Fall 2018 : Issue 07

December 04, 2018 - Volume 116 - Issue 07- Santa Monica College - Every Copy of The Corsair is free, each copy after is 25 cents

MIGRANTS ON THE

MOVE

Rain Floods Out Asylum Seekers Across Tijuana

California Nurses Arent Going to Take It Pg.3

Tis The Season For Sex Ed Pg.6

Chinas Social Dystopia Pg.7

Santa Monica College, Student Run Newspaper since 1929

Rams Clinch Consecutive NFC West Titles Pg.8

2 CONTENT

VOLUME 116 ISSUE 07 •DECEMBER 04, 2018 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

Editorial Staff Pyper Witt…………................................….Editor in Chief Dakota Castets- Didier ............................. Managing Editor Casey Contreras…..….............................…..Culture Editor Lauri Helin……….................................…...Opinion Editor Dakota Castets-Didier.…..................................News Editor Dylan Cortez………........................................Sports Editor Zane Meyer-Thornton…..................................Photo Editor Nicole Washington…......................................Digital Editor Blake Atwell…........................................MultiMedia Editor Lauri Helin……..............................................Design Editor Casey Contreras…..........................................Design Editor

Corsair Staff Cristian Vasquez, Adriel Navarro, Irving Santiago, Yasser

Michael Lima (middle, bike), Pablo Yafed (right), and their friends race each other at a migrant shelter set up at the Benito Juarez Sports Complex in Tijuana, Mexico, on December 2, 2018. Many children have used things like skateboards, scooters, rollerblades, and toy cars to pass the time while they take shelter. (Zane Meyer-Thornton/Corsair Staff)

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Marte, Ricardo Herrera , Jazz Boothby, Oskar Zinnemann, Muhammad Khokar, Ana Duraes, Evan Minniti, Shayn

Pyper Don Witt

Almeida, Melanie Delgado, Michelle Ayala, Earl Agustines, Brenna Spalding, Jacob Victoria, Julie Dole, Andrew Narvaéz, Ryanne Mena

Faculty Advisors Ashanti Blaize-Hopkins....................... Journalism Advisor

Gerard Burkhart............................................Photo Advisor

FRONT COVER A Honduran flag flies above the migrant caravan taking shelter at El Barretal, in Barretal, Tamaulipas, Mexico, on December 1, 2018. An estimated 160 Honduran migrants first made the decision to travel as a group in the open to the United States, an estimated 4,000 people have joined the caravan from various South American countries. (Daniel Bowyer/ Corsair Contributor)

Teaser Left to Right Members of the California Nurses Association protest at a nurses' strike outside of Providence Saint Johns Health Center in Santa Monica, California, on November 27, 2018. The nurses were striking over the unfair treatment they are receiving from Providence Health and Services. (Zane MeyerThornton/Corsair Photo) Photo Courtesy of Maria Falzone Illustration by Tony Anguiano (@tonyzacomics) Quarterback number 16, Jared Goff, of the Los Angeles Rams. Photo Courtsey of Creative Commons

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Editor-in-Chief

Here we are with the last print edition of the Fall 2018 semester. Man, how time flies when you are doing what you love. It is bittersweet to say that I will not be applying for the Spring 2019 Editor-in-Chief position. My successor will do an incredible job continuing to provide SMC students with news from around the Greater Los Angeles area.

This semester the Corsair nearly started from scratch. Going into the semester there were only five people who were part of the class the semester prior, which was an incredible task to overcome at the very beginning. To get everyone as excited about this newspaper as we were, that will always be one of my greatest achievements. We started from scratch as we had no designers, no desk editors, and very little writers and photographers who were experienced. That all changed rapidly. Within the first week we had two dedicated designers who had to learn InDesign from its very foundation, while also being the Culture and Opinion desk editors. For this, I have so much gratitude for Casey Contreras and Lauri Helin; I don't know where the Corsair would be if they hadn't had stepped up. Further I want to thank our returning Corsair alum, Ryanne Mena and Zane Meyer-Thornton, for noticing that we needed the extra help and providing that for us. Without Ryanne’s reporting, and Zane’s photography and photo pressing skills, our audience would have much less raw news to consume on a daily

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basis.

