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Volume 76, Issue 2

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Wednesday, September 19, 2018 PHOTO BY DIEGO LINARES PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY STEVEN ADAMO

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BY LUIS CASTILLA Staff Writer Guadalupe Rosales opened her new exhibit, “Echoes of A Collective Memory,” at The Vincent Price Art Museum Saturday. The event extended beyond VPAM as NU MINIS, VW Clan and Lady Volks parked their cars in between S1 and S2. “Echoes of a Collective Memory” contains a collection of symbolic artifacts and photographs that represent what the ‘90s youth culture of Latino/a’s in the Los Angeles area was like. “Thinking about the past is important for nostalgia and reminiscing but also to reflect on it,” said Rosales. Rosales founded and operates two Instagram accounts: “Veteranas & Rucas,” a visual archive for the lives of Latina women in Southern California, and “Map Pointz,” an archive for the party crew scene. In this exhibit, she has brought her archives to life. Rosales has made a name and a career for herself by archiving the experiences of others like herself. “Remembering the past helps me understand the present and prepare for the future,” Rosales said. The exhibit is set in the ‘90s party scene. Rosales’ intention is to give visitors an immersive experience by putting them directly in a ‘90s warehouse party. Rosales sets the atmosphere with bass-heavy dance music and neon-colored lights that paint the room blue. Before entering the exhibit, there is an interactive payphone by the door that, when picked up, will play a real audio recording from the ‘90s that guides visitors to a party, which the exhibit represents. Rosales gives these instructions, “Pick up the phone and see where the next party is taking place at and wait for your friends to pick you up. Mostly ‘lapping it’ and with so much happening this weekend you’ll be hitting up multiple parties or cruise down the boulevard.” Rebeca Vega, curatorial assistant and registrar at VPAM, explained that in the ‘90s, young people shared directions to parties called “map points,” through voicemails

“Remembering the past helps me understand the present and prepare for the future.” GUADALUPE ROSALES Artist

on telephone numbers connected to pagers, referred to as “party lines.” These telephone numbers were found on flyers that circulated throughout Southern California in the ‘90s. A wall of these flyers can be found inside. Vega said that it was amazing these flyers are here today because they were meant to be used only once, for the purposes of informing people about what “party

line” to call, who was hosting the event and when it took place. Each flyer is unique and some flyers are just hand drawn maps to the party. The wall of flyers also has colorful abstract posters on it that, in the ‘90s, would line the walls of warehouse parties. When coupled with neon lights, these posters would create a visual experience that would add an extra layer to the vibe of the ‘90s party scene. One of the most personal works in the exhibit is the altar Rosales has dedicated to her cousin, Ever M. Sanchez, who died because of gang violence. Visitors are given a glimpse into the everyday lives of young Latina women with a collaged mural of photographs called “Latinas

Mapping the City.” The mural contains pictures of young women posing all around Southern California from 1994 to 1998. Rosales combines the party scene with the more personal backdrop of a teenage bedroom. She placed a beaded necklace with a pager attached to it, something a young woman would have in her bedroom. In the center of the exhibit are two “gogo boxes,” which Vega says were used for girls or couples to dance on. These “gogo boxes” are lined with party flyers but also have private items sitting upon them such as magazines, letters, a framed

photograph and materials a young woman would need to get ready to go out. She also put out a collection of party crew hats. These hats have the names of different party crews on them. Rosales made practical use of her art as well by placing mirrors and cruiser’s sunglasses on and around a projector playing a video compilation of actual warehouse parties like the one the artist is recreating. The video is over 4 minutes long and many people who attended the event experienced the ‘90s party

scene first-hand. “Sometimes, with 3-way calling, several friends would just talk a lot of crap to each other,” said Elizabeth Gonzales, an attendee of the exhibit who used “party lines” in the ‘90s. “It was a thing to do. We didn’t have social media or the internet, it was something to pass the time.” “Echoes of a Collective Memory” will be on display until Jan. 19. Admission is free and the exhibit is open to the public.

Health Center helps minimize student health issues Partnership with Strong Villages allows free vision screenings

Comfort zone for LGBTQ+ students provided on campus

BY ANDREW AYALA

BY ANASTASIA LANDEROS

Staff Writer

The East Los Angeles College Student Health Center held a free vision screening and gave out eye glasses to students Thursday in F5209. The event was organized by the Student Health Center and a partner organization called Strong Villages. This organization holds vision screenings in multiple countries throughout the world. “We love ELAC. Everyone here is great and we even have volunteers from ELAC helping out as much as they can,” said Lynn Bealer Co-Founder of Strong Villages. The screening consists of four steps in which students both get their eyes checked and can get a pair of eyeglasses or lenses for free. “This is the fourth or fifth time time ELAC has offered this since May of 2018. If you can’t see how can you study? Students are already dealing with a number of challenges and we don’t want vision to be another one,” said

News Briefs

Cecilia Cruz, Student Health Center coordinator. The event tries to serve between 75 to 80 students and recommends them to get there as early as possible due to time restrictions and limited space. This time around, they had a total of 95 people who were able to sign up. The people giving the screenings are second-year optometry students and doctors from Western University. “This helps the students at this college and it is also good experience for our students as well. It also assists those who don’t have access to eye care, get some sort of eye care. It is not a full examination, but it is still something,” said Dr. Philip Kwok from Western University. “Since I’m paying the health fee, I might as well use the services that the school offers,” said ELAC student Paul Rodriguez. The next vision screening will be held sometime next month.

