Los Angeles Collegian

Q: How do you feel about President Obama’s student loan forgiveness plan?

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UC SANTA BARBARA PAGE 6

Los Angeles

SPORTS PAGE 10 The Voice of Los Angeles City College Since 1929

Wednesday | November 16, 2011

Volume 165 | Number 5

Students Welcome Business Recruiters at Job Fair

By Matthew Mullins and Stuart Murphy

Wells Fargo, H&R Block, Vons, the Los Angeles Police and Fire Department, United Parcel Service and several other companies handed out business cards and information packets to job-seeking students in front of the Administration Building in late October.

Students flocked to the job fair with resumes in hand, hoping to persuade business representatives to hire them. Recruiters represented a total of 27 companies. For some students, finding a job is at the top of their list of priorities.

“I’ve been unemployed for two years now,” said Rosa Hernandez, an LACC student, “I’m here to collect applications for me and my children and I go to school full-time.”

City College attracted desirable companies looking for applicants for the holiday season and beyond.

Several companies were recruiting full-time workers.

“It’s convenient for full-time students because we need people who can work at our downtown branch at night,” said James Sagun, an operations manager with Wells Fargo.

Sagun encouraged students to apply for a position with the bank, listing the benefits for employees, especially students, such as financial aid for school.

CyberDefender, a start-up company looking for call center workers, was offering full-time positions to students. However, there was only a limited amount of positions available.

See Job Fair Page 9

New Director of ‘10,000 Small Businesses’ Brings Family Vision, Experience

By Amy Lieu

She grew up watching her mother build a small business in real estate. She says when most children were going home after school, she was reporting to her mother’s office where she would field telephone calls and help keep the office in order.

As she became older, she began to manage real property and type up [settlement] agreements. Nenaji Jackson would do her mother’s banking and whatever else possible without a real estate license.

Years later, she too would own small businesses, and now Dr. Jackson will help shape the future of

small business owners who come to LACC in her new position as the executive director of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program.

The five-year initiative is only in its second year, and its goal is to create 10,000 small businesses across all of America. Goldman Sachs has partnered with Los Angeles City College to develop Los Angeles’ economy and the community as a whole. The brokerage firm has invested $500 million to help create new jobs in the U.S. See Director Page 4

Consider 8 High-Paying Jobs that Require AA Degrees

By Jayne Miles

Students can cash in on eight high paying jobs that will not require them to earn a four-year degree according to ivestopedia.com. With a two-year degree, students can achieve a financially stable career. If making enough money to be secure is what you want, then one of these jobs could be for you.

and earn $55,000 a year. LACC has a nursing program that can help you on your journey in this growing field.

Engineering Technicians Industrial engineering technicians can earn $47,000 annually and environmental engineering technicians earn about $41,000 per year. Electrical engineers earn an annual salary of $47,000 a year to start, while Registered Nurses Nursing programs can lead to a high paying job. aerospace engineer technicians make $52,000 a year to This profession gives you a chance to grow in the field start from.

See Jobs Page 4

INDEX OPINION & EDITORIAL / 2-3 NEWS / 4-5 CAMPUS LIFE / 6 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT/ 7 INVESTIGATION/ 8-9 SPORTS / 10

Money Briefs Students Get Help From CalWorks Students interested in seeking temporary financial assistance can go to CalWorks on campus, located in the Life Science Building, Room 107. Services include helping recipients find work. Office Hours on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays are 8 a.m. -1:30 p.m., and 2:30-4:30 p.m. For more information call (323) 953-4000, ext. 2599.

Compiled by Mia Boykin

CalFresh Offers Government Aid CalFresh, the government food stamp program, helps applicants (ages 18-50) with limited income. The nearest location to campus is 813 E. Fourth Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90013. For more information on how to apply students can visit http://www.ladpss.org/dpss/ calfresh/.

Career Center Assists With Résumé, Cover Letter The Career & Job Development Center has scheduled a résumé reviewing session on Nov. 17, from 1-2 p.m. and a cover letter critique session on Nov. 21, from 5-6 p.m. Individual sessions last about 10 minutes. Sign up before the event is not required. For more information visit the Admissions, Building Room 109 or call (323) 953-4000, ext. 2210.

Student Loans Reach Trillion-Dollar Mark 0utstanding student loans are set to pass the $1 trillion mark this year, according to a report in USA Today. Americans now owe more in student loans than in credit card debt. Students are borrowing twice as much as they did a decade ago the report says, after adjusting for inflation.

Recession-Proof Majors Find Jobs Unemployment rates among college graduates are lower as a group, but virtually at zero for certain majors. Data gathered by the Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce shows that among graduates who majored in School Student Counseling, Geophysical Engineering, Educational Administration and Supervision, Astronomy and Astrophysics and Actuarial Science, unemployment is at zero.

02

Wednesday November 16, 2011

Opinion & Editorial

EDITORIAL

No Money, Plenty More Problems

Letter to the Editor

Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN

Los Angeles

Instructors who Stood and Delivered

Editor-in-Chief:

The Collegian always writes about great instructors at this college, but you missed two.

Managing Editor:

We ESL students will always be thankful to the LACC Administration for our beautiful

Luis Rivas

classrooms in Jefferson Hall and the Martin Luther King Jr. Library, and to our lovely

Opinions and Editorials:

professors Lisa Saperston, who teaches grammar and Amir Farahmand, who teaches

Hyun Chung

reading, writing and listening skills.

Arts and Entertainment:

Tanya Flowers

Lauren Arevalo We want to let others know how important this class is for people who live in this country

Sports:

and do not speak English. We enjoyed each and every ESL 2A and ESL 2B class.

Richard Martinez Distribution Manager: Erleen Barrett

To Professor Farahmand and Saperston:

Advertising: We know it is not easy to teach a bunch of crazy guys like us, but you managed to keep us

Richard Martinez

all interested and we even had fun. The students come from Bangladesh, Korea, Mexico,

Marketing:

Iran, Armenia, Russia, Peru, Moldova and El Salvador. There are 50 of us in our four-day-

Lauren Arevalo

a-week class and we love every minute.

Graphic Designer: Josue Hernandez

We would like to add our voices to those who write about great educators at LACC.

Copy Writer: Stephen Clements Reporters:

Thank you,

Amy Lieu Emanuel Bergmann

Naira Aslanyan and Gegham Khekoyan

Erleen Barrett Hyun Chung Jayne Miles Lauren Arevalo Luis Arevalo Matthew Mullins Mia Boykin Richard Martinez Hayden Velasquez Photographers: Luis Rivas

Illustration by Gegham Khekoyan /Collegian

Matthew Mullins Patrick Chong Hayden Velasquez

GUEST COLUMNIST

Illustrators: Cesar Anzora

Sophia Ann Montoya

Star-Struck

Jose Ramon Tobar Faculty Advisor: Rhonda Guess

Illustration by Jose Roman Tobar /Collegian

Food costs money. Books cost money. Printing at the Library costs money.

Driving or taking the bus to school costs money. Classes cost money. Everything in life costs money.

The life of a college student is usually characterized by budget living.

The Occupy Movement highlighted the burden that new generation college students must lift. The new financial crisis—educated graduates burdened with loans and an economy in which jobs are a endangered species.

What is different today from the previous generation: a college degree is more essential to financial security than ever, loans are the primary financial aid for most college students, and the elimination of retirement pensions to measly 401(k) retirement savings accounts.

The journey of completing higher education starts with a single step; for nearly 70 percent of California students, it starts at the community college. In 2007, 55 percent of California State University and 30 percent of University of California baccalaureates were awarded to community college students who transferred, according to the California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott.

Watch for Summer 2012 for higher tuition and the fee to go up from $36 to $46 “if state revenues fall more than $1 billion below projections and trigger cuts are executed” according to Chancellor Scott.

Investing into community colleges will alleviate the state budget crisis: “For every $1 California spends on higher education, it receives $3 in return. If just 2% more of Californians earned associate degrees and 1% more earned a bachelor’s degree, our state’s economy would grow by $20 billion, state and local tax revenue would increase by $1.2 billion a year and 174,000 new jobs would be created.” Chancellor Scott stated.

Reflecting on Gov. Jerry Brown’s current fiscal year’s budget, Scott estimated that up to 670,000 California students wanting to enroll in community colleges would be denied access.

Kevin Carey, the policy director of the independent, nonpartisan think tank Education Sector, credited the Occupy Wall Street movement for coercing, even President Obama to address the problem of hefty loans for students. “The students in Zuccotti Park are right to focus on the injustices of student debt: Many of them are indentured to the very banks that destroyed the economy.”

Furthermore, Carey points out that student loans are soaring much faster and higher than credit card debt; a report from CQ Researcher estimated the amount exceeding $830 billion. Unlike other types of debt, student loans cannot be forgiven by declaring bankruptcy.

President Obama’s Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act pledged $40 billion for Pell grants which primarily benefit low-income students, “$2 billion over four years for community colleges” and limit student loan payments to 10 percent of income effective 2014.

