Volume 78, Issue 22 | www.elaccampusnews.com | Wednesday, May 12, 2021 | Single copy free - additional copies 50 cents

Memorial service held at ELAC for deceased faculty member BY PAUL MEDINA Staff Writer Students, colleagues, family and friends gathered in the quad outside the Theater Arts Department for a memorial ceremony of esteemed Theater Arts faculty James Johnson. Johnson taught at East Los Angeles College Theater Arts Department for nearly 20 years. His roles included being a staff member, a performing arts technician, an adjunct faculty member, stagecraft and a set & lighting designer. He died on October 13 after a short battle with cancer. The service took place May 4 on what would have been Johnson’s 62nd birthday. Johnson impacted the lives of many students and colleagues during his time at ELAC. Theater Arts faculty member Rodney Scott recalled Johnson’s work and how he went above and

beyond in his duties while assisting him in past play productions. “No one had done so much for any of my productions, and he did it all himself. He stage-trained managers on how to call shows, showed me what to look for, how to spot what I like and how to voice what I wanted,” Scott said. “Here was a man who built all our sets, did all the lights, trained all these stage managers. He knew so much more about the craft of acting than anybody I knew,” Scott said. According to the ELAC Theatre Arts Instagram page, Johnson was a native of Colorado. He did theater arts work in San Diego, before settling in Los Angeles in the mid1990s. In 2001, he began working at ELAC. Aside from experience with technical and stage work, Johnson directed and acted in some ELAC plays Performance East Club President Timothy Reyes said Johnson, “was

Associated Student Union welcomes new clubs BY GUADALUPE BARRIGA Staff Writer

Jim Johnson

Theater Department Instructor

loved by many and inspired those around him through his actions and personality.” Reyes said that, “Above all, Jim was a teacher and mentor to everyone and anyone who sought him out. I remember him as a man of relatively few words. The ones he spoke were filled with kindness, wisdom and humor. I’m sure that many students have similar or deeper experiences that would allow his memory to live on.” During the memorial program, a band composed of ELAC Theater Arts and faculty members played songs that Johnson enjoyed listening to. Johnson’s wife Julianne Foster spoke at the tribute with touching words about her late husband. “He was creative and passionate. He loved me and our cat Jackson as well as Legos and Star Wars,” said Foster. She would go on to talk about the gentle inner child in him and the love for the trains and

toys he had. “He was only 61 years old and was just taken from us too soon. I loved him more than anything else,” Foster said. She also thanked the crowd for sharing memories of him and for being in attendance. According to Reyes, student members in Performance East are working with the department to dedicate a plaque in his name and hope that it will be placed outside his former office, known as the Black Box control booth. “Thank you God for blessing this department with Jim’s presence. He will definitely be missed,” Scott said. A poignant short story written by Johnson in 2016 about a ‘theater ghost’ is available on YouTube via https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=oMY-nKbKs4I Johnson is survived by his wife Julianne, his mother and three siblings.

Associate Student Union chartered two new clubs and approved new funds during a meeting on Friday. The meeting was hosted by President Yuxuan Bai and overseen by Adviser Sonia Lopez. One of the new clubs, Students Against Substance Abuse (SASA) will help students overcome their drug abuse. SASA’s representative Diana Landeros said the club provides outreach opportunities and motivational speakers for students. The club meets every Tuesday from 6:30-6:45 p.m., and it is also known for having taco Tuesday every week. PSI Beta Honors Club is a psychology-based club that was also chattered on Friday. The club’s President Karen Mendoza said the club focuses on the research aspect of psychology. Their meetings take place every second and third Thursday of the month from 12:15-1:45 p.m. The club often has guest speakers from universities to encourage students to further their research at a four year university. All students who have a passion for psychology are welcome to join the club regardless of their major. ASU discussed, voted and approved new funds for the month. Dominguez introduced a funding of $4,000 for Omni gift cards giveaway that will be given to South Gate students. The gift cards will be from local restaurants, ASU will promote the gift cards giveaway through South Gate campus’ social media. Vice President of Advocacy Alondra Pacheco said the Food Pantry is requesting an additional $15,000 fund since the number of applicants

has increased. As of May 7 there were currently 171 plus applicants. Pacheco made an amendment to the proposal for all gift cards to be purchased from Omni cards, the proposal and amendment were both approved. Executive Vice President Rosa Mendoza introduced a $23,000 fund to purchase additional sashes for graduating students. An amendment was added to the proposal to only provide sashes for students who RSVP. Students’ events were also discussed in the meeting as the Event Planning Committee announced the Husky Bowl deadline has been extended to Friday because only one club has registered to participate. The event could possibly get cancelled if no other club registers by the deadline. The committee has sent encouraging emails to the rest of the clubs in hope they will register for the Husky Bowl. The Student Activities Committee is hosting their final Husky Academy today at 2 p.m. where students are welcome to join. Bai announced the Election Committee will be reviewing the ASU elections by May 21 and the; election results will be revealed on May 28. The results will be posted on ELAC’s website. The return to in person classes was also discussed by Lopez. For now, ELAC does not have an exact date for faculty and students to return. ASU will continue to have their meetings via Zoom. Students can register through ELAC ASU’s linktree https:// linktr.ee/elacasu to be part of the meetings. ASU’s next meeting will be on May 28 at 2 p.m.

