Viewpoints 11/05/2009

November, 5, 2009 An Associated Collegiate Press two-time national Pacemaker award-winning newspaper, serving students since 1922. Vol. xxxVIII, No. 5

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Groundbreaking news for RCC For a

NEWS see Page 2

Ashley Robinson / Asst. Photo Editor

Excavation of a new future: Nursing students, their mentors and Riverside Community College administration dig into a new future Oct. 29 at

the site of the former parking lot A, for the erection of the new Nursing building .

2 | November 5, 2009

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Let’s get patriotic Come join the ASRCC in honoring those who served our country.

Cupcakes and flags will be given out in the A.G. Paul Quadrangle from 12:50-1:50 p.m. on November 11.

Take a bow LIVE! On Campus Concert Series presents Voice Studio Recital.

Featuring the students of John Byun, Stephen Anastasia, Rebecca Tomlinson, Nancy Estes and LaVista Silva.

The concert takes place on Nov. 12 from 12:45 -1:45 p.m. in the RCC Digital Library Auditorium, and is free and open to the public.

Hit me with your best shot On Nov. 16, the Riverside City College will be holding an Adult Immunization Awareness Health Education Outreach Event in front of the Admissions building from 12-2 p.m

How funky is your turkey?

On Nov. 24 from 12:50-1:50 p.m. turkey bowling will take place in the Quad.

The top three scores will receive gift certificates to the book store and other various prizes will be given out

Ring around the roses The RCC Marching Tigers have been invited to perform in the 2010 Tournament of Roses Parade.

Riverside City College has a $90 ticket package that includes grandstand seating on Colorado Boulevard, an official Rose Parade program and charter bus transportation to and from the Parade.

Tickets are open to students, faculty, staff and family members and are sold on a first come, first served basis.

Interested parties should contact Kristen Van Hala at 951-222-8455, kristen.vanhala@ rcc.edu or in the president’s office.

‘Durang, Durang’ The Off Broadway Play Series presents “Durang Durang Durang,” a trip of Christopher Durang’s comedies.

“For Whom the Southern Belle Toll’s” is a parody of “The Glass Menagerie,” “‘Dentity Crisis” parodies modern psychiatry and “The Actor’s Nightmare” is the story of an accountant who accidentally becomes an actor.

The play will be held Nov. 18, 19, 20 and 21 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 21 at 2 p.m. in the Quad Room 144 (Singletary Hall.)

For more information call 951-222-8100 or go to landispac.com.

Smells like team spirit The Riverside City College Holiday Tennis Tournament is Dec. 11, 12 and 13.

There will be three divisions, high school, college and open. High school and college players cannot wear any school affiliated clothing.

Entry fees are $25 for singles and $30 for doubles and the deadline is Dec. 4.

Entry forms can be found at athletics.rcc.edu on the Tennis page.

For more information contact Jim Elton at Jim.elton@rcc.edu

Bittersweet symphony The Riverside City College Symphony Orchestra will be performing a concert on Nov. 24 at All Saints Episcopal Church in Riverside.

The concert is free and open to the public.

For more information go to rccsymphony.com.

ashley robinson / asst. photo editor

Moving forward: Riverside City College President Jan Muto addresses attendees at the ground breaking of the new Nursing Science building.

New additions lead to happy hearts Jessica Denilofs Staff Writer Aubrianna Plavajaka Staff Writer “Today our dream becomes a reality,” said School of Nursing Dean, Dr. Sandy Baker as she addressed nursing faculty and students.

The dream is the new School of Nursing and Science/Math Complex scheduled to be built and finished at Riverside City College by fall 2011.

“I like to say this project was like a ten year pregnancy,” Baker said. “Today, we go in to labor and in two years we’ll deliver a very large new nursing building.”

The building is being funded by both Bond Measure C and state funds which are supported by the Riverside Community College District Foundation.

The project has a budget of $85,158,833.

Fifty-nine million dollars will come from the state construction act funds and $25,850,533 will come from Bond Measure C. The complex will consist of a 2-story nursing building which will be 37,000 square feet and a four story Science Building which will be 95,000 square feet.

These will hold 26 classrooms, 12 lecture halls, 12 laboratories, two teleconference rooms, a Cyber Cafe and a Healing Garden.

Facilites will also include a HumanPatient Simulator lab with a medical/ surgery patient room, an exam room, a Labor and Delivery room and an Intensive Care Unit.

Students enrolled in the program will have the benefit of attaining access to all of the sophisticated technology that is used in the work place.

Various courses will be offered, such as a clinical skills laboratory, advanced training for nursing professionals and expanded laboratories for general sciences such as chemistry, mathematics, physical sciences and life sciences “The new building will enable (RCC Nursing graduates) to meet the community’s needs,” Baker said.

Crystal Frazer, a nursing student who will be graduating before the building is finished, shared her thoughts.

“We really need this building to accommodate more students,” Frazer said.

“Nursing demands are so high there’s not enough schools.”

“Community College always produced great nurses,” said RCCD Board of Trustees President, Virginia Blumenthal. “Our nurses are often the most hired and most desired.”

Nursing students and ceremony attendees squeezed closely together as they watched and cheered while the ground was ceremonially broken with golden shovels.

In attendance was newly inaugurated Riverside City College President, Jan Muto, and Riverside Mayor, Ron Loveridge.

Chancellor Gregory Gray was presented with the ceremonial chrome shovel engraved with the date of the ground breaking, a tradition of Barnhart Inc., the company who provided the shovels and plaque.

Following the ceremony, smiling nursing students and faculty gathered for photo opportunities to remember their epic day together.

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News

November 5, 2009 | 3

RTA gives back to students lauren garcia asst. News editor Who wants to be the millionth rider?

On the morning of Oct. 26, the Riverside Transit Agency awarded Viridiana Jimenez with a free iPod Touch, a hat, a coffee mug along with additional promotional items in honor of its one-millionth ride by students in the Riverside Community College District.

Eighteen-year-old Jimenez is majoring in criminal justice and rides the bus to school five days a week.

Jimenez has truly benefitted from this program because both of her parents work full time and would not otherwise have a ride to school if it weren’t for RTA. Attendees of the event included RTA Chairman of the Board Karen Spiegel, Riverside County Supervisor Marion Ashley, Riverside City Councilman Andy Melendrez, RTA CEO Larry Rubio, Mayor Loveridge, Moreno Valley Councilwoman Robin Hastings and Edward Bush, vice president of Student Services at Riverside City College.

The Go-Pass program enables students at the Riverside, Norco and Moreno Valley campuses to ride the RTA buses for free by swiping their student identification cards.

Janet Zavala, a first time

Serving students since 1922

college student at the Riverside campus, also relies on the bus to get to and from school Monday through Friday.

“I can’t even imagine how expensive it would be to pay to ride the bus to school every day,” Zavala said. “I save tons of money that can be used for tuition and textbooks.”

The Go-Pass program is funded by different areas where RCCD students live such as Corona, the County of Riverside, Moreno Valley, Norco, Perris and Riverside.

During 2009’s fiscal year, about 850,000 students from the Riverside, Moreno Valley, and Norco campuses boarded.

Bradley Weaver, the RTA marketing coordinator, commented on the system.

“We are very pleased with the programs success,” Weaver said.

“Not only are students able to get free rides to school but they are also reducing the amount of cars on the road as well as the amount of emissions,” Weaver said.

With the normal bus fare being $1.50 a day, students will be saving a ton of money a semester taking the bus for free.

RTA has been serving the public since March 16, 1977 and has been serving students for free in the RCCD for more than a year.

They have 30 fixed routes, 8

commuter routes as well as the Dial-A-Ride Service.

The College has a variety of projects on hand that will definitely provide new resources for students to recieve an even better education.

Wi t h t h e u n d e rg o i n g construction in the lower parking lots, and the basic termination of parking lots A and B, having a parking space is not always a luxury students can easily attain.

RTA is a smart option to beat the traffic.

ShakeOut, don’t freak out

Amy warshauer news editor

About every 150 years, the region of the San Andreas Fault experiences a catastrophic earthquake.

The last one was 300 years ago.

Scientists have predicted that due to the delay in the incident, the upcoming earthquake is going to be the most destructive by far, plausibly a 7.8 scale, and lasting up to two minutes in various areas.

The magnitude of shaking is expected to make an estimated 1,500 buildings collapse, cause massive infrastructures crumble, and create serious damage to at least 300,000 buildings.

Most water, gas and power lines will be disrupted, if not completely destroyed, for months at time. An estimated 1,800 deaths, 53,000 injuries, and $213 billion in damage are the minimal expectations as estimated by the California Geological Survery published in 2008.

According to Ken Hudnut, who works as a geophysist, and with the U.S. Geological Survey and Earthquake Hazards Team, the quake will be rolling all the way down through Southern California.

“Through the ShakeOut study, we’ve learned that the large ground motions from a big one on the San Andreas fault would be large enough to potentially cause collapses of many tall buildings here in Los Angeles,”

said Hudnut. “We have a panel of the world’s leading experts, structural engineers, who studied tall buildings and who are very familiar with the seismically vulnerable types of tall buildings assess what the damage would be. And we actually put in the ShakeOut scenario a total of 10 building collapses, most of which occurred right here in the Downtown Los Angeles area.”

As Southern Californians, it is important to be ready for the worst case scenario.

The level of personal preparedness each individual has will determine the severity of their personal situation, which is why many activists in California are currently trying to group together to raise an overall sense of awareness.

According to Shakeout. org, the official statewide Web site for California Earthquake preparedness, there are a few items that every resident needs to have for the future: a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and one gallon of water for each person in the household to last three days.

It may also be beneficial to consider the positioning of your home, and whether it would be in good interest to investigate various types of insurance such as flood or earthquake.

Also, it is suggested that all families make an emergency plan.

In the event of the earthquake, power lines will be down and

means of transportation will be near impossible. Be sure to pick out a meeting area with your family to make sure that everyone knows where to meet up together.

And of course, the most elementary rule is to ‘drop, cover and hold on’ when the earthquake occurs.

Also, try to be aware of the surroundings when taking cover.

A space with the most available exits will provide a better chance to find a way out of the structure, as the shaking will cause debris to fall from buildings and potentially trap possible exits.

ShakeOut has been doing numerous preparatory drills California wide to practice for the possibility of a future earthquake.

Denise Benson, Division Manager of San Bernandino County Fire Deparment and the Office of Emergency Services comments.

“We cannot stop this from coming, it is hard to even predict it. However, we can be prepared for it. The more we work together, the better.”

The Web site provides its members to join into groups within their home vicinity. Currently, 6.9 million members have already contributed to making the difference for the future, and all California residents are encouraged to participate. For further information, visit ShakeOut.org or E-mail to info@shakeout.org to address any specific questions or concerns.

Image courtesy of: RTA Getting to classes on time and assisting in’going green,’ RTA

presents an overall affordable option for commuting students.

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Serving students since 1922

4 | November 5, 2009

No more pencils, no more books amy warshauer news editor

Don’t hold your breath for the end of the budget crisis, students.

There are more obstacles to persevere.

In rough economic times, cuts need to be made in the necessary areas to maintain an acceptable sense of stability.

However, excessive academic cuts are making collegiate careers for students extremely difficult.

