Volume 75, Issue 9
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Wednesday, november 8, 2017
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ELAC first school in district to offer Women/ Gender Studies degree BY GUSTAVO BUENROSTRO Staff Writer East Los Angeles College became the only school in the district to offer a Women/Gender Studies degree and kicked off a celebration on Thursday at the G3 Foyer. The degree was submitted in January of this year and was approved in June, making it the 59th associate degree to be approved. The Women/ Gender Studies faculty came up with classes for the 13-class requirement. There are four categories of Women/Gender Studies classes and core courses students can take for these classes. In order for students to get the degree, they must complete a total of 18 units in Women/Gender Studies. Some of these can count for general education. For example, History of Women and Art can count for an art class. English professor Joshua Rodriguez said that he wants to add a queer literature course to the
set of degree requirements needed in gaining a degree in Women/ Gender Studies. At the event, members of the district and school attended, including board of trustee member Andra Hoffman and ELAC President Marvin Martinez. “East L.A. is the first college to have this major. I am not surprised, this is who we are. We are always trying to find a way to do things better,” said Martinez. “For eight years, they (the committee) have shown their commitment and it shows.” History professor Barbara Dunsheath spoke about how important the degree is now more than ever because of the political climate. She said women are still politically underrepresented and gave statistics of roles women have in politics. In Congress, women make up 19.6 percent of the members. In the Senate, women make up 21 percent of the members and House of Representatives women make up 19.3 percent of the members. Dunsheath said that ELAC
faculty member Susanne Spangler organized faculty members to create the degree eight years ago. Spangler said that she was told by students why there wasn’t a degree for Women/Gender Studies. She says that the students were the reason they came up with the classes for gender studies. “Our degree took eight years. In the end, the accomplishment is one to savor,” said Dunsheath. “I cannot be more proud of my fellow Women/Gender Study faculty. I serve on many different committees and this is my favorite. The focus is all about the students,” said Dunsheath. Political Science professor Natalina Monteiro said that there is a women/genders studies program, where the faculty will work with the student to get the degree and work with the students to help them get work in that field. Students can sign up for classes in Women/Gender Studies classes for next semester. Sociology professor Rin Kahla said it is important for students to sign up for these classes to ensure that the program is successful.
Administration delays student AA degrees, certificates BY FRANK PORTILLO Staff Writer East Los Angeles College alumni and current students are experiencing delays in receiving their degrees and/or certificates. Alumnus Alejandro Nunez Gutierrez posted on the college’s Facebook page asking other students if they were dealing with the same issue. The delays have prompted both negative and neutral reactions from the students involved. Colonda Hawkins, who is in
charge of substandard grade petitions, said that the issue must be that students are losing their degrees in the mail, but they have the option to inquire about the issue in the Admissions office. When Campus News reached out to Dean of Admissions Jeremy Allred, he refused to speak on the matter. Pedro Flores Jr. is among the students affected who commented on Gutierrez’ post. He completed his requirements for a Behavioral Sciences degree and Sociology degree-for-transfer back in 2015.
He is beginning his second year at California State University, Berkeley and still hasn’t received his physical degrees despite them showing up on his transcripts. The last time Flores inquired about the issue was in the summer, when he was told that it had already been mailed out. While unhappy about the situation, Flores said that not having his degrees has not had any negative effect on his life post-transfer. “It hasn’t been much of a problem because I’m still
working on my undergraduate degree, so I haven’t had the need for it. But I would like to have it since I worked so hard to get it,” said Flores Jr. Another student, Luz Maria Flores, had to speak with Jeremy Allred, Dean of Admissions, in order to receive her degree after being given the “runaround for a year and a half.” ELAC alumna Cecilia Diaz Jimenez is currently awaiting two of her physical degrees in Kinesiology and Psychology and inquired about the issue around
May or June of this year. “I was told that the previous session had to be completed, and within a month or so, I would receive it. All I received was a letter showing that I had taken all the necessary classes to complete my AA,” Jimenez said, “My AA was just posted on my transcripts about two to three months ago, but I submitted my paperwork before the winter session ended.” The delay has affected students involved with Campus News. Current art director Julie Santiago said that she inquired
about the issue, only to learn that the office responsible for printing certificates had run out of paper. Julianne Obregon, a former member of Campus News, is also among the students affected. Having completed the necessary courses at the end of Spring 2016, she recently received her certificates of achievement in the mail. The missing certificates, for Journalism and Desktop Publishing, had a direct impact on her eligibility for a job.
Assembly Bills 19 and 705 to affect incoming students BY FRANK PORTILLO Staff Writer Two assembly bills were passed by California legislature recently that might impact the student population on campus. A free year of community college for first-time students and self-assessments for new students were the main focus of the Senate Executive Committee meeting Wednesday. The committee spent a large portion of the meeting discussing ways in which it can assist the math and English faculty with the new Assembly Bills. Assembly Bill 19 allows firsttime college students who are enrolled in 12 or more units to
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receive tuition fee waivers. AB 705 allows students to self-assess into English and math courses based on their high school grade point average and grade in the highest level of math or English completed. Academic Senate President Jeffrey Hernandez said that East Los Angeles College, along with the rest of the community colleges in California, will start using high school grades and coursework to place first-time students into English and math courses. He also said that the new rules will be implemented as early as Fall 2018, but it is too early to know the full extent at which the campus would be affected. “One reason is that the state
still needs to issue implementation regulations. … The state regulation will guide when we can and cannot use placement tests for certain students. Another reason it is too early is that departments and programs throughout the state are still trying to figure out the best approach for following the new laws, given the needs and resources at their college,” Hernandez said. “We also know that ELAC and all the other colleges will need to help first-time students complete transfer-level math and English within one year,” Hernandez said. English as a Second Language students will have three years to complete their English courses. “It is likely that students will be placed into English classes that
Campus closed There will be no classes on Friday due to Veterens Day. The campus will resume normal class schedule on Saturday.
are at a higher level than where they are currently being placed,” English Department Chair Ruth Blandon said. Blandon said in the early stages of the bill’s implementation that the future of the Assessment Center “is up in the air,” but said it’s too early to tell what will happen. Blandon said the departments are working to ensure that the students aren’t “being thrown into the deep end,” or being made to “sink or swim,” “There are still a lot of discussions taking place before we have more specific directions on how to proceed,” Blandon said. Blandon has mixed feelings about students having the ability to self-assess.
