Leo Crystobal and Tuesday Freas bring domestic violence issues to the stage in "Esperanza Means Hope." Photo by Kate Paloy

City College’s Respect Integrity Self-Determination and Education, RISE, program will be presenting a play on domestic violence in the Student Center Feb. 7 at noon.

The play is a one-act presentation called “Esperanza Means Hope” and is being presented in association with Kapitbahay/SeaFood City and My Sister’s House, a non-profit organization focused on addressing the needs of women and children impacted by domestic violence, according to their brochure.

The play was written by Conrad A. Panganiban and Gladys Imperio-Acosta and directed by Nicole C. Limon. The play also features original music by Dee Pizarro and Loui Paman.

For more information on My Sister’s House, please visit www.my-sisters-house.org or call 916-930-0626.

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In order to expose information to new students and those unaware of campus resources, City College launched “SCC’s 411 for Success” website as a resource for students providing them with strategies for success.

In 2011 the counseling department enlisted City College counselor Maristella Bacod to create a reliable resource guide for students. Bacod, who has a bachelor’s degree in ethnic studies and a master’s degree in counseling, is also an alumna of the Los Rios Community College District, attending both City College and ARC.

“Actually it was my first website,” says Bacod. “I have no experience in web design.”

Although she had no prior knowledge in web design, Bacod opted to create a website with faster and simpler ways of updating information.

Last February Bacod was asked by Michael Poindexter, vice president of Student Services, to undergo a sabbatical from July to December 2011. Bacod began working on the website as early as April.

“I started working on it at night and weekends just trying to teach myself how to build a website,” Bacod says.

Bacod wrote most of the site’s articles and content, in addition to creating the website design.

By understanding her target audience, Bacod writes in a language that would attract younger students.

“When I created the website I wanted to target students from the ages of 17-21, so I wanted the site to be fun and entertaining,” Bacod says.

The site is easily accessible to students through the City College homepage. It is also linked to the “New Students” tab and the “Quick Links” menu under “Counseling.” Students can access important information about financial aid and scholarships under the section titled “If You Don’t Know, Now You Know.”

In addition to administrating the website, Bacod sends emails to new students and asks professors to post a link to the site on their Desire2Learn pages. The site can also be accessed by scanning a Quick Response “QR” code with a smartphone application.

“The QR code allows students to access the website quicker,” says Bacod. “For example, instead of having to either memorize the website’s address or typing it into your phone, students can scan a QR code placed on ‘SCC’s 411 for Success’ posters located around campus.”

The website has found success in reaching addressing student’s needs, like theatre major Alicia Morris.

“I would definitely recommend this site for new students,” says Morris. “I think the site is helpful because it gives information that new students need to know.”

Visit the “SCC’s 411 for Success” website at http://www.saccity-online.org/sccfirstyear

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Cosmetology instructor Marcia Bonawitz prepares her students for the trials and tribulations of working in real-world salons. Photo by R. Hanna

When you walk into the cosmetology department at City College, you feel like you’ve gone to salon heaven. The smell of hairspray fills the air. Dozens of women in scrubs stand at counters with hair mannequins. Perhaps they are learning how to set patterns for pin curls or perfecting their French twists.

This is where City College cosmetology professor Marcia Bonawitz—with her vibrant red hair and sunny disposition—acts like a modern-day fairy godmother, working her magic to help others “maintain a certain level” of attractiveness, while also sharing her talent for hairdressing and beauty with her students.

“I’ve always had a passion for both the industry and teaching as well,” Bonawitz says.

Bonawitz, 66, has worked in the cosmetology industry for 40-plus years. She went to the Federico Beauty Institute directly after high school and has since worked at almost every Sacramento-area private beauty school. She holds a Bachelor of Science in workshop education from Southern Illinois University and is working toward her master’s degree at Sacramento State  University.

From a young age, Bonawitz says she seemed to be drawn to teaching.

“I’ve always loved teaching,” Bonawitz says. “I even remember as a child I had two younger sisters, and I always set them down and helped them with their math and their English. I did a class for both of them because they were very close in age.”

With her love of helping others learn and a family full of hairdressers, it only seemed natural for Bonawitz to become a cosmetology professor. It was her hairdresser, Aunt Helen, who “put the bug in [my] mother’s ear” and convinced Bonawitz to go to beauty school.

