Vagina Monologues a Smash!
C TY
VQ:EWS When did you learn about Armenian Genocide? Do you think it should be internationally recognized as a genocide?
3
Wednesday May 2, 2012 Volume 167 Number 5
NEWS BRIEFS
LACC Summer Sessions Cancelled
6
Foreign Language Day Celebration
Earth Day Celebrated by ALL
11
Collegian 8
Los Angeles
The Voice of Los Angeles City College Since 1929
ASO Suspends ‘Occupy LACC’ Club
City College does not have the funds to offer a summer 2012 session, according to a statement from the office of LACC President Jamillah Moore. Courses for year-round accredited programs like Dental Technology, Radiologic Technology and Nursing will be offered according to the statement. The colleges that will offer summer classes in the District are East Los Angeles College, Pierce and Trade Tech. Colleges outside the District like El Camino College, Mt. San Antonio College, Santa Monica College, Glendale Community College and Pasadena Community College will offer classes.
Da Vinci Gallery Displays Student Talent Student work is on exhibit until next Thursday in the Art Scholarship Show at the Da Vinci Gallery. There will be a reception for the event which begins at noon and ends at 2 p.m. tomorrow. The student art show will run from May 17-June 3. The scholarship awards ceremony for the art department will begin at 12:30 p.m. in Da Vinci Hall on May 17. Photo by Abel Zarate Jr./ Collegian
Explosive Subject to be Explored Neutron stars, soft gamma ray repeaters and gamma ray bursts are areas of specialty for Dr. Shri Kulkarni. He will lecture on exploding stars at the spring 2012 Walter O’Connell Memorial Lecture “An Explosion Of Explosions,” on Tuesday, May 8, at 3:30 p.m. in the Sci-Tech Building, Room 132. The entire campus community is invited.
Concert Series Enters Its Final Month There are 17 concerts left in the LACC Music Department concert series. Upcoming concerts feature an evening of chamber music on Friday, May 4, a percussion ensemble on Thursday, May 10, even an evening of musical theatre on Friday, May 18. For more information on the series, call 323-953-4000, ext. 2880 or go to the department website at: www.lacitycollege.edu/academic/departments/ music/
Mock Personal Interviews Offered Those who need practice interviewing for a job position can go to the Career and Job Development Center on Monday, May 7, and Thursday, May 10, for a mock interview. Receive 10 minutes of questions, and learn how to best answer the most common interview questions asked by employers. Commpiled by: Kenneth Jara
LACC
WEATHER FORECAST
Dean of Student Life Earic Peters tells students he supports them because he was an activist in college, then threatens to suspend the club for walking through Franklin Hall. The students refrained from going into any more buildings on campus after the warning. The following day, the ‘Occupy LACC Club’ was suspended.
By Eun Ju Lee
ASO
suspended Occupy LACC, a relatively new club, from campus activities for one month after members marched through Franklin Hall chanting on April 12. Many Occupy LA protesters are members of the club and find the club suspension to be a major setback. Occupy LACC held a demonstration rally with 50 participants. They gathered at the main Quad at noon on April 12. After the scheduled events with speeches and presentations were over, they marched into Franklin Hall, Jefferson Hall, Da Vinci Hall, and walked onto Heliotrope Avenue and continued onto Melrose Avenue. The protesters marched off chanting for freedom of speech with posters that read, “Public education is for the people not for corporate profit,” or “More money for jobs and education not for wars and corporations,” and “Fund schools not war.” However, students that were in the classrooms did not really know what was going on. Joseph Gurrola, who was in history class of the Franklin Hall said
that he did not know anything. “ I knew they were pretty reasonable, “ Gurrola, an English major said. “It did not make sense when they were chanting in the hallways, but my teacher was more interested about [the event].” The main goal of the rally was to raise awareness on budget cuts, and to inform how the cuts affect the student body. As they walked through buildings on campus, some chanted, “No cuts, no fees, our education should be free!” However, the administration and some students considered the student protest a disruptive behavior that disturbed classes. Laura Cortez heard protesters chanting when she was sitting in the classroom at Jefferson Hall. “They were disruptive, loud, and annoying definitely, “ said Cortez, a computer engineering major. “ I think it was so inconsiderate to chant in the building because I could not concentrate, although I agree [that] their arguments and points should be heard.” In a letter released and sent to the club by Earic Peters, the Associate Dean of Student Life, the club’s events were suspended for violating college
policy and LACCD Board rules of disturbing classes. He stated that the club’s rally at the main Quad was approved, but the loud chanting by entering academic buildings was not. “ I agree the principle of free of speech, but they should be held accountable for civil disobedience, “ said Peters. “It violates students’ right to learn. As an administrator, it is our job to protect students’ right to have education free from disruption of classes, which is not authorized, and violates the code of conduct. I also heard that substantial number of students and professors complained for the disruption.” According to college regulations, club’s chanting inside of buildings would violate code 9803.11, 9803.15, and 9803.17, which specifically prohibits the interference with peace on campus, and disruption of classes or college activities. Contrary to what had been stated in the code, Richard Liao, a professor of Foreign Languages and Humanities supports the club’s demonstration. “I disagree that [club] should be suspended,” said Liao. “We’ve got to have freedom of speech, and democracy, as long as protestors do it
through legal procedures. They should be able to speak out. They weren’t really disruptive to my classes.”
Occupy LACC officially stated that marching through these building briefly was to share their message to students who were out of reach and couldn’t hear or see them in the Quad. “We feel that a brief five minutes of classroom disruption was necessary,” a letter from the club stated. “Especially since what we were rallying for directly applies to both the students sitting in those classrooms as well as the faculty teaching.” Many at the rally think that cutting funds for education is more disruptive than chanting inside of buildings for few minutes. Julia Wallace, a former LACC student activist and a member of Struggle United/Luchas Unidas [SULU] says she has been fighting against budget cuts and political harassment for some time now. The club focuses on issues of transportation such as the TAP card program and tries to find ways to make public transit more affordable to students. The complications that are surrounding the TAP card have been placing financial burdens on some students, making it expensive just to get to school. “The administration has not done anything for the cuts,” Wallace said. “The summer sessions have been reduced, TAP cards have become expensive. We are not going to pay what [the] banks have to pay.” Continued on Page 10
National Win
Photo Courtesy Dean Allison Jones Rene Michelle Aranda (right) who is flanked by LACC Theatre Academy Chair Kevin Morrissey received a Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Award for “Outstanding Performance by an Actress” at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival on April 21, 2012 in Washington D.C.
Marking the 97th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
Thousands March For Recognition of Armenian Genocide in Hollywood
WEDNESDAY
65/54
THURSDAY
65/55
Armenians join to commemorate the lives of 1.5 million Armenians who were murdered in the 1915 genocide.
FRIDAY
69/55
By Anna Kamalyan
SATURDAY
70/55
SUNDAY
70/56
eople of all ages dressed mostly in black marched through Little Armenia on Hollywood Boulevard, calling for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide on April 24. Some paraded with the Armenian flag in hand, as the red, blue and orange fabric swayed in the breeze. A sea of people on foot, on bicycles and with strollers moved along Hollywood Boulevard near the intersection of Hobart. There were grandparents holding their grandchildren’s hands. Teenagers wore black T-shirts with “1915 never again,” written on the back. Toddlers in strollers clutched and waved Armenian flags. Within the crowd were Armenians from all over the world uniting in one place with one goal in mind: Recognition of the Armenian Genocide. They all spoke the same language, but differently, one could hear accents from Eastern Armenia, Persia, Russia, Georgia, Bulgaria and more. “1915 never again, genocide never again!” They chanted in unison. During the Ottoman Empire in 1915, 1.5 million Armenians were murdered, undressed with their lifeless bodies piled on top of each other all over Western Armenia. Studies show neither gender nor age prevented rape and murder. Even children were sexually assaulted and beaten to death.
P
INDEX Opinion and Editorial ........................ 2-3 News ................................ 4 Photo Focus ..................... 5 Arts & Entertainment .... 6-7 Campus Life ................ 8-11 Sports .............................12
Photo by Inae Bloom/ Collegian Thousands march along Hollywood Boulevard in ‘A Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923,’ on Tuesday, April 24, 2012 in an event organized by the Unified Young Armenians.