Financial crises aside, most students are far too busy to educate themselves on financial literacy.

Credit card companies eagerly target college students recognized with the legal status of consenting adults. Credit card companies offering free pens and hats set up shop near the Cub Bookstore and the Quad with clipboards.

Decisions made while at age 18, will continue to haunt until they are repaid.

Debts establish credit history.

In such a sink-or-swim situation, City College students must teach themselves financial literacy more than ever. Few years ago, financial guru Suze Orman came up with “The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous, and Broke” (LACC Library call number 332.024 Or5m). Many rules have changed from the previous generation, especially predatory credit card companies targeting college students and the disturbing trend of loans making up the bulk of financial aid packages.

To My Fellow Fabulously Broke City College Students: If you have a student loan or a credit card, please check your credit report every year to monitor for identity theft and inaccuracies. By state law, every Californian is entitled to free credit reports every year from the three credit bureaus from AnnualCreditReport. com. Those fortunate enough to work should invest in a 401(k) (assuming the employer still offers it). The Los Angeles Public Library has books and audio books available to download; search the catalog using the subject term “Finance, Personal.”

Knowledge is power: financial literacy is the knowledge to be free from a lifetime of being broke.

Sophia Ann Montoya/Collegian At the Red Box Station on Mt. Wilson in Southern California, I was the first stargazer to arrive with my video camera.

Shortly thereafter, Professor Paul McCudden of Los Angeles City College parked his car. Massive telescope parts occupied most of his vehicle. Within 30 minutes, more than ten people assisted McCudden in a two-hour telescope set-up. Professor Dean Arvidson and LACC students, plus the LACC lab-techs, Michael Hetman and Jignesh Patel, arrived to work on other large Meade telescopes valued between $10,000 and $20,000.

Before the sunset, the Star Party was on an upward swing.

During the next two hours, the participants occupied themselves with the necessary task of telescope alignments. Like a guitar, telescopes need to be tuned; this procedure is called collimation. Aligning your telescope sounds daunting to novice star gazers, because it requires balancing the Declination Axis, the Right Ascension Axis, Aligning the North Star, and using the mount to locate celestial objects in the night sky.

The telescopes ranged from four-inches to twenty-four inches. With the unaided eye, the Summer Triangle, at our Zenith, the spot directly above, brightly greeted us.

As the sky darkened, the Northern Cross appeared and planet Jupiter, the brightest object in the sky, rose due

east as Cassiopeia. The sky sparkled in a narrow strip of night sky wedged between the northern and southern mountain peaks, a perfect setting for the celestial glitter to promenade from east to west, as the fiery strip of red sunset slowly faded.

“By way of telescope, our eyes feasted on distant objects nestled in the universe.”

By way of telescope, our eyes feasted on distant objects nestled in the universe.

A long line of stargazers waited their turn to see the image of Messier 13, the great globular cluster in Hercules reflected in the 24-inch Meade telescope.

Each person had to climb up a ladder to reach the eyepiece focused on that particular glittery cloud, quite distinct amongst the other stars.

Professor McCudden gave each visitor

instructions on how best to view the object along with interesting details.

Professor Arvidson’s step ladder enabled each viewer to reach the eye piece of a tall Meade telescope set in position to follow the path of Comet Garradd, an 8th magnitude comet crossing Hercules.

Other stargazers were thrilled to share what they saw. Jignesh offered up Jupiter and four of its moons as he explained, in detail, that a small dot on the lower ring of the planet was a violent storm large enough to devour two earths.

Another young man was proud to share Messier 57, the famous Ring Nebula. Excitement at the star party did not end there; each telescope operator searched the sky for a new spectacle and elated us with a cornucopia of celestial gems, such as, Albireo a double star colored yellow and blue, seen as a bright single dot with the unaided eye. Epsilon Lyrae, the double-double star system, was seen in the 24-inch telescope. The smallest scope, four-inches and a bit unstable, was only able to capture an image of Jupiter and two of its moons. Even so, it was quite fun exploring the universe with this smaller instrument.

The star party helped tie and better comprehend the lectures presented in my astronomy classes. I look forward to upcoming semester’s Los Angeles City College Star Party and next year’s Yucca Valley Starry Nights Festival.

Los Angeles

Deadline Schedule NEXT ISSUE: Nov. 30 Editorial deadline: Nov. 23 For all submissions including letters to the editor and publicity releases.

Advertising deadline: Nov. 23, 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 permission of the Collegian.

Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN

Opinion & Editorial

Wednesday November 16, 2011

03

Compiled by Tanya Flowers and Patrick Chong

Q: How do you feel about President Obama’s student loan forgiveness plan?

Jared Shapiro Major - Aerospace Engineering

Julius Bronola Major - Costume Design

Don Grigsby Major - Undecided

Talanza Hellon Major - Counseling

Michael B. Jackson Major - Counseling

“Depending on the total volume in price of the loans, it can even create a deficit or surplus of money. ”

“I didn’t know about it. I just don’t keep in touch with current events, especially if it’s political or economic.

But sounds cool, though, because I do have loans to pay off.”

“No, it won’t help me at all. I care about it, but you won’t see me sitting here for another two years, so I’m pretty much done with the school to tell you the truth.”

“If it’s lowering something to make it better for the students, I’m all with it.”

“I’m all for it. We’re all struggling students. I applaud him [Obama] sincerely for doing something positive for the community.”

Occupy a Mile in My Shoes

By Byron Umana I shuffled through bills, late notices, and advertisements. My eyes forced me to stop at my bank statement.

Looking at the paper in front of me, I analyzed every detail printed in black and white. As I reviewed the history of my expenses I remember, ah yes, Coffee…$1.50, Subway…$5, Tap Card…$36, Tuition…$264, School Supplies...$350.65. Over-drafting my account, priceless.

Life has changed ever since I was forced to grow up. Money never crossed my mind until my senior year in high school when I found out that

college wasn’t cheap. After realizing the need for an education and money, I decided to work while going to school. Juggling both became a challenge, as I found myself having to place a bigger priority on work.

I decided to go to a community college instead of a four year university to save money.

I never thought it would take more than two years to transfer. With tuition increases,expensive textbooks and having to survive harsh economic times being a student never felt more challenging.

I have been fortunate enough to come from

Illustration by Cesar Anzora/Collegian

a family with financial means. Because of this stability, I am not eligible to obtain federal financial aid. It does not take into consideration my present economic condition in which I am forced to live in. Even this semester, I wasn’t about to get a fee waiver for books and supplies, making what should have been a two-year college experience stretched into more than four years.

Working at a bank has put my life into perspective. I am worried about having a $35 fee that will be paid off by my next paycheck, while others are facing foreclosures and legal battles over millions

of dollars. As a student worker, I am trying to earn a living. I constantly get hassled for working for a bank, instead of protesting such corporations. To hear these people judge me is upsetting. I work hard, go to school, and pay taxes.

Since Occupy LA has decided to take a stand against big banks, not one day goes without people come up to me and complain about their accounts and how the system is corrupt. Not one day goes by that a person doesn’t come up to me saying that they overdrawn their account.

My coworkers and I have become the face of the company. Being the face of the company means that people have a right to yell, torment and target you.

In a time where banks are examined, criticized, and scorned, I feel like the middleman trying to referee.

What Dreams May Not Come “You have to get your head out of the clouds,” my math teachers used to say as I sketched playful lines around the rigid structure of an eighth grade math problem. This “pep talk” was just the pinnacle of a lifetime struggle,

By Stuart G. Murphy where creative hobbies were continu“When I grow up” is a saying of ously encouraged to remain hobbies.

My childhood education was a endless possibilities that we all once knew as children. We dreamed of constricting machine. A machine being artists, musicians, and writers. that cut the budget on art programs, For many of us, those dreams remain restricted student access to musical dreams. I have been stricken with a education and held sports fundraisers horrendous condition known as the in the school theater, forcing drama students to sell baked goods instead of creative compromise.

By Astrid Velasquez

learning Shakespeare.

This machine was the nucleus of a small Midwest town where football players were pardoned for underage drinking so they could score the next touchdown. Those who dared to express themselves through artistic expression were labeled as “drama fags” or “art queers.” The ones who formed a band with their friends would be seen as druggies or junkies, even if everyone in the creative circle were straight edge sober.

Soon, human nature sets in, and we wish for acceptance. Those of us

who were ridiculed for being unique eventually get tired of constantly defending our identity. Many of us take those artistic elements that once defined our mission in life, and sadly degrade them to a status of lesser importance. These artistic elements are no longer the pivotal forces that propel us through life, but merely “hobbies” that we toy with whenever time permits.

For those of you who stuck to your guns and pursued the artist life you have always dreamed, I salute you.

For those of us that still have that kid

inside screaming, “WHEN I GROW UP!” remember, everyday we “grow up” a little bit more and everyday we are given a new beginning.

“When I grow up, I want to take all my deepest passions in life and squeeze them in to the extra 15 minutes I have everyday.” I refuse to accept this statement. Today I will take my medicated dose of pursuing my dreams, in hopes that some day I will be cured of this devastating sickness known as the creative compromise.

