Fall 2016 Issue 12

OPINION Transfer center gives students full support

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Volume 74, Issue 12

SPORTS

ARTS

Women’s basketball wins third tournament this season

Jazz concert brings holiday spirit to campus

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Single copy free - additional copies 50 cents

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

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Students have the power to make change Only students have the power to put a stop to a professor’s unethical or unprofessional behavior. Students should not feel intimidated to report any unethical behavior to people who can make a positive change for future students. Students should know that professors are under contract by the Los Angeles Community College District to adhere to all school and district policies. East Los Angeles College’s faculty ethics policy states: “It is a fundamental ethical principle that individuals in power and authority should not use their advantaged position for their own gain or to advance their own self-interest.” It also says trading grades for positive responsiveness to inappropriate advances, personal favors or services is a clear violation of ethics. Students should also know that administrative services can only discipline professors violating their contract if students, not faculty, report them. This is because only students have first-hand information about what happens in classrooms. Unethical behavior is often unreported because students underestimate how much influence they have. During the spring semester,

Campus News reported that former East Los Angeles College communications instructor R. Steven Johnson was using his position to entice students to buy, review his self-published book on Amazon and promote it on social media in exchange for a better grade. Although many professors use self-published books as supplementary reading, Johnson took it a step further by requiring students to buy his book. All while he told students to leave reviews on Amazon and to not mention they were using the book for class. Johnson would also neglect to mention the book and a surprise exam in his syllabus. He would omit the exam’s score in exchange for likes and shares on social media, and told students they would receive extra credit for the Amazon review. Johnson went unreported for 10 years, until a Campus News staff member took his class prior to joining staff and spoke out. Johnson refused to speak to Campus News and filed a complaint of discrimination against Campus News staff members and advisers in October. In a similar case, former Los Angeles City College English

Department chair Dr. Tammy Robinson lost her position after she shared the personal information of approximately 4,000 ESL students with the help of five instructors. The information included student names, I.D numbers and home addresses. Students were also sold an optional $5 e-book and charged unspecified fees. The incident started in 2009 and went on until students complained about the fees in 2011. LACCD told the LACC Collegian that Robinson and her accomplices profited around $1,000 to $2,833 in cash. Robinson denied all accusations against her. It is important to be able to distinguish unethical behavior from a professor simply doing their job. This isn’t an encouragement to report a professor for failing someone who never shows up to class or doesn’t complete assignments. This is an encouragement to report any professor using a position for profit, failing to teach or harassing students. In some instances, unethical behavior goes unreported because students are guaranteed a good grade. Some students just don’t know who to file a report to. Students should follow the

chain of command when filing a report. They should first confront the professor about the action in question. If the the professor ignores the student, then, the student should report it to the department chair, then the department’s dean if they don't get results. If the problem isn’t resolved, then the student should contact the Vice President of Student Services or Academic Affairs. Campus News received an anonymous letter on Thursday from a student complaining about a business administration professor not showing up to teach the class for four consecutive weeks. The student also sent the letter to several members of administration and said they were also going to file a complaint with the district. The student has a genuine concern. However, they completely bypassed the chain of command and Campus News can’t report something based solely on an anonymous source, even if the student named the professor by name. Students should consider having someone to corroborate their claim when filing a report. It is important for students to remember they hold a lot of power and influence on their campus.

VPAM roundtable focuses on influences of Latino culture BY IVAN CAZARES Staff Writer Music by Caifanes and Maldita Vecindad filled the Vincent Price Art Museum’s lecture hall, November 28, during a roundtable discussion focusing on music’s influence on Southern California’s youth cultures. Guest speakers sharing their experiences with assimilation into American society played music videos of the artists that influenced them in their youth. Speakers talked about how youth cultures overlap, and how music can inspire the flow of ideas, sounds and fashion styles between the United States, Latin America and the rest of the world. Scenemakers and Bridgemakers complemented the VPAM’s exhibit Tastemakers and Earthshakers, which showcases more than 70 years of Los Angeles youth culture in the form of candid art, music and photography. VPAM curator Pilar Tompkins Rivas said she invited people with knowledge

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on the history of latina/os and assimilation. The exhibit will be open until February 25, Tuesday through Saturday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursdays. “The information speakers shared is directly connected to the exhibit,” Rivas said. Urban and cultural historian Jorge N. Leal organized the roundtable with Rivas as part of a collaboration between East Los Angeles College and California State University, Los Angeles. Leal teaches courses on urban history, race, gender and culture for the department of history at Cal State University, Northridge and for the Chicana/o Latina/o studies department, at Cal State Los Angeles. Latin music promoter Yvonne Drazan said although there has been many improvements since she started her career, there is still discrimination toward Latina/s within the music industry. Drazan said musicians trying to produce authentic latin music receive pushback from producers looking for

marketable music. She is currently the vice president of Peer Music’s west coast Latin division and has a history organizing successful Los Angeles-based music festivals. Drazan said her Mexican relatives didn’t see her as Mexican, and she knew she wasn’t like most Americans. She said Rock en Espanol (Spanish rock music) helped her find her identity as a Mexican-American. Drazan said she could relate to the rebellious attitude displayed by performers on stage. She also said she was attracted to the fact that the music of groups like Soda Estereo and Hombres G had Spanish lyrics. Drazan said Mexican fans found it odd that she listened to Rock en Espanol. However, she also said it helped her relate to them and her culture. Drazan said she was unaware of the music’s influence on social movements. She was also unaware of the correlation between youth cultures around the world. She said it is obvious to her now that

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Rock en Espanol was influenced by British acts like the Smiths. She said, it is also obvious to her that youth cultures unconsciously influence each other and encourage interactions amongst youth. Leal said Rock en Espanol helped him assimilate into American society and helped him find a sense of identity. “Going to (music) shows in places like Chinatown were my gateway, my bridge to the LA music scene and, more importantly, to Southern California as an immigrant,” Leal said. Leal said the music scene helped him learn about the Los Angeles area and introduced him to some of the city's social movements. He credited the LA music scene for helping activists congregate during walkouts organized by students in the early ‘90s in protest to propositions targeting immigrants. He said music is a way to claim space and helped him feel a sense of belonging. He called it a bridge between cultures and generations. He said venues would host a variety

of music genres that exposed him to various music genres and cultures. Chicano Studies scholar Daniel Topete said Rock en Espanol helped him find a sense of identity and helped him appreciate his culture. He also said it helped him realize that his first language and culture weren’t detrimental to his education. “As I sit here with a Ph.D., I am grateful that I was able to contribute to their (his parents) migrant story,” Topete said. However, he also said that before he learned to appreciate, his culture, he was ashamed of it. Topete was forced to repeat kindergarten because of his English skills, and that influenced the way he thought about his culture. “I would like to argue that the U.S public school system is invested in assimilating people of color into English-speaking, mainstream Americans, and in the process create an environment of shame and low self-esteem,” Topete said. Topete received a Ph.D. in American studies from the

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University of Minnesota Twin Cities. He also received a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Chicano Studies from Cal State L.A. His work focuses on activism, Chicano education and assimilation into American society. Assistant Chicana/o and Latina/o studies professor Jose Anguiano of Cal State LA said the popularity of The Smiths and Morrissey among latina/os can be partially explained by the similarities their music’s themes have to music like rancheras. He said he first discovered The Smiths when he discovered a song by Mikel Erentxun was a Spanish Smiths cover. Anguiano researches and documents how popular music connects communities across time and space. The discussion focused on how these connections help individuals find themselves and communicate with others. To schedule a tour of the VPAM’s Tastemakers and Earthshakers exhibit, or for more information call, (323) 265-8841.

Last issue This is the last issue of the fall 2016. Campus News will return in the srping 2017. To keep up-todate, visit elaccampusnews.com.