The Student Health Center will host the LGBTQ+ & Questioning Student Discussion Group once a month in F5-211 from noon to 1 p.m. The group, started by Student Health Center Coordinator Cecilia Cruz in spring 2017, aims to connect LGBTQ+ and questioning students with each other. “Although I am the facilitator, my goal is to encourage students to talk to each other rather than to me,” said Cruz. She said that she started the group because when she arrived on campus in December 2006, there were no LGBTQ+ community gathering events. “I wanted to create a space where LGBTQ+ students could come together regularly to create community, feel supported and talk about anything they want to talk about,” said Cruz. Although time is limited during the hour-long discussion, Cruz said she lets student know about on-and-

off campus resources as much as possible. “I believe that knowing that resources and support exist, and having a safe space to talk with peers, is important to our students’ well-being and sense of belonging, which ultimately contributes to their academic success and overall success in life,” Cruz said. The LGBTQ+ & Questioning student discussion group will meet for the first time this semester on Sept. 26. The group will also meet Oct. 30 and Nov. 28. Food will be provided to participants and no RSVP is required. “It can be a great feeling to look around a table or room and know that everyone, or most of the people there, are LGBTQ+ and can relate to what you’re going through in a personal way,” said Cruz. For more information on the LGBTQ+ & Questioning Student Discussion Group, contact Cruz at Cruzc3@elac.edu.

Free HIV Testing

Free HIV testing was held on Thursday Sept 13, between 1-5 p.m. at a van parked outside the library. Testing will continue on Wednesday September 26, between 11a.m.-3 p.m. at a van parked outside the library

CalFresh

Students who qualify for CalFresh will receive a debit card to buy groceries. Information and sign-ups are on Tuesday September 18, between 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., at the F5 patio near Grab-n-Go and the Bookstore.

Correction:

Share thoughts about law enforcement

Movie Night at ELAC

In last week’s issue, the story “Wrestling team remembers former Elan,” said Joshua Newman died on August 25. He died on August 5 at the age of 25.

The Los Angeles County Civilian Oversight Commission is holding a town hall meeting on Thursday at 6 p.m. Topics include Immigration policy, bail reforms and more. RSVP at http://9-20-townhall.eventbrite.com

ELAC safezone presents a free screening of “Harvest of Empire: The untold story of Latinos living in the U.S.” at 6 p.m. on September 27 at the S1 Lecture Hall 112.

News

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

EDITOR IN CHIEF Steven Adamo MANAGING EDITOR Gustavo Buenrostro ART DIRECTOR Giselle Palomera ONLINE EDITORS Noe Ortega Kevin Camargo FRONT EDITOR Maria Marroquin OPINION EDITORS Andrew Ayala Miguel Barragan

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY STEVEN ADAMO

Club Rush Week attracts students with music and games BY MELODY ORTIZ Staff Writer Students were greeted by music, games, and a lot of information from more than 20 clubs during Club Rush at the main quad on Tuesday. The event encouraged students to become more involved and active on campus and ran from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. One of the clubs present was the Photo Club. Member Laura Martinez said the club is open to those who would like to learn more about photography. The Photo Club holds workshops for amateur photographers with little to no experience. Members with more experience will get to improve their work and have a chance to get it displayed in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art . “ Yo u d o n ’t h a v e t o b e a professional to join,” Martinez

said, “We can teach you how to use a camera.” Another club in attendance was the Rhythm Club. Like the Photo Club, the Rhythm Club does not require you to be a professional to join. They do, however, encourage those who do know how to play an instrument to sign up. Member Uriel Jimenez said the club plays concerts and at sports games, mainly basketball and football. Jimenez said the Rhythm Club likes to support the Husky athletes by playing music. Those who would like to learn to play certain instruments can be taught by other willing club members. Besides arts clubs, students were also able to meet clubs that are involved in the community. Both the Child, Family, Education, Studies Club (CFES) and Dream Weavers Club encourage members to help families and youth in need

or distress. These service clubs call for members to get active in not just their school, but their community as well.

