Volume 75, Issue 4
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Wednesday, October 4, 2017
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JULIE SANTIAGO
Activists and students march for Assembly Bill to be signed BY DORANY PINEDA Staff Writer “We are students, we will fight! Education is our right!” was heard through the streets of downtown Los Angeles this weekend, where students and staff from East Los Angeles College marched and chanted alongside others in support of free community college. Activists, union members, youth and students rallied at Pershing Square Saturday morning, where they began their march to City Hall to urge Governor Jerry Brown to sign Assembly Bill 19. This bill would provide firsttime and full-time students tuition-free education at community colleges throughout California. “I believe education should be a human right,” Natalina Montero, a political science professor at ELAC and the political director for the L.A. Faculty Guild, said. “[Education] should be something that is guaranteed to everybody, not just K-12.” Montero said that having a K-12 education is not enough to find a job these days and most require technical training or a university degree. The high costs of tuition, she said, are not only unfair, but “send a message to people that are not wealthy, like us, that we shouldn't have access to education.” Introduced byAssemblymember Miguel Santiago from District 53, AB 19 passed through the California legislature with bipartisan support. The bill now sits on Governor Brown’s desk, awaiting the
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signature that will make the bill official. “The reason we do this is because we care about our future,” Santiago––who marched that day to support his bill––said to the crowd in front of City Hall. “Because we care about what happens in California.” He talked about the challenges posed under the presidency of Donald Trump, and said that
“I believe education should be a human right. [Education] should be something that is guranteed to everybody, not just K-12.” NATALINA MONTERO
ELAC political science professor
the only way the people will overcome them is to mobilize and “continue the revolution.” California, he said, has the sixth largest economy in the world, and the fact that the state is not giving away education for free is a big problem. “That’s what this is about today,” Santiago said. “It’s about organizing people, keeping young people involved, keeping the revolution going and ensuring that we get a free education for every person in the state of California.”
“What we’re doing today is standing up for a very simple concept: that community colleges ought to be free,” Santiago said. He also said that providing a free year of community college to students would only cost .00025 percent of the entire state budget. “What we are pushing for here today, what we are urging is for [Governor Brown] to sign AB 19 because we know that in order to break the cycle of poverty in our community, we know that in order to uplift our neighborhoods, and we know that if we are to give dignity to this generation and generations ahead of us, then they ought to have a free education, and we’re going to start with free community colleges,”Santiago said. Genesys Sanchez, a student at ELAC and the student senator of political activism who is in the process of transferring, marched in defense of what she feels is a necessary bill. “As a student myself, I’ve seen the challenges students go through to pay their books and classes, and [AB 19] is a bill that really speaks for the people who live here,” Sanchez said. She also said that this bill will help students in rural parts of the state where support for bills like AB 19 isn't as active. If signed, this bill is expected to boost enrollment and graduation rates, increase financial aid access while lowering student debt, and addressing the state’s scarcity of college-educated workers, according to a press release. Among the organizations who participated in the march were California for Progress, the Bernie Sanders Brigade and the We March Party.
Free Flu Shots The first 200 students who go to the Health Center will get free flu shots. The cost of a flu shot will be $15 after first 200. Students can go on Tuesdays from 9-11a.m., Thursday from 4-6 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
CN/DORANY PINEDA
PROTEST READY—Students Jillian Navarro and Tosha Meeks from Relativity School make
protest signs before marching to City Hall in support of free community college.
CN/DORANY PINEDA
STALL NO MORE—Jimmy Gomez, a member of the US House of Representatives for
California’s 34th congressional district, speaks to the crowd of AB 19 supporters at Pershing Square on Saturday.
Mujeres del Paz The 20th Annual Candlelight Vigil for Domestic Violence Awareness month will happen tomorrow at 6 p.m. The vigil march will start at the corner of Mednik and Cesar Chavez avenues.
Cash for College workshop The workshop will help students with FAFSA applications, California Dream Act applications and Chafee Grant applications on Saturday in E7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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Opinion
EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2017
EDITOR IN CHIEF Dorany Pineda
Facebook: a feeder of lies or help? BY STEVEN ADAMO Staff Writer Facebook has been a convenient way of keeping up-to-date with news, friends, family and various interests. Its involvement, however, in spreading misinformation during the 2016 presidential election is unacceptable. False information is commonly spread using Facebook, which creates biases by using algorithms to specifically target news stories and advertisements based on the user’s data. This leaves a lot of people uninformed on issues that don’t fit their political and social leanings. According to the Washington Post, a Russian troll farm called the International Research Agency placed ads on Facebook that focused on politically divisive issues like gun rights, race and immigration. Targeted ads is a big industry, and companies like Facebook made $2.7 billion in targeted ad sales in 2011 alone. Last year, ProPublica reported that Facebook’s ad system also allowed advertisers to see who can see ads based on race. When logging into Facebook, the user is immediately met with news stories and “trending stories.” With Facebook’s uniform design, stories from reputable news sources look identical to those focused on conspiracy theories, lies and hate speech. The Guardian reported last year that Facebook fired a group of human employees whose job it was to remove false news articles from the “trending” section of the news feed. Facebook has 1.18 billion users who rely
on their news feeds for information. The Guardian reported that Facebook has become the world’s largest distributor of news. During the 2016 presidential campaign, misinformation and divisive speech was heavily spread on Facebook— stories like “Clinton emails linked to political pedophile sex ring.” To combat these issues, a network of news and technology companies (that include Facebook and Twitter) created the First Draft Coalition. According to their website, their goal is to “improve the quality of information on social media.” Facebook also created the Facebook Journalism Project, a program that is too little, too late. In a live broadcast last month, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg gave specifics on his plan to combat this issue. One solution Zuckerberg announced was the potential hiring of 1,000 humans to look for “subtle expressions of violence” in all new ads. In December of last year, Facebook announced that it would combat false news by working with five fact-checking organizations including FactCheck.org and Snopes. The feature that allows Facebook users to flag misinformation was introduced in March. However, this had little impact due to the fact that most of the false news stories that are tagged “disputed” went viral prior to being labeled as such. There are also other versions of the same false news stories that don’t have the disputed tag and are still being shared. Social media sites such as www.ello.co provide free profiles and an opt-out option for data reuse — a move that should be more popular among all other social media sites.
BY STEPHANIE GUEVARA Staff Writer I’m a millennial and I love Facebook. Facebook has been deemed as a negative source of information, but we forget that the reason it was created was to improve our way of communicating. Not too long ago, people had to buy international phone cards to speak to family members abroad. With Facebook’s video chats and voice calls, communication is now easier than ever. When I was a kid my mom had to buy packs of international cards to speak with relatives in El Salvador, but after Facebook added video chat, there was no need to waste money on them. Communication through Facebook has only gotten better with time, and when disasters occur, this is more evident. Facebook created a feature where users who are located in disaster areas can mark themselves safe to let Facebook friends know they’re okay. This feature was helpful after the mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada Sunday night during a music festival. Facebook users have also posted phone numbers where people with missing family members in Las Vegas can call to locate them, which is also an efficient form of communication. Facebook is often the first source of news to its 1.18 billion users. Although recent declarations antagonize Facebook, it’s a platform where people can help the world community in times of need. After the recent earthquake in Mexico devastated the city and surrounding areas and
hurricane Maria left Puerto Rico in a state of desperation, Facebook pages were created to donate money to aid survivors. Facebook itself donated $1 million to assist victims of the earthquake in Mexico. When Facebook is used properly, we can contribute without having to leave our homes. Global organizations that help victims of natural disasters can be found on Facebook. The United Nations Children’s Fund’s (UNICEF) Facebook page has a donate button where users can donate money for children in need. Before Facebook, the way to reach these organizations was through email or by calling their phone numbers, which could be complicated sometimes. UNICEF also created two specific pages to aid victims in Mexico and Puerto Rico. If Facebook was a unless medium that only transmits fake news and misinformation, all these places in need wouldn’t receive help as quickly. Aside from being a place where relative and friends can communicate, Facebook can be used to plan events with its events system. Through Facebook events, large numbers of people can be invited to certain events without having to mail invitations. When Hillary Clinton came to East Los Angeles College in the Spring of 2016, her arrival was announced on Facebook. The announcement brought many people to campus, where they live-streamed the protest through Facebook so that a larger audience who couldn’t be on campus could witness it. Despite having a bad reputation, Facebook is a great medium that millennials love.
