Fall 2014, Issue 2

Volume 72, Issue 2

Single copy free - additional copies 50 cents

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

www.elaccampusnews.com

ELAC website to receive upgrade BY jade inglada and maria isidoro Staff Writer The Information Technology Department is working on an updated version of the East Los Angeles College website and plans to launch it winter 2015.

The website will have an upgraded design and be compatible with mobile devices, a feature that the current one lacks.

IT manager Gonzalo Mendoza said that the purpose of the website update is to create a mobile-friendly platform for students’ smartphone and tablet devices.

The new design is called MobileFirst Responsive Website Design, or mobile responsive, and aims to minimize content distractions, provide better access and deliver easy-reading information.

Mendoza said his goal is to give students easier and faster access to the website’s search links than the previous model.

“The new website needs to be friendly, appealing, colorful, easy to read and also accommodated to the new mobile devices,” Mendoza said.

The inspiration for ELAC’s new layout comes from some of the top ranked universities and colleges’ mobile responsive sites to

implement its best features as well.

The primary reason for this is to attract future students for enrollment.

The University of Oxford, Stanford University and Saint Paul College are three of the primary mobile responsive websites selected to develop a clean, efficient website for ELAC, Mendoza said.

Mendoza and the IT staff are revamping the home page and working together with various members of the administration and academic chair departments to update and change the content on the website.

The managing web content company for higher education

institutions, OmniUpdate, is helping to create an easy-to-use mobile responsive website.

The revamp will allow new content updates to post automatically once it is approved.

The content changes will be updated after the department chairs and deans validate and approve the new and accurate information.

Mendoza said if the content needs major changes, it will need to go to administration for approval.

Since there is a lot of content that cannot fit on the home page of the current website, students have to go through several pages in order to find what they want, Mendoza said.

“We are organizing the website

in terms of where the web tabs are, where the information is and make it easier for our new students to find the relevant information they’re looking for,” Mendoza said.

ELAC President Marvin Martinez said it’s important that the college website be modernized for its students since the last design update was in 2008.

Mendoza said that there will be a conference with ELAC’s student government and clubs about the website’s new appearance at the end of October.

The IT department will ask students for their opinions on the new design before the website goes live.

Award-winning artists’, students work presented at VPAM

BY JESUS FIGUEROA Staff Writer

ART LIFE—Juror Prize winner Dorian Diaz, center, talks with visitors to the 2014 Student Juried Art Exhibit on opening day yesterday at the Vincent Price Art Museum.

CN/Jesus Figueroa

News Briefs

Fall 2014 scholarship deadline The ELAC Foundation Scholarship application deadline for fall 2014 is Saturday. Students can apply at www.elac-foundation.org/scholarships.php. For more information, contact the ELAC Foundation Office at (323) 265-8901.

The 2014 Student Juried Art Exhibit opened yesterday at the Vincent Price Art Museum’s Small Gallery, displaying 52 artworks with four students splitting three juror prizes.

Top awards were given during the opening reception held from 6 to 8 p.m.

The Juried Prize Award was given to Dorian Diaz, with a ceramic sculpture entitled “Horse for Picasso,” Chin Hin Ip, who drew two conte on paper drawings entitled “Tal’mar of the latter Titans, ‘Checkpoint’” and “Tal’mar of the latter Titans, ‘Valkyries,’” Eric E. Franco Aguilar, with a photo collection entitled “Impresion de

Libertad” and Kevin Poythress, with a digital animation entitled “The Bearicade.”

The 52 pieces on display spanned several mediums of art including drawing, painting and digital media.

Out of the 250 pieces submitted to the gallery, 52 were chosen and four won juror prizes.

The opening attracted a good amount of visitors.

“ELAC’s Salon des Refusés: Guerilla Art” set up outside the VPAM at 6 p.m. to exhibit its work in protest of the opening.

The 2014 Student Juried Exhibit will be at the VPAM until Dec. 6.

Entrance to the VPAM is free and open to the community.

For more on this story, visit elaccampusnews.com.

University Day

Keep track of Campus News

Several university and college representatives will be providing transfer information during “University Day” on Thursday, between parking structure 3 and the D5 swim stadium. It will be held from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

To keep up-to-date with the latest ELAC news, “Like” facebook.com/CampusNews, follow on Twitter and Instagram @Elaccampusnews. For more stories go to Elaccampusnews.com.

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Opinion

EASt LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAmpUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, September 24, 2014

Is it fare?

Metro raised the bus fare 25 cents, bringing the total fare to $1.75 per person, with a two-hour transfer. The price of a college student’s 30-day bus pass now jumps from $35 to $43.

EDITOR IN CHIEF Jesus Figueroa MANAGING EDITOR Danny Vasquez ART DIRECTOR Lindsey Maeda FRONT EDITOR Jade Inglada OPINION EDITOR Marcus Camacho NEWS EDITOR Megan G. Razzetti FEATURE EDITOR Cortez Cruz Serrato

ARTS EDITOR Liliana Marquez SPORTS EDITOR Andrew Ruiz PHOTO EDITOR Julianne Obregon COPY EDITORS Russell J. Zazueta Tadzio Garcia CARTOONIST Kien Ha

Raised bus prices trouble students BY marcus camacho Staff Writer As if dealing with finances wasn’t stressful enough, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) raised their bus fare prices last week, making it more difficult for college students to stay within their budget.

