The Corsair Issue 7 Fall 2022

December 7, 2022 | VOLUME 124 ISSUE 7 | SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

Elegance in a Nutshell Read more on page 4

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

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Dec. 7, 2022

CONTENT News: pg. 3 Arts & Entertainment: pg. 4-5 Photo Story: pg. 6-7 Sports: pg. 8-9 Opinion: pg. 10

EDITORIAL STAFF Katheryne Menendez | Editor-in-Chief Jackson Tammariello | Managing Editor Marlene Herrera | News Editor Michael Zavala | Culture Editor Sosana Shelah | Opinion Editor Anna Sophia Moltke | Photo Editor Sasha Funes | Sports Editor Aaliyah Sosa | Arts & Entertainment Editor Ee Lin Tsen | Multimedia Editor Anna Moricz | Multimedia Editor Neil O'Loughlin | Design Editor Cecil Alsanussi | Design Editor Madison Piker | Social Media Editor Brittney Ornelas | Social Media Editor Timothy Lewis | Copy Editor Anthony Clingerman | Copy Editor Conor Heeley | Copy Editor Andrea Marcy | Digital Editor

During the Pre Finals Chill Out at Santa Monica College, puppies were brought to the school for students to pet and play with as a way to de-stress before finals week. December 6, 2022, Santa Monica, Calif. (Jamie Addison | The Corsair)

CORSAIR STAFF | Caylo Seals | Tyler Simms | Nick McCall | Jamie Addison | Ethan Swope | Reis Novakovic | Danilo Perez | Otis Vega | Corey Fishwick | Guadalupe Perez | Rebecca Hogan | Lucian Polk | Kerrington Dillon | Jakob Walther | Emma Krul | Eva-Love Jopanda | Deshawn Pouper | Khadija Bellaftouh | Saige Washington | Brian Saurin | MyDari Baker | Richard Mendez | Drew Andersen | Kandy Barba-Downs | Josh Hogan |

FACULTY ADVISORS Sharyn Obsatz | Journalism Adviser Gerard Burkhart | Photo Adviser Samantha Nuñez | Social Media 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 PAGE Jasime Harrison (right) and Maté Szentes (left) dancing together during the Grand Pas de Deux right before the finale of The Nutcracker performed by Westside Ballet of Santa Monica at the The Broad Stage in Santa Monica, Calif. on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022. (Caylo Seals | The Corsair)

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR My very first Corsair assignment was a beach clean-up article in Fall 2021. My partner and I were tasked with covering organizations responsible for beach cleanups, and how they were working to clean Santa Monica Beach. We were looking for one in particular, but the location online was vague and we never ended up finding it. What we did find were different people coming out and cleaning our beach, and we ended up interviewing whoever we could. It was during this assignment that I was first introduced to the field of journalism, and how it can be used to tell other’s stories.

As the assignments continued, I grew more and more involved with journalism. This year, I was given the opportunity to be the Editor-in-Chief (EIC) of The Corsair, Santa Monica College's student run-newspaper. During my time as EIC, I learned that leadership is a lot more than a simple head of command that tells others what to do. A leader is nothing without their team— true leadership involves building your team members up and encouraging them to reach their potential.

The members of the newsroom I have had the privilege to work with are very determined to use their voices to tell stories that need to be told. Every time The Corsair publishes an article, captures a photograph, and creates an infographic or illustration, there are countless writers, photographers, designers, and editors working incredibly hard. And I am more than grateful to have been given the chance to help my team share their stories and the stories of others this past year.

Editor-in-Chief

NEWS

Dec. 7, 2022

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SMC, Meet Your New Trustee Saige Washington | Staff Writer Emma Krul | Staff Writer

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he new Santa Monica College (SMC) Board of Trustees member Tom Peters was officially sworn in on Dec. 5. A first-time Trustee, Peters says he is very familiar with its members and practices. He went to hundreds of Board meetings while he was a member of the Student Affairs Committee, Faculty Association Executive Board, and the Center for Student with Disabilities’ Scholarship Committee.

“I'm not new to the board, I'm new on the board. So I think I have a nice advantage of just being able to meld in with them and get things done right out of the gate,” Peters said.

