Lifestyle
Photo Story The SMC Symphony Orchestra play at the Broad.
West L.A.’s historic Apple Pan restaraunt. Page 8
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Flooring performance Page 12
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orsair C
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
www.thecorsaironline.com
Volume C, Issue 20
SMC President Exclusive By Nathan Gawronsky Staff Writer
state’s books. The affects of these decisions have led to many adjustments in state-run institutions such as SMC.
In an exclusive interview with The Corsair, President and Superintendent Dr. Chui L. Tsang met with Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Bue and Staff Writer Nathan Gawronsky for an hour to answer some very important questions about Santa Monica College’s budgetary issues. The interview took place a day after Dr. Tsang’s Town Hall meeting, in which he met with members of the faculty, student body and trustees to elucidate and talk about SMC’s future fiscal difficulties in light of California’s $26.2 billion deficit. This large deficit has forced lawmakers in Sacramento to make difficult decisions in order to balance the
NG: Please elaborate on salary cutbacks for faculty vs. administration. DT: I don’t know why that is on the book here. The board has given us a set of principles to make sure that the entire college shares in the reductions, and I think that is a very good principle for us to work on. Basically the state has asked us to downsize, and in this college, our leaders have said that we want that to spread across the college; we don’t want to pit one group against another… When we pit one group against Reynal GuillenCorsair another group, it’s destructive--it’s divisive--it does not President Chui L. Tsang discusses budget cuts with the Corsair
[See Tsang, page 3] news team.
Town hall meeting by the numbers Comparison of Projected Budget Cuts
16000 14000
Scenario A Governor’s Balanced Approach, $400 million cut, $110 Million increased fee revenue Scenario B All-Cuts, Prop. 98 protected, $620 million cut, $110 million increased fee revenue Scenario D All-Cuts, Prop. 98 Suspended, $1.085 billion cut, $280 millioni increased fee revenue
12000 10000 8000 6000 4000 2000
Net Apportionment cuts (in millions)
0 Scenario A Scenario B
Scenario D
Lost Headcount of full and part time students (in thousands)
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Santa Monica College’s President Tsang hosted a Town Hall meeting last Wednesday, March 23. The meeting was open to the public and took place in the Theatre Arts auditorium; the purpose of the meeting was to discuss next year’s projected budget dilemma, along with objectives and principles put forth by the Board of Reynal Guillen Corsair President Chui L. Tsang speaks to a capacity crowd at last weeks town hall meeting on SMC’s main campus.
Trustees. Dr. Tsang explained to those present that the essential plan to correct that state’s $26.2 billion dollar deficit, put forth by Governor Brown, is to relieve 50 percent of that deficit through budget cuts to state programs and services, and the other half through various tax extensions.
For the full story on last week’s town hall meeting visit our website by scanning this QR Code with any bar scanning smartphone application
The heat is on By John Stapleton IV Staff Writer
Santa Monica College students who attend classes at the Bundy satellite campus can finally stop bundling up on the way to school. As of last Thursday, the system that provides the building’s heat and hot water – which has been inactive for almost a week – has been restored, according to SMC’s mechanical systems and energy management supervisor Bruce Wyban. “The Bundy campus heat has been back on since Thursday,”
[See Bundy, page 3]
Inside News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-5
Photostory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Lifestyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9
A&E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-12
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March 30, 2011
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Help is near By Moa Axelsson Staff Writer Anxiety, depression, frustration, stress, fear, worthlessness, emotional apathy, family crisis, insecurities, drug abuse, embarrassment, over/under sleep, hopelessness, and the list of negative emotions circulating inside the minds of many college students continues. College is a time of new experiences, new people, new thoughts and ideas. Without enough strength, guidance, and support, college can be a life changing experience that is too much to handle. For some it is a fresh start, while others feel as if they have been thrown out in the world without an instruction manual or safety net. Severe mental illness is more common amongst college students now than it was a decade ago. According to the American Psychiatric Association 10 percent of students are diagnosed with depression and 30 percent report feeling overwhelmed most of the time. 85 percent of colleges report an increase in the past five years in students with severe psychological problems. 30 percent reported at least one suicide in the past year. At Santa Monica College, hundreds of students depend on the Psychological Services for their mental wellbeing. They see it as a safe point where they can go to seek advice in a time of personal crisis. Dr. Sandra Rowe has been
working as a psychologist at the SMC Psychological Services for three years, and she assures that the number of students seeking psychological guidance has increased substantially. “It has not only increased, it has more than doubled,” said Dr. Rowe. This semester is the busiest Dr. Rowe has ever seen. “Generally spring semester is more stressful to students than fall; anxiety levels are higher for a lot of reasons,” she said. “For example, people are getting acceptance letters from universities and the school year is coming to an end.” Located in Liberal Arts #110, the Psychological Services are open to all students with walk in hours and appointment scheduling. Dr. Rowe assures that all things being said are confidential, unless an immediate threat to someone’s safety is revealed. In that case, the campus police are brought in with helpful and legal ability to involuntarily hospitalize a student in risk of hurting his or herself. “Every year several students have suicidal crises. They are thinking about it and planning actively,” said Dr. Rowe, emphasizing on the importance of being available to students who are in this position. With a ratio of three full-time and two part-time staffs at a college with over 30,000 students, Rowe wishes they could spend more time with each student until referring them to appropriate off-campus treatment.
The numbers of students in need of psychological guidance are escalating, but the condition of students seeking this type of counseling doesn’t necessarily reflect the health of the average college student. The findings in a study made by the American Psychological Association in August 2010, suggest that students with severe emotional stress are getting better outreach, education, and support during childhood, which has made them more likely to attend college than in the past. SMC’s Psychological Services regularly organizes informative workshops on topics such as alcohol and drug use, test anxiety and stress management. They were also involved with the recent Domestic Violence Week, which arranged a variety of events around campus. Dr. Rowe encourages students in need to take advantage of the services by walking in to LA #110 or calling (310) 434 - 4503 to make an appointment. Walk-in sessions are also offered Monday -Thursday from 10 a.m. – noon, and 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. and 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. on Fridays. The walk-in sessions are based on a first come first serve basis and serves students who can’t wait for an appointment but need to see a psychologist right away. Faculty members are also welcomed to consult the Psychological Services in case they need advice on how to approach and encourage a distressed student to seek help.
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Seeking relief By DJ Davids Contributor Stemming from the multiple recent disasters in Japan, Santa Monica College is reaching out to its large Japanese population, many of whom have friends and family overseas. Dr. Chui L. Tsang, President and Superintendent of SMC sent a letter March 15th to the college community bringing attention to a round-up of everything happening on campus as well as options for people to contribute directly to relief efforts, including student club efforts and off-campus charities. The International Education Center has teamed up with the Japanese Consulate in Los Angeles to assist in locating friends and family of students hit by the disaster, and is currently hosting support groups hosted by SMC psychologists. Efforts to fundraise on campus are also in progress, including that of the Japanese English Language Association (J.E.L.A.). A Pray for Japan group has been out in full force taking donations as well as collecting prayers and comments that students across campus have transcribed. J.E.L.A is kicking off a fundraising event April 4-7 to raise money for victims in Japan. So far 11 clubs will participate in the event and lend their volunteers. J.E.L.A. club president Taka Glascock specified that the event would not just be about money. There will be an information booth as well as a booth to sell wristbands. “Money is always good,” said Glascock, “but I want to create some sort of bond at our school. A bond is creating peace and creating friendship.” With many people in Japan being limited to one or even no meals per day, even the smallest of donations have been greatly appreciated. If every SMC student donated 50 cents, over $15,000 could go to victims. Also, donations to one of many relief funds can now be sent via text message. Text REDCROSS to Red Cross at 90999, JAPAN to UNICEF at 864233, MED to International Medical Corps or the Salvation Army at 80888 to donate.
