The Corsair Fall 2025 - Issue 2

OCTOBER 1, 2025

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The Remembrance of a Beloved Heart

October 1, 2025 | Volume 128 FALL Issue 2 | Santa Monica College

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OCTOBER 1, 2025

Corsair Editors Editor in Chief Katie Easterson Managing Editor Mollie Bishop Photo Editor Jake Crandall Social Media Editor Nathan Hanson Digital Editor Tom Rosholt Arts & Culture Editor Kyla Downey Assistant Arts & Culture Editor Nastassia Melendez News Editor Kayjel Mairena Sports Editor Ciara Burris Multimedia Editors Tim Sim Jenna Tibby Opinion Editor Jeffrey Berrios Design Editor Scarlett Mendez Copy Editors Jacqueline Martin Jasmine Haro Hernandez Corsair Liaison Gregory Hawthorne

Faculty Advisors Gerard Burkhart || Photo Advisor Samantha Nuñez || Social Media Advisor Sharyn Obsatz || Writing Advisor Staff Writers Christian Chan, Diego Villalobos, Carlos Perez, Dillon Stafford, Neal Hebrard-DeFrance, Kollin Zullo, Catherine Lighton, Daisy Juarez, Rafael Lopez, Sofia Kieser, Wynn Blas, Samantha Oliva, Michael Diebert, Ty’reka Ray, Jordy Emanuel Mar, Patrick Conlon, Thais Bunai, Raymond Watts, Christine Muñoz

Inside Cover Kathy Hudson, mother of Felicia Hudson, reaches out to touch a ceremonial plaque for her daughter, alongside Felicia’s son, Patric Buckley, at the Felicia Hudson Remembrance Garden Ceremony, on Saturday, Sept.

27, 2025, at Santa Monica College (SMC), in Santa Monica, Calif. Felicia Hudson died on Oct 16, 2024, from a workplace shooting at the SMC Center for Media and Design campus.

(Jake Crandall | The Corsair) Back Cover Enkone Goodlow spray-painted a portrait at the 2025 Central Avenue Jazz Festival in South Los Angeles, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, to showcase his skills. (Kayjel J. Mairena | The Corsair) Inside Page Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsair TE (14) Bryson Woods celebrating with WR (2) Ramon Galvez III on Saturday, September 20, 2025, Santa Monica,Calif. The Corsairs won 66-28.

(Tom Rosholt | The Corsair)

Social Media Staff Andrew Starnes, Sebastian Mathews, Daniela Landaverde, Shaylee Guerrero, Zander Vega, Aleli Amores, Robert Ruckett, Maryeloise Samoya, Eve Huerta, Seth Sirmenis, Andrea Castillo, Verna Jones, Jared Blair Photographers Elizabeth Bacher, Jordi Garcia Sosa, Katy Santa Cruz, Micah Wilson, Juliana Frame, Fai Fong, Masie Najafi, Louis Ballard, Ana Sanchez Venegas, Danny Sanchez, Jayne Pitchford, Michael Knox, Kiros Nzuriw

Letter From The Editor

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OCTOBER 1, 2025

The only way out is through.

GRAPHICS FROM CANVA

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s it controversial to say that I hate summer? Maybe it is. For spice lattes are, in fact, good. Although I honestly prefer a good some, the hot weather is comforting, but I can’t relate.. I’ve pumpkin chai over coffee any day. struggled with seasonal depression my entire life, but I’ve always As The Corsair prepares for our second digital edition, I loved it when the warmth of September fades. I’ve always loved want to emphasize that our newsroom strives for diversity, and as when the leaves Editor in Chief, I recognize change colour focus as a college paper ors, and it feels is ensuring that everyone golden outside feels included in our work. when I step. So, At the end of the day, our when the heat of newsroom is student-run.

July and August While I would love for every washes over me, I single club and sports event practically disinto be highlighted by our tegrate. Despite publication, it is not always that, there are possible-– but this is somestill things I look thing I acknowledge and forward to. One hope to improve on as we of those being continue this semester. the blackberry Without further ado, I presbush my mom ent to you the second digital planted when I edition of the Fall semeswas a kid— It has ter. I accept October with invaded our front open arms, and I hope the yard at this point, warmth of September melts some berries fallaway. ing and molding, rotting away as colder weather approaches. It’s a reminder that Fall is coming, and the sadness that clings to my bones will start to break away.

Mental health should always be taken seriously. While I struggle with depression in the Summer, I know many others experience the same thing in the colder months of the year. I want to emphasize that you are seen, heard, and not alone. It’s difficult to reach out for help when sadness becomes overwhelming, but don’t let yourself drown in the feeling. Eventually, the waves will crash and the tide will be low. Healing is not linear; it’s messy, uncoordinated, and at times, unprecedented. Despite the saying being cheesy, I stand by it: The only way out is through.

With that, I want to thank my current staff of editors for their support so far— I couldn’t do this alone. Having Mollie, the managing editor, by my side has been a weight lifted off my shoulders, as well as our photo editor, Jake. I commend the hard work and dedication of all the Corsair staff. Scarlett, our design editor, spent over 12 hours with us on her first production day, and every section editor has worked diligently in their respective sections. I am eternally grateful to be working alongside all of you.

Autumn officially starts on Sept. 22 every year, and while the leaves don’t suddenly change, I look forward to the colder weather and pumpkin-flavored coffee. This might also be a controversial opinion, but I will scream it from the rooftops... Pumpkin

Editor in Chief

Katie Easterson

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NEWS

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Facing Down Grief: Losing the Campus’ Heartbeat SMC unveils a memorial rock dedicated to Felicia Hudson, days before the anniversary of her on-campus murder.

Kayjel J. Mairena | News Editor

A ceremonial plaque for Felicia Hudson is unveiled during a remembrance ceremony, who served as SMC’s Custodial Operations Manager, died on Oct 16, 2024, from a workplace shooting at the Santa Monica College (SMC) Center for Media and Design campus, on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, at SMC, in Santa Monica, Calif.

Jake Crandall | The Corsair

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If you haven’t been through this, you will never know how it feels,” said bereaved mother Kathy Hudson to guests at her daughter Felicia Hudson’s garden dedication ceremony.

“You laugh and you talk to people and you smile and you do this and you do that, but at the end of the day, your heart hurts,” said Kathy Hudson.

On Saturday, Sept. 27, Santa Monica College (SMC) unveiled a memorial rock for Felicia Hudson, the custodial operations manager who was fatally shot on campus nearly a year ago. To honor Felicia Hudson and her almost 30-year career at SMC, the school commissioned a monument in close coordination with her family.

“Felicia was, in many ways, the heartbeat of the college,” said Dr. Tre’Shawn Hall-Baker, Vice President of Human Resources. To others, she’s a woefully departed friend who’s memorialized on campus.

The rock sits between the Student Services Center (SSC) and the Theater Arts Building, at the intersection of where her energy, love, and passion were, said Dr. Lizzy Moore, SMC Foundation President and Dean of Institutional Advancement. “She serviced many areas of the campus, but these were two of the little key rooms and also just an area that everyone passes through,” Moore said.

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Santa Monica College (SMC) President Kathryn Jeffery speaks at the Felicia Hudson Remembrance Garden Ceremony, on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, at SMC, in Santa Monica, Calif. Felicia Hudson died on Oct 16, 2024, from a workplace shooting at the SMC Center for Media and Design campus.

Jake Crandall | The Corsair

Illustrations by Jenna Tibby

Before the ceremony, Moore cleared the vicinity and allowed the family to view the rock privately. No one spoke, but everyone observed as Kathy Hudson approached the memorial with her grandson, Patric Buckley — Felicia Hudson’s only child.

Kathy Hudson and Buckley stood in silence under an overcast sky, staring at the memorial rock adorned with white roses, candles and a plaque. The plaque reads, “Felicia Hudson, November 23, 1969 - October 16, 2024,” with Psalms 91:1 inscribed underneath a picture of her smiling.