This will not affect or bother students that own a car or hitch rides from friends and family members, but for students who take the bus, the changes in the Metro fare are a bad thing.

The Metro raised the bus fare by 25 cents, bringing the total fare to $1.75 per person, with a two-hour transfer. The price of a college student’s 30-day bus pass now jumps from $35 to $43.

The problem with prices being raised is that instead of spending $3 on a bus fare to school and back, students now have to spend $3.50 to make the round trip.

Some students might say to stop being cheap and pay the fare. What they don’t understand though is

that the 25 cent increase is going to add up.

For example, last semester I was enrolled in five classes, so I would spend about $60 a month on bus fares alone.

If I had five classes now, I would be spending $70 a month. That may not sound like a lot, but I take only one bus. On the other hand a student saves on a monthly basis if they take more than one bus.

Some students might think it’s a hassle to get change so then why not get a bus pass. But getting a bus pass is harder because only full-time students can apply for them. If you don’t have 12 units, then you can’t qualify for the pass.

Metro should make it easier for college students to obtain a 30-day college student bus pass.

They should take into consideration how many buses a student might have to take on a daily basis to get to school and back home.

Also, taking the bus wouldn’t be a problem if the bus gave change, but the bus requires people to have exact change.

If a student wakes up late and needs to take the bus amd has no change for a five dollar bill, their options are: get change and be late for class and receive a tardy, or spend the whole five dollars to pay for the ride home because a day pass costs seven dollars.

If cash is tight for students, as it is for me, there are other ways to pay for a bus fare, such as with TAP or bus tokens.

A bag of 10 tokens costs $17.50.

TAP is a prepaid card that you can put money into and swipe on a machine inside the bus next to the driver.

The only positive thing that came out of the price increase is that if a student owns a TAP card, they get two hours of transfers to other Metro lines to complete a one-way trip.

For the two-hour transfers, single fare riders will need a TAP card. When the card is tapped at the first boarding, the two hour transfer period will begins and transfers will be allowed from one Metro line to another.

Students will still tap their cards

at each boarding and the TAP card system will recognize if the student is within the two hour transfer window.Students are allowed to transfer unlimited number of times from one Metro bus or rail line to another within the two-hour time period.

For example, someone could transfer from the Metro Gold Line to the Metro Red Line and then to the Metro Expo Line all on a $1.75 fare. Round trips don’t qualify during the two-hour free transfer period.

When students have to pay for books and for school supplies that each class requires, the raise in bus fare prices forces low income families to find other sources of income to help pay for these finances. Some are forced to rely heavily on their financial aid or are forced to get jobs, which can sometimes make it harder to focus in school.

The price increase may not hurt everyone or seem like a big deal, but for those who take the bus it can be stressful, and it’s a terrible move on the Metro’s part.

Meditation helps relieve student’s stress

BY Cynthia Laguna Staff Writer Meditation has become more popular in recent years and can be used as a stress-relieving exercise.

We all undergo great stress as a result of work, school and homework.

Meditation can help the mind cope with stress and overall emotional experiences.

This is basically a practice where one sits comfortably, concentrates on their breathing, and tries to control the mind to focus on the present, without thinking about their problems or concerns.

Many might brush off the idea as some “hippie” sort of ritual, but taking some time to silence the mind from all the daily distractions can help relieve stress.

I began reading about the benefits of yoga and meditation online and decided to give it a try.

I began meditating every night, or at least tried to, as well as trying to exercise when I had some free time. At first it was difficult to quiet the mind because it began bringing up all these thoughts of school, work, and bills.

Throughout the days I advanced in meditation little by little, and each time I would finish meditating, I would open my eyes and almost forget that I was on my bedroom floor.

I began feeling motivated with energy to exercise and to go throughout my day without feeling super exhausted.

John Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, conducted about 19,000 meditation studies to suggest that mindfulness meditation can help mitigate stress issues such as anxiety, depression and pain.

Meditation can help students think in a more productive way. It can help change those unproductive thoughts to productive actions.

It might all be just a mental thing, but when do we really take some time to fully concentrate without constantly being taunted by all of our daily worries?

Students can always arrange some free time to involve some productive activities.

Meditation can be practiced everywhere: after working out, before sleeping, after waking up, or maybe even at the park. It only takes about five minutes, and with

progress it enables your mind to concentrate for longer periods of time .

Another activity that can also help relieve stress is yoga. Luckily, East Los Angeles College offers a yoga class in which no one is required to have past experience.

The class is one unit and counts toward your physical education transfer requirement for UC and CSU. The class is offered in the morning or afternoon.

Yoga focuses on physical and breathing exercises. It helps with development in flexibility and building strength in the skeletal, muscular, and nervous system. It reduces stress and improves energy levels. Students can practice concentration and on focusing by using meditation techniques.

These are just some suggestions than can help relieve stress in students during their free time at home.

