Novemeber 6, 2018 - Volume 116 - Issue 5- Santa Monica College - Every Copy of The Corsair is free, each copy after is 25 cents
Peace Solidarity Community Santa Monica Stands Together Against Hate
Metal, Plastic, or Not at All? Straws at SMC Pg.3
A Docu-Drama of Hope, SMC’s Theater Program Tackles Abuse Pg.6
Make Brazil Great Again: Brazil elects Jair Bolsonaro Pg.7
Santa Monica College, Student Run Newspaper since 1929
International Students Controling the Soccer Field Pg.8
2 CONTENT
VOLUME 116 ISSUE 05 •NOVEMBER 6, 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 Marte, Ricardo Herrera , Jazz Boothby, Oskar Zinnemann, Muhammad Khokar, Bradley Elyghanian, Ana Duraes, Evan Minniti, Shayn Almeida, Melanie Delgado, Michelle
Dancers perform during the Día de los Muertos celebration at Woodlawn Cemetery in Santa Monica, California on Sunday, November 4, 2018. ( Kevin Warnecke / Corsair Contributing Photographer)
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Ayala, Earl Agustines, Brenna Spalding, Jacob Victoria, Julie Dole, Andrew Narvaéz, Ryanne Mena
Pyper Don Witt
Faculty Advisors
Editor-in-Chief
Ashanti Blaize-Hopkins........... Journalism Advisor
Gerard Burkhart.........................Photo Advisor
FRONT COVER Rabbi Eli Leviransky gives a heart warming speech while reflecting on the tragedies of the synagogue shooting in Pittsburg. He speaks at Santa Monica College's (SMC) main campus. October 30, 2018 (Yasser Marte/Corsair Staff)
Teaser Left to Right Straws Image courtesy of Creative Commons Cast of Voices of Hope sit during a moment cofessions about sexual assault and domestice violence. Dress rehearsal production was in the Santa Monica College's (SMC) Sound Stage October 30, 2018. (Yasser Marte/Corsair Staff) Illustation by Andrew Khanian West LA College soccer player makes goal kick in game against SMC at West LA College field on October 18,2018. (Dylan Cortez/Corsair Staff)
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I really do hope you all voted! And if not, shoulda-woulda-coulda. In all seriousness, now that the polls are closed, we get to asses the damage. It has been an exciting election cycle, with many events transpiring within the time span as politicians made their speeches and traveled throughout the US. I would like to take this letter as an opportunity to discuss the unfortunate events that have occured within the month of October. The people of our country have endured not only one, but 13 different mass shootings since the 26 of October, according to the online Gun Violence Archive. Twenty-three people lost their lives within these past two weeks. Forty-six people were left injured. If those numbers don't rub you the wrong way, that’s ok, you are you and that is true. As humans on this earth we are entitled to our own opinions until they start to infringe on the lives of other humans who also live on this earth. We are a species that live to-
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gether and will continue to do so until our demise. I do not want to stir you away from stating your thoughts, as every person's voice opens a door to a new conversation we have the privilege to discuss. We have the privilege to vote in opposition to such hateful crimes against humanity- many of us have only had such a privilege to do so within about a century. Specifically, caucasian women were granted the right to vote in 1920 with the 19th Amendment. In 1965, the Voting Rights Act was passed due to racial inequality in voting. And finally, in 1971 the voting age was lowered to 18. After years of activism and social movements we have arrived in a place where these minority groups can have their voices heard through their vote. In this edition, the Corsair brings you a multitude of different topics ranging from prominent mental health, to beautiful Mexican cultural traditions, to horrific hate crimes. As a news source for the students of Santa Monica College, it is our duty to
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you to bring forth the events that will continue to arise in our many years to come. I say that as the majority of our student population are millenials. We have a long road ahead of us to figure out solutions to these problems. The Corsair is a platform used to remind you of such events that encompass all of humanity. You can expect plentiful coverage of the midterm election on thecorsaironline.com. The Corsair sent reporters to three candidate watch parties throughout Los Angeles and even one up north in San Francisco. Online you will get a glimpse into the behind the scenes of this widely anticipated election for senate candidates Kevin de León and Dianne Feinstein, as well as LA sheriff candidates Alex Villanueva and Jim McDonnell. The Corsair is proud to have covered such an important midterm election for the students and faculty of Santa Monica College. We look forward to a continuing coverage of this elections turnout, keeping our readers updated and well informed.