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Opinion

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016

Transfer center gives students full support BY JAVIER LOPEZ Staff Writer The East Los Angeles College Transfer Center showed their support for students applying to universities by assuring that they felt supported, were fed and felt ready to turn their applications in. The Transfer Center staff did a great job throughout the entire semester helping students with scholarship and transfer applications by hosting workshops and having counselors available to go over the application process. Counselors helped students by reading their personal insight responses and giving them feedback in order to perfect it. As the application deadline got closer, the staff members expressed their dedication to students’ success stronger than ever. Kirby Dominguez, the Director of the Transfer Center, helped increase their accessibility and support from November 27 until the last day to turn applications in, November 30. In the last three days before applications were due, the transfer center was able to help 484 students. During the last few days, students were able to drop by and have a counselor review their personal insight questions. Dominguez made sure they had enough counselors to help students. In fact, there was eight counselors available to help students the night applications were due. This is very important because counselors are trained to help students with their applications and prompts and having direct access to them right before submitting the application is incredibly helpful. One of the greatest aspects of this transfer season is the fact that having

so many resources for students in order to help them succeed made the transfer process much easier. It also created a sense of community for the students, staff and counselors in the room. “The students had good energy, we had good energy so we fed off of each other,” Dominguez said. Every student who was applying to transfer also had the option of receiving a gift bag that contained a sandwich, a bag of chips and snacks such as oreos. Aside from the food, there was also water, iced tea and soda provided. The Transfer Center also hired an

Elotero, a person who sells boiled corn. The students loved the idea. This was all free to students who were applying to transfer. Being well fed is very important when you are working on applications because that takes up so much mental power. There were more computers available for students, in case they did not have their own personal computer. Extension cords were set up all across the transfer center to assure that students had a place to plug their laptop chargers in order to continue working.

This is very important because there are only a few electricity ports in the Transfer Center. Bringing in extension cords was a perfectly executed maneuver because it made certain that every student who brought a laptop to work on the applications with had a place to charge their devices. During the final few hours before the applications were due for UCs and Cal States, a staff member came out dressed up in a dinosaur costume and walked around the room encouraging students. Having that kind of encouragement during a stressful time definitely

helped students out. Many students were smiling after a long period of staring at their computer screen. Some of them even got excited and began taking out their phones to film the dinosaur walking around. It gave students a break before they went back to working on their application. This was all beautifully orchestrated. It brought a newfound sense of community during the transfer process, something that I have never seen during application season. It was like working on transfer applications at a social gathering where everyone where everyone was dedicated to finish their applications on time. “To see students’ elation and relief after submitting their application for me is payment enough,” Dominguez said. Dominguez and the Transfer Center staff are doing an amazing job with providing students with resources as well as helping them transfer. The transfer application season is very emotional and stressful but through the actions of the transfer center, that stress was reduced. “I just wanted to make sure I created a comfortable environment to alleviate the stress and create a friendly environment so students felt welcomed.” Dominguez said. Dominguez is already making plans to improve the next transfer application season, Fall 2018. He is planning to extend the resources throughout the last week of applications so that more students benefit from these resources. He is also working on a Transfer Reception for May to celebrate students and the universities that they got into.

Deck the halls with many many gifts BY ROSLIN OJEDA Staff Writer

Surveillance cameras can help prevent crime BY GIL MILANES Staff Writer East Los Angeles College should invest in surveillance cameras to improve the safety of faculty, students and to prevent vandalism on campus. Surveillance cameras are an important asset to any facility where the safety of people should be the number one priority. In recent years, ELAC has spent millions of dollars to hire contractors to develop and construct state-of-the-art buildings but have neglected to invest in surveillance cameras. Cameras serve as a useful tool where in case of an uncommon event, they can capture the scene and authorities can review the video to help capture the individuals responsible. Eyewitness testimony is not always a reliable source. The U.S. National Library of Medicine concluded that people tend to forget important details and over time the memory becomes distorted. On the other hand, the camera’s footage will be more accurate and in case of a major crime, it can be used as evidence against the accused in a court of law.

ELAC does have a sheriff station on campus and various cadets patrolling the campus, but it seems like their main focus is the library and fiscal office. Cadets do not patrol beyond the first floor of buildings, leaving the remaining unattended. There are police phones available in almost every floor and in high traffic areas where students can get a hold of the school’s sheriff station. In case of a major emergency in any of the second floors and above, the authorities would most likely not know about it unless someone reports the incident. Surveillance cameras can potentially prevent individuals from committing crimes against faculty and students, or plotting malicious attacks to the campus. It will be easy to spot an individuals’ unusual behavior through cameras, the sheriff can then send a cadet or sheriff officer to investigate further. In 2015 two students committed suicide on campus. Cameras would have helped during the investigation process to determine the possible reasons for the misfortune but there were no cameras pointing to the scene. Some people may argue that

cameras invade privacy and do not help to stop a tragedy from happening. Which can have some truth, but at least there would be recorded evidence that can help prevent future tragedies. O u r c a m p u s s u ff e r s f r o m tagging in many areas, especially in elevators, parking structures and restrooms. The renovations that took money, time and many hours of labor are in jeopardy from vandalism that can be avoided if there were more surveillance cameras that can help identify perpetrators. According to a study by Harvard Kennedy School, people feel safer if there are cameras in schools, shopping malls or any other public place. Knowing there are cameras and someone is watching on the other end of the control room will impulse people to act more appropriate. It is unclear whether the contractor developers who designed and built the buildings didn’t include cameras accidentally or if administration failed to request a surveillance camera system. Either way administration should consider investing in surveillance cameras for the entire campus for the safety of everyone.

‘Tis the season to be jolly and to see who can get the most expensive and biggest pile of presents. In the traditional sense, Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, coming together with your loved ones and being grateful that you get to spend the holiday season together. In recent years though, it has become a competition as to who can receive the most from the people around them. It would seem that the only way to express the love we have for each other is not by spending the holidays together and giving thanks for a hot meal and a roof over our heads but rather by maxing out credit cards and withdrawing all our savings. Investopedia reports that the average American household will spend $929 on gifts this year. An increase from last years average of $882. With so much technology now at our disposal, kids no longer ask Santa for the traditional Barbie dolls or bicycles under the tree on Christmas morning; they would much rather have a tablet or the latest game system. According to a survey done by TODAY, parents are willing to spend about $271 per child. One in ten moms said they are willing to spend up to $500 per child in order to make this holiday season magical. The love of parents is now being measured by whether or not all the presents on the wish list are received. If children do not feel satisfied, then parents have failed to make them happy. All the spending and extravagant gift giving is not the way to show children that they are loved. It simply shows them that no matter how they behave throughout the year, they will still receive the things that they ask for come Christmas. This can have negative effects

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in the long run, because it can make children believe that they are entitled to whatever they may want no matter their behavior. Simply put it makes them spoiled. Many parents refuse to believe that their kids are spoiled because that word has a negative connotation. However, today’s generation is, for the most part, exactly that. A bunch of spoiled kids. This does not exclude adults. A survey done by the Huffington Post revealed that the longer a relationship is, the more couples are expected to spend on each other. For couples who have been dating for less than a year, the average cost of gifting is approximately $92.50. Each year the amount spent rises by $21. Over time, men tend to spend more on gifts than women. A poll done of 1,380 people by the RiverFront Times concluded that forty-nine percent of women spent less than a hundred dollars on gifts versus forty four percent of men who spent anywhere between one hundred to three hundred dollars. Expecting our significant other to spend hundreds is not the way for them to prove how much they love us. The amount being spent on gifts may also be on the rise due to inflation. It appears that every holiday season the prices on items continue to increase. Although a lot of people buy gifts during a sale, the most popular of these days being Black Friday, the amount being “saved” is not very much. Shiny new things are always nice to have, but the materialistic tends to fade. We must learn to value what is really important. Time spent together is more valuable than what is spent on extravagant gifts. Many families are unable to spend the holiday season together due to immigration issues or military duty. We must learn to value what we have rather than keep asking for more that- let’s be honest- most of the time we don’t really need.

