Celebrating 100 years at Garden Fest
Patricia Rocha, Reporter
May 1, 2013
By Patricia Rocha Reporter Students, faculty, community members and their families all came out to this year’s Garden Fest for a day of botany-themed fun. Though there were plenty of vendors, demonstrations and many children’s activities, the real star of the show was the planting of the... Read More
Kean to retire with final show
Patricia Rocha, Reporter
April 17, 2013
By Patricia Rocha Reporter After 19 years at Bakersfield College, choir director Ronald Kean is going out on top. After a total of 30 years teaching, a successful performance over spring break at New York’s infamous Carnegie Hall, and an upcoming finale performance, Kean is excited... Read More
Sexist beliefs anchor us to our past preventing progress
Patricia Rocha, Reporter
April 17, 2013
By Patricia Rocha Reporter I think I’m pretty. If that comes across as vain or superficial, then I think the problem is in the reader and not in my opinion, because all women should think they’re pretty. Every woman should be proud of their looks and bodies and all of the amazing... Read More
Bakersfield soon to see ‘The Birds’
Patricia Rocha, Reporter
April 3, 2013
By Patricia Rocha Reporter As their opening night quickly approaches, the cast of Bakersfield College’s production of “The Birds” are excitedly rehearsing. Theater director Kimberly Chin is excited to see how the Ancient Greek play is challenging her students with its musical numbers,... Read More
Oz may not be so great after all
Patricia Rocha, Reporter
March 14, 2013
“Oz the Great and Powerful” is an intriguing and fascinating movie, at least for the first 10 minutes. The rest of the 2 hours is pretty much a colorful train wreck. The Wizard of Oz has been my favorite movie since I was in kindergarten, so I went into the theater really excited to see... Read More
Info on transfers provided
Patricia Rocha, Reporter
March 14, 2013
The Bakersfield College transfer center has begun a semester’s worth of workshops to inform students about different majors and the careers they lead to. One of these workshops was for those interested in psychology, led by CSUB’s Steve Bacon and held on Feb. 28. Bacon, a clinical psychologist... Read More
AA-T degrees becoming a reality
Patricia Rocha, Reporter
March 14, 2013
An Associates Degree of Transfer is a new way of getting students though college quicker and more conveniently. Bakersfield college transfer counselor Sue Granger-Dickson talked about how this new transfer degree came to be and how it benefits students. “[Senator Alex Padilla] got a lot of... Read More
Women’s History Month is showcased at BC
Patricia Rocha, Reporter
February 27, 2013
As the month of March approaches, so does Women’s History Month here at Bakersfield College. To celebrate WHAM, BC has organized four free events, open to the public, that pay tribute to international women. These events mainly consist of panels and talks discussing women’s issues. According... Read More
Inexpensive makeup for the girl on the go
Patricia Rocha, Reporter
February 27, 2013
I spend too much money on makeup. I own all the crazy-shaped brushes, rainbow-hued palettes and I have enough red lipstick to literally paint the town red. The women at Sephora don’t even ask me if I’m finding everything OK anymore; they know I know what I’m doing. So when the time came... Read More
Bathroom of Horrors
Patricia Rocha, Reporter
February 13, 2013
My first semester at Bakersfield College, I had a three-hour break between classes every day. While many people would have used that time for studying or having lunch with friends, I took the opportunity to sleep in the library. I enjoyed many naps across from the circulation desk, and aside... Read More
Bathroom of Horrors
Patricia Rocha, reporter
February 13, 2013
My first semester at Bakersfield College, I had a three-hour break between classes every day. While many people would have used that time for studying or having lunch with friends, I took the opportunity to sleep in the library. I enjoyed many naps across from the circulation desk, and aside... Read More
BC Pres. speaks about budget
Patricia Rocha, Reporter
January 30, 2013
Bakersfield College president Sonya Christian discussed Gov. Brown’s budget proposal that increases community college funding. If this budget proposal is finalized, an additional $197 million will be invested in community colleges statewide. “We’ve had significant budget cuts, so in no... Read More
Race isn’t just a label
Patricia Rocha, Reporter
January 30, 2013
have never been a huge fan of labels and classifications for people. Gay, straight, girl, boy, religious, atheist, black, white, it shouldn’t matter. We’re all just people. I have always felt that it is when we lose our individuality and start presenting ourselves as cliques and groups... Read More
Biology professor debuts film
Patricia Rocha, Reporter
January 30, 2013