Aside from the increase in class fees, limited parking, crowded and cut classes, payment deadlines, decreased student employment and the staff cuts, students also need to prepare to have their study supplements ripped into.

As of Sept. 22 of this year, the Telecommunications and Technology Infrastructure Program (TTIP) fund for the library had been completely terminated.

The once $100,000 fund supported each of the three RCC campuses by distributing $35,000 a year to the libraries by supplying students with the necessary and supplemental books.

In 2008, the $100,000 book budget faced its first cut by 50 percent, and as of 2009 of this year, it has hit ground zero.

Aside from the imminent danger of essential texts dissipating, students also are also at risk of losing beneficial database content that may not be renewed by mid November.

Databases such as the American Journal of Nursing, the Dictionary of Literary Biography, Ecology, Pro & Con Online, and several others are in serious jeopardy.

If these cuts continue in the future, as they are anticipated to, even WiFi at RCC may be considered as a cut.

Student jobs have also been cut to basic nonexistence, which domino effects into a lesser amount of employees to help in the library.

Students will be affected by having to wait in longer lines to check out books (if they’re available) and help will also be a time constraint as there are no longer as many available employees to offer a hand.

Saturday hours have also been

demolished at the library, which can greatly hurt the success of RCC goers. Many students take strictly weekend classes and are now unable to use the resources that they are paying for in their tuition. Martina Blendt, an RCC student, explains her issues with the budget.

“I have really just had it with all of these cuts,” Blendt said. “I am a single mother of two, I work over 40 hours a week, and I take classes on weekends because I want a better life for my family.

Now I don’t have a place to study, I cannot use a computer, I cannot do any research, it is setting me up for complete failure.

I feel totally overwhelmed, this is not how school should be.”

However, there is an ounce of good news for those who need to use the library on weekends.

To ease the burden of stress before finals, administration was able to make a small exception for students who need the time to study.

The two Saturday’s prior to finals week, the library will be open for three to four hours to allow students extra time to cram in some much needed studying.

Bernard Fradkin, the dean of Technology and Learning Resources in the Digital Library and Learning center, expressed his concerns over the cut.

“It is difficult to have to choose which materials are necessary and which materials we have to give up,” Fradkin said. “We feel our students deserve the best, and that is what we want to give them, even in this difficult time. I really give the students credit for doing their best in coping right now.”

Students are coping, but they are not the only library goers who have been suffering from these cuts. Aside from the TTIP, even the most basic monetary slashes to the college have vastly affected the staff of the library, explains Jacqueline Lesch, Public Services librarian.

Staff suffers supply shortages, a smaller workforce working longer hours, added stress and responsibility, and full fund cutbacks of their conference traveling.

“There are quite a few things that we have had to deal with here.

For one, staff conference travel funds have been cut,” Lesch said.

“Those events were designed to keep staff well rounded and up to date, and to a lot of the staff’s credit, some are taking money out of their own pockets to attend these meetings. They do it because they want to give the students what they deserve, an excellent study environment.”

However, there is also some controversy over the distribution of funds. Some students and faculty have raised an eyebrow over the alleged $250,000 bonus’ that have recently been awarded to administration while basic necessities, like library books, are being taken away.

Bernard Fradkin offers his administrative view.

“I believe that people who do quality work also deserve quality pay. They are here to make the educational system better for the students, and if we need a better system, I understand better pay.” said Fradkin. “While this money has been placed there, it is also important to remember that a lot of administrators have also been laid off or had hours cut. So really, the accounting of those funds may be being redistributed from other areas.”

Obtusely, some students, like Cassandra Nunez, disagree with the ‘equal’ distribution of money.

“It is ridiculous. My classes are being crowded and cut, teachers are suffering, students are suffering, and these people are getting raises in the mean time? It is completely unfair.”

Brandon Jacques, another RCC student, offered his opinion on the increases.

“How is this happening, I really don’t understand,” said Jacques. “I am struggling to pay the extra fees, even if it is only $6 extra per unit.

A quarter of a million dollars in bonus money.

There are so many better places that money can be going. It feels like no one is here for us.”

Regardless, of the controversy, the main point boils down to the willingness and togetherness that staff, students, faculty and

MARTIN INIGUEZ, Jr/ Photo Editor

TROUBLING TIMES AHEAD: The Riverside City College library suffers from massive budget

cuts, leaving students and faculty distressed.

News

administration are willing forward into making RCC a better place.

Students do deserve an excellent study environment and staff deserve to have the necessities required to give the greatest amount of effort to make their pupils successful. But these tasks cannot be accomplished without everyone getting out and raising awareness.

According to Lesch, the members of the library have been working hard with other departments to help equally distribute the pressures of the budget cuts.

In example, student photo ID’s used to be distributed in the admissions building, and now the library has taken that responsibility upon itself to ease the burden for their fellow coworkers.

“We all need to help eachother out in this difficult time,” said Lesch. “We are all pulling together to facilitate everyone’s stress levels, and I think everyone on campus is going to have to help

one another out.”

Staff can help contribute in voicing their opinions at meetings and to administration. Students can help contribute by raising a w a r e n e s s . T h e A SR C C i s currently working together to plan a student petition that helps promote raise funds .

Though these cuts to the libraries have had a substantial negative effect on everyone involved, but many students, like Eric Hensen, are determined to make a difference.

“I am going to get involved,” Hensen said. “I need the library, I could not finish school without it.

Everyone needs to get out there and say something. It’s a hard time for everyone right now, not just staff, not just students, everybody.

So let’s do something about it, I’m tired of this!”

Hensen smiled animately, the laid a playful punch on his friends shoulder. “I’m telling everyone.

Someone get me a computer! I’m logging on Twitter.”

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Viewpoints Staff

November 5, 2009 | 5

EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Stephanie Holland (951) 222-8495 viewpoints@rcc.edu eic@viewpointsonline.org MANAGING EDITOR Erene Abdelmeseeh (951) 222-8488 managingeditor@viewpointsonline.org ADVERTISING MANAGER Vanessa Soto (951) 222-8488 viewpoints.ads@gmail.com FACULTY ADVISERS Allan Lovelace Dan Evans

Illustration by: Khai Le

The college express lane

INSCAPE EDITOR ONLINE EDITOR Robert Johnston Khai Le admin@viewpointsonline.org inscape@viewpointsonline.org NEWS EDITOR Amy Warshauer news@viewpointsonline.org

INSIDER EDITOR Sandra Diaz insider@viewpointsonline.org

OPINIONS EDITOR PHOTO EDITOR Martin Iniguez, Jr Corinne Love opinions@viewpointsonline.org photo@viewpointsonline.org

According to Newsweek, it should only take roughly three years to finish the standard Bachelor’s degree.

In the Oct. 26 issue, the magazine ran an article that said college should not take that long.

In theory, it shouldn’t.

Smaller liberal arts colleges such as Hartwick College are offering “well-prepared” students the somewhat seemingly perfect opportunity of finishing their degrees in three years and saving upwards of $43,000.

Many colleges are doing the same, with reports that the three-year degree could be the next thing in efficiency.

For years, the American brand of higher education has gone unrivaled, people from all over the world come here to study and earn degrees.

Specifically the California college system boasts some of the nation’s greatest research institutions.

Yet, with the recent economic downturn which sharply affected schools nationwide, critics and analysts turned a critical eye to the logistics of the American college system.

Some say it’s stuck in the past and that the model simply does not work anymore.

For example, the article cited the school year when most students go to school. The school year has not changed since the American Revolution.

That’s where the three-year efficiency degree comes in.

The degree is designed for highly motivated students so they can save money and move towards their degrees quickly.

The students who enroll in the program will have early access to courses and summer school is a requirement.

Hello essays and research papers, goodbye summer beach parties.

Of course, a three-year degree program sounds great on paper, but what about in practice?

Ideally it’s supposed to take two years to finish an Associate’s Degree at the Community College level, and it takes some people longer than that to finish with the added elements of working, raising a family and having a life.

Students who enroll in a three-year degree program will be accelerating through college.

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STAFF Jackie Adams Bethania Alvarez Ashley Canovas Diana Carrillo Mercedea DeLeon Jessica Denilofs Megan Evans Christina Espinoza Lauren Garcia Ricky Holmes Sade Hurst Kaniya Johnson Andrew Kendall John Kilgore

Stacy Lee Phillip Levin John Mendoza Brandon Morgan Mario Navarro Adrian Pascua Aubrianna Plavajka Ashley Robinson Fatima Rodriguez Dorothea Samuel Joshua Serrano Alexandra Tanner Daniel Torres

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Not that there is anything wrong with being motivated, it just seems that going through college at such a pace leaves zero room for experiencing most of college.

It would be hard to participate in extracurricular activities, meet new people and actually let the information digest.

There would be no way to join a sports team, sorority or fraternity if you are on an accelerated track.

The program also leaves no room for students to explore other study options.

Sometimes the major you enter college with is not the major you leave with.

Not all colleges are readily adapting the program, Waldorf College in Iowa is gradually eliminating the program, because students wanted to have the full four years to experience college.

It seems like on paper the three-year degree program is a way to move students at a quicker pace into the career world.

This is not that bad of an idea considering that in recent years, college graduates enter the workforce not being able to smoothly transition from study groups to marketing groups.

However, just because a student finishes up college in three years instead of four does not correlate to them being any more ready for their oncoming career. In these cases, the social aspect of college comes into play.

Like with most students, it’s really a factor of the individual.

While this option may offer students a chance to save time and money it seems like it could be detrimental in the long run, as college provides students with a safe place to fail.

The extra time spent in college making mistakes will save students from making those mistakes out in the real world where the environment isn’t so forgiving.

While college may be expensive and sometimes difficult to navigate, it still provides young people with the best place to figure out where they’re going and how they’ll get there.

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6 | November 5, 2009

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Opinions

positive relationship.

But instead he discouraged their actions and the possibility of a potential family all because of his personal bias.

That’s where he abused his authority.

I’m proud to recognize most of society isn’t okay with his behavior.

Interracial kids in my eyes are the product of an eye opening example of unconditional love that some people seem to still not understand.

This isn’t just about romantic unconditional love either, this is referring to unconditional platonic love that just neighbors and ordinary people can have for one another.

The trends of discrimination against interracial kids have been mentioned before in American culture since the early 1800s until the late 70’s.

The actions that we should be taking is to encourage the idea of mixed race families.

The idea of race being an issue in marriage shouldn’t even be a question in this country.

But it is.

Honestly, it kind of upsets me that I still have to stress concern on this issue.

I currently have a boyfriend who is white, my ethnicity is black.

I still notice the odd stares and surprised faces who notice

new face of america: Baseball player Derek Jeter repre-

Growing up in the grey zone of life alexandra tanner Staff Writer Chocolate and vanilla swirls are a figurative work of art.

I cannot believe when it came down to it, a Justice of The Peace from Louisiana thought he could stop two human beings from creating a new born work of art.

Keith Bardwell is a Justice of The Peace in Louisiana.

His duties and privileges include; appearing in court and deciding whether the accused is guilty or not. They also can issue warrants, and have the privilege of legally providing a wedding ceremony.

Bardwell, however, thought it inappropriate to conduct a wedding ceremony this month for an interracial couple in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana.