Illustration by Cesar Anzora/Collegian

California Dream

Gov. Jerry Brown recently signed the California Dream Act into law. The law would allow undocumented students to attend California colleges and receive financial aid.

This bill has stirred controversy. Some people feel this bill takes away from students who are legal citizens. Others see it as a milestone for tolerance and support that is so often associated with California’s progressive stance on many issues.

AB 131 allows illegal immigrants access to financial aid while AB 130 allows students access to privately funded scholarships. I applaud the passage of this bill because I feel everyone with higher aspirations should have opportunities for education.

Though the impact on the state and educational system are still being discussed and debated, I see no harm in allowing high achieving students to apply for college and financial aid.

Undocumented students with dreams of high education come from low-income homes that are looking for nothing more than a better quality of life. This country was founded on these principles and on the backs of immigrants as well. To deny these students equal opportunity is to contradict everything this country has told us to aim for, The American Dream.

Illustration by Cesar Anzora/Collegian

04

News

Wednesday November 16, 2011

NEWS BRIEFS Compiled by Richard Martinez

Campus to Schedule Winter Session

Art Gallery Opening at Da Vinci Hall

‘Lost and Unsung in Boston’ Club to Screen Film about Opens at Caminito Theatre First Latino Justice

Winter Session is on again for 2012. The LACC Shared Governance Committee voted to approve the five-week session during their November meeting. College officials have not announced details on course offerings yet.

LACC’s Da Vinci Gallery will feature the work of professional sculptor and abstract artist, Jamison Carter Splay.

The opening is scheduled for Nov. 17 at noon. The gallery welcomes students, faculty and community members to come in and hear Splay discuss his art installation, his technique and style on Nov. 29 at noon. The gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 12-4 p.m.

Professor of Musical Theatre, Bruce Kimmel directs the Theatre Academy’s third offering of the fall 2011 season “Lost and Unsung in Boston.”

The performance, which features handpicked pieces from other musicals runs from Nov.30 through Dec.3 at the Caminito Theatre. For ticket information, call (323) 953-4000 ext. 2990. Tickets are also available online.

Graduates Reap Benefits from New Program Director From Page 1

“Small businesses are employing America in great numbers … and that’s why this initiative is so important,” Dr. Jackson said.

To qualify for the program, the business should generate revenue from $150,000 to $4 million in the most recent fiscal year, and employ at least four employees (including the business owner). The business should also have a track record of at least two years, and the owner should possess the potential and desire to grow and create jobs in the community.

After selection, a cohort of selected business owners then participate in a four-month program of business training at Los Angeles City College.

Scholarships cover all program-costs and materials.

Lloyd Blankfein, CEO of Goldman Sachs believes job growth is a problem, but also an opportunity.

He sees small businesses as the key to a strong economy and creating jobs.

“The concept here is that we would

develop a model where small business people can be taught the skills to develop their plans to pursue capital, to test their ideas,” Blankfein said in a video that can be seen in its entirety on LACC’s website.

The program includes three main components of business education, customized support services and expert advice for access to capital. There are also 10 modules to the program. These include “Growth and Opportunities,” “Money and Metrics,” “Marketing and Selling,” and “Strategic Growth through Operations.”

Georgette Powell is owner of Mel’s Fish Shack and 2011 graduate of the program. She inherited the fast-food family business when her father died.

“You know, as a small business owner, I kind of feel like you’re on an island all by yourself,” Powell said.

“And so when I saw the opportunity to participate with the 10,000 Small Businesses, I was like, Oh My God! After our orientation, I was in tears,

because I finally felt like I was in the room with people who knew what they were doing and we’re serious about it.

This program gave me the motivation to just want to fight again.”

Powell is just the type of small business owner Dr. Jackson will work with in the upcoming year. The new executive director has been manning her office at the Van de Kamp Satellite Campus for only one month. “I almost innately have a heart for the work that small business owners do, “Dr. Jackson said, “so I have [an] affinity for small business owners and I enjoy the whole realm of business, because it’s almost all that I know.”

Dr. Jackson spent years in the business field, having owned a commercial landscaping company.

She also owned a paralegal office, retail-clothing store and political consulting company.

“I know the road that small business owners tread, and I know that they enjoy doing it because

Police Wire Compiled by Christopher Jorge

Oct. 10, 2011 at 8:30 a.m. - Campus Incident at Women’s Gym, Employee injured and transported for treatment.

Oct. 7, 2011 at 6:00 a.m. and Oct. 11.

2011 at 2:00 p.m. - Crime Incident at New Hampshire construction Site, Contractors report Equipment theft.

Oct. 11, 2011 at 11:15 a.m. – Crime Incident at Women’s Gym, Student reports locker burglarized.

Oct. 11, 2011 at 4:00 p.m. – Crime Incident at Women’s Gym, Student reports cellular phone theft.

Oct. 14, 2011 at 10:10 a.m. – Campus Incident at Learning Resource Center, Employee injured.

Oct. 24, 2011 at 8:30 a.m.- Crime Incident at Child Development Department, Student reports lost wallet.

Oct. 25, 2011 at 9:00 a.m.– Campus Incident at El Camino Theatre, Student injured [not transported for treatment].

Oct. 26, 2011 at 3:30 p.m. – Crime Incident at LACCD Headquarters,

Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN

Employee reports two microphones stolen.

Oct. 27, 2011 at 11:40 p.m.– Campus Incident at Men’s Gym, Employee injured [not transported for treatment].

Oct. 23, 2011 at 10:00 p.m. Theft from vehicle – 1100 block of North Edgemont St. Oct. 24, 2011 at 2:30 a.m. Robbery – 1000 block of North Vermont Ave.

LAPD Crime Statistics:

Oct. 31, 2011 at 6:40 a.m. Burglary – 5300 block of Lexington Ave.

Oct. 20, 2011 at 2:50 a.m. Robbery – 5200 block of West Sunset Blvd.

Nov. 1, 2011 at 2:00 a.m. Rape – Hollywood and Vermont.

Oct. 20, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. Robbery 1600 block of North Vermont Ave.

Nov. 1, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. Grand theft auto – 4900 block of Romaine St.

Oct. 21, 2011 at 1:55 a.m. Robbery – 4700 block of West Sunset Blvd.

Nov. 1, 2011 at 7:45 p.m. Robbery – 3900 block of Marathon St.

Oct. 21, 2011 at 11:20 a.m. Robbery – 900 block of North Vermont Ave.

Nov. 2, 2011 at 1:00 a.m. Theft from vehicle - 500 block of North Juanita Ave.

Oct. 21, 2011 at 2:20 p.m. Theft – 4600 block of Santa Monica Blvd.

Oct. 21, 2011 at 5:00 pm Grand theft auto – 500 block of Heliotrope Drive.

Oct. 22, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. Robbery 1000 block of North Normandie Ave. Oct. 22, 2011 at 12:00 p.m. Theft – Heliotrope and Santa Monica.

Nov. 2, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. Theft – 800 block of North Vermont Ave. Nov. 4, 2011 at 6:50 a.m. Burglary – 4100 block of Monroe St. Nov. 4, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. Grand theft auto – 1200 block of North Ardmore Ave.

For the Record In the 0ct. 5 issue of the Collegian, an article entitled “Guardian of the Books,” contained errors concerning professional affiliations of Professor Rosalind Goddard. She worked for the Los Angeles Public Library (City) and she was affiliated with the California African American Museum and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. She is also a member of the Towne Street Theatre Advisory Board. We regret the errors.

An article in the Nov. 2 issue of the Collegian entitled “Learning Skills Center Offers Free Tutoring” reported that credit would be given to students who sign up for tutoring. That is incorrect information. We regret the error.

An article in the Nov. 2 issue of the Collegian entitled “ All Butt Gone,” incorrectly quoted the Theatre Arts chair Kevin Morrissey. He did not say that the campus Work Environment Committee, of which he is also chair, was waiting for the president (Dr. Jamillah Moore) to implement the new smoking policy. Morrissey says no one is to blame for the delay in implementation. We regret the error.

The Van de Kamp Satellite Campus serves as home base for Dr. Nenaji Jackson, the new executive director of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program. She is also engaged in student outreach through the Business Department.

they are allowed to be independent and creative while also benefitting communities,” Dr. Jackson said, “when I looked at this program and its potential for recovery for business owners, I got excited and it motivated me to be a part of this team.”

Another 2011 graduate of the LACC initiative is Kevin Maldonado, managing partner of Studio Bert Forma. It is a business that represents manufacturing companies all over the world. He says he has already benefitted from the initiative.

“The program taught me how to think better about what are the best practices that a business can have, and implementing procedures and defining metrics in order to guide where you are going in the business,” Maldonado said. “We’ve always been mostly a European agency and now we’ve ventured out into India, so I’m traveling the world.”

