Campus News Fall 2020 Issue 6

Volume 78, Issue 6 | www.elaccampusnews.com | Wednesday, october 21,2020 | Single copy free - additional copies 50 cents

Los Angeles Community Colleges host voting centers for 2020 election Staff Writer

East Los Angeles College as well as all other Los Angeles Community College District colleges will be used as voting centers for the 2020 election.

LACCD announced that ELAC would serve as a vote center just as it did for the March primaries. New safety protocols will be put in place at the vote center in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Voters in the Los Angeles county area will be able to vote at any of the 700 plus vote centers in the county, as long as they live in Los Angeles County just like in the March primaries.

COVID-19 has created new guidelines for voting centers.

Social distancing of six feet will be implemented as well as requiring both workers and voters to wear face masks when entering the vote center, as standard precaution.

The Los Angeles County Clerk’s website also notes that extra precautions will be taken, such as workers wearing gloves and vote marking machines being sanitized and wiped down after every voter uses it. Masks and gloves will also

be available if needed.

Nghi Nghiem, head of the IT department, says that the center’s staff will be managed by the LA County Clerk’s office. Voters do not need to show any form of identification in order to vote.

There will be free temporary parking for voters and signs on campus to direct them to the vote center.

Vote-by-mail drop boxes will by accessible 24/7.

ELAC’s drop box will be located on Avenida Cesar Chavez near the college bus stop.

Nghiem said voting centers will be located in S2-121 and parking will be available on the first floor of Parking Structure 4. The only entrance will be the Collegian Ave entrance. Voters must use the voting center’s entrance.

Anyone who enters through the college’s COVID-19 screening

checkpoints for on campus activities will be turned away.

LACCD colleges will serve as an official location for vote-bymail drop boxes. Vote-by-mail drop boxes will be accessible 24/7.

ELAC’s drop box will be located on Avenida Cesar Chavez near the college bus stop.

The drop box will be clearly marked and voters should only drop off their vote-by-mail ballot in this box. All vote-by-mail ballots will be counted if they are received up to 17 days after election day.

The last day to register to vote was on Oct.19, but anyone who missed the deadline can still register.

The California Secretary of State website says that anyone who missed the deadline can go to their polling place, vote center or county elections office to register and vote.

Their ballot will be processed, once the verification process has been completed. Anyone who had previously pre-registered to vote will automatically be registered once they turn 18.

Voting centers will be available starting on Oct. 24 to Nov. 2 for early voting. Hours will be from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Vote centers will open on election day, Nov. 3 from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

CN/STEVEN ADAMO

BY RAYMOND NAVA

Identifying and overcoming depression

BY MELVIN BUI Staff Writer

The Los Angeles Community College District created a safe place for constituents to share their personal experiences with depression and other mental issues.

They hosted a mental health workshop to introduce ways to identify and support people with mental health issues.

Symptoms and Treatments of Depression, the mental workshop happened this Monday, as a part of Undocumented Student Action Week. It aimed to highlight the different types of depression, how to identify depression and how to get treatment.

The workshop was led by Guadalupe Nolasco from the Los Angeles County Mental Health Department. There was a mutual agreement between the host and participants to not share peoples personal experiences from the discussion. So the overall tone of the discussion was serious and personal.

The main topics of the discussion was anxiety and depression.

Depression is a low state of mood with reactions of sadness and emptiness for two weeks, or more accompanied by lack of energy and loss of interest in living. It can have an affect on how a person functions in their everyday life.

Four of the most prevalent types of depressive disorders: dysthymia, b i p o l a r d i s o r d e r, S e a s o n a l Affective Disorder and postpartum depression.

People with dysthymia have been depressed for at least two years; they’re symptoms are less severe, however they struggle to maintain relationships with others. People with bipolar disorder alternate between periods of depression and mania.

Symptoms of mania are reduced sleep, rapid thoughts, change in behavior and speaking fast. SAD is depression that comes from season change, it begins in fall or winter when sunlight is decreased. The lack of sunlight causes people to

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become depressed.

Postpartum depression takes place after a woman gives birth and the chemical imbalance in their body causes them to have depression. Some women face a double burden, they work all day, come home to clean, cook dinner and care for their childrens. So, it is inevitable for these women to feel a sense of hopelessness and depression.

The four potential causes of depression: genetic factors, a chemical imbalance in the brain, drastic life changes and certain medicines. The effects of depression

Healthy relationships

vary between individuals, so nobody will feel the exact same range of emotions.

