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VAMA GALLERY EXHIBIT ARRIVES

Collegian Alive and Under Investigation

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LOS ANGELES

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The Voice of Los Angeles City College Since 1929

Wednesday, March 9, 2022 Volume 188 Number 2

COMMUNITY

TENNIS IS BACK

DISTRICT

Protesters Rally for Ukraine in East Hollywood

District Avoids High Court Path, For Now

Marchers chanted “Putin go home” in East Hollywood as residents took to the streets to demonstrate against the war.

PHOTO BY LOUIS WHITE

BY JUAN MENDOZA

lose to 100 protesters gathered at Barnsdall Art Park in the East Hollywood District on Feb. 27 around 10 a.m. to protest the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Demonstrators began the protest along Sunset Boulevard to North La Brea Avenue, and they turned around on Hollywood Boulevard to finish the march where it began at Barnsdall Art Park. Hollywood bystanders and tourists visiting the Hollywood Walk of Fame recognized the protesters and shouted out messages of support to the proUkraine demonstrators as they marched. A beautiful Southern California sunny day seemed to energize the people who participated. “Russia go home, Putin go home, USA support Ukraine,” protesters chanted. Max and Julia, a married couple that came from Ukraine and who did not want to provide their last name for safety reasons, attended the protest with their three-year-old daughter Sophia. “Our parents are in Kharkiv and Russia bombed our city,” said Max as he held little Sophia’s hand. “It’s terrible. Our parents are OK, but every time we talk to them can be the last time, and we all want to cry.” Most of the demonstrators have family and friends in Ukraine, and they say their relationships are close. They feel the pain and the suffering of their relatives and others in Ukraine. “There’s no reason for Russia to invade Ukraine,” said Alexander Polonsky. “The loss of human life is incorrect from both sides. The bombing of residential complexes in Ukraine is wrong. Those are not military targets at all. Elderly lived there, families and kids live there.”

Disabled Students: ELAC Fails to Accommodate BY SORINA SZAKACS Disabled Students from ELAC say personnel in Diversability Support Program & Services (DSP&S) do not offer accommodations and turn students away because they claim the college lacks the funds to help them. The ELAC students were among a group of protesters who demonstrated on Wilshire Boulevard in front of the Los Angeles Com-

munity College District (LACCD) Board of Trustees before the meeting on March 2. Students carried signs that read “ Protect Disabled Rights” and “LACCD STOP your efforts to undo the ADA”. A student advocate says there are 35 disabled ELAC students who are not receiving equal access. Almost six years have passed since L.A. City College alumnus Roy Payan and Portia Mason filed a suit against the LAC-

CD, and nothing is settled. Now, stories are emerging at ELAC from disabled students who still struggle to receive the necessary accommodations. While the (LACCD) starts a new round of negotiations in the Payan, Mason v. LACCD lawsuit, disabled students at ELAC say they lack necessary accommodations and access to the clearance system “cleared4work” to attend in-person classes on their campus.

SEE “DISABLED STUDENTS” PAGE 4

COVID-19 REPORT

WORLD VIEW

Ukraine ‘Mad Dog’ Fights Tyranny

SEE “RALLY” PAGE 6

BY DANIEL MARLOS

INDEX

Half a world away, a group of women who have evacuated Ukraine with their children wait in Krakow for visas to the United States. A writer in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, is armed with a gun and strong resolve. These are just a few snapshots of the lives of Ukrainians who are grappling with war and its consequences. They may be a world away, but they have a City College connection. They

Opinion & Editorial

Following the Board of Trustees meeting on March 2, the Los Angeles Community College District announced in a press release that the institution would not petition the Supreme Court in the Payan, Mason litigation. The board’s decision followed public comments from more than 60 people who spoke against the district’s decision to petition the High Court. “We understand and support the importance of the ADA and agree completely with all of the people who took the time during the past several months to share with us their thoughts and feelings,” David Vela, the board vice president said. “Their strong, heart-felt beliefs resonate with us and it is our desire to bring quick closure to the case.” Roy Payan, the blind student who filed the lawsuit in 2016 says he is excited about the decision. However, Payan says people should not sit back. “We fought a great battle but we cannot let our guard down,” he said. “ The district should follow the law and the state needs to do a better job to make sure that this happens.” According to the press release, both sides agreed to meet by March 14 and discuss the settlement agreement. “If successful, the settlement agreement will be presented to the Board at its April 13, 2022 meeting for approval. If the next round of settlement talks fails, it is likely the matter will go back to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California for re-trial,” the press release reads.

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Special Report

Campus Life

News

Resources

Sports

8 ILLUSTRATION BY MICHAEL SITAR

are friends of Los Angeles film editor and alumna Olena Kukhtareva. She is now an American citizen and a former LACC photography and cinema student who earned her MFA from American Film Institute. The challenges that lie ahead for her native country consume her. “I feel it’s like a knife in my heart … My country is … invaded and … all my friends … are ready to die to protect it,” she told the Collegian. “It’s just awful.”

SEE “UKRAINE” PAGE 6

OPINION & EDITORIAL

Los Angeles Collegian - Wednesday, March 9, 2022

EDITORIAL

Collegian Los Angeles City College Visual & Media Arts Department 855 N. Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90029 323.953.4000 ext. 2832 losangeles.collegian@gmail.com Editor-in-Chief SORINA SZAKACS Graphics Layout Editor BEATRICE ALCALA Copy Editors SORINA SZAKACS ANGELA JOHNSON MATTHEW RODRIGUEZ DANIEL MARLOS Opinions & Editorial Editor KATHRYN FORD Broadcast BEATRICE ALCALA Photo Editor LOUIS WHITE Photographers CHRISTIAN CHAVEZ DANIEL MARLOS LOUIS WHITE

