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VOLUME 76, ISSUE 10 | ELACCAMPUSNEWS.COM | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2018 SINGLE COPY FREE - ADDITIONAL COPIES 50 CENTS

BY STEVEN ADAMO Staff Writer East Los A ngeles College President Marvin Martinez and Vi c e C h a n c e l l o r f o r H u m a n Resources of Los Angeles Community College District Albert Roman visited the ELAC Child Development Center yesterday to answer questions about Assembly Bill No. 2160. According to a letter sent out by the LACCD’s Human Resources department, the amendment of the Education Code includes part-time playground positions as part of the classified service. “Most of us thought that the focus of the bill was primarily K-12,” Martinez said, “but t h e b i l l a l s o i n c l u d e d s t a ff that worked on campus with children, in a setting like we have here in the Child Development Center.”

Currently, employees of the Child Development Center are classified as “part-time playground specialists.”

The bill, signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown on September 18, is an act to amend

sections of the Education Code to change part-time playground positions into Classified Service—employees that are not faculty or administrators, who go through the personnel commission to get hired. The law also affects Child Development Centers within the eight other colleges in the LACCD, which is almost 500 staff according to Martinez. The first step the district is taking in order to be in compliance of the new law is to end “at-will” employment status by January 1. “‘At-will’ employment basically means I can have you today and let you go tomorrow… you have no rights to your position, you have no permanency,” Roman said. Currently, employees of the Child Development Center are classified as “part-time playground specialists.” Even though current employees’ duties go beyond monitoring playground activity, the bill considers it an “at-will” position. The first step that current employees are encouraged to take is to apply online for a provisional position—a temporary position that lasts roughly four months. The idea of the provisional position is so that current employees that are hired back can remain on the job temporarily until they are hired back as Classified Employees. T h e r e ’s n o t e s t f o r t h e provisional position, only the application, a high school diploma (or equivalent) and current transcripts are required.

BUTTERFLY BY @RVLTN - ILLUSTRATION BY STEVEN ADAMO

Q&A addresses concerns of laid-off employees

Career panel highlights DACA professionals BY JUAN CALVILLO Staff Writer The East Los Angeles Career and Job Services Department held a career panel at the South Gate Campus that highlighted undocumented and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals professionals on Thursday. The event was hosted by career counselor Carolyn Sevilla and adjunct career counselor Maria Rodriguez to help inform and give hope to students who may be either undocumented or recipients of DACA benefits. “In the Career and Job Services Department, we have been seeing a lot more students disclose their legal status during their appointments,” said Sevilla. She said that because of some of the students’ situations, they wondered what type of jobs they could actually get.

The event was created to remedy the misconceptions and answer question for students on this topic. Sevilla and Rodriguez decided to put together a panel of working professionals to help students understand what they could achieve despite their status in the United States. “We also wanted to show support to the student population given the current status of DACA. Our colleague Carmen Macias Limon, an adjunct counselor i n t h e A d e l a n t e F i r s t - Ye a r Experience, also helped us to identify the panelists who were ELAC alumni,” said Sevilla. During the panel the ELAC alumni shared their own personal stories when it came to how they made it through their respective college experiences. Despite differing in how they achieved success, the takeaway was simply that

perseverance is key. Ana Meza, one of the panelists, works as a high school teacher and talked about how finding out that she was undocumented caused her plans for college to come into question. Meza said that before becoming a DACA recipient she was afraid of trying to get a job as a tutor, something she loved and was good at doing. But coming to ELAC and joining the “Adelante Program” helped her find the courage and financial backing to continue on her quest to becoming a high school teacher. Ana Perez, an analyst at Accenture, said that when she first started she would clean houses with her family to fund her college education. She attributed much of the knowledge she gained on being undocumented and still being able to participate in a collegiate environment from

the Students for Equal Rights group on campus. Meza and Perez were members of the SER and talked about how joining the group was very important to their college years at ELAC. P e r e z s a i d , “ I t w a s n ’t t o o bad I guess because I was surrounded by people who supported DACA.” Another Panelist, Jose Perez, said that when he first started there was no DACA program. He said that he worked doing yard work, tutoring, and searched for scholarships to help him on his way to college. He said that before getting DACA it was problematic to look for work, singling out “e-verify” a s h i s m o s t h a t e d e n e m y. His work as a mental health professional is something he uses to help focus on those that are undocumented.

DACA Continued on page 3

Danza Azteca Xochipilli reignites past traditions BY STEVEN ADAMO Staff Writer The dance troupe Danza Azteca Xochipilli shared traditions of the Aztec people with East Los Angeles College students Thursday for the Native-American Heritage Month Pow Wow. T h e e v e n t w a s o rg a n i z e d by executive vice president of Associated Student Union Summer French and ASU secretary Marlene Enriquez. According to French, pow wows during the month of November have existed on campus for many years but stopped due to the increase of campus construction. “Last year I put on an open mic night, just to bring the culture back in,” said French. “It went pretty

well, so then this year I wanted to do something bigger so that more students are involved.” The Los Angeles-based group uses their performances to not only entertain, but to also educate the audience about Native-American culture. “They teach the dance to anyone willing to learn,” French said. French says that pow wows are like a big family gathering of a speciﬁc culture. All tribes have pow wows, but they differ based on the tribe. “All tribes have their own traditions, their way of celebrating life,” French said. The pow wow contains a blessing of the grounds and a prayer to the ancestors. During their performances, Danza Azteca not only explain why they do certain dances, but how to do it. They also explain their musical

instruments to the audience as well as where they come from and how they are made. An ELAC student and volunteer also performed during the event. Marlene Enriquez, secretary to ASU, helped organize the ELAC clubs that participated, including Gender Sexual Awareness, Puente Club, Study Abroad, AJ Club, ESL and Sociology club. November was declared National American Indian Heritage Month on August 3, 1990 by President George H.W. Bush, but is most commonly referred to as Native American Heritage Month. Danza Azteca Xochipilli performs regularly in Los Angeles and surrounding areas. They can be contacted through their Facebook page by searching for Danza Azteca Xochipilli.

