'The Corsair' Issue 7 Fall 2020

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CONTENT News | pg. 3-4 Culture/Arts & Entertainment | pg. 5-6 Photo Stories | pg. 7-9 Opinion | pg. 10 Sports | pg. 11

EDITORIAL STAFF Jack Hughes | Editor-in-Chief Carolyn Burt | Managing Editor Jackie Sedley | News Editor Allie Leeds | Culture Editor Romelin Barrios Maldonado | Opinion Editor Maxim Elramsisy | Photo Editor Deshawn Pouper | Co-Sports Editor Missael Soto | Co- Sports Editor Fernando Duran | Multimedia Editor Sonia Hiew | Design Director Johnny Neville | Social Media Editor Conner Savage | Podcast Producer

CORSAIR STAFF Brian Adler | Octavia Anderson | Drew Andersen | Kimberly Aquino | Clyde Bates | Mario Burgos | Silvia Curiel | Jorge Devotto-Ordoñez | Johaira Dilauro | Miriam Dossena | Rebecca Edwards Owens | Gabrielle Faulkner | Jesse Fiddmont | Miyae Folkes | Michael Goldsmith | Kamiko Greenwood | Parys Hall | Josh Hogan | Rebecca Hogan | Andrea Jimenez | Mariam Khudikyan | Romeo Kuhn | Makala Lee | Caroline Leff | Michael Leggesse | Marcos Mackey-Darden | Shannon Maher | Vincent Marcel | Aja Marshall | Kacy McGonegle | Niamh Moore | Marco Pallotti | Guadalupe Perez | Kyle Phanroy | Sergio Sanchez | Gregory Stogel | Paige Strickland | Yumna Temezia | Yasmin Jafari Tehrani | Teri Temme | Kevin Tidmore | Todd Wilkinson | Aaliyah Willaims

FACULTY ADVISORS Ashanti Blaize-Hopkins | Journalism Adviser Gerard Burkhart | Photo Adviser

CONTACT Editor in Chief | corsair.editorinchief@gmail.com

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

WEBSITE www.thecorsaironline.com

FRONT COVER A young boy and his mother honoring fallen heroes at Los Angeles National Cemetery, a United States Military Cemetery in Los Angeles, Calif. on Veterans Day, Wed., Nov. 11, 2020. (Kevin Tidmore/The Corsair)

Illustration by Johnny Neville

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR In the coming weeks, hundreds of thousands of students will apply to transfer -– myself included. The stress of college applications is a heavy weight on one’s mind, but now it is compounded by an additional unforeseen circumstance: COVID-19.

Students are faced with a new factor when it comes to choosing schools –– how likely are they to attend that institution in person? How well has the institution transitioned to online learning? What services are still being extended to their student body?

This period in human history can be summed up in one word: uncertainty. We don’t know when we will be back to in-person classes. We don’t know how schools will be permanently morphed by this situation. We don’t know the full scope of the financial ramifications of this pandemic on educational institutions.

These application deadlines come amidst the worst spike in U.S. COVID-19 cases to date. Thousands die on a daily basis, and rumors of a second lockdown continue to swirl.

The question then becomes… will we –– the group of outgoing transfer students -– ever take an in-person class at a four-year school? There are now six strains of the virus, and more will likely come. Development of a vaccine, although promising, is not going to halt the disease altogether. We seem to be further away from a return to normality than anytime in the last year.

The future of education may be permanently changed by this pandemic, and this age of students will be remembered as the one that endured the growing pains of a changing system. Our struggle isn’t futile –– this forced digitization of school we are experiencing may broaden the reach of education. Without the restrictions posed by limited capacity and scarce resources, classes can stream to thousands through laptops and phones at virtually no additional cost. Students can study from anywhere with an internet connection. College may no longer be a leg up for an exclusive group of elites, but rather a readily available public resource, available to all those who are technologically able.

Throughout history, each generation has faced an adversity that strengthens their character. Unlike those in the past though, we aren’t confronted by symptoms of war or economic collapse, cultural revolution or religious violence, but by a worldwide health crisis. Students now will leave this unprecedented time more capable than ever. Those who can weather the storm and continue their education, despite the unforeseeable roadblocks presenting themselves at every turn, will come to exemplify a unique mental fortitude. Beyond that though, our toil will yield a positive outcome.

We will have proved that our generation can endure, but we will also refine a system to expand the outreach of modern education for those less fortunate.

Our perseverance is for the greater good, with regard to both Coronavirus mitigation, and the future of workforce preparation.

Our college experience, unusual as it may be, is building a capacity for difficulty.

We have to continue to relentlessly strive towards the finest rewards of education, in spite of the obstacles in our way.

Editor-In-Chief Jack Hughes

NEWS

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Proposition Results and What They Mean Niamh Moore | Staff Writer

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fter months of billboards and social media advertisements telling you to vote "YES" or "NO" on California's propositions, the election is officially over.

Voters passed Propositions 14, 17, 19, 22, and 24, and rejected Propositions 15, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, and 25. Some races were closer than others, with Propositions 14 and 19 approved by only a 1% lead. The proposition passed with the widest margin was Proposition 23, rejected with 63.6% of the total votes.

