LACC WEATHER FORECAST WEDNESDAY
67/55
THURSDAY
67/56
FRIDAY
67/54
SATURDAY
71/55
SUNDAY
80/62
Collegian Los Angeles
Wednesday, April 22, 2015 Volume 174 Number 4
NEWS BRIEFS COMPILED BY CARLOS MARTINEZ
The Voice of Los Angeles City College Since 1929
COME SEE “FLYIN’ WEST” AT THE CAMINO THEATRE “Flyin’ West,” directed by Louie Piday will tell the story of African-American women who pioneered and settled in Nicodemus, Kansas to create an all-black town. “Flyin’ West runs from April 22 to 25 at the Camino Theatre.
HEALTH COVERAGE EXTENDED DEADLINE Covered California is offering the public a final opportunity to sign up for health insurance. Anyone interested should contact the enrollment agent Jimmie Taylor at (562) 303-8228 or jtaylorenrollment@gmail.com
HEALTH, WELLNESS EXPO On Wednesday, April 22 the LACCD will host a Health Expo from 10 to 2 p.m. on the third floor of the Student Union. Health Connections and other organizations will offer information on a variety of health and wellness related topics.
REGISTRATION FOR SUMMER 2015 SESSION IS OPEN Registration is now open to students for the 2015 Summer Session. More classes are being offered, and they are on a two-track schedule. The first begins June 15, and the second on July 20.
ENTER THE ENGLISH/ESL DEPARTMENT’S 17TH ANNUAL WRITING CONTEST Scholarships will be awarded for the best short story, poem or ESL writing (short story or poem). The deadline for submission is Thursday, April 23 at 12:30 p.m. Bring all entries to the English Department office located in Jefferson Hall, room 301. For more information contact Professor Flavia Tamayo at (323) 953-4000, ext. 2716.
TATIANE AMNUAR/COLLEGIAN
L.A. Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas looks on as his wife Avis accepts the “Local Hero Award” from Common Peace Director Candace Carnicelli at the Martin & Music event held on the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s assassination April 4, 2015. The award honors those who practice and acknowledge the works of nonviolence.
MLK PROGRAM RAISES MONEY, LIFTS SPIRITS SONGS FROM THE CIVIL RIGHTS ERA EVOKE STRONG EMOTIONS AT LACC FOUNDATION FUNDRAISER BY TOMAS RODRIGUEZ Broadway singer Charles Holt and Los Angeles City College alumnus Gerald C. Rivers headlined the performance of “Martin & Music” at the Camino Theatre on April 4, 2015. The Los Angeles founded organization, Common Peace, presented local hero awards in celebration of the annual celebration of “Season for Nonviolence.” Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and his wife Avis won the awards for helping local communities in Los Angeles improve lives through peaceful and nonviolent methods. The VIP reception after the event highlighted the music of singer/actress Paula Newsome and saxophonist Cal Bennet. “Martin & Music” is about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and the music that was the soundtrack for the civil rights movement. Rivers played the role of Martin Luther King Jr., reciting some of his most recognized sermons and speeches such as “We Shall Overcome,” and “The Drummer Major Instinct.” Holt followed each speech with a musical narration of his own. Rivers and Holt co-wrote the show and performed at the event. After the performance, director of “Common Peace,” Candace Carnicelli, presented the “Local Hero Award” in honor of the 18th annual celebra-
tion for the “Season of Nonviolence.” The award honors those who practice and acknowledge the works of nonviolence. Carnicelli has been director of the organization since 2007, but her volunteer work for the nonprofit goes all the way back to 1998. “The focus for the nonprofit is nonviolence education based on Gandhi and King’s teachings of nonviolence, Carnicelli said. “We have a number of educational programs in place to promote these teachings.” The “Season for Nonviolence” is a campaign of 64 days to support nonviolence while honoring some of the greats in civil rights. The L.A. County Supervisor and his wife received the award for the work they have performed in local communities across the Los Angeles area. “We were involved early on with some of the people here tonight,” said Mark Ridley-Thomas referring to the supporters for ‘Season for Nonviolence’ in the audience. “I am impressed by their commitment and their steadfastness. This is not for the faint of heart. This is not for those who think they can phone it in.” Ridley-Thomas says his efforts will continue past the formal “Season for Nonviolence” Audience member Eisha Mason has been part of the “Season for Nonviolence” from the very beginning. Her efforts, along with many others, have helped build a nonviolent community around the
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“Come celebrate the different languages and cultures of the world.” The Department of Foreign Languages and Humanities is hosting a multicultural event on Thursday, April 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Student Union’s multipurpose room located on the third floor.
INDEX
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nation and the world. “I was responsible for the first task force in Los Angeles and now ‘Season for Nonviolence’ takes place in multiple cities and multiple countries,” Mason said. “In fact, South Africa is planning to have its first ‘Season for Nonviolence’ later this year. It’s a reminder that you’ll never know the repercussions of the choices that you make, but our involvement from the first season is everything that the ‘Drum Major’ sermon is about. We were captured by an idea and we continue to reap the awards.” Actor Gerald Rivers grew up in Compton. He later attended LACC and earned an Associate of Arts Degree in Theater Arts. Most commonly known as “The Voice of Martin Luther King Jr.,” he shares his thoughts about his return to his old college campus. “I remember being on the stage, I remember walking to class on this campus,” he said. “In some ways it seems like a long time ago, and in some ways it seems like it was just yesterday. But when I see the students here and what they are involved in now I am grateful that times have changed but some of the people haven’t. They’re still good people here.” Proceeds from the “Martin & Music” performance will be dedicated to inscribe excerpts from Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech in the front windows of the LACC Library, which is named after the fallen civil SEE LACC FOUNDATION PAGE 3
Deltas, Day Shed Light on Education
FOREIGN LANGUAGE DAY CELEBRATION
Opinion News Arts & Entertainment Campus Life Sports Special Report
PAGE 5
Protesters March Against Police Brutality BY TOMAS RODRIGUEZ
LAPD JOB INFORMATION EVENT The Los Angeles Police Department is hosting a hiring workshop on Wednesday, May 20 in the Science Building, room 130 at 3:30 p.m. Students interested in a career in law enforcement should check in online at joinLAPD.com and complete the interactive Preliminary Background Application (PBA) and Job Preview Questionnaire (JPQ) prior to taking the written test.
NAN PUTS HER FUT DOWN
PHOTO COURTESY OF DR. JOWEL LAGUERRE
A member of Delta Theta Sigma Sorority Incorporated, the West Palm Beach Chapter, wears the traditional red associated with the group, plays games with Haitian students on their new school campus in Cherette, Haiti located 96 miles outside Port au Prince.
