Los Angeles Collegian

Cubbington

Time Capsules

Q: Pa g e 2

D o y o u fe e l t h a t L AC C p r o v i d e s enough resources for students?

LACC WEATHER FORECAST

Returns with

Time runs out for LRC, but time capsules gain new future

a vengeance

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LOS ANGELES

Friday, 23 83 | 63º F Saturday, 24 79 | 63º F Sunday, 25 76 | 63º F

Wednesday | September 21, 2011

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News Briefs

Louie Piday Directs Theatre Academy ‘Picnic’ The Theatre Academy opens its 2011 season with a mystery at the Caminito Theater on Sept. 27 with “Picnic at Hanging Rock.”

It is an exciting mystery about how three schoolgirls went missing. Admission for students, seniors and veterans is $8. General admission is $12.For more information go to theatreacademy. lacitycollege.edu

Students Gain Access to Cal State Library Math

History Philosophy Art History

English

Science

Cal State L.A is opening the doors at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Library to LACC students. All students need is a City College registration receipt, a California I.D. or passport to borrow books. The agreement does not extend to faculty members. Brochures are available in the MLK Library.

Entertainment Panel Draws Crowd at Camino Theatre About 300 students attended a program about how to succeed in Hollywood last Thursday.

Talent agents, screenwriters and directors shared information about the entertainment business and the paths to their success. The LACC Foundation and President’s Office hosted the panel, which is in its second year.

The Comedians with Disabilities Act In recognition of Disability Awareness Month, Los Angeles City College will host two comedy events on October 4 at 2p.m. and 8p.m., featuring comedians such as Nina G, Steve Danner, Michael O’Connell and John Kevari. The Laugh Factory will headline comedian Kathy Buckley at 8pm among other comedians.

For ticket information visit www. laccfoundation.org/express.html (for cause: enter “comedy”). All proceeds will benefit LACC’s Office of Special Services

Lack of Funding Derails I-TAP Program CA

By Robert Monico

UCLA has it, and so does Pasadena City College and Rio Hondo. It relieves parking congestion, encourages the use of public transportation, and helps students save money.

It was a small blue card that measured less than three inches wide, but it represented an economical way for students to commute to and from school – the Institutional Transit Access Pass (I-TAP).

Students have lost the use of the I-TAP pass, which was once available to those who were enrolled in full-time classes.

For a fee of $20, or $15 to recharge the card, students had access to affordable public transportation.

According to Metro, almost all of the eligible City College students (5,257) snapped up 5,080 I-TAP passes in spring

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5

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Ride a bike to school

(Bike, Bus, Car)

Walk to school

p a t i PRO

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LACC Students: 5,257 students were eligible (full time) and 5,080 were issued.

Includes replacement cards.

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Drive to school

Public Transportation

District Wide: 37,881 students were eligible (full time) and 19,284 were issued.

Includes replacement cards.

Student survey: 75 Students What’s your mode of transportation to school?

of 2011.

The program started in the spring of 2009 in partnership with the LACCD and Metro to help students save money and provide a green alternative.

The program was supposed to save students $200 a semester. Now with the interruption of I-TAP, students must pay $36 a month in order to obtain a student discounted service.

“The I-TAP program has NOT been cancelled,” said Senior Communications Officer for Metro Media Relations Jose Ubaldo in an email to the Collegian.

“However, LACCD’s nine campuses withdrew from the program at the close of the spring 2011 semester, citing lack of funding and a decision by the campuses not to advance a referendum that would Photo By Patrick Chong/Collegian establish a sustainable funding source.” Two passengers purchase their tickets and another waits his turn at the Vermont/Santa Monica Red Line Metro station.

See News Page 4

Investigation Into EducoSoft Former Continues Instructor

By Emanuel Bergmann

District officials confirm an ongoing investigation into Educosoft - a software company that somehow gained access to student’s personal information to sell their unauthorized software.

During the 2011 spring semester, students enrolled in English 21, 28 and 97, received an unsolicited email from Educosoft, an educational software provider, advising them of a software called “Watch Your Language”. This “educational investment” was on offer to be used to supplement lab hours—at a price.

For $25, students could skip lab and do their work online. However, from the beginning, there were problems.

First and foremost, many students were confused as to whether “Watch

Your Language” was a required purchase. It wasn’t. However, since the software could be used as an alternative to lab, it had to be authorized by no less than two separate committees, the Curriculum Committee and the Distance Education Committee. A lot of red tape, to be sure, but binding policy nonetheless.

Furthermore, students were unhappy with the software.

“I received an email, saying it was easier if I wanted to buy this software,” said student Amilsegle Cerezo, who had taken an online English class, and who had purchased “Watch You Language” to supplement her required lab hours.

See News Page 4

Fall Semester Brings Record Enrollment

Students still flock to City College in spite of crowded classes and higher tuition.

By Melissa Leon Student enrollment at Los Angeles City College this fall is higher than ever before, meaning fresh faces, new friendships, and that’s right, higher tuition fees.

The cost per unit for an education at LACC has risen from $26 to $36. With burgeoning class sizes, students are feeling the strain.

The number of enrolled students at LACC this fall reached 19,078 by Sept.

13, an increase of 8 percent over last year,

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Intramural Sports Return Co-ed basketball and volleyball return this fall to LACC. Students who are interested in playing should contact the Office of Student Life at (323) 9534000 ext. 2450 or email imsports@ lacitycollege.edu

Volume 165 | Number 1

THE STUDENT VOICE OF LOS ANGELES CITY COLLEGE SINCE 1929

according to data supplied by Maury Pearl, the Los Angeles Community College District, Associate Vice Chancellor for Institutional Effectiveness, The $10 increase comes as part of an effort by the college’s administration to strike a balance between record numbers of incoming students and state budget cuts, says Dean of Institutional Effectiveness, Dr. Edward Pai. “We try to accommodate our enrollment which is at an all-time high,”

Pai said. “On one hand, the state has been reducing our budget because they don’t have any money, and on the other, we have to meet the demands of students” …

“We have to schedule classes which are in demand.”

LACC student Swas Nembang is an international student. She pays an extra $204 per unit, in addition to the $36 per unit that resident LACC students pay.

See News Page 4

Convicted Of Murder

By Emanuel Bergmann On the morning of July 25, 2011, Abner Monleon was awoken by his sister Violeta. She came to him in a dream.

“Wake up,” she whispered. “Or you’ll be late.”

Abner rose with a start. It was 3.30 AM. Outside, it was dark. Violeta MonleonBerg had been dead for almost three years, and still she continued to haunt her brother’s dreams.

On Sept. 28, 2008, Monleon-Berg’s husband, Ronald Leroy Berg, had ended her life. Since then, the family had been hoping and praying for justice. Berg had been apprehended minutes after the murder, and he quickly confessed.

And still it took several years for the case to move to trial. After a grueling process of pre-trial hearings, psychological tests and expert testimony, the day had finally come.

Today was the first day of the murder trial. Monleon was unable to get back to sleep that morning.

This was the day he’d been waiting for so long.

See LA Law Page 10

Ronald Berg Illustration by Jose Tobar/Collegian

INDEX Opinion & Editorial

2-3

News

4

Features

5

Campus Life

6-7

Arts & Entertainment

8

News

9

LA Law Sports

10-11 12

2

OPINION & EDITORIAL

Wednesday September 21, 2011

EDITORIA L

Finding the Path Through Wonderland

Illustration by Jose Tobar/Collegian

Guest columnist, English professor Samuel Eisenstein

Guest Columnist Professor

By Samuel Eisenstein

This month brings a new semester to most secondary and college students. For many, it will be the first experience they will have in choosing the courses they take or want to take, given the cuts in funding for education.

A whole new world awaits.

However, many students slam the door shut on that new world before it can open all the way. They do that by being too timid or cautious to venture to sample subjects they know nothing about.

Math, for example, is a subject American youth knows less about than those in any other first world country.

Basic math knowledge can save young people huge amounts of money over a lifetime. You don’t need algebra or geometry to figure out the interest rate on your “free” credit card, or how much more you’re paying over the lifetime of the mortgage on your house or car; let alone how much a 15 percent tip is. Math is a means to explain how the world goes around, let alone the individual. Try it, you may find you enjoy learning how your Twitter machine works.

Turn off your electronic attentionscatterer when you climb into your car or board the bus or train. Keep it off during the entire school day. Nothing that a friend or the media have to tell you is more important than what you can experience on campus, either in class, in the cafe or sitting on a bench watching other students go by. If you’re not on your device one or another may stop and get acquainted. You may encounter someone from far away, either geographically or economically, who may become an important influence in your life. In other

Alice laughed. “There’s no use trying,” she said. “One can’t believe impossible things.”

“I daresay you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen. “When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed [in] as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”

-Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass

By Lewis Carroll Does coming back to school feel like falling down the rabbit hole? It feels like there are, at the very least, six impossible things to complete; sometimes even more if you are striving for success.

Navigating through the community college system can feel like a Wonderland.

More often than not, it can leave students lost, confused and frustrated. And the presence of an overgrown white rabbit clutching a ticking clock to its heart while proclaiming you are running late for your linguistics class does not help one bit.

First impossible thing: Enrolling in college.

That’s right. It’s not as easy as it should be. As students who have to juggle work, families and other huge responsibilities, our plates can become full rather quickly.

Finding the motivation to come back to College can serve as a challenge for most.

It’s all about taking that first step.

Second impossible thing: Figuring out your life Surely, the least imposing challenge you will encounter. All it takes is some soul searching; find your passion, and schedule an appointment with a counselor one week in advance. Walkins are welcomed just as long as you ask “quick questions” about your life goals.

Third impossible thing: Actually making it to campus The loss of the ITAP program that allowed students with 12 units or more to purchase a metro transit pass for $20.

The program provided much welcome relief to the countless students in all nine Los Angeles Community College District campuses. Students will have to make do with the regular student monthly pass, which is almost double the price of the I-TAP card.

Fourth impossible thing: Staying in College

words, let the world into your constricted brain.

Don’t be bedazzled by the forprofit schools that promise advanced degrees for ridiculously little time. Or the “schools” that advertise on the Net. They are all costly and return very little for the investment. And you do not get the immaterial but valuable contact with peers and professors. The “degrees” they grant are useless on resumes you write to try to land a job.

Resumes—basically boast sheets. Why you should hire me and not someone else? Usually boilerplate, would-be employers and school officials barely read them, unless something stands out.

And that something is what you can learn in a creative writing course or a course in literature. What you learn about other people from stories, poems and plays along with what you can learn about yourself in a writing course can enliven and point up your uniqueness to the official who reads your resume.

This piece of paper can radically alter the course of your life. A course in remedial English can help you learn the basics you haven’t learned in high school and before. If you’re an immigrant, or the child of immigrants, chances are you are not speaking or writing English at home. Add to that, TV that speaks only the language of the other country.

Wrong. Insist on TV in English, DVDs in English. There are plenty of opportunities to speak the other language but you probably will not be going to school for more than four years. Use that time to perfect the language that will help you get ahead in this country, as well as open whole worlds otherwise closed to you if you don’t understand or speak English well.

What one casually learns from writing on walls, content inside newspapers and overheard discussions can be enormous.

Imagine being deaf. That is what knowing English imperfectly in this country is relatable to.

Read a newspaper. There are numerous free ones available everywhere but getting a student subscription to a daily newspaper can be a truly inexpensive adjunct to your education. In addition to being aware of the ongoing crises of the world, you become a smarter, cannier voter, more aware of your own and others’ interests. Don’t neglect the comics. Often, they are the source of

A recent vote in Congress reformed the Pell Grant program. Congress striped away a student’s ability to receive two Pell Grants for any given school year. So if you receive it for the fall semester, don’t count on the Pell grant to help alleviate costs in the spring.

Fifth impossible thing: Paying for College The price per unit has risen to $36 per unit in response to state budget cuts.

Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill on June 30, 2011, that is responsible for trimming the community college funding by 8 percent, cutting a total of $400 million from the district.

