Volume 77, Issue 13 | www.elaccampusnews.com | Wednesday, February 26, 2020 | Single copy free - additional copies 50 cents
Elac students offered voting opportunities Voting centers offer Elans voice in crucial election BY RAYMOND NAVA Staff Writer The Los Angeles Community College District is offering voting centers at its schools including East Los Angeles College for students and the public to vote in the March primaries. The 2020 election will be the first under the Voter’s Choice Act in which voters in 15 counties, including Los Angeles county, will no longer vote at designated polling locations. Voters will instead be able to vote at any community vote center in the county. East Los Angeles College will host one of these centers for students and the public in building S2-121. Al Rios, dean of continuing education and workforce development, said that the voting centers will be open Saturday through Tuesday. From February 29 to March 2 the center will be open from 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. March 3 the center will open from 6 a.m. - 9 p.m. Students and faculty that have undergone training will be working alongside county representatives. Rios said the center will have about 30 voting machines. Rios, a member of the South Gate City Council, said that he was excited for the prospect of having a voting center on campus.
He said that in his political science class only two students had reviewed their sample ballots and knew the issues at hand. “Students a lot of times aren’t politicized,” Rios said. He said that with the importance of the issues and time being limited it is important for students to be involved. Rios said it wasn’t just the presidential election that was important, there are various positions in local government that are a part of the election. This year voters will make their selections for candidates using a touch screen machine that will generate a paper ballot marked with the voter’s choices. Voters are also able to download the interactive Sample Ballot. The official voting website, www. lavote.net says, “The Interactive Sample Ballot is a convenient option for voters who want to access and mark their selections prior to arriving at the vote center.” This downloaded sample can be marked before arriving at the voter center, then uploaded to mark the electronic ballot. The transition to the new system has not occurred without hiccups. The city of Beverly Hills sued over the way candidate names were displayed. The interface has been adjusted to fix the issue. For races with five or more candidates, voters must press the button marked “MORE,” not
“next,” to view the next screen of candidates otherwise it will move onto the next race. Secretary of State Alex Padilla has mandated voting centers to also have traditional paper ballots. You are not required to show identification when you vote in person in most cases. First-time voters who have registered to vote by mail may be asked to show some
form of identification when you show up to vote for the first time. The California Secretary of State has provided some examples of acceptable identification. These include a copy of a recent utility bill or the sample ballot booklet that you received from your county elections office. A p a s s p o r t , o ff i c i a l s t a t e identification card, driver’s license
or student ID with your name and photograph are also acceptable forms of identification. Voters who need time off from work in order to vote, can give employers two days’ notice. Voters can take up to two hours off without losing pay and can take the time off at the beginning or end of your shift on election day. Voters will still be able to vote
after the polls close as long as they stay in line when they close. Rios said that signs will go up soon, giving more information on the voting center. He said that it was important for students to vote because, “Young people are so critical. It’s their future, really.”
Health Center prepares students in case of coronavirus BY JUAN CALVILLO Staff Writer The Student Health Center advises students to wash their hands and obtain a flu shot as preventative measures for the flu and Coronavirus. The informational meeting was conducted by Cecilia Cruz and Michelle Quon. Cruz, coordinator of the student health center, said that if students feel ill they are welcome to come to the health center for a check up. However, she said the health center does not have the capabilities to confirm if a patient has the virus. Cruz said no one at ELAC has been diagnosed with the virus. Cruz said that if students have concerns or questions they can stop by the center or call 323-265-8651 to get more information. Quon, family practitioner nurse from Via Care for the health center,
said the World Health Organization has officially named the disease COVID-19 as of February 11. She said there is a series of questions that can help quickly differentiate between the coronavirus and what might be a more common virus. Quon said the questions include if the patient has traveled to the epicenter of the virus outbreak, Wuhan, China. Then a check would be done for the various symptoms that are part of the disease. These symptoms include a fever, cough, difficulty breathing and severe illness according to the Department of Public Health for the county of Los Angeles. Quon said that if the answer to the first question is yes then protocol would take over, and that includes sending the patient to an emergency room. Quon said that to protect against the virus, and viruses like the flu, normal sanitary measures are key.
This is due to the disease spreading from droplets that come from the coughs of those infected, which can be breathed in. Droplets can also land on surfaces and then others can interact with them. Keeping areas clean is advised, as well as keeping people sanitized and clean. Simple things like washing hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water and using hand sanitizer are key when trying to stay healthy. Quon said that if tissues are used that they should be immediately thrown away. She said that if students use face masks, then proper usage should be followed. This would include not touching the front of the mask and keeping your hands away from your eyes. Quon said that keeping a social distance of three feet from people who may be sick is also good. Quon said that getting the flu vaccine is
important right now. “I would suggest getting [the] influenza vaccine, “flu shot,” because there is a higher risk of transmission of influenza than COVID-19. The flu shot can be given at the student health center at no additional cost as long as the health fee is paid.” Quon said that the major battle is against influenza. She said that when it comes to the flu, about 10.1 percent die due to pneumonia influenza in LA county. This makes prevention and addressing of the flu the major issue. The WHO website advises many of the same things Quon said are key to staying healthy in this season. “When coughing and sneezing, cover [your] mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue. Discard the tissue immediately into a closed bin and clean your hands with alcoholbased hand rub or soap and water. Covering your mouth and nose
when coughing and sneezing prevent the spread of germs and viruses. If you sneeze or cough into your hands, you may contaminate objects or people that you touch,” said the WHO website. The Center for Disease Control in the United States has said that the risk of getting COVID-19 is still low. But in a press call yesterday the CDC said people should prepare for what it called “community spread” of the disease in the near future. Quon said that the virus is a part of the family of viruses that cause multiple respiratory diseases. She said the virus has a 14 day incubation period. Quon said that while COVID-19 is active, that it’s spread should be put into context. For more information visit www.elaccampusnews.com
Elac student steps up to fight campus hunger BY JUAN CALVILLO Staff Writer Though East Los Angeles College’s administration takes steps to tackle food insecurity on campus, Monika Rueda, a current ELAC student, is compelled to do her part. She distributes food to students in need across from the Helen Miller Library every other Tuesday. She spoke with Cecilia Cruz, coordinator for the student health center, and asked what was the most immediate course of action she could take. “She [Rueda] approached me saying she felt bad about all the problems with food insecurity on campus, and she wanted to do something,” Cruz said. Rueda said she first learned of the homeless and hunger situation on campus during one of her classes. She said the professor asked students not to eat in front of other students because not every student has the chance to have food on a daily basis. Rueda said she didn’t really understand what the teacher meant by her comment. She approached the professor and asked for clarification and was told about the food insecurity and homeless situation on campus. Rueda said she was moved by the situation and said that in Latin
culture, feeding people and having food in the home was important. She said her family always had enough growing up, and seeing what was happening on campus made her want to help. After the meeting with Cruz, Rueda decided that to help she would buy food that is both filling and simple to make for students. She chose oatmeal and fresh fruit to start off, as well as coffee. Rueda spent her own money to help ELAC’s students for the first outing, “I’ll fund it,” Rueda said. Wanting to do more, she asked for help to continue her service to her ELAC students from fellow marines. Rueda is part of the East Los Angeles Marine Corp League detachment 1347 where she is a chaplain. She met the group sometime after her discharge from the marines. Rueda went to the league and brought up the idea of helping students. “We have to feed into our future,” Rueda said. Guadalupe Anaya, who’s husband was a marine corporal, is a member of Rueda’s detachment and helps her distribute food to students. She said finding out that so many young people are going without some type of food was surprising. Anaya said students on campus are happy and thankful for the
Crafts with UCLA
Page 3
News Briefs Pepperdine trip
Pepperdine Graziado is hosting a trip on Friday from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. For more information contact the Transfer Center.