The air was silent for a few minutes. Then, Kathy Hudson began to cry, prompting Buckley to embrace his grandmother and slowly rub her shoulder as they both bowed their heads.

SMC’s President and Superintendent, Dr. Kathryn Jeffery, opened the ceremony and spoke about her first days at SMC and seeing Felicia Hudson in the parking lot. She thanked Felicia Hudson’s family and explained the symbolism of the monument to the crowd.

Kathy Hudson, mother of Felicia Hudson, is consoled by Felicia’s son, Patric Buckley, at the Felicia Hudson Remembrance Garden Ceremony, on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, at Santa Monica College (SMC), in Santa Monica, Calif. Felicia Hudson died on Oct 16, 2024, from a workplace shooting at the SMC Center for Media and Design campus.

Jake Crandall | The Corsair

“The space is also intended to serve as a symbol of how the loss of her (Felicia Hudson) life leaves a void in the hearts of those she loved and those who loved and cared most about her. Those who called her mother, who called her sister, friend and beloved colleague,” Jeffrey said.

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Kathy Hudson spoke from the heart after Jeffery’s closing remarks, starting her speech by emphasizing her pain. She cries every day and hasn’t slept for more than four hours since Felicia Hudson’s murder, said the grieving mother. Kathy Hudson said, her voice quavering.

“I pray that I can sleep, but I can’t. I don’t want to be medicated. I don’t want to be nothing. I want to feel this. I want to get through this.”

Kathy Hudson then broke down and began to sob. Buckley rushed to the podium to console her, and once his grandma recollected herself, she continued. Kathy Hudson said she misses her daughter calling her to say, “Hey, old lady,” and as she expressed her grief, she experienced a momentary second of anger.

Kathy Hudson, mother of Felicia Hudson, clenches her hands during the Felicia Hudson Remembrance Garden Ceremony Fai Fong | The Corsair

“I want to scream to the top of my voice sometimes because it shouldn’t have happened to my daughter,” said Kathy Hudson as she punched the podium. “I’m so sorry, I go through this every day, y’all. Every day.”

Kathy Hudson said, “Nobody’s in the house with me, so nobody hears me; nobody hears me, but me. Nobody knows what I go through on a daily basis. But I know that I had a good daughter — everybody knows that. And I know she loved me, and I loved her, no matter what. I know y’all seen the toughness in her. You’ve seen the sweetness in her, I’m sure.”

Following her speech, Kathy Hudson walked towards her family, who surrounded her in a warm embrace. The guests watched, and once the DJ played “Safe In His Arms,” by Vickie Winans, people began to cry. As Winans belted, more people in the crowd started to cry; some men crossed their arms and hid their faces.

Bridgette Robinson, an SMC English professor, took the stage to read David Romano’s poem “When Tomorrow Starts Without Me.” Robinson slowly read to the weeping crowd as they clung to her words.

Hall-Baker closed the ceremony. She said a few kind words, delivered a prayer, and gave her final thanks.

According to Buckley, Felica Hudson had a “serious demeanor,” but it doesn’t reflect how silly and fun-spirited she was. She may have seemed intimidating, but not to those close to her.

“If they just interacted with her randomly, they may not know how big a heart she had, and how much she went above and beyond for the college, but also for the things that would benefit the students,” said Sherri Bradford, Program Leader for the Black Collegiate Program.

Bradford said, “One of the last things that she did was for the Black student graduation.

She donated the balloon art for the service, and she had such pride in it. I remember her saying that she was going to do it again.” Unfortunately, Felica Hudson never got the chance to.

Santa Monica College (SMC) English Professor Bridgette Robinson speaks at the Felicia Hudson Remembrance Garden Ceremony Fai Fong | The Corsair

“She was the epitome of who she was, to be of service to people. I miss that smile, I miss her funny ways. I’m glad that the college is honoring her in this way,” Bradford said.

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Friends of Felicia Hudson cry during the Felicia Hudson Remembrance Garden Ceremony, on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, at Santa Monica College (SMC), in Santa Monica, Calif. Felicia Hudson died on Oct. 16, 2024, from a workplace shooting at the SMC Center for Media and Design campus.

Jake Crandall | The Corsair

Dr. Tre’Shawn Hall-Baker, Vice President of Human Resources at Santa Monica College (SMC) speaks at the Felicia Hudson Remembrance Garden Ceremony.

Fai Fong | The Corsair

Santa Monica College (SMC) President Dr. Kathryn Jeffery (L) reaches for the hands of Kathy Hudson (second right), mother of Felicia Hudson, as Felicia’s son, Patric Buckley, sits beside her (R) during the Felicia Hudson Remembrance Garden Ceremony, on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, near the Student Services Center, Santa Monica College (SMC), Santa Monica, Calif.

Fai Fong | The Corsair

Kathy Hudson, mother of Felicia Hudson, touches a ceremonial plaque for Felicia Hudson at the Felicia Hudson Remembrance Garden Ceremony.

Jake Crandall | The Corsair

Friends of Felicia Hudson cry during the Felicia Hudson Remembrance Garden Ceremony, on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, at Santa Monica College (SMC), in Santa Monica, Calif. Felicia Hudson died on Oct 16, 2024, from a workplace shooting at the SMC Center for Media and Design campus.

Jake Crandall | The Corsair

Friends of Felicia Hudson mourn over her ceremonial plaque at the Felicia Hudson Remembrance Garden Ceremony.

Jake Crandall | The Corsair

Coastal Cleanup Day calls for a cleaner future 8

OCTOBER 1, 2025

Volunteers cleared trash off Santa Monica Beach at the annual International Coastal Cleanup day Mollie Bishop || Managing Editor

Collected trash and debris at the 36th annual Coastal Cleanup Day. Coastal Cleanup Day is California’s largest volunteer event.

(Elizabeth Bacher | The Corsair)

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nternational Coastal Cleanup Day was Sept. 20. This event is a global call to action, inciting people to pick up trash from waterways such as oceans, rivers and lakes in attempts to preserve wildlife. At Santa Monica beach, volunteers took to the coast with buckets and gloves provided by the Santa Monica College( SMC) Sustainability Center.

“We host this cleanup every year,” said Ferris Kawar, the sustainability director at SMC. “What we’re trying to do is to keep the man-made trash pollution from getting out into the ocean.”

Kawar led safety information orientations for over 200 volunteers prior to the cleanup. He explained to volunteers what items to pick up, and how trash on the beach affects both animals and humans alike.

“Sea life sees our man-made trash and they think it’s food… they’re eating it. They’re filling their bellies, they’re starving because they don’t have nutrients and they’re dying.” Kawar said. “And it’s a problem because we don’t want that to happen to birds and fish, but it’s also bio-accumulating up the food chain.” Because humans eat fish, what is in their system ultimately ends up in ours. “We’re getting the chemicals and the pollution in our diets.”

(L to R) Hanoch Serebrenik and Darren Kawaoka pick up trash and debris (Elizabeth Bacher | The Corsair)

Aside from picking up trash, Kawar has a few suggestions for the average person who is interested in making a positive impact on our environment. He pointed out that every building at SMC has filtered water fountains ideal for refillable water bottles, which are better than excessive discarding of plastic bottles. When bringing leftovers home from restaurants, he urges against taking plastic utensils and napkins if you have them at home.

“So it’s those little things that you can do,” he said. “ The most impactful thing a student can do is drive less.” 19% of Los Angeles greenhouse gas emissions are tied to transportation. “In Santa Monica we’ve got a lot of great bike paths… increasingly better transit options. We just need to break the mental habit of just going for the keys everytime.”

Ferris Kawar, Sustainability Project Manager at Santa Monica College, picks up eccentric found trash items placed on the corner of the collection tarp(Elizabeth Bacher | The Corsair)

The SMC Sustainability Center partnered with the Tau Tau Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha(AKA) Sorority and Heal the Bay for the event.

Heal the Bay is a Santa Monica based environmental nonprofit that is committed to creating cleaner coastal waters in the Los Angeles area.