CN/STEPHANIE GUEVARA

POW WOW POWER—Danza Azteca Xochipilli performing a tribal dance to the beat of a drum and maracas on Thursday in front of the E3 building.

News Briefs

TLC panel discussion

ELAC’s Transforming Lives Campaign is hosting a panel discussion called Homelessness Crisis Among California Community College Students on Tuesday from noon to 1 p.m. at F5-201. For more info call (323)-265-8901.

BOW DOWN—East Los Angeles College students bow with Danza Azteca Xochipilli during a traditional Aztec line dance in front of the E3 building on Thursday.

Study abroad program preview

There will be a preview for the summer study abroad in Paris program on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. in E3-170. For more information, e-mail vogelzlc@elac.edu or ebinrs@elac.edu.

Scholarship recipients ceremony

The Fall scholarship recipients ceremony will take place on Nov. 29 in F5-201 at 7 p.m. Complimentary food and beverages will be served. For more information, e-mail agilaic@elac.edu or call (323)-265-8901.

OPINION

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2018

Proposal seeks to change sexual assault on campus BY MIGUEL BARRAGAN Staff Writer The Education Department released its proposal for changes in the rules of reporting and investigating sexual assault on Friday. The proposal would affect the federal civil rights law known as Title IX. Under the new proposal, victims who report sexual assault on campus may have to deal with mediation, a process which involves victims facing the accused. This is troubling because it makes the process of reporting sexual assault on campus that much more devastating for victims. A victim of sexual assault having a face-to-face interaction with the person who assaulted them could trigger a traumatic reaction. Mediation would come in the form of a process called crossexamination, which is used in a court of law to determine the truth about accusations. In cross-examination, accusers and the accused are interrogated

about the case by a third party. Supporters of the changes, like the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, say that this is a good thing because they give more rights to the accused. Samantha Harris, director of policy research at FIRE said on an NPR article that the proposal is “recognizing that schools must provide meaningful procedural protections to accused students when adjudicating such serious offenses.” It’s okay to protect the accused but making it harder for the victim to report sexual assault by introducing cross-examination may put the accused at a disadvantage as well. Scott Schneider, an attorney from Husch Blackwell firm who specializes in higher education said in an article by The Atlantic, “When people glibly talk about crossexamination being the greatest tool for discovering the truth in the history of the Western world, they obviously haven’t seen some attorneys do cross-examination.” Schneider points to the obvious problem that arises when some can afford highly-effective attorneys

and others can’t. Victims and the accused could both suffer from this process if they are low income and can’t afford a good attorney to protect them. Other changes proposed come in the form of a difference in the deﬁnition of sexual harassment.

“There’s already a stigmatization of sexual assault victims reporting their assault, but this would only make victims more uncomfortable with reporting.” The 2011 guidelines that the Obama administration placed deﬁne sexual harassment as “unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature,” while the proposed rule changes would deﬁne it as “unwelcome conduct on the basis of sex that is so severe,

pervasive and objectively offensive that it denies a person access to the school’s education program or activity.” This change would discourage victims from reporting sexual assaults that they feel may not be interpreted as denying a person access to the school’s education program or activity or as so severe and pervasive. Victims who feel their sexual assault claims may not be strong enough to persuade the authority in charge, Title IX coordinator, will not report. There’s already a stigmatization of sexual assault victims reporting their assault, but these changes would only make victims more uncomfortable with reporting. New rules proposed would allow institutions to have a higher standard of evidence defined as “clear and convincing evidence.” The previous guidelines of a “preponderance of evidence” used to determine whether claims are legitimate or not will still be allowable, however. The standard of evidence used will be left up to each individual

university and Title IX coordinator. It’s important to note that a “preponderance of evidence” is an accepted standard in civil rights cases. It’s difficult enough as it is to gather evidence for a sexual assault incident. It’s rare for people to have “clear and convincing evidence” of their traumatic experience because a lot of victims aren’t prone to recording evidence directly after being assaulted. The proposal would also make it so institutions are only allowed to investigate assaults that happen at campus or at a campus-related event or program. This means reports of sexual assault occurring between students on off-campus housing will not be investigated. The proposal says schools would not be required to pursue cases that are not reported directly to the proper authority, typically the Title IX coordinator. These rule changes would discourage victims from stepping forward about their trauma and for that they should be redone.

Fandoms reject newcomers, deny enjoyment BY KALEEN LUU Staff Writer A fan is an enthusiast or admirer of a particular franchise. Notable fandoms that spring to my mind are Supernatural, Doctor Who, Star Wars and the one I personally claim membership to— the Harry Potter franchise. Man, I freaking love Harry Potter. Honestly, it’s a lifestyle. Everything I do relates to it, and I admit it can kind of seem a little crazy sometimes. I’m that person at parties that is mentally telling myself, “Don’t do it, don’t do it, don’t do it,” but the first thing that comes out of my mouth is, “What’s your Hogwarts house?” So yes, for me Harry Potter is kind of synonymous with ‘The Greatest Thing Ever.’ I love meeting people who are

also way too invested. I could spend hours talking about the books (minus Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, but that’s a whole other story…) and not to be dramatic, but I would probably equate the feeling of meeting other super fans to meeting a soulmate. There’s a connection. That’s not to say I only care about other people who are as into Harry Potter as I am, however. It’s still equally exciting to meet someone who is at least open to the idea of becoming more invested. My heart still sings when I meet someone and they tell me, “I’m not a super big fan, but I like the series and I’ve watched all the movies. Hufﬂepuff is my house.” It makes me sad that people feel compelled to put a disclaimer before announcing they’re a part of something. It shouldn’t matter the ‘level’ of fan one is, all fans are here for the

same one thing—their love for the series. But I get it. There is nothing more off-putting than when I want to start to watch a new TV show I’m interested in, but hit the wall of gatekeepers.

