwilson.lariat@gmail.com
Spain: Studying abroad info meeting tomorrow in SSC 212 at 6 p.m.
Graduation application due Mar. 1. FASFA application due Mar. 2. Scholarship apps for Saddleback are due Mar. 10. Visit Saddleback’s website for more info.
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NEWS
Lariat
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013
a closer look at the suspect and first victim Courtney Aoki “Kitty Kitanna”
Ali Syed • • • • •
• • •
Age 20, part-time student at Saddleback College. Unemployed at the time of the shootings. Received shotgun from dad as a present. It was reported he was actively involved in playing computer games. Enrolled in only one class at SadAP photo / tustin police department dleback in the spring 2013 semester, Computer Maintenance and Repair I taught by instructor Eugene Evancoe . Completed six units at Saddleback and attempted 27 units. Started the spring 2013 semester with a 0.62 total cumulative GPA. His classmates said he was reserved, quiet and sat in the back of his class.
—All information obtained from the Tustin Police Department
SHOOTING
cont. from Page 1
With California Highway Patrol Officers approaching, Syed exited his car, turned the gun on himself and committed suicide. “He didn’t talk to anybody, he just sat back, did his thing and went on his way,” classmate Nick Rupp said. Information pertaining to Syed’s weapon, the first victim, and the 911 calls were released to the public during a press conference at the Tustin Police Department by Orange County
Sheriff’s spokesperson Jim Amormino Feb. 20. The first victim was Courtney Aoki, 20, of Buena Park, Calif. The reason is still unclear as to why she was at Syed’s residence in Ladera Ranch the morning of the incident. Aoki was found fully clothed and was identified through two pairs of fingerprints, as the first attempt failed to identify her. No evidence of sexual assault was found but more tests will be done during the autopsy, according to Amormino. Aoki was allegedly two months pregnant the morning
• • • • • • • •
Age 20 and from Buena Park, Calif. She was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds at Syed’s parents residence. It was confirmed by friends that she was an escort and provided erotic services. A friend reported that she was two months pregnant at the time of her death. courtney aoki / facebook She was part of a group of seven wiccans, where she was blood sisters with her “big sister” Danni Wood. Contrary to other reports, her friends confirmed she did live at home with her mom. Friends say she was very loving and outgoing. It was confirmed that she did not attend Saddleback or Irvine Valley College.
of her murder according to her close friend Danni Wood, 23, of Long Beach, Calif. Friends said they were shocked to hear about the death of their close friend. “Baby sister was everything to me,” “I could talk to her about everything.” Wood said. Wood refers to herself not just as a close friend but as a “big sister.” According to authorities there were rumors of Aoki being a stripper. Aoki’s ex-boyfriend Roger Azevedo, 22, of Eatonton, Ga., and Wood both confirmed that she stripped and offered erotic services for clientele. The Lariat found a profile on escort websites that appears to have belonged to Aoki. The advertisement said, “I’m a very
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classy and discrete private dancer” who was available in the Orange County and Los Angeles County areas. In an interview with the Lariat, Wood revealed that although she didn’t agree with how Aoki made her money, she still supported her. “[Her boyfriend] Dave [Gutierrez] and I would serve as her driver and bodyguard during some of her sessions to protect her,” Wood said, crossing her arms like she would while standing outside the door during Aoki’s sessions. Azevedo and Wood told the Lariat, that they told Aoki multiple times that she didn’t need to continue these services saying she was outgoing and very loving. “I was supposed to be her bodyguard that night,” Wood said. “If I was with her I would have been killed too.” Irvine Valley College and Saddleback College both confirmed that Aoki was not enrolled in either school.
valery fregoso / lariat
CRIME: Police officers tape off scene of the first of two carjackings.
Angie L. Pineda / lariat
PRESS CONFERENCE: First conference meeting for the shooting in Orange County, shooter named Ali Syed, 20, Saddleback student.
