JACC Convention

Last Thursday through Sunday was one memorable experience.

I attended the JACC convention in Sacramento, California. This is my second state convention that I attend, and my third one overall.

For those who do not know what the convention is, the best way I can explain it would be a hotel full of aspiring journalists, reporters, photographers, broadcasters that want to learn more and get a hands-on in the field.

There is an website that gives more information, and future information about upcoming JACC conventions,

There is an array of workshops ranging from reporting tips, interviewing techniques, special tips for photographers, and workshops for those who want to be in broadcast. There is a little of everything for everyone.

One particular event that stood out to me occurred on Thursday night. In the Key Speaker event, one particular journalist by the name Marjie Lundstrom.

She won the Pulitzer Prize for her investigating reporting on the CPS in Sacramento.

Now she is a true inspiration to all, but it opened my eyes to a whole different aspect of journalism.

Like she said, investigating reporting was thought to be dead, but she proved the world otherwise.

Investigating reporting is an aspect that I am particularly fond of after this JACC convention. It shows to me that journalism is more than just covering the news, or maybe going to that special restaurant or play to review it. Journalism can reach in deep, and provide the world with knowledge that will either be good or bad.

I also competed in the feature competition. They took us to Old Sacramento, to the California Military Museum. The museum was amazing, but the lack of people to interview was disappointing.

I wasn't the only who complained that there was not enough people to interview.The main museum director was always busy and it was hard to get a question in, and then there was an older employee, who was also hard to get an interview out of him, and he wasn't even a veteran.

That was just disappointing, because I expected something better and more exciting. But like Mr. Cameron told me, each convention has its it good and bad aspects.

Overall, an experience to remember, one step closer to my future career goals.

Safety

To be safe, is to be smart. That is the way of life. Many college students today, don't take safety seriously, especially at campus. They think that since they are at a school, they're personal belongings would be taken care of. Sad to say, it doesn't work that way. Police officers and traffic controllers could only do so much.

In this sprout, students voice their opinions on how they feel about the safety here at Cerritos, and what improvements could be made.

Traffic controllers give a little more insight on what they do on a daily basis, and their role into making sure they keep Cerritos safe and sound for all of us.

Campus Safety

Hundreds of incidents occur every day. No matter where one is: the supermarket, the mall, the bank, or even at school. Crime doesn't stop for no one and nothing.

Cerritos College is not an exception. Crime occurs, just like everywhere else.
Students and traffic control officials are aware of this, and take certain safety precautions to make Cerritos a better place for all.

JACC not what expected........

JACC is a conference where community colleges from California go and learn more about journalism. There are a variety of workshops where professional people come and give seminars. Staff writers from the LA TIMES came and talked to students, and professors from different campuses also came and gave their professional insights.

Sadly to say that this JACC did not meet my standards. I did not have as much fun as I did at the State JACC. This conference lacked in the variety of workshops and the speakers that they had.

Don't even get me started on the key note speaker. Yes, the matter he was talking about was very intriguing and kept me informed, but he was so dull. It seemed like he lacked enthusiasm. I mean, if you're asked to come and speak in front of hundreds of aspiring journalists then you should be adrelanized.

There were a couple of snores among the crowd, which proved to show that I wasn't the only one who thought the speech needed to be more animated.

The only thing that I did like were the competitions I participated in. I was involved with the critical review and the feature writing. The one I enjoyed the most was the critical review. They gave us tickets to go see "Urinetown," which is by far the best play I have seen.

It made me almost pee my pants a couple of times.

A couple of the workshops were repetition of last conference, so I don't feel like I learned something new and different.

I just can't wait to attend the state convention next year, hopefully it meets my standards and more.

Marriage is for who?!

Some of my fellow TM classmates and I covered the Proposition 8 debate that was held on Cerritos Campus last Thursday.

Students and spectators filled the Teleconference room eager to listen to what each of the sides had prepared to say.

Personally, I agreed with the no side, and that was part of the reason why I voted no on proposition 8 on Tuesday.

The Yes side kept bringing up that the story that one lesbian teacher brought her small students to her personal wedding. It was part of a school field trip.

It got old after the tenth time they said it.

