Campus News Spring 2017 Issue 24

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www.elaccamp

Volume 75, Issue 24

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

EDITORIAL

Campus News denied retiree list Campus News planned to write about retiring staff members to honor their service to ELAC in a special edition of the newspaper, but was denied the list of retirees. The ELAC Academic Senate said during a meeting on Tuesday that it had also been denied the information. This is also unfortunate because retirees are usually honored with a crystal apple as a token of appreciation for their services. Without the information, this small gesture could be delayed. Instead of interviewing, writing and taking photos of faculty members for the issue, Campus News staff spent over a week calling the departments asking for names of retirees. This resulted in a short list of retiring faculty members and a

handful of stories about them. ELAC President Marvin Martinez and his office denied the release of the information, claiming that it is an employee privacy issue and not for public knowledge. Their reason did not cite specific statutory exemptions in the California Public Records or any other law. This is an ultimate act of disrespect toward the ELAC community, especially when many have helped shape the futures of its students and the culture that the school is known for. It is only right that retirees are shown the utmost respect and gratitude from the school they served. As a result of Martinez and his office’s uncooperativeness,

passionate about our students and very passionate about his sons,” Photography Department chair Robert Aaron Lyle said. Lyle said Monge spent more time on campus than anyone in the department, but made sure he made time to see his youngest son Matthew play baseball. “He would always talk about his games,” Lyle said. Lyle said Monge would always express pride in Michael’s scholarly achievements. He also said that he always joked about how lucky he was to have met his wife. Monge was a member of the East

Los Angeles College community for about 30 years. He was a student in the Photography Department in the 80s and was a Campus News staff member for a year. “He was a very sweet person. He was one of our most dependable photographers when he was on staff,” Campus News adviser Jean Stapleton said. Monge also helped train Campus News staff members when it made the transition from film photography to digital. Monge earned his associates degree in photography and taught some classes at ELAC.

Campus News filed a Freedom of Information Act request for information . On Monday, the request for the information was denied by the Los Angeles Community College District’s Office of General Counsel in an email sent by paralegal Jeffrey A. Greenman. According to Nikki Moore, a California Newspaper Publisher Association lawyer, and Frank LoMonte, executive director of the Student Press Law Center, their refusal to release the information is illegal. LoMonte said the agency's preference not to discuss the matter does not excuse compliance with the law. The law clearly states that the compensation of public employees is a matter of public record,

he added. Campus News is not seeking information that violates the privacy of the retirees. Rather, it is public information that should be used in recognizing ELAC’s employees. Below are the faculty Campus News has been told are retiring. Dennis Sanchez; Sharon Allerson; Jane Kerford; Rhonda Wiley; Lily Chang; Mary Eckhert; Michael Owens; Eldin Onsgard; Kiff Kimber; Edwin Howard; Alex Immerblum; Christine Rodriguez; Aida Caballes; Consuelo Rey Castro; Robert Lipscomb; Rebecca Hsiao; Martha Gayton; and Michael Kaznetsis. If you are or are not retiring this year, please contact Campus News at: (323) 265-8819 or elaccampusnews@gmail.com

JOHN MONGE COURTESY OF AARON LYLE

“He always told everyone to keep on pushing and working on their craft. He would tell me not to worry about intangibles,” ELAC student Michael Gomez said. Gomez described Monge as a down-to-earth person who liked to joke around. He said he was an uplifting and encouraging mentor. Lyle said Monge would go above and beyond what was required of him. Monge managed to help the Photography Department's staff and the hundreds of students who took photography classes, while continuing to work on his one craft, Lyle said.

Photography assistant dies, remembered for 20 years of service BY IVAN CAZARES Staff Writer Instructional Assistant John Monge died of organ failure on May 17 after spending months in and out of hospitals due to problems with his liver and kidneys. Monge dedicated 20 years of his life to the Photography Department. “He was dedicated to his job and the department. His work here was a reflection of his lifelong love of photography and education,” photography instructor Mike Tsai said. Monge is survived by his sons Michael and Matthew, and wife Patricia. “He was very

“He was the kind of person that could predict what the department needed, and acted on it before anyone told him anything,” Lyle said. He added that Monge was both a talented technician and photographer. Lyle said Monge understood all of the chemicals and equipment needed to keep the photography labs running effectively. Filling Monge’s shoes is proving to be a challenge, Lyle added, even while dividing the workload. The Photography Department has a donations can in the E7 basement to help Monge’s family with funeral expenses.

First East Los Angeles Comic Con attracts hundreds of fans BY STEVEN ADAMO Staff Writer Hundreds of people celebrated comic books at the first-annual East Los Angeles Comic Con held at El Gallo Plaza in East Los Angeles. Artists from the area and beyond shared their comics, buttons, clothing, illustrations, paintings and comic-inspired creations with the community. Among the vendors, a few were former East Los Angeles College students, like Al Guerrero. He was handing out free posters of his upcoming comic book “Al Desmadre, tales of terror from the east side.” Al Guerrero began doodling in his text books as a kid and continued his education at ELAC during the 1980s. “I took any art classes I could, from ceramics to life drawing,” Guerrero said. Guerrero grew up in East Los Angeles and is happy that he gets

Corrections

to communicate with comic book fans from his old neighborhood. As a fan of comic cons and the variety of art genres that were represented, he says it’s a fantastic way to connect directly with the community and vice versa. “This event means a lot for our community in the big picture,” Guerrero said. “I’ve had a tremendous response, beyond what I expected.” Amber McCall, another former ELAC student, sold a variety of items that were manufactured by her friends all around the United States. At her table, she had a big bowl of buttons with clever phrases and illustrated puns. Her zine, Thunderpuss, is a mock-women’s magazine that features illustrations, comic strips and writings. Peter Mellini is the convention’s creator, a 35-year-old East Los Angeles native. He said organizing the event was challenging in the beginning

CN/IVAN CAZARES

WEB SLINGER—Alex Zarate cosplays as Black Spiderman at the first East Los Angeles Comic Con on May 20. because he hadn’t seen an event like this in the area, so the owners of the Gallo Plaza were skeptical at first. In a phone interview, Mellini said it was a dream of his to own a comic book store.

This September, Mellini said he will make the final payment on his comic book store, Nostalgic Books and Comics, in San Gabriel, so he wanted to do something big to celebrate. He and his friends have been

CN/IVAN CAZARES

CONCHA TIME—Sara Basan, left, Jennifer Lopez and

Kristen Parraz promote their podcast “Comadre y Comics” and give out conchas to attendees. The comadres use conchas and champurrado to rate the books they review.

wanting to do a show like this in the area for a long time, so he is excited that it’s happening. Rafael Navarro was one of the artists asked by Mellini to be a part of the convention.

Navarro is the creator of the series Sonámbulo, which is about a 1950s luchador who becomes a paranormal private detective.

For the full version of this story, visit elaccampusnews.com

Addition to last week’s edition

Lead story error

Name Corrections

The standby editors for last week’s pup edition were not included in the staff box. Those editors were Jocelyn Romo and Alejandro Lara.

The headline “51 employees to retire this June” contained an error. Some employees will retire this June and some in December.

Staff writers Gisselle Palomera and Julio Sanchez’s names were misspelled in “What the food?! A Crisis on campus” and “Dual threat athlete runs down scholarship.” Psychology Club’s co-president, Aimee Enriquez, was also misspelled.