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March 30, 2011
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President Tsang addresses budget issues [Tsang, from page 1] get us to the solution, and it only serves to damage the institution. NG: Which courses, programs, and departments will experience the biggest cuts? DT: We in our current discussion within the college, faculty and trustees have not singled out any program. The state has emphasized that we need to go back to more of a reduced core, and the core is defined as transfer, basic skills and career in technical education. The other activities they deem as less important at this time of rationed education; so, we need to take a look at that. There are other proposals out there. For example, the legislative analysts have
NG: How will financial aid be affected if students can’t repeat courses? DT: These are some of the questions that probably need to be sorted out through regulations if these restrictions are put into place. There are a number of questions here. If a student is not allowed to repeat a course, is there ability for us to serve that student in any other capacity? So, to have the ability to serve you, I have the ability to charge you, to charge a student
whether we’re going to hire a portion of that 20, all 20 of them, or not hire anyone at all. Because the money that we spend here, we’re going to have to take it away from somewhere else. NG: Principle J [avoid layoffs of permanent employees. Seek salary freezes, furloughs, salary reductions, and other temporary or ongoing adjustments], which you put forward yesterday, can we foresee how many part time employees might be cut? DT: We don’t know, because we don’t know what the numbers are. We don’t know because we have a moving target at this time—
NG: But even in a worst case scenario? DT: No—there are many moving parts here. You have this whole budget here. If we have salary freezes, we save some money. If come up with a proposal that we have furloughs, we save money, there are certain courses that they and if we save money there we will not fund anymore, notably they don’t have to lay off. There are have singled out athletics, activity all these moving parts. There are courses, so called recreational salary freezes, furloughs, and courses that they will actually not salary reductions. They’re all fund anymore. They recommend there be no funding for those. They Reynal Guillen Corsair collective bargaining items. So, we also recommend that students with SMC President Dr. Chui L. Tsang discusses possible budget cut scenarios with Corsair staff Nathan Gawronsky need to sit down and talk to the different groups about that. But more than 90 units should go back and Jonathan Bue in an exclusive sit-down interview. the principle is that let’s not try to in the line or they should not be able lay off because that’s permanent, to get college education in the same for the fee for the cost of education. At this point, and layoffs are pretty permanent, and in this time way that they’ve gotten before. They’ve also proposed community colleges do not have the authority to do that and age when we lay somebody off, whether it’s repeatability restrictions. We have students who are with resident students. I cannot charge you, Jonathan, faculty, a classified, or a manager, it’s very hard to taking classes over and over again, so they’re saying you a certain amount for a course that you want to take at get another job. We as a family, by espousing this can’t do that anymore so that we can make more seats a cost of the course like a UC extension program. We principle here, the Board of Trustees said let’s try to available in the other classes or for other students. So don’t have the authority. But that’s exactly what we’re keep the jobs as much as possible. all of these are being talked about, and we are waiting to see if we get a clearer direction from the chancellor’s working with the state on—to seek that authority right now. And that should address that. So, now to answer NG: In principle M, you mention planning office as well as from our legislators. your question, in short is that no, at this point, because to improve student success outcomes, but NG: Please elaborate on the specifics of we won’t be able to serve that student in that same how will that be achieved if students can’t international students: What programs will be course again. However, if we do have that authority to repeat courses? How can that be achieved by offered to them? Will they be offered special offer an extension program, than any students in that reducing available courses and increasing extension program can qualify for state and federal class sizes? priorities over regular students? DT: That’s a tough challenge for us. But I think that DT: No. International students do not have priority aids. what is important is that we want to make sure that over regular students, and that’s a very important NG: Clarify what will happen to the 20 new the quality of the classes that we’re offering are intact. principle. We want to take care of them, because they faculty seats if the budget plan doesn’t pass. It’s important, and we want to make sure that the do need to have the 12 units, so what we have done if Is there a contingency plan, and if so, what is supportive services are intact as much as possible. we’ve started this contract education—collaboration it? You’ve said publicly that 20 new seats will To a certain point that you can increase the numbers, with entities outside, which we are authorized to do happen, so are those an ironclad guarantee? we just don’t have the support anymore to make under the state law, so they can fulfill their 12 units. It’s DT: That’s my commitment to the faculty that we sure that everything is running to the benefit of the a cumbersome way of working that we hope will be able have allocated slots for 20 positions. And we’re going students anymore. So those are the really important to address through some other ways, but it’s important, through the process. When we were looking through points. If we can have extension programs, we can as I’ve explained yesterday that for the nature of the the budget at the time with the governor’s proposal, help with the completion rate and graduation rate programs we have here, Santa Monica is Santa Monica I said we’re going to go with that. Now, it would be of the students. That’s important. That is part of the because of this special blend of the really cosmopolitan foolhardy for us to say that this is defi nitely going to student success. All of these things that we’re doing, profile of the student body. People are attracted here because of that, students come here because they want go through, come hell or high water, alright? We need you know, the connections we have with the outside to take advantage of that, and the international students to be flexible about these things, so depending on what support, the mentors, the businesses that provide come here because of that. So, we want to continue with the state budget finally shakes out we’re going to have internship programs, all of these we can continue to to make a decision on what we’re going to do about it; work on, and we don’t want these to lag off. that.
Bundy Campus is bringing the heat [Bundy, from page 1]
Wyban said. The main gas lines which used to keep the campus heating systems operational were damaged last Saturday, March 19, when a car accident on Bundy Drive left extensive damage to the exposed parts of the system located near the road where the accident occurred. Since then, students have been layering up to attend classes there, especially during the recent unseasonably cold weather. Faculty members have taken even greater measures, some of them bringing space heaters into their workspaces to try to combat the cold left by the crippled gas mains. Although the last couple weeks have been somewhat more uncomfortable for some, other students confessed
to hardly noticing the change in temperature, expressing little concern for the Bundy heating system failure. Failure, however, is something that Wyban and the Southern California Gas Company would not tolerate, repairing the damaged system well ahead of schedule. During a Corsair interview last week, Wyban had hoped that reconstruction work would be completed by Monday, March 21. He had reservations, however, about the extent of the damage, and prioritized student safety over expedient heating restoration. Worries were put to rest, however, when the repairs were completed just days later than expected. “The repairs were made and the switch was flipped around two ‘o’clock on Thursday,” Wyban said.
John Stapleton IV Corsair Workers diligently aim to repair gas line on Bundy Campus last Thursday, March 24.