He excused his refusal on the belief that any children the couple had would suffer because of their mixed race.

In an interview on The Early Show, Bardwell compares his right to deny an interracial couple a marriage ceremony the same as he would a couple who came

to him with the same request, intoxicated.

Bardwell thinks the environment or life of an interracial child would be harder than the average child.

He refused to encourage procreation between two people because, in his opinion, he was protecting another human from suffering.

Socially, kids that grow up with interracial backgrounds have to deal with the same challenges as every other adolescent in this country.

Emotionally and domestically everything in an interracial household depends on the parents.

In this case the individuals, who weren’t even parents yet, were rejected of a requested wedding ceremony and their offense is completely justified.

Bardwell isn’t breaking the law, he knows the law and it is fully lawful for him to refuse to perform a ceremony, but for him to refuse a ceremony because he thinks he can act like a social worker for the new couple was blatantly disrespectful.

When two people come together and proclaim their excitement for the commitment they feel they’re ready to make in marriage, that is a positive sign of a healthy beginning.

The responsibility of Bardwell was to make sure their wish was carried out and to encourage a

MLB

sents the growing number of ethnically diverse Americans. when we’re together in public another should be considered o r s o m e t i m e s a r o u n d n e w completely separate from his acquaintances. responsibility as a Justice of the I don’t see what the big deal Peace. is.

Bardwell imposed an Children, though, should inconvenience on someone else never be subjected to that type of while representing the values of discouragement. his state and American government Bardwell shouldn’t have made in general. the comments he made.

The state government of It is never anyone’s place to Louisiana is strongly pushing to discourage the pride that two remove him from his duties and people have for their relationship hopefully he’ll learn what he did let alone the possibilities of a was wrong. future family.

It’s not about being considered The discouraging views that a racist, its the principle.

Bardwell has about interracial Bardwell was stepping in when children and whether or not they’ll he wasn’t asked to, and not for the be “accepted” by one race or sake of the children either.

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‘Jon and Kate’ with issues

megan evans Staff Writer Exploited children and moneyhungry parents have become a new form of entertainment.

There are two characteristics many people may think of when watching reality shows such as “Jon and Kate plus eight” and “Toddlers in Tiaras.”

But what effects do these reality shows have on the young and developing children who star in them?

Older reality shows had the premise of eating bugs, jumping out of moving cars, and racing around the world.

Now, reality shows have shifted from exciting and jaw dropping amusement to more “family oriented” entertainment.

A good example: “Jon and Kate plus 8.” This show is about Jon and Kate Gosselin and their eight children; a pair of twins and sextuplets.

“We’re a family and we’re in this together. It might be a crazy life, but it’s our life.”

This is the opening for every show.

When the show first appeared on TLC, America fell in love.

The two twins, Cara and Madelyn, and the sextuplets, Alexis, Hannah, Aaden, Collin, Leah and Joel, were unbelievably adorable.

As the show progressed, it became apparent that Jon and Kate did not have the perfect marriage.

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But what was really causing all their arguments?

Was having 8 young children finally taking its toll?

Did the exposure to cameras 24/7 have an effect or were Jon and Kate just not made for each other?

Whatever the case may be for the crumbling marriage, the children were paying the price.

Not only were the children in the constant spotlight, but their parents were no longer getting along.

Sadly, Jon and Kate did not stay together. Their divorce was very messy and very public. In the end the show did its damage.

The children witnessed their parents go through a nasty divorce then had to see it on television, in magazines and online.

Reality shows are questionable to say the least, and even with child labor laws in affect, it’s possible children may suffer psychological harm from participating in these reality shows.

People may think child labor laws protect a child and regulate how much time a child can spend in front of cameras, but they are wrong.

If a child is a paid actor, he or she is restricted to a certain amount of working hours a week.

The child is also required to have a teacher and parent or legal guardian with them at all times. But when it comes to entertainment, the law does not apply.

When creating a reality show, the cameras are filming while the participants go about their daily lives, so it is not considered a job for the children being filmed.

“Toddlers & Tiaras” is a frightening reality show which should be renamed to “Toddlers & Stardom Starved Mothers.”

tlc / Press

mommie dearest: A mother on TLC’s “Toddlers and Tiaras” begins the preparation for her daughter’s transformation from toddler to beauty pageant contestant.

This show follows around “willing families” to beauty pageants.

For many, the idea of dressing up 4 and 5 year olds as adults is just plain stupid and creepy.

Making them wear large amounts of makeup, fake hair, and use enlarged porcelain veneers is wrong.

America knows these mothers are the crazy type.

The type who dreamed of stardom as a little girl and never quite made it.

In return they force their daughters to think they want to parade around in ridiculous costumes and blow kisses to the judges.

But what happens when the children become tired of the spotlight?

The mothers reassure them they can quit at any time, but that is not enough.

Naturally, children want to please their parents. Even if

these young girls are given the choice to leave the spotlight, the will to please their parents may overcome the desire to say enough is enough.

Another problem for children participating in these shows are the effects that come once the show has ended.

A reality show child star may become used to the spotlight and enjoy being under constant scrutiny.

But once the show has ended, and the spotlight has faded, children may go to extreme heights to catch even the smallest amount of attention.

Still, there are a few reality shows with participating children that are worth watching, such as “Endurance” which simulates a kid friendly “Survivor”, but without the threat of deadly bugs and starving participants.

Not all reality shows are harmful to the children who

participate in them but what about the children who sit down in front of the television and watch any type of reality show?

For example, “The Real World” is filled with alcohol, sex and crude language.

The name of the show already suggests that it’s real and an adolescent watching this type of behavior may think that since it’s on the television, it’s reality.

One thing is certain, parents must stand up and draw the line somewhere.

For the children watching these reality shows, parents must make clear that although it’s called reality television, it doesn’t make it real.

And for the children participating in reality shows, its time the children’s physical and psychological safety be put first, and the cameras, spotlight and money-hungry parents take a back seat.

Move over P. Diddy: Work for Charley Cooper corinne love opinions editor

I’m going to need someone to organize my CD collection in chronological order.

Also, I’m going to need someone to Tivo “Glee” and write a two-page synopsis on the storyline and include major themes.

The synopsis must be MLA format with added footnotes.

Unfortunately, I don’t have the time to do these important things because I’m ultra busy.

Georgetown student Charley Cooper is busier than I am, however.

Cooper, 19, as reported by the Washington Post, is overwhelmed with coursework, a part time job and an illness in the family.

Life is getting to him.

So, he has decided to hire a

personal assistant.

On Georgetown’s employment Web site, Cooper has posted an ad looking for an assistant to do specific tasks.

Tasks that include driving him to and from work (whether or not the assistant would be paid for gas mileage is unclear), scheduling his haircuts and managing his electronic accounts.

Also on the list for the assistant hopefuls was doing the laundry.

Cooper would pay the assistant for sorting and loading the laundry but not the actual laundry cycle.

The assistant would be working three to seven hours a week at a pay rate of $10 to $12 per hour.

Cooper thinks it is great pay.

He also took the guesswork out of assisting and would send the assistant an e-mail with the tasks for each day, the time intervals in bold.

He really has thought of everything.

While Cooper is probably not the first college student to consider getting a personal assistant, he is one of the first to make a serious juncture out of it.

Some of his fellow classmates

think that the idea is just absurd.

Some are even accusing him of being full of himself, as the ad has prompted many to look up Cooper’s Facebook profile.

It’s not that Cooper is full of himself, he’s just unusually “busy.”

Other students have even posted parodied versions of the ad, and some have gone so far to say that he only did it to get attention.

If he is pulling a publicity stunt, it is working.

Cooper has drawn to himself all types of attention, and in a way has become a “local celebrity” for something so trivial and ridiculous.

College is always a time crunch, and wouldn’t it be great if we could hire a personal assistant to take care of the little tasks that manage to go unnoticed?

Imagine, instead of sorting through notes to find the one needed for an exam, a personal assistant could pre-sort those same notes and have them ready.

Sounds great.

Cooper’s critics have called the sophomore student immature

and unable to deal with the real world.

He is dealing with the “real world.”

He has money to burn, and no time to do common things that the rest of us find time to in our overbooked schedules.

Like Heidi Montag or another equally unimportant celebrity, Cooper does not have time to sort his own laundry.

On Cooper’s LinkedIn page (the Facebook for professionals) it says that he hopes to go into finance and management.

One could say that his advertising for an assistant is an exercise in learning about the two.

According to the Washing Post, Cooper spent his spring interning at a financial services job (which was not identified because they probably would be embarassed).

One would think that working as an intern would better prepare Cooper to be self-sufficient.

On the other hand, Cooper is not as important as he thinks he is to employ a personal assistant.

Personal assitants are usually only needed when someone is of

a high caliber public profile and needs help to make sure the little things don’t slip through.

It’s not a wild guess to assume that people like Bono, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt all have personal assistants.

Cooper has nothing in common with the aforementioned people.

But before hundreds of people track down both Cooper’s Facebook and LinkedIn profile, note that this is not unique.

Georgetown students have “outsourced” workers before to clean up dorm rooms and apartments.

The logic is if one has the money and someone wants to do it, then what seems to be the problem?

This incident just makes it seem like Ivy league students are lazy, or attempting to relive “National Lampoon’s Van Wilder.”

That’s a movie, and those movies hardly represent anything remotely accurate of what its really like to be a college student.

The rest of us college students have to pick up our laundry, take care of ailing family members and yes, even make our own beds.

Viewpoints

Serving students since 1922

8 | November 5, 2009

‘Glee’ makes show choir cool stephanie holland editor in chief

Having a bad day? Has the world gotcha down? Well the instant cure to any ailment is “Glee the Music, Vol. 1.” The soundtrack to the hit FOX show “Glee” features all the songs the fans have made iTunes hits in one convenient package.

With songs ranging from Kanye West’s “Gold Digger” to “Defying Gravity” from “Wicked,” the album has surprises for both the superfans known as “Gleeks” and for non-fans who will love glee club versions of their favorite songs.

The album opens with the show’s signature update of the Journey classic “Don’t Stop Believin’.” In recent years the song has become a karaoke staple and a road trip favorite, so putting a new spin on it wasn’t easy, however, lead singers Cory Monteith and Lea Michele remind listeners of the innocence in the lyrics with their fresh take.

The first of many fun, dance tracks is perhaps the catchiest version ever of “Gold Digger.”

Show star Matthew Morrison doesn’t have Kanye’s edge, but he still manages to add a funkiness that wasn’t on the original. The backing harmonies highlight the

FOX Television Network

The Underdogs: Members of McKinley High’s glee club New Directions sing Avril

Lavigne’s “Keep Holding On” in the FOX hit “Glee.” previously unnoticed melodic portions of the song.

The album’s best gift may be that these new different versions are able to draw attention to parts of a song the listener probably overlooked the first thousand times.

Because this is a show about a

high school glee club, there are a few classic Broadway showtunes.

Guest star Kristin Chenowith offers the full range of her talent on “Maybe This Time” and the album’s last track “Defying Gravity” is slowed down from the original allowing listeners to appreciate the lyrics.

