Spring 2017 issue 03

THE

CORSAIR

APRIL 05, 2017 | VOLUME 113 ISSUE 03 | SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

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THE REALITY OF WEALTH

DIVING INTO FINANCIAL AID (P.3)

BREAKDOWN OF PROP H (P.6)

THE COMMUNIST MANIFESTO OF 2017 (P.6)

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CONTENT

VOLUME 113 ISSUE 03 •APRIL 05, 2017 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

EDITORIAL STAFF ZIN CHIANG

.................................. Editor-in-Chief

corsair.editorinchief@gmail.com RYANNE MENA

............................ Managing Editor

corsair.managing@gmail.com DANIEL BOWYER

............................... Photo Editor

corsairphotoeditor@gmail.com MARISA VASQUEZ

.............................. Photo Editor

corsairphotoeditor@gmail.com

MAZYAR MAHDAVIFAR..................... Design Editor

corsair.designteam@gmail.com

.......................... News Editor

OSKAR ZINNEMANN

corsair.newspage@gmail.com

CHELSEY SANCHEZ

......................... Digital Editor

CHRISTINA KELLEY

................ A&E/Culture Editor

corsair.webeditor@gmail.com corsair.culture@gmail.com

LAZARO CARRANZA

.......................Opinion Editor

corsair.opinionpage@gmail.com

RAMSES LEMUS.................. Social Media Co-Editor

socialmedia.corsair@gmail.com

JACKIE BONES................... Social Media Co-Editor socialmedia.corsair@gmail.com

An elderly man sleeps in his wheelchair covered by a sleeping bag under a streetlamp on Skid Row, in Los Angeles, California. Next to him is a large makeshift tent made of

MICHELLE AYALA....................... Multimedia Editor

tarp and found objects. Apr. 2, 2017. Zin Chiang

corsair.multimedia@gmail.com

CORSAIR STAFF Jose Aguila, Clyde Bates, Haoyu Chuang, Alejandro Hernandez, Cecilia Martin , Matthew Martin, Diana Parra Garcia, Essence Robateau, Frank Southard, Linda Aviles, Setareh Bakhtiyari, Adrianna Buenviaje, Kathleen Cullen, Juan Gomez Zane Thornton, Emeline Moquillon, Edward Lee, Michelle Ayala, Luis Valladares, Jazz Shademan, Abraham Barkhordar, Angelica Ramos, Sade Richardson, Trevor Schock, Maya Toolin, Vanessa Wyatt, Brian Vu, Miguel Gonzalez, Pedro Xavier Hernandez Garcia, Jade Lew, Angie Ramos, Oscar Steven Carranza, Sam Green, Daniel Han, Daniel Lee, Jasmin Rogers FACULTY ADVISORS ASHANTI BLAIZE-HOPKINS

...... Journalism Advisor

gerard burkhart.........................Photo Advisor

AD INQUIRIES: corsair.admanager@gmail.com (310) 434-4033

FRONT COVER Floyd (left), 55, a frequent roamer of The Venice streets attempts to pat a local dog as it is pulled away by the owner on Westminster Ave. in Venice, California on October 16, 2016.

Matthew Martin

CORRECTION! In our last issue (Vol. 113, Issue 2,) we mistakenly mismatched photos for our “Balancing Education and Motherhood” piece. We ran the correct photos of our interviewees, but said photos were erroneously a tributed to a different article in our print edition.Vanessa Wyatt’s full article, “Balancing Motherhood and Education,” can be read online via: http://www.thecorsaironline.com/ culture/2017/03/22/balancing-motherhood-education/. We sincerely apologize for any confusion.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR ZIN CHIANG Editor in-Chief

Dear Readers, Santa Monica College is going through a budget crisis. In fact, most public schools across the nation are facing the same financial uncertainty since the current administration’s budgetary shuffle shocked the academic community, and every family with a child.

In this issue you will find The Corsair’s survey of what it means to be a student, an administrator, and a parent in today’s world. Our reporters and photographers explored the campus and surrounding communities to find out what it’s like to study and live, often humbly, in one of the most expensive cities in the world.