BY ANDE RICHARDS
t took only three minutes to devastate an already fragile nation. Years of hurricanes combined with a 7.0 earthquake shook Haiti into a state of extreme crisis. People from all over the world offered support with emergency services, money, food, clothing, well wishes and prayers, but just as quickly as the response came so did the unfortunate disclosure that aid was not reaching those in need. Instead, containers of donations lay untouched in Haiti’s ports. Flash-forward two years to the Northern California campus of Solano Community College where Los Angeles City College Dean of Academic Affairs, Dr. Thelma Day, is presenting a workshop about the service her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. performs internationally in countries such as Ghana, South Africa and Japan. Taking this all in was the Superintendent and President of Solano Community College, Dr. Jowel Laguerre. He posed the question, “What about Haiti?” What about Haiti indeed? Dr. Day and her sorority sisters had already collected money they could
Hundreds of demonstrators converged at the Los Angeles County Hall of Administration after marching from four different locations around Los Angeles on April 7, 2015 to protest numerous lives lost at the hands of police officers due to excessive force. Demands for separate hearings in cases that involve law enforcement officers accused of murder, demilitarization of the police, and decreased funding for police and prisons were at the center of the demonstration. Demonstrators shouted chants and told stories of fallen loved-ones for the more than one-mile journey across the city from MacArthur Park to the Los Angeles County Hall of Administration. One of the four branches of the “Remember Me, Death By Cop” protest led by the Youth Justice Coalition made several stops on the way to the county building, including the Rampart Police Station. Protesters carried pieces of cardboard cut in the shape of coffins to honor those who lost their lives to police violence. Coffins showed victims’ names, ages and ethnicities. Demonstrators called out the names of those killed through a megaphone during a ritual die-in. Onlookers could hear demonstrators using their voices to express their outrage. “If we don’t get no justice, you don’t get no peace,” demonstrators shouted. “Too black, too strong, all the power to the people, too brown to strong, all the power to the people! ...When our community is under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back! ”Pedestrians witnessed the demonstration from businesses along the route. It was an opportunity for them to record and take pictures of the protest with their mobile phones. Demonstrators did not have a permit but police allowed them to protest anyway. The protest remained nonviolent. Ingrid Garcia who was a passerby who paused on her way to work to observe. “I have the upmost respect for SEE COMMUNITY PROTESTS PAGE 3
Burglary Rattles Chemistry Building BY MELISSA BRECCIA AND JASON PISKOPUS
donate for earthquake relief. However, they had not yet released the funds because of uncertainty about where the money would actually go. Meeting Dr. Laguerre might be the conduit needed to create an effective partnership. There had to be a way to direct funds to the people who needed them. “I grew up in the southern part of Haiti in St. Georges,” Laguerre said. “I was educated in Haiti and the U.S. and I am a graduate of the University of Kansas. Laguerre says he was able to allay the Deltas’ fears. His knowledge of Haiti and U.S. business practices helped reassure them the funds could reach their intended destination. “Here they had a way to invest directly in a project without paying overhead and having someone who was educated in Haiti and the U.S. raised their level of confidence,” Laguerre said. Laguerre’s education roots run deep: He formerly taught math in Haiti. He proposed they turn an existing dilapidated shed in the town of Cherette, located 96 miles
A burglary that is estimated at over $42,000 in lost equipment has left students with limited resources after 22 iMacs were stolen from Chemistry, Room 207 on April 14. The room is also used to produce the campus newspaper, the Collegian. Students and staff members have lost irretrievable information and have been forced to work around the problem. Thieves also took two computer towers, but left new Apple keyboards and computer mice on top of the desks. Aside from the physical losses, the thieves also stole opportunities from students. Feelings of violation were echoed the following morning when students arrived in the lab. “There are no funds to replace the stolen computers,” said journalism student Lizzy Welch. “They didn’t just steal from our school, they stole part of our education.” The investigation into how the burglary was possible is ongoing, however it is possible that the equipment was stolen while professors, students and other workers were still in the building at night. “I work from the top [of the building] down, and then I work back up,” said custodian Mark Toomes. “When
SEE COLLEGE DEAN PAGE 3
SEE COMPUTERS STOLEN PAGE 3
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OPINION & EDITORIAL
Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, April 22, 2015
JOURNALISTS UNDER FIRE:
EDITORIAL
REPORTING NEWS IS RISKY BUSINESS BY JASON PISKOPUS
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ILLUSTRATION BY JOSE TOBAR/COLLEGIAN
The Great War Still Lives
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re you Christian or Muslim? Lock, Load and Fire. Are you Christian or Muslim? Lock, load, and Fire. Are you Christian or Muslim? Lock, load, no Fire. And Fire, no Fire, Fire, no Fire, no Fire, Fire, Fire, Fire! Imagine being on Garissas’ campus and dormitories and hearing the loud cocking of the gun right before the Fire, right before the bullets strike your friends’ face, right before the floors grazing your feet are covered with blood—massacre. Over 147 killed, over 100 injured. A few hundred survived, but are scarred for life. Women—how can they possibly recover after being forced to swim around their friends’ blood pool? Their friends’ floating corpses lying down beside them? There are chills running up and down their spine, running through their bloodstream. Their hearts are pounding, louder than the cocking of the guns. They are hiding, they fear to be seen by these heartless, merciless, inhuman terrorists. To make matters worse, the terrorists behind this injustice were laughing at and taunting the victims for over 13 hours. How can someone be driven to those extremes? In one part of the world, people are laughing at the injustices being done.
In the United States, we turn a blind eye and suppress conversation and awareness. People are hopelessly dependent on change that they are unaware of their innate power to produce that change. Now let us imagine this: a young, innocent child you may know, 10 or 15 years from now, this harmless child, emphasis on harmless, decides to take a stroll. He is sporting some sweats, a backward hat, and let us not forget, he is a person of color. He walks into a liquor store, market, convenience store, and wants a pack of smokes, swishers to roll a blunt, whatever. He wants to smoke with friends maybe… But, unfortunately he decides to allegedly steal them. Does that make him a threat to society? A felon, criminal? Does that justify a police officer firing six bullets to body and head? Truth be told, many of us stole a handful of things growing up (not endorsing it by any means). These are simply facts and the possible mindset of a teenager. These are realistic expectations of the youth. They do not have the power to choose their standards of living. They do not have the power to change demographics. If at any point we fail to provide the youth with necessities or fail to provide them with extra cash in their pocket, we should expect them to steal a bag
of chips, soda, a pack of cigarettes, alcohol, who knows, maybe steal a book, some graph paper, who knows! Anything equivalent to $10 or $15. Should they expect some punishment? Yes, rightfully so! Parents should punish them. The store is expected to punish them (have them return the item, never allow them in the store again). If necessary, the law is expected to punish them (community service, a fee). Should we worry about 0-60 law enforcement? Absolutely not! Should we worry about them being fearful to walk the streets because they feel threatened by the people that are supposed to protect them? Absolutely not! In Los Angeles alone, there have been over 600 deaths by cops. People in L.A., New York, Ferguson, Oakland, etc. are angry—rightfully so! Our police force is becoming more militarized. Equipment once meant for warfare is now being used by the police. It is war on United States territory. How can these police officers be driven to those extremes? No matter the lens being used, both these examples are definitions of injustice. They are terrorists acts—unlawful violence or war with the intent to ignite fear and possess power.
Cruz Control Challenge for Presidential Race in 2015 BY KYLE BLAYLOCK Ted Cruz maintains his mother’s American roots that allow for his legal candidacy for presidency. Many Republicans who attacked Obama’s Kenyan roots remain silent on the question of Cruz’s origins. Donald Trump however, spoke out against him. “He was born in Canada. If you know, and when we all studied our history lessons, you are supposed to be born in this country, so I just don’t know how the courts will rule on this.” I am not sure what history lesson Donald Trump took at Kew-Forest High School, but history is contrary to Mr. Trump’s opinion. According to the Naturalization Act of 1790, the phrase “natural born citizen” refers to individuals born without the need of going through the naturalization process. In the 2008 race, Republican can-
didate John McCain’s origins were somewhat similar, being born in the Panama Canal. Trump supported McCain publicly. But, Trump’s reach on the subject is not out of line in the dirty political battlefield, as Trump is contemplating another presidential run, and mudslinging in view of the media is par for the course. Of course, while Ted Cruz has the right to run, his grey-area American citizenship offers no reprieve from the standard conservative view of immigration: more security on the border, more leeway for police to question citizenship, less amnesty, and more applicable anti-Obama legislation. Cruz is leading the GOP’s front against Obama’s immigration tactics. Conflict escalated to a new level in November of last year when Obama announced plans to allow undocumented parents of U.S. citizens to get temporary work permits. A federal judge from Texas issued a preliminary injunction to stop the administration. Cruz will be the face of those on the side of asking the keep the injunction. They argue that the “temporary” part of the program is merely a ploy by Obama. If the
President’s programs were allowed to begin they would be irreversible. Imagine the scenario of a half-Cuban, Canadian-born boy. His family resides in Calgary for business. He is a natural born citizen. His mother is a U.S. Citizen by birth, so the boy is technically natural born. When he becomes a man he aspires to be president one day. During his succession to prominence he stands before a judge to explain why it is harmful to allow immigrant parents of literal natural-born children to be given work permits. It may seem hypocritical when read aloud. But, it is not. It is just ironic. The geopolitical fear is that there would be a legal loophole in which immigrant women, pregnant or otherwise, could be encouraged to sneak into the country and have children. Being an American born abroad makes Cruz no less eligible than a candidate born in Kentucky or any other state. Cruz may seem unsympathetic to immigrant mothers in this country (as opposed to being an American immigrant in Canada) and regardless how you feel about his politics, he has the right to be on the ballot if McCain was.