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NEWS 3
VOLUME 116 ISSUE 05 •NOVEMBER 6, 2018 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
SMC Vendors Bring Back Plastic Straws, Despite January Ban
Voices of the Vote Cristian Vasquez Staff Writer “I want to cry because it’s very important. You know, what’s going on … I just know that something has got to change. If you guys want to have a good country, there’s got to be a lot of change going on.” These were the pleads of a very emotional Santa Monica resident, Patricia Olsen, after placing her ballot on the morning of Tuesday, November 6. She walked from her home to the Santa Monica Jeep Dealership at 3219 Santa Monica Blvd, which had been opened since 8 a.m, to cast her vote. Tears dropped from her eyes when asked about the importance of the young generation vote. “I don’t have kids but, I know how I would feel if I did. But seriously, the morality is not good and as I keep saying you have to look to yourself. Get help if you need help to figure it out,” said Olsen. As she covered the sun from her eyes, Olsen cried the importance of parents to teach their kids tobe role models. “Remember them and thank them for how they raised you. That’s a biggie, when you have your own kids remember that. We have to be role models,” said Olsen. Her cries turned into smiles when she expressed her desires for the country. “We want people who want to be Americans, we want people who really want to do good, for themselves, for their families, for their country.” The recent trend in the outburst of the young voter population in this years' midterm election made Olsen have hope in the new generation of voters. “I really believe, I really do, that the young are standing up to what needs to be done. I think the voting this time is going to go in the right direction.
Evan Minniti Staff Writer In August, the Santa Monica City Council voted to ban all single use plastic food materials. The ban, which goes into effect in January, would prohibit restaurants and businesses within Santa Monica from providing plastic straws, lids, utensils, etc. Santa Monica College and all food vendors on campus would fall within the jurisdiction of the ordinance. This comes at a time when many SMC vendors have reportedly broken their agreement to not use plastic straws until March 2019. The vendors came to this agreement after a campaign spearheaded by Bronwyn Hancock, then-president of Plastic Free SMC. Hancock did not respond to requests for comment. Associated Students Director of Sustainability Brooke Harrington, who was involved in the campaign and who is a member of Plastic Free SMC, explained the details of the agreement. "They’re not supposed to be using the plastic straws. I believe that Plastic Free SMC partially subsidized the cost from our ICC allotment to subsidize the cost of the paper straws for the vendors." Harrington said. “I’m guessing it was sort of an honor code, because she’s not here anymore, she’s not here to check up on them. And that is something that Plastic Free SMC has started to work on this semester.” However, many food vendors have continued to use plastic straws, as well as other food materials that were already banned by the city of Santa Monica, such polystyrene “clamshell” food containers which were banned in 2007. Harrington is in the process of encouraging food vendors to make the
Santa Monica resident Patricia Olsen, 80, details her hope for the future of California after voting in the California General Election in Santa Monica, California on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Olsen says that this particular midterm election has been her most poignant and emotional voting experience. (Oskar Zinnemann/ Corsair Staff)
That’s how I feel, I really do, I really feel that.” Her tears returned as she said, “You have to have hope you know… you have to have hope.” Ray Amorosc, who has been voting in Santa Monica since 2000, expressed his emotions about his hopes for this election. “I’m emotional because this country is fucked with him [Trump]. We have to change. It’s not the country I grew up in.” When asked how the times have changed, he said, “the anger, the lies, the rhetoric, the racism, the misogyny, that doesn’t make it. I hope we send a message. I get emotional, I just despise what’s going on.”
transition away from plastic early, before January. “I’m in the works with the cafeteria vendors to talk to them to devise a plan and maybe help subsidize some of the cost of switching over. Right now, yes they use the paper plates and sliders, but they still use plastic or bioplastic clamshells. They’re supposed to be using compostable cutlery, and not just the normal plastic ones,” Harrington explained. “It’s all about education and information… [Santa Monica’s ban on plastic] is already going to be in place, but I can help [campus vendors] facilitate that process and make it easier for them.” One thing that Plastic Free SMC did in the past was to offer students reusable metallic straws for free. “We would be saying ‘hey, do you guys have a problem with these paper straws? Well, guess what, here is a metal reusable one we will give you for free,’ ...we just used our ICC allotment, and it wasn’t that expensive when you buy it in bulk,” said Harrington. On the subject of metal straws, Harrington explained, “We still have some left over, like a huge barrel of them left over from last semester.” Further, Harrington questions why ablebodied people should use straws in the first place. “I want the students at SMC to question the convenience factor of having a straw. Do you really need that straw or is it just there?” Plastic Free SMC meets at 1744 Pearl St. during Thursday’s activity hour.
