Inside: Volume CXVIII, Edition 5 Since 1949 November 4, 2009 Fresno City College has seen reductions in the funding of most of its programs this year, but none is as severe as the cut in the budget of the Disabled Students Programs and services (DSP&S). “I don’t think the campus and the community really under- stands what has happened to us; already, we’re looking at about 50 percent of our entire budget being cut. The campus got cut, but up to 10 percent; we are being cut almost 50 percent,” said Dr. Janice Emer- zian, the director of DSP&S. “The budget is all we think and talk about right now, and it has impacted us severely,” she added. “Right now we have already cut about $500,000 out of our budget, and almost all those dollars are staff delivering direct services for students.” Established in 1970, DSP&S provides services for students with learning, physical or psychological disabilities. It has helped thousands of students achieve success during and after college, changing their lives, and creating opportunities for everyone involved in the program. The program offers nu- merous programs to students, including the Workability pro- gram, Learning Disability Program, Adaptive Ornamental Horticulture, Adapted Physical Education as well as Independent living and The Harshest Cut of All DSP&S’s budget slashed by $500,000 Daniel Olivio and Christal Hopkins are just two of the DSP&S students affected by cuts. 10 hints to acing all your classes. See “Budget” on Page 7 See “Surviving” on page 2 It’s already the middle of the semester and finals week will be here before we know it. If you’re close to failing or have a poor grade in your class, there’s still hope! Raising your grade can be easy if you discipline yourself and work. Below are 10 tips to help you through these last two months. 10. Go to class Too many absences or tardies can significantly affect your grade and, to most teachers, attendance is a must. Not showing up means missing out on lectures, pop quizzes, participation points, and gives your teacher the impres- sion you don’t care. 9. Concentrate on what’s being covered If problems such as hunger, fatigue, or other distractions are getting in the way while in class, fix the problem! Grab a snack be- fore class, try to get enough sleep each night, and keep your cell phone turned off and put away. If other students are talking and interfering with class, don’t be afraid to ask them to be quiet so you can concentrate. 8. Take notes Attend lectures faithfully and write down what was covered. Everyone is different and you’ll need to find a note taking struc- ture that best suits your needs. If the teacher writes something on the board you should be writing it down as well. Record all ex- amples, key terms, and important concepts your teacher mentions. Lastly, pay attention to the entire lecture and try not to zone out before the end of class when the teacher may give out important information. 7. Be organized If you’ve lost your syl- labus for the class, make sure you get another one. Most syl- labi include the course schedule of exams, assignment due dates, Photo by Hector Ruelas Registration time is here, and the questions on everyone’s mind are “When is my registration date?” and “how do I get a better registration date?” Registration dates are given according to the quality points a student receives. “Quality points are calculated by taking the number of units a student has and multiplying that number by his or her grade points. The more units a student takes and the better grades he has add up to a better quality score which gives them a better registration date,” said Doris Griffin, Admissions and Records Manager for Fresno City College. First time students are given a later registration date because the units they are taking and the grades received in their first semester are still unavailable, therefore their quality points are set to 0. Student reg- istration started on Oct. 22, and it goes on for 10 continuous days. The first two days are priority reg- istration days. These first days of registra- tion are awarded to students who are part of the Honors pro- gram, DSP&S, student athletes, SSSP, and a few other programs at FCC. “I was able to register for my classes a week ago because I am involved with EOP&S, and was able to get all the classes I needed,” said Britney Sosa, an FCC student. Registration for all other stu- dents began on Oct. 26. Also, students can register at any time after their assigned regis- tration date. If stu- dents have any kind of holds, they will still be assigned a registration date but will not be able to register until they take care of their holds. Depending on the type of hold they have they can be asked to do different things to take care of it. There are a few things that can prevent students from reg- istering, including, academic pro- bation which happens when a stu- dent doesn’t have good academic standing. This can be taken care of by attending a group probation ses- sion or meeting with a counselor individually. Individual situations are subject to change, depending on the different situations or the level of probation. Some types of holds are library holds, business holds, and academic holds. Budget cuts have affected FCC significantly. Griffin said that registration services have not been restricted, but that cuts have “…decreased the number of days See “Registration” on page 5 News: Life Science Instructor to compete in World Championship Triathlon See page 4 Budget cuts affect registration options By Laura Solis Rampage Reporter Q & A: Vice President of Adminstrative Services, Mike Guerra answers tough questions on budget See page 6 Views: Chivalry: A Dead Practice See page 9 Sports: Boris Beta shares his passion for soccer See page 16 By Hector Ruelas Rampage Reporter By Kimberly Ann Hodges Rampage Reporter Consumer skills classes for dis- abled students. Also available to students is a high tech computer center which instructs students in the use of computers, through adapted computer technology and the mobility express service seen throughout FCC campus. Many of these programs are in severe loss, according to Dr. Emerzian. So how severely have the budget cuts impacted DSP&S? “I “To avoid some of the long lines associated with registering in person with a counselor, students can also register at home using Webadvisor or touchtone.”
Transcript
Insid
e:
Volume CXVIII, Edition 5 Since 1949 November 4, 2009
Fresno City College has seen reductions in the funding of most of its programs this year, but none is as severe as the cut in the budget of the Disabled Students Programs and services (DSP&S).
“I don’t think the campus and the community really under-stands what has happened to us; already, we’re looking at about 50
percent of our entire budget being cut. The campus got cut, but up to 10 percent; we are being cut almost 50 percent,” said Dr. Janice Emer-zian, the director of DSP&S.
“The budget is all we think and talk about right now, and it has impacted us severely,” she added. “Right now we have already cut about $500,000 out of our budget, and almost all those dollars are staff delivering direct services for students.”
Established in 1970, DSP&S
provides services for students with learning, physical or psychological disabilities. It has helped thousands of students achieve success during and after college, changing their lives, and creating opportunities for everyone involved in the program.
The program offers nu-merous programs to students, including the Workability pro-gram, Learning Disability Program, Adaptive Ornamental Horticulture, Adapted Physical Education as well as Independent living and
The Harshest Cut of AllDSP&S’s budget slashed by $500,000
Daniel Olivio and Christal Hopkins are just two of the DSP&S students affected by cuts.
10 hints to acing all your classes.
See “Budget” on Page 7
See “Surviving” on page 2
It’s already the middle of the semester and finals week will be here before we know it. If you’re close to failing or have a poor grade in your class, there’s still hope! Raising your grade can be easy if you discipline yourself and work. Below are 10 tips to help you through these last two months.
10. Go to classToo many absences or
tardies can significantly affect your grade and, to most teachers, attendance is a must. Not showing up means missing out on lectures, pop quizzes, participation points, and gives your teacher the impres-sion you don’t care.
9. Concentrate on what’s being covered
If problems such as hunger, fatigue, or other distractions are getting in the way while in class, fix the problem! Grab a snack be-fore class, try to get enough sleep each night, and keep your cell phone turned off and put away. If other students are talking and interfering with class, don’t be afraid to ask them to be quiet so you can concentrate.
8. Take notesAttend lectures faithfully
and write down what was covered. Everyone is different and you’ll need to find a note taking struc-ture that best suits your needs. If the teacher writes something on the board you should be writing it down as well. Record all ex-amples, key terms, and important concepts your teacher mentions. Lastly, pay attention to the entire lecture and try not to zone out before the end of class when the teacher may give out important information.
7. Be organizedIf you’ve lost your syl-
labus for the class, make sure you get another one. Most syl-labi include the course schedule of exams, assignment due dates,
Photo by Hector Ruelas
Registration time is here, and the questions on everyone’s mind are “When is my registration date?” and “how do I get a better registration date?”
Registration dates are given according to the quality points a student receives. “Quality points are calculated by taking the number of units a student has and multiplying that number by his or her grade points. The more units a student takes and the better grades he has add up to a better quality score which gives them a better registration date,” said Doris Griffin, Admissions and Records Manager for Fresno City College. First time students are given a later registration date
because the units they are taking and the grades received in their first semester are still unavailable, therefore their quality points are set to 0.
Student reg-istration started on Oct. 22, and it goes on for 10 continuous days. The first two days are priority reg-istration days. These first days of registra-tion are awarded to students who are part of the Honors pro-gram, DSP&S, student athletes, SSSP, and a few other programs at FCC. “I was able to register for my classes a week ago because I am involved with
EOP&S, and was able to get all the classes I needed,” said
Britney Sosa, an FCC student. Registration for all other stu-dents began on Oct. 26. Also, s tudents can register at any time after their assigned regis-tration date.
If stu-dents have any kind of holds, they will still be assigned a registration date but will not be able to register
until they take care of their holds. Depending on the type of hold
they have they can be asked to do different things to take care of it.
There are a few things that can prevent students from reg-istering, including, academic pro-bation which happens when a stu-dent doesn’t have good academic standing. This can be taken care of by attending a group probation ses-sion or meeting with a counselor individually. Individual situations are subject to change, depending on the different situations or the level of probation. Some types of holds are library holds, business holds, and academic holds.
Budget cuts have affected FCC significantly. Griffin said that registration services have not been restricted, but that cuts have “…decreased the number of days
See “Registration” on page 5
News: Life Science Instructor to compete in World Championship Triathlon
See page 4
Budget cuts affect registration optionsBy Laura Solis
Rampage Reporter
Q & A: Vice President of Adminstrative Services, Mike Guerra answers tough questions on budgetSee page 6
Views: Chivalry: A Dead Practice
See page 9
Sports: Boris Beta shares his passion for soccer
See page 16
By Hector Ruelas
Rampage Reporter
By Kimberly Ann Hodges
Rampage Reporter
Consumer skills classes for dis-abled students. Also available to students is a high tech computer center which instructs students in the use of computers, through adapted computer technology and the mobility express service seen throughout FCC campus. Many of these programs are in severe loss, according to Dr. Emerzian.