Business week shows how to find products to sell BY JUAN CALVILLO Staff Writer Finding the best in products and accessible channels of engagement are cornerstones to any new online business. Chris Snyder, senior community manager at Shopify Spaces, said merchandising and fulfillment are also important facets to a business starting up online. Snyder said there are multiple ways of finding products for a business. He said it was about what the small business was looking to use as products. One type of product is self-made products. He said a product like this is for someone who wants to maintain control of the product sold. A drawback to this is that oftentimes,the creator is so busy making the product, there is no time left for business growth. Snyder said manufacturing products is more complex. This is usually done when there is confidence that the product will sell. Manufacturing a product is the greatest upfront cost for businesses. He said it comes with the biggest risk and investment. Snyder said picking a wholesaler or using dropshipping is also a way to get products. Frank Aguirre, professor in the Business Administration department said dropshipping is a low-cost manner of creating a business start-up. This involves a manufacturer storing merchandise for a small business. When a piece of merchandise is

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sold, the entrepreneur electronically sites, Facebook is still an amazing lets the manufacturer know of outlet for businesses. Having a purchase. He said from there, thriving business is very hard if the manufacturer prepares the social media is not a part of the merchandise and ships it to the business’s plan. Snyder said choosing which social customer. “It’s really a great way for media outlets to use was important someone with little money, or no to getting a business online. One money, to start selling, because you of the more important things when creating content is don’t actually have to make sure to use to hold any of the hashtags. Looking product,” Aguirre said. “It’s not up hashtags that Snyder said finding necessarily the connect with a the right sales channels business’s target helps small businesses site’s fault. You market was key. greatly. got to find the Snyder said “You (have) got to be online growth where your customers right niche, the should be are,” Snyder said. right method to incremental. Once A business’s online store is like a hub. sell it. You’re not a small business has a good process The idea is the main quite there yet.” o f p o s t i n g t o hub or center, is the Instagram and business’s main site. Facebook down, From there things get FRANK AGUIRRE it’s time to move connected as spokes Professor in the Business and the end product Administration Department on and choose to incorporate another can be seen as a wagon social media wheel. “ W h e n t a l k i n g a b o u t a n avenue. When it comes to selling, omnichannel business model, the social media is a great place for hub and spoke image is helpful. The point of sale of products. Snyder said a small business spokes represent ways that you can engage with your customers and be should have a good site that is wherever they are. Whether they are attractive to customers. Product on IG (Instagram), Tik Tok or at a pages should inform customers craft fair. It also represents ways that and if possible, include reviews. you can sell,” Snyder said. Customers rely heavily on posted Social media sites like Facebook reviews. Aguirre said websites are and Instagram are great ways for getting connections to customers. important as long as there is potential While most posting is done on other for online sales. The only caveat is

Associated Student Union election results

ASU holds a meeting for live election results May 21 at noon. Zoom link: https://laccd.zoom.us/j/94664219422

if the business is not prepared to do a large number of sales. Investing time and money into a website when only selling a handful of merchandise is not a good idea. He said if only a couple of products are being sold, then looking into eBay or a smaller online sales site might make more sense. Starting an online store with Amazon, Shopify or creating a business’s own website might be overreaching for some entrepreneurs. Failing in those venues can lead some businesses to wonder why the sites failed them. “It’s not necessarily the site’s fault. You got to find the right niche, the right method to sell it. You’re not quite there yet,” Aguirre said. Snyder said when an online business starts up sales, shipping may be done simply by the entrepreneur. He said as the business grows that shipping modes would change and the strategies for shipping costs would as well. Strategies could range from free shipping to carrier calculated shipping. Packaging is another detail that small businesses need to take into account. Snyder said an entrepreneur can never be sure if the product sold will be a part of an unboxing video. Having a product in a video start off in a ugly or unprotected box was not great. A business can never be sure how a delivered box can affect the business. Snyder said the pandemic has changed business across the board. Businesses need to adapt to changes in customer habits to stay viable.

Shopify.com created this and other workshops for National Small Business week. “Shopify always tries to work with business and community organizations as well as schools and universities to provide the

educational, inspirational and valuable resources that anyone who has a small business or is interested in starting their own entrepreneurship journey may need to succeed,” Snyder said.

Dream Resource Center to hold celebration for graduates

Student Health Center introduces peer-to-peer connection

Undocumented students and those who are part of DACA are invited to contact the Dream Resource Center to comfirm graduation by Friday. Register here: HTTP://BIT.LY/DRC-GRADUATE

join the peer navigation meeting on Monday.