A motive for Syed’s rampage has not yet been determined, OC Sheriffs said, and that mental illness does not seem to have been a factor. According to a Federal Law, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, the rights of a deceased student may be released. Saddleback College Disabled Students Programs and Services-Special Services have declined to disclose information as to whether or not he was enrolled within the program dur-
ing his duration at Saddleback. Adam Goldstein, attorney advocate for the Student Press Law Center in Arlington, Va., said that the Department of Education’s opinion letter addresses the disability regulations in two pages. “The law says they can take as much time as need as long as they don’t exceed ten days,” Goldstein said, “how long does it take you to read two pages?”
receive a bachelor’s degree. At Saddleback, the majors currently covered by the programs include: Psychology, Sociology, Communications (AA-T); and Early Childhood Education (AS-T). The AA-T and AS-T degree programs will generate approximately $160 million in yearly savings, according to Skinner, along with more volume for annual enrollment—roughly 40,000 more spots in California Community Colleges, and 14,000 more within the Cal. State University system. “I’ve just been following the IGETC for all my classes,” said
Geordie Ellis, 19, architecture. Completion of the AA-T or AS-T program offers something IGETC cannot: guaranteed priority admission to a CSU campus, according to the Calstate. edu website. Also, once a student is admitted to a CSU under the AA-T or AS-T program, he/she will only need another 60 units to obtain a bachelor’s degree. For more information, be sure to schedule an appointment with your counselor or visit Saddleback’s website.
lariateditor@gmail.com
New degree programs streamline the transfer process for students j oh n n y w i l son
News Editor
SACRAMENTO--Deputy Chancellor of California community colleges Erik Skinner and Chief Academic Officer for California State University Ephraim Smith met with press last Wednesday to discuss the new AA-T and AS-T transfer programs. The Associate of Arts for Transfer (AA-T) and the Associate of Science for Transfer (AS-T) degree programs, under Senate bill 1440, ensure that no more than 120 units are taken in order for a California student to
jwilson.lariat@gmail.com
Saddleback’s literary magazine, the WALL wins first place award e l i z ab e t h or t i z
News Editor
If you’re a student who wondered what the English 160 spring course offers, you will see here that it not only offered the class of 2012 something to set on a coffee table, but also an opportunity to come in first place. The Saddleback College literary magazine called the Wall, took an honorable win at the American Scholastic Press Association, which is a national contest. “The win wasn’t that surprising, because of the amount of time that was spent on the project,” said Co Editor and Art Editor Shirley Eramo. “Compiling statistics, coming up with a grading system and giving the proper consideration to pick each piece was only part of the process.” The class worked with a collective effort on each individual written piece, as well as the se-
lected art work that was paired with each final submission. For instance, Eramo explained that the happiest guy she came across, was the artist who got chosen for the cover page. “The class knew it was the right art piece for the cover,
“One of the strengths of a literary magazine that is produced by a community college is the diversity of work you find within it.” - Denise Blike because the art even had Saddleback’s School colors,” said Eramo. “The group was special and this kind of writing process makes students better writers.” The experience helped Denise Blike, Editor-and-Chief. get into Goddard, Vermont. She
elizabeth ortiz / lariat
was able to put it on her application and will be attending in the spring. “Seeing the final project was most rewarding,” Blike said. “ I’ve always wanted to write, but now I want to work in publishing.” The name of her piece is “ Quality and Comfort in MJUK Black.” Professor Shaffer whose in charge of the literary magazine’s production, can be located in the Village if you would like a copy. elizabethortiznews@gmail.com
SPORTS
Lariat
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013
3 Lariat Sports Roundup
Gauchos are Playoff-Bound
IVC Lasers basketball reaches CCCAA playoffs Not to be outdone, the Irvine Valley Lasers men’s and women’s teams also made it into the CCCAA Southern California playoffs. IVCs men’s team finished the season with a 15-11 record (7-5 in conference play). They finished in third place in the Orange Empire Conference. The Lasers will face off in the first round of the playoffs against 20 seed Santa Ana College on Wednesday, Feb. 27. The Lady Lasers claimed the 11 seed by compiling a 20-10 record (9-3 in conference play). IVCs women’s team will start their playoff run on Saturday, Mar. 2 when they face off against the number six seed Pasadena City College.
IVC sand volleyball team to start season Friday Michael Grennell / Lariat
Michael Grennell / Lariat
Shootout: With the Gauchos in the playoffs, the men’s and women’s teams will be looking for continued production from freshman Myishia
Watkins (left) and sophomore Darnell Taylor. Watkins leads the women’s team with 383 points, while Taylor leads the men’s team with 319 points.
