Editor’s note: High School Journalism Day, or J-Day, is an annual event co-sponsored by the Bakersfield College Journalism Program, The Bakersfield Californian and The Renegade Rip that tests the deadline writing and photography skills of high school journalism students in on-the-spot competitions, which are judged by staffers from The Californian. The winning entries are published here.
As part of the event, an automobile accident was staged on campus for the news story and news photo contests.
FIRST PLACE – NEWS STORY & NEWS PHOTO
Firefighters rescue BC student
Official says seat belt saved him from serious harm.
By Abigail Milton
West High School
Freshman Lorenzo Miranda, 19, a police science major at Bakersfield College, could have benefited from yesterday’s class on safe driving practices.
Unfortunately, on his way to class, he discovered how important safe driving practices are.
Around 8:50 a.m. yesterday, the brakes in Miranda’s old model Chevrolet Celebrity failed in the East Campus lot near the stadium.
Careening out of control, Miranda’s car hit a curb and flipped over, trapping him inside.
Firefighters from Station 8, directly across the street from the accident, arrived almost immediately, along with EMTs and personnel from the Bakersfield College Security Department.
Under the direction of Capt. Lance Bowman, firefighters utilized the Jaws of Life to cut away pieces of the wrecked automobile.
As they cut through the steel of Miranda’s car, EMTs worked to stabilize him with a neck brace and an IV drip.
Within 30 minutes, Miranda was free. EMTs placed him on a stretcher and moved him carefully to an ambulance, which took him to Kern Medical Center. There he is listed in fair condition, with minor lacerations and a possible broken leg.
According to Bowman, “He was extremely lucky. He escaped serious injury because he was wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash.”
Sgt. Jess Soto of the BC Security Department agreed, adding, “It was fortunate that Station 8 is right across the street. They knew exactly what to do to rescue him.”
According to BC spokesman Juan Gutierrez, an investigation by BC Campus Security and the Bakersfield Police Department is ongoing, but there is no evidence that either drugs or alcohol played a role in the accident.
FIRST PLACE – CRITICAL REVIEW
‘Osbournes’ combines crude language, humor
By Mark Mitchell
Bakersfield High School
What MTV needed was another witty animated series that would become a sensation, much like the vastly overrated “Beavis and Butt-head” venture. What they got was “The Osbournes.” For better and for worse.
Following the daily life of the family of famous rocker Ozzy Osbourne can be likened to being hit by a bus. This “reality sitcom” is crude, loud and unforgiving. Yet as much as I wanted to hate it, I found myself enjoying it.
By nature, we are always interested in the private lives of those who are idolized. In addition, Americans have become so sadistic that we revel in watching people essentially make fools of themselves for millions of viewers in TV land. Smash the two genres together and you have a recipe for success, ratings-wise.
And a hit MTV certainly has on their hands. Multiple events in the course of 30 minutes made viewers burst into laughter, including a dog throwing up.
I began to question why the producers would keep that in. But apparently nothing tickles the ivories like a good expulsion of food.
Two of the Osbournes’ three children participate in the action. Their oldest opted out. And rightly so. For as much “fun” as the series is, one must wonder if Osbourne’s career has really hit so low that he would opt to display his family life. Most celebrities would kill to keep their private lives private.
But Americans, we sure are sadistic little bastards, aren’t we? We feel like peeping Toms while watching the show, but that is supposed to be half the fun. Apparently nothing is sacred to “The Osbournes.”
And apparently, nothing is sacred to the American viewing public.
“The Osbournes” is a merely adequate show that hits all the right notes but still messes up the symphony. Audiences will continue to eat it up. But as for me, if I wanted to see a washed-up star make a fool of himself on television, I’d wait for an Alec Baldwin film to show up. At least I’ll know there are no dogs throwing up.
If the Osbournes (the family, not the show) aren’t embarrassed, I’m not worried. I think I’m embarrassed enough for all of them.
FIRST PLACE – FEATURE STORY
Lopez enjoys bringing his magic to others
By Kristen Wong
Bakersfield High School
“Call me,” Bakersfield’s own magical all-star Christopher Lopez grinned with youthful earnest. He began performing his tricks at age 3 and hasn’t stopped since. An alumnus of East High School, 19-year-old Lopez has traversed all over California, amazing crowds at venues such as Kernville, San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay.
Clad in a jean jacket and black garments, Lopez swipes aside any sense of affectation. Performing from his heart for 12 years, his sole motivation as a magician is “to give a sense of feeling when I perform on stage.” His intent to touch people became more vibrant when he showcased his famed “snow illusion” to the delight of an audience member who had not seen snow since she was a young girl.
“I can move someone by just doing a little piece from my life,” Lopez explained with an awkard shuffle and the flush of pride.
His first encounter with performing occurred when his older brother invited him to impress his co-workers at a company picnic. Lopez was 10.
Since then, Lopez has been honing his style and technique by gathering inspiration from movies, radio and the tricks of other magicians.
David Copperfield serves as Lopez’s role model who first excited him with the unconventionally sudden and magical appearance of beautiful girls. Lopez became smitten with magic.
When asked to comment on magician David Blaine, however, Lopez’s response was, “I don’t consider him a magician … the tricks he has I have at my house, too,” followed by a look of distaste.
Although he may have mastered Blaine’s tricks, Lopez still admits that he is a small-town artist.
“Dad runs sound (for my shows), and Mom is spectator,” Lopez said with reluctant charm.
A careful erudite in the magical tradition, Lopez sometimes fears that if he is not prepared, he will not succeed on stage.
“With a magician you have to be perfect everytime. … I always have a plan B, and a plan C, and a plan D,” Lopez said.
He has, at one point, however, had a mishap on stage, much to his chagrin.
“I’ve been laughed at, but I’ve never been booed,” he said.
His family is his biggest support group although he does report that his parents deemed him “weird” as a young child. He attributes this to an occasion in which he tied up his 9-year-old nephew, Lopez was 12 himself, and set the young relative on fire. Lopez had intended to extinguish the fire with a filled water balloon looming over the young boy. However, the balloon tragically bounced off the boy rather than rupturing, until the nephew was saved from the fire soon thereafter by a concerned Lopez.
Despite his failures, Lopez maintains an undeniable enthusiasm.
“I want to go around the world and show my talent,” he said.
His backup plan is to be an actor, or involved in some sort of entertainment field. However, there is no doubt that this young magician will not give up on his dream. “I want to make (my performance) beautiful.”
FIRST PLACE – EDITORIAL
Young voters need to voice their opinions
By Tammy Baker
Centennial High School
Many young people today between the ages of 18 and 24 don’t exercise their right to vote. Why? Don’t they know that by voting their voice will be heard and they will have a say in what our country does?
Many young people complain about our president and how they think the other politician should’ve won, but they didn’t vote! If young people today truly want their country to be run for them, then they must speak up to be heard.
To many, especially those under the age of 30, politics don’t play a big role in their life, mainly because they don’t want it to. Many people say that they’re too busy, or truly didn’t have enough information about the candidates. Make time! A person can’t complain about how their country is run if they don’t voice their opinions, and that’s right, by voting!
If young people started voting, they could really change the way this country is run. With about 26,110,000 voters, there’s definitely going to be some changing matters.
Kids out there should know that by voting, they’re standing up for themselves. It can improve matters they truly believe in. Voting shouldn’t be taken easily, however. If a person just votes to vote, they shouldn’t, unless they’re sure of who and what they’re voting for.
The nation’s youth should try to make a difference in local, state and national politics. They should want to be heard. By voting, they’re helping themselves and their country. That alone should make them vote, so they need to get registered, grab the pamphlets and voice their opinions.