FEATURES
ARTS
Transfer Center director chosen to represent ELAC.
First Friday Jazz series to begin.
SPORTS ELAC football defeats El Camino-Compton Center.
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Volume 73, Issue 3
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Single copy free - additional copies 50 cents
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
www.elaccampusnews.com
Former student dies from fall at ELAC BY BRYCE RONQUILLO Staff Writer An unidentified male, who had fallen from the fifth floor of the south parking structure, died Tuesday from extreme injuries. President Marvin Martinez said in a press release that he is deeply saddened by the incident and his prayers are with his family, friends and loved ones. He also asked that the privacy of the family to be respected. The investigation is still on-going. With the evidence gathered by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department however, the incident appears to be an act of suicide. Witnesses agree that the man’s intention appeared to be suicide. “He looked extremely calm while falling. It seemed premeditated,” Cleopatra Skywalker-Ortiz said. The man was transported to the Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center where he spent the night. The man was a former East Los Angeles College student from several years ago. His reason for being at ELAC was unknown. His presumed age is late 30s. Many witnesses came to the man’s attention after he had fallen and attempted to treat him. “I was walking from the lunch truck towards the parking structure and I saw the guy falling down. It all happened so fast,” said Ivan Aviles. “I went downstairs to help him and another man was already giving him first aid responses.” The Sheriff’s Department is working with the Los Angeles Department of Mental Health to provide support for the family. There is also support being offered to any students affected by the incident at the Student Health Center (G-8 111, 323-2658651). “It’s great to have a partnership with the Department of Mental Health that students should take advantage of at ELAC,” said Sheriff’s Captain Cheryl Newman-Tarwater. She also said students should be always be on the look-out for someone who might want to harm himself or others and should take action if given the chance. Anyone with information regarding the incident can contact the Sheriff’s Station at 323-265-8800.
DO NOT CROSS—Sheriffs block walkway by P3 after an unidentified man falls from the fifth floor Sept. 28.
CN/JACQUELYN GONZALEZ
Scholarship opportunities provided to help students BY IVAN CAZARES Staff Writer The East Los Angeles College Foundation has $113,000 available in scholarships for Elans this semester. The deadline for applying is Oct. 3, however, a $1.2 million fund endowment made by several donors allows the foundation to provide scholarships every semester. A fund endowment is like a trust fund, with the difference being that an institution has access to the money instead of one individual. The foundation’s board of directors are responsible for managing these funds and making sure they are used to benefit ELAC.
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Recipients must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and must be enrolled full time. They must have completed 24 degree applicable units and be receiving the Board of Governors Fee Waiver. Some scholarships require a specific major. More details and a link to the application is available at elac-foundation.org. During the 2014 fall semester, 123 students received scholarships and 267 during the spring. A total of $183,950 were awarded during both semesters. The foundation developed $109,201 through fundraising and $60,090 through social enterprise during the 2014-2015 school year.
These funds are available for Foundation Paul De La Cerda said. “The students ELAC clubs that apply for and activities. scholarships are Clubs and “We want to give usually the ones professors can request students the opportunity that are more involved in school funds for to not work that extra activities. It’s an field trips and in other school job and focus on their investment leadership,” De activities studies.” La Cerda said. through the According to foundation, or the College Board, ASU. the average cost “The end PAUL DE LA CERDA Executive Director of the ELAC of tuition and fees game is to help Foundation in community students. We want to give colleges increased students the from $1,642 in opportunity to not work that extra 2000-2001 to $3,337 in 2014-2015. job and focus on their studies,” The average cost of four-year Executive Director of the ELAC public schools went from $3,500
CSU application workshop The ELAC Transfer Center is having a CSU application workshop tomorrow from 3-4:30 p.m. in E1-189. For more information go to E1-176 or call (323) 265-8623.
New documentary screening
to $9,139 and the average cost of private nonprofit universities went from $16,072 to $31,231 in the same timespan. An over the phone survey conducted on 1,500 Americans from across the country, by the Gallup Organization showed that 61 percent of Americans think education is available for those who need it after high school, however, 79 percent think it isn’t affordable for everyone. The Institute of College Access and Success says that the average college graduate accumulates $24,000 in student loans by the time they graduate. The Foundation is a non-profit organization that has been serving the community for over 40 years.
The screening of “Searching for Posada: Art and Revolutions” will be presented today along with a Q&A with the director and executive producer from noon-1:30 p.m. at the S2 Recital Hall.
Car wash
One of its longest standing programs is the Jaime Escalante Math and Science program. The program is meant to prepare inner city disadvantaged youths (primarily Latinos) to enter and succeed in mathematics-based college and university programs. The foundation will host the third annual Executive Latino Award Banquet in Oct. The banquet will expose leaders in the surrounding community to the campus, with the purpose of attracting future investments and partners. “We are looking for people who believe in our mission and are willing to donate time and effort. This isn’t a paid position,” De La Cerda said.
The Women’s Basketball Team is having a car wash tomorrow from noon-5 p.m. in front of the C-1 building. Prices are $7 for a small car, $10 for a large car and $2 to be vacuumed.