Issuu

C TY

V EWS Q:

How do you feel about ASO elections?

Wednesday March 28, 2012 Volume 166 Number 3

EWS BRIEFS

Calling All Writers

Students with experience in short story, poetry, ESL and graphic novels writing may enter the 14th annual English and ESL Department writing contest. Students may submit by April 19, at 2 p.m. in Jefferson Hall 301 for a chance to win cash prizes. For more information visit www.lacitycollege. edu/academic/departments/engesl/ writing_contest.html

American Diabetes Association

Collegian Expo offers Useful Tips for Diabetics

L.A. Forecast:

Jobs to Heat Up With Summer

Students in Los Angeles may find more job opportunities during the second half of the year according to a new survey from Manpower Employment Outlook.

Author Says Comics Influenced a Movement Illustration by Jose Tobar

By Anna Kamalyan

any of the businesses surveyed plan new hiring, while a small percentage plan cuts. More students are getting hired according to Apple One and Matura Farrington Staffing Services in Los Angeles. The current national unemployment rate is 8.3 percent, while the California unemployment rate is 10.9 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “I’m definitely seeing a plus with the job market this year. Things are getting better,” said Dennis Sherman, an associate at the Apple One Employment Agency. “If it’s a better market, a lot more job opportunities

Granting Access

unemployed in 2011. The Career Center at LACC offers a variety of services to students. Some of these services include interviewing tips, assisting with resumé writing and helping students to choose a career. See Job Growth on page 3

Student Success Goals Outlined

By Derek Hines

Entertainment Gurus Speak Entertainment industry professionals arrived at LACC on March 22, to share their success stories. Producers, actors and directors from Dick Clark Productions and ABC shared advice with students on how to make it in the entertainment business. This is the second year the LACC Foundation and the president’s office hosted the entertainment panel. Compiled by Byron Umana and Layla Fernandez

LACC

WEATHER FORECAST WEDNESDAY

66/52

THURSDAY

67/52

Moise Molina enters one of the handful of doors on campus that is still not equipped with electronic motion sensors.

FRIDAY

69/53

SATURDAY

67/51

SUNDAY

62/48

Campus construction paves the way for better mobility, but experts say more than repairs on doorways are needed. They say public colleges should focus more on academic programs.

Opinion and Editorial / News ............ 2-3 Arts & Entertainment / Campus Life .............. 4-5 Sports .......................... 6

will be available.” Officials confirm an increase in employment in Los Angeles. California hit an unemployment high in 1993, but the current number of unemployed represents a 12-year high, according to statistics from the Department of Numbers. The group gathers public data and “contextualizes” it to keep the public better informed. “From everything I’ve seen and heard, there will be an increase of employment,” said professor Bishop Jeffrey Nugent, of the USC Department of Economics. “It will be vast enough to bring the unemployment rates down. We have a ways to go.” In Los Angeles County, there were more than half a million people

In a time of financial crisis in higher education, the Student Success Task Force Recommendations are being met with both optimism and criticism.

Candidates vying for the Peralta Community College District chancellor position will be interviewed by the District Board on April 10. The candidates include Jamillah Moore of Los Angeles City College, Dr. Jack Daniels of Southwest College, Dr. Jose Ortiz of Allan Hancock College, Dr. Andrea Serban of Coast Community College and Scott Lay of the Community College League of California.

INDEX

Scan to see students’ views on how ASO can attract voters.

The Voice of Los Angeles City College Since 1929

Candidates will be looking for votes at an ASO General Election Forum on April 17, from 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. in the Main Quad. Online voting will be available April 23 - 27. For more information, visit the ASO office located in the Cub Center.

President Moore Named Finalist

Los Angeles

ASO Candidates to Stump for Votes

Dr. Adifilu Nama, the author of “Super Black American Pop Culture and Black Superheroes,” signed books for a crowd of about 40 people last Thursday in the Communications Building. He lectured about how comics helped change the image of black men and women in America. Nama says comics mirrored issues in the Civil Rights Movement.

$34,000 IN $CHOLAR HIP$

Photo by Matthew Mullins/ Collegian

By Eun Ju Lee Disabled students who use wheelchairs now have better access to buildings compared to a few years ago. Every building is now equipped with at least one accessible door that opens automatically as students approach. At the south entrance to the

Chemistry Building, an automatic door swings open after students go up the new ramp. The entrance to the basement on the north side now has operable push plates. Moreover, all entrances in the Life Science Building, Communication Center, Martin Luther King Jr. Library and Cesar Chavez Administration Building have electronic motion controlled doors.

The Science and Technology Building doors also have functioning push plates and accessible ramps. Students who have classes in buildings where doors have been repaired or replaced say that they are quite satisfied with the improvements. Carlos Marsh, a disabled student who uses a wheelchair says he can get into buildings just fine despite his handicap. “Recently, for me, there has been no problem getting access to doorways, and using [the] push plate button,” Marsh said. “I was able to get in and out fine. All the doors were working perfect.” See Disabled on Page 3

Members of the Student Success Task Force have forged 22 recommendations they say will strengthen the community colleges in California. The task force is composed of 20 members including a state senator, a mayor, educators and administrators. Their recommendations were sent to the California Legislature for approval earlier this month. Some are already being adopted by schools and some can be in place in as little as six months. The more intensive changes still need to go through the Legislature and will take longer to administer. “We are in the implementation phase, which is exciting,” said Paul Feist, vice chancellor for communications in the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. The proposed plan is in accordance with Senate Bill 1143, which passed last June and changed the way funds are distributed to colleges. California community colleges enroll more than 70 percent of the undergraduate student population in California, and 25 percent of all students enrolled in community colleges nationwide, according to the Chancellor’s Office. The Task Force members want to offer more support to students and help them identify and meet goals faster. The recommendations emphasize that students need guidance to achieve success. There is a need for support once students enroll in community college. Statistics show that only 52 percent of degree seeking students complete either a certificate degree or transfer within six years. This could hurt the state in the future, because by 2025, California will be 1 million degree holders short of meeting job demand, according to research by the Public Policy Institute of California. One policy recommendation is