CN/JUAN CALVILLO
CHOW TIME—Monika Rueda serves as a chaplain for her marine corp league. On the ELAC
campus she serves fellow students oatmeal and coffee. food that Rueda’s group has been offering. “It feels good to hear them say that. Because you know you’re doing something rewarding,” Anaya said. She said that Rueda’s enthusiasm was infectious and makes the group at the league excited to help those in need at ELAC. Other groups across ELAC have also started helping students with food issues. The Associated Student Union has a food pantry, and other clubs on campus regularly have food at their events. “Recently, student services have been offering lunches,dinners
scantrons and snacks. So whatever department can do it, it’s helpful to our students...Anything we can do to support them is good,” Cruz said. Rueda said the league is actually starting their own fundraiser to help feed students.The fundraiser will take place on February 29 from 8 a.m. - 11 a.m. at the HomeTown Buffet on 875 N. Wilcox Avenue, in the city of Montebello. For more information check out the leagues instagram @detachment1347mcl. “All the funds. One hundred percent of this is coming to that table. We’re not keeping any of it. It’s all going to the breakfast [table],
everything,” said Rueda. Rueda said that she would like for this type of service to expand to other colleges someday. The league meets at the American Legion building at 4615 East Cesar E. Chavez Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90022. The breakfast food is given out from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. across from the library in the main campus. Rueda and her crew will be giving food out on the following dates: March 10, March 24, April 14, April 28, May 12 and May 26. She also plans on being on campus during finals week.
California dream act workshop Today in F3-101 from noon - 1:45 p.m. For more information contact Financial Aid Center.
Open house museums studies certification program Today from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. in S1 lecture hall.
2
Opinion
EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2020
Astros got off way too easy for cheating BY SONNY TAPIA Staff Writer
The punishment for the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal in the 2017 World Series Championship was harsh but not harsh enough. The sign-stealing scandal was an investigation into the Astros’ organization for relaying stolen signs to hitters during the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The organization was fined $5 million, which is the maximum that can be given to a team, along with the loss of its first and second-round draft picks in 2020 and 2021. Major League Baseball also suspended Astros’ general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager A.J. Hinch for one year. They were both fired from the organization shortly after. The organization will lose four high draft picks which will hurt the team more than people understand. Astros’ owner Jim Crane claimed to know nothing of the actions being questioned. He feels that the cheating scandal does not damage the reputation of the World Series win. “Well, I think absolutely not. We’ve had a very good team for a number of years before 2017 and 2018. We have a very good team this year and I think we’ll have a great season. We have a lot of great players still and I don’t think it taints it at all,” Crane said in a press conference held after the announcement of the scandal. This damages the win for sure because it was not earned. Many players across the league were asked how they felt about the accusations.
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge felt that it was not earned and you cannot be proud of it as a team. The repercussions held against the Astros’ organization were not harsh enough at all especially since the title will not be stripped from the Astros. Even though this happened in 2017 it bled into another organization’s win in the World Series. Alex Cora was the bench coach of the 2017 Astros team and was then traded and hired by the Boston Red Sox as manager in 2018.
The Red Sox went on to beat the Dodgers in the World Series the following year after the Astros. So far Cora has not been punished at all by the league. Cora, Luhnow and Hinch should all be punished much harsher. They should have been suspended for three years and not allowed to operate in the major level of baseball again. T h e y a l l h a v e g o t t e n o ff with little to no damage. This is upsetting when it comes to Dodgers’ fans because they could have been cheated out of back
to back championships without a hitch. Commissioner Rob Manfred believed in the tradition of keeping what happened unchanged. “There is a long tradition in baseball of not trying to change what happened,” Manfred said in an interview with Sports Illustrated. The upper offices of Major League Baseball hae come to the decision to let the Astros and Red Sox keep their titles no matter what further evidence arises. This is wrong because if it becomes more apparent and truthful
that the organizations cheated in their wins then they should lose the championship no matter what. The long tradition of not changing what happened is not useful because there is an even bigger tradition of keeping games fair and legal. Even with the minimal physical punishments given to the team, the idea of emotional and mental stress continues to harm the organization. The Houston Astros are no longer considered a credible team because of this. The reputation of the organization has gone down the tubes. Thinking of the long history of the Astros, from players like Nolan Ryan and Craig Biggio, it is hard to picture them cheating the way the 2017 team did. The Astros organization should be forced to display a formal apology to all fans in attendance at every game for the next three years and maybe long after that. Fans come to a baseball stadium to watch one of America’s greatest pastimes be played fairly and with dignity. With the accusations of immense cheating being riddled throughout the league, it is hard to see it a different and more positive way. The $5 million fine is not enough to cover the awful display of baseball performed by a champion. The league rules on fines for this type of issue should be rethought. The World Series Champion title should only belong to those that fought for over 162 regular season games without cheating the system for a reputation.
