Spring 2016, Issue 12

NEWS Modern Language Department provides tutoring for students.

Page see 3

Volume 73, Issue 12

ARTS

SPORTS

Los Angeles Cookie Con presents taste treats by local businesses.

Basketball makes it to playoffs.

See page 5

See page 6

Single copy free - additional copies 50 cents

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

www.elaccampusnews.com

FINALLY DONE—ELAC’s newest building open for classes after four years.

CN/IVAN CAZARES

ELAC expands with new E3 building

BY DIEGO OLIVARES Staff Writer

The expansion of East Los Angeles College continues with the new E3 building.

The E3 building officially opened Jan. 5. Students attending classes this semester will be introduced to resources now offered.

It's been a long process in the making of E3. Work on the E3 building dates back to the early 2010s.

The original E3 building was demolished back in 2012 along with the E5 building. These buildings were built after World War II. Construction on the E3 building took place from 2014-2016.

The general contractor Pinner Construction, Company is also responsible for the hiring of the sub-contractors who aided in the building’s construction.

While the building is open, final construction work is still taking place.

One major facilities that is still under work is the air conditioning.

Since air conditioning isn’t

available, classroom doors maintained opened.

In all five floors there are plenty of tables were students can study or relax while waiting for their class to start.

Having these tables benefits student becuase in other building student usually have to sit on the floor to study or wait for their next class to start.

Pathways around the building were blocked for months due to construction. This made it difficult for students and teachers to get around.

Part of the reason for the ongoing construction work is due to new adjustments.

While the building is nearcompletion, there are still problems occurring. “There are still kinks in the building,” office assistant Heather Lam said, “The elevator gets stuck sometimes.”

E3 houses classes and offices for departments such as language arts and communication.

One of the many additions to the building, as well as to ELAC, is the Modern Language Lab. The Modern Language Lab offers aid to students who are part of the English as a Second

Language program.

The lab includes tutoring and free workshops for students on the first floor in room 170.

“I like the building, it gives us more places to study.” Tutor Brenda Salazar said. “More space for students. A lot of students don’t know about the resources.”

With the new space, many learning centers are being moved to the E3 building. This includes the Learning Center that was formerly in the E7 Technology building.

Other classes now located in E3 including Communication and Chicano Studies. Honors is also located at E3 as well.

There are also other classes offered in this building such as mathamatics classes.

The Writing Center has also moved from its original location in K-5 to the E3 building.

There are more computer at this new location, which benefit students more.

In addition to E3, several other buildings are in the process of being completed.

The Campus Student Center, located next to the library and northeast of the E3 building, is also under construction.

Murder suspects seized after three-year search

BY STEPHANIE GARIBAY Staff Writer

Nearly three years after Gabriel Soto, former East Los Angeles College football player, was killed, the Los Angeles Police Department has arrested three men in connection with the murder.

The arrests came just days after the LAPD announced a $20,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest.

The reward was announced on

News Briefs

Nov. 19, but has yet to be claimed.

The three men were identified as Jonathan Gonzalez, 28, Roque Solis, 30, and Anthony Gabriel, 25.

Gonzalez and Solis were arrested on Dec. 9 on search warrants at their East Los Angeles homes, while Gabriel was arrested on Dec. 11 at the Los Angeles County Criminal Courts building on a probable cause warrant.

Soto’s family found out about the arrests on Dec.11.

“The detective called my sister, Vanessa, and told her to get the family together and he would be

at the house shortly. So we got together and he told us he had arrested three men in connection to the shooting,” said Isabelle Avila, Soto’s sister.

The family was not provided any details on the information leading to the arrest.

“Hearing the news for us was bittersweet. It was like living that moment all over again,” said Joanna Avila, Soto’s sister-in-law.

Although the information that led to the arrest came just weeks after the reward was announced, Isabelle believes the reward had

Dodgeball Tournament The Kineisiology Club is hosting the 25th annual dodgeball tournament today. The tournament will take place at the E9 north gym from 12-2 p.m.

nothing to do with it, especially since it had not been claimed.

“I think it had been so long that people who knew what happened or knew who it was, it had finally started to rest on their consciences ,” said Avila.

Soto had been attending Lincoln University in Missouri, playing football on a scholarship and studying electrical engineering.

Soto was on break visiting home when the shooting occurred.

“The day that my brother passed away, he and my mom picked me up from work and we went around

to a lot of different Metro stations to drop off his resume. When we went home, he got on the computer and started working on his resume some more,” said Avila.

