Rampage Spring 2010 Issue 3

Since 1949

Volume CXVIV, edition 3

March 17, 2010

College Favors Students in Ruling Against Professor

by Max Rosendahl

Rampage Reporter Fresno City College administrators have found that Dr. Bradley Lopez, a health instructor, “engaged in conduct that could result in the creation of a hostile learning environment by unrea-

sonably interfering with students’ learning by making insulting comments directed at homosexuals.”

Lopez’s attorney, Charles Magill, said the instructor would appeal.

An investigation report dated March 8, 2010 – addressed to Jacqueline Mahaffey, Jay Matthews and Kenneth Belville, the FCC students whose petitions

Proposed fee hikes will double tuition Rampage Reporter

Inside:

academic freedom policy and that of irrelevant material. “Dr. Lopez he has done nothing wrong. further violated district policy by Christopher Villa, the vice teaching religious material,” Villa president of student services, wrote. wrote in the letter that Lopez In an interview with The violated several rules, including Rampage on March 15, Mahaffey Administrative Rule 3430, which and Matthews expressed relief that prohibits “insulting comments di- the college was finally addressing rected at a group based on sexual the situation. orientation;” engaging in indoctrination, as well as the presentation see College plans, page 3

Team with no home

by Andrew Veihmeyer

In its new budget plan, the California Legislative Analyst’s Office has proposed an increase in community college enrollment fees — a potential 54 percent hike, from $26 to $40 for 2010-11.

The increase, meant to “leverage more federal aid and provide needed funds” to the state’s community colleges, may take effect in the fall 2010 semester, a proposal garnering various reactions from Fresno City College students and staff.

The Legislative Analyst’s Office provides fiscal policy advice to the state legislature. On Feb. 26, the LAO released its suggested budget for higher education, which contained several recommendations. Among them was the $14 per-unit cost increase that, according to the budget, would “generate approximately $150 million in additional revenues to the CCC system.”

Sheryl Sullivan, an accounting supervisor at Fresno City College, said the fee increase proposal is among the highest she has seen. Sullivan noted the 2004 fee hike of $8, from $18 to $26 per unit. The newest increase proposal would nearly double that.

“Historically, it’s a very large jump,” Sullivan said.

Even if this increase happens, the LAO budget states, “CCC fees would still be the lowest in the country.”

ASG President Sergey Saluschev, 22, said he doesn't buy the LAO’s explanation.

“No, it's not going to be cheap. That's what they want to sell this idea with,” he said.

During an interview with see fees, page 5

started the inquiry – revealed the decision made by the college.

Mahaffey, Matthews, and Belville filed a petition against Lopez in fall 2009 for creating a hostile atmosphere in the classroom by teaching his personal beliefs as fact and science.

Lopez has maintained that he is protected by the State Center Community College District’s

A broken hurdle.

Potholes in track lanes.

by Emilio Gutierrez & Ray Juarez

Rampage Reporter

FCC pole vaulter, Jeff Brenner stands in flooded practice field.

photos by Valerie Hll

The Rams track team finds itself homeless for the second consecutive season as the poor economy, apparently poor initial construction, and everyday wear and tear continue to erode Fresno City College’s track inside Ratcliffe Stadium.

The all-weather track, built in 1986, now operates as a practice track for the team. But even practice is tough, according to student athlete Courtney Gooch, a distance runner for the Rams.

“The track is in bad shape,” Gooch said, “and it makes it tough to practice because we’re not able to use the lane that we’re use to using at our meets.”

Track coach Gary Bluth said the 24-year-old track has outlasted its lifetime by double and that it never should have lasted as long as it has.

“It’s still useable for training, but then we start seeing the injury rate go up because the loss of resilience,” he said.

In an interview with The Rampage, Athletic Director Susan Yates cited “a drainage problem, which has caused the inside lanes to deteriorate.”

Bluth also took the state of the economy into account.

“The school doesn’t have that kind of money right now,” Bluth said. “I’m confident that if the economy was in better shape, we would have a new track.”

The Rampage also noted structural damage throughout various parts of the track. The two inside lanes of the nine-lane track and the vaulting area are prone to flooding under severe weather conditions. Photos taken by The Rampage reveal that the polyurethane coat is worn see track team, page 2

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Jamaican Althlete Kaven Waysome

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2 Rampage

Track team is homeless

March 17, 2010

continued from page 1

out in multiple segments, leaving fissures he spearheaded a fund raising project for and pockmarks of exposed blacktop to the the initial construction of the current track at Ratcliffe. rigors of the weather.

“It would flood back then, too,” Bluth said multiple administrators Fries said.

“But the dry wells were just are well aware of the situation. “It has built and the track was new. All we had been number one on my discussions with to do was wait for the sun to come out.” administrators,” he said.

A dry well acts as an underground Still, any hope for an overhaul depends on the college’s budget. Yates seepage pit and is sometimes used to resuggested that there is no one to blame ceive and hold water.

According to California Track and but the economy and time.

Bluth said, “I’m confident that Engineering Inc. – one of FCC’s most if the economy was in better shape, we recent potential track renovators – even a complete resurfacing of the Ratcliffe would have a new track.”

The most recent facility renova- track would fail to address the root of the tions campus wide were made possible problem – the dry wells. Rather, it would

by Measure E bond money. The measure, only expose a new track to periodical according to Yates, provided FCC with flooding, according Jeb Burgess, Vice funds for significant “puzzle-piece” im- President at CTEI. “It’s not just a cosmetic problem,” provements to the softball field, a new said Burgess, citing the track’s aging weight room, and a practice gym. drainage system.

“The dry wells are A complete track renovation, however, totes a hefty price tag. According to clogged up.”

Despite the state’s fiscal troubles, Yates, the track is not the only athletics various high schools in the neighboring facility that needs renovation.

“It is on every single decision area have received renovations on many package,” Yates said. “But the track is of the same types of facilities. not the only project in need of immediate If your looking to make your dollar strech, it would be attention.” time to file your taxes with us.

“We have aworth softballyou field, a pool for“They Gilbertallorhave Jesus. and a track,” YatesAsk said.

FCC Student diSCount equal priority. They are all at the top. If Tax PreParaTion ServiceS 1295 N Wishon we have $20,000 – What can be done to lSTaTe 2a any one of those three with2nd that Flr money?” lFederal The scope of the(559) track renovation 445-1688 *expires 04/16/2010 project is vast, comparatively. The cost of Instant Loans Refund Loans E-Filing Friendly Service the original 1986 project chimed in at well “It’s very ironic,” Burgess said. over $600,000, according to Brian Fries, “The world is upside-down right now. former FCC track coach.

Fries coached track and field at There are high schools where the tracks FCC for more than 20 years before re- are better.”

Burgess cites the availability of cently retiring. He told The Rampage that

Taxes N More

Damages to the track field like those shown in these photos force FCC track team to stay on the road.

photos by Valarie Hill

bond measures that allow high schools to make significant investments. “You either have bond money,” Burgess said, “or you have nothing.”

In spite of budget limitations, FCC is still moving forward, according to Yates. “Things are still happening,” Yates

“As one of the best teams in California,not being able to perform in front of our home fans because of our track is disappointing.”

-Courtney Gooch

$20

Taxes N More

File your taxes with us to stretch your dollar.

-Instant Loans -Refund Loans -E-Filing -Friendly Service -Close to FCC

FCC

said. “Even though it may seem like we are in a stalemate, we are still doing what we can constantly.”

Until then, the FCC track team will continue to stay on the road. The status of the Ratcliffe track, historically considered the place “Where World Records are Broken,” according to the FCC Student diSCount

Tax PreParaTion ServiceS lSTaTe lFederal

$20

Ask for Gilbert or Jesus.

*expires 04/16/2010

Ram page

1295 N Wishonl2nd Flr, 2AlFresno

About Us

Rampage is an award-winning newspaper published biweekly by the Fresno City College Journalism 4 & 5 programs and is a member of the Journalism Association of Community Colleges. Views expressed in The Rampage are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect those of Fresno City College, its students, administration or the State Center Community College District.

