Artist performs under bridge Page
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Volume 71, Issue 16
Single copy free - additional copies 50 cents
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
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ELAC’s South Gate campus plans move JOSE CAZARES Staff Writer East Los Angeles College has been planning to relocate its South Gate campus since 2003, the new campus is now scheduled to be finished by 2019. A plan to purchase the building was approved in 2003. However, the building was later deemed unsuitable. In 2009, ELAC purchased the 18.5 acre property located across the street from the South Gate campus using Los Angeles Community College District bond funds. ELAC had considered plans were to retrofit the largest building on the property. However, it was determined by the LACCD’s board of trustees that such an undertaking would be too expensive. The facility was intended to accommodate 12,000 students, but
the project was downsized in 2011 and the facility is now expected to accommodate 9,000 students. Instead of retrofitting the larger building, ELAC intends to tear down the building located in the back of the property which faces Santa Fe avenue and replace it with a three or four story building. The project had to undergo a 45-day long public review period before a master plan could be drawn and presented to the LACCD board of trustees for approval. “The 45-day period is either over or nearing its end,” associate Dean of ELAC Ryan Cornner, Ph.D., said. The project has faced several complications, but Cornner and Dean of ELAC’s South Gate campus Al Rios seem confident about the new campus being built by 2019. According to an article published in ELAC Today, a short magazine published by ELAC’s president’s
office, construction is expected to begin by 2016. Emphasis is being put on allowing students to complete degree and transfer requirements without relying on classes on the main campus. The number of classrooms proposed is almost double the amount of rooms at the current campus. The number of classrooms would increase from 17 to 32. Some of the proposed facilities include labs, computer-based classrooms, a large lecture hall and a learning center with a dedicated study area. A parking structure similar to those on the main campus has also been proposed. ELAC decided to go with a design-build firm for this project. This means that the criteria the building needs to meet will be given to a design firm, leaving the design entirely up to them. Aside from the building that
is being torn down, three other buildings are on the property and will be left untouched. Rios said that the largest building has been rented out for filming and other purposes which create revenue for the college. Rios also mentioned the possibility of using the additional buildings to create partnerships with private industry that would make job training available to students. He also said that a lot of focus is being put on the aesthetics of the new campus. He explained that a quad area that incorporates nature to provide contrast from the urban surroundings was proposed. ELAC plans to have an approved master plan by the end of Spring 2014, a design by Fall/Winter 2014, begin construction by Summer/ Fall 2016, complete construction by Spring 2019 and start offering classes by Summer 2019.
Fast Facts
Proposed Timeline
-2003 ELAC plans to relocate South Gate campus -2009 ELAC ourchases 18.5 acre property using LACCD bond funds -2011 project downsized to accomadate 9,000 students
-End of spring 2014 approve master plan -Fall/Winter 2014 building design -Fall 2016 begin construction -Spring 2019 complete construction -Summer 2019 Begin to offer classes at new facilities
LACCD trustees choose new Chancellor JESUS FIGUEROA Staff Writer The Los Angeles Community College District board of trustees have chosen Francisco Rodriguez, Ph.D., superintendent and president of the Mira Costa Community College District, to be the next chancellor. The final vote will take place at next Wednesday’s board of trustees meeting. The board unanimously decided to appoint Rodriguez as the chancellor during a closed session meeting last Wednesday. Rodriguez will take his new position on June 1 after 11 years of being involved with community colleges and a commitment to higher education for almost 30 years. He has both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from UC Davis and a Ph.D. in education from Oregon State University. Transfering from being president of a community college district to being chancellor of a district will be a change. Rodriguez said it will just be an issue of scaling the work as well as having an excellent staff and support. Rodriguez said he is excited to work with the LACCD college presidents and to getting to know the student body of each college. The Mira Costa Community College District was struggling with both accreditation and financial problems, which Rodriguez is credited as helping turnaround. Rodriguez said that improving student success is his top priority as well as trying to ensure funding for LACCD for strong academic programs.
Leukemia drive to benefit 2-year old MAEGAN ORTIZ Staff Writer Leukemia patient Sofia Flores, 2 years old, is in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant and tomorrow the East Los Angeles College community can help. There will be a bone marrow drive from noon to 3 p.m. on the south side of ELAC’s E-7 building in the hopes of finding a match for Flores, who has a rare form of leukemia. Family and friends have been reaching out across the Los Angeles area hoping to find the gift of life. “Her mother is white and her dad is Hispanic which makes finding a match difficult,” ELAC professor of kinesiology Marilyn Ladd said. Ladd lives in the same neighborhood as the Flores family. Sofia’s mother is an educator and
News Briefs
according to Ladd, has strong ties to many ELAC alumni. Often the best hopes of a match come from within the family of someone struggling with an illness like Sofia’s. Her father Ignacio donated his marrow in January, but the procedure did not work. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) types, which are used to make matches, are more commonly found in people with the same racial or ethnic background. According to the 2012-2013 ELAC College Profile and Data Book, 76.6 percent of enrolled students are Hispanic or Latino, making the likelihood of finding a match higher. Registering to donate is painless and does not require blood to be drawn. It only takes a swab of saliva to
determine a match. Volunteers must be between 18 and 44 and be willing to help any patient. “We have to help this precious angel,” Ladd said. Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches (A3M) is coordinating the donor recruitment drive. One of the organization’s goals is to increase and diversify the Be The Match Registry. Be the Match is the operator of the world’s largest and most diverse marrow registry operated by the National Marrow Donor Program. A3M conducts over 500 donor recruitment drives each year. To date, more than 400 donors, who registered at an A3M drive, have donated their marrow cells to help save a life. Tomorrow’s drive is hosted by ELAC’s Feminist Majority Club.
Helen Miller Bailey Memorial Scholarship Award 2014
The application packet for the Helen Miller Memorial Scholarship is due next Tuesday by 4 p.m. Packet must be turned in to the Social Science Department office in F7-307. Application found online at elac-foundation.org.
CN/JESUS FIGUEROA
Building a positive future ELAC’s Engeneering Club hosted an “Engineering Bootcamp” for students from the Roybal Learning Center yesterday at the foyer of Ingalls Auditorium. The students were taught fundamentals of the way gears work and then allowed to build a toy car. The project allowed the students to test what they had learned.
