OPINION Trump supporters must prove they’re not racist.
See page 3
Volume 74, Issue 11
ARTS
SPORTS
Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias comes to ELAC.
Volleyball season ends with losing record.
See page 7
See page 8
Single copy free - additional copies 50 cents
Wednesday, november 23, 2016
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Anti-Trump protest unites college students BY JOSH DAVIS AND LAUREN COLBERG Staff Writer
CN/STEVEN ADAMO
Huskies dominate Patriotic Bowl BY FRANCISCO PADILLA Staff Writer The football team finished the 2016 season with a 63-37 win over the College of the Desert in the Patriotic Bowl, last saturday. The Huskies, who are the American Metro Champions went into the game with an 8-2 overall record, played the American Mountain Champions College of the Desert, who have a 6-4 record. The game included numerous records being tied or broken. Sophomore quarterback Jonathan Santos threw for six TDs, once again tying the Husky record for most TDs in a game. Santos was able to bring his total TD count to 36 which made him the single-season record holder for TDs in a season. The Huskies finished the 2016 season with a 9-2 record which is the best record since football
returned to ELAC in 1998. The game started off quickly for the Huskies, who scored the first 21 points of the game within the first ten minutes of play. The scores were through the combine effortsof a 1-yard TD run by Santos, a 3-yard run after a fumble recovery by Sophomore running-back Shaquille Shelton and a 15-yard TD pass by Santos to sophomore wide receiver Cemaj Douglas after an onside kick recovery. The Huskies were led by their high powered offense and on track to another possible blowout game. Right before the end of the first quarter, Desert was able to get on the scoreboard with two 30-plusyard TD passes on back-to-back drives. The Huskies quickly countered with a huge 52-yard TD pass from Santos to freshman wide reciever Kenny Allen. The Huskies were ahead, 28-14.
This TD would mark a dry spell for the Huskies offense, who wouldn’t score again until the third quarter. With the Huskies offense unable to score, Desert was able to capitalize. They were able to score quickly and hastily, as they put up 23 unanswered points. The Huskies were down 37-28, maintained their poise and connect ed on its next drive in just one play. A 75-Yard TD pass from Santos to wide receiver Khamren Davenport cut the lead down to two. This 75-yard connection between Santos and Davenport was Santo’s 33rd TD pass of the season, and broke the, record for most TD passes in a season. The Huskies, down 37-35, were able to shift the momentum and let loose. The fourth quarter started the same way the first did. Shutting out Desert in the fourth Quarter, the Huskies scored 28 consecutive
points, which included three TD passes from Santos and one from sophmore quarterback Levi Lewis. The Huskies rolled over Desert with a huge 63-37 win. “This is a dream come true. I won one (a championship game) in high school, and I never thought I could do it again. I really thought the high school title was going to be my best game ever and never thought it could happen again. I owe a special thanks to my offensive line. They protect me so well and I have to give the wide receivers all the credit,” Santos said. The game, which was led by the Huskies’ high-powered passing offense, included contributions from everyone on the field. Santos was able to finish with seven TDs, six passing and one rushing, tying the Husky record for most TDs in a single game.
HUSKIES Continued on page 8
East Los Angeles College students took part in a walkout last Wednesday to protest the election of Donald Trump as president. Students began the walkout at 11 a.m., and marched together around the school and to City hall. The walkout was organized by a group of students the morning after the presidential election on Nov. 8. The students got in touch with the ASU and other organizations and spent the next week planning the protest. The expected turnout for the protest was between 200 and 300 ELAC students and attracted the attention of large TV news outlets as well as ELAC administrators. The organizers set up tables to make posters and give out bottles of water. ELAC students were not the only ones taking part in the walkout. “The meaning of this walk is to show unity within our communities. We got in touch with LACCD and other local colleges, and also with colleges in New York, so we hope they’ll mention us over there,” said Cass Sotomayor,an organizer of the event.
For several protestors, this was their first time being politically active. Among the protestors were people who had voted for Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primaries and later voted for Hillary Clinton in the presidential election. “I never used to watch the debates, but now I do. You need to be informed to know what you’re going to do next,” Rebekah Galvan said. During the walkout, protestors, led by Lauren Gonzales, chanted in unison, shouting phrases like “My body, my choice” and “We make America great.” Several protestors also waved California and Mexico flags. During the presidential campaign, Donald Trump repeatedly stated that he plans to build a wall along the U.S.Mexican border, and intends to deport all illegal immigrants from the U.S. President-elect Trump has been accused of using racist rhetoric on the campaign trail aimed at people of color. In the week leading to the walkout, there have been a number of protests across the country in response to Donald Trump’s election.
TRUMP Continued on page 4
CN/JORGE ALDACO
FREEDOM OF SPEECH— A crowd of students march in
between the Ingalls Auditorium and the Helen Miller Bailey Library on Nov. 16 at East Los Angeles College.
Kinesiology Department hosts third annual Thanksgiving food drive BY MARIA CUBILLO Staff Writer The Third Annual Husky Turkey Trot & Thanksgiving Food Drive’s main purpose was to provide food to the Calvary Chapel Food Bank and the campus food bank run by EOP&S. Kinesiology Department faculty member and kinesology club advisor Rick Gamboa was in charge of the event. “Hopefully with our help it can grow and we can help more students and their families here at ELAC,” Gamboa said. Two Days in Cat Time, a local
News Briefs
ELAC student band, was the live entertainment. The band is part of the school’s Applied Music program. The DJ for the event was unable to make it, and their new DJ is called “Mr. Pandora,” said Gamboa. “We want this to be an annual event,” Gamboa said. Department Chair for Kinesiology, Erika Blanco, made the T-shirts for the event. Athletic programs donated gifts for the free giveaways, LA Fitness donated gift certificates and Nutrishop donated gifts, water, and drinks. They had hydration samples
of Branched Chain Amino Acid (BCAA) Sport and energy boosting fat burner, Thermovex. Andrew Fernandez from Nutrishop in Monterey Park described BCAA Sport as the “clean alternative to Gatorade which has zero sugars.” Staples donated the event’s banners and signs for free. Jorge Calienes, faculty in the Kinesiology Department for 30 years, said that the whole Kinesiology Department is working together to have the event run well. Calienes said that every year more students have been involved and that a lot of teachers give extra credit for participating in
Correction Julie Benavides was mistaken for Krinstin Huizar last week, In issue 10 article “Students protest election results with chalk.”
the event. ELAC coaches asked their students that were available to help. Antonio Saucedo and Ruben Alvarado from the football team volunteered in the food drive. First Love Calvary Chapel Whittier’s food bank serves the Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, and Whittier area. Tim Beal is in charge of the food bank at Calvary Chapel. He said that the food bank at Calvary is in its “baby steps, it’s a lot of work but I love it,” Beal said. The food bank works in two ways part of the donantions goes to members of the church who are in need and the other goes to members
Financial Aid Event
of the surrounding communities who are in need. Terry Frontino is in charge of the day-to-day availability and distribution of the food bank for the immediate neighborhood of the church. Beal said that his desire for the program is to have one Sunday per month were food could be distributed to those in need within the community. On Friday, church members will take a box of food to neighbors who are in need. ELAC clubs and organizations were outside the Weingart Stadium giving information about future events. Ivan Lau from the Global Trade and Logistics Club said that
Financial Aid Awareness event on Thursday from noon to 2 p.m. in the D3 walkway will present information and resources on different ways of receiving financial aid.
Pup Edition
his club was doing a pre-Christmas fundraiser. Its main Christmas fundraiser will be on December 7 in front of the E3 Parking Lot Structure. The fundraiser money will be saved up for a scholarship fund for club members. The Computer Application and Office Technology Club also participated. Its information booth had pamphlets about Covered California and health programs and services offered at Arroyo Vista. Arroyo Vista has five clinics and one mobile clinic. Holguin said that they are a community clinic funded by the federal government.
