Spring 2017 Issue 07 by Santa Monica College Corsair Newspaper

THE CORSAIR • THECORSAIRONLINE.COM • 1900 PICO BLVD. SANTA MONICA, CA 90405 • (310) 434-4340

VOLUME 113 ISSUE 07 •MAY 31, 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 Co-Editor

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

OSCAR CARRANZA .............. A&E/Culture Co-Editor

corsair.culture@gmail.com

LAZARO CARRANZA

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

corsair.opinionpage@gmail.com

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

socialmedia.corsair@gmail.com

Ramses Lemus A man looks out the window of a run down gaugua (bus), in Havana, Cuba on April 18, 2017. Guaguas are

ZANE MEYER-THORNTON... Social Media Co-Editor

known to Cuban natives as the cheapest form of transportation on the island.

socialmedia.corsair@gmail.com

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

corsair.multimedia@gmail.com

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

CORSAIR STAFF Jose Aguila, Clyde Bates, Haoyu Chuang, Alejandro Hernandez, Cecilia Martin , Matthew Martin, Diana Parra Garcia, Essence Robateau, Linda Aviles, Setareh Bakhtiyari, Adrianna Buenviaje, Emeline Moquillon, Edward Lee, Michelle Ayala, Luis Valladares, Jazz Shademan, Abraham Barkhordar, Angelica Ramos, Sade Richardson, Trevor Schock, Vanessa Wyatt, Brian Vu, Miguel Gonzalez, Pedro Xavier Hernandez Garcia, Jade Lew, Angie Ramos, Sam Green, Daniel Lee

FACULTY ADVISORS ASHANTI BLAIZE-HOPKINS

...... Journalism Advisor

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

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

FRONT COVER

ILLUSTRATION BY: DIANA PARRA GARCIA & ZIN CHIANG A student browses a list of classes and impersonation services for sale on social messaging apps.

ZIN CHIANG EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Hello Readers, With this, our last issue of the semester, I would like to thank our readers for being a part of our family. Just three months earlier, the staff members of The Corsair’s Spring semester were complete strangers from all walks of life, that came together to try our hands at journalism. Not only did we try, we dove in head first and emerged with a newfound respect for a lifelong passion that used to be simply a class. Some of us are now headed steadfast into the workforce and others are moving on to 4 year colleges in pursuit of higher degrees. Most importantly, we have all made a commitment to uphold and further freedom of speech through inclusive citizenship and the pursuit of truth. Within the span of three months, we witnessed the destabilization of governments, the rise of this generation’s civil movement on the backs of women’s rights and gender equality, and tragedies striking human beings domestic and abroad. Each one of these topics demanded that we exercise tact, diligence, and discipline, but none has been more challenging than the headline story in the paper you are holding right now. On page four and five of this issue you will find an expose about a student run cheating ring affecting multiple two and four year colleges in California and Utah. In order to discover the truth and bring light to the problem we were faced with the most difficult task a journalist can undertake-- to investigate and report on our peers. As students, we empathize with the difficulties our schoolmates face while navigating bureaucracy in a complex competitive environment designed to comply with immigration policies and government funding regulations, both highly politicized and split along partisan lines. As an American born of Chinese heritage, I was awashed with shame and disappointment when presented with undeniable evidence that certain groups of Chinese, Korean, and Persian students were making financial gains through the sale of spots in classes and cheating services. The scope of these fraudulent activities were so wide that I was forced to ask myself one of the most important questions I’ve ever faced-Am I a journalist first, or an individual? The answer was crystal clear although painful. I am above all, a journalist. This conviction was further solidified when I thought about all the international students who were not privileged enough to be able to afford to have an impersonator attend classes, take exams, or hold a spot during registration. I sent our team of visual journalists out campus to find out just how many students had to struggle

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through the registration process, ESL classes, and build a support network that helps them adapt and succeed at SMC. We found that most students despite their ethnic origins persevered through hard work and bravery. It does take courage to pick up your life and move to a foreign country, especially when you are young, alone, and don’t speak the language. It is frustrating to feel like you’re always one step behind a native speaker in regular classes. It is almost soul-crushing to call home to your parents and know they are paying so much of their hard earned money in order for you to have an education. I also met students who work their way through college because despite the resident BOG waiver and access to financial aid, college is still a luxury. It is time we bring attention to the crack in the system and those who manipulate it to their own advantage. With that in mind, I’d like to introduce you to the team of writers, visual journalists, researchers, and editors that came together to bring you the headline story of Issue No.7: Edward Lee - Lead Writer Adrianna Buenviaje - Writer Daniel Lee - Researcher Oscar Carranza - Researcher Michelle Ayala - Reporter/Video Editor Christopher Floyd - Video Editor Brian Vu - Videographer/Infographic Designer Zin Chiang - Videographer Daniel Bowyer - Producer Ryanne Mena - Managing Editor Marisa Vasquez - Photo Editor Diana - Illustration Artist

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NEWS

VOLUME 113 ISSUE 07 • MAY 31, 2017 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

CELEBRATING THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY: A PRIDE WEEK RECAP CHELSEY SANCHEZ

TREVOR SCHOCK

DIGITAL EDITOR

STAFF WRITER

From Monday, May 22 to Thursday, May 25, SMC hosted its first official Pride Week, a week of on-campus events made to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community. The week was a collaborative effort between Associated Students, the Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA), and Urban Mediamakers West. Open Mic Night was the first big event to kick off Pride Week. It took place at the pool deck on Monday, May 22. Typically, open mics provide a spotlight for amateur performers who can sign up prior to or during the event. Attendees signed up to perform spoken word, music, and even stand-up comedy. Mysterie Pena, president of Gender & Sexuality Alliance (GSA) and the first performer of the night, recited “Dear Straight People,” a poem by Denice Frohman. “I definitely struggled with being a trans-man myself,” Pena said. “Reading a poem from the perspective of a lesbian -- I was very nervous about that. The thing was that I knew I would be accepted no matter what, and I knew that everyone would support me even if I wasn’t necessarily presenting or expressing myself as who I am and [instead] expressing myself from the perspective of that person and their story.” “The goal is to get people from all over the world -- different races, creeds, colors, religions, sexual orientations -- get them all in the same place and the same space on the same page to have fun, and I think we did that,” Peyton See, president of Urban Mediamakers West, said of the Open Mic event. He continued, “That’s very important: solidarity. The best way to move forward is to work together.” The second event, Concert Day, took place on Tuesday, May 23. The atmosphere of inclusivity from the night before continued on into the mini music festival, which was reflected by a lineup of diverse performers. The first performer was Shayne Grey. She played a solo electric set to a small but lively crowd, mostly consisting of GSA members. After her was Sanjana Deshmukh, who performed an acoustic set, mostly of her original songs, but it also included a couple of covers. Local musician Zac Anciano then played another acoustic performance of emotional music.

