Volume 78, Issue 12 | www.elaccampusnews.com | Wednesday, December 8, 2021 | Single copy free - additional copies 50 cents
Homeboy Industries works to break barriers BY PAUL MEDINA Staff Writer Homeboy Industries founder Father Gregory Boyle wrapped up the fall 2021 ELAC Town Hall Series on racial equity and social justice by delivering a talk with the theme of ‘The Whole: Language: The Power of Extravagant Tenderness.’ The talk was presented via Zoom to an audience which at peak was more than over 400 participants. The talk on December 1 was one of many in the past as Father Boyle has been a featured speaker at ELAC for decades. Homeboy Industries, based out of the Chinatown neighborhood in Los Angeles, is considered the largest gang rehabilitation and re-entry program not only in the City of Los Angeles, but in the entire world. Boyle stressed that its program comes from a holistic approach. “It’s not about delivery of services, it’s about healing and community. The secret sauce is the community, healing, culture, people paying attention, people knowing each other’s names,” said Boyle. “Gang violence is about something else, so you want to find something else. It’s about the lethal absence of hope. It’s about more trauma than I ever had to carry and occasionally it’s about real mental health issues. And so we want to instruct society what if we were to infuse hope to folks who hope is foreign and what if we were sought to heal damage and deliver mental health services in a timely and culturally way, ” Boyle said. Homeboy Industries was founded out of a need to provide services to a gang-plagued community when he was pastor at Dolores Mission
Catholic Church in the Boyle Heights community of Los Angeles, at the time the poorest parish in Los Angeles. Dolores Mission was housed between the Pico Gardens and Aliso Village housing projects, making it the largest public housing conglomerate west of the Mississippi river according to Boyle. “We had eight gangs at war. The LAPD called my parish the highest concentration of gang activity anywhere in the city,” Boyle Said. He also recalled starting a school for the junior-high-school-aged students who were kicked out of their schools and no one wanted to take. Back in the day the kids found themselves selling drugs and wreaking havoc. He asked them if he found a school that would take them, if they would attend. After all agreeing, Boyle persuaded the nuns across the street to vacate their convent located on the third and fourth floor on top of an elementary school which was then converted to a middle school. Boyle would canvas the neighborhood looking for work throughout the community businesses and warehouses who would hire previous incarcerated and gang friendly members. Homeboy Industries would later grow to what it is today. Offering a myriad of services from tattoo removal, mental health, job placement and a place to call a community. “We have therapy in the classes and at any given time, there are 500 trainees who are in an 18 months training program which models how long it takes a child to connect with a caregiver. It’s about attachment
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HOMEBOY INDUSTRIES— Father Gregory Boyle in the middle of telling the sucesses of Homebody Industries. repair and as the homies always say ‘find the thorn underneath,’” Boyle said. “ Yo u w a n t t o c r e a t e a n environment where people feel cherished, that’s what they will remember when they leave you,” Boyle said. Father Boyle spoke about a prior gang member named ‘Bandit’ asked him to bless his daughter before
heading out to college and recalled how his parting words from Boyle was commending him on the man he has become. Bandit said, “All my life people called me a low-life, a good-fornothing.” And he was proud for proving them wrong. “At Homeboy, we are allergic to the notion of holding the bar up and asking folks to measure up.
They don’t need to measure up. Instead, we hold the mirror up and tell them the truth. You tell them they are unshakably good. That they are intensely noble, that they have dignity and then they inhabit the truth of who they are. They become the truth and no bullet can pierce that. No four prison walls can keep that out. And death can’t touch it because it’s huge,” Boyle said.
Boyle lauded the partnership ELAC has with Homeboy Industries participants. “So what you do at ELAC, both as teachers and as students, but as activists is to dismantle the barriers which exclude. That’s the hope,” Boyle Said.
ASU talks finance reports, fundings BY LEONARDO CERVANTES Staff Writer
COURTESY OF MAUREEN CRUISE
UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE IN THE WORKS— Registered Nurse Maureen Cruise promotional flyer for AB-1400 bill from HCA.LA.org.
Healthcare workers fight for AB-1400 BY ANNETTE QUIJADA Staff Writer Healthcare workers came together for the event, “Healthcare is a Human Right,” to promote AB-1400 and the steps needed to be able to give healthcare to all. The California Guaranteed Health Care Act for All Act also known as the AB-1400 bill would create a single payer health care coverage system in California. The system would be called “Cal Care” and is designed to cover the cost of all medical care and would be available to all California residents. It’s the seventh attempt at trying to get universal healthcare in California. Paul Song, oncologist and
News Briefs
president of the California Chapter of Physicians for the National Health Program, said he started to get involved when he realized that the health care system was suboptimal after watching the hardships his cancer patients were dealing with. “Too many of my own patients were going bankrupt, they were spending far too much of their own money. Many of them skipped their needed drugs because of the high cost,” Song said. The number of people who end up using all or most of their savings is up to 63%, Song said. Patients end up sacrificing essentials in order to have money to pay for their medication or treatment. “The number of people who are having financial hardship or ruin is
College Promise Program
roughly up to 19% of the population and it disproportionately affects communities of color,” Song said. Song also cites a study where it was determined that about 40% of the United States COVID-19 deaths could have been prevented if more people had access to insurance. “In the United States it’s alarming that among the Native American population, our black and hispanic communities the rates of potential lives lost is staggering.” These statistics brought in M a u r e e n C r u i s e , w h o ’s a n registered nurse and the Los Angeles Co-Director of Healthcare for All, said “The United States, has an unequal discriminatory caste system that treats some lives more available than others. This is a moral issue, we have a system of penthouse care for
Future Huskies are invited to a College Promise workshop to learn about the program and how to obtain two free tuition years on Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Join webinar at https://lausd.zoom.us/j/83596319128.
some and bargain basement care for others ‘and for the very unlucky’ no care at all.” Cruise believes that CalCare is the solution to the current healthcare system. Cruise said that CalCare would give universal coverage regardless of race, sex, gender, country of origin, and immigration status. “We will burn all medical debt,” Cruise said. AB-1400 currently resides in the rules committee in the Assembly. It’s temporarily frozen and is waiting until January 2022 to reopen and be moved along. For those interested in taking part in the action can check the following link bit.ly/doyoucalcareTK for resources and ways to be involved.