After taking a year off to attend film school, biology professor Isabel Stierle recently presented her short film, “It’s all Rubbish,” at the Fox Theater. “I wanted to take a sabbatical about four years ago, but because of the financial crunch they weren’t really giving sabbaticals... Read More
Traditional gender roles are outdated
Patricia Rocha, Editor in Chief
November 28, 2012
Being a woman is hard. This article will not be about how much high heels, monthly cramps and childbirth hurt. It’s about how much of my life was decided for me 20 years ago when someone in a hospital declared, “It’s a girl.” It kind of blows my mind that an X or a Y could change so... Read More
Fans gather at last concert to say farewell to The Dome
Patricia Rocha, Editor in Chief
November 28, 2012
Hundreds of music lovers packed into The Dome to sweat, mosh and head bang for the last time at the venue’s farewell show. Joel Tyrell, bass player for Australian band Hands Like Houses, said The Dome’s closing show coincided with the end of their tour with headliner Pierce the Veil. “We’ve... Read More
Let your clothes say who you are
Patricia Rocha, Editor in Chief
November 28, 2012
It’s really hard sometimes to think about other’s reactions to who we are as people, but fashion is a great way to break the ice. Our clothes don’t tell people who we are, but it’s a great way to showcase what you think is special about your personality. Personally, I’m crafty. I... Read More
More work to be done despite Prop 30 passing
Patricia Rocha, Editor in Chief
November 15, 2012
Now that Proposition 30 has passed and a $5.2 million cut in budget has shrunk down to $1.2 million, Bakersfield College can move forward on planning for the future. Interim President Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg discussed the feeling of relief, tempered with the realization that California’s economic... Read More
COLUMN: School spirit is easy to style
Patricia Rocha, Editor in Chief
November 15, 2012
What’s black, white and red all over? Bakersfield College of course, and I am beyong happy about it. Each color on its own stands so far beyond any other color’s popularity. Red is bold, passionate and always makes a statement. Would the lady in red have been as famous if she wore turquoise?... Read More
City of Lights: Bakersfield College celebrates homecoming
Patricia Rocha, Editor in Chief
November 15, 2012
Bakersfield College students, alumni and their family and friends braved the chilly November weather to participate in the homecoming tradition of football, tailgating and expression of school spirit. No one understands the importance of this school spirit more than former BC student Deanna... Read More
Rally held to inform students on Prop. 30
Patricia Rocha, Editor in Chief
October 31, 2012
An informational rally was held in the free speech area on Oct. 25 to discuss the affects Proposition 30 would have on Bakersfield College. Speakers urged students to vote yes on the proposition, as it would mean a loss of funds this college would need to operate going into next year if it... Read More
COLUMN: Don’t let heels ruin your sexy outfit
Patricia Rocha, Editor in Chief
October 31, 2012
Every year Halloween confronts us with the things we most fear. Spiders, clowns and tights pretending to be pants all make the list for me, but I know for many women my favorite thing in the world strikes fear into their hearts and feet: high heels. This Halloween I know I will see a woman... Read More
Renegade Lair to add to BC’s atmosphere
Patricia Rocha, Editor in Chief
October 31, 2012
The new Renegade Lair is a student cheering section focusing on increasing student participation in the Bakersfield College sports arenas. The student government association is planning on selling a $30 Lair Sports Pass, which allows the student to attend all home sporting events as a member... Read More
Column: Fall is no excuse to lose your style
Patricia Rocha, Editor in Chief
October 17, 2012
A single cloud has drifted over Bakersfield and you know what that means: Fall is finally here. We’re finally in our transitional season, which is probably the most important for fashion, but it’s also the most notorious season for fail fashion. Once it starts cooling down, most girls will... Read More
Christian announced as new BC president
Patricia Rocha, Editor in Chief
October 17, 2012
Sonya Christian was introduced to faculty and staff Oct. 15 as Bakersfield College’s 10th president. She will be working part time as president from Nov. 29 until January when her full-time employment begins. “Dr. Christian was selected because of the breadth and depth of her 22 years experience... Read More
Bakersfield College names Sonya Christian as new president
Patricia Rocha, Editor in Chief
October 15, 2012
It was announced this morning that Sonya Christian will be Bakersfield College’s 10th president. Christian is no stranger to BC, as she was a math faculty member, division chair and dean of science, engineering, allied health and mathematics during her time here from 1991-2003. “I am very... Read More