Ongoing, the Corsair was blessed with two quiet guys, Dakota Castets-Didier and Yasser Marte, who also stepped up to the plate when the Corsair was slipping. From the very beginning, Dakota went full force into being News Editor, and when asked to step up as my Managing Editor when times got really rough, he took to the challenge happily. Similarly did Yasser come forward when it was time for the Corsairs social media presence to be improved. With his experience, I am very proud to say that we have gained consistent likes, retweets, and followers on all of our social media platforms.

Finally, there were two returning Corsairs at the beginning of the semester, Nicole Washington, our Digital Editor, and Dylan Cortez, our Sports Editor. Nicole has spent hours with our design team helping maintain morale and organization as well as jumping on and off our website, thecorsaironline. com, whenever we had a tiny typo or even a mass photostory to put up. She did it as soon as she could. Dylan had probably one or two consistent writers for his section, but an entire soccer and football season to get covered. If he couldn't get a writer to go to a game, he went himself to provide our readers with the coverage they deserved to have. And last, but most certainly not least, our Multimedia Editor, Blake Atwell, is constantly in “beast mode.” If you are ever around Blake, you will notice how he casually walks around with his laptop in hand

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and alert eyes, always working, yet always ready to crack a joke when time allows… or doesnt.

I wish I could continue to write about how awesome my team has been this semester, person by person, but I have little space and some other things to say. So, to my team, to those whose names were not mentioned, I want you to know how much I have appreciated every single moment we’ve had together; whether it be chaotic or vulgar or whatever. I have learned so much about myself- what my dreams are, what my strengths are, and how strong my heart has become. I will continue to follow my passions as I now have a solidified feeling of what I am meant to do–where I am meant to go–in my life. Thank you to my peers at the Corsair Newspaper, for I owe a lot of this to you. It has been an honor to be your leader this semester.

Here we are, dear reader, at the last print edition of the semester. My last Letter From the Editor is dedicated to the people who make the paper what it is today, but I would like to leave you with this by Vietnamese Monk Thich Nhat Hanh: “Reconciliation is a deep practice that we can do with our listening and our mindful speech. To reconcile means to bring peace and happiness to nations, people, and members of our family.... In order to reconcile, you have to possess the art of deep listening…”

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NEWS 3

VOLUME 116 ISSUE 07 •DECEMBER 04, 2018 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

California Nurses Take A Stand

concerns and we feel we have no choice but to strike.”

What was supposed to be a Disputes over salary, “one-day strike to protest eroding benefits and patient care patient care conditions” caused practices prompted a St. John’s Health Center to react one-day strike at St. John’s with an unpaid five-day lock out.

Health Center and the Little Some protesting nurses claimed Company of Mary Medical the hospital made this decision as Center in San Pedro, a scare tactic. Many nurses pointed California. Both groups to Providence Health and Serexpressed similar issues vices, who acquired St. John’s and picketed in solidarity Health Center in 2014, as the at their respective cities. biggest negotiation roadblock.

This joint effort was coorCline said, “Providence is a dinated with the help of Members of the California Nurses Association protest at a nurses strike outside of big corporation that owns several the California Nursing Providence Saint Johns Health Center in Santa Monica, California, on November hospitals all through the western 27, 2018.

The nurses were striking over the unfair treatment they are receiving from Association.

Providence Health and Services. (Zane Meyer-Thornton/Corsair Staff) part of the United States. They Mary D’Esposito, a St. come and make all kinds of cuts.