Of those that passed, Proposition 22 has faced some of the loudest opposition, from both labor unions and the California Democratic Party. Prop 22 gives Uber, Lyft, DoorDash and other "gig-economy" delivery companies the right to define their employees as independent contractors, overriding California state law and allowing these companies to adopt labor and wage policies specific to their employees.

Despite backlash, Proposition 22 was approved with 58% of the vote. This means that gig economy companies can now withhold basic employment for their California drivers, such as sick leave and unemployment benefits. The measure was Uber’s and Lyft’s response to California Assembly Bill 5, which was passed last year and limited the use of independent contractors. Ride-sharing and food delivery apps have now eliminated a significant threat to their business model. The California Labor Federation called it a "low pay, no protection business model that will expand in virtually every industry, leading to unprecedented job loss and a race to the bottom."

Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, and other gig companies poured more than $200 million into advertising for Proposition 22, the most money spent on a California ballot measure in over two decades.

Both Uber and Lyft had ads strategically placed on their apps for months prior to the state election, and made other ads using drivers as actors to talk about how this proposition would be beneficial to them. They also sent out mass texts to those registered to vote within the state of California. They were accused of using lawyers to make their wording seem favorable to the general public, and Uber was sued by a group of drivers for using in-app messages claiming they would lose their jobs if the proposition failed.

Both Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi and Lyft President John Zimmer released statements back in August, saying that they would most likely have to at least temporarily pause services in the state of California if Proposition 22 did not pass.

Allie Lebos, a University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) graduate, is now an independent contractor doing free-

gender, religion, or sexuality because it is viewed as a discriminatory action.

This is also known as affirmative action, and if it were reinstated, schools and government organizations would take these factors into account when accepting applicants. Supporters of Proposition 16 said that reimplementing affirmative action would bring more diversity into workplaces and

lance writing. She advocated for Proposition 22. "This one was really tough and controversial, but as a fellow independent contractor, I think this turned out the best," she said. "Regardless of if you think Uber and Lyft are morally in the wrong for this, way too many jobs would have been lost, and given the current circumstances of our economy, it would not be worth it."

Of the two propositions that addressed criminal justice reform, Proposition 17 was passed, while Proposition 25 was not. Prop. 17 was passed with 59% of Californians in favor. As a result, voting rights will be restored to those on parole for felony convictions. Prop.

25, on the other hand, was rejected with 56.3% of Californians voting "no." This means that the money bail system will stay in place, rather than replacing it with a system based on public safety and flight risk assessments.

Out of the seven that did not pass, Proposition 16 was considered a loss by more progressive voters. The measure would have repealed the 1996 Proposition 209, which banned governments and public institutions from being able to make decisions based on race,

schools. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris was an avid supporter of Prop 16, along with many other Democratic leaders and party members. Those who opposed included the Republican Party of California.

Sunjay Jayachandran is a biology professor at SMC and at California State University Los Angeles (CSULA).

When he saw the results of Proposition 16, he was disturbed it did not pass. "I'm for the inclusion of affirmative action.

The inclusion of underprivileged minorities with respect to employment," said Jayachandran. "I'm not sure why in a state where liberals clearly outnumber conservatives, it did not pass."

In addition to these propositions, the nine others were also very close races. Those that passed were: Proposition 14, which authorizes $5.5 billion in state bonds for stem cell and other medical research; Proposition 19, which gives tax breaks to homeowners who are over 55, disabled, or disaster victims, and heavily taxes heirs who benefit from property purchased and passed down by parents and grandparents; and Proposition 24, which amends consumer privacy laws, with a

new state agency and the Department of Justice sharing responsibility for enforcing these laws. Regarding Proposition 24, the ACLU cited concerns that the measure allows “pay for privacy” schemes, wherein companies charge consumers to opt out of having their data sold or shared.

The remaining propositions that did not pass were: Proposition 15, meaning that property taxes on commercial properties will not change, and local governments & schools will not get new funding that would have come from this proposition; Prop. 18, meaning that voters under 18 will still be unable to vote in a primary election if they turn 18 by that cycle’s general election; Prop. 20, meaning that the penalties for those who commit certain nonviolent, theft-related offenses will not be increased, and these inmates will still be eligible for early parole consideration; Prop. 21, meaning that local municipalities will not be able to enact rent control that supercedes the state laws; and Prop. 23, meaning that kidney dialysis clinics will not be required to implement new regulations, such having a doctor on-site during all operating hours.

California has voted blue in every national election since 1992, when Bill Clinton was elected president. However, the state voted mostly red in presidential elections before this, starting from the 1952 election of Dwight D. Eisenhower. In this year's state elections, we saw a clear divide between liberal and conservative voters within the state.

According to the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), L.A. County's population makes up 31% of all Democratic voters in the state, and the San Francisco Bay Area makes up 25%.

On the other hand, the Central Valley makes up 23% of Republican voters, while Orange and San Diego counties make up another 23%.

This year's nationwide election highlighted the division between parties, and California's statewide elections exposed partisanship within its own borders. Those who assume that California is a liberal utopia have received a reality check this election. The propositions and other election results revealed that while California is mostly liberal, there are also many people in the state who vote conservative.

Illustration of California State Capitol by Carolyn Burt

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NEWS

A Vaccine for COVID-19 is on the Horizon Maxim Elramsisy | Photo Editor

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his week, two pharmaceutical companies, Moderna and Pfizer, claimed that they have viable COVID-19 vaccines that are 94% and 90% effective, respectively. These announcements come as new infections rise across the country and around the world.