Soto’s friends had not known he was home visiting, but as soon as they found out, they decided to get together that night to see him.

“I remember his cousin was trying to convince him to go out and he kept saying, ‘No, no, I need to work on my resume,’ and his cousin told him ‘You have all summer to work on it.’ So he decided to go hang out

with his friends,” Avila said.

While at his friend’s house, the three suspects drove by the house opened the gate and started shooting.

Soto was shot in the chest and a friend was shot in the leg. Soto’s friend survived his injuries.

The LAPD believe the shooters are gang-affiliated, although Soto

SUSPECTS IDENTIFIED Continued on page 3

Amusement Park Tickets

Scholarship Opportunity

Amusement park tickets are being sold to faculty, staff and students ar the Student Activities office located ar G8-119. Tickets are sold from *:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. M-Th and until 3:30 Fridays.

For more information call 323) 265-8742.

The East Los Angeles College Foundation will award scholarships to East Los Angeles College students this semester. Online applications are available at www.elac-foundation.org. The deadline is Mar. 5 at 11:59 p.m.

2

Opinion

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016

CAMPUS

VOICE

What do you think about the California which states that students are only able to take a class three times?

EDITOR IN CHIEF Ivan Cazares MANAGING EDITOR Marcus Camacho

“With that rule, it helps decrease the amount of students in community college.”

ONLINE EDITORS Stephanie Garibay Julianne Obregon Diego Olivares Bryce Ronquillo

VICTOR MARTINEZ

Stephanie Guevara

ART DIRECTOR Jade Inglada FRONT EDITOR OPINION EDITOR Christopher Jimenez NEWS EDITOR Rogelio Alvarez

“After the third time, it’s more than enough for me to pass.”

FEATURE EDITOR Diego Linares ARTS EDITOR Megan G. Razzetti SPORTS EDITOR Daniel Gudino

DON SMITH

PHOTO EDITOR Eddie Garcia COPY EDITORS Kristen Garcia Elizabeth Toy

“Going to another district cost more money and a waste of time.”

VICTOR GONZALEZ

CARTOONISTS Kristen Garcia STAFF WRITERS Gustavo Buenrostro, Johanna Calderon, Fernando Cervantes, Cesar Gutierrez, Bryan Hernandez, Daniela Jalteco, Christopher Jimenez, Javier Lopez, Patricia Medina, Gil Milanes, Alitzel Rodriguez, Jose Rojas, Julie Santiago STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Diego Linares, Julie Santiago Mayra Ventura ADVERTISING Stefanie Arocha

Students struggle to pass classes

BY MEGAN RAZZETTI Staff Writer

A California state law that limits the number of times college students may attempt a course is detrimental to the educational well-being of its students.

The law was passed in 2012 under the Title 5 California Code of Regulations which is supposed to help with the educational construction of schools including higher learning facilities.

In accordance with this law, community college students are only allowed to attempt a class a maximum of three times.

They state the factors for which courses cannot be repeated for the fourth time, making a small exception for students with disabilities provided, they have evidence.

Unfortunately for many students, regardless of the reasons they do not succeed in a class, the only ones the law is interested in those regarding factors beyond a student’s control.

The Death of a loved one and serious illness or injury constitute a valid excuse with sufficient documentation.

Struggling in a course, despite all efforts to succeed, does not.

Any student who is unable to pass the class within the three attempts is given the option to file a Fourth Attempt Petition.

In this petition, students must attempt to justify their failures in the eyes of the law by explaining their lack of success .

Failure to comprehend a course is the biggest obstacle standing in the way of many students’ journeys to success.

Like many, math is a complete academic struggle for me.

My transfer date is now being extended much longer due to the fact that I had attempted an algebra course more than three times.

It has been challenging for me to even grasp concepts of math or even be able to feel confident enough to go to teachers after class to ask for extra help.

My struggles even made me start to think that I may have dyscalculia, which is a brain disorder that causes severe difficulty in arithmetical calculating.

If a student is denied a fourth attempt, the law states he or she must go elsewhere to complete the course. The student must go, not just to another college, but to another district altogether.

The law was passed in an attempt to retaliate against students whose transcripts indicate them to be lazy and unmotivated.

It was passed with the intention of waking up the students who are thought to be sleeping in class and coasting through life.

It aims to discourage the students who are believed to be there for the sole purpose of taking up space that could otherwise be occupied by more deserving individuals.