EDITOR IN CHIEF Stephanie Guevara MANAGING EDITOR Ivan Cazares ONLINE EDITOR IN CHIEF Rogelio Alvarez ONLINE EDITOR Dan Gudino ART DIRECTORS Julie Santiago Steven Adamo FRONT EDITOR Megan G. Razzetti

OPINION EDITOR Roslin Ojeda NEWS EDITOR Dorany Pineda FEATURES EDITORS Brooke Gemina Rogelio Alvarez SPORTS EDITOR Dan Gudino ARTS EDITORS Anastasia Landeros Francisco Portillo Russell Zazueta PHOTO EDITOR Anna Hachisuka COPY EDITOR Russell Zazueta CARTOONISTS Kristal Mora Jose Guillen STAFF WRITERS Anastasia Landeros, Daniela Jalteco, Gustavo Buenrostro, Gil Milanes, Javier Lopez, Johanna Calderon STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Jordan Elias Jorge Aldaco ADVERTISING Stefanie Arocha DISTRIBUTION Ivan Cazares ADVISERS Jean Stapleton Sylvia Rico-Sanchez

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News 3 Program helps disabled students prosper EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016

BY ANASTASIA LANDEROS Staff Writer Tucked away in the small foyer in front of the smallest of ELAC’s two theaters, Laura De Guzman tries to ignore the sounds of construction echoing through the space. It’s a new development, she says, but it hasn’t hindered her or her students’ ability to continue on with their day-to-day. De Guzman’s students are no ordinary group of young people roaming the ELAC grounds regularly. They are part of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Center for Advanced Transition Skills (CATS) Program that has been housed on campus for roughly 15 years. CATS helps young adults with moderate to severe disabilities transition into adulthood by teaching them to take charge of

their independence. “They’re out in the community, but there is some support for them in case they need it,” she said. Students between the ages of 19 and 22 learn social, vocational, transitional and independent living skills through the two-year program. While participants are considered high school students, part of their curriculum includes taking community college classes. ELAC was the first of six Los Angeles Community College District schools chosen to host the program on their campuses. In April of 2013, ELAC’s CATS Program received a certificate of congressional recognition by Congresswoman Judy Chu, just two months before a story ran in Campus News about its possible closure. The “closure” was, in actuality, a contract agreement expiration that was quickly renewed with support from community and

council members, LACCD and culture and finds it beneficial to her LAUSD staff, and newly-hired students in the program. “We think it’s a wonderful ELAC President Marvin Martinez, according to Program Facilitator school and a wonderful part of the community. It enhances the lives of William Boonsiriseth. so many students Although De that might not Guzman has otherwise even get only been with “Everybody has a right a chance to attend ELAC’s CATS this school… It’s Program since to have a life that’s a vital part of our Nov. 1, she is as independent and community here in no stranger East Los Angeles to the East prosperous as it can and we love it Los Angeles be.” Community. here.” She has In her short time w o r k e d at ELAC, she has LAURA DE GUZMAN in special already seen that Special Education Educator education for the campus is a more than 20 great learning years with the environment for LAUSD and comes to ELAC from her students. the Alphonso B. Perez Special “They feel very much a part of Education Center located a little the campus, apart of being with their more than a mile from campus. typical peers and I’ve seen them She appreciates the community grow and develop and become much

more independent.” As part of the program, students are required to maintain an on or off-campus job, check in daily via phone calls, and be able to travel to school, work and home on their own. On campus, her students hold jobs in the bookstore, Student Center, and Child Development Center, to name a few. De Guzman does stress that although students do have to meet a certain level of independence before joining the program, her hope is to refine those skills before they leave. “At age 22, they age-out of the school district and then regional center takes over for them. They’re not going to get the support that they get with us now so we’re trying to make them as independent as we possibly can.” She goes on to say that being around age-appropriate peers not only helps her students learn about

social cues and making friends, but it’s also beneficial to ELAC students because it teaches them empathy and the struggles that go along with being differently abled. De Guzman feels more people on campus should know about the program and its benefits. “Everybody has a right to have a life that’s as independent and prosperous as it can be. And so to be aware of people’s special and unique abilities and their unique ways of learning I think helps all of us. It’ll make the campus that much more of a powerful place to be.” Her hope is that students, faculty and staff will be encouraged to interact with her and her students and not be afraid to stop by and say “Hello.” “Come say ‘Hi’ to us. We’re trying not to be strangers.” For more information about t h e C AT S P r o g r a m , v i s i t LAUSD.net.

Roundup event to offer proper disposal of toxic waste BY DORANY PINEDA Staff Writer The County of Los Angeles will host “Too Toxic to Trash,” a hazardous waste and e-waste roundup at the Stadium Parking Lot on Dec. 17. The roundup is being organized by the Department of Public Works and the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County with cooperation from the cities of Bell Gardens, Alhambra, Bell, Maywood, Montebello, Huntington Park, Commerce, South Pasadena, Vernon and Pico Rivera among others. Local residents are able to bring

household hazardous waste products to the event for safe and proper disposal. Hazardous waste items include brake fluid, paint thinner and paint, fluorescent light bulbs, expired pharmaceuticals, pesticides and herbicides, batteries (household and car), pool chemicals and other similar products. “A lot of this waste is flammable and corrosive under pressure,” William Moreno, Senior Clerk for the County of LA Department of Public Works, said. Everything you throw into the trash, he said, is compacted and compressed, and explosions can happen if hazardous materials that

are sensitive to pressure are dumped into trash bins. Electronic waste like cell phones, printers, keyboards, televisions and more will also be collected. Moreno added that the event is a safe disposal center for electronics, meaning that devices with sensitive information are not reused. This prevents the misuse of personal information and prevents it from falling into the wrong hands. Among the items that will not be accepted are controlled substances, explosives, ammunition, radioactive materials, tires, trash or business waste. White goods, which include washing machines,

refrigerators, stoves and other large household items will also be turned away. To p r e p a r e t h e h a z a r d o u s materials for transportation, attendees should bring their items in sturdy boxes and if possible, in their original labeled receptacles. Items should not be mixed together and attendees should be prepared to leave their containers and boxes behind. The legal limit for transporting hazardous waste is 15 gallons or 25 pounds. Anything beyond that is a safety hazard and requires a permit from the fire department, according to Moreno.

All waste will be unloaded from vehicles by event workers. One hundred percent of the collected items will be sent to a California facility to be recycled/ reused (oils and paints) or broken down to their smallest elements (electronics). Waste and e-waste roundups occur weekly in different public spaces throughout LA, so residents with unwanted hazardous items that can’t attend this event can take their waste to another location in the future. The collection event is open to all residents and attendees will not be required to show identification.

Free and sanitary syringe cases will be given out to attendees of the roundup. Moreno added that used syringes and biohazardous containers can be dropped off 24/7 at the East Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Patrol Station on East 3rd St., next to Belvedere Park. About 800 vehicles are expected to show up to the event, according to Moreno. For more details on what items will and will not be accepted at the “Too Toxic to Trash” hazard collection, and for information about future events and locations, visit: cleanla.com or call: (888) clean-la.

