The Corsair Spring 2023 - Issue 6

May 3, 2023 | VOLUME 125 ISSUE 6 | SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

Meet the Clubs of SMC

Special Edition EVERY COPY OF THE CORSAIR IS FREE, EACH COPY AFTER IS 25¢ | SANTA MONICA COLLEGE, STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1929

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May 3, 2023

CONTENT News | pg. 3 Special: Club Row | pg. 4-10

EDITORIAL STAFF Sasha Funes | Editor-in-Chief Conor Heeley | Managing Editor Anna Sophia Moltke | Photo Editor Antoineé Jones | News Editor Baleigh O'Brien | Arts & Entertainment Editor Taylor Smith | Arts & Entertainment Editor Michael Zavala | Culture Editor Sydney Partyka | Opinion Editor Dylan Dayton | Sports Editor Ryan Watts | Sports Editor Jackson Tammariello | Copy Editor Katheryne Menendez | Digital Editor Christina Torres | Social Media Editor Callie Yiu | Multimedia Editor Presley Alexander | Multimedia Editor Caylo Seals | Design Editor Alejandro Contreras | Design Editor

CORSAIR STAFF Bryan Antunez | My'Dari Baker | Victor Chambers | Ashley Chinchilla | Damond Collier Sr. | Rafaella Cruz Ramaciote | Vanessa Daily | Daniel De Anda | Jorge Devotto Ordonez | Claude Epperson | Ilayda Gercek | Shaylee Guerrero | Jehrid Hale | Josh Hogan | Rebecca Hogan | Torrie Krantz-Klein | Maria Lebedev | Isaac Manno | Nicholas McCall | Richard Mendez | Danilo Perez | Akemi Rico | Tyler Simms | Kevin Tidmore | Sebastian Villamil | Amanda Villamil-Solano | Aaron Wiria

FACULTY ADVISORS Ashanti Blaize-Hopkins | Journalism Advisor Gerard Burkhart | Photo Advisor Samantha Nuñez | Social Media Advisor

CONTACT Editor-in-Chief | corsair.editorinchief@gmail.com Managing Editor | corsair.managing@gmail.com

SOCIAL MEDIA Twitter | the_corsair Instagram | corsairnews Facebook | thecorsairnews YouTube | thecorsaironline

WEBSITE www.thecorsaironline.com

FRONT PAGE Santa Monica College (SMC) Associated Students hosted Club Row on Thursday, April 27, 2023 on SMC's main campus in Santa Monica, Calif. Club Row's theme this semester was Spring Forward.

(Baleigh O'Brien | The Corsair) Read more on page 4.

Kathryn Santa Cruz | The Corsair

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR When I first started out at Santa Monica College (SMC), I felt a bit out of place. Santa Monica was a city I wasn’t too familiar with, but SMC was a school I had heard great things about so I decided to give it a try.

My first several semesters at SMC were characterized by a looming sense of imposter syndrome. I didn’t join any clubs, and kept to myself because I was shy during and after my classes. Last fall, I decided to enroll in a class for the school newspaper, the Corsair. At first, I remained a pretty reserved person.

Even though I was the sports editor, I didn’t talk to people unless I really had to, and would only be in the newsroom for the tasks I absolutely needed to be there for. At the time, I didn’t think about engaging with others beyond sports writing and editing.

This semester, I’ve had the opportunity and privilege of being Editor-in-Chief, which has allowed me to become an entirely different person. I’ve been able to develop my leadership and social skills in ways I didn’t think I could. I’ve definitely been a friendlier person, and am friends with others who were in the newsroom last semester that I previously didn’t talk to. These skills have given me a new sense of confidence and maturity that I know I lacked before.

In addition, I have also covered stories on a variety of topics aside from my comfort area of sports. I met dozens of people for interviews, heard countless people discuss issues they’re passionate about and share their experiences and stories. I was even able to see the Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris, and the Mayor of Los Angeles Karen Bass, in person at the Women’s March last month. I let myself become a part of the community in the newsroom at the Corsair, and it’s been amazing so far.

