Collegian protect Kids not guns: hundreds rallied for gun control
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Los Angeles
#MeToo Wednesday, April 18, 2018 Volume 180 Number 3
The Voice of Los Angeles City College Since 1929
Movement Hits City
I
by eVe moReNo
t was only the second day of school when photography student Astrid Hernandez fled from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library after she says a fellow student sat down near her and began to masturbate on Feb. 6, 2018. Hernandez works in the Library, but ran to the nearby Chemistry Building to find a friend. “I fled to the Chemistry Building’s basement and cried to Natalie,” Hernandez said. Immediately Photography Instructional Assistant Natalie Embrey called campus security. When security arrived, Hernandez was interviewed and asked to describe the incident. Both Hernandez and Embrey say the school security offered to expel her attacker from school after the interview. Hernandez says she never received a follow up call from campus security. “I went with my friend to complain at the sheriff ’s office,” she said. “My friend asked the sheriffs why hasn’t there been a police report filed, and the sheriff ’s response was that it was never actually reported by the securities to the sheriffs who file the reports.” Three groups make up campus security at LACC: security guards who respond to calls, cadets that patrol the campus, and the sheriffs who file reports and make arrests. “When I told the police what had happened their response was why didn’t I do anything, or why didn’t I get up, I felt like I was being victim-blamed,” Hernandez said. “We shouldn’t be victim-blaming toward survivors,” she said. “My incident wasn’t reported even though I was interviewed after the attack.” Fairfax High School graduate Bobae Yoo says she went to school with the alleged offender. She says there were multiple incidents where he harassed his peers. “He tried to pull that shit with me and I told him to f*ck off, and that pretty much told him ‘no,’” Yoo said. The Collegian interviewed the alleged perpetrator about the incident. He is a third semester student at LACC, and is currently majoring in computer science. He says he was born with autism, a disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and interact with others. With tears in his eyes, he told the Collegian that he is not a bad person, and his autism is under control. “All I was doing was scratching my nuts to get rid of an itch,” he said. “I’m a fine student and I don’t bul-
ly people, I’m just trying to make friends and transfer out to a university.” Ideal Program Services (IPS) is an organization based in South Los Angeles that works with individuals across a broad spectrum of physical and cognitive disabilities. Executive Director Lara Okunubi says the alleged wrongdoer needs guidance from a professional who can work with him on behavior modification. She also mentioned that April is Autism Awareness month. “Our philosophy is simple, when support improves, outcomes will increase,” she said. “The hormones for a person that age is the same regardless of cognitive diagnosis.”
“i once had a dude grab My ass While i Was WalKing on caMpus. i Went to the lacc sheriff station and they didn’t KnoW What to say.” - Johanna Molina,
cinema and photography student
She says it takes a community effort to train people with special needs for the changes that occur during puberty. “He needs help from someone who understands what he is going through and can redirect him on what is a socially acceptable conduct in public,” Okunubi said. LACC student and IPS Director of Consumer Services and Chief Administrative Officer Karla Melgar says that unfortunately people diagnosed with autism have the tendency to isolate and be misunderstood. “Based on my experience at the program, the aggression and inappropriate social behaviors detaches from SEE “HARASSMENT” PAGE 4
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Photography student Astrid Hernandez organized a protest outside of Franklin Hall on April 9, 2018 to raise awareness and share the stories of sexual assault survivors. Hernandez’s sign reads, “One in five women will be a victim of sexual assault in college, 90 percent will not report it.”
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Heads turn toward Evelyn Siliezar whose clicking heels announce her arrival at the podium. Stationed between two art installations, the graphic design major hooks the audience with her performance of online poet kgosi. shango’s “Slut.” Performers wait in the Student Union Building of Los Angeles City College. One of them sports electric blue curls, while another sports blonde tips. They are as disparate as the female writers they have chosen to commemo-
rate during LACC’s Women’s History Month Celebration. For the first time, the event will feature an oral interpretation contest where students will recite a piece written by the author of their choice. Senator of Student Services for the Associated Student Government (ASG,) Gaby Toapanta coordinated the event while the Communication Studies Department sponsored the contest. “It was really important to have something to celebrate Women’s History Month and also International Women’s Day… you don’t
see a lot of it on this campus,” Toapanta said. The contest begins with kgosi. shango’s “Slut. The sex positive piece urges listeners to embrace their carnal desires and do away with shame, a message Siliezar feels compelled to share. “I want women and men who have been called sluts and whores to know that there are other people like them,” she said. They should not cower in fear … I want SEE “WOMEN’S HISTORY” PAGE 4
A male student has been accused of sexually harassing a female student on February 6, 2018. The alleged victim says that the alleged offender followed her around campus and then began masturbating next to her for over five minutes in the library. The female student says that when she reported what happened to the campus sheriff ’s department, they didn’t see what happened as a serious crime. However, the event quickly blew up across social media. The alleged victim posted news of the incident on her Facebook account and other female students commented that this male student had also harassed them. Several students noted that they had negative encounters with the alleged perpetrator as far back as middle school. The story continued to build momentum and the male student’s face was quickly spread across social media including on the Facebook group page, “Too Broke to Afford Books (Whaddup LACC?).” ASG Vice President of Clubs, Theresa Morgan Cruz is an administrator of the group’s page and she implored students to stop posting the alleged perpetrator’s face on the page.
“Please stop posting pics of the student alleged to have been involved in an incident on campus last week,” she posted online. “I will delete and block anyone else that posts his picture. There is absolutely no proof this actually happened. The sheriff ’s office found no offense occurred. I’m not saying it didn’t happen, but we cannot be judge and jury on this page.” According to Cruz, a rumor about a student being attacked in front of the Student Union on March 16 by a presumed vigilante group was brought to her attention by a student who messaged her. “In response to these posts a vigilante group attacked a student outside the Student Union building on Friday,” she said on the page. “I still don’t know if it was the accused, or someone who looked like him. Please let’s get together to discuss safety on campus, and what we can all do to make LACC a safe environment for all students including those that have special needs. I’m in the ASG office every day from 11 to 1 p.m. if you would like to address your concerns privately.” Dean of Student Life, Alan Andriassian, said that as soon as he heard the rumor about a vigilante group attacking a student he looked into the matter with campus security. They told him no one reported anything - it was just a rumor.