AKA is a historically black sorority “dedicated to making a positive impact through impactful community service, uplifting one another, and upholding the principles of our sisterhood,” according to their website.

The organizations met at SMC’s adopted beach section, the Inkwell on coastal cleanup day.

The Inkwell is known as a historic site that aided in opening up public beaches for all races during the Jim Crow era. Historically, Santa Monica beach allowed black visitors while others looked down on this notion.

Nicolas Gabaldón, an SMC alumnus who was the first recorded Afro-Latino surfer in California, is recognized as a trailblazer and key component in integrating the beach. The Inkwell was originally a derogatory expression created by white SMC students in reference to Black beach go-ers. Despite this, the Inkwell remains a proud gathering spot for a variety of humanitarian efforts.

Ferris Kawar (center), Sustainability Project Manager at Santa Monica College, and Miles Bunell (R) sort trash from recycling while a volunteer (L) dumps out her bucket (Elizabeth Bacher | The Corsair)

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Kayjel J. Mairena | The Corsair A protester held a sign outside El Capitan Entertainment Centre in Hollywood, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 18, to protest the cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” after ABC indefinitely suspended the show following comments the host made on the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Kimmel Chaos

After a weekend of protest and praise, ABC reinstates Jimmy Kimmel after indefinitely suspending him for his comments about Charlie Kirk’s murder.

Jake Crandall |Photo Editor and Nastassia Melendez | Assistant Arts & Culture Editor

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immy Kimmel returned to his late-night show to cheers and applause on Tuesday, after ABC reversed its decision to remove “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” from its network for comments the host made on Charlie Kirk’s murder.

During the Sept. 15 taping of “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” the host claimed supporters of President Donald Trump were politicizing conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s murder for “points.” The following day, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, went on the “Benny Show” podcast to condemn Kimmel and remind the Walt Disney-owned ABC network about the FCC’s ability to revoke broadcasting licenses.

“We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr said. In response, Disney announced it would indefinitely suspend Kimmel’s show.

The announcement immediately sparked protests and calls for a boycott.

On Sept. 18, the Writers Guild of America and other labor unions organized a morning protest at Disney Headquarters in Burbank, Calif. In the afternoon, over 100 people protested outside El Capitan Entertainment Centre in Hollywood, where “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” is staged.

“Firms, to the universities, who capitulates to Donald Trump is enabling fascism,” said Sunsara Taylor, a far-left political activist and founder of Resist Fascism at the El Capitan protest.

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Taylor said, “We need to say no. We need to stand up and have the backs of every single person who comes under attack, whether we agree with them or not. We need to have their backs and wake up the tens of millions of people in this country.”

Protesters raised concerns over government overreach. Some warned that punishing comedians for their controversial statements sets a dangerous precedent. “They’re taking away our right to speak,” said Christopher Stanley, a Santa Monica College alumnus.

Stanley voiced his dissatisfaction and recommended that the FCC reinstate the Fairness Doctrine, a policy that required broadcasters to present differing viewpoints. It gives “two points of view rather than just one. If they want to regulate people, let’s get Fox News in here,” he said.

The protests continued through the weekend, and the call for a boycott went viral across social media platforms under “#CancelDisney,” ultimately reducing Disney’s market value by $5 billion. Legislators from both sides of the political aisle also began to criticise Carr’s response. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz called Disney’s decision “unbelievably dangerous” and warned that it will “end up bad for conservatives” on his podcast, “Verdict” with Ted Cruz.

Protesters placed signs outside El Capitan Entertainment Centre in Hollywood, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 18, to protest the cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” after ABC indefinitely suspended the show following comments the host made on the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Kayjel J. Mairena | The Corsair

The American Civil Liberties Union wrote a letter on Monday, Sept.

22, signed by over 400 entertainers, decrying the government’s attempts to “silence its critics.”

The same day, members of the Democratic delegation stood alongside union leaders outside the Dolby Theater in Hollywood to protest and hold a press conference. “You do not get to cancel the United States Constitution, not today, not tomorrow, not on our watch,” said Rep. Laura Friedman, D-Calif., to the crowd, while holding a large poster of the First Amendment.

Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., spoke against the FCC’s attempt to censor speech, calling it an

“Authoritarian crackdown on our right to free speech.”

A protester held a sign outside El Capitan Entertainment Centre in Hollywood, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 18, to protest the cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” after ABC indefinitely suspended the show following comments the host made on the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Kayjel J. Mairena | The Corsair

Union leaders and politicians emphasized the impact that capitulating to the FCC would have on the entertainment industry. According to Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., if ABC doesn’t stand up to the FCC and the “radical extremist” Brendan Carr it’ll only get worse, and urged them to sue the federal government.

William Gude, known online as Film the Police LA, confronted several congress members after the press conference over their decisions to vote yes on House Resolution 719, Honoring the life and legacy of Charles “Charlie” James Kirk, after Kirk’s controversial remarks about Martin Luther King. “I voted to freaking condemn political violence,” yelled Lieu into the camera after Gude kept repeating the question.

Laura Friedman, a California Democratic member of the House of Representatives, speaks at a press conference hosted by local politicians and entertainment guilds to condemn political censorship in the wake of Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension.

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Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath speaks at a press conference hosted by local politicians and entertainment guilds to condemn political censorship in the wake of Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension in Hollywood, on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025.

Jake Crandall | The Corsair

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Within an hour of the press conference, ABC reversed its decision to suspend Kimmel. “Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country,” Disney said in a statement.

“It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive.” The statement continued,

“We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday,” In the hour before Kimmel’s first show since his removal, President Trump took to Truth Social to criticize Disney’s reinstatement. He called Kimmel’s show “another arm of the DNC” and insinuated that the White House will be taking action.

A protester held a sign outside El Capitan Entertainment Centre in Hollywood, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 18, to protest the cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” after ABC indefinitely suspended the show following comments the host made on the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Kayjel J. Mairena | The Corsair

Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group, which together own over 70 ABC affiliate stations and broadcast close to a quarter of American households, have vowed to preempt “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” and replace it with news programming. Both Nexstar and Sinclair have pending business requiring approval with the FCC, with Sinclair exploring merger options and Nexstar requesting approval for a $6.2 billion merger with Tegna.

Kimmel returned to his show on Tuesday, with tears in his eyes, and said,

“You understand that it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man. I don’t think there is anything funny about it.”

Activist journalist William G., known as Film the Police confronts Ted Lieu, a California Democratic member of the House of Representatives, over his decision to vote yes on House Resolution 719, Honoring the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk, at a press conference hosted by local politicians and entertainment guilds to condemn political censorship in the wake of Jimmy Kimmels suspension in Hollywood, on Monday Sept. 22, 2025.

Jake Crandall | The Corsair

He described Kirk’s murderer as a “deeply disturbed individual,” and recanted his previous comment before he reiterated his condolences to the Kirk family and condemned political violence.

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Brad Sherman, a California Democratic member of the House of Representatives, speaks at a press conference hosted by local politicians and entertainment guilds to condemn political censorship in the wake of Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension in Hollywood, on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025.

Jake Crandall | The Corsair

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Women’s Water Polo Season Abruptly Cancelled Dillon Stafford || Staff Writer

In a shocking turn of events, the Santa Monica College (SMC) women’s water polo season has been forfeited just before their conference match against Bakersfield College on Wednesday, September 24th at 3:30 pm. The abrupt cancellation results from the program failing to meet a sufficient roster size.

Santa Monica Women’s Water Polo head coach Brian Eskridge, also the SMC Aquatics Director at the SMC Aquatics Center on Tuesday September 30, 2025. Eskridge has been the Aquatics Director and head coach of the women’s and men water polo teams since 2019.

Gregg Hawthorne | The Corsair

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he women’s water polo team has been treading unsteady ground for quite some time now, unable to boast a record with more than four wins since the 2015-16 season. Out of 23 games in the 2024-25 season, the Corsairs finished just 2-21, constituting last place in the Western State Conference. In fact, over the previous decade, SMC finished four of its past ten seasons without a single win.