Intersectionality and Identity Workshop
Financial reports and action it ems were the main topic during Wednesday’s East Los Angeles College Associated Student Union meeting. The financial reports total amount of encumbrances is $38,809.75 and the available funds are $118,090.25. The Treasurer report has spent $9500 in club state funds and currently has $20,500 available. Adoption of AB-361 would allow the committee to proceed with meetings in hybrid. The item was approved unanimously. AB-361 allows local public agencies to continue to use teleconferncing without complying to certain Brown Act provisions. Stephanie Dizon explained why she was interested in the vacant senator position. “My main purpose is I really wanted to help the ASU board and staff with their jobs, especially setting up and organizing events and giveaways,” Dizon said. The committee agreed to make her a part of the board. The student nurse association secretary Giselle Gil, wants her club to be officially chartered. “Most of the council members are seniors who will be graduating at the end of the semester. They have been organizing their pinning ceremony; they had Shakey’s and Krispy Kreme fundraisers. The expenses are decorations, pamphlets, pins, nurse uniform dresses and preparing for the nclex exam,” Gil said. The committee unanimously voted for them to be officially chartered. Fall fundings giveaways totalling $650 was another action item.
ELAC success coaches will host a workshop to help others understand their identities and how they interact with each other on Friday from 4 p.m. to 5p.m. Register at https://tinyurl.com/FYE-intersectionality3.
Funds will be used to purchase items and will be distributed to students during finals week. “We have students who have dietary instructions such as vegan and looking at these items, only one item will satisfy their needs, so I would suggest looking into something more towards that,” Alondra Pacheco said. Another funding action item was iMac Adapters in the amount of $55. Funds will be used to purchase adapters for the executive board to fulfill their duties. The iMac computers that the executive board currently have in their office don’t have a USB insert so adapters must be purchased in order for the executive board to access the printers. Both items were approved. ASU will be going on their winter retreat where they will share knowledge and grander goals for the upcoming spring semester. This will include each inner committee presenting their plan going forward into the semester and teach the rest of the board members about the committee and will also discuss ASU, BAC, ICC meetings, campus commit schedule and office hours. For the Winter session at the Southgate campus, free supplies will be provided for students. All they have to do is show up to class. ASU Husky Food Pantry is currently servicing 139 students. On Monday, the winter gift card giveaway will be a $25 digital gift card that will be provided to all students up to 200 students. This is for all currently enrolled ELAC students. Next week at the Monterrey Park and Southgate campuses, the health center staff will be providing the Pfizer vaccine if they want their first, second or booster shot.
ELAC Story Theater Presents
ELAC Story Theater will perform a child production, “The Zombie Code or How Bobbie Z. Beats the Bull’E’s” on Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m at the courtyard of the Fine Arts Complex and the Black Box Theater.
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Opinion
EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2021
Omicron: Stay cautious, get vaccinated BY RAYMOND NAVA Staff Writer The new Omicron variant of COVID-19 is a serious cause for concern. This could negatively affect vaccination efforts and the vaccines themselves. vaccination efforts and the vaccines themselves.This new strain should be taken very seriously by everyone. The new Omicron variant was first reported out of South Africa. This new variant has been shown to spread faster than the Delta variant and has also been reported to have the ability to infect fully vaccinated individuals. This is deeply concerning as this could reset the progress made when developing the vaccine. The Omicron variant is evidence that if people refuse to get vaccinated, it can lead to disastrous results. The longer we have large amounts of people unvaccinated, the longer the virus can spread, which could lead to more mutations in the virus. The Omicron is proof of this. This is very concerning as the more a variant can infect people vaccinated against the original strain, the more elusive an effective vaccination becomes. The variant is already able to break through fully vaccinated people. This has led to the vaccine manufacturers announcing that they will retool their vaccines to withstand the new variant, though it will take time. T h a n k f u l l y, a s o f n o w, fully vaccinated people who contracted the Omicron
variant are only suffering mild symptoms, some similar to the common cold. However, this doesn’t mean people can let their guard down. When COVID-19 started popping up in 2019, it wasn’t viewed as severe. The world failed to take precautions that could have reduced the spread of the virus. People should not react the same to Omicron or future variants. If need be, people should be prepared to enforce drastic measures to ensure that the variant doesn’t spread further and mutate into more devastating variants. I worry about the lasting impact this new variant brings. So much progress has already been made, not to mention the societal progress of adjusting back to some sort of normalcy. This variant could set us back to a point where we would be cautious of going back outside, even when we are fully vaccinated. This is even worse for people who live with someone who refuses to get vaccinated. I live with my mother and brother. My mom and I are fully vaccinated, but my brother refuses to get vaccinated. With the variant able to break through vaccinated individuals, I may just be riddled with mild symptoms if I were to get infected, but it still puts my brother at risk whenever I go out. We should be very concerned with the Omicron variant, even if it hasn’t produced many negative results so far. People could end up back where we were when COVID-19 first arrived. People should be cautious and continue to push others to get vaccinated.