Though most songs feature performances by the whole cast, there are a few standouts. Amber Riley, who plays Mercedes, can hold her own with any current R&B diva on blazing versions of “Hate on Me” and “Bust Your Windows,” while Michele does her best Celine Dion on “Taking

Chances” and “No Air.” Broadway veteran Morrison is at his best on the Heart classic “Alone” where he duets with Chenowith. He also manages to make “Bust a Move” sound like an Act 1 show-stopper.

Despite all the fantastic solos, the album is at its best on the full cast anthems like Queen’s “Somebody to Love.” It is here that listeners are really treated to the astounding talent of the cast.

It takes a special amount of talent to tackle the perfection of Freddie Mercury, but the “Glee” cast comes very close.

This group is so talented they are able to lift Avril Lavinge’s “Keep Holding On” from sugary pop ballad to orchestral and inspirational anthem.

From backing harmonies to solo standouts, every song is perfectly arranged to give the listener a new experience with songs they have heard dozens of times.

For fans of the show the soundtrack is everything they’ve been waiting for, and for nonfans they will appreciate hearing fantastic new takes on their favorite songs.

For more on “Glee” see pages 10 and 11

For Carrie Underwood third time’s a charm stephanie holland editor in chief

Carrie Underwood’s new album “Play On” proves why she is the reigning Academy of Country Music Awards Entertainer of the Year. The tracks range from radio friendly dance songs to soaring ballads.

The disc opens with the first single “Cowboy Casanova,” an upbeat song that features Underwood’s fun, lighthearted side. “Casanova” has already become a radio and video hit, reaching No. 5 on the country charts and No. 1 on CMT’s “Top 20 Countdown.”

The album’s other dance track is “Undo It,” co-written by “American Idol’s” Kara Dioguardi. The song picks up the cheatin’ boyfriend story where “Last Name” and “Before He Cheats” left off.

This song is tailor made for country nightclubs and karaoke nights, with its soulful twang and sing-a-long rock tinged chorus.

Underwood quickly changes gears when “Undo It” is followed by the beautifully broken-hearted “Someday When I Stop Loving You.” On “Someday” Underwood chooses a more tender approach

The Carrie Underwood Playlist “Jesus Take the Wheel” “Wasted” “Before He Cheats” “Just a Dream” “I Told You So” “Last Name” “Someday When I Stop Loving You” “Temporary Home” Image courtesy of: Arista Nashville and it really brings out the simplicity of the lyrics.

Because she came to success on “American Idol,” when she sings Underwood feels like a friend who is just telling a story.

This is most apparent on “Temporary Home,” where she sings about foster homes and hospitals being temporary homes and finding one’s place in the world.

Underwood is known for her huge voice which she puts on full display on the emotional track “Unapologize.” For every girl who’s said “I love you” a little too soon into the relationship, this is the story of what had been said the next day.

Co-written by singer/ songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk, “Unapologize” is one of the most personal songs on the album and

has a more pop sound that makes it a perfect crossover single.

It is followed by the requisite country break-up song “What Can I Say,” the track is a duet with the trio Sons of Sylvia. The song is a heart-breaking tale of a once great love gone bad. Having the song as a duet brings the sentiment of it home and makes the listener feel as if it knows these people.

The album ends with the title song “Play On.” The anthemic track is an inspirational tale of fighting against the odds and

overcoming adversity.

The uplifting lyrics combined with Underwood’s soaring voice will give the most ardent cynic a moment of emotional reflection.

Underwood co-wrote seven of the album’s 12 songs giving it a more a personal feel and adding a level of maturity to an already impressive career.

“Play On” is an excellent example of how to blend classic country with an updated sound to create a great album that fans of all genres will appreciate.

Viewpoints

November 5, 2009 | 9

Serving students since 1922

Inscape

Weezer has a ‘Raditude’ problem Nerd rock is back with their seventh studio record and a new sound phillip levin asst. inscape editor We e z e r ’s l a t e s t a l b u m , “Raditude,” is one that you’ll either love or hate.

Fans of Weezer are well-known for being a divided bunch.

One group holds onto the band’s earlier albums, such as “Pinkerton” and “The Blue Album,” scoffing at anything released after the latter.

The other group digs the more pop-esque sound of the band’s more recent work.

It’s the second group that’s likely to love “Raditude.”

The first camp, though, will no doubt shake their heads at Weezer’s latest work.

“Raditude” is easily the most pop, mainstream-style Weezer album yet.

Contrasting the emo feel of earlier Weezer albums, this one is upbeat and energetic. Just look at the album title.

It’s typical Weezer style, the lyrics are questionable and often ridiculous.

The song titles this time around, in particular, are even sillier.

One look at the track list, and you’ll know the album isn’t exactly serious. “(If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To,” “I’m Your Daddy,” “The Girl Got Hot” and “Tripping Down the Freeway” are examples of some of the tracks on “Raditude.”

The album begins with “(If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To,” which was released as a single a couple of months ago is probably the most easily likable song on “Raditude.”

It’s fast-paced and upbeat. It’s easy to listen to, and it’s hard to imagine too many people disliking the track.

It’s a good example of the overall personality and feel of “Raditude.”

Following it is “I’m Your Daddy,” which is yet another easyto-like track.

It has a catchy beat, and the song gets going right away.

The next song, though -- “The Girl Got Hot”–is a perfect example of a song that old-school Weezer fans will simply love to hate.

The lyrics are absolutely silly.

One line reads, “The thing I finally found with these other girls in town, she got hot, they did not.”

You can imagine the facial expression of any diehard, traditional Weezer fan listening to this track for the first time, and it isn’t pretty.

N e x t u p i s “C a n ’t S t o p Partying,” which mixes rock with rap and even features Lil Wayne.

The song’s a complete departure from Weezer’s normal style, but that aside, it’s pretty catchy.

Most of Weezer’s stuff isn’t exactly party music, but “Can’t Stop Partying” is a step in that direction, hence the title.

It’s not something you’d expect from Weezer.

“Put Me Back Together,” “Love is the Answer” and “Let it All Hang Out,” meanwhile, are closer to what you’d expect from a Weezer album.

All of these songs have the Weezer feel to them and are less pop-ish or R&B-ish.

The album is available in several different editions.

There is a standard edition that can be downloaded from Amazon for $3.99 and a deluxe edition with bonus tracks that will run $19.98.

For big fans the standard edition is available with the Weezer Snuggie for $30 and for superfans the deluxe edition is available with a Weezer zebra Snuggie for $50.

The only thing Weezer fans will likely agree upon when it comes to “Raditude” is that it’s quite different from any of their other albums.

That said, “Raditude” is a fun, enjoyable album if you can get past the fact that it’s totally different from anything else the band has done.

Unfortunately, it’s likely that most Weezer fans won’t be able to do that.

Geffen Records

The Weezer Playlist “Say It Ain’t So” “Pork and Beans” “Island in the Sun” “Hey Domingo” “Buddy Holly” “Keep Fishin” “My Name is Jonas” “El Scorcho” “Perfect Situation”

10 | November 5, 2009

Viewpoints

November 5, 2009 | 11

Serving students since 1922

FOX gets clever, creates new hits christina espinoza asst. inscape editor

Considering the network’s ownership by global media mogul Rupert Murdoch, one might agree that Fox is the perfect name for the broadcast network. But considering some new TV shows in Fox’s new fall lineup this season, one might also agree the network has been less than crafty.

The numbers are in for Fox’s new fall lineup and being only five weeks into the season, some new TV shows are struggling with ratings as audiences change their channel.

This fall, Fox released three new TV shows but as one new show plummets the broadcast network is not entirely worried because the fame of another may save the day.

While the new animated family comedy, “The Cleveland Show” (Sundays at 8:30 p.m.), is simple entertainment and is doing ok with audiences, the new comedy-drama-musical, “Glee” (Wednesdays at 9 p.m.), has given viewers something to sing about.

Fox’s new show “Brothers,” which Fox has actually taken off air and plans to bring back in 2010, would be better off being cancelled as it seems to only offer bad acting, bad jokes and bad taste.

The pilot for “Brothers” gave the show no hope for flight so it’s no surprise that the last five weeks have proven to keep the show grounded indefinitely.

Starring former NFL player, Michael Strahan and with guest appearances thus far from Snoop Dogg and Kim Kardashian, “Brothers” could have potentially been a home run for Fox if only the jokes were funny and it had a solid story line.

Although “Brothers” is taking a nose-dive, Fox may be hoping that “Glee” will pick up the slack.

Even though some may have doubted their interest in a TV show about a high school glee club, filled with frequent musical numbers outlined in comedy and drama, “Glee” has proven to be truly funny and very entertaining for viewers.

First premiering in spring, “Glee” has returned to Fox this fall and is now airing weekly due to its popular demand. How popular? The fall premiere had 7.3 million viewers tuned in.

Starring mostly unknown actors, “Glee” was officially given a full-season pick-up by Fox as the network tries to continue targeting their key “American Idol” audience.

The success of “Glee” may be due in part to its uniqueness and its clever premiere scheduling when it aired just after the “American Idol” finale in May. Still, while “Glee” may be topping the charts now, it could potentially lose viewer interest considering the risk involved in creating a TV show centered on a musical production type theme.

To ensure ratings, Fox scheduled some strong returning series.

Fox’s drama, “House” certainly does its part in providing Fox with ratings as devoted viewers tune in every Monday night at 8 p.m.

“House” has repeatedly won over other broadcasting networks with top viewer ratings and remains to climb the charts as the fall season continues.

Also the classic animated family comedy, “The Simpsons” returned this fall as the show celebrates twenty years on television.

Fox knows “The Simpsons” has an ocean of dedicated fans that continue to grow as audiences are captured weekly with hilarious new episodes (Sundays at 8 p.m.).

Honorable mentions should also go to some other popular returning Fox TV shows, such as “Family Guy” (Sundays at 9 p.m.), “America’s Most Wanted” (Saturdays at 9 p.m.) and of course “So You Think You Can Dance” (Tuesdays at 8 p.m.).

With their fall lineup packed with some good, some bad and some ugly TV shows, Fox Television Network proves once again how clever they can be at providing the right kind of entertainment for an audience in need.

Images courtesy of: Fox Television Network

For more on “Glee” see page 8

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Take a digital leap of faith Serving students since 1922

12 | November 5, 2009

robert johnston inscape editor

Like most artists, the thought of an all-digital workflow seems somewhat false, crazy and maybe even like cheating.

Most die-hard artists feel like going digital is not real art, but this new book from DC Comics and Freddie Williams II brings up all of the questions you may have, and answers them, in a neat, tidy, all-encompassing index of how-to’s.

The Book “DC Comics Guide To Digitally Drawing Comics” explains from page one that this can be a tried and true method of expanding your artistic inspirations from your mind directly to your computer, virtually eliminating your paper workflow.

The book is adorned with beautiful artwork, and very informative text from Williams II, detailing his start of going digital in 1999. This brings you up to date with the current state of digital artwork and practices.

Williams is currently a DC Comics artist, most recently on Robin.

He explains that he showed his artwork at the San Diego Comic Convention in 2005, and the DC

Reps were blown away by his detailed line art.

Then, when he explained that it was all-digital, they couldn’t believe their eyes. He was then placed on a list of four people, out of virtually thousands, for a further interview. He was then put in front of the DC Creative Director, Richard Bruning, and Freddie explained that his work was one hundred percent digital, and Richard was amazed.

