LACCD breaks with Sheriffs Department BY JEREMY ARIAS Staff Writer

Volume 78, Issue 9 | www.elaccampusnews.com | Wednesday, November 18, 2020 | Single copy free - addi-

Police reform focuses on injustice BY MELVIN BUI Staff Writer The Los Angeles Community College District fostered a space for an honest discussion on racial equity and power during “Pursuing Racial Equity in Police Reform” on Nov. 12. It focused on the systematic oppression and unjust policing toward African Americans. “The LACCD is dedicated to equity justice and must lead by example with structural and permanent change,” LACCD Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez said. The voices of students are vital and always welcomed, he said. The discussion was facilitated by Los Angeles Pierce College Sociology Professor A. James Mckeever. Professor of Sociology and Executive Director of the Lab for Applied Social Science Research at the University of Maryland, Rawshawn Ray was the keynote speaker. Ray was appointed a Rubenstein Fellow, a prestigious early to mid-career award that is given every two years to scholars and policy experts with an array of expertise at the Brookings Institution. His studies focused on the unhealthy trend of police policies and interactions. More of Ray’s studies can be viewed on his website: https://www.rashawnray. com

“Put on your seatbelts, we’re going to go through a lot of information in a short amount of time,” Ray said. He said the stigma toward “blackness” was perpetuated by stereotypes and that African Americans are overly criminizaled in white spaces. He said people with dark skinned are approached with a flight mentality and presumed to be criminals. “Men's mental health is more likely to suffer in neighborhoods where police frisk and use force more often, womens health is more likely to suffer in neighborhoods where police kill more often. Women living in neighborhoods with more police killings report more diabetes, blood pressure and obesity than men,” said a study from the Brooking Institution, The Collateral Consequences of State-sanctioned Police Violence for Women. Police chiefs in large cities are required to have a Masters degree or Bachelor's degree. However, almost anybody can graduate fresh out of high school, sign up for the police force and get a gun. A study from the Brookings Institution has shown police officers that are more educated are prone to make less mistakes. Ray said there should be more requirements set in-place in order for people to become police officers, like an associates degree

News Briefs

or required mental health courses. Ray said social media platforms like Twitter have been a flux for social movements like Black Lives Matter. BLM was started by Three African American women: Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi after the death of Trayvon Martin in 2013. The BLM movement had gained more than 30 million tweets in 10 days, said a study from the Brookings Institution. “There has been no other social movement like this since the ending of slavery, in only eight years the movement has gained an immense amount of support,” Ray said. Defunding the Police is not about cutting police funding, but reallocating already existing funds and using it for mental health and social services. “We need to create a program that will protect police officers when they come forward about injustice within the department, so they won't be bullied by other officers,” Ray said. Police officers usually

live somewhere else from the communities they serve, which creates a disconnection between officers and the people, he said. “They’re just here to annex physical force because of a phone call,” Ray said. Police civilian pay-outs for misconduct helps to disregard “justifiable homicides” and only adds to police notoriety. The recent death of Breonna Taylor was deemed a justifiable homicide, while the George Floyd death was considered a non-justifiable homicide. None of the officers were charged for her death, only one officer got charged and it was for shooting the wall and endangering the neighbor. Ray said that the drywall of her apartment received more justice than her actual death. The $12 million that was used for Taylor’s pay-out did not come from the Louisville Metro Police Department's budget and came from tax payers money. “Breonna Taylors own money was used to pay for her death,” Ray said. Police killings are only the tip of the iceberg, he said.

The Los Angeles Community College District has terminated its contract with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department after 19 years following the COVID-19 closures. The cancellation of the contract comes after East Los Angeles College Academic S e n a t e P r e s i d e n t J e ff r e y Hernandez proposed a 10 percent reduction in the contract with LASD. Because of the impact LACCD suffered from COVID19, which includes a decrease in enrollment, school budget and all nine campus closures, the District Budget Committee approved the cancellation of the current contract with the LASD. The contract with the department was valued at $25 million before being canceled. The contract was on the agenda of the ELAC budget committee in October. “We had asked that there be a presentation on what’s taking place with the Sheriff’s contract,” Hernandez said. “But it was just a verbal reporting out by the chancellor which made it seem that we’re renegotiating the Sheriff’s contract and we have some things that we’re going to be doing differently, but it wasn’t clear what those things were and what we’re going to be seeking.” Hernandez said that his intentions for the proposal were to be consistent with community voices demanding change to our justice system and aligns with Measure J on the Los Angeles County Ballot, which allocates funds to alternatives to incarceration. Since then, both Measure J have passed as well as the LACCD’s decision to cancel the contract with LASD.

LACCD announced in a news release on Nov. 13 that it is now seeking a new contract for campus safety on all nine of its campuses after failing to reach a new agreement with LASD. Using Hernandez’s earlier proposal as a guide, it can be predicted that LACCD will aim to reduce its expenditures on security by at least 10%, but there is uncertainty about what the replacement will look like. LACCD Chancellor Francisco C. Rodriguez said the district will engage in an assessment of campus security and use that assessment as a basis for proposing campus security. The Sheriff’s Department will continue its services on LACCD campuses until the end of its current LASD contract. The contract ends on Dec. 31. LACCD’s news release said no LACCD jobs would be affected and that the sheriffs and deputies currently serving the nine colleges will be reassigned to fill vacancies in the department. No new details regarding any type of services to be provided will be available until the LACCD Board of Trustees meets to vote on a new contract.

L.A. parades over election’s results

UC transfer workshop

UCLA’s Center for Community College Partnerships at ELAC will be hosting a zoom meeting for our students who need help with their UC applications on Nov 29 from 6 p.m. to 7:30pm. Staff and mentors will be available for any questions students may have. The zoom meeting link: bit.ly/cccp_elacF20workshops .

Last Casting Call

ELAC’s Theater department will be ending auditions for “Teatro Frida Kahlo 10-minuets play festival” Last day to to audition is TODAY. For more questions or to send your resume contact Alyssa Gabriela Morale at alyssagabrielamorales@gmail.com

Lets Yoga

ELAC Student Health Center will have a yoga session on Nov 28 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Sessions will be streaming via Zoom. To sign up visit linker.ee/elacshc.

C/N: IVAN CAZARES

CELEBRATING ANGELENOS-

Hundreds of people take to the streets of downtown Los Angeles to celebrate and protest on Nov. 6 when news outlets started projecting that former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and California Senator Kamala Harris would win the 2020 presidential election. Some activists, while happy about the incumbent Donald Trump losing, wanted to make sure President-elect Joe Biden understood that East Side Communities still had demands including police reform. "Whether Donald Trump or Joe Biden wins, we'd still be here, because our communities issues aren't just resolved if Biden becomes president. Yes, we want Biden to win, but he's still a lesser evil," Lucia Torres, head of Centro CSO Youth said during a demonstration at Mariachi Plaza on Nov. 6. Centro CSO is a humans rights group based in Boyle Heights which organizes for the rights of undocumented people, and advocates for quality public education and police reform.

