2022 Fall Los Angeles Collegian Issue 6

BY JUAN MENDOZA

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Southern California region continues its mission to discourage underage alcohol consumption, drivers under the influence and provide support to victims as the holiday season arrives.

On Nov. 18, MADD Southern California Region alongside city government, the Los Angeles Police Department, California Highway Patrol and families of the victims, launched “MADD’s Tie One On for Safety” campaign at a press conference at City Hall.

“The event is for paying tribute to the victims that lost their lives to impaired driving,” said LAPD Deputy Chief Blake Chow. “[It] is 100% preventable, is very important for people to understand and step up and if they see somebody that looks impaired get them a ride home. Let’s not lose any more victims. That affects families.”

To acknowledge the occasion, a candlelight vigil was organized at L.A. City Hall which was lit up in red to honor the victims who had died because of drivers who were inebriated.

“This is the first time that MADD Southern California victims have been honored in such a meaningful way,” said Georgina Avilez, program director of MADD Southern California region.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving, a non-profit organization, was founded in 1980 by Candace Lightner in California after her 13-year-old daughter was killed by a drunk driver. Today MADD celebrates 36 years of the designated driver program.

According to the NHTSA, the most dangerous time of the year happens in the holiday season which begins on Thanksgiving and extends to the new year. People tend to travel more at this time to attend celebrations.

These celebrations lead to more drivers under the influence. More people drive late at night, and many drive under the influence.

The vigil site was set up with 45 empty chairs with victim photos, a rose and a candle to signify an empty seat at the dinner table

BY JUAN MENDOZA

Members of the Associated Student Government at LACC organized a candlelight vigil after a former student was stabbed and died in Parking Lot 3 on Nov. 7, 2022.

This was an important and effective vigil for the LACC community where students, faculty and staff stood together. Each person held a candle with a flickering bright flame in solidarity.

“We want people to feel safe here because this is our home away from home,” said Juan F. Alvarez, acting dean of student services. “Today we decided to have a candlelight vigil for the person that we lost on Nov. 7, recognizing that he was a human being.”

Alvarez says it is important to honor the life of the slain student, Delbert Collett.

Emotions ran high with a mixture of love and sadness shown by attendees. Many of them gave remarks about the incident.

“I’m glad that the students organized this event that brings the community together and to acknowledge what had happened,” said Mickey Hong, academic senate president.

“There are a lot of emotions, sadness, anger, frustration, helplessness, but let this be.”

According to Hong, the academic senate will be endorsing a mass emergency response master plan that will help to ensure the safety of the college.

“It was a nice event that ASG planned to remember a life lost on campus. We will continue

to do our best as an institution and continue to make this place safer where everybody wants to get educated,” said Alen R. Andriassian, acting vice president of student services.

Since the day of the incident, the Sheriffs have increased more security and patrols around campus. A candlelight vigil was a way to remember the life lost and to pay respects.

“Tonight, we commemorate, recognize and unify as a campus to the tragedy of Nov. 7 [and] we want students to understand that we are here to recognize, not push away or put things under the rug,” said Elizabeth Yamasaki, the Associated Student Government president. “Your safety here matters. We do have safety resources [and] mental health resources on campus.”

BY ROBERT COOMBS

The pandemic has proved a scourge to the health and wellness of billions of people around the world.

In the United States, it has compounded existing problems. While older adults are at greater risk of serious infection, younger people bear the brunt of a burgeoning mental health crisis.

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has issued a special advisory to address the “devastating” effects of the pandemic on youth, a group already suffering a decade’s increase in mental health disorders.

A coalition of pediatric experts (AAP, AACAP, CHA) has declared a national state of emergency in children’s mental health to address “soaring rates of depression, anxiety, trauma, loneliness, and suicidality that will have lasting impacts on them, their families, and their communities.”

Moreover, these impacts are falling disproportionately on those already at risk of mental and emotional health problems, such as disabled, minority, and low-income youth. The Pew Research Center has found that girls and LGBTQIA+ teenagers are at special risk, having reported significantly higher rates of stress, anxiety, and depression during the pandemic.

Meanwhile, stay-at-home orders have kept many stuck at home, left with a narrower range of social destinations. Although concerns with health have increased, overall fitness activities have decreased and shifted.

A study from UC San Francisco concludes that exercise levels as measured by step-count were significantly lower for people around the world during the pandemic. Among young people, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia has reported that exercise has declined significantly, especially for those who participate in group sports.

