Volume 78, Issue 19 | www.elaccampusnews.com | Wednesday, April 21, 2021 | Single copy free - additional copies 50 cents
LACCD reviews campus plans for LGBTQIA+ community BY ZASHA HAYES Staff Writer The LACCD Chancellor ’s LGBTQIA Advisory Committee delved into establishing programs including safe zones for students in the queer community in their recent meeting. The agenda for the meeting included welcoming remarks and comments on the George Floyd Case. To follow this, reports on the LGBTQ+ Certified Business Program and Queer/ Ethnic Studies Intersections and Curriculum were given. In this discussion, guest speaker Chancellor Fransisco Rodriguez spoke on the intersectionality of justice and the services the committee is working on for students in the queer community. These services include safe zones, providing special development training for faculty and staff, mental health services, learning communities, student pubs and hangouts and furthering curriculum development for courses focused on the community. Rodriguez said,“What we’re trying to do with the allocations and resources is create a climate and a culture; a positive change that embraces and supports the LGBTQ community and students. We’re doing this with a focused sense of leadership starting with our board of trustees. (We’re) spreading this idea throughout the state of California and leading by example without apology, without any sense that we should slow this down. In fact, we should accelerate.” “There is a larger sense of purpose and social justice that includes the LGBTQ Community
CN/ZASHA HAYES
ONE LOVE ONE HEART—LACCD members, faculty, and students talk about the upcoming Lavender graduation for the LGBTQIA+ community and allies. towards a more racially and socially just environment both here in LACCD and throughout the state and country,” Rodriguez said. The meeting continued on with talk of bills that will be passed that will include ethnic studies that have LGBTQ elements in each class. Trustee David Vela went on to explain the resource
allocation for an LGBTQ pilot program. The state-wide budget is 10 million dollars and the amount of money that could be given out to students could reach up to $500,000 in scholarships. The money would also be used in the services for the students of the LGBTQIA+ Community. Guest speaker Dean over
Curriculum Dan Keller spoke on the different courses that will be available for transfer. He also spoke of the updated curriculum for social justice discussions and how as the present, there is no real definition of what ethnic studies are. Therefore the courses could be expanded upon in the district as not just studies on ethnicities, but
culture, too. Debrah Harrington spoke on the idea of expanding the definition of ethnic studies. “I wanted to add on to the idea of intersectionality and thinking about the intersections with ethnic studies. I would like to see us advocate and see a relationship between queer studies, LGBTQ studies and ethnic studies because
I do think that in many respects the way that we look at ethnicities on some levels you’re talking about the social construct of that,” Harrington said. Guest speaker Ruben C. Smith from San Fransisco Community College helps expand the idea of spaces for students in the queer community as he is an expert in facilities. Smith said he was teaming together with Long Beach to develop a program for target outreach, but things are just getting off the ground. East Los Angeles College already has courses that promote ethnic studies on the queer community, Rin Kahla a professor of women and gender studies at ELAC, said. Professor of Political Science Felipe E. Agredano showed a presentation as another part of the agenda came up. This part of the agenda was the Faculty Liaison Report and the Lavender Graduation. The report and presentation gave the viewers a look at the activities for the queer community each campus in the district has currently. The rest of the meeting focused on the graduation and the online space queer students can go to if they need help. The link for this student service is as follows. https://www.elac.edu/StudentServices/One-Zone The Lavender Graduation will be on May 17. There are still tickets to be sold and seats to be filled. The link to the event is as follows. h t t p s : / / 2 0 2 1 l a v e n d e rg r a d . eventbrite.com These meetings are hosted quarterly and welcome those who choose to attend.