Nolasco said that it is important to get professional treatment for all types of depression.

Things people can do to help cope with their depression is eating healthy, getting a full night of sleep, exercising or playing sports and seeking support from others.

People can support others with depression by listening without judgement, being understanding, being empathetic and avoiding criticism.

Undocumented Student Action

ELAC’s Student Health Center is hosting an event to help students identify healthy and unhealthy relationships on Thursday, Oct. 22 from 12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. RSVP at https://www.elawc.org/dvam20

Week is a campaign hosted by the California Community Colleges that advocates for the undocumented student population throughout the whole state. It aims to be in solidarity with undocumented students by having a week full of events that provides information on critical topics and entertainment. For instance, financial aid assistance, help filling out the California Dream Act, panel discussions on immigration policies and a virtual dance party.

This is the fourth consecutive year of having Undocumented Student Action Week celebrated in the CCC. The duration of the workshop was an hour long and had 27 participants.

Undocumented Student Action Week has over 20 events going throughout the week that is open for all LACCD students and faculty to join. Some of the events will be open to high schoolers and other California Community Colleges.

For more information on other Undocumented Student Action Week events that are happening this week, refer to the DRC website: https://bit.ly/3721eF5.

Nolasco shared some services that are available for people that are seeing help for mental health issues or discrimination issues.

The Los Angeles County Health Department has a 24/7 hour hotline that is available for people that are going through a mental health crisis.

For more information contact (800)854-7771.

The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill is a grassroot organization that supports people with mental health issues. It was established in the late 1970s and provides mental health services for people in the surrounding area. For more information contact (310)889-7200.

Mental Health America of Los Angeles is an organization that opposes discrimination and racism of all forms. It provides housing services, mental health services, health services and employment opportunities for people in the Los Angeles County area. For more information contact (888)-242-2522.

Money, mindset and motivation

ELAC’s Financial Wellness Center is hosting a workshop to help students become more financially responsible on Monday, Oct. 26 from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. For more information contact (323)-388-3591.

LACCD enrollment drops during pandemic

BY LUIS CASTILLA & JONATHAN BERMUDEZ Staff Writers

Enrollment is down across all nine Los Angeles Community College District schools. With the exception of Los Angeles City College, all LACCD colleges are experiencing a 10% decrease, at least, in enrollment when comparing Fall 2020 to Fall 2019.

LACCD chancellor Francisco Rodriguez said in a statement released Sept. 8 that colleges across the country reported drops in enrollment between 5% and 30%.

“In addition, in a recent survey of California Community Colleges, 85% reported lower enrollment in Fall 2020 compared to Fall 2019 by an average of 12%,” Rodriguez said. Lower enrollment rates are not unique to LACC. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all academic institutions in many factors. “Across the board we are seeing that folks are taking fewer classes,” Vice President of Academic affairs Ruben Arenas said.

He said that it is not necessarily freshman or returning students that are taking fewer classes, just students in general. He is trying to make the website easier for students to navigate through to enroll in classes or to talk to a counselor.

“I had a meeting with my division about a week and a half ago where we discussed really standardizing a number of things so, the chat services that we offer to students, phone numbers through google voice that students and faculty can call to reach a person immediately, and then just on the website configuring it any thoughtful way,” Arenas said.

The school is trying to launch a chat hub that would keep all the relevant information and

phone information into one place for students to be able to look through conveniently.

Arenas plans to launch the chat hub within two weeks or so.

College campuses used to be a hub for students who didn’t have at-home internet, as they had access to libraries with computers and WiFi. Now, as the world struggles with a pandemic, students are unable to be on campus for their own safety and the safety of others.

LACCD gave away thousands of laptops to aid students’ remote learning experience when the pandemic began. However, the district did not account for whether or not students had internet access at home.

LA County Library has 84 locations and they are all closed because of the pandemic. 10 of those locations currently offer a laptop and hotspot kit loan for three weeks.

But having internet access and a computer is not the only requisite for a successful at-home learning experience. There are distractions at home.

Many students had to choose between school and work and others lack the motivation to continue their schooling in what seems like a never-ending Zoom nightmare.

Arenas, however, doesn’t believe that students have lost interest in school since it has gone online and believe it’s a good thing.

“I think although students feel that moving fully online does have its drawbacks, there’s also a lot of advantages to it. We’re seeing many students trying to go through and complete their degrees now that they are not bound by day and time and location restrictions,” Arenas said.