Contact

Office: (559) 442-8262 Fax: (559) 265-5783

Rampage Fresno City College 1101 E. University Ave. Fresno, CA 93741

(559) 445-1688

Reporters

Ramiro Gudino, Annette DeDios, Abel Cortez, Kris Goka, Ronisha Thomas, Gabriella Ramirez, Kyle Calvert, Nogtshia Vue, Sebouh Simonian, Valerie Hill, William Christensen, Laura Solis, Ray Juarez, Karina Ornelas, Andrew Veihmeyer, Kenneth Rodgers, Jaren Hockert, Max Rosendahl, Emilio Gutierrez, Jordan Hoover, Andrew Turner, Kami Madison, Haley Dedmon.

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Track Runner

Editors & Staff

Managing Editor: Kyle Calvert Copy Editor: Andrew Veihmeyer Views Editor: Kyle Calvert News Editor: Laura Solis Photo Editor: Valerie Hill On-Line Editor: Max Rosendahl Sports Editor: Gabriella Ramirez Business/Advertising: Leah Edwards and Annette DeDios Production Manager: Ramiro Gudino Adviser: Dympna Ugwu-Oju Production Adviser: Jefferson Beavers Letters to the editor and submissions to the calendar will be accepted via e-mail or in person 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Monday and Wednesday at The Rampage, Room SC- 211, above the bookstore. Please keep all letters to a maximum of 200 words along with contact information.

Editor In Chief: rampage-editor@fresnocitycollege.edu Rampage business Office: rampage-business@fresnocitycollege.edu Advisors: dympna.ugwu-oju@fresnocitycollege.edu / jefferson.beavers@fresnocitycollege.edu

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Web site, remains on hold.

Gooch, an 800-meter specialist, feels let down.

“As one of the best teams in California,” Gooch said, “not being able to perform in front of our home fans because of our track is disappointing.”

Staff writers Annette DeDios and Ramiro Gudino contributed to this report.

Corrections: – On page 3 in the Feb. 24 issue, in a story about student jobs, The Rampage incorrectly stated the title of Mary Beth Wynn. She is the interim coordinator of the employment resource center.

– On page 3 in the Feb. 24 issue, in a story about student jobs, The Rampage incorrectly identified student Amanda Kateeb as president of the Diversity Club. She is not.

– On page 6 in the Feb. 24 issue, in a story about food safety violations, The Rampage incorrectly quoted Wayne Fox, a supervisor for the county’s Environmental Health Division. Fox said that despite the health violations on campus, there was little cause for concern due to alternative refrigeration units available.

– On page 8 in the Feb. 24 issue, in a story about poet Jacob Eckrich, The Rampage incorrectly identified the organizer of the Inner Ear Poetry Jam. The organizer is Bryan Medina.

– On page 10 in the Feb. 24 issue, in a story about instructor Jim Foxx, The Rampage incorrectly reported that Foxx was involved in the production Cycles, Sets & Scenes. He is not.v

News

March 17, 2010

College plans appropriate action

Rampage 3

continued from page 1 “I’m glad that they [the college] are finally acknowledging that Lopez is doing something wrong,” Matthews said.

The letter acknowledges that some of Dr. Lopez’s statements in his classes were, indeed, protected under the State Center Community College District’s academic freedom policy.

The letter emphasized that “instructors are entitled to interpret personal findings and to communicate their conclusions, even when at variance with those of other persons.”

However, Villa noted in the letter, “Nothing in the district’s academic freedom policy or any other controlling law or policy permits instructors to engage in indoctrination, the presentation of irrelevant subject matter, or the creation of hostile learning environment for students.”

The college will take “appropriate actions to address the violations of policy and regulations,” Villa wrote.

Mahaffey said she was eager to find out how the college will discipline Lopez.

“I really hope that they do more than give him a slap on the wrist,” Mahaffey said.

Matthew agreed, citing the exposure the story received locally and nationally.

“It’s strange how it took a national awareness for the school to take some ac-

tion,” Matthew said.

In a telephone interview with The Rampage, Magill insisted that his client has done nothing wrong.

“The administrative agents, [Vice President of Student Services] Chris Villa, did not consider the statements made by Professor Lopez,” Magill said. “As far as I can tell there was no further investigation made.”

Magill feels that Dr. Lopez’s academic freedom was violated and the accusations against him are “false and flawed.”

He expects the college to send a letter of reprimand to Lopez. After that, they plan to make an appeal at the next court hearing.

According to The Fresno Bee, Magill was hired by the Pacific Justice Institute, a Sacramento-based nonprofit organization that specializes in defending religious freedom and civil liberties.

Elizabeth Gill, staff attorney of the American Civil Liberties Union, who had challenged the college to act on the complaints filed by the students, told The Rampage last week that she will not relent until FCC satisfactorily resolves the matter.

“I will not forget this case,” Gill said.

Staff writer Jordan Hoover contributed to this report.

Excerpts from FCC’s response on Lopez case

by Max Rosendahl

Rampage Reporter Below are excerpts from the letter that Fresno City College authorities sent to three students regarding their complaints against Dr. Bradley Lopez, health instructor.

-- Creation of a hostile learning environment Dr. Lopez engaged in conduct that could result in the creation of a hostile learning environment by unreasonably interfering with students’ learning by making insulting comments directed at homosexuals, in contravention of the prohibition of insulting comments directed at a group based on sexual orientation found in Administrative Regulation 3430, by describing homosexuals as suffering from a mental disorder and advising psychological counseling as a remedy.

-- Academic freedom policy It should be noted that Health Science I properly covers topics of human sexuality, and, under the District’s academic freedom policy (Board Policy and Administrative Regulation 4030), instructors are entitled to interpret personal findings and to communicate their conclusions, even when at variance with those of other persons. That students are offended by or complain about an instructor’s findings and conclusions on such subject matter does not automatically lead to the conclusion that harassment or discrimination has occurred. Dr. Lopez’s presentation of his findings and conclusions on the prevalence of homosexuality in society or the theory of evolution, for example, even if at odds with other professionals in his field, was within the scope of his duties as an instructor.

-- Engaging in indoctrination and the presentation of irrelevant subject matter However, nothing in the District’s academic freedom policy or any other controlling law or policy permits instructors to

engage in indoctrination, the presentation of irrelevant subject matter, or the creation of a hostile learning environment for students.

The presentation of homosexuals as suffering from a mental disorder and advising treatment by psychological counseling was unrelated to any legitimate course objective.

Moreover, even if Dr. Lopez’s conduct could properly be described as protected by the District’s academic freedom policy, which it is not, the District’s policies are clear that any apparent conflict between the academic freedom policy and the prohibition of harassment policy is to be resolved in favor of the harassment policy.

-- Teaching of religious material Dr. Lopez further violated District policy by teaching religious material. While the presentation of religious belief as fact in a health science class does not in the present case amount to discrimination or harassment on the basis of religion, it is inconsistent with an instructor’s duty to present materials consistent with the attainment of course objectives or the achievement of an educational principle. Moreover, it is inconsistent with the nature of Fresno City College as a public institution as it may signal the preference of one religion over another or otherwise support religion with no identifiable secular purpose. Instructors are not required to hide their own religious belief or non-belief but they may not engage in religious indoctrination as Dr. Lopez did here by assigning readings from the Bible, reading the Bible in class, and otherwise relying on the Bible as an authority in the assigned subject matter. Doing so could subject the District to legal threat for violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. It could also jeopardize the ability of the students to transfer their course credit to other institutions.

-- Appropriate Disciplinary Action Therefore, the College will take appropriate action to address these violations of policy and regulations and to prevent them from recurring in the future.

photo by Gabriella Ramirez

Professor Lopez has faced tough criticism since recent complaints became public. Now he faces what the college deems ‘appropriate action.’

For the full download of the FCC response letter in the Lopez case visit: <http://tinyurl.com/lopez-letter>

News

4 Rampage

March 17, 2010

Lewis appearance postponed

Farmers Market welcomes students

by Andrew Veihmeyer

Rampage Reporter

Courtesy of Clovis PD

Former Fresno City College quarterback Emmanuel Lewis will appear again in court March 19 for a preliminary hearing on drug charges.

A Fresno County Superior Court judge on Feb. 26 gave Lewis’ attorney a second time extension to Emmanuel Lewis prepare the former football star’s defense.

Judge Jonathan R. Conklin gave Lewis a general time waiver, ordering Lewis to appear again “for pre-prelim and prelim setting as appropriate.”

Lewis agreed to maintain the general time waiver, giving the court additional time to proceed with the trial without a dismissal.

Lewis’ attorney David Washington told The Rampage on Feb. 26 that he did not have a statement to make and said that his client would not be available for immediate comment.