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OPInIOn & EDItORIAL
Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Editorial
MArCh for Life “We can’t tolerate this anyMore. these tragedies Must end. and to end theM, We Must change. We Will be told that the causes of such Violence are coMplex, and that is true. no single laW -- no set of laWs can eliMinate eVil froM the World, or preVent eVery senseless act of Violence in our society. but that can’t be an excuse for inaction. surely, We can do better than this. if there is eVen one step We can taKe to saVe another child, or another parent, or another toWn, froM the grief that has Visited tucson, and aurora, and oaK creeK, and neWtoWn, and coMMunities froM coluMbine to blacKsburg before that -- then surely We haVe an obligation to try.” - PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
N
ews of the Columbine school mass shooting shocked the nation on April 20, 1999. Fifteen people lost their lives that day including the two black-clad gunmen, who after wreaking havoc on fellow classmates at the Jefferson County high school, took their own lives. Since then this country has been witness to far too many tragedies – on school campuses, in nightclubs, city streets, suburban shopping malls, even in beauty salons. Yet, the nation has not come to terms with how to deal with gun violence. The Sandy Hook shootings in 2012 looked to be the breaking point. Surely a definitive response to gun proliferation would grow out of a shooting that left 20 children between six and seven years old dead. That gun was in the hands of a 20-year-old who also killed his mother and then ended the spree with a fatal shot to his own head. President Obama wept as he addressed the grieving Sandy Hook community at an interfaith service. Still, there are no decipherable changes to gun access, ammunition
Say Hello to Someone, Your Phone Doesn’t Count by AleJANdRo ARguetA Picture this: You’re strolling down the street, waltzing even. R. Kelly’s “Trapped in the Closet” is blasting on your phone. You are having the time of your life, when suddenly, a figure appears. What initially looks like a tree or an animal reveals itself to be your worst fear; a person. In the 10 seconds it takes to
cross paths you’ll make a choice, nay, the ultimate choice. To look at them, or avert your gaze. To smile and utter “hello,” or scowl your way past the dreadful encounter. Caught in confusion, you pay little attention to one quintessential truth: that vague outline of a human being is wrangling with the same gut-churning choice. To interact or to avoid. People are so afraid of each other. We’ve replaced “How are you?” with pulsing headphones, hand waves with emojis. The world at large rendered silent by the one we have at our fingertips. These seemingly joyful distractions have atrophied our biological impulse to form connection, even
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simply in passing. As quick escape routes, they’ve fostered the proliferation of “social illiteracy.” Consider the droves of people you pass on a daily basis. How many smile at you? How many make the extra effort of wishing you a “Good morning?” How often do you return the gesture? I know what many of you are thinking; Why should we bother engaging with strangers we’ll never see again? What’s the harm in turning to our phones? I hear you, but here’s what; avoidance isn’t an empowered choice. The all too common “race to look elsewhere,” tells a vastly
different story. People don’t “decide” to forgo interaction. They instinctively reject it. They dislike it. In some cases, they resent it. This is why we must curb the phenomenon of social avoidance. I’m not arguing against cellphones and turning down Beyoncé jams on your daily commute. I’m arguing for balance. For restoring awareness to our humanity. We’re built for days spent interpreting social cues, weighing facial expressions and listening to voices. We assert our social thumbprint on the world via the same mechanisms. Embracing our nature as communicative beings is how we reintegrate with one another and the surroundings we’ve learned to drown out. It’s the way to deter the chaotic confusion that ensues when we pass each other. Our alien status in one another’s eyes is more frightening than any “Hello, how are you?” can ever be.
esCApe froM BurGertory by thomAS ChAViRA As a first-year student at Los Angeles City College, the void of two institutions on campus have been severely impressed on me: the lack of a sports program and no cafeteria. While it may be a while before we ever see organized sports again here, the days of not having on
campus dining are nearing an end (no offense to Harry’s Food Truck, but food trucks do not a cafeteria make). Current LACC president Mary Gallagher, revealed to The Collegian that she expects a cafeteria soon after spring break. The cafeteria, operated by Pacific Dining Food Management, currently services all other colleges in our district. The most common grumble among the student body is the complete lack of options. Sure, there is fast food across the street, but that would require a 10-minute walk across campus, sidestepping one of the many vagrants
that decorate Vermont Avenue, and praying for the mercy of the many cross-walk lights. Has anyone ever sojourned as such for 99 cent tacos from JackIn-The-Box? Who else tires of deciding between which cholesterol fueled meal to regret later? The hope is that the new student cafeteria, which will be placed in the Student Union building, will offer safer options for food and a bigger selection of meals. According to East Los Angeles Community College, we can expect hot sandwiches, paninis, and a variety of Mexican food. This is huge folks. Nothing is easier than complaining, but every
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now and then something comes along that requires appreciation and gratitude. Our campus doesn’t offer scenic views. There’s a huge muddy construction hole next to the Chemistry Building that makes getting to the library a concrete hike, and no walk to the campus lot is complete without navigating the loudly mumbling-sometimes yelling homeless that serve as a scary reminder of how vulnerable we are on campus. But at least we are finally getting a cafeteria. An old proverb says, “good things come to those who wait.” It appears as if the waiting is almost over.
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and bump stocks. Dubbed to be among the 100 safest communities in America, and in the top 10 of the safest places in Florida, Parkland is the latest site of a mass murder at the hands of a gunman. Something is different this time. In memory of the 17 murdered victims and in solidarity with the survivors of the shooting the youth of America have shown up in protest of lax laws that allow people not old enough to drink to buy a lethal weapon. They have organized and marched nationwide. Communities of color protested too, tired of the steady diet of gun violence they live with daily. In 2016, the city of Chicago lost 762 residents to gun violence. Paul McCartney, and people from all walks of life, joined students in New York City on March 24, 2018 to protest and to honor his bandmate, John Lennon, who lost his life at the hands of a gun. Columbine survivor Richard Castaldo showed up at the Los Angeles march in his wheelchair to remind people about what a gun can do to a body.
A City Under Siege by dAVe mARtiN Jerusalem is a city under siege. Not a military one, as in the days of the Babylonians or even the Romans, but a political one. The problem is this: both the Israelis and the Palestinians claim the city to be their capital. I don’t know about you, but I have known for years that Jerusalem was Israel’s capital. S o , what’s w r o n g with the rest of the world? As I see it, they have been so deceived by the lies of the Palestinians and don’t know how to separate fact from fiction. The Palestinians have made themselves out to be the victims while villainizing the Israelis, when the opposite is true. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) doesn’t help. They are just as deceptive as the Palestinians. How can they support a group of people that use murder and terrorism to justify their means? Yet, when Israel defends itself against these radical murderers, suddenly they become the bad guy. How twisted is that? If that isn’t bad enough, last year UNESCO tried to disinherit the city of Jerusalem from the Israelis, claiming it was Palestinian property. They completely dismissed 3,000 plus years of Jewish history, and tried to turn the city over to a group of murdering terrorists. It is amazing that a city whose name means peace, has known so little of it. Even if the Palestinians had set up, what I call their “fake” state,
when they had a chance from 1948 to 1967, when they controlled the Eastern half of Jerusalem, the murder and terrorism would not have stopped. The same is true of the Gaza Strip, which they have been in control of since the disengagement of 2006. During this time, they could have set up their own state. They have not. Here is the reason why. It has never been about peace, or setting up a state. It has always been about ridding the Middle East of its Jewish presence. That has been the goal of the 20 Arab nations that surround Israel, ever since she declared her independence 70 years ago. And they will stop at nothing until they have achieved that goal. This is the reason the Arabs have turned down every peace proposal that has been offered to them starting in 1947. This is the year the United Nations first proposed a partition plan. The only Jewish person an Arab wants to live next to is a dead one. Last December when President Trump declared that Jerusalem was Israel’s one and only capital, Palestine Liberation Organization chairman Mahmoud Abbas declared such an action would hinder the peace process. I guess Abbas hasn’t heard; there has not been a peace process in over twenty years. So, what’s being hindered here? Nothing. They are simply using Trump’s declaration as an excuse to carry on with their acts of murder and terrorism. Besides, the ones who have always hindered the peace process have been the Arabs. It has never been about peace or setting up a state, but annihilation of their one and only enemy, the Jews. They want to pick up where Hitler left off. Well, he did not succeed, and neither will they. Israel is here to stay, and Jerusalem will never leave Israeli hands.