Taking a knee in protest, not disrespect BY JULIO SANCHEZ Staff Writer Colin Kaepernick taking a knee during the national anthem is in no way disrespectful to the American flag, the troops in the army, or America itself. Kaepernick protested to bring awareness about inequality, police brutality, and racial injustice while using the national anthem as a pedestal for his movement. Kaepernick began his protest by sitting on the bench during the national anthem in August 2016. Later, Kaepernick shifted his method to kneeling after his teammate at the time, and retired Green Beret Nate Boyer, advised him to kneel on one knee to show respect for fallen brothers and sisters in the same way troops do. It didn’t take long before Kaepernick was quickly criticized for his actions by the media and National Football League after expressing his views on how people of color are being mistreated, beaten, and murdered. Kaepernick was immediately deemed an anti-patriotic radical who has no respect for the country or the
people defending it. Also, no NFL team is willing to sign Kaepernick, which means that the NFL is willing to hire actual criminals instead of someone that demands basic human rights for everybody. Although Kaepernick doesn’t currently play for a team in the NFL, his message has made such an impact on the game that fellow players are now following in his footsteps and continue to protest in his absence. The protest has made such an impact in not only the game, but in the world. It even got the president of the United States, Donald Trump, upset and bothered. President Trump has made it clear that he does not approve of the protest and has suggested NFL owners fire or suspend players that do not stand for the national anthem. Donald Trump said: “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say ‘get that son-of-a bitch off the field right now. He’s fired.’” Donald Trump shamelessly and proudly disrespected players who are peacefully protesting for
something that they believe in in a way that he would not dare to disrespect the Nazis and so-called “fine people” of the Charlottesville, Virginia protest. It is fair to say that like the president of the United States, many individuals lack the proper knowledge required to see that
taking a knee during the national anthem is not an act of disrespect to the country. If players and activists wanted to disrespect the nation, they would incite hatred and violence, like the Nazis did in Charlottesville. Or they can go around shooting and beating unarmed civilians, just
like the police constantly do. Maybe if activists really hated America and wanted to express it, they would simply mock POWs or question the morality of the entire nation like President Trump. But they don’t. Colin Kaepernick has shaken up the pre-game of football in a way that many did not think possible. His actions and efforts to make a large population aware of how unjust and unfair this country treats its own has sparked a flame in those who have the same vision. From players, to cheerleaders, to NFL owners, taking a knee is a symbol of support to those who are wrongfully treated and killed. The issues with racism and injustices in America that made Colin Kaepernick start protesting are still happening, but at least now they are being discussed. It’s 2017. We should be focused on helping those affected by hurricanes and earthquakes instead of focused on advocating for basic human rights like we’re stuck in the 1960s. People are fed up with the way things are going and now they’re making a change, one knee at a time. In order to take a stand, now we must take a knee.
Outrageous smartphone prices leave wallets empty BY MICHAEL DOMINGUEZ Staff Writer The public and students that are in college or headed to college need everything quick and easy to make life easier and more stress-free. This is why peopl carry smartphones. Smartphones are small and compact, and can hold music, e-mails and provide the news of the day. They are becoming more and more expensive but still manage to make sales.
Smartphones should be priced affordably so that everyone can have one. Most phone prices range from $699 to $930, the most expensive being the Samsung Note 8 at $930. Most customers put a down payment of $210 if the buyer chooses to buy the phone through the mobile provider he or she gets its service from. Apple's iPhone X will cost $1,000, according to Apple.com. The price tag is not scaring people away though. Why are people paying for such expensive phones?
That money can be used to secure a small apartment or split the rent for an apartment. Not only must customers give a down payment when they purchase a phone, but also pay for the bill service. The prices vary, depending on how much data the customer wants to use for messaging, phone calls and internet service. Everyone should be able to purchase a smartphone because everything in this world is modern technology and it is very important to stay updated in our daily lives. A student without a smartphone
may miss a change in their class. The professor may have changed the project or work given or the professor may miss a message from a student. Not only are smartphones helpful for work and school, but they can also help keep communication between family members that live long distances away. All smartphones feature applications that allow customers to videochat with others from the comfort of their own home. In last week’s Campus News, an article written by Joe Dargan titled “FreedomPop aims to disrupt major
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phone companies” brought up a cheaper phone option. In the article, Dargan explains how the company was offering unlimited plans at $20 a month and selling refurbished phones. Big phone companies like T Mobile, AT&T, Sprint and Verizon should go in the same direction, and offer plans like FreedomPop. Customers won't have to worry about paying so much for plans and could also afford a smartphone. If cheaper options were available, more people could enjoy the perks of a smartphone without feeling a hole in their wallets.
MANAGING EDITOR Stephanie Guevara ONLINE EDITORS Melody Ortiz Kevin Camargo ART DIRECTOR Julie Santiago FRONT EDITOR Gustavo Buenrostro
OPINION EDITORS Giselle Palomera NEWS EDITOR Francisco Portillo FEATURES EDITOR Julio Sanchez ARTS EDITOR Steven Adamo SPORTS 1 EDITORS Michael Dominguez Joe Dargan SPORTS 2 EDITOR Stephanie Guevara PHOTO EDITOR Eddie Garcia COPY EDITORS Russell Zazueta Anastasia Landeros CARTOONIST Jorge Vazquez STAFF WRITERS Noe Ortega STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Kevin Gonzalez ADVERTISING Stefanie Arocha DISTRIBUTION Stephanie Guevara Anastasia Landeros Dorany Pineda ADVISERS Jean Stapleton Sylvia Rico-Sanchez
Campus News encourages letters to the editor relating to campus issues. Letters must be typed and double spaced. Submitted material becomes the proper ty of Campus News and cannot be returned. Letters should be limited to 250 words or less. Campus News reserves the right to edit letters for grammatical errors or libelous content. A n o ny m o u s l e t te r s w i l l n o t be printed. Writer s must sign submissions and print their names and a phone number where they can be reached. Letters should be addressed to the editor of Campus News. Submissions can be made at the mailroom in building E1 or the Journalism department office in the Technology Center in E7-303. East Los Angeles College Campus News 1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez E7-303 Monterey Park, CA 91754 (323) 265-8819, Ads (323) 265-8821 Fax (323) 415-4910 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
EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2017
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Political science mixer prepares students for transfer BY KEVIN CAMARGO Staff Writer
CN/JOE DARGAN
JUSTICE FOR ALL—Dr. Nancy Acevedes explains critical race theory in the F-5 Multipurpose room at the Adelante Program’s inaugural Social Justice Platica Thursday.