Saddlebacks men’s team locks up top seed in Southern California Bracket, while women’s team snags 18 seed to just make it into playoffs. Mi chael Grennell
Sports Editor
Monday afternoon, the California Community College Athletics Association released the playoff brackets for the 2013 basketball postseason. With the release of the brackets, the Gauchos learned that both their men’s and women’s teams were in the 2013 playoffs. After finishing their season at
25-4 (12-0 in conference play) and winning the OEC conference title, the Gauchos wrapped up the number one seed in the Southern California Regional playoffs. Saddleback will look to extend its winning streak to 16 games when they will host their first round matchup on Saturday, Mar. 2. The winner of this game will move on to play against the winner of the Mira Costa-East Los Angeles game. The Gauchos will host the winner of the play-in game between 16 seed Cuesta College and 17 seed Citrus College. The Cuesta-Citrus matchup will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 27. Before the men’s bracket was announced on Monday, the women’s regional bracket was released, revealing that the Gau-
chos had managed to squeak into the playoffs with the number 18 seed. The Lady Gauchos won their final game of the season at Santa Ana College with a score of 74-64. The win over the Dons gave Saddleback a final season record of 15-14 (6-6 in conference play). As the number 18 seed, Saddleback will have to compete in a play-in game on Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 15 seed Palomar College Comets. The winner of the Wednesday night matchup will move on to play at number two seed Ventura on Saturday, Mar. 2.
CCCAA So. Cal. Top 5 seeds (Men) 1 2 3 4 5
Saddleback Ventura Mt. San Antonio Chaffey L.A. Pierce
The Lasers sand volleyball team is set to start their season Friday, Mar. 1, at 11:00 a.m. against Palomar and Riverside. Last season, the Lasers finished in second place in the inaugural Intercollegiate State Sand Volleyball Championship. They won 12 matches in the championship, but were unable to overcome Golden West College, which won 13 of its matches. The championship matches will begin with the quarterfinals on Apr. 12, and then wrap up with the finals on Apr. 19.
For more lariat sports coverage, check out our page at lariatnews.com
CCCAA So. Cal. Bottom 5 seeds (Women) 14 15 16 17 18
Cuesta Palomar Riverside L.A. Pierce Saddleback
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Who is Sommer McCartney? Se an Bryne
Staff Writer
Who is the man behind the 9-2 Saddleback Gauchos baseball team? From assistant coaching, to head coaching, to a three sport high school athlete, all the way to professional status in baseball he has accomplished a lot in the athletic department. His accomplishments don’t stop there though; he also earned his bachelor’s degree at University of California Riverside and his masters at Azusa Pacific University, two very prestigious schools. Coach McCartney’s college baseball career started at San Jose City College. He then transferred to UC Riverside. By impressing major league scouts with his supreme catching ability he was drafted in the 27th round by the Florida Marlins. In 1994, he began his minor league career. McCartney played for the Elmira Pioneers, the minor league team for the then-Florida Marlins. In his first season he batted a career low .175 average, but McCartney didn’t give up there. The next season wasn’t much better; he scored 11 runs. That is eight more runs than his previous season’s three. He only bettered his batting average to .179. Still the fighting spirit of McCartney didn’t call it quits and it paid off. He was then moved to a different Florida Marlins minor league team in the Kane County Cougars, and he started to shine. His batting average improved to an impressive .300. He hit five home runs and smacked 19 RBI’s. He was a player that really knew how to get on base, and that season he racked up a .369 OBP (on base percentage). With that, he managed to cross
the plate 21 times, all in just 51 games. From there the Marlins moved him to the Brevard County Manatees. There he saw a career low in games played (16). With the low amount of games played, his stats suffered. Though his batting average remained a solid .245 and was able to drive in 12 RBI’s, he only saw the plate 53 times versus the 163 times in the previous season. From there
McCartney decided it was time to hang up the cleats and focus all his time on coaching. 1998 was the first season he started his assistant coaching job for the Gauchos. During this season they fell short of a state championship by only one game, on this roster was future World Series winner Nick Punto. McCartney also helped coach catcher Rob Johnson and pitcher Kanekoa Texiera during his coaching career. Coach McCartney stayed with Saddleback for another three years until going to Aliso Niguel High School, where he won back to back Sea View league championships. After a very successful high school coaching career, McCartney went back to Saddleback to coach full time. During his coaching for Saddleback, he also coached for the US Junior N a - tionals teams in 2007 and 2008. Finally at the end of the 2011 season, McCartney got his chance to be the new head coach for the Gauchos, replacing the 20 year head coach and Saddleback College legend, Jack Hodges. Though finishing the season off less than .500 with a 15-21 record, this 2013 season looks a lot more promising by winning the first nine of the 11 games played. Along with coaching he is a father of two and married to his wife Kris.