We took a careful look at how we are affected by the financial aid process, cost of living, gentrification, and many other socioeconomic factors.

We found that the students at SMC and our neighbors are a resilient and resourceful bunch. Despite economic challenges and unanticipated external influence, we persist and often excel.

Just three days before this issue hit the press, our co-photo editor, Daniel Bowyer and former photo editor Jose Lopez were awarded 1st and 2nd place for Student Photographer of the Year, for the second year in a row, by Press Photographer’s Association of Greater Los Angeles (PPAGLA). For years our students have beaten the odds and outshined their prominent 4 year college counterparts despite our humble origins. The student body and faculty of Santa Monica College show that it is possible for the glass ceiling to be broken given the right support.

This determination to overcome obstacles will continue to be tested, as tax payer money is diverted into projects that offer little relief for the average person’s struggle to survive. We might

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see more of our undocumented classmates hesitate before they apply for financial aid in fear of deportation. We will struggle to keep arts education afloat.

We have already lost several tutoring programs that helped us academically.

We will likely not see more faculty hired until the books have been balanced. How will we manage you ask? The Corsair has yet to find the easy answer. I am, however, optimistic.

Biology major Joselyn Yamamoto studies zebrafish stem cells for breakthrough treatments to human diseases.

I’m helping cure diseases with cutting-edge science.

Learn how CSUDH Toros become innovators.

CSUDH.EDU/Research

(310) 243-3696 1000 E. Victoria Street Carson, CA 90747

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NEWS

VOLUME 113 ISSUE 03 • APRIL 05, 2017 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

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COLLEGE LIFE: WITH AND WITHOUT FINANCIAL AID SETAREH BAKHTIYARI

Does financial aid truly benefit students or not?

STAFF WRITER

College life, tuition, books, food, places to live and class requirements... How does a student manage it all?

Being a student doesn’t just mean worrying about exams and homework; there are also the inevitable financial struggles. Many students with low incomes have the option to use the financial aid program, while some others do not. They may choose to have their work and studies go hand-in-hand, but for most students without financial aid, books and class requirements cost even more than their enrollment fees.

To handle these costs, you would need either a good income, rich parents, or probably a lottery win. Plus, if you're an international student, your tuition is even higher.

Sara is an international student from Switzerland, majoring in business management at SMC. As such, her student life is getting pretty expensive. She said, “I pay around $6,000 per semester. Additionally, I have other expenses such as textbooks, access codes, and other costs [that] will bring it to more than $10,000 compared to my classmates who are paying, for example, around $900 for the semester, with even whole package of financial aid will cost nothing for them.”

that they have everything set up for students. After applying for financial aid they have somebody there to help you come out. Basically, they manage that the money goes straight to students' credit cards, but SMC just [sends] the money by the mail. Nobody does that in these days, which is weird.” He emphasized that there are some ways the financial aid office can make their process meet students.

Shany, a political science student, who plans to transfer to USC, isn’t covered by the financial aid program. “I go to SMC with BOG waiver, which is a federal grant, so that means all of my tuition is paid, so I don’t pay any tuition fees, which is amazing. I don’t get anything from FAFSA, but I don’t need it. The only expenses are just textbooks and transportation,” she said. Shany mentioned that the only financial difficulty she has in her college life is purchasing online access codes for her classes, which cost her "more than $200."

Have you ever wondered how to get financial aid? To provide a general knowledge about all aspects of this program, we interviewed Stacy Neal, Assistant Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships at SMC.

The graph above shows the average financial aid amount received per International student registered at Santa Monica College. Infographic by: SMC Institutional Research

Sara also mentioned international students aren't eligible for any type of financial aid program. She wished SMC could provide more supportive financial programs for international students as well.

On the other hand, Mousa, who plans on transferring next semester, said he was satisfied with SMC's financial aid services. He described his financial aid experience positively and said, “I filled out the financial application, that’s all I did, and now I’m under the program until reaching my education goal. I get money from school; while it could be better if they pay it on time, so students with low income can purchase their textbooks.”