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Opinion

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 2017

Box office premiers surpass digital releases BY GUSTAVO BUENROSTRO Staff Writer

Going out, getting popcorn and watching a movie on the big screen is a better movie experience than watch a film at home. Most movies are made to be seen on the big screen and to be heard through stereo surround sound speakers. It helps create an atmosphere that no other setting can. When watching a horror movie, a sense of dread is created because of the loud speakers and the visuals that accompany it. A pit in a person’s stomach is created and this feeling is difficult to get anywhere else other than a theater. Films like “Mad Max: Fury Road” and “2001: A Space Odyssey” are a few examples of films that lose something when they are seen on a laptop. It loses the full scope of a film. The scenes don’t feel as gratifying when a large epic scene is put on a four-inch screen that fits in a pocket. When someone goes to the cinema, they go because they want to watch a film. People pay attention to watching the film because they paid for it, whereas people might get distracted by their phones or chores if they watch them at home. A film gets a persons unequivocal attention at the theater. There are a few people that will still be on their phone and have bad movie etiquette, but those people are far from normal moviegoing audiences. The story of a man suing his girlfriend because she was texting throughout a viewing of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2.” shows how serious people get when it comes to their personal cinema experiences. People also get a sense of community at the theater. Similar to going to a concert or

a live event, there is some level of comfort in having a shared experience. This feeling is most apparent when watching comedies. When the audience laughs together, it can make the film funnier. Professor of Neurobiology and Psychology Robert Provine says that laughing is contagious. “The irresistibility of others' laughter has its roots in the neurological mechanism of laugh detection. The fact that laughter is contagious raises the intriguing possibility that humans have an auditory laugh detector,” Provine said in an article he wrote on www. phsychologytoday.com. An example of this theory played out when I watched “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” in the theater. While the film was terrible, there were segments in the film where the audience was cheering and I couldn't help but cheer when the everyone else did. Optimus Prime saying “This time, we take the fight to them” got the audience excited and made a terrible movie into a great experience. The theater is also the place to watch movies in 3D IMAX, which makes the movie experience even more immersive. There are some good reasons to watch at home, however. Watching a movie at home is much more convenient, especially with streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu. People don’t have buy overpriced snacks and there is even a purposed service called Screening Room, where people can watch movies at home the same time theaters show them. Although these are some valid arguments, if someone goes to the theater, they go for a reason. In the end, watching a movie in the cinema with people makes for a better experience than watching a film at home.

EDITOR IN CHIEF Megan G. Razzetti MANAGING EDITOR Stephanie Guevara ART DIRECTOR Steven Adamo Anastasia Landeros FRONT EDITOR Dorany Pineda

OPINION EDITOR Felipe Rodriguez NEWS EDITOR Gustavo Buenrostro FEATURE EDITORS Maria Isabel Cubillo Roslin Ojeda ARTS EDITOR Ivan Cazares SPORTS EDITORS Tiana Hunter Noe Ortega ONLINE EDITOR Dan Gudino COPY EDITORS Rogelio Alvarez Diego Linares Russell Zazueta CARTOONISTS Steven Adamo STAFF WRITERS Jordan Elias Hector Gomez Jose Guillen Christian Horta Christina Rodriguez Francisco Portillo

The positive benefits of online selling BY FELIPE RODRIGUEZ Staff Writer Online selling services are a great resource for college students as they allow anyone to make money effortlessly and can help create great relationships. Platforms like OfferUp, Let Go, Depop, and Craigslist make it simple for people to make money and help get rid of unwanted items. If unemployed or just trying to save money, this is a great way to make money. Online selling platforms are convenient, simple to use and are beneficial to the user. All it takes to get involved is downloading these applications and uploading pictures of the unused gear. Depending on which items users decide to sell, they can get a response within a couple of minutes.

As the saying goes “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure” what you might see as useless and unnecessary can mean a completely different story to someone else. Regardless of one’s situation, s e l l i n g s t u ff t h r o u g h t h e s e platforms is a great alternative to getting rid of things like clothing, electronics, and collectibles. These platforms allow people to find cheaper alternatives to the things they most desire. Items that seem to be really popular on these outlets are furniture, electronics, clothing and cars. College students can also find

things like textbooks and school materials for much cheaper than retail prices. It is quite common that people are wary of using these websites due to the uncertainty of meeting strangers online. Although it is understandable as to why people avoid these platforms, some of these companies have taken it upon themselves to make the experience safer by adding more security measures. Companies like Offerup and Depop have added features like user ratings and requiring users to confirm their accounts with their phone numbers and emails.

“Online selling platforms are convenuent, simple to use and are beneficial to the user”

Although these platforms may linger with suspicious individuals, it is a lot safer now than it has been in the past. In my own experiences, I have yet to encounter a shady individual through these platforms and I plan to keep it that way. I have bought, sold, and have even traded a lot of the things I use on a daily basis thanks to these online platforms and I usually hold this as my first option when looking for things like electronics. A lot of the time a lot of the suspicious posts seen on these online sites are in plain view and widely recognized by the online community. Other companies like Craigslist, offer safety guidelines on how to avoid shady business deals. They also have safety tips that are constantly reminded users throughout the process.

Some personal tips to avoid any unusual or odd meeting locations and times. Always go for the users who include phone numbers and also offer a location for where they are located. Another common way to avoid any sort of shady situations is by staying away from expensive purchases. Buying cars and things ranging over a big number should be handled with great caution. You never know when something can potentially be a scam or dangerous. These platforms are great resources but should be used with caution. Along with being able to reach a bigger audience with one’s unwanted stuff, anyone can find great things on these websites and are a great alternative to paying full price for desirable items.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Library self service

Student speaks out

To facilitate access to information and emphasize the privacy rights of students, the library staff decided to install and introduce the self-checkout station at Helen Miller Bailey Library of the East Los Angeles Community College (ELAC). The self-checkout machine is not only a fast and convenient option for busy patrons who have no time to wait in line to check-out books at the circulation desk, but also it is a freedom of expression that accommodates students who want to have more “autonomy” in a public place. Before the self-checkout machine was introduced, ELAC patrons had to bring all materials to centralized location in the library. The mechanism of the circulation desk services revealed a patron’s interest, and, thus, undermined his or her privacy. This nature of public transaction, prevented a great number of students from using library services because of privacy issues. Today, the self-checkout station in the ELAC library allows all students and patrons, including lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders (LGBT) to minimize public contact and handle their own circulation without anyone’s supervision.

I started at East Los Angeles College in 2010 and have been here for seven years. There have been many times that I have struggled with my education. In the beginning, I was a part-time student and I have been working during the same time I’ve been going to school. I became a full -time student as time progressed and began to have a hard time in some of my classes mainly because I did not understand the work. At first, I couldn't understand how to read and write very well and I was very shy to ask for help. As time went on, I learned where I could get help and I became more confident in seeking resources. I eventually learned from professors and staff how to take down notes, look up words, and ask questions during class. When I started to make friends here, I got involved on campus and I joined a club called Non-Traditional Students Union. I began to have a lot of fun here on campus and I enjoyed being apart of the club. I eventually began to be the mascot for some of the events the clubs hosted. Not far after, I would begin to tell many of my fellow classmates to never give up and take advantage of all the programs that are offered here at school. These clubs will help you out whenever you need it during school. You must learn to manage your time and balance your workload because it is pretty easy to overwhelm yourself. College is not easy, you need to take advantage of all the resources you can in order to make it easier in the long run.

- AYGUL HECHT

- MELISSA SAWYER Student

Library Technician www.ELACCampusNews.com

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Jorge Aldaco Christopher Reynoso PHOTO EDITOR Anastasia Landeros ADVERTISING Stefanie Arocha DISTRIBUTION Anastasia Landeros 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 property 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. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Writers 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, offered 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, MAY 24, 2017

Athletics, kinesiology to join Special Olympics BY DAN GUDINO Staff Writer

Athletics, Kinesiology Club, and the Special Olympics of Southern California held its first meeting on Tuesday, a joint effort in creating an official college club consisting of special needs athletes, in hopes of competing in the 2019 games. East Los Angeles College will be the first Los Angeles Community College District campus to lead a Special Olympics Club. With the help of former athletic director and current adjunct athletics professor Marilyn Ladd, ELAC is taking its first steps in making itself an all inclusive athletic program that would engage itself on a world stage. “ELAC students to Abu Dhabi, (United Arab Emirates) in 2019 is possible if we get this program underway here,” Senior Manager of Sports and Programs for Special Olympics, Teresa Borunda said. If ELAC pushes its initiative for an official college club, its athletes, student-coaches and faculty would be allowed to go Abu Dhabi.

