Reporters notebook
Crowds Follow COVID Rules as
Grand prix returns
Collegian Page8
Los Angeles
By John Johns Members from a coalition of over 20 California press associations, journalism advocacy and civil liberties groups worked to end a practice that empowered police to arrest journalists once law enforcement declared a protest or march an unlawful assembly. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 98 into law on Oct. 10 in a move widely regarded as a victory for press freedom and the public’s right-to-know. The new law delivers a strong rebuke to California law enforcement’s anti-press policy. The bill’s passage followed a year of police violence against journalists who cover protests, demonstrations and civil unrest. “Media organizations have documented more than 50 incidents of journalists being injured, detained or arrested over a 12-month period,” the Greater Los Angeles chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists wrote in a statement, one day before the bill was signed. The SPJ also stated that the violence grew out of the Los Angeles Police Department’s, “use of unlawful-assembly orders which expanded dramatically and with little oversight.” This began in the months after police killed George Floyd, in Minneapolis, on May 25, 2020. Floyd’s death drew thousands into the streets throughout the state and stimulated calls for major police reforms including defunding. The ripple effect extended to Echo Park in L.A. On March 25, where five Collegian reporters and photographers covered the evictions of unhoused people at an encampment in the park. Keliyah Gigi Williams and James Duffy followed the forced removal by LAPD of the destitute living around Echo Park Lake. Duffy says a police officer barred him from entering an outdoor press conference by Los Angeles City Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell when he attempted to hear the councilman’s statement the following day at the park.
City Takes Different Tack for Mac Arthur Park Evictions
Vaccination Proof Required Board Policy 2900 Vaccines
Officials found a more compassionate and humane way to relocate unhoused residents after Echo Park. By Poupy Gaelle Nguetsop and Juan Mendoza.
What Students Need to Know and Do Compiled by Sorina Szakacs Students have until 5 p.m., Friday, Nov.19, 2021 to provide proof of vaccination or submit an exemption and complete a baseline test. If you need your link re-sent to you or you are having any issues with your account, contact Cleared4 Help Desk immediately at covidcolleges@biocept.com. Create and complete your Cleared4 account Upload your proof of CDC or WHO-compliant vaccination Provide all other required information Schedule your initial onboarding COVID-19 test.
COVID-19 TESTING If you currently are, or plan to be, in person at any District college or facility, for any reason whatsoever, you must comply with the baseline testing with Biocept as part of this process. Tests are free; there is no out-of-pocket expense to you, but your health insurance will help cover the cost of the test. There are no exceptions. Fully Vaccinated: You only need to do the baseline test once before the grace period expires. Fully Vaccinated and approved to work fully remote or enrolled in classes in a fully remote environment: You may delay the baseline test until your in-person status changes.
Photo By Christian Chavez
EXEMPTIONS REQUESTS Students may access the Vaccination Exemption Request Forms by going to the Student Portal (MyCollege.laccd.edu ). Navigate to the COVID-19 Vaccination Exemption tile and follow the prompts. Select either the Medical or Religious Exemption Request. Students with questions may contact the Student Services Office at their home college
The 2021 Collegian Times makes it three Pacemakers in a row—and the 2020 magazine wins top honors from the L.A. Press Club as awards season unfolds for journalism.
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By Sorina Szakacs
Photo by Louis White Beatrice Alcala holds her L.A. Press Club award for design at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown L.A. on Oct. 16, 2021.
Wednesday November 17, 2021, 6 - 8 p.m. Free online event
2-3 4
Features 5 News 6 Scholarships 7 Sports 8
See “Mac Arthur” page 6
L.A. City College Wins National Pacemaker Award
Illustration by Michael sitar
INDEX
A few encampments remained the day before the evictions. The tents under the jacarandas, palms and eucalyptus trees dotted the landscape of the park on a quiet, chilly, afternoon in the early fall. The 32-acre park looked quite empty compared to the previous weeks before the deadline of Oct. 15. Some of the unhoused residents moved to the north side of Mac Arthur Park, which remains open. Others accepted the offer from the two organizations involved in the eviction project, PATH Los Angeles chapter and Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. Their goal is to provide food, clothing, emergency housing and employment, with the guarantee of connecting the homeless to a variety of supportive services after the clients sign up.
Approved Exemption and will be in person, onsite: You must test weekly with Biocept, scheduling weekly appointments through your Cleared4 account. You may test at any LACCD college or the District Educational Services Center.
New Covid Numbers
See “New Law” page 6
Arts & Entertainment
City
New Covid Rules
Police Arrests of Journalists Spark New Law
Opinion & Editorial
Page 7
The Voice of Los Angeles City College Since 1929
Wednesday, October 27, 2021 Volume 187 Number 3
New SB 98 Law
Follow the Money Scholarships
Ruben Salazar
Filmmaker Phillip Rodriguez presents “Ruben Salazar: Man in the Middle,” in partnership with California Humanities’ its Democracy and the Informed Citizen Project for the LACC Visual and Media Arts Lecture Series. Ruben Salazar was a journalist at the L.A. Times and an advocate. He was killed during the National Chicano Moratorium March to end the Vietnam War in August 1970. He was struck by a tear gas cannister fired by a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy. No charges were filed. The filmmaker will participate in a Q&A session following the screening of the film.
ollegian editor-in-chief Angela Johnson led her newspaper and magazine staffs to national recognition from Associated Collegiate Press in Minneapolis and from College Media Association in New York City. The Collegian Times magazine staff reported, illustrated, photographed and designed its way to win the third consecutive Pacemaker Award since 2019.