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The holidays may bring bad memories to some, but now is the time to mend hearts, reconnect and make new, better memories. When crafting an opinion it’s important to look for facts, figures and strong sources on a topic. The person then decides on a stance on a specific topic. This year, in lieu of informed information, emotion has taken over the wheel for this piece. First, a note on toxicity. The point of view in this article by no means advocates returning to situations that are toxic. Most people by now know whether their family life was or is toxic to the mental or emotional state of family members. If members use abuse, hate or any negative feelings, the idea of mending bridges with family members like that is almost laughable. Supporting reconciliation with those who actively try and hurt their families is not only an unpopular stance, but it’s also stupid. What is proposed here is for people to choose to try and get closer to their loved ones. There are many families who are estranged or simply bothered with members within their family units. With everything going on in the world, certain values are losing their importance, and their usefulness has gone by the wayside. It’s simple to stay mad at a www.ELACCampusNews.com
FRONT EDITOR Annette Quijada OPINION EDITORS Teresa Acosta Cynthia Solis NEWS EDITORS Ivana Amara Jonathan Bermudez FEATURE EDITOR Gabriela Gutierrez ARTS EDITORS Breanna Fierro Alma Lizarragal SPORTS EDITOR Miguel Dominguez
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ONLINE EDITORS Grace Rodriguez Raymond Nava COPY EDITORS Juan Cavillo Luis Castilla Ivan Cazares GRAPHIC BY DANIELLA MOLINA
Repeal would be harmful BY CYNTHIA SOLIS Staff Writer
GRAPHIC BY ERICA CORTES
Staff Writer
MANAGING EDITOR Erica Cortes
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Reconnect with loved ones this holiday season BY JUAN CALVILLO
EDITORS IN CHIEF Daniella Molina Zasha Hayes
brother or sister. It’s easier to not forgive a father or mother for a slight. It takes guts to do the hard thing. Things like forgiveness, kindness and understanding are principles that more people should view as paramount. While the holidays are a good time to try and push past prior disagreements, the idea of giving family a second chance should always be an option. Giving family and loved ones a second chance or giving them the benefit of the doubt is an important part of the healing process. This doesn’t mean to simply forget things. It means that both sides have to understand that forgiveness and reunion are where healing starts. Before anything, of course, families should be safe when trying to reconcile. These last two years of COVID-19 fueled isolation has left many families in shambles. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has the total attributed deaths due to COVID-19 at over 750,000 people as of December 6. This disease has touched many families. It’s important now more than ever to reach out to loved ones who are still here. The CDC has a list of tips for getting together with family over the holidays here https://bit. ly/32WmV9y. The tips include avoiding large crowds in areas that are not well ventilated and getting tested if
you show any signs of COVID19 before gathering. When it comes to larger gatherings of family there are additional precautions that can be taken. “If you are gathering with a group of people from multiple households and potentially from different parts of the country, you could consider additional precautions (e.g., avoiding crowded indoor spaces before travel, taking a test) in advance of gathering to further reduce risk,” the CDC website said. The other important thing to consider when deciding to recreate ties with family is whether there is a willingness to do so. Often it takes one side to decide that while there was a disagreement there is no need for a fracturing of a relationship. In families it’s often harder because of the length of the relationships. Even so, it takes a simple act of reconnection to start the ball rolling. Will one act heal a relationship overnight? Of course not. The holidays are a great time to mend a broken bridge. Spring is a great time to fix a relationship. Any time is the best time to start healing. If there is one thing to learn about life, it is that time is fleeting. For clarity, when it comes to fixing a relationship, time is of the essence. Thomas Jefferson said it best. “Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.”
The Supreme Court is currently hearing oral arguments that could potentially result in the repeal of Roe v. Wade. If the landmark case is repealed, it can harm hundreds of thousands of women in 26 states. The current case being discussed is Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. It began in 2018 when the Jackson Women's Health Organization, a clinic and abortion facility in Mississippi, decided to challenge the "Gestational Age Act" in federal court. The law essentially banned abortions after the 15th week of pregnancy except for in the cases of a medical emergency or fetal abnormality. Initially, the district court that heard the case agreed in favor with the plaintiffs, affirming the law was unconstitutional and stopping the law's enforcement. Mississippi's Department of Health state health officer Thomas Dobbs appealed the U.S. Court of Appeals decision for the 5th Circuit. The court deemed the law unconstitutional because of the precedent case. Dobbs proceeded to appeal to the Supreme Court in 2020 and decided to review the case in 2021. Thus, the court will hear a case where the justices will be forced to return to the issue of abortion and hopefully determine to leave it where it belongs, to the people of the United States. So, while they determine the future of abortion in terms of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, they are also determining whether or not to overturn Roe v. Wade. This landmark case legalized abortion without excessive government restriction. C u r r e n t l y, Te x a n s a r e experiencing the effects of SB8, which bans abortion after the sixth week. Planned Parenthood, a nonprofit organization that provides reproductive healthcare, submitted a legal brief to the United States Court
STAFF WRITER Leonardo Cervantes PHOTOGRAPHERS Paul Medina Natalia Angeles ART DIRECTOR Steven Adamo SOCIAL MEDIA Brenda De La Cruz
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of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, United States of America v. State of Texas. It included approximately 27 testimonies from people who have already been affected by the abortion ban, either by having their right to an abortion denied, encountering obstacles to receiving out-of-state care, and how the law traumatizes healthcare providers. Reading the testimonies, a reader can see how heartbreaking and difficult it must be to live in such a state under this law. Some testimonies include a single mother, D.O. (her initials to keep her identity anonymous) of a kindergartener, who is balancing school and work. Unfortunately, the father of both her child and unborn child "was just really bad… very abusive." She was abused during her first pregnancy, which she said "was horrible." D.O. was "finally [able to get] away," stating, "there was just no way that I could physically, mentally, emotionally go through that again." She cannot get an abortion and the logistics behind going out of state to do it seem insurmountable. This is one of many accounts that showcase the many problems women and healthcare providers are experiencing due to the ban. If the supreme court sides with Dobbs— the deplorable, gruesome accounts of the women in Texas will likely become testimonies of other women in the 26 states, undoubtedly leading to the destruction of many women's lives.