Before retiring in 2020, his efforts as a faculty member created what he called ‘universal design,’ which enables all classroom and online materials to be accessible to all students.

Peters ran as a candidate who supported Measure SMC, which was also on the November ballot. The measure allows the Santa Monica College District to issue $375 million in bonds that will go to facility renovations. According to Peters, these renovations are key to SMC continuing its services for students after the effect COVID-19 had on

student's academic performance.

"Once we get the classrooms up to more that kind of technology that really make whether you’re at home or in the classroom a rich experience, that’s revolutionary as well,” Peters said.

Peters said that even though SMC has the highest ratio of counselors to students in the California Community College system, 300 students per counselor, the counseling department could use more resources due to traumatic times that pandemic caused students who are returning to classrooms.

The fall 2022 semester is the first time many students are back for in-person instruction since the COVID-19 pandemic forced all classes to be held online. However, most of the courses that SMC offers have a hybrid option, which Peters believes should continue for the betterment of students.

“Why not have the best of both worlds?” he said.

With all of his Santa Monica community experience, Peters says there won’t be many “growing pains” as he works with the Board, this time as a Trustee.

“I'm not new to the Board, I'm new on the Board."

Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair

Santa Monica College Board of Trustee member Tom Peters stands in the Center for Media Design campus on Monday, Nov 28, in Santa Monica Calif.

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

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Dec. 7, 2022

Left, Sophie Wilson as Clara shrinking as the toys begin to come to life in the first act, second scene.

Right, Antonio Lopez as Dr. Drosselmeyer fixing the toy nutcracker after it was broken during the first act, first scene.

Lilly Olvera as the Sugarplum Fairy surrounded by performers playing Spanish Chocolate holding flower wreaths in the second act.

Elegance in a Nutshell Caylo Seals | Staff Writer

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he curtains are closing for Westside Ballet of Santa Monica’s “The Nutcracker.” This final showing of the year was held at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022. stage.

The stage was filled with applause and the audience leapt to their feet as this year’s holiday tradition came to an end. Many of these performers have practiced for this show for several months, and some have done this same production for many years. For this show, rehearsing started in late August.

“It takes a long time to get six-

teen people to all dance together,” Caprice Walker said, the Associate Artistic Director of Westside Ballet. Walker shared with the Corsair how difficult managing a team of performers can be “when it becomes their turn, we rehearse their roles so they can master those steps.”

Westside Ballet’s rendition of “The Nutcracker” was originally choreographed by the founders of the company Yvonne Mounsey and Rosemary Valaire. It has adhered to this initial composition since 1973.

The months of rehearsing it takes to perfect this performance

have led some to have mixed feelings about the last performance.

“Today’s a bittersweet day. It’s the last day, but I feel a little bit of relief because before you go on stage you always have that feeling of butterflies in your stomach,” Isabel Bugacov said.

Bugacov was one of the featured artists that performed for the show as a Spanish Chocolate, a Marzipan Mirliton, and a Flower.

“It’s the longest-running production in Southern California, and it’s a privilege that we get to dance on stage.”

Kalea Harrision (left) and Evan Swenson (right) playin

Dec. 7, 2022

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

ng the roles of Snow Queen and Snow Cavalier during the first act, second scene.

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"Today’s a bittersweet day."

- Isabel Bugacov

Jasime Harrison (right) and Maté Szentes (left) dancing together, as the characters Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier, during the Grand Pas de Deux right before the finale.

Photos by Caylo Seals

Sophie Wilson as Clara clutching her toy nutcracker during the party in the first act, second scene.

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P H OTO S TO R Y

Dec. 7, 2022

Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair

Daniel Goba watches Cameroon approaching the goal making a winning score against Brazil 1-0 at South African-owned Springbok Bar & Grill in Van Nuys, on Fri., Dec 2.

(R) Christian Granzow lets out a cheer while (L) Homs, an Iranian, shouts in frustration as the USA team sco this match at Busby's West sports bar and restaurant in Santa Monica, California. The USA team won the m

World Cup Shouts an Anna Sophia Moltke | Photo Editor

T Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair

Soccer fans rooting for team USA react when a referee does not call a foul during the second half of FIFA World Cup USA vs. Iran soccer match at the Santa Monica Brew Works, on Tues., Nov 29. USA beat Iran 1-0.