John’s Health Center new Jack Cline, a Medical Surgical Nurse at They cut our transportation. They cut our graduate nurse, expressed grievousness St. John’s Health Center, explained, “They’re lift team. They cut all our support staff.” about a recent change in her salary. The offering us a small raise, but with an increase As organizations like Providence contract she signed indicated that she of insurance costs, and they want to take our Health and Services scale they have the would receive a pay raise upon complet- vacation time away.” He continued to state capability to make fiscal decisions that ing one year of employment. She reached that salary and benefits cuts do not allow for can impact the lives of both employee her year mark in April 2018 and received employment retention and St. John’s Health and consumer. a nine dollar increase in June 2018.

Center often loses nurses to UCLA Medical Feeling ignored and unwanted D’Esposito said, “About two weeks Center just a few blocks away.

D’Esposito said, “I think a lot of us feel ago they just took it [pay raise] away.

In a statement released by the California very disheartened by our employer. They They have decided to not give about sixty Nursing Association, Sudie Cunnane, who haven’t shown they want to invest in us. other new grads the raises they’re eligible has been with St. John’s Health Center for Now, we have the experience to get jobs for.” She claims she was not given any 24 years, said, “We are being asked to do somewhere else that want to pay their explanation regarding her salary change. more with less, and we don’t have the tools nurses appropriately, train us appropriMany of the new graduate nurses are we need to give our patients the best quality ately and respect us appropriately.” already approaching their two-year mark. care. Management is turning a deaf ear to our Andrew Narvaez Staff Writer

Evan Minniti Staff Writer

SMC Club Hosts Presentation On The Israeli-Palestinian ConflictConflict

On last Thursday, November 29, the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) club hosted a presentation in Santa Monica College’s Math Complex about the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict given by activist Omar Zahzah.

The presentation, which was attended by a few dozen SMC students, gave a detailed history of the European colonization of Palestine, the development of Zionist ideas

by Theodor Herzl, and the major events of the 1936 Palestinian general strike; the Holocaust, the declaration of the state of Israel, the Palestinian exodus of 1948, and the creation of the Palestine Liberation Organization; the status of Palestinian refugees, the 1956 Israeli invasion of the Sinai, the Six Day War, the rise of Islamic fundamentalism, the first and second intifadas, and the development of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.

Hesham Jarmakani, Associated Students Vice President and among those in attendance at the meeting, stressed the reasons why the presentation was given.

“First and foremost, I would like to say that one of the reasons why I think this meeting should have taken place and I’m glad has taken place is that as of right now with every conflict and every issue, there FOR

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is always two sides, there is always two perspectives,” said Jarmakani. “Lately there has been more and more of a pressure or a focus on one side [Israel], rather than the other and we would just like to shed some light in terms of what’s been going on.”

Zahzah, who has been involved in proPalestinian activism since 2012, warned the audience of the possible challenges facing activists in this field, such as being listed on the Canary Mission website, which has been accused by Israeli newspaper Haaretz of being a blacklist of pro-Palestinian activists. However, Zahzah remains optimistic.

“The fact that there is this much opposition shows we are working on a cause for justice. We are facing insurmountable

odds to ameliorate the oppression of an oppressed group. This is always how it has worked throughout history. The odds seem insurmountable when the stakes are the highest precisely,” said Zahzah.

Jarmakani hopes that SMC students walk away from the presentation with more knowledge about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“The fact is that it’s not just a dualistic, black and white, answer to a question that’s been going on for 70 years. It’s a problem that has been going on for 70 years but there is so many layers and different dimensions to it and hopefully we can layer those dimensions out,” said Jarmakani.

Activist Omar Zahzah (center/right) speaks on the history of Palestine and the events that led to the creation of the state of Israel at a meeting for the Santa Monica College chapter of Students of Justice for Palestine (SJP) on November 29, 2018 at Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, California. (Oskar Zinnemann/Corsair Staff)

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4 PHOTOSTORY

VOLUME 116 ISSUE 07 •DECEMBER 04, 2018 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

Migrants from the caravan that originated in Honduras, board a bus that will take them from the Benito Juarez Sports Complex in the Zone Norte neighborhood to the new shelter situated at El Barretal in the Desarrollo Urbanoejido Matamoros neighborhood on Saturday, December 1, 2018 in Tijuana, Mexico. The rain hitting this area in the last few days has turned the shelter into an unlivable muddy space raising health concerns resulting in the need to quickly find a sanitary new space for the migrants. (Jose Lopez/Corsair Contributor)

Asylum Seekers Displaced from Shelters by Heavy Rains, Floods

Ryanne Mena Staff Writer Over five thousand migrants were sheltered at the Benito and also has an indoor area where families with young children Juarez Sports Complex in the Zona Norte neighborhood of are being sheltered.