Vincent Price Art Museum welcomes new director BY BREANNA FIERRO Staff Writer Vincent Price Art Museum welcomed artist and activist Steven Y. Wong as the new director. VPAM interim education program coordinator Natalie Sanchez, welcomed the department of art, the museum studies advisory committee and chancellor Francisco Rodriguez, to a virtual meeting for all to meet Wong. Political rights and social justice activist Steven Y. Wong introduced himself for the first time as the new director and senior curator at the VPAM. The main focus during the meeting was to discuss his previous work, family history and to review his educational background. Wong’s artistic background and expertise comes from fighting justice for Asian American communities. His ultimate goal is to not only continue the Latin exhibitions at VPAM but also focus on the under represented Asian and Chinese communities. This can ensure that these exhibitions make the connection to bring them together stronger than before. He believes his passion, is his greatest strength and is deeply passionate about social justice. In his teen years, Wong witnessed a Caesar Chavez protest that many students including himself attended in support of the farm workers. This is when his passion for the arts and for social justice came into play. As a fourth generation
News Briefs
Asian American he struggled throughout grade school. While he did not have a realistic path in academic studies, his drive for equality, creativity and passion for the arts is what secured his future. “I think public schools in general lack support for students who are having problems. I think being Asian American definitely hurt me, how that manifested itself is the idea of the mono minority,” Wong said. He believed we are all oppressed. He said, “If one group is oppressed, then we are all oppressed, it's intersectional.” Growing up on the Westside of Santa Monica during the late ‘70s,Wong felt as if he grew up in a non-traditional household. He said, his mother never pushed her language on him. It wasn’t functional in the household. That became the contributing factor in why Wong isn’t fluent in the Chinese language today. In public outings, Wong’s mother would provide Wong crayons and pencils to write or draw with. He said this distracted him from the language barrier faced when attempting to listen to the conversations his father and friends had growing up, which eventually benefited his art. Wong said he grew up as a latchkey kid through little to no supervision, with both parents working—mother worked as a teacher and father at a carpet factory in Lincoln Heights. His parents consistently enrolled him in afterschool programs and daycare programs that were invested with art components. This drove Wong’s passion for art even further. He noticed at a young age that
he thrived in the arts, but always had challenges in the academia department. With no family pressure to attend college, Wong did have social pressure that he witnessed through his friends. He enrolled into a special art program at Santa Monica College and discovered his newfound love of learning. Wong didn’t believe he would be where he is today if he didn’t attend community college, so it helped him navigate the way into an art career. He felt as if Santa Monica College lacked proper representation. Besides being critical about it, he felt it was also important to get his act together, to learn the love of learning, by working hard and networking. It was an opportunity for him to change old habits because the art world began to appear diverse and Wong felt as if there was still work that needed to be done. This challenge fueled his interest and he became passionate about making that change. Dean of UCLAArt Department Henry Hopkins mentored Wong when he was attending Santa Monica college by suggesting and helping him get into UCLA. This is where Wong received his master’s degree in art and Asian American studies. Wong’s first introduction to public art was through graffiti and he continued to curate artists who participate in graffiti art since. He said, during the ‘80s it was less acceptable as an artform and wasn’t necessarily a career path, but he did this art publicly and found a community of artists through being a graffiti artist. His first show, in 2010,
First Year Experience Social Hour
First Year Experience and ELAC Promise will host a social hour tomorrow from 1 to 1:30 p.m. where students can take a break from classes and meet new people. To RVSP go to https://tinyurl.com/FYESOCIAL1
brought together graffiti artists. It responded to immigratio reform and predominantly Latin artists with some Chinese and Asian American artists. This is something Wong was able to bring when working at the Chinese American Museum. When working for the Chinese American Museum, Wong said he realized the primary representation was Chinese American artists and felt as if the museum should represent the whole Los Angeles community so it led him to curate shows for himself. Moving on to the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery where he was hired to diversify the exhibitions, he said the gallery specifically hired him because he was curating artists of color, while the ambition was to elevate diverse artists. He worked there for three years, before moving over to VPAM. Through his academia and throughout the assistance he was provided in schooling beginning at Santa Monica College just motivated him in wanting to give that same appreciation back to the East Los Angeles College. As a former community college student, he felt indebted through the college education he received and wants to continue that work at VPAM. “As a curator you can only do so much in terms of policies and curating shows,” he said, and while a director he can push forward his agenda in making sure VPAM continues to provide high profile shows that focus on Chicano and Latin art. Wong plans to begin to bridge these communities that are in between about collaborating with different communities such
as Asian-American or Chinese communities. “ELAC is a diverse campus, the VPAM staff is diverse, the VPAM board is diverse, but it feels what a lot of institutions have been overlooking are the
collections, how to reframe collection policies of collecting and exhibiting pieces from the collection that are relevant to the student population and to the communities of color,” Wong said.