Sixth impossible thing: Navigating through campus We are in need of a GPS app feature for the City campus. Eventually we will all become acquainted with how to get around the huge blocked off sections of campus and countless dead ends, and even the temporary location of many school facilities. We even got a new LACC construction fall semester map, equipped with cute little green arrows to show us the path of least resistance. Last minute classroom changes and the constant harmony of construction workers and their massive equipment serenade us as we study; but acclimating to the current shrinking campus that is sure to blossom into new and improved facilities is sure to pay off in the end.

Our student handbook states, “The LACCD colleges, therefore, should be accessible to all individuals who have the capacity and motivation to profit from higher education” “...Individuals should have opportunities to develop to their full potential. Responsibility to the students enables them to contribute to society, provide support that is essential to students, individual responsibilities.”

At the end of the day, it is the student’s responsibility to be informed, and to continue traversing the path to success; even if it cuts through Wonderland.

clever word plays, puns, ironic statements, twists of language that you may miss without complete focus. Graphic novels, which have been popular for generations in Spanish-speaking countries, are newly important here too. They can be great stepping stones to great literature.

That great, free literature is more accessible than ever before. The Net is the greatest boon to the poor but eager student that has ever existed. It is like an enormous tutorial, a grant, a scholarship. Whatever you are curious about is available. Huge swaths of world literature is there, free of cost. But don’t believe everything you think, as the Net is also a giant propaganda machine for those who hate, lie and deceive.

Because the brain and mind are like sieves, the time to start your memorial clock is now. While high school and before are still smarting and vivid memories, start writing your own history.

It doesn’t matter that you will never be famous or on the cover of some trendy magazine, you are immensely important to your family of origin and your family of destination, as well as to your friends.

Writing your history gives you practice in thinking critically, describing accurately, and writing grammatically. This is a nolose project. But you must keep it up in a regular manner. It can become habitual and habits of literacy will follow.

Don’t believe what your colleagues say about professors. Especially don’t go on-line to see if any of them are “hot.”

The personality of your professor is infinitely less important than the subject he professes, and the textbook is only one finite source of the material, which you are free to implement online if you feel either the instructor or the book is prejudiced, out-of-date or wrong. It’s never been easier to know many sides of the subject.

Now that you’re a grown-up, take advantage of the world that is open before you; a red carpet to the infinite.

LOS ANGELES COLLEGIAN

LOS ANGELES

THE STUDENT VOICE OF LOS ANGELES CITY COLLEGE SINCE 1929

Editor-in-Chief: Managing Editor: Opinions and Editorials: Arts and Entertainment: Sports: Distribution Manager: Advertising: Graphic Designer: Copy Writer: Reporters:

Photographers:

Illustrators:

Faculty Advisor:

Tanya Flowers Luis Rivas Hyun Chung Lauren Arevalo Cliff Webber Collegian Staff Collegian Staff Josue Hernandez Jennifer Anderson Stephen Clements Abraham Daplin Amy Lieu Cliff Webber Emanuel Bergmann Erleen Barrett Heidi Johnson Hyun Chung Jayne Miles Lauren Arevalo Luis Rivas Matthew Mullins Mellisa Leon Mia Boykin Richard Martinez Robert Monico Rocio Maya Ronald Vaught Luca Loffredo Luis Rivas Matthew Ali Mathew Mullins Patrick Chung Reuben Reynoso Cesar Anzora Christina Morris Jose Ramon Tobar Luis Rivas Rhonda Guess

LOS ANGELES

THE STUDENT VOICE OF LOS ANGELES CITY COLLEGE SINCE 1929

Deadline Schedule NEXT ISSUE: October 5th Editorial deadline: September 28th For all submissions including letters to the editor and publicity releases.

Advertising deadline: September 28, Send materials to Collegian office: Chemistry 207 losangeles.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. © 2003 Collegian. No material may be reprinted without the express written

LOS ANGELES COLLEGIAN

OPINION & EDITORIAL

Wednesday September 21, 2011

3

How has the current financial crisis affected your life on campus; do you find it more difficult to be a student?

Compiled by Rocio Maya Photos by Luca Luffredo/ Collegian

Bobby Gibas Biology Major

“ It’s really bad [because] I still remember it being $20 dollars a unit and I used to take 4 classes. Now I am only able to take 2 classes and I don’t work or have a car so the cuts make it that much harder for me.”

Natanka Hodge English Major

“Some times, like when finical aid gives me a hard time or when I can’t find my books on my book vouchers; so right now I don’t have the book for a couple of my classes.”

Andrea Bari Business Economics Major

“Yes, the SI [tutoring] program was cut off this year, so very many classes that were suppose to have mentorship available don’t have it.”

Liana Gasparyan Nursing Major

“Yes, I do because I barely started working and I am taking 15 units here and 10 units at Santa Monica College and I don’t get a voucher to buy my books and supplies or even pay for my classes.”

Jaden Ledkines Political Science and English Major

“ The Economic situation had left me jobless and homeless but because of my perseverance to continue through my education and seeing other students in similar situations, it made me a stronger person.”

Invisible Souls Clean Campus

Jobless Graduates

By Dania James Castro With 10 minutes left before class, I galloped to the bathroom. Great! I walked in and noticed I was sixth in line.

Two bathroom stalls were unavailable; one was out of order and the other was stained with blood. God! Who would do that?

At first, I thought someone had a nosebleed. As I got closer, I realized it was not that. Disgusting.

The next thing I did was pray. I prayed for the poor soul that would have to clean that mess up. Then, I thanked God it was not me. What would we do without the custodians?

According to Google, schools in Japan have no custodians because the students clean their schools. Can you imagine that?

And we complain because the custodians are not fulfilling their duties.

This is why I decided to dedicate my piece to the invisible souls that continuously work hard to beautify our school. I know it sounds repetitive, but we should help the maintenance team by doing our part. In the past we have agreed that custodians are important for our school. However, agreeing is not

By Robin Smith

enough—we need to take action.

To prove my point, I stood out in the Quad for about 10 minutes. It was only a matter of time before I saw a student unwrap her gum and throw the wrapper on the ground. Another student tossed a receipt in the trash and missed. Did he pick it up? No! These examples show that we have much to work on. The custodians have many duties and although cleaning up is a part of their job, we should not make it any more difficult. If they did not have to clean up after us, they would be available for other important things.

Let us not waste their valuable time and allow them to do their job.

Acknowledge those invisible souls by doing whatever you can to help. When the urge comes to litter, stop and think about the custodians and what they could be doing if they did not have to pick up your trash. Take responsibility for your actions.

Illustration by Luis Rivas/Collegian

The age old saying of, “it’s not about what you know it’s about who you know” faces a reality check with today’s college students. Can I really land a job after college? What’s the point?

Sure there are numerous studies that show college graduates earn significantly more than those who don’t have a degree.

According to The National Center for Education Statistics, those with bachelor degrees earn almost double than those who only have high school diplomas.

But the question however, is not the annual earnings it is the odds of those graduates getting the mere chance to enter the workforce. Where not only are

your qualifications needed but also where your degree can be put to the most use.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, although unemployment rates have lowered in the past 2 years unemployment rates for college graduates less than 25 years of age is at an astounding 8 percent where the national average is at a close 9 percent.

Katrina Evans, a recruiter for Tech Staff Inc. in Seattle, Washington says “a candidate must really stand out, the job market is extremely competitive and networking is key. “ So a network must be established aside from the slew of national awards attained and Ivy League schools attended. This seems a bit much for the average college graduate but is simply the reality.

Francesca Strack a recent graduate from the University of The Pacific says, “I am convinced that an entry level job doesn’t exist, it is so hard to find a job in today’s economy.” Graduates like Strack have to succumb to working unfavorable jobs in areas such as retail.

Using her resources, Bentley University student, Heidi Tsung said; “Thank god my cousin works for Goldman Sachs or else I wouldn’t have a job after I graduate!” While many of us aren’t blessed with family members who attain high paying investment banking jobs, networking is a must if you want to get employment after college.

So, what is the likelihood you will find a job after college? Chances are slim but if you know someone and your networks are aligned by the time you walk across that stage the odds will probably be in your favor.

I-TAP Leaves Students Stranded

By Gemina Rustrian

Over a million people ride the Metro everyday and consider it to be a reliable form of transportation. A lot of students who are enrolled at Los Angeles City College (LACC) get to and from school by riding the bus. LACC previously provided students discounted TAP cards to full-time students for only $20.

Many students decided to leave their vehicles at home in order to save money on gas or save themselves the hassle of parking. Students took advantage of the student bus pass and commuted by public transportation. I thought the student TAP card was a sweet deal and I would use the TAP card as often as I could, when going to school or going to work.

Because of the changes in our economy, many people have decided to go back to school. Now, more than ever, people are riding the bus or taking the train. We have seen drastic changes throughout our school system and I was discouraged to see that one of our student privileges would be affected this semester.

The college has chosen to discontinue the I-TAP card privilege this semester and students will no longer be able to purchase a TAP card for the low price of $20. Students now have two choices: to purchase a regular monthly pass for $75, or the buy the student reduced fare TAP card for $36. We will be forced to spend money on public transportation rather than spending our money on books and school supplies. I am very disappointed about this change, because I believe that many students benefited from the TAP card and used it efficiently.

It is essential for the school district to bring back the student TAP card because it encouraged students to use public transportation. In the long run, the I-Tap program helped students save money that they cannot afford to spend.

Since students are no longer given the opportunity to purchase a pass for $20, they will have to spend more money monthly on public transportation.

I understand our economy is going through some turbulence and the budget cuts are becoming more intense, but students like myself used the TAP card on a daily basis. It made things a lot easier for us and allowed us to choose a more environmentally friendly form of transportation. Overall, the student TAP card for $20 was a great deal for students and should remain something that is given to full-time college students.

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NEWS

Wednesday September 21, 2011

Courses Cut, Enrollment Soars

Metro Wants Partnership to Continue I-Tap from page 1

Students brave long lines that wrap around the Student Services Bungalow. Higher enrollment draws more students who seek financial aid dollars on a hot fall day.

Photo by Luis Rivas/Collegian

Fall Semesterfrom page 1

Beyond tuition matters, perhaps the most visible effect of the spike in enrollment is class availability. LACC was forced to cut 862 of its course section offerings between the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 school years, according to college president Jamillah Moore’s June 2011 State of the College address.

With fewer sections and more students this fall, getting into classes has proven difficult for many.

Timothy Adamski is a first-semester LACC student who has already experienced the competitiveness of class enrollment. He said he was crowded out of two classes he tried to add this semester, “English 101 and an art class.”

Pai sympathizes with the overwhelmed students on campus and wants to reassure them that the administration is doing its best under the circumstances to keep up with student scheduling demands.

“The college is being efficient in the way it does its enrollment management,” Pai said. “We have to schedule classes

which are in demand” … “We are meeting the demand, but students are feeling something different. They see bigger classes. They pay the fee increase.”

Not all students, however, are lamenting the higher cost of attendance.

Simone Castagna commutes between LACC and Santa Monica College where she also takes classes. She acknowledges that although it may be inconvenient to students, the increases might be essential to the survival of the college.

“It may be necessary since California has the cheapest education of any state,” Castagna said. “So I don’t feel that bad about [a] $10 per unit increase.”

However, Pai expresses concern that a small increase in fees now could lead to more down the road, ultimately restricting access to LACC from those students who might not be able to afford it.

“We don’t need to create a greater gap, a greater divide,” he said.

EducoSoft Under Investigation EducoSoft from page 1

“I started working from my house,” Cerezo said. However, toward the end of the semester, with little time remaining to complete her assignments, “... all my [online lab] hours were gone.”

She ended up getting her missing work hours accredited, but she is still waiting to be reimbursed for the faulty software.

LACC President Dr. Jamillah Moore, who had discontinued the use of the software, claimed that everyone who had purchased it would be reimbursed.

“Every student who applied got reimbursed,” said Paul Carlson, LACC’s VP of Administrative Services. “To the best of my knowledge.”