This week’s issue of Campus News was written, produced, edited, and photographed by the Journalism 101 classes held at East Los Angeles College campus.
Opinion Compost bins need a presence on campus 2
EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2016
BY MARIA ISABEL CUBILLO Staff Writer
Why does our school not have compost bins? In order to grasp a foot on environmental sustainability, our school needs to embrace composting. When walking around campus, there are no composting bins in sight. A composting bin is for organic material such as the core of an apple, used napkins, and other food waste. Our cafeteria is only equipped with waste and recycling bins. The first composting bins should be placed in and around the cafeteria. The areas near to where the food truck parks should also have composting bins. NPR says that more food waste is found in landfills than paper and plastic. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that food waste in 2012 weighed more than 36 million tons. Food waste is 21 percent of what ends as municipal waste solids. That makes food waste the predominant component of solid waste. Allowing compost bins on campus can lead to less food waste ending up in landfills. Food waste can have a second life by being compost. Once food waste is turned into compost that compost is used to enrich the agricultural fields with nutrients. The EPA says that food waste is a resource that can be used to create fertilizer, energy or food for animals. The commitment of the campus and the college district to improve energy efficiency, green buildings, and
EDITOR IN CHIEF Stephanie Guevara PUP EDITOR IN CHIEF Megan G. Razzetti ONLINE EDITORS Doris L. Arango, Marlen Dominguez, Joshua Davis ART DIRECTORS Julie Santiago FRONT EDITORS Tiana Hunter Noe Ortega
OPINION EDITORS Steven Adamo, Gregory Fleischut Luaren Colberg, Maria Cubillo NEWS EDITORS Gabriela Hernandez Lesley R. Pastor FEATURES EDITORS Eliana Ayala, Joshua Davis Christian Horta, Israel Moreno, Sandra B. Serrano
GoPrint system is commendable, but a holistic approach to environmental sustainability includes composting. Our campus is overlooking composting as part of being environmentally conscious. The only mention of composting within the college’s website is about their composting of grass prior to the new construction of buildings. Under the Green Tips document on ELAC’s website, students are encouraged to “Add compost to your
soil to improve its water-holding capacity.” Still, the campus administration does not have in place a composting program for students and faculty to participate in while in school grounds. While on campus ELAC students only option to discard food waste is to place it in the Big Belly trash bin or a regular trash bin. When food waste goes to trash bins, it adds to our landfills. The EPA says that bacteria
deteriorates food waste and methane is released. Methane is a dangerous greenhouse gas. It is more dangerous to our atmosphere than carbon dioxide because it can warm our atmosphere 21 times more than carbon dioxide. T h e E PA u rg e s p e o p l e t o stop food waste from ending up in landfills. By keeping food waste away from landfills, our atmosphere will benefit because greenhouse emissions will lower.
Methane, a gas produced by deterioration of food waste by bacteria, can be used as an energy source if captured. Biogas plants are designed to capture methane when anaerobic digestion happens. Our campus also lacks access to recycle bins. Ideally, composting, recycle, and waste bins should be next to each other so students may partake in an environmentally sustainable way of life.
Native families continue fight for basic needs BY LAUREN COLBERG Staff Writer
Modern music changes for the worse BY TIANA HUNTER Staff Writer This year in music won’t go down as one of the greatest because it really sucked. At one point in time you could listen to a rap song and actually learn something. Whether that something was about going up in the poverty stricken inner-city or about overcoming challenges and changing your life you learned something new. Now when you listen to rap music many of the artists only speak of drugs, alcohol and women. That’s okay to do every 10 songs you put out but, every single song you release has to do with the same topic is not okay. In the 1970s rap was started in Brox, New York by DJ Kool Herc from that point on a new magical music genre was introduced to the world. Rap music’s beginnings were humble and focused on uplifting each other’s spirits in hard times. From the 1970s- 1990s rap was just people with good word play telling us stories from their prospective. Examples of this
include ‘Summertime’ by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, ‘Rapper’s Delight’ by Sugarhill Gang and ‘Straight Outta Compton’ by N.W.A. These songs paint pictures in your mind about the good summer season, has word play that makes your head spin and gives you insight on what was really going on in certain cities at the time. This year we have terrible rappers like Riff Raff, Lil Yachty and Soulja Boy. These are a few of the rappers who have helped ruin rap and what it was made to do. Many of the legends of rap have said that is it dead now because they don’t consider what these artist release as rap. These current rappers of 2016 have no lyrical literacy and they literally all sound exactly the same. The music from 20 years ago had actual substance and reasoning, now it’s just say whatever on a song and call it rap. Who wants to hear about money, drugs and cars all the time? I sure don’t. For example, when the song ‘Panda’ by Desiigner came out earlier this year, many people for a song by the artist Future. This goes to show the music and artists sound exactly the same as one another.
Many artist go as far as using the same beats as each other instead of being original and creative. It’s even sadder when you grew in an era of great rap music and you turn on your radio today to hear complete garbage. During this time we need a savior for rap music and the United States. We have three potential current rappers who could revive the rap genre and stop the shenanigans that are going on in the music industry. These three rappers are Kendrick Lamar, J Cole and Chance the R a p p e r. K e n d r i c k L a m a r i s a California based rapper from Compton, CA whose lyrical literacy has been compared to legends like 2pac and Biggie. He also addresses serious issues in his music and has a unique sound. J Cole is another rapper who has the ability to save rap with his lyrical literacy and nostalgic flow. He tells stories of life at the bottom and the struggles of growing up and has also been compared to legends like Nas and 2pac. Last but not least, Chance the rapper has the capability to save rap with his flow and unique sound. I hope so one saves us soon because the rap genre needs saving badly.
While most families are preparing for their long awaited Thanksgiving feast, other families that are native to this country fight to protect their land. The Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, located in the central part of North and South Dakota, fights to protect its land from the Dakota Access Pipeline that is designed to transfers close to 600,000 barrels of crude oil from North Dakota to Illinois on a daily basis. Why are the Sioux and others activist causing an uproar? The reason is simple, the pipeline would travel under the Missouri River which is one of the main sources of drinking water for the reservation. After constant ‘reassurance’ from builders that extraordinary measures would be taken to prevent any sort of mishap, the fact is that even the safest pipeline can leak. If anything were to spill, it would damage the tribe’s water supply, hindering them of an important resource and basic need. The project was first proposed in 2014, and is set to be completed this year, though in recent months it has become more commonly known to the public. For me I was first informed about these events through the arrest Hollywood actress and star of the book turned movie The Fault in Our Stars, Shailene Woodley. Her arrest occured back in October on Indigenous Peoples’ Day where Woodley was standing in solidarity with over 200 water protectors, she was arrested on the charges of criminal trespassing and engaging in a riot. There already had been arrests made prior to Woodley’s but it only took that single arrest to make people notice what was going on. I was one of those people. Woodley stated herself in a statement she wrote, “It took me, a white nonnative women being arrested...to
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bring this cause to many people’s attention,” and it’s true. Even I admit it, my attention was more focused on what was going on in my personal life rather than those who spend most, if not all, of their lives dedicated to protecting and raising the bit of land that the government has given to them. It’s not just arrests that are happening at the sight of the resistance. People who are native and nonnative varying in age, religion, and different personal backgrounds are being hit with mace, shot at with bean bags, beaten with batons, and sprayed with water cannons in freezing weather as they stand together in solidarity. So the question is; how would you feel if your home, your basic need of water, was in danger of being destroyed and taken away from you? How would you feel when your right to organize and speak your mind freely was taken away from you and resulted in getting beaten, sprayed with eye burning mace and freezing cold water? What would you do when seeing all those who stand with you to protect what is rightfully yours get beaten and arrested? For me, it would be devastating to know that the land I was raised on, grew to love and cherish, was in the process of being taken away from right under my very feet. To know that every time I attempted to fight back and take what was rightfully mine would result in getting hurt. Even from an outsider’s point of view, from where I live and stand today, I still hurt. Not me nor any person I know would be okay if we lived under the same circumstances as those at standing rock. So when you sit down at your table, with your glistening turkey and sweet-smelling ham, preparing to dig into your feast, just remember that there are people, families, standing together by the hundreds as they try their very best to protect what you’ll be drinking; water.