See “L.A. Press Club” page 6
2
Opinion & editorial
Los Angeles Collegian - Wednesday, October 27, 2021
Collegian
Editorial
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 Editor-in-Chief Matthew Rodriguez Managing Editor ANGELA JOHNSON Graphics Layout Editor BEATRICE ALCALA Copy Editors Sorina Szakacs Angela Johnson Opinions & Editorial Editor Sorina Szakacs Arts & Entertainment Editor RACHEL RODRIGUEZ Photo Editor Louis White Photo illustrated by Beatrice Alcala
Photo Courtesy of Unsplash
Habemus Legem! We have a law! By Sorina Szakacs Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill 98 into law, and it is about time.. The bill adds to First Amendment protections and press freedoms that allow journalists to report from “closed lines” in California. The new law allows an “authorized representative” of any type of news service, radio, television, online or newspaper, “to enter those closed areas and would prohibit a peace officer or other law enforcement officer from intentionally assaulting, interfering with, or obstructing a duly authorized representative who is gathering, receiving, or processing information for communication to the public.” In other words, the law prohibits police officers from declaring a protest an unlawful
assembly and sending journalists away. Police were conducting the people’s business in the dark. The journalists were not allowed to witness police action, and that was wrong. With SB 98, nobody will be able to send the watchdogs home anymore! Until now, California journalists, even though they are among the most protected in the country, had no protection during protests and rallies. In the last year, more than 50 journalists were arrested while they covered protests, homeless encampments, evacuations or rallies. One such journalist was Collegian reporter Keliyah Gigi Williams. LAPD officers arrested her March 25 during the Echo Park homeless evictions. That can no longer happen under SB 98.
Housing Alone Will Not End Problems for Homeless By Alexandra Frank Los Angeles City College students like this one are having to pass many potentially crazy homeless people on their way to campus every day. And that’s just walking. Add to that the many homeless that students encounter if they have a train commute, further reminding them of the homeless problem of Los Angeles. They see them around the station entrances, on the subway platforms and on the trains themselves. Fortunately, I don’t have to take any late classes in person, but what of those who do because they already have a busy schedule during the day and don’t learn as well via online classes? Are they safe? Especially during the current pandemic, no one knows who’s infected or not since some of the infected don’t even show signs of it. Even if the homeless aren’t physically attacking anyone, they may
emotionally harass those who pass them. The distance between the sheriff ’s office opposite the administration office and the homeless near campus is significant enough to be worrisome should something serious occur. Even if one does dial 9-1-1, the police may show up too late. Unfortunately, there are homeless who don’t want help and who spend what money they do get on drugs instead of food or saving up for a better life. There are homeless shelters and programs for them to get back into the workforce and house themselves. However, some simply don’t want the help. It’s all well and good to secretly tape or take pictures of them because it’s funny on the internet. But the reality is that most homeless are insane enough to do damage to the people who pass them. That very insanity was either already there or induced by the drugs they use. Although that isn’t bad enough, the pandemic means they could kill without touching anyone. It’s as simple as breathing the same air as them.
Why Californians Should Care about Climate Justice By Maria Lopez California is the largest importer in the country, and with the rise of COVID-19, individuals were forced to source their shopping to sites like Amazon that deliver directly to your homes.
Many think this is an easy and efficient way to shop and technology makes it easier every day. But what people don’t think about is the damage that diesel-operated warehouse trucks that serve America’s busiest port carrying their cargo across the country have polluted the air in all the nearby neighborhoods for decades and are the largest source of pollutants in Southern California. Diesel trucks emit nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide that increases the risks of cancer, asthma, impaired
California is the first state in the country to adopt such a bill into law. More states are expected to follow. California News Publishers Association (CNPA) was one of the major advocates for SB 98. The bill protects “a member of the media from attacks by the police while covering protests.” This bill is a victory in California, and it does not only protect journalists. It protects everyone who has a blog, and any citizen who wants to write. This is not only about journalists and free press; it is about free speech and the right to assembly for everyone. Mike McGuire, the author of the law, who has a background in journalism, said in an abc10.com interview: we need to “ensure that freedom of the press wins the day, otherwise
brain function, nervous system function and premature death. But it is low-income communities of color who suffer the most from these climate injustices, especially Latinos, African Americans and poor families. They are the ones who live along highways congested by diesel trucks. The communities that suffer the most as a consequence of the blooming goods movement industry have been named ““diesel death zones” because of the deadly effects that diesel-emitted pollution can cause to the health of these poor communities. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has advanced a comprehensive strategy to achieve 100% zero-emission trucks and buses by 2045 in the state and significantly earlier for some market segments.
our democracy would die.” Without a free press to record in real time what happens and relate the truth to its public, there would be no democracy, no chance of deciding for ourselves, based on what we see, hear and read in the news, where the truth lies, and what we can do to act upon it. Journalists are the guardians of democracy. They are the voice of the voiceless, but if they are stopped, harassed and arrested while reporting, then they too become voiceless, and history turns into an ugly painting with brush strokes of only the ones in power. “A free press can be good or bad, but, most certainly, without freedom, a press will never be anything but bad,” Albert Camus said in the 1960s. Some 60 years later, this still stands.
The first initiative of its kind was proposed by CARB in 2019, which proposed that by 2030, 20% of new trucks sold in California to be zero-emission models. Electric trucks are becoming more efficient, and the market economy will lead to a drop in their prices and the advanced technologies will save lives and protect the disproportionately disadvantaged communities of color who suffer as a consequence of diesel trucks. According to CARB research, the electrification of trucks will save about $6 billion in fuel and maintenance costs between 2020 and 2040 and the state will also save about $9 billion in health care expenses. The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the situation for those communities in near proximity to
highways with high traffic of diesel trucks. These communities have a greater exposure to air pollution, which leads to greater severity of COVID-19 disease, including a 9% increase in deaths. These communities are more likely to get sick and die from COVID than others as a consequence of the disparities in health care access among people of color and poor to low-income individuals. All the individual efforts we make to reduce environmental pollution are useless if pollution caused by transportation is not regulated. Electric trucks are becoming more efficient and can help alleviate climate injustices among disenfranchised communities, while saving our environment for the generations to come.
Photographers CHRISTIAN CHAVEZ Louis White Illustrators Cassandra Munoz MICHAEL SITAR Reporters Matthew Rodriguez, Juan Mendoza, JOHN JOHNS, SORINA SZAKACS, POUPY GAELLE NGUESTOP, MARVIN ANDRADE, DULCE GAlvez, DAniel Marlos Faculty Adviser Rhonda Guess
For all submissions including letters to the editor and publicity releases, send materials to Collegian offices located in Chemistry Building, Room 207, or email: losangeles.collegian@gmail.com. To advertise in the Collegian, direct all insertion orders and questions to: pr.collegian@gmail.com. Issues of our award-winning newspaper and magazine are instantly available to our readers on issuu.com/ collegianwired.
