Vol. 103 Issue 03

VOLUME 103 ISSUE 3 MARCH 7, 2012

students take to capitol in protest pg.4

COVER PHOTO BY MICHAEL PRICE

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2|CONTENTS

WEDNESDAY MARCH 7, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

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corrections and retractions:

Last week, in an article titled “Sudanese ‘Lost Boy’ speaks to collegians,” The Corsair incorrectly stated that Alphonsion Deng’s village was attacked by South Sudanese rebels.

His village was in fact attacked by Northern Sudanese rebels.

Michael Yanow Corsair

A woman walks on campus using an umbrella to block the sun on Monday.

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NEWS|3

WEDNESDAY MARCH 7, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

SMC Spring Literary Series begins March 8 Susanna Svensson Staff Writer The Santa Monica College Spring Literary Series kicks off Thursday, March 8 with SMC English instructor Tupelo Hassman’s debut novel “Girlchild.”

Hassman will discuss her book at 11:15 a.m. in the Humanities and Social Science lecture hall in room 165, on SMC’s main campus.

“Girlchild” is Hassman’s first novel, and was published in February by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. The narrator is Rory Dawn Hendrix, an academically gifted young girl who grows up in the Calle, a trailer park outside of Reno, Nev. in the 1980’s.

“I think the book might relate to the SMC student population because I was a first generation college student,” Hassman said. “Part of what Rory Dawn goes through in doing well in school, is that she has to deal with her family not understanding why it’s important.”

When she is not touring to promote her book, Hassman teaches online English classes at SMC. She attended SMC for four years. “I didn’t graduate high school, so going to a community college was definitely the way that I had to start,” she said. “And I’m so happy that I did, because I love all the choices we have at community

college.”

Hassman stated that many first generation college students share the problems of her novel’s main character, Rory Dawn. “I did a report on the dropout rate of first generation college students as an undergrad, and at that time it was a third higher than the typical population,” she said.

“So I think that is one thing about the book that is useful to our school population,” Hassman said. “That [being a first generation student] is traumatic.

It doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t do it.

It doesn’t mean that your family is doing anything wrong. It can just be painful.”

When asked about the Literary Series, Hassman confessed that she went to only one reading while attending SMC. “I worked full time when I was there, so it was hard to do these other things,” said Hassman. “One of my regrets as a graduate is that I didn’t take advantage of more of the amazing options that SMC and most schools offer.”

The Literary Series is sponsored by SMC Associates, a community group that makes campus events, speakers, and performances outside of the classroom possible for students. According to SMC’s

Museum of Flying reopens next to SMC’s Bundy campus Andy Riesmeyer Staff Writer A Douglas A-4 Skyhawk fighter jet basks in the afternoon sun as hundreds of visitors take photos. Children press their faces up against the aircraft windows to get a glimpse of the cockpits and instrument panels inside. After being closed for nearly a decade, Santa Monica’s Museum of Flying opened its doors to a crowd of over 700 aviation enthusiasts on Saturday, Feb. 25.

The Museum of Flying is located at the Santa Monica Airport on the west side of SMC’s Bundy campus. The Museum of Flying is a 22,000-squarefoot facility with a wide collection of aircraft and aviation memorabilia.

Managing Director Daniel J. Ryan is hopeful that the museum’s close proximity to SMC will bring inquisitive students through the doors. According to Ryan, the museum desires to be an educational asset for the community.

“We hope we’re inspiring future engineers, technicians and pilots,” Ryan said.

The museum offers displays and interactive exhibits which educate visitors on the history of Santa Monica Airport and the Douglas Aircraft Company, an aerospace manufacturer that built the first aircraft to circumnavigate the globe in 1924.

“The first truly successful commercial airliner was the Douglas DC-3,” Ryan said. “It was born here.”

The museum has had a long history at the Santa Monica Airport. According to the California State Department website, financial woes forced the museum to close in 2002. Since then, the Museum of Flying non-for-profit group has raised a little over $5 million for their operations.

So far, $4 million have been spent on

development and acquisitions for the museum, according to Ryan. “We’d like to keep an extra $1 million as a kind of mini-endowment for future expansion and more acquisitions,” he says.

Funding comes from donors and admission sales. Ryan is optimistic about the future, and hopes for people to continue to support the preservation of the Santa Monica Airport and Douglas Aircraft Company history.

The museum’s proximity to Hollywood has its advantages, according to Ryan.

The producers of the blockbuster movie, “Night at the Museum,” donated two replicas: a Wright Flyer and a Lockheed Vega.

The museum has a collection of two dozen aircrafts, ranging from single engine planes like the Cessna 150 to the famous BD-5 Microjet, which made an appearance in the 1983 James Bond movie, “Octopussy.”