Tijuana, Mexico, until rain left the facility flooded. Less than a As migrants filled the new shelter, cars full of donations also week later, the majority of the migrants were moved to a new entered the shelter. People in line to receive food, clothes, blanshelter ten miles southeast of the previous one, yet some remain kets, and other items filled the concrete grounds. The general outside of Benito Juarez. coordinator of the El Barretal facility is Mario Medina De La Dozens of migrants remain camped outside of the Benito Torre, a social worker with 25 years of experience working with Juárez Sports Complex, despite the government-owned and run non-governmental organizations. The Corsair spoke to him in facility shutting down on Sunday, December 2. Some decided Spanish and translated the interview. When asked what the biggest not to move to the new shelter because of how far it is from the differences are between Benito Juarez and El Barretal, De La port of entry, where applications to seek Torre said, “Space, is one. It has a roof, two. asylum in the United States are taken.

Sanitary bathrooms and showers, even though Jorge Montoya, 43, who was sheltered we’re fixing some of them right now.” He also at Benito Juarez, isn’t sure if he will be stated that the new facility has a 24 hour hosgoing to the new shelter because he is afraid pital and a permanent presence of lawyers of missing his asylum case number. “They’re from the United States. not handling things right... the Mexican Some people are enjoying the new shelter government here,” said Montoya. Accordmore than the old one, such as eleven year old ing to a Mexican State Police officer, all Herman Reyes. He was riding around on his people that remained sheltered outside of scooter outside of his tent that his mother had Benito Juarez will be forced to move from just set up. The Corsair spoke to the boy in the area on Friday, December 7.

Spanish and translated the interview. When asked why he liked Those who chose to move to the new shelter packed up their this shelter more, Herman said, “because there’s more space here belongings as buses lined up in front of Benito Juarez to take than [at Benito Juarez].” them to the new shelter, formerly known as El Barretal in Tijuana, Janet Reyes, the mother of Herman, found the old shelter to Mexico. be better. “Well, there was better because it had bathrooms…

Tijuana’s largest migrant shelter is located in the Mariano and here, there’s a lot of sun… it’s different,” said Reyes.

Matamoros neighborhood in Tijuana, and was once home to a Thousands of people in the El Barretal shelter await their nightclub. The facility is mainly outdoors, with concrete floors, next step in their journey to seek asylum.

Aftermath from the Central American Migrant Caravan that was forced by flooding to leave the Benito Juarez Sports Complex, turned shelter, in Tijuana, Mexico, to the El Barretal shelter in Barretal, Tamaulipas, Mexico, on December 1, 2018. (Daniel Bowyer/Corsair Contributor)

In text: A young boy waits for his bus to leave a migrant shelter hosted at Benito Juarez Sports Complex and head towards El Barretal migrant shelter in Tijuana, Mexico, on December 1, 2018. (Zane Meyer-Thornton/ Corsair Staff)

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PHOTOSTORY 5

VOLUME 116 ISSUE 07 •DECEMBER 04, 2018 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

"They’re not handling things right... the Mexican government here,” Jorge Montoya, 43

Children play soccer at the El Barretal migrant shelter in Tijuana, Mexico, on December 1, 2018. (Zane Meyer-Thornton/Corsair Staff)

Migrants stationed at the El Barretal migrant shelter struggle to grab bags filled with snacks being thrown from a pickup truck by members of the TJ Justice Journey, one of the many private migrant relief organizations supplying goods to the Central American Migrant Caravan in Tijuana, Mexico, on December 1, 2018. (Zane Meyer-Thornton/Corsair Staff)

Joanna Caseres, 20, from Honduras, helps clean up the new shelter space, El Barretal, in preparation to receive migrants from the caravan, that originated in Honduras, on December 1, 2018, in Tijuana, Mexico. The new location, El Barretal, is a space that was previously a club and concert venue which is now being repurposed as a shelter for the migrants that will stand up against the rain to prevent any situations like what has happened at Benito Juarez Sports Complex recently.