Brandon Shamim is a module faculty instructor of the program. He

“Cruz Reynoso: Sowing the Seeds of Justice,” documentary film about California’s first Latino Associate Justice comes to campus. The film explores his life as an agricultural worker, his education, his consecutive legal involvement in the Civil Rights Movement and his tenure on California’s Supreme Court. The Legal

JOBS TO BANK ON Jobs From Page 1 Dental Hygienists As a dental hygienist you can earn $57,000 to $60,000 annually with a two-year degree once you get your licence or certification. LACC also has a dentistry program, and as the years go by this particular career will be in high demand.

Computer Support Specialist Technology is now the driving force behind many things that humans used to do. With a two-year degree in computer support you can earn from $46,000 to $60,000 a year. One great thing about this field is that your schedule can be flexible. LACC also has computer programs for those of you who are tech-savvy this would be a great career for you.

Paralegal At LACC there is a good entry-level paralegal program for students who are interested in this field. Paralegals can earn $46,000 a year, which can help during this time where jobs are very Photo by Amy Lieu/Collegian scarce and there are more people who are going back to school so they can says that the integration of program get a better job. members and students is something that could exist in the future.

Diagnostic Medical Imaging X-Ray “Potentially, some of these Technicians businesses that are in the program Completing a two-year degree can provide employment options for in this field can earn you $52,000 a the future” said Shamim, who teaches year. This career will also be in high two modules of the initiative. “These demand. LACC also offers programs are growing businesses that are in in this field. the process of engaging people for employment. I think that all students, Web Designer especially community college students, There are various companies that who are so focusing on gaining real are always looking for fresh, new talent life skills that will help give them when it comes to web design. With a competitive advantage … could a two-year degree in this field, you potentially learn from these business can earn $49,000 annually, and you entrepreneurs.” can earn even more if you decide to Dr. Jackson says that the initiative become an entrepreneur. adds value to LACC programs. 10,000 Small Businesses also employs LACC Physical Therapy Assistant students. Student internships are also Physical therapists can earn $46,000 available at the program. a year and the demand for this career The program is open enrollment, is increasing every day. LACC does not and applications are accepted on offer programs in this particular field an ongoing basis, according to the but there are hundreds of other schools website, www.lacc10ksb.com. that do.

News

Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN

Wednesday November 16, 2011

05

County Supervisor Visits City College

Mike Antonovich

By Tanya Flowers L.A. County Supervisor, Mike Antonovich packed a lecture room in Franklin Hall when he spoke to students about prison reform, Metro, and his duties as county supervisor in October.

Students enrolled in political science and sociology courses listened to the story of Don Bento Wilson, the second mayor of Los Angeles. Wilson had humble beginnings and came to own the land that is now Beverly Hills, Culver City, Pasadena and Riverside.

Antonovich shared the story to demonstrate that one person can make a huge impact.

Students listened as he shared three decades of work experience as L.A. County Supervisor. Antonovich is currently the second longest serving supervisor in L.A. County history after Kenneth Hahn.

Political science professor Christopher Cofer arranged the visit.

Antonovich spoke to political science and sociology students.

“He expressed concern for the impacts of the state transferring costs to local governments,” Cofer said. “Especially in the area of public safety and his efforts to seek broader assistance in responding to the problem from a federal judge, former California governor and others.”

Antonovich is the supervisor for the 5th District, which includes 2 million people and 24 cities including all or parts of La Crescenta, San Fernando, Antelope, Pomona, San Gabriel and Santa Clarita Valleys.

“It was nice to be able to see a government official face to face and get the opportunity to question him in depth,” said Liza Franklin-Edmondson, a business administration major.

“He talked about the issues with the prison system. It was [an] informative experience because he allowed us really

to see what’s going on, like different issues that we were not aware of.”

During his lecture presentation, Antonovich fielded questions about prison reform from professors and students.

In a recent Los Angeles Times article, Antonovich discussed his fears of overcrowding in prisons and the volume of low-level felons admitted to California prisons.

He has been serving Los Angeles County in public office for 30 years, first elected in 1980. In addition, he also sat as a member of the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees in 1969, after having taught history for Los Angeles Unified School District.

“As a former educator and Community College Board director, it was a pleasure to speak with Professor Cofer’s enthusiastic political science class. We discussed a range of issues from the state’s realignment program and redistricting to foreign affairs and world economy,” a spokesperson for Antonovich later said.

Professor Cofer initially invited Antonovich to speak to students interested in national and international policy. He saw the supervisor at

Gas, Oil Dollars Could Flow to Public Education

Photo Courtesy of Antonovich’s office County Supervisor Mike Antonovich resides in Glendale with his wife, Christine Hu, their son, Michael Jr. and daughter, Mary Christine.

Photo Courtesy of Mike Antonovich’s official website.

a public event and seized the moment.

“I saw him at Arcadia Park and I invited him to speak and come visit City College,” Cofer said. “He spent some time talking about the challenge the county government is having in responding to the state budget problem. The biggest impact will probably be in the area of corrections because the state is transferring responsibilities to the county.”

There are approximately 7,000 low level felons the state prison takes in each year, which is a rate that is currently unsustainable. As of Oct. 1

the state has begun to shift non-violent prisoners to county jail in a last-ditch effort to ease the burden.

“It’s a system that’s meant to fail,” Anotnovich said, “ and who is going to fail? Every neighborhood, every community where these people are going to be running around... It’s a Pandora’s box. It’s the bar scene - a violent bar scenes that you saw in ‘Star Wars’ - except they’re all crazy and nuts.”

In addition to budgetary issues, Antonovich spoke about much-needed upgrades to MetroLink and Amtrak.

He discussed high-speed rail and issues in education.

The visit was a welcome one on to students, professors, and the mayor.

“The students informed and detailed questions were impressive and it is my hope that they gained from the experience as I did,” Antonovich said.

“A good community college education can be a vital stepping stone into a productive and successful career in public service, business, education and other fields.”

(Left to right) LACC ASO Senators, Daichi Kimura, Roman Spitsyn and Andrea Bari discuss the proposed resolutions during a regional general session at the Fall 2011 General Assembly for the Student Senate for California Community Colleges in San Jose.

Photo by Luis Rivas/Collegian

By Luis Rivas If student leaders have their way, a plan to use money from crude oil and natural gas to pay for public education will become a reality. Delegates from student government across California hope to see a 15 percent tax initiative on oil and gas become law.

Student representatives from all corners of California converged on San Jose to debate policies and issues that could alter the way community colleges function.

The Associated Students Organization (ASO) represented LACC at this year’s Student Senate for California Community Colleges (SSCCC) Fall General Assembly.

Delegates from more than a hundred different community colleges voted on resolutions dealing with endorsements, policy, legislation and issues with general student advocacy.

One of the most notable resolutions was a call to endorse the proposed oil and natural gas tax. It is authored

by Peter Mathews, state coordinator of a group called Rescue Education California.

“The initiative places a 15 percent tax on not just crude oil—on-shore or off-shore—but also on natural gas,” Mathews said. “We added natural gas this time because that’s what all the other states, except Pennsylvania, [are doing]. Every state in the Union that produces natural gas has a tax on it as well.”

This is the second time Mathews has pushed for an oil tax initiative.

He attempted to collect more than half a million signatures so the initiative could become a state proposition earlier this year. However, he was unable to secure the necessary

signatures.

Some other equally noteworthy— and at times controversial—resolutions discussed were: endorsement of the Occupation Movement and a resolution to curtail corporate personhood.

However, arguably the most hotlycontested resolution was the adoption of the recommendations by the Student Success Task Force.

The Task Force is a body that was created by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s office to reform the community college experience in California for students.

Most of the controversy stems from the fact that there is only one student on the 20-member task force.

President of LACC’s ASO, Jaden Ledkins attended the fall general assembly in San Jose along with several other ASO Senators. Out of all

the issues discussed, the task force was one of the more passionately debated.

“The other huge issue that we saw at SSCCC was the Student Success Task Force recommendations that are going to be forwarded to the Board of Governors here in January,” Ledkins said. “That was the most heavily contested issue of the entire weekend.”

The task force recently published a 71-page packet of recommendations. It outlines ways to improve the community college experience for students. One suggestion was to place a cap on the number of units a student can accumulate and still receive the Board of Governor’s Grant that waives tuition fees.

Another controversial issue discussed was the Occupy Movement.

The President of the Associated

N AT I O N A L U N I V E R S I T Y

Students of Santa Monica College, Harrison Wills is the author of the resolution to endorse the Occupy Movement.

Wills sees the movement as an ideal space to actively work to connect the Occupy Wall Street issues with student advocacy. However, the resolution for endorsement failed.

“That was one of the more heavily contested pieces of resolutions,” Ledkins said. “One, because it was readdressed again at the end of the assembly—and it failed, twice.”

One of the main arguments against the resolution was that community college representatives had no sure way of knowing if all of their fellow students were in support, according to Ledkins. Additionally, many students spoke on the overtly political nature of the Occupy Movement, and

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therefore it should not be endorsed.