CARTOONIST Max Miranda ADVERTISING Stefanie De La Torre ADVISER Jean Stapleton 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 300 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 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.
News
EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEG E CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2021
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Silent auction to be held at Vincent Price Art Museum BY TERESA ACOSTA Staff Writer T h e Vi n c e n t P r i c e A r t Museum Foundation is hosting its third annual silent auction art fundraiser that including works from over 30 artists. The auction titled “Art á La Carte” is open now and will close December 11 at 9 p.m. The available pieces up for auction include photographs, stoneware, drawings, paintings, performance artifacts, serigraphs and soldered brass. These pieces can all be viewed on the VPAM website at www. vincentpriceartmuseum.org. The funds raised will be used to support the Vincent Price Art Museum located at East Los Angeles College. Before the pandemic the foundation would host a gala in the spring to raise funds. This event funded the museum’s exhibitions and programming throughout the year. For the second year in a row
they have chosen to cancel the gala to protect the health and safety of everyone. The fundraisers silent auction portion continues to be held during the pandmeic. The VPAM website contains two vignette videos featuring two local artists, Umar Rashid and John Valadez. The video gives a studio tour of their creative workspace. Other videos on the website
The auction opened on November 20 and some items have current bids starting at at $155. include little introductions where the artists talk about the type of art they create and reasons they decided to donate their pieces to the auction. Raina Lee donated the
stoneware piece titled “Clouds Keishiki Tea Bowl.” For this piece she applied layers of four or five different glazes on top of each other, “I get kind of different strata of rock,” Lee said when explaining the look of the bowl. She describes her work as functional and sculptural. The main focus on textures that mimic the natural landscape. The bowl is 4x5 inches and has a current bid of $150. Rebecca Vega, the registrar/ exhibitions coordinator & guest services manager said this is the third year in a row that the silent auction had run. It could have been four if they didn’t have a gap period. The auction opened on Nov 20 and some items have current bids starting at $200. The entire collection is availablefor viewing in person at the museum from Wednesday through Saturday between noon-4 p.m.
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LET’S BUILD— A few of Barbra Bestor’s work throughout Los Angeles.
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GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE—The collection of auction pieces on display at the Vincent Price Art Musuem
Lecture series ends with renowned architect BY ERICA CORTES Staff Writer
COURTESY OF VPAM
BOWLED OVER—Clay bowl made by Raina Lee that is going for the price of $150 until
next bidder.
Architecture professor Orhan Ayyuce hosted the last meeting of the Architecture Lecture Series, where Barbra Bestor went through a presentation of her architecture projects. The presentation consists of projects she did around Los Angeles throughout her career. Bestor has been in this career field since 1992. She has been awarded by the American Institute of Architects for Interior Architecture. “One of the big things is understanding how the city got to be the way it is now. A lot of civilians, non-architects, take for granted that the city is the way it is because of some scent of nature, and really that is not at all the case,” Bestor said. Bestor said she has certain strategies she likes using. how she adapts with the land she has to work with. “I am more interested in more lowrise density projects,” she said. Each project was broken down by what lighting went in, what flooring was set up and the landscaping that
was chosen for the property. “It is the dream. You build a community by design” Bestor said. “I know what is going on around and the work is incredibly intuitive and beautifully done across the board and that is why Los Angeles is lucky to have you” Ayyuce said.
“A lot of what you see getting built around you is really following a kind of pro-forma that is dictated by the planning department and the rules around on how we can build density.” BARBRA BESTOR Architect
Bestor said she had concerns as an architect, when it came to the city. “A lot of what you see getting
built around you is really following a kind of pro-forma that is dictated by the planning department and the rules around on how we can build density. The planning department of the city keeps trying to find new workarounds and new experiences to try to encourage different kinds of building density, but you tend to see things falling. “It is good for density but it is not a leaning to better walkable streets in the community, “ Bestor said. Many places that Bestor showed in the lecture were for luxurious living. A student, Franscio Gayyoso, commented on the chat, “only for the rich and investors.” Bestor took the time to reply to the comment. “I am interested in creating communities and making things a better place and making things better than before and not ruining stuff” Bestor said. Her work can be seen around Downtown Los Angeles, Echo park and more. Ayyuce said, “Beautiful work and plenty of it. She has been very prolific after her first project which was her own house.”
Online self-screening enforced for Elans on campus BY BREANNA FIERRO Staff Writer East Los Angeles college will enforce new online self-screening check-in for staff and students who intend to be on campus. The new vendor Biocept, using the platform Cleared4,will provide new link check-in for ELAC. The process will be required for faculty and students who plan on attending class in-person. This new program is required regardless of vaccination status to ensure the safety of people on campus. This follows COVID-19 protocols set by the Los Angeles Community College District. Cleared4, has taken over COVID19 testing and screening operations. The new program will replace any self check-in program that ELAC has used prior to Cleared4. It will
use a QR code to perform the selfcheck-in. The Los Angeles Community College District has insisted on implementing a protocol checklist. The online self-screening check-in is used to create safety for both students and faculty prior to arriving on campus. According to the Los Angeles Public Health Department, it is recommended and required that all students and employees be assessed for COVID-19 symptoms on a daily basis. The procedure should be done before entering any of the LACCD campuses or facilities. If staff or students find the online forms difficult to fill out the self check-in form is accessible in PDF format. Copies of the form can be located at ELAC student services. The new Cleared4 QR code mandate was one of the items addressed during the Nov. 30 Comeback Committee meeting.
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SCAN HERE—Online self-screening being required to enter library on campus.