Meditation and yoga classes can be found throughout the Los Angeles area, which are only five or ten dollars a session. It is an inexpensive way for students with a budget to seek positive activities that can benefit them to a live healthier lifestyle.

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ONLINE EDITORS Sergio Berrueta Liliana Marquez Jane Fernandez SOCIAL MEDIA Cynthia Laguna Julianne Obregon STAFF WRITERS Carlos Alvarez Ayana Arroyo Dulce Carrilo Ivan Cazares Arthur Cervantes Jacquelyn V. Gonzalez Maria C. Isidoro Joseph Ovalle Alexa Santana PHOTOGRAPHER Tadzio Garcia ADVERTISING Stefanie Arocha DISTRIBUTION Augustine Ugalde ADVISERS Jean Stapleton Sylvia Rico-Sanchez Campus News encourages letters to the editor relating to campus issues. Letters must be typed and double spaced. Submitted material becomes the proper ty of Campus News and cannot be returned. Letters should be limited to 250 words or less. Campus News reserves the right to edit letters for grammatical errors or libelous content.

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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, of fered 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.

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News

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

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care

esteem

healing

shedding light

courage

truth

friendship pride educ ate

adm ira tion honor faith

healing

outreach

reliable freedom respect encouragement honesty voice support fearless

believe recovery

change

t e s t i m o n y stand up

inspirational awareness honor safe brave shelter change

healthy together

mend

Upcoming vigil set to raise domestic violence awareness

unity family

strength

pledge

su r vi vo r m o t iv a t io n

positivity solidarity forgiven ess

trust will

hope

life

t love help serenity trus

BY MARCUS CAMACHO Staff Writer The "Mujeres de Paz (Women of Peace) – 17th Annual Candlelight March and Vigil" will be held at East Los Angeles College Oct. 2 at 6 p.m. to raise domestic violence awareness.

During the event, members from the crowd will be given a chance to share their stories. The organizers of the event have taken steps to ensure the people will feel comfortable sharing their testaments.

"We will ask them to come up and give a testimonial, if they feel comfortable. Also, they will see some of the survivors who have spoken before, and hopefully they will feel empowered to do the same," said ELAC's health and fitness instructor Andrea Owens.

The event last year drew in about 200 people and organizers hope to see that that attendance increase this year.

Members of the East Los Angeles Women’s Center will speak at the beginning of the ceremony and after the march.

Following the speakers, the performances will begin with ELAC's Let’s Dance Company and a Native American group also will

be performing a routine.

Owens said the message the event is trying to convey is that there are people who are there to take a stand in solidarity against violence.

According to Domestic Violence Statistics, a website that features information on abuse, every nine seconds a woman is assaulted or beaten in the U.S. alone and at least one in every three women has been beaten, forced into sex or abused during her lifetime.

Most occasions, the abuser is a member of the woman's own family.

A significant fact, according to victims service agency,Safe Horizon, is that most domestic violence incidents are never reported.

Safe Horizon reported that survivors of domestic violence face high rates of depression, sleep disturbances, anxiety, flashbacks and other emotional distress.

Safe Horizon also reported domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women.

Each year, domestic violence results in an estimated 1,200 deaths and two million injuries among women and nearly 600,000 injuries among men.

There are more injuries due to domestic violence than car accidents, muggings and

rapes combined.

Domestic violence is most likely to occur between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., and happen at the victim’s home 60 percent of the time. It not only affects women, but the future of the children as well.

Studies show that up to 10 million children witness some form of domestic violence annually.

Girls who witness domestic violence and do not receive help are more likely to be abused as teens and adults.

On the other hand, boys who witness domestic violence are twice more likely to become abusers of their partners and/or children as adults. According to The American Bar Association, a study of 2,245 children and teenagers found exposure to violence in the home was a great factor in predicting a child's violent behavior.

The Vigil will meet at the Mural of the La Virgen De Guadalupe on the corner of Mednik and Avenida Cesar Chavez at Belvedere Park. The walk will proceed onto Collegian Avenue and Avenida Cesar Chavez and end at the East Los Angeles College Performing Arts Center Court Yard.

For more information on "Mujeres de Paz – 17th Annual Candlelight March and Vigil" visit elawc.org or call (323) 526-5819.

Huskies lose home opener against SBCC

BY ANDREW RUIZ Staff Writer East Los Angeles College’s football home opener against Santa Barabra City Colllege resulted in a 45-13 loss Saturday night at Weingart Stadium. The Huskies, who got a total of six false start penalties, “The thing about it is they’re drive killers. Some of these kids are anxious and they’re trying to make big plays, so that’s where they end up jumping,” Huskies Head Coach Steve Mojarro said.

“It’s one of those things if we leave the game in the hands of the officials, then we’ll be like every other person who complains. We got to make sure we execute and leave no doubt that the referees don’t throw any penalties.”

After ELAC freshman quarterback Michael Ladino threw an interception in the first quarter, the Vaqueros responded when Brandon Edwards threw a screen pass to sophomore running back Cedric Cooper for a 65-yard touchdown.

Edwards, a freshman from Seattle, completed 17-of-25 passes for 183 yards and one interception.