Petitioners are a nuisance on Elac campus BY ALEJANDRO AMBRIZ Staff Writer In areas surrounding the library and E3 building, petitioners have been persistently asking for signatures since the beginning of the spring semester. These are typically brief interactions, such as when they ask for a signature regarding rent control or are advocating for a candidate. There is nothing wrong with the recruiters asking for signatures, especially since they include policies like waste management and housing initiatives that would directly impact us. It becomes a problem when they become persistent, almost aggressive, and students are purposely taking a longer route to avoid them. Some students will pull out their phones and others will simply look straight ahead without batting an eye. Some students are too polite to say “no thank you” or feel rude if they don’t stop to hear them out. Jesse Aguilar, a political science student at ELAC believes allowing the petitioners on campus can take away from the learning environment and can be
intimidating for returning students like himself. “I decided I wanted to spend more time on campus and be more active...I haven’t been able to do that because of the constant bombardment… I’m in the middle of chewing my food and [the petitioners] come up to me and ask if I could sign their petition...they’ve become rude and disrespectful,” Aguilar said. It has become hard for students to find a corner on campus to sit down and discuss their class without having someone interrupt the conversation with a petition proposal. Even if you say no to one, there are always more petitioners with several petitions they want you to sign on the way to the parking lot alone. Students don’t always have the time to listen to or sign five different petitions for whatever reason they might have. Others might also not be interested in the policies proposed because they do not permanently live in the area. Some students are simply not informed on the petitions they sign as they are stopped on their way to class or the bus and recruiters
know this. “They’ll ask the student to sign their petition, and the student will ask what it is for. They’ll give them a catchy one liner and the student will say ‘sure I support that,” Aguilar said. Since students are in a rush, they will usually sign without knowing too much or ignore the petitioner. For a lot of these recruiters this is their source of income, so it’s in their interest to be persistent. Sometimes petitioners will follow the students and latch on to another student walking by if the first one decides to not listen. With ELAC’s 35,000 plus student enrollment as of 20182019, according to College Tuition Compare, it is a massive hub for students of all ages. This is not to say that the recruiters need to leave the campus as it would impede their free speech, but it’s definitely an issue that needs more attention from administration. Students have a right to feel safe and secure while being able to get from one class to another without being harassed or followed. Voting is important and so is participating in politics, but the priority must remain on the students’ education and experience.
Staff Writer The sounds of phlegm-clogged lungs and mucus-filled noses welcome students as they return to class for the spring semester. Many others have either recovered from being sick or haven’t gotten sick at all. Whatever the case is, students who are sick should re-evaluate going to school and if they must, they should take the proper precautions in order to prevent spreading an infection. Flu season in California typically lasts from September to April, which is a good chunk of the year to have an infection spreading. The latest report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website, which is from February 6 through 8, says that there have been 328 influenza-coded deaths from the Flu since Sep. 29, 2019 and 94 outbreaks. An influenza-coded death is a death in California among residents who had influenza noted in any cause of death field on the death certificate. This can become a larger problem if students don’t take care of themselves and those they come into contact with daily. www.ELACCampusNews.com
MANAGING EDITOR Melody Ortiz ONLINE EDITORS Adam Robles Steven Adamo FRONT EDITOR Juan Calvillo OPINION EDITOR Juliett Marie Villegas NEWS EDITOR Melvin Bui FEATURE EDITOR Jonathan Bermudez ARTS EDITORS Johanna Perez Gabriela Gutierrez SPORTS EDITOR Erica Cortez Michael Dominguez COPY EDITORS Gustavo Buenrostro Ivan Cazares CARTOONIST Zasha Hayes STAFF WRITERS Noe Ortega Melisa Valenzuela Miguel Dominguez Russell Navarrette Raymond Nava Evan Hill Sonny Tapia Alejandro Ambriz Samantha Iniguez Maya Perayra Jeremy Arias Maria Marroquin Monroy Andrew Ayala Vanessa Ramos ADVERTISING Stefanie Arocha DISTRIBUTION Gustavo Buenrostro ADVISERS Jean Stapleton Sylvia Rico-Sanchez
Stay in bed if you’re sick BY ANDREW AYALA
EDITOR IN CHIEF Luis Castilla
“Students should maintain a social distance of one meter to three feet between individuals who are coughing or have a fever, practice good respiratory hygiene by covering their mouths with a tissue or sleeves (never using hands) when coughing or sneezing and use alcohol based sanitizer (that has at least 60%) if soap and water are unavailable,” said Michelle Quon, family practitioner nurse from Via Care for the East Los Angeles College health center. “If students are sick, they should stay home unless seeking professional medical care, in order to prevent the spread of infection.” There is a reason why work gives people sick days and professors leave an email or phone number to call when there is an emergency. If the infection is already in a student’s body, then they are unknowingly spreading it as well. Just because students are asymptomatic doesn’t mean they are safe. If a student doesn’t take the proper rest, relaxation and medication, then they can extend the period that they are sick for. A flu that is properly treated will last a few days or so as opposed to the couple of weeks it would take for someone who isn’t trying to help their body fight off the infection. The CDC website also has a
few key messages that say, “Flu activity remains elevated in California. Flu A (H1)pdm09 viruses are now the predominant virus in California, but B (Victoria) viruses are still circulating. Since September 29, 2019, 12 influenzaassociated pediatric deaths have been reported.” Students can easily take initiative by getting a flu shot, but if you are against that, then at least try and stop the spread of these deadly infections. Sneezing into an elbow, wearing a mask when a cough or sore throat is present, carrying hand sanitizer and cough drops and taking Dayquil or some other form of medicine are some of the simplest ways to aid in the fight against the flu. “There is this little paper in the health center that students fill out. They circle what they need and show proof that their health fee is paid,” said Jocelyn Chun, a receptionist at the ELAC health center. “We give students hand sanitizer, pads and tampons, band-aids, condoms, chapstick, wipes, tissue and ice packs… Students should take care of themselves because they don’t want sickness to affect their education or mess up attendance and homework assignments,” Chun said.