The Spirit of Club Row Evan Minniti and Julie Dole Staff Writer Last Thursday November 2 SMC held this semester’s Club Row, where dozens of clubs set up tables and stands to advertise and recruit. Starting around noon, there was an atmosphere of festivities, with music blaring, flags waving, and airbrush tattoos spraying onto people’s arms. There were a large variety of clubs present, including ones promoting classes, charities, hobbies, political causes, and much more. One organization present was the Future Alumni Club. Their table was one of the first walking in from the north side of the campus. The Future Alumni Club, which was established in 2012, had a number of members in eye-catching SMC blue shirts manning their table. Club member Tarik Meziab said “This is the booth for the Future Alumni Club. We are an association based in the alumni offices down the street. We focus on getting a lot of involvement on campus between past alumni and what we consider FOR
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future alumni, which is any person coming here with any educational goal in mind. We try to network between those people, help people find positions or people in the career field that they're hoping to get into to work with in the future.” Another club present was the Art Club. Their table displayed various projects, pins, paintings and other art pieces that were made by Art Club members. One member was even giving out airbrush tattoos. “We're really working about giving access to the students like studio space on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Access to machines like the laser cutter and then other big printers that we have. You would have to pay a lot to go and use them in a different space. Then the buttons and the stickers are just kind of a fun way to see your art duplicated and put into production. That's like the application of that,” Eleanor Singer, the President of Art Club explained. There were also number of political clubs there, including the conservative Young Americans for Freedom and Students Supporting Israel, as well as left wing clubs like US
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Young Democratic Socialists of America, the Pan-African Student Union, and Students for Justice in Palestine. Participating in Club Row in Psychology Club's Stanford Jail Experiment demonstration, Broadcast major Andrey Baily was cast in a role as a prisoner breaking out of jail, he said "It’s fun, entertaining, exciting, active, I live for his stuff!” Baily explained he enjoyed participating in the demonstration, but, "...the part about me trying to break out, that wasn’t my plan, it just happened.” Pema Zonglo, an Economics major out on Club Row representing the Natural History Club, who sported jellyfish costumes to the event, explained, "Our club stands for everything flora and fauna, especially the ones native to CA - we try to raise awareness on current issues - so for instance our jellyfish [costumes] right now are indicative of the problem that we have to battle with all the plastic, the micro plastic is in almost every organism in the ocean. And we’re also raising awareness for our bee project, we want to build little bee houses for native bees on •
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campus. That’s a project that's in the works right now."
Astronomy club's Gorilla/alien tries scouting new club members during Club row peek hour as students walk past it. October, 25 2018 (Janet Ali/ The Corsair Contributing Photographers)
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4 PHOTOSTORY
VOLUME 116 ISSUE 05 •NOVEMBER 6, 2018 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
Santa Monica Rabbi's thoughts on Pittsburgh Jazz Boothby Staff Writer On October 25, a man named Robert Bowers entered the Tree of Life, a synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, shouting anti-Semitic slurs and wielding an AR-15 rifle and three handguns. Bowers killed 11 people. The massacre is one of the worst attacks against the Jewish community in the United States in decades- and arrived during the tail end of an exhausting political season. The violence in Pittsburgh has sparked conversations about anti-Semitism in the United States, the presence of firearms in places of worship, and gun control at large; all topics local Santa Monica Rabbi, Isaac Levitansky, is no stranger to. “We had a bomb sent to us once,” he recalled, fortunately no one was hurt and the perpetrator was arrested. Sitting inside his synagogue, Chabad House, Levitansky appears thoughtful, he speaks consciously and intentionally. When asked what the Jewish community’s response to the violence has been like, the Rabbi pauses “People are awakened by it. They are reaching out. We’re encouraging people to come to the synagogue as much as possible. That was our initial response to what happened. The shooter’s purpose in doing this type of thing is to try to close down the synagogues, our response is to fill up the synagogues. We can’t let them win.” Prosecutors working on the Bowers case are currently seeking the death penalty for the assailant, a criminal procedure whose justness Rabbi Levitansky is unsure of, “I think [Bowers] should be taken off the streets. I think the issue of the death penalty is very complicated, I don’t have all the details.” In wake of the tragedy in Pittsburgh, President Trump said to CNN reporters "if there was an armed guard inside the temple, they would have been able to stop him," a security measure that many religious institutions, which are often defined by inclusivity and openness, have resorted to in recent years. The Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Charlottesville, Virginia, hired a security guard ahead of a white nationalist rally in the city last year. Since then, armed guards have become “a fixture at our synagogue for the past 15 months,” synagogue President Alan Zimmerman wrote in a column for USA Today. The presence of firearms in places of worship is another topic Rabbi Isaac Levitansky finds complicated. “Any deterrent is that, a deterrent. Would having armed guards had helped? Maybe. If somebody is adamant about doing something, they can find ways around whatever layers of security might be in place.” When asked what steps need to be taken in order to prevent another massacre from happening, Levitansky suggests turning to spirituality, encouraging everyone, Jewish and non-Jewish, to begin practicing the “Seven Universal Laws," which places an emphasis on respect. Respect for human life, for property, for family, thus paving a path towards peace. Additionally, Levitansky stresses the importance of reflection and insists that, “Taking a moment of silence, each day, would allow people to think deeply about what is right and wrong. Which could help stop the spread of violence.”