ILLUSTRATION BY CASSANDRA MUNOZ

They Hear, But They Don’t Listen

he board of trustees at the Los Angeles Community College District hear, but they do not listen. Students come from all walks of life and corners of the world to enroll at the nine colleges where they form a community that is strong and diverse. Romanians have a saying that roughly translates to: The country is burning, and the old lady is brushing her hair! That was the vibe at the LACCD Board of Trustees meeting on March 2. Many students with disabilities and other people assembled at the district office to protest the LACCD’s decision to petition the Supreme Court of the United States in a lawsuit filed six years ago by Roy Payan, a blind former student from L.A. City College. Yes, the board allowed each person two minutes to speak during public comment. Fair enough, since there were more than 60 people who demanded the district reconsider its stated intention to petition the Supreme Court to overturn the lower court decision that favored disabled students—a step that could have ultimately jeopardized the Americans

with Disabilities Act. The next day, board members announced they would not petition the Supreme Court. According to president Gabriel Buelna, the board “stands strongly united in support of the Americans with Disabilities Act.” This is a victory for disabled students, but the war is far from over. It will take another 10 days to find out if the LACCD not only heard what people said, but if they truly listened and acted in students’ favor. The same students they work for. During the meeting, some started their speeches with “I thank the board for allowing us to speak…” Do they deserve a thank you? The Collegian editorial board does not believe they do. What they need is a wakeup call! Elected officials who represent a public institution should not and cannot hide behind a website. LACCD emails should be listed on the board’s website, but they are not. Nobody answers the phone numbers listed for contact. The Collegian filed a public information request to receive the work emails of every trustee. The email

for Buelna was missing from the list and Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez’s email was incorrect. It took a couple more emails to fix those mistakes. Romanians have another saying that fits this situation: “the fish starts stinking from its head!” The heads of the largest community college district in California and the second in the country do not care about the people they are elected or hired to serve. Or at least, they do not show they care. They dragged out litigation for six years, spending around $2 million in fees. This should never have happened. Now, instead of actively listening to all the stories disabled students have, they just let them speak. If President Buelna and Chancellor Rodriguez were not moved by the dozens of testimonies and speeches heard on March 2, then we do not know what else could move them. They speak of inclusion, accessibility and commitment to students’ success and they do the exact opposite. The fact the board will not file the petition with the Supreme Court is

California has experienced a mass exodus as people are leaving the state. Many, including myself, have noticed that the quality of living in the Golden State has decreased over the last couple of years. California offers less, and this contributes to lower likability for many people. U.S. News and World Report ranked California 24th among the best places to live in 2021. It has excellent universities across the state and accessible health care. However, more than 173,000 people left the state in 2020-2021. Violent crime in the state increased by 30 percent last year, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. There are many reasons for the change of view in the state. Some

reasons that I attribute to the downfall of the state would be high crime and low quality of life. For instance, the crime in places like Los Angeles has increased more during the pandemic. Then, there is the social order to consider. There is an appalling amount of shoplifting and looting that has caused many retailers to close stores, especially in San Francisco. The Walgreens drugstore chain closed five San Francisco stores because of retail theft last year. The quality of life has been terrible too, with the price of living being way too high and wages too low. Many people come here for a better career or life. This dream slowly deflates as they realize that making it is not easy. High rent for even the smallest apartment is awful, and the practice is minimum pay for maximum work. California was once glamorous and well-loved, but this has slowly faded as reality has set in.

drop classes. They will monitor the Special Services programs created for disabled students. They should follow the guidance of the Ninth District Court and stop waiting for students to complain to address gaps in services that could support the efforts of disabled students. If they don’t find middle ground during negotiations, we can only hope they will lose during re-trial. That they will be forced to supply class materials in a format blind students can access. Over 30 students from East Los Angeles College (ELAC) complain about not receiving accommodations included in the accommodation letters they receive when they sign up with the Diversabilities Support Program & Services (DSP&S). Students say DSP&S’ response is the office lacks funding. An appeals court judge says otherwise. The LACCD receives federal funds for disabled students. Unless they use the money for something else, resources have been allocated to accommodate disabled students. Payan v. LACCD is far from resolved.

Reporters JUAN MENDOZA, JOHN JOHNS, HANNAH COBURN, DANIEL MARLOS, SORINA SZAKACS, CHRISTIAN CHAVEZ, LOUIS WHITE, POUPY GAELLE NGUESTOP, DULCE GALVEZ, CHELSEA WEI, KAREN GARRIDO

Faculty Adviser RHONDA GUESS

For all submissions including letters to the editor and publicity releases, send materials to Collegian offices located in Chemistry Building, Room 207, or email: losangeles.collegian@gmail.com. To advertise in the Collegian, direct all insertion orders and questions to: pr.collegian@gmail.com. Issues of our award-winning newspaper and magazine are instantly available to our readers on issuu.com/ collegianwired.

Give Second Look to Online Learning

The Hate on California Costs BY KAREN GARRIDO

a small battle won by the disabled community. But the war is not over. According to a LACCD press release, if the settlement discussions fail, “the matter will go back to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California for re-trial.” More money and more time wasted instead of fixing what needs to be fixed. They hear, but they do not listen. They do not listen because they are more focused on winning than saying they were wrong all this time. Instead of seeing people and students, they see financial profits. Because they think they can get away with “unintentional discrimination” and move on without changing anything. Now, they have a chance to prove that they really have students’ success in mind. If they do, they will settle on March 14 and start working on giving each disabled student accommodations in all classes, regardless of their disability. They will train professors and instructors and demand them to provide class materials suitable for disabled students. They will hold professors accountable if they tell disabled students to

Illustrators MICHAEL SITAR CASSANDRA MUNOZ

BY CHELSEA WEI

magine waking up in the morning, getting ready for school with enough time to make yourself a warm cup of coffee and a nice little breakfast without the stress of traffic or having to rush to class. All this is possible with online school. What is there not to like? As we have all experienced here at LACC and worldwide, schools have converted to predominately online. It’s no secret there is skepticism surrounding virtual school. It’s hard to understand the concept of leaving behind the conventional classroom since there was an established standard of education for hundreds of years, especially as abruptly as things have changed now. However, they say change

brings new opportunities and this transition to the virtual classroom opens up a big window of advantages. Online learning makes school more accessible to students. Commuting to school has always been a hassle whether you’re 30 minutes or 2 hours away. Now you can altogether forget being stuck in traffic or having to wait for the bus, saving students a whole lot of time and money. Plus, not having to spend thousands of dollars on room and board saves you a lot more expenses. The online classroom means you can go to school from virtually anywhere, making it convenient to set your own study schedule. Schedule flexibility is a big advantage for students who must juggle work and even childcare

responsibilities. For example, a single mom whose babysitter canceled last minute wouldn’t be able to attend a traditional brick and mortar classroom, but with online learning, she is still able to attend class and watch her child at the same time. Additionally, the 9 to 5, office-based model of employment is quickly going out of date. The digital workforce is growing globally and getting comfortable with technology is an excellent benefit to online education. Online school is an immense advantage to come out of a dreadful situation. So let us embrace the change and adapt to this new way of life. These changes are here to stay and will only grow to become even more necessary in our rapidly changing technological world. Next Issue: MARCH 23, 2022 Editorial Deadline: MARCH 14, 2022