Campus News encourages letters to the editor relating to campus issues. Letters must be typed and double spaced. Submitted material becomes the property of Campus News and cannot be returned. Letters should be limited to 300 words or less. Campus News reserves the right to edit letters for grammatical errors or libelous content. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Writers must sign submissions and print their names and a phone number where they can be reached. Letters should be addressed to the editor of Campus News. Submissions can be made at the mailroom in building E1 or the Journalism department office in the Technology Center in E7-303. East Los Angeles College Campus News 1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez E7-303 Monterey Park, CA 91754 (323) 265-8819, Ads (323) 265-8821 Fax (323) 415-4910 The East Los Angeles College Campus News is published as a learning experience, offered under the East Los Angeles College Journalism program. The editorial and advertising materials are free from prior restraint by virtue of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. The opinions expressed are exclusively those of the writer. Accordingly, materials published herein, including any opinions expressed, should not be interpreted as the position of the Los Angeles Community College District, East Los Angeles College, or any officer or employee thereof.
PRINTING BY NEWS PUBLISHERS PRESS
News
EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2020
3
Elac partners with UCLA to paint future Joint event aims to provide transfer opportunities BY ERICA CORTES Staff Writer The UCLA’s Center for the Community College Partnership hosted a social painting and planting party on Wenesday in the multi-purpose room. They shared food and painting pots while planting small succulents. The CCCP partnered with UCLA ambassadors to help current students transfer. The event’s objective was to give information about upcoming events and encourage others to join the community. Chely Gonzalez, the program’s coordinator was in charge of this event. Gonzalez gave her power point and had the pannel in the event open for disccusion. When asked what is the goal for this community, Gonzalez said,“To give them the option and motivate them. To really consider UCs or just explore the different possibilities there are,” Gonalez said. UCLA ambassadors were there to help. Genesys Sanches, who also is an ELAC alumni, expressed how the biggest resource is the space to be creative. “It was so easy for me to navigate, strive and succeed there,” Sanches said. “It was so easy to be involved and get all these recognitions
“Our mission with our program is to help students transfer, give them the option and motivate them. . . To really consider UCs or just explore the different possibilities there are.” CHELY GONZALEZ
Program Coordinator
because I had my community,” Sanches said. She said community gave her the safe space she needed to become a successful firstgeneration college student.Since then she been a helping hand in these events as a mentor. Many curious students came out to eat, paint and plant. They also came to see what the community had to offer. Arturo Martinez, who heard about the event through his English class,considered joining this community. “I don’t know where it is I am going to transfer to.” “I am hoping to get understanding and get more information on what I need to do in order to transfer after ELAC,” Martinez said.
Paola Rodriguez, who has been part of the community since last summer, used the event to reconnect with her mentor, Ryan Astengo. Rodriguez said how the community helped her feel not alone in the college atmosphere. “Finding the group of people that have been excluded from this constitution and then fighting together to combat that stigma or combat that and have nontraditional students be in this institution,” Rodriguez said helped her feel included. Rodriguez also said that there is power in the community that is worth joining. “You never know the little gems you might find,” Rodriguez said. “You might find that you are more empowered than what you think you are. “I didn’t think that from myself until I got with the program,” Rodriguez said. CCCP has upcoming events for new students who might be interested in joining their community. The CCCP encourages people who came to these events to bring others who might be interested in joining The next event is on Saturday. It is opened to the public to inform students and their families of the process of transferring. This event will occur in the multi- purpose room from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the G3 building.
CN/ERICA CORTES
PAINTING POTS— A group of students gathers painting supplies to decorate their newly potted succulents, provided by UCLA’s community college partnership.
Study Abroad opportunities at ELAC New opportunities are available for East Los Angeles College students to study abroad, presented Center for Global Education and Engagement at East Los Angeles College.
Study Abroad: Florence, Italy
Professor Jim Kawahara will lead a threeweek program that explores Italian culture and architecture. The first information session is Thursday, February 27 at 5:30 p.m. in the MLD/ ESL Language Lab, E3-170.
Study Abroad: Salamanca, Spain
The first payment for this four-week program in Salamanca, Spain is due on March 2. The program runs from June 12 to July 11. All levels of Spanish are accepted. Or more information, contact Norma Vega of the Modern Languages Department.
Cash for College aims to help students Undocu-Huskies have first meeting BY VANESSA RAMOS Staff Writer
East Los Angeles College hosted Cash for College workshops that gave instructions on how to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms and AB540 students helped complete the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) forms Saturday. Along with CADAA filing, the deadline is March 2, 2020 for any Cal Grant program consideration. Deadlines for the 2020-2021 school year FAFSA is March 2, and additional community college Cal Grants deadlines are Sept. 2, 2020. Filings are every year for FAFSA and CADAA. For AB540 filings are not every year but if nonresident students leave and return, the student will need to refile. Students in financial need can apply. Once applied, the state can
determine/ eligibility for grants, work-study hours, or loans qualifications if estimated family contribution calculations are above determined assistance. By the status of their residency students’ grants will vary from federal aid assistance and state aid assistance. The state and school selected for aid for the academic year will determine the aid packet. Students in community college must obtain a GPA of 2.0 or above and be enrolled at least half-time. Depending on the financial calculations on the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) students who apply under a FAFSA and CADAA can receive Cal Grants A,B, or C awards for support in their educational path. Cal Grant A is for university grants, Cal Grant B is for 4-year transfer program grants, and Cal Grant C is for 2-year occupational
Deadlines for the 20202021 school year FAFSA is March 2, and additional community college cal grants dealines are Sept. 2.
or technical training programs. Linda Yanez, a financial aid technician, gave emphasis on Cal Grant B, which can award students with no dependents up to $1,672 and for students with dependent(SWD) up to $6,024. Cal Grant C awards SWD up to $4,024 this coming year. Lindy Fong, director of the financial aid office, said that if students are non-residents, they can be eligible for state aid or a grant called California College Promise Grant (CCPG) which can waives tuition fees per-unit. Students, parents or spouses will
need to use income tax returns from 2018 for both FAFSA and CADAA filing. With the IRS Data Retrieval Tool students who apply for FAFSA, who have filed for their 2018 tax return with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), can find a more accurate way to transfer information. Students fling under FAFSA that have not filed for 2019, can give an estimated amount of the year, then once filed, can provide the correct amount. Students who are completing the CADAA form and have not filed for 2019, should give an estimate as well. If students are experiencing financial instability, complete both forms to the furthest extent and submit them. Julie Benavides, Vice president of student services , invited students of AB540 and DACA students to visit the Dream Resource Center if any questions arise about their status.