“We have had students who, because of the assessment, we have them in class, and then it turns out that we think they probably would’ve done well in a higher class. There have been students that have been placed accurately, so it’s been a mixed bag,” Blandon said. Math department chair Joe Kazimir said that the process of students self-assessing has proved successful in other states. He also thinks that assessments will be phased out for new students. “There might be a transition period where we have to decide how many classes we’re going to offer. There will be some students who will want to assess themselves too high and if they fail, it becomes
Thanksgiving Food Drive Adminstration of Justice Department is hosting its 17th annual food drive. Students can donate non-perishable foods and take them to F9-106. Food will be collected on Nov.22.
a wasted student. He said that since the bill requires students to finish transferlevel math within a year, the department is trying to make it easier for students by offering what he calls classes with support. “(A student) might assess into a 125 course with support which would be a five unit class with three units of support,” Kazimir said. The support material is akin to co-requisites and provides information crucial to the lesson but will be part of the course itself. “If (the classes) were big unit (classes), students would meet for about two hours and five minutes each day instead of twice a week,” Kazimir said
Fall Student Recital The ELAC Music Department will present the Fall Student Recital today at noon in S2 recital hall. Admission is free.
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Opinion
EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2017
Weinstein triggers Hollywood downfall BY DORANY PINEDA Staff Writer
The allegations of sexual harassment and rape against former movie-mogul Harvey Weinstein were no surprise to many women. It is an incident that is not singular. Since the New York Times
published an article on Oct. 5 that revealed Weinstein as a scumbag whose enormous power and influence protected him for decades from accusations of sexual assault and rape, a ripple effect has occurred. Countless women, and some men, have stepped forward to expose and hold predators accountable for misusing their influence.
USA Today reported that 78 women, including actresses Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie and Cara Delevingne, have come forward with stories about Weinstein requesting messages, aggressive sexual advances or rape. The Weinstein ripple effect has shown how rampant sexual assault and harassment is. It has also uncovered the immense
silence that comes with it. And where there’s silence, there is no accountability or justice. One such effect is the #MeToo movement. Started by actress Alyssa Milano on Twitter, she encouraged women to post #MeToo if they had ever been assaulted or harassed. Within 24 hours, the hash-tag had been Tweeted almost half a million times. And recently, women in France have adopted their own version of the hashtag, but with more flair. #BalanceTonPorc, or “out your pig,” erupted as well. So what can society collectively do to lessen the unbridled ill of assault and harassment in the workplace and elsewhere? (I say lessen because to think it’ll ever be completely stopped is naive). For starters, let’s not elect men into the Oval Office who have bragged about assaulting women. Children are watching and learning, and they will grow up thinking that assault and harassment are normal and okay. Let’s watch closely those with power. Let’s teach boys about consent and respect, and stop using the excuse that “boys will be boys.” Let’s stop praising predators like Roman Polanski, who was given a best director Academy Award despite facing jail time for having drugged and raped a 13 year old girl years before. Let’s not turn the other way for
fear of retribution. Let’s believe women when they tell their stories because it sure as hell takes a lot for them to come out and talk about what was done to them. Not taking their experiences seriously only makes the silence more deafening and perpetuates the abuse. Let’s talk about rape culture and how we can change the justice system so that survivors are no longer ignored and scrutinized, so that rapists are put in their appropriate place behind bars. We need a system with a zerotolerance policy that doesn’t pity young, white, male athletes (see the Brock Turner case of 2016). Remember that men aren't immune to these predators either. Several actors have recently spoken out against actor Kevin Spacey, who they allege sexually assaulted them when they were younger. Actor Terry Crews shared his story of sexual misconduct by a Hollywood executive on Twitter after experiencing post traumatic stress from learning about Weinstein. Crews decided to “let it go” out of fear of being “ostracized” because his aggressor was the one with the power and influence. And when the “pig” is exposed, let’s hold it accountable and strip it of the power it once enjoyed with impunity.
Chavez Revine history still painful to displaced Hispanic Community lived in the area where Dodger BY KEVIN GONZALEZ Stadium now sits. Staff Writer This area was once known as “the Poor Man’s Shangri La” and The Los Angeles Dodgers are in consisted of the neighborhoods, the spotlight after finally playing in Palo Verde, La Loma and Bishop. The history of Chavez Ravine is the World Series for the first time painful for many Hispanics because since 1988 and many fans have of the violent displacement of the come forth. Ready to pledge their Mexican-American community that allegiance without knowing the previously occupied the area. genesis of the team. "Chavez Ravine is a site of According to the MLB attendance displacement for Latinos because, report, the Dodgers saw an increase after WWII, the city used eminent in attendance of more than 62,000 domain to remove the predominantly people compared to 2016. Los Angeles County is 47 percent Mexican-American community for to 49 percent Hispanic, meaning that the construction of public housing. “That project was canceled and amongst the growth of spectators a the Brooklyn Dodgers secured a lot of them will, naturally, be of sweetheart deal for the land that Hispanic descent. once housed nearly 1,100 families,” Jesse Nunez, the Spanish said Priscilla Leiva, an assistant Language Media Sales Manager professor of Chicano Studies at Cal for the Dodgers understands this State Los Angeles in an interview demographic well and recognizes for ESPN. that appealing to these new Hispanic Through eminent domain the fans will play a major role in the city was able to buy the property future economic well-being of the from these families for half of the team. property’s real value. It’s hard not to become a Dodgers The families that accepted the fan with all of the propaganda move were promised that they would targeted toward the Hispanic get first choice of new homes once community. the housing project was complete. The team was the first to broadcast “The problem that emerged from its games in Spanish, they host accepting the small amount of money Viva Los Dodgers festivals before was that the families every Sunday game, eventually realized and they purchase they couldn’t afford billboards around “ The affinity to a home anywhere the city with slogans the team is very descent with the like, “ Esta es mi money that they much a part of ciudad.” were given. Most of "The affinity to the the fabric of what the families ended team is very much it means to be up moving in with a part of the fabric a Latino in Los relatives or into of what it means to Angeles, and as apartments,” said be a Latino in Los families transition Gerardo Gutierrez, Angeles. And as professor of Chicano families transition from immigrants Studies at East Los from immigrants to residents they Angeles College. to residents, they become a part of Little by little the become a part of that fabric...” families were bought that fabric. And as out one-by-one by such, their interest force or through JESSE NUNEZ in the Dodgers Spanish Language Media fear tactics until becomes more and Sales Manager the once thriving more solidified,” Hispanic community said Nunez in an resembled a ghost interview with online town. magazine Portada. “They would tell us, ‘If you don’t Being a Dodger fan has become sell were going to condemn your part of the Hispanic experience in property and you won't get anything LA, but it wasn’t always like this. out of it,’” said Genovia Gamboa, a The team had to first get past a rocky former Chavez Ravine resident, in start with the Hispanic community. an interview with PBS. Chavez Ravine is named after one Those that resisted and decided of the first LA County Supervisors not to sell their property became in the 1800s Julian Chavez, who classified as squatters. acquired the land in the 19th century. The city decided to use physical In the early 1900s a predominantly force and had the Sheriff ’s Mexican-American community