College Should Help International Students During Pandemic By Beatriz Valeria Rivera Being a student in a foreign country is a challenge. To build a new life from the beginning is twice as hard when your entire family is 2,2295.4 miles away, and you have no one but yourself, literally. It has been two years since I landed here; two years of writing letters to my fellows back home and a constant battle of teaching my mother how to use FaceTime so she can call me every other day. She comes to visit once in a while, but I haven’t been back home since then. LACC has more than 70 countries
and cultures in their International student community, a Salvadorean student speaking here! As students, we come to the United States with an F-1 student visa that allows us to reside in the country for an estimated time of five to six years. International students pay out-ofstate tuition, and rates vary depending on the school; we are allowed to work no more than 20 hours per week only on campus. When I moved to the US back in 2019, the word “Coronavirus” did not exist, and the idea of working 20 hours per week did not bother me at all because my parents covered my expenses. In 2020, everything changed. Economically speaking, my hard-working parents started to struggle. It became extra hard for them to pay my 350 dollars per unit tuition. But that
was not all, campuses closed, and LACC perhaps, meaning that neither other international students nor I were going to be able to work those 20 hours per week at least. Considering that International students are not allowed to request any student loans, stimulus checks nor do we qualify for financial aid or food stamps, this was chaotic and still is. The only chance we had to make some sort of income was not even a chance anymore, and it still isn’t. How could we afford tuition, food, transportation, living expenses, rent, and everything that costs being a human being literally? International students pay the United States of America significant amounts of money just to breathe. Schools should have resources to help us in case of emergency or perhaps in another pandemic disaster.
Next Issue: November 10, 2021 Editorial Deadline: November 8, 2021
Opinion & editorial
Los Angeles Collegian - Wednesday, October 27, 2021
3
City Views
How Does it Feel to Be Back on Campus? Compiled by Poupy Gaelle Nguetsop
Shaundra Major Major: TV Broadcasting
Sydney carr Major: Liberal Arts
‘’ I don’t like using those words, but it feels so real. For some reason, I first thought the campus was going to be packed with students. I had no idea that it was going to be empty. I was shocked ... to walk on Campus and see how empty it was. And I miss the energy, However, I would say my anxiety has really gone down, because it is not a lot of people here, and I feel like I have enough space to be focused ... I would say that I completely understand taking virtual zoom classes to navigate the spread of COVID. I understand. However, if you have the opportunity and you are vaccinated and follow the protocols that are mandated by the state and the federal government, I would say come on campus because you need that interaction to learn.’’
‘’ It feels a little different than before, but I enjoy being on campus and being with my friends and getting to know my teachers so, it’s different because of the COVID but I think we can get used to it ... probably more advertisement, more flyers probably more arts are things that need to be done in order to bring more students on campus.’’
Damian Martinez Major: Economics ’’ It feels good, refreshing, I like it ... ‘It will be more supportive with people who come here.’’
Mike Mendoza Major: Economics ‘’ It feels refreshing and it feels good to be back.’’
Ink Style
Illustration by Michael sitar
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Arts & Entertainment
Los Angeles Collegian - Wednesday, October 27, 2021
Artist Spotlight
Brian Alexander Morgan
Bridging the Gap Between Old and New Music
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By: Rachel Rodriguez
os Angeles based producer, songwriter and disc jockey. Brian Alexander Morgan has been making hits since the late 80’s. Morgan produces mostly R&B and house music. Morgan began his musical career at the age of ten playing piano. Some of his musical influences are: Sly & The Family Stone, Jackson 5, The Clark Sisters, Stevie Wonder and Gap Band. In 1992, Morgan produced the #1 Billboard dance hit “Give it to you” for Martha Walsh. The recognition led to his collaboration with R&B vocal trio SWV (Sisters With Voices). “Weak”, “I’m so into you” and “Right here” are a few of the songs that Morgan wrote and pro-duced for the girl band which have also received Billboard recognition. The songs continue to play on radio repeat even to this day. Many celebrities acknowledge and appreciate Morgan’s forward thinking music. Actress and comedian Luenell Campbell states, “Brian Alexander Morgan eats, sleeps and drinks music.” Campbell stars as Rhonda
in the series Californication. Grammy award winning multiplatinum producer, songwriter and artist Dj Khalil mentions Morgan as one of the true geniuses in modern music. “People are still sampling his records to this day,” said Khalil. Morgan has also worked with other known artist such as: Drake, Khalid, Usher, Mariah Carey and Nas. Find out more about Morgan via his Instagram handle, b_a_morgan, where he has 19.4 followers and a detailed interview with Quest Love. Q: What sets you apart from other producers? Morgan: I’m a bridge from the old way we used to do and the new way that we are doing it. I sample stuff, I play stuff. Sometimes I sample myself. But either way, I got the live trueness of a player and samples of today’s things. I’m a D.J. too. So all those elements in one person is what makes me different. Q: Where do you think the future of Music is headed? Morgan: Ironically, because we’ve gone so far away from live instrumentation, live players and music that can only be captured between human beings interacting like playing instruments and stuff like that and being in the
same room while they play those instruments. Like the stuff that we love from the 70s bands, Motown, the whole sound. There’s things that have to do with people playing together. I think we are heading back to that. So, I think the future is getting back to it, to the human aspect of it and I’m happy to be a part of it. Q: What advice do you have for young up and coming talent wanting to get into the music industry? Morgan: Study the business before you jump in. It’s lot of people who don’t know the business and they want to just be famous or they want to be popular. If your goal is to be popular jump on instagram, but best thing to do is study. Learn about copy-rights, learn about publishing, learn about how this games works. And how you can try to palette your music and get it to an audience without getting burned by companies or people who misrepresent themselves. You have all the information. Seek the information first. Today anybody can just throw anything out on their platforms and expect people to just eat it up. Thats not how it works, there’s no shortcuts to it.
Salazar was an ordinary man who believed that it was his job to tell the truth. He believed in the First Amendment, and I hope for young people there is something about his decency and integrity that they can take away, —Said Rodriguez to NBC News
A Legacy Continues
Ruben Salazar pioneered the way for people of color in journalism.
