2022 Fall Los Angeles Collegian Issue3

Council Race Heats Up The incumbent and L.A. City Councilmember for District 13 face an uphill battle against candidate, union organizer Hugo Soto-Martinez.

Wednesday, October 19, 2022 Volume 189 Number 3

TheStudentVoiceofLosAngelesCityCollegeSince1929

Students Receive Free Transit The “GoPass Program” changes lives for the better.

BY JUAN MENDOZA

BY TUPAC ZAPATA As the campaigns enter the final weeks of canvassing and fundraising prior to Nov. 8 election day, the race for a City Council seat in Los Angeles District 13 intensifies.

Hugo Soto-Martinez won the primary in June with 19,196 (40%) more votes than Mitch O’Farrell, who has been a member of Los Angeles City Council since 2013.

Kate Pynoos, who finished third with 7,371 votes, has now backed Soto-Martinez.

District 13, which includes Los Angeles City College, is home to approximately 250,000 people.

East Hollywood, Echo Park, Silver Lake, Atwater and Westlake are all parts of District 13.

Three out of every four people who live there rent, and many of them have seen their rents rise in the past 10 years. The incumbent is not the only one to lose the primary.

In a two-candidate crucial primary that would send the winner to City Hall, Gil Cedillo of Council SEE “RACE” PAGE 6

Pop Culture Questions ‘Latinx’ Latinx offers opportunity to confront cultural traditions that stall progress.

BY MATTHEW RODRIGUEZ Latinx – pronounced “la-teen-ex” – resonates in popular culture as a gender-neutral alternative to Latino or Latina.

As the term evolves within the Latin community, its meaning is indicative of a culture on the brink of change.

SEE “LATINX” PAGE 6

INDEX Opinion & Editorial

Collegian LOS ANGELES

2-3

Arts & Entertainment

4

Features

5

News

6

Resources

7

Sports

8

LACC students can get a tap card for unlimited bus and train rides to and from school or work during the week or on weekends for the fall semester with proof of enrollment and a student ID. The “GoPass Program” addresses the lack of transportation that many students face during the semester. Students are able to take the subway, buses, and trains thanks to the program; and 13 additional L.A. County public transportation agencies to ride for free.

The LACCD received a federal grant of $1 million last month to expand the “GoPass Program,” which will benefit thousands of district students.

“Lack of transportation is one of the leading barriers for students seeking to complete their education,” Senator Feinstein said. “And that’s particularly true in large metropolitan areas like Los Angeles.”

LACCD and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) announced in a press release dated Sept. 21, that LACCD had secured a $1 million grant through the Congressional Direct Process. This assistance will extend the “GoPass Program” for the 2022-2023 academic year in all 21 community colleges in Los Angeles County.

“We are pleased to have this program extended for another year,” LACCD Chancellor Francisco C. Rodriguez said. “Everything we do at LACCD is through an equity-first lens, and fareless transit directly enables more students to access higher education.”

Twenty-five percent of LACCD students use public transportation, according to a press briefing.

Since more than half of LACCD students are living below the poverty line, the opportunity to ride the bus and Metro for free will help them.

This solves the problem of how to get to students to school and continue their education. Sixty-three percent of students reported experiencing food and housing insecurity in a recent LACCD survey.

“LACCD takes our most disadvantaged neighborhoods and finds folks there and gives them opportunities for education,” Mayor Garcetti said. “But they still face too many barriers; health barriers, transportation barriers, childcare barriers.”

With a free or reduced-cost tap card, fifty percent of students said they would use or continue to use public transportation. The GoPass program was awarded to Sandra Cabrera, a student at LACC who majors in film.

Cabrera works, studies full-time, and is a mother.

“I’m so thankful for the L.A. Metro GoPass because [it] allows me and my son to ride for free,” Cabrera said.

“For all the students who are not on the program, I encourage you to sign up today and use the GoPass Program.”

The L.A. Metro provides service to the surrounding neighborhoods in Los Angeles County. At the corner of Fifth Street and Flower Street in downtown L.A., Line 16 is heading to West Hollywood on Oct. 13 during rush hour. The bus line 53 goes from downtown L.A. to CSU Dominguez Hills via Central Avenue. The average travel time is one hour 37 minutes. A lot of college students who are enrolled at CSU Dominguez Hills use route 53. Student beneficiaries of the GoPass Program can use 13 other transit agencies in L.A. County, including the Montebello bus lines. This is a bus stop in Downtown Los Angeles at Fifth Street and Olive Street.

Go to the LACC Bookstore with your student ID and proof of class enrollment to get a Metro GoPass.

MLK Library Reopens Upper Floors, Marks Anniversary

PHOTO BY EDWARD LOCKE

Metro staff greet riders outside the K Line Leimert Park Station on Oct. 7, 2022.

Metro Stop Brings Opportunity to Leimert Park Riders

BY EDWARD LOCKE Los Angeles Metro K Line subway officially started operation on Friday, Oct. 7, and the grand opening celebration lasted until Sunday, Oct. 9.

All passengers of Metro system, buses and subways alike, enjoyed free rides during the three days of celebration.