The pandemic has killed 1.3 million people worldwide as of Nov. 17, 2020, including almost 250,000 in the United States. California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a press release that he is “pulling the emergency brake,” and placing 94.1% of California’s population back into the most restrictive tier of reopening. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) also updated their guidelines to provide clarifying information about when face coverings are required. The guidelines state that all people are required to wear coverings outside of their homes, with some exceptions based on age, disabilities, and medical conditions.

Dr. Anthony Fauci called the current pandemic response “disjointed” in the absence of a unified national strategy. He noted that the virus doesn’t see borders; nevertheless, a patchwork of states like New Mexico, California, and New York are creating travel restrictions in order to curb the travel of the virus during the upcoming holiday season.

As the pandemic rages, these vaccines offer some optimism that the end may be near. President-elect Joe Biden, however, doesn’t want to give false hope, saying on Nov. 9 that the prospect of a “dark winter” still persists.

Moderna and Pfizer are the first two companies to announce positive results in their respective vaccine trials, and they differ greatly in their respective backgrounds. Pfizer is over 170 years old, and considered a perennial Fortune 500 pharmaceutical giant. Moderna is a very well-funded, 10-year-old biotech company that has never brought any products to market or had any vaccines approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Both trial vaccines are based on a method involving Messenger Ribonucleic Acid (mRNA), a different process compared to traditional vaccines. In this new process, mRNA instructs the cells to produce its own fragments.

This theoretically mimics a real viral infection more accurately. These techno-

logical advancements have significantly reduced the time necessary to develop a vaccine. Rather than using traditional methods of growing vaccines in vivo — meaning using cells or eggs — mRNA vaccines are completely made in vitro, i.e. a test tube, theoretically allowing them to be produced more quickly.

However, mRNA vaccines have never actually been produced and scaled.

Moderna’s vaccine was approved by the FDA for a Phase One clinical trial, just one day after their CEO, Stéphane Bancel, met with President Trump in a roundtable where companies competed for federal funding through Operation Warp Speed, a program to develop and distribute COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics. The emergent nature of the pandemic may warrant the speeding up of normal regulatory procedures, as long as safety is not sacrificed.

The Moderna and Pfizer vaccine candidates are based on the same protein, called the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which comes as good news to other companies with vaccine candidates in the pipelines. Research from previously identified coronaviruses, like those that cause severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and middle east respiratory syndrome (MERS) led scientists to focus on this specific protein, which is on the surface of the virus and allows it to fuse and merge with cells in an infection.

Moderna and Pfizer both issued press releases announcing the results of their trials, and each described trials wherein groups that received the vaccine became infected with COVID-19 over 90% less than the groups that received the placebos. Moderna’s trial included 30,000 participants, while Pfizer had more than 44,000 participants.

While these results are promising, much of the data has yet to be released and it all still requires a significant amount of independent review by boards at the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and likely others.

The trials may provide answers about how effective the vaccines are against the virus, but many more answers can only come with time. Scientists are still unsure how long immunity against the virus lasts once taking the vaccine, if the vaccine provides a protective effect against severe disease to those who still get infected, if vaccinated but infected people transmit disease

Morning traffic on the I-10 Santa Monica Freeway was virtually nonexistent on March 20, 2020 as residents stayed home after LA Mayor Garcetti's public health order in response to the global coronavirus pandemic (Anthony Mayen/The Corsair)

A drive-through COVID-19 testing sight at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Los Angeles, California on Mon., May 18, 2020. Residents of the city of Los Angeles were encouraged to get tested as the city started phased reopening. (Maxim Elramsisy/The Corsair)

in the same way, and if people will be trusting enough of the vaccine to get it.

Dr. Fauci and other health experts stress the importance of still continuing the day-to-day public health measures that we know can mitigate the

spread of the disease: wear a mask, maintain social distancing, keep good hygiene, and stay healthy.

A R T S & E N T E R TA I N M E N T

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Black Friday is Here to Stay Marcos Mackey-Darden | Staff Writer

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he notorious days of holiday deals and shopping, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, are soon approaching and many are wondering how they will differ from years past. The question on many people's mind is if these sales will be exclusively online, as most things have become, or if the shopping spree will be able to take place in person.

Retailers have been preparing for the coming events that will bring a frenzy of people trying to get the latest deals and newest items before they return to their original price.

Many retail managers believe Black Friday will continue as it has for years.

With the many concerns of COVID-19, people may be swayed to shop online for not only their own health and safety, but that of the employees they may come in contact with in the midst of all the holiday sale madness.

Jermani Carr is a Santa Monica College student who has been working at the Hollywood & Highland Forever21 for over a year. “People still come in and shop like they did before the pandem-

ic started, so I don’t think it will change much,” she said. "I know that the day can bring lots of chaos but I still feel the virus won't have an effect on [it]."

Angela Ramos, who has been working at the Hollywood & Highland Sephora for over two years, feels that “as long as customers wear their mask, respect others, and make sure they are the appropriate distance from each other, there should be no problem.”

Matthew Reynolds, assistant manager at Sephora, has seen "plenty of Black Fridays. [It] definitely feels there will be no change in this year's shopping, probably just limiting the amount of people coming in, if it comes to that," he said. As the day soon approaches, Reynolds and many others in retail get ready for whatever the day will bring.

