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Volume 77, Issue 1 | www.elaccampusnews.com | Wednesday, September 11, 2019 | Single copy free - additional copies 50 cents

Governor Newsom amends College Promise BY JUAN CALVILLO Staff Writer

Governor Gavin Newsom announced a change to the College Promise, from one year to two years tuition, during an event at East Los Angeles College on Aug. 29. The College Promise, once known as the governors fee waiver for enrollment, is monies that are available for students to pay for enrolling in community college. The event was just one part of Newsom’s “California for All” state budget, which was proposed early in 2019. The proposed budget covered increases in lower and higher level education, as well as monies for emergency readiness and the pay down of unfunded pension liabilities. For higher education, community colleges throughout the state will receive a proposed $402 million investment which includes the new College Promise of two years of community college tuition paid for first-time students. Newsom talked about the position of California and where its diversity has placed it. “You look around this room, this is America’s coming attraction folks. You know the future happens here first. Donald Trump eat your heart out,” said Newsom about the states promising and diverse people. He said that the country’s politics was currently about focusing on what was different, not what unites people. Focusing on optimism as the thing that was a uniting force

for all people. He focused on the community college aspect of life saying it was not a time but a mindset. He made it clear that community college was for anyone, at any stage of life and that its purpose was to add to, and advance people. Newsom said that students in community college were doing something special.

“You look around this room, this is America’s coming attraction folks. You know the future happens here first. Donald Trump eat your heart out.” GAVIN NEWSOM

Governor of California

“You are making dreams real here,” he said. Newsom also touched briefly on the fact that the College Promise was not nearly enough. He said things like, text books, transportation and housing were also important to take a look at for students. “This is just the beginning of the journey,” Newsom said. He said the full cost of attending college would be something that would need to be talked about in Sacramento but didn’t specify a timeline. Assemblyman Miguel Santiago gave background on the battle for

the College Promise. “We started this a long time ago, when we were here on the community college board,” Santiago said. “When we went to the legislature, he (Newsom) was Lieutenant Governor, but very few people remember that he signed off very quickly when we started talking about free community college. And that was one year. But, boy, talk about a guy who makes a commitment on a campaign trail and then follows through.” Santiago said that Newsom had talked about a debt-free education and that through his proposed plans has been able to achieve it. He said that every student that went through the community college system had their lives changed and that through the College Promise, first time students, returning students, and more Californians can change their lives by getting schooling. ELAC’s Associated Student Union president, Brian Ha and a recipient of the college promise, Jocelyn Campos, gave brief speeches before the Governor’s announcement. Both talked about the impact that the College Promise had on their college careers. Ha said that he was allowed to flourish as both an academic and a student leader during his time at ELAC and that he attributed much of that to the College Promise. Campos echoed a similar sentiment saying her experience with the program gave a sense of empowerment and allowed her to stay focused on school. Academic Senate President Jeffery Hernandez said that

CN/JULIE SANTIAGO

GOVERNOR IN TOWN—Gavin Newsom, Governor of California, visited East Los Angeles

College to announce an early campaign promise to make two years of college free for firsttime students. something as momentous as the College Promise was once said to be impossible. He said that despite this, it was happening and that it was something

that was unique in the nation and that despite it being a set program it is helping students succeed. He said many of the district colleges would benefit but that it

UPS partnership to offer training for rehab youth BY VICKY NGUYEN Staff Writer

CN/STEVEN ADAMO

NO CCTV—One of the functional cameras located on the third floor of the E7 Vicky Chang Career and Technology building. Complaints have been filed regarding faulty cameras.

Camera system requires more attention BY JUAN CALVILLO Staff Writer East Los Angeles College has over 400 functioning security cameras throughout the campus, with a majority of them being digital in quality. With the fall season starting and day turning to night sooner, the idea of safety is paramount. Not having a satisfying answer to whether or not a security camera system is working can be frustrating for students. The functionality of the security system at ELAC was in question after the 2019 Associated Student Union elections were marred by vandalism of one of the candidates election posters. Anthony Dominguez, from the ASU, said a request was made for camera footage of the incident, but was told that access could not be given. During the election incident, Sheriff Deputy Elizabeth Elias said that the sheriff's department was approached by Dean Sonia Lopez of ASU. Lopez asked for the help of the sheriff’s department in obtaining footage of the incident. Elias said that despite having rough estimates on the time frame of the incident, the footage could not be found. Nghi Nghiem, associate Vice President of administrative services, said that the procedure for acquiring footage from the

security system must start with a request that is made by the sheriff’s department to the Information Technology department. “When I spoke to my technician last week, he informed me that he wasn't able to locate the footage because it had past the retention period,” said Nghiem. As of right now, the retention period for video footage from the campus security cameras is about a week due to the limited hard drive space for the system. The system records, then when it reaches its limit, it begins to record over the oldest footage and the cycle begins again. Nghiem said that the ELAC campus has more cameras than most colleges in the Los Angeles Community College District, and that there are no decoy cameras on campus. Nghiem said that the campus is almost entirely covered by digital cameras that allow for much clearer pictures. He said that only one building still has analog cameras, but that it is a tiny percentage of cameras compared to number of digital cameras. Nghiem clarified that if a student looks up and sees a camera, then they are being recorded despite the type of camera. He also said that the cameras are not there to monitor students. Nghiem said that like all equipment, sometimes the cameras may go down. Maintenance is

started as soon as a report of a down camera is given. The camera system is not monitored consistently enough to know when a camera may be down. This is why a service request is usually how down cameras are addressed. He added that at times the cameras are susceptible to the outside environment causing blurry or hindered quality and that is when maintenance must address the situation. Nghiem said that the department roughly cheacks cameras at least every month by “pinging” the IP addresses of the cameras. All cameras are on an internal server that can’t be accessed from the outside. This program checks to make sure that the camera system is working or if it needs to be addressed. “I tell my team that at least once a month, you need to go ahead and run the pinging to make sure that everybody is talking back to us,” said Nghiem. This preventative maintenance coupled with reports of cameras not working are key to keeping the system working. Myeshia Armstrong, Vice President of administrative services, said that the number of cameras on campus also needs to be taken into account. Having such a high number allows for multiple points of view. For full version, visit elaccampusnews.com