Contact (213) 793-8986, (424) 244-9609 or (213) 290-2624 to

Opinion ELAC supports students struggling with mental health 2

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS

and fear. The month of May can be a start for many people who need help with their mental illness. UCLA is providing Screening and Treatment for Anxiety & Depression (STAND) at ELAC for students who meet certain eligibility criteria. Students will be given a five minute survey, the tool will

BY GUADALUPE BARRIGA Staff Writer Let’s take the time in May to raise awareness for mental illnesses and support our loved ones who need help to overcome their struggles. May has been recognized as the Mental Health Awareness Month where organizations, hospitals, schools, local events and films raise awareness to show their support. Millions of people suffer from one or more mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and schizophrenia. As a society we need to understand some people do not have the same mental strength we have to continue to live every day. It is important to reach out to the people we know may be suffering from one of these mental illnesses. They may need someone to talk to or possibly professional help to reduce the trauma of past experiences. Most people who suffer from a mental illness do not talk about it, making it harder for the people around them to recognize if they need help. Therefore it is important to pay attention to details like mood swings, lack of energy, being sad most of the time, alcohol/drug abuse, anger issues and most importantly suicidal thoughts. If you know someone who may

Most people who suffer from a mental illness do not talk about it; making it harder for the people around them to recognize if they need help.

CN/ANDREA CERNA

show any of these symptoms reach out to get them the appropriate help. My mother has lived with anxiety for years. She takes medicine every day to control it, but there are days she can’t do it. Her anxiety takes over and during those days she shuts down completely. All she wants to do is sleep and when it gets really bad her head

feels numb which worries my whole family since numbness can be a symptom of a stroke. As her daughter, I hate to see her like that because I can’t understand what she feels, and it makes me feel useless. The whole family tries to cheer her up to make her feel there is something to look forward to. My personal experience has

taught me to be strong to help my mother overcome her fears. I encourage people to look out for their loved ones regardless of age. We live in a society where children also suffer from mental illnesses that can lead to suicide. Especially after a long year of isolation because of a pandemic, many people have been affected emotionally with stress, isolation

automatically score the student’s responses and will give feedback based on the answers. Students must keep in mind the feedback is for informational purposes and not a proper diagnosis. Based on the student’s responses; STAND will recommend three different programs: Wellness Program, Digital Therapy, Coaching and Clinical Care. These kinds of programs will help students get professional help to overcome their mental struggles. If students need help or know someone who needs help visit stand. ucla.edu for eligibility.

LA’s slow reopening sparks hope in citizen’s daily lives It is always best to operate with caution so when you go out make sure you are still wearing Staff Writer masks at all times. It’s better to be safe than sorry. What I’m most excited about A sense of normalcy is finally is being able to attend live music here as LA County is finally set concerts again. Attending a concert is one of for a major reopening. A multitude of businesses and my favorite thrills, and it has venues, movie theaters, gyms, been a long time coming. Sporting stadiums have also amusement parks, stadiums and museums will be able to operate been open to the public in a limited capacity. at a larger capacity this week. I feel it is good because now Even bars that don’t serve meals, saunas and steam rooms people can enjoy the outside world again and begin to will finally open again. The COVID vaccine has done socialize as they all once did. Humans were made to interact wonders and the number of vaccinated people continue to with one another so this past rise with each week that passes. year in a pandemic has been a In California alone, there difficult adjustment for most of us. Families have been over can finally 32 million people go and enjoy vaccinated which is over 78% of the Some people can still t h e i r t i m e at the park adult population, be infected even if and have fun data via the again. Centers for they have been fully Kids might Disease Control vaccinated, if they are have gotten and Prevention (CDC). not taking precautionary h i t w i t h isolation The numbers of measures. the hardest, those vaccinated because continue to spike they might as more people not have realize how understood effective the vaccines are, and in turn, lead the magnitude of the virus. Kids could have constantly to safety and being able to enjoy been questioning why they can’t your time in public. I n t h e l a s t f e w w e e k s , enjoy their time outside like they public schools beginning from used to. Well, now they will finally be kindergarten to grade 12 were finally able to open. California able to play outside and interact residents had to sacrifice a lot in with their friends, giving them order to finally get here, but it an opportunity to live their childhood. finally happened. Everybody’s routine has been A lot of people had to break their routines and find safer altered this past year, because of routines in order to help speed the pandemic, but especially for up the process of reopening the those with families that wanted to remain as safe as possible. county again. Most adults’ livelihood this This is good because people will no longer feel like they are past year became working their job and staying at home as much trapped in their own home. The rollout of the vaccines has as possible to ensure their own been a success which has sped safety and that of their loved up the process of being able to ones who live with them. Well, with restrictions finally open quicker. Even if you have been fully being lifted, these people will be vaccinated, it would be wise able to enjoy themselves outside to still wear masks and keep a in public again. Something as simple as being able to eat at distance in public if possible. Some people can still be a restaurant will finally be a infected even if they have been possibility again. fully vaccinated, if they are not taking precautionary measures.