“People fell off their routines

LACC students and faculty honor the life of the slain student, Delbert Collett, at a candlelight vigil on Nov. 22, 2022.

SEE

Attendee and powwow performer gather for a photo.

Cast and crew of the movie “Calling,” pause for a photo on the red carpet.

Powwow performer shows off bright and intricate dance shawl at the SKINS FEST on Nov. 21, 2022.

Behind the scene on the set of “Calling.”

PHOTO COURTESY TEEZY TV

PHOTO BY JACOB PRATT

PHOTO BY ABEL HABTEGEORGIS

PHOTO BY JACOB PRATT

BY ALONDRA LEMUS

We are in 2022, the era of technology, but the government still uses some of the same voting systems as it did during the Civil War.

The question is why isn’t online voting in place?

As time passes, so do the generations of people who vote. Millennials are not motivated to look up the location of the closest voting site.

Voters from Generation Z will more than likely not mail in their vote when they have grown up purely in the era of technology.

According to the U.S. Census website for the 2020 elections, citizens between the ages of 6574 are the group with the highest percentage of voters at 73%, and citizens ages 75 and older are the second largest voting at 70.2%.

The voting group with the lowest participation voters was among the ages of 18-24. Only 48% of their age category voted.

The voice of the future is that of the younger generation, and what we see from them is that they are not afraid to come out and speak their mind and take a stand for their beliefs, like Jayden Foytlin.

“At 12-years-old, I was suing the

government over climate change,” Foytlin said.

The U.S. could increase participation rates among young voters by modernizing the voting system.

E-voting is a way of life in certain elections in Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Venezuela, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Namibia, according to IDEA, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance. IDEA works to improve sustainable democracies all over the world.

During any election, an overwhelming amount of mail is sent out in political ads. If voting online took place, we could eliminate much of that paper waste by allowing people to choose if they prefer online mail or paper, just like many other institutions that already have similar programs in place.

There are entire computer systems in our camera phones that now fly above our heads and electric cars that can self-drive.

There are so many things constantly changing and evolving all around us after everything that has happened in the past few years with COVID-19 and voter intimidation.

Even the DMV, in recent years, has expanded many of its services to be online. It is now time for online voting to become a choice for people in America.

Negative Campaign Ads Sufocate Voters

BY HAIRAM RAMOS

Every election comes with a plethora of new attack ads and what feels like a bombardment of advertisements of candidates to destroy each other.

you are forced to eat the same thing every day or go to the same destination over and over. While the overload of ads you get is already very annoying, you also must deal with the negative ads where candidates constantly try to tear each other down.

advertisements need to change because more money is spent on them every election.

According to NPR, “Unprecedented political ad spending is estimated at nearly $10 billion this election cycle, surpassing even the 2020 presidential election.”

BY ABEL HABTEGEORGIS

Californians have the power to place propositions on the ballot through the voter initiative process.

They are empowered by the Legislative Analyst’s Office, which includes initiatives to amend the Constitution or other state laws. This also includes referendums to overturn certain laws enacted by the legislature.

While this sounds great on paper, the application of this process in the real world is filled with confusion and dirty money.

Unfortunately, the state’s form of direct democracy has significant unintended consequences. There is no clear framework for fixing past mistakes.

First, there is no formal drafting process and no legal review by experts in drafting these initiatives. This leads to drafting problems and the inclusion of ambiguous or contradictory language.

Second, the cost of the initiatives is too high. This happens in large part because the window of time to collect required signatures is so small. This results in high costs of signature gathering as initiative

campaigns are forced to hire professional signature-gathering firms that increase the costs.

The costs to qualify and advertise are so great that only major interest groups or wealthy individuals have the resources necessary to sponsor or oppose initiatives. This begs the question, “whose interests does this serve?”

Some argue that the initiative process is powered by a “new initiative industrial complex” made up of special interests and the rich. Finally, the language used is hard to understand. And very few voters read the summaries and ballot arguments anyway. One is left with little understanding of what he or she is voting for. The word-soup written in the information packets confuses, misdirects and befuddles even the most informed voter. It is often said that the intention is meaningless if the application hurts. Our initiative process indeed hurts. Far more critical analysis and responsibility must come into play for such an important activity. While there are different thoughts on what the solution to this problem could be, one thing it will require is a systematic change in how the Attorney General’s Office writes ballot summaries, how the Legislative Analyst’s Office analyzes the measures and how the media report on the propositions.