COURTESY OF VPAM JOE PUGLIESE
MAN IN CHARGE—VPAM welcomes new director Steven Y. Wong and learns about his passions in art and activism.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month ELAC Student Health Center and Domestic Violence and Sexual Assult Support Center will host meetings about dealing wil trauma and more. The last three meetings will take place next week. To RSVP for any workshop go to httpos://linktr.ee/elawc_elac
Auditions for Fall ELAC Productions
ELAC Theatre department will host audition workshops for student actors to meet directors and go over audition material on Saturday at 10 a.m. To attend the meeting ID is: 929 1263 9933 and the Passcode is: 560631
Opinion Biden’s plan to eliminate student loans 2
BY CYNTHIA SOLIS Staff Writer Everyone should support Biden’s plan to eradicate student loan debt, even if it is just a small percentage, because it will benefit borrowers. Students around the country make the conscious decision each year to pursue higher education, whether it is to better their lives or learn something new. Higher education is already becoming a hot commodity, and a rare one at that. As the years pass, school acceptance rates get small making it that much more challenging. The least of a student’s worries should be on how they will afford this “luxury.” Except, many students have to either take a gap year to work and save for school or get into thousands of dollars in debt. During the 2020 presidential election, President Joe Biden’s campaign pushed for the commitment to broad student loan forgiveness, saying, during a town hall in Florida, that he would eliminate student debt “if you come from a family [making less] than $125,000 and went to a public university.” According to the Brookings Institution, student loan debt makes up the second-biggest share of household debt. Using data from 2019, the Federal Reserve’s 2020 U.S. Household Report, showed that 45 million Americans have student loan debt totaling over $1.7 trillion. This means that each borrower, on average, will have debt between $20,000 and $24,999. People of color and low-income graduates are negatively affected by this, encountering a never-ending cycle of long-term debt, owing more than the initial amount that was borrowed. Canceling student debt will have a severe economic impact. Although Senators Elizabeth Warren and Chuck Schumer pushed for a plan to wipe out $50,000, even eliminating $10,000 can save $15.3 million borrowers, completely removing their federal student debt. As a recent high school graduate looking to pursue higher education, I wasn’t particularly looking forward to getting my letters of acceptance or rejections, but after they came in, I was relieved to know that I got into my dream schools. Still, a new problem arose— how will I pay for it? I decided to go to the University of San Francisco; I placed my deposit and spoiled myself and my parents with some school merchandise to show off our spirit. It wasn’t until August 2020 that I was faced with the genuine
problem of paying almost $20,000 to register for my classes, and that was that I received about $30,000 in scholarships and grants. The idea of getting into that much debt for general education online classes was very discouraging, so I decided to rescind my acceptance and immediately applied to ELAC’s College Promise Program. Thankfully, programs like these exist to help students, but how to afford an education shouldn’t be on a student’s mind because it adds unnecessary stress. By canceling student loan debt, there are dozens of benefits. Some major ones include being able to start a life without being in debt. Seeing that student loan debt is the second-highest form of consumer debt, without this burden people would be able to start their life after college without having to pay the federal government with the hope of barely paying off just the interest owed. Not only that, but canceling student loan debt would help narrow the racial wealth gap. Many student loan borrowers of color would benefit from the support of student loan forgiveness. According to the website, Color of Change, “Black graduates [hold] $25,000 more in student loan debt than white graduates.” It would also allow for Black and Latino borrowers to improve their financial security and experience wealth gains. If you were to look at student loans on a federal level, ViceChair and Associate Professor of Economics at ELAC, Dr. Murniz Allen Coson, Ph.D., said, “The federal government can easily cancel all student loans. The government is set up to take on debt. “It has given out a couple of trillion dollars for student loans in the past decades, so they should work on forgiving it since they are equipped to make it disappear. They will also be able to focus on other programs such as Medicare.” With programs such as the Los Angeles College Promise, Dr. Coson, Ph.D., says that it is worth continuing and growing the program on a state level because “it is all about equity.” As an economics professor, he wants “to make sure students have access to higher education but society forces young adults to pick what they want to do with their lives at an early age and it is too much pressure. “So a solution to this is to attend community colleges and expose yourself to different disciplines. By doing so, professors can plant a seed, and students are then able to take these newfound interests and find mentors to be later able to transfer.”
EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 2021
EDITOR IN CHIEF Erica Cortes MANAGING EDITOR Juan Calvillo FRONT EDITOR Cassidy Reyna OPINION EDITORS Brenda De La Cruz Zasha Hayes NEWS EDITORS Annette Quijada Jonathan Bermudez
CN/ZASHA HAYES
Studies suggest being outdoors is safer than staying indoors BY LEONARDO CERVANTES Staff Writer Being outside does not sound as deadly as it once did before, so long as people aren’t being reckless and the proper precautions are taken. Many places have opted for outdoor services for their customers. Dining has been moved outside the restaurants, while church services have been held outside as well. Many things have changed since the pandemic but society has learned to cope with it. In some cases, now being outside seems safer just because people are not in an enclosed environment. Being outside allows the air to flow and it’s different than breathing indoors in an enclosed space. Although studies show that it may in fact be safer outside, there is no reason for people to be reckless. One must always proceed with proper precautions when in public at all times. The COVID-19 vaccine seems to be doing wonders and the percentage of people getting the There is a popular saying floating around social media, “Eat the Rich,” which represents standing up to those in power and holding them accountable on behalf of the less fortunate. The phrase was first said by
vaccine increases by the day. As of April 15, the vaccine became available to everyone 16 years or older. The quantity of supplies keeps growing and that allows the chance for more people to get vaccinated. In California alone there have been 26.1 million total doses given. Among that number, 9.9 million people have been fully vaccinated which equals about 25% of the population, according to data found via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Health officials advised the population that being six feet apart is the best way to maintain safety. If you are at the local park it would be best to be 15-20 feet away from one another. If you are out in public and see a person maskless, it would just be best to avoid them if possible. It is better to be safe than sorry. There is no reason to take unnecessary risks. If it is necessary for you to use a public restroom, it’s best to go in and out as soon as possible. Also, washing your hands and sanitizing when out in public throughout the day is advised. You should always sanitize your hands
Jean-Jacques Rousseau in 1838 but gained popularity again on Twitter as there is a clear class struggle. Recently, Congress has been scrutinized for bailing out corporations and giving breaks to billionaires.
