The Santa Monica Corsair Newspaper: Fall 2010, Issue 7

Corsair The Santa Monica College

Volume C, Issue 7

Informing Since 1929

www.thecorsaironline.com

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Expo line running a little off t

By Miles Arnold Staff Writer

George Mikhail Corsair Derek Johnson (left) and “Willie Willie” (right) construction workers align the tracks for the new MTA Expo Line destined for Santa Monica. The whole project is currently $200 million over budget.

With the scheduled opening of the new Expo rail line already pushed back a year a new problem has risen with the labor agreement that is being proposed by the Exposition Metro Light Rail board for phase two of the project.

The new project labor agreement being proposed by the board is a union-only agreement that would make the project unavailable to nonunion workers. Essentially, workers who don’t belong to a union would be unable to work on a project that is slated to open up thousands of construction jobs and create millions of dollars in work.

It is a job that Eric Christen, executive director of the Coalition for Fair Employment in Construction feels should be open to all workers and not just workers that belong to a union.

“Discrimination has no place in construction,” said Christen, “This is an agreement between union interests and no one else.” The best way to change something like this, according to Christen, is to “get the attention of the members of the community and the board.”

What is puzzling to an organization like Christen’s is that phase one was handled with an open contract that has allowed a variety of personnel to receive work.

This issue was the topic at the most recent Transit Business Advisory Council of the Metropolitan Transit Authority meeting held on Oct. 7.

The estimated price tag of phase 2 has been set at $1.5 Billion dollars.

Phase two is slated to run from Culver City to downtown Santa Monica with a couple of stops close to the SMC campus at Olympic and 26th street as well as Colorado and 17th street.

Since the start of construction on the new Expo rail line in September things have also not stayed on schedule. The city has suffered setbacks since the start of construction on phase 1 which will run from Downtown L.A. to Culver City.

rack

[See Expo, page 3]

Jonathan Bue Corsair

Price of publicity Information released in the 2010-2011 annual contracts and consultants form shows that over $800,000 has been allocated for college advertising.

By Nisha Anais Staff Writer As budgets, salaries and classes take hits under this difficult economy, education has had to cut corners in many places. This is no less the case with Santa Monica College.

And one hot-button issue right now is the amount of money that Santa Monica College spends on advertising to both local and international students.

According to the 2010-2011 annual contracts and consultants form (AC&C), as of July 6 this year, SMC is currently spending roughly $803,250 out of a total budget of $139,787,495 on places such as Facebook, Google, KPWR, KROQ, Santa Monica Daily Press, La Opinion newspaper, Los Angeles Sentinel, Korean Directory, Randy Bellous Productions, and Golden Cane Advertising.

These are just a few of the local places where SMC spends thousands of dollars respectively to advertise. The number that is spent on marketing might be a little different as the administration works on finalizing budgetary issues and comes out with a more up-to-date number.

Mitra Moassessi, head of the faculty association, made it clear that there are many sides to this matter. She said that the problem is that the college spends all this money on advertising and on printing out higher end college catalogs and schedules, but then there is no money to offer the classes that are being advertised.

Don Girard, senior director of government relations & institutional communications said that it’s important to remember that recruiting students is a continuous and pertinent [See Adverts, page 3]

Disorganized organizing fee Ariana Masters Corsair Former AS President Cameron Henton at the weekly AS board meeting Monday, took the opportunity to inform the current AS board of the unconstitutionality of last week’s vote to rescind the $1.50 student organizing fee.

By Ariana Masters Staff Writer During the weekly Associated Students board meeting Monday, former AS President Cameron Henton threw a wrench into the works of last week’s vote to rescind the $1.50 student-organizing fee when he said that their decision was essentially an empty gesture.

Henton said that no final decision could be made about whether or not to rescind the fee until it had been to the Joint Council, and that even after weeks of heated exchange their

decision was still “null and void.” 2008-09 SMC Chemistry Club At the same time he brought President and former member into question the efficiency of of the Constitution Committee, said that, “it does not make it the current AS board.

“It was a decision made hastily, null in void. It just means that which happens with new board you have to go to joint council to members who are not here for get it approved. If anything you the whole discussion. It is the get greater representation.” authority of the Joint Council to In response to old arguments determine any and all changes resurfacing about the role of of student fees,” said Henton.

CALPIRG in the fee’s decision, “Following the constitution Henton replied that the fee is the only way to ensure that was initially brought up to be there is a legitimate, organized a CALPIRG fee. “Yes, it did and representative student begin as a CALPIRG fee. We government,” Henton added. realized that it’s not fair to other In response to Henton’s organizations… That’s why the statement, Max Morgan, [See AS, page 3]

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THIS WEEK

Corsair Newspaper Santa Monica College

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ONLINE www.thecorsaironline.com

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Jeff Cote Contributor The Walt Disney Concert Hall lights up the night in downtown Los Angeles.

News

Expo line 1 SMC publicity & 3 AS Fee Emeritus

A&E

“Earnest” review 8 Hororwood

Feature

4 ShakeOut

Sports

Homecoming football 9 Soccer vs. LA Valley Volleyball vs. Citrus

Political ads SM smoking ban

Opinion

5

Lifestyle

Cult of less 10 Jurassic Technology & 11 KCCC Club Taste of the World

Photo Story

6 & AIDS Walk 7

Exhibit

12 Featuring Javiera Estrada

Wednesday October , 

NEWS

Corsair Newspaper Santa Monica College

03

Hope yet for adult education classes

By Jonathan Bue Staff Writer As the stereo filtered through its playlist, a youthful candor could be seen in the steps of a group of elderly students rhythmically moving to each beat; sometimes in lines, other times in pairs, often with big smiles and a light sweat. All part of the lowimpact joint maneuvers class that keeps the students of Emeritus College fluid and vibrant.

It’s hard to imagine that just over a month ago students here were in uproar over a mandate by the Chancellor’s Office of Community Colleges that would eliminate apportionment funding, roughly $400,000 annually, to noncredit recreational classes. In response, the college would cut four health related classes only to reintroduce them as reduced-fee based courses.

