Issue 14 Volume 107

CORSAIR

volume 107 issue 14 • June 4, 2014 • santa monica college

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One year later, all is quiet where rampage began James Powel Staff Writer 2036 Yorkshire Ave. in Santa Monica is a sad house. The roof is pockmarked with holes, the remaining shingles sit heavy on walls that bear the scars left behind by the flames from last year’s fire. The gate that once kept onlookers at bay is gone and the weeds are occasionally chopped down, but neither can hide the pain that wraps itself around this house.

The now dilapidated house, a veritable skeleton of a home at the end of the block, is where the rampage began. It ended at Santa Monica College.

John Zawahri shot and killed his father Samir and brother Christopher in what was once his family home at approximately 11:55 a.m. on June 7, 2013. Zawahri then proceeded to set the home on fire, carjack Laura Sisk and leave the neighborhood to terrorize Santa Monica College. The chaos remained behind.

Next-door neighbor Joyce Sandoval recognized the sound of gunshots as she was sitting in her living room with her grandson.

“It was scary when it happened. I called 911,” Sandoval said.

Janet Carter recognized the gunshots too.

She lives on Kansas Avenue and along with other neighbors, took to caring for Debra Lynn Fine who was shot in her car.

“We just kept waiting for the cops to come.

We didn’t realize that he had left and gone up to where he shot the bus and then Santa Monica College. [The cops] didn’t realize it either,” Carter said.

In the end, Zawahri’s rampage killed five people, including himself.

What he left in his wake was a charred house and a litany of unanswered questions that persist one year later.

“I still don’t have the story of why it happened and what the problem was between that family,” Sandoval said.

The former SMC student’s parents, Randa Abdou and Samir Zawahri, bought the house in 1996 in a quiet corner of Santa Monica nestled by the Interstate 10.

The Zawahris appeared to keep to themselves - none of the neighbors interviewed for this story claimed to have known them.

Inside the walls of 2036 Yorkshire Ave however, was the scene of an abusive home.

In 1998, Abdou filed for a restraining order against Samir Zawahri, quoting her husband as saying, “If I had a gun, it would be over.” The subsequent restraining order was dropped.

The couple separated and Abdou and the sons took residence in an apartment nearby.

In 2002, Samir attempted to have Abdou sign a deed that would have turned over ownership of the house to himself. Samir, who worked as a real estate professional for Pardee Homes, told Abdou that signing

Alci Rengifo Corsair John Zawahri’s former home is now abandoned and charred a year after his deadly rampage which began with the murder of his father and brother in the house. After setting the home ablaze he made his way to Santa Monica College.

the “sham deed” would have been “good for the family business,” according to court documents.

“I don’t know who the house belongs to now. I don’t know who inherited it and I would like to either have it torn down and have a new house built or tear it down and leave an empty lot. I don’t care,” Sandoval said.

Ownership of the house and execution of the estate is currently being fought over in Los Angeles County Probate Court.

Family relatives Fayad Nouhad Zawahri and Fayad Marybelle object to Abdou administering the estate of Samir due to their estrangement.

However, loan documents show that both Abdou and Samir’s names were on the deed to the house in 2003 and court documents in Abdou’s response to the objection show that Samir referred to Abdou as his wife after the estrangement.

The neighborhood has marched on in the

year since the rampage.

In the days after the shooting the media descended upon the neighborhood.

“Way too much media, streets were closed off, just like any other place you were bombarded by media,” Carter said.

Knowing the history of the home did scare off a potential renter months after the shooting, according to neighbor Steven Sapir.

Now, the only visitors are those who park near the home before a meal at Rae’s diner up the street, and home-flippers, some of who do not know that the home at 2036 Yorkshire Ave. was where the rampage started.

One year later there is no media, all roads are open, and the neighborhood, for all intents and purposes, is whole. The streets surrounding 2036 Yorkshire Ave. are quiet once again “Everyone just looks after everybody. We smile and wave at each other more often,” Carter said.

More Inside PG 3 Families still coping

News

with trajedy

Health & Lifestyle

PG 5

SMC fashion show walks the runway

PG 8-9 The route of a

Photostory

rampage

Sports

PG 10

Football prepares for epic fall season

Find More Online:

PG 12 The gun debate

Opinion

Generation of the Future Club profile

continues

A&E

PG 15

“Hurt” hiding in the high school locker

Photo by Juan Lopez

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2 Contents

volume 107 issue 14 • June 4, 2014 • santa monica college

E D I T O R I A L S TA F F Henry Crumblish····· Editor-in-Chief c o rs a i r. e d i t o r i n c h i e f @ g m a i l . c o m Elizabeth Moss·Digital Editor-in-Chief c o rs a i r. w e b e d i t o r @ g m a i l . c o m David Yapkowitz······Managing Editor c o rs a i r. m a n a g i n g @ g m a i l . c o m Ronja Jansz···········Health & Lifestyle c o rs a i r. l i f e s t y l e p a g e @ g m a i l . c o m Alci Rengifo····· Arts & Entertainment c o rs a i r. c a l e n d a r p a g e @ g m a i l . c o m Jonathan Ramos······· Opinion Editor c o rs a i r. o p i n i o n p a g e @ g m a i l . c o m Trev Angone·············· Sports Editor c o rs a i r. s p o r t s p a g e @ g m a i l . c o m Jimmy Janszen············· Photo Editor Rachel Porter············· Photo Editor c o rs a i r p h o t o e d i t o r @ g m a i l . c o m David Veta················Design Editor c o rs a i r. d e s i g n t e a m @ g m a i l . c o m Jhosef Hern····················Illustrator c o rs a i r c a r t o o n @ g m a i l . c o m c o r s a i r s ta f f Brandon Barsugli, Scott Bixler, Cesar Clarke, Amalia Darin, My’sson Downs, Mia Duncans, Elin Ekdahl, Paulina Eriksson, Carlos Espinosa, Walter Flores, Rachel Gianuario, Qalil Ismail, Sarit Kashanian, Nick Kovalenko, Aaron Leaureaux, Juan Lopez, Malin Lord, Jazmin Martinez, Christophor McGovern, Delmy Moran, Adrien Piteux, Liz Phillips, James Powel, Patrick Shanley FA C U LT Y A D V I S O R S S a u l Ru b i n & Gerard Burkhart AD INQUIRIES: c o rsai r. admana g er@g m ai l . co m (3 1 0 ) 4 3 4 - 4 0 3 3

Arlene Karno Corsair Los Angeles Kings right winger Marion Gaborik takes to the Staples Center ice in Los Angeles, Calif. Tuesday in advance of game one of the Stanley Cup FInals against the New York Rangers on Wednesday. The Kings are the first team in NHL history to win three straight game sevens on the road, defeating the San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks, en route to the finals.

Letter from the Editor Jonathan Ramos Opinion Editor Sleepless nights are among us.

For some returning students here at Santa Monica College, the fastapproaching finals week will mean more than the usual hours of studying and all night study sessions.

Rather than focusing on history and math exams, some students will instead remember the name Margarita Gomez, the woman who was slain by John Zawahri in front of the library, where a memorial for her now resides.

Students studying in the library, a usual haven for those looking to crunch out their brain power, might instead have to endure the lasting images of a madman walking into the building and unleashing havoc on those in his presence.

This year’s finals week will not just be a time of academic stress but a time of remembrance for those who passed, and for those whose lives were changed during last year’s June 7 shootings near and within the campus of SMC. Last year, students looking to put a stamp on their semester were forced to deal with significantly more trauma during the home stretch of the Spring semester.

This year, those same students, the ones who stayed, will either have moved on, or might still be having difficulty adjusting to nurturing hopes of a safe campus.

Spring 2013 proved that even within the confines of a usually safe

campus, the unexpected must still be prepared for. Those students in the library last year could not have imagined the events that would transpire. Now, those same students, and those made aware of the shootings, will hopefully have a better understanding of the importance in precaution.

It was a wake up call of astronomical proportions and while students are in their every right to be frightened, they should take to finals head on with a focused mindset.

This past year has proven that our student body can come together, not allowing a psychopath to dictate their academic and personal lives.

Yes, the shooting was tragic but it should not be a game changer.

SMC offers plenty of support for students whose fears and worries may be conjuring up with the shooting anniversary approaching.

Resources such as Psychological Services are there to give to students a helping hand through such a stressful week.

With the right mindset, and the support from each other, we will continue to flourish even through the most tragic of memories.

Understand the actions to take in emergency situations, accept the help, and focus on the task at hand.

Finals week is coming, and no madman should be big enough to stand in our way. Sleepless nights are among us. Let’s spend them studying, and not living in fear.

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news 3

volume 107 issue 14 • June 4, 2014 • santa monica college

Franco family still coping one year later Elizabeth Moss Digital Editor-in-Chief A year has passed since John Zawahri sprayed Santa Monica with a shower of bullets, taking five lives before being taken down by police on the Santa Monica College main campus.