Student issues at forefront of social justice lecture BY GUSTAVO BUENROSTRO Staff Writer
Students’ lack of foundation and the problems they face during college was the main topic at the lecture for the Adelante Program’s first Social Justice Plactica Thursday. The speaker of the event was Dr. Nancy Acevedas-Gil, assistant professor at Cal State San Bernardino and was presented by the Adelante first-year program. “The goal (of the Social Justice Plactica’s) is to expose the campus to a different knowledge base, to assure that scholars get access to different ways of thinking outside of the class,” said Dr. Vanessa Ochoa, associate dean of Student Services. Ochoa got the idea to organize the Placticas from UCLA, where she says there is a communal cultural wealth, which is the idea that communities of color have great knowledge and assets to offer. “Using that mindframe (communal cultural wealth), working with my student worker Joe Gama, we talked about how to begin to engage with that communal cultural wealth. So one way was to establish the Social Justice Plactica series,” said Ochoa. Acevedas-Gil spoke about the pathways that students go through to either transfer out of community college, or get a degree. She says that the pathways are perceived as linear. A student goes to a community college for two years and is able to transfer to a
four-year college after those two years. This is not, however, what ends up happening. Students stay at a community college longer because they are stuck in developmental classes. Acevedas-Gil said that developmental classes are borderlands, or blocks, that keep students at community college longer. She said that students have trouble moving up the levels to be college ready because of a lack of resources. Acevedas-Gil presented data that is seven years old and said it's more than likely that the numbers could have changed by now. In English developmental classes, three out of 100 students will be four levels below college English, 14 will be three levels below, 32 will be two and 51 will be one and 36 out of those 100 students will complete transfer level English, according to the Community College Chancellor’s office. In math, 14 out of 100 will be four levels below college level, 27 will be three, 32 will be two levels and 26 will be one level down. Out of those 100, only 17 will pass transfer-level math. She asks why it is that students are not placing higher in their assessment test. She said that answer may be that in K-12, students have a lack of resources. Gama, a student-worker for Adelante, said that one reason
for students not placing higher in high school is because students are moved up a grade level, whether they know the material or not. Acevedas-Gil presented examples of a study done on students who were in developmental classes and their experiences. Study subject Denise said that it was difficult to approach her professor because she would make students feel bad for not knowing how to do something. She gave the example of the time her professor was asked by another student how to use a calculator and the professor got frustrated with the student saying, “It’s right there. Just do it.” Acevedas-Gil said that a good way for students to move forward in the developmental classes is by spreading the word for “good” professors, who will take the time to fully explain something the student doesn’t know how to do. Another way is for students to know what obstacles lie ahead of them and see how they can navigate through them. The Social Justice Plactica is one of many events planned by Adelante and their first-year program. There will be a total of five Social Justice Placticas and if students attend all of them, they will receive a Social Justice certificate. The lectures will also be livestreamed on the Facebook and Instagram pages at AdelanteFYE. The next Social Justice Plactica will be October 25 at the G3-Foyer.
The Political Science Department sponsored an event Thursday for students interested in Political Science as a major. The event offered food and drinks, while transfer mentors Justine Gutierrez and Nick Bravo handed out East Los Angeles College bags with information about the Transfer Center, inside. “There's about nine or ten of us there that work at the transfer center that can support you (and) get (you) through the applications, whether that’s UCs, CSUs, privates (or) anything like that. Come in and speak with us,” said Bravo. Bravo encouraged students to schedule appointments with counselors to develop an educational plan to get on the right track to transfer. Once the transfer mentors finished their presentation, political science teachers talked about opportunities in the field. The professors who spoke at the event included Dr. Kenneth Chaiprasert, assistant professor of Political Science, Rogelio Garcia, political science instructor, Felipe Agredano, adjunct faculty political science and Dr. Natalina Monteiro, professor of political science. “We’re here for all of you to get
to know us, use us as resources and to also know what the discipline of political science (is) and what you can do with it,” said Dr. Kenneth Chaiprasert, an assistant professor of political science, during the event. Chaiprasert thinks that graduating and transferring with an Associates in Arts for Transfer in Political
“There’s about nine or ten of us...at the transfer center, that can support you through the applications...come in and speak with us.” NICK BRAVO
Transfer Center mentor
Science from ELAC can open up doors, even in different fields. The professors also encouraged students to participate in clubs such as the Model United Nations, ESPA (ELAC Students for Political Awareness), a study abroad program and Pathway To Law School Transfer Program. “ELAC is one of the few community colleges in California that (has) a program associated, partnered and sponsored by the
Bar Association of California, where if you graduate with this program under your belt, you get a certificate from the Bar Association of California,” said Chaiprasert, who is also the Coordinator of the Pathway to Law School Transfer Program. ELAC has six law schools that they contract with that will take the certificate into consideration to make it easier get into the schools. According to Chaiprasert, the program takes students to law schools and courtrooms and matches them with lawyers that mentor them to see what the law is like, and what lawyers and judges do. “Then, you’re able to decide for yourself whether you want to be a lawyer. Or if you don't want to be a lawyer, at least you got a certificate at the end of the process (which) looks great on your resume,” said Chaiprasert. Although this is the second year this event has ever occurred, the professors plan to continue to have these workshops at least once a semester. “We want students to leave the event with an appreciation of how politics affects everything around us,” said Chaiprasert. “We hope that the event gave students valuable knowledge about how to remain politically active and engaged throughout their lives.”
CN/KEVIN GONZALEZ
LAW TALK—Dr. Kenneth Chaiprasert discusses the Pathway to Law School transfer program
with students in attendance at the political science mixer Thursday.
Banned Books Week focuses on censorship BY STEVEN ADAMO Staff Writer Banned books like “The Catcher in the Rye” are commonly recognized, but banning books is still a big problem, and was discussed at the Banned Books Week Workshop held at the East Los Angeles College library last week. According to the American Library Association (ALA), a surge in banned books happened in 1982, which lead to the creation of Banned Books Week. Last year, the ALA released their yearly top-10 list of banned books, in which a book by Mariko Tamaki (illustrated by Jillian Tamaki) called ‘This One Summer’ topped the list at number one. “Banned Books Week is a way to celebrate our intellectual freedom and First Amendment rights and recognize that these rights continue to be threatened in this day,” said Cynthia Orozco, librarian for Equitable Services at
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East Los Angeles College. Orozco created the Banned Books Week workshop at the ELAC library. In her presentation, she discussed the difference between challenging a book and banning a book. To challenge a book, a person or group restricts access of the book to others by attempting to remove the book from the library or curriculum. If this effort is successful, then it is considered ‘banned.’ Common reasons for banning books are profanity, sexuality, violence or, in the case of the “Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood, anti-Christian themes. In one extreme case in 2011, Oak Meadows Elementary School in Murrieta removed all copies of Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary after a parent complained about the phrase “oral sex.” For example, last January, Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction John Huppenthal called the Tucson MexicanAmerican Studies program “illegal,” citing a state law that banned “racially divisive courses” from public schools. Because of this incident, the Tucson Unified School District removed hundreds of books that were a part of the curriculum, and canceled courses. The topic of intellectual freedom is also discussed in the workshop. According to the ALA, intellectual freedom “provides for free access to all expressions of ideas through which any and all side of a question, cause, or movement, may be explored.” For more information on banned books, visit the banned books week website at www. banedbooksweek.org.