(Jose Lopez/Corsair Contributor)

A young boy part of the Central American Migrant Caravan finished taking a shower with a bucket due to a limited water supply at the El Barretal shelter in Barretal, Tamaulipas, Mexico, on December 2, 2018.

(Daniel Bowyer/Corsair Contributor)

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6 CULTURE

VOLUME 116 ISSUE 07 •DECEMBER 04, 2018 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

Former Shark Tank Contestants Visit SMC Casey Contreras and Brenna Splading Culture Editor & Staff Writer Despite the cold weather and pouring rain, students filed into HSS 165 on the morning of November 29, at Santa Monica College main campus ready to soak up some knowledge from three business savvy sharks.

SMC’s Rotaract Club was host to Angela Watts, Dr. Edna Ma, and Gary Fleishman, there representing his son Zack Fleishman, all former contestants of the famous ABC television series “Shark Tank.”

The panel kicked off with host Rey Ybarra, producer and author of the multimedia book, “Conversations With Shark Tank Winners," who welcomed the audience. “Thank you so much for joining us on this incredible Southern California rainy morning,” he began. The students chuckled and settled into their seats preparing for an hour long Q&A with the “Shark Tank” veterans.

Steven Sedky, Club Advisor and organizer of Rotaract Club’s biggest event of the year, acknowledged the goals he had for this event. “Really what I think about is how do we sort of bring a big brand like ‘Shark Tank’... to campus to inspire students, but also to teach them about the real world entrepreneurship?” To accomplish this, the three panelists featured on the television show sat before an audience of over one hundred students to share their experiences in business, both on and off the scenes of “Shark Tank.”

“It’s a long road. It’s a marathon for sure, it’s not a sprint,” said Dr. Ma, fifth season

From left to right Gary Fleishman, Dr. Edna Ma, and Angela Watts fromer contestants of "Shark Tank" sit down for a Q&A at Santa Monica College on November 29, 2018. (Casey Contreras/ Corsair Staff)

contestant of “Shark Tank,” about starting her business. Despite coming out with no offer for her product BareEase, she still believes that participating on “Shark Tank” was the best choice she could have made, due to the opportunities that arose after her disqualification.

Months of preparation, note taking, and analyzing why offers were typically rejected in previous seasons is what Dr. Ma had done to try to ensure the best outcome.

She emphasized the importance of risk taking when it comes to business despite fears, ”I like to think of it as a risk benefit, because what's the worst thing that can happen,” asked Ma. She walked out with no offer in her hands, but came out triumphant at the end, that's why, “I wanted to share with the students that they have that drive in them, they already

took the step to be here present to check into class and do all those things,” explained Dr. Ma about coming in to speak to SMC students.

The room remained silent and attentive throughout the afternoon. Captivated by the stories, many students left the panel feeling enlightened. Josh Whitlock-Brown, a student at SMC noted, “I thought it was really interesting, particularly Gary’s. His [idea] seemed to be something that could revolutionize several different things.” Another student, Justin Lee, said, “I think what they were speaking about up there can definitely influence me to become someone that wants to go on ‘Shark Tank’ and pitch their idea.”

Gary Fleishman, struck a deal with American billionaire Mark Cuban. Their product was the Shark Wheel. Fleishman took something that has been around for years, and re-invented it. Fleishman admits

that this invention was an accident. They were originally meaning for a completely different prototype, but instead found that their wheel exceed the speed of a regular wheel. “If you look at a shark's jaw open up, especially if the jaw is taken out so you can see the jaw-- it's sort of shaped like our shark wheel. Ours is 540 degrees not 360 degrees like a regular wheel,” explained Fleishman about his product. The Shark Wheel has had major success around the world and sales in the millions per year.

