CAMPUS TIMES MARCH 31, 2006 SERVING THE UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE COMMUNITY SINCE 1919 VOL. 114, NO. 19 Panelists advocate Exploring nature’s wonders for peace Laura Bucio Assistant Editor A panel of renowned peacemakers brought the effects of war home by shar- ing their ideas and experi- ences in an effort to encourage people to fight for peace. Almost 100 people gath- ered at La Fetra Auditorium on March 23 for the peace forum, “Practicing Nonvio- lence Amidst War and Conflict.” “This is a way to honor and bring attention to people who have spent their lives trying to bring people together,” said Tripp Mikich, coordinator of the event. The forum included several keynote speakers including Mark Manning, Sarah Holewinski, Dr. Waquar Al- Kubaisy, Le Ly Hayslip, Michael Nagler, and Claude Anshin Thomas. The audience sat in silence as filmmaker Mark Manning introduced the short film, “Caught in the Crossfire: The Untold Story of Falluja.” Lindsey Gooding Gasps filled the air as Tatyana Kennedy, 3, enjoys blowing bubbles at the seventh annual dren participated in various activities, in an effort to teach children images flashed across the Gardenfest, hosted by La Verne Parks and Community Services how plants grow. The event was held at the Hillcrest Homes screen. The audience covered Department and the Hillcrest Homes community. Parents and chil- Saturday morning. their mouths in shock as and watched intently as they grew as he toured the children the plots, reminding the senior women and children ran in disappeared in the air. around the garden plots. David citizens of the citrus groves that panic as explosions destroyed Gardenfest “She loved planting the Stroup displayed his garden of once inhabited the Hillcrest their homes. flower but I think her favorite cabbage, broccoli, turnips, cau- property. Several members from “This is one of the few sparks fun, was the bubbles,” said Sherri liflower, peppers, snap peas, the Foothill Vineyard Church times you show a film and Toy, who attended the event green onions and tomatoes. volunteered at the Gardenfest. there is no applause after it,” with her daughter Lydia for the The garden tour was five- “We just called the city and Mikich said. learning first time. year-old Eloise Tapia’s favorite said, ‘We want to volunteer. Falluja was a town with a Face painting was a major attraction. What do you have for us to civilian population of approx- Yelena Ovcharenko attraction as well. Children “There were pretty fruits and do?’”said Debra Walters, imately 250,000. The town Web Editor waited impatiently in line to get vegetables,” Tapia said. “I rec- Foothill Vineyard Church vol- was destroyed Feb. 8, 2004, long-desired intricate designs ognized the strawberries. I saw unteer. when it was attacked by the In partnership with the La painted on their cheeks. a little red on them.” After finishing Rick Warren's United States. Thousands of Verne Parks and Community At the Orchard Supply Court Coleman and his gar- book, “The Purpose Driven people were forced to flee Services Department, Hillcrest’s Hardware booth, children plant- den of 50 roses, narcissus, pop- Life,” the church is completing their town, leaving behind senior citizens hosted Garden- ed Marigolds and other flowers pies and other flowers greeted 40 days of community service. their homes and, in some fest an intergenerational event in flowerpots. the children and their parents “We want to reach out to cases, their family. on Saturday morning at “I liked planting little flow- during the garden tour. Crushed people with love,” said Claire “It was a town of people; of Hillcrest Homes. ers,” said younger attendant chili pepper was sprinkled on LaCombe, a volunteer from children,” Manning said. Children blew bubbles, deco- Yasmine Farah. the ground to keep raccoons Foothill Vineyard Church. “They were told to leave or to rated the sidewalk with chalk, Children designed Easter from digging up the flowers. Mudshack and Orchard die.” toured the gardens and planted cards and etched in moldable “The only way I could keep Supply Hardware were major Al-Kubaisy recipient of the flowers at the seventh annual ceramic pieces, to be later baked raccoons from digging up plants sponsors of the event. Courage award by the Global Gardenfest as an Easter bunny and given back to the children. was with red peppers,” Coleman Yelena Ovcharenko can be Village Foundation at the pranced around and paused for Teenagers added their burst of said. reached at yovcharenko@ 2006 Bridge of Peace Awards snapshots. energy to the event as well. A lemon tree grows in one of ulv.edu. has distributed donations to Gardenfest was an opportu- “I like to see all the families several towns in Iraq, includ- nity for children to have a first come together and have fun,” INSIDE