The tragedy was devastating for the campus community, who lost a member of its family that day. For Dr. Margaret Quinones-Perez, a member of the SMC Board of Trustees, the loss was felt in the most personal way.

Carlos Navarro Franco, groundskeeper at SMC, was shot down while driving his red pick up truck away from campus, his daughter Marcela in the passenger seat.

He died on site, his daughter two days later.

Carlos was Quinones-Perez’s brother-inlaw and his daughter her niece.

“You go numb. You go completely numb.

We didn’t get their bodies until two weeks later,” Quinones-Perez said. “What you do then is you become kind of robotic, and you start doing all the things necessary to bury them with honor.”

A year later, her family is still recovering from the shock of losing a husband and a sister.

Since the shooting, Ramona Franco, Quinones’ sister and the wife of Carlos Franco, and Leticia, daughter of Ramona and Carlos, have been in psychological counseling. Ramona now suffers from a heart condition she didn’t have before the shooting. Leticia experienced serious physical trauma.

Zawahri started his rampage on Yorkshire Ave., where his father and brother lived.

He set fire to the home, his family still inside, before hijacking a car on the street.

He arrived on Pearl Street shortly after, spraying bullets along the way. On Pearl, he fired shots at Carlos Franco’s red truck, hitting Franco and Marcela.

“He was going to take everybody out that he could possibly see,” Quinones-Perez said. “Anyone within his eyesight he was going to kill.”

When the news that the victims of Zawahri’s rampage were members of her own family reached her, Quinones shut off the side of her that works for the college.

“I have to be honest, I completely shut off my trustee side because my sister couldn’t do anything,” Quinones-Perez said. “All the people that work at Santa Monica, I left it to them to pull it all together. I had to disconnect.”

June also marks another sad realization for the family; Marcela’s graduation. She would have graduated this month. At the time, Marcela was preparing to take summer classes at SMC when she was fatally wounded on Pearl Street.

“I was really close to my niece, it was hard losing Marcela too because she was going into the field I’m in, Clinical Psychology.

We had a lot in common.” QuinonesPerez said. She also counseled Marcela on graduate schools.

The wounds will never completely heal, but events of late open old scars. When Elliot Rodger opened fire in Isla Vista two weeks ago, the family felt the same horror all over again.

“The Santa Barbara incident set them back,” Quinones-Perez said, talking on behalf of her family, who could not be

for extended coverage visit us at thecorsaironline.com •

interviewed. “When you see it on TV it’s like a flashback. You feel like they’re talking about your family being shot. The same feelings, the same memories, everything.

We know what the families are going through, we know what Santa Barbara is going through, because we lived it. You can’t even watch TV. You know when you see those pictures, you know what they mean, you know what it’s like.”

Quinones-Perez believes that events like the June shooting and the rampage at

Santa Barbara two weeks ago are a result of inefficient gun control. She encourages students to open discussions about gun control and to petition Congress for legislation that places stricter limits on purchasing guns.

“Normal is gone forever. Now they’re in the process of developing a new life and a new normal,” Quinones-Perez.

St. Monica’s Church in Santa Monica will hold mass and a moment of silence this Saturday for the families of the victims.

Rachel Porter Corsair The memorial for shooting victims Carlos and Marcela Franco still stands by the Santa Monica College parkiing lot where they were tragically murdered by shooter John Zawahri.

The memorial is a reminder of the human lives taken and affected by the tragic event.

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4 news

volume 107 issue 14 • June 4, 2014 • santa monica college

The Pizzagate scandal heats up

Juan Lopez Corsair Matthew Nicholson (left) is confronted by Associated Students President Ty Moura about not wearing his AS t-shirt during the Feed the Students event on Tuesday Mar. 25.This photo, which has been highly sought after by Nicholson, depicts the alleged “poking” assault.

Rachel Gianuario Staff Writer After a semester of back and forth within the halls of the Cayton Center, the controversy surrounding Matthew Nicholson, the embattled director of activities has boiled to a head.

New information surrounding the Feed the Students event has recently surfaced.

The event, which led to the disqualification of Nicholson from the 2014 Associated students election and his AS voted

impeachment from the current board has been discussed in length behind closed doors and at multiple AS meetings.

The accusations that have been leveled against Nicholson revolve around the dual issues of his activities as a candidate and as the Activities Director for the Associated Students.

“He didn’t do his job as activities director,” says Moura. She adds that his disqualifications from the elections were Nicholson’s own fault, saying that Nicholson ignored the election rules on the Feed the Students Day.

Carlos Espinosa Corsair Yana Demeshko (right) poses for a photo on the quad during the Feed the Students event wearing a campaign which at the time was illegal.

for extended coverage visit us at thecorsaironline.com •

Nicholson claims he was targeted by the AS board of directors this semester because of his opposition to the renovation of the Cayton Center. On Jan. 7, 2014, during winter session, AS President Ty Moura called a special meeting to discuss the adjustments to finances behind the costly project according to an email Moura sent to the AS board on January 3rd.

Nicholson claims the meeting was secret and not adherent to AS rules and, according to him, may have possibly violated the Brown Act. The Jan. 7, meeting took place in the conference room in the Cayton Center, not in the typical meeting space leading to speculation of whether not the meeting was actually public.

Nicholson was only one of two directors to vote no against the Cayton Center renovations, which he believes made him a target throughout the semester by the board of directors.

In addition, Nicholson believes he was intentionally left uninvited to a March 27 meeting by the election committee during which the election violation accusations against Nicholson were discussed.

According to Sonali Bridges, the Associate Dean of Student Life, Nicholson was sent a text concerning the meeting early in the morning but he failed to appear. AS president Ty Moura reports that she too received the same invitation through text and attended the meeting.

Nicholson felt the elections committee ignored other candidates’ campaigning actions.

Pictures taken by Carlos Espinosa show 2014 candidate for Director of Publicity, Yana Demeshko campaigning on the same day as the Feed the Students event.

Demesko is pictured wearing a “SIMBA” button, representing her slate, thereby engaging in open campaigning during a period, where by election code regulations, she would not have been allowed to do so. @t h e _ c o r s a i r •

This is because she would have been engaged in campaigning before the legal campaign season had begun. Nicholson was charged with this very same violation, whereas Demeshko faced no fallout such as a disqualification.

Nicholson feels that the accusations that got him disqualified from the elections were unwarranted. “I feel these charges were false. I feel abused. I feel unjustly slandered.”

At last week’s AS meeting on May 28, Campus Consul Robert Meyers distributed a letter from the Los Angeles District Attorney asking for emails between members of the election committee, advisors and board members. Meyers said the D.A. is “concerned there may have been violations of the Brown Act.” In reparation for these violations, Nicholson wants a re-run of the elections, whether he is included in it or not, the college’s admission that his due process of law rights were violated, and that AS members be educated in Brown Act rights.

He also stresses the importance that the elections be run by an entity outside of the AS board.

Meyers added that incoming students on the AS board will be thoroughly trained on the Brown Act as there are civil penalties and criminal sanctions for its violation.

In addition to starting what could be a lengthy legal battle, Nicholson has also filed an assault and battery charge against Moura approximately two weeks ago. The Santa Monica College Police Department has requested photos of the alleged assault.

On June 22, Officer Michael Champagne entered the offices of The Corsair inquiring about photos capturing the alleged “poke in the chest” of Nicholson by Moura.

Corsair photographer Juan Lopez, who was covering the elections event where the altercation allegedly took place, refused to hand over the photos.

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Health & Lifestyle 5

volume 107 issue 14 • June 4, 2014 • santa monica college

Students explore the arts Liz Phillips Staff Writer It’s a very big step when someone realizes there is something missing from their life and then decides to work to fill in those gaps. For artists especially, those gaps can be a fierce inhibitor to someone’s necessary expression of self. That search is a common theme amongst artists at Santa Monica College.

“It’s one thing to play guitar and sing because you like it and it’s a hobby, and it’s another thing to learn actually what’s going on,” says Zul Lkhagrasuren, a musician of the Mongolian rock band Return, who is taking music theory classes at SMC. Lkhagrasuren and Kyle Welker have both been on and off students at SMC, picking through the classes that they think will best serve their goals; Lkhagrasuren as a musician, and Welker as an installation artist. Their stories are just an example of the types of

Liz Phillips Corsair Rhythm guitarist, lead singer, and SMC student Zul Lkhagrasuren, performs during their band return’s show at Nola’s Taste of New Orleans on Thursday, March 27, in Los Angeles, Calif. Nelson says he does mostly the melodies and transitions. But each player contributes their own part, making writing a very collective process for them.

soul searching that is happening on campus.