Lewis’ preliminary hearing has been postponed twice. Feb. 4 was the original date.

Police arrested Lewis on Dec. 10, 2009, after a four-month investigation. Police said Lewis was involved in the possession and solicitation of illegal drugs.

photo by Abel Cortez

The Tower’s Farmer market offers students a healthy alternative to fast food.

by Emilio Gutierrez

Rampage Reporter

“That is the honey I like the most. It is made from all the flowers in the mountains.”

Hawaii, and a cavalcade of other imported and domestic fruits and vegetables.

The majority of her local produce is available for less than a dollar a pound.

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Students looking for an alternative to the food fare on campus might consider walking down to the corner of Van Ness and Olive avenues to the To-wer District Farmer’s Market.

Produce and merchandise varies at the market, which is essentially a central Fresno swap meet. Vendors also vary, depending on the season.

Lately, Carmen Gonzalez has been the lone vendor within the slender aluminum tubing, beneath the tarp, and behind a table of California and imported produce.

"These," she said in Span-

ish, pointing scent of the orto a box of ange blossom Fuji apples, and wildflower "are local. So honey before are the clemthey buy them. entines, the "That jalapenos, the is the honey I carrots, and like most," she so are the two said, holding kinds of honout the wildey." flower honey, D e -Carmen Gonzalez pointing out to spite the availthe foothills. ability of inexTowerDistrict Farmers’s “ I t i s m a d e pensive local from all the Market vendor flowers in the produce, business runs at a mountains." fairly inconGonzasistent pace. lez, a native Still, Gonzalez provides a of Oaxaca, Mexico, also vends taste of the majority of her fruit, plums from Peru, tomatoes from and welcomes customers to catch a Sinaloa, Mexico, pineapples from

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News

March 17, 2010

FCC Students do it for the kids Volunteers raise nearly $8,000 for Children’s Hospital.

Rampage 5

Fees continued from page 1

she said, but added that it would make it more difficult for the people already committed to their The Rampage, Saluschev cal- academics. culated that his spending this The LAO budget also sugsemester was $662 (12 units at gests that the fee increases “would $26 each, plus the cost of books). not affect financially needy stuIf it becomes $40 dents.” a unit, it would Frank jump to around Ramon, direc$830, which is tor of financial “a significant aid at FCC, amount of money stressed that in a time when it's the fee hike is really difficult to not yet in effind a part-time fect. He said job, especially Gov. Schwarfor students,” he zenegger gave said. his budget plan Even with in January and the additional that revisions -Frank Ramon would follow in $150 million generated from the Director of Financial aid May and would fee hike, Saluscontinue to be chev said, those modified in revenues would the following provide an insignificant amount of months until lawmakers reach a funds that could only help with the decision. operational costs of community “We don't want to see [the colleges. cost increase] happen but it's just “It will not be able to back- one of the ways the state is trying fill any categorical problems that to generate revenue,” Ramon said. have been cut before, such as The additional revenue EOPS and DSPS,” he said. would be collected from those Saluschev also disagrees who did not qualify for assistance with raising fees during present through financial aid. According economic hardships. “It's a bad to Ramon, those that are covered message,” he said. “As students, under financial aid will not be afwe should do all that we can to fected by any increase and will be resist this potential fee increase.” given a fee waiver, provided they But not everyone opposes meet certain requirements. raising the per-unit cost if it helps The FCC Web site states the to improve the school.

Board of Governors fee waiver is Dillon Arellano, 18, a first- considered for eligible students if year student and an EOPS student they are California residents and if aid worker, said the fee hike could they completed their FAFSA early decrease crowded enrollment and otherwise additional applications give more incentive for some are required students to value their education.

However, like many other Jessica Espinoza, 19, a stu- students, Saluschev won’t receive dent for four semesters and also help from financial aid and will an EOPS student aid worker, said surely feel the cost difference in some students are using the col- the fall if the increase goes into lege “to delay reality” and are not effect. Students can voice their taking their education seriously. concerns about the state budget “[The fee hike] would stop problems, he said, by participating a lot of students [from enrolling] in the March In March event in who aren't willing to be here,” Sacramento on March 22.

“We don't want to see [the cost increase] happen but it's just one of the ways the state is trying to generate revenue.”

photo by Abel Cortez

Students like Leticia Montes, criminology major, volunteer during Kids Day, selling newspapers.

by Ramiro Gudino

Rampage Reporter On March 9, two dozen Fresno City College student organizations collected $7,798.91 for the Children’s Hospital Central California by participating in Kids Day. Established in 1988, Kids Day is an annual event devoted to raising money for the hospital.

According to Janice Wong, a college center assistant from student activities, the college’s Police Academy raised $1,823.31 to claim the top-seller spot.

Club representatives met on campus to pick up bundles of a special edition of The Fresno Bee. Volunteers then sold the newspapers from the street cor-

ners and medians of intersections near the campus. More than 5,000 volunteers across the central San Joaquin Valley did the same.

Hospital spokesperson Micheline Golden said volunteers this year raised $435,000.

This year, Kids Day was part of "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day" – a program that rewards volunteers from eligible events with a free pass into one of the Disney theme parks. The program impacted this year’s volunteer registration, Golden said, adding that the number of participants could have been even higher from additional unregistered volunteers.

While many of the clubs staked out intersections and organized their members indepen-

dently, Jumpstart, a work-study program, invited members from other clubs to work the intersection of North Blackstone Avenue and East Clinton Avenue. 16 Jumpstart members and 30 members from six other clubs covered the corner.

Amanda Coy, Jumpstart site manager, said that it was a memorable sale. Their supplies were packed in a car trunk and the group was preparing to leave their corner close to 2 p.m. when a student approached them. He asked to buy a paper and paid with a $20 bill.

“We offered him his change and he said ‘No, keep it as long as it’s going to a good cause.’ It was very sweet.”

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News

6 Rampage

March 17, 2010

Study Spaces abound on campus

by Karina Ornelas Rampage Reporter On a campus as busy as Fresno City College, sometimes it can be a mission to find a good, quiet place to study besides the most common spots.

All over campus, students frequent areas where benches and tables are located. But most of those are not necessarily good places to study quietly without any distractions.

Although FCC offers several known resources that are helpful to students, there are many that the campus also offers unknowingly.

These hidden places and corners can be a random spot in any building, turned into a student’s own study sanctuary.

One example of a hidden corner at the FCC campus is in the west wing of the reference library, inside the main library. In this corner, there are desks, or carrels, along the back wall where students can sit and do their schoolwork without worrying about distractions or limits on their study space.

David Racki, senior librarian in charge of the reference library as well as the law library, acknowledges that hardly anyone goes into the law library throughout the day on Thursdays when there are mostly paralegal and criminal justice students.

“You can talk anywhere, but you can study here,” Racki said. “There’s never any talking allowed in here.”

Hidden places lack the one-on-one help students may be offered at designated study areas around campus, but quiet and privacy are the trade-offs. Also, students don’t need to worry

Career fair offers nursing students opportunities

by Ronisha Thomas Rampage Reporter

The west wing of the reference library provides a quiet area to study without distractions. about getting off a computer after a certain amount of time while the next student waits. Many interior areas inside FCC buildings have electricity outlets where students can plug in a laptop if they have one. There are no Internet restrictions due to the WiFi available on campus.

Some unusual study spaces can be found in plain sight.

In the center of the business quad, Terrance Johnson, a radiology tech major, sat on a bench recently while listening to music on headphones, waiting for his next class. He said that the business quad is, for him, a good study space.

Mary Bennett, also studying in the business building’s

quad, said she enjoys the spot.

Bennwett, a returning student who also attends Fresno State, said she was impressed with the business quad as a prime study area. She also recommends spots inside the

photo by Kris Goka

music students and has become a lounge of sorts for music majors.

The room, where students often practice and play their instruments, has specific open hours but can also be reserved for meetings or

Hidden places lack the one-on-one help students may be offered at designated study areas around campus, but quiet and privacy are the trade-offs. sociology building, as well as her favorite spot behind Yoshino’s.

Another unknown study area is the “Green Room,” located inside the Theater Arts building.

This small room, meant for students to study, can be used by

rehearsals.

Exploring campus, students might be surprised that once they become aware of unusual study spaces, they will start to find many new possible places to study in peace.

For the eighth year, Fresno City College held its annual Health Career Job Fair on March 4, primarily aimed at students majoring in nursing. It was one of several campus job fairs scheduled for this month.

