CONNIE RICE
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Los Angeles
The student voice of Los Angeles City College since 1929
Wednesday October 9 , 2013 Volume 170 Number 2
Student Saves Counselor's Life
Compiled by Collegian Staff
When a student enrolled in a health class at West Los Angeles College, he signed up for CPR training to earn extra credit. It is unlikely that he ever imagined his new skill might save a life.
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons
Congresswoman to Speak at JFK Campus Forum U.S. Representative Maxine Waters will be the final keynote speaker at the L.A. City College JFK Forum, “Assassination in America; Examining the Life, Politics and Assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy,” from Nov. 4 – 6. The congresswoman will give her personal account of the Kennedy era.
Black Student Union Walks for AIDS
Persons affected by HIV and AIDS will receive support from the LACC Black Student Union on Sunday, Oct. 13. Organizers hope the AIDS walk will build awareness within the campus community. Money raised by the walk will be used to support AIDS Project Los Angeles and more than 20 other service organizations related to the disease throughout L.A. County. More information is available at www.aidswalk.net/losangeles.
Basic Skills Classes Still Open
Courses in overcoming math anxiety, elementary algebra, English composition and vocabulary development are open for enrollment to students who want to build basic skills. The Learning Skills Center offers help, free of charge. It is located on the northwest corner of campus near Heliotrope and Willowbrook, in the Life Science Building. Faculty members and a tutoring staff support students five days a week from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Houston Community College
Former Vice President Named Finalist for S.F. City College Chancellor Former LACC Vice President Art Tyler is one of four candidates who could steer City College of San Francisco away from its scheduled loss of accreditation. Tyler resigned from Houston Community College in July, where he was deputy chancellor and chief operating officer. The three other finalists for the position are from out of state.
Shooter Drill in SciTech LACC deputies shut down the SciTech Building Oct. 3 to conduct a security drill. Deputies secured the building and declared it “all clear” soon after 9:30 a.m. The drill was performed two weeks after a shooting incident near campus.
By Clinton Cameron
Dave Martin/Collegian Paramedics come to aid of LACC Counselor, Ted Segal, who collapsed in the Quad, during Breast Cancer Awareness Week last Thursday.
The Board of Trustees will honor a student today who is being called a hero for his quick thinking last week. Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics rushed to LACC last Thursday afternoon after counselor Ted Segal collapsed in the Quad in front of the Camino Theatre. Students and co-workers rushed to Segal’s aid. Witnesses say it was 1:15 p.m. when it appeared he was not breath-
FALL CLASSIC HIRING SPREE RETURNS TO LACC
California ShakeOut: Earthquake Drill to Roll through L.A.
By Maria Vallarta
By Jessica Brecker
Be prepared to drop, cover and hold on next Thursday, Oct. 17 at 10:17 a.m., for the “Great California Shakeout,” a statewide earthquake preparedness drill. The goal of this event is to remind people how to protect themselves in an earthquake. Organizers of the ShakeOut say more than nine million people will participate in the annual drill in homes, at schools and in workplaces around the state. However, the drill is not limited to California. In Oregon, Alaska, Arizona, Utah, New Jersey, New York and as far away as Japan, 21 million people have already registered for the safety drill. “Events like the Great ShakeOut raise awareness about the importance of disaster preparedness and show how individuals and communities can connect, engage, participate, and learn what actions to take before, during and after an earthquake,” President Barack Obama stated recently. “By employing emergency exercises and drills, these occasions help keep our neighborhoods safe and contribute to a more prepared, more resilient country.” Many Angelenos live in the moment, with no plan for survival in the days or weeks following a large earthquake. ShakeOut representative Lance Webster says LACC has not registered for some time. “ShakeOut representatives are eagerly looking forward to the college’s 2013 registration,” Webster said. Bob Garcia, director of facilities at LACC recalls past drills on campus. “We have done it three years ago and two years ago,” Garcia said. San Bernardino Valley College was the only college in California to have registered as of Monday. The Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest K-12 system in the nation, was not on the list. A refresher course may be in order for a host of California schools.
ing. People began to ask each other if anyone knew CPR. LACC student Gibril Jobe was crossing the Quad on his way home when he says he spotted Segal. Jobe noticed that no one seemed to know what to do, so he reacted from about 15 yards away. “There were two guys that were trying to come in, but they didn’t know what to do,” Jobe said. “I came and moved See President, Page 6
Inae Bloom/COLLEGIAN Renee Martinez addresses a crowd of more than 100 guests at her inauguration as the first Latina president of Los Angeles City College on Sept. 26.
President Renee D. Martinez Celebrated for Appointment More than 100 friends, colleagues and family members of the first Latina president in the 85-year history of Los Angeles City College marked the occasion with sips and nibbles and a visit from the mayor. By Vanessa Ruiz Warm wishes, congratulatory hugs and a room full of smiling faces greeted City College’s President Renee D. Martinez last Thursday, Sept. 26. Organizers at the LACC Foundation hosted the event inside the Student Union on the third floor for the 16th president of L.A. City College. Before her appointment as interim president at LACC last August, Martinez spent more than
12 years as vice president of Workforce Education and Economic Development at East Los Angeles College. Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees appointed Martinez president in May and granted her a three-year contract. “It was unbelievable, I’m impressed and very proud of her … There’s a good team here, everybody’s good here,” said her son Robert Martinez. See President, Page 6
Winter Session Offerings to Focus on Transferable Classes By Diana Nakayenga Registration for the winter session opens later this month at L.A. City College. The session is five weeks long, and runs Jan. 6 through Feb. 9. A full class listing will be available by Nov. 1., and registration will be available until the first day of class. It has been nearly three years since LACC offered a full winter session, but voter approval of Prop. 30 last November funneled an extra $210 million to community colleges in California. The funds help LACC to offer winter and summer sessions.
“If you’re a student at L.A. City College, you get a registration appointment for the winter,” said Dean of Student Enrollment, William Marmolejo. Since the number of units offered in the winter is limited, an appointment gives students a head start. “The longer you wait [to register], the more classes are being taken by other students, so there [are] less choices [left] … I always recommend [to] … register on your registration appointment,” Marmolejo said. See Session, Page 6
More than 60 employers from the 2013 Fall Classic Hiring Spree job fair will set up at LACC’s Quad area tomorrow, Oct. 10, 2013, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Key employers from Vons, Los Angeles Conservation Corp., Phoenix Engineering, Volunteers of America, Los Angeles Unified District, the FBI, UCLA Health, and others are expected to attend the fair. The employers are offering more than 1,000 job positions to students and to people in the community. Students have the opportunity to talk to the employers about potential internships and jobs. The positions offered include part-time and full-time employment. Employers are optimistic students will benefit from the available jobs.
City College Enters Gold Circle By Gloria K. Lee City College students are winners of three national awards from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association – an extension of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. More than 12,000 students
“They get paid and get an opportunity to go to school [at the same time]. They will learn how to build parks, trails, and all kinds of things like that,” said Ann Savage, the director of development at the Los Angeles Conservation Corp. “If [students] want to apply they can come to one of our orientations. They can find the information online.” The staff members at the Office of Economic Development and Workforce Education are also confident the job fair will help students gain work experience that will lead to future employment. “We have been very good in educating students for employment … but we also need to create a pool of skilled candidates to transition to employers,” said Alex Davis, economic development and workforce education dean. See Jobs, Page 6 from colleges and universities across the nation competed for Gold Circle Awards. LACC students: Kevin Baker, Olga Tatarenkova and Jose Tobar won 2013 Gold Circle Awards. The Gold Circle Awards recognize top journalism students nationwide. Out of 12,847 published entries this year, there were 1,780 winners. Baker won for his personal opinion piece regarding oncampus issues entitled “Campus Police, Where’s the Justice?” Tatarenkova won a Gold Circle Award for a personality profile on veterans entitled “Vets Shoot for the Stars.” Tobar seized an award for his artistic editorial cartoon “Higher One in Your Wallet.” Cartoonist and illustrator See Gold, Page 6
Index Page 1,4,6 Page 2,3 Page 5 7 Page Page 8,9 Page 10
News Opinion & Editorial A&E Scholarships Campus Life Sports
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Opinion & Editorial
Wednesday October 9, 2013
editorial
Collegian Editor-in-Chief Denise Barrett
Dear FAFSA, Give Me My Money!
Managing Editor Clinton Cameron Design Consultant Beatrice Alcala Multimedia Producer Richard Martinez Opinion/Editorials Rocio Flores Huaringa Arts & Entertainment Inae Bloom Sports Jake Carlisi Gabriel Killiam
Illustration by Steffen Williams/Collegian If you applied for financial aid this fall, you were here to witness the Financial Aid Office’s temporary, but innovative relocation to the Student Union Building for the first two weeks of the semester. Sure enough, it was only a temporary modification in processing all things FAFSA, yet it was still a gigantic leap forward in accommodating students. But does it really matter that LACC made modifications to speed up the process when the U.S. government is not doing its part? It is already October, and some students have yet to receive their financial aid! Students already feel the pressure of purchasing textbooks, supplies and lab
manuals. For the ones who can afford it, that is great, but for the ones who cannot, it can be crippling. It can even mean dropping classes--or out of school altogether--setting back the academic plans of some. The government-assisted program is designed to help students navigate the financial aid system. Granted, it is not an easy course. It takes planning to obtain federal support. There are forms to fill out, lines to wait in, and counselors to see. But is it too much to ask that if students take time to fill out the extensive paperwork, meet stringent deadlines, and follow the slew of government guidelines, that the government hold up its end of the bargain? Is federal financial aid a privilege, instead
of right, that allows its “givers” to go back on a promise? Who do we blame? School officials say being understaffed is the primary reason for the delays. However, students across the country have the same complaints about poor execution of FAFSA rules and inadequate distribution of funds. And all of this dysfunction was happening before the government shutdown. What these reports have in common is a lack of transparency. Officials at other schools blame the students, citing application errors, a longer verification process and missed deadlines as reasons for delays. Notice administration accepts no responsibility, not even the responsibility to educate and
communicate with students about the issue. For example, if you’re waiting on your financial aid, have you received a notice from the school warning of delays or providing a time frame for when it might be distributed? Sometimes simple recognition of the problem can go a long way. Though the administration bears some responsibility, there is something students can do: To all the late birds, if you want to catch the worm, register for FAFSA earlier next time. The fact of the matter is that the early birds have already received their financial aid solely because they signed up for it faster. Making this extra effort will result in less blame and more cash in your pockets for the school year.
