LACC WEATHER FORECAST WEDNESDAY
70/49
THURSDAY
70/51
FRIDAY
74/53
SATURDAY
78/58
SUNDAY
75/55
Collegian Los Angeles
Wednesday, November 4, 2015 Volume 175 Number 4
NEWS BRIEFS
Sexual Battery Near Campus
Theatre Alumnus Returns with a Play of Pain
The Los Angeles Police Department will administer the LAPD Hiring Workshop and Written Test on Nov 10. Students can ask questions about the process of becoming a police officer and how to prepare for the hiring process. The test will take be at the Science and Technology Building, in Room 310.Hide Your Brains, Cubs!
Homeless Person Attacked College Plumber One of the LACCD plumbers filed a police report after he was attacked by a homeless man, on Oct. 5, 2015 at 6:15 a.m. on the east side of the old Men’s Gym. The plumber complained about the late response of the Campus Sheriff’s Department. The incident was reported on the college police incident log. This is not the first time police response to an emergency call comes in 12-15 minutes. Read more about it in the next issue of the Collegian.
Get Help With Anger Management The Student Health & Wellness Center is conducting an “Anger Management Workshop Series.” Meetings are hosted in the lunchroom of the Student Health & Wellness Center from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays.
INDEX
Opinion ollegian Connect Collegian ews News Sports
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CAMPUS CLUBS DRAW CROWDS BY EMMANUELLA DUROGENE
A sexual battery and unlawful touching occurred at the campus on Oct. 13 at approximately 8 p.m. Police say the incident began at a bus stop on Vermont Avenue and ended near the trash dumpsters at the Child Development Center. Neither the suspect nor the victim is connected to LACC. For questions or comments regarding the incident, contact Deputy James McKain at the LACC Sheriff ’s Department at (323) 662-5276.
Campus Hosts LAPD Written Test
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The Voice of Los Angeles City College Since 1929
COMPILED BY COLLEGIAN STAFF
Alumnus Paul Cotes returns to LACC with a cast of 20 guest artists, guest alumni and current Theatre Academy students to perform his new play entitled “Pain.” Cotes’ play will present a series of interconnected monologues on the subject of pain. The performances are on Nov. 7. at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the Camino Theatre. For more details and ticket information, visit the LACC Theatre Academy online.
LAUSD Film Shocks Parents and Students
JORGE PONCE/Collegian
A car crash on Melrose and Vermont Avenues catches the attention of passing pedestrians on Oct. 29. According to the LAPD, this intersection is considered to be one of the most dangerous street corners in Los Angeles.
Dangerous Intersections Border Campus BY TOMAS RODRIGUEZ Everyday on Vermont Avenue, students and staff pass Melrose and Santa Monica Avenues, two of Los Angeles’ deadliest intersections. Los Angeles City College is located in between Santa Monica Boulevard and Melrose Avenue, on Vermont Avenue. This half-mile stretch is flooded by many pedestrians who visit the college and local businesses. Officer Jack Richter, an LAPD public information officer for Media Relations, says that drivers and pedestrians cause the dangerous intersection problem. “There must be something wrong with the street that makes it difficult
[for drivers and pedestrians] to see,” Richter said. “Does the [intersection] encourage speeding? Is there something [drivers and pedestrians] do not see?” The Braille Institute, a non-profit dedicated to the blind and visually-impaired, has a large building on the corner of Vermont and Melrose Avenues. Each day, countless blind and visually-impaired people use the crosswalk at this deadly intersection. A visit to the Braille Institute ended wth a quick escort to the front door and no comment. Officer Richter says that pedestrians should pay more attention to the moving activity in the streets and not rely on drivers, who may not
be paying attention to the road. On Vermont and Melrose Avenues, once the crosswalk is safe for pedestrians, a mechanical chirp sound starts. Some of the people at the intersection wait for that sound, as they cannot see the pedestrian safety light. “A lot of pedestrians don’t understand the process of walk and don’t walk,” Richter said. “A lot of people think they can cross the street and make it on time and that is not necessary true. Once [the light] turns red that means you are not supposed to cross, and you are not supposed to step off of the curb.” Many people commute to LACC and have to pass these dangerous intersections. Robert Molina, an un-
decided major, rides his bicycle to school. He says he did not pay much attention to the increased possibility of death at these intersections. “I use my bike to get to school, which I am very aware needs precaution in these busy L.A. streets,” Molina said. “Now, when I pass these intersections, I will be conscious of not only my safety but of others as well.” Jamie Flores, an LACC business major says that fatal accidents are common throughout the city. Flores says he uses his car daily and that he is used to major, Los Angeles traffic problems, both on the freeways and streets. SEE INTERSECTIONS PAGE 5
District Takes Cues from Shootings OUR SOLE AND ONLY JOB IS TO GET THE BAD GUY AND STOP HIM, OK?” —DEPUTY JAMES MCKAIN DURING “ACTIVE SHOOTER” PRESENTATION
Professor with High Marks Reaches Low Point with Student
BY EMMANUELLA DUROGENE Presenters told attendees how to react in the event of an emergency during an active shooters program that prepared faculty, staff and a few students for two hours at the LACC Student Union Building on Oct. 14, 2015.The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department partnered with the Los Angeles Community College District to sponsor the program. It depicted raw, bloody footage and statistical data of past campus shootings. Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department Deputy, James McKain spoke candidly to the small group and showed a lengthy video. He commented throughout. “What do we, in a group, do to prepare for this?” McKain said as the attendees sat quietly. The Oct. 1, 2015 shootings in Oregon at the Umpqua Community College hit home with many Los Angeles Community college students because this was the first shooting at a two-year college. The first school shooting ever happened in 1966 at the University of Texas, when student Charles Whitman killed 16 students and injured 32 others. It took police approximately 45 minutes to get the situation under control. “Preparation for such abhorrence is paramount to safety,” said a student who did not want to be identified as she walked in to find a seat. The group of about 30 attendees soon learned there are no easy answers to an active shooter on a campus.