OPINION & EDITORIAL

Los Angeles Collegian - Wednesday, March 9, 2022

CITY VIEWS

Disabled student representatives and advocates shared their concerns about the longstanding lawsuit against the LACCD and the persistent complaints from students who say they need accommodations. PHOTOS BY LOUIS WHITE, CHRISTIAN CHAVEZ AND JUAN MENDOZA

INK STYLE

David Ramirez Student Trustee for the Pasadena Area Community College District Board of Trustees

Juan Sanabria Sergeant United States Marine Corps

Roy Payan disability rights advocate

Belinda Santana sister of plaintiff in Payan v. LACCD case

I feel very concerned, very scared because of the potential impact of this case. We know that our disabled citizens need these accommodations and LACCD received millions and millions of dollars to be able to accommodate students with those disabilities. So, it’s very concerning that they are arguing that the district should not be held accountable for unintentional discrimination. Students with disabilities that don’t get their accommodations, that impact is real, wether the district feels that they did it intentionally or unintentionally. The students at Pasadena City College are very concerned.

I am really upset. I am shaking upset. This is not fair, it’s not right. We’re not asking for a handout. It’s something that is earned. That’s what the Americans with Disabilities Act is all about, that’s what Section 504 and Title II is all about: making things accessible to those that are disabled. So, it’s not like we’re asking for money and a free handout. We’re asking for what was made into law for people with disabilities. I am here representing disabled veterans. We fall into the same category, and a lot of us became disabled defending this country.

As a person with a disability, I have the right to be there and I have the right to request accommodations and they shouldn’t be denying me those. That’s what they are paid for. That’s what they get taxpayer money for.

I support my brother, and I just want him to make sure it doesn’t happen to anybody else. He’s gone on with his education, but we just don’t want this to happen to anyone else. I feel that they [LACCD] should just put the tools out there and give them [disabled students] everything that they need so they can be independent. Nobody knows the future and I think this concerns everybody. We don’t know what’s going to happen to us, so it’s very important that everybody pays attention.

A Visual Representation of The World as We know it!

I grew up a “Hunky” in a steel town

BY DANIEL MARLOS

rowing up in the sixties in Youngstown, Ohio, I was no stranger to the term “Hunky.” The term is used to describe a person of eastern European or Slavic ancestry. “Hunky” was developed as a pejorative term at the end of the 19th century in the coal country of Pennsylvania to describe the newest wave of immigrants to travel to America seeking a good life in the mines and mills of Appalachia. By the time I was born, decades had passed since the term was coined. As always, the newest immigrants were low on the pecking order and an ethnic slur was needed to refer to them. “Hunkies” are a culturally diverse group. Each group formed its own church in Youngstown. There was a Slovak church, a Polish church, a Russian church, a Ukrainian church, a Serbian church, a Croatian church, a Romanian church, and, well, you get the idea. Within each church, there was nuanced ancestral homogeneity, but outside the churches, in the community and especially in the mills, there was integration. My grandparents came from the different Soviet Bloc countries of Ukraine, Slovakia, Hungary and Bulgaria. Therefore, I was often confused which word or which food originated with which grandparent, but it was all part of the “Hunky” culture. I was proud to claim that culture for my own as I slowly began to understand the diversity within that culture. My grandparents, who were all married in the early 20th Century, became part of the melting pot of America. However, instead of marrying someone from within their own church, they all went outside of their church when choosing a mate. Although I am 100% “Hunky,” I started to think of myself as multicultural. In the Polish school I attended, I was the Hungarian. As intermarriages continued in the latter part of the 20th Century, folks who were half “Hunky” and half Italian, or half “Hunky” and half Greek stopped using “Hunky” to identify people. The term began to be used solely to refer to the food (pirohi, halupki, paska, palacsinta, nalysnyky, haluski) eaten by the Slavic people. As I watch what is unfolding in Ukraine now, I can’t help but to think about how well the Ukrainians and the Russians got along while I was growing up in Youngstown. They acknowledged what they shared culturally. In America, they were both “Hunkies.” They worshiped separately, freely intermarried, and worked and went to school together, with each other, and with all the other diverse populations of immigrants that settled in what would become known as “The Rust Belt.” It is tragic that now the lives of people, who have much more in common than they differ from one another, are being thrust into a conflict thanks to the whims of a megalomaniacal tyrant, Vladimir Putin.

TALK BACK TO THE EDITORS

ILLUSTRATION BY MICHAEL SITAR

We are interested in what you have to say. Email us at losangeles.collegian@gmail.com @collegianwired facebook.com/collegianwired Check us online collegian.lacc.life

SPECIAL REPORT

Los Angeles Collegian - Wednesday, March 9, 2022

FROM “DISABLED STUDENTS” PAGE 1

More Stories of Denied Accommodations Emerge

DSP&S Employees Lack Empathy

PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN CHAVEZ Disabled students attend the LACCD Board of Trustees meeting at the district's office in downtown Los Angeles on March 2, 2022. Dozens of people attended the meeting in person to demand the board not to petition the Supreme Court in a lawsuit filed by a blind student in 2017.

artha Yanez is enrolled in classes at ELAC. She has an invisible disability. She suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic depression. Due to her conditions, Yanez says she cannot remember class discussions and lectures unless she listens to recordings several times. When she registered with the Diversabilities Support Program & Services (DSP&S) office at ELAC she requested a smart pen that records lectures while she takes notes. “I asked many times and I was always told that they don’t have any, that they ran out of them,” Yanez said as she sat down with the Collegian at a restaurant in West Covina in late February. “The pen would not just be helpful, but it is essential for my learning because without it I am not able to understand what’s going on in the class. I don’t learn as quickly as other people do, but I won’t give up.” The voice recorder pens selling price is between $119 and $129. She also asked for a tutor for English 103, but the DSP&S refused to provide her one. According to Yanez, the special services office employees dismissed her on several occasions and “acted like nobody cared.” She says that their behavior made her feel like she did not matter. Yanez thought about dropping out of college, but her counselor convinced her to reconsider. Yanez was not planning to raise her voice because she thought she was the only disabled student struggling. But she was not. She met other students who also struggled. According to Yanez, one of the blind students at ELAC was told that she could move to another school if she

In Their Own Words Protesters Ask Board to Listen

PHOTO BY LOUIS WHITE Portia Mason listens as over 60 people speak during the public comments session at the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees meeting on March 2, 2022. An even larger group waits in a virtual queue online for a turn to make a two-minute comment over Zoom.