Town hall meeting with Angela Davis discusses racial equity, social justice BY SONNY TAPIA Staff Writer The problems and questions in America that relate to racial equity are the same as the ones from the 1970s. Angela Davis spoke in a town hall meeting held by the office of the East Los Angeles College President Alberto Roman. The meeting discussed racial equity and social justice in America today from colonization to the death of Black human beings. The Black Lives Matter movement has rallied with the statement black lives matter on signs and shirts, but has never said that only black lives matter. Davis said that the saying of black lives matter does not mean only Black lives matter, she said it is a statement to move the world toward the ultimate goal of all human lives matter.

Davis said that right now the focus needs to be on the lives of Black human beings. The presidential election was another topic talked about in the meeting. “It is about time that the Black women of the voting system are recognized for once,” Davis said. “During this election it was primarily Black women that denied the country of a fascist movement.” In the 2020 presidential election blackvoters made up 11% of the presidential electorate and nine out of 10 of them voted for Joe Biden, according to the Associated Press. The Associated Press also wrote in an article that Biden received 93% of the votes in the Philadelphia wards that are 75% Black. Change for equality is something that happens over time Davis said and she added that the school systems must be changed. President of the Board of Trustees of the Los Angeles Community College District Andra Hoffman

said that the district convened a Title IX sexual assault task force. “We revised administrative regulations to conform with the title nine regulations and hired more people of color and women to our administrations than previous years,” Hoffman said. Title IX is a part of the education amendments act that prohibits a school to limit the access of a person based on sex or be excluded from participation. In the area of advocacy during the past legislative year LACCD sponsored AB 3310 that makes community colleges offer courses in ethnic studies in order to cooperate with Cal State Universities and Universities of California requirements for graduation. “We have partnered with the Los Angeles Urban League, Brotherhood Crusade and The National Council of Negro Women to make a connection with the black community and to gain more enrollments from people

of color,” Hoffman said. Hoffman said that there is much more work to do and that the board will continue to root out the racism in the community of the LACCD to give an equal opportunity to everyone. Davis was asked by ELAC history professor Barbara Dunsheath, “do you believe there needs to be an abolitionist alternative for the educational system and what is needed in the system across the United States to fully devow the feeding into the prison system.” “Thinking about how the educational system is linked to the United States prison system is crucial. It is important to discuss that many schools in black and latin communities reflect the values of imprisonment,” Davis said. “It is as if the schools are leading the students into a life doomed for the prison system. From metal detectors to armed officers on campuses, it all must be removed.”

Board of Trustees member Steve Veres said that he remembered being a student listening to Davis and how she gave inspiration to all student activists. “One really important thing to remember is that we view California as a progressive state, but there is still a lot of work to do. During my time at UCLA, I remember the time when Proposition 209 was being viewed by the people of California and confronted,” Veres said. Veres said that as a community, we have to push the boundaries of racial equity to the limit and then move it further forward. Proposition 209 was a proposition that prevented the state from making preferred actions for grants based on race, sex, color, ethnicity or origin. “Sometimes it takes a lot of time to see the fruits of your work prosper, but in the current juncture the little victories are your fruit,” Davis said.

Davis said that community is the one thing that has to stick together and she talked about her time when she was put in jail for a crime she did not commit. In 1970, Davis was arrested for supposedly being in connection with a shooting that occured in a courtroom in San Raphael, California. Davis was later sentenced to 18 months in prison and she said that it completely filled her with fear. Something that she feared most was taking the final walk to execution. “I thought about what it would be like to take that final walk into California’s gas chamber and it seized me with fear. The visualizations from my mind scared me, but when I saw the protests forming all around the world it comforted me,” Davis said. “I feared taking that walk alone. Even if I would have taken that final walk I knew I was not going to be alone because I had a community.”

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Opinion

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020

Christmas music gets started early BY JUAN CAVILLO Staff Writer

Los Angeles radio stations are playing Christmas music earlier every year and it has become bothersome. Christmas music during the holidays can be comforting and, from personal experience, heartwarming. The idea is to hit the perfect spot when to have it playing. Too early and people can get fed up. This year, however, anyone who turned on KOST 103.5 the day after the elections was greeted with the sounds of jingle bells and holidayappropriate music. Nov. 5 marked the beginning of Christmas music in Los Angeles. Playing this music during the holidays is a ratings hit for any station that participates. Stations like KOST 103.5, the adult contemporary music station, and KKGO, a country station, make dramatic shifts in listener ship during the holidays. As far back as 2011, The Hollywood Reporter said that KOST 103.5 went from a 4.6 to a 9.2 on the Arbitron ratings system. Ratings and economically it makes sense to have Christmas music playing earlier every year. The problem comes when Christmas music makes a person

lose focus or simply get bummed out by the constant happy-go-lucky sounds that make it up. Psychologists, in an 2017 NBC article, said employees in stores that play Christmas music on loop tend to have to actively work at ignoring the music. Imagine how grueling this is for employees when music starts earlier every year. Leo Quinones, talk show host on various LA radio stations, said there were plenty of people who were excited for the return of Christmas music. He named his own partner and friends among those that waited for the music to start. “This year it’s been earlier. I mean the want and the need for it. Because 2020 is such a train wreck that people want to feel good. And with the impending closures of the COVID-19, I mean people are going to want to get together but the smart people are not gonna get together,” Quinones said. The need to feel happier is something almost all people can attest to wanting. Yet there are those who feel sad during the holidays and Christmas music is just not enough to help them through it. Not only that but often during the holidays it’s this same Christmas music that causes flare ups in depression. Jennifer Buchanan, a music therapist and clinician, said that

CN/ ZASHA HAYES

music can trigger things in a person. This is much like the idea of a scent or sound reminding an individual

of a traumatic, happy, or simply distressing event. Having Christmas music running all day on different

radio stations can be a pain. Quinones said that the origins of LA Christmas music date back to the late 1999-2000 holiday season and general manager of eight Los Angeles based radio stations, Roy Laughlin. The idea was to have stations playing holiday music much like Laughlin had stations in Texas play when he worked in that radio market. Listening to the radio is not something that has disappeared, no matter how many podcasts and streaming services have been created. So the idea that it’s possible to simply avoid Christmas music is a bit hard to swallow. Parents, friends, loved ones, teachers, the little old lady that sits outside her house blasting her radio, all these people may love and listen to Christmas music. If radio stations would simply stick to a more focused time frame they would be doing everyone a big favor. 2020 has been a stressful year and it only makes sense for stations to play music earlier than most years to help lift spirits among listeners. Yet radio stations have forgotten that the reason Christmas music is so captivating and special is because it is meant for that specific holiday season, not the entire holiday season.