See page 4
02
Opinion & Editorial
Wednesday May 2, 2012
Editorial
Post Racial World
Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN
Los Angeles
Collegian Editor-In-Chief: Matthew Mullins Copy Editor:
By Hyun Chung
Brent Pearson
I boarded the eastbound Slauson Boulevard bus on my way to City College. Oprah always said to listen to “that little voice,” which she identified as intuition. On this particular day, I chose to suppress that little voice. I went to the back of the bus to sit. I was the only Asian sitting there, amongst a group of black youths. When Sandra Bullock’s character i n the 2004 film “Crash” walked by those two black men, she too had a premonition. I felt the burn of dark pupils. One black teen was eyeing me purposely from across the bus. I felt the gaze of another teen sitting to my left; he leaned over to yet another, whispering into his ear. I dismissed my apprehension: It was a full bus and crowded; and yes, maybe there weren’t too many people who looked like me boarding busses in South Central. I looked down, continuing to read articles on Trayvon Martin, the seventeen-year-old who was killed by a half-white, half-Peruvian volunteer crime watchman in Florida. Martin’s death is portrayed as a racist tragedy because he was a young black male. In the court of public opinion, most are probably on Martin’s side. Suddenly, my reading was interrupted when my body was pulled off my seat. The guy who was eyeing me suspiciously had tugged on my purse, which pulled my wrist because the purse strap was around it. As the bus stopped on Slauson and Crenshaw, I suddenly realized what was happening. “Stop!” I shouted. I was able to get a closer look at those eyes which bore into me, surprisingly calm brown eyes, so focused. His objective was clear. The purse snatcher pushed me out the rear doors of the bus. The exit stairs were behind me. I fell to the sidewalk. He and his friend ripped the strap from my purse and ran. I watched in slow motion. The bystanders were thankfully not in as much of a daze as I was. “Do you want me to call the police?” asked a woman. “Go after them,” said a mother with a little girl dressed in pink. My chest tightened painfully. I couldn’t believe what was happening. “They’re there!” the bystander pointed toward south Crenshaw Boulevard. I had given up on my purse, but the bystanders prodded me. I walked slowly to comply with their instructions. Moments later, a man returned on his bicycle after chasing my purse snatchers. I recognized the small black bag, now strapless. “Thank you,” I said to the man who returned my purse to me. I collapsed to the ground
Denise Barrett
Luis Rivas Photo Editor: Claudia Alvarado News: Abimael Rivera Arts & Entertainment: Lauren Arevalo Distribution Manager: Patrick Chong Advertising: Richard Martinez Graphic Designer: Gegham Khekoyan Josue Hernandez Reporters: Anna Kamalyan Geoffrey Smith Gerard Cole Josefina Nunez Eun Lee Jayne Miles Naomi Johnson Hyun Chung Pablo De Jesus Claudia Alvarado Giselli Rodriguez Kenneth Jara Layla Fernandez David Stamp Photographers: Inae Bloom Patrick Chong Seung Hyun Choi MultiMedia: Dave Martin David Tapia Illustrators: Jose Ramon Tobar Quaniesha Miles Steffen Williams Faculty Adviser: Rhonda Guess
Illustration by Jose Tobar / Collegian
because I was so utterly shocked. I had only $3 and a debit card that had access to the few remaining dollars in my checking account. I also had my driver’s license and a cellphone inside that purse. “Get up,” he urged me, spurring my confidence. I had never been a victim of a crime. The boys who had snatched my purse resembled Trayvon Martin in appearance. I had ignored that “little voice,” scolding myself with “Don’t be a racist.”
Letters to the Editor
In response to ‘Students Push Back’ Emma Goldman said that if voting changed anything it would be illegal. There is a truth in this statement however; the voting process is nothing to be lackadaisical about. The front page of The Collegian last week was peppered with stories that should be of interest to every student at LACC (Santa Monica College Delays Two-Tier Tuition System; New Financial Aid Policy Explained; Applicants to Cal State Face Roadblocks to Admission). California’s budget crisis has already had a tremendous impact on the state and community college systems in CA. Tuition continues to climb and our state schools are examining the possibility of freezing admissions and changing their admissions criteria. This is a frightening proposition for many students. Unless you can afford to pay for a private college and/or have exceptional grades and the drive to seek out every scholarship around, this affects you. It has noted that young people do not educate themselves on local issues, or vote in high
Here, I would like to stop my story to warn all Asians who take the bus on South Central to not sit in the back and be aware of teen black males who eye you suspiciously. I was going to write an editorial about the plight of the young black male, including the most conspicuous statistic of how so few black men are in higher education. “Don’t be a racist,” was the most important lesson from my memory of the Los Angeles Riots. “Can we all just get along?” Rodney King asked, which I will now ask.
numbers. According to The California Voter Foundation 51% of eligible voters age 18-34 in California are not registered. This is purely unacceptable. Less than one hundred years ago women and African Americans were not permitted to vote, the right it was a ‘privilege’ belonging to white men alone. It was a hard fought battle to gain the right to vote and one that should be capitalized on. The issues that impact us as individuals most immediately and profoundly are often the measures that we know the least about. Unless you want that C in statistics to keep you from transferring, or your spotless credit will allow you to take out a large low interest personal loan to pay for private school, you must educate your self on the local issues and participate in the voting process in Los Angeles. Registration is easy and mail-in ballots are available to save you the hassle of waiting in long lines on Election Day. The seemingly small measures may affect you and your children for decades, and though the official ballot for the Nov. 6 election has yet to be released, I have a suspicion that the so-called “millionaire tax” won’t be the only issue of importance Angelinos face this election. Jenny Caitlin, student
I want to get along. I want to live in that post-racial world. I refused to believe that South Central was a rough neighborhood. I also wanted to do something about the prejudice toward young black males. Now, I question myself. The Slauson bus passes by the swapmeet where my father had worked. During the Los Angeles Riots, he was armed along with other Korean workers to guard his place of work. As the lone Asian on the Slauson bus, I am reminded just how segregated Los Angeles still is, so
In response to ‘Making a Mockery of Marriage’ Dear Editor, Words can not adequately express the outrage I felt reading the shameless Far-Right diatribe written by Mr. Jorge posing as an “Editorial” in your recent issue. Part of Jorge’s patently false “argument” is that allowing equality for everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, to marry makes a “mockery” of the US Constitution. Perhaps Mr. Jorge could show us exactly which article of our National Charter, which explicit defines marriage? The question is rhetorical since NOWHERE in the Constitution is the concept of marriage discused, let alone very define but Mr. Jorge and his fellow rightwing extremists would never let factual information get in the way of their hateful polemics. While the First Amendment gives us all the right to freedom of expression, the ideas that Jorge propagates would be laughable if they weren’t so odious
contrary to my idealism. From now on, I will have an involuntary feeling of fear whenever I see a teenage black male with sagging pants. I don’t want to, but the fear will be there and that is the part I resent the most. My story ended happily. There were people who helped me. They were all black and brown and they were all more than willing to help that lone Asian—me. But a gnawing question persists which I want to ask the two teens who plotted to steal my purse: “Why me? Was it because of my race?”
and malignant in nature. An excellent example is his claim that, failing to ban gay marriage somehow “restrains the liberties of the heterosexual” which is like saying that ending segregation in the South restrained the liberty of the white majority to legally discriminate african americans and that defeating the Nazis restrained their liberty to kill the jews (as well as their political opponents, gypsies and homosexuals) . Make no mistake about it, Equality to Marry is a civil rights issue. Denial of civil rights, whether we are taking about the right to marry, the right to equal protection under the law or even the most basic right of all, the right to live, is at best discrimination and at worst genocide. There is a word for hate mongers like, Mr. Jorge who seek to deny other people and groups basic civil liberties by forcefully imposing their will upon others, the word is FASCIST. Jack Gould, student
Journalism Association of
Community Colleges
ASSOCIATED COLLEGIATE PRESS Deadline Schedule NEXT ISSUE: April 18, 2012 Editorial deadline: April 16, 2012 For all submissions including letters to the editor and publicity releases. Advertising deadline: April 16, 2012 Send materials to Collegian office: Chemistry 207 losangeles.collegian@gmail.com The college newspaper is published as a learning experience, offered under the college journalism instructional program. The editorial and advertising materials published herein, including any opinions expressed, are the responsibility of the student newspaper staff. Under appropriate state and federal court decisions, these materials are free from prior restraint by virtue of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Accordingly, materials published herein, including any opinions expressed, should not be interpreted as the position of the Los Angeles Community College District, Los Angeles City College, or any officer or employee thereof. © 2012 Collegian. No material may be reprinted without the express written permission of the Collegian.
Opinion & Editorial
Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN
Wednesday May 2, 2012
03
C TY
V EWS Compiled by Kenneth Jara
Q:
When did you learn about Armenian Genocide?
Anthony Velasquez Liberal Arts
Sarkis Yeretsian History
Virgil Vile Computer Science/Math
Neil Stamatelaky Criminal Justice
Patrice Austin Graphic Design/ Art
“I learned about it in High School, through a band called “System of A Down”. They raise awareness about the genocide. I believe that it should be recognized worldwide, so people around the world can learn exactly what happened.”
“My parents told me about it when I was in the second grade. It should be considered a genocide because 1.5 million Armenians. They executed us every possible way. It was definately genocide.”
“I learned about it through Wikipedia. It should be considered a genocide because millions of people died.”
“My professor told me about it. It should be considered a genocide, because people have to be aware of what happened, so next time we can help the people that are less fortunate.”
“I did not learn about it until LACC when someone mentioned it in class. It should be considered a genocide so more people can be aware of these sorts of things.”
Earth Day, Every Day By Jose Tobar
E
very year since April 22, 1970, Earth Day has been celebrated around the world to bring awareness to the negative impact we human beings are having on Mother Earth. Oil spills, air pollution, water pollution and nuclear waste are just some of the more obvious abuses we have inflicted upon her. I personally don’t know to what extent we have contributed to that other phenomenon called global warming, but I doubt anyone can deny that we have f*!#’ed things up. It seems we are suffering from a bad case of cognitive dissonancewhen a person is torn between contradictory beliefs- both on a macro and micro level. Despite negative reports on environmental impact, corporations are forever lobbying the government to loosen up the belt on regulations until their pants fall down. Some people even want to abolish government altogether. I am not a big fan of government that seems to never represent the people. But at this point, a corporate government would be a devil sent to the planet. On the micro level, we as individuals know we do our share.