For youth in juvenile rehabilitation camps, finding work upon release can be a daunting task. To address this issue, East Los Angeles College has been working with the Los Angeles County Probation and United Postal Service to provide youth with job opportunities in the logistics industry after discharge. The creation of the 10-week, three-course program was led by ELAC logistics professor Leonardo Medina. Initially offering one course last fall to Camp A ff l e r b a u g h , a rehabilitation center in La Ve r n e , t h e program has now been expanded to three leadership courses. The program has turned out to be a total of eight students who have been hired to UPS after the completion of the program. Medina developed the program to meet the demands

“Nobody says that their goal is to make it to adult prison. There’s goals to provide for (them), and I think a program like this offers them hope for a better tomorrow.” JESUS CORRAL

Senior Director of Education Services

of the logistics industry, the secondfastest growing industry in the country. Specifically, he wanted to focus on giving students in the program soft skills in addition to technical skills. “Time and time again, the greatest skill that is lacking in the industry is leadership,” said Medina. “They (schools) teach young people how to take tests and quizzes and papers and all this wonderful stuff. But in the end they’re realizing they’re coming out pretty smart, but they need to learn how to take initiative, how to be self-starters.” The partnership with UPS ensures students are being trained with the necessary skill set to work for UPS and provides an opportunity for employment. “ T o have an opportunity to earn work experience upon release is an important component and a huge selling point for young people in the program,” said LA County Probation Senior Director of Education Services Jesus Corral. “It’s one thing to talk about something. This program has the education pieces and it connects the employer as well,” said Corral. With the success of the program so far, is set to expand to another campus, Camp Dorothy Kirby in Commerce starting Oct 21. “Nobody says that their goal is to make it to adult prison. There’s goals to provide for (them), and I think a program like this offers them a hope for a better tomorrow,” said Corral. The program received an Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties.

really was important to ELAC. “This kind of new law is particularly valuable for East LA college,” Hernandez said.

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News Briefs Career Cafe

The Career and Job Services Center will host an information workshop with career counselors sponsored by Starbucks tomorrow at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the E7 quad.

Blood Drive

Cedars-Sinai will host a blood drive on Sept. 16 and Sept. 17 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the central quad near the bookstore.

South Gate Club Rush There will be a club fair on Sept. 17 and Sept. 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the South Gate campus.

Opinion

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2019

LA should always be ready for earthquakes BY ANDREW AYALA Staff Writer It is vital that Angelenos always stay prepared and take the proper precautions for an earthquake even when there isn’t much seismic activity going on. The Southern California Earthquake Data Center reported a magnitude 4.0 earthquake at 1:21 p.m. in Wildomar, California yesterday and also mention that there have been two earthquakes in the last 10 days with a magnitude 3.0 or greater nearby. Franklin Wolfe, a doctoral student from Harvard, and his team found that the Wilmington Blind Thrust Fault running from Huntington Beach toward Santa Monica Bay is indeed active and can cause a magnitude 6.4 earthquake. It is important to stay prepared because there is no warning for these natural disasters, unless the ShakeAlertLA app is downloaded. The app is supposed to notify

users of any magnitude 4.5 earthquakes and also shows hot spots throughout Los Angeles. This app is a great way to stay informed, but it can’t be the only way people are prepared. First steps should be creating a plan in the case where family members are separated during the disaster. It should include a few meeting places to avoid anyone getting lost during the chaos. It would also be smart to come up with an escape plan or route just in case it happens at night. Having important documents and extra cash in an easy-to-reach and safe location is also wise, as well as any medication that one may need. In the case of a major earthquake, buildings will crumble and anything in those buildings will more than likely be lost. A first aid kit that holds essentials as well as a bag packed with non-perishable food, water, portable batteries and even walkie-talkies would be handy.

No one really knows what things of a natural disaster, which is why will be like or how long they it is important to be prepared. will be struggling for, so it is better Having the items mentioned to be safe than sorry. packed in a trunk or somewhere in Other items that are worth your car would be a good idea, but mentioning include a one should consider radio, extra clothing, where they are at an emergency all times and have It is important blanket and rope. some sort of plan. Having a pair of to stay prepared i nBf oe ri mn ge d waenldl boots would also be a good idea idea because there is taking the necessary considering all the precautions can put no warning for shattered glass and people’s mind at rubble. ease when the time these natural Pet owners should comes. consider packing a It is easy for disasters, bag for their pets Angelenos to hold as well in order to it off until we feel unless the ensure their safety tremors again, ShakeAlertLA app but as mentioned and well-being. A few key items earlier, earthquakes is downloaded. pet owners can pack are some of the only are food, water, natural disasters medication the pet which have little may need, leash, to no warning time toys and a pet-sized dust mask. and makes them some of the most It is going to be very difficult dangerous. to gather these things in the midst

U.S. makes drastic changes to security after 9/11 BY JOHANNA RODRIGUEZ Staff Writer