The Huskies caught momentum in the second quarter as Ladino threw a bomb to Joshua Taylor followed by a Ladino quarterback sneak at the 5:39 mark to put the Huskies on the board.

Turnovers for the Huskies were also a huge factor. Running back Namaan Young fumbled the ball with less than a minute left which resulted in a Will Allen touchdown for the Vaqueros. The Huskies finished the game with five turnovers.

With 26 seconds to go in the first half, the Huskies answered back with an 85-yard drive.It included a 48-yard run from Randolph followed by Ladino and Taylor connecting once again for a 37-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead at the half, 28-13.

SBCC came out of the gate in the second half to make a statement when sophomore running back

CN/JULIANNE OBREGON

BROKEN TACKLE—Santa Barbara City College’s linebacker Cameron Gamble, left, misses a mid-run tackle against East Los Angeles College’s running back Randolph Will who gains 48 yards in a 45-13 Husky loss to the Vaqueros last Saturday in Weingart Stadium.

Orion Prescott scored an 8-yard Despite the ending result of the run to put the Vaqueros up 35-13. game, Mojarro’s main focus is to Prescott led the get the Huskies’ first Vaqueros in rushing win of the season yards with 48 on 11 this weekend at El carries.

Camino College “The windows Offensively, the Compton Center. are a little more Huskies couldn’t “They’re a real get into a groove in g o o d team and tighter than what the second half due they’re coached they’re supposed up. Our focus with to several penalties. to be, but I just The false start these guys is correct penalties continued and all the mistakes got to be ready and Ladino threw we’re doing and for whats coming just build on the another interception in the third quarter, positives,” Mojarro next.” finishing the said. game with three “ We ’ v e b e e n MICHAEL LADINO ELAC Freshman Quarterback interceptions. through this before “It’s a lot faster,” and we got to Ladino said on the make sure we keep style of play and building on this, get making the transition from high the kids in the right direction and school to the collegiate level. “The making sure our kids are mentally windows are a little more tighter and physically prepared for this than what they’re supposed to be, game.” but I just got to be ready for what’s The Huskies play Compton coming next.”

Center Saturday Sept. 27 at 1 p.m. www.ELACCampusNews.com

CN/JULIANNE OBREGON

Taking flight Volunteers at the Noche de Ciencias event help kids build gliders on Sep. 19 at the ELAC Auditorium Foyer. The event was held to encourage students to pursue a career in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Parents were also encouraged to attend one of their workshops to learn more about the STEM program and how it will benefit their children.

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Feature

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

Soccer player gives lesson, motivates people not to give up player because it’s not a common thing despite the fact that the sport Staff Writer doesn’t require players to use their hands a lot except for goalkeepers ELAC’s men’s soccer team Ernesto Ruvalcaba has many goalkeeper and captain, Andy stories to share about his journey Gutierrez, said that was the first through soccer and life. While some thing that caught his attention when of them show his struggles, others he saw Ruvalcaba for the first time.

Gutierrez also tell of the happiness said that he thought the game has given “Soccer allows that having only him despite of being half of his right arm a half-an-arm athlete. me to show would somehow Ruvalcaba, a people that not affect Ruvalcaba’s 20-year-old soccer player for East Los only because you performance, but then his opinion Angeles College, look a certain changed. was born without way it means you “After seeing him the lower half of his in a few training right arm. can’t do what you sessions, that was “My mom said that want or what you never an issue. His I was leaning on that performance is top side too much and my love.” quality,” Gutierrez (right) arm wasn’t said. fully developed,” ERNESTO RUVALCABA Something that Ruvalcaba said.

Men’s soccer team player caught ELAC men’s He said that Head Coach Eddie despite being born like that, life has been tough for him, Flores’ eye was Ruvalcaba’s desire when he tried out for the team. especially when he was younger.

“He has a handicap, but he didn’t “Some people don’t understand,” Ruvalcaba said, “There’s some that really use that. He came out as any just stare at me weird, but I don’t let other player. He is really intense about what he wants to do,” Flores it get to me anymore.”

“If somebody approaches me and said.

“We had about 90 players and asks me about it, I will tell them.

I’ll be honest because I don’t mind he made the cut. He has been very people asking me. Some of them are consistent and has started in the first afraid to ask me because they don’t two games. He is pretty basic and a fundamental player. He knows his know how I will react,” he said.

Some people might be surprised position and he plays well,” he said.

Besides being his coach, Flores when they see a half-an-arm soccer

BY LILIANA MARQUEZ

CN/LILIANA MARQUEZ

COUNTERATTACK—Ernesto Ruvalcaba, defender of the East Los Angeles College men’s soccer team, runs down the wing in a counterattack move during a practice session on Monday afternoon at Weingart Stadium.

is also Ruvalcaba’s instructor for a Chicano Studies class.

“He has a good ability to communicate. I think that one-onone he probably communicates better than he does on the soccer field,” Flores said.

That desire is what pushes

Ruvalcaba to keep moving forward to achieve his goals.

“Soccer allows me to show people that not only because you look a certain way it means you can’t do what you want or what you love,” Ruvalcaba said.