Mediocre College, I nvisible P eople Mediocre Life?
By Erin Poppke Los Angeles City College has a long history dating back to Sept. 9, 1929. Ask any teacher and they can often give you a long list of success stories from previous students. I am a film major. As I gallivant around Hollywood knocking on industry doors, when being asked about my college, and meekly answering LACC, I have been surprised to hear many people say, “I went there too, great school!” What am I expecting? That they will say, “Oh, so you’re poor,” or “Not smart enough for a good school I see.” But they don’t. They respond as if we know the same secret. LACC is a place where people go to say, “Maybe I’m not rich, or, maybe I didn’t get it right the first time, but I’m here now, and I am determined, determined to make something of my life.”
Collegian Los angeles
Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN
Many students are using LACC as a stepping stone to get into a better school. What does a better school mean? A school that uses many of the same exact books we do but charges 10 times the price? Three of my six teachers last semester all worked at LACC as well as UCLA. My Cinematography teacher does workshops and seminars at the American Film Institute, voted the best film school in the world in 2013. I’m getting the same dollar's worth of education for a nickel. Why do some students go on to do great things, and others fall into the cycle of a mediocre life? Is it the school? Or is it the student? Or is it both? When you walk onto the pristine greens of the Pepperdine campus or stroll through the stunning old wood classrooms of USC, you get a feeling of pride, a feeling of higher education. I got that same feeling on my first day at LACC, that anything was possible, but I haven’t felt it since. It’s not the campus, or the teachers. It’s me. I’m failing to recognize that I am in a school that offers incredible opportunities if I am willing
to put in the effort. Imagine if when you walked into your accounting class that everyone acted as though they were at Harvard or Yale, if we acted like we were proud to be here. Do we need to spend tens of thousands of dollars to feel pride? Life is what you make of it. LACC is what you make of it. Do we need to go to a fancy school and burden ourselves with massive debt, or do we have something special right here? We have students from all walks of life who have seen the world in a way that most don’t, students who have seen the hardships and the struggles, the fight to even survive. These are the types of people that will change the world. They don’t need fancy diplomas to make a difference. They need to know they are life-lesson millionaires. They can take their ideas and start small businesses that have an impact on generations to come. The only thing mediocre about college, about our lives, is how we look at it. I’m going to be a famous filmmaker that tells stories that change the world, and I went to Los Angeles City College. You’re damn right.
Have an Opinion? Write a Letter to the Editor CONTACT INFO losangeles.collegian@gmail.com Letters may be edited for brevity. (323) 953-4000, ext. 2831
By Tom Wisniewsky Invisible people are all around us. You probably passed 50 or more on the walk from your car to your classroom, from the homeless man at the bus stop to the street vendor on the corner, to other students or teachers on campus. They are invisible to you and you are invisible to them. We have all gotten so comfortably distant from one another that we have forgotten our most valuable and unique gift – our ability to communicate with others in an intelligent and friendly way. I frequently ask myself, “Why is it like this now?” When I was younger, not even 15 years ago, I remember a more proactively social community. What changed? Is it the Internet? If you have ever browsed through Youtube or Facebook, you will notice there are millions of comments between people unknown to each other. The desire to expand our social network isn’t gone, but it
is as if we have forgotten how to do it outside of the Internet. As students, we spend a lot of time in coffee shops doing homework, or at least I know I do! If you have too, I am sure you have noticed no one is really interacting with each other even though they are just inches apart. Sitting in the corner with a screen in your face and an alternate screen in your pockets for when you get tired of staring at the computer makes a person feel very connected to the world around them even though they won’t look to the left or the right and say hello to the person sitting right next to them. Going into a fresh semester at college, many of us are new to the experience or returning after a several-year break. It is important on campus, and in life, to take a more communicative approach towards one another. Let’s make the new and old feel welcome. Let’s engage one another on academic and personal levels to remind us all that we exist outside of our own minds. People often rise to the occasion and push the boundaries of capability when they feel as though they are a part of the world around them. Ask yourself, “Do I even know the names of the people in my classes? If not everyone, do you know any at all?” If not, that seems like a good place to start.
Graphics Designer Monica Ebanks Rocio Flores Huaringa Joshua Hernandez Vanessa Ruiz Anna Ureña Illustrators Don Aguilar David Stamp Steffen Williams Photo Editor Inae Bloom Photographers Michael Bisiar Rachael Garcia Jorge Ponce Adriana Robles Julia Salazar Reporters Felicia Allen Jessica Brecker Richard Chang Monica Ebanks Gabriel Galan Rachael Garcia Tanya Geddes Gloria Lee Diana Nakayenga David Stamp Advertising Staff Clinton Cameron Richard Chang Dave Martin Nico Nava Adviser Rhonda Guess Deadline Schedule NEXT ISSUE: Oct. 23, 2013 Editorial deadline: Oct 18, 2013 For all submissions including letters to the editor and publicity releases send materials to Collegian office: Chemistry 207 losangeles.collegian@gmail. com For all insertion orders and advertising questions. Email: pr.collegian@gmail. com The college newspaper is published as a learning experience, offered under the college journalism instructional program. The editorial and advertising materials published herein, including any opinions expressed, are the responsibility of the student newspaper staff. Under appropriate state and federal court decisions, these materials are free from prior restraint by virtue of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Accordingly, materials published herein, including any opinions expressed, should not be interpreted as the position of the Los Angeles Community College District, Los Angeles City College, or any officer or employee thereof. Collegian © 2013. No material may be reprinted without the express written permission of the Collegian.
Opinion & Editorial
Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN
Wednesday October 9, 2013
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City Views Christopher Miller - Business
Iris Mickey - Math Professor
What impact does the federal shutdown have on your life?
“It’s hurting the stock market which I have investments in, that’s one thing. I just feel bad for the people that it is affecting overall.”
Compiled by Gabriel Galan Photos by Jorge Ponce
Arelen Escobar - Art History
“Veterans like me are waiting on benefits. Without the federal government, I won’t get my benefits. I’m sure they have an emergency plan in place. It affects me; it’s hitting my pocket book. I’m stable at the moment but it’s a lot easier when things are up and running instead of downhill. There are a lot of veterans on campus that depend on benefits to complete their education. With the federal government being shut down, it’s spooky.”
“Sometimes people take advantage of the system. I think that it’s a bad thing especially with the way the economy is going right now. I believe things are going to get a lot worse.”
Robert Smith - Nursing “I don’t receive financial aid anymore. It’s affecting me because with the money I receive, I get to pay my bills and use it for school. There are those who don’t receive anything and this is the only bit of money they get and now they are screwed. A lot of veterans have stopped by the Veterans office with questions and concerns about what is happening.”
Adult Education Creates Paradox Writing about college life as an adult student is a daunting task, at best. At one point, I could have written about dorm living, campus By Wesley Smith activities or the meal choices available to students. Now, those have taken a back seat in favor of full-time employment and paying rent. Instead of 12 hours of coursework, I can only take one class at a time, usually in the evenings or on weekends. So what could I contribute to a paper that is so focused on a younger generation? Then, I realized the struggle of going back to school as an adult is already an important topic of conversation. The education system in the U.S. often feels stacked against a group that is already fighting through a historically poor job market. Without major policy changes, an entire generation may find themselves floundering to stay above water. Secondary education is becoming more and more of a priority in our world. A June report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce estimates that 65 percent of the job market will require postsecondary education by 2020. In addition, those who earn degrees are paid 74 percent better on average than those with just high school diplomas.
With degrees becoming a necessary part of landing even middle-class employment, common sense would dictate that the cost of education would be reasonable for students. However, most studies have found the opposite: that tuition costs have skyrocketed over the past 10 years. One CNN report last October showed a staggering 104 percent increase over a 10-year period for public, four-year institutions, well beyond the rate of inflation. Los Angeles already has some of the highest living costs in the United States, so adults without degrees find themselves in a lose-lose situation. Even with financial assistance, students like me often find ourselves in a situation where we have to continue working in order to survive at the expense of being able to attend more classes. Yet, without attending a fulltime school schedule, we’re stuck in low-paying, often service or manual labor positions for years at a time. And this is all assuming we can even get into our schools of choice having spent so much time out of the classroom. I cannot say it is impossible to attend school while dealing with adult responsibilities. There are numerous aide programs that make the process easier. However, it is a considerable uphill battle every step compared to younger generations attending college right out of high school. It’s time to create a sensible education system that can be cost-effective and still worthwhile.
Illustration by Don Aguilar /Collegian
Adults Returning to Colleges Adults may be returning to school in record numbers, but are schools ready for them? Returning to school as a working adult is no easy task. It means adding hours to your already hectic schedule that may include work and child care. Nonetheless, many return to school as an investment in their future. Many of us want to transfer to a By William Blanco four-year university, some want to learn more about the field they are already in, and others want to switch careers. Whatever the reason, many are ready to add the necessary hours to their schedule and get down to it. The problem is that adults are treated as second-class citizens at Los Angeles City College. Don’t get me wrong, programs such as Accelerated College Transfer (ACT) and evening classes are a great step to include adults. However, they are still very limited. ACT is offering three classes this semester and all were filled quickly.
“University Transfer Day” took place on Sept. 12, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., during regular working hours. Even the bookstore’s buyback hours are scheduled during working hours. Most adults take evening classes and leave work to make it just in time to their class -- never an easy feat during peak traffic hour. We too want to sell our books for some extra cash, but if we have to take time off from work to do it then it defeats the whole purpose. Instead our collection of books grows. According to the data from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s office, approximately 65 percent of Los Angeles Community College students are 25 and over and 20 percent of all students are evening students. Like most institutions, community colleges must change with the times. The main focus must remain on our youth, but community colleges need to cater to their older grasshopper. We can accomplish further inclusion of this demographic by adding more evening classes, adding more adult oriented clubs, having the bookstore open late at least once every two weeks throughout the semester and funding useful programs like ACT.