EDITOR IN CHIEF Dorany Pineda MANAGING EDITOR Stephanie Guevara ONLINE EDITORS Melody Ortiz Kevin Camargo ART DIRECTOR Julie Santiago FRONT EDITOR Gustavo Buenrostro OPINIONS EDITOR Giselle Palomera NEWS EDITOR Frank Portillo FEATURE EDITOR Julio Sanchez ARTS EDITOR Steven Camargo SPORTS EDITORS Joe Dargan Michael Dominguez PHOTO EDITOR Eddie Garcia COPY EDITORS Russell Zazueta Anastasia Landeros CARTOONIST Jorge Vazquez STAFF WRITERS Rogelio Alvarez Noe Ortega STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Kevin Gonzalez Jorge Aldaco ADVERTISING Stefanie Arocha DISTRIBUTION Stephanie Guevara Anastasia Landeros Dorany Pineda ADVISERS Jean Stapleton Sylvia Rico-Sanchez
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Department remove all those that remained. By the time the last person was removed from Chavez Ravine, the land already belonged to the Dodgers. “The people of Chavez Ravine lost their property for peanuts,” said Gutierrez. This event led to many in the Hispanic community vowing to never buy a ticket to any Dodger game. Others who continued to protest would occasionally throw tomatoes onto the field during games. It wasn’t until 1981 when Mexican born Fernando Valenzuela became a pitcher for the Dodgers that the Hispanic community started to reconsider their stance on the team.
Fernando Valenzuela gave Latinos the opportunity to find a connection to the Dodgers. “Valenzuela turned so many people from Mexico, Central America, South America into fans,” said Jaime Jarrin, the team’s Spanish Broadcaster. Eventually, even those that once vowed to never attend a Dodger game became fans. After Valenzuela came more Latino stars that the Hispanic community could relate to and led to more Latino fans in the stadiums. Little-by-little, people forgot about the Mexicans that had their land stolen from them and accepted the Dodgers as part of the community. In present time, the Dodgers have the largest Latino fan base of any
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sports team in the United States. Although time heals all wounds, it is important to know the history behind something so significant in the culture. The Hispanic community must not ignore the past just because of how uncomfortable it makes them feel. Over time the Dodgers have made great effort to integrate into the Hispanic community, but they must not become complacent. The stadium should be more commonly known as Chavez Ravine Stadium instead of Dodger Stadium at least within our community. The neighborhood around the stadium should not be referred to as “Dodgertown” but should rather remain Chavez Ravine.
The East Los Angeles College Campus News is published as a learning experience, of fered under the East Los Angeles College Journalism program. The editorial and advertising materials are free from prior restraint by virtue of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. The opinions expressed are exclusively those of the writer. Accordingly, materials published herein, including any opinions expressed, should not be interpreted as the position of the Los Angeles Community College District, East Los Angeles College, or any officer or employee thereof. PRINTING BY NEWS PUBLISHERS PRESS
News
3 Recent groping incidents prompt larger cadet presence EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2017
BY JOE DARGAN Staff Writer The Los Angeles Sheriff ’s Department placed a cadet, a non-sworn peace officer with the Los Angeles Community College District, in East Los Angeles College’s library full time. The placement of a full-time cadet follows recent groping events. On Sept. 5, a male student was arrested for groping a female student in the library and returned on Sept. 14 to victimize someone else. Before October, cadets would patrol the library based on availability, said Los Angeles Sheriff’s Deputy
Elias, who’s in charge of the cadet fiscal office, the library is now a program at permanent ELAC. post for S h e cadets. s a i d t h a t Librarian Antonio Ng said when Librarian cadets were Antonio Ng an incident occured in the always said when library in the past, he would present in an incident have to look around hoping the library, occurred in and now the library to find a cadet, but that’s with a in the past, something he doesn’t have to h e w o u l d recent cadet graduation, have to worry about anymore. they have look around enough hoping to manpower find a cadet, to place a cadet there full time. but that’s something he doesn’t have Like the bookstore and the to worry about anymore.
“I come in to work the 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. shift, and someone else is going to come in after me and stay until the library closes. If a violent incident did erupt, I would try my best to ensure the safety of those around me,” Cadet Rudy Hinojosa said. Unlike fully trained, sworn-in officers, Hinojosa is only equipped with a walkie-talkie. He says a majority of incidences that take place on campus are reported by phone, and that he hasn’t personally seen anything out of the ordinary, but he’ll be ready if something happens. Deputy Elias said a cadet’s main job is to keep an eye out for any
issues and to call it in if a problem arises. “If something is happening, they should walk up and say ‘Hey stop,’ and at the same time be on their radios. If it’s an emergency and we say ‘get hands on,’ then that’s just what it’s going to have to be,” Elias said. Elias is the officer who arrested the groper. She said that he has since been expelled from ELAC. Some students like the idea of having a cadet around, but won’t depend on that. “I feel safe and I haven’t personally gotten in any type of
danger, but I feel like there is a lot of people that see things and act like they didn’t. If someone is in danger, it’s better to do something or try and get someone to help instead of ignoring it,” engineering student Isabell Flores said. Other students were not too thrilled about the extended presence of the cadets. “The more I see sheriffs, police cruisers and cadets around campus, it’s more intimidating to me than providing a feeling of safety,” business student Anthony Ramirez said. The cadets will be patrolling the library full time until further notice.
Dia de los Muertos festival brings about activism BY GISELLE PALOMERA Staff Writer The Dia de los Muertos Festival at East Los Angeles College featured Aztlan Underground and Cuicani bands that sang about colonization, globalization and self-awareness. Aztlan Underground originated from ELAC and returned to spread the messages they feel strongly about. According to the band, they believe in self-awareness, decolonizing the environment and giving a voice to the voiceless on topics like crossing borders and native culture. “We give a voice to the voiceless and we talk about how we didn’t cross the border, the border crossed us,” Ignacio Lopez, drummer of the band said. Guitarist Ethan Miranda known as “Thunderbird,” had the number five painted on his forehead in red. According to Miranda, the number five represented $5 given to military for turning in a Native American’s head during the California Genocide. The California Genocide took place during a period of time where Native Americans’ heads were worth a bail amount. A c c o r d i n g t o nativeamericannetroots.net during the California Genocide, “The government paid about $1.1 Million in 1852 to militias to hunt down and kill indians.”
