Collegian Los Angeles
SEPT.15 THROUGH OCT.15 MARKS NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE
The Voice of Los Angeles City College Since 1929
Wednesday, September 18, 2019 Volume 183 Number 1
AROUND CAMPUS
NEWS BRIEFS
TRANSPORTATION
Safe Parking Pilot Program Set for Next Spring
Plight of Homeless intersects with campus concerns
BY MELISSA CRUMBY
BY XENIA HAMILTON
Congressman Brings Plan for Food Insecure to Campus BY JAILENE TRUJILLO California Congressman Adam Schiff from Burbank hosted a press conference and roundtable at the Student Union Building at L.A. City College on Sept. 5, 2019. Schiff explained the Food for Thought Act, which would provide grants to community colleges, so institutions can provide free meals to food insecure students. Schiff and Congressman other lawmakers ADAM SCHIFF sponsored the bill, which is similar to the free lunch programs available at high schools across the country. It aims to expand the program further than its current grade levels of kindergarten through 12. The bill has endorsements from Los Angeles, Pasadena, and Glendale Community Colleges, as well as the endorsement of the Community College League of California, the American Association of Community Colleges, Swipe Out Hunger, and the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice.
Watergate Journalist to Speak at Nick Beck Lecture Series Carl Bernstein, one of the investigative journalists to cover the Watergate scandal that precipitated the impeachment of Richard Nixon, will speak at L.A. City College on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019. The Bernstein lecture will mark the inaugural Nick Beck InvestiPHOTO COURTESY gative Journalism WIKIMEDIA.ORG Series, which is organized by the L.A. City College Foundation. The program begins at 4 p.m.on the third floor of the Student Union in the Multipurpose Room and ends at 5:30 p.m. Students who are currently enrolled may attend for free. Contact cookh@lacitycollege.edu.
INDEX Opinion & Editorial
2-3
Reporter’s Notebook
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Arts & Entertainment
5
News
6
Campus Life
7
Sports
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I’m sympathetic to the plight of homeless. For the college, we have to try to keep homeless individuals from staying here overnight and things of that nature.” -Mary Gallagher, President, Los Angeles City College An L.A. County Sheriffs Deputy waits to confront a student who was showering in the Kinesiology Building on the evening of Aug. 29, 2019.
SEE “HOMELESS” PAGE 6
Summer Brings Spike in Campus Crime
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BY CHISLEY HAYNES
Incidents of burglary, petty theft, arson and vandalism plagued the campus during the summer months. However, a district plan is on the way, and some improvements have already made their debut.
ampus administration ordered increased patrols on campus after two separate incidents in August. Los Angeles Fire Department personnel responded to fires set in trash cans in Sci Tech and in front of the Life Sciences Buildings on Aug. 05. A break-in occurred, on July 26, in the Life Sciences Building, and there were also signs of vandalism in the men’s restroom on the first floor. In another incident, a student’s bicycle was stolen right in front of the Cesar Chavez Administration Building on July 30. The bicycle was parked right outside of the Sheriff ’s Department. Someone also broke into the into the construction site at Da Vinci Hall and stole a tool box on Aug. 08. All of the incidents happened over the summer, and some were outside of the range of surveillance cameras that work. Cameras do not work in undetermined areas of the campus. Sheriffs have not shared that data, but LACC and other district colleges will receive new surveillance equipment over the coming months. “The new project will upgrade all of our existing cameras to HD, which means that we will be able to get reliable information from the cameras,” said LACC President Mary Gallagher. “The system will provide better images, zoom, proper rotation, those kinds of things.” SEE “CAMPUS CRIME” PAGE 6
The California State Assembly has passed a bill that allows colleges to open up their parking lots to homeless students. Students who live out of their cars and attend community college may benefit from California Assembly Bill 302 (AB 302). Assembly members Marc Berman and co-author Lorena Gonzales created the bill, which passed on Aug. 30, 2019. The bill was created to provide relief to home-insecure students who attend campus. A monitored parking lot may help students feel safer and more protected than parking on a public street. The pilot program could start as early as April 2020. LACC Director of Special Projects and Academic Support, Daren Lynne hopes the program will help the many homeless students who struggle because of California’s housing crisis. “We’ve done all kinds of work,” said Lynne as she points to her desk full of binders. “As you can see by these three binders over there, we are ready and have a very comprehensive program that has required a lot of funding around it.” The bill states that a community college campus that has parking facilities must grant overnight access to these facilities, on or before July 1, 2021, to any homeless student who is enrolled in coursework, has paid any enrollment fees that have not been waived, and is in good standing with the community college, for the purpose of sleeping in the student’s vehicle overnight, according to the California Legislative Information website. “Therefore, I have decided to make AB 302 a two-year bill. I plan to spend this fall working with the governor’s office to identify ways to more urgently alleviate the struggles that our community college students are facing every day, in a way that treats them with dignity and the respect they deserve,” Berman wrote on his website. SEE “PILOT” PAGE 7
DRILL INSTRUCTION
Lockdown: Sheriffs Prepare Campus for Active Shooter
“There is a thing that the sheriff ’s department trains people on. It’s called run, hide, fight ... ”
BY CHISLEY HAYNES
-Deputy Ryan Rouzan L.A. County Sheriffs Department PHOTO BY CHISLEY HAYNES
L.A. County Sheriffs personnel moved nearly100 students and faculty members through the steps of a lockdown last week in a drill at the Faculty and Staff Center on Sept. 12, 2019. The hands-on training prepared attendees with information on how to react in case of an active shooter situation at L.A. City College. The participants were quiet as they filed into a line. The Sheriffs instructed the students to keep quiet as they looked for a place to hunker down. Students searched for the least visible classroom in which to hide, and they made sure their cell phones were on silent. “It goes back to when we were small [kids], and we played hide and seek. You don’t want to say anything or you don’t want to have sounds coming, so that the person looking for you can’t locate where you are,” said L.A. County Deputy Ryan Rouzan. This all happened within 10 minutes. Students heard a knock at the door and a loud voice outside of the classroom. There were four classrooms and five sheriff ’s personnel. “It’s the sheriff ’s department,” a deputy said. “You guys can come out now.”