Campaign rules for elections should change. It seems like they try to brainwash people with much of the advertising played on YouTube and other social platforms. No matter what social media platforms you use, it is almost guaranteed that you will see an election campaign ad or commercial.

This causes people to become fed up with candidates and the entire election process. It is like

“For instance, it might make sense to pass regulation restricting the types of commercials that can be run or the time period during which they’re aired, rather than allowing endless months of attack ads,” said Brett Gordon, a professor of marketing at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Gordon also says positive ads have a much larger and more significant effect on driving people to the polls to vote. Turnout improves with constructive commercials and ads.

Regulations for these campaign

It is not okay that I can recite an advertisement for former L.A. City Councilman Mitch O’Farrell like it was some type of prayer or Bible verse.

Change is necessary because, during every election cycle, the campaign advertisements become more unbearable and less practical.

Let us hope a balance is found that allows people to organically consume campaign advertising instead of having it force-fed every two seconds.

BY ROBERT COOMBS

Election season always makes me anxious.

People busily try to change the world with the one-person-one-vote credo as opposed to the we’re-allin-this-together mentality.

It makes my head spin. Who is for what? What does this have to do with them? Who are they against?

I look for some decisive but inescapable alignment of the political stars, which feels like conducting an astrology reading to decide what to buy at the grocery store.

In this respect, I passively but anxiously awaited the November election results, national, state and local.

Would the Republicans take back the House and Senate, paving the way for Trump’s return to power?

Would California open itself to further dubious investments through its gaming propositions?

Will Los Angeles attempt new solutions to old problems with its new ballot measures on homelessness, education and the environment?

And will the mayor come from the political or business class? All of these questions, predictably, ended with the kind of stalemate we have lived with for decades now.

Incremental progress follows from a grand projection of political rearrangements that require a huge investment of time and money. If this were a juicing machine, we would dump pounds for the ounce.

I am not disappointed in the results; they fit the pattern I expect-

ed. But the buildup was an exercise in futility.

The Democrats hold a slim majority in the Senate. California leadership remains entrenched.

Reckless or impractical propositions get defeated, while more pertinent ones manage to slip through. And all of this with a disappointingly low-voter turnout.

I ask myself, why not conduct elections every year, all year around? Every weekend, let us have a local election about what to do with our lives. Let us take all of the money spent on advertising for candidates and tax-generating games, and buy some supplies for local charities. And why not start some of our own?

Incremental progress shines most brightly against a consistent and well-applied standard.

BY HENRY LOPEZ

Every election is hard, but I barely survived the most recent ones.

Not because I didn’t know who would win or whom I voted for lost, but because this nation contin-

ues to show its true colors. It would be too easy to start with the Trump win in 2016. Yes, that ushered in an era that stained our country and will go down in history as an all-time blunder.

It is what happened after his win that scares me.

Hate became okay. Racism became the norm. Misogyny became standard operating procedure.

In four years, Ameri-

ca threw decades of progress out the window. What scares me is that this country is perfectly comfortable staying where we are because that is what the majority wants.

It is also why candidates like Herschel Walker and Mehmet Oz run for office and almost win.

They would not change the status quo. They would only uphold these new beliefs for their benefit. We used to be a country of progress and a country of hope. We

are no longer a welcoming place. We no longer try to better ourselves.

Instead, we reverted to name-calling and shaming people for being different. There was a time when I saw a part of myself in the candidates that ran for office. It gave me hope for a better future.

That time no longer exists, and I no longer see myself in this country, let alone as a candidate.

Everyone who is happy with

the many steps we have taken backward wants to keep it as primordial as possible because that is how they thrive. They do not prosper in a land of opportunity where equality is valued.

I survived these elections by doing my part. I voted. I informed myself as much as I could.

But the pain of seeing this country try so hard to stay as oppressive as it can be is too much for me to bear.

ILLUSTRATION BY MICHAEL SITAR

Elon Musk ponders Twitter.

“I had hoped to step up my game this semester, but know I slacked off a little bit. I always pass, but I know I can do more than the bare minimum. Finding that motivation for next year inside and outside school will be my top priority.”

STEINER English Major

“This might be an unpopular answer, but next year I want to focus less time on maintaining what I think is an ideal body shape and more time enjoying life with loved ones and the body that I have. I’m not unhealthy and I feel good and next year I want that to be good enough

Business Major

“Something I didn’t do this year was slow down and relax. I’m always on the go and always have to be doing something that often means spending not only time but money. Next year, I want to give myself more downtime. I don’t always have to be out of my house doing something, I can stay in and watch television and not feel lazy!”