"It’s so fun. Especially when you’re allowing people to question gender roles or sexuality." The overall attendance was mostly GSA members, but more students stopped by later on during the concert. Some were waving rainbow flags; one even wore one as a cape. Between sets, music played over the speakers, and everyone in attendance perked up and sang every word when Frank Ocean’s "Thinkin’ Bout You" came on. The concert attracted a noticeable line of people when free tacos were offered. This allowed a large crowd to form when the last band went on, a nameless indie-punk band consisting of two brothers, Andrew and Daniel Cielak. Their energetic music was a big contrast from the slower acoustic acts of the day. The Cielak brothers recently moved to Santa Monica from Chicago and also played at the Open Mic Night on Monday. The duo was deeply immersed in their performance, and it showed. Near the end of the event,

Matthew Martin Santa Monica College student Tommy Pathammavong Vixyn dances down the runway while interacting with the audience during the AS Fashion Show that would bring SMC’s pride week to a close, which took place on the Clocktower Quad in Santa Monica College’s main campus in Santa Monica Calif., on Thursday May 25, 2017.

foot traffic on the path passing the quad picked up, and several people stopped to watch the set. On Wednesday, May 24, “Rocky Horror Picture Show” was screened at the Cayton Center. Rainbow colored flags and banners hung on the ceilings and walls of the rooms. Popcorn and drinks were also provided to those in attendance. “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” a 1975 musical comedy-horror film directed by Jim Sharman, features Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, and Peter Hinwood. Since its conception, “Rocky Horror Picture Show” gained an international following as a ‘midnight movie.’ Additionally, the film is usually screened with a cast of real-life actors reenacting the story while the movie plays behind them on a screen. Mysterie Pena, who works with the shadow-cast that performs “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” suggested that this particular film be screened for its audience participation merit and for its significance in the LGBTQ+ community. Throughout the screening, audience members were welcomed to shout callbacks at the movie or sing and dance along to songs. This event was indicative of what the rest of Pride Week represented: curating a safe space of inclusivity where someone could express themselves without any inhibitions. The last event, the Pride Week Fashion Show, took place on Thursday, May 25 at the Clock Tower Quad. A regular concrete walkway transformed into a catwalk as chairs were set up along the lawn. Loud music pulsed through the quad as models performed and strutted down the sidewalk. As soon as the Fashion Show started, students quickly gathered around the commotion. The chairs filled up, but people continued to stand in order to watch their fellow classmates and faculty members perform in drag. Each model braving the runway was given a nickname, such as “Dr. Fatale” for GSA’s advisor, Professor Nathaniel Donahue, or “Ferry Bueller” for Pena himself. A triple threat that consisted of Pena, Professor Donahue, and AS member Isabel Castillo called themselves "Sex Bomb and Her Sluts." Jesua Bones, the host of the Fashion Show, started doing drag right after high school. “I was going through a lot of social anxiety issues and I got tired of it. I wanted a reason to get me out of my comfort zone,” Bones said. “I was Jesus Ramos, but I wanted to make a name for somebody that’s the opposite of who I am as a timid regular person. So, Jesua Bones came.” She credits her

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reduced state of anxiety to performing in drag. Tommy Pathammavong, whose stage name was "Vixyn," performed in drag for the first time on Thursday. The crowd’s energy helped him keep his cool. He chose his favorite song to perform to and improvised the rest. “I didn’t even know I could do a split, and then I did it,” Pathammavong said. Ronald Jackson, a student attending the Fashion Show, said, “I have [been to a drag show before], that’s why I wanted to come [here] and see what it was like. It was interesting; I like how they did it.” As for Jesua Bones, she saw the event as a success. She said, "It really changes perspectives and opens doors.”

Daniel Bowyer Ryan Cassata, a transgender man performs various songs about gender during the A.S. (Associated Students) Pride Week Karaoke Night at the Santa Monica College Pool deck, in Santa Monica California, on May 22, 2017.

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NEWS

VOLUME 113 ISSUE 07 •MAY 31, 2017 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