On Friday, Oct. 7, in Leimert Park, near Leimert Park Station of the K Line, local musicians and dancers performed. Tables and tents were set up to offer gifts to the public.

Giveaway items included small packages of mixed herb seeds (sweet Basil “Italian Large Leaf,” Dill “Bouquet,” Winter Thyme, and Parsley “Italian Giant”), hand sanitizer bottles, tie pins, subway and light rail transit maps, posters and other items.

Leimert Park is a center for African-American art with art galleries,

studios, gift shops and tent vendors. The location of the Leimert Park Station makes it easy for Angelenos to visit this interesting place of African-American artistic creation.

The seven stations that are operational now are Expo/Crenshaw (near the same station as the Expo Line), Martin Luther King Jr., Leimert Park, Fairview Heights, Downtown Inglewood and Westchester/Veteran.

A free bus shuttle can accommodate passenger trips from the Westchester/Veteran Station connecting to the C Line (Green Line) Aviation/LAX Station. The segment to connect Westchester/Veteran Station and LAX/Metro Transit Center is projected to open in 2024; and the segment to connect Aviation/Century and LAX/Metro Transit Center is projected to open in

BY ABEL HABTEGEORGIS

2023 will mark 15 years of operation for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library at Los Angeles City College, but few years have been as tumultuous as those experienced recently.

Short-staffed and under-resourced, the library will welcome more students than in previous months as the campus opens post-COVID. The Library features a range of offerings which include 150,000 print books, 230,000 eBooks, 75 magazine and newspaper subscriptions, and online databases which can be accessed remotely. Virtual resources include an “Ask a Librarian” chat service, an Internet-based virtual text chat service connecting information seekers with librarians, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“The Library has been full of late,” said the long-time librarian and current Library Vice Chair Dorothy Fuhrmann. “More students are using the library, nothing like pre-covid, but more than last year.”

The Library’s namesake, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., spoke on the campus 60 years ago this year.

“Dr. Martin Luther King was judged as the best lecturer of the fall semester,” wrote the Jan. 18, 1963 edition of the Collegian.

On Dec. 14, the integration leader addressed Snyder Field’s largest student assembly about “The Future of Integration.” The MLK Library, like other national libraries, is experiencing a staffing shortage.

Fuhrmann revealed that technology assistants are being transferred to other campus departments, putting pressure on the computer lab the most right now.

As more students enter the Library, Fuhrman and her team are reviewing existing work-study applications to increase those

numbers; however, they noted that the hiring process can be lengthy and are not anticipating them for “another two to three weeks.”

Despite on-site limitations, students like journalism major Henry Lopez are relying heavily on the Library’s virtual offerings.

“I use the online library for its convenience,” Lopez said. “Since Covid started, I did a lot of research for my sociology and debate classes especially since I needed to access data and various academic papers often.”

In 2008, the 63,315 square-foot building, located at the northeast end of campus, replaced the old building that many thought was too complex for students to navigate as they looked for materials for their assignments.

Today, students will find a number of distraction-free areas throughout the library with large windows that let in as much light as possible. Students can study individually in sturdy and durable study carrels or tables.

Once restrictions are lifted, students can learn together in one of 18 group study rooms.

Students can anticipate crucial system updates in the coming months, particularly with regard to printing operations. According to Fuhrmann, these updates will include wireless printing and credit card processing..

The Library is located at the northeast end of campus and is open Monday - Thursday: 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m., Fridays: 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m., and closed weekends and School Holidays.

Due to staffing issues, the computer lab hours are restricted to Monday – Thursday, 11 a.m.

– 3 p.m.

SEE “METRO K LINE” PAGE 6

Career Center Encourages Student Success

Career fair, free haircuts, free clothes...

BY LARA BARNEY The Career Center at L.A. City college has a plethora of resources that can make life after college less scary.

Students can start to think about what to do after college with a visit to the Career Center. Students can explore career paths independently or with guidance.

There are personal discovery quizzes, goal-setting, and career planning activities to help students discover their interests. There are also resources to help students draft a resume, find a job using the job board and nail the interview.

The counselors at the Career Center are aware that staying current is important when applying for jobs. Especially when more opportunities for employment are available online.

“We might help students prepare for those opportunities by looking

at their resumes, write cover letters or understand the job application process or social media sites,” said David Turcotte, a counselor at the Career Center. “Now you submit those electronically… it’s important for students to have a digital profile.”

Turcotte also advises students to reverse engineer their educational plan with their future career in mind. When students are aware of their future plans after college, school becomes easier to manage for them.

There are times when students already have a career goal in mind, but are unaware of the many possible paths within that field. The Career Center counselors have the expertise to translate students’ strengths into an equitable career path.

The Career Center wants stu-

SEE “CAREER FAIR” PAGE 6

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Los Angeles Collegian - Wednesday, October 19, 2022

OPINION & EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL

LACCD Should Build Student Housing

BY LUVLEIGHAN CLARK

Los Angeles City College (LACC) should buy abandoned properties around the school and turn them into student housing.

