News Page

People's Weekly World Newspaper, 11/11/04

TELEVISION REVIEW

Five films from Women Make Movies will be featured on acclaimed PBS series “Independent Lens” this fall, including four newly released titles: “Afghanistan Unveiled” by Brigitte Brault and the AINA Women’s Filming Group; “Thunder in Guyana” by historian Suzanne Wasserman; “Girl Wrestler” by Diane Zander; and two compelling experimental documentary shorts about Holocaust memory by Elida Schogt (“Zyklon Portrait” and “The Walnut Tree”).

“Independent Lens” is an Emmy Award-winning showcase of documentaries and dramas by today’s most innovative independent filmmakers. Women Make Movies is a national, nonprofit distributor of films made exclusively by and about women, covering many of the most relevant and compelling social and human rights issues in the world.

“Afghanistan Unveiled” offers an unprecedented look at events in that country from the perspective of the first team of women video journalists to be trained in the region and makes its television debut on Nov. 16. (Check local listings for times.)

Traveling to rural regions of the country, the young filmmakers capture heartbreaking footage of Afghan women whose lives have been decimated by the Taliban’s repressive rule and the subsequent bombing campaign in the region.

In Emmy Award-winner Diane Zander’s provocative documentary, “Girl Wrestler,” Texas teenager Tara Neal upsets tradition by insisting that girls and boys should be able to wrestle on the same mat. The film follows Neal through the last year in which state guidelines allow her to wrestle boys, a year rife with family conflict, weight obsession, and ultimately fierce policy debates over women’s athletics in public schools. “Girl Wrestler” airs on Dec. 14.

“Thunder in Guyana” is the remarkable story of Chicago-born Janet Rosenberg Jagan, who was elected president of Guyana in 1997, and is the first American-born woman to lead a nation. In 1943, Jagan married Guyanese activist Cheddi Jagan and returned with him to Guyana to start a socialist revolution.

First-time filmmaker and historian Suzanne Wasserman, who is also Janet’s cousin, weaves an amazing story of romance, politics and international intrigue through a wealth of archival materials, interviews and more recent footage of Janet’s dramatic presidential campaign. This dramatic film both illuminates the controversial, yet little known history of Guyana, and offers a rich portrait of a remarkable woman. The film airs on Feb. 22.

Filmmaker Elida Schogt’s short films on family history and Holocaust memory poetically integrate nonfiction with experimental and narrative forms. “Zyklon Portrait,” winner of numerous festival awards, including Special Mention at the 2000 Amsterdam International Documentary Film Festival, is a meditation on Zyklon B, the chemical compound used by the Nazis as a genocidal weapon; “The Walnut Tree” eloquently examines survival and recollection, and the role of photography in history. Schogt’s films will follow acclaimed documentarian Fredrick Wiseman’s “The Last Letter.” The films air on May 3.

“We’re bringing four fascinating and diverse stories by and about women to this year’s season — from controversial topics in contemporary culture to new perspectives on history,” said Debra Zimmerman, executive director of Women Make Movies. “And we’re thrilled to be airing them on “Independent Lens,” a series that’s bringing wide-ranging views to the public at a time when we need it most.”

“Independent Lens” series producer Lois Vossen comments: “We want programs that offer new perspectives, as they challenge and encourage us to discover more about our neighbors, our communities, our country and people around the world. We are especially interested in presenting films by women and minorities, so working with Women Make Movies is a natural fit.”

“Independent Lens” is broadcast on most PBS stations on Tuesday evenings

--------------------------------------------------

State rankings for Napa Valley prep wrestlers

Monday, November 8, 2004

NOTES AND QUOTES for a Monday in the Napa Valley:

Two Napa Valley high school athletes, Vintage senior Kayla Chambers and Napa High junior Lauren Philipps, are listed in the California Women's Wrestling Association 2004-05 preseason state rankings, published last week.

Chambers, last year's state champion, is ranked No. 1 at 120 pounds. Philipps, a fourth-place finisher at state last year, is No. 3 at 138 pounds.

The girls wrestling season begins in earnest on Dec. 4, and culminates in two important tournaments: the Napa Valley Classic, Jan. 14-15 at Vintage High, which draws over 200 wrestlers from throughout the western U.S., and the California Girls Invitational, Jan. 28-29 at Vallejo High, which is the California girls state championship.

------------------------------------------

"The sports most likely to be considered next for Southern Section
council approval are lacrosse and girls wrestling, according to CIF-Southern
Section director of sports information Thom Simmons."

By Rhiannon Potkey, rpotkey@VenturaCountyStar.com
November 7, 2004

Throughout the school year, The Star will run an occasional series of
stories profiling non-CIF athletes and their sports.