At SMC, I feel that everyone is looking for a sense of belonging and a community to call their own. The club row last week epitomized that, and I was able to witness just how diverse SMC can really be. Clubs about shared hobbies like the Geek and Film clubs. Clubs like the Gender Sexuality Alliance, which provides a safe space for students in need of one. Religious clubs like the Muslim Student Association, Chabad at SMC, and Bible Study, which allow students to share their faith with one another.

These clubs allow students to resonate with those parts of themselves that they may not be able to outside of the club. I’m about to graduate in a month, but I wish I had taken advantage of joining clubs sooner so I could have met more people and not have that looming sense of imposter syndrome I did for so long.

Sasha Funes

Editor-in-Chief

May 3, 2023

NEWS

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Kathryn Santa Cruz | The Corsair

Drescher Hall Fire Under Investigation Taylor Smith| Arts & Entertainment Editor

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fire broke out on Thursday, April 20 at Drescher Hall on Main Campus and an investigation by the Santa Monica College Police Department (SMCPD) is currently underway for possible arson.

Officers arrived within minutes of the fire alarm being activated to evacuate the building and extinguished the fire using the building’s fire extinguishers. No injuries were reported on the scene. Rooms 312 and 313 in Drescher Hall are currently closed due to damage.

The Santa Monica Fire Department (SMFD) also responded to the incident and determined the fire to be a possible arson. SMFD arson investigators are leading an investigation into the fire with the assistance of SMCPD. Forensic evidence was collected and is awaiting lab testing.

SMCPD Chief Johnnie Adams is seeking the public’s help to identify a

possible suspect through images captured on the campus security cameras.

The suspect is presumed to be a male between 35 and 45 years old with a prominent goatee.

Security footage showed the suspect entering the Theater Arts building and making his way to a back hallway behind the stage at approximately 4:20 p.m. After failing to break into student lockers, the suspect then headed to Descher Hall where they went to rooms 312 and 313.

At around 5:16 p.m., they are seen using an “unknown pry tool” to break into the office. Campus police suspect they attempted to gain access to filing cabinets and computer equipment, and after unsuccessful attempts, started the fire in both locations. The only item stolen from the scene was an employee lanyard the suspect stole “in an attempt to disguise himself,” according to Adams.

“We want to get the public’s help as much as possible by getting this photo out there. We don’t think that he is a stranger to this area,” Adams said. “We think he frequents this area because when we did show the photo around to some of the businesses, one of the businesses said they recognized the individual as hanging out around here.”

The suspect was last seen in security footage exiting the campus around 6:11 p.m. at 17th Street and Pico Blvd.

“If they do see them, don’t approach them. The person could be dangerous.

He started the fire, so we want the public to be safe,” Adams said.

Anyone who recognizes or believes they have seen the suspect is encouraged to call SMCPD at 310-434-4300 and ask for a supervisor. The case number 23-1002 can be used to reference the suspect and the police will look into the tip.

Baleigh O'Brien | The Corsair

Note hanging for Room 312, the Writing & Humanities Tutoring Center at Santa Monica College's Drescher Hall is currently closed for maintenance due to a fire that broke out inside on April 20.

Illustration by Alejandro Contreras

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The Scholarship Club

May 3, 2023

Maria Lebedev | Staff Writer

The Scholarship Club provides Santa Monica College (SMC) students with opportunities to learn about the different types of awards that can help them thrive financially throughout their college career. “Our goal is to be a valuable resource for students who don’t know what kinds of [financial aid] possibilities are out there for them,” said president Gabriela Serrano.

Members also learn the importance of networking, as well as having a positive attitude when it comes to reaching one’s goals. “I truly believe that mindset is everything. If you believe you can do well, you will achieve great things,” said Serrano.

Meetings are held every Thursday from 1 to 2 p.m. via Zoom. Once a new member joins the club, they will receive an email from Serrano that contains the meeting link. For more information, email scholarshipclubsmc@gmail.com.