Students who attended the job fair, which was held in the Health Sciences building, had eight vendors and many other information booths to choose from.

The vendors included area hospitals looking to give FCC students opportunities for internships and job placement.

Members of the Student Nurses Association, or SNA, attended the fair, hoping to get leads for when they leave FCC. Rose Balbon of the SNA, who will graduate in May, enjoyed the broad career choices offered by the vendors.

"The job fair helps me see different options,” Balbon said.

Another SNA student, Dalila Perez, agreed.

“It pays to bring students to come and check out the different vendors,” Perez said. “[It’s] basically marketing.”

Bonito Yu, a nursing major, said the fair will help with his goal of working in a hospital.

“This job fair will help me pass the test!” Yu said.

The vendors at the fair included: Sierra View District Hospital, Community Medical Center of Fresno, Hanford Community Medical Center, Kaplan University, lnterim Health Care, FCC Army ROTC, Madera Community Hospital, and the California Highway Patrol.

News

March 17, 2010

Rampage 7

Panel ‘takes stock’ and addresses gender issues in the workplace

photo by Abel Cortez

by Ramiro Gudino Rampage Reporter In honor of Women’s History Month, an all-women panel discussed what it means to be a woman in the 21st century at a forum in the Fresno City College Theater on Monday.

The panel was composed of Dr. Cynthia Azari, FCC president, Dr. Edythe Steward, general surgeon, Margaret Mims, Fresno County Sheriff, FaithSidlow, television news anchor for KSEE 24, and Linda DeKruif, Department Chair of Women’s Studies at FCC. Journalism instructor and Rampage adviser, Dr. Dympna Ugwu-Oju, moderated the event.

Speaking generally about how their gender has impacted their careers, the panelist focused

Dr. Cynthia Azari, Dr. Edythe Steward, Sherriff Margaret Mimns, Faith Sidlow, and Linda DeKruif participated in the all-women panel. on three areas: their background and their journey to their current positions; gender equity in their workplaces and feelings of fulfillment in their personal lives. ..

The panelists responded to questions regarding how they balance their personal and professional lives and offered advice to members of the audience. Most noted the challenges they faced in their fields and the changes that have taken place.

Sherriff Mims was the first female officer in Kerman. As a result of her hiring, badges had to be reissued, changing them from “patrolman” to “patrol officer.”

“For my uniforms I had to buy men’s shirts, pants and shoes and they all had to be tailored to fit. Thirty years later, I go to

a uniform store, and they sell clothes for women,” she said.

Sidlow stated that despite a closing of the gap, many women in her field tend to be paid 77 percent of what their male counterparts receive. “But when the economy turned, the networks started cutting the higher paid anchors. Now you’re seeing a higher percentage of women on the air,” she said.

Addressing the topic of the impact of gender in the field of higher education, DeKriuf commented on the demographics of tenured, individuals at FCC. She said that looking at overall statistics, a higher percentage of men are tenured but at the beginning of every semester, during a presentation of newly hired and tenured faculty. It appears

to that women are hired at the same level as men. She attributes the discrepancy (women achieve tenure as frequently as men.) to the higher rate of men who received their tenure 30 years ago are still making it seem as though current practices are imbalanced.

Stewart said she’d been told, “You can be a wife and be a mother and have a career, but you are never going to be great at all three at the same time.” She discussed the work required to maintain all the facets of her life as a surgeon, department chairperson, a wife, and a mother.

Azari offered encouragement for people to pursue their education regardless of where they are in their lives. She stated that she reached a point in her

life where she was married, was raising children, and established in her career, but realized that she couldn’t advance any further without a master’s.

Azari said that it required a support system in which her husband played a key role as she pursued advancement in her career, a sentiment echoed by other the panelists.

Afterward, the chairman of Centennial Committee, inducted four more stars in their 100 Starts for 100 Years campaign: Susan B. Anderson, District 2 representative of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, Dr. Leticia Escoto, a family practitioner, Sheriff Mims, and Dorothy Smith, a member of the State Center Community College District Board of Trustees.

Entertainment

Going Rogue

8 Rampage

March 17, 2010

The ninth annual Rogue Festival took place March 4-13 at locations through the Tower District and downtown Fresno. Rampage staffers Abel Cortez, Karina Ornelas, Gabriella Ramirez and Andrew Turner recorded several snapshots from the festival.

Shown above: ‘The Exonerated’ boasts a cast of current and former Fresno City College students.

‘The Exonerated’ Fresno City College performs

photo byAbel Cortez

by Andrew Turner Rampage Reporter Description of the show: A drama about six people whose lives were drastically altered after they were wrongly convicted – being placed on death row – and their journey to freedom.

photo by Abel Cortez

photo by Gabriella Ramirez

Singer/songwriter ABIGAIL NOLTE

“Belly Dance in an Enchanted Sea” ANANKA DANCE STUDIO

by Karina Ornelas Rampage Reporter Description of show: Sounds like indie/folk/ acoustic. Nolte said she has been inspired by Cat Stevens, Bob Dylan, and India Arie, among others.

Day job: Performing music is more than just a hobby for Nolte. She performs at the Starline every first and third Monday of the month. When not performing, she bartends at Starline and volunteers for Care Fresno as well.

Experiences with the Rogue: This is Nolte’s fifth year performing at the Rogue Festival, and she said it has always been a great experience. This year was particularly good because the audiences have been more attentive during performances.

On her first album: Nolte self produced her first album, “More Than a Melody,” which was released in 2006. She plans to release her next album with a full band, moving away for a bit from her acoustic sound.

Day jobs: “The Exonerated” boasts a cast consisting of current and former Fresno City College students involved with performing arts and theater.

photo by Gabriella Ramirez

‘The Hefner Monologues’ JOHN HEFNER

by Andrew Turner Rampage Reporter

Description of the show: “A show with mostly universal stories,” Hefner said, “how to make a name for yourself when you share your name with someone else.”

Experience with the Rogue: This was Hefner’s first experience in Fresno. He said he has performed in many other similar fringe festivals in other cities.

Day job: Hefner is as a store clerk at Big Planet Comics in Washington, D.C. What drew him to the Rogue: “I heard great things about the Rogue in Fresno,” Hefner said.

by Karina Ornelas

Rampage Reporter Description of show: A story of dancers placed under a magical spell underwater by an evil wizard.

Original storyline, costumes and group choreography are all done by Ely Buffin who is the organizer.

Day job: Buffin, who has been dancing since she was four years old, also has done ballet, ballroom, and Cuban, in addition to teaching belly dancing to motivate women who want to dance just to have fun.

Experiences with Rogue Festival: What the Rogue Festival does is really great. It gets people to come out to see local talent and support them. The Rogue Festival does everything to get the venue ready, providing the lights and all equipment that performances will need.

More on Buffin: Ely Buffin is founder of the “Dare to Dance” scholarship awarded at Fresno City College.

The first recipient was a young man studying dance at Fresno City College last year.

Entertainment

March 17, 2010

Rampage 9

Sea of Dreams

NYE MORTON of the Benjamin Boone Quartet

Description of the show: Morton calls it, “a quartet, along with various musicians sitting in, playing jazz music.”

Experiences with the show: Morton, a bassist, has played at four consecutive Rogue Festivals with Boone, a saxophonist and music instructor at Fresno State.

Day job: Morton is a music instructor at Fresno City College, teaching audio engineering.

What drew him to the Rogue: “It seemed like a good place to play,” Morton said.

On fellow jazz musician Mike Dana: “He can do things that make you sound good – whether you are good to start with – or not so good,” Morton said.

MIKE DANA

jazz guitarist, performing with the Benjamin Boone Quartet

The Benjamin Boone Quartet joined with various musicians sitting in to play jazz music.

photo by Abel Cortez

by Andrew Turner Rampage Reporter Day job: Dana is a music instructor and directs jazz studies at Fresno City College. Billed in the show as a “guitar titan,” he was one of four guest musicians playing with the quartet.

On playing with the Benjamin Boone Quartet: “[There exists] a newness and adventure with the Benjamin Boone Quartet, which jazz musicians are addicted to,” Dana said. “Jazz musicians hate playing the same song the same way.”

On playing jazz: “Playing music is a pretty spiritual experience because you have a bunch of people focusing energy and effort on an intangible thing – music,” Dana said.

On a career working in music: “I’m the luckiest person I know,” Dana said. “Imagine if the thing you loved most, was the thing you did – and you get paid.”