Career and Job Services Center workshop Sign-up for the “Job skills 1: Resume” Career and Job Service Center workshop in E1-176. The next workshop will be tomorrow from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information call (323) 415-4126.
Spring College Fair
East Los Angeles College’s Transfer Center will hold a spring college fair tomorrow starting at 10 a.m. The spring college fair will be held in the walkway between the P3 parking structure and D5 Swim Stadium.
Opinion
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EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014
Inebriated Elans disrupt class Summary of National Findings.” Many try to hide behind the security blanket of a medical marijuana card, yet students have Students should not attend to know that having the card does school under the influence of drugs not allow them to smoke wherever they please. or alcohol. Smoking marijuana or being Obvious as it may be, it definitely under the influence of alcohol is needs reiteration. I’ve had my fair share of run-ins violating ELAC’s student code with the intoxicated at East Los of conduct, which could result in Angeles College. I usually just expulsion from the school. Students who decide to drink shrug it off because it really didn’t before class affect me. are taking even This was outside greater risks with of the classroom, y e t w h e n I r u n Students coming in their education. According into someone that from break giving the to the National is intoxicated or whole class that all- I n s t i t u t e o f under the influence of drugs inside the too-familiar aroma of A l c o h o l a n d classroom and is marijuana is borderline A l c o h o l i s m , about four out being a distraction, disrespectful. of five college that’s where I draw students drink the line. alcohol. Students coming Having a beer or a cocktail while in from break giving the whole class a hint of that all-too-familiar going to get something to eat is aroma of marijuana is borderline understandable. I’m not arguing disrespectful. It’s disrespectful to for total abstinence, but students their fellow classmates, who are shouldn’t be stumbling or causing a there to learn, and to the instructor. distraction because of their alcohol It was estimated that around 23.5 consumption. Around 25 percent of students percent of male 18-22-year-old fulltime college students use marijuana, in the United States say that their and 16.1 percent of female 18-22 drinking causes problems with their year-old full-time college students education, according to the NIAA’s 2012 study. use the drug. This includes missing class, This is according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services falling behind, failing exams and Administrations’ 2012 “National receiving lower grades overall. People drink or indulge in drugs Survey on Drug Use and Health:
erik luna
Staff Writer
EDITOR IN CHIEF Danny Vasquez MANAGING EDITOR Liliana Marquez ONLINE EDITOR Megan G. Razzetti ONLINE SPORTS EDITOR Tadzio Garcia ART DIRECTOR Lindsey Maeda FRONT EDITOR Jesus Figueroa OPINION EDITOR Jazmin Tellez NEWS EDITOR Sergio Berrueta FEATURE EDITOR Desiree Lopez ARTS EDITOR Jade Inglada
for various reasons. Some use it recreationally, some do need marijuana as a medicine and some use it as a coping mechanism. The latter is usually where drug problems begin. It’s a slippery slope, yet drug and alcohol abuse isn’t the only option. There are other methods out there to cope with the problems
dealt in life. Many people turn to drugs and alcohol due to anger. If that’s the case ELAC offers anger management sessions at the Student Health Center G8 107 from 10-11:30 a.m. on Wednesdays. The Psychology Department runs a club called Students Against Substance Abuse, in F7 224 from
6:30 to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays. Whatever the case may be, illegal drugs and alcohol should not be used on campus because it’s detrimental to the users and their classmates’ education and is a risk they should not be taking. For more information on drug and alcohol abuse visit: www.niaaa.nih. gov or www.samhsa.gov.
Immigrant health bill aims to heal country A five-year bar could mean a treatable illness could become Staff Writer untreatable due to lack of care. Removing barrier access also makes good sense for the national A r e c e n t l y i n t r o d u c e d economy. congressional bill expanding Emergency services, which legal immigrant access to health are often used as primary care insurance is a good idea for the by the uninsured, cost taxpayers health of the entire country. more money. The Health Equity and Access By giving legal immigrants u n d e r t h e L a w ( H E A L ) f o r access to insurance, individuals Immigrant Women & Families will receive preventive care through Act (HR 4240) was introduced a primary care physician. last Thursday by New Mexico Many immigrants will not have Congresswoman Michelle Lujan to wait for their health situation Grisham. to become dire by receiving It removes existing barriers that preventative care instead of prevent legal immigrants from emergency care. accessing Medicaid, the Children’s For example, regular pap smears Health Insurance Program (CHIP), can catch cervical cancer in women and the Affordable Care Act. and allow for more successful The HEAL bill also allows treatment. undocumented young people, who According to the Johns Hopkins were granted temporary legal status Bloomberg School of Public Health, through the only 61 percent Deferred Action of immigrant for Childhood women received A r r i v a l s a pap smear in ( D A C A ) I mmigrant women and t h e p r e v i o u s program, and families work hard, pay their t h r e e y e a r s , D R E A M e r s , taxes, and contribute to c o m p a r e d t o access to the our communities, society, 83 percent of Affordable Care and econmy. They shouldn’t w o m e n b o r n Act. be barred from acessing in the United The bill States. allows them to the health care they help The same buy coverage pay for. study showed on the health Michelle Grisham that deaths due to exchanges, cervical cancer U.S. Congresswoman i n i m m i g r a n t access to subsidies to women rose make insurance compared to affordable and to those born in enroll in Medicaid or CHIP if they the U.S. are eligible based on their income. Access to regular health care for Currently those with DACA immigrants can mean the difference cannot legally buy private coverage between life and death. on health insurance exchanges with According to the Guttmacher or without federal subsidies. Institute, about eight percent of Legal immigrants pay taxes babies born in the United States to help fund federally funded have undocumented parents. healthcare programs that seek to Healthy babies become healthy help the most needy. children that grow up to be healthy S i n c e 1 9 9 6 , m a n y l e g a l adults. immigrants have been barred from “Immigrant women and families accessing these programs thanks to work hard, pay their taxes and a five-year bar. contribute to our communities, According to the National Council s o c i e t y a n d e c o n o m y. T h e y of La Raza, nearly 24 percent of shouldn’t be barred from accessing legal immigrants are uninsured. the health care they help pay for,” Being uninsured means more than Grisham said. having to pay more from already Nearly 200 national, state, and stretched thin budgets. local organizations and associations Not having insurance sometimes have signed a letter in support of means not going to the doctor at all. the legislation.