for good measure, even after small acts, such as after pumping gas. If you are out in a public place that does not have strict mask rules it is best to leave if possible. Having to look over your shoulder to see if someone is wearing a mask to ensure both of your safety is not ideal. A recent trend that started happening over the last few months is people began wearing two masks at once. If you are planning on going to the park or beach it is best to avoid large crowds, so going during the morning would be a safer time. Professional sports teams stadiums have begun to open up like the Lakers and Dodgers stadiums. They do not allow a full capacity of fans yet, but Dodger stadium has been limited to 15,000 people while the Lakers only allow about 2,000 people. The fans are seated apart from one another and it is mandatory for them to wear a mask at all times. On April 12, LAUSD reopened 61 elementary schools. On April 19, the remaining elementary schools reopened and on April 26, middle and high schools will reopen.
Canceling student loan debt will help out “regular” people, allowing student loan borrowers to get a similar type of financial relief that is constantly being afforded to America’s 1%.
Pandemic restrictions claim Hollywood landmarks Fans sadly lose venues BY BRENDA DE LA CRUZ Staff Writer Arclight and Pacific theaters announced their permanent closing, and it just adds to the long and depressing list of losses millennials continue to face as they grow older. ArcLight Cinemas and Pacific theaters have fallen victim to the pandemic, adding to the end of an era for many with added fears that
more landmarks will go next. The theaters, which are jointly owned by Decurion corporation, closed their doors for good on April 12. Due to restrictions placed on theaters due to COVID-19, the company was forced to shut down for more than a year. The closure resulted in both theaters taking big financial hits.
The closure of these theaters inspired many in Hollywood to rally in hopes of saving the once frequented businessess. It’s understandable why many in Hollywood are rallying to save theaters. Director Rian Johnson, who directed “Knives out” and “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” was among those hoping to save the theaters. He tweeted his sentiments about the closure. “Well this sucks. Every single person who worked at the Arclight loved movies, and you felt it.
CN/ANDREA CERNA, STEVEN ADAMO
www.ELACCampusNews.com
“Sending love to every usher, manager and projectionist who rocked that blue shirt and made it such a special place,” Johnson said. With technology advancing more each day, closures such as these were bound to happen one day. But never did the thought cross anyone’s mind that it would come sooner on account of a global pandemic. Gone are the days of reserving your seat or worrying about having to be extra early to snag a good one. Arclight also had the yummy gourmet smoothies and snacks that you munched on while a special guest or employee introduced the feature film to the audience. The theater sometimes had celebrities show up for premieres and surprise guests. Although other companies such as ‘AMC’ remain in business, nothing can compare to grubbing on some pizza while watching the midnight screening of the latest “Twilight” installment in the Arclight’s Cinerama dome. The feeling of being in such a huge arena like that was simply magical. The theaters made patrons feel a part of the movies with the high definition and surround system. These theaters offered reward cards to their customers. This meant that free or discounted food or tickets made people come back.
The Arclight cinemas were hubs of return business and social interaction.
Gone are the days of reserving your seat or worrying about having to be extra early to snag a good one.
The question now is what will happen to the spacious theater locations. Perhaps other theaters will snag them as they seemed to have done okay during the pandemic. AMC managed to still rent/sell films to patrons virtually. Arclight theater locations included Hollywood, Sherman Oaks, Pasadena, La Jolla, and Beach Cities. Pacific theaters locations included Glendale, Lakewood, Sherman Oaks, Northridge, Chatsworth, and the Grove/Los Angeles.
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 EDITORS Cynthia Solis ART DIRECTOR Steven Adamo ADVERTISING Stefanie Arocha ADVISER Jean Stapleton Campus News encourages letters to the editor relating to campus issues. Letters must be typed and double spaced. Submitted material becomes the property of Campus News and cannot be returned. Letters should be limited to 300 words or less. Campus News reserves the right to edit letters for grammatical errors or libelous content. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Writers must sign submissions and print their names and a phone number where they can be reached. Letters should be addressed to the editor of Campus News. Submissions can be made at the mailroom in building E1 or the Journalism department office in the Technology Center in E7-303. East Los Angeles College Campus News 1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez E7-303 Monterey Park, CA 91754 (323) 265-8819, Ads (323) 265-8821 Fax (323) 415-4910 The East Los Angeles College Campus News is published as a learning experience, offered under the East Los Angeles College Journalism program. The editorial and advertising materials are free from prior restraint by virtue of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. The opinions expressed are exclusively those of the writer. Accordingly, materials published herein, including any opinions expressed, should not be interpreted as the position of the Los Angeles Community College District, East Los Angeles College, or any officer or employee thereof.
