NEWS SAAVE informs Elans on sexual assault awareness.
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Volume 73, Issue 18
ARTS
SPORTS
Traditional comedy receives Latin twist.
ELAC acquires new football coach.
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Wednesday, April 20, 2016
www.elaccampusnews.com
SAAVE aids sexual assault victims at ELAC BY GUSTAVO BUENROSTRO Staff Writer
CN/STEPHANIE GARIBAY
STUDENT ELECTIONS—East Los Angeles College students decide which candidates would be best for the 2016-17 students government yesterday next to the ELAC Swim Stadium.
Elans deciding new ASU government BY STEPHANIE GARIBAY Staff Writer
The Associated Student Union is holding elections for the 2016-17 student government in front of the swim stadium, where candidates campaigned to students passing by. The elections started yesterday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and will continue today and the same time. Students who are ASU member and non-ASU members are eligible to vote. “There has been a lot of people voting, our box here with all the ballots is more than halfway full now,” Vanessa Diaz, the current Commissioner of communications, said. The ballots included statements from each candidate that voters could read upon making their decision. “Reading those statements actually helped. I think it helped
match their face to their personality. I don’t know any of the people running so it helped me figure out who I should vote for,” Maria Gardena, ELAC student, said. Gardena, who is a first year student, was voting for the first time.“I was just walking by and thought ‘okay why not’,” Gardena said. Some candidates campaigned in front of the swim stadium the whole day and skipped class. “I skipped class to be here, but I’m not worried because I got an A on my midterm so I know I’m at least passing that class,” Henry Jimenez, candidate for treasurer, said. Jimenez is currently the president of the accounting club and hopes to become treasurer. “I actually went to downtown and bought a lot of candy and a Donald Trump pinata. I feel like the Donald Trump pinata represents us, the minority and who we stand for. We stand against him, we stand against the white people. They
stand against us and we are no longer the minority, we are now the majority in California,” Jimenez said. Jimenez believes his experience with the accounting club will make him a great candidate. “Because of my experience I know how to communicate with students and since I have met a lot of different students I know what we need to work on and what our funding needs to be going to. I feel like I would save the campus a lot of money,” Jimenez said. If Jimenez becomes treasurer he hopes to make the communication between students and ASU stronger. There are currently four candidates running for ASU president and Aurora Paredes is the only girl. “I feel like Hillary Clinton with Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump, it’s tough out there,” said Paredes. Paredes is currently the chief of justice. This will be her second year in ASU if she becomes elected.
“When I first started with ASU I had no knowledge of how it worked, but over time I started to see ok this is how you do this, this is what I need,” Paredes said. One of Paredes’ goals if she becomes president is to make sure the voice of the south gate students is heard. “We just extended the library hours for the main campus, but what about the students at south gate. Their library closes at 7 pm and I always see students on the floor in hallways. We need to make sure their voice is being heard as well,” Parades said. Parades also hopes to start a food bank if she does become elected. “I’m here all day and sometimes I have noticed that some students don’t have food, so I do want to work on building a food bank. Just a place where students can come and grab snacks,” Parades said. Candidates will be notified if they were elected via email in two weeks and the winners will be posted around campus.