maegan Ortiz
Elans insist South Gate campus lacks college feel brenda diaz Staff Writer
Students who attend the East Los Angeles College South Gate campus complain about the lack of a college feeling. One reason might be that students are not as involved in extracurricular activities as they are at the main campus. Some may argue that the campus is just too small. While its size is minor compared to the main campus, that is no excuse to complain. The only way to have more planned events is for more students to be involved in school activities. Many students who are beginning their first year at the South Gate campus are not aware of the clubs, teams and programs they can join. Students who are familiar with the campus are either not interested or are not motivated enough to join. Although many signs are posted throughout campus, the enthusiasm seems to be non-existent as most students attend class and get out as soon as they can. “I think it would be great for ASU to have more activities - not just to
get the college feeling but learning to help your home, school and community.” Alejandra Rodriguez who attends all classes at ELAC’s South Gate campus said. I was also under the impression that Associated Student Union was responsible for creating all events but after contacting the ASU president Eduardo Vargas, I learned that it is not the case. “The reason why ASU doesn’t host more events is because major programs or departments (i.e. Calworks, job fair committee) do not necessarily host events that ASU Co-Sponsors at South Gate,” Vargas said. Vargas said that ELAC offers many opportunities for students to volunteer, and any student is more than welcome to participate, or join a club. “I would like for there to be more clubs, involvement between students like study groups and community service events,” Rodriguez said. As a simple solution to the lack of South Gate campus activities, students are encouraged to go out and create a club of their own or to join one. Vargas explained the process of creating a club in the
hopes of providing students a better understanding. “There are several steps a student must take to form a club. The first is to find an advisor or faculty member. The next step is to pick up a charter application in the student activities office,” Vargas said. The first steps must be taken by the student, this means that students must take the initiative and be courageous enough to make that move. Beginning a club and finding people to join might not be such an easy task to do, but it will help provide that college feeling. “Club members need to submit a constitution, mission statement, and a list of cabinet/board members. The ASU board will then vote to charter the club. The clubs will then be required to attend an orientation and attend the ICC meetings,” Vargas said. Students who attend the South Gate campus should be more alert and active about what events are going on and what they can do to improve their own college experience. In return, more activities will follow and students’ college life will be enriched.
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SPORTS EDITORS Carlos Alvarez Marcus Camacho PHOTO EDITOR Cynthia Laguna COPY EDITORS Tadzio Garcia Erik Luna Augustine Ugalde
CARTOONISTS Kien Ha Bryan Pedroza Anthony Tran STAFF WRITERS Terry Bui, Cesar Carbajal, Jose Cazares, Edgar Cuevas, Brenda Diaz, Douglas Gonzalez, Damien Guzman, William Hernandez, Diego Linares, Luis Marquez, Manny Miguel, Diego Olivares, Maegan Ortiz, Laura Parral, Bonnie Regalado, Amanda Rodarte, Luis Vasquez, Brian Villalba, Russell Zazueta PODCAST TEAM Jesus Figueroa, Diego Linares, Desiree Lopez, Manny Miguel, Megan G. Razzetti ADVERTISING MANAGEMENT Stefanie Arocha DISTRIBUTION Manny Miguel Augustine Ugalde 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 letter s 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.
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EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014
ELAC Speech Team wins 11 state awards
Former ELAC coach dies at 76 Megan G. raZzetti
Sergio berrueta
Staff Writer
Staff Writer The East Los Angeles College Speech Team garnered second place this past weekend at the 2014 state championship tournament in Concord, California. The team earned a new record of 11 awards in various performance and speech categories including two gold, five silver, two bronze, a second-place team award and the Pentathlon Award. Raul Herrera garnered the Pentathlon Award, which is given to the student in the state that earns first place in three preliminary events and two final rounds. The individuals representing the ELAC Speech Team included Herrera, Sam Aguirre, Israel Beltran, Gordon Ip, Michael Lopez, Nathan Lopez, Alberto Mireles, Nicholas Montero, Sarah Naab and Areli Vazquez. Coach Ryan Smith, co-director of the ELAC Speech Team, led the Huskies to the championship conference against other selected campuses for the event. Thirty schools from across California took part in the weeklong event hosted by the California Community College Forensics Association for students to compete for prestigious awards. “Speech forensics team members transfer at a high rate,” Michael Kasnetis, Chair of the Communication Studies, Theatre Arts and Broadcasting Department said. “(They) are better prepared to succeed in the workplace where communication and critical thinking are ranked high on the list of skills employers demand,” Kasnetis said. The ELAC Speech Team will head to Denver, Colo. the first and second weeks of April to enter the national competition.
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CN/Megan G. Razzeti
Gimme Shelter—Johnathan Nguyen shows off his emergency shelter project during an Enviromental Design 102 class critique last Friday.
Shelter project builds survivor skills materials. “We put a lot of emphasis on hands on – doing things by hand Staff Writer – drawing things by hand. That’s a very important part.” Adam Paul Martinez, ELAC An ELAC Design 102 class of approximately 25 students took alumnus and current Southern place Friday afternoon to present California Institute of Architecture their solution to the problem with student, was on hand to give his the, “Emergency Shelter,” project insight to students and be part of a three-jury professor Alexis panel made up Navarro assigned. of graduates and The project professors. stresses the We p u t a l o t o f “One (project) familiarity students emphasis on hands that stood out must have with was Desmond on. That’s a ver y the materials they (Fregoso),” said are appointed and important part Martinez. “His the awareness Alexis Navarro, p r o j e c t w a s and reaction to actually kind of conditions. Professor cool, because it The students actually moved. were told to make It was like a a portable single-person structure meant to survive such conditions (paper fortune teller).” “His looked like that, and actually made of only cardboard, tape and worked like that. It was very, supervelcro. “I give them projects that are strong, but it was strong in a way very real,” Navarro said about that it didn’t fit to the project, which the students association with their is a very fine line.