Sleep Less, Worry More It is midnight and tomorrow your seven-page research paper is due at 8 a.m. You are on page one. You have been so busy the past two weeks that the only time you have left is now. So you give up sleeping and spend the next seven hours frantically finishing your paper. We have all been By Tara Rumore there. But did you know that depriving yourself of a full night’s sleep could have serious effects? We need sleep. It is as important as a healthy
Bike Theft It is estimated that of the 10 million people that live in Los Angeles about one percent of the population depends on a bicycle as their primary means By Sean Nordahl of transportation, roughly 10,000 to 12,000 citizens. Due to the lackluster growth in the U.S. economy and the 'going
diet and exercise regimen. The reason we sleep is to repair the damage we do to our brain everyday. Our brains function like a muscle and need time to rebuild. Without adequate sleep, abnormal protein grows on the part of the brain called the thalamus and slowly destroys it. In just one night of no sleep, you are considered as impaired as someone legally intoxicated. Yikes. Studies have shown that less sleep also affect your concentration and memory. When conducting a series of tests, doctors discovered those lacking sleep failed to repeat a list of words and numbers in order. As a student I too have pulled a few all-nighters. Not only was I exhausted the next day, but I also felt I could have done a better job if I had I done it earlier. I
on the
Rise
green,' trend many people are choosing a bicycle as a healthier and more reliable way to get from point A to B. Barring the occasional flat tire or sudden rain spell, a bike can be much more time efficient than sitting in dreaded L.A. traffic. With all of these great things a bike has to offer, could there be a downside? There has been an increasing number of reported bike thefts in the city of Los Angeles within the last few years. Exact percentages of bike thefts are hard to determine because many people do not report theft to the police, but police say they have received an increase in reports
also noticed my grade was lower than other grades in assignments where I had not pulled an all-nighter. Let’s face it, Americans are getting sleepier and lazier. We have more things to do and less time to do it. Students these days prioritize friends and free time over school, which leads to pulling even more allnighters. I constantly hear, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” or “Working under pressure produces better results.” These excuses could not be farther from the truth. Because sleep has a lot to do with the brain and its function, is it really worth it to skip it? By putting it off, you are more likely to make a mistake, not finish, skip something or forget all together. Getting a good night’s sleep can increase your concentration, improve your memory and make you feel better going into class
over the last couple years. “My wheels were stolen off of my bike, when I returned I found just the frame on the ground still locked up,” said Joseph Bacelis, a student here at LACC. Since the incident occurred on campus in the spring of 2012, Bacelis says he does not choose a bike as a way to get to LACC anymore. “The parts that were stolen were very expensive and I just can’t risk going through that again.” Bacelis said he filed a police report, but to his frustration, nothing came of it. Deputy Sheriff Rick Baker, on-campus officer at LACC and other colleges in the area, has a different opinion on the matter. “It’s not something that we are having an increasing problem with here on
for that big presentation or quiz. So what can you do to add more sleep into your life and complete your homework? Below are a few tips. Time management is very important. Set yourself up to succeed by prioritizing what is important and when it needs to be done. Use your time wisely. Do homework before going out so there is less to worry about. Create a sleep pattern. Wake up and go to bed at the same time every night. You will feel more energized and less fatigued. By doing so, you will no longer need that alarm, your body will know when it is time to get up. Take shorter naps and no sleeping until noon. Taking two to three-hour naps will mess with your sleep cycle making you less tired when it’s time to go bed and more drained the next day. Sleeping in until noon doesn’t do anyone any good. You are still tired and you have already wasted half your day.
campus,” said Baker. "These incidents are usually spur-of-the-moment type things.” Deputy Baker said at the beginning of the 2013 fall semester, an attempted bike theft occurred but the assailant was detained before they could get away. Due to the help of concerned citizens and local media outlets, many local biketheft rings have been uncovered. Criminals come together and journey around different parts of L.A. stealing hundreds of bikes in one sweep. They then take the bikes and either sell the entire thing or break it down into individual parts. NBC 4 Southern California even created an undercover sting operation to raise awareness of bike thefts entitled "To Catch a Bike Thief.” They successfully planted tracking devices on
bikes and then placed them in areas with high numbers of thefts. The sting led to the capture and prosecution of criminals involved in these kinds of operations. Thanks to public outcry there is hope for L.A. cyclists. Police officials encourage anyone who is the victim of a theft or may have possibly witnessed one to come forward. A website, bikesidela.org, has been created and it gives information to L.A. residents about bike trails, promotions, and best of all, an area where users can report stolen bikes with detailed descriptions. The chance of recovering a stolen bike can be very slim, but with the help of the community we can try to prevent people from committing these senseless acts.
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News
Wednesday October 9, 2013
Cuauhtemoc dancers created a commotion jumping, yelling, and making lots of noise with bells, drums and shells during a performance for Occupy L.A.’s second anniversary on Oct. 1.
Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN
Inae Bloom/COLLEGIAN
"Together we win," was part of the message in Seraphime Angelis' chalk illustration in solidarity with Occupy L.A. organizers.
Occupiers Organize Culture-Rich Anniversary
By Vanessa Ruiz Occupy L.A. organizers came together in Downtown Los Angeles last week to commemorate the group’s second anniversary and to plan for the future. According to the group’s website, Occupy L.A. is meant to follow in the footsteps of the Occupy Wall Street movement. They say their aim is to bring equality to the American system and then the world. Organizers and activists who contributed to the movement came out to support the two-year anniversary celebration held at the West
Cubs Rush In By Monica Ebanks Students gathered on the Main Quad Sept. 24 and in front of the Student Union on Sept. 25 for Club Rush. Lured to the multi-day event by the games and free pizza offered, students were invited to socialize, eat and have fun with others who shared their interests. Club representatives were out to recruit new members, promoting awareness and a culture. Many students signed up for their favorite clubs and got a chance to mingle with enthusiasts. The Black Student Union was recruiting for an upcoming AIDS walk. They raised awareness of LACC’s “Hot Spot” label during the event. “A ‘Hot Spot’ … is the most prominent area where AIDS is concentrated,” said Natasha
Steps of City Hall. The area was closed off to traffic for the event. “I think it’s wonderful,” said longtime marijuana activist Richard Eastman. “There’s hundreds of people here, you know … not thousands like when we were at Occupy two years ago, but the thousands are out there.” The celebration remained peaceful and songs like Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are a-Changin’” and Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land,” serenaded those in attendance throughout the first part of the evening. Occupy Venice, Occupy Orange County and the Free The
Hanes, president of the Black Student Union. Hanes talked about the club’s efforts to help the Veteran community on campus. The club wants to help veterans re-enter society through the arts. The LACC Anime Club was by far the most lively at the event. Fellow club members joined president Tasha Scott, who also goes by “Pikachu,” in costume. Club members play the Yugioh trading card game and discuss Japanese culture. The French Club also made an appearance. The club is preparing a student abroad program for next summer. “We show movies, we have presentations, discussions [and] lectures,” said club Vice President Martha Salazar. “We have guest speakers come in talk about the culture as they lived there.” Bubbly experiments, courtesy of the LACC Chemistry Club, entertained science enthusiast and the general student body alike. Club co-President Ashley Start recruited volunteers to teach sci-
Weed Campaign were some of the advocacy groups in attendance. “We want to help fix the system. The system is failing,” said Antonietta Villamil, an Occupy Venice activist and poet. “Changes are not really taking place and we need them. We see more and more people being squeezed into poverty and we want to change that.” The Occupy L.A. group has recently protested against foreclosures and a war with Syria and hosted the March Against Monsanto. “I’m so proud of the young people that were there,” said Ruth Sarnoff, an activist for the Wom-
ence to elementary school students. Start also talked about the group’s excitement in participating in National Chemistry Week in mid-October. “We do a bunch of large experiments trying to get people into chemistry, and into science,” Star said. Clubs are organizations that unite people with common interest or goals. They are created to bring people together. The L.A. Conquers club attempts to do just that, while providing a sense of community. “We collaborate with CYC, which is California Youth Connection, [and] their former foster youth as well and they go upstate,” said club Vice President Robin Stewart. “Just a couple of us go upstate [to speak] with the legislature making all the regulations for the current foster care system, like we have a say so, what works, what doesn’t work.” Information about the different clubs this fall is available in the Student Union Building, Room 219, or on the school’s website.
Scholarships "Hot & Ready" By Rachel Garcia Your car has been running on empty.You have class in an hour. You can’t cash your paycheck until tomorrow and your bank account just went negative. So, you gather up enough loose change to get you to and from school without having to make that dreaded phone call to AAA. There’s no need to feel embarrassed. Most students are in the same situation. Luckily, there are plenty of scholarships available for LACC students through the LACC Foundation. The foundation has been providing philanthropic support to students since 1968. According to the LACC Foundation’s website, community colleges serve the state’s lowest-income students, with its full-time student annual median income being $16,223. Half of the students are age 25 or older and half of California veterans who are part of the GI Bills educational benefits attend community colleges.
“The GI Bill really made the transition back into student life easier,” said LACC student Andre Medina, 25. “It allows me to focus on my studies so I won’t fall behind in school.” Scholarships through LACC are in two categories: foundation scholarships and departmental scholarships. To apply for the foundation scholarships, students need to send in an unofficial transcript, their current semester's registration, a passport-sized color photo of themselves and a 500word essay. For the departmental scholarships, the specific department of your major must be contacted for applications. Private donors, such as the William Henry Snyder Society, donate up to $50,000 to the LACC Foundation to be distributed to the students in need. Book vouchers are available through the LACC Foundation and the application can be accessed online at laccfoundation.org. The same site provides the scholarship applica-
tions for the Spring 2013 semester, which includes Wells Fargo Scholars, the Mennes Theatre Acadamy Scholarship, Oscher Scholar Award and the Hollywood Foreign Press Fellowship Award. “I was awarded a scholarship, it was $500, which helped,” LACC student Charnita Stollmaye said. “I think I was one of the only few people who applied for it. A lot of students just don’t do the research because scholarships are so meticulous.” With so many types of scholarships available, there is most likely one that’s molded just for you. LACC’s financial aid department website lists scholarships by deadline date. The scholarships with November deadlines are for journalism majors, those with knowledge and passion in public policy and international affairs and women and minorities studying in the field engineering. Scholarships can be very specific so find your niche! Related: See Scholarships page 7
en’s Circle and the Occupy Fights Foreclosures of the 2011 encampment. “I think this is a very, very hard time for them and I’m concerned about so many things.” Some of the concerns on Sarnoff’s mind seem to be the same concerns on everyone else’s minds. These include the banks foreclosing on homes, global warming, the availability of healthy food and clean water, shelter and saving graduate students from crushing debt. “So many Americans now, don’t have shelter, they don’t have enough food, they don’t have clean water, and they don’t have a secure
future,” Sarnoff said. “I think this movement has had a profound effect on America. I like seeing young people thinking about things, not just about how it affects America, but how it affects people everywhere.” The younger generation has seemed to adopt the movement as something that they can hold onto. Many were arrested during the raid on the encampment, but that doesn’t seem to be hindering their passion for the cause. “It’s been pretty crazy, trying to make a difference, trying to work hard with the knowledge [of] the situation we’re in,” said Oscar Gon-
zalez, a freelance artist who started selling his art at the encampment. “Peace is an uphill battle, it’s really difficult and it’s really hard to make changes, but we’re still going at it. We’re still doing it. We’re still using art to convey our message.” The fight for worldwide change is nowhere near over for the activists and organizers of the Occupy movements, but they seem ready for the fight as the crowd chants “They may beat us, they may cheat us, they may mistreat us, but they will never defeat us. Why? Cause we’re too strong, too strong, to keep on keepin’ on! Why? Cause we’re too legit to quit.”