Voter’s importance looked over BY MELVIN BUI Staff Writer

Politics have torn families apart, literally and figuratively. Some people are hesitant to vote, because they are afraid of what other people will think. Some disregard voting, because they don’t understand it and avoid doing so to prevent headaches. People have the right not to vote, but when lives are at stake it is crucial to help support those in dire situations. Voting is a civic duty that all citizens have the privilege of participating in, but some people don’t like to exercise their right to vote. People are taught in high school about the importance of government, and are expected to be competent enough to vote. However some people don’t pay attention in class and probably misheard or disregarded what their teacher said to them during lectures. People wasting their ballots is a prominent issue. Uneducated

people in the past have voted for Harambe, a gorilla, in 2016 and Kanye West in 2020. These votes could have been used toward an actual competent candidate. However, they choose to play “politics” with people’s lives. Voting is an important part of democracy since it allows constituents to participate in the legislation making process and electing officials into office. It is important for young people to vote because some politicians that have been in office for decades have lost touch with contemporary issues, so new competent people should be elected into office. If people want to make a change in their community, voting is a great way to be proactive. They can vote for politicians that align with their beliefs. Interest groups are one of the main reasons ordinary people should be weary of politicians, since they can lobby and have legislation passed that supports their endorsed enterprise. They could donate money to a politician and expect an scratch on the back return. An example

of interest group would be the National Rifle Association. The NRA advocates to maintain gun rights and aims to teach people about how to be competent gun owners. When President Donald Trump was elected in to office, he repealed many climate change legislation and in result the coal industry and oil industry has started to see an

“People

are unaware how powerful their vote can be”

increase in production with less restrictions. It is plain as day that Trump is being lobbied by these corporations. He aims to seek support from these groups by bending rules for

them, expecting a “scratch on the back” vote in return. People need to be more wary of who they elect into office. People often like to blame the media for priming politicians. However, most people have the choice of what media they consume, so they should not be blaming others. Adults should not be blaming others for their careless actions. People who don’t vote must like having everything decided for them, and then complain afterward as if they didn’t have a choice. Voting does not seem like a big deal, however when people don’t vote it affects the lives of many and can help the agenda of corrupt politicians who have had multiple terms. People interpret the law in various ways. The letter of the law and the spirit of the law are the two most common interpretations. People who support the letter of law believe that it should be upheld to its full extent and always aim to be objective. Those who support the spirit of the law have a more subjective interpretation.

An example of this would be the Fourth Amendment of the constitution. It clearly says that it protects people from unreasonable s e a r c h a n d s e i z u r e s by t h e government, but people call it the Privacy Amendment. Politicians can have different interpretations on pr iv a c y an d h ave m i xe d jurisdiction. People are unaware of how powerful their vote can be. For example, California was once a part of Mexico and had a variety of different languages throughout the state. However in 1986, Prop. 63 made English the official language of California. It is strange, how the United States doesn’t have an official language, but California has one. Un n e c e s s a r y pro p o s it i on s like this only harm people with language barriers. However, it can be prevented if people were to get proactive and vote. Grass root movements would not exist without the support from ordinary civilians, so it’s important to remind people that their votes count.

Mixed results on California proposition ballots BY RAYMOND NAVA Staff Writer

The 2020 elections saw a mixed bag of results in the propositions that were on the ballot in California. While some progressive propositions passed, such as Proposition 17, which restored the right to vote to former felons, others such as Proposition 18, which granted the right to vote to 17-year-olds if they turned 18 before the general election, did not. In addition, Proposition 22, which would allow driver-based app organizations to treat their employees as independent contractors and not full time workers as well as not having to

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provide the same benefits as if they were full time employees, also passed despite an effort from labor groups.

Prop. 22 was the proposition that received the most attention during the campaign. Despite the proposition being opposed by many prominent progressive politicians such as senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, it passed by an 18-point margin. Prop. 22 is a major setback for worker’s rights and sets a dangerous template for these companies to try and get passed similar measures in other states. Proposition 21 was another one of many progressive propositions that were defeated at the ballot box. Prop. 21 would have allowed local governments to adopt rent control

on housing units. The proposition was endorsed by many democratic officials, but was opposed by Governor Gavin Newsom, who is a Democrat. The proposition was defeated by a 20-point margin. Another progressive proposition that failed to pass was Proposition 16. Prop. 16 would have repealed Proposition 209, originally passed in 1996, which had banned practices of affirmative action. Had the proposition passed, it would have allowed more diverse hiring in workplaces as well as allowing more diversity in the education field. Prop. 16’s defeat is more problematic as some organizations had sent out mailers that encouraged voters to vote no and labeled it as “for racial equality.” Prop. 16 was defeated by a

14-point margin. Voters also rejected Proposition 25, which sought to replace the current cash bail system with a risk assessment system for defendants awaiting trial. The proposition also featured endorsements from prominent democrats but was interestingly opposed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California. Its reasons for the opposition was that while it did get rid of the cash bail system, it viewed the risk assessment system to be discriminatory. Prop. 25 was defeated by 12 points. A progressive proposition that did pass was Proposition 17, which would restore the right to vote for former felons. One the issue campaigns this

year by reformers was felony voting rights. In 2018, a similar measure was passed in Florida which restored voting rights for felons, though the effect of the measure was greatly weakened by the Florida courts and state legislature. Prop 17 passed by 18 points. The failure of some of these propositions is no doubt disappointing for many. Despite California having a liberal reputation, voters rejected propositions that would have solidified California as being one of the most liberal, progressive states in the country. While the state did adopt some progressive proposition, it is apparent the state has a long road to go before it adopts more propositions.

EDITOR IN CHIEF Juan Cavillo MANAGING EDITOR Luis Castilla FRONT EDITORS Melvin Bui Erica Cortes OPINION EDITOR Daniella Molina NEWS EDITOR Jonathan Bermudez FEATURE EDITOR Erica Cortes ARTS EDITOR Cassidy Reyna SPORTS EDITORS Melvin Bui Jonathan Bermudez COPY EDITORS Melody Ortiz Ivan Cazares Brenda De La Cruz Christopher Reynoso STAFF WRITERS Sonny Tapia Raymond Nava Melisa Valenzuela Leonardo Cervantes Annette Quijada Stephanie Sical Brenda De La Cruz Christopher Reynoso PHOTOGRAPHER Diego Linares ART DIRECTOR Steven Adamo ADVERTISING Stefanie De La Torre ADVISER Jean Stapleton

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News

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020

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Board of Trustees plans future of all nine LACCD campuses BY BRENDA DE LA CRUZ Staff Writer The Board of Trustees held its scheduled meeting on Nov. 4 to discuss changes regarding racial equity among students and staff. President Andra Hoffman and trustees met to discuss any changes and news impacting our nine college campuses. Trustees were joined by three veteran students: Kirby Burke, Genevieve Cruz and Reuben Roque, in order to help lead the flag salute in honor of Veterans Day. The Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on LGBTQIA+ Affairs were recognized by all nine campuses for its hard work and dedication to the LGBTQIA+ community. Also recognized were the members of Los Angeles Community College District’s Emergency Operations Center Team and the Incident Command