Santa Monica College Women’s Water Polo Captain Elisabeth Marcot, microbiology major and second year student, at the SMC Aquatics Center on Tuesday Sept. 30th, 2025 after the cancelation of the current season due to low enrollment.

Gregg Hawthorne | The Corsair

“We didn’t have enough players... We tried to hold on for as long as we could. But we weren’t able to fill the team,” - head coach Brian

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Mahoor Manteghi, a second-year student at SMC and current team member, offered to provide more clarity regarding the decision. “We have the exact amount of girls needed. However, classes and game schedules get conflicted … so when only one or two of the girls can’t go it messes up the whole team,” said Manteghi.

Coaches and players alike are devastated by the circumstance, given that just a marginally larger team would’ve ensured a whole semester of play. Despite a shaky 2-9 start to their season, this year’s team was eager to snap their losing streak with a big win at home.

“The morale going into every game is good. We all hope for the best and try our hardest.”

- Manteghi

Santa Monica College Women’s Water Polo Captain Elisabeth Marcot second year student, keeps goal secure during practice after the cancelation of the current season due to low enrollment.

Gregg Hawthorne | The Corsair

The Corsairs still had eight stand-alone games and two tournaments left to play ahead of Wednesday’s bout, which was nearly half of the season.

What exactly caused this season’s lack of participation remains unclear. Team members, however, point to limited visibility and support on campus as a probable cause.

Elisabeth Marcot, starting goalie and team captain, believes that the team, and to an extent the entire sport, is neglected

by SMC. “More than anything, the school itself needs to encourage students to join ALL sports. It’s common for the school to heavily advertise the soccer and football teams and sort of forget the less mainstream sports.” says Marcot.

She goes on further to add that unlike other sports that SMC offers, water polo gets virtually no attention from the school’s social media platforms. “They posted our schedule once on their story and then never again. Even the website has news stories from years before I was here, because not enough has been written recently to fill the page.”

Several players emphasized that lack of representation for the program was the most important issue this season, and smaller programs need external assistance to step out of the shadow of larger sports programs. Rather than a reluctance to play, potential talent may simply be unaware of the team’s recruitment efforts.

“With a little more visibility and support, more girls would see how fun and rewarding it is to be a part of this program.

Hopefully that can help us keep building for the future,” - Manteghi

Santa Monica College Women’s Water Polo Captain Elisabeth Marcot, microbiology major and second year student, keeps goal secure during practice in the pool at the SMC Aquatics Center after the cancelation of the current season due to low enrollment.

Gregg Hawthorne | The Corsair

For those interested in joining the program and helping build the team back up, you can contact head coach Brian Eskridge at eskridge_brian@smc.edu.

The program welcomes students of all experience levels, “Effort is a hundred times more valuable than skill or strength,” says Marcot. “Time and time again I have seen our best players be those who work their hardest every day, rather than those who join the program already proficient.”

Irrespective of the rather unfortunate end to the season, the team is adamant on persisting through adversity and remains steadfast in their faith of a brighter future for the program. “For now, we’ll keep practicing and improving so the first year girls can have a good shot next year.” said Manteghi.

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“Shut It Down!” Corsairs Football crush Roadrunners

(Tom Rosholt | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsair LB (0) Sherif Djato celebrates fumble recovery on Saturday, September 20, 2025, Santa Monica,Calif.

Mollie Bishop || Managing Editor, Douglas Macrae || Guest Writer

Touchdown after touchdown, Santa Monica Corsairs win 66-28 in fourth game of the season against College of the Desert Roadrunners at Corsair Field.

O n their home turf, Santa Monica College (SMC) football team, the Corsairs, defeated College of the Desert Roadrunners at Corsair Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 20. Within the first five minutes, it was clear that the Corsairs were prepared for success as two touchdowns were received by their tight end Bryson Wood and wide receiver Elijah Aaron.

At 4th and 17, the Roadrunners were required to punt. Kicker Mike Hoechsmann reached the 35 yard line where SMC’s Dylan Childs was able to recover for -1 yard before a big bang by roadrunner Sawyer Tether forcing a fumble. Struggling with incomplete passes, the Roadrunners were unable to score in the first quarter, giving Corsairs 14-0 lead.

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Dylan Moreno quarterback skills soared as nearly every possession by SMC ended with a touchdown. Only five seconds into the second quarter, Corsairs had their third touchdown of the night after a complete pass to Braydon Sanford for 16 yards.

Tight end Bryson Wood, became a focal point of the game after making a remarkable catch, gaining 92 yards for a touchdown. SMC fans howled in praise and wordless cheering as parents of Desert players shook their heads at Wood’s speed. The score was 52-14 Santa Monica at the end of the second quarter.

“What we did this week at practice definitely showed up today,” said Corsairs head coach Kelly Ledwith on behalf of the team during half time. “We ask them to outrun and outhit the other team between the whistles and they’ve been doing that all night. We got to come out and do that in the second half.”

Going into the second half, SMC quarterback Moreno was subbed out for freshman Ethan Berde who maintained the team’s high performance. Sophomore kicker Jaiden Espadas successfully scored every extra point SMC needed to secure their victory. Most of the calls were rushing plays for the rest of the night.

The Roadrunners displayed persistence and were able to close the game with double the points they had at half time. After a complete pass from quarterback Noah Vaughn-Isr, wide receiver Robert Taylor earned an 11 yard touchdown in the third quarter. Their final touchdown came in the last minute of the game, after a two yard rush by running back Aidan Nsubuga.

Each extra point kick attempt by Roadrunners Ryland Risk was good.

Tom Rosholt | The Corsair

The Santa Monica cheer squad was in complete game mode, too. They kept spirits high for the sparse crowd, consisting mainly of immediate family members of the players from both sides. However, one attendee had an unSanta Monica College (SMC) Corsair TE (14) Bryson Woods catches 92 yard touch- matched level of school spirit. “Wrap them up and lay them down!” cheered down pass on Saturday, September 20, 2025, Santa Monica,Calif. The Corsairs won Coach Benson, mother of Naiem Powell, Corsairs’ defensive back. Donning 66-28. ) a jersey with her son’s number in SMC colors, Benson is a former cheer coach that made herself a perfect addition to the grandstands experience, reminding fans,

“The scoreboard holds the truth!”

- Coach Benson

With a commanding lead over the Roadrunners, from kick off to the end of the game, Corsairs were the clear winners, landing a final score of 66-28.

This proved to be a comeback for the Corsairs’ after their loss a week prior at Victor Valley, 27-16. Before that, they won the first two games of the season.

Tom Rosholt | The Corsair Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsair (21) DB Jason Anderson returning an interception on Saturday, September 20, 2025, Santa Monica,Calif.

With only one loss and three wins during the 2025 Southern California Football Association’ season, the Corsairs are a dominating force in their division.

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SMC Women’s Volleyball Team Secure Third Consecutive Win!

OCTOBER 1, 2025

In a quick set of three, the Corsairs took down the Vaqueros, redeeming themselves from consecutive losses while achieving their third straight victory.

Jordi Garcia Sosa | The Corsair Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsair Mia Whitlock (#10) spikes against Glendale Community College (CC) Vaqueros Jessica Casper (#4) during a match at SMC Corsair Gym, Santa Monica, Calif., on Sept 26, 2025. SMC Corsairs won 3-0 against Glendale CC Vaqueros, winning their first conference game.

OCTOBER 1, 2025

SPORTS

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Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsairs’ (L to R) setter (14) Grace Poort and middle blocker (5) Nicole Lankton block Glendale College Vaqueros’ (1) Kelaiyah Johnson spike attempt on Friday, September 19, 2025, Santa Monica,Calif. The Corsairs won the match 3-0.

Tom Rosholt | The Corsair

Ciara Burris || Sports Editor

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oud and proud, the Santa Monica College (SMC) women’s volleyball team, out-blocked the Glendale College Vaqueros at the Santa Monica Gymnasium on Friday, Sept. 26. In a set of three, The Corsairs overcame the scoreboard, leaving 25-12, 25-16, 25-18.

