Collegian los angeles
Wednesday, May 2, 2018 Volume 180 Number 4
The Voice of Los Angeles City College Since 1929
MARCH FOR JUSTICE
photo by ClIff Cheng/CollegIan
Thousands march in L.A. to commemorate the 103rd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on April 24, 2018. The march started at Pan Pacific Park and ended at the doorstep of the Turkish consulate on Wilshire Boulevard where marchers demanded that Turkey acknowledge the systemic extermination of 1.5 million Armenians during and after WWI.
East Hollywood Residents Fear being Locked out of new Housing
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By KimBerly Fisher espite the enactment of ballot Measure JJJ in November 2016, the task of finding affordable housing in Los Angeles remains elusive for many residents. Measure JJJ requires all new housing developments to provide affordable housing in Los Angeles. This means all new rental buildings must designate 11 to 25 percent of their units to lower income tenants. The basis of low income is derived from the area median income or AMI, which was determined to be $64,300 in 2016 by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD. “I make less than $30,000 a year and I am not even considered for affordable housing,” says Rick G., a man that supports himself by work-
ing a full-time bartending job. He lives with his girlfriend in a small one-bedroom apartment in East Hollywood. They are looking to relocate within the next three months, but housing costs are creating a large setback for the couple. “It’s a joke,” says Elaine, Rick’s partner. “The affordable housing they speak of doesn’t really exist.” The reality is that low income residents are subcategorized by the percentage they earn against the AMI. A person that makes 80 percent of the median income is considered low income. That person is making $50,500 a year. The next tier is very low income with the individual earning 50 percent of the AMI. The lowest tier is considered to be extremely low income with an annual salary of 30 percent of the AMI, or $18,950. While the newest apartment buildings are now required to rent to low income tenants, they are not forced to differentiate between the levels of each tier. It stands to reason that any landlord would prefer to rent to the
highest earner. Typically, a landlord looks for a tenant’s income to be at least three times the cost of rent. “It really doesn’t work that way for most of us,” he said. “We pay our rent on time every month. We don’t make a lot of money, but we also don’t spend a lot.” Mark Evans has lived in his East Hollywood home for close to a decade. In April, the property was sold for $1 million. “A lot of the rich culture of Los Angeles is being ripped out from under us,” Evans said. “The old houses that make our city unique are being bulldozed to make way for new apartments that look like prisons.” Evans’ home was built in 1928 and the avocado tree in the back was planted the same year. Both will be destroyed. SEE “EAST HOLLYWOOD” PAGE 6
‘CityTales’ Reveal Personal Discoveries Bluela Cars deBut in east hollywood illustration By Joanna Guevara/ColleGian
By Clinton CAmeron BlueLA cars unplugged and rolled out on the blue carpet on Willowbrook Avenue for the first day of beta testing. More than 200 people showed up to Los Angeles City College’s campus between the Science Building and the Martin Luther King Jr. Library from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Friday, April 20 to celebrate and to be the first to test drive the electric cars in Los Angeles County. The steps along the east end of
library lead to a fleet of cars parked on a blue carpet. BlueLA sponsors LA DOT, Air Resource Board and KIWA Workers for Justice set up booths with information and gifts while BlueLA’s booth signed people up for the free test rides. Salesman Jay Kalish showed up early for the test drive. He says he believes he will use BlueLA as the last part of his commute downtown after getting off the Expo Line. “You know I was actually surprised that I’m a taller guy and I was able to fit in the car comfort-
ably,” Kalish said. “It was kind of deceiving in terms of when I first looked at it. I said, ‘Man, I’m not gonna fit in that car,’ but [there is] a lot of head room [and] nice leg room. I was pleasantly surprised by the drivability of the car.” Representatives from BlueLA and their overseas affiliate Blue Solutions were available to answer questions and ride along with first-time users. They took SEE “BLUELA” PAGE 6
Themes of self-discovery and acceptance were explored in the second ‘CityTales’ storytelling experience. The event featured eight storytellers brave enough to share stories from their inner-sanctum. By dAisy villegAs In a very intimate space in the Herb Alpert Music Center listeners gathered to hear stories based on the theme of discovery. The show was not an open mic, but a carefully curated invitation-only event. Communication studies professor M. “Shae” Hsieh introduced eight selected storytellers who would go on to share personal stories about self-discovery and life lessons on Tuesday, April 24. CityTales opened with a loud shriek, the yell heard around the small concert venue. Georgi, the opening storyteller, discussed the power of something resonating within you. “It’s nice to bring smiles to a lot of people,” Georgi said.
His story read like a stream of consciousness that would set the stage for the more formatted stories to follow. A transgender storyteller, Danny, followed with a more intense path of self-discovery. His story was about compartmentalizing traumatic events instead of feeling them. Like many people in the show, Danny shared the struggles of “looking for a place to fit in, to find a home.” The audience listened closely, cringing at the details around his discomfort as a young girl when deep inside he always felt different. From tales touching on forgiveness, as a “horse pill of bitterness to swallow” for storyteller Yan, to stories about overcoming depression and domestic abuse, listeners moved to the edge of their seats to catch every word. Personal and moving stories in song format and conversational language made for a show that everybody could relate to. The driving theme of discovery forged a path in stories about finding home and sobriety. A storyteller performed a story about the discovery of his purpose in life to teach other aspiring musicians and artists through song. Ann Vandegrift, an LACC stu-
dent and nursing assistant, shared feeling like she had “unique strengths” for being able to overcome adversity and transphobia. After taking an interpersonal communications class with professor Shae, she found out about this event and felt compelled to share her unique story. “I was so uncomfortable looking at myself in a mirror,” said Vandegrift. “Now going through transition, it’s kind of like a second puberty, way more awkward than the first time. It was nice to be invited to this by professor Shae to tell my story.” CityTales is taking off as an event for storytellers. Students, faculty, and staff can get involved. It is a tradition Shae hopes to continue every semester with even more participants. Those interested can reach her at hsiehm@ lacitycollege.edu.