”The Strengthen Support for Entering Students,” which requires students to have assessment testing, orientation and the creation of an educational plan. At this point, students who show signs of being unprepared are directed to participate in resource services. The policy’s main goal is to have students declare a program of study early in their first terms of school, according to the task force. To make these decisions, a new student would have to rely on the expertise and guidance of a counselor. This exposes another problem, the fact that student-to-counselor ratios can be extremely disproportionate. Students often have to wait days if not weeks to speak to a counselor who has little time to give advice. Lisa White, a radiology student, experienced the drawback of too many students and too few counselors. “I just needed to know which English class I should take, and it took three days just to find out,” White said. “By then the class was full.” Students need help making informed choices, yet if the services are not efficient, success can be an uphill battle. However, there is some opposition to the task force, as expressed by the City College of San Francisco Board of Trustees President, John Rizzo. “These recommendations are a threat to students who need our help,” Rizzo said. A recommendation that may be of interest is “Incentivize Successful Student Behaviors.” One of the basic goals set by this policy is to make sure that all Californians who have the desire and skill to benefit from higher education should have a place in the California community colleges. However, students are often admitted into colleges but are unable to enroll in classes they need to meet their goals. See Task Force on Page 3

Opinion & Editorial

Wednesday March 28, 2012

EDITORIAL

Los Angeles

Collegian

Extreme Makeover: City College Edition Show me progress toward your degree or leave. The open admissions policy of LACC is about to be restricted, now becoming a thing of the past. City College may soon implement the proposals listed in the Recommendations of the Student Success Task Force, which is on its way to the state Legislature. In order to alleviate crowded classes in which every single seat is occupied and crashers sit on the floor, the Student Success Task Force has proposed radical changes to LACC. Because of budget cuts and fewer course selections and offerings, some teachers have even resorted to lotteries. In the new plan, students must show substantial progress toward their degree plans. Dilettantes, especially, will not be given BOG fee waivers. Ten percent of entering City College students were counted as “full-time, first-time” in 2010, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. In every semester and in every class, courses are filled beyond capacity at the beginning of the semester. By the middle of the semester, one should not be surprised to witness that half the students dropped out. By the end of the semester, the real survivors stand out like sediment left behind after the attrition. The Task Force will prioritize

first-time, incoming students. The Task Force is, in essence, dangling the carrot in front of students. Get your degrees they seem to say, get out, and make room for new students. Because of the current budget climate, the Student Success Task Force has planned to ration out community college resources smarter, and in a manner that is fairer. It’s about time that the precious resources of the state get invested in safer bets. Just as financial advisers inform their clients to stay away from risky hedge funds in a bear market, it’s time for community colleges to invest in safer choices like full-time students who are making progress toward their degrees. An associate degree should not take longer than three years. It was meant to be completed in two. The necessary funds to provide an open admissions policy, which offers classes to all like free manna fallen from the sky is a memory of the bull market days. The Task Force recommendations make sense. After all, to transfer to the University of California, a City College student needs to have completed only 60 units. What is an LACC student doing still hanging out here after 110 units? Everyone deserves an education. But dilettantes who drop out in the

middle of the semester are taking up too many resources. They are not allowing 113,000 new students to register, which denies thousands of others who are worthy of an education. Non-credit community extension courses, “learning for the sake of learning” fun classes, do not transfer, nor should they get subsidized in this bleeding economy. BOG waivers cover at least 40 percent of community college students in the state. Students with more than 110 units will no longer qualify for the BOG. The task force has argued that California needs workers who are educated, who have completed their certificates or degrees. One hundred and ten plus units that do not synthesize to a finished degree are 110 units wasted. To view the community college as an all-you-can-enroll buffet is something the task force intends to end. No more exploring. No more tasting courses outside your major. No more dilly-dallying. Some of the proposals are earthshattering: “The community college system must shift from using historical course scheduling patterns and instead make informed course schedules focused on needs of students.” One can only hope that more weekend, online, and evening courses are offered to accommodate

Letters to the Editor

To the Collegian staff:

You’ve been getting lots of awards, but I want you to know that there is admiration for your work from within as well as beyond the LACC campus. I am continually impressed by your graphic savvy, the vitality you’ve brought to the campus -- thanks to the relevance and ingenuity of your coverage. You not only empower students by articulating student issues and

concerns, you inform faculty. I’ve learned more about recent demotions and removals from your pages than I’ve learned from anyone! As far as I can tell, your coverage is lucid and accurate. If there is more to tell, then you’ll be the first, I trust, to report it. Alexandra Maeck, English/ESL Dept.

Illustration by Claudia Alvarado /Collegian

self-supporting students with full-time jobs. Remember the excitement when Obama was running for office, promising “change?” City College students who are sick of being pushed

custodian’s actions.” She is, of course, referring to the nonconsensual photographs that our local Peeping Tom is accused of snapping on his Blackberry. This is what happens when you let emotions get in the way of objective journalism. The circumstances are obviously different, but the conflict of interest extant in this issue undermines the arguments within. Kyle Jaeger, English major

Just Print the Damn Schedules

By Gabriella Fonseca This past semester I found out that City College was no longer printing schedules. I guess that

explains all the people trying to add classes during the first week of school, myself included. “What does COA 112 mean?” I had such a terrible time trying to find what classes I wanted to take, because I didn’t have my handy college schedule to describe each course in full detail. When I tried scheduling my classes, I found it quite difficult to choose accordingly. During the first weeks of school the option for students to meet with counselors was not an option. My last hope for help was simply unavailable. Having to go online and try to search each class, I was interested in one by one, and then match it up to the time I needed, was not an easy task. It was much easier to look at the schedule, read the description, and write down the time.

My long and difficult process helped me register for all the classes I needed. I was able to register for classes without having to wait until the last day possible to add. This was especially stressful because of my “full-time” status, which allows me to receive financial aid. I can’t imagine the frustration of students who do not have Internet access. I wonder about older students who are not Internet savvy. I don’t agree with the school’s choice to not print the schedules. It may be eco-friendly, but is not student friendly. I think that makes it harder for students to enroll in classes they need and that makes no sense. I don’t think it cost that much, and in the end it causes more delays and unsuccessful registration for the students it is meant to benefit.

out of overcrowded classes and disappointed when they cannot enroll in courses necessary for their majors, can only hope for the task force to bring the promises of improvement to a depressing and frustrating squeeze.