The idea of Special Olympics athletes at ELAC is still brand new idea, and its goal according to Ladd is to launch practices by February 2018. Its first step is to register all potential student-coaches, coaches and athletes signed-up under the Los Angeles Special Olympics office and receive training in specific sports. ELAC’s future club would be inclusive to all special needs individuals from the age of eight, and there would be no maximum age limit. At no cost, the future club would not only receive help from ELAC, but also a budget that seems to have no ceiling from Special Olympics Southern California. “There isn’t an official dollar amount that we’ve capped ourselves at, but no one has ever taken advantage of it. ELAC, under Marilyn (Ladd) is in good hands,” Borunda said. According to the Special Olympics’s website there are 2.5 million athletes worldwide that participate under the Special Olympics flag, as ELAC plans to increase the number with its volunteer coaches. It is necessary for ELAC to create a 4 to 1 ratio, four athletes

for every coach, the standard of Special Olympics. “We just want to do some good for ELAC, just like its been good to us. And it just feels good to make some change,” Kinesiology Club Vice President, Ari Garcia said. ELAC will push for two sports first, soccer and swim. Eventually if success follows the group it would then expand to softball, volleyball, tennis, floor hockey and track and field. Like standard sports at ELAC which run year-long, the future club plans on providing year-round sports training and competition. ELAC will follow Loyola Marymount University as the second school to create a Special Olympics college club. There is also a push to provide a young athlete program that would help toddlers as young as two to seven with special needs, in helping develop motor skills. If all goes to plan, ELAC athletes and coaches will see their first competition in April 2018. “Three years ago I had students with motor skill disadvantages, that I coached and they were such good swimmers they needed a pace to compete at a higher level. So this has been a long time coming for us,” Ladd said.

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CN/STEPHANIE GUEVARA

SECURE—Students in the E7 Technology building return to class after the sheriff’s department said it was safe to return.

Tech building evacuated BY DORANY PINEDA Staff Writer A floor-by-floor evacuation was conducted in the E7 building yesterday around 1 p.m. after an odor was reported to administrative services. The sheriff’s department

determined that the smell came from the information technology room on the fourth floor. “There were several computers in the electrical rooms that overheated and were removed,” Deputy Morales said. Wi t h i n m i n u t e s o f t h e building evacuation, the

situation was deemed under control and students, staff and faculty were allowed back into the building. “We didn’t know what the smell was and took a safety precaution,” Morales said about the brief evacuation. No smoke or fire was reported. Sheriffs initially thought that the smell was due to a gas leak.

ICE agents detain ELAC student at home BY IVAN CAZARES Staff Writer

CN/DIEGO LINARES

SERVE THE PEOPLE— Los Angeles member Issac Barrera speaks out against the deten-

tion of Saul Cervantes at a rally in front of the Federal Building in Downtown Los Angeles on May 15.

East Los Angeles College student Saul Cervantes was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and other law enforcement officers at his Boyle Heights home May 11. His mother, Leticia Fernandez, said she allowed ICE agents posing as police to enter her home, claiming they were looking for a suspect in an unspecified crime. Fernandez said the agents asked for Cervantes and interrogated her two tenants when she told them he wasn’t home. “They (ICE agents) said a judge wants to see him but didn’t tell me why,” Fernandez said in Spanish. Fernandez said the agents and officers didn’t show her a warrant and didn’t explain why he was being detained. Cervantes was taken to the Theo Lacy Detention Center in Orange County. On May 19 Cervantes was transferred to the James A. Musick Facility in Irvine. Fernandez said she’s spoken to Cervantes and said he doesn’t know why he is being detained.

I C E We s t e r n R e g i o n a l Communications Spokesperson, Virginia Kice said Cervantes was detained for multiple prior convictions, including cruelty to a child. Kice said the detention was made based on information provided by the Department of Homeland Security’s databases. Cervantes has been placed in immigration proceedings. A judge with the Department of Justice’s Executive Office of Immigration will review his case to determine whether he will be deported. Fernandez said that Cervantes told her he signed a paper to see a lawyer. However, she said he hasn’t seen one as of May 15. She also said Cervantes is being told to sign paperwork to be voluntarily deported. She said she told him not to sign anything else until she hires legal representation for him. The non-profit group Serve The People Los Angeles started a YOUCARING page to help Fernandez hire legal representation. Serve The People also organized a small demonstration in front of the Federal Building in Downtown Los Angeles on May 15. Serve The People member Issac Barrera said

it was important for community members to resist what he called oppression. He said the Federal Building was a good place to demonstrate because many of the orders to detain immigrants come from that building. “Free Saul now! Down down with deportation! Up up with liberation!” chanted the group of about 20 people. Cervantess’ girlfriend, Alexis Nicolas, said he is an outgoing and fun person. She also said he is undecided in his major, but started attending ELAC this spring to help improve his life. Fernandez and Nicolas said Cervantes’ only problem with the law was in 2011. According to Fernandez, Cervantes’ girlfriend at the time filed two domestic violence charges against him. However, she wasn’t clear about the nature of the case. O n e c h a rg e w a s d r o p p e d . However, Fernandez said he was convicted of domestic violence against one of his three sons. Fernandez said Cervantes followed the court’s orders and completed an anger management course. She also said he hasn’t had problems with the law since and doesn’t think that is why he was detained.

ELAC student starts free hug day for finals week BY FRANCISCO PORTILLO Staff Writer Students walking in front of the E3 building were surprised by a student holding a free hug sign on Wednesday. His mission was to create a safer and happier environment on campus by pulling students out of their own self-involvedness. The idea began when Olivares began reading self-help books. He feels that students have become self-involved with their own issues on and off campus, that they forget to empathize with one another. He took it upon himself to purchase $300 worth of roses. At about 9 a.m., Ivan Olivares went to the front of the building with a sign reading “Free Hugs” and bouquets of roses. As students walked to and from their classes, he encouraged students to take part in the activity. Some students were gleeful and happily received a rose for their participation, others just denied his requests by staring at their phones and ignoring him.

Aracely Polanco arrived late to her 9:40 a.m. Spanish 1 class when she noticed what was going on outside her classroom window. “I saw him with his sign and saw that he was giving roses. I thought it was pretty cool that he was just giving (them out) to people that were hugging him. I thought that was nice. He seemed really happy through the window,” Polanco said. After realizing that he was handing out roses, she jumped at the opportunity to get one herself. She proceeded to walk out of her class, which was in session, to obtain her prize. Polanco couldn’t believe that people were ignoring him. “There were (students) who were hesitant, but would end up doing it. Then there were some who would completely ignore him, but that was rare. He would have his sign right in their faces and they wouldn’t even look at him. I was like ‘dang, that sucks,’” Polanco said. The mixed reactions also included two female students who broke down in tears when they came across Olivares.

He said that the two women were facing tough personal issues and this small gesture made their day. Even the sheriffs decided to take part in the activity. “I had the most amazing day. ELAC is a loving place. I'm not going to focus on things that I can’t change. So why not take action in things that I can? Why not bring a smile to a (student)? Maybe the flower reaches another hand,” Olivares said. After having this on his bucket list, he took the initiative to try making a change. Olivares thinks that students should spend more time telling people that they love them. He asks that students spend less time on their cell phones to engage one another, especially with finals approaching. He also hopes to branch out by getting more students involved with his mission to bring the student body together. Polanco still has the rose in her room and thinks it would create a happier environment on campus to continue the tradition. “Love is free and it makes people happy,” Olivares said.

CN/FRANCISCO PORTILLO

GOING FOR THE HUG—Ivan Olivares giving ELAC students their free hugs to help them have a nice day.

www.ELACCampusNews.com

Arts

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS N EWS

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 2017

Must-try restaurants near Goldline

Juanita’s Cafe BY IVAN CAZARES Staff Writer

Kula Revolving Sushi Bar BY ANASTASIA LANDEROS Staff Writer Fresh sushi lovers will appreciate the variety, quality and price of Kula Revolving Sushi Bar in the heart of Little Tokyo. Unlike other revolving sushi bars, where decorative designs on the plate designate a different amount, each plate on the conveyor belt costs just $2.25. Quality and price are the most attractive reasons to try Kula, but their futuristic ordering system and clean-up routine is a highlight of the dining experience. If a customer wants to order something that is not on the conveyor belt, a touch screen above the table can assist with ordering. When the order is ready, the item is brought to the table via another conveyor belt above the revolving sushi below. Clearing the table is also easy and fun. When plates are ready to be cleared, they can be pushed through a small slit at the edge of the table. The more plates that are pushed through the

slot, the higher the chance of the table receiving a prize. If sushi doesn’t quite hit the spot, Kula also offers an assortment of ramen, oyju (a single entree dish over rice served in a small box), fried and tempura meats, and seafood. The ramen doesn’t hold up to more ramencentered restaurants, so that can be skipped if there’s only mild interest in trying it. The nigiri are the freshest items on the conveyor belt, specifically any one of the salmon options. Kula offers fresh salmon, soy sake marinated salmon, seared salmon with Japanese mayo, umami oil salmon and, the tastiest option, garlic ponzu salmon. Although the sushi roll selection is limited, the freshness of the ingredients is the selling point. Kula Revolving Sushi Bar is located at 333, E. 2nd St., Los Angeles near the Little Tokyo/Arts District Station.