Lkhagrasuren is the rhythm guitarist and singer for his band, Return, which plays mostly originals but also has revamped some traditional Mongolian songs for their Mongolian fan base. It’s rooted in rock, with ambient tangents, reggae tints, and influenced by bands such as the Japanese group Mono, Chili Peppers, Dream Theatre, and Queen.

Lkhagrasuren came to the United States from Mongolia when he was 15, eventually moving to Los Angeles in 2009. He started playing the drums, picked up guitar, and even tried piano for a bit. He officially formed Return over a year ago with friends from the LA Mongolian Christian Church that they attend.

A self-described “ear player”, Lkhagrasuren recognized that there was more to learn to further himself and his band. “I know this goes to that, but now I figure out why,” he said.

The Mongolian musician has ESL and other basic classes still to complete, which to him, are important in that they are required to transfer to a school where he can focus on his music.

Welker got his Bachelor’s degree from the Art Institute of Colorado in photography, which was a commercial program. Not long after moving to LA and working as a commercial photographer, Welker realized that wasn’t for him, and came to the conclusion that he was more interested in fine arts.

“I felt like I didn’t have the skills that a fine artists would need, so I started taking classes to pick up on what I didn’t get in my first college,” he said.

He came to SMC to work on his drawing and painting, but uses those as tools in what he has now become drawn to; installations.

Welker prefers to find rural abandoned places, and transform them using found items from the surrounding desert. He has a current favorite site in the Mojave Desert about two hours outside of LA. “When we were little, [my family] would drive up roads and every time there was a gold mine or shack we would have to stop and look at it,” he said.

Welker likes the idea that others might stumble upon his pieces as well. Once left behind, they change with the weather, or interactions that animals or other people have with it.

He will be returning to Colorado for the summer, and had plans for a few installations while he is there. He thinks he has found what he needed through the classes and

Liz Phillips Corsair SMC student and installation artist Kyle Welker, holds the beginnings of a “nest” that he is making out of glass shards he has found in the desert, in his home studio in Koreatown, Los Angeles, Calif. on Monday, April 21.

“But I felt like I didn’t have the skills that a fine artists would need… So I started taking classes to pick up on what I didn’t get in my first college”

experiences he has had at SMC and will likely not return in the fall.

Return will be playing at the Playtime Festival in Gachuurt Village in Mongolia at the end of July, among 40 other bands from Mongolia, Russia, Japan, and more. They will also have their first album out before then.

Lkhagrasuren plans to take more ESL classes over the summer at Los Angeles Community College because it’s closer to his home, return to SMC for music, and eventually transfer out.

Psychological Effects of Gun Violence on Campus Patrick Shanley Staff Writer The peace of Friday June 7, 2013 was shattered at 11:52 A.M. when Santa Monica police officers received calls reporting gunshots around the area of the Santa Monica College campus.

Amidst the chaos that ensued during that morning and the days following the psychological services office at SMC helped the campus deal with the repercussions of such an unexpected, horrific occurrence.

Dr. Sandra Lyons Rowe, coordinator of the psychological services at SMC, was present the day of the shooting. “I was in the office along with our front office staff person, a student worker, one of our postdoctoral interns, and one mental health counselor from another agency,” said Rowe. “It was a frightening and traumatic experience for all of us, not only those of us who were here, but the staff who were not here were impacted just knowing what happened and wondering how we were doing.”

Six people were killed that day, including the shooter himself.

In the wake of such tragic violence, it is understandable that there would be psychological repercussions for students, faculty, and those living in the neighborhoods surrounding SMC. Though the chief of the Santa Monica College Police Department at the time, Al Vasquez, said it was “not a school shooting,” the effect the event had on campus was still felt.

“What we have seen from students are the typical reactions that most people have after a traumatic event, which are well documented,” said Rowe.

According to helpguide.org, a non-profit organization that provides support and information on mental health issues, the effects of such unexpected trauma can be both psychological and physical. Feelings of hopelessness, fear, and anxiety are often coupled with physical issues such as insomnia, nightmares, and fatigue.

for extended coverage visit us at thecorsaironline.com •

The major question that is raised after every school shooting is how to prevent them in the future, especially given the seemingly spontaneous nature of such violent outbursts.

The U.S. Department of Education offers a list of possible warning signs of violent behavior. Among them are social withdrawal and elevated feelings of isolation.

Though certain warning signs can be helpful in determining whether an individual is harboring violent intentions, they are hardly a fool-proof defense strategy.

“No one really knows how to predict behavior,” said Rowe. “However, I believe that we need better mental health treatment and most importantly better education around mental health issues.”

Providing more mental health services may prove to reduce the frequency of public acts of violence, and, as such, programs and awareness has been raised to @t h e _ c o r s a i r •

these areas. This past month of May was Mental Health Awareness Month across the nation, a very busy time of year for Rowe and her staff.

“We have done our best, with limited resources . . . to support and educate the campus community,” said Rowe.

Having professional services available to those that seek them on campus is a key tool in preventing future incidents, though it is not a guarantee of preventing the behavior altogether. Those professionals working in the psychological services department are also personally affected by the violence, but are there to help others impacted by these tragedies.

“Although we are professionals, we are also human beings who have human responses to traumatic events,” said Rowe.

The Psychological Services office is open from Mondays through Fridays and is located in room 110 in the Liberal Arts building at the main campus.

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6 Health

& Lifestyle

volume 107 issue 14 • June 4, 2014 • santa monica college

Walking in style

Ronja Jansz Corsair Models walk on the runway to showcase fashion designs by Parisa during the La Mode fashion show in downtown Los Angeles on the evening of May 29th at the California Market Center Fashion Theater.

Paulina Eriksson Staff Writer The backstage room is warm and the atmosphere is hectic as the models are lining up across the room. Kaitlin Distefano stands first in line and in just a couple of minutes she is about to walk a fashion runway for the very first time.

Before them awaited an audience eager to see the cavalcade of dresses, birthed from the creative minds of Santa Monica College students trained by the school’s fashion department.

“I don’t know what I feel. I’m nervous but I know I’m going to do a really good job so I don’t feel like I have to be nervous,” Distefano said.

On Thursday, May 29th, fashionistas gathered at The California Market Center in Downtown Los Angeles where Santa Monica College fashion students showcased their designs at the annual LA Mode Fashion Show.

Twenty three collections brimming with creativity were showcased on the runway.

Each collection had its own distinguished theme and style, being inspired by a multitude of elements ranging from nature, to bondage, and even “Star Wars.”

Throughout the evening, six judges carefully observed and graded the collections and jointly cast their vote for categories such as Best Collection, Best Show, and Most Creative.

The garment that received the most significant reactions among both the audience and judges was a long colorful dress designed by Ji-seon Kim who won two awards.

“I’m really happy for [receiving the awards for] the best collection and creativity because that is necessary to have as a designer,” Kim said.

Kim’s passion for design and drawing started when she was 5-years-old. Her grandfather gave her a notebook and pen so that she could practice drawing Korean letters. However, Kim was more interested in drawing and expressing her feelings

through colors.

Along with her passion for designing and the knowledge and inspiration she got from her teachers and classmates, she managed to create her own collection and is now one step closer to her goal of having her own fashion line.

“We learn from each other and we inspire each other so I really enjoyed studying at SMC. I’m already thinking about my next collection,” Kim said.

Well-known fashion designer and second time judge at the LA Mode Fashion Show Ali Rahimi, was impressed with the fashionable creations of the students.

“I thought some of them were very creative, I enjoyed watching them,” Rahimi said.

The collection he enjoyed the most was designed by SMC student Koby Brown.

According to Rahimi, Brown had the most detail in his designs and enrapturing flows in the fabrics.

SMC students Emmy Ekholm and Natasha Coralic attended the event to support their friends who participated in the show.

“I think the students were really good but the organizing was bad,” Coralic said.

Ekholk believed that the show’s ending in particular could have used more organization.

“They didn’t really know what to say or do. The flow between the collections this year was good though, a big improvement when compared to last year’s show,” Ekholm said.

According to Rahimi the LA Mode Fashion Show is a really good starting point for students who have a serious interest in pursuing a career in the world of fashion.

“I think it’s fantastic. It’s great to get the students to have a showcase for their creative talents and to be able to show off what they have done,” Rahimi said.

After premiering their designs before a full house, SMC’s fashion majors are now prepared to compete in the even grander, complex arena of the fashion market.

for extended coverage visit us at thecorsaironline.com •

Ronja Jansz Corsair Model Pamela Dolker poses on the runway of the La Mode fashion show in downtown Los Angeles on the evening of May 29th at the California Market Center Fashion Theater.

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Health & Lifestyle 7

volume 107 issue 14 • June 4, 2014 • santa monica college

Students remember tragedy Ronja Jansz Health and Lifestyle editor The shooting a year ago at Santa Monica College sparked wide media attention and shocked the entire local community. None were affected more closely than the SMC student body. Some students were on campus on that fateful day while others were away at home, work or other locations. Despite the passage of time, many students, both current and new, remember where they were when the tragedy took place. Here they share their thoughts and memories on both the event and its wider implications.