BY SORINA SZAKACS AND JUAN MENDOZA

More than 60 people spoke during the public comment part of the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) Board of Trustees meeting on March 2. They demanded the board reconsider its decision to petition the Supreme Court in the six-year-long Payan, Mason v. LACCD lawsuit. The Collegian team at the district spoke with protesters outside the LACCD office, before the board meeting and also included some perspective of the district’s view. They shared their concerns and their stories.

I feel very concerned, very scared because of the potential impact of this case. We know that our disabled citizens need these accommodations and LACCD received millions and millions of dollars to be able to accommodate students with those disabilities. … Students with disabilities that don’t get their accommodations, that impact is real whether the district feels that they did it intentionally or unintentionally. ... The students at Pasadena City College are very concerned. -David Ramirez, Student Trustee for the Pasadena Area Community College District Board of Trustees

does not like the services the campus offers. “I talked to other students and the stories I heard broke my heart,” Yanez said. “To have an office that was supposed to help people, take the funds and not help us at all, dismiss us and tell us that if we don’t like it to go to another school, that is so wrong. One student was told ‘this is what we have and this is all you are going to get. I cannot believe the lack of empathy and how can people be so cruel.” The Collegian sent an email to ELAC’s DSP&S office on Feb. 17, and to the ADA coordinator on Feb. 24. The Collegian has not received any of the information requested. “They are being treated like animals”

ary Garza is also a disabled student at ELAC. He says the issues disabled students face on the East L.A. campus are worst than the ones Payan and Mason went through at City. “I am representing approximately 35 students who were denied services at ELAC, on top of 137 formerly incarcerated students that were denied services,” Garza said. “I am their advocate. I had meetings with the district, I had meetings with the president and vice-president of ELAC and the supervisor of the disabled program. They made a lot of promises, but I haven’t seen anything being done.” He says blind and visually impaired students at ELAC have problems using the cleared4work.com system. In order to access any of the nine campuses within the district, students need to create an account on the cleared4work system, upload their vaccination information and answer a questionnaire every day they plan to be on campus. Garza

says blind or visually impaired students cannot access the system, so they do not get the clearance and cannot access the campus. “We still have problems trying to register for school with cleared4work,” Garza said. “I helped 40 students that are in wheelchairs and their stories are horrific, what they have to go through to get into school and the way they are being treated. They are being treated like animals.” He says that some of the disabled students who are in wheelchairs take two or more buses to get to campus. According to Garza, once on campus, they are denied service and nobody wants to help them get cleared so they are forced to turn around and go back home. “When you turn a disabled student down, you might as well put a gun to their head,” Garza said. “The depression that they can’t get anywhere is horrific. Not only are they putting discrimination things on these people they’re also creating a mental stress, but they need help.” The students accuse ELAC’s DSP&S office of not helping them receive the accommodations mentioned in the Accommodation letters they receive when they register and document their disability. Some disabled students say employees told them the office does not have the financial resources to accommodate them. LACCD Improperly Invokes California Privacy Rights Act

he district receives federal funding for its disabled students and each of the nine campuses has a designated budget. There should be no lack of funds, but disabled students ask themselves what is the money used for instead of their accommodations. They also say that DSP&S employees do not have the neces-

I support my brother and I just want him to make sure it doesn’t happen to anybody else. He’s gone on with his education, but we just don’t want this to happen to anyone else. He had a lot of trouble along the way. [The loss of his sight,] that’s a big challenge and then to have the school give him the run-around, it’s discouraging. I feel that they should just put the tools out there and give them everything that they need so they can be independent. -Belinda Santana, Roy Payan’s sister

sary training to work in a special services office. “The people behind the desks, I call them the gatekeepers, are not educated enough, they do not have rehabilitated services knowledge and they are all doing other things,” Garza said. “They don’t know how to treat a disabled person, they don’t understand what a disabled person is going through. If normal students are having trouble how do you think disabled students are doing? We need to stop this immediately and get these children who want to go to school, in school. Give them the higher education, give them the tools they need.” The Collegian contacted all nine special services offices within the district back in February. The program directors redirected the questions to William Boyer, LACCD’s director of communications. In an email received on Feb. 26, Boyer wrote he will “confer on this with the Office of General Counsel in terms of the best way to proceed with getting answers … we might need to process this as a CPRA. I will circle back to you next week.” The CPRA limits how businesses use “sensitive personal information.” The Collegian asked how many disabled students are enrolled in the spring semester, how many of them are blind and how many tutors are available. The questions also included information about the number of tutoring hours each disabled student has access to, if there are any note-takers and interpreters and what tech equipment do special services offices provide to disabled students to support their efforts to attend classes. The Collegian has not received any of the information, and it is a matter of public record. Juan Mendoza contributed to this report.

… the majority today rules that Title II and Section 504 allow plaintiffs to sue based on a disparate impact theory. While I respect the majority’s careful analysis, I still must dissent. -Kenneth K. Lee, judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit

… The jury trial was considered a victory for the district because there was only one finding of liability. … That one instance of Mr. Payan not being able to access that one resource [MyMath lab]. The jury otherwise found no intentional discrimination. -David Urban, LACCD’s attorney

CAMPUS LIFE

Los Angeles Collegian - Wednesday, March 9, 2022

VAMA

COVID-19

‘Alive and Under Investigation’ Exhibit Arrives

Students Must Check in Before They Go

An artist chooses art for its humanity in a new VAMA exhibit that opens this week; now that is a true artist!

BY HANNAH COBURN

ife shall always imitate art, and this week at Los Angeles City College, expect to see what is often concealed in society but desperately needs recognition. The opening reception for Alberto Lule’s solo exhibit entitled “Under Investigation,” will be revealed on March 10, from 4 -7 p.m. at the VAMA Gallery (DH 104) and will be on display until April 15. Complex social problems such as homelessness, immigration, drug addiction and the American prison system are not only inspirations for Lule’s art, but are also barriers that Lule has personally experienced and survived. Lule’s technique includes the expression of his art through graffiti. After serving a 14-year

prison sentence, he earned a B.A. degree from UCLA’s School of Art and Architecture. In his most present art, Lule’s style ranges from mixed media installations to readymades. A preview of the “Investigation” series will showcase large plexiglass pieces in which his bare skin is pressed against the surfaces. He spreads forensic fingerprint powder over the oil residue left over from his body creating an illusion of out of focus imagery. “I encourage and challenge the viewer to investigate the investigators,” Lule said of the piece. Perhaps it would be instructive to keep this in mind when viewing the artist’s work. There will also be a panel discussion event with a program at LACC called “Break it to Make it,” which focuses on support for