This generation is more than just a stereotype
Patricia Rocha, Editor in Chief
October 3, 2012
My generation is glued to their cell phones, won’t get off of Facebook unless Jersey Shore is on, and is so self-absorbed that none of us will ever amount to anything. That’s what I’ve been told anyway, and I couldn’t disagree more. I have spent the last 15 years of my life as a student,... Read More
No Doubt a bad album
Patricia Rocha, Editor in Chief
October 3, 2012
After listening to the new No Doubt album, “Push and Shove,” I am extremely disappointed. However, I wasn’t disappointed from the start. When I first heard the single “Settle Down” online I was really excited for what else was coming. The song had the right hook and the rocksteady-influenced... Read More
College president finalist Pedro Martinez
Patricia Rocha, Editor in Chief
October 3, 2012
The three finalists for the vacant role of Bakersfield College president spoke on campus Sept. 25-26 to discuss their qualifications and ideas for the future of BC. The candidates were asked a series of questions by faculty and students, and they were able to give their views on each topic... Read More
College president finalist Sonya Christian
Patricia Rocha, Editor in Chief
October 3, 2012
The three finalists for the vacant role of Bakersfield College president spoke on campus Sept. 25-26 to discuss their qualifications and ideas for the future of BC. The candidates were asked a series of questions by faculty and students, and they were able to give their views on each topic... Read More
Public safety urges students to secure vehicles
Patricia Rocha, Editor in Chief
September 19, 2012
The Bakersfield College department of public safety urges students to keep their vehicles safe after a Sept. 5 incident. In an email interview, public safety sergeant Christopher Counts described the incident. “While I was on patrol of the campus, I noticed a male subject walking down Panorama... Read More
BC president talks Prop. 30; school may face more cuts to faculty
Patricia Rocha, Editor in Chief
September 19, 2012
A large factor in Bakersfield College’s budget future is Gov. Jerry Brown’s Sales and Income Tax Increase Initiative, known as Proposition 30. If passed, the law titled “The Schools and Local Public Safety Protection Act of 2012” would raise California’s current sales tax of 7.25... Read More
COLUMN: Use your creativity to mix up wardrobe
Patricia Rocha, Editor in Chief
September 19, 2012
It’s hard to be fashionable on a budget, especially if you think you have to constantly shop for new trends and styles. However, it is easy to get creative with what you do have when you’re strapped for cash. A lot of times we find ourselves in a rut, and we end up wearing the same clothes... Read More
President search aided by hired firm
Patricia Rocha, Editor in Chief
September 6, 2012
Though the search is under way for Bakersfield College’s new president, the position left vacant by Greg Chamberlain will not be filled until at least December. Chamberlain resigned from office in February of this year and was replaced by interim president Robert Jensen for the following... Read More
Current college issues concern students
Patricia Rocha, Editor in Chief
September 6, 2012
With the school’s budget situation, financial aid rumors and the rising cost of attendance and parking fees, many students are feeling weary of their futures here at Bakersfield College. Interim president Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg said these issues have been addressed to herself and student government... Read More
COLUMN: Fashion is more than spending money
Patricia Rocha, Editor in Chief
September 6, 2012
It’s a sad fact that the fashion world often gets a bad rap. Any culture that defends spending hundreds of dollars on a single pair of sunglasses, or thousands on a single dress, is no doubt going to be called materialistic and shallow. Just the connotation of the word “fashion” brings... Read More
Jazz class performs in free speech area
Patricia Rocha, Copy Editor
May 2, 2012
Every semester, the Bakersfield College beginning jazz dance class takes their moves out of the dance room to show off what they’ve learned to their peers. Dance teacher Eve-Lyne Thomas said this year’s dance was the hardest she’s ever choreographed, but her class was ready for it. “It... Read More
COLUMN: Keep style simple
Patricia Rocha, Copy Editor
May 2, 2012
The fashion world operates in two seasons, fall and spring, but here in Bakersfield we get one very grueling one: hotter than the surface of the sun. Summer fashion is unique from any other time because it’s about the bare minimum. Fashionably layering tights, blouses and sweaters just isn’t... Read More
Get your musical fix this summer with these events
Patricia Rocha, Copy Editor
May 2, 2012
Summer is a great time for Bakersfield’s local music scene as it hosts many seasonal shows. The season kicks off with KRAB radio’s all-ages annual Free 4 All, held at the Bright House Networks Amphitheatre on May 19. This year features bands Say Anything, Imagine Dragons, Walk the Moon,... Read More