Every time I see someone drop some miniscule piece of paper on the floor, I think to myself: ‘Tar and Feathers!’ The last time I visited the observatory, my eyes were suddenly diverted away from the stars (those I could see at least) as I noticed a giant ring of smog silently floating above the city. Damn! Words failed me. I was in awe. I figured perhaps we really have become that self-destructive. That was the last time I visited the observatory. And here I am, playing my part too. Contributing to the mess in this way or that. I thought to myself, don’t say another word, be quiet, and I went on my merry way back down the asphalt. It is interesting to note that in the “Popolvuj”--the sacred book of the Mayans--there is a story in which man’s own tools take on a life of their own only to bring about their creators’ destruction. So you mean to tell me that these dangers were known ages ago? Well, well, so then what is it? Is this progress, capitalism, patriarchism, “isms” or schisms? Or are we simply repeating some cyclical past? Ideally each generation should learn from the previous one’s experience. With the family unit weakened by the economic demands and the sense of community in disarray in many
parts of the globe, that knowledge gained(if gained) by our elders is either ignored or lost on many of us. Personally, I don’t think about it much anymore after having spent some time in revolving door organizations. I slowly became more cynical about the whole thing. I lost interest. At the risk of sounding ecclesiastical, I lost faith. Don’t get me wrong and don’t take me seriously. I’m just as informed as the next fellow and I am as guilty too. But all is not lost. All is never lost. The good news is that there are signs of the sleeping giant slowly waking up having caught a bad case of the bed bugs. Solar panel installations are on the rise. Wind power alternatives are being explored. More people around L.A. are choosing to ride a bike (save the earth and stay in shape, not a bad deal). The Occupy movements have definitely addressed the interests and concerns of both old and young. A large portion of the so called Hispanic/Latin community have been reclaiming their true identities as descendants of the people of the sun and with that, readjusting their relation toward Mother Earth. Last but not least, the environmental movements around the globe are owed a great debt for their
Collegian By Naomi Johnson I am almost positive that if you ask anyone their opinion on the Trayvon Martin incident, it breaks down into two categories of opinions, racism and appearance. Judging someone based on their race or
big and small. We observe a single day as Earth Day, but the fact is that
from where we stand, every day should be celebrated as such.
appearance cannot only be hurtful, it can result in death. Ask Trayvon Martin’s family. Trayvon Martin is a name that we have all become familiar with. He was the 17-year-old African American teenager who was murdered by George Zimmerman, a 28-year-old bi-racial hispanic male who lived in the gated community in which Trayvon lived. He lived in Sanford, Florida in a gated community where he had been staying with his father and his father’s fiancee. Trayvon wore a hooded sweatshirt and was armed with nothing other than the bag of skittles and arizona iced tea he had just purchased from a local store before attempting to return home.
A call to the Sanford Police Department was placed by George Zimmerman. He described Martin’s appearance and behavior as suspicious. Zimmerman is known as a frequent caller to the police. Most times he calls about unfamiliar African American people he sees in the gated community in which he lives. Being judgmental is a part of human nature. Few people are strong enough to admit it, but everyone does it. It does not matter if it is due to the color of your skin or the clothes you wear. Perception of others often turns into judgment. I will not lie and say that I have never felt an uneasy vibe when near someone with whom I am not familiar.However, I will say that I try
my best not to make anyone feel as if I am treating them differently, simply because I have a preconceived notion of them. There is no way to be certain that you won’t be the next Trayvon Martin. With that being said, we must all learn to put our foregone conclusions to the side and think of how our actions can affect the person with whom we associate our opinions. Although racism is very much alive in 2012, we must realize that judgment of character based upon appearance is an issue that deserves attention. No matter who you are, or what your race may be, we must all ask ourselves. Will the next time you are judged by someone be your last day alive?
War on Rape: Examining a Silent Issue
CONTACT INFO: Losangeles.collegian@gmail.com Letters may be edited for brevity. (323) 953-4000, ext. 2831
unrelenting struggle against environmentally irresponsible corporations,
Lessons from a Death Defining Judgment
Los Angeles
Have an Opinion? Write a Letter to the Editor
Illustration by Quaneisha Miles- / Collegian
By Geoff Smith If you were not aware, the month of April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and it is a brilliant step in the right direction. This year, the Coalition for Abuse Resistance Education has decided to present a display at Los
Angeles City College. This display represents the average number of sexual assaults that occur each month. Located just in front of the Administration Building, pairs of shoes hang from lines in the Quad. At the end of the month, all of the shoes will be donated to local homeless and domestic violence shelters. I find it highly disturbing that since 2001, very few steps have been made in curbing something as vile as rape in our society. The number of rape cases per year according to the U.S. Department of Justice is around 81,000 cases. This estimate has not changed much over the last decade. People might think with all the increased security, police and public awareness, rape statistics would have decreased by now. Perhaps the
awareness efforts are not at the level they should be, and maybe people do not take the crime seriously. FBI statistics show there were 84,767 cases of forcible rape in 2010, which is down 5 percent from the previous year. It is possible that when President Barack Obama proclaimed April to be Sexual Awareness Month in 2009, it increased awareness and caused the number of sexual assaults to decline. Awareness is what CARE is promoting at LACC. It is not only beneficial to the prevention of rape, but to all domestic violence crimes as well. The people need to be educated and understand the seriousness of this social issue. The war on rape in this country needs more attention. Cuts to the public sector have diminished funding for awareness,
education and recovery for the victims. I think the real issues here in the U.S. are not being fully addressed. Our problems begin here on the social level. The unnecessary spending abroad is by now the obvious root cause of the lack of funds for public programs. My anger is directed at the members of Congress who are not putting the social problems we have here at home first before international conflicts elsewhere. More public programs should be created rather than cut to pay for excess military expenditures that occur overseas. Our attempt at a perfect society should be focused on the people within the U.S., before we focus our attention on international matters.
04
News
Wednesday May 2, 2012
Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN
Marking the 97th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
Rememberance, Recognition, the Future
1915 2012
M
Now, 97 years later, the Republic of Turkey still refuses to acknowledge the 1915 mass murders as genocide, although many historians and genocide scholars confirm this as fact. An event is classified as genocide if it fits into all of “The 8 Stages of Genocide,” according to Doctor Gregory Stanton, Research Professor in Genocide Studies and Prevention and president of Genocide Watch. The 8 Stages of Genocide 1. Classification: Distinguishes ethnicity, race and religion. 2. Symbolization: Giving other names or symbols to the classification. 3. Dehumanization: One group denying the humanity of another group. 4. Organization: Genocide is always organized, usually by the state. 5. Polarization: Isolating and killing the groups that are likely to stop the genocide, first. 6. Preparation: Identifying and localizing all of the victims to be killed. 7. Extermination: Mass killing, called “genocide.” 8. Denial: Always follows genocide. Source: Dr. Gregory Stanton, University of George Mason in Fairfax County, Virginia “All of the basic requirements of the genocide were met and that’s why it was a genocide,” Dr. Stanton said. “It’s why the Turks should acknowledge that it was a genocide.”
any still recall the stories of despair told by the Armenians who lived during that era. “My grandmother would tell me stories of the miserable and dreadful days she lived during the 1915 genocide,” said Samvel Hakobyan who lives in Hollywood. “She told me that before 1915, my grandfather’s brother, who was a very notable and respected soldier that served in the Turkish Army was nowhere to be found. Later on, it was clear that he was murdered by the Turks, since he was a well trained strong soldier.” Hakobyan also said his grandparents fled what is now Turkey with two young children. Both died from starvation and illness, an effect from the long journey. Other children survived only to be kidnapped by Turks who raised them as their own. “That is why I think a large portion of the Turkish population today has Armenian blood in their veins,” Hakobyan told the Collegian. Some students at City College are aware and want people to study the history and not deny the facts. In “City Views,” in the Opinion Editorial Section of the Collegian this week (See “City Views” page 3), reporters asked LACC
students when they first learned about the Armenian Genocide. Although some of the students knew about the genocide at a young age, others did not. “The most important thing that people should know about the Armenian Genocide is the fact that it did happen,” said Rafael Tadevosyan, a philosophy major at LACC. “Right now the thing is that a lot of people are denying it, not everyone, I know a lot of our college students do understand it. It’s just really making sure that everyone understands because what happened is really sad and wrong. It is a part of history and a lot of people don’t accept it, which we feel is really wrong.” Experts say that history might have unfolded differently if the Armenian Genocide had been recognized. Other genocides might never have followed. “It’s important to recognize the Armenian Genocide for a number of reasons, one of the reasons is that the denial of the Armenian genocide is a very dangerous precedent that genocide can be committed without punishment,” said Aram Hamparian, executive director of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). “When any crime is committed without consequence, that crime is more likely to take place again. Recognizing
Armenians were deported from Kharberd, Western Armenia in 1915
I T
I U
T
N O
? S E
U S IS
Looking for something to do after exams? Maybe California Clinical Trials can help. With over 26 years of experience, our hospital-based facility is a Southern California leader in medical research. We’ve also had several books and hundreds of articles published…okay, we get it… you’re done with books and articles. Take the time to check this out:
Join Our Study
Our doctors are conducting an in-patient medical research study for:
Healthy Males & Females 18 - 55 years old Non-smokers in the past 3 months
• Study-related medical procedures at no cost • Compensation up to $3,850, if you qualify and complete the study
1-888-CC-TRIAL (228-7425) www.cctstudy.com
Finding answers together - since 1986
Armenian genocide will help prevent other genocides against other people around the world, that’s one very important reason for us.” Documentary evidence of the genocide exists in gruesome photographs. Armenians were tortured to death in various ways by the Turks. More than 3,000 churches were burned because they were Christian churches, not Muslim according to Raymond Kevorkian’s book The Armenian Genocide. “The actual killing took place in many ways,” Dr. Stanton said. “The people were shot to death, they were marched out into the desert and starved. They were taken out in ships and then drowned. The Turks tried to dispose [of] evidence. In fact, by doing that, there are mass graves still all over Syria of the bones of the Armenian victims.” Today, 43 states in the USA and more than 20 countries worldwide recognize the Armenian Genocide. While a candidate in 2008, President Barack Obama pledged to recognize the Armenian Genocide. “America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides,” then Senator Obama said.
“I intend to be that president.” Since he was elected, President Obama has refrained from characterizing the events that manifested during 1915 as genocide. Another high-ranking official who used the term “genocide,” in reference to Armenia, paid a price. Former United States Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans was terminated for using the word “genocide” to describe the mass murders of Armenians during the Bush Administration. “The short answer is that it was true, and that I knew it was true. The longer answer required a book that I have written and am now working to publish,” said former Ambassador Evans. Dr. Stanton referred to John Evans as a “hero” for sacrificing his job by using the word genocide to refer to the mass murders of Armenians. “I do not consider myself a hero,” Evans said. “Telling the truth should not be considered an heroic act.” As for the president, Hamparian says he should have honored his pledge. He also told the Collegian that U.S. foreign policy and human rights policy should never be outsourced. America should make its own decisions without pressure from other countries, according to the ANCA executive director.