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fresno.edu Main Fresno Campus – 559-453-2039 Bakersfield Center – 661-617-3217 Visalia Center – 559-622-9958 North Fresno Center – 559-453-3440

10 Rampage

Entertainment

HINTERLANDS Rampage Reporters

Photos by Gabriella Ramirez

THA – SF

Shown above: pieces from Stephanie Ryan’s collection, “From the Publication Size Hinterlands,” which is on display through 4.9184 x 5 AprilRAMPAGE 4 in the FCC Art Space Gallery.

For your chance to win a pass, good for two, to see

CA$H

in theatres, stop by the Rampage Booth at Club Rush on March 25 Passes will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. No purchase necessary.

Limit one pass per person. Passes valid Mondays - Thursdays excluding all holidays beginning Monday, March 22, 2010.

This film is rated R. Run-of-engagement passes received through this promotion do not guarantee admission to the theatre.

Seating is on a first come, first served basis. Theatre is open to paying customers. All federal, state and local regulations apply. A recipient of tickets assumes any and all risks related to use of ticket and accepts any restrictions required by ticket provider.

Roadside Attractions, Terry Hines & Associates, The RamPage and their affiliates accept no responsibility or liability in connection with any loss or accident incurred in connection with use of a prize. Tickets cannot be exchanged, transferred or redeemed for cash, in whole or in part. We are not responsible if, for any reason, winner is unable to use his/her ticket in whole or in part. Not responsible for lost, delayed or misdirected entries.

All federal and local taxes are the responsibility of the winner.

Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary.

Participating sponsors their employees & family members and their agencies are not eligible. NO PHONE CALLS!

IN SELECT THEATRES MARCH 26

Outof

www.impawards.com

My

by Haley Dedmon and Ronisha Thomas When you look at a picture drawn by someone else, you can sometimes become inspired. Stephanie Ryan likes to draw pictures of her kids and her mom.

“People tell me that they can relate to my drawings because they raised children,” Ryan said. “[It also] reminds them of their childhood.”

Ryan, an art professor at Fresno State, is showing her work this month at the Art Space Gallery on campus. The title of the show is “From the Hinterlands” and runs through April 10.

The gallery’s curator, Edward Lund, wanted to get Ryan, one of his favorite artists, to show her paintings to the community. “This show is to present these paintings to faculty and students,” Lund said. The gallery periodically hosts a new art show for hundreds of visitors to enjoy.

Ryan is the author of a book called “The Lost Child,” which includes pictures that she painted that now appear in the art show. Her paintings have stories in them involving her younger life. They also feature drawings of her children and mother.

In a telephone interview with The Rampage, Ryan said she decided to show her work at Art Space Gallery because she has a lot of paintings to show off.

“I was told an opportunity opened up at Fresno City to show my artwork off, and decided to do so,” she said.

Ryan, who has been drawing and painting as long as she can remember, said it took her about a year and a half to put the whole show together. She said she often works with family themes.

“I’ve always worked with personal issues, always been interested in family because I came from a dysfunctional family,” Ryan said. “You can get a lot from working from your own experience.” Ryan, who has shown her work all over the world, liked the atmosphere of the Fresno City College gallery.

“I love the space,” she said, “and I teach at Fresno state and a lot of my students come from City. I also like the art department. It feels very intimate and has a nice flow. Seems like a very welcoming place.”

Ryan likes the smaller space and Run Date(s) Initial Time thinks her work interacts with it well, since sheWEDNESDAY works at home 3.17now. “It is a smaller space,” she said, “the work can speak back and forth.”

March 17, 2010

Le ag u e

by Laura Solis Rampage Reporter Directed by Jim Field Smith, romantic comedy “She’s Out Of My League” tells the story of Kirk (Jay Baruchel), an airport security average Joe who happens to find a phone belonging to a woman named Molly (Alice Eve). Because he goes through the trouble of returning it to her, Molly invites Kirk to a hockey game for his kindness.

Kirk is under the impression she is trying to set him up with her friend and is astonished to find out that she is actually “into him.” As the movie unfolds, Kirk tries his best to keep the relationship with Molly going but faces some embarrassing and emotional problems.

With three friends with very different personalities, Kirk is lost on how to keep the relationship and maybe take it to the next level. Kirk’s friend, Devon, is a married, overweight guy who is intrigued by love

and fantasy. Devon loves to give advice but is drowned out by Stainer, Kirk’s other airport friend. Stainer is very opinionated and has a unique outlook and uses a system that ranks people from one to ten based on their physical looks.

He argues that Molly is a “hard” ten, Kirk being a four, “arguably” a five, and that their relationship would never work. He told Kirk he would only be successful if he dated someone who was two points higher than him, and that Molly is definitely out of his league.

This romantic comedy lives up to its category. Jay Baruchel is a great actor.

His role as a quirky guy who is awkward fits him perfectly. From his posture to his facial expressions he makes when he talks, they could not have found a better guy, having that dorky charm. Everyone fit their characters well and seemed to live up to each character’s personality.

The music used consist of songs from current popular artists that fit into the story well, conveying the scenes perfectly. The film is full of drama, fun and insane moments making it a great time at the movies. If you are looking to score some points with your girl but don’t want to watch a “chick flick”, this is your movie. Take that special person to watch this movie and who knows, maybe you’ll be the next person dating someone “out of your league”.

March 17, 2010

Entertainment

CYC volunteers get the word out

by Jaren Hockert Rampage Reporter

Down in Fresno’s Chinatown, on lower F Street near Ventura Avenue, the Chinatown Youth Center, or CYU, a youth center dedicated to art and community, operates at a different pace.

“It’s all about students, for students’ entertainment,” said Chris Perez, a CYU volunteer, just before a punk show March 14.

Perez said all the volunteers are students at either Fresno City College or at Fresno State. The CYC, he said, gives college kids something to do.

“When people coordinate, they photo by Kris Goka can get the word out,” he said. “People Student volunteers in CYC work to make a difference in the community. find out there is entertainment in Fresno.”

The center does music shows including rock and “I helped out,” Wilson said. “My parents volunpunk and all types of sub genres of music. It has even teered their money and time to fix the bathroom. But it’s hosted a hip-hop show and a techno show that packed in been a collaboration of everybody.” about 140 people, the most the center has held at one time, Pachia Vang has just started volunteering at the according to Perez. The center also participates in Art Hop CYC. and hosts movie nights, and will be participating in this “Jeremy asked me [to volunteer] and I eventually year’s Chinatown Parade. started coming more often for my friends, just hanging out Rachanee Wilson, a front-desk volunteer who has and doing whatever they needed really,” Vang said. been at the center since its beginning, said a few places Wilson said anyone can become a member for $1 have now opened up nearby. and attend free shows. The membership also gets you a $1 “It’s exciting,” she said. “A skate and apparel shop discount on shows with a price tag. opened up. So did a graffiti art gallery, a screen printing The membership fees go toward paying for electricstore – we can make our own t-shirts soon! – a Chinese ity and soon water as well, providing snacks and water and food place and a Chinese herbal medicine shop as well.” even earplugs if the music is uncomfortably loud.

“It’s like we’re changing things,” Wilson said. “For Haley Lopez, another new volunteer, got involved a while we had no venue and any stage or set place to play, through Perez. just playing at houses and garages. Now … we’re chang“I knew Chris. At first I would come to the shows. ing the block.”

And then my band started playing and I just recently started Perez, Wilson, along with main organizer of the volunteering.”

CYC, Jeremy Brownstein, and some of their families were When asked why she did it, Wilson responded, “I at first the only volunteers to renovate and coordinate the do it to support my scene.”

CYC. Now they have about 10 volunteers.

For more details, visit the CYC Web site at ChinaWilson was friends with Brownstein, who first got TownYouthCenter.blogspot.com. her to volunteer.

Rampage 11

Our Family Wedding

by Sebouh Simonian Rampage Reporter With the approaching end of her TV show, “Ugly Betty,” America Ferrera doesn’t seem to be having any trouble bouncing back. She is part of an impressive cast in the new film, “Our Family Wedding” that includes Forest Whitaker, Lance Gross, and Carlos Mencia.

The film is about young couple Lucia and Marcus, played by Ferrera and Gross, who have fallen in love and want to get married before he joins a “Doctors With Borders” mission to help poor people in Laos get medical aid. The couple goes to Los Angeles to tell their parents about the upcoming wedding since neither set of parents knows about the engagement.