he number of journalists abducted and killed in active combat zones has been exponentially rising. It has become a trend for terror groups to use reporters as a means for soapboxing. The people who bring us news of the world are now being used as pawns on a terrorist chess board. Kidnapping and killing a journalist has become a quick and easy way to get attention for terrorist organizations. Now the president and CEO of the Associated Press, Gary Pruitt, is asking for amendments to the Geneva Convention to include the killing of journalists as a war crime, and rightfully so. Since 1992 more than 1,000 journalists have been killed in the line of duty, with 2012 being a particularly deadly year. Like doctors and nurses, journal-
ists should fall under legal protection. Additionally, with the rise of social media these organizations have no need for a big news corporation to launch them into the mainstream. Facebook, Twitter and the like, provide public platforms for groups like ISIS to spread their propaganda. Without reporters risking their lives we would never know of the true casualties of war. Nick Ut’s iconic image of a young girl that running naked after her village in Vietnam was napalmed brought a true understanding of this conflict. It drastically changed the direction of that war. The rise in deaths will deter many new people from joining the ranks of journalism. A lack of reporters who are willing to go to combat zones will leave us in the dark. Considering the number of Americans with active duty family members, news from these combat zones is crucial. World history would be drastically different if not for the impact that journalism has on the unfolding of global events. Journalists expose shady practices that cause harm to us, keep politicians in line and inform us of our rights as Americans. They are the advocates of the people.
Weighing the Value of People, not Profit BY JAKE CAMARENA The saying “people, not profit” lives within counter culture and non-capitalist thought, while education aimed at competition is engrained in the moral principles of the mainstream. As such, the most valuable assets one can possess in the eyes of American society are prosperity and wealth. Americans, overwhelmingly, aim their educational goals at success in some form of business. The rise in business and technical school admissions has grown incrementally from previous years. According to the Career College Association, enrollment at for-profit trade schools has doubled in just two years. Even students with modest plans for life compete with each other for profit. Thoughts that wealth is the answer to existence fuel our drive to succeed. This American idea that success equals a fuller life is the result of government and multi-national corporate propaganda. It costs the world billions in capital to sustain. In America, we believe that a comprehensive monetary system is something that the God of the Universe created, and competing with each other for money is divine. We strive as a society to succeed, and we measure our strength in our ability to consume. In reality, our desire to be stable in a moral world does not align with the strength of a flourishing economy. Our stability as consumers is empirically of minimal importance to the American government and big business. If it were important, why has The New York Times published the income inequality findings from the Luxembourg Income Study Database, indicating a stagnant middle class for at least 14 years? Numerous vanilla media outlets discuss disturbing facts about minute percentages of the population
making massive amounts of capital. The desire for success among Americans has created a formidable elite class–which is not expanding, but becoming richer. We see expansion in the gap between those who struggle to survive and those who do not. This craving for prosperity creates people who are categorized by their relationship to capital. We are judged by our ability to earn profit. The system in power perpetuates ideals that all humans should focus on the accumulation of wealth by virtually any means. For example, if there is corroborative evidence that cigarettes kill people, why are companies producing cigarettes? There is only one answer. There is a profit margin to be had. And guess what, people like you and I are going to go to school in order to figure out how to find that margin, and exploit it. If our government and people of all walks focused on the enhancement of society, our world would benefit from a useful perspective, not an opulent and success driven one. As humans, we have a natural ability to sustain. We should focus on its enhancement. To strive as a people, we need to act as a people. With all this focus on success and profit, who is focused on how we survive as a species? How are we going to recover from the catastrophes of our actions? The example above could be replaced with numerous catastrophic events that occur in the pursuit of the profit margin. What is it that our society needs to progress beyond our current value system? The new generation of students, us, we should realize that our world is not the place we envisioned. We should focus our education on the creation of a more useful, advanced world–one where people are more important than profit.
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CONTACT: losangeles.collegian@gmail.com 323.953.4000 ext. 2831 Letters may be edited for brevity.
Collegian Media Arts Department, Chemistry 207 Los Angeles City College 855 N. Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90029
Editors-in-Chief Ande Richards Holly San Nicolas Managing Editor Richard Martinez Front Page/News Clinton Cameron Opinion/Editorial Ambar Quintanilla Arts & Entertainment Melissa Breccia Campus Life Jake Camarena Sports Staff Reporters Tomas Rodriguez Taylor Corbin Jason Piskopus Photo Editor Curtis Sabir Photographer Tatiane Amnuar Andrew Pilot Graphic Designers Jimmy Martinez Beatrice Alcala Illustrators Jose Tobar Multimedia Producers Dave Martin Frank Vidrio Advertising Clinton Cameron Adviser Rhonda Guess
Deadline Schedule NEXT ISSUE: May 6, 2015 Editorial deadline: May 1, 2015 For all submissions including letters to the editor and publicity releases send materials to Collegian office: Chemistry 207 losangeles.collegian@gmail.com For all insertion orders and advertising questions. Email: pr.collegian@gmail.com
The college newspaper is published as a learning experience, offered under the college journalism instructional program. The editorial and advertising materials published herein, including any opinions expressed, are the responsibility of the student newspaper staff. Under appropriate state and federal court decisions, these materials are free from prior restraint by virtue of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Accordingly, materials published herein, including any opinions expressed, should not be interpreted as the position of the Los Angeles Community College District, Los Angeles City College, or any officer or employee thereof. Collegian © 2014. No material may be reprinted without the express written permission of the Collegian.
NEWS
Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, April 22, 2015 DELTAS FROM PAGE 1
PROTESTERS FROM PAGE 1
COLLEGE DEAN, DELTAS PAY IT FORWARD IN HAITI
Community Protests use of Deadly Force
southwest of Port-au-Prince, into a school. Dr. Day requested a formal proposal from Dr. Laguerre that outlined what the school needed, from construction to furnishing the school. The proposal was sent to the sorority’s national executive board. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. joined forces with Water Education International (WEI), which was already established in Haiti with partnerships, contacts and resources. The partners transformed the shed into a school by constructing a new building with larger classrooms, an administration building with a library, a resource center, and a modern bathroom and kitchen. The official name of the school is the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Elementary School, The Cynthia M.A. Butler-McIntyre Campus. It is a six-room facility that educates approximately 300 students from pre-kindergarten to 6th grade. “Firstly it’s an honor to be a part of the opening of the school, and secondly the giving of supplies to the students, and thirdly to be involved in the development of the memorandum of understanding with the schools,” said Pat Cunningham, member of the International Awareness and Involvement Subcommittee of Program Planning and Development Committee of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. “This speaks to our ongoing commitment.” Also contributing time, energy and expertise were students from Solano Community College. They assisted with fundraising and the design of the school. Imani Dhahab was a student project engineer and finance manager on the project from spring 2011 to summer of 2013. She contributed, co-edited and assisted in the execution of a $15,000 Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. grant to support
PHOTO COURTESY OF DR. THELMA DAY
Dr. Thelma Day, dean of academic affairs, gives a speech at the school she helped build in Cherette, a small town located 96 miles outside Port au Prince Haiti, at the groundbreaking ceremony on June 15, 2013. the construction of the school and developed a $60,000 budget for a school building project. She also planned and coordinated fundraisers, while maintaining accounting records for several events to finance $8,000 in travel expenses for eight students. Dhahab had the opportunity to travel to Haiti twice and stayed with a host family. During that time she passed out clothes, food and gifts, and taught English lessons to children. “The project impacted me greatly as it made me more conscious of the needs of others, more confident in executing my plans and goals, and most appreciative of my many blessings,” Dhahab said. Building a school in a foreign country requires not only expertise, but passion on the part of those who involve themselves in the details of the job at hand. Arturo A. Castillo was an engineer student team leader who also worked on the project from fall 2011 to summer 2012.