ACADEMIC SUCCESS FOR SALE EDWARD LEE staff writer

HOW SCALPERS AND IMPERSONATORS PROFIT FROM ACADEMIC FRAUD

ADRIANNA BUENVIAJE staff writer

While most students are struggling to enroll in classes and earn their A’s, some students at Santa Monica College have managed to purchase their guaranteed success, gift-wrapped in packages for thousands of dollars. For a price, these students can pay to enroll in “easy-A” courses and even skip school -- paid impersonators could take their courses for them. “My first semester here, a student in an English 1 class invited me into this group,” says XingChi Wu, an SMC student. According to Wu, who has not been found involved in these unethical activities, some students use a social messaging app called WeChat to provide information about housing, furniture, and resources that help their transition into a foreign country. Yet its primary function is more adverse -- it serves as a network for buyers and sellers to exchange services of selling popular course seats and impersonating for other students. The “impersonation” services consists of customers paying a premium to have students, even alumni, take courses for them. Most of these services are offered for online courses for UCLA Extension, Brigham Young University, and Santa Monica College, yet bolder sellers have even advertised to impersonate students for classes on campus. Some, as depicted in the pictures online, even provide money-back guarantees. Other interactions include the buyer saying ,”I will transfer money to you in a moment.” The seller, using the username “Big Mouthed Monkey”, openly says in his advertisements, “I will take lesson for you in English 2. Got an A… if you need me to take a class for you, look for me.” SMC finds these impersonation services to be a more serious and long-standing issue than scalping. Deyna Hearn, the Dean of Student Life at Santa Monica College, recalls a time when the issue was more prominent, saying, “several years ago, the former president of the college [Chui L. Tsang] had us put together a task force to look at impersonation particularly.” The impersonation is the same activity as impersonation, where students can pay to have others take the classes for them. Hearn continues, adding, “we brainstormed on some things and... got a recommendation from the committee for a minimum of two-years suspension for some forms of impersonation.” She immediately stressed that not every person who impersonates for another gets suspended, as it depends on the scale and type of impersonation. After these meetings with the committee, Dean Hearn’s office continued to increase the years of suspension, which she claims caused these impersonations to decline. She admits, “it’s not to say that students were no longer doing this, but word was getting out that these will be the consequences if you got caught.” But the scalping, or selling, of popular courses is a more recent development that has been more difficult to discover. Student rings have scalped these courses in a systematic fashion, which include the easier General Education Courses that fill up much more quickly than the difficult ones. By collaborating, the ring’s associates take advantage of their priority enrollment date to enroll in these courses. They then publicly advertise these course seats for sale through messenger apps and websites. Using social media to connect to buyers, these sellers finally scalp the courses for a handsome profit. One seller has even advertised to sell up to 71 courses for the upcoming 2017 Fall Semester. “They hold classes for each other. Sometimes, they sell it. Some classes cost even $500, depending on how many units and the easiness of the class,” said an anonymous source to the Corsair, who wished to remain anonymous due to fear of his safety. “Let’s say you have an easy econ class, so I just say to my friend, ‘Hey, I’m looking for a specific professor, I’m looking for it, and you want to sell it. The friend just writes it in the 500 people group, and somebody responds quickly, and boom--you get a connection...at the point, it’s just bargaining, $300, $500, whatever...it’s like a whole industry.” The demand for such classes are largely motivated by their difficulty. With student enrollment down nine percent

The unknown seller, known as “Big Mouthed Monkey” discusses grades with a client that has been translated from Mandarin to English on the right side of the panel..,

since 2009, sellers have started to target the “easier” classes. SMC’s English Department Chair Jason Beardsley says, “I’ll single out the top ten people or seven people that give unusually high numbers of A’s. Those are always the people whose classes are full early on.” Such discrepancies between grade distributions of classes targeted by scalpers and not targeted by scalpers is shown in the infographic. These graphs show that the grade distributions for the classes up for sale are higher than the ones that are not. “It’s pretty obvious to me that students are fully aware [of the nature of those courses] and very much lining up to take those courses.” This is not the first time students have exploited this discrepancy. Hearn spoke of a previous incident that took place at SMC two years prior. Reports of students scalping reached Hearn’s office, which prompted an investigation. They

discovered that students networked using social media, by advertising the class seats they held. After their investigation, the school began using evidence on the ring of students found selling class spots and old test questions. When Hearn summoned the accused students to her office, they named others also involved. While some students under investigation were current SMC students, many have already transferred. “Some of these students who had transferred on were holding onto their enrollment dates, holding onto classes, and publishing it on social media,” said Hearn. “There was one particular person who had transferred. We found out who that person was, and made the judicial decisions that we had to make with that person.” This particular person, according to Hearn, was the ringleader. A meeting, which involved the college’s

“Big Mouthed Monkey” asks a client if they had gotten the correct grade for them in order to finalize their agreement.

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VOLUME 113 ISSUE 07 • MAY 31, 2017 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE attorney, put a stop to the ringleader and his circle. Specifically in response to this incident, Hearn took these reports to the Academic Student Affair Committee during the 2015-2016 school year. Consequently, the committee added a new rule to the Code of Academic Conduct, rules that specifically establish what is considered academic misconduct. This rule, titled section V, prohibits “the sale, purchase, exchange, distribution or receipt of add codes, class seats, and academic work (Article 4410, V).” The new language and the ensuing investigations, resulted in the number of reports to decrease. “But students are smart,” said Hearn. “As soon as you plug up one hole, there’s another that pops up.” Current problems proves Hearn was right -- and these have been more difficult to crack. The seller’s usernames are displayed on WeChat, but there is little SMC can do without specific identification. “Part of the problem is that people aren’t reporting,” said Hearn. Providers operate using code names, such as ‘Big Mouthed Monkey’. Hearn shared that, from time to time, she receives emails of students trying to expose these activities without sharing actual names. To Hearn, the search then becomes “like a drop in a bucket.” “It’s not fair to students who do it the right way,” said Hearn of the activity. “It’s not fair to students who are waiting in line to get their classes--it’s just not right.” Georgia Lorenz, SMC’s Vice President of Academic Affairs, says regarding these activities, “It’s really disappointing and really frustrating not only because When asked about how he felt about these activities, Talha Adric, an international SMC student, said, “I think this whole thing is unfair because when other people are enrolling in these classes and holding it for a third person they’re holding my right perhaps. Maybe I had the 2nd enrollment date and I was aiming to hold that class… I think it’s really unfair for people who have no idea what’s going on.” Hearn explains that her role is not to punish, but to educate. Referencing SMC’s Code of Academic Conduct, she lays out four possible levels of punishment for students engaged in these activities: a written reprimand, which warns the student not to continue these activities, disciplinary probation, which puts the student on notice that continuing their type of conduct will bring a harsher punishment, suspension and expulsion, both of which are able to be appealed. However, Hearn stresses that she takes a case-by-case approach when dealing out disciplinary action. Hearn explains, “Every case is very different. You may do the same thing this student does, but your cases are very different. So the consequences could either be the same, or they could be very different.” One of her office’s biggest challenges is informing these transgressing students what they are doing is wrong. Hearn says, “I think one of the biggest problems is that people who participate in this [activity] don’t really know the consequences. They don’t know until they get in here.” With 30 years of experience at SMC, Hearn believes these issue can best be solved through fellow students, saying that “when the students reprimand each other, the impact of it is so much greater.” But because community college only have students stay for two years, student initiatives fail to make lasting progress. “They try to get some ideas, they try to play out these ideas, and boom, they’re gone. You guys are here for a season, then you’re gone,” said Hearn. Yet this problem goes beyond her office, it affects the professors and student body as well. Many are perplexed on how these activities can be properly dealt with. Dr. Beardsley says, “where do we stand? Where is the criminality in stake in this impersonation? Because frankly I don’t understand how they [impersonation services] exist. How a service that says, ‘Yes, we will take a class on your behalf and get your grade.’” Yet criminal prosecution appears to remain unlikely. SMC Police Chief Johnnie Adams explains that if these activities break the school’s rules, they only require enough evidence to have more than 50% chance of being true. But when it comes to legal action, the case would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that these students broke the law, which is a much more difficult burden to prove. “These kinds of cases are very complicated… that the school has to go through multiple processes to prove [legally],” Adams says. “Because [for] criminal cases, remember, you’re going to take away somebody’s personal freedoms and then pull them into custody and take away their livelihood.” Visit www.thecorsaironline.com to see a complete story with multimedia components and all the evidence.