Diego Linares
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“You need to be able to have that balance of having a strong project and a strong aesthetic (quality). He only had a strong aesthetic (quality), not a strong project,” Martinez said. The projects ranged from simple polygon shapes to complex grid shelters designed and built by the students. Student Jonathan Nguyen’s “Gemini” project garnered some respect from professor Navarro for overall work. Nguyen said that in the four days it took him to build his project, he had concerns of his structure standing, although he did add a moon-roof, table, window and hook for a lamp. “People were thinking in a way they shouldn’t have been thinking. In an environmental disaster situation, you find things on the floor and you use them in your house,” Martinez said. “(The students) are designing things, when in actuality environmental design is very fast and very efficient,” Martinez said.
Former East Los Angeles College Director of Athletics and Coach Gerald “Jerry” Heaps died Jan. 2, leaving behind a legendary example of integrity for Elans to learn from. Born in Boone, Iowa on Jan. 31, 1938, he grew up in Los Angeles since the age of 2. Athletic Director Al Cone said Heaps was respected and treasured by all. His love for sports ignited when he began playing football at Fremont High School. The love of the game never left him as he followed his alma mater the University of California at Los Angeles’ Bruins football team, never missing a game. “Every Saturday Jerry he made time for a Bruins game,” Heap’s son Jerald “Jerry Jr.” Heaps said. In fact, he made time for everyone, especially his family. The support for his children throughout their lives was instrumental to their growing up. “When I was younger I played water polo,” Jerry Jr. said, “He was at every match I had.” His son credits his father ’s religious beliefs as the source of his strong character. “He was a strong man of God,” said Jerry. “He loved the Lord with his heart and soul.” He was not only devoted to his family, but also to those he worked with, not just with students but also with staff in other departments at
ELAC. Heaps started his ELAC career in 1968. He coached gymnastics, men’s swimming and football. He also taught physical education classes such as indoor soccer, swimming and weightlifting. He mentored colleagues because he believed in them and saw the potential they didn’t see in themselves. “I wouldn’t be the Director of Athletics if it wasn’t for Jerry Heaps,” Cone said. “Jerry had spent a great deal of time convincing me that this would be an ideal situation for me,” Cone said. Heaps didn’t only encourage Cone, he also helped Head Baseball Coach James Hines when he first started working at ELAC. “He gave me my first coaching job as an assistant coach,” Heaps Hines said, “He eventually took a chance and made me head coach of the baseball team.” His love for ELAC didn’t only involve sports but also education. Helping others through education along with his wife, Elizabeth, also a teacher, was rewarding but also inspiring. “My parents influence on the community through education inspired my sisters and I,” said Jerry Jr. “We all have at least a bachelor’s degree.” Heaps retired in 2000 shortly after his first grandchild was born. He spent his retirement caring for and supporting his grandchildren. His wife Elizabeth, his three children and four grandchildren survive him.
‘Kick Butts Day’ raises smoking awareness Staff Writer East Los Angeles College along with the East Los Angeles College Respiratory Therapy program is set to kick off the event “Kick Butts Day.” The original purpose of the event is to promote “No Smoking” among kids around elementary and junior high schools, but now the organization is expanding to include the general college population. “Kick Butts Day” is a non-profit organization that for several years has promoted a campaign to keep kids tobacco free. The Respiratory Therapy Program has hosted this event for several years now. This year will mark the nineteenth year in existence.
Many participants across the nation promote this campaign on this day. Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., killing more than 400,000 people each year. The organization encourages youth to be tobacco-free and support effective solutions to reduce tobacco use. The “Kick Butts Day” and Respiratory Therapy program allows people to make an event or activity to help boost awareness about the problems of tobacco use in their school or community. For ideas on what kind of event people can do on “Kick Butts Day,” people can search on the “Kick Butts Day” website. In the U.S., there are 3,000+ kids under the age of 18 years who try smoking for the first time each day and 700 kids under the age of
18 who become new regular, daily smokers each day. In the U.S. 800 million kids consume packs of cigarettes each year, roughly $2 billion in per year sales revenue. Statistically, more than 6 million kids under 18 alive today in the U.S. will ultimately die from smoking, unless smoking rates decline. Respiratory Therapy student Robert Rocha was pleased to be part of this program that promotes a tobacco-free environment for groups of young kids and to be able to explain to them, in detail, how physically damaging it is to inhale any toxic smoke. “When the event was presented to our class we were motivated and excited to be a part of a nation-wide event. As first-year students, this will be our first time joining the campaign and hopefully continue,” said Rocha.
Latino health club creates healthy community Cynthia laguna Staff Writer The Chicanos/Latinos for Community Medicine (CCM) club at East Los Angeles College offers support and help for all students interested in the health field. Community Service Coordinator of CCM Shadia Hamideh explains how “the club helps create a community” and support group for students within the medical field. CCM provides an opportunity for all members to attend health/ pre-med conferences put together by various medical schools and organizations. The conferences invite different guest speakers such as doctors, counselors and nurses who talk about their own personal stories and how they got accepted into medical school. The Latino Medical Student Association whose overall purpose was to bring together students and physicians of various educational
levels together organized the event. Amid the invited guest speakers, there were ELAC graduates who became doctors and who shared their experiences while trying to advance in their field. Some members of the club felt inspired to meet students who once attended ELAC. They felt that although the medical field is demanding academically they can achieve their goals. Club members can network with professionals and also gain advocacy, mentorship and leadership. “Our club helps students get CPR certified, volunteer and get involved in research labs to become a more dynamic learner outside of a classroom setting,” Hamideh said. She indicates the importance of helping and supporting each other. She admits that she was overwhelmed when she first joined, but she mentions how she has made great friends who support her with her education. There is also volunteering
openings at different hospitals where students are allowed to shadow a doctor or nurse and follow them through their daily activities. This enables the students to experience what the hospital’s working environment can be like and prepare them for their careers. Patricia Sanchez has been part of CCM for two years. She mentions that when she first started attending ELAC she was discouraged from becoming a nurse. Sanchez said the club helped her “learn what the medical schools are looking for and the need of minorities in the medical field.” Upcoming events of CCM include another conference located at UC Davis, a couple of guest speakers who will be talking to the club members, as well as a hot dog with bacon fundraiser at ELAC. There are currently open positions of leadership in the club open for any new members. The CCM meets every other Thursday at 12 p.m. in Room B1112.