BY LEONARDO CERVANTES

CN/ANDREA CERNA

New bill aims at holding police officers accountable BY GABRIELA GUTIERREZ Staff Writer

Police misconduct is nothing new and is still an issue that affects predominantly people of color, including but not limited to Hispanics or Latino people and Black people. Several new bills currently making their way through Legislature have the power to change the way citizens and peace officers coexist by updating the Penal Code. The most impactful bill of the group is Senate Bill 2, which goes into serious detail about the importance of holding those in authority accountable. The bill, introduced by Senators Steven Bradford and Toni Atkins, also goes over the disproportionate deaths that the Black and Latino communities suffer, as compared to the White community, at the hands of peace officers. The bill states that “In 2017, 172 Californians were killed by the police, and our state’s police departments have some of the highest rates of killings in the nation. Of the unarmed people California police killed, three out of four were people of color. Black and Latino families and communities www.ELACCampusNews.com

of color are disproportionately vulnerable to police violence, creating generations of individual and community trauma.” The bill also takes into account the many privileges police officers may receive when they are accused of abusing their powers. The senate enforcing the bill says “The bill would eliminate certain immunity provisions for peace officers and custodial officers, or public entities employing peace officers or custodial officers sued under the act.” The wrongful death of Breonna Taylor last year in Kentucky, is a testament to that privilege as none of the three officers involved were charged in her death. California, which has remained a state without the legal ability to decertify its peace officers, is about to cross that bridge. If the bill passes the Legislature, California will establish the Peace Officers Standards Accountability Advisory Board. The board will consist of nine members with individual forms of qualifications. One of the members will be a current or retired peace officer with expansive knowledge and experience at a command rank. Six members will be members of the public with two, who according to Senate Bill 2, “have been subject

to wrongful use of force likely to cause death or serious bodily injury by a peace officer, or who are surviving family members of a person killed by the wrongful use of deadly force by a peace officer, appointed by the Governor.” The disproportion between people of color and White people is undeniable, especially now that everyone has a smartphone to share anything and everything with virtually the entire world. Assembly Bill 931, introduced by assembly member Carlos Villapudua, is another bill aiming to reform the way peace officers conduct themselves. The bill, if passed, will require other peace officers to intervene if any fellow officers are abusing their power. The bill says, “President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing found that teaching police peer intervention has a powerful influence on encouraging and supporting officers to intervene and prevent their colleagues from committing acts of serious misconduct and criminal behavior.” Although the bills won’t take effect until the next two years, they are evidence of the urgency in reforming the system that is meant to protect and serve its people.

WEDNESDAY, May 12, 2021

EDITOR IN CHIEF Erica Cortes MANAGING EDITOR Juan Calvillo FRONT EDITORS Zasha Hayes Daniella Molina OPINION EDITORS Brenda De La Cruz Cassidy Reyna NEWS EDITORS Annette Quijada Jonathan Bermudez FEATURE EDITORS Paul Medina Alma Lizarraga ARTS EDITORS Grace Rodriguez Gabriela Gutierrez COPY EDITORS Luis Castilla Ivan Cazares STAFF WRITERS Raymond Nava Leonardo Cervantes Annette Lesure Miguel Dominguez SOCIAL MEDIA Daniella Molina Breanna Fierro PHOTOGRAPHER Diego Linares GRAPHICS Andrea Cerna ONLINE EDITOR Cynthia Solis ART DIRECTOR Steven Adamo 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.

Arts

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021

‘Selena’ season 2 redeems itself BY BRENDA DE LA CRUZ Staff Writer “Selena: The Series” redeems itself in its second part of the Netflix original. The Netflix series came back with part two on May 4 and picked up right where it left off. While the first part of the series was upsetting because the storyline was focused solely on Selena’s family and their behind the scenes struggles, part two wins back fans. The show's focus is now on Selena and viewers get to see the side many fans were unable to see on a more personal level. The series manages to capture the late singer’s creativity and talent as it pours out of Christian Serratos so naturally. This is opposite to what viewers saw in part one, where only the male figures would emerge as the heroes, bringing with them a new song or a new gig opportunity. Now, the cumbia queen is shown defending her ideas, even when it is scary to be her own hero. Serratos pulls off Selena’s infectious laugh and sense of humor in every scene. Her ability to capture the singer’s slightest sounds, giggles or squeaks is impressive. There are a few characters who are not likeable for a die-hard fans of Selena or just good people in general. Selena’s sister, Suzette played by Noemi Gonzalez, can be tough to care about. It's good to know Selena’s real sister, who produced the show, is aware of her flaws and doesn’t try to hide them. The series is great to watch whether viewers are a Selena fans or not, but it means more if they are fond of her music. It’s filled with all her greatest hits and it’s fun watching how the songs were created. The series also gives fans a glimpse of what artists go through

when they become famous. Selena was seen as happy-go-lucky, but with fame came struggle. The show gives a glimpse into how the late Tejano queen tries to balance her life as a regular young woman and rising star. It also shows the audience how little privacy she had, and how despite that, she never

lashed out at fans or the media. Selena's capable handling of her situation shows how well she was able to be creative despite tears and self-doubt. The series manages to make viewers feel like they know the singer on a personal level. Fans are typically only able to see what

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THE SIGNATURE RED LIP—Christian Serratos plays Selena Quintanilla in new series.