BY POUPY GAELLE NGUETSOP

formerly incarcerated students in higher education. An artist discussion with both Lule and Homeboy Industries Art Academy director and artist, Fabian Debora will explain the importance of

activism and social justice through art practices. For more information regarding the exhibition, contact the curator of the VAMA gallery, Summer Bernal at sb@summerbernal.com

fter two years of struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic, students are finally back on campus in-person in larger numbers. Spring Semester is well underway, and all students enrolled at Los Angeles City College are expected to be on campus or online. However, students are required to check-in first, at the entrance on Vermont Avenue next to the Sci-Tech Building or across from the Student Union Building next to Holmes Hall. Registered students receive an email from “noreply@cleared4work. com" every day. It is a reminder to fill out a questionnaire online that updates their COVID-19 status before they arrive on campus. A face mask is required. A nursing student named Ivy waits at the cleared4work check-in wearing a blue surgical mask. She shared her thoughts about the mask mandate. ‘’It protects us,” she said. “So, if anyone goes to school and they are

not vaccinated, I think they are risking other people [getting] COVID. And also, they risk themselves if they are not getting it.’’ Ivy says she got her vaccine and booster shot.” Some students are happy to be back on campus, like John Ray, who is a LACC freshman. He says he is studying to become an electrician, and he is excited to be back and walking around. “It’s fine to get a vaccine, people get mad, get a bad reaction because they can’t eat inside,’’ said Ray who works at a restaurant. The cleared4work system seems to work for students like Ray and Alexander Louis, a business major. “I have checked in this morning, and I feel good,” Louis said. “I got my vaccine, and everybody should do the same,” … “I feel great, it is so much better than just being on Zoom, and I like being around people.” Three people work at the check-in table next to Holmes Hall. Once students flash their QR code, they are free to enter campus, enjoy and take part in campus life.

'Black History Month Experience' Ends in Celebration BY EDWARD LOCKE

ontributions of African Americans that included art, culture and cuisine were the centerpiece of the Black History Month celebration in the L.A. City College Student

Union Building on March 2, 2022. The Black History event was the culmination of a month of programs presented by RESJ during workshops and other virtual programs. Highlights included a presentation that delved into the Black experience and a history of accomplishment in advertising.

L.A. City College students joined the effort to ask President Biden to pardon Black Nationalist and civil rights leader Marcus Garvey. The event in the Student Union offered dance lessons for attendees and featured music and a sumptuous soul food spread during the three-hour program.

NEWS

Los Angeles Collegian - Wednesday, March 9, 2022

FROM “UKRAINE” PAGE 1

FROM “MARCH” PAGE 1

Ukrainians Flee Homeland

P PHOTO BY JUAN MENDOZA

olonsky’s family lives in Los Angeles, but he still has friends in Odessa, a port city on the Black Sea in Southern Ukraine. He says his grandparents are buried in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine and fought for the Soviet Union during WW II. “I feel terrible about the innocent people in Ukraine, they are trying to survive,” said Samvel Torosyan who is half Russian and half

Ukrainian. His mother is Ukrainian. “The invasion is crazy, like no one has expected that. No one thought that this will get this far.” Thousands of Ukrainians are fleeing to Poland every day, particularly women and children. Many civilian men are joining the army to fight for their country and resist the invasion from Russia. “I wish Putin [would] go to hell,” said a demonstrator who declined to give his name. “I wish he will die, and I have no problem in saying that.”

Demonstrators walk on Hollywood Boulevard to protest Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 27, 2022. They carry signs that condemn the actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the war on Ukraine.

War in Ukraine Affects City Students PHOTO BY DANIEL MARLOS Olena Kukhtayeva stays in contact with friends who are fleeing Ukraine and friends who are staying to fight as their homeland is invaded.

Ukraine Fights for Freedom, Democracy Kukhtareva contacts her friends in Ukraine through Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp and Viber. She gets firsthand news of the latest developments from those who are fleeing and those who remained to defend their nation. “Last night I got a message through the Polish border,” Kukhtareva said of her friends who have fled with their children. These women are waiting in Poland to come to the United States to stay with Kukhtareva and other Ukrainian expats who are opening their homes. The government is not involved. These are the volunteer efforts of individuals. “Mostly I feel like I have … a lot of friends that I need to help … when they get here,” Kukhtareva said. Kukhtareva says there is still no refugee status for Ukrainians, but she hopes this will change soon. A recent CNN report states there are 1 million Ukrainians who live in the United States, according to 2019 census data. Traverse City, Michigan is home to a large Ukrainian community, and so is East Hollywood. Now, it is difficult for some Ukrainians to travel to the U.S. “No man can leave the country,” she said. “I’m writing to my friend in Kyiv right now, Max. He’s a writer …

He has a gun now. He works in special forces and he’s saying, you know, that they [are] going to win … He’s saying they are going to destroy them all.” Max has been updating Kukhtareva about the 40-mile long convoy of tanks and military weapons as they advance on Kyiv. This convoy has not escaped the attention of Washington. President Joseph Biden opened his State of the Union Address with strong words about the war in Ukraine. “Tonight, I say to the Russian oligarchs and corrupt leaders who have bilked billions of dollars off this violent regime ‘no more,’” the President said. “We are coming for your ill-begotten gains.” No one is certain if these sanctions will come quickly enough to save the freedom of the Ukrainians. The Ukrainians are not waiting. Meanwhile, Kukhtareva collectively calls the Ukraine a “mad dog” that will fight to the end for their freedom. She says this new generation of Ukrainians is impressive, fighting for democracy and freedom. “I don’t know where they got the spirit,” she said. “They just wouldn’t give in anymore in this … tyranny … and I’m very proud actually, but it’s scared and proud.”