Arenas said he think we’re going to see a lot of folks complete their degrees and certificates this year.

Self-Defense workshop

ELAC’s Student Health Center is having self-defense workshops every Monday and Friday, starting Oct.19 until Dec. 12 at 3:30 p.m. The zoom link to participate: https://bit.ly/2Tc1M30

Opinion High-risk criminals can bail out on prop. 25 2

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2020

Bail system continues without real reform measures

BY RAYMOND NAVA Staff Writer

Voters should vote no on Proposition 25. Prop. 25 would uphold Senate Bill 10, which deals with replacing California’s cash bail system.

While the intentions behind SB10 are in good faith, it doesn’t answer core problems and would pose great risk to the public.

California currently uses a cash bail system where criminal defendants pay a cash bond, with the amount being determined by the court, to be released from prison while they await trial, with the promise to appear in court for their trial.

The bond would be repaid to the defendant after the trial regardless of the outcome.

Defendants usually can pay the bond with their own money or use the services of a cash bond agent who charges a premium fee. But will pay the full bond.

Sam Lewis, the executive director of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, brings up the cases of Brock Turner and Kenneth Humphrey.

Humphrey, a black senior citizen, was accused of stealing $5, and a bottle of cologne, was charged with burglary and elder abuse. he was ultimately given a $350,000 bond.

Turner was accused of sexually assaulting a drunk woman and

given a $150,000 bond. Turner was able to pay his bond, but Humphrey was not.

While it’s understandable the frustration at this situation, SB10 does not correctly fix the larger issue at hand. Turner should not have been granted bail at all given the nature of the crime he was accused of.

Rather than reform the current system to where the amount of the bond matches the crime, SB10 scraps it entirely.

The debate shouldn’t be about if a person’s wealth dictates whether they stay in jail. It should be about the seriousness of the crime.

SB10 is designed to replace this system with a risk assessment system. The system would determine the risk of whether a suspects would fail to appear in court for their trial or not and decide if they should be released or kept in prison.

There would be three risk rankings. Low risk individuals

would be deemed having a low risk of failing to show up to court. Medium risk individuals would be detained or released, depending on the rules of their local court.

High risk individuals remain in jail as they are deemed as being a risk to the public and to miss their court appearance.

They would get an opportunity to argue for their release before a judge.

SB10 doesn’t mention if the seriousness of the charge will play a role in dictating the risk assessment of the defendant.

It doesn’t state if someone accused of crimes such as murder could be deemed as low risk or not.

The official voter guide does not make this clear either.

If we are going to replace the cash bail system with a risk assessment system, there should be safe guards in place to make sure people accused of violent crimes do not get let out and SB10 does not ensure this.

The cash bail system is one way and reforms should be made to it instead of scrapping it and replacing it.

SB10 was designed with good intentions but the final product doesn’t solve the problem.

Rather than reform the current system to where the amount of the bond matches the crime, SB10 scraps it entirely. Voters should vote no on Prop. 25.

EDITOR IN CHIEF Juan Cavillo MANAGING EDITOR Luis Castilla FRONT EDITORS Melvin Bui OPINION EDITOR Daniella Molina NEWS EDITOR Jonathan Bermudez FEATURE EDITOR Erica Cortez ARTS EDITOR Cassidy Reyna SPORTS EDITOR Melvin Bui Jonathan Bermudez COPY EDITORS Melody Ortiz Ivan Cazares

CN/ZASHA HAYES

Small gestures make a huge difference

BY MELVIN BUI Staff Writer

In elementary school, children are taught not to judge a book by its cover. However, the first thing that happens when meeting someone is looking at an outfit or anatomical traits, so it’s hard for some people to not judge.

Taking things for face value is dangerous because it can disregard the truth and leads to faulty assumptions. Some people can’t think for themselves and believe in everything that is placed in front of them. These people believe that everything is set in stone and can’t be changed.

This binary way of thinking is detrimental because most situations are complex and require more than a yes or no.

Political Science Professor Kenneth Chaiprasert said during l a s t m o n t h ’s E q u i t y A u d i t Dialogue that taking things for face value or by the book doesn’t work because humans are diverse and much more than the book’s definition.

It is dangerous for people to believe in everything that is placed in front of them without giving it any proper judgement. Blindly discriminating before making any judgement is another form discrimination.