Gary Prieto Film United States

Jack Sarshaei wasn’t a student at the time when the shooting occurred but the event did hit close to home as he lives in the Santa Monica area and was at home when the tragedy took place. To this day, the shooting continues to affect him, Farshaei feels sad and upset that innocent people were killed that day. He says that the shooting was very bad for Santa Monica College and expresses a desire for a safer environment for students; “This is the college, this place has to be very safe and secure for all the students…. Maybe [that we can improve safety] by installing checkpoints at the entries of each side of the college. Just like at the airport.”

Farshaei additionally believes that the event might have been prevented if the laws pertaining to gun control had been different. “They sell the gun to everybody. Anyone could come up to us right now and shoot us,” he says. He wishes that gun stores would perform more thorough background checks on gun purchasers their history and mental health but in the end prefers a complete ban on the possession of guns.

Miguel Corona Film United States

Rosa Fuentes was at home in South Los Angeles when the shooting occurred. She remembers receiving several phone calls and text messages, along with an email that notified SMC students of the school’s lockdown and warned recipients not to come close to the campus. Fuentes shares that she feels very lucky that she wasn’t on school that day. The shooting didn’t really affect her but it did for her friend whose own friend got shot that day. “His name is Jose, he was really depressed,” she shares. Fuentes recalls the shooting taking place during the finals week and that the majority of professors canceled their final exams. She shares that “Jose got counseling that the school offered. He was really scared. He was at the library and felt really afraid, looking at ground, shaking, not knowing what to think, and running for his life. I honestly didn’t know how too react to that. I got afraid when he was telling me his stories because I wouldn’t know what to do in that type of a situation.” for extended coverage visit us at thecorsaironline.com •

Gary Prieto was working when the shooting occurred. He received several text messages from SMC that notified him that day. He recalls feeling shocked and was worried that people he knew got hurt. Luckily, none of his friends were involved but Prieto nonetheless felt affected. “Anybody can say that it’s a good thing that my friends were not involved but I won’t be the person to say that because what if those were my friends,” he explains. The shooting made Prieto think about other tragic events that happen worldwide and he strongly believes that people ought to be be careful everyday because “These are dark times, especially in this country now that everyone can get a gun, we should always be careful of our surroundings.” In his opinion, the best solution to prevent shootings from happening would be to ban guns.

Jack Farshaei English Iran

Miguel Corona remembers the day of the shooting clearly. He had been dropped off by his mom at the corner of Pearl and made his way to the campus library to study for an exam. “I was there at 8:00 on the dot when the library opened,” he remembered. During a break from studying Corona stepped outside and bumped into his friend Alci Rengifo with whom he discussed a few films before he went back in and decided he wanted to go home quickly to pick up some headphones. On his way out he came across Margarita Gomez, who was picking cans near the Liberal Sciences building. “I tried to open the door for her but she said ‘no, thank you, I’m just picking cans.” Corona wonders if he was the last person Gomez spoke with before her life was taken during the shooting spree. When Corona came back to campus he found the Pearl side entrance sealed off by police and was told by bystanders that a gunman had entered campus. “I called Alci to see if he was ok. I was shocked to see what was happening later on Fox 11 news. If it hadn’t been for those headphones I would have been in the library when he went in.” Corona remains grateful that not more people were killed or injured on that fateful day and is grateful he came out safe.

Rosa Fuentes Communication Studies United States

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8 photostory

volume 107 issue 14 • June 4, 2014 • santa monica college

At 11:56 A.M. John Zawah personal car on Colverfield

Sam Herron Corsair The charred remains of John Zawahri’s former home stands near Yorkshire and Kansas in Santa Monica.

A campus united by tragedy Alci Rengifo & Jonathan Ramos A+E & Opinion Editor Charred and alone stands the home where John Zawahri initiated his shooting spree that culminated on the grounds of Santa Monica College and the death of six victims including the gunman himself.

After initiating the inferno of his home in flames, where he had murdered his father and brother, Zawahri went on to hijack a car, shoot at a Big Blue Bus full of passengers and then proceeded to SMC where he shot and killed groundskeeper Carlos Franco and his daughter Marcela in their truck.

Zawahri also killed Margarita Gomez, a frequent visitor to the campus before entering the SMC library where law enforcement officers eventually stopped him.

Minutes after the shooting, the campus was put on lockdown as sirens blared and helicopters hovered overhead. In the late afternoon, when the threat had been terminated, campus officials lifted the lockdown but classes would be cancelled for the weekend.

Though the shooting took place on campus, it has since been denied as a “school shooting”, even being completely ignored by President Barack Obama, who at the time, was within 20 minutes of the campus, and had his route back to LAX altered.

It was a day unlike any ever experienced by the SMC community, and one no one would dare ever imagine. The aftermath of the rampage included a series of emotive vigils attended by faculty, staff and students, united in a moment of grief, a snapshot of pain. SMC had been forced to join the growing list of American communities made to face the terror of a restless soul and unite in a search for healing. By the SMC parking lot where

the Francos were fatally wounded, a candle-lit vigil was soon arranged which glowed in the night with the heartfelt condolences of those who shared the family’s pain.

A year later, security on campus has been enhanced as the student body has attempted to resume it’s normal course of campus life. Memorials stand on the campus grounds in remembrance of those who were taken on that fateful day. In front of the Liberal Arts building stands a plaqued stone in memory of Margarita Gomez while in the gardened area by the Theater Arts building sits a brimming memoral for Franco, father and daughter. Gabriel Gomez, son of Margarita, is also seen frequently on campus maing a devout pilgrimage to his mother’s memorial to tell about her story and leave gifts by the stone. It is a testament to a son’s devotion as well as to the human scope of the tragedy that befell a community on that dark June 7.

Recently, new security measures have been implemented such as state of the art alert systems which function through telephones found in every classroom. SMC is also placing a higher emphasis on the effectiveness of specialized alert systems through the personal cell phones of students to ensure full readiness.

Though the dark day momentarily left students’ minds in shambles, it can be better known as the day the student body discovered the importance of solidarity and true friendship in the face of danger and unexpected chaos.

If blood flowed on that day, human bonds ran deeper. For a school known heavily for its diversity, it had never been so united for one cause.

Questions remain as to why this tragedy took place and what inner demons pushed Zawahri toward his fatal journey, but students can also look back at it as a moment that tied hearts together and will remain embedded in the college’s memory forever.

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A map of gunman John Zawahri’s June 7, shooting ramp displayed at a Santa Monica Police Department press conf

Family members of the victims of the June 7 shoo listen to the dedication of a new memorial for them o Margarita Gomez was fatally shot.

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photostory 9

volume 107 issue 14 • June 4, 2014 • santa monica college

Henry Crumblish Corsair hri fires shots at a Big Blue bus and a d and Pico in Santa Monica, Calif.

Henry Crumblish Corsair At 11:56 A.M. John Zawahri fires shots at a Big Blue bus and a personal car on Cloverfield and Pico in Santa Monica, Calif.

Tina Eady Corsair page on and around the Santa Monica College main campus is ference on June 13, 2013.

David Yapkowitz Corsair A vigil is set up on Monday, June 10, 2013 in memory of Carlos and Marcela Franco, who were fatally shot on Pearl Street in Santa Monica, Calif. as they were exiting a Santa Monica College parking lot during John Zawahri’s shooting spree at 12:02 P.M. on June 7, 2013.

Scott Bixler Corsair oting that culminated on the Santa Monica College campus on Thursday, December 5, 2013 in front of the library where Liz Phillips Corsair The memorial for Margarita Gomez sits outside of the library at the south end of SMC campus, at the site where she was shot and killed at 12:03 P.M. on June 7, 2013 in John Zawahri’s shooting spree that took six lives including the shooter.

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10 Sports

volume 107 issue 14 • June 4, 2014 • santa monica college

Football looking ahead to next season

Jose Lopez Corsair Head Coach Gifford Lindheim congratulates his team with their 44-28 victory against Gelndale Community College on October 5, 2013 at Santa Monica College

David Yapkowitz Managing Editor When you rack up conference championships and accolades like the Santa Monica College football team has done the past three seasons, that’s when they come calling.

Coming off their third straight Pacific Conference championship, and having several players take home All-conference and All-defensive honors, many four-year football programs have taken interest in the Corsairs.

“We’ve had 20 players get scholarships from our team last year,” said SMC Head Coach Gifford Lindheim. “Half of the SEC[Southeastern Conference] has been here during spring ball, 10 of the 12 Pac-12 schools, we’re now a nationally recruited school.”

The Corsairs have already begun spring training in preparation for the 2014 season and with many players leaving for four-year programs, strengthening the team with new recruits is an important task.