With housing priority going to homeless students, former foster kids and next charging international students, and finally any students wanting to house close to the campus. Housing should cover the semester plus holidays and short-term semesters if they intend to enroll in the next full semester.

(What is this? Next charging international students?)

I have been thinking of this for a while. If I had the money, I would buy property around the community colleges and make loft-style studio apartments. It would include building these apartments above the student parking lot on Vermont and Melrose. That lot is large enough to house 100 students per apartment, a laundry room on each floor, and one floor with a workout room with a hot tub, and a small pool and sunning area.

The largest cost to start this venture would be to purchase the property and build the apartments.

But in about five years, the money could be made back on either rent collected, or grant money obtained to house the students unable to pay.

Plus, the school or individual could get property tax forgiveness from the city and state for X amount of years. If they are smart, they would ask for no less than ten

years of tax forgiveness to make up the cost of buying the land and building the property.

Many former foster kids do not attempt college because of a lack of housing and support. Homeless college students start college in the hopes of getting a degree in a field that will help them obtain and stay housed.

After I aged out of foster care, I lived on the street. I started college with the hopes of one day having the degrees to get a job and a retirement job. I just never realized that I would end up with major injuries from my job and end up back at community college trying to get the skills to do the film jobs that I would have learned and worked my way up to on set.

Many college students are lucky to have family members whom they can stay with. But many of us, more than just those of us that grew up in foster care have nowhere to turn.

Los Angeles City College, like many community colleges, has homeless students that they help.

What is needed, however, is a place to live.

Instead, some of the housed students and staff complain about finding students sleeping on or around campus.

The city and colleges have a way to house these students, it is their ethical responsibility to ensure that students make it. It is the students that achieve these certificates and degrees that help sell the college to future students.

A student who has steady housing is a better student.

Apps Like Airbnb Force Tenants from Their Homes

BY HAIRAM RAMOS

Wait! Before you rent your next Airbnb, you should know how much harm it is doing to communities across the world.

This conveniently deceptive app can make life easier for someone looking for a temporary place to stay, but it hurts the lives of communities permanently.

Housing is a very important and controversial topic because we have a clash in society between the rich and those just trying to get by. These short-term rental apps are creating worry for those trying to keep a roof over their families’ heads. As one journalist wrote, “ Increasingly, affordable housing advocates worry that the short-term rentals are displacing long-term tenants.”

These long-term tenants most likely have families who have been there for decades, and now they are kicked out of their homes and most likely must move into one of lesser quality.

Vacations can be an escape for people facing their problems and stresses they deal with daily. Usually, on vacations, travelers may go somewhere far from home or at least a good distance away. This presents an opportunity for some to use an app.

“Most consumers don’t think about the effect of their rental

when they are going somewhere,” said Christopher Elliot who heads a nonprofit. “They are just looking for a cheap place to stay. They don’t think about ‘who may I be displacing.’”

The next time you go on vacation, please be aware that staying at a short-term rental property could be helping dismantle communities.

No one is safe from applications like Airbnb because they are becoming so popular. Even the biggest cities in the world are affected.

“The McGill report found that “Airbnb has removed between 7,000 and 13,500 units of housing from New York City’s long-term rental market.”

The report also says the greater the number of Airbnb’s in a city, the higher rents will rise for local residents. The big apple is known to many as the most important city in the world, and this app affected it on a massive scale. Imagine the damage it does to smaller markets.

So, the next time you are on vacation or need a cheap place to stay, evaluate whether your comfort is worth ruining the lives of others.

A sense of community is a beautiful thing, and we will lose it forever if we continue to have different neighbors every month. We have to voice our frustrations to help our communities combat these deceptive apps. They promise to make things easier, but in reality, they do more harm than good.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS

This small two-person tent perches near L.A. City Hall on May 31, 2021.

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 Editor-in-Chief RACHEL RODRIGUEZ Graphics Layout Editor EDWARD LOCKE Copy Editors RACHEL RODRIGUEZ

LOUIS PRIMAVERA KATHARINE FORD TUPAC ZAPATA

Opinions & Editorial Editor KATHARINE FORD Broadcast LARA BARNEY Photo Editor BEATRICE ALCALA EDWARD LOCKE Photographers LOUIS WHITE TUPAC ZAPATA LUVLEIGHAN CLARK Illustrators MICHAEL SITAR CASSANDRA MUNOZ EDWARD LOCKE JONATHAN VALDOVINOS Reporters EDWARD LOCKE, JUAN MENDOZA POUPY GAELLE NGUESTOP LUVLEIGHAN CLARK MATTHEW RODRIGUEZ JONATHAN VALDOVINOS

LOUIS PRIMAVERA

TUPAC ZAPATA LARA BARNEY ABEL HABTEGEORGIS FERNANDO REYES JR. Faculty Adviser RHONDA GUESS ILLUSTRATION BY MICHAEL SITAR Students Need Housing Security to Succeed.

L.A. NEEDS GREEN BETWEEN BUILDINGS

BY ROBERT COOMBS

Buildings in L.A. are growing like toadstools, but what about the grass?