OPInIOn & EDItORIAL
COMPILED BY Thomas Chavira PHOTOS BY Felicia Gaddis
Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, April 18, 2018
ANDREW SUAZO Film Student
How will having a cafeteria on campus affect student life?
ROSARIO MENDOZA Marketing Student
“I think it will add an extra place to congregate, but other than that nothing else. I’d eat there once a week, at that.”
“It depends. I hope they do have healthy options for everybody. I’m tired of seeing fast food. It’s a pain to have to walk over 5 or 10 minutes just to get a meal.”
ALEX KAY Music Student “That’d be a nice place to chill. I’m looking forward to the kinds of food that’d be there. It really depends on the food. Something nice, quick, and cheap.”
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JUANA GOMEZ Social Work Student “It’ll be a positive impact. I would definitely eat there. I think we need one with healthier options. Not just burgers.”
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NEXT ISSUE: May 2, 2018 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ande Richards
LAYOUT EDITOR Richard Martinez
PHOTOGRAPHERS Erika Almanza, Cliff Cheng, Liam Hayes, Anwar Torres
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Juventino Velasquez, Joanna Guevara MULTIMEDIA PRODUCER Dave Martin
REPORTERS Alejandro Argueta, Chris Argueta, Clinton Cameron, Thomas Chavira, Tessa Flores, Felicia Gaddis, Jasmine Jernigan, Naomi Johnson, Eve Moreno Luz, Dave Martin, Trissean McDonald, Mynor Peralta, Sahara Velasquez
EDITORIAL DEADLINE: April 25, 2018
ILLUSTRATORS Liam Hayes
ADVISER Rhonda Guess
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nEWS
Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, April 18, 2018 “#Metoo” froM pAGe 1
CITY STUDENTS VOICE CONCERNS OVER SEXUAL HARASSMENT the lack of opportunities in real settings,” Melgar said. “[Especially] during their adolescence, and carries the frustration and sadness all the way around their early ’30s. In most of the cases this also develops mental health issues.” Cinema and photography student Johanna Molina says she took a class with the alleged offender and described her interactions with him as “intense.” “He invited me to go out many times and I always rejected him,” Molina said. “Some months ago he said hi to me, and he kinda grabbed my face, definitely touchy.” Molina says her experience with campus security is that they are not responsive. “I once had a dude grab my ass while I was walking on campus,” Molina said. “I went to the LACC sheriff ’s station and they didn’t know what to say.” Hernandez says she realized that she was not receiving support from school, so she decided to seek refuge within her social media accounts. Dozens of people responded to Hernandez and shared their own accounts of sexual harassment they say the perpetrator committed. The alleged offender began receiving threats on Facebook, so he deactivated his social media accounts. Meanwhile, Hernandez organized “Protest: Sexual Harassment is Not Okay” on April 9, 2018 in front of Franklin Hall. The event became a space for survivors to share their experiences with sexual harassment. Hernandez says Lieutenant Don Rubio of the L.A. County Sheriff ’s Department Community College
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Learning Skills Helps Achieve Step by Step Success Students still have the opportunity to improve basic English and math skills before May 15. The Learning Skills Department is offering one unit courses in English, math, and training in how to format resumes. The department provides assessment tests to help students determine their academic strengths and weaknesses. Professor Joyce Allen says students must do groundwork to achieve success. Whatever your mind could conceive, your mind could achieve by taking a course at the Learning Skills English tutoring may go to the Life Science Building, Room 201, Mondays through Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Students will find the Life Science Building, Room 205, on Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Photo by eve moreno Luz/CoLLegian
Students share stories of sexual harassment and assault by the Vermont Avenue campus entrance of LACC at the “Sexual Assault is Not Okay Protest” on April 9, 2018. Students also learned about Title IX, a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any education program or activity that receives federal funding. Sex discrimination according to Title IX includes sexual harassment, sexual battery, sexual assault, and rape that are “so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively bars the victim’s access to an educational opportunity or benefit.” Bureau told her that masturbating under your pants in public spaces is in fact illegal. Rubio is in charge of the detective unit at LACC.
“Hernandez made a complaint, listed herself as a victim of a sex crime, and the suspect’s interview is still being investigated and as far
as any confession I can’t comment on that,” he said. The LACC Sheriff ’s Department should have an outcome of the in-
vestigation by the end of the week. Ande Richards contributed to this article.
City Adjacent: BlueLA Plugs New Car Rental Service Electric vehicles permanently replaced parking spaces and parking meters on the northeast end of Los Angeles City College’s campus during the winter break. BlueLA took the spaces to introduce City College and the East Hollywood community to a new short-term car sharing service designed for short one-way trips, or cost-effective round trips as an alternative to owning a car. by CliNtoN CAmeRoN Four BlueLA cars parked on Willowbrook Avenue are plugged in and ready to go. They lead the first wave of 100 vehicles scheduled for placement in 40 stations in the greater Los Angeles area by mid-April. Other future locations include Westlake, Koreatown, Echo Park and South L.A. BlueLA hosted a two-hour forum to introduce their new 100 percent
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electric cars on Wed., March 7 at 5 p.m. More than 20 LACC students and community members showed up to at the Student Union Building for the forum. Senator of Student Services Gaby Toapanta represented the Associated Student Government (ASG) at the forum. “[The electric vehicles are] useful for students who may not have a car, but can drive and may not want to take public transporta-
tion,” Toapanta said. BlueLA scheduled their pilot program to launch on April 20. Some people may not need to wait until April to drive the vehicles. Those who signed up to beta-test the vehicles may become the first to drive away from campus at no cost. Sarah Randolph, BlueLA project manager, shared how beta testing works. “Basically, you’ll register [the vehicle] as if you’re a regular
user,” Randolph said. “It will be at no cost to you. The only limitation is that we don’t want you to take the car for more than four hours during the beta test period.” All beta test drivers are asked to use the BlueLA app to provide feedback about their experiences with the vehicles during the testing period. Drivers must register online before using BlueLA cars. Drivers must have a valid U.S. or foreign driver’s license and a current credit or debit card. BlueLA provides the minimum required insurance for the state of California to all members while using their vehicles. L.A. Metro Transit Access Pass (TAP) cards can also be linked to BlueLA drivers’ accounts to make the transition from L.A. public transit smooth. Other features include an interactive screen and 24-hour assistance similar to OnStar. Southwest College alumnus Michael D. Graham attended the
forum. He expressed interest in signing up to become a beta tester. “I look forward to getting a driver’s license so that I can become a participant in the beta testing process,” Graham said. Questions about the service and the BlueLA PowerPoint presentation were addressed. “We’re really excited,” said Toapanta. “The whole board is excited to be working with BlueLA and supporting this project because it is a useful thing to have for students on our campus because it is a community campus.” Thirteen percent of the funding for BlueLA program comes from the City of Los Angeles with $1 million in funds and in-kind donations. Another 13 percent of the funding comes from a $1.7 million California Air Resource Board (CARB) grant according to the BlueLA PowerPoint presentation. Membership fees and usage will raise the additional 74 percent of the program’s funding.