Wills, however, spoke during the general assembly that SSCCC does endorse political actions and issues.

The Occupy Movement is a great opportunity to advocate for student issues, according to Wills.

“While we’re talking about advocating for students, there are people in the streets advocating for students,” Wills said. “If you believe in equity, public education is the foundation of that. This is an opportunity to advocate in the national media. The world is listening. The world is watching. And we need to show up.”

Former ASO Vice President of Clubs, Scott Clapson, authored the Corporate Personhood Curtailing resolution, which detailed the current position of the United States government on allowing corporations unlimited political campaign contributions. It was voted down during the general assembly.

Roman Spitsyn, ASO Senator of Academic Affairs, saw the debate on whether or not to support the resolution in attempting to end recognizing corporations as people as one of the most common sense yet controversial topics.

“It was kind of a simple resolution that recommended not to recognize corporations as people,” Spitsyn said.

“And it’s interesting that they [students in opposition] see corporations as their partners in their education, and that they don’t blame them for anything.

Whether they’re right or wrong, it doesn’t mean that corporations should be considered people.”

For Spitsyn, corporate personhood and the view of private business in relation to public education is a worrisome topic. Opponents to the resolution argued irrelevance to student advocacy. Spitsyn, however, disagreed.

During his experience with adult school, Spitsyn saw how the budget cuts were used to frame the debate around the need for more charter schools.

“And it’s really, really, really difficult to believe that people in the Los Angeles Unified School District came to the idea that businesses can run a school for money without having a real influence from the people that have this money ... The most money, the money donated by development companies, donated money into elections of the Unified School District Trustees. We know that businesses can run things very effectively, but the other side is that a business has its own interest. Its interest is not public benefit. Its interest is to make profits.”

06

Campus Life

Wednesday November 16, 2011

Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN

Fundraising, Construction Hit Harmonious Note The college and campus community can become vested in the sounds of music that will emanate from the newly-built Clausen hall, by taking a seat.

By Sherly Debrosse and Anthony Freire

Photo by Collegian Archive/Collegian Student Musicians will return to Clausen Hall under the capable direction of Dr. Lutner Henderson III.

Clausen Hall name game

Ramon Jacinto Political Science

Edwin Tobar Music

Students and faculty members can be part of creating the new Clausen Hall building, and the best part is that they will be long remembered.

The new facility will feature a brand new music library, a state-of-the-art electronic music studio and an incredibly beautiful recital hall.

The Music Department hopes to raise $500,000 by offering the opportunity for any students or thoughtful individuals who would like to have their name engraved on the back of a seat in the recital hall. All they need to do is donate anywhere from $200 to $400. Also available, is the opportunity to name a completed room for $5,000

to $400,000.

Dr. Daniel Wanner, Chair of the Music Department, is the main force behind the naming opportunity project.

“I came up with the idea, and basically it is an opportunity to donate for the reconstruction of the Music Department and help us create something special,” Wanner said. “[Depending] on the amount of the donation, the person will have a room or a seat in the recital hall named after him.”

The project has already raised $150,000, mostly from alumni and faculty members. The new library,

lecture hall, and listening lab have already been named, as well as 20 seats in the recital hall. More than 100 seats are still available and waiting for the name of the next donor.

Instructing more than 1,200 students per semester, the Music Department offers a two-year program with dedicated instructors.

“I urge you to take part in this unique opportunity to help us create a world class educational space,” Wanner said. “I really want to inform and encourage the students and the college community in general to help us accomplish this project.”

Kristina Amaya Botany

Adrean Zaldana Physical Therapy

Nehi Thompson Music

Question: If you could engrave any name on back of a seat in the recital hall what would it be?

“I would name it after my little sister.

She passed away when I was 11 [years old], so she is like my guardian angle. I use her as inspiration. What better way to remember my sister by [her name being] on a plaque where someone will always see it? “

Transfer Hopefuls Explore Seaside Escape

“ I would name it after myself because it’s pretty cool. Everybody would know my name. I can always come back and sit in my chair and know that it’s here. I want people to see the chair and see my name.”

“ I would love to name it chrysanthemum because they are my favorite flower. I love the way their petals form together. I am a botany major, so I love plants and flowers.”

“ It would be Christopher Drew. He tells it like it is and he influences my music [and] he is to the point, so I would name it after him”

“ I would say Michael Jackson. As a musician, he is my mentor. He is a genius - music-wise. Vocally, everything about him is brilliant.”

Photo by Svetlana Yurash/Collegian Potential transfer students from TRIO/Students Support Services program in partnership with EOP&S gather outside Campbell Hall at University of California Santa Barbara on Nov. 4th to tour the seaside campus.

By Svetlana Yurash

Students from City College journeyed 100 miles north to a campus ranked in the top 10, according to U.S. News and World Report, but still close to home.

Twenty-seven students made the fieldtrip to the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) recently for a campus tour.

The TRIO/ Student Support Services program in partnership with EOP&S organized the trip, to give students interested in transferring the opportunity to explore UCSB. “We want students to graduate and transfer,” said Jesus Gomez, a program advisor. “We have to motivate them and encourage.”

After the three-hour bus trip, Admissions Counselor and Coordinator Nicole Wong made a presentation on admissions, housing and transfers.

“The University of California, Santa Barbara is the only University with a private beach,” she said. “We have organic, locally grown food. It’s a very healthy place where everybody can find what they want.”

Students who want to enroll in a

top-rated school may decide UCSB is the right fit. U.S. News & World Report ranked UCSB No.10 in the nation for public universities in 2011.

The university offers a world-class education, an outstanding faculty that includes five Nobel Laureates and award-winning scholars.

Its picturesque seaside location is set against the backdrop of the Santa Ynez Mountains.

“I think it was a lot of fun … It’s very informative,” said liberal arts major Maria Rosales. “The location is so beautiful. It’s right on the beach. A lot of students get involved in campus life.”

UCSB has three colleges: The College of Letters and Science, the College of Engineering and the College of Creative Studies. Ninety-two percent of all undergraduates attend the College of Arts and Sciences.

Students have a variety of activities to choose from, including more than 400 organized clubs, along with sailing, whitewater rafting, hiking and a private beach.

UCSB welcomes qualified transfer

students. Applicants should plan a course of study that exceeds minimum requirements: complete 60 semester or 90 quarter units of transferable college credit with a grade point average of at least 2.4 for California residents and at least 2.8 for nonresidents.

Students made the most of their time by touring the facilities available to the 22,000 students enrolled at the university.

The campus offers a picturesque setting from the eighth-floor of a library that overlooks a sunset ocean view.

Students also inspected a recreation center with a gym and swimming pools, and they even attended a women’s volleyball game against UC Irvine. UC Santa Barbara won the tense game 3:0.

When the game was over, City College students walked to the beach, watched hundreds of stars, and listened to the sound of the ocean at night after a long day.

“We got to know everything about the campus,” said Gisela Santiago, an international affairs major. “They gave us a presentation and tour. They have a lot of school spirit.”

Cubbington

By Cesar Anzora

“Over crowded classes... Guess I’m not the only one having money issues.”

“Buying this used book was so not worth the money.”

“Can’t they offer all the classes I need at one school? I hate budget cuts.”

“I need a job... Iam starving and those curly fries won’t pay for themselves.”

Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN

Arts & Entertainment

Artist Spotlight

Photo by Lauren Arevalo/Collegian Al Rossi plays cop with DJ Coscia as Jesse D. Myers reads his newspaper in the fall production of “All My Sons.”

Al Rossi Takes a Bow

By Byron Umana

There rarely comes a teacher who identifies with students on both a professional and personal level like director and actor Alfred Rossi who considers this interaction a rewarding experience. Rossi, who directed and acted in the recent play, “All My Sons,” by the late Arthur Miller, is one of the few teachers at LACC who immerse themselves in the trenches of the theater arts alongside their students to perform and mentor.

mainly attracted to LACC, because a professional acting program was being developed here.

How has life changed since being here at LACC? LACC has changed me in a couple of ways. Being in the heart of a major production center, Hollywood, there are many more opportunities, not just for me, but also the students who work with me -- to have their work seen and experienced by people in the profession. Being here at LACC with the highly respected reputation of the Theatre Academy has made me look at how I am training, directing, and teaching people. My teaching method has become more vocational, in that and my talented colleagues and I are helping actors build a career. I have found that I am aiding actors build those careers in the profession, because more students who come to study here have acting professionally as their goal and that has inspired me a great deal.

You recently directed and acted in “All My Sons.” How do you feel about both directing and acting at the same time?

It is very difficult. I have to be as objective as I can be. There are times where I can be really objective, because I’m not in a scene. When you are an actor you have to be involved with the other characters.

I have to sometimes remind myself that I have to be perceptive and stand outside the character and observe what I’m doing in the scene, which, of course, becomes the challenge. I’m not intimidated given my experience, but it is a challenge.

Review

foreign directors would come in and direct plays from the countries with American actors. This really helped me develop my directing career, because I was training with so many artists from other countries.