Stores still expect there to be an influx of online business, as many customers are still wary of going out. As online shopping has become more popularized, stores have had to extend their return policies, as fitting rooms have been closed to slow the spread of the virus.

The cycle of shopping and returning has become a routine for employees and customers. This is not expected

Mother and daughters out on 3rd Street Promenade shopping among huge crowds during Covid-19 pandemic. Sun., Sept. 27, 2020 in Santa Monica, Calif (Alex Ramirez Canales/The Corsair)

to stop, but possibly surge, as the infamous holidays approach.

With the surge in online shopping and re-opening of stores, there is no foreseeable end to the Black Friday experience. It's important to remember

to be mindful of others, keep an appropriate distance, and wear a mask when planning to go out and catch the latest deals.

Jacob Alvarez's Marquee Marauders Club of Bootleg Toys and Action Figures Paige Strickland | Staff Writer

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alls lined with signed posters, setlists, cassette tapes, and musician biography books greet you from the moment you walk into the home of Jacob Alvarez. His living room pays homage to his love for music artists and concerts he and his father have attended. Jacob Alvarez's separate workspace is surrounded by press passes and band merchandise hanging over his desk.

In total, Alvarez has attended an estimated 300 concerts. He created his own website, Marquee Marauders Club, in 2018 to gain more access to press passes, pursuing his love for concert photography. He initially introduced it as a platform for concert junkies to share photos and experiences, but it quickly evolved into something more.

As Alvarez became more interested in the merchandise side of music, he discovered niche toy makers and collectors on Instagram and Reddit. They

were making small replicas of their favorite music artists, movie memorabilia, merchandise, and more. What he didn’t see were his own favorites: musicians that don’t always fit the mainstream bill, and movies that can fall under the radar but remain admired by many.

So Alvarez took it upon himself to make sure his favorites were represented. He started out by playing Dr. Frankenstein on existing figures, mismatching different spare parts, and combining clay, paint, and other materials to transform them into new characters. He has also dabbled in 3-D printing.

His first figure was Paul Banks, the frontman of the rock band Interpol. “I posted a photo on the Interpol Reddit thread, and overnight it gained a lot of attention,” said Alvarez. “Fans of the band were increasingly asking if I would sell it, and if I could make more. Seeing people have an actual interest in what I was making gave me the momentum to continue. ”

Over 100 figures later, Alvarez has caught the eye of several magazines, record labels, music artists, and filmmakers. Included in his most popular figures are miniature versions of Robert Smith from the Cure, and Frank Ocean during the release of his single “DHL.” Some artists have even taken home a miniature version of themselves, including English singer-songwriter King Krule, Joba from hip hop group Brockhampton, and rapper Denzel Curry.

In addition, Elara Pictures, the studio behind the fil “Uncut Gems”, requested to have Alvarez’s model of Adam Sandler from the popular 2019 film. In the movie, Adam Sandler's character, Howard Ratner, has yellow shades, a bright yellow v-neck shirt, and a big gold belt buckle. Miniature Howard Ratner perfectly replicates these features. The attention to intricate detail in Alvarez's uniquely designed packaging, lifelike body features, clothing, and accessories are what make them enamoring.

While his website and fan following continue to expand, Alvarez uses his

platform to contribute to causes and organizations. “During the time that the protests broke out at the beginning of this year I made a figure of Anthony Fantano, from The Needle Drop,” said Alvarez. “He ended up seeing it. I asked him if he wanted the figure, and he said yes, but we ended up posting it on Ebay to raise funds for bail projects instead.

We raised around $700.”

For this year’s annual Planned Parenthood Benefit hosted by Panache, he put his Tyler the Creator figure up for auction, and all proceeds were contributed to the organization.

“It’s relaxing to focus on the tiny details of each figure, especially when they’re artists I have liked for a long time,” said Alvarez. “I like being able to share the excitement with other fans and collectors, and it’s even better when the artist I create enjoys it too.”

To stay updated with Alvarez’s new releases and projects, you can view his website at https://marauders.xyz/, or his Instagram page @MarqueeMaraudersClub.

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C U LT U R E

Leisure Travel in a Locked-Down World Aja Marshall | Copy Editor

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s the world endures the coronavirus pandemic, vacation-going and leisure travel have not stopped. Whether travelers are adventuring domestically, internationally, or locally, they’ve adapted to COVID-19.

In early 2020, health experts and government officials developed safety guidelines for essential travel. Today in the U.S., The Center for Disease Control (CDC), offers a variety of safety guidelines on how to pump gas, use a public restroom, stop for food, and more. In all scenarios, they strongly advise that travelers social distance and wear a mask, but ultimately they recommend “staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19,” according to their website.

Laura Lasko is an international student at SMC who’s used COVID-19 restrictions to her advantage. She explained that traveling is a big hobby of hers and taking online classes has allowed her more flexibility to go on trips. “During quarantine, I went to Lake Tahoe. I went to Washington DC, Arizona [and] Las Vegas,” said Lasko who was also in Sweden at the time of this interview.

Recently, Lasko visited Dubai for a getaway with a friend where they rode camels, safely enjoyed the nightlife,

and explored the city. “It was for fun because I've been quarantining for so long. I just needed some sun, so me and my best friend decided to [go].”

