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wednesday, september 20, 2017 volume 179 number 1
the voice of los angeles city college since 1929
Indigenous Peoples Day Gets Stamp of Approval
NEWS BRIEFS coMPiLed By reBecca Grazier
theatre academy Presents: ‘Freddy’ Ballet dancer and pal of Andy Warhol, Freddie Herko is the subject of the first presentation of the Theatre Academy for the fall semester. The play is directed by Frances Loy, which is set in Greenwich Village in 1964, and fuses theatre, music, dance, and video to capture the explosive spirit of Herko during a turbulent era. The play opens Thursday Sept. 28 at 3 p.m. at the Caminito Theatre. General admission is $15 and $10 for students.
behind the scenes look at ‘hamilton’ Can’t get tickets to “Hamilton?” Consider seeing “Hamilton’s America” which is a behind the scenes look at Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical “Hamilton.” The documentary examines law, history, psychology, sociology, art, music and theater. The first 100 attendees will receive U.S. Constitution booklets, and will also have the chance to win one or two Alexander Hamilton bobble heads. Refreshments will be provided during the screening on Friday Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. in the Holmes Hall Lecture Hall.
James a. ditch scholarship ending soon The James A. Ditch Annual Scholarship will be providing $12,000 to students, and will be announced at the Eagle Glen Golf Course on Nov. 7 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Corona, CA. Applications for scholarships for a career in public transportation are due by Sept. 29 at 5 p.m.
late start courses to begin Short-term courses begin on Oct. 23, 2017. If you were not able to enroll during the beginning of the fall semester, you have another opportunity. Students may now sign up for courses within the new Student Information System (SIS) located in the “For Students” section on the LACC website. There is no current deadline to sign up for short-term fall courses.
An altar with offerings of copal incense, ears of corn directed to the east, a tambourine, a conch shell and crystals sit on the ground in the center of the Los Angeles City Hall courtyard. Smoke from burning sage fills the air as members of Mexica, Apache and other tribes in traditional dress dance and drum in a sacred circle. They use the sound and movement to “charge the space” and call on their ancestors for a victory. By ande richards Councilman Mitch O’Farrell, who is also a member of the Wyandotte Nation Tribe, led a cross-cultural coalition to change what many believe is a historical wrong. On Aug. 30, the Los Angeles City Council upended events of 1492 with a 14-1 vote to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day. Indigenous Peoples Day supporters maintain that Christopher Columbus was directly responsible for the annihilation of the Taino and Arawak tribes, the subjugation of the indigenous who survived colonization and the inauguration of the African slave trade to the Americas. “When you look at the historical record it just goes deeper and deeper and gets worse and worse and worse and worse,” O’Farrell said. “There was no discovery. Millions of people were here already - he [Columbus] never even made it to the United States.” President Roosevelt created Columbus Day as a federal holiday in 1937 largely as a result of intense lobbying by the Knights of Columbus, an influential Catholic fraternal benefits organization.
photo by ande rIChards/CollegIan
Mexica tribe member Raul Herrera leads a drum circle around an altar in support of the Indigenous Peoples Day vote at Los Angeles City Hall on Aug, 30. “When I think about Columbus Day - we’re celebrating hate crimes,” Herrera said. “We’re celebrating murder, we’re celebrating rape, we’re celebrating genocide.” A report released last year by the Los Angeles Housing and Community Investment Department revealed that a majority of L.A. voters support replacing Columbus Day. However, L.A. City Councilman Joe Buscaino pushed back on behalf of the Italian-American community and the memory of Columbus. He was the lone vote of opposi-
tion to Indigenous Peoples Day. “My friend and colleague Joe Buscaino who is of Italian-American heritage was opposed to this from the very beginning,” O’Farrell said. “He had a few allies on the council that tried at the last minute to replace Indigenous Peoples Day with Diversity Day – it didn’t fly, and that … would have completely bypassed a two-year
By LaVieLLe hiBBerT
photo by CurtIs sabIr/CollegIan
Two actors rehearse for a play that is part of the Freedom Festival on Sept. 12. The L.A. Mission, Los Angeles City College and three non-profit organizations have teamed up to create pathways for formerly incarcerated youth to achieve higher education.
returninG CitiZens to eXhibit art For Freedom Fest By BeaTrice anoh
INDEX opinion & editorial
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photo focus
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arts & entertainment
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news
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campus life
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sports
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of La Banda de Tlayacapan echoed around her. The child slept as Herrera talked about what Indigenous Peoples Day means to her. “We’re here because we want people to acknowledge the indigenous people that are still here,” she SEE INDIGENOUS PAGE 6
daCa reversal Creates Unease in immigrant Community
daca Fund announced to save dreamers Mission Asset Fund (MAF) announced it will provide $1,000,000 in scholarships to over 2,000 Dreamers to pay for DACA renewals by the Oct. 5, 2017. The Trump administration announced that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program is ending. DACA has provided security, safety, and the opportunity for a livelihood for 800,000 young people commonly known as “Dreamers.” People who already have DACA and whose work permits expire between now and March 5, 2018 will be able to apply for a two-year renewal if they apply by Oct. 5, 2017. DACA recipients with expiring permits are encouraged to visit LC4DACA.org and apply immediately.