I talked to both [my mother and my aunt], and they both were excited about it. I think it was because [my mother] wanted someone to be able to do her hair,” Bonawitz says. “She’s 95 and I still do her hair every week. I do her perm, help her with her makeup and do her hair. She was my inspiration.”

Over the course of her career, cosmetology has grown from a passion for Bonawitz to a way she helps and serves fellow women.

“In today’s world, it seems like everyone has to work now and women are working more than ever before,” Bonawitz says. “In order to maintain a certain level you have to look attractive. You have to look presentable every day.”

According to Bonawitz, one way to achieve attractiveness is through manicures and pedicures, something she knows a great deal about since she is the instructor of the Nail Technology class at City College.

“Women who had horrible hands can get beautiful hands with artificial nails,” Bonawitz says. “It’s very fascinating. There are so many different techniques. [Artificial nails] really have come a long way.”

Misa Sakaoka-Abenes, who once took Bonawitz’s nail tech course, praises Bonawitz not only for her extensive knowledge in cosmetology, but also her kindness as an educator and person.

“She got me through my nail tech course. She was just very nurturing, very caring,” Sakaoka-Abenes says. “She actually wants to see us succeed and I love that more than anything.”

As a colleague of Bonawitz, cosmetology professor Fran Handy says she received the same care and support.

“I went through a very traumatic time in my life, and she was very, very supportive,” Handy says. “I do believe with that support it helped me get through it.”

Bonawitz doesn’t just beautify women’s hair, nails and skin. She also beautifies their lives. Bonawitz is inspiring a whole new generation of cosmetologists, just like her Aunt Helen did for her.

“I love her. Because of Ms. Marcia I want to be a cosmetology professor here at Sac City College,” Sakaoka-Abenes says. “I’ll be back here in 10 years. I can guarantee it.”

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William McGrath, administration of justice professor, has been practicing law for 40 years. Photo by Tony Wallin

He’s racing through the mountains of Breckinridge, Colo., narcotics racing through his system. Violating custody orders with his two daughters in the car. Speeding from the cops on slick windy roads. On this cold winter night, the truck flips, the daughters are killed, but the man walks away. Do you think you could defend a man like this?

These are the questions City College administration of justice Professor William McGrath has faced. Thirty-two years of defending criminals, dealing with angry family members and handling over 1,000 divorces, he says he is still able to uphold the Christian “servant’s heart” mentality that he says he entered law school with.

McGrath, an active sailor who describes himself as “70 years young,” knows his way around the courtroom. Before switching to teaching, McGrath commanded the attention of the jury with his quick wit and extemporaneous retorts.

McGrath attended McGeorge Law School, one of the top 100 law schools in the nation. He worked during the day and went to school at night. With three to four hours of homework per hour of class, McGrath described it as a “full-time endeavor.”

“I’ve heard so many horror stories about law school, I couldn’t imagine working while attending law school,” says Sarah Hollister, a juris doctorate candidate for Columbia University.

Drawn to representing the “underdog” and upholding moral values, McGrath inspires students in the classroom every day with the rewards of practicing law. He informs them that being a lawyer is difficult, but gives them channels that would make being a new lawyer less challenging.

For future law student hopefuls, he recommends that juris doctorate candidates be experienced in critical thinking by taking philosophy, statistics and psychology courses.

He is well-versed in all types of law, including real estate, family, litigation and torts. He references the Colorado case described above, in which the two daughters were killed by a reckless father, when describing the difficulty of criminal law because he says lawyers don’t get to choose who they represent.

“That kind of situation was infecting who I was,” McGrath says. “I never asked if they were guilty.”

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This tale of true love and desire far outweighed  the small and homely venue and small crowd.  Surprisingly captivated, I was eager to discover how Emma’s own life would end up.
The Director did an awesome job at keeping me hanging on to the hope that Emma would one day find what she was searching for throughout the play, true and undying love.

Emma was performed by The Cherry Top Theater at the Lutheran Church of the Master Jan. 27-28.

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While the Vietnamese New Year, or Tet in Vietnamese, was observed on Jan. 23, the year of 2012 is special according to City College counselor and instructor Dinh Bui, who will be co-hosting the event.

“[The parade is an] expression of strength as we’re celebrating the Year of the Dragon,” Bui says.

Bui says that Tet is important for the Vietnamese people to show good will between friends and family while anticipating  a prosperous new year.  During the parade, Bui expects the Sacramento Vietnamese community to relax, enjoy the entertainment, and pay respects to friends, ancestors, neighbors and relatives.

