Spring Break
Towards the end of a long and stressful semester, I took some time off to see "The Hot Kicks," an Australian rock band that a friend of mine recommended to me. It was a uneventful weekday night that took me to the set at the Key Club on the Sunset Strip. By the time that the half-hour set was finished, I was hooked.
A college campus is assumed to be a safe place, an environment that cultivates learning and growing. But students' pursuit of higher education may be putting them at risk just by registering for classes or applying for financial aid. There are several departments on the Valley College campus that hold private student information such as grades, medical and financial records.
Were you born between 1977 and 1994? Do you feel the need to express your emotions about everything, regardless of whether the people around you want to hear? Do you pride yourself on your ability to check your emails on your BlackBerry while you twitter on your iPhone and text on your Sidekick? Do you preach politics and a need for change yet do nothing about it, aside from making half-baked plans with your friends over a triple-shot decaf vanilla iced latte that costs you $9? You're not alone.
If you're looking to bump into Valley College student Anand "Andy" Ramachandran, chances are you will find him editing one of his latest flicks or giving guidance to fellow students in the Learning and Writing centers. Raised in Louisiana, Ramachandran inadvertently always had an underlying passion for film and the entertainment business.
An injury can be devastating for an athlete; it can be the end of a career or dream, and can crush a bright future. However, for Valley College Athletic Trainer Dennis Mestas, a dirt biking accident at the age of 19 changed his life - for the better. "I couldn't walk for 3 months," said 40-something Mestas, who has just finished attending to one of Valley's athletes, one of his many jobs throughout the day.
Sitting in the cool of a summer Saturday night, the Greek Amphitheater was packed for the first night of HOT 92.3's summer concert series featuring the band War. The night started with performances by Malo with Jorge Santana, El Chicano, and Tierra with special guest The Salas Brothers.
Hours after voters defeated Propositions 1A through E May 19, officials at Valley College and the Los Angeles Community College District began planning how to absorb the huge estimated funding deficiencies from the state. Valley administrators forecast an additional 20 percent budget deficit starting in the fall, and the LACCD Budget Committee discussed possibly canceling the summer term across the district as a result of the Props' failure.
There's a word - usually spoken by African-American students - that can be heard all over Valley College. "What's up nigga?", "I'm saying my nigga," and "Damn nigga!" are a few of the common phrases used by students that feature the controversial N-word. I expect (and don't mind) hearing the word "nigga" when I'm listening to hip-hop or watching a Chris Rock performance.
The heat of summer is fast approaching, and all Angelinos know that the temperatures that scorch Southern California are something best avoided. In the face of this, there is nothing more tempting than lounging at the movies and taking in a blockbuster. This summer, there are quite a few gems that are worth your $13.
Professional sports and the National Collegiate Athletic Association are increasing their efforts to eliminate performance-enhancing drug use amongst their participants. The NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB have tiered-suspension plans for multiple offenders. The NCAA hands out year long suspensions for those that violate the association's drug policy.