Fleishman also expressed the importance of taking risks and likes to remember that, “Nobody cares how much you know, until you show how much you care,” and encouraged students to show just how much they care when it comes to business endeavors.

At the end of the night the entrepreneurs took the time to speak with students one on one, and take pictures. “They wanted to ask real questions that came to mind.

Not just about getting on the show, and getting the attention from the show, but also practical questions in terms of what is to be an entrepreneur and having and starting your own business,” said Dr. Ma enthusiastically about SMC student engagement at the event. The Rotaract Club plans to keep bringing in contestants from the show to SMC for panels like this where students can interact, and learn about what it takes to be successful in the world of business.

The Dying Wish of a Comedian Turned Sex-Educator Jazz Boothby Staff Writer “I am so proud of your generation. And all the work you’ve done. But there is still so much you guys need to accomplish,” says Falzone. Her ninety minute show, entitled “Sex Rules,” has been performed at thousands of college campuses across the United States.

It touches on a multitude of pertinent subjects that range from how to determine whether or not you are ready to have sex, or consent to sexual safety. Falzone hopes to normalize the conversations surrounding intercourse.

“Sex should be something people discuss casually, just like the weather!” Falzone declares between laughs.

Ultimately, Falzone hopes that the show has an impact. She stresses, “I want people to have greater and safer sex.”

Falzone has been performing “Sex Rules” for the past twenty years, and over the course of her career she has “absolutely” witnessed significant shifts in the ways society discusses sex. “Years ago, I performed at Indiana State University, which is total KKK country, and when I said that we needed to advocate for LGBTQ rights, I was booed off stage,” she remembers, “but recently, I went back to that same university, and told the crowd to applaud if they would be comfortable having a gay roommate, and the whole room erupted.”

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After that performance, a “tiny lesbian” approached her and expressed her gratitude for Falzone’s championing of LGBTQ rights.

“I’ll never forget this. This girl approached me and started saying, ‘I’m gay, my dad found my porn and he threw out my vibrators, and I’ve been feeling so uncomfortable on campus lately.’ And as she’s telling me this, these sorority girls walk up and offer to take her to a sex-shop and buy her a vibrator!” Falzone exclaims. “That image, of the sorority sisters and the tiny lesbian walking towards a sex shop is something I never thought I’d see.”

She was born in Boston, but moved to San Francisco in her early twenties to pursue a career in comedy. There, she performed alongside the likes of Robin Williams and Kathy Griffin. “The reason I got into standup, was because I wanted to be in charge.

I could write, direct, and perform,” Falzone reveals. After performing at the HBO Aspen Comedy Festival, Maria was expecting to receive offers to star in television shows, but instead was approached by a woman named Susie Landolphi, who offered Maria the sex-ed job. “I just fell in love with the work,” Falzone muses.

Over the phone, Maria exudes charisma as she speaks quickly with a thick Boston accent and a passion that is palpable. Despite a devastating medical prognosis that gives Maria as little as four months to live, her US

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energy is high, and she has been devoting much of her time to emboldening the messages she hopes to leave behind. “Sex needs to be discussed at home, from an early age.

When children are aware of their genitals, and what kind of touching is appropriate and inappropriate, they’re much safer from predators," Falzone states. She also advocates for the encouragement of sexual exploration from an early age, “Children should know what masturbation is, and shouldn’t be made to feel bad if they do it. By exploring your sexuality from an early age, you can learn what works for you and what doesn’t. Which will ultimately lead to greater sex. Only you are responsible for your own orgasm.”

Facing a terminal prognosis, Falzone is hopeful that the messages she’s been delivering on stage will continue to be impactful.

“Consent is a major topic for the show," Falzone informs, “Knowledge is power. And power is protection. When you really know your body, and know what feels right, you are in control. You are more equipped to be able to say ‘no.'” Between the #MeToo movement and the Kavanaugh hearings, the national discourse surrounding consent is expanding, and perhaps, we can thank Maria Falzone for that.