The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 continues to stoke an array of emotions from fans watching the Qatar games from around Los Angeles.

Fans take to public settings like local bars to share in the spectacle by shouting for and against referee calls and jumping for joy at their teams’ scored goals.

On Saturday, Dec. 3, team USA fell out of the running for World Cup series contention in a match against the Netherlands, Team USA scored

one goal agains nents during the and lead the cro the Santa Monic to chant, “USA The crowd without celeb ter the team lost to the Ne Experiencing a in a public settin time, Elliot Low watch this ma ta Monica B “It’s as if rehears proximity to my

Dec. 7, 2022

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Anna Sophia Moltke | The Corsair

Elliot Lowell raises his fist as others cheer when team USA scores their first goal in the second half of the match versus the Netherlands on Saturday, December 3, at the Santa Monica Brew Works Bar. USA lost to the Netherlands 3-1.

Nicholas McCall | The Corsair Ee Lin Tsen | The Corsair

ores their first goal against Iran in the first half of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The two soccer fans watch match, beating Iran 1-0 on Tuesday, November 29, 2022.

Jean Choi, Irene Choi, and Danny Shon, from Jean Ballet School, play drums and gong during the Koreatown Community World Cup Viewing Party at Koreatown Plaza on Monday, Dec. 5, in Los Angeles, Calif. Korea lost to Brazil 4-1.

p Calls for nd Hollers

st their oppoe second half, owd of fans at ca Brew Works A, USA, USA.” left the bar bration afm ultimately etherlands 3-1. a soccer game ng for the first well chose to atch at SanBrew Works. rsing a sense of identity, pret-

ty contextually nationalistic,” Lowell said following the game.

Team USA no longer qualifies for World Cup champion status, but supporters of the remaining qualifiers continue to watch in social settings in Los Angeles.

The quarter-final matches will be Croatia versus Brazil, Netherlands versus Argentina, England versus France, and Morocco versus Portugal. The two teams that make it to the final will compete for the title of FIFA World Cup Champion on Sunday, Dec. 18.

Ee Lin Tsen | The Corsair

(L-R) David Massey, Stephan Ruers, and Dov watch in anticipation as the USA soccer team play Iran in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Busby's West sports bar and restaurant in Santa Monica on Tuesday, Nov. 29.

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SPORTS

Dec. 7, 2022

Santa Monica College Corsairs Women's Volleyball Coaches Paddy Pan (Assistant) and Christian Cammayo (Head) during the women's volleyball match against the Glendale Community College Vaqueros on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, at SMC Gym in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 3-0.

“Now we’re understanding that the work we put in got us pretty close, and now we want to put in even more work to get even further,” -Christian Cammayo

Season Recap: Wo Sasha Funes | Sports Editor Emma Krul | Staff Writer

T The Santa Monica College Corsairs' Women's Volleyball team pose for the camera during the match against the College of the Desert Roadrunners on Friday, October 7, 2022, at the Corsair Gym in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 3-2.

he Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsairs women’s volleyball team finished off the season in second place in the Western State Conference (WSC) Southern division with a 9-3 record.

They finished the season with a 19-8 overall record and that set them up to be the No.11 seeded team for the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Southern California regional playoffs.

On Saturday, Nov. 26, the Corsairs played their final game against the No. 3 Moorpark College Raiders, losing 3-1.

Unfortunately, the third round of the playoffs was as far as they’d make it but head coach Christian Cammyo felt the team had lots to be proud of.

“When the season ended, we were number one in the state in blocks, we were tied for 1st in the state for aces, and we were also top 10 in both kills and assists. These were all kinds of fantastical statistical measures,” Cam-

SPORTS

Dec. 7, 2022

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Santa Monica College Corsairs' Savannah Haislip bumps the ball during the women's volleyball match against the Glendale Community College Vaqueros on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, at SMC Gym in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 3-0.

(Above) Santa Monica College Corsairs' Mackenzie Wolff bumps the ball during the volleyball match against the College of the Canyons Cougars on Friday, Oct 28, at SMC Gym in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs lost 1-3.

