ELAC Campus News Spring 2023 Issue 23

Swimmers seek out underwater secret room

BY HANNAH BELT Staff Writer

A unique spot on campus is kept a secret from most college students, and that is because it’s completely submerged underwater.

The pool at East Los Angeles College comes with quite a story. When swimmers from other schools visit, they’re not sure whether the story is true or not.

Swimmers who visit look for a door, curious about a secret room that they’re not entirely sure exists.

Equipped with excitement, curiosity and nothing more than a rumor to go on, visitors set off in a search for this mysterious door to a mythical underwater room.

Many search, but few far enough; some sustain their search just long enough to mention it in front of someone of an ELAC swimmer who can lead them to the room.

One of ELACs best-kept secrets is an underwater viewing room which overlooks the entire indoor pool. This feature is unlike any other community college campus around.

Take a locked door and staircase down from the pool deck level and you reach the underwater room.

The secluded room with two windows is dancing with blue reflection from the sunlight on the pool surface.

Thick glass is all that holds the room up against the pressure of the entire pool.

Of the colleges in the LACCD, ELAC is the only school to have this underwater viewing room feature.

Originally built in the 1970s, ELAC’s pool has never been through a major renovation.

The underwater room is part of the original design. It was built as a viewing room used to check diver’s form as they enter the water.

The room is on the deepest side of the pool, right next to the diving boards.

The viewing room is also useful for seeing the different forms swimmers have underwater or observing techniques from water polo players during games.

“I feel like I’m at the aquarium,”

Camila Zacarias, ELAC swimmer said.

The pool allows people to view swimmers from underwater similar to how people view sea creatures at an aquarium. “I like to go down there during

meets because it gives me a chance to look at other swimmers’ techniques and see what I can do to improve mine. Overall it’s calming. Especially to go down during a

meet when everything is so hectic on the pool deck,” Faith Acosta, ELAC swimmer, said.

Visiting swimmers can find the viewing area during a lap of

the pool. The two windows are visible by scanning the walls of the pool. Upon inspection, the glass windows are easily discernible. In the past, swimmers during warm ups have talked about seeing viewers in the room down below.

One swimmer submerged, held his breath for an extended period of time, initiated and won a game of rock paper scissors. For the most part, the underwater room is not open to the public. ELAC swim classes get access to the room upon enrolling for a swim class; depending on your professor, may get you a tour of the facilities.

Experienced swim instructor

Louis Rameriez said he took a class down to the viewing room during a swim meet when multiple other schools were competing at ELAC. He said during a lecture on technique, while he was in the viewing room, a trio of Cal Berkley swimmers found their way in and in amazement said, “We don’t have this at our school.”

“You’re at ELAC,” Ramirez said.

IT searches for answers

BY MARC ANTHONY MARTINEZ Staff Writer

The Learning Assistance Center’s computers are freezing while students are using them for school work.

The East Los Angeles College Information Technology Department has run tests on the front row of computers that have been freezing, but has not been able to figure out what the problem is.

The ELAC IT Department had no comment to ongoing issue.

An IT employee, who wished to remain anonymous , said the department is trying to figure out the issue, but there is nothing they can do if they don’t have screenshots of the exact moment of freezing.

Elizabeth Arroyo, Learning Center instructional aid, said she does not know what is causing the problem, but some of the center’s instructors believe the freezing incidents are linked with students using the Canvas website.

Arroyo said freezing usually happens when students are doing homework, opening files, going to a different link or watching videos on Canvas.

She said there are weeks when no freezing happens, then other weeks when it does. It is unknown when or why it’s happening.

Arroyo said the center has other options for students when it comes to online school work. “Keep coming,. We have other options whether computer or laptop,” Arroyo said.

She said students can borrow laptops long-term from the IT department.

The problem seems to only be impacting the Learning Center.

Librarian Rita Saurez said she hasn’t heard of any issues in the library. She said that ever since the library switched the computers to have Central Processing Units they haven’t had as many issues as before when they were running with a software base virtual machine.

Arroyo said IT is switching the Learning Center to the same computer system as the library to see if the freezing problems stop. This idea is that the system will react similarly to the library’s and cause no further issues.

Student mental health resources free, available

BY MARC ANTHONY MARTINEZ Staff Writer

The Student Health Center offers college students multiple mental health resources for free each semester students attend.

Students can go to the Student Health Center on the main campus if they feel like they have any symptoms of mental health issues.

Via Care Community Health Center provides medical and mental health to ELAC students.

Students can get help with dealing with stress from school, issues with family and anxiety.

Students can also get information on Diversabilities Support Program and Services learning.

Getting help comes in many ways, from individual therapy, group therapy, support groups and other programs that can be found in the Student Health Center.

First generation students attending college deal with a lot of these symptoms.

New students may feel scared

or concerned about getting help, but there are people on hand to help. Karla Juarez, who works in the Student Health Center, said, “If there’s a new student that is scared for whatever reason, we have two therapists that can help.”

There’s also a stigma around men getting help when it comes to mental health.

This can lead to them dropping out or struggling with how to deal with complex emotions.

“Mental health is a big barrier for men when it comes to attending college and continuing their education,” Juarez said.

Women tend to seek help when it comes to mental health, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t still some women that don’t go for help.

The resources available on

campus are for both men and women to take advantage of during their time at ELAC.