Once Ruvalcaba, a defender, steps

on the field everything changes. His style of play is perhaps not unique but he is quick, strong, well aware of his on-field surroundings and he is never afraid of a face-to-face challenge.

Ruvalcaba said that sometimes some of the players from the

opposing teams don’t want to go hard on him at the beginning of the games, but things change once they see him in action.

“I don’t mind them doing that because it helps me to see my weaknesses and my strengths,” Ruvalcaba said.

Ruvalcaba attended Montebello High School where he also played soccer for four years as a right midfielder and graduated in 2012.

The struggle for this young athlete was more difficult during those years.

“Players laughed at me or started calling me names in a couple of games while in high school. It was around my junior year,” Ruvalcaba said.

“Once the seasons ended with the school team, I played with outside teams and it was there when the players made fun of me.”

This used to upset him and make him sad because he couldn’t understand why they acted that way.

“Then I realized that maybe they were mad because my team was winning or because they couldn’t do anything because I was defending well, so they were frustrated,” Ruvalcaba said.

However, playing at the college level has changed all of this. He is currently in his first year of college soccer and said that he hasn’t faced any jokes or disrespectful comments.

For more on this story, visit elaccampusnews.com

Former theater star takes her talents to London with the theater department in 2007 when she was still a junior Staff Writer at Garfield. Since leaving ELAC in 2011 she has been working for Former East Los Angeles College the Company of Angels Theater actress Alexandra Ximenez moves Department. on to attend the London Academy Ximenez’ infatuation with of Music and Dramatic Arts. performing started at a very young Last year Ximenez became age and it seemed odd that her encouraged by her friend and curiosity with acting, singing, and mentor Rich Moore, the director of dancing withstood the test of time.

“Wreck It Ralph,” to take her talents No one in her family had experience to the next level by applying to art with performing to guide her into schools. She decided to apply to two that specific path. schools, the California Institute of Ximenez attributes watching the Arts and the London Academy “Gone With The Wind” with her of Music and Dramatic Art. mother at a young age that fueled “I applied to these schools because her desire to be a performer. It was I wanted to take my performing to from then on that she showed a a higher level. I wanted to have a great curiosity for music, acting, foundation. I acted heavily and performing in front of an on instinct but wanted to audience. build a greater foundation “I cannot really understand and improve my overall why I would get worked up technique.” Ximenez watching the movie (Gone said.

With The Wind). I Ximenez was would feel frustration accepted into the in seeing the actors academy this past perform because I too Spring and she wanted to perform, moved to London I would always try to start school to see beyond the there last week. story,” Ximenez said.

Ximenez is Though her entering a threeinfatuation with year program performing was at LADMA in still very much hope of earning a with her, it was bachelors degree not until she was in professional 12 that Ximenez acting. would get her It was not until first opportunity her junior year to perform on when Ximenez stage in an began to take actual full length performing production. seriously again and Alexandra Ximenez Belvedere Middle auditioned for the School cast her Garfield High School and East Los to play a part in the musical “A Angeles College’s joint production Christmas Carol.” of “Zoot Suit.”

As Ximenez entered Garfield in She was originally casted to just the fall of 2005, she lost interest in be a dancer but she then decided to being on stage and instead began audition for her first speaking role to focus her attention on athletics. and she got the part of “Lupe” in the She was an active member in production. both cross country and softball at This proved to be the jumping off Garfield. Along with playing sports point for Ximenez as she became at Garfield she also was a Folkorio, fully involved with ELAC’s theater Swing and Salsa dancer. department after the production.

After graduating from Garfield “I was the only high school in the spring of 2009 Ximenez student at Garfield that stuck around decided to tryout for UCLA’s theater at ELAC’s theater department. I department but was unsuccessful in had met so many friends during the gaining admittance.

“Zoot Suit” production, they even ended up being some of my best friends today,” Ximenez said. For more on this story, visit Ximenez became first involved elaccampusnews.com.

BY CORTEZ CRUZ SERRATO

CN/JULIANNE OBREGON

TAKING A KNEE—Adriana Rojas (left) and Mariaelena Hernandez (right) take a knee at the end of wrestling practice as head coach Ralph Valle addresses the team.

Women wrestlers take down sterotypes

BY CORTEZ CRUZ SERRATO Staff Writer

Often looked at as a masculine sport, wrestlers Mariaelena Hernandez and Adriana Rojas are both taking wrestling at the college level head-on.

Hernandez is the team’s go-to wrestler in the 125 and 133 weight class while Rojas is competing for more mat time as the season progresses.

Rojas,18, and Hernandez,19, are members of the East Los Angeles College wrestling team. Hernandez is entering her second year with the team while Rojas in entering her first year.

Even in the beginning stages of their wrestling careers, both Hernandez and Rojas never had much apprehension when it was time to wrestle with a male opponent.

“We don’t think about it when we are out there, our main thought is just to win. Nothing else,” Hernandez said.

“My main focus is not on who I am wrestling, but my main focus is on what I have to do to my opponent in order to win,” Rojas said.

Both Rojas and Hernandez began wrestling at the varsity level their senior year in high school.

