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EL CAMINO COLLEGE
SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1946 June 2, 2022
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Former El Camino police cadet sues over sexual misconduct Kim McGill
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An El Camino College police car passes by as students walk across the Library Lawn on Wednesday, May 25. Ethan Cohen | The Union
Texas shooting sparks concern over gun violence
Gunman kills 22 at Uvalde elementary school; For ‘Generation Z’ school shootings are a regular ocurrance Ethan Cohen
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S
tudents at El Camino College continue to walk to classes, mill around campus and proceed as usual even in the wake of a string of mass shootings that occurred in the month of May. Oscar Escobar, a 20-year-old nursing major, sat under the shade near El Camino’s Library Lawn feeling shocked as the news of yet another shooting occured within the United States. “I know that shootings are not that shocking anymore because it’s kind of
become weirdly condensed in society,” Escobar said with a grim look on his face. Dismayed by the news, Escobar said that the interaction highlights a growing normality that is the mass shooting playing out in communities, places of worship and schools throughout the country in the past two decades. The Uvalde, Texas shooting, perpetrated by an 18-year-old gunman, started with a dispute with his 66-yearold grandmother and ended with 19 children and two teachers being killed during the hour-long active shooter incident.
In 2022, the total number of mass shootings, defined by the Gun Violence Archive as the “numeric value of 4 or more shot or killed, not including the shooter,” is upwards of 231 incidents since January. Escobar told The Union that he is concerned about the trend of mental health issues and school shootings that have been plaguing the country over the past many years. “Since I’m in the nursing field, I can’t imagine how the nurses felt when they received those kids at the hospital,” Escobar said.
Sexual misconduct allegations led to a civil lawsuit between John Doe and El Camino College and El Camino Police Department. The complaint was first filed by a former El Camino College student and police cadet (referred to as John Doe to protect his identity) against El Camino College District, El Camino College Police Department and former El Camino College Sgt. Dalfiery Toruno for sexual misconduct on Sept. 11, 2019. In the original complaint found in court documents through an investigation conducted by The Union, Doe said that, “commencing on or about January 26, 2018, and continuing through January 3, 2019, while utilizing employer-issued equipment, Defendant Toruno sent graphic video and text messages to Plaintiff.” John Doe’s complaint filed with the court said that he suffered a mental breakdown as a result of the experience and was admitted to a facility for treatment. Among the court documents was a letter written by Jaynie Ishikawa, Director of Staff and Student Diversity, stating that Toruno was found to be in, “violation of District policy when he sent multiple, unwelcomed, pornographic, racist and homophobic text messages and videos,” to the 18-year-old cadet. SEE CADET PAGE 12 →
SEE SHOOTING PAGE 12 →
Board of Trustees member aspires to make his mark as Torrance mayoral candidate Cliff Numark aims to bring awareness about homelessness, city budget
Students need to return See Page 2 →
SEE CANDIDATE PAGE 5 →
Cliff Numark points to the area where Miramar Park meets Torrance Beach, a community he cares deeply about and wants to ensure is environmentally conscious on Thursday, April 14 in Torrance. Sharlisa Shabazz | The Union
Ukraine War Combat Medic See Page 5 →
Warrior Life Photo Essay See Page 6 →
SCAN ME
EDITORIAL
Moving to Torrance in 1999, Clifford Numark fell in love with the city, but was confronted with a difficult decision when concerns about the city’s environmental stability surfaced. Numark told The Union that he had no intention of becoming mayor, but he was “struck by the challenges of the city”. “I think there continues to be polarization throughout our community and I think that’s something
that is counterproductive for what we need to bring our community together,” Numark said. Declaring his intention to run for mayor a year ago, Numark has been involved in all things business for the past 24 years of his life. “I have been a part of community organizations ranging from legist to environment to economic development to business,” Numark said. Numark is the CEO of Southern California Blood Bank, which became the largest red cross in the south bay.
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