If there’s someone that might be dealing with any type of struggle, there is always help. Sometimes talking to a friend or classmate that might be going through the same thing can help.

It might be a scary thing to talk about with others, but it might be what is needed to take the first step in getting better.

Other ways to help with mental health are the meetings and groups that the Student Health Center holds.

These meetings focus on stress management and other types of mental issues.

Other programs include the Screening and Treatment for anxiety and Depression program and Los Angeles Centers for Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

The STAND program helps with virtual health support.

LA.CADA focuses on mental health for men.

Students should take advantage of these programs.

“All of that can help with success,” Juarez said.

Students can keep up with all of the events and groups that are part of the Student Health Center by following them on their social media accounts. Instagram @elacstudenthealth, Facebook ELAC Student Health, Twitter @ElacHealth. The Student Health Center is made up of professionals who can identify with the situations student are going through and help.

If you’re dealing with suicidal thoughts or self-harm, the 24-Hour suicide prevention hotline number is 988 or call 911.

Center as they cannot use the Department’s computers.

CN/HANNAH BELT

CN/HANNAH BELT

WANNA PLAY A GAME?—ELAC swimmer Faith Acosta plays rock paper scissors with an underwater swimmer during a meet.

SMILE FOR THE CAMERA—Left to right: Rianna Santivong, Alanis Alvarado, Faith Acosta, Camila Zacarias, Alina Perez, Kimberly Pacheco, Halie Licona, Hannah Belt, Rebecca Miramontes and Rebecca Hernandez take a group photo under the water after their meet

CN/HANNAH BELT

GROUP STUDY—Eric Fernandez, Kelsey Varela and Sophia Ramirez study inside the Learning

“Mental Health is a big barrier for men when it comes to attending college and continuing their education.”

KAYLA JUAREZ Student Health Center employee

Students save money, gain experience at community colleges

BY ALAN LEYVA Staff Writer

High school seniors should opt to attend a community college rather than immediately attend a four-year university.

While many students opt for the universities rather than community colleges, community colleges offer a more cost-effective alternative for incoming freshmen.

East Los Angeles College is one of nine community colleges in the Los Angeles Community College District. It offers various benefits for those who look to attend a community college before transferring to a four-year university institution.

One of the biggest benefits of attending a community college is the cost. According to the Education Data Inivitive overall fees for a university is $35,551. Tuition at a local community college like ELAC, is more affordable by a significant margin with tuition costing $46 per unit for California residents.

“The cost was a huge [factor] in my decision to attend a community college over a university; it was more affordable for me and my family,” a freshman at ELAC, Cesar Ayala.

This more economic price allows students to save money and avoid taking out large student loans. These loans often leave students with debt that takes years to pay.

“It was the better choice for me and my family (community college), it’s very affordable and so far my classes have been great,” another freshman from ELAC, Eddie Hernandez.

Community colleges have supportive, tight-knit environments set in place. For example, ELAC

offers smaller class sizes in comparison to those in major universities. Smaller classes allow students to get more attention from professors and to have an intimate experience that’s hard to get at larger institutions. Community colleges also have a greater focus on teaching rather than research, which leads to a better learning experience. Another advantage of attending a community college as opposed to a four-year university, is the ability for students to branch out to different academic paths with over 70 majors and programs,

“The cost was a huge [factor] in my decision to attend community college over a university; it was more affordable for me and my family.”

CESAR AYALA ELAC Freshman

including transfer degrees, career and technical education programs and certification programs. These options provide students with an array of choices to explore to ultimately find their proper path. ELAC also hosts a variety of clubs, organizations and activities that allow students to participate in an enriching campus life. These clubs and organizations allow students to meet peers, build relationships, develop new skills and pursue new and current passions. Attending a community college can lead to a smooth transition to a four-year institution.

CN/ALINA PEREZ

Community colleges often have transfer agreements set with universities making the process easier for outgoing students. ELAC has transfer agreements with many universities, including the University of California and California State University systems.

Community college is a more affordable, supportive and flexible path for incoming freshmen. With these benefits, students can pursue their educational goals while also taking care of other responsibilities and discovering their passions and interests.

Critics disapprove ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ audience loves it

BY JOSEPH HERNANDEZ Staff Writer

The release of “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” is an eye-opener to how unimportant critic ratings are and the importance of a critic’s credibility.

A critic reviews and judges many forms of art such as movies, video games, music, theater and paintings.

The critic’s job is to give pointers on what’s wrong or what’s right with art. These reviews can sometimes be helpful for the everyday consumer because they help the consumer decide what to spend their money on. They could also help the artist change their art.

Last month, Illumination

Entertainment in collaboration with Nintendo, released “The Super Mario Bros Movie.”

Fans of the game series and casual moviegoers were initially worried about the film’s quality due to its mediocre ratings from critic reviews.

The movie scored 58% on Rotten Tomatoes from a total of 122 critic reviews; Metactitic gave it a score of 46.

The rating scores were met with mixed feelings from people, but the main take away from the film’s fans

is that critics aren’t reliable.

Fans quickly pointed out that many popular films have received low ratings while less audienceloved films have received high critical praise.

A week later the websites updated the scores to feature the audience rating of the film.

The audience rating is 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic has a user rating of 8.7 out of 10.

The importance of the critic rating got put into question, as fans wondered why critics gave such a low score for a great movie.