process that led to today’s vote.” In contrast to Buscaino, Councilman Mike Bonin who is of Italian ancestry, called the move a “very small step in apologizing and making amends” to Native Americans, the L.A. Times reported on Aug. 30. Lilia Herrera of the Mexica tribe held her baby in her arms as celebratory ululations and the music
Images of broken bodies, minds, and souls are visible in paintings created by returning citizens. They are some of the beautiful sights students and prominent guests such as California Democratic Assemblyman Mike Gipson will see and enjoy at the Freedom Festival at L.A. City College next week in a two-day event beginning Sept. 28. Freedom Festival is brought to LACC by “Break it to Make it,” a
program aimed at assisting the formerly incarcerated as they transition into society. The Freedom Festival begins next Thursday at noon in the Quad and continues until 5 p.m. It continues Friday morning in the Student Union Building at 10 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. “It is really a partnership between … the L.A. Mission and LACC, three giants, non-profit organizations, which are transforming the community,” said Michael Bierman, executive director at the
Strindberg Laboratory, a theater company that produces workshops and plays for former prisoners and other disadvantaged populations Forty-five formerly incarcerated students have enrolled at L.A. City College since spring semester 2017. They served their time in prison and are now readjusting and integrating into society and the campus as students. Marshall May is a talented artist SEE BREAK IT TO MAKE IT PAGE 6
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ announcement that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) had been revoked brought a reaction from Dr. Francisco C. Rodriguez, the chancellor of the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) on Sept. 5. Rodriguez encouraged DACA enrollees to stay in school and do nothing to jeopardize their status. The message is posted on the Los Angeles City College website and other district colleges. President Donald Trump also came out with a statement addressing the issue. The president at first wanted to end the program that shielded young undocumented immigrants from deportation, then he seemed to change his mind. Former president Barack Obama started the program while he was in office. Before his flip-flop, President Trump said he wanted to begin phasing out the DACA program within six months. However, those that are currently enrolled in the DACA program can continue to work until their permits expire. LACC students are very skeptical of the president’s actions. Even though he now says he will not end the DACA program, some students do not trust him. Psychology major Kathy Rios says she is not completely comfortable with President Trump’s
position on DACA. She says he is inconsistent and unpredictable. “It is really a heartless decision coming from him, even though he has this hatred for undocumented people. I feel like he could have taken a different approach toward people in DACA,” Rios said. “He could have given more options instead of taking it completely away. People can lose their jobs, schooling and most importantly their families.” Samantha Mya is a child development major and is disgusted about the whole situation and where it might be headed. “It is really unfair,” Mya said. “He really doesn’t like undocumented people and it is not our fault. I do not believe anything he says. You just can’t believe anyone who is very inconsistent, especially someone who is in such high power. He has to take into consideration … all the backlash that can happen from this.” A lot of students on the LACC campus say they feel the same about President Trump and his actions. They say he cannot be trusted. Former President Barack Obama recently posted a short statement through social media on what he thinks about the DACA ordeal. He is totally against it. “Whatever concerns or complaints Americans may have about immigration in general, we shouldn’t threaten the future of SEE DACA PAGE 6
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Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Opinion & editorial Do Not Accept Injustice, Institutional Violence
Editorial
By Milton Lazaro I have been struggling – trying to find the words to begin this. I am sure more and more folks are struggling beyond what I can even comprehend. As of Sept. 5, 2017, the Trump administration repealed Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). It leaves over 800,000 young undocumented folks at risk and this is only the beginning. I have family affected by this. I have friends affected by this. My heart has been breaking ever since the announcement and I feel powerless. I also feel partially to blame and I feel angry and betrayed. But the more I stay in these feelings, the more I realize that grieving is a part of this process, but action must be the end result. Lately, it feels like there has been movement after movement in response to every vile decision this administration has made. Sometimes these movements seem to fall short, but then I look at these faces, the faces of my people who are out in the streets putting words to action, putting bodies at risk because nowadays it seems that to be loud and proud has become an act that has been
met with institutional violence. I see them out there. I hear them out there and I am with them out there. You should be too. If you are not affected by this, if you don't have loved ones who have become that much more afraid to live in this country, a country that each day has broken every promise it has made from its inception; if you feel compelled to turn a blind eye to what's going on or if you feel this is normal, then you are a part of the problem. Apathy and complacency in the face of injustice is a problem because this is not normal. It is not normal when hundreds of neo-Nazis march on Charlottesville. It is not normal that a beloved school cafeteria worker, Philando Castile was murdered in front of his family by a police officer in Minnesota. It is not normal that teenager Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez was shot in the back and head more than 10 times by one or more border patrol agents while lying face down. This may be the status quo, but this is not normal. Now is the time to stand against this administration, to stand against institutional violence, to stand against these blatant racist agendas. Now is the time to have these uncomfortable conversations, to stop being just an ally. We must learn how to be accomplices in this struggle. We must end this narrative of good immigrant and bad immigrant. These are lives of people who sought out a better life for themselves and their families. There must be right action.
Still Fighting: America’s Perpetual Civil War By T.J. Lowell
Illustration by Natalia Zepeda/Collegian
Righting Wrongs by Starting Small
T
ake a moment to reflect on the way Native Americans have been treated – individually and institutionally – since the arrival of Europeans on the American continent. Then take a moment to think about how it would feel to be rejected, beat, murdered and decimated by strange people you have never seen. Think about how it would feel to see your people deemed as more of a problem to American society, than a part of it. Very often these atrocities are not discussed when children learn about the early history of the Americas. Instead, around Thanksgiving, children are given art supplies, and encouraged to draw cute pictures of the pilgrims happily sharing a meal with the natives. They are taught that Christopher Columbus is a hero and that he should be praised, because if it were not for him, we may not be here today. Columbus was an Italian explorer hired by Spain to voyage to the New World in the name of “God, gold and glory.” From the very beginning, Europeans intended not to “explore” the American continent, but to conquer it – that is to conquer it, prosper from it and spread the
“To celebrate a national holiday in his name is to celebrate the horrible nature of his voyages and what came after. We cannot forget that he was working for Spain when he discovered the New World. We cannot forget about the consequent occupation endorsed by Spain after this discovery that led to the decimation of native populations.” word of God. There was no intent to live peacefully side by side with the natives, and there was no attempt to do so upon settlement. Columbus committed quite a few inexcusable wrongs against the native peoples of America and the Caribbean islands. It is well documented – by Columbus himself and others – that the enslavement of Caribbean natives, like the Taino, started upon European arrival in the region. Even so, we should not think only of the things he did. We need to analyze what he has come to represent. To celebrate a national holiday in his name is
to celebrate the horrible nature of his voyages and what came after. We cannot forget that he was working for Spain when he discovered the New World. We cannot forget about the consequent occupation endorsed by Spain after this discovery that led to the decimation of native populations. Although there is debate around the subject, these populations are estimated to be in the millions. Columbus Day is certainly a celebration of a “discovery”... a discovery that led to the murders of millions. Why would we want to celebrate that?