Preconceived notions are instilled in people during their adolescence and enculturates them to blindly discriminate throughout their life.

How do som people know something is wrong, if it has been socially accepted their whole life? They must socialize with new people and find out that their preconceived notions are different, thus helping them acknowledge

www.ELACCampusNews.com

their closed-minded ways of thinking.

Some people live their whole livs oblivious to the reality outside of their area code or social-bubble, so it’s hard for

them to be liberated of unhealthy social norms.

Reading can help show people how diverse the world is and expose them to other people’s realities.

CN/ZASHA HAYES

Pe o ple t hat al ways have inconsistent self-conflicting beliefs have cognitive dissonance, when people believe things that contradict. For example, some people that smoke cigarettes

acknowledge that they are unhealthy, but continue to smoke them.

These people acknowledge two contradicting facts: that they are a smoker and cigarette smoking are unhealthy. These people usually change their behavior or thought process to justify their contradictory beliefs, which is dissonance.

People must unlearn their unhealthy habits to have the energy for new mindful routines that can be beneficial to all.

For example, helping strangers open doors when walking into businesses and saying “bless you” to strangers that sneeze.

These small gestures can help make the days of others that are going through hard times and spread joy.

When people assume, they are making an “ass out of you and me.” It is better to not make any judgment without any context for all situations. This seems extra and unnecessary. However it can save an immense amount of time.

Being mindful and thinking of others before doing things can help prevent altercations and disagreements.

People need to agree to disagree on certain topics since time is precious, and should be used on more productive things instead of trying to prove a point.

People are supposed to think critically while faced with different situations. However, sometimes situations are not as complex as they seem so there is no need to overthink.

People should respect other p e o p l e ’s b o u n d a r i e s a n d religious beliefs, so everyone can live and let live.

STAFF WRITERS Sonny Tapia Raymond Nava Melisa Valenzuela Leonardo Cervantes Annette Quijada Stephanie Sical PHOTOGRAPHERS Diego Linares Julie Santiago ART DIRECTOR Steven Adamo CARTOONIST Zasha Hayes Daniella Molina ADVERTISING Stefanie Arocha ADVISERS 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.

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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, OCTOBER 21, 2020

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LGBTQIA+ community is now protected by new bill of rights “We have been kicked out of our homes and disowned by family and Staff Writer friends.

“We will not stop fighting for The Los Angeles Community equity and equality until society College District Board of Trustees stops making laws that prohibit us recently approved the district’s first to receive equal treatment. So this LGBTQIA+ bill of rights resolution LGBTQIA+ bill of rights gives people at the community college for students, faculty and staff.

The bill in place will now system protection and a voice,”said protect students who identify under Vela.

Ve l a a s a LGBTQIA+, in person of color the district. and a person LACCD attracted to Board of Trustee the opposite David Vela is the “It is important to sex, knew how board member point out humanity’s important it is who pushed for to protect all of the passing of this progression and those involved bill. Vela is the founder of Honor accomplishments, but in LACCD. C o r e n a PAC, a political we must acknowledge “Lynn” Wood, action committee t h a t s u p p o r t s our mishaps and lack coordinator for One Zone at East LGBTQIA+ of empathy.”

Los Angeles p o l i t i c a l College, said candidates. that it is pivotal Ve l a s e r v e s that this bill the board as passed. an openly gay “I look trustee, making DAVID VELA forward to this bill of huge LACC Board of Trustee presenting importance to additional him. programming “It is important for our LGBTQ to point out students, such humanity’s progression and accomplishments, as a roll-out-of Safe Zone to our but we must also acknowledge our students, a LGBTQ pride month mishaps and lack of empathy,” celebration, a small lending library of LGBTQ specific books and the said Vela.

For years LGBTQIA+ people Lavender Graduation,” said Wood.

“I have been an active Service and LGBTQIA+ people of color have been discounted as not a ‘real’ Planning Area 7 community member and governance participant group that suffers discrimination. “ L G B T Q I A + p e o p l e a n d for 10 years. Mentored and provided LGBTQIA+ people of color training to student ambassadors have been discriminated against, in our outreach department for 13 legislated against and killed for years,” Wood said.

“I have personally provided being their authentic selves,” Vela training in LGBTQ+ for Safe said.