Centers. Each member will receive a certificate in recognition of their hard work during a time when LA County has over 7,000 deaths related to COVID-19, as well as 310,000 cases of the virus. In regards to diversity, currently, the Los Angeles Community College District Academic Senate is working on a number of initiatives, including having a task force examine the feasibility of requiring a general education course in Ethnic Studies. In addition, the LACCD EOC will be working with Human Resources in order to hire more African American staff and maintain a diverse work environment by working with the office of diversity and equity inclusion. Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez said a meeting will take place on Nov. 30 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. that will focus on Los Angeles Harbor and Los Angeles Pierce college campuses, which will be open to

the public online. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss important issues affecting African American and staff at LACCD. The LACCD and the Los Angeles College Faculty Guild of the social justice committee will also be sponsoring a forum on pursuing racial equity and police reform on Nov. 12 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The forum is free to the public and will feature Sociology Professor Rashawn Ray of the University of Maryland. In regards to student housing and aid, a meeting that took place on Oct. 21 with the Legislative Public Affairs Committee said that they are working with the county to improve peer navigation systems. The goal is to decrease student homelessness as well as working with Metro to help provide students with free transportation via a pilot program. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals progress or issues will

Students get jump start with prior learning credits BY LEONARDO CERVANTES Staff Writer

Credit for prior learning is college credit awarded for validated college-level skills and knowledge gains outside of a classroom. It grants students credit for what they already know and can do. This can benefit students that are qualified for a class and if they have met the proper requirements, they can get credit for that knowledge. Gained skills or knowledge via experiences that apply is military training, industry training, apprenticeships, internships and work-based learning. A vote on the new administrative procedures on Credit for Prior Learning will take place in December. Jessica Peak is an academic counselor for the Veterans Resource Center. “The governing board may grant credit to any student who satisfactorily passes an assessment approved or conducted by proper authorities of the college,” Peak said. The assessment refers to the process that faculty undertake with a student to ensure the student demonstrates sufficient mastery of the course outcomes as set forth in the course outline of record. Sufficient mastery means having attained some level of knowledge, skill and information equivalent to that demonstrated generally by students who receive the minimum passing grade in the course.

Achievement of a satisfactory score on an Advanced Placement Examination is one of the ways students can demonstrate proficiency in courses eligible for credit for prior learning. Achievement of a satisfactory score on the College Level Examination Program, Evaluation of Joint Service Transcripts, Evaluation of industry-recognized credential documentation and Evaluation of student-created portfolios are all ways a student can demonstrate proficiency. The determination of eligibility for Credit for Prior Learning comes down to a few things. The student must be in good standing in the district. The student must have previously earned credit or noncredit from the district, or be registered in the district. Current students must have an education plan on file. The course is listed in the current college catalog. The student is not currently enrolled in the course to be challenged. One important thing to note is credits acquired by examination shall not be counted toward the 12 semester hours in residence required for an associate’s degree. Prior Learning Assessment grading policy states grading shall be determined by the regular grading system in accordance with the subject at hand. Students shall be given the opportunity to accept, decline or appeal the grade assigned by the faculty. Jeffrey Hernandez is a political science professor, who said his role for prior learning is to “get information out to departments

that have expertise in this area and to request they get back to me with input on a proposed administrative procedure.” “My perspective on credit for prior learning is that it is a great idea that will help shorten the path to completion for many students,” Hernandez said. His stance is firm in that he wholeheartedly supports it. He plans on receiving valuable input on the proposed administrative procedure to ensure credit for prior learning is readily and smoothly accessible to students. “Credit may be awarded for prior experience or prior learning only for individually identified courses with subject matter similar to that of the individuals prior learning, and only for a course listed in the catalog of the community college,” Peak said. Upon a student's demonstration of sufficient mastery through an examination or assessment, and award of credit should be made. An award of credit may be made for electives for students who do not require additional general education or program credits to meet their goals. Credit for prior learning must be tied to a course so that faculty can assess prior learning according to a course’s student learning outcomes. Faculty must grant credit first in general education or program areas and grant credit in electives only as a last resort. This ensures that the credits help advance students towards certificates or degrees.

depend on whoever occupies the White House in 2021 per trustees, such as any changes to the rules and guidelines for undocumented students to access higher education. However, a fundraiser held at Los Angeles Valley College was able to raise $14,000 for the Dream Resource Center. Congresswoman Jackie Speier’s introduction of House Resolution 1165, which condemns Azerbaijan’s coordinated offensive in Nagomo-Karabakh and denounces Turkish interference in the conflict, was discussed in regards to how LACCD’s students and staff are being affected by this war. President Hoffman said that LACCD terminated an unnamed contract connected to all nine campuses after learning they were connected to Turkish funds. A status update regarding the implementation of LACCD’s energy and sustainability goal announced a suggestion to partner up with the Los Angeles

Department of Water and Power Green Access program to install charging stations at each of the LACCD campuses. The Board of Registered Nursing’s completion of a visit at the Harbor College Campus where the college was found to be exceeding compliance standards and therefore approved for another five years. An anonymous contribution of $100,000 was made to support emergency grants for district nursing students in seven of our nursing programs. A $10,000 check was given to LACCD from City National Bank, and $35,500 was given by the State Foundation. The contributions go towards COVID-19 nursing grants to support essential workers on the front lines during this global pandemic. LACCD members helped raise $20,000 during the Week of Action fundraiser campaign. As the district has moved to

a remote delivery of instruction through the spring semester, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and $1.8 million was requested from the contingency reserve to support faculty requests for academic software in order to assist with student learning. LACCD will request reimbursements for these funds from FEMA. Although $40 million was received from the CARES Act for COVID-19 Aid, 75% was put aside for students and the remaining 25% was set aside for other expenses. The request needed at least five votes to be accepted and successfully passed through the trustees. The director of the office of diversity, equity and inclusion, Brittany Grice, was also awarded theAdministrator of the Year award, an annual award given by the California Association for Post Secondary Education and Disability.

Post-election expects changes for immigrants BY ANNETTE QUIJADA Staff Writer The Trump administration used the pandemic as a reason to stop the court hearings for asylum seekers, claiming it was a risk, while also claiming that COVID-19 is a hoax., said Camila Alvarez, the legal director at CARECEN. She said COVID-19 made these issues worse. Coalition for Humane Rights Organization and the Central American Resource Center discussed how immigration issues operated under the Trump administration and what to expect going forward. The two groups came together with a few California community colleges for a post-election virtual town-hall on Nov 6. Alvarez talked on the topic of immigrant detention and the border. Prior to COVID-19, in 2019, Trump's administration introduced the Migrant Protection Program. This policy stated that asylum seekers coming into the United States from Mexico may be returned to Mexico and have to wait there during the duration of their immigration preccedings. Alvarez said, “In the past, what would happen was these individuals would be allowed to be released to a family member, family friend or maybe even to somebody who could sponsor them and allow them to live with them while they went to their court hearings and presented their case. “Instead of allowing that, what the Trump administration did was

force everyone to remain in Mexico, in really dangerous conditions, in refugee/migrant camps that are very dangerous, instead of allowing folks to humanely seek asylum.” She said that the different reports of violence and abuse in the facilities that have been leaked various times. She said the Adelanto Immigration Center suffered a huge COVID-19 outbreak and it has yet to recover. Alvarez said, “If there’s a change in administration, we can hope that things will get better. But the one thing I've been keeping in mind this week, and CARECEN as a whole is keeping in mind, is that regardless of this (presidential) outcome, even if it’s a better administration, elected officials need to remain accountable. So we hope that they would prioritize reversing a lot of these awful policies.” During this panel, CHIRLA took part in promoting activism and how others can get involved and organized. CHIRLA representative Melody Klingenfuss, alongside Apolonio Morales, Director of External Affairs for CHIRLA, introduced different ways people can have hands-on participation. Klingenfuss believes that the rhetoric by Trump about immigrants needs to be changed by the people. She said, “(When we take back the narrative) we show the world what our communities really deserve.” Klingenfuss believes that refusing to give Trump's ugly comments any validation, the undocumented community is able to come back stronger. While agreeing with Klingenfuss,