Hernandez, who transferred to Downey High School from Bell High School, excelled during her senior year, reaching the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) finals, placing in the top 10 in her weight class.

Rojas, who attended Montebello

High School, did not start wrestling goal since they became involved until her senior year. She wrestled in wrestling was to do whatever minimally in competitive bouts in their team needed in order to be successful. her high school wrestling career.

Hernandez even went as far as She took a year off after high school and is now entering her first cutting her hair to prove to her high year as a student and wrestler at school coach that she was serious about being on the team.

ELAC. “The coach told me to cut my hair ELAC wrestlers Hernandez and Rojas have always stood-out on their as a (joke) but I took it seriously because I wrestling wanted to teams. show how Both were much being the only on the team females “I think a lot of people meant to me. on their think we’re crazy for From then majorily male wrestling out here with on my head high school wrestling the guys, but its so much coach treated me like one teams. fun. It is such a great of the guys,” Since the Hernandez CIF does not sport and you learn so said. have female much from the sport.”

Rojas had high school to go through wrestling slightly less teams, both measures had no ADRIANA ROJAS t h a n choice but Wrestler Hernandez to compete to earn her against the spot with the boys if they guys on her wanted to high school team but after she was wrestle competitively.

Even though Hernandez and accepted she was embraced by her Rojas never put much thought in teammates and encouraged to reach the gender of their opponents both her full potential.

“I had known the guys on the know that their male opponent have a difficult time facing them on the team when I joined and I enjoyed the fact my teammates would give mat.

“The guys who face us have a me pointers and treat me like one of tough time with it. They don’t want the guys,” Rojas said.

Most people, including Hernandez to be the guy who beats up on a girl or on the other hand be the guy who and Rojas could not understand why they became so consumed and gets beat by a girl,” Rojas said.

Hernandez and Rojas’ main obsessed with wrestling and why

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they would want to compete in such a physical sport with mostly male competitors.

“I think a lot of people think we’re crazy for wrestling out here with the guys, but its so much fun. It is such a great sport and you learn so much from the sport,” Rojas said.

Hernandez and Rojas both credit wrestling in helping them make strides in their personal lives.

“Wrestling has changed me completely. I stopped running with the wrong crowd and began to focus on something positive. It made me a better person and a better daughter,” Hernandez said.

“Wrestling has taught me so much respect and discipline, it has showed me how far hard work and dedication can get you. I now know that if I push myself hard enough I could do anything that I want to do,” Rojas said.

Both wrestlers have also formed a special friendship between them.

They take every opportunity to learn from one another and push each other and help motivate each other when things do not go their way on the mat.

“I joined the team after taking one year off after high school.

One of the main reasons I joined is because I heard that the ELAC team had a girl (Hernandez)...We ended up becoming very close friends,” Rojas said.

“All we want to do is help each other out in any way possible and see each other do well.” Hernandez said.

Hernandez and Rojas will both be wrestling at this weekend’s Bakersfield Duals in Bakersfield.

Arts 5 ‘Tosca’ production performs at three venues EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

BY tadzio garcia Staff Writer The local Pacific Opera Project’s production of Puccini’s “Tosca” is not to be missed. Artistic Director Josh Shaw introduces performances unique to the opera world here in Los Angeles.

Adding to the opera experience of “Tosca” the audience is directed to walk to a different location for each Act within the grounds of the St. James United Methodist Church in Pasadena, all set to a day’s story in Rome on June 14, 1800.

The cast includes renowned artists with top-notch voices. There is a world-class interpretation of the music conducted by Stephan Karr, POP Musical Director and a chorus of over 40, including a children’s chorus. English supertitles were added.

“Tosca” has historical references that pit warring political parties against each other, like the Rightsof-Man (Napoleon Bonaparte’s republic) against the age-old rule of church and royalty.

Within that context, Floria Tosca, a celebrated singer, and Mario Cavaradossi, a painter, seek to preserve their love.

Daria Somers, as the role of Tosca, immediately grasped readers’ attention with a velvety tone and a flow of interpretation.

Her voice is more suited for a lighter-voiced Mozart role, such as Susanna in Mozart’s “The Marriage

CN/tadzio garcia

DIFFICULT NEGOTIATIONS—Floria Tosca, played by Daria Somers, pleads with Baron Scarpia (Patrick Blackwell) for her lover’s life in the Pacific Opera Project’s production of Puccini’s Tosca Sept. 19 in Pasadena. of Figaro.” Nevertheless, her “Vissi d’arte” is a showstopper.

Time is suspended, leaving only the beauty of Somers’ rendition of “Vissi d’arte” (“I have lived only for

art and love”) in Act II. Every phrase, each syllable and note spoke a world of emotion.

Somer’s musical sculpting left the audience, who erupted in applause

after her arias, breathless.

Brian Cheney, as Cavaradossi , sings with a strong lustrous voice, perfecting it to Puccini-style.

There is an art to singing and

bringing your point of view across.

Cheney’s nuances of interpretation displayed a well-studied role through his understanding of Italian language and the nature of the character.