POLICE WIRE COMPILED BY SORINA SZAKACS Feb. 9, 2022 – Grand Theft Auto in Parking Lot 3/4

BY SORINA SZAKACS Ukrainian and Belarusian students at Los Angeles City College share their stories with the Collegian. They speak about life before the war and how they feel now, watching events unfold in their homelands. Viktoriia Fomina and her husband moved to the United States from Ukraine four years ago. She is enrolled in classes at City College and plans to major in cinematography. In an email to the Collegian, Fomina wrote about her thoughts on the attack on her country. “It is with a heavy heart that I write it,” she said. “It was a punch for us. Right now, the situation in my country makes me so emotional. My heart breaks into pieces for my country and for the people who were killed in this unfair war without rules! People must not die!” Both she and her husband left family members behind. Fomina lost connection with her aunts, and she does not know if they are still alive. They live in Kyiv. “It's scary because we don't know what will happen next,” Fomina said. “My family is hiding in a bomb shelter. I call them every day to hear them. It is so hard to hear that my little nephews and mom are crying. I cannot sleep because all the time I think about my country and family.” She does what she can to help them from here, and even though she has been facing a “sad reality” since Feb. 24, she is optimistic and says Ukraine will win the war. “ I believe that my country will win,” Fomina said. “Somehow, some way, we will get through this tough time and come back stronger than ever. Glory to Ukraine.” Student Says Silence is Deadly

Alex Denysov is a Ukrainian born American citizen. He’s an actor, filmmaker, musician and a student in the Cinema/TV Department at City College. He was born and grew up in a small town in Crimea, Ukraine. He says he is part of the Crimean majority who speak Russian. They have family and friends in Russia because Crimea and Ukraine were once part of the Soviet Union. The war affects him even though he is far away, in a safe place. He says he never used to attend protests, but since the war started, he protests almost every day. He knows the war is not about him, but he cannot suppress his emotions. “These past days my mind is foggy all the time,” Denysov said. “I barely sleep, I can’t enjoy simple things and feel guilty to laugh or to have a good time. But it’s not about me. It’s about my family and friends who are suffering, who have to hide in bomb shelters and basements of the buildings. It’s about all those lives of innocent people, kids, elderly, people with disabilities that were lost for no damn reason! War shouldn’t be a thing in 2022!” He asks people to speak out and help in any way they can. He also says that people should stop thinking that the war will stay within the Ukrainian borders. “Sooner or later, if this war isn’t stopped - it’ll be at your doorstep,” Denysov said. “Let’s do our part in helping Ukrainians in these dire times. No help is too small. But silence is deadly. Glory to Ukraine Glory to the heroes!” This War Concerns Everyone Alesya Romanovskaya studies English as A Second Language (ESL) at City College. She moved to Los An-

Alex Denysov protests against Russia's invasion to Ukraine on Feb. 26, 2022 in Los Angeles. Since the war started, Ukrainians have been asking NATO for a "No Fly Zone" over Ukraine.

geles with her husband in 2020. Born in Belarus in 1990, Romanovskaya says she had a good life there, close to her family and friends and never thought about immigrating to another country. She does not have long-term plans, but says that with everything happening now, she might not go back. “The next decade will be terrible in those countries,” Romanovskaya says. “[They will face] the deepest

economical, political and social crises.” Romanovskaya says she stays in touch with her family and her friends and that she is worried about their lives. “The atmosphere is very gloomy and hopeless,” she said. “I believe everyone has to know about that situation because it concerns not only Russian and Ukraine, it concerns every country in the whole world.”

Feb. 10, 2022 – Sex Misdemeanor - Off campus incident reported to Sherrif's Station March 3, 2022 – Sex Misdemeanor in the North West Quad

NEWS BRIEFS

March 3, 2022 – Hit and Run in Parking Lot Lot 3/4 March 4, 2022 – Petty Theft in Parking Lot Lot 3/4

TALK BACK TO THE EDITORS We are interested in what you have to say. Email us at losangeles.collegian@gmail.com @collegianwired facebook.com/collegianwired Check us online collegian.lacc.life

Youth Celebrates Women’s Day Friends of GALA hosted their 4th annual Young Women’s Career Center Conference (YWCC) for the Girls Academic Leadership Academy (GALA). The YWCC was created four years ago to bring together the world of professional possibilities and opportunities to the GALA girls. GALA remains the only all girl STEM focused public school across the state of California. On March 4, 2022, young women students ranging from 6th to12th grade gathered in Los Angeles to participate in 11 virtual panel sessions. Organizations like NASA, Google and Cedar Sinai were present via Zoom with selected

women leaders. They proved women can obtain much professional and personal success in STEM related fields. The participants honored and celebrated International Women’s Day 2022 together. J.K. Cooke Announces Finalists Three Los Angeles City College students move to the finals in the highly competitive Jack Kent Cooke scholarship. Mary Bennett, Janel Blessing, and Kayla Jajoute are City’s semifinalists this year. Winners of the scholarship can receive up to $55,000 per year to support their college planning and success. Congratulations to LACC’s own semifinalists!

March Ignites Women’s History Month 2022 Congresswoman Barbra Lee’s documentary “Speaking Truth to Power” is available for screening between March 11 and 15. Lee will answer questions about the documentary during a virtual Q&A session on March 16 from 4 p.m. The City’s 5th Annual Women’s Month Tea is scheduled for March 30 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Naomi Nontombi Tutu will be the keynote speaker. The event is both in person and on zoom. DaVinci is Under Investigation The DaVinci Gallery hosts a reception for the unveiling of Alberto Lule’s, “Under Investigation” on

March 10, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Lule’s series exhibits examine the incarceration in California’s complex prison system. The show is open until April 15. District Requests Booster Upload COVID-19 testing will continue to be offered throughout the spring semester on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the first floor of the Student Union. The district has informed students that their CLEARED4 accounts should indicate their vaccination status and booster information. The booster shot information should be uploaded by March 14.