Bathroom Bandit is No Laughing Matter

Double Standard? The First Amendment shouldn’t be infringed upon. Got it. Privacy should be protected. Sure. But [in] Volume 166 No. 1 of the Collegian’s front page, these two admittedly valid points were contradictory. In the article regarding the First Amendment, Attorney Advocate Adam Goldstein was quoted saying, “There is no right to not videotape in California.” Case closed, right? Now look to the article on the right. Tanya Flowers, the Collegian’s Editor-in-Chief, reports feeling “uncomfortable with the

Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN

By Anna Kamalyan A man was found hiding in the women’s bathroom. Why was he there? What were his intentions? While reading “No Grounds for Arrest of Man in Women’s Restroom” in issue two, volume 166 of the Los Angeles Collegian, I was shocked to hear that an unidentified female was involved in an incident where she encountered a man in the women’s restroom. After hearing this story, I refrain from entering restrooms during my night classes. The incident happened too close to home, just one building away, in the Life Science Building. The person involved was lucky that nothing happened this time, but incidents like this should not be overlooked. Women attending City College should be well aware

of the possible dangers that can occur while on campus. Maybe I am a pessimist, but I’m sure he wasn’t going to invite her to dinner. Was he waiting on a victim to prey on? Possibly kill? Who knows what the outcome could have been. The most disturbing part is that the restrooms are public, which means anyone strolling down the street can stop in and use them. So that means the creepy man with the swastika tattoos on his neck, was let go after being detained by the sheriff’s department. LACC’s Deputy Irys Alvarez said “There was no crime.” This doesn’t justify men hiding in the women’s bathroom. That’s just scary and it does not make me feel safe here. Every girl should be aware about dangerous situations that can occur on our school campus. The best way to prevent something like this from happening again is to be prepared. Going to the bathroom with a classmate, choosing a restroom in a more populated area and carrying pepper spray are just a few safety precautions students should follow. I would never think of a situation in which a man stands in the women’s bathroom. To most women, this doesn’t cross their mind. I wish we could have a more active security presence on our campus, especially at night. As a night student, it would be ideal to have at least one security guard in each building to help prevent future crimes from occurring and help students feel safe.

Acting Editor-In-Chief: Layla Fernandez Managing Editor: Abimael Rivera Copy Editor: Brent Pearson Luis Rivas Denise Barrett Gerard Cole Photo Editors: Claudia Alvarado Matthew Mullins Social Media Editor: Matthew Mullins News: Abimael Rivera Opinions and Editorials: Denise Barrett Arts & Entertainment: Lauren Arevalo Sports: Richard Martinez Distribution Manager: Collegian Staff Advertising: Richard Martinez David Stamp Marketing: Lauren Arevalo Graphic Designer: Gegham Khekoyan Josue Hernandez Reporters: Anna Kamalyan Geoffrey Smith Naomi Johnson Svetlana Yurash Regine Simmonds Josefina Nunez Lauren Arevalo Derek Hines Eun Lee Bryon Umana Emmanuel Bergmann Pablo De Jesus Claudia Alvarado CJ Johnson Giselli Rodriguez Kenneth Jara Photographers: Abimael Rivera Matthew Ali Patrick Chong Seung Hyun Ineae Bloom Regine Simmonds Kenneth Jara MultiMedia: Dave Martin David Tapia Eun Lee Kenneth Jara Illustrators: Claudia Alvarado Jose Ramon Tobar Steffen Williams Faculty Adviser: Rhonda Guess

Journalism Association of

Community Colleges

ASSOCIATED COLLEGIATE PRESS

C TY

V EWS Compiled by Josefina Nunez and Regine Simmonds

How do you feel about ASO elections?

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

Raimund Jones Law

Israel Ion Mesina Nursing

Arthur Galejian Law

Stephanie Chale Psychology

Akram Dafala Nursing

“Just ask me. Just let me know where to vote and I’ll vote. Why? Because it’s always good to come together. When we all come together we make changes.”

“Posting it on Facebook and Twitter will help boost students voting; at least something towards elections so that we know about it.”

“On how to do it and people knew more on how to do it. If the students would know where to go, what time, [the]date, that would make it so much easier. I also think they should broadcast it more, more signs, more talking, more involvement on campus.”

“Well I think you don’t really see enough things going on with us on campus; that would encourage me to vote. Maybe anything visual, anything that I can hear about, maybe a reminder. There’s nothing that will remind me what date it is or even where to go.”

“Voting is something easy. It would take me nothing to vote, I am willing to vote any day, anytime. They are our leaders; they are the head of our school. Why not get involved and vote for who you think is best to represent your college.”

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.

News

Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN

Job Growth Heats Up for Summer Jobs from page 1 “Once workforce opportunities begin to arise, people that were once enrolled in college seeking retraining, might go back to their original trades, professions, etc., in order to begin supporting themselves once more,” said Dr. Emma Tiscareño, the director and counselor of the Career Center. “Furthermore, our center has assisted thousands of students with resumé and cover letter development. We recommend that students network and create their own pool of professionals that might be able to offer them future employment, internship opportunities, or leads to others in the field that might be able to offer them jobs once they complete their training.” A great resource to help students obtain a job or career will be to attend the Mega Spring 2012 Career Fair, which will be held on May 21 in the Main Quad of the LACC campus from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. “There are more than 70 confirmed companies that are ready to meet individuals who are actively looking for

Illustration by Jorge Gomez

employment and internship opportunities,” Dr. Tiscareño said. Companies will conduct interviews during the fair. Students will have a chance to speak with employers and familiarize themselves with the companies. “We are seeing an increase in job

employment,” Karen Farrington, the co-owner of the Matura Farrington Staffing Services said. “Employers are still real specific of who they want to hire, but we do see some progress.” Farrington explained that employers are hiring those who have or possess

the skills needed for the given job. However, not all students are convinced the economy is improving. “I think it would have been great if this survey was true, but at the rate of our economy, I don’t think there will be an increase,” said Liana Gasparyan, a biology major at LACC. Wal-Mart, International Business Machines, United Parcel Service, Target and Northrop Grumman are the five largest companies in Los Angeles County. Wal-Mart is the only company out of the five that is not hiring, according to recent research by the Collegian. “We are at a hiring freeze, but you can still file an application,” said a Wal-Mart representative. Although Wal-Mart is not hiring, this should not discourage students. There are plenty of other companies that are in need of employees. “We are absolutely hiring for summer,” said a representative at Northrop Grumman. She said students could go to Northropgrumman.com, and file an application for the job position of their choice.

Building Improvements Arrive for Disabled Students on Campus

Photo by Matthew Mullins/ Collegian Moise Molina, Computer Engineering major, reflects on the major updates City College has made to the doors to make his passage easier.