So how severely have the budget cuts impacted DSP&S? “I
“To avoid some of the
long lines associated
with registering
in person with a
counselor, students can
also register at home
using Webadvisor or
touchtone.”
November 4, 20092 Rampage News
By Kevin Rodriquez
Rampage Reporter
www.fresnocitycollegerampage.com
Rampage is an award-winning news-paper published biweekly by the Fresno City College Journalism 4 & 5 programs and is a member of the Journalism Association of Commu-nity Colleges. Views expressed in The Rampage are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect those of Fresno City College, its students, administration or the State Center Community College District.
Editor-in-chief: Brittany NielsenNews Editor: Laura Solis
Views Editor: Kyle CalvertEntertainment Editor: David Malagon
Sports Editor: Ray Juarez On-Line Editor: Max Rosendahl
Production Manager: Ramiro GudinoAdviser: Dympna Ugwu-Oju
Production Adviser: John Guglielmino
Letters to the editor and submis-sions to the calendar will be accepted via e-mail or in person 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Monday and Wednesday at The Rampage, Room SC- 211, above the bookstore. Please keep all letters to a maximum of 500 words along with
About UsKyle Calvert, Antwan Davis, Ieasha Davis, Krystal Diaz, Jacob Espinosa, Paz Espi-noza, Sydney Excinia, Michael Feathers, Ramiro Gudino, Jeremiah Henry, Luis Hernandez, Kimberly Hodges, Raymond Juarez, David Malagon, Calvin Moore, Brittany Nielsen, Victor Rizo, Jemima Romero, Max Rosendahl, Hecor Ruelas, Keneshia Simon, Mark Smith, Laura Solis,
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Editors & Staff
Setting it Straight!
The Rampage would like to thank our vigilant readers for pointing out the following errors.
In Issue 2, we reported that the Health center would be administering flu shots for a lowered price of $10 dollars in the article “FCC Ready for H1N1”. We were later corrected by the Health Center with an
email saying that the original price of $15 still stands.
In Issue 4, in the “Get to Know your Royalty, Candidates Running for King and Queen” we incorrectly quoted a saying in Spanish. The correct quote should be read as “Tu educa-cion es tu herencia” by Teodora Chávez, which means “Your education is your inheritance.”
what chapters are being covered for a given week, etc. It also may include exam policies, structure for papers, and how to contact your instructor if you need to miss class or simply have a question.
6. Knowing how to read your text book efficiently is neces-sary
Text books are essentially the bible for the class and simply skimming through it is an easy and effective way to cover the ma-terial. Throughout each chapter, read the title of the chapter, the introduction, and the subheadings to see what specific subjects are included. With each subject you need, read the first sentence of each paragraph to get the main idea, and the last paragraph of a section to find the conclusion of what was covered. Pay atten-tion to bold or italicized terms as these are most likely key words or concepts.
5. Don’t procrasti-nate
When a homework assign-ment is given or project required, start working or researching as soon as possible! Make a plan for your work; know what materi-als you need and make sure you schedule the necessary time to complete the assignment. Work-ing on your assignments a little bit each day will be easier and less stressful than trying to finish it the night before it’s due.
4. Time management is a must
Making a weekly or monthly schedule can help you in the long run. Make a due date calendar ahead of time so you know about upcoming exams, homework due dates, and what you need to have read or stud-ied for a certain class meeting. Schedule your time accordingly so you have time to study or com-plete assignments before their
given due dates.
3. Gain good study habits
A student should typically spend two hours studying for every one hour spent in class. Avoid “study marathons” where you plan to study nonstop all day or night; this will only wear you out. Study for 50-60 minutes at a time with at least a 30 minute break before starting up again. This gives your brain a chance to take in what you just learned and allows you to refresh your mind and eyes. If you have breaks between classes, use that time to skim through your text books or do homework.
2. Prepare for tests ahead of time
Make sure you have the necessary material such as scan-trons, note paper, and pencils, be-fore the start of class. Even if you have studied extensively, look through your study guide, notes, or text book before the exam to refresh what you already know. Read the test directions carefully. If some parts are harder than oth-ers, do the hard portions first and then finish the easy parts. Make sure you answer every question and if you finish early, use the extra time to check your answers.
1. Talk to your teacherIf you’re not doing as well
as you think you could. Ask them how you could raise your grade and let them offer their advice, even if it may be critical.
If you’re confused about a certain subject being covered in class, ask them to explain it to you one on one. There also may be extra credit opportunities you could take advantage of for some extra points.
The structure for passing a class is simple—Go to class, do you homework, study, and you will pass the tests. Use these tips and you will finish off the year with a grade you can be proud of.
Surviving and passing this fallcontinued from Page 1
Cut backs, tuition hikes and fewer classes at California State Universities mean more students are flocking to com-munity colleges. Fresno City College’s enrollment this fall stands at 101.5 percent, exceed-ing 24,393, its highest recorded enrollment ever.
People of all ages are trav-eling back to community colleges for a variety of reasons, some to expand their educational knowl-edge and others to gain a better grasp of techniques for their jobs. The majority of FCC students are looking to attain the preparation for the general education require-ments needed to transfer to a four-year degree granting institution.
In the spring semester of 2009, FCC’s records show the following drop out rates for dif-ferent ethnicities attending FCC -- African-American/non. His-panic17.75%. American Indian/ Alaskan Native 16.55%. Asian/Pacific Islander 11.81%. Hispanic 14.81%. Race/ethnicity unknown 12.36%. White/non-Hispanic 11.1%.
FCC President, Dr. Cyn-thia Arazi, referred to the pattern as “disheartening”. Arazi stated that four basic reasons why stu-dents drop out of college are because they work full time, feel they can’t be successful, are not focused, and fail to realize the expectation of college.
Many students on the FCC campus seem to agree with Azari. Hermes Macini, a sopho-more stated, “My close friends have dropped out for a variety of reasons, including money problems, lack of motivation, boredom, and lack of parental or family support.”
Macini said that the ongoing economic crisis makes
college even more important than it ever was. He said he is work-ing hard and hoping to finish his AA degree by next semester. He focuses on his studies wants to stay clear of all the negative attitudes and behaviors on campus.
Also counselor and Admis-sion & Records Manger Frances Lipmann stated, “Students are hanging on a little longer to their classes, and as long as they can.”
Many students admit they are having difficulty with the requirements of college. This includes maintaining grades, hav-ing proper attendance and passing weekly exams. This ongoing pro-cedure may be a result of students overloading themselves with a
Don’t be a dropout!jam-packed class schedules. State Center Community College Dis-trict’s Institutional Research shows that more than 12 percent of the 24587 enrolled in the spring 2009 semester dropped out before the semester concluded. Only about 56 percent of students under 19 years of age successfully com-pleted their classes, followed by 20 to 24 year olds at 62 percent.
However, there are many helpful hints that can assist stu-dents in making some of the best choices while at FCC. Pedro Navaro-Cruz , a sophomore at FCC explained some of the clever techniques he uses to stay moti-vated and enjoy college.
The Rampage is looking for Federal Work Study students interested in working in the Busi-ness / Marketing / Advertising area of Journal-ism. If you are interested, Call Dympna Ugwu-
On Wednesday, October 28, the Academic Senate met for its biweekly meeting. Here are a few of the key issues that were discussed:
-After the police altercation with a skateboarder on campus, Fresno City College’s administration services has handed down a directive banning all clubs from fundraising activities near the fountain area. This means no food will be served, and no items will be sold, and so on. If booths are set up for other purposes, a club advisor must always be present. It’s thought that this rule been enacted because a student got on a microphone and told students to record the altercation as it turned ugly. More information will come in further meetings.
-State Center Community College District’s unrestricted reserves have increased by $3.3 million. The Senate is looking at using this money to possibly hire new staff, add classes, and generally combat budget cuts.
-The Associated Student Government (ASG) is very concerned about the fountain issue mentioned above. They are looking into exactly who handed down the ruling, and if nobody will take responsibility for it, they will ask why students must follow the rule.
-The ASG is also looking into FCC’s custodial budget and how to keep the campus cleaner, both bathrooms and otherwise.
Q: Since printing our last is-sue, have you received any complaints or concerns regarding the bathrooms on campus?
A: I have not received com-plaints, and I have talked with our Vice President for Administration about this issue.
Q: The New York Times ran a story a community college that is do-ing all they can to accommodate the rise in enrollment. They are offering a few night classes that run from 11:45 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Due to budget cuts, I could for see it being an issue, but has FCC ever considered doing something along these lines?
A: Interesting article; we offer classes in the evening, early morning, on weekends and via distance educa-
tion, but I am not aware of efforts to offer midnight classes.
Q: On Wednesday October 28, state lawmakers in California met to ad-dress the push to put the legalization of marijuana on the ballot for the November 2010 elections. Do you think that allowing for the taxing of this “cash cow” could help get California out of debt?
A: I am not in favor of legalizing marijuana or any other drugs.
Q: It has come to my attention that many students are unaware of the actual Constitutional rights that citizens have and don’t have. Should the learning of the Amendments be an integrated part of school curriculums at the K-12 levels, or is it okay that most students don’t learn about the history and laws of the Constitu-tion until they enroll in Political Science classes at the university level?
A: I cannot speak for the K-12 sys-tem, but I do believe that all citizens should be familiar with the constitution and political system under which they live.
Ask Azariby Brittany Nielsen
Rampage Reporter
4 Rampage News November 4, 2009
On November 14, FCC Life Science instructor Dr. Mike Gilbert will be compet-ing in the Ironman 70.3 Triathlon World Championship in Clearwater, Florida.
The event involves a 1.2 mile ocean swim followed by a 56 mile bike run and will finish off with a 13.1 mile run, equaling 70.3 miles total distance.
