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RamPageVictor Valley CollegeProps from page 1most retailers.Another recently approvedproposition, Prop 56, whichadds 2 to the current 87 cents-a-pack state tax on cigarettes,will also heavily tax the previously untaxed electronic cigarettes. The now voter approved tax will go into effecton April 1, 2017. Californiavoters have not approved raising cigarette taxes since 1998.The state ranks 37th in thecountry on per-pack taxes,Newsaccording to Campaign forTobacco-Free Kids, an advocacy group that estimates thatevery 10 percent increase incigarette prices can lead to asmuch as a 5 percent decline incigarette consumption.The most controversialapproved initiative on the ballot is Prop 64, which legalizesthe recreational use of marijuana for adults over21 years of age.However,beforelighting up a joint tocelebrate, there aresome things to beaware of. What isnow legal under Prop64 is: an individualcan now consumemarijuana at home.An individual can carry, giveaway, or accept free of chargeup to an ounce of flowers orup to 8 grams of concentratedcannabis. An individual isDecember 7, 2016 Page 3allowed to growup to six pot plantsperhome,providedtheplants are out ofpublic view andlocked.Anindividual can alsopetition to havecriminal records orjailsentenceschanged, with some anors or infractionsmade legal.What remains illegal underProp 64 is: smoking weed onthe street or in a bar, sincepublic consumption is banned.For now, buying or sellingrecreational cannabis is stillprohibited as licensed shopswill not open for another year.Anyone who does not have adoctor’s recommendation andwants to get cannabis legallyneeds to either wait until theirhomegrown supply is ready, orget an ounce (or less) for freefrom another adult. Consuming in a vehicle or getting highand driving is also prohibited.Drugged driving laws stillapply and, as with alcohol, it isnot legal to have an open container of pot in a car. Going towork high is also prohibited.Employers can still enforcetheir own drug policies, including firing workers whotest positive for weed.The Voices of VVCBy Lorena LemosReporterThe Victor Valley Community College speech contest, sponsored by the Communication Studies Department and ASB department,took place on Thursday, December 1st. A crowd of approximately 70 people, including faculty/staff, students, andfamily members gathered inthe Student Activities Centerto hear what thirteen studentshad to say about their educational journey at VVC.The speeches varied intopics. They ranged from educational programs that madean impact on them, to theirfavorite professor who gavethem a new insight on theireducational careers. All of thespeakers showed an applaudeble amount of confidence anddictation considering the setting had noticeable ambientnoise throughout the duration(Picture of all 13 participants)of the contest.Although the speecheswere comprised of the sametopics, all of the speeches wereunique. For example, JennKurcz, a student preparing tograduate from VVC, shapedher entire speech around fire.She used her experience ofbeing a fire tech student to heradvantage by comparing herdrive for a successful education, to fuel needed to light afire. She spoke, “I will neverrun out of fuel here at VictorValley College,” personifyinghow dedicated she is to learning.Another student, LeslieLeach spoke about how VVChelped her find the strength toovercome domestic abuse.“My education was worth almost dying for,” were the lastwords of her speech that left aroom full of people sympathizing with tears in their eyes.Even though all of the speeches met the required criteria,only one person could win thegrand prize. After the lastspeech was given from Courtney LeMay, the judges sittingin the back of the room scurried to tally up their scores andselect the winner.Accordingtothescoresheet, the speeches werejudged based on: deliverystyle, eye contact, vocal clarity, effectiveness of messageand audience engagement. Thescores for each categoryranged from 1-poor to 5excellent. Furthermore, thejudges were also looking tomake sure the students stayedContinued on page 4.