The Good Fight: Famed Civil Rights Attorney to Appear at LACC
Photo courtesy of "Power Concedes Nothing," Scribner/Simon & Schuster
Connie Rice (left) is often referred to as one of the nation's most influential lawyers. Her second cousin, Condoleezza Rice is also a lawyer who President George W. Bush appointed to U.S. National Security Adviser in 2001. The duo posed for this photo in the spring of 2010.
By Denise Barrett Powerhouse civil rights attorney and activist Connie Rice will appear at LACC to discuss and sign her memoir “Power Concedes Nothing, One Woman’s Quest for Social Justice in America, from the Kill Zones to the Courtroom.” Connie Rice is known as the no nonsense and brilliant attorney with an unshakable drive toward justice. She has tangled with some of the toughest in Los Angeles—investigating police corruption and advocating for reform of the Los Angeles Police Department, helping to broker the city’s anti-gang programs that altered the face of the city after the explosion of violence in the 1990s, and winning a billiondollar lawsuit for new school construction in underserved areas of the Los Angeles Unified School District. A former attorney for the NAACP’s Legal Defense Fund and ACLU of Southern California, Rice is currently a founding member of the Advancement Project, a multi-racial civil rights
organization dedicated to developing community-based solutions that inspire a national racial justice movement to achieve opportunity and a just democracy. She honed her ability to assess and negotiate complicated situations growing up part of a military family around the United States and in England. Often the only African-American family in her neighborhood or Air Force base, she grew up with a sense of responsibility for others, learning early on the importance of responsibility to the community and a consistent work ethic. Her memoir traces how the selfdescribed “intense, self-assured, interracially fluent teen who neither sought nor needed her peers’ approval” became the fearless black-belt wielding civil rights attorney battling against “manifest injustice,” like racially biased death penalty convictions, propagated by some of the most powerful systems in the world. “In our system, the accused has to be vigorously defended, fairly prosecuted, impartially judged and justly punished, without bias, politics, or corruption,”
Rice writes in her book. Rice, who is also cousin to Condoleza Rice, former Secretary of State under President George W. Bush, will appear at LACC as part of the school’s book program. Created six years ago, the program encourages faculty, students, staff and administrators to read a culturally and politically diverse selection of books, which then can be discussed in the classroom and beyond. The club hosts author receptions, film screenings, forums and guest speakers during the academic year. Connie Rice will appear Oct. 23, 2013, 12:30-2:30 p.m. in the Science and Technology Building, Room 132.
Arts & Entertainment
Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN
Artist Spotlight Alejandro Torres Rezzio Writer, Director Filmmaker Alejandro Torres Rezzio is hitting a high note with his short film, “Llegar a Ti,” debuting this week at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival.
Inae Bloom/COLLEGIAN By Denise Barrett
With four original short films under his belt, experience on more than 50 productions, and two new documentaries in the works, this writer, director, producer, and editor is poised to move moviegoers with his unique brand of raw cinema. A life in film didn’t come naturally for Alejandro Torres Rezzio. Raised in religious El Salvador by devout grandparents, he was not allowed to watch too many films growing up. Anything with kissing scenes was banned. It was the occasional glimpses at old black and white Mexican television shows that whet his appetite for storytelling, sustained by the lasting emotional effect he says they had on him. Rezzio moved to the U.S. six years ago to follow his growing pas-
sion for film, and to join his mother who had moved here ahead of him in order to support his schooling back in El Salvador. He decided to attend LACC’s film program to learn the basics of the field before going on to UCLA to earn a B.A. in film, television and digital media with a concentration in directing. To round out his Hollywood experience, he is currently pursuing an internship at the Creative Artist Agency for training as a Hollywood agent. Armed with a desire to tell the stories of the Latino community and an extensive network of industry connections made at LACC, Rezzio strives to break barriers and make people feel something outside of their own experience. COLLEGIAN: Tell me about the film in the festival, “Llegar a Ti.” ALEJANDRO TORRES REZZIO: “Llegar a Ti” translates as “to reach you” and it’s about an older man trying to let go of his past pain and move on and just be present. A lot of people get stuck in the past and it’s hard to enjoy the moment and the film explores that letting go. If you have to go back, go back, face it and do whatever you have to do to get to [the] next chapter. It was inspired by my grandfather who passed away two years ago. It was the most painful moment of my life ... I didn’t get to say goodbye. I wanted to say goodbye to him in [the] way I know how — in film. C: How did your film get into the festival? ATR: I submitted it to the film festival in June. I’d just graduated from UCLA and I was looking for a festival to pick it up or else the film would be dead. I submitted [it] to the festival and they go through all submissions to pick 20 short films. They chose the best of all in the world. Some festivals are Oscar-qualifier festivals, and LALIFF is one of those. My film is in competition in the short category so if it wins, it’s eligible for Oscar nomination. I’m also excited that every film participating in the festival goes into the Latino collection at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; people will have access to my film at the Academy library. That’s the biggest honor I could get. To have my first film going into the Academy is crazy and surreal. C: Did you go from LACC to UCLA immediately? ATR: I stayed an extra year and took cinema and t.v. courses. Once I got my A.A., I transferred to UCLA. I didn’t go straight into the field, however, I was interning while at LACC. [Students] should be interning at film festivals and nonprofit film organizations that will give them a network and experience when they transfer to university, which is a little tougher than community college ... You have to get your feet wet; you have to know what you’re getting yourself into. People are hung up on getting rich and famous, but reality is none of that unless you’re a celebrity. It doesn’t work that way, not for everybody. C: What’s your inspiration for filmmaking? ATR: I just love telling stories and if I can tell a story I’m happy. I’m working on two documentaries now and people ask why, since they don’t make money. But I believe cinema has the power to change the world. If
Inae Bloom/COLLEGIAN Students, faculty and artists attend Da Vinci Gallery's opening reception for the exhibition "Stable Mates," on Oct. 1.
'Stable Mates' Breaks Barriers with Diversity at Da Vinci Gallery By Clinton Cameron
Rolled in paint, flowers are pressed against the canvas to create a vibrant and colorful representation of themselves. In another series of paintings, vertical lines maintain thickness despite dripping. Here a squeegee was used to apply the paint. From drawings of Xeroxed collages to literally setting the canvas on fire, each piece represented in the “Stable Mates” art exhibition manages to break barriers. The show also breaks barriers in another way. It brings diversity to the traditional composition of predominantly white male art shows. In addition to artists Jason Yates and James Krone, “Stable Mates” includes Latino artist Mar-
tin Durazo and two women artists, Katie Herzog and Sarah Cromarty. Steven Bankhead, senior lecturer at Otis College of Art and Design, also has pieces presented in the show. He notices the male-to-female ratio is about 50-50 at Otis and still some art galleries are exclusively male. “In those galleries I think there is definitely underrepresentation,” Bankhead said. “I don’t know what the ratio of women artists to men artists is, so I don’t know what the proper ratio in a gallery would be to be equal distribution.” Still, he says he is interested in the politics and believes when people say they are underrepresented. Katie Herzog is one of the two women in “Stable Mates.” She be-
lieves women are definitely underrepresented in art galleries. “Roughly 75 percent of work shown in art spaces is made by men, while 75 percent of art school graduates are women,” Herzog said. Debi Ramirez, a former art major who now studies art therapy, was attracted to Cromarty and Herzog’s work. When Ramirez found out that Herzog felt women were underrepresented in galleries, she seemed shocked. “That’s the whole reason why I started doing art therapy because there is a lot of competition,” Ramirez said. “Even within ourselves [women] we put each other down. I don’t know why.” Outside the gallery, former LACC student and UCLA graduate
Angel Alvarado along with two of his peers approach Martin Durazo just to say hello. Durazo is the only Latino represented in the show and the three students, also Latino, are interested in his work. Usually composed on large canvases, his pieces address issues like drug trafficking or taboo sexual practices. However, due to limited gallery space, curator Christopher Russell needed to use smaller pieces that happened to stray from Durazo’s usual themes. “Generally his work is like eight-to-10 feet tall. He had these three small pieces and space is pretty tight and I just picked them out,” Russell said. Opening night wraps up and Durazo seems pleased with the response from students and staff making inquiries concerning the artwork. “I think the show looks great; a wonderful effort by Christopher,” Durazo said. Russell hopes the show will introduce audiences to works that stray from the traditional painting techniques. He also manages to bring a diverse group of artists to campus. “Stable Mates” runs through Oct. 31 at the Da Vinci Gallery. Yates will give a talk on Oct. 15 at 10 a.m. in Da Vinci Hall, Room 217.
Artist James Krone's "Capri Breeze Veilystrdax" incorporates perfume and flame on canvas.