BY STEVEN ADAMO Staff Writer Sharing upcoming events on campus and important information, the Undocu-Huskies met for the first time last on Feb. 18 as a newlycharted club. The welcoming event was aimed to introduce the club to students and show the importance of connecting with each other and having a good time. “Sometimes we just need emotional support,” UndocuHuskies’ historian said. “It’s not just about laws.” Keeping up-todate with legislation is a big part of the club. For example, Dream Resource Center coordinator Elizandro Unman shared an update on the “Public Charge” rule, which went into effect Monday. Unman said that the Public Charge rule doesn’t apply to the DREAM Act because it is not a federal program. Another new law mentioned in the meeting was Senate Bill No. 554. A law which took effect in October, that focuses on students of public schools, adult schools and other scholastic and vocational programs. Under the new law, current high school students can be dualenrolled in community college, adult schools and others with a parent’s permission. This allows students to gain the hundreds of school hours required by the DREAM Act in less time. Unman also shared some opportunities for undocumented students who are in need of financial assistance. Encouraging those applying for the DREAM Act to get the paperwork turned in well before the March 2 deadline. Unman said that sometimes additional information and
“Sometimes we just need emotional support, it’s not just about the laws”
Undocu-Huskies Historian
paperwork is requested, so it’s important to get everything turned in early. Sometimes, Unman said, the parents of the student end up enrolling in college themselves after discovering the available resources. DRC coordinator Vanessa Lopez hopes the club will eventually visit other DREAM resource centers on college campuses throughout California, including both California State University and University of California systems. Lopez also encourages students to visit the ELAC DREAM Resource Center. The center is not just for DREAMers, but all students who are undocumented, AB540 students, DACA recipients and LGBTQ identified students. The welcoming event was hosted by the DREAM Resource Center at East Los Angeles College. DRC coordinator Vanessa Lopez encouraged attendees of the event to write inspirational quotes on colored-paper shaped like stars. Some of the inspirational quotes that were shared by students included “never let your status get in the way of your dream” and “dreams don’t have borders.” The stars will be used to decorate the DRC on campus. The Undocuhuskies meet every Tuesday at 12:10 a.m. to 1:10 p.m. For more information, visit the Dream Resource Center located in E1-142. www.ELACCampusNews.com
4
Arts
EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2020
‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ hindered by bad visuals BY JUILETT MARIA VILLEGAS Staff Writer Sonic the Hedgehog boomed into theaters on Valentine’s Day 2020 and it surely captured America’s heart fast. This action packed, comedyadventure film is about an extraterrestial hedgehog named Sonic seeking asylum from a rival tribe on his home world. After ignoring his caretaker’s request to hide his supersonic speed and thus being exposed to danger, Sonic travels to earth with only a bag of teleportation rings, forcing him to leave behind his family and friends. On planet earth Sonic lives a comfortable life in secrecy enjoying his own company and using his powers for shenanigans before encountering a new enemy and unforeseen challenges. Directed by Jeff Fowler and based on a video-game franchise created by Sega, Paramount Pictures did a wonderful job of redesigning what otherwise would have been a grotesque character on the big screen trying to convince us that it’s somehow better than “Cats.” With a diverse cast, a nutty evil scientist portrayed by Jim Carrey, Star Wars references and an adorable alien hedgehog whose attitude resembles that of a kid, this film will fill your heart with nothing less than joy.
“Dare yourself not to utter expressions of fear or sadness while watching Sonic search for a homey lifestyle that is hard to find given the nature of his being” Sonic’s character effortlessly shows how, despite being an unusual creature with an ability that is unlike that of any other species on planet earth, deep down he is just a kid. Dare yourself to not utter expressions of fear or sadness while watching Sonic search for a homey lifestyle that is hard to find given the nature of his being. Sonic’s latter savior and partner in crime, dubbed the Donut Lord, or just Tom Wachowski, played by actor James Marsden, seemed rather comfortable, willing and patient to aid Sonic in his biggest obstacle yet. However, when face to face with death and uncertainty of survival, Wachowski and his on-screen wife, Tika Sumpter, lack the kind of fiery reaction one should naturally have. Despite the dry and slightly
unnerving energy we receive from Marsden and Sumpter, the excitement is restored with Sonic’s riveting courage and confidence when battling antagonist Dr. Robotnik, played by Jim Carrey. What better way to honor the attention span of today’s distracted kids than to have a quick and tothe-point backstory? There is none. The movie’s action-packed scenes act like candy to children who are ever seeking stimuli and it’s sophisticatedly well structured puns can not go unappreciated by their chaperones and guardians. Seeing how Sonic embodies a highly energetic and mischievous kid of the iGeneration makes one wonder if the story was further influenced by a group of Twitter fanatics with a love for TikTok. Undoubtedly, it’s the same hypervigilant users of these social media platforms, including those of YouTube, Instagram, Reddit, and more, that we have to thank for the transformation of Sonic’s appearance compared to when the first trailer was released last year. There is always going to be a tradeoff of logic when watching any movie that involves heavy usage of CGI, computer-generated imagery. In Sonic, the audience will be expected to compromise consistency for dramatic effect. While some movie-goers are capable of living in the moment of the movie others will not help but notice the lack of continuity
COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES
GOTTA GO FAST—Sonic the Hedgehog decides to use the mystic teleporting rings to get an advantage over the villian Dr. Robotnik. concerning the glow of Sonic’s quills. In one moment we see Sonic being his blue-colored, speedrunning, goofy, charming self with over a hundred intact quills that are not glowing. In the next moment there is a heavy clue exposong his presence which becomes revealed when a single, glowing, red quill is
left behind. It’s also agreed upon that we are not to mention the power ratio one missing quill holds against the countless quills on Sonics back. Aside from the inconsistent glow of Sonic’s quills, and the varying power of the quills, overall, Sonic the Hedgehog is a great film. I t ’s h e a r t w a r m i n g t h e m e s
surrounding friendship and family will make you not want to miss a minute of it whatsoever no matter what age you are. Lastly, while holding the urge to use the restroom until after the post credits scene is over, shouting “Gotta go fast!” will definitely increase your chances of making it on time.