Adding to that, community college athletes are only allowed two years of eligibility so the team would naturally be looking for replacements this time of year.

Although it can be a challenge to incorporate new players to an already established system in place, Lindheim is confident that their incoming players will make an impact.

“We are always looking for the best players in the area, and the best people,” said Lindheim. “I am always looking to fulfill the potential this group has and I think it is going to be a talented group.

The sky will be the limit.”

Making up a large portion of the recruiting class will be players on the defensive end of the field. While the emphasis was on the offensive line during last spring’s recruiting period, this spring turned to the defense.

Defense was one of the most crucial aspects of the Corsairs success last season, and it will need to continue to be strong if they want to make their dream of a fourth conference title a reality.

“Although we graduated and transferred a lot of players, we feel that we have on

tap one of the best recruiting classes on defense that we’ve ever had,” said Lindheim. “It’s too premature because it can still move around, but I think when it’s all said and done, this class can rival any out there.”

One of the Corsairs prized recruits on the defensive end is offensive lineman Steven Tarr from Taft High School.

Tarr has already drawn interest from several Division 1 football programs including Louisiana State University, the University of Missouri, and the University of Oklahoma, all of whom have been on hand to watch him this spring.

“You’re talking about a top 20 recruit.

We’re excited about him. He’s a 6-foot5-inch athletic guy, he’s very strong” said Lindheim.

In addition to Tarr, Lindheim is looking to returning players such as defensive back Jayshawn Lowe to help bolster the defense, as well as status updates from defensive back Tyler Hasty and linebacker Daveed Carter.

Both Hasty and Carter are exploring possible four-year options.

“They are receiving Division 1 attention and if they end up getting offered then they’ll leave,” said Lindheim. “However if they don’t get the offers that they want, they’ll come back for another season.

That’s still going to play itself out.”

While much attention has been given to the defense, Lindheim has made sure not to let the offense fall by the wayside.

Returning to the Corsairs is last season standout running back, Melvin Davis.

Davis led the Pacific Conference in rushing touchdowns last season.

“You don’t find many 6-foot-2-inch, 235 pound guys who can run and catch,” said Lindheim. “We’re excited to see him really get loose this year, he’s in great shape too.”

Similar to the start of last season, Lindheim is also looking at strong competition at quarterback. Freshman Steven Hamm won the job out of training camp last year, before missing the majority of the season with an MCL strain.

Despite receiving several Division 1-AA and Division 2 offers, Hamm decided to return to SMC for his sophomore year.

Hamm will compete once again for the starting quarterback position along with College of the Canyons transfer, Jake Dashnaw, and Long Beach City College transfer, Christian Smith.

“With those guys, it’s going to be a pretty legitimate competition,” said Lindheim.

“As it is with every position on our team.

I don’t think there’s one position where we can’t say that there’s some heavy

competition.”

Although heavy expectations certainly come with the territory after such a long string of dominance, Lindheim is making sure the team stays levelheaded and is focused only on the season at hand.

“They don’t give us any extra points for what we did last year,” said Lindheim.

“We’ve got to recreate the energy, find good people, and we’ve got to do it again.

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sports 11

volume 107 issue 14 • June 4, 2014 • santa monica college

Forging through fear Trev angone Sports Editor In the world we live in today, hearing that there has been a school shooting at the school of your child, loved one, or even the school you’re attending, is the absolute worst case scenario any of us can imagine. Unfortunately, it has become a scenario we are all too familiar with, but one we have all hopefully prepared ourselves for.

SMC has had the misfortune of experiencing this modern day anomaly that seems to be almost exclusive to the United States of America.

On June 7, 2013, a killing spree by a lone shooter, which claimed six lives including himself, made its way and eventually ended at the library here at Santa Monica College. If not for the quick, and brave reaction by the Santa Monica College Police Department, as well as the Santa Monica Police Department, the damage could have been much worse.

Not even one year later, we were all once again reminded how easy it is for atrocities like this to happen, especially in a state where it’s easier to get a handgun than a driver’s license.

On May 23, 2014 another lone shooter took to the streets of Isla Vista, armed with several handguns, ultimately killing seven people including himself.

It only takes an hour and forty-five minutes to get from the SMC campus to Isla Vista. It goes to show, that even if you thought your turn had come and gone, tragedy can be right around the corner, waiting for you to put your guard down.

I had the opportunity to talk to three premier athletes here at SMC about how the events of that day almost a year ago, unfolded in each of their lives.

Not only will their stories be told of that tragic day, but we will also delve into their current lives, and see how they have moved on from that dark day which will never be forgotten.

She’s a big time foodie, and might even go on to play Division 1 tennis some day.

But on that dark day last June, she was just another student at SMC trying to make sense of such a heinous and sadistic act of

terror.

“I wasn’t on campus thankfully, but I did receive a lot of phone calls from friends and family, they were really worried. But I wasn’t on campus, so I was saved.” said Goldbeck.

Hearing that there has been a shooting at your child’s school is a parent’s worst nightmare to put it mildly. That being said, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if Goldbeck’s, or any other student’s parents for that matter, wanted to pull their kid out of SMC, or any other campus stricken with similar events.

Goldbeck however, received much support from her friends, and family after the tragic events.

“My friends and family know SMC is a good area, and they know if I didn’t feel safe, I wouldn’t feel comfortable going here,” said Goldbeck. “But a lot of new people that I meet, they always say something along the lines of ‘oh, whoa, didn’t the shooting just happen there?’”

Events of a much lesser magnitude would compel many people to re-think their chosen path. But one characteristic of Corsairs is that they are not easily deterred.

“It was a little shocking, and scary, but when I came back, I noticed there was a lot of campus police all over the place, so it kind of felt safe,” said Goldbeck. I know SMC is a great school, and something like that could happen anywhere.”

Since the shooting, Goldbeck has led her team to an undefeated season, and is ready to transfer. Whether it’s pursuing her education, or continuing her athletic dreams, Goldbeck is ready for anything, and everything.

“I really want to continue to play tennis, but I’m not sure where. I’m thinking of CSUN or Cal State LA, or maybe UCSD. But I might stay at SMC one more year to complete some classes,” said Goldbeck.

Just like her good friend and teammate Mary Katherine Ashmore, when Goldbeck’s tennis days are over, she doesn’t

When the infamous shooting occurred at Santa Monica College last June, Jace Ng had just moved to Santa Monica, and had not even considered competing for the SMC swim team.

Raised in Singapore, Ng shouldn’t have had to think about anything except getting good grades and chasing the girls around Santa Monica Beach.

But instead of hanging at the beach and meeting new friends, Ng found himself having to come to terms with one of the saddest phrases in the English language; latest school shooting.

“I was being a bit lazy that day. I was supposed to go see the counselor, because I had just enrolled, but I decided to go to California Chicken Café instead,” said Ng. “While I was there I saw the news, and I would have been there if I had not gone to get food.”

With their child only days into the new chapter of his life, as well as his father

en route back to Singapore from Santa Monica, all Ng’s parents could do was hope their son was nowhere near the tragic string of events.

“For my parents there probably was some apprehension toward me continuing my studies at SMC. My father had just flown back the day before and when he landed, he heard the news at the airport,” said Ng. “But for me I’m not that bothered because this kind of thing is not isolated to SMC, it can happen anywhere. It just so happened to take place at SMC. I don’t think it should affect our studies.”

Since last June, Ng led the SMC swim team into the state championships, where he set two new state records in the 100yard, and 200-yard breaststroke. Although California community college state records are nothing to scoff at, Ng has his sights set on a slightly loftier goal.

“If anything, I will at most try to swim in the 2016 Rio Olympics. That’s the furthest

I would like to go, I would stop after that.” said Ng. When Ng isn’t setting new state records, he spends his spare time cooling off at the local movie theater. Even with al the training that goes with such an accomplished swimming resume, Ng has managed to see almost all the Summer blockbusters.

“I saw X-Men [Days of Future Past], Spider-Man [2], Godzilla, but I think my favorite would be X-Men,” said Ng. “I’d say Godzilla was the worst of the three.

I also saw Captain America [The Winter Soldier]. The next one I really want to see is A Million Ways to Die in the West, I like comedies.”

Although Jace can often be found taking in a movie, that’s not the only way he spends his free time. “I recently got into scuba diving. I just completed open-water certification. I’m waiting for my advance training, and I will ultimately want to be a rescue diver. That’s my current hobby right

A year ago, he was a red-shirt freshman focused on elevating the reputation of the team through a grinding offseason and relentless practice.

But before Tattersall could even begin his offseason regimen, the unthinkable happened. Santa Monica College was the site of a shooting rampage.

“I was not at campus, I was at home. I got some texts and calls, people you haven’t talked to in five years,” said Tattersall. “It was devastating to hear that, you just never know.”