Christopher, a broadcasting student, had a different experience. He said, “[When] I would compare Long Beach College financial aid services with SMC, I realized

Neal enjoys her job and believes the financial aid program has benefited many students. She also explained that the first role of her office is to provide financial assistance to all eligible students. She said that assistance could be in the form of a fee waiver, which is $46 per unit for eligible state students. Students can also participate in federal programs, which are free for those with low income.

Neal's office typically cuts off other students who are not eligible for financial aid, and is reserved for students with primary needs. Consequently, when students apply for the financial aid program, the office analyzes their backgrounds, looking at different aspects such as income, family size and ability to pay, including others. After

analysis, the information goes to the federal office in order to determine a student's eligibility for financial aid.

According to Neal, SMC’s financial aid office receives more than 40,000 requests each year. While all students are encouraged to apply for financial aid, she explained they use one formula to analyze and determine who the FAFSA program can cover and who it can't. She also stated that more than 21,000 SMC students, not including international students, are using some kind of financial aid program.

SMC's financial office also provides other kinds of supporting programs. These include California Cal Grants A, B, and C, which help state residents cover their tuition for books and other academic expenses.

"I pay around $6,000 per semester. Additionally, I have other expenses such as textbooks, access codes, and other costs [that] will bring it to more than $10,000 compared to my classmates who are paying, for example, around $900 for the semester, with even whole package of financial aid will cost "nothing for them."

Following news of President Donald Trump's proposed federal budget cuts; there has been much concern about the fate of the FAFSA program, among others. While Neal says she is not yet familiar with Trump's so-called "skinny budget," she claims her office is keeping up with the news. For the time being, any possible effects of the skinny budget to the FAFSA program are unknown. Neal's advice was to be proactive; students should apply or renew their financial aid documents when they can.

There are four main types of financial aid -- Grants (also known as gift aid,) Scholarships, taking out a loan from the bank, or a Work-Study Program that offers paid part-time jobs to help students cover their tuition. Financial aid is usually available until one earns their first bachelor's degree. Students have a maximum of six years to reach their degree.

To apply for Financial Aid, one must complete the Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or apply directly from the college. Both the FAFSA and CSS/ Financial Aid PROFILE open on Oct. 1 every year.

The graph above shows the average financial aid amount received per International student registered at Santa Monica College. Infographic by: SMC Institutional Research

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PHOTOSTORY

VOLUME 113 ISSUE 03 •APRIL 05, 2017 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

Kevin. J Brunk, 56, ret. builder, developer, activist and artist in his workshop at his home in Marina Del Rey, California, Friday September 16th, 2016. Brunk is photographed with the original West Washington Blvd sign as he was responsible for spearheading the beautification and renaming of West Washington project that is now Venice California’s infamous Abbot Kinney Blvd. Matthew Martin

A B B OT K I N N E Y: TH E U G LY FAC E O F G E NTR I F I C ATI O N MATHEW MARTIN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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or years, Venice, California was synonymous with laid-back surfers, a lively arts community, and gritty streets.

It was not a polished, high-end part of town—but it was, perhaps, the most fun. Venice was a place that a diverse collection of people called home where you could cut loose, fly your freak flag, and break the rules.

In the late 80s, when builder, developer, and activist, J. Kevin Brunk became the “unofficial beautifier” of Venice, he planted palm trees. Brunk also spearheaded the renaming of West Washington Blvd. in 1990, to honor the late Abbot Kinney who also saw the beauty in this seaside spot. Since then, Abbot Kinney Blvd. has been on a tumultuous path to gentrification and subsequent intense popularity. In 2013,

GQ magazine named Abbot Kinney as the “Coolest Block in America” and it is now one of the hottest neighborhoods in the country.

No longer a haven for the eclectic mix of art studios, funky boutiques, and the junky antique stores that made Venice special in the first place; it is instead a commercial real estate boom-

town for a new wealthy demographic.