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Feature
EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014
Basketball player vows to make it Liliana marquez Staff Writer The clock was ticking and the turning point of the game approached as guard Dioseline Lopez scored a crucial three-pointer, which gave the women's basketball team momentum. It was all or nothing. East Los Angeles College needed those points to tie the game against the state's No. 7-ranked Los Angeles Valley College. ELAC’s co-captain Lopez did not disappoint in the CCCAA second round playoff game. Her threepointer sent the game to overtime. Although ELAC lost, 92-88, Lopez had an outstanding performance and scored a career -high 33 points that night. That loss was difficult, but her family was there to support her. Her father, Rosario Lopez said that she cried a lot after that loss. He told her to be proud of herself because she had a great performance. “It broke my heart to see her cry. Winning a championship has always been her biggest dream and she couldn't do it,” her mother Martha Lopez said in Spanish. As a result of her performance throughout the season, Dioseline, 19, was named the 2013-14 South Coast Conference North Division Player-of-Year. She was also named to the CCCAA Southern California All-State Third Team. Dioseline, who is 5 feet 6 inches tall, was born and raised in Los Angeles, her love for basketball began when she was nine years old. “When I was in elementary school, basketball was the main sport. It caught my attention when I watched guys playing it. You can do any move you want. You can make the defender look silly and you get to interact with people,” Dioseline said. She also played softball for a while, but basketball was the sport
that she fell in love with. Martha tried to attend the As of now, one of her priorities is games. Just like her husband, she to become a professional basketball enjoyed watching their daughter player. She works day after day to play and feels proud of Dioseline’s achieve that goal. accomplishments. “I've always dreamed of playing “It’s amazing to watch her play for the (Los Angeles) Sparks as a and witness all the great things she professional. I would also love to can do on the court,” Martha said. play in Mexico,” Dioseline said. Coming to ELAC and joining Her parents were born in Mexico the basketball team changed and that is one of the reasons why Dioseline’s life. she would like to play basketball in “I learned a lot about what reality that country. was,” Dioseline said. Dioseline Her second attended year at ELAC local Garfield was also High School full of new where she and exciting p l a y e d t h i n g s . basketball Dioseline for four years will always as a guard. remember the She was also game against captain of the Va l l e y, t h e varsity team. tying shot and She left the 33 points high school she scored. without The duty of a c h i e v i n g DIOSELINE LOPEZ,12, being ELAC's one of her co-captain was AND KOBE BRYANT goals. She not an easy task wanted to for Dioseline. win a championship and get a ring. “Being a leader can be challenging. For this reason, she worked even Sometimes your teammates might harder to make that dream a reality not agree with what you say, so while playing at ELAC, but the first you have to be careful and try season with the Huskies proved to to do what's best for the team,” be a challenge. Dioseline said. “It was a tough year. It was She also keeps in mind that difficult to adjust, but it also getting an education is important was a fun year. It changed the person for her future. For this reason she and athlete I was,” Dioseline said. decided to major in kinesiology. The support of her family also Dioseline's mother said that she motivated Dioseline and helped her always reminds her that education adjust to her new team. and basketball should be her top Her father started going to her priorities, and that she needs to basketball games at the end of her excel in both. last season at Garfield. “We never know what can “After that, I never missed a happen in the future. She might game. I went to all the games get injured and be forced to quit she played at ELAC. I get very basketball, so she needs to have a excited every time I watch her play. backup plan,” Martha said. I love how she plays because she is Although Dioseline loves aggressive and quick,” Rosario said b a s k e t b a l l , i f s h e c o u l d in Spanish. change something about the sport,
it would be the way female players are treated. When she was younger and just starting to play basketball, she said that some of the male players told her that she didn't belong there and that the court wasn't her place. This was just because she was a woman. But experiencing that didn't discourage her. She was even more motivated to accomplish her goals. Something that always keeps her working hard and fighting for her dreams is her winning mentality. “She is always focused in basketball and she always keeps positive. She is responsible because she loves the game,” Rosario said. Her parents are not the only ones who notice her commitment and talent. Both of them said that on multiple occasions, people told them that their daughter is a great and talented player. “It makes me proud to hear others say positive things about her. They recognize her talent and that for me is priceless,” Martha said. When she was 12 years old, Dioseline had the chance to meet Kobe Bryant, the athlete she admires the most. She met him when she attended one of his training camps. “I got a chance to meet him and talked to him about the game and about my future. He told me not to give up and to keep fighting for my dreams,” Dioseline said. That moment is something that Lopez will always cherish and remember. “He inspired her even more. He also encouraged her and her life changed because of meeting him,” Martha said. Dioseline’s father said that Bryant is her idol and that she wants to be like him. She wants to become a great player and a winner. Dioseline has a long way to go, but even at her age, she is taking the time to pass on her knowledge
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Break Time—Dioseline Lopez takes a water break during basketball practice at the Women’s Gym. Although the season ended, she keeps working out to improve her game.
to her only brother, Bryant Lopez. Bryant, 14, also plays basketball in high school. Their parents said that even though they have their differences, they have a good relationship and that Dioseline always gives him advice. As of now, Dioseline's top
priority is to get her bachelor's degree and to keep training hard. She received some offers to play at universities both in and out of the state and she want to transfer this year, hoping to soon start playing basketball at the next level.
A smarter phone deserves a smarter plan.
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ROOTED—Artist Rafa Esparza spreads ashes over his shirt to signify a bridge between the
past and present, last Saturday at 2 p.m. under the bridge on Fourth Street and Lorena Street.