RESOURCES SCHOLARSHIPS Albert & Doree Abramson Scholarship The award provides deserving students at Los Angeles City College who are majoring in Business assistance for completing their education. Application Criteria: Student must have completed a minimum of 12 semester units Must have at least 2.0 GPA Must be a fulltime student at LACC Must be a Business major Requirement to Apply: Essay Ambroz Family Foster Youth Scholarship The purpose of the scholarship is to support all expenses related to attendance. Scholarship can be used for tuition, fees, books and other related expenses (laptop, transportation, etc). Student will be 17-24 years old, and have been in foster care at some point. Anthony & Jeanne Pritzker Family Foundation Guardian Scholars Scholarship This scholarship was created by the Anthony & Jeanne Pritzker Family Foundation and is available to any LACC student who is a member in good standing of the Guardian Scholars Program for current or former foster youth with financial need as evidenced by his/her FAFSA EFC form or by his/her award letter from LACC Financial Aid Minimum requirements: Must be a full-time student (9 units minimum) at LACC and between the ages of 16 to 24 Must have completed a minimum of 6 semester units toward their educational goal (vocational certificate, AA degree or transfer) at LACC or comparable institution Must be a member in good standing of the LACC Guardian Scholars Program Must have at least 2.0 GPA Demonstrate financial need by attaching either the FAFSA EFC form or award letter from LACC Financial Aid Must meet with an academic advisor and be recommended by the GSP Program Director and Assistant Program Director ASG Community Service Scholarship The ASG Community Service Scholarship recognizes students who have made an outstanding effort to serve the community. All completed applications are the property of the LACC Foundation. Criteria for Applying: Must be a current full-time student at LACC (12 units minimum) A copy of current class schedule (with Admissions Stamp) as proof of enrollment is required An unofficial transcript Must have completed a minimum of 12 degree-applicable units at LACC Must have a GPA of 3.0 or above Must be a student intent on transferring to a four-year college/university Must be a member of ASG Demonstrated community service (must attach letters of recommendation from two organizations, either on or off-campus, and include contact name and phone number) NOTE: Not available to current ASG senate members Requirements: Candidates must complete a self-profile essay (approximately 500 words) indicating types of community service and populations served. Community service is an important aspect of our connection to society. By serving our communities, we learn about the values of the people around us, as well as about ourselves. Applicants should address how his/ her involvement in community service has made a difference on LACC’s campus and/or in the community. All entries must be completed. ASG Leadership Scholarship The ASG Leadership Scholarship recognizes students who have made an outstanding effort to lead and inspire other students. All completed applications are the property of the LACC Foundation. Criteria for Applying: Must be a current full-time student at LACC (12 units minimum) A copy of current class schedule (with Admissions Stamp) as proof of enrollment is required An unofficial transcript Must have completed a minimum of 12 degree-applicable units at LACC Must have a GPA of 3.0 or above Must be a student intent on transferring to a four-year college/university Must be a member of ASG Demonstrated leadership and involvement in the school NOTE: Not available to current ASG senate members Requirements: Candidates must complete a self-profile essay (approximately 500 words) indicating leadership with ASG and other leadership positions at LACC. Applicants should address how his/her involvement in ASG leadership has made a difference on LACC’s campus. All entries must be completed. Brian Newkirk and Loren Ostrow Theatre Arts Scholarship The purpose of this scholarship is to provide support to self-identified LGBTQ LACC Theatre Academy students and who can demonstrate financial need. The award will be granted based on academic promise, financial need and talent in any of the theatre academy disciplines. CAOT Retired Faculty Scholarship Purpose: To help a needy student succeed Criteria For Applying: Must have completed a minimum of 24 units toward a CAOT certificate or AA Degree Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all classes completed at LACC Must write an essay; two-page maximum Unofficial transcript Requirements: An unofficial transcript must be attached to this application. All information must be filled out and a color, passport-sized photo attached to an essay of no more than two pages that includes educational and career goals. Please also state “My photograph may be used for reproduction” and include your signature.

Los Angeles Collegian - Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Carter V. Rabinoff Electronics Scholarship Spring This scholarship will be awarded to a student majoring in Electronics or in any STEM related area. Student must declare his/her major as Electronics or as Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, Information Technology, Mathematics or Physics. Student must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA and have two (2) recommendation letters from any of the STEM disciplines faculty at LACC. Charles J. Cramer Scholarship This scholarship is designed to support LACC students in their pursuit of higher education. Criteria for Applying: Must be a full-time student at LACC (12 units minimum) Must have completed a minimum of 24 degree-applicable units and not more than 75 degree-applicable units Must have a GPA of 2.75 or above Must be CA Resident Two letters of recommendation from LACC faculty members Must submit The Expected Family Contribution form from the FAFSA or the Financial Aid Award Letter from LACC’s Financial Aid Office Requirements: Candidates must complete a self-profile essay indicating background, interests, goals, and need for a scholarship. An unofficial transcript from each school attended as well as a copy of current class schedule (with Admissions Stamp) as proof of enrollment must be uploaded to this application and all entries must be completed. Candidates must provide letters of recommendation from two (2) LACC faculty members. In addition, candidates must submit a color passport-sized photo and signed statement, “My photograph may be used for reproduction.” Community Justice Foundation Veterans Scholarship The purpose of this award is to provide support to any veteran student who can demonstrate financial need Minimum requirements: Must be a CA Resident Must have at least 2.0 GPA Must be a veteran student (9 units minimum for spring) Must have verified veteran status. Application must include a copy of the DD214 member #4 with Honorable Discharge status Degree-applicable units may not exceed 75 An unofficial transcript, a copy of the current registration, and a copy of the Financial Aid award letter must be uploaded to the application Darrold Stogsdill Scholarship Fund One This scholarship will be awarded to a second year Theatre Arts Academy student at LACC. The student needs to write an essay on the reasons why he/ she is applying for this scholarship. The award is to be based on achievement and/or need. The funds are to be used by each recipient for tuition and/or books. Criteria: 3.0 GPA Full-time Student (12 units minimum at LACC) Theatre Arts Major - 2nd year student Essay is required Darrold Stogsdill Scholarship Fund Two This scholarship will be awarded to a second year Theatre Arts Academy student at LACC. The student needs to write an essay on the reasons why he/ she is applying for this scholarship. The award is to be based on achievement and/or need. The funds are to be used by each recipient for tuition and/or books. Criteria: 3.0 GPA Full-time student (12 units minimum at LACC) Theatre Arts Major - 2nd Year Essay is required LACC Foundation Honors Scholarship Purpose: This scholarship was created by the LACC Foundation to provide support for exceptional students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, and involvement in the school and/or community. Criteria for Applying: Must be a current full-time student at LACC (12 units minimum) Must have completed a minimum of 24 degree-applicable units and no more than 75 degree-applicable units at LACC Must have a GPA of 3.5 or above Must be CA Resident Demonstrated leadership and involvement in the school and/or community Requirements: Candidates must complete a self-profile essay indicating background, interests, goals, and need for a scholarship. An unofficial transcript and a copy of the student’s current class schedule (Admissions Stamp) must be uploaded to the application and all entries must be completed. Candidates must provide letters of recommendation from two (2) faculty members. In addition, candidates must submit a color passport-sized photo and a signed statement, “My photograph may be used for reproduction”. LACC Foundation Latino(a)/Hispanic Heritage Honors Scholarship Purpose: This scholarship was created by the LACC Foundation to provide support for students of Latino(a) or Hispanic heritage or those students who support Latino/a or Hispanic students. Candidates must demonstrate academic excellence and involvement in the school and/or community. Criteria for Applying: Must be a current full-time student at LACC (12 units minimum) A copy of current class schedule (Admissions Stamp) as proof of enrollment is required Must have completed a minimum of 24 degree-applicable units and no more than 75 degree-applicable units at LACC Must have a GPA of 3.0 or above Must be CA Resident Demonstrated leadership and involvement in the school and/or community Requirements: Candidates must complete a self-profile essay indicating background, interests, goals, and need for a scholarship; strong preference for students who demonstrate a commitment to transferring to a four-year college or university. An unofficial transcript must be uploaded to the appli-

