SPOTLIGHT Page9 The Renegade Rip I www.therip.com Wednesday, February 16, 2011
"I heard a Cold play song. I think it was 'Clocks,' and that was the song that really inspired me to play, and I was like, 'I could play that .. "' BC professor -Salvador Vargas, BC student who plays piano in Fireside Room uses art to teach math By Ryan George Photographer
Bakersfield College matl1 professor Rafael Es pericueta teaches more tl1an just matl1. He experi ments with turning mathematics into an art form. RYAN GEORGE / THE RIP "There are techniques to literally make visible Rafael Espericueta explains an example the beauty of mathematics," Espericueta said. written out on a chalkboard to one of his Espericueta has been teaching at BC for 23 elementary algebra classes inside the Math years. He graduated from UC Irvine with a bach and Science Building on J an. 31. elor's degree in Math in 1979, and later earned a master's. He then worked at UCI after graduating, tions. The first, titled the "Mandelbrot set," "has spending four years as the senior programmer in tl1e remarkable property that distorted copies of their Brain-Imaging Lab. He also practices Zen, the whole appear at aU levels of magnification" as an ancient practice of meditation and took a trip to stated in Epericueta's essay. New Zealand's Hamilton Botanical Gardens "Zen Espericueta says that he makes his fractal art by Garden." writing his own software programs using a combi Espericueta designs his own art using fractals, nation of photos and Photoshop for interesting and which he says stems from "transitioning math unusual effects. ematics into visual forms. [My personal interest for Espericueta states "the whole universe operates fractal art] came out of frustration of only talking to in much the same way [as fractals], where the 'sim mathematicians about math." ple algebraic formulas' are the laws of physics." A mathematician named Benoit Mandelbrot Espericueta also says tl1at the universe is never originally conveyed fractal art. In 1979 he used ending, "so it's perhaps not so surprising that we pictures to illustrate complex mathematic equa- find ourselves living in a giant fractal."
PHOTOS BY GREGORY D. COOK / THE RIP Bakersfield College student Salvador Vargas plays the piano inside the BC Campus Center Fireside Room on Feb. 10. Vargas learns the music he plays by ear.
Musician MARTIN CHANG / TIIE RIP Will Yablum, a member of "The Movement" promotes his brand of "positive hip-hop" to a fellow Bakersfield College student Feb. 8. hopes to Producer braves the music scene By Kevin Foster moter." Yablum said. Reporter Nutzo said, "Will is my promoter because I see potential in him and he has the potential to do any Will Yablum is much more then just a Bakers tlli.ng he wants. He has a few career opportu,li.ties, field CoIJege student. but he needs to find them." achieve Yablum is a promoter for a local rapper named Nutzo doesn't only rap around Califonli.a. He Chris Clark, who goes by his stage name Nutzo. also works at Foothill High School teaching second Nutzo is the founder of a group called "The language learners how to speak English. Movement". "I like that job because most of the teachers "It's called 'The Movement' because we are try won't take time out of their day to actually teach ing to change the outlook of rap and hip-hip music. the Hispanics and other second language learners dreams Nutzo doesn't rap about cars and money. Nutzo how to speak English. Someone has to do it." raps about his life and stuff he lives through." Yab By Brian N. Willhite gigs - out of state - whatever - I would go with Both Yablum and Nutzo have some pretty !ugh lum explained. Reporter him and help him out and, little-by-little, I just hopes about themselves and "The Movement." "I started 'The Movement' instead of signing started soaking up his knowledge and he would "I see myself already on the top in 5-10 years with a record label because the rap game nowadays Passing through the corridor from Campus Cen teach me a couple of tilings, too, but not too much. from now." Nutzo said. is full of producers looking for aheady made prod ter to the Free Speech area at Bakersfield College, He didn't want to force me to play. He wanted me Nutzo wants to be like Dr. Dre and find someone ucts. I want to start my own company and become you may hear someone playing a catchy, faithful to do whatever I wanted," he said, thankful of his himself. a ready-made product." Nutzo said. rendition of a popular song on the piano in the father's tutelage in his youth. 