As team leader, he chaired the meetings in which the engineering students of the Solano Community College Mathematics Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) program developed the construction designs and proposals for the construction of the school. “Making an impact in a remote community that was in great need, it helped me discover my strengths and the educational path that I wished to follow,” Castillo said. Progress was made in turning the shed into a proper school. The people in the small town displayed an overwhelming warmness to those from the U.S. participating in the project, according to Dr. Day. There was a memorable groundbreaking ceremony that marked the occasion at the school opening on June15, 2013. “They are appreciative of what we’ve done. The entire community came to welcome the sorority when they had their groundbreaking,” Day said. They expressed to us how it really changed their lives.”
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the police in this city, for many of my family members were once employed by law enforcement,” Garcia said. “But these people have a right to protest. I never have experienced any police brutality or injustice, but [protesters] should also acknowledge that police officers risk their lives for a less than expected wage.” Some of the other participants at the demonstration included the World Worker’s Party, Critical Resistance Los Angeles, and Stop Mass Incarceration Network. Noe Salazar, a college student has a negative history with Los Angeles law enforcement. His experience led him to join a group that aims to build a movement that challenges race, gender and class inequality in the Los Angeles County and California juvenile jail systems. As a member of the Youth Justice Coalition (YJC) group, he spoke of the injustice he experienced with police throughout high school. “Being born in Los Angeles and having witnessed all the prejudice [perpetrated against] my race and the number of people that have been incarcerated, opened my mind to fight [for a] cause, but in the right way,” Salazar said. “People can come together in unity to fight for something worth fighting for, something higher and bigger than our beliefs.” According to an YJC homicide data report gathered from the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Department, 616 people were killed by law enforcement in Los Angeles County since the year 2000. Since 2007, YJC also found, 98 percent of people killed by law enforcement were male, 52 percent were under the age of 30 and 82 percent were African American or Hispanic. Jefferson Azevedo, a member of the World Worker’s Party, advocates for the necessity of protest. According to Azevedo, the United States capitalistic government is partially to blame for the escalation of police violence in the United States. They join the demonstrators as a socialist political party that fights to change the capitalist system. “It is important to fight against police brutality because most of the cruelty is created by capitalism,” Azevedo said. “The capitalist system allows cops to murder poor people without having any fear of being punished. The capitalistic party creates war and exacerbates poverty and violence. ”Keith James, a representative for Stop Mass Incarceration Network, believes this demonstration was just the beginning of something big. They demonstrated on April 14, at LAPD headquarters in downtown Los Angeles. “We’re at a crossroads in the United States, where thousands of people are finally realizing about the damage done by police officers,” James said. “There is a need to retake the offensive on a national scale, recapturing the momentum and providing a vehicle to millions of people. That is what April 14 is about, Stop Murder By Police. This is for those who want to see murder by police [stopped], which is an epidemic in the United States.”
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MLK FROM PAGE 1
PHOTO BYTATIANE AMNUAR/COLLEGIAN
Los Angeles City College President Renee Martinez and Gerald C. Rivers, alumnus, and star of Martin & Music, at the LACC Foundation April 4, 2015.
Foundation Raises Funds for MLK Library rights hero. “To come here and support the new Martin Luther King Library is exciting and I’m grateful to be part of it,” Rivers said. “I think he has a more profound effect on this college than people know, and that the idea that the library is built only a few feet away from where he actually spoke makes it particularly significant and poignant.” Rivers encourages students to take advantage of the MLK Library. King spoke at LACC’s Snyder Field on Dec. 14, 1962 and he continues to inspire. Los Angeles City College President, Reneé D. Martinez, commented on
the performance and talked about the importance of people working together. “Today was really moving,” Martinez said. “It’s a reminder that we need to work together and collaborate if you want things to happen. We have to love people, honor people and move on.” President Martinez also talked about how “Season for Nonviolence” can be embraced by the campus community. “I think we can integrate it in our strategic plan,” Martinez said, “we are trying to make this campus a safe campus and promote that students want to be here and be successful and share that with the community.”
BURGLARY FROM PAGE 1
22 COMPUTERS STOLEN, CLASSES, COLLEGIAN PUSH ON I came back up to clean in the room, I noticed all the computers were missing. I couldn’t understand how they could get the computers while I was in the building. Somebody must’ve had a key to that room.” One of the stolen computers was used as photo storage for the Collegian. The loss of the photos has created stress for staff members who already work within tight deadlines. “Many of our photos that we are using for the upcoming issue are lost from one of the stolen computers,“ said Co Editor-In-Chief of the Collegian Ande Richards. “The impact is felt immediately.” Regardless of the problems that have been presented to the journalism department, students and staff are still working hard to produce content. They are demonstrating resourceful-
ness and creativity with the equipment that remains. “This crime won’t go unnoticed,” said Co Editor-In-Chief Holly San Nicolas. “We will definitely feel the aftershock from the lack of resources. However, we’re smart. We’re creative. Our resilience is worth far more than $42,000. Or any number for that matter.” A lack of cameras in the Chemistry Building raises the question of campus security. This is not the first time that a break-in has occurred. “Someone broke in last year, but they didn’t take anything,” said Collegian adviser and professor Rhonda Guess. “This time there was no damage to the doors, but the computers were gone.” Any person with information about this crime is urged to contact the LA County Sheriff at (323) 669-7555.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, April 22, 2015
‘Martin and Music’ Embodies MLK’s Presence Today on this campus,” Rivers said. “I’m honored to be able to come back Honoring a brilliant orator, ac- to do this show and raise money tivist and crucial part of the civil for the library. The Collegian interrights movement is a challenge. viewed me in the 80s and it’s still On April 4, the anniversary of Dr. going strong. Tell [the students] Martin Luther King Jr.’s death, the that I got some of my foundation for combined talents of Gerald C. Riv- what I do now at LACC.” ers and Charles Holt filled LACC’s Rivers’ son, Zach Brown, also Camino Theatre with a powerful played an important role in the perperformance that was echoed by the formance. Brown created a speed audience realization that Dr. King’s painting of Dr. King, capturing his energy is still present today. power and iconic looks, tying to“Martin and gether performance Music” utilized art and visual art. the artistic abiliHolt says that he’s ties of actor and honored to be a part LACC alumof a show that still reni, Rivers, and tains the relevance it musician Holt. Rivhad decades ago. Holt ers breathed new life aims to show the audiinto Dr. King’s words, ence the importance channeling the skill and necessity that muand charisma that Dr. sic had in Dr. King’s King was renowned life. for while Holt offered “[Dr. King] had a an energetic rhythm very musical family,” and beat to the atmoHolt said. “There’s a sphere. musical cadence to the The show celebrated way Dr. Martin Luther the “Season for NonKing spoke. We’re violence,” which is taking the words that an annual campaign were spoken decades that spans over the ago and really allowcourse of 64 days from ing them to speak to the memorial dates the landscape—the of Mahatma Gandhi global landscape that (Jan. 30) and Dr. King. we live in today. It’s a Participants in the powerful realization Season for Nonvioif you’re willing to lislence commit to living ten.” in a nonviolent and Actress Daniele progressive way. Arun Watts, best known for Gandhi, the grandson her roles in TV shows of Mahatma Gandhi’s “Weeds” and “Partinitiated the “Season” ners,” as well as the acin 1997. claimed film, “Django Rivers attended Unchained,” gave the LACC from 1983introduction to the 1987 and was the stuperformance, promotdent body president -CHARLES HOLT ing messages of peace. in his last two years. Watts called for the He studied theatre audience to reclaim throughout his attendance, gaining negative experiences as a chance to perspective and growing his tal- grow and to cope positively. ents. “Martin and Music” was his Over the past year, Watts has been first time returning to the Camino involved in an issue, which garnered Theatre stage since his time as a stu- intrusive media attention and an indent. surmountable wave of frustration. “I’m glad that the energy, the art However, her upbeat attitude at the and the creativity is still happening performance sent a message of hope BY MELISSA BRECCIA
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THERE’S A MUSICAL CADENCE TO THE WAY DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING SPOKE. WE’RE TAKING THE WORDS THAT WERE SPOKEN DECADES AGO AND REALLY ALLOWING THEM TO SPEAK TO THE LANDSCAPE— THE GLOBAL LANDSCAPE THAT WE LIVE IN TODAY. IT’S A POWERFUL REALIZATION IF YOU’RE WILLING TO LISTEN.”