Wednesday October 9, 2013
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you see a movie that touches you, you cry and if you thought about people’s sexual orientation a certain way and you see a film about it, maybe you feel their pain … you see the movie and you understand and open up to these people. Maybe I’m naïve thinking film can change the world. We need stories and you’re working in a medium that changes things. Everything we do has a story … back home, your cat, sister, brother, father, mother ... You tell them how your day was and everybody has a story. I just love what I do. You question it sometimes because there are times you don’t have work and you put a lot of people through things in this career. It’s challenging, but I feel I’m helping people. C: Who are your influences? ATR: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (Amores Perros), Alifonso Cuaron (Y Tu Mama Tambien), Sebastian Silva (Gatos Viejos), Pedro Almodovar, Ingmar Bergman, Bernardo Bertolucci, Soffia Coppola and Billy Wilder. C: What do you like about these filmmakers? ATR: They are so raw. Filmmakers are creating a portrait of our life, our world. Going back to the ’40s, they show how people dressed, lived and carried themselves. Some are over the top, but the filmmakers bring an image of reality to Latin America, not stereotypical characters. It’s real, raw and gets into your guts. They are hard to watch, and I have to be in a good state of mind, but that’s the power of cinema. Their cinema takes you to a world that gives you access to information and I want to do that with my filmmaking. C: What are you working on now? ATR: I’m working on two documentaries, one shooting in L.A., and one in El Salvador. I go back and forth when I have money. The one in L.A. is on juvenile arthritis, something most people have never heard of. I’m working with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. The other one is on public transportation in El Salvador. I’m also working on three new webisodes that showcase people who were diagnosed with terminal cancer and survived. C: What advice do you have for other filmmakers? ATR: Just pursue it. People say you don’t have money or it’s hard but people need to take a class, take one class at LACC and they’ll get to make three little movies. And everyone has a phone now with video or photo ... people can create content. You have to get out there and do it. Get your friends, your family and whomever and just create something. That’s when you get better. You have to stay humble and open to people’s criticism. My advice is just to get out there and shoot. LALIFF runs Oct. 10-14 at El Capitan in Hollywood. “Llegar a Ti” is scheduled for Oct. 12 at 11 a.m. Visit www.latinofilm.org for more information.
Scan the code to see a trailer for the �ilm, "Llegar a Ti."
Part of Jason Yates' diptych "The Twins," the above mixed-media piece uses acrylic, mylar and copper armature on canvas.
Music Concert Series Every Tuesday & Thursday at 12:30 p.m. Student Union 3rd Floor Multipurpose Room
Thursday, Oct. 10 David Apolinar, Trumpet
Thursday, Oct. 17 Solo Guitar Students
Tuesday, Oct. 15 Ensemble Fret
Tuesday, Oct. 22 Percussion Ensemble
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News
Wednesday October 9, 2013
Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN
State Unemployment Tops 9.3 Percent Jobs from Page 1 “That is the ultimate goal for workforce education, [to train] students and to have employers in place in order to give them opportunities to do internships, which can lead to permanent employment.” The unemployment rates across the nation suggest that it is difficult to find full-time and even part-time employment. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national unemployment rate for August 2013 was 7.3 percent while the unemployment rate in California in August 2013 was 8.9 percent; one of the highest rates in the nation. The Career Center Office at LACC does offer internships to students. Some of the internships include L.A. County Office of Education Staff Assistant Trainee, Net Programmer, and many others. Students can get more information about these internships in the Career Center Office at AD 109. More jobs will soon become available to students because the employers from the Fall Classic Hiring Spree are offering 2,650 job and internship positions. The Fall Classic Hiring Spree is already being met with positive reactions from LACC students. “[I think] it’s important because a lot of students Inae Bloom/COLLEGIAN During college president Rene Martinez’s inaugural reception, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti congratulated her on becoming the leader of what he calls the “crown jewel” of the L.A. Community College District.
Mayor Praises Martinez, Calls LACC Jewel in Crown President from Page 1 The reception featured a live band, refreshments and plenty of hors d’oeuvres. Guests mingled and talked cheerfully among themselves for two and a half hours. The atmosphere was one of love and support. President Martinez shared a few words about her appointment and the LACC campus. “I never really thought that I would be a college president, but I think this step can show a lot of women that it’s possible,” Martinez said. “I feel that I am really lucky that people here want to really make sure that students are successful. That to me is the agenda and we can’t forget that.” Guests in attendance ranged from long-time friends and family, a few top-ranked city officials. Former colleagues who worked with Martinez at East Los Angeles College also made the trip to LACC for the reception. Reception attendees Toni Vega and Irene Silva attended high school with President Martinez. “We’re really proud of her, never would have thought that in high school,” Vega said. “But she was always a leader.” No less than Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said Martinez would do a great job of leading the school he considers the “crown jewel” of the Los Angeles Community College District. The mayor delivered a congratulatory speech during the reception. Garcetti was a “surprise” guest to most of the attendees. When he entered the room the crowd cheered. LACCD Board of Trustees Vice President Scott Svonkin announced Garcetti’s name as he headed for the podium. “I’m so excited to be here with you to celebrate the continuation of a great leader, the new presidency of my friend and native Angelina Renee Martinez,” Garcetti said adding that Martinez embodies the success Angelinos want to see in their city.
Faculty and staff members in attendance seem to enjoy the atmosphere. Once the mayor’s speech ended, almost everyone in the room headed over to Martinez for a photograph with her to help commemorate the evening. Councilman Tom LaBonge, of the 4th District, presented the president with a certificate of congratulations. “I think it’s exciting for her and for City College,” said Michael Shanahan, former senior associate vice chancellor of human resources. “I think there are nothing but great things in store for the college. She is the best choice right now.” Martinez has been at LACC for more than a year now and she is building a following among faculty and staff. “She’s been a stabilizing force,” said music professor Dan Wanner. “She brought the faculty together. I think we are all very excited about the future, we think that only good things can come of her being here. We’ve already worked with her; we know what she can do.” Nora Gutierrez is the field deputy for Los Angeles City Councilman Curren Price Jr. of the 9th District and attended on behalf of the councilman. “I think it’s historic that she’s the first Latina president, so to me it’s exciting,” Gutierrez said. “I think she is a role model for Latinas aspiring to be president at other community colleges or universities. She’s got a really good track record, it’s great.” As supporters of Martinez left the celebration during the early evening, Martinez’s long-time friend Anna Saucede reminisced in front of the Student Union Building with other friends. “I went to high school with her. I’ve known her since I was 13 years old,” Saucede said. “Now we have to go back to the community and let them know what they lost.”
Winter Registration Begins This Month Winter Session from Page 1 There are nine colleges within the L.A. Community College District, including East L.A College and Trade Tech, which may both offer a winter session. In this case, convenience becomes an option for students, giving them an opportunity to commute to schools that are closer to them or enroll classes that may not be offered at City College. “When you get a registration appointment for L.A. City College for the winter, you can use that at East L.A., you can use it at Trade, etcetera, [because] we’re all kind of connected,” Marmolejo said. Even though it is only five weeks long, tuition for the winter session remains at $46 per unit. “You’re getting the same number of units as you would in a regular class, so we charge you the same amount,” Marmolejo said. Financial aid is available for students, but there is no separate application process. Financial aid for the fall semester rolls into the winter session, so students who already applied for the fall and are getting assistance will continue to receive that assistance. However, the amount of funds covered by financial aid in the winter session will depend on the number of units taken in the fall. “It works a little differently … for the financial aid department, the winter semester is not a separate semester. It’s part of the fall semester. We add
the winter units to the fall, [and] we make it one long semester, “ said Financial Aid Supervisor, Calvin Rankin. Students who have not reached the 12-unit mark will be eligible in the winter. “The most we pay for in one semester is 12 units, so if you already had 12 units in the fall, then we can’t pay for winter because you already had 12 units. If you had nine units in the fall, then we pay for the three more in the winter because that makes 12,” Rankin said. The winter session differs from the spring or fall semester when it comes to the number of class meetings per week. Most of them will take place Monday through Thursdays, while others may be the full five days. “All these classes are the same as a 16 week class; you’re just doing it in five weeks,” Marmolejo said. The winter session opens up an opportunity for advancement, allowing students to transfer earlier or on time as they planned and also graduate earlier. “It helps students meet their goals to transfer out of L.A. City College faster. We want students to move on to the next level as quickly as possible for their own good. Winter session is great for students,” Marmolejo said.
need money to pay for their tuitions and books,” said Estephani Ramirez, a business major at LACC. Others believe that more students should take advantage of the fair because it is convenient and will help them gain the necessary work experience needed for the future. “Students should take advantage of the fair because it is very convenient,” said Megan Tito, a communications major at LACC. “The different job opportunities in one place are ideal for someone who is in need of a job. It will also help them get work experience, which is needed for the future.” There are also other ways for students to prepare for employment. Last week, LACC offered job skills workshops. These workshops taught students the skills needed succeed in the workforce. Some of the topics covered were how to make a good first impression, how to dress for a job, how to prepare a quality resume, and how to prepare for an interview. The 2013 Fall Classic Hiring Spree is set for tomorrow. Employers will provide information about prospective internships and jobs to students and people in the community. It is up to the students to utilize this information and use it for their benefit.
Hero Dropped Backpack, Ran to the Rescue from Respond to the Quad Page 1 him. He was turning blue. I turned him to his back on the ground. When I looked at his face and checked his hands … he wasn’t breathing.“ When Jobe saw Segal falling to the ground, he says he dropped his backpack and ran toward the counselor. Before anyone called 911, Jobe began performing CPR. “He was on his side,” Jobe said. “His body was stiff. He was stiff like really stiff.” Collegian editor Vanessa Ruiz was covering a story in the Quad on breast cancer awareness when she noticed a commotion. “He seemed to be having prob-
lems breathing and his hands were changing colors,” Ruiz said. “Then police cadets and other people started to gather around to help him.” Jobe previously studied physical education at West Los Angeles College. “The teacher offered extra credit for anyone getting the certificate,” he said. “I paid for it. It wasn’t free.“ Even after Segal gained consciousness, Jobe stood over him to block the sun and waited for paramedics. “When the ambulance came, they gave him some oxygen and his color returned back to normal,” Jobe said.
Segal was transported to Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital following the incident. By Thursday afternoon, doctors told the Collegian he was in stable condition. A week has passed since the incident, and Jobe seems humbled by what happened. He is being called a hero—credited with saving a life. He’s also moving in different social circles now. “The president [President Martinez] wants to meet me,” he said. The Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees will recognize Gibril for his heroic actions today at the board meeting. “I am honored,” he told the Collegian.
