Oasis Fall 2014

Take a Look at AVC’s Fire Academy!

Classified Staff ProfileFaculty ProfileStudent Art, Poetry, and

Photography

What’s in This Issue…

Fall 2014 Oasis Magazine

On the CoverCaptain Fred Castro and Cadet Kristi Miranda practce fire suppression techniques during week-ly training.

Front Cover Photo Credit: Charles Hood

Fall 2014 Oasis Magazine — 1

2 — Fall 2014 Oasis Magazine







Have you ever met a Deaf person? Have you ever encountered someone at work or in a store, said

something to them and had them gesture that they could not hear? Have you ever seen two people wav-ing their hands in the air as a form of communication? If you have, you may have felt a certain awkwardness or uncertainty in how to interact with them. Interact-ing with Deaf people was probably something you ever thought about before. If you have not been in that situation, than you are just like the above group except you probably have not thought about it yet.

I am a hearing individual. I am not Deaf, nor is any part of my family culturally Deaf. I do have friends who are Deaf and I have spent the past two years here at Antelope Valley College studying American Sign Language and Deaf Culture. It has been an interesting experience for me not only to learn more about Deaf culture and the Deaf world but to take that knowl-edge and use it to look at the Hearing world, my world. I have learned a lot from speaking to people who have not taken classes about Deaf culture and sign language. It is interesting to see what it is they think about Deaf people and sign language. Many people think that “sign language” is universal. It is not. American Sign Language (ASL) is not the same as Langue Des Signes Francaise (LSF) the French Sign Language. Nor is American Sign Language a version of English. It is a natural language used by the Deaf community in the United States of America, parts of Mexico and parts of Canada. Another recur-ring theme has been people who have encountered Deaf individuals but were very uncertain of how to proceed or, in some cases, scared to approach.

The following are some general things I feel peo-ple should be aware of; please understand my expe-rience is predominantly with American Deaf people who sign. This is the opinion of one not-yet-Associ-ate-of-the-Arts-degree student (me!) I do not repre-sent anybody but myself. That being said, here we go.

As an individual who excels at being awkward I can attest to the fact that yes, being presented with a new communication situation can be nerve-wrack-ing and awkward. A huge help in dealing with this potentially awkward situation is to remember, yes,

a signing Deaf person “speaks” a different language than you. As a matter of fact, their language uses an entirely different sense than yours does, the visual sense, rather than the auditory sense.

English is a spoken language utilizing the sounds produced by your mouth, tongue and throat to com-municate meaning. Spanish is also a spoken language utilizing your mouth, tongue and throat. American Sign Language is a manual language which uses hand and finger positioning, relative location of the sign on the body, the direction of the palm, move-ment variation, facial expressions, even posture to communicate meaning.

While this can make interaction with a Deaf per-son seem even more daunting it may help you relax to remember that even though a Deaf person uses a different language than you, they live in the United States of America, just like you do. There are cultural differences but on the whole Deaf people here are ac-customed to communicating with individuals who do not know their language or their culture. Keep calm and be open to options. Some Deaf people will want you to speak with them. When this is the case just speak normally. Do not try and talk loud, or over-ex-aggerate your mouth movements. Do remember that if the Deaf person cannot see your lips they cannot read them. If they want to write back and forth, please understand that this takes a little longer than spoken interaction.

Honestly what it takes to communicate with a Deaf individual is the same thing it takes to communicate with anyone: a sincere willingness to try. It may take a little more effort to talk with a Deaf person but with both parties respectful and willing to try, you will be fine. There are many wonderful classes here at Antelope Valley College which can give you more information, as well as numerous websites, such as Gallaudet University, the world’s only university with programs and services specifically designed to accommodate deaf and hard of hearing students.

So, the next time someone lets you know they cannot hear or you see fluttering appendages, do not panic. Relax, be respectful and enjoy a new experi-ence. Cheers!

Sign(s) of the Times: Learning the Culture Behind a LanguageBy Kateri McGuire

Student Writing


Jordan Levine!

Mondays & Wednesdays!

Intro to Theatre!

16 October 2014!They’re Only Plastic!

(Scene takes place in a family living room, where a mother and daughter are discussing the

evening plans.)!