In the reviews that made the 58% on Rotten Tomatoes, it showed why many critics disliked the film; they don’t get Mario and they don’t understand the film.

“The film absolutely works as a vehicle to deliver slapstick silliness and Easter eggs for the Nintendo fanatic, but for anyone else, this adventure is in desperate need of a power-up,” said Patrick Cavanaugh, media commentator at ComicBook.

The complaints are all the same, they don’t like the story, fan service, voice actors or the pacing of the film.

There are some fair criticisms made by critics, but also some complaints that feel out of touch.

“It’s pitched to die-hard fans, but one shouldn’t need the Nintendo cheat book to know what’s going on here.

“The movie has eye-popping production values, a genuinely compelling narrative, this adaptation feels wholly off its game,” said Jeff York of The Establishing Shot.

Critics also left positive reviews for films released a week later that ended up getting low ratings by audiences.

The perfect example of this is the movie “Cuties” released in 2020.

“Cuties” is about an 11-year-old girl who joins a twerking dance squad made up of other girls her young age.

The film received an 87% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 15% from the audience.

The film was heavily criticized and pulled off Netflix for its sexual portrayal of the girls.

Surprisingly, the strongest praise came from a professional critic.

“Cuties is a powerful statement about letting kids be kids,” Jill Wilson of Winnipeg free press said. A critic score isn’t reliable, but the reviews that make up that score are.

Don’t judge a film by its Rotten Tomato score, but instead by the content of the critics’ reviews.

By reading the reviews, audiences can learn which reviews are credible.

To determine whether a film is good or bad, look for the critiques that aren’t biased, pushing an agenda, making ridiculous claims or out of touch.

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GRAPHIC BY ALINA PEREZ

LET’S-A-GO!— Toad guides Mario through the Mushroom Kingdom in search of Princess Peach at her castle in order to help find his brother Luigi.

Double-header loss eliminates baseball team

Back-to-back: Two consecutive defeats end the season for the Huskies

BY MARC ANTHONY MARTINEZ Staff Writer

After surprising Palomar College last week in the regional round of the playoffs, the Huskies lost a double-header eliminating them from the playoffs.

The games were both played at Fullerton College on Hornet Field on Thursday.

In the first game they played against L.A. Valley College and lost 16-1.

They had another chance to stay in the playoffs against Fullerton College in the second game.

They lost to Fullerton 9-4.

In the first game, catcher/first baseman Michael Easter hit a home run for their only run of the game.

The offense made four hits.

The Huskies had two innings where they gave up six runs in each.

Starting pitcher Francisco “Paco” Dominguez threw two innings, giving up eight runs and six hits.

This made the score 8-0 by the second inning.

“It just wasn’t meant for me today. They kept finding holes,” Dominguez said about his performance in the first game. He also said he would’ve gone in for the second game against Fullerton if they needed him too.

Julian Hernandez was put in the game to pitch for the Juskies afterward.

He was in for four innings and gave up six hits and two runs, making it 10-1 at the end of six innings.

Eduardo Sanchez pitched one scoreless inning in the seventh inning.

Pitcher Harper Taylor went in for the eighth inning for the Huskies, giving up four hits and six runs.

The Huskies made five errors in the game, and L.A. Valley was able to capitalize on them.

Despite losing the first game to L.A. Valley, the Huskies were ready to play the second game against Fullerton College.

Their Assistant Coach Phillip Valdez said, “I still felt we were in a very good spot.”

They were in the same situation last week when they faced Palomar, and ended up getting the win.

Valdez said, “They seem to play better with their backs against the walls.”

Having to play another game, the Huskies still had a chance to continue their run in the playoffs and advance to the next game.

Julian Eskridge, the right fielder for the Huskies, took the time between games to spend time with his family to regroup and relax.

He said he knew what they had to do in the next game and that they had to focus on winning every inning from now on.

In the second game against Fullerton, it took four innings

Track and field dominate SoCal Finals, advance to state

BY HANNAH BELT Staff Writer

The track and field athletes move on to the state championships after qualifying in San Diego to compete in the SoCal finals.

The competition took place at San Diego Mesa on Friday, May 12.

Competing athletes left campus at 11 a.m. to make the two-hour journey to San Diego; they did not get home until close to 9 p.m.

After competing in preliminaries, select Huskies qualified to compete at a higher level, the SoCal Finals.

“Qualifying for this meet starts at the conference championship. (Competitors) have to be top five in (their) conference, and then go to the SoCal Prelims. (Competitors) then compete with all of the junior colleges in Southern California that also qualify from their conference. The top nine in lane events and 12 in the distance-and-field events make the SoCal finals,” said Coach Milton Browne.

22-year-old competing sophomore, and track and field captain Carlos DeLuna said the feeling of qualifying to compete at the SoCal finals is, “a huge ‘I did it’ feeling because last year I was only able to qualify for

the SoCal preliminaries and got knocked down.”

19-year-old competing freshman Fernando Valenzuela said the feeling of going to finals as, “something I can’t explain. I’m definitely proud of myself because of what I’ve done to get here but the nerves do kick in. I remember to tell myself why I’m here and who I’m here for, which is my mom and myself.”