Despite an economic slowdown and rising building costs, construction in Los Angeles continues at a fast rate. While this may be reassuring for the real estate market, we must ask what benefits, if any, this might bring to the broader community in this era of multiple crises.

While new high-rises fill old lots in Hollywood and Koreatown, the unhoused still fill the streets. Luxury units are tailor-made for the well-to-do. Rolling blackouts darken many homes and businesses at inopportune times. Summer heat and pandemic echoes put people on edge.

Meanwhile, the construction industry is facing its own problems. From supply chain issues to a pronounced labor shortage, the industry finds itself in a typical economic impasse—too much demand, too little supply.

How can the city, industry and the community work together to resolve their respective issues? Building permits have recovered since the pandemic, rising 17 percent since last year.

The City Council, acknowledging the high impact buildings have on emissions, is seeking to make all new buildings carbon-free.

Many new structures include affordable units in exchange for concessions. But what about the face of it all? Among other things, I feel that there is a disconnect between the existence and the essence of these facts. People need to feel included. I believe they need to feel enveloped. The landscape reflects our priorities.

If our development doesn’t include natural elements that reinforce our commitment to adapt, how can we attach any importance to balanced ecosystems?

All new developments ought to include ecological as well as utilitarian and aesthetic dimensions. When people feel embraced in an eco-niche, as they do in tree-filled neighborhoods, they can relate to themselves as a part of a broader community.

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.

Let’s Stay Home Today

BY HENRY LOPEZ Please do not go. Stay. I need you here. Angelenos, stop leaving this gorgeous place. I understand things have become more expensive. Rent is increasing. We need to stay. How did we get to this point? I no longer recognize my neighbors. The melting pot is not melting anymore.

Somehow, the pandemic gave landlords and rental companies the go ahead to make up new rental prices. Pricing out my friends, my family, my people.

Rent on the West Coast went up 20% during the pandemic, according to a report by Pew Research, “Key facts about housing affordability in the U.S.” In another report from Forbes.com, rental prices went up 17% in Los Angeles alone. “The Status of Rent Increase in California,” states that the average cost of rent for a one-bedroom apartment hovers at $2,500 per month in L.A. Properties that were affordable have suddenly become an unwelcome place for the people that live there. We belong here! The exodus from Los Angeles is so bad that we lost a Congressional seat for

the first time this past year.

We have lost representation at a time when we cannot afford not to be seen. My Angelenos are leaving. Los Angeles is becoming the city of strangers. Please do not go.

People of color are the people leaving this great city. Public Policy Institute of California estimates that 11.6% of people of color left Los Angeles from 2016-2020. Their report outlined the racial and ethnic differences among those who are leaving California. We should not allow ourselves to be pushed out when people of color are the majority in this city. People of color make up 63% of Los Angeles County according to census.gov. Stay. We work and strive for a way of life.

Sometimes working multiple jobs. I remember a time when having a job guaranteed a roof over your head. Now it doesn’t even guarantee peace of mind.

We need to fight for what it means to have a livable wage.

What it means to have affordable living. We can set the standard as a people for this city. We have the power. We have the rights. All we need to do is come together and make our voices heard.

Next Issue: November 2, 2022 Editorial Deadline: October 26, 2022

OPINION CITY VIEWS

Los Angeles Collegian - Wednesday, October 19, 2022

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WHO WILL YOU BE DRESSING UP AS FOR HALLOWEEN THIS YEAR? COMPILED BY MATTHEW RODRIGUEZ

ASHLEY ALBRIGHT Business Major

ANDREA GOMEZ English Major

ADAM MENDOZA History Major

KEN BARRIOS Business Major

I’m going to be Ursula from “The Little Mermaid” this year because my daughter wants to be Princess Ariel unless she changes her mind the day before Halloween.

I cleaned out my garage this summer and found the box storing all my “Twilight” memorabilia and don’t want to put in a ton of effort this year, so I’ll be dressing up as a crazed “Twilight” superfan.

Me and my boyfriend are going to be Shrek and Fiona and try to get the dog to be Donkey.

We usually throw a party the night before Halloween every year.

My dad finds it hilarious to sit very still outside our front door dressed up as Michael Myers and scare trick-or-treaters getting their candy. I’ll be answering the door with a big bowl of candy, trying not to laugh.

INKSTYLE

Defend Women’s Reproductive Freedom.

PHOTO-ILLUSTRATION BY EDWARD LOCKE

TALK BACK TO THE EDITORS We are interested in what you have to say.

Email us at losangeles.collegian@gmail.com @collegianwired

DO YOU HAVE AN OPINION OR SOMETHING TO SAY?

Hispanic Heritage Month.

ILLUSTRATION BY CASSANDRA MUNOZ

We are interested in what you have to say.

Email us at losangeles.collegian@gmail.com @collegianwired

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Los Angeles Collegian - Wednesday, October 19, 2022

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

PHOTO COURTESY OF JAMIE PETERS

In 2020, Jamie Peters received a Grammy for Best Contemporary Music Album.

He was recognized for his engineer work for Kanye West’s gospel album “Jesus is King.”