Born and raised in Thousand Oaks, California, Tattersall had to convince his parents to let him come to SMC. “I kind of had to persuade my family to come to SMC. It was definitely a wake up call, but there was no apprehension on returning to SMC afterwards.”

Even though Tattersall was not on campus during the shooting, that was not the case for the entire volleyball team. In fact

one of the most important players to the functionality of the team, just so happened to be right in the middle of class.

“Our setter Casey Dunn, he sent me a text saying he and his classmates were being escorted off campus by police and that he walked by the shooters body,” said Tattersall. “I don’t think they were aware of what had actually happened.”

It seems the events of last June, have not affected Tattersall’s commitment to his studies or his athletic dreams. If anything it has made him that much more focused on his goal.

“I would like to go play at a four-year college, keep my options open. Get better at volleyball and hopefully go to a fouryear, that’s my goal,” said Tattersall. “I would also like to go play overseas, you never know.”

Whether it’s playing overseas, or teaching the next generation the ins and outs of the game, it looks like volleyball will definitely

Jessica Goldbeck

Taylor Tattersall Taylor Tattersall just led the Santa Monica College men’s volleyball team to the state championship just one year after finishing an abysmal 1-10.

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see herself straying too far from the world of sports. In fact it looks like it’s going to play a big role in her future career.

“I want to major in Kinesiology, I want to do physical therapy. After I get my Bachelors in Kinesiology, I’ll go on to get my masters, and then hopefully my Ph.D in physical therapy,” Goldbeck said. “I think I want to go more of the route of physical therapy, and healing.”

Goldbeck was raised to love tennis by her father. His tutelage and nudging has paid off in droves. But since stepping on to the beach side courts in Santa Monica, Goldbeck has had many other influences.

One of the more noteworthy teachers has been her SMC coach Richard Goldenson.

“He’s an amazing guy. I started the first season off pretty rough, but he worked with me through it,” Goldbeck said. “During the offseason, he worked with me a lot, and I think that made all the difference with my second season without a doubt.”

Jace Ng now,” said Ng. “I want to go to the blue hole in Beliz. I would also like to go cave diving.” be in Tattersall’s future.

“Coaching would be cool. You have to get your nose in there and become well known,” said Tattersall. “But I wouldn’t mind coaching volleyball. It’s something I love. I’d like to teach little kids if they’re willing to learn, and put forth the effort.”

When Tattersall isn’t in the classroom or on the court, he can usually be found down at the beach. If you think he’s down there chasing babes and hanging out with friends, well actually you would be right.

But he’s also hones his craft through beach volleyball.

“I’m on the beach all the time. When I’m not in the classroom, I like to be on the beach,” said Tattersall. “Whether it’s getting better at volleyball, hanging out with friends, or working out, I’m just trying to accomplish my goal of playing at a fouryear college.”

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12 Opinion

volume 107 issue 14 • June 4, 2014 • santa monica college

A day of rage, a time of fear

Jhosef Hern Corsair

Alci Rengifo Arts & Entertainment Editor “If the world is where we hide from ourselves, what do we do when the world is no longer accessible? We invent a false name, invent a destiny, purchase a firearm through the mail.”

- Don DeLillo, “Libra.”

On the morning of June 7, 2013 I walked up the steps of the campus library and came across my friend, former Film Club president Miguel Corona. After speaking about movies, a habit we have whenever we come across each other on campus, we parted ways as we entered the library. He went upstairs, I went to the bottom floor computer lab.

That day I had a final exam later in the afternoon and was preparing to look over some notes I planned to print out. One never expects to be swept into a tragic moment, which is why tragedies disturb us so much.

After a half hour of surfing the internet and exchanging texts, I heard a distant “boom” outside. It sounded like a car crash. A moment later, a chorus of intense screams came in from the library’s first floor and the students who had been sitting in chairs or by tables turned into a wave of bodies rushing down into the bottom floor.

Some grabbed their backpacks, others simply ran. I stood up and grabbed my laptop as a student told me with a paled expression that someone was inside with a gun.

We ran out the back emergency exits of the library and the crowd soon spread out like a scene out of “The Battle Of Algiers.”

I made my way to the side of Pico facing the campus as the sound of approaching helicopters and sirens filled the air.

During the course of the day the details emerged of John Zawahri’s rampage that began with the murder of his father and brother and culminated with three deaths at SMC. It was a tragedy unlike any the college had faced before. But part of that tragedy is the fact that it was not wholly unimaginable.

Zawahri was but one of a gallery of young men who have stormed their schools, driven by fantasies of blood and fire, to vent unknown or irrational grievances through violence on their classmates, teachers, and bystanders. Just a few days ago Santa Barbara became the latest crime scene, this time the result of a demented mind feeling rejected by the women he believed were owed to him.

It would be nice to say that SMC and Santa Barbara were isolated cases, but we now live in a time where one really has to walk through campus with eyes wide open.

It is an age of fear at our schools, and not just colleges. On April 25 an angry student stabbed 21 classmates in a Pittsburgh high school and in September 2013, another student went on a stabbing spree at a Houston high school. And of course there was the horrific massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newton, Connecticut in 2012 where 20 children and 6 adults were shot and killed by 20-year-old gunman, Adam Lanza.

While the SMC shooter was a former and not a current student of the college, his rampage climaxed at our campus, and we may never know why. Answers have not been revealed, but the truth is there are no

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easy answers to any of these outbursts of murderous terror.

What has become certain is that despite the excellent security and police forces that work at SMC, the idea of mass violence at institutes of higher learning are now a common part of the American educational landscape. It is as if colleges are now valleys where among the normal, crowds of students there are walking time bombs who are casting predatory gazes at their classmates instead of looking ahead to a career or general learning experience.

If the violence of militant groups in the Middle East and Asia are driven by political, social and economic situations, the violence that has turned campuses into virtual urban war zones for a few, terrible hours is driven by something deeper and very ugly. It is a clash of various forces within our culture and national psyche.

It is as if society is now structured in a way where terrible alignments form between the mentally and emotionally disturbed and our obsession with violence and weapons. This landscape was perfectly captured by Oliver Stone in his vicious 1994 satire “Natural Born Killers,” and Anthony Burgess in his novel “A Clockwork Orange.”

In his excellent book “Columbine,” journalist and author Dave Cullen chronicles the 1999 high school massacre in Colorado that was one of the first of the wave we’re still living through. In it he describes the world of the killers, Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris, as a clash between a culture obsessed with “being cool” that collided with two disturbed, selfish teens who had a cold mindset where killing those you don’t like is part of an almost twisted

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Darwinian sense of the world.

In a society where violence is seen as “cool,” or even praised in our militarized culture, it is not surprising that the mentally warped will gravitate towards guns to solve their problems. We’re raised in an almost goose stepping environment where the imperial violence of the state is glorified.

Consider that when antiwar movies like “In The Valley Of Elah” or “Green Zone” premiered in theaters they tanked, yet macho war flicks like “Lone Survivor” and “Act Of Valor” attracted huge audiences.

We like to entertain ourselves with “us vs. the evil them” storylines, and this is the mindset of these deranged killers; “me vs. THEM.” Our liberal president didn’t even bother to bring Osama Bin Laden to trial, pumping him full of led was enough.

Zawahri even entered campus looking like a Blackwater mercenary, dressed commando-style, AK-47 in hand.

Of course culture is not the only thing we can blame. These shooters also have deeply-rooted emotional turmoils. They felt alone in a world where everything moves at 100 miles per hour, and nobody probably stopped to listen when they had something to say to someone, to anybody.

Paying attention to someone, or just being a friend, can very seriously save lives. And even if a listening ear does not stop an urge to murder, it can catch warning signs of dangers to come. We must cherish our friends, in doing so we cherish ourselves.

We cannot hide from the fact that our campuses are now potential war zones on any given day, but what we can do is start looking at the roots of the situation, and only in this way can we begin to light some kind of candle in the darkness.

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Opinion 13

volume 107 issue 14 • June 4, 2014 • santa monica college

Gun control: parts of the problem Jimmy Janszen Photo Editor When the infamous Santa Monica College shooter John Zawahri attempted to buy a weapon in 2011, the California Department of Justice informed him that he was ineligible to purchase a firearm due to his admittance to the University of California, Los Angeles’ Neuropsychiatric Institute in 2006.

At this point, the state believed his admittance to a mental institution would prevent him from ever obtaining a firearm; however these restrictions did not interfere with purchasing separate parts of firearms to put together a fully functional rifle.

When the evidence of last June’s shooting was compiled, it was certain that Zawahri’s modified AR-15 rifle was composed of separately purchased parts.

Although assembling a semi-automatic rifle seems like a convoluted process, it is a simple process of which instructions are widely accessible on the Internet.

According to FishGame, assembling an AR-15 from the ground up is, “relatively simple” and is a way to get “exactly what you want.”

One of the separately purchased gun parts by Zawahri was something known as a “lower receiver,” a mechanism that holds the firing of a gun. According to state and federal law, this “lower receiver” is what classifies a firearm.