Community pays tribute to AIDS victims BY JOHANNA CALDERON Staff Writer The 23 annual Noche De Las Memorias paid tribute to those who lost their battle with AIDS at Lincoln Park on Dec 1. Richard Zaldivar is the co-founder and executive director of Noche De Las Memorias. The event started 24 years ago when his best friend told him he was HIV positive. “I remember the fear he had on his face… and I understood what gay men were going through,” Zaldivar said. He then said he wanted to give back to the community and made a commitment to God to help those affected by the virus. The event began with a prayer. First-timers revealed the names of those who died from the virus, and their families spoke of the memories they have of them. The families expressed how difficult it is not having their loved ones with them. After a moment, Zaldivar passed the microphone to audience members, who then spoke the names of the ones they lost. Mitra Mariano, one of the audience members, said her father

died of AIDS. “I remember that I was little. I was tested and stuff just in case I was born with it,” Mariano said. Having a parent who has this disease can be difficult because according to Mariano there is a lot of ignorance about the virus. Some of the changes that Mariano wants to see is “the acceptance and the continuing of education and safety” about personal health. Mariano has been going to this event for three years in memory of her father. The Wall-Las Memorias Project is an organization that has programs and services like HIV testing and other prevention support. There is counseling for families coping with loved ones with HIV. Help is offered to give the families a better understanding of the changes their loved ones are going through because, as Zaldivar said, it can be overwhelming for them. The group focus then went on to discuss the hateful rhetoric of the presidential campaign. In addition, there were talks about the impact of the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando and how it has affected people, many of whom

have gone back to the closet for not being able to be themselves, Zaldivar said. Emilio Roman, who performed at the event, talked about his father’s experience with immigration services in Arizona, who went to his work place looking for undocumented people. Kara Chang, a transgender woman, then took the stage. She spoke at the event about how the election results have affected her. The night Donald Trump won the presidential election, Chang was at Disneyland, where a man told her to “go back where you came from.” He was wearing a “Make America Great Again” shirt. In her statement, Chang said she didn’t want to leave her house because she didn’t feel safe in the world she lives in. A wall was covered with the names of people in the community who died of AIDS and candles were lit that represented the spirits of those that passed. The ceremony was peaceful and welcomed people of different backgrounds and religions. At the end of the event, everyone united in prayer to their own god.

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SEASONAL GIFTS—Ceramic products made by the Ceramics Club on display during its

Christmas sale on Tuesday. The sale will be in the Student Center courtyard Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

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Feature

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016

Pianist composer performing his own rite in musical world BY DORANY PINEDA Staff Writer Michael Cooper was four years old when he discovered his first love. He found it in a movie theater while sitting alongside his father and a dinosaur death match unfolding before his eyes. It was Igor Stravinsky’s classical piece the “Rite of Spring” in Disney’s animated Fantasia that captured his heart. It became a staple in his home and a piece that he listened to countless times during his childhood. Learning the basics of musical notation in second grade gave Cooper the foundation to further understand the language of music. His father, a classical guitarist and composer, had the orchestral score at home, and Cooper would follow along to the score while listening to the piece. Years later, around eight years of age, Cooper started learning the guitar, but it was a piano class that he took the following year in school that cemented his love for the instrument. Since then, Cooper, now 39, has gone on to achieve many successes, both within the realm of music and outside of it, and has taken some unconventional routes along the way. After playing music for a living immediately following high school, Cooper took to playing professional poker, then went on to become a professional chess player. He then took his chess-playing expertise and taught children to play the game he loves.

COURTESY OF SUI LIAO

PIANO DREAMS—Dr. Anthony Lupica (from left to right), Dr. Lucy Nargizyan, Michael Cooper, Dr. Chie Nagatani, and Dr. Graham celebrate Cooper winning first place at the 2016 MACCC Music Theory Scholarship competition in San Diego.

This spirit of teaching and helping seems to come naturally to Cooper. His applied music teacher, Dr. Lucy Nargizyan, said that Cooper is friendly and likes to help his classmates, be it on his own time or as the piano and music theory tutor.

He hopes to start a chess club at ELAC, and can often be found hanging out with his chess set in the student center. His most recent musical achievement was the 2016 Music Association of California Community Colleges’ music theory

competition, where he competed against 61 students from 14 community colleges in the state and won first place. “I was reluctant to participate in the competition and did not have a high expectation of doing well, but my theory teacher, Dr. Chie

Nagatani, strongly encouraged me to give it a try, so I agreed to enter and I did my best to prepare,” Cooper said. But his musical talents were heard and seen at a much younger age. At 14, Cooper won a regional composition competition in New

England. He got his first musical gig playing piano at church when he was 17, then taught piano at 18, and at the age of 20, played in a local music theatre in Maine, where he grew up. That same year, he composed and directed the music for an original theatre musical. Now, as a freshman at ELAC, Cooper is the first music composition major the campus has ever had. On Monday, the ELAC chamber choir performed a piece that Cooper composed, an opportunity that he’s very grateful for. This was due largely thanks to choir director Dr. Anthony Lupica who gave him the opportunity. “I am very proud of the choral piece I wrote this year,” Cooper said. It is set to a poem from the book Watership Down, a children's book about rabbits, by English author Richard Adams. “I think it shows I have good potential as a composer,” Cooper said. Though much of his musical career is still largely unwritten, Cooper is paving his way towards more achievements. “My educational and professional goals are to obtain a doctorate in music, to compose art music at a high level, to teach music theory to university students, and finally to play chamber music and/or play with an orchestra,” Cooper said. In the meantime, Michael Cooper can be found hanging out in the Student Center with his chess set, planning the chess club he hopes to start and waiting for any passersby up for a game challenge.

Program encourages educational aspirations, guidance BY DANIELA JALTECO Staff Writer Homeboy Scholars Club provides support and guidance for all. The club wants to ensure that every student in need of college guidance and help that visits them will become motivated to continue and expand their knowledge in education. They were chartered on October 7 but they had been working on getting the club started since August. The club’s mission statement is that they aim to inspire formerly incarcerated members of our community to pursue higher education and to help encourage nontraditional students to continue their education.”

They also want to provide proper guidance for student education and ensure equal access to school resources for everyone. The club is a community of students who advocate for social justice and they assist former incarcerated community members with enrolling into college, classes, and providing important college information. “We help people who are outcasted by providing them a chance to better and improve their life. We encourage them to pursue higher education,” Club delegate and current student, Luis Ernesto Zepeda Hernandez said. Club members provide guidance, suggestions, and support to ensure a fair college experience.

Encouragement, support, We’ll study together and we’ll and motivation is provided to answer all of your questions,” nontraditional president of students to the club and continue their “Don’t think that you don’t former honors education and have resources because you’re s t u d e n t , they help provide evening students, nontraditional, A d r i a n a l l s t u d e n t s or formerly incarcerated...we’ll E n r i q u e access to school study together and we’ll answer Cazares said. resources. He said all of your questions. “Don’t think his goal is to that you don't get at least have resources three or four because you’re of his club ADRIAN ENRIQUE CAZARES Homeboy Scholars Club President evening students, members to nontraditional, attain honors or formerly in their classes incarcerated. by the Spring Don't feel afraid, know you have Semester of 2017. that support system where we will Students who attend the club help you out. meetings will be given information

about the prison school pipeline. This information will help them understand the importance of getting an education. Everyone attending the meetings will be informed of time management strategies and will be helped to develop critical thinking skills to use for their studies. Members also help students get familiar with technology resources available to them. Some examples would be computer login, printing, etc. Other information offered would be upcoming volunteer opportunities and scholarships. They make sure that the students keep track of their school work, help them enroll in classes, make sure

they get tutoring, and also help them get through exams. They familiarize all members with the campus to ensure that they use all the resources available to them. Anyone interested in joining the club can check out their Facebook page at Homeboy Scholars. The club meets on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. at the E3 building room number 417. It is originally to target nontraditional and formerly incarcerated students but it is open to everyone not just to the formerly incarcerated. “We’ll help you out with whatever resources we have in order for you to get the most out of your college experience,” Cazares said.