Both DeLuna and Valenzuela were two of the only track and field athletes to qualify to compete in the SoCal finals. Both runners have competed in the sport since high school and both are majoring in something fitness-related; DeLuna is studying Kinesiology, and Venezuela is studying nutrition and fitness.

Valenzuela said qualifying for the finals was something he told himself he was going to do.

“I gave it my everything preparing myself for the season,” he said.

Venezuela said that prelims were intense and that he fell short to an opponent, but all at once ran a personal record which is all that matters to him.

DeLuna said that he already knew he would qualify, “because I set a goal of going to state and finishing where I had left off.”

He said he prepared for the

SoCal finals by, “eating enough and making sure I have three days of good sleep and lots of recovery.”

As a sophomore in the sport, DeLuna has experience, and this is not his first opportunity to understand the demand of this caliber of competition.

“Competing at this level is a whole new thing, you have to struggle hard to reach and be able to stay up there with the competition,” DeLuna said.

DeLuna said the, “competition was pretty intense.”

He also said, “I’m glad I’m able to represent East Los Angeles alongside my teammate Valenzuela. I’m glad to be captain of a great team.”

As the season comes to an end, the athletes are forced to imagine what is to become of them after the season.

DeLuna said he plans to transfer, “after the season, I will be going to Cal State LA to continue my journey in becoming a professional at the hurdles.”

Venezuela, still ELACbound, said his next job will be, “to take a few weeks off and get back to work because the job isn’t done yet. There’s still more work I have to do.”

The state championship will be played on Saturday.

before any runs were scored. Fullerton scored first at the bottom of the fourth inning. The Huskies took the lead in the sixth inning making it 4-1, but it didn’t take long for Fullerton to score, making it 4-3 Huskies.

In the bottom of the sixth, Huskies pitcher Robert Banuelos threw the ball to center field.

The second baseman couldn’t catch it in order to tag out right fielder Isaiah Marquez, which led to two runs scored.

Fullerton scored five more

runs in the next two innings and won the game.

Emiliano Campos, the Huskies third baseman, tried to keep them in the game with two outs, two balls, two strikes and two men on base in the ninth inning, but ended up striking out.

CN/MARC ANTHONY MARTINEZ

CN/MARC ANTHONY MARTINEZ

Nursing student yearns for success

BY JAIME DE HARO Staff Writer

Ambitious, methodical, and hard-working are three words to describe Nancy Tapia, a nursing student at East Los Angeles College

Her challenges in life have become motivations to succeed.

Tapia defines work-life balance as the ability to manage a full-time/parttime job without neglecting your personal life and responsibilities.

As a student, parent, and worker she finds it hard to maintain a work-life balance sometimes. She currently works as a phlebotomist, manages a small venue, and cleans/ organizes hobs to receive an income.

“I have three part-time jobs that I spread out throughout the week. I work three days a week at a hospital as a phlebotomist.

“On Fridays and/ or Saturdays

I manage a small venue that is used for filming commercials, photoshoots and different other events.

And throughout the week

I fit in cleaning/organizing hobs, which are my main source of income,” Tapia said.

Tapia’s challenges as a parent have given her a hard time in terms of balancing a work-life environment.

Although it may be tough, she finds it as a motivation to be her best self every single day.

She has managed a system where she is able to make time for work, class, homework and more by having an extra hand whenever she may need it. While having this system in place, she always reassures that it doesn’t neglect her duties and responsibilities as a parent. She explained her parental

Students, professors victims of bots

BY CAMERON MALDONADO-OLEA

Staff Writer the ones in position to exclude inactive students.

East Los Angeles College is working to eliminate inactive accounts from classrooms that are taking enrollment opportunities from students.

Kerrin McMahn, Instructional Services dean at ELAC, said people who join classes and aren’t active are known as bots. They join classes and take up space, leaving students interested in the class out of the opportunity of adding it to their schedule.

Professors and students are both affected by this situation.

These students are signing up and disappearing from class. McMahn said students doing this are committing fraudulent acts.

Students that are inactive are not punished because the college gives accurate enrollment figures to the state, due to funding being based on enrollment. Faculty are

status as the most significant thing

“The most significant thing in my life is being a parent. That is what drives me to be my best self every single day. As hard as things get sometimes, I think that is what

“I have someone to make time for school and work, while at the same time making sure I don’t neglect my duties and responsibilities as a parent,” said Tapia said her education means everything to her.

“My major is nursing.

I will be graduating with two associate degrees this summer and will transfer and work on getting my Bachelor of Science in nursing.

“I plan on becoming licensed, and after I gain some experience, work towards getting a Masters in nursing and work as a midwife nurse,” said Tapia. Her older sister, Jocabec Flores, has watched her grow as a mom, student and person. She views her as strong, independent and confident.

Jocabec was worried about Tapia’s future as a single mom.

However, she is happy that

Tapia wants to be a nurse and that she is following her dreams. Flores said that the only piece of advice she can give her is to never give up on Tapia is self-driven and versatile. As strengths, they have allowed her to guide herself while being in situations where she had no guidance.

In terms of her weaknesses, she says that she is “self-critical and sort of a perfectionist.” She is always looking for ways to better herself and always finds a way to achieve anything she sets her

Student Services support LGBTQ+ students

BY APRIL RODRIGUEZ Staff Writer

Lynn Wood provides a brave safe space to the LGBTQ+ community at East Los Angeles College. She is the Student Services Assistant on campus and oversees the Pride Center.