“Gatekeeping is only preventing others from possibly falling as deeply in love with the same thing you are.” Those gatekeepers guard their fandom so strictly and tightly, one would swear that whatever fandom they were a part of was a government secret. I’ll say I’m a fan of Star Wars, for example, and the gatekeepers

will descend upon me like vultures swarming their long-awaited prey. These people will bombard any newcomers with trivia questions to ‘test’ their knowledge and love and scoff at anyone in the galaxy who dares say they’re a fan but doesn’t know what lies below the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. It’s really so aggravating and I want to scream every time this happens. People are allowed to like things others like. People are allowed to be a part of something others love, even if its not to the same degree. I would like for everyone to please get that into their head, or may the force be with them when I say that they’re ruining the fandom. It’s honestly to the point where I’m afraid to admit I like some things because I don’t want to be quizzed to death or looked down upon because “I’m not qualiﬁed to

call myself a real fan.” Gatekeeping is only preventing people from possibly falling as deeply in love with the same thing as others are. There is no test of being a fan. Remember, every fan is here connected by their love for the same thing. It shouldn’t matter when someone started being a fan or their knowledge of trivia. Yes, friends who are witches and wizards, squibs and muggles alike are all welcome here. I don’t need fans to know what’s so important about turning to page 394 or even why the Slytherin house is the best one, as long as everybody agrees Albus Dumbledore looks good in the new Fantastic Beasts movie. Stop gatekeeping beloved fandoms. I know it’s important to protect what’s sacred, but open those doors to the world that could be.

Android to launch instant messaging feature soon BY ANTHONY AGUILAR Staff Writer The time has arrived for anyone who wants to switch from an iPhone to an Android device but still want iMessage capabilities. It is coming espicially soon to the ones who are on Verizon. iMessage is Apple’s built-in instant messaging service. It lets you send text, picture, video, sound and location quickly and with ease to anyone else using iMessage. This is the feature that makes a lot of people prefer Apple devices over Android devices. Currently, however, it is restricted to Apple devices. According to an article by Verge, it says, “Verizon’s [Senior vice president] of consumer products, Aparna Khurjekar, announced that Verizon will launch support for [Rich communication services] messaging in early 2019.” This RCS messaging will replace what is known now as SMS “Short Message Service”. RCS messaging will be a overhall to regular sms which will include typing indicators, group chats, high resolution media, and also read receipts. These are features that iMessage has, but is exclusive to iPhones, iPads, and iPods. However RCS will change that and now Android will have its own iMessage type of capabilies and will get users who are on iPhone to switch to Android. Android is a platform that has much more customizability than iPhones iOS and with this missing feature many Apple users will www.ELACCampusNews.com

switch to an Android device. The Verge article also says, “3C, a mobile marketing company, believes that RCS will reach 147 million users by the end of 2019.”

“3C, a mobile marketing company, believes that RCS will reach 147 million users by the end of 2019.” DIETER BOHN Verge writer

If this many people are going to be reached with RCS the amount of people switching over to android will increase over time. The reason many would switch is because the cost of phones is on the rise and there are so many Android devices to choose from at different price points, while iPhones are at premium prices. Because of RCS messaging, many people won’t bother with iPhone’s iMessage and settle for something cost efficient with the same capability as iMessage which would be RCS. RCS messaging will arrive in 2019 on Verizon first. Of course there are other carriers who can also pick up on this and will benefit everyone with a Android device. More people who already have Android will benefit from this and others who want to go to Android, or considering it, will be able to go on Android and have this new refined messaging capability.

CN/STEVEN ADAMO

FDA prepares to ban menthol cigarettes BY ANTHONY AGUILAR Staff Writer The Food and Drug Administration is trying to get rid of menthol cigarettes in the U.S. This is taking us in the right direction because menthol is a great health risk and also hard to quit. Menthol, found in cigarettes, is a crystalline compound with a cooling minty taste and odor, found in peppermint and other natural oils. Menthol also relieves minor pain and irritation as well. This is a reason why some choose to smoke menthol cigarettes. An article by the Wall Street Journal, however, says, “The FDA concluded in 2013 that menthols are harder to quit and likely pose a greater health risk than regular cigarettes.”

It goes on to say that the menthol within the cigarette helps reduce throat irritation when smoking. This menthol allows smokers to continue smoking comfortably. The FDA knows how hard it is to quit smoking and still encourages smokers to choose electronic cigarettes instead of regular cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes are “electronic nicotine delivery systems that are non combustible tobacco products.” This is the right step toward helping people who have been smoking for a long time to quit. It’s a step down from cigarettes, even though it still has negative effects overall. Not everyone can quit so easily. Helping smokers step by step can get them to quit. The FDA is trying to eliminate the

use of e-cigarettes among youth, but they also want e-cigarettes to make their way to adults that have been long time users. According to their website, fda. gov, “FDA will hold a public hearing on December 5, 2018 to discuss efforts to eliminate youth e-cigarette use.” In the end they still want to end Menthol cigarettes, regular cigarettes and e-cigarettes altogether. Pretty soon they will have a hearing to discuss ways of getting rid of E-cigarette use from the youth. Eventually, they will make their way into eliminating it completely. I do agree with the FDA’s decision in getting rid of menthol cigarettes and e-cigarettes. They are harmful for one’s health, when it comes to the respiratory system and the organs in our body.

EDITOR IN CHIEF Steven Adamo MANAGING EDITOR Gustavo Buenrostro ONLINE EDITORS Kevin Camargo Joe Dargan Noe Ortega FRONT EDITOR Andrew Ayala OPINION EDITORS Miguel Barragan Maria Marroquin NEWS EDITORS Kaleen Luu Alex Avila FEATURE EDITORS Melody Ortiz Julie Santiago ARTS EDITORS Juan Calvillo Luis Castilla SPORTS EDITOR Stephanie Guevara COPY EDITORS Gustavo Buenrostro Anastasia Landeros Diego Linares STAFF WRITERS Anthony Aguilar Jerry Flores Miguel Dominguez Giselle Palomera ADVERTISING Stefanie Arocha DISTRIBUTION Anastasia Landeros 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.