An unknown seller, who goes by the name of “Big mouthed monkey” (left), advertises their ability to “substitute” for students within their Math, English, and Web design courses. They use the smartphone application called WeChat to discuss their services. The screen seen to the right of the

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panel translates the text from Mandarin to English.

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PHOTOSTORY

VOLUME 113 ISSUE 07 •MAY 31, 2017 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

Daniel Bowyer Members of the Masonic Lodge of Santa Monica pose a wreath over the grave of the Unknown Soldier as part of the Veterans Acknowledgement Ceremony at the 79th Annual Memorial Day Observance at the Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery in Santa Monica California that took place on May 29, 2017

SANTA MONICA REMEMBERS OUR VETERANS OSCAR CARRANZA Co-Culture Editor RYANNE MENA managing editor

emorial Day, the last Monday of May, is a day to remember those who have fallen while fighting to protect our freedom. It is also a day that is overlooked by many said Santa Monica Mayor Ted Winterer, “So many people take Memorial Day for granted, and they think it’s just a day off. It’s important that we’re here to acknowledge the real meaning of Memorial Day, which is to know those who served their country and died in that cause.” The sky was gloomy and there was a slight breeze. Woodlawn Cemetery hosted its 79th Annual Memorial Day Observance. Flags filled the grounds and moved with the slight breeze. As people made their way to the event area, they exchanged pleasantries and stories of where they served and why they attended the event. Jere Romano, SMC’s Police Sergeant and third generation Marine, said, “Remembering and acknowledging that a lot of the freedoms that we enjoy, the privileges we enjoy, are because of the men and women, ... all of our Armed Forces historically you know that have sacrificed their lives ... so that we could live free." The event, which lasted from

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., was packed full of performances from various groups including the John Adams Middle School Choir and the Santa Monica Oceanaires. Paul Salvo, Co-Principal Trumpet of the Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra, played Military Taps. His trumpet filled the atmosphere. During the performance, a humble and solemn mood froze the crowd. Sergeant Romano also gave a very heartwarming speech. SMC students were present at the event handing out programs and informing the event’s attendees. Ben Kamara, a member of SMC’s Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society, said, “I chose this event [to volunteer at] because I’m very patriotic. It was a great opportunity to help out around the community and really help the veterans and help the American people.” Though it is a day to remember those who lost their lives fighting for their country, it is completely somber. Sergeant Romano said, “Jokes, smiles and laughter will help me and other veterans who have lost friends and family to remember, not that they are gone, but to remember the great times we shared together.”

During the event, they scheduled a roll call and invited the veterans to come to the front and say a few words. All the different parts of our military were represented: Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy and Coast Guard. Jaime Gallo, former commissioner for the Santa Monica Commission on the Status of Women, emceed the event and emphasized that, “It’s important to get a face to the men and women who served.” After the event finished with a bagpipe performance, many veterans stayed and talked to their fellow brothers in arms as the sun began to peek through the clouds at the perfect moment. Cindy Tomlinson, CemeteryAdministrator, said, “This was most successful Memorial Day in the five years I’ve been here we had I’m very pleased. . . the feeling of patriotism [was here] when looking around, some of them are crying.” This event brought members of the community together to remember those we have lost. “To see that there are still so many, you know, Patriots, ... to come out and honor and respect those that have given up their lives, it was very moving” said Sergeant Romano.

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May 29,2017. Santa Monica College Police Sergeant Jere Ramano salutes

Obser

May 29,2017. Santa Monica Mayor Ted Winterer attends the 79th Annual Memorial

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VOLUME 113 ISSUE 07 • MAY 31, 2017 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

PHOTOSTORY

Daniel Bowyer May 29,2017. Paul Salvo principal trumpet player for the Santa Monica Symphony play Taps at the 79th Annual Memorial Day Observance at Woodlawn Cemetery in Santa Monica California.

Daniel Bowyer

s to honor fallen veterans at the 79th Annual Memorial Day

rvance at Woodlawn Cemetery in Santa Monica California.

Daniel Bowyer May 29,2017. Two year old Ziva Ramiez attends the 79th Annual Memorial Day Observance at Woodlawn Cemetery in Santa Monica California, with her father Brandon Ramiez. Brandon a member of The Masonic Mens lodge, in Santa Monica presented a wreath to the tomb of the Daniel Bowyer

unknown soldier.

Day Observance at Woodlawn Cemetery in Santa Monica California.