PHOTO BY TATIANE AMNUAR/COLLEGIAN
Actress Daniele Watts speaks in the Camino Theatre for “Martin and Music” on April 4, 2015. The event was sponsored by the LACC Foundation. to people going through unjust situations. Watts’ presence radiated new understanding and patience to all audience members. “I learned that ‘Peace is something that starts inside,’” Watts said. “I wanted to find a way to stand up for what I believe in a way that’s more positive and peaceful. Gerald and Charles are such an inspiration and the mission of an event like this reminds us that we accomplish more when we work together and see the humanity in others.” Another strong figure at the event was actress Paula Newsome best known for roles in “Little Miss Sunshine,” and several television shows including “NCIS” says she finds solace in Rivers’ and Holt’s perfor-
PHOTO BY TOMAS RODRIGUEZ/COLLEGIAN
Victoria Boutros rehearses her lines with Stephanie Varela and Lisa Bao on April 17, 2015. Boutros’ personal stance on female sexuality led to her interest and participation in the show.
‘VAGINA MONOLOGUES’ REPLACE STIGMAS WITH STRENGTH
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BY MELISSA BRECCIA
orums in which the discussion of womanhood is free of judgment and mockery are rare even in modern times. However, LACC’s production of the “Vagina Monologues” showcases female empowerment, solidarity and pride. Written by Eve Ensler, the “Vagina Monologues” is an episodic play that deals with a multitude of aspects regarding female experiences including sex, menstruation, love, abuse, genital mutilation, birth and more. The monologues stem from over 200 interviews that Ensler has conducted, with a new monologue added each year to explore the current issues affecting women. Catherine Ho is the director this year, and she has been with the production for three years. She began as an actress in the show, and she says it
has changed her mind about the taboos and misconceptions about being a woman. “It brings a group of women who would not come together in other circumstances to talk and help each other out in a way that you wouldn’t get in another support group,” Ho said. “In a way, this is everyone’s support group. I see people grow in this process.” Although the show has increased awareness of its cause over the time it has been presented on campus, it is still facing barriers. Ho says that after the initial struggle faced to bring the “Vagina Monologues” to LACC, the show was still never granted access to the theatre. The show is set to be performed on April 30 on the third floor of the Student Union, where it was also performed the year prior. All of the girls involved with the project agree that the stigma surrounding female sex-
uality is what has kept the “Vagina Monologues” off of a main stage. “It’s so hard for people to even utter the word vagina,” Ho said. “People use the word p***y as an insult and we forget how empowering that word can be.” While the performance is an acting experience, almost none of the women involved are a part of the Theatre Academy, and say that this is their first encounter with acting. Ho says that the only requirement to join the cast is to be female or to identify as female. Victoria Boutros is a performer in the “Vagina Monologues” who says it is an important cause that parallels her personal family history. A monologue titled the “Not-So-Happy Fact” speaks about a practice against young girls’ bodies that still goes on today. “[The monologue] is about female genital mutilation and it’s still going on in some countries in Africa,”
mances. Newsome values the opportunity for audiences to come together and appreciate the successes of Dr. King. “I wanted a way to celebrate [MLK Day] to address it, and I heard [Rivers] speak and it’s magical,” Newsome said. “It’s quite powerful.” Newsome says that the speech that most people know Dr. King by was not the speech he originally intended on reciting the day it was presented. “[Dr. King] had another speech planned,” Newsome said. “It was called, ‘The Negro Has Been Written a Bad Check.’ True, but the speech wasn’t going down so well and Mahalia Jackson reached over to him and said, ‘Tell them about Boutros said. “One of them being Egypt, where my family is from. All of the women in my family underwent it, and I missed it by such a small margin. I was conceived there but born here. It could’ve happened to me.” Boutros warns that although the process is described as a circumcision, it has no relation to the circumcision that men undergo. It is typically done to girls between two and six, long after the time it is done to males and is damaging both mentally and physically. “It’s not a real surgical procedure,” Boutros said. “There’s no doctor, just some women in the village and they don’t anesthetize you. Actually, in many cases, the mother would stand, holding her daughter’s legs open and they would just take a glass or a knife or a razor blade, whatever they could find. Typically it’s done in childhood, and what happens is that they end up butchering you. They take more than just the clitoris, and they think that they’re doing God’s work.” All of the monologues presented tie in and discuss the shame and ridicule that women face, particularly in sexual situations. One monologue comes from a 72-year-old woman who says that an embarrassing intimate moment in her youth stopped her from ever wanting to explore her sexuality again. “Female sexuality is stigmatized,” Young said. “I think we should be able to normalize any conversation. I used to take care of elderly people and I’ve heard stories … about how closed off they felt from an experience that they had when they were younger or not being able to talk about sexuality.” Each piece, whether experienced directly by the performer or not, brings a feeling of unity and the need to come together as women. Performer Opel Cheney says that it is her goal to speak out against society’s disrespect toward women. “My monologue is about women rising and taking back our story,” Cheney said. “We’re being forced to live under [male] mentality. The way we treat women is what we are allowing to be done to the planet.”
the dream, Martin!’ and he just shifted the whole speech. ‘I Have a Dream’ was not meant to happen that night. The music and the inspiration just go hand and glove.” The performance was so engaging and inspirational to the audience that some began to cry. Laughter, praise and tears of both mourning and pride filled the theatre. One woman referred to Rivers’ powerful voice as “great consolation” in regards to Dr. King’s early death. “Martin and Music” aims to “[create] a magical trio of message, music and storytelling.” The proceeds from “Martin and Music” were directed toward funding a project in LACC’s Martin Luther King Jr. Library, which will
allow excerpts from King’s “I Have a Dream” speech to be displayed in the front windows of the library. The library opened in 2008 and is only feet away from where Dr. King once spoke during a visit to LACC in 1962. The narrative, dialogue and music to Dr. King’s goals and achievements will never be lost while there are productions as strong as “Martin and Music” to keep his message alive. The gravitational pull of Rivers and Holt, combined with the energy that the audience exuded may prove that society can take Dr. King’s experiences and ideas from decades ago and still apply them today.