“I need to save more money this year! Seriously, I work hard and believe money is for spending, but someone very close to me got into a tight spot this year and didn’t have a cushion to fall back on and that forced me to look into my own finances. I could easily be in a sticky situation because I am bad at saving money. Next year, I’m hoping to put away a certain amount of every paycheck for a rainy day.”

“I would like to spend less time on social media this year. It’s so easy for me to stay home and get social interaction online, but it makes me feel lazy and unproductive. Next year, it would be nice to get outside more and take myself out of my comfort zone to laugh.”

Native American Heritage Month happens every November, 20,000+ years in the making.

DENISE

ANDREW GOMEZ

SAMANTHA VIGLAND Undecided

ANTHONY VEGA Undecided

ADAM FERRERA

Businesss Major

ILLUSTRATION BY EDWARD LOCKE

Murder will not be tolerated!

ILLUSTRATION BY EDWARD LOCKE

Putin is the Modern Day Attila the Khan and Genghis Khan.

FROM “HOLIDAY” PAGE 1

this holiday.

The number 45 comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data from 2020.

An average of 32 people died from drunk-driving accidents in 2020. That is one person every 45 minutes and a 14% increase from 2019.

“While the holidays are a time for friends and families to gather with one another, they are also a time when fatalities related to drunk driving sadly increase,” City Councilman Mitch O’Farrell said at the vigil. “We helped light City Hall in their memory, sending a signal of zero tolerance for impaired driving.”

Yasel Arostegi and her younger brother came from North Hills to be part of the candlelight vigil in honor of their sister Bianca Lisa

Tapia. She died after an accident with a drunk driver this year on March 3.

“She was 33 years old, and she was a beautiful soul. We are so devastated by her loss,” Arostegi said.

MADD joined forces with WAYMO, a commercial self-driving taxi service, to provide a new type of transportation.

Amanda Ventura Zink, public affairs manager for WAYMO said that the service will arrive in Los Angeles by next year.

“We honor and remember, in solidarity, all the victims whose lives have been forever changed by this one hundred percent preventable crime caused by DUIs,” Zink said.

Local law enforcement and city officials will display red ribbons

on their vehicles as a reminder to always designate a non-impaired driver if plans include alcohol.

“Today was the kickoff of our safety campaign,” said Melissa Estelle, senior program specialist at MADD. “It’s MADD’s longest running public awareness campaign to raise awareness around the holidays because drunk driving goes up around this time, more parties, more traveling. So just to remind people to designate sober drivers, take public transportation, use a ride share and get home safely.”

According to the NHTSA, people who drive under the influence are the number one cause of death on roadways during the holiday season.

and couldn’t figure out how to create a comparable fitness experience at home,” said LACC’s Peter Parasiliti, professor of kinesiology and personal training. “It took people out of the social environment for exercise—gyms, fitness clubs, studios—where you can benefit from the synergy.”

However, health is a fact of life. Parasiliti said that COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted communities with high rates of comorbidity, something that the CDC has correlated to lack of exercise.

Yet, the importance of serotonin to maintain a healthy attitude reflects its release during mentally and physically stimulating activities.

“For mental health, well-being, and depression, exercise plays a critical role in maintaining adequate concentrations of serotonin,” Parasiliti said. “We know there has to be a certain saturation for the brain to reabsorb it. Exercise enhances that and helps maintain balance in this mechanism.”

Given the combined risks of physical inactivity and emotional stress, pandemic-driven health problems appear severe. Could a therapy addressing these problems with equal weight prove effective in reducing negative outcomes? Some believe dance, among other activities, may provide a solution.

According to a study by Frontiers in Psychiatry, creative dance can reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder among survivors of domestic violence. The study was conducted during the pandemic with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Similarly, a recent UCLA study has shown that unchoreographed “conscious” dance can reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress, helping participants “let go of distressing thoughts” and attain “greater confidence and more compassion.”

These insights are well understood at LACC’s dance department.

“Dance lifts us so that we can reconnect with ourselves,” said Diana Cummins, LACC dance and yoga instructor. “If it’s done regularly it can lower blood pressure and help with depression. It reduces our stress so we can do what we want to do, because, especially now in our culture, we’re overwhelmed and exhausted.”