ARTS EDITORS Felipe Rodriguez, Sabrina Gonzales SPORTS EDITORS Francisco Padilla, Jon A. Martinez PHOTO EDITORS Jorge Aldaco, Hector Gomez, Damien Rodriguez STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Christopher Reynoso, Jorge Aldaco, Yessica Bobadillo SOCIAL MEDIA Collin Ho Kumamoto, Brittany Lee CARTOONISTS Felipe Rodriguez, Jose Guillen STAFF WRITERS Arely Alejandre, Marcel Balladeres, Jerry Flores, Nataly Silva, Christina J. Rodriguez Barrigan, Dalia Valle STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Christopher Reynoso Jorge Aldaco Yessica Bobadillo ADVERTISING Stefanie Arocha DISTRIBUTION Ivan Cazares ADVISERS Jean Stapleton Sylvia Rico-Sanchez
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Opinion
EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2016
3
Trump supporters must prove they’re not racist BY JOSHUA DAVIS Staff Writer Dear Trump supporters, you have a responsibility to Americans. If you voted for Donald Trump because you believe that he’s the best choice for all Americans, then it’s time for you to prove it. While you celebrated his victory Tuesday night, so did the Klan and every other racist in the country. To them, his election means that this is the first step at “taking their country back” from all the people of color that also call this nation their home. If his election meant something else to you, then you need to prove it. Because right now, as I type this, Trump’s election has inspired an unbelievable amount of racism and xenophobia. Right now, innocent people of color, members of the LGBT community, and women are being targeted by hateful, intolerant terrorists across the nation. And whether you want to admit it or not, this is all because of your candidate. Your candidate campaigned on xenophobia, nationalism, and intolerance. He promoted intimidation tactics used against people of color. When a tape came out that showed your candidate speaking crudely about women and boasting about sexually assaulting them, your candidate and your party tried to
talk it down. Even though he never explicitly said it, his campaign was all about race, and he knew it. He was being endorsed by the KKK, the Alt Right, and all manner of hate-filled white nationalist groups, and he knew it. You knew it too, and you voted for him anyway.
You share videos on Facebook of Trump supporters being attacked for their political preference. While I’ll never condone these actions, I can understand why. To them, your candidate has become synonymous with white supremacy. They believe that your candidate hates them for what they are, and as an extension
of that they believe that you must hate them too. They don’t see whatever it is that you see in your candidate, and if you truly believe that he isn’t a racist, a bigot, or a liar, then it’s time to show them that wholeheartedly. If you’re a Christian and you voted for Donald Trump, then you need
to do the Christian thing and “love thy neighbor”. Because right now, people are terrified, and you posting on Facebook with the vague message that he’s going to Make America Great Again is not helping them at all. People are afraid. Muslims are afraid that his election has
declared open season on anyone of Middle Eastern descent. The Latino community is afraid that your candidate is going to start trying to hunt down anyone that he thinks is an illegal immigrant. Black people are afraid that your candidate is going to push for a nationwide stop-and-frisk policy. This is based on racial biases. Black people are afraid that your candidate is going to encourage the idea that all police officers are faultless, and that there is no such thing as police brutality. Women are afraid that sexist men are going to become more emboldened in the idea that they can do whatever they want and not have to suffer the consequences of their actions. Members of the LGBTQ community are afraid that your candidate and his running mate are going to inspire homophobia and work to undo all the progress that they’ve made over the years in the pursuit of equal rights. Every person of color is afraid that your candidate is going to encourage white supremacists to spread out and flourish. Whether you like it or not, when you voted for your candidate you also voted for the racist movement that followed him. And you have an obligation to stand up to injustice like everyone else. Because your candidate is now going to be our president.
Good credit builds success for students BY BRITTNEY LEE Staff Writer One of the most exciting things as you grow older is finally having the capability of being financially independent. Building your credit score when you first start college is a great way to start realizing how the real world works. Having a good credit score is very important, especially for those who want to get out of their parents’ house, get a new car and get their own cell phone plan. A good credit score may increase their chances of getting a good job. Starting and building a credit score at a young age with no credit history can be a huge challenge. Credit score are based on a variety of things, but the more important one
is credit history. If young adults with no debt or credit currently, they have no credit history. Being that they may not have any history, a low credit score should not be surprising, because bureaus know nothing about them. Credit scores are based on credit history, the number of credit accounts one has open, how much debt they have, and their payment history. The easiest way to start building credit is to apply for a credit card. The best credit cards are the ones with no annual fees, low interest and low monthly payments. As long as a person can provide some proof of income, they should be eligible to apply for a card. Some tips on keeping a positive credit score are, making payments on time, not maxing out cards, and
not closing existing credit accounts. Being discouraged to closing existing accounts may sound a bit odd, but bureaus are interested in seeing people who have the ability to control their credit usage. They don’t like the fact that people open accounts just to pay their balance off and close them. Another helpful tip is to refrain from carrying any existing balance. It is healthy to pay off any balances by the end of the payment period. By not doing so, this can lead to accumulating interest, and having to pay for unnecessary interest is a bummer. People should apply for credit cards with the bank they have an account with. If a person has a checking or savings account with this bank, and a history of not letting the balances go lower than
the accounts minimums, or getting overdraft fees definitely increases their chances of getting approved. Checking one’s credit score often is essential. People should check their credit score because they would be able to keep track of any fraudulent activity. Monitoring one’s credit score is necessary in building credit history. By monitoring one’s accounts, you can see whether or not your credit score is getting higher, and that will make it easier to figure out what exactly needs to be done to get it where it needs to be. Credit Karma, Experian, and Equifax, are a few of the many bureaus people can use to keep track of your credit score for free. These credit bureaus give exact guidelines on what is needed to maintain a good credit score.
Tea drinkers left out of ASU discount prior to Joyce Garcia who currently manages the bookstore. Staff Writer Perez said that management at The ASU discount should be the time could only choose one available to both coffee and tea. refreshment to apply the ASU Tea has roughly half the caffeine discount to and since coffee is the content as coffee, but if you are an popular choice, tea-drinkers (and ASU member who is expecting half ASU members) are left paying double for their choice of caffeine off the price, then too bad. intake. Most students For a daily purchase the ASU c o ff e e d r i n k e r parking pass to have more parking options, Though they were during an average but there are many unsure as to why 12-week semester, t h a t ’s $ 3 6 p e r other benefits like the discount was semester spent on free microwave oven applied to coffee coffee compared use, discount tickets a whopping $72 to Magic Mountain, and not tea, they to for tea-drinkers – free snacks during agreed that the even though it’s finals and a long list of discounts including discount should the same cups and lids with plain hot half off the $1.50 price be applied to water instead of tag for coffee. coffee. both. However, tea which If you factor is also priced for $1.50 in the cost of is not included in these the coffee itself, discounts. coffee filters and “The ASU had previously sold coffee on their own the cleaning and maintenance of the which probably led to the discount machines, it is higher compared to carrying over and not being applied tea which only uses hot water and to tea,” the employees of the ASU a separate tea bag. Malibu Bagels, the food truck Student Activities room said. Though they were unsure as to parked next to the student Library, why the discount was applied to offers hot water in a cup and lid for coffee and not tea, they agreed 25 cents without a discount. Sometimes they will let you that the discount should be applied fill up a cup of hot water for free to both. According to Miguel Perez, the which is a better option if you’re a assistant manager of the campus tea drinker. The savings continue if you bring bookstore, the discount was implemented by David Horn who your own tea bags to school. There are many benefits to ran the cafeteria and bookstore
BY STEVEN ADAMO
drinking tea instead of coffee. The University of Surrey in the UK conducted a study comparing the sleeping habits of coffee drinkers versus tea drinkers. They found that coffee drinkers had a difficult time falling asleep at night compared to tea drinkers. Even though both sides felt a similar “alertness” from their drinks, the extra caffeine in their bodies made it difficult to relax at night. Better sleep leads to a clearer mind. It allows for increased concentration which helps with student tasks like studying and retaining knowledge. The same study concluded that if people drink tea with caffeine levels equivalent to coffee, the concentration levels and sharpness are better with tea. In regards to teeth, both coffee and tea stain them in different ways. With coffee the stains are brown and with tea the stains are yellow. It’s up to the reader to decide which one compliments your skin tone. For the daily campus tea-drinker, an implementation of the ASU discount on tea would save them $36 a semester which is roughly the cost of round-trip bus rides for half the semester, about 11 boxes of your favorite tea, roughly 24 tea cups from your favorite retailer, about 36 matching saucers for the teacups, or 28 gallons of water to fill up your tea cups prior to making your favorite tea.