Some of these services include advice, mentorship, basic needs support, resource referral and class registration assistance.

The center has been open for a year, approximately since students returned to campus from the COVID-19 isolation.

The center offers students a way to come and interact with other allies, and most importantly, provide students a place where they get their needs met.

Wood offers every student an opportunity to fill out an LGBTQ+ Center Interest Form which asks for the students ID number, their name if they are comfortable, the purpose for visiting the center and their gender pronouns/self-identity. This form can be found on flyers located at the center which provides a QR code for the form.

This not only allows her to get to

know students that come into the center, but it allows them to express whatever they need to say or even ask for support.

Wood makes it a priority to set up the Pride Center in a way that students can de-stress and also feel comfortable. There are multiple colorful couches and stuffed animals which allow students to rest.

Wood offers a selection of Queer literature by several different authors at the center that students can rent out using their student ID number. These books are only offered at the center and are not available to find at the campus library.

She provides a variety of different snacks and beverages that she purchases for any student who comes into the center. She also sets up a diffuser for aromatherapy as she plays calm lo-fi music on the TV.

“I’ve had some students come to eat their lunch because it is the only place they feel safe to eat at,” Wood said.

She also shared that some students will come and take a nap on the couches for a while. The center is very secluded and is hard to find, however some students prefer that

as a way to be away from the crowd.

“Some students are scared that someone will see them here,” Wood said, as many of these students have not come out yet.

She aims to help the center grow more in population and also to get more support from the school.

Wood shared she wants more support in advertisements so students are aware of the outlets they have. She also wants more maintenance done in the center, such as repainting the walls and cleaning the carpet. She shared the school has not provided these services in a long time. Wood offers many ways for students to communicate to her aside from coming into the center. She provides her email, office number and the Pride Centers instagram.

The center is open MondayThursday 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. and closes at 12 p.m. You can find the center at the F5 building, third floor, room 323 down the hallway.

The increase of these bots started when classes moved online during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To help mitigate, McMahn advised that professors should follow the document, “Mandatory Exclusion Roster.”

This will help get rid of inactive students. McMahna said another way for professors to check on students is by getting in contact with individuals in the class to help prevent any accidental removal of students.

She said faculty can also add students to the waitlist in the event that some students enrolled are bots.

A professor in philosophy once had a class with 60 students enrolled, after excluding everyone that wasn’t active, only 12 students were left.

Family-oriented club plans campus outreach

BY JOSEPH HERNANDEZ Staff Writer

The Child Family & Education Studies Club hosted their final meeting of the semester to discuss current and future plans they have.

The Child Family & Education Studies Club is an all-inclusive club that looks to assist and create a community for students, hosting workshops, events and fundraisers for them.

Club President Jose Inguanzo said, “ The ultimate goal is to build relationships within the college community and provide them with a club that’ll help them break out of their shells.”

The club may be all-inclusive, but they still provide assistance for child development majors by having tutors and group sessions, discussing anything to do with child development.

The meeting started off with Club

President Inguanzo going over plans for May and June. On Monday they hosted their final fundraiser where they sold art supplies or snacks.

They are currently looking for volunteers to help set up an event for the Child Family Education Studies Department on May 27.

The department has this event every spring semester to recognize students who’ll receive their certificate for child development.

On June 9, they will host an event called Family Day Friday for club members to come together with their families to have a good time as a club.

They called for a minimum of three participants to represent their club for the Husky Bowl on Friday; no member participated yet.

The Husky Bowl is a competition where clubs meet each semester to compete through various games and activities.

The The Child Family &

Education Studies Club will be participating in an event with the PBS SoCal Kids program again in the fall semester. This will be the second time they work with PBS. Earlier in the year, the club participated with the program on Family Learning Day at the Child Development Center.

Club President Inguanzo said that the event for next semester will play out the same way as the last event.

During the Meeting, a member said they’ve raised a total of $1,000 this semester through the fundraisers they’ve hosted. The fundraisers mainly consisted of them selling snacks and art supplies for students at a cheap cost.

They used the money by donating $500 toward the Child Development Department to help their graduates pay for their sashes. The rest usually gets used toward paying for club activities, giving back to the community, and paying for food

and supplies for the club.

The The Child Family & Education Studies Club adviser, Professor Maria Rivas, was given a gift out of appreciation from every club member. The gift included a golden apple trophyand a card with every member’s name on it.

“You are the ones that keep me going and you are the ones that motivate me,” said Professor Rivas.

The The Child Family & Education Studies Club also discussed an idea for a conference to be held in the fall semester.

Rivas suggested the idea of doing a conference for students, where they go into break-out rooms and discuss topics that will be focused on; this is all they have planned for now.

The The Child Family & Education Studies Club will return in the fall semester with no specific date yet.

DECORATING WITH PRIDE—Lynn Wood and Thursday Storm, student services assistant and student, discuss the LGBTQ center’s decorations.

The increase of these bots started when classes moved online during the COVID-19 pandemic.

CN/JAIME DE HARO

COURTESY OF NANCY TAPIA

WORK-LIFE BALANCE—Nursing student, Nancy Tapia off to work.

ELAC chef persues dream thanks to family friend

BY HANNAH BELT Staff Writer

From 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. every weekday, Ralph Bustillos feeds East Los Angeles College staff and students as the one and only chef in the cafeteria.