The purpose of the early-morning lockdown drill was to help students and faculty learn how they should respond in a real active shooter emergency. In 2018, gun violence claimed the lives of 35 people at schools in the United States according to Education Week. Deputy Rouzan says in the case of an active shooter it is important to ensure your own safety and to know where the shooter is located. “There is a thing that the sheriff ’s department trains people on. It’s called run, hide, fight,” Rouzan said. “Those will be three things after ensuring your own safety and learning where [the shooting] is coming from.” Experts say administrators must ensure students and staff are clear about how to respond to an active shooter situation. They also say realistic drills improve school safety, according to district administration.com “You want to run away if it’s possible from where the shooter is,” Rouzan said. “If you are unable to run away you want to hide, such as what we did this morning with the lockdown drill, and worst case scenario is, if the shooter is in your immediate vicinity and does specifically come after you, you want to fight for your life.”
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OPINION & EDITORIAL
Los Angeles Collegian - Wednesday, September 18, 2019
EDITORIAL
Collegian Los Angeles City College Visual & Media Arts Department 855 N. Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90029 323.953.4000 ext. 2832 losangeles.collegian@gmail.com Co-Editor-in-Chief REBECCA GRAZIER CHISLEY HAYNES Graphics Editor BEATRICE ALCALA Front Page Editor CHISLEY HAYNES Opinions & Editorial Editor SARAH RAGSDALE Arts & Entertainment Editor DAMIEN HOSEA Sports Editor REBECCA GRAZIER Copy Editor JASON PISKOPUS Broadcast, Social Media Producer JASON PISKOPUS Photographers CURTIS SABIR, REBECCA GRAZIER, BENJAMIN TORRES, JORGE PONCE CHISLEY HAYNES
Illustrators BRIAN GOMEZ CASSANDRA MUNOZ MARTHA OROZCO
How We Can Help The Homeless BY RYAN BARMORE Everyone in Los Angeles is aware of the homeless epidemic. The enormity of the problem makes it impossible to ignore Skid Row. Sidewalks overtake all manner of tents and temporary dwellings, trash and human waste littering the streets, rampant narcotic abuse, increased rodent populations and disease. The new numbers coming in from the 2019 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count (GLAHC) and Measure HHH’s Homeless Initiative Quarterly Report are alarming yet there is an avalanche of funding coming in
and many ways everyday community members can work directly on solving this multifaceted issue. Despite the $619 million spent last year by city officials and action from activism groups like SkidRow Housing Trust, the city’s count of homeless individuals has risen 16 percent city-wide this year. As of May 2019, the total count of homeless individuals within the city is 36,300 and 52,7645 for the whole country. That means, for example, approximately 1,833 homeless youths between the ages of 18 to 24 increased from almost 1,580 last year. $619 million invested into services and housing, resulted in 21,631 people moving into
THE CUB STORE NEEDS A CLEAR REFUND POLICY BY SARAH RAGSDALE Last week I tried getting a refund for books I purchased for classes, which the Cub Store declined because I unwrapped them from their plastic wrap. This seems to be a common problem among students who have told me, “that happened to me too.” On the first day of class, my biology teacher mentioned not to buy any books, that the one we would be using is free and accessible online. The next day I almost skipped to the Cub Store thinking I would get $300 dollars back from my refund, only to find out my books would not be accepted due to unwrapping them. I then tried to sell my “used” books at the buy back center and was offered $6 dollars. When I purchased the books the previous week, I was told that if I wanted a refund, I only needed my receipt. As a penny-pinching student, not being able to get a refund for brand new books simply because
they’re not wrapped in saran wrap is such a loss. My other options were to try selling the books online to another student, who also wouldn’t need these books. I then looked into book vouchers with the EOPS Program – I don’t qualify – or possibly taking my books to Staples hoping they would re-wrap my books. However, the barcode was on the original plastic wrap I ripped off. I now know I shouldn’t even bother buying books until after the semester starts, but shouldn’t the Cub Store make more of an effort to communicate with students about their refund policy? When I worked at Forever 21, verbally telling customers the return policy was mandatory. That policy is also found at the bottom of each receipt. At the bottom of my Cub Store receipt it says, “Books purchased after deadline – “No refund.”What exactly does that mean? What deadline? At most stores, the return policy is within 30 days. The Cub Store should make their return policy clear by telling students verbally, listing the policy at the bottom of each receipt, or even on a sticker that could be placed on books.
permanent housing by the city alone, not accounting for any nonprofit activity. That’s close to 40 percent of last year’s homeless individual count. Had affordable housing not been implemented and the increases stayed constant, the increase would be over 50 percent from last year. That’s a lot more than 16 percent. All the countless hours of activism and $619 million invested seem to have only slowed the tide. Luckily, there are many new funds available and opportunities for the community to work together toward progress in this issue. Bond Measure H still has seven more years of funding, and the city’s fiscal year 2019-20
budget allotted $460 million to the project. This money will fund Los Angeles County Homeless Initiative’s many outreach and inreach programs. Additionally in June, Governor Gavin Newsom signed the fiscal year 2019-20 State Budget, committing $2.4 billion to the state’s homeless and affordable housing needs. For anyone passionate about this issue, the opportunities for involvement are everywhere. From Last week’s food distribution outside the Student Union, to the “Hippy Kitchen,” a soup kitchen on SkidRow, there are plenty of activists offering employment and volunteer opportunities.
Reporters XENNIA R. HAMILTON, REBECCA GRAZIER, CHISLEY HAYNES, MELISSA CRUMBY, DAMIEN HOSEA, DAVE MARTIN, JAILENE TRUJILLO, BERNARDO GARCIA, WILLIAM BENJAMIN TORRES, RYAN BARMORE, NATALIA KOROTKOVA
Advertising ANDE RICHARDS, Faculty Adviser RHONDA GUESS
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NEXT ISSUE: October 2, 2019 EDITORIAL DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 23, 2019
OPINION & EDITORIAL
Compiled by Sarah Ragsdale Photos by Jorge Ponce
WHAT HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE ACADEMIC COUNSELING DEPARTMENT BEEN LIKE?