There is concern among staff as to how the new self check-in will be enforced and if it will be enforced. There is also concern among faculty and staff when it comes to knowing if students have completed the check-in process while on
campus, and how it will be known who has checked in at all. “In general we will not have ‘check-in police.’ Everyone is asked to use one of the 20 check-in stations. We cannot ask faculty to do check-in, but if faculty feel the need
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to require proof of check-in(from students), they can do that just because of their own safety they can do that as well,” Roman said. The new QR code is displayed at 20 locations throughout the ELAC campus. The self check-in code can be displayed on a mobile smart device to show completion of the survey and verification. Self-screening may be required if ELAC professors demand it of students. Currently there is nothing that states that doing the survey will be enforced on campus. On-campus English associate professor Dr. Vernita Burrell said she is concerned with how the implementation of the survey will work between faculty and students. “We have enough to do with students and I don’t want to be an implementation police. I understand this process needs to happen as more students come
in, but the problem is the honor system.” “It’s just one more thing I don’t want to do in my classroom,” Burrell said. “I don’t think the motivation for students to pick up this new information is there. You lay out the QR code and expect students to jump on it when they are hustling to get to their classrooms and get their work done. There has got to be a central website that gives all the information at once instead of it being scattered.” The first time the Cleared4 online application is completed, both students and staff will receive a text or email with a unique link, and will need to create a new profile in the Cleared4 database. After completing the initial profile, a daily reminder from Cleared4 will be provided with a link to complete the quick selfhealth check required everyday before coming onto campus.
Arts Comedian Kevin Hart pushes acting skill with new thriller 4
BY GABRIELA GUTIERREZ Staff Writer In a comedy with a dark twist, Kevin Hart pushes the limit on his acting career in the new limited series “True Story.” The series is binge worthy, only for those who can stomach watching humans crumble to their lowest points. A roller coaster from start to finish, “True Story” follows the life of Kid, played by Hart. Kid is a comedian who makes it to the top. He goes from being homeless to being a successful comedian, actor and millionaire. Kid builds his life up after working hard to defeat his addiction to drugs and alcohol. He has his life together. This changes when his older brother Carlton, played by Wesley Snipes, steps back into his life. Indebted to Greek gangsters and about to lose his restaurant, Carlton weaves his way back into his brother’s life because he needs money. Kid, never knowing how to cut his brother loose, plays into his antics once again. During a night of partying and drinking with Carlton, Kid fails to stay sober. The next morning when he wakes up, Carlton tells him that the woman he spent the night with is dead. Kid naturally freaks out. He and
Carlton begin working together to protect one another from the law. Both Kid and Carlton experience extremely traumatic events, changes them drastically in a short amount of time. Hart’s comedic genius is taken to another level in this series. His role reveals how a comedian is still a human being at the end of the day. Hart does this in a less conventional way. Kid is put up against a wall several times throughout the series and at times the scenes are difficult to watch. Perhaps seeing a beloved comedian submerged in h u m a n i t y ’s dark nature is what makes this series that much more difficult to watch. The irony is that this is possibly the point of the series. It takes the veil away from the façade many comedians live with to keep their audiences laughing and happy. Hart’s role as Kid is simple on paper. H e i s f u n n y, o b l i v i o u s , enthusiastic and does his best to be a good father and friend. The one thing that resonates with Kid throughout the film is his
appreciation for loyalty. Although the series is binge worthy it is not without flaws. At times, Hart lacks the emotional strength necessary to match the situations he is in. His chemistry with his on-screen brother is also difficult to believe at times because there seems to be little chemistry between the two actors. It is possible that their lack of chemistry is intentional, as the two brothers butt heads multiple times throughout the series. However, the series would have benefited from the two actors having real chemistry that would have made the series stronger. In terms o f c h e m i s t r y, Hart displays a stronger bond with his on-screen bodyguard Herschel, played by William Catlett. Hart also develops a bond with on-screen fan Geene, played by Theo Rossi. Their bond is more conventional than anything else. Rossi’s character is possibly the most interesting of all. He is seemingly perturbed but provides the innocent nature needed to contrast the rest of the series. He allows the audience to live vicariously through him as the
EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2021
The series revolves around creating a dramatic and intense atmosphere that works well with the story-line.
CN/COURTESY OF NETFLIX
BROTHERS AND BETRAYAL—Wesley Snipes (left) as Carlton and his brother Kevin Hart as Kid, discussing how to get out of the trouble they are in.
audience can be considered fans themselves. Directors Stephen Williams and Hanelle M. Culpepper both have a history of directing shows filled with suspense and drama. Their experience and expertise is shown successfully in “True Story.”
The series revolves around creating a dramatic and intense atmosphere that works well with the story-line. Hart’s efforts to star in more serious roles are not lost in “True Story.” With his work on films like
“Fatherhood,” directed by Paul Weitz and “The Upside,” directed by Neil Burger, it looks like Hart is trying to diversify his career. “ Tr u e S t o r y ” i s c u r r e n t l y streaming on Netflix.
Western ‘Power of the Dog’ analyzes toxic masculitnity BY ANNETTE QUIJADA Staff Writer Jane Campion’s “The Power of the Dog,” is exceptional. A dark western film is filled with toxic masculinity along with childhood trauma and this is topped off with outstanding cinematography. The film is an adaptation from the novel by Thomas Savage.
It takes place in Montana in 1925. A cruel rancher Phil Burbank, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, is angry when his brother George, played by Jesse Plemons, brings his new wife and her son to live with them on their family ranch. Then the unexpected happens. Phil is seen sitting at the head of the table alongside cowboys and his brother George. The restaurant inn owned by Rose, played by Kirsten Dunst.
Her son Peter, played by Kodi Smit-McPhee, waits on them. When we meet Peter, he’s making table centerpiece flowers out of paper. Those flowers are later turned into ash when Phil decides to taunt Peter by burning them. This moment shows the beginning of the bullying Phil would have in store for Rose and her son. The biggest theme in the film is toxic masculinity.