Have an Opinion? A Story Idea?
Make no mistake: Donald Trump’s decision on Sept. 5 to end the Obama-era DACA program is not another dog-whistle to gin up his frothing base. It is more; It is a flagrant wink of approval to his white supremacist supporters. Trump is the bugle the wakes the Confederate soldiers of present who believe they are fighting a new Civil War. Except, we never concluded the last one. Those of us who may be victims to American Amnesia remember the Civil War was fought to “free the slaves.” A more careful examination of history, however reveals that the war actually began over the preservation of the status quo and societal order that grew the Union since independence in 1776. This social order included a racial caste system in both the Northern and Southern states. Slavery was an incredibly profitable institution and the Southern states’ secession efforts were to protect and hoard that economic prosperity. Letters from then President Abraham Lincoln to Horace Greeley in the summer of 1862 clearly state Lincoln’s desire to preserve the Union at all costs: “If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it
... What I do about slavery, and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe it would help to save the Union.” The cause of abolition was only later adopted to justify the human capital cost of the war. The USA’s white male leaders declared independence from Britain while ironically still owning other human beings. From America’s inception, black and brown people were never considered part of the “status quo,” and so therefore to preserve the Union was to preserve the social order that birthed it. Just take a look at the 13th Amendment. This “correction” to our Constitution abolishes slavery and involuntary servitude. Except of course, as punishment for a convicted crime. African Americans represent upward of 13 percent of the total U.S. population, but account for over 40 percent of the prison population. This glaring disparity suggests slavery still exists, just by a different name. Repeated failures of Reconstruction, a laissez faire attitude toward Southern moral accountability, inability to fully economically (and morally) rehabilitate the bankrupt South and systemic denial of compensation for Freedmen have only exacerbated the national resistance to permanently reconcile our dark history. The Civil War cannot and will not end. Why else would Nazi-symbol wearing neo-Confederates go so far as to commit murder to protect their ancestor’s participation trophies? Our fight rages on.
GOT SPORTS? Sports disappeared from L.A. City College in 2008, making it the only community college in the state of California without intercollegiate sports. But there must be a sports story out there somewhere. Tell the Collegian at losangeles.collegian@gmail.com
write a letter to the editor! email: losangeles.collegian@gmail.com
OpiniOn & editOrial
COMPILED BY Beatrice Anoh PHOTOS BY Hiroko Hata
hOw dO yOu Feel abOut indigenOus PeOPles day rePlacing cOluMbus day?
Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, September 20, 2017
liliana MedranO Psychology Major “I think it is a good thing that they are starting to give credit to what was once there. When I was in high school, I did El Dia de Colores for Cesar Chavez Day. They [would] have a class, an hour or two dedicated to us learning about the history of that. So, maybe doing that for [Indigenous Peoples Day] would be helpful.”
lEttEr to tHE Editor
All Students Deserve Respect I was floored and thoroughly appalled after reading the March 22, 2017 article entitled “Hate Speech Scrawled on Elevator Doors” in the Los Angeles Collegian about racial slurs discovered on the elevator doors that separate both the Chemistry and Life Science Buildings. The explicit racial rhetoric included such words as “N!*ger” and contained a plethora of unacceptable sexual language with reference to women. As an African American and a woman, I have certainly felt the sting of both racism and sexism and thoroughly understand the raw internal unwavering hatred that fuels such thoughts and acts against humanity. Of course, when it comes to racism and sexism I expect such unwanted behavior to be prevalent in the general population, but not within the confines of an academic institution that is supposed to be filled with tolerant, educated, and open-minded individu-
als who should think above, outside, and beyond the box of ignorance and stupidity. I do not want to come to school and be subjected to hatred or sexism. When I come to school, I want to feel safe, respected, and included, not excluded. An environment of hate and sexism does not allow such opportunities, so this type of behavior must not be allowed and perpetrators of racism and sexism must be punished to the fullest extent of the law within and outside the walls of any college institution where this type of behavior occurs. I also firmly support the installment and use of a surveillance camera system to monitor all individuals who enter any elevator on campus. In addition, I believe it would behoove all academic institutions to have a type of hotline phone number were students can call in all suspicious behavior.
rachel FrOst theater Major
lauren FrattO Financial aid assistant
eugene erlikh theater Major
“I think it is very important to understand our history ... A lot of time our history books are geared toward conversation that is not necessarily correct. We only see one half of the conversation. We only see the conquerors not the conquered. It is important to understand the pain and the anguish they went through, when Columbus came through.”
“I think it is a kind of no-brainer that we replace [Columbus Day] ... We know that it is kind of outdated and what he has come to represent. It is not a good representation of America. I never celebrated that day. I came from Utah [and] we never got a day off for Columbus Day. Now I will feel more compelled to celebrate.”