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Opinion & editorial
Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, May 2, 2018
Lack of Financial Aid Drives Enrollment Down
Editorial
By Kimberly Fisher It could be considered shocking that fewer people are enrolling in courses, funding is getting pulled from departments and many students are having to withdraw throughout the semester, but it is not. Frankly, delays in financial aid are now very common. Students are given a schedule of when they can expect their loans and grants, yet the dates are not at all accurate or honored. Instead, emails from the financial aid department are sent out after the money should have been received by the pupil stating that funds will be distributed at a later date. It seems obvious that students who apply for financial aid are doing so because they need the support to survive whilst trying to better their lives. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a society that provides higher edu-
cation free of charge. Many students are faced with the dilemma of having to work full-time jobs while at the same time attempting to have a heavy class schedule and work load. It is not easy and can be too much for a student to take on together. Rent still has to be paid and food still has to be on the table. Delays in financial aid can, and do, cause many aspiring students to make the difficult decision of dropping out. This is completely unacceptable. Our culture heavily promotes higher education. Making it even more difficult to achieve such a goal seems rather ridiculous. In certain ways, it is insulting. I have no interest in hearing another comment about how something is “not in the budget.” Student enrollment is going to continue to dwindle as long as students are not getting their financial aid support. It is a circular system. A student
cannot be in school without financial aid, but the school never seems to have the money on time to provide the payments when they are scheduled to be disbursed. No one wants to be indebted, but some of us have to be in order to advance our chances of being successful in life. When our ability to strive is obstructed by financial aid not holding up their end of the bargain, we are forced to make the tough decision of whether or not to leave school. We all know the cost of living in L.A. is not cheap. Many students are parents, or caregivers to loved ones. Financial aid is not a bonus income. It is a survival necessity. Being tardy with disbursements should not now, or ever, be acceptable. If the school really does want to increase enrollment and see the students succeed, they should really take a look at how the financial aid system is failing and make the effort to change it. The students are counting on it.
Floors So Dirty, Nasty, Even Your Shoes Feel Disrespected By Cashia Kirksey
Illustration by Natalia zepeda/Collegian
Culture Clash:
Technology Vs. Self-Interest
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n the Book of Genesis, mankind had after countless years of debauchery and unchecked folly following the flood, discovered the greatest scientific achievement to date: the brick. No longer would caves be a necessary option. The brick presented endless possibilities. Enamored with the promise of unlimited potential, a united mankind sought to build a tower tall enough to reach the heavens in a gesture of selfish ambition and pride. While there were many practical purposes for the brick, men chose instead to glorify themselves. Disappointed that the Babylonians chose to serve themselves and not each other, the origin story goes that God then scattered humankind across the globe leaving the would-be tower incomplete and thus creating languages and cultures. The Tower of Babylon was no more. Thousands of years later that self-serving streak is still alive. While dedicated altruists around the world have committed their lives to using advancements in technology to make the world a better place, there are many who seek to open doors that are best left closed. Indeed, for every trained engineer who works toward lifesaving equipment, or every doctor, or scientist who hustles toward finding ways to enhance the quality of human life through medicine and tech, we have such headlines as these: “Sex Robots Are Ready to Talk You into Bed” “Meet the Selfie Drone that Lives in Your Phone Case” Proof that our vanity and sexual impulses are now heavy enough they create a technological market. These are only some examples of what happens when we focus our skills and trade toward ourselves. For the low price of $10,000 you too can own a sex robot that not only orgasms, but remembers your birthday and preferred sexual positions. Somewhere
in New Jersey, Thomas Edison is sighing in his grave. Are our vices so great that we must pursue pleasure on every platform possible? What if we weren’t perverts? Would there still be a desire to have sex with a pile of plastic and circuit boards? Would we need to have dozens of apps designed for us to hook up with another? The word drone is still somewhat new to the modern lexicon. It seemed the first use of drones was to wreak havoc on opposing countries. And therein lies our problem. After every huge technological advancement there seems to be the need to have it either weaponized or designed to fuel our sexual desires. Imagine telling your grandmother who walked to school and relied on radios for entertainment how Grindr works. Explain to Alexander Graham Bell the market for phone sex, which led to live sex shows online. For every LifeStraw, an instrument that allows safe drinking water from any source through multiple levels of filtration, there exists a Fleshlight, a handheld device that lets you have sex with it, complete with an artificial vagina at the end of it. You can’t make this stuff up. We won’t always get it right. Perhaps self-driving cars could lead to more problems created than saved, but at least we are figuring it out. Drones offer safety where manned flight is too dangerous. Do we really need it to serve our self-infatuation by taking pictures of our boring faces? One can’t help but think what potential advancements we are missing out on because our efforts are wasted on inventions that will not push society forward. If we are intent on looking for shortcuts to have sex in/with technology, what potential good are we not focused on? The scattering of humanity at the Tower of Babylon ended up refocusing the needs of the people. Here’s hoping a cleansing of sorts can do the same for our culture.