'Tm not here to sign rappers to 'The Movement.' Yablum was going from foster home to foster Fireside Room. That someone is a student named "I tllink back when I was a kid and all that time I am my own person and I will find someone my home when he came across Nutzo. Salvador Vargas, an aspiring musician looking for seeing my dad play, and seeing him perform, see self." Nutzo said. "He was working at foster care and I was on pro a way to incorporate music as the cornerstone in him practice - it helped me out. I know how he For people who want to find out where Nutzo is bation. We became friends and now I'm his pro- his life. plays. I didn't have to go on YouTube or nothing playing, contact Will Yablum. Growing up in a home filled with music and tal like that; it was just right there in front of me." ent, Vargas learned early on in life that music was His father owned a music store a couple of something he was interested in, though it wasn't years ago. Vargas would often go in to help out until late in his teen years that he truly grasped but found that he got bored standing around in how important music is to him - it's everything. the store and so, to pass the time, he would sit at So, for the last two years, he has dedicated him the piano and try to play songs he heard playing self to learning how to play the piano and finding on tl1e radio. his place in the music industry. "I heard a Coldplay song. I think it was 'Clocks,' One of the challenges Vargas faces is that he and that was tl1e song tl1at really inspired me to currently doesn't read sheet music. Everything he play and I was like, 'I could play that."' He then plays he learns by ear, picking out the chord pro went home and downloaded the song and began Complete Your Degree or Credential gressions and filling in the rest of the music from learning to play it by listening to it aU night long, there based on what he hears, or wants to hear in figuring out the chord structure and dynamics of • Business Administration • Multiple Subject or Single Subject the songs. the piece. • Organizational Management·~ Teaching Credential "I know the basics. I know chords and scales "Every song that I liked I tried to figure out or but if you put a simple, easy song in front of me make my own stuff up and play aU day basically, • Public Administration·~ • Liberal Studies (Teacher Preparation)'~'-' to read, I probably can't do it. The reason why, I or whenever I could, and I've been playing ever • Health Administration **also al)(li/ah/e i11 Delano & left hcatw11s think, is because I'm so used to playing my way since," he said. - which is free - and sheet music just kind of tells Though music was a big part of his fatl1er's life, * also auoilable 011/i11e you what to play," said Vargas. He admits, how he has encouraged Vargas to pursue other career ever, that it would be beneficial for him to learn fields in order to obtain a steady job that isn't as to sight read, even though he has a tough time do unpredictable as the music industry. Because of ing it. this, Vargas is currently seeking a degree in archi Join us for an Information Session "I even took the keyboard class [at BC] but I tectUJe since he also has a passion for drawing, Saturday, February 19, 2011 at 10:00 am couldn't do it, I had to withdraw. I don't want to but says that his main interest is still music and he say it was too easy, but for me, it was like going would like to pursue that option if he can find the sn-GO-TO-ULV I [email protected] backward and I wasn't learning anything new," he right opportunity to present itself. said. "I'm going to go for music. My dad might not www.laverne.edu Part of what inspired Vargas in his youth to encourage me to do tl1at, but I'm going to do it pursue music was his father. He was traveling because that's what I like. I can't express it but musician who showed Vargas the joys of music that's just me and I'm not going to change. If I Kern County Campus tlu·ough his own passion for it. fail, then 'oh well,' I guess I tried - I'm going to 1201 24th Street, Suite D-200, Bakersfield, CA 93301 "I would go with him everywhere when he had try and I'm not going to stop." SPORTS Page 10 The Ren egade Rip I www.th erip.com Wednesday, February 16, 2011 BC women start their year strong
By Kevin Foster "After watching Jessica throw Reporter the first game I just went out there and hoped I could be as There was a pitching duel on good as her," CatTender said. "I display at Bakersfield College on guess her and I were just in the Feb. 12 bet.ween Jessica Simpson zone." and Annissa Carrender. Carrender started off rocky The thing about that is they just like Simpson. Two of the play on the same team. first three batters reached base Simpson started the day off and after those only two more with a complete game three hit ballers from El Camino got on ter and retired 10 straight bat base for the rest of the game. ters twice in the first game of a Catcher Kara Frankhouser and double header as BC (5-2) swept Centerfielder Kaitlin 'Ioemer visiting El Camino (2-6). both had three hits in the second Simpson allowed three of the game for the Renegades. First first four batters she faced on baseman Brandi Church went base and after a meeting at the 3-4 with two doubles with three mound something seemed to runs-batted-in on the day. change. "I think it helped us that I.El "[My teammates] reminded Camino] threw the same