LACC Student Wins Grammy Award Artist and Engineer Jamie Peters discusses his career, next big moves, collaboration with Kanye.

BY LOU PRIMAVERA L.A. Native Jamie Peters did not only carve his place in the music industry, but he continues to push forward, honing his skills at LACC. Peters is the rare type of artist that displays humility while also achieving the pinnacle of success.

He won a Grammy with arguably one of the greatest artists in the world, Kanye West.

As an established audio engineer, he is sharpening his skills as a producer and songwriter with his time.

In 2020 Peters won a Grammy award as an engineer for Kanye’s gospel album “Jesus is King.” He has previously worked with NBA Youngboy and Kodak Black, to name a few, and continues to spend a lot of time in the studio.

Peters took time to reminisce about adversity he faced. He also mentions his humble roots, bright future and impressive career path.

Collegian: You’re originally from L.A. right? What part of L.A. are you from and how did you get into producing and engineering?

Peters: I grew up in South Central L.A. and I attended Crenshaw Senior High. When I got out of high school, I knew I wanted to get into music, but I never saw myself as a performer. I’ve always wanted to be in the background, and I saw an ad for the LA Recording School. That’s when I found out about audio engineering. I joined the Army and used my GI Bill to obtain the skills needed to record.

Collegian: You won a Grammy for Kanye West’s album “Jesus is King,” that’s quite an accomplishment.

Can you speak a little more on that experience and that process?

Peters: That was an amazing experience. I had the chance to work with an amazing artist. Being in that environment and watching Kanye and all of the other artists and producers work was really inspirational. He had so many things going on between music, fashion, and family. Watching Kanye work and seeing his ideas come to fruition was remarkable and I was able to do things and go places I have never gone before.

Collegian: What are some tracks or artists you’re working on and with now?

Peters: At the moment I am currently going to school. I was able to get into the applied music program at LACC so I decided to take a small break from engineering to develop myself as a producer and a songwriter.

Collegian: I’m sure you faced your share of obstacles and adversity. How did you stay focused on your work? Your style seems versatile, what genres do you focus the most on?

Peters: I honestly developed a mindset where I wasn’t afraid to fail. I just knew that I wanted to get better at whatever I was doing and if I stayed diligent and kept my reasons for doing something in the front of my mind, I could get through anything. My favorite genre is R&B, but I’m always open to work with artists of all genres.

I’ve never been the type to limit myself. I really love music -- cliche I know -- but I really enjoy being in the studio especially when that initial spark occurs and everyone’s creative juices get going.

Collegian: Out of your whole catalogue, what is the work you’re the proudest of?

Crew sets up video village on Oct. 11, 2022 on LACC campus to film the series “Brother Sun.”

PHOTO BY LUVLEIGHAN CLARK

Netflix Films on LACC Campus

Students witness rare daytime feature production on campus.

BY LUVLEIGHAN CLARK Netflix’s first-year series, “Brother Sun,” was filmed at L.A. City College as students curiously stood around to watch Tuesday, Oct. 11.

The series is set to air on Netflix in 2023. Michelle Yeoh, best known for “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” will star in the lead role as Mama Sun. The internet movie database, IMDb, estimates that eight episodes of “Brother Sun” will be released.

Viewers can expect crime, drama and irreverence from the television series.

Despite the tough schedule film sets have, crew members took the time to answer onlookers questions.

LACC allows film productions to use its location which helps raise money for the campus and students.

The television show, “Community” starring Chevy Chase, filmed at LACC from 2009 until 2014, allowing the fund to build the Student Service Center building and many others.

“Brothers Sun” began setting up production, while LACC’s “Coming Out” event happened, unlike other shows that film in the evening and on weekends.

The three-hour event gave the crew time to assemble video village and the scene they would film.

Peters: “Jesus is King” is at the top of my list. But I feel like Youngboy “NBA” and “AI Youngboy 2” is my favorite because I recorded most of the album and they used most of my rough mixes for the album. I had no idea that was going to happen and when I heard it and did an A and B I felt like I had grown a bit.

Collegian: What are some artists that inspire you, and do you have your eye on any up-and-coming artists in L.A.?

Peters: I wouldn’t mind getting in the room Brent Faiyas or Giveon. I really love their sound and voices.

As far as L.A. artists I really like August08 he’s been out here making waves. Steven G is another artist I like from the city, and I have been listening to Larussell a lot lately, I believe he’s from the Bay Area but it’s still California love.

PHOTO BY LUVLEIGHAN CLARK

A “Brother Sun” employee, right, speaks to potential students during film production on Oct. 11, 2022.

FEATURES

Los Angeles Collegian - Wednesday, October 19, 2022

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Mexican Film Festival Comes to L.A. PHOTOS COMPILED BY LOUIS WHITE

Actress Selina Ringel arrives on the red carpet at the Hola Mexican Festival on Oct. 10, 2022.

Actress Cassandra Sanchez Navarro stars in “Enfermo Amor” premiered during the Hola Mexican Festival on Oct. 10, 2022.