Don’t let the disposable plates and utensils fool you. Established in 1944, Juanita’s Cafe serves some great home-style Mexican food. Juanita’s small menu is made up primarily of combination, most of which include rice, beans and a simple salad served with Italian dressing. The beans are served with melted cheddar cheese which adds another layer of flavor. The rice is perfectly cooked, unlike at many restaurants. Its beef is tender and flavorful. The chicken is tasty as well. Its guacamole is delicious and compliments the majority of the food. Juanita’s tacos are perfectly fried and have a satisfying crunch. They are sold in a variety of combinations like tacos with enchiladas. Customers also have the option to make their own combinations. Juanita’s two-sope combo will fill most customers. However, the low prices make it affordable to add more to a plate.

For those who like a challenge, the establishment sells a ridiculously large burrito. Mike’s Burrito is big enough to feed two people. The locale adds to the restaurant’s homey feel. Juanita’s is easy to overlook because of several larger restaurants on the historic Olvera Street. The front of the restaurant is made of brick, and the rudimentary grills are built into the brick. The only thing that separates pedestrians from the cooks is a thin piece of glass. This setup makes it possible for pedestrians to see the cooks while they prepare the simple but satisfying food. The staff is friendly and welcoming. The walls are painted in traditional Mexican fashion. The small quarters makes it feel like an authentic Mexican cenaduria. Juanita’s Cafe is located on 20 Olvera St., Los Angeles near Union Station.

Wurstkuche BY IVAN CAZARES Staff Writer

Shin-Sen-Gumi BY JORGE ALDACO Staff Writer For those looking for a great ramen joint, the Shin-Sen-Gumi restaurant in Little Tokyo is the place to go. Located on Central and 2nd Street in Los Angeles, the restaurant is a popular place because of the diversity in ramen toppings and other food options. When entering the restaurant, everyone working greets you and not just the greeter inviting you in. Customers are greeted by the waiters and the kitchen staff as well. The most popular choice is the Hakata ramen. Pork broth topped with ginger and onion forms the base. Customers are given a list of toppings to add, ranging from pork, bamboo, spinach, eggs, and even seaweed and a curry bomb. Unlike most places that offer the standard ramen bowl, Shin-Sen-Gumi gives customers the opportunity to customize and create with many choices. The flavors and variety of

choices are almost endless. Alongside ramen, curry rice bowls can be customized as well. Rice Curry bowls have fewer options in toppings but have a decent selection that can be added. Each topping is charged separatly for both ramen and curry and range in price from $1 to $4. Shin-Sen-Gumi also offers hot and fried dishes, usually seafood like octopus, squid and chicken. There are hot plates of rice bowls topped with fried chicken, beef and pork with a hint of ginger and onions. Its friendly atmosphere, proud sense of service and its cultural touch within the restaurant make this spot a highlight of the Little Tokyo scene. It helps give this part of Los Angeles its uniqueness . Shin-Sen-Gumi is located at 132 S. Central Ave. Los Angeles near the Little Tokyo/Arts District Station.

The German restaurant Wurstkuche offers a variety of gourmet and exotic hot dogs that are worth trying at least once. However, the taste is hit or miss. While its classic mango jalapeno sausage and gourmet Filipino maharlika are delicious, its vegetarian Mexican chipotle is bland and dry. It’s worth noting that the establishment offers three vegetarian sausages. The Filipino Maharlika is made of sweet pork with soy sauce and ginger. It’s flavor-packed. Customers can pick two out of four toppings to customize their hotdogs. Caramelized onions and spicy peppers complement any of the sausages offered. In addition to two toppings, customers are able to serve themselves a variety of gourmet mustards and ketchup. Throw in an order of Wurstkuche’s thick cut fries and it’ll make a very satisfying meal. A small order includes a dipping sauce, and a large order includes two. Its exotic sausages range from rattlesnake and rabbit with jalapenos to pheasant with herbs

de provence. It’s rattlesnake and rabbit with Jalapeno peppers sausage is good. However, the texture takes some getting used to. The meat is inconsistently chewy and won’t be to everyone’s satisfaction. However, the variety will appeal to any foodie and those who like to experiment. In addition to food, Wurstkuche offers a large variety of draft beer and bottled beer. The seating arrangements make it feel like a communal experience. The majority of the seats are long benches and the tables are covered with paper. Customers are provided crayons to draw or doodle on the tables. This is perfect for games of tic tac toe. While Wurstkuche offers a great dinning experience, some won’t think spending $7 on a hot dog is worth it when street vendors sell bacon wrapped hot dogs for half the price. Wurstkuche is located on 800 E. 3rd St. in the Arts District near the Little Tokyo/Arts District Station.

CN/ STEVEN ADAMO

Arts

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Elans narrative life experiences through works of literature BY MARIA CUBILLO Staff Writer

Prose, poems and songs were performed by ELAC Writers Society, Speech team and creative writing 127 students during their Drop the Mic Night which packed the F5 201 Multipurpose room on Thursday. The audience recorded the performances. English professor and Writers Society adviser, Obed Silva, said, “I wanted to teach (my students) that they can create and write beautifully. I want them to know if you can imagine something, you can make it a reality,” said Silva. “I was proud and please,” Silva said. Richard Carbajal, an actor nominated for an Emmy in his supporting role in the series American Crime and former ELAC student, performed his spoken word “Tears from Michaela.” Prior to the event, Carbajal said, “The arts are huge. They save my life.” Carbajal transformed from running into the law to becoming an actor. He said the change was a lot of work. “If it wasn’t for my past experiences, I wouldn’t be here,” Carbajal said. “For me to be able to share my heart in the community I come from is a blessing,” Carbajal said. Carbajal’s piece “Tears from Michaela” was impactful. It communicated to the audience his feeling of when his uncle was killed in front of him while he was still a child. He read a poem titled after the book Imagine.Paintings done by ELAC students were also exhibited at the event. Jesse Calderon, a student majoring in fine arts, showcased three of his painting during the open mic. Calderon said two of his paintings captured the movement of Aztec dancers.

His third painting had three distinct bullet shots. Calderon said the painting captured his heritage and the three stages of his life. The first two stages are his juvenile and young adult life when he was involved in gangs. His third stage was obtaining his bachelor’s at California State University, Long Beach. Half of the Walter Pyramid of the California State University, Long Beach, is depicted in the painting. The other half has an Aztec pyramid. The half of the Walter Pyramid represents his third stage in his life, Calderon said. Raul Meza’s “To the admissions officer” swiftly brought out laughter from the audience. “I have been playing your game, the perfect tragic charity case. I never wanted this, I needed it,” Meza said to end his spoken word. The night included a performance by Xela de la X from Ovarian Psychos. She asked attendees to walk toward the stage if they hated the police. Very few walked up. She said “a lot of police lovers this evening.” “Walk toward the front of the stage if you have been negatively affected by the police,” Xela de la X said. More attendees went up, and she started her performance. Silva said, “Absolutely man my mom inspired me to become an English professor. She is an avid reader.” According to Silva, he is better known as “Man of La Mancha” in reference to “Don Quixote,” a book his mother read to him. She called him “Man of La Mancha” because he was impetuous and adventurous, Silva said. Attendees had the opportunity to buy raffle tickets. The raffle ticket winners took home paintings by English Professor Silva, jewelry from Get Stoned With Us and pottery from Natalia Monsivais. To get involved in ELAC Writers Society, look out for posters in the fall is semester.