Our campus must be short of staff when it comes to custodians, because the classroom floors are beyond overdue for a good scrub on the second floor of the Chemistry Building. Wh e n is a classroom floor too dirty? When the floor is so dirty that you won’t set your backpack down. When you refuse to wear your new shoes in the classroom. When you drop your pen and refuse to pick it up. When you drop a quarter on the floor and it becomes camouflage. Walking on the classroom floors of Chemistry 207, 208, or 206 would be the worst nightmare for a pair of “Red Bottoms” (Christian Louboutin shoes). Have you ever stepped in something so old and disintegrated that
you were not even sure what it used to be? The last time I saw dirty floors like the ones here at LACC, I was in an abandoned apartment that was being occupied by crack heads and homeless people. We are not talking about floors that have gone a several weeks without being mopped, we are talking about floors that have been abandoned for over four months – since last December. Students, the government, and organizations spend millions of dollars as a whole each semester, providing all LACCD schools with the proper funding to promote and maintain a sanitary learning and teaching environment. As a parent, if my child’s classroom floor were as dirty as the floors in my journalism classrooms, I would forbid my child from returning to school until the floors were cleaned. Not only would I keep my child out of school, I would feel compelled to report the school to the health department for unsanitary learning and teaching environments. As students and teachers, we tend to spend a large amount of
time at school, sometimes more than we do at home. Some would say you become a product of your environment. I just think it’s easier to learn and teach in a clean and healthy classroom. You might not think a dirty floor can be a distraction in the classroom, but in my opinion, it can be a bigger distraction than outbursts, students arriving late, or phones ringing. I’ve definitely lost focus during lectures while staring at the green and brown Cheetos that live on the eastside of my computer desk. The classroom floors at LACC were once shiny and white, but today, they are a creamed-coffee color featuring Dalmatian-spotted, sticky dried-up mystery fluids. When students are at school they should feel at home, or they should at least feel at school, not like they are attending classes at Skid Row University. This isn’t a question about whether the classroom floors at LACC will be cleaned and maintained, this is simply a matter of when the floors will be cleaned. And once they are, could someone set up a schedule and follow it?
Food Choices Give Students Lots to Chew on By Alejandro Argueta Los Angeles City College will finally get the cafeteria it desperately needs – a year from now. Students are pining for meals that offer convenience and comfort along with sustenance, but they will have to wait. The Cub Store, Coffee House, Tully’s and the famous Harry’s Food Truck provide students with meals and drinks, but this doesn’t mean they’re convenient options. A hefty price tag awaits anyone who wishes to eat on campus, es-
pecially those wanting daily meals. Healthy options are few and far between, limited and more expensive than run-of-the-mill hamburgers and French fries. Calorie content and dollar amounts pose real problems to students who might otherwise be tempted to stay on campus. It must also be noted that the campus currently lacks a place to eat comfortably. The scattered picnic tables do not suffice for the several thousand students who are on campus at any given moment. Our dollars buy us high-calorie food without atmosphere or ambiance. The incoming cafeteria is LACC’s chance to empower students who deserve to have a say over the campus offerings. Introducing timely issues that mirror the food-related discussions plaguing the real world will
change LACC’s ecosystem. Income inequality and health issues are global talking points. Debates about obesity, food availability and sustainability, for example, might finally have a place on campus. Students should get the chance to channel their thoughts on such pertinent issues, allowing them to form varied opinions before finding their way into the post-college world. Whether that will be the case remains to be seen, and the steps taking place after the construction process will be the most fascinating. How will the price point be settled? What kinds of healthy options will students have available? What incentives beyond food will attract crowds of students. Perhaps more interesting than the answers to these questions is how LACC will go about determining them.
Have an Opinion? A Story Idea? write a letter to the editor! email: losangeles.collegian@gmail.com
OpiniOn & editOrial
COMPILED BY Kyle Blaylock PHOTOS BY Anwar Torres
NESTOR ALVARADO Nursing Major
What technological advances would you like to see in your lifetime?
“Virtual reality. Something like ‘Ready Player One.’”
Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, May 2, 2018
NICOLE LAROCQUE Radiology Major “I don’t like technology. I can’t think of anything that we need.”
BRAYAN GARCIA Criminal Justice Major “I want to see ... interactive VR movies. Like ‘Yu-Gi-Oh.’ See the action happening in our faces.”
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VERENA HECHT Journalism Major “A general thing I would absolutely love is if they could make teleportation happen.”
ink style: A visuAl representAtion of the world As we know it
IllustratIon by Joanna gueVara/CollegIan
“no more smokescreens, keep the plAnet green”
Los Angeles Collegian
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NEXT ISSUE: May 16, 2018 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ande Richards
LAYOUT EDITOR Richard Martinez
PHOTOGRAPHERS Erika Almanza, Cliff Cheng, Liam Hayes, Eve Moreno-Luz, Anwar Torres
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Joanna Guevara, Juventino Velasquez MULTIMEDIA PRODUCER Dave Martin
REPORTERS Alejandro Argueta, Kyle Blaylock, Clinton Cameron, Thomas Chavira, Melissa Crumby, Kimberly Fisher, Jasmine Jernigan, Cashia Kirksey, Sahara Velasquez, Daisy Villegas
EDITORIAL DEADLINE: May 13, 2018
ILLUSTRATORS Casandra Munoz, Natalia Zepeda
ADVISER Rhonda Guess
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Campus Life
Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, May 2, 2018