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Participants of the Women’s History Month Interpretation contest gather around communication studies Professor M. Shae in the Student Union Building to discuss their performances on Tuesday, March 20, 2018.
them to have their heads held high. They like what they like, no one can put them down for that.” Siliezar raises her voice as she delivers her thunderous final line. “T is for tired … tired of you calling me a slut because I get what I want.” Communication studies major, Anna Avanesya reads a piece called “For Women Who are Difficult to Love” by Warsan Shire. “You are a horse running alone and he tries to tame you … says that you are blinding him … and you tried to change didn’t you? You closed your mouth more. Tried to be softer, prettier ... if he wants to leave, let him leave. You are terrifying and strange and beautiful, something not everybody knows how to love,” she said. Avenesyan aims to take the legacy of female poets into her own hands. Since discovering Warsan Shire’s work on the social media platform Tumblr, she has begun work on her own book of poetry. The real magic of this contest,
says communication studies Professor M. Shae, is the personal connection felt by participants and listeners. “We’ve done regular speech contests where you have to write the speech and deliver it,” she said. “This one, you don’t have to write. You find speeches or literature that already exist and then you give voice to those texts so the audience can receive it.” In the process of performing the pieces, students illuminate the contributions of influential women and highlight their own performing abilities. The event closes with a deliberation and Avenesyan is declared the first-place winner of the contest. Finally, all eight contestants stand together for a photograph. They hold up t-shirts they’ve been gifted, each one with the fitting word, “Herstory.” Through bravery and showmanship, the participants leave a resounding impression on guests, leaving no doubt about their talent or their chosen author’s impact.
Enroll for Summer on Cinco De Mayo Students will have the opportunity to meet with a counselor, register for classes, get a school ID, and take a tour of the LACC campus on May 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, contact counselors Brianda Alvarez at 323-953-4000 ext. 1235, or Sarah Park at ext. 1239.
Selection of ASG Candidates Begins This Week Candidates are campaigning for the new Associated Students Government (ASG) term for 2018/2019. Student participation will determine the outcome and help select the new officers. The new term begins May 1. Voting will run from April 1830. Students will receive ballots via email from the LACCD to participate in the election.
ASG Brings Pink’s Back to Campus Legendary Pink’s hot dog stand located at Melrose and La Brea will spread the mustard for hungry students next Tuesday, April 24, at an ASG fundraiser in front of the Student Union. A beef, turkey, or vegan hot dog costs $5, and a combo, which consists of a hot dog, chips, and a drink will be $7. Fifty-cents of each hot dog sold will benefit the Associated Students Government.
Food Choices for Students Stymied Plans for a new cafeteria will take up to a year or more to be realized. The Facilities Planning Committee is in the process of approving an architect to help design the eating area as of the last facilities meeting. The process will need state approval. Pacific Dinning remains the food service vendor. President Mary Gallagher originally hoped more food choices for students would be “available after spring break,” according to a Feb. 28 article in the Collegian.
Spring Sports Kick Off LACC has partnered up with LASportsNet to bring Intramural sports to students. Starting this spring, every Tuesday and Friday the school will host Adult Coed soccer games between teams made up entirely of students. The games will take place on the LACC soccer field near the Student Services Building. Tuesday games will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday games will take place 11a.m. to 1p.m. The games run over the course of eight weeks culminating into the playoffs. Admission is free to all.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Compiled by KILMER SALINAS
1jdm4nw/.
Creative Scholarships
Worldstudio AIGA Scholarship
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. For more information or to apply, please visit 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, please visit https://aiasfoundation.wufoo.com/forms/q5707ml-
Award: Varies ($500-$5,000) Deadline: April 30, 2018
Description: Worldstudio AIGA Scholarships benefit minority and economically disadvantaged students who are studying art and design disciplines in colleges and universities in the United States. Students must be U.S. citizens or be in possession of a green card, pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in one of the following disciplines: fine art, graphic design, illustration, interactive design, or photography. Preference is given to minority students. A minimum 2.0 GPA is required and financial need must be demonstrated. For more information or to apply, please visit https://www.aiga.org/worldstudio-scholarship.
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
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
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interest in the media and entertainment industry; all majors are welcome. For more information or to apply, please visit 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. For more information or to apply, please visit 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
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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Photo Focus
Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Photo by Liam Hayes/Collegian
A student activist addresses thousands of protesters at the March for Our Lives demonstration on March 24, 2018.
Guns Kill, O
By Naomi Johnson
Lives Don’t Matter
ne is too many, two is scary and anything more than that is terrifying. School shootings in the United States are happening. Wounds are being opened and they may never heal. Imagine being a parent and getting a call from your child who is crouched down underneath a desk, or hiding as an active shooter is terrorizing the school they attend. Students around the country walked out of
their classes on March 24, 2018 to protest current gun laws in light of the recent Marjory Stoneman Douglas High shooting. Seventeen people were murdered in Parkland, Florida, on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2018. This sparked national outrage. In Los Angeles, students alongside classmates, friends, parents, grandparents and children filled the streets of Downtown L.A. to protest gun violence. They wielded and waved signs that bared strong messages like “We matter enough to survive a day at school without fear #GUNREFORMNOW.” Some people like to argue that “guns don’t
kill people, people kill people.” Yet, there are also people that say every school shooting shouldn’t be counted because no students and staff were hurt. The right to bear Arms is guaranteed by the Second Amendment in America. “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” There is no specific list of qualifications, or acceptable weapons for citizens. Death, heartache and pain comes from such a poorly written “right.” It is time for change, or at the least some revision.