Alonso expressed his anticipation for a Biden and Harris administration, claiming that CHIRLA already has plans to take action for the year 2021. He said, “The Biden administration already has what they call ‘the big book.’ And the big book is a list of priorities and policies that they will be pushing for 2021. Part of the book is this notion, one, of stopping deportations for the first 100 days. And what we’re saying as California is it has to be indefinite deportations/detentions until they pass immigration reform.” CHIRLA is prepared to step into the front lines with other organizations across the state of California and push the elected officials to act quickly on their promises. Those hoping to be able to participate in hands-on advocacy can visit the website https://www. carecen-la.org/ or https://www. chirla.org.

Virtual read-in discusses police brutality BY ERICA CORTES Staff Writer East Los Angeles College’s library had a virtual read-in that focused on police brutality and how it has become a new normal here in the United States. The readin-in happened Nov. 9 and the book read was “When They Call you a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir” by Khan-Cullors and Asha Bandle. A few passages were read to form a discussion for the audience. It was not an issue that the audience had not read the book before. The novel has been used in past read-ins since the fall semester of last year. This was the first time doing the read-in as a Zoom meeting. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the read-in was not allowed to be in person. However, it did not stop the library from hosting one. “Obviously I wish we could do it in person. When we did do it in the library room it was packed. So

when you’re in person it feels more intimate. People feel a little more open to sharing stories, to be able to see and hear you classmates or your peers,” ELAC librarian Rita Suarez said. The passage chosen from the book was about a person who was horribly abused by law enforcement. Because of the area that the story took place in Los Angeles, the narrator was neither outraged nor surprised by that kind of action from the police. “Right now, we are lucky to have selected this book when we did because the national conversation has really focused on anti-racism. So there are a lot more people across the board who are aware of the issues related not only to Black Lives Matter, but to the thing outlined in this book. The book is more relevant now because of the attention these issues around race and equity have received the past five-six months,” ELAC Librarian Nathasha Alvarez said. Although it was online, people did not hesitate to tell their stories and their intake on the topic. L e o n a r d M e l c h o r, h i s t o r y

professor at the South Gate Campus, gave his opinion about how police brutality has been an ongoing issue for many years. “It is interesting that these things keep echoing and echoing,” Melchor said. “If you got pulled over or you got harassed, it just got normalized and naturalized and it is kind of pathetic that it becomes everyone’s everyday reality.” Jasmine Gutierrez, a student at ELAC spoke about her story of growing up on an Indian reservation. “When I would leave the reservation and go hang out with my friends that were not as darker skin than me, if we were to be pulled over by the cops, I was the only one pulled over. I was the only one that was a hassle because I would hang out with people that were lighter skin than me,” Gutierrez said. Another session with the same novel will be held on Nov. 30 from 12:10 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. The Zoom link to participate: https://laccd. zoom.us/j/95187245289?pwd=SH hIelJmY2dxR0prcTdZeUZnOVF QQT09.

CN: ERICA CORTES

GET INVOLVED— ELAC Librarians Rita Suarez and Nathasha Alvarez posted this durring zoom meeting for their audience to learn more on the book and on Black Lives Matter.

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Arts Theater Arts succeeds with virtual play 4

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020

BY LUIS CASTILLA Staff Writer While nothing compares to seeing a play live, the East Los Angeles College Theater Arts Department did not fail in delivering a powerful and relevant adaptation of “Spoon River Anthology.” Director David Laird Scott said there were no in-person rehearsals for this production. Instead, all the performers recorded their scenes individually. The play, written by Edgar Lee Masters in 1915, is a collection of epitaphs from the people of the fictional town of Spoon River. “Spoon River Anthology” is more of a series of monologues than a traditional play. Although each character has their own story to tell, they contribute to the overall experience of the town, fleshing out the community of Spoon River little by little. “Spoon River Anthology” is a surprisingly intimate look into the seemingly simple lives of people from a seemingly simple town. The original work has 224 different epitaphs, but Scott said they adapted 47 of them.

CN/LUIS CASTILLA

CUT WOOD, NOT ART—Every performer in “Spoon River Anthology” filmed their scene individually in unique locations. Farshid

Leshmirian sawed wood while delivering his lines. All performers were in costume, however. Many even filmed at scenic locales, further adding a sense of atmosphere that is often lost when it comes to virtual performances. Filming in so many different locations like backyards, gave “Spoon River Anthology” the feeling that it was really filmed in its own town. Some performers also made

use of multiple camera angles, taking advantage of the new format the COVID-19 pandemic has thrust upon them. Scott said the actors were in charge of finding settings and appropriate camera angles for their poems. “Once it was shot, they uploaded their takes to OneDrive and I chose their takes or asked them to reshoot. So as the

director of a virtual performance, much was out of my hands and the actors needed to rely on themselves, which I think they handled quite well,” Scott said. But it was not all smooth sailing for the department. “It was not easy, and there was much to learn about virtual performance,” Scott said. Scott said they were originally intended to do “Mother Courage

and Her Children,” by Bertolt Brecht, but it was too complex for virtual performance. “When I was 14 or 15, I worked backstage on a summer performance of ‘Spoon River Anthology’ and remembered it vividly,” Scott said. “It easily lent itself to our needs because it is not a play, it is an anthology of epitaphs as poems published written in blank verse, which

means the lines have rhythm, but do not rhyme.” Scott said after casting the play, two of his students had to drop his class due to the pandemic. “Rehearsing four days a week on Zoom has its challenges,” Scott said. “Actors were on time and worked hard in rehearsal, but in the end, they each had to video record their own poems. Actors had between three and six poems. The actors had to make the characters believable and relatable to a new generation of audience and then find a way to shoot their own poem monologues.” Scott said he found this production to be more difficult than a traditional one. “I would have had more impact on the actors' performances and the shows' design elements (costumes, set, lighting, sound, props) would have been more consistent,” Scott said. “In person, performances are more hands-on, and being in a neutral space, the theater, allows everyone to be comfortable.” The department dedicated this one time live stream production, to the late James Johnson who died earlier this year. He was supposed to be the stage manager for “Spoon River Anthology.”