‘Alien Convenant’ adds more to sci-fi universe BY JORGE ALDAO Staff Writer “Alien: Covenant,” directed by Ridley Scott, adds more to the franchise’s mythos in this thought provoking and gruesome installment to the “Aliens” franchise. The film stars Michael Fassbender, Danny McBride, Billy Crudup, and Katherine Waterston. The film takes place ten years after “Prometheus,” its predecessor from2012. The colonization ship ‘Covenant’ is damaged by a space phenomenon. It results in minor damage to the ship and the death of the captain, who is then replaced by Karine Oram, played by Crudup. As repairs are being done, a rogue signal coming from a planet with an Earth-like surface is intercepted. Despite being heavily opposed by the late- captain’s wife Dany Branson, played by Waterston, Karine orders the Covenant crew to explore the planet. Shortly after landing, however, the crew experience the wild biology of the planet as two crew members onboard are infected and gruesomely killed by an unknown creature. In a last-second move, a hooded figure saves the remaining crew and takes them to a hideout. The theme of this film covers the birth of humanity and of the xenomorphs, the main creature

COURTESY OF 20TH CENTURY FOX

UNEXPECTED HITCHHIKER—The xenomorph, an aggressive extraterrestrial, hops on the ship sent by Tennessee and attempts to break in to attack the survivors. villain of the “Alien” franchise. This film brings back the original xenomorph creature, while introducing the pale, more human looking neomorph. The neomorph is conceived in a new gruesome way, which will gross out even the biggest horror fans and moviegoers a like.

Seeing the creatures in action as they kill off the crew is always inviting to film monster fans. However something about their interactions with people is the most off putting part. Fassbender comes off well as a awkward entity that is slowly gaining humanity.

McBride takes a new route in his acting career. Normally being a comedy actor, playing a well developed and serious character adds diversity to his roster of films. Despite these positive points, many flaws are seen in the film. The pacing of the film is off

Comedian returns even more hilarious BY FRANCISCO PORTILLO Staff Writer All-Star comedian Tracy Morgan returns to comedy with his insanely hilarious new Netflix stand-up special “Staying Alive.” There are few comedians who have the skill to make audiences laugh so much their faces will hurt and Morgan is certainly one of them. Right out of the gate, Morgan comes out swinging with his opening skit. While the Bee Gee’s “Staying Alive,” plays in the background, he walks around New York spending money unnecessarily. He goes around buying three slices of pizza and trying to eat them at the same time. In the next scene, he’s shown walking with a giant blue Walmart tote bag. The bag takes up the whole frame, with the Walmart logo in the audience’s face. He reaches in the bag and pulls out a stack of money before being hit by a semi-truck.

Morgan is able to take a traumatic event from his life and find comedy in the whole situation. In June 2014, Morgan and four of his friends were involved in a serious accident when a Walmart semi-truck struck them. Three of them survived the accident, inspiring the title. Unfortunately, his comedian friend James “Jimmy Mack” McNair was killed. At the top of the special, Morgan comes out to thunderous applause from astanding ovation. His first jokes set the tone of his special, talking about how he still shopped at Walmart while in a wheelchair because, regardless of the situation, Walmart’s prices can’t be beat. He also jokes about how each item in the store went up in price by one cent after the settlement. Comedy is so important for society because comedians are able to find comedy in the tragedies of the world. The thing that is so intriguing about comedians is that they’re

able to take morbid events and have comedic takes on them. The fact that Morgan comes right out of the gate and jokes about his near-death experience is extremely commendable. He complains about not being a worthy celebrity because of the expression “only the good die young,” and recalls seeing Biggie Smalls in heaven. Netflix has established itself as a powerhouse when it comes to entertainment and “Staying Alive” is a product of this. Reviving beloved shows and producing their own magic, Netflix has now entered

into the comedy business, however, Morgan’s crude sense of humor may not be for everyone. He jokes about having sex with Caitlyn Jenner and his sexual preferences. Those who aren’t uptight will certainly enjoy his raunchy special. Other topics that he touches on involve growing up in the ghetto, his recovery process and his second marriage. Coming in at under an hour, the comedy special is certainly worth a watch and can currently be streamed on Netflix.

putting and somewhat forced. The moment where the creatures are introduced are done quickly, whereas the original film builds up the introduction of the alien. The computer-generated imagery of the alien creatures are poorly done, and it is easy to spot. They strayed from the original

first two films where they used practical effects and costumes to portray the creatures. They are capable of doing it and have done it for years. It would send a message that practical effects can compete in an industry where computers generated images dominate. Watching a scene that uses a practical creature to attack the crew or crawling around in a creepy manner would have been great and would have amplified the creepy factor. In an article by IndieWire, Waterston said that she stepped into the lead female role and tried not to think too much about her role especially with the success of Sigourney Weaver. This is evident because she didn’t give us her full potential especially during scenes driven by intensity and fear. “Alien: Covenant” offers new material and expand on the story in this recent installment. The continuing story of humans, aliens and their creators will continue into a third installment. If one is tolerant of gruesome scenes and extraterrestrial beings, this is the film to watch this summer. If one is not too familiar with the franchise, the film itself is self explanatory on its own. “Alien: Covenant” is rated R for sci-fi violence, bloody images, language, and some sexuality/ nudity.

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 2017

President of Academic Senate retiring BY GUSTAVO BUENROSTRO Staff Writer A long time member of the East Los Angeles College District, Academic Senate president Alex Immerblum is retiring. Immerblum started as an English professor at ELAC in 1989. He remembers the first time coming to ELAC and being honored to be a part of the college. “I remember walking on campus and I noticed the library in the middle of the campus. To me it was extraordinary having a campus library that big,” Immerblum said. When he first started teaching, he remembered that his classroom was a WWI bungalow that he called the barracks that had no ventilation. Immerblum says the transition from being a professor to being more involved with the academic senate was such a long time ago that he doesn't remember when it really happened.

“I went to some senate meetings and I was under some very good leadership by then Academic Senate president Michael Simone and it was just wonderful synergy. I was a perfect fit for it and I said ‘sign me up.’ I had found my calling,” Immerblum said. Immerblum became the Academic Senate's vice president in 1993 and then became president of the senate in 1997 until 2001. He later became president of the senate again in 2007 and finished in 2017. Immerblum has also had many leadership roles in other campus committees like the Student Success Committee and the Educational Planning Subcommittee. He was also a founding member of the Los Angeles Community College District Professional Development College. One thing that Immerblum was particularly proud of was the faculty hiring policy, which created a

committee to hire faculty instead of the ELAC President being solely responsible of hiring someone. “The faculty representative can hear the interviewing going on and the college president can discuss and really try to get the best person hired. That was missing before. The faculty was not allowed to be a part of the president’s final interview,” Immerblum said. He says that the hiring policy was revised and streamlined to get the best possible hire the school could get. Immerblum worked at Huntington Park and Griffith Park middle schools and high schools as an instructor. He says that working at those institutions was different than working in a community college. Working at a middle school or high school was exhausting for him because he worked five days a week in five different classrooms. Immerblum says that he had thought about retirement a few

years ago and considered retiring two years ago, but it was this year when the school had the retirement incentive that he decided to end his career and start a new chapter. One of the first things that Immerblum said he will do after retirement is to get back to reading books. He says that the senate took much of his time that he fell off of reading. ELAC curriculum chair and history professor Steve Wardinski said, “No one has been more resolute in defending the rights of faculty and needs of students than Alex. Even in difficult times, there is always a clarity of purpose and a sense of humor that helped us get through the process.” The title “Lion of the Senate” was bestowed upon Immerblum for his strength, courage and leadership, by the Academic Senate yesterday. He was known by his colleagues for his sense of humor and his drive.

CN/EDDIE GARCIA

Alex Immerblum

Professor overcomes past for better future BY FRANCISCO PORTILLO Staff Writer

CN/JORGE ALDACO

ALL SMILES—Obed Silva (center) sits with his Creative Writing 127 class in E3 307 on Tuesday.

After years of being lost in the gang lifestyle and becoming paralyzed, Obed Silva found the power of literature and underwent a major transformation to become a respected English professor. Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, Silva emigrated to the United States with his mother at just one year of age. His artistic side comes out in illustrations and in writing, as his office windows are plastered with his artwork. Silva’s mother played a major role in his redemption. “My mother is fantastic. My mother lives here in California. She raised me. She saved my life many times and continues to do so. She’s the reason why I’m an English professor now. She’s the reason that I’m not in prison for the rest of my life or dead,” Silva said. School was an obstacle because English wasn’t his first language. The education system didn’t help by funneling him through until he dropped out in the ninth grade.