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March 30, 2011
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Public Broadcasting Act is still gold By Carla Wilson Staff Writer The thirst some Republicans have for the blood of public broadcasting should make every American shudder. If the new appropriations bill HR68 proposed by some members of Congress passes it could mean the end of community based media for millions of Americans. When the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 was signed into law by then President Lyndon B. Johnson it was, in his words, “to enrich a man’s spirit.” Educational programs, art and music content were virtually non-existent in commercial media at that time. It was decided then that it was imperative for the nation to have a foundation of richness that went beyond just reporting on the news of the day; that men, women and children should have access to programs that gave them balance in their lives. The Public Broadcasting Act was a precursor that led to the creation of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which allocates grants to public television and radio stations like KCET, KCRW, and many others across the U.S. for non ad-supported content, and to give local communities a voice. Meaning, General Electric or any
other major advertisers basically endow various Network, local TV and radio stations with corporate advertising dollars only with corporate interests in mind. What is at stake now with this bill before Congress is the fundamental right for individuals to choose where and how they receive information within the broadcast medium. Although some politicians would have us believe this right is fluid, what they fail to realize is that if they remove the plug, quality programming will simply swirl down the proverbial drain. Most commercial stations don’t invest in what goes on in the community unless it is deemed newsworthy on the “if it bleeds it leads” scale. So, if we lose local coverage of things like power outages, local elections or even city council meetings, we lose the things ordinary people are connected to, and what matters to them most. “The smaller stations, where 25 to 30 percent of their budgets are made up of these CPB grants, they would really, really be hurt,” said Jennifer
Ferro, General Manager at KCRW. “They wouldn’t be able to provide any local coverage whatsoever.” CPB is also a supporter of minoritybased media that promotes diversity in television and radio, something clearly lacking in today’s celebrity and politically driven broadcast climate. Even broadcasters like PBS could see their funding cut and thereby lose invaluable programs like Frontline and Nova. National Public Radio which is syndicated across the U.S. and has been made the scapegoat for all things that are supposedly wrong with “liberal media” are also on the chopping block. The fact that listeners of NPR are made up of a cross section of the population that includes more than just a bunch of left-leaning commies doesn’t carry much weight for politicians, motivated mostly by career objectives, who want to dim the lights of public broadcasters. Millions of Americans would be shut out of balanced, fact-based news reporting by these and other stations that are committed to superior
Can Americans really afford to only get information from corporate sponsored commerical media sources?
programming. Free Press, a nonprofit that promotes media reform, education and advocacy, warns of the danger of cutting funding to broadcasters like NPR and PBS. In one of their recent press releases Free Press notes: “For some communities, local NPR and PBS stations are the only source of serious reporting. They also employ thousands of journalists at a time when commercial newsrooms are shedding jobs.” Can Americans really afford to only get information from corporate sponsored commercial media sources? That is the question that remains before us while a bill that can essentially wipe local community based coverage of news, events and educational programs off the map sits in Congress, waiting for approval from individuals who clearly don’t have the public’s interest at heart. “[Local stations] are usually providing news and information to areas that commercial media has long since forgotten,” Ferro says. “And if the ayes have it we will lose more than just Bert and Ernie, we will lose our most valuable community asset; our voice.” Check out www.cpb.org to learn more about how public broadcasting funding serves your community.
Arts deserve their equal chance By Nayla Paschoa Staff Writer According to the results of a California state school’s survey on last year’s budget cuts, published at the California Department of Education website, there was a 48 percent cut in the art, music, and drama departments. Unfortunately, the arts tend to come to mind when cuts must be made. All right “budget cutters,” before you even glance towards the arts department, hear me out. This is Santa Monica College. We are in extremely close proximity to Hollywood, a world renowned home of film, art, and entertainment. Our town attracts people from all over the world because of the arts, so it’s safe to say the arts have just as much a right to be here as other Santa Monica College classes. Have you checked the fee non-residents have to pay on top of tuition? The cultural diversity present at SMC not only makes our school unique, but it brings money to its pockets. And why do international students come to Los Angeles? For the arts! SMC’s Dance Department Chair, Professor Judith Douglas, said the art programs are what give the United States a unique edge. “Many international students study in the U.S. to learn to become creative and imaginative thinkers,” Douglas said. “The importance of the arts is vast in the scope of learning,” Douglas said. “While the
sciences teach to explain the world around us,” she said, “the arts function to help us become creative and critical thinkers.” She also said to keep in mind that to transfer, all students have humanities requirements to fulfill. “If cuts must be made, they should be made equitably, not just selecting certain areas,” said Douglas. You would think Douglas feels that way because she is the chair of an art-related department, however, SMC’s biology professor, and currently one of the acting chairs of SMC’s science department, Lucy Kluckhohn Jones, said that the arts actually empower science. “I think when we lose art and music both, we lose more than the disciplines themselves,” Kluckhohn said. She said the creativity these disciplines bring is crucial to science. “It’s no accident that there are art pictures on the covers of the Journals of the American Medical Association, JAMA,” said Kluckhohn. “I certainly support keeping both the arts and the music, and hopefully making cuts through attrition more than anything else,” said Kluckhohn. Dance, Theater, or Illustration are just as much majors for some students as Biology is for others. Sure, UCLA is known for its science and medical programs, but they also have great arts programs; so do LMU and USC. There are many students who chose to attend SMC because of the promise of an art-related transfer program
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to one of these schools. For example, SMC Theater major Arturo Meneses, 20, said he would have to switch schools if the theater program at SMC is eliminated. “As it is now, it’s really hard to actually get a class that fits
your schedule, cause there’s less teachers actually teaching it at available times,” Meneses said. If our arts programs are eliminated, feel free to be the one to deliver the news to students like Meneses. Arts can bring money to our
school in creative ways, such as putting out performances and displays, and other ideas “thinking outside the box” can bring. Lets make history and choose to empower the arts instead, thus bringing light and color to our dark times.
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U.S. showing signs of decline By Nathan Gawronsky Staff Writer Let’s not mince words. The challenges facing us in the 21st century are some of the most significant problems our country has ever reckoned with. 2011 is quickly proving to become another year filled with calamity and social stagnation. While Arabs in North Africa and the Middle East are day-in and day-out risking their lives for liberty and justice, often with perilous consequences, we in North America are drowning in decadence and poverty, and doing far too little to change it. As the national debt takes on unprecedented proportions (at the moment $14 Trillion), our elected officials tax the already struggling middle class with an enthusiastic abandon. To add insult to injury, the wealthiest corporations and financial institutions in the land are not only often taxed less, but in some cases earn billions in tax credits on top of their halcyon revenues. Never mind our endless wars, or the climbing unemployment rates, or the unsustainable healthcare system based on the “don’t get sick plan.” The tragedy faced today is how this is largely considered standard—just business and politics as usual. Our present day society in many
ways resembles 19th century China during the fall of the Qing dynasty. The Chinese empire had vast influence, from India to Eastern Russia. But with the introduction of opium brought by English trade ships, the once mighty empire was brought to its knees. Our opiate takes on many different forms. Oil, television, debt, and pharmaceuticals. Like bona fide addicts, we see our poison not as the sinister and foreign element enslaving us, but as the prescription holding our society and lives together. The rise and fall of nations and empires is a very real fact, and America is scheduled for a fundamentally rude awakening. As fervent and zealous proponents of this ideology are today, it amounts to nothing but base nationalism, a tell tale sign of a nation dying from the inside out. Bob Herbert, a New York Times oped columnist for 18 years, wrote his last column last week on March 25. In “Losing Our Way,” he poignantly illustrates the systemic failure of the present day United States. “The U.S. has not just misplaced its priorities. When the most powerful country ever to inhabit the earth finds it so easy to plunge into the horror of warfare but almost impossible to find adequate work for its people or to properly educate its young, it has lost its way entirely.” Living for decades under brutal
repression and authoritarian rule, the vast populations of young and old in North Africa and the Middle East have evidently realized that the only way to earn the liberty, justice and sovereignty that they’ve for so many years been deprived of is to organize, band together and seize it, in some cases we hope peacefully, but in most cases and with no other choice—through violence. We, on the other hand, with so many manifold problems, with such a wide and seemingly unbridgeable gap between the wealthy and the poor, what do we do? Millions stare transfixed at Facebook and Twitter, not to keep informed with revolutions, but to keep up to date with the frivolity of Charlie Sheen and Britney Spears. Millions tune in to their televisions not to monitor the news, CSPAN and the goingson of government, but to gaze with a comatose senselessness at Jersey Shore and Dancing with the Stars. Life shouldn’t have to be all about dire seriousness; truthfully, human beings need a respite from the world and all of its endless troubles. But to the extent that we have paved the way towards worshipping entertainment and dissipation as a complete and virtuous way of life, casting aside all the values and principles that have made us great and exceptional, we’ve created an Achilles’ heel; or in other words, we’re permanently distracted.