PHOTO BY TOMAS RODRIGUEZ/COLLEGIAN
Student and performer Drew Young rehearses with her guitar in the Student Union on April 17, 2015. Her musical narration is just one of the many monologues within the show. The girls involved in the production say that their meetings encompass a wide array of topics that are not typically viewed as appropriate conversation. Performer Katerina Nadejkina wants to get rid of the negative connotations surrounding women exploring their sexual interests. She mentioned a sexual practice called ‘orgasmic meditation’ and how the process was liberating and mind-opening for both men and women. “[This practice] teaches men how to give something to a woman rather than taking it away and putting her in a mold,” Nadejkina said. “So much more is possible than what we’re taught in this society.” Another performer, Chelsea Webber-Brandis says that the domination and aggression against women prevents their progress. “In this society it is looked down upon to be feminine, to be soft, to be giving and nurturing,” Chelsea Webber-Brandis said. “A huge part of that is other people accessing domination over what people do, their lifestyles, who they are and who they identify
as.” Webber says that she followed one news story in particular in the Collegian, regarding the murder of Aniya Parker. Parker was a transgender woman who was fatally shot just blocks away from LACC’s campus on Oct. 2, 2014. “A huge thing that hit me was the transgender murder last year of Aniya Parker and I found it so interesting that so many attacks against women are here on campus or close to campus,” Webber-Brandis said. “When you’re trying to get an education and do something with your life, even then people are trying to take that power from you.” While there are still many obstacles for women to face, performances such as the “Vagina Monologues” and women who speak out against the injustice are moving the cause along every day. Tickets for the “Vagina Monologues” are $7 pre-sale at the LACC business office or $10 at the door. The performance will run for one night only on Thursday, April 30 on the third floor of the Student Union.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
RENEGADE ROCKER JAMS OUT AT CONCERTOS, CONCERTS
W
olfgang “Wolf” Woodcock is a student here at City College. Wolf studies musical composition and theory and can proficiently play a number of instruments including guitar, bass, piano, drums, cello and the banjo. He is a self-described “dork” with heart, passion, a beard full of wisdom and talent beyond his 17 years.
Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, April 22, 2015
5
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BY HOLLY SAN NICOLAS Collegian: Name some of your bands and projects for us. Woodcock: I release music under Wolf Woodcock. I also front my band Leaking Pigs and play bass. I play bass for a multitude of other projects as well. Collegian: When and how was Leaking Pigs formed? Woodcock: Leaking Pigs is almost four years old. We started a little before freshman year of high school. Since then, we’ve put out an EP and an album. We opened up for The Angry Samoans. It was really cool opening for the band of my very first cassette tape. Collegian: What kind of style or styles would you say you play? Woodcock: Well for school I play and compose concert music or what is considered “classical” music. With Leaking Pigs, it’s sort of a punk rock indie sound with alternative and emo influences. My solo stuff is what I like to call “fuzzfolk”. Collegian: What is “fuzzfolk”? Woodcock: Fuzzfolk starts on an acoustic guitar and branches out into the realm of electronic experimentation. This includes using unorthodox practices for folk such as samples, pedals and impromptu noises. Collegian: At what age did you start to explore your interest in music? Woodcock: I’ve been playing instruments since I was 10, starting with guitar then bass. I wasn’t really serious about it until I was 12.I had nothing to do all summer, and there was a guitar looking just as bored right back at me. I picked it up, taught myself to play, and that’s when I started to think I could potentially make a career out of my music. Collegian: Who are some of your favorite artists? Woodcock: John Lennon and Adam Sandler! (laughs) No, some of my favorites are Modest Mouse, Elliott Smith, MF Doom, Fartbarf, Sufjan Stevens and F***ed Up. F***ed Up is a good listen if you’ve got over an hour to spend on punk rock. Collegian: As an artist, who do you consider to have been your harshest critic? Woodcock: I think everyone is their own harshest critic for the most part. But I have taken my fair share of criticism from some family and past instructors. It’s been constructive, mostly. (laughs) My best
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A mouthful! “Wolf” sinks his teeth into a wide variety of musical endeavors. The 17-year-old is the front man for his band “Leaking Pigs” and studies musical composition and theory at City College. friend in high school hated my band. ple to be able to make a connection Collegian: Describe your fans for with my music as I did with other us. people’s music in my times of hardWoodcock: The fans of my band ship. are some of the most fun-loving, I think that’s really the end goal, loyal and crazy people that I know. to help someone keep on going with At our last show during the bridge the feeling of companionship in muof our final song sic. My words aren’t al‘The Lung’, I had ways literal, but they’re over 10 people always felt. give me kissCollegian: Can we es right on the look forward to anymouth. thing in particular in All of the people the near future? who come to the shows Woodcock: There’s make me extremely nothing specific in the happy and I want to making. I’m slowly keep on playing for putting together a solo them. album. Collegian: You’re I want it to come known to don some together organically, pretty interesting I don’t want to force clothes on stage. What anything. does what you wear I want to say importsay about you? ant things lyrically and Woodcock: I go musically on my next between wearing barelease, so however sic colored outfits to long that it takes for nice floral dresses and to be satisfied with -“WOLF” WOODCOCK me skirts. That is, if my what I’m saying, I’ll clothes stay on at my put that out. shows. Collegian: You’re Recent events have shown that only 17. What are you doing at people want to see more skin and LACC? will go to the lengths of trying to Woodcock: I decided to start atpull my pants down. (Thank you, tending LACC because I felt the edSam Cranis.) ucation being afforded to me in high What it says about me is that I like school wasn’t conducive to my overto be comfortable while screaming all intellectual growth. and sweating profusely! I decided I wanted to learn the ins Collegian: Your lyrics are pretty and outs of music composition and heavy at times. What inspires you to theory, and after seeing my dad dowrite some of the tougher stuff ? ing so well in this program, I chose Woodcock: My lyrics come from LACC. my inability to express my truest Collegian: Love the beard. feelings to most people. I want peoWoodcock: Thank you very much!
“
I THINK THAT’S REALLY THE END GOAL, TO HELP SOMEONE KEEP ON GOING WITH THE FEELING OF COMPANIONSHIP IN MUSIC. MY WORDS AREN’T ALWAYS LITERAL, BUT THEY’RE ALWAYS FELT.”
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TO DOWNLOAD THE ALBUM, “BRAKE” BY LEAKING PIGS or visit http://leakingpigs.bandcamp.com
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CAMPUS LIFE
Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, April 22, 2015
COLUMN
HOMELESS DREAMS While most Americans dream of houses and stability, I am on a quest for quite the opposite. I dream about being homeless. I dream of a life unbound by a wooden box hard-wired to an archaic electric grid, and beyond the mailman and two-car garage. I dream of being far away from Mr. Johnson, the landlord and his emails regarding noise complaints. No more next-door neighbors who underpay migrant workers to maintain their picture-perfect homes.
I
PHOTO BY THOMAS RODRIGUEZ/COLLEGIAN
Professor Dutton conducts a Music Appreciation class in one of the new rooms in Clausen Hall on April 16, 2015. The room is meant for performances, but can also serve as a classroom.
Practice Makes Perfect: Clausen Hall Reopens with Amped Up Style BY JAKE CAMARENA Music majors and aspiring musicians now have access to advanced technological resources in the newly opened Clausen Hall. Clausen Hall closed for remodeling in late 2011. The building is finally hosting classes in 2015 after a budget of $23 million, which was initially estimated at $13 million. The remodeled Clausen Hall includes a 200-seat recital hall, a 150-seat lecture hall, a music library and study area, an electronic music studio, 35 large practice rooms, a renovated band room, coaching studios and faculty offices. Along with more space, there is also more equipment. “We have so many more instruments,” said Los Angeles City College music student Summer Benton. “There are more vibraphones, xylophones, even new drum sets that are still wrapped up.”