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Feature
EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2017
From man of the house to ASU president BY JOE DARGAN Staff Writer The neatly kept and cozy offices of the Associated Student Union are a far cry from Oscar Cruz’s humble beginnings. While looking down the barrel of a handgun in 2015, Cruz, 21, had to make a decision. Does he give up the borrowed laptop he’s been using to continue his education online, while working four jobs to support his family, or does he risk his life to hold on to the only source of hope that he has? If anyone knows Cruz well, they know the only thing that could’ve stopped him from walking away with his laptop and his future firmly intact was a bullet. “When Oscar is determined about something, he won’t let it go,” said Cruz’s friend Destiny Hernandez. Cruz, a human development major with an emphasis on educational policy and leadership, was fortunate to fight off the robber that night, and it was in that moment that he knew he had to approach his education with laser focus. There was no other choice. A child of Mexican immigrants brought to the United States younger than he can remember, Cruz is not just the ASU president, but is also a DACA recipient. “It was a low blow for the president to take the program away. There’s a lot of students on campus here at ELAC that benefit from the program, including myself,” said Cruz. Brought to the United States as a toddler by his mom Elena Rodriguez and his dad Oscar Cruz senior, Cruz and his family settled with relatives on a farm in McFarland, California,
25 miles north of Bakersfield. It didn’t take long before Cruz started doing agricultural work. Some of his earliest childhood memories were of waking up early to feed chickens and other animals, fetching water, helping to prepare meals with his parents and anything else asked of him. As the oldest of two siblings, any additional responsibilities not being handled by his parents, would be passed down to him. Cruz maintained his work ethic, working odd jobs, while continuing to excel in the United States educational system. Not only was Cruz voted student body president of Estebon Torrez High School, he was also accepted into California State University, Los Angeles. Things all changed for Cruz his senior year of high school when his dad was deported back to Mexico. This was devastating for Cruz and his family, as he had now become the head of his household. “My dad went from being a farmhand and warehouse worker, to a certified drug-addiction counselor who contributed to this society while being undocumented. He not only taught me how to be a man, but how to be a gentleman as well,” said Cruz. Tasked with helping make ends meet for himself, his mom and now three siblings, Cruz took on four jobs. From 4 a.m. until 8 p.m. on weekdays, Cruz split time between school, a warehouse job and a job at an after-school program where he worked with elementary school kids. His weekends were spent working mornings at a swap meet and evenings at a taco stand. Though Cruz was able to graduate
high school and begin classes at Cal State LA, his work schedule and household responsibilities forced him to reluctantly drop out, taking a year-long hiatus from school. With no car, Cruz had to find temporary places to sleep near work to make sure he’d arrive on time the next day. It’s stories like these that led Cruz into politics. He wanted to be a voice for young, undocumented immigrants who were also forced to be the head of their household. Though he played the drums as a teenager and was even a part of dance team in high school, Cruz has always had an affinity for education and the importance of it. “I’ve learned that if you want to make change you should go into educational policy,” said Cruz. He plans to follow in the footsteps of former United States Secretary of Education John King, by attending Harvard University and eventually becoming the U.S.Secretary of Education himself. Cruz was fortunate enough to meet King early in his ASU presidency. None of this may even be possible if it weren’t for his good friend Carlos Aquino. Aquino had noticed Cruz’s living and working situation and had encouraged him to take a few online classes at East Los Angeles College, offering to share his laptop with Cruz to help facilitate the process. Little did Cruz know, an online class he had registered for was being taught by ELAC Vice President Julie Benavides. Two weeks into a five-week course, with a 67 percent average and barely having escaped an attempted robbery, Cruz decided to call Benavides for help.
CN/JOE DARGAN
EL PRESIDENTE—New Associated Student Union President Oscar Cruz contemplating ways to bring improvement to East Los Angeles College.
“She was so understanding of my situation that she allowed me to redo all of my assignments,” Cruz said. “ I ended up finishing that course with a 102 percent average and was immediately offered a job at the school and sponsored with a laptop of my own.” After a year of hard work, maintaining a perfect GPA of 4.0, Cruz noticed some issues around campus. He felt he could help improve the cafeteria food quality and prices, and better marketing and promotion of helpful campus resources such as child care and health care. Relying on his high school campaign experience and some advice from political science professor Filipe Agredano, Cruz ran for the ASU presidency and won.
Since taking office on July 1, life has been very different. Even though his ASU duties, TV appearances and meetings with local politicians, like California State Senator Kevin de Leon, has made Cruz a very busy man. He still finds the time to listen to his fellow students. “He’s very approachable. If there are any students that want to give him any suggestions or discuss any issues, he’s very open to ideas and will do everything he can to help,” said Hernandez.” Among Cruz’s biggest supporters are his mom and dad. His mother is constantly showing him off to everyone she knows. And his father, who lives in Morelos, Mexico, who Cruz has been supporting financially since
the recent 7.1 earthquake destroyed his work place. With some of the issues faced in the United States like racism, poverty, natural disasters and the subsequent response by President Donald Trump, Cruz understands that American politicians have a tough job to do. “I don’t dislike Trump as a person, but I’m not in agreement with a lot of his rhetoric. As a student, I firmly believe in facts and research, and some of the decisions Trump has made have not been very scholarly” Cruz said. Though he’s not pursuing a career in hopes of one day becoming the president of the United States, if the opportunity came his way, Cruz said he would definitely accept the challenge.
Students Against Substance Abuse club encourages healthy living BY JULIO SANCHEZ Staff Writer The Students Against Substance Abuse club is committed to saving lives, empowering individuals and strengthening communities by raising awareness on the effects of substance abuse and addiction. Substance abuse is a problem that has affected millions of people worldwide and has caused health and social problems for the abuser, as well as for the people close to them. Substance abuse can occur with drugs like heroin, cocaine and methamphetamines, but it can also
occur with substances like tobacco, alcohol, and even sugar. According to the World Health Organization website, at least 15.3 million people have drug use disorders and 120 countries report HIV infections caused by injecting drugs into the body. “Substance abuse is a war that’s never going to stop,” Leonel Escobar, outreach coordinator for SASA, said. “I believe a better way to attack this problem is to bring attention and awareness to it.” The mission of the club is to promote awareness of drug abuse, drug addiction and related issues, and to encourage treatment.
The club aims to achieve Specialist, Chemical Dependency this by sponsoring private and C o u n s e l o r a n d C h e m i c a l Dependency public forums Specialist in and by doing Justice. community “If there is something Criminal “I like that outreach events that is needed, just there is a throughout the year. contact us and we will substance abuse club because SASA offers be there.” I, myself, its members have struggled a place where with substance they can receive abuse,” ELAC the help and Lisa M. Vartanian Director of SASA Club information student Sarah Perez said “It they seek. The makes me glad to club also offers information on how people can get a know that there are people out there certificate in jobs such as Recovery who really want to help.”