During the early years of his life, Silva began to experiment with drugs. At the age of 12, he started off experimenting with marijuana. Two years later, Silva was introduced to crystal meth, and later even tried heroin. The life of gangs and drugs was a natural progression. With not too many figures of guidance, Silva looked up to his cousin, who was involved in the gang life. Silva had his first brush against the law at the age of 13, when he was charged for assault and battery after a prank gone wrong. He violated the terms of his probation by continuing with his graffiti and spent his youth in-and-out of juvenile halls. “More than anything, I found camaraderie with my friends. You have the same ideas. This idea of an organization make you belong to something. Everybody wants to belong to something and that’s what the gang brought,” Silva said. His longest incarceration stint came at the age of 16, when he committed grand theft auto.

At the Orange County Juvenile Hall, an important seed was planted in his life forever. After one of his many fights, Silva was punished ands put into isolation for 30 days. In isolation, prisoners have one hour to bathe and engage in recreation. During his isolation, his mother brought Mark Twain’s novel, “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.” Silva had never taken literature seriously and the book offered a new perspective on life. “That was the start of what would become my love for books,” Silva said. When he returned to his neighborhood, the influence of his friends was greater than literature. On October 5, 1996, Silva was shot by the owner of a local liquor store after taking part in a beer run. He woke up in the hospital three days later, paralyzed. “I was immature and didn’t think about the consequences of being in a wheelchair. I didn’t begin to see the reality of it until I was 23 and in college,” Silva said. For the full version of this story, visit elaccampusnews.com

Economics professor to take hiatus in Philippines BY DORANY PINEDA Staff Writer After 23 years as an economics professor at East Los Angeles College, Aida Z. Caballes is retiring and taking a six month hiatus in the Philippines to work on developmental projects. On January 1, 1994, Caballes started a part-time teaching position at ELAC. Within a year-and-a-half, she became a full-time substitute and soon after a permanent, fulltime professor. Before arriving to Southern California, Caballes was at the University of Pennsylvania where she received her Ph.D in economics. When she finished, she taught at

her alma mater and several other institutions. Eventually, though, she decided to move to California because she didn’t like the climate. “I liked the institution and I enjoyed the very challenging university, but I didn’t like the weather,” Caballes said. “I grew up in the tropics, and I have asthma, and it was so difficult for me during the spring time with all the pollen, so I was always sickly.” Despite her dislike for the weather, Caballes loved the historical richness of the east coast, and traveled up and down it often. Born and raised in a well-to-do family in the Philippines, Caballes moved to the United States in the 1970s to work on her graduate

studies. “I’ve always been interested in the issues of poverty,” Caballes said about her interest in studying economics. She added that she was struck by the stark contrast in standard of living between the US and the Philippines, a developing nation. She wanted to help find solutions to mitigate income inequality. Caballes said that her best memories working at ELAC were her interactions with students, whom she learned a lot from. She said that the diversity of students she came across during her years teaching really broadened her mind. “Basically what I learned through

the years is that we’re all the same. If you cross that boundary of differences in language and culture, you realize that we want the same things in life. We want education, we want good jobs, we want security, we want to pursue a lot of things for ourselves, our families…and I think that’s very, very important to know,” Caballes said. Although Caballes will return to ELAC to teach part-time after six months, she plans to spend her free time reading, watching movies, and surrounding herself with animals. “I really enjoyed (my time at ELAC). It’s been 23 years but it doesn’t feel like it,” Caballes said. “But I need more time for myself. I want to explore new things.”

CN/JORGE ALDACO

Aida Z. Caballes

Child Development instructor retiring after 40 years BY STEVEN ADAMO Staff Writer Child Development instructor Martha Gayton will join her husband Joseph Gayton in retirement this semester after 40 years at East Los Angeles College. “I gave him two years of his coffee and his donut and now it’s my turn,” said Gayton with a laugh. Joseph became a teacher’s assistant at East Los Angeles College in 1975 and later became a teacher. The couple started dating in 1984, got married and worked together for over thirty years in the Child Development Center. “We’re not going to live high

on the hog, but we have enough to travel and do the things we were unable to do,” said Gayton, referring to her retirement plans with her husband. Gayton’s favorite activity is reading to the children at the center. Over the years she has worked toward reading in a way that makes it fun for the children. “I want the children to have a love of reading because if you’re a good reader, you’re going to do well in everything -- even math,” Gayton said. Reading and writing is a big part of Gayton’s activities with the kids. To prepare these young children for kindergarten, she encourages them to write freely and not to worry too

much on being wrong. She refers to this portion of the learning process as “inventive spelling” which puts the focus on correct phonetics rather than incorrect spelling. Subjects like art and science also work their way into the activities. Earlier in the year, the children used colored sand among many other mediums to create the planets of the solar system. The activity is a way for the children to express themselves through different textures and colors. Gayton began instructing at the center when it was originally located in the old bungalows by parking lot structure four. The Child Development Center moved in 2000, where Gayton

worked with others in the Child Development Department to design the new building. They wanted an environment that could be navigated easily by children and an efficient layout for teachers. In the recess area outside, the playground is split into three sections based loosely on age. The section intended for the youngest children is shaded by trees with ageappropriate playground equipment. On the other side of the yard, the playground equipment is larger and the two sections are joined by a bike path used by children of all ages. According to Gayton, this playground setup is ideal because it allows children to enjoy recess at their own pace. “Over the years

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we’ve found that some children will gravitate to where they want to go. Even though some may be younger, we allow them to challenge themselves with the older equipment. Some of the older children still want to go back and sit in a quiet, shady spot,” said Gayton. Many generations of people have come through Gayton’s classroom. “We’ve had adults come back with their children and more recently their grandchildren,” said Gayton. This is good news to Gayton because for her it means that the parents have good things to say about the center. Gayton’s retirement comes just as her and the rest of the child development staff prepare for graduation ceremony. Every two

years, 24 children would be assigned to her group, all around the age of two and a half. They remained in her class until they turn five and graduate to kindergarten. “During those two years you become a family. You really care for each other and the whole atmosphere is awesome,” said Gayton. Gayton’s former student Anastasia Landeros still recalls attending her preschool class. “I think it speaks volumes to how sweet of a lady she is that I still remember her 25 years later,” Landeros said. Landeros recalls visiting her former teacher when she first began to attend ELAC and it was nice to know she still remembered her.

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EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 2017

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Business chair retires with 49 years of experience attire, well groomed from head to toe, he plans on continuing Staff Writer to practice law on a freelance basis, minimally. Prior to becoming a professor Influence and experience are at ELAC, he was a lawyer by two things Business Department trade, and considers himself a true chairperson, Roderick Lipscomb Angeleno. will walk away with in retirement He’s a grad of Hamilton High after 49 years of service at East Los School, has political science degree Angeles College. from the University of California, By the end of 2017 semester, Los Angeles, where he also finished Lipscomb and 50 other faculty his juris doctorate. members will retire and start a new He formed his passion for chapter in their lives. business law when he was 14. Now “It’s the proper time to hang it 74, Lipscomb recalls the moment up. The main reasons are, of course, he first knew he had to take steps family and spending time with them, in ensuring protection to those who but the incentives that we as faculty needed legal help. members (of the “My father Los Angeles worked so hard Community as an architect, C o l l e g e “It’s the proper time to and I remember District) have, hang it up. The main he spent a is one reason,” tremendous reasons, are of course, Lipscomb said. amount of time Lipscomb's family and spending at his office and mind is always time with them.” at home. He o n s t r a t e g y, worked countless similar to his hours designing field of expertise something in business. ROD LIPSCOMB on print for a ELAC Business Department Chair “The business client, only to angle of this be let down by process (of the client. It retirement) makes myself and the disturbed me. He was not paid for others retiring all too alluring. his hard work. I knew then I had The incentives we are going to to do something. And it became a be provided make sense, and mission to protect those who need probably in another few years will legal service,” Lipscomb said. not be around. So the time is now,” On the teaching side, it was his Lipscomb said as he reflected on mother who influenced him. possible changes to retirement He first stepped foot in ELAC policies of LACCD. when he was in high school, as a For Lipscomb, it's not all over. competing track and field athlete. Always dressed in proper business Lipscomb said ELAC was left on

BY DAN GUDINO

his mind as a profound piece of memory. The size of Weingart Stadium, the cheering crowd and the great event held at ELAC lasted for seven years in his memory until he came back as a new professor in 1968. “That was a real tough time in our school's history. During that period we had what was labeled as “race riots.” It took some courage to be here, but influence and experience got me through that stint,” said Lipscomb. H e s h a r e d h o w m o t h e r ’s never-complaining-attitude and her teaching profession impacted Lipscomb’s future. His mother was no stranger to confronting the tough times of the ‘60s and ‘70s, where she taught at Dorsey High School, a majorly African -American school. “Here she was, this white lady in a primarily all black school. That did not bother her one bit. She later became the director of their childhood program. She understood that interaction and communication were key and instrumental in helping understand differences,” Lipscomb said. “She taught until her ‘80s and when she passed away, she had a group of 12 former Dorsey students attended her ceremonyformer students from the childhood development program she ran. That's impact, that’s influence,” Lipscomb said. He said she never once mentioned to him that he should teach. Instead he saw her work ethic as an example. “I saw how much she enjoyed teaching and how her work was so appreciated. No one ever complained about her as a teacher.