The law fails to recognize that any students willing to take the same class more than three times are not just there to fill up space or deprive other students a chance at success.

They are there because they want a

chance at that same success, even if it does not come as easily to them as it does to others.

Eddie Mike Garcia, a student at East Los Angeles College, is all too familiar with this dilema Garcia is currently on his third attempt at algebra.

Despite all efforts to succeed, Garcia understands that his third attempt likely won’t be his last.

“The sad part is that math is holding me back from attaining my AA degree next year. It’s not that I’m not trying hard enough.

I just can’t comprehend algebra,” Garcia said.

Though he is not yet able to comprehend algebra, Garcia will not be deterred.

He is determined to one day conquer it.

He just wishes he could do that here at ELAC, or at the very least, on a Los Angeles Community College District campus.

Garcia said, “I don’t think it’s fair for some students to have to go outside the LACCD district to take a class a fourth time.”

These students who willingly and continuously subject themselves to the degradation and humiliation of failing should not be punished, but rather, admired.

They are determined not to give up on themselves, even when the state of California already has.

“People should get as many chances as they want.”

LINDA MATEO

LETTER TO THE EDITOR “It is time that we recognize your history (native people) and that we protect your indigenous lands from corporate interests and people that are out there to exploit them.

It is time that we heard your voice and protected this planet for future generations” — Leonardo DiCaprio, Golden Globe Awards.

The Whittier Narrows Nature Center and Sanctuary is sacred to the Gabrieleno Band of Mission Indians, Kizh Nation. The Kizh are the confirmed original tribe of the Los Angeles/Orange County basins. This sensitive area is on schedule to be desecrated. The site is registered with the Native American Heritage Commission Sacred Site Inventory. This area is the site of the former village of Houtgna. The natural area is well known to Audubon enthusiasts for the migrating birds.

The Nature Center would be razed for an 18,000-squarefoot Discovery Center, a 102-vehicle parking lot and a makeshift pond. The Kizh have openly voiced their opposition to the location, not the concept. We have gone before the Discovery Center Authority and have met with county officials to no avail. The former duck farm has been suggested on numerous occasions as an acceptable alternative.

Ironically, Discovery Center proponents feel it is necessary to destroy nature to preserve the concept. The proponents will argue they have the support of several school districts and conservancy groups. But they have not been open to the public about the project. I encourage everyone to contact the Board of Supervisors and the Discovery Center Authority to reconsider the destruction.

— Henry Pedregon, Hacienda Heights

-Also contributing to this story Shorook Badawi

DISTRIBUTION Ivan Cazares 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.

A n o ny m o u s l e t te r s w i l l n o t be printed. Writer s must sign submissions and print their names and a phone number where they can be reached. Letters should be addressed to the editor of Campus News. Submissions can be made at the mailroom in building E1 or the Journalism department office in the Technology Center in E7-303.

East Los Angeles College Campus News 1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez E7-303 Monterey Park, CA 91754 (323) 265-8819, Ads (323) 265-8821 Fax (323) 415-4910 The East Los Angeles College Campus News is published as a learning experience, 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.

PRINTING BY NEWS PUBLISHERS PRESS

News

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016

3

Suspects Identified: Police find new leads Cont. from pg. 1

CN/STEPHANIE GUEVARA

ESTUDIANDO—Sociology major, Julia Sandoval, studies her foreign language homework on the computers while listening to music in the new modern language and English as a Second Language lab located on the first floor of the E3 building in Room 170.

New language lab provides support for Elans

BY ELIZABETH TOY Staff Writer The Modern Languages Department opened its new Modern Languages and English as a Second Language Lab in Room 170 on the first floor of the new E3 Building.

East Los Angeles College has not had a language lab in ten years.

“We look forward to students coming in to tell us how we can help,” the lab’s instructional assistant Michael Perronne said.

The Modern Language Lab’s philosophy is: daily practice and living the language will lead to fluency.

The lab also provides a variety of free services such as tutoring in select languages, language workshops, conversation cafes, foreign film screenings and club

meeting space. Sixty-one computers practice speaking their language are available for students to use for of study. ELAC currently offers Internet access, word processing, Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese, printing and language practice.

Spanish, ESL and American Sign S e v e r a l Language foreign film courses. The “We like to think of screenings are M o d e r n ourselves as a language Language Lab offered each month to help gym, where students can offers space for students learn all language work out their ‘untoned’ s t u d e n t s t o and apply skills in different ways language and practice the promote cultural language they to build their language awareness. are studying. muscle.”