After deportation, Armenians were murdered.
Photo Focus
Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN
Wednesday May 2, 2012
Thousands March for Recognition of the Armenian Genocide “The short answer is that it was true, and that I knew it was true.-”
- John Evans, former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia who was terminated for using the word “genocide” in reference to Armenia.
“By failing to do so he’s advertising that a foreign country can hijack the U.S. government’s policy of human rights. That’s wrong,” Hamparian said. “Right now, the U.S. American response to the Armenian genocide is essentially determined by another country [Turkey], another country gets to make the decision whether or not America recognizes the genocide and that’s wrong.” The denial from the Turkish government continues as it coincides with the final stage of every genocide. Dr. Stanton says he finds this most striking. “It’s really astonishing that the Turkish government is still denying that this genocide occurred,” Dr. Stanton said. “They have a multimillion dollar campaign worldwide to deny that this genocide occurred. Now, denial is not just a neutral act, it is actually a continuation of the genocide because it continues to deny the right to existence of the group and it also continues to keep the wounds open in the group which is a form of mental and bodily harm that is itself an act of genocide.”
Not all Turks are denying the genocide. Dr. Taner Akcam, a Turkish sociologist and historian who teaches at Clark University in Massachusetts recognizes the Armenian Genocide according to Dr. Stanton. “The reasons why they don’t recognize the Armenian Genocide, according to Taner Akcam, the genocide was so completely connected to the formation of the modern Turkish nation that the Turks cannot admit that they committed this genocide,” Dr. Stanton said. “It is as though the American nation could not admit that we committed genocide against our own Native Americans because of our doctrine of Manifest Destiny, which was itself a genocidal ideology.” Dr. Stanton says a nation should face its own history. He says the Turks have nothing to lose by admitting that the 1915 crimes occurred because the current leaders were not involved. “And so just as our leaders today need to acknowledge that genocide was committed against native Americans, against the African Americans during the middle passage as they were brought over from Africa,” Dr. Stanton said. “We have come to terms with those crimes, we realize they were crimes and I think it’s part of necessary maturity of a nation to admit its own faults, and it is a human problem and it’s not just a Turkish problem or an American problem or a German problem it’s a human problem and when we finally understand that and we will be able to finally conquer genocide.”
Clockwise from top right: Thousands of protesters gather to rally in Hollywood in observance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923 on last Tuesday. Bottom row: Memorial for the Armenian Genocide on April 24 in Yerevan, Armenia Photos by Inae Bloom /Collegian, Ignat Hakobyan, Luiza Hakobyan and Ruben Malayan
05
06
Wednesday May 2, 2012
Arts & Entertainment
Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN
LAUREN AREVALO
Shining a Light on Literacy For the finale (from left to right) Gasper Vargas, Jeffrey Gil, Sean Gorecki, from LACC’s Musical Theatre Workshop perform to the “Fugue for Tinhorns” from the Guy and Dolls last Tuesday in Room 302 of Da Vinci Hall.
Photos By Claudia Alvarado/Collegian Michelle Pollack sings “Here I Am” from the “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” last Tuesday.
Pboto By Inae Bloom/Collegian Kristina Smith performs “My Angry Vagina,” from Eve Ensler’s play. The “Vagina Monologues” performances were held at El Caminito Theatre last Wenesday.
AwardWinning Play Wows in Second Year
Vagina Monologues performs to a sold out audience in Camino Theatre. By Josefina Nunez
A crowd of students packed into the Camino Theatre on April 18 to witness a dynamic performance while raising funds to stop violence against women. In a spectacular display of femininity in all its complexity and mystery, the Vagina Monologues enthralled attendees in its second year at LACC. “When we have a production like this, we have two things in mind. One, to bring awareness to sexual assault and number two, is to empower women and bring people together to think about issues that have to deal with sexual assault and stop sexual violence,” said Earic Peters, Associate Dean for Student Life. The Vagina Monologues is the brainchild of Eve Ensler. Ensler wrote stories about intimacy, vulnerability and sexual self-discovery. Performed in confessional-style pieces, the play went on to win many awards, giving voice to many women’s deepest fantasies and fears. It is hard to imagine anyone coming away from the performance unchanged; to look at a woman’s body or think of sex the same way again. The production has since become a phenomenon, playing in venues throughout the nation and at many college campuses. “I think this is a very positive thing to do. I also like the fact that it is open to everyone – not just the students, but anyone can come and enjoy just like I did,” said Felicia Moore, parent of one of the women performing that night. Some performance highlights were “My Angry Vagina,” “The Moan,” “What Would it Wear?” and “Arby’s Anyone?” “I absolutely love every single minute of this play. I came last year and I knew I had to come again this year because it was so amazing. It is so empowering and you actually enjoy yourself while watching the performances of the girls,” said Melissa Quiroz, pharmacy technology major. Vagina Monologues was such a success that the event was overcrowded, with many attendees left outside, unable to enter Camino Theatre due to limited seating. Plans to move next year’s performance to the main theatre are already under way. Melvin Noriega, psychology major, was just one of the lucky students to make it inside by buying his ticket ahead of time. “My friend didn’t get in because he was paying at the door and it was already sold out by the time we got here,” said Noriega. “I thought it was going to be some kind of chick flick or maybe I’ll fall asleep or even talk me to death, but I loved every minute of it – especially the play with all the moans. I thought that was hilarious.”
Well-Seasoned Play
Photo By: Claudia Alvarado/Collegian Mark Vail raises his fist as “Mr. Salt” in the production of “SALT” in the Theatre Academy’s latest show which runs through May 5.
Students Take On Broadway Classics The Music Department pulls performances from all types of talent for their series. By Josefina Nunez
Musical theatre requires more than the sum of its parts. Great musical theatre combines well-trained vocals and dancing ability to create the magical performances that engage people both on and off screen. Students performed such musical classics as “Beyond My Wildest Dreams” from The Little Mermaid, “On the Street Where You Live” from My Fair Lady and “Pulled” from The
Addams Family as part of the Music Department’s free concert series. At LACC students have the opportunity to engage in intensive vocal, dance and acting instruction with experienced Broadway faculty and then to present their work to audiences. “This is a class and so the class meets twice a week, Monday and Wednesday for an hour and a half. They work extremely hard. Some of them have been working on these songs several weeks before the show,” said Jane Blomquist, instructor and coordinator of the musical performance. “Right before the show, we have two call-backs to see which ones make the show, and then we have dress rehearsals.” Blomquist emphasizes the amount of work her students put in that goes beyond the few hours a week the class requires. The practice-makesperfect ethos is musical theatre’s key to success. “I’ve been performing at LACC for a year and a half now. It was great! It’s always wonderful when the
audience enjoys what you do. It feels wonderful when people applaud and you see smiles on their faces. That’s when you know you did a great job,” said Abigail Hernandez, a Music major who enjoys working on serious musical theatre pieces for the added challenge. The program is designed for individuals who may not have prior experience on musical theatre stage with a desire to sing and dance. The material students learn is eclectic. Some pieces are modern classics and some are older, giving the audience something for everyone to enjoy. “I think it’s great to see shows like this, where you see a lot of different stories. A musical is always well received and I think the students did an amazing job,” said Music major Vahan Bznuni. The Music Department presents free concerts throughout the semester. They will offer another musical theatre performance on Friday May 18 at 7:00pm.
Events
MAY 1 LACC Commerical Voice Free Concert @ DaVinci Hall Room 302 at 12:10 pm MAY 2 SALT @ Camino Theatre at 7:15 pm MAY 3 Solo Guitar & Ensemble Free Concert @ DaVinci Hall Room 302 at 12:10 pm Music Department Faculty Fundraiser Concert @ Camino Theatre at 7:00 pm SALT @ Camino Theatre, 3:00 pm & 8:00 pm MAY 4 An Evening of Chamber Music Free Concert @ Camino Theatre 7:00 pm SALT @ Camino Theatre at 8:00 pm MAY 5 SALT @ Camino Theatre, 2:00 pm & 8:00 pm MAY 8 An Explosion of Explosions, Memorial Lecture by Dr. Kulkarni @ SCI-TECH 132 at 3:30 pm Studio Jazz Band Free Concert @ DaVinci Hall Room 302 at 12:10 pm MAY 10 Percussion Ensemble Free Concert @ DaVinci Hall Room 302 at 12:10 pm MAY 14 Singers Showcase @ DaVinci Hall Room 302 at 7:00 pm MAY 15 Classical Voice Free Concert @ DaVinci Hall Room 302 at 12:10 pm Ongoing Engagements April 18 – May 10: Student Scholarship Art Show @ DaVinci Gallery, Reception May 3 from 12 to 2 pm May 17 – June 3: Student Art Show @ DaVinci Gallery, Reception May 17 from 12 to 3 pm
By Layla Fernandez and David Julian Stamp
Doors to the Camino Theatre open for “SALT,” a play written by Mort Goldberg and directed by Louie Piday on April 27 through May 5. Mort Goldberg finds inspiration in the theatrics of America’s 20th century innovator Thornton Wilder. “SALT” is peppered with intrigue. The cast delivers an on-key performance with costumes to lure eyes. Composed of two acts, “SALT” is a comedy with a dark side. The plot revolves around a spoiled tourist who cheats an innkeeper at a hotel bordering Lake Tahoe. This insensitive act, coupled with a Guatemalan crop failure and an international monetary crisis triggers catastrophe. “It’s a pretty complicated play,” said Kathleen Becket, Theatre Manager. “SALT” is unflinching, touching on themes that play on interpersonal, national and international stages. Tickets are on sale online at: http://theatreacadamy.lacitycollege.edu.
This image is on display in the “emerging (I) student exhibition in the Creative Center for Photography located at Freestyle on Sunset Boulevard. Exhibition runs through June 14.