Los Angeles Collegian - Wednesday, September 18, 2019
KARLA ESTRADA Major: Radiologic Technology
LUIS BARRIOS Major: Environmental Science
GRADY JOHNSON Major: Behavioral & Social Science
BORIS MURILLO Major: Cinema
“The first counselor I saw was ordinary. The second counselor I saw was very detailed. He was able to go into detail with me on questions I had and helped me see my options.”
“Positive. The counselor helped me find classes I needed for my academic career path.”
“Overall, it’s been good. My only issue is with scheduling. It’s hard to get appointments but otherwise the counselors are all very helpful and they’ve helped me stay on track”.
“The counselors are very helpful. They’ve helped me see what I need to do here to transfer and I appreciate that a lot because that’s the reason I’m here. There’s also a lot of great resources here.”
INK STYLE
A VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT
SMALL CHANGES, BIG RESULTS BY NATALIA KOROTKOVA Nowadays, just about anyone has the convenience to try a variety of sports such as gyms,stadiums, and pools that are open 24/7. People have opportunities to participate in individual or group t r a i n ing, join a range of sports clubs, and choose any activity they want. However, despite these facts, there is always the problem of excuses.
Whether it’s starting a yoga class next week, instead of this week, or hitting the gym harder at another time. The problem is that later turns into weeks which turned into months and potentially years. Obesity has become a national problem and continues to be so in adults and children. According to the United Health Foundation’s annual report regarding health in the United States, the obesity percentage among American adults in 2018 is 31.3%. An estimated 160 million Americans are either obese or overweight. The main reasons why people continue to become obese or overweight is that they are not active, conscious about the food they’re consuming, or the food
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they’re giving their children. In my opinion, the root problem is that parents aren’t paying enough attention to what they feed their kids and what activities their kids are involved in. Children need to be active every day. Physical Activity stimulates growth and leads to improved physical and emotional health. That’s why the primary goal of parents and coaches should be to help children find success in sports. A healthy lifestyle should become a habit from the start. Otherwise, it is likely wishful thinking and excuses which results in people gaining weight and draws them away from fitness. More than that, exercise is a natural way to get rid of stress. It can
also be a way to make new friends and build a support system. When you feel under pressure or stressed, you can call a teammate, head to the gym, and work it out. The best way to transform your lifestyle is to start with small changes each day. Sports facilities are being developed all over the country and there are multiple playgrounds in every city. Various athletic organizations are also doing well promoting sports. In addition, healthy eating choices are available all around us. Even fast food restaurants now offer healthier options. A healthy mind resides in a healthy body. It’s everyone’s personal choice to become better or to accept things the way they are.
Change in Direction: UC Davis to LACC
BY CHRISTOPHER AHN
After almost 500 names, my name was finally called out. All the crowds cheered, and I went up to pick up my fake diploma and hugged my professor who was distributing them. At that moment, I felt my life was set. I had a good-paying job and had a place on my own. Life was all set for me. Looking back, this sounds funny because I was only 22. I received a bachelor of arts in communication at the University of California, Davis, but I have since decided to go back to community college. Besides the affordable education, community college is a fresh start to redefine what I wanted to do with my life. After I graduated, it felt so good to wake up without class or exams to worry about. All I had to do was go to work and do whatever I wanted. I worked as a creative marketing manager at a restaurant which involved content creation and managing the store. As a startup restaurant, my main objective was to have the brand known in the city of Davis. I created countless numbers of marketing campaigns and product developments and the restaurant became the place to be. As years went on, the restaurants did not need a content creator, but a restaurant manager. I felt indifferent about this change, but I did this anyway because I got a huge raise. I was ecstatic. I was able to help my parents with their financial needs. I purchased a new car. I was able to live on my own. However, this came at a price: I spent many days not being able to do what I want. “Chris why is the food cold?” “Chris why doesn’t the food look like in the picture?” “Chris when is the new menu done?” and “Why has our audience gone down in Facebook?” Those were things I heard every day. This routine became boring and created a void in my heart. This emptiness
was the result of me being unhappy and looking for a bigger purpose in life. I knew that waking up at noon to go to work and coming home at 1 a.m. without a purpose was not for me. Other than making money, I did not know why I was working. I decided to look for another job, but sadly my skillset was not advanced enough. I concentrated on my job too much to enjoy life after college. The limitation I put on myself after I graduated did nothing more than stunt my growth. I was comfortable. Comfort is something that we all strive for, but how does that help us achieve extraordinary outcomes with our lives. Extraordinary starts with getting out of your comfort zone. I put in my two-week notice. I was in disbelief because I was going to move back with my parents, and I was going to have monetary limitations. But this was a chance I needed to take. I was back at square one. I felt like a freshman deciding what I wanted to do. I took countless online courses to discover what might interest me, but this did not work out for me. I felt lost and frustrated because I did my time in school, but I did not get much from it. All I got was the passion for telling stories which led me here to LACC. I never dreamt of coming here again. I took many LACC classes in high school and got a bachelor of arts in communication. I did not have a reason to come back to LACC for education because I had done it already. However, I skimmed through the courses and found some interesting ones. This was a difficult decision for me to take these courses because this was my first time taking a class not worrying about grades or transferring. I knew this was unorthodox because I was starting all over, but this was my step out of my comfort zone. I graduated from UC Davis and got a job that could help me maintain the lifestyle, but this was just a stepping stone in my life. There is always something new to be discovered, not only in this world, but there is always something new within. All we’ve got to do is take a chance on uncertainty
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REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK
Los Angeles Collegian - Wednesday, September 18, 2019
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burn hour
THE OF THE
BURNING MAN RETURNS
Photos by WILLIAM BENJAMIN TORRES
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1 “Head Maze” created by “The Pier Group” is a 40-foot meditating mind and has a series of hidden doors that open into a four-story, 18-room maze. 2. Geordie Van Der Bosch designed “The Temple of Direction.” The temple is organized in a linear way to reflect the passage of life. 3. Benjamin Langholz created “Stone 27.” It represents an alternate reality where destructive energy has been harmonized with nature to create moments of physical and mental elevation. 4. “The Tansmutation” is a colorful saber-toothed tiger with antlers and large wings that stands tall and proud in the middle of the desert. 5. A glowing woman sits down next to an illuminating tree, holding a tiny fairy. Her head, breasts, and stomach glow out into the playa, symbolizing the important features of a woman. 6. Inside the pyramid, party-goers dance the night away with special DJs like Skrillex and Diplo.