They don't receive championship plaques or banners to hang on school
walls. There are no pep rallies held in their honor or newspaper clippings to
save for their scrapbooks.

But the lack of accolades doesn't keep area high school athletes from
competing in a number of sports that are not among the 16 approved by
the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section.

About 14 of the 34 area schools have non-CIF sports teams on campus,
enabling hundreds of athletes across the sports-rich county to satisfy
their varying interests at a time when athletic department dollars are
stretched thin.

From dueling fencers in gymnasiums to fence-jumping equestrians at
ranches to tanned surfers riding waves on the Pacific, the talent is spread far
and wide.

"Being Southern California, kids are active and want to participate in
a lot of activities. Our equestrian, lacrosse and surf teams are examples of
kids that want to get involved," said Richard Urias, Westlake High's
assistant principal in charge of athletics. "I think it is important for
activities like these to be approved by CIF and run under the auspices of the
school. It's always better than having kids doing their own thing."

John Gillis, the assistant director of the National Federation of State
High School Associations, said he believes the trend of schools fielding
nonsanctioned teams is not just a Southern California phenomenon.

"I am sure it exists in a lot of places where you have emerging sports
that are not sanctioned. You have to walk before you can run, and starting
club teams is a way to generate interest," said Gillis.

"After a while you can go to the sanctioning board and try to get the
sport played at a championship level. You can show the projected growth.
Historically, a lot of sports have started like that."

Recognition wanted

Many non-CIF participants have aspirations of their sports eventually
being sanctioned. They are hungry for increased competition and recognition
from their classmates.

But there are many hurdles in their path.

For a sport to be considered, it has to be placed on the CIF state list
of approved sports, and then approved by the section council. Then, of
course, there is the money factor.

Twenty percent of the membership schools in the section must
participate for a sport to be contested as a championship event.

The Southern Section, which includes Ventura County schools, has nearly
600 members, stretching from the coastline to the Colorado River and as far
north as Bishop.

Gymnastics and field hockey are two CIF sports played in the Southland
that don't have a championship because not enough member schools
participate.

The latest sports to be approved by the Southern Section council were
girls water polo in 1995 and girls golf in 1997.

The sports most likely to be considered next for Southern Section
council approval are lacrosse and girls wrestling, according to CIF-Southern
Section director of sports information Thom Simmons.

Junior Wil Danielson helped start the lacrosse team at Oaks Christian
School in Westlake Village when he was a freshman, and he wants part of his
legacy to include the sport's rise to prominence.

"It becoming a CIF sport for me would be the biggest thing, because
lacrosse is my sport," said Danielson. "Right now, I am planning on keeping my
grades up and having it help me get into college."

But just because a sport is approved by the CIF-Southern Section is no
guarantee a county school will field a team.

"I went to the athletic director (Jan Hethcock) in May and asked that
if lacrosse became a CIF sport would the school pick it up," said
Danielson. "He said most likely not because of the funding."

While the reasons for schools not adding sports range from liability
issues to facility usage to Title IX gender-equity compliance, the biggest
factor is money.

With a budget crisis gripping the state, school coffers are feeling the
pinch more than ever. Athletic directors are forced to sustain the
programs they have with less money than before.

"I think we are like most schools in that we already can't afford the
sports we have," said Camarillo athletic director Mike Smith. "If you think
about renting something like an ice facility for hockey and purchasing the
gear, it's almost like getting a football program in terms of expense, and it
is probably without the revenue football generates. Schools have a hard
time getting behind that."

At most public schools, the non-CIF sports teams are listed as clubs,
meaning they don't fall under the athletic department umbrella, but
under the umbrella of associated student body (ASB) or associated student
government (ASG). The players don't receive physical education credit
like athletes in sanctioned sports.

Most teams have to receive approval from the school district and
ASB/ASG to become clubs. Although many teams have outside coaches, the school
requires a faculty adviser to oversee club activities.

"Ultimately with any organization that is on a school campus, the
school is responsible," said Ventura High ASB adviser and athletic director Dave
Hess. "That is the mentality that we operate from. So if you have a club team
that is run through the school, even though they don't compete in CIF,
ultimately the school is responsible."

Must meet standards

The sports teams are required to meet certain standards to retain their
club status.

At Westlake, for example, clubs need to have a constitution that
includes a community service aspect and have at least 12 meetings per year with
reported minutes from those meetings.

At Ventura, clubs are required to meet weekly and provide a benefit to
the school in some way.

Each player on a school's club team usually pays a fee to participate
in a league or an organization affiliated with the sport. The fees vary
depending upon the sport.