Despite Carlson’s assurance, there still seems to be confusion among the student body. Cerezo, for one, seemed unaware of the formal application process and had asked for reimbursement in person.

“We sent out an [e-mail] blast,” Carlson said. Still, he believes the number of students who asked for their money back to be relatively low.

“It was not very many,” recalled Carlson. He was not certain whether or not there was a deadline in place for reimbursement applications.

The experiences with EducoSoft left students dissatisfied, prompting Dr. Moore to order a preliminary investigation and an internal audit.

How the software company came into possession of student’s confidential class scheduling information is unclear.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which is meant to ensure that students’ personal information is properly safeguarded, seems to have been violated.

Student class schedules were somehow released to a private company. Students who believe their personal information was improperly disclosed can complete a

FERPA complaint.

A conservative estimation suggests that at least 770 students received emails encouraging them to purchase “Watch Your Language.”

At a cost of $25 per software unit, EducoSoft stood to make close to $20,000 from the software per semester – that’s assuming that each student that was contacted accepted the offer, an unlikely scenario.

Still, anonymous sources claim that the actual profit margin was considerably higher. It remains to be seen how many students were actually affected and how much money was generated through the “Watch Your Language” software. The recipients of any potential profits are also unknown at this point. A number of LACC faculty contributed to the development of the software.

The Collegian contacted Arnold Blanchard, auditor for the Los Angeles Community College District, who confirmed that an investigation was currently in progress. However, Blanchard was unable to comment, as the investigation continues. This should come as welcome news to students who were affected by the software.

“It was a horrible experience,” Cerezo said about working with the EducoSoft program. “When you try to get help and all doors are closed, that’s a really bad feeling. No one was returning my phone calls.

Nobody knew anything. It was very frustrating.”

LOS ANGELES COLLEGIAN

In 2009, the district was more interested in relieving parking congestion and encouraging the use of public transportation while helping students combat “tough economic times.” The LACCD also dedicated $1 million dollars to the program to compensate 90 percent of the cost. “ In these tough economic times, we are intensely committed to ensuring that our students have easy, affordable access to our campus through a variety of transportation channels that are both eco-friendly and available where students live,” said Dr. Marshall E. Drummond, chancellor of the L.A. Community College District in 2009.

Drummond is gone and so is the district’s commitment to the program during even more challenging economic times.

Now, due to the lack of funding, students have to pay more than double without the assistance of the I-TAP program.

Two months ago, Metro officials met with LACC’s Vice President of Administrative Services Paul Carlson and Associated Students Organization President Jaden Ledkins to discuss how all nine colleges could still be involved in the program.

The official statement from Metro is that both sides met one last time on July 11,to talk about various programs that might be able to fit in the school’s budget.

No agreement has been reached and since then, the district has made no attempt to meet with Metro personnel.

“We are trying to get the TAP program back, in our investigation into Metro, we learned that businesses are getting a better deal than students,” said

Ledkins, when asked about the status of the program. “Businesses don’t subsidize the program, not even a cent, in order to get a fair deal, they [Metro] need to treat students like the business.”

In a survey conducted by the Collegian, 42 percent of City college students use the Metro to get to campus.

Faculty and staff also use the Metro.

Professor Clark said, “I think it’s an unfortunate contradiction. It will ultimately make it more difficult for students to remain in college.”

At one point in 2009, nearly 30,000 students were enrolled in the program.

Now, students are speaking out about the loss of the I-TAP pass.

“It was vital for me because I don’t have a vehicle or a source of income as I’m going to school full time,” said theatre major Albert Birgen “To take the metro to school was really convenient for 20 bucks.”

Eric Romann from the Bus Riders Union said that he would like to see more students get involved and mobilize. “We would love to get together and connect with students who are interested in organizing around this.” Romann said.

Currently UCLA, Pasadena City College and Rio Hondo College are the only three schools that have preserved the I-TAP. A passenger waits for his train at the Vermont/Santa Monica Red Line Metro Station.

Photo by Patrick Chong/Collegian

FEATURES

LOS ANGELES COLLEGIAN

Wednesday September 21, 2011

5

Shanghai Kids Visit Campus ‘Speak for Themselves’

By Hyun Chung

Dean of Academic Affairs Allison Jones speaks to the Little China Writers Guild delegation on the second floor of the Administration Building.

Photo By Luca Loffredo

“Being a reporter, I can meet a lot of different people—I can let the people know about the world.”

13-year-old Zhi Ming Liu. Thirty young journalists from Shanghai, China filed into the Chemistry Building and the newspaper offices of the Collegian a week before the start of fall classes.

They were members of the Little China Writers Guild, which has been training student journalists for 40 years. The children ranged in age from 9 to 12 years old, and represented 14 different schools in Shanghai.

They write for a children’s newspaper that publishes five times a week, and they spoke with pride about a section of their newspaper called “Kids Speak for Themselves.” The Greater Los Angeles Press Club arranged the visit for students to learn “what it takes to become a great journalist.” The children traveled with teachers and several chaperones, but the majority came to the U.S. without their parents.

Journalism Professor Rhonda Guess gave a short lecture on the qualities of a good reporter and press freedoms. She also shared broadcast journalism field tapes.

Students like 11-year-old Miao Bao ‘Vicky” Wu listened to the lecture as it was interpreted simultaneously from English into Mandarin and Shanghainese

by LACC student Qiwen Wu and ELAC journalism student Faith Lee. “I really liked Professor Guess because her teaching was really helpful for my writing,” the 11-year-old said through an interpreter. “Professor Guess said journalism can be dangerous, but you still need to go to find the truth and face [the dangers].”

Some of the young journalists already had impressive credentials.

Among them was an 11-year-old whose credits include an interview with the acclaimed children’s writer Wen Jun Qin, the J.K. Rowling of Shanghai.

“I feel proud of being a journalist,

Bill Clinton had his picture taken by the Collegian and other media on his visit to LACC. “Here, you have a big library,” Liu said of the MLK Library. “The students [at LACC] must feel freer with their studies.” Liu said that LACC provided a good environment and good professors offering quality instruction.

The Little China Writers Guild delegation attentively listens to journalism professor Rhonda Guess and interpreters Qiwen Wu, an LACC student, and Faith lee, an East Los Angeles College student.

Photo By Luca Loffredo

because I can interview different kinds of people” said Chen Chen Ge through an interpreter, adding that she enjoyed watching the reel of professor Guess as she demonstrated the “fine skill of interviewing high-profile celebrities.”

Zhi Ming Liu, is a 13-year-old journalist who attends boarding school during the week and has covered Chinese youth for the Little China Writers Guild for more than two years.

“Being a reporter, I can meet a lot of different people.” Liu said through

an interpreter about the best part of journalism. “I can let the people know about the world.”

After the journalism seminar, students received a souvenir of an LACC canvas bag and ballpoint pen from the Campus Bookstore, filled with a selection of Collegian newspapers and magazines. Students from an ancient land gasped when they received a copy of the Collegian Times magazine that commemorated the 80th Anniversary of the journalism program. The Little

China Writers Guild just celebrated its 40th year.

The Little Writers Guild reporters asked questions following the lecture, and they were full of questions for Library Chair Barbara Vasquez and Dean of Academic Affairs Allison Jones, urged on sometimes by their chaperones.

Vasquez led the journalists to the third floor of the Martin Luther King Jr. Library (MLK).

They milled around, then stood on the very spot where former President

Vasquez told the young students about the various resources available in the Library. Students listened intently as she described special collections, and the number of visitors who come to the MLK Library each week.

“Very nice and clean,” Ge said of the MLK Library. “A good environment” … “a lot of books.”

On the second floor of the Administration Building, Dean Allison Jones explained her job was to verify the accuracy of publications like the Schedule of Classes and the College Catalog. She answered questions on admissions requirements, surprising the Shanghai children with how beginning level studio art classes at LACC have no prerequisites. They also expressed surprise at how many courses at community colleges are open to everyone.

Before heading to San Francisco, the Little China Writers Guild presented Professor Guess with a gift of Tang poems and a folio featuring the covers of the Children’s Weekly.

The group resumed the tour of California, heading north to visit the Silicon Valley, Stanford University and San Francisco.

“Like home,” was how one student described Los Angeles, saying it was not that much different from Shanghai.

When asked if he would like to be an LACC student, 13-year-old Liu answered quickly: “Yes.”

Medea, Meet Multimedia

By Amy Lieu

When the curtain rises on a theatre production of Medea at St. Gregory’s University in Shawnee, Oklahoma next week, the work of a former LACC Cinema-TV graduate will be on full display.

“Medea”, a classic Greek tragedy by Euripides, is the convergence edge of a theatre production that incorporates multimedia images projected on-screen during a live onstage performance. The two worlds of theatre and cinema meld into a single experience.

A former LACC student turned film

LACC Alumnus turned film director Lance Brittan shoots Medea, played by Olivia Bicknell in the St. Gregory’s University, theatre and multimedia production “Medea.”

Photo courtesy Fabrice Conte

director is working with St. Gregory’s University Department of Fine Arts in Shawnee, 0klahoma and its theatre students, to bring a multimedia component to “Medea.”

“For bringing video to such an old play and story it’s just interesting to be able to add today’s technology and video multimedia into the show,” said Lance Brittan, who graduated from LACC in Cinema-TV with an A.A. degree. ”I think it can be a real nice complement to the show and adding another element, another sense of drama.”

Brittan says his education at LACC

has helped him tremendously by teaching him the skills of directing, producing and editing, “The training I got there was invaluable because what I appreciate most about LACC and the cinema department is that it was a hands on program which has really been with me through my career,” he said. “I trained in all aspects of filmmaking … I really have been able to develop all my skills … It’s been an excellent building block in my career.”

Brittan has worked for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Saban Entertainment and the Writer’s

Guild of America. He has also produced short films and documentaries that have been featured in film festivals throughout the country.

Fabrice Conte is Chairperson of St. Gregory’s University Department of Fine Arts, and he says multimedia is an interdisciplinary art form that makes the theatre production richer and more interesting for the audience. He says it amplifies the effects of the dramatic scenes and increases the level of details, “There is almost this idea of 3 dimension too where you are watching a movie,” Conte said. “But also the

characters can step out of the film and they are right in front of you. Live!”

Brittan shot for two days then produced and edited the footage that will be projected simultaneously during the on stage performance.

The production Medea opens Sept. 29, 2011 at 8 p.m. at the Sarkeys Performing Arts Center on the campus of St. Gregory’s University in Shawnee.

6

Wednesday September 21, 2011

CAMPUS LIFE

Benefits Help Student Veterans Get Ahead

By Rocio Maya

Being a military veteran in the United States has more benefits than many vets are aware of; students alone have a plethora of benefits they can apply for. Both in active duty or not, there are still general benefits that the majority of veterans are eligible to receive if only they have the right paperwork on file to receive them.

For instance, according to the LACC Office of Veterans Affairs (OVA), student veterans can obtain many of the following: Montgomery GI Bill benefits and pay while on active duty, military credit evaluations, continuation and extension of VA benefits, tutorial assistance, financial assistance, military tuition assistance on active duty, assistance from LACC’s Office of Special Services for veterans with disabilities, and additional resources both on and off campus.

“I come here [LACC’S OVA] because I have questions about my benefits and my financial aid. Without this service I probably would not be in college right now, and that’s frightening to me,” said PFC. Jackson Likon, U.S. Army veteran.

Veterans in general receive VA health care benefits, disability compensation for those who qualify, VA pensions, additional education and training, a home loan guaranty, VA life insurance, burial and memorial benefits, a national call center for at-risk veterans, 1-8774AID VET (1-877-424-3838), housing and urban development centers, and additional benefits from special groups

of veterans that provide a wide array of support programs for homeless veterans.

Studies have shown that about 85 percent of veterans have trouble adjusting to civilian life after war, which is why there is a program that rehabilitates and allows veterans to be able to transition from military to civilian life. For the families of veterans there is also dependent and survivor’s health care, and additional federal benefits such as free grocery vouchers and job placement.