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ARTS & ENTERTAITMENT
Los Angeles Collegian - Wednesday, September 18, 2019
GET YOUR GAME O N Gamers Await the Next Big Thing:
Final Fantasy VII Remake
PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS.
T
BY DAMIEN HOSEA he world has fallen under the dominion of the Shinra Company, a corporation that has monopolised the planets very life force as Mako energy. Cloud Strife, a former member of Shinra’s elite SOLDIER, lends his aid to the rebels, unaware that he will be drawn into an epic battle for the fate of the planet, while having to come to terms with his own lost past. This is the backstory to a timeless classic that has caused Final Fantasy VII to sell over two million copies in three days in Japan. On March 3, 2020, Japanese Developer SquareEnix will finally release “Final Fantasy VII Remake” for the Playstation 4 Entertainment System. Final Fantasy VII is the seventh entry in the Final Fantasy series. Final Fantasy VII is an extremely popular Japanese Role Playing Game (JRPG) that follows the story of an arrogant mercenary, Cloud Strife. The initial storyline begins when Cloud is hired by AVALANCHE, an ecoterrorist insurgence group who will do whatever they must in order to save the planet. The story in Final Fantasy VII centers around an evil mega-corporation, Shinra Electric Power Company. Shinra sets up reactors around the world to extract mako; the planets life, to use it for their own personal gain. Once AVALANCHE steps in to oppose Shinra’s ambitions, after a while they discover that
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ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR there are greater forces at work. In 1997, Final Fantasy VII won numerous awards. The JRPG won The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences first annual Interactive Achievement Award in the categories: Console Adventure Game of the Year, Console Role Playing Game of the Year. Along with winning awards for “Most Hyper for a game”, “Best Ending” and “Best Print Ad”. Square Enix has decided to collaborate with Fortnite developer, Epic Games to help deliver an unforgettable moment in gaming history. “We’re humbled that Square Enix has chosen Unreal Engine 4 to recreate one of the world’s most beloved video games of all time, said Taka Kawasaki, territory manager for Epic Games Japan”. Fans will finally get a chance to control their favorite characters in High Definition. The original Final Fantasy VII game case contained three discs of game content. The Final Fantasy VII Remake will be broken down into multiple episodes. According to character designer, Tetsuya Normura, “If we dedicated our time to a single release, we’d have to cut some parts, and additional parts would come in few, so rather than remake the game as a full volume, we decided to do multiple parts.” Final Fantasy VII is a masterpiece that must be experienced in order to fully understand why it is one of the greatest games of all times. Final Fantasy VII Remake will make its triumphant return to the PlayStation 4 Entertainment System on March 3, 2020.
Meet AFI Pros, Tour Campus The AFI Admissions Office will host an Information Session for prospective Fellows to learn more about the Conservatory Programs, including Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Production Design and Screenwriting. Meet faculty and alums, watch student work and tour the AFI campus. Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019 1:30 - 4 p.m. Mark Goodson Screening Room American Film Institute 2021 North Western Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90027 RSVP by Oct. 4. When sending your RSVP, please indicate the size of your party. Youth Strike for Climate
Theater Academy tells of horrors of war in ‘The Sand Storm’ monologues THEATRE ACADEMY PREVIEW BY DAVE MARTIN
PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS.
‘MINECRAFT KILLER’ BRINGS A NEW COMPETITOR BY BERNARDO GARCIA It started as an independent project by a man named Markus Persson, aka Notch, co-founder of Mojang AB in the year 2009. Ever since Minecraft’s release it has been ported to an array of platforms including Windows, Mac, Linux, Xbox, PS4, Switch and even DS. The game has sold over 176 million copies worldwide across all platforms making it the best selling game of all time and still showing no signs of fatigue. As of now there are few competitors for this blocky, behemoth of a game. However, things may soon change. Hypixel Studios is a game developer that was recently founded in 2018. Before the studios establishment, the team was responsible for creating one of the most frequented servers in the Minecraft community. The years of experience had granted them the power to undertake a project with the potential to bring new innovation to the sandbox genre. This project’s name is Hytale. Ever since its announcement, Hytale has received a whirlpool of positive feedback. Its trailer grossed over 32 million views in its first month on YouTube alone, and with good reason. Hytale’s developers have promised a tremendous degree of prominent features that will enable creativity beyond any other game. At launch, players will have access to a suite of powerful applications that will allow you to create your own content for the game. Character customization will be at an all-time high because fans will be able to design their very own in-game assets such as clothes, weapons and any other items they please. The freedom to bend and shape the game does not stop there. Players will have the means of creating their own NPCs, or non-player characters with their own custom animations. These could include mythical creatures like ogres or mountain trolls. If you are a modder, this next feature will surely garner your attention. Hypixel has announced a scripting API which will allow you to customize the behavior of the NPCs that you have developed. This means that once you have finished creating an NPC you will be able to choose how it interacts with the world around it just by writing and manipulating a few lines of code. Out of the many features in the Hypixel repertoire, the one to steal the show is very simple yet very powerful. That feature is collaboration. Fans of Hytale will have the opportunity to work in sync across a single workflow. One person can create a model of a creature while another team member works on the animations or behavior scripting while, yet a third member focuses on the texturing or sound design. When the project is finalized all the changes will be reflected back to each team member’s workspace. It will be a thrilling experience to see what people come up with. Unfortunately, many players feel that Minecraft’s development has been quite slow over the years, receiving only two major updates per year. This is a business model that is proving to be outdated in the lifespan of newer titles. Hypixel’s Hytale has provided a means of remedy to this problem and with the announcement of its launch happening any day now, Mojang AB and its parent company Microsoft will definitely have a fire blazing beneath them.