“I absolutely believe that Indigenous Peoples Day should be replacing Columbus Day ... The only reason I used to celebrate Columbus Day is because I am from Ohio. The capital of Ohio is Columbus. They wildly celebrate him even to this day and they teach us as children that he was a great person.”
ink Style: a visual represenTaTion of The world as we know iT
- Tamiko R. White
HAVE AN OPINION? A STORY IDEA? write a letter to the editor Contact the Collegian Email: losangeles.collegian@gmail.com LETTERS MAY BE EDITED FOR BREVITY
los angeles City College Visual & Media arts department
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Naomi Johnson OPINIONS & EDITORIAL LaVielle Hibbert LAYOUT EDITOR Richard Martinez GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Ian Roberts
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Kenyatta Roach Beatrice Alcala ILLUSTRATORS Hiroko Hata Natalia Zepeda REPORTERS Beatrice Anoh Kyle Blaylock Sarah Hope
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Angel Johnson Rebecca Grazier T.J. Lowell Milton Lozaro Eve Moreno Eddy Park Mynor Peralta Fabion Reeves Ande Richards William Torres Sahara Velasquez
IllustratIon by hIroKo hata/CollegIan
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Arts & Entertainment
Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, September 20, 2017
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Women Call the Shots in a ‘Room of Their Own’ By T.J. Lowell Hundreds of subjects line the walls of The Perfect Exposure Gallery in Los Angeles, CA at an exhibition entitled “A Room of One’s Own” that opened last Thursday. It features work from dozens of artists, all of whom are women. They comprise slightly under half of the population, but remain underrepresented in professional and creative recognition. This show strives to bridge that chasm. Spectator turnout suggests it is successful. Inside the gallery, people scuttle shoulder-to-shoulder between the images. A live jazz pianist plays lightly somewhere in the distance while gallery goers happily chatter with the artists. The wine flows freely. The hustle and bustle of the excited space is a striking contrast to the stillness of the frames that hang on the wall. Inside one particular frame, a young Haitian girl smirks coyly over her shoulder. Her luminous eyes jump off the page in the stark tones of black and white, standing out in a sea of color on the wall. It’s one of thousands of digital images taken by the photographer. “I’m still going through them,” said Ande Richards, a Los Angeles based photojournalist and LACC student. Richards captured during a 2016 trip to Haiti with The Links, Incorporated, a non-profit philan-
Photo by Richard Martinez/Collegian
Ande Richards talks about her experience in Haiti with friends Angela Davis and Deborah Ramaglia at The Perfect Exposure Gallery in Los Angeles on Sept. 14, 2017 during the “A Room of One’s Own” exhibit. Richards work is part of a collection of work composed by exclusively women photographers. thropic organization run entirely by Black women. The organization’s membership includes 14,000 women of color from a breadth of professional backgrounds. They are part of one of the longest-standing volunteer organizations in the nation and have grown to 283 chapters in 41 states. Richard’s initial assignment was to document the missionary work of the group but soon found herself aching to tell the stories of the people The Links set out to assist. Between satisfying their edu-
cational and public health initiatives, Richards would break away to capture the authenticity of daily life in Haiti. “I really just wanted to get into the essence of the people, whether it was the children or the headmistress or anyone that was there. These girls would be singing and doing English lessons, and just their beauty and innocence is what I was going for. It’s really them speaking to us.” “A Room of One’s Own” runs through Oct. 6. For more information, call The Perfect Exposure Gallery at 213-381-1137.
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Photo by Ande Richards/Collegian
First place winner, Richard Martinez looks on as L.A. Times senior photographer and contest judge, Kirk McKoy chats with Mimi Tempest - the subject of Martinez’ portrait - at the Photographers Press Association of Greater Los Angeles gala on Sept. 16. The event at Santa Monica College’s Drescher Gallery drew a crowd of industry professionals, Pulizter Prize winners and student photojournalists.
Collegian Editor Produces Hair-Raising Photo Win By Ande Richards Richard Martinez won first place in the portrait category at the Press Photographers Association of Greater Los Angeles (PPGLA) competition on Sept. 16. Powerful street scenes, pulse-raising action shots and poignant portraits from around the world were on display at the Exposures in Journalism Gala. The images made a colorful palate against the white walls of the Drescher Gallery at Santa Monica College where judges mixed it up with photographers and their guests. One of the judges, Los Angeles Times senior photographer Kirk McKoy talked about how the panel selected the winner in the portrait category. “We saw this one and all of the judges immediately, we thought that was first place and then we just said ‘okay what’s second?’”
“We saw this one and all of the judges immediately, we thought that was first place and then we just said ‘okay what’s second?’” - Kirk Mckoy, l.a. times senior photographer McKoy said. Mimi Tempest, is the beautiful woman in the photograph. In the image, her long braids encircle
her head like the orb on the Emmy statuette. The portrait is kinetic and immediately draws attention. “I was flipping through all of the pictures that he sent me, and as soon as I saw it I said ‘that’s the cover of my EP and it’s amazing,’” Tempest said. Martinez says his inspiration for the image came directly from his subject. “I see a quiet strength in Mimi and I wanted to bring that out in the image,” Martinez said. “I wanted to make sure she looked strong and powerful and I think we captured that.” PPGLA is a professional organization comprised of still and video photojournalists, independent photographers and photojournalism students that work on newspapers, television stations, wire services, national news and sports publications throughout Southern California.
A Legend Lives On in “FREDDY” By T.J. Lowell 3
4 Photos courtesy of Ande Richards
Clockwise: 1. Children attend an assembly at Providence Academy in Haiti in March 2017. 2. A student at Éole Elie Dubois. One in three Haitian women ages 15 to 49, has experienced physical and/or sexual violence. Among girls ages 13 to 17 who reported sexual abuse, school was the second most common place for unwanted touching. 3. A student listens attentively at École Elie Dubois Fashion and Culinary School in Port au Prince, Haiti in March 2017. This student studies English and Spanish in addition to her vocational trade. 4. Students sit in a classroom at Providence Academy in Haiti in March 2017.
From the Getty to the Huntington
Photo courtesy of Alexis Galan
Local artist Eve Moreno was featured in the group show “Breaking News: Turning the Lens on Mass Media” at College Getty Night, April 24, 2017. Now, Moreno’s art work is currently on display at the “Nuestro Mundo” exhibition in the Brody Botanical Center at Huntington Library in San Marino which lasts through Jan. 8, 2018 (weekends only). The two dozen paintings in the exhibition were created in response to the “Visual Voyages” exhibition, a display of Latin American Art in the Huntington Library. Moreno’s work is displayed along side their peers from Art Division, a non profit organization training young adults in the visual arts.