Students Exhibit Work Courtesy of Melissa Ramirez
By David Stamp
Students Take Part in Photography Exhibition The photographic talent of LACC along with 12 other colleges is on display until June 14 at the Gallery of the Creative Center for Photography. On April 26, a reception was held with many of the included artists present to discuss their work with their peers. The four students chosen from LACC were Melissa Ramirez, whose work was also chosen for the promotional postcard, Mirella Zepeda, Elizabeth Delgado and Ethan Edwards. The students created photographic pieces using film and developing techniques such as silver gelatin prints. This year, the range of the types of techniques and developing methods used was impressive. There were lumen types, a tin-type, lithographic print, chromogenic prints, tri-color gum bi-chromate and tea-toned cyanotype to name only a few. Sherry Lee, an 11 year employee at the Creative Center of Photography said “It’s great to see young people working with film. I really think that you’ll be a stronger photographer if you learn traditional methods”. The Freestyle Educational Steering Committee, a group of photographic educators dedicated to teaching traditional darkroom skills to the photographers of tomorrow, compiled the collection of display. LACC professor Daniel Marlos is one of
the members of the committee and is the current Chair of the Media Arts Department at City College. Elizabeth Delgado, student photographer in the show, traveled between the San Fernando Valley and Pasadena photographing motel signs. Her project, titled Vacancy, is a series of compiled photographs for a calendar. Her project highlights what unifies these temporary homes for those in transit. The image chosen for the show is titled Vacancy: Lido Motel. Ethan Edwards, another student photographer from LACC in the show, presented a piece titled Blind Love. This image was also created for a calendar project and was actually intended as the cover for the calendar. Edwards rendered his image on fiber paper through a textured screen. His photo is a close-up of a statue. The statue portrays a cherub blindfolding a woman. “The photo was taken at Huntington Gardens in Pasadena,” said Edwards of his subject. “It’s a couple of acres with statues all over the lawns.” The photo submitted by Melissa Ramirez and chosen for the flagship image for the show was titled Balancing Act and Mirella Zepeda was honored for her image titled We Own It.
Before my time as a college newspaper columnist, I taught reading and writing classes to those that were despairing enough to ask for the help. I’d ride around in a colorful little mobile library twice a week, bringing books and a sense of quiet to the normally rough neighborhoods. It sounds like a fairly idyllic little movie looking back on the experience, but I can remember a distinct feeling of disappointment in the inequality of education and of resources. To this day, I cannot conceive the courage of the students. Imagine approaching a gaggle of librarians – those stereotypically austere and academic women, authoritative on every subject – imagine approaching them for help with something so fundamental. Imagine you have trouble reading. “The power of a column and maybe more broadly, the power of journalism isn’t the so much to change people’s minds on issues that are already on the agenda; it’s the capacity to shine a spotlight on some issue and thereby project it on the agenda,” said Nicholas Kristof, twice-winning Pulitzer Prize journalist about the duty of columnists. It is my hope that through this piece, I can shine a light on literacy as a worthy cause of your attentions. It not only directly affects those unable to read proficiently, but it is a hindrance to a democratic society and impedes economic opportunity. Through this lens, television, awash with images and audio, is also curiously text-heavy. How do you even attempt to navigate voting pamphlets? The Internet now becomes an especially daunting hurdle. How do you fall through the cracks? I listened to their stories, astonished that such a thing could happen in this country. Many were from outside the U.S. sure, but often they were people passed along from check point to check point, skipping over necessary fundamentals. People learn differently and schools traditionally cater to visual and auditory-oriented learners. Learning disabilities, while addressed in many extreme cases, benefit from programs. However, many students are not identified. I gained the confidence of many of my pupils. I began to feel that moving students from one grade to another without the ability to comprehend material was a harmful, careless thing to do. Credentialed and diploma’ed, it soon becomes transparent when they enter the workforce as problems arise. I learned about a teacher who couldn’t read. John Corcoran was illiterate until he was 48 years old. He managed to teach high school classes for almost two decades before he sought help for himself. He has since penned a book aptly entitled “The Teacher Who Couldn’t Read” and founded a foundation to promote awareness. The John Corcoran foundation sponsors many tutoring centers throughout the state so that others do not have his fate. Even though we live in such a saturated world, thriving on the quick delivery of vital information, we are leaving behind in a trail of pixels a significant portion of the population to functional illiteracy. The National Center for Educational Statistics estimates that a whopping 33 percent of the population of Los Angeles lacks basic literacy skills. The figures are disheartening and sound almost unbelievable -- especially if you are reading this. I’m asking you to acknowledge the existence of this issue and to discuss it with your friends and neighbors. Many libraries in Los Angeles County offer tutoring services and are eager to train new tutors. It will only cost you a few hours of your week to change someone’s life. The Library Foundation of Los Angeles can help you find the closest of 21 tutoring centers in need and match you with a learner. Please visit http://www.lfla.org/ support/whatwefund/literacy/adultliteracy to learn more.
Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN
Clash of Colors Confronts American Tragedy In the 20 year anniversary of the Los Angeles Riots, a documentary is released from a different perspective. By Hyun Chung
Members of the media were invited to attend a showing of “Clash of Colors,” a film by David D. Kim, a Korean-American man who became known for urging Koreans to defend themselves during the L.A. riots. I n h i s d o c u m e n t a r y, K i m examines an American tragedy, released on the date that marks the 20-year anniversary of the riots. Just a short jaunt from the campus of LACC, Korean businesses were set aflame and property damage was caused. The documentary hits close to home. “Clash,” which Kim began in 2003, attempts to answer why the
Art & Entertainment
of s u p ame m a fl c he e set a ” t roms wer used. f t un sines as ca a j t or n bu ge w h s t a Korea dama s u “J CC, perty LA d pro an racially motivated. rage flared within the community.
riots occurred, resulting in 55 deaths and $1 billion in property damage. Most of the property damage was sustained by Korean-Americans in the neighborhood, the ethnic group with the largest concentration of family businesses. In times similar to the advent of the riots, the economy is in a state of recession. Tension can be felt by the publicized stories of an African American teen’s death in Florida, Trayvon Martin. The death of Trayvon Martin reverberates nationally and is considered by many to have been
The incident that sparked the riots 20 years ago seems clearer now in retrospect. Rodney King was driving drunk and speeding. A group of white officers struggled to subdue King, a formidable man, before they pulled out their batons. This portion, leading up to the now infamous video, aired on television and remains mostly unseen. What aired on TV were the truncated versions of the altercation, which created a public expectation that the four officers who beat King would be convicted. The officers were acquitted and
The people’s reaction catapulted when the media reported on the death of Latasha Harlins, an African American teen who had argued with Korean liquor storeowner, Soon Ja Do. After Harlins was accused of shoplifting, Do shot the teen. Do was also acquitted. When Do’s sentence was reduced to community service, animosity resulting from King’s trial exploded. Do’s liquor store was burned down. Other Korean businesses were also damaged. Chaos ensued and television news was filled with images of violence.
Wednesday May 2, 2012
07
“Riot Riot” by Lauren Arevalo
Calls to police made were made, but ignored. The police did not come; the department advised the callers to abandon their businesses. At the time, the radio station, Radio Korea, advised Koreans to close up their businesses and stay home. David D. Kim felt otherwise. Kim went to Radio Korea and urged Koreans to arm themselves and defend their businesses. “Koreans were pioneers,” Leo Estrada, demographer and UCLA faculty professor said. “When nobody else wanted to invest in South Central L.A., entrepreneurs from South Korea
came into this area.” Estrada feels that racial tensions can still reach a boiling point, harkening back to the days of the riots. “The potential for another uprising is always there,” said Estrada. With rising poverty and discontent, the potential for conflict and scapegoating grows. David D. Kim’s “Clash of Colors” urges remembrance. As the historian George Santayana said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
08
Wednesday May 2, 2012
Campus Life
EARTH DAY By David Stamp
“The power is yours!” - Captain Planet The chromosphere is the outer layer of the sun, tigers are much more valuable to ecosystems than pandas and there are many health benefits of diets containing ginseng, ginger and turmeric; if you were already privy to this information, chances are you attended LACC’s Earth Day celebration on Thursday, April 19. Earth day, which was held officially on April 22, is a day meant to bring attention to the host of environmental issues confronting mankind, a day where we recognize how firmly our feet are grounded in the planetary sphere. The Earth Day celebration addressed many of the things we can do to affect change. The chemistry, biology and astronomy clubs hosted a five-hour celebration honoring the many creatures and forces on Earth. The celebration had three main sections; each one set up by the respective clubs with an area for karaoke. The biology club marked out its area with informative poster boards that provided a wealth of information on subjects ranging from GMO’s to bio-mimicry. Genetically modified organisms are infamous for altering the genetic structure of organisms such as tomatoes, corn, cotton, chickens and others meant for human use. Without long-term research into the sideeffects of said tinkering, Zero, physics major said they “seem safe, but you just don’t know the side effects.” The centerpiece of the area set up by the astronomy club was a telescope able to observe the outer layer, or chromosphere, of the sun and a solar cooker, made from a parabolic mirror coated with a layer of aluminum provided by the Astronomy Club. The telescope was aimed at the sun and used a hydrogen alpha filter, making it possible to observe the sun directly. Professor Dean Arvidson of the Astronomy department said that the real show would come Saturday, when the Lyrid Meteor Shower would be visible in the night sky. He plans to take a group to the Mount Wilson Observatory, which is perched over Angeles Crest Highway. The solar cooker at the earth day celebration reached temperatures of 1000 degrees Fahrenheit at its focal point. During a demonstration, a stick was placed at the focal point and caught fire after only a few seconds. The Chemistry Club emphasized recycling and re-purposing of old objects in their section set up for earth day. The energy saved by recycling manufactured items translates to a slower depletion of natural resources. Organic pastries were made available for purchase at the event. Bellarouse, the chicken that laid the eggs for these organic pastries was in attendance.