Speech team talks the talk, walks the walk BY GUSTAVO BUENROSTRO Staff Writer The East Los Angeles College speech team won competitions throughout November and are preparing for the Pacific Southwest Collegiate Forensics Association at Orange Coast College. This past weekend, the speech team won events at the PSCFA Fall Championships. Those who placed were: Joshua Rodriguez placing first in the Novice Programmed Oral Interpretation, Arthur Kozloyan placing first in the Junior Programmed Oral Interpretation, Jonathan Tapia placing third in the Junior Programmed Oral Interpretation and Edward F. Kunkle placing third in the Open Communication Analysis as well as placing first in the Open Programmed Oral Interpretation. At the championship, over 40 schools competed. In the debate competition, 300 students enter and compete and in the speech competition, over 700 students are competing On Friday, the novice, junior and senior divisions competed in the National Forensic Association Lincoln Douglas debate, where the students had to support their arguments with evidence based policy. The International Public Debate Association is another

COURTESY OF CATALINA MEDINA

SPEECH SWAG—The Speech Team celebrates several award winning team members at the Watson- Lancer Tournament at

Pasadena City College.

debate students competed in. In California State University Northridge, the speech team won the Oral Interpretation with both advanced teams and novice teams placing first. At Grossmont College, the team placed second in the community college team sweepstakes. When all the

individuals of the team place, the college places in the sweepstakes. “Each tournament prepares us for the fall championship and the team has been working all semester to prepare,” said David Hale, communications adviser. There have been over 25 finalists in the course of five tournaments in

this semester. The team meets twice a week for a few hours. The first hour, they work with the novice squad to get them familiar with the debates and speeches. The Advance squad then start to develop the strongest topics possible and best literature to use, making the team environment

www.ELACCampusNews.com

competitive for each other. Throughout the semester, they work on editing their speeches to try and bring down the length to 10 minutes. They work on memorization and the delivery of speeches. This is to bring the literature of the speeches to life for the audience.

For the past two years the ELAC speech team has been the national champions in Phi Rho Pi tournaments. “This is about education and advocacy. What I hope from the team is passion. If the focus is on the passion and less on the championship, the passion will reward itself. They shouldn’t concern themselves about winning but about getting the message out,” Hale said. There are a few events that can take place at the championships, the debate, speech and the interpretations. The topics in the debates vary, from values arguments to policy arguments. In speeches, there can be persuasive speeches and informative speeches. Interpretation events are readings of poetry and dramatic dialogue. Hale says that this year, the team has been focusing on informative speeches and persuasive speeches, where in years prior there was more of a focus on performance. The team began around 2008 where Communications Department Chair Ryan Smith decided to start it.. Smith says that after participating in speech and debate all his life, he wanted to provide a similar, if not better, experience for his students. If any student would like to join, they can visit the Communication Studies Department at the E3 building on Tuesdays or Thursdays between the hours of 2 PM to 5 PM.

5

Feature

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016

Soccer players participate in sophomore showcase BY STEPHANIE GUEVARA Staff Writer East Los Angeles College Sophomore soccer players A l v a r o To r r e s a n d J o rg e Chavez attended the California Community College Athletics showcase as a result of their overall performance this season. Torres and Chavez were nominated to the South Coast allconference team. SCC oversees players’ overall performance during the season and nominates four players from each team. Sophomores Ernest Rubalcaba and Martin Oregel were nominated to the conference second team, but didn’t attend the showcase. This year the showcase took place at Oxnard College on Saturday. Torres came from Cali, Colombia in the summer of 2015 to play soccer at East Los Angeles College. Torres said that he didn’t know anything about ELAC and especially about the soccer team. “I didn’t know about ELAC, how they played or how they were ranked, but I just came. Then I realized that the soccer level here was really great, here in California,” Torres said. Torres plays as a central midfielder. In his first season, Torres didn’t get as much starting time as this season. Coaches said Torres had a big growth since the time he’s arrived. “When he (Torres) came here, he was a very shy kid. He didn’t know what he was getting

himself into. He has grown tremendously and has adapted so fast. He was more mature than anyone else and he is one of the younger guys,” soccer assistant coach Ricardo Raygoza said. In Colombia, Torres tried out for English professional soccer club Bolton Wanderers Youth Academy and made for the next round in England. “There were like 100 players. I made it to the best eight. Out of those eight, one was going to stay. (Torres wasn’t chosen.) The other seven were given the option to keep playing in Europe and get offers from FIFA agent, but my dad told me that if I stay it was because they were going to give me an education,” Torres said. Torres also said that after coming back from England he started learning about college sports in the U.S. Torres not only had a good performance athletically, but also academically. Last month soccer head coach Eddie Flores said Torres is a student that has a good academic performance despite being an international student. Torres is planning to transfer to a university where its soccer is in Division 1. Chavez who played most of the season as an offensive player, said he played for ELAC to help the East Los Angeles community. “I want to switch things around for the program and for the soccer community here at East Los Angeles College. What the community and the school deserves is a soccer championship,” Chavez said. “They haven’t won one in a

CN/RUSSELL ZAZUETA

KICKS IT OUT—Sophomore midfielders Alvaro Torres, left, and Jorge Chavez keep ball position away from El Camino College at Weingart Stadium on Oct. 14 in a 4-0 win. long time,” Chavez said. Chavez said he feels like he put in his part to help better ELAC soccer, just like he did in high school. “This guys is really mature for his age. He’s always willing to give you a tip. Us as coaches, we might be older, but we also learn from the players. I learned from Jorge and all of them,” Raygoza said.

Chavez plans to tryout for Galaxy Dos, Los Angeles Galaxy’s reserved team. Chavez also said that he wants to transfer to a four-year university and further this education. Although Rubalcaba and O r e g e l d i d n ’t a t t e n d t h e showcase, coaches said that they were key players in the season and leaders. Assistant soccer coach David

Garcia said that Rubalcaba has worked hard not only as a soccer player, but in life despite adversity. “Lobo (Rubalcaba) will prove you wrong. If you tell him he can’t, he will show you he can,” Garcia said. Garcia coached Oregel since he was in high school. Garcia said that he has seem Oregel’s growth as a leader.

“I coached Martin at Shurr High School since he was a freshman. I’ve seen him grow and he had been the same humble kid since then,” Garcia said. “I’ve just seen that kid grow more and I see a lot of confidence in him.” Garcia said that all four players showed leadership skill and that kept him sane throughout the season.

Men’s Circle provides safe space for students

s

BY DIEGO LINARES Staff Writer

PHOTO COURTESY OF TADZIO GARCIA

Athlete exceeds expectations BY JULIE SANTIAGO AND ROGELIO ALVAREZ Staff Writers Kinesiology major Martin Perez wrapped up his first season on the cross country team by qualifying to the California Community College Athletic Association State Championship. Perez’s biggest challenge as a student athlete is balancing going to school and working a part-time-job while staying mentally healthy. Perez is also a manager at a restaurant. Despite being trained late in the season by ELAC’s new head coach James J. Maynard, Perez managed to place in the men’s CCCAA State Championship held in Fresno on Nov. 19. Even though Maynard was hired late in mid August, this wasn’t the first time he coached Perez. “Martin ran for me in high school. I coached his family

since 2001. Him personally, four years of high school and since off and on, seven years,” says Coach Maynard. Maynard was Perez’s older brother’s biology teacher in middle school. Sometime after, Maynard began to coach at Norwalk High School where Perez attended and graduated in 2013. “He (Maynard) has become more than a coach. He has become a mentor, friend and a part of my family. Knowing him for that long has made me just focus on my races because I know his training will get me to the level of performance I want to reach,” says Perez. The last time Perez competed in a cross country state competition was during the 2012 California Interscholastic Federation for Norwalk High School. “State Championship was definitely a race to remember as it opened my eyes to the level of competition California has

to offer. The race was difficult because no one wants to get beaten in their last race in their season and also perform their best,” Perez said. It seems Perez has almost always been involved in sports. Perez says he first started playing soccer when he was four. He continued to play soccer throughout his youth. He even went as far as living in Spain for two months to have a trial with Real Madrid Castilla, a professional soccer club Real Madrid’s reserve team, in 2012. According to Perez, he thinks he was recruited to play in Spain when he was playing a national tournament final for his club team Union Independiente Futbol Club. While in Spain, Perez had to adjust to the strict demands Real Madrid Castilla asked for. For the complete story, visit elaccampusnews.com.