Temporary Green Landscape to Replace Old Men’s Gym By Alejandro Argueta Suffocating dirt clouds and sounds of ear-piercing construction are the new normal at Los Angeles City College. Excavators have replaced trees and chainlink fences now line the walkways. It is hard to imagine that the busy campus lies right atop the land that was once home to the Tongva people, the Native Americans who were the original inhabitants of 4,000 square foot miles of Los Angeles. Tongva land was once rich with greenery and the ever-rewarding harvests of fruits and vegetables. The last remnant of the once serene landscape is a river that runs beneath campus. A river whose sound and image have been obstructed by the bustle of development. Among the largest campus construction sites is a fenced-in lot in front of the Martin Luther King Jr. Library and next to the Chemistry Building. It is a demolition project that began in the latter part of the fall semester. Students must walk around it to get to class and deal with the ever-present noises in nearby classrooms. Arlene Alfaro is a journalism major who takes classes in the Chemistry Building, where the windows face the dirt lot. She has grown weary of this campus main staple. “Honestly, I have more of an issue with the noise … what is it for? A cafeteria? As a student, I’d like to know what’s happening on campus,” Alfaro said. Project Superintendent, Isaac Yun, sits in a small trailer in front of the Science and Technology Building, not too far from the dirt lot with the assistant project manager David Lee. They work for Tree in the Stream, Inc. (TIS) the company chosen by LACC to oversee the demolition of the 1920s men’s gym, the pool and the girls’ locker room. Yun and Lee describe their responsibilities relating to the project. “[The gym] was a two-floor,
Photo by Liam Hayes/Collegian
Construction continues adjacent to the Chemistry Building on the LACC campuson April 18, 2018. The excavated area is slated to a green space until a plan for permanent structure is confirmed. really old, all-concrete port,” Lee said. “There were some other bungalows, small buildings and a pool there that we demolished. The demo part is all done and we’re doing the grading now ... That’s what we’re responsible for.” Isaac Yun expects the grading to be completed by “mid-May,” but he is unsure about LACC’s construction plans. “Construction depends on when they get all their plans approved,” he said. TIS, Inc. is working with a company called National Demolition to carry out the project. David Alexander is the superintendent. “We imported roughly 4,000 cu-
bic yards of dirt that we’ve been compacting and grading,” Alexander said. “We’re at the stage of fine grading now … following fine contour lines. They’re gonna put in three new catch basins for water drainage. The contour lines are higher, so the water runs off and goes to the drains. After they put in the catch basins, we’ll come back and spray the soil with a soil stabilizer, then our job will be complete.” The project was thoroughly explained, but post-demolition plans seemed to elude the team. Alexander was also unsure about potential construction plans. LACC Interim President, Dr. Mary Gallagher says that although
she began her job after the demolition, she is up-to-date about the upcoming plans for the campus. “There’ll be a full landscaping project that gets done in the north end of the campus, but we don’t want to leave a dirt area until we get the full landscaping project done,” Gallagher said. “Once they’re finished with the demolition project and they’ve stabilized the ground ... we’re actually going to put some temporary landscaping there so it’s an area that will be used by students and faculty.” The promise of green spaces and lush landscaping is met with skepticism by one student who requested to remain anonymous.
“We never know what’s going on,” the student said. “We hear about plans for this, plans for that, but we don’t see [expletive] ... There’s no school spirit when we don’t see things get done.” The College has also received funding from a LACC’s Foundation and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association to assist with several landscaping projects. The grassy rectangle across from the Communications Building will be redone with the help of the biology department, who showed interest in planning and planting the area to enhance their learning experience. The college doesn’t intend to
spend a lot of money on the temporary green space, but drought-tolerant plants, grassy areas, pathways and benches might be some of its features. According to Dr. Gallagher, the facilities committee will begin discussing the temporary solution to the dirt lot in May. There is no word on permanent plans for the area. A “building user group” will oversee the full landscaping project. The group, according to Dr. Gallagher, will be formed in May and begin meeting in the fall semester of 2018. Students and faculty, some of whom have already expressed interest about conserving trees, will be among the voices present.
What you need to know What is EOP&S: The mission of the Extended Opportunity Programs & Services is to assist students challenged by language, economic, and educational disadvantage and to facilitate the successful completion of their academic goals.
What is Care: The Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education provide assistance for EOP&S single parents pursuing their education goals under the TANF/ CalWORKs program.
LOS ANGELES CITY COLLEGE CUB STORE STUDENT UNION LOBBY www.laccbookstore.com
MAY 29 - JUNE 4 *****HOURS***** MONDAY thru THURSDAY 9am - 2pm and 3pm - 7pm FRIDAY 9am - 2pm
STUDENT ID REQUIRED. We pay up to 50%, no matter where you bought your books! We buy your books, even if you purchased them online. Bring all CD’s DVD’s and supplemental materials purchased with your textbooks. .
What is Next Up: Next Up provides a broad, expansive array of core and “above and beyond” services for students who are current/former foster youth.
All these services are offered for free to qualifying students: • • • •
Priority Registration Academic, Career and Personal Counseling Book Vouchers University Transfer Assistance
• • • • •
University & Cultural Fieldtrips University Application Fee Waivers Individualized Tutoring Cap & Gown for Graduation Educational Workshops
Stop by our office to fill out an application to see if you qualify for our services. Contact us for more information: Office: Student Services Building 3rd floor Phone: (323) 953-4000 ext. 2300 www.lacitycollege.edu/services/eops
arts & entertainment
Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, May 2, 2018
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hip hop artist maKes history The Pulitzer Prize board undoubtedly hit the target where the Grammys missed the mark in awarding Kendrick Lamar’s album DAMN the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for music.