News Faculty, staff train for emergency situations 4
EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2016
BY YESSICA BOBADILLA AND LESLEY PASTOR Staff Writer The Administration of Justice Department is offering their final workshop of the year to faculty and staff on emergency situations. “When we look around and look at our readiness on a larger scale we really need to be ready to take care of ourselves,” said one of the program coordinators, Jason Hosea. The coordinators picked workshops that they believed to be beneficial to faculty and staff. There are three separate trainings being offered which include fire extinguisher use, earthquake and evacuation procedures, and Automated Electronic Defibrillator and cardiopulmonary resuscitation training. “It’s valuable training and they [the Administration of Justice Dept.] are the ones who are trying to promote this, and we feel obligated to at least learn about CN/ ANASTASIA LANDEROS
what they are trying to promote,” said Marga R. Limon, Senior Office Assistant at ELAC. The trainings are not mandatory, but valuable information is being discussed in these workshops. “I think this would be better attended, we’ll have a better grasp of the importance of keeping ourselves safe and of course keeping the rest of the students safe,” said Limon. Questions that are answered at the workshop range from: Do we hide? Run? Run away from the shooter? Actions that are taught in the workshop suggest not to confront the shooter unless necessary. For example if he or she comes into the room and there’s a group then you start to throw or hit them with anything that is at arm’s reach. As taught in the workshops, in some cases, it may be OK to run away. The number one objective in all emergency situations is to protect yourself. The training deals with all circumstances, which include dealing with unconscious people.
Always make sure the person is conscious by asking them questions like, what is your name? Are you okay? If there isn’t a response, then you can check their pulse to see if they are breathing. The AED is smart enough to tell you if you need it on a potential cardiac arrest, and the machine is portable and is an important device to use in life threatening situations. The fire extinguisher workshop reviews the different alphabetical letters and their usage and is valuable for the different fires that can occur in the workplace or at home. “The one that is most fun is the fire extinguisher,” said Limon. The earthquake/evacuation procedure training is thought to be a precautionary measure for Californians. “It’s not a matter of if things are going to happen. It’s a matter of when,” said Hosea. Don’t miss out on emergency preparedness. For more information call the Fire Technology at (323) 267-3703.
Model United Nations Club to attend inaugural conference BY GREG FLEISCHUT Staff Writer East Los Angeles College introduced a Model United Nations team to its list of campus clubs. Lead by Dr. Kenneth Chaiprasert, a professor of political science. The club will compete at the inaugural SageMUN conference at Pomona College in February. The conference will bring together students from across Southern California to debate current global issues. One of the debate topics will
include International Terrorism, where students will debate the best course of action in stopping the illegal weapons trade. Through debates, the Model UN conference seeks to revise and update real-life laws and international agreements. Students are tasked with playing the roles of different world governments and asked to make political decisions based on their stances. Student delegates at the conference in February will “take the mantle of one of the fifteen states currently occupying [the United
Nations’] body and create a proposal for its future that could usher in a new era of global peacekeeping,” according to the SageMUN website. Student delegates will also act as members of the International Court of Justice, a division of the United Nations that tries cases between countries.
The Model UN Club provides a podium for politically minded students to carry out ideas that may shape international relations to come.
The SerbianCroatian Genocide will be the case tried by the Model UN court. Decisions made by the International Court of the UN are important because their decisions shape the way in which international law is carried out and interpreted. The Model UN Club provides a podium for
politically minded students to carry out ideas that may shape international relations to come. In preparation for the S a g e M U N c o n f e r e n c e , D r. Chaiprasert said they “will take part in various community service events,” as well as “provide a platform for students to research, present, and debate global political issues.” In-class debate topics may range from heavy global crises to lighthearted topics such as, “what to serve at the next community bake sale.” said Dr. Chaiprasert.
The UN club provides students with an opportunity to learn about current global affairs and the opportunity to simulate the role of world leaders. It also looks great on a resume, said Dr. Chaiprasert. This year’s Model UN at ELAC is making history as the school’s first club of it’s kind, participating at Pomona’s first SageMUN Model UN Conference. As the club meeting lets out, Dr. Chapraisert. excitedly yells, “We’re making history, people!” The team meets Tuesdays at 12:30 pm in room F7-111.
CAOT raises funds for breast cancer BY FELIPE RODRIGUEZ Staff Writer The Computer Applications and Office Technologies Club recently fundraised and donated over $500 to the National Breast Cancer foundation. Within the small time frame that the CAOT Club has been around, it is already putting together events. The CAOT Club began last spring with a small group of students and gained more members the following semesters. CAOT professor Ann Mahrenholz stepped in to become club adviser of the CAOT Club. The CAOT Club recently held a fundraiser for breast cancer awareness. The club sold bags of Hershey’s chocolates with messages that brought awareness to breast cancer.
The club raised over $500 during the four-hour fundraiser and donated all of the proceedings to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Marenholz said they plan to hold more events in the near future and hope that all events turn out as successful as this fundraiser. Marenholz has been at ELAC for about two years and has been in the tech industry for around 20. Marenholz started out as a programmer for a small company called Touch Tech and eventually went back to school for her masters degree. She then pursued teaching because she liked interacting with people. She taught at Mt. San Jacinto Community College for five years then came to ELAC. Marenholz strongly believes
that clubs hold great potential for students that are interested in transferring, meeting new people and creating opportunities that last after graduation. Mahrenholz said she is very dedicated to the CAOT Club and is planning to have guest speakers at their future meetings. Mahrenholz is also looking into getting potential internships for the club members. Mahrenholz said with technology and tech companies growing, the CAOT Club strives to help students first hand experiences in the field and to guide students into a career. The club currently has about 15 members. All majors are welcome. The CAOT Club meets every Tuesday from 1:30-2:30pm in F7 room 416.
Trump: College students protest presidential election TRUMP Continued on page 1 The students who organized the walkout explained that they wanted to wait until the initial anger that has caused riots during other protests had calmed down. According to Sotomayor, they took steps to guarantee the safety of the protesters.
“We’ve gathered a group of people that have experience organizing protests so that if anyone tries to incite violence or gets out of control we are able to respond appropriately.” The students also reached out to the Sheriff’s Department as well as the LAPD. Not everyone supported last
Wednesday’s walkout. Michael Wernick, who was on campus to pick up a friend, stated that the students should “walk back in.” As protesters marched through the campus, some students heckled them, shouting “Trump already won” and “It’s too late” as they walked to their classes.
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CN/JORGE ALDACO
FRUSTRATED PROTESTERS— A crowd of students waving a variety of signs march in
between the Ingalls auditorium and the library on Nov. 17 in opposition to President-elect Donald Trump.
© 2015 National University NU15_2077
www.ELACCampusNews.com
EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015
In the
Arts
5
SPOTLIGHT
Let’s Dance! Dance company performs fourth member choreographic project. BY MARLENE DOMINGUEZ Staff Writer
C/N JORGE ALDACO
“I’M FLUFFY”– Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias returns to his roots and performs his jokes for a full house on November 15 in the
G3 auditorium.