Former US Marine and decorated “Operation Iraqi Freedom” veteran Sean Huze tells his story in 10 monologues in a play he wrote called “The Sand Storm,” which is the first offering of the L.A. City College Theatre Academy which opens on Oct 3, 2019. The play will run through Oct. 12. “The Sand Storm” is a short play, only 60 minutes and tells the story of recently returned vets from the War in Iraq. This play takes theater-goers into the immediate post-traumatic aftermath of the horrifying events of that war. It is a place where individuals’ psyches have been affected. A place where nightmares are all too real. A place where reality is indistinguishable from fantasy.
FALL 2019 ARTIST LECTURE SERIES TUES 09 / 24 Todd Gray TUES 10 / 22 WED 10 / 30 TUES 11 / 05 TUES 11 / 19
Natasha Kline Jimena Sarno Iva Gueorguieva Mat Gleason
6:00–7:30 PM Chem 3 Lecture Hall Free & Open to the Public
Join Students for Social Justice on Friday, Sept. 20, 2019 for the Global Climate Strike! Join thousands of other students at 12 p.m. in Pershing Square and march to City Hall to demand climate action, now. Visit Global Youth Climate Strike Los Angeles for more information. Yamaha Artist Concert Series Welcomes Pianist Ory Shihor, an awardwinning pianist will perform at the Herb Alpert Music Center on Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m, with cocktail hour beginning at 6:30 p.m. The event is free for students and $25 for general admission. Guitarist to Perform Financial adviser and classical guitarist Tom Rizzo will give free advice to students and perform with the LACC Faculty Jazz Ensemble on Sept. 30. The topics of discussion will be how to work as a studio musician and how to support oneself as a freelance musician. Following the event Rizzo will perform. The workshop begins at 5 p.m. with a 7 p.m. performance. The event is free and will be located in the Herb and Lani Alpert Recital Hall. Movie Night Caps Constitution Week The Law and Administration of Justice Department will host a movie night on Sept. 20. Doors open at 6 p.m. in Holmes Hall, HH 06. This year’s movie is “All the President’s Men.” There will be free snacks, free copies of the Constitution, and a drawing for tickets to the VIP reception with journalist
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NEWS
Los Angeles Collegian - Wednesday, September 18, 2019
FROM “HOMELESS” PAGE 1
Student: We need syStemic change, funding for housing, food, transportation Calculus student Alfredo Gama Salmeron wanted to clean up after his class at 9:20 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2019, when he decided to take a shower in the Kinesiology Building on campus. When he finished, L.A. County Sheriffs were waiting to speak with him. “I got out of my calculus class and headed toward the showers on the campus,” Salmeron said. “As I was heading out the shower the sheriffs on campus cornered me and asked me if I was a student ... They said [the] instructor called about me and [was] concerned.” Salmeron is a homeless student who uses the showers at times. He is also the student trustee on the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees. He says that LACC should be more accommodating to students who do not have a place to live. “We need systemic change and funding for student housing, food
and transportation,” Salmeron said. Salmeron is one of many who have been hit by the homeless crisis in Los Angeles. It has hit Los Angeles especially hard making it the second largest city in the nation behind New York with homeless people, according to an article by KNBC Los Angeles. LACC Kinesiology staff member Tanya Geddes responded by email about the shower situation. “Showers were indeed available for homeless students 6 a.m. - 8 a.m. Monday to Friday,” Geddes wrote to the Collegian. “It was after hours, there was not an attendant present, and there was not an LACC class in session. The group using the pool was an outside group authorized to be there. It was after 9 p.m. at night. The locker room is closed at that time.” LACC has had its share of troubles dealing with homeless persons who are not students and therefore not authorized to use the showers.
In a separate incident over the summer, a young homeless man named Alfred Lopez was showering in the Kinesiology Building Locker Room. Police escorted him off campus because he was not a student. “Yes, it was in the morning; [the showers] were supposed to be open at 6 a.m., “ he said. “But the P.E. locker rooms were always locked, never opened until 9 a.m.” Lopez at the time wanted to clean up for a job interview. “The locker rooms were open and I was using them for about three months straight with no problems at all,” Lopez said. “I was never asked for a school ID or questioned about anything. But then these homeless young [drug users] started coming up in there and trying to break into random lockers trying to steal other students’ stuff.” The homeless are allowed to use the restrooms, and they enter other buildings like the MLK Library.
LACC is an open campus. However, some students say incidents with homeless persons using the showers makes them uneasy. “It makes me feel unsafe walking by myself to class. I feel like they’re going to rob me,” said one LACC student who wanted to remain anonymous. LACC student Margarita Salazar is majoring in criminology. She views homeless on campus another way. She says she never encounters them in restrooms at LACC. “But I have seen them like walking around campus,” Salazar said. “It doesn’t make me worry because they like never come up to me or anything.” LACC President Mary Gallagher says there are a substantial amount of homeless in the area. She says she understands and is sympathetic. “I have an initiative to help our students the best as I can, but I can’t help everybody because we don’t have the ability to help everybody.”
Photo courtesy: “Day 066 - Shower” by Dale Miller is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
How to Find a Hot Shower in L.A.