Since then, course fees have been waived altogether through scholarship funding and the district has stepped in and subsidized scheduled health classes for the remainder of the school year while having to pay a backfill of $263,280 in instructional salaries.

In addition the college has already begun revising course outlines to fit under the Chancellors office mandate and have brought in Barbara Baird, retired communications department chair, to do so.

The initial problem was that the current health and conditioning sections were listed under a category which, for years, met the regulations of the state but have since fallen under Title 5 of the California

Michelle Ponder Corsair (Left to right) Clare, Marge. and Evelyn wait for the aerobic class at Emeritus College on Oct. 15. Theirs is one class that has traditionally fallen under Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations but that now, through revision, may be approved for state funding.

Code of Regulations which states that, “No state aid or apportionment may be claimed on account of the attendance of students in noncredit classes in dancing or recreational physical education.”

The district hopes that revising the curriculum and listing the courses, under a new category of health, will resolve the issue over time. Revisions will have to go through an approval process; first by a curriculum committee, followed by the academic senate, the board of trustees, and the chancellor’s office.

Courses in fall prevention, stress reduction, joint maneuvers, and body conditioning for stroke recovery were among the first to be revised but have yet

Advertising Santa Monica College [Adverts, from page 1] duty. He said that most kids that attend SMC are two-year students, and that the administration is always looking out for the next class and making sure they are getting enough students for enrollment. This is why they spend the money that they do on local advertisements.

According to the AC&C, SMC is spending roughly $78,000 on print and web advertising to international students. This fee does not include the cost of college fairs, seminars, sending SMC staff to help international kids prepare applications, and classes for the international students.

According to the total revenue from 2009-2010, international tuition brought in about twenty million dollars, which makes it a profitable program for the school, giving reason to focus so much time and money on it.

According to Moassessi, it’s no help that SMC has a bad budget to work with and that they have to cut corners because things are not being done at a state-level. She believes that the college has to do what they think is right when given these budgets for the state, but she warned that what they think is right might not translate into helping the students that need to be helped now.

Delays escalate cost of rail

[Expo, from page 1]

According to the MTA, the line was originally slated to open in the summer of 2011 but has now been pushed back one year due to a number of delays.

Consequently, these delays will make the cost of the project increase from $640 million dollars to a now estimated $862 million dollars.

The setback however will be more than just a money problem for the city. It is projected that the route will still not be completely finished by then which would cause metro to open a shortened route.

The shortened route would stop short of Culver City and instead only go to Crenshaw or La Cienega, which is about a mile short of the original plan.

[AS, from page 1] language changed,”

was not a requirement.”

Vocal during previous board meetings, Vince Slevin, the New Voters Project Coordinator for CALPIRG and the AS director of budget management, remained relatively silent, speaking only towards the end of Henton’s speech.

“I don’t think we need legal advice to read the constitution. If our constitution says this goes to Joint Council, then it needs to go to Joint Council. The board has the right to vote on it, but the final authority lies with the Joint Council,” Slevin said.

In his conclusion, Henton asserted that he, “just want it to be done properly, and no matter what the decision is, at least we did it right.”

Debate over AS fee still rages he said.

“We got information that it would be a possibility for the college to not administer it if it was separate. That’s when we made the decision to make it a part of the AS fee,” Henton added.

With the vote legitimacy now in question, an entirely new argument was raised about the language of the fee itself.

“How did you expect us to respond to something with no background information? You didn’t necessarily leave us with any type of outline. Then you expect us to just carry on this organizing fee,” said Jennifer Alcaras, Director of Student Services.

As an apology, Henton admitted that, “it

to be approved at the state level. “That’s fine with me as long as we get the activity that we need,” said Pat Allen, a resident of Santa Monica and student at Emeritus.

Although students like Allen and her joint maneuvers classmate Wally Pegram are grateful for the district’s efforts, they remain skeptical about the future. “We are not burying our heads in the sand because a lot of things can fall through the crack in a year,” said Pegram. “But we are most appreciative of what has happened thus far.”

Meanwhile, due to California’s current economic situation, reductions are on the horizon. According to Ron Furuyama, Associate Dean at Emeritus, the college will

be making about a 50 percent reduction overall for the winter which is keeping in line with the reductions that Santa Monica College will be making.

“Our senior students are so important to the college, they’re really a backbone of the community,” said Baird.

For now, Emeritus students relish in the fact that their voices were finally heard.

On this particular day the last song the stereo had to offer at the low-impact joint maneuvers class seemed appropriate for the occasion as the speakers blared out a Sam Cooke rendition of “This Little Light of Mine.” The whole class joined the chorus in unison.

“A-Amen, A-Amen, Amen!”

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F E AT U R E

Corsair Newspaper Santa Monica College

Wednesday October , 

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By Georgina Gowans Contributor

(Shakeout video from www.shakeout.org)

72 -

the number of people that died in the Northridge earthquake of 1994.

400 -

the number of detectable aftershocks recorded after the intial quake.

9,000 -

the number of people injured during the disaster.

20,000 -

the number of people left homeless after the earthquake.

GET THIS: Water Food Cash First Aid Kit

Maps Flashlight Batteries Spare Shoes

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If a major earthquake happened right now, would you know what to do? Would you know what to expect and how to prepare for it? This Thursday, over 7.7 million people are registered to participate in the Great California ShakeOut, a hypothetical earthquake scenario which aims to address exactly these questions. Santa Monica College is one of these participants.

Thursday, Oct. 21, at precisely 10:21a.m., SMC students and faculty will be involved in this third annual statewide earthquake drill. Organized by the US Geological Survey and the Southern Californian Earthquake Center, the Great California ShakeOut aims to prepare residents for an impending major earthquake of a predicted 7.8 magnitude.