Photo Focus
Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, April 18, 2018
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6 Photos by Cliff Cheng and Liam Hayes/Collegian
1. On March 24, 2018 thousands of protesters assembled in Pershing Square, Downtown LA, to hear high school and college students speak, read poetry and sing. They were demanding gun control. The protesters then marched to City Hall where Mayor Eric Garcetti and other officials addressed them. 2. Local organizer, 28-year-old Chanel Pittman wore yellow t-shirt and white scarf on her head as she spoke to the crowd about the need to curtail easy access to guns. 3. Columbine survivor, Rich Castaldo stood spirit because he can't stand physically. His ability to do so was taken away from him 19 years ago in the Columbine High School massacre.He simply addressed the crowd and said, “it’s about time.” 4, 5 and 6. Protesters carried signs that bore messages of solidarity with people who lost their lives to gun violence. While other signs highlighted demands for protection against gun violence. Many echoed the sentiment, enough-is-enough.
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Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Kosh The Artist Behind the Cover
Illustration by Joanna Guevara/Collegian
Arts & Entertainment By Tessa Flores
T
he Beatles. The Who. The Eagles. Household names and music industry giants who collaborated with one man to translate their music into a single image. On March 27, as the fifth installment of the Visual and Media Arts Department’s Artist Lecture Series, Los Angeles City College, presented Kosh. A three-time Grammy winner, Kosh created some of the most memorable and recognizable album covers in music history. Kosh spoke interview style. The conversation detailed Kosh’s storied career and many contributions to the world of music. Kosh has worked on more than 2,000 album covers and along with an equally impressive roster of musicians and entertainers. His audience consisted of graphic design students, administrators, and fans. Much like them, Kosh began his journey as an art student in London in the mid 1960s. “When I was a young man you had a choice,” Kosh said. “Either get killed in the army, or go to art school. I could draw hands and that sort of got me in on a scholarship.” In school, he was surrounded by great artists and motivating teachers that helped push him and nourished his talents. Shortly after, Kosh began designing for the Royal Ballet and the Royal Opera House and then as a creative director for Arts and Artists Magazine. And it was that job that led him to a pivotal moment in his career. It was through Kosh’s work with the magazine that he was put in touch with the most recognized and beloved bands in history – The Beatles. He was hired by Apple Records to design the much-anticipated “Abbey Road.” He was 22 years old. “It was serendipitous really,” he said. “I was at the right place at the right time, but I had the preparation and skills to back it up.” Brandon Jenkins, an aspiring artist and prospective art student at LACC, heard about Kosh’s visit to campus through a friend. He says Kosh’s story gives him hope about finding success as an artist. “As an artist you’re faced with the high chance that you won’t be able to sustain yourself on art alone because people don’t see it as a serious career choice,” Jenkins said. “He went to art school … and then did something with it and ended up making history. It goes to show that you never really know who sees your art.” Kosh’s unconventional decision not to have The Beatles’ name on the cover garnered severe backlash from Joseph Lockwood, chairman of the record label. Lockwood chastised Kosh over an early morning phone call, but by then it was too late. The covers were already on the press. “I decided that there was no point putting The Beatles or ‘Abbey Road’ on the album cover because everyone was already waiting for the next Beatles album. It didn’t have to say anything, it would just stand up for itself.” Ultimately, sales of the album exceeded 26 million in the first three days, rendering Lockwood’s doubts unfounded. “The rules are there for you to break, but you can’t break them until you know them,” Kosh said. As his time at Apple Records progressed, Kosh remained unaware of how far his reach into the industry would truly go. Kosh says he considered his job working with the greats, as simply another day at work. “We had no idea we were building icons,” he said. “We were just working, trying to have fun, and pay the rent. I got paid 300 pounds for Abbey Road, and I had to cash that check because I needed to pay the rent.” Kosh would go on to develop a special relationship
with John Lennon and even work with him on his solo projects, such as the “War is Over” campaign. “One of the most heart wrenching things that I can remember is that Lenny would always leave notes on my desk with little drawings on them and I never kept any of them,” he said. Graphic design professor Oscar Santos said Kosh’s approach with clients is something his students can take with them into the real world. “As artists and as designers, you want to make personal relationships,” Santos said. “It can only better the art you make.” Santos says the opportunity to listen to someone that has dealt with design projects on such a large scale is an important learning experience. “It’s good to give students context on how designers work in the real world,” he said. “I would really like to see Kosh come back to dig deeper into the nerdy stuff – like typography.” As depicted in his works with longtime friend, Linda Ronstadt, Kosh went to great lengths to understand the music of a particular album, listen to what the artist was trying emote and capture that on the cover. “The important thing is, if you’re going to work with an artist, then you have to get into their mind set. You have to listen to their music, oftentimes before it’s even finished, so you know that the artist will trust you and your direction, “For instance with Linda’s ‘Mad Love’ album, she just told me she wanted more of a punk look to it, so I just took her downtown and started photographing her in phone booths and it just worked, “Whereas [for] her ‘Simple Dreams’ album, she wanted something much softer and feminine. That was a very set up and staged kind of shoot,” Kosh said. In a time when Photoshop and digitized imagery did not exist, designers had to be creative with the tangible. “Everything was done manually,” Kosh said. “I hand drew everything and painted everything, it was all cut and paste. I even have the scars on my fingers to prove it.” Jenkins says he works a lot with stencils and hand silk screening, so the idea of having permanent marks on your fingers to remind you of your art really resonated with him. “I think it makes what he did all the more impressive, because that’s not easy to do … but he did it time and time again,” Jenkins said. The Who’s “Who’s Next” album in particular, which features a photo taken of band members urinating on a concrete pile started off as a much different image than what ended up on the album. “I decided to strip in a much better background because the sky in the photo was so gray and dismal that it wouldn’t pop on a cover,” Kosh said. “So, I painted a new one to create a brighter photo using a toothbrush.” Album artwork serves as an extension for the music within. A visual companion to the auditory, and Kosh found ways to draw in the consumer and help define the music. He was effective in a business and creative sense. “The same challenges still exist if you’re designing a metal album, or a rock album, or a country album,” he said. “You’ve got to decide what you’re selling and how it looks so that people know what it is that they’re buying.” To this day, Kosh still operates out of Crossroads of the World designing logos for books, television and film. He maintains that having fun and enjoying what you do, is essential for any career with longevity. “It has to be something that you know you can enjoy,” Kosh said. “If it’s not enjoyable, then it’s going to be a failure. Through all of the hard work and long nights, the enjoyment came out of the fact that what we were creating was the ultimate best that we could do.”
Paley Socks it to the Art World By Chris Argueta
Photo courtesy of Yasamin Safarzadeh
Artist, Laura Paley elevates herself above “The Longest Potholder” to reveal just a fraction of the piece, which stands over 250 feet long.