In 1857, the California legislature allocated another $410,000 for the same purposes. In 1856, the state of California paid 25 cents for each indian scalp. In 1860, the bounty was increased to $5.” The rest of Miranda’s face was painted black with white tears, which he says symbolizes the tears and pain his people have suffered. Miranda said that he is a social justice activist and is dedicated to helping people realize that they have to be unified and that they have to protect the earth. Aztlan Underground has a hiphop and rock influence. The band also uses various Native American instruments like drums, flutes and rattles that are commonly used to celebrate their beliefs and culture. Frank, who didn’t provide his last name, first joined the band around 26 years ago, but left about 10 years ago. “I came back because everything is still relevant today like policemen killing the innocent, oppression and racism,” Frank said. Lopez, the drummer otherwise known as “Caxo,” said that he joined the band because he wanted to make people positive and selfaware with its messages. “We give a voice to the voiceless and we talk about how we didn’t cross the border; the border crossed us,” said Lopez. Cuicani is another L.A. born band whose main focus is to spread the message about the injustice that
CN/GISELLE PALOMERA
AZTEC PRIDE— An Aztec Dance Group performs at the East Los Angeles College Dia De Los Muertos Festival Thursday in the front of campus to celebrate their culture and traditions. continues to happen. Cuicani, which means singer in Nahuatl, is a Los Angeles band influenced by Afro-Caribbean and soul music. The band’s songs are centered around voicing injustices like police brutality, environmental justice and immigration rights. “In addition to the performance aspect of the group, Cuicani is also deeply committed to being agents of social change,” Cuicani said in a story on the band’s website. The Dia de los Muertos festival centered around the band’s live
performance and was brought to life with music. The festival was more than just a mix of vendors and food.
Adjunct professor Angelita Rovero, who teaches Chicano Studies, has organized this festival for the sixth year with the help of
the Associated Student Union, who funds the festival. “I grew up in East L.A. and this is my home. I organized this event to bring this festival to ELAC and give students a sense of community. It’s all for the students to socialize. I love the holiday, but it's for them. It’s for you,” said Rovero. Rovero believes that the Dia de los Muertos holiday is the fastest growing Mexican holiday in California. She wants to continue to keep that part of her own culture alive and strong. “I hope that the ELAC family knows that i will continue to do this event because, when students learn about their culture, it builds confidence,” Rovero said. The festival also featured a variety of vendors and clubs. Vendors sold handmade products that related to the beliefs and traditions of Dia de los Muertos. Some of the products sold were decorated sugar skulls, serapes, jewelry and other supplies to build altars for their deceased loved ones.
ESL Club hosts inaugural Halloween party BY JULIO SANCHEZ Staff Writer Witches, a dinosaur and several superheroes were all in attendance at the first ever English as a Second Language Club Halloween party Friday. The party took place in the Multipurpose Room from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. It was a family friendly event that had activities like a costume contest as well as a DJ and free tacos. The ESL club has been a part of East Los Angeles College for almost a decade and was started in the summer of 2008 by professor Khetan Dahi and a few ESL students. Since then, the club’s
vision prioritized in creating a place for ESL and international students to have a more comfortable college experience. President Dimitry Li of the ESL club was born in Central Asia. He said that the party was intended for club members and international students to experience the festivities and customs of other cultures, while at the same time, stepping out of their comfort zone. “Many members are from another country and haven’t experienced many parties while in the states,” Li said. “For some of them, this is really exciting because this is their first time celebrating Halloween, putting on costumes and tasting tacos.”
The club has about 153 members, and about 80 percent of them are international students from countries such as China, Taiwan, Peru, Russia and Kazakhstan. Board member and Vice President of the club, Zhenni Li is an international student that was born in South Africa and is now in the United States for the first time and attends ELAC. “Because we’re all from ESL, our purpose is to come together,” Zhenni said. “In our trips and events we speak and practice our English, learn more about American culture and also make more friends.” The ESL club meets every Tuesday in E3-321from noon to 1:30 p.m.
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HALLOWEEN SPIRIT—Students and members of the English as a Second Language Club gather in a circle while dancing at the inagural Halloween Party Friday in the Multipurpose Room
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Feature
EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2017
Student finds new home at ELAC BY FRANK PORTILLO Staff Writer After living a closeted life in foster youth, student worker Jaci Cortez now assists others as part of the Dream Resource Center staff. Her biological mother is an undocumented citizen from Guatemala and was deported for drug charges when Cortez was 4. Since she was born in the U.S., she was placed in foster care. At age 5, she was adopted by a family, but ran away at 13 and was back into the system by her 14th birthday, which was celebrated in foster care. In the middle of running away, Cortez began experimenting with different drugs and cites her drug abuse and negative actions because of no proper role model to guide her. “Before (I was) 14, I hated foster care. But I realized that without it, I would've ended up a lot worse,” Cortez said. As a result, 14 is her favorite number because of the moment of realization that she went through at that age. When she was 15, Cortez joined a gang. Her gang life, however, was brief after the leader of the gang forced Cortez to leave. She said the leader didn’t enforce the ritual where the entire gang brutally
beats the kicked out member that sometimes results in death. “I wanted to feel like I belonged. … I didn't stop fighting, but I stopped fighting for other people. I started to fight people who were bullying others or myself,” Cortez said. Instead of fighting, she wanted to polish her image and began to volunteer at various organizations dedicated to assistimg the homeless. Cortez graduated from Warren High School in Downey in 2012. “I was really rebellious, ditching class and not doing the best things when I was younger. I was never taught the importance of school, only in working hard,” Cortez said. While bouncing from foster home to foster home, Cortez was forced to adapt to the family that she was with at the time. Cortez said there would be times in which the family didn’t have the same progressive views as her. She said she was in 12 to 14 different foster homes. “I was never able to be myself in a foster home until my last one,” Cortez said. Cortez said she landed in a great situation with her last foster home because of the impact that her foster parent, Tania Cortez, had on the bettering of her life. The impact was so huge that she
legally changed her name to Jaci, which was a nickname given to her by one of her foster mothers, and adopted Tania Cortez’ last name as well. During the first six months of living with the new family,
“I didn’t stop fighting, but I stopped fighting for other people. I started to fight people who were bullying others or myself.” JACI CORTEZ
Student worker at Dream Resource Center
Cortez said she was like an animal, only eating, sleeping and lacking etiquette. “My last foster mom is who I consider my mom. She is my angel,” Cortez said. She said her newly founded mother figure was the reason she wanted to get on a straight path. Being on a straight path involved
attending school. The day before Fall 2016 started, Cortez realized that she wanted to start school and found East Los Angeles College on Google Maps after searching for schools in the area. “I knew that I wanted more than the minimum (wage) jobs … I realized the value in not only hard work, but surviving,” Cortez said. While visiting the Financial Aid office, she was referred to Reyna Hernandez, who was the coordinator for both the Dream Resource Center and Cooperating Agencies Foster Youth Education Support. Hernandez assisted Cortez by helping her sign up for the resources and showing her where she can obtain them. She even told the student workers at the resource center to provide any assistance required. The center creates kits dedicated to the homeless population and includes basic hygienic materials such as shampoo, toothpaste, lotion and deodorant. After their first meeting, Cortez dedicated her free time to volunteering at the Dream Resource Center. Cortez, up to that point, had been unemployed for a year. When a position was available, Hernandez asked Cortez to become part of the