News
EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 2021
3
Academic Senate contemplates adding new counseling tool ‘Starfish’ BY CYNTHIA SOLIS Staff Writer The East Los Angeles College’s Academic Senate discussed whether to implement Starfish— a tool that would be used for counseling to track student progress and success within one platform. Starfish is a case management system that has capabilities for in-depth advising and degree planning by creating tailored responses to support students’ everchanging needs. This platform helps students regarding class requirements, adjust plans to reflect a students’ academic goals, directly connects them to course registration services, and track interventions. Many board members expressed concern regarding the implementation of Starfish. Some concerns being that many of the available features are also available on Canvas. On Canvas faculty can monitor students’ grade and send a direct message that they can access on their phones using the Canvas app. This is not a unique function only found in Starfish. Professor Steve Wardinski, member of the Curriculum Committee, expressed his worry that implementing Starfish might overwhelm and confuse students because they would be unsure whether to acknowledge their teachers, on Canvas or via Starfish. Professor Mary Romo, Chicano Studies, agreed with the Senate there should be a new form of
technology but is unsure if Starfish is the answer. Some members also drew attention to the similarities Starfish may have to ConexED. ConexED is the current technology software that instructors use, a browser-based platform that allows students to connect and engage with their instructors, student support staff, and other students. Academic Senate president, Jeffrey Hernandez, attempted to ease the member’s worries by saying that instructors don’t have to implement it if they don’t want to, but that Starfish does act as a one-stop-shop. He said that Starfish connects a gap and offers personalized, supplemental instruction, which could benefit students. Hernandez said Mt Sierra College embedded a link to Starfish within Canvas so that students can access the “success center” portal. This portal allows them to have tailored service links as opposed to going back to a long list. There was a roll call vote which allowed for each member to agree, disagree, or abstain from the proposal of implementing the Starfish service. Although there was much debate regarding the implementation, an overwhelming majority pushed the motion forward. Hernandez also announced that there has been a growth in the honors program and that the director of the program, Dr. Nadine Bermudez, Ph.D., will be stepping
STARFISH OR CANVAS?—Senate members deliberate the pros and cons of adding a new management system for students. down, so there will soon be a job announcement going out. Hernandez also encouraged members who don’t want to apply for the position to join the selection committee. Steve Wardinski also proposed the approval of curriculum for academic senators. The committee regularly gets suggestions, and the Senate received a motion but instead
must decide whether the classes would be approved. The document consisted of seven pages covering: new emergency class proposals, course change requests, new credit course requests, skills certificate change requests, certificate of achievement change requests, degree change requests and intent to archived locally-approved programs.
There was unanimous consent, so the classes were approved. President Alberto Román, who attended the meeting, said that in the past six years, enrollment had dropped about 20,000. ELAC is currently being funded by the enrollment numbers from the 2017-2018 school year taking that into account, the drop in enrollment is concerning
ELAC has lost approximately 18,000-19,000 full time students (fts) which adds up to about $100 million loss to the district because ELAC makes up about 25% of the district’s fts. The district’s fts has three components, 70% is student funding, 20% supplemental funding, and 10% success and outcome.
East Los Angeles Women’s Center urges boys, men to join sexual assault conversations BY ANNETTE QUIJADA Staff Writer The East Los Angeles Women’s Center has taken action to inform that sexual assault is a topic that must be talked about to boys and men and the importance of identifying the factors that contribute to sexual assault. With two weeks left in Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the ELAWC hosted a wokshop on “Engaging Boys and Men To End Sexual Assault.” Workshop facilitators included advocate specialist Luis Mendoza and
prevention specialist Osvaldo Cruz. Mendoza said men are role models and should be first when it comes to speaking on these issues. Men have the capacity to intervene when they witness violence, Mendoza said. Mendoza’s most crucial point is that boys and men also experience and suffer due to sexual violence. In the presentation “learned behaviors” was listed as an important factor in what contributes to sexual assault. Cruz used a common example of when their girls take a fall, family parents specifically are quick to attend and comfort them.
But when it’s a boy, they’re told to “man up” and that “Boys don’t cry,” Cruz said. “Boys pick up the behaviors that they see and if their family values are u n h e a l t h y, t h e y embrace those same values in and end up reinforcing those values outside in society.” When Mendoza asked where boys are supposed to
“The hardest work that we have to do when eradicating domestic violence and sexual assault...is the work we do at home.”