For anyone a part of the SMC community who wants to travel internationally amid COVID-19, Lasko had a few recommendations. “I think you should follow the country's restrictions that you [go] to, so just read through that. When I was in Dubai, you had to have this app for COVID, or in certain countries like in America, you have to wear a mask...so respect the rules and take precautions like using hand sanitizer. If you feel a little ill then stay at home.”

Lasko mentioned that Dubai required the public to wear masks and that incoming travelers from the U.S. needed to test negative for COVID-19 before entering the city.

International travel is limited for U.S. citizens and travelers who spend more than 14-days in America. Non-essential travel, recreational activities, and tourism are prohibited for U.S. citizens in a few nations including Canada and Italy. Mexico is prohibiting non-essential travel across the Mexico-American border through Nov. 21, but they have no COVID-19 restrictions for travelers flying into the country.

Other restrictions for travelers from the U.S. include a 14-day quarantine

upon arrival, as enforced by Ireland, and a negative COVID-19 test that's taken within 10 days of departing the U.S., as enforced by Jamaica.

Domestic travel within the U.S. also has restrictions from state to state.

New York is one of a few states that requires a 14-day quarantine period with some exceptions. Hawaii recently stopped enforcing a 14-day quarantine at the end of October, resulting in an increase of COVID-19 cases statewide.

The new requirement is a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of arrival. Other states including Nevada, California, Colorado, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, and Florida, have no interstate COVID-19 restrictions.

Ingrid Devi Dasi is an SMC international student from Israel. Over the summer they went on a domestic trip from Los Angeles to Portland, Oregon.

They intended to drive but with the civil unrest that resulted from racial and political tensions, they felt safer flying to Oregon.

“As a trans person. I don't know how people will react to me in more rural areas,” said Devi Dasi. “I was just [thinking of] my safety and it’s been cheap so I can just fly.” Devi Dasi credits their affordable transportation to the pandemic as they were able to book a round-trip ticket for about $220 with American Airlines that would typically

cost over $400. American Airlines also allows flyers to make changes to their flights free of charge, which is another benefit stemming from the pandemic that multiple airlines have adopted, including Delta Air Lines and JetBlue.

Devi Dasi admitted that it was a trip they needed. Portland was a place they always wanted to visit and its beautiful nature allowed them an opportunity to relieve some stress and anxiety. “I had the biggest natural high of my life seeing those green lush trees,” said Devi Dasi.

“For me, that has been a life-changing experience.”

Big Sur, Monterey, Santa Barbara, Big Bear, Palm Springs, and Joshua Tree are cities that are local to Santa Monica and offer COVID-19 friendly accommodations for day trips and multiple-day getaways. They are travel destinations where tourists are able to participate in a variety of recreational activities such as hiking, camping, sightseeing, shopping, eating, and more. For more information on these cities, visit California’s tourism marketing website, www.visitcalifornia.com.

For updated COVID-19 safety guidelines from the CDC, visit www.cdc.gov, and visit the U.S. Department of State website for International COVID-19 travel restrictions.

Online Classes and Academic Stress at SMC Niamh Moore | Staff Writer

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uring the Spring 2020 semester Santa Monica College (SMC) abruptly went online in the time span of a few days.

Now nearing the end of the Fall semester many students are beginning to feel the toll online classes are taking on their academic career.

SMC recently announced that the Spring 2021 semester is going to be fully online.

Lillian Gibson is a freshman at SMC majoring in Sociology. She started her SMC journey at the beginning of the fall 2020 semester. She has yet to experience in person classes at SMC and what they have to offer. "I think that online school has taken a toll on my grades in a negative way, however, I do think my teachers are being reasonable and doing the best they can with the situation," said Gibson. "I don't think they are necessarily grading too harshly."

Students that have been attending SMC prior to this semester seem to be having a harder time coming to terms with how hard their professors have

been grading. There appears to have been a shift in what is expected from students this semester compared to last.

Edgar Jimenez, a current sophomore and Biology major at SMC said “I've been so busy teaching myself course material, completing assignments, and studying for exams that I haven't thought much about the final.

My grades have definitely been impacted negatively, I divert time from assignments to study for tests because they are worth a greater percentage of my grade. If classes were in person I would not be falling behind.”

There is a lack of communication that comes with online classes. Students are not getting the in person interactions they need, and most teachers do not require the use of a camera during zoom meetings. This allows students to do almost anything they want behind the black zoom box with their name in the corner.

Redelia Shaw is a media professor at SMC, she has tried to make her class as interactive and fun as possible, as well as educational. She implements the use

of break out rooms so that students have a chance to interact with one another other than just being in a large group setting. Even with the hard work of professors, there is still a lack of effort from students.

“I have definitely noticed less student engagement from last semester and I think it is due to the continued stress of the pandemic,” said Shaw. “It is hard for some students to focus on their studies with so many things in their lives going on that impact their academic success. It is equally challenging for all of the faculty and staff at SMC. I just think during these times, we have to be extra gentle with one another.”

Not only have professors graded more harshly this semester while teaching online, some have also begun to implement the use of Proctorio. Proctorio is a Google Chrome browser extension that monitors screens to make sure no other tabs are opened during tests.