It is 1964. The Beatles are dominating the radio, and the U.S. government has authorized war in Vietnam. Somewhere in Greenwich Village, a young woman falls in love with a charismatic young ballet dancer of extraordinary talent and wit. Based on a true story, “FREDDY” is a multimedia production inspired by the life of Fred Herko, a legend of the New York City avant-garde dance world. Herko was a special force of frenetic energy, seen in the circles of fellow visionaries like Andy Warhol. He even appeared in several of Warhol’s early films. Herko’s meteoric persona and talent are the backbone of this unique piece of choreography and theater. “I carried around all those memories for a very long time before I finally sat down to write,” said writer and co-artistic director Deborah Lawlor in a recent Broadway World preview of the production. “Freddy and I were students together ... He was a brilliant talent and good friend to many people. His death shocked us all.” Herko came to dance later in his life at age 20. His particular mix of substance abuse and unmanaged mental illness robbed the world of this rising star. He ultimately took his own life at 28 by jumping out of a window while high on speed and possibly LSD. Directed by Frances Loy, the work stars Marty Dew as Fred Herko, Susan Wilder as Shelley – a character whose personal memories are the scaffolding for the play – and Katie McConaughy, who portrays a younger version of herself.
Photo courtesy of Fountain Theatre
Marty Dew will star as “Freddy Herko” in the Fountain Theatre’s world premiere of “FREDDY” opening on Sept. 27. The production features significant dancing and demands extreme physicality from its stars. “FREDDY” also features Los Angeles City College Theater Academy students Alexandra Fiallos, Jamal Hopes, Tristen Kim, Jackie Mohr, Lamont Oakley, Connor Clark Pascale, Justice Quinn, Savannah Rutledge, Brianna Saranchock, Trenton Tabak and Jesse Trout. Notably, “FREDDY” marks the inaugural performance of an ongoing collaboration between the award-winning Fountain Theatre and LACC Theatre Academy of which co-artistic director Stephen Sachs is an alumnus. “This collaboration gives Acad-
emy students the opportunity to work with professional actors and designers, and it gives us the chance to mentor young people who will become theater artists of tomorrow,” Sachs said. “FREDDY” will run from Sept. 27 through Oct. 14 at the Caminito Theatre. Performances are scheduled for Wednesdays at 8 p.m., Thursdays and Sundays at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Fridays at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for students. For tickets or more information, call (323) 663-1525 or visit www. FountainTheatre.com.
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NEWS
Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, September 20, 2017
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5 Photos by Ande Richards/Collegian
Clockwise: 1) Mexica tribe member Raul Herrera leads a drum circle around an altar in support of Indigenous Peoples Day vote at Los Angeles City Hall on Aug, 30. 2) Artist Liliflorart draws on flesh toned paper in the L.A. City Hall plaza where she fashions a “historical trauma” Band-aid to illustrate the need for healing in the nation. 3) Children in traditional tribal dress celebrate the Indigenous Peoples Day official vote outside City Hall. 4) An Indigenous Peoples Day Supporter outside City Hall wears a jacket honoring the memory of missing indigenous women. Over a thousand indigenous women and girls have disappeared in Canada, so many that a 450-mile stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway has been dubbed the Highway of Tears. 5) Councilman Mitch O’Farrell addresses Indigenous Peoples Day supporters at Los Angeles City Hall after 14-1 vote in favor of establishing the holiday on Aug. 30. “It [Indigenous Peoples Day] was voted on unanimously in the rules committee in June to replace the day [Columbus Day] with other instructions,” O’Farrell said. “Today’s vote was essentially memorializing that vote from the rules committee.” Indigenous Peoples Day From Page 1
Mitch O’Farrell Leads Charge to Establish Indigenous Peoples Day in L.A. said. “We don’t honor Columbus because he came and did genocide to our people. We’re still here and we want to change to Indigenous Peoples Day because it’s important for the next generation to know the truth about us.” Lilia’s husband, Raul Herrera, took part in the rally. He is a drummer in the Danza Mexica Cuauhtemoc, which is a community of people dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the Mexica/Azteca culture, ceremonies, warrior dances, and traditions. “We have people like us today who have Spanish last names who speak Spanish and even though that has become part of our culture today we have to realize those are our slave names,” Herrera said.
“We never back down, we never shrink back, we face it head on, we call truth to power – daylight once and for all. There is no such thing as white supremacy, and in this Zeitgeist where the Confederate flags are falling and the Confederate statues are falling, I think it’s completely appropriate to let another false symbol fall.” - Councilman Mitch O’Farrell “We were labeled as savages, barbarians and uncivilized even though our civilizations existed 2,000 years before the birth of Jesus Christ.” Artist Liliflorart was on her hands and knees drawing a human Band-Aid on a large piece of flesh-toned
paper. She wrote Columbus’ name, and with a red marker drew drops of blood beneath. She says the country is going through a lot of historical and ancestral trauma, and that people cannot use Band-Aids to cover the pain.
“Unfortunately that’s what happened in the past,” Liliflorart said. “In order for us to heal from the past trauma and pain we need to recognize what was true and we need to remove things that are painful.” When asked about the recent events in Charlottesville and how they relate to Indigenous Peoples Day, Councilman O’Farrell made this connection. “We never back down, we never shrink back, we face it head on, we call truth to power – daylight once and for all,” he said. “There is no such thing as white supremacy, and in this Zeitgeist where the Confederate flags are falling and the Confederate statues are falling, I think it’s completely
appropriate to let another false symbol fall. At least we’re doing it in Los Angeles and that is the image of Christopher Columbus.” According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 72,828 Native Americans live in Los Angeles coming in second to New York City. So far, L.A. is the largest city to replace the holiday. The council’s vote begins the process of establishing Indigenous Peoples Day as a city holiday to be observed on the second Monday of October. In the meantime, Columbus Day will remain a city holiday until the council approves the amendment to the administrative code. The city will have until 2019 to formally rename the holiday.