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EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS CN/STEVEN ADAMO

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2018

News 3 Kinesiology department runs Husky Turkey Trot got involved for the good cause,” Gamboa said. Staff Writer The club adviser has already The Kinesiology department had begun planning for next year’s drive its 5th Annual Husky Turkey Trot to be bigger and to be held a week Drive from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the earlier. This way, he said, those who Quad yesterday. During the drive, the department would be receiving the donated had several booths that students food may have it in time for Thanksgiving. were able to visit. Kinesiology Department Chair Students were able to check their body fat levels, discuss fitness and Erika Blanco showcased the new donate canned food at the booths set certificates students would be able to work toward. up at the event. Blanco introduced the new Fitness trials also took place to commemorate the 2.5k run, along selections, that included the “Fitness Specialists Certificate of with a Zumba dance class. Achievement,” Club Adviser a program that Rick Gamboa students a n d t h e “Thanksgiving is around prepares to be personal Kinesiology the corner. We don’t trainers at fitness Club have been centers. running the always realize how “ We h a v e Husky Turkey fortunate most of us a Physical Trot Drive since its inception are, and don’t realize T h e r a p y a n d Certificate, and have been how unfortunate some Aid Rehab, a aiming to make students are.” A q u a t i c s the drive even certificate for more successful lifeguards than the years RICK GAMBOA [and] coaching prior. Kinesiology Club Adviser degrees,” Blanco “ We h a d said. a lot more Along with participants this year [and] our staff wanted to do donating food annually, Blanco wanted to promote healthy living much more,” Gamboa said. The club adviser said he wanted at the event. “[The drive] gets kids excited to give back to the community and to the students, especially those less about fitness right before the holiday,” Blanco said. fortunate than most. Club member Willy Talavera “Thanksgiving is around the corner. We don’t always realize celebrated the impact the drive was how fortunate most of us are, and making and how proud he was of don’t realize how unfortunate some the department’s efforts. “We should come together as a students are,” Gamboa said. “[We have] to be mindful that community to help each other,” we have to take care of our fellow Talavera said. “I used to be 550 pounds before students and man; it’s a good start getting to know the right people and for the holiday season.” Gamboa said he’s proud of those getting the encouragement to lose weight. Now I weigh 170 pounds.” who volunteered and participated. According to Talavera, the “We wanted everyone involved— we got athletics involved, the Kinesiology department encourages English department, and EOP got personal fitness and promotes involved. The community really leading a healthy lifestyle.

BY ALEX AVILA

UNDOCUPOWER—Students and faculty take turns to speak in solidarity with undocumented people Thursday. The rally was organized by the Delloro Transfer Program, the Puente Club, the Writers Society and the UndocuHuskies.

UndocuHuskies rally at ELAC

TEAM WORK—From the Church of the Epiphany, Father Tom, STANDING TOGETHER—Eros Saldanade Latorre recites a right, is one of the priests that was arrested during a protest of poem “Together We Stand” at the UndocuPOWER Rally Thursday. the policy change that led to children being detained at the border. The poem is a collaborative work by The ELAC Writers Society.

Loyola attorney helps DACA students DACA Cont. from page 1 Jose Perez applied for DACA in 2012 and has used it to work on his doctorate. He said that continuing his education is important. “Getting an education is like giving the government the middle finger,” Perez said. Rodriguez emphasized that each of the panelists had hustled and thought outside the box on their path to college and beyond. Shelia Salinas, who works for AltaMed Health Services, talked about looking for alternative sources of income to get through school. She also said that once she was open about her status, it gave her a confidence she didn’t have before. Each of the members of the panel had nuggets of advice for current DACA students. Meza said that volunteer work was essential, “It’s all about networking.” She also mentioned that, like Salinas, being open and willing to share and talk about their status is important. Perez said, “Don’t say no to any opportunity.” After the panelists had their time to share their experiences, Sevilla introduced Sandra Ruiz. Ruiz is an attorney from Loyola Law School who works with the school’s Immigrant Justice Clinic. Sevilla invited Ruiz to answer some questions about working while undocumented or being a part of DACA. S h e s a i d u n d e r S B 11 5 9 , which compels all licensing boards to provide licenses despite their status in the United States, undocumented

and DACA students can apply for any jobs that require a license. She said that the social security number that DACA recipients can get becomes theirs for life. This meant jobs that require social security numbers are now within their reach. Ruiz also talked about disclosing immigration statuses to employers. She said that if an employer asks about it, it is best to disclose but that it is not required by law. It is not the responsibility of any recipient to tell their employer when their permit is going to expire. She emphasized that it is human resources responsibility to alert their employees of permit expiration. Reyna Hernandez, coordinator at the Dream Resource Center at ELAC, c o n f i r m e d t h a t S B 11 5 9 w a s very important to the students at ELAC. She said that students can use this to get a license or start their own business legally. She said despite it being very useful it doesn’t cover all existing jobs that require licenses. She gave the example of being a surgeon as something undocumented or DACA recipients can get licenses for. Hernandez also mentioned that AB60 allows undocumented students to acquire driver licenses, and would go a long way in doing what was legal in the state. She said that the Dream Resource Center helped students and the surrounding community in areas such as

h o u s i n g , f o o d a n d s e c u r i t y, financial support, and legal services. She said that the main idea of the Dream Resource Center was simple. “The biggest message is education. Educating our communities. Empowering them to advocate for themselves. Understand their rights and their value to our country and community,” Hernandez said. When talking about DACA students and undocumented students, Hernandez wanted them to think ahead. Concerning undocumented students, she said that the DRC wanted to help them find resources and support services that were specific for each individual. “Think of the next step. The next step is a pathway to citizenship. If you’ve already gone through so much, why not citizenship,” said Hernandez. I n c l o s i n g T h u r s d a y ’s meeting, Ruiz gave in depth information for students who want DACA benefits. This included when and how they should prepare their paperwork for the application process. “If you never held DACA status, you cannot apply for DACA,” Ruiz said. She outlined the criteria for DACA renewal and stressed the importance of filing applications as soon as possible. “If you held DACA status but it expired more than one year ago, (the student should) file an initial DACA application,” Ruiz said. This would start the process anew.