Strokes tease overdue album Contrasting songs hint at diverse album BY GUSTAVO BUENROSTRO Staff Writer
COURTESY OF RCA RECORDS
WHAT ARE YOU RUNNING FOR—Death appears in the animated music vedeo that accom-
Seven years after their last full-length album, The Strokes released two new singles from their upcoming album “The New Abnormal.” The first of the singles titled “At the Door” was released to the public on February 11, debuting at Bernie Sanders’ New Hampshire political rally the day before. The song has a very somber tone with a heavy use of synths as the lead sound in the song. As the chorus begins, Julian Casablancas’ impassioned voice breaks through the calmness at the start of the song as he sings about the failing of a romantic relationship. The lyrics tackle emotions that come with dealing with a goal that can never be reached as well as the ending of the relationship. An animated music video accompanied the song showing a young boy living through fantasies as he watches his parents argue and ultimately leave him. While the song does have the
“The second single ‘Bad Decisions’ also debuted at the Sanders New Hampshre rally.” sound fans have come to associate The Strokes with, it definitely feels different from what they normally sound like. It sets a tone for the rest of the album. While some fans were excited for the song, many complained about he sound. The second single “Bad Decisions” also debuted at the Sanders’rally, but with a live performance by The Strokes at the rally with the song was released on streaming services on February 18 along with the music video. Compared to “At the Door,” “Bad Decisions” has a more upbeat
tempo as well as a catchy chorus and post chorus. The post chorus having more drawn out notes by Casablancas that are satisfying to the ears. This song is more Stokessounding with the guitar having a rhythmic melody that more people will be able to bop their heads to. The lyrics on this song actually share more in common with “At the Door,” as both talk about relationships, with “Bad Decisions” focusing more on the relationship and how it was a bad idea to be in it. The music video for “Bad Decisions” is a parody of old infomercials with the band themselves being sold to consumers. It is difficult to tell what kind of album “The New Abnormal” will be. The two singles are completely different in tone with similar overlapping themes. Either way, the sound is similar enough to what the Strokes are associated with, but different enough to be interesting. “The New Abnormal” will be released on April 10.
panied The Strokes’ new single, “At The Door.”
Nazi war criminals brought to justice in ‘Hunters’ debut BY JUAN CALVILLO Staff Writer Amazon’s “Hunters“ takes creative license with a tragic moment in history but allows its main character to figure whether the best revenge is revenge. Taking place in a fictional world, the show asks the audience to imagine a world where Nazis managed to escape to the United States. Over the 10-episode first season run of “Hunters”, the main characters go through hell and back as Nazi enemies come from out of the wood work to challenge not only freedom but the safety of all people. The trailers have shown Logan Lerman as Jonah and Al Pacino as Meyer talking gravely after a death in Jonah’s family. This event is the catalyst that pushes Jonah into a world of Nazis and Nazi hunters. Although this is a TV show, there is some basis in real- world fact. A November 2010 article by Eric. Lichtblau in the New York Times said that some Nazis were allowed entrance into the United States after the Second World War. And some South American countries have had Nazis escape to them as well. But in “Hunters”, Nazis have www.ELACCampusNews.com
The pair proves to be not only managed to worm their way all over the American hierarchy of a source of fun but a source of emotional connection as the show government and political power. This is where suspension of goes on. It would be silly not to talk about disbelief kicks in, because the show puts Nazis in the government, the Pacino and Lerman of course, FBI and almost living in every because the pair hold the center of this large ensemble cast. major city on the East coast. Pacino as Meyer is laid back and The show bubbles from a slow sly, but just watching his face, the burn to an explosive finale. “Hunters” is lucky to have audience can see there's a fire that's multiple names to draw from, with about to burn through. This makes many of Pacino’s actors like Pacino and Lerman. scenes with the Nazi But it is Jerrika villains, anxiety Hinton as FBI agent -building to see. Millie Morris, and the “‘Hunters’ If Pacino is part pair of Saul Rubinek btilliantly of the center then and Carol Kane, as married couple deconstructs the Lerman is the gooey middle. It’s through Murray and Mindy idea of human his character Jonah’s Markowitz, that are a experiences that the real treat to watch heroes.” audience sees what Hinton is great as real struggle comes a tough-as -nails FBI from deciding to seek agent who catches on out vengeance. to what the Hunters There are various moments are doing all on her own. Hinton’s character is a badass during the show that put Jonah in who figures things out much quicker situations where a choice needs to than most and is balanced on the be made and while he makes the side of the law in the battle between ‘good’ choice most times, it comes as a shock to him that the best the Nazis and Hunters. Rubinek and Kane are both outcome isn’t always what happens . “Hunters” brilliantly hilarious to watch as that old married couple many have seen before. But deconstructs the idea of human it’s the moments when they show heroes. Through the season Jonah more of their back story from their time in the internment camps that compares the Hunters to the likes of Batman and Robin. But it’s Meyer fleshes the characters out.