They also work with elementary to college-aged students in order to bring such crucial information that can help them at a time when they need it the most. The club tries to conduct outreach programs throughout the community as much as possible and are currently working with fourth, fifth and sixth graders from Hamasaki Elementary School. SASA teaches the young students about the importance of positive choices. The club also plans to get more students and the community involved by hosting a barbeque with students and their families in the near future. They are also involved
in a Christmas card campaign, where ELAC students write a Christmas card for an adolescent in treatment or in a youth camp. Lisa M. Vartanian, director and advisor of the addiction studies and the SASA club, wrote in an email stating “We also provide messages of hope to people in treatment settings. We have many outreach opportunities scheduled, but we are always open to doing more. If there is something that is needed, just contact us and we will be there.” The Students Against Substance Abuse club meets every Tuesday from 6:30 p.m. to 6:50 p.m. in F7-226.
Artist’s love for cartoon inspired his newly-created mural BY FRANK PORTILLO Staff Writer Student David Queponds has been using the E3 building as a canvas for his chalk artwork this semester. Currently, the artwork features characters from his favorite television show titled “Rick and Morty.” The animated sci-fi comedy shows the smartest scientist in the universe, Rick, taking his grandson Morty on wild adventures deeply embedded in the best aspects of science fiction. The characters are used to putting their lives at risk on their adventures, but Queponds’ depiction of the dynamic duo has them traveling to In-N-Out Burger for a 20-minute adventure. Queponds captures the frustration of Morty perfectly in his mural, and he hopes it remains up for the rest of the semester. His first experience creating a mural on campus came during the winter semester, and he used the same characters in a different situation.
His decision to use the wall in front of E3 came from his interpretation of what the wall stands for. “I had seen other people do their art up there with chalk, so I thought (I) might as well. It's kind of like a self-proclaimed freedom-ofexpression wall,” Queponds said. “I’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback from it and people are encouraging me to do it again. “Everyone is always very supportive of it. Faculty has told me to keep it up and campus security tells me it’s pretty good. I think the only people that were kind of negative about it were the custodians because it’s their job to clean it up,” he said. Queponds has spent most of his life drawing. His mother saved one of his drawings from kindergarten, which shows Spider-man vs. the Green Goblin, and was amazed at his skills at such a young age. Having attended East Los Angeles College for two years, Queponds is focusing on three majors: Child development, English and Art are the choices that he is focusing on. Outside of school, he spends his time working as a substitute
CN/GISELLE PALOMERA
WORK IN PROGRESS— David Queponds draws Rick and
Morty characters on ELAC wall to entertain free-thinkers and fans.
teacher ’s assistant for special education in second and third grade. As an assistant, he is tasked with taking students to and from the bus. One of the children he assists has an eating disorder and coaches him on proper eating.
“He’s really finicky with eating, so I give him rewards for trying new foods,” Queponds said. He was introduced to working in the special-education field by his wife Milena Queponds, who is a special-ed teacher.
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He also cites his wife as his reasoning for receiving his GED. In the future, he hopes to become a teacher, but hasn't decided on a grade to teach yet. The two met in middle school and dated briefly until Queponds moved away. This began a cycle in which his family sold all of their belongings and moved to a new state. Places he’s lived include Hawaii, Colorado and Florida until finally coming back to Los Angeles. While in the second grade, his family spent three months living in an 18-wheeler. Having moved around so often, David Queponds can’t say where his home lies. His favorite places that he’s visited are Colorado, Los Angeles and Hawaii. He appreciates the artsy culture that is prevalent in Colorado and the easy-going nature and vibe about Hawaii. While on the road, Queponds established a relationship with Milena and the two became close over the phone. “He was on the road for two months before we saw each other.
Every time we would talk, it was about what he was doing on the road and what he saw,” Milena said. She said it was weird when he moved back to Los Angeles because he moved so close to her. The two dated for two years until getting engaged in 2015 and waited until February to get married. David Queponds used a BuildA-Bear cat in a wedding dress and wolf in a tuxedo as a gift to propose to his fiance. Besides his love for drawing, Queponds is also the bassist for a band called “The Wandering Gypsies.” The band consists of his sibling Damian Queponds, friend Giovanni Barahona and performs a mixture of psychedelic rock, blues and alternative rock. Queponds has a Halloweenthemed Rick and Morty drawing that will be on display during an art walk at The Shop skateshop. His piece will be on display Nov. 5 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and is inspired by the poster for H.P. Lovecraft’s “The Animator.” His work and hobbies can be seen on his instagram page @dqueponds.
Arts
EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2017
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VPAM to share altar life at student art show JORGE VAZQUEZ Staff Writer
The Vincent Price Art Museum will showcase altars of legendary Hispanic icons made by Chicana/o Studies students for Dia De Los Muertos. This is going to be the 14th annual Dia De Los Muertos Student Altar exhibit that VPAM hosts and the 6th year Chicana/o Studies 54 professor Angelita Rovero-Herrera oversees it. Her class of 36 creates 10 altars for famous Xicano legends such as Ritchie Valens, Lalo Guerrero, Lupe Ontiveros and Anthony Quinn. The altars are not the typical candles, flowers and sugar skulls. The altars are 10-feet wide, up to 10-feet tall and made up of the personal and favorite items of the
dead such as records, books, clothes and menudo. “They’re larger than life,” Rovero-Herrera said about the altars. The students spend the fall semester, the only semester this course is offered, meticulously researching the little things that humanize these legends. The students have contact with the families of the celebrated to further help with research so the altars are genuine and respectful. “As Chicanos, we are not mediocre. We are not mediocre people,” said Rovero-Herrera, taking pride in the work of her students. She aims to show how these legends lived their lives and doesn’t want anything related to death on the altars. The families of the Chicano
legends attend any years they can to show the students appreciation for keeping the memory of their loved ones alive. She also had Aztec dancers come in and bless the altars during the reception, which had 400 attendees last year. Rovero-Herrera said she hopes to set the bar higher this year and encourages students and community members alike to visit the altars. This year’s reception is on Oct. 28 at 11 a.m. at the VPAM. It will be sponsored by ASU, and they will provide snacks and music for the attendees. The exhibit will be open from Oct. 28 to Dec. 1, so students are encouraged to attend and celebrate Dia De Los Muertos the ELAC/ Chicano way.
COURTESY OF WWW.VINCENTPRICEARTMUSEUM.ORG
Cinema: Revisited is a weekly film critique by film podcasters Anastasia Landeros and Gustavo Buenrostro. It’s not, however, just any weekly film critique. Landeros and Buenrostro are reviewing classic films that have been critically acclaimed in the past, but haven’t been examined in recent years. For the month of October, Landeros and Buenrostro will be revisiting Halloween films from different film genres.
SLEEPY HOLLOW
PHOTO COURTESY OF FOX SEARCHLIGHT
CLASH OF THE SEXES— Emma Stone and Steve Carell as Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in “Battle of the Sexes,” in theaters now.