Students attended the annual Club Rush earlier this month, where they had the option to learn about and join progressive clubs, workshops and safe-zones. In the Quad, different organizations set up booths and offered treats and snacks. Students, some who say they were optimistic about joining clubs, went booth-to-booth and talked to club members. Some clubs organize to consume themselves in scientific studies, watch tons of videos and stay involved in a lot of discussions, according to Secular Alliance Club representative Drew Young. “The Secular Alliance club promotes non-believers across the board,” Young said. “The purpose of our club is to reduce stigma, the biggest stigma that’s often attached to people who aren’t religious […] to show that you can do good in your community without religion.” Club Rush also included student development and leadership workshops. Stacy Umana, Transferring and Empowering Youth Club (TEYC) representative says the workshops can come in handy in many other areas of life. “We’re also doing personal statement workshops and UC Application workshops,” Umana said. “We’re doing internships. We’re doing scholarships, its not going to hurt anyone to join us, it only helps you”. TEYC helps transfer students. It offers all-expenses-paid field trips to various colleges. Umana says TEYC wants to aid transfer students with university decisions. Los Angeles City College’s diverse crowd attracts organizations that create a safe place to meet and bounce ideas off each other says Jonathan Cruz, the president of the Spectrum Alliance Club. “We are here to provide a very comfortable base for our students who are LGBT,” Cruz said. “We plan to educate adults that don’t know anything [and] that need help.” The school website offers more information about campus clubs. Users can navigate to student services, and click on the student clubs.
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wrapped around the wounds. Don’t come out the room until an officer advises you to do so. “Wait for us to get there,” Mckain said, “and if the shooter comes in, do what you gotta do to survive by using things in the room as a weapon and to stop him.” Law enforcement has priorities in emergency situations, and their first priorities are not the civilians. Sheriffs say the gunman’s goal is to kill as many people and do as much damage as he can.
Adjunct English Professor Larry Smith received an “A “average with an overall score of 4.7 on Ratemyprofessors.com. This year, three of the latest posts from students enrolled in his English 28 class at Los Angeles City College reflected high ratings and praise. A post in October stated Smith is the best professor ever. The commenter also said he or she would take the class “100 times over!” Psychology major Corinne Brown had a different experience than other students who praise Professor Smith on the website. Brown says a classroom exchange between her and the professor discouraged her from continuing the course when the professor referred to her as “Ms. Stinky.” Brown says she fired back with a comment about smelling better than him. The professor told Brown she should not have chosen to sit up front.
SEE DISTRICT PAGE 5
SEE PROFESSOR PAGE 5
ACTIVE SHOOTER RESPONSE PHOTO BY CURTIS SABIR/COLLEGIAN
Decades after the University of Texas shootings, a multitude of campus shootings have occurred. “You’re not going to get the super hard answers,” McKain said to students and faculty. “You’re not going to get this is what we have to do, what must happen. You’re going to walk out of here thinking about what can I do.” McKain says if you can, leave the campus, get out and go home. He says there are three things you need to have with you: money, identification and keys. The keys he’s referring to are house keys, because it will not be possible to drive away during
a shooter event. There are newer buildings at LACC on a “lock key access system” where the sheriffs can automatically lock the doors in an emergency. However, students and faculty, in older buildings should lock the doors. McKain says classroom doors that don’t lock within should be barricaded with heavy furniture to deter the shooter. He says stay quiet and calm while in the classroom. If there is an adjacent room, he says go into it and don’t come out. In case someone has been shot been shot, stop the bleeding by applying pressure with a belt or a shirt or whatever can be