Allied attack: too risky a mission By Nathan Gawronsky Staff Writer Weeks ago, I wrote an opinion piece concerning Libya and its prominence as an international issue. Furthermore, I indicted my peers who bury their heads in the proverbial sand. If you don’t wish to recognize and take responsibility for the obvious truth that our culture is indolent and clueless, you probably never will. For a majority of people in America, politics equates to something that’s vastly tiresome. Cynical and uninformed, it’s not at all uncommon to run into your average Tom, Dick, or Harry who not only aren’t registered voters, but who probably don’t even know when Election Day is. Well, to those of you who think your vote—or rather your voice—has no consequence in this world, that very thinking has serious consequences; effects that reach out far beyond your insular existence. Colonel Muammar El Kadafi, whom President Reagan referred to as “the mad dog of the Middle East,” has for 42 uninterrupted years served his country as president, thief, and slaughterer of his own people. He has ruled with insolence and reckless disregard for
international rule of law. That is, until now. But while you may be thinking that it’s a good and perfectly noble pursuit for the United States, France, Britain, and 12 other NATO and Arab League countries to enforce a United Nations approved no-fly zone, this decision is deeply perplexing. On the one hand, the moral obligation to save lives from a murderous butcher seems obvious. But on that basis, wouldn’t the Iraq War be completely justified? Saddam Hussein was just as bad, if not worse than Kadafi could have ever aspired to be. Plus, as long as we’re saving lives from dictators who have lost all legitimacy to rule, why are we turning a blind eye to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Syria, and Yemen? It is not only hypocritical, but also profoundly immoral for us to demand that the rule of law be upheld in countries we view as being ruled by enemies, but to defer those very values in countries where we find our friends. Casting all moral obligations and concerns aside, one cannot help but notice how uncertain this skirmish’s outcome can be. According to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, “There are any number of possible outcomes here, and no one is in a position to predict them.”
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While President Obama has promised not to deliver any of our troops to Libyan soil, it’s unrealistic to make that sort of a promise when Gates himself acknowledges just how uncertain this Libyan attack is. It is foolish for our Commander– in-Chief to lead our resources and, potentially our military, into yet another Muslim conflict. If our job was to help establish and enforce a no-fly zone, then we’ve done our job, and it’s now time to relinquish the job to NATO or the Arab League. We need to focus on rebuilding our own country, not helping a rag tag group of rebels build their own, and especially by force. We armed the Afghanis in the 80’s fighting for independence from Soviet conquest, and look how that turned out. By remaining mostly silent, the American public allows our elected officials to run free-reign into foolishness, injudicious half-baked endeavors. While our intentions may seem purely humanitarian, nearly all of our military missions are based around the premise of us being world police. We need to get out of Libya sooner rather than later, before we let another Iraq or Afghanistan happen. It’s just something we cannot afford.
Spring 2011 Staff Jonathan Bue Guiliana Dakdouk John Stapleton IV Sal Guerra Brian White Anisa El-Khouri Stephanie Forshee Vera Hughes Miles Arnold Neelofer Lodhy Ayla Pound Alessandra Catanese
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We’ve Got Issues An eye opening explanation for why Donald Trump continuously attempts to expose alleged “shortcomings” of President Barack Obama By Tim Morse Staff Writer Donald Trump, for years a symbol of capitalism gone mad, has recently made some controversial (albeit systematic) comments about President Barack Obama regarding his presidential eligibility. Last week, Trump utilized an appearance on The View to pledge loyalty to the “birther” movement. He said, “If you go back to my first grade, my kindergarten, people remember me. Nobody from those early years remember him [Obama]. ” Trump went on to say, “There’s something on that birth certificate he doesn’t like.” Although this is most assuredly just a ploy with the ultimate goal of a Trump 2012 ticket, it is an irresponsible statement for someone with his stature and influence to make. And as cold and alienating as Mr. Trump is, he’s going to need every vote he can get in 2012 if indeed he does run. Trump is no stranger to ruffling feathers, however, as would suggest the bid he put in to try and thwart the efforts to build what some people call the “Ground Zero Mosque,” (although Muslim community center is much more accurate) In another moment of sheer arrogance Trump once said, “All of the women on The Apprentice flirted with me - consciously or unconsciously. That’s to be expected.” Rush Limbaugh unsurprisingly commended Trump for his efforts to demand Obama show his birth certificate, saying, “Trump is performing a valuable service.” What Rush Limbaugh calls a “valuable service,” I call horse crap. President Obama should not have to be explicit when it comes to his origin in the United States. It is implied that the President of the United States meets the criteria before assuming office, one of the criterion being that you must be a natural born citizen. I’m not sure if Trump, Limbaugh, and the rest of the “birthers” think that Obama somehow managed to bypass this requirement, but the fact remains that people still don’t trust him. And they’re not willing to trust him regardless, which brings us to the elephant in the room. Does this boil down to a matter of race? Trump has and will continue to vehemently deny that this has anything to do with race, but Whoopi Goldberg makes a legitimate point. “I’ve never heard any white President asked to be shown the birth certificate,” Whoopi retorted to Trump when he was on The View. Whoopi is right, even though I’m certain every President has at some point had to present a birth certificate; whether or not they do has never entered the public discussion until an African-American took office. Surely that is not just a coincidence. Whether Trump and the birthers are being deliberately xenophobic, or they’re merely exposing a xenophobic law for what it is, their intentions are neither. Their intentions, rather, are to expose an honest man for what he is not, deprive him of what he achieved legitimately, and turn back the hands of progress. Fellow complaints and concerns from SMC students are welcomed and encouraged. Send to corsair.opinionpage@gmail.com!
Reporters Alexandra Ahneman,Zuleima Alvarado, Nisha Anais, Miles Arnold, Jonathan Bue, Alessandra Catanese, Emma Dantoft, Kevin Duncan, Alvaro Escalante, Jennifer Ferrada, Stephanie Forshee, Khalil Grier, Cyndi Gomez, Wendy Gonzalez, Matt Gottesman, Zineb Hafiz, Danny Henson, Vaimiti Herlaud, Vera Hughes, Sean Hunt, Alexandra Lazar, Neelofer Lodhy, Ariana Masters, Cristina Maxwell, Sarah McIntosh, Jonathan Mendoza, Michael Mendoza, Brandon Minikwu, Natalie Miltcharek, Julie Newsome, Wendy Ng, Ayla Pound, Adam Rubin, Laysa Quintero, Michael Santana, Stephanie Sommer, Ashli Townsend, Vienna Urias, Lauren Walsh
Photographers Anisa El-Khouri, Luana Kasahara, Albany Katz, Danyale Kotur, Konstantin Marowitz, Ariana Masters George Mikhail, Ted Olsson, Michelle Ponder, Geraldine Plachart, Laysa Quintero, Alex Rogers, Jarrad Rosson, Alex Soltes, Sara Stark, Sammy Solimon
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March 30, 2011
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Movements with
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Lillie Grossman Contributeor Santa Monica’s Symphony Orchestra performed Beethoven’s Symphony #6 on Sunday at The Performing Arts Center at 4 p.m. Dr.James Martin conducted the orchestra which was comprised of professional musicans, members of the community and SMC students.