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OPINION
4
Lariat
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013
Editorial: If you’re not on the a-list, you’re on the wait list Wait lists pose a threat to sudents attempting to enroll in classes that are necessary for transfer. Lariat Staff
Photo ILLUSTRATION BY Anibal Santos
HAT TRICK: Students test their luck when instructors randomly choose who gets to enroll.
Saddleback Colleges’ battle of the wait list cuts into valuable time for students trying to transfer to a four-year university. According to members of the Academic Senate, students who apply for registration in a closed course through MySite are then placed on a list with others who have attempted the same thing. How this list of potential enrolled students is acted upon by professors varies widely throughout campus. According to Admissions and Records, certain students are put on a priority list and get to register earlier than others. This “A-list” includes veterans, athletes, honor students and faculty, which creates a wait list for the rest of the student body. This forces students that don’t fall into any of these categories to petition for the classes they need. This pursuit, more often than not, seems to end fruitlessly. Something needs to change. Students become discouraged when they are not able to get into classes they need, which results in more students opting out of school in favor of joining the workforce. “It takes a lot of time to finish [college] and I wanted to start a family,” said Joseph Morris, a former Saddleback student who now works at Trader Joe’s. Medical students are majorly (no pun intended) affected by the wait list’s dominion over class rosters. In order to enter the nursing and medical assistant programs, one must take prerequisites, which are highly popular and therefore difficult to get in to. The protocol for handing out “Add Permit Codes” to students varies by professor. Who adds a class could be decided by anything from pulling names out of a hat to choosing whoever emailed the instructor first. Some even decide based on who wrote the best email. “There is definitely no uniformity. Sometimes a student has been on the waiting list for three to four semes-
ters,” Jared Blacket, 25, microbiology said. Blacket has been trying to get into microbiology classes and believes that science classes have the longest waiting lists. The lack of regulations regarding APC codes, petitioning, and the wait list is not fair, but Saddleback College mathematics professor Karla Westphal and others are trying to come up with a solution. “The idea is to try to have an “active” wait list, particularly for classes that are in very high demand,” Westphal said. “ If a student dropped a class that was closed, instead of the class opening up again, an email with an APC code would be sent to the first student on the wait list. He or she would have 24 hours to use the code; after 24 hours, the seat would be made available to the next student on the list.” However, any concrete decision on what to do about the wait list is still largely up in the air. “Right now, we’re just gathering input from faculty, students and staff to see what the needs are and figure out how best to address them” Westphal says, “The goal is to get a system that will be more fair than the current system. That’s why we’re trying to get as much faculty and student input as possible.” There needs to be a shift in the way we approach enrollment when it comes to classes that are in high demand and fill up quickly. These classes also tend to serve as important transfer requirements and affect every student with a plan to attend a four-year university. We do not know what the solution is, only that we need one. Communicate with board members, faculty members and fellow students and share your experience with petitioning and the uphill battle that enrollment can be. If we incite a comprehensive conversation between policymakers and the student body, we can produce the fairest solution.
lariateditor@gmail.com
Constant texting takes its toll on human relationships There’s “something lost in texting”, and it’s called “whojooah.” Keeping up with the world involves more than just texting these days; it involves Facebook messaging, iChatting, Skyping and many other tools used to communicate quickly. But there is still something to be said about face-to-face communication. Dr. Bob Matthews, clinical psychology professor at Saddleback College, agrees. “There is something lost in texting,” Matthews
Alex Aponte
Photo by Eric Gorman
Skating by: Thomas Eppel, 20, a Saddleback College English student, rocks and rolls across campus.
Skateboarding as Transport Get to class with class.