Geologist Deborah Weiser, of the USGS Multi-hazards Demonstrations Project, has been involved with the ShakeOut since its inception, and stresses that although it is not possible to predict earthquakes, the drill reflects scientific research that points to the inevitability of such a scenario. She also emphasizes the particular hazards of being in Santa Monica.

The Santa Monica fault itself is extremely inactive, however the area is at risk from a number of other sources, including the powerful San Andreas Fault. Furthermore, the LA Basin, which underlies Santa Monica, consists of loose rock that will amplify the tremors, and its bowl-like shape will essentially contain the seismic waves, resulting in violent shaking for an extended period of time. Think about wobbling a plate of Jell-O. The basic goals of the ShakeOut organizers are to educate people about the inevitability of earthquake risk, and to create a culture of earthquake preparedness. This includes having a well-rehearsed strategy that can be employed instinctively, and a disaster survival kit.

SMC Police Sergeant Jere Romano is responsible for organizing the campus ShakeOut this year. Focusing on the HSS building, faculty members are being encouraged to set-aside time in class to allow students to practice earthquake procedure. There will also be a mock evacuation of the HSS building, as well as the appropriate searches and structural checks. The drill will test the newly certified College-Civilian Emergency Response Team, and will lead to more inclusive activities across campus next year.

But you don’t have to be in HSS on Thursday to participate in the drill. So have a look at the website (www.shakeout. org), which has some vital – literally life-saving –advice, and think about your preparedness.

Tell your friends and family about it. Have some fun with it.

See what you can learn. If you’re not ready to rumble, you should be.

Courtesy of Alex Slobodkin iStockphoto

Courtesy of dropcoverholdon.org

OPINION

Wednesday October , 

Corsair Newspaper Santa Monica College

05

Attack ads winning mid-term races

By Jonathan Mendoza Staff Writer It appears political attack ads have somehow overtaken Geico to become the most broadcasted commercials on television.

With the upcoming mid-term elections, politicians seem to be favoring taking a swing at their opponent rather than building their own image by kissing babies or other such admirable actions.

A report done by Campaign Media Analysis Group, an organization that tracks political ad buys, estimated the candidates for both federal and state offices have already spent double the amount of the 2006 season; a half billion dollars on TV attack ads.

The states at the forefront of this trend are those where

the election races are the closest. None seem to be more heated than in our own state of California. With a senate seat and the governor’s office at stake, this election season is critical to the direction that California takes in the near future.

However, instead of trying to build up candidates who are qualified and capable of directing our citizens on the right path, it seems like the new direction of politics is to remind voters that we live in a world dictated by the mistakes of other people. Voters are left befuddled and bullied into deciding: which of these two horrible candidates is deserving of my vote?

Similar to Bush’s tactics in his re-election campaign, the focus of recent TV marketing seems to be intent

on creating a climate of fear and indecisiveness. This may have effective results, but is it necessarily best for the people who simply hope to make the right choice?

Usually a trademark of a final campaign push, attack ads have reared their ugly heads much earlier this election season, popping up in primary elections between candidates of the same party and with ugly results.

The Pennsylvania primary, for the democratic nomination, saw Joe Sestak relentlessly attack his opponent, Arlen Specter, claiming he was a cautiously conservative liberal.

If that wasn’t enough, these same commercials included pictures of Specter after he had just undergone chemotherapy, bringing his age into question.

The result: a victory for

Smoking law offends Newly imposed Santa Monica smoking laws leave smokers out in the cold.

By Julie Newsome Staff Writer People in my apartment building like to barbecue in the courtyard. I am continually exposed to the smell of cooking meat wafting through my door, windows and vents. Since I am a vegan, I am extremely offended, and become physically ill, by the smell of burning meat. They can cook inside on the stove, so there is no reason to be outside polluting my air. The city of Santa Monica should ban all outdoor barbecues for the sake of all the people who endure this madness. I have a right, just like everyone else, to not be subjected to this offensiveness.

Now this argument sounds ridiculous, right? Well, believe it or not it is the logical basis for a new outdoor smoking ban in Santa Monica. The recently instituted law makes it illegal to smoke outdoors, within 25-feet of any apartment building door, window or vent. So basically if you want to light up in Santa Monica you have to take a walk, or the chance of lighting your couch on fire.

The ridiculousness of this smoking ban is that it favors non-smokers over smokers. If you are going to accommodate those who don’t smoke, you must also accommodate those who do. It is the only way to be fair and just in matters of social dispute.

In the recent media coverage of this issue I’ve often heard the phrase

“If you have an addiction don’t let it bother anybody else.” However, we are all living on this planet and every single thing we do affects everyone else around us.

No matter how much you try and change others, they will do what they want, when they want and how they want.

It is unjust to favor one lifestyle over another, and unrealistic to think that people’s personal choices can be strongarmed into submission. However, on the off chance this does, one-day work, I will walk straight up to my dad and tell him that he can’t wear his pants up so high anymore, because it offends me.

I hate it when someone wears too much perfume, or cologne, and I must drown in their essence. I hate it when I go to a restaurant and the people sitting behind me are talking about how there is no such thing as evolution and I must endure their every word. And I hate it when my tone-deaf neighbor sings in the shower, located conveniently close to my bedroom window. Alas, such is life, and as much as I try to control the things going on around me, it just doesn’t work that way. Free will creates the freedom to do literally whatever you want—healthy or unhealthy.

The real question is, will this new law curb smoking? No. Not even a little bit. If anything you’ll just see people walking the streets, smoking and cursing the day that they ever decided to live in Santa Monica.

This law incurs only one real change: every pack of cigarettes should come with a built in 25 foot tape measure in order to ensure that citizens are able to comply with this new, inequitable law.

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Fall 2010 Staff Rebecca Slawter Brandon Quin Brian White Sal Guerra Jennifer Martinez Daniel Ross Tieg Slattery Kevin Duron Ingrid Rosales Alica Forneret John Stapleton IV Jeremy Biglow Guiliana Dakdouk

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Photo Editor Photo Editor Photo Editor News Editor Opinion Editor Sports Editor Calendar Editor Lifestyle Editor Online Editor Exhibit Editor Design Editor

Faculty Advisors Saul Rubin and Gerard Burkhart

Sestak.