Over 1,800 domestic and international athletes will be com-peting in 24 different age groups. The top 10 female and male quali-fiers will fill up the 20 professional spots. The professional athletes will be competing for a prize of $100,000. Dr. Gilbert is com-peting in the 45-49 age group and will be representing his native Great Britain.
There were 33 events held around the world for athletes to qualify for the World Championship. Dr. Gilbert made his first attempt in June 2008 but was unsuccessful in achieving a qualifying place in his age group. He again competed in Oceanside, CA this past April and was able to secure his place in the 2009 World Championship after finishing in the top ten.
Dr. Gilbert was a Life Science teacher in Great Britain and has been in the States teaching for about ten years. He and his wife, who is also an athlete, have always been involved in athletic competitions.
When competing, Dr. Gilbert said his wife is his biggest support and vice versa; while one of them is competing in events, the other works as the support system and helps coordinate arrangements. “While I’m competing, she [my wife] will make sure the
Science Instructor to compete in Triathlon
By Kimberly Ann HodgesRampage Reporter
hotel reservations are set, things like that, and make sure everything runs smoothly during competition time,” Dr. Gilbert said.
Dr. Gilbert trains 6 days a week, usually one to two hours per day. Training is divided between swimming, biking, and running.
Of all the events, Dr. Gilbert noted that his least favorite is the swimming. “I’m not a huge swimmer,” he said. Nonethe-
less, extensive training is still needed for the triathlon.
Dr. Gilbert uses local resources for his training. Millerton Lake is used to help train for swimming. For cycling and run-ning, Dr. Gilbert travels between Auberry and Prather to take advantage of the moun-tain terrain. He also trains near the outskirts of Clovis where the country roads and small hills have less traffic.
Normally, Dr. Gilbert said he needs 16 weeks of extensive training before competing in an event. Suffering an injury in August, the first nine weeks of his train-ing for the Ironman Triathlon was trashed. Even though he lost a significant amount of training time, Dr. Gilbert stays optimistic about his future performance. “I won’t do maybe as well as I could, but I’m doing it for fun,” he said.
Dr. Gilbert will be leaving for Clear-water, FL on November 12th. After com-peting on the 14th, he will travel back to California on Sunday and be right back to school Monday the 16th.
Dr. Gilbert finishes Vineman. photo courtesy of Dr. Mike Gilbert
“I’m doing it for fun.” -Dr. Mike Gilbert
Rampage 5NewsNovember 4, 2009
by Mark Smith
Rampage Reporter
Transferring qualifying credits earned from your community college towards a bachelor’s degree from DeVry University is a great investment in your future. In fact, for more than 30 years, 90% of all DeVry graduates in the active job market had careers in their fields within 6 months.*
On a cold, blustery morning last Thursday, Oct. 29, an exu-berant crowd comprised mostly of high school and Fresno City College students filled the FCC gym to hear speeches, take part in networking, and even make a little money. The students had a common purpose – learn how to connect with their communities and use available resources to cre-ate wealth.
Following an intro-ductory speech and a pump up stretching and good-ies session from the Q97 promo team, the Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour’s speakers delivered their messages. “Entrepreneur-ship is the best, or one of the best vehicles for creating a life where you make a lot of money, where you make a difference and you do something that you’re passionate about,” said Michael Simmons, one of the event’s keynote speak-ers. “The beautiful thing about it is you don’t have to wait until you have a lot of money; you don’t have to have certain grades or SATs or come from a certain place or be a certain gender; anyone today can start a business and be an entrepreneur.”
At the age of 23, Simmons has authored multiple books, start-ed a few businesses, and become
a very successful entrepreneur. He now takes his success story to students on tours, using speeches filled with humor, cell phone poll-ing, and stories of yoyo champions turning into millionaires.
Another speaker, AJ Yager, 28, currently runs four businesses, has written multiple books, and is a large success. Delivering his
speech after Simmons, Yager told students that “self improvement, if even just through reading 30 minutes a day, is the most power-ful tool for anyone to become a success.” He told stories about how he started his first business at the age of 10, how he has met multiple millionaires and billion-aires, including Cameron Diaz and her sister, Chimene, all of which he accomplished by starting with nothing and taking the advice from his grandfather.
“He challenged me to read
30 minutes a day; he had all the tools. He hooked me. He gave me all these different books that made me get a little smarter, a little bit better every day. Little did I know by taking this challenge, just so he would buy me a stereo in a year, how much my life would change after that,” Yager said.
Bertrand Gervais whose
speech followed Yager’s, has been rated the number one entrepreneur in New York. Gervais brought up the members of the Fresno City College chapter of the Colle-giate Entrepreneurs Organization (CEO), the group that brought the Entrepreneur tour to Fresno City College.
Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization is an organization dedicated to creating a network for prospective entrepreneurs to get connected with their community and become wealthy in the pro-
Extreme Entrepreneurship Comes to FCCcess. Pheng Vue, a member of CEO, said that the event at FCC has been planned for a while. “We started planning [the event] about the beginning of June, and from that point on, we’ve put many, many hours into planning the event and getting sponsors.”
Vue also said about the event’s purpose, “We want to
bring entrepreneurship to students as a career choice, because a lot of people are raised with the mentality of ‘I’m going to get a degree and I’m going to go work for somebody.’ What really drives and builds the economy is new businesses and entrepreneur-ship. It’s a really exciting ca-reer path to follow but a lot of people don’t think about it so we want to open them up to that.”
Following all the speech-es, students were allowed to roam the gym where many organizations and booths had set ups for networking. Groups such as the Muslim club at FCC, Mary Kay and ITT Technical
Institute were represented, and students seemed to enjoy visiting all of them.
Jamie Simmons, an FCC student, said she enjoyed the event. “Yeah, I think it was pretty cool,” she said. “I had never really thought about entrepreneurship
counselors are available and the number of class sessions available to students. Also, waiting times have increased to see counselors.” Although it is unlikely for more sessions to be opened because of the budget, Griffin encourages students to at least try and be wait-listed.
To avoid some of the long lines associated with regis-tering in person with a counselor, students can also register at home using Webadvisor or touchtone. Students don’t have to wait until 8 am on their registration date to
Registration woes continueContinued from page 1
before but man, if I can become one, get rich, and never have to work for anyone, that’d be great.”
Other students were not so impressed. “I don’t think a lot of people are going to follow through on what these guys were saying,” David Rodriguez, a third semester engineering student, said. “I want to hear how they did it exactly, their business steps, not just a bunch of clichés about being suc-cessful. It’s cool, maybe a small percentage of people might benefit from this, but it wasn’t really work-ing for me.”
register at the counseling center, they can do it at home at an earlier time and before other students scheduled on the same date reg-ister for sessions. To be able to use these services, students have to be in good academic standing. Griffin said that about 30% of FCC students registered online or using touchtone last semester, counting only initial registration. Grif-fin said, “Students should check Webadvisor for their registration date and check for any holds they might have. Become very familiar with the college catalog and talk to a counselor to get advice on what classes to take.”
photos by Mark SmithBertrand Gervais encouraged students to try entrepreneurship.
Michael Simmons.
6 Rampage News November 4, 2009
by Max Rosendahl
Rampage Reporter
Q Are we going to experience even more cuts during the fall semester of 2010?
A Currently it is unknown what the future reductions will be. However, information reported in the news indicates projected budget revenues are less than an-ticipated. If the first three months are indicative of a trend, the state will be down 4.4 billion from pro-jected revenues. It is indicative of future budget cuts but how much is unknown.
Q If so, do you know by how much?
A This is unknown at the pres-ent time.
Q Has the state cut the alloca-tion further?
A Not at this time, however, the Governor’s budget will be released in January 2010, and we will move quickly to make current year adjustments (with the unknown impact with loss of revenue) as well as adjustments for the 2010-2011 budget year.
The Community College League of California indicated on August 13, 2010, that we have several challenging budget years ahead. In 2010-11, we are antici-pating a 2% cut (and the loss of the federal funds), and might begin to see cost-of-living adjustments and growth in 2012-13 at the earliest. As the lowest funded community college system in the country, we can’t always do more with less. Nevertheless, there are ways that we can do business that are smart both to the “bottom line” and that minimize our impact on our natu-ral resources.
Q Where are the cuts going to be mostly?
A Scott Lay, President and Chief Executive Officer of Community College League of California re-cently took responses from a query about what we can do to improve
Q&A with Vice President of Administrative Services
FCC’s budget woes expected to continuestudent success during difficult budget times. Of course this is linked to proper funding streams. Below are some of the comments received relative to specific areas. Some of the issues and challenges we will face as a college, district and a community college system will be on how we make adjust-ments with potential budget reduc-tions in three areas:
In Student Services where we have Statewide mandatory assessment and improved place-ment/prerequisites, how we will encourage students to apply for
financial aid so “life doesn’t get in the way”, how we will attempt to restore matriculation funding, even if it means cutting elsewhere, how we will require faculty to take responsibility for counseling and guidance; assign a faculty mentor to every incoming student and implement a “case management” approach, even if it requires reduc-ing the number of students served, how to find a way to make students actually study and encourage peer tutoring and assign counselors to curricular cluster areas.
In Instruction and Articula-tion we will need to significantly limit repeatability in credit basic skills classes and shift repeating students to noncredit or adult education courses after multiple unsuccessful attempts, we will need to implement degree auditing software that can strengthen guid-ance and better measure student outcomes and use degree auditing software to identify successful pathways/course sequences. We will need to implement common-course numbering in all three seg-ments for basic general education. In the Funding and Administration we need to suspend mandates related to 50% law and full-time faculty obligations, some action could be to consolidate districts and reduce the number of ad-ministrators, enact the Acceler-ated Learning College Proposal, seek external support from large foundations, enhance college foundations and alumni outreach, significantly increase student fees to both raise revenue and increase the “cost” of dropping classes/programs and save money through statewide purchasing of databases and supplies.