FROM “CRIME” PAGE 1
tions to public showers around the U.S., visit publicshower.directory. Many home-insecure people Mobile showers are another vistruggle to find necessities such as able option available to California Last semester, the Collegian re- are told by LACCD [Los Ange- also a priority. brary,” said Kahlil Harrington, the a shower and toiletries or hygiene residents. A program called Lava ported on burglaries in the Chem- les Community College District] “New improvements have been director of facilities and operations. products. Shelters are a great op- Mae founded by Doniece Sandoval istry BuildingEast where there are no when we mention about repairing made over the summer. We inIn addition to the special locks, Hollywood Crime - Mapping L.A. - Los Angeles Times http://maps.latimes.com/neighborhoods/neighborhood/east-hollyw... tion that provides more than one in 2013 currently has five locations security cameras. There were also our own cameras,” said Deputy stalled special locks that allow Harrington says every single buildservice. However, not all shelters in the Los Angeles area. Two are in burglaries in Modular 3, adjacent Ryan Rouzan in reference to the students to lock the door from ing on campus will have an HD seprovide a walk-in option. Walk-ins DTLA, two in South L.A., and one to the Life Science Building and in upgrade. inside of the classrooms in case of curity system installed. or drop-ins refers to people who is in South El Monte. Their hours were aboutRouzan average. “We had new locks installed in Holmes Hall. says it is a huge project an emergency in many of the classpass through for a shower but do vary, with access available from Completion of the new surveil- that will cover all nine colleges. rooms throughout the campus, some of our rooms,” said Barbara Over the last three months, East Hollywood averaged 8.2 violent crimes and 28.2 a d ve r t ise m e n t not spend the night. Although there 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. For locations and lance system is still a year away ac- Some improvements are already in including Franklin Hall, Jefferson Vasquez, chair of the library deproperty crimes per week. are shelters that do allow drop-ins, times on Lava Mae mobile showcording to college officials. place. Upgrades to classroom secu- Hall, Holmes Hall, and the Science partment. “It might help students some require a screening process to ers program, visit lavamae.org/ This rate directly of 4.3 crimes 10,000 is higher thanas inwell nearby Koreatown and Tech Building, as the li- feel more secure.” “It’s in the works … that’s all we week's rity that affectsper students is people be approved for shower drop ins. losangeles and lower than Hollywood Hills, Silver Lake, Westlake, Windsor Square, Los Angeles Drop-in Shower LoPlanet Fitness charges $10 a Larchmont, Los Feliz and Hollywood. cations month for a membership and are A 2008 population estimate of 78,192 from the L.A. Department of City Planning is Youth Center on Highland, Anita open 24 hours a day excluding holLOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT CRIME REPORT FOR JULY 21 - 27, 2019 used to calculate per-capita totals. May Rosenstein Campus idays. This requires a debit card Address: 1118 N McCadden Pl, for the monthly payments. This is SOURCE: L.A. TIMES Los Angeles, CA 90038 a guaranteed shower as it’s a paid Location Crime Date and time THE LATE JULY RATE OF Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily service included in all gym mem4.3 CRIMES PER 10,000 The Youth Center on Highland berships. Planet Fitness is open 24 4800 block of Hollywood Boulevard Theft from vehicle July 27, 11:40 p.m. caters to the LGBTQ+ youth rang- hours a day, excluding holidays. PEOPLE WAS HIGHER ing in ages from 18 to 24, as well as 900 block of North Harvard Boulevard Theft from vehicle July 27, 9:30 p.m. Public beaches can be a last reTHAN IN KOREATOWN seniors. Th e center accepts walk-ins sort. Many, if not all, beaches proAND LOWER THAN Santa Monica and Serrano Theft July 27, 5 p.m. upon registration and programs for vide visitors with showers to clean HOLLYWOOD HILLS, Find Your Neighborhood housing assistance or further edu- up after a day at the beach. These 5300 block of Santa Monica Boulevard Theft July 27, 2:30 p.m. WESTLAKE, SILVERLAKE, cation. Once registered, a visitor showers are public, often placed Search by address WINDSOR SQUARE, can shower as a drop-in and receive next to or near the bathrooms. A Lockwood and Virgil Aggravated assault July 27, 2:30 p.m. Search an L.A. County address a hot meal GO and access to laundry few public beaches with showers LARCHMONT, LOS FELIZ machines. are Santa Monica Beach, Sunset Alexandria and Sunset Grand theft auto July 26, 10:15 p.m. AND HOLLYWOOD. My Friends Place Beach, and Venice Beach. Many of Select a neighborhood 1600 block of North Normandie Avenue Grand theft auto July 26, 5 p.m. Address: 5850 Hollywood Blvd, these beaches are easily accessible Acton GO Los Angeles, CA, 90028 through LA Metro transportation 4800 block of Hollywood Boulevard Grand theft auto July 26, 3:35 p.m. Hours: 9 am - 5:30 p.m. Closed services. Select a region on Sat. & Sun. For more information on loca1100 block of North Vermont Avenue Theft July 26, 2:20 p.m. Angeles Forest GO Place provide for a tions to public showers around the My Friend’s much younger youth, ages 12 to 24. U.S. visit publicshower.directory. 300 block of North Vermont Avenue Theft July 26, 1:05 p.m. They provide access to showers as For more options on shelters around Select a ranking well as hotGO meals, hygiene supplies/ California with services other than 300 block of North Vermont Avenue Theft July 26, 12:25 p.m. Age: Median Age toiletries, and clothing as drop-ins. showers such as food and groceries, 400 block of North Western Avenue Theft July 25, 5 p.m. They too have long term programs work, cash and housing assistance, one can enter for housing The complete list » assistance visit lapl.org/homeless-resources or 4900 block of West Sunset Boulevard Aggravated assault July 25, 1:30 p.m. and education. shelterlistings.org/state/california. For more information on loca- html. BY JAILENE TRUJILLO
District upgrades campus security
2 of 4
4900 block of West Sunset Boulevard
Aggravated assault
July 25, 1:30 p.m.
5400 block of West Sunset Boulevard
Theft
July 25, 7:55 a.m.
1100 block of North Kenmore Avenue
Aggravated assault
July 24, 8:25 p.m.
4500 block of Hollywood Boulevard
Theft
July 24, 7:20 p.m.
5300 block of Santa Monica Boulevard
Robbery
July 24, 6:20 p.m.
400 block of North Hoover Street
Theft
July 24, 5 p.m.