Attendees wait their opportunity for a photo on the red carpet at the Hola Mexico Film Festival on Oct. 10, 2022.

PHOTO BY JONATHAN VALDOVINOS

Maricela stands in her work uniform with performers while celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month.

Success Comes from Hope and Sorrow Reporter’s notebook embraces Latino Heritage Month

BY JONATHAN VALDOVINOS

Vendors gives food to participants of the Hola Mexico Film Festival on Oct. 10, 2022.

Closing night of the 14th Annual Hola Mexico Film Festival presented by Toyota, featuring team leaders in the film “Enfermo Amor” on October 10, 2022.

In the Mexican state of Michoacan, Apatizican is home to a small pueblo that is hidden away in the hills.

A young child by the name of Maricela, or“Chinita,”lived there. She had 13 siblings and was the youngest.

In search of a better life, Chinita’s mother immigrated to the United States. Chinita was raised by her grandmother until she was 16-months-old.

Her grandmother made the decision to send the child to work when she was five-years-old. In Mexico, everyone in the village, even the children, worked hard to make a living.

“I remember when I was about five-years-old,” Chinita said. “My next door neighbor grew very sick, she asked for help. So, she paid me five pesos a week to help clean the house, run errands, wash dishes and maybe get her some pan dulce.”

Chinita recalled her story with a touch of nostalgia from her home in Mexico. She clearly recalls her hometown.

“I had no shoes,” Chinita said.

“So, since it was hot, I had to hop around what shade I could find.”

When Chinita was around 12-years-old, her grandmother learned about a strange taxi driver who was 30-years-old. He was announcing to his neighbors that he was going to kidnap the girl.

It was common practice to wed one’s abductor in some parts of Mexico. There was nowhere else for the abductee to be. A swift decision was made to send her north to the United States with her mother.

She recalls feeling afraid and cold during the trip. She was forced to mature quickly and was referred to as, “Maricela,” in the U.S..

“I remember eating KFC, and it was so delicious,” Maricela said. “It was my first time having fried chicken.”

She was advised to take the “GED Prep Course” and then challenge the GED test by one of her teachers. “By the grace of God,” she passed the test.

Her GED helped her get into Pasadena City College in 1996.

She enrolled and met all of the requirements to become a nurse.

Maricela thought she had completed her education. In 2018, a

head nurse at Pasadena’s Huntington Hospital forced her into earning a Bachelor of Science in nursing.

She claims that she did not have the time, but her job did not allow her to choose. She made the decision to return to school and finished the course in 11 months.

“I remember trying to look up my results for my nursing license, and it took a long time for the site to load,” Maricela said. “There was my name!

It shocked me to the point I spat out my cereal and began to cry.”

Maricela began to prostrate herself before God. She continues to set goals for her life.

“It’s one of my happiest and most emotional memories,” Maricela said.

Maricela has worked in nursing for more than 25 years. She encouraged Catherine, her youngest daughter, to work in the field from which she will graduate in Nov. 2022.

Maricela weeps once more as she talks about her journey. She triumphed over odds.

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NEWS

Los Angeles Collegian - Wednesday, October 19, 2022

FROM “RACE” PAGE 1

Race Heats Up For City Council District 1 was defeated by community activist Eunises Hernandez for re-election.

Seven of the 15 seats on the Los Angeles City Council are up for grabs on Nov. 8, with four new councilmembers guaranteed.

Labor unions, political groups, activists and politicians have all backed Soto-Martinez’s campaign, which does not solicit contributions from real estate developers, police unions, or corporations.

The 39-year-old said that his grassroots campaign will have the same success in November as it did in June at a fundraiser held at a downtown brewery on Sept. 7.

“We are going to stick to the same plan that has yielded good results for us and we will continue to knock on doors in order to get the votes needed to prevail,” said Soto-Martinez.

Soto-Martinez became involved as a union organizer for a hotel he worked at during his senior year of college. He was raised in South Central Los Angeles by Mexican immigrants whose parents were street vendors.

As a result, he was able to negotiate a more favorable contract for his fellow hotel workers. He learned a lot about organizing and fighting for what is right when the workers were able to get benefits and a pay raise.

Many people want a different approach to the problem of homelessness because they are dissatis-

fied with rising rents and the growing number of people living on the streets.

A significant encampment at Echo Park Lake was compelled to disperse forcibly during a costly and massive police raid in March 2021. Many individuals blamed Mitch O’Farrell for the sweep, and a number of organizations pledged to remove him from office.

O’Farrell defended his nine-year council membership at a candidate forum for District 13.

“Leadership is not easy, it means that you are willing to take chances and willing to take risks and willing to be criticized for being a leader and standing for what you believe,” said O’Farrell. “We’ve done that since taking office. My leadership has resulted in four thousand units of covenant affordable housing and permanent supporting housing for the unhoused since 2014.”

O’Farrell was elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 2013 after working for Eric Garcetti for more than a decade. He was re-elected in 2017 to serve out a five-and-a-halfyear term that begins in December.

The City Council election happens simultaneously with the midterm elections for the first time this year.