“It’s good to know that even though I haven’t been here I have been able to reintegrate into the society that I know and people here are helpful in getting you to where you need to be.

I love that sense of community we as Americans show,” said Staff Sgt. Randy Simulano, U.S. Marines veteran.

In addition to receiving these benefits there are also organizations dedicated to providing veterans with additional help in filling out paperwork, acquiring additional counseling and getting veterans work. One such website is www.networkofcare.org where the focus is on getting veterans additional counseling and employment assistance.

There are also other federal organizations that are dedicated to specifically helping veterans with additional support such as www.sab.gov/ vets where veterans can get assistance in starting up small businesses, and where they can find access to information on newly granted or extended benefits

LOS ANGELES COLLEGIAN

that the government has provided.

There has been much neglect of veteran’s rights of services in the past that have kept veterans from receiving the care they need, which is why today there are several organizations dedicated to supporting veterans. For veterans that require rehabilitation and reintegration into society, an excellent place to begin is the LACC’s OVA where their expert advice and friendly service can guide a veteran into the right program that fits him or her, even if it’s off campus.

If the veteran is not currently in school, a good place to start finding benefits appropriate for them is the Department of Veterans Affairs online at www.va.gov.1010ez.htm or by calling 1-877-222-VETS (8387). There they can be directed to a department that best answers their bene

Illustration by Christina Morris/Collegian

Waiting for Ssekandi

Top List of Items that Soldiers Request

By Christopher Jorge Here is a list of the most requested items from soldiers in the wars now going on in Iraq and Afghanistan.

After research and feedback from the field, along with what is mentioned in blogs and on other troop-support websites, these items listed below help soldiers stay in touch with family, relieve stress and some can even be used in the field.

1. Unlocked GSM cell phone. ($169)

Photo By Patrick Chong/Collegian

By Matthew Mullins

I was not the only one who was excited and surprised when we were told that we were going to a press conference at Woodbury University to speak with Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi from Uganda on the second day of school at Los Angeles City College.

I jumped at the chance at this learning experience to help me gain a greater understanding of journalism and world affairs. I hitched a ride with some fellow students, raced home, changed into my nicest clothing, and grabbed my camera and iPad while running back to meet my ride. We all chipped in for gas money and seven of us squeezed into a car and sped down the 5 free way to make it to the meeting at 1:30 p.m.

There were 80 students in the auditorium ready to question Vice President Ssekandi about his experiences in Uganda. I cannot express the thrill and excitement that was buzzing around the auditorium.

I was ready to ask questions about “aids prevention” and “human rights”.

I had my camera ready to go to take pictures that I could hand over to our school newspaper, the Los Angeles Collegian, but something happened that was rather unexpected and unfortunate.

Vice President Ssekandi didn’t show up.

We waited for 3 and ½ hours and received nothing but a story about car troubles.

This really disappointed the entire group of students who were eager to learn more about Uganda and the personal experiences of Vice President Ssekandi.

All the research we had collectively done and all the questions we had planned to ask have gone unheard and unanswered.

Woodbury University stepped in where LACC could not by agreeing to host the visit of Vice President, Edward Ssekandi of Uganda. The Ugandan flag waved alongside the American flag at the entrance of the University’s Burbank campus.

I understand that things happen but I also believe the responsibility of any government official, U.S. or otherwise, should be fulfilled. They should keep their word and honor commitments.

Especially when it’s for the goal of a greater understanding on how different countries operate in contrast to our own.

The only way I could think of making this something other than a poorly planned unfortunately “moot” press conference, was to be given a response to the main question I had in mind for VP Ssekandi.

“How can Americans support equality and human rights for all people, while supporting the people of Uganda and respecting their beliefs?”

This question remains heavy on my head and I would appreciate an answer.

If you could do this for me on behalf of the student journalists at LACC, I thank you. We are the same deep down and we support your country and hope more than anything that with time and tolerance your country will grow and prosper. Thank you again for your time and good luck.

Matthew Mullins, Student, Los Angeles City College

3. Prepaid Phone Card: Iraq, Prepaid Phone Card Afghanistan. ($5 - $50) Not all soldiers have access to MWR phones or free phones. These prepaid calling cards allow a soldier to call home from a phone tent.

Response: Dear Student Mullins, I have seen your mail and I thank you so much for being straight. I must say I am terribly sorry. Thank you for your comments concerning the Vice President of the Republic of Uganda, His Excellency Edward Ssekandi’s visit to Woodbury University/LACC. I certainly agree with you that it was an embarrassment to all of us especially the organizers of the press conference at the University, Prof. Clift and Prof.

Guess. I am terribly sorry. God knows that I tried my best. I was shocked after spending close to two hours calling around when I was told that it was too late for H.E. Ssekandi to go to Woodbury, yes I got the shock of my life and walked away in tears.

3. Prepaid Phone Card: Iraq, Prepaid Phone Card Afghanistan. ($5 - $50) Not all soldiers have access to MWR phones or free phones. These prepaid calling cards allow a soldier to call home from a phone tent.

4. Digital Photo Frame. ($100) 5. Playstation Video Game Player (PSP 3000). ($129) 6. Apple iPod Touch 32 GB. (289) 7. Kindle eBook Reader. ($139)

I am very depressed and I believe the depressing thoughts seem to get me down. My long time friends like LaSandra Stratton and Buster Sussman whom I respect so much don’t want to talk to me anymore.

I just can’t bear the pain.

The good news is that the Vice President Ssekandi agreed to send an apology letter to the College authorities. I’m also going to send an official apology letter. Matthew your questions will be replied to in detail next week.

Best regards and have a great weekend and holidays.

Abbey Walusimbi Chairman Global Diaspora Advisory Council

2. SIM Card Iraq: SIM Card Afghanistan. ($59 - $119) It is necessary to have a SIM Card for an unlocked cell phone. You have the option of getting one for that country or a multi-roaming card.

8. ASUS PC Netbook. (From $220) 9. Video Games for Xbox 360, PS3 & Wii. ($30 - $80) 10. SureFire LED Flashlight. ($157) 11. Olympus Ruggedized Digital Camera. ($299) 12. Garmin GPS Watch w/ Heart Monitor. ($138) Photo By Patrick Chong/Collegian An empty podium greets a disappointed audience in the Woodbury University’s Business Auditorium where Vice President of Uganda, Edward Ssekandi was a no show.

13. Pelican Case (super tough travel/flight case. ($123) Heart Monitor. ($138)

There is also a helpful list of what not to send a soldier in Iraq or Afghanistan found at www.bootsonground.com.

CAMPUS LIFE

LOS ANGELES COLLEGIAN

Freebies 101

Text Books that Can Help

By Jayne Miles

Every English class requires a specific textbook however, that students may end up selling the textbook back once the class is over. Some English books are worth keeping. Here are textbooks that can be kept because they can be very beneficial to your future.

Students—need a break from the recession? Here are some free services and products that will help you stretch your budget. These days, even the lifestyle of the “Joneses” has changed.

Take notes for Freebies 101.

1. It’s your birthday! Guess what?

Many restaurants know you are not celebrating alone on your special day and would like to treat you and your friends. Of course – your meal is free, just pull out the ID. Here are a few places that give you goodies on your birthday. http://www.fatwallet.com/ forum/hot-deals/62372 (Feel free to call your favorite restaurant).

2. Starbucks! Get a free birthday drink when you register with Starbucks.

It’s possible to get free coupons for coffee, pastries, coffee beans and more.

Go to http://www.bestfreestuffguide. com/free_Starbucks_Coupons.

3. Get a $250 gift card for groceries.

This is an offer too good to pass up.

Various sponsors’ marketing campaigns would like your input about their products. Select the gift cards you like. Read the fine print. Some require subscriptions. Check it out at http:// www.grocerycardcentral.com

4. Free Groceries: Kingdom Community and Youth Center, located at 319 E. Kelso St., Inglewood, CA 90301 – is a non-profit organization that gives away groceries every first and second Friday of each month. For more information, contact Minister Pampa Thompson at (310) 412-2541. Be sure to get there early! Doors open at 4:30p.m. and close at 6:30p.m.

1. “Rules for Writers” by Diane Hacker is a great book because its a guide that helps with writing at any level and it can also help with certain questions you may come across while writing.

This book can be purchased at the LACC bookstore or at a discounted price online.

2. “They Say/I SayThe Moves That Matter in Academic Writing” by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein is a book that shows students what is really important when it comes to academic writing. This book has templates that can help students with persuasive writing and argumentation. This book can be found online at amazon.com or half.com and at the LACC Bookstore.

This book gets 5 paws

This book gets 5 paws

Wednesday September 21, 2011

7

Classified Ads Ginger Barrett

Books “Math 227”, “Political Science 7”, “Speech 101” books are for sale and a CD set of “Music Appreciation”.

Call (310) 849-3153.

“Health 11”, “Geometry 5th edition”, “Intermediate Algebra 8th edition” and “Frankenstein”- (for English 103) books are for sale.

Call - Mr. Longoria at (213) 9095167.

“75 Readings” and “Latin America Conflict & Creation (a Historical Reader)” - both books are for sale.

Call Marlene (323) 422-3382.

“Anthropology”, “Math” books are for sale.

Call -Tom (626) 498-4765.

Childcare 3. “.Next Text: Making Connections Across and Beyond the Disciplines”

by Anne Kress and Suellyn Winkle, teaches students how to write,think critically, and read at their appropriate academic level. There are articles and essays in this book that can serve as a model for students who need guidance when it comes to their writing. This book can also be purchased online or at the LACC Bookstore.

4. “Models for Writers” by Alfred Rosa and Paul Eschholz is another great book to have because it shows students how to organize language and thoughts, and how to organize rhetorical patterns in essays. This book has been around for 20 years, and there are many students who have benefited from it.

This book gets 5 paws

This book gets 5 paws

5. “How to write Anything: A Guide and Reference with Readings” by John J. Ruszkiewicz, this book offers students a guide that covers advice on writing genres, reading skills, and more helpful tips to help students write at the appropriate level. This is a writing guide for anyone that feels that they need help with their writing skills This book gets 5 paws

“Escalante Family Childcare”, for children and Infants.

363 S. Berendo Street, Los Angeles, CA. 90020 Call Ana Escalante (213) 4870798

Community Affairs “Adults Learn to Read” for free at your local library.

Call Frank Harper at (213) 228-7037 or visit website www.lapl.org/literacy. Volunteers for tutoring are welcome.

“Chinese Mandarin Class” for 5 Fridays- only. Register now at LACC Community Services –see Andrew Arellano

Cubbington

Coins – “We Buy Coins if made before 1965”.

At the LACC Swap Meet - 4133 Marathon Street, Los Angeles, CA. 90029 - Sundays 9a.m. to 3:30p.m.

Call - George (310) 754-0860 “Jazz For Fall” dance taught by Laurienne Siinger here at LACC -Thursday night 6:50p.m. – 8:55p.m.

“what?! No more tap card?! well, at least I got my car...”

“Oh come on!! I can’t even afford to drive to school!!”

!”

GE

EN REV

$#*%

“Models Slay Medusa” a night club with house/electro/ techno music to party by – adults 21 years and up.

Doors open at 10pm. Medusa Lounge – 3211 Beverly Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA. Facebook.com/ Modelsmusica or Soundcloud.com/Modelsmusica Seeking 25 independent “Wellness Coach” for weight loss Challenge program. Nutrition Center opening in September Call Dominick – (217) 819-6111.

Jobs 5. ILovefreethings.com – is a site that is sponsored by renowned companies looking for survey takers. The free merchandise that is given away ranges from free brownies to blood glucose monitoring machines.

“If I still had my Tap card, I’d be riding that bus... grumble, grumble.”

“ I will find out who is responsible and make them pay!