'We Are About 150 Years Overdue For a Quake in the 7.8 Range' Shakeout from Page 1 “I’m not … I’m not prepared at all for an earthquake” said Kerri Wimberly, a cinema major at LACC who is not prepared for a major earthquake. Memories of the 1994 Northridge earthquake loom for some, but are just a history lesson for thousands of students at LACC who are in their 20s or younger. Northridge shook for a little less than 20 seconds. The death toll came to a total of 57 people, and more than 8,700 were injured. An estimated $20 billion in damage left many homeless. “Although I live in Van Nuys, the Northridge quake was quite devastating to our home--costing about $70,000 in repairs and retrofitting,” said Joe Dojcsak, who teaches photojournalism at LACC. “The six-foot high cinder-block wall around the house crashed to the ground. A huge, very tall, all-brick chimney snapped like a toothpick, and cost nearly $1,000 to haul away almost brick by brick. Every tile in both bathrooms, including the shower shattered. The walls in almost every room cracked, the floors separated from supporting floor beams, and the entire house had to be bolted
back onto the foundation. Thank goodness I know something about camping because for a while we had to live in a tent in the backyard. And, were it not for the Small Business Administration, which gave us a low-interest-rate loan, we would have lost our entire home.” The death toll would have been higher, if the quake had not occurred at 4:30 in the morning. No one knows when the next major quake will strike, but experts predict it is coming. “The projected quake on the Southern San Andreas Fault is expected to be a lot bigger, but we don’t know when it will strike,” said Webster, about the magnitude of a future earthquake on the San Andreas Fault. “Northridge was a 6.7 earthquake. We are about 150 years overdue for a quake in the 7.8 range. It could be tomorrow or 25 years from now.” He says the Northridge earthquake shook for 17 seconds, but scientists believe a future quake will cause two minutes of violent shaking. However, there is a way to reduce preventable injuries in an earthquake. According to Webster, every Los Angeles resident should know and follow an outlined plan. “Drop before you get thrown
to the ground. Cover vital organs; get under something sturdy, like a desk or table, and hold on to it. To make it simple for the layman, Drop, Cover and Hold on,” he said. “Doorways aren’t always stronger than the rest of the building.” If you happen to be driving when an earthquake strikes, the Ministry of Civil Defense & Emergency Management recommends that you pull over to a clear location, remain there with your seatbelt fastened until the shaking stops. Once the shaking stops, proceed with caution and avoid bridges or ramps that might have been damaged. The “Great California Shake Out” drill is now in its sixth year. In 2012, more than 9.4 million Californians participated. The brainchild of the Earthquake Country Alliance, it was designed to get Californians talking and participating after USGS Multi Hazards Demonstration Project, led by Dr. Lucy Jones, developed the ShakeOut Scenario. The ShakeOut website is run by the Southern California Earthquake Center, which is based at the University of Southern California. Get more information at www. shakeout.org/california/register.
WHAT'S ON COLLEGIAN WIRED: Student Responds to Emergency in Quad Scan here with your smartphone or visit http://youtu.be/0kwp7t17sBA
Columbia Welcomes Three Students to Gold Circle Gold from Page 1 Tobar added the Gold Circle to his more than 25 awards for state and regional competitions. This is his first national award. Student veteran Baker wrote a guest opinion piece for the Collegian last year. His writing impressed the judges enough to be awarded with a Certificate of Merit. Former LACC student and Collegian reporter Tatarenkova is now enrolled at USC’s Annenberg School for a master’s degree in Journalism. “I miss the Collegian a lot,” Tatarenkova said. “It was a great place to grow as a reporter. I made amazing friends and received a really great chance
to train with Professor Guess, who constantly encouraged me.” Other California colleges and universities that won the Gold Circle Awards are UCLA, Loyola Marymount University, Santa Ana College, and University of LaVerne. The Gold Circle Awards are annually awarded to student reporters and staff advisors by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. The association was established in 1925 and is located in New York City, New York. It is affiliated with Columbia University, “The School Press Review," and the School of Journalism. Columbia University is widely known by the awarding of Pulitzer Prizes initiated by Joseph Pulitzer in 1917.
Pretty in Pink for a Worthy Cause
Campus Marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month Scan here with your smartphone or visit http://youtu.be/ wN6LgiM1818
Scholarships
Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN
Wednesday October 9, 2013
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Only Treats: Cash in on $69,000 in Scholarships States - Be a high school junior or graduating senior, or currently enrolled in a twoyear community college in the SCAG region; graduating students must enroll in higher education (two or four-year college or university) following graduation - Have a 3.0 grade point average or higher (based on a 4.0 scale)
Jessica Brecker/Collegian Seeking Aid: Financial aid applicants stand outside of the Student Services Village waiting for up to two hours as staff deal with higher demand for support. Scholarships may supplement students' unmet needs. See related blog on the perils of errors on financial aid applications on page 8.
The Blogging Scholarships: $1,000 Scholarship Requirements: Your blog must contain unique and interesting information about you and things you are interested/passionate about. No spam bloggers. Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, currently attending full-time in post-secondary education in the United States. If you win, you must be willing to allow us to list your name and blog on this page. We want to be able to say we knew you before you became a well educated, rich and famous blogging legend. There is a 1,000-word limit for the essay. Important dates: Apply today. The 2013 application deadline is Nov. 13, 2013 Voting begins on Nov. 14, 2013. Voting closes at noon on Nov. 27, when the winner will be announced on our blog. Target Scholarships—Target Stores: $10,000 Applicable Majors: All Fields of Study Each year, Target awards more than 2,100 AllAround Scholarships— including four $10,000 national scholarships and two smaller scholarships for each Target store—to college and high school students, 24 and younger. To apply, go to www.collegescholarships.org/ourscholarships/blogging.htm Foot Locker Scholar Athletes: $20,000
Twenty winners of this program will receive $20,000 in scholarship funding for college. The Foot Locker Scholar Athletes program honors athletes for demonstrating excellence in school, on their sports team, and in their communities. For more information, you may visit www. dosomething.org/footlucker Southern California Association of Governments Scholarship The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Scholarship Program is designed to offer local government and planning experience that students can use to develop long-term career goals. The Scholarship will provide seven $2,000 scholarship awards for high school or community college students from the SCAG region, and a two-week externship with a local government planning agency. Recipients will also have an opportunity to meet with their local government representatives and practicing planners to discuss the importance of urban planning and a future career in public service. To be eligible for this award, applicant must: - Be a resident within the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) region (i.e., Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino or Ventura counties or on Tribal Lands within the SCAG region) and eligible to work in the United
Dell Scholars Program: $20,000 The Dell Scholars Program, sponsored by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, carries an award of $20,000 to help students complete their college educations. High school seniors who have financial need and plan to enroll immediately in bachelor’s degree programs can qualify by enrolling in approved college readiness programs as high school students and completing a Dell Scholars scholarship application online. Applications open on Nov. 1 and the deadline is Jan. 15. The Short & Tweet Scholarship: $1,000 Application Deadline: Nov. 3, 2013 Applying to and attending college can be the best time of your life, but it can also be the scariest! Tell us your scariest collegerelated experience in 140 characters for a chance to win $1,000 or a Kindle for college through our latest Short & Tweet Twitter Scholarship! The James Alan Cox Foundation for Student Photojournalists Founded in memory of James Alan Cox, a television photojournalist, The James Alan Cox Foundation for Student Photographers aims to provide financial support to student photographers of high school and college age. Through a variety of funding, including equipment purchases and scholarships for college and technical school classes, the foundation’s mission is to expand educational and developmental opportunities for student photographers demonstrating interest, talent and financial need. Type of Awards: - Five (5) digital cameras will be awarded to five (5) high school students - Five (5) $2,500 scholarships will be awarded to five (5) college or technical school students; four awards will be for video work while one will be for still photography Focus of work and entries: Photojournalism. Scholarships will be awarded to those students whose work “tells a story.” This
is a fairly broad topic and may include a variety of subject matter and approaches (breaking news, sporting events, etc.). Jim Cox, who was a television photojournalist in Phoenix, always “told a story” through his work, whether it was in video or still photography. All submissions must be via the Internet from July 15th through Nov. 15th. We will not accept applications by mail or before or beyond the deadlines. For complete details and to access all required forms, please visit our website. www.jamesalancoxfoundation.org
in your school: www.dosomething.org/bullytext Provider Organization: DOSomething.org
Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship Scholarship provided by: Scholarshipexperts.com APPLICATION DEADLINE: Oct. 31, 2013 SCHOLARSHIP MAX AWARD: $ 1,500 NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIPS TO BE AWARDED: 1 Scholarship Eligibility: Applicants must be thirteen (13) years of age or older at the time of application Be legal residents of the fifty (50) United States or Weekly “Three Sentence the District of Columbia Essay” Scholarship Be currently enrolled (or Scholarship provided by: enroll no later than the fall Zinch of 2019) in an accredited APPLICATION DEADLINE: post-secondary institution Oct. 14, 2013 of higher education SCHOLARSHIP MAX Application Overview: AWARD: $ 1,000 Submit an online short NUMBER OF SCHOLARwritten response (250 SHIP TO BE AWARDED: 1 words or less) for the Scholarship Eligibility: question: All US high school and col- Imagine that your high lege students are eligible. school/college has been Application Overview: overrun with Zombies. We award a $1,000 schol- Your math professor, the arship every week to one cafeteria ladies and even super student and choose your best friend have all the winner based on their joined the walking dead. 2-3 sentence response to Use your brain to flesh out the week’s question. a plan to avoid the ZomPurpose: bies, including where you Zinch believes that you are would hide and the top “More than a test score”. 5 things you would bring We also believe that colwith you to stay alive. lege is expensive, too Purpose: expensive. We are always ScholarshipExperts.com is trying to do fun, meaningagain offering the Zombie ful, and different things to Apocalypse Scholarship try and help you pay for in 2013. One scholarship your college education. recipient will be chosen to Provider Organization: receive a $1,500 scholarZinch ship. Provider Organization: $3,000 Anti-Bullying Scholarshipexperts.com Scholarship Scholarship provided by: Chegg Race to the Top DOSomething.org Scholarship APPLICATION DEADLINE: Scholarship provided by: Oct. 25, 2013 Chegg SCHOLARSHIP MAX APPLICATION DEADLINE: AWARD: $ 3,000 Oct. 31, 2013 NUMBER OF SCHOLARSCHOLARSHIP MAX SHIP TO BE AWARDED: 1 AWARD: $ 1,000 Scholarship Eligibility: NUMBER OF SCHOLAROpen only to (1) U.S. SHIPS TO BE AWARDED: Citizens regardless of resi- 6 dency or (2) persons who Scholarship Eligibility: reside in the 50 United All college students States, District of ColumApplication Overview: bia, regardless of citizenAre you always the first ship, each who are young- person to raise your hand er than 26 years old as of in class? Do you find yourthe last day of this entry. self correcting your own Application Overview: textbook? Do you want to Create your anti-bully get paid for it? Well, Chegg army. Invite Friends to play has you covered! The Bully Text and you’ll Purpose: automatically be entered The Chegg Race to the for a $3,000 scholarship. Top Scholarship gives 6 Purpose: students, enrolled in a U.S. 1 in 4 students report beundergraduate or graduate ing a victim of bullying, degree program, the opand 73% of teens say the portunity to win a $1,000 best way to stop bullying scholarship for answering is to step in when you see questions on the Chegg it. You and your friends Q&A boards. can stop the bullying Provider Organization: cycle. Play the Anti-BullyChegg ing game with them to see how you can stop bullying
Challenge Me Scholarship Scholarship provided by: Chegg APPLICATION DEADLINE: Oct. 31, 2013 SCHOLARSHIP MAX AWARD: $ 1,000 NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIPS TO BE AWARDED: 6 Scholarship Eligibility: All college students Application Overview: We’re awarding five $1,000 scholarships to the experts and subject enthusiasts who help our students! It’s simple. You answer questions, the asker selects a “Best Answer” and the person with the most “Best Answers” between Oct. 1-31 in each of the five categories (Math, Science, Humanities, Engineering, Business) wins a $1,000 scholarship! Even if you don’t win, your Chegg Points are redeemable for gift cards from Target, Amazon, and many more cool retailers! Who knew your education would pay off so soon? Purpose: Chegg, the student hub, is transforming the way millions of students learn by connecting them to the people and tools needed to succeed throughout their high school and college career. This scholarship program rewards students who help other students struggling with tough topics. Those who participate in this scholarship program earn rewards in three tiers: scholarship winners, chegg points, resume building experience from serving the student community. Provider Organization: Chegg $1,000 College Week Live Scholarships Scholarships provided by: CollegeWeekLive APPLICATION DEADLINE: Oct. 31, 2013 SCHOLARSHIP MAX AWARD: $1,000 NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIPS TO BE AWARDED: Scholarship Eligibility: Open to all students from any country. Applicants must enroll no later than the fall of 2017 in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher learning (college, university, or trade school). Application Overview: Register at CollegeWeekLive, and then search for colleges of interest to you. Purpose: Just register at CollegeWeekLive, search for colleges of interest to you – and you could win $1,000. And because we don’t want to take a lot of time away from your college search, entry takes just a few minutes. Provider Organization: CollegeWeekLive
8
Campus Life
WEDNESDAY October 9, 2013
Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN
Photo courtesy of probertencyclopaedia.com
Photo Courtesy of Antonio Ruiz-Molero Perez/Flickr Considered the largest palace in Europe the Palacio Real De Madrid contains over 2,000 luxuriously decorated rooms, located on the east of Madrid's Historic Center within walking distance to Plaza de Espana.