CN/EDDIE GARCIA

Rod Lipscomb So I was impressed. Parents are so impactful, not because they can tell you what to do, but show you how to do it right,” Lipscomb said. He credits athletics as a means to interact with everyone. As a defensive player at Stanford University, before he transferred back home to UCLA, he shared how camaraderie with teammates can

solve a prejudice mindset. He jokingly shared the only hate he’s ever had in him,which was his hate for the University of Southern California Trojans, a natural USCUCLA rivalry. Sports, his parents and law all had influence on Lipscomb. “We value business education. It's a major subject that really

helps students understand how to work in a career environment. And Mr. Lipscomb has help progress business at ELAC as one of the top programs within the LACCD,” ELAC foundation executive director Paul de la Cerda said. “I tell students we all graduate from the same school the school of experience,” Lipscomb said.

Graphic design professor to retire BY RUSSELL ZAZUETA Staff Writer

Mike Owens

CN/CHRISTOPHER REYNOSO

In a classroom booming with computers and technology galore, graphic design professor Mike Owens flip-flops between a student’s questions and helping another print out artwork from a computer in the back row. It’s his last semester at East Los Angeles College as a full-time faculty member, but he says he’s not yet ready to retire completely. “I’ll be back part-time after a six-month hiatus to teach one or two classes,” Owens said. “I’ve met some of the best students ever . . . that’s why I’ll stick around.” Along with having met great students at ELAC, he’s had to deal with some serious situations. He recalls a dangerous encounter he had with two students several years back. “I had to stand between a student and her boyfriend who had a gun in his hand, over in the old Art Department building,” Owens said.“Issues like that are not great.” Before Owens devoted his time as to being a professor of graphic design, he was a musician that took on professional work earlier on in his life. At one time in his career, he even backed Chuck Berry’s band

on bass for five weeks, but wasn’t impressed by his personality. “Chuck Berry was a horse’s ass. Every night he’d change the key of the songs, and I’d see him grinning about it when he started the songs,” Owens said. A few decades later in 1996, Owens decides to work at ELAC. Since then, he has made some big contributions to the Art Department. Linda Kallan, the Art Department chair and professor of art, said that Owens is responsible for kickstarting the animation program a few years back. During the advent of the program, Owens brought in Mike Libonati the now full-time head of the Animation program - to assist in building it from the ground up. “(The challenge) was building up the animation program from nothing. Mike was here at the very beginning when the Animation program first started, so he (Owens) was very helpful in that,” Kallan said. According to Kallan, the program has been growing ever since.: “We had a full-time animation person, who we lost to retirement a while back. We have a full-time one now, and we’re interviewing for a second full-time person. So the animation program has really taken off,.” Kallan said. While Owens agrees with Kallan

that the program is growing, he also believes there should be prerequisite classes implemented ahead of animation classes. Sometimes, he says, students have enrolled in his classes thinking they know what to expect in animation but find out they aren’t ready. He believes they underestimate the knowledge required to understand the material. Chris Nielsen, a digital imaging professor at ELAC, recommends that students take a Photoshop course as a prerequisite before enrolling in Animation classes. He says it would help students on how to use design programs vital in understanding how animation works. In spite of this challenge, however, Owens says that animation is doing well and that he’s learned a lot from his students and faculty. “I like to learn, so that’s why I teach. I’ve learned a lot from my students,” Owens said. Some of his peers, like Nielsen and Kallan, said that Owens is a dedicated professor who has cared extremely about his students always. “He is very caring. He could not say no to a student. He let in (his classroom) just about every student just because he had a hard time turning them down,” Kallan said.

ELAC electrician making lasting impression on campus BY GIL MILANES Staff Writer East Los Angeles College electrician Leroy Cadman continues to leave his stamp in the lives of those students and faculty who he supports. Cadman is the lead electrician at ELAC and has been with the campus since 1988. Over the past 29 years of service, Cadman has seen ELAC evolve from singlestory classrooms to multi-story classroom buildings. One thing that has not changed over the years is his work ethic and willingness to help others. “There is not a single day that

I don’t stop by the Transfer and Veterans center to see if they need anything,” Cadman said. Veteran student David Pizana describes Cadman as a generous man with a big heart. “He helps out everyone. Anytime a club has a fundraiser, he pays for veterans to go eat. So he helps out the veterans and supports the club at the same time,” Pizana said. Financially is not the only way he supports departments. According to Pizana, on a regular basis, “he goes out of his way to make sure everything works properly.” Ve t e r a n s t u d e n t Tr i n i d a d Rodriguez feels he can relate to Cadman. “His character, integrity and values are the same values

that they [the military] literally Despite his 45 years of experience fed into us. He is very empathetic, as an electrician, Cadman has understanding no plans to retire and gets the anytime soon. “I job done,” “There is not a single really like this Rodriguez said. campus, it’s an C a d m a n day that I don’t stop by awesome place. believes he owes the Transfer and Veteran I’m not sure if his employment I ’ m r e a d y, ” center to see if they to students and it Cadman said. need anything.” is the reason why H i s he gives back. appreciation and “I love helping loyalty to ELAC people out. I is evident by his LEROY CADMAN love helping the attire. He dresses ELAC Electrician departments out with ELACbecause those branded polo departments shirts and hats to help the students which is why I show his pride for the campus. have a job,” Cadman said. Cadman is well known www.ELACCampusNews.com

around campus by faculty and club members. Almost anywhere he drives his electric cart, he is recognized and greeted. During the interview at least four different people approached him to say hello. Everyday Cadman commutes 22 miles to work and begins his shift at 5:45 a.m. “I arrive 30 minutes early. I start my paperwork and begin my day,” Cadman said. His duties are to supervise his assistant and two other electricians, troubleshoot any electrical problem, change bulbs and even do wiring for the IT epartment. Originally from Colorado, Cadman came to California in 1988 to visit his father-in-law

in Glendora. “One night while having dinner, I was going through the newspaper and saw an ad for electrician at ELAC. I called and had my interview,” Cadman said. It wasn’t until late December of that same year that Cadman heard back from ELAC. “The school called me to tell me that the guy they hired didn’t work out and asked me if I wanted the job,” Cadman said. The rest is history. Cadman earns the respect and admiration of those who have the opportunity to meet him. His actions, will to help students and faculty speak louder than words.