S By liAm hAyes
ince working its way out of basements in the Bronx almost 40 years ago, hip-hop has critically and commercially dominated the music industry. With such acclaim, it’s still an uphill-battle to have hip-hop artists honored for their musical contributions. It’s so bad that even when they are, it’s perceived as a joke. If Kendrick Lamar’s win seemed like an article from The Onion, it’s probably not your fault. Pulitzer Prizes have been awarded since 1917. Since then, only four non-classical works have been recognized in the music category and “DAMN” is the first of those four recipients that isn’t jazz. Compton native, Lamar, has cemented his place among the rap greats with his works like the politically charged and jazz heavy “To Pimp a Butterfly” and the compilation album “Untitled Unmastered,” which consist of eight raw tracks of unreleased demos devoid of titles. Lamar has been recognized in specialized rap and hip-hop categories. Let’s be real; 12 Grammys is nothing to frown at. However, hip-hop artists continue to be looked over in categories, like album of the year, that include other forms of pop music. The legitimacy of these prestigious awards is tested time and time again. In 2017, Drake’s hit “Hotline Bling” (a song in which no lyrics are rapped) took home a statuette for Best Rap Song. Just recently, in the category for top rap female, Billboard thought it a great idea to include
Bhad Bhabie. More accurately known as “that girl from Dr. Phil,” Bhad Bhabie’s eligibility stems from her single “Hi Bich” charting at 68 on the Billboard Hot 100. I’m certain her music is popular only in the same way a car crash on the 101 freeway is popular. We slowed down to observe because we were curious about the wreckage. Despite the tone-deaf responses toward hip-hop from awards distributors, Lamar’s Pulitzer win is not only a victory for rappers but for pop music in general. In describing “DAMN” as “rhythmic dynamism that offers affecting vignettes capturing the complexity of African-American life” the Pulitzer Prize board seems to be paying attention. They’re listening. They’ve listened to how Lamar masterfully displays the art of contradictory lyricism. They noticed his ability to navigate between supplying political and social commentary, personal stories, hood proclamations and club bangers. Sober and unabridged Lamar invites listeners into his world by giving many aspects of the Black male experience.
“they noticed his Ability to nAvigAte between supplying politicAl And sociAl commentAry, personAl stories, hood proclAmAtions, And club bAngers.”
He carves his struggle through well-crafted beats using sharp lyrics and that’s why he deserved the honor. Even though the Pulitzer Prize board made changes to invite genres outside modern classical music, this may be the last pop album to be recognized for a while. Statistically speaking. The win for hip-hop should open the eyes of the other academies though. Hip-hop is a lot things, but a joke is not one of them. IllustratIon by Cassandra munoz/CollegIan
NoRM Gives Voice to LGBT Artists By dAisy villegAs Being “normal” takes on a completely different meaning for Los Angeles City College student Eve Moreno-Luz, and their friends Alfredo Alvarado and Bryan Ortega. They co-created the new self-published magazine called Narratives of Resistance Magazine or NoRM. Moreno-Luz set out to create a publication that highlights queer and trans people of color. NoRM premiered its first issue at the Leiminspace gallery in Chinatown on Friday, April 20. The venue appears narrow and cramped as one walks up to its glass door, but inside the gallery opens up, with artists, art enthusiasts and friends exploring the stickers, zines, photographs, short stories and live performances. The featured art tackles serious issues like racism, violence, mis-gendering, xenophobia, and abuse, and the different works come together to tell universal stories. “Bryan, Alfredo and I set out to cultivate this magazine because we believe in the power of self-preservation, and the impact it has on marginalized communities,” said co-editor Moreno-Luz. “I have seen first-hand how queer and trans communities of color are misrepresented in mainstream media, and this magazine operates as counter-cultural artwork to that narrative that misrepresents us.” Along with Moreno, co-edi-
“i felt numb being one of the only gAy Artists At An event At usc recently, so eve And i Agreed to do A mAgAZine component to get different voices together.” - alFreDo alVaraDo, norM co-pUBlisHer
photo Courtesy of eVe moreno-luz
Co-Editor of the Narratives of Resistance Magazine (NoRM) Eve Moreno-Luz prepares for the performance hour during the NoRM release show alongside Matias Anaya, April 20, 2018. Matias Anaya performs a music piece about their gender pronouns as their stage name, “Mx.Matias.” tor Alfredo Alvarado conceived this project as a way to connect artists in Los Angeles who identify somewhere within the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. “We originally had this idea of helping the
queer community and elevating other folks,” Alvarado said. “I felt numb being one of the only gay artists at an event at USC recently, so Eve and I agreed to do a magazine component to get different voices together.”
Alvarado’s artwork in the gallery stands apart for its comical urban approach to a controversial icon, the Virgin Mary. Alvarado’s Virgin Mary holds what is presumably a joint, smoke billowing out from one end, underneath
a rainbow-colored vagina. Her eyes glow red giving away what each viewer might be thinking. Is she smoking weed? “I showed this and felt super proud that they got the vagina element,” Alvarado said. “I like to engage with students and people who catch on to my bullshit. Like yeah, her eyes are red, and she does deserve a better blunt.” While Alvarado’s work may not be for the faint-hearted, NoRM showcases 21 contributions from artists who identify as people of color and LGBTQIA+.