CN/STEVEN ADAMO

Chess Club builds strategy skills BY MIGUEL DOMINGUEZ Staff Writer The Chess Club had its first meetings last Friday at both East Los Angeles College and the South Gate campus. According to Club President Hugo Maldonado, playing chess makes a person “think outside of the box” and forces them to get creative with their strategy. “Playing chess exercises both sides of the brain. It improves thinking and problem solving skills, and builds self confidence,” Maldonado said. “By playing chess, it can help increase the IQ level.” Maldonado was introduced to the board game by a cousin of his ten years ago. Since then, he said he learned how to play at a higher level by researching Bobby Fischer, who is considered to be the greatest chess player of all time. “I was hoping that I could find

a club because I like the idea of practicing and playing with other people,” Maldonado said. After the Associated Student Union told him there hasn’t been a chess club for almost four years, Maldonado took it upon himself to start a new club. “The idea to do it at the South Gate campus is to involve the community to think differently while playing chess,” Maldonado said. He plans to meet up at the South Gate campus first, every Friday, before heading to ELAC. Thea Guan, a member of the club, was bored when she was looking around student center and saw the chess flyer. “I learned the game in fourth grade and never played again,” Guan said. Despite this, she was always interested in the strategy game. “Anything about chess, I find very excited whether I play or not,” said Guan.

Another member of the club, Huan Zhang, is new to the game. Just like Guan, she had an interest in chess when she was younger. “My father played the traditional Chinese chess. I would just observe when he played but I always wanted to [learn],” Zhang said. She hopes to gain strategy skills from the game and apply them outside of chess she said. Maldonado hopes he can spread his love of chess by showing club members videos and documentaries of Bobby Fischer. Through this, he wants them to be inspired as he was. Throughout the year, Maldonado wants his club to compete with other schools or other clubs at ELAC. The Chess Club will meet every Friday with a lecture in the first hour and for the second hour play chess. The club meets at the South Gate campus at 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in Rm 117, and at the ELAC campus from noon to 2 p.m in F-5 213.

www.ELACCampusNews.com

SPORTS

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2018

Men’s soccer fails as whole, succeeds individually BY JERRY FLORES Staff Writer Men’s soccer’s struggling season came to an end with a final 4-12-5 overall record and 1-5-2 in the South Coast Conference-South play. Individuals did well statistically according to cccaasports.org, but the team fell short from the post season because they won one game in the conference. “I’m very disappointed. We have to take responsibility (coaches) for these results. When we started playing back in August, myself and the coaching staff believed we had put together a competitive team. We were enthusiastic to finish pretty high in the conference, but the results weren’t what we expected,” said East Los Angeles College head coach Eddie Flores. The team won its first conference game, but remained winless for the rest of the season. Husky freshman forward Paulo Macedo Nahashique had a good season. Macedo was included in the conference first team. He started seven out of eight conference games, scored four of the nine goals in the conference, completed one assist

and had .444 shots on goal. “He is a great player (Nahashique). Even though he had struggle scoring, he scored some goals that help the team either win or tie games,” said Flores. Freshman midfielder Andres Aceves received honorable mention in the conference. He had .200 shots on goal in eight conference games played. Husky sophomore and captain of the team Jerson Maravilla was also included in the first team of the conference. He started five out of the eight conference games, had one goal, one assist and 10 shots on goal. The team struggled defensively during the season. They received 20 goals in the eight conference games, according to cccaasports.org. One of the main issues that affected the team was the lack of scoring. For most of the games the team had many clear opportunities to score, but were unsuccessful because the forwards missed a lot. “We created many opportunities to score throughout the games, but at the end we couldn’t put the ball in the net. That was our biggest problem for most of the season. One time, one of the referees told me that it was unbelievable how many opportunities we lost during the game (played against Pasadena City College). At the end of the day, if we don’t score, we will not be able

to win,” said Flores. For next season the coaches are primarily looking for forwards and defenders. Only seven players from this season are coming back to the team. “We really need forwards that can put the ball in the net. We are going to lose two defenders and we have to find their replacements. We will also need some midfielders. A good thing is that the three goalkeepers are coming back, so we don’t have to worry about recruiting more,” said Flores. Flores said he can’t give high expectations for next season, but he wants a very competitive team that could make it to the playoffs and fight for the championship.

CN/NOE ORTEGA

GOOOOAL—East Los Angeles College sophomore forward Rene Sanchez runs toward the goal post to score the first goal against Glendale College in the Huskies’ 2-1 win at Weingart Stadium on Sept. 14.

Football’s overall inconsistancies affect season First quarter scoring was held to a 5.7 point average, while allowing 11 points to be scored per opening period by opponents, resulting in a The football team ended the constant uphill battle. season with a disappointing 4-6 This was especially tough record, failing to make the playoffs considering the team only scored after a promising 2-1 start. an average of 3.5 points in fourth East Los Angeles College’s woes quarters this year. There was some may be partially explained by its excitement after handily beating switch from the American Metro Compton College 55-0 in its third Conference, where the Huskies had game. a 16-5 record and a bowl win under The team had scored 31 opening head coach Bobby Godinez in his quarter points and first two seasons, pushed it’s record to the South Coast to 2-1, then lost five Conference, which of its next seven After a 7-3 has much stiffer games. competition. record last year, It’s no surprise After a 7-3 record Compton College finishing with five last year, finishing finished the season wins in a row, with five wins in with an 0-10 a row, the team record. At the the team was was optimistic of the year, optimistic coming start coming into the Godinez, who had season according into the season also been tasked to Godinez, but with the athletic according to inconsistency in all director position Godinez... phases of the game after an abrupt exit played a major by former longrole in its resulting time AD Al Cone, record. acknowledged how The Huskies’ numbers were down tough this year would be. in every statistical category. ELAC He said that his team would be threw for an average of 182.1 yards facing its hardest test yet because per game this season, compared to of the conference change. 229.2 yards per game last season. Ultimately, his fears played out The team also scored 23.1 points right before his eyes. One bright each game, on average, while spot was the team’s 3-2 record at allowing 30.9 points each game by home. the opponent. Unfortunately, 1-4 on the road Getting off to quick starts and and 2-3 in the conference was finishing strong, were often a enough to sink the Huskies hopes problem as well. for the postseason.