Artist targets specific audience alejandra carrillo Staff Writer
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The Vincent Price Art Museum at East Los Angeles College hosts alumnus Rafa Esparza’s, first solo exhibition, “HOY Space,” now through April 25. Esparza’s exhibit displays casts of trees from Elysian Park and birds made out of Nike Cortez shoes along with spray-painted quotes on the walls. He uses a quote from Our Lady of the Flowers by Jean Genet to represent the theme behind his exhibit. The quote says “They spent their life doing nothing. They let intimacy fuse them.” “I was interested in using the quote to describe a kind of passionate surrender to desire,” Esparza said. The artist grew up in East Pasadena, but decided to start his college education at ELAC in 2000. He initially started by studying graphic design along with Chicano and Chicana studies, but focused on his art more when he started taking drawing classes. “My commitment to being
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an artist started here at ELAC,” Esparza said. After transferring from ELAC to the University of California, Los Angeles, Jones graduated with a bachelor’s in fine arts in 2011, Esparaza feels like this exhibition has brought him back to home. At VPAM, Esparza made his sculptures off of trees precisely from Elysian Park because he was really interested in the way the trees formed intimate spaces in the park. In November of 2012, he did a show at Elysian Park, “STILL, Elysian Park,” where he dug himself in the dirt from the waist down while blowing up clear balloons. This performance taught him how important it is to reaching specific audiences that often know about his works but do not always have the opportunity to see it unfold. Not too far from Elysian Park is Echo Park, where the idea of creating “love birds” made out of Nike Cortez shoes came from. The birds became a reference of gay presence and cholo culture that co-existed in the 90s in that area and memorialize gay Latino bars that
are no longer there. Esparza said that when he was approached with the opportunity to have a gallery at the VPAM, there would be nothing better than to make it in a way to making his work more accessible. Before the gallery ends, Esparza said viewers should prepare for some additions to come that will incorporate more art from the outside. As an artist, Esparza hopes to expand his art out into the public and work in sites that privilege the audience. “What’s great about being a selfproducing artist is that I have to find ways to make art interesting and accessible without having to wait for opportunities,” Esparza said. Esparza’s had his art shown at several places such as Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions, REDCAT and Human Resources. Esparza is proud of all of his art projects an accomplishments. “There is value in accomplishing something, but there is also value in failing,” Esparza said.
SPORTS
EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014
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Wrestler strives to move to the next level Tadzio garcia
“
Staff Writer
First-generation American-born Francisco “Frank” Aceves has taken wrestling to another level. He applies what he’s learned from working with the sport into his everyday life and ambitions. “It’s all about respect, hard work, being mentally tough and priorities. As a wrestler, you have to also be accountable in your life to meet the requirements the sport demands,” Aceves said. Aceves gave up partying during each season as a member of the wrestling team when trying to lose weight to make a different weight class. “Wrestling taught me about balancing my life,” Aceves said. “I had to make life choices like studying or dropping weight to wrestle in a different weight class instead of going out and having fun.” Aceves adjusted his schedule each semester with his studies at the top of his list. He strives to keep his grades good enough to transfer to a fouryear university, while working to contribute to his family and coaching at Bell High School, his alma mater. “As a student he had a strong work ethic, always improving his level of maturity and responsibility. This is why we hired him as a coach,” Bell Assistant Wrestling Coach Ruben Pivaral said. Pivaral was a 2011 All-American wrestler in the 184-pound weight class while at East Los Angeles College. Bell Head Wrestling Coach Mike Lopez was a 2009 AllAmerican at ELAC. “He is passing on his wisdom as a coach, on and off the mat, to the younger generation of kids,” Pivaral said. Pivaral transferred from ELAC to UCLA where he earned a degree
There’s a difference between a guy who wrestles and a wrestler. The latter makes it a lifestyle. Ralph Valle ELAC Wrestling Head Coach
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EYEING THE FUTURE—Francisco “Frank” Aceves wrestles with pumping iron last semester along with his East Los Angeles College wrestling team brothers during training. in English. He teaches English at Bethune Middle School in South Central Los Angeles. “I am at a crossroads deciding to transfer and wrestle or not, but I will transfer,” Aceves said. “My major is nutritional science. I am going to be dietitian in a hospital, working with people on living with healthier lifestyle choices.” Aceves was a co-captain of the 2013 ELAC wrestling team along with sophomores Omar Ochoa and All-American Hugo Perez. “Frank was a great co-captain with me, he lead the team well. He was battling injuries last year but never changed his attitude in the (training) room,” Perez said.
“He was there every day no matter what. Frank definitely made a difference in the room….Frank was a huge part of that success we had as a team.” While he did not compile a winning record at ELAC, he wrestled with all he had until the final whistle blew in each match. “You’re never out for the count regardless of the score,” Aceves said. His two-year career highlight was in the South Regional finals held at ELAC in December. At the time, Aceves was the lowest seed, No. 16, in the 184pound weight class and was losing to top-seeded Nathan Rodriguez of Mt. San Antonio College.
“I was down 13 points in the third (last) period when he (Rodriguez) went in for a shot with a knee-cap move,” Aceves said. “I hooked his arm, shifted my weight, threw him on with his back on the ground and got a pin.” The ELAC home crowd jumped and screamed and Aceves had the upset of the tournament. He was sought-out as a potential wrestler while taking a physical education class at Bell. “I was trying to get in shape as a sophomore and a coach saw my work ethic and asked me to come out for the team. I knew nothing about wrestling. I picked it up fast,” Aceves said. Aceves took second place at the
Track and field team arrives on national scene Tadzio Garcia Staff Writer All-American freshman Laura Aceves ran her first-ever 10,000meter run while running the fastest time in the nation of community college women at the Occidental College Carnival on Friday. “Aceves broke the ELAC women’s track and field 10,000 run record set by Cindy Lopez in 2002,” ELAC Head Coach Louis Ramirez said. Sophomore Daniel RinconZaragoza’s 10,000 meter run at the Carnival was the third fastest time in the state as well as the country. Half of the Huskies track and field team (15) competed at the Carnival with well over 1,000 loud athletes and fans on deck. Seven of ELAC’s top athletes competed in the 20th Annual Ben Brown Invitational Saturday on the campus of Cal State Fullerton. The Huskies have a bye next week and return to action at the Pasadena City College Games on Friday, March 28 at PCC. Eight Huskies set nine personal records at the Carnival.