Local comedian returns to humble beginnings BY TIANA HUNTER Staff Writer After 20 years as a comedian, the hilarious Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias hasn’t changed one bit. Before East Los Angeles College auditorium doors opened Tuesday night, people lined up all the way past the student services office. The auditorium was packed with 2,000 people who went to see Fluffy. As they began to fill up the auditorium, you could feel the essence in the air that this show was going to be great. The show began with a few warm up jokes from comedian Martin Moreno who’s the main character in 'Fluffy Breaks Even.' He wasn’t hesitant to let us know how he felt about marijuana being
legal in California. “He's been smoking it for years not that he was sick, but knows how to play along.” joked Moreno. He also didn’t shy away from saying a few jokes about Donald Trump, who Moreno says “allowed him to be politically incorrect and qualify as a candidate for president in the year 2020.” The next comedian was Alfred Robles, who’s the star of Comedy Central's 'Fluffy Breaks Even' and 'Stand Up Revolution.' Robles who's originally from East Los Angeles, didn’t miss the opportunity to joke about being from East Los or visiting his family in Mexico. Moreno said “he was so poor that his family from Mexico would send him clothes.” After an intermission advertising
Fluffy gear, it was time to see the big man of the show. Before Iglesias could even hit the stage, he had a standing ovation from the crowd which was chanting his name. Iglesias expressed how humbling it was to be back in East Los Angeles. He said his whole career started in East Los Angeles. He said he couldn't make a King Taco joke anywhere else in the world. Iglesias also said that he loved that he could speak both English and Spanish during the show. He mentioned a hoax that went around saying that he died earlier this year. He said he was so impressed by TMZ’s article that he “felt like he was a great person”. Iglesias said that he “truly appreciates his fans and they are always welcome to come up and
ask for photos.” He remembered a time at Dunkin Donuts when a worker, who also was a fan of his, asked him what makes him come to Dunkin Donuts. He replied “diabetes or something, I don’t know.” The crowd was filled with laughter after every single joke. Iglesias said he never would’ve thought he would be on stage 20 years later and have so many people appreciate his talents. He told the crowd that he became a comedian so he could pay his bills and quit his day job. Fluffy extended his performance by thirty minutes on stage because the crowd demanded more. During that time, he did a few of his old jokes and stayed two hours after for photos and autographs with fans.
The Let’s Dance Company brought live action rhythm to the audience and presented the 4th member choreographic project on Friday and Saturday in the S2 Complex. It was presented by the company artistic director Kimberly Rabins, along with alumni choreographers Breanne Genite, Evelynn Rodriguez, and Michael Vallejos. Although the dance concert was scheduled to begin at 7 p.m, it started 10 minutes later. There were 11 performances during the event in total. Three of the dance performances were performed and choreographed solo. The dancers in charge of the performances were Stephanie Vela, Paloma A. Ramos, and Samantha Minor. Some of the dance performances brought a lot of emotion through the transition of bright colors to sad, dull, and dark colors. Each performance had different themes based on emotion and rhythm. The costumes made for each performance made it perfect fit for all project performed Friday and Saturday night. The first performance was called “Alive” choreographed by ELAC alumni Breanne Genite and it was performed by every member of the Let’s Dance Company for the opening of the concert. It was followed by the first performance. Some were performed by several members of the Let’s Dance Company, each performed by different choreography. After the first three performances, it was transitioned to a melancholy theme that provides a powerful lesson about life, particularly in “Give me Love,” “Mad World,” and “Crossroads.” Towards the end of the dance concert, the Let’s Dance Company wrapped it up with a pop song that is remixed with Gwen Stefani, The Weeknd, Justin Timberlake, Spice Girls, and Macklemore and showcased a chrome theme that resembles the future technological life. It was performed by the entire group of Let’s Dance Company. Anyone who is interested in performing for Let’s Dance Company for their next annual Choreography project, they will have a dance audition in May in the Performing and Fine Arts Complex in S2-106 Dance Studio.
Elixer Piano Trio delivers outstanding performance BY FELIPE RODRIGUEZ Staff Writer The Elixir Piano Trio held a phenomenal performance this past Monday at the S2 Recital Hall. The Trio performed famous works from composers Joseph Haydn, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Astor Piazzolla. “ H o b o k e n X V: 2 5 ( 1 7 3 2 1809)” by Joseph Haydn was soft in progression and ended with a rather smooth tone compared to the rest of the pieces. By the end of the first performance the crowd reacted easily but became more involved as the program progressed. This piece was the longest out of the four pieces performed, it set the stage for how amazing the rest of the performance was going to be. “Trio Elegiaque in G Minor” by Sergei Rachmaninoff was a romantic piece that brought raw power and emotion into the performance. This piece began to draw the audience into actively engaging in the performance and brought a big reaction from the crowd by the time it was over. The beautiful melodies in this piece were emotionally driven and complex. The tone of the piece brought diversity to the program and showed a different side to the performance. “Otono Porteno” and “Primavera Porteno” are argentinian tangos that incorporated classical jazz in the performance. The last two pieces were a perfect end to the performance, it left the crowd amazed with how versatile the trio was. These pieces were shorter than the others but, were nonetheless amazing. The performers delivered an amazing performance and earned a
standing ovation by the end of the program. A multi-award winning pianist Lucy Nargizyan has been featured as a soloist and collaborator all throughout the world. Her work as a pianist, have been well noted and was a major component to the trio’s performance. Her flawless handy work as the pianist in this group was vital to creating the tone of the performance. Samvel Chilingarian,an instructor at ELAC, is a talented violinist conductor, and performer who brought a lot to this outstanding performance. Chilingarian’s performance didn’t go unnoticed and deserves the same amount of recognition as the rest of the trio. His skills on the violin were an essential addition to the piano and cello that perfectly enhanced the performance. Fang Fang Xu is an amazing cello player that held a vital role in the trio. Her performance added to the other performers and brought great power to the all of the pieces. The Trio is fronted by Lucy Nargizyan on piano, Samvel Chilingarian on the violin, and Fang Fang Xu on the Cello. The performance had a very soft beginning and became powerful as the program progressed. All of the performers delivered an amazing performance and are incredibly talented. The beautiful melodies the trio brought to the program had audiences gripped with amazement and left many stunned. The performance lasted about an hour and ended with a standing ovation by the audience. To find out more about the Elixir Piano Trio and all of their upcoming performances, visit their website at Elixirpianotrio.com.
C/N CHRISTOPHER D. REYNOSO
TAKE A BOW—Samvel Chilingarian (left), Lucy Nargizyan and Fang Fang Xu react to the audience’s standing ovation after their performance in the S2 Recital Hall on Monday. www.ELACCampusNews.com
6
Feature
EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2016
Deaf professor becomes deacon, gains perspective on life BY ELIANA AYALA Staff Writer
CN/MANUEL SANDOVAL
HAPPY TIMES—Martha Sandoval left, Lucy Sandoval, Tomas Garcia and wife Sylvia Garcia at Deacon Ordination at Holy Angels Vernon, June 11.