An audience member records Santa Monica’s Symphony Orchestra on a mobile phone as they performed Beethoven’s sixth. Jessica Nicol Corsair
A violinist eloquently plays the section piece during the symphony. Jessica Nicol Corsair
By Jon Bue Editor-in-Chief Hundreds of students and community members flocked to the 499-seat state of the art Broad Stage Theater in Santa Monica to enjoy a taste in classical music with the performance of Beethoven’s 6th Symphony, the Pastoral. The symphony, which started 10 minutes late to accommodate the many people still in line outside,handed out cards to Santa Monica College students who needed to get proof of attendance credit for their classes. Beethoven’s 6th symphony, which has been overshadowed by the popular and well-known 5th symphony, is a more demure and relaxing set. As the music starts the instruments blend together with the power to transform you to a 19th century setting in Europe. The piece exudes a sense of being outdoors and running in pastoral fields with greenery and wooded landscapes. The musicians while seated throughout the performance, were very animated in their precise hand movements and accuracy, which makes watching something sedentary interesting.
The orchestra on display is actually a music class that meets once a week for 3 hours of practice and has performances at least once a semester. About seven rehearsals are the norm in order to be fully ready for a performance. An audition is required for everyone, some coming with professional experience, while others have more limited experience. “If they have good technique there is a lot they can do,” said James Martin, the director of the SMC Symphony. The symphony orchestra currently has around 60 members, 25 being SMC students, and the remaining members being of the community. “With budget cuts looming for the arts the symphony so far has seemed to survive. We are in pretty good shape, however, with the budget cuts we lose some classes each semester,” said Martin. Meg Linker-Estes, the principal bassoon player and a professional musician felt the SMC orchestra offered students a good opportunity. “A nice thing about the orchestra is that it has a good mix of professional musicians as well as music teachers,” said Estes.
Lillie Grossman Contributor
Maestro, Dr. James Martin, instructs the orchestra through the symphony.
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With budget cuts looming for the arts the symphony so far has seemed to survive
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Jessica Nicol Corsair
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Facing fear in the name of science
George Mikhail Corsair Erika (right) and her daughter Lili Anaya examine the structure of the brain at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. The exhibit displayed the various effects that fear can have on the body.
By Cathy Arias Staff Writer Fear. We may or may not realize it, but the dark emotion haunts us everyday: We fear the traffic on Pico Boulevard, not affording rent this month, facing your significant other about transferring to a school across the country next fall, terrorism, an apocalypse, chem-trails, air-borne diseases, spiders, snakes, and sailing through the air in an airplane. The list seems absolutely endless. It is often synonymous with weakness and a main contributor to the overall deterioration of wellness. We often forget, however, that fear has been deeply rooted within our genetic make-up for good reasons. A traveling exhibit developed four years ago by the California Science Center, “Goosebumps! The Science of Fear,”
explores the many characteristics of fear, presenting visitors with the option to face their fears or learn to cope with them first. Though that is a luxury only available to museum goers, more research has been done on fear than any other emotion, allowing us to better understand its complexity. All fears fall into three categories: those that are innate, like loud noises and falling, those that are gained and learned through personal experience, and those that are remained fears, those that are not innate but easily learned. Some of them (mostly our innate fears) are logical, yet when fears spiral into obsessions and manifest into phobias, they can take over a person’s life. Phobias like genuphobia (the fear of knees) and aurophobia (the fear of gold) can seem silly to most, yet those affected with them face major obstacles in
leading a normal, happy life. Fear triggers messages to alert the body to increase blood pressure, secrete a layer of sweat, increase respiration rates, and dilate pupils, allowing for a quick getaway or a feisty confrontation. Scary situations cause temporary symptoms, but also affect memories, sometimes unfortunately a more permanent occurrence. “Because of a particular experience, your nervous system changes and you’re forever a different person. That was, and is, an amazing thing to me,” said Dr. Michael Fanselow, Ph.D, Professor of Behavior and Learning and the University of California, Los Angeles. The findings reflect human behavior after a traumatic experience has occurred, as illustrated by the exhibit. According to Dr. Fanselow, if a person experiences a fearful occurrence, they are
very likely to remember it. However, if the calamity involves extreme emotion, it may result in a forgotten one. There are dangers to long periods of stress as well as intense short ones, but it seems as though the media, entertainment, and other means of pop-culture fuel what can be meaningless fears into what sociologist’s call “moral panics,” instilling unnecessary anxiety in the public. Coping methods such as seeking professional treatment, practicing breathing techniques, and even sometimes medication can significantly reduce the risk of harmful effects of fear. So while conquering our fears may not be easy, learning to cope with them can be much more manageable, allowing for the inevitable presence of fear to be tolerable and dealt with accordingly.
A slice of heaven
Jeff Cote Corsair Local regulars leave after a late dinner at the Apple Pan in Westwood, CA.
By Juan Lopez Staff Writer Outside of a small, cottage-type building with old, dark green double doors, a line begins to form well over a half hour before the Apple Pan doors are set to open at exactly 11 a.m. The Apple Pan has remained in the same condition for over 63 years. It is a place almost frozen in time where there is an unspoken protocol by which everyone inside is operating, and diners sit at a long, U-shaped counter Behind the counter, the servers dash around, cleaning up after guests at the counter to make the transition between groups easier, but which should by no means be mistaken for rushing customers out the door. The place is straightforward, no nonsense, and cash only. It is not cheap, but is average restaurant price in a diner environment. The hickory burger seems plain at first, and kind of small compared to other burger joints. Surprisingly though, The Apple Pan’s burgers use high quality cuts of meat. “We put a thick chunk of lettuce, and even though right now it’s more
expensive, we still use the same amount,” said cook Lupe Gomez. The simplified menu at the Apple Pan consists of a steak burger, a hickory burger, egg or tuna salad, ham, grilled cheese, and fries. Each sandwich gets their fair share of accolades among the present patrons, but one thing that each person holds in higher regard is their pies. Made fresh every day, their pies vary from their namesake from apple to pecan, coconut cream, boysenberry, and their highly praised banana cream pie. “Everything’s always been prepared fresh,” said Gomez, when asked what the key is to the Apple Pan’s favor with diners. The waiters and cooks, like the loyal customers, have been with the Apple Pan for as long as 20 to 50 years. “I know fathers and kids since they’re little – see those kids?” said Gomez as two toddlers run and play around the line in the front, “If I’m still here, [when they grow up] I’m going to still see them.” For the week of its 60th anniversary, The Apple Pan brought in a jukebox and gave out free apple pie a la mode. The Apple Pan celebrates its 64th anniversary April 11th.
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“In a relationship, when the sex starts to decrease, what does that mean?”