Eric Gorman
Staff Writer
Struggling to find parking and taking the long walk across the campus can be trying. As a result, many students are choosing skateboarding as a quicker way of getting to and from class. However, according to the South Orange County Community College District (SOCCCD), that’s just not cool. Their Board Policy AR 3450 Sec. 206 states that, “No person shall ride a skateboard within the confines of the campus.” “The Board policy is an effort to provide a safe environment for all students and staff,” Saddleback Interim Police Chief Christopher Wilkinson said. “Unlike bicycles, skateboards do not have brakes and/ or steering which makes it difficult to stop and/or control under normal circumstances.” A policy is necessary, but let’s make a new one: ‘Hey kook! If you don’t know how to ride that thing then get off of it!’ Skateboarding requires some skill. If you haven’t acquired that skill, then you should restrict your participation to unpopulated areas where you’re not going to hurt anyone (I don’t care if you hurt yourself, that’s a risk you take when you step on the board. Broken bones go with
it. Suck it up chump.) “Skating is a fast way to get to your classes,” Saddleback student Daniel Vargas, 19, said. “You shouldn’t get hassled for skating on campus.” If you feel that you are capable of navigating what Wilkinson calls, “the college elevations, hilly terrain, confined areas and congested foot traffic,” then do so, but skate within your limits and with respect for those around you. Then maybe then the fuzz won’t give us so much guff for it. As far as steering is concerned, skateboards are operated by same principal concepts as bicycles. There may be no handlebars, but both are controlled by distributing weight from one side to the other. The only difference is that the skateboard is turned with pressure applied by the feet rather than the hands. “Although SCPD [Saddleback College Police Department] may issue a citation for violation of Orange County Ordinance prohibiting skateboards on campus with a fine of $25.00,” Wilkinson said. “SCPD Officers use officer discretion and provide verbal warnings and explain the board policy.” Officer Young, Police Operations Lieutenant of Irvine Valley
Lariat Anibal Santos Arts/Entertainment Editor Shannelle Sanchez Video Editor Michael Grennell Sports Editor Cody shoemake Photography Editor
College, had a similar explanation, with one major difference: “The district has rules, but there is no law against [skateboarding on campus]”, Young said. According to Young, they do enforce the Board policy by requesting that the individual pick up their skateboard and walk, but they never issue a citation. According to Yahoo Sports, some college campuses across the country, including USC, allow skateboarding on campus as a means of transportation. Their policies are constructed so that skating on campus is safe for the general populace: skaters must yield to pedestrians, no trick skating, and no skating in certain areas where the activity poses an inherent safety risk. Even cities like Los Angeles and Portland are developing more skater friendly policies. An Oregon state leaflet states “Portland is one of the few cities to recognize skateboarding as a legitimate mode of transportation and give it the same legal rights as a bicycle.” If major cities around the country can develop skater friendly regulations, then Saddleback College and the SOCCCD should have no problem establishing similar accommodations.
Chemistry is more than just a science class. The chemistry I refer to is the human connection, whether it’s emotional, physical or psychological. For example, one feels chemistry when they meet a potential best friend or soul mate for the first time. Texting doesn’t give us that kind of connection. Communicating through texting changes our interpersonal relationships for the worst. Some disagree. “I think texting is a good thing, because we can communicate with anyone wherever, whenever we want,” said Jeranie Cabinbin, 20, kinesiology “I also think technology gets a bad rep, because people just think most people using technology are lazy, but that’s not always the case. It’s based on the person, whether or not they want to be out and active, not the gadget.” Texting does have benefits. It helps when one needs to ask or answer a quick question instead of playing phone tag all day to get simple information. As our evolving world picks up speed, we have no choice but to catch up. I can’t imagine having to call constantly or walk to someone’s house just to communicate. Texting is the future and the future is now.
photo ILLUSTRATION BY Anibal Santos
Staff Writer
Talk to the hand: Texting inhibits “chemistry”.
Ashley Reyes Online Editor Hayley slye Opinion Editor Cathy Taylor iPad Editor
aaponte.lariat@gmail.com
CORRECTIONS There was an error in the opinion section of our February 13th, 2013 print issue. In our editorial “listen closely”, we had said “Make it clear that hip-hop and rap have no place in progressive society.” What we meant to say was that antifeminist content in mainstream hip-hop and rap have no place in a progressive society. In our online article “ASG gets creative for up coming events including club rush”, published on February 1st, 2013, we said that there would be a speed dating activity during club rush. It will actually take place during Sexual Health Awareness day.