RamPageVictor Valley CollegeFeaturesDecember 7, 2016 Page 4Voices from page 3By Diallo “Markus” KahinReporterAmerican Sign Languageis one of the three foreign language options currently available to VVC students. Coursesinclude ASL 1-4, Fingerspelling, and Introduction toInterpreting. Returning to theVVC campus is ASL Club.Rhiannon Aragues, professor,and co-advisor to the ASLClub said, ‘classes have steadily increased in popularityover time.” When studentswere asked about what foreignlanguage they would most beinterested in taking, almost allmentioned ASL as a topchoice. As of now there areonly two ASL professors atVVC, the aforementioned professor Aragues, and professorDeborah Chesser. While landing a roster spot in of theseclasses may be increasing indifficulty, ASL Club would behappy to have you. ASL ClubVicePresidentShanellePishchanetskiy said “We wantthe ASL Club to grow andreally show everyone whatAmerican Sign Language iscapable of. Even if a person isinterested in learning the simplest sign, they are interested.”The most intriguing of theclubs new ideas is the “BabySteps Program” designed toencourage anyone who wantsto learn sign to meet with anASL student and members ofdeaf groups on campus.The club is fairly new andwhile their goals are vast andnot rigidly mapped out, theoverall goal is to get morestudents to engage and learnabout the Deaf Community,while also respecting thatcommunities privacy andwishes. When speaking withthose associated with ASLClub you get the feeling thatknow one is trying to appropriate an already rich and spirited culture. They simply hopeto work with and maybe teamup with associations like TheHigh Desert Association OfThe Deaf. This is a club thathopes to stay and make a lasting impact at VVC. Accordingto Shanelle, “There’s muchmore we want to achieve as agroup and we look forward toto being able to continue ourprojects in the years to come.”Get Moving During The HolidaysBy Randi DominguezReporterStaying fit is usually foundto be the hardest during thewinter. Although it is a normalthing to gain weight during themonths of November and December, you do not have tofall into the holiday weightcurse. Finding the motivationto stay on track and controlyour eating is the key to allowing your jeans to button, without sucking it in, when theNew Year starts.The holidays are for gettingtogether with loved ones andenjoying everyone’s company,but the problem is all theamazing food. Food like breadrolls, chips, soda and mouthwatering desserts are always atemptation. A couple of waysto avoid overeating at gatherings, according to Active.comis to eat something small andenjoyable before the party,do not drink too much alcohol, and try not to physicallystand around the food. Littleadjustments like these canmake huge differences without even realizing it.VVC football player andworkout fanatic, GabrielArmendariz, gave quite a fewpointers on how to keep thatbeach body ready. No gym?No problem. Bodyweight exercises like push-ups, sit-ups,pull-ups, air squats and plankswill be perfect to stay tonedand avoid major weight gain.If you are able to walk or runaround your block once ortwice, it is only going to helpyou lose weight, make yourheart healthy and strong. Gabriel is not a fan of excuseswhen it comes to working outand he states, “Find the timeand motivation to workout.Don’t wait until New Years tomake the change your bodyneeds.”You do not have to go out andget a personal trainer to stayon track. If you do not eat everything you see, get up, andmove a little, holiday weightwill not be an issue for you.Even if you do cave and bingeeat a pumpkin pie, it’s okay,just run a little further or substitute your next dessert for ahealthier option. The holidaysare meant to be enjoyable butare you going to enjoy seeingyour pant size go up? Thinkabout it.within the specified timerange of three to five minutes.If a student went under orover their time, they werepenalized with a deduction ofthree points from their overallscore.With the decision in fromthe judges, Jacqueline Augustine Director and Chair of theCommunications Department,gathered a stack of folders,walked on stage and began tocall out the names of thespeakers. One by one shehanded them a folder and aten dollar gift card from Starbucks congratulating them, aswell as thanking them fortheir participation in the contest. After announcing ninenames, the final four foldersmade their way up to thestage. In fourth place wasAnthony Sellers, a secondyear Computer Science major. In third, Nicole Edlauer,the youngest person to evercomplete the Aviation Program at VVC. In second, Dakota Brooks, an enthusiasticspeech giver majoring in Agriculture.Last but not least, the firstplace award went to 17 yearold high school and collegestudent, Ruth Morgan. Thespeakers did a fantastic jobreminding everyone just howgreat Victor Valley Collegeis. It doesn't matter who youare or where you came from,VVC can change your life forthe better.(Picture of winner Ruth Morganpresenting her speech)