By John Stapleton IV Web Editor There is a somewhat misguided assumption in the college-aged populace that if a guy in a relationship begins showing less signs of sexual interest – if he becomes bored with sex, or initiates it less frequently, or simply quits it all together – that there is something sinister afoot. This is an unfortunate irony, that a man’s sex drive is his curse while he is single (“all men want is sex”) and somehow the only way to gauge his emotional investment when he’s not (“all men want is sex – so why doesn’t he want me?”). Allow me to rock the very foundation of this supposed fact: sometimes, sex is not all men want. Sometimes, we’ve got shit on our minds and you’re really not all that inspiring and your constant need for validation is actually perpetuating our disdain for satisfying you in any kind of romantic way. That isn’t to say that it’s over or anything. But sometimes, guys really just have other things on the brain – and that doesn’t always mean another woman. Oh, sure, you can try fancy outfits and a stripper pole and by bringing in your best friend – whatever you’re willing to put on the one-nightstand – but if a man’s mojo is switched off, just give it some time. Work issues, family troubles, or a general
malaise can cause sex-postacies that By Alessandra Catanese shouldn’t cause a girl to Multimedia Editor panic. You know those nights where you “have a For girls, not having an urge to have sex headache” and you’d rather is just as normal as having to pee. We go eat a tub of ice cream through phases in a relationship where and watch sex is a high priority, like the beginning movies all “Puppy Love” stage. However, night? Guys have the same these phases, like all phases, do kind of days (except, being not last. You will probably constructive, men usually have the most consecutive Each week we will take on new hobbies sex at the beginning of be accepting questions or extra assignments your relationship, and for our relationship, and at work or a few more then it starts to decrease love advice column. Please rounds with the guys on as you two get used to a send your questions to the way home). relationship routine. The corsair.website@gmail. Emphasis on DAYS. If more you see each other, com this is something that goes the more that excitement on for weeks at a time, let’s starts to fade. be real: he’s having sex with For guys, this may seem like a something. depressing time, but instead, think of I would say to error on the side of caution it as a time for you two to grow emotionally. before accusation – if a guy is going Just because you started having less sex through something so rough that sex of all doesn’t mean its getting worse. In fact, the things becomes a chore, being closer you two get emotionally, henpecked for it certainly won’t the better the sex will be. help revive any intimacy. Guys: in these circumstances, The bottom line is: they don’t call it do not put yourself first. Even if you have a spark for nothing – that first surge of the most giving, selfless girlfriend in the intimacy isn’t permanent. Relax. Take entire world, sex is something you should some time to support instead of suspect, and be giving and sharing with each other. If you that fire will be roaring in the bedroom in no can make her feel special, she will have a time. much stronger urge to make you feel special,
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and the result can be phenomenal. Great sex is a result of clear communication, openness, and interest. If you have all three, over time you two will learn how to please each other in ways no one else has been able to before. As for the question, there are many reasons why a girl may not be “in the mood.” It could be a busy day, or a bad day, or maybe she is PMS-ing; none of these are your fault. You should remember that a girl not being in the mood usually has nothing to do with you. Try not to take it personally. Girls, biologically, do not have as high a sex drive as guys do, and that’s just about it. Do not be confused; this does not mean we don’t want sex or aren’t ever horny. This simply means it hasn’t crossed our minds yet. A majority of the time, it is up to the guy to initiate sex, and make his needs clear in a respectful and appropriate way. Having good, strong communication in a relationship will really benefit you both at a time like this. If you are worried something might be wrong, you should be able to talk to her about it; hence communication being an important component of your relationship. Is she losing interest in you or are you not showing enough interest in her? Ask yourself questions like this first, then ask her. If there’s a problem, it will be obvious, and if she’s the right girl, you two should be able to work it out.
Porn obtains a new domain By Raven Wadley-Wright Staff Writer The porn industry is a multi-billion dollar moneymaker that will soon embrace a big change. On March 14, 2011 the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) stamped its approval of a new domain name change with “Triple X” for online porn websites.For the frequent pornography watcher, this will make it easier to track down online sites when searching for something to create a spark in their online sexual adventures. Yet to the online porn industry isn’t pleased with ICANN’s decision, mainly due to existing porn sites with the common domain name .com or .net. Existing sites will be forced to register their sister domain names ending in .xxx to prevent other businesses from using them. According to the Los Angeles Times, since the approval, thousands of businesses have
requested to reserve more than 20,000 domain names ending in the new suffix. The Florida–based corporation ICM Registry will sell the domain names to adult–content websites. “For the first time, there will be a clearly defined web address for adult entertainment, out of the reach of minors and as free as possible from fraud or malicious computer viruses,” said ICM Chief Executive Stuart Lawle in a statement. “With the new domain name, it makes it easier to monitor because when people see Triple X, they associate it with sexual material, something on the realm of pornographic,” said accounting major Kenneth Collins. “It’s a smart idea because it distinguishes porn sites from others, which decreases children’s access to view the content.” Even though the law doesn’t require websites with sexual content to use the new suffix, it just makes it easier for pornographic lovers to find their favorite
John Stapleton IV Corsair Pornography websites will now use the domain designaition “.xxx” in place of the familiar “.com” to establish themselves as adult-oriented websites.
porn sites with ease as well as prevents children from finding them easily. Whether it provides a positive impact or
negative one, it is clearly evident that the porn industry is about to experience a big change.
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“Brandino” brings jazz to smc By Nathan Gawronsky Staff Writer
Michelle Ponder Corsair Kevin “Brandino” Brandon jazzes out on his bass with his accompanying quintet on Friday, March 25 at the Edye Second Space at the Performing Arts Center in Santa Monica, Calif.
Students and fans of jazz at Santa Monica College honored a special musical guest on Friday, March 25th at The Edye Second Space in the Performing Arts Center. Kevin “Brandino” Brandon is what one would call a musician’s musician. An accomplished and respected bassist who began playing from the age of nine, he has been an instrumental figure in some of the most critically acclaimed pop albums of recent years; albums like Outkast’s Speakerboxxx/The Love Below and Justin Timberlake’s FutureSex/LoveSounds have earned Brandon five out of the seven Grammys currently under his belt. Brandon has worked closely with renowned artists and groups like Michael Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Richard Ashcroft and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. The Kevin Brandon Quintet played two inspiring sets in the intimate Edye Second Space. Playing with Brandon’s five string double bass were Kamasi Washington on tenor saxophone, William Artope on trumpet, Roy McCurdy on drums and Andy Langham on piano. They have been playing together since February, 2011. As the musicians took their places, Kevin, who limps due to “congenital club feet and a hip displacement,” according to his website, approached a microphone set to about his kneecap.“I know I’m short—but I ain’t that short!” he said. After a quick adjustment from stage crew, he said, “Hello. My name is Brandino, and these are my friends.” Musically, the show was a medley of sounds from different eras of jazz and popular music. The Quintet began with “Instrumental Hip-Hop,” by Ryan Porter and “I Can’t Help It,” by Michael Jackson. The men quickly showcased their skills to the
audience. Artope and Washington are both highly skilled horn players, and their trumpet and saxophone were a delight. Each of the musicians, particularly Brandon and McCurdy, are prodigious soloists, who can run through chord changes with blazing fast speed. The highlights of the evening had to be their tributes to the revolutionary jazz styles of bebop and modal jazz. Playing “Where is the World Going?” an original composition by Brandon, and Sonny Rollins’ “Oleo,” the men jammed exceptionally. Each man resonated with flashes of sounds reminiscent of bebop legends of the past; names like Davis, Coltrane, Roach and Mingus come to mind. The atmosphere was akin to a 50s jam session at the famous Birdland. Nothing felt forced, but rather fluid and relaxed. With each solo, the audience broke into spontaneous applause. To expand the musical horizons of the show, Mr. Brandon also called onto the stage DJ Teddy Loc and a dancer from China named Dava Liu. For what could be described as a brief interlude between two songs, they put on a small hip hop show with Liu break dancing and Brandon’s bass playing in top form. Kevin Brandon’s Quintet is proof that jazz is not a dead art form, but still very much alive and exploring new boundaries. Nelly Melamed, a 19 year old Music 33 student said, “This is the first time I’ve ever seen a live jazz show, and I really liked it!” Similarly, Sean Park, 25 years old and from the same class as Melamed said, “I’ve never been to this kind of a concert, but this was incredible.” Brandon, who has family roots in New Orleans, has been a lifelong fan of jazz. He described his first significant musical experience. “I saw Louis Armstrong when I was 4 years old,” he said. “Jazz is in my DNA. It’s self expression without boundaries.”