Dance is also an art form and exists as more than mere exercise and mood enhancement. It can even bridge the past and present.

LACC dance instructor Chester Whitmore recalls a friend with dementia who gained remarkable clarity during a moment of improvisational dance.

“It brings you back to the roots,” Whitmore said. “I don’t care if you’re in a coma. If you can get inside people, they begin to remember.”

Reynaldo Santiago, former LACC student and professional dancer, believes this connection to the deeper elements of consciousness may be related to music and social interaction.

“Dancing benefits you in a lot of ways, whether you’re by yourself or in a group,” Santiago said. “Just like exercise, dancing is good for you, but with music it adds another layer of connection for positive stimulation.”

A study by the American Journal of Health Education suggests

that “cultural” dance, as a “form of activity that is more acceptable than others,” may provide health benefits to those who are less likely to engage in exercise.

Considering the usefulness and appeal of dance therapy, how might it be included in programs seeking to address pandemic-related health crises?

California law mandates arts education in four areas--dance, music, theater and visual arts. Experiments show substantial academic improvement in schools with increased arts education.

Yet, many California schools fail to provide adequate arts instruction, according to Stanford Research Institute.

Despite declines in arts education, recent trends may point to a more artistic future. The passage of Proposition 28 earmarks $1 billion annual funding for arts and music education.

Closer to home, Parasiliti says the LACC Kinesiology Department is seeking to develop an exercise regimen based on the 3 Wins Fitness routine used at CSU Northridge and CSU Los Angeles. Designed by kinesiology students, the program would be available to community members for free. Plans for an outdoor gym would ensure the program could continue operating during social distancing.

In-person involvement may be what it takes to draw the pandemic-scarred community out of its panic room.

“During the pandemic everyone got lazy, but you gotta be there live to look,” Whitmore said. “You want to be there to feel the experience.”

PHOTO BY ROBERT COOMBS

LACC students gather to conclude Diana Cummins’ modern dance class on Nov. 17, 2022.

Members of the victims’ families gather for a photo at the MADD Safety Campaign on Nov. 18, 2022.

L.A. City Hall was lit up red on Nov. 18, 2022, in honor of the victims who have perished from drunk driving accidents.

Empty chairs with victims’ photos, roses and candles signify empty seats at the table this holiday season.

Every student is required to take the final examination. Every instructor is required to give the final examination following the schedule below. Final exams for short-term classes shall be administered during the final two hours of the last class period.

Because of potential conflict within students’ schedules, deviations from the final exam schedule ARE NOT PERMITTED.

In case of a conflict, please consult your instructor. If students indicate that a conflict is occurring, instructors are advised to contact their supervising dean immediately. Each examination is scheduled for two hours. Instructions

8:00 AM M

Monday, December 12 8:00 am ‐ 10:00 am

8:00 AM MW Monday, December 12 8:00 am ‐ 10:00 am

8:00 AM MTWR Monday, December 12 8:00 am ‐ 10:00 am

8:00 AM MTW Monday, December 12 8:00 am ‐ 10:00 am

8:00 AM MWF Monday, December 12 8:00 am ‐ 10:00 am

8:00 AM TR Tuesday, December 13 8:00 am ‐ 10:00 am

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8:00 AM W Wednesday, December 14 8:00 am ‐ 10:00 am

8:00 AM R Thursday, December 15 8:00 am ‐ 10:00 am

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9:35 AM T Tuesday, December 13 10:15 am ‐ 12:15 pm

9:35 AM TR Tuesday, December 13 10:15 am – 12:15 pm

9:35 AM W Wednesday, December 14 10:15 am ‐ 12:15 pm 9:35 AM R Thursday, December 15 10:15 am ‐ 12:15 pm 9:35 AM F Friday, December 16 10:15 am ‐ 12:15 pm 9:35 AM S Saturday, December 17 10:15 am ‐ 12:15 pm 11:10 AM M Monday, December 12 10:15 am ‐ 12:15 pm 11:10

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Tuesday, December 13 5:30 pm ‐ 7:30 pm 6:00