BY CASSIDY REYNA

CN/STEVEN ADAMO

Zone to our Associated Student Union, our New Faculty Institute and various specialized Student Services units. I am one of the founding members of Safe Zone at East Los Angeles College and proud to say we have provided training for

over 150 staff, faculty and student workers. I am excited to share all that student services are working on,” said Wood.

Wood also talked about how that kind of mentality is dangerous to the LGBTQIA+ community. It allows

other citizens to belittle those who identify under LGBTQIA+.

Rin Kahla Ph.D is a professor of sociology and women and gender studies at ELAC. Kahla said that she is grateful and thanks the board for putting

together the bill of rights. As an out lesbian, Kahla has been fighting for the rights of LGBTQIA+ people and believes that the community needs recognition.

“One of the important things for me is for young people to recognize that there’s always people that have been in the fight,” Kahla said.

“This did not grow out of the kindness of somebody this has been a long hard fight for recognition as just human beings.

“It’s cliched because I don’t ask for anything that somebody else wouldn’t ask for,” said Kahla. kahla said “I want a safe place to live, I want to be able to go to places and feel like I’m not discriminated against.

“I don’t want to be denied my right to be a human being, by someone classifying me as less than human,” said Kahla.

Kahla always tries her best to make sure that her classes are a safe place for students and a place of respect.

Kahla is very proud of the college and people who put together the bill of rights, as well as the courage they had to do so.

Not only, that but Kahla is amazed that the LGBTQIA+ is now recognized and a part of the conversation when it comes to the district and protecting those in the community.

Kahla encourages students to partake in her Sociology 22, sociology of women class that will be offered in the spring.

It is a very broad spectrum that this bill covers and any LACCD college can be a safe space for its students, faculty and staff.

Even if laws change in the United States, those under LACCD will be protected.

ELAC math professor dies

BY STEVEN ADAMO Staff Writer

After teaching math at East Los Angeles College for three decades, professor Zhiming Zhou died from pneumonia in August at the age of 83.

Though retired, Zhou continued to teach at ELAC part-time until the end of the Spring 2020 semester, when he became ill.

According to a letter from the office of the President, students found Zhou to be “funny and patient, always willing to go out of his way to help them understand.”

Zhou’s Math Department colleague, Professor Guo Jax Liao, said many of the department offered their condolences to Zhou’s family.

Zia Hashemi from the Math Department said Zhou was “a good man with a kind heart.”

Ong Hai of the Math Department said that the passing of Zhou is a great loss to the department and for the students.

“He is truly a scholar and a very

respected math faculty. Needless to say about his accomplishments and his lecturing at so many universities in America and in China,” said Hai.

“Needless to say about his accomplishments and his lecturing at so many universities in America and in China.”

ONG HAI

Math Department faculty member

Zhou studied mathematics at Sun Yat-sen University, California State University at Los Angeles and University of California at Irvine.

He began his teaching career in China, teaching mathematics at Sun Yat-sen University in 1959.

Zhou received many awards for

the text book he authored titled “General Differential Equations,” which later became the designated text book for Chinese colleges and universities.

He also received multiple awards for research done in China, including being listed in the 8th edition of “Marquis Who’s Who in the World.”

He was also a pioneer in the field of Bio-Mathematics.

Along with Professor Joel Cohen, Zhou conducted research work at Rockefeller University and published several papers together at Proceedings of the Royal Society.

Zhou was a visiting scholar at UCLA from 1979-1980 and was a visiting professor at the University of Cincinnati until moving to the United States in 1989.

Since then, he has taught at many colleges and universities including ELAC, Cal State University LA, Glendale Community College, Pasadena City College.

Zhou was laid to rest last month at the Rose Hills Cemetery in Whittier, CA.

COURTESY OF JANET MORENO

POSING WITH WINNIE—Paul Moreno posing after graduation in 2019 with a winnie the pooh doll given to him by his siter as an inside joke.

BY JUAN CAVILLO Staff Writer

Former East Los Angeles College alumni and programming assistant Paul Moreno died on Aug 26 due to COVID-19 at age 29.

Moreno leaves behind two older sisters and his parents.

His mother, Sara Crespo, and father, Pablo Moreno Garcia, had four children.

His two older sisters Maria and Janet Moreno.

The family also had a younger sibling Simon who died from bone cancer in 2018.

Moreno found fulfilling work in payroll at a construction company before his passing.

He graduated from ELAC as a Business Major and while in school, he worked as a programming assistant in Continuing Education and Workforce Development.