“Some of our members didn’t have a family [so] we try to be that family they need.” JACI CORTEZ

Dream Weavers Club member

The CFES Club is for students who want to work with children and are interested in helping the community. Club member Saira Espinoza said that the club does a lot of fundraising

and advocating for families. “We sponsored a family for Easter,” Espinoza said, “We got them a basket of food [and] we are going to do that again for them for Thanksgiving.” As their flyers, posters, and members said, the Dream Weavers Club was formed on the hope to support “the needs of current and former foster youth.” Dream Weavers member Jaci Cortez said students do not necessarily have to be current or former foster youths themselves; they just need to be passionate about wanting to support foster youth. “Some of our members did not have a family [so] we try to be that family they need,” Cortez said, “When you don’t have that support, sometimes you can fail your classes. It can affect your schoolwork.” From ﬁnding books for classes to offering a scholarship up to $500 for active club members, Cortez said the Dream Weavers try to support their members in different ways.

They volunteer at group homes and help give members experiences they were unable to receive. The club also takes members ice skating, on university tours, and visits to the beach. The Associated Student Union (ASU) encourages students to join and get involved in the many clubs on campus. Members of the ASU receive free items, discounts, and access to ASU scholarships and parking structures. The fee to hold ASU membership every semester is $7 in the Fall and Spring and $3 for the Winter and Summer sessions. Club Rush will continue through tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A DJ was present to entertain and boost student interest with music throughout the event. The ASU attracted passerbys with a prize wheel. Many of the club booths offered snacks, candy, entertainment, and water to students.

ELAC Budget Committee aims to fix school funding BY MIGUEL BARRIGAN Staff Writer

Saieed Ivey Former ELAC basketball player Saieed Ivey’s family doubled the reward from $10,000 to $20,000 for information that leads to the capture to Ivey’s killer. Ivey was murdered on his birthday, June 9, 2016, after a suspected argument in the parking lot of his apartment complex turned violent. www.ELACCampusNews.com

The Budget Committee discussed their goal of preparing for the implementation of the new funding formula on Monday. The new formula is the way the state will decide how to fund colleges and their respective districts. It will be based on a point system split in three categories according to: current students enrolled, number of students receiving ﬁnancial aid, and how well students are performing. Alan Khuu, co-chair of the Budget Committee said, “Our college cannot think of enrollment as the only importance anymore.” Khuu said the college has to be committed to ensuring students are educated on topics such as how to receive ﬁnancial aid and how to get on the right path to success in a timely manner. The new funding formula has a three-year integration period called “hold harmless” where the college is receives exactly what they got the previous year, plus the Cost of Living Adjustment. After this period is over, the state will stop the funding of hold harmless. The Budget Committee also went over their self-evaluation form from academic year 2017-2018. The committee named contributing to the State of the College Presentation, formerly known as the “Budget Forum,” as an accomplishment. This PowerPoint presentation went over critical information about the academic year that pertained to the budget and its future.

NEWS EDITORS Kaleen Luu Alex Avila FEATURE EDITORS Julie Santiago Melody Ortiz ARTS EDITORS Juan Calvillo Luis Castilla SPORTS EDITOR Stephanie Guevara COPY EDITORS Anastasia Landeros Diego Linares STAFF WRITERS Anthony Aguilar Joe Dargan Jerry Flores ADVERTISING Stefanie Arocha DISTRIBUTION Anastasia Landeros Gustavo Buenrostro 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 property 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. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Writers 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

Another accomplishment they wrote on their self-evaluation sheet is giving useful feedback related to a budget augmentation form on eLumen. This website says they integrated SIS to create a system for curriculum development, outcomes assessment, and program review. Some of the members brought up the point that their meetings are sometimes scheduled to happen as they’re waiting for critical information, so a goal should be to schedule meetings in a more efﬁcient manner by accounting for these sorts of factors. They also unanimously agreed

on the goal to update the Budget Committee website this year. The committee wrote as a goal “implement the new funding formula without watering down any programs. When asked about what students should expect from the budget in the future, Khuu said, “That’s a tough question because there’s so much uncertainty, but the Budget Committee will be trying to strategically implement the new funding formula.” Future meeting dates are scheduled for Oct.15 and Nov.19 at 1:30 p.m. in G1-301 AB, unless indicated otherwise.

The East Los Angeles College Campus News is published as a learning experience, offered 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