pitcher JOECOTA /THE RIP me what happened on the road to st.art both games so the second Jessica Simpson, starting pitcher for the Bakersfield College softbalJ team, throws a pitch during Saturday's double when a lot of hits were hit off me game we knew what she was header game against El Camino College. and I didn't want a repeat of that, likely to throw because we talked so I just did my best to buckle in the dugout." Toerner said. run on both of Messer's walk off Ayler jokingly said that she a two run double to go up 4-3. Renegades in the past week. down," Simpson said. The sweep brings the Ren hits. dropped the ball on purpose so Only for Ayler and Messer to They lost the 6rst game of the Simpson retired 20 of the next egades home record to 4-0. The The first walk off almost didn't she could tum ai·ound and be a win the game again. season on Feb. 8 to Fresno City 21 batters. other two wins came against San happen. In the top of the seventh hero at the end. "It was like deja vu, it was College (7-2) and two days later Carrender followed that per Diego City College on Feb. 4 in inning the Knights tied it up after The end of the second game kind of weird, but if I saw my lost on a walk off home rnn to formance with a complete game a double header. Ayler dropped an infield fly ball also included a Knights come pitch I was going to swing no College of Sequoias. three hitter of her own, and at Brittney Messer ended both that kept the inning alive only back in the top of the seventh. matter what." Messer said about The next home game for the one point retired 12 batters in a games with a walk off single and to be the game-winning rnn the Ashley Whitmore, who hit a the second walk off. Renegades will be against Ox row and had five strikeouts. Danielle Ayler was the winning next inning. home run in the 6rst game, hit It hasn't all been great for the nard on Feb. 22. BHS star on his way Former Renegade Banks stabbed
Washington Redskins wide CoUege of the Canyons 86-79, Tennis league and play tough teams to quarterback for BC receiver Brandon Banks, a Ba and most recently at L.A. Valley In seven days, Bakersfield eve1y match, then a league with kersfield College alumnus, was 81-67. College's men's tennis team has patsies," says Slaybaugh, "be stabbed dming an altercation The Renegades l 0-15 overall played three games, and the sea cause that doesn't make the kids By Zak S. Cowan of wo1:k ethic of the guys that earl y Saturday morning. (4-6 in Western State Conference son is off to a perfect stait. BC better." Sports Editor came in last yeai·.' Banks is cun-ently in a D.C. Southern Division) were led by remains undefeated as they start "Ninety percent of them hospital and is expected to be out Cooper Damron with 21 points. ed the season playing teams that Track and Field Bakersfield College's foot played when those guys were soon. Damron is averaging 11.7 Coach Rob Slaybaugh called The Bakersfield College men ba lJ program is going through seniors, so they understand that "He's recovering well , there's points per game. The Renegades "top ranked teams in the nonh." and women's t1-ack and 6eld a regular transition phase, and they have big shoes to fill" no damage and no residual ef second leading scorer is Stevie BC played their first game team is well into its season, and 2011 's team will st.art to take Chudy is intent on making fects, so it looks like he's going Howard at 10.2 points per game. against Fresno City College on has competed in three meets so its shape over the next few sure that there is competition to make a full recove1y and be Feb. 3, and although the team fai·. months. at every position, and the local just fine," Banks' agent James lost the 6rst three singles match BC will host College of the Head coach Jeff Chudy is in athlete pool is at the center of Gould said in a phone interview es, they won their last three Sequoias and College of the lligued by the potential of the his attention. with the Washington Post. singles matches and two out of Canyons on Friday Feb. 18 at 1 incoming class of freshman, The other thing Chudy and Banks finished his rookie sea three doubles matches. After the p.m. and is working hard to make his staff ai·e focused on is the son with rough start to the game, BC won Head coach Dave Frickel is sure that the process for local turnover from a freshman 1,155 re the match 5-4. working on the team's progres athletes to register at BC goes SPORTS heavy team to a sophomore t urnin g Two days later, BC played Si sion. smooth for both parties. deep team, and making sure ROUND UP yards and en-a College, and the exact same "We're getting better, people Brian BmTell, a senior quar that the sophomores departing one touch- lineup brought the team another are improving on marks, and terback at Bakersfield High have success after BC. down. win, this time with a 6-3 victory. getting in better shape," Frickel School, is expected to be at BC "In a perfect world you'd Slaybaugh changed the team's