‘Star Wars: The Bad Batch’s sequel hit or miss uses unique setup BY IVAN CAZARES Staff Writer “Star Wars: The Bad Batch” is sure to make for great entertainment for Star Wars fans, but it won’t make fans out of newcomers to the franchise and would spoil major plot points of the prequel trilogy. The animated series kicked off with a 75-minute episode filled with action, drama and comedic relief which will be a hit or miss depending on the viewer. “Star Wars” has always been created as a family friendly experience while tackling darker subjects in its subtexts. In many ways “Star Wars” animation has done it better than some of the films. The series presents a unique story with familiar tropes as the titular squad of clone soldiers has to come to terms with the fact that the republic they serve is now a galactic empire. The animation style is carried over from ‘The Clone Wars’ which “The Bad Batch” is a direct sequel to. The aesthetic has always been divisive among fans, but everything from the lighting and

is posted online, in magazines or what is said in interviews, but the series makes it as if the viewers were friends of Selena. It gives fans a sense of being there. Viewers should get their tissues ready because although most fans already know the ending to this story, it’s hard not to get emotional.

fluidity during action scenes has been refined over the years. The designs are distinctly “Star Wars,” many of which are taken directly from concept art by Ralph Mcquarrie– which he created for the original film. The clone army is one of the most interesting aspects of the prequel era of “Star Wars.” They were bred for war from the DNA of an elite warrior and thought of as mere products by their creators. They were given numbers at birth instead of names and are physically identical, however the ‘The Clone Wars’ gave them all distinct personalities. They gave each other names, personalized their armor to express individuality, they questioned their purpose and the morality of war which makes their actions in the closing moments of the war drastically more impactful than when it was first presented in “The Revenge of The Sith.” Presenting an army of identical clones as individuals isn’t easy, but the voice actor Dee Bradely Baker somehow manages to create distinct personalities for all the clones. Baker is literally a one-man army and badly voiced clones are

far and few between. “The Bad Batch” is made up of four genetically modified clones and a cybernetically enhanced one. The show also introduces a fifth genetically modified clone which provides a familiar twist to the story. This clone is a child which sets up a similar relationship to one fans just experienced in “The Mandalorian.” The introduction of a child character in a Disney product isn’t surprising, and the character isn’t without merit. The setup is intriguing and unique enough to work and set the show apart if the creators follow through with the same energy they started with in the first two episodes. The show has a lot going for it, because it gets to show the transition from the prequel era to the original trilogy era from the point-of-view of the soldiers which made the transition of power possible. “The Bad Batch” is written by Jennifer Corbett with Brad Rau as a supervising director and “Clone Wars” creator Dave Filoni as an executive producer. It’s scheduled for 16 weekly episodes on Disney Plus.

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MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU—Soldiers of the Galactic Republic struggle to find their place as it becomes a Galactic Empire.

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‘Without Remorse’ uses terrible dialogue BY MIGUEL DOMINGUEZ Staff Writer Stefano Sollima’s “Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse” is an actionpacked thriller with poor dialogue. The last movie Sollima directed was “Sicario: Day of the Soldado” which was a let-down from the first Sicario movie directed by Denis Villeneuve. The movie starts off in Syria where Navy SEAL John Clark played by Michael B. Jordan, and his team are briefed on the mission by CIA Operative Robert Ritter played by Jamie Bell After the mission, Clark notices that Ritter didn’t tell him the truth about the safehouse belonging to the Russians. In some scenes of the movie, Ritter can seem untrustworthy and forces Clark to point a gun at him in efforts to find out the truth later on in the movie. Clark returns to the U.S. three months after their last mission in Syria. The Russians end up at Clark’s home where his expected wife Laura London, is killed. Clark is nearly killed and he is able to get a look at one of the Russian’s faces before escaping. The government sees no retaliation against the Russians and closes the case. But Clark plans to seek revenge on those who were involved in the killings of his wife and unborn child. The Secretary of Defense Thomas Clay played by Guy Pearce, allows Clark and John’s former superior officer, Lt. Commander Karen Greer played by Jodie Turner-Smith, to get his revenge on the murderers. At times, the movie can feel like a “John Wick” film with its close combat scenes. Jordan, like Keanu Reeves, did most of his stunts for the movie. The close-up fight scenes make it look real.

The movie has some similarities to the “Bourne” movies as well. Clark obviously knows what he is doing while the viewers are left guessing his next move. The scene where Clark escapes swiftly, felt like a bit of a let down because he is seen walking in the opposite direction while medics are helping the wounded who are coming out, but no one checks on limping Clark and that is how he escapes. Another “Bourne-like” scene is when Clark is walking in a crowd and the camera is focused on him but then he disappears. This wasn’t necessary. There are some suspenseful scenes that strengthen the movie, like when the plane is shot down by a jet leaving them crash landing in the water. Or, when Clark’s team is ambushed by snipers and need to fight their way through. Although those fight scenes seem exciting, the dialogue could have been improved. Taylor Sheridan, known for writing both Sicario movies, and writer Will Staples needed to improve some of the scenes with better dialogue. The movie is sort of predictable when trying to figure out who may have been involved in the killings of Clark's wife, which may lead to some viewers already knowing how it will end. Overall, the movie was an average action thriller, but not a must-see movie. There is an unnecessary post credits scene that shows that the characters are coming back– this could have been put in before the credits began. Viewers can stream Tom Clancy’s “Without Remorse” only on Amazon Prime.