SMC key players Nicole Lankton and Mia Whitlock both finished the matchup with 10.5 points.

When Libero Elanor Serrano from the Corsairs’ subbed back into the game for the final point of the second set, one section of SMC students began to chant

Within the first play of the game, Lankton jumped up, towering over the net, abruptly putting a point on the board for SMC. Deavan Antoine-Dillon followed right behind with a big kill for SMC, pushing setter Makena Gamby back to the service line, where she remained until a net violation during a rally, giving The Vaqueros their first point, 7-1. Middle blocker Eva Portnaya made an impact throughout the set, gaining points for the Vaqueros with successful kills, blocks, and a tip that kept SMC on their toes, ending 25-12.

After being sung “Happy Birthday,” from the section and sidelines, Serrano served a challenging serve that Vaquero’s libero Raelee Lanphear could not successfully get up. The Corsairs finished the second set 25-16.

Corsair students, family, and friends began to fill the gymnasium throughout the second set, increasing the energy. Double blocks came from Corsairs in pairs, Lankton and Whitlock or Lankton and Grace Poort. Rallies went on with intense swings from both teams, and back-to-back double blocks returned from the Vaqueros, Sarai Ochoa, and Journey Blueford. Numerous free balls were given by Glendale, allowing SMC to complete full bump, set, attack plays, increasing their points.

“ELLA! ELLA! ELLA!”

Portnaya, Ochoa, and Corsair errors led the Vaqueros to lead 5-1 within the first 3 minutes of the third set. They maintained holding the lead for quite some time as SMC continued to tie the game before allowing Glendale to recover and gain points. After a Glendale timeout, SMC was able to recover the lead with Whitlock, Antoine-Dillon, and Nadene Taase taking charge of the offense with powerful attacks and hustle. The Corsairs had continuous errors throughout the set but were able to finish it 25-18.

The next game for the Corsairs will be at the Santa Monica College Gymnasium on Wednesday, Oct. 1, at 6 pm to face off against Bakersfield College.

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ARTS AND CULTRE

OCTOBER 1, 2025

LA Opera opened their 40th season with a free live simulcast of ‘West Side Story’ to the Santa Monica Pier on Sept. 27. SMC Symphony Orchestra played a selection of pieces before the broadcast began, while patrons enjoyed activities such as face painting, caricature artwork, and learning more about Heal the Bay through a live baby swell shark on display.

Jenna Tibby || Multimedia Editor

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hush falls over the crowd scattered along the Santa Monica Pier boardwalk. Nestled together on plush flannel blankets or propped up in folding chairs, a faint glow casts over the audience from the Ferris Wheel flashing behind.

The huge screen at the front of the crowd lights up to reveal a live view of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. The string instruments from the Orchestra pit begin their reverberating hum of the Prologue from West Side Story, opening Los Angeles (LA) Opera’s 40th season.

LA Opera brought back its 12th iteration of “Opera and the Beach” to the Santa Monica Pier on Sept. 27, where between 2,000 and 4,000 people gathered to watch. Their opera ‘West Side Story’ was simultaneously streamed live to audiences at the Pier and Loma Alta Park in Altadena’s Wildfire Recovery Zone.

LA Opera hosts this free event annually as a way to make opera more accessible. Michelle Migaldi, the production lead on the simulcast, said,

“The initial idea and the reason we still do it today is to bring opera to the community for free, to make it accessible.”

- Michelle Migaldi It creates a more casual environment that isn’t always available in a theater, allowing for a greater variety of people, such as families, to enjoy the opera, she said.

Before the simulcast began, patrons were invited to listen to the orchestral stylings from Palisades Charter High Concert Band, Santa Monica High School Chamber Orchestra, and Santa Monica College (SMC) Symphony Or-

chestra. All featured a variety of pieces, including some instrumentals from West Side Story itself, in preparation for the opera.

The SMC Symphony Orchestra is an audition based program that features a wide range of musicians, including high school, college, professional and amateur musicians. The company, conducted by Mercedes Juan Musotto, has 120 members, 75 of whom performed for this event.

Ashley Turner, who plays cello in the Orchestra, has been with the company for two semesters now. Turner is in her 30s and doesn’t consider herself a traditional “student”, but instead found the Orchestra as a way to get back to her musical roots. “I used to play music all my life, and this got me back into it 15 years later,” she said.

Turner was excited about the experience of playing on the pier and stayed to watch the opera afterward. She didn’t know much about opera until last year, thanks to her involvement with the Orchestra. “I actually got to play with the (SMC) Opera for The Marriage of Figaro in the Spring. That was a blast, that was the first experience for me, and then that got me into LA Opera,” she said.

The opera itself adapts the Broadway musical ‘West Side Story’, a retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet originally conceived by Jerome Robbins; with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book

by Arthur Laurents.

who is entering his 20th and last season as the company’s music director. It blends the classic Broadway musical with a mix of more traditional opera style, captured most in the songs between Tony and Maria.

LA Opera also collaborated with local businesses and organizations for the event, offering a variety of booths around the perimeter for patrons to explore before the show began. Kids ran around toting rainbow face paint with biodegradable glitter from Work of Heart, a balloon artist sculpted a variety of swords, flower hats, and heart wands, while a caricature artist sketched faces nearby.

Santa Monica History Museum, YMCA Palisades, and Elemental were among the educational booths in attendance. Elemental Music’s booth displayed a diverse selection of string instruments to let people try their hand at playing, while the YMCA booth passed out flyers and shared information.

Heal the Bay, an environmental nonprofit in Santa Monica, displayed a real baby swell shark, offering a connection to the West Side Story “Sharks”. They provided education about their aquarium under the pier and ways people can get involved, such as their coastal cleanups occurring on the third Saturday of every month.

Icana Ortiz and Emma Butcher, workers for Heal the Bay, shared information about the shark and explained how the name derives from how it “swells up” when threatened by a predator. Butcher said, “About one-third of all Tony, played by Duke Kim, and Maria, played shark species worldwide are endangered. This

by Gabriella Reyes, take on the modern version is just why it’s important for people to learn of Romeo and Juliet in the backdrop of 1957 and care about them.”

New York. Racial tension causes sparks between rival gangs the American “Jets” and the Karen Hsu attended the event in the hopes of Puerto Rican immigrants “Sharks”. connecting more with opera. She made sure to take advantage of all of the activities that were LA Opera’s iteration is directed by Francesca offered at the event, signing up for the raffle, Zambello and conducted by James Conlon, getting her caricature done, and learning more

OCTOBER 1, 2025

Maryam Zar from the Palisades Recovery Coalition speaking prior to the West Side Story performance (Tom Rosholt | The Corsair)

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about future LA Opera events. Although she was most excited to see the show.

Hsu said, “I haven’t watched West Side Story before as a Broadway show, and it’s pretty cool that there’s a livecast. So if you’re not in the theater, at least you get to see it in a cool outdoor venue like this.”

The LA Opera begins preparing for the simulcast a year in advance, connecting with many different vendors to ensure a seamless broadcast and event. Migaldi said about 11 people put on the night, all who work in-house to film, live edit, and audio mix as part of the broadcast.

The stream included cuts to multiple different angles throughout the opera, as well as providing subtitles in English and Spanish during the songs.

“Opera at the Beach” has always taken place at the Pier, but the second location rotates. This is the first year that it was hosted at Loma Alta Park in Altadena. A similar event was held simultaneously, allowing more accessibility for people from across LA to attend.

OCTOBER 1, 2025

West Side Story on the jumbo screen prior to the West Side Story performance (Tom Rosholt | The Corsair)

The locations also brought attention to the wildfires that burned in the Palisades and Altadena in January earlier this year. Maryam Zar, founder and president of the Palisades Recovery Coalition spoke, as well as multiple speakers who emphasized the Palisades Charter High Concert Band’s inclusion. The school was relocated to the old Sears building in Santa Monica due to the damage the school sustained in the fire.