Laura Paley’s “The Longest Pot Holder” may never be finished. That may very well be her goal if she wants to keep the title. Professor Paley has worked on “The Longest Potholder” since 2001, and now over a decade later the piece stands over 250 feet long. When she began the piece she worked on the creation by herself, but now she puts it on display so that other people may add to it. The potholder is made up of thousands of socks from people across the world. She has people mail her clean socks in all shapes, sizes, and colors, so that it may be added to the collection, and eventually added to the piece itself. She also takes the names of everyone who contributes to the piece so she can add their names to the project. Paley was not always into art. It wasn’t until she was in undergraduate school that she discovered her passion. She always found a way to put a piece of herself into her art. She frequently inserts Jewish symbols into her work as a homage to her Jewish faith. She also lets her work soak up the hardships she’s experienced including some tough past relationships. In 2000, she created a piece that included photos of 20 scars she bears from surgeries over the years. She deals with the scars and they are now a part of her.
Photo courtesy of Yasamin Safarzadeh
Professor Paley instructs guests on how to cut socks and add new potholders to her work-in-progress the “The Longest Potholder” at an open exhibit at El Camino College in 2016. She recounts a story of how her art inspired a seven year old who saw her collage. The girl also had several scars from surgeries and the piece made her feel beautiful. “The Longest Pot Holder” may be the culmination of Paley’s work. It brings people together who otherwise may have never been in the same room. It is the sum of hard work from hundreds of people who take the time out of their day to come see her. The piece is currently in her studio, still a work in progress. If anyone wishes to contribute to “The Longest Potholder” send your clean socks to professor Pa-
ley on the first floor of the Chemistry Building, Room 119, or mail it to Los Angeles City College at 855 N. Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90029. Include a note addressed to Professor Paley in the Visual and Media Arts Department. “My goal with the potholder, is to have a sock from every country in the world,” Paley said. “I get socks in the mail and add their names to the list. It’s hot in Vietnam and many people don’t wear socks so I guess I’ll have to find some way around this one. Maybe get a sock from a person from Vietnam,” she said jokingly. “All participation is valuable.”
Campus Life
Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, April 18, 2018
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Photo by Ande Richards/Collegian
Los Angeles City College alumnus, Ted Lumpkin belongs to a prestigious group of WWII African-American veterans known as the Tuskegee Airmen. They included pilots, navigators, bombardiers, maintenance and support staff, instructors and all the personnel who kept the planes and pilots in the air. Lumpkin and his fellow Tuskegee Airmen were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by President George W. Bush on March 29, 2007.
Ted lumpkin: an American hero It was called the Great War and in United States this bloody conflict was a catalyst for some citizens to elevate their status. World War II galvanized the American public to fight for freedom in Europe and defend themselves against an attack on U.S. soil from the Japanese. These patriotic men and women included African Americans, once on the fringes of society, to take leadership roles. Ted Lumpkin was one of those men.
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By ANDE RICHARDS
ir raid sirens pierced the dark night with a high pitch warning that the Germans were attacking. Search lights fanned the sky above for enemy planes as soldiers scrambled into foxholes they had dug ahead of time to protect themselves – 3’ wide by 4’ deep. These dirt holes were where they would go to feel safe – at least psychologically. When the air raid sirens ceased, soldiers climbed out of their foxholes. It was in a moment that unsettling that Ted Lumpkin knew he would survive his time in service to this country. Before the drama of war, native Angelino and City College alum, Ted Lumpkin, recalled that life was simple, almost idyllic. “Things were pretty nice,” Lumpkin said. He grew up in a residential neighborhood where there were no fences around homes. “I had two best friends, Peter Colette and Marvin Robinson, who were Italian and Jewish” he said. “The neighborhood was integrated, we didn’t pay attention to race.” Lumpkin would make model airplanes with another friend, Frank Cummings. Their model airplanes had propellers and were assembled with rubber bands. “They weren’t that successful but we enjoyed the making them,” he said.
Back in the late 30s Lumpkin would go to work early in the morning and work with his father at a shoe store as a janitor. Then he would pay seven cents for a Red Car trolley ride to school across town. “Tuition at LACC was just $6 per unit,” Lumpkin said. “It was a reasonable amount to pay for higher education especially for those who were not wealthy.”
“We had the run of the train, but when we got to the Mason-Dixon line we found out the real reason why we were in that compartment - we were restricted to that area because of our race.” -TED LUMPKIN He studied math at the time and remembers a history instructor who made history come alive. “He made history significant and meaning-
ful,” Lumpkin said. Little did he know at the time that he would be a significant and meaningful part of American History and a hallmark in the narratives of the civil rights movement. “I was in bed and woke up to the radio announcing that Pearl Harbor had been bombed, that was on Dec. 7, 1941.” That was during Lumpkin’s last year at UCLA. He was immediately drafted into WWII. “All enlisted men had to take an examination so they could be assigned to various divisions in the military, Lumpkin said. “I was inducted at Fort MacArthur, in San Pedro.” He recalled that when he went to test for his assignment he had to wait for results and was nervous because he was left in a room with only three other black men. They were all assigned to Tuskegee. Lumpkin did not understand the significance of his assignment but his cohort, Arnold Bankston knew all about Tuskegee and how important it was to black enlisted men. The three young men journeyed to Alabama by train. They were put in a special compartment. “I thought it was a nice thing for the Air Force to do and that we must be on a plum assignment,” he said. “We had the run of the train, but when we got to the Mason-Dixon line we found out the real reason why we were in that compartment - we were restricted to that area because of our race.” When they went to eat, the staff would put a curtain in front of the black soldiers to separate them from the rest of the car. “That was my experience with prejudice in the military,” Lumpkin said. Part 2 of Ted Lumpkin: An American Hero will be in the May 2 issue of the Collegian.
Matthew Bakalinsky, Mujibar Badal Run for Top ASG Seats By Alejandro Argueta Nursing Major, Matthew Bakalinsky and Paralegal Studies major, Mujibar Badal are running for President and Executive Vice President of LACC’s Associate Student Government. They have experience as ASG ambassadors and representatives, and they know what it is like to advocate for the college’s student body. The Collegian had the opportunity to talk to them about their plans if they are elected by fellow students. Collegian: Tell me about the President and Executive Vice President’s responsibilities? Bakalinsky: My position (President of ASG) will entail representing all the students on the campus, and going to different meetings like the ASG Senate Board meetings and the Finance meetings. I advocate for all the students. The President is the highest possible level of student communication in the meetings. The
president could make a committee that revolves around a specific issue, like the bathroom committee, for example. Badal: The Executive Vice President position is very important because ASG is a team and this is a very vital force for the students of LACC. The duties are the same as the president. Collegian: What issues do you plan to tackle? How will you approach that? Bakalinsky: This year I have been an ambassador for ASG, and I went to different types of meetings. One of the major issues is that the school is making budget cuts. To tackle all issues on the campus, I’d like to keep in touch with the district, because the LACC school district makes the final decisions about how things will be affected on this campus. The second thing I’d like to do is raise funds. A “GOFUNDME” page and raising funds from the community. Two top issues would be the bathrooms and bringing back col-
lege sports on campus. Badal: My idea as EVP is to sit down with the executive body and listen to the student’s needs. Then we make an agenda to talk to the proper people in the district so that these needs are executed to solve the problems of LACC students. I hear a lot of complaints about Financial Aid. I want training for the employees to make the administration in a newer design and get involvement to let them know that we are here, different cultures and languages and beliefs that, together, they are representing. They must have the capacity to solve for everyone as a whole. Collegian: What in your personal lives makes you guys want to run? Bakalinsky: When you see people struggle, you feel depressed. The mental state makes you think about what you can do to help. At LACC, these problems need to be solved. If they’re not, people will suffer and think badly of the school.