In Enrollment Management we may prioritize first-time fresh-men and students on a clear path,
shift low priority programs to com-munity service/fee-for-service, re-duce enrollment to match funding needed for success, recognize state savings from physical education, reduce college expenditures on intercollegiate athletics and cap the number of units a student can take without a waiver.
These are all possibilities to address funding shortfalls but no decisions have been made and we do not know to what extent any impact of any one or combination would have on student success and final fiscal impact.
Q How will they affect the school and students?
A The California Postsecondary Education Commission website, www.cpec.ca.gov gave a recent report on Community College Enrollment Demand Projection, 2009-2019. This report outlines the community college enrollment
demand and the subsequent impact of lack of funding to colleges. The summary on page 3 of the report is concise and explicit at the same time. Some items are:
The state should prepare for 222,234 additional community college students by 2019.
Community Colleges serve over 2 million students annually and by fall 2016 the system will serve more than 2 million each fall term.
Because the state is unable to provide enrollment growth funding, the number of prospective students not being served over the
next two years could total 400,539.54 of the 72 (75%) com-
munity college districts are fac-ing capacity pressures, in that they are serving more full-time equivalent students (FTES) than recommended by state classroom utilization standards.
Q What will be affected the most? Least?
A Our college and district are committed to the following;
will be needed in FY 10-11With the funding in ques-
tion, the above bullet points’ sustainability is questionable. The question is not being evaded, but the funding is an unknown which has a major bearing on the deci-sions that will have to be made.
Q What percentage of classes will be reduced for Fall 2010? Spring 2010?
A These are unknown at this time and subject to funding.
Q Will supporting programs be reduced?
A The answer is very likely to be yes. Picture this example and remember we are dealing with the 50% law (50% of our expenses must be spent in classroom in-struction). With reduced fund-ing through lack of growth and reduction in work load, all areas will need to shrink in expense to meet the mandate of the 50% law. As such, reduced funding will curtail the offering of instructional programs and other areas such as counseling, and library hours may be reduced even further. The im-pact will encompass all supporting programs.
Q Even though the economy seems to be going back up, why do we not see any upturns yet?
A The economy is in a dismal state of affairs. On August 25, 2009 the Board of Equalization (BOE) reported the asset valuation for property in California has dropped 2.4% or 107 billion dollars. This has been the first drop since 1933 after the Great Depression. Propo-sition 98’s guaranteed funding is provided through a combination of the state General Fund (GF) and local property taxes. We will be in a protracted recession for the next two years. The measure of an economic upturn will be the reduction in the unemployment rate, which will rise above 10% in the coming months. When the economy begins to emerge some-time in early 2011 it will take 18 months before we see any benefit to educational funding.
State’s gloomy outlookState Controller John Chi-
ang released his monthly report covering California’s cash bal-ance, receipts and disbursements in September. For the first three months of the fiscal year, total General Fund revenue was nearly $1.1 billion below the recently amended 2009-10 Budget Act estimates.
“Revenues more than $1 billion under estimates and recent adverse court rulings are dealing a major blow to a budget that is barely 10-weeks old,” said Con-troller Chiang. “While there are encouraging signs that California’s
economy is preparing for a come-back, the recession continues to drag State revenues down. I urge lawmakers and the Governor to prepare for more difficult deci-sions ahead.”
The State’s three largest sources of revenue fell below estimates for the month of Septem-ber. When adjusted to account for payments made in September that were previously delayed or issued as Registered Warrants in July and August, personal income tax revenues for the month were $934 million below estimates (-17.3%), corporate taxes were down $183
million (-10.5%), and sales taxes came in $99.8 million lower than expected (-4.5%).
The State started the fiscal year with an $11.9 billion cash deficit in the General Fund, which grew to $16.2 billion by Septem-ber 30. Those deficits are being covered with a combination of $7.3 billion of internal borrowing from special funds and $8.8 billion in short-term revenue anticipation notes.
The September financial statement and the summary analy-sis can be found on the Control-ler’s Web site at www.sco.ca.gov.
“we may prioritize first-time freshmen and students on a clear path...”
“...reduced funding will curtail the offering of instructional programs and other areas such as counseling, and library hours may be reduced even further.”
“In Instruction and Articulation we will need to significantly limit repeatability in credit basic skills classes and shift repeating students to noncredit or adult education courses after multiple unsuccessful attempts.”
“In 2010-11, we are anticipating a 2% cut (and the loss of the federal funds), and might begin to see cost-of-living adjustments and growth in 2012-13 at the earliest.”
Fresno City offers wordly insight to educationLearn how to expand your educational experience across the world
by Sydney Excinia
Rampage Reporter
think it has impacted us. . . it has created a lot of anxiety for every-body; everyone is worried about their jobs; they’re worried about the students and how we are going to serve the students,” Emerzian said.
Many of the students who receive services from the DSP&S program have been affected just as severely as the staff. “They have to wait more than three weeks for an appointment; they can’t get testing on time; we don’t have in-class aides because we cut all of our student aides, about 60 to 70 aides,” said Emerzian. “Imagine your body and imagine cutting half of it off; how do you function? That’s ex-actly where we are right now.”
A growing concern for students and the future of the program echoes throughout the DSP&S office. Emerzan said, “We
have about two thousand students on campus; many of them are frus-trated; they don’t know what to do, and they feel helpless.”
There is evidence of grow-ing frustration and dissatisfaction among the students who receive services from DSP&S. According to the results of an Accessibility Survey which provided opportu-nities for students to record their experiences using DSP&S and/or campus facilities, many students expressed unhappiness over the way they and the DSP&S program have been treated. Particularly, they expressed dissatisfaction about the location of the DSP&S office which is located on the second level of the student services building.
“It really is an insult to our students; it’s hard enough for them getting to school and then insulting them even further by not having the space and accessibility to just come
and get the everyday counseling services,” said Yolanda Aguilar, a student services specialist in the DSP&S office.
DSP&S has asked for a one-level open building at the present Administrative Services building when it becomes vacant. “It will be more accessible, safer, much more room, less stress, more production, everyone will be hap-py,” said Daniel Olivio, president of the veterans club and a recipient of DSP&S services.
“This sounds like a need versus a want,” said Christal Hop-kins, an alumna of FCC who con-tinues to aspire to her goals despite suffering from cerebral palsy. “We don’t have that luxury of being able to pick and choose which area would be convenient because not all the areas fit our needs. It’s not only a convenience issue; it’s also a safety and legal issue.”
Continued from “DSP&S” Page 1
Imagine yourself on a brisk March morning standing in front of the British Museum, waiting to enter the building that has some of the largest collections of human culture and British history. This isn’t an FCC student’s typical col-lege day, but if you become part of the Study Abroad program, it can change the way you live, interact, and engage in your daily life.
For the past twenty years, FCC has offered a special pro-gram that gives students a chance to “Study Abroad”. This unique program is an exciting way for students to study and educate themselves internationally. 20 to 25 students are accepted each year to take part in an 11-week trip that offers an unbelievable experience, traveling to study in places such as China, Italy, England and the Galapagos Islands.
Study Abroad is a program that allows students to receive college credit in courses at other universities and colleges around the world. This is an undergraduate program that offers courses in Eng-lish, Speech and Cultural Studies. There are a variety of courses that are offered in areas such as English 1A, Creative Writing, or Argumen-tation Speech. Each course that you choose is incorporated into an educational and cultural experi-ence adapting to the area that you travel to.
This program is an 11-week course that accommodates students into a home stay program which coordinates them into residential housing. There are two students that live in each residential home, interacting with their home stay families and adjusting to their everyday culture.
Students meet Monday through Thursday for class ses-sions that include day time trips to local sites and attractions such as museums, theaters, national parks and restaurants. A three day week-end is available, which offers spare
Budget cuts a growing concern
time to explore the surrounding cit-ies and tour historical monuments.
Throughout the 11-week trip, students are introduced to many international scholars, work-ing and learning with professors that travel all over the country. The Study Abroad faculty allows students to incorporate there daily assignments into hands on learning experiences, collaborating with the national and international business community; students are able to develop personal relationships with corporate companies.
Each student is able to learn in a comprehensive state of the art atmosphere along with advanced research and highly accredited staff. Dr. Ramos quotes, “Many of the students that take part in the Study Abroad program, always want to go on another trip, however one of the problems that they face is that they are finishing their un-dergraduate degree and aren’t ap-plicable for the program. She says that her advice to students who do want to take part in the Study Abroad program is that they should take their first trip in the beginning of the undergraduate degree. That way if they do decide to take an-other experience, they are able to.
Each international trip is accompanied by two teachers, Mrs. Teresa Tarazi and Dr. Loretta Ramos. Both women are part of the FCC teaching staff and are highly educated in a variety of areas such as English, Cultural Studies and Law. Mrs. Tarazi has earned two Bachelor of Arts degrees from CSU in both English and Chicano-Latin Studies. Additionally, she is accredited with a Master’s of Arts degree in English from Fresno Pacific University. Mrs. Tarazi has been a full time teacher at FCC since 2000, teaching all courses such as creative writing, literature, critical thinking and preparatory development courses.
Dr. Loretta Ramos gradu-ated from University of Southern California with two Bachelor of Arts degrees, in Speech Commu-nication and Women Studies. Dr.
Ramos has received her Master of Arts degree in Communication and holds her Juris doctor degree from the San Joaquin College of Law. She has been involved in many study abroad trips, traveling to Mexico and many European capitals. Dr. Ramos has been part of the FCC staff since 1993, teaching courses in speech such as group, interpersonal communica-tion and argumentation.