Pets benefit well-being of their owners BY ADAM ROBLES AND CHER ANTIDO Staff Writers Having a pet can boost people’s well-being, especially those who suffer from mental health issues such as depression and Alzheimer’s disease. Taking proper care of a pet that requires a lot of attention and dedication can benefit both the animal and its owner. According to an article by HelpGuide, a mental health and wellness website, dogs and cats can be a good pet for all ages. Dogs can help people lose weight, stay active, and can also help children who have autism and the elderly who suffer from amnesia-like symptoms. Those who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease are often found to be less stressed if a pet is at home. WebMD posted a quote by Dr. Lynette Hard, a professor at University of California, Davis, revealing that Alzheimer’s patients have less anxiety outbursts in the presence of a pet. “Their caregivers also feel less burdened when there is a pet, particularly if it is a cat, which generally requires less care than a dog,” Hart said. Dogs, especially, can spark quite the experience into anyone’s life. They are some of the hardest pets to take care of due to the attention they require. They require the most time and patience, so it’s almost like having a child. The owner would have to www.ELACCampusNews.com

teach this living creature to not be the wild creature that they naturally are. Before doing so, however, the owner should see if taking care of an animal that requires so much energy is something they’re ready for. For those hestitating, it would be best to start off with something easier like a fish, a hamster or a turtle. These are pets that also need a certain amount of care, but not nearly as much as the bigger animals. These smaller-maintenance pets will teach pet owners how willing they are to manage them and how responsible they can be. When the owner has come to terms with wanting to pursue the challenge of a bigger pet, they can do so by visiting shelters to adopt homeless pets or spend a few hundred bucks to have one bred for them. When becoming the owner of a bigger animal, adoption is the best route to take because it’s much cheaper, and will save that animal from being euthanized. It’s best to visit a few shelters and make sure there is a mutual connection before taking home a new animal. For the owner, welcoming the pet to their new home will be a very anxiety-filled experience with lots of patience required and trial and error. Depending on how untamed the animal is, they may begin to tear up furniture or dispose of their waste in undesired places. Tackling the goal of raising what can be referred to as a child can

take a lot out of any individual, but it’s often worth the struggle. This experience is a journey like no other that can help people grow by raising their problem solving skills, social interactions and physical activity. The journal “Applied Developmental Science” shows a 2014 study that pet owners had more community involvement. Animals can very easily increase problem solving skills and one’s overall awareness because the owner has to constantly be on the lookout for messes the pet may cause. This instinct to stop these tragedies from occurring can strengthen and teach owners basic parenting skills before they have their first child. With a dog, the owner is faced with the task of having to walk the dog for a few hours a day. This may be quite the dramatic shift if they previously spent most of their time indoors. A 2017 study exploring the human-animal bond, published in the “Gerontologist” journal, showed that adults who walk their dogs experience fewer doctor visits, more exercise and an overall improvement in health. Dog-walking also brings in the opportunity to meet other people who have dogs and can make the pet owner improve social interaction skills in the real world. Although taking care of living animals costs money, time and patience, the benefits they give make it worth the struggle.

Eighteen years have passed since the U.S. was struck by a series of terrorist attacks that took the lives of 2,996 people on September 11, 2001 in New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Whether people watched the tragedy unfold in person or on a television screen, the entire nation watched in disbelief, and the changes it brought in security were plentiful and justified. An important change that resulted from the attacks was strict regulations to air travel. The Aviation and Transportation Act was passed in November 2001 “to improve aviation security,” according to the Transportation Security Administration. There were necessary major changes to air travel regulations that took place at the end of 2001 that were not entirely approved by the public. Those who traveled before 2001 might miss not having to arrive three hours before their flight, keeping their shoes on during the screening process or not having to take their laptops out of the cases. Airports also limited the weight of bags and liquids brought on board a flight. The TSA website states that passengers can only have up to 100ml of liquid in their carry-on bags. This is to protect passengers from liquid-based explosives. The improved regulations on air travel added a lot of time when boarding flights. Before the September 11 attacks, however, certain items that are now considered weapons, such as box cutters, blades and sewing needles, were not prohibited by the Federal Aviation Administration. This is one of the reasons why airport screenings were fast; potential weapons were on board flights. The 9/11 Commission Report

said that there were many layers to screenings that helped track prohibited items before 2001; however, “numerous government reports indicated that checkpoints performed poorly.” After the September 11 attacks, fear was instilled in many people causing a decline in air travel. The terrorist attacks that happened stopped people from flying in fear of a similar tragedy happening. Air travel took a halt after the terrorist attack occurred and the flights of many were cancelled. The decision to implement all the current regulations to air travel was correct and has prevented any further possible terrorist attacks. Even when the technology was flawed, technological improvements have advanced in a short amount of time. Technological advances have also helped with the detection of weapons. Airports have advanced past metal detectors and passengers are now screened through body scanners, explosive detectors and physical searches. The U.S. is not the only country with strict airport regulations. At airports in Singapore, Brussels and Istanbul, vehicles are screened before any drop-off, according to Business Insider. A timeline on ProPublica.org titled, “History of the Federal Air Marshal Service” showed that the newly created TSA hired more than 4,000 Air Marshals in 2001 for further protection. The reason airport safety is crucial to everyone in the world is the simple truth that traveling by plane is a popular mode of transportation. As of 2018, the Federal Aviation Administration states 2,789,971 passengers fly through U.S airports every day. Whether it’s for work, school or vacation, planes take us to other parts of the world. It is safer to board a plane now than it was decades ago.

EDITOR IN CHIEF Melody Ortiz MANAGING EDITOR Andrew Ayala ART DIRECTOR Steven Adamo ONLINE EDITOR Adam Robles FRONT EDITORS Luis Castilla Sonny Tapia

OPINION EDITOR Cher Antido NEWS EDITOR Juan Calvillo FEATURE EDITOR Maria Marroquin Monroy ARTS EDITOR Gustavo Buenrostro SPORTS EDITORS Daniel Ceja Mike Dominguez CARTOONIST Ivana Amaral COPY EDITORS Ivan Cazares Stephanie Guevara STAFF WRITERS Noe Ortega, Vicky Nguyen, Mariana Montoya, Melisa Valenzuela, Miguel Dominguez, Russell Navarette, Jonathan Bermudez, Johanna Rodriguez, Christopher De Leon, Julie Santiago, Christopher Oliveras, Simon Cabral, Kelly Vasquez ADVERTISING Stefanie Arocha DISTRIBUTION Gustavo Buenrostro ADVISERS Jean Stapleton Sylvia Rico-Sanchez