Freedom Fest From Page 1
Break it to Make It, Artistic Abilities Grace City College and one of the returning citizens. “I believe the program has many positive aspects that if embraced by the target group can actually improve one life at the time,” May told the Collegian. Mario Escalante is a counselor at ”Break it to Make it” and he says the program helps participants with everything from financial aid to educational counseling, and even peer to peer support.
He says the returnees are happy and they appreciate the help because it allows them to overcome some of the obstacles all students encounter in college. Escalante says some returning citizens have been incarcerated so long, that sometimes they are lost. There are students who have spent nine to 25 years in prison. The shortest term is two years. “Right now, I have a 17-year-old
who [was] released a week ago,” Escalante said. The objective of the program is to have all students transfer to a four-year university. Some participants have transferred to four-year colleges, and there are others who have already become professionals. Carol Kozeracki is a dean of academic affairs who is familiar with the returning citizens program
and worked on the festival. “It will be a combination of research providers, people in need of services and, people coming out of institutions,” the dean said. The day will include a series of different types of performances, workshops and interactive activities. One goal of the festival is to highlight the importance of art in helping people emerge from insti-
tutions and reduce recidivism. Another goal is to give the campus community a sense that each individual has potential and these students deserve support. Leo Lovato is 27 years old and he is a returning citizen and poet. He lives at the Los Angeles Mission and says he enjoys every aspect of the program. “Participating in this festival can open the eyes to those who may be
bound by something such as drugs, depression, etcetera,” Lovato said. “[And] show them that there is something better than that.” Bierman says the event is entitled “Freedom Festival” because it stands for freedom for all or freedom for none. “Because if one part of the population isn’t free, then all of us aren’t free,” he said. “This is a human rights issue.”
DACA From Page 1
Undocumented Students Live on Borrowed Time After Trump Revokes DACA this group of young people who are here through no fault of their own, who pose no threat, who are not taking away anything from the rest of us,” former President Obama posted on Facebook. With so many people furious
about the DACA program and how it could turn out, Kevin Anthony, a psychology major says what Trump is doing is disgraceful and hurtful. “It is a major pressure on children because it feels like their goals and dreams will be crushed
due to family separation,” he said. “It feels like Trump might be doing the DACA legalization instead of a repeal as a coverup. When he first started talking about deportation, he was only talking about people who were criminals, but
now he is generalizing it. He just sees you as a person of a different color and wants you to go back to where you came from.” Dr. Carlos Guerrero teaches Chicano Studies at LACC. He says that DACA students need to con-
tinue to attend and graduate from college. It is important that they complete their education. He says this provides them social, political, and economic options that otherwise would be limited without a college degree. In California, the
California Dream Act continues to provide support to LACCD students who are enrolled in DACA. “The Trump Administration’s decision to rescind DACA does create a hostile environment for DACA recipients,” Guerrero said.
CampUs liFe
Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, September 20, 2017
‘baCk to sChool’
7
BaNK oN tHiS
Students Lack Loan Smarts By FaBion reeVes
photo by CurtIs sabIr/CollegIan
Brad Garrett reads from his script as lead charactor, "Thornton Melon," during the stage reading of, the movie "Back to School," at LACC's Camino Theatre, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017. LACC’s Rodney Dangerfield Institute presented the live reading of the classic film “Back to School” featuring Brad Garrett, Rachel Skarsten, William Atherton, Paul Rodriguez, Craig Gass, Harry Basil, Sarah Levy, and Devon Werkheiser to raise money for the LACC Theater Department.
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cOde tO visit Our MultiMedia website and see Our cOverage OF the cOMMunity and beyOnd Or visit collegianwired.tumblr.com
America’s History Celebrated By sahara VeLasQUez Movie Night, Flash Card Trivia and a Speech Contest are just a few highlights of Constitution Week sponsored by the law department from Sept. 22-28. Constitution Week is a collaborative event between different clubs to highlight the Constitution. Constitution Day is celebrated annually on Sept. 17. This is the day the Constitution was officialy ratified. Throughout the country, Americans mark Constitution Day through activities and events. The Constitution is an extremely important document that not only the country embraces but it also highlights freedoms and rights. At Los Angeles City College, Constitution Week is meant to highlight the importance of personal liberties and individual rights. The weekly event allows a variety of clubs to participate and celebrate the values that Americans live by. During the first half of the week there will be a Movie Night (hosted by the Law Club), Flash Card Trivia
Scholarships coMPiLed By anGeL Johnson
IllustratIon by beatrICe alCala/CollegIan
(hosted by the Noncredit Success Academies and a presentation (hosted by League of Women Voters and LA Sheriff ’s Department Community & Police Relations). The second part of the week will contain a Puzzle Game (hosted by Circle K International) and a speech contest (hosted by the Communication Studies Department)
of education on how this scholarship will assist you in achieving your educational goals. Scholarship recipients must between the ages of 18-25. Go to https://www.coffeeforless.com/ scholarship for more information.
shout it Out scholarship
don’t text and drive scholarship
Total: $25,600 Deadline: Sept 30, 2017 Award Amount: $1,500 Write a short response, in 250 words or less, answering the question, “If you could say one thing to the entire world at once, what would it be and why?” This scholarship is available for students who are legal U.S. residents. Go to https://www.unigo.com/scholarships/ our-scholarships/shout-it-out-scholarship for more information.