According to the Jan. 30, 2015 district-wide Program Management Services’, “College Strategic Execution Plan Update,” the completion of Clausen Hall is the administration’s top priority. Although still in progress, music professor Dr. Lu-
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taught aspiring musicians since 1946. Notable alumni of the department include orchestral conductor Leonard Slatkin, folk singer Odetta, experimental minimalist composer La Monte Young (he influenced the
IT IS INSPIRING AND MOTIVATING TO BE WORKING IN A STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY. WE REALLY FEEL LIKE WE ARE A PART OF SOMETHING SPECIAL.” -DR. STEVEN P. NILES. MUSIC PROFESSOR
ther Henderson says that Clausen Hall is already offering students state-of-the-art tools. “We have an excellent facility,” Henderson said. “It has brought [the music department] into the 21st century.” LACC’s music department has
Velvet Underground’s music), rock ‘n’ roll songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and rapper MC Hammer. The corridors of the new Clausen Hall offer several lockers, even some large enough for a stand-up bass. Students are enjoying the new
resources, acoustics and the opportunities to express themselves musically. “The first noticeable difference to me is accessibility,” said music student Cameron Overstake. “As a percussion student, I no longer have to go to a crowded storage facility. All the instruments are right there in the classrooms.” Although the building is still in the process of remodeling, the praise from students and staff prove that the time and effort is worthwhile. Clausen Hall is one of many building projects that are currently underway. It is also part of the district’s Sustainable Building Program, which utilizes more than $6 billion to modernize the district’s nine colleges. “It is inspiring and motivating to be working in a state-of-the-art facility,” said LACC music professor Dr. Steven P. Niles. “We really feel like we are a part of something special.”
CITY VOICES ARE WE STILL FIGHTING FOR OUR CIVIL RIGHTS? COMPILED BY Ande Richards PHOTOS BY Tatiane Amnuar and Ande Richards
BY JAKE CAMARENA
parked my girlfriend’s car, got out and walked over to the 1999 conversion van. I looked at the carpet floor and grey fabric bench-seat in the rear. I pressed the power button on the 13” television and played the movie in the attached VCR. It was “Wizard of Oz.” Nice! Aside from a barely there clanking sound from underneath the hood, the previous owner had cared for this van well. With less than 100,000 miles and brand new tires, the van had possibility. I could see living quarters. I could see myself in here boiling vegetables and snacking on cashews while I read “100 Years of Solitude.” I saw comfort and cozy nights undisturbed by city lights, and people walking by – the nosey ones planting their faces on the glass to get a glimpse inside. I see solidarity and potentially a few tickets on the windshield for parking overnight somewhere I should not be. “I’ll take it,” I said. I purchased my ’99-conversion van that day from a South American man I met on Craigslist. I turned off the television, opened the side door, stepped out and walked around back. I pulled open the dual rear-doors and peered into my imagination. Never mind what my eyes saw. I immediately imagined myself driving past the beautiful surf down state Highway 1. The van drives like a large boat. When I drove away that day, I knew I had started a new chapter in my life. I was living my dream. Bounce. Wow, my first bump in the road to homelessness. A real bump, a speed bump, and it was so smooth. I felt the van’s shocks gently compress and slowly release the tension. It felt like this machine had a heart, and it already cared for me. Atop brand new tires, it carefully carried me over bumps and potholes as if they did not exist. I pressed the blinker lever down and waited in the left turn lane. It led to the freeway that would take me home, so I sat in my idling van and waited for my turn. I could see over most cars. I was surrounded by automobile roof-
tops and had a voyeur’s view of passengers in adjacent cars. I could see further in the distance in front of me and behind. The traffic light for the vehicles in the lane to my right turned green, and in turn the traffic’s momentum picked up. I could see the third car in the next lane had not moved, because the front seat passenger and the driver were chuckling over a cellphone photo. To my left and in the front of the line, a man stood on the sidewalk and held a sign that read, “Hungry. Please Help.” He began to limp his way up the sidewalk, parallel to the line of cars in my lane. Was he homeless? Presumably, yes. The shoes he wore were much too large for his feet. Nearby stood a shopping cart jam-packed with the man’s belongings. If someone sitting in their vehicle noticed him and felt a sudden urge of generosity, they knew what they could do: give him money. “Yo, come over here,” I said. I felt the urge. Rooted in it was tenderness for the homeless. There was also a sense of camaraderie. I was empowering this man to request money and he empowered me to be free. I dropped a few coins in his hand and asked him where he was headed. “Home,” he said and pointed to his cart. “Me too,” I said and pointed to the back of my van. He had no idea what I was pointing to. He needed money, so his attention was immediately on the coins. I needed freedom, so I looked at the homeless man and smiled. Honk. The solo driver in the large truck could see the traffic light had turned green. I was preventing him from getting on the freeway. I signaled a peace sign to my new friend, pressed my foot to the gas pedal and puttered my way onto the freeway. I started to dream again. My van was painted in primer black, and now had a sink, a small refrigerator full of fresh food, halogen lights, a solar panel and tinted windows. My laptop sat on the passenger seat charging. I was dreaming of being homeless.
FOR THE RECORD In the previous issue of The Collegian, in the front-page story, “Senate Votes for Chavez Rebuild” the following information was incorrect. 1. “Downtown Community College District meeting,” should have been the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees meeting. 2. The Cesar Chavez Building houses more than Administrators’ Academic Counseling, the Transfer Center and Upward Bound are also housed within the building. 3. “A unanimous vote during the LACCD Board meeting” … that was a meeting of the Academic Senate of Los Angeles City College and not the LACCD Board meeting. SERGIO PERALTA English Major
AYANA REED Undecided Major
MARKESE BRANCH Computer Technician
SONA ASLANYAN Financial Aid Worker
I believe we are fighting for our rights still ... We’re students, we’re advocates, we fight for what we believe in. I think [in] this school in particular the students are being activists and they are doing things in their communities. I’m with the organization Ted X and we want to inspire people ... that is our mission.
If everyone only fights because someone got shot or someone got murdered by a cop that’s not fighting for the same civil rights that’s just saying it’s unfair. Make it a way for it to change even if we’re gone in ten years to leave for our children and children’s children don’t just change it for the time being.
Not like how we were, to be honest. Back then people were serious ... now you have people calling each other n#@*r ... if someone called me that I would be upset. I feel that’s counter to civil rights. I notice that when black people do come together and we’re trying to get something done we’ll get it done because we’re smart people.
We definitely are. Me as an Armenian I’m still fighting for our civil rights to be recognized for the Armenian Genocide it’s almost 100 years and if we don’t win it this year then that’s it it’ll never get recognized so I do believe we are still fighting for it.
HAVE AN OPINION? A STORY IDEA? WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
CONTACT: losangeles.collegian@gmail.com 323.953.4000 ext. 2831 Letters may be edited for brevity.
4. “Downtown’s Community College District meeting” … once again, it should have been the meeting of the Board of Trustees. 5. In quoting professor Jan McEveety …”shepard” should have been spelled as “shepherd.” as, president of the Los Angeles City College Academic Senate. We at The Collegian make it our duty to provide you, our reader, with the most current and, above all, accurate documentation of City College news. When mistakes are made, we make it our top priority to correct them as promptly as possible.