Disabled from page 1 In October 2008, the Collegian reported that four out of five push plates tested on doors of different buildings failed to open and were inoperable. At that time, disabled students

had problems entering and exiting the Chemistry Building, Holmes Hall, Life Sciences, the Learning Resource Center and Clausen Hall, because of a lack of ramp access or automatic doors. In 2009, the Collegian found that students entering Clausen Hall struggled to open the eastern doors that faced Vermont Avenue. In October 2009, Kerry S. Brooks, professor of counseling and psychology of the Office of Special Services at LACC, demonstrated the difficulty in opening the malfunctioning doors of Clausen Hall. The building is now under construction for remodeling along with Holmes Hall and the Learning Resource Center. In 2009, there was a $300,000 door replacement project to update buildings with more accessible doorways. Many changes have been made since then, yet disabled students may still find difficulties in accessing buildings. “Doors that did not have automatic sliding capabilities a few years ago used to create difficulty and hardship for me,” said Moise Molina, a computer engineering major. “The ones that are under construction like Learning Resource Center, and few other buildings had manual doors and stairways that made it impossible to go in. Although [the] basement entrance of Learning Resource Center had ways for wheelchairs to pass through, the main entrance did not.” Last week, the Collegian tested push plates in 19 door entries, including those of the Life Science Building, Chemistry Building, the Science and Technology Building, Franklin Hall, Jefferson Hall, the Communications

Center and Da Vinci Hall. However, six out of 19 doors examined are still not properly updated with an electronic motion sensor system. Molina wishes for more buildings to be equipped with automatic doors or push plates attached to the wall. “It is nice to see one of those new doors in [the Science and Technology] Building, but some places still did not have them, which make things a bit inconvenient to move around,” Molina said. “Few other places do not have ways to go through [with] wheelchairs, and also auto doors are not available to use. This still makes things hard for me to get around. The more they are accessible, the better it is for us.” The west side entrance that connects Life Science to the Chemistry Building has manual doors that are difficult to open, although all other doors are automatic. Furthermore, Franklin Hall has two doors, one facing south and the other, east on Vermont Avenue. Neither opens automatically. At least two entrances to Jefferson Hall and one exit door of Da Vinci Hall do not have ramps for wheelchair accessibility and do not open automatically. The Men’s Gym has a heavy door that is not opened by an electronic motion sensor, even though there is a ramp that leads to the doorways. Tully’s Cafe in the Student Lounge has two manual doors that are extremely difficult to open, even for non-disabled persons. The recently constructed Child Development Center also installed heavy manual doors that are difficult to open. Karen Romero, a child

development major who uses a wheelchair complained. “The door is heavy and difficult to go in, especially when I carry stuff in my hands,” Romero said. “I had mentioned about the problems in the past, and that’s why they fixed other doors. It is [a] requirement of ADA [Americans with Disabilities Act] to have automatic doors.” However, in a phone interview with Disability Specialist, Jodie San Pietro of the Department of Labor, she confirmed that installing automatic doors is not the primary concern of the ADA. She said that no specific standards are required for newly constructed buildings to comply with on automatic door policy, as long as the disabled are able to easily maneuver around a building. She also said that the main obligation for public colleges is to focus more on academic programs, rather than remodeled buildings. “What is more important [are] the programs that offer classes for those students,” Pietro said. “Something like student union activities and an academic adviser.” In addition, she suggested that LACC complete self-evaluation forms and display forms for the public to file grievances in case there are any complaints from disabled students. “If more than 50 employees are in any institution, there has to be an individual in a department that interprets the accommodation for disabled students,” Pietro said. Additional information about the Americans with Disabilities Act is available at Title II and Title III articles at www.ada.gov.

Wednesday March 28, 2012

Task Force Sets Recommendations Task Force from page 1

Studies show that last year 133,000 first-time students were unable to register due to their low placement in the registration pool, according to the task force. This recommendation changes the current registration and enrollment process. Highest enrollment priority will be given to students with good standing in pursuit of a certificate, degree or transfer, first-time students who have completed assessments and orientation, students who have formed an education plan, and students addressing basic skills. “Maybe now I can get into those art classes I need for my major” Elena Dubrov, a photography student said. Continuing students would lose priority due to some factors. These include not following through with their educational plan, being placed on academic probation for two consecutive terms, failure to declare a major by their third term, or if they acquire 100 or more units. This, according to the Task Force, is to ensure that classes are rationed. Another component of this recommendation is to require students receiving the Board of Governors Fee Waiver (BOGFW) to meet certain requirements. They would have to identify a degree, certificate, transfer or career goal. Students must meet satisfactory progress to be eligible for renewal, and have no more than 110 units. This

change would place BOGFW recipients under similar requirements of students who receive state or Federal Aid. The Fee Waiver was put in place to allow low-income students the opportunity to enroll without the financial burden. However, other aid programs have requirements to keep students progressing. Chelsea Pogue is a theatre major who does not seem to mind the new requirement. “It will give us all the same criteria to follow,” Pogue said. “With Financial Aid, there is always someone you have to answer to, unlike with the Fee-Waiver, your tuition is paid and you walk out the door.” The plan has already gained supporters from the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and The Campaign for College Opportunity. David Wolf, board chair of the Campaign for College Opportunity sent a letter to stakeholders expressing the campaign’s complete endorsement of the Student Success Task Force’s recommendations. In times of financial crisis it seems there is no better time than now to refocus the priorities of community colleges. Brett Barley, of the Silicon Valley Leadership group, says that during this time of scarce resources, “we must implement innovative solutions that will improve student outcomes.’