BY JOE DARGAN Staff Writer

CN/DIEGO LINARES

CAN’T CATCH ME—East Los Angeles College sophomore running back Tony Toledo runs to score the touchdown the Huskies 55-0 win against Compton College on Sept. 14 at Weingart Stadium.

CN/DIEGO LINARES

SCRAMBLE MODE— Quarterback Paul Herrera looks to evade defenders as he scrambles out of the pocket during a 55-0 East Los Angeles College win over Compton College on Sept 14 at Weingart Stadium. www.ELACCampusNews.com

Arts 5 ‘Greenbook’ duo takes on racial equality EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2018

BY JOE DARGAN Staff Writer With a combination of real-life experiences, great storytelling and unbelievable music, “Greenbook” is a joyride worth taking. Greenbook is a true story that confronts the notion of racial inequality with an unlikely friendship between a poor white man and a wealthy black man in 1962. The movie’s protagonist, Dr. Don Shirley, played by Oscar winner Mahershala Ali, is a world renowned pianist who’s embarking on a performance tour through the deep south, and is in need of a reliable driver and bodyguard. A brief search by his record label in New York City, turns up Copacabana club bouncer, Bronx native and racist, Tony Vallelonga, played by oscar-nominee Viggo Mortensen. Though road-trip films can be a little cliche, the electrifying acting of both Ali and Mortenson makes this one well worth the ride. The journey exposes Shirley, who lives in a penthouse above New York City’s Carnegie Hall and has been successful since he was a teen, to a world of hate that’s driven by race. Vallelonga is charged with protecting a man he would have normally despised. Because of

the bond created while traveling together, it goes from being just a job to a personal crusade. In the first few scenes, the movie does a good job subtly expressing Vallelonga’s racist views without vilifying him. In one scene, his wife gives a couple of black maintenance men glasses of lemonade to drink.

“Working with the studio and trying to get in touch with (Shirley’s) people was challenging because he was a very private man ” MEHERSHALA ALI

Oscar-Winning Actor

When the guys leave the home, unbeknownst to his wife, Vallelonga throws the glasses in the trash can. Due to his beliefs, he is reluctant to work for a black man, but because of his financial situation, he’s forced to swallow his pride and take the job. As they travel, the two men learn things about each other that causes a paradigm shift. Vallelonga is forced to rethink everything he

knows about African-Americans, while Shirley, who spends his life in a bubble of prosperity, is humbled by the two’s experiences together. Ali does a masterful job as Shirley. He is extremely convincing as a pianist, with every keystroke appearing to be authentic. This was partly in-thanks to his practice sessions with the film’s Julliardtrained, Emmy-winning composer Kris Bowers. Some of Bowers credits include “Kobe Bryant’s Muse,” which won an Academy Award for Best Short Film, and Netflix’s “Quincy Jones.” “Because there is a mutual respect and Tony has an admiration for what Dr. Shirley is capable of, it allows these people to listen to one another and eventually develop empathy,” Bowers said at an advanced screening of the film at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles on Saturday. Ali also spoke about his journey creating this film. “Working with the studio and trying to get in touch with (Shirley’s) people was challenging because he was a very private man,” Ali said at the screening. “I had a documentary I started with that he appears in and that’s where I was able to pick up elements of the voice, gestures and his physicality. It’s where I got a sense of his essence. I read everything I

CN/JOE DARGAN

STAR POWER—Oscar winner Mahersahalla Ali (right) explains the intriccacies of playing Dr. Don Shirley in the Clive Davis Theater at an advanced screening alongside Tre’vell Anderson, president of the National Association of Black Journalists of Los Angeles on Saturday. could on him, as well as submerging myself in his music,” said Ali. The title “Green Book,” refers to a travel guide, first printed in 1936, that catered to Black motorists. Created by postman and activist Victor Hugo Green, the tagline of “The Negro Motorist Green Book: An International Travel Guild” was “Now We Can Travel Without embarrassment.”

The book listed hotels, homes, grocery stores and most other conveniences a black traveler would have needed on the road across America. The men use this book to navigate their way through states like Mississippi, Alabama, and Kentucky to name a few. At times, the two weren’t allowed to sleep in the same hotel or dine in the same restaurant. This was

during the Jim Crow era, a time when southern states held laws that, not only allowed, but sometimes promoted bigotry and racial injustice. This movie will make viewers think and laugh while tugging at the audience’s heartstrings. It will be in theaters everywhere on Thanksgiving day.

VPAM screens previously banned film ‘Salt of the Earth’ BY LUIS CASTILLA Staff Writer The Vincent Price Art Museum held a film screening for the radical film, “Salt of the Earth” Thursday. “Salt of the Earth” was previously banned in the United States for its communist symbolism of worker unity and feminist ideals. The film centers around Esperanza Quintero, played by Rosaura Revuelta, and her husband Ramon, played by Juan Chacón, a Mexican-American couple who live in a mining town in New Mexico with their two children. Ramon is a mine worker who is fed up with the poor conditions he and his co-workers are forced to work in. One day, a miner is injured in an explosion, catalyzing a lengthy and difficult strike against Delaware Zinc Inc. by Ramon and the rest of the miners’ union.The plot is based on the real-life 1951 strike against the Empire Zinc Company in New Mexico.