Google and Snapchat now rule this turf and their deep pockets have made regional property values skyrocket. Locals like Brunk and older residents who have resisted the commercialization of Abbot Kinney haven’t hoisted a white flag in defeat, but it is clear that they have lost the war against big business in Venice.

It’s a little heartbreaking. When people like Brunk came to Venice Beach they were inspired to preserve the beauty in what they found. Brunk now feels somehow responsible for igniting the flame of change when he planted that first palm tree. He had no idea that his beautification would morph into “the ugly face of gentrification.” Today Abbot Kinney’s shiny signs, polished restaurants, and unaffordable shops are not what he had anticipated. The people are shiny and new too, and according to Brunk, “they don’t appreciate nor understand the history and culture that they are trampling.”

A price tag of a Moroccan Rug priced at $4200 in the store named Bazar on Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA

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on October 16, 2016. Matthew Martin

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VOLUME 113 ISSUE 03 • APRIL 05, 2017 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

PHOTOSTORY

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Erick Dayna (qt) a local artist, Venice activist and muralist paints on a building on Abbot Kinney Blvd in Venice CA on November 6, 2016. Matthew Martin.

"They don’t appreciate nor understand the history and culture that they are trampling."

Jahmiah Ryan, 61, attempts to sell his handcrafted sage and burning sticks on Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, California, October 16, 2016. Ryan has been selling his goods on Abbot Kinney for years without a permit, and continues to take the risk as “many of the people here are interested in this sort of thing, and selling my sage on Abbot Kinney makes me more money than selling my sage in the hood.” Matthew Martin

David Carroll, (qt) (56) , a musician and post card artist busks outside the now shuttered Roosterfish bar on Abbot Kinney Blvd in Venice, California on November 6 2016. Carroll adores Abbot Kinney and has lived in the area for over 20 years. He comes each weekend to sing because this area, and in particular this street, make him feel nostalgic and joyful and when asked for his opinion on Abbot Kinney’s growing gentrification he commented, “It’s twosided because before Abbot Kinney started getting gentrified 20 years ago, it was a much more dangerous place, now the only danger are those damn hipsters.” Matthew Martin

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OPINION

VOLUME 113 ISSUE 03 •APRIL 05, 2017 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

MEASURE H: THE BETTER ALTERNATIVE TO DOING NOTHING CHELSEY SANCHEZ DIGITAL EDITOR

My neighborhood is homely. A quiet cul-de-sac marked by sidewalk flowers and children riding scooters down the paved road, it could easily be the backdrop of a 1950s movie, with pristine lawns and white picket fences. While The American Dream thrives in my own private bubble of the universe, a few blocks down, near an interstate 405 exit, so many tents are pitched underneath a freeway ramp that it could look like a camping ground if not for the blinking of traffic lights and the passing of rushing cars. The people who have made a home out of sidewalks and tarp become an irrelevant backdrop to the movie that is the rest of our lives.

Living in a place like this for my entire life meant learning not to see these people. “Avoid eye contact,” my mom would tell me as a child. “Don’t give them your money. They’ll just use it on drugs.”

How many of us have grown up hearing phrases like these uttered by our family, our friends, and our classmates? How many of us have reiterated these phrases?

How many of us have since learned to see homeless people as actual people - human beings worthy of dignity and decent living conditions just as much as my neighbors and me?

Los Angeles has one of the largest homeless populations in the entire nation. According to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), about 75% of the city’s estimated 46,874 homeless were unsheltered in 2016.

This disparity in the quality of living is impossible to ignore. Going to school in Santa Monica, California amplifies the gap. Gentrification runs deep in this neighborhood. By day, trendy cafes with 5-star Yelp reviews and aesthetically pleasing Instagram feeds run this town; by night, tents are popped up and sleeping bags are unfurled as the homeless rest their own weary bodies.

Despite my mother’s warnings, I still give them dollars that probably mean more to them than it will to me. For a girl who constantly jokes about her “broke college student” status, I still have immense economic privilege because I come from a middle-class family.