W h e n P h i l i s n ’t s m o k i n g cigarettes or running the ranch, he uses his intelligence to mock and belittle everyone else. He lives to be at the head of the table and draws strength from the fear he brings out of Rose. Soon enough he becomes infatuated with the idea of taking Peter under his wing to torture Rose. He seems to want to turn Peter into a version of himself, by teaching him to ride horses or
making simple rope. Western films can be dull, therefore they need actors who can hold their own. Cumberbatch and Smit-McPhee are those actors. Cumberbatch manages to bring a darkness to the role of Phil. He is also good at showing the hidden pain the character has from not being his true self. Smit-McPhee captures the fragility of young Peter who just
wants to protect his mother. Together their relationship makes for a complicated one, it keeps the audience questioning it till the very end. “The Power of the Dog” is not for those who crave action in films. This one is slow and requires a great amount of attention to be able to understand the ending.
Local communities have dynamic past BY PAUL MEDINA Staff Writer
CN/COURTESY OF IMDB
HANDS UP—Mack Karr, played by Patrick Muldoon, is captured by rogue soldiers lead by Ron Whitlock, played by Bruce’ Willis.
‘Deadlock’ gives fans action-packed cliche BY ERICA CORTES Staff Writer “Deadlock” is an action movie that shows great sympathy for parents. Mack Karr, played by Patrick Muldoon, is an ex-military man that works at a Georgia power plant. The people inside the power plant are held hostage by Ron Whitlock, played by Bruce Willis. Whitlock is a wanted criminal , he is leading a team of rogue soldiers on a mission of vengeance over the death of his son. It is up to Karr to spring into action and save thousands of innocent lives before it is too late.
Muldoon has a resume that is filled with action movies such as “Starship Troopers” and the more recent “Arkansas.” His fantastic performance playing his character as retired elite army ranger is no surprise to the viewer. The star of the movie, Willis, is however the role that gives viewers the greater surprise. Willis has starred in movies such as “The Fifth Element” and “RED.” In these films he is or becomes the hero of the movie. In “Deadlock” it is refreshing to see that Willis’ character is a villain. Although odd, Willis does a great job portraying a terrorist. A scene where Willis’ character is hijacking the power plant shows
the impact of how losing his son changed his perspective of the United States government system. He shows the dictation to his team to an extreme that soldiers who are working with him are hesitant to believe they are one the right side. Writer and Director of this film Jarred Cohn creates a very classic action-packed movie. It also gives a view of what parents are willing to do for their children no matter what age. This is a great story just in time for the holidays so that people can cherish their families before it is too late. “Deadlock” can be seen in selective theaters or on Amazon Prime.
The areas of Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles, while distinct from each other have a long, storied past. Boyle Heights is a community in the City of Los Angeles, while East Los Angeles is an incorporated area. Nestled in the Southeast Los Angeles area, the working communities have each undergone transformations over the past 100 years. Previously, Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles was inhabited by the Shoshone Indians who were later renamed the Gabrielino Indians. At the turn of the 20th century a strong population of Russian immigrants inhabited the Boyle Heights and surrounding areas. Remnants of such descendants can be found buried on 2nd/ Eastern at the Russian Molokan Cemetery. The communities were also home to a strong Jewish diaspora. It is widely known that Boyle Heights was a stronghold of Jewish residents. The street known as Cesar E. Chavez was previously known as Brooklyn Avenue. Such tribute is believed to be a tribute to the large number of Jewish residents who moved from Brooklyn, New York. This area was the largest Jewish concentration in the United States.
While the street has been renamed references can still be found. Brooklyn Elementary still holds the name and Brooklyn Hardware on the corner of Gage Ave still bares the name. Before the name change to Cesar E. Chavez Ave, or as it’s known Avenida Cesar Chavez in Monterey Park, East Los Angeles College was located on Brooklyn Avenue. B o y l e Heights was the birthplace of the famous C a n t e r ’s Deli which is now located in the Fairfax District. Known for their delicatessen and famous Corned Beef sandwiches, the famous restaurant was founded at Brooklyn and Soto Streets. An attempt has been made to continue promoting the Jewish history. Once the site of dozens of synagogues, none exist in operation. Of the many, the most notable would be the Breed Street Shul. In August, California Assembly members Jesse Gabriel and Miguel Santiago announced the securing of $14.9 million in state funding to restore the Breed Street Shul which is listed as a Historic landmark.
According to an ABC 7 news article “From 1910 to 1950, Boyle Heights was [the] largest Jewish community west of the Mississippi,” said founding president of the Breed Street Shul Project nonprofit Stephen Sass. On Nov. 27, a lighting of the Menorah on the first day of Hanukkah celebration occurred. The event hosted many dignitary and community guests. Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles were also home to a strong Japanese A m e r i c a n community. Countless residents and businesses in the community were owned by Japanese Americans in the mid-20th century. On first street and Mott a notable Buddhist church exists. This is a sign of the once thriving Japanese community that called Boyle Heights home. The communities of Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles have gone through many changes. M o s t r e c e n t l y, a s t r o n g Hispanic community has become the social fabric there. Regardless of the ethnic shifts, cultural transformation or demographic changes, one thing is for sure. Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles will remain home for countless residents for generations to come.
Most recently, a strong Hispanic community has become the social fabric of these communities.