Deadline:Sept 30, 2017 Award Amount: $1,000 Write a short response pledging why you would never text and drive. You must be a United State resident and there is no age restriction to apply for this scholarship. Apply for this scholarship at http://www.digitalresponsibility.org/ dont-text-and-drive-scholarship.
dolman law group scholarship
Deadline: Oct 31, 2017 Award Amount: $10,000 Female undergraduates who are currently enrolled at a university for the academic year or who intends to be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student at a university for the academic year. Be a in computer science major, computer engineering, or a closely related technical field. No close relatives may not work for Adobe Research. For more information visit: https://www.scholarships. com/financial-aid/college-scholarships/scholarship-directory/gender/female/adobe-research-women-in-technology-scholarship
Deadline: Sept 29, 2017 Award Amount: $1,100 Create and present a maximum video of three minutes discussing the given topic. The video must be sent in YouTube format. To apply or for more information, go to https:// www.dolmanlaw.com/scholarship
“hit the books” scholarship Deadline: Sept 30, 2017 Award Amount: $500 Write a 250-500 word essay on the importance
Loans that students take on to finance their education in various parts of the world can leave them in debt for years. Even though college graduates acquire knowledge and a degree, they face the struggles of finding a good paying job to reduce their debt. The average debt incurred by a college graduate with a bachelor’s degree or higher can reach $35,000 per student, according to an article on time.com. There is nearly $1 trillion of student loan debt in the United States, and it continues to rise. One of the major reasons student loan debt becomes unmanageable is that students borrow more than they need. Although there is information available from the financial aid office, not every student is receptive to it. No, the financial aid department does not badger you about only borrowing what you need, but they do advise you to do so. Students who borrow more than they need have larger amounts of debt over their heads that may have a negative impact on their future. The process of receiving a student loan is just a few clicks away for most students. This makes getting into debt far too easy. Some students receive loans and use them strictly for college-related expenses. Others get the money and it is gone as fast as it is received, and they do not care what happens later.
The only way to reduce student loan debt is to find a way to provide students a more detailed understanding of the financial consequences they may face in their future. There needs to be more than a video to watch or a box to check off that confirms a student borrower’s comprehension of the loan they are receiving. Some students accumulate so much debt that they are forced to make financial decisions that prevent them from achieving or attaining things they want in life. Some of these things are materialistic, yet some are necessities. Although I am not a graduate student yet, I already make sacrifices with my finances so that I will not have to borrow so much in the future. At my current junior college level of education, I find myself saving a portion of money every chance I get to invest in my future. Graduate students know when it comes to paying back their high student loans, there is no doubt that it can be painful. Based on the amount and type of loan, a graduate student’s payments can range anywhere from $150 to $650 a month. This makes it almost impossible for some graduate students to buy a home, save money or invest in any form of residual income, thereby making life much more difficult than it would be if they were free of debt. After all, I strongly believe that for the sake of college students and our economy, colleges need to emphasize the importance of financial stability in the future, and avoiding debt should be a priority. We must learn from student loan history, so that new college students and graduates may have brighter futures.
adobe research women in tech scholarship
The week of events are meant to unite the campus through engaging activities. Not only that, but this event is open and free for everyone to participate. For any American with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodations, please contact Dr. John al-Amin at (323) 953-4000, ext. 2085 at least 48 hours in advance.
student wellness scholarship Deadline: Nov 30, 2017 Award Amount: $2,500 Create a 30-45 second video and upload it to YouTube on how you would improve mental health wellness. Students who are enrolled in medical, dental, and nursing. Visit https://acls.com/scholarship to apply or for more information.
air Force rOtc scholarship Award: $500 Deadline: Dec 1, 2017 The Air Force ROTC scholarships will cover tuition, textbooks, and some lab fees. Students are able to take their ROTC classes at Loyola Marymount University, LMU. You must be enrolled in the academic major for which the scholarship is offered. You will complete a 24day summer field training course at Maxwell AFB, Alabama during your sophomore and junior years. Visit https://www.afrotc.com/ scholarships for more information.
unigo scholarship Award: $10,000 Deadline: Dec 31, 2017 You have just been elected president! What is your first tweet? You have to be enrolled in an accredited institution no later than fall of 2023. For more information, go to https://www. unigo.com/scholarships/our-scholarships/unigo-10k-scholarship
Have an OpiniOn? a StOry idea?
PoliCe wire coMPiLed By anGeL Johnson
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
6/2/17 5 p.m.: Possession of a deadly weapon in the Main Quad. 6/26/17 4:20 p.m.: Property was lost in Parking Lot 1. 6/28/17 9 a.m.-1 p.m.: There was a petty theft in Jefferson Hall. 7/17/17 8-10:30 a.m.: There was a petty theft in the Main Quad. 7/17/17 9:30-10:30 a.m.: Property was lost in Jefferson Hall 7/17/17 11:16 a.m.: Criminal threats were made towards the entire campus. 7/18/17 11:45 p.m.: Someone was assaulted with a deadly weapon in Lot 4. 7/31/17: There was an act of vandalism in the Kinesiology Building. 8/2/17: There was an act of vandalism in the Life Science Building. 8/3/17 11:45-1:30 p.m.: There was an act of vandalism in Parking Lot 3. 8/3/17 3 a.m.-11:05 p.m.: There was an act of vandalism at Martin Luther King Library. 8/6/17 2:40 p.m.: Property was lost in the Main Quad. 8/14/17 7:13 a.m.: Someone burglarized Bungalow A. 8/29/17 7:20-9:20 a.m.: There was a petty theft in the Main Quad. 8/30/17 9:30-2:50 p.m.: Grand theft was committed in Parking Lot 2 9/1/17 5:30-5:45 p.m.: There was a petty theft in the Life Science Building. 9/12/17 9a.m.-2:10 p.m.: There was a traffic collision and damaged property in Lot 3. 9/14/17: Grand theft was committed near Jefferson Hall 9/15/17 8:30a.m.: Someone had possession of an imitation firearm near the corner of Vermont and Willowbrook.
editor’s note: On June 26 at 1:30 p.m., a student reported that a man exposed himself on the third floor of a Franklin Hall restroom. The student informed the sheriffs of what happened, but there was no arrest. The man was told not to return to campus. He denied any wrongdoing, according
to the student who made the report. The Collegian compiled all of the incidents recorded in the Police Wire from the incident report. This includes incidents from June 2 to Sept. 15, 2017. The flashing incident was not included in the incident report.
WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR! email: losangeles.collegian@gmail.com
8
Sports
Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, September 20, 2017
SPORTS BIN
Photo by Esther Lin Courtesy of Showtime
Floyd Mwayweather lands a KO punch on Conor Mcgregor during the last round of their fight in Las Vegas on Aug 26, 2017.