It would be ignorant of me to pretend that this privilege - which keeps me in a fairly comfortable lifestyle - is something I earned. Many homeless individuals just weren’t born with the same safety net that I have.

The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (NLCHP) reports that a combination of low income and low availability of affordable housing greatly contributes to homelessness. In 2012, “there were only 5.8 million rental units affordable to the more than 10 million people” with “extremely low incomes” (ELI), as reported by NLCHP. Additionally, ELI households retain less than half of their income after paying for rent, which means less money for other necessities such as food, healthcare, transportation, and childcare.

In a 2015 status report done by The U.S. Conference of Mayors, the main causes of homelessness among unaccompanied individuals were, in order of impact: lack of affordable housing, poverty, mental health issues, substance abuse, unemployment, and family disputes.

Of Los Angeles County’s homeless population, 30% are mentally ill, 23 percent struggle with substance abuse and 17 percent have a physical disability, according to the LAHSA. Furthermore, 18 percent of the population had a history of physical or sexual abuse.

These numbers are daunting. What’s a dollar - no matter how well-intentioned - compared to those statistics? I can hand out dollars at my local freeway exit to cardboard sign bearers every day for the rest of my life, and, in the end, I’ll still have my picturesque culde-sac to drive home to while the homelessness crisis can cozily stay out of sight and out of mind. I have been guilty of this. Privilege isn’t an easy coat to shrug off.

The real answer is that there is no easy, silver-bullet

CAPITALISM IS CANCELLED TREVOR SCHOCK STAFF WRITER

The way that we think about economics and the government is changing, as more and more people are noticing the weaknesses in our current capitalistic system. I believe that capitalism is fundamentally flawed and the economic system used by the majority of the world was designed to exploit people.

Many of us are exploring ways we can create a better world for everyone.

Bernie Sanders, a self-identified socialist, is arguably the most popular politician in the U.S. right now. A 2016 survey conducted by Harvard that polled adults between the ages of 18 and 29 found that 51% did not support capitalism, and 33% said they supported socialism. These factors suggest that a significant number of people are growing tired of capitalism and many are looking for alternatives.

The rich will likely never support a world without capitalism. In this kind of society, they will own less, profit less, and have smaller houses and fewer TVs. Anti-capitalism has many different interpretations, but at its core, it is the belief that capitalism inherently exploits and oppresses working people.

Most anti-capitalist movements define

themselves as communist, socialist, or anarchist, but they all have roughly the same goal, and that is the abolition of capitalism and all hierarchies. The version of anti-capitalism I support is anti-state, anti-imperialism, and pro-people.

The most well known anti-capitalist theories were developed by Karl Marx, who is best remembered for writing the Communist Manifesto (1848). In his 1867 book "Das Kapital," he fully delved into how capitalism works and how we can work against it. According to Marx the only way to achieve equality is for workers to own the means of production. What he meant by this was that the working class should own the tools they use to create, rather than those tools being owned by business owners. If workers owned their tools, workplaces, and materials, they could make full use of the things they create, and share them with their community rather than selling them.

There are a plethora of reasons why the entire premise of capitalism is flawed, but one of the major problems is the fact that capitalism prioritizes profits over people. This is why businesses throw away food they can’t sell while people go hungry, and why there are empty homes but no lack of homeless people. This isn’t an accident, it’s simply the way the system works.

In order for capitalists to make money, they need to create classes, and they need to have poor people. Business owners won’t make money if they pay workers anything close to the value of their labor, and If capitalists actually

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solution that can solve this city’s homelessness problem overnight. Individual “charity work,” although admirable in itself, is also not a solution. We need to start at the root of the crisis and provide people with the resources they need to get back on their feet and sustain themselves for the long-run.

An opportunity to take a step in the right direction arrived on March 7, 2017, when Los Angeles county voters made a decision in the municipal election. Measure H was on the ballot.

This measure levies a one-quarter cent ($0.025) sales tax for 10 years to prevent and combat homelessness.