‘The Mandalorian’ excites fans once again BY BRENDA DE LA CRUZ Staff Writer Season two of The Mandalorian brings its viewers a mix of action, suspense and laughter all at once. Viewers who binge watched season one surely remember the calm, cool and collected energy the Mandalorian, played by Pedro Pascal, brings to the table. The lone bounty hunter continues his quest this season with the child at his side, all while running into bumps on the road along the way. In episode one, “The Marshal,” our protagonist sets out to find others of his kind, but instead runs into another side quest to help others. The episode is also an homage to classic Cowboys and Indians stories. CN/ ALISSIC While the entire show ROCK IS NOT DEAD—Album artwork for Bring Me The Horizon’s new album “Post Human: surrounds itself in a desert-like Survivial Horror,” released on October 30, 2020. location, the graphics involved say otherwise. The characters, the vehicles used, the monsters being fought, all look the way it would have looked in any of the “Star Wars” movies. Guest Star Timothy Olyphant, BY CASSIDY REYNA The album opens with the song Babymetal. “Kingslayer” brings a known for his roles in the FX “Dear Diary,” which brings listeners little more of an electric feel, with Staff Writer back into the sound the band had the song being based around the show “Justified” and horror film

New rock album goes into COVID realities Bring Me The Horizon’s new album “Post Human: Survival Horror” is a nostalgic mind-blowing album. Over the years, Bring Me The Horizon has strayed away from its metalcore roots with its most iconic album being “Sempiternal,” making them a staple in the rock scene. The band has evolved from a deathcore sound to a mix of alternative-rock and metalcore. Over its past few albums after “Sempiternal,” the band did not hit the mark like it normally does. With its previous albums “That’s The Spirit” (2015) and “Amo” (2019), the band continued on and didn’t care what possible listeners thought. However, with “Post Human: Survival Horror,” Bring Me The Horizon finally found a way to bring the sounds it was experimenting with full circle, making a perfectly balanced album. The new album features many amazing artists, a couple of which are up-and-coming like the alternative-rock artist Yungblud and the English rock duo Nova Twins. Not only did the band bring rising artists into the album, but iconic artists in the rock scene, such as Japanese band Babymetal and the talented Amy Lee of the band Evanescence. “Post Human: Survival Horror” consists of 9 songs in a 32 minute time frame. The lead singer Oli Sykes, said this album was his way of expressing how this year has progressed, as rock music is known for talking about the dark side and addressing it in music. www.ELACCampusNews.com

with the albums made in 2013 and previous years. The song alludes to the video game “Resident Evil,” in which it refers to the current state and events in the year 2020 but comparing the coronavirus to the zombies in the game. With lyrics like “Dear diary, I don't know what's going on, but something's up. The dog won't stop barking and I think my TV is bust. Every channel is the same, it's sending me insane.” The song being about the chaos of the year and how the media makes things worse, Sykes has said. The next song “Parasite Eve” brings a hauntingly dark sound to the album, also continuing the theme of the dark worldly events. Each song intertwines with the themes of the world’s current society. Following “Parasite Eve,” “Teardrops” talks about younger generations growing up with an addiction to technology as well as depression and anxiety. “Obey” brings listeners into the realities of real life struggles with the first feature of the album, Yungblud. The song talks about the oppression people go through and suffer from politicians and world leaders. Sykes wrote this song in the perspective of the oppressor, expressing the ideals of how citizens are desensitized from what world leaders put people through. “Itch for the Cure (When Will We Be Free?),” is a small interlude into the next song. Listeners can see that this may be another nod to the coronavirus pandemic, and the stress of not knowing when people will be able to live normally. “Kingslayer” has the next feature with the Japanese metal band

idea of a person who will fight for what's right even if it’s illegal as the band has stated. As well as referring to the game “Call of Duty” and a ranking earned in the game. Even though the song does have some Japanese lyrics, it fits so well the listener will be mind blown by how good the song is. It’s as though this track is straight out of a video game, which fits perfectly into the theme of the album and the “Call of Duty” reference. “Kingslayer” then leads into the final three tracks of the album. “1x1” featuring the Nova Twins, talks about how humans can feel guilty for destroying other species as well as causing people to feel less based on who they are. “Ludens” was made in one week specifically for the video game “DEATH STANDING: Timefall’s original soundtrack,” and ended up being the lead single of the album. The song is based around the ethos of one of the main characters from the game and it fits perfectly into the album's concept. “One Day the Only Butterflies Left Will Be in Your Chest as You March Towards Your Death” is the final song on the album and features Amy Lee of Evanescence. This track is a beautifully haunting ballad and ends the album on the right tone, with Sykes representing humanity and Lee representing mother nature. The song talks about how humans need to preserve what they have, ending the album in a hopeful tone. Overall, “Post Human: Survival Horror” is an outstanding album that sets the tone of what’s to come in Bring Me The Horizon’s future albums.

“The Crazies,” has a role which die hard fans will appreciate in the season two opener. The second episode titled “The Passenger” sees the Mandalorian continue his search for his own kind, only this time traveling with an added passenger. Trouble ensues, as expected, and the Mandalorian must act quick with damaged gear in order to live and see another day. Entrusted with the safety of not only the child, but also his new passenger, he must act quick and smart. The graphics look especially great in this episode and they almost give a bit of anxiety due to how real they make things look. Viewers can expect to both laugh and be at the edge of their seat with this episode. The latest episode to air is “The Heiress” and is a much rather short episode of only 36 minutes, compared to other episodes which can range from 40-52 minutes. While the first two episodes had a little less on the guest star action, this episode brings old characters to light. Viewers follow the Mandalorian on what seems to be his never ending quest, only this time he is aided by unexpected allies.

Viewers and “Star Wars” super-fans will enjoy a special guest star in this episode, along with great fight scenes and action. So far, “The Mandalorian” brings action and wittiness to its audience not only through its special effects, but also through its comedic interactions between characters and especially through the child, or as many know him, baby Yoda. Pascal’s acting continues to shine as he is able to channel his character into life through a believable and entertaining performance. The show also brings about good chemistry among characters with its many noticeable guest stars and their impressive backgrounds. Looking back at season one, this season has started off a bit slow in comparison. While there is action, there have not been as many supporting characters as before. Granted, this is only three episodes in and if season one had viewers hooked, one can be sure season 2 has more to come for those die-hard “Star Wars” fans. Episode 4 of season 2 will be available on Nov. 20 via the Disney+ platform.

Italian film displays growth of youth BY LEONARDO CERVANTES Staff Writer Netflix’s "The Life Ahead" is an Italian-produced emotional rollercoaster on the misfortunes of a poor kid and the adversity he phases at a young age. Sophia Loren is a wellrenowned actress who stars in the film as Madame Rosa. Her youngest son Edoardo Ponti is the director and co-writer of the film. The film centers around Momo, a troubled adolescent, and Madame Rosa who is a strict and high-tempered nanny. The film is emotional and Ponti is able to capture this brilliantly by focusing on the actors facial expressions during moving scenes. Although Momo is young he plays his delinquent role well and captures the audience's attention by constantly making wit remarks at adults or always arguing. Madame Rosa has a parental role in the film and played her strict role well by constantly berating Momo. The film is emotional and is rated PG-13 as it contains some graphic content. The film follows Mohamed (Ibrahima Gueye), who likes to be referred to as Momo, a 12-year-old Senegalese refugee. Momo is placed under Dr. Coen’s