John P. Nuckols, LA Opera’s executive vice president and chief strategic officer, spoke before the simulcast about the resilience and strength of these communities. Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete also underscored this in her speech, saying, “After everything we’ve all been through in our communities, the healing power of the arts is the most important thing and more important ever right now.”

Gail Eichenthal, the chief engagement officer for California’s classical radio station KUSC, hosted throughout the night. As she closed her final speech she highlighted the importance of the event and everything LA Opera stands for.

She said, “(LA) Opera believes that everyone should have access to the arts, and that the arts hold incredible power to bring healing and joy. And that’s why we’re here tonight, bringing world class opera to you under the night sky, this incredible location, and best of all, free.” - Gail Eichenthal

OCTOBER 1, 2025

Santa Monica College (SMC) Symphony having fun after their performance prior to West Side Story (Tom Rosholt | The Corsair)

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ARTS AND CULTURE

OCTOBER 1, 2025

Soudi Jiménez visits to highlight Latinx/e Heritage Month

Nathan Hanson Photos - The Corsair

Soudi Jiménez Discusses the Immigrant Experience Students connected with award-winning journalist Soudi Jiménez’s conversation on cultural resilience in L.A.’s Latin American communities.

By: Nastassia Melendez

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oudi Jiménez spoke about the immigrant experience in Los Angeles at Santa Monica College on Thursday, Sept. 25.

“This lecture is about the other Los Angeles,” said Soudi Jiménez, an award-winning journalist and author of “Ecos Migrantes.” The “other” he referred to is the immigrant side of the city, which makes up 55.2% of Los Angeles County’s population of 10 million people, an identity many Santa Monica College (SMC) students share.

The discussion began with a quotation from Maya Angelou: “If you don’t know where you’ve come from, you don’t know where you’re going.” The idea of understanding one’s background set the tone for the lecture.

“The immigrant community is the heart of Los Angeles,” Jiménez said. “The immigrant community is the heart of the U.S.” Immigrants contribute heavily to the U.S. economy. According to the American Immigration Council, undocumented immigrants paid $89.8 billion in federal taxes in 2023. One in four U.S. entrepreneurs are immigrants, and immigrants or their children founded 46% of Fortune 500 companies.

The American Business Immigration Coalition has also found that mass deportations could cost between $30 billion and $60 billion in agricultural production, threatening the nation’s food economy.

Civil wars, political assassinations, and authoritarian governments in Central America have been catalysts for large waves of immigration to Los Angeles. These waves of immigration have

created neighborhoods rich in Latin American heritage.

For instance, the Salvadoran Corridor on Vermont Avenue contains more than 95 Salvadoran-owned businesses. The Peruvian Village, located on Vine Street, was officially recognized by the city of Los Angeles in 2012. The Mayan Corridor, on Sixth Street, is home to more than 120 businesses, with “90% of owners being Guatemalan Mayan immigrants,” Jiménez said.

“Designated cultural space in L.A. is the result of cultural resilience,” Jiménez said.

That resilience is visible in immigrant-owned businesses, such as Mario’s Peruvian Restaurant, once frequented by Al Pacino, and Inca’s, Los Angeles’ first Peruvian restaurant, founded by Gabriel Garcia Mendez, with clientele including actor John Wayne and former Los Angeles Mayor, Tom Bradley.

ARTS AND CULTURE

OCTOBER 1, 2025

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Latinx/e Heritage Month

Left: SMC Students and Staff attend presentation organized by the Student Equity Center Top: Speaker, Jiménez looks over his book “Ecos Migrantes” while speaking at the podium.

Students may live in one of these areas, nurtured by immigrants who feed the community dishes such as lomo saltado, carne asada and tamales. Some students may share heritage represented in Mariachi Plaza, Plaza de Cultura y Artes or the Museum of Latin American Art. These neighborhoods are shaped not only by food and culture but also by landmarks and public figures that reflect the immigrant journey and roots tied to these communities.

Public statues, such as St. Óscar Romero’s in MacArthur Park, symbolize the history of immigrants who fled political violence in Central America. Romero, a former Archbishop, was assassinated by a far-right nationalist group (ARENA) in El Salvador for his activism and criticism against the El Salvadoran government’s human rights abuses on March 24, 1980.

Advocacy gave rise to human rights organizations such as El Rescate, Asosal, and Carecen, which provide immigration support and legal counsel.

People’s efforts continue as community members campaign in hopes of establishing a Central American quarter in Los Angeles.

SMC Latin History professor, Ricardo Garcia echoes the importance of inclusivity “Sometimes we do feel in-between communities,” he said. “Especially Central Americans, here

there’s definitely a very dominant Mexican community, and sometimes Central Americans adopt the way we speak because they have to, but they also have to have their own spaces.”

During Hispanic Heritage Month, these lectures on the cultural experience, establishments, and landmarks invite discernment on the survival stories of immigrant communities. “This job allows me to write about the history of our community and share it with the next generation,” Jiménez said.

“Young people have to unite, they have to work together to change, to force change” Ricardo Garcia, Latin History Professor Part of that generation is represented here at SMC. Rebecca Alexman an SMC student, reflected on the lecture led by Jiménez: “Growing up in a big Mexican community, a lot of this covered things I already knew, but also so much I didn’t,” Alexman said, “I’m also Peruvian, and I feel like I never see Peruvians anywhere.

Seeing this felt like a part of me was represented.”

Garcia highlights the value in connection.

“Young people have to unite, they have to work together to change, to force change,” said Garcia. “Be aware of different audiences out there that are willing to support you, and just network. That’s one thing I wish I knew, talking to different people, listening to their stories and then contributing your own.”

Alexman believes conversations like these are essential. “I think it’s necessary because it raises awareness about the struggles immigrant and Latin communities face in Los Angeles,” Alexman said. “It also normalizes the conversation and gives people who aren’t Hispanic or Latino insight into the issues. A lot of the time, besides outright bigotry, fear keeps people from engaging with other communities. This invites people in, and that’s a good place to start.”

Jiménez closed with a reminder of the importance of dialogue and legacy. He emphasized that learning the history of the immigrant community allows us to let go of any misconceptions.

“Sometimes we have opinions about a specific community without the full picture,” Jiménez said. “The more we understand each other, the more we see why people fight for a place in this city. It’s for the next generation. We care about fairness, and we care about legacy.”

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OCTOBER 1, 2025

A Community Classic: Central Avenue Jazz Festival

Jazzmeia Horn performed as an opening act at the 2025 Central Jazz Avenue Festival in South Los Angeles, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, for the Quincy Jones stage headliner, Gregory Porter.

By Kayjel J. Mairena | The Corsair

OCTOBER 1, 2025

ARTS AND CULTURE

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Central Avenue Jazz Festival hosts 29th annual event in South Central Los Angeles Mollie Bishop || Managing Editor

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ounds of saxophones and singers surrounded the streets of South Central, Los Angeles (LA). Immersed in an LA cultural staple, attendees of all ages and backgrounds enjoyed music and family fun at the Central Avenue Jazz Festival on Saturday, Sept, 20.

Historically, jazz is a prevalent aspect of African American culture that made its way to LA at the same time South Central formed as a black community. “Jazz gained prominence in America in the ‘20s, in the ‘30s. This was a mecca right here on Central Avenue,” said jazz fan Lynnard Alexander. He has attended the festival every year since it began in 1996.

Ian Roller (Left) and Randy Ellis (Right) performed at the 2025 Central Avenue Jazz Festival in South Los Angeles, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, during the Kenneth Crouch plays Quincy and Sly set. By Kayjel J. Mairena | The Corsair

“Jazz gained prominence in America in the ‘20s, in the ‘30s. This was a mecca right here on Central Avenue.”

Alexander felt that events such as the Central Ave. Jazz Festival are beneficial for his community, especially with current politics in America.

“They want to send the troops out to Los Angeles,” he said. “But look at this [festival]. This is multicultural.

This is everybody, right here, right now. This is what Los Angeles is about.”

Three stages, each named after jazz icons, were set for the various performers. The Quincy Jones stage featured Gregory Porter, Dayramir González, Jazzmeia Horn, Kenneth Crouch and JazzAmerica.