Needless to say, he was picked up to be the next Robin artist, and the rest is history.

Deeper into the book, you find that Williams explains the do’s and don’ts, goes into Photoshop for the beginner, helps you lay out a plan to get started, details what you need in the way of supplies, and illustrates step by step, his processes, all digital, or a hybrid print/digital workflow.

If you’re an artist, then you know there are virtually thousands of artist books out there, on virtually every subject, but if you are looking for a book that targets this area, you can find no better a book than this.

Having had the pleasure of using this book, this writer can

“

“You will not be the same artist after reading this book.”

vouch at its clarity and creative diversity.

If all you know is paper, this book helps you make the transition nicely.

With most traditional printed books and newspapers taking the hit in this economy, things are going digital at an incredible rate.

We won’t go into actual numbers of print versus online here, but an artist knows how painstaking it is to be carrying around all of your pens, pencils, erasers, and ink bottles, not to mention the cost of maintaining a healthy supply of each.

The choice to go digital is not just a choice, but also an artistic lifestyle change.

You will not be the same artist after reading this book. You will be a better artist, because when applied correctly, this book helps you remove all of the obstacles every artist faces, all of the time consuming chores one usually expects, pen smudging, white-out, fingerprint marks, constant redraws, all of which, will no longer be a problem, as it is easier to just do all of that within Photoshop. You will be able to spend all of that saved time for drawing, which is the whole point of all of this.

You don’t have to be a pro at Photoshop to get this book, if you’re an artist, and you already own a copy of Adobe Photoshop,

Inscape

image courtesy of watson guptill publications

then there is a good chance, that you already incorporate the software, at least in part, into your workflow.

This book is a testament of Freddie Williams’ skills in this area that this writer has found

priceless. This book should be on every artist’s bookshelf. It is this writer’s opinion that this book, will be looked back upon, as one of the first cornerstones of comic book creation and digital artwork.

Viewpoints

November 5, 2009 | 13

Music weaponry at its finest Serving students since 1922

Inscape

stacy lee Staff Writer

Some people use music as a calming device.

Some people use music to cheer up.

Other people use music as a torture device.

New information has emerged showing that the government may have used it as an interrogation technique at Guantanamo Bay. Former detainees have testified that a variety of music was played during interrogations by artists including Rage Against the Machine, the Bee Gees, AC/DC and Britney Spears.

In addition, several theme songs were played, including Sesame Street and Barney.

Music was played at deafeningly loud levels as part of the attempts to “break” the suspects, said an article in The Guardian.

In addition, MSNBC.com said this “auditory assault” can last for

several months with music blaring for up to 20 hours a day.

“At Guantanamo, the U.S. government turned a jukebox into an instrument of torture,” Thomas Blanton said, executive director of the National Security Archive, a freedom of information organization.

“The musicians and the public have the right to know how an expression of popular culture was transformed into an enhanced interrogation technique,” Blanton said.

Musicians are now coming forward, demanding to know whether or not their music was used as a torture device.

Several of the performers have even banded with zero dB, part of Reprieve, a human rights company in the United Kingdom who represents over 30 Guantanamo detainees.

Reprieve has helped these artists file freedom of information requests with several US agencies including the CIA, FBI,

Department of Defense and the Defense Intelligence Agency to get the official play list of songs released.

According to a Reprieve press release Zero dB is backed by the Musicians Union which is calling on British musicians to voice their outrage against the use of music to torture.

“What we’re talking about here is people in a darkened room, physically inhibited by handcuffs, bags over their heads and music blaring at them,” musician David Gray said.

“That is torture. That is nothing but torture. It doesn’t matter what the music is - it could be Tchaikovsky’s finest or it could be Barney the Dinosaur.

It really doesn’t matter, it’s going to drive you completely nuts,” Gray said.

Several of the artists joining the campaign and speaking out are Nine Inch Nails, Billy Bragg, Tom Morello (guitarist with Rage Against the Machine),

Indie sells its soul to Cadillac corinne love opinions editor We really should have seen it coming.

Indie rock songs now sell consumers cars, cotton fabric and other random assorted items.

It’s sort of strange really.

A couple of years ago, hearing an unsigned band during a commercial surely meant the death of their indie credibility.

Now, it’s not at all surprising to hear a Cure song advertising Hewlett Packart products.

Music and advertising have always been linked.

However recently the two have become almost inseperable.

As CD sales continue to nosedive, musicians have to look for other ways to make money.

A good way to do this is through the licensing of their music.

Commerical licensing of music is nothing new.

H o w e v e r, l i c e n s i n g o f independent music is something almost entirely new.

Indie darling and actress, Zooey Deschannel recently starred in a Cotton: Fabric of our lives commercial that featured her singing while she tries on thrift store finds.

The actress is part of the lowkey indie band She and Him. Deschanel’s decision to star in such a mainstream commercial has not sparked outrage between fans but instead has showcased her music to people who otherwise would not have heard it.

Other than Deschanel, many musicians are using commericals as a way for easy promotion.

Vampire Weekend’s “Apunk” has been used in a Google map commercial as well as for iPods.

French rock band, Phoenix’s “1901” has been featured in a new Cadillac advert, and some indie circles even think that the band is now too saturated in multimedia.

Many music elitists, regardless of what the commercial was for will argue that any commercialization of independent music is simply “selling out.”

Of course, it is.

While it would be nice to think about artistic intergrity, people should be more realistic about the situation.

Music does not sell on its own.

Foremost, the record industry is a business.

Businesses make money, or at least that there’s aim.

The logic is pretty straightforward, so what is the harm if an independent musician is using an advert to earn some extra money.

These kind of deals are great for bands that do not have the promotional power of a group like U2, Coldplay and Mary J. Blige.

When a commerical uses a big star like the aforementioned stars, consumers are drawn in by the star power and not so much the product.

Blige’s single “The One” was featured in a commercial for AT&T, and prior to the single’s release, I thought that the song was written just for the commerical.

It was not.

Its incredibly easy to find music now, and increasingly simpler to buy it, no one needs to discuss in great length the success of iTunes.

A couple of years ago, if a band like Phoenix wanted to sell a couple of albums just to financially break even, unless they were U2, it would have been near impossible.

Even though commercials and TV shows are great for shining the light on new talent, it’s also a catch 22.

Much like everything in the entertainment industry, if something makes money it’s going to be duplicated to ad nauseum.

Commericals that now feature indie music artists, usually go after the same type of songs.

Usually these songs are acoustic, quirky or sang by some singer/songwriter and the song just becomes part of the product.

The identity of the musician loses itself, when the band’s only gateway to success is through an iPod commercial.

Then there’s the inevitable, backlash against the song and the artist.

While Feist’s quirky “1 2 3 4” was a warm and fuzzy song, by the time the song had been played for the zillionth time in an iPod commerical, all one could remember was the first four numbers.

A particular problem with the licensing of indie music for commericals is that advertisers are once again trying to sell consumers the idea of “being cool.”

Because at the heart of it, thats what iPod consumers really want in life, to be “cool” and “fresh.”

Using a Feist song, or some other obscure song, lets advertisers feel like that they are on the cutting edge and therefore consumers will be on the cutting edge.

Not to sound like the pariah of whats cool and whats not cool, but imagine an advertising executive wearing a “Snow Patrol” t-shirt.

Wouldn’t that sort of kill the “coolness” of the band right then?

Maybe not for everyone, but for a large sect of fans, it probably would.

Music being used in commerical, and trendy television shows are not going to stop anytime soon.

Sometimes it’s a mixed bag, the commercial and the song just don’t mix.

As the different avenues of media become intertwined with the other, it’ll be interesting to see the end result.

Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Steve Earle, Massive Attack and Roseanne Cash, daughter of Johnny Cash.

“It’s difficult for me to imagine anything more profoundly insulting, demeaning and enraging than discovering music you’ve put your heart and soul into creating has been used for purposes of torture,” Trent Reznor said, guitarist of the group Nine Inch Nails, on his official blog.

Even artists that are not worried about their music being played are speaking out on behalf of their friends.

We have spent the past 30 years supporting causes related to peace and justice,” REM said in a statement.

“To now learn that some of our friends’ music may have been used as part of the torture tactics without their consent or knowledge is horrific. It’s antiAmerican, period,” REM said.

While some artists like

Drowning Pool haven’t objected to their music being used, others are furious.

“The fact that music I helped create was used as a tactic against humanity sickens me,” Morello said. “We need to end torture and close Guantanamo now.”

The Roots, a popular music group, also agreed.

“Just as we wouldn’t be caught dead allowing Dick Cheney to use our music for his campaigns, you can be damn sure, we wouldn’t allow him to use it to torture other human beings,” they said.

It is clear that the artists working on this cause have a fight ahead of them.

Artists have banded together in the past in support of a cause and been successful.

However, only time will tell if zero dB, the artists or Reprieve will be successful in their pursuit of information.

For more information, go to http://www.reprieve.org.uk.

Viewpoints

Serving students since 1922

14 | February 5, 2009

Local places for coffee, music

Andrew kendall Staff Writer

Whether you dig music, coffee or the general vibe of an establishment, Riverside offers a variety of stores that are bound to meet your fancy.

Many of the stores aim to appeal to today’s generation.

But there are still some that channel the past and are enjoyable for all ages.

University Village in Riverside is the home for such a store.

It’s retro, sophisticated, interesting and artsy.

It’s the Mad Platter record store.

Sure, University Village still may have a lot of mainstream stores such as Denny’s, Juice it Up, a movie theater, Fat Burger and a Game Stop.

But the Village reaches beyond the common with Mad Platter.

Opened in the early 80’s, Mad Platter is the sister store of Rhino Records in Claremont.

It’s a store that slips free of

most things of today, but still has the art, culture and diversity for every generation to enjoy.

Grab a Jones soda inside, browse the store and you’re guaranteed to find something of interest.

The walls are covered in posters, both of music and movies.

The shelves are filled with a large variety of music genres.

The vast amount of records and CDs make this place seem like any music lover’s dream.

From oldies to newbie’s, you will be able to find something from The Beatles to Britney Spears.

Or maybe, if you’re into the punk influence, some old Ramones records might suit your musical taste.

What’s most innovative about this store is how it can bring both the past and present and blend them together.

The Mad Platter brings together, on vinyl, music that our parents listened to in their hayday and current albums such as the

“Juno” movie soundtrack.

Music nowadays is pretty expensive, considering most people use Apple’s iTunes, which will cost you a whole 10 dollars just for one CD. Luckily, the Mad Platter has deals and sales all the time, not to mention its own extensive section of used CDs. With deals as low as $2.99, you can save your wallet from feeling empty.

Mad Platter also buys used CD’s, DVD’s, and LP’s.

If that wasn’t enough, they offer 40% into the mix if you opt for store credit when selling your old stuff, which leaves you with more money to purchase new music.

“This store brings back new trends that always seem to happen again,” said Riverside City College student Zoe Odien. “Music goes out, but some tunes never die.”

Music isn’t the only item for purchase at this store though.

A variety of posters, patches, buttons, stickers, as well as not

typically sold magazines Punk Planet and even gag gifts are available for customers.

You might even be able to find your favorite band T-shirt for sale.

“My favorite purchase would have to be my Pee Wee Herman shirt,” said Odien. “I get compliments on it all the time.”