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Rabbi Isaac Levitanksy stands outside Chabad House Synagogue in Santa Monica, California, on Thursday, November 1, at 10:30 am. (Jazz Boothby/ Corsair Staff)
Santa Monica College (SMC) students read along the passages from a Psalm which was past on and read to give hope and strength to those who attended the Interfaith Vigil. (Yasser Marte/Corsair Staff)
"They Kneel A We Rise An Streng
Tehillim - Psalm One of the prayers r Vigil for Pittsburg
Student Leader of the Muslim Student Association, Mustafa Abdullah Seth gives a prayer from the Quarn for those have lost their lives at the synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The vigil was held at the SMC's main campus, in Santa Monica California (Yasser Marte/Corsair Staff)
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PHOTOSTORY 5
VOLUME 116 ISSUE 05 •NOVEMBER 6, 2018 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
Tragedy brings SMC's Interfaith community together Andrew Narvaez Staff Writer A mosaic of cultures and religions gathered together at Santa Monica College on Tuesday, October 30, 2018 at 12 p.m. for an interfaith vigil for the Tree of Life synagogue massacre victims. Regardless of creed, race or gender students gathered around a common message; “love overcomes hate.” Menachen Levitamsky, a Jewish community member, brought a “Wall of Goodness and Kindness” and reflects on the interfaith vigil’s importance, “It doesn’t make a difference what religion or what faith or what you believe in. Just because our face might not be the same doesn’t mean we can’t be together as one community and one people," said Levitamsky. Speakers from different faiths and backgrounds led the vigil. They offered condolences, hope, and reminded the SMC audience that hardship only breeds strength. Pastor Eric Shepard from Mount Olive Lutheran Church called for solidarity through South African Bishop Desmond Tutu’s words,“Goodness is stronger than evil. Love is stronger than hate. Light is stronger than darkness. Life is stronger than death.” On Saturday, October 27, Robert Bowers, 46, murdered 11 Tree of Life synagogue members during a Shabbat prayer in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvanian has charged him with a 44-count indictment including federal hate crimes. SMC’s President Kathryn Jeffery recalls a moment of disbelief, distress and clarity when she first heard about the attack. “And I was quickly reminded, that for the community now mourning; this was not another shooting spree. This was a first shooting spree,” said Jeffery. According to the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, hate crimes have increased in the U.S.’s ten largest cities 12.5 percent in 2017 and is part of an annual trend over the last four years. Rabbi Eli Leviransky closes the vigil, “The lesson that we need to take with us is that when evil happens we need to fight it. And the way we fight is with light. If you have a dark room and you bring in a small flame. That small flame will brighten an entire room that’s dark. One act of goodness and kindness can have the ripple effect to transform the world.”