The Men’s Circle is a program that spawned from the East Los Angeles Women’s Center which provides a space for males to talk about trauma, abuse or violence. The circle is meant to bring about healing through discussion for those who have experienced sexual assault or family abuse. Osvaldo “Ozzy” Cruz is a prevention specialist at the ELAWC who also works at the Men’s a n d Wo m e n ’s Support Center at East Los Angeles College. Cruz is has gone through the advocacy volunteer training to help survivors and those impacted by sexual assault. He says that the Men’s Circle is a way to not just have males supporting those affected, but to also realize that men can also be victims. “Part of what we try to do here, by having and holding that space for men, is creating a space where men can come and share some of those things that burden them, some of those traumas that maybe they’ve experienced as they relate to family violence and sexual assault,” said Cruz. When a person first attends a meeting, they go through a process to be able to share.

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First, one goes through conocimiento (an introduction), establishing that what is shared is strictly confidential. Cruz says that another objective is to not keep people stuck in a state of trauma, so to balance out the carga (baggage) the circle ends in gratitude. “Part of that process of sharing, is building a

brotherhood, really. (Having) a space where men can share with other men, which is something that is not often promoted in popular culture, but it’s something we know works,” said Cruz. Luis Mendoza is a campus advocate for the Men’s Circle who has also worked with the crisis defense hotline for the ELAWC. Mendoza said that the circle is a way to bring some of the same type of services available

at the ELAWC to a community college campus, with some students having issues with transportation. “(It doesn’t matter) if you're asking on behalf of a relative, friend or somebody you’re concerned about, we welcome those questions,” said Mendoza. Along with the discussions, the circle also provides workshops touching on topics such as healthy and unhealthy relationships, as well as being able to spot domestic violence and sexual assault. In the past, members have walked in solidarity with people at the Mujeres de Paz march and vigil to be advocates for relationships free of violence and abuse. Rose Marie Mollinedo is a director of trauma services at ELAWC who says that programs are meant to prevent violence and help people not repeat what has gone on in their lives. “They need it (at East Los Angeles College),” said Mollinedo. The Men’s Circle meets every Wednesday at 6 p.m. in F5 219. For more information on the ELAWC, people can visit their website elawc.org.

6

SPORTS

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016

Softball looks forward to upcoming season BY ROGELIO ALVAREZ Staff Writer The softball team aims for success through hard work and preparation for the upcoming 2016-17 season. “Our plans are always to be competitive. The goal of this program is to always make (the) postseason. I think this team is definitely capable of that,” East Los Angeles College head coach Erika Blanco said. The Huskies strive for not just making the postseason, but also winning the South Coast Conference for the first time since 2014. The Huskies missed out on playoffs last season after ending conference play with a 9-12 record and tied for fourth place. It ended the season with an overall record of 17-21. Assistant coach Cindy Lucero is optimistic about the team’s performance. “I think it’s going to be a really good season. We have better athletes. They’re more committed. We actually recruited a little better class this year. They’re ahead of the game,” assistant coach Cindy Lucero said. Recruiting was key for the

CN/ROGELIO ALVAREZ

PEP TALK—Softball head coach Erika Blanco address her players during last season’s win against El Camino College at home on April 12.

softball team as it sought to fill the empty positions left by last season’s sophomores. “We have recruited more pitchers which is huge. We have some good bats. We have speed. We also went out and tried to get the best

recruiting class we can,” Blanco said. Lucero credits the campus renovations as a factor in recruitment. “To go get somebody to come here and have a visit under construction

is very hard. But this year, having the school 90 percent done, by the time we came out the elevator they were like, ‘Oh my God it’s so beautiful here.’ It was just a lot easier,” Lucero said. The softball team played eight

games during the fall for preparation. “We actually had a good fall season. We played more four-year colleges than we have in the past which helps determine the level we’re at,” Blanco said. “A majority of our team are

freshman, but they come with a lot of travel ball experience,” Blanco said. The recruited players participating in travel softball are exposed to a higher level of competition. “We have depth in each position which is something we normally don’t always have. This year we have players that can play multiple positions, which gives us a lot of options when it comes to competing,” Blanco said. The coaches introduced a new training method to ensure success for the upcoming season. “We are doing a lot of speed training this year, which we didn’t do in the past. We started that this year and we do it for about 15 minutes during our regular practice,” Lucero said. The purpose of speed training to increase the amount of stolen bases and react to ground balls. The recruited freshman adapted to the team very quickly. “It’s not as bad as I thought it was going to be. It’s been great. I just love it,” said freshman Samantha Alvarado. For the complete story, go to elaccampusnews.com.

Badminton seeks another successful season BY FRANCISCO PORTILLO Staff Writer The badminton team is looking to continue their success from last season. Two members of the team, Jean Buenaflor and Serena Lieu, won the first state doubles team title in school history at the California Community College Athletic Association’s Badminton State Individual Championships.

Of the two, only Buenaflor is returning to the team as a captain for the upcoming season to continue the high level of play and to mentor the less experienced players. Coach Qui Nguy said Lieu, who moved away to Chino, will be a tough player to replace as she provided the team with many wins. “Serena was a big factor on our team. She did carry our team to give us points, so we’ll have to find a way to fill the void. We will be getting

new players, so I’m very optimistic about this season,” Nguy said. One of the major challenges that the Huskies will face this season is rival Pasadena City College, who is one of the top teams in the league. “I’m hoping that we’ll have enough girls to get to first place. Pasadena is the only team that we need to beat in order to reach our goal,” Buenaflor said. Last year, ELAC finished 6-3 as a team.

Wi t h t h e c h a l l e n g e a h e a d of them and four new players o n t h e r o s t e r, c o a c h N g u y has laid out a plan to make improvements to the team. “Our number one priority is to focus on the basic drills and footwork for the new players that are coming in,” Nguy said. Of the 13 players on the roster last season, nine of them were international students. “With the international students

from China, they are very into the sport, but sometimes have not played a team sport. As a coach, I try to teach them team etiquette and how to contribute to the team’s effort,” Nguy said. One of the key players for the Huskies going forward will be Buenaflor. She has shown the most improvement since the last season and will also become a key player for the team.

“I’m looking forward to trying to get our team in first place and also trying to get first place in singles again,” Buenaflor said. “As a captain I know that I have to give my 110 percent, mainly because I’ll most likely be partnered up with someone that is least experienced than Serena,” . The badminton season will begin on February 17 against El Camino College in the North Gym with the time to be determined.

CN/DEIGO LINARES

BOUNCE BACK— East Los Angeles College sophomore guard Tiffani Martinez bounces the ball on the perimeter of the ELAC South Gym, last season against Santa Ana College.

Women’s basketball wins with buzzer-beating shot BY DAN GUDINO Staff Writer Women’s basketball continued i t s s t e l l a r p l a y o n S u n d a y, with a tournament-winning, buzzer-beating shot, by sophomore center Gloria Ortiz, against Palomar College, to win 72-70, in the 33rd Annual Lady Charger Classic held at Cypress College. East Los Angeles College, still undefeated in 2016 at 9-0, captured its third tournament this season with a last second scramble for a loose ball that ELAC sophomore guard Katrina Reeves dove for on the baseline and passed to Ortiz, right in front of the rim for an easy two-pointer. Ortiz came off the bench to record a double-double, finishing with a game high 17 points, 11 rebounds and a steal. “I’m sure if you sat in the stands, it was a great game to watch. We are fortunate to come out on the good side, Turner said. “The first two games of the tournament we pulled back. We could have scored 100 (points), www.ELACCampusNews.com

but this game was not like the first two. We made enough of an effort to come out with the win,” ELAC faced many hurdles in the game and never led the game until sophomore guard Allissa Gomez made a lay-up to give the Huskies a 59-57 lead with under seven minutes to go in the fourth period. The game was kept close as Palomar scored eight straight points, including two three-point shots, in the final three minutes to steal momentum and tie the game at 70-70. In the season, the Husky defense has helped the team to blowout victories of 58 points, 47, and 38 as it continues to build an average margin of victory of 24 points per game. When the defense needed a play with 10 seconds to go, Reeves came up with a steal to put the last shot into the hands of the Huskies. Reeves finished with a double-double of her own, with 13 points, 11 rebounds, 4 steals and 4 blocks. “We honestly feel like we are the top dog in the state,” Turner said. Turner said he considers Gomez

and Farrah Castillo the best guard tandem in the state, both ending with 15 points against Palomar. On day one of the tournament, ELAC took care of business and lit up Citrus, 95-37. The next day it cruised against Cypress and won 97-56. “This is the best start I’ve ever had in a season here because what separates us from the crowd is player development. We not only coach the players, we develop them,” Turner said. The women started the season in early November with a tournament victory at the Mission College 8th Annual Tournament. Then in mid-Nov. it captured the 5th Saddleback College Lady Gaucho Classic Tournament championship, as it seeks a fourth tourney title in the Golden Gate Classic Dec. 16-18. Dec. 27 the team will host its own tournament, the ELAC Husky Classic, held in the South Gym. “All of the hard work and the players buying into the philosophy of the program is what has helped ELAC to this start,” Athletic Director Al Cone said.