The majority of the members will be up for re-election in 2024, while the remaining half will be up for election in 2022.

The election is on Nov. 8.

FROM “METRO K LINE” PAGE 1

METRO K Line Attracts Riders 2023. All new stations feature public artworks.

The K Line passes through several African-American neighborhood. It makes it more convenient for students from these minority communities to travel to Los Angeles Trade Technical College and Los Angeles City College through a well-connected system of subways

and light rails. The K Line is connecting itself directly to Expo Line that stops at Los Angeles Trade Technical College, and to the 7th Street/Metro Center where the Red Line continues travel to stop at Los Angeles City College. K Line runs every day from around 4 a.m. to around midnight, in 10 to 20 minute intervals.

8th AnnuAl

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FROM “CAREER CENTER” PAGE1

Career Fair Brings Options to Students dents to become aware of these resources and to utilize them.

“I’ve never heard of it and I think that it’s a good program,” said Alexandre Meija Rivas, an arts and humanities major. “ I aspire to become a writer and artist. I would use [the] career center for job postings, interview skills, and resume building.”

After a few years online, the Career Center is working on creating an interactive exploratorium for students to use on campus. They hope to incorporate augmented reality and interactive technology to immerse students in the possibilities after college.

The Career Fair will be held on Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the LACC Main Quad for students that

want to explore career opportunities in person. The Career Fair is free to attend and will feature free workshops.

This event is coordinated by the Los Angeles County Office of Education and over 100 employers are looking to hire. Senator Maria Elana Dorazo and Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis will be attending with Senator Dorazo making a speech. Students should bring their resumes and dress to impress to be ready to meet with potential employers.

The Career Fair will have a lending closet by “Clothes The Deal” to help craft the perfect interview outfit and there will be free haircuts to perfect the look!

PHOTO COURTESY OF SYDNEY RAE ON UNSPLASH

Women dance in the street in Mexico in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month on Oct. 17, 2017.

FROM “LATINX” PAGE 1

‘Latinx’ Transcends the Woke-trap The exact origin of Latinx is unknown, but gained momentum in the media in 2016 after a mass shooting at LGBTQ+ nightclub, Pulse, in Orlando. Many of the victims killed or injured were of Hispanic descent and identified as gender non-conforming.

More recently, Latinx is used by some news and entertainment outlets, corporations, local governments and universities to describe the nation’s Hispanic population.

However, only 23% of U.S. adults who self-identify as Hispanic and Latino have heard of the term Latinx. Just 3% self-identify as such, according to a 2021 Pew Research Center poll.

The sharpest divide seen along at the generational level. Forty-three percent of young Hispanics, age 18 to 29, have reported being familiar with the term, compared to 7% of those age 65 or older who are not.

Critics of Latinx point to its origins among U.S. English speakers.

Critics say it ignores the Spanish language and its gendered form.

Meanwhile, others see Latinx as a gender and LGBTQ+ inclusive term which reflects a broader movement around gender identity.

“The reality is that there is little support for its use and it’s sort of seen as something used inside the Beltway or in Ivy League tower settings,” said Domingo Garcia, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).

The oldest Latino civil rights organization in America had “Latinx” removed from being used in the group’s official communications in 2021. Therein lies the great divide - the oldest Latino civil rights organization in America.

Twenty-eight-year-old Azucena Gutierrez is a child development educator who works with Hispanic families in East Los Angeles.

She welcomes Latinx, preferring

the term “Chicanx” for herself as a first-generation Mexican-American.

“Chicanx is a self-appointed political statement that comes with a certain level of awareness and acceptance that Chicanx people live in an in-between world,” Gutierrez said.

Living in an “in-between” world is a reality for most Hispanics. A sense to belong to American and Latin cultures, yet removed from both for partial participation.

In response to critics, Gutierrez points to the deep-rooted misogyny of “machismo” in Hispanic culture. Overtly assertive hypermasculinity places a father as the ultimate authority which commands subservience from his wife and children.

Instilled at a young age, machismo culture breeds domestic violence and underdevelopment for generations of women who suffer the fragile and false masculine pride taught to men.

“The patriarchy is fragile without the defined rules and gendered expectations,” said Gutierrez. “To openly admit that one is inclusive of people who do not fit the binary can quickly make someone doubt the validity of their perceived straightness. Machismo is so fragile it can’t even accept others living in their truth without making it doubt its own existence.”

It is undeniable that society in all its aspects – social, economic, political, religious and cultural – is in the process of fundamental change.

Viewed through this lens, Latinx is for a generation that has emerged with different comprehensions about gender and sexuality. Older generations are forced to confront long-established rules and traditions that their children are ready to leave behind.

Riders await the next station inside the K Line train on Oct. 7, 2022.

The artist and owner sits outside the Lion art gallery at Leimert Park on Oct. 7,

A vendor’s tent is located at Leimert Park on Oct. 7, 2022.

“Sonder” is the name of a porcelain enamel steel art panel by Kenturah Davis on the platform of the Downtown Inglewood Station, Oct. 7, 2022.

IT features individuals with ties to the communitieson.