Throughout the strike, the police tried numerous times to break the will of the miners. At one point, a miner named Sebastian betrays the union, angering Ramon, who spits in Sebastian’s face. Ramon is then arrested and stabbed in the gut by two police officers in the back of their car. Meanwhile, Esperanza, who was pregnant at the time, is forced to give birth at the site of the picket line because the police will not allow her to call an ambulance. The miners’ union is given a court order forcing all miners them to stop their strike or face heavy fines and jail time. The miners’ wives continue the strike, as they are not miners and do not need to comply to the court order. The film ends with a scene in which the Quinteros’ family is being evicted by the court. Hundreds of townspeople who support the strike immediately head to the Quinteros’ home, intimidating the three men

who are evicting Esperanza and Ramon. “Together, we can push everything up with us as we go,” said Ramon. The name of the film is explained in the last seconds of the film. Esperanza says that because of the efforts of the union, their actions will lead to a better future for her children, who she calls the salt of the earth. “Salt of the Earth” was released in 1954 during the Red Scare, which was the fear of communism that blanketed the United States in the 1950s. The film’s writer, Michael Wilson and director, Herbert Biberman and producer Paul Jarrico were all blacklisted for their involvement in the film. Biberman was one of the Hollywood Ten, a group of 10 Hollywood filmmakers that were blacklisted after accusations of being communists by the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1943. The House Un-American

Tyler the Creator’s Christmas EP delivers fusion of styles BY ANDREW AYALA Staff Writer Tyler the Creator’s latest release, “Music Inspired by Illumination & Dr. Suess’ The Grinch,” is filled with holiday inspired music and works as a modern version of a classic Christmas album. Although holiday albums were once something a lot of major artists would make in the past, nowadays it is rare for one of today’s most prominent artists to make music of this nature for a younger generation. The Extended Play record includes six songs with a 10 minute run time which keeps it short, sweet and straight to the point. Immediately, listeners are hit with “Whoville,” the opening track sounds like it came from a “Peanuts” Christmas special on a cold winter morning. The soft and subtle sounds of the piano along with the addition of holiday bells and horns make this a perfect way to begin. Those who aren’t so familiar with the artist get to see first-hand what he is all about and how in tune he gets with his beats and sound selection. “Lights On” features American singers Ryan Beatty and Santigold. This song in particular sounds like it belongs in the speakers of a department store as presents are being chosen, cards are being swiped and cash is being exchanged. It has great singing from all three

artists as well as a repeating beat, which is catchy. The harmonious voices of all three artists make this track upbeat and gives listeners a warm feeling. The use of synths takes listeners back, giving a feeling of nostalgia. “Santigold” adds a classic feel due to her powerful voice on the hook. Ryan Beatty and Tyler the Creator compliment one another during their verses and attack the song with a nice mix of a light and soft voice along with raspy roughness that goes together like the perfect combination of sweet and salty. A song with a softer tone and feel is “Hot Chocolate” which features another American songwriter and producer named Jerry Paper. The musical genius of both artists make this a great fusion for those cold mornings or nights when a cup of hot chocolate is needed. The slow pace remains constant through the whole two minutes and hearing Paper say “It’s christmas time” in a low and deep tone are the icing on top of a gingerbread house. Listeners are almost taken into a hybrid world with the minds and visions of Suess and Tyler as they listen and get lost in the musical magic. It’s interesting to hear an artist make a song which comes off as an ode to something that people of all ages love and gather around to share. This has always been the style of Tyler the Creator, since he always strays away from the norm

to create something that can be seen as a masterpiece to those who appreciate different sounds. For those who love the lyrics and flow of Tyler the Creator, “Big Bag” is the song that presents this. Although he raps and keeps a central theme of the holidays, listeners can hear Tyler speak of his past and present with wordplay that is almost unmatched. This is one of the songs which embodies his style of music that fans are used to hearing which is also pleasing. He has never been an artist to go along with trends or follow the styles of artists, so hearing a song that has holiday references in true Tyler the Creator nature is almost as good as a gift under the tree. The EP ends in the same instrumental manner in which it began, and gives off those calm Christmas vibes. Artists tend to stick to what they know but the beauty of this artist is his venture into the unknown. Along with him working on some of the songs from “The Grinch,” it was great for him to go on and create this EP on his own to prove how versatile and different he can be. Overall, people who love music and aren’t necessarily fans of Tyler the Creator can enjoy this album due to its holiday references and intricate beats. The EP was released on Nov. 16 and is available to listen across multiple platforms.

Activities Committee was an investigative committee formed in 1938 dedicated to weeding out individuals who may be associated with the communist party. Those who were accused of being communists were heavily scrutinized and often blacklisted. After the film was released, everyone involved with its production was barred and the lead actress, Revueltas, was deported because of a supposed issue with her passport, said VPAM director Pilar Tompkins Rivas. The film screening was hosted as part of VPAM’s exhibit, Regeneración: Three Generations of Revolutionary Ideology. Francisca Flores, who founded the Regeneración newspaper in 1970 and was also targeted by the House Un-American Activities Committee because of her radical ideologies, kept a copy of “Salt of the Earth” in a safe and would hold clandestine screenings for women, said Rivas.

COURTESY OF INDEPENDENT PRODUCTIONS CORPORATION

WOMEN UNITED—The wives of the mine workers stand together in the picket line after a court order forbids their husbands from picketing.

‘Fantastic Beasts’ sequel conjures special effects action BY JUAN CALVILLO Staff Writer “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” is an adventurous, special-effects-driven and revealing leap back into the wizarding world of J.K. Rowling. While the visual effects are on point for the sequel to “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” it’s the little nods to Potter lore that will really thrill long time fans. “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” takes place three months after the events of “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.” The crux of the movie is held together by the sense of impending doom that comes along when two differing ideologies collide. The sides are very much cut-anddry, good versus bad. One side of the wizarding world wants things with humanity to stay peaceful, while the other more radical side wants to destroy and enslave humanity due to their belief of superiority. The group of heroes from the first movie are no longer together at the beginning of the film.Newt Scamander, played by Eddie Redmayne, is being watched after his less than successful trip abroad in New York. Redmayne is perfect for the role of Scamander and plays the shy and beast-obsessed wizard excellently. The film takes off rather quickly