Caylo Seals | The Corsair

Engineering Club

Maria Lebedev | Staff Writer

The Engineering Club provides Engineering and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) majors with techniques that will be useful for them once they start working in the industry. The club is perfect for students who are new to science, math and technology. “You don’t need any prior knowledge when coming to the club. We help our members understand the topics from scratch and go through everything step by step,” said president Grace Jimenez. Workshops provide lessons on engineering and science, as well as networking skills.

Meetings are held every other Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m. in Drescher Hall on the main campus. For more information, reach out to smcengineeringclub11@gmail.com.

Caylo Seals | The Corsair

Earth Science Club

Maria Lebedev | Staff Writer

The goal of the Earth Science Club is to raise environmental awareness and prepare students for careers in the Earth Sciences field. The club gives its members opportunities to take various field trips, socialize with each other, and make new friends. “We’re going to go to the California Science Center very soon. We also go on many hikes,” said president Joy Santiago. “Recently, our club made a trip to the Temescal Canyon Trail. We want our members to explore nature.”

Meetings are held every Thursday at 11:30 a.m. on Zoom. For more information, email earthsci.smc@gmail.com.

Caylo Seals | The Corsair

Astronomy Club

Maria Lebedev | Staff Writer

The Astronomy Club is open to all students who are interested in astronomy and stargazing, not just STEM majors. The goal of the club is to spread the passion for celestial science. “We have all kinds of resources and activities that the majority of students might find interesting,” said vice president Quentin Le Ny. “At the moment, Santa Monica College has a limited number of astronomy classes, so the goal of our club is to provide its members with as much knowledge on the subject as possible.”

The meetings are held every other Tuesday from 11:30 a.m to 12:30 p.m. in room 155 of the Life & Physical Science building on main campus. For more information, email astroclubsmc@gmail.com.

Caylo Seals | The Corsair

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Eco Action Club

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Ashley Chinchilla | Staff Writer

Eco Action Club raises awareness about sustainability issues on campus, hosts events and performs environmental research projects throughout the year. The club meets on Mondays at 1 p.m. at the Sustainability Center on Main Campus. President Elijah Church, an environmental studies major at SMC, said all students are welcome regardless of their knowledge of sustainability. “I know for me, I didn’t know a thing about sustainability on campus until I got more involved with clubs,” Church said.

Students interested in joining the Eco Action club can email ecoaction.club.smc@gmail. com for more information.

Nick McCall | The Corsair

Pre-Law Society Club

Ashley Chinchilla | Staff Writer

Pre-Law Society Club hosts workshops for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and has guest speakers from law schools give helpful information about taking their next steps following their careers. “We have a range of guest speakers to workshops, the workshops deal with LSAT prep, resume word, internships, kind of preparation for that,” said club president Myriam Abuouhaidear. “Pre-law major and law school can be a very frightening thing, but just know that this is a very safe space, especially because all of us can relate to one another.”

Students interested in joining the Pre-Law Society Club can find more information @ prelawsmc on Instagram.

Nick McCall | The Corsair

Student Veterans of America

Ashley Chinchilla | Staff Writer Shaylee Guerrero | Staff Writer

Student Veterans of America Club is a nation-wide organization that offers benefits for veterans who want to continue their educational careers and seek camaraderie. The club is located on the main campus alongside the Veterans Success Center. “We’re here to help facilitate that transition, help them with career professional guidance in order to get started in school and get the education they need to meet their goals and move on in the professional world,” said outreach coordinator Bailey Steele.

Students interested in finding out more about the Student Veterans of America can find them on Instagram @smc_veterans.

Nick McCall | The Corsair

Student Bible Study

Taylor Smith | Arts & Entertainment Editor

Student Bible Study meets weekly to study the bible and have an open discussion to share Christian ideas and beliefs. “Jesus Christ saved me. He changed my life. I want everyone to know about Him,” said member Andrew Boone.

Bible Study meets every Monday in the cafeteria on main campus at 5:45 p.m. To learn more about them students can email studentbiblestudy391@gmail.com.