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, SEPTEMBER 11, 2019

Rodriguez chosen as interim president

Forges ahead despite criticism from RSCC staff BY JOSE IVAN CAZARES Staff Writer Raul Rodriguez is filling the vacant seat left by former East Los Angeles College president Marvin Martinez until July, when a new president will be selected to lead the college. Rodriguez is a seasoned community college administrator, prolonging his retirement to fill Martinez’s seat while Martinez takes over his role as chancellor of Rancho Santiago Community College District. Despite the change in leadership, it’s business as usual for everyone at ELAC aside from the committee selecting the new president said Jeffery Hernadez, member of the ELAC Senate Executive Committee and the president selection committee. Rodriguez said working directly with staff and walking the halls with students has reminded him why he became an educator. “I recruited Marvin. He took over at Rancho Santiago for me, and I was going to retire, but I realize now that I just needed a change,” Rodriguez said. “The last couple of years as chancellor, I had what seemed like a fantasy at the time of going back

CN/JOSE IVAN CAZARES

PRESIDENTIAL SEAT— interim president Raul Rodriguez. to a college campus. As chancellor you’re always at the district office and it’s a lot like a corporate job.” Rodriguez is serving on ELAC’s president selection committee and said he might consider pursuing positions at different campuses once his tenure at ELAC is over.

During his nine years as RSCCD chancellor, Rodriguez received some criticism and unwanted media attention, mainly from Rancho Santiago staff and non-profit news publication, Voice of OC. The publication called into question the legitimacy of giving

and receiving of gifts as a networking strategy. Berry Resnick, Voice of OC columnist and professor of counseling in the Rancho Santiago Community College District, is particularly critical of Rodriguez and described him as self-serving and corrupt in an opinion article criticizing a venture to attract exchange students by partnering with technical schools in Saudi Arabia. Resnick is of Jewsish heritage. He and other members of RSCCD staff questioned a contract with schools run by a government with a reputation of xenophobia toward non-Musilms, people of Jewish descent in particular. “It’s my understanding that it was more than just the biases of one person. It’s clear (Resnick) has his biases, but when you look at the track record of companies in Saudi Arabia when it comes to discriminatory practices it does raise questions as to whether enough consideration was given before a deal was made,” Hernandez said. “As long as those kinds of practices aren’t repeated and more consideration is given to the possibility of discrimination in other countries, we’ll (ELAC) be OK.” Reports by Voice of OC and The Orange County Register suggest

that the plan which ended in June produced far less revenue than when the deal was pitched, but despite the lack of guarantees and criticism Rodriguez stands by the deal. “We didn’t have the connections other colleges had, so we had to work with what we could find, and what we found were these opportunities in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi government wants to improve their education system; and rightfully so because it’s a mess,” Rodriguez said. “I accomplished what I set out to during my years at Rancho. It’s time to move on a do something else.” Rodriguez said Rancho Santiago added an addendum in the contract that would have allowed the district to pull out without penalization if the Saudi government or other entity asked something of Racho staff that violated U.S. laws. “To our surprise they signed the addendum without hesitation, otherwise we would have pulled out of the deal,” said Rodriguez. Hernadez said ELAC already has a burgeoning international presence and that Rodriguez and the president that takes over in a year need to prioritize continuing the work started by presidents that have come before them. “A lot of infrastructure was completed under Martinez, but

“The last couple of years as chancellor, I had what seemed like a fantasy at the time of going back to a college campus.” RAUL RODRIGUEZ

interim President

president Moreno deserves a lot of credit for setting the plans in motion,” Hernadez said. “Martinez was supportive of the plans set by his predecessors, but I think he’ll be remembered for helping improve transfer rates.” Hernadez said the new president will have to work with staff to improve the school’s online services to stay competitive in a changing education field. H e r n a d e z s a i d E L A C ’s presidency will be a desirable position for administrators looking to distinguish themselves because of its growth and potential for further growth.

Veteran event reveals needed resources BY JUAN CALVILLO Staff Writer The Veterans Resource Center brought county services to inform veterans of the benefits of being a part of the armed forces. Various universities also attended the event to highlight the details of transferring to four-year schools and the options veterans have in doing so. East Los Angeles College’s VRC, is dedicated to informing and helping students who are military veterans. Jessica Peak, academic counselor for the VRC, said that the “Charlie Mike” event was created for both new and returning students at ELAC. She said that one of the benefits of the event was to show the students that they can embrace the campus. “Camaraderie is a real good thing,” said Peak. In an effort to provide both transferring and service-specific information for veteran students, the event had representatives from multiple four-year universities as well as LA county and local ELAC services. Colleges present ranged from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona to Loyola Marymount University. Each college had plans and centers that were designed to help student Veterans make the transition to higher education easier. Sonia Salazar, from LMU’s

transfer admission and enrollment services, said that students should check online for the agreement that LMU has with ELAC when it comes to course transfers. Lisha Maddox, Director of Student Services, talked about the benefits available to veterans which include the transfer agreement, priority registration and services for scholastic and personal advancement. Cal Poly Pomona representatives focused on the benefits that come along with veteran status when transferring, with counseling and tutoring for students at the forefront. Local and county wide services were also on hand for the event. Thomas Salazar, the vocational rehabilitation coordinator for Jobs Vision Success SoCal, talked about the options that are available to veterans through JVS SoCal. He said he felt honored to be helping veterans and that his goal was to give the routine and security many found in the armed forces here at home. Working with JVS SoCal gives Salazar the chance to help veterans get training for California licensed jobs, all of which is paid for by the county of Los Angeles. Salazar said that his main objective was to educate veterans on what’s really out there. He also briefly touched on the fact that veterans leaving the armed forces aren’t really given

all the tools necessary to make the The Charlie Mike event is He said that because of its small transition to civilian life easier. size the center was much more like held at the beginning of every He said that the Transitional a family. semester with the hope of getting Assistance Programs employed Marquez said that the local VA information into the hands of those by the government are not enough center had employment and job that were in the armed forces. at times. “As long as we help one veteran, placement services as well as In an effort to help veterans get mental health professionals for we are happy with that,” said Mike more in touch with what programs veterans and he encouraged ELAC Garcia, VRC’s career guidance a r e a v a i l a b l e f o r t h e m , t h e veterans to check it out. counselor of the event. California Department of Veterans Affairs has started offering the chance for veterans to have the title of “veteran” placed on their identification cards and driver’s 7608 East LA col:Layout 1 3/10/09 4:12 PM Page 1 license. Veterans need to bring their military discharge certificate, DD214, to their County Veteran Service Office to get the needed documentation. All of this is done by the CDVA to get veterans to go into their CVSO to get information not only on the drivers license but to also get as much information on the benefits and potential claims for disabilities. Getting their license or ID stamped with “Veteran” is an added boost to the chance of getting veterans the help they can use.Veteran benefits include knowing where veterans can get assistance. Daniel Marquez, from the East Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Center, said that the East LA center was not as widely known and that being on campus for the event allowed veterans studying at ELAC the chance to learn that it was a local affairs center.