After Cheney’s interpretation of “E luceven le stelle” (“And the stars shone”), the audience reacted in a roar of approval during Act III. Act I was held in the St. James Church, with the traditional set design representing Rome’s Church of Sant’Andrea della Valle.

This did aptly work with the text, the Sacristan praying “…and the angel of Mary, she conceived the Holy Spirit…” or the “Te Deum laudamus” (“We praise thee, O God”) as a chorus of priests, nuns and a children’s choir representing altar boys.

Shaw includes a swinging censer containing burning incense to the proceedings of the “Te Deum,” playing on the audience’s senses, which heightens this opera experience.

Baron Scarpia, played by Patrick Blackwell, is placed physically above the rituals during the “Te Deum” telegraphing that he is above the power of the church.

From a theatrical standpoint, this is playing his hand too early.

We know he’s evil through his musical motifs and his text during the juxtaposition with the chorus during the “Te Deum.”

Blackwell sings Scarpia with a robust voice and with incomparable overtones capable of filling any

opera house in the world.

Scarpia portrays evil evoking fear, which Blackwell handled w i t h c o n v i n c i n g m a n n e r.

H o w e v e r, p e o p l e w e r e t o o comfortable around him.

Spoletta, a police agent played by Ryan Thorn, was in full character in fear, understanding the moment, during his Act II scene with Scarpia.

Act II was held in an adjoining theater and set to a scene in Baron Scarpia’s apartment in the Palazzo Farnese.

We discover that Scarpia has a torture chamber connected to his private apartment.

When the torture chamber door opened, saturated lights of red and orange made a bold statement.

Lighting Designer Ryan Shull’s ingenious tone of colors matches the emotional journey of the “Tosca.”

The opera’s Act III was outside in a courtyard, where the audience looked up at the scene that took place on a second floor balcony of the upper parts of Castel Sant’Angelo.

The lights put the audience in the correct time slot of the opera, early morning on June 15.

The death scenes include a progression of full-on saturation of lights, which further emphasized the actual deaths of Tosca and Cavaradossi and the sad ending of this love story.

The opera ends Sept. 26 and 28 at St. James in Pasadena. Saira Frank will perform Tosca on Sept. 26.

Tickets are $20 for students with an ELAC ID.

Neeson thrills in detective story

BY JESUS FIGUEROA Staff Writer Actor Liam Neeson continues his thrilling action performances as a slightly more realistic character in “A Walk Among the Tombstones.”

Although the fictional story comes to feel complex with the addition of characters throughout, it’s a terrifying action film, which does not slip into a cliché.

Detective Matt Strudder, played

by Neeson, starts off a drunk officer who takes on criminals with no regard for his or anyone else’s safety.

After an incident, which leaves him traumatized, he retires from being a cop and becomes a private investigator.

Neeson puts his skills to the test, acting in a more realistic detective role.

The “Taken” action star comes

to a role, which has a more realistic tone and makes his character intense.

Matt is approached by Peter, played by Boyd Holbrook, and taken back to drug kingpin Kenny Kristo, played by Dan Stevens, who wants Matt to help find the men who killed his wife.

Holbrook is an emotional wreck, but that’s just what his junkie character needs to make his performance seem genuine.

His character goes from being a high-strung recovering drug addict, to being a user once again. The transition is well played.

Stevens has the intensity in his demeanor to play a drug kingpin, while still not being able to overpower the performance

by Neeson.

As Matt reluctantly accepts the job, he discovers what could possibly be a giant web of murder.

Along the way, Matt gets help

from a street kid named T.J., played

by Brian “Astro” Bradley, who brings out a more human side to Matt.

Bradley is funny and genuinely counteracts the seriousness of Neeson with his mannerisms and his way of talking.

Alongside Neeson, he is able to show just how strong of an actor he is by playing off of the acting talents of Neeson.

The ending is fitting to the build up, as most of Neeson’s past action films have demostrated. It comes with twists and turns that will surprise audiences.

Although it seems a bit slow at points, every part of the film adds to the plot, so there is no wasted moment.

“A Walk Among the Tombstones” is out in theaters now and is rated R for strong violence, disturbing images, language and brief nudity.

COURTESY OF Millennium Entertainment

Automata takes over film

BY JESUS FIGUEROA Staff Writer

COURTESY OF universal Pictures

The sci-fi story of “Automata” puts robots into a future chaotic world as slaves for the humans who were lucky to survive.

Lead actor Antonio Banderas has a stellar performance but falls short of being the most exciting part of the film.

In a world that has been destroyed by solar flares and only a mere 22,000 people are lucky to survive, robots called Automatas live only to serve their human masters.

The main company builds the Automatas to not harm humans and to not be able to repair themselves in hopes that the Automatas would not malfunction and turn on human beings.

When Wallace, played by Dylan

McDermott, finds an Automata repairing itself, he destroys it and reports the malfunction.

McDermott plays a dark character, who is violent and aggressive.

Alongside Banderas, he is a much more powerful character.

Insurance agent Jacq Vaucan, played by Banderas, is sent to investigate and disprove that an Automata can malfunction in such a manner.

Banderas is excellent, but his charisma is lacking and at points comes off as cold and unemotional.