Many students at City College are Vietnamese Americans.

The Vietnamese community and businesses in Little Saigon where the parade is being held will receive attention from highway drivers, as a sign saying “Welcome to Little Saigon” will be installed on Highway 99.

“Personally, I’m very excited because I was the first elected Little Saigon Committee Chair assigned by the community to advocate for this creation [of the sign] through Sacramento City Council,” says Bui. “I like to maintain the connection with the community and to contribute my efforts to its well-being whenever I can.”

For more information on the parade, contact Dinh Bui at buid@scc.losrios.edu.

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Be sure to check on the weather if you are planning to attend, as severe overcast or rain may cancel the event.

For questions, contact the astronomy coordinator and professor of astronomy, Liam McDaid at (916) 558-2005 or by email at mcdaid@scc.losrios.edu.

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Mark Stewart, Psychology Professor at American River College holds a map of London. He coordinates the trips for students wanting to study there this summer. Photo by Tony Wallin

This June, Los Rios Community College District students will have the opportunity to study for four weeks in London, England.

American River College Psychology Professor Mark Stewart, is the coordinator of this opportunity where psychology students travel abroad to London to experience the culture and investigate the location’s social norms and its people’s social interactions.

In order to attend, students must be enrolled in Psychology 415 and pay the necessary fees of $3,395. According to Stewart, students who qualify for the Board Of Governor’s (BOG) Fee Waiver can receive some aid for this trip. There is also scholarships and other financial aid that can assist students.

For more information on the trip, contact Mark Stewart at stewarm@arc.losrios.edu.

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“Working out is not an easy thing,” says kinesiology professor Paul Carmazzi, who runs the Life Fitness Center (LFC) and its corresponding class Fitness 371. “We’re human beings and we have a tendency sometimes to not find the time to take care of ourselves.”

The LFC, which opened in 2009, has made improvements in about half of its students’ body compositions each semester, according to Carmazzi. Much like a typical gym, the LFC can help its users attain greater fitness through a variety of free weights, weight machines and cardiovascular workout equipment.

According to Carmazzi, most of the people who take the class are not frequent gym-goers who want to learn how to become a self-motivated exerciser.

“You’ll see people that are serious about [working out] and they’ll absolutely make gains [in fitness],” Carmazzi says.

Carmazzi also says he believes the most important part in becoming a self-managed exerciser is to write everything down.

“People are notorious for having great ideas and a great goal to get to, but they don’t write it down,” says Carmazzi. “We kind of equate it to an educational plan that students have to have with a counselor.”

Writing everything down is also important to another aspect of losing weight: what you eat.

According to nutrition professor Jessica Coppola, she says she believes that making a log of everything you eat, even logging that double-double with cheese, can make a junkie realize they need to become a fitness junkie.

Coppola directs any nutrition newbie toward myplate.gov, the reincarnation of the more commonly known food pyramid of the past. This website, Coppola explained, shows how much of the of plate should be filled with what kind of food.

“The government does a good job of emphasizing what is the current state of nutrition,” Coppola says.

The first key point for those who want to lose weight, Coppola stresses, is to find out how much calories a person should take. This depends on the gender of the individual as well as the nutritional goals of the person.

“So the 1,200 to 1,500 [calorie range] is for the average woman trying to lose weight, and 1,500 to 1,800 is for the average man trying to lose weight,” says Coppola. “To build extra muscle tissue requires extra calories. So for example, if it takes 2,000 calories to stay even and not gain or lose [weight] then to start gaining lean muscle mass you’re going to have to eat 2,500 [calories].”

The next step, Coppola explained, is after finding a caloric intake range is to find out what kind of food is healthy to eat and how you are going to spread the calories from these food throughout the day.

“You’re getting some calories from vegetables, some from grains, some from proteins, some from fruits, a balance of different types of foods. Also some source of calcium and vitamin D,” Coppola says.

Coppola says she believes that main food resource for students on campus, The City Cafe, does a good job at providing healthy options for students. Things such as, vegetarian pizzas, fruit and sandwhiches made with whole grain bread.

Eating and exercising adequately are ultimately up to the student to make the right choices to keep up with a weight-loss resolution that can maintain a healthy lifestyle.

“The whole point of college is really to have a balance,” says Carmazzi. “ If I feel good about myself and I’m in better shape I’m going to do better in my math classes, my English classes, my science classes. There’s no question about it.”