This issue isn’t isolated to commercial breaks alone, but in the debate room as well. In the race for governor, Californians were introduced to a new kind of debate. One which took the focus off of the major issues and onto a Jerry Brown campaign aides’ reference to Whitman as a whore. Of course Whitman faced an interrogation of her own, over whether or not she knew her housekeeper was an illegal immigrant.

It was at this point that I began to wonder if any of this was really important? So what if a campaign aide referred to Meg Whitman in such a way?

Did it come out of Brown’s mouth? No! How big a deal is it that Meg Whitman employed an illegal immigrant? Is it bad for her

conservative stance? Yes. But is it reflective of her personal ability to govern? Probably not.

The same goes for every other race and attack, most of which are simply taken out of context.

What difference does it make if someone performed witchcraft in a dorm? It may not be my cup of tea, but everyone was young and ignorant at a some point in their lives.

The fact is that candidates, much like the voters who elect them, are flawed, and while we may want to measure them by the mistakes they’ve made, the only safe way to know how to vote this election season is to do some research. Real research. Voters should feel secure with who they elect, and the only way to do that is by gathering the facts that are readily available to anyone willing to seek them out.

Editorial Cartoon

Jonathan Bue Corsair

Reporters Alexandra Ahneman, Zuleima Alvarado, Miles Arnold, Kylie Blaber, Jonathan Bue, Alessandra Catanese, Emma Dantoft, Kevin Duncan, Rebecca Elgebra, Nathan Endow, Alvaro Escalante, Jennifer Ferrada, Stephanie Forshee, Sharon A. Fox, Khalil Grier, Cyndi Gomez, Wendy Gonzalez, Matt Gottesman, Zineb Hafiz, Danny Henson, Vaimiti Herlaud, Vera Hughes, Sean Hunt, Aasiya Jones, Alexandra Lazar, Neelofer Lodhy, Ariana Masters, Cristina Maxwell, Sarah McIntosh, Jonathan Mendoza, Michael Mendoza, Brandon Minikwn, Natalie Miltcharek, Malika Moore, Julie Newsome, Ayla Pound, Audrey Roberts, Adam Rubin, Laysa Quintero, Michael Santana, Stephanie Sommer, Caitlin Trinkle, Leni Wile, Vienna Urias, Lauren Walsh, Nisha Anais

Photographers Anisa El-Khouri, Luana Kasahara, Albany Katz, Danyale Kotur, Konstantin Marowitz, Jessica Mendoza, George Mikhail, Ted Olsson, Michelle Ponder, Alex Rogers, Jarrad Rosson, Alex Soltes, Sara Stark

Advertising Consultant Lisa Anderson corsair.admanager@gmail.com Computer Consultant Agnius Griskevicius Graphic Design Jhosef A. Hern Classified Ads: Daily Bruin (310) 825-2221 Letters to the editor are encouraged. They should be no longer than 250 words and must be signed by the writer. corsair.editorinchief@gmail.com

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PHOTO

Corsair Newspaper Santa Monica College

The benefits of walking...

Los Angele

Photos Corsair

Ruben Israel, a “street preacher� shouts at AIDS Walk participants about his biblical beliefs.

Despite the rain, thousands were in attendance and walked 6.2 miles through West Hollwyood on Sunday.

Of the many people who participated in the walk, the East LA College Sociolgy Club, are seen showing their support for the cure to AIDS.

Participant, Leo Iriate, proudly walked the 6.2 miles of the AIDS Walk in West Hollywood.

Approx Los Ang The ev cuts ma $2,878, commun Mayor walkath support Guest a the 30,0 Along t women Walk is social ga

O S T O RY

Wednesday October . 

es AIDS Walk and text by Anisa El-Khouri

ximately 30,000 people were not deterred from making it out to the 26th annual geles AIDS Walk this past Sunday in West Hollywood despite the rain. vent could not have come at a better time with recent state HIV/AIDS budget ade by Governor Schwarzenegger. This year, walkers and their sponsors raised 711 to benefit the APLA, AIDS Project Los Angeles which in turn supports other nity organizations.

Antonio Villaraigosa and West Hollywood Mayor John Heilman kicked off the hon during the opening ceremony by speaking about the necessity of funds and t that the HIV/AIDS community needs. appearances were made by Drew Carey, Sara Ramirez, and other celebrities. Among 000 participants were church groups, schools, fraternities, and sororities. the 6.2 mile route were interesting people like men dressed in drag, a group of passing out “vegan” condoms and angry protesters just to name a few. The AIDS not only a fundraiser for a worthy cause but over the years has also become a athering.

Mary Kretzmar holds a sign illustrating her wish to stop AIDS.

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Corsair Newspaper Santa Monica College

A&E

Wednesday October , 

Kostya Marowitz Corsair The “Horrorwood” exhibit at the WWA Gallery in Culver City had various pieces including Christina Paulos’ “Zombie Lake,” Danielle Buerli’s “Psycho Killer,” and Steve Seeley’s “Seque #116,” which depicts the devil and Frankenstein. “Horrorwood” will be open until Dec. 4.

“Horrorwood” pays tribute to slasher classics Halloween is coming early to Los Angeles via an art exhibit paying homage to famous classic horror villains.

By Natali Miltcharek Staff Writer Halloween is still only just around the corner, but artists are already celebrating all things horror.

This past week, the WWA Gallery in Culver City premiered their latest exhibit. “Horrorwood,” an art exhibit featuring over 55 independent artists, presents several different works that pay homage to classic Halloween movies like “The Exorcist,” and “Psycho.”

Artists had complete artistic freedom in both choice of film and style of art. The end results were

frighteningly creative. Artists drew eerie sketches, created creepy models, bloody paintings and 3-D installations that re-enacted obscene scenes straight out of the flicks.