Bustillos has worked as the chef at ELAC since 2017.

Bustillos is a legacy staff member here at ELAC, his father served as a chemical lab technician at ELAC for 35 years.

Bustillos quite literally grew up here on campus as he went to preschool at ELAC in 1989.

He came back to ELAC again, later on as a college student from 2002-2004.

After his final two years at ELAC as a student, he was able to transfer to LA Trade Tech.

When at 21 years of age, one man who believed in him and funded his culinary education changed his life.

“I always wanted to cook, but my parents wanted me to get an education,” Bustillos said.

Bustillos said a family friend warned his parents of the sneaking suspicion that Bustillos was seemingly being forced through school by the weight of his parents’ expectations of him.

A friend of the Bustillos family owned a restaurant and offered to personally show future ELAC chefs just how the culinary business is run, instead of the bleak future he predicted where Bustillos would never graduate from ELAC and drop out of college.

“He paid for me to go to culinary school,” Bustillos said.

The same man who was initially convinced that Bustillos lacked the will to get through school ended up supporting and funding him through it, forcing themselves to prove their initial beliefs wrong to themselves.

Bustillos said he almost didn’t finish school, but it was because of

this financial help he was able to find the drive to.

Bustillos knew he wanted to be a chef because of how he grew up playing all kinds of different sports. His dinners were spent at various snack shacks and drive-thrus spread between the multiple fields he and his brother and sister would all play at.

He acknowledges his parents’ contribution to making their childhood successful through this back–and–forth.

It was then that he knew that he enjoyed making food for people. He is still involved in these sports in a sense, he is a coach even now.

Bustillos said one of the most fulfilling things about working at ELAC for him is seeing all of the former players he has coached and how they have grown.

The chef’s favorite meal to make for himself when he gets home after a long day of chef duties includes none other than cereal and peanut butter and jelly.

“When you work all day with food you don’t want to see food anymore,” Bustillos said. His favorite thing on the menu to make is breakfast burritos.

Bustillos said his favorite part of the day is late at night when he has finally finished all the cooking and cleaning, when he has taken care of and put his mother with Alzheimer’s disease to sleep and laid out everything to be helpful to her tomorrow. When she wakes up he will already be at work. The 30 minutes he gets to himself before finishing the day’s tasks and sleeping are his favorite minutes of the day.

Bustillos said he is proud to be able to sacrifice his time to his parents because of the way they did so for him.

Husky pitchers share experiences on, off plate

Underdogs raised up by Francisco Dominguez

BY MARC ANTHONY MARTINEZ Staff Writer

Baseball is a passion and desire for David Morales, pitcher for the East Los Angeles College baseball team.

He grew up playing as a little kid and would talk with his dad about the game for hours and was something they connected with.

After his win against Palomar on May 6, which helped the baseball team advance to the super regionals, he talked to his dad who was proud. On May 7 his dad passed away.

“It was really hard to show up for practices and especially games for that matter,” Morales said about having to prepare for the next round of the playoffs.

Making his dad proud and playing hard is how he was able to keep going to practice and finish what would be ELAC’s last two games of the season.

He also couldn’t have done it without the support of his teammates who have been with him for the past three years, because of COVID-19 they were able to play an extra year.

He made a lot of friends out of his teammates.

“He’s always positive and is doing his best to keep other guys’ heads up, he’s a competitor out on the mound,” Morales’ teammate Francisco Dominguez, another Huskies pitcher, said.

Not knowing if the game against Fullerton College would be his last, Morales knew that whatever the outcome was his dad was still going to be proud of him and his journey with baseball.

His girlfriend Zoe Zarco said, “Baseball just wasn’t a sport to David, it was something that he loved to do and looked forward to doing every day.

“No matter how many practices or how early he had to wake up in the morning.”

He’s unsure if he will continue to play baseball once he transfers to Hope International University in Fullerton.

He plans to major in kinesiology and sports therapy so he can help future athletes heal.

His interest in becoming a therapist came from an injury he had on his arm from pitching and realized it was something he wanted to do.

Morales said the coaches at ELAC helped him find himself because they helped him when he needed it, and they made it feel like a family.

After three years on the team, his last game was on Friday. The baseball team lost to Fullerton in the super regionals 8-4 where he pitched three innings and struck out four batters.

He kept getting ahead of the counts and walked three batters.

They kept hitting his pitches and he had to count on his defense to help him get out of the innings trusting in them as he did all season long.

This season he pitched seven complete games and one shutout game.

He had a total of 51 strikeouts and gave up 37 walks. With his most memorable game being when they beat Palomar with their backs against the wall on the brink of elimination.

BY MARC ANTHONY MARTINEZ Staff Writer

Francisco “Paco” Dominguez, pitcher for the East Los Angeles College Baseball team helped lead the team to victory over Palomar College.

Dominguez plans to go to either California State University, Los Angeles, or California State University, Dominguez Hills where he will major in history to be a teacher. He hasn’t decided if he will continue to play at the college he attends next fall.

He is going to take two weeks to think about it before he decides.

“It was a fun experience and a fun ride, I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” Dominguez said about playing for the ELAC Baseball team.

While playing at ELAC this year he had seven complete games and one shutout game. He struck out 66 batters.

Dominguez struggled in his last performance of the season against Los Angeles Valley College as he only pitched two innings and gave up eight runs.