editor’s note:
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT Scan the QR code Mark Steven Greenfield was featured in the Visual and Media Arts lecture series on Feb. 27, 2018. Included in the Collegian coverage was a photo with a flash reflection that took away from the beauty of the art. Greenfield is a professor at Los Angeles City College and an internationally renowned artist whose work has been exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Georgia, the Wignall Museum of Contemporary Art and the California African-American Museum in Los Angeles, the Chiang Mai Art Museum, in Thailand, the Villa Donato, in Naples, Italy at Art 1307, the Gang Dong Art Center in Seoul, South Korea and the Blue Roof Museum in Chengdu, China. Here, the artist talks about his piece, “The Unexpected Consequences of Picking Cotton.” “There was always a quota when it came to picking cotton. You had to pick so many pounds of cotton a day, and if you didn’t you got punished. The irony in this instance is if they whip you and get blood on the cotton you can’t sell cotton that has blood on it.” - Mark Steven Greenfield
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neWs
Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, May 2, 2018 “residents” From paGe 1
EAST HOLLYWOOD RESIDENTS ANXIOUS OVER LIMITED HOUSING OPTIONS NEWS BRIEFS It is illegal to force tenants out. Residents must be bought out, or paid to relocate, with an amount that ranges depending on the length of time they have been living in their apartment. This is not always easy, or lucrative for the individual or family. Steve Willis has lived in his apartment for 22 years. “My place is rent controlled,” Willis said. “I am not going to find another place for the same price and they’re $10,000 buy-out offer is insulting.” Willis points out that what he is currently paying in rent is not an option anymore. Studio apartments currently rent for $1,300 to $2,000 a month. The settlement amount he was offered is less than what he will have to pay in rent for a year. Willis is going through an attorney to negotiate a higher offer. His lawyer works pro bono, so she is only paid based on the settlement money. Another local resident, Juan Lopez, resides on Willow Brook Avenue and is currently searching for a new apartment for himself and his family. His landlord rejected his rent check in an attempt to evict Lopez. “Now, I don’t have a place to live,” Lopez said. “I’m going to live on the street or in my car. I am frustrated because it’s hard to find a place to stay. I have a family, but [the landlord doesn’t] care.” One of the newest development proposals is located near Los Angeles City College. The 160 unit property would inhabit the southwest corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Vermont Avenue. The new building project would also require that several homes along N. New Hampshire Avenue be torn down. The Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC) is in talks with Metro to develop an affordable housing and commercial business structure above the Red Line station.
The property would cover one and a half acres of land owned by Metro (1.06 acres) and the LTSC (.45 acres). The agreement is for an 18-month exclusive contract between the two and claims the units will be 100 percent affordable. The apartments will be designated for tenants making 30 percent to 60 percent of the area median income. They will also reserve 50 percent of the residences for people with special needs. There are many resources available to assist people when looking for a home. The Housing Resource Center can guide tenants through education and litigation. They work to ensure that every person is able to have secure housing that is affordable. They can be reached at http:// www.hrc-la.org/ or 800-477-5977. Housing vouchers are administered by HUD through public housing agencies (PHAs) but typically have a very long waitlist. Unless the applicant’s situation is dire, it can take a very long time to get housing assistance. There is also the Los Angeles Housing and Community Investment Department http://hcidla. lacity.org/affordable-housing. The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles offers assistance in Section 8 and Public Housing. There are specific requirements for all applicants. To learn more about this program visit: http://www.hacla.org/applyforph. Another resource is the Housing Jobs Collaborative with Mental Health America. Through this program individuals are provided rental subsidy for nine months and supportive services for one year. Contact John Quimson at (562) 279-5924 or email him at jquimson@mhala.org. Also, at that organization is Natali Garcia at (562) 335-2874 or ngarcia@ mhala.org.
Compiled By Ande riChArds
Gov. Urges UCs to Hold Back on Tuition Increase Lt. Gov. Newsom has asked the UC to postpone any decision on tuition hikes before the legislature has agreed to a budget with the Governor. The UC announced that it will not take up the issue of an in-state tuition increase at the May meeting of the UC Board of Regents and will continue to advocate for full state funding of the university.
Find a Place to Live Fifty percent of students in the LACCD have housing insecurities and 18.6 percent experience homelessness. The Los Angeles LGBT Center Housing Navigator assists all students in need of housing including those who identify as LGBTQ. Make an appointment or drop by the Genderversity and Multicultural Center in Room 108 of the Administration Building on Tuesday, May 8, 2018 at 12:30 p.m. For more information, please contact the Genderversity and Multicultural Center by calling (323) 953-4000 ext. 2463, or by emailing multicultural@lacitycollege.edu.
Discover Chamber Music at the Student Concert Series Chamber music is a form of classical music that is composed for a small group of instruments that could traditionally fit in a palace chamber or a large room. The HAMC concert will be performed in Room 210 in the Herb and Lani Alpert Recital Hall on Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at 7 p.m. photo by erIKa almanza/CollegIan
Residents post a sign regarding displacement as a new multi-unit apartment building is erected next door in Los Angeles on April 21, 2018.
For the reCord In the February 28, 2018 issue, an obituary titled “Retired Union Leader Leaves Legacy” stated the Diane Hayes worked in the Business Department. She did not. Hayes worked in Admissions. Hayes also began working for the district in 1986 and retired officially on Dec. 30, 2014, not in 2015 as indicated in the article. We apologize for the errors. If you believe that we have made an error, you may email losangeles.collegian@gmail.com, or call (323) 953 4000 ext. 2832.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT Scan the QR code TO VISIT OUR MULTIMEDIA BLOG FEATURING COVERAGE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND BEYOND
or visit: collegianwired.tumblr.com
Celebrate the Unsung Women of Music Directed by LACC alumna, Judy Chaikin “The Girls in the Band,” is an award-winning documentary about the untold stories of female jazz and big band instrumentalists and their fascinating, groundbreaking journeys from the late 30s to the present day. The event will take place in the Herb Alpert Music Center and will include a movie Screening of “The Girls in the Band,” a live jazz performance by LACC’s all-female jazz group and a reception on Friday, May 11, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25. Tickets are tax deductible and proceeds benefit the programs and students of the Herb Alpert Music Center. For tickets, visit: girlsinthebandlacc.eventbrite.com.