Business Department professor Laura Ramirez remembered the business student. “My memories [of] Paul are that he was a wonderful and happy person,

always with a beautiful smile,” said Ramirez.

Moreno originally started his education in communications because he loved music and wanted to be a part of the music industry as a producer or on the promotions teams.

“ My memories [of] Paul are that ge was a wondeful and happy person, Always with a beautiful smile.”

LAURA RAMIREZ

Businees Department professor

However, exposure to other disciplines and a job on campus changed things for him.

“He ended up switching to business because he started liking that side of it (school).

“He got a job at ELAC in the

office…and he started liking that side of business.

“Something about that job made him really want to branch out,” said his older sister Janet Morneo.

Peter Ruvalcaba, program coordinator at CEWD, said that Moreno was a cheerful and lifeloving person.

He said that when he wasn’t working, Moreno would be out cultivating other entrepreneurs in the community or following his original passions.

“Some of his active business ventures lead him to help develop music talent individuals, a personal fitness start-up company, and different Youtube video blogs including his own,” said Ruvalcaba.

Janet Moreno said that she wanted people to remember Moreno as a kind, caring person who took care of his family.

She said that although he hid his generosity, Moreno was always providing help for others without ever wanting anything in return.

She wanted people to know what type of person he was.

COURTESY OF TOBIN ZHOU

ELAC alumni and staff member dies

Zhiming Zhou www.ELACCampusNews.com

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Arts

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2020

‘West Wing’ goes down memory lane

BY RAYMOND NAVA Staff Writer

COURTESY OF NETFLIX

TWO IS TROUBLE—Siblings Flora (Amelie Bea Smith) and Miles Wingrave (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) invest in conversation during breakfast.

New Netflix show brings haunting thrills

BY ANNETTE QUIJADA Staff Writer

Filmmaker Mike Flanagan strikes again with his second anthology, “The Haunting of Bly Manor,” a gothic romance filled with ghosts.

Those who enjoyed “The Haunting of Hill House,” be prepared to enter another dark hole filled with ghosts.

This series is widely based on Henry James novella “The Turn of the Screw.”

The Haunting of Bly Manor begins in 2007, with a ghost story being narrated by an unnamed woman (Carla Gugino).

The narrator's story takes place 20 years ago, when an American woman named Dani Clayton (Victoria Pedretti) finds herself trying to escape her previous life.

She ends up taking a job from a wealthy man, Henry Wingrave (Henry Thomas) who seems to have his share of demons to deal with.

Clayton takes the job to be an in-house nanny and teacher to his recently orphaned niece and nephew, Flora (Amelie Bea Smith) and Miles (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) in London.

With the hope of leaving what’s

haunting her behind, Clayton seems to be unfazed with the knowledge that the previous caretaker of the children commited suicide in the manor’s lake.

Soon enough Clayton realizes that something must be wrong around the manor.

Flora insists Clayton not leave her room at night. The housekeeper doesn’t eat. There’s a man creeping around the estate. Clayton can’t seem to not be frightened when looking into a mirror, and the children seem to be able to see things the adults can’t.

It is safe to say Bly Manor is not anywhere near as scary as Hill House, but Flanagan still creates a successful ghost story.

Bly Manor lacks the momentum or adrenaline most audiences look for when it comes to scary films or shows.

Even with the little details in the show that substitute the missing fear that Hill House had such as misty lakes, moving dolls, and mirror pop-ups, it’s not enough.

With a script that is mostly humorless is dialogue heavy, which aims to hit one's emotions. The actors are the ones left to carry the series and provide excitement.

The actors' performances in the series are strong enough to keep you interested.

The backstories are the most essential part of the story. The melancholy vibe is vivid in each story.

Good heartbreaking trauma such as Flora and Miles losing their parents unexpectedly, with performances being able to bring scenes like that to life, ends up carrying the series to the top.

Flanagan manages to incorporate his character's psychological trauma to the screen to build the haunting that is needed.

Flanagan does make the viewer question whether or not the characters that are labeled as villains really are villains, or if they just been through enough trauma.

All in all, audiences who enjoy horror probably won’t be clicking to watch “Bly Manor” on Netflix anytime soon.

However, for those who enjoy more of a twisted plot filled with dialogue, “The Haunting of Bly Manor,” is the ideal show to watch.

The more horror craving fans will have to wait for future installments for something more spooky from Flanagan.

HBO Max’s "A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote" is a nice trip down memory lane, but leaves a feeling of wanting more.