The next film “Food is screening is “El welcome to YANGOK CHU Estudiante,” a create a more Instructional Lab Assistant Mexican film, comfortable which will be environment shown on March to learn,” lab 2 at 9:15 a.m. and again at 6:10 p.m. assistant Yangok Chu said. “That’s Conversation cafes allow students why we prefer to call it a cafe to meet in a casual environment and rather than a study group.” Both

Chu and Perronne teach workshops in the lab, assisting students with pronunciation and conversation.

As a language student herself, Chu acknowledges that learning a second language can be difficult.

Though she studied Spanish for four years in high school, she did not develop fluency because she never used Spanish outside of class.

“Many students don’t use the language outside of the classroom,” Perronne said. “This is a way to promote regular use of the language they’re learning.”

The language lab promotes speaking as much as possible to help students become fluent.

“We like to think of ourselves as a language gym, where students can work out their ‘untoned’ skills in different ways to build their language muscle,” Chu said. “If you

www.ELACCampusNews.com

don’t use it, you lose it. The same goes for language.”

While Chu believes the classroom curriculum is vital, she maintains that “Language students need daily practice, both independently and with others, because language is all about interaction.”

“Learning a language has so many benefits, not just socially or career-wise, but it also has cognitive benefits. It boosts your brain power because you use parts of your brain not normally engaged, and you're using both the right and left hemispheres!” Chu said.

The Modern Language Lab is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For the lab service schedule or more information, visit the lab during business hours.

“We never stopped fighting.

If it wasn’t for my sister Vanessa pushing for the reward, we wouldn’t have gotten to where we are today,” Isabelle said.

Soto was the first of his siblings to graduate high school and go to college.

“Gabriel had a lot to be proud of.

We were so proud of him,” Isabelle said.

S o t o ’s f a m i l y w o r k e d hard to get answers about his death and expose his story, doing everything from car washes, fund raisers and interviews with different news stations.

“I had never seen anything like how the community got together for Gabriel.

I t h u r t s t o s a y, b u t his loss has helped touch the lives of so many people.

People even go to his grave site and leave gifts for him.

We don’t know who these people are, but we don’t care as long as he is never forgotten,” Isabelle said.

Although Soto died before he was able to graduate f r o m L i n c o l n U n i v e r s i t y, his mom will be presented with his engineering degree sometime this year.

“A couple days before Gabriel passed away, he told me everything he does, he does it for his nephews because he could see how much they admired him.

And my son tells me ‘Mom, I want to be like Uncle Bobo,’ and if my son is anything like the man my brother was, I am all for it,” Isabelle said.

4

Arts

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016

Comic book fans suit up in Long Beach

BY CHRISTOPHER JIMENEZ Staff Writer

CN/DIEGO LINARES

POWER UP—Anthony Machado of Blue Reaper Customs Crafts and Props poses for fans at the entrance of the Long Beach Comic Expo on Saturday.

Comic book fans, science lovers, and cosplayers joined together on February 20-21 for the Long Beach Comic Expo at the Long Beach Convention Center.

The Long Beach Comic Expo was sponsored by the Academy of Art University. There were more than 100 guests, a Space Expo, massive artist alley and a cosplay corner, with the addition of many different panels.

There was a costume contest at the Long Beach Comic Expo; this is the place for cosplayers to show off their costumes. Cosplay is when people dress up as their favorite character from a movie, comic book, video game or anime.

I v y D o o m k i t t y, a f a m o u s cosplayer was one of the judges for the costume contest. The judges were looking for most creative, best sewing of fabric, massive amounts of material usage and also best child costume.

The prizes ranged from $100 to $1000 depending on age and category. Estar Guars, a group of Hispanics people dressed up as Star Wars characters, as well as a Hulk Buster costume, which is an armor used by Iron Man, were winner for the best usage of material which won the cosplayer $500 prize. “I went bald and would go to conventions like that and people thought I was a cholo,� said Santos who portrays the character Han Cholo. “I went once as Marty McFly and looked more like Marin McFly.�

The Planetary Society ran the Space Expo. Carl Sagan founded the Planetary Society 35 years ago for

the public and stayed away from the government. One of its members, Geovanni Somza, implies comic books can help improve in science technology. “Comic book authors join with scientists to come up with new material for both fans of science and comics,� Somza said.