LACC BOOK PROGRAM KICKS OFF WITH A BANG

By Mia Boykin The Los Angeles City College Book Program kicked off the first week of November in the Faculty and Staff Center. “Super Gods,” by Grant Morrison is this year’s book of choice.

Students and faculty filled the room to listen to guest speaker, Scott McCloud, who is the author of several books including, “Making Comics,” “Reinventing Comics,” and “Understanding Comics.” He is a self-proclaimed comic theorist.

In his presentation “Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art,” McCloud discussed the importance of comics

and how they have expanded over the years.

“Something happens.

When we were little kids we are encouraged to write and draw with equal enthusiasm,” McCloud said.

“But at a certain point, around the second or third grade, a split happens between words and images.”

McCloud finds the formative years crucial in developing a bridge between the visual and literal. He also expressed the importance of visual literacy and the multiplicity of uses pictures possess. McCloud

07

Object of Art

Photo by Lauren Arevalo/Collegian Tara Collins and Jesse D. Myers are troubled lovebirds as Louie Piday looks on with motherly affection in “All My Sons.”

Trouble in Suburbia

By Byron Umana

An audience of students, many not knowing what to expect, wondered what to make of the large house What do you think this experisituated on the stage of “All My Sons,” ence teaches your students? written by Arthur Miller and directed I learned a great deal when I was by professor Al Rossi. studying acting, that when I worked The story of a post-war family with more mature and experienced comes to life. The set was decorated people, I learned more quickly. It’s Is this where you started with light green painted benches in kind of like tennis. When you play with the backyard of a suburban home in a directing? someone who knows the game better small American town. The first scene On a professional level yes, but my than you do and is experienced, you first experience directing was actually is revealed where Joe Keller, played by improve your skills sooner, rather than director Al Rossi, is in his backyard in college. After I left Loyola University always playing with someone who in Chicago, I went to the University of looking at the damages left after a you are equal to or better than. This Kansas, as well as the University of storm, symbolizing the damages left is a great educational opportunity for Minnesota. There I started to direct after World War II. A tree planted in our Academy students here at LACC. memory of Joe’s lost son, Larry, was student productions, which lead me to be an Assistant Director struck down by strong winds. The Do you feel that you have achieved audience is soon drawn into the hidden at the Tyrone Guthrie Theater in your goals in your career?

Minneapolis. romance between Larry’s younger Yes, because I have had a chance to brother Chris, played by Jesse D. play some great parts and work with What brought you to LACC? Myers, and his brother’s ex-girlfriend, After going to school where did some wonderfully talented people, I had been at the University of Ann Deever, played by Tara Collins. your career take you? as an actor, director, and teacher.

California, Davis for fourteen years Ann appears in a sensual red dress, I worked in numerous places in the However, there are some times I have hair flowing with long, luxurious curls. as a professor and I became very Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, said to myself that I wish I could have In spite of the romance, both families interested in coming to a place where and Minnesota. I was then able to gotten a certain part. Certainly, as an display a discontentment with the idea I could concentrate more specifically go to New York with a job. Most actor, you don’t always get the roles on training actors. I had heard about of Chris’s proposal to Ann. Chris’s people in this profession go to New you want, but that should never keep Mother, Kate Keller, played by Louie the reputation of Los Angeles City York without a job. I was lucky. I you from seeking other opportunities College, so one day while working Piday is exhibits delusions that Ann was able to work at The Institute for to fulfill your talents. in the area I attended a production. I is still in love with her late son Larry.

Advanced Studies in Theater Arts, thought the quality was terrific. I was Ann’s brother, George Deever, played as an Assistant Director. A lot of

by Wes Myers, is so furious about the This is a re-print of the Artist Spotlight originally printed in the Nov. 2, 2011 issue. Unfortunately, an unedited version of idea that he travels to bring Ann home Al Rossi’s interview went to press. We apologize for this oversight. and away from Chris. The audience What inspired you to pursue acting?

I didn’t plan on acting. I didn’t study acting until college. I went to Loyola University in Chicago, and I mainly started on my own by watching TV and movies. , I would do voices, impressions, and impersonations of singers and actors. I trained myself to do their voices, which I enjoyed.

By doing this I was able to perform on variety shows, win awards, and do shows in nightclubs. This became my act. By the time I went to college I decided to audition for plays. In my freshman year I was cast in various productions, and two years later I was hired in a professional show gaining a union card at the age of 20.

Wednesday November 16, 2011

says they are important to both the enrichment of life on a personal level and in the business world.

His presentation to the college included many entertaining visual slides as he spoke about the direction of visual communication.

McCloud explained how comics and graphic novels are good teaching tools in explaining the human experience. The author shared video shorts, pictures and comics from artists like Will Eisner, Osama Tesika, Bill Viola and Sergio Arigonas.

“I thought this [the presentation] was really helpful,” said Eileen

is left wondering why George is so furious as the first scene ends.

The play reaches a breaking point when the audience is stunned to find out secrets eroding the livelihoods of both families. Steve worked for Joe during the war building parts for planes. During a very long work day a wearisome Joe left Steve to complete a shipment of defective airplane parts. Steve noticed that most of the equipment was faulty and potentially dangerous. After the deaths of many soldiers, Steve was sentenced to prison while Joe was able to walk free.

Everyone seems to hold a part of the secret and the audience is left to anticipate to learning about the character flaws. Everyone was left teary-eyed when lights dimmed.

The actors were treated to a standing ovation, the applause growing wilder when actor and director Al Rossi stepped forward. Around the room, whispers were heard in acknowledging Rossi’s exceptional performance.

“It made my eyes water. The performances are very intense, detailed, and powerful,” said audience member and Theater major, Cesar Azanza. “All My Sons” made everyone question the consequences of their actions and how the effects of these choices can create not just a ripple, but a tidal wave.

Blylan, an animation major. Helpful in a way that his enthusiasm about visual communication was really encouraging, and getting to see all the visual formats to explore was exciting for me.”

After his presentation McCloud concluded the event with both a Q&A with the audience and a book signing.

“If we didn’t have that ability to take fragments and take these little pieces we see everyday and construct the whole world from it, we’d go crazy. That’s what we depend on when we tell stories through comics,” McCloud said.

In closing, McCloud talked about the underlying aspects of

Photo by Rocio Maya/Collegian Scott McCloud talks to the audience about comics on Nov. 2

narrative that resonate throughout the mediums of story.

“Whatever that thing is, the way we see the world, and see pieces of the world, and make the whole world from it. Whatever you call it … that’s what holds comics together. And in many ways holds literature together. It holds our lives together.”

By Lauren Arevalo

Culture By Association It wasn’t until this past year that I first saw Star Wars, Forrest Gump, and many of Mel Brooks’ films. This admission sounds shocking and almost crazy to most people. Video games? Not until recently. A sympathetic friend invited me to play Portal 2 with him and after 5 minutes of a generally enjoyable experience, the intense vertigo of motion sickness set in. Maybe it was just too late to acclimate myself to gaming so late in life.

I had led life into my early 20s living under the shelter of a rock, shielding me from pop culture –all those major motion pictures, top 40, and potential Trivial Pursuit topics flew over my head like a flocks of pigeons.

Growing up, it was not immediately apparent that my childhood was unlike those of my peers.

Television was limited to PBS and movies were an infrequent pleasure. In retrospect, I probably spent more time outside taking up hobbies one usually associates with an idyllic childhood in the ‘50s like shooting marbles and building pine cars for local derbies.

My introduction to movies was a painful one. It wasn’t too unlike the scene in Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange where Alex is subjected to conditioning in order to leave jail early. His eyes are pried open and moistened by a dropper as he is shown films to induce empathy. The list of landmark films to watch was long and daunting and I was made to sit and watch them marathonstyle.

It is kind of refreshing to know the context for such phrases as “You had me at hello,” (Jerry Maguire) and the ubiquitous “Run, Forrest, run!” I still don’t know if I am any better for gaining this knowledge, but in this decade of total media saturation, it feels necessary in order to navigate society.

The average home in the United States has more televisions than people. A large portion of your day is spent consuming information either purposefully or unwittingly through the Internet, magazines, billboards, grocery stores and so on.

The concept of a meme is a relatively new one. The famous evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins coined the term in 1976.

According to the Random House dictionary, a meme is “a cultural item that is transmitted by repetition in a manner analogous to the biological transmission of genes.”

In other words, memes aren’t limited to the Internet, Tumblr, and being “Rick-roll’d;” they are the culmination of messages and the implications of the words and pictures that affect us.

They’ve been around forever.

In a way, the movies considered required viewing and the video game au courant are meme-like in that their significance lies more in the context of the era in which they were created. This is why Super Mario and your childhood are intricately connected.

This is why my exposures to the grizzled milestones of pop culture’s past are eminently strange. Trying to experience these fundamental creations of humanity now feels anachronistic and retroactive, but it’s led me to realize that it is important to take part in what makes living these times unique. You don’t want to wake up one day and find yourself as dispirited as the late Andy Rooney, when just turning on the television for a moment has the power to make you feel irrelevant.