Sexism loses in ‘Battle’ FRANK PORTILLO Staff Writer
Emma Stone delivers a powerful and gripping performance as tennis star Billie Jean King in “Battle of the Sexes.” Set in the 1970s, when sexism and homophobia was prevalent in society and media, the film tells a story of dealing with the obstacles that arise from these issues. The film not only focuses on the huge tennis match that took place in the ‘70s between the female tennis star and sexist Bobby Riggs, but spends a great amount of time on King’s sexuality. While at the top of her sport, King begins to question the difference in prize money between men and women. In a demand for respect, she finds herself leaving the Association of
Tennis Professionals and trying to establish the Women’s Tennis Association. Jack Kramer, played by Bill Pullman, and Riggs are among the many people who scoffed at the idea of women being equal to men. To prove his point, Riggs offers a larger prize to attract women to play against him. Fighting for equality, King accepts an offer from Riggs to play in an exhibition game to demand respect from the opposite sex. The filmmakers did a beautiful job at utilizing the first half of the film to set up the showdown between the two characters by exploring their motivations and backstories, giving each character greater stakes. The best aspect of this film is the love story between King and Marilyn Barnett, played by Andrea Riseborough. While not
completely accurate, the filmmakers do a great job at conveying the role that her sexuality played in her life. Going on the journey with King is an interesting one, considering the fact that she was married to a man. The audience can’t help but become emotional because of Stone’s performance, which conveys the hardships of living with barriers between her and her true self. “Battle of the Sexes” is very similar in tone to the new Netflix series “G.L.O.W.,” which is the story of women in the wrestling world. It is surprising how much stuff was taken from real life. Riggs’ shenanigans were over-the-top and was portrayed beautifully by Steve Carell, who continues to deliver great performances after his longtime stint as the star of “The Office.”
The filmmakers waste no time playing up Riggs’ gambling issues, as his introduction features the character teaching his young son about betting. Carell was a great choice to play Riggs and does a great job at bringing the hustler to life. Having appeared in projects with Stone before, the two put on an engaging performance. Also in the film is Sarah Silverman, who disappears into her role as Gladys Heldman. Fans of Silverman will be hard pressed to find any resemblance with her change of voice and makeup. The film does an amazing job at pointing out the flaws in the argument that claims men are the better sexes. “Battle of the Sexes” is rated PG-13 for some sexual content and partial nudity.
Unfamiliar mutants shine in ‘The Gifted’ FRANK PORTILLO Staff Writer
“The Gifted” has potential to develop into an interesting look at lesser known X-Men characters with a solid pilot episode. The new series is one of the many comic book shows that have come to television recently. Going up against the other superhero shows that are so popular, “The Gift” finds a way to make its C-list characters worthy of their own show. The show is set in the future, in a world that has seen the disappearance of the X-Men and Brotherhood of Mutants. Viewers who aren’t comic book savvy won’t recognize any of the characters involved or of their
affiliation with the X-Men if not for the name-drop mid episode. The show focuses on the Strucker family as they deal with a world hunting mutants. The patriarchal figure of the family, Reed Strucker, played by “True Blood’s” Stephen Moyer, is part of a government agency responsible for the apprehension of mutants. When his children are discovered to be mutants, Strucker and his family are forced to deal with being the hunted. Through his connections, he enlists the help of rogue mutants who are gathering others that share the gene. The mutants in question are Polaris, Thunderbird, and eventually Blink, who are
mutants fighting for survival and are searching for any remaining X-Men. The events of the episode are kicked into gear when the younger Strucker discovers his abilities while being bullied. He figures out that feeling a certain emotion grants him access to his powers. This aspect of the characters is reminiscent of Magneto discovering his powers in “X-Men: First Class,” in which he was told to find the perfect balance between rage and serenity. The young actor playing Andy Strucker, Percy Hynes White, plays the part of a bullied teen very well. His acting is very seamless and plays well off of his sister Lauren
Strucker, played by Natalie Alyn Lind. His sister shares her secret of discovering her powers years earlier with her brother and begins to show him the possibilities of his gifts. Despite not having any of the A-list characters, “The Gifted” manages to construct an intriguing story with an interesting dynamic between the characters involved. Having directed the first two X-films, Bryan Singer, director of the pilot episode, approaches this new series with a grittier, more realistic feel. The production of the show is topnotch, as the computer generated imagery doesn’t look overtly fake. “The Gifted” airs on Monday nights on Fox at 9 p.m.
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The first film for October is the classic-Tim Burton film “Sleepy Hollow” starring Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci. The supernatural-horror film “Sleepy Hollow” is loosely based on the Washington Irving book “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” published in 1820. The story follows Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp), a constable sent to the small farming town of Sleepy Hollow to investigate the decapitation murders of its citizens. Ichobod is sent to Sleepy Hollow by Burgomaster (Christopher Lee) to investigate the Sleepy Hollow murders. ANASTASIA: Tim Burton loves to work with the same actors, so right away we see, obviously, Johnny Depp and also Christopher Lee, who has since been in Burton’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Alice in Wonderland” and “Corpse Bride.” GUSTAVO: I enjoy how the film starts out very creepy, making the audience think he is going away from his unique style. It’s very murder-mystery/ horror. Ichobod and magistrate Philipse (Richard Griffith) are walking on a forest path as Ichodob questions the magistrate about his involvement in a cover-up. The forest seems to come alive and the Hessian Horseman/Headless Horseman (Christopher Walken) sneaks up on the duo and cuts the head off of Magistrate Philipse. GUSTAVO: This is where Tim Burton begins to show his style. When the magistrate gets his head cut off, the head does a whole 360 degree turn. It takes away from the serious tone it set up earlier and makes it feel campy. The tone shift was just a bit jarring. ANASTASIA: It did feel a little campy, but that’s what’s expected from a Tim Burton film. I was actually waiting for a Tim Burton moment because, so far, it’s been a straight-up murder mystery, which isn’t something I’d expect from him as a storyteller. Lady Van Tassel (Miranda Richardson) reveals to Katrina
Van Tassel (Christina Ricci) that she controls the Headless Horseman and has been sending him to kill all the townspeople. Lady Van Tassel tells her stepdaughter that she plans to kill her so that she can inherit her entire fortune and take revenge on the rest of the town. ANASTASIA: The exposition in these scenes were too long. I didn’t care what her motive was by the end of the explanation. I just wanted it to be over. The reasoning behind why Lady Van Tassel wanted revenge on everyone wasn’t convincing enough to justify all the murders that were committed throughout the film, and the chemistry between Richardson and Ricci was unconvincing. Because of that, the story now felt thin and left me with some questions. Although the CGI was obviously ‘90s caliber for the most part, I did like the regeneration of the Headless Horseman’s head. That was well done. GUSTAVO: Yeah, the CGI aged decently, although when they went inside the old tree, I thought that was bad CGI. I also had the same issue with her reasoning. It was not really justifiable for all the murders she told the horseman to do. I get she is a villain and doesn’t have to be redeemable, but it would have made the story more compelling if her reasoning for revenge was more relatable. FINAL POPCORN COUNT GUSTAVO: While there are some issues with the film, overall it was enjoyable. It definitely had a certain charm to it and, while the campiness did take me out of the film, the more serious scenes worked well enough to counter it. Rewatching the film makes it great for marathoning Halloween movies. 3 popcorn out of 5. ANASTASIA: I also enjoyed the film overall. Most of the actors did a convincing job, and Tim Burton delivered on the Burton-isms. There were some issues at the end of the film in terms of story strength and weak chemistry, but the rest of the cast and story made it bearable. Three popcorn out of five. Overall popcorn count: 3 out of 5.
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SPORTS
EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2017
Volleyball wins after rough start BY KEVIN CAMARGO Staff Writer
CN/KEVIN GONZALEZ
LOOK OUT BELOW— Freshman right-side hitter Daija Watson rising up for the spike against Los Angeles TradeTechnical College.