that breaks it down to him. He tells him that those heroes are made of paper and ink, and it’s easy for them to make the good choice to be heroes because they aren’t flesh and blood. He explains that those are fantasy, and the real world is starkly different. This is what makes “Hunters” so interesting. It asks the audience not to see the team of Hunters as heroes or the good guys. It asks if what they are doing about the Nazis is just after everything that the Nazis have done. It asks the audience to accept the Hunters as flawed humans. “Hunters” is set in the and the aesthetic is picture perfect. The cars, clothes, one liners, everything is just as it should look for a period piece. The music and sound track are perfect for the show, really making it feel like a bit of time travel has been achieved. The one thing that stands out is the production of moments through the series that seem like nods to the audience. These moments remind viewers that despite this show really dealing with some heavy themes, there is a sense of whimsy and tongue in cheek. These moments range from a commercial explaining how to tell if some one is a Nazi, to a cartoon
COURTESY OF AMAZON
HUNTING NAZIS—Logan Lerman (left) and Al Pacino portray Jonah and Meyer respectively in Amazon’s “Hunters.” depiction of story told to Jonah. These moments are amazing, and while they may be jarring in tone, they make perfect sense in when and where they are placed. It’s hard not to watch “Hunters” and draw parallels to real world situations over the recent years. This is especially true when it seems that bigots have become brazen and don’t run and hide in the dark as they once did when revealed. In the end though, it is a
TV show, no more and no less. It is made for its entertainment value. At its core it's a show that isn’t shy about the realities of hate. It also isn’t shy about the ramifications that come when vengeance taken. The Holocaust ended 75 years ago but still resonates with people to this day because of the horrific actions taken on the Jewish people.
Sports Men’s basketball ends season rank #2 in the state EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2020
BY RUSSELL NAVARRETTE Staff Writer
East Los Angeles College men’s basketball dominated its last game of the season by beating Rio Hondo College away 109-86 on Feb. 14. ELAC received its 23rd consecutive win, with an 8-0 home record, 11-0 away, and 8-0 against south coast conference teams. The Huskies have not lost since November against Copper Mountain
College in the San Bernardino tournament event. ELAC finished the season with an overall record of 27-1, and will face the winner between Saddleback College and Antelope Valley College on Saturday in the Men’s gym. ELAC had five players that scored double digits and a team total of 25 assists. Freshman forward Keallen Allen, lead scorer for the men’s basketball team, shared the spotlight with teammate sophomore guard Deshaun Highler,
who scored 17 points and went 3-4 from the three-point line. Sophomore forward Joseph Hampton dominated off the bench, after he scored 16 points with 3 assists. Hampton has been one of the top scorers for the Huskies the last 4 out of 5 games. The team reflected head coach John Mosley’s energy. He was relentless and competitive, yelling at the refs to get the calls right, and being active throughout the game despite the large lead.
Highler received a technical after he scored for unsportsmanlike behavior and Hampton had to calm himself after he received a couple of fouls. He would later foul out of the game. Athletic director and ELAC head football coach Bobby Godinez, who has been part of East Los Angeles College since 2016, gave nothing but praise to head coach John Mosley, his coaching staff and the success they have had over the past eight years. Also, he helps his
players find success academically and in obtaining scholarships. Coach Godinez added, “Since he’s been here he’s been in the playoffs every single year. So, at East Los Angeles College, the basketball program has never been as prominent as it is now, and this team is the best team he’s had.” Since 2012 ELAC has had a winning record of 20 wins or more, five regional playoff appearances, two regional finals, and one state appearance.
5
The Men’s basketball recruiting has also found success in couple players, such as: Solomon Hunt, who was on last year’s team and was selected as the South Coast Conference mvp and recently signed with Chicago State University, and Rodrick J Williams who led ELAC to a conference title and currently, is finishing his college career at Boise State and can be potentially drafted to the National Basketball Association.
Softball loses three in a row, but still fourth in SCC BY NOE ORTEGA Staff Writer
East Los Angeles College softball starts off the 2020 season ranked fourth in the South Coast Conference with seven wins and five losses. Despite losing three consecutive games against El Camino, Mount San Antonio and Pasadena City College, Huskie softball still has a long season ahead. ELAC was behind undefeated Mt. SAC in the SCC, but with yesterday’s 8-4 loss to PCC, the Huskies dropped down to fourth place in the table. The Huskies next game will be on Saturday as they visit Moorpark College at 2 p.m.
Softball has had a busy month so far with 11 games played and two more games to come. Softball has gotten its best start to a season since the 2014 season where they won 29 games and lost 11. They were SCC champions, but then lost to Saddleback College in the regional playoffs. ELAC sophomore infielders Puatausaga Johnson, Priscilla Ortega and Melanie Torres have a combined 35 hits. Johnson has six runs, 12 hits and nine runs batted in with a .375batting average. While Ortega has five runs, 10 hits, two RBI’s and a .323 batting average. Torres has two runs, 13 hits,seven RBI’s and a .433 batting average. The competition in the SCC is heavy when it comes to batting. Torres is statistically the Huskies
most successful when at bat, but is ranked 10th in the SCC tied with Mt. SAC sophomore shortstop Quinn De Avila. ELAC freshman pitcher Lauren Tate has made nine appearances on the mount, seven of them as a starter. Tate has pitched 31.1 innings allowing 15 earned runs, 13 walks and 13 strikeouts. With a 3.35 earned run average, Tate is tied in wins for second place with three other pitchers in the SCC. ELAC freshman pitcher Raylena Valencia has made eight appearances on the mount and two of them as a starter. Valencia has 24.1 innings pitched with 13 earned runs, 11 walks, 16 strikeouts and has a 3.74 era.