Nick McCall | The Corsair

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Chabad on Campus

May 3, 2023

Taylor Smith | Arts & Entertainment Editor Shaylee Guerrero | Staff Writer

Chabad on Campus focuses on Jewish life on campus while studying Jewish history, celebrating holidays, and finding a community. “If you see us on campus, feel free to join. We love meeting new people,” said member Michele Farnoush.

Students interested in joining the Chabad on Campus can find them on Instagram @ chabadSMC.

Nick McCall | The Corsair

OU-JLIC

Taylor Smith | Arts & Entertainment Editor

Orthodox Union’s Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (OU-JLIC) provides students with scholarships, Shabbat and holiday meals, advice and a “home away from home.” “I do the teaching, and I organize the students. They run the club, and I am there for the students,” SMC alumnus Rod Najibi said. “I came back because I love SMC a lot, and I wanted to be a part of it again.”

Students who want to find out more about OU-JLIC can email jlicsmc@gmail.com.

Nikc McCall | The Corsair

Muslim Student Association

Taylor Smith | Arts & Entertainment Editor

The Muslim Student Association focuses on building community and creating a positive environment for Muslim students and anyone interested in learning. They host charity events like the Islamic Relief Charity Week that was held last semester. “We are really excited. We hope more members come and join,” club president Mariam Ally said. “It’s all about building a community, because sometimes you can feel isolated and alone.”

Students interested in joining the Muslim Student Association can email msa1smc@ gmail.com or find them on Instagram @msasmc.

Nick McCall | The Corsair

Math Club

Callie Yiu | Staff Writer

The Math Club was founded September 2022 by Quentin Le Ny, and has become a community full of students who share a passion for mathematics. The club hosts a range of activities, from participating in mathematics competitions to providing resources for students who need extra help in their math classes. “Our main goal is just to help students pass their math classes and strengthen their math skills in general,” said founder Quentin Le Ny. The Math Club welcomes all students, whether you are a math prodigy or just starting out. If you are interested in joining the club, you can find more information on the club’s Instagram @smc_math_club as well as the Math Club Discord.

Caylo Seals | The Corsair

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Phi Theta Kappa

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Callie Yiu | Staff Writer

Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) is an Honors Society at Santa Monica College that recognizes and encourages scholarship among community college students. The club offers research opportunities, college projects, transcript notations, and fellowship workshops for its students to aid them in their careers. “Our goal is really just to honor our amazing members,” said Capri Quattrocchi, vice president of PTK. “Offer them some great things to be a part of.”

The Club meets every other Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. There is an upcoming membership workshop on May 4th from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more information, including how to become a member, visit their site at linktr.ee/smcphithetakappa.

Caylo Seals | The Corsair

NSCS

Callie Yiu | Staff Writer

The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) is an Honors Club at Santa Monica College that aids first and second-year students with internships, networking and volunteer opportunities. “We want to encourage members to enhance their leadership skills before transferring to a school,” said Sheida Shayegani, President of NSCS at SMC. “I think that's really what makes NSCS different from other clubs. We deepen the focus on leadership.” The club also offers workshops on transferring and internships. With no GPA requirement, all first and second-year students are welcome to join.

The NSCS club meetings are held every other Friday, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. over Zoom. If you are interested in joining the club, you can contact them by email nscs.smc@gmail.com, or by joining their Discord server.

Caylo Seals | The Corsair

Film Club

Bryan A​​ntunez | Staff Writer

The Film Club at SMC is welcoming for diverse groups of lovers of motion pictures and people who are interested in learning about the filmmaking process. The club will educate students on all technical aspects of filmmaking and the inner workings of the entertainment industry. “We as a film club, we are trying to talk about movies, watch movies, and trying to also make movies,” said club president Mateusz Żymańczyk. Żymańczyk and club vice president Felipe Hoyos said they feel excited being part of the club and what it entails for all current and future participants. The film club meets every other Wednesday at 6 p.m. in Room 102 at the Center for Media and Design (CMD) campus.

