Volume 76, Issue 24 | www.elaccampusnews.com | Wednesday, May 22, 2019 | Single copy free - additional copies 50 cents
ASU presidential candidate disqualified BY JUAN CAVILLO Staff Writer The Associated Student Union elections results announcement was moved to Friday due, to the investigation and disqualification of Jose Pelaez, an ASU presidential candidate, on May 10. Adviser and Dean Sonia Lopez said that she had no comment but that the matter had been handed over to President Marvin Martinez’s office. Pelaez has appealed his disqualification by ASU. His campaign is accused of using school equipent, which violates ASU election code CB/2. In an email informing Pelaez of his disqualification, ASU wrote that Emiliano Escobar was photographed using ELAC equipment for campaign purposes. ASU identified Escobar as a campaign volunteer, which Pelaez refutes. “It is highly alarming that the committee and Dean Lopez stated that the person mentioned was a campaign volunteer even though I never included him in the list of campaign volunteers, provided by Anthony Dominguez,” Pelaez wrote in his appeal. ASU Vice President of Advocacy, Anthony Dominguez said that any further information as it pertains to the election results would come directly from Martinez, and as of this writing, ASU does not know the results of the election. After the investigation was concluded by ASU, their findings were sent to Martinez so he could render a verdict, but the candidate involved was told of the situation. Thus giving Pelaez time to file an appeal to the president’s office. Pelaez has said that the violations his campaign has been accused of
DISQUALIFIED—Evidence photo used against ASU presidential candidate Jose Pelaez, claiming he was using ELAC property (tables and chairs), which is against campaigning code. have no valid argument to them. “It seems that the committee was just trying to fit any argument with any material, without really having valid arguments or proof,” said Pelaez in his appeal to Martinez. Pelaez said that Escobar was just one of the many students who approached him and showed support by not just voting for him but by doing something more. He said that these students supported him because they identified with him, not because they were volunteers in his campaign. Pelaez is also accused of posting unauthorized flyers in his campaign. ASU requires that all campaign material be approved, which
would put Pelaez in violation if the accusation is true. Pelaez said that the post was not even done on his account. He said it was a friend who was supporting his cause and posting pictures of support. “What I found absolutely incredible is that I provided actual flyers with the account name visible of other candidates, that were not approved,” he said. Pelaez said that despite filing an appeal, he no longer cares what comes from the decision made by the administration. He said that since May 9, he had already noticed something was amiss. He saw, on ASU’s Instagram, a post that said that the election results were going to be held back until May 24.
Minutes later he said that same post was deleted. He said that he was later sent an email informing him that the results would be postponed until a future date. Dominguez said that he had hoped that the situation would be resolved so that the election results could be revealed the on May 17, but that was not the case. He said that due to the investigation, Pelaez was given time to file an appeal of the situation. In his appeal to Martinez, Pelaez wrote how his opinion of ELAC, its ASU and the administration has taken a nosedive. He said that he feels isolated for speaking up about the racist things written on his campaign poster during the election.
One of Pelaez’ posters was vandalized during the election process. The poster had his campaign slogan and other information for his campaign. The vandalization said, “You need to speak english first.” Dominguez said vandalization of the poster was looked into. With ASU asking the sheriff ’s department to look into any footage nearby cameras may have captured. Dominguez said the IT department told ASU that only one of the cameras in the area is in working order. Pelaez said that there was very little done in the form of investigating this very blatant campaign violation compared to the intense investigating that was done
in his case of campaign violations. Pelaez said the way people interact with him at ASU and on campus has changed as well. He feels that he is being seen as a troublemaker simply for bringing focus to the discrimination he felt when his election poster was vandalized. Pelaez said he even thought the Dream Resource Center was told to no longer associate with him. Brian Henderson Barrick, a DRC student services specialist, had no comment on the matter. Pelaez felt that him making something out of it has caused people to see him differently. He said the happy faces he saw at ASU before the election, were replaced with somber reactions to his presence. Pelaez said that he thought the idea was if a student saw something they didn’t like they needed to speak out. He said that he once saw ELAC as his home, but now that has changed. Pelaez said he will wait for the decision on his appeal but has lost faith in the current administration’s ability to handle situations like this one. He said the inaction of school leaders to the racist vandalization of his poster has left a bad taste in his mouth. Pelaez said that he will not be returning to ELAC. He said that in the end he hopes that this process will remind people of the struggles undocumented people still go through. “This situation, it will be a reminder that life for undocumented people is not easy. And we need to struggle everyday, even in our own community. And it’s just a reminder, like to keep pushing everyday. I just don’t want to push anymore at ELAC,” Pelaez said.