Santa Monica College President, Kathryn Jeffery wipes a tear away as she reads a survivors testament from the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Synagogue Shooting. Her speech was part of the Santa Monica College Interfaith Vigil which took place on October 27, 2018 in the Santa Monica College Main Quad in Santa Monica, California. (Jacob Victorica/ Corsair Staff)
And Fall, But nd Gain gth"
- 20, No. 9. recited at the gh at SMC At Left: Chief John Adams (left), Isabel Rodriguez, Associate Students (AS) President (center, left), Nancy Grass Associate Dean, Student Life (center, right), and MIchael Tuitasi Vice President Student Affairs (right) light up candles in memory of those who lost their lives in the synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The vigil was held at the SMC's main campus, in Santa Monica, (Yasser Marte/Corsair Staff) Santa Monica College (SMC) student stands during a moment of silence for those who lost their lives at the synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The vigil was held at the SMC's main campus (Yasser Marte/Corsair Staff)
At Left: Santa Monica College (SMC) students read along the passages from a psalm which was passed on and read to give hope and strength to those who attended the Interfaith Vigil. Including Psalm 20, no. 9. (Yasser Marte/Corsair Staff)
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6 CULTURE
Yasser Marte Staff Writer
VOLUME 116 ISSUE 05 •NOVEMBER 6, 2018 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
Voices of Hope: Breaking through the Silence
The Sound Stage theater presented Voices of Hope at Santa Monica College’s (SMC) main campus for one weekend Thursday, November 1-4. This docu-drama production aims to shed light on sexual, domestic and child abuses in hopes of breaking the silence surrounding victims. “It doesn’t cover everything, but as far as the umbrella of the suffering of victims. It’s really got a lot of stories weaved together, of people who have gone through multiple levels of abuse by people they know and people they don’t know,” said Terrin Adair, director of Voices of Hope. The narrative does not hesitate to lay bare the tales of the men and women who are haunted by their violent past. Performers usher audience members into the perilous distress and discomfort of the abused, while firmly weaving the repressed thread of those whose once felt achingly voiceless and alone. “It’s breaking the silence, that’s what this play is about. This is a very well rounded production. It doesn’t just target female victims –[ it’s male victims, female victims] it includes all stories,” said Adair. Each of the victims stories are told through a combination of monologues and at times compassionately brings hope and courage through song. Voices of Hope is an adaptation of the book Voices of Hope: Breaking the Silence of Relationship Violence written by Pamela
Sara Kaners sings with the cast of Voices of Hope as they shed light and give hope for victims of sexual assault and domestice violence. Dress rehearsal production was in the Santa Monica College's (SMC) Sound Stage October 30, 2018. (Yasser Marte/ Corsair Staff)
Lassiter Cathey, and Dr. Wind Goodfriend. Although the book tells a number of gruesome accounts on sexual assault and abuse, it does send a hopeful message that victims can overcome and persevere these traumatic situations. “Considering the times and things that are going on in the world, it’s a
message that needs to be heard. I feel like its a message that some people who could be struggling through sexual assault and domestic abuse need to hear in order to know that things are going to be okay,” said actor William Morris. College and university students across
the nation could be victims of sexual assault and domestic abuse. SMC students. According to SMC Institutional Research, in a Fall 2017 survey, Student Voices: Student Survey on Sexual Assault and Harassment, 632 students were asked if they had ever experienced "any form of sexual assault before coming to SMC?” 23.7 percent of students reported that they had. About 4 percent of students reported experiencing assault by force, or the threat of force while attending SMC and about 3 percent reported experiencing an attempted, but unsuccessful sexual assault by force. After each performance, a panel of experts took to the stage to discuss any questions or concerns from the audience. The panel consisted of representatives from Rape Treatment Centers, SMC Title IX Office, Wellness Center, Santa Monica Police Department and much more. “I feel like a lot of people hide behind the shadows and I hope this inspires them to come out and tell their story or seek help for what they’re going through. I hope that people are no longer bystanders and are able to stand up against all abuses,” said actress Leslie Pine. The shared stories of the victims took courage and strength to display to an audience. One could hope if there was an audience member watching this production struggling with their own abuse, these stories would feel like watching a flare gun illuminating the sky after being lost in a dark ocean for quite sometime, and perhaps maybe this
Risa Rubins' New Album is a Therapeutic Exercise Jazz Boothby Staff Writer “I woke up feeling really angry towards my grandpa today,” reveals Risa Rubin, a Los Angeles based musician who has just released her fifth album entitled. I’m Reliving the End Over and Over and Over Again and It’s Only the Beginning. “He’s dead," she stated, while making a cup of coffee. Elaborating on her resentment towards her grandfather, Risa explained “He was like a millionaire, and when he died, he gave his wife millions but nothing to my mom. And I just woke up hating him for that.” The 23-year-old has just lost her job at a cafe in Venice, which took “hours and hours” to get to from her Westlake studio apartment and she’s “running out of money." Risa’s demeanor is tense; her life is marked by anxiety. Anxieties about: money, her career, her relationships, her future, all topics she explores with an unrelenting honesty on her newest album. Risa was born in Venice, California and grew up in Los Angeles. She started singing when she was seven, but didn’t play any instruments until she was around 18, which is when she and her family briefly moved to Buffalo, New York. Risa explains: “I was living in Buffalo and it was during one of the worst winters ever. I was so, so lonely and confused about my life that I decided that I was going to learn to play the accordion, and I found this Russian man online who gave lessons, and I went to his house. FOR
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He was a legit hoarder, and there was shit everywhere and a really sad, crying baby in the room... there was a horrible snow storm outside.” Her experimentation with the accordion didn’t last, but this is normal for Risa, who says that she is constantly picking up new hobbies, believing that they will be her “new thing," a habit which she has heard is indicative of Bipolar disorder. “I’ve never been officially diagnosed, but I’m pretty sure that’s what’s wrong with me," Risa adds.