8

SPORTS

EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 2017

Soccer season seek better results Men’s soccer looks forward to upcoming season

Women’s soccer have big hopes to win title

BY JORDAN ELIAS

BY STEPHANIE GUEVARA

Staff Writer

Staff Writer

Men’s soccer main objective this year is to get to the playoffs after failing to qualify last season. “I want them to have the mentality to win as much as I do...if we’re all on the same page, we can achieve greatness. I want the team to be as prepared as they can be for whatever come out our way. This year should be a great one,” said sophmore forward Luis Alvarado. "I feel great and ready. I feel like this season more determined players will come to play,” said Alvarado. The overall of the last season was the worst season in the last three years with an overall record of 2-10-9. Alvarado explained that they failed to get a win, score a goal and to concentrate during games last season. "The lack of self discipline was a major factor and something really important that I have learned from last year. I'm ready to change that, to have a better season this year," said Alvarado. The new soccer players that come to the team this season, Alvaro said that he would like for the players to have their own discipline. Not too many sophomore soccer players will continue in the team this season, but Alvarado doesn't feel like a leader. "No, not at all. I wouldn't consider myself a leader, I'm just here like the rest to give everything for the team as anyone else would,"said Alvarado. "I have more responsibility simply because this year can determine my future with this sport, but if anyone sees me like a leader then I'd be happy to help," said Alvarado. Coaches have the difficult task of finding new players. "We have a lot of hard work during this year, identifying players who can come for the team, we will see who are the ones who can finally come in," said Flores. For complete story go to ELACCampusnews.com

Women’s soccer seeks to rebuild and win their conference’s division title. “My goal would be to be league champ or be a contender,” head coach Tessa Troglia said. Since the Huskies have never won a conference division title, Troglia said her goal was to make the team a contending team. In the previous season, the Huskies struggled in many areas, but their biggest struggle was the striker position. One of Troglia’s goals for the new season is to find a forward that will finish the plays by scoring. In an interview with Campus News in October, Troglia said the team wasn’t scoring and they didn’t seem to be improving on that. “One of the things that we have to improve is finishing. We have to finish the opportunities we create. We fight all throughout the game, but at the end of the day, we don’t win,” Troglia said in an interview with Campus News. The Huskies ended their season 2-12-7 overall and 1-2-5 in their conference. Both wins were away games. Part of the team’s struggle was because they were placed in a new conference with teams of a higher rank. Troglia arranged the team’s preseason by matching them with difficult teams so if the Huskies would win, they would earn more points. However, Troglia said she didn’t realize that she was heading into a new and difficult conference. “I think I staked my schedule so much without really taking into account that we were also going to be in a super competitive conference. So that’s why we struggled,” Troglia said. Troglia said the team will have a lot more returning player than the previous season, which will help the team because they will have the experience to play in a tough conference. For complete story go to ELACCampusnews.com

Badminton doubles smash champion moves on BY FRANCISCO PORTILLO Staff Writer After winning the first state title in doubles last year, badminton player Jean Buenaflor faced a tough follow-up season. Last season Buenaflor was partnered with Serena Lieu, who she played with since 2013. With Lieu gone, she took on a larger leadership role. She partnered with international student Quan Zhang, which presented an obstacle as the two tried developing chemistry with one another. As a beginner, Zhang had never played badminton competitively. Having just met this semester, there was also a language barrier between the two, presenting another hurdle.

The duo was overpowered during the state finals. The opposing team took advantage of Zhang’s inexperience and they failed to reach the championship round. Outside of school, Buenaflor coached the junior varsity badminton team at her old high school, South El Monte. She managed to take the team to first place, but may not have a team to coach next season as the sport faces extinction. She used this coaching experience and applied it to her less experienced teammates. She felt that the team didn’t spend enough time practicing due to conflicting class schedules. She points to her high school days in which practice for badminton was every day as opposed to twice a week. “It was very tough having an inexperienced team compared to

last season. It would’ve been helpful if (coach) Qui Nguy and I spent more time with them. I wanted us to practice at least four or five times a week but we only ended up getting two. I’m pretty sure that if i spent more time with these girls, we would’ve done a lot better this year,” Buenaflor said. Badminton coach Nguy had nothing but praise for Buenaflor, who he says is an exceptional team leader. “She’s a very nice and caring person with a great work ethic. I think she did really well toward the end of the season. She had a brand new partner, so we found ways to develop chemistry between them so they can play well with each other,” Nguy said. According to Nguy, one of the strongest aspects of Buenaflor’s

game is her smash shot, which is the equivalent to spiking a ball in volleyball. “Everyone is afraid of her smash,” Nguy said. Buenaflor began playing the sport during high school at South El Monte. On a recommendation from a friend, she decided to give it a shot and quickly fell in love with the sport. She enjoys the fast pace of the sport as the birdie can reach up to speeds of 200 miles per hour. After high school, Buenaflor spent time working as a nurse and took time off school. She grew attached to the patients and would become sad when they died and decided that the profession may not be for her. “The pay was good, but I care too much for the patients. Having

them pass away, it hurts to see that,” Buenaflor said. During her time as a nurse, she decided to go back to school for business administration and has since attended ELAC. Buenaflor doesn’t only play badminton. Over the years she's played tennis, basketball, volleyball and softball for fun. She even joined an adult softball league at a park Not only is Buenaflor athletic, she also loves playing video games. She spends hours playing games like “The Legend of Zelda,” “League of Legends” and “Diablo III.” She said she loves to take her brother’s games to play them and is looking forward to trying “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.” Another activity that she loves to

engage in is karaoke. There are a lot of songs that I love to sing, but ‘Break My Heart,’ by Toni Braxton is my go-to song. In order for me to get zoned in, I’ll sing that song first.‘’ Buenaflor hopes to transfer to a four year university by next year. Her school of interest is Monterey in Northern California. She hopes that the badminton gets more attention in the future. “It’s funny because badminton is one of the sports that has the lowest ratings here in America. I really do wish people took initiative to watch the sport. Some people say that it's not even a sport, but if that were the case then why is it in the Olympics?” Buenaflor said.

ELAC tight end signs to Division I University BY CHRISTINA RODRIGUEZ Staff Writer

CN/ROGELIO ALVAREZ

OUT OF HERE—East Los Angeles College tight end CeeJay French-Love stiff arms Allan Hancock College opponent in a season opening victory at home last season.

Football’s sophomore tight end Ceejhay French-Love signed this offseason with Arizona State University for Fall 2017. “Blessed, I feel blessed. I started to play football when I was 9 years old. Football is my life, it’s what I do, it’s what I love,” said FrenchLove. Verbally committed to ASU in February, French-Love officially signed with the Sun Devils while on his visit to Tempe, Arizona. The six-foot-five sophomore was named to the First Team AllMetro League American Division while playing for East Los Angeles College. French-Love felt he had a great season. He compiled 25 receptions for 403 yards and nine touchdowns. “My Pops played football for Washington State. He was a big influence. I always wanted to be like him, well better than him actually,” said French-Love. He also mentioned that ELAC was a gateway to a Division I university, as he recorded multiple touchdowns in four consecutive games. “God, family, hard work and mud walking, that’s what has gotten me

to this position today. I’m humbled for the opportunity coach Todd Graham offered me,” said FrenchLove. Graham is the ASU coach that called French-Love personally for the invitation to join the team. French-Love says he can do it all and is comfortable doing anything. Before becoming a Husky, he played for a Division II university. As a freshman at Colorado Mesa University he started in four of ten games. “I wasn’t born in Long Beach; I was born in Paramount, but I was raised in Long Beach. I went to Long Beach Poly High School and headed out to a D-II,” said FrenchLove. At Long Beach Poly, FrenchLove strengthened his tight end skills, logged in 10 receptions for 241 yards and scored three touchdowns his senior year. His father was his high school coach and has not missed any of his ELAC games. French-Love hopes for success at ASU and prays to be drafted to the Oakland Raiders. He’s a Kinesiology major and has plans to train professional athletes after his football career. “My mom helps me stay focused. She’s really on my head about taking care of business on and off the field. My pops too, but he’s more

lenient,” said French-love. He says it is extremely important for him to be a positive influence for his two younger siblings, his sister is 11 and his brother is 9 years old. French-Love says he is fully committed to football and knows he must work really hard to tackle his goals. This spring he is enrolled in four classes, and, to complete his ASU requirements, he will be taking three online courses this summer. “I love ELAC. It’s been great here. I’ve met good friends and coaches,” said French-Love. He said that bonding with his teammates and having great influences made his sophomore year a memorable one. He leaves for ASU June 14, but says he will take with him all the advice that former offensive coordinator, special teams coach Andrew Tree and head coach Bobby Godinez gave him. “He’s a good man, good coach, he taught me a lot this year, just how to go about things in life,” said FrenchLove about Godinez. French-Love will be reuniting with his Long Beach Poly High School football teammate Jojo Wicker, who is a defensive lineman at ASU. French-Love feels humbled and is excited for a new chapter in his football career.