Experts Urge Diabetes Prevention at Expo By Pablo De Jesus Los Angeles Convention Center was host to the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Exposition on March 17 where more than 5,000 people attended to receive free medical screenings and engage in fun activities to raise diabetes prevention awareness. Guest speakers at the event included doctors, nutritionists, and people with type I or type II diabetes, who discussed how the disease continues to plague the United States. Roughly 28 million Americans have diabetes, affecting many ethnic minority groups, primarily in the African-American and Latino communities, according to the ADA website. American Diabetes Association Executive Director, Peter Braun told the Collegian that the increase in diabetes is an outbreak not only in the United States, but globally. “The important issue is that diabetes is one of the leading health issues of our time,” Braun said. “It’s estimated that one out of every three children will have type II diabetes in their lifetime. It’s a dramatic increase in type II diabetes. It’s an epidemic throughout the world.” Some of the topics covered at the ADA Expo revolved around the prevention of diabetes by maintaining an appropriate blood sugar level. Many of the experts agreed foods that contain inappropriate fats and carbohydrates could lead to developing the disease. Exercise is also important in staying fit

and maintaining health. Hot 92.3 Radio host personality Josefa Salinas, a diabetic and guest speaker, told the crowd how exercise is a component in keeping a healthy outlook toward the future. “Research is pretty clear that when we exercise, not only does it help with blood pressure regulation and preventing heart disease,” Salinas said, “It also helps your heart’s blood sugar regulation as well.” During her presentation she moved the crowd with her will to cope with diabetes and did not allow it to take control of her life. She is now making it her mission to give hope to those that may need guidance to fight back. The ADA Expo educated people on how they can prevent diabetes and where they can seek necessary medical resources in the event that they have the disease. Many of the volunteers handed out flyers and brochures to keep people informed. “Diabetes is when your body can no longer stabilize its own blood sugar,” said nutritionist and author Mark MacDonald. “We [have] got to get people before [they develop diabetes]. Get preventative, have conventions, step out and show people. Educate them that they can eat the foods that they love and show them the tools on how they can do that.” For more information on the American Diabetes Association, scan the QR code on page 3 or go to http://bit.ly/H8Gae6

Students Line Up to Donate Blood By Svetlana Yurash More than 100 LACC students donated blood on last week, for the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles blood drive located in the main Quad. Each pint of blood can save the lives of up to three children in need of a blood transfusion. Every student who donated blood received a T-shirt that read “Just Donated It.” Recruiter, Raul Gonzalez, on

site told the Collegian that as a result of students’ willingness to help, they had two successful days on the Quad. “We did 53 units yesterday and 55 units of blood today,” Gonzalez said. “Many students were very happy, especially to help children in need.” Donor Room Technician, Debbie Pinedo was ecstatic about the turnout. She claims that because of the number of kids that need

blood, the amount of people who came out to donate was excellent. “It’s a very successful day.” Pinedo said. “We took about 45 donors ... We have a lot of children who need blood immediately. We need about 40 pints daily, and we did good.” Amaris Fernandez, a radiology major was happy to donate blood for the Children’s Hospital. She felt that it was a small price to pay in order to help the children who

need it the most. “I am glad to help children. I’m not going to die if I donate some blood. People need it,” Fernandez said. Cinema major, Roger B. Smith feels good about himself for donating to the hospital for children in need. “I feel like a million bucks! It’s good to donate; to help someone else,” Smith said. “It’s [an] honor to do this and I also got a T-shirt.”

Photo by Matthew Mullins/ Collegian

The staff of the Children’s Hospital Blood Donation Center parked in the City College Quad and collected more than 40 pints of blood from more than 100 students last week.

Wednesday March 28, 2012

Arts & Entertainment

Night of Art and Critique at MOCA

THE THEATRE ACADEMY

Lit Up: Los Angeles Tries to Get Literary Photo By Matthew Mullins/Collegian In the one act play ‘Words,Words,Words,’ Gabriel Lamb and Natalie Kha played monkeys who were commissioned to write ‘Hamlet.’

By Matthew Mullins and Gisselli Rodriguez

Profiled next to a work at MOCA is Rafael Tadevosyan, MOCA Night organizer.

MOCA Night student group between Office Baroque by Gordon Matta-Clark and Mirage No. 1 by Robert Smithson.

Marnie Weber’s Brown Bear

MOCA Night student group between Office Baroque by Gordon Matta-Clark and Mirage No. 1 by Robert Smithson.

The Theatre Academy’s student directed one act plays had plenty going for them, using minimal set design for seamless transitions and off-stage visuals such as silhouettes. One of the joys of one act festivals is the diversity and myriad of directions that might be chosen for each piece. The Blue Bill production had four singular acts, each intriguing in their own way. The evening was filled with fortune-telling rocks used by baseball players and monkeys writing ‘Hamlet.’ The Theatre Academy utilized the small black box theatre for intimacy with the small audience. The costumes were particularly striking in their attention to detail and accuracy. In “Words, Words, Words” there are three monkeys making their way across a research room full of toys and three typewriters in which they are made to type “Hamlet.” They are also being watched by a couple of doctors with clipboards. The monkeys are talking in both English and monkey-speak and discussing their problems with writer’s block. The slapstick comedy was coordinated well by director Kelsey Jane Murray. The lead monkey, Milton, was expertly played by Wes Myers. Myers somehow learned how to walk on the sides of his feet and pulled action and emotion out of the entire cast. The second act, “Rocks,” was about two baseball players teaching a rookie about the power-charged rocks which foretold the future of the baseball game they were to play. Although the subject of this play was

Events Vahan Bznuni, music major, read on Number 1, 1949 by Jackson Pollock after admiring the piece for several minutes.

N AT I O N A L

Free concert held at World Peace Ikeda Auditorium. “Music For Peace” featuring The Ikeda Kings Orchestra with special guest artist will be held on April 22, 2012 at 2 p.m. at the World Peace Ikeda Auditorium located at 525 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403.

entertaining, there were pregnant pauses during the dialogue which did not benefit the performance. Following intermission was the classic tale “The Little Match Girl,” a Hans Christian Andersen tale about a little girl who sells matches on a cold winter night surviving solely on her imagination of warmth. The match girl, played by Rene Michelle Aranda, has a beautifully expressive face. The costumes in this segment were by far the best bringing this time-honored fairy tale to life. To end the one act festival, they chose a very popular piece called “The Right To Remain,” a one act short about a dysfunctional family dealing with a father’s infidelity during dinnertime. The father was played by Jose Zizou Arvizu who has a great voice for this part, considering he is the primary problem in the family of three and projects most of his pent-up anger at his wife and son when he is really mad at himself. “The Right to Remain” is about the unhealthy ways the American family chucks the pains of reality to remain comfortable and stable. All three actors involved played this short brilliantly and conveyed to the audience the discomfort of dysfunction while ending the night full of laughter. This production was a well-crafted success, full of many of the idiosyncrasies that make one act festivals so enjoyable. The Theatre Academy recently had the distinction of being one of the best in the U.S., honored by the Kennedy Center American Play Festival in Michigan.