A way many people get around this part is by purchasing a partially completed lower receiver in which only a hole needs to be drilled into it to make the lower receiver functional.

Upon searching Zawahri’s house after the shooting, police found a drill press. It is believed that Zawahri used this drill press to modify a previously purchased partially completed lower receiver, into a functional part of an AR-15 rifle used in the rampage.

If California wants to see murder rates

decline, stricter weapon and gun control needs to be put into law.

Aside from the SMC shooting, another shooting took place on Friday, May 23 when Elliot Rodger, a 22-year-old Santa Barbara City College student fatally stabbed three as well as shooting and killing three innocent college students in the

In California, which is supposedly one of the strictest states on gun control, guns ranging from antique firearms, to semiautomatic rifles with large round capacity are completely legal to purchase if the buyer is over 18 years of age, has never been admitted to a mental institution, has never been

University of California, Santa Barbara adjacent city of Isla Vista.

Rodger legally purchased two firearms at a nearby gun store of which he used in the rampage. Although Rodger had intermittently been seeing psychologists for 14 years due to mental health issues, he still qualified to be able to purchase firearms.

convicted of a felony, and if he or she successfully passes a background check.

However, gun parts are completely legal to buy separately regardless of any of these restrictions. Being able to legally purchase gun parts that are easy to assemble and modify into fully functional firearms makes any other restrictions pointless.

Regulations need to make it illegal for civilians to purchase any part of a gun.

Shortly after the Isla Vista rampage, victim Chris Martinez’s father grievously spoke at a press conference stating, “They talk about gun rights. What about Chris’ right to live?” Richard Martinez shouted, “When will this insanity stop? We don’t have to live like this.”

Since the right to bear arms is in our constitution and guns have been apart of American history, it is hard for many citizens to look past the fact that firearms cause more problems than they solve.

If our forefathers knew the capability that weapons hold today, the second amendment would likely have been written differently.

According to the National Institute of Justice, an average of 30 Americans are victim to firearms each day, compared to a country such as Japan where the homicide rate sits just under 50 deaths each year.

The United States could learn from Japan’s strict firearm laws such as making it illegal to hold a handgun, possess unlicensed bullets, and actually fire a gun—which can land a person into a Japanese prison sentence for one to ten years.

It is ignorant to look past the outrageous homicide rate in this country compared to other highly developed countries. According to ABC news, “in the United States there are 10 gun-related deaths per 100,000 people” — more than any of the other 27 developed countries they studied.

The more the federal and state governments enforce strict gun control, the more likely Americans will be able to live a safe and fulfilling life. If stricter guns laws were previously put into act and purchasing guns or gun parts weren’t such a simple process in our society, the five lives taken by Zawahri and the six lives taken by Rodger could very well still be here today.

Illustration byJhosef Hern Corsair

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14 News

volume 107 issue 14 • June 4, 2014 • santa monica college

Jay Singer Corsair K-9 Police Officers from all over the county and their dogs line up to compete in the Tough Dog Contest at the 15th annual Police K9 Demonstration of the Los Angeles County Police Canine Association at the SMC Football Field on May 31.

Jay Singer Corsair Officer Steve Trujillo and his dog Leo wait for the beginning of the Tough Dog Contest at the 15th annual Police K9 Demonstration of the Los Angeles County Police Canine Association at SMC Football Field in Santa Monica, California on May 31.

Jay Singer Corsair The audience gets enthusiastic at the 15th annual Police K9 Demonstration of the Los Angeles County Police Canine Association at the SMC Football Field on May 31.

canine confidential

Jay Singer Staff Writer Man’s best friend can also be man’s best line of defense during times of crisis, as witnessed last year by students as police dogs were used to sniff out a potential bomb threat on the Santa Monica College main campus.

The tough dog contest was the highlight of the K9 Demonstration at Corsair Field on Saturday, organized by the Los Angeles County Police Canine Association (LACPCA). Over a dozen dogs were directed by their K-9 handlers to chase and apprehend a decoy suspect with their powerful jaws. The winner, Jori, was determined by audience applause.

The four-legged crime-fighters also navigated obstacle courses, cornered other decoy suspects, and participated in vehicle pursuits. Multiple officers exhibited their dogs to visitors, answered questions, and provided information about their canine partners.

The event was a fundraiser for LACPCA in an effort to alleviate some of the financial burden from K9 officers who sometimes pay out of pocket to train their animal partners.

Most of the dogs are German Shepherds or Belgian Shepherds imported from Europe, which can cost $10,000 to purchase and

another $5,000 to train. Officers are selected by their departments and are then trained for five weeks or so with the animal they are assigned.

That is when bonding occurs between dog and handler. The majority of the dogs live with the police officers to whom they are assigned.

“When I play ball with my dog, I always let him have the ball after some time. My dog needs to trust me,” said Redondo Police K9 Officer Dan Richey as he answered questions from the public in the shade of the parking garage.

According to Richey, dependable and consistent conduct is essential for a good working relationship with his canine partner, Blitz.

Training continues throughout the working life of the K9 and is essential because the dogs regularly find themselves in high velocity situations that involve a lot of physical dangers and maneuvers. The stressful environment can often make the animal’s behavior unpredictable.

When K9’s corner a suspect, they are trained to not make contact as long as the suspect stands still. Or if the suspect is still fleeing, they can knock them down without even using their teeth. But bites still happen.

Retired police sergeant Louis Castle said that the dogs he trains disengage their bite from the

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suspect on verbal command.

“But it doesn’t happen as often as it should” he said.

Some agencies prefer to remove the K9 physically from the bite, rather than use a verbal command. During the contest demonstration for toughest dog, K9 officers repeatedly pried their canine partners off a bite suit equipped decoy. The decoy admitted that he felt sore after these demonstrations even with the bite suit.

Castle said that there are very few instances of apprehended suspects being bitten so badly that they require an overnight stay at a hospital.

“They are usually treated with antiseptic and approved for booking,” he said. The mere presence of K9 dogs have been known to dissuade some suspects that were previously ready to fight.

Before the canine cavalry flush suspects out of a building, several advance notices are given over a loudspeaker warning anyone that a police dog will be turned loose to find them if they do not stand down.

Of course, there will always be the lingering risk of a potential bite when working with canines. But these furry agents of the law are essential for the successful apprehension of some suspects and for keeping the peace in neighborhoods and streets. @t h e _ c o r s a i r •

Jay Singer Corsair Officer Steve Trujillo and his dog Steevo demonstrate how to apprehend a decoy suspect in a bite suit at the 15th annual Police K9 Demonstration of the Los Angeles County Police Canine Association at the SMCFootball Field on May 31.

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Arts & Entertainment 15

volume 107 issue 14 • June 4, 2014 • santa monica college

Student film “Hurt” mirrors school shootings Rachel Gianuario Staff Writer The Santa Monica College Film Department’s upcoming film, “Hurt” written and directed by Brandon Chang is a “Paradise Lost” expedition.

Currently in the post-production phase, the film will be released to the public in fall of 2014 and shortly after, will be submitted to major film festivals. There is a fear however, that some in the SMC community may not be very accepting of the movie’s subject matter.

The story surrounds Aaron, an introverted high school student struggling with fitting in and being teased at school. He goes through bouts of depression and pours his emotions into diary entries. Slowly, the events start molding into an all too familiar story as Aaron begins to contemplate an act of violence at his school.

The screenwriter contemplated the subject matter with the utmost sensitivity, endeavoring to understand why school shootings happen. At the heart of so many school shootings is a troubled kid, and Chang managed to identify with the loneliness a troubled kid feels through his character Aaron.

“When school shootings happen they say the kid was quiet and always kept to himself. And I thought to myself, ‘I’m very quiet, I’m to myself.’ So I wanted to explore a story like this and make it personal,” says Chang.

Chris Rojas, co-producer with RJ Holloway, believes Chang’s script is an emotional purge meant to identify with anyone who had a hard time in middle school and high school. “‘Hurt’ deals with a controversial subject that needs to be treated with extreme awareness and sensitivity by both the filmmakers and the viewers,” says Professor Salvador Carrasco, the film’s supervisor.

The result was an imaginative effort that took weeks to create. It put the film’s production team in the shoes of the shooter and in the frantically beating hearts of the students hiding in locked down rooms.

For each of the department’s short film projects, Carrasco chooses a script from those submitted in his Film 33 class, Directing The Short Film, by the students themselves.

Chang collaborated with his chosen producers, fellow classmates Holloway and Rojas, to choose the cast. Though the script was written within a month, Chang recalls that it took a month of rewrites to produce

a ‘locked script’ which was approved by Carrasco.

This is the first big production for Rojas and he recalls it being an incredible learning experience. To Rojas, being a producer on this film felt like being married to everyone in the cast and production team.

after the SMC shooting, Elliot Rodger went on a retribution rampage that the sun-loving town of Isla Vista will never forget.