PolIce WIre photo by ClInton Cameron/CollegIan
BlueLA’s first fleet of cars in Los Angeles launch from the “blue carpet” on the southwest corner of Willowbrook Avenue and Vermont Avenue during the company’s launch event at Los Angeles City College on April 20, 2018. The charging station on Willowbrook Avenue is one of seven permanent BlueLA stations located in Los Angeles. “Bluela” From paGe 1
EAST HOLLYWOOD RESIDENTS UNPLUG, BECOME FIRST TO DRIVE BLUELA CARS the time make introductions on stage, take interviews and answer questions by the press. Blue Solutions representative Sarah Randolph recognized the importance of city support by city officials. “We’re just so fortunate to have so many important people recognizing the service and recognizing how important it is to have electric car sharing,” Reynolds said. “I’m just so excited that it’s finally happened.” City Councilmember for the 13th District, Mitch O’Farrell and Assemblyman of the 34th Dis-
trict, Jimmy Gomez supported the event. Gomez recognized a need for people with low to modest incomes to participate in reducing California’s carbon footprint. “[In] California we have what we call greenhouse gas reduction targets,” Gomez said. “So, we have to hit 40 percent by the year 2030, and that’s below 1990 levels and the only way you can actually hit those goals is if you have more electric vehicles on the road. So [BlueLA] is going to try to get people out of their cars [and] get them [in to] more electric vehicles on
the road.” Food trucks were nearby to feed the crowd while K-LOVE DJ, Ysaac Alvarez entertained them. He shared the stage area with Jesse Baez who performed a bilingual set of original material. Cheer L.A. also performed cheers and stunts to help hype the crowd, which was followed by a Dodgers’ tickets raffle. Photographers and bystanders lined up in front of the blue carpet launch as the first fleet of cars broke through banners and drove west on Willowbrook Avenue.
Compiled By Kilmer sAlinAs •
Wednesday, March 14, 2018: Campus incident paramedics
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Friday, March 16, 2018: Petty theft (laptop)
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Sunday, March 18, 2018: Campus incident
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Saturday, March 24, 2018: Petty theft (bicycle seat)
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Tuesday, March 27, 2018: Sexual advances
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Wednesday, March 28, 2018: Vandalism
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Wednesday, March 28, 2018: Lost property
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Sunday, April 8, 2018: Campus Incident smoke alarm
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Tuesday, April 10, 2018: Petty theft
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Tuesday, April 10, 2018: Petty theft
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Tuesday, April 17, 2018: Grand theft
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Wednesday, April 18, 2018: Petty theft
Scholarships
Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, May 2, 2018
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Academic Scholarships CBC Spouses Education Scholarship Award: Varies ($500 - $8,200) Deadline: May 18, 2018
Description: Seeing an educational need in their congressional districts, the CBC Spouses Education Scholarship was established in 1988 by the spouses of Congressional Black Caucus members in response to federal cuts in spending for education programs and scholarships, which disproportionately affect people of color. This scholarship awards scholarships to academically talented and highly motivated students of all majors who intend to pursue full-time undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral degrees. Selected applicants will be qualified African-American or black students.For more information or to apply, please visit: https://cbcfinc.academicworks.com/opportunities/468.
Korean American Scholarship Foundation Award: Varies Deadline: June 30, 2018
Description: Applicants must have have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and can demonstrate need for financial assistance. Recommendations is needed for this application and must be turned in by June 30th, 2018. Students who reside, or will reside, in the US during the 2018-19 school year, whether US citizens or foreign nationals, are all welcome to apply. For more information or to apply, please visit: http://www.kasf.org/western.
NBCUniversal/LNESC National Scholarship Award: $5,000 Deadline: November 6, 2018
Photo by Anwar Torres/Collegian
Ralph Bunche Scholar and Phi Theta Kappa club president, Hannah Gehrels is the 2018 recipient of the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship. The French and liberal arts major says she started preparing her application for the scholarship the day she heard about it.
City Student Outshines Competition, Wins $40,000 JKC scholarship By Ande Richards Dr. Danielle Muller directs the Ralph Bunche Scholars Program and oversees Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) as the club’s advisor. She invited an alumnus who was then attending MIT to a PTK club meeting. He told the group of students, including Hannah Gehrels, about the Jack Kent Cooke scholarship opportunity. “After our meeting, I spoke with him, and gleaned as much as I
could about the scholarship,” Gehrels said. “I started preparing the minute I went home.” Gehrels is a full-time honor student and a single mother who manages to balance her school work with motherhood. She proves that anyone who is diligent and persistent can achieve success. She came to LACC at a pivotal point in her life when things could have spiraled downward, but she applied pressure on herself and turned her situation around.
“After my divorce, I lost everything dear to me. I had to seek refuge in a shelter, subsist on government support and accept that I had to start over. Discomfort can be a useful tool to writhe and rise from rock bottom. Anyone who applies his/her self, can do it, especially armed with the resources our school offers.”
Hannah Gehrels Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship Recipient
Description: The NBCUniversal/LNESC Scholarship Program is intended to assist and encourage outstanding Latino students with an interest in the media and entertainment industry. Applicants must be enrolled full-time in an accredited college or university; at least 18 years of age or older; have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale; be a U. S. Citizen or Legal Permanent Resident; and have an interest in the media and entertainment industry; all majors are welcome. To apply: https://www.lnesc.org/nbcuniversal-scholarship.
PepsiCo Cesar Chavez Latino Scholarship Fund
Award: $5,000/annually and will continue to do so until 2021 Deadline: May 31, 2018 Description: Scholarships are granted solely based on academic excellence, leadership in extra-curricular activities, commitment to volunteer service in the community and financial need. They are designed to supplement the students’ financial resources from family, government, and other sources. To apply: http://www.chavezfoundation.org/_page. php?code=010004000000000&page_ttl=Instruction&kind=1.
Randy Pausch Scholarship Application Award: $2,500 Deadline: June 30, 2018
Deascription: The Randy Pausch Scholarship was established to support students who are pursuing careers specializing in the development of interactive entertainment. Possible career paths for Randy Pausch applicants include (but are not limited to) art, animation, programming, engineering, game direction, game design, sound design, and music composition. Students must have a minimum 3.3 GPA and be a full-time undergraduate student starting their second year or a graduate student. For more information or to apply, please visit: https:// aiasfoundation.wufoo.com/forms/z120qvlc0fux3w8/.