“Part-time work” - $12.00 hourly to start, no experience is okay, can work from any computer, typing skills not required. www.studentpay.com

Miscellaneous 6. Calling all students! Free lectures, videos, books and podcasts from educational institutions all around the world Visit: http:// www.apple.com/education/ http://www.youtube.com

7. Do you need help with children’s school supplies? The Fred Jordan Missions is giving them away. You must register by Oct. 3. The mission is located at 445 Towne Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90013. (626) 915-1981 http://www.fjm.org

8. Free blood pressure check: Blood pressure problems? Your local fire department and CVS are perfect places for a free and quick blood pressure check up. Visit: http://www.lafd.org to find the closest fire department near you.

zTelford RC Flossy paper for sale photo paper 80 sheets.

Call (949) 637-4922.

Tutors Chemistry tutorCall Mariam (323) 470-1256 French tutor – have Master Degreecan teach all levels.

Call Mariam Khachatryan – (818) 476-2639 Email: mariam_Kh23@yahoo.fr Math and Russian language tutor – (818) 726-8040.

I can teach all of these languages: English, French, Hebrew, Russian, Spanish and Ukrainian. I give private lessons for individuals or groups 4-5. My rates are reasonable.

Call Marina (310) 756-3052

8

Wednesday September 21, 2011

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Local Artist Spotlight

Lauren’s Logic A Tragedy for the Bookish

By Heidi D. Johnson Los Angeles is all a buzz from the melodious sounds of songbird Shawntae Jackson, LACC Vocal Performance major, single mother and star on the rise.

The path to success has lead her to LACC. Jackson is poised and putting the finishing touches on an already amazing person, mother and vocalist.

Despite the many hats she wears, she juggles it all with grace and humility.

We caught up with Shawntae to find out what she has in mind for the future, how education plays a part in shaping it, and how she got her voice.

Collegian: Take us to the moment you knew you wanted to become a professional singer…

Shawntae Jackson: About ten years ago, (I’ve been singing since I was 9 years old) I got my first Rhythm and Blues/Jazz gig singing background for Jonathan Butler on his “Surrender” CD. It was then when I heard myself and said I can sing, maybe I should do this for real.

Collegian: Describe the range of emotion you experience when you audition and compete on a national television show.

Shawntae Jackson: The name of the show is Karaoke Battle USA; it was the premiere episode for ABC. At first I didn’t want to audition.

A friend kept calling and urging me to do the show. I finally gave in and did the audition. I didn’t feel completely ready until I actually got on stage. Then at that moment it was exhilaration, like a roller coaster ride.

From there I put myself into the song like I literally wrote it, feeling the passion and depth of the words.

LOS ANGELES COLLEGIAN

By Lauren Arevalo

Shawntae Jackson, vocal performance major at Los Angeles City College.

Photo by Reuben Reynoso

of raising a child while pursuing a career in the entertainment industry.

Collegian: How has your education helped you in the entertainment industry?

and I sing it from my heart. You don’t have to get ready if you stay ready.

Shawntae Jackson: The biggest challenge is keeping structure for my daughter.

It is important for us to have face time, for me to get us home at a consistent hour so she can take a bath and actually spend quality time with me sharing the events of her day. It requires discipline and I’ve had to turn down big tours but all money isn’t worth it.

Shawntae Jackson: I have worked with some incredible musicians but when I tell you studying theory, learning keyboard harmony and reading music has given me a tremendous respect for this thing called music. It has been a humbling experience because I’m good at what I do but I’m just starting to know this craft. I have become more discipline, which has helped improve my performances. Frankly to play a note on the piano or sing a song by ear isn’t enough. This may be a dogmatic statement however to be able to sing by ear is mediocre to me and that’s just not acceptable for me.

Collegian: What would you like your audience to know about you that we would never guess?

Collegian: Who are your role models?

I got my first Rhythm and Blues/ Jazz gig singing background for Jonathan Butler on his “Surrender” CD. It was then when I heard myself and said I can sing, Collegian: Where do you see yourself 1, 5, 10 years from now? maybe I should do this for real.

Shawntae Jackson: My mom and sisters have all gone back to school and are following their dreams. Besides them, I’d have to say Anita Baker, Kim Burrell and Whitney Houston.

Collegian: How do you balance being a single mother, student and singer?

Collegian: Do you have any advice for others pursuing their dreams?

Shawntae Jackson: The key to balancing it all is having a great support system.

My mom Deborah, my two sisters Eva and ‘Ferrah and I have a calendar online. We all put our schedules in to support each other. Sometimes it’s hard but with a strong team I am able to go on gigs, study and be the best mommy I can be for my daughter.

Three words to summarize my support system are GOD, LOVE and LIFE. Collegian: Tell us some of the challenges

Shawntae Jackson: Spend time finding out who you are as a person. There are a lot of people in the industry that get lost because they don’t know who they are and they freak out when the lights hit them. Knowing who you are gives you a healthy balance in not only your career but in all your relationships. It takes vulnerability, humility, being honest with you and willingness to do the work. Doing the work makes you relatable as an artist.

Shawntae Jackson: In one year my goals are to have my first CD released and the next one completed.

In five years my goals are to have national recognition, my teaching credentials to teach vocals and to travel. In ten years I’d like to have an international presence, still be a student able to sing at least one song in the languages of the countries I visit. I’d also like to know how to play the guitar.

Collegian: How do you study to become a better vocalist?

Shawntae Jackson: To become a better vocalist I practice harmonizing every day. My sister taught us how to harmonize to commercials so whatever I hear I just sing it and make it my own. I enjoy listening to all types of music, I don’t study, the music grabs me

Shawntae Jackson: I love to dance but I am an avid Chicago Stepper.

Events Picnic at Hanging Rock

by Laura Annawyn Shamas. Based on the book by Joan Lyndsay Directed by Louie Piday, presented in the Caminito Theatre This enticing mystery about the disappearance of three schoolgirls resonates with a seductive and dreamlike quality, underscoring the truth that the most haunting nightmares…are those that happen when we’re awake. Author Laura Annawyn Shamas to attend 9/30 performance; post show talkback to follow.

PERFORMANCE DATES: 9/27- Preview 7:15 PM 9/28 - Opening 7:15 PM 9/29- 3:00 PM & 7:15PM 9/30- 8:00 PM – Talkback with author to follow 10/01 - 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM All My Sons

by Arthur Miller Directed by Al Rossi, presented in the Camino Theatre Miller’s classic tale about a family mourning the loss of a soldierson has garnered many awards, including a Tony Award, A New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award and the Pulitzer Prize. It ends with a shocking revelation about the American Dream and the compromises we make to achieve it. A City Playhouse Production..

PERFORMANCE DATES: 10/27 - Preview 7:15 PM 10/28 - Opening 8:00 PM 10/29 - 8:00 PM 11/02- 7:15 PM 11/03- 3:00 PM & 7:15 PM 11/04- 8:00 PM 11/05- 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM Lost and Unsung in Boston Conceived and Directed by Bruce Kimmel, presented in the Caminito Theatre A musical extravaganza celebrating the best of Broadway, all on one stage. A world premiere not to be missed!

PERFORMANCE DATES: 11/30 - Opening 7:15 PM 12/01 - 3:00 PM & 7:15 PM 12/02- 8:00 PM 12/03- 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM

Photo by Rocio Maya/Collegian

In the Theatre Academy’s first offering of the fall semester, French teacher Mademoiselle de Poitiers (Catherine Boily) threatens the junior instructor Dora Lumley (Stephanie McBain) for her neglect of frail student Sara Waybourne (Mia De Guzman), an orphan at Appleyard College, in the play “Picnic at Hanging Rock”. The curtain rises on Sept. 28 and tickets are available for purchase on-line

Untitled Warhol Project Conceived and Directed by Leslie Ferreira, in association with the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble.

Written by Richard Alger, Leslie Ferreira and Tina Kronis, Theatre An abstract recounting of the life and times of the iconic American artist Performance Date TBD

During a particularly trying public transit ride home, the thought of sitting idle and waiting for a bus I had barely missed for 45 minutes upset me. I walked down and passed many newsstands, taking note of how full they were of recently dropped-off issues of Homes & Land, LA Weekly, and Brand-X. I saw a barely-thumbed issue of the Weekly teetering on the edge of a trashcan, and for a moment, my anger flared at the thought of waste and landfills fattened mostly by periodicalsa tragic divergence from their true home at the recycling center, where they are blended into a fine powder, mixed with water, puttied, and reissued again (or at least that’s how the process had been relayed to me as a kid).

I thought about how at that very moment, one of the most pressing concerns in my life is my lack of bookcases. The boxes that cover the floor-space in my room, take up my air, and refuse to withstand stacking because of their weight. I thought about one box in particular that was beefy with old New Yorkers and the occasional music magazine taking up so much physical space in my life, and in fact half of my room. This was immensely satisfying to me.

I happened upon a chain bookstore I had almost forgotten existed. I quickly refused the aid of an employee who practically attacked me with help while I was holding back giggles at the lineup of promoted Ann Coulter books.

I have a fondness for that recycled debris, typically referred to as magazines. I ambled over to the stands, picking up issue after issue, making audible gasps as my fingers touched the sheen of new paper, and feeling naughty at coveting them.

This has been a bad break-up, let me tell you. I am now the subscriber of a myriad of digitized periodicals, but it hasn’t been the same. My computer does not emanate that smell, probably poisonous but lovely nevertheless. I also use a desktop, so after I canceled my subscriptions, I began to spend an inordinate amount of time in front of the computer.

It is much less tactile, and the memories of which publication I had read an essay in are starting to blur together. In fact, I don’t actually feel like I am truly reading anything anymore.

My attentions are being pried away by the cascade of statuses on Facebook, Rahm Emanuel’s phony but funny Twitter gripes, and Gchat. I reminisce often about print, even when books aren’t even the medium in question… yet.

It is this new way of digesting information that drove me to reserve a copy of Nicholas Carr’s The Shallows at the Los Angeles Public Library, a book that is either so desired (the wait list is in the double digits) or highlights how depleted the resources are for public libraries these days. If you’re not familiar with this title, the Library Journal says it is an “investigation of the effect of the Internet on our neurological selves.”

I rarely read nonfiction, but feeling resigned to living life technologically, I had to get my hands on this book. I tapped the shoulder of the salesman I encountered earlier. He was leaning on a display, which now stands in the middle of the store that is for the most part unchanged, save for a veritable shrine that glimmers at the center of the store, replacing book aisles with shiny glass countertops filled with some abomination called e-readers.

Already livid with missing my bus and being #43 for The Shallows, I am about ready to fork over all $17.99 for the hardcover copy to make pleasant the second half of a bus commute.

He entered the title into the storewide system, and a look of feigned concern appeared on his face.

“I’m sorry- they’re all out of stock and back-ordered, but would you like a digital copy?”

NEWS

LOS ANGELES COLLEGIAN

Wednesday September 21, 2011

9

Judge’s Ruling, State Audit Raises Concerns DISTRICT REACTS TO AUDIT

By Mia Boykin

Photo by Luca Loffredo/Collegian Van De Kamp Bakery

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Ann I. Jones delivered a blow to the Los Angeles Community College District for failure to conduct environmental studies on the $86 million taxpayer bond-funded Van de Kamp’s Bakery site that now caters to a 9-12 charter school.

The ruling came in the aftermath of an audit released by State Controller, John Chiang, in early August. It states that more than $143 million in bond measures passed by voters to reconstruct, renovate and upgrade facilities at colleges in the LACCD was not always spent according to voter guidelines. The report also states there was ineffective planning on building projects, poor oversight of funding.

The Van de Kamp Coalition—a group of community activists—called for an investigation of the LACCD’s use of the site as a tenant-based facility in 2009. The original project included plans for a campus that could serve 1700 students. The VDK coalition filed a lawsuit against the LACCD last summer. Miki Jackson is a spokeswoman for the group who has been adamant in the fight to uncover any misuse of bond money.

“Saint John [Chiang] that is how we feel about him. We went to him in December, we took evidence to him, a lot of it, and they did the audit correctly,” Jackson said.