For more information, contact them at general@smcfilmclub.com or on Instagram @ smcfilmclub.

Alejandro Contreras | The Corsair

Geek Club

Bryan A​​ntunez | Staff Writer

The Geek Club is all about enjoying different mediums in the world of entertainment, including anime, movies, TV shows, cartoons, and comic books. “Our club gives us space for people to relax and talk about their favorite things,” said club president Angie Azad. “College can be tough and sometimes the best way to get through it is to give yourself a break and this club is meant to be like that.” The Geek Club meets through Zoom on Thursdays from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m., and occasionally in person.

For more information, you can contact them at geek.club.smc@gmail.com or follow them on Instagram @geek.club.smc.

Alejandro Contreras | The Corsair

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Writer's Club

May 3, 2023

Micheal Zavala | Culture Editor

The Writer’s Club is a safe place for writers to share their work, improve their writing skills, and receive feedback. Every week, the club holds meetings via Zoom and provides writing prompts to encourage creativity. Writer’s Club president Sophia Friend said “Every semester, we write an anthology, so anyone in the club who’s read work in our meeting can submit that to be published in the book.”

You can contact the Writer’s Club through their email at smcwritersclub.official@gmail. com.

Isaac Manno | The Corsair

Armenian Student Association

Micheal Zavala | Culture Editor

The Armenian Student Association (ASA) is now active and open for new members.

When asked what ASA is about, Vice President Alek Mouardian said, “We're basically just trying to build a community of Armenians inside Santa Monica and there's a lot of other ASA at other colleges to be a part of their communities as well. And you just build a cultural and social community.”

You do not need to be Armenian in order to join ASA and members will be meeting over zoom on Thursday from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and can be contacted by their club email armenianstudentsassociationsmc@gmail.com.

Isaac Manno | The Corsair

Women's Finance Club

Sydney Partyka | Opinion Editor

The Women’s Finance Club was created to help the female student body of SMC learn the basic fundamentals of finance by managing their own investments, savings, spending habits, and more. Club President Holly Stievel organized the group in Spring 2022 after she noticed “a huge discrepancy between men and women, not only in the finance industry, but in personal finance” explaining, “that’s why I made it women only.” Through education, discussion and access to resources, the club strives to educate women on how to be financially independent.

The Women’s Finance Club gets together Mondays at 7:45 p.m. via Google Meet. For more information, email womensfinanceclubatsmc@gmail.com.

Daniel De Anda | The Corsair

Alpha Gamma Sigma

Ryan Watts | Sports Editor

The mission of the Alpha Gamma Sigma Honors Society (AGS) is to give back to the community through community service and building relationships throughout SMC. The main activities the club engages in is community service. “Last week we did a USC event where we helped out volunteer work,” said member Jasmine Garcia. Fellow member Kimberly Ta said that if you are a contributing member of the club you receive a honors notation on your transcript.

The club holds meetings on Thursdays at 11:15 a.m. and 6 p.m. in room 006 of the Math Complex on the main campus. To contact them, email question4ags@gmail.com or follow them on Instagram @agssmc Caylo Seals | The Corsair

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Black Collegians Program Club

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Ryan Watts | Sports Editor

The purpose of the Black Collegians Program Club is to help Black students and students of color with their goals in college. Club treasurer Ramon Hunter said the club engages in activities like financial workshops and healing circles. “There’s a lot missing, there’s like a disconnect between what people think they know and what they should know, and I feel like we can bridge that gap and teach and educate people of color,” said Hunter.

The club meets in room 291 of the Student Services Center on Tuesdays from 11:15 a.m. to 12:35 p.m. For more information, contact their email at smcblackcollegiansclub@gmail.com.

Caylo Seals | The Corsair

Data Science Club

Ryan Watts | Sports Editor

The mission of the Data Science club is to create a community with people who enjoy and want to learn data science. Member Caley Plonka described the brand-new club as a community finder for people who want to be a part of data science. ''We are trying to get involved with stuff like inviting other hosts, learning more about data science and involving others in the community,” she said.