Sports 5 Huskies hope to play their first home game next year EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2021
BY MIGUEL DOMINGUEZ Staff Writer The East Los Angeles College Men’s Basketball team are currently 6-2 in the season. The Huskies’ recent win was against Cerritos College with a score of 75-69. "I knew it was going to be a close game. I was able to see improvement. Our guys did a great job of closing the game out” Coach John Mosley said about their recent win against Cerritos College. The Huskies first loss of the season was against San Francisco College who hosted the tournament in San Francisco. “One [of the] toughest games you could play. You go on the road traveling versus [the] number one team in California,” Mosely said about San Francisco College. The second loss was against San Bernardino Valley College. “We missed 15 free throw attempts in the loss against San Bernardino'' Mosley said. The Huskies lost the game 72-70. “We’d rather have these bumps in the road right now,” Mosley said about their struggles from the free throw line. Guard Tyrelle Hunt is sixth in the South Coast-North division in points per game with 13.8. Hunt is fourth in rebounds per game with 6.5. Hunt also leads the team in field goal percentage with 61 percent in eight games and is fourth in the division. He
CN/ DARYL PETERSON CERRITOS COLLEGE ATHLETICS
OVER THE DEFENDER—Huskies’ number 22, Dezmond Washington shoots a two-pointer over Cerrito’s defender. is also leading the team with 110 points made in eight games in the season. “We are out-rebounding our opponents,” Mosley said. Guard Brando Wilson is 10th in
the rankings with 10.4 points per game. He is also leading the Huskies in three-point percentage with 36.4. Forward JT Langston leads the
team in rebounds and is second in the California Community College Atheletic Association rankings with eight rebounds per game. Shymar Wiggins from Rio Hondo
college is first with 8.6 rebounds per game. “I think rebounding-wise, I’m happy,” Mosely said. Langston is second in the team with 1.3 blocks per game. Bryan
Penn Johnson leads the Huskies with 1.5 blocks per game. “Defensively, we are progressing fine” Mosley said. The Huskies haven’t played at home yet. The Huskies will need to wait until January for their first home game of the season. “It’s not as tough, I think, because the classes are online,” coach Mosley said about how players are dealing with traveling. Last year the Huskies were about to play their final game of the season. The championship game never happened because the league had to cancel it due to the pandemic. “I think we won’t hear anything until we hear from the state or county level,'' Mosely said about the season and the new virus hitting the states. The Huskies will travel to Riverside College for a tournament. This three-day tournament starts today at 2 p.m. and is against Saddleback College, which is 3-3 in the season. Tomorrow at 4 p.m. the Huskies will play against Mt. San Jacinto, 4-3 in the season. They will also play against Riverside College on Saturday at 2 p.m. “It’s worth a look. If you want to see it, come and see it,” Mosely said about having fans come and watch them for their first home game. The game will be on Jan. 5 against El Camino College at 5 p.m. in the men’s gym.
Women’s basketball team aims for the playoffs BY MIGUEL DOMINGUEZ Staff Writer The East Los Angeles College women’s basketball team is currently first place in the South Coast-North division. The Huskies are 7-1 this season. Their biggest win this season is against Cuyamaca College, 82-25. The Huskies first loss was against Palomar College which is in first place in that team’s division. The Huskies lost 83-51. “Palomar played well. Palomar has an excellent team,” Bruce Turner, head coach of ELAC’s women’s basketball team, said. “We played poorly. We missed a lot of open shots, and they [Palomar] took advantage of it,” Turner said. Shooting guard and strong forward Naomi Winston-Ellis has been a key player for the Huskies. “Ellis is coming in and providing three-point shooting, she also leads the team in block shots and rebounds,” Turner said. Ellis is averaging 8.3 rebounds per game and is currently third in the North-South Coast division. Ellis is currently fourth in threepoint percentage with 37.1 in the division. Ellis is averaging 10.5 in points per game and is currently 8th in the division. “We want to have better shot selections. We have good shooters, but free throw percentage is not where we want [it] to be,” coach Turner said. The Huskies have a 59.9 free throw percentage on the season. “We
want to be in the 75 (percentage) and up,” Turner said. Point guard Delilah KimbleGray is averaging 12.5 in points per game and is 7th in the division. Kimble-Gray is 6th in field goal percentage with 43.8. Kimble-Gray is 3rd in assists per game with 3.1. “Her (Kimble-Gray) three-point shooting has improved this year,” Turner said. Point guard Isabel Arango sits in the 9th spot with 9.6 points per game. Arango is currently 8th in rebounds per game with 6.4. In blocks per game, Arango sits at 7th with 0.6 blocks per game. “Our defense has been really good the last four games. We shot the ball well the first three games. Once we put the two together, we’ll be really tough to deal with,” Turner said. Point guard Destyni Heard is 10th in field goal percentage with 38.2. “Heard is a really steady defensive player. She doesn’t get rattled easily,” Turner said. The Huskies have done a great job so far. Turner believes there is more that can be done. “We are working on our transition defense; we are running back hard, but not communicating like we should,” Turner said. The Huskies played a tournament this weekend at Cypress College. Their first opponent was El Camino College, winning 68-58. Gray had 12 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal in the game. Aliya Contreras also had 12 points in the win against El Camino. Heard played six minutes and
scored nine points. Maya Clarke played 10 minutes and scored 9 points. Both players came off the bench. The team was 71.8% from field goal range. The Huskies made 6-10 three points and made 6-8 from the free throw line. For the second game, the Huskies played Grossmont College. Huskies won, 77-39. Clarke had led the team, with 12 points. Clarke had two rebounds, two blocks- and two steals in the game. The last of the tournament, the Huskies faced off against Palomar College again this season. The Huskies lost the game 85-68. Palomar player, Deajanae Harvey, almost had a triple double in the game. Harvey led the game with 32 points, 10 assists- and nine rebounds. Ellis had 22 points and Clarke had 12 points for the Huskies. This is the second loss of the season for the Huskies, both losses were against Palomar College. The Huskies will be heading to San Francisco next week for a tournament. The Huskies are scheduled to play four games that begin tomorrow and end on Sunday. After the tournament, the Huskies will have their first home game on Dec. 27 in the Okawa Classic. The Huskies will have three games at home in the Okawa Classic. “It’s great for the student athletes and the parents,” Turner said. Turner is confident in his team this season.“This team will definitely go deep in the playoffs,“ Turner said.