OSVALDO CRUZ
Prevention Specialist
learn how men behave, audience members replied with “parents, siblings, and cousins” are the ones who are supposed to be the teachers to boys. Cruz said these are common answers, but people can’t turn a blind eye to the influence of society, media, and popular culture.
Parents and family will not always be around their children and they can not control what they see or do outside of their homes. Cruz said, that once boys enter the real world and become men, it’s their responsibility to know that there’s others looking at how they carry themselves in society and that young boys are looking to them. Cruz said the real challenge and work lies in having those difficult discussions with family and friends when one of them decides to make an inappropriate comment. “The hardest work that we have to do when eradicating domestic violence and sexual assault
primarily with boys and men is not the work that we are doing here right now. It’s not this presentation, this work comes easy. The hardest is the work that we have to do at home.” Cruz said. “If (family or friends) refuse to make a commitment with you (to change), then you may have to sever your ties, you may have to say to the relative that if they’re going to continue to say inappropriate comments, then you know what, they’re no longer welcomed into my home. ” Cruz said. Cruz said it’s important for boys and men not just to hear the messages from workshops, but that they hear it from other men around them. “Sexual violence against women and children and other men is also a men’s issue,” Mendoza said. Cruz and Mendoza both shared the hope that in 10 or 20 years, they can eradicate or minimize domestic violence and sexual assault. The pandemic has caused a surge in sexual assault. The National Sexaul Assault hotline reported a 22% increase in monthly calls since the pandemic started in March of 2020, with most of them coming from people younger than 18. Men and women looking for support regarding sexual assault or domestic violence are encouraged to reach out to the East LA Women’s Center. Their services include individual therapy, support groups, parenting classes and legal case managements. The phone number to their main office is (323)526-5819. The East Los Angeles Crisis free and confidential hotline can be reached 24/7 at (800)585-6231.
IA �.
WOMEN'S W CENTER WHERE YOUR
LUIS MENDOZA OUTREACH/ADVOCATE SPECIALIST
Silence
IS
Heard
Engaging Boys and Men to End Sexual Assault
OSVALDO "OZZIE" CRUZ PREVENTION SPECIALIST
www.elawc.org info@elawc.org Professor lectures on equitable educational access and opportunities (323) 562-5819 SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH—Specialists Luis Mendoza and Osvaldo Cruz co-hosted a workshop to engage boys and men to end sexual assault.
PAUL MEDINA Staff Writer
University of California, Riverside professor and author Tara J. Yosso spoke at was the last speaker of the Racial Equity & Social Justice Town Hall series. The talk on Friday was on ‘Cultivating a Community of Praxis at East Los Angeles College’ which was sponsored by the President’s Office. Yasso is known for her extensive work with Critical Race Theory and on topics such as “critical media literacy which examines educational access and opportunities,” her speaker profile said.
According to her presentation, the working definition of Critical Race Theory in education is “a dynamic interdisciplinary framework used to identify, analyze and challenge the ways race and racism shape the experiences of People of Color in education.” Yosso said, “We got to talk about critical race theory at its intersections for women of color, for working class women of colr, how we experience gendered racism for men of color if we don’t talk about it at it’s intersections.” It was in the 1970s where Critical Race Theory began to flourish in law schools. Some of the critique from law scholars was on “how they can
address the slow pace of civil rights legislation if they cannot specifically address the issue of racism and by not naming it, they cannot challenge its legacy,” Yasso said. Yasso said, her work with Critical Race Theory draws upon the intentional political acknowledgement of what happens in schools and how to put that theory into practice or praxis. Yasso said she acknowledges that when teaching, she isn’t the only individual who holds the knowledge in a classroom. The students in her classroom bring various forms of knowledge, which is crucial and she welcomes it. Yasso touched on the East LA Walkouts (also known as the East
LA Blowouts) where in 1968, multiple high school students from predominantly low-income Hispanic majority communities in the Northeast and East Los Angeles area walked out from school in order to demand better educational rights. Yasso said that the walk out was an example of “students organizing and resisting with their parents and community members consistent about what schools are supposed to be, have equal opportunities but are not.” The lecture brought up many elements on Yasso’s work, which according to her biography, “her work seeks to understand the ways communities of color have historically utilized an array of
cultural knowledge skills, abilities, and networks to navigate structures of racial discrimination in pursuit of educational equality.” Part of the lecture touched on education deficit thinking which “perpetuates an incomplete view of communities of color and asserts that students of color lack the appropriate cultural and linguistic attributes for school success.” Yasson said that deficit thinking blames the assumption that “families of color do not prioritize and do not instill high aspirations in their children.” Dr. Vanessa Ochoa, Dean of Student Services commended the series, which brought many guest speakers throughout the year “The
series is committed to practices that are driven by equity and centers in love.” According to the biography on Yasso’s UC Riverside page “Tara J. Yosso is a first-generation college student and Professor in the Graduate School of Education at the University of California, Riverside.” Furthermore, the biography states that she earned her B.A. at UCLA in an individual major she designed: “Social Psychology of Education with an Emphasis in Chicana/o Studies.” She also earned her Ph.D. at UCLA in the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies in Urban Schooling.