Bad music can have swagger like Mick Jagger
Patricia Rocha, Copy Editor
April 18, 2012
The world owes a lot to music. It has comforted broken hearts, rebelled against society, uplifted the weary. It defines generations and provides the soundtrack to our lives. However, there are times music can take a tragic turn and make people cringe instead of smile. There are songs with lyrics... Read More
COLUMN: Trends lacking in quality
Patricia Rocha, Copy Editor
April 18, 2012
As a woman whose future will most likely play out like the movie “Confessions of a Shopaholic,” it’s no secret I spend many hours window-shopping online. I troll Pinterest, fashion blogs and my favorite online Etsy shops to find style inspiration and new ideas. However, while on the Forever... Read More
COLUMN: ‘Mad Men’ fashion gets too cliche
Patricia Rocha, Copy Editor
March 28, 2012
Being in love is hard. You find absolute perfection, commit yourself completely, and then just when you think you’ll be in love forever, change happens and it breaks your heart. I am, of course, talking about the fashion of the AMC show “Mad Men.” Since the first time I saw the trailer... Read More
Student diagnoses own tumor
Patricia Rocha, Copy Editor
March 28, 2012
Not many people can say they’ve diagnosed themselves with a brain tumor, but that’s just what 19-year-old Bakersfield College student Bethany Elliott did. Elliott hadn’t been feeling well for quite a while and was frustrated that doctors wrote it off as nothing. She decided to take her... Read More
Kony campaign causes sensation
Patricia Rocha, Reporter
March 14, 2012
Few Youtube videos capture as much attention as Invisible Children’s viral video Kony 2012. The almost 30-minute video went viral recently as it campaigns to help the International Criminal Court arrest Joseph Kony for his many crimes against humanity in Uganda and other surrounding African... Read More
COLUMN: Tights are not pants
Patricia Rocha, Features Editor
March 14, 2012
The naked emperor called and he wants his pants back. Tights are not pants. I find it highly disappointing that I will repeat this sentence multiple times in the following column, but as spring approaches and everyone starts adjusting their wardrobes, I just know I will see someone trying to... Read More
COLUMN: Hipsters add to fashion
Patricia Rocha, Features Editor
February 29, 2012
Depending on who you ask, past decades and eras can be defined by many things. Some people will say it’s all about the politics, wars and diplomatic relations. Others will go straight to saying that just the names Chuck Berry, Jimi Hendrix and Cyndi Lauper help define multiple generations.... Read More
Frozen yogurt trend excites Bakersfield residents
Patricia Rocha, Copy Editor
February 29, 2012
Bakersfield residents have been known to get excited over new restaurant openings and the many new frozen yogurt places that have opened in the past few years are no exception. Yogurtland, BurrBerry Frozen Yogurt, Daddy O’s Frozen Yogurt and Galato and Tutti Frutti have all recently gotten... Read More
Color Tattoo eye shadow has long lasting coverage
Patricia Rocha, Copy Editor
February 15, 2012
When makeup commercials interrupt my favorite shows, a heavy sigh and an eye roll usually follow. Mascara that gives you five times the lashes? Sure. Foundation that gives me the skin of a 5-year-old that’s never seen the sun? Yeah right. Tattoo eye shadow that lasts 24 hours? Whatever. But... Read More
COLUMN: Forget the lame trends
Patricia Rocha, Copy editor
February 15, 2012
Style. You either have it or you don’t. What most people don’t realize is that actually having a style is a lot easier than all the fashion magazines might suggest. The main problem people have with fashion is that what’s “trendy” or “in” is constantly changing. Fads come and... Read More
Resignation hits colleagues by surprise
Patricia Rocha, Copy Editor
February 15, 2012
Bakersfield College president Greg Chamberlain surprised many with his recent announcement to resign as president after June 30 to return to his teaching career. His colleagues Nan Gomez-Heitzeberg, the Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs, and Academic Senate President Cornelio Rodriguez... Read More
BC President Greg Chamberlain Resigns
Patricia Rocha, Copy Editor
February 9, 2012
Bakersfield College President Greg Chamberlain recently announced that he will not be renewing his contract as president after Jun. 30. Chamberlain stated in an email that he was returning to a teaching position, something he’s been hoping to do before he retires. The school board has accepted... Read More
COLUMN: No more jammies ever
Patricia Rocha, Copy Editor
February 1, 2012
The dictionary defines pajamas as “a loose usually two-piece lightweight suit designed especially for sleeping or lounging.” It’s kind of a sad fact that I should even have to explain that, but the harsh reality is that all too often I see people out in public dressed in clothes that... Read More