Sports

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

Football crushes Compton in recordbreaking win CN/DIEGO LINARES

SCRAMBLE MODE— Quarterback Paul Herrera looks to evade defenders as he scrambles out of the pocket during a 55-0 East Los Angeles College win over Compton College on Saturday. BY DIEGO LINARES

first downs allowed in a game against Compton at the the Tartar Track and East Los Angeles College Football Stadium. The defense overpowered the opposing Compton allowed Compton to convert one College football team in a 55-0 win of 12 attempts. The previous record was five first downs converted by on Saturday. The football team opened the Pasadena City College. Kideam Diouf, originally from first quarter with 31 points and Harlem, New York, plays defensive continued their dominance on the end for ELAC, but has yet to record ground throughout the game. The rushing attack garnered 234 yards a tackle or sack in the first three on 33 carries, averaging 7.1 yards games of the season. “We’ve got to execute – execution. a carry. That’s the main thing. Go out and be Running Backs Armando physical. That’s what we did today,” Velasco, David said Diouf. Allen and Tony ELAC also tied Toledo combined the school record for 187 yards on 19 for most sacks in carries, averaging a game with 11 in 9.8 yards a tote. total. The record Dwon Drummer was originally set the wide receivers in 2013. coach and Ben Key is a co-offensive d e fensive end coordinator, for ELAC who said the team recorded four has been getting tackles, all of better every week them for loss, despite the fluidity and three of at the quarterback them being DWON DRUMMER position. Wide receivers Coach and sacks against “ W e ’ r e Co- offensive Coordinator the opposing competing quarterback. e v e r y d a y. N o The defense one’s job is set in stone. You got to come to practice also forced four turnovers, grabbing everyday, and you’ve got to earn three interceptions and scooping up a fumble recovery. your spot,” said Drummer. ELAC has two football games left ELAC had three quarterbacks enter the game. Philip Tran, before starting National - Northern Paul Herrera and Miguel Aguero Conference play. The next game completed 13 passes for 138 yards is against Mount San Antonio College at the Covina District Field. and three touchdowns. The football team broke the The game will begin at 6 p.m. on ELAC record for least amount of Saturday.

Staff Writer

“We’re competing everyday. No one’s job is set in stone. You got to come to practice and you’ve got to earn your spot.”

Men’s soccer snatches win from Glendale on late goal BY JERRY FLORES Staff Writer A goal scored at minute 85 from East Los Angeles College freshmen forward Andres Aceves allowed the Huskies to win 2-1 on Friday against Glendale College. The goal came from a play by ELAC freshman midfielder Alexis Arroyo who dribbled the ball as he sprinted through the left wing. Arroyo passed the ball to Husky freshman forward Denilson Rivera, who controlled it at the center of the penalty box and passed it to Aceves to score the winning goal. “I just enjoyed the moment. It is good to always help out the

team,” said Aceves. “I prefer to assist, but it was great when I scored the goal that let us win the game.” The Huskies took control for most of the game. ELAC missed many goal opportunities throughout the game. “We did a lot of combination plays and we kept the ball a lot of time. We were often attacking. Unfortunately, we missed a lot [of opportunities to score],” said Husky Assistant Coach Ricardo Raygoza. “We need to reduce our misses so we can be able to close teams out a little easier.” Glendale’s defense seemed confused. They had no communication and often made mistakes inside their area that led them to frequently lose the ball or miss in their passes.

“We were in the game following the plan we practice every day, however, we need to minimize errors,” said Glendale Head Coach Laura Matsumoto. “Unfortunately, goals were scored because we made mistakes and the team that makes bigger mistakes is going to suffer.” The Huskies took the lead at minute 36 when freshman midfielder Paulo Macedo Nahashique took the ball in the midfield, where he dribbled three defenders, and passed it to sophomore forward Rene Sanchez who shot from inside the penalty box and scored. Glendale tried to tie the game in the first half, but they couldn’t because the Huskies midfielders stole the ball, pressured the defense and made good passes. “ We p r a c t i c e d a l o t o f

combinations between the midfielders during the week. The desire to want the ball possession more and play it forward helped us a lot during the game,” said Raygoza. During the second half, the Huskies’ offense continued to attack, but an error at minute 60, where the center back defenders didn’t take the ball out of the area, allowed Glendale sophomore forward Lepkin Davis to tie the game with a header. “We added a new player today in the defense and I think he did a really good job. I think overall they did a great job,” said Raygoza. ELAC is 2-4-1 overall. ELAC’s next game will be at home against Rio Hondo College on Friday at 4 p.m.

Upcoming games Water Polo ELAC play at West Hills College today at 3 p.m. The Huskies are 0-2 overall and in conference play. Volleyball

The Huskies will play against El Camino College at home on Friday at 6 p.m. ELAC will play its fourth conference game. Wrestling ELAC will start its two-game tournament on Friday at West Hills College. The Huskies’ first opponent is West Hills.

NOT IN MY HOUSE—East Los Angeles College freshman midfielder Paulo Macedo Nahashique fakes a shot that sends Glendale College defender sliding the other way in a 2-1 win on Friday.