The Study Abroad program is offered on a first come basis, each trip accommodates twenty to twenty five students that apply through an application process. The process is simple and requires each student to have at least a 2.0 GPA and the cost for the trip expense. The trip fees vary from $3,000-$8,000, the cost expenses include home stay accommoda-tion, transport travel pass, damage deposit, membership access, and medical insurance. The fee ex-cludes airfare, personal expenses and food cost. According to Dr. Ramos, she states that “it is a perfect experience for students to take part in, especially with the low traveling costs these days; you can get a round trip for a very inexpensive price”.
The expenses may seem extraordinary; however, the study abroad faculty and coordinators assist students in raising the cost for the trip. There are a variety of additional financial options to cover the cost of the trip such as Scholarships, financial aid and Loans; there are specified meetings conducted by the Study Abroad committee that include ways to afford the educational trip.
Study Abroad is one of the most fantastic educational opportunities combining rigorous academics with communication, critical thinking, research, and problem solving. According to the Study Abroad faculty, Dr. Ramos, enthusiastically quotes her experi-ence as “extremely remarkable, I wish this program was offered when I was in college”. Studying in a new atmosphere and culture offers students a chance to explore
a variety of ways to achieve their career goals, and make a system-atic change in their daily education and positively influence the future of their careers.
An informational meeting for the 2010 spring semester trip to London will be offered on No-
vember 18, 2009 at 6 p.m. at the District office, in the boardroom to all students who are interested in the program and want to learn more about the trip to London. There will be financial aid, and student loan staff at the meeting, offering their assistance to all students interested.
photos courtesy of SCCCD Study Abroad
Photos above: Students at Buckingham palace and Paris. Photos below: Students in London and the Poas Volcano.
8 Rampage November 4, 2009Views
Campus VoicesDo you believe chivalry and manners are lost in our generation?
Campus Voices and photos by Jeremiah Henry
"I think so, because back then, they [people] used to acknowlege your presence."
Chris Alvarez
"I feel that common sense isn't common anymore, so general politeness, man-ners, common golden-rule type of men-tality isn't what it used to be. People are more into themselves now; no one is thinking about anyone else. Politeness in general has gone down hill."
Brandon Zapata "That's a hard one. As much as I'd like to
say 'yes it is', every day, people never cease to amaze me--with men especially. I see teenagers stop and open a door and that takes me back. I think as in with any time period, you're going to see it both ways. I see it all the time, so it isn't completely dead.”
Felicia Penner
"In many cases, yes. Many people are not polite--[they're] rude at times. As far as manners, some people do still hold [doors], but many people just don't--specifically young kids.”
Jay Rodriguez
"I think there's a mixture of both. I think for the most part it's not dead, but it has gone down. You don't see much of men holding doors open for women and people just being polite in general, saying 'excuse me' when they're trying to walk past you--stuff like that. I think it's gone down, but some people are still good.”
Alicia Alcorta
November 4, 2009 Views Rampage 9
by Mark Smith
Rampage Reporter
Chivalry: A Dead Practice
by Jeremiah Henry
Rampage Reporter
by Kimberly Ann Hodges
Rampage Reporter
by Brittany Nielsen
Rampage Reporter
As society evolves, so do its concep-tions of politeness and decency. In years past, it was considered universally polite for men to hold doors open for women, which is still thought to be polite by many but disrespectful by some as women continue their struggle for equality.
However, this continuing evolution is not without unchanging certainties. In any governed society it is necessary for citizens to accept the responsibility of acting in a civilized manner towards others. Without people treating others as they would like to be treated, in both speech and action, there is no acceptable example for future generations to follow as they learn how to
interact with their peers. Thus, a breakdown in society’s order is inevitable. One genera-tion’s lapse in regarding others with respect leads to future generations of outright peer contempt.
Currently, we are seeing some issues arise regarding our generation’s version of manners. As printed in the last issue of the Rampage, smokers on campus have been gaining attention, primarily because of the rude actions of a select few who choose to smoke inside building limits and near oth-ers who don’t want to be around it. This is a prime example of people acting in a way that is offensive and takes no responsibility for their own actions.
Speech is also a large part of this issue. When talking to others, especially around children, it remains important not to
swear if you can avoid it. Yes, I am guilty of using profanity far too often, but that doesn’t make it ok, and I can change myself. What I always fail to understand is people swearing openly around young children, as if saying such vulgar words is somehow ok for their children to hear. It’s not.
These are simply minor things in a much larger picture. We as a generation face a music industry riddled with egotisti-cal idiocy, a media industry that cares more about yelling and arguing like children then reporting anything of worth, and a family unit that has been torn apart by divorce and abuse. It’s time we take control of our lives. Examine yourself, how you act around oth-ers, and always remember that timeless rule: “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you”.
Manners? What the hell are manners? I’m not sure if those even exist among people my age. I spend most of my time around rude, obnoxious college kids who get out of hand six out of seven days of the week just because they think they can.
Sure we are enrolled in college and supposed to be on our way to adult-hood. But being away from our parents, who served as the authority figure in our lives for so long, seems to make us think that we have free reign to do whatever we want.
Along with being away from our parents, we take on the role of paying rent, utilities and doing our own grocery
shopping. So when we are out in the real world, we have to act like adults.
But how do we treat the people who are around us? Do we recognize that we need to respect those that we come in contact with around the city? I cannot voucher for all students, but I know that I do all that I can to be polite. I say hello the people when I see them on the street, I smile at complete strangers in hope to make their day, and I even hold doors open if someone happens to be behind me as I leave any room.
I see some rude people in the city who don’t give a damn about anyone except themselves. They throw trash on the ground when there is a trash can a whole five feet away. People who stare while they are on the bus and don’t say “please and thank you”.
Yet there are a select few who
I see every now and then who obviously paid attention to their parents when they tried to teach them manners. At least once a day while I’m riding the 28 bus to (or from) school or work, I see that one person who will help a disabled person get on or off the bus. Or I will see someone hold the door open while a mother tries to get her child AND her stroller off the bus. It’s refreshing to see that at least some people are willing to help out.
Like I said earlier, I cannot speak for everyone in the city of Fresno, but I know that deep down inside all of the students on campus is a courteous and respectful human being. I just hope that soon enough all the students who don’t apply the manners their parents taught to them realize that it’s time to grow up and act like an adult.
“Manners are just for old people,” I recently heard a teenage girl say. Her mother shot back at her quickly in a serious tone, “They absolutely are not!” I observed this trend long before I heard this short conversa-tion, but since then, I have been compelled to look upon teens and twenty-somethings critically. This girl, to my eye, is a far cry from being considered anything remotely close to rude, but does the lack of outward rudeness constitute politeness today?
In a world where people regularly exchange rude looks and vulgar shouts to one another on the road, where the grocery store clerk doesn’t say a word to you other than reading back the total on your bill, where predatory credit card companies
soak up what little cash people have in the form of inflated interest rates, hidden fees, and past-due payments, I ask myself if any measurable amount of chivalry or, more simply, common civility is still regularly practiced by people at large.
Now when I say chivalry, I do not mean to bring about images of romanticized knights in shining armor coming to the aid of the fair maiden, or Prince Charming laying down his coat in a puddle of mud so that his Cinderella can walk across with unscathed Uggs. The very notion that men should have to put themselves out in such a way for women could be viewed by either sex as gender stereotyping, which is a whole other issue.
My concern is more about the little things, such as saying “Thank you” when a door is held open for you even if you don’t have to. Why is it so damn difficult to grant
someone the pleasure of a few second’s eye-contact, a smile, and a sincere “thanks”?
I always make it a point to ask ev-eryone whom I engage in conversation how they’re doing. One of my absolute favorites is when they say “fine” or “good” and noth-ing more. Again, is it really that difficult to say, “fine, thanks for asking” or, better yet, “fine, how are you?” I certainly don’t expect to hear a synopsis of how the person’s entire day or week has gone, but the spoken language and body language of politeness go a long way toward making everyone’s day—both yours and others’—simply…better. Showing concern and care for your fellow man is part of the human condition. Don’t fail at the human condition.
Perhaps Mark Twain said it best: “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”
I want to believe that everyone has some good in their hearts. But lately I’ve started to notice that most people no longer believe in true loyalty, kindness, or possess simple consideration for others.
Even as I walk around our very own FCC campus, I see discourtesy all around me. I tried to eat breakfast in front of the Campus Café one morning only to have to overhear a few students cussing and rant-ing about their personal lives. It doesn’t bother them that maybe their foul language and vulgar discussions might be bothering others around them.
It’s not just people’s language that gets to me, it’s also their actions. Just this week, I left my purse at a restaurant on an outside patio table. I drove back not fifteen minutes later and the purse was gone. It was
not turned into the restaurant, and it was not mailed or returned. The person who found my purse was so greedy that they had no problem making me suffer such a loss (wallet, car keys, flash drive, camera, etc.) for the mere $83 cash in my wallet. They could not simply return my personal items like any decent person should want to do.
Although I’m really upset that I no longer have my important belongings, I’m more upset and ashamed that I live in a world full of such greed and carelessness.
The funny thing about having my purse shamelessly taken is the day before this happened to me I was driving down Herndon and saw a cell phone in the road. Before running it over, I stopped in traffic, jumped out my car, and retrieved the phone. Upon opening the phone I noticed a few missed calls. Assuming it was the owner attempting to find their phone, I called the number back. They were shocked I had the
courtesy to hop out in traffic to save some-thing that wasn’t even my own. I met up with them nearby and returned their phone, only to have someone do the complete opposite when finding my purse the very next day.
It bothers me that most people who find a wallet, phone, or anything that isn’t theirs, wouldn’t even try to return it to the rightful owner.
It really does shame me that so many people in the world, and even at my own school, can be so selfish, greedy, and inconsiderate. Even with all the anger I have, I will always continue to return things that aren’t mine, attempt to be polite while in public, and simply be a polite and pleasant person, even if others can’t do the same for me.