Metro employees offer free gifts to passengers near the entrance of Expo/ Crenshaw Station on Oct. 7, 2022.

PHOTOS BY EDWARD LOCKE

RESOURCES

Los Angeles Collegian - Wednesday, October 19, 2022

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SPORTS

Los Angeles Collegian - Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Coach Guidance Takes LACC to National Ranking

BY FERNANDO REYES JR.

The LACC Men’s Soccer team, which is currently ranked 12th in the country, has had an incredible start to the 2022 season.

This season, the Cubs Men’s Soccer team has been on fire, starting with a record of 6-2-2. In a 2-1 defeat to Norco, the team only recently suffered its second defeat of the season.

Coach Javier Aguiniga Campos was questioned about whether the loss had any effect on the team’s preparations for the upcoming games.

“Definitely, we have a couple of injuries so it made us modify the lineup,” Campos said. “But we were able to move the pieces last game to identify and correct how we will be moving on into conference.”

Most teams might have a standout player who could be considered the team’s Most Valuable Player. Coach Campos, on the other hand, has a team that works together to win games and improve one another.

“I think it’s the whole team as a group, everyone together is the MVP,” Campos said. “They all push each other to be great.”

It is refreshing to hear a coach like Campos believe in his team. There are certain expectations associated with a team’s performance like the Cubs’.

“I always set up high expectations for my teams, and I have them for this group,” Campos said. “I think we can make the playoffs and possibly win our con-

ference, and have a fighting chance at a state championship.”

After playing East Los Angeles College for their third conference match, the LACC Men’s Soccer team won for the second time in conference. LACC’s strong press and constant attack would help them get off to a good start.

The score would remain 0-0 after some obvious chances were missed, and ELAC would attack more vigorously to gain some momentum. The game had a lot of energy, but both defenses worked hard to keep the score even in the first half.

Both teams were eager to climb the scoreboard in the second half, and the game’s tempo and intensity never slowed down, hinting at a goal for either team.

Sophomore Brayan Cordova, who found a rebound in the box after Axel Miranda had crossed, would score for LACC, which had the majority of the attack. He would also score the game-winning goal.

The Cubs would have more chances with 15 minutes left in the game, but they would also keep their ninth shutout of the season, earning their second win in conference and 10th win overall.

The Cubs hosted visiting Rio Hondo College on Oct. 14, bringing their overall record to 10-3-1 and their conference record to 2-1. The Cubs will host the Compton College Tartars on Oct. 25, at 4:30 p.m.

The LACC Men’s Soccer team celebrate a victory against East Los Angeles College on Oct. 11, 2022.

PHOTO BY TUPAC ZAPATA

PHOTO COURTESY OF LACC ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT WEBSITE

LACC Women’s Soccer team members get ready to play against East Los Angeles College on Oct. 11, 2022.

Women Cubs Strive for Competitive Spirit

BY JUAN MENDOZA

The LACC Women’s Cubs Soccer team is back home after four games played away with a record of two wins and four losses on the road.

The team is greeted warmly and given a new lease on life by the fans in the stands. The Lady Cubs were prepared and determined to give it their all for kickoff.

Coach Lior Lipman had given them a mental and physical workout. Lipman coaches differently, and he expects the best from his players.

“The LACC Cubs are no strangers to a great battle, therefore they are preparing for their upcoming and are ready to give it their all,” said Lipman, head coach of the LACC Women’s Cubs.

The Lipman strategy aims to instill self-control and discipline in the Women Cubs. While it’s important to compete, Lipman’s most important goal is to acquire the skills they’ll need to advance in life.

“Through athletics, the team is learning how to study and to improve their grades. They are getting set up for a four-year college. A learning process for everyone,” Lipman said.

The coach has observed the team’s growth since the beginning of the season. They care about one another and have a strong bond.

The team meets in a huddle for a few minutes before and after each game to talk about their plans for the game, what went wrong, and how to approach the next game differently because each game is different.

The Women Cubs were able to score early on to take an early lead in their game against the El Camino College

Women Warriors. The Women Cubs dominated the first half of the game.

The Warriors surprised the Cubs by coming back strong in the second half and to win the game by three goals.

Stephanie Cardenas, a midfielder, and Isabella Velazco, the women Cubs soccer team captain, scored against the Warriors.

“We started off the game really well, we were working as a team,” Captain Velazco said. “ What went wrong for us, is that once we started scoring we put our heads down, we gave up. For our next game we need to focus on staying concentrated throughout the entire game.”

Lipman says that the Cubs need to work on their finishing, but the Warriors have established themselves as a fast team in the conference.

“We had a bunch of scoring opportunities where we hit the post and missed a couple opportunities to get more shots on goal,” Lipman said.

The coaching staff and the team met in the locker room after the game for a briefing and an opportunity for the players to express their feelings.

“They had a heart to heart talk,” Lipman said while waiting outside the room. “Everyone kind of spoke their truth and how they felt about the match.”

Lipman teaches the Women Cubs Soccer team how to learn and to perform better through the idea of having a competitive spirit. This will ultimately help them become the best version of themselves.

January 3 -21, 2023

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