BADMINTON In a battle of undefeated teams, the women’s badminton team hosts Pasadena City College today in the women’s gym at 3 p.m. BASEBALL The baseball team lost 2-0, at El Camino College Compton Center yesterday. The No. 7-ranked Huskies, 14-6 overall, 6-1 in the SCC will host Compton tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. at Husky Park.
Cris Flores ran two personal records in the 800-meter and 5,000 runs while Aceves, Maybell Sanchez, Adrian Gaytan, RinconZaragoza, Andrew Torres, Luis Hernandez and Jimmy PalenciaGonzalez had one each. Aceves, Rincon-Zaragoza, Flores and Gaytan ran personal records at Ben Brown. The Huskies accomplished their 13 personal records while competing against mostly fouryear university competition. Aceves’s 5,000 run in Fullerton is No. 2-best time in the state. “Her time is the fastest time recorded by a woman athlete since Sylvia Mosqueda won the the event in the 1987 state championships,” Ramirez said. Mosqueda’s time that day is still a national record. After the race, Aceves leaned over a gate looking exhausted and Ramirez said, “Being tired is expected, but this is what you will have to do at state, run in back-toback days.” The five races Aceves ran this year include three top-three state results and two times at No. 13-best.
SOFTBALL Alashanee Medina recorded her seventh shut out, to lead the softball team over No. 9-ranked Mt. San Antonio College, 8-0, in Walnut. The unranked Huskies, 15-5 overall and 7-3 in South Coast Conference play, out hit Mt. SAC (18-4, 7-3) 11-3. The Huskies also beat Los Angeles Harbor College, 12-1, last week. ELAC lost 2-0 to No. 7-ranked Cerritos College yesterday.
“I think that I like both the 10,000 and steeplechase. I believe that my strength is endurance. It is not decided yet which ones I am doing for the state meet,” Aceves said. Gonzalo Ceja, who has recently returned to training after an injury, ran a 3,000-meter steeplechase time at the Carnival that is No. 6 in the state and No. 8-best nationally. “I’ve been training, but only for a few days since coming off my injury. I will be at full strength soon. I learn from each race and take it one step at a time,” Ceja said. Sophomore Adrian Gaytan ran three personal records last weekend after a year layoff from sports to focus on his studies in his major. “I was nervous on Friday running against university level competition, but felt good in the 800 race. On Saturday, I learned that I need to work on my kick in the 1500,” Gaytan said. Sandy Bautista won her 800meter run heat with a personal best time in front of the ELAC supporters rooting her on. “I think I did a good job. I was very excited,” Bautista said.
SWIM AND DIVE The women’s swim and dive team split their South Coast Conference matches last Friday beating Rio Hondo College 156-50 and losing to El Camino College, 142-124. The Huskies beat El Camino at the Mt. SAC Invitational last month and faces both teams again in April in the SCC finals. ELAC hosts Mt. San Antonio and Pasadena City colleges on Friday at 12:30 p.m. in the Swim Stadium. www.ELACCampusNews.com
LA City Section Junior Varsity Championships losing to teammate Juan Lucero in the title match. Wrestling grew into a lifestyle for Aceves. “I think and breathe it every day, but sometimes I eat different when not competing,” Aceves said. In his high school junior year, Aceves took advice from his father. He dropped wrestling to work. “He was teaching me about life, but he left it as my choice,” Aceves said. Working gave him a foundation to build on. “Working taught me responsibility. I kept my grades up moving on to advanced placement classes,” Aceves said. He returned to his love for
wrestling and the team, in his senior year, taking 5th place at the 2009 City Section finals helping Bell take second place. He used this philosophy to transfer out of high school to Cerritos College, to add more pressure to his life (driving to classes) and working through it. He couldn’t get classes he needed at Cerritos because he did not have priority registration. Ralph Valle, 19-year head wrestling coach at ELAC changed that. “Valle recruited me to join the ELAC wrestling team. As a wrestler at ELAC, I had priority registration. I could focus on my major. ELAC made more sense in my life,” Aceves said. Valle also taught ELAC wrestlers they are brothers and wrestlers linked by a bond. “‘There’s a difference between a guy who wrestles and a wrestler. The latter makes it a lifestyle,’ Valle told me my first day at ELAC and it stuck in my mind. I have a great deal of respect for him,” Aceves said. ELAC qualified four wrestlers at state. Frank and other team members went to Stockton to support their brothers. At the state finals, Perez wrestled to the shouts of ELAC wrestlers standing at the edge of his mat. “He loved it. I hope it helped him,” Aceves said. With his ELAC wrestling career coming to an end, he continues to practice with the team. Aceves offers advice while coaching high school wrestling and finishing the needed curriculum to transfer. “Frank continues to represent the ELAC wrestling program by teaching the younger generations. He is an awesome wrestler, coach, teammate and a great friend,” Ochoa said. Aceves agrees he will keep his connection to ELAC when he opens a new chapter in his life.
Arts
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EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2013
P e rc e p t i o n s
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rtists Rafa Esparza’s and Sebastian Hernandez’s “ N o Wa t e r U n d e r the Bridge” explored Latino stereotypes and identity last Saturday in East Los Angeles. Courtesy of warner bros.
Jesus Figueroa and jade inglada
investigate—Logan, played by Jason Dorhing, and Veronica, played by Kristen Bell, are reunited in the “Veronica Mars” movie.