Photo Courtsey of Maria Falzone

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OPINION 7

VOLUME 116 ISSUE 07 •DECEMBER 04, 2018 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

社会信用梦魇 Social Credit Nightmares Dakota Castets-Didier

Managing Editor

On June 14, 2014, China’s State Council released an outline that detailed the plan to construct the world’s first comprehensive “social credit system” by 2020. In function, this social credit system, or “social trust system,” as it has recently been relabeled, is meant to quantify each individual Chinese citizens’ or businesses’ trustworthiness by scoring them in “personal trustworthiness points.” This is outlined by four distinct categories: “honesty in government affairs” (政务 诚信), “commercial integrity” (商务诚信), “social integrity” (社 会诚信) and “judicial credibility” (司法公 信). Through a tabulation of these four categories, the Chinese Communist Party, which rules China’s government through an authoritarian regime, will set rules and regulations about public access to anything from travel, loan eligibility, or job prospects based on an individual's score, or that individual’s families’ scores. By creating metrics that prescribe ideal behaviors in its population, the Chinese Communist Party will–with or without intention– create a thoroughly modern social caste system. “Model citizens” will stand at odds with individuals who struggle to fit the numerous demands of the ideal mold, who will then thusly become less desirable to those across the sliding scale of individual credibility and conformity.

Since its announcement, Western governments and media have almost universally condemned Beijing’s “social trust system,” labelling it as Orwellian, or comparable to Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World.” While these literary examples are achingly similar to what Beijing is proposing, this has not dissuaded the Chinese Communist Party, or President Xi Jinping, whose crusade to maintain idealistic control of China’s population long ago left behind concerns of Western opinion. Since his induction to the Presidency in 2013, President Xi has demonstrated an aptitude for social media and rigidly controlling the world's largest share of daily internet activity through strict cenFOR

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sorship and regulation. In a leaked speech in August 2013, President Xi stated firmly, “the internet has become the main battlefield for the public opinion struggle.” It is clear that the social media savvy President Xi aims to use his government’s new found online prowess to implement, refine, and integrate the “social trust system” into ev-

by the state. This intertwined relationship in implementation between the Chinese Communist Party and China’s rigidly controlled private interests will ensure that Beijing’s standards reach all of China’s 1.3 billion citizens, and possibly even carry international influence.

Beijing has cited a meteoric rise in fi-

corruption, the government looks for its solution through commercial and financial interests, which are inversely more likely to perpetuate and stratify the corrupt status quo.

Although still in the early stages of implementation, the pilot programs for the “social trust system” are already making headlines around the globe.

As of May, 2018, the “social trust system” has landed 11.14 million Chinese citizens on a list barring them from purchasing airline tickets, and another 4.25 million incapable of purchasing high speed rail tickets. President Xi has justified this action by saying that those barred from travel are individuals who owe unpaid debts to the state, or carry loans in bad standing, explaining: “everywhere is limited, and it is difficult to move, so that those who violate the law and lose the trust will pay a heavy price.” In other cities across China, individuals have found their job prospects tethered to their parents’ social scores, and students have found their education prospects at risk. In July, a story circulated about a Chinese university student who had lost his spot at his university because of his father’s poor social score. These severe and heavy-handed tactics cannot be merely rooted in a government’s desire for economic trust in the marketplace; such tactics are often historiIllustration by Tony Anguiano (@tonyzacomics) cally to one end: total and nancial fraud and technologically enabled complete ideological control. economic crimes across domestic China.