‘Monster’ tackles racism, discrimination BY ANNETTE QUIJADA Staff Writer The emotionally charged film “Monster,” made its first appearance at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and with its Netflix premiere this week, the film remains as relevant in 2021. “Monster,” is a 98-minute film that takes viewer through different emotions of heartbreak and doubt being wrapped around hope. The film follows a 17-year-old honor student from NewYork, Steve Harmon played by Kelvin Harrison Jr,, finds himself in a court battle after being accused of murder. Steve lives in a middle-class neighborhood in Harlem with his mom Mrs. Harmon plqyed by Jennifer Hudson, his dad Mr. Harmon played by Jeffrey Wright and his little brother Jerry Harmon played by Nyleek Moore. He’s a great student who has a passion for filmmaking and photography. He’s out day and night venturing the world with his friends while also falling in love, as most teens do. But while going through his life flashbacks, the audience is left pondering about whether or not he was part of a crime. When preparing for the battle that comes with proving Harmons innocence, his attorney Katherine O-Brien played by Jennifer Ehle, tells him, “You’re young, you’re black, and you’re on trial. What else do they (the jury) need to know?” Mandler pushes This memorable line picks up on the between different racism Black men have faced and points of view, continue to face in angles and America. It’s been years now perspectives of where it’s thrown Harmon’s life to out the window how good of a student or keep the audience citizen one is. questioning: this The simple fact that a person is Black kid seems like a and is being accused good kid, but also of a crime makes the probability of being does the company labeled as quilty he’s keeping have higher. M o s t f i l m s anything to do with involving young the crime? Black men standing trail tend to focus a

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lot of attention to the political side of things. I n s t e a d “Monster,” aims to show the personal struggle that a young teen goes through when trying to process life in prison and life of the accused. Harmon narrates toward the end of the film,“I still hear people screaming four cells down, still feel the eyes of the guards on me as I sleep. I grab a hold of the air around me sometimes to remind myself I’m

not going back.” This scene brings into question how do adolescent brains recover from the trauma they’ve experienced? Will Harmon be able to live a normal life again? A n t h o n y M a n d l e r, w h o i s originally known for being a music video director made his film debut, showing his storytelling skills in a very abstract way. Mandler pushes between different point of view, angles and perspectives of Harmon’s life to keep the audience questioning; this kid seems like a good kid, but also does the company he’s keeping have anything to do with the crime? Fans of the film can also check out the young adult book that inspired the movie titled, “Monster” by Walter Dean Myers.

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EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, May 12, 2021

Hopes of returning to field are closer to reality each day He said ELAC’s football team starts the year with 100 students Staff Writer and ends up having close to 100 students move onto graduate with scholarships. For the first time in East Los Angeles College his coaching career there was an football team and ELAC’s athletics extraordinary circumstance that department discussed their return enabled student athletes to find following the implementation of doors elsewhere or fall through weekly COVID-19 NCAA safety the cracks. guidelines. “There wasn’t There is much we could optimism that do as coaches ELAC’s football but hang on for will return to a life and it was Any use of indoor full fall schedule, a struggle and but that won’t continues to be. facilities is prohibited. happen until So it’s good to be ELAC and the These restrictions apply back on campus Los Angeles to all sports, not only so they can move Community in a positive football. College District direction, but gives the i t ’s b e e n a authorization. tough decision,” The aftermath Godinez said. of COVID-19 L.A. County restrictions has has been one of also affected the the last counties bond between in California to players and loosen restrictions on COVID-19 coaches. protocols. Football isn’t just about physical Godinez said ELAC’s football conditioning. team began conditioning in-person Due to COVID-19 restrictions, once again on April 12. The the bond in which coaches have beginning of moving equipment with players and each other has began Monday, as well as players gone missing over the past year. weekly COVID-19 tests as part of Football Head Coach Bobby protocol requirements for testing. Godinez prides himself in not Teams are only allowed to losing student athletes. participate in conditioning drills

BY BREANNA FIERRO

CN/PAUL MEDINA

TIME OUT—Weingart Stadium, home to the ELAC Football Team and other athletic sports. as sports eagerly await to return back to play. and all activities must be performed outdoors. Plans such as conditioning on the

football field and maintaining groups of 10 or less while practicing and in keeping with the

six foot social distancing protocols has led to an evolution in the training regime.

No formal practice with equipment will be held within the department. Any use of indoor facilities is prohibited. These restrictions apply to all sports, not only football. Student athletes will start from scratch, specifically those in football. Due to COVID-19 many athletes stopped training and conditioning on a day to day basis, but overall coaches feel good about returning. Despite not having sports events, ELAC’s athletic department is still active. “Sometimes students feel that because there are no games going on that means there is no athletic department or activities and that’s the furthest thing from the truth,” Haynes said. Last year ELAC’s athletic website created a feature called “Ask a Husky” where student athletes were interviewed. They were asked how they were coping with having to move off-campus due to COVID19, and how they addressed that. Haynes said, “There are going to be many lessons for us to learn from this, and there is a silverlining in terms of interpersonal relationships, the value of working and learning how to balance homelife, that there will be a lot of lessons moving forward; these are lessons that would have never been forced to face otherwise.”