The Mad Platter is open from 10 a.m to 9 p.m. from Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

The store is located at 1223 University Avenue #160, near the University of California, Riverside.

Just down the street from University Village is a local coffee shop known as Back to the Grind.

If you’ve never been inside,you have no idea what you’re missing out on.

The decoration and style of the store is eye-catching.

With an entire wall dedicated to a book shelf packed with literature and tall tables hand painted with

unique art, the shop can’t help but stand out.

The music played in the store breaks the trend many stores follow by playing loud and annoying music, typical of today.

The music varies from a creative group of ukulele players to a much more intense punk rock band proving that genres can be fused together creating a different atmosphere on whichever night you choose to visit.

Besides the creativity that lines the walls, the menu isn’t half bad either.

Pizza, stuffed croissants, vegan friendly meals, sandwiches and the not so typical Italian sodas are just some of the many items you can buy.

If you truly look though the city there can be something exciting that lies around the corner.

From a shopping center to a coffee shop, you never know what you will find that might spark your interest, ultimately creating a chain reaction to new and exciting things.

Vi ew p o i n t s E n t e r t a i n m e n t C a l e n d a r Nov. 6

Nov. 7

Nov. 8

MOVIES EVENTS EVENTS “The Box” Boyz II Men at the Hanson/Hellogoodbye at “Collapse” California Theatre of the CLUB NOKIA “Disney’s A Christmas LMFAO at Performing Arts Carol” Hollywood Palladium Jay Z at “Endgame” Ludo at Pauley Pavilion “The Fourth Kind” Glass House Langhorne Slim at the “The Men Who Stare at All Time Low at House of Troubadour Goats” Blues Sunset Strip Chocolate Sundaes at the “Precious” MOVIES Lawrence Arms MOVIES at Laugh Factory Hollywood “Fame” Troubadour “Fame” “Surrogates” “Surrogates” “Pandorum” “Pandorum” “All Shook Up” at “All Shook Up” at EVENTS EVENTS MOVIES Landis PAC Landis PAC Attack!

Attack! at Paramore at Hollywood Alejandra Guzman at Alejandra Guzman “2012” at Troubadour Palladium “Dare” Pechanga Pechanga Keller at Williams at House An Evening with “The Norm McDonald Norm McDonald at Messenger” of Blues Anaheim Switchfoot at “Oh My God?” Irvine Improv Irvine Improv College Night at Laugh Roxy Theatre “Pirate Radio” Factory Hollywood Marc Anthony at “Ten9Eight: Shoot for the Everclear at Gibson Amphitheatre at Moon” Roxy Theatre Universal City Walk “Uncertainty” “Women in Trouble”

Nov. 11

Nov. 12

Nov. 13

Nov. 9

Nov. 10

EVENTS So You Think You Can Dance Live Tour at NOKIA Theatre LA Live Imogen Heap at The Music Box at the Fonda Steel Panther at Key Club Latino Night at Laugh Factory Hollywood

EVENTS The Used at The Wiltern Lisa Hannigan at Troubadour Mat Kearney at The Music Box at the Fonda The Raveonettes at Detroit Bar

Nov. 14

Nov. 15

EVENTS Stryper at CLUB NOKIA Aeromyth at Galaxy Theatre All-Star Comedy at Laugh Factory Hollywood Cartel at The Chain Reaction in Anahiem

Got something you want to get the word out about? Send it to

insider@viewpointsonline.org

EVENTS Third Eye Blind at Grove of Anaheim Final Fantasy at The Music Box at the Fonda Michael Martin Murphey at California Theater of the Performing Arts

Viewpoints

Serving students since 1922

Novemeber 5, 2009 | 15

Men’s Soccer pushing for playoffs javier cabrera Sports editor Going all out to finish the season the Riverside City College men’s soccer team loses three straight games as the soccer season is close to an end.

After losing a game they should have won against Irvine Valley and giving them their first conference win, the Tigers had a rematch against a tough Santa Ana team.

Riverside had revenge in their minds after they lost a disappointing game in Santa Ana that ended the game in a brawl.

In the past years Santa Ana has owned Riverside winning five of the last six meetings dating back to the 2007 season.

In the game on Oct. 27 Santa Ana showed they own Riverside after scoring three unanswered goals in the first half and winning the game 5-2.

With two critical conference losses, the Tigers dropped their third consecutive loss to Fullerton 2-1 on Oct. 30.

“In all three games we had more chances than the other teams of scoring but we just couldn’t put those goals in,” said coach Jose Angel Moreno.

With the three conference losses, Riverside are less likely to win the Orange Empire Conference.

R i v e r s i d e ’s d e f e n s e h a s improved, since the team lost games because they gave lazy passes that led the opponents to score easy goals.

Riverside has three games left in their season, one against Orange Coast, Golden West and Santiago Canyon.

Riverside has 15 points and are currently tied in fourth place with Fullerton in the conference.

“The conference has been really close all season so we have to take every game like it’s ‘win or go home,’ but we should be ok win a couple of more wins,” said Moreno.

Riverside has played all three remaining teams once during the season already, beating Orange Coast, 7-4, and Santiago Canyon, 2-1, while losing to Golden West 2-0. “ We a r e g o i n g t o t r a i n specifically on each game individually and work on how each team played against us in the first game we played each other,” Moreno said.

Riverside rebounded strong playing with a impressive and needed win against Cypress in a 4-1 win on Nov. 3.

“Cypress is not one of the strongest teams in the conference, but are one of the teams that have been getting the wins and ties,” Moreno said. “Comparing them to the rest of the conference they have been one of the weakest teams we

Feliciano Gonzalez / Staff Photographer

focus on the game: Midfielder Edgar Gomez, center, sprints for a loose ball against Santa Ana’s Esteban Chavez as teammates watch in the game against Santa Ana on Oct. 27.

have played this season.”

Despite the rollercoaster season, Riverside expects to make the playoffs based on the power rankings they’ll receive from the state standings after the season ends.

“As long as we can keep the motivation for the team, we are going to go ahead and do a good job on these last three teams who are going to be a little tougher,” Moreno said.

Banged up by the injury bug there are many players who are playing injured including forward Alvaro Mendoza who is still not fully recovered from his injury.

With a current overall record of 10-7-1 and a conference record of 5-6-0, there has been some individual players making a name for themselves.

Riverside’s forward Jimmy Martinez leads the conference with 31 goals and 16 assists, forward Mendoza has 9 goals and midfielder Edgar Gomez has 15 assist as the team combined for 60 goals and 61 assists so far this season.

Heading into the final two weeks of the season, the current standings show Santa Ana has a greater chance winning the conference, since they are in first place with 26 points.

Golden West with 22 points is in second place and Orange Coast with 17 points is in third place.

Being in one of the toughest conferences in California, Riverside hopes to be one of possibly four teams to make the playoffs from the conference.

Feliciano gonzalez / staff Photographer

Racing into the Playoffs: Riverside City College’s forward Jimmy Martinez is determined to lead the team into the playoffs with his 31 goals and 16 assists.

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16 | Novemeber 5, 2009

Sports

Another Saturday, another loss Ricky Holmes Staff Writer The Tigers have had an abysmal season thus far and the last home game of the season provided no silver lining to their proverbial dark cloud.

Riverside was routed 34-14 by the Chaffey Panthers to give the Tigers their seventh straight loss.

This loss brings the team’s overall record to one win and eight losses with just one more game on the road to go.

Riverside did win one thing; that being the coin toss.

Even after winning the coin toss, the Tigers elected to kick off to Chaffey so that they would get the ball after halftime.

This move proved to be the wrong one as the Panthers were able to push downfield for 60yards on seven plays.

In a drive that culminated in a 1-yard touchdown run by Chaffey quarterback, A.J. Springer, to give the Panthers a quick 7-0 lead with 12 and a half minutes remaining in the first quarter.

It looked as though Riverside was going to even up the game on their next possession.

The Tigers used a halfback pass by Ryan Nordbeck to gain 24-yards and get them close to the red zone.

The Panther defense was too formidable, however, and the

Tigers were forced to go for what appeared to be an easy field goal.

That easy field goal sadly sailed left and gave Chaffey possession at their own 24-yard line.

It took Chaffey only five plays to benefit from the missed field goal by Riverside.

A s Springer connected with Axxel Rivas on a 58-yard touchdown pass to give the Panthers a 14-0 lead.

The Tigers played good defense to open up the second quarter.

The team was able to stop an impressive Chaffey drive that ended in a missed field goal.

Riverside was building up a drive of its own when it was stopped by a fumble by Jela Cleghorne at the Chaffey 44-yard line.

The Panthers were unable to score on the turnover and the score remained 14-0 going into halftime.

After halftime, the Tigers went three and out on their first possession and gave the ball back to Chaffey.

Chaffey didn’t waste much time in scoring.

Springer was able to find Brandon Caldwell on a 30-yard pass to take the Panthers down to the Riverside 5-yard line.

Two plays later, Jahmal Rover was able to punch in a 1-yard run to increase Chaffey’s lead to 21-0.

dorothea samuel / Staff Photographer

tiger time: Members of the RCC football team look from the sidelines as the players on the field get up from a huge dog pile on October 31st.

Riverside was able to find a ray of hope when the Panther’s Springer fumbled at their own 3-yard line.

On the next play, Jeremy Gallard ran it in for a 3-yard touchdown to finally put the Tigers on the board and cut the Panther’s lead to 14 points.

Unfortunately, 14 points would be the closest Riverside would get.

Chaffey opened up the final quarter with a 4-yard touchdown

Favre to Packers: Miss me now?

Daniel torres asst. sports editor Brett Favre’s career with the Green Bay Packers was nothing short of magnificent. His distinguished play has given him almost every record a quarterback could own, including a Super Bowl Win. Favre was also one of the most loved players, keyword being “was.” The state of Wisconsin was infatuated with Favre, in fact, the name Brett rose dramatically for baby names in the late 90’s and early 00’s in Wisconsin.

So seeing Favre in a Vikings uniform now definitely angered a lot of Packer fans, especially those who named their child after him.

So should we view Favre and think bad? Should we think of him as a traitor? The answer is no.

True, Favre did flip-flop on his retirement decision. The Green Bay management though, wanted to move on with the future of the organization.

They wanted to move on with Aaron Rodgers, the young quarterback who had always sat on the bench and watched Favre go out and make history. If Favre came back, he was to sit on the bench as Rodgers went out onto

the field.

What a slap in the face to Favre, after all he did for that organization, as well as the State of Wisconsin.

Whenever a player walks into your organization and gives you over fifteen years of hall of fame play with only one losing season, you keep that player, hands down.

Instead, the Packers dumped him with the New York Jets, where they knew they wouldn’t have to face him again. Then all of a sudden, one season later, Favre is a free agent and is free to sign with whomever he wants.

Favre chose to sign with the Vikings. They were the team most interested in him, and I’m sure having two shots to get back at the team that sent him packing was probably on his mind somewhere.

Then there are the Packer fans, the loyal cheese heads we hear so much about. Where’s the loyalty for the man you think of every time you call over little Brett for supper?

Where were they at when general manager Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy were reluctant in taking back Favre?