The club meets twice a month through Zoom. In order to join them, reach out to their email at datascienceclub.smc@gmail.com or Instagram @data_science_club_smc.

Caylo Seals | The Corsair

Women in STEM

Ryan Watts | Sports Editor

The mission of Women in STEM (WiSTEM) is to encourage open collaboration and equity for women in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields. Skylar Vitanatchi, the President of WiSTEM, said the club is open to anyone regardless of gender or race, but they prioritize women because “STEM is competitive especially for women.” “We talk about what professors we’ve taken, study tips, and even some insight into the workplace,” said Vice President Sunny Monday.

The best way to contact them is through email at wistem.smc@gmail.com and Instagram @wistem_smc.

Caylo Seals | The Corsair

Period Club

Victor Chambers | Staff Writer

The Period Club’s mission is to address menstrual equity through service, education and advocacy. The SMC chapter promotes its work through various events and workshops at the college. One of these events includes “Packing Parties” when club members pack bags with menstrual products and distribute them at the Bodega and Student Equity Center. The club’s Menstrual Cup Workshops, where attendees are given free menstrual cups and educated on how to use them, have also proven to be quite successful. Kaia Susman, Chemistry and Public Health major and President of the Period Club, said “We’ve found that holding these events and workshops have really helped our club engage and connect with students.”

To contact, follow them on Instagram @period.smc or email at period.santamonicacollege@gmail.com.

Akemi Rico | The Corsair

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Pre-Health Association Club

May 3, 2023

Victor Chambers | Staff Writer

The Pre-Health Professional Association club is focused on sharing extensive information, resources and opportunities with students who are interested in the pre-health route.

They hold meetings every Tuesday and often invite speakers or produce workshops discussing topics such as health equity. The club currently has over 250 members. Lisa Eun, Anthropology major and the board member responsible for the club’s social media, said that she has been reaching out to other community college medical-focused social media accounts and asking them to share their posts and information. “I feel like a lot of people still don't know about our club and using social media to reach more students has been very helpful,” said Eun. To contact, follow them on Instagram @smcpha or email at smcpha@gmail.com.

Akemi Rico | The Corsair

Psychology Club

Rafaella Ramaciote | Staff Writer

The Psychology club is dedicated to discuss psychology-related topics such as mental health and wellness. They hold meetings every Monday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in room 150 of the Humanities and Social Sciences building. The club often invites speakers to discuss topics such as how students can improve their mental health and balance their personal and academic lives. Club treasurer Ariella Khakshooy said that they are also very active on their Discord channels where they share opportunities and information. “We have group discussions to figure out advice we can give each other on improving mental health and other topics like that,” said Khakshooy.

They can be contacted through email at psychsmc@gmail.com or Instagram @psychclubsmc.

Akemi Rico | The Corsair

Gender Sexuality Alliance

Rafaella Ramaciote | Staff Writer

The Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) club is dedicated to be a fun and safe space for queer people and allies. They hold meetings every Thursday from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the second floor of the Cayton Center building. David Garcia, second-year History major and a member of the club, said that meetings are often for members to hang out and discuss issues relevant to the LGBTQ+ community. They said that the club is focused on getting students to know about their meetings. “We also watch television shows, play games, and have a lot of fun,” they said.

They can be contacted through email at smcgendersexualityalliance@gmail.com or Instagram @smcgendersexualityalliance.

Akemi Rico | The Corsair

International Student Forum

Micheal Zavala | Culture Editor

Abril Olivares-Salgado, President of International Student Forum (ISF) said, “Most of the beloved members are international students. Coming here from other parts of the world without their family or friends in an unfamiliar place. So we are here to support them to be their family, basically.” ISF hosts various events for their members from small picnics, trips to the museum, the beach and Universal Studios. “Our only purpose is to connect people with other people.” Olivares-Salgado said.

ISF will be holding a scavenger hunt on the main campus on April 28, and a link can be found on their Instagram page to sign up and participate @smc.isf.

Isaac Manno | The Corsair