Monday, December 12 5:30 pm ‐ 7:30 pm 6:00

Monday, December 12 5:30 pm ‐ 7:30 pm 6:00

Monday, December 12 5:30 pm ‐ 7:30 pm 6:00

Tuesday, December 13 5:30 pm ‐ 7:30 pm 6:00

Tuesday, December 13 5:30 pm ‐ 7:30 pm 6:00

Wednesday, December 14 5:30 pm ‐ 7:30 pm 6:00 PM R Thursday, December 15 5:30 pm ‐ 7:30 pm 6:50 PM M Monday, December 12 7:30 pm ‐ 9:30 pm 6:50 PM MW Monday, December 12 7:30 pm ‐ 9:30 pm

6:50 PM T Tuesday, December 13 7:30 pm ‐ 9:30 pm 6:50 PM TR Tuesday, December 13 7:30 pm ‐ 9:30 pm 6:50 PM W Wednesday, December 14 7:30 pm ‐ 9:30 pm 6:50 PM R Thursday, December 15 7:30 pm ‐ 9:30 pm

6:50 PM F Friday, December 16 7:30 pm ‐ 9:30 pm

Wednesday, December 14 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm 12:45

Thursday, December 15 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm 12:45

Friday, December 16 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm 12:45

Saturday, December 17 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm 2:20 PM

Monday, December 12 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm 2:20 PM MW Wednesday, December 14 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm 2:20 PM MWR Wednesday, December 14 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm 2:20 PM MTWR Wednesday, December 14 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

2:20 PM T Tuesday, December 13 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

2:20 PM TR Thursday, December 15 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

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2:20 PM R Thursday, December 15 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

2:20 PM S Saturday, December 17 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

4:00 PM MW Monday, December 12 3:15 pm ‐ 5:15 pm

4:00 PM T Tuesday, December 13 3:15 pm ‐ 5:15 pm

4:00 PM TR Tuesday, December 13 3:15 pm ‐ 5:15 pm

4:00 PM W Wednesday, December 14 3:15 pm ‐ 5:15 pm

4:00 PM R Thursday, December 15 3:15 pm ‐ 5:15 pm

4:00 PM F Friday, December 16 3:15 pm ‐ 5:15 pm

4:40 PM M Monday, December 12 3:15 pm ‐ 5:15 pm

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5:15 PM MW Monday, December 12 5:30 pm ‐ 7:30 pm

BY POUPY GAELLE NGUETSTOP

all semester resources will end soon as the year draws to a close for the food pantry, the Cub Bookstore, and the hours of operation at the MLK Library. Food pantry distribution is scheduled every Monday on campus, but it will close for the year after the semester ends. Juan Alvarez, dean of student life talked about the food pantry and hours of distribution with the Collegian.

“We still have the food pantry open all the way,” Alvarez said. “It’s only Mondays.’’ The pantry offers students a selection of fresh vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, celery, avocados and lettuce. There is also fresh fruit including pineapples, plums, grapes and mandarin oranges. Volunteers assist students and offer plastic or fabric bags to carry home the groceries.

“[That] will be until December 12, 2022. That will be the last day. We usually open around 10:30 a.m., and we open until we run out of food,” Alvarez said. “We have more food, and if we don’t have enough students, we will wait until the food is gone.’’

A different type of resource for students in the final days of the school year is the MLK Library. The hours will remain the same for students until the semester is over.

“The hours now are 8:30 a.m., to 7 p.m., Mon-

day through Thursday, and 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., on Friday, [and] no Saturday, no Sunday,’’ said Acquisitions and Reference Librarian Dorothy Fuhrmann. “We won’t have extended hours. We are going to keep the same hours because we are [short staffed], we are just open on the first floor. We have the same hours on the second and third floor during the day, 11 a.m., to 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday. During that time, students can come and study, use books or computers.’’

The Bookstore will remain closed as long as the campus is closed until the start of the next semester, according to a staff member.

“When the school ends the semester ends, when that happens, then we close and then we open again in January,” said Esther Sunday, the assistant manager of the Cub Bookstore.

The Cub Bookstore closes on Dec. 16, and it reopens at the beginning of the winter session on Jan. 3, 2023.

“But we’re here, as long as the class is here,” Sunday said. “Finals are still considered as classes, so we’re here all the way through and after that, we close and we get time off, and we came back on January for the winter session.’’

Free finals meals with $15 Cub Store credit are available to the first 500 students per day, on a “first come, first served” basis. LACC student IDs are required. The offer starts Thursday, Dec. 8 and goes through Thursday, Dec. 15 on the first floor of the Student Union Building.

PHOTO BY EDWARD LOCKE

Vienna sausage, instant oatmeal and peanut butter were given to LACC students Monday, Dec. 12, 2022.