www.ELACCampusNews.com
4
Features
EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, April 21, 2021
Congresswoman fights back against Anti-Asian hate BY RAYMOND NAVA Staff Writer Congresswoman Judy Chu has recently been an outspoken voice in the aftermath of recent attacks on Asian Americans. Chu spoke out strongly after a mass shooting at three Asian spas in Georgia that took the lives of eight people, six of which were Asian Americans. Chu has recently been in the news for fiercely speaking out against the recent wave of attacks on Asian Americans, most significantly the shooting at three Asian spas in Georgia that killed 8 people. In the aftermath, Chu said she strongly believed that the attack was a hate crime, noting that the gunmen’s first attack was at a business called “Young’s Asian Spa” and said he could have chosen any other place in his vicinity but chose to drive miles out and target two other Asian spas. Though Chu may not have widespread national name recognition, she’s been a fixture in Southern California for many years. Chu has held local office in her early career in addition to 20 years as a college psychology professor,
13 of which were spent at East Los Angeles College teaching Introduction to Psychology and Psychological Aspects of Human Sexuality. Chu currently represents the 27th District which covers ELAC. Chu was elected to the Monterey Park City Council in 1988. While she was serving on the city council, she continued to teach at ELAC and during her bid for a second term, she said she would continue to teach at the campus regardless of if she was reelected or not. Chu also said if she was reelected, she would make sure ELAC and Monterey Park would continue to have good relations, showing her dedication to the college. Chu won her bid for a second term. During her time on the city council she also served as Mayor of Monterey Park. Chu would later go on to be elected to the House of Representatives from what was then the 32nd District in 2009 in a special election. Chu faced Republican Betty Chu in what was dubbed the “Chu-Chu Runoff” by Judy Chu’s campaign consultant. Both Chu’s were related by marriage, as Betty Chu was married
to Judy Chu’s first cousin, though both hardly knew or liked each other according Judy Chu’s campaign consultant. Judy Chu defeated Betty Chu on Nov. 3, 2009. At the time of her election, she was the first Chinese American woman elected to the seat. Wong told ELAC Campus News at the time that Chu’s win “sounds good because she is Asian and I think she would help.” Chu testified at a House Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on discrimination against Asian Americans on March 18. At the hearing, Chu put part of the blame for the rise in antiAsian American attacks on former President Donald Trump. Chu said Trump used racial slurs such as “Wuhan virus,” “kung flu” and “China plague.” Chu also believes that even though Trump is no longer president, she said the continued rise in attacks are the aftermath of a whole year of his anti-Asian-American rhetoric. Chu herself is no stranger to racist Anti-Asian attacks. Throughout the ‘90s, Chu had been the target of what she called “libelous statements’’ from Frank Arcuri’s publication “The Citizen’s Voice,” some of which included
Basketball’s long awaited return underway BY ANNETTE M. LESURE Staff Writer
East Los Angeles College’s Men’s Basketball coach awaits campus return amid COVID-19 safety preparations and restrictions after a year-long struggle. Being absent from campus for over a year was tough on the athletes and coaches alike.
Contrary to what fans may think, basketball goes way beyond physical training. The sport is based largely on mental conditioning that comes from a foundation of trust between players and coaches. The time spent in quarantine was a massive setback for the 2021 ELAC team, which had little contact with the school campus and no workouts. Head basketball coach John
CN/DANIELLA MOLINA
www.ELACCampusNews.com
Mosley said their contact was limited to Zooming once or twice a week. Mosley said he was having a really tough time with his student athletes’ lack of contact. “Right now, it’s very frustrating because the new recruits are counting on someone. Some of them don’t have father figures or stable homes. And the one thing that was stable for all those young men was coming to the East LA College gym because they knew that it was a stable environment,” Mosley said. Having structure is key to the program’s success and what Mosley believes provides his athletes with the comfort needed to rise above their adversities. Mosley said the athletes’ lack of comfort and structure that comes from being a part of the program has sent some of them to other schools whose programs are up and running, or have dropped out altogether. He said the lack of engagement with the student-athletes is unacceptable. “I’m not talking about being unsafe. I’m not even talking about playing games. I just want to see them and engage and help them study. That’s essentially where my heart is right now,” Mosely said. As LA County rolls out vaccines and the long-awaited herd immunity, athletes should have the opportunity to return to campus sometime in the next few weeks. Going back can’t come fast enough for Mosely, who said they are running out of things to keep the students engaged online, beyond chatting and checking occasional homework. “At this point, they see their friends and the rest of the country and the world are opening up. And this small little area here in LA is struggling to engage the population again,” Mosely said. President Alberto J. Román said that ELAC submitted a safety plan to prepare the campus for return, to the District’s Emergency Operation Center for athletes to begin training this spring. “Basketball’s return to campus could happen as soon as two weeks from now,” Román said. Román said ELAC will follow the safety guidelines set in place by the LA County Department of Public Health, to prepare the campus for a safe return. Román said he is excited to see the student-athletes return to campus to seize their opportunities after a most challenging year. “Our athletes have been significantly impacted without the ability to compete or even practice. ELAC will be ready to launch sports as soon as we are allowed to do so,” Román said. Román said that while he respects people opting out of vaccinating for personal reasons, he encourages as many people as possible to get vaccinated in order to reach herd immunity and get back to campus.