The Charlie Mike event is held at the beginning of every semester with the hope of getting information into the hands of those that were in the armed forces.

Learning Assistance Center ceases tutoring appointments Staff Writer The news that the Learning Assistance Center will no longer be having tutoring appointments for Math or English, left them feeling blindsided since they had no warning about the change. The English Department will now cover all students who need help in English at the Writing Center and the Math Lab is introducing a oneon-one tutoring for Math classes 125, 137, 227, 245 and 260. Students who would like an appointment now need to go to the Math Lab and set up an appointment one day in advance. Students only need to fill out the proper paperwork provided at the front desk for the session. The paper asks students for the class they need help in and the times they are available. Students will be asked for class notes, attempted homework or classwork, graded quiz or exam for review, a class textbook or a Texas

Instrument calculator if you are in Math 227. On the back of the paper, the students’ available hours will be matched with tutors of similar availability. Students can see tutors’ availability within the days of the week at a white board in the Math Lab. For East Los Angeles College students, Carlos Avilez and Jenny Grijalva, this is a cause for concern. “This news didn’t come within a weeks notice, a semesters notice and not even a couple days notice. Nothing,” said Grijalva, who works in the Learning Assistance Center. “It’s easy to give away your power. It’s hard to take it back,” said Avilez. “So when the administration decides to take things away without asking the student body, they are basically saying that our opinions as students do not matter (and) that they know best for us.” The Learning Assistance Center doesn’t know what to do with their Math or English tutors, since a majority of students according

Grijalva, are looking for help for English or Math. It’s unknown if the tutors at the Learning Assistance Center will move to the Math Lab or to the Writing Center. If a student needs help with English, they can still go to the Writing Center and get a 30-minute one-on-one tutoring session as opposed to a 50-minute session at the Learning Assistance Center. The Math Lab will also offer a 30-minute sessions two times a week. “If we are limited to two 30-minute sessions at the Math Lab (and Writing Center), (and) you add two hours at the Learning Center, which is now a total of three hours a week a student could get,” said Avilez. By getting rid of the learning center’s assistance, students are now limited to two hours of tutoring. With all three departments available students would then have the best opportunity to pass their classes since there would be more study time.

BY DANIEL CEJA

JVS SoCal can be reached online at www.jvs-socal.org for more information. CDVA has more information at www.calvet. ca.gov. The VRC is located on campus at D7-A and is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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Features

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2019

Annual ‘New Voices’ exhibit opens at VPAM BY CHER ANTIDO Staff Writer The annual “New Voices” art exhibition opened at The Vincent Price Art Museum opened on September 3. This year’s exhibit features the art work of East Los Angeles College students from different departments during the 2018-2019 term. The exhibition includes various types of artwork such as photography, ceramics, painting, digital illustration and mixed media. A plaque in the exhibit room explained the event as “an opportunity for burgeoning student

artists to showcase their work.” VPAM’s director, Pilar Tompkins Rivas, welcomed guests during the opening reception and introduced this year’s guest juror, Letitia Fernandez Ivins, Senior Manager of Transportation Planning Arts and Design at Los Angeles Metro. Ivins was responsible for picking the winners of this year’s exhibit. “I was struck by the ability of artists who submitted their work and that were selected to mirroring their identity, their subjectivity, their story with form and execute it with an attention to craft and the material in a way that I found exceptional and made me optimistic,” Ivins said. First place went to artist Giao Nguyen for her untitled piece of

a sculpted utilitarian chain made by clay. Cesar Tiznado received second place with his series of photographs “La Rosa” where he explained he captured the “evolving identities, moods and emotions of his subjects.” Third place is Sophia Lianna’s “Saying Goodbye,” a painting made with oil on a wood panel dedicated to all families that were separated. Artists of “New Voices” who were present stood beside their artwork for guests to meet them and talk about their art. “The work that’s in this (exhibit) really shows an ability to think about sight and complexities... and also create space of diverse viewership to insert their own experience and expand the interpretation of that piece,” Ivins said. She said she believes that such art can resonate with a broad public. Rivas also informed guests about the opportunities available at VPAM for those who want to pursue art. “We were founded as a teaching collection for students here at this college. We’re also here to be a cultural tutoring for you. We do exhibitions all throughout the year. Everything we do here is free for you and your family and your

friends. We’re here to be a resource to you,” Rivas said. Among the opportunities she mentioned was the launching of their museum studies certificate program. VPAM will have their inaugural museum studies class this fall, which will then grow to a certificate of achievement. This certificate is for those interested in working at a museum or those who want to be involved in art in more ways than making it. More information can be found at VPAM’s front desk. Rivas reminded the audience to keep “New Voices” in mind. The museum will accept artwork submissions made during this year for consideration into next year’s “New Voices.” Rivas and Ivins encouraged students taking art classes to participate. “This is an exciting time to be making art. ‘New Voices’ (is) exactly what institutions, organizations and collectives want,” Ivins said. Admission to the exhibit is free and will be open to the public until Nov. 2. VPAM is open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. and Thursdays from noon to 7 p.m.