Music Department is having a concert on April 10 at Da Vinci Hall Room 302 at 12:10 p.m. with Cameron O’Connor & Michael Matsuno playing the Guitar & Flute. On April 12 at Da Vinci Hall Room 302 at 12:10 p.m. with Richard Kravchak & Mary Au play the Oboe & Piano.

U N I V E R S I T Y

SET YOUR GOALS AND ACHIEVE THEM

- A nonprofit, WASC-accredited university - Online and on-campus associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs - Talk with an advisor and create the right education plan to meet your goals - Experience the flexibility of taking an online class - Learn about financial aid options and transfer scholarships

For more information, visit a National University Online Information Center: Northridge Fashion Center 9301 Tampa Avenue 818.718.3140

LAUREN AREVALO

Theatre Review

Photos and Text By Claudia Alvarado/ Collegian

For the past two years a member of the Ambassador’s Club, Rafael Tadevosyan has arranged student outings to museums in the Los Angeles area. On one such occasion in March a group of LACC students gathered enthusiastically for a trip to the Museum Of Contemporary Art. Tadevosyan had the entire night planned out from beginning to end, starting with an adventurous ride on the Metro Red Line. After five minutes of underground traveling, we arrived at the Pershing Square Metro station. There Tadevosyan announced that we will be traveling up to California Plaza on the famous Angel’s Flight, advertised as a “funicular railway.” Students felt the short train ride to be very nostalgic. Arriving at the top everyone was welcomed by a jaw-dropping, serene structure of granite, steel and glass with a lush pond that is the outdoor orchestral auditorium of the plaza. The group followed the path to the ticket booth. Every Thursday after 5 p.m. MOCA offers free admission. Tadevosyan plans his trips according to the museum calendar’s free nights to make it equally accessible to all students. Tadevosyan wanted to make a program that made students feel a sense of community, share a common interest and want to “build friendship through cultural enlightenment.” Throughout the night it seemed as though that was exactly what was unfolding. MOCA Night consisted of 19 LACC students walking through galleries admiring works of art. Some students were overheard wondering while passing by the large canvasses of Jackson Pollock, “How could scribbles be art?” Photography student at LACC, Riva Matilde, took it upon herself to explain to friend Dana Burkett, Women’s Studies major, pieces here and there from what she knew. Other students kept to themselves, absorbing as much as possible from each individual piece. At the end of the night Tadevosyan ushered the group over to the nearby Famima for free coffee and donuts in California Plaza where he works. He expressed that it was important to unite the group at the end of the night to share thoughts and critique the art. Overall, the night was a success and the students were happy to participate. The next trip Tadevosyan will be coordinating is to the Museum of Tolerance on April 20. Interested students can contact Student Services to sign up.

Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN

Westside Pavilion 10800 West Pico Boulevard 310.481.2046

Visit www.nu.edu for a complete list of convenient Southern California locations.

The University of Values An Affiliate of The National University System

While Los Angeles appears to be the cultural hub of the world for everything from film to food, it lacks a similar community of the literary variety. I went on a search to find the beating heart of the literary scene only to find its pulse scattered worryingly across the city. “Although it is the second-largest city in America, in the literary imagination it is still a colony. Instead of speaking for itself, the city is spoken about,” said Adam Kirsch in “Slate” magazine. It’s true. The city is the scene but it takes on the qualities of character for many pivotal American novels. From the stilted, dream-like writing of Joan Didion to Raymond Chandler’s noir, Los Angeles is the place. Could it be our problem is our beloved city is still in some stage of metropolitan infancy? We may not have the storied history of New York City, birthplace of Eugene O’Neill and J.D. Salinger and current home to more writers per square mile than perhaps any other place in the U.S., but we are close. However, this argument falls apart when considering California’s Northern coastal heavyweight, San Francisco, which has been the stomping ground of the beat generation. I have been invited to more readings in one weekend in San Francisco than the entirety of my life in Los Angeles. Perhaps our issue is Los Angeles is so vast and starkly divided by thick boundary lines, each with their own frame of reference and experience. There is simply no middle ground on which to meet and discuss the things that do tie writers together -- the only true literary activities -- reading and writing. I found evidence to support this disparaging hypothesis. A disjointed calendar of events is often in “LA Weekly,” detailing the many different micro-scenes happening in faraway pockets of town. Los Angeles might just altogether be a different sort of machine, having presumed that novelists like F. Scott Fitzgerald would flourish in the world of screenwriting. To Angelinos, writing is a means to an end instead of a journey. “Hollywood is the capitol of postliterate culture, the place where writers were first transformed from unacknowledged legislators to ‘content providers’,” Kirsch said. It has been said Fitzgerald considered his time as a Hollywood hack to be a failure. Could it be he was missing the symbiotic relationships and camaraderie he enjoyed in Paris? Los Angeles by contrast must have felt incredibly lonely. “The great hole at the heart of Los Angeles literature has always been the lack of venues where L.A. writing can be published and discussed,” Kirsch goes on to say. While this has historically been true, I have seen strides in the past few years. Young Literati, an organization run by the Los Angeles Public Library has sought to bring together many young luminaries. It’s a worthy effort, but it seems to me like an expensive, gala-like environment. Bookstores have begun to meet the need for places to gather. The Last Bookstore in Downtown has hosted events such as the Los Angeles Zine Festival, a huge success in its first event this year. Stories, a bookstore in Echo Park is a place I have found like-minded company among the stacks of books and the warmth of coffee. To meet the publishing needs of a large population, small presses have sprung up like Les Figues Press and Red Hen in Pasadena. The city is also home to a few literary magazines such as “Black Clock”, the work of Cal Art’s MFA program and Slake, a hyper-local, “slow lit” publication. The Literary Death Match pits writers together in a way that only Los Angeles would approve. Writers take turns reading their finest works in a multiround competition which ends in a spelling bee, bringing a notoriously quiet set of people to a stage of competitive spectacle. We may have too many problems to address and too few fans of what I hazard to call a bygone culture. After all, Gore Vidal declared the novel dead many decades ago. Still, the siren call of literary life urges us on as we continue to seek fraternity in our own city with those who share our literary interests.