student workers at the center. “I was super excited. That's why I’ve always tried to not only be the best student worker, but student (in general). I loved the way that they helped me and that's the goal that I set for myself: to help any student
Hernandez, director of the DSPS, presented Barrios with a distinct time piece. A hand-crafted clock to acknowledge his service with ELAC’s students with disabilities to achieve their goals. The inscription read: “Thank you for your hard work and dedication”. ELAC president Marvin Martinez gave a special recognition to Barrios in 2016 for his contributions in assisting ELAC students enrolled in DSPS.
At the ELAC graduation ceremonies this past spring, ELAC Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez told the audience at Weingart Stadium that Barrios has done a tremendous job and a great service to the community. “Thank you, Mr. Barrios, for your unselfish service to our students here at ELAC,” Rodriguez said. Barrios said that he has learned a lot while working with disabled individuals and college students. Even though Barrios will retire
Jaci Cortez that needs help,” Cortez said. Since her time at the resource center, she has organized events such as the National Coming Out Day event. Brenda Sanchez, who works at the resource center along with Cortez, said that the two met after being introduced to one another by Hernandez.
She was tasked with assisting Cortez and helping with the available resources for homeless students. Sanchez realized that Cortez had spent a great amount of time utilizing the resources or just seeking assistance with homework. “I really liked how she was energetic despite the things she was going through throughout her life. We would gather up stuff and give donations to her. … She would even volunteer for our workshops and other things we do,” Sanchez said. Cortez now spreads the message of the resources that the center provides and assists in the organization of workshops, said Sanchez. Recently, her biological family has reached out to her through Facebook message and she was convinced by Tania Cortez to accept the invitation and to open a dialogue. with her estranged family Cortez was surprised to find that she had a 16-year-old brother and that her biological family was in the U.S. Given her biological background and parentage, she said that she does her best to not only help members of the LGBTQ and homeless community, but the undocumented community as well.
Counselor to dedicate more time at ELAC after retirement BY EDDIE MIKE GARCIA Staff Writer Vocational counselor with the California Department of Rehabilitation in El Monte, Robert Michael Barrios, has assisted East Los Angeles College students with disabilities with financial aid. Barrios has helped individuals with disabilities for 14 years through the DOR and has focused the last four years helping students enrolled in ELAC’s Disabilities, Support Programs and Services (DSPS) office. Barrio’s efforts and hard work have enabled ELAC students with disabilities to overcome financial burdens associated with college expenses like transportation needs, books, supplies, registration and tuition. Barrios offers these students guidance and counseling so they can graduate from ELAC and continue down the highway of learning.
Robert Michael Barrios He has helped approximately 182 ELAC students with disabilities attain about $2 million in financial aid, scholarships and other programs. A l l o f B a r r i o ’s c l a s s i f i e d client information is stored in a data system they call the Aware
Management System. Counselors at ELAC’s DSPS often refer students to Barrios with financial aid matters and needed vital resources. In 2016, Jovani J. Munoz, a DSPS counselor, referred an ELAC student named Felipe Antonio to Barrios. Antonio went on to graduate from ELAC this past spring and is currently a student at the California State University, Los Angeles. Antonio is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree and even plans to acquire a master’s degree. Barrios mentions how satisfying it feels to hear that a student with disabilities makes the decision to follow their dreams no matter what obstacles might be in the way. Barrios himself had a physical disability. He was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy and dyslexia early on in his life, yet never let it become a distraction to his own career goals. In 2016, Munoz and Grace
New dean aims to give back to students BY JULIO SANCHEZ Staff Writer With just a few weeks into her new position as the interim dean of Continuing Education and Workforce Development, Mercedes Yanes is already planning ways to contribute to East Los Angeles College and its community in a positive way. Yanes is a first-generation immigrant from Cuba. She left her home when she was six years old while her mother was pregnant with her sister. “I remember leaving my family as a child and not understanding, but I knew a major milestone was happening,” Yanes said. “Fast forward years later, I miss growing up with my extended family like my cousins. I lost a lot of family gatherings and the connection that I had growing up.” Yanes said that she tries to be an advocate and a voice for the community and for those who are afraid to speak up. Yanes said that her dedication and her passion to help people has her excited to be a part of the campus. “ELAC is such a loving and vibrant community,” Yanes said. “I want to be a part of that because it very much matches my goals and beliefs.” Like many who move to the states from another country, Yanes and her family have had many struggles and challenges to deal with. Yanes said she grew up in poverty and that she saw her parents sacrifice so much in order for her and her sister to have a successful life. Also, because English was not her first
language, she had to overcome the language barrier as well. “Although my parents made the sacrifice for myself and my sister to have the opportunities that we couldn’t have in Cuba, they couldn’t advocate for my sister and I,” Yanes said. “I was held back a year and I will never gain that back even though I could’ve tested out. We were given English as a Second Language classes and English classes in order to get caught up.” Yanes has been an administrator
Mercedes Yanes for 14 years. She started out as a kindergarten teacher and moved on to serve on executive boards and executive positions like the president of district-wide union. Yanes said that her work doesn’t feel like a job for her because affecting the lives of people in a positive way has always been a passion of hers. “We make a difference and I really believe that we change lives,” Yanes said. “We have an impact in their
(students’) future. And by having an impact in their future, we have an impact on future generations. And that affects our community, our state and our nation.” Yanes said that since she has walked in the shoes of those less fortunate and at a disadvantage, she now dedicates her work, the causes that she pursues and volunteer time to give back to the community as much as possible. Yanes’ colleague, Associate Dean Kendra Madrid, is also a new faculty member at ELAC. Madrid said that she is very glad to work with Yanes because she shares the same passion when it comes to advocating and helping students become successful. “She is very knowledgeable and I tend to lean on her a little bit for things because she has past experience,” Madrid said. “She’s known for getting the job done. When I had the chance to work with her, I had no problems with her work ethic, and I’m appreciative that I get to work with her very easily and that we get along great.” In her volunteer time, Yanes advocates for different issues like union issues, ensuring that employee rights are acknowledged and improved through the working environment. She also works with charities, international organizations and community centers. Yanes said that her ultimate goal is to have students receive a degree and a career in the field they strive for. She is currently working on projects to bring to ELAC in order to increase benefits and programs for students. www.ELACCampusNews.com
from the DOR next year, he plans on devoting some of his spare time here at ELAC with the DSPS to help future students with disabilities find the necessary resources available to them. “I love my job very much besides, it’s not just a job, it’s a rewarding career,” Barrios said. “Every individual with disabilities is unique in their own way and that’s what makes them special.”