I felt that they had no original material and they lacked preparation when the public asked them questions.

The responses that they gave to the questions being asked didn't even relate to the question being asked anymore.

There were a lot of confused faces in the crowd.

Most of the people that were in the crowd that did agree with the proposition were much older. People (no disrespect) of a much older generation where marriage was very traditional.

But what they don't understand is that society has changed, people have con temporized, and have adapted new ideas and beliefs.

The world has evolved since thirty years ago.

Free food and valuable information?, I am there!!!!

Everyone knows that there is a theater department at Cerritos, right?

Well hopefully you answered yes.

The Theater department is considered a great program here at Cerritos, by many students here on campus. It has produced some great plays like the recent one : "The Rivals."

Theater professors want to reach out to students who will be interested in learning more about the theater department and maybe participating in some of the upcoming plays.

They thought of a brilliant way to do so : free food.

They throw a BBQ every year to encourage students to come down and learn more about the department. It got my attention so I am sure they caught a few other wandering students as well. The smell of the hamburgers and hot dogs were sure to stop any hungry student dead in their tracks.

The BBQ was a successful because the tables were full of students, munching but also signing up for the theater department mailing list.

The teachers were up and about to answer any questions,or comments.

Emails and flyer's were distributed throughout campus, to help promote the BBQ, and it worked, caught my attention.

"The Rivals" an unrivaled comedy

Due to the lack of space I had to work with this week for the newspaper, my review for the play was cut extremely short. In order to make justice to myself, and to the theater department Photo:Marisa Klug-Morataya
Mrs. Malaprop (Maria Lopez) confides in Captain
Absolute unaware of his alter ego and plotting, I will now rant on and on about how I was so fortunate to enjoy one of the best plays I've seen seen so far. Thank you Renee for the free tickets

I enjoy being in the newspaper for benefits like this.

First of all, let me just start with congratulating every member of the cast. Everyone made the play special and memorable in their own way. Kudos to every single one of you.


"The Rivals" was unlike any other play I had previously attended. Not only was it my first here at Cerritos, but the location it was in was a bit strange to me. Usually I am seated in those huge theaters where I have to practically squint my eyes to see the actors on the stage. I never complained then, because it was my own fault for getting there late, and getting a crappy seat.


This play however was not in the huge theater we have at campus, it was inside the BC Building. A much smaller, and intimate theater. It had a stage,and the seats were so up close, that you could see every expression in the actor's faces. If they ever made a mistake, oh, ! I and all the 40 something people in the audience would of caught it. Luckily for the cast, the performance was almost flawless.


The two characters that made it happen for me were Mrs. Malaprop (Barbara Lopez, she was performed her character that night) and Lydia Languish ( Susannah Kim). These two women were absolutely amazing. They made me laugh like no other. I was surprised I wasn't kicked out of the theater. Mrs. Malaprop character was by far the funniest. I sure the rest of the audience agreed with me because I wasn't the only one laughing.


"Come here Lydia, you hussy!" was one of the lines Mrs. Malaprop used constantly over the play.Photo:Marisa-Klug Morataya
Captain Absolute woos Lydia Languish Her bad use of vocabulary was also very funny. “...I have since laid Sir Anthony’s preposition before her...” (what she really should have said was “... I have since laid Sir Anthony’s proposition before her.) Something small like that made her character stand out and be memorable.

Lydia was just cute and hilarious in her own way. This particular woman was so such a great performer to watch. Her facial expressions ranged from sour to happy constantly. It was great. Made me laugh every time.


Also, what made the play stand out were the costumes. They were all beautiful. I have been to plays were the costumes are made out of crap. They look so cheesy and last minute, but this play all the costumes were so bright and colorful. They made the play so much better. It gave me and the audience a sense of how people really used to dress back in 1795.
I on the other hand would die if I wore that around the street nowadays.


My only problem with the play had to be some of the accents. I know it was purposely done to make a point. But there was one in particular that was very hard to understand. I had no idea what she was saying, and neither did the couple next to me. They must have murmured to each other " What! I can't understand anything she is saying," at least three times. Other than that it was perfect.


This play is on my favorites list and I can't wait to see what the theater department has in store for next time.