7

Arts

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016

Jazz concert brings holiday spirit to campus BY DORANY PINEDA Staff Writer East Los Angeles College’s Jazz Band, and a very special guest, readied the audience for the holiday season at the Jazz Christmas Celebration concert last Friday in the S2 Recital Hall. Twelve Christmas classics ranging from “Sleigh Ride” and “Christmas Time is Here” to “Go Tell it on the Mountain” and “Last Christmas (I Gave You My Heart)” resounded in the dim, blue-lit walls of the recital hall. The concert began with the classic “Sleigh Ride” and rode into “I’ll be Home for Christmas,” which featured Melissa Sky-Eagle on the piano, Gil Avila on trumpet and Mat Evans on trombone. The sweet wailing sound of Avila’s trumpet solo added a velvety richness to the tune. Vocalist Giovanni Verduzco then took the stage to sing “Let It Snow, Let It Snow.” He charmed the audience with his lively persona, snapping his fingers to the beat of the band and emphasizing the song lyrics with hand gestures. There was a moment when Tony Garcia’s saxophone pranced into the song, coloring the images of snow that the tune inspired. “Last Christmas (I Gave You My Heart)” was a nostalgic and captivating experience due mostly to the singing of Beatriz Magana.

CN/IVAN CAZARES

HELPING TO MAKE THE SEASON BRIGHT—Justo Almaria is backed by the brass section of the First Friday Night Jazz band while they perform “The Christmas Song” at the Jazz Christmas Celebration last Friday in the S2 Recital Hall. Her stunning stage presence only accentuated her elegant voice and brought an aura of calm to the room. Another highlight performance was that of Angelene Storey, whose jazzy voice brought the spirit to

“Jingle Bells.” Her scat singing (using the voice in imitation of an instrument) only showcased her talent and prepared the band for the instrumental build-up that followed. What came next was one of the

best performances of the night. Special guest Justo Almario transformed the classic Christmas song “Silent Night” with an airy utterance of his flute. He played it like a metallic extension of himself.

Almario is an Elac instructor and Columbian-born multiinstrumentalist who studied at the famous Berkley School of Music. After graduating, he became the musical director for Afro-Cuban

Latin jazz percussionist Mongo Santamaria. At one point, after a slow, melancholic progression, all the musicians picked up speed on their instruments, only to wane into the background to make way for solos by Almario on flute and Bob Dawson on drums. After a while, all the instruments stopped and only Almario was heard singing through his flute. Seconds later, the band picked up speed in unison before the song came to a complete end. But it was the duet solo performances in “Go Tell It On the Mountain” by Almario and studentmusician Ivan Romero-Bautista, both on tenor saxophone, that shone brightest that night. Their saxophones wailed and danced together beautifully, sometimes at once, sometimes on their own, like a loving conversation between companions. When the song concluded, Almario applauded with pride and delight for his student RomeroBautista’s wonderful performance. The concert came to an end with “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear,” with stellar guitar work by Matthew Gamboa. After the show, when asked what the performance experience was like, a smiling Romero-Bautista said “It was magical. Playing next to a world-famous saxophonist Justo Almario was a real honor.”

String recital showcases several levels of talent BY STEPHANIE GUEVARA Staff Writer

CN/JULIE SANTIAGO

LIVIN’ LA VIDA LOCA—Talent show contestant Joe Rodriguez entertains the audience by

String-instrument students of all levels harmonized with soothing melodies at the last String Department recital of the year, Thursday night. Throughout the recital, the audience was impressed with the students’ talent, but their rendition of the “The Pink Panther” theme, performed by the intermediate string class, held the loudest applause. Piano professor Dr. Lucy Nargizyan was the accompanying pianist, and gave the piece a mystical feel. The first piece played was “Twinkle Twinkle,” which String Professor Samvel Chilingarian said is one of the songs most beginning musicians learn to play. “No one starts an instrument and doesn’t play Twinkle Twinkle,” Chilingarian said. The piece was performed as a

group piece by all skill levels. The majority of students who showcased their talents are multiinstrumentalists. Daniel Orozco performed a piece by Joseph Haydn on cello alongside piano accompanist Mimi Chun. “I think all musicians have to start with piano because they have to start somewhere. I also play guitar and cello, I learned last,” Orozco said. Orozco also said that he plans on furthering his musical career and eventually becoming a music teacher. Several violinists performed pieces accompanied play the piano. Simiao Xiao and Daniel Morales performed a Duo for viola and bass by Beethoven. Xiao’s viola gave off a soothing sound, while Morales’ bass brought depth to the counter-melody. Nargizyan said that although it is hard to produce nice sound on a string instrument, the students are getting the techniques down

quickly. “Even the beginning strings sounded good and they did so well. It is so difficult to even produce a nice tone when you are starting to play a string instrument, but they are producing a nice tone already,” Nargizyan said. The dynamics between the instruments intensified the recital. When the violins and violas crescendoed during the piece “Sinfonia,” for example, the sound felt impassioned as the instruments synchronized and peaked, followed by a comforting diminuendo. For the seventh year in a row, the recital ended with the tradition of playing one of Beethoven’s most popular pieces, “Ode to Joy.” Chilingarian said that on some occasions they have incorporated a choir along with an orchestra. The ELAC Orchestra will give its last concert of the year tomorrow along with the ELAC Symphonic Band to finalize the Music Department’s yearly events.

impersonating Ricky Martin at The Adelante First-Year Experience Program first talent show in the F5 multipurpose room Friday.

Elans demonstrate talent BY JOHANNA CALDERON AND RUSSELL ZAZUETA Staff Writers T h e A d e l a n t e F i r s t - Ye a r Experience Program held its first talent show hosted by Mcee Toquan and Dr. Vanessa Ochoa at East Los Angeles College in the F5 multipurpose room last Friday. The judges were looking for creativity, originality and good presence on stage. Some of the staff participated in the talent show too. Assistant professor of the English department Obed Silva, also a judge at the show, read his original poem “Abuela” in memory of his grandmother. Prizes were given out to the winners of the show: a $100 and $50 student store gift card for first and second place winners, and a $25 dollar Amazon gift card for third place. As the event sold food and drinks,

contestants flexed their abilities with talents such as singing, dancing and fashion show performances. ELAC student Joe Rodriguez, who has a passion for acting, entertained the audience by impersonating Ricky Martin. “I like to do it for fun,” Rodriguez said. Rodriguez said he gets a little nervous, but also said the rush he gets from being on stage helps him forget about being nervous. The majority of the acts that day involved dancing. Diana Sanchez won first place at the show and kept the audience entertained with her dance moves. The crowd responded with lots of cheers and supported her act. “The main reason to come to perform here was to inspire students, to be more authentic with dance and explore,” said Sanchez. She was a dancer in high school, which might have given her the

advantage over other contestants who also danced. Sanchez said she only had three days to get her choreography act together, so that she could focus her attention on her upcoming finals. Eros Saldana won second place with a poem that he wrote and read the same day. He said he didn’t expect to win the contest, but didn’t mind if he lost either. Most of the contestants who sang didn’t have the song lyrics memorized and read lyrics off their phone. Duarte Yoselin won third place and said she practiced her singing on YouTube. “I pick a song based on how I feel. I never sing a song that I don’t feel,” Yoselin said. There was an after party at the end of the show with music by DJ Steph, and a crowd in the audience participated in the Mannequin Challenge, which everybody freezeframes for a camera shot.