The one-hour special aims to inform viewers about voting as well as encouraging everyone to vote.

The special features appearances by former first lady Michelle Obama, former president Bill Clinton and many more.

The special also hopes to dispel misinformation surrounding voting.The special is an onstage performance of the season 3 episode "Hartsfield's Landing."

All the main cast members who appeared in the original episode return as their characters except for John Spencer, who died during the seventh season in 2005.

His character, Leo McGarry, is played by Sterling K. Brown in the special.

The episode revolves around three separate stories.

The first involves President Bartlett playing two separate games of chess with Sam Seaborn and Toby

Ziegler, played by Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe and Richard Schiff respectively.

The second story revolves around CJ Cregg and Charlie Young, played

by Allison Janney and Dulé Hill respectively, getting into a prank war.

The third story revolves around the New Hampshire Primary, specifically the fictional small town of Hartsfield's Landing, and Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford) and Donna Moss' (Janel Moloney), attempts to convince a married couple to vote for President Bartlett.

The town is based off of the real life town in New Hampshire, Dixville Notch, which has a tradition of voting at midnight and reporting its results.

Just like the real life Dixville Notch, Hartsfield's Landing is said to have accurately predicted the winner in the presidential election.

For any fan of “The West Wing,” the special will bring the joy of seeing the cast reunited.

However, it leaves a feeling of wanting more from it.

The production is excellent and it is impressive to see the cast and crew recreate every scene from the original episode.

However, the actual plot doesn't

feel like it entirely meshes with the subjects that the special itself is trying to convey.

In between scenes, the cast and special guests inform viewers about voting and other facts related to the election.

While informative, these segments don't match the overall theme, especially since only a third of the special has plot relating to an election and voting.

The special could have worked a little better if a different episode was chosen to recreate, specifically one of the election-themed episodes that the show has had throughout its run.

Alternatively, the special could have done an entirely new electionrelated story.

That route would have not only fit in with the style of a reunion special, but the voting-related segments would have felt more connected rather than feeling as if they were just tagged on, even though that clearly was not the intention.

Despite the issues the special has, it is produced and acted very well. Audiences that are engaged in voting will not be invested in this special. If the viewer is a West Wing fan it will still be enjoyable.

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TROUBLED THINKING—President Bartlett played by Martin Sheen sits on a chair in front of a car door.

Netflix brings light to infamous 1969 trial

BY LEONARDO CERVANTES Staff Writer

Netflix’s “The Trial of the Chicago 7” is based on one of the most unusual and controversial trials in U.S. history. The defendants were charged with intent of inciting anti-war riots during the 1968 Democratic National Convention.

Thomas Foran is a U.S. attorney of the Southern District of Illinois and endorsed Richard Schultz his assistant. Foran was the best prosecutor available at the time.

They wanted David Dellinger, Rennard C. Davis, Thomas Hayden, Abbott Hoffman, Jerry C. Rubin, Lee Weiner, John R. Froines and Bobby G. Seale charged with the Rap Brown law. Chicago viewed them as a threat to national security.

When Schultz reviews the information, he doubts that they could achieve a good indictment on conspiracy because some of the people had never even met before.

Schultz knew that the public would look down upon this case because they would see it as the Justice Department restraining free speech. He also brought up the point that the police actually started the riots, not the protesters, but he was quickly shut down because “police don’t ignite protests.”

The defense counsels were William Kunstler and Leonard Weinglass who was regarded as one of the country's more talented first amendment litigators. The trial finally began on September 26th, 1969. Judge Julius Hoffman was presiding over the case. There were 12 jurors and four alternates.

The trial began without Seale’s lawyer Charles R. Garry because he’s in a hospital in Oakland having undergone gallbladder surgery. A motion was made for postponement due to Garry’s medical condition but the judge denied that motion.

The defendants represent three different groups, Davis and Hayden www.ELACCampusNews.com

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ON TRIAL—In the film, Abbie Hoffman says “This is a political trial that was already decided for us.” are the leaders of the Students for a Democratic Society.

Davis and Hayden brought their people to Chicago to ignite violence to the streets in order to disrupt the Democratic Convention. Hoffman and Rubin the leaders of the Youth International Party known as the Yippies and Seale is the leader of the Black Panther Party.

Seale once again brings up the point that he has never even met most of the defendants until the indictment and is getting fed up because he has no legal representation so he begins talking loudly at Judge Hoffman and charges him with one count of contempt of court.