Dr. Tomás Garcia, born deaf, gained a new perspective on life after overcoming obstacles to become an American Sign Language professor and ordained deacon. “My deafness gave me a broader understanding of the world. My deafness allowed me to listen with my heart.” Garcia said, using ASL. As a Latino Garcia’s family had many pictures of Jesus displayed at the home. “I thought he was my uncle” Garcia chuckled. In the Latino culture religion is important but many families don’t have the ability to teach their deaf children about religion. This was his inspiration to become a part of Holy Angels, a well known church in the deaf community. Garcia became the ordained Deacon in June 2016. Garcia’s experiences motivated him to become a part of a sacred place where familiar deaf people can come together and learn the word of God at Holy Angels Church in Vernon. Many churches now provide interpreters but this still doesn’t compare to the comradery of attending a service with a majority
of deaf attendees. A few deaf churches are within close proximity including Norwalk, Covina, Orange County and Riverside. “As a psychology major, I believe that Religion is a great way to maintain one’s sanity” Garcia said. After high school, he felt lost and college wasn’t in his plans at the time. Garcia credits his uncle for encouraging him to attend college. He looked up to his uncle for being the first person in his family to attend and graduate from college. Garcia didn’t allow trials, such as audism (oppression of the deaf), tough classes or the awkwardness of communication barriers to disturb his ambition in obtaining an education. It was a difficult experience in college, walking around with an interpreter by his side had other students assume conclusions. “Growing up in Compton, people had low expectations.If it weren’t for my uncle I would’ve ended up in jail, dead or with 10 children,” Garcia said. Garcia worked on a double major at Cal State University Dominguez Hills and earned a Bachelor ’s degree in Spanish Language and Literature and another B.A. in Chicano Studies in 1996. He earned his Master’s degree at California State University
Northridge in Special Education concentration Deaf Education in 1999. He then continued in his pursuit for higher education at Pepperdine University where he earned his Doctorate Ed.D. in Education in 2003. He beat the odds by becoming the fourth deaf Latino in the United States to earn a doctorate. He is back in school working on a second Ph.D to become a Psychologist. Garcia wants to fill the lack of psychologists that obtain the ability to sign and understand the deaf and Latino cultures. He has been teaching at ELAC since 2009. Chair of the Modern Language Department, Dr. Norma Vega says Garcia has been actively involved in the school’s ASL program by frequently reaching out to the Deaf Community and using outside resources to enrich students’ learning. “He has certainly strengthened the program” said Vega. The school is currently working on a program for a degree in ASL which was highly encouraged by Garcia. His purpose in pursuing a career in teaching was to become a role model for other Deaf Latinos and prove that a Deaf Latino can become successful.
Theater Arts Department seeks new talent BY COLLIN HO KUMAMOTO Staff Writer
The Theater Arts Department hosts different showcases and is casting actors year round for plays. For the most part, run by theater students. Students are responsible for building and designing props for each show. The Theater Department opens their auditions to all students across campus, however having experience is always encouraged. The Theater Department takes pride in the connections that are developed between students and those in the theater industry. The department hopes for all of those who take part in productions to explore their creative capabilities and help them create a foundation for their life in art.
The Theater Department does it’s best to emulate professional theater early on for their students. Students are often casted in a show within their first semester at ELAC. This can be stressful for them because theater is a very demanding program. Hours upon hours of work are put into a production. Each prop and setting is carefully put together and each scene is rehearsed until it is presentable on stage. During preparation for a showcase, students build professionalism and the work ethic necessary to succeed in their careers in the arts. Students have the privilege of taking part in Guest Artist Workshops where professionals come to help students improve their production and acting skills. Some production skills that students learn include lighting, sound, and operating construction equipment. The Theater Department at
ELAC has close connections with the theater programs at Cal State Long Beach and the University of South Dakota. This opens a door for students to continue their education in theater at a four year university. Some students receive the privilege of getting a paid internship with companies such as the Philadelphia Theatre Company, the Black Hills Playhouse, and the Bilingual Foundation of the Arts. The Department Chair, Kaz Kasnetsis, is admired by many of his colleagues. Natalie Wong, the theater manager, describes Kasnetsis as a someone who guides the department confidently and efficiently. Wong also stated that whenever a dilemma arises, that Kasnetsis always comes up with a solution by thinking out of the box. Kasnetsis obtained his Masters in Theater Arts and has been the department chair for approximately ten years. Kasnetsis and the rest
of the department are currently organizing a tour of London. Students will receive an enriching educational experience in a place where art and theater truly flourished. The Theater Department’s next show, Tartuffe directed by James Buglewicz, will take place from December 2 to December 11 at the Proscenium Theatre. The next shows that will take place in 2017 are “Metamorphosis,” “The Accrington Pals,” and “Little Shop of Horrors.” The Theater Department will also be hosting auditions to take part in “Little Shop of Horrors” on November 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the P2 Building. All ELAC students are more than welcome to come and audition for a part of the show that will take place from May 19 to May 28. This production will be directed by Will Pellegrini and will be held at the Proscenium Theatre.
ELAC basketball coach defies odds BY BRITTNEY LEE Staff Writer East Los Angeles College basketball coach, Kenneth Hunter, has been coaching for 14 years. He may be one of the most wellknown basketball coaches in the country. He is currently helping basketball players perfect their playing strategies and begin their basketball careers. At a young age, Hunter became paralyzed, putting a permanent stop to his basketball career. Hunter was born and raised in Southwest Detroit, Michigan and played at Powerhouse Detroit Southwestern High School, home of the NBA commentator Jalen Rose and Ecorse High School. Hunter had a difficult upbringing because his mother was always working and his father never around a lot. He worked various jobs to help his mother with bills and raising his two younger siblings. By the age of 19, Hunter was well known in his city and was married. He was recruited by major Division One basketball teams. He received offers to play for D1 basketball teams from Utah State, Loyola Marymount, University of
Southern California, and Loyola Chicago to name a few. He was well known by the top coaches around the United States. While Hunter was going through life changing experiences he was called for duty to serve time in the Army. Upon his return, he had two years left to pursue a career in basketball due to the association’s regulations. At this point Hunter realized that if he wanted a professional career in basketball, he would have to settle for a D2 basketball team. One day while Hunter was playing with his friends, he bruised his spinal cord and cracked his C-5 vertebrae leaving him instantly paralyzed from the waist down. At the time of his accident, he didn’t know if he was ever going to be able to play basketball or walk again. After being evaluated, he learned that his dream of becoming a professional basketball player was over. Hunter was invited to coach by Richard Wells, who is the head coach of Los Angeles Trade Tech. Wells invited Hunter because he believed that he would be a great advocate in helping impact young adults’ lives through coaching and teaching the ins and
CN/TIANA HUNTER
CHILLIN’ WITH THE PROS—Hunter after summer workout with trainer Brian Weeks, Olin Simplis, NBA players Ray McCallum, Reggie Bullock and NBA Coach Stan Vangundy.
outs of leadership skills as a player. Hunter has been paralyzed for 17 years and his love for basketball lives strong. Although he was unable to make a living as a professional basketball player, he is able to be an inspiration to young adults who are interested in becoming professional basketball players. Hunter says that he is blessed,
and lives a healthy and happy life with his wife, Ingrid Hunter, and his five children, Kayla Hunter, Tiana Hunter, Kenneth Jr. Hunter, Ian Hunter, and Quen Hunter. He enjoys the fact that even though he cannot physically play basketball, he is still able to help and prepare talented young men and women in following their dreams and attending four-year universities
www.ELACCampusNews.com
CN/TOMMY VASQUEZ
WORKOUT WELL DONE— Robert Vazquez after he passed his karate test on June 6.