cation and all entries must be completed. Candidates must provide letters of recommendation from two (2) faculty members and proof of school or community involvement. In addition, candidates must submit a color passport-sized photo and signed statement, “My photograph may be used for reproduction”. LACC Foundation Retraining the Unemployed Scholarship Purpose: The award will be given based on financial need and is intended for unemployed workers receiving unemployment benefits. Criteria for Applying: Applicant must be unemployed Proof of unemployment must be submitted Must be a California resident Must have a minimum 2.5 GPA Must be enrolled as a full-time student at LACC (minimum 12 units per semester) New LACC students without an established GPA must be full-time students (minimum 12 units per semester) Proof of enrollment is a requirement Proof of unemployment must be submitted Requirements: Candidates must complete a one-page, 500-word essay with regard to student’s goals and plans to achieve those goals, school and/ or community involvement, and statement of need. A copy of candidate’s unofficial transcript, a copy of current class schedule (Admissions Stamp) and a current passport-sized photo and a signed statement, “My photo may be used for reproduction.” Candidates must also provide letters of reference from two (2) faculty members. Louise Snyder Johnson Fitzgerald Scholarship Purpose: To help students succeed at a two-year college Criteria for Applying: Completion of at least 24 units at LACC A minimum 3.2 GPA in all units completed at LACC A fulltime student (12 units minimum) Students must submit either the Expected Family Contribution Form from the FAFSA or the award letter from LACC’s Financial Aid Office. Must be a California resident. Requirements: Candidates must complete a self-profile essay indicating background, interests, goals, and need for a scholarship. An unofficial transcript and a copy of the student’s current class schedule (Admissions Stamp) must be uploaded to the application and all entries must be completed. Candidates must provide letters of recommendation from two (2) faculty members. In addition, candidates must submit a color passport-sized photo and a signed statement, “My photograph may be used for reproduction”. Lucille Schwartz and Sydelle Ward Scholarship Purpose: To assist full-time students in the Honors Program and/or students committed to a career in teaching. Criteria for Applying: Minimum 3.0 GPA Full-time student at LACC (minimum 12 units per semester) Minimum of 24 and maximum of 75 degree-applicable semester units completed Transferring to a four-year university or college Must be CA Resident Requirements: Must complete a self-profile essay indicating background, interests, goals, and need for a scholarship; strong preference for students who demonstrate a commitment to a career in teaching. In addition, candidates must submit two (2) letters of recommendation from faculty members. A color passport-sized photo is required along with the signed statement, “My photograph may be used for reproduction”. Nick Beck Journalism Scholarship This scholarship is intended for a staff member or editor of the LACC Collegian. The staff member or editor must be an LACC Student who intends to pursue a career in Journalism. Ralph Bunche Program Honors Scholarship Purpose: The Ralph Bunche Program Honors Scholarship supports students who participate in the program and are dedicated to pursing a rigorous academic program and excelling in their fields of study. Criteria for Applying: Must be a member of the Ralph Bunche Scholars Program (RBSP) Must be a current full-time student at LACC (12 units minimum) A copy of current registration as proof of enrollment is required Must have completed a minimum of 24 degree-applicable units and no more than 75 degree-applicable units at LACC Must have a GPA of 3.3 or above Must be a student who is preparing to transfer to a four-year college or university Must be CA Resident Demonstrated leadership and involvement in the school and/or community Requirements: Candidates must complete a self-profile essay indicating background, interests, goals, and need for a scholarship. Students must demonstrate a commitment to transferring to a four-year college or university. An unofficial transcript and a copy of current registration must be attached to this application and all entries must be completed. Candidates must provide letters of recommendation from two (2) faculty members associated with the RBSP and proof of school or community involvement. In addition, candidates must submit a color passport-sized photo and signed statement, “My photograph may be used for reproduction.”

SPORTS

Los Angeles Collegian - Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Tennis Strikes Back at LACC

The tennis courts are opened once again to the students of LACC after a stagnant period as a result of the pandemic.

We realized we were practicing a lot of bad habits, and no one was correcting us ... so we wanted to get instruction

—Noah Gan, LACC Student

BY CHRISTIAN CHAVEZ

t is a warm and sunny Saturday morning in Los Angeles. Behind the Student Union and the soccer field, the tennis courts are no longer deserted. The noise of tennis balls hitting the rackets and nets reaches the parking lot. Students at City return to in-person tennis classes after almost two years. As the Omicron variant wanes, more students enroll in kinesiology courses, compared to pre-pandemic times. Classes like tennis are great options for students who felt the burden of being stuck indoors for months. Instructor Waldemar Hermina teaches “Tennis Skills I and II,” and says tennis classes are not limited to the practice of the sport. “I hope students will develop the skills to play a match, also be able to have a rally back and forth and understand the concept of the game,” Hermina said. “The idea of meeting other people, interacting and probably making friends so they can have someone to hit with as a hitting partner.” That connection is what brought Chloe Cheney-Rice, Noah Gan and Meredith Lumpier to the class. They have been playing tennis together, but Lumpier says the class will help them improve. “We realized we were practicing a lot of bad habits,” Gan said. “No one was correcting us … , so we wanted to get instruction.” Cheney-Rice signed up for class to learn the technique of the sport. “I tend to use my wrist a lot instead of swinging my forearm,” she said. “I know it could lead to injury, I just got into the habit of just bending at my wrist instead of using my forearm.” The class is open to anyone who wants to be active. Oscar Sintigo is an active sexagenarian. He enrolled in the class to spend time with younger people. “My first objective is to socialize,” Sintigo said. “I love the people who come here and learning about their cultures and the youth are so important.” Sintigo hails from El Salvador. He immigrated to the United States in 1985 and has been playing tennis all his life. “I want to continue playing tennis for my health and to socialize,” Sintigo said. “It’s a sport that if you are not focused, the stress will make for a hard game.”

PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN CHAVEZ Professor Hermina holds the basket of tennis balls as his Saturday class ends at the tennis court at Los Angeles City College on Feb. 26, 2022.

PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN CHAVEZ Chloe Cheney-Rice (left), Noah Gan (center), and Meredith Lumpier (right) hanging out at the end of their class at the tennis courts at Los Angeles City College on Feb. 26, 2022.

PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN CHAVEZ Meredith Lumpier anticipates her opponent's next move at Los Angeles City College on Feb. 26, 2022.