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CULTURE

VOLUME 113 ISSUE 07 •MAY 31, 2017 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

A MUSLIM PRAYER SPACE ON- CAMPUS SHARES STORAGE WITH THE SCIENCE BUILDING Chelsey Sanchez DIGITAL EDITOR

Down the stairwell in the lobby of the Science Building is a small space packed almost to the brim with metal shelves, empty aquariums, abandoned bottles, and cardboard boxes. An elevator sits in the corner. Two locked doors with faded name plaques muffle the droning sound of some kind of machinery working behind them. A gate with a sign that reads “AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY” and “GATE MUST REMAIN LOCKED AT ALL TIMES,” blocks off a hallway that has exposed pipes running down the ceiling. Evidence of human activity exists beyond the abandoned storage supplies in this private quarter of the Science Building. On a red storage closet that protrudes against one of the walls, there is a taped sign. “Mecca is this way (Please pray accordingly)” with a picture of The Kaaba, one of the most sacred sites in Islam, is in the middle of the paper. Folded prayer mats made of sheepskin, praying outfits and scarves of different varieties, a pile of flyers with information on the Muslim Student Association and another taped sign that lists ten different “Prayer Space Rules” rests among one of the metal shelves. This space at the bottom of the stairwell is open for all Muslim students to pray. Wyam Elkhidir, an organizer for the Muslim Student Association and a psychology student at SMC, undertook the project of opening this space to the public. To her, making this space available was important “because we’re in college and we be praying for our grades.” She publicized the praying space in time for Ramadan, the holy month when Muslims fast in an effort of spiritual discipline. Ramadan started on Friday, May 26 and will end on Saturday, June 24. “I want people to feel like they’re not missing out on [Ramadan] just because we’re far away from home, or whatever it is,” Elkhidir said. “There’s a lot of international Muslim students, and I know them, and it’s hard for them to do Ramadan here because they feel so discouraged.

"...BECAUSE WE’RE IN COLLEGE AND WE BE PRAYING FOR OUR GRADES."

Matthew Martin Wyam Elkhidir, an organizer for the Muslim Student Association and a psychology student at SMC, prays toward Mecca in a Muslim prayer space, which is located down the stairwell in the lobby of the Science Building on the Santa Monica College main campus in Santa Monica California, on Thursday, May 25, 2017.

which she also collaborated with the Muslim Student Association. On Monday, May 15, Elkhidir posted information about the private praying space on SMC’s public Facebook page in order to spread the word about this viable resource for Muslim students. It's a significant resource, especially since Muslims pray five times a day. For Muslim students with afternoon or evening classes this can mean either finding a private spot on campus to pray by themselves or skipping the prayers altogether. Reactions to this space have mostly

They feel like, ‘Nobody does it with me.’” Elkhidir heard of this private space in the Science Building through another student, Birsen Doner, who had been using the space with her friends since 2015. Additionally, Professor Jamey Anderson told the Muslim Student Association’s advisor, Professor Ali Mohsen, that Muslim students have used the storage space for daily prayer since the Science Building’s opening in 1999. The process of making this space widely available for all students took about a week, during

been positive, but some voiced concerns that the space looks like a “cellar.” “I’m not really satisfied with this space because it’s like a basement,” Elkhidir said. People utilizing the space for prayer must share the room with the Science Building’s storage. Stuffed boxes and signs that warn of “FLAMMABLE” and “CORROSIVE” items also cramp the area. In Islam, it is customary to have lines of people in prayer, with men at the front and women in the back. However, in this tighter space, improvisation is necessary. In order to avoid being interrupted during prayer by carts of storage being wheeled in and out of the area, there is only room for one row of people. If women get to the space first, any man who comes afterward usually waits until they’re done before he starts praying. “I don’t think more than two people could pray here at a time,” said Elkhidir as she examined the room around her. “A group could not come in here.” Although Elkhidir never personally misses a daily prayer, since she comes home from school on time, she still empathizes with students who have afternoon or evening classes. Next semester, she hopes to work with the Associated Students and other religious clubs on campus to create a multi-faith room, a kind of sanctuary for students of all religions to come in, meditate and pray. “I feel like if you ask for it, you work towards it, [SMC will] work with you,” said Elkhidir. “But if you just expect it and you don’t voice your concerns, it’s not gonna get done. If there’s not a demand for something, it’s not gonna get done.” For now, however, the space at the bottom of the Science Building’s stairwell will have to do. In meditative silence, one must face the rusted compressor tank that sits beneath the sign that points towards Mecca; one must pray through the din of the restrooms’ blowdryers directly upstairs and through the buzzing of machinery down the hall. It is better than nothing. Elkhidir said, “You work with what you have.”

Matthew Martin

The organizer for the Muslim Student Association and a psychology student at SMC, Wyam Elkhidir,

Wyam Elkhidir, an organizer for the Muslim Student Association and a psychology student at SMC, bows in prayer

prays towards Mecca, which is displayed on the sign taped to the wall, in the Muslim prayer space, located

towards Mecca in a Muslim prayer space, which is located down the stairwell in the lobby of the Science Building on the

down the stairwell in the lobby of the Science Building in the Santa Monica College main campus in Santa

Santa Monica College main campus in Santa Monica Calif., on Thursday, May 25, 2017. Next semester Elkhidir hopes to

Monica California, on Thursday, May 25, 2017. The sign very bluntly states that “Mecca is this way -

work with the Associated Students and other religious clubs on campus to create a multi-faith room, a kind of sanctuary

(Please pray accordingly)” along with a picture of The Kaaba, one of the most sacred sights in Islam.

for students of all religions to come in, meditate and pray.

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CULTURE

VOLUME 113 ISSUE 07 • MAY 31, 2017 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

INVESTING AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

LAZARO CARRANZA opinion editor

Being a college student in today's world is far from easy, and being a graduate is equally strenuous. Student debt has become a dreadful topic among young men, women, and their families. Now, more than ever, current students and graduates are looking for ways to help with expenses. With the new administration in the White House working on budget plans that are bound to affect college students, the future of financial aid and student loan programs are uncertain. However, problems with student debt did not happen overnight; it has been a growing problem in America over the last few years and now it seems to be increasing faster than one might think. Rohit Chopra, a senior fellow at The Consumer Federation of America, told the Washington Post that over 1 million people defaulted on their student loans just last year. It seems that a fairly new but expanding industry of mobile apps could serve as tools for saving money and learning how to invest while struggling with the burden of student debt. Applications like Stash, Acorns, and DIVY allows its users to invest in stocks that may be out of the price range of many by letting them buy fractions of a stock. For example, one share of Apple’s stock recently cost just over $150 dollars. These applications give you the opportunity to own a fraction of one share with as little as $5 to $10 dollars. Acorns is a Newport Beach based investment app that was founded by Jeff and Walter Cruttenden back in 2012 and was really at the forefront of this new wave