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By Rachel Rodriguez uben Salazar was struck by a tear gas projectile thrown by police which caused his death during The Chicano Moratorium against the Vietnam War on Oct. 29, 1970. The Vietnam War claimed the lives of Latinos at an unequal rate. In East Los Angeles, where thousands of Latinos marched in protest against the war, known as The Chicano Moratorium. Salazar was raised in El Paso, Texas eleven months after his birth in Juarez, Mexico on Mar. 23, 1928.
Salazar was granted American citizenship in 1953, six years after he filed the paperwork. Salazar served in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1952 and was stationed in Germany. When Salazar returned to Texas, he continued his college education. In 1954, Salazar completed his degree in journalism and landed his first job for the El Paso Herald-Post in 1955 as a reporter. Salazar was later hired by the L.A. Times during 1959. Here he would meet his wife, Sally Rabcore, who also worked for the L.A. Times’ Classified section.
Salazar reported stories about national politics and injustices in the Latino communities of America and he would later become Bureau Chief in Mexico as well as a foreign correspondent. Ruben Salazar returned to Los Angeles in 1968 to report on the rise of the Chicano movement. He began working for KMEX-TV in 1970 as a news director, but continued writing for the L.A. Times. On Aug. 29, 1970, The Chicano Moratorium swept the nation and was the largest civil rights protest in L.A. history at the time. Salazar would succumb to his injuries inside the Silver Dollar Cafe. Salazar paved the way for Latino journalists during a time when reporters were predominately white men. He was a voice for the Latino community throughout the 1960s. Felix Gutierrez, professor emeritus of Journalism at University of Southern California shared his insights on Ruben Salazar. “He was a bilingual, bicultural, binational journalist, which one can only do when they know more than one language, are familiar with more than one culture and have lived in more than one country,” said Gutierrez. Salazar’s family donated many of his writings, photographs and personal belongings to the University of Southern California
in 2011 so that his legacy may be secured. The family wanted Salazar’s belongings available to the public as well as future family members. “I wanted them in Los Angeles so my kids, my brother’s kids and my sister’s kids could all have a place to go and see them and look through them,” said Salazar’s oldest daughter, Lisa Johnson. “Ruben Salazar: Man in the Middle”, a documentary directed by Philip Rodriguez, shares the life and death of Ruben Salazar. “Salazar was an ordinary man who believed that it was his job to tell the truth. He believed in the First Amendment, and I hope for young people there is something about his decency and integrity that they can take away,” said Rodriguez to NBC News. Rodriguez pursued a college education at L.A. Valley College, University of California Berkley, and University of California Los Angeles where he studied Arts, Latin American Studies and Film Production. Rodriguez also founded his production company, City Projects in 2002 that is devoted to confronting issues in America regarding race and diversity. Find out more information on Ruben Salazar and Philip Rodriguez by attending an online event Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021.
Not Dracula, but Drácula
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By Daniel Marlos
he 1931 classic Hollywood film Dracula directed by Tod Browning and starring Bela Lugosi in the title role is known and revered by many, but those who grew up watching Spanish-language television know a similar, but very different film: Drácula. The character created by Bram Stoker is iconic, and while filmic interpretations of vampires vary from repulsive to erotic, the hypnotic eyes and the menacing evil of the caped killer are requisite. According to IMBD.com, “In the early days of sound, it was com-
mon for Hollywood studios to produce Hollywood foreign-language versions of their films (usually in French, Spanish and German) using the same sets, costumes etc. Unfortunately, most of these foreign language versions no longer exist. The Spanish version of Dracula is an exception.” When production on the English version wrapped for the day, the Mexican night cast and crew came to film the Spanish-language version with George Melford directing, Carlos Villarías as Conde Drácula and Lupita Tovar as Eva. “The cinematography of the Spanish language Drácula has a lot of German Expressionism, the way
See “Dracula” page 5
Features
Los Angeles Collegian - Wednesday, October 27, 2021
5
From “Dracula” page 4
Tasty Bits—Spicy Information
Hispanic Heritage
Dreamer Follows Life-changing Path
Red carpets at Sundance, the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes and other A-list celebrity turf would one day become the workplace for the boy from San Luis Potosi.
Photo Courtesy of wikipedia
they use the light,” said adjunct L.A. City College professor Moises Perez. He says he saw the Spanish version in a theater in Mexico in the 1980s. Perez studied cinema at L.A. City College before he began teaching, “The Spanish speaking actors performed as though they wanted to make it happen, not just get a paycheck,” Perez told the Collegian. “Because of that it is really believable.” Dinner Party Offers Tasty Bits— Spicy Information Once known as the “Grande Dame” of LACC, Maria Reisch’s Beverly Hills dinner parties are still legendary. On Oct. 9, guests wearing masks arrived promptly at 6:30 p.m. for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and hours of animated conversation followed. On the mantle is the Oscar for the 1953 screenplay of Titanic, written by Reisch’s father, Walter Reisch. Details of historic Hollywood spice up dinner conversations. “Lupe said she got the part because she screamed really well,” said Professor Emerita Maria Reisch. The retired dance professor was a family friend at whose home Tovar fre-
quently dined. The Spanish language Drácula “was a huge hit in Mexico” Pancho Kohner, son of Lupita Tovar told the Collegian during the first dinner party hosted by Reisch since the start of the pandemic. Kohner confirmed the nocturnal filming and credits his father, Paul Kohner, with pitching the idea of using the studio at night for foreign language filming and with producing both English and Spanish language Drácula films. Kohner spoke of his parents’ romance on set and of his father’s preference for the Spanish language version, ensuring that it was creatively the better film. Kohner says the Spanish language version “didn’t have to contend with the Hays office which was censorship … and so in the English language version Helen Twelvetrees [Chandler] is buttoned up to the neck and in the Spanish language version, my mother, 17, was in a low-cut negligee with nipple bumps and its very sexy.” Readers interested in viewing Drácula in Spanish can find it currently featured on Criterion Collection.