so unprofessional. Towards the end, they basically forgot that I existed,” Risa describes. Due to Lollipop’s lack of efforts to promote the album, Risa’s following project was distributed by Little L Records, an independent label in Ireland. “It’s run by like, a teenager, in some small town in Ireland. So it didn’t really lead to anything.” Risa’s frustration with music labels inspired her to start up Sylvia, a musical collective/label, that showcases the talents of female and gender non-conforming musicians in the Los Angeles area. “It just felt like all these dudes acted as the gatekeepers to the music industry. And that was a really shitty feeling.” Sylvia’s newest release is Risa’s latest album that is described by BandCamp, an online music company, as a “creative ambition that demands to be recognized.” It was featured as the website’s “album of the day” earlier this month. "I'm Reliving the End"... is now available on all major streaming platforms and Risa hopes to embark on a promotional tour of the West Coast, this December, with stops in all major cities. The album's sound is haunting and elegant, with Risa’s impressive vocals revealing her deepest, darkest fears. Without hiding behind metaphors, her lyrics are frank and truthful. “Songwriting is very therapeutic for me. When I’m making music, I feel okay," she says, while biting into the seventh mini-donut she’s consumed during the interview. “That’s why I’m doing all of this. So I can feel okay.”
“I found this Russian man online who gave lessons, and I went to his house. He was a legit hoarder, and there was shit everywhere and a really sad, crying baby in the room…” Shortly after leaving Buffalo and her dreams of being an accordionist behind, Risa moved to Berkeley, California, which is where she first encountered the harp. “I was taking the train somewhere, and I saw a woman performing in the station, I wound up taking lessons from her,” she reflects. Originally, Risa produced her music on the keyboard, and intended the harp to “accent the music,” but she has grown to embrace it as a central part of her sound. A sound which got her signed to Lollipop Records, a label in Los Angeles whom released her second album, Shema, on cassette tapes. “I didn’t sign shit. The whole thing was US
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Risa Rubin, in conversation, at her Westlake apartment in Los Angeles, on Tuesday, October 23, 2018. (Jazz Boothby/ Corsair Staff)
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OPINION 7
VOLUME 116 ISSUE 05 •NOVEMBER 6, 2018 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
Make Brazil Great Again
Brazilians Newly Elected President Mirrors Right Wing Trends Ana Duraes Peixoto Staff Writer On October 28, Brazilians elected Jair Messias Bolsonaro as its 38th president with 55.13 percent of the total vote. Bolsonaro, a candidate of the Social Liberal Party (PSL), is the first president elected not from the Workers Party (PT) in 13 years. The presidential election this year was marked by conflict and duality. The first round of polls in early October featured 13 candidates for presidency. However, the second and final round was to be decided by Bolsonaro and Workers’ Party candidate Fernando Haddad. Bolsonaro is now considered to be the face of extreme-right politics in Brazil. Advocating for loosening gun control, using police force to combat violence, not recognizing rights of minorities and a certain nostalgia for the years of military dictatorship. He is known in international media as the “Brazilian Trump," due to his hateful rhetoric, favor towards Israel, and being accused of spreading fake news. A former military officer, Bolsonaro was previously a deputy for the state of Rio de Janeiro for the past 27 years. Throughout his years in politics, he made derogatory comments about women and gays. He is often associated with hate speech, but in his victory, he spoke of freedom and equality for all Brazilians, regardless of opinions, colors and orientations. This technique of false promises and politically incorrect speeches for the attention has proved itself effective. Bolsonaro's campaign managed to mobilize an entire female movement against him with the hashtag “NotHim," in order to avoid more attention associated to his name. As President of Brazil, Bolsanaro adds his name to a continuing trend of democratically elected far-right conservative officials. He is called by his supporters “The Myth” or “The Messiah” due to it literally being his middle name, a superb public relations move by his parents. Bolsonaro managed to win the presidency mostly by picking on wounds left on people by corruption scandals, constant violence and economic instability. Promising that "the truth will set free this great country and transform us into a great nation." He is often defined as neo-fascist, racist and homophobic. His inclinations and ideas favoring a social “cleanse” of criminals are concerning indicators that the world’s 4th largest democracy may have fallen into the hands of an authoritarian dictator. And yet, what could explain Mr. Bolsonaro’s victory? Brazil’s election, a parallel to the U.S. election, caused a great divide between the left and the right, which has ended friendships and ruined family holidays. The previous government, the Workers Party, elected its founder Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, in 2002, a polemic figure in politics. During his government, Brazil saw an extensive economic growth and Lula FOR