4200 block of Lockwood Avenue
Theft
July 24, 12:01 a.m.
1200 block of North Berendo Street
Theft from vehicle
July 23, 11 p.m.
5400 block of West Sunset Boulevard
Theft
July 23, 10:50 a.m.
4500 block of Lexington Avenue
Theft from vehicle
July 23, 3 a.m.
CRIME ALERTS VIOLENT CRIME
PROPERTY CRIME
Rancho Park Shadow Hills Pacoima Glassell Park Lake Balboa
Exposition Park Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw Venice Vermont Square Hollywood Hills
CRIME RANKINGS VIOLENT CRIME
PROPERTY CRIME
1. Chesterfield Square 2. Harvard Park 3. Green Meadows 4. Manchester Square 5. Vermont Knolls
1. Fairfax Los Angeles 2. Beverly Grove 3. Chesterfield Square 4. Westchester 5. Leimert Park
4300 block of Fountain Avenue
Theft from vehicle
July 22, 5:30 p.m.
5400 block of West Sunset Boulevard
Theft
July 21, 6:55 p.m.
1000 block of North Vermont Avenue
Robbery
July 21, 6:30 p.m.
Kingsley Drive and Hollywood Boulevard
Theft from vehicle
July 21, 3:30 p.m.
4900 block of Santa Monica Boulevard
Theft
July 21, 11 a.m.
5400 block of West Sunset Boulevard
Theft
July 21, 10:20 a.m.
About This Project
Normandie and Hollywood
Robbery
July 21, 9 a.m.
Hollywood Boulevard and Western Avenue
Aggravated assault
July 21, 2:45 a.m.
East Hollywood is one of the 272 neighborhoods in Mapping L.A., The Times’ resource for crime, neighborhoods, demographics and schools.
Western and Santa Monica
Robbery
July 21, 2:30 a.m.
Beverly Boulevard and Normandie Avenue
Theft
July 21, 12:01 a.m.
Collegian
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More about Mapping L.A. »
9/17/19, 3:29 PM
CAMPUS LIFE
Los Angeles Collegian - Wednesday, September 18, 2019
7
SEE SCHOLARSHIPS
SCHOLARSHIPS IFA Foundation- Mariott Foundation
celebration of hispanic heritage month
Awarded once annually Deadline: Oct. 31,2019 Amount: $1,500 Description: The IFA Foundation and the Marriott Foundation have collaborated to sponsor this scholarship award. Additionally, the individual selected will be invited to the International Franchise Association’s (IFA) Annual Convention and will receive a travel stipend (up to $1,500) to attend. Eligibility: must be enrolled in an U.S. accredited college or university with studies in business, hospitality, or franchise management, have sophomore, junior or senior college class standing for the period of the scholarship, and be a U.S. citizen. To apply: Visit scholarship providers website Franchisefoundation.org ________________________________________________________________ Dorothy and Robert DeBolt Scholarship Amount: $3,000 Description: The DeBolt Scholarship will be awarded to a youth who has been adopted after being in foster care in California. Eligibility: Must be a California resident at the time of application and must have been accepted for admission to, or be enrolled in an accredited two-year college, four-year university or trade/vocational school in the United States. Maximum age at application is 25 years. Selection of the winner will be based on ability, motivation, community service, financial need, and the potential to succeed. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider’s website. Lilliput.org _________________________________________________________________ Student Poster Contest Negative Population Growth (NPG) is having a student poster contest and is offering scholarships between $1,000 and $3,000. Students who will be enrolled during spring 2020 are eligible to apply. The deadline is October 15, 2019. Students may apply at npg.org/scholarships. html _____________________________________ Los Angeles Community College Foundation (LACCF) Scholarships
PHOTO BY REBECCA GRAZIER Right to left, Dr Holmes, dean of Student Services, Marcela Aguayo, dancer, Vadim Brunell guitarist, Jessica Pachrco, owner, Flamenco Tropical, Kassandra kocoshis, percussionist, Professor of percussionist
Authorities Still Have No Suspect in Two Campus Fires BY REBECCA GRAZIER
PHOTO BY REBECCA GRAZIER Charred concrete shows the aftermath of a fire set in a trash can outside of the Life Science Building at L.A. City College. on Aug. 5, 2019.
Two separate incidents of suspected arson occurred on campus at L.A. City College on Aug. 5, 2019. Sheriffs responded to a call of a trash can fire on the first floor of the Sci-Tech Building at approximately 3 p.m. Two people were reported to be in the bathroom with fire extinguishers attempting to put out the fire. When deputies arrived at the building, they saw a man walking out of the front door carrying a fire extinguisher. One of the first to arrive on the scene was Deputy Ryan Rouzan. “We had everyone get a good distance away from the building,” he said. “The fire department came, and extinguished the fire, we had everybody out for about an hour, and were able to bring everybody back in and no one was injured.” Police then noticed smoke coming from a trash can outside of the Life Sciences Building. “We looked over to the west of us,” Rouzan said. “We could see some smoke in the air. Initially with all the construction going on I thought it was like a truck that had just let out some exhaust, and then I look again, and I saw that there was even more, I was like okay, that’s a lot of black smoke, so we make our way over to the west end of the campus.” Campus police don’t believe the two fires are related. School certifying official for the veterans resource center, and student services aid Phoebe Long was in her office in the Life Sciences
building when the fire began. She had stayed a little late that day. “I was just working and I heard the fire alarm goes off,” she said. “so I tried to go out the front door, and I saw there was a lot of flame and smoke, so I just went out the back door,” The response was very fast, the response crew was very fast, the fire trucks came within a couple of minutes and took care of the fire, and they cleaned up already so it looks pretty nice now. “ One student feels unsettled by the fact that someone was setting fires on campus. “It’s a little bothersome cause you’re here, you want to be safe here,” said Andy Ramirez, undecided. “So knowing that there’s fires around, and it could be the building you’re in that could be set on fire, so it could turn out real bad. It feels unsafe.” Another student said he feels frustrated because he feels LACC is already struggling as a college. “It’s kind of upsetting. Earlier I had a class that did get cut cause there wasn’t enough students enrolled, and it’s just kind of upsetting that people are setting fires,” said Cesar Garcia, studio arts “and we’re losing resources when we’re already struggling, and instead of putting out those fires we could have more classes open. It’s just kind of upsetting, like why self sabotage like that?” LACC brought in approximately 10 additional deputies and security officers on Aug, 5 from East L.A. College, West L.A., L.A. Valley College, as well as Southwest College to patrol L.A. City College to ensure campus safety. Sheriff ’s Deputies still have no suspects.