Staff Writer
Fans bring ‘Veronica Mars’ to big screen
The performance was located under the bridge on Fourth and Lorena streets, where gang violence and murders have occurred in the past. It started with no warning as preperation became a part of the show. People in cars that passed by could not help but stop to inquire what was happening under the bridge. Many passersby parked and kept watching the performance in awe of what their community was being exposed to. Esparza said he wishes to bring art to places where people would not always have the luxury to experience it, places where the community does always have the opportunity to visit a museum. Although the performers did not interact with the audience, their unconventional show inspired fear in some of the younger audience members in attendance. The bloody figure that Esperza ended up portraying during the performance was slightly chilling. Esparza and Hernandez walked around hanging flowers from the bridge before changing into their costumes. It’s a representative performance of the struggles the artist has gone through and the connection he has developed with his troubled past and ancestral heritage. The audience stood at the edge of the street looking on in astonishment as Esparza danced around clapping as Hernandez performed a tribal ethnic dance. The colorful costume with skull decorations, a feathered crown and straps with shells on his ankles that rattled while he danced were reminiscent of a Hispanic folk dance. Esparza covered himself with the artificial blood he had been preparing while his partner danced. Bloody handprints were left on the bridge as Esparza ran his hands down a pillar from the bridge. Posing in almost a prayer like state around Hernandez, Esparza posed and kept the small crowd’s attention. The bridge played an important role in their performances. It acts as a physical symbol, connecting the portrayals of the public’s Latino stereotypes and self-identity to bring them together into one space. The small crowd created an intimate showing. The performance was in conjunction with Esparza’s current display of fine art at VPAM’s “Hoy Space” from Feb. 8 through April 25.
diego olivares and jade inglada Staff Writer
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Douglas Gonzalez contributed to this story.
Kid Cudi launches ‘Satellite Flight’
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“Veronica Mars” is a film project that’s funny, suspenseful and fulfills the needs of the series’ fans. Based on the cult TV series of the same name, the film follows her life as a youthful private eye, played by Kristen Bell. Trying to move on with her life, Mars is called upon by a former lover to solve a murder. The victim is a friend of theirs, with the lover considered as the prime suspect. The case has Mars returning to her hometown of Neptune, Calif., where she must deal with family and friends, a high school reunion and a possible job offer. The film works well in terms of storyline, characters and style. It manages to mix two different film genres seemlessly. The humor is witty and works well to get laughs from audiences. The drama keeps viewers drawn in. It felt very natural and doesn’t come off as heavy-handed. The film creates a story that recalls old memories of high school life. It gives the film a down-to-earth feel that viewers will find pleasing. It also functions well as a modernday film noir. The murder mystery storyline keeps the viewer hooked with plot twists and suspense. This allows the film to be stylishly entertaining. The film also examines themes of police corruption, dark secrets and murder. Mars embodies both characteristic of the genres. She’s relatable as she tries moving away from her past to start a new life. She’s also a character who’s intelligent and hard as nails. Bell
manages to play all aspects of her character well. The supporting characters are engaging and fun to watch. Hardcore fans of the show are bound to recognize them. The film is co-written and directed by Rob Thomas, who created the series. As the creator, Thomas was the only person who could direct the film. It could have failed in another director’s hands, given the mixing of genres. Under Thomas’ direction, the film works well. The film is noted as being funded by fans through the crowdsourcing website, Kickstarter. The only condition of producing the film was if Thomas directed it. As a result, the production raised a total of $5.7 million. It’s one of the largest funded independent film projects from the website. On a visual level, the film is beautifully shot and well designed. The set design projects a warm Southern California atmosphere. It helps invoke the film’s noir style that the movie plays off. The movie is not without flaws. The supporting storylines feel underdeveloped compared to the film’s main plot. They hook the viewers quickly, but are given rushed conclusions. The opening 20 minutes might be tough for a non-fan of the show to understand. It’s the reason the film will work better for fans of the TV series. However, the film is engaging enough to keep the interest of non-fans. “Veronica Mars” is an entertaining and engaging murder mystery that manages to attract both the fans and non-fans of the TV series. The film is rated PG-13 for sexuality including references, drug content, violence and some strong language.
Lorinda Owens 3/6/14 4 in. x 5 in. East Los Angeles College
Surprising his fans with the release of “Satellite Flight,” Kid Cudi says it is one of his best albums yet. Cudi began dropping hints about his soon to be released album, “Satellite Flight: The Journey to Mother Moon,” Feb. 24 via Twitter. The album’s intent to bridge his previous “Indicud” and the anticipated “Man on the Moon III” (MOTM3) is delivered with experimental space sounds. Cudi’s album resulted with 10 songs, four of which are instrumental. This album is a sneak peek of what the next Man on the Moon series might include. He focuses on his theme of space 10:13 AM
and intergalactic sounds. He wanted to take listeners on a journey of what he was feeling and going through at the time, by experimenting with new sounds. “Satellite Flight” captivates the listeners with synths and atmospheric melodies that pushes the imagination to another level. The EP consists of three main parts: Cudi’s liftoff, traveling through space and finally his landing. Cudi introduces his listeners with the opening track, “Destination: Mother Moon,” which is a powerful opening introducing his next tracks where he allows the the instruments to talk for themselves. The third track, “Satellite Flight,” is produced by Dot Da Genius, a frequent collaborator with Cudi. The electronic synths in the background takes the listener into a journey into space.
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The middle of the EP leads to the highlight song “Balmain Jeans” produced by Scott Mescudi, A.K.A. Kid Cudi, and features singer Raphael Saadig. Saadig only participates for a short period, but incorporates a sensual burst with soulful vocals adding a smooth sound to the song. Cudi’s, “Too Bad I Have to Destroy You Now,” has a darker feel to it. The rap lyrics reveal his emotions of not being understood, but the track proves how he manages to grow out of dark times. In this song he targets all of his opposers who have talked trash about him. The listeners are introduced to Cudi’s depressed hidden emotions in the track “Internal Bleeding.” The song sounds stale where he is groaning over a heartbreak, but it’s a little too dark for the latter part
of this EP. Cudi tries to switch his flow to punk style but it’s not quite mastered. The last instrumental, “Return of the Moon Man,” also very powerful sounds like something from a Sci- Fi movie and adds suspense. Cudi’s last song expresses how no one wants to be stuck with a “Troubled Boy,” as the name of the song goes. This acoustic beat includes Cudi’s hums and passionless voice, making it a bit eerie and repetitive.It’s weak for a closing track. With its flaws, Cudi manages to deliver a truly unexpected EP as he plays with new sounds and vibes, leaving listeners restless for the next part of the series, MOTM3. Kid Cudi released his fourth album, “Satellite Flight: The Journey to Mother Moon” on Feb. 25, and it’s now available on iTunes.