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By Sorina Szakacs
here was nothing glamorous about the days Julio Huerta’s mom told him not to attend school on a particular day at L.A. City College because ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) was in the area. The former Collegian editor-in-chief did not stay away from campus for long, but he was a dreamer – a DACA student, and he had to be careful. That was more than a decade ago and must seem far away. In the interim, Julio transferred to Cal State Northridge and earned his B.A. degree, worked on an M.A. and worked for a company located in Spain as an L.A. producer. He covered every major awards show and film festival from Hollywood to Palm Springs. He was prepared. He was a journalist with digital skills. He could shoot, edit, write for print or broadcast, and he could set up on the red carpet, gather the interviews and upload the content for the company in Spain shortly after the last celebrity walked off the red carpet. The EMMY That Changed Everything The “Live Coverage of An Unscheduled News Event” – “Furia Por Justicia” EMMY was not Julio’s first award, but it was the one that changed his attitude toward the actual statue. He worked on several TV networks as a freelancer before becoming a staff photographer for Telemundo at NBC Universal. With KRCA Channel 62 local outlet, Julio received a Golden Mic Award for an investigative journalism story. “With Telemundo a couple of projects that I have been involved in have gotten awards, including another Golden Mic and some Emmys,” says the journalist. “It is a large team effort to work on stories. A lot of times my contribution was very small and in other cases I was more involved in the projects that
Photo Courtesy of Julio Huerta Actor Dwayne Johnson “The Rock” (left) and Rawson Marshall Thurber (right) flank Julio Huerta between interviews at a movie junket for press in New York.
got recognized with an award.” EMMY submissions require a fee. Usually, television stations pick the best work and pay the fees for the entries. If a submission wins, the journalists involved in that particular project can request a copy of the award, for a fee. Journalists can also submit work in their names and pay the necessary fees. Julio has contributed content to several EMMY submissions, but he never found it useful to pay the fee just to have the statue on his bookshelf. This is, until recently… “With the coverage of COVID and the BLM protest, I felt like it was time for me to get an EMMY for my mom to have at home. I finally did, this year after our team won an EMMY for best news coverage during the BLM protests in LA,” Julio told the Collegian. “Our work was recognized, and that year, I felt like I gave it my all during the coverage. I thought it was worth it to pay the fee and get a copy to give to my mother to show that all the hard work I have been doing gets recognized.” Sandra O’Neill, the morning-news anchor for Telemundo 52 was a reporter during the pandemic. She and Julio met before but did not work together very often. During the pandemic however, when reporters were supposed to work only with one cameraperson to avoid the spread of the virus, O’Neill and Julio were paired up. “Working together during the pandemic when we were not going to the station but meeting in the field, brought us closer together,” O’Neill said. “We became really good friends. Julio brought his own ideas to the stories and liked working every angle. He was never complaining of working during the pandemic.” O’Neill said she is proud “of working with him,” and that Julio is a very conscious journalist who respects privacy rights. “He is a remarkable person. He will go above and beyond to help you,” O’Neill said. “For Julio, family is always first and for that, everyone looks up to him. But he is also funny and will crack a joke to make you feel better when you find your-
self in a tough situation.” Photojournalism, Forever in His Heart Even though now he is an EMMY-winning journalist, Julio always loved photography, and thanks to his former professor, he still considers it his main hobby. “I love street photography. I don’t have as much free time on my hands to go out and spend a day taking photos,” Julio said. “But the camera on my phone allows me to keep practicing my hobby. I love to be out in nature hiking and exploring new places.” One of Julio’s favorite writers is David Lazarus, who also reminds him of photography, and one of his LACC professors to be exact. “[Lazarus] is a columnist writer at the L.A. Times. I got into reading his business column. He is very witty and reminds me of Daniel Marlos who was one of my favorite photography professors when I was in LACC.” Another journalist Julio admires is Christina Gonzales of FOX 11, whom he met at CSUN during their master’s degree classes. “She was the first crossover anchor to go between Spanish to English speaking TV,” Julio said. “Quiero, puedo, y lo voy hacer!” “I want, I can, and I will do it!” is Julio’s favorite quote, something his mother used to tell him and his brothers when they were younger. He took his mother’s advice, learned English and started writing stories as well as any native speaker. The proof of his skill the awards and the recognition but also the legacy he left behind inside the Collegian newsroom. “The people mentioned above are the people I consider role models,” Julio said. “In my house we have a nickname for Ms. Rhonda Guess. My mom, my wife and I call her mamma Guess. I considered her like a second mother in many ways. She was always so caring with all of her students.” Collegian Adviser and Journalism Professor Rhonda Guess says she remembers Julio’s cartoons and how sharp he was, even in his drawing.
“Julio was so aware and focused. As I got to know him, I realized he was a livewire and a hard worker who could write anyone under the table,” said Guess. “He paid attention and listened. He was writing inverted pyramid stories better than native English speakers.” Guess remembered Julio had a girlfriend who worked across the street at the Little Caesar’s and hearing when she earned her M.A. degree, years before Julio began working on his. “She [Monica] is one of the most no-nonsense people I know,” said Guess. Later, she remembers, they got married and traveled the world and posted pictures on social media of far flung destinations. “When their daughter Lupita was born, I looked at the pictures on my phone and her eyes, brimming with intelligence. I wrote to Julio, ‘Lupita for president!’ That child hit the parent jackpot.” According to Guess, Julio was a newsroom leader and when he became co-editor-in-chief of the Collegian, the students began to resurge in regional and state competition. Then, they traveled to national collegiate journalism conferences where they got a different view of “how high is up.” “Students were tiny fish on that stage. But students like Julio helped lay the framework for the next group,” Guess said. Julio and his co-editor Cesar Hernandez were a dynamic duo who worked hard. They had talent and a basket of skills years before it was de rigueur. “Cesar told Julio they were like the Soldatos Poblanos, and that they had to keep going to prepare for competition. I had to look that up. It was rich,” Guess said. Asked what he would tell journalism students, Julio spoke without needing a second to think. “I would tell journalism students to take as many internships as possible. I only took one internship, and it was during my last semester at Cal State Northridge. I wish I had taken more internships. Join organizations like NAHJ and other similar organizations. Take those opportunities to network.”