Arts
EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2017
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Veterans’ art sheds light on past
course offered during the summer session. “The whole purpose behind the East Los Angeles College student class is to get students to engage veterans shared their military in creative practices rather than experience through artwork at destructive. They face a lot of the Veterans Art Exhibit opening challenges, so if they can create a reception in the Helen Miller Bailey space and time for them to have a Library foyer on Monday. positive, creative experience then Upon entering the library, the that’s the least we can do for them,” exhibit displays photographs taken Art and Ceramics professor Chris by student veterans, with flags from Turk said. the United States Armed Forces Also on display are two uniforms hanging from the balcony of the on each end of the display cabinet second floor. In the enclosed cabinet donated by two student veterans. display are ceramic pieces, military One of the uniforms belongs to uniforms, badges, a helmet and student veteran Jose Cornejo. other artworks and items donated “On the sides, you have your from student veterans, with an rank. On the shoulders are the American flag in the background. unit insignia. Every unit has a “It’s of very big importance for different one. Mine happens to be us (veterans). It brings a lot of an armadillo,” Cornejo said. meaning to us. To show people Cornejo also had his helmet and a the things that we’ve done and tanker boot he made in the summer the art that my brothers have done ceramics course. here also brings light “A lot of the to some of the pain people who took we have suffered, the class were able “The art that my to just express their and suffering we still have today, dealing thoughts or some of brothers have with lost brothers and the stuff they went done here also sisters in our past,” through,” Cornejo student veteran said. brings light to Martin Carrillo said. “I made the tanker some of the pain boot Carrillo served because we in the United States we have suffered, used to shoot tanks Marines for 4 years. and suffering we in the army.” Some of his medals East Los Angeles still have today.” College Veterans’ are in the display, along with his Resource Center MARTIN CARRILLO certificates from the organized the art Student Veteran military and a border exhibit as part of the police patch he Veterans Week to received in Jordan. honor students who “That was a patch that was served in the military. given to me from my Jordanian “We just really wanted to make counterpart who was with me, side- this happen for our students and by-side for about 3 months. Him make sure that their work is being and I built such a strong bond and displayed,” ELAC Veteran Resource we went through a few situations Coordinator and Veterans Counselor where he had gained my trust and Jessica Peak said. “Our campus I had gained his and out of that we community is understanding and exchanged a few things, which one aware about our student veteran of them was that police patch,” population and how talented they are Carrillo said. and how unique their experiences Some of the artwork on display are as well.” was made by veteran students The display will be showcased enrolled in an introductory ceramics for the entire month of November. ROGELIO ALVAREZ Staff Writer
CN/ROGELIO ALVAREZ
BOMBS AWAY— A bomb made out of clay sits in front of Lady Liberty on display at the Helen Miller Bailey library.
‘Thor: Ragnarok’ ends trilogy with humorous tone FRANK PORTILLO Staff Writer
“Thor: Ragnarok” is not only the funniest Marvel movie to date, but is also one of the best at using its universe of characters. It’s a film that beautifully wraps up the trilogy, It is hard not to describe “Ragnarok” as a comedy because of how much humor is involved. But the film also manages to be emotionally moving when the story demands it. The humorous tone of the film is set up within the first minute and never lets up even as Thor Odinson, played wonderfully by Chris Hemsworth, catches the audience up to speed on his actions since last seen in “Avengers: Age of Ultron.” What follows is his search for
his missing father, a reunion with his brother Loki, and a conflict with the mysterious Hela, played by Cate Blanchett. Hela claims to be the Goddess of Death and proves to be formidable in her first appearance by easily killing off three major characters. This may be Hemsworth’s best performance yet. His ability to be humorous and grieve shines more than the previous installments of the “Thor” trilogy. While the tones of past “Thor” films have been relatively serious, with bits of comedy sprinkled throughout, “Ragnarok” capitalizes on what makes the superhero genre so appealing, which is its ability to be a fun, family-friendly ride. The film mirrors the tone of superhero cartoon shows, which play up humor to engage with younger audiences instead of taking
itself too seriously. The character interactions are funner in this film. Fan-favorite Avenger The Hulk, played by Mark Ruffalo, has a prominent role in the film. Though his name isn’t in the title, “Thor: Ragnarok” is the best Incredible Hulk movie so far. Watching the two navigate the alien world of Sakaar are the most entertaining parts of the film. The writers took a huge leap with distinguishing the personalities of the Hulk and his vessel, Bruce Banner. Hulk has the personality of a giant child and loves to argue with Thor over who is the strongest Avenger. On the flipside, Hulk has some of the most emotional moments in the film. When he comes across a hologram recording of Natasha Romanov, played by Scarlett Johansen, and who is Banner’s
love interest, it evokes despair in the monstrous character as he shows his vulnerable side and thrashes around as he loses control to Banner. Ruffalo’s screams of agony are heart wrenching. The wonderful portrayal opens the doors to explore the most interesting aspects of Banner in future films. The battle with his other side. Another actor who shines in the movie is Tom Hiddleston as Thor’s adopted brother Loki. As the best established villain in the universe, the character is far more entertaining when fighting alongside his brother. Hemsworth and Hiddleston establish a powerful connection on screen and the two come to a complete story arc from where the characters started. While on Earth, Thor and Loki are confronted by the Sorcerer Supreme Doctor Strange, played by
Effort aside, ‘Destiny 2’ fails to engage GUSTAVO BUENROSTRO Staff Writer
An improved story, impressive graphics but hollow content make Destiny 2 a disappointing follow-up to its predecessor. “Destiny 2” did a great job at addressing the “Destiny” community complaints that plagued the first game, one of the biggest being the story. Where the first game had nonengaging story, “Destiny 2” made the effort of telling a story where the player cares about what happens to the character. The main villain, named Ghaul, takes the powers of the Guardians, the protectors of Earth, by trapping the source of their power, called the Traveler. The story focuses on Guardians restoring their powers and retaking the Traveler from Ghaul. Once the player finishes the main campaign, there are other activities in the world