Things don’t get off to a good start when the future father-in-laws attend the couples dinner and realize they have met earlier in the day. Brad Boyd, played by Whitaker, has his car towed by Mencia’s character, Miguel.

Brad realizes his much younger date was a high school friend of Lucia’s.

The families soon decide to have the wedding in LA and things are a real mess when Lucia’s family quickly takes over the wedding plans to make it a traditional Mexican event which includes a live goat that later ends up eating Brad’s supply of Viagra, later sharing an intimate moment with him.

The film is loaded with funny moments where the families from two very different worlds try to integrate two different cultures into one family and how Lucia and Marcus try to deal with their pushy families. One line that is repeated by both throughout the wedding preparations is “My marriage, they’re wedding.”

It is funny but is loaded with a lot of racial stereotypes and often goes off in several strange directions with the goat and Viagra situation and the relationship between Lucia’s parents.

People who enjoy the work of Mencia, Whitaker, Ferrera, will enjoy the film as will anyone who is looking for a good laugh and won’t mind a chaotic script and several offensive moments.

Overall I would give the film an A- .

Views

12 Rampage

March 17, 2010

WE JUST WANNA DANCE

by Kimberly Ann Hodges

Rampage Reporter

Admit it; you dance alone in your underwear. You dance alone in your car to 80s songs, and you sing them loud and proud while you bounce around in the driver’s seat. I bet you even quietly sing into your shampoo bottle while you shake your booty just a little bit in the shower.

It’s great, right? Flailing your arms, jumping up and down, or even just bobbing your head to a good beat can easily loosen someone up. Letting your body and mind get lost in the trance of a good tune can be euphoric for some people. And with a feeling like that, who needs anything else?

I’m sure it’s not hard to believe that some people do need a little something extra to enjoy the scenes they love. The reality of any music scene, as far as stereotypes go, is that the members involved sometimes do need something else. The clichés are there: The country scene usually involves the cowboys throwing back an ice cold Coors Light around a bonfire.

The hip-hop scene can usually be associated with graffiti and maybe even a little bit of coke here and there. Punk involves a little bit of everything from vandalism, to binge drinking, to heroin (like Sid Vicious, right?). Hippies like to enjoy a nicely rolled joint to smoke

Emilio Gutierrez

while they relax to Bob Dylan or The Beatles. And ravers… well, some of them don’t care about possible holes in their brain, and they do ecstasy. And, of course, we’ve got straightedge kids who are sober and completely cool with it.

Lately I’ve been trying to find some new scenes in the Fresno area to broaden my musical horizons. Between flyers posted, MySpace, and word-of-mouth around campus, I’ve noticed a huge electronic music and dance scene growing and expanding. I was curious to see what it was all about.

I’ve always loved dancing – I’m totally the person that dances every morning in my underwear to start my day off as exciting as possible. But being under 21 in Fresno, there hasn’t been much for me to do in the electronic dance scene that didn’t involve being carded to get in.

There was an all-ages electronic dance, or a “rave,” in early February. It was held at a relatively small building downtown, no bar involved, but it was a just what I expected: glow sticks, crazy outfits, black lights, and some good bass making my heart beat faster while I let loose next to the DJ table. I love the feeling I got being on the dance floor. People

were shoulder to shoulder, everyone was dancing together, and when the beat dropped and went back up again, the whole room went wild and the moves continued with more intensity than before. It’s amazing to see so many people letting everything in their mind stop and run on impulse. You can’t help but let the music take over and you almost can’t control the movement once you get going.

Photo courtesy of www.layoutsparks.com

for “possible” drug use.

The sad thing is that some events do get watched closely or even shut down, even when the promoters and event holders want nothing to do with the drug scene (in this case, the notorious reputation of ecstasy at raves) and are honestly passionate for the music.

I was curious to see what the event holders thought of this.

I was grateful to get the opportu-

Letting your body and mind get lost in the trance of a good tune can be euphoric... with a feeling like that, who needs anything else? - Kimberly Ann Hodges When I walked out of the venue to get some air, I wasn’t surprised to what happened. A girl I didn’t know walked up and asked the question I’d been expecting to hear all night: “Are you looking for some E?” I knew it had to come up at some point in the night.

I believe it’s people like this who create the stereotypes I mentioned before. That’s why certain scenes are often looked down on – not only by conservative parents or city officials, but the police and agencies who have the ability to shut these events down

nity to speak with Shant Postoyan (better known as DJ Shant) and Jeremy Cusimano (or J-Cuzi) from VibeRite, a non-profit organization that hold events around Fresno and also sponsors or DJs at events such as the one I attended.

Again, I’m under 21, so for there to be an all-ages dance that doesn’t suck is awesome. According to Postoyan and Cusimano, VibeRite is involved strictly for the love of “spreading the right vibe” (hence the name) and creating a rave scene in Fresno that can be appreciated and respected by everyone.

The Changing Of The Guard

Rampage Reporter First, a few simple truths.

There will never be enough parking spots. Thus, the early student gets the proverbial worm. Bus rider? Well, the worm comes to you instead.

Truly, late is better than never. There are some circles where one tardy is two-thirds short of one absence, but even that is still a courtesy. If we disagree, think of one-third to none – in pizza terms. Exactly. Pizza knows no absentee ballot.

Generally, it’s not too hard to get a hold of the little things you want on a day-to-day basis. Need coffee? Buy it by the cup. Need to make a phone call? Just don’t make it in class. Can’t find bite to eat? Yeah, “there’s an app for that,” a la Apple spokesperson.

One more thing – the 18-24 year old demographic (the majority of Fresno City College students fall into this group) is terribly underrepresented within the workings of our day’s democracy. In 2008, 55.7 percent of the 18-24 year old voters, according to the United States Census Bureau, were out playing hooky, absent, not represented.

This is a disturbing trend, and in startling contrast to other end of the age-group spectrum. Statistically, your grandparents vote more often than your friends do. The same census reported 65.8 percent of people over the age of 75 drop the ballot.

Now, I understand that we (I just tip-toed to 24 years old myself) are busy people. If there isn’t a list of things we

need to do, there is still the growing list of things we want to do. To college youth, performing a civic duty – jury duty, for example – is like washing that pair of socks that spent too much time on your feet, were puddle-moistened, and then dried over a dusty heater. It is just too easy to not care and throw them away, to replace them – mostly because there is no great shortage of socks in the country.

Our voice, our place in a functioning democracy, however, is not disposable. It cannot be justly replaced. As to our civic duties, there exists no reasonable substitution.

We are blessed with our own vote, as cold feet are blessed with dryer-fresh socks.

Now, I understand that we are a diverse group. There is variety to our circumstances like there is variety to our faces. But what dire circumstances exist that we would opt to silence ourselves and slip so quietly into obscurity?

I understand that there are some that refuse to vote for principled reasons: government is a bureaucratic slog, politicians are bought-and-paid-for, promises are empty, feet drag to the beat of the greenback drum. But apathy and absence are hardly solutions, and disillusionment is only ammunition. It is the brightest light any one person can shine on the ideological hide-and-seek that so often drives policy.

For example: In 1975, the Supreme Court upheld the idea that money is no different than free speech, a perverse addition to the empowerment of corporate personhood.

Money is speech, and there is hardly enough change in the couch to buy better policy.

I understand that student protests are on the rise. UC San Diego has been inundated with student outcry over rac-

VibeRite is working hard to make this scene not only fun, but safe and enjoyable for everyone.

They do their best to have proper watch and to keep drugs and alcohol out of their passion. Newbies to the scene who don’t want to be associated with ecstasy need something like this to help us let loose and enjoy our weekends in a safe environment.

Honestly, I don’t need to pop a pill to enjoy glowsticks and intense lighting. As Postoyan explained, glowsticks and creating crazy light streams are just a form of art that go well with the music.

I for one can be completely sober and as entertained by a glow stick as a cat with a string of yarn. It’s just one of those simple pleasures to see. I don’t want holes in my brain, and there are a lot of others out there who just want to enjoy these “right vibes” put out by passionate artists.

I hope this scene continues in the right path, and I’m excited to see companies like VibeRite working so hard to make it happen.

I want a good scene that lets me let loose. I want to be able to dress in the craziest, tackiest clothes I have and hit the floor without that feeling of dread that police will shut it down. Simply, I just want to dance.

ism. Not so far away, Fresno State held a walk-out protesting furloughs, cuts in class availability, and rising tuition costs.