The Santa Barbara massacre took place just as Carrasco and Chang were up until early hours of the morning discussing

shooting.

From 2007 until the present, the number of school shootings that ended in fatalities was 17 per year. In the past three years however, the number has jumped to just over 28 per year.

Beginning in January of this year, there

Courtesy of Film Department Matthew Grathwol and Mia Faith in “Hurt” (SMC short film #5), directed by Brandon Chang. The film is one of the latest projects developed by the Film 33 production class and deals with a high school student driven to the edge.

“You know you’re going to be with these people for the long haul, so having a good team is essential,” says Rojas.

Filming started in the spring of 2013 and finished May 27, ten days before the fateful June 7 shooting at SMC. This was also just before the end of the school year, when the department planned a screening of unedited takes (known as dailies) as kind of sneak peek.

Carrasco recalls, “The Administration asked me not to show our dailies out of sensitivity towards the community and ourselves.” The event was ultimately postponed out of respect for the events that had just taken place. Post-production continued however, but with extreme caution.

Now the team is in the midst of sound editing, mixing, and choosing a composer to help the scenes come to life.

On Friday May 23 however, the production received reminder of the relevance of its subject. Just under a year

the latest changes to the film. Carrasco had been in Chicago at the time for a special screening of his film “The Other Conquest.”

“I relayed our notes to Feriba Karakoc, who is part of the SMC student editing team. She put the new ending together, and we screened it as soon as I came back from Chicago. Then I showed it to my colleague Walt Louie, who is head of postproduction at SMC, and now we all seem to concur that this is what we were after all along,” said Carrasco.

The entire journey emphasizes many key questions about cinema itself. For Carrasco it meant exploring the “role of moral ambivalence in cinema, knowing what you want to say and not being dogmatic.”

“Now a year has passed and it’s not that we’ve healed completely, but I do believe that cinema is here to ask relevant questions, which is why we’re proceeding with ‘Hurt,’” said Carrasco when referring to the passage of time since the SMC

have been 40 school shootings, resulting in 25 fatalities thus far.

“It is a powerful, sensitive film, and it will generate discussion which as with most art, justifies its raison d’être, especially on a college campus,” explained Carrasco when discussing the relevance of “Hurt” and the story it tells.

It’s safe to say, school shootings and gun control are hot topics in the U.S. Chang makes it clear that this movie is not meant present the reasoning behind why school shootings have become so common.

Rojas says, “It’s a really complicated issue.

I don’t have an answer.”

The SMC community hasn’t fully recovered from the shootings that took place on that Friday afternoon in June.

Maybe understanding the lives of John Zawahri, Seung-Hui Cho, Adam Lanza, Eric Harris, Dylan Klebold and Elliot Rogers from a foundational level could humanize these people the media has sensationalized.

Carrasco attests that Chang’s story “It achieves a fine balance between somewhat humanizing the protagonist by exploring the motivations behind his actions (while never condoning them) and posing haunting questions instead of a facile resolution.”

What is clear from everyone who worked on the project is that above all, they do not want people walking away from the film and forgetting about it. They hope “Hurt” will be something that makes people think and feel something when they leave.

“What I like about ‘Hurt’ is that, far from glamorizing anything, it raises significant questions as to how these tragic scenarios might be averted, while at the same time having the artistic integrity to acknowledge that anyone who contemplates a school shooting is suffering from mental pathology,” said Carrasco before returning to the hard labor of editing and finetuning what promises to be a significant expression of emerging talents and the times we inhabit.

Courtesy of Film Department Matthew Grathwol as Aaron in “Hurt”, the new production by SMC’s Film 33 class

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& Entertainment 16 Arts

Synapse

volume 107 issue 14 • June 4, 2014 • santa monica college

Sarit kashanian Staff Writer Emotions became movement on the stage as Santa Monica College dancers performed Sunday night for this semester’s closing show of the Synapse dance spectacle at the Eli and Edythe Broad Theater at SMC’s Performing Arts Campus.

The theme of this year’s show was postmodernism, which describes the era starting in the 1950’s and 60’s in which choreographers rebelled from the previous avant-garde style that had been in vogue by composing pieces that were more about the artist’s own thoughts and philosophies than the opinions of the audience, explained Jae Lee, artistic director of Synapse.

“This show specifically contained more introspection and the themes were a bit deeper and more personal,” said codirector Mark Tomasic.

With performances choreographed by students, faculty, and professional guest choreographers, the show featured 12 pieces in various modern-day styles, including contemporary, modern, lyrical modern, and others.

The music was a combination of minimalist rhythms, strong percussion beats, and classical influences. The costumes were composed of flowy, simplistic garments that showed off the movements of the dancers in action and resembled the dress of late nineteenth century dancer and choreographer Isadora Duncan, whose attire was startlingly revealing for her time.

In a modern piece by Sean Greene titled “With Our Last Breath,” dancers express the forceful emotions that come with the onset of a great loss. Beginning with all

Juan Lopez Corsair Alberta Keyes (center) of Santa Monica College dance company Synapse taking center stage during the performance of “Necromancy” coreographed by Alex Ayon (right) at the Broad Stage located on SMC’s Performing Arts Campus during the dress rehearsal on Wednesday, May 28,

stands toward the back of the stage with his arms outstretched and head thrown back like a tormented martyr soon to be out of his misery. He catches the dancers who leap yearningly into his arms one by one, holding onto the last female dancer who breathes loudly in silence, which is soon to be interrupted by the uproar of applause that follows.

The next piece was a contemporary work

jungle predators.

A restless performer, Xu’s performance grows more intense as beach-like sounds immerse the stage and he moves excitably, mouth agape, more beast-like than human.

The sheen of his sparkling body is only enhanced by the droplets of sweat that are flung away with every abrupt turn. It was a sight unjustified by any description words can muster.

As is typical of performances in which inexperienced attendees are present, there were a few instances of premature applause, one of which occurred near the end of the dance, as if the audience was impatient to praise Xu for his stellar performance.

Other pieces, such as “An Opening” and “Trio,” were more abstract pieces without a clear theme, left for the viewer to interpret. The lack of an apparent purpose or message is characteristic of postmodernism, and viewers who become too caught up in deciphering the meaning may fail to enjoy the simple beauty and

artistry of the work.

One of the night’s performances with a glaring message, however, was Gabriel Avila’s “Tragedy and Triumph: Survivors,” which depicted the story of a truthfully inspired fatal accident caused by distracted driving.

The piece ended with authentic monologues from various dancers and an urgent plea to “please, please watch the road.”

The final and most eclectic piece of the night was an upbeat jazz funk/whacking fusion dance by student Alex Ayon titled “Necromancy,” in which three powerful witches dominate over helpless dead souls.

Set to electro-pop music, the dance employs movements such as stomping, slapping, and striking in sync with the forceful beat.

Whether to return to an era of primitive nature, sacred cleansing, or thoughtful inception, the Synapse dance company upheld its promise of delivering “truth, beauty, inspiration, and meaning” to its fortunate witnesses.

Juan Lopez Corsair Dancers from Santa Monica College dance company Synapse performing in the piece “Falling Away” choreographed by Denise Leitner at the Broad Stage located on SMC’s Performing Arts Campus during the dress rehearsal on Wednesday, May 28.

dancers frozen in statuesque poses, dancer Kardale Holland escapes from his state of stagnation and moves sullenly from dancer to dancer, embracing them with grasping arms that long for comfort.

His face ridden with agonizing desperation, Holland seizes his motionless peers, and overcome with grief, he sobs into unresponsive arms. Violins play the melancholy tune that resonates between his weary heartstrings.

He spins tirelessly like a top with no direction, then collapses and returns to his feet several times as the surrounding dancers move in and out of consciousness. His bare, sweat-smeared chest reveals the breath of life pulsating through his exposed ribs.

At the performance’s closing, Holland

titled “Dawn Undersea,” which featured student choreographer and dancer Xiang Xu. A quick, rhythmic drum beat introduces the otherworldly sight of a being with balls of light for hands entrapped in a thick net.

Eerie, dissonant violins clash to the tune of the dancer’s struggle to free himself.

With each strike of the violin, Xu twists and turns like an entangled serpent. He slowly emerges from a hole in the enclosure, but the struggle is not over, as he continues to contort on the ground as if in the midst of an exorcism.

Dressed in nothing but skin-colored spandex shorts, Xu releases his inner primordial being and wiggles wildly to the equally eccentric music. His animalistic motions mimic those of birds, fish, and

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Juan Jopez Corsair Alex Perez, Xiang Xu, and Alex Ayonperforming in the piece “Relentless” choreographed

by Jae Lee at the Broad Stage located on SMC’s Performing Arts Campus during the dress rehearsal on Wednesday, May 28,

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