Student uses MMA for self-improvement BY DALIA VALLE Staff Writer Mixed Martial Artist, Robert Vazquez, 19, specializes in Karate and Muay Thai and is a student at East Los Angeles College. When Vazquez was 16 years old, he weighed 320 lbs and was six feet tall. Vaquez decided to join an MMA gym to exercise his mind and body. He explained that joining MMA really redirect his life on a healthier path. Vazquez was never the athletic type and didn’t know any techniques or how to take care of his body after intense workouts. Within half a year in MMA, Vasquez lost between 30 - 40 lbs and continues to shed off the weight. He is now weighing in at 260 lbs. He aspires to further improve his physical health at ELAC. He is currently enrolled in Health 002 with Godinez RJ and Drawing 101. Vazquez is on his fourth year of practicing MMA and chose to enroll into Health 002 to branch out into a different set of training. “I am a fan of ELAC and how they value sports and fitness. I thought their gym was a big improvement and it motivated me to want to continue better myself. I do train a little differently and I think it would be a good idea if they add a self defense class for students,” Vazquez said. Vazquez believes that more students will be interested in joining a health class to improve their physique if there were more options
here at East Los Angeles College. When asked if he carries the same MMA techniques into his Health 002 class and he said that P.E focuses more on fitness and physique. He likes to improve exercises he is not experienced with. Mostly exercises that target a specific parts of the body, for example; biceps or legs. Vazquez claims in MMA there is not an specific area on which body part will be worked out. MMA challenges the whole body and improves on the ability to pick up on subtle body language. For beginners who want a challenge and for athletes who want to maintain or further improve their physique Vazquez says that Health 002 is a good way to start. The P.E instructor Godinez helps his students exercise individually and then develops them further with his group exercises. Vazquez is also very passionate for art and is pursuing an Arts major while attending ELAC. He hopes to transfer but is undecided on which college he would like to go to. He explained how MMA translates into the art of war. The art of war consist of strategies, techniques, and tactics of combat. Vazquez connects the ideology of the art of war with his drawings. Exploring different styles such as american, japanese, tribal, neo traditional, and realism. “ I was once told never to compare myself with others and their own capabilities. I am not them and they are not me. So I should be proud of my own capabilities,” Vazquez said.
Feature
EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPU S NEWS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2016
7
British student launches American football career BY ISRAEL MORENO Staff Writer
COURTESY OF DEEDEE JACKSON
KICK—Freshman wide receiver Isiah Araujo holds the football for Vicente Luis-Juan to gain the extra point.
Football player sets new records BY TIANA HUNTER Staff Writer Twenty year old Vicente LuisJuan broke not one, but two East Los Angeles College football records this season. Making new school records is an accomplishment few can say they have achieved. Luis-Juan a sophomore who has played kicker for ELAC’s football team the last two years wasn't focused on setting new records but bettering the team he is part of. Luis-Juan broke the record for most extra points, a record that wasnt for forty eight years. LuisJuan broke the first record by 12 points. The school record was 42 extra points and he had 54, making him the new record keeper. The second record he set will
be the first one ever in East Los Angeles College history. Luis-Juan made a new record for ELAC by going 10 -10 points after a touchdown. What this means is after every touch down his team made, he delivered the extra point which consists of a field goal attempt from twenty yards out. “Achieving this new record was the best result I could have had this season,” Luis-Juan said. He also said that without the support of his family and his team he wouldn't have achieved these accomplishments this season. Luis-Juan grew up in Mexico and came to the United States at the age of nine-years-old. He was raised in the El Sereno community on the east side of Los Angeles. During high school he was introduced to football. During his junior year of high
school his coach motivated him to play the kicker position for his team. Ever since that day he decided he wanted to perfect his craft as a kicker. Luis-Juan describes this season as one of the best seasons he’s had since been a part of because his team and him had some really great accomplishments. He also described how breaking records this season at Elac is well earned. Vicente says breaking records made him really proud of himself because he doesn’t give up easily. He did not intend to give up despite his previous struggles. He feels he's made these accomplishments because he never gave up and took care of his business on and off the field. Fellow teammate, Shaquile Shelton describes Luis-Juan as a confident player who has a type of
swagger on the field that you don’t see from many players. He says Luis-Juan is a hard worker who is always trying to perfect his craft. Being teammates for two years with Vicente, Shaq knows him quite well and said how he's always in the weight room or field working. His teammate has faith in his potential and ambition. "I honestly didn’t know he was so close to beating the records, but I would never put it past him to do so,” Shelton said. After this football season, Vicente plans to focus on receiving his kinesiology degree. He plans to be a physical therapist and help others. He also said how he was grateful for his support from his family and friends. Luis-Juan credits his sucess to his family and friends who supported him through his journey.
DANCE—Calvin Dang, an ELAC alum and dancer. PHOTO COURTESY OF KEENWEI LIN
Dancer balances school with profession BY COLLIN HO KUMAMOTO Staff Writer Calvin Dang serves as a prime example of someone who successfully balanced his school life at ELAC with his passion for dancing. Dang’s interest for dance began when he was in the eighth grade when he began breakdancing with his friends. At the time, it was common for a lot of children to be into street styles such as popping, locking, and break dancing. Dang enjoyed dancing but decided to join the Mark Keppel High School Tennis Team. Tennis was an effective way to keep Dang fit and involved on campus. He continued to play tennis until the end of his sophomore year. Dang wanted to be challenged and felt like he had run into a plateau with Tennis. “There was too much repetition and I wanted to go back to my passion for dancing,” Dang said. As a result, Dang set his eyes on joining the Mark Keppel All Male Dance Team and successfully made the team in the beginning of his Junior year. The All Male Dance Team was not recognized on campus as a legitimate organization and they only performed for small school
performances. During his Junior year, Dang saw the potential of the team and wanted a new advisor who could take the team to new heights. Calvin became captain of the team during his senior year. He then talked with the school administration and helped to hire the current Mark Keppel Dance Company Coach Activate Arroyo. Dang and Arroyo’s collaborative efforts allowed the team to compete in many regional competitions against other all male high school dance teams. Calvin and his team won several first place titles at these regional competitions despite being the newest competing team. After Dang’s accomplishments with dance in high school, he enrolled himself at ELAC in hopes of majoring in Accounting. During his first year at ELAC, Dang continued his dance career by joining a collegiate team called IV League and was a part of the Robert Project, R.O.B, based out of Fullerton. The first year of college was stressful for Dang but he managed to keep a 4.0 GPA and eventually transferred to USC the spring of his sophomore year. Once Dang had transferred, he danced for Chaotic 3, a USC dance team.
He directed them for one year. Dang is currently dancing for The Good Project based out of Irvine and is finishing his final year at USC as a Business Administration major. Dance has heavily impacted Dang’s life and has taught him many valuable lessons. He has learned to manage time effectively and develop many lifelong friendships. The most valuable lesson he has learned from his dance experience is, “I only do what I enjoy.” Along with Dang’s personal achievements in school and dance, he also led the way for a new generation of dancers at Mark Keppel High School. The Mark Keppel All Male Dance Team is currently the defending champions of the Miss Dance Drill Team USA National Competition, which is hosted annually and invites international high schools to compete against national teams. This as Calvin explains was the “Olympics of the dance/drill community”. This would not be possible if Dang had not invested his effort in finding the team an official advisor. Dang is happy to have had the opportunity to dance, inspire others, and take advantage of all the great educational opportunities at ELAC to be where he is today. www.ELACCampusNews.com
Frances Bongwalanga is a student athlete who moved to Los Angeles from East London England to play football for East Los Angeles College. Bongwalanga, 21, is currently a sophomore at ELAC who was offered a full ride football scholarship to West Virginia State University. “ It's a division II National Collegiate Athletic Association school.”I’m always blessed for the offer” Bongwalanga said. “It's a great experience, it's a great feeling, it's always great to be noticed and getting my education paid for just for being in football, that's what I came out here to do.” The East London student stated. Bongwalanga is not committing just yet, he said he would like to see if any more offers pop up before he accepts the scholarship to WVSU. Bongwalanga decided to move to the US to play football. “I started applying to every school in the country and East LA is the only one that hit me back up, and that's how I ended up in East Los, it's the best decision I made so far,” Bongwalanga said. The student athlete said in England they play amateur football. “We play amateur football in England, it's not really that big it's getting bigger and bigger but it's not as intense or competitive as it is out here,” Bongwalanga said. He described amateur football as “ it's like football where you don’t get paid, just play for fun” Bongwalanga said He also said living in California is amazing. “The people are beautiful out here.The people are nice. The
weather is beautiful, can't beat the weather, can't beat the beach,” Bongwalanga said. The International student loves the food in California. He believes the best burger joints are out here. He enjoys the appreciation of food and exercise in California. “It's great living here, besides taxes and living expenses’ but other than that it's a great place to live,” Bongwalanga said. He was not used to getting taxed every time he made a purchase. “When I first got here I got taxed. I'm not used to getting taxed. I don’t get taxed in England.” Bongwalanga said. He explained how he lived in a black and white community in London which was not as diverse as California. When he got here, he met people who are hispanic or have a hispanic, background, for the very first time in his life. “I tried Mexican food it was amazing. I went to a taco stand it was bomb,”Bongwalanga said. The student athlete said he did miss his family at first, but now he is getting used to them being so far away. He also misses his friends from back home in East London. Bongwalanga’s ultimate goal is to become a professional football player On a National Football League team. If that doesn't work out, he plans to become a doctor. He is majoring in biochemistry and would like to become a neurosurgeon in the future. Bongwalanga aims high for his future and his goals because he would like to be a great leader and set a good example for his future kids.