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was credited to have decreased Brazil’s poverty, enlarged the middle class and leveraging a promising economy. For over a decade, Brazilians had never lived so well. However, Lula’s government took advantage of currency stability from the preceding administration of 34th President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, favorable international markets, interest in Brazil’s commodities and constant incentives for spending from Lula himself, resulting in accumulated national debt. Lula’s populist government strategies would prove to be disastrous in the long term. After two mandates, Lula supported Dilma Rousseff's election, which she won twice as Brazil’s first female president. Rousseff continued
has found itself in a state of chaos. According to G1, the University of São Paulo and the Brazilian Forum of Public Security database, there were more than 26,000 violent, lethal and intentional homicides only in the first semester of 2018. However, due to lack of transparency from some states, that number may be higher. In 2016, there were 62,517 homicides in the country. More than 3 times higher than the USA, and with a population of about 116 million less. Brazilians face constant fear and lack of security. Degrading public health, education and living conditions have left the population in despair. The right to come and go as you please is guaranteed by the constitution and the state must grant it, but
Illustration by Andrew Khanian
Lula’s politics and suffered the consequences of its unreliability; being impeached in 2016 amongst corruption scandals for omitting national deficit. Alongside extreme pressure from the opposition and the population who already lived in Brazil’s worst economic recession in its history. Lula and his party were involved in a series of corruption scandals resulting in Lula finding himself in jail for bribery. He attempted to run for president in these past elections as his supporters still believed in his immaculate image as the ultimate savior of Brazil. However, based on the Ficha Limpa Law, which bans persons convicted of specific crimes from running a candidacy, Lula remained in jail and Fernando Haddad took his place. Throughout and post election, Brazil US
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Brazilian’s do not feel safe in their own streets. Violence has become a close companion of Brazilians on the way to work and school. Even the homes with the highest walls, thickest metal bars and and most advanced security systems cannot protect a citizen’s life, private property and dignity. Haddad, Lula’s replacement, ran his entire presidential campaign declaring support to a man who is in jail, charged for corruption, with propositions so absurd about increasing more government spending that just mentioning it increases Brazil’s $37.6 billion primary deficit. Raising the minimum wage above the inflation, limiting the prices of gas and raising vouchers for qualified families by 20 percent also does not fit the math. In the difficult economic crisis, both •
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candidates made use of false promises to win votes. While Bolsonaro took advantage of Brazilian’s resentment towards the Workers Party, Haddad saw in Bolsonaro's aggressive speech a chance to actively advocate for social causes and protection of marginalized groups. Bolsonaro remains criticized for his issues with the media, constantly making use of his personal social media and avoiding live debates on the main Brazilian channels. It is hard for the average citizen to comprehend that the true social changes needed for a better Brazil will take a very long time to become a reality. It’s understandable why they desire more immediate results. Having their human rights taken away, leads people to believe harsher actions must be implemented and vote for candidates like Bolsonaro. It was obvious even before the elections started. Some of Bolsonaro’s supporters believe in his unrealistic arguments but others are simply looking for something different, because what they have is not good. Voting for Brazil to remain the same, especially after going through a time of complicated political instability with Rousseff’s impeachment seemed impossible. People are so desperate they are willing to take the risk and hope for the best. In between the animosities of the polarized groups lies the reason why Mr. Bolsonaro should be given a chance. For someone who actively participated in the protests against corruption and the Workers Party, second round polls gave Brazilians only three options: Workers Party, Bolsonaro or blank, the last one having the highest numbers within decades. While far from declaring allegiance to the “resistance” being created on social media, or pessimistically assuming the downfall of a country, or defining neighbors as racist, fascist and violent, I believe it is crucially important to see the lessons in this chaotic political climate. Bolsonaro will effectively begin his mandate on January 1, 2019. For now, he has begun setting the tone for his government. He has contained himself with his hate speech and has made contradictory decisions, perhaps showing he is not totally authoritarian and can listen to public opinion. His fusion of ministries dealing with agriculture and the environment caused outrage on social media and he soon took a step back on this decision. He also appointed as Minister of Justice and Public Security, the popular judge Sérgio Moro, who condemned Workers Party members and Lula for corruption. “Brazil will be looking for bilateral relationships with countries that may aggregate economical and technological value to Brazilian products” said Bolsonaro in his victory speech, “We will regain the international respect back to our beloved Brazil.”