TODAY’S CAMPUS TIMES ing Falluja, and encouraged lesson in botany. said Steven Barros, a high peace by sharing how she too Commencement planning changes “These days, who has time school volunteer from was forced to leave her home. give students headache . .Page 2 for gardening?” said Carla Redlands. “We can never promote our Bold, noticeable make-up paints Sullivan, the event coordinator. During the garden tours, life without the feeling of “This teaches the kids where Hillcrest residents showcased trendy faces . .Page 8 peace,” Al-Kubaisy said. “In plants come from, besides their garden plots and gave chil- Musical talent pours on audience our country we have no peace Vons.” dren a crash course in garden- at all.” with “Raining Jane” . .Page 11 The bubble booth was one of ing. Al-Kubaisy was a profes- ULV shows up competition at the main attractions. Children Merrel Waysack identified Continued on page 2 home invitational . .Page 14 enthusiastically blew bubbles plants and explained how they Page 2 NEWS March 31, 2006 Commencement decision debated Following January’s com- Friday, May 26, is the new upset because their families will “How dare they not include us Divided mencement, Montaño-Cordova graduation date for Arts and have to change hotel and flight in the process.” changed the date and decided to Sciences students, and Business plans. But on top of that, seniors “We got more than 160 sig- separate the ceremonies. and Public Management, while feel disrespected because they natures, and the petition was ceremonies “The reality is right now College of Education students were not involved in the plan- submitted to Ruby,” Fatima there is no way to reconsider,” will still graduate on Saturday. ning. said. “She didn’t change the irk seniors said Montaño-Cordova. “In this “We don’t know until “No students were present program, but she’s allowing stu- situation, I had to make the deci- February how many students we for commencement planning,” dents to change ceremonies.” sion based on my experience.” have graduating, so I was unable said Rida Fatima, vice president E-mails were sent to 203 “I didn’t even go to the com- to notify the students earlier,” of Associated Students of the graduates from the colleges of Eric Iberri mencement committee,” she Montaño-Cordova said. University of La Verne. business and education. Assistant Editor Graduates were offered the ‘Our opinions don’t matter. This is the biggest let down. This chance to change to the Friday University of La Verne sen- school never seems to fail me on the bureaucratic, political ceremony to graduate with their iors are upset about scheduling friends who might be in that cer- changes made to this year’s stuff they try to pull.’ emony. commencement. Ruby Mon- —Adrianna Gardner, senior creative writing major Montaño-Cordova is hoping taño-Cordova, associate dean of that this will ease students’ con- student affairs, made these added. Last week, mass e-mails “To make this split without cerns, but some feel that the changes without consulting or She said that things could went out to notify students. consulting the graduating class administration does not value notifying the graduating class. have been worse if the commit- “I found out last week or the is an insult,” said Adrianna them. Saturday, May 27, was set to tee had been consulted but was week before,” said Glennda Gardner, senior creative writing “Our opinions don’t matter. be the graduation date for sen- unable to come to an agreement. Bivens, a senior liberal arts major. “It speaks volumes.” This is the biggest let down,” iors in the Colleges of Arts & Graduates could have been major. “My family already Bivens took the issue to Gardner said. “This school Sciences, Business and Public waiting until April to hear about made arrangements to come out ASULV. never seems to fail me on the Management and Education and changes made to their com- for graduation on the 27th.” “I pushed for them to get a bureaucratic, political stuff they Organizational Leadership. mencement. Many graduating seniors are petition going,” Bivens said. Continued on page10 Panelists... Continued from page 1 sor at The Medical University in Iraq and was forced to leave her country after her home was raid- ed and her husband was kid- napped. Her husband returned home injured, but alive. Since then Al- Kubaisy has traveled all over the world campaigning for peace. “I don’t think there is a word much nicer and more beautiful than peace,” Al-Kubaisy said. Holewinski, who is the exec- utive director of the campaign for Civilian Victims in Conflict, also shared her experiences in her recent trip to Iraq and told stories of families whose lives were destroyed as a result of the war. “It’s something we don’t nec- essarily get here from watching CNN,” Holewinski said.