Paul Torres, one of the contributing artists, painted a carefree portrait of Frankenstein riding on a Harley through an empty desert. When asked what he wanted people to feel when gazing at his creation, Torres, in his charming Chilean accent, responded, “Freedom.

Freedom of being judged, of being rejected, of everything.” Torres then went on to share the story behind his love for Frankie and motorcycles, claiming that Frankenstein was “misunderstood,” and hated of the things he’s done because he was given the “wrong brain.” Torres depicted him riding off in modern biker clothes to represent his escape and desire to start a new life, aside from hatred and death.

Chris Roth, another featured artist, chose to concentrate on the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” franchise and used oil paint to create a spookylooking Leatherface. Roth said his love for horror movies began in his childhood, but his all-time favorite film involved a chainsaw-wielding villain.

“I’m passionate about ‘Chainsaw’ and it was definitely my first choice to work on.” Painting since he was a kid, Roth wanted to look for ways to find himself, and strange, haunted-like inspired art came naturally to him. Roth hopes to write sci-fi thrillers and direct animated features in the future.

Other displays included a young Dracula, Mermaidman suffocating a woman, a Werewolf in a ‘60s style haircut, a headless woman in a jar, and other such bizarre pieces. “Horrorwood” will be open and running to the public for free until December 4.

“Earnest” makes you laugh your heart out

By Michael Santana Staff Writer

and exaggerated tones make the play entertaining. However, some parts border on trying too hard to be funny.

Nowadays, it may be scarce to find a The accents and lines at times also come girl who loves a guy mainly for his name off obnoxious. But it’s not long until – except in Santa Monica College’s new something else happens that redeems play, “The Importance of Being Earnest,” the play and makes you forget the minor hosted and put on by the SMC theater things. department.

The play’s overall humor is based “The Importance of Being Earnest” is the on laughing at the characters, more classic comedy by Oscar Wilde that tells so than laughing with them. It’s done the story behind, well, the importance of intentionally though, given the absurdity said name. First performed in 1895, the and overdramatic personas of each of the comedy has been done countless times characters. over and has even been adapted to film.

The storyline unravels with many twists Set in London circa 1895, the play’s and funny dilemmas. The cast does a synopsis is of two men caught in a good job, and each of the characters’ lines hilarious predicament of having falsely delivers some amount of wit throughout led the ladies in their lives to believe each the play. one of them is named Earnest. In reality, Attention is required to understand the male character’s exactly what’s names are Jack and going on The cast does a good job, and Algernon, but have and why the created this persona characters do each of the characters’ lines of “Earnest” when what they do, delivers some amount of wit they travel to and but once you from the city and catch on, it’s throughout the play. country. fun to see it When Jack and play out and the Algernon propose to each of the ladies storyline evolve. in their lives (Gwendolyn and Cecily), All in all, “The Importance of Being the women think they’re marrying an Earnest” proved itself to be a success in Earnest. One scene shows Cecily and its first performance. With a talented Gwendolyn thinking they’re marrying the cast of individuals who undoubtedly same man. Suspecting their new fiancé of put countless hours of rehearsal and infidelity leads to a silly encounter over effort in, the result was a taste of 1800’s tea.

English humor and a good time for all in The part of Gwendolyn’s mother, Lady attendance.

Bracknell, is Jason Millward who adds to “The Importance of Being Earnest” the laughs throughout the play. A rather will continue to run through the rest of large “lady,” Millward’s voice shifts from October. a high-pitched squeak to a baritone voice Having begun last Thursday, the play John Stapleton IV Corsair that had one of the louder reactions from will run for a total of seven shows, from Oct. 15 to Oct. 24 at the theater arts From left to right: John Glass as Dr. Chasuble, Stephen Wattrus as Jack, and Lizanne Rebello the audience. as Cecily. All three star in SMC’s current ongoing play, “The Importance of Being Earnest.”

The rest of the cast’s witty lines complex.

S P O RT S

Wednesday October , 

Corsair Newspaper Santa Monica College

09

Homecoming woes extend drought

By Michael Mendoza Staff Writer A three-game losing streak has transformed the Corsairs’ football season into an outright proclamation for legitimacy, a battle that consistently portrays Santa Monica College as an underdog in a gritty trench fight.

SMC continued to take fire from all sides in their homecoming debut, falling victim to the L.A. Southwest College Cougars, 2715.

Throughout the game, the Corsairs struggled to move the chains on third down, going an unbelievable 3 for 20 on thirddown conversions.

This would lead the Corsairs to attempt several ‘high risk/ high reward’ fourth-down conversions, which they completed two times out of six.

“Going for it depends on where you are on the field and the time of the game. I don’t really have a preference but I think that games dictate when you go for it,” said Gifford Lindheim, head coach of

the Corsairs.

Despite the lack of consistency on the third and fourth-down conversions, the Corsairs’ offense would finish the day out-rushing their opponents for 167 yards on the ground while racking up over 200 yards passing on the night.

SMC’s freshman quarterback Travis Williams especially showed tremendous improvement from recent contests. He managed to throw zero interceptions on a night where he would finish 24-40 on passing attempts while throwing for an impressive 241 yards passing.

Freshman running back Benjamin Irwin-Crayton from Centennial High School would stand out once again this week, averaging nearly five yards on six carries and scoring the team’s only touchdown of the night.

Regardless of the points given up late in the fourth quarter, the Corsairs defense would also put on an acceptable performance, forcing two fumbles on the night and snatching two

Jeff Cote Corsair The Santa Monica College Corsairs’ defensive line squares up against the Southwest College Cougars last Saturday. The defense would allow 27 points in the team’s homecoming defeat, marking their fourth straight loss.

interceptions that came from veteran sophomore A.J. Annelus and the young freshman Brian Hawthorne.

With only four games left in the regular season and riding a lingering four-game losing streak, the Corsairs are forced to make adjustments despite the improved play in order to stay

in the playoff race as the season winds down.