CN/NOE ORTEGA

www.ELACCampusNews.com

Features

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

Game Club wants students to join The tournament is played within the club, but they have previously played against the Japanese club The East Los Angeles College from ELAC. game club is a place where gamers Garcia lets the members decide go to unite and play different types whether or not they would want to of games. continue with the tournament, as “The game club is a welcoming she is responsible for the equipment and safe club to students who they use in the room. enjoy playing games” says Michael She talks to Nitzani about what Nitzani. Nitzani is the advisor of the club wants to do the next time the club and has been a member they meet or to plan special events. since 2017. She also has to make sure that she Nitzani likes to meet new keeps the members calm and quite members of the club and listen to as it can get intense while gamers their backgrounds of how they got play. into gaming. She mentions that members can He occasionally brings vintage be seen in different areas of the consoles, like the Nintendo, to room. the club as most of them are use Garcia said “You see a group to playing modern video games. playing card games like ‘Yu-Gi-Oh’ He likes to see or ‘Pokémon’ on one how the members side of the room. “You see a group get frustrated while Another group struggling to play playing card games like p l a y i n g ‘ J e n g a . ’ with the rectangle two gaming ‘Yu-Gi-Oh’ or ‘Pokémon’ And controllers with less consoles, one on buttons on them. on one side of the each projector of the Now modern room.” room. Another group gaming controllers When new shy have more buttons playing ‘Jenga.’ And two members join in, she than the nintendo gaming consoles, one gets to know them controller and a and find out what on each projector of comfortable feel. type of games they One of the games the room.” are interested in and that he hooked up introduces them to JULISSA GARCIA was “Street Fighter the former members Game Club President II.” He plugged in of the club. the game and played Joshua Dugan has one of the members been a member of of the club as it was displayed the club for two semesters. His on the projector so everyone else nickname in the club is “Phoenix could see. Cranium.” He has been playing Members of the club usually give games since he could remember. out their ideas to Nitzani, on what His first video game console was they plan to do. the Gameboy Color. Julissa Garcia is the President of Dugan says the club is fantastic. the club and she is more interactive He wants to have an expansion of the with members of the club. club in terms of gaming consoles. Garcia has been a member of the He is a computer gamer and wants club for about three years. She used the club to have computers that they to be the secretary of the club. can use for gaming. The previous President, Ivan, is Dugan wants the club to grow a well-known gamer in the club. with new members. He has a He transferred but often visits the message for those gamers who club. Ivan was in charge of creating may be interested in joining the club the brackets for the “Super Smash “To all game lovers, we need you.” Bros.” tournament. “Super Smash The ELAC game club meets up Bros.” is the club’s main game, so on Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. they have tournaments for it. in F5-209.

BY MIGUEL DOMINGUEZ Staff Writer

COURTESY OF GRID ALTERNATIVES

SOLAR PANEL POWER— GRID Alternatives’ workers installing solar panels on a roof on March 19 in Monterey Park.

GRID Alternatives provides solar services BY ALEX AVILA Staff Writer GRID Alternatives is a nonprofit organization dedicated to working with people and the environment thorugh solar panel work. Their goal is to supply lowprofit families with free solar panel installation, helping them save money from the cost of energy. GRID was founded in 2001 by Erica Mackie and Tim Sears. Their plan is simply to provide free energy from the sun to everyone. GRID has become the nation’s biggest non-profit solar installer; installing over 10,000 different solar panels to different homes and saving up to $329,475,072 for low-income families.

www.ELACCampusNews.com

“Install solar panels for families for little to no cost and train people for renewable energy jobs that come with solar’s hiring boom.” said Danny Hom, GRID communications coordinator. Natalie Soto, an employee of GRID Alternatives, heard about GRID when she was a senior in college. She said she was passionate about the environment, specifically environmental justice, and wanted to make a positive impact. When introduced to GRID, Natalie said she instantly applied for an internship at GRID Alternatives Inland Empire. GRID said they are designed to be accessible to everyone, whether

getting a job or getting solar panels installed. Natalie states GRIDs overall goal is to “Make renewable energy, technology and job training accessible to underserved communities.” It is important to GRID and it’s employees that they succeed because it means “bringing a positive impact to people of all walks of life and plans on offering it with low to no cost job training and solar PV.” says Soto GRID offers internships and careers to those students interested in solar power development and installation. Natalie Soto and Danny Hom started their careers with GRID as students and suggest those interested should do the

same. “One thing I learned as a student in college is to make connections and put yourself out there as much as possible.” Soto says “Any adult can apply. Being a student is not a requirement.” The process for job applications would be to visit gridalternatvies. org/careers. Students can find a listing of current open positions. “For a student who is looking to start a career in renewables or the environment I’d recommend that they look into our SolarCorps program, a program funded by AmeriCorps that is designed for those seeking to launch their career and gain valuable experience.” said Soto.