Sports Briefs
Volleyball won an away game last Friday, after defeating Los Angeles Trade-Technical College 0-3. The game started off rough for the Huskies. The first set consisted of an offensive game for both teams. The score at the end of the first set was 19-25, with East Los Angeles College winning the first set. “Today’s win was good. We put up a fight (in) the first set because the scores were pretty close, [but] after that we realized we had to use a strategy, which we like to include tipping,” said Kayla Dickerson, ELAC freshman middle.“We definitely had to play smarter, not harder.” ELAC took the following two sets with more ease. The second set ended with the score of 25-14 and the last set ended with the score of 25-13. Dickerson scored the last point of the match. “We had just messed up on one of our hits and I saw that one spot was open. The ball came over, we got a pass, I came up (and) swung to my right across my body,” said Dickerson. “It felt good knowing that I already had that spot open; so it's like you play it in your head before the play even happens.” The team came from a loss to El Camino College before winning the game against LA Trade-Technical College. “It just makes us push harder because the loss that we came from was a competitive game. We (have) to use this win and build momentum going forward (into) the conference,” said Taryn Higareda,
ELAC sophomore setter. According to the ELAC head coach Elliott Walker the team still has to work on small errors to help them prepare for the start of the conference next week. “Each game offers a different level of experience and play. “El Camino is probably one of our top ten teams in the state, and so we had goals that we had to accomplish there; [and] so we did, despite the loss,” said Walker. “What we are taking with us (tonight) is, what do we need to do, (and) what can [we do] better, to get prepared for what lies ahead.” Coach Walker said the opponent was a basic fundamental team, and ELAC was not playing the fundamental game. They were playing their advanced game; therefore they were overshooting. “We always focus on our goals. What our team goals are, what our individual goals are (and) what particular task they need to do on the floor,” said Walker. Walker is always incentivizing his team not only before and after the game, but also in between sets. “We couldn't have done it without the help of our coaches. It really means a lot. “Every single game that we play, and every single practice we have, allows us to become closer and play better,” said Dickerson. “This group of girls, you can tell they are here for a purpose. This year is going to be great, I could feel it,” said Higareda. “There's so much respect and I just love playing with them. It's so much fun and I just want us to be successful.” Their next game is at home on Wednesday against Mt. San Antonio College at 6 p.m.
Water Polo
CN/KEVIN GONZALEZ
RIGHT BACK AT YOU— Freshman outside hitter
Makkena Ryan soars through the air to return an attack by Los Angeles Trade-Technical College.
Wrestling
Water Polo lost at Cerritos College 17-7 with five goals coming from Sophia Gonzalez. According to assistant coach Irene Young, the team got fatigued and stopped scoring. ELAC’s next game is at El Camino on October 4.
The wrestling team placed 14 out of 24 in the Santa Ana invitational. Brandon Sotomayor won three falls to one, winning him MVP of the upper weight class. The next match will be held on October 13.
Football loses opening conference game to Santa Ana College in a shootout BY JOE DARGAN Staff Writer The football team lost to Santa Ana College 75-61 in an offensive free-for-all. The Huskies began with the ball on offense, executing two running plays and gaining a first down to start. The success was short lived due to sophomore running back Marquise Arnold’s fumble on the 44-yard line, giving the ball to Santa Ana for its first possession of the game. Though ELAC’s defense did not allow a touchdown on its first defensive drive, Santa Ana did manage to kick a field goal, making the score 3-0. Later in the first, after forcing a punt by Santa Ana, the ball hit an ELAC player and was recovered by Santa Ana on the Husky’s 20-yard line. Two plays later, Santa Ana capitalized on the Husky’s turnover with a 1-yard rushing touchdown that made the score 10-0. On the ensuing kick-off Arnold showed his worth by providing a 98-yard punt return to give ELAC the ball at Santa Ana’s 2-yard line. With 3:13 left to go in the first quarter Freshman quarterback Philip Tran threw a 2-yard bullet to freshman linebacker Kent Lowry for the touchdown. After a successful extra-point try by freshman Kicker Hector Gomez, the score was 10-7. The Huskies defense caused Santa Ana to punt on its next possession. The kick was returned 73-yards by sophomore defensive back Raeshawn Roland for the touchdown. Elac led 17-10 after another good kick by Gomez. After a 61-yard
CN/MICHAEL DOMINGUEZ
TIP-TOE— Sophomore wide receiver Isiah Araujo catches a touchdown while trying to maintain balance on Saturday during the first conference game of the season against Santa Ana College. The Huskies lost 61 to Santa Ana’s 75. return, Santa Ana once again found themselves on the ELAC 29-yard line. The drive would end with a 12-yard touchdown for Santa Ana with 32 seconds left in the first quarter. After an extra-point kick by Gomez, the score was 17-14 to end the quarter . “Even though getting the win is all that really matters, I absolutely feel like i’m playing for my position at quarterback today,” said Tran between quarters. Tran’s starting job had been in
question after he was yanked in consecutive games by Head Coach Bobby Godinez and replaced with freshman quarterback Paul Herrera. Herrera played well, bringing the Huskies back to win the last of the two games. The second quarter started with touchdowns for both teams on consecutive drives. For three straight possessions, each team was stopped and forced to punt. Then the defense of both teams took a vacation. Each team traded touchdowns for
the next three possessions. Santa Ana capped the scoring bananza off with a field goal and no time left on the clock to send the game into halftime with a score of 34-35, ELAC. With scores by both teams, the second half began the same way the first half ended. Santa Ana began its drive with three rushes for modest gains which led to a 53-yard pass for a touchdown. The score came less than two minutes into the quarter and included a juke move that made an
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ELAC tackler miss 5-yards from the goal line, the score now 41-35, Santa Ana. After back-to-back, fruitless possessions for both teams, sophomore running back Nicholas Hutson rushed for a 28-yard touchdown to give the lead back to ELAC, 42-41, followed by a 37-yard punt return and 41-yard rushing touchdown for Santa Ana to take the lead back 48-42. After another series of arm whiffs and missed tackles, sophomore running back Marcus Arnold punched through the defense for another rushing touchdown. This run, a 13-yarder, made the score 49-48 in favor of ELAC after another successful kick by Gomez. A forced fumble by sophomore d e f e n s i v e l i n e m a n Tr e s t a n Kueneman and recovery by freshman linebacker Garret Rogers was the defensive highlight of the quarter. ELAC was unable to score to close out the third, but continued the drive into the fourth quarter leading to a 3-yard-passing touchdown to sophomore wide receiver Dontavious Hall that was set up by a 44-yard catch by sophomore wide receiver Kenny Allen. After the point-after snap was fumbled by the Husky’s special teams, the score was 48-55 ELAC. Following an 8-yard kick return, Santa Ana was able to produce an 81-yard drive ended with a 25-yard, rushing touchdown that tied the game 55-55 after an extra-point kick. Santa Ana used the kick-off opportunity to try an on-side kick. After the ball hit an ELAC player, it was successfully recovered by Santa Ana. With a short field to work with,
Santa Ana promptly marched down the field to score a 1-yard rushing touchdown, giving them the lead 62-55. A fumble by ELAC sophomore defensive back Toure Wallace on the ensuing kick-off was recovered by Santa Ana on ELAC’s 17-yard line. With one 17-yard pass to a wideopen receiver, Santa Ana scored again, extending its lead to 69-55 after the kick attempt was good. The Huskies were able to score a touchdown on the next possession, making the score 69-61, but allowed Santa Ana to come right back down field for a touchdown of its own, stretching the lead back to 14 points. After an unsuccessful, final drive by the Huskies, the game ended with a score of 75-61 in favor of Santa Ana, handing ELAC its first conference loss of the season. When the smoke cleared, the Huskies gave up 647 total yards, including 224 rushing yards for Santa Ana’s sophomore running back Deven Booker. Tran went 26-36, with 323 yards, throwing six touchdowns and no interceptions in the process. Allen caught for 169 yards with two touchdowns. The team may have been able to put up big numbers offensively, but defensive efficiency was nonexistent. “At the end of the day, we have to finish tackles,” said Coach Godinez after the game. He told his players, “This is all my fault. We have to get back to discipline. “You don’t deserve what happened to you today and we are gonna fix it, but we all have to buy in.” The Huskies will be playing at home on Saturday against division rival Compton College.