HELP WANTED Court-Martial at Fort Devens Oct. 28 and 29 Nov. 3-6 at 7 p.m. Suggested Donation: $10
Writers, reporters, Photographers Graphic & Web Designers Interested? Please email us at losangeles.collegian@gmail.com
6
News
Los Angeles Collegian - Wednesday, October 27, 2021
SUPPLY CHAIN CRISIS
From “new Law” page 1
Governor Signs Law that Prevents Arrest of Journalists at Protests “I think it’s a classic case of a First Amendment violation,” Duffy said as he recalled the incident. If speech is going to be regulated, then who is going to regulate speech? The press [are] the eyes and ears of the people, and you can’t constrain that.” LAPD employed a more extreme tactic against Williams when she attempted to observe and report on the police action at Echo Park on the evening of March 25. Police officers herded Williams and other journalists into a circle, handcuffed them in plexi-cuffs and arrested and transported anyone who did not have an LAPD media credential to a South-Central police station by bus. The police claimed she was not a journalist because she lacked credentials. Williams remained handcuffed for several hours. Release finally came just after midnight following misdemeanor charges. “Nobody should be arrested or detained for gathering news,” said Adam Rose, Chair of the Los Angeles Press Club’s Committee on Press Rights. In a Collegian editorial published on May 18, 2021, Williams wrote, “I identified myself as an LACC student journalist for the Collegian and proceeded to show him proof of the same. Before I could do so, I was denied. I returned to my spot in line devastated. Was I not a journalist? Before I even had time to pity myself, I saw an officer point at me, and then arrest me.” Rose says the press must be allowed to document and record the activities of the police, even during
an unlawful assembly when the public is required to disperse. In California, that includes the student press. “It’s important to remember student journalists in this state, by law, have the same rights as all members of the press,” Rose told the Collegian in an interview last March. Rose says throughout the state, police have assaulted or inflicted injury on 27 journalists by firing projectiles such as rubber bullets. Photographers are especially vulnerable. The police deliberately fired at Luis Sinco, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist at the L.A. Times. Sinco sustained painful injuries from a rubber bullet fired by LAPD officers during the Echo Park action last March. “That is not how it is supposed to work and reflects a disturbing trend on the part of law enforcement to not only ignore the legitimate right of the press to cover newsworthy events, but in many cases to seemingly target them directly,” said Mike Hiestand, senior legal counsel at the Student Press Law Center. The California Police Chiefs Association and other law enforcement groups mounted strong opposition to the bill. Law enforcement counsel inserted an amendment that would require journalists to seek permission from a police commander to work away from the closed areas near protests. It further burdened and conflicted with the First Amendment. The senate dropped the proposal in committee after a strong push back from the coalition.
From “Mac Arthur park” page 1
Photo by Louis White The Ever Fame container ship operated by Evergreen Marine is moored at Port of Los Angeles Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. The newly built Ever Fame has just arrived from Yantian China.
Cub Store Stays Step Ahead of Supply Chain Issues By Marvin Andrade
Staff members at the LACC Cub Booktore are warning professors to get orders on books and supplies ready ahead of the next semester. Although the Cub Store shelves are not empty, staff anticipate it could happen if they do not take action now. Economists say the global economy is beginning to recover from COVID-19, thanks to vaccines. However, the pandemic disrupted supply chains around the world, according to CNBC. “Because of the supply chain problem, you have to make sure that you
guys are turning in your orders,” said Joven Diche, the bookstore buyer at the LACC Cub Store. Before, we [could] get away with being a little late, but now, because of that, we can’t be a little late.” Diche says he has been warned that it could be more of a factor in the future. Normally, he would have to order books a month before the start of the semester. However, the supply shortage from vendors means he has to order two months ahead. It is the result of thousands of containers sitting at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach because of a significant shortage of truck drivers that began before the pandemic.
It is forcing dozens of ships to sit as they await docking at the world’s second largest port. Meanwhile, thousands of other businesses are dealing with empty shelves. “If we wanted to order backpacks, [it is] going to take a lot longer,” Diche told the Collegian. He says he expects this will affect items ordered for the Spring 2022 semester, if they do not act on the issue right now. He is reassuring students they should not see an impact right now. “We make sure that we have stuff on hand,” he said. However, he warns students that circumstances could change in the
near future. “If it keeps on going … we just have to adjust.” The Cub Bookstore has not been hit with any economic losses like dozens of retail stores across Los Angeles. What could become challenging are the effects of the pandemic. The bookstore staff ’s concern is over the uncertainty of which courses will be online versus in-person. “We also have the problem with classes not being set up in time,” Diche said. “It just forces us to plan ahead more. We know that there is a problem already … So, we’re doing that right now.”
From “L.A. Press Club” page 1
KABC Channel 7 entertainment reporter George Pennachio announces LACC and Beatrice Alcala the winner of “Best Issue” Design and Layout at the L.A. Press Club Awards with President Lisa Richwine at the Biltmore Hotel on Oct. 16.
Photo by Christian Chavez Mac Arthur Park Lake at 11:30 p.m. the night before city officials began the displacement of the unhoused. It was quiet and many of the unhoused had begun moving before the city began the cleanup process.
‘The Park is a Great Place for Me’
“This is not alright, this is a public place, and they should leave us alone,” said a man nicknamed John the Merciful who also asked to remain anonymous. John says he has seen an increase in violence in the park since the pandemic began. LAHSA offered him a room at the Mayfair Hotel for the next couple of months, but he rejected the accommodations. He says there are too many restrictions attached to the program that jeopardize his freedom, and there is no real assurance of having a permanent home. “The park is a great place for me,” he said. Another unhoused man who lives in Mac Arthur Park decided to take the organizers up on the offer for a room. “Frank” accepted the offer to connect to the support services offered to him by LAHSA and a room at the Mayfair Hotel under Project Roomkey for the next couple of months. Alicia Tutle is a photographer who was not on duty but was giving out trash liners and some snacks to the homeless. “They’re trying to kick everyone out and do repairs but, in that sense, they’re still taking away the option
for the park for all,” she said. “The Park should be for all in any regard.” Tutle has been tracking the homeless sweeps in L.A. County and says they have been brutal. “With Mac Arthur Park, it seems like they’re being slightly more compassionate than with the other approaches,” Tutle said. “That’s probably the only good thing.” The planned eviction of the unhoused living on the south side of MacArthur Park on Oct. 15, took a few months of planning by the city of L.A., and City Councilman Gil Cedillo. The park is in his district. An army of sanitation workers showed up with trucks to clean up the park. They removed abandoned tents, mattresses and luggage with personal items. LAPD officers were on the scene and appeared ready to fend off any trouble. On the north side of the park, there is a playground for kids, an open-air theatre and a mini soccer field. A group of LAHSA staff hand out information to the people who remain there and decided not to leave. The south side of the park between Wilshire Boulevard v and 7th Street will be closed for improvements until January of 2022.