It also requires the computer webcam be turned on so the ‘proctor’ can make sure test takers don’t cheat.

Some professors have decided to

opt out of using Proctorio and instead use their own set of standards to adapt in the online environment. Erica Alexis is a nursing student currently taking Physiology at SMC. “My professor told us that she has created the exams to be incredibly difficult and open-book to avoid the use of proctorio,” said Alexis.

Students also believe Proctorio has become a major invasion of privacy and are mainly concerned with the webcam and who is really watching them.

SMC recently released a statement on their website saying, “Through the Fall 2020 term, any student who objects to the use of Proctorio or other video-based online proctoring set ups must be granted an exception.”

Many SMC students are still unaware of this new information regarding Proctorio, “I had no idea about that,” said Gibson “I wish I had known that sooner and the administration had made teachers aware of that as well.”

Unfortunately academic stress and online school go hand in hand, and many have been struggling.

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Theo Gammage, a local biker, at Exposition Park. Los Angeles, Calif. Thurs., Nov. 12, 2020. (Octavia Anderson/ The Corsair)

Cruisin' in

Los Angeles Octavia Anderson | Staff Photographer

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outh Los Angeles, California is home to many historic landmarks like the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the Natural History Museum, and the Exposition Park Rose Garden. Pre-Coronavirus, these locations were entertainment

Skating at Exposition Park in Los Angeles, Calif. Thurs., Nov. 12, 2020.

(Octavia Anderson/The Corsair) Skaters photograph each other at Exposition Park in Los Angeles, Calif.

Thurs., Nov. 12, 2020 (Octavia Anderson/The Corsair)

and pop culture hotspots.

The skateboarding and biking community in front of the Exposition Park Rose Garden has existed for years.

This community consists of local skaters and bikers day to night, learning new tricks and sharing tips with a background of blooming roses in the garden.

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Dining Out Like

Never Before Romeo Kuhn | Staff Photographer

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ince the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States, restaurants have experienced severe swings in business and regulations, and have consequently been forced to morph their sales strategies. In March when businesses first shut down in California, restaurants were only able to offer ‘to go orders’. In June, establishments

were allowed to open their facilities for outdoor dining, and have been able to do so since.

Restaurants in the Los Angeles area, including Venice Ramen, have attempted to make the outdoor dining experience positive. The ramen restaurant originated in Tokyo, Japan, and has grown into a multi-national chain.

Owners hope to maintain a positive and friendly atmosphere.

Santa Monica Seafood now offers

outside seating, but has shifted their business model to focus on the sale of fresh fish and other take-home products.

Huckleberry Cafe has also transitioned to outside dining and curbside pick-up for a variety of fresh baked breakfast and lunch goods.

Cashier Gabby Owens at Santa Monica Seafood in Santa Monica, Calif. on Oct. 8, 2020. (Romeo Kuhn/The Corsair)

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Restaurant Manager Keely Obar, at the take out section of Huckleberry Cafe in Santa Monica, Calif. on Oct. 8, 2020. (Romeo Kuhn / The Corsair)

Ramen noodles (shown with chicken) are the specialty at Hideki Mochizuki’s restaurant Venice Ramen in Marina del Rey. (Romeo Kuhn/The Corsair)

Resaurent Owner Hideki Mochizuki, owns 4 locltions in Tokyo. Their LA counterpart, Venice Ramen is located in Marina del Rey, Calif.

They serve handmade noodles, fresh everyday.

Oct. 8, 2020.

(Romeo Kuhn/ The Corsair)

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OPINION

News Flash: The Pandemic is Not Over Romelin Barrios | Opinion Editor

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y Uncle Tali was one of the best people you could meet. The minute he entered a room, the atmosphere lifted and you just knew that you’d have a great laugh because of his infamous sense of humor. He was easy to spot at every family reunion, you could never miss the worn-out sombrero and infectious laugh. Among many of the things that he was, Uncle Tali was also careful.

When COVID-19 had its first outbreak in the states, he reminded his family to stay safe. When quarantine was first invoked in Los Angeles, he stayed inside as much as possible and abided by all the precautionary guidelines when he had to leave his house.

However, Coronavirus is cunning, and as my family learned, even the most careful still fall victim to it.

Despite all the measures he took to prevent from contracting the

virus, my Uncle Tali tested positive for COVID-19 on Sept. 29. After a few days battling merciless symptoms, he was rushed to the ER. His physical state weakened, and soon after he was put on a ventilator. Every worst-case scenario manifested, and within a week, my family was struck with the news of his passing on October 5.

His death hit us heavily. It was rather hard to process the fact that someone so lively was no longer alive.

When you experience the death of a close one, naturally, you want to find someone or something to blame. In my uncle’s case, we could put the blame on anything really; on tired doctors, on overflowed hospitals, on the virus itself, but in retrospect, the blame was only on ourselves.

My uncle’s passing came at an interesting time in this pandemic.

Starting July, the Trump Administration had pulled back on an already flimsy attempt to control the spread of the virus. Life was slowly adapting to a new

normal. Restaurants and other public spaces had begun reopening, people started to socialize outside of their quarantine bubble, and masks even seemed to slowly disappear in certain areas.