For more information on the LFC, go to http://sccpanthers.losrios.edu/lifefitnesscenter/ or for more information on basic nutrition, go to www.myplate.gov

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Photo by Kimberly Washington

Life hasn’t been all that kind for  Josh Fernandez. Then again, maybe it’s turned out OK for the writer who once struggled with an addiction to drugs and alcohol.

A former City College student and now acclaimed local writer and poet, Fernandez describes his passion for writing as, “Frustrating, infuriating, depressing, maddening, insane and horrible—but it’s not hard.”

Fernandez, like most students, didn’t know what else to do but to go to school. He grew up in Boston, Mass., moved to California at age of 13 and says he didn’t like school. He spent most of his time at libraries. He was disruptive and got kicked out of school for fighting.

Fernandez says he never regretted his decisions and at the same time maybe he regretted everything. All he wanted to do was use his life experiences to his advantage, and that is why he writes. His most recent published book is a collection of original poems called “Spare Parts and Disbursement”.

“I’ve been able to write about my life in a way that might help people figure out what they’re doing with their lives,” Fernandez said.

Fernandez is a freelance writer and is currently working with multiple organizations such as Spin Magazine, Sacramento News and Review, San Antonio Current, Boulder Weekly and Hartford Advocate. During his first two years at City College in 2001, Fernandez interned with a skateboarding magazine called Heckler.

At the start of his career, he put together a clipbook and had the opportunity of landing a job at the Sacramento News and Review. After building up his portfolio, he was offered a chance to write for Spin Magazine.

“That helped get my name out there,” said Fernandez. “Once you have bylines in big enough publications, people start to pay attention.”

Fernandez says he is intrigued by realism and reading the works of “old, Russian authors, the dead ones” such as Dostoyevsky.

“Sometimes I write ridiculous fiction or surrealist poetry. I just write because it’s fun and part of that fun is knowing that there are no rules,” Fernandez said.

The first class he took at City College was English 1A, now known as English 300, with English Professor Jan Lee.

“She took me from being an addict to a student just by keeping me interested in writing,” Fernandez recalls.

“He really, already knew how to write because he read, read, read,” said Lee, who has known Fernandez since his first semester at City College. “One time I did say to him, how is it that you’re such a good writer and he said because I read so much growing up.”

Lee remembered thinking that she always knew she would one day be going to one of Fernandez’s readings.

“He had the drive, he had the desire, he had the raw material at being such a good reader, [a] prolific reader and he’s very smart,” Lee said. “I was completely happy for him but I wasn’t completely surprised. I had faith that he was going to be published writer.”

“I hated school and didn’t really go to classes very much,” Fernandez said. “I never planned on going to college [though]. When somebody like me realizes that they actually have a shot at academia, it’s really a surreal moment.”

Though he’s doing quite well, Fernandez says that he’s bad at giving advice.

“Even though I’ve been a drug addict and an alcoholic, I’ve never been good at telling people what to do or how they can get clean. So I just write my stories and hope that people read them,” he says.

Fernandez enjoys a good run on his spare time. So far, he has run in five marathons, the San Francisco Marathon, the Big Sur Marathon and the California International Marathon.

“Running keeps me fit and it allows me to go for long periods of time where I’m with myself—no phone, no computer, no technology,” said Fernandez. “It’s important, especially for a writer to be without distractions for extended periods of time.”

Fernandez’s many publications include, “In The End It’s a Worthless Machine,” a chapbook of poetry published by Rattlesnake Press in 2009 and “Spare Parts and Dismemberment,” was published by R.L. Crow Publications this year.

Fernandez, 36, is currently finishing up his master’s in creative writing at the California State University of Sacramento. He described his next novel “Stickup Kid” as being the “modern Karate Kid”, where a boy wanders away from a class field trip and meets a man who teaches him how to rob from the unsuspecting suburban citizens of Boston.

For a man who came so far based on his rocky start, Fernandez says his outlook on life is gratifying.

“I loved my time at SCC, so I was really happy to go back to share my work,” Fernandez said. “I never thought I would publish a book…. everything is surprising to me.”

For more information on Fernandez and his works visit his website at www.josh-fernandez.com

Join Fernandez and Sacramento writers, Shirley Posh, Richard St.Ofle and Jesssalyn Wakefield at Bows and Arrows 1815 19th Street Midtwon, Sacramento at 8pm Dec. 10  for free readings.

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