The Collegian contacted Chiang’s office regarding the ruling on the Van de Kamp site.

“He has no comment. The Van de Kamp site was not a part of the audit,” State Controller John Chiang’s spokesman, Jacob Roper said “ We were told by the district that because of the litigations they could not hand over the files relating to the Van De Kamp site, therefore they were not a part of the audit.”

District Chancellor Daniel LaVista says the building program in the LACCD is dramatically improving facilities at the district’s nine campuses.

“While we disagree with many of the specifics of the audit and some of the findings, we will examine the audit and make whatever changes are necessary to further tighten and improve management,” LaVista said in a written statement released early last month. LaVista also disagreed with an audit finding that the district used more than $42 million in bond funds for projects and activities that were not approved.

Jackson however, says the findings of the audit confirmed much of what she suspected, including poor decision making by the LACCD Board of Trustees in hiring Christine E. Marez as inspector general; a position dedicated to ensuring proper spending of bond funds Proposition A, Proposition AA, and Measures J. The audit also found that Marez’s firm, Policy Masters Inc., was formed shortly after the Board of Trustees decided to create an overseeing entity, which indicates that this firm never had previous clientele or experience in the job it was intended to do.

“She has no qualifications of any kind. Neither the experience or schooling to be an auditor,” Jackson said. “She got hired to find nothing.”

The chancellor disagrees, and in a written statement he defended Marez’s selection as inspector general. He wrote: “LACCD disagrees that the process used to select the Inspector General was flawed or that the firm selected was not qualified. While the district agrees with some of the audit’s recommendations to better document and put into place control measures in connection with procurement of special and professional services.”

Miguel Santiago, the president of the LACCD Board of Trustees has asked the controller of the City of Los Angeles, Wendy Greul, to conduct an independent review of the audit findings regarding the hiring of the inspector general.

In other findings, Chiang’s audit reports that the District’s Citizens’ Oversight Committee and College Citizens’ Oversight Committee of the nine colleges were “passive, perfunctory and ineffective” in their roles to ensure bond expenditures were

Student Charged with Battery on School Grounds

After a few minutes, the female student accosted another white male student with the same racially charged remarks.

She approached him, her face close to his. She hooked a cord from a cellphone charger around his neck in a choke hold and pulled his head towards hers, which provoked him physically to respond.

Both engaged in fist fights, shoving, and pushing.

Few of the students managed to pull the students apart. Couple minutes later, County Sheriff Security Officer Blanchard arrived on scene with another security officer. They asked the students “Who was fighting?”

The students pointed to the female student had walked to the other side of the Chemistry second floor hallway, away from Chemistry 207.

The officers shouted at her to stop. She ran downstairs to the street in front of residential apartments near New

Time Capsules Escape Demolition Time runs out for LRC but time capsules gain new future

By Tanya Flowers

By Huyn Chung LACC students were waiting for Professor Rhonda Guess to arrive for the night Journalism 101 course near the second floor classroom Chemistry 207 on September 29th, 2011 . A female student provoked a light-skinned student with racially charged remarks along the lines of: “Why you contaminating my city?” and “White bastard.” The male student walked away, responding verbally to the female student, but did not respond physically.

not excessive and used appropriately under education codes.

The Van de Kamp building was initially funded under Measure J to be used as a satellite campus for Los Angeles City College. In May 2009, L. A. City College stated it could no longer afford to operate the building, but would allow the private charter school, Alliance for College Ready Public Schools, as well as a Workforce Innovation Center, spearheaded by the City of Los Angeles and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to occupy the space under lease.

In the conclusion of the audit, Chiang reports “We note that the LACCD is in danger of committing millions of additional capital costs to a multitude of projects that may not have sufficient operating revenues to operate,” and sites the inability to use the Van de Kamp Bakery as a satellite campus despite having already spent $86 million.

Audit findings aside, what raises more concerns over Judge Jones’ ruling are the contracts and lease agreements between the Alliance for College Ready Public Schools and the LACCD. Since the district did not follow the California Environmental Quality Act and conduct environmental studies on the site, all agreements are nullified.

This could leave an entire charter school displaced for the next school year. In addition, the LACCD has failed to use the building for the purpose it was intended, a satellite campus.

“Obviously it would be great to have as many students to have access to as many different places and times for classes as possible,” said L.A. City College astronomy and physics professor, Paul McCudden.

Demi Barrientos is an English Major who says he strongly disagrees with the district’s slow progress in making the satellite campus fully accessible to students.

“If they say they are building something that is meant for the students and failing to do what they say, I would like to know why they are doing what they’re doing,” she said. “We as students shouldn’t get our hopes up when they say they’re going to give us something promised so long ago, and it never happens.”

The VDK has another pending lawsuit against the district regarding the lease to the City’s Workforce Innovation Center. They are demanding another audit from the L.A. County District Attorney, the Attorney General or the Grand Jury because of their subpoena power to compel the district to hand over documents regarding the Van de Kamp site that were not given to Chiang for his audit.

“If they [LACCD] turned over enough documents to Controller Chiang to get the kind of audit they got, what must be in the Van de Kamp documents that is so much worse that they will fight until their last breathe to keep,” Jackson asked.

Hampshire Avenue (near the Catholic Charities) building. She was arrested and handcuffs were placed. Officer Blanchard asked the six witnesses who were having an evening barbecue what they saw. “She came out shouting ‘My boyfriend beat me’,” one witness said. Paul Carlson, Vice President, will assign student discipline.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputy Louis Lopez who was not present on the night of the arrest explained that the charge was “battery on school grounds”, a misdemeanor, which will result in either a fine or a maximum sentence of 1 year in county jail. The Deputy strongly urged LACC students to save the Sheriff’s phone number (323) 662-5276 in their cell phones. A 9-1-1 call dialed on LACC campus will be forwarded to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), who will not come; instead the LAPD will have to forward the message to the County Sheriff’s station, creating significant delay. The LACC County Sheriff’s Department is open seven-days-a-week, 24-hours a day.

The LACC Emergency Procedure & Procedures recommends the following “If you witness or overhear a verbal threat advocating violence towards another person, treat this incident as a Crime in Process.” Do not stand idly by when an individual makes verbal threats.

Dial the campus Sheriff’s station. “Be a Good Witness” and take note of the physical description of the suspect.

During the past 80 years, hundreds of thousands of students walked over the 14 brass plaques that lined the entrance to the Martin Luther King Jr. Library turned Learning Resource Center.

Media Arts Chair, Daniel Marlos noticed the markers and had been campaigning for their preservation. He asked Vice President of Administrative Services Paul Carlson about preserving their contents in order to document them and promote the history of the campus.

At the time, Marlos had no idea what the brass markers were hiding.

Just days before the scheduled demolition of the LRC, time capsules have been discovered and removed.

The find came as a surprise to longtime residents of the building and to City students.

“We knew that they were there, but we thought they were put in by those particular classes. We had no idea that they were time capsules, that’s due news that we just learned today,” said Barbara Vasquez Library chair “The building was redone in the late ‘60s and opened in the ‘70s, so during that time they must have dug them up and put them back.”

The 14 capsules were from 1931 to 1938. Carlson said the contents of the time capsule were turned over to Dr. Jamillah Moore.

“We saw squares that had numbers engraved on them and after a hour of

digging we pulled out this dinky box,” Carlson said. “I had no idea that this was going to happen, I haven’t seen it myself, but I heard that inside was an issue of the Los Angeles Jr. College newspaper from 1930, a book and a commencement invite [among other things].”

The complete contents of the time capsules remain unknown. Students welcome the idea of delving into the past.

“I never really thought about time capsules,” said Kevin Hicks, a Cinema major at LACC. “It can be a telling look from the past. It can tell you about how far we progressed and from ‘31 until now, that’s a long time. I can only imagine that there’s stuff in there that could be really revealing about what was going on during that time, or I am sure it shows the history of our campus. I am fascinated by what we can find in the capsules.

The class of W ’32 (1932) holding one of the brass plaques reading ’31, that rest on the soon to be demolished Learning Resource Center.

Recently discovered time capsules from 1931-1938, line the entrance to the Learning Resource Center.

Photo by Tanya Flowers/ Collegian

10

Wednesday September 21, 2011

L.A. CITY LAW

LOS ANGELES COLLEGIAN

Jury Convicts Ronald Berg

By Emanuel Bergmann

Ronald Berg, former adjunct instructor of finance, consults with his public defender in an appearance late 2008, prior to the start of the preliminary hearing.

Photo by Jessica Russell

The Arena The Clara Shortridge-Foltz Criminal Justice Center, named for the first female lawyer on the West Coast, is a concrete monstrosity dating back to 1972, an ungainly office tower on the corner of Temple and Broadway, in the heart of Downtown LA. The entrance is lined with metal detectors, like an airport. L.A. County Sheriff’s deputies wave through thousands of visitors, occasionally patting down someone who didn’t take their change out of their pocket.

On any given day, the elevator banks in the black marble lobby are teeming with people, from sharply dressed businessmen to heavily tattooed youths, from the grieving relatives of crime victims to women with children coming to lend support to their boyfriends and husbands as they stand trial. In the elevators, lawyers with briefcases and file boxes stand next to uniformed officers or timid-looking jurors, avoiding eye contact, sipping Starbucks lattes. (The coffee served in the lobby cafeteria is not much more than warm water.)

People come for justice, for closure, for atonement. They pace the hallways, they stare, they sulk and sometimes they argue. The building houses dozens of courtrooms, as well as the main offices of the L.A. County District Attorney and the L.A. County Public Defender.

The Ron Berg trial, case number BA 347 057, has been assigned to Department 129. The presiding judge is L.A. Superior Court Judge Monica Bachner, a short, stout, no-nonsense woman with neatly cut black hair. She is clearly in charge, friendly and funny with her bailiff and clerk, but firm when necessary. She estimates a trial time of eight to nine days, not counting jury deliberation.

“My estimates are usually fairly accurate,” she says.

Indeed, she will keep the proceedings moving at a crisp pace. (She has a vacation planned.) Her courtroom looks indistinguishable from the others, a large wood-paneled hall with harsh overhead lights. The room is adorned with the flag and the Great Seal of California. As a personal touch, the court reporter has a small gum tree on her desk, a rare splash of color.

This is the arena.

To Monleon and the other surviving family members, the start of the trial is a monumental day. Whenever Monleon speaks of his sister, he speaks as if she were still alive. And to him, she very much is. His memories of her are so real, they seem tangible.

“Sometimes I see her standing in front of my door,” he says.

He is unable to let go. This is why he is here. But the justice system has become a nightmare for the Monleon family. In the years since their sister was taken, they have not missed a single hearing date.

To everyone else, it’s simply business as usual.

The Combatants The case is prosecuted by Norman Hearon, an assistant district attorney with the Family Violence Division.

Because Monleon-Berg was killed by her own husband, the case falls under his jurisdiction. Hearon’s office is on the 19th floor, and he can frequently be seen carrying large bundles of case files back and forth, looking hurried and pressed for time, as if the burden of justice rested solely on his shoulders. He is a small, round man whose gentle features and soft voice give little indication that there is something of a bloodhound in him. It is easy to underestimate him.

Sometimes I see her standing in front of my door, he says.

The defense attorney is Marcia Morrissey, who runs a private practice in Santa Monica. She has a fondness for tailored pantsuits and high heels. She is a tall, elegant and self-assured woman who moves and speaks with a certain theatrical flair. Every once in a while she stumbles over her words, or fumbles with her papers, adding a touch of vulnerability to her otherwise polished image. She has a dry sense of humor and a razor-sharp wit. Her reputation precedes her. Her high-profile clients include the Menendez brothers and Snoop Dogg.

She is accompanied by Berg’s sister, his only living relative, as well as her assistant and private investigator Scarlet Nerad, a wild-maned woman who is always seen frantically juggling notes, cell phones and pens.

These are the combatants.