At the Roy Ayers stage, the Roy Ayers Tribute Project headlined alongside Poncho Sanchez, Blaque Dynamite, Joel Ross, and Sharada Shashidhar. The Dunbar stage hosted a presentation by political science professor, Dr. Lorn S. Foster, followed by USC jazz ensemble, Ennis Harris and Takumis Kakimoto.

“What an honor for them to come to the neighborhood and bless us with such beautiful music,” said Lovette Briggs, who marked her tenth visit to the festival this year.. “It brings everyone together: the food, the smiles, the sunshine.”

A girl poses for a picture on a bike named Paradise Rose, in South Los Angeles, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, during the Central Avenue Jazz Festival. By Kayjel J. Mairena | The Corsair

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OCTOBER 1, 2025

Illustration by Jenna Tibby

Is This Artist Real?

Everyone, hide your record deals, an AI persona is storming into the music industry.

Jeffrey Berrios | Opinion Editor

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ince its inception, the music industry has been the subject of numerous debates regarding the integration of artificial intelligence (AI). Many believe that it opens the possibilities for the advancement of music; for example, the final song from The Beatles, “Now and Then,” was completed through AI. Others believe that music produced by AI will always be a hollow and soulless replacement for real artistry.

It is no doubt impressive that AI can revive a demo from 46 years ago and make it sound as if it were produced today. This isn’t what critics are referring to when they claim AI poses a threat to the music industry. This is frequently in response to music produced from scratch by feeding AI a prompt, which creates an entire song in minutes.

In theory, feeding a prompt into a machine and having it produce a song similar to a Taylor Swift record in minutes sounds cool.

Still, it will always lack the authenticity and human experience that connects people to a musician’s art. Despite concerns that AI would strip the integrity of music, we haven’t seen it make a significant impact in the industry until now.

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OCTOBER 1, 2025

The poet Telisha “Nikki” Jones and her AI persona, Xania Monet, recently signed with Hollywood Media in a $3 million record deal.

Jones released an R&B record titled “Unfolded” through the Monet character in August, with the song “How Was I Supposed To Know?” gaining traction

“AI will always be a hollow and soulless replacement for real artistry.” on the platform TikTok and reaching No.1 on the R&B Digital Song Sales. Jones produces her music by incorporating her own songwriting abilities and AIproduced vocals. She argues that she still puts in the work to ensure that the vocals are clean and that the music is of high quality.

Despite record labels’ push forward with their embrace of AI artists, some real artists are pushing back. Kehlani Ashley Parrish, an R&B artist, spoke on the matter on her Instagram, saying, “The person is doing none of the work — AI can also make an entire song, it can make the entire beat. This is so beyond our control, and nothing will ever and no one will ever be able to justify AI to me, especially not AI in the creative arts, in which people have worked hard for, trained for, slept on the floor for, got injuries for.

I’m sorry, I don’t respect it.”

The problem with the Monet persona extends far beyond AI taking over many industries; in this specific case, the persona of Xania Monet, is taking space in an industry that oftentimes overlooks

black artistry. There is so much amazing music coming from black women that it feels like an insult to reward a machine over real artists. Which is why I’ve decided to suggest three black female artists who were not generated by a machine that everyone should be listening to.

Hemlocke Springs - If you enjoy the catchy synth pop sound, ethereal vocals, and campy adlibs that Chappell Roan has reintroduced to the mainstream, you should run to listen to Hemlocke Springs. Springs’ record “Going…Going…GONE!” offers seven spunky and whimsical songs that have a little bit of everything.

From the catchy song “Girlfriend” that has gained a million streams on Spotify and is described as the “awkward Black girl anthem” to “Gimme All Ur Luv,” a song with vocals that sound like a mix of Cyndi Lauper and Kate Bush.

Hemlocke Springs transports you back to the ‘80s.

Rachel Cincouri - Are you in need of a new Indie girlie to obsess

“The persona of Xania Monet, is taking space in an industry that oftentimes overlooks black artistry.”

over? Rachel Cincouri’s got you covered. The UK artist released her LP, “What A Devastating Turn of Events,” which explores various coming-of-age themes with an alternative and pop-rock sound. Her lyrics are oftentimes cheeky and relatable to the

everyday person trying to survive their twenties. Cincouri enters a genre and space that doesn’t prominently feature black artists, making her presence, perspective, and life experiences all the more compelling. Songs that I would recommend to new listeners are “The Hills,” “Never Needed Me,” and the title track. Since the release of her LP, Cincouri was nominated for two Brit Awards, one of which was for artist of the year. She has also opened for Sabrina Carpenter’s “Short n Sweet” tour.

Sudan Archives - As an R&B fan, I’ve always enjoyed the old school sound and artists like Brandy and the girl group Changing Faces.

However, when an artist is able to bend the rules and create a genre within a genre like Sudan Archives does, it’s impressive.

With her innovative sound, the American singer, songwriter, and violinist has found a way to take the genre by storm, pushing the boundaries of what R&B is and what it could become in the future.

Sudan Archives has released two albums that have just been glimpses of what she’s capable of. Her upcoming record, “The BPM,” seems to be the singer’s star-making record, with just a few singles having been released.

The songs “Dead” and “My Type” sound more like art than music with otherworldly production and catchy beats.

The three artists I’ve recommended will surpass any database or machine that generates artificial vocals because real emotions were put into these projects. A machine with a prompt could never replicate that.

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Illustraions by Jenna Tibby

OPINION

OCTOBER 1, 2025

Katie Easterson | Editor in Chief

OCTOBER 1, 2025

OPINION

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With The Conjuring: Last Rites debuting in theaters Sept. 5, ratings have significantly dropped compared to the first movie of the franchise, “The Conjuring” which was released in 2013. Have horror movies really decreased in quality?

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n 2013 “The Conjuring,” a supernatural horror film directed by James Wan was released in theaters. With an exceptionally well outcome, earning more than $319 million worldwide, the film was praised for its well-crafted approach at suspense and jumpscares. It was also the first horror film to ever earn an “A” from CinemaScore.

The main “Conjuring” series makes up four movies in total, with the latest installment, “The Conjuring: Last Rites” concluding the franchise.

an exorcism on Carolyn after Bathsheba takes full possession of her body. Lorraine is able to reach Carolyn through the possession by reminding her of her family.

Maybe it’s nostalgia and a bit of bias, but I truly do think that the first “Conjuring” film will forever be more iconic than its counterparts. I have tried to watch “The Conjuring 2” and “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It,” and while

With a 22 year time skip, the Smurl family moves to a small suburb of Pennsylvania.

It’s a full house– Jack and Janet Smurl share their home with Jack’s parents, a big golden retriever, and their four daughters.

After Heather's (their daughter) confirmation ceremony, her grandparents give her the haunted mirror.

I have always been scared of horror movies, being the type of person to look away from the screen, cover my eyes, or flinch at jumpscares. When I was about fourteen, I decided to watch “The Conjuring” for the first time. It scared the shit out of me to be frank, especially with the notion of it being based on a true story.

Ironically, it is now a comfort movie of mine that I rewatch every so often.

The story follows the story of Ed and Lorraine Warren as they investigate the Perron family’s secluded farmhouse, where a dark entity has latched onto the family of 7. Carolyn Perron, the wife of Roger, wakes up every morning with new bruises covering her entire body. Then, Sadie, the family dog, is found dead in the yard.

During the initial investigation, Lorraine discovers that an accused witch and Satanist named Bathsheba Sherman, a woman who sacrificed her week-old baby to the devil and killed herself in 1863, cursed the land. Since then, multiple reports of suicides and murders came throughout the years in the houses that had been built on the land. The movie ends with Ed successfully performing

In “Last Rites” the movie starts off with a flashback to 1964, when Ed and Lorraine Warren investigated a haunted mirror at an antique shop. Lorraine collapses after witnessing a vision of her unborn child, forcing her into labor. She gives birth and for around a minute, Judy, their daughter, is stillborn. To me, the most interesting part of this scene was when Lorraine began profusely praying to God to bring her baby back. She pleaded, cried, and suddenly, Lorraine’s prayers brought back her child.

they are solid films from a general standpoint, they didn’t have the same level of anticipation, fear, or anxiety for me. When I saw the trailer for “The Conjuring: Last Rites,” it did actually peak my interest, especially with it being the final mainline film of the franchise.