The Str okes return with their fifth studio album By Kevin Duncan Staff Writer The Strokes are back from hibernation after a 5 year sabbatical with their fourth studio album Angles. This is their first album since 2006´s release of First Impressions of Earth. “Under Cover of Darkness,” the first single off the album, has been a success so far with Strokes fans as it was performed recently on “Saturday Night Live” March 5, 2011. Produced by Joe Chiccarelli, Angles, for those who didn’t download the album, shows the genius of the Strokes. Of course it’s not on the level of their groundbreaking album Is This It?, but it’s excellent nonetheless. There are some songs that aren’t quite successful yet nevertheless retain intensity and emotion. In “Life is Simple in the Moonlight,” lead singer Julian Casablancas supplies some great vocals in this final track. Along with Brazilian bossa nova chords, it’s a great way to close out an album with elegance and flair. The first track “Machu Picchu” starts out sounding like Men At Work’s “Down Under,” and ends with Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” melody, adding some nifty guitar riffs to open the new album.
“You’re so Right” is a very distant track, with Casablancas’ robot-like vocals. The song is heavily influenced by R.E.M. The guitar work on “Taken for a Fool” is simply riveting and makes up for Casablancas’ not so smooth vocals in this one. On the track “Two Kinds of Happiness,” soaring guitars empower the whole song, easily making it the best song on the album. The drums during the chorus are the cherry on top, as it makes you want to listen to the song over and over again. With Casablancas distancing himself by his own choice, (in an attempt for the rest of the Stokes to write and collaborate, The Strokes have worked through their personal battles for the sake of the group’s success. Though the previous songs and bass lines were written largely by Casablancas, his efforts worked, as the other members of the band have written their own songs. Although the album has its faults, its quality is exceptional. In spite of news that the band did not take pleasure in recording the album, the outcome was truly refreshing to hear. Yes, The Strokes are back, albeit not with the same stroke of genius for back in 2006 when nominated for best rock band, but still with fervor and a hunger
for more. They are currently working on a fifth studio album, so hibernation will have to wait another year or so. The band will embark on a worldwide tour promoting the album this year, as well as gracing the stage at this years’ Coachella.
Courtesy of Atlantic Records
Theatre arts students bring Ovid’s poem Metamorphoses to stage By Naomi Calbucci Staff Writer Three goddesses appear on the fixed marble-like set with hands above heads. Moving in unison, a soft music playing in the background helps narrate the story of the creation of man. Metamorphoses is an award winning adaptation of Ovid’s poem, originally directed by Mary Zimmerman. Santa Monica College’s theatre arts class presented their version of the play with a one-hour preview Thursday March 24, 2011, with theatre professor Jaine Jones as director. The play is organized in a series of classical
Greek stories of mortals and immortals with powerful life lessons to be learned. Each story deals with a personal situation between two people, or between a person and a God, and all share their own themes and bits of wisdom. Most deal with love, others with learning to be patient, and some with learning to be satisfied with what you have. “I first saw the play in 2002 at the Taper and I fell in love with it,” said Jones. “It’s filled with such important knowledge of myths and is educational for the audience.” With no changes in set design, the power and emotion of the script was enhanced through choreography, music, lighting, and
through the acting. Stephen Wattrus, who is first introduced as Zeus, took the role of six other characters. “I had the most fun as Erysichthon, the guy who ate his foot,” said Wattrus. “I envisioned him as a sleazy salesman type of guy, with sort of spider-like movements.” Wattrus has been in three SMC productions prior to Metamorphoses, and is also the stage assistant for the production of Urinetown. Choreographer Lauren Blair directed all of the stage moves and used the set as inspiration. “Once we figured out the set, the inspiration really came from the fabric that was used to resemble water. I wanted to incorporate those emulated
water movements to capture that light feeling,” said Blair. The slow and sensual movements were a compliment to the blue fabric, spread over the center of the stage that played its part as water during the production. The simple steps and walls had a Greek style to them, as if the setting were in the forest or underworld where the tales took place. Soft melodies and lighting effects set the mood of the stories by taking the audience to a relaxed state of mind. “I just love how the sounds and the lighting are so erotic to the senses,” said Wattrus. Metamorphoses will be in production until April 3rd.
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Is the DH good for baseball? In honor of baseball season, The Corsair takes a closer look at one of the games more controversial rules By Marc Aaron Takagaki Contributor Major League Baseball is striking a balance for the designated hitter (DH) position by placing it in the American League and excluding it from the National League. And this is the one thing that I am in favor of. Major League Baseball Rule 6.10 was officially passed in 1973. Although only adopted by the American League, this rule states that a team can designate a player to hit for the pitcher known as the DH. Since 1973, the American League has always had a DH while the National League has only done so in interleague games, All-Star games, and World Series games that are played in American League ballparks. In terms of the arguments for and against the DH, the list is long and distinguished and I find both sides very persuasive. This is why I support the current system that Major League Baseball has for the DH, because I support both forcing a pitcher to hit while also believing in increasing offense and
protecting pitchers. Despite being created in 1973, the idea for a DH was first proposed in 1906 by legendary manager Connie Mack. Mack’s thinking was that pitchers were so terrible at hitting that it was embarrassing to the game to put them in the batter’s box. This was because at the time, pitchers dominated the league like never before. For example, in 1968, Denny McLain won a ridiculous 31 games, Bob Gibson had a miniscule 1.12 ERA, and Carl Yastremski led the American League in batting with a .301 average. In this decade, hitters faired so poorly that in 1969, Major League Baseball introduced rules to level the playing field such as lowering the mound from 15 to 10 inches and bringing the upper limit of the strike zone from the top of the shoulders to the armpits. I would argue that these new rules did wonders for the league by making the game more up tempo, exciting, and interesting. In 1969, they also implemented the designated pinch hitter (DPH). And while this idea did not last, it did lead to the creation of the DH four years later. Now, I do concede that watching National League pitchers is a bore; but getting a chance to see an
American League pitcher, who hasn’t had to hit all year, be forced to walk to the plate in Game 7 of the World Series is actually quite entertaining and exhilarating. Today the DH has two main uses: to get a potent hitter but sub-par fielder into the lineup and get a strong pitcher but weak hitter out of the lineup or to give everyday players a day off to rest. But despite its usefulness both in resting players and in increasing offensive output, the DH rule is still very controversial. “Purists” within the game of baseball are against the DH because it takes away an entire aspect of the game by creating power hitters who can only hit but cannot field. As pitcher Rick Wise said in 1974, “The designated hitter rule is like having someone else take Wilt Chamberlain’s free throws.” While I completely agree with this argument, I find the claim that allowing someone to hit for the pitcher further emphasizes the notion that pitchers are not athletes is much more appealing. People who feel this way, like myself, believe that a baseball player, regardless of whether they are an “unathletic pitcher” or an “un-athletic David Ortiz” should still be able to both field their position and run the bases.