The defendant, Ron Berg, a former LACC economics instructor, is a pudgy, balding, sad-looking man with thick black glasses and a white beard. He seems perpetually confused, shuffling toward his seat, dressed in a brightly colored prison uniform, his hands cuffed behind his back. He moves slowly, as if age has taken its toll. At the time of the murder, he was 72. His wife was 69. His eyes dart aimlessly through the room. He seems to have trouble comprehending what’s going on around him.

“It’s all an act,” gripes Monleon.

He maintains that Berg, contrary to his appearance in court, is a smart and calculating man. However, the defense wants to convince the jury that Berg was insane at the time of the murder and that he cannot be held accountable for his actions. He certainly looks the part.

Morrissey is often seen placing a soothing hand on his arm or gently guiding him.

Sometimes it seems as if she was his only friend.

As the trial begins, Judge Bachner instructs Berg to change into civilian clothes. The jury is not to see him in prison clothes; it would taint their objectivity.

Berg is led back to the holding area to change.

“We have a pants situation,” the bailiff says after a few minutes.

It appears that Berg has gained weight while in custody. He no longer fits in his pants, the top button won’t close. He is now a size 44. At the time of the arrest, he was a size 40. Morrissey has a solution.

She gives him an elegant red sweater to wear, so that he can cover his open fly and appear decent.

“It’s a gift,” she announces.

Berg seems quietly pleased. The wool sweater adds a dash of color to his drab appearance.

Beyond Reasonable Doubt The term “Voir dire” comes from the

Latin, and it means, “that which is true”.

It is commonly used for jury selection, a long and often tedious, sometimes funny process. No one is looking forward to it.

Out of 55 prospective jurors, 12 have to be agreed upon by both the prosecution and the defense. Additionally, two alternates will be at hand, should one of the jurors have to “be thanked and excused”.

Article III, Section 2, of the US Constitution explicitly states that “Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury (...)” For the attorneys, jury selection amounts to shuffling a deck of cards, where each side tries to tilt their cards in their favor.

Their names are not revealed, they are identified only by the number tags they wear on their clothes.

“They are getting rid of all the Asians,” whispers Monleon.

He is a soft-spoken and unassuming Asian-American, a retired laboratory scientist who celebrated his 65th birthday this spring. He and his family came from the Philippines, looking for better opportunities in life. He suspects that jurors of Asian background might be more sympathetic to his plight and he suspects that the defense is specifically trying to exclude them. Some of the jurors are excused because they barely speak English. Still others are excused because they admit to a bias.

“I just don’t want to be around a murderer,” says Juror 14, a young woman, glaring at Berg across the courtroom.

Then she corrects herself: “Sorry, accused murderer.” She shrugs. “I just don’t feel comfortable with that.”

Shortly after the jury has been chosen, one of the jurors asks to be excused. She claims to be allergic to latex, and she suspects that there might be latex underneath the carpeting of the courtroom. Her face is red and she is sniffling. Judge Bachner is exasperated.

Still, the juror is excused.

“This is the first time I’ve lost a juror before opening statements,” remarks Morrissey.

After nearly two days of jury selection, Judge Bachner is ready to start. She instructs the jury not to speculate, but rather to decide the case solely “on the evidence in this courtroom.” She reminds the jurors that the charges they have heard are not evidence, that the “burden of proof rests with the prosecution” and to regard the defendant as “innocent until proven guilty.”

A verdict has to be reached “beyond any reasonable doubt.”

The Trial Begins The following morning, at 10 a.m., the trial moves into the next phase. Both attorneys make an opening statement to the jury. Hearon speaks in a quiet and subdued voice. His is not a showman.

He sticks to the facts, and, as he says, the

I just killed my wife, Berg says.

facts will show that Mr. Berg is guilty.

Morrissey says nothing to dispute this. Rather, she seeks to explain his motives. She talks about his long history of mental illness and asks the jury to consider that this was not an act of premeditated murder, but rather the impulsive, uncontrollable action of a man who is ill.

Following the opening statements, Hearon begins presenting the facts of his case to the jury. He introduces the first piece of evidence, “People’s evidence Number 1”. It is a recording of the 911 call that Berg had made after the murder.

Hearon puts an audio CD into a small portable CD player and presses the start button. An eerie static fills the courtroom.

The jury hears the voice of an operator: “911, what is your emergency?”

“I just killed my wife,” Berg says.

“What’s your name, sir? What’s your name?”

“Ronald Berg. My wife’s name is Violet.”

And then the operator asks a question which will turn out to be the most relevant issue during the entire proceeding: “Why did you do this, sir?”

Indeed, most of the trial will have remarkably little to do with establishing or disputing the facts of the case. Rather, it becomes an extended and sometimes nearly philosophical exploration of guilt and innocence, madness and clarity.

“Please put the knife down,” says the 911 operator at the end of the harrowing call.

“Am I going to be arrested?” asks Berg.

His voice sounds forlorn and confused, hardly audible amidst the crackling phone connection.

The Murder The arrest took place only a few minutes after the call. The arresting officer was Richard Platzer, a 13-year veteran with the LAPD. Officer Platzer is a tall man with glasses and a receding hairline. As he takes the witness stand, he describes in great detail the events of that Sunday morning, or “incident number 702”, as it was designated in the LAPD’s log. (7:02 a.m. was the exact time the call came in.) It took Officer Platzer and his partner, Officer Michael Marino, only three to five minutes to reach the scene of the crime. They were on a “code 3 run”, meaning “lights and sirens,” responding to a “radio call 80-80, assault with a deadly weapon.”

In happier days, Ronald Berg and Violeta Monleon-Berg had shared a two-story condominium on South Commonwealth Avenue, unit 104. This is where Violeta Monleon-Berg had died. Officers Platzer and Marino saw a “white male” in the building’s hallway.

He was, according to testimony, “covered in blood.” The officers detained and handcuffed Berg, then they went into the apartment.

In his testimony, Platzer gives a methodical description of his approach to the crime scene: The front door, the living room, the dining room. With each step, he made sure the area was “clear.”

Then, Officer Platzer took the staircase to the second level.

“That’s where we found the victim,” says Platzer. “The first thing we saw was large quantities of blood on the floor. As you entered the room, you could see the victim lying on the floor, head closest to the door.”

Officer Platzer checked for vital signs.

There were none.

At this point in the testimony, some members of Monleon-Berg’s family are sobbing. For a moment, it is the only

sound in the otherwise silent courtroom.

In a grueling and highly detailed process, the contours of her death slowly emerge.

On the day of her murder, MonleonBerg had gotten up early, as usual, and gone into a smaller guest bedroom. A devout Catholic, Monleon-Berg enjoyed watching religious programming on television. On the morning of Sept. 28, she had watched some T.V. and fallen asleep on a day bed.

When she awoke, she saw her husband standing over her with a knife and a clothes iron in his hands.

As he started attacking her, she was pleading for her life.

Berg proceeded stabbing and hitting her. When the clothes iron broke on the force of the impact, he discarded it and continued with a knife. Then the knife broke. Berg reached for a second knife and continued.

The Medical Examiner, Dr. Ogbonna Chinwah, found multiple fatal knife wounds. On the witness stand, Dr. Chinwah, elegantly dressed in a blue suit and red tie, recalls and identifies each of these wounds, his rich, baritone voice calm and detached. Dr. Chinwah’s testimony has a chilling effect.

The knife had cut through her hands, her jawbone, her neck and her eyes.

“How many stab wounds total?” asks Hearon.

“I have to count,” replies Dr. Chinwah.

He consults his case file, then he says: “More than 20 sharp force injuries.”

The Interrogation The fifth day of the trial is a Friday.

A pink box of donuts stands on the court clerk’s desk. Apparently, Fridays are donut days, and the mood in the courtroom is considerably more cheerful this morning.

Det. George Lee is a 15-year veteran with the LAPD. He is a short, athletic man with close-cropped black hair and a ready laugh. His office screensaver displays inspirational Bible quotes and images of serene landscapes. His eyes are sharp and distrustful. This is a man who, in his line of work, is routinely lied to. He was born in South Korea, but spent most of his childhood in Argentina. When the family moved to Los Angeles, he studied to become a guidance counselor. In fact, Lee is an LACC alumnus.

But his dream was to be a police officer.

A devout Christian, Det. Lee believes strongly in the concept of justice. He believes in judgment, if not in this world, then the next.

For the past few months, he’s been a supervisor in the Sex Crimes Division out of Rampart Station, but at the time of the Monleon-Berg murder, he was still working Homicide. He was the one who handled the interrogation.

Soon after the murder, Officer Platzer and his partner put Berg in the back of their black-and-white cruiser and took him to Rampart. During the drive over, he continued talking. Berg, in fact, was only too eager to talk.

“My wife was a very good person, but I was afraid she was going to leave me,” Berg was reported to have said in the patrol car. He claimed there was “something sneaky” going on.

And he added a crucial bit of insight: “I did everything wrong, she did everything right.”

Indeed, as Det. Lee would later say in an interview with the Collegian, the trick with Berg was not to get him talking – he already was doing that – but to get him talking about the murder. To that end, Lee used every psychological trick at his disposal.

L.A. CITY LAW

LOS ANGELES COLLEGIAN

Wednesday September 21, 2011

11

Photo of Violeta Monleon-Berg, courtesy of Abner Monleon

Former LACC adjunct instructor of finance Ronald Berg awaits trial with attorneys for the murder of his wife, Violeta Monleon-Berg.

Photo by Theresa Adams/Collegian

Each perpetrator is different, Lee explained. With Berg, the approach was to feign understanding. Lee would later explain that, in his view, Berg might have suffered from a feeling of inferiority, believing that his wife was a decent person and he, Berg, was an utter failure.

Unable to find a release for his pent-up

Jesus, this looks pretty bad. emotions, Berg’s rage continued to build.

This insight informed Det. Lee’s strategy.

“Make yourself comfortable,” Lee said to Berg during the interrogation, sounding more like a waiter in a restaurant than a hardened police officer.

The interrogation was videotaped, and the tape is presented to the jury. On the tape, Berg could be seen complaining that the room was too cold.

He seemed calm and composed during most of the interrogation. He asked for a soda, but Lee replied that the “vending machine is broken.” He promised that he would see what he could do.

This, as Lee later admitted, was a lie.

He deliberately tried to create a reward system, whereby the promise of a soda was meant to help induce Berg into a confession. Lee has spent many years interrogating suspects. It’s not a skill that can be learned in school. It’s a skill that detectives learn from their partners.

Looking around the clean, white interrogation room, Berg remarked: “Maybe I can make new friends here.”

He seemed unaware that no one here was his friend. Still, Lee found it useful to pretend.

“How are you doing?” Lee asked during the interrogation. “Not too good? … I’m here to get the facts. I’m sure it’s been hard for you. Do you want to talk about what happened?” He added: “This wasn’t supposed to happen.”

“It’s been hard for me,” Berg replied.

“It’s been pretty hard. My wife was going to leave me.”

“I can see that you’ve been through a lot. I can see it in your eyes,” Lee said.

His mood was depressed.

Berg looked down at his blood-stained shirt and said: “Jesus, this looks pretty bad.”

Lee made jokes and employed his trademark laugh. He told him that he understood how Berg felt. He mentioned that he, too, was married, going on 10 years now. He complimented Berg on his youthful looks. Flattered, Berg talked freely about his hairpiece. Lee continued chatting with Berg, and all the time he tried to subtly steer the conversation back to the murder.

“I get very upset very fast,” confessed Berg. “Little things get me concerned.”

Later, he said: “I was enraged.

But mostly frightened. Frightened, frightened, frightened.”

In one of the most telling moments

of the interrogation, Berg said, his voice rising sharply: “I have a bad habit, you see... my wife always said, just shut... [choking noise] Just shut up! She was telling me, just shut your fucking mouth!

Everything I did was annoying to her.”

Then he added: “She had such a beautiful personality.”

According to Berg, he had told her: “I need you. I need you. I can’t function without you.”

And yet, despite that, he then went on to describe to Det. Lee how, on that Sunday morning, he took an iron and “hit her on the head” when she had fallen asleep. Then he proceeded to “stab her in the face.”