But what are so many voices worth if they are not counted and never clearly, completely heard? How can the student body save its education when it is still and silent within the whirlpools of the political runaround?

Insofar, the mainstay of our democracy is subjected to the whims of faceless entities with the ideological tendency to dominate, to dry away democracy with focus groups, advertisement, distraction, and consumption.

And it’s working.

Thus, they are The Guard, the gate-keepers, and we might only catch a glimpse of what they hold from us, from some relatively safe distance.

So, if you believe it is corrupt, shamelessly speak of the inequities the status quo has laid upon the disenfranchised. If you believe government officials are generally self-interested, you are right. So let them feel the fear of losing the power that is bequeathed upon them by our consent to be governed. Air the dirty laundry. There is no app for democracy, and no one voice will ever stir like the hum of millions, not even our current president.

Silence changes nothing – in a quiet world, 10 years in a future where we stay silent will be no different than 10 minutes. The future can promise nothing to that which was never there to begin with.

If you want something now, if you need something now, then there is no better time than now - to prepare ourselves, to stand and to stir our rumbling gift, our voice, to call for the changing of the guard.

Views

March 17, 2010

P2P Campus Voices

by Nongshtia Vue

by Kyle Calvert

Photos by Valerie Hill

Rampage Reporter

Rampage Reporters

How will you deal with the fee hikes?

“I receive fee waivers, but I hope it doesn’t affect the disabled students.”

- Beverly Hubbard Horticulture

“No more slacking. I’m hoping for financial aid.”

- James Chansombat Sociology

“Financial aid. The school needs money. I guess it’s okay…not really I might as well go to state.”

- Joseline Martinez Liberal Studies

“Apply for financial aid.

I’m already working full time.”

- William Frank History

“Take fewer classes, and rely on financial aid.”

- Jomita Taylor Undecided

“Either not come to school, or get a job and apply for financial aid.”

- Stephanie Wininger Undecided

“Ask my parents for money and hopefully get financial aid.”

- Bianca Madladang Journalism

Rampage 13

Versus The World

Ever thought like a thief?

It’s simple enough for most people to understand a thief’s mind – when thieves find something they want, but are not in the mood to buy, they find an alternative, illegal means to acquire it. This is the motivation for countless people worldwide – primarily, internet users that know where to look.

Enter the world of peer-topeer file transfer. Users upload files called torrents to a tracker website. Other users visit the website and download the torrent file.

By opening that file in a program such as uTorrent or Azureus, users connect to seeders (people that have all the files and upload them) and peers (people that have some files, but upload what they do have and download what they don’t at the same time.) The torrent file tells this program what files to find from seeders and peers, and downloads them.

If you can’t tell, this is highly illegal, but as a frequent flyer on the Internet, I can definitely understand the allure. Let’s say you need some software for your class but you don’t have the budget for it. For example, a digital copy of the Adobe CS4 Master Collection (all of Adobe’s latest official software such as Photoshop and InDesign) is about eight gigabytes worth of data. The average user can download it in

Photo courtesy of www.netharuka.com

is copy protection – security built into the data that stops the files from working if it was pirated.

Normally it involves a serial number that has to be submitted, which are unique to each purchase.

Pirates therefore develop their own software to get around such measures in the form of a serial key generator (keygen) or a copy of the executable file that’s been altered to bypass the copy protection

“As widespread as it is, it seems like there’s almost no risk for potentially incredible rewards.” - Kyle Calvert three to five days.

With a few clicks of the mouse and some patience, someone has stolen a re-useable copy of this software (which Adobe prices at a hefty $2,499 in the United States.)

How big of a deal is this?

Well, think of it this way: in less than a week anyone can freely acquire $2500 worth of software at no cost to them, and freely distribute it. Maybe you’ve had to pay $2500 for some things before; I’d be willing to bet that it wasn’t a single DVD with programs on it. $2500 is more than what my best friend in high school paid for his car. As far as material value is concerned, even if the user doesn’t sell the software, they’ve made a huge profit, and almost any program, movie, music, videogame and TV show can be stolen this way.

The only hassle involved

(called a crack.) When you need to break the rules (or in this case, laws) it’s just a matter of knowing where to look.

I’ve talked to a lot of people on the subject, all heavily involved with P2P. They have stolen more electronically than I can fathom.

Talk to anyone with a decent internet connection; it’s a good bet that they, their friends, or even their neighbors (using an unsecured wireless connection) are pirates.

Tracker websites such as The Pirate Bay, IsoHunt and Demonoid keep statistics for their registered users, who have uploaded torrents and seed the files – thereby helping millions of others steal the data in question.

Some users have uploaded as much as 10 terabytes in the past few years. That number may not seem like much, but consider that the typical computer at Fresno City College has roughly 75 gigabytes

of hard drive space. One terabyte holds just over a thousand gigabytes – about 13 times the space.

Ten terabytes can contain 130 of the computers on campus.

In the past, according to Reuters, most of the internet traffic in China has come from piracy. If a single user in the United States has uploaded 10 terabytes in the past couple years, what volume of pirated data comes from China, where it’s much more common? If 0.1 percent of China’s population was pirates (roughly 1.3 million people as of 2008) and a typical user consistently downloading files gets 500 gigabytes annually, then they’d be sharing 600-700 terabytes of data a year. That’s just over one hundred and thirty one thousand copies of Adobe CS4 Master, totaling $327,548,928 worth of software. I could retire right now with that kind of money.

See the appeal yet?

It’s crime, but for as widespread as it is, it seems like there’s almost no risk for potentially incredible reward. How often do you hear of someone being busted for piracy? Never, right?

Piracy is the perfect example of how anything you want is at your fingertips through the Internet. It’s a big controversy, but everybody can (and likely does) download things without paying for them. As the internet grows, so do the options and I can see piracy growing steadily over time… no matter how businesses try to stop it.

Sports

14 Rampage

March 17, 2010

“It is eye opening to see people from other cultures and learn how they live. Our kids don’t know how good they have it.” - Track coach Robert Foster

Jamaican Athlete Lands at FCC

By Valerie Hill

Rampage Reporter

Jamaican track athlete Kaven Waysome had one reason for his sudden interest in America and Fresno City College.

“Opportunity,” he said.

Waysome, according to his coach and teammates, sets the standard for the FCC track and field team, not only in the men’s 200 and 400 meter categories but also in the area of commitment.

Head coach Robert Foster saw a change almost immediately in the work ethic and dedication of his team after Waysome arrived after winter break. Waysome stepped into the life of a completely different culture, Foster said, and embraced the change.

Kids in Jamaica have a much tougher time than kids in the United States, Foster said. “[They] don’t have luxuries or conveniences but have a strong work ethic. They don’t expect someone to take care of them.”

Waysome said his first and foremost objective is to excel in his classes and feel secure with his grades before focusing on running.

Coach Foster was one of the first connections his family had in transferring to the states, Waysome said.

“Our goal is for you to get a good education and come back and help the kids in Jamaica,” is what he remembers his family telling him before he left.

Waysome’s mentality and hard work has rubbed off on his teammates. Coach Foster ex-

Photo by Valerie Hill

Jamaica native and Fresno City College student athlete Kaven Waysome takes a moment to rest during an intense workout involving sprints. presses the difference in Jamaican expectations.

“There is a different level of work expected [there],” Foster said. “It is eye opening to see people from other cultures and learn how they live. Our kids don’t know how good they have it.”

A fellow track runner, Kaitlynn Castaneda , told the story of one of Waysome’s first experiences with American currency.

He didn’t know what change was, Castaneda said. The cashier gave

it to him and he threw it away because he didn’t know what to do with it.

Another fellow runner on the FCC track team, Onna Turner, said Waysome “fits in well as part of the team and impresses everyone in races.”

In the CSU Stanislaus Alumni-All Comers Meet on Feb. 20, Waysome placed first in the 400-meter dash with 50.49 and second in the 200-meter dash with a 22.34 time, according to the Cal

State Stanislaus results.

On Feb. 21, he “won the [COS 400-meter dash] in 50.49, just ahead of teammate Donnell Love’s 50.61,” according to the Fresno Bee. Each day, Coach Foster said he pushes Waysome to achieve things that would not be possible for him in his home country.

He hopes to assist Waysome in qualifying to compete in state championships.

“He has never trained at

this level before,” Foster said.