With the Corsairs taking on Pierce College next week, the top-ranked team in the Pacific Conference, SMC has a great opportunity to play spoiler and gain momentum with a potential win against the powerhouse.

“I’m looking forward to it,

they’re a formidable opponent.

They’re a team that we have defeated in the last two seasons so I know we’re capable of winning this game and obviously we’re going to have to play better to do that,” said Lindheim. “I’m looking forward to the challenge and the preparation leading up to it.”

Mental malfunction

By Kevin Duron Sports Editor

Luana Kasahara Corsair Santa Monica College’s Sarah Barrington (right) showcases her dribbling skill and leaves Los Angeles Valley defender Reina Estrada (left) on the floor during the Corsairs’ exponential victory at Santa Monica this past Friday.

Dancing in the rain

By Kevin Duncan Staff Writer The Lady Corsair soccer team finished the game in cruise control against the Los Angeles Valley Monarchs with a resounding 5-0 victory amidst slippery weather this past Friday afternoon.

SMC came out swinging from the first whistle, and it wasn’t long before they etched their first tally on the score sheet.

In only the second minute of the game freshman Gabriella Rodriguez scored off a throw-in that was slotted past a helpless keeper.

They were still celebrating on the bench when SMC scored again, this time off of a lovely through pass that landed at sophomore sensation Mercy Tejada’s

feet for her to kick past the goalie and make it 2-0.

It was indeed all SMC during the first half, and Mercy Tejada drew some “ole’s” from the crowd after she dribbled and cut the same helpless defender twice before chipping the ball over the goalie and into the side netting.

The goal was superb and more of the same to head coach Aaron Benditson.

“Great goal by a great player,” he said.

The second half was similar to the first in terms of SMC’s ability to penetrate the defense of the Monarchs.

However, the overshadowed defense of the Lady Corsairs stood out as well as L.A. Valley hardly ever made it past the midfield line.

Coach Benditson made it quite clear that defense is

vital to the team’s chances of winning.

“Our stress is on our defense. If we are sound defensively, we will always be able to compete for a positive result,” he said.

Freshman Olivia Patterson and sophomore Lauren Bustamente capped off the win with some late second half scores, one coming off of a great cross by freshman Sarah Barrington to make the end result 5-0.

The win was yet another positive result for SMC who continue to make noise in the opening stages of a stellar season, and they show no intention of turning down the volume.

Look for them to be in top form again in their next match against Citrus in Corsair Stadium this Friday at 2 p.m.

Whereas lightning lit up the Tuesday night Santa Monica skyline, the Lady Corsair volleyball team failed to locate any source of energy inside the gym against the visiting Citrus Owls.

Mental mistakes emerged to be thematic over the complete sweep of the Corsairs as Citrus made quick work of Santa Monica College, taking the match with game scores of 25-23, 18-25, and 19-25 respectively.

Following the remarkably short hour-long match, the Corsairs headed back to the locker room to diagnose their miscommunication while the Lady Owls piled on their team bus, engine still warm.

“You know, it really is clearly mental,” said head coach Nicole Ryan. “They are more worried about making mistakes, and they really need to start focusing on the game itself and mechanics.”

Game 1 gave no indication of struggle, as SMC lost by only a slim two-point margin in a game decorated with powerful outside spikes and solid blocks from freshman Amelia Keeling.

As for the remainder of the match, the Corsairs in-game structure ran completely askew. Citrus’ fluid team chemistry only further exposed the disorganization of the home team, and SMC would exemplify their mental roadblocks to the fullest with multiple inaccurate serves that fell out of play.

Their offense would in turn struggle to put up a motivating amount of points on the scoreboard, and their inability to set up decent spikes increased as the deficit worsened.

“It wasn’t our best,” said freshman Kelsey Keil. “We need to play more as a team and less as individuals.”

SMC’s shutout loss broadcasted the team’s unfortunate habit of relying on a leader to carry the squad.

“They’re doing a team exercise this week to come together and be open with each other in terms of what they need,” said Ryan.

With Bakersfield next on the docket this Friday, the ladies look to pursue equilibrium off the court to sync their in-game execution.

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Corsair Newspaper Santa Monica College

LIFESTYLE

Wednesday October , 

Photo Illustration by Sal Guerra and Brian White Corsair Despite the justification that many of us tout for keeping binders full of work from the seventh grade, Christmas sweaters that we know we’ll never wear, and books that we say we’ll give to our children’s children, the minimization of all of this clutter can lead to a more organized and stress-free life. Kelly Sutton illustrates this philosophy with his project Cult of Less.

When necessary things appear quite unnecessary In an attempt to reduce the clutter in his life, Kelly Sutton decided to make an effort to answer the question: is it possible to own nothing?

By Stephanie Sommer Staff Writer Think about all of your belongings. Those sweaters you never wear that are too small or too big, those candlesticks covered in dust tucked away in a cabinet that you never open. Those kitchen plates way in the back that you say you’re going to use every year for Christmas, but never get to.

Now imagine finding a way to fit all of those things, on top of the items that you use daily, into two boxes and two suitcases, and hitting the road.

You may find it absurd, you

may find it intriguing, and house. Upon his return he nothing? Each possession he you may find the concept couldn’t even remember what owns is catalogued on his site at cultofless.com. humorous. My life into four was in all of those boxes.

“If I couldn’t remember To begin the project he movable items? Few of us could do that no matter how what I had left, and had lived painstakingly recorded each many hands we had helping without it for almost half a of his possessions and listed zip up the suitcase while we year, I figured it was not worth them on his website, from his keeping,” said Sutton. car to his green Nordstrom sat on top of it.

From encouraging emails shirt, designating them as But now think about the keep, sell or freedom you would donate.