08

Wednesday November 16, 2011

Investigation

Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN

English Chair Placed on Leave Questions Arise Amid Investigation, Allegations

The investigation into EducoSoft continued into the fall semester, while a debate began over the proper use of student tutoring money.

Photo of LACC Student in the Writing Lab, courtesy of Collegian Archives.

By Emanuel Bergmann

F

aculty members of the English department voted in Dr. Genevieve Patthey as the new department chair on Nov. 10, 2011. The former chair, Dr. Tammy Robinson, has been placed on administrative leave in the wake of an ongoing investigation into the use of EducoSoft “Watch Your Language” program.

During the spring 2011 semester, as the Collegian reported, LACC administration ended the use of the “Watch Your Language” software. Students enrolled in English 21, 28 and 97 received an unsolicited email advising them to buy the software. However, the software had not been approved by the Curriculum Committee or the Distance Education Committee. The email blast itself violated the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

“The program was initially adopted by some faculty members and used for a very, very short period of time and then withdrawn with some controversy,” Patthey told the Collegian.

Los Angeles Community College District Internal Auditor Arnold Blanshard confirmed in September 2011 that an investigation into the EducoSoft situation was ongoing, but was unable to release any details.

Robinson initially supported the EducoSoft program, and was aware of the email blast, according to the minutes of a March 24, 2011, faculty meeting.

“We have to fix the emails that went out,” Robinson said during the meeting. “This semester is a pilot so we can get rid of glitches.”

EducoSoft is not the only concern for Robinson. Some faculty members of the English department claim that Robinson has reallocated money earmarked specifically for student tutoring.

The English department maintains a Writing Center, where tutors are available to help students improve their English skills, but during an Aug. 25, 2011, faculty meeting, Robinson claimed that there was “no extra money” and that “there will be no student tutors.” In an email sent a month prior, Robinson officially confirmed that “we will not have tutorial assistance.”

And yet, despite the supposed lack of funds, Robinson, in a faculty meeting on Oct. 25, 2011, admitted that at least two tutors had been hired, but that she had directed them to “help in the office” instead of helping students.

One of the student tutors had been working in the office of Mattie Moon, a professor in the social sciences department and campus president of the American Federation of Teachers, the union that represents all of LACC’s faculty members.

“She was a work-study student assigned to the social services department,” Moon explained to the Collegian.

“She was assigned to me by Dr. Robinson as a student worker to help with the students.”

Moon explained that the student worker had Armenian language skills that were beneficial to her students.

These revelations prompted English Professor Susan Niemeyer to complain in an email dated Oct. 20, 2011: “Just who is the student working with Mattie? … I find it mindboggling that our department chair would misdirect funding from our student tutoring to provide office assistance for

“But you told us that we had no student tutoring money, remember?”

Heredia said. “How many students were not tutored? How many student tutors have been hired over the last two terms? … And is it just this semester?

Or has this been going on for a while?” our AFT representative, and even more mind-boggling that our AFT representative, whom we would expect to be wellacquainted with employment contracts, would accept such office assistance.”

However, Professor Moon insisted that there had been no improprieties.

“As union president I cannot allow students to help with union work,” Moon said.

Asked about why the chair of the English Department would assign student workers to help in other departments, Moon explained that Dr. Robinson had often been willing to share resources. Moon said that she had no knowledge that the student worker was being paid through tutoring money.

Before the summer 2011 semester, the student worker had been paid through CalWorks.

“I had no knowledge where the money was coming from,” she said. “I’m not involved with what’s going on over there.”

On Oct. 22, Niemeyer wrote a similar email to Patthey and Vice President of Academic Affair Mary Callahan, among others: “In light of the confirmation that monies specifically earmarked for student tutors for our Writing Center have been misspent on general office assistance for our department … , I believe we must request that an investigation be carried out by the Los Angeles Community College District. I would suggest that this investigation not only examine the use of the student tutoring budget for this semester, but for past semesters as well.”

In the contentious Oct. 25 faculty meeting, Robinson found herself confronting criticism from her department.

She stood poised at the lectern as she fielded questions from her colleagues.

Instructional Assistant, Language Arts (IALA), Alfredo Heredia, who works in the Writing Center, spoke out.

“Why were we told that there was no money for student tutors? And then there are two,” Heredia said during the emotionally charged meeting.

“Because I directed them to help in the office,” Robinson replied.

Other faculty members in the Jefferson Hall classroom sat in silence during the exchange.

“But you told us that we had no student tutoring money, remember?” Heredia said. “How many students were not tutored? How many student tutors have been hired over the last two terms? … And is it just this semester? Or has this been going on for a while?”

Robinson did not provide answers to Heredia’s questions.

While most faculty members remained quiet, English Professor Peter Sotiriou echoed Heredia’s criticisms.

“How do you explain tutoring money being allocated elsewhere?” Sotiriou said. “Because it was our money. And I feel betrayed. How can I trust you if you tell us there’s no money for tutoring, and then we find out there’s 50 hours a week of student tutoring going to your office? We know nothing about this. That’s a betrayal to me.”

Robinson remained calm, seemingly unaffected by her colleague’s accusations.

“I apologize for that betrayal, that you’re feeling that way,” Robinson said.

Investigation

Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN

The Collegian approached Robinson after the meeting, asking her to confirm or deny the allegations. She refused to comment.

English 67 lab is mandatory for students enrolled in English 28 classes. However, the controversial of student tutors made it challenging, if not impossible, for students to complete the necessary lab hours.

A student tutor confirmed that she had only recently, in October, been assigned to work as a tutor and that she had been working in Moon’s office since 2006, paid through CalWorks. Over the summer, the student tutor had been paid through LACC President Jamillah Moore’s office, before being paid through the English/ESL Department. Several weeks ago, she was moved to the English lab.

“They told me, I am assigned here, I have to work here,” the student tutor said. “I was happy working with Professor Moon.” During the Spring 2011 semester, Moon informed her that she would now have to move to the English Department.

“I noticed discrepancies in the student tutoring over the summer,” said Dr. Joyce Moore, the former vice president of academic affairs. “There were complaints regarding the tutoring assignments. I looked into it and I spoke with Mary Callahan about the concerns.”

“Students are to receive tutoring. You have to have tutors for that purpose. That’s the contract we have with the students who are enrolled in those classes,” Joyce Moore said.

However, Callahan, on Oct. 26, told the Collegian: “No money has been misappropriated.”

It appears that the District has earmarked $20,000 for the fiscal year 2012 for student tutoring for the English/ESL Department.

“Criteria exists how the money is supposed to be used,” Joyce Moore said. “This is public funding designated for student success. The District has guidelines how the money is to be spent. You can’t just arbitrarily spend it.”

The Collegian obtained an email written by Mary Callahan, dated Oct. 19 and sent to Dr. Genevieve Patthey, stating: “You can count on $5,500 for the remaining eight weeks of the semester.”

It is still unclear what happened to the rest of the earmarked money, roughly $14,500.

Vice President of Administrative Services Paul Carlson said that the senior staff has the authority to reallocate funds if necessary.

“A budget is just a budget,” Carlson said. “It’s not static, it changes. You can change things based on need, based on priorities.”

However, Carlson also cautioned that tutoring money is not to be used for other purposes.

“If we have a line for student tutoring, that has to be paid for student tutoring,” Carlson said.

Patthey confirmed that this was a rule set up by the Board

Wednesday November 16, 2011

09

of Trustees.

Callahan gave assurances to the Collegian that “the next semester is fully funded” and that “they’re hiring tutors so that there will be a full contingent” for students needing help with English and ESL. Still, the fact remains that the Writing Lab was critically understaffed for the first half of this semester, while the tutors in question were working elsewhere.

Asked about this situation, Callahan refused to speculate:

Collegian is awaiting results from a Freedom of Information Act request to District General Counsel Camille Goulet about student tutor assignments.

“As far as I know, at least two or three people have borne witness to the fact that certain parties, [that] basically they showed up and said: ‘We’re going to be helping students working with EducoSoft.’,” Patthey said. “So I believe it.”

An internal memo obtained by the Collegian identifies at least seven “questionable student tutor assignments.”

The memo also states that in spring 2011, there were at least six, and possibly as many as nine or 10 student tutors who were not working in the Writing Center or the ESL Lab. One tutor was said never to have worked a shift in the Writing Center.

Joyce Moore compiled a report about this issue.

She was unable to disclose details, as the investigation is still ongoing. The report also included details about the improper release of students’ personal information. Moore submitted her report in June to the president, Dr. Jamillah Moore, among others.

“I’m not sure why it’s taken so much time to act on it,” Joyce Moore said.