- National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, which itself has two levels of athletic competition. The next contention we’ll raise is the issue of scouting. Colleges do not have scouting departments – professional sports do.In college, coaches are responsible for recruiting high school studentathletes to attend their school. Whereas a scout gathers intel on an athlete to disperse within an organization, recruiting involves scouting plus contacting targeted high-school and transfer eligible student athletes to convince them to play for ELAC. Wi t h r e c r u i t i n g , y o u a r e competing against other community colleges to enroll student athletes to a team: the better the studentathlete, the more competition there will be for his/her talents. There are a variety of factors that go into convincing a student to play for your school that go beyond scouting.The last point of contention we’ll speak on is judging a community college program on the number of professional athletes it produces. We believe it’s not fair to judge us – or any other community college athletics’ program – on such a metric.Instead, allow us to list several of our recently matriculated student athletes that now play on the four-year level: CeeJay French-Love, a tight-end, played football in 2016. He accepted a scholarship offer to Arizona State University, a PAC-12 school.Sione Kava, a defensive tackle who played football in 2017, accepted a PAC-12 scholarship offer – to the University of Oregon. He played in eight games as a junior for the Ducks in 2018, and just finished his senior season as his team defeated the University of Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl Game last month. Frank Bertz, former guard for men’s basketball, accepted a scholarship offer in 2018 to play for the University of Central Florida. UCF is a member of the American
Athletic Conference, a prominent grouping of Division-1 schools that compete with basketball traditionrich universities such as Duke and Kentucky. 2019 ELAC grad Toni Harris, a defensive back for the 2018 football team, became the first woman to accept a non-kicking, positional scholarship from a fouryear university. She just completed her junior season at Central Methodist University, and dreams to become the first woman to play in the NFL. There is one criticism in the op-ed that we do agree with: ELAC Athletics has not created a concerted and sustained effort to promote athletic events on campus. In a survey conducted during the final Inter-Club Council meeting of Spring 2019, students responded (overwhelmingly) that they are not aware when games and events take place during the school year. We are beginning to change that. Athletics has hired a staffer to primarily handle Sports Information duties – which include promoting games and team events on campus. We’ve had to start small: you’ll see flyers posted on ASU-approved announcement boards around campus and streaming in the Student Center.We’ve begun to use the digital marquee boards to announce on-campus games and meets, and we’ve begun utilizing email blasts to students and employees. We plan on creating outreach events so the campus and nearby community can get to know our teams and form a connection with them (i.e. generate school spirit). And we plan to partner with ASU to find ways to involve student clubs with athletic events while offering clubs opportunities to fundraise. We hope that this response sheds light on the essentials of community college athletics and what our goals are (along with a few of our success stories).
Athletics refute Campus News reporter’s opinion BY CERWIN D. HAYNES
Athletics Department We here at East Los Angeles College Athletics would like to take a few moments to respond to an op-ed piece in the Dec. 6 edition of the Campus News. We would like to respectfully contend what we believe are the three major issues discussed; we believe said issues do not accurately reflect upon our goals and operations as a department. The first contention is using major NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) division-1 universities as a base of comparison for notoriety and popularity.Our goal is to expose and direct our hard-working student athletes to scholarship opportunities at the university/four-year level. This differs greatly from the goals of top-flight, prestigious, NCAA Division-I programs such as USC, Alabama, Duke, Kentucky and Oregon; it is historically from those schools where student athletes matriculate onto professional athletic careers. It’s fair to call into question whether any university should be judged by how many athletes go pro.According to NCAA.org, fewer than two percent of NCAA student-athletes go on to become professional athletes. One should also consider the following when looking at university-level athletics:The percentages of community college student athletes that transfer to a Division-I university vary depending on sport and male/female demographics.The highest transfer percentage for men’s sports is Baseball at 20.8%. For women, it’s Basketball at 7.8%. This means that most community college athletes do not transfer to the top-level of college competition. The NCAA has three levels of collegiate competition (Division-I is the top level). And many four-year schools participate in the smaller NAIA
For the full version of this story, visit www.elaccampusnews.com
C/N: IVAN CAZARES
STRIKEOUT—Freshman pitcher Raylena Valencia took the mount with high energy for East Los Angeles College. Howeer, the Huskies energy wasn’t enough for them to defeat Pasadena City College. They lost to the Lancers 8 to 4.
Sports ranked by concussions and injuries BY ALEJANDRO AMBRIZ Staff Writer
There is always a chance athletes can be injured during competition, no matter how good the players are or if precautions are followed to the letter. An analysis by Quotewizard that looked at National Safety Council data on sports related injuries from 2010 to 2017 provides insight as to which sports are more dangerous among 15-24 year olds. This three-minute read ranked sports in three charts based on most common sports for sports injuries, most dangerous sport with the highest rate of injury and most common sports for concussion related injuries. Sports injuries were classified as “treatments for injuries resulting from a sports activity”, according to the article. Basketball took the lead for most common sports for sports injuries with a staggering 251,794 injuries; with football at 168,911. These numbers reflect the total number of injuries in the United States. “I believe that is likely a participation number...there’s more students playing basketball around the country than there are football, so with a higher number of participants I think you’re going to see more injuries in basketball than football” said Adam Johnson,
According to John Hopkins Health, most sports injuries occur due to lack of education and awareness about safety precautions and potential injury, inappropriate or lack of equipment, and poorly conditioned players. creator of the article. Although it is more common to be injured in basketball, the rate of injury for football players surpasses that of basketball and wrestling. With a 1.78 percent rate of injury compared to basketballs 0.98 and wrestling’s 0.90 percent, the protective gear is a no brainer. Concussions have become more of a concern in sports as they can increase the risk of mental illnesses such as dementia and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. Since the brain is still developing, any form of trauma can alter the student and they might not even notice until later in life. A 2018 Annal of Neurology journal study found that “Athletes who played contact sports for more than nine years had a six times greater risk of developing
Lewy body disease, a cause of Parkinson’s, than those who played eight or fewer years.” The nature of contact sports means that it is almost unavoidable for 15-24 year olds to remain unscathed every practice or game. An athlete's highest percentage of injuries resulting in a concussion comes from ice hockey, snowboarding, and water tubing at 12, 10, and nine percent respectively. According to John Hopkins Health, most sports injuries occur due to “lack of education and awareness about safety precautions and potential injury, inappropriate or lack of equipment, and poorly conditioned players.” Safety should always be a priority and can be ensured through proper training and the right safety equipment. If all else fails, it is important that student athletes have some form of insurance. “In universities or college age most kids are going to have to provide proof of insurance or purchase a school sponsored health insurance policy”, said Johnson. Minors benefit from being under their parents insurance or pay significantly less as they are considered a low health risk. Inevitably, student athletes will be injured and depending on the severity of the case, might have out of pocket expenses.
H U S K I E S
Women’s Basketball plays their first round playoff game on Saturday at Glendale Time:TBA
Baseball
Baseball looks to break losing streak on Thursday, at LA Harbor Time: 2 p.m.
Badminton Badminton plays its second game of the season on Friday, Feb. 28 at. El Camino Time: 2 p.m. w
Women’s Basketball
Upcoming Events
www.ELACCampusNews.com www.ELACCampusNews.com
6
Advertisement
www.ELACCampusNews.com
EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2020