with a free Grindelwald, played by Johnny Depp, making his presence known. The pomp and circumstance that seems to flow from every pore of Depp is the perfect fuel for the dastardly Grindelwald, as the characters natural charisma draws more followers to his side. Grindelwald spends much of the movie manipulating events to draw Credence Barebone, played again by Ezra Miller, closer to his side. Much of the movie shows Grindelwald using the growing paranoia and fear among wizards and witches to gather followers. The various fantastic beasts from the movies namesake are a sight to behold. Some of the newer beasts make the bigger set pieces much more spectacular to watch. While the special effects take center stage, the story manages to engage and further the mythos of the Potter universe of movies. Slight nods to past Potter movies are throughout the movie. And major characters get a much more fleshed out back story. The trailers don’t give enough chance to really see how certain characters, specifically Albus Dumbledore, really become more than just one note in the larger scheme of things. Much of the original cast from the first film reprise their roles in

this sequel. Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol and Katherine Waterston all reprise their roles of Jacob Kowalski, Queenie Goldstein and Tina Goldstein respectively. Fogler brings some of the more comedic moments in the movie. Waterstons portrayal of Tina adds more to the romance subplot between her character and Redmayne’s. Sudol’s character Queenie is interesting to watch. Her character development throughout the movie shows how wanting something too much sometimes changes people. The movie also welcomes Jude Law into the world of magic as the famous Dumbledore from the original Potter series. Law does quite well in the movie, showing the playful side of the wizard as well as showing the deep feelings that come with regret and hurt from things in the past. Some of the more revealing information about Grindelwald and Dumbledore’s past comes from just a handful of exchanges between Law and Redmayne. Despite Millers’ character being at the center of the movie’s plot, Miller delivers a subdued performance. Only until the end does the audience get to see some real emotion from Miller. “The movie is Rated PG-13 for some sequences of fantasy action.

www.ELACCampusNews.com

ARTS 2

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2018

ONLY BLACK AND WHITE—ELAC alumnus Gino Cervantes spoke to viewers about his techniques and inspiration on his photos.

BOYLE HEIGHTS LEGACY— GIVING HER ALL—Angel Michel Juarez, began the show singing and dancing.

Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, spoke about the importance of the show.

CASA 0101 invites community to remember roots BY GISELLE PALOMERA Staff Writer CASA 0101 theater hosted the opening of “Remembering Boyle Heights” on Nov. 9 with VIP appearance by Lucille Roybal-Allard and a cast and crew of East Los Angeles College students and community members. The Boyle Heights Museum presented the art exhibit, “Roybal: A multi-racial catalyst for Democracy Celebrating the Life of Edward Ross Roybal, the ﬁrst Mexican-American to be elected to the Los Angeles City Council in the 20th century,” and is now showing in the Jean Deleage Art Gallery located in the lobby of CASA 0101. The art exhibit is about the Boyle Heights community and the talent and culture that comes from its diverse people. Its main piece is a bust of E.R.Roybal, made by artist and ELAC alumnus Pedro Rios Martinez. Another past ELAC

student who exhibited their photography and artwork was Gino Cervantes whose pieces showed the life of a WWII veteran who he befriended as he grew up in the Boyle Heights community. The cast of “Remembering Boyle Heights” has opened its doors to the public with a world premiere featuring students and alumni from ELAC as well as members of surrounding communities and local universities. The diverse cast offered a mostly pantomimed Boyle Heights historical timeline as a celebration of the culture, as all the actors switched between characters. The characters are based on diverse members of the Boyle Heights community during signiﬁcant decades and gentriﬁcation events. “This is not a play. This is part scripted, devised, part immersive and mostly a theatrical celebration of memory of Boyle Heights past

and present,” said director and co-writer Corky Dominguez. The theatrical celebration is set up in three parts with the first beginning in the foyer with a monologue by Jose Luis Cedillo, who plays a gentrified mariachi in this scene. While performing, Angel Juarez has the other half of the audience emerged in her own monologue with song and dance. Juarez is an undergraduate at ELAC and has been part of the Theater Department since 2016. During the second part of the show, the audience enters the stage of the Black-Box Theater to find themselves in the middle of an argument between gentrifying developers and various members of the community. During the third part of the theatrical celebration the audience finds their way to their seats while the actors and actresses switch characters

and scenes. The rest of the play follows the timeline of gentrification through the decades until now and even offers an homenaje to Tonantzin, an Aztec mother goddess. On its opening night, the 99-seat Black Box Theater filled its seats. Among the audience was Lucille Roybal-Allard, Roybal’s daughter. Roybal helped pave the way for Latinos and other underrepresented minorities in congress and was first elected in 1949 after losing the first time. His fight had only begun back then and continues to be fought today through activists and anti-gentrifiers. Roybal-Allard now follows her father’s footsteps as she was the first Latina woman to be elected 25 years ago into Congress. She honors the legacy of her father as she continues to fight for the community she grew up in. “When I was growing up

here, it was unheard of (for Latina women) to attend Yale or Harvard. That just didn’t exist. Now there is a bigger opportunity and we have to consider how fragile these opportunities are and not take advantage of that,” said Roybal-Allard. Joseﬁna Lopez the Founding Artistic Director of CASA 0101, produced and co-wrote “Remembering Boyle Heights.” “As I was writing the play I realized that in order to write about a community, you need a community to tell this story. I told Corky that we needed the actors to improvise and take ownership of the information and the stories I wrote about and give life to them,” said Lopez. Regardless of the thriving cast and crew, CASA 0101 was in danger of closing its doors due to lack of funds in January as announced by Lopez. As of January, CASA

0101 set up the #CASA350 fundraising campaign to help secure 350 theater donors who would give an annual payment. This annual payment will cover the 12-month period of $25 per month. They recently announced that they have 182 of the 350 donors as of November. These funds help cover costs of running a theater and rent. Many ELAC theater, photography and art students ﬁnd opportunities in small, local theaters and museums like CASA 0101 and therefore, community support is encouraged to keep these opportunities going. The show will have a six-week run, from Nov. 9 to Dec. 16 alongside the art exhibit and then through Feb. 3, 2019. Discounted performance nights and tickets will be available. For more information call the Box Ofﬁce at 323-263-7684.

ALL PHOTOS AND GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY JULIE SANTIAGO