There is no shortage of examples throughThis is a mandate for a modern system through out history of authoritarian states attempting which to better evaluate and police the world’s to engineer social control. China itself is no largest population. It is true that China’s stranger to social engineering, and the fraud woes are drastic; a Thomson Reuters Chinese government has shown throughout poll released in May found that among history that it is capable of not only impleChinese businesses operating predomi- menting draconic social control programs, nantly in the Asia-Pacific region, 49 percent but rather that it excels in the practice of of employees questioned admitted to having designing systems through which to control fallen victim themselves, or through their its people’s opinions and core beliefs. From business, to a financial crime in the last the “One Child Policy,” to the modern impletwelve months. This staggering rate of fi- mentation of forced “re-education” camps nancial crime is unsustainable for China’s for members of the Islamic faith in China, booming middle-class driven economy, and it is clear that the Chinese government will the “social trust system” is meant to take a not hesitate to implement and police a system central role in restoring economic trust and worthy of the television series “Black confidence–or that is the stated intent. In a Mirror.” country so concerned with ridding itself of

eryday life.

As the 2020 deadline for implementation approaches, China has begun authorizing “pilot programs,” allowing private interests in-line with the state to develop their own “social trust systems,” following the four central guidelines originally illustrated by the State Council in 2014. These pilot programs are meant to test different implementations of the State Council’s four original guidelines, and refine the system for final implementation. China’s internet giants, which now rival Silicon Valley’s in size and capital, have leapt at the opportunity to implement “social trust systems” into their hugely popular digital platforms. Both Alibaba and Tencent, two of China’s most comprehensive and profitable internet c glomerates have been awarded pilot programs US

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8 SPORTS

VOLUME 116 ISSUE 07 •DECEMBER 04, 2018 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

LA Rams Clinch First in NFC in Week 13 Dylan Cortez Sports Editor The Rams made their presence known in the NFL last season when head coach Sean McVay took over.

On Sunday, December 2, the Los Angeles Rams secured first place in the NFC West.

This is the second year in a row the Rams took first place in the west. This is just 32-year-old coach Sean McVay’s second year as Rams head coach and he is proving why he deserves to be the youngest head coach the NFL has ever seen. McVay was previously an offensive coordinator for the Washington Redskins, but brought his rapid playing style to LA. Quarterback Jared Goff currently has the fourth most passing yards in the league, right behind Atlanta’s Matt Ryan. Goff also has the fifth highest passer rating in the NFL. Running back Todd Gurley II is currently the NFL's leading rusher, just 25 yards ahead of Dallas Cowboys’ running back Ezekiel Elliott. Gurley is leading the league in rushing touchdowns with 15 in just 13 games. Both prestigious athletes have led the Rams to an 11-1 record. The Rams' only loss comes from the 10-2 Saints who are currently leading the NFC South.

The Rams were coming off a bye week on Sunday, December 2, to play the Detroit Lions, the last place team in the NFC North.

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Quarterback number 16, Jared Goff, of the Los Angeles Rams. Photo Courtesy of Creative Commons

The Lions were 4-7 coming into the game and were coming off a close emotional loss to the Chicago Bears who are the current leaders of the NFC North. The Rams exploited the Lions tendency to turn the ball over. Although the Rams also had two turnovers, they were able to keep the Lions out of end zone when needed, as Detroit went 1-5 in the red zone. The Lions also showed

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put up 51 points but were able to secure a victory with 54 points.

Since the Rams have already secured first place in the NFC West, be prepared to see a more conservative team throughout their next four games. Coach McVay will more than likely play more back-up players in the second half of these games to try and keep his starters as healthy as possible for the playoffs.

Los Angeles will play their next game against the NFC North leading Chicago Bears on December 9, in Chicago. Goff and Gurley are a dangerous duo that are especially entertaining to watch. Hopefully the Rams can continue their success along with the Los Angeles Chargers, so we can witness the first-ever Angeleno Super Bowl. The Los Angeles Chargers are currently in second place in the AFC West, but are looking to take the Chiefs place as first in the division, or at minimum land a wildcard position.

their struggle to convert on third down, going 2-12 against the Rams. Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips has not had the most impressive season with the Rams, but has continued to pull off victories. The game prior to the Lions, the Rams took on the Kansas City Chiefs in a Monday Night Football shoot-out. The Rams defense allowed Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes to

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Photo Courtesy of Creative Commons

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