“The Conjuring: Last Rites" had a budget of $55 million and earned $403 million at the box office. Although when it comes to ratings, “The Conjuring” stands at 86% on Rotten Tomatoes— “Last Rites”, with a 31.4% decrease, standing at 59%.

In the beginning of the movie, it’s explained that Ed has a worsening heart condition, that being the main reason the Warrens retired from their investigations.

They continue to give lectures at colleges but the rooms are primarily empty, and the few students attending usually cracking jokes or referring to the Warrens as “ghostbusters.” In “Last Rites,” Judy, their daughter, is a prominent character who has become increasingly sensitive to her psychic visions. At dinner, she has an episode and begins to panic; the only thing calming her down being a rhyme that was created when she was younger.

“Lucy Locket lost her pocket, Kitty Fisher found it, Not a penny was there in it, Only ribbon round it.” (Which, fun fact, is an actual nursery rhyme from the 1800s.)

During the dinner scene, when she begins to panic, a mysterious hand glides down Judy's shoulder and back. It was supposed to be a scary moment, showing that

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some sort of spirit was clearly attached to her, but it looked ridiculous to me. I saw “Last Rites” twice in theaters, and the second time I watched it, I quietly laughed.

Heather and her sister try to dispose of the mirror, which I honestly don’t blame them for, because the mirror Heather was given is really… well. Ugly. It’s ugly.

First of all, it's ginormous, with three distinct faces gracing the top, and very dramatic decals surrounding the entire thing. I don’t really understand why her grandparents would give that to her as a confirmation gift in the first place, especially when the glass is cracked entirely in the center of the mirror. Even after the mirror is disposed of, the family continues to be haunted by three spirits: An elderly woman, a tall, creepy man with an axe, and a younger woman.

“‘Every single person in this film has a moment where they do the dumbest thing at the worst time,’ reviewing the film at two stars.”

When the mirror is first taken by the trash truck, Dawn, Heather's sister, starts to throw up all over the table as the glass from the mirror gets crushed by the truck. Her normal, already disgusting bile gets even more disturbing when she starts throwing up glass and blood everywhere. I know this was put in as a shock factor and to show that even after disposing of the mirror, the spirits are now attached to the Smurls, but it’s never mentioned again throughout the movie. Later, in the film, Dawn yells at her father, telling him they need to move or stay in a motel and that no one is taking the hauntings seriously, but the vomit is not mentioned. I don’t think Ed or Lorraine found out about it either— I don’t get why the moment was added in the first place if it wasn’t going to be relevant later on.

Illustrations by Jenna Tibby

After the Smurls share their story with the press, it gains the attention of Father Gordon, someone who worked closely with the Warrens on previous investigations. At Ed’s birthday party, Father Gordon tries to gain the help of the Warrens, but is unsuccessful. He goes to the Diocese of Scranton instead, seeking to gain help for the Smurl family. Instead, he dies. A demon attacks him and causes him to hang himself inside the building. At his funeral, Judy has a vision and decides to travel to Pennsylvania to investigate secretly.

Before Judy headed to Pennsylvania, she went to try on wedding dresses with her mom. In the fitting room, a woman is helping her, and promptly leaves to answer the phone. She stands in the dressing room alone, surrounded by mirrors. The door opens, and Judy thinks it’s the woman who was helping her previously, but no, it’s a spirit or demon of some sort, who is now underneath Judy's dress and, if I recall correctly, biting her legs? It was a ridiculous scene, and besides the fear factor involved, it just looked stupid.

After Tony, Judy’s fiancé, and her parents are led to the Smurls, Judy convinces her parents to help. While I understand the sentiment, this part bothered me because Judy is well aware that her dad is already struggling with his health. While I think Ed is portrayed as a man who wants to seem fine, If it were me, I would not drag my parents into an investigation when the results could harm their health even more. Despite that, the Warrens all start to unravel the mystery of the Smurls' house.

Lorraine figures out that there are three spirits, a husband, his wife, and mother whom he both killed. But in reality, these spirits are being controlled by.. you guessed it… a demon! Then, the said demon tricks Judy into going into the attic. This whole part of the movie was by far my least favorite because I couldn’t take it seriously at all. Judy gets chased by an 8 foot tall Annabelle doll, which leads to her falling down the stairs of the house. I don’t know why anybody

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who was working on this movie thought that having a ridiculous looking doll chase Judy throughout the Smurls house was a good idea. I couldn’t even see the scene as terrifying because it just, to be blunt, wasn't.

On Letterboxd, a quote from fan Joe A. said, “I gotta be honest, these movies make no sense to me. Not necessarily a bad or good thing, I just nod my head in agreement because I like the actors on the screen a lot.” They rated the film 2.5 stars.

In addition to Judy being chased by a comically large Annabelle, the ugly mirror that was supposedly crushed and destroyed by the trash truck was actually still there. It appeared in the attic of the house once again, being the object that ties the spirits to the house and continuing to torment the Smurls family. The Warrens decide that they need to bring the mirror back to their home, but Judy falls ill as Ed, Jack, and Tony try to remove it from the house. They fail profusely, and the demon possesses Judy. While that's happening, Ed also has a cardiac episode as Lorriane fights for her life in the basement.

Another review from the user, Harry Argyle, reads, “Every single person in this film has a moment where they do the dumbest thing at the worst time,” reviewing the film at two stars.

I know the Conjuring series is sort of chaotic, lots of loud noises, scary music, and multiple things happening at once, but this entire sequence was just… too much.

Ed having a cardiac episode, Lorraine being chased by the axe man in the basement while she tries to crawl through the now flooded basement (It was flooded with blood,) then Judy being possessed and proceeding to go up to the attic to hang herself.

In Sethsreviews Letterboxd comment, they said, “Mixed bad: way way too long, and possibly excessively sentimental at points. Also some of the attempted jumpscares are straight rubbish. Yet it does also manage to feel pretty charming, deeply anchored in reflections of the prior works, a sincere swing that succeeded more often than not. although I would’ve liked a full swing for the fences, which this definitely is not.” They reviewed “Last Rites” at three stars.

The concept of the movie was good, and there were parts I enjoyed, like the ending, where Lorraine has a vision of their future as a family. Throughout the actual horror aspect, a lot of parts, like the giant Annabelle doll, were just laughable and not necessarily scary. One of the reasons I like “The Conjuring” so much more is because of the tension built throughout Tony rescues Lorraine from the basement, the movie. The jumpscares are expected, and Ed suddenly feels fine after taking but they were so well done that they some sort of pill; they all rush up to the really work. The tension and ominous attic. Ed cuts Judy down from the ceiling, atmosphere really get me every time I and she falls through the floor. Lorraine rewatch it. Throughout the time of The revives Judy again with a prayer (which I Conjuring series, I feel as if most elements don’t think would realistically work after from the first movie were not implemented she was hung and fell through the floor of as smoothly or well at all in “Last Rites.” the attic, but I mean, sure).

The music, jumpscares, and bone-chilling moments from the 2013 film did not It really gets ridiculous after Ed attempts to continue or deliver to the other movies, exorcise the mirror. He obviously fails, and and what was once terrifying is now cheap Lorraine puts her hand up to the mirror, and comical. telling Judy to as well, and to “Embrace” her psychic abilities. They scream and I don’t necessarily think it was a waste of embrace their powers. After they “embrace time to watch “The Conjuring: Last Rites” their powers” (whatever that's supposed to because I spent money to see it twice in entail), the mirror shatters, and the spirits theaters, but I don’t think I ever need to no longer haunt the Smurls’ residence. rewatch it.

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OCTOBER 1, 2025