He be allotted. A trip “If I couldn’t remember what I had left, did all this in to the post office and had lived without it for almost half a efforts to make to mail some boxes year, I figured it was not worth keeping.” a clean sweep, and a check-in of to quickly rid luggage and you himself of could bring your life - Kelly Sutton life’s clutter, with you wherever to negative online criticism, and made a point to keep in you decided.

Kelly Sutton, founder of the Sutton has had an earful of mind what the future would realistically hold for each item Cult of Less, did just this: he responses to his movement. condensed his belongings into “My family thinks it’s during his purging.

“You can rationalize, ‘I can two bags and two boxes to crazy, my friends think it’s eliminate the clutter from his weird, but some have started use this in the future’ for anything. In order to make life. themselves,” he said.

This project was inspired Sutton created a website progress you must think, by his summer trip to to document his journey in ‘When is the last time I have Europe when he left boxes attempts to answer the begging used this?’” said Sutton. “If of belongings at his friend’s question: is it possible to own you continue to rationalize,

keeping unnecessary things begins to appear quite necessary.”

Melanie Pal, first year Santa Monica College student laughed and said, “I wouldn’t be able to do it, I hold on to everything.”

On the contrary, SMC student, Netanya Light said, “I could do it, it would be hard, but I get the point in it.”

Light believes our society is concerned with getting more, getting bigger and better. “I live in it, I like it, but then I step back and think, ‘Do I really need this?’” she said.

“You could live with less and still be happy.”

Pal is concerned our society is going too far.

“Kids focus more on image,” she said. “It is their main concern when they walk out of the house in the morning.”

Two suitcases, two boxes, endless opportunity.

Wednesday October , 

LIFESTYLE

Corsair Newspaper Santa Monica College

11

Rewind to the birth of humanism

By Jennifer Ferrada Staff Writer There’s this very small, centuryold looking building in the corner of Venice and Bagley: The Museum of Jurassic Technology.

In the dimly lit entry hall, what seems to be a random assortment of stuff you can’t quite make out surrounds the front desk. After being welcomed you are told you may start out with the museum’s audio introductory in the next room.

The museum’s name has nothing to do with dinosaurs, despite the term ‘Jurassic,’ which many associate with the blockbuster film “Jurassic Park.” In fact, the title is indefinite in itself. The museum serves the public as a ride into exhibits of various subjects that go back as far as the 1600s.

This museum could be seen as a cove harboring certain passions of the intellectual, and those passions are meant to be shared with visitors to the museum, despite the sense that each exhibit seems completely unrelated. It could more or less be looked at as a junkyard for passions.

According to the museum’s introductory video and audio, its origin is inspired by the movement of humanism during the 16th and 17th centuries. Humanism refers to when objects of animated nature and the phenomena of the material world began to be looked at with scientific interest.

The museum has been around for a little over twenty years, acting as an educational institution for those with a scholarly mind. Some of the collections were noted for their unusual technological qualities in their time.

As you explore the museum you begin to realize that the randomness will never escape you. With exhibits like “Rotten Luck,” which pertains to ‘failing dice’ from the collections of Ricky Jay, “The One-Hundred Inch Telescope” and “Mice on Toast,” it’s clear that there’s no real order or sense to the displays.

One exhibit that put technological experimentation on display was “The Floral Stereoradiographs of Albert G. Richards.” Bold and bright the stereoradiographs stand out against the dark room where they’re on display. The exhibit

Albany Katz Corsair According to old folk superstition, eating two dead mice on toast would cure bedwetting. This delectable replica is on display at the Museum of Jurassic Techonology, in Culver City.

pointed out how “radiography, whether industrial, dental, or floral, is the process whereby an object exposed to x-rays, casts its ‘shadow’ upon film.”

“The silliest exhibit to me here has got be the ‘American Gray Fox’ where you look through the glass, and there is a man sitting there

barking,” Clara Dykstra, museum employee, laughed when asked about the museum’s exhibits.

To anyone who holds a fascination for others’ material attachments, this place is for them.

The museum is open Thursday through Sunday. For students it’s a suggested donation of $3.

People can come here and see something they never even thought of or they might read a stem of information that they appreciate learning. People are in for a visual experience of fascinations that exude a learner’s mind. It’s strange, unusual, random, but mind-turning.

A Taste of the World Tahitian Raw Fish

By Alessandra Catanese Staff Writer

Albany Katz Corsair Every Thursday the Korean Campus Crusade for Christ meets in HSS 263 for a little over an hour of singing, bible study, and a chance to connect with others from SMC in a hospitable and welcoming environment.

Korean Campus Crusade for Christ

By Vaimiti Herlaud Staff Writer As soon as you enter the classroom on a Thursday morning, forty people welcome you with smiles, as if you were back to your parents’ home after a year overseas.

After being taken aback, you realize that this is taking place in a classroom at Santa Monica College. The students are not welcome you for your next sociology class, but sharing a moment together during the Korean Campus Crusade for Christ meeting as they worship God. The club offers a place for students with an array of problems or needs to find solace: Need support because you’re struggling with grades? Want to pray for someone you care about before your next class? Or just want to make up with God? Every Thursday at 11:15 a.m.

SMC students, with the help of KCCC, organize an open chapel in room 263 of the Humanities and Social Science building.

“Except for the message, which is given by one of the staff that KCCC organization provides for the campus, everything else is

led by the students,” said Kim Moon, president of KCCC club of SMC. Despite the fact that it’s a Korean organization, the chapel is open to any ethnic groups of Santa Monica College.

“The open Chapel have already welcomed Brazilians, Chinese people, Mongolians, and Hispanics as well,” said Grace Ha vice president of KCCC club of SMC. Being a branch of the CCC, standing for Campus Crusade for Christ, that was created 59 years ago by Bill and Vonette Brigh at the University of California Los Angeles, SMC’s KCCC carries on the original purpose of the group: to connect people to Christ.

CCC is represented in 191 countries of the world such as Ghana, India, Columbia, Paris, Germany and Philippines according the Campus Crusade for Christ International website.

The KCCC was first implanted in Korea in 1958 before reaching Korean-American and KoreanInternational students later on.