The Cosplay Corner at the Long Beach Expo was one of the most interesting and creative panels to visit.

There was the Hulk Buster, one of the machines Iron Man uses in the movie “The Avengers.� The Hulk Buster costume was made out of styrofoam, metal, plastic and an LED light that lights up the chest of Iron Man. Deadpool, a film released in theaters a week ago inspired many people to dress up as its namesake.

Many cosplayers spend hours, days and even months to make their costume look as perfect as the actual characters’.

Many well-known and unknown artists exhibited their art and sketches, also selling their indie comics, painted or drawn art to the public, and complete comic book collections.

Comic books are light reading.

You could have a beer while reading, comic book writter Jonathan Hennesy. Hennesy was at the expo promoting his book The Comic Book Story of Beer. The price range of the comic books can go from $1 to $1,000.

Chris Claremont, a legendary writer of comics including X-Men’s Days of Future Past and The Dark Phoenix Saga. Famous creators Rachel and Terry Dodson who created Star Wars: Princess Leia, Teen Titans and X-Men: Axis.

CN/IVAN CAZARES

ZERO G—The Columbia Memorial Space Center display a space suit model used in several NASA missions as a part of Space Expo and Long Beach Comic Expo on Sunday.

Where earning a bachelor’s degree meets

“I want to transfer today!�

IMAGE COURTESY OF 20TH CENTURY FOX

LOUDMOUTH—Deadpool (left), played by Ryan Reynolds, carries a conversation with Colossus (right), voiced by Stefan Kapicic, before a big fight scene.

Cancer survivor gains superpowers

BY GUSTAVO BUENROSTRO Staff Writer “Deadpool� is a breath of fresh air in a genre that is possibly growing stale. It plays many of the tropes in other superhero films and makes fun of them.

Character Wade Wilson is a loudmouth mercenary who is diagnosed with cancer and then offered a cure by a special weapons program that not only cures his cancer, but also gives him superpowers. “Deadpool� shows that superhero films don’t have to follow the standard superhero formula to be entertaining and successful.

Much of the humor stemmed from the many references Deadpool makes about other movie properties, as well as some coming from the sarcasm Deadpool always has toward other characters.

One notable ability Deadpool has is breaking the fourth wall, where a character can address the audience directly or indirectly. He does this mostly when making a joke or referring to something other characters might not know.

“Deadpool� is a great superhero film because of its faithfulness to the character in the comics. In the comics, the character is very sarcastic, bad mouths everyone and, of course, has the unique ability to break the fourth wall to talk and joke with the audience. In the film, he is exactly the same.

For example, one of the supporting characters gives Deadpool the typical hero’s speech about doing the right thing when it matters and Deadpool goes on doing the complete opposite.

While this film is great, some problems still arise from it.

The plot does not come until halfway into the film, which would be fine if the story wasn’t so generic.

While some audience members might like this, expectations were that the story would be more complex.

In its core, “Deadpool� is a love story, but the story is very predictable, which is a shame because the chemistry between Deadpool and his love interest is really good.

Ryan Reynolds’ role as Deadpool really knocked it out of the park, as he was able to pull off the sarcastic

humor that the character is so wellknown for.

Morena Baccarin plays Deadpool’s love interest, Vanessa Carlysle, and she does very well against the fast-witted “Merc with a Mouth.�

Overall, “Deadpool� is a fun time in the theaters and is definitely worth a watch.

“With year-round enrollment and access to faculty Ζ NQHZ 1DWLRQDO ZDV IRU PH 0\ DGYLVRU WUDQVIHUUHG P\ FUHGLWV DQG QRZ I’m on my way.â€? ~ Michael, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology One Course Per Month • Financial Aid • Year-Round Enrollment

Los Angeles Campus 3DFLČ´F &RQFRXUVH 'ULYH Č?

k 1DWLRQDO 8QLYHUVLW\ 18 B

www.ELACCampusNews.com

$ 3ULYDWH 1RQSURȴW 8QLYHUVLW\ Serving the Public Good™

nu.edu/transfer

Arts

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016

In the

5

SPOTLIGHT

VPAM exhibit to feature former students

BY GUSTAVO BUENROSTRO Staff Writer The Vincent Price Art Museum will present the work of former East Los Angeles College students Linda Arreola and Star Montana starting Saturday.

Arreola’s work, “Architecture of the Abstract,” encompasses her early work of 2005-10, her collection from 2012-13 and another series of work from 2014-16.