RamPageVictor Valley CollegeFeaturesDecember 7, 2016 Page 5Remembering The Life of Janet RenoBy Bertram Taylor IIIReporterJanet Reno died at 78 yearsold on November 7, 2016,after serving eight years underthe Clinton administration andbeing the first female UnitedStates Attorney General. Thecause of her death was due tocomplications of Parkinson’sdisease, which she was diagnosed with in 1995 (Hulse).Janet Reno was born in Miamion July 21, 1938. Her parentsare Henry Oalf Reno and former Jane Wood. Her fatherchanged his last name in 1913from Rasmussen to Olaf, aftercoming to the United Statesfrom Denmark (Hulse). Janethad three siblings, Robert,Mark and Margaret, they alllived at the edge of the Everglades.Reno aspired for more,after junior high school. Shetraveled to Europe to stay withfamily. After finishing highschool in Miami and graduatedCornell University in the1960’s with a degree in chemistry. Reno’s ambition andintelligence got her into Harvard Law School, which shegraduated from in 1963. Renowas “one of a handful of women in her class of more than500.”Reno began working ingovernment in 1971. She wasworked as general counsel forthe Judiciary Committee of theFlorida House of Representa-tives. This “whetted her appetite for public office, and shecampaigned for a state legislative seat of her own the nextyear. She lost in an upset to aRepublican candidate helpedby the landslide re-electionvictory of President RichardM. Nixon” (Hulse). Not even aday later Reno accepted a jobwith Richard Gerstein, thestate attorney for Dade County. She left the prosecutor’sofficer in 1976, joined SteelHector & Davis firm, a placethat rejected her when shegraduated from law school.However, in 1978, Reno wasappointed interim state attorney by Governor ReubinAskew, making her the firstwoman to be a state attorneyin Florida, where she remainedfor five election campaigns.On February 1993, theWhite House formally nominated Reno to be AttorneyGeneral. Reno had dealingswith two very importantevents: “a deadly federal raidon the compound of a religious cult in Waco, Tex., in1993, and in 2000 the government’s seizing of Elián González, a young Cuban refugeewho was at the center of aninternational custody battleand a political tug ofwar” (Hulse). Reno was courageous and steadfast in herwork as Attorney General. Shestuck by her morals, madetough decisions, and got thejob done every time.First Annual Christmas Fundraiser for the DeafBy Deborah ForeytReporterOn November 19th, thefirst annual Christmas fundraiser for the Hi-Dad (HiDesert Association of Deaf)was held in Apple Valley atCadillac Ranch Saloon. Thisorganization has helped deafchildren within the high desertfor over 20 years. This year,they wanted to do somethingvery special for the kids andthe adults and determined afundraiser was needed.The Hi-Dad sold cake pops,cookies, and lunch combos toraise funds. All proceeds wentto the children’s Christmasparty that was held on Saturday, December 3, at Church ofWhosoever located at 18628Seneca Road, Apple Valley.Hi-DAD welcomed deaf children and children of deafadults the event. The partyincluded entertainment, freerefreshments, a Christmas tree,raffle drawings, Christmasstocking giveaways, and asigning Santa. The admissionwas free.While at the fundraiser,Ellison and other Hi-DADclub members wanted to saysomething for the deaf community of the high desert andexpress how they felt. “Iwould like to see more HiDAD, to see more deaf peopleup here in the high desert. Iwas told that there is aboutover 800 deaf people here inthe High Desert from here inApple Valley, Victorville,Barstow and Phelan.” MarcyHermatz-Woodard, Hi-DADmember explained “I wouldlike to see the hearing and thedeaf to be the same with nobarriers and not to be afraid ofthe deaf population. We arejust like everyone else justwith a lack of hearing or communication.” Marsden added“I would like to see Hi-DADto be recognized and alsogrow larger in the deaf community to be expanded in alarger area. Have deaf familiesknow that we are here forthem and we can help them aswell.” After Christmas, the HiDAD is already looking forsponsors and volunteers tohelp them with Valentine’sDay and festivities to come.