Photo of Tammy Robinson courtesy of Collegian Archives On Oct. 31, Robinson was placed on administrative leave. Patthey, who was “I can’t answer that question.” the only candidate, was voted in as the interim chair of the Joyce Moore said that three student tutors had been English department. Robinson’s term was originally schedhired specifically to assist students with the “Watch Your uled to end in spring 2013. Right now, it is unclear whether Language” software. Some believe that Robinson had or not Robinson will return, a situation Patthey referred to decided to phase out the Writing Center in order to compel as the “Twilight Zone.” students to buy the EducoSoft “Watch Your Language” “I’m assuming her [Robinson] going on administrative program to meet course requirements. leave was connected to the internal audit the District has “They were hiring student tutors specifically to support conducted,” Patthey said. She described the nature of the the EducoSoft-program that was never authorized,” Joyce audit as “related to the activities regarding ‘Watch Your Moore said.

Language’.”

Patthey also believes that student tutors were hired to Robinson’s future with LACC is uncertain at this point. assist with the EducoSoft-program. Student tutors are “I don’t think anyone has any idea what will happen,” unclassified employees and this practice potentially violates Patthey said. “This is a relatively new situation.”

Human Resources guidelines. Additionally, District Human Going forward, Patthey described her task as “cleaning up.”

Resources guideline HR R-320 stipulates that student workers must be full-time students. It is not clear whether all of the student workers were indeed full-time students. The

Job Fair from page 1

Companies Come to College to Hire

Photo by Matthew Mullins/Collegian Some students brought resumes, prepared for potential interviews with companies looking to hire in the near future.

Human Resource Specialist, Danielle Herrera said that they may only interview one or two out of the100 people interviewed.

Uganda Toussant, fashion director of Park Lane Jewelry, has been with her company for one and half years.

She came to the job fair feeling optimistic.

“I have a very positive outlook on employment. We are promoting empowerment for young women through selfemployment,” Toussant said.

Miriam Factor, vice president of Instant Tax Services, was not necessarily looking for potential employees with experience. Her company trains new-hires.

“It’s free and we only ask for your determination,” Factor said.

Christina Lee, a recruitment project leader for the non-profit organization City Year, offered a great chance for students to work in a company that they say will make a difference in young people’s lives.

“We are here to give students the opportunity to work with children and help keep them on the track to graduate high school,” Lee said. “You receive several benefits, a bi-weekly living stipend and a $5,550 educational award after completing your 10-months of work with us.”

For information on careers and help with interviewing tips and resumes, students may visit the Career and Job Development Center in the Administration Building, Room 109.

Photo by Matthew Mullins/Collegian Students gather in front of the Administration Building during the job fair to meet potential employers.

10

Sports

Wednesday November 16, 2011

Los Angeles | COLLEGIAN

AROUND THE WORLD AND BACK

SPORTS

BIN

By Luis Ponce

New Facilities Await Future Athletes

By Hayden Velasquez

The first thing you notice upon meeting Jermaine Small is his height. Standing at 6 feet 9 inches tall, he is impossible to miss. As the “scoring leader”, Small has been living a life with a basketball in his hand that has taken him around the world.

With his superb scoring ability and highly talented team, The Elites, Small is again experiencing success on the court here at LACC. As a young man growing up in Newark, New Jersey, Small did not foresee the places basketball would take him.

“I didn’t really like playing basketball; I just like watching,” he says, “[I] never really planned my life to play basketball [...] didn’t know what I really wanted to do when I was younger.”

When asked if his height led him to play the game, he answered with a smile.

“I was the worst one; guys would shake me on the court, [and] I would get dunked on,” he said.

Most would think that being as tall as he is would make playing basketball easier, but for Small, it just made him a larger target for the older kids who played basketball.

As his talent for dunking over his peers developed, he began to catch the eye of colleges all over the country. He had offers from colleges in Texas, New York and Florida. It was a visit from a representative of the LACC basketball program that drove him to choose City College as the school he would attend.

Apart from the excitement, he felt great that a coach was willing to fly “3,000 miles to the projects.” He recognized the opportunity to pursue an adventure and

Old stadium lights attached to the Men’s Gym are all that remain of the athletic field, serving its only purpose now, to illuminate the students heading into the Martin Luther King Library.

No more, will it shine on that football player trying to make a shoestring tackle, or the track and field runner sprinting to the finish line.

Those days are long gone, and only memories remain for everyone who was part of LACC’s athletic program before 2003. It was then that the school decided to raze Snyder Field and convert it into a temporary parking lot; later to give way to what today are the MLK Library, the Science and Technology Building and the Child Photo by Patrick Chong/Collegian Development Center.

“Learn more to earn more,” was the message that was painted Chad Gammon of SNL scores two points on a and easily visible from a distance to passerby making their way down reverse layup at the intramural basketball game Vermont Avenue. I recall clearly seeing in the Women’s Gym on Friday, Nov. 4, 2011. Team the message on my way to work.

SNL defeated the Snapbacc Swagg with the score It is a place where many left their of 80-61, moving into 5-0 this season. SNL will play mark; athletically speaking, and only memories remain. The future for the Elite this Friday, on Nov. 18, 2011, to determine the LACC sports program appears to be first seed for the playoffs which start Dec. 2, 2011. a positive one based on the current construction of new sports facilities.

CSUDHLACCSpring2011_CSUDHLACC 10/10/11 9:14 AM Page 1

Student athletes anxiously await the settlement of a lawsuit the school has against Universal Metro, the company responsible for the underlayment [the soft fabric that is laid under the track to reduce vibration] on the newly-constructed track and field on the rooftop of Parking Lot 3 and 4.

As soon as the issue is settled, the college will no longer have to lease the soccer fields at Griffith Park for students enrolled in soccer class. In addition, the new Health & Fitness and P.E. facility currently being built will house a basketball court, an outdoor swimming pool and a fitness center; perfect for the future Cubs to start a new legacy; assuming the athletic program returns to LACC. In addition to the center, tennis players can rejoice in the knowledge that new courts are also being installed.

With all these new construction projects currently underway at LACC, the school appears to be heading in the right direction, not just academically, but in athletics as well. If ever the college decides to bring back the athletic program; let’s hope the legacy of the new athletes shines as brightly as the ones that preceded them.

Intramural Basketball Stats LEAGUE STANDINGS 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8)

Team Elite SNL TPLDU HAM Old School Snappbacc Swagg New Skool KB 8

W5 L 0 0 5 1 4 2 3 4 1 4 1 4 1 5 0

Photo by Patrick Chong/Collegian Jermaine “Tree” Small, the highest scoring player in the intramural sports basketball league, stands tall at a basketball court on campus, Wednesday Nov. 10, 2011.

attend City College. He put his reservations aside and left for Los Angeles in hopes of being a role model for his younger family members. “[I] wanted to do it—so my nieces and nephews can have an uncle that came from somewhere there was no way out [of],” Small said.

In his first year at LACC, Small joined the elite ranks of LACC’s best when he was named to the All-Conference Selection with fellow teammate Rico Harris in the 1997-1998 school year. It started a trend that would span for the next three years. He compares the feeling to “winning the lottery, without any money.”

Small did not let athletics override his studies. He learned early on that to pursue his dreams as a professional athlete, he would have to make some sacrifices. “[I] took school just as serious as basketball, because I knew these knees weren’t going to be able to jump and run forever. My mind can go on forever.”

Once his career at LACC ended, and his days playing at Iona College in New Rochelle, New York came to a close, he realized that he wasn’t going to be working a nine to five job, “When they started paying me to do things [playing basketball], is when I knew this was going to be my job,” he said.

Not only did Small earn pay for playing a game he loved; he traveled the world doing it. Small played in Argentina, Chile, and China and the experience transformed his view on life.

“When I traveled along the world man, it really opened up my eyes to a lot of things not just basketball, [but also] how people live, and mostly how people view America,” he said.

His most memorable experience from his days playing internationally came during his tenure in China, while visiting The Great Wall.

“Hearing about it all my life—that wall is no joke. You have to be in some kind of shape to get from point ‘A’ to point ‘B,’ Small said.

Small shares some advice that he feels would suit students and athletes alike.

He says they should be real with themselves.

“There [are] things we know we can do and can’t do,” he said. “It is a big sacrifice and if you really want to do it, you have to dig deep and really ask yourself: is this for me?”

Just before the conversation ended, Small had one more piece of advice. “ Cut out the partying,” he said. “Cut out the girls and focus on your [goals].”

You can catch Small and Team Elite this Friday at the Women’s Gym as they take on SNL at noon.

TOP SCORERS 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

Jermaine “ Tree “ Williams Harold Mcghee Mychal Riley Maurice Hinton Henry Edwards

37.6 21.5 17.6 17 16.8

Scan to see an exclusive interview with Jermaine “Tree” Small.

ppg ppg ppg ppg ppg

I’m here for the DEGREE. and the EXPERIENCE. .

A t C S U D H , t h e r e ’ s l i f e b e y o n d t h e c l a s s ro o m .

Your CSU Dominguez Hills experience extends beyond the classroom walls. Here on one of the nation’s most diverse campuses, you’ll be welcomed by a vibrant campus community with countless opportunities to get involved. Meet people. And make a difference in your community.

Learn more at CSUDH.EDU/FutureStudents.

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