Arts

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

Battle royale explodes into ‘Call of Duty’ beta BY ANDREW AYALA Staff Writer “Call of Duty” released its newest playlist titled “Blackout,” in a beta last week for players who pre ordered the next iteration of their franchise. A beta is when developers release a game to players, that way they can get some criticism from the people who are actually going to play the game. A playlist is any featured game type that players may choose. After the recent success of “PlayerUnkown’s Battlegrounds” and “Fortnite,” “Call of Duty” decided to dive into the world of Battle Royale, which is when one can play by themselves or with multiple friends and face more than 90 other people in a single match. “Blackout” is a brand new playlist in the upcoming “Call of Duty: Black Ops 4,“ and although staying true to the original rules of BR, Treyarch, the company that is currently developing “Black Ops 4,” adds their own twists on a formula that has been copied. Players first get to choose from one of their favorite characters from both the story and the zombies modes from “Call of Duty: Black Ops 1” and “Call of Duty: Black Ops 2.” Players even get the option to use some of the operators that are featured in “BO4” or customize their own. Typically when landing in other BR games, players will get the chance to dive and pull out a parachute, or glider, to safely land wherever they want. In this game, players are able to drop and control a wingsuit, which was first introduced to “COD” back in 2012, during a mission in “BO2.” There is a learning curve to flying

COURTESY OF TREYARCH

NUKETOWN RETURNS—Maps from previous Black Ops titles make a comeback in the beta. Nuketown is expanded to a large degree. the wingsuit but nothing that is impossible to get used to. The number of players per lobby was 80 at first, then was quickly updated to 88 after the first day of beta testing. Treyarch has said it’s unsure whether this will change after official release. Upon landing, players will be able to pick up both classic and new weapons, three levels of medical supplies, three tiers of armor that can only be used one at a time, attachments to improve their weapons and perks that are shaped like suitcases to give the

player certain attributes for a limited amount of time. The game runs with the original, fast-pace that “COD” has always come with, but with the tension and patience that comes with playing games such as “PUBG” or “Fortnite.” Many maps from previous “Black Ops” games are brought back with a revamp and new names. Some of the most notable maps include Verrückt, Nuketown, Firing Range, and Rust which are nostalgic to those who follow the series. The map is “COD’s” biggest yet and is

2,500 times the size of Nuketown based on a livestream the developers had for the beta. As players drop in on various locations, they will soon realize that zombies can be found and, once killed, begin to drop items and weapons. It’s exciting to kill the living dead and see zombie-luring monkey bombs ,which explode after the cymbals stop crashing, or the mythical ray-gun dropping from a defeated flesh-eater. The controls and the game feel very smooth and the fact that players can drive vehicles, speed boats

or even pilot helicopters, makes maneuvering and utilizing these around the map interesting. Battles between players take longer than before thanks to armor pick up and a new health mechanic. It implements players healing themselves and not over time like in the previous “COD’s.” Whether players get a victory royale or die in combat, a quote that has to do with war or history will be revealed under their placement number. This is something pretty interesting for those who are into historic word quotes. This game

can easily be played by anyone who loves “COD” or the BR game-type and is something that can be enjoyed for hours either with a team or solo. “COD” had changed the landscape for multiplayer games time and time again. With the addition of a BR game type, they have now set themselves on a course that will make them or break them in both communities. “Call of Duty: Black Ops 4” will be release on Oct. 12 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows. This game is not yet rated.

True story Hollywood style BY ANDREW AYALA Staff Writer

COURTESY OF NETFLIX

FRENEMIES FACE OFF—Finn Jones (right) as Danny Rand facing off against Sacha Dhawan (left) as Davos over the chance to be named the next Iron Fist.

‘Iron Fist’ knows kung fu now BY GUSTAVO BUENROSTRO Staff Writer With improved fight scenes and a focused story, “Iron Fist” season two is a huge step up from the previous season and shows potential to stand on its own. “Iron Fist” season two picks up after the events of “The Defenders” where Danny Rand, played by Finn Jones, as the Iron Fist is fulfilling a promise he made to protect New York City. But Danny’s decision to leave K’un L’un last season comes back to haunt him in the form of his best friend Davos, played by Sacha Dhawan. Davos comes back for, not only revenge for Danny abandoning his home, but to also steal the Iron Fist from Danny, believing he never deserved it. The plot of the second season, for the most part, is pretty simple and very predictable. This not a bad thing however, since the first season’s story was very boring and convoluted. The story for this season is much more focused, with most of the subplots tying in together believably and smoothly. One of the major disappointments of the previous season was the fight choreography. It was stale which is

odd coming from a character that is known to be the “greatest martial artist in the world.” This season definitely improved choreography. The fight scenes looked more dynamic and fluid. Especially the fight they have in K’un L’un in a flashback, where the two fight to decide who will become the Iron Fist. Another highlight of this season was the cinematography. The shot compositions in many of the scenes were done well with the lighting sticking out the most. Shadows would cover Danny’s face or body when he would question whether he should kill his friend Davos. One scene where the cinematography really stuck out is when Alice Eve’s character is sitting alone and the camera shows one side of her face while a mirror on the wall shows her other side Eve’s character is not in focus however, and instead, the camera’s focus is on Joy Meachum, played by Jessica Stroup, talking with Davos. What makes this shot great is the fact that Mary’s character has Dissociative Identity Disorder. That shot shows the two sides of Mary Walker’s character and the ties she has with Joy, which play out later in the season. Many people’s complaints about