Where were all the Packer fans when Favre was shipped out to New York, did they try to bring him back? No. So Favre got his first chance at revenge when the Packers came to visit him in Minnesota Oct 5. He got his revenge with a 30-23 win.

The real game to watch though

was Favre’s infamous return to Lambeau Field. The very place that used to chant his name as if he was God, because in Green Bay, Brett Favre was God. So what kind of reception does a player like Favre get going back to Lambeau Field. He got booed and had to watch as fans held up fake dummies of him in a casket.

He finds out that the mayor of Green Bay declared it flip flop day because of Favre’s inability to make a decision. Worst of all, Favre also received a death threat called into a Wisconsin radio station.

National columnist Jay Mariotti summed it up best when he wrote, “The hostility toward Brett Favre was an embarrassment to a community that never looked smaller.”

Favre still went into Lambeau, he played through all the boos each time he was on the field, and he silenced the crowd each time he scored. And yes, Favre got his revenge once again as he jumped off that field in a 38-26 victory, throwing four touchdowns along the way.

He had shown his old boss that he still had what it took to play. That it was their loss for letting him go. I can’t even begin to imagine what Thompson and McCarthy thought of when they each went to bed that night.

All we know is that Favre is happy and the Packers’ management definitely got what it deserved. Congratulations Brett, way to stick it to the man.

run by Jahmal Rover to extend their lead even further to 28-7.

On the ensuing kick-off, Riverside’s Lester white returned the ball 53-yards.

With that runback, and a personal foul on Chaffey, the ball was spotted on the Panther’s 21-yard line giving the Tigers an excellent opportunity to score.

Riverside’s James Calhoun threw a halfback pass to receiver Tommy Curry to put the team at the 2-yard line.

Two plays later, quarterback Nathan Lamonica ran it in on a bootleg play giving the Tigers another six points.

That was the last time that the Tigers would see the end zone that night.

Chaffey would go on to score once more on a 45-yard touchdown pass to Jahmal Rover to place the final nail in the Tiger’s coffin and end a Halloween night that gave Riverside some tricks but definitely no treats!

November 5, 2009 | 17

Sports

Pass, set and lose

Volleyball swept in conference match against Irvine Valley daniel torres asst. sports editor

Men’s Soccer

Football Season Record Overall: 1-8 Conference: 0-5 Next Game: 11/14 at Citrus

Season Record Overall: 10-7-1 Conference: 5-6-0 Next Game: 11/10 at Golden West

Football

Women’s Soccer Season Record Overall: 9-2-6 Conference: 6-2-5 Next Game: 11/10 vs. Saddleback

Men’s Waterpolo

Women’s Waterpolo

Season Record Season Record Overall: Overall: 15-10 22-2 Conference: Conference: 3-1 5-1 Next Game: Next Game: 11/5 at Orange Empire 11/5 at Orange Empire Championship Championship

Oct. 13 RCC 0 Santiago Canyon 1 Oct. 16 RCC 1 Orange Coast 1

Volleyball Season Record Overall: 14-8 Conference: 5-4 Next Game: 11/11 at Fullerton

Men’s Waterpolo

Oct. 20 RCC 1 Santa Ana 1

Sept. 11 RCC 8 Orange Coast 12

Sept. 12 RCC 40 San Bernardino 17

Oct. 27 RCC 3 Irvine Valley 1

Sept. 12 RCC 8 Grossmont 13

Sept. 19 RCC 7 Glendale 10

Oct. 30 RCC 4 Fullerton 0

Sept. 12 RCC 13 Los Angeles Valley 8

Sept. 26 RCC 7 Pasadena 38

Nov. 3

RCC 0 Cypress 0

Sept. 18 RCC 8 Long Beach City 10

Oct. 3

RCC 16 El Camino 41

Nov. 6

At Golden West 6 p.m.

Sept. 18 RCC 12 Cal Poly 3

Oct. 10

Sept. 5

RCC 14 Victor Valley 27

RCC 40 Desert 41

Nov. 10 Vs. Saddleback 3 p.m.

Sept. 19 RCC 9 Ventura 11

Oct. 17

RCC 12 Mt. San Antonio 45

Nov. 13 At Santiago Canyon 1 p.m.

Sept. 19 RCC 17 Cuesta 12

Oct. 24

RCC 17 Cerritos 58

Oct. 31

RCC 17 Chaffey 34

Nov. 14

At Citrus 1 p.m.

Men’s Soccer Aug. 29

RCC 6 Desert 3

Sept. 1

RCC 3 Imperial Valley 2

Sept. 9

RCC 5 Palomar 4

Sept. 15

RCC 1 Rio Hondo 3

Sept. 18

RCC 4 Citrus 2

Sept. 21

RCC 4 Chaffey 4

Sept. 23

RCC 4 San Diego Mesa 3

Sept. 29

RCC 9 Irvine Valley 6

Oct. 2

RCC 2 Santa Ana 4

Oct. 6

RCC 6 Fullerton 4

Oct. 9

RCC 1 Cypress 3

Oct. 16

RCC 0 Golden West 2

Oct. 19

RCC 2 Santiago Canyon 1

Oct. 20

RCC 7 Orange Coast 4

Oct. 23

RCC 2 Imperial Valley 5

Oct. 27

RCC 2 Santa Ana 5

Oct. 30

RCC 1 Fullerton 2

Nov. 3

RCC 4 Cypress 1

Nov. 6

Vs Santiago Canyon 3 p.m.

Nov. 10

At Golden West 6 p.m.

Nov. 13

Vs. Orange Coast 3 p.m.

Women’s Soccer Sept. 1

RCC 2 Mt. San Antonio 1

Sept. 4

RCC 3 Palomar 1

Sept. 8

RCC 1 Miramar 1

Sept. 11

RCC 2 Southwestern 0

Sept. 15

RCC 0 Orange Coast 1

Sept. 18

RCC 3 Santa Ana 1

Sept. 25

RCC 1 Irvine Valley 0

Sept. 29

RCC 2 Fullerton 2

Oct. 2

RCC 0 Cypress 0

Oct. 6

RCC 6 Golden West 0

Oct. 9

RCC 2 Saddleback 1

Volleyball Aug. 29 RCC 0 Santa Barbara 3 Sept. 2 RCC 3 Southwestern 0 Sept. 4 RCC 3 Chaffey 0 Sept. 12 RCC 3 Victor Valley 1 Sept. 20 RCC 3 Grossmount 1 Sept. 23 RCC 3 Desert 0 Sept. 23 RCC 3 San Bernardino Valley 0 Oct. 2

RCC 1 Irvine Valley 3

Oct. 7

RCC 3 Santa Ana 0

Oct. 9

RCC 3 Golden West 2

Oct. 14 RCC 0 Orange Coast 3 Oct. 16 RCC 3 Fullerton 0 Oct. 21 RCC 3 Saddleback 1 Oct. 23 RCC 2 Cypress 3 Oct. 28 RCC 0 Irvine Valley 3 Oct. 30 RCC 3 Santa Ana 0 Nov. 4

Vs. Golden West 6 p.m.

Nov. 6

At Orange Coast 7 p.m.

Sept. 23 RCC 12 Golden West 17 Sept. 25 RCC 10 Mt. San Antonio 7 Sept. 25 RCC 10 Cal Baptist 12 Sept. 26 RCC 13 La Verne 8 Sept. 26 RCC 13 Occidental College 9 Sept. 30 RCC 18 Fullerton 17 Oct. 7

RCC 21 Santa Ana 6

Oct. 9

RCC 18 Chaffey 5

Oct. 9

RCC 10 Cuesta 12

Oct. 10 RCC 16 Los Angeles Valley 8 Oct. 10 RCC 9 Orange Coast 14 Oct. 14 RCC 9 Orange Coast 7 Oct. 17 RCC 6 Claremont 9 Oct. 23 RCC 15 Citrus 8 Oct. 23 RCC 10 Fullerton 12 Oct. 24 RCC 11 Los Angeles Valley 5 Oct. 24 RCC 19 Saddleback 4 Oct. 28 RCC 13 Saddleback 10 Oct. 30 RCC 8 Cal Baptist 12 Nov. 5

Orange Empire Conference

Nov. 11 At Fullerton 6 p.m.

Championship

Nov. 13 Vs. Saddleback 6 p.m.

Cross Country

Nov. 18 At Cypress 6 p.m.

Women’s Waterpolo Sept. 23 RCC 1 Golden West 4

Sept. 12 Fresno Invitation, Fresno, CA 10 a.m.

Sept. 19 UC Riverside Invitation, UCR 9 a.m.

Sept. 25 OEW Preview, Huntington Beach, CA

Sept. 30 RCC 13 Fullerton 2 Oct. 3

RCC 9 Orange Coast 5

Oct. 7

RCC 0 Santa Ana Forfiet

Oct. 14 RCC 10 Orange Coast 0

11 a.m.

Oct. 10 Howard Brubaker Invitation, Irvine, CA 10 a.m.

Oct. 16 Southern California Preview

Oct. 16 RCC 12 Golden West 6 Oct. 16 RCC 8 Long Beach City 7

Walnut, CA 11 a.m.

Oct. 24 Santa Barbara Invite

Oct. 21 RCC 19 Cypress 4 Oct. 23 RCC 14 Grossmont 5

Santa Barbara, CA 10 a.m.

Oct. 30 Orange Empire Championship

Oct. 23 RCC 10 Chaffey 6 Oct. 24 RCC 8 Long Beach City 3 Oct. 28 RCC 16 Saddleback 7 Nov. 5 Orange Empire Conference Championship

Huntington Beach, CA 11 a.m.

Nov. 7

Southern California Championship Walnut, CA 10 a.m.

Nov. 21 California State Championship Fresno, CA 10 a.m.

On Oct. 28 the Riverside City College volleyball team went head-to-head against the Irvine Valley Lasers, one of the top ranked schools in California. Irvine proved why they are one of the best when they bested RCC in three straight sets 28-26, 25-14, 25-21.

It wasn’t so much of an Irvine victory but more of an RCC loss as defense, carelessness and poor communication handed Irvine the win. Their offensive play was brilliant, but offense doesn’t win games, defense does.

Diminutive errors like someone not calling for a ball, leaving the rest of the team to figure out who will get it while the ball hits the ground untouched, are errors that plagued the team constantly that night.

While these errors might seem minuscule, they can have an enormous effect on the game. Not only do these points add up and become costly in close games, but simple defensive maneuvers like these can change the game around.

A small lift of the ball can easily get it over the net and start up a new rally, leaving the team motivated and ready to play defense. It can also do damage to the opposing team, not being able to convert a point can make a player lose their confidence very quickly.

The women’s volleyball team was on the wrong side of these scenarios that night, and they knew it the whole time.

Brittney Diffini, the team’s setter, summed it up clearly when she said she felt “frustrated,” after the game.

“I feel that we, as a team, only played half heartedly.

We were playing not to lose instead of playing to win,” Diffini said.

Frustration is exactly what they should have felt after they lost game one being up 24-18 at one time. All they needed was one more point to win the first game and they let that slip away with these simple errors. The next thing you know, the Lasers rally back leaving the team, coach Monica Trainer and the fans all bewildered.

“We needed to finish but I guess we just got a bit too comfortable,” Diffini said.

Trainer said she felt disappointed with the way the first game went and that the team just needed to get their confidence back up.