CN/ GUSTAVO BUENROSTRO

VIBRANT RED—Unitled art piece by Jasmin Parker who describes it as mixed media on canvas.

CN/ GUSTAVO BUENROSTRO

SAYING GOODBYE—Art piece “Saying Goodbye,” dedicated to all families separated, was painted by Sophia Lianna with oil on a wood panel.

CN/ GUSTAVO BUENROSTRO

CHAINS THAT BIND—Art work by Giao Nguyen, does not have a name, but it was the juror’s award for first place and is made

out of clay.

Controversial topics discussed at Chicano Moratorium BY MELISA VALENZUELA Staff Writer The Centro Community Service Organization held their annual event commemorating the 49th anniversary of the 1970 Chicano Moratorium. On August 29, 1970, over 30,000 Chicanos and supporters marched the streets of East Los Angeles. The march was a collective effort between the Chicano Moratorium and other anti-war activists to raise awareness of the problems that plagued the Chicano community at the time. The issue at the center of it all was the high amount of Chicano/Mexican American casualties in the Vietnam War. Even though Mexican Americans only made up ten percent of the population in southwest states, they

made up 20 percent of those killed in combat. What was supposed to be a peaceful protest ended in bloodshed just hours after it began. Dozens of protestors were injured, over 100 were arrested, and three were killed. Ruben Salazar, director of news at K-MEX channel 34 and Los Angeles Times columnist, was among those killed. Salazar was a prominent figure in the Chicano community and reported issues that mattered to them. Sol Marquez, outreach/media person for Centro CSO and member of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization said, “Centro CSO was founded in 1947 and what we are doing now is a revival. We are fighting against police brutality, to protect our public schools from privatization and for legalization for all.”

“We need as many people as we can get. Attend the meetings, come to our events and fundraisers.” SOL MARQUEZ

Outreach/Media eve

She spoke about these points in her speech and also addressed the shared interests of Chicanos with the people of Venezuela, Cuba and Puerto Rico. Marquez was just one of the many speakers at the event. Among the

others were Carlos Montes, Rudy Chavez, Lisa Vargas and Ernesto Vigil. Montes is a long time Chicano activist who not only co-founded the Brown Berets, he is also among those responsible for creating Centro CSO. In his speech, Montes spoke against U.S. imperialism and the modern-day attacks on Chicanos from police and others. Rudy Chavez, Vietnam War veteran and graduate of East Los Angeles College and the University of Southern California, performed a poem he wrote exclusively for the moratorium. Sitting in a wheelchair, he rolled himself to the center of the stage dressed in old army fatigues, wielding toy guns and knives. His poem told the story from the time he got drafted into the war to the time he got out and all of the

CN/ IVAN CAZARES

VOICE OF A VET—Rudy Chavez, a Vietnam veteran shares his experiences through poetry as a young Chicano growing up in East Los Angeles and later as a soldier in United States Armed Forces at the annual Chicano Moratorium on August 29.

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trauma he experienced in between. Lisa Vargas, mother of Anthony Vargas, who was shot and killed by the East Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, spoke about the current Chicano struggle against police terror, about what happened to her son and what she has done to make a change. One of the main focuses of the Centro CSO is to fight against police brutality.The keynote speaker Ernesto Vigil is an author, historian and activist of the original Chicano Moratoriums. Vigil talked about the long time surveillance and repression of the Chicano movement and recounted

what he remembered from that fateful day in 1970. “My favorite speaker was Rudy Chavez,” said Adrian Rodriguez, student of East Los Angeles College. “He did something like slam poetry. It was so interesting and emotional.” Rodriguez had never attended a Centro CSO event before, but plans to continue in the future. “We need as many people as we can get. Attend the meetings, come to our events and fundraisers,” said Sol Marquez. “Next year we will have a march for the 50th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium. So let’s start getting ready for that.”

CN/ IVAN CAZARES

A HURT MOTHER—Liza Vargas shares the story of her son

Anthony Vargas who was shot to death by East Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.

SPORTS

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2019

Men’s soccer loses in heartbreak BY NOE ORTEGA Staff Writer The inabilty to finish cost the Huskies a 1-0 home loss with a last-minute goal from Norco College on Friday. With Friday’s loss, the Huskies recorded their second loss of the season and have two wins. In the 89th minute, Norco midfielder, Alberto Vasquez, made space and laid the ball off for freshman forward, Marco Santos, to cross the ball into the penalty box. Norco forward, Gustavo Aguilera was left open and scored the header to give Norco its third win of the season. “It’s unfortunate because guys are crying and they’re upset. We dominated the game.”

“It’s brutal to lose that way in the last two minutes of EDDIE FLORES

ELAC Head Coach

East Los Angeles head coach Eddie Flores said, “They had shots, we had shots.” “We had about five shots that we could’ve put away, but we didn’t,” Eddie Flores. Some ELAC players went straight to the locker room with their shirts covering their face out of frustration. Flores said that the players need to be held accountable for their own mistakes after a defensive error and missed opportunities cost them the game.

“It’s brutal to lose that way in the last two minutes of the game,” Flores, said. The Huskies had seven shots throughout the game, most of which came in the second half, and only one was on target. “It was an intense game. Norco didn’t give us any space.” “They went after every ball, but our focus needs to be better in the last five minutes of the game,” said ELAC midfielder, Fabrizo Marcia. The Huskies had an opportunity to take the lead in the second half after a free -kick was crossed in and after miscommunication from Norco’s defense allowed ELAC forward, Jowad Abraham, a one-on-one opportunity. Norco goalkeeper, Jose Espino blocked the shot with his right foot and sent the ball out for a corner. “My hat off to Norco. They didn’t give up, but we (could’ve) easily scored five goals but because we couldn’t finish, they punished us,” Flores said Norco had two goals disallowed in the first and second half before scoring the winning goal after two Norco players were called offsides. ELAC defender, Hugo Robert was one of its consistent players on the field. Robert was winning most of the aerial and one-on-one plays, pushing the defensive line toward the midfield and winning headers on the offense. “We had good opportunities to score, but we just didn’t put them away.” Marcia said, “We just have to learn from them because, at this level, if we don’t put them away, the teams will punish you. “If we make a mistake, then they’re gonna come back and finish the game like they did to us.” The Huskies next game will be an away game on Friday at 3 p.m. against Cypress College.