Judge Hoffman has been rather hostile with the defendants and some of them are smart mouthing with him, so he is becoming increasingly angry. Abbie brought up an interesting point and said that this is a political trial that has already been decided for us.

The mayor's administrative officer is the first on the stand and he has had multiple meetings with the defendants. He first met with Abbie and Rubin and they were asking for a park permit.

T h e y t o l d h i m t h e Yo u t h International Party would be holding a festival of life in Grant Park during the Democratic National Convention. Thousands were said to attend as well as rock bands and public fornication would take place.

The officer denied the permit and Abbie jokingly told him he could give him 100 grand and he would call the whole thing off. The rest of the defendants also met with the officer asking for permits and they were all denied.

Hayden cautioned that the demonstration would take place with or without a permit. Hayden pleaded for a permit because he knew that it could get out of hand yet the officer continued to deny his request.

Weinglass and Kunstler were confident jurors six and eleven were with them so their confidence in this case grew.

Somehow the plaintiff noticed two jurors leaning with the defendants and they took matters into their own hands. Two of the jurors received threatening notes from members of the Black Panther Party. It just so happened to be juror number six and eleven received those notes.

The judge called juror six and showed her a letter her parents received in the mail and it was a threat.

When asked if she could still feel she can render a fair and impartial verdict she said no. So, Juror six and eleven were replaced. After this incident the judge sequestered the jury. The defendants moved to strike the order of sequestration of the jury. The judge was ticked off at the tone of Weinglass so he charged him with one count of contempt of court. Undercover officers and FBI

agents befriended the defendants in order to gain information on them.

Hayden was caught slashing police tires so he was arrested.

The following day Rubin lead 800 protestors to police headquarters demanding for Hayden to be released. They were met with strong resistance at the police headquarters so they decided to head back to the park. Grant park was also filled with officers armed.

While both sides were in a shouting match someone in the crowd shouted “take the hill” and the protestors charged at the officers. The police used tear gas and batons to beat the protestors and all hell broke loose.

Over a month and a half had gone by and Seale still did not have legal representation. His lawyer Fred Hampton was shot and killed by the police in a raid. He was shot in the shoulder first and then in the head so now Seale officially does not have a lawyer. The next day in the court Seale went off on the judge because of the false accusation a detective was making.

Judge Hoffman had enough and asked for Seale to be reprimanded.

He was gagged and handcuffed and this was obviously a bad look.

Schultz brought this up and Judge Hoffman refusingly issues an order declaring a mistrial as to the defendant Bobby G. Seale.

Ramsey Clark is now up on the stand and will give a testimony. In 1968 Clark was the attorney general of the United States.

He had a conversation on the phone with president Johnson, he asked Clark if he intended to seek and indictments related to the riots in Chicago.

Clark said no because an investigation by our criminal division led to the conclusion that the riots were started by the Chicago police department. Even the counterintelligence division concluded that there was no conspiracy by the defendants

to incite violence during the convention.

Judge Hoffman did not allow the jury to hear Clark’s testimony.

Dellinger was angry with Judge Hoffman and asked if “we’re guilty, why not give us a trial” the marshals went to tell him to calm down and he punched done of them so he was locked up.

Hayden could not take the stand because there was a tape recording of Hayden telling the crowd “if blood is gonna flow let it flow all over the city. If gas is gonna be used let it come down all over Chicago.

We’re going to the convention.

Let’s get on the streets.” And this is when a riot began against the police.

Hayden instructed the protestors to head to the footbridges.

The Illinois National Guard was waiting for them. The rioters approached them and threw glass bottles at the police. About 12 of them made it through and got to a bar, they resisted arrest and the officers pushed them through a window.

When Hayden said wait, he said on the tape recording he meant to say “if our blood is gonna flow then let it flow all over the city”.

Hayden is allowed to make one final statement and Judge Hoffman said if he does so respectfully and remorsefully and briefly he will favorably sentence him.

He opens his statement with “since this trial began 4,752 US troops have been killed in Vietnam.”

Hayden then begins reading off all 4,752 of the troops that have been killed.

Everybody begins applauding and judge Hoffman is irate. Hayden, Hoffman, Dellinger, Rubin and Davis were found guilty of incitement to riot and sentenced to 5 years each in federal prison.

The verdict was reversed by the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and a new trial was ordered. The U.S. Attorney declined to re-try the case.