From left to right: Photo By Inae Bloom/Collegian Dustin Howland is an Ecology major, and member of the Biology, Geology and Biology Club he stands by his chicken, Bellarouse, who laid the eggs in the baked sweets that were for sales part of LACC’s Earth Day Celebration in the quad last Tuesday. Photo By Claudia Alvarado/Collegian Free moth grubs were available for tasting at the Biology Club’s Table on Earth Day celebrated last Tuesday. Photo By Claudia Alvarado/Collegian Elen Yolan is a 12-year-old Earth Day volunteer from Le Conte Middle School. “I’m helping my neighbor sell cupcakes for a good cause.” Photo By Inae Bloom/Collegian LACC student Phuoc Quach (right) tries to convince Raheleh Aminirad (left) to sample a grub st the Biology Club table as part of the Earth Day Celebration in the Quad last Thursday. “It taste like a bean; it tastes earthy,” says Quach who ate several grubs. Photo By ClaudiaAlvarado/Collegian These pre potted plants were given away as prizes by the GeoClub on Earth Day in the Quad last Tuesday. Photo By Inae Bloom/Collegian Jignesh Patel, a lab assistant in the Astromony Department, show a group of kids how the sun can be used as a burner, asit’s energy is reflected off a giant concave glass lined with aluminum. A pot is rigged to a custom-built solar cooker during LACC’s Earth Day Celebration in the Quad on April 19, 2012.
Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN
Campus Life
Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN
Photo By Seung Choi/Collegian Professor Richard Lewis (left) and Carol Tanenbaum (right) chair of the Ernest S. Lawrence Trauma Center and the Los Angeles Institute and Society for Psychoanalytic Studies Center share their experience about war veterans in the Life Science Building on Apr 18.
Veterans in Transition from War to Home By Layla Fernandez
to endure in their transition from war overseas back into civilian life. The documentary was filled with emotional footage of veterans who after serving their country return home and feel like they don’t belong. In some cases, the soldiers in the
and safe with assistance to promote their wellbeing. Melody Meldrum, Veterans Representative has been working with LACC for 21 years and seven years with the Veterans Office. She makes sure that all the veterans take advantage of the 36 months to claim their GI Bill, which provides financial support specifically for education. “I am the support, I process the students paperwork so they can get aid their GI benefits, the veterans and their dependants who are eligible for benefits,” Meldrum said. Ramona Yates, Theater Major is happy to be part of the program. She expressed her need for the support of people like Meldrum to excel in her education. “They are very good with taking care of veterans here, especially Melody, because she is very particular about what needs to be done to take care of veterans so we can get our money in the right amount of time,” said Yates. To get more information on the Veterans Program and their many other resources you can visit Melody Meldrum in the Veterans Program office or call (323) 953-4000 Ext. 2024.
Cubbington
Illustration By JoseRamon Tobar/Collegian
More than 25 people were present to see the documentary The Welcome inside the Science and Technology Building on April 18. The screening was shown to educate students and faculty on the hardships which veterans and family members have
documentary tried taking their own lives, unable to fit back into society. The audience was hard hit by these depictions. As the documentary developed, the room was mostly quiet, save for the muffled sobbing. Law professor Richard Lewis directed the meeting after the documentary had come to an end. There was a discussion about the hardships of the veterans in the room and in the documentary. One of points was the transition from war to college life. “I noticed that they were an increasing numbers of veterans who have been taking my classes. I felt that veterans had life circumstances that may be challenging their academic process,” Lewis said. “So I wanted to reach out to them to let them know that there was somebody they can seek advice from maybe creating a network of mentors and generally a safer place in campus to be veterans could be.” Navy, Marine, and Army veterans were in attendance to share their own experiences with transitioning. Many agreed in feeling as though life in the armed forces was “structured” and returning home felt like being introduced to “chaos.” The Veterans Program on campus is a place where veterans are welcome
Get Your Associates Degree and go to Law School. Good Idea. Great Idea.
Wednesday May 2, 2012
Freebies 101 Compiled by Naomi Johnson
• Are you the person who yells at the television when watching a game show and the contestant doesn’t know the answer? If so, you should come out for a night of free trivia held every Wednesday at 9 p.m. at the Bigfoot Lodge located at 3172 Los Feliz Blvd. Los Angeles,CA 90039 • May 6, 6 p.m. - Enjoy free introductory to Argentine Tango for everyone. Lessons will be held at the L.A. Turner Center 8946 Sepulveda Eastway Los Angeles, CA 90045 • May 6, 12 p.m. - 5p.m. - Come out and enjoy a day filled with family fun. The city of Santa Monica is hosting their annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta and Classic Car Show. This is a free event held at Virginia Avenue Park. For more details call (310) 458-8688 • May 6 - Bring your entire family out for the 5th Annual Nancy Mc Cracken Science, Mathematics, Service Learning, and Arts Expo. Admission is free and so is parking. For details visit www.nancymccrackenexpo.webs.com • May 6, 10 a.m. - Grab your biking gear and a friend and enjoy a ride with fellow cyclists. This will be a 25 mile ride that lets you get a look into the world of local trains and Griffith Parks Travel Town. Cyclists will meet at Union Station. For more information visit http://www.la-bike.org/ • Would you like to see your favorite stars at the premiere of an upcoming film? Get a glimpse of stars as they fashionably promote their new movies. For a list of upcoming
premieres and the celebrities that will be there visit http://www.seeing-stars. com/Calendar/index.shtml#premieres • May 13, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. - Do you ever feel like you say out loud what everyone thinks but is afraid to say? If so come out and speak your mind. “The People’s Voice” will be held at Palisades Park located at the intersection of Santa Monica Blvd. and Ocean Ave. There will be a soap box with a microphone available to anyone who would like to speak. • Break out your mat and towel and bring it to Runyon Canyon for a free yoga class. Classes meet three times a day and although the class is always free, donations are greatly appreciated. For a complete schedule of upcoming classes visit them on the web at http://runyoncanyon-losangeles.com/?page_id=14 • If you are interested in FREE events for yourself and your entire family to enjoy visit www.freethingstodoinla.com The site is updated very frequently and you can even subscribe for events to be sent right to your email address. • There are many restaurants that will give you free food on your birthday. Everyone wants to feel special on their birthday. I can not speak for everyone but a free meal followed by a happy birthday song sounds good to me! For a list of resturaunts that offer you a free meal on your birthday visit http://www.mrfreestuff.com/36-freefood-deals-for-your-birthday/
CSULB SUMMER SESSIONS 2 0 12 No formal admission to CSULB required
Earn units toward your degree
Two 6 - Week Sessions May 29 – July 6 July 9 – August 17
(S1S) (S3S)
Enroll on a “space available” basis
One 12 - Week Session May 29 – August 17
(SSD)
Register Now! Call: (800) 963–2250 ext. 60001 for more information. www.ccpe.csulb.edu/summer email: info@ccpe.csulb.edu FIND US ON FACEBOOK
All of the above. Enroll in Trinity Law School in the Fall. You can attend law school upon completion of your Associates Degree. Go straight to law school. Save time, save money, and get a great education with unlimited opportunities.
TRINITY LAW SCHOOL
2200 North Grand Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92705 800.922.4748 | www.TLS.edu
09
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER
California State University, Long Beach College of Continuing and Professional Education Lorinda Owens 6.5 in. x 5 in. Los Angeles City College Pub Date: 4/11, 4/25, 5/16
10
Campus Life
Wednesday May 2, 2012
Reporter’s Notebook
Students Learn Lessons of Tolerance By Claudia Alvarado We walked up a spiral hall lit by a skylight. As we continued upward, the wall displayed a perfect arrangement of black and white portraits of the Holocaust survivors who volunteer their time and tell the stories of the past. As we arrived at the Museum of Tolerance, a massive sienna-colored building caught our eye. Inside, the receptionist checked us in and after a brisk walk through security the tour began. I was excited about the trip, as it was my first time visiting the museum. The Office of Student Life Programmer Rafael Tadevosyan helped arrange the event. Student Life provided round-trip transportation to the museum on a charter bus. The bus dropped us off on Pico Boulevard. We were eager to get inside. Once we regrouped we took a short walk down the hill into the museum. Soon we arrived in the museum’s multimedia section called the “Tolerancenter.” This area included a video that was geared toward women’s rights awareness. Another corner had television screens with current events concentrating on hate crimes. Our tour guide Carla decided to talk about the murder of James Byrd, Jr. He was an African-American man who was dragged to his death behind a pickup truck by three white men in Jasper, Texas on June 7, 1998. Carla achieved shock value several times by presenting similar stories. We watched another short video and moved along. Just down the way, a gleaming light shined on a glass display. Inside was Adolf Hitler’s first anti-semetic ink stains. This perfectly preserved letter was once the Nazi Magna Carta. It’s hard to believe that a person could write such perfectly concise thoughts of hatred. I felt compelled to read it. My eyes raced past the words. I read it again and halfway once more, until Carla called, “Everyone take a card you will be this person for the next part of the museum.” The card was white with a picture of a person who was a victim of the Holocaust. Carla instructed us to insert the passport card into a machine with a small screen and a card slot. We did as she asked and a story popped up. The text introduced the life of Jewish persons all over Eastern and Western Europe prior to World War II. My person was a boy named Natan Abbe from Lodz, Poland. He lived with his father, a haberdashery store owner, two sisters and a younger brother. On Feb. 8, 1940, they were sent to an overcrowded ghetto. Natan and his sister would sneak out to smuggle food into the ghetto for their starving parents, brothers and sisters. The 16 year old was shot to death in late 1940 by a German soldier at the ghetto gate. We continued to the Holocaust section, which was an arrangement of diagrams. A sudden dim light
Suspension will not deter ‘Occupy LACC’ From page 1
Photo by Seung Hyun/ Collegian A group of 15 from the Office of Student Life visited the Museum of Tolerance last Friday and participated in a “passport time machine” to engage in experiences from the Holocaust. Many said the experience was valuable.