Jacq awaits his wife Rachel Vaucan, played by Birgitte Hjort Sorensen, to give birth to their child so they can get away from the disorder in the world they live in, but he has one last job to investigate.

Sorensen is hardly seen in the film, and the brief times she’s on

screen, it is confusing to figure out what role she plays.

The Automata robots seem glitchy and move awkwardly but capture many human emotions that the rest of the world’s human characters lack.

When Jacq digs deeper he uncovers a group of Automata’s lead by the original Automata that helped create the program to control the rest.

The film in its entirety feels slow and the story drags, but the concept is spectacular. The execution may be lacking, but the commentary this film has on the human condition keeps it entertaining.

The ending is unusual but in a good way. It leaves a bit of confusion and may continue to have the audiences thinking long after the movie is over.

Interpol’s album release fails to exceed expectations

BY MEGAN G. RAZZETTI Staff Writer Interpol returns from a four-year hiatus with the much anticipated new album “El Pintor” released on September 9.

“El Pintor,” which is an anagram of the bands name, gives listeners the sound of heavy synth-infused songs packed with the iconic crooning of lead singer Paul Banks.

After a long hiatus and the departure of bandmate Carlos Dengler, Interpol produced a notso-spectacular album.

The fresh tracklist stays true to their gloomy unique sound, may be

a little too much, though.

Although they are true to their traditional sound, the album isn’t all that different from their previous 2004 blockbuster album “Antics.”

Interpol fans will agree that many of the tracks sound heavily similar to tracks that appear on other albums.

After a longband hiatus, it is disappointing to see recycled riffs and chords in the newest release.

“My Blue Supreme,” which is the fifth track on “El Pintor,” shares the similarity of melodies found in previous songs such as “Rest My Chemistry” found on their 2007 album “Our Love to Admire,” and “Take You on a Cruise” found

on “Antics.”

Although it is a catchy tune with a chilling chorus, it doesn’t stand out as something fresh, even if it is new material.

The lyrics are well written but fail to give the song strength. The hook is a more upbeat version of “Rest My Chemistry” and it is upsetting that it is featured on this new album.

The track “Same Town, New Story” gives an attempt at a personal touch to lyrics.

The lyrics tell the story of struggle wanting something new in life.

It is relatable to listeners in a particular situation who feel like ‘the whole world up on my shoulders,’ as the song goes.

This track may just be the only genuine attempt at original content throughout this entire album.

The remaining tracks on the album continue with mediocre attempts at being great songs.

A compilation of tired sounds and themes continue to play. After the ending track “Twice as Hard,” it really is easy to simply start listening to their hit album “Antics” again.

Overall, the album puts listeners in the mood for the catchy hits of “Antics” and it should have been the companion to the album to begin with.

Interpol’s “El Pintor” is available in stores and on iTunes.

www.ELACCampusNews.com

COURTESY OF Matador Records

6 SPORTS ELAC runner makes history

BY TADZIO GARCIA Staff Writer Defending cross country state champion Laura Aceves is the first East Los Angeles College woman in the school’s 69-year history to become a Southern California Preview champion.

Aceves won the SoCal Preview women’s 5-kilometer race last Friday at Woodley Park in Van Nuys.

“I should have run a faster race, but this is the time in the early season to experiment and learn from,” Aceves said.

The women’s team took 12th place out of 26 teams, and if they improve on their times, they have a good chance of advancing to the state finals, according to Head Coach Louis Ramirez.

The SoCal finals will be held Nov. 7 at Woodley Park.

The men’s team took 21st place out of 30 teams.

Sophomore Andres De La Cruz placed 29th to as finish the top ELAC runner in the men’s four-mile “A” race.

“We are now familiar with the course and its problems and can work on them to run much faster

when the SoCal finals are here,” De La Cruz said.

“For me the biggest problem was the first half-mile, falling too far behind the lead pack. This part of the (race) was too narrow for the amount of runners (competing), and someone actually fell down.”

De La Cruz caught up to the front pack and stayed with them to the last mile. “I got to the top pack with spurts of sprints, but used too much lactate (acid) in doing so,” De La Cruz said.

For more on this story, visit elaccampusnews.com.

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

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“The value and convenience is a big factor in why I chose Mount St. Mary’s Online.

I’ve had a great experience in all my classes.”

:: Log in and learn at your convenience

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ON YOUR BUDGET.

—Adina, Pre-Health student

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TAKING CONTROL—ELAC’s Laura Aceves leads the cross country field in the SoCal Preview

ON THE RADAR

Mount St. Mary’s College is:

:: The No. 1 “Value-Added College” in the U.S. (Money Magazine, 2014)

:: A top-23 regional university (U.S. News & World Report, 2015)

“It’s not a crazy price that’s way out of reach for me. It’s something I can pay—it’s really workable.”

—Makayla, Liberal Arts student

www.msmconline.la.edu :: 310.728.2099

Women’s 5K race at the half-mile mark just ahead of Mt. San Antonio College’s Sierra Ungerman Sept. 19 in Van Nuys.

MSMC East LA College.indd 1

www.ELACCampusNews.com

9/12/14 10:21 AM