RamPageVictor Valley College FeaturesDecember 7, 2016 Page 6Getting to Know Your Fellow RamsBy: Randi DominguezReporterEveryone has differenttraditions for the holidays.Priscilla Valenzuela, an environmental studies major, isextremely excited aboutthe holidays. Thanksgivingat her house is alwaysfilled with love and lotsand lots of delicious food.Priscilla looks forward tothe green bean casserole,that her parents make together, every year. Shestates, “I can pretty mucheat the whole thing by myself, and my mom has totake it away from me sothe rest of my family canhave some.”A Christmas traditionfor Priscilla is making tamales on Christmas Evewith her family. “We makeabout 100 tamales everyyear, because we have tosurvive the cold and brutalwinter” Priscilla said jokBy: Bertram TaylorReporterJonathan Garcia, a secondyear at Victor Valley Community College, aspire to be awriter. He is currently takingEnglish classes and is preparing to graduate in spring. He isexcited to transfer to California State University LongBeach. He wants to continuehis English degree with anemphasis in creative writing.Garcia said, “I don’t want todo the typical things with mydegree, like being a teacher. Iwant to be writer. I want to bethe next great Stephen King.”Garcia enjoys writing horrorand thriller stories and hopesone day to surpass his idol,Stephen King.When asked about his holiday experience, Garcia explained that in his family theyalready have all the ChristmasBy: Lexus Davidingly. Anxious for ChristmasReporterto be here already she says,“My favorite part aboutHolidays are associatedChristmas has to be staying inmy pajamas, drinking hot with family time and foodchocolate and watching mov- comas- at least that’s the casefor Victor Valley College’sies with my family all day.”Dave Hoyla. When askedabout his holiday traditions,Hoyla admits that he delightsin “spending time with family,and making a lot of food.”However, the holidays aremuch more than that. Hoyla’sfamily upkeeps the holidayswith Filipino traditions.The first tradition is tinkling. Hoyla explains that tinikling is a dance where “twopeople hold bamboo while twopeople dance in between.” TheBy: Carmen MejiaReporterdecoration up. It is a traditionto celebrate Christmas for twomonths rather than just themonth of December. “It bringsa lot of cheer to Thanksgiving.It’s like Thanksgiving is allabout the food and buyinggifts and there isn’t a lot ofspirit. So my family brings thespirit of Christmas into themonth of November.”GarciabelievesthatThanksgiving should be morethan just buying gifts and eating food;. It should be aboutfamily and being thankful formaking it a little bit farthereach day. This year Garcia gotto pray before the family atetheir meal and he said it wasthe longest prayer he evergave. “I have a lot to be thankful for and there’s a lot goingon in the world right now. Weneed the prayer.Joselyn Garcia is excitedfor Thanksgiving. Her familygather at her uncle’s or herhouse to celebrate. One thingsshe is looking forward to is thefood. Like many, she has someof the traditional food mostpeople have for Thanksgiving;turkey, mash potatoes andgravy. They also have something a little different. TheGarcia family is Hispanic andlike to include some of theirHispanic culture into the foodthey eat, including posole. Theworm soup is always something to look forward to duringBy: Lorena LemosReporterSergio Aseguera, 18 yearold VVC student, is familyoriented. Aseguera said, theholidays give him a chance tospend time with his family andloved ones. He enjoys thebreaks from school and thelong weekends he gets aroundthe holidays.He normally spends theholidays at his Aunt’s house,with big celebrations on bothdance encourages the family togather in an entertaining atmosphere. Additionally, thefamily sings karaoke. Out ofboth activities, Hoyla statesthat his favorite part is whenthe family gathers for karaoke.All the activity sparks an appetite which is satisfied bytraditional dishes like Bihonand Lumpia.Hoyla’s friend, Leo Abadilla, clarifies Bihon as a noodle dish and Lumpia as springrolls. Being Filipino himself,Abadilla also enthuses aboutthe traditions. Both Hoyla andAbadilla highlight the importance of family, and theenjoyment that surrounds theholidays.the holidays for the GarciaFamily.The nursing student is alsoexcited for the arrival ofChristmas. For her, the holidaystarts a little earlier than usual.The Garcia family gathers andcelebrates three days beforemost people do. Garcia says,“There is about 18 people during Christmas.” They gathertogether to make and eat tamales; a must have for the family.In the three days they are alltogether Joslyn enjoys spending time with her extendedfamily. She says, “It’s alwaysreally loud, but it’s also always a lot of fun.”Christmas Eve and ChristmasDay. They try to fit in as manyfamily activities as possible.Aseguera has a few Holiday traditions. Sergio states,“Every year we do a SecretSanta,” each family memberwill draw a name buy a present for that person. “There areno limits” as to what they canbuy.This year, the thriving music education major can’t waitto show his family up in Karaoke. Happy Holidays Sergio!