Business Scholarships Mark Beaumont Scholarship Fund Award: Varies Deadline: June 30, 2018
Description: The Mark Beaumont Scholarship was established by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences in 2010 to honor the memory of COO of Capcom North America and Europe, Mark Beaumont. This scholarship has been established to support students who are pursuing careers specializing in the business of interactive entertainment. Possible career paths for Mark Beaumont applicants include (but are not limited to) executive leadership, law, marketing, public relations, and business development. For more information or to apply, please visit: http://www.interactive.org/foundation/scholarships.asp.
Media Fellows Program
Award: Varies Deadline: July 13, 2018 at 12 ET Compiled by KILMER SALINAS
Creative Scholarships LAFCA Ruth Batchelor Scholarship Award: $500 Deadline: December 10, 2018
Description: The Los Angeles Film Critics Association is excited to announce that we have established a $500 scholarship for an aspiring female film critic who is a student at a Los Angeles-area community college. We encourage women of color to apply. Applicants should email a cover letter including a description of their experience and/or aspirations in film criticism along with three writing samples. To apply: http://www.lafca.net/pressReleases/21Nov17.html.
Microsoft Imagine Cup Global Competition Award: $100,000 Deadline: May 31, 2018
Description: Open to students around the world, the Imagine Cup Competition seeks to honor the most innovative, ground-breaking and appealing software built with Microsoft tools and technology. You must be at least 16 years of age as of October 24 to enter, actively enrolled as a student an accredited educational institution that grants high-school or college/university (or equivalent) degrees (including home schools).
Residents of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, and the Region of Crimea are not eligible to apply. For more information or to apply, please visit: https://imagine.microsoft.com/en-us/Category/11.
VSA Emerging Young Artists Program Award: $20,000 Deadline: May 31, 2018
Description: The VSA Emerging Young Artists Program, a Jean Kennedy Smith Arts and Disability Program, recognizes and showcases the work of emerging young artists with disabilities, ages 16-25, who are residing in the United States. Winning artwork will be exhibited in a year-long, nationally touring exhibition, and artists will attend an all-expenses-paid professional development workshop in Washington, DC. For more information or to apply, please visit http://education. kennedy-center.org/education/vsa/programs/emergingartist.cfm.
WomenIn Scholarship
Award: $2,500 Deadline: September 30, 2018 Description: The WomenIn Scholarship is part of the AIAS Foundation’s WomenIn Initiative, a collaborative effort to increase gender equity in the interactive entertainment industry. This scholarship opportunity is for women pursuing careers in either video game development or the business of video games. Undergrad and graduate students in any discipline including programming, game design, law, business, and marketing are eligible to apply. For more information or to apply: https://aiasfoundation.wufoo.com/forms/q5707ml1jdm4nw/.
Description: The Media Fellows Scholarship supports the academic development of undergraduates dedicated to pursuing a career related to the public policy advertising industry each academic year. Applications for the summer distribution are due by midnight (Eastern Time) on July 13th, 2018. For more information or to apply, please visit: http:// www.mediascholars.org/media-fellows.
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Sports
Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, May 2, 2018
sports bin By Thomas Chavira With the opening of Banc of California Stadium in downtown Los Angeles this past week, Angelinos are now spoiled with a total of five major sports franchises within the same community. Los Angeles Football Club’s (LAFC) brand new stadium debuts directly adjacent to the Coliseum, home of the National Football League’s Los Angeles Rams and University of Southern California’s Trojans on the corner of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Figueroa Street. The newest team to Major League Soccer, LAFC now calls home the aforementioned stateof-the-art facility that seats a total of 22,000 fans. On Sunday night, those seats were broken in against a match against rival Seattle Sounders. Right down the very same Figueroa is the still impressive Staples Center (home of the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, and Los Angeles Kings) which opened in 1999 and will only be going into it’s 20th year of operations later in the fall. Indeed, if you include USC which you should - that’s a total of six teams that sports fans can treat themselves to, all within a short three-mile Uber ride of each other. While the Rams share a stadium with the Trojans, a window of time is offered for unprecedented sports access. The Rams and their NFL counterpart Los Angeles Chargers are making due in temporary digs until their stadium in Inglewood opens in two years. Which means that downtown
LAFC YOU SOON
Photo by Cliff Cheng/Collegian
Exposition Park, the site of Banc of California Stadium, the new Major League Soccer team Los Angeles Football Club opens on April 29, 2018. L.A. will be a hotspot of non-stop sports all year around. For Los Angeles City College students, the close proximity of action offers excitement. In the spring and summer LAFC
can rule the roost as the true L.A. soccer team (the Galaxy play all the way down in Carson). Once fall rolls around, the Staples Center is a rotating platform of NBA and NHL action, not to mention the
occasional boxing match. Also, the Coliseum opens for football business with the surging hot Rams and the world popular USC Trojans starting their seasons until soccer season starts once more.
No other city in the country can guarantee such geographically convenient access to sports that downtown L.A. now boasts. New York? Forget it. Chicago? Not even close. Hopefully sports fans won’t
take for granted this incredible luxury that has been bestowed on us. Living up to it’s name of the entertainment capital of the world, Los Angeles just added another feather to it's prestigious cap.
Sports Roundup: Cerritos College 100 Meter Hurdles
Photos by Cliff Cheng/Collegian
Student athletes take part in the Southern California Community College Track and Field Combined Event Championships in Norwalk, CA on April 3, 2018. Events included 100 meter yard dashes and decathlons. Bottom Right: Christopher Oviedo warms up for the 100-meter dash as Cerritos College head coach Chris Richardson looks on.
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