said. next semester. have more balance, but last Women's basketball lineup on Feb 10 for the game Sophomore Robby HatTis Bunell threw for over 1,500 year we had even more of a Paula Dahl, the head coach of against College of the Sequoias, likes the way him and his team yards with 17 touchdowns and freshman-dominated team than the women's basketball team, a team he calls "not as talented", has staited off. two interceptions, and rushed most years," Chudy said. "So has taken a leave of absence for and BC defeated COS 8-1. "We're looking pretty good, for 853 yai·ds and 13 touch we didn't have as many sopho the remainder of the season. In one week, the team goes we have a lot of guys that ai·e up downs during his senior season mores leaving this year as we "I lost my father unexpectedly GREGORY D. COOK /TH.ERlP up against Ventura, who won the to par in talent. atBHS. did the yeai· previous." on Saturday afternoon. He was Paula Dahl coachs her state last yeai·, and is always a "I ex peel. for us to have more Burrell and his team also de The national signing day, a a wonderful man and I loved "solid team" says Slaybaugh. people in state than we did last feated Centennial quarterback day when student. athletes sign team during a game against him very much," Dahl said in Citrus College on Jan. 29. "I'd rather play in a tough year." and USC commit Cody Kessler letters of intent to various Di an e-mail to her health students. in the Centt·al Section Division vision 1 schools, took place on "Throughout. my Ufe I have 1 semi final 37-20 last Decem Feb. 2. followed in his footsteps and ber. Bun-ell was responsible for Of alJ the sophomores part lea.med much of my teaching Ready to become a five total touchdowns and near ing from BC, seven players method from him." ly 400 yai·ds in that game. have signed with Division 1 Amanda Cady, a freshman "I don't like to single any schools since national sign guard, is confident in her and her Registered Nurse? body out ... but we're excited ing day, with kicker Josh Gal team to play well and win out the with the group of high school lington expected to become season. seniors right now," said Chudy. the eighth when he signs with "I think it actually makes us "We had the BHS guys up last Northern Illinois. play harder," Cady said. "Well, week and we feel really good "We've got to get our guys we've had other deaths on our San Joaquin Valley College has an about the group of local t.alent. out of here," Chudy said of team happen and it brings us exciting program to help you prepare "We've had quite a few players moving up. more together." schools come up and visit the "It's a work in progress, to become a registered nurse. campus," said Chudy. "In the [Gallington] didn't sign on the Men's Basketball good ol' days . . . the counsel signing day for four-year col With playoffs out of the picture Earn your A.S. Degree in just four 20-week terms! ing depaitment was able to go leges, but yet he's going to be for the Bakersfield College men's down to the campuses and dial signing a letter of intent prob basketball team, the remaining in all the high sch ool seniors. ably next week. five games on the schedule could Program Benefits: So, we're having to do a lot of "So [the sophomores] will be used for the experience. • Guaranteed class schedule that on our own. still be being placed tlu·oughout The team not only is using it • All nursing courses completed in four 20-week terms "We're fortunate that we've the sp1ing, so our goal is to get for the experience, but also has • Graduates earn their A.S. Degree and are eligible to take got somebody like I.Elizabeth every guy that. is a sophomore stretched the first three games the NCLEX-RN exam for licensure Ochoa, the educational adviser that has to continue playing a into a three game win stt·eak af for the athletics department], spot somewhere." ter defeating West L.A. 83-81, who does a great job working with the high school senior stu dent athletes." More than 60 percent of last TUTOR yeai·'s team was freshman, and ~SJJ!__C that team made the playoffs on ~ A P RIVATE JUNIOR COLLEGE an 8-2 record only to lose to Mt. San Antonio College in the English & Accounting first round. "[The incoming freshman] have some big shoes to 611 with John: 319-9480 the class that came in before them," he said. "We've told them that ' hey, hopefully you BC and UCLA grad guys will have the same kind Visalia Campus 8400 W. Mineral King SPORTS Page 11 The Renegad e Rip I www.tberip.com Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Column Baseball impresses after opening Keep the By Julian Moore season." Opinions Editor Painton also spoke about freshman Philip Valos, who The Bakersfield College pitched four innings of relief in baseball team opened the sea local kids the game. son with a 4-3 record with its "He's a young man that Open Mike I A column on the most recent win, coming against should have great command of everyday happenings in sports. Golden West College, 