While on the mound, he was calm and knew that it was a situation he had been in before as a pitcher.

Dominguez said his favorite player growing up and who he still watches videos of to this day is Pedro Martinez, because of how he was still a dominant pitcher in the steroid era and how Martinez carried himself and was confident. Something both pitchers share when on the mound.

Dominguez teammate, David Morales said Dominguez made others play well because of the effort he puts into the game.

“Paco was who the pitching staff at ELAC looked up to. He set the standard and tone every time he stepped foot on the mound,” said Morales.

Dominguez and Morales have talked about together a lot because

of their performances against Palomar, the No. 1 seed in the playoffs who they were able to eliminate to advance to the Super Regional Playoffs.

“We shared a small moment after both of the games to show appreciation for each other and just take in what we just accomplished,” Morales said.

“It’s been an honor and pleasure playing with this group,” Dominguez said.

Dominguez said he has the utmost respect for his coaches.

“I’m honored for them to put that responsibility and trust that they stood with me through the ups and downs,” Dominguez said.

Dominguez said when he was on the mound and having a bad inning like how he did against LA Valley College, he took deep breaths and reminded himself that it isn’t a situation he hasn’t been in before.

He has the mentality of, if something bad happens in one pitch just continue to the next batter.

That’s how he approached every game he pitched this year.

Dominguez played for Bell High School and was 8-0 his junior year.

His senior year he played with a fractured thumb on his nonthrowing hand with the goal of playing at Dodgers Stadium for the high school championship, but fell short in the end.

Dominguez showed what it was like to grind and be a good baseball player and how it pays to work hard on and off the field.

Even when they couldn’t play due to COVID-19 he was still practicing and finding ways to improve so that when he was able to get back on the mound, he would be ready.

ELAC were the underdogs with their backs against the wall one game of elimination, Dominguez showed dominance by throwing a complete game, striking out three and giving up only one run.

“Baseball just wasn’t a sport to David, it was something that he loved to do and looked forward to doing everyday.”

ZOE ZARCO

David Morales girlfriend

PHOTOS COURTESY OF STEPHEN MORALES

FOLDING AND ROLLING—Ralph Bustillos, ELAC’s only chef, in front of his workspace during the morning rush. He is in the process of making breakfast buritos on the grill behind him.

David Morales finds inspiration from teammates, family

David Morales

Francisco “Paco” Dominguez

Skilled cast entertains

TheaterpresentstruestoryinBlack-Americanhistory

BY ALINA PEREZ Staff Writer

The production of “The African Company Presents Richard III,” with a two-hour running time, has a visually entertaining quality.

Director Rodney Lloyd Scott showcased a true story in Black American History.

Twenty five years ago, Lloyd Scott played James Hewlett at the Kennedy Center’s Festival of Scenes.

He was ecstatic to be able to showcase the same show here at East Los Angeles College.

Lloyd Scott’s reasoning for choosing this specific piece to put on was the time frame.

“Systematic racism is just as alive as it was 200 years ago” he said.

The purpose of The African Theatre Company presents Richard III is to tell the story of one of the first African American theater companies and some of the struggles they encountered with

the white theater companies who would try and shut them down no matter the reason.

There was an amazing outcome of supporters in the audience and the energy in the room was lively.

The cast does an amazing job of keeping everyone entertained. The set is filled with props. The soundtrack for the play is great.

Lloyd Scott mentions in the program that he has asked a few producers who have worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry to help and they all agreed to help with this “special project.”

all the actors considering some of them had never acted before and this was their first ever show.

Peter Lopez Bolaños, who plays Papa Shakespeare, got his chance in the spotlight when he stepped up from being an understudy after the leading actor had dropped out of the production a few weeks prior to the showcase.

Lloyd Scott mentions in the program that he asked a few producers who have worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry to help and they all agreed to help with this “special project.”

Lopez has the ability to make the crowd laugh with his wonderful presence and eagerness to put on a show.

Kevin Nichols, who plays James Hewlett, puts on one heck of a show.

that the wonderful director had previously played himself.

Both Lloyd Scott and Chavez said that they were amazed by the outcome of guests and the audience.

“It was a bit difficult for me seeing as I am not African American, but director Rodney helped me in doing my research and I feel confident in myself” Chaves said.

Faith Acosta, a current student athlete at ELAC said, “The play was so captivating, from the talented actors, to the set and visuals and material the play covered makes it an overall must watch.”

This was the first play that Acosta had attended from school and also mentioned that it certainty won’t be her last.

The play will continue on until May 21. Tickets are available online and in-person at the P2 office.

Student director provides support, criticism enchances actors performance

Associate director Marina Love Chavez said she is very proud of

Nichols amazes the audience with his performance. He is able to project and step into the role

Curator offers students support, opportunities

BY APRIL RODRIGUEZ Staff Writer

Nathalie Sanchez has helped students on campus get involved with the museum studies program along with other internships.

She is the Curator of Education programs at the Vincent Price Art Museum on the East Los Angeles campus.

She came on board to work on campus in October 2020 and has worked her way to becoming a big advocate for arts education and opportunities for students.

Her goal at the museum is to invoke inspiration within students.

She supports and advocates for the museum studies program and the internships for students seeking to expand their career in arts education.