CN/ CHRISTOPHER OLIVERAS

BATTLING FOR POSITION—Bogart Bahena (16) fights for the ball against Alfonso Gonzalez on Friday at Weingart Stadium.

CN/MICHAEL DOMINGUEZ

BIG HITS—Sophmore linebacker Tzion Dixon (8) comes in flying for the tackle against Cerritos College on Saturday night home opener at Weingart Stadium.

Football opens season poorly BY SONNY TAPIA Staff Writer

East Los Angeles College football lost to Cerritos College in a fourth quarter battle on Saturday 21-7. Cerritos was on the board first with a four yard pass play from freshman quarterback TJ McMahon to sophomore wide receiver Jovohn Tucker. ELAC freshman quarterback Rudy Garcia came into the game early after replacing sophomore starting quarterback Wesley Blazek and found freshman wide receiver Justin Watkins wide open down the sideline for a 70 yard touchdown to tie the game at seven. Cerritos started its drive on its own eight yard line and ended up in the endzone for the second time with a one yard rush from sophomore running back Carl Odom. Cerritos capped off its performance with a late touchdown pass to Tucker for a second time in the game. On the defensive end, Cerritos had three interceptions for a total of 80 return yards while ELAC only had one in the entirety of the game. ELAC freshman defensive back Rob Casteneda made the interception but could not return

the ball due to being immediately brought down after the catch. Cerritos freshman free safety Omari Okeke, sophomore defensive back Noah Peterson and sophomore strong safety Keeville Brown all had one interception in the game. Peterson returned the interception for 55 yards placing Cerritos on the twenty yard line before scoring its third touchdown. ELAC went 3-14 on third down conversions leaving its conversion percentage at only 21 percent in the first game of the regular season. ELAC called a timeout early in the first quarter to regroup and came out firing on defense. Sophomore defensive lineman Ben Key and sophomore linebacker Kris Jolley sacked Cerritos quarterback TJ McMahon in back to back plays forcing the Cerritos punt team to take the field. In ELAC’s first drive of the game Wesley Blazek was sacked by sophomore defensive lineman Anthony Shipton forcing a punt from sophomore kicker Juan Rangel. Rangel pinned Cerritos on the 19 yard line with a deep punt down field. In the second quarter ELAC freshman defensive back Zavion Avery left the game early and was put into a sling on his left arm

while holding his shoulder after taking a hit on the field. “ Av e r y h a d a s h o u l d e r dislocation and for now we are taking it day by day,” head coach Robert Godinez said. “We are waiting for the athletic training crew to help him back to health.” Both of the teams in Saturday’s bout had a high number of penalties called on them. Cerritos ended the game with a total of 14 penalties while ELAC sat at 15 by the end of regulation. Due to these penalties Cerritos gave up 135 yards and ELAC gave up 121. A total of 13 punts were also recorded totaling 477 yards on the day. ELAC’s next opponent will warrant a battle according to Godinez. “Our next game against Orange Coast will be another battle. OCC always has a big and physical team that will fight you until the end so we have to come prepared,” Godinez said. “I believe we have a really good football team and I am very excited for what I saw last Saturday. The key going forward is to learn from the mistakes and also learn how to finish ball games.” ELAC will play away against Orange Coast College on Saturday at 6 p.m. www.ELACCampusNews.com

Arts

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2019

Skit-show restaurant comes to life, brings nostalgia BY ANDREW AYALA Staff Writer “Welcome to Good Burger, home of the Good Burger. May I take you order?” were the famous words that dragged out of the worker’s mouth at the pop-up restaurant. Good Burger is a fictional fast-food restaurant from the famous ‘90s skit that aired on Nickelodeon’s “All That” program block. The restaurant opened on July 10 in order to get fans ready for the return of “All That” and the popular skit which birthed the restaurant. The same people who opened the “Saved by the Bell” pop-up, Saved by the Max, and Kel Mitchell, who plays “Ed” in the film “Good Burger,” are the people who brought this iconic restaurant to life. The food is outstanding and Alvin Cailan, an Angeleno most known for his successful restaurant Eggslut, runs the kitchen. The menu is a decent size and has a variety of different entrees, sides, drinks and desserts. Ed’s sauce, a fan favorite, tastes just like thousand-island and was available for purchase. One entree they have is a goodwich, which is a fried chicken sandwich dipped in

CN/ANDREW AYALA

FINGER LICKIN’ CHICKEN—The Goodwich is two pieces of

EASY AS PIE—One of the deserts offered at the Good

fried chicken dipped in Ed’s sauce and a tangy peanut sauce topped with pickles, onion, tomato, buns and lettuce.

Burger pop-up was the banana cream pie which was topped with banana pudding, sliced banana and whipped cream.

a tangy peanut sauce topped with onion, tomato, lettuce and Ed’s sauce. The classic good burger is a tasty gourmet cheeseburger that truly feels like it is made with love, and the beyond burger is the same thing but the patty is created with beyond meat for those who enjoy vegan options.

good shakes in vanilla, strawberry and chocolate flavor and even an alcoholic beverage with orange soda in it. The banana cream pie is the perfect cherry on top of a delicious meal. It’s located in the heart of Los Angeles and although very simple on the outside, it is beautifully decorated on the inside. The place