of investing in the stock market. Acorns costs $1 a month for accounts that have less than $5000, and if a user's account has over $5000 then the app will take just 0.25 percent a year. Acorns is free for up to four years for college students who can provide a valid .edu address. Every dollar you invest through the app will automatically be split up into many different stocks and bonds that Acorns picks for you based on your financial situation and goals. What makes Acorns unique is that any user can connect their debit or credit card so that any purchase made with your card will automatically be rounded up to the nearest dollar. The difference will be directly invested into your portfolio. According to USA Today, Acorns has over 750,000 users, 75 percent of which are between the ages of 18-34. The New York based app Stash launched in 2015 and was co-founded by its CEO Brandon Krieg and President Ed Robinson. Stash markets itself as an investment app. All you need is $5 dollars to make your first investment. Stash is almost the same as Acorns when it comes to costs. For accounts that have under $5,000 the service is only $1 a month. In accounts that exceed $5,000 Stash will take 0.25 percent a year. In an interview with Forbes.com Krieg said: “Our goal at Stash is to get people to start investing -- in fact, we’re probably the only financial advisor out there that would encourage our investors to give us less money to start.” The app offers pre-made portfolios for users to choose from so they can invest in companies that matter to them. So, if an

investor is interested in companies that focus on clean energy, for example, Stash has a portfolio for that. Stash also does its best to educate users about the complicated world of finance and investing, and make it as simple as possible to understand. According to Forbes.com, Stash currently has over 300,000 users, and is adding 10,000 more a week. The Washington Post also listed Stash as one of five apps that are helping college graduates save money and start investing.

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Stash and Acorns can expect some competition in the mobile world of investing very soon. A fairly new investment application is ready to start making waves in this growing industry. DIVY, which is based out of Los Angeles was founded by

Marc Teren and launched in the Apple App Store just a few months ago on January 4. Similar to Stash and Acorns, DIVY allows its users to invest in the stock market with as little as $10, and encourages them to create a diverse portfolio to reduce the risk of single-stock investments. “With dollar-based investing, our users can create a highly diversified portfolio of stocks -- without needing thousands of dollars,” said Senior Associate of Content and Member Services Hunter Kilburn. DIVY does not charge its users by the month but it does take a commission on each stock. For example, if a $10 trade is made DIVY will only take $0.10, and if a trade of $1000 is made they will only take $1. DIVY serves as a one stop shop for everything market-related. Through the app, users will find a page that is fully devoted to market news from all major websites like CNBC, CNNMoney and Bloomberg. The app also has separate links dedicated to strictly company news, whether it's Apple, Tesla, or Amazon. DIVY will give users a full breakdown of what is happening with any company that they may be invested in. Current Santa Monica College student and member of the DIVY content team, Taylor Trautloff, said the app “goes very much into depth in a way I've never seen another investing app do.” Acorns and Stash are currently available in both the App Store and Google Play store. DIVY is now in beta testing at the App Store, but is expected to fully launch in both the Apple and Google Play stores on June 15.

VETERAN RESOURCE CENTER: HOME AWAY FROM HOME

LINDA AVILAS STAFF WRITER ZIN CHIANG EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MARISA VASQUEZ CO-PHOTO EDITOR

Everyone needs a place where they can feel comfortable, either at work, school, or home. This is especially true for veterans, who are just getting out of the military and heading back to school. Concepcion Ortega, who served in the U.S. Marine Corp for eight years, and is hoping to transfer to Loyola Marymount University next spring with a Psych major, explains that the Veterans Resource Center provides a place of comfort for him to transition into civilian life. “I love the Veterans Resource Center,” explains Ortega, “It’s like a second home to me; I have no family here in California, so I spend a lot of time at the center. It’s a nice place where I really feel comfortable." Santa Monica College not only has a safe space for veterans to study but also allows benefits for their student experience. This is all thanks to the Veterans Resource Center (VRC). Not only does The Veteran Resource Center provide a home away from home, it also helps veterans obtain their financial benefits as well as access to job training. Linda Sinclair, the faculty leader of the VRC, states that "many of the veterans who are honorably discharged from the armed forces can get money to go to school." This is possible through the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) which provides veterans with tuition and fee payments, monthly housing allowances, and books and supplies stipend. The VCR puts this at a high priority and gives much-needed help with navigating the complex and volatile bureaucratic

Emeline Moquillon Concepcion Ortega (right), Veteran and Psych major at Santa Monica College, welcomes students at the Veterans Resource Center. Michael De Leon(left), 25 and also a veteran, is visiting the center as he will study Business this Fall 2017. Photo taken on May 16, 2017 at the Santa Monica Veterans Resource Center, Calif., by Emeline Moquillon.Concepcion Ortega (left), Veteran and Psych major at Santa Monica College welcomes students at the Veterans Resource Center. Here with a new comer, Michael De Leon (right), 25 and also a veteran who will start to study Business this Fall 2017. Photo taken on May 16, 2017 at the Santa Monica Veterans Resource Center, Calif.,

process. Martha Romano, the Senior Student Services Specialist at the center said, "There are rules that have to be followed between the Veterans Administration and the school, and they have to make sure they are followed." These rules, however, change all the time and can be confusing. On March 17, 2017, the U.S. Department of Veterans

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Affairs (VA) announced a delay in G.I. Bill Benefits. “We are experiencing some processing delays for certain Veterans and service members primarily because we initiated a review of previously processed claims.” says the announcement on their official website, citing additional reviews that requires inquiries into training dates @THE_CORSAIR •

and service time with the Department of Defense as the cause. Although the VRC’s service is now a staple on campus, the availability of such support was a recent addition. Sinclair, who has worked with veterans for decades, noticed that before the VCR was established, veterans were not receiving the help or support that they needed. "The types of services the veterans got when they returned to school was not much more than just getting their benefits," she said. "I worked with the veterans coming back from Vietnam. They were treated terribly when they returned to the States because of the political climate, and there just weren't a lot of services for them. They came in to do their paperwork and got paid, and that was it," she remembered. "There were no programs on campus for the veterans, so we here at SMC wanted to give the veterans the best service that we could, so we added a Veterans Resource Center," said Sinclair. The VRC serves between 350 to 450 veterans per semester and also helps the children of some service members. If the veterans were injured, under certain conditions, their children may qualify for educational benefits. The services offered include tutoring and a place to hang out to feel comfortable. "We want the veterans to be as comfortable as they can be," said Sinclair. To make the veterans build a community and connect with others, the VRC has also hosted events such as college campus tours and a veteran’s Surf Camp— where the Jimmy Miller Surfrider Foundation gave surfing classes on the beach.