Swimmers can’t wait to splash back into water BY CYNTHIA SOLIS Staff Writer Athletics have not been the same since the start of the pandemic, and Coach Kimberly Romero of the ELAC swim team can’t wait to get her swimmers back in the pool. “Once the district deems it safe to go back to the pool on campus, we’ll be starting back up ASAP,” Coach Romero said. Seeing that many swimmers haven’t been in a pool for months, if not at all due to the quarantine, it is no surprise that Romero wants

to get started right away so she and her athletes can safely convene their swimming abilities to get back into a routine. Trying to figure out how to maintain a safe environment while having athletes practice is one of the athletics epartment’s primary concerns. Romero stressed that the department had worked long hours to put together a protocol for each sports facility, including the swim stadium. Although there is no definitive plan put into place yet, it is of the utmost importance to Romero to social distance and even

Arts

designates swim lanes for individual use. Romero has not seen her team since the start of the pandemic but did utilize zoom meetings to catch up with her athletes. She was excited to say that they have been granted access to on-campus training at the track field. With that being said, land workouts don’t excite the swimmers the way a pool would. Romero says, “We were doing Zoom workouts. But being swimmers, they want to be in the water. They very much rather be swimming.”

Out of this world child super heroes save Jupiter by a certain set of rules or ideals. This code is similar to many other Staff Writer superhero codes and frowns on the killing of villains. The newer generation of heroes must contend with battling not only changing villains but also Netflix’s “Jupiter’s Legacy” the pressure to conform to the is an introspective, smart and expectations of the first generation visually stunning adaptation of heroes. writer Mark Millar’s comic book “Jupiter’s Legacy” is set in the series by the same name. early days of the United States, The show takes its time with the story addressing taking place questions that right after the other comic book Stock Market movies and shows crash and the have only glossed depression of over. It questions The modern storyline the 1930s. the role heroes The story focuses on the second have in an everis about the changing world generation of heroes, Sampson and if there really family and many of them being is “always another their struggle way.” children of the original to live like a “Jupiter ’s normal family heroes. Legacy’s” but also deal storyline is told with living from two points of up to heroic view. The current ideals created storyline is told decades in modern times, b e f o r e . while the second Sheldon, storyline helps in played by Josh Duhamel, and explaining how the super powered Grace, played by Leslie Bibb, are people came to get their powers. the patriarch and matriarch of the The storylines have threads that family. mirror each other throughout the Brandon, played by Andrew episodes. It provides the audience Horton, and Chole, played by with two stories that complete and Elena Kampouris, are the brother complement each other. and sister trying their best to live The storyline told in the past up to the ideals of their heroic shows the very human struggles parents. that created the psyches of many From the main cast, it is Bibb of the original heroes. that is most interesting and really The modern storyline focuses a joy to watch on screen. on the second generation of heroes, Her character seems at first many of them being children to simply be parroting many of the original heroes, trying to of Duhamel’s feelings and make sense of rules and legacies perspectives as pertains to being that were created decades before heroes, but as the episodes their births. continue she becomes much more The first generation heroes abide

BY JUAN CALVILLO

www.ELACCampusNews.com

three dimensional. Bibb’s acting is best in the episodes that foray into the past, before she and her husband had powers. She’s shown as a take-nospit from anyone type of woman. It’s fun watching Bibb contend with characters who at the time still call her “a dame” because she comes back and gives them reasons to be intimidated by her character. The supporting cast is full of interesting talent, but the stand out is Ian Quinlan who plays Hutch. Quinlan’s character is the son of a superhero who turned and became a super villain. Quinlan plays his character with both an intensity and smoothness that will cause audiences to think he’s a jerk— but one that can be redeemed. “Jupiter’s Legacy” is beautifully created. Its use of computer graphics and practical effects is stunning, and the hero fights showcase the amazing action that would unfold if a half dozen heroes were to fight a villain at full tilt. It’s this visual flare that makes the fantastical moments of the show both believable and outlandish. The inside sets used during the past storyline are beautiful and filled with time appropriate decors, crafts and minutia. During the modern scenes the settings always look lived in. The only gripe is that there aren’t many superhero level battles during the show. The fights seem to bookend this first series. Fortunately, it doesn’t hurt the main attraction of the series which is the rich story being spun. “Jupiter’s Legacy” allows it’s characters to analyze themselves and also allows the story to ask hard questions when it comes to power and its uses. The show is available to stream now on Netflix and is rated TV-MA.