Arreola says that the last two collections have never been exhibited before, so they are considered her newest works. She was influenced by Mesoamerican architecture.

“After studying architecture, I began to paint. I worked mainly in geometric abstractions,” Arreola said. “The new work is very linear and clean and you will see the connection to architecture and sculpture. I think of my work more as constructions rather than rendered paintings. I build with simple form and color.”

According to Arreola, she took her first art classes at ELAC and remembers when the VPAM was known as the Vincent Price Art Gallery, located in a small space in the art department.

Arreola said she is excited to share her work with the students of ELAC. Montana will show her work titled: “Tear Drops & Three Dots.” The collection consists of photos Montana took of her home life while living in East Los Angeles.

Montana said that she is also excited and proud to be showing her work at the VPAM. “My family photographs comes from a need to deal with loss and pain visually, and not allow the pain to consume me,” Montana said. “It’s a healing process for me.”

She said that loss in East L.A is a common narrative and because of this, it gave her the strength to show her work to a wider audience than just a classroom.

The opening reception is from 4 to 6 p.m. and the free exhibit will run through May 21.

COURTESY OF A24

WITCH HUNT—Thomasin, played by newcomer Anya Taylor Joy, faces accusations of witchcraft after a series of horrific events cause her family to turn against her in “The Witch.”

Dark horrors come alive in ‘The Witch’

BY DORANY PINEDA Staff Writer Robert Eggers succeeds in immersing the audience into the suspenseful, horror-driven world of “The Witch” in his debut feature film.

Set on a farm in 1630’s New England, “The Witch” tells the story about a supernatural entity that causes a family to tear itself apart.

When newborn Samuel disappears under the watch of the oldest daughter Thomasin, played

by Anya Taylor Joy, despair and fear closes in on their family.

Animals turn evil, their crops fail and another child is visibly possessed by an evil spirit. Unable to explain these occurrences, they blame Thomasin.

Soon after, her twin siblings Mercy and Jonas, played by Ellie Granger and Lucas Dawson, suspect her of witchcraft.

The mother, played by Kate Dickie, stricken with grief and the father, played by Ralph Ineson, unable to console her amidst his own lies, suspicion and paranoia reign over the family.

The cinematography in “The Witch” is frightfully stunning. Its range of deep black shadows vividly

capture the eerie mystique of the strange and unsettling things that happen to the family.

It intensifies the total isolation and simultaneous claustrophobia that the family lives in, while bringing the woods that lurk on the edge of their cottage into the dark and foreboding.

The score is especially powerful.

It nurses the suspense and tension in a scene so intensely as to induce a near hysteria in the person experiencing it.

The acting by new-face Joy, and Ineson is fantastic. There are moments when Harvey Crimshaw’s character as Caleb falls short and is

a bit dull, but he redeems himself in one of the most intensely terrifying scenes of the entire movie.

Though not a typical horror film in the sense that it inspires jump scares, the effectiveness of “The Witch” lies in the discrete moments of terror and its restraints, in which things unseen are more tormenting than the things that are.

“The Witch” is a great, ground breaking horror film by firsttime director Robert Eggers. It is unconventional, chilling and taps into a very deep, terrifying psychology in which faith, love and loyalty are interrogated and violently dismantled in the end.

L.A Cookie Con shows off sweet treats

BY MEGAN G. RAZZETTI Staff Writer Local bakers and business owners shared their sweets and pastry products during the Los Angeles Cookie Con and Sweets Show on Feb. 6.

In its second year, L.A Cookie Con moved from the Pasadena Convention Center to the Los Angeles Convention Center to better accommodate the sold-out event more effectively.

Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars” winner, Cream by Crystal offered samples of its original recipes that transformed the concept of a cupcake entirely.

Crystal’s “Spicy Sophia” cupcake combined savory and sweet.

Layering a chocolate-mayonnaise cake with an ancho chili and cayenne pepper dark chocolate cheesecake made for an unforgettable decadent treat.

The cupcake was topped with a fluffy chili infused buttercream that tied all the flavors together with each bite. The spice was not overpowering and complemented the chocolate well.

For those who don’t prefer spicy food, the “Roman Red Velvet” cupcake still incorporates a classic cheesecake taste over a semi-sweet chocolate base topped with red velvet crumbles. It also provides the proper moisture a cake should have but is hard to find in most cupcakes.