egorman.lariat@gmail.com
“Saddleback’s student-run newspaper since 1968” Angie L. Pineda Editor-in-Chief John Wilson News Editor
said. “Texting is good, and is useful in crazy situations like emergencies, such as the 9/11 attacks or in shootings, but it also isolates us.” Matthews explained the phenomenon of the PEA hormone, a special chemical that kicks into high gear during in-person contact. This is essentially the “chemistry” hormone. “Texting de-individualizes us and allows the texter anonymity, and we don’t get a sense of who they are through text. There is something to be said about having a real feeling,” Mathews said. During Matthew’s many years living on the White River Indian Reservation, he picked up a Navajo Indian phrase, “whojooah” (woo-choo). According to Matthews, whojooah is the balance of mind, body and spirit, and involves a passion for life. “As long as we have whojooah, we can ‘see the light,’ as Yoda would say—he knows all,” Matthews said. There is no worse sight than an entire group of people seated at a restaurant all texting. There’s no whojooah at those tables, and there are certainly no number of exclamation marks or emojis you could send me that would come close to having a conversation in real life.
MElanie Roberts Copy Editor Elizabeth Ortiz News Co-Editor Kristen Martinez Life Editor Steven Jung Production Editor
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About the Lariat
The Lariat is the student newspaper of Irvine Valley College and Saddleback College. The Lariat is an independent, First Amendment, student-run public forum. One copy of the Lariat is free. Additional copies may be purchased for $1 at the Lariat newsroom, which is located in LRC 116. Letters to the editor are welcomed. Please limit letters to 200 words or less and include a name, valid e-mail address and signature.
All letters are subject to editing by the editorial board. Unsigned editorials represent the views of the Lariat’s ediorial board and do not represent the views of Irvine Valley College or Saddleback College or the South Orange County Community College District. Lariatnews.com launched in fall 2007. Visit us on Facebook at “Lariat Saddleback” or follow us on Twitter, @lariatnews.
LARIATNEWS.COM/OPINION
5
A&E
Lariat WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013
cas studies
e
me l anie robert s
Staff Writer
M
anibal santos/Lariat
any students and faculty members shuffled through the Saddleback Art Gallery from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., on Feb. 19 for the artist’s reception, showcasing the newest exhibit, “Case Studies.” The exhibit features the works of New York City artists, Ron Lent and Ethan Cornell, who both incorporate everyday objects and experiences into their works. The art gallery director, Bob Rickerson said, “I wanted to do something different in the gallery, because we’ve done a lot of galleries with paintings. I thought this was interesting in that he [Cornell] is still working on a flat surface, but using found objects.” Rickerson said that he was immediately drawn to Cornell’s work. “Originally Ethan was the guy that contacted me and sent me some images of his work. I was intrigued by it, so I had him pick a friend of his, that he thought would go good together,” Rickerson said. Cornell’s friend of 20 years, Lent, creates black and white “I don’t really want to stop anybody from drawings with ink, but captures ordinary objects in a new light. seeing it the way they want to need to see For the exhibit, Lent chose his 25 favorite pieces out of the hundreds he has created. it. Anything that I describe about it, sort “I just went back through my blog, because there’s a lot of phoof forces them away from what they natutos and drawings,” Lent said. “There were ones that sort of stood out to me that really seemed to work, like the car and the tree. rally would have reacted to”- Ron Lent. These are ones where when I finished them, I felt like ‘oh yeah this is what I’m doing, this what I’ve been trying to hit.’ They all seemed to represent something bigger.” Surprised: Melissa Johnson (Left) is surpised by Ethan Cornell’s (Far Right) “Seedpod” painting. in the offers visitors different “[Lent] really puts a lot of study into each one of [his pieces],” art on their observations and life experiences. “Segmented Tree” by Ron Lent (Top Right). Cathrine Borsellino and Veronica Khristv Rickerson said. (Middle Left) admire Cornell’s “Beast In The Garden.” “Untitled” (Bottom Left” by Lent. To better understand his works, Lent described the process “I saw it in the window and came in because of it. I liked the things are. He tries to use his surroundings as much as possible. behind his drawing of a car on fire. way the light hits the gold. It looks very antique,” Niederecker The layout of the gallery helped to distinguish the personalities “Originally it wasn’t on fire,” Lent said. “It was a car in a said. of each artist’s work. puddle and you would see a reflection of the car in it. An upsideCornell explained how the gold and silver leaf that he uses, can “When we came up with the layout for the space, we had this down car to me is very surprising and it feels very dangerous. I change the entire piece, depending