BY ABEL HABTEGEORGIS

n the heart of Hollywood, Native American filmmakers from hundreds of tribal communities across America showcased their films at the famed TCL Chinese Theatre.

The movie palace on the historic Hollywood Walk of Fame assembled people for the 2022 LA SKINS FEST, which celebrated its 16th anniversary.

The weeklong festival featured more than 60 new films, a writer’s pitch competition and a media awards celebration. The film fest culminated with a traditional Native American powwow at the newlyconstructed Hollywood Ovation Courtyard at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue. The outdoor event featured traditional singing, dancing, and youth performances.

Film entries were officially accepted in May. Shortly after viewing all films selected to be part of the competition, a pre-screen committee selected four finalists in various categories: documentary, animation and narrative short.

Director Jacob Pratt premiered his first film “Calling,” on the first night. The festival provided a unique opportunity to showcase the indigenous-centered film at the TCL

Chinese Theatre. Although Pratt had the opportunity to show his film at other festivals, he says it was really important to show it in front of the Indigenous community.

“Historically speaking, Native American representation in Hollywood has been terrible with indigenous people only shown on horses fighting the cavalry in the 1800s,” Pratt said. “But we [Native Americans] have great stories because our culture is based on storytelling and the general public is just starting to see that.”

The LA SKINS FEST, founded in 2007, is an initiative of the Native American non-profit, The Barcid Foundation. The festival aims to showcase talent on the rise among Native American filmmakers. The festival has grown into one of the most well known and renowned Native American film festivals in the country.

The festival highlights recent successes for Native Americans in Hollywood with shows like “Rutherford Falls” and “Reservation Dogs“ and films like “Prey” and “Nightraiders,” which achieved success at the box office and on TV. Even with these gains, Native Americans still represent less than 1% of lead roles in broadcast, cable and digital scripted shows and 2% of acting roles overall in the same categories.

Photo 1. Unsplash Photo 2. Unsplash Photo 3. Boston Library

BY LOUIS PRIMAVERA

rtist Michael Massenburg displayed his impressive, versatile artwork at the Visual and Media Arts exhibition on Nov. 17, 2022 at LACC.

The series was called “Spiritual Nature” and was based around the African diaspora experience in the Americas. The art exhibition centered on a theme of how rituals, cultural and spiritual practices transferred and evolved into current times.

Massenburg is a native Californian and local artist based in the Inglewood section of Los Angeles. His career began at the Watts Towers Arts Center, and his art was heavily influenced by the Watts Rebellion, the Black Art Movement of the 1960’s and the 1992 Los Angeles Uprising. His artistic process fluctuates between drawing, painting, collage and photography.

“The exhibition is a part of my exploration, traveling the world and seeing where I fit in the world in that regard,” Massenburg said. “Through the years, I have been trying to connect the dots when people talk about my history or our history, especially when it comes to an African American perspective.”

Massenburg’s past exhibitions have extended to all parts of the globe. One of his most recent was for the Dak` Art 14th edition Biennial of Contemporary African Art in Dakar, Senegal. Fellow artist and event organizer, Elizabeth Preger, praised Massenburg and his vibrant art works when they displayed here in L.A., and was present at the exhibition.

“Michael has been the most incredible force in Los Angeles,” Preger said. “He has been an organizer, a community activist, an artist, an educator, he’s taught in prisons and has done massive murals. I am so proud we can celebrate him and his place In Los Angeles here at the VAMA Gallery.”

Some of Massenburg’s public art shows were for Metro, D.C., and the Kia Forum in Inglewood. His work has been celebrated and recognized around the country. He has received several grants and awards including from the Art Matters Foundation and the New York and California Arts Council. He was most recently honored was by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs COLA Individual Master Artist Project Grantee for an exhibition for summer 2023.

Beatrice Alcala contributed to this story

Photos by Beatrice Alcala

BY ROBERT COOMBS

promotion is big news in any job, especially in music, and to land a gig in which one is passionate about is like a gift from heaven.

Kassandra Kocoshis is

grateful and happy to have secured this special gift at LACC’s music department, where she will give her expertise full-time as percussion and world music director. The Collegian was fortunate to speak with Professor Kocoshis to find out about her vision for the future and the inspiration’s that have brought her here.

BY LOUIS PRIMAVERA

arilyn Cooke’s oscar qualifying short “No Ghost in The Morgue” is subtle yet Entertaining.