However, for every argument against the DH there are also the positives that the designated hitter brings. First of all, the DH creates more offense and leads to more run scoring and although some may argue that increased scoring is bad, there is no arguing that chicks dig the long ball. As Oakland A’s owner Charlie Finley put it, “The average fan comes to the park to see action, home runs. He doesn’t come to see a one-, two-, three- or four-hit game. I can’t think of anything more boring than to see a pitcher come up, when the average pitcher can’t hit my grandmother.” That’s what the DH really does— it makes things more interesting. It affects strategy in both leagues. In the National League, pitchers must hit, and therefore the decision to pull a pitcher late in the game becomes drastically more important. While in the American League, pitchers do not have to hit, but they have to deal with an extra batter. Look, I am not one to tell a league how they should make their rules. There are aspects of nearly every rule that I do not fully support. But, I think it’s important to have some differences between the National and American Leagues, if only for the simple fact that it makes the game more interesting.
“Coach T” and wife honored tourney The Taylors are to be honored with a golf tournament for charity in their names. By Nathan Gawronsky Staff Writer
Fabian Cooke Corsair Krystal Hansard warms up before her match against Allan Hancock on Tuesday March 22 at Reed Park in Santa Monica Calif.
Tennis dominates By Wayne Neal Staff Writer
In a conference match against the Allan Hancock College Bulldogs (1-6, 0-5), the Santa Monica College women’s tennis team notched another conference victory defeating the Bulldogs 7-0 and 9-1 at Reed Park on Thursday. The Corsairs were in the middle of a three-game winning streak, and feeling very confident coming into this match ranked first in conference. They have been undefeated since 2009. The Corsairs dominated the individual matches with the only loss coming against the Bulldogs’ Linda Sor, who defeated Emily Spahn 6-1 and
6-3. “This was good practice for us,” said Criss Rodriquez, who won her match 6-0 in both sets. Co-captain Gwendolyn Kauffman also cruised to an easy victory winning both sets 6-0. It was more of the same results in the doubles matches, with the Corsairs winning all three doubles matches to win the entire match 7-1. Although she did not compete in her individual match due to a lower back injury she suffered during the spring of last year, co-captain Jutta Collett did compete in the doubles matches along with her partner Katerina Mozolyuk, winning their match in easy fashion.
Meanwhile, Hanna Sacher and partner Gwendolyn Kauffman won their doubles match with little resistance, winning the match by default as the Bulldogs quit after the first set. The Corsairs look focused with their eye on the state championships, where they are looking to get some revenge against the Saddleback College Gauchos after their loss to them in the finals last year. “We are confident this year,” said Collet of the team’s chances of winning the championship. The Corsairs next match is on Thursday, March 31, 2011 at Glendale College where they look to continue their hot streak into the playoffs.
On Monday, April 4th, The Institute for Maximum Human Potential will be holding their first annual Robert “Coach T” & RaeChelle Taylor Charity Golf Outing at the California Country Club in Whittier, California. Robert “Coach T” Taylor, who passed away in October 2009, coached football at Santa Monica College for 15 years and was known as a Westside football icon. His wife, Rae-Chelle Taylor, who passed away in 2003, is described as “his biggest fan, his biggest critic and his head coach.” Robert frequently treated her, often sending her on shopping trips to NeimanMarcus with his credit card. The charity golf outing seeks to honor the lives and memories of the Taylors. As husband and wife, they served their community for 25 years and left a lasting impression on the lives of many. According to Ramee Richards, a close friend of the Taylors and community outreach and public relations specialist for the Institute of Maximum Human Potential, the mission of the golf outing is to “continue their legacy of leaving individuals, families,
and communities better than we found them.” During his tenure at SMC, Coach Taylor coached top NFL players like Chad Johnson, Steve Smith, and Isaac Bruce. Johnson, wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals and one of Taylor’s former players, posted the following on his Twitter page after learning of the loss of his former coach: “Robert Taylor is part of the reason why I’m here today, he gave me and Steve Smith an opportunity, I love you, you’ll be missed.” Registration for the event begins at 6 a.m., and tee-off starts at 8 a.m. The price for attendance is $150 per person or $500 per foursome. Included with these prices are 18 rounds of golf, a riding cart, lunch and awards. The awards ceremony and lunch will be held after the golf tournament. All proceeds will benefit The Institute for Maximum Human Potential (IMHP), a private non-profit 501(c) (3) tax-exempt organization located in Watts since 1995. IMHP is a Family Preservation agency with the Department of Children and Family Services whose model is to build around strengthbased principles, not family deficits.
SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
March 30, 2011
SPORTS
12
theCorsaironline.com
Corsairs still winless in conference
John Stapleton IV Corsair The Corsairs suffer defeat against Santa Barbara on March 22 at SMC as the final point hits the floor. The corsairs have struggled this year but still feel there is a chance to turn it around.
By Biko N. Poindexter-Hodge Staff Writer The Santa Monica College men’s volleyball team dropped another match last Friday against El Camino College bringing their in conference record to 0-5 on the season. Both El Camino and SMC came out of the gates swinging, going back and forth all evening. Each of the three games ended in very close scores, but in the end, the El Camino Warriors came away with all three victories. In the first game, the Corsairs played well and jumped out to a 15-7 lead against the Warriors. As the game progressed, the El Camino Warriors, playing tough defense and precise offense, came storming back to take the lead. The Corsairs fell short trying to regain the lead in the closing moments as El Camino took the game 25-18. “I wouldn’t say that we were great or that they (Corsairs) played poorly,” said El Camino
head coach Dick Blount. “I would say that we just got a little lucky, and you need to have a little luck as you go through the conference.” In the second game, the Corsairs once again looked poised to take the victory as they took an early 5-0 lead. However, the Warriors rallied back with a 9-0 run and stout defense to take a 9-5 lead. Not to be outdone, the Corsairs soon found a way to break through to build up a 12-17 lead. The persistence of the Warriors paid off as they rallied back to win the second game 23-25, to take a 2-0-match lead. In what turned out to be the third and final game of the night, both teams were out for blood. The Warriors took an early 2-0 lead but seemed to fizzle as SMC stuck around and went on a 9-0 run of their own to go up 9-2 early. However, the Warriors slowly gained momentum and answered back with 8 straight points taking a one-point lead 10-9. After another momentum shift,
SMC regained the lead 14-10 and looked as if they might grab a win, until the Warriors caught on fire with three runs of 4-1, 5-0 and 4-0. The game continued to move back and forth as the two teams traded blows for most of the third game, until the Corsairs were on top 21-20. As the crowd grew anxious and nervous, the Corsairs had a chance to put the game away. Then, in an instant, the chance of winning the game slipped from their hands, as the Warriors capitalized on two Corsair faults and took the lead 22-21. After the Warriors took the lead, they didn’t look back as they scored on three consecutive plays to end the game and the match. “This game could have gone either way,” said Blount, “both teams played hard.” He added, “I respect them deeply. I’ve known Coach Mayer for a while now, he’s a great competitor and his team has that same fire.” The Corsairs have their next match on Saturday, March 26, at Andrew Curry Corsair Long Beach City College at 6 p.m. The Corsairs battle Santa Barbara in a match at SMC on March 22.
SCORES & SCHEDULES MEN’S VOLLEYBALL El Camino def. Santa Monica 18-25, 23-25, 21-25 Upcoming: Fri, April 1 @ LA Pierce 7 p.m.
SOFTBALL Upcoming: Thurs, March 31 vs. LA Valley @ Clover Park 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.
TENNIS Santa Monica def. Allan Hancock (7-0) (9-1). Upcoming: Thurs, March 31 vs. Bakersfield @ Reed park - 1 p.m. Tue, April 5 vs. Ventura @ Reed Park - 1 p.m.
SWIMMING Upcoming: Fri, April 1 @ LA Pierce - 2:30 p.m.