on the location. idea of a box within a box,” Lent said. “We thought it’d be really liked that there was a bit of a story there.” “The silver interacts with the air and tarnishes, so the color cool to have this idea of a dotted line going all the way around the He said that it was more about the car being on its top and not that’s there is just what happens when you leave it alone,” Cornell outside and Ethan’s colorful, warm, physical, biological looking based off a violent accident. said. “It’s especially interesting, because it will tarnish differently stuff in the center.” For inspiration, Lent will notice ordinary things and create a in different places. There are different chemicals in the air.” Rickerson said that with this concept of the gallery, you could backstory for them. experience the art by walking through the box. Cornell said he started his art career with illustration at the “When I see something missing or one thing that’s out of place, Tyler Creeden, 20, Art, said “I really liked the sketches from High School of Art and Design in Manhattan and has changed his like if there’s a pattern or some kind of mystery, I’m like ‘what both of them, because it was nice to see the beginning parts and style and the type of art he deals with quite a bit. People view his happened?’” Lent said. the end result. art today mostly just in his studio. None of Lent’s drawings have descriptions, because he said he “They’re both very creative. It looks like they had a spur of the “Kind of the theme of this show, is that I’ve always been in a wants people to interpret the pieces for themselves. moment type of influence. I liked Ron’s attention to detail; they’re sea of symbols that I don’t understand,” Cornell said. “I don’t really want to stop anybody from seeing it the way all very specific. Ethan’s pieces looked very culturally inspired. Before working with silver leaf, Cornell said he was workthey want to need to see it. Anything that I describe about it, sort They’re very classy looking,” Niederecker said. ing with etchings, which inspired him to continue with the metal of forces them away from what they naturally would have reacted The “Case Studies” exhibit will be in the Saddleback Art Galtheme. to,” Lent said. lery from Feb. 20 to Mar. 14. “You would make the etching and scrape into metal and rub it While the two artists both use everyday happenings in their Admission is free. with ink to print it. At some point, I started to like the metal as works, Cornell’s pieces are more colorful and uses items he finds much or more than I liked the print,” Cornell said. in various places. Cornell’s smaller pieces incorporated frames and objects that he Andie Niederecker, 19, said the piece that caught her eye was found. He said many of the things are tactile and he thinks about Beast in the Garden. mroberts.lariat@gmail.com what they remind him of, but it’s not always obvious what those
Free, fun, fantastic: The Laguna art walk E ric GOrman & melanie roberts
Staff Writers
“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls,” Pablo Picasso said, so dust off the stress of essays, speeches and high textbook costs at the first Thursday Art Walk, happening every month in Laguna Beach. From local to international artists, the 39 different galleries showcase most any art that you can imagine, and it won’t cost you a dime. The walk spans about 1.5 miles along the Pacific Coast Highway in downtown Laguna Beach, and includes a toll free shuttle from 6-9 p.m. during the event. The Laguna Beach Art Museum has the most to offer students. The Museum offers free yearround membership to full-time students, which includes unlimited free admission, invitation to museum galas, interactive lectures on the works and much more. “At any one time, a very small percentage of our permanent collection is on view,” said Marinta Skupin, the museum’s curator of education. Most of their collection is stored offsite and rotates consistently to maintain an ever-changing historical display of “Californian art.” The majority of the museum is dedicated to exhibitions that are on loan from various artists. One such artist is George Hurrel, who “was basically the inventor of the Hollywood Glamour shot,” said Skupin.
“It’s the only piece in the gallery that’s not for sale, because there are plans in the works with the govenor of
New
York City to have it hung in the lobby of the new
Freedom Tower,” -Sam said
Skupin said Hurrel got his start in the art world when followed Edgar Paine to Laguna Beach. Paine is attributed to creating Laguna’s first art association in 1918. His photography will be on display until late April, and features photographs “of the early artists and other prominent people of Laguna Beach, as well as a portfolio of ten portraits of Hollywood stars,” according to the museum’s literature. Hurrel’s portfolio includes early shots of Bette Davis and Clark Gable. Other exhibitions currently at the Laguna Art Museum include sculptor John Mason’s Blue Wall and artworks by Allison Schulnik, as part of the museum’s expose program. Expose is de-
LARIATNEWS.COM/A-E
eric gorman/Lariat David S. Palmer: Palmer displays his “bullet proof art” at Lu Martin Galleries on PCH in north Laguna Beach.