It is projected to bring in $355 million annually, which would then be used to fund mental health treatment, substance abuse rehabilitation, general health care, education, job training, rental subsidies, and many more services in the hope of benefiting the city’s homeless population.

The measure also sets up a citizens committee to oversee the use of revenue generated and legally requires the funds to be used for solely for homeless prevention, both of which ensure that the income is used responsibly.

In addition, Measure H complements Measure HHH, an earlier measure passed last November by LA voters.

HHH aims to fund 10,000 units of housing for the homeless, while H will fund other necessary services that aid them.

On March 17, 2017, 10 days after the election, the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder finished counting the remaining 55,000 ballots and declared that Measure H was passed by voters.

This measure is monumental for the city. It tackles the homelessness crisis at its roots in a systematic manner and aims to make necessary resources, such as mental health and substance abuse treatment, accessible for those in need. These people now have a greater opportunity to obtain the help they need in order to rebuild their lives.

Homelessness is a multifaceted problem and therefore requires a multifaceted solution. Who’s to say if Measure H will substantially solve this issue 10 years from now?

But, who’s also to say that we can’t try?

cared about the people they employed, those workers wouldn’t be protesting for something as meager as a living wage.

"There are a plethora of reasons why the entire premise of capitalism is flawed, but one of the major problems is the fact that capitalism prioritizes profits over people."

Exploitation is an essential factor of capitalism since business owners make a profit from the labor of their workers.

Capitalism creates a narrative that just any worker can gain enough capital to eventually open their own business and then make a living for themselves when in reality, this rarely happens. Upward mobility in capitalism is almost impossible because capitalism creates other ways to keep people oppressed. The system uses white supremacy, classism, sexism, and other tools of oppression to keep people poor by pitting working class people against each other.

Those opposed to the concept of a society without capitalism will argue that greed, supposedly an integral part of human nature, will motivate some to take advantage of the majority. Without a government to stop the greedy people, they can get away with whatever they @THE_CORSAIR •

want. The reality is that greed is more likely a product of capitalism. Regardless, in a society without capitalism or government, the majority of people in a community would still have enough power to group together and stop a greedy person from taking advantage of others.

There are a lot of different perspectives on what a society without capitalism could look like, but the reality is while parts of it will be dramatically different, a lot may stay the same.

People will still be working, but they’ll be working together. We’ll still have schools and teachers, they’ll just be more democratically run. There will likely be community gardens and more libraries. Our basic needs will be more easily met because the labor of the people will be available to the people.

Of course, it won’t be a utopia immediately. A society like this hasn’t existed and there will be plenty of trial and error while we figure out how to do things best, but to say it wouldn’t work is irrelevant because we just don’t know yet. The real question to ask ourselves is this, "If capitalism works, why are so many people starving?"

The rich will likely never support a world without capitalism. In this kind of society, they will own less, profit less, and have smaller houses and fewer TVs. However, there are more workers than there are capitalists and if workers mobilize, they can create a community that serves their needs better. It’s possible to have a world without starvation, homelessness, and poverty.

The people in power tell us that we need their existence, but we don’t. We can create a world without capitalism that works for regular people.

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CULTURE/SPORTS

VOLUME 113 ISSUE 03 • APRIL 05, 2017 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

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WORKING STUDENTS OF SMC EDWARD LEE STAFF WRITER

Her eyes betray hidden exhaustion but instantly light up when she speaks. Her black jacket and muted grey shirt are elegantly simplistic, drawing all attention to her statement piece, a scarf – vibrant in its deep hues of brown, patterned by red diagonals, it whispers hints of her rich cultural background, traces of Ethiopia.

Victoria Gidey is a 22-year-old student at Santa Monica College who sleeps only four hours a night.

Many days, after finishing her graveyard shift as a cashier at Union Station from midnight to 8 a.m., she immediately takes the Expo Line to Santa Monica College for her 9:30 a.m. class.