SPORTS
EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2017
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Soccer faces Rio Hondo College
CN/STEPHANIE GUEVARA
CN/NOE ORTEGA
ATTACK—ELAC freshman forward Kevin Rodriguez gets ready to strike in
the left wing and Rio Hondo freshman defender Oscar Salazar tries to stop him on Friday at Weingart Stadium.
BALL POSSESION—ELAC sophomore forward Jennifer Toledo fights to regain the ball from Rio Hondo freshman defender Vanessa Torres before she exits the game with an injury.
CN/NOE ORTEGA
BALL IN PLAY—ELAC sophomore forward Edward Robles (right) passes through Rio Hondo players Edgar Perez and Christan Bernabe, as Husky forward Kevin Rodriguez waits for Robles to pass the ball.
CN/STEPHANIE GUEVARA
COMING THROUGH—Husky freshman midfielder Vanessa Torres prepares to juke Rio Hondo freshman defender Karina Banda on Friday at Weingart Stadium.
Men’s soccer wins intense battle Women’s soccer falls short of win BY STEPHANIE GUEVARA Staff Writer A fierce contest between two long-time rivals resulted in a men’s soccer victory, on a late goal, over Rio Hondo College,1-0, Friday at Weingart Stadium. East Los Angeles College's dominance angered Rio Hondo players, resulting in many aggressive fouls. In minute 47 of the game, sophomore midfielder Carlos Zarate received a red card after an aggressive foul, where he elbowed ELAC sophomore fullback Jorge Mejia. After Zarate's red card, a series of fouls by players and questionable acts from the referees started to intensify the game. A few minutes later, Rio Hondo sophomore defender Abel Trejo kicked ELAC winger Luis Alvarado in the face, while he was on the ground, cutting Alvarado's lip. Alvarado left the field with blood in his mouth, and Trejo received a yellow card. "Rio is a really physical team and we know that. The 90 minutes were really hard. We wanted to win because we needed it,” ELAC central defender Agustin Barros said. “The intensity of the game
was very good." A total of six yellow cards and one red card were given in the game. "This is one of those games where you have a team that has a great self image of itself and a coaching staff that thinks highly of themselves. So when two teams of that caliber meet, sparks are to be expected," assistant coach David Garcia said. The Huskies performed more offensively throughout the game, opposed to the previous game, having 14 shots on goal. In minute 82 of the game, sophomore forward Valentin Mercado received a ground ball, as he was falling, from the left wing by sophomore forward Edward Robles to score the goal for ELAC. “I'm glad we scored because we needed the win,” Mercado said. We lost our first game and we can't have two straight losses.” Alvarado had several shots on goal, one of which was a one-onone encounter with Rio Hondo goalkeeper Jose Paredes at the end of the game. "This is probably one of the worst games we've ever played. East LA deserved it (referring to the win),” Rio Hondo head coach Orlando Brenes said. “We have another shot to play them, and if we don't wake up, it won't be any different." ELAC and Rio Hondo have a
history of intense games and bad referee calls. Last season, when ELAC played Rio Hondo at home, the Huskies lost on an offside goal at the 90 minute mark. “We have a good rivalry going on and it is always great to play teams like that. Last season we ended up losing on a questionable decision from the refs,” Garcia said. “This game was no different. There are other factors we cannot control, like the refs decisions, and we hope they aren’t a big deal.” ELAC’s defense maintained strength throughout the game, not allowing Rio Hondo’s offensive plays to become dangerous. “Today’s game was a tough one. It was a close one and very tactical... We can’t let that happen anymore during conference games because we missed three points (referring to the defensive errors against Mt. SAC), “ ELAC goalkeeper coach Andy Gutierrez said. “We worked on our defensive shape in practice, and today it paid off.” The Huskies defeated Pasadena City College yesterday 3-1 at Pasadena. ELAC sophomore forward Edward Robles provided the assists for all three goals. ELAC now ranks 2-1 in conference play.
“We seemed evenly matched in the beginning. Unfortunately, we had a few players that got sloppy, tired, and kind of gave up on us, and that hurt us,” Troglia said. Mader scored her second goal 15 minutes after converting the first one when the ball bounced off an ELAC defender, leaving her alone to dribble past freshman goalkeeper Julia Rivera. Mader scored another goal two minutes after, but the goal was disallowed after being called offside, which could’ve given her a hat- trick.
second goal by sliding and colliding with the goal post. Staff Writer Troglia made a change to the front by putting two attackers instead of one and playing with more Two first-half goals were enough possession of the ball. for women’s soccer to lose 2-1, ELAC began to attack more. its second conference game of the “In the beginning we let the season, to Rio Hondo College at nerves get the best of us, but then home on Friday. toward the second half we just Sophomore midfielder Stephanie didn’t want to lose at home, so Galvan scored a goal from outside we built off of that coming into of the penalty box in minute 76 to the second half,” said freshman cut the lead in half. defender Ashley Lopez. Galvan scored her third goal of This was Rio Hondo’s first the season with six games played. win against ELAC since joining The Huskies had 13 minutes left t h e South to tie the game. Coast-North However they did Conference not react in time and “Unfortunately, we had a few players that got last year. fell short. ELAC “Changing the sloppy, tired and kind of gave up on us, and that currently lineup in the second hurt us.” ranks l a s t half really helped us, in its and just getting girls TESSA TROGLIA conference that really want to be Women’s soccer’s head coach with two out here. We don’t losses. have any excuses T h e a n d t h a t ’s b e e n “Every game is a challenge. Huskies tied yesterday 1-1 to our problem for the season, just excuses,” said East Los Angeles The idea is that when there’s an Pasadena City College, second opponent, we have to do what we conference game. College head coach Tessa Troglia. Sophomore forward Jennifer Rio Hondo sophomore attacker have to do to be ready to play, and that’s what I think we did today,” Toledo scored ELAC’s only goal Madison Mader scored twice. Her first goal of the game said Rio Hondo head coach Jennifer of the game. The Huskies next game is on came in minute 21 off a ground Tanaka-Hoshijo. ELAC sophomore defender Friday at 4 p.m. against Chaffey b a l l t h a t g o t p a s t E L A C ’s defense to give her a one-on-one Brenda Lizaola was carried off the College, another South Coast-North field after attempting to prevent the Conference match. opportunity to score.
BY NOE ORTEGA
www.ELACCampusNews.com
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EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2017