She also takes on the responsibilities of arranging events that take place at the museum along with offering help to students that need guidance.

“It feels like such a privilege working on this campus,” Sanchez said.

She also attended this college and feels that her background allows her to gain more connection while working in the community.

There are two programs she aims to spread awareness on which is the Getty Marrow Undergraduate Internship program and the Washington D.C. Internship program which takes place at the Smithsonian Institution or the National Gallery of Art.

Both internships give students a hands-on opportunity in their

CN/APRIL RODRIGUEZ

EXPERT ADVICE—Curator of Education programs Nathalie Sanchez gives ELAC political science student feedback on her art piece during a workshop on Monday.

future career field and allows them to branch out.

She attended the Getty Marrow program and said it was her first paid internship. She encourages students to get involved in these internships because they are a huge step toward gaining experience. She said one of her goals is getting more students with diverse backgrounds to apply.

Her experience allows her to help and support students

in these types of internship opportunities.

She is a former visual arts educator and believes art education is vital for not only students but everyone.

She also advocates for these programs because they are intended to diversify the field of arts.

After doing research on demographic surveys from the Mellon Foundation Sanchez has found that people of color still make up a small

percentage in arts education and the field itself.

“We still need a lot more change, especially after [COVID-19],” Sanchez said.

She encourages students to get involved in these internships because they are a huge step toward gaining experience.

Sanchez said the events she puts together at VPAM are focused on bridging the gap between the little students may know about art and what makes art educational.

She also works hard on maintaining the facility and at times has to take on projects independently.

She said her position allows her to design, facilitate and solely make decisions that impact the museum.

She said students can make the museum their safe place where they can not only interact and share ideas, but they can get inspired with the art pieces on display.

She said art is important because it can bring beautiful knowledge and deep self reflection.

Sanchez hopes to see more students get involved, participate in events or even explore the museum that is offered on campus for free.

BY JAIME DE HARO Staff Writer

Hardworking, a leader and dedicated are just three words to describe Marina Love Chavez. Her commitments to the East Los Angeles College Theater Department have allowed her to take steps into new directions.

Chavez is currently the associate-student director for the play “The African Company Presents: Richard III.”

“My duties are basically just to help the actors understand their motivations and put the whole show together in terms of blocking and lines, and give my thoughts and opinions to the director to see what works and what doesn’t,” Chavez said.

As a student director, Chavez has been a support system for the cast and crew. She provides advice, support and criticism to the actors which has helped them improve to this day.

Chavez thinks her cast and crew is awesome. She has watched them progress and grow tremendously throughout the production of the show.

“If there was one thing I could tell the actors, it would be that instead of just saying your lines and anticipating them, react to them because you’re telling the story. You’re not the one watching it,” she said.

In the beginning, Chavez was the one who asked to be the student director for the play. Director Rodney Lloyd Scott, was hesitant about allowing her to direct the play but the outcome has impressed him.

She has become a role model to many of the actors and has made the him proud.

“He was kind of hesitant because I was a big procrastinator on reading the script, but I guess I can say that I proved him wrong. Now, he’s very proud of me and likes everything I did,” Chavez said.

Watching her work her magic from the cast and crew’s point

of view is a different story. You would be able to describe her as that quiet person but at the end of the day, she knows what she’s doing.

Scott, who has given her resources on directing, books to buy and advice to fulfill her duties as a student director.

At the beginning of production, she had some moments where she was afraid to direct but her director gave her some words of wisdom.

“Who inspired me? I would say Rodney. At first, I told him I was afraid to direct the show since it was an African American cast which I’m obviously not.” Chavez said.

“So I didn’t want to overstep boundaries but he gave me many resources and told me that ‘as long as you do the work and you know what you’re doing as a director they’ll respect you’ and that gave me the boost of confidence to do the show,” Chavez said.

Scott said “The only difference with me in this show is that I have Marina Chavez as the associate director. I usually don’t let people touch my shows, so it shows how much I’ve trusted her and her talents and what she can bring to the table.

“She’s done more than any other director or student director that I’ve had over the last 25 years. So, she’s the queen of this” said Scott.

Chavez is currently set to transfer to California State University Los Angeles in the Fall and will pursue acting. It’s her goal to become a professional actress but she knows that a spot in Hollywood isn’t always guaranteed.

After receiving her bachelor’s, she also plans to possibly come back to ELAC and become a theater professor here.

As a theater professor at ELAC, she said “I would love to do a musical! But I would mainly focus on LGBTQ pieces and things that are just super fun. And then maybe sometimes shows that are dramatic and emotional.”

A SHOW WITHIN A SHOW—Joshua Estrada, who plays William Billy Brown, stands center stage and reads an outstanding review from the newspaper while Rayea Young, who plays Ann Johnson, Peter Lopez Bolaños, who plays Papa Shakespeare, and Lauren Grace Parra, who plays Sarah, listen.

IN THE LIMELIGHT—Director Rodney Lloyd Scott and Associate Director Marina Love Chavez stand in front of their production poster ready for a night of showcasing their work.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CRYSTAL JUAREZ

CASTMATES EXCHANGE—Joshua Estrada plays William Billy Brown And Rayea Young plays Ann Johnson in ELAC theaters production of “The African Company Presents Richard III.”

ACTOR PLAYS AN ACTOR—Kevin Nichols plays James Hewlett.