the first season were about Finn Jones playing Danny as a very stagnant, onenote type of character. In this season, Jones does a fantastic job playing Danny as more likeable and showing more range than he had before. His character grew throughout the season, with him even questioning if he should still be the Iron Fist. There was more nuances in his portral than there was in the first season. Another stand out of the season was Alice Eve. She played Mary Walker’s two personalities brilliantly. It felt like two different people. Her story does not end in this season as there was mystery to her character that sets up a potential story for the future. One of the worst aspects about this season of “Iron Fist” is that it is very reliant on the audience having not only seen the first season but also having seen “The Defenders,” where much of Danny’s season two motivations comes from at the end of that series. Anyone jumping in to see this season may not only be lost but bored of the dialogue. With this season of “Iron Fist” improving on the previous season, those who watch the Netflix Marvel shows should check this one out. “Iron Fist” season two is streaming now on Netflix.

“White Boy Rick” is the Hollywood version of the true tale of Richard Wershe Jr, a Detroit drug dealer and informant at the age of 14. The film was directed by Yenn Demange and written by Andy Weiss, Logan Miller and Noah Miller. The story of Richard Wershe Jr. is an interesting tale of a boy who became a Federal Bureau of Investigation informant at the age of 14 in the 1980s. He had sold drugs for them until the age of 16, and then began selling them himself. He was arrested at the age of 17 in 1988 and has been in jail ever since due to the Rockefeller Drug Laws in Michigan. The version on the big screen has its ups and downs in many ways. It stars a cast that did a wonderful job on character portrayal such as Richie Merritt, making his acting debut as Richard “White Boy Rick” Wershe Jr., Matthew McConaughey as Richard Wershe Sr., Bel Powley as Rick’s sister Dawn Wershe. The Curry brothers were played by Jonathan Majors as Johnny “Lil Man” Curry, YG as Leo “Big Man” Curry, and RJ Cyler as Rudell Boo Curry. The film begins with a scene of Richard Sr. and Rick purchasing weapons from a gun show. Right off the bat, viewers see the bond between father and son and can realize that Richard Sr. is an arms dealer who creates weapon attachments, such as silencers. Eventually viewers get to see how Rick becomes involved with the Curry brothers and realize his harsh living conditions push him to live a crooked lifestyle. His father can barely make ends meet and his sister is being consumed by the crack epidemic that was going on in Detroit in the `80s. The emotion can be shown in

scenes where there is no dialogue but the background and the shade of lighting chosen adds to the overall feel. When the Curry brothers begin to attract some heat due to recent murders, the FBI arrives at Rick’s house and begin questioning Richard Sr. about the weapons he sells. FBI Agent Snyder played by Jennifer Jason Leigh and FBI Agent Byrd played by Rory Cochrane then begin to question Rick to see if he knows anything about the people in the pictures they are showing him. Rick doesn’t comply much but his next encounter with them includes Detective Jackson played by Brian Tyree Henry and the two agents asking Rick to be an informant and start selling drugs.

The story is put together very well, but definitely starts off stronger that it ends. Throughout the film viewers get a good sense of the time this was all taking place and the tone changes appropriately. This is when Rick begins his journey into the drug world and starts letting it take over little by little. The power, the money and the women all began to get his head, since he was such a young kid and had never been exposed to this lifestyle. The film shows his infatuation with these things but not to a grand scale. Eventually, the Curry brothers and their gang get caught due to a shooting and the FBI says they are done with Rick. After finding out he has a child and realizing the responsibility he

has gained, Rick continues to sell drugs to make money for his family. The films story is pretty close to the true story only it takes creative license with showing the realities of what living a life like Rick’s can be like. These simple missteps do not do the actual events any justice at all. As the film progresses we get to see how Rick feels and thinks but if the story had delved a little further into his thought process, it might have made for a more moving film. The actors with smaller roles helped define the movie and were impactful in their scenes. These characters added the extra emotions certain scenes needed, or even lightened the mood of the film such as what Bruce Dern did with his role as Grandpa Roman “Ray” Wershe. Although this film seemed to have big messages such as the injustices of our justice system or loyalty to family, there were many other themes that could be taken from this film which is great when it comes from a true story. Viewers will be able to decode these messages that are hidden throughout the film and may even be able to relate to some of them to a lesser extent. One thing that could have improved would be to get a more personal view on some of the main characters lives. This would allow for some key points that weren’t highlighted as much to get the time they needed on screen. The story is put together very well, but definitely starts off stronger than it ends. The film didn’t do a terrible job at telling the story of Rick and the audience can get the jist of the true story. It is decent for a one time viewing in theater but can definitely wait until it is out on Netflix or for rental. “White Boy Rick” was released on September 14 and is rated R for language throughout, drug content, violence, some sexual references and brief nudity. www.ELACCampusNews.com