Destination Spain: Campus Group to Study Abroad Madrid? Ole! Paris? Mais oui! Those are just two stops on the itinerary of students who will travel to Spain and experience total immersion with the Foreign Studies Program next summer. By Michelle Berry Study abroad in Spain is possible for City College students as the Foreign Studies Program (FORSPRO) teams up for the second year with LACC. The four-week program offers students the opportunity to travel to Madrid from July 2, to July 29, 2014. While abroad, students will earn eight units through LACC: five for Spanish language and three in Spanish history. “Madrid is the ideal place to immerse the students when they are learning Spanish,” said assistant program director Sandra Parada. “We’ve
found a program that allowed us to take students to the capital city, which is such a vibrant place.” France is also on the itinerary. Participants will spend three nights in Paris. “Paris just comes along with the packet,” Parada said. “It’s an added bonus to lure the students into the program.” “I was really interested when I saw the flyer,” said Taylor Barrios, City College student. “Even if I can’t participate this year, it’s a good long term goal for next year.” Paris is not the only European capital the group will visit. Four-day excursions to Barcelona, Spain and Lisbon, Portugal are also available
for an additional fee. There are no prerequisites to enroll in the course, but the lowest level of Spanish available will be Spanish II. Students may also enroll solely in the Spanish history course, which is taught in English. “I already speak Spanish so I don’t know if I’d want to take the language course,” said Gabriel Barrera, City College student. “But the chance to go to Spain seems fun.” Courses will follow LACC regulations with three-hour lectures and additional cultural activities, such as museum visits and tapas tours. Students will be required to do a presentation on their experiences upon return to campus.
The program costs $4,693, which includes airfare, airport transfers, hotels, and three meals daily, but breakfast only in Paris. Unlimited wireless Internet and health insurance are also included. “We offer eight month payment plans, but students should also talk to their advisers and see if they can get aid from FAFSA,” Parada said. Students can enroll by emailing Parada at paradasy@lacitycollege.edu, for an application. Applicants pay a $40 signup fee. The deadline to apply is by Oct. 17. “You get a lot for what you pay for,” Parada said. “It’s an investment, but also an opportunity.”
Registration changes got you down? It’s Time to Fight for Your Rights By Tara Rumore
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Thinking of transferring to a university next semester? Think again. The LACCD is changing things up once again by reordering the priority registration list. Those at the top of the list include active military, veterans, and foster children, with continuing students all the way at the bottom. They say this change will benefit all students, but in reality it is only benefiting some. Registration already has a myriad of issues from finding the classes you want at the time you need, your registration date and being able to add classes without them being full. Those in the LACCD have constantly struggled with enrolling for classes in the last few years. When the education budget started dwindling a few years ago, the increase of
students wishing to add classes went up and the amount of classes offered and spots available decreased. Just five years ago the amount of students trying to add a closed class was an average of 10-15; now more than 50 students are trying to add a closed class that has limited spaces available. Students also have had trouble finding the classes they need and end up taking an unnecessary class in its place only to drop it because it wasn’t what they wanted. As a student for many years, I have been to several community colleges and have had my share of stressful registration moments. Back when I first started in the LACCD, I had no problem obtaining the classes I wanted and needed. Sure the times weren’t that great, but I got what I needed. As I moved out of the district and found myself at other colleges, I noticed an emerging issue that has become a greater problem today. I noticed I was enrolling in classes I didn’t particularly need or want, just to fulfill a requirement. This was
extremely frustrating as it was a waste of time and took longer for me to eventually transfer out. Now back in the LACCD, I am surprised to see just how awful registration has become. Education is an extremely important issue in our society and lately it feels like it has been put on the back burner. Community college should be an easier route to obtaining a degree and it seems more difficult than ever. There are constant complaints about lack of classes and increasing fees. It’s time for students to stop complaining and start doing something about it. We as students need to stand up and take action. We should voice our opinions and feelings, argue our points as to why this isn’t fair, and promote better ways to improve the registration issues. Students should become more aware of these situations so they are well informed. If students become more involved in this ever-changing education budget issue, the more power and control we will have over our future.
Campus Life
Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN
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By Vanessa Ruiz
It’s good to remind ourselves as we approach midterm that we all have the potential to excel this fall. Starting anew with a clean slate, a new page; an opportunity for success. With this in mind, I still won’t be surprised to watch as some students will not follow through with their studies, quit trying, and stop showing up to class by the end of the semester. Many of you, myself included, have struggled at one time or another to find open courses. Classes are always crowded at
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the beginning, but predictably, there will be many empty seats gathering dust in the classroom come this December. It’s a shame that some students will no longer feel compelled to actually try. This is disheartening and unfair for those of us who would have taken the same opportunity to complete the course, and as a result, push ourselves further toward academic success. I understand that life is unpredictable and that we cannot prepare for everything it may throw at us. However, we should still go into the semester understanding that school cannot be put on the back burner. Class may be tough, and classmates, or teachers, may be difficult to deal with. There may be problems at home, or those long hours at
your job might keep your hands tied. While I feel for the plight of those who have a lot on their plate, they cannot abandon the responsibility that they willingly assumed at the beginning of the school year. This fall, let’s do ourselves a favor and put forth the effort to make this semester count. Sure, it may be difficult at times, but that doesn’t mean one should just throw in the towel. Work hard. Get the work done; plain and simple. We must push ourselves that extra mile and hold ourselves accountable for getting the grade. It’s only the beginning of the semester, but remind yourself weekly that this was a commitment. It is an opportunity that someone else could have taken; so make it count.
Financial Aid Helps Students, But Comes at a Price By Sean Nordahl As a young, self-supporting college student, I find my biggest concern these days to be, how am I going to pay for all of this? With bills and tuition costs, many students, both old and young are struggling to maintain financial stability while trying to create a better future. Luckily the federal government offers financial aid to students throughout the country. A few simple steps, mostly done online, and just like that there’s your money. A simple and easy process, at least one would think, but this is not always true. If you happened to wander onto the second floor of the
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Put Forth the Effort; Make This Semester Count By Stephanie Bolhuis
9
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TUNdeals App Doles Out the Savings College has now become synonymous with expense. It is no secret that the cost of education is on the rise. The fees seem to keep doubling while personal finances keep dwindling. Most students today are trying to find a way to save money around campus. Thanks to The University Network (TUN Inc.), college students now have a bit more help. They offer a very useful mobile app called TUNdeals. According to the developer’s website, the app is devoted to helping students save some money with their discretionary spending. The app allows its users to find current deals at any time of the day, any day of the week. The offers only apply to college and university students who provide their student ID. The app is free to download and can be found on both Google Play and the Apple App Store. Once you have downloaded the app, you have three different options for finding nearby deals. The map view option pinpoints the participating stores on a map; the list option shows stores in a list ranging from closest to furthest; and the ‘live’ view option uses your phone’s camera technology to highlight local businesses that offer students discounts in real-time. Some deals close to LACC include a lunch special from Big Mama’s & Papa’s Pizza on Vermont Avenue good from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Another discount found at Freestyle Photo on Sunset Boulevard gives students with ID 15 percent off purchases.
WEDNESDAY October 9, 2013
Student Union Building during the first few weeks of the semester, you may have noticed an incredibly long line snaking as far as the eye could see. You may have even thought to yourself, what in the world are all these people doing standing in this line that, by the look of it, is moving at an extremely slow rate? These unfortunate students were forced to wait hours just to speak with a financial aid adviser about an error that may have never been their fault in the first place. I myself was one of these unlucky people. I had taken my time in filling out the application very carefully as to make sure there were no mistakes in hopes that this would not delay my first payment, which I so desperately needed. To my dismay I came to find out there was an error in my application and there I found myself in the never-ending line
of doom. About 15 total minutes of conversation, between two trips, took a total of six hours. The error on my application was corrected, which in no way was my fault, in the amount of time in which a simple telephone call would have been much more reasonable and time efficient. Who’s to blame for all of this? I in no way think this is the fault of the extremely helpful and dedicated staff members who work in the Financial Aid Office. I tend to think of myself as a very understanding person, and basically, I know sometimes things just happen. I do on the other hand think these types of situations could be avoided very easily: Hire more people! The more people working in the office, the quicker the line moves and the happier everyone is at the end of the day, including the staff.