10-4. The pitches and he didn't show that game was a part of the College the first weekend. He walked The Bakersfield College of Sequoias tournament that be people, got behind in counts. men's basketball team has had gan Feb. 10. but against Golden West, he was an up-and-down season this year, Golden West led the game able to come in and throw score with a lot more downs than ups. earl y, but the Renegades got less innings of relief and didn't Over the years, head coach Rich their offense going in the middle walk anybody. And that was a Hughes has put together five of of the game as they scored seven major step for him and us be BC's best seasons with consecu runs tlu·oughout the rest of the cause that's what he's going to tive trips to the regional playoffs. game giving them a comfortable be expected to do." But those numbers and past sea lead. Sophomore Riley Showers The Renegades previously sons don't had three RBI in the game on lost two-of-three games to mean any just two hits. David Pennington Marin, 6-5, and Allan Hancock thing this also brought a home run for the 4-3, and picked up the shutout year. Renegades. win against Hartnell, 6-0. Hughes "This past weekend, we had Before those games. BC went and the three of our sophomore players 2-L losing by 1.3 during the Renegades really step up and carry a big opening game of their home have strug load. Riley Showers had an out tournament. The Renegades gled might- standing weekend. He's some bounced back in the final two ily, with Michael Morrow body we look to. He's been here of the home stand against Gold size and and has some experience," said en West 4-2 and then held off lack of defensive intensity being head coach Tim Painton. Moorpark 12- 11. Painton talked just two of the many problems . .. David Pennington is play about the home tournament. Along with those problems. ing with injuries. He's not even ··r think we were extremely come the recruiting issues playing defense right now, but nervous opening night for what that are unique to Bakersfield. offensively he's been able to hit ever reason. We have a lot of Whether it's at the Division 1 from tl1e DH spot where he's new players in the program, first level at CSUB or at the JC level provided the offense," Painton night out at home and we didn 't here at BC, it's hard to keep the continued. "He has a leg prob perform. We didn't do anything talent in town - in tow11. lem that's been kind of nagging. well," he said. "Your goal going The players available follow a He played through it at times into a season is to get better each GREGORY D. COOK I THE RlP certain mold: opening weekend, he's being time you play and we're on that "Player I" is a Dl prospect treated for it. So what we 're able Bakersfield College second baseman Daniel Rueger tags out Rustler shortstop Eric path. I think we've gotten better player from a Kern County High to get out of him are about three Gonzalez at BC on Feb. 13. each time we've gone out. We School within the pa5t couple of at-bats a game. then we have are continuing to do more and the freshmen have had good from there." Painton said ...By do with pitching staffs just being years. Just about all of them left to pinch-run for him late in the more things well in each ball days and bad days and that's that game, I think fatigue had run down by the third game in town to play for "the big boys." game if it's close. game. I think opening night was going to happen at this level. something to do with it, espe the three days. Taking their talents to schools ·'He's the one player we have more about jitters and nerves Moorpark swung the bat ex cially for us at home. You host "We were fottunate to end like USC and UCLA down south that played every day last year than it was anything else." tremely well and we knew going a tournament; our guys are out up on the good end of a 12-11 and other Pac-10-12 schools up and has been through it so we're Painton mentioned how the into the game they had a pretty there au day. game." no1th. generally. hoping to get him healthy this Renegades let Moorpark back good offense team and again "You 're there 14-15 hours a Up next for the Renegades is Then you have "Player 2" week. into the game. your goal is to outscore your op day and then you get on the field another home tournament be whose academic records are '·But those guys got going "There were some walks in ponent and that's what we did so to play. ginning on Feb. 17 starting with suspect, but their athletic po a bit in the second week of the there, a couple errors. Some of we'll take the win and move on "But it also has something to Reedley. tential and upside is so great, that D 1 schools, such as Fresno State and others - generally out of state - like Utah, Utah State, Boise State, Nevada, and the rest BC students and teachers react to Packers' Super Bowl win of the WAC and Mountain West Conferences steal away. By Esteban Ramirez was a bad Super Bowl, it was lost and said her favorite part