Gidey is attending SMC with a green card after migrating from Ethiopia two years ago. Although attending a school in San Jose where her aunt lives would be more convenient, her burning desire to attend SMC outweighed that convenience.

When asked why she did not go to college in San Jose, Gidey says, “I wouldn't have to pay rent... but I just wanted to come to SMC so bad. I really like the campus. I really love all the diversity, all the professors."

She does pay a heavy price for her decision. Paying for food, books, rent and transportation requires her to work full-time. Shuffling her schedule between working and attending SMC with a full course load has left her running on four hours of sleep – or less – for the past seven months. And the side effects have not left Gidey unscathed. Migraines, nausea, drowsiness and insomnia have become commonplace for her.

Her doctor has been insisting that she quit her current job, warning that her current trajectory is unsustainable – she runs a high risk of having a stroke.

Yet Gidey believes these hardships to be inevitable for many immigrant students attending SMC. "When you're an immigrant, I think you have to work harder for everything," she says. Gidey notes that some

T

he crowd is roaring. A basket is needed immediately. Eye contact is made and the lob is thrown. An almost impossible reach but just enough to get the ball and dunk it over last year's champions- the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The crowd goes wild. David Nwaba’s first highlight play in the NBA. Nwaba has signed a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers.

This all began when he signed a ten-day contract with the struggling Los Angeles Lakers on Feb 28, 2017. On a normal Monday morning, a call from coach Coby Karl of the LA D-Fenders had brought Nwaba to their practice facility. Expecting to be asked to help with a basketball clinic, he walked into the room surprised when the Lakers executives were waiting there for him.

His professional journey had just begun but not without hard work and perseverance.

Coming out of high school he had averaged 22.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists, while also averaging a pair of steals and blocks. He decided to move to Hawaii, a familiar childhood place and play for Hawaii-Pacific. After a year of playing Nwaba decided he was better than the competition and would take his talent back to Los Angeles.

Nwaba decided to continue his basketball career at Santa Monica College.

SMC was a new challenge for Nwaba because the competition was stronger than before. Nwaba would rise to the challenge as he put up big numbers by averaging 20.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists.

Nwaba would be the top scorer for SMC leading them to a 15-9 season while winning Western State South basketball MVP, first team all-conference, and first team all-state.

people have it even worse than her. Many students with green cards have families outside of the United States who rely on their income from their jobs here for financial support. "Some people I know have families back home that they need to send money to.

There's nobody helping my friend pay the bills. So being an immigrant in this country has good and bad parts to it. There's a lot of struggle," she says.

When asked about the good parts of the United States, Gidey praises better living conditions and more opportunities than in her home country. She mentions how in Ethiopia, most people wait until they are 50 years old before moving out of their parents' homes due to the lack of jobs and the low pay of the ones available.

Despite her praise, she expressed apprehension about attending Santa Monica College. When she first saw the school's demographic dominated by Asian and white populations, she considered going to West LA College. Listening to the stories she heard while growing up, and more recently in the lectures from her American history class, she was afraid of discrimination. "When I first came here I thought, 'Oh my god, there are so many white people.' I didn't know if I was accepted." She was pleasantly surprised to discover that she hasn't faced any discrimination so far, saying that despite its small black community, SMC is a very accepting environment.

But Gidey fears that experience may change soon.

She expresses serious concern about what effects the Trump administration's policies will have on her.

Currently covered by Obamacare, Gidey often goes to Kaiser Permanente for checkups due to concerns about what her lack of sleep will do to her health. Thanks to those visits, Gidey's doctor was able to warn her to quit her job or find a new one because the current trajectory is unsustainable.

She laments the extensive threats that the Trump administration's policies might have on her way of life.

With her parents currently navigating the process of coming to the U.S., Gidey panicked when she heard

about the recent immigration ban. While acknowledging that Ethiopia is not a Muslim country, Trump's anti-immigration policies make her feel apprehensive about the future.