CN/ CERWIN D. HAYNES ELAC ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT
FLYING FOR TWO—Delilah Kimble-Gray avoids Grossmont blockers in midair as she attempts to make a two pointer.
CN/ CERWIN D. HAYNES ELAC ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT
FIRST PLACE—Jose Aguilar (left) and Hector Ramirez win first place in the ELAC Brawl.
ELAC wrestlers take it one match at a time BY MIGUEL DOMINGUEZ Staff Writer The East Los Angeles College wrestling team is ranked 10th in the California Community College Wrestling rankings. This is Miguel Soto’s first year as the head coach for the Huskies’ wrestling team. Soto has been an assistant head coach previously at ELAC. Before joining the Huskies, Soto was the head coach of a high school team. The Huskies have 19 wrestlers. Of them, four are sophomores and the rest are freshmen. “Normally we’ll have halfand- half (freshmen and sophomore). This year we have four sophomores,” coach Soto said about the pandemic’s impact on the team roster. Assistant coach Jorge Guerrero said the sophomores set the tempo for the freshmen. “They are not very vocal in their words, but they are very vocal in their actions and how they lead,” coach Guerrero said. Guerrero said the team constantly asks questions to get feedback for what needs to be improved. At the recent Southeast Conference Wrestling Championships, Hector Ramirez was placed third at 141 weight class, Jose Aguilar was placed second at 149 and Damian Castillo was placed fourth at 165. Troy Garza and Nick Lopez took third and fourth place at 174, respectively. “Nick Lopez has been doing great
for us in the season. Hopefully make him All American,” Guerrero said. Devin Peries was placed fourth at 197. “Devin Peries, he has been really good for us all season. If he can keep it together, we’ll be just fine,” Guerrero said. Nathan Ramos was placed fourth at 285. “Nathan Ramos has placed in the top three in every single tournament,” Guerrero said.
“I just want them to do their best. I just want them to be able to go out there and leave everything in the mat.” MIGUEL SOTO
ELAC Wrestling Head Coach
As a team, the Huskies came in fifth with 44 team points in the tournament. West Hills College took first place with 83.5 points. The Huskies hosted its first home match of the season against Victor Valley College in October. Coach Soto was looking forward to wrestling at home after being on the road for a month starting at the beginning of the season. “We didn’t get to compete so many times at home this year. It
felt great being able to wrestle at home. Having family and friends come and watch us, it was great,” coach Soto said. At the home match against Victor Valley College, the Huskies had five wrestlers and Victor Valley had 10. The Huskies had injured wrestlers and had to win six matches in a row to win. They lost the sixth match and Victor Valley won the overall match. The Huskies also had a tournament called the ELAC Brawl at home. At 141 pounds, Hector Ramirez defeated Zayn Patel from Palomar College and took first place. Coach Guerrero said, “Hector has been doing good. He has some wins over the top guys in the state so far in the season.” At 149 pounds, Jose Aguilar defeated Jacob Yamaguchi and took first place. “We took third place at the Brawl. That was good,” coach Soto said. The Huskies competed in the South Regionals this weekend where the team took fourth place. Garza was the only finalist on the team and took second place at 184 pounds. Ramirez. Aguilar, Lopez, Peries, and Ramos all took fourth place in their weight classes. The Huskies will be competing in the state championship on Friday at Cerritos College. Matches will begin at 9 a.m. “I just want them to do their best. I just want them to be able to go out there and leave everything on the mat,” coach Soto said. www.ELACCampusNews.com
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EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS
FUN FACTS ABOUT
EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE
AVALANCHE EDITION
Throughout the 75-year history of East Los Angeles College, the official mascot, Avalanche, has gone through many transformations and news-making events.
1948 Weighing 80 pounds, the first official Avalanche was donated to ELAC by Verla Davis of Downey, California.
FROM DOWNEY WITH LOVE— Dr. Rosco Ingalls, then Director of East Los Angeles College, posing with Avalanche, donated by Verla Davis.
“Landslide,” the unofficial ELAC mascot, makes his debut alongside Avalanche.
1952 A typical meal for Avalanche consisted of a pound of horse meat, kibbles and a glass of warm milk, which cost $30 a month. He eventually reaches 178 pounds. Avalanche was insured and his plan covered bite and gunshot wounds. Avalanche dies of liver cirrhosis.
GOOD BOYS— ELAC student Elassie Beverly Burger take Siberian huskies Avalanche and Landslide for a walk around campus, 1948.
1956
1958 When word of Avalanche’s death reached Alaska, Avalanche’s son, was shipped to ELAC via Western Airlines.
THE DEBUT OF AVALANCHE II
1970 Accusations of Avalanche II’s neglect were brought up in a 1970 issue of ELAC Campus News. The writer accused Avalanche II’s handlers of malnutrition and changing residences frequently. Inadequate conditions left many ELAC students worried for Avalanche II in 1970.
1974 1983 MASCOT MISSING—
2015 AVALANCHE GOES DIGITAL—
Avalanche announces Instagram profile in 2015.
2017 Avalanche’s human counterpart, ELAC student Melissa Ann Sawyer, makes noise alongside the East Los Angeles College cheerleaders at Weingart Stadium. CN/JULIE SANTIAGO
www.ELACCampusNews.com
INFORMATION COMPILED BY BRENDA DE LA CRUZ AND STEVEN ADAMO. PHOTOS FROM CAMPUS NEWS ARCHIVES
Avalanche first walked on two feet when Christine Silva wore the 14lb costume for the first time.