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OPINION

VOLUME 113 ISSUE 07 •MAY 31, 2017 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

I CRAM BECAUSE I HAVE TO! MAZYAR MAHDAVIFAR STAFF WRITER

WHO IS MORE RESPONSIBLE? STUDENTS, TEACHERS, OR THE EDUCATION SYSTEM?

It is almost final exam week, and everyone is trying to get ready. Although different students follow different methods of studying, according to the results of a study published on BBC, 99 percent of students admit to cramming at least once. The results indicate that even “good students” do cram sometimes. Just look up the word “cramming” on the internet, and you will realize how popular this method is among all students. Is cramming a proper method for studying? The answer depends on what you expect from it. Jose Perez, a student at Santa Monica College, says, “I’m here to collect the credits I need to transfer to the University. Who cares if I remember this information or not? I take 12 units each semester and only study the nights before the exams. So far, so good!” To be honest, Perez is not completely wrong. In fact, cramming can be effective in some circumstances. When you have not had any chance to study during the semester, you only have a few hours to put all the information from the textbook into your brain. Of course, it sometimes works, as Perez claims. However, looking at the big picture, cramming has some seriously adverse effects. When you put an enormous amount of information into your brain in a short period of time, your brain cannot save all of it. In fact, you only can maintain

this information for a short time. After this period, your brain will lose the data, and it would be like you have never studied that material. Cramming prevents the information from moving to your longterm memory. So in any case, if you need to use this data again for future exams or jobs, you have no chance to retrieve it. But that’s not the entire story. Different parts of the brain are responsible for processing different forms of memory. When you study for many consecutive hours, you look at your textbook pages over and over. In this case, you are using the sensory areas of your brain such as the visual cortex. As a result, you may recognize all materials because they are familiar to your visual memory. But it does not mean that you would be successful at recalling the information. The process of recalling the information happens somewhere else in your brain’s frontal and temporal lobes. That is why some students are so confident before the test but cannot remember any information as soon as they start it. Procrastination is one of the reasons why some students cram. They are too busy with their other works, so they do not have enough chance to study during the semester. Therefore, cramming is the only method that can help them. But it’s not the entire story. Our educational system is also one of the main reasons why a lot of students use cramming as a method. Most teachers think of their students as ATMs. Just like a person would insert

money into ATMs, teachers expect students to take in unrealistic amounts of information. When they give their students so much information without activating their metacognitive process and expect them to return it back, the students have to find a way to do what their teachers expect, which is why cramming happens. More than five decades ago, Paulo Freire, the eminent Brazilian educator, addressed this issue. In his book, Pedagogy of Oppressed, Freire criticized an education system in which the teachers focus on depositing information on their students’ minds. Freire claims that this system of banking education was based on a paternalistic approach to education -- the teacher is the one who speaks, and the students should only obey the teacher. He or she is the person who leads the class, makes the rules and regulations, speaks, and decides on every aspect of the class. The banking concept believes that students are the listening objects of the class and should play their role as “good listeners” and try to be “great containers” for what their teachers are supposed to deposit on their minds. Such a system is an obstacle for students’ creativity and critical thinking, and that is why this method has been used by oppressors for a long time. Unfortunately, we are still struggling with this banking concept of education. Imagine that you have enrolled in four different courses for a semester, and for each of them, you need to study, memo-

rize, and recall a 500-page textbook. Do you think there would be an alternative for cramming? As you see, we cannot blame students who cram. As yet, educators and thinkers have proposed different alternatives for the banking system. However, among all these proposals, the problem-posing system is the one that can be an appropriate replacement for the banking system and is able to resolve most of its issues. According to this method, when we overcome the teacher-student contradiction, we will solve the problems caused by banking education. In fact, we need the position of teacher and students to be interchangeable, that is, at the same time, a teacher should be a student, and each student should be a teacher. It only happens through dialogue. In such a system, the teacher never gives you a final exam. He or she evaluates you throughout the semester and according to how you think about the concepts, not how you memorize the definitions. Sounds good, doesn't it? Should we change the education system? Are there any alternative methods to cramming? Or is cramming still the best option for us to handle final exams? There might be some better resolutions, but we just have a few days left until final exams. Therefore, if you have not studied throughout the semester, it means at least for this semester you cannot use other methods, so let’s grab our cup of coffee and cram!

I AM N OT MY G PA MY TRANSCRIPT HAS A STORY TO TELL RYANNE MENA MANAGING EDITOR

The pressure of earning the grades you want, or need, each school semester is a stress many college students know all too well. What can also make that all more difficult is having to deal with one’s own mental health issues. Now, what does one’s mental health and GPA have to do with the other? Pretty much everything. I learned this by going through my own mental health issues. My first semester at Santa Monica College went terribly. On the surface, everything seemed fine. More than fine actually. I went to class and did the best I could to learn what was expected of a student. Even though I worked hard at my school work, it still was not enough. I did my homework and went to class on time every day. I tried my hardest to pay attention to everything the teacher tried to cram in into one class period. I did that repeatedly until my final exam. I ended up failing. Does this sound familiar at all? I thought, ‘What is wrong with me? Am I just dumb?’. Bad grade after bad grade, it became more and more difficult to find the motivation to even try anymore, especially with how much my GPA had suffered. ‘What the f*ck is wrong with me?’ kept looping in my head over and over again. That was my story of my first semester in college. Do I have a low IQ? No. Were my professors to blame? No. There is no one to blame. When your mental health isn’t being taken care of, it is very difficult to do as well in school as you’d like, let alone be happy. As it turned out, I was not healthy. I had been struggling with severe depression and an eating disorder. These mental disorders I had developed consumed my entire being. So much so, that I had to take time off of school to get better. I had no choice but to seek help at

Illustration by Ramses Lemus

a treatment facility if I wanted to achieve my goals in school and life. If my own mind wasn’t functioning well, then how could I possibly have the academic career I wanted? Jacqueline Ramirez, a current student at Santa Monica College, knows first-hand how one’s mental health can affect their academic life. She struggles with depression herself. There have been times where getting up in the morning for class was a task too difficult for her to accomplish. “The same thing happened to me like my senior year, cause like I was involved with so many things that like, I wanted to put so many things on my college application. It was just too overwhelming for me. I couldn't really like handle it anymore,” says Ramirez. Having the support of friends and family has been vital for Ramirez to stay on track to transfer. “Schools don't know what you're dealing with. Like they don't know about your mental health. So like there's no way for them to know that your grades only slipped because you're like depressed or got anxiety or something like that” says Ramirez.