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EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

‘Cine Sin Fronteras’ showcases LatinAmerican short-films BY JUAN CALVILLO Staff Writer The “Cine Sin Fronteras” shortfilm festival at the Vincent Price Art Museum featured experimental filmography and opened dialogue with the local community Saturday. The Latin American Cinemateca of Los Angeles held the event in hopes of bringing the cinematic arts of LatinoAmerica to a community filled with the very people whose countries the art was created in. “The museum strives to be a place that presents exciting programming that prompts new dialogues,” said VPAM’s Director Pilar Tompkins Rivas. “Film programming is an area we want to expand at the museum,and collaborations such as this help us realize that goal.” Saturday’s event began with a live musical performance from a local Latin-American folk group El Rio which was introduced by Marisa Hicks-Alcaraz, the curator and director of programming at LACLA. Despite the elevated temperatures, El Rio played a set that incorporated not only contemporary musical instruments, but also more traditional Latin-American ones. The mixture of both created a unique sound that was foreign, yet familiar. Most of the works they played had a running theme of both personal ties and a deep veneration for the earth itself. This was accompanied by a slight breeze and almost pre produced shade from a large tree outside of VPAM. Following the musical set, the three films slated for the festival were shown. The first of the three films shown was “Relató Familiar.” Sumie Garcia, the film’s director, created a very interesting and resonating film about not only immigration, but also assimilation. The film centers on Yukio Saeki and his travel to live in Mexico City after living through World War II.

Comparing his youth in Japan with the way he lives in Mexico gives the film a sense of change, and shows how immigrating to another place can fulfill a person. Collectivo Los Ingrávidos directed “Coyolxauhqui,” and used this chance to address the femicide that has occurred in Mexico. The imagery started off simple enough, using the subtle comparison of a Nopal plant to the country of Mexico. Yet, by the time the film had hit its peak, the images on screen seemed to reach out and grab the audience. They seemed to shake the shoulders of each

“The museum strives

to be a place that presents exciting programming that prompts new dialogues.” PILAR TOMPKINS RIVAS VPAM Director

person in an attempt to wake them from their complacency and bring the focus of the film firmly to the forefront of their minds. Scenes of torn clothing and lost shoes made their message clear, but some later scenes may have become a bit heavy handed. Despite this, the film’s strength comes from the fearlessness the directors have when showing what truth there is to see. The final film was “El Sonido Que Vemos: CDMX.” It was directed by the Echo Park Film Center and the Laboratorio Experimental de Cine. The art of experimental filmmaking is seen in full force throughout the movie. Paolo Davanza, one of the members

of the Echo Park Film Center, was in attendance to answer questions and speak with the audience after the film. Davanza spoke at length about the process of making the film and the struggles that came from shooting in Mexico City. Various filmmakers participated in the 24-hour shoot that created “El Sonido Que Vemos,” each putting their fingerprint on the movie. “There was no budget for this film. The film was donated, about $300 worth of 16mm black and white film, everyone who worked (was a volunteer) and we slept on couches with friends in Mexico City,” said Davanza. “El Sonido Que Vemos” is a film that was shot in the city-symphony-style that was popular decades ago. Davanza said this technique celebrates the physicality of a city, and by allowing locals to film, gives it a more powerful connection to the people. The footage shot was a mixture of people, places and things that populate Mexico City. From more personal stories to those that celebrated the city itself, the movie had a sense of urgency and continuous movement. This seems to mirror what it’s like not only visiting this great city, but living there as well. Bringing experimental films and exposing them to the community in East Los Angeles was one of the goals for “Cine Sin Fronteras.” “(This kind of filmmaking) can be a challenging and sometimes uncomfortable experience as the genre is meant to defy conventional filmmaking practices,” said Hicks-Alcaraz. The films in the series all challenge the norm of what a latino movie should or could be. One goal of HicksAlcaraz and LACLA is to stimulate a dialogue about the artistic merits of Latin American cinema. “Cine Sin Fronteras” accomplished that goal. More information on LACLA can be found at https://www.lacla.org and more on Echo Park Film Center at http://www.echoparkfilmcenter.org.

COURTESY OF SUMIE GARCIA

RELATO FAMILIAR— Screen shot of Sumie Garcia’s film shows an illustration over a film reel. Her film tells a story of Yukio Saeki’s transition from life in Japan to life in Mexico City.

COURTESY OF THE ECHO PARK FILM CENTER

“EL SONIDO QUE VEMOS”—The ﬁlm, shot COURTESY OF COLLECTIVO LOS INGRÁVIDOS

PURPLE SKIES— An eerily serene shot of Coyolxauhqui before it delves deeper into the subject of femecide in Mexico.

in Mexico City, was directed by Echo Park Film Center and the Laboratorio Experimental de Cine.