Transferring students receive awards Honors Program BY LUIS CASTILLA Staff Writer Behind teary eyes, Nadine Bermudez, Honors Program director, announced the names of the students who will transfer to four-year universities at the Honors Program Certificate Reception yesterday. “This is your moment because you earned it,” Bermudes said. About 30 East Los Angeles Students were awarded certificates and graduation cords for completing the Honors Program. Students of the Honors Program Fast-Track Certification Program were also awarded certificates for their completion of the program. Aside from receiving certificates, these students will also receive priority consideration from universities and a special mention at the ELAC graduation ceremony. To receive their certificates, students had to complete 15 units in honors classes. Bermudez said there are currently about 600 students in the program. Honors Program student Yesenia Sanchez said she will transfer to the University of Southern California in the fall.
She said she was given a taste of what university courses were like. “The classes were challenging,” Sanchez said. “They make you think outside of the box.” Bianca Trevizo, another Honors Program alumna, said she will transfer to the University of California Los Angeles in the fall. She said the program allowed her to take classes that were more rigorous. “I’m happy to see all my hard work pay off,” Trevizo said. Miranda Reynoso, Honors Program Alumna said she will also transfer to UCLA in the fall. Although she is transferring, Reynoso said she would have liked to join the Honors Program sooner than she did. She said she would have liked to enter the program right after high school. Despite this, Bermudez said she is happy to be done. “I feel accomplished. The goal that I set for myself was fulfilled,” Bermudez said. Bermudez said that about 75 percent of students in the Honors Program who apply to UCLA are accepted into the university. Marvin Martinez spoke to the Honors Program students, telling
Featured Artist: Sand One PAGE 8
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HONORABLE HUSKIES—Honors Program rewards East Los Angeles College students for completing the program. All present students are transferring to four-year universities. them to always keep their next goal in mind. Bermudez said the Honors Program focused on two things;
scholarships and getting students transferred. She said the classes in the program emphasize critical thinking
and teach students in ways that will prepare them for university courses. “It’s education with a purpose,” Bermudez said.
Black Student Union returns from inactivity Staff Writer The ELAC Black Student Union club, which returned earlier this semester after being inactive for more than a decade, is looking to recruit new members. “We are looking for students who are willing to fill those leadership positions in the club,” LaQuita M. Jones, assistant professor of Sociology said. “We are seeking individuals who have a passion for not just black culture, but inclusivity.” In order for a club to be chartered at ELAC, there needs to be a minimum of five to seven students; five to serve on the executive board and two to serve as delegates. If the seven-student minimum is
met, Jones will be the adviser and advocate for the BSU club. “When there’s a collaborative effort, when you start to see the fruits of your labor manifested in activities or higher membership... I think that the work you have to put into the club, you feel rewarded for it,” Jones said. Golden Sheard, president of the ELAC Students for Political Awareness club, would like to head the BSU club but can’t because she already heads ESPA. Sheard has been working all semester on making the BSU a reality on campus in order to help provide representation of black students on campus. Sheard said that the number of students who transferred to a UC from ELAC last year was about the
same number of African-American students at ELAC in any given year. “Why is it that we can put that much emphasis behind 400 students in this light, and in another light say ‘well, it’s just 400,’” Sheard said. “Having African-descent is just one facet of who we are, and while we want to have an inclusive space, we don’t want that to be all that we are,” Sheard said. “We should be able to be president of a political science club, vice president of a photography club and still be able to have a BSU.” Interest in an ELAC BSU began at the end of Black History Month earlier this year when guest speaker Melina Abdullah, chair of Pan-African studies at California State University, Los Angeles and GOLDEN SHEARD & LAQUITA M. JONES co-founder of the Black Lives CN/VINCENT AUSTIN
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Matter’s Los Angeles chapter, asked the student audience if a BSU existed at ELAC. A BSU on campus hasn’t been active in over a decade. The first mention of a BSU at ELAC is from the March 27, 1968 issue of ELAC Campus News. In the article, the BSU held a mock funeral for the word “Negro.” At the time, ELAC BSU members wished to be called “black students” or “Afro-American” students instead of “Negroes.” Brandon Aguilar, an ELAC student who is interested in becoming a member of the BSU, was one of the students who volunteered to get the club going. “I feel like at school, people just hang among their own group. I (want) to see a multicultural center and I think this club could help,” Aguilar said.
News Briefs Reading and Writing Center open for finals
The Reading and Writing Center extended their closing hours to midnight until May 31 for students to get ready for finals, except Fridays, Saturdays and holidays.
Free vision screening The Student Health Center will sponser free vision screening for ELAC students tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the second floor of F5. Glasses will be given to those in need.
Weekend Study Jam
Roots of STEM will present the 12-hour “Weekend Study Jam” on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. in the MESA Center in E7210. It will include snacks, tutors, textbooks and computer access.