Campus Life

Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN

Scholarships Compiled by CJ Johnson/Collegian

Higher One

create a Manage Your Loans account on the Sallie Mae website. If you enroll with their online billing service, you get two more sweepstakes entries each month. Apply at: SallieMae.com/after_graduation/manage_your_loans/managing_account/rules.htm Or Mail your entry to: The Great Sallie Mae Giveaway P.O. Box 9500 Wilkes-Barre, PA 18773-9500

20 Awards: $2,500 each Deadline: April 30, 2012. As part of their efforts to give students “The Inside Edge,” Higher One is pleased to announce the One Scholarship Competition to donate a total of $50,000 toward the tuition of 20 deserving students ($2,500 each) at Higher One colleges and universities. Application Process: Simply complete the online application found at http://www.higherone. com for consideration. Winners will be selected based on the content of their video essay uploaded to either YouTube or Vimeo (maximum of 2 minutes)

Vikki Carr Scholarship

Five Awards: Minimum award of $1,500 - maximum award of $3,000 Deadline: April 15, 2012 Criteria: Applicant must be of Latino heritage, age 17 to 22, a resident of California or Texas, and a legal U.S. resident, and must submit letters of recommendation, transcript, photo, and short biography. Apply: Vicki Carr Scholarship Foundation P.O. Box 780968San Antonio, TX 78278 Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) Scholarship

The Great Sallie Mae Giveaway Scholarship to reduce student loans Award: $25,000 Sallie Mae Loans paid off Deadline: April 30, 2012 The Great Sallie Mae Giveaway is a sweepstakes open to people who

CUBBINGTON Bear Break Down

1. $1,000 community college or AA/ AS granting institution 2. $2,500 4-year academic institution 3. $5,000 graduate-level institution Deadline: April 16, 2012 In an effort to ensure the progress of scholarship recipients and encourage completion of the postsecondary program, each scholarship award is divided over the number of years required for graduation. (i.e. a $2,500 scholarship for a college freshman will be distributed in four equal installments of $625 a year).  Students continue to receive annual disbursements as long as they maintain good academic standing. CHCI manages the disbursement of the scholarships; an annual check is sent directly to recipients. Eligibility Criteria Full-time enrollment in a United States Department of Education accredited community college, fouryear university, or graduate/professional program during the period for which scholarship is requested Demonstrated financial need Consistent, active participation in public and/or community service activities Strong writing skills U.S. citizenship or legal permanent residency For application: http://apply.chci. org/applications/login.asp

Illustrations by Claudia Alvarado/Collegian

OP Loftbed Scholarship Award Summer 2012 Scholarship

Award: $500 Deadline: July 31, 2012 1. Applicant must be a citizen of the United States of America. (Permanent residents who are not citizens are NOT Eligible.) 2. Applicant must plan to be a full or part-time student at an accredited college, university, or trade school in the United States of America by July 31, 2013. Failure to enroll in an accredited college or university by July 31, 2013 will result in forfeiture of the award funds. 3. Applicant must have a mailing address in the United States of America. The school the applicant will be attending must have offices and a mailing address in the United States of America. (Funds will not be disbursed outside of the United States.) The applicant doesn’t need to be attending a campus on U.S. soil, however.

Little People Scholarship

Awards: $250 - $1,000 Deadline: April 22, 2012 As part of their service to people with dwarfism and the community at large, Little People of America(LPA) offers educational scholarships to prospective and current students attending college or vocational school in the United States. Awards can range from $250 to $1000 (sometimes more). A scholarship committee, headed by LPA’s Vice President of Programs, will selectively review all scholarship application packets. Scholarships are given in order of preference to: • members of LPA who have a medi-

Wednesday March 28, 2012 cally diagnosed form of dwarfism  • immediate family members of dwarfs who are also members of LPA  • people with dwarfism who are not members of LPA LPA scholarship awards shall be limited to two awards for undergraduate studies effective beginning the 2011-2012 school year. Contact your local LPA chapter president, district director, or national officer to obtain scholarship applications.  LPA Local Contact: Califonia District 12 Joe Foos: foosgroup@yahoo.com LPA National Headquarters Little People of America, Inc. 250 El Camino Real, Suite 201 Tustin, CA 92780 Toll-free: (888) LPA-2001 (English and Spanish) Direct: (714) 368-3689 Fax: (714) 368-3367 E-mail: info@lpaonline.org*

Davis Putter Student Activists Scholarship:

Award: Maximum grant is $10,000 and may be considerably smaller depending on the applicant’s circumstances and the funding available. Deadline: April 1, 2012 Are you organizing for progressive social change? Leading student movements on your campus or in your community? The Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund has applications available for student activists who are building progressive movements for social change and will be enrolled in school during the 2012-13 academic year. For more information visit davidputter.or.

2 Awards: $500 Deadline: May 30, 2012 Criteria: 1. Enrolled at an accredited high school, college or university in the U.S. 2. Enrolled at the undergraduate level or your final year of high school 3. Age 16 years or older 4. Legal resident of the U.S. or hold a valid student visa 5. Carry a status of “Good Standing” - i.e. currently enrolled 6. Maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.0 7. Post marked by May 30th, 2012 Please note: There is no formal application. There is no requirement in terms of physical disability or ability. All applications are welcome Fax and email applications will not be accepted Please send your application via regular mail, no express mail will be accepted Please write a poem, in a style of your choose, on the theme of overcoming a personal challenge. Send all materials to: 1800wheelchair Scholarship 320 Roebling Street Suite 515 Brooklyn, NY 11211 If you apply and are successful with any of these scholarship opportunities, please email us: losangeles.collegian@gmail.com

1800wheelchair.com Scholarship

Get Your Associates Degree and go to Law School. Good Idea. Great Idea. All of the above.

CSULB

Enroll in Trinity Law School in the Fall.

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)

Registration begins April 2.

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!

Call: (800) 963–2250 ext. 60001 for more information. www.ccpe.csulb.edu/summer email: info@ccpe.csulb.edu

2200 North Grand Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92705 800.922.4748 | www.TLS.edu FIND US ON FACEBOOK

California State University, Long Beach College of Continuing and Professional Education Lorinda Owens 6.5 in. x 5 in. Los Angeles City College

Campus Confessions: GUILTY PLEASURES

Sports

Wednesday March 28, 2012

Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN

SPORTS BIN

League Standings

Basketball 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Elite Star Cast L.A.C.T-C Team Flight Linsanity Spartans Old School Eagles Red Nation Team Five

W/L

3/0 3/0 2/1 2/1 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 0/3

By: Gisselli Rodriguez

Tale of the Tape

Top Scorers

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Jermaine Small 27.3 Elite Harold McGhee 20.3 Star Cast

Brian Solis 18.6 Red Nation Mario Aguiluz 17.6 L.A.C.T-C Bryan Orellana 14.3 Elite

Volleyball 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Thunderbolts Purple People Eaters Lunatic The little cubs Team 5

Soccer 1. 2. 3. 4.