they couldn't pul I it off." was that it was good because it And last, but certainly not Reporter garbage." He explained that he was seeing two teams with so Gieser also liked the play lived up to his expectations. He least, is ·'Player 3" who, would hated that the game started off much on the line but yet were when Aaron Rodgers threw the said his favo1i te part was that nicely fill out a roster spot, on After every Super Bowl, peo slowly, but thought that the best respectful to each other. first touchdown pass to Jordy every time the Packers tried to a D 1 school's roster. but is usu ple usually have different reac part was when Pittsburgh started She also said she liked the Nelson. pull away, the Steelers answered all y immature, has way too many tions to it. to lose. commercials, especially the ··1 liked the commercials but back. academic disturbances, and has This could be because they Kylan also said he enjoyed Doritos and Pepsi commercials. I didn't thjnk the halftime show Bohan said that the halftime way too many personal issues didn't like the game, the half the Doritos commercials. and Marin was happy to see that was good," Gieser said. "Even show and commercials were and or kids to count. time show, commercials, or theiJ was satisfied with the end result both teams played well. though I'm a Vikings fan I was OK, but his favorite commercial At BC. Hughes tries to get favorite team lost. because he wanted Pitts burgh to BC student Luke Gieser said. happy with the end results be was the Darth Vader car com player three and turn him around This year was no different lose. ·'it was the best Super Bowl I've cause for this day I was rooting mercial. When asked if he was and get him back on the right when the Green Bay Packers Juliana Marin, a BC student, seen in about five years." His for the Packers." satisfied with the end result he track as the player helps rack up beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 31- said, '"it was a good game, the favorite part was that it was in Tim Bohan has been an Aca said, .. although I wasn't rooting Ille wins for the Renegades. 25. coaches and players were re tense because it looked like the demic Development professor at for a team, I was happy to see The problem is Hughes isn 't Kylan Love, 23, a Bakers spectful to one another." Steelers were going to come BC for 15 years. that it ended up being a good getting those guys anymore. For tield College student said. ''it Marin hated that the Steelers back and win it but at the end Bohan 's reaction to the game game." years, Hughes has made it his business to get guys to commit to his program and for years it was going a lot smoother than it has in the past two years. I've been to a fair share of high school basketball games this year and have seen Hughes out on the recruiting trajl several times. So it's not a matter of hours put in. The problem is more that lo cal players aren 't staying home. But why? People tlu·ow out the fact that sometimes kids just want to get out of the town they grew up in. A11other common reason is the lack of exposure kids feel they get here. Here's a thought to local high school players: Maybe help build on to a team 's history and prestige. Add to the tradition of players who played two solid years at BC and transferred out to a four-year school. As far as exposw·e goes, the same way you were recruited by fou r-year schools will be the same way you can be looked at when you transfer out or at the next level. Scouts will find you. lt's what they're paid to do. Another benefit of staying home is that you get a closely knit community behind you, and if players help build a stron ger tradition with a program, the community will continue to show support. PROGRAMS With football. CSUB doesn't da"# have a program so BC maintains OFFERED 1. 7 a level of quality players, but still I really applaud kids like Bakers field High 's quarterback Brian Burrell for turning down several offers D 1 four-year schools and fresno.edu deciding to come to BC and fur ther his education and develop Main Fresno Campus - 559-453-2039 his talent under good coaches Bakersfield Center- 661-617-3217 like Jeff Chudy and Carl Dean. FRESNO PACIFIC Visalia Center - 559-622-9958 I just wish there were more UNIVERSITY North Fresno Center - 559-453-3440 athletes in sports like basketball that made a commitment to play at home. SPORTS Page 12 The Renegade Rip I www.therip.com Wednesday, February 16, 2011 Athlete, ex-marine returns to BC
By Michael Morrow don't know how these guys do it.' whal he
SGA Elections THE SKY IS THE LIMIT!
Candidate Forums March 1, 11 :30 in The Fireside Room March 2, 5:00 in the Campus Center March 3, 5:00 at Delano in DST 102 Election days Why Follow When March 8 - 9 Vote online at: You Can Lead? http:// eba 11 ot4. vote net. com/bfc Detailed information available in Vote and be entered in a drawing for the Student Activities office {CC-4) an iPad or one of 4 iPod Shuffles. or call (661) 395-4567