The film is based around medical student Keity Richardson (Shelby Jean-Baptiste) who wants to be a surgeon. Out of options, she reluctantly accepts an internship at the morgue as a last resort. The film also stars Michel Lapeerriere as her boss and Myrrian Richardson as her co-worker.

The film is a short character piece, although not action packed or funny. In contrast the dark comedy film drama packs a powerful punch that resembles the human experience many face. The plot follows Keity on a subtle yet emotional ride as she confronts the morbid experience as well as her insecurity and family disapproval. Her grit is the catalyst for the film.

Keity’s self-doubt kicks in throughout the story and even though the job is gruesome enough to take a toll on her.

Determination of creating a path for herself gives her the strength to follow through with the obstacles in which she is faced with. Her family and peers do not want her to take this path and feel she could do better.

Shelby Jean Baptiste’s performance showcases her excellent acting ability, throughout the piece she displays vulnerability grit and determination. In a crucial scene to the plot, we see the change in her character when she gets a call with an offer for another job but turns it down due to her determination on finishing what she started.

Throughout “No Ghost in the Morgue,” there are themes of woman empowerment, self-discovery or the concept of following through with plans even when presented with the most difficult obstacles. The film also sums up the old saying “making lemons out of lemonade” and offers inspiration the viewer.

Cooke’s simple yet powerful script and directing mixed with superior acting makes the morbid film come alive on screen to create a profound, bittersweet experience.

Photos courtesy of Kassandra Kocoshis (Top) LACC’s new full-time music instructor, Kassandra Kocoshis.

(Bottom) Music professor Kassandra Kocoshis performing with percussion group.

BY POUPY GAELLE NGUETSOP

ngelenos lined the streets of Hollywood to attend the 90th anniversary of the Hollywood Christmas Parade that occurred Nov. 27, 2022.

This special edition was highlighted by the cutting of cake on the red carpet and the presence of incumbent Mayor Eric Garcetti. Fans received the Hollywood experience as celebrities took pictures and interviews on the red carpet.

The parade began at 6 p.m. and was hosted by Erik Estrada, Laura McKenzie, Dean Cain, Montel Williams and Elizabeth Stanton.

This year’s grand marshal was actor Danny Trejo.

The parade started on Hollywood Boulevard, continued onto Vine Street and ended on Sunset Boulevard.

The show was full of emotion with kids screaming in hopes of getting hand shakes from performers and others trying to catch candies thrown to them by performers. There were many floats such as Mighty Mouse, Betty Boop, a pirate and Christmas decorations.

There were different choreographies from dance groups and performances from marching bands.

Santa made his usual appearance at the end of the show and closed with a message to the crowd.

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Photos by Christian Chavez

1. Santa makes his grand appearance in the Hollywood Christmas Parade on Nov. 27, 2022.

Chinese cultural elements emerge in the Hollywood Christmas Parade.

The Marine Corps Color Guard marches down Sunset Boulevard for the Hollywood Christmas Parade on Nov. 27, 2022.

ECHO PARK NIGHT

BY TUPAC ZAPATA

here is a saying in soccer that a 2-0 lead is the most dangerous score, for that is when teams let up, only two see their opponents come back and turn the game around. That is precisely how the 2022 season ended for the LACC men’s soccer team at Chaffey College on Nov. 17.

LACC led 2-0 in the 90th minute when the referee announced six minutes of stoppage time. A minute later, Chaffey scored and the home crowd went wild as they knew there was still time to get an equalizer. In the 95th minute, a foul in the box gave the hosts a penalty and in four minutes Chaffey had sent the match into overtime.

The Cubs were stunned, shaken and could not find a way to recover from the

emotional blow. Victory had slipped away and now had to play an extra half hour. Chaffey on the other hand, knew the moment was theirs and scored two goals in the first extra time period that went unanswered for a final score of four goals to two.

It was a heartbreaking end to a good season from the Cubs, who finished with 11 wins eight losses and four draws. The team had an impressive start of the

season by winning seven straight games, but to their misfortune the Cubs lost steam and went winless on their last seven games.

10 outgoing sophomores will be graduating by the end of spring. The future looks bright as there is lots of talent among the freshmen, who next year will be experienced and perhaps could lead the Cubs to another trip to the CCCAA playoffs.

Photos by Tupac Zapata

The LACC starting 11, pose for a photo prior to their road playoff game against Chaffey College on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022.