8
SPORTS
EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2016
Huskies: ELAC defeats College of the Desert HUSKIES Continued from page 1
Cross country falls short at state championships BY FRANCISCO PADILLA Staff Writer
Freshman runners Martin Perez and Grecia Estrada, competed in the California Community College Athletics Association State Championships tournament in Woodward Park, Fresno this past weekend. Perez placed 80th out of 206 in the men’s race with a time of 21:46. Estrada placed 144th out of 199 in the women's race with a time of 21:34. Perez was the only qualifier from this year’s men's Cross Country team, but has kept a five-year streak of someone from ELAC qualifying for state alive. The race, which featured the top 206 runners from both the southern and the northern sections, was a very intense race for Perez. “The race was very extreme. The competition level wasn’t lenient and you had to fight throughout the
whole race,” Perez said. After taking a three-year-break from cross country, Perez was very proud of his accomplishment, in qualifying for state as the 2nd fastest runner among the rest of the racers. Although the team didn’t qualify for state, he believes the team improved as the season progressed. The men's team, consisted of all freshmen and one sophomore. After transfers and walk outs, the women’s team consisted of only two runners. One of them, freshman Rickie Guitierrez, hadn’t finished a race in over a year at her high school. Estrada progressively improved by more and more minutes each race, which allowed her to qualify for state. Estrada said she had more trouble on the course than Perez. She started the race off strong and had completed her first mile with a time of 6:06, well on her way to beat her personal record of 19:40. She rolled her ankle mid way
through the course on a rocky up hill. “I felt like giving up, I felt like stopping, but I didn’t. I was determined to push through it,” Estrada said. Their biggest competition was Mt. San Antonio College and Cerritos College, which were both very high ranked teams by the CCCAA. “During the first race, the team went under the radar due to how low we were scoring, placing seven minutes away. But by the time the last race came along, we finished just one minute away,” Perez said. “Our coach became our coach late in the season, so he didn’t have much to work with. He only had eight weeks to prepare us while other schools already had been training for three-four months.” said Perez. As the season progressed, head coach James Maynard started to incorporate speed with strength in their workouts. The team would work on their long distance endurance workout throughout the week, and once
a week would work on a speed endurance workout. “This newly established training routine really helped get us into rhythm.” said Estrada. Maynard said he was beyond proud of the team’s accomplishments, given the circumstances he was put into in order to succeed. He struggled to keep athletes that came to ELAC unrecruited and recruiting more was a bigger challenge. “The low expectations encouraged me to work harder,” said coach Maynard. He said the team's preseason rank was 31st and was very little to work with. “This season brings a lot of hope to the team because we were very young, other schools had more experienced athletes who won't be returning unlike us. This just makes us more motivated to compete next year and qualify for state as a team rather than just an individual,” said Perez.
The Huskies, down 37-35, were able to shift the momentum and let loose. The fourth quarter started with ELAC shutting out Desert. In the fourth quarter, the Huskies put up 28 consecutive points, which included three touchdown passes from Santos and one from Levi Lewis. “This is a dream come true. I won one (a championship game) in high school, and I never thought I could do it again. I really thought the high school title was going to be my best game ever and never thought it could happen again. I owe a special thanks to my offensive line, they protect me so well and I have to give the wide receivers all the credit,”said Santos when asked about the win.
The game which was led by the Huskies high powered passing offense included contributions from everyone on the offense. Santos was able to finish with seven touchdowns, six passing and one rushing, tying the Husky record for most touchdowns in a single game. The Huskies were able to get 130 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The air attack, which was led by freshman wide receiver Kenny Allen and his 122 yards and three touchdowns, combined for a total of 385 yards spread amongst seven different targets. The Player of the Game award was given to ELAC Safety Joey Knowles, for his game high 10.5 tackles. “We get back to work on Monday,” head coach Bobby Godinez said when asked with what’s next for the team.
Setbacks hold men’s soccer team down BY NOE ORTEGA Staff Writer The men’s soccer team struggled to find team chemistry throughout the season, leading them to a 2-10-9 record. The Huskies had a team that had what it took to be competitive but they had setbacks like injuries, dropped players and referees not making good calls. The team expected to have a different roster but because of the setbacks, they weren’t able to have the team they were hoping for. “We ran out of players. If we were able to have the team that we were supposed to have, we would have done better and of course we did a really good job. Every other coach would say ELAC was a very good team it’s just that the soccer god wasn’t with us,” sophomore central
midfielder Alvaro Torres said. Some players reflected on their season as unlucky while others mentioned that chemistry wasn’t always there. As a team I felt that we weren’t working together to become more as a unit. We tried to be more individuals and in some games that affected us. I’m pretty sure people noticed it,” freshman winger Luis Alvarado said. There were conflicts within the team during games that caught them off guard. Our coach had this theory called the domino affect, where if one person fall, the whole team falls. It always happened when everybody was arguing,” freshman goalkeeper Joshua Moreno said.
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AIR ATTACK—Right hitter Esther Duru anticipates the ball for a kill against Chaffey College on Friday.
Volleyball ends disappointing season with win BY JERRY FLORES Staff Writer Volleyball team’s struggling season came to an end last Thursday, finishing with a 9-14 overall record. Individuals did well statistically, but the team won 1-8 conference games and did not make it to the post season play. “When we were on the court there was no communication, and we got all frustrated. We had the skills to win, but we didn’t get the results because there was no communication and there was no team work,” freshman defensive specialist Jennifer Montes de Oca said. The seven straight losses in conference play affected East Los Angeles College and their aspirations for winning a title. “It affected us tremendously in that we had our hope set (on) winning the conference title,” said head coach Elliot Walker. Players saw an improvement from the beginning to the end of the season and got positive impressions. “First, we were not really talking and communicating, but toward the
end, our game got better and better. You could just see that our game plans were more wise and (we were) smarter with our shot selections. We were playing the ball faster too,” freshman right side hitter Taryn Higareda said. Husky freshman middle hitter Esther Duru had a great statistical season. In the state, she was number one in kills with 331, blocks with 155, points with 466.5, third in total attacks with 630, while finishing eighth in digs with 186. Even tough the team went winless through their first seven games i n c o n f e r e n c e p l a y, Duru had a statistically dominant performance in the South Coast - North Conference. She was number one in total kills (118), total blocks (65) and points scored (174), while ranking third in total attacks (240) and landing eighth in digs (69). “I learned a hundred and one different things. I learned how to
do things over. I learned how to coach new ways. I learned how to meet the kids and challenge them with different ideas. I think one of the biggest things I learned is that I have patience,” Walker said. Walker was left happy with the victory obtained in their last game against Chaffey. “I am excited and proud of them. I always learn as a coach. It’s better to finish strong than finish losing, that way we can focus in to the next season looking for new . things to happen,” said Walker Montes de Oca said the team is looking forward to better results next season, having many things to improve on, the most important being defense. The team is going to have many changes for next season. About 25 freshmen will arrive for the team. Walker can’t give high expectations, but he said that it is going to be a highly competitive.
Husky freshman middle hitter Esther Duru had a great statistical season
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