Hollywood Foreign Press Association Fellowship The purpose of this fellowship is to provide support to full-time (12 units) LACC cinema and TV students who can demonstrate financial need. The award will be granted based on need and qualifications and will be awarded for the fall semester. ________________________________________ Anthony & Jeanne Pritzker Family Foundation Guardian Scholars Scholarship This scholarship was created by the Anthony & Jeanne Pritzker Family Foundation Guardian Scholarship is available to any LACC student who is a member in good standing of the Guardian Scholars Program for current or former foster youth with financial need as evidenced by his/her FAFSA EFC form or by his/her award letter from LACC Financial Aid. At minimum, students must have a 2.0 GPA. For more information, students may visit the LACCF website. The deadline for fall is Oct. 20, 2019 _______________________________________________________ The Ella Fitzgerald Foundation Award for LACC 2nd and 3rd Semester Nursing Students To apply, fill out the application at the LACCF website, write the required essay and submit your class schedule, unofficial transcript and financial aid summary. All applicants must be eligible to receive California in-state tuition. Submit all documents to the L.A. City College Foundation. The deadline is Oct. 20, 2019. ________________________________________________________ LACC Foundation - Edison STEM Scholars Awards This scholarship award is intended for students majoring in Business, Computer and Information Services. Engineering, mathematics, Engineering Technology,Natural Resources, Conservation and Physical Sciences. Minimum requirements include full time status and a 3.0 GPA. For more information on the STEM Awards, visit the LACC Foundation at http://www.laccfoundation.org/edison-stem-application-2019/
FROM “SAFE PARKING” PAGE 1
PILOT PROGRAm up in the air Over 15,700 people live in their vehicles in Los Angeles, according to safeparkingla.org. L.A. City College has several programs to help students in need such as a food pantry, book vouchers, as well as emergency loans to students for housing, food, transportation, and access to clean showers.
The new bill poses some concerns for one student about the safety of sleeping in the parking lot. “I think that’s actually a good idea if they could make sure it’s regulated and not just anyone that’s living out of their car could drive in and sleep. That would lead to a lot of problems I think, said Josh Youman, arts major.
8
SPORTS
Los Angeles Collegian - Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Slam Dunk: LASPORTSNET Returns with Intramurals BY JAILENE TRUJILLO Signups for intramural basketball at LACC are already over. If you did not make the Sept. 13 cutoff date, you will have to sit on the sidelines to watch. Although LACC does not have intercollegiate sports teams, owner of LASPORTSNET, Nathan Polzin has returned to partner once again with LACC to bring intramural sports to the students. The intramural format is students against students and only open to LACC attendees. “All players get a team color for their shirt that they’ll wear so we can tell the different teams,” Polzin said. “And then yeah, at the end of the season we do playoffs and the winning team takes the trophy.” There are other opportunities. Players may sign up for soccer through Oct. 22. Registration is available free of charge on the LASPORTSNET website and must be completed with a LACC student email. Once registered, students can join a team, make their own or be a free agent. LACC’s Intramural sports events are open to spectators free of charge. Players take the court on Tuesdays and Fridays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. with first games of the season on Sept. 17. Every semester LASPORTSNET schedules two sports. This fall, there will be basketball and soccer. All teams are co-ed and no experience is required. “We take beginners, intermediate, advanced. Basically, what we do is take everybody. It’s free.” Polzin said. The games consist of eight weeks of regular season play, plus the playoffs for the top eight teams. However, to be on the playoff roster, players must have participated in a minimum of two regular season games. Participants must compete in a minimum of two games before the fourth week of regular season play to stay on the team. The roster for the basketball teams must have a minimum of nine players and maximum of sixteen, with at least three females, according to LASPORTSNET. During games, at least two female players and no more than four male players should be active on the court. The roster for the soccer teams must have a minimum of eleven players and no more than sixteen. Each team must have at least two female players. During games there should always be at least one active female player on the field.
PHOTO BY CURTIS SABIR
Intramural Sports Give Student Athletes Reason to Cheer BY JAILENE TRUJILLO Sadly, Los Angeles City College lacks intercollegiate sports teams. However, the great Nathan Polzin, L.A. Sport Net owner, partnered with LACC to bring its students sports! Nonetheless, this is intramural format – City students playing against each other. This is only open to LACC attendees, and it’s completely free of charge – free to play and free to watch. What Nathan Polzin has created for students is incredible and all are welcome. Men and women
can join and it’s truly inclusive. When selecting gender, they even have a non-binary option! And no experience is required to join any of the sports teams. The diversity is wonderful, as there are requirements on how many female players there must be on each team, as well as active on the field in each game. There’s a required two female players minimum on the soccer team with a required one female active on the field. Basketball has a minimum of three female players on the team with two active female players on the court. The LACC intramural sports program has two
sports to choose from for each semester, and this semester brings basketball and soccer. And after talking with the man himself, Nathan, this reporter joined! But this amazing program has a closing date. However, you still have time to join the soccer team as registration closes on Oct. 22. I hope this spikes your interest. Whether you get the urge to join and play, or simply come and watch student athletes on the court or field, all you need to do is register at www.lasportsnet. com. Basketball games have already started, and soccer games begin on Oct. 15.
FIGHT!
READY PHOTOS BY CURTIS SABIR (TOP) PHOTO COURTESY TANYA GEDDES (CENTER) PHOTO COURTESY ANA SALINAS (LOWER)
GOAL!