Photo by Anwar Torres/collegian
Matthew Bakalinsky and Mujibar Badal are running for President and Executive Vice President of LACC’s Associate Student Government. They both have experience as ASG ambassadors and representatives, and if elected they plan to balance the budget and empower administrators with the tools they need to better assist students with the financial aid process. It’s time to end the suffering. Badal: I’m from Bangladesh. From my boyhood, I have gained a leadership quality. I see here a lot of suffering here. If I want to solve my problem, I cannot solve it personally. I have to solve the problem
class-wise. So the repressed class, I need to represent. Collegian: Any final comments? Badal: I need to win for the benefit of the whole society. Bakalinsky: Enough is enough, it’s time to make the changes for
the students of LACC. You can read more about the candidates and their campaign at www.VoiceofLACCstudents.com, where they introduce themselves and discuss their positions on various campus related issues.
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CAmPuS LIFE
Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Tips to Get Past the Gatekeeper by JASmiNe JeRNigAN It is that time of year again. High school and community college students are compiling their university college applications with hopes of being accepted into their desired universities. The application process for higher education is not easy, but there are steps that prospective students can take to increase the likelihood of being accepted. While some students prefer to go through the application process on their own, others opt to use a college admission consultant like Whitney Enwemeka. Enwemeka is a former Assistant Director for the University of Southern California Office of Admission and she has tips for Los Angeles City College students who are preparing their university applications. Collegian: Tell us what you do? EnWeMeka: I’m the Co-Founder and Lead Consultant at I’mPossible College Admission Consulting. I’m using my experience as a former Assistant Director for the USC Office of Admission for five years to help students apply to colleges and universities across the globe. At USC, I read a lot of applications and assisted in deciding whether or not students were admitted to the university and received a scholarship. I know what a strong and polished application looks like and how admission committees review and evaluate college applications. I’ve used this knowledge to help students get admitted to a variety of schools such as the University of Cambridge, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, Chapman, LMU, Colorado College, Harvey Mudd, Scripps, Reed College, Smith College, Wesleyan University, and USC. Collegian: How did you get into the line of work you’re in? EnWeMeka: I’m a proud, first-generation college graduate. I graduated from CSU Fullerton where I earned a BA in African American-Ethnic Studies and from USC with an MS in Social Entrepreneurship from the Marshall School of Business. As an undergraduate student, I worked full time in the mortgage industry during the 2008 recession and hated my job. My days were filled with families losing their homes to foreclosure and that was very difficult for me. I knew needed a change and wanted to do something fulfilling and rewarding. I shared my passion about higher education and wanting to help others enroll in college with a good friend of mine who recommended that I look into working in college admissions and the rest is history. Collegian: How do you help students with the transferring process? EnWeMeka: I help students every step of the way. I help them decide which schools are a good fit for them, what classes they should be taking, and I assist with college major selection, essay and personal statement coaching and editing, resume review, and post-acceptance counseling. Applying to college can be overwhelming and confusing. I help students get organized and help them create personalized, realistic goals to help them prepare and apply to college confidently. Collegian: What are some common mistakes students are making in the application process to universities? EnWeMeka: I would say the main mistake that students make when applying to college is that they don’t know how to articulate their fit and aspirations. For example, students will say that they are passionate about something, but sometimes don’t provide evidence of this passion. I completely understand because it can be hard to talk about yourself, but when the admissions committee reads your application they should have a good understanding of who you are and the value that you would add to their university. You shouldn’t hold back on your accomplishments. If you don’t provide evidence and articulate your case for admission in your writing samples and other components of the application, then how else are they going to know that they should admit you? Collegian: How can students increase their likelihood of being accepted into a university?
Associated Student Government (ASG) represent the student body. They are the voices that support Los Angeles City College students and their interests on the campus. They have weekly senate meetings, which are open to the public on every Thursday at 3:30 p.m. These meetings are a great way for students to become aware of what that is happening, or is going to happen with on our cam-
African-American studies at Los Angeles City College provides a rich education in the history and culture of African-Americans.
2. earn a skills Certificate 3. apply for a scholarship
A skills certificate is offered to students who take 15 units in required courses. Nine of those credits must be in African-American studies.
Course options: Photo CourteSy of whitney enwemeKa
Whitney Enwemeka specializes in helping students with college admission applications. She is a former Assistant Director for the University of Southern California Office of Admission and she has tips for Los Angeles City College students who are preparing their university applications. EnWeMeka: Every university has their own admission criteria and how they evaluate their applicants so it’s hard to say. A student can always increase their likelihood of admission by following all application directions and doing adequate research on the schools that they are applying to. Many schools are very straightforward with their expectations and what it is that they’re looking for in future students. Collegian: When do students need to start applying to universities? EnWeMeka: It depends on which universities students are applying to, but many applications become available during the summer. It’s a good idea for students to become familiar with the application and admission requirements as soon as possible so that they can prepare for the number of essays they have to write, and what classes are required, etc. Collegian: Do you have any advice for students having difficulties with the financial aid process? Is financial aid available for universities? EnWeMeka: Students should pay close attention to the FAFSA and CSS (if they’re applying to private schools) deadlines. There are many resources available to students, but you have to put in the necessary time to apply for these funds. Some scholarships require additional essays or letters of recommendation and although it may seem tedious, it’s worth it. I hear about many students wanting the financial assistance, but too often they say they don’t have time to complete the requirements. I would recommend that you make the time because you’re going to wish you did once it’s time to pay back your student loans. Collegian: How can students reach you if they need your assistance? EnWeMeka: Students can visit my website: ImPossibleCAC.com for more information about services and ways that I’mPossible College Admission Consulting can help them. Feel free to leave a note in the “Contact Us” section of the site and we’ll be sure to connect with you as soon as possible. For more information on how to get help with college applications, students are urged to visit the LACC Counseling center, or contact Whitney Enwemeka at whitnems@usc.edu for more information on her services.
AsG upDAte by SAhARA VelASQueZ
1. study african-american history
pus. This includes policy changes and activities. Vice President of Clubs, Theresa Morgan Cruz, says there are a total of 46 clubs chartered this semester, and that she would be working on a master list, which will include the meeting times, president and advisor names affiliated with each club. The master list will be uploaded into the school website soon. President, Mark Mathes, says that the English as a Second Language (E.S.L.) program is going
through changes. Next year, E.S.L students will be required to learn English and successfully transfer within three years. Finally, on April 2, the applications to run for an ASG position were due. Students had the opportunity to submit a proposal, which would allow them to run for a position and become more involved in school. The ASG term cycle runs for a year from July 1June 30.