“Normally he would be running later in May or June, so his training has sped up. He can only get better from here.”

Waysome said he hopes to move up to a state college and continue on with his degree and someday become a physical education coach.

If the Olympics were to call, he will answer and represent his native Jamaica, sporting his country’s colors.

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Sports

March 17, 2010

Rampage 15

Men’s Hoops Bounced in Playoffs

by Ramiro Gudino Rampage Reporter

photo by Gabriella Ramirez

Forward Edward Wills, pictured here in a game against Porterville in February, led the Rams throughout their playoff run.

After an upset victory over No.5-seed American River College in the second round, the Fresno City College men’s basketball team ended its season with a loss to No.4-seed San Jose City.

FCC lost in the regional quarterfinals March 6, to San Jose City, 89-80. During the loss, head coach Ed Madec said the team’s

“effort was as good as it could get” but they “didn’t execute on offense.”

The Rams began the playoffs with a first-round bye. On Feb. 26, the team played American River for an 86-83 win, led by forward Edward Willis with 19 points and guard Brandon Johnson with 17 points.

In the Central Valley Conference Championship, FCC tied with College of the Sequoias for a share of their ninth consecutive

conference title after a victory over Porterville on Feb. 17. Madec told the Rampage they would be getting ready and focused for another run at a state championship, a title the Rams have held four times: 1955, 1963, 2005, and 2007.

To continue the “strong, rich tradition” of the men’s basketball team, Madec said the team needs to “work hard to improve in all areas,” though he said the team’s point guard “needs to improve drastically.”

Photos by Gabriella Ramirez

Sumiya Darden, 31 fights her way through a double-team by two Sierra players during FCC’s home playoff game. Sierra went on to upset the Rams, ending FCC’s season.

Women’s Basketball Upset in NorCal Playoffs

by Ray Juarez

Rampage Reporter In a tough playoff upset that ended their season, the Fresno City College women’s basketball team lost to Sierra College, 96-86, on Feb. 27, making it the first time in seven years where the team didn’t advance to the regional finals.

Coach Brian Tessler and his team, seeded No.2 in the NorCal region, knew the game against No.18 seed Sierra was going to be tough and indeed it was.

“Tonight wasn’t our night,” Tessler told The Rampage after the game. “I’m disappointed for my girls because they’ve played hard over the last seven months.”

The Rams, who went undefeated in Central Valley Conference play during the regular season, rallied from an early

second-half deficit but fell short late in the game.

The Rams caught up, just five points behind as the end of regulation ticked away but Sierra wouldn’t let go of its lead. The Wolverines, who shot 52 percent from the field on the night, headed to the line, sinking their free throws late in the game to finish their upset of the Rams.

Early in the second half, Sierra led by as much as 18 points, at 60-42, wasting no time advancing their halftime lead.

Fresno City played hard, aggressive defense throughout the second half, putting the pressure on Sierra and hoping for a lastminute miracle. The Rams tried to set the tone by double teaming and closing the gap. Unable to capitalize with some steals of their own, FCC trailed to the end.

Their miracle didn’t come.

“They took it right at us from start to finish,” Tessler said in a news release, several days after the loss.

“We never led throughout the entire 40 minutes.”

From the opening minutes of the first half, Fresno City trailed.

The Rams tried to answer back, only for Sierra to take its lead to a dozen midway through the first half. Both teams played aggressive defense, but with FCC missing some easy buckets, Sierra took an 11-point lead going into half time and never looked back.

Sierra head coach Brandie Murrish said that with the victory, the team looked forward to advancing in the playoffs. The team went on to lose to Chabot in the next round.

“As underdogs, we played with a lot of pride,” Murrish told The Rampage, as her players

FCC guard Blakely Goldberg, center, battles two Sierra defenders. celebrated.

Coach Tessler, who was disappointed after the game, said he told his team at halftime to play hard.

“If we lose, we’re going to lose our style,” Tessler said, “and

that’s playing hard up and down the floor.”

After shaking hands at the end of the game, Sierra players celebrated, hugging and jumping up and down at their bench. Fresno City players left the court quickly.

Sports

16 Rampage

March 17, 2010

Protecting ‘The Vision’

by Annette DeDios Rampage Reporter

’s tennis College men ents. y it C o sn re ud eF ternational st Since 20h0as3, th featured 18 inon the team, welcomed team ded to that four players This season, h Steve Loop, will be adese men on by head coacces are you walk past th me to FCC group. Chan ight never know they ca m campus and from across the globe. lected at the yers are se rnational pla e a dedicated interest te in id sa p o av Lo uates the e level and h junior collegege’s program. FCC eval Federation in the coll n International Tennis ainst both o ag players based lists the players’ results nents. o h p ic p h o w al n s, lt io resu ring d Internat American an r international students b erican m u A “O e , h e team. T Loop said y unique to th e they come something vera lot from them and wheroser.” players learn which brings the team cl protecting from, cused on id The the team is fo This season, ll “The Vision.” Loop sa es each what they cacommon goal that motivatach that re e n to Vision is “o e the team all they can the state player to giv tially the vision is to wineated.” en ef d vision. Ess ship. So far we are un ason’s this se champion e got to know s their The Rampagdents, who shared with u ip. u sh st n international winning a state champio vision of photos by Gabriella Ramirez

When, why, and how did you come to FCC? “I came in August last year after spending some time in Alabama. My coach there recommended me to FCC.” What do you like most about FCC? “FCC is great. The tennis program is good and I enjoy being a part of it.”

What is the biggest difference between Fresno and home? “The people. It is very diverse here and there are more opportunities as far as college sports go.”

What do you plan on accomplishing while at FCC? “Well, the Vision definitely and as far as my studies go, I have not decided on a major. I love to play tennis and I am trying to get a full scholarship to keep playing.”

Coach Loop says: “John is a great team player.

He is well respected because he works hard on his game and he really wants to be successful.”

Illustrations special to the Rampage

When, why, and how did you come to FCC? “I moved here in January of this year. I wanted to continue my education and play tennis. I heard about FCC and got in touch with Coach Loop. I was able to come to the U.S. and play right away.”

What do you like most about FCC? “My team. I love that I can do what I love to do – play tennis. The coach is great.

He helps us all improve to be the best.”

What is the biggest difference between Fresno and home? “Athletic scholarships are not available in Brazil. You either study, work, or play professional.

It is easier to study and play at the same time here.”

What do you plan on accomplishing while at FCC? “The Vision. Playing tennis is what I love to do. Other than that, I plan improving my English and transferring to a four year university.”

Coach Loop says: “Luiz brings that loose fun attitude to the team. He is very caring and very respectful of his teammates.

He is working hard and getting better.”

When, why, and how did you come to FCC? “I played professional tennis for three years and it didn’t work out.

Because of that I’m not eligible to play for a Division I school, so I began looking for schools that would accept me, so I came here, Next year I will be transferring to Fresno Pacific University on a full scholarship.”

What do you like most about FCC? “FCC is great.

Education is top-notch, and most of all I love my teammates. I love the guys, our personalities mesh well and I couldn’t ask for a better team.”

What is the biggest difference between Fresno and home? “Health care is a huge issue here. There are more people needing health care here than in Canada. The weather is the most noticeable. It is a lot warmer here that’s for sure.”

What do you plan on accomplishing while at FCC? “To win the state championship with my team, win the individual tournament, have a good time and get good grades.”

Coach Loop says: “Kirril is one of the best players we have ever had at Fresno City College.

He leads by example and strives to be his very best.”

When, why, and how did you come to FCC? “I came to FCC on January 9, 2009, and I love it. I was looking to get a scholarship to play tennis and I had some school lined up in the U.S. I decided to come to California and I somehow contacted Steve Loop and the price here was reasonable.”

What do you like most about FCC? “I love my team, the tennis program and all the different people that go here.”

What is the biggest difference between Fresno and home?

“The climate is very different her from the climate in Estonia. In Estonia we feel four seasons. Here it feels like we have two. The legal driving age is higher and the drinking age is lower in Estonia.

We also have cheaper health care in Estonia.”

What do you plan on accomplishing while at FCC? “Tennis-wise, of course, we have The Vision of coming together as a team and winning the state championship. The Vision unites us. Last year we came in second.

This year we plan to take first.”

Coach Loop says: “Taavi brings a very competitive eye to the court and it really carries over to the rest of the team. He is very fiery and emotional and the guys feed off of that.”