Student, Immigrant and musician
Patricia Rocha, Reporter
November 30, 2011
International student Ivan Mendez and his America cover band recently showed off their musical abilities to a packed house at Coconut Joe’s banquet hall. “The response was amazing,” said Joe Coughlin, Mendez’s adoptive father and owner of the restaurant Coconut Joe’s. “I couldn’t... Read More
They just weren’t biting
Patricia Rocha, Reporter
November 16, 2011
Fisherman and their families braved the rain and cold for the annual Trout Derby at Lake Evans in Buena Vista Aquatic Recreational Area. For most fishermen, the $1000 prize money for the heaviest trout is worth camping out in the wind and rain and waiting in line for the allowed time of 6:30... Read More
1970s rock lives on today
Patricia Rocha, Reporter
November 16, 2011
International student Ivan Mendez has set out to create a new type of show with the concept of a mock concert series. Mendez and his band-mates, Blaine Robey and Mauro Lepore, are attempting to create a show that bridges the gap between local show and a large-scale tour with their band that... Read More
Celebrating School Spirit
Patricia Rocha, Reporter
November 16, 2011
This year’s movie-themed homecoming was filled with lots of the traditional school spirit. A week full of club participation began the festivities that eventually led up to the football game against the Cerritos College Falcons. Among the festivities was a costume contest for students and... Read More
Theatre Club participates in Safe Halloween
Patricia Rocha, Reporter
November 2, 2011
Parents and children packed into the Kern County Museum Foundation’s annual Safe Halloween to experience trick-or-treating in a well-structured, safe family environment. The event takes places every year at the Kern County Museum, where over thirty sponsors decorate booths that give out safe... Read More
You want me to review what?
Patricia Rocha, Reporter
November 2, 2011
The Rip sends a reporter to witness a galaxy far, far away for the first time In the past, I thought droids were cell phones. I didn’t know what The Force was and why it needed to be with me. Stormtroopers may have just been what weathermen called themselves on the weekends after... Read More
Bakersfield gets a chance to let the Led out
Patricia Rocha, Reporter
October 19, 2011
Jason Bonham, son of the late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, takes fans on his own personal journey with his father’s music in his show “Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience.” Before the show even started, the buzz of fans anxiously waiting was apparent. Crowds of young people... Read More
Zombies invade the stage
Patricia Rocha, Reporter
October 19, 2011
The comedy-horror play “Geeks vs. Zombies” showing at The Empty Space is a production filled with what you’d expect from the title: references to comic books, video games, indie music, and of course, zombies. What may surprise audiences is the fact that beneath the pop culture references... Read More
A startling depiction of teen deaths
Patricia Rocha, Reporter
October 19, 2011
Based on statistics that show 99 people between the ages of 10 and 25, die every day in the United States, “The 99” is a walk-through theater that graphically reenacts the causes of these deaths and the choices that lead up to them that can usually be avoided. The extremely graphic walk... Read More
Blink is back, and it’s like they never even left at all
Patricia Rocha, Reporter
October 5, 2011
“Neighborhoods,” the newest album from Blink-182, is a true reflection of all that the band members have experienced and matured from since their breakup in 2005. Fans will notice that the album has all of the important aspects of the band they’ve grown to love before, but the album is... Read More
Facebook doesn’t need changes
Patricia Rocha, Reporter
October 5, 2011
Usually a place where friends and family go to keep in touch, Facebook was a topic of controversy when it unveiled its changes to the site to it’s millions of users in late September. Bakersfield College students had many opinions on these new changes made to the social networking site. The... Read More
BC Writing Center now open to alleviate students with prose problems
Patricia Rocha, Reporter
September 21, 2011
The new Writing Center in the Student Services building is open to all students looking to enhance their writing skills. The center’s goal is to provide students with the tools they need to empower them through their writing. “It’s very exciting,” said Dean of Instruction Rebecca Flores,... Read More
BC professor passes away, but gave fond memories
Patricia Rocha, Reporter
September 21, 2011
Recently retired Bakersfield College professor, Thomas Hamilton Yale passed away this summer on the early morning of July 27. Yale retired in 2010 after 44 years of teaching microbiology, physiology and anatomy at BC. Yale’s close friend and colleague Ronald Allsman said Yale’s time at... Read More