Sherman Oaks bakeshop Creme Caramel LA offered samples of its freshly made custards. Their traditional vanilla custard topped with a caramel sauce holds a rich flavor. Although it is made with quite a few eggs in each batch, there is no eggy texture or taste like one would find in a flan. The creaminess of the custard and caramel sauce works to satisfy even the biggest of sweet tooths.

Other flavors include a softly savory Ube, or purple yam custard that is topped with a crunchy graham cracker crumble. The lavender colored custard may seem odd at first, but it’s flavor is perfect for those who do not like overly sweet

CN/JADE INGLADA

A SUGARY HOPE—Albert’s Petite Sweets showcased “Star Wars” themed cake pops that used a metallic edible paint.

CN/JADE INGLADA

CN/JADE INGLADA

CREME OF THE CROP—Creme Caramel L.A offered attendees a taste of their unique

SWEET EATS—Cream by Crystal owner Crystal Nicole Jones

custard creations with one flavor incorporating Ube potato and graham cracker.

greets taste testers with a smile at her booth at L.A Cookie Con Feb. 6 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

confections. The crumble also adds a great texture with each bite, as if you were eating a cream pie.

Creme Caramel LA also specializes in vegan custard options, which incorporate almond butter, coconut milk bases and maple syrup to ensure flavors stand out.

Vegan options also incorporate chia seeds, which produce a gelatinous texture and create more body in the custards.

Along with the baked goods, local homemade ice cream vendor Quenelle came to the convention with authentic flavors. Their

were in a jar and pickled, they maintained their crunch as if they were just pickled that very same day.

Proper’s Pickles uses ingredients such as vinegar, water, salt and dill, staying away completely from using artificial ingredients that include chemicals people cannot pronounce.

Companies that were featured at the convention, also promoted non-traditional baking ingredients such as almond flour, gluten-free treats and even sugar replacements for diabetics who still love their sweets.

The convention, like the year

blueberry pie ice cream was a true example of excellent craftsmanship.

At first bite, the vanilla ice cream blended with real blueberries is a refreshing take on this flavor.

As more bites go on, more surprises are revealed, such as bites of crunchy pie crust and upon looking closely, real vanilla bean is used in the ice cream.

Another flavor featured was dirty chai, a mix of spiced chai tea and an espresso shot.

The lightness of the flavors resembled a cup of dirty chai tea put into a freezer. It tasted true to

the chai flavor and was delightful.

The extra care and dedication used to produce such great flavors is a great indicator that the people behind Quenelle are passionate about their work, which is hard to find sometimes.

Despite the convention being solely about cookies and sweets, there were some savory food vendors. Proper’s Pickles, a family operated Long Beach pickle company, gave tastes of their goods to those who needed a break from the sweets. Their pickled green beans were fresh even though they

www.ELACCampusNews.com

before, was sold out and therefore the convention hall was packed and the aisles were congested with people. Seeing each vendor was difficult, however, a VIP wristband, made the convention even more worth it. The pass granted access to two special areas that offered a better chance to try things without the crowds of people.

There were also special vendors in each area that were not offering samples in the general admission area. Those who are really into these conventions don’t want to miss out on them.

6

SPORTS

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016

Men’s basketball soars into playoffs

BY DAN GUDINO Staff Writer

CN/DIEGO LINARES

RUNNING THE OFFENSE—P.oint guard Alissa Gomez (center) looks for an entry pass to the high post in the South Gym against Pasadena City College on Feb. 12.

Women’s basketball seeded No. 6

BY DAN GUDINO Staff Writer The California Community College Athletic Association placed East Los Angeles women’s basketball at No. 6 for the 2016 Southern California Regional Playoff.

The playoff bracket was released Monday afternoon with announced dates, times and locations of all games. The Huskies with a 20-9 record, will face off at home against No. 11 Santa Ana College (17-11) on Friday at 5 p.m.

ELAC and the top 13 teams start play in the second round, first round teams No. 14-19 and will play Friday.

The Huskies will make the

playoffs for the third straight year.

Last year, ELAC advanced to the State Championship Tournament after it advanced out of the So. Calif. Regional Playoff.

ELAC lost to the eventual state champion Chabot College, 84-77, in the semifinal, one game away from the championship. This year’s team has star power to help finish the road to state.

Awarded into the All-South Coast Conference North First Team are freshman guard Tiffani Martinez and sophomore guard Jessica Sanchez.

Martinez shows the potential to be a threat at the three-point line.