PHOTO COURTESY OF BUNGIE
of “Destiny 2” that will keep the player occupied. Adventures are side missions that world-build the already expansive world by introducing new mysteries and characters. Crucible is the multiplayer where players fight other players. The graphics in “Destiny 2” are an improvement from its last installment. The previous game
had to cater to two generations of consoles. The previous generation consoles were the Playstation 3 and XBOX 360 while the current generation are the Playstation 4 and XBOX One. Having to work on both hinderd game developer Bungie’sability to have great graphics. But with “Destiny 2,” they did not have to deal with that and it showed with bigger maps and detailed graphics within the planets. The music is also a big plus. One of the best segments in the game is when the players Guardian is powerless and they have to escape the Last City, the home place of Guardians, the song “Journey” by Michael Salvatori, the game’s composer, plays. The music begins with a sole violin as the Guardian makes its way through the wilds. The music swells as the Guardian fights off Ghual’s minions, called the Red legion. The feeling evoked from the segment was heroic and
inspiring. The game falls short, however, with its content. Once a player has finished the campaign, and all the adventures, there is not much more for a player to do. There is no incentive for a player to do any of the other activities. There is an objective called nightfall, where players get higher level armor and weapons. However, there is no reason to get them. Bungie is a company that prides itself on giving players something to do and making sure the player gets something out of the hours they play the game. Bungie took two steps forward but took three leaps back, as the first game did not lack this. “Destiny 2” has amazing graphics and music, and a good story but with no incentive to do the activities in the game, “Destiny 2” is a disappointment. “Destiny 2” is available on PS4, XBOX One and personal computers.
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Benedict Cumberbatch, in a scene that was shown after the credits of the “Doctor Strange” movie. The interactions between the more prominent cast of characters sets the stage for “Avengers: Infinity War” next year. In Sakaar, the audience is introduced to newcomers Valkyrie, played by Tessa Thompson, and the Grandmaster, played by Jeff Goldblum. They are a welcome addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Thompson plays a strong female warrior who joins the Revenger team, as Thor calls it, after being inspired to return to her role as protector of Asgard. She is phenomenal in her role as a damaged warrior who drinks all the time, and her introduction is one of the funniest character yet. Goldblum fits into the film’s
tone perfectly as Grandmaster: a cool, calm and collected, but evil, monarch. There is hope that Blanchett’s character will return after she claims to be the Goddess of Death and her connection to Thanos, who is the antagonist of the next two “Avengers” films. As always, the film was sprinkled with easter eggs to make eagle-eyed fans happy. The inclusion of the rock-character Korg is voiced by Waititi and is one of the funniest inclusions in the film. The Contest of Championships is mentioned, a Beta Ray Bill statue is briefly shown, a mention of Thor being a frog and Miek, who was a character from the “Planet Hulk” comic which served as an inspiration for the film. Overall, the film is certainly in the top five Marvel films to date. “Thor: Ragnarok” is rated PG-13.
ELAC’S
NINJA WARRIOR Do you have what it takes to be ELAC’S first Ninja Warrior? Coming April 2018
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SPORTS
EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2017
Volleyball comes up short against PCC BY KEVIN CAMARGO Staff Writer Volleyball lost at home on Friday, after falling 2-3 against Pasadena City College. East Los Angeles College won the 1st and third set, 25-17 and 25-17, respectively. PCC won the second, fourth and fifth set, 19-25, 23-25 and 9-15. “Today’s game was about redemption. We had to come in and redeem our level of play from the first time we played them,” ELAC head coach Elliott Walker said. “Today was all about capability, strength, endurance and fight. That's what (ELAC) showed today, and I'm proud of them.” This is the second time ELAC faced PCC. ELAC also lost the first game when they played at PCC. Both of the games were played until the fifth set. “It was crazy. This is one of the toughest gyms to get a win in. Coach Walker prepares his team so well and all of his players can do everything. They're very skilled in all areas of the game,” PCC head coach Mike Terrill said. “They put a ton of pressure on us right out of the gate and we were not ready to match up.”
Terrill said that he believes their three-game winning streak going into this game helped them push through the game. “We lost a couple of early games in the season and we've been able to get over that hump, and now we feel confident in those situations,” said Terrill. ELAC is predominantly a freshmen team with only two sophomores, so competitors usually have more experience over them. “We want to keep perfecting what we do well. We understand where our base-level performance is, and we keep pushing one percent every time we get better,” said Walker. “We looked at what offenses we did well throughout the season, what plays we did well (and) what situations we did well in.” Although ELAC took a tough loss, the team said they learned a lot from this game. “Today was a lot of highs and lows, but for sure we started off really well. We were doing our job and it was a tough match,” said Bela Gamboa, ELAC freshman outside hitter. “Even though it was a loss. it was a good loss; we learned a lot.” Gamboa didn’t play much in the first game against PCC, but in this
game she had more playing time. “We definitely worked more as a team than we did the other time we played them,” said Gamboa. “We were determined to come in and play hard and give them the best game we possibly could.” Walker said that he does not coach his team the same way every game they play, so they used a different offense and a different defense against PCC than the first game. “This is what volleyball championship is about. You're going to fight. You're going to come out (and) you're going to win (or) you're going to lose. It's a matter of performance,” said Walker. Gamboa said that Walker is always positive toward the team and is motivational for the team. “We definitely ride on the highs, get rid of the lows and move on to the next match and do what we have to do,” said Gamboa. “We all worked really hard and I'm just really proud of everyone for giving it their all.” ELAC is now 11-11 with only two games left in the regular season. ELAC’s next game is on Friday at Rio Hondo at 6 p.m.