“Did she say anything?” Det. Lee asked.

“She said: I love you,” Berg replied.

The Witnesses Since Berg had readily confessed to the murder, Morrissey never disputes his actions. Rather, she makes the case that he is mentally disturbed and that he belongs in an institution where he can receive the help he needs. His case is not a capital case, there is no chance of Berg getting the death penalty. The only question is whether he will go to jail or a mental institution.

During the eight days of the trial, Morrissey seeks to paint the picture of a man who, from childhood on, was showing signs of severe mental disabilities, a man who suffers from disorders that have a profound effect on his judgment.

For Morrissey, this is a difficult balancing act. There’s an old saying: No one likes defense attorneys, until they need one. Morrissey never minimizes the tragedy at hand, but she manages to argue passionately and eloquently for her client.

Hearon, on the other hand, says Berg was perfectly capable of distinguishing right from wrong, and that he had chosen to do wrong. The defense is intent on dispelling that notion. In doing so, Morrissey calls not only two expert witnesses, but also members of LACC faculty and the student body to testify to Berg’s “lifelong affliction” with mental illness.

Among those who are called to testify is Lawrence Schenk, Associate Professor of Business Administration.

“From the beginning, students were frustrated,” Schenk says on the witness stand. “He [Berg] just seemed confused.”

Another witness, Thelma Day, Dean of Academic Affairs at LACC, says that as far back as 2007, changes had been noticeable in Berg’s behavior. Day seems pleased to be on the witness stand, answering all questions with the selfconfidence of a person who is happy to be the center of attention. She describes Berg as “agitated” and “irritated” during meetings. In the fall of 2008, just a few weeks before the murder, a “fitness for duty” report had been recommended. She describes Berg’s relationship with his wife as “very loving.” Neither the prosecution nor the defense ever ask how a person with such obvious mental deficiencies as Berg came to be hired by LACC. Brian Simon, an LACC student, is also called to testify. Simon had taken a Finance 15 class with Berg in the Fall 2008 Semester. As he approaches the witness stand, he slaps members of the defense team encouragingly, and inappropriately, on the back, garnering puzzled looks. He is a skinny man with slicked-back hair and not-too-subtle jewelry.

He describes Berg’s Wednesday night classes in Holmes Hall as “three hours of awkwardness.” Simon claims that Berg took roll several times during class and

that he spent most his time rambling and pacing. When asked how the defendant had changed since that time, Simon replies that in 2008, Berg had worn a “really cheap toupee” and that now he looks “fat.”

Asked about Monleon-Berg, Simon describes how she sat “quietly in the back” of the classroom. According to Simon, she was usually present during her husband’s classes.

The Experts Expert witness Dr. Richard Dudley Jr., is a physician with a specialty in psychiatry. A tall, neatly dressed man, he goes into great detail to explain to the jury his findings about Berg, which are based on a series of interviews he conducted with him in the “Twin Towers” Correctional Facility in Downtown Los Angeles, the world’s largest known jail facility. This is where Berg is being held during the trial.

“His thinking and speech were … disorganized,” Dr. Dudley says. “His mood was depressed.”

While Dr. Dudley, and his colleague, Dr. Sarah Schaffer, both describe Berg’s intellectual capacity as average, they both testify that he was often confused, rambling and depressed. Indeed, this was very much the appearance Berg gave during the videotaped interrogation by Det. Lee. “Going back into his history, it’s clear there’s a major developmental disorder,” Dr. Dudley says. “Eventually these individuals become very anxious.”

Expert witness Dr. Schaffer, a young woman who keeps shifting nervously back and forth on the witness stand, describes Berg as suffering from a “pervasive developmental disorder,” which supposedly impacts his thinking to the point where he can no longer be described as a functioning adult.

According to the expert witnesses, Berg is suffering from paranoid delusions, chief among them the false idea that his wife was going to leave him.

However, the prosecution is able to cast significant doubt on the expert witnesses’ testimonies. During cross examination, Hearon asks Dr. Dudley how often he testifies for the defense in criminal cases, whether he is licensed to practice in California (he is not) and whether he is usually paid for his time: “Are you being paid now?” Hearon

person is, but solely by whether or not the perpetrator knew that his or her actions were wrong at the time.

Closing Arguments As the trial is coming to a close, the jury is asked to make a decision, not on whether or not Berg committed the act, but whether or not he can be held responsible for it. Morrissey, in her argument, emphasizes Berg’s love for the victim, and the irrationality of what he did.

“She was everything to him,” Morrissey says. “And yet he killed her.”

In his closing argument, Hearon presents the example of running a red light: A quick decision, which might feel almost impulsive, but a decision nonetheless. Hearon argues that Berg had made a decision. The measure of deliberation is not how long we might think about an action, this might only take a second. Impulsive decisions are still decisions. According to Heron, by bringing two knifes into the room where his wife was asleep, Berg had demonstrated deliberation.

Judge Bachner gives final instructions, and then the jury goes into a separate deliberation room to discuss the facts of the case.

By the afternoon of the next day, the verdict is in: Guilty of murder in the first degree.

Monleon is noticeably relieved. It is an emotional moment. This is what he and the entire family has been hoping for: A public acknowledgement of guilt.

But despite the verdict, there is much that remains unknown.

“Why did you do this, sir?” was the question asked by the 911 operator. The third anniversary of Monleon-Berg’s death is less than a week away, and even after all this, the investigation, the hearings, the seemingly endless trial, her family is no closer to understanding this one simple question: Why? Det. Lee spoke of the lack of a support system, that Berg had no one to confide in, and that his pent-up emotions finally burst forth in one violent act.

No one will ever truly know the reasons behind this act. And perhaps there is no answer.

Violeta Monleon-Berg is buried at Forest Lawn, in the aptly-named “Radiance” section in Covina Hills, plot

She was everything to him, asks.

“Yes,” Dr. Dudley replies.

When Dudley describes how Berg’s mental illness caused him to make “impulsive and flawed decisions”, Hearon asks: “Decisions, whether or not they are flawed or not, are still decisions, are they not?”

“I guess you could say that,” Dudley replies.

With that simple exchange, Hearon manages to establish his main argument: That, regardless of his mental state, Berg was and is capable of making moral distinctions, of distinguishing right from wrong.

Indeed, this is the basis of the so-called “M’Naghten Rule”, the legal framework for establishing guilt and innocence.

This is determined not by how insane a

number 3611. Her final resting place is nestled among the rolling hills of the San Gabriel Valley, named for a Spanish Mission established in 1776 – the year of America’s independence. San Gabriel is an immigrant community, a large and bustling suburb east of Los Angeles. But out here, far above the business of living, the dead are at peace. Out here, there is no more guilt and no more struggles.

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep,” the Bible says, and perhaps Monleon-Berg has at last found this solace. The graves here are surrounded by pastoral gardens and California Oaks.

The landscape is stunning. On a clear day, one can see the mountains and the crevices of snow in the distant hills.

The sun breaks through the clouds and for a moment, it is radiant.

12

SPORTS

Wednesday September 21, 2011

SPORTS CANCELLED MIGHTY CUBS STILL MISSING IN ACTION Stealing Scott No. 22 goes up for the block in a fast paced game that kept fans on the edge of their seats in a state play-off regional final on 2008. L.A. City fell in overtime 99-95;the final results favored No. 1 ranked Citrus College.

City College Cubs are in hibernation at LACC and have been since 2009.

No home runs.

No slam dunks.

No spikes or sprints or swooshes to keep LACC students and alumni proud and entertained.

Due to budget cuts, all team sports were suspended two years ago and have yet to make a comeback. Sound familiar Tiger Woods?

Seven athletic teams in all remain frozen: Badminton, baseball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, women’s cross country, women’s track & field and women’s volleyball.

Fans of the basketball team are most likely experiencing withdrawal.

The Cubs won 14 straight Conference Championships beginning in 1992, two State Championships (1997 and 2003), a National Championship in 1950 (in a 16-team tournament, after a rule was passed stating city colleges cannot compete outside of the state level) and from 1999/2000-2003/2004 they posted a record of 160-21; a maniacal .884 winning percentage which bested all national schools (including Division I) if put into comparison.

And in those five years, nearly 50 players were sent to four-year schools to continue their basketball careers. The elimination of sports saved the college $750,000.

The near future of the Cubs looks bleak though.

Paul Carlson, Vice President of Administrative Services, was hired after the shutdown.

“I do not have a crystal ball to say what the economy will be like in the next 10 years,” Carlson said. “What I do

Historic Athletic Program Sinks into Oblivion

By Luis Ponce

Photo by Beatrice Alcala

By Cliff Weber

LOS ANGELES COLLEGIAN

know is that there appears to be no way the economy will improve enough in the near future to provide any extra funds for the College. We are still trying to recover from two fiscal years of deficits totaling close to $10 million.”

No surprise there, but nonetheless a glum truth.

Meanwhile, work continues on the track and field above the Heliotrope parking structure. Construction on the field began in April of 2007.

“Currently under construction is an artificial field, which will provide use for soccer, football and softball, and a running track,” Carlson said.

Harris & Associates Project Director Christopher Dunne is currently working to resolve a dispute with one of the vendors who provided material for the field. There is no definite completion date.

“To say it will be finished by the end of the year would be an aggressive prediction,” said Christopher Dunne.

“But sometime in 2012 is fair.”

And what about the students? Many who arrive at City College just assume that sports and intercollegiate competition are part of the landscape.

“At first, I just assumed the school had teams, and when I found out they didn’t, I was certainly disappointed,” said Cameron Brooks, an avid sports fan and prospective student. “I love the anticipation before a game and the school-wide spirit it can create.”

LACC is the only college in the ninecollege district and the state to completely eliminate sports.

Students watched the debut of intramural basketball and volleyball last March. To participate, students must be enrolled at LACC in at least one unit.

“I am thrilled that LACC has started its second year of intramural sports for students,” Carlson said. “This is a good

Sports Schedule Baseball

Cancelled

Football

Cancelled

Soccer

Cancelled

Golf

Cancelled

Badminton

Cancelled

example of how we are dealing with our ongoing budget crisis, and still giving students additional opportunities beyond academics.”

Another year and another semester has gone by for students to put LACC on the map through athletics. Another semester without that fierce intercollegiate competition, that big-name athlete whose name is echoed throughout the community and that up-and-coming star who someday might have his or her jersey retired from LACC, like many others before them.

It has been quite a pill to swallow since the cancellation of sports in 2009. There is no mention of when the program will return, thanks to budget cuts affecting every college in the district.

The difference between LACC and the other eight colleges, is that they are still giving their athletic program the green light to continue.

Students are taking full advantage of those programs. And, some of these colleges have injected more money into their athletic programs by way of rebuilding their existing sporting complexes with modern facilities.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not bashing LACC. If anything, I’m happy to see that the school is also making major changes to campus buildings that have been around since 1929. One day, the athletic field that has been idle on top of the student parking structure will open.

But for now, there is an ongoing battle between the construction company and one of the vendors. One wonders when, if ever, the students will be given the

opportunity to use the facility.

The only options LACC students have in taking part in athletics are signing up for either P.E. classes or intramural sports.

Both programs offer co-ed volleyball and basketball.

Or, if that real committed student is looking for that intercollegiate challenge, their option is to register for their academics here and sign up for a team sport at any of the other eight colleges in the district.

Just thinking about having to go back and forth, day in and day out, can be quite the hassle and will eventually take a toll.

Everyone knows that in every level of education, both athletics and academics are important because they provide extra-curricular activity. Through sports, students can build self-discipline and shake off the stress of academic life.

Like an LACC alumni, and former U.S. Olympic team member Hal Miller once said, “Academics and sports run together.

If you can’t afford sports, you can’t afford academics.”

The sad thing about all this is that when LACC decided to cancel the athletic program, the decision sent a rich athletic history into oblivion and most likely erased the legacy of many athletes who left their mark and put LACC on the map.