I know I’m a good person. I just hope that others will someday attempt to be the same.
photos by Jeremiah HenryMark Smith
Brittany Nielsen
Jeremiah Henry
Kimberly Ann Hodges
10 Rampage November 4, 2009Views
Constitutional Wrongsby Brittany Nielsen
Rampage Reporter
It’s the foundation of all law that we follow as citizens. It’s one piece of paper that has lasted centuries behind plate glass and is only on display in DC. It’s the back-bone of all writers and journalists. And yet millions of Americans wouldn’t be able to list off more than a few sparse words of the arguably greatest political document.
Sure, Constitution Day was a month or so ago, but shouldn’t we celebrate the Constitution on a daily basis? This article that was compiled by men who only wanted to make the best of what situation they had at hand is everything that our country stands for and does not receive nearly enough recognition.
Take a second and think of the hit television show “Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?” Ask any fifth grader to recite the Preamble to the Constitution and you can get the paragraph word for word. Ask an average working adult with a bachelors degree and you might be lucky to get the first few words “We the People” out of his or her mouth.
Walk around FCC and ask a typical student if he or she knows the Bill of Rights, and you might get a response regarding the first Amendment and the freedom of speech. But that’s the vague truth of it all.
The importance of the Amendments needs to be integrated into our school systems. Without knowing the First Amendment, this story would be shot down.
by Marissa Villanueva
Rampage Reporter
10 Stupid thingS StudentS (Should not) do
No matter where you go, at any given time, you can expect to see students doing something they shouldn’t be. It’s irresponsible, it’s offensive, and above all, it’s STUPID. It is our duty to wise up, and stop doing stupid things. Here are 10 things that you can look out for:
#1: Expecting to be taken seriously, when you don’t even show up to class.
At the beginning of each semester there is a group of people who are trying to enroll into classes last minute, especially recently. What I find so crazy is that people get into a certain class and after getting registered they hardly ever show up. Some come in after class and turn in makeup work or ask the teacher what they can do to raise their grade. I have the answer to that, SHOW UP TO CLASS!
#2: Some athletes think they can get away with any-thing because they “represent the school.”
Athletes stay late after school to practice and leave off to games and tourna-ments. They tend to miss a lot of class and turn in late assignments. They represent the school so they get “priority registration.” So they can not show up to class and blame it on sports and how tired they are and get
away with it.
#3: Coming to school just to hang out… instead of getting a job, doing home-work, or something produc-tive.
Many pass by the group of people who hang out in front of the forum hall and water fountain. I wonder if anyone ever thinks what I do when I pass through: why are these people hanging out for what seems like the whole school day? I can go to class, get stuff done and walk out and see the same exact group of people! I mean it’s good and all to hangout and have friends, but why not do something productive instead of just standing around acting juvenile?
#4: Waiting until last minute to enroll in classes.
This is somewhat out of our control, but be informed and know your registration date and get it done on that day! You may not get exactly what you want if your date is later than “priority students” but whenever your date is, get what you can instead of waiting last minute and complaining you didn’t good classes.
#5: Being rude to teachers because you have to actually, y’know, WORK.
In order to succeed in school or actu-ally in life you have to work. When attend-ing school you cannot complain, roll your eyes and give attitude when teachers ask you
to work or give feedback on an assignment. We are in college now and immature attitude and pride should be left at home when trying to get an education. It happens everywhere but if you want to get somewhere in life you got to be humble and take criticism and be mature about it.
#6: “Clowning around” in class – speaking up just to be witty.
When I was taking political science this past summer, there was this guy in the top corner of the forum hall who had always decided he needed to give his opin-ion on every subject that was talked about in class. It is something that some teachers say they like, and that’s good. But when it is constantly happening it gets so annoying! Especially when they are redundant and just straight up ridiculous. You’re not funny. Just stop it.
#7: Buying unimport-ant things with financial aid money
This one is kind of upsetting and very irritating, because for me, according to the “government” my family makes “to much money” and I don’t receive financial aid. My parents check has either been cut in half or have to take furlough. And all of you who do get it are spending it on unimportant things that are not for school, but for your enjoy-ment. And it would be crazy that you would even care about other people who don’t get it and think twice before buying that iphone.
#8: Attending school without a plan.
2 years is the time frame that is most commonly heard at FCC. “I want to go for 2 years to get my general education done to save money them transfer”. That’s the plan that most claim to follow, then they end up being here for far much longer than that due to no educational plan to stay on track to reach your academic goal.
#9: Going to class – to sleep.
Again, the whole purpose to come to school is to get and education, and how can you do that if you’re not passing classes. I find it so odd, that this one student sitting next to me in music appreciation class sits back and sleeps. Especially when Mr. Deeter is giving out the answer to the test! Appar-ently he thinks that getting C’s D’s and F’s is okay with him. It just doesn’t make sense.
#10: Making out in public, to the degree where it’s disgusting.
Come on people! Eating each others faces outside class or on the lawn makes you look like crazy animals. Have some decency and save it for later, it is disgusting and inconsiderate of other people.
Nobody in the crowd surrounding you likes a PDA. Keep it professional in public, okay?
By relying on the right to freedom of the press, I’m allowed to speak out freely about this subject. The pilgrims ventured across the Atlantic Ocean to gain religious freedom in 1620. And in 1787 with the adoption of Constitution, their original efforts were set in stone. The First Amendment guarantees the greatest rights that a citizen can practice: the freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the freedom of religion.
For something that is so valuable in our ever-changing society, American citizens, as a whole, lack the common knowledge of the founding law of the land. Shouldn’t learning about the Amendments be a required part of the curriculum in el-ementary schools across America? Sure the document is briefly covered in government classes that high school seniors are required
to take before venturing off into the real world, but that’s it. Unless students opt to take any political science classes, learning the Amendments is not really covered ever again.
So what about the people who don’t go to college after high school? What about those who don’t even graduate high school? Shouldn’t learn-ing the Amendments be incorporated into daily life? How else are citi-zen’s supposed to know the proper use of the term “I plead the fifth”?
Of the 27 Amendments, there are only a few that re-ally pertain to the American population as a whole, not just the people who work for the
government. Fourteen of the 27 Amendments affect each citizen on either a daily or annual basis depending on elections. But can the average citizen name all of the ones that mean effect the aver-age Joe? Probably not.
A random unknown fact about the Constitution: the word privacy is no-where to be found in the document. Yes that’s correct. Tech-nically, we have no right to privacy. But thanks to the Supreme Court, they have rec-ognized it as a basic human right. Plenty of court cases (Gris-wold v. Connecticut, Lawrence v. Texas) all back the Supreme Courts decision on the issue of privacy.
Facts like the one above are all things that I believe each and every citi-zen need to know at the drop of a hat. It’s important to realize that everyone has the right to a speedy trial and cannot be tried twice for the same crime. Young Americans should know that up until 1971 a voter had to be 21 to vote. Without the passing of that amendment, there wouldn’t have been such an amazing voter turn out in the 2008 presi-dential election, where history was made. Without the 26th Amendment, who knows how the voter turnout would have been.
And as college students, I know
that there are plenty of people out there who are thankful for the 21st Amendment. Ya, remember that one? It’s the repeal of prohi-bition, which legalized the manufacturing, distribution, and consumption of alcohol. As pathetic as this may sound, it’s hard to imagine the world without alcohol. Sure, it would eliminate the risk of drunk driving accidents and Alcoholics Anonymous, but college would sure be boring.
For a document that seems to ancient and irrelevant to some, I think that everyone needs to take a greater interest in the document that we still praise today. Thank the Framers for putting long hours and hard work into the Constitution.
Image courtesy of http://joecampbell.org
A photo of the first page of the Constitution
“Shouldn’t learning the
Amendments be incorporated into daily life? How else are citizen’s
supposed to know the proper use of the term,
“I plead the fifth.”
November 4, 2009 Rampage 11 Views
The Falling Standards ofComedy
by Jacob Espinoza
Rampage Reporter
Millions of years ago, before fire was invented, cavemen would eat fish raw. They would kill them by bludgeoning them with their clubs in the river. In the frenzy of fish-whacking, the cavemen would occasionally mistake each other’s feet for fat flounders and WHACK! The victim would howl and grasp his toes while his fellow cavemen stood around pointing and giggle-grunting.
That’s how I imagine comedy was born. That may not be accurate, but at any rate, man’s sense of humor has evolved just as much as man himself. Or so we like to think.
No matter how repressed or high-class society became, it could not rid itself of its own sense of humor. Thus comedy adapted. It grew into wit, sarcasm and irony. But since society has let loose on its social mores, so has comedy.
Since the unofficial lift on censorship in the 1970s, comedy has been on the move, like everything else, pushing the envelope to every extreme. It was the hey-day of stand-up and improv, which inevitably opened the door to jokes with racism (and sexism) as the punch line. In Mel Brook’s classic 1974 film Blazing Saddles, which is about the first Black sheriff in the Wild West, the ‘n’ word is used excessively, often in its original derogatory context. Yet the film is ultimately against racism, because in the end the Black sheriff wins over the untrusting townspeople. Not that using the ‘n’ word was unheard of, but back then, it had meaning, albeit negative.
So why are we still hearing racist jokes today? Honestly, I can’t think of a rea-son. Moreover, why is that stand-ups make racist jokes about their own ethnicity? It does nothing to empower their community. In the 1970s, the nation was still reveling in the essence of civil revolution, so using race in comedy to take a standpoint made sense. But now that (for the better part) minorities can reap the benefits of mainstream equality,
why say ‘nigger’ or ‘wetback’ as part of a joke? As to why people still laugh at those jokes, your analysis is as good as mine.