Photo By Patrick Chong/Collegian

Unreal Madrid Champions Free For All Las Aguilas De Japon

Carlos “Bobby” Gibas of Los Angeles City Thunder-Cubz, dribbles the basketball carefully while being defended at the intramural basketball game in the Women’s Gym on Friday, March 23, 2012.

Sideline Press Compiled by Geoffrey Smith/Collegian

How do you feel about the selection of sports for the Intramural League this semester?

Najely Martinez Nursing

Willrock Herrera Radiology

“The addition of pingpong this semester brings more variety and soccer adds to diversity. Pingpong isn’t too popular to me, but to others it is; and, it’s fun so that’s a good thing.”

“It’s really diverse this semester. It’s not like last time when there was only basketball and volleyball. They’re doing a better job now. I just wish we had more time to organize the teams.”

Aristote Tumba Fire Science

Ariana Casanova Nursing

“This semester is interesting; we have choices and more people compared to last semester. But one step at a time. We can’t have too many sports at once, it could get confusing.”

2012 Schedule

“It’s OK, because we have a lot of students involved and they’re actually coming out to play. I like the way it’s going.” Photo By Ineae Bloom/Collegian

All College Sports

Photo By Patrick Chong/Collegian

Edgar Chacach attempts a penalty kick at the intramural indoor soccer game in the Women’s Gym on Friday, March 16, 2012.

Intramural Concerns

By Geoffrey Smith

With the Intramural League in full swing, it’s flaws are becoming ever so evident to it’s contestants and fans. If the League did a better job publicizing all of it’s sports at the beginning of the semester there would probably be more students involved in pingpong and soccer. Players have been complaining of not having enough time to get their teams together and get in those necessary practices. There are of course the usual athletes that stop participating in the league, but that could be fixed if there were more time to fill rosters. As Soccer player Willrock Herrera of Team Champions says, “We could always use more players and time to make teams.” The current total of players in the pingpong league is at a dismal eight. The predominant sport recruiting participants this semester was the

basketball league; whose flyers littered the school walls in abundance. This had to have led to the ten full roster basketball squads being in the League. There was obviously a lack in promoting pingpong, as well as volleyball and indoor soccer. Maybe the agenda for the Intramural League staff should be to create some equality in promoting the season’s available sports. It’s good to see the addition of indoor soccer and pingpong to the mix, but if these two games are going to be implemented into the program, they should receive adequate attention by the people in charge of the league. Quite simply, recruitment and promotion of the League need to begin during the previous semester; with all League information displayed in one flyer as opposed to diluting the information on several.

Cubs Tapped on YouTube

I suspect you would not peg me for a boxing fan considering it is one of the more violent sports out there. Honestly, I am not really a fan of any sport. Here and there, I will tune into a basketball game or watch a college football game, but I am nowhere near the fanaticism of those who paint their bodies and wear their athletic pride upon their sleeves. However, as contradictory as it may seem, combat sports really do grasp my interest. I grew up with martial arts and learned to appreciate the discipline that came with it; the endless amount of hours spent training, the dedication and strict dieting are not easy to commit to. It is really no surprise I have an affinity for boxing as well. Surely, every athlete puts in blood, sweat and tears to reach their goals, but there is a certain unquantifiable elegance about boxing, and it makes itself known not only in the boxers themselves but also in the setup of the event. Many admire and respect the endurance and sheer physical strength of boxers, but I’ have come to find that the humble demeanor many boxers possess even when at the top of their game, to be far more admirable. Most boxers have had a rough life and chose boxing to keep them away from trouble. The knowledge that many of these athletes broke away from what many would have accepted as their destined life is truly inspiring. I have had trouble choosing an area of interest to specialize in for journalism. However, the approachable charisma the large majority of boxers possess encourages me to become a sports writer, specifically a boxing correspondent. I feel these “celebrity” figures are far more relatable than most other athletes are. Besides, several boxers are undeniably good looking and I would not protest being sentto Sergio Martinez’s locker room for an interview.

By Byron Umana

It is no surprise that students attending City College are outraged at the lack of a legitimate sports program in the College. City is now facing its fourth year without a basketball program and people are certainly not happy about it. Clearly, the administration does not consider an athletics program with a consistent graduation rate supplemental to a college education. Many who would otherwise have gone to college and transferred to four-year schools on sports scholarships, are now simply left hanging dry. As an explanation to the cancellation of the basketball program, the school provided a statement on Sept. 23, 2009. “It was a difficult decision, but our primary mission is the education of our community. We intend to restore our sports programs as soon as financially possible.” This is a basketball program with two State Championship and 29 Conference Championships under its belt. It was a basketball program whose coach made sure his

team focused on academics. Many accepted that sports at City had been cut, because of the district-wide budget cuts; but no one stops to wonder why so many other schools managed to survive the cuts and retain a healthy athletics program. So what is City doing wrong? A certain movie has made it to YouTube featuring past basketball players, coaches and community members expressing their displeasure with the abrupt end of the basketball program in 2008. All of the players featured in the film truly believe that had it not been for the college basketball program, they would not have attended college at all. Speaking of the abrupt end of the basketball program, Kevin Elliott who attended City College between 1995 and 1997 says, “It just baffled me to find out that L.A. City basketball had been terminated. Especially after all the years of success and all the players that had graduated and transferred to Division I schools with full athletic scholarships in basketball.” The documentary asks viewers to question who really benefits from the lack of sports at City. Who benefits when the program obviously helped so many students? One can only wonder what the purpose of the bond-funded athletic facility currently under construction south of the Chemistry Building will be.

Photo By Ineae Bloom/Collegian Aristoste Tumba and Jermaine Small play intramural table tannis in a best of three game round-robin tournament on Tuesday, March 20.

CANCELED

Basketball Football Soccer

Golf Badminton Swimming Snapshot from the feature documentary “Restore LACC Basketball.”

Scan here to view the preview of the feature documentary “Restore LACC Basketball” and a link to a petition to bring basketball back to City.