Based on volunteering, students either help out the club by being a part of the band that performs during the open

chapel, the organization of the club, or even offering some snacks after the celebration.

“It’s really great to share something with someone, being like a family,” said Ha. The sequence offered by KCCC includes prayers, praises, the message, offering, offering prayers, some announcements, and the Lord’s Prayer, which is said in both Korean and English.

“Even though they are Korean they also speak English and I really like the way they worship, I feel like home,” said Ludimilla Alves, an international student from Brazil.

Moreover, the KCCC club also offers morning prayers everyday from Monday to Thursday at seven a.m. in the cafeteria on the main campus. They also meet outside the campus for praying and singing with the other members from different campuses, and also organize a sports day practice every Wednesday and Thursday.

An hour and a half later at the end of the worship, you see students hugging at each other like brothers and sisters usually to show their support in order to be ready for facing life’s capricious whims.

Hello again, I missed you. I’m so sorry I’ve been gone for the last two weeks, with midterms, family members getting married, and don’t forget the fact that I have to pay rent, times have been tough.

Not to worry, I’m back this week with an exciting surprise!

I made a new friend, from a new country, Tahiti! Vaimiti Herlaud, or Vai, was kind enough to cook some traditional Tahitian Raw Fish with me this week, and if I may say so myself, it was damn good.

Now, I know what you’re thinking, raw fish? Yes, raw Albacore Tuna, to be specific. Not exactly the cheapest dish, considering the tuna steaks were about $12 per pound at Albertsons, but boy were they fresh!

The fun fact about this weeks dish is that the fish is not completely raw, the acidity from the lemons used actually cook the fish, but we’ll get into that later. First, lets talk Tahiti!

Tahiti happens to be the largest island of the Windward Islands in French Polynesia, which doesn’t say much because if you search GoogleMaps for Tahiti, it comes up about the size of the actual pinpoint “A” used to locate it.

A very, very tiny island, southwest of California, located in between Australia and South America. Which leads me to wonder how in the world anyone found it?

Tahiti was originally settled by Polynesians between AD 300 and 800, and later proclaimed a colony of France in 1880. It was not until 1946 that all of what is currently French Polynesia became a French overseas territory.

Today, French is the official language, although not the only one spoken.

Being that Tahiti is an island, it comes as no surprise that raw fish is one of the most popular and traditional recipes.

This recipe called for...

INGREDIENTS 2 tuna steaks 2 lemons one onion 1/2 a cucumber 1 carrot 1 tomato 14 oz. can of coconut milk Check out the video and full recipe online at TheCorsairOnline.com and let me know what you think.

12

EXHIBIT Javiera Estrada offers an artistic view of nudity Corsair Newspaper Santa Monica College

Wednesday October , 

Geraldine Planchart Corsair Javiera Estrada hangs her art in Santa Monica College’s Drescher Hall photography exhibit to prepare for her gallery that opened last week.

By Vera Hughes Staff Writer I hate to say that I criticize any type of expression or art, but if I have any gripe it would be for photography; just for the simple fact that there is no automatic disqualification for becoming a photographer.

Let me elaborate: if you want to be a painter, you have to have some sort of skill with a paintbrush, if you want to draw, you must have talent with a pencil, whereas as with photography anybody can pick up a camera and snap a picture. I was previously stuck in my pretentious, one-minded point of view concerning photography, until recently, when I was exposed to Javiera Estrada’s new collection, “Crowns + Veils.”

Born in Mexico, Javiera Estrada chose to come to Los Angeles specifically because of Santa Monica College’s esteemed photography program. After she completed school here, she was

chosen to receive a grant as an award of excellence. At the end of her studies here at SMC she also won a mentorship program that is only given to one student every three years.

Estrada has recently completed what she considers to be her first complete collection, as well as her first foray into mixed media. When placed alone her photographs tend to inspire, but when mixed with her careful additions of chain, beads, feathers and resin, it’s as if the collection comes to life. The emotion captured in the faces of those she photographs is enchanting, but even more moving are the bodies.

Estrada explained to me that she often chooses to take nude photographs, and this is reflected in her new collection and what she was trying to get across; that we are all “flesh, blood, bones and heart” beneath our various masks. She has this beautiful ability to capture the human body in a way that makes you see only emotion when you look at it, not just a nude model. The most exquisite example of this talent is

displayed in one of her photograph entitled “Mother + Child.” Despite the nudity, the interesting jester’s mask or the woman, you can’t help but be drawn to the child’s eyes, staring out at you suspiciously, yet still sweetly, and the body language between the mother and child.

The clear theme between all of the photographs, as evidenced in the title of her series, “Crowns + Veils,” is the use of headwear in each piece. Estrada strived to express “humanities struggle between the ego and our true nature.”

What makes these 16 photographs seem more like one work than anything else, is her choice to seal every piece with resin.

Going into this project, Estrada knew textural quality in her photographs is what she wanted and something she had not yet experimented. After ruining a couple of photographs and almost giving up on the entire project, she came back t to her work and figured out how to use the resin to effectively protect the

frameless photographs.

What also unites the different pieces in this collection is the wonderful color pallet that Estrada chose to work with.

Every photograph is a different degree of mixture between such basic tones as black and white with a mixture of rich colors such as sepia. In some pieces, like “Bird,” the colors are warmer and give it an ethereal effect, emphasized by the beads, surrounding the featured person in the photograph, which feel like stars.

When Estrada completed the photography program here at SMC she thought about how she stumbled upon the art of photography when a batch of causal photographs taken on a vacation in Puerto Rico inspired her to take it more seriously and ultimately how she enjoyed the program immensely.

Estrada is currently back in Santa Monica to present her collection of photography entitled “Crown + Veils” in our gallery here at SMC and it will be showcased next week in Drescher Hall Saturday, Oct. 16.

Photos by Javiera Estrada. From left to right (clockwise): The Bird, Soldier of Love, and Feathers.

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