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SPORTS
Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, April 22, 2015
SPORTS BIN
GET ON THE GOOD FUT: EXERCISE FOR MIND, BODY, SPIRIT
E
BY E. RICH
Best Athlete to Ever Live: Kelly Who? PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL LALLANDE
Combine that with an ocean current strong enough to pull you a half-mile’s The title of best athlete to ever live distance in less than 60 seconds, freezis often attached to renowned athletes ing cold winds, and let’s not forget the like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, real locals: sharks. Surfing is a conBabe Ruth, Serena Williams, and Mu- stant moving high intensity and menhammad Ali, but there is one athlete tally taxing sport, which is why only who reigns superior over all of these, an estimated one percent of the earth’s and his accomplishments trump all population has even attempted to surf. others. His name is Kelly Slater, the Kelly Slater is the youngest to win 11-time world champion surfer from the world title at age 20, and the oldCoco Beach, Florida. est to win at age 39. He broke his own Before you laugh and flip the page, record for oldest champion on his last allow me three titles. to present The fact that Slater continued his a case for dominance into his 40’s speaks volSlater. umes about his continued hunger for I have excellence. played nuNo other athlete, not Jordan, nor m e r o u s Ruth, can claim that their perforsports from mance actually became better with f o o t b a l l , age. The phrase “back in his prime he basketball, was amazing,” never applied to Slater baseball and because he’s been in his prime the last I surf. Surf- 30 years! He is like an expensive wine ing is the most physically demanding that gets better with age. sport in the world. Imagine paddling According to theencyclopediaofout into surf with 20-foot, set waves surf.com, the 11-time champion adthat easily dwarf the apartment build- ditionally won five consecutive titles ings you may have passed by today. from 1994-1998. Slater has won evBY TAYLOR CORBIN
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ery record a surfer can hold which includes: most career earnings, most career wins (54), voted surfer of the year a record eight consecutive years at the annual Surfer Poll Awards, and the highest percentage of heat wins for any surfer at 80 percent. At age 43 Kelly Slater is still schooling the next generation of surfers on tour half his age. He stays on top of his game by dedicating his life to fitness and wellness. He is without a doubt the most physically fit surfer on tour. The payoff for his diligence is the longevity of his surfing career, and how dominant he remains at age 43. While other surfers his age are either retired, or bottom feeders on the tour rankings, he’s still on top. Kelly Slater may never leave his prime, and may continue to compete until he is 50. His competitive drive is unmatched by anyone, and his records could stand forever. It will be a sad day when Kelly Slater hangs up his jersey finally for good. However, the surf community realizes with his work ethic and ability, that day may never come.
xercise can sometimes be elusive in our nonstop world of work and responsibility. Even keeping up with family and friends on social media platforms takes up time and is usually performed in a stationary position. How do we exercise our bodies and disconnect our minds without vacating our lives? The answer may be found here on Los Angeles City College’s campus. Every Wednesday evening around 6 p.m. a small group of people can be seen demonstrating a number of exercises in the parking lot on the North side of the Kinesiology Building. Nan Marcia, a petite woman whose appearance radiates health, leads the group. Her frame is lean and strong and she appears keenly alert yet calm and collected. The dance-style movements performed by the group are part of the Choy Li Fut Kung Fu system developed in China hundreds of years ago. “Choy Li Fut is a combination of three styles: the Choy family style, the Li family style and Fut, which in Chinese means Buddha,” Marcia said. “The open hand aspects of the art are derivative of Buddha style.” As with many martial arts practices Choy Li Fut is said to help with health, concentration, balance and self-defense. “I started martial arts back in the late 60’s and I went from Judo to Karate and then I found this art and the teacher was from China so I studied with him and now I’m teaching it,” Marcia said. “It’s all encompassing, very sophisticated so when you learn the basics and the nuances and learn the applications, they teach you different ways to do it. There’s empty hands and there’s weapons that are also done with this style.” According to “Kungfu Basics” author Paul Eng, the Choy Li Fut system combines the martial arts techniques from various Northern and Southern Chinese Kung Fu systems. The Choy Li Fut system incorpo-
PHOTO BY ANDE RICHARDS/COLLEGIAN
rates the powerful arm and hand techniques from the Shaolin animal forms and combines with extended, circular movements, twisting body and agile footwork that characterizes Northern China’s martial arts. It also uses a wide range of weapons as part of its curriculum. It is particularly noted as an effective self-defense system against multiple attackers. The late Bruce Lee once described it as “One of the most difficult styles to attack and defend against. Choy Li Fut is the only style [of kung fu] that traveled to Thailand to fight the Thai boxers and hadn’t lost.” One of Marcia’s students, Matthew Weinberg, says that Choy Li Fut Kung Fu has multiple benefits. “Nan is my teacher,” Weinberg said. “I came to the practice when I was a student here at LA City College. I was looking for a way to stay healthy, lose weight, not go to the gym and do something that was beneficial. An alternative workout, you know?”
Marcia taught Choy Li Fut at LACC Community Services for about 10 years. “There was a time when I had many more students,” Marcia said. “I have private instruction outside of [LACC] as well.” Oscar Echevarria has been part of the group for over a decade. He started his practice in the 8th grade and is now a college graduate. “It’s good exercise and also confidence building,” Echevarria said. “It’s confidence building because if you have greater physical prowess then you are able to trust your body more. You’re naturally more confident.” Choy Li Fut is practiced all over the world in China, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, the Philippines and Australia with pockets of groups also found in Europe and South America. To learn more about Choy Li Fut, contact Nan Marcia through the Collegian at losangeles.collegian@gmail. com.
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Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, April 22, 2015
DEATH BY COP
Protesters March, Remember Lives Lost to Police Brutality
P
BY ANDE RICHARDS
eople from across the city joined in solidarity on April 7, 2015 to remember victims who have died at the hands of law enforcement. They marched from the east, west, north and south of downtown L.A. and converged at the Los Angeles County Hall of Administration. The participants had a common focus: to commemorate the dead. Cardboard coffins revealed the names and birthdates of the dead. Youth organizations designed the coffins that were decorated in bright colors with roses, crosses, hearts and personal messages. The coffin covered protestors, stretched out on the sidewalk as they participated in the performed “die-ins” at various points in the march. Family members of the dead appeared emotional, and onlookers showed respect as the crowd voiced anger at the loss of lives. Los Angeles City College student Janine Betts knew one of the people who recently lost his life at the hands of law enforcement. “I knew Brother Africa he was a familiar face on skid row,” Betts said. “He was not a personal threat to me, he would always speak to me when I would visit the Union Rescue Mission.” Betts says she’s working to create awareness for the senseless killing of Brother Africa, and to support change for how the police respond to skid row residents. She’s wants to change the way the police and the community interact.
PHOTOS BY CURTIS SABIR, TATIANE AMNUAR AND FRANCISCO VIDRIO/COLLEGIAN (Top) Marchers moved through the streets of downtown Los Angeles on April 14, 2015, determined to shut down business and commerce. About 200 protesters shouted “Hands up don’t shoot, “ and “I can’t breathe,” among other slogans in front of the Los Angeles Police Department Headquarters on 1st Street in Los Angeles. (Center Right) A woman dressed as clergy appears stoic as she brandishes a sign proclaiming the April 14, 2015 march to stop “murder by police” in front of the Los Angeles Police Department headquarters. The march was sponsored by the Stop Mass Incarceration Network. (Center) Rebecca Lopez marched with other demonstrators in the “Death By Cop” protest on April 7, 2015, in front of the Los Angeles County Hall of Administration. Lopez says she lost her son Gabriel Lopez in a police shooting. (Center Left) Protesters marched from MacArthur Park to the Los Angeles County Hall of Administration. Individuals who had lost family to speak up and share their stories to the public. (Bottom) Protestors stretched out on the sidewalk under cardboard Westlake/Mac Arthur Park Metro Train Station. The group staged the “die-in,” for 10 minutes while speakers read the names of the dead. Photo by Curtis the Cat
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