(Renato Carpentieri) supervision at a young age by social services. Dr. Coen is a well-respected man across the neighborhood that looks after kids, therefore, he had the task of caring for Momo. Momo is disobedient to every adult figure in his life and appears to be mad at the world. He takes out his rage on kids and his legal guardians because he is deeply hurt inside. If he continues down this path of rebellion it will lead to his demise. He goes to open markets and steals items in order to trade them for money. Momo lacks a true mother figure and as an act of rebellion does whatever he wants at a young age. Momo feels like he has nobody to talk to or relate to so drugs are his escape from the world. Eventually, Madame Rosa is able to connect with him and has him doing chores and socializing with the other kids at her house. Although the plot is basic what sets the film apart is how genuine it feels. Momo is a young teenager and Madame Rosa is in her late 80s, yet it feels like a relatable relationship the audience has likely had with family members. A young rebellious kid that defies authority but finally takes advice from an older relative and begins to change. The film could

have improved on showing more of the cast of kids that Madame Rosa was taking care of. Diego Pirvu is the only kid that is in multiple scenes yet he only serves the role of Momo’s friend. Madame Rosa played her role of parent figure well as she often instilled wisdom into Momo. She was strict and demanding of Momo but she did so out of kindness and love she had for him. She is an educated adult who wants all of the kids to learn and prosper. Madame Rosa is an ex-prostitute and a holocaust survivor. This is one of the reasons she and Momo begin bonding. The world has done both of them wrong so they are able to understand each other's pain even if they are completely different forms of pain. Once Momo learns about Madame Rosa’s past, he is able to understand and begins to accept her as a mother figure. She still has disagreements with Momo and he shouts at her, but they are few and far between compared to the arguments they had when they first met. Ponti succeeded in presenting Momo as a sympathetic figure searching for meaning in life and Madame Rosa as his much needed counselor.

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Business Club flourishes in quarantine ASU food pantry BY CHRISTOPHER REYNOSO Staff Writer

All school instruction has been moved online and as a result, student organizations have had to move activities online as well. One of these organizations, the Business Club, has had to find a creative way to adapt to the shut-down. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many restrictions across the country, but here in Los Angeles, the second largest city and metropolitan area in the United States, those restrictions have been a little more severe. Even before the pandemic, the Business Club set itself apart from other clubs by being one of the few that met in the afternoon, something faculty adviser Professor Jennifer Alvarado said, “Allows ELAC students who work full-time and attend class in the evening the opportunity to participate in a club,” she said. Alvarado said that prior to the shutdown, club meetings focused on networking between students as well as building workplace, business, leadership and organizational skills. The club organized events for student members, including a trip to Calfornia State University of Fullerton in April that had to be canceled due to the pandemic and volunteered within the greater ELAC community. It provided manpower to a Veterans Resource

Center event last year, as well as to the Business Administration Department’s open house. Now, however, things are different. The club still holds its meetings on Thursday afternoons, but they do so over the popular online meeting app Zoom. As a result of the restrictions associated with meeting via webcam, its had to change the structure of these meetings, which now consist of the Fall Speaker Series, which brings guest speakers from different school services to lecture club members about different opportunities. The most recent was Randy Lee from ELAC’s Career and Job Services. The Fall Speaker Series originated last semester as the Spring Speaker Series shortly after spring break. “We realized we were not going to be on campus,” said Alvarado. “The Spring e-board officers brainstormed possible ways the Business Club could continue to meet… the result of this brainstorm was the Spring Speaker Series.” Naturally, switching to online has presented a new set of challenges for the club. These include students not being able to join live, having to be off-campus and the lack of faceto-face communications. “We’re doing great considering the situation we’re in,” Club President Kaitlyn Tang said. “We’re working with what we’ve got,” said Alvarado. He said even though the pandemic hasn’t made it easy, the club still felt the need to continue meeting.

helps feed students during pandemic BY BRENDA DE LA CRUZ Staff Writer

CN/COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM @ELAC.BUSINESS

BUSINESS AS USUAL—Business Club members meet for the first time during the of fall 2019.

“It is an opportunity for students to connect outside the classroom,” said Alvarado. Maple Duong, vice president of membership for the club, said that they want to continue to lay the foundation for success for students. Another vice president for the club, Wendy Chavez, said it is currently hard to make friends, but important to keep the connection available. It’s not all challenges however, the

switch to online has also presented the club with new opportunities. Aside from the Speaker Series, the club has also been planning a business competition with Loyola Marymount University, something made possible by the fact that there would be no traveling involved. It has even discussed starting a podcast. “We don’t want to feel limited by our options, even though we’re remote,” Duong said.

East Los Angeles College students affected by the pandemic are being aided with food by the Associated Student Union’s food pantry. The year 2020 brought many new norms to students at ELAC. Many who were employed prior to the pandemic possibly lost their job, or had their hours cut. Those who kept their income, did so with the risk of contracting COVID-19. With the change in income also came a fear of uncertainty. Where will students get their next meal from? Will students need to choose between paying their rent or buying groceries? Luckily for them, ELAC’s ASU offered to assist qualifying students through the campus food pantry. In a post on their Instagram account, ELAC’s ASU informed students that if they felt they had begun struggling with food insecurities, they were encouraged and welcomed to fill out and submit an application to try and secure food during the pandemic. In order to qualify, students must be currently enrolled at ELAC, and self-identify as a students who

is experiencing food insecurity. Being a paid ASU member is not required. The application can be found at https://tinyurl.com/ foodinsecurityASU. Once there, students must input their information such as name, student ID number and more. Someone will contact the student for a one-on-one meeting in order to assist with food and possibly additional community and school resources if applicable. The National Association of Student Personnel Administrators says that approximately 48% of twoyear college students experienced food insecurity, and 41% of fouryear students identified as food insecure. Up to 10% of college students have gone an entire day without eating, according to NASPA. This data was recorded prior to the pandemic we are all facing today, leading readers to assume it has only gotten and will continue to get worse. Along with the food pantry link, ELAC’s ASU Instagram account also consistently posts information about other useful resources for students, including locations that offer showers and Thanksgiving meals for those in need during the holidays.

Basketball player flies past adversity BY BRENDA DE LA CRUZ Staff Writer East Los Angeles College’s basketball team ended last season 29-1, attracting many new athletes who hoped to gain opportunities for their futures through the love of the sport. One of these students is Noel Scott, a freshman point guard who graduated from Washington High School. Scott, 19, originally played football as a child, but was inspired to play basketball by his uncle who attended Western Washington University, National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II school. Scott said his uncle used to take him to the park to shoot hoops, where he quickly took a liking to the sport. Due to the global pandemic, Scott has been unable to practice with his team on campus as planned during the regular season. In order to emulate playing on a court while not on campus, Scott said he gets invitations to play with other athletes at basketball courts in Orange County. Additionally, the freshman stays in shape by starting his mornings with a one-mile run, followed by either the Culver City Stairs or

weight lifting with his personal trainer. Despite the setbacks from COVID-19, Scott is able to continue to take his college courses online as he majors in kinesiology, hoping to one day become a sports therapist. The point-guard is open in regards to player recruitment, but hopes to land a school in the Big West Athletic Conference, Western Athletic Conference or Pacific-12 Conference.

Scott said his uncle used to take him to the park to shoot hoops, where he quickly took a liking to the sport.