When asked what she would say to Trump or the new Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, Gidey replies, “I don’t think I have a voice. Because you have to be very privileged to be heard. I’m not trying

Victoria Gidey, 22, is a working international student studying at Santa Monica College to become a nurse. Gidey reviewing notes at the school cafeteria just before a test. Photo taken on Wednesday March 29, 2017 at Santa Monica, Calif. Emeline Moquillon

to be a pessimist, but I don’t think anyone would listen to me or someone like me,” she said.

While trying to characterize Trump, she brings up former President Obama in comparison, saying that Obama “gets it,” and explaining that Obama's experiences with discrimination throughout his life make him understand the issues of students like her. Yet for Trump, she says, “I don’t think Trump has ever been poor, or anything, because his dad was a billionaire. So he doesn’t get it. I think Trump is aware that he’s ignorant or racist. I think it’s the way he grew up, and because he’s been privileged with so many things, he doesn’t know that he’s wrong. Everything he does is just 'right for him.' (In his mind) everything he says is completely ok. But it’s not.”

SMC ALUMNI DAVID NWAMBA SCORES A TWO-YEAR DEAL WITH THE LAKERS KEVIN COLINDRES CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Los Angeles Lakers player and former Santa Monica College freshman forward David Nwaba (11) goes for a shot. The SMC Corsairs beat the Citrus College Owls 73-68 on Wednesday, February 13, 2013 on the main campus of Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, California. Photo: by Amy Gaskin

“SMC and the coaching staff helped build confidence in my game and there were a lot of things I learned from a mental standpoint,” Nwaba said.

After his year playing with the Corsairs, Nwaba had signed a letter of intent to play for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and received a full athletic scholarship.

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Nwaba would spend two years at San Luis Obispo averaging 12.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists.

Nwaba would not be drafted in 2016 which left him with few choices.

“Initially, I was trying to go overseas," Nwaba said. "I attended several showcases in Las Vegas and in Los Angeles where an LA Defender coach noticed me and invited me to a closed door try out for the Defenders.”

This is the opportunity that Nwaba needed and it had finally paid off.

Known for his defense, Nwaba was still able to drop 14.1 points a game, grab 6.9 rebounds, and dish out 1.1 assists.

What started as a promising season for the Lakers would quickly become a realization that they needed to develop their young core. They would trade veteran guard Louis Williams, who was their leading scorer, and Marcelo Huertas to create a roster spot. The Lakers seemed to be starting over and what they needed was a defensive presence. The rest was history when Nwaba signed his first ten-day contract.

“It’s an amazing feeling, I have a lot to bring to the table and will showcase that in the ten days I have with the team,” Nwaba said.

Nwaba would not be an offensive threat in his first ten days but would provide a much needed defensive presence. It was visible that the Lakers were much more efficient on both ends of the court while Nwaba was on it.

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his teammates on a nightly basis. Walton would go on to say that the whole coaching staff would be very impressed by him. Nwaba accepted another ten-day contract, giving him one last opportunity to get signed by the team for the rest of the season.

Nwaba’s second ten-day contract was a result of his high-energy defense and a few highlight plays against one of the top teams in the league, the Cleveland Cavaliers. He also started twice for the Lakers which was a huge accomplishment for him. Things were looking good for Nwaba as fans seemed to embrace him, but more importantly, upper management was impressed.

“Bringing tons of energy to the court whether it is off the bench or as a starter and giving my full effort is what I do,” Nwaba said. “Teammates feed off of that energy and it makes us all play better.” Throughout his 20 games, he averaged about 14.4 minutes per game adding 3.6 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 0.3 assists.

Finally, the day had come when Nwaba would find out if he was going to be signed by the Lakers. His contract was over and his choices were to continue on with the Lakers or go back to the D-League and try again. Two weeks ago Nwaba was officially signed to a two-year contract with a team option on the second year. His dream had finally come true.

Now that Nwaba is part of the rotation he hopes to return the Lakers to the winning days he witnessed growing up. As Nwaba reflects back on his basketball career he remembers the impact his coaches had on him.

David Nwaba is hopeful that he will prove himself to the Los Angeles Lakers in the upcoming year.

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