brightened, guiding us to the diagram and then we heard soft music. The story begins. A team of journalists analyzed Nazi propaganda. White, seemingly faceless figures guided us through to pre-war Berlin streets with a bookstore and a cafe. On the restaurant patio, the figures change. Now the faces have distinct facial features: eyebrows, lips and eyes. They tell the stories in pairs. Some survived and others did not. More subtle light and sound guided us to the next section focusing on Nazi uniforms, weapons and torture tactics, which mainly included fire as Carla pointed out. Holocaust means “Destruction or slaughter on a mass scale especially caused by fire,” according to the Oxford dictionary online. At the end of the Holocaust section there is a diagram replica of the Auschwitz camp. The replica was truly an eerie fascination. As we stared in awe she continued to talk about occurrences that would happen in day-to-day camp life. Then she explained the double entryways. The signs read “Able Bodied,” usually men who were worked to death or “Children and Others,”women and children who were mainly sent straight to the gas chambers. “Pick one,” she said. I quickly made up my mind and went through the crowd and was the first one into the dark, brick “Children and Others” gate. We entered the Hall of Testimony where a picture slide show tells the story of a woman who lost her sister, Esther, during a Nazi quarantine of the local hospital. Esther had just given birth and had not named the baby when the quarantine occurred. When the family arrived at the hospital Esther was rounded up with the all the patients on
large cattle trucks. Esther could not see her family, but they saw her. Then the woman continues. “Suddenly I see something being tossed out the window and hit the ground below, then another. They were throwing the babies out of the windows ... I could not help to think one of those babies was my niece.” The voice on the audiotape said. Shock value? Yes. I heard sniffling in the crowd. I was one of them. My heart sank as I remembered my nieces. I felt the tears pour down my face. I couldn’t even fathom the thought of not having them in my life. As we walked out, Carla concluded the tour and led us to the next passport machines. Here we received a printout with the complete story. Rafael says he experienced an ironic ending to the tour when he found out his museum identity finale. “April 20,1945 - Eduard Hornemann, when the British were less than three miles from the camp, the sick children were put into a truck and taken to a school in Hamburg. They were injected with morphine and hanged. Eduard was 12 years old.” With thoughts of our passport selves we walked back to bus as the excitement had mellowed out. The trip back was somber and quiet. During the ride I started to ponder the name the Museum of Tolerance. Why Tolerance? Should we tolerate this behavior? Tolerance is something that we experience in everyday life. Sometimes we might have to put up with a person or situation that leaves us with a doubt in our gut. But I have learned that in that situation the best thing to do is listen and then maybe if we take it upon ourselves to teach our fellow man to be tolerable we can create change..
Reconstructing City By Gerard Cole
S
Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN
itting majestically on the south end of campus behind Holmes Hall is the brand-new Student Union Building. Said to embody the vision of the L.A. City College’s future, the building is still under construction and scheduled to open to students by the end of August 2012. The LACC Foundation along with the Associated Students Organization and the bookstore are just a few of the new organizations to reside in the 72,000-square-foot structure. Reportedly, under budget and leaving funds for other projects around campus, this $42 million building has had as many as 125 construction workers on site at one time to stay on schedule. There have been some challenges staying on track with such a complex building and its tight schedule, but Deputy Project Director Charles Wren of Harris and Associates is confident the building will be ready for move-in by the fall semester. “We’ve been five or six days behind schedule, but we’ve always found ways of making it up, working Saturdays or double shifts,” Wren said. Completely Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certified, the building will run mostly by solar energy. The roof will be covered by an array of solar panels including three skylights, allowing the building to be fully lit by natural light on sunny days. “We’re excited about it. We think it’s [going to] be a showcase building,” Wren said. “I believe the design team has captured the vision of the user group ... The vision was to celebrate the diversity of our campus [and] to create a Student Union that creates community through the construction of a modern space.” Students are also excited by the changes. Many are looking forward to using the new facilities that will also include a
convenience store and theater. “I can’t wait to see the outdoor theater … As a film major I hope to see one of my own movies out there on screen,” said film student Mikel Monleon. The design team, which includes Harley Ellis Devereaux, has done a “fantastic job of designing” the new Student Union Building according to Wren. He says it is based on Dr. Jamillah Moore’s vision. “We endeavor to construct a building that celebrates our Hollywood home and history while serving our students and community,” Dr. Moore wrote in her mission statement to the construction design team. With a food court and a multi-purpose room on the third floor, the new building will undoubtedly become a place central to the daily lives of LACC students.
Campus sheriffs suspected that the club had posted the signs, and advised the ASO to cancel the demonstration. Nevertheless, members denied putting them up on any walls around campus. In an open letter issued by the club, Occupy LACC stated that the organization is not responsible for those violent posters, and that its activities are non-violent in nature. The members have complained that their own paperwork to prepare April 12 rally, mysteriously disappeared before the event was to take place. Club members also insisted that they obeyed Earic Peters by marching off campus, and that it would have been more appropriate for ASO to warn not to march into the building for the future than suspending all its activities. “The administration lied to us. They told us that we are not going to be suspended if we are not marching into the administration building, so we didn’t. But they did suspend us,” said Wallace. The club regards this action as a way of censoring members for the upcoming May 1 general strike. “We planned the April 12 action to introduce the student body to the May 1 strike,” said Fuller. “We want to introduce how budget cuts affect us negatively … For example, I had trouble getting [discounted] TAP cards and could barely get to school.” Occupy LACC plans to join the general strike called on May 1. Organizers are calling for participants not to shop, bank or go to school or work. “May 1 is International [Workers’] Day, and not only LACC participates,” said Wallace. “But it is for all the working class. It is not just for students. All that [events] of pepper spraying at Santa Monica College and this suspension [are] to intimidate students to stop mobilizing. The administration will not be able to stop what is going on around campus and outside during that time.”
However, Peters, who determined the temporary suspension of the club said that May 1st walk out is not approved, and therefore is not allowed to take place legally on campus. Along with the mainstream Occupy LA, Occupy Wall Street, and other Occupiers, the LACC club has been chartered to focus on issues that are related to educational reform and broader economic problems. “We decided to get Occupy LACC chartered when few people started meeting [at LACC] last semester,” said Griff Fuller, English major and a member involved in Occupy LA. “We came down to city hall and to LACC … I have been involved in these activities for 10 years. Occidental [College] and UCLA occupiers had representatives in their campuses, so why not LACC?” Occupy LACC demands that the federal government stop funding war and private corporate interest, and advocates more funding for public education and social services, according to the club’s Facebook page. “We refuse to pay for the crisis created by 1%,” reads the club’s Facebook. “We refuse to accept the dismantling of our schools and universities, while the banks and corporations continue to make record profits. We refuse to accept educational re-segregation, massive tuition increases, budget cuts, and overcrowded classrooms, outrageous student debt and attacks on job security and increasing privatization and corporation.” Through massive coordinated actions all across the country, participants of the Occupy movements hope to turn back the country’s direction from war and corporate interest to education and sustainability. Meanwhile, rumors had been circulated that suspension of Occupy LACC’s club activities was due to several signs that were posted around campus that read, “Talk to the cops in a language that they understand” which featured images of rifles.
Complete your dream. The Bachelor of Science in Management
The Pepperdine Advantage · Lead the way by adding the prestige of Pepperdine University to your resumé · Complete your bachelor’s degree in two years with evening and weekend classes, and earn your MBA in as little as one additional year · Transfer to Pepperdine’s Graziadio School with a minimum of 60 lower-division units · Guaranteed admission through TAG community college partnerships Learn more by attending an upcoming Information Session. Encino Campus: Saturday, May 12 Tuesday, May 22 Wednesday, June 20
bschool.pepperdine.edu
Master the leader in you.
Kevin Streeter
Photo by Inae Bloom/Collegian Top right:The new Student Union is located behind Holmes Hall and the Faculty and Staff Center. Above: A view from the third floor of the Student Union Building looks out over campus construction. The Student Union will be ready for business in August 2012.
Encino, West LA, and Irvine Graduate Campuses
Director of Ambulatory Surgery Center, St. John’s Hospital Bachelor of Science in Management 2011
074618.64_PEPUNI_BSM_LA_City_Apr19_MECH Trim: 6.5” x 10” Bleed: NA Color Space: B&W
ROUND #: MECH
Campus Life
Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN
Wednesday May 2, 2012
11
On April 26, 2012 the Department of Foreign languages and humanities and Alpha Chapter of Alpha Mu Gamma presented students with Foreign language day. Students at LACC were able to experience music, dancing, and theatre in different languages. Every culture has their own traditions when it comes to dancing and music. Foreign language day allowed students to
Experiencing Culture in a
learn about other cultures in the aspect of music and dance. Poetry was also read in another language, and although there were many students there that did not understand they listened. Students showed that poetry is beautiful in any language and if you do not understand listen to how it’s being
new way
read and in some way you will understand. Learning about different languages and cultures is something everyone should experience. From students performing a skit in French that consisted of
By David Stamp
dance and fencing to the perfor-
Students come out to enjoy Foreign Language day
mance in American Sign Language. Language has no barriers, and its was good for students to be able to have that experience. The theme of Foreign Language day was “You’re connected ...now communicate”. After Foreign Language day students should be
Photo By Inae Bloom/ Collegian Rheannon Ainsworth gives a ballet performance on Foreign Language Day last Thursday in Holmes Hall.
able to take that with them wherever they go.
Photo By Josue Hernandez/ Collegian Students performed Spanish songs a for the Foreign Language Day’s closing ceremony in Holmes Hall.
Photo By Josue Hernandez/ Collegian Mia Valentina Martin sings in Russian accompanied by Steve Vasquez during the Foreign Languages Day celebration last Thursday.
Photo By Josue Hernandez/ Collegian Dayath Recalde (left) and Diana Castillo (right) during their Foreign Language Day Chinese dance performance last Thursday in Holmes Hall.