Santa Monica Corsairs' Rain Martinez and Sophia Lawrance hug after scoring against the College of the Canyons Cougars on Fri. Oct. 28 at SMC Gym.Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs lost 1-3.

Photos By Nicholas McCall | The Corsair

omen’s Volleyball mayo said.

Both captains, Anderson and Wolff, played their final season for SMC, leaving hard to replace spots on the roster for next season, but a season to look forward to.

Cammayo noted that one area of growth for the team next season is the mental aspect of the game, especially maintaining discipline as there were some sets where the team would lose focus and let the game go on too long.

Physically, the Corsairs always did a stellar job with practices and discipline in the weight room, which in turn helped develop team bonds. The season had its “highs and lows” as Cammyo put it, both physically and mentally but the final game left them hungry for more next season.

“Now we’re understanding that the work we put in got us pretty close, and now we want to put in even more work to get even further,” Cammayo said.

Santa Monica College Corsairs' Halle Anderson during the women's volleyball game against the West Los Angeles College Wildcats on Wed., Oct. 26, 2022 at SMC Gym. The Corsairs won 3-0.

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OPINION

Dec 7, 2022

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Stress Relief Never Tasted So Good Emma Krul | Staff Writer

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eople have long since practiced certain activities like yoga and meditation as stress reducing activities, but I’d like to add one more to the list — baking. As a student, daily life stresses can often feel inescapable. As finals week draws closer here at SMC, it’s more important than ever that I make the time to relax and clear my head. I’ve been able to find that escape in baking, and I think you may too.

Part of the reason I find it near difficult to relax is because anxiety-inducing thoughts seem to never go away.

Thoughts of upcoming deadlines, exams, essays, and looming college applications permeate my mind at every second of every day. Embarrassing moments and failures from days long past remain imprinted in my mind, there to haunt me whenever they seem fit.

This unwanted chaos leaves my mind when I bake. I become so consumed by the baking process: careful-

Illustration By Cecil Alsanussi

ly following instructions, meticulously measuring, all of those simple little tasks. It becomes near impossible for me to do or think about anything else.

“When you focus your attention on an activity like baking, you’re more present in the moment and less focused on the stressors of the past or future,” says Pamela Honsberger MD according to the Kaiser Permanente website.

SMC student Karina Duque has found this to be true in her own life when she bakes. “I think following instructions — just, for like, humans in general — having an order and a list to follow is pleasing… I find it a lot more therapeutic because I’m in control of everything.”

While baking with your friends and family can certainly be a good time, it doesn’t provide the same sense of self care nurtured during solitary baking. It wasn’t until this year I began to view baking as a great way to spend my alone time. While it’s certainly fun baking with my friends and family, I often find myself either relegated to the

sidelines looking on or trying too hard to delegate the tasks. The result is not very relaxing.

“I think the best thing about baking by yourself is that you are in full control … it’s kind of just your ‘me time’ — same as people do yoga and workout by themselves because you get into that like super focused mode where it’s just you are so at peace and focused on what you’re doing so you don’t have time to worry about anything else,” Duque said.

When I bake, I tune others out.

Sometimes I’ll put on a podcast, listen to some music, or throw on an episode of “Gilmore Girls” in the background — but my sole focus is on the baking process. I rarely even care how the finished product turns out, for me the enjoyment relies more on those little medial tasks that fill the instructions. It's like I have a blinder on, unable to see the past or present, and all that matters is that I pour exactly a half teaspoon of vanilla extract in my mixing bowl.

I’ve found it a good mentality to

have, because I never said I was actually good at baking. I will never be ‘star baker’ on the “Great British Bake-Off” (nor would I ever make it on the show). The last time I made cookies, they had the consistency of putty. When I pressed down on it, it slowly rose again. You don’t have to be good at baking to experience the positive feelings that arise from it. Despite its failure, it was still well spent time that cleared my mind and left me relaxed and rejuvenated.

While there’s no alternative medical and professional help, baking can result in a less stressed self, a delicious tasting treat you can share with friends and family, and an all around good time.

“Getting to see what you made in the end, how it turned out, and then getting to share that with people close to you I think is also kinda self rewarding … not only does it provide a time to destress while you’re baking, but also at the end of if it you are satisfied,” Duque said.