For those who just want chicken, they have the chicken chunks that is slathered in Ed’s sauce and served solo. The sides include beer battered onion rings, good fries or a salad. The onion rings are fried to perfection and the fries are very thick and crunchy to the bite. To drink they have orange soda,

feels like a ‘90s burger joint with a modern spin on things. Aside from the restaurant, there are key locations to take photos, which fans will remember from the films, and even an arcade where guests can play video and table games from that era. Bright colors and intricate designs catch the eye of the

customers as well as a giant burger prop breaking out of a wall, but the service doesn’t match the beauty of the decoration. Upon entering, guests are greeted by a worker who takes their orders and gives further instruction. The person who was helping at the time forgot to give out hats to customers and wasn’t as giddy as Mitchell made them seem on his Instagram posts. Fans of the film should remember the hospitality and positive attitude coming from the characters who worked at Good Burger but in this case the employees seemed lifeless and annoyed. Mitchell said he personally hand-picked the staff because he wanted only the best, but it’s uncertain if the workers upheld that same energy after opening week. Tickets are $30 and come with one entree and one side, but customers can order more once they are seated. Overall, the experience is worth it for those who love the movie or are big fans of the show, but the service can be improved to match the quality of the food, decorations and costumes. T h e G o o d B u rg e r p o p - u p restaurant will be open until December and customers must place a reservation online on feverup.com.

‘IT: Chapter 2’ floats to flaws but great filmaking BY CHRISTOPHER DE LEON Staff Writer “IT: Chapter 2” is a terrifying film that has a great amount to appreciate, but noticeable flaws make this ambitious sequel fall flat compared to its predecessor. It proves, once again, how difficult it is for a director to successfully adapt a Stephen King novel. Andy Muschietti’s project is a well-made film and intriguing experience for audiences. The imagery that Muschietti provides creates an eerie and frightening atmosphere that leaves the audience with a feeling of dread as they see the protagonists constantly haunted by the daunting Pennywise the dancing clown. Bill Skarsgard’s performance as Pennywise is exceptional as he provides an uncertainty to the character which makes the clown as scary as he is. P e n n y w i s e ’s s p l i t t i n g personality undoubtedly makes him one of the most iconic figures of modern horror. Bill Hader’s performance as a much older Richie Tozier is also memorable, as he provides

excellent comic relief while showing a side of his character that has matured since he was a child. Overall, the film has its fair share of appealing characters and internal conflicts that definitely catch audiences’ attention. The pacing of the film, however, was all over the place and could never quite find its footing despite the great cast and setting. At certain points during the film, certain scenes drag on for too long or not long enough creating confusion on what’s really going on. The middle of the film follows the protagonists setting on a new journey but the end result reveals nothing that viewers didn’t already know about them from the first film. The film, in terms of visuals, is done well, as the audience feels the damage done to Pennywise’s victims. Fans of gore will appreciate the attention to detail and authentic feel to the violence. At times, however, the gore also feels gratuitous, ill-advised and just put a cap on the film’s potential as a horror film. The use of this type of violence took away from the overall fear

COURTESY OF IMDB

FLOATING DOWN HERE—Pennywise the Clown going to a festival in the fictional town of Derry to scare of the members

from the Losers Club.

that the first movie had and was not as nerve-racking. The biggest problem with the film is how erratic the narrative is. The use of flashbacks and

recollections work well, as the audience gets to see their favorite characters as kids once more. As adults, however, they aren’t nearly as enticing. They lack cohesive

characterizations or strong emotional connections. This is ultimately the biggest disadvantage for the film. Overall,“IT: Chapter 2” is not a bad film and is definitely worth

seeing because of its great imagery and legitimate fear, but it should only be seen as a complementary piece to the previous film instead of an immersive new experience.

Taylor Swift’s ‘Lover’ embodies new era for life, career BY KELLY VASQUEZ Staff Writer

COURTESY OF GENUIS

www.ELACCampusNews.com

The album “Lover” is Taylor Swift’s seventh album, and is filled with romantic and airy synthetic songs perfect for the end of summer. It’s been over a year since Taylor Swift has released new music. Her last album in 2017, “Reputation,” was dark, reflective and bitter. Nonetheless, it sparked a new era for Swift. The inspiration for her new era came from her scandal involving Kim Kardashian and Kanye West. West had called Swift because he was writing a new song and wanted to include a lyric about Swift mentioning the infamous moment, they shared at the 2009 VMA’s, where he interrupted her winning speech for Best Female Music Video.

Swift gave the okay but later went on to say she had no idea about the lyrics and wasn’t happy about it. Little did she know that West’s wife, Kardashian had recorded the entire phone call conversation. Swift was then painted as the villain in the media and she played that role well with songs like “Look What You Made Me Do” and “I Did Something Bad.” Swift gave herself a much-needed image reform. Since then, everyone has been anticipating the release of her new album, and she surely delivers. She shifts gears from her “Reputation” album which has a gloomy and dark aesthetic, to an album filled with pastel hues, freespirited songs and confidence. Her first single off the album, “ME!,” is quite disappointing, so it was unclear whether this album would be a hit or a miss.

It is definitely a hit. There are so many wonderful and catchy songs on this album that Swift sings effortlessly. One of the worst things about “ME!” is the lyrics, but Swift makes up for it with lines like, ‘And I couldn’t get away from you, In my feelings more than Drake, so yeah” and “I don’t wanna keep secrets just to keep you.” These lyrics represent feelings that are relatable. They represent heartbreak, new love or even a close friend’s betrayal. She sings about hardships that we have all faced but puts it together in an eloquent and sophisticated manner. Taylor Swift in the past has been known to be extremely public with her relationships and quiet on her political views, but that changes in this album. Swift has been with her current boyfriend for a while now but they

lead a very private life. Swift has also decided to finally stand up for issues with songs that are in support of queer rights such as the song “You Need to Calm Down” and for women’s rights such as the song “The Man.” Although there might be some duds in the album such as “Soon You’ll Get Better” or “I Think He Knows,” the album is filled with many memorable songs. Some songs that stand out are “False God,” “Cruel Summer,” and “Paper Rings.” “False God” has a haunting melody with saxaphones that give it a cool vibe. “Cruel Summer” is upbeat and perfect to dance along to. “Paper Rings” is sweet and romantic, but also cheery. This album is definitely a sign that Swift is entering a new phase in her adult life and that perhaps the best is yet to come.