signed for new/under-recognized artists to showcase their works. Another gallery showcasing the work of upand-coming artists is Artists Republic 4 Tomorrow (AR4T), a quaint showcase owned and operated by Torrey Cook and Mark Weiner. As a member of the art gallery committee and gallery owner, Cook was able to recommend many art galleries to stop at along the art walk route. On the corner of Laguna Avenue of PCH, the Ruth Mayer Gallery is one of the longest standing galleries in Laguna Beach, and exclusively hosts the art of its owner, Ruth Mayer. “She has been painting for about 50 years, but has been in Laguna Beach for about 38,” said grandson Sam Mayer, director of the gallery. Pointing out a painting entitled “I Love New York,” Sam explained, “This is by far her most renowned and recognized piece.” Completed in March of 2000, 1.5 years before 9/11, the painting shows an angel in the clouds looking over the Twin Towers in the famous New York skyline. “It’s the only piece in the gallery that’s not for sale, because there are plans in the works with the governor of New York City to have it hung in the lobby of the new Freedom Tower,” Sam said. Many of the artists are available at their galleries, during the art walk, to speak to the public about their craft and specific pieces.
To hear what the artists had to say, learn more about the art walk and view a photo gallery, visit lariatnews.com/ and click on the A&E section. egorman.lariat@gmail.com & mroberts.lariat@gmail.com
6
LRC
Lariat
WEDNESDAY, February 13, 2013
New chapter for Learning Resource Center T
here will be an open house reception tomorrow for the Learning Resource Center taking place on Thurs. February 28 at the Saddleback College Library. The event will at 3 p.m and end at 5 p.m. New resources will be highlighted and a number of guest speakers including: Dean of Liberal Arts Kevin O’Connor (Liberal Arts, Dean Patricia Flanigan, Online Education and Learning Resources, and Dean Bart McHenry. The building has already earned praise and earned awards from some architectural associations.
Third Floor > Li bra ry > REferenc e Desk
HAYLEY SLYE/ Lariat
> Study Room s
The thi rd floor of the Lrc hou ses the actua l li bra ry, a s well a s the reference desk , stu dy ta ble s a nd lou ng e a rea s dedi cated to stu dent workspace. Workshop s a nd stu dent stu dy rooms a re a lso p rov i ded on the Th i rd Floor.
“They’ve opened it up and made it a much more welcoming space with better energy. I’ve had several students say words to that effect.” Jenny Langrell, Systems Librarian
HAYLEY SLYE/ Lariat shelf li fe: The library shelves house a wide variety of
books that pretain to Saddleback College courses
shannelle sanchez/ Lariat
sca n tH i s Q R code For more i nformati on on The thi rd floor.
T u tor i n g : The tutoring center is a refuge
for students who need help.
Second Floor > L a nguage L a b > Tutoring Ce nte r > Comput er L a b
“If a student comes up and says ‘do you have this’ and we don’t have it, we will try to find a way to make that program happen” The se con d f loor of the Lrc hou ses fou r s u p lem e n tal r e s ou rce l a bs: The L a ng uag e L Ab, Christina Hinkle, T u tor i n g Ce n t e r , Readi ng L a b a nd Wri t ti ng Ce nter. Tutoring Center
sc a n t H is Q R co de F o r more informatio n o n The seco nd flo o r.
shannelle sanchez/ Lariat S tud ying : Students studying in the LRC, second floor.
Cody shoemake/ Lariat
Illustration by Anibal Santos/ Lariat
First Floor > J ou rna li sm Depa rtment > H onors Prog ra m
Trophies:
> Sci ence L a bs
The trophy case display various awards won by the Saddleback Journalism
> Cl a ssrooms
The fi rst floor floor of the Lrc hou ses va ri ou s cl a ssroms.
Cody shoemake/ Lariat
“I feel very fortunate to have this new facility as we begin to shape the future of the journalism program” Amara Aguilar, Journalism Department Chair
Stacked: The Lariat, Saddleback and Irvine Valley College’s
student newspaper, is stacked to the brim in LRC 116
sca n tH ESE Q R codes For more i nformati on on The fi rst floor a nd wa ll li tera ry mag a z i ne.