Today, when it comes to funny film, irreverence is the key ingredient. Just look at some of the contemporary classics of the last decade such as Napoleon Dynamite (2004), and the string of Judd Apatow husky-infantile-but-lovable-guy comedies like Superbad (2007) and Pineapple Express (2008). Perhaps what made these films so hilarious was just how outrageous and out-of-nowhere they were. They made you laugh but they also made you uncomfortable at the same time. However, what really made these films and others like them so memorable were the characters. Still, what’s a good character if there’s no plot?
Personally, one of my favorite films of the past decade was the 2004 Wayans brothers’ flick White Chicks, because it ac-tually had a plot, albeit unlikely. Two men must go undercover as women. Sounds cliché, no? Well, if you think the plot sounds old, that’s because it is, but it is definitely time-tested and proven to produce laughs. Audiences were laughing at this same idea fifty years ago when Billy Wilder’s monu-mental Some Like It Hot opened in theaters in 1959. Just like in White Chicks, two men must go undercover as women, only Some Like It Hot is far funnier. Bottom line, mov-ies need more transvestites.
However, if the modern ailments of commercially-produced humor aren’t enough to make you cringe from sheer ir-reverence, you clearly have never used the internet, and I advise you never do. But if you have, then you know it’s low comedy at high-speed.
There’s no easy way to describe what’s out there on the World Wide Web, but if I could sum it up in one word it would be lol. If I have to explain what that is then you are too old to be reading this article.
Credit should be given to Steve Chen and Jawed Karim, co-founders of YouTube, for setting the internet on fire by adding tele-vision to internet and subtracting censorship from the equation. American fame-culture has forever been augmented by YouTube,
because now, if your video is good enough, you can make it to internet stardom, and without taking off your clothes. Just look at successful cyber-grown comedians like Dane Cook, Shane Dawson and the good folks at CollegeHumor.com.
If they could make it, so could you, right? Wrong. The anonymous aspect of the internet gives users many delusions. The worst, in my opinion, is the way that most people (and by people I mean high school sophomores) think they are the wittiest thing since Oscar Wilde. Everyone tries to top everyone else with smugly delivered one-liners to point where there is no sense in them whatsoever. By being anonymous, internet users can post virtually anything they want, no matter how offensively stupid, and get away with it. Sociologists would be amazed.
In fact, I’m not sure how sociolo-gists haven’t committed mass suicide due
to the obscenely rapid growth and change in American culture. It’s hard to keep up. To say that trends spread like wildfire would be an insult to wildfires. But honestly, there’s not much you can do to ignore it, aside from moving to the Amazon rainforest.
It might be poor writing to discuss a social problem and not offer a solution, but what typically makes a problem a problem is its inability to be solved. You can’t re-ally solve the fact that modern humor is at its most base since the cavemen whacking each other in the river. It’s a generational thing. The plain fact is that this generation laughs at stupid things. If someday all the news networks on television are cancelled, and the media devotes itself entirely to your entertainment, you can either go with it and be entertained, or you can turn your televi-sion off. Until that day comes, I suggest you stop and think about what’s so funny once you’re done laughing your head off.
Image courtesy of www.sl-designs.com
12 Rampage Entertainment November 4, 2009
New comer takes billboard charts by stormActor turned rapper makes his mark in hip-hop history
by Michael FeathersRampage Reporter
Drake’s “So far gone” Mixtape is a winner. Released early this fall, rapper Drake’s new mixtape “So Far Gone” is now a key part of his legacy.
Featuring artists such as lil Wayne, Trey Songs, and Bun B, this mixtape has quickly become a club favorite around the world.
Like most mixtapes, this collection by rapper Drake has received mixed reviews, but one fact that is not in contention is Drake’s talent as an artist.
Most still agree that he is an exciting entertainer with a bright future.
The actor turned rapper has released three mixtapes since 2006, his latest, produced by Young Money Records is only available on the internet for downloads. There are plans to release it in a special album.
Drake’s raps are solid enough to keep listeners en-thralled and the lyrics, while not always safe for all audiences, is sometimes clean. The mixtape is unique and Drake is very original; he does not like to “steal” beats or lyrics from other rappers and turn it into his.
Many of his fans insist, “if you care about what he has to say, here it is: he’s rich; he’s famous,
and he gets a lot of girls.” Drake is multi-talented, his
acting skills are well known, but that is nothing compared to what he exhibits on this tape. What is evident is that he has a very good
ear for beats that get the audience going.
Drake is speaking the truth about his early experiences – his struggles and triumphs.
Even many of the younger guys are falling in love with Drake because his music is so on fire. Although this is his first album, he is being courted by much more established artists to collaborate on a joint venture.
When this mixtape hit the streets, it is bound to become number one, and many people will be talking about it. Drake has found himself by rapping, but the wonderful thing is he doesn’t just rap, he also sings. Not too many artists can do both which is a major plus for him. Women just love him.
Now that Drake has signed with Young Money En-
tertainment and working with Lil Wayne and others, Drake is going to be the best hot new artist in 2010.
Drake is about to do big things if this mixtape is anything to go by.
Drake told Jet magazine in an interview that he is happy that this mixtape has come out and
that he is ready to make things happen in his life.
Young Money Records is loving the attention that Drake and BowWow, another of their talents, are getting.
Drake has done so much in so little time acting, sing-ing, and rapping. One wonders what else he might have up his
sleeve. Drake has his own style, but many compare him with other rappers, particularly, his lyrics and lil wayne shows many similarities.
This does not in any way detract from his wonderful work in the mixtape. This mixtape is a must buy, and one of the best CDs you’ll be hearing in your stereo.
Drake joins Young Money Records top talents.
photo courtesy of googleimages.com
Drakes’ mixtape ‘So far gone.’
This mixtape is a must buy, and one of the best CDs you’ll be hearing in your stereo.
November 4, 2009 Rampage 13Entertainment
Top 10 Thanksgiving dinner favorites
by Paz EspinozaRampage Reporter
Photo courtesy of positivepsychologynews.comThanksgiving dinner: a perfect ten
What is a Thanksgiving feast without a mouth-watering turkey? Turkey is the most antici-pated dish at any thanksgiving din-ner. This main course has become so popular, that many people refer to Thanksgiving day as Turkey day, which is why Turkey rates as number one on the list of top 10 Thanksgiving favorites.
Some say the turkey is only as good as its stuffing, which is why stuffing is ranked number 2 on the list of top 10 Thanksgiving favorites. Like any other Thanks-giving dish, stuffing can be home made or sotore bought. Either way its made, stuffing is turkey’s best friend when it comes to a perfect Thanksgiving dinner.
Third on the list of Thanks-giving favorites is Ham. Thanks-giving ham can be prepared many different ways according to our family’s style and taste. My family always serves a delicious glazed ham at our Thanksgiving dinners.
Thanksgiving dinner is not complete without pumpkin pie. Whether store bought, or made from scratch, pumpking pie is one of the most craved for sweets during the Thanksgiving holiday.
Mashed potatoes are an essential to include in any Thanks-giving meal. They too can be home made or store bought. Either way,
they are one of the most antici-pated Thanksgiving side dishes.
The Salads traditionally included in Thanksgiving feasts. These salads come in many vari-eties, including but definately not limited potato salad, garden salad, pasta salad, and fruit salad. The most traditional and popular of these is potato salad
Candied Yams are another sought after desert at a Thanks-giving feast. Although they are not as popular as the pumpkin pie, candied yams make a Thanksgiv-ing feast traditional.
Corn is one of the most traditional vegetables served on the Thanksgiving holiday. This dish dates back to the days of the pilgrims and indians and their sharing of the first Thanksgiving meal.
Green beans are another popular Thanksgiving vegetable. Although they are not as popular as corn, green beans add whole-someness to any Thanksgiving meal.
Cranberry sauce is the last favorite dish on the top 10 Thanksgiving favorites list. Al-though it is liked and disliked, most Thankgiving dinners include this seasonal delicacy.
The menu preference for the thanksgiving feast can vary among the various cultures who celebrate the holiday of Thaks-giving.
Photo courtesy of sifiscoop.com
by Kyle CalvertRampage Reporter
What scares you is the thought that the video clips could be real.
As of 1972, encounters with extraterrestrials are classified by the way it happened. The first kind is a UFO sighting, and the second kind is a sighting of the being itself.
The third kind is contact with the being(s) in question. The fourth kind is abduction.
I am not entirely sure what to make of “The Fourth Kind”, a movie by director Olatunde Osunsanmi.
It is a dramatization of case studies by Dr. Abigail Tyler (portrayed by Milla Jovavich in the dramatizations and as herself in the video clips) into the abnor-
mal sleeping habits of people living in Nome, Alaska, which had some admittedly terrify-ing outcomes concerning alien abduction.
The movie does scare its audience. Alongside the dra-matization, there are a number of video clips shot from home cameras supposedly used by Dr. Tyler in her study.
The dramatization itself is not what scares you – what scares you is the thought that the video clips could be real.
But what can turn you off of enjoying this movie is just that: it could be.
From the point of view of a skeptical critic, this is a tough thing to look at.
It could be considered a
documentary, but no verifiable em-pirical evidence has been found, and anything this movie claims is real could have been falsified with enough work.
Very little is available that would make this verifiable, and it remains to be seen whether Dr. Tyler is a real person or a fictional character created for the story.
The movie’s viral market-ing campaign does not add much to its credibility.
It seems like a lot of re-sources were spent obscuring any-thing that could prove the movie’s
claim that any of its content is real. Likewise, I have trouble
classifying it as a horror film or a thriller because it claims to be based on actual case studies, even if the studies in question are not specified and cannot be found. And it is surprisingly troubling to consider that this might be based on true events.
If it does turn out to be fiction, and classified as a horror/thriller film rather than a docu-mentary, then it’s definitely good fiction, and succeeds at scaring people.
However, on the rare chance that it is real, then it is absolutely terrifying – and for good reason.