John Mosley, head coach of the Men’s basketball team believes in Scott’s abilities to land a Division I school, but wishes Scott, along with the other players, would have the opportunity to set foot on campus and get the chance to be noticed and evaluated by universities. “Some players rely on athletics as a vehicle for transfer, but community colleges have no solutions to return

to campus due to COVID-19 state regulations,” Mosley said. Last year, nine sophomores transferred to universities. Mosley believes being on campus and having access to different types of help from the college played a big factor in transferring out. Mosley said that the student athletes are able to participate in study halls a few times a week, which helps them with their educational goals and earn good grades. However, due to COVID-19, meetings on campus have been non-existent and the team has had to rely on Zoom meetings with the coach twice a week. What some people may not know is that student athletes must take on a full load of classes in order to transfer within two years, making it that much harder to juggle good grades and a good playing season during a global pandemic. “Campus should allow some type of access to study hall at a small capacity,” Mosley said. Mosley said he misses mentoring and encouraging the students. He understands it hurts the players to see other counties and other states returning to the courts while they must wait and hope the season begins sooner than later. “I am sure it puts salt on the wound when they see other campuses on the courts,” he said.

CN/COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM @DEANGELOSCRUGGSMEDIA

SLAM DUNK OPPORTUNITY—Basketball player Noel Scott flies toward the rim before making a slam dunk during a private invite match at Fullerton College in Orange County during quarantine. COVID-19 guidelines were less restrictive in Orange County, so he goes to practice there.

CN/ COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM @DEANGELOSCRUGGSMEDIA

GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME—Scott evades other players during a private invite scrimmage at Fullerton College.

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EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18

Campus has historic public art, has lost some J. IVAN CAZARES Staff Writer East Los Angeles College is home to historic art that reflects the accomplishments and struggles of migrant communities in the U.S., but not all of it has been persevered. In 1981 Campus News reported that an unnamed mural which covered the front portion of Ingalls Auditorium was painted over during renovations garnering backlash from the Chicano Faculty Association. The mural, dubbed Aztec Nirvana by CN staff at the time, was painted by students and completed in 1974 under the supervision of Roberto Chavez, who taught at ELAC. “The issue was not whether the stucco is peeling,” Oscar Paez Chicano Faculty Association President told Campus News in 1981. “The issue is that the mural was arbitrarily wiped out without the any due process or consultation with the people who got it there.” However, there are still various examples of Chicana/o art on campus that many students have likely overlooked. While the campus remains closed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic these murals are free for the ELAC community to appreciate and reflects the culture of many of the students. The mural “Education Suite: Arte, Ciencia y Filosofia” located in the Helen Miller Bailey Library has fared much better, being preserved since 1981, even though a renovation which was completed in 2012. The mural was painted on canvas panels by the East Los Streetscrapers— an artist collective consisting of, at the time of the

muralist, Wayne Healy, George Yepes and David Botello, with the assistance of David Morin. Erika Montenegro, an instruction librarian who uses the mural to teach a research method class, told CN in 2017 that “The mural is about education, but ‘suite’ is also a musical term referring to a set of movements in music.” From the bottom of the stairs to the second floor, the mural begins by telling a story of art. From Edward James Olmos’ character in Luis Valdez’ “Zoot Suit” to spiraling piano keys above a series of Pablo Picasso heads, there’s a lot of information contained in these painted images.

“The mural is about education, but ‘suite’ is also a musical term referring to a set of movements in music.” ERICA MONTENEGRO instruction librarian

One of Montenegro’s favorite parts of the mural is its reference to the opening scene of Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey” inside the film strip. “What I like about it is that they use it to weave the narrative from the first panel to the second panel,” Montenegro said. The art piece takes inspiration from cinema, philosophy, science, science fiction and fantasy. On the right wall, the subject matter

turns to philosophy, which is demonstrated by Martin Luther King Jr. conversing with Emiliano Zapata. “I think it’s supposed to represent the differences in revolutionary tactics,” Montenegro said, as she described the different mannerisms of the two men. Inside of Ingalls Auditorium there is a mural by the late Raúl Anguiano who was one of the most renowned artist of the second wave of the Mexican Mural movement. He died in 2006. The mural known only as the Raúl Anguiano mural is largest the artist ever painted and was completed as he mentored students from 2001 to 2002. The art piece depicts iconic moments in Mexican history and prominently features muralists Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco and David Alfaro Siqueiros, colloquially known as “Los Tres Grandes,” as well as Frida Kahlo and other historic figures. Anguiano also incorportaed religous iconography including an interpratation of Siqueros’ “America Tropical.” The mural depicst a crucified indigenous man surrouded by a scene that can be interprated as the conquistadors sacking the inifenous cultures of the Americas. Murals have historiclly been created as a way to remove the finacial barrier that stands between lowerincome communities and the arts and these murals have been were avaiable for the ELAC community to admire every day before the pandemic.

REPORTING BY CN STAFF

INSPIRATION—”Education Suite: Arte, Ciencia, y Filosofia” was completed in 1981 by he East Los

Streetscrapers— an artist collective consisting of muralists, Wayne Healy, George Yepes and David Botello, with the assistance of David Morin. The mural was painted on canvas panels and takes inspiration from cinema, philosophy, science, science fiction and fantasy. CN/J. IVAN CAZARES

CN/ ARCHIVE IMAGE

HISTORY—East Los Angeles Campus News photographs the East Los Streetscrapers— an artist collective consisting of

muralists, Wayne Healy, George Yepes and David Botello, with the assistance of David Morin in 1981 as they near completion of the mural in the Helen Miller Bailey Libary called the “Education Suite: Arte, Ciencia, y Filosofia.”

COURTESY OF THE HELEN MILLER BAILEY LIBARY AND DAVID BOTELLO

THE TORCH— The East Los Streetscrapers— an artist collective consist-

ing of muralists, Wayne Healy, George Yepes and David Botello, with the assistance of David Morin near completion of he mural in the mural in the Helen Miller Bailey Libary called the Education Suite: Arte, Ciencia, y Filosofia. The collective was founded in 1975 by Wayne Alaniz and David Botello. Now considered veterens of the East Los Angeles Mural movement, they were part of the then new Movement in 1981 when the mural was completed. The second panel focuses on science, but has a touch of science fiction. The space shuttle can be seen flying above a giant satellite dish. A smaller satellite can be seen orbiting a planet where a giant nude woman stands. On the right wall, the subject matter turns to philosophy, which is demonstrated by Martin Luther King Jr. conversing with Emiliano Zapata. “I think it’s supposed to represent the differences in revolutionary tactics,” Erika Montenegro, instruction librarian at the Helen Miller Bailey Library told CN in 2017. www.ELACCampusNews.com

CN/ELIANA TORRES

CRESCENDO—The mural known only as the Raúl Anguiano mural is largest the artist ever painted and was completed as he

mentored students from 2001 to 2002. . The art piece depicts iconic moments in Mexican history and prominently features muralists Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco and David Alfaro Siqueiros, colloquially known as “Los Tres Grandes,” as well as Frida Kahlo and other historic figures. It is the largest and last mural he painted before dying in 2006.