Photo Courtesy of the L.A. Press Club and Damian Dovarganes
Collegian Times Was One of 12 Pacemaker Winners The award honors the nation’s best student-produced collegiate magazines, and the award is often called the Pulitzer Prize of scholastic journalism. Collegian Times was one of the 12 Pacemaker winners, from a total of 24 finalists from 17 states. When the ink had dried, only three, two-year colleges had won a Pacemaker for best general feature magazine: Lane Community College in Eugene Oregon, Amarillo College and L.A. City College. “The Pacemaker is the association’s preeminent award,” Executive Director Laura Widmer said. “ACP is honored to recognize the best of the best.” Gary Lundgren, ACP associate director and coordinator of the Pacemaker competition, said that the winning magazines could be
easily compared with professional publications. “The verbal and visual storytelling in the winning magazines is incredible, and robust long-form stories combined with shorter quickreads to pace the reader through the pages of the feature magazines,” Lundgren said. The judges of another competition shared his opinion. The Los Angeles Press Club SoCal Journalism Awards brought another important win for the magazine and the college. Beatrice Alcala, the art director and designer of the magazine received first place for “Best Issue” Design and Layout -A publication, supplement or special issue from a single day, demonstrating outstanding art direction. The Judges’ comments speak
volumes: “Great use of colors to differentiate special sections from regular articles, and in headlines with highlighted keywords and phrases. Photos of faces are unposed and real.” The win pushes Alcala to two professional awards from the L.A. Press Club and more than 60 awards in scholastic competition. Alcala also picked up a national individual award from ACP the same week as the press club recognition with a fifth place for “Newspaper Page/Spread” design for “Protestors march to end anti-Asian crime.” “I am very happy and humble for getting this fabulous national award,” Alcala said. “I want to thank our wonderful guardian angel and adviser Rhonda Guess because she always encourages us to do the
best, and President Gallagher for supporting our program.” The Los Angeles Collegian received a second place for the “Best TV Reporting, Podcast or Stream,” for “Citizens Protest Andres Guardado Shooting,” produced by Beatrice Alcala, Angelia Coyne, Rebecca Grazier and Diego Chavez. One of the publications’ photographer-reporters, Louis White received third place “Best Feature Photo,” for coverage of “Asian Hate.” College Media Association also handed out awards for “The Best of College Media.” This time it was the Los Angeles Collegian newspaper’s time to shine. The staff received third place for “Two-Year Newspaper of the Year,” and third place for “Best Newspaper News Page/Spread” design for Alcala.
Scholarships Dr. Juan Andrade Jr. Scholarship for Young Hispanic Leaders The United States Hispanic Leadership Institute awards scholarships for 2-year institutions as well as a conference scholarship to attend the 40th USHLI National Conference. Applicants must be under the age of 25, demonstrate a verifiable need for financial support, and at least one parent must be of Hispanic ancestry. Amount: $500 Apply today at https://www.ushli.org/dr-juanandrade-scholarship-for-young-hispanic-leaders/ Deadline: Nov. 30, 2021 (ISC)2 Women in Information Security Scholarship The (ISC)2 Women’s Scholarship by the Center for Cyber Safety and Education offers female students scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 per recipient. Applicants must be female and pursuing or planning to pursue a degree with a focus on cybersecurity, information assistance or a related field with a minimum 3.3 GPA. Apply starting Nov. 15, 2021 at https://iamcybersafe. org/s/womens-scholarships Deadline: Feb. 28, 2022 Eula Mae Jett Scholarship Program The Eula Mae Jett Scholarship Program offered by Legal Professionals Inc. is intended for individuals who seek careers in the legal field. All applicants must be legal residents of the State of California, must be attending school within the State of California during the scholarship year, and must be enrolled in a program of no less than six months in duration. Amount: $2,000 Apply today at https://www.legalprofessionalsinc.org/ scholarships/ Deadline: Apr. 01, 2022 Fulfilling Our Dreams Scholarships BWI Active Interest Media Boating Journalist Scholarship The BWI Scholarship Fund honors undergraduate students who demonstrate a passion for boating media and have a clear career goal to pursue this field. A focus in photography, video, broadcasting, film, or art, are encouraged to apply. The deadline to apply is Jan. 15, 2022. For more information contact robertberinger@ yahoo.com. The James Alan Cox Foundation for Student Photojournalists Founded in memory of photojournalist James Alan Cox, this scholarship aims to provide financial support to student photographers of all stripes (breaking news, sporting events, etc.). Scholarships are awarded to students whose work “tells a story.” The deadline to apply is Nov. 15, 2021. For more information contact info@jamesalancoxfoundation.org. National Press Photographers Foundation Scholarships NPPF scholarships are awarded to encourage those with the talent and dedication in photojournalism to continue their studies. Applicants must be enrolled full-time in a four-year college or university. Individual
scholarship requirements may vary. The deadline to apply is Dec. 2, 2021. For more information, please contact wsanders@asheville.gannett.com. Austin College Art Scholarships Scholarships are awarded to students with talents in studio art, who may or may not intend a major or minor in art. A limited number of awards of up to $4,000 are available each year Recipients are required to maintain satisfactory participation in at least one art or art history course each year that they receive the award and must remain full-time students in good academic standing. Additionally, recipients are required to submit work to the annual end of year student art exhibit. For more information contact hrushing@austincollege.edu.