Mom - While I’m at the office party tonight there will be no friends over. !

Elena - So I guess that means the party’s off then? (She asks as a joke.) !

Mom - I mean it Elena, if I come home and find that you invited friends over, you will be

grounded.!

Elena - Yes mom, I know. I was just trying to lighten the mood. I promise that no other living

person will be in this house while you’re away, other than me of course. !

Mom - Thank you. Well I have to go but I’ll be back later tonight. !

(Hours pass and when Elena’s mother returns, she finds three unexpected guests that are

sitting on the couch watching t.v.) !

Mom - Elena, (She whispers in a harsh tone.), I said no friends over! You are grounded starting

now, you need to ask them to leave immediately. !

Elena - If I remember correctly, you said that I couldn’t have any friends over, and I promised I’d

be the only living person here. So relax mom, they’re only plastic.

By Jordan LeVine

By Alex WhiteGoddess

Who am I to speak of passion, to speak of love? These curses I liken to damnation. With scorn I jeered at those who engaged in such petty displays of meaningless and selfish affections, and yet now my heart has been pierced by its insidious blade and with each beat I lose my life.Can your thirst only be slacked with blood, my blood, or am I doomed to live as the victim of a parasite? Perhaps hell would be colder than your embrace. Love. I spit the word. Let me live bitter or let me die pure, not in the flesh of this demoness. Her countenance belies her claws, and how they have sunk deep into my very soul! May this be the fate of all who meddle with concepts beyond their understanding, enticed into the beautiful bosom of this monster, this angel?Forgiveness will only serve as my punishment, just as love has been my prison, and pleasure my torment. My affections fall into this void I have dared to look upon, the blinding emptiness in your soulless eyes, and in this moment and all thereafter I am damned.


By Cecelia Jimenez

Doubts

Oh to be held in your arms

It is such bliss

One can only find bliss in ignorance

But to kiss your lips

Puzzles meNever have I felt anything so

HypnoticAnd still I know

I am not alone in my affections for you

There must be dozens more who feel such a love

Yet tell not a soul

You are my ghost

Breathing in the scent of your skin

Drawing near to my heart

I leave your bed more and more reluctantly

As the sun washes over me.

It is painful to depart

And I put on the gown

That sings of my virtue

Thought we both know it to be false

As my hair proves more fun to tangle

Making love in such awkward places

Still I come back for more

Begging my lord save me

But never does he fill me

With that undying certainty I need

And I t kills me

By Cecelia JimenezUntitled

Lie to my face loveTell me you need meAs I hand my heart overTo prove my faith in you.Yet there you stand shamelessBarely a man

Wont let me lay even a finger on your handsWhy do you worry who will seeWhen you tell me that I am Your one and only?Spit out your deceptions Spoon feed me you liesI’ll let my self fall

Victim to those eyesTell me you need me Break my insides

My heart may be bendingBut ill never cry

By Cecelia JimenezSilence

Did you know sometimes it frightens me

To see your face and never hear you

Your silence ever present to those who listen

Never speaking of where you have been

Or what you have seen

Should I dare to beg the question

By Cecelia JimenezGuilt

It is never easy to admit When you have done wrongWhere irrefutable damage has been doneThere is that one

Living in denial





ANT

ELOPE VALLEY COLLEGE

FIRE ACADEMY












Phot

o Cr

edit:

Bru

ce Ja

cobs

en,

gom

arau

ders

.avc

.edu




AVC Foundation Thanks Scholarship Donors

Phot

o Cr

edit:

Cec

elia

Jimen

ez

Scholarship donors, committee members and recip-ients gathered with college officials and commu-

nity members for the 2013 Scholarship Appreciation Breakfast on Friday, October 17 at the Performing Arts Theatre.

Hosted by the AVC Foundation, the purpose of the breakfast was to honor scholarship donors and schol-arship screening committee members. Students who have received scholarships volunteered as ush-ers for the event.

In spring 2014,

96 donors awarded 257 scholarships totaling $197,950. AVC Foundation donors make a significant difference in the lives of our students and our community.

For more information on AVC Foundation scholar-ships, contact Sandi Rogers at [email protected] or call 661-722-6300, ext. 6860.


Documents

Oasis Fall 2014