She led the South Coast Conference in three-pointers and scored the second most three-pointers in the

state with 103. She led the Huskies in scoring, averaging 14 points per game.

“Martinez is special. Everyone thinks she’s just a shooter, but it’s her defense that makes her so good,” head coach Bruce Turner said.

Voted into All-South Coast Conference North Second Team are sophomores Jasmine Gates and Yasmine Tweedey.

The long layoff between games will serve the Huskies. After they lost the last three of four games, ELAC will look to regroup.

The seven days of rest will prepare for Santa Ana’s freshman forward Blaysen Varnadoe. Varnadoe averages 20 points per game.

“We’re ready. We’ve prepared ourselves for different types of

situations in the playoffs, situations that can cost us the game like lastsecond situations. We need to be prepared for anything,” Turner said.

Statistically, this team does not match up to last year’s team.

Last year, ELAC was ranked No. 2 into the playoffs. Coach Turner does not care about records or stats.

“If we can just play our game and disrupt on defense, we’ll be all right,” Turner said.

Friday’s game could become a game of strategy. Santa Ana head coach Flo Luppami, like Turner, has spent over a decade as head coach.

“You would think experience will be a key, but we have only one player who played five minutes during last year’s run. We’ll rely on everyone.” Turner said.

YOUR MOMENT

TO GROW IN UNEXPECTED WAYS Plant the seeds of social justice, respect for diversity, and individualism in the classroom. Master new approaches in curriculum and development theories at Pacific Oaks’ SCHOOL OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SCHOOL OF EDUCATION.

Learn more at startpacificoaks.com

www.ELACCampusNews.com

The men’s basketball team enters the playoffs as it finished the regular season with two wins last week over El Camino Compton Center and Los Angeles Trade Tech College.

ELAC defeated Compton at home, 102-93, on Sophomore Night, Feb. 17. Prior to the game, sophomores were honored for their athletic achievements.

The sophomores put on a show.

Center Richard Bivens returned after he missed the last game and contributed a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds.

Sophomore guard Jarrell Tate continued his strong production off the bench and scored 14 points.

Huskies’ sophomore guard Iziahiah Sweeny turned the ball over 10 times. Sweeny adjusted and sank 19 points.

“I noticed they send a lot of double-teams and they try to speed the game up. I know to just take my time catch a jump stop (Jump Shot) and look for the open space,” Sweeny said.

Sweeny was not a part of last year’s team, but the message from Head Coach John Mosley is still clear: You can’t take anyone lightly.

“I can tell in practice coach Mosley didn’t like the loss to Saddleback College. He brings up the team a lot. When we play teams that are not as good as Saddleback, Coach reminds us, we have to get ready for Saddleback,” Sweeny said. Saddleback College beat ELAC last year in the championship game. SC is currently ranked No. 1 in Calif.

“I’m proud of what our guys have accomplished, but ultimately we have bigger goals than what we’ve done. Yet we still have another game to win the conference,” Mosley said.

On Feb. 19, ELAC dominated

and finished the regular season on a good note, as they beat Trade Tech, 76-57.

ELAC touched history with the win against LATT. The 24th win of the season matched the 1972-1973 season. The 24-3 regular season record is considered the best finish ever as they won 88 percent of the games.

“We as a coaching staff are very proud of the players on this team.

They have worked very hard this season to accomplish a great record.

The players sacrifice individual accolades for the goals of the team. That is why we have won the conference and put together a great won-loss record,” Assistant Coach Chad Borkey said.

The Huskies are Co-Champions of the South Coast ConferenceNorth, sharing the title with Mount San Antonio College.

“I could not be more proud of a coaching staff and a great group of kids. Now the fun begins,” Athletic Director Al Cone said.

ELAC, last year as a No. 13 seed, went on to win five games in the playoffs and reached the state championship. Runners-up to the title, ELAC will look to finish this time on top.

Assistant coach Kenneth Hunter said the Huskies are excited about the playoffs and hope for the same from fans.

“We are blessed to have great players, great coaches, great alumni and great fans. We thank you all and hope you continue to support the SCC champs all the way through the playoff push. Five wins and we will need support for all five. Thank you and go Huskies,” Hunter said.

The Huskies will face the winner of the Feb. 24 first round game between Cerritos College and Ventura College.

On Jan. 20, ELAC played a back and forth affair against Cerittos, a game that went into overtime.

The Huskies won 93-87.