Complete Your Bachelor’s Degree at
Azusa Pacific University Choose from accelerated degrees online or on campus. LIBERAL STUDIES
ORGANIZATION LEADERSHIP
The B.A. in Liberal Studies (LIBS) will prepare you for a career in education. In less than two years, you could be on your way to teaching in your own classroom.
The versatile B.S. in Organizational Leadership (BSOL) makes it easy to take the next step in your career. You will learn relevant business strategies that can empower you to become an effective leader.
ABOUT THE PROGRAMS • Complete your degree in less than two years. • Choose to earn your degree online, or attend class only one night a week at a location near you. • Applicants for the Liberal Studies program must be at least 22 years old; Organizational Leadership program applicants must be at least 25.
Find out about the next Liberal Studies or Organizational Leadership program start date. Contact us today! CALL AZUSA
(626) 815-530 |
CLICK
HIG H DES ERT
|
www.apu.edu/explore/caps INL AND EMPIRE
|
LOS ANGELES
|
MUR R IETA
|
OR ANGE COUNTY
|
SAN DIEGO
|
VENTURA COUNTY
|
ONLINE 12697
Student Places in National Music Competition By Naomi L. Johnson
Kenji Oh, a Los Angeles City College student placed second at the Third Annual Musical-Score Contest, which was recently held and is the only national contest for two-year college students that awards excellence in music composition. Three student winners received the Jack Stone Award for new music and a cash prize. All three winners had their pieces performed by professionals Eileen Mack on the clarinet, Eleonore Oppenheim on the double bass and William Smith on the piano. The Palmetto Center for the Arts at Northwest Vista College located in San Antonio, Texas hosted the concert. The winners came from Edmonds Community College in Washington, Rock Valley College in Illinois and Los Angeles Community College in California. They were all provided airplane tickets to be present at the concert
12
Sports
Wednesday May 2, 2012
Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN
Soccer in the Books
Ready to Kickoff Post Season
Photo by Inae Bloom/ Collegian Champions’ forward Willrock Herrera attempts a long-range shot past Unreal Madrid’s defender, Luis Castellon during the last regular season indoor soccer match at the Women’s Gym last Friday. Unreal Madrid defeated the Champions 6-2.
CUBtastrophe With no athletic program at Los Angeles City College for the past four years, students continue to participate in the Intramural Sports League. Sociology major De Andre Robinson feels sports dig deeper into the everyday life than just exercise. “Not having a sports program is a bummer. It doesn’t give people the chance to do what they love, to play sports,” Robinson said. “It’s a part of our lives and culture, hopefully our success with the intramural league will help bring back [the] sports [program].” Ramsey Izza is a nursing major and soccer player for team Free For All. He feels that the administration is to blame for lack of athletic programs. “It’s very disappointing not having an athletic program.” Izza said. “ I think a lot of the money is going to waste. If it [administration] was better organized, it would be possible to have sports here. Poor organization was kind of at fault for not having [a] sports program available.” According to the Los Angeles Community College District website, the new athletic facility that is currently under construction will cost the school $16.7 million. An athletic field, which is slated to be constructed from June to November will also cost the school $2.7 million as well. These projects are a part of a Project Building Program. It has also been responsible for buildings such as the Martin Luther King Jr. Library Resource Center, the Child Development Center and the Science and Technology building. This year the total funding and overall budget is listed at $588 million. Many of the athletes remain optimistic about what the future may hold for the revival of the athletic program, meanwhile they do their part to stay active at LACC. The Intramural Sports League has gained popularity on campus and the number of participants increases as it continues. Intramural Sports Athletics Coordinator Karmina Garcia , has made it her responsibility to assure that LACC keeps athletics alive on campus. “This semester has been a lot more successful because we added more sports … now we have volleyball, basketball, soccer and pingpong,” Garcia said. “I want to be able to get our sports program back. We need an actual team to bring the school spirit back.” Until that day comes, many students will be waiting to see if LACC’s administration will pass the ball and show that there is some love for the game.
who scored a combined five goals. One of Unreal Madrid’s goals came by way of a goalkeeping penalty. This game provided an insight into what talent would be present at the finals matchup. Las Aguilas de Japon 1 Free For All 11 Team Free For All held onto the ball for most of the match as team Las Aguilas de Japon were short on men due to injuries and seemed very fatigued and were often outrun by the quicker Free For All squad. Their lone goal came from a goalkeeping penalty. Ramsey Issa and David Chavez of team Free For All decided the outcome of the game with six and four points respectively. Chavez’s last goal forced the referee to call the game with three minutes left on the clock due to mercy rule.
Sideline Press Intramural Basketball Standings The NBA suspended Los Angeles Laker Metta World Peace after he threw a hard elbow at Oklahoma City Thunder guard James Harden. How does this incident make you feel about sportsmanship in pro basketball? By Kenneth Jara Photos By Regine Simmonds
By Pablo De Jesus Since 2008, the LACC athletic program has been non-existent causing the Cubs mascot to file for a divorce from the school. In the meantime, many student athletes are still maintaining a commitment toward keeping themselves occupied. When they are not hitting the books participating in the intramural sports league. The league has many sports that the student body can engage in including basketball, soccer, volleyball and pingpong. “I really think that it incorporates school spirit, which helps student to come together and coordinate,” said Claire Cannon, an undeclared major and member of Basketball Team Five. “It also helps us with our physical well-being. It’s hard to find exercise programs that fit into your schedule.” Due to the financial deficit, LACC administration and fiscal management reached an accord that the athletic program be suspended indefinitely. According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, City College President Dr. Jamillah Moore told trustees back in late 2009 that the decision would save the school $700,000 and prevent academic programs from being cut. To date, there are no programs and a plethora of classes are being slashed for upcoming semesters. The student body has not allowed these unusual circumstances to deter them from having an extracurricular program at City College. This semester, the Intramural Sports League has unwavering support with 160 students paying a $10 fee to take part in the league. The $1600 dollars generated is still not adequate to keep the program going without administrative support. Kinesiology major, Kai De Vera, a member of basketball team Flight 2.0 is one of the 160 students who participate. “It’s a good outlet, I know a lot of students are disappointed about not having sports,” De Vera said. “It’s something that’s competitive and it gives us something to play for even though we don’t get rings like in the N.B.A.” Prior to the removal of the athletic program, some of the sports that were featured included basketball, swimming and track and field. All of the schools within the Los Angeles Community College District have been able to keep their athletics programs as they experience budget deficits but not LACC. This has left most of the students at City wondering if the school administration is keen on bringing the athletic program back.
Champions 2 Unreal Madrid 6 In their final meeting of the season, Champions took on the undefeated Unreal Madrid. The first half found both team lacking in their defensive strategies resulting in both teams scoring 2-4 in favor of Unreal Madrid. Lazaque Mugerwa demonstrated fancy footwork time after time throughout the match, but found his way blocked due to the tight defense Unreal Madrid sent his way throughout the game. Champions forward Aristote Tumba scored two athletic goals under heavy pressure and kept Unreal Madrid at bay with constant attacks at the goal. However, team Champions were no match for Unreal Madrid’s duo of Ariana Casanova (three goals) and Luis Castellon (two goals)
Position Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Elite 6-0 Team Flight 2.0 4-2 Star Cast 4-2 Old School 4-2 Eagles 3-3 Spartans 3-3 Red Nation 2-4 L.A. City Thunder-Cubz 2-4 Linsanity 2-4 Team 5 0-6
Sports Bin
By Nancy Lee Kelly
Finding the Next Best Thing In 2008, I took Professor Thomas Cano’s weight training class at City College. I remember walking into the room and smelling the iron in the air. Watching him teach was like watching a scene out of “Rocky.” He would say, “One more” to keep students from giving up. “Time to move on to the next machine,” he would bellow out at regular intervals. This was exactly what I needed at a time when I felt myself getting older as my career as a background artist was coming to a standstill. One day, while I was in the Women’s Gym, I saw a man who looked like Zorro. He held castanets in his hands, wore all black clothing and brandished Spanish flamenco shoes. It was none other than tap dancer and big band leader turned dance professor Chester Whitmore. I was overcome by the professionalism displayed by the dancers in the class and I became determined to participate. “Social Dance and Tap” was followed by a quick change and a trip to the City College pool and laps. Two hours chopping, pushing, breathing and blowing bubbles during the 19 laps at 50-yard lengths with “Fernando” the man who taught me swimming techniques I will never forget. Everybody loved Cubby. What a face! What an eyebrow! However, with no sports at City, the poor bear has gone missing. Not all is lost however; as City College still offers quite a selection of physical education courses meant to enhance one’s mind and body.
“Metta was hyped up. He was too much into the moment. I feel his suspension is fair, because it should teach him a lesson. He’s come a long way from the Pistons-Pacers brawl at the Palace Of Auburn Hills.” Leo Ayrapetyan Undecided
“Metta celebrated too much after the play, and the replay shows that what he did was intentional. He should have not done what he did, simple as that.” Marc Bautista Kinesiology
“Metta was not being a leader by doing that. I feel that athletes need more discipline in their sport because these incidents should not be legal in any league.” Omar Grimaldo Fire Tech
I’m going places. And taking my CSUDH degree with me. global leaders hire CsUdh gradUates for their knowledge and skills. The South Bay’s leading companies actively hire CSUDH graduates who offer a world of knowledge, skills and experience. How far will you go with your CSUDH degree? Find out.CSUDH.EDU/FutureStudents.
“Metta has no sportsmanship, because he knew James Harden was behind him when he swung his elbow. He even turned around and kept looking away with a smile on his face, so it seems like he did it on purpose, he deserves to get suspended for the incident.” Patty Lopez Undecided
With the CSUDH/Los Angeles Community College Enrollment Partnership you’ll get accurate information, guidance and tools from CSUDH and LACC counselors to help you take the right courses now to transfer and finish your degree. Call the Los Angeles City College Transfer Center (323) 953-4000 ext. 2215 to learn more.
(310) 243-3696
•
1000 E. Victoria Street
•
Carson, CA 90747