CN/JULIE SANTIAGO

PINK PANTHER— Samvel Chilingarian conducts the string recital during their rendition of the Pink Panther theme song at the S2 Recital Hall on Thursday.

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Arts

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2016

‘Gilmore Girls’ returns, leaving fans wanting more BY MEGAN G. RAZZETTI Staff Writer

CN/JORGE ALDACO

COLORFUL COSTUMES—Cleante (left), played by Edward Navarrete, Madame Pernelle, played by Stephanie Galindo, Elmire, played by McCall Cadenas, and Marianne, played by Viktoria Malysheva in the production of “Tartuffe on Thursday in the Proscenium Theater on campus.

Student actors shine in ‘Tartuffe’ BY FRANCISCO PORTILLO Staff Writer

“Tartuffe” is a show being put on in the P2 Proscenium Theater, that revisits the 16th century and explores the social norms of the time in a poetic and comedic manner. The play takes place in the year 1664 and tells the story of Orgon, played by James Gilbert Olguin, and his love for the titular character, played by Arthur Armenta, who may not be what he seems. O rg o n ’s l o v e f o r t h e seemingly pious Tartuffe is so great that he forces his daughter Marianne, played by Viktoria Malysheva, to marry Orgon despite the objections from his family, who sees Tartuffe for the man he truly is. Her current romantic relationship

with Valere, played by Danny Gomez, is also affected by this arrangement. When the play begins, the elegant costumes make it clear that the story is from a different time, when women were still married off against their wishes. The style of the play takes some getting used to. The dialogue is poetic and flows quickly because most of the lines rhyme with one another. The cast performance is what makes this production truly worthwhile. Armenta wonderfully plays the titular character's creepy side. Armenta delivers a solid performance that certainly warrants reaction from the audience. Olguin was another solid performer as Orgon. His presence on stage was commanding and did a good job with the role, but the stars of this

show are the female performers. At the start of the play, Stephanie Galindo’s comical performance as Madame Pernelle, Orgon’s mother, will have the audience laughing. Her movements and facial expressions throughout her scenes are very entertaining to watch. Kathryn Ventress acted with strong conviction in her performance as the family housemaid, Dorine. Dorine was one of the few female characters that acted with conviction, and Ventress did a great job at bringing the character to life. Her character acts as the voice of reason and morality, as she tries to expose Tartuffe for the hypocrite that he truly is. Ve n t r e s s ’ p e r f o r m a n c e was matched only by actress McCall Cadenas, who played Orgon’s wife and the object of Tartuffe’s desire.

Cadenas was the most believable of all the performers and nailed many of the subtle nuances of the period, such as hand movements and body language. It may not be wise to take young children to the play, as it features a lot of crude humor. One of the scenes feautures Tartuffe seducing Dorine, and shocks the audience by revealing his clearly-visible erection. With a run-time of about two hours and 30 minutes, including the intermission, Tartuffe really drags toward the end. The play is currently running through this weekend, with the last show being performed on Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased on the ELAC website or at the door. They are also available in P2-101A, with discounted prices for members of the Associated Students Union.

“Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life” gives fans of the original “Gilmore Girls” series a modern glimpse into the lives of their favorite quirky mother-daughter duo. Nine years after the last episode of ‘Gilmore Girls’ aired, the revival series on Netflix brings back not only Lorelai Gilmore, played by Lauren Graham, and her daughter Rory, played by Alexis Bledel, but many of the unique residents that make up the town of Stars Hollow. With the help of original writers Amy Sherman-Palladino and her husband Daniel Palladino, the modern update on Lorelai and Rory has left viewers wanting more. In the revival, Rory returns to Stars Hollow in her 30s, struggling to get on her feet. She has achieved minimal success in her work as a journalist, but her life is in shambles in all aspects. Lorelai returns as the same spunky woman, running her business and seemingly settled in her life with Luke Danes, played by

Scott Patterson. Her minor character development is completely different from her days of jumping from relationship to relationship, as seen in the original series. The relationship between the girls also includes the infamous matriarch Emily Gilmore, played by Kelly Bishop. Bishop is incredible at acting out Emily’s grieving, but it is the resurgence of Emily’s identity that outshines everyone else in the revival. The revival is made up of four parts: Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. Each part blends together really well, and a lot happens during the two-hour long episodes. There are some parts in which major editing should have been made, such as the long scenes showing a Stars Hollow musical. For the die-hard fans of the original show, the revival will bring closure. Instead, it will leave fans wanting more, especially with the last four words Sherman-Palladino wrote for the ending.

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WINTER WONDERLAND—Rory (left) played by Alexis Bledel, and her mother Lorelai Gilmore, played by Lauren Graham, chat over a cup of coffee during a stroll through Stars Hallow.

Student composes original music BY BROOKE GEMINA Staff Writer

Members of CSUDH’s Male Success Alliance are inspiring the next generation of college students.

We’ve found our community. And our calling.

Michael Cooper’s composition of “Silverweed’s Poem” stole the show Monday night at the Annual Chrismas Choral Concert. The performance of the poem as a song came as a part of a set in the Annual Christmas Choral Concert. Cooper, one of East Los Angeles College’s Applied Music students, composed four different songs for each verse of “Silverweed’s Poem” and accompanied the chamber chorale as they performed it. The poem comes at the end of a children’s fantasy novel called “Watership Down,” which is about rabbits. “When I came to the poem in the book, fragments of the melody came to my mind as I was reading it,” Cooper said. He sketched it out in three weeks when Dr. Lupica, the choir director, approached him and asked if he would like to write something for the concert. He proposed the piece and was accepted. The poem consists of four stanzas that correspond with one of the four

elements and the epilogue Lapine proverb. It deals with the unknown and ends on a reconciliation with death. On the second verse, called “Stream,” the chamber chorale sang the lines “Take me with you stream” with a long, forlorn note that made eyes water. The music itself, all the while, maintained a tranquil sense much like water in a gentle stream, or in this case, the harmonized voices of the chamber chorale bubbling up over the piano’s notes. “Frith,” or Sun, in the fourth stanza, mastered the silent ebbing of a soul passing away as their voices quieted down then built up strong as ever as the character of the song came to reconcile with the passing of his friend. The Chamber Chorale worked with Cooper for sixteen weeks for the composition. “It is an original piece and we wanted to do it justice. We wanted to give it the sound it deserved,” Emily Serrano, Chamber Chorale alto singer came back. At the end of his composition, Cooper came back on stage as the

audience continued to applaud his composition. Aside from Cooper’s composition, the chamber chorale sang a few more sets with some vocal soloists. Before their performance, the ELAC Choir also performed a set, which was followed by two vocal soloists. Dr. Melissa-Sky Eagle accompanied the choir on piano. The college choir’s performances blended well into one singular voice. Its performance of “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly,” a Polish carol arranged by Eugene Englert, was phenomenal. The singers handled the high notes of the song as gently as one would an infant, cradling the notes with tender, but firm hands. Andrew Gamimo, Chamber Chorale bass singer’s solo of the song “I Wonder as I Wander,” slipped into a visual storytelling. His voice matched the piano notes and the sound of snowfall and painted the image of a lost soul wandering through a snowstorm. The Muse Club sold some donuts and other treats and forwarded the donations to the music department after the concert.

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FESTIVE PERFORMANCE—The East Los Angeles College Choir, conducted by Dr. Anthony Lupica and accompanied by pianist Dr. Melissa-Sky Eagle, performs “Let it Snow,” at the Annual Christmas Chorale Concert in the S2 Recital Hall on Monday.

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