Mayweather, McGregor Fight Did Not Disappoint By Eddy Park
Photo By cliff chEng/collegian
Sparks guard Odyssey Sims drives past the Mercury’s Yvonne Turner in L.A.’s win over Phoenix, on Sept. 12, 2017. The Sparks swept the Mercury 3-0 Sunday on their home court in Phoenix, Sparks advance to the WNBA Conference Finals.
Sparks soar on road to wnba Championship finals By Kyle Blaylock
S
parks are in the playoff hunt for the second year in a row. Last season, the ladies of the Los Angeles Sparks took the title away on Minnesota’s home court in a Game 5 Finals thriller. There were three lead changes in the final 24 seconds, power forward Nneka Ogwumike scored the finishing bucket to seal the title for the Sparks. She has not slowed down since then. Ogwumike is the new league
MVP this year, together with Candace Parker, a two-time MVP of her own, and they are off to a strong playoff start. Nneka leads the team in scoring thanks to her strength in turning defense stands into fast break opportunities. She and Parker have been hammering their opponents relentlessly in addition to Alana Beard who is the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. The Sparks have held opponents to just 66 points per game. The WNBA is lost in the shuffle of our attention. Los Angeles offers lots of sports and the WNBA
league season finishes in the shuffle of the end of baseball’s regular season and the early stages of football season. So it is hard for the women’s game to grab our attention in the busy media cycle. They should however, because the Sparks are our city’s most elite franchise at the moment. The WNBA has had a fortuitous existence. The league was 18 teams deep in 2000-2002, however six of the franchises have folded and a dozen are left. The Sparks are one of three inaugural teams to still be playing, without moving and rebranding,
and have seen high profile fans like Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union show up and support. On Sept. 12, the Sparks handled the Phoenix Mercury allowing only 6 points in the third quarter of Game 1 to get a leg up in their postseason debut and they looked primed for a repeat. There has not been a repeat champion since the Sparks back in 2001-2002 led by Lisa Leslie. So while Lakers stars Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram are still filming reality TV and enjoying vacation in the quiet dog days of the NBA offseason, tune in to the Sparks.
California Summer Sports Roundup
Conor McGregor was born in Ireland and has won the UFC Featherweight Championship, Interim Featherweight Championship, and the lightweight C h a m pionship and has lost three times in his Mixed M a r tial Arts (MMA) career. Mayweather had not boxed in almost two years since retiring after fighting Andre Berto, However the challenge of boxing a non-boxer was too lucrative. The attendance was huge. Dana White, the UFC president said that “the fight was one of the biggest in UFC history.” I agree I felt that the fight between Mayweather and McGregor was outstanding to my thoughts upon watching the fight: In the first few rounds of the fight McGregor got the upper hand on Mayweath-
Dodgers Face Tough Road to Championship By Mynor Peralta
Photos by Cliff Cheng/Collegian
Top Left: San Jose Earthquakes’ goalie David Bingham goes after the ball in San Jose’s July 29 win over the Colorado Rapids. Bottom Left: Nicole Branagh and Brandie Wilkeson celebrate a playoff win during the AVP Manhattan Beach Classic on August 20. Right: Dodgers’ farm hand Luke Raley slides into home in the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes July 18th win over the Stockton Ports.
er. During the end of the fight, of round 8-9, it looked as if Mcgregor was feeling fatigued or some would say exhausted. With two rounds left, McGregor started to talk trash and called Mayweather a broken man. McGregor knew at the beginning he was called “The Irishman” and vowed to win this fight, but it was Mayweather that came out with the victory. There were former boxers like George Foreman and Evander Holyfield who expressed their thoughts about this fight. Foreman said that “this match was competitive.” Mike Tyson gave it an A grade stating that he was impressed. In my opinion Mayweather is the boxing champion while Mcgregor is not Why? Because he does not have the boxing experience or background of being a boxer. McGregor is just a UFC MMA fighter who performs in the UFC Octagon while Mayweather is a boxing in-ring fighter. Some would say would there be a rematch? Mayweather wanted the clean 50-0 while McGregor wanted to fight Mayweather. This was not a boxing match, it was an exhibition.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have had a historically great season so far, but this incredible season will blur into history if they are not able bring home the World Series title. Unfortunately the road to the World Series is filled with dangerous teams that can end this season. The defending champion Chicago Cubs are of course dangerous, they defeated the Dodgers in the ALCS last season en route to their curse-breaking 2016 title. The Cubs have faced the Dodgers six times this year, with the Dodgers winning four of those games. Some of the players to look out in this potential series are Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo. The Washington Nationals are itching for revenge after Los Angeles knocked them out of the playoffs last season. The Dodgers end their regular season matchup against the Nationals with a 7-1 loss but won the two games prior. A player that can make a huge impact in favor of the Nationals is Bryce Harper. Harper is currently injured but will surely be playoff ready. Any Dodger should
know that just because a player is not one hundred percent does not mean they are unable to help win a series, just ask Kirk Gibson. The last team that could potentially face the Dodgers is the Arizona Diamondbacks. They have finished playing the Dodgers during the regular season and they have been a thorn on the side of the Dodgers. The Dodgers are only 8 for 18 in matchups against Arizona. The Diamondbacks could still potentially win the division if the Dodgers continue on their current losing skid. They have only won one game in their last twelve. As bad as this seems, this may be good for the Dodgers as it brings some pressure for them to win games as the playoffs approach. There are several players that are key in this matchup. They are Zach Greinke, who was with the Dodgers a couple of years ago and will like to eliminate in the playoffs, Paul Goldschmidt, who is their leading hitter, and J.D. Martinez, who had a historic game against the Dodgers were he hit four homeruns in one game. Nobody said it would be easy but Los Angeles might finally hold a World Series again for the first time since 1988. To win the World Series would bring a whole new generation of Dodger fans who have never seen their team win it all. A joy and excitement for Baseball that Dodgers fans haven’t felt in almost 30 years.