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8 SPORTS
VOLUME 116 ISSUE 05 •NOVEMBER 6, 2018 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
SMC Soccer Scores With International Students Ana Duares Peixoto and Dylan Cortez Staff Writer The mens and women's leading scorers are both international students. Both teams are #1 in their conference and are ranked highly in state rankings. Santa Monica Colleges (SMC) women's soccer team is currently ranked number six in California and number one in their conference. Men’s soccer is also number one in their conference which confirms SMC as a soccer powerhouse. With students from different ethnicities, cultures, and backgrounds, it is no surprise that two of our leading scorers are both international students. Cyrille Njomo (men’s soccer #9), a 26-year-old from Cameroon, has scored 13 goals this season for the Corsairs. Filippa Stuxsjo (womens soccer #17) is a 22-yearold Swedish native has put an impressive 17 goals in the back of the net. Stuxsjo has scored in every conference game this season. Both international all-stars also have both scored hat-tricks this season. Both players have lived and breathed soccer throughout their lives. Struxsjo began playing at age five on a boys team. A year later, she joined the girls, playing club soccer ever since. In high school, she joined her school team, having to conciliate playing for both her school and her club. After graduation, she worked for four years in customer service before trying out for Santa Monica College's soccer team in the summer of 2017. Njomo has been playing soccer since the age of two, and found comfort playing the forward position. This is only his fourth year in the United States and he says he is still getting used to American soccer tactics and style of play. Njomo said, “back home we play a little more physical and more technical, here, it is a lot less physical because we hold the ball a lot longer.” For Struxsjo, the idea of attending college in California under a soccer scholarship immediately clicked with her eagerness for adventure and starting something new. “Sweden is an amazing country, but I lived there my whole life, and everything has been the same so I wanted to accomplish something else" said Struxsjo.“Ever since I played soccer in high school, I always wanted to play here in the United States. I remember scouts would come to my school and talk about it but I was like - no, it is so complicated, I looked into it but didn't do anything about it. I began to work after high school and I liked my job but after four years I was like - no, now it is time to do something else and I just went for it.” Njomo partially came to SMC because of how many international students attend the college. He went on to explain that having so many international students around made FOR
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it easier for him to communicate with the students around campus. He also explained that being an international student is hard because he feels like they do more than they’re supposed to, “because without challenge you aren’t living a real life." Njomos parents have never watched him play a game of soccer. His parents are still over 8,000 miles away, but it does not seem to faze his ability to perform on the field. Being a part of a great team is far more than just having multiple great athletes . While discussing the success of the mens soccer team Njomo said, “We work very very hard, we are full time students first and then we are athletes. We always socialize together and we are like a family and with that comes success.”
Santa Monica College Corsairs men’s soccer team, forward, Cyrille Njomo poses for a portrait at the teams soccer practice at the Corsair Field in Santa Monica, California on October 18, 2018. (Dylan Cortez/Sports Editor)
that this is my last season, time goes by so fast.” Njomo is currently a mechanical engineering major and has been approached by a few colleges including Cal State Fullerton. His main goal is to finish school and get a job here in the United States. Struxsjo is a straight A student here at SMC. She hopes to earn a Bachelor's degree in communications from an American university and remain involved in soccer for as long as possible. “I don’t think I will ever stop playing soccer. I will for as long as I can walk I think, but I cannot rely on it for when I am older so I also want to invest more on my major and career. I do want to try and make it work and play soccer for as long as I can. There is always the hope for a professional career, but you never know, if you have the chance of course you have to take it but that’s the dream, that has always been the dream”. Soccer is a sport that unifies people of all different sexes, races, and cultures. To have two young scholars take lead on foreign grounds is something to take pride in. Mens and womens soccer will both play their last conference game on November 9 here at SMC. Mens will play Santa Barbara Community College at 1 p.m., and women will play West LA College at 3 p.m.
Santa Monica College Corsairs women’s soccer team, left wing, Filippa Struxsjo, waits for a throwin during her match against the West LA College Wildcats on October 23, 2018 at the West LA College field in Culver City, California. The Corsairs won 6-0 and Filippa scored one goal. (Dylan Cortez/Sports Editor)
Struxjso success comes a little differently, “I always live by the motto; When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you will be successful. It defines me a lot as a person because even though there’s like friends, family, soccer and school. I never do anything halfway, I always fully invest myself in it.” Njomo made it clear that the mens team takes their games one at a time. He doesn’t like to look past the games he hasn’t played yet while Struxsjo has very clear future goals in sight. Struxsjo says,”I also want to make it further in the conference playoffs, because last year we lost in the first round. It is sad US
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