Their confidence must have taken a trip to the snack bar because RCC was fiercely taken advantage of in the second game, going down 25-14. Most of the points RCC scored in the second game were mainly because of Irvine mishaps.

Irvine came out tough during the second game swinging intensely at every ball that came their way. It was obvious that the power hitting and kills were too much for RCC to handle in the second game.

Trainer made some rotational changes to begin the third game and it showed right from the start when RCC got a quick 9-4 lead.

“They can do some things better than us, we just had to figure out what we could do better than them,” said Trainer.

Irvine adjusted to RCC’s rotation and the game became a neck-to-neck battle. The poor defense that haunted them in the first two games came back to strike once more as RCC let this one slip away as well 25-21.

The game was over, the teams shook hands, Irvine celebrated and RCC walked into the locker rooms with their heads down in defeat.

What makes a team good though, even in the hour of defeat, is that they went into that locker room they didn’t argue about who missed a serve or who couldn’t hit the ball, but on how to improve for the next opponent. This game was over in the stat sheets and in their minds.

They’ll walk into practice the next day working on their mistakes, so as hoping not to see them again. Trainer says to her team every game, “Learn something new, bring it in with you tomorrow.”

As of Nov. 3, their record currently stands at 5-3 in conference. They’re desperately trying to clinch a playoff berth with 3 teams currently ahead.

Three of their next five games are on the road, but more are against losing teams. If they can play well on the road and take care of business here at home, they can maybe squeeze into the playoffs behind powerhouses Orange Coast College and Irvine.

18 | Novemeber 5, 2009

Viewpoints

Serving students since 1922

‘Who ya gonna call?’

California Paranormal Private Investigators track down supernatural activity like spirits the group as a last resort.

CalPara comes into their homes or stores, gently bringing in their The parking lot is empty, the equipment and offering a copy of all their findings to the owner. box office boarded up.

Sometimes the news is Old movie posters still hang in distressing, but often times people the windows. are relieved and comforted to find What used to be a date-night out they have a family member destination is now the site of a watching over them. paranormal investigation.

During a recent investigation Inside, three members from Calpara was called in because a California Paranormal Private little girl kept telling her mom she Investigators, or CalPara for short, saw an astronaut in her room. sit on stools where popcorn was Calpara determined it to be once sold, sipping coffee and her grandpa, deceased for over discussing the details of their current 2 0 y e a r s .

He investigation. was horrified to Peaches find out he had Veatch, the lead been scaring his investigator, granddaughter. along with Kd Most of Foreman and t h e m e m b e rs Frances Tabor, of CalPara have have decided to full time day jobs, take it into their and consider the own hands to investigations a find out why the second (unpaid) former tenants job more than just abandoned a hobby. So why the theater so do they do it? suddenly. “ We w a n t “They just -- Frances Tabor to get answers, left one day, California Paranormal while also helping popcorn still Investigators people,” Veatch in the poppers, said. hundreds of “We want to thousands of understand what happens to us dollars of equipment left behind,” after we leave here.

We’re not Tabor said. thrill seeking; we’re in it for the The theater owners denied scientific value.” any paranormal events took place, Members scoff at the depictions but CalPara was suspicious and of ghost hunting glamorized on decided to check it out. television.

This is just one of many sites “If you’re experiencing in Southern California that CalPara unexplained events, it’s probably has investigated during the three not a demon in your house, it’s years it’s been together. probably grandma trying to get Donning black shorts and your attention,” Foreman said. polo shirts, credentials hanging F o r e m a n s t o p s , f eeling from lanyards, the 20 members of someone watching her.

CalPara travel all over.

“Suddenly your brain tells you They respond to calls of strange you’re being watched, and it’s a feelings, footsteps in the night, woman, and she’s totally angry.” windows closing on their own and She senses the spirit of an older other seemingly unexplainable woman pacing in the shadows happenings. of the hallway, apparently upset Distraught residents and by their conversation. business owners frequently call Jackie Adams Asst. Features Editor

“

“You have to understand the hair standing up on the back of your neck means something”

Image courtesy of: California Paranormal Private Investigations Foreman flaps her hands doors down the hallway, meeting searching, hoping one day to nervously, “A lot of times they in the middle, and then floating come across the holy grail of ghost hunting, a full body apparition. get upset when we use the word off-screen together.

“You must have an open mind, ‘dead,’ some don’t know that they Their documentation is vast. have died,” she said.

From electromagnetic field and be open to all of your senses,” The other women don’t seem recordings (voices that apparently Tabor said.

“You have to understand that fazed, and Veatch starts a video don’t have a human source) to showing the proof they have video recordings and pictures of the hair standing up on the back of your neck means something.” collected from the theater. orbs.

So, if you feel your hair Filmed in night vision, it shows There’s even a picture of two orbs coming from separate a floating face. So they keep standing up, watch your back.

Viewpoints

Hollywood’s local go-to band Chanelle williams features editor in.

The cool kids are marching

Nicknamed “Hollywood’s Band” for being in many movies, television commercials and music videos, Riverside City College Marching Tigers are breaking the “band geek” mold.

It all began back in the early 1980s.

Dr. Charles Kane, the president of RCC at that time, had proposed that a marching band be started up at the community college, which was unheard of.

“He saw that there was a gap.

You went to a football game, there was no band. You went to a basketball game, there was no band,” said Gary Locke who has been the director of the Marching Tigers since its conception.

Locke caught Kane and his administration’s interest when the high school band he was directing marched in the 1981 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade and the 1984 Tournament of Roses Parade.

That fall Locke came to RCC with the task of putting together a band.

“There wasn’t anything. There were no kids, no uniforms, no instruments, no room,” said Locke.

He had to start from scratch.

The first meeting held for students who wanted to join was

November 5, 2009 | 19

Serving students since 1922

Features

at the football stadium.

Only 16 students showed up.

“I had 172 when I left John North and I live in Redlands and that night when I drove home from RCC it was a pretty long drive.”

“It wasn’t long but it just seemed like forever and I’m like ‘Oh man, what have I done? You know, I made a huge mistake,” said Locke.

But under the direction of Locke and his experienced staff, with hard work and hours and hours of rehearsals, the band has been nothing but a success.

Twenty-six years later, with its now 210 members, the band has been in 20 movies such as “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery,” “The Truman Show,” “Princess Diaries 2,” “American Pie 2” and recently released “Fame.”

It has also been a guest on television shows like “Gilmore Girls,” “Veronica Mars,” “Monk,” “Charmed” and has recently finished filming for NBC’s “The Office” and HBO’s “Big Love.”

In music videos such as “That’s Not My Name” by The Ting Tings, “Underclass Hero” by Sum 41 and “She’s Blowing Me Up (With Her Love) by JC Chasez the band can be seen.

As well as in commercials for Riverside Auto Center, McDonald’s, Six Flags Magic Mountain, American Eagle

Khai Le / ONLINE Editor

PARADE: The RCC Marching Tigers perform during homecoming on Oct. 10.

Outfitters and Verizon Wireless.

Aside from their career in the land of glitz and glamour, the Marching Tigers have made their mark in festivals and parades nationally and internationally in countries like England, Italy, France, Ireland, Japan and Australia.

A big honor and accomplishment they achieved in 1990 was being the first community college to be in the Tournament of Roses Parade.

“There is nothing junior about this junior community college band,” said Gordon Henderson, director of the UCLA Bruin

Marching Band, in his letter of recommendation.

His letter is one of the many letters of recommendation from politicians and major band directors sent in with the band’s application to be in the parade.

“It was a shot in the dark,” said Locke, “but we were growing and getting better and we impressed a lot of people.”

The great success and the opportunity to travel and be a part of a sensation serves as an incentive for students to join said Locke.

“Its not about the right notes

or the wrong notes. I don’t teach notes, I teach people. I’ve been going to work for 38 years now, doing this and I still consider it not work,” said Locke “We’re teaching them the three most important things for life which is discipline, commitment and follow-through.’Cause what boss doesn’t want that in their employee?”

“If they’re gonna be dedicated to it, they’re gonna show up, you know that’s a big part of it. and of course we add in the ‘razz-matazz’ of the entertainment value and then it’s like, cool.”

Viewpoints

Serving students since 1922

20 | November 5, 2009

Inscape

No token needed for ‘Tekken’ Adrian Pascua Staff Writer Don’t judge this game by the cover or you might get someone’s exploding head. The name “Tekken” has been one of Namco’s driving forces in the world of 3-D fighting games.

“Tekken 6” is a solid game offering over 40 characters to choose from with over a thousand moves. The background can be used to allow players to extend combinations in order to beat their opponents into a bloody mess on the ground. For hardcore fans, this means if a player is the kind who mashes the buttons together hoping to hit a combination, it will work.

Although, mashing buttons together will probably make a player predictable and have other “Tekken” players laugh while watching the “button masher” get wailed on by their opponent.

Also, players will be given slight opportunities to use devastating counter moves that can do enough damage to either make or break a round, this can also be humiliating if done in repetition.

The graphics are something to applaude since each environment alone is made to look unique, smooth and just plain gorgeous.

Each battlefield has depth making it easy to tell where you are.

Each character’s different facial features, ages, and body types are beautifully crafted and well done.

The female characters, for some reason, wear extremely form fitting and at times short or shiny clothing...don’t ask, just play. It’s nothing short of amazing, the creators could get each move unique to every character and make it look so good.

So you don’t like the way your character looks? Just go ahead and change it.

“Tekken 6” has the option of customizing a character to your liking. Players can change everything from a character’s hair to their clothing. Another customizable option is the addition of special weapons that are unique to each character and range from guns to a fish (yes, a fish is actually a better weapon than you think).

Although “Tekken 6” was released almost a year ago in arcades it was extremely rare if an arcade actually had the game. The closest found machine, up until recently, was in the city of Walnut.

So thanks to the release of “Tekken 6” to the Playstation 3 and X-box 360 consoles, you don’t need to drive to Walnut.

Save yourself the time and gas money and play with anybody in the world at any given time, online. That’s right “Tekken 6” is an online fighting game.

This revolutionary new idea of a fighting game online comes with a few bugs which seem to devalue the game that was supposed to be one of the best fighting games of the year.

One bug, is finding someone online who is willing to play.

The problem is if you’re so godly, no one may be willing to

take the beating you can dish out.

Plus the host of the room can kick you out if he or she wanted to and because your win-loss record can be viewed by the host, it may hinder you. Even if a player online does decide to play, they can still drop you if they feel your level surpasses their own.

The next problem is connectivity; before a match a player can see how good their opponent’s connection is. This prevents lag time so a player can input their commands and take action immediately.

In a lot of cases, even if the connection icon shows up as good, playing will still create lag time during the game for both players.

As a matter of fact, while still in the lobby waiting to start a game it’s not uncommon to watch the connection icon keep changing colors from good to bad.

The delay will often cause players on both sides to miss

blocks and delay timing for counter attacks. Call me old fashion, but it’s my belief that if a game is meant to be played online, then it shouldn’t suck to play online.

All in all, “Tekken 6” is a really good fighting game.

Good graphics, tons of characters to use, lots of moves that link into devastating combinations

Games Press players can use to their imagination.

If only the online play was as good as the rest of the game, this game would have my vote for fighting game of the year, hands down.