RamPageVictor Valley CollegeFeaturesDecember 7, 2016 Page 7Getting to Know Your Fellow RamsBy: Sierra WarwickSports EditorRaymond Resendez is ahardworking 26 year old student at VVC. Raymond isplanning on going into Firefighting as a career. He wantsto go through VVC’s RegionalPublic Training Center andplans on graduating either2018 or 2019.Family is very importantto the Resendez family andthey enjoy being together athome during Christmas time.They have a few traditionsthey will be using during theupcoming Holiday Season.Every year, they watch classic movies like Merry Christmas Charlie Brown. TheResendez family exchangesone gift on Christmas Eveand then exchanges the reston Christmas Day. Whenasked about his favoriteparts,Raymondstated,“Spending time with family,By: James MortensonReporterRebecca Heljo Reynolds, aVVC student, who lives withher family. Her siblings Mattand Brittany and in-laws Diane and Alan participate bycooking with the parents. Nextis her aunt and uncle, Markand Sheila Reynolds, and theyusually “bring the life to theparty” according to Rebecca.She said that they like to crackall the jokes and make everyone laugh by making fun ofeveryone and telling old embarrassing stories about eachother.Their family tradition ismixed with the holidays because they have birthdays nearthanksgiving and Christmas,so what they do is on everybirthday the family attacks thebirthday boy/girl with love,presents, and attention at aand getting off from work.Also just the Christmas Spirit.” He attends the Christmasservice at HDC. “I love hearing how and why Jesus Christwas born,” says Raymond.Family and faith oriented,Raymond is heading intoChristmas time with his constant smile and light heartedpersonality.By: Yienessa WarrenReporterLesly Nevarro, a secondyear criminal justice studentwith close ties to her family.Nevarro says, “The holidaysare very important to me. Ihave family that lives in Mexico. They come here or wetravel there to spend Christmasand sometimes Thanksgivingtogether.”Lesly looks forward to theactivities such as tree shoppingand attending her church’sChristmas concert. This yearLesly will have an additionalvisitor for the holidays. “Thisyear is extra special becausemy boyfriend is havingThanksgiving dinner with myfamily. This our first time celebrating Thanksgiving together,” Nevarro states. She says,By: Mercedes CannonReporterrandom time in the morning.This is special because theydon’t do the usual birthdaycake they use a donut or somesort of pastry with a candle init because “no one likes cakeat 6 A.M.” according to her.The entire day is spent withthe family eating and sharinglaughs and lots of love.This holiday tradition is ofthe same way because oneperson will be identified asSanta and after all the presentshave be wrapped and placedunder the tree “Santa” gets togo and hide all of their presents. It became a family tradition because when Rebeccawas little she would hide all ofthe Christmas presents including her own and she would saythat “Santa had stolen themand they would need morepresents.” Rebecca’s familycalls her “The BlondeGrinch”!Erika Dornisch is a firstyear student at VVC majoringin computer science. Likemany she is looking forwardto this holiday season and allthat it will bring. Dornischstated, “One of my favoritefamily traditions is that everyone gets new PJ’s on Christmas Eve. My family alwayssaid we needed to look nice“Me, my mom, and my auntare cooking Thanksgivingdinner so I’m nervous becauseI

Victor Valley College Region-al Public Safety Training Cen-ter opened to Victor Valley College students who are tak-ing courses for Firefighters, Emergency Medical Techni-cians, Corrections Officers, and Law Enforcement Offic-ers. In the 2008 Proposition 46 was approved by the voters of the High Desert to establish the Public Safety Training