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Sports
Wednesday October 9, 2013
Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN
UFC Fight Makes New Fans of LACC Students Drama at the Pool
By Gabriel Killian Fans of the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) witnessed a bout for the history books Sept. 21 when Swedish challenger, Alexander “The Mauler” Gustafsson went to war against the seemingly superhuman UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Jon “Bones” Jones in what was already being dubbed as “Fight of the Year.” The fight hosted at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, drew big buzz on social media networks and all across the globe. Even students at Los Angeles City College were glued to their television sets. In what has become a modern day Colosseum, two gladiators enter the UFC cage, or “the Octagon,” but only one walks out a victor. In a true test of skill and will, professional mixed martial artists go head-to-head in a physical chess match that sees a combination of boxing, kickboxing, wrestling, jiujitsu, and various other forms of martial arts. Fighters generally go through three months of training leading up to their bouts. New York’s Jon Jones is an absolute beast who had been on a tear in the UFC’s light heavyweight division since first stepping foot into the Octagon against André Gusmão at UFC 87, a little over five years ago. Jones gathered six impressive wins that included four finishes, and in 2011, earned himself a shot at Maurico “Shogun” Rua and his light heavyweight title at UFC 128. “Bones” brutally defeated Rua via third round TKO, and at 23 years of age, became the youngest champion in UFC history. After posting an impressive 8-0 record on the European regional circuit, Gustafsson made a move from Sweden to San Diego to train at Alliance MMA. Training with other elite fighters saw major improvement in his all-around skillset, as he followed his lone career
SPORTS BIN
By Jake Carlisi Los Angeles is not considered a great sports town. Maybe it’s because of the laid back nature of many of its residents. Whatever the reason, this perception often leads people across the country to miss an important
By Jake Carlisi
Photo courtesy of nypost.com UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon “Bones” Jones faced Alexander “The Mauler” Gustafsson in the UFC Cage on Sept. 21 in what some have come to call the fight of the year.
loss with six straight victories that earned him a shot at Jon Jones and his gold. Jones had easily beaten all of his opponents and was expected to make quick work of Gustafsson, as betting lines had him as a whopping 10-to-1 favorite over the challenger. The fight, however, told a different story. “It was definitely one of the best fights of the year. They both came to fight,” said LACC student John Kim. The fight was nothing short of exciting, and it helped put mixed martial arts on the map for those unfamiliar with the sport. People
watching UFC for the first time that evening became life-long fans of MMA. “I’d never seen a UFC fight before and they had it on at the bar,” said Joe Diaz, a student at LACC whose major is undecided. “I’m definitely going to be watching it from now on. I’m a boxing fan and that fight was more exciting than any boxing match I’ve seen in years.” As the fight began, fans were immediately surprised as the underdog Gustafsson not only held his own, but got the better of Jones, drawing first blood en route to winning the first round. Right away,
everyone watching knew — this was going to be a fight. It was an extremely close battle that saw both fighters having their moments. Each man showcased tremendous amounts of heart, but ultimately it was the champion Jones who poured it on in the end of the fight, securing the final two rounds on the judges’ scorecards to walk away with a close and controversial unanimous decision victory in one of the most talked about fights at office water coolers in years. The result of the fight varied from person to person, as everyone watching had their own opinion of the outcome. Some believe
L.A. Gets Ready for Basketball: Will the Lakers Disappoint Again? truth, which is that basketball is a very big deal in L.A. With preseason just getting under way, it’s never too early to look at the upcoming season for one of the most legendary of Los Angeles franchises-the Lakers. Let’s be honest. Their 20122013 campaign was a disaster. They came in with championship aspirations, fired their coach after five games, were close to hiring Phil Jackson, changed their minds last minute and went with Mike D’Antoni, lost games, battled through injury, and limped into the playoffs where they got swept in the first round. Even with all of that, and with Kobe Bryant battling a torn Achilles and Steve Nash looking like he would soon
retire, there was still hope. If the Lakers could have resigned Dwight Howard, all could have theoretically been forgiven. The same man who got ridiculed more than anybody last season was arguably the most sought after free agent of the summer. It was not too long ago that Howard was considered by many to be the second best basketball player in the world after LeBron James. Very few players have the same impact on both ends of the court as a healthy Howard. Even coming off of a subpar year (where he battled recovering from back surgery and still lead the NBA in rebounds per game) the Eye on Basketball staff at CBSSports.com ranked him as the fifth
best player in the league. When Howard left L.A. for Houston, many Laker fans were quick to point out his attitude issues and playing limitations as a sense of consolation. The truth is the Lakers lost a superstar who dominates the interior like no one else. Without the guy to carry them for the next decade or so, the Lakers find themselves in an odd situation. They have almost $60 million tied up in Bryant, Gasol and Nash alone. They were forced to find players on the cheap, and while they did add guys like Nick Young and Chris Kaman on relatively reasonable deals, how those players will fit with this group is suspect. There are glimmers of hope
First Games of Season Thrills the Crowd By Jake Carlisi Intramural basketball returned Friday. Unlike last year, there was much more organization with clear structures and hired referees to control the games. The first game of the day was a high-paced affair, as the Elite Stars took on an unnamed team in white uniforms. The Elite Stars started off strong as Jermaine Small, a 6’9” former Division 1 collegiate star who dabbled in professional basketball overseas, immediately began to assert his dominance. The first possession of the game saw Small get early postposition and spin to freedom through two defenders for the basket and the foul. He followed up with an easy dunk in transition off of the missed jumper from Oscar Garcia. The
Jones rightfully won, while others think Gustafsson deserved the nod. “I thought Gustafsson won, but wasn’t upset about the decision. It was really close. I’d like to see a rematch,” said Kim. UFC President Dana White has stated that a rematch is likely to take place, but it will have to wait while current number one contender Glover Teixeira gets a crack at the title. Regardless of Gustafsson not getting an immediate rematch, one thing is for certain, Jones v. Gustafsson II will happen, and it won’t just be a fight. It will be an event.
White Team struggled to begin the game, missing open jumpers and struggling to get any penetration through the interior presence of Small. But when the fashionably late William Mack walked through the doors and checked in for the White Team team midway through the first half, he sparked life into a sputtering team. The White Team wore down their three opponents with Garcia and Mack forming a nice two-man game on the break. The second half saw consistently fast play from both teams, with the Elite Stars now holding a clear athletic advantage. Small continued to play well on both ends while Garcia began to light it up from outside for the White Team, using the fast paced offense as an opportunity to pull up multiple times from the top of the key, sometimes 2 or 3 feet behind the
Inae Bloom/COLLEGIAN Ja'mere Carter of Los Angeles City Run N' Gun goes up for the block against Elite's Center Trei Small during an intramural basketball game in the Women's Gym last Friday. Elite came back with a 47-45 victory that went into overtime.
though. The Lakers now have a team that should be better suited for a Mike D’Antoni offense. If Gasol and Nash can stay healthy, both have the opportunity for resurgent seasons. Kobe Bryant needs to come back to near full strength, but there are many lineups that D’Antoni will be able to use. To envision them having the complete game to go any further than the playoffs in a loaded western conference would take a leap of imagination. The purple and gold seemed focused on next summer’s free agent class where they will have the cap space to make a big splash. As it stands, summer may not be able to come soon enough for their fanbase. line. Both teams were getting easy baskets at the rim at this point in the game, but with the Elite Star’s talent and size advantage, trading baskets wasn’t going to be enough. The Elite Stars dominated the offensive glass, ending the game at a final score of 73-59. The second game of the day gave us a much different experience, as a 5-on-5 bout. Run N’ Gun took on The Runnerz in a much more defensive minded game that saw some early scoring troubles. Neither team could get into a rhythm. Great defense was played throughout, both teams forced turnovers that allowed guys like Henry Edwards and Brandon Kilgore to get some easy fast break baskets. The intensity picked up towards the end of the second half as the two teams began talking back and fourth, hard screens were set and the communication on the defensive end increased as both teams fought to 19-20 score at the end of the first half. Before the whistle even sound-
Students at City College are going to have to wait just a bit longer for the brand new pool to open on campus. Previously scheduled for a fall opening, a multitude of set backs have created an unexpected waiting period. When asked about the reason for the delay, Chris Dunne, construction manager on the project said, “It’s hard to pin it down to just one reason, there were a handful of them.” Dunne did however mention that most of the setbacks were “primarily design issues.” Whatever the reasons, the delay on the new project has created problems for faculty and students who were unaware that the new pool wasn’t going to be in use by the start of the current semester. Mike Fitzgerald, computer engineering major at City College called the news unfair. “There should have been more of a heads up for students and faculty who planned on using the pool,” Fitzgerald said. “Pool related" activities seem to be going along relatively smoothly at the old pool according to Jan McEveety, Physical Education professor at City College. “For now, we are delayed, and the classes are meeting at the old pool with no disruptions,” McEveety said. Dunne did imply that setbacks occur often on big construction projects such as these. Unfortunately, these kinds of setbacks are not only frustrating but can be very costly. Exact costs were not revealed but it is estimated that setbacks will cost thousands. The project is expected to be complete relatively soon, but as we have seen nothing is for certain. Dunne said he expects the pool to be open to be open by the end of the month but that he may not have the certificate needed by then. The recent burst of negativity should however be washed away when the new pool does open up, giving students and swimmers a new facility that will be used for years to come. Serena Camarillo, psychology major at City College, said she is “very excited about the pool.” Adding that, new projects like this are “great.” The pool is expected to be as successful as most of the newer projects on campus, bringing awareness to a multitude of aquatic classes many students may have been unaware of, and bringing a beautiful new facility for many to enjoy.
ed in the second half, both teams began jarring back and fourth. A player known as “C-Smoove” got a technical foul. With the score now 37-22 the momentum was clearly in favor of the Runnerz at this point, but Kilgore seemed determined to get his team back into it. He used to strength to overpower defenders in the paint while Victor Lowe and Jason Smith both hit shots to chip away at the lead. In the end however, the lead was too insurmountable for Kilgore and Run N’ Gun as Cameron Black hit a lay up to end the game with a final score of 51-42. With attendance already showing vast improvement over last year, Intramural Sports Coordinator Aristote Tumba seemed pleased. “It’s going great,” said Tumba. “Next week should be even better, more organized.” Students are encouraged to come out and watch some exciting basketball every Friday afternoon in the Women’s Gym on the City College Campus.