To cover certain expenses, teams raise additional money through such
fund-raisers as carwashes or donations from parents and corporations.

Mikey Hernandez and his teammates pay $350 each to play for the Newbury
Park ice hockey team, but Hernandez says the experience is worth every
dollar.

"I like to play hockey, and I don't care what the price is because it's
fun," said Hernandez. "You get to meet friends you don't typically hang
out with in hockey. I would love to get credit for it as an official sport.
We do the same things as football or golf or any other sport. You should
get credit for it."

Although not connected with CIF, most club teams follow similar
guidelines. They often require players to show proof of private insurance or have
them insured through the organizations in which they compete.

Many non-CIF teams also expect the athletes to maintain a GPA of 2.0 or
above to remain on the team.

"They have to have a minimum 2.0 GPA. That is not an option," said
Ventura High surf team adviser Steve Askay. "We use ineligible lists. If they
are on it, they won't be surfing for us."

Ventura's surf team is in its first year of existence after a vocal
push from parents for the school to provide a competitive outlet for their
children's talent.

Many schools have club teams that come and go from year to year because
of lack of participation, lack of advisers or funding problems.

Calabasas High fielded a rugby team in the past, St. Bonaventure
received inquiries about a shooting club, and students at various schools are
interested in bike racing.

Some schools remain leery about sponsoring certain club sports. While
they know CIF is a credible organization, the legitimacy of other
organizations and associations is often questioned by school officials.

Use of caution

"The bottom line is, we don't know a lot about these organization and
who makes the policies for the kids. Do the kids have to have a physical to
play?" said Rio Mesa athletic director Brian Fitzgerald. "I think we
live in such a litigious society today we would kind of be remiss to say, 'Sure
we will sponsor you' when things can happen. We are getting sued all the
time for everything."

Students participating in non-CIF sports at some private institutions
have an easier time with liability issues and finances. At Thacher and Ojai
Valley, for example, the teams are completely funded through the school
budgets.

Approximately 220 of the 240 students board at Thacher, so the school
likes to provide an array of sports for athletes who don't have
transportation to participate in organizations outside of the school.

"It's not like mom can just drive them to practice for a club team,"
said Thacher athletic director Rich Mazzola. "We also want our kids healthy
and active. If they do't want to play the CIF sports available, we want to
provide them with other options."

The good and the bad

Being an officially sanctioned CIF sport has many advantages, including
funding, physical education credit, championship aspirations and
schoolwide recognition by peers.

However, Simmons points out, there are also drawbacks to being
affiliated with the organization. Members must play by CIF rules, coaches can't
have contact with their athletes outside of the season, athletes must adhere
to transfer rules, and out-of-area trips are limited.

"It is fantastic, and we encourage people to be a part of the Southern
Section and CIF championship atmosphere, but there are also a lot more
restrictions that go along with the section and CIF," said Simmons.
"There is an upside, but the downside is there are definitely more
restrictions in the way you operate your business."

Denying athletes participation options is never a comfortable position
for county athletic directors. They realize how positive an impact sports
can have on the teenagers at their schools.

"I think in a perfect world we would have tons of funding and be able
to fund those programs because for the kids involved in ice hockey or
surfing that may be the only thing they do in school," said Hess. "Some kids
don't play other sports, and the more things you can do to connect them to
school, the better off they are going to be."

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Pacific's Iseke earns honors

Thursday, November 11, 2004

FOREST GROVE -- Capping off a freshman season that saw her become one of Pacific University's biggest impact players, Anela Iseke (Honolulu, Hawaii) was selected to the All-Northwest Conference Volleyball Team.

Iseke was the only Boxer named to the team, which was voted upon by the conference's coaches.

"Anela is a joy to have on our team," said Pacific head coach Chris Stanley. "She beings so much athletic maturity to our program, and to have that in a freshman is an extra bonus. I expect her to be a big part of the future success of this program."

A relative unknown to the coaching staff when she arrived in Forest Grove in August, Iseke quickly became a multi-faceted player for the Boxers. She finished second in assists with 339 and 4.46 assists per game and second in digs with 235. Iseke had the third best hitting percentage on the team at .201 and was fourth for the Boxers in service aces and fifth in total kills.

Iseke topped the season by being named NWC Player of the Week for the week of Oct. 25-31 when she registered 20 kills, 41 assists and 30 digs in two matches. The total included a triple double of 13 kills, 22 assists and18 digs in a five-game win over Lewis & Clark on Oct. 29.

With the volleyball season now over, Iseke will trade her kneepads for headgear. An All-American wrestler in high school, Iseke will be a member of Pacific's nationally ranked women's wrestling team.

Iseke was one of four freshman named to the All-NWC teams.