Though it was obvious we were all ready to go back to the way things were before the pandemic, rising COVID-19 cases pointed in the opposite direction. The United States quickly became the epicenter for recorded cases, accumulating a total of 11 million diagnosed as of November. In California, cases have surpassed the one million mark, ranking second only to Texas. My Uncle Tali became one of the 246,000 recorded deaths in the U.S.

The trouble with this virus does not come from lack of research or even a bad immune system; it stems from our collective decision to feign ignorance. We go out to eat, we enjoy the simplicities of strolling down avenues, all in the middle of a raging pandemic.

We don’t want to believe it, but things

have not gotten better. COVID-19 cases are jumping through the roof, hospitalizations surge, and people are dying. We are only as close to the end of this as we were in the beginning; except now a large portion of the country’s population no longer respect the dangers of this virus.

The coronavirus is predicted to reach a second peak in the winter, and with it will also come a peak in deaths.

Our current administration refuses to effectively tackle this issue, so it's up to us to take charge. Above all things, this virus is preventable. Go to public spaces only if you need to, wear a mask at all times, and stay home. My uncle Tali could’ve been anyone; your brother, your father, a friend, or your neighbor. And in this reality, he still can be.

If we’re not careful, many deaths that could have been prevented will continue to occur, and there will be no-one to blame but us.

The Left Eats Its Own Michael Goldsmith | Staff Writer

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s liberals turn their focus away from soon to be ex-President Donald Trump, it’s only a matter of time before they go back to doing what they’re best at: attacking each other using Republican talking points, alienating potential allies, and taking their eyes off the prize of effecting substantive and lasting political change.

While Democrats managed to take back the White House, they lost numerous races in the House of Representatives just two years after their 40-seat “Blue Tsunami” of 2018. They also dramatically underperformed in key Senate races across the country, with the two Georgia runoff elections being their last hope of regaining a majority. How was it that Democratic congressional candidates across the country did so poorly, while President-elect Joe Biden easily coasted to victory by turning traditionally red states like Georgia and Arizona blue?

Part of it’s simple — because Biden represented what most Americans want, a practical moderate who intends to find common ground. It also didn’t hurt that he ran against a once-in-alifetime political lighting rod who never succeeded in gaining the approval of a majority of Americans. As the Jan. 20 inauguration nears, Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris have al-

ready begun to feel the heat from some on the left.

One of the defining characteristics of adults is the ability to choose the best of two or more imperfect options.

It’s great to have lofty political goals, but if you can’t get a majority of Americans and Congress to go along, it ends up amounting to nothing more than a pipe dream. President Barack Obama didn’t hold out for a perfect healthcare plan that was never going to get passed into law — he accepted reality, compromised, and allowed tens of millions of uninsured Americans to gain healthcare coverage, along with protecting over 100 million Americans with preexisting conditions.

Obama was a profoundly un-woke political realist who focused on setting and achieving obtainable goals.

Like Biden and Harris, he continually evolved as a person during his time in politics, including when it came to policy issues like same-sex marriage, climate change, and foreign intervention.

Contrary to the “alternative facts” bubbles on social media, a majority of Americans are political centrists. Even far-left progressives and far-right conservatives still adhere to basic principles like compromise and free elections.

The major political problem in America today is radical extremists who would rather burn down the system than not get their way.

Radicals on the right include an-

ti-government militants, totalitarian religious groups, and the cultish portion of Trump-sters. On the left these extremists take the form of anti-government anarchists, nihilists, and the self-appointed Woke-ster clergy. None of these people accurately represent real-world America.

These radicalized corners of American politics share many fundamental values. They look at people who disagree with them politically as the enemy. They maintain a victimhood mentality. They lump entire sections of society into monolithic groups, who they then stereotype and demonize.

They make excuses for violence and criminal behavior perpetrated by those they deem social or political allies. They whine about politics being “rigged” when elections don’t go their way. And most of all, they love putting their feelings over facts while diving head-first into conspiracy theories and safespace information silos.

One key difference between these two groups is voting. The radical right generally votes for political candidates who have a chance of winning, while the radical left always finds a reason not too. You don’t have to dig through the dusty pages of history to understand this — just flashback four years ago to the 2016 election.

Trump represented much of what the political right has been crying about for decades — a lazy coastal elitist who

mooches off the system as he thumbs his nose down at working-class people. Yet once it looked like he was their best bet to win, you couldn’t keep them off the Trump Train. The reason was simple: political power, and the ability to effect substantive and long-lasting change.

Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell made a historic political bet when he stole a Supreme Court seat from Obama, using it as coercion for the political right’s vote. That bet has paid off in three Supreme Court Justices over the last four years. While many liberals were busy using Republican talking points to smear the horrible email lady as the “lesser-of-two-evils”, those on the right stayed focused on consolidating political power for decades to come.

The lessons of recent past are there for the political left to learn, but they won’t. Try listening to what a majority of Americans want, not the Trumpsters, Wokesters, or Russian bots. Don’t allow yourself to be boxed in by extremists on either end of the political spectrum, especially pundits and propagandists who make their living off of triggering the sheep. Enact common sense policy decisions that address the basic needs of the American people. You know, govern.

The next four years will be a fascinating experiment for America’s political left. The question remains whether they rise to meet the moment, or stay true to their cannibalistic roots.