HAVE AN OPINION? A STORY IDEA? write a letter to the editor! email: losangeles.collegian@gmail.com
sCholarship requirements:
Afro AM 4 - The African-American in the History of the United States I
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Applicant must have a 3.0 GPA
Afro AM 5 - The African-American in the History of the United States II
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Total units completed should not exceed 90
Afro AM 7 - African-Americans and the Political System
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Plan to transfer to a four-year university or college
Afro AM 20 - African-American Literature I
the moon, Collins, ealy sCholarship
Afro AM 60 (same as Music 135) African-American Music Anth 102 - Human Ways of Life (Cultural)
Professors Henry Ealy and Mattie Moon created this scholarship in honor of Elmer Moon, Nina Collins and Janis Ealy.
history 73 - Race and Racism in the United States
It is for students who have completed at least nine units of African-American studies offered by the social sciences department.
sociology 11 - Race and Ethnic Relations in the United States
“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” - Malcolm X
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.
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
SPORtS
Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, April 18, 2018
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GoAL! Sports Make a Comeback by myNoR peRAltA
Photo by anwar torreS/CoLLegian
Intramural Soccer at Los Angeles City College had its spring debut on April 13, 2018. The coed teams gave the field a workout while cheerleaders encouraged their play.
For a long time, Los Angeles City College has been without sports teams or competitive sports for students. However, some of that changed last Friday with the opening of the Intramural Soccer Tournament sponsored by LASPORTSNET. Founder and President Nathan Polzin attended the event and refereed one of the several matches between the teams from LACC. He explained the reason he promoted the event. “We actually reached out to LACC probably two years ago in an effort to bring an event like this to the school … give (students) another outlet to be active, healthy, make friends, and play sports,” Polzin said. The event delivered on Polzin’s goals. At least 70 players signed up for the event. They formed teams like Legacy FC (the “FC” stands for football club), Panteras FC, LACC XI, Lucky Charms, PSG (in honor of the French team Paris Saint-Germain), and Los Angeles FC. As the event continued more students signed up. There was live music, the new and improved Cubby, and the LACC cheerleaders. The event will continue until May 18 on the soccer field every Tuesday and Friday. Staff members from the Office of Student Life worked to help create and promote the tourna-
ment. Armineh Dereghishian seemed excited that the tournament kicked off and that students were actively participating. She elaborated on how students have expressed their desire to bring sports back to LACC. “Students have been very vocal about wanting sports back. The office had sent out a survey to see what sports they wanted and soccer was at the top of the list,” Dereghishian said. She says that students can help by spreading the word and participating in the events planned for the future. Edward Barrera signed up for the tournament. He also worked hard to spread the word to other students. “We set up a booth during Club Rush, talked to a lot of students, we sent out an email four or five times, a mass email to about 4,000 to 5,000 people, flyers, and banners,” Barrera said. He also talked about the motivation for bringing back collegiate sports to LACC. “We have a beautiful field, good facilities, so why not use them on the students … take advantage of the resources at hand … it helps promote college life and spirit,” Barrera said. There are plans to bring more Intramural events in the fall. This is a beginning for collegiate sports to come back to LACC after a 10year hiatus. Intramural sports could be a great beginning.
PhotoS by anwar torreS/CoLLegian
The Intramural Sports Program offers LACC students the opportunity to participate in team sports and to participate in structured and organized programs while promoting relaxation, socialization, achievement and physical wellness, teamwork and mutual respect.
Photo by anwar torreS/CoLLegian
Dean of Student Services, Alen Andriassian is flanked by Cubby as they welcome everyone to enjoy LACC’s return to sports on April 13, 2018.
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SPORtS
Los Angeles Collegian — Wednesday, April 18, 2018
CARVING A NEW PATH,
THE GENESIS OF THE LAFC
Photo by CLiff Cheng/CoLLegian
LA Galaxy defeats LAFC 4-3 on March 31, 2018. L.A.’s two Major League Soccer teams, the established LA Galaxy and the new L.A. Football Club (LAFC) played each other for the first time on March 31, 2018. The Galaxy wore white uniforms, while LAFC wore black. The game was played at Stub Hub Center, located on California State University Dominquez’s campus in Carson. by thomAS ChAViRA
W
hile Major League Soccer pauses for international play this month, the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) - the newest kid on the block - sits pretty with a perfect 2-0 record awaiting a matchup with cross-town rival Los Angeles Galaxy. Led by coach Bob Bradley, LAFC now faces the task of maintaining their momentum with a couple of weeks breaking up their regular season schedule. “It throws off the rhythm,” Bradley said. International breaks also disrupt the season so you have to adjust and use it as a way to continue to build on our ideas and make our team better.” While this is the inaugural season of LAFC, Bradley isn’t a
stranger to coaching soccer in Los Angeles. In 2006 he coached Chivas USA, the original second team in L.A. to their first playoff appearance. After the season Bradley was named MLS Coach of the Year for the second time, the first being with the Chicago Fire in 1998. With the LAFC bringing in someone like coach Bradley, who has been around long enough to see it all, you can expect him to temper his enthusiasm in regards to the quick start. Still there is plenty to be optimistic about. “I’m excited with the start,” he said. “Obviously when you’re building something you still want to find ways to take points so that part is great. And I also see moments of football that I think is what we want to be about. So
[this is] our opportunity to represent the incredible fans We haVe KnoWing that there is a little More on the line so We’re looKing forWard to it.” - COACH BOB BRADLEY Photo by CLiff Cheng/CoLLegian
Los Angeles Football Club Head Coach Bob Bradley.
we’ve got a long way to go but if you look at some of the attacking moments, some of the goals, it’s an indication that players are taking things in a good direction.” With huge names in ownership such as L.A. stars Magic Johnson, Nomar Garciaparra, and comedy icon Will Ferrell, LAFC has done well carving out their presence. Still, their largest test awaits them on March 31 when they play local juggernaut L.A. Galaxy. “We’ll focus on the Galaxy as we get closer,” Bradley said. We’ll concentrate on building on things that we have talked about since the first day. Then as you get into that week it’ll be an extra level of excitement. [This is] our opportunity to represent the incredible fans we have knowing that there is a little more on the line so we’re looking forward to it.”
SPRING SPORTS: Women’s Softball Takes the Field PhotoS by CLiff Cheng/CoLLegian
Oregon’s no. 50, Nerissa Eason in mid-air before she makes a play. Left-to-Right: CSUN no. 33, Megan Stevens collides with Oregon no. 24, Missy Nunes, as she is trying to get on base. CSUN no. 99, Jillian James in throws a pitch.