It’s tough to be a skeptic when any reasonable scien-tific explanation for paranormal events is beyond our current realm of understanding.
I honestly can’t say if it’s more unnerving to believe or disbelieve what this movie will show you. I believe it’s most horrifying when you question it and come to the conclusion that you really don’t know.
But whether or not you believe in this sort of thing, “The Fourth Kind” is definitely worth the price of admission – and it does make you question what you believe.
“The Fourth Kind” comes out in theatrers
Nov. 6 Have fun sleeping
Troubling thoughts of “The Fourth Kind”
14 Rampage Sports November 4, 2009
by Ray Juarez
Rampage Reporter
Rams Football: FCC loses to Sierra 14-31Darryl Jackson picked off a pass;
Rams took over deep in SC territory. The wolverines were quick to answer back with an in-terception of their own. The Rams’ defense fought hard to hang on to the lead when Kenny Wallace ended the first half with a sack.
The Rams started the second half on their 40 yard line and punted
It was a disappointing Hal-loween afternoon for Fresno City College, as the Rams took on the Wolverines of Sierra College and lost 31-14.
As FCC kicked off to start the game, the Ram’s defense came ready to play, “knocking out” SC with an easy three and out during their first offensive series. The Wolverines would strike back, catching on to Fresno ’s game plan early and forcing FCC to punt. Fresno would get the ball back as A.J. Caviglia stopped a run and caused a fumble, Reggie Brown recovered the ball.
A little frustration occurred early on, with quarterback Em-manuel Lewis having a hard time connecting with his receivers. Eight minutes to go in the first quarter, Sierra College made their way down field looking to score first, and that’s just what they did. Deonte Williams ran it in 20 yards out for a touch-down.
FCC would block the field-goal but unable to make anything out of the play.Rams got the ball back on their own 23 yard line, but had punt it away once again. After a few plays, CJ Woodbury broke loose and ran it down to FCC’s 11 yard line, which set up a touch-down pass from SC’s Jeff
Nelson to Taylor Schablaske. The Rams were down 13-0 at the end of the first quarter.
At the start of the second quarter, Emmanuel Lewis was ready to turn things around for his team as he kept the ball himself, earning a first-down and throw-ing a TD pass to Roddrick Hall bringing the score to 7-13. Later
in the quarter, Lewis connects with Corvaughn Archie hoping to catch up or take the lead, but FCC punts again! Four minutes left in the quarter, Isiah Barton takes it to the house for 78 yards after completing a pass for Lewis. The Rams took their first lead of the day and it would be their last. It was battle for the ball as FCC’s
for the fourth time in the game. Sierra got the ball back. With a few quick passes and outstanding runs from SC’s Deonte’ Williams, the wolverines found themselves near the in-zone taking the lead 19-14.
The Rams tried to answer back, but Lewis’ pass was picked off in the red-zone. Back on de-fense, the Rams tried to get back in scoring range; once again Lewis’s pass was intercepted. As the third quarter ended, sierra’s Jeff Nelson ran for 42 yards and then tossed a short TD pass going into the fourth quarter leading 25-14.
FCC started the fourth quarter with second string quar-terback, Morgan Hall. Hall took the Rams straight to the end-zone but settled for a field goal, where the attempt was blocked.
With FCC making some risky moves, Sierra takes over on down pounding their way to the “magic rectangle”.
The Ram’s defense holds the Wolverines to a punt. Looking to shock SC and with time wind-ing down, the Rams headed down field being pushed around by SC’s defense. Fresno was yards away from putting some last points on the board, but Hall’s pass was intercepted and SC ran it back for 98 yards, ending the game 31-14.
The Rams are back at home this Saturday night for Homecom-ing as they take on The Mustangs from San Joaquin Delta.
VS.
Homecoming 2009
Nov. 7, 2009 Ratcilffe Stadium at 7 P.M.
Rams Mustangs
Wide Reciever Isiah Barton outruns defenders for over 50 yards to score the equilizing touchdown in the first half. photo by Jeremiah Henry
Sports 15 RampageNovember 4, 2009
Rampage Reporterby Jemima Romero
The Fresno City College Women’s Volleyball team won the two games they played last week. The Lady Rams defeated the Lady Pirates of Porterville College on Wednesday and the Lady Falcons of West Hills College on Friday.
The game against the Lady Pirates didn’t start well for the FCC team, and the first couple of points were scored by the Pi-rates. Soon, however, the Lady Rams caught up and there was no stopping them from there on. The Rams had a nice game plan throughout and kept scoring by hitting the ball to the weakest players on the other team.
The Lady Pirates did not yield easily. They gave the Rams a good fight; they had great de-fense and stayed very close on the score board. In fact, the Lady Pirates were ahead of the Rams by a point or two throughout most of the first set.
Still, the FCC Lady Rams did not give up and won that first set by 25-24. The second and third sets were easier for the Rams; they stayed with their game plan, hitting to the weakest players on the other team. The Lady Rams
swept both the second and third sets with scores of 25-19 and 25-22, respectively.
On Friday night, the Lady Rams wasted no time in asserting themselves over the Lady Falcons of West Hills College. From the start, it was obvious the Falcons had no chance of beating the Rams.
The first nine points were scored by the Lady Rams who
seemed unstoppable. It seemed they were not going to let the Fal-cons score at all, and the first set ended quickly in a score of 25-8. The Lady Falcons then started put-ting up a fight by scoring the first couple of points of the second set, but the Rams soon caught up and extended their dominance. The frustration on the faces of the West Hills players was apparent.
The Rams kept spiking and scoring point after point, and the FCC Lady Rams won the second set 25-9. During the third set of the game, the Falcons finally brought game and started scoring but they
didn’t bring enough game to beat the Rams. The third set was again won by the FCC Rams 25-15.
“Nice Job,” were the first words that came out of the Lady Rams’ Coach, Tracy Ainger-Schilte after her team won the game against West Hills College. “It was a clear game,” she added.
“For sure Porterville was more challenging,” said Amanda Michael, #6 on the FCC Rams Volleyball team. “They had stronger hitters and had more defenses; they brought compe-tition.” Michael also said, “It definitely feels good to have won and stay undefeated.” FCC Rams
The FCC Rams Women’s Volleyball team has won 17 games and only lost four.
The next home game is against Merced College on Nov. 6 at 7:00 p.m.
Amanda Michael spikes down Portervillephotos by Jeremiah Henry
The Lady Rams wasted no time in asserting themselves over the Lady Falcons of West Hills College. From the start, it was obvious the Falcons had no chance of beating the Rams.
FCC Volleyball sweeps opposition
15 Rampage 16 Rampage Sports November 4, 2009
Rampage Reporterby Ray Juarez
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A Man On A Mission
Boris Beta Age 15
Boris Beta pushes forward despite injury.
In the early years of soccer, it’s usually kicking and chancing the ball, but for Boris Beta it was a little more.
Since the age of five, Boris Beta has been playing soccer....and winning.
Born and raised in Fresno, former Clovis West star Beta has been "making his mark" playing for the Fresno City College men's soccer team.
In 2005, Beta attended FCC hoping to have a successful col-lege career, and his chances would come up short.
While recovering from an injury, Beta would have a different look on life, "When I was 15 I tore my ACL. During that time it made me really ponder life and realize what life truly has to offer.”
As a missionary for The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, Beta would put school and soccer to the side just after his first year at city for a two year mission.
"It was a really hard deci-sion to go on my mission because I had a lot of good things going on at the time and good potential to get into some good schools. At the same time, I knew going on my mission would be a great op-portunity for me. Soccer would al-ways be around and school would
always be around,” said Beta.Since spring 2008 Beta has
been on a second mission, this time his mission was to earn a starting spot back on the team. Rightfully so, Beta earned that spot and has enjoyed playing for Fresno City ever since.
“It’s been fun; I have the opportunity to play as my own type of player, but at the same time learning how to play within a certain system,” he said.
Head coach Eric Solberg, identified Beta as a, "Quiet leader.”
Beta said, "I’m not one to think that you have to be speak-ing up or yelling to get someone to act towards the cause. A lot of what I know comes from playing at Clovis West; there were a lot of great coaches who pushed me to become the player I am today.”
When asked about the type of player he is Beta said, " I'm one who is willing to work hard and
do what it takes to accomplish the goal, not just for the team....but for myself as well.”
Come game time, Beta says he usually listens to mu-sic and thinks about all of his responsibilities,"I’m doing the things I need to be doing to get myself ready for the game.”
Along with game time, Beta talked about a few teammates like Trae Garton, Rory Agu, and Fa-bian Rangel, “Playing with Trae is fun; we've played a lot together. We’ve played as kids and in high school. Playing together again is fun too, when we're on the field we understand each other and know each other's tendencies.”
“Rory is a different kind of player, one who will push you to be better and because he pushed me I was able to gain the skills I was missing.”
Beta talked about Fabian Rangel or as he called him "Fob-by", "I enjoy playing with Fobby because he is a goal-keeper and I’m a goal-scorer and at practice it creates a fun rivalry.”
Speaking of scoring goals, Beta said that it’s one of the best feelings, “Once you score a goal, you mentally re-cap what you did to get that goal. It might have come from a run, or beating a defender. The pleasure comes from revaluat-ing the way you did it and either doing it again, or finding a way to improve upon it."
Satisfaction would turn into
disappointment for Beta, because he has to sit out for the rest of the season due to yet another torn ACL.
In early Sept., the Rams were playing West Valley: a team that they've tied with and lost to in the play-offs back in 05'.
"During the first few min-utes of the game, I happen to step the wrong way and the weight of
my body came down on my leg wrong. I had my sights set on this season, also on my goals on what I wanted to push my future,” said Beta.
Beta said he plans to con-tinue his soccer career at FCC with the hopes of moving on to a four year college, and even play professional soccer.