Los Angeles Collegian - Wednesday, October 27, 2021
registered campus organization that offers free-ofcharge housing, meals, and resources to college students experiencing homelessness in the greater Los Angeles area that become residents at the Trojan Shelter. Learn more at https://www.trojanshelter.org LA County Library Homework & Tutoring The LA County Library offers college students can
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get help in English or Spanish for college level courses including science, math, social studies and essay review. Tutors will also assist with GED preparation and career services such as resume review and interview preparation. Learn more at https://lacountylibrary.org/homework/
Against the Grain Artistic Scholarship The Against the Grain Artistic Scholarship provides financial assistance to Asian-American college students pursuing a major in the performing, visual arts, journalism and/or mass communications. Applicants must be US citizens, national or permanent legal resident of at least 25% Asian and/or Pacific Islander ethnicity and currently enrolled full-time. The deadline to apply is May 31, 2022. For more information contact outreach@againstthegrainproductions.com. Onward California Onward California is an initiative of companies and foundations for workers impacted by job loss during the COVID-19 pandemic that matches and connects displaced workers with essential life services, retraining opportunities, and job listings. Sign up today at https://onwardca.org Rise Rise is a student-led nonprofit organization advocating for free public higher education. Rise recruits, hires, and trains current community college and university students to lead electoral and legislative campaigns focused on putting higher education within reach for all. Learn more at RiseFree.org Student Navigator Network at USC The Student Navigator Network portal at USC and part of Rise, a non-profit that addresses barriers to college attendance and graduation, is a referral service connecting Los Angeles community college students to government, school, and community-based resources to address financial, basic needs and mental health insecurities. Get connected at https://risefree.org/snn-at-usc/ LA Cash for College LA Cash for College provides students and their families with free assistance completing and submitting financial aid applications, including FAFSA, the California Dream Act Application and Cal Grant along with scholarship opportunities. Learn more at https://www.lacashforcollege.org Trojan Shelter Trojan Shelter is a University of Southern California
U-Haul U-Haul offers free 30-day unit storage to college students facing housing insecurity or need storage in-between moves at participating locations around Los Angeles with the rental of a one-way truck or trailer. Reserve a unit now at https://www.uhaul.com
College Match College Match helps talented students from low-income families get into and graduate from the nation’s top colleges and universities by assigning each student a dedicated counselor to guide them through the process from application to graduation. Learn more at https://www.collegematchla.org/about/
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Sports
Los Angeles Collegian - Wednesday, October 27, 2021
Reporters Notebook
Cars, Crowds, Meet COVID at Grand Prix
Photo by Christian Chavez IndyCar driver Alex Palou’s No. 10 Honda Ganasi places first in the Long Beach Grand Prix on Sept. 26. Palou takes the curve in his Honda Ganasi during the Season Finale of the 2021 NTT IndyCar Series. The Five winners of the IndyCar circuit: 1. #26 Colton Herta 2. #2 Josef Newgarden 3. #9 Scott Dickson 4. #10 Alex Palou 5. #22 Simon Pagenaud
The Grand Prix rolled into Long Beach after more than a 15-month delay and the first cancellation ever in the race’s history.
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By Christian Chavez
ound and the smell of burning rubber fill the air. Loud roaring noises can be heard from miles away. Thousands lined up prepared to watch cars go above 100 mph. Attendees dressed comfortably in shorts and sneakers with baseball caps and sun hats. Kids sat in the bleachers with their families and stared at the sight of the incredibly fast cars. The Grand Prix came back to town at Long Beach. “There were moments where I was just feeling like I was living my dream, and now I’m doing it,” said Alex Palou to the Associated Press after he won the NTT IndyCar Season Championship. The 24-year-old Spaniard drives IndyCar race car No. 10 Honda. The annual IndyCar series came roaring back after a year off thanks to COVID. As the pandemic reared its ugly head over the event, audiences practiced the bare
minimum of safety protocols to keep the show going. It has been a while since public events with massive crowds were allowed to occur. Even if it is an outdoor event, folks were giddy to see fast cars and drink a nice cold beer while they waited for cars to crash. “We’re back,” said Jim Michaelian, the president, and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach during an interview with the Press Telegram. “We believe having the Grand Prix in Long Beach continues to be one of our signature events … something people near and far are looking forward to each year.” Trucks headed to ramps prepared to fly midair. Cars drifted through the track and caused smoke to cloud the air as the premier series of open wheel cars in the U.S.--the IndyCars— roared and raced against one another. The three-day event was a sight to behold for longtime fans and newcomers. “It’s great to be out here. I’ve been coming here since the first time it was ever
one, back in ’72. I think it was Formula One. So, for us to miss a race, it was tough,” Tony Huerta, longtime racecar fan, told CBS-LA. The Grand Prix was not all fast cars and fun. Race organizers required attendees to show either proof of vaccination, or a negative COVID test no older than 72 hours, to enter the event. Even pit crews and drivers were required to wear masks. Their role in keeping the cars ready to race is vital for the entire event. Members of the media were also required to wear masks. Of course, anyone who was not eating, or drinking had to wear a mask. That included the vaccinated. The crowds, however, did not comply with the mask rules. Many folks had their masks off or tucked under their chin. Since attendees were outside, many assumed it was acceptable to go without a mask—like the good old days when COVID was not a pandemic. The team over at the Grand Prix assumed this would happen. They had Rapid COVID Tests on all major entryways into
the event. Attendees either needed a test to enter or if they were not allowed in. At an event of this magnitude, there is not much one security guard can do when most of the people in a large group are not wearing masks. While operating as a media photographer, I had a blue vest with the word “MEDIA” printed with a number 0179, a badge and a wristband that separated me from the average attendee. Media photographers had their own special space to take photographs for the event. That space was right in front of the general audience and right next to cars going above 100 mph. Most of the attendees were mask-less or had masks under their chin. It was a sight to behold until the crushing reminder of the pandemic crashed into my mind. The space that kept me distant from the public, and the two masks on my face, provided comfort since we are still fighting to curb the spread of the delta variant. Many people screamed at me to move
so they could get the shot they wanted. Some asked me how to become a media photographer so they too would enter the open space with a better view. Others just asked me to take photos and videos for them. I declined. There was a moment where one kid asked me how to become a media member so he could get a better view. I explained that you must work for a publication group (or have a large following on social media) to become a part of the media crew. About five minutes after that encounter, that very same kid hopped over the general audience fence and began taking videos next to me. It did not seem to matter because the event was nearly over, and security never came. The Grand Prix event proves that acting responsibly and checking for vaccination status or negative COVID tests can work to keep cases down. Like the drivers carefully maneuvering their fast, high-performance vehicles, so too must the public keep others safe from the deadly virus if we ever expect to return to the good old days.
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