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Luckily, SMC’s Center for Wellness & Wellbeing offers psychological services for students. Doctor Deborah Matian, a staff member at The Center for Wellness & Wellbeing, sees an increased number of students coming in for an appointment when students approach midterms and finals week. The pressure to do well in school is especially high during these times. “There has to be some anxiety or some stress driving you cause not all stress is bad. A little bit of stress, it's called "you stress", it's actually good, it drives us that makes us do things. It makes us motivated. So it's something that any student probably has some of, but then it can go a little overboard” says Doctor Matian. Personally speaking, it is very easy to go overboard. There are times where I sacrifice an adequate amount of sleep to study more. “There's the old mentality of... 'pull yourself up by your bootstraps and keep moving forward,' and while that's a great mentality in certain situations it doesn't always work when we're not doing okay, nowhere” says Doctor Matian. Having both my mental and physical health back has allowed me to earn the grades I have always wanted. Even though I'm currently nowhere near where I want it, I know there’s a back story to tell. My GPA is not an accurate depiction of my intelligence or my current motivation to do well in school. It sucks that many colleges and universities take student’s GPA’s at face value. The struggles I have been through in life show through my transcript. My first few semesters were not great, it was only at the time when I became mentally healthy again when B’s and A’s started showing up on my transcript. My transcript has a story to tell, and it is a story colleges and universities should be willing to hear. /THECORSAIRNEWS •

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SPORTS

VOLUME 113 ISSUE 07 • MAY 31, 2017 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

TROY BARNES SPORT COLUMNIST

MLS MEANS BUSINESS

Soccer is the pulse of Europe and the nagging itch of America. While we stateside are far more privy to the sports we’ve created, soccer culture has thrived since the founding of Major League Soccer (MLS) in 1993. Our puppy love phase with soccer has evolved into something serious. Now with its success and growth, the sky is the limit for MLS. For fans though, nothing would be more important or fun to watch than our league rivaling and challenging the best of Europe. MLS commissioner Don Garber has promised since 2013 that by 2022, MLS will be among the best leagues in the world. "There is no reason that in time Major League Soccer can't be competitive with the world's best," Garber said to ESPN FC in 2013. "It's going to take a lot of hard work and continued investment." The MLS has all the potential in the world to get to the level of Garber’s pipe dream, all American fans need is patience. The biggest advantage that European clubs have on MLS is age. Because many English, Spanish, French, German, and Italian clubs arose around the turn of the 20th century, they have had the advantage of the better part of a century to develop their prominence. But for how young of a league MLS is, it’s developed at an amazing rate and attracted some incredible talent over the last 24 years such as David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Frank Lampard, and more recently David Villa and Ricardo Kaka. In MLS, legends have been born quickly, as was the case of SoCal local Landon Donovan. In his 10 seasons with the LA Galaxy, Donovan notched 144 goals and 136 assists in league play during his career and remains the all-time leader in goals and assists for the US Men’s National Team and in contention for best MLS player of all time. Donovan gives life to the case that legendary talent can come out of the states, but one of the most important things US clubs can do is pursue the youth of Europe and make the US a viable destination to start a career. An investment in academies overseas would be another

huge spur into developing the kind of talent needed to become one of the best leagues in the world. The English, Spanish, and German clubs have already started academies in the states, recognizing a new growing market and cashing in on American athletic experience. Arsenal has their Soccer School in New Jersey, Bayern has theirs in Boston, and Barcelona has set up numerous FCBEscola academies across the country.

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Youth academies in MLS have already produced wonderful players such as Los Angeles’ own Gyasi Zardes and Dallas’ Kellyn Acosta and both have very promising careers ahead of them. With MLS setting up academies across the world, a new pool of diverse talent would be available to come and help American soccer evolve into what it should be. For Americans though, we have a firm vision of what football is in our minds. But as of recently, the NFL has

been slowly declining in viewership. According to ESPN, daytime games on CBS and FOX were down six to seven percent overall in 2017 and in the months leading up to the election and in the middle of the NFL season, viewership was down by 14 percent compared to 2015 due to commissioner Roger Goodell and others’ political views. A host of various reasons are responsible for the decline, but primarily the concussion crisis and political differences have become the biggest factors that have driven down the popularity of the NFL. With a new vacuum opening up in the American sports world, now is the perfect time for MLS teams to batten down the hatches on the marketing end and draw in as many new fans as possible. The number one thing that American soccer fans will want to see is competition for major cups. MLS is able to send up to five teams to compete in the CONCACAF Champions League, but many people don’t even know the tournament exists. The CONCACAF is the North American Confederation of FIFA and every year the winner of the tournament gets to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup where the top clubs from every confederation across the world. For MLS, the FIFA Club World Cup is the highest trophy they can lift. However only the 2001 CONCACAF Champion LA Galaxy have been the only American side to qualify for the Cup, and their dreams were cut short when the entire tournament was canceled in 2001 due to a collapse in marketing power for FIFA. MLS clubs Real Salt Lake, FC Dallas, Montreal Impact, have all found success in the CONCACAF, with Real Salt Lake being the runners up in 2011. With MLS siding as regulars in the tournament, it is only a matter of time before we see one of our teams walking out of the tunnels getting ready for the biggest game any MLS club has ever played. Soccer will eventually become more than a subconscious thought in the minds of most Americans. Garber’s pipe dream is far-fetched, but entirely realistic. For us fans, the time has finally come for MLS to get the respect it needs and deserves. Soccer is a sport full to the gills with glory, and we’re thirsting for some of that glory stateside.

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