A worry that Romero has is that the team won’t be granted access to their swim stadium. Since it is not definitive that the swim team will be able to go back this semester, they can’t do anything but wait for the “okay” to go practice. Besides the obvious disappointment of not being able to go back to the pool herself, she worries about the devastation it will bring her swimmers. “The swimmers are incredibly excited to go back and are fully aware that protocols need to be followed to make sure everyone is

safe once they return. “They are all okay with implementing the appropriate protocols as long as they can go back into the pool,” said Romero. Swimmer Yuridia Vivas has been on the team since Spring 2020. Like many other sports, the swim team was unable to finish their season. She said, “Knowing that I couldn’t finish the season made me feel sad because all your hard work and all the training felt like it was for nothing.” Even though her season was cut short, she gave her total energy to the team, coach and herself.“Just

like that, [I] can’t finish the season. It hurt, Vivas said. Vivas is very excited to go back. She understands that Coach Romero has been doing everything within her power to keep the swimmers safe when doing their land workouts. She is looking forward to seeing the rest of her team because she has gotten very close with her teammates, about whom she said, “the girls become part of your family and motivation.”

Series tells serial killer’s spree BY GRACE RODRIGUEZ Staff Writer Investigative reporter Maury Terry pushes the limits in the new Netflix docu-series “Sons of Sam: A Descent Into Darkness” which dissects the infamous investigation of David Berkowitz. Tr u e - c r i m e f a n s w i l l b e pleasantly surprised by this release and will appreciate the in-depth discussion of the things missed by the New York Police Department during the initial investigation. Terry famously left all of his files and evidence on the ‘Son of Sam’ to the director of the show, Joshua Zeman. Zeman created the four-episode docu-series to honor and share Terry’s life’s work. He does not shy away from diving deep. He shares Terry’s theory of a national network of cults and all while opening himself up to criticism. “Season of the Witch” by Joan Jett is the theme song of the series and rightfully so, with the speculation that both David Berkowitz and John Carr were involved in a cult and witchcraft. The first episode called “Hello from the Gutters” introduces the crimes. It does a great job at keeping a mysterious element at bay. It also encompasses what New Yorkers were feeling at the time of the murders. “Terror sold.” Superstition ran rampant at the time. Full moons were feared, women changed their hair to avoid being targeted and pepper spray and weapons sold out. By the end of the episode, the audience is introduced to David Berkowitz, a suspect in the ‘Son of Sam’ case. A couple of the infamous letters that taunted investigators are shown in the series and analyzed. One of the receivers of a letter, Jimmy Breslin, a local reporter who was heavily criticized at the time for publishing the letter in the

newspaper before handing it over to police, is brought up. This was allusory to the savage reporting that was taking place at the time in New York. The documentary highlights how difficult it was for Terry to corroborate the stories that kept coming to him. As reporter after reporter pushes the line, the headline ‘Sam Sleeps’ proves to be detrimental to Ter r y’s investigation and lands Berkowitz farther behind bars. Terry, left with pressing questions, remains frustrated at the fact that this would make scor i ng a n i nt e r v iew w it h Berkowitz virtually impossible. The docu-series brings up inconsistencies in the case such as the fact that none of the police sketches look like David Burkowitz. For those unfamiliar with the case, it leaves them clueless as to what will happen next. At one point it even poses the question “Is there a link between the ‘Manson’ killings and the ‘Son of Sam’ killings?” Episode two called “Catch .44”— a reference to the weapon the serial killer used in each of the killings— explores the possibility of David Berkowitz being insane after the court hears alarming stories from ‘the ‘Son of Sam.” Berkowitz’s motives are put into question in the courtroom and instead of getting answers, i nvestigators are lef t more perplexed but a guilty verdict is enough for the NYPD to close the case. The episode ends and the quote from Berkowitz remains on viewers’ minds, “There are other ‘sons’ out there.” Berkowitz’s words don’t sit right with Terry and viewers are catapulted into the network that he begins to unravel beginning with John ‘Wheaties’ Carr— the son of Sam Carr was his first lead. Episode three called “The Ultimate Evil” delves into the rabbit-hole of cults. At first

glance, it can be off-putting and easily dismissed as a conspiracy beginning to unravel. But the rundown of cults such as: Scientology, The Process and The Manson Family were used to draw parallels in the structure and the motivations of Berkowitz’s possible involvement in a cult of his own. This is fascinating to watch but viewers are often left doubting what Terry has to say because of how his obsession with the case progresses. After much speculation and a ton of investigative work, Terry receives a chilling letter from a surprising source that gives him a new lead. This excites viewers and makes them hang on a little bit longer. The docu-series is self aware— the fourth and final episode is called “The Rabbit-Hole.” Here, Terry scores an interview with Berkowitz and he is surprised to meet a well-mannered gentleman who has converted to Christianity. Berkowitz opens up about his past and unveils a few secrets— this does not satisfy everyone. The entire process is interesting to watch. It will leave viewers frustrated at times, but satisfied and shocked by the end. However, nothing is ever truly resolved. This gives the focus-series a bit more merit. While it is biased in favor of Terry, it does lay everything out on the table and allows viewers to decide what to believe. The docu-series is directed by Joshua Zeman but the story is told from the first-person perspective of Terry. It is rated TV-MA there is blood, nudity, suicide, sexual violence, language, smoking and disturbing images. Terry walks a fine line, he disregards his reputation and obsesses over the case in hopes to find the truth at any cost. Aspiring journalists can learn a lot from the series and Terry’s actions— from the importance of a reputation, to the importance of corroboration.