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GRAVITY DEFYING—Freshman middle-hitter Kayla Dickerson accelerates through the air to spike the ball between two Pasadena City College defenders.
Defensive woes continue for men’s soccer BY STEPHANIE GUEVARA Staff Writer Defensive mistakes and frustration continued to hold men’s soccer back in Friday’s game, resulting in a 3-2 loss against Pasadena City College at Weingart Stadium. East Los Angeles College started the game offensively strong, having two shots on goal in the first eight minutes. Not scoring in key moments, however, backfired on the team. In the 18th minute of the game, PCC freshman midfielder Romio Sislian scored from outside the goalkeeper’s box. The shot went over ELAC sophomore Joshua Moreno’s hand. “To me it felt like he got lucky because it went in between two
players. When I stepped forward, I thought the forward was going to get control of the ball instead of hitting it. I thought he was going to stop it. That’s why I took a step forward,” Moreno said. After PCC scored, ELAC increased its offense with sophomore Valentin Mercado as the predominant attacker. As ELAC attacked PCC, Mercado took the ball in the right wing and sent an aerial pass to the goalkeeper’s box where sophomore midfielder William Morse scored the Huskies’ first goal. “In the first half we kind of started on the left foot. It took us a while to get to the rhythm. They were beating us on counters and taking more advantage of our open spaces,” ELAC sophomore winger Luis Alvarado said.
“It took us a while to realize it, to the goalkeeper because he had a but we were able to catch them by lot of good saves. It just goes back the end of the first half.” and forth,” PCC head coach Gerry The Huskies Mora said. finished strong in In the 58th minute, the first half. PCC freshman Sophomore midfielder surpassed “Pasadena forward Edward wanted it a little the ELAC defense, Robles almost put leaving him onemore than us. ELAC ahead on the on-one with the The guys got a score with a shot g o a l k e e p e r, b u t on goal that barely little comfortable Moreno blocked the missed the outside of after having a big shot. the goal net. In one of ELAC’s win.” At the start of defensive lapses, the second half, Moreno and E L A C ’s d e f e n s e freshman defender RICARDO RAYGOZA was put to the test as Guillermo Guzman Assistant Coach PCC forwards had had to correct a several encounters defensive error by with Moreno. sliding on PCC “We had a lot of opportunities and sophomore midfielder Pablo we capitalized on some. I give credit Buenrostro to stop him from scoring.
As a result, Guzman committed a penalty. Buenrostro scored and PCC went up 2-1. “Pasadena just wanted it a little more than us. The guys got a little comfortable, I guess, after having a big win against Rio Hondo,” ELAC assistant coach Ricardo Raygoza said. “After beating PCC in the last game, maybe they thought it was going to be less tough, but that wasn’t the case.” ELAC continued to commit unnecessary fouls that hurt them. In minute 83, ELAC Guzman committed a foul that resulted in a free kick for PCC. PCC freshman forward Anthony Guzman shot it directly to goal and scored. “Most of the time it’s out of frustration,” Alvarez said, referring
to the unnecessary fouls. “Sometimes it’s not even a foul, but the ref approaches it as a hit. Usually they are dumb mistakes, but it happens. It’s frustrating after you’re losing by one or two and you're trying to get back,” he said. During the last minutes of the game, Alvarado took the ball in the right wing and passed it to Robles, where he shot on goal. The ball deflected off of a PCC defender, however, to score an own goal. “I felt like the goal was forced. Thankfully, luck was on our side,” Alvarado said. ELAC lost yesterday 3-2 at Chaffey College. The Huskies final game of the season is on Friday against El Camino Compton College at home at 2 p.m.
ELAC playoff hopes crushed after close loss to Pasadena City College BY NOE ORTEGA Staff Writer
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EAT MY DUST—Sophomore Forward Jennifer Toledo (9) dribbles past Pasedena City College defender in 1-0 loss on Friday at Weingart Stadium.
A second-half goal and a lack of finishing was enough for East Los Angeles College to fall 1-0 to Pasadena City College on Friday at home. With two loses and a tie in their last three outings, the Huskies have not won a game since October 24 against Long Beach College. ELAC is now 5-10-3 overall and are officially out of playoff contention in the South Coast Conference-North. The Huskies had one last play in minute 87 where freshman midfielder Vanessa Torres was given space to take a shot but PCC freshman goalkeeper Lily Urumieh blocked it. The blocked shot hit the post to go out for a corner kick. PCCs’ goalkeeper had three key saves in the last fifteen minutes of the game that allowed the score to stay 1-0. “We came out too casual. We kind of dictated the pace of the game after coming from a hardfought 4-3 loss on Tuesday to the number one team in the conference (Rio Hondo),” ELAC head coach Tessa Troglia said.
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“We took [a] last place [team] lightly and, unfortunately, the lack of effort showed,” In minute 67, PCC had a corner kick that ELAC freshman goalkeeper Julia Rivera came out to catch, but she didn’t come out in time. PCC sophomore defender Summer Hofstad out-jumped ELAC
“We came out too casual. They took last place (PCC) lightly, and unfortunately the lack of effort showed.” TESSA TROGLIA Head Coach
defense and scored the first goal of the game. “It wasn’t how we expected it to be. After that first goal we lost our heads.We put our heads down and didn’t really communicate or push each other. “After that goal we couldn’t come back from it,” said sophomore midfielder Marilyn Castanon.
The Huskies suffered the loss of its captain, freshman defender Ashley Lopez, in the second minute of the game. She went in for a tackle and came out injured. “Her (Lopez) presence, her attitude (and) her effort is just like a domino effect. When she’s working hard, the expectations to work hard are there,” said Troglia. “We love to have her in the game. She’s a big impact player for us.” ELAC went into halftime 0-0 after a slow start in the first half. According to Troglia, ELAC was boring and its players needed to be more aggressive. The Huskies began the second half by switching out freshman goalkeeper Adriana Huerta, sophomore midfielder Jenny Trejo and freshman midfielder Ema Lorenzo. “I thought we fought hard. We’re suffering a lot of injuries. ELAC’s very well coached (and is a) very good team. “I’m just happy that we came out with the win,” said PCC head coach Reggie Rivas. The team will play its last game this Friday against Compton College at 4 p.m. at home in a conference crossover match.