CN/DIEGO LINARES
LEADERS UNITED—House speaker Nancy Pelosi (left) sits with Rep. Judy Chu during a talk at East Los Angeles College in 2019.
anti-Asian sentiment. In a speech Chu gave on the floor of the House of Representatives on March 19, Chu noted that since the pandemic started last year, about
3,800 hate crimes against Asian Americans have been reported. She said while they initially started as just “dirty looks and verbal assault,” they quickly escalated into
violent assaults that in some cases have led to deaths. At the conclusion of her speech, Chu said “We must work together to stop Asian hate.”
Arts Astronauts go mad on space mission in sci-fi film BY GRACE RODRIGUEZ Staff Writer
The film “Voyagers” directed and written by Niel Burger explores human nature yet struggles to unravel and stick to a compelling storyline. For a film with a director like Burger, known for his sci-fi successes w h i c h i n c l u d e “ D i v e rg e n t ” , “Insurgent” and “Limitless” viewers were left disappointed. The film is generic and extremely forgettable. Its greatest accomplishment is fitting in a “Matrix” reference in hopes of winning over sci-fi film fans. The “blue pill, red pill” allusion distracts viewers from how truly boring the storyline is. The film seems to borrow from different well-known films yet, still manages to come off as directed by inexperienced people. “Voyagers” falls extremely short, considering its budget was $29 million. The cheap Nerf-like guns and reused clips of the actors running through the same old hallway makes the budget seem almost comical. One clip in particular was stitched into the film three different times. Needless to say its theatrical cinematography was lessened with each use. This made the film feel like a beginning photographer’s portfolio. The lack of scenery stands out because of the location where the film takes place. The only realistic shot viewers got of outer space is the opening scene where the Earth (Florida in particular) is shown from the point of view of space. This clip is perfectly realistic
considering a spaceship would be much more praise is Phoebe, played launched from the Kennedy space by Chanté Adams. station, but it all goes downhill Adams is so stellar in such a from there. minor role that viewers are left Burger seems to avoid rabbit-hole wanting more of her. Unfortunately, after rabbit-hole in hopes of making she is only seen in a few scenes. ‘Voyagers’’ an original film. Finally, Lily-Rose Depp, daughter In theory, it’s a good strategy of Johnny Depp, plays Sela. when trying to Based on her steer clear of performance copying other in this film, films, but this she seems to also ended up have the most hindering the Burger seems to avoid e x p e r i e n c e . film’s ability to Each scene is unravel a good rabbit-hole after rabbit- well thought-out story of its own. and her character hole in the hopes of The film itself is one of the making “Voyagers” an most likeable cannot decide what storyline of all. It is also original film. to take and refreshing to see so it takes all such a strong of them. The female lead. film constantly D e p p ’ s introduces character is possible plotstrong and lines, but it never delves quite deep confident, and the actress’ diligent enough into any of them. nature really shines through. While the directing, budget The rest of the cast is insignificant decisions and plot is lacking, some and forgettable. of the cast members deserve praise. Even the most prolific actor Colin Tye Sheridan best known for his Farrel, is lacking. most recent and well-received He is supposed to be the most role in “Ready Player One” plays volatile and “human” character Christopher who plays with but there is almost no difference confidence and is never lacking in between his character and all the delivery. others whose emotions are being On the flip-side is Fionn suppressed by the “blue.” Whitehead, who plays Zac, the most Overall, this film should be dislikable character in the film. avoided. It is not hard to see that the Whitehead’s style of acting is budget was not well-spent. much more exaggerated, but it It would be a tedious task to works well with his character. pinpoint where exactly all the Whitehead does such a good money went. job that by the end, viewers are After all, it did not go into the left questioning if they might weapons, it did not go into the actually dislike the actor or just his scenery, and it most definitely did character. not go into the space suits— if you A minor character that deserves could even call a cheap yellow hazmat suit that.
COURTESY OF/IMDB
SPACE DRAMA— Christopher Rebbs (Tye Sheridan) carreses Sela’s (Lily-Rose Depp) face as characters fall deeper into paranoia.