People have been affected by sexual assault one way or another and East Los Angeles College hopes to bring awareness with Sexual Assault Awareness and Violence Education. SAAVE is a group of faculty and students who want to inform other people about sexual assault. This month is about spreading information to those who may not know much about sexual assault or for people who are also looking for more information. This month is also for those who are victims of sexual assault and throughout the month of April, there are many workshops for those who have experienced it. Some workshops talk about the legal system telling you what kind of action someone can take if they have been a victim of sexual assault. They even talked about immigration. People who have been victims of sexual assault and are illegal immigrants, these workshops talk about what kind of action someone with these set of circumstances can do. There is also HIV testing for those who would like to get tested for any diseases with the next HIV test happening Tuesday, April 26. There are meetings called Men’s Circle, where men who have been victims of sexual assault can talk about their experiences or would like to confide with other people. There is also a common sense self defense workshop that teaches people how to defend themselves against sexual assailants. There are also workshops about healthy relationships, where
Some workshops talk about the legal system telling you what kind of action someone can take if they have been a victim of sexual assault. students can know how to be in a healthy relationship. A play called “Drunk Girl” has performances in the month of April. Two performances dates have already happened but there is an upcoming performance on April 21. “Drunk Girl” is a series of plays exploring the struggles that women have over their bodies and their lives. The play will take place on campus in building S-1 music recital hall. A denim day resource fair will take place on April 27. Students and faculty will wear denim in support of the sexual awareness month. One of the last events for SAAVE will be Take Back the Night Vigil and March Against Sexual Assault. They will take place in the G3 auditorium starting at six on April 28. Take back the night starts with professionals speakers talking about sexual assault.
REPORT Continued on page 3
Political science majors educate Elans on 2016 presidential elections BY STEPHANIE GUEVARA Staff Writer East Los Angeles College students majoring in political science informed their fellow students about the presidential candidates and on issues regarding the elections at the ELAC South Gate Educational Center on Thursday. The main purpose of the discussion was to educate students about certain topics that they were unaware of and to get students to vote, according to Emely Anaya, one of the presenters. “Not a lot of young people vote and they should, because it affects our future. It was also to get students involved in politics, in all level(s) (of government),” Anaya said. Anaya believes ELAC students should get involved in the student government so there could be equity between the ELAC South Gate campus and the main campus.
News Briefs
Anaya delivered a presentation on health care and each presidential candidate's’ stance in healthcare. Students were also informed on foreign policy, social services, education and many other topics. Education was one of the main topics in the discussion. Students were encouraged to continue to stay informed on what candidates have to offer for education because it will affect them. The discussion helped students understand politics, according to Precilla Gutierrez, a tutor from the writing center. “I feel like a have a better understanding on other topics besides immigrations,” Gutierrez said. Rony Moraga spoke about the importance of understanding foreign policy as well as current events, which involved the Panama Papers. The Panama Papers are a leakage of confidential documents that reveals information about offshore companies listed by
CN/JULIE SANTIAGO
FEEL THE BERN—Rony Moraga informs students on foreign policy and on his candidate, Bernie Sanders at the East Los Angeles South Gate Educational Center on Thurday.
Panamanian confidential firm. Moraga said the discussion was led to tell students that this election matters and that every topic discussed is based on topics important in everyone’s lives.
First repertoire dance concert Let’s Dance Company presents its first repertoire dance concert at East Los Angeles College on May 13 and 14 at the S2 recital hall. Tickets are $15. For more information contact Kimberly Rabins at 323)265-8740.
“The elections are very interesting but we know very little about (what goes on). This was an opportunity to voice out that this election is very important to us,” Moraga said.
Student presenters felt, voicing their opinions in politics is important because that can encourage students to become passionate and interested in politics.
The students presented on the presidential candidates and gave information on their campaigns, but their main focus was on Bernie Sanders,the prefered candidate of all the presenters. Moraga said they wanted to inform students, but they also wanted to give their point -of -view for certain topics. All candidates for both parties were mentioned in the discussion, except Republican candidate, John Kasich. Moraga said that they wanted to only speak about candidates they thought would most likely take the nomination. The student presenters don’t form part of a club, but they are aiming to start a club. Each election cycle, they get together to organize an election discussion so students can get involved with the elections. “This was essentially made just for when there was an election, but we’ll see where we go with this club in the making,” Moraga said.
Career Day
Transfer student reception
East Los Angeles College Administration of Justice Department will host Career Day on April 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at C2-124. Various law enforcement will attend.
Students who have been accepted to a university and are graduating, are invited to the transfer student reception on May 18 at the S2 patio and recital hall. For more information student can contact the Transfer Center.