SPORTS

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High Hopes for SMC Football Program Aja Marshall | Copy Editor

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s the Fall 2020 semester comes to a close, Santa Monica College’s football team, the Corsairs, are gearing up for the Spring Semester. COVID-19 led to a cancellation of the 2020-2021 season, which forced the team to move practices, meetings, and communication online.

Head Coach Kelly Ledwith has recorded and posted the Corsairs’ weekly team meetings online to accommodate players who work and attend other classes. However, he admits that going virtual has made it hard to get the team together since they can’t practice in-person on a regular basis. In addition, the incoming freshmen and returning players haven’t met in-person or played together. Despite the challenges, Ledwith is optimistic that they’ve made the most of the extended off-season.

The team has even made some changes defensively and offensively that Ledwith feels will benefit the players next year. The defense will now be “a 4-3 or a 4-2 team with four-down defensive linemen,” said Ledwith. “We think it will help us with the personnel we have [and] feature some of the guys in their skill sets better. Also, it'll provide a very similar look at practice for what we normally see throughout the season.”

On the offensive side, the team will continue with the run-pass option type plays that were successful last season. “[We’re] continuing to build out the different types of formations we used to help create some different mismatches for our players,” Ledwith said. “We've got some really good skilled players

coming back.”

He also mentioned that the freshmen will be a large group next season, creating the foundation of the team.

He’s confident that their strength in

ing, virtually attending classes, and not able to play football. Robertson is also working multiple jobs to support himself during the pandemic. Overall he is thankful to have the team as a strong

Santa Monica College football coach Kelly Ledwith calling the next play before players go on to the field on Sat., Nov. 9, 2019 in Santa Monica, Calif. (Kevin Tidmore/The Corsair)

numbers, combined with the leadership of over 65 returning players, is a recipe for a strong team.

Sophomore defensive back, Kason “Drilla” Robertson, shares a similar opinion. “We [have] the right amount of guys returning to help mold the young guys coming in,” he said. He is originally from Cleveland and aspires to attend the University of Southern California or the University of California, Los Angeles.

Robertson spoke about the challenges COVID-19 imposes on the team.

The players are socially distant, work-

support system that provides supplies and resources to a lot of the players, and finds ways to combat the precarious circumstances of the pandemic.

“We have a group chat,” said Robertson. “We video call each other and talk about some defensive stuff. We might joke and laugh about some stuff, you know what I'm saying. [We’re] just doing a lot of team bonding.” He mentions that bonding sessions have allowed them time to assess and sort out the mistakes they made last season.

“A lot of immature stuff goes on in the locker room sometimes and it can

be poison to a team,” said Robertson.

“We’re just trying to figure out everything that stopped us from being a champion contender team… But for me, winning a championship is where I want to be and where we're trying to be.”

Robertson also said the team’s new defensive coordinator means serious business and will help improve the team’s performance on the field.

Of course, this all depends on whether the Corsairs will have a chance to play next season. According to Coach Ledwith, the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) confirmed their COVID-19 plan to reduce the number of games by 30% and let each district and its local health department decide if it’s safe for the teams to play. They are also eliminating “state-level championships to reduce the amount of cross-regional travel,” said Ledwith.

“At the junior college level, athletics is run through classes. You can't play on the football team unless you're in the football class,” Ledwith said. So although LA County has approved team playing to continue, they have not approved in-person athletic classes that junior colleges require their athletes to take. This means that junior colleges, including SMC, cannot continue their athletics.

Ledwith believes SMC is expected to decide sometime before mid-December if football will restart in the Spring.

In the meantime, the Corsairs continue to prepare for a strong season whether they play in the Spring or the Fall of 2021.

SMC Kinesiology Classes Adapt to Online Learning Mario Burgos | Staff Writer

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ome classes can be harder to virtually learn than others. Santa Monica College (SMC) kinesiology classes, which study the mechanics of body movement, are an example of this.

Johanna Bennet, an associate professor in Kinesiology at SMC, has explained her experience with teaching online to be more challenging, but not impossible. Bennet feels yoga classes transfer pretty well into the internet world, and despite difficulties, she has a

lot of success with the class.

Bennet believes that professors have to be more outgoing for these upcoming semesters. She’s been taught “to be more jubilant than normal, and to [smile] a lot and be really charming,” she said. Having students interact with each other is much more difficult, and keeping them interested is another challenge in itself.

With classes on campus limited, Bennet now works from the privacy of her home and has a specific area where she teachers her virtual yoga classes.

Through Zoom meetings, she includes

discussions and frequent breakout sessions in her classes trying to do her best to help students get to know one another. "You go to college to meet people, to date, to make friends, to connect, and this is not plausible now in this environment,” said Bennet. “This is something I feel very bad for."

Katelyn Qualey is another SMC Kinesiology instructor who teaches yoga.

Despite decreased enrollment, fewer classes, and a feeling of disconnect between students and the class, Qualey said she “would encourage anyone to try a kinesiology class during quaran-

tine," as she believes it’s still worthwhile.

SMC is offering a limited amount of Kinesiology classes during the winter session, including yoga, boxing, and pilates. For the spring semester they are offering more, including exercise and sport psychology, self defense, cross country and fitness walking courses.

SMC offers an associate degree and associate degree for transfer in Kinesiology, as well as a certificate in Athletic Coaching. For more information about the Kinesiology and Physical Education department at SMC you can visit the kinesiology website.