The last Douglas DC-3, produced in 1942, is displayed on the front lawn of the Museum of Flying with the words “Spirit of Santa Monica” written in red across the white fuselage. It was Donald Douglas’ personal plane before it was donated to the city of Santa Monica by the Museum.

Ryan is currently preparing for the upcoming weekend’s crowds. Final changes are being made to the nose section of a Boeing 727, a plane donated by FedEx in October 2009, according to the Museum of Flying’s website.

museum of flying 3100 Airport Avenue Santa Monica, Ca 90405 fri-sun 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. students receive a 20% discounted admission at $8

website, the SMC Associates was founded in 1981 by a group of community leaders and college educators with a mission to enrich the college campus environment and to broaden students’ understanding and appreciation of the larger world.

“We want students to learn something outside of the classroom; that’s the value of all this,” said Judy Neveau, Director of Community Relations at SMC Associates.

Neveau is also director of the Literary Series.

This is the ninth year of the Literary Series. There will be a total of four authors scattered throughout the semester. “We try to get authors that appeal to our students,” Neveau said. “Students can expect to hear a nice cross section of voices and current literature.”

This spring, students will get the chance to attend readings with distinguished writers such as Tom McNeal, author of “Goodnight, Nebraska,” and awardwinning poets, like Lory Bedikian and Cassandra Love. All lectures take place in HSS 165 between 11:15 a.m. and 12:35 p.m.

“If you attend the series all four times, you will get a diverse assortment of authors and a variety of voices,” Neveau said.

Literary Series Calendar Tupelo Hassman • Girlchild Thu, March 8 | 11:15am | Free | HSS 165 SMC English instructor and a contributing author to “Heliography”— the first tour in the Invisible City Audio Tours series—discusses and reads from her debut novel.

Tom McNeal • To Be Sung Underwater Tue, April 17 | 11:15am | Free | HSS 165 “Goodnight, Nebraska” author who was a Wallace Stegner Fellow and a Jones Lecturer at Stanford University reads from his second novel, a love story of a woman trying to remember and a man who can’t forget.

Lory Bedikian • The Book of Lamenting Tue, May 1 | 11:15am | Free | HSS 165 Author whose poems have appeared in Poetry International and other journals and included in Blue Arc West: An Anthology of California Poets reads from her recent work, awarded the 2010 Philip Levine Prize in Poetry.

Cassandra Love • Swagger is a Woman Thu, May 10 | 11:15am | Free | HSS 165 Award-winning poet who hosts the For the Love of Poetry show on BlogTalkRadio and whose works have appeared in journals and anthologies reads from her first book of poetry.

Student Advocacy Conference Jose Balderas Corsair Harrison Wills (right) Association of Students president speaks with Yonatan Mallinger (center) and Candice Yamaguchi (left) about the Community College Student Advocacy and Organizing Conference and the Organizing Conference being held at Los Angeles TradeTechnical College last Thursday on campus.

Peter Cheng Staff Writer California EmpowerED, a California Community College advocacy group, is hosting a Community College Student Advocacy and Organizing Conference (CCSAOC) on Saturday, March 24, to help students learn how to organize themselves and make their voices heard.

The CCSAOC will take place at the Los Angeles Trade-Technical College campus in the big tent behind the student services building from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

One of the conference organizers, Dr. Cynthia Mosqueda, Faculty Coordinator and Counselor at El Camino College, said she was compelled to participate because students kept asking her what they could do to help improve their situation.

Dr. Mosqueda was also concerned that community college students were not as vocal as UC and CSU students when it comes to student advocacy. Dr. Mosqueda believes there are around 120 students registered to attend the conference at the last count.

SMC AS President, Harrison Wills, often attends conferences similar to the CCSAOC. Wills believes they are essential and says that students’ “understanding of how the system works on an intricate level” is key to being able to change it in a way that will benefit

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them.

The student advocacy leaders who will be attending the conference “have spent a lifetime understanding advocacy,” Wills said.

He hopes that their knowledge will educate students on how to stand up for themselves.

According to SMC student activist Mikhail Pronilover, students will more than merely learn from experienced organizers if they attend the CCSAOC. Pronilover believes that the conference is a good opportunity for students to “network with other campuses and coordinate towards a unified, statewide movement.”

Dr. Mosqueda expects representatives of the LA Community Colleges and Orange County schools to be in attendance. John R. McDowell Jr., Founding Director for the Labor Center at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College and participant in the CCSAOC states, “This is a critical time for students to speak out and get organized,” because the impending budget cuts are “devastating” especially in midyear.

“We’re dealing with a problem we don’t deserve,” said Wills. “We have a set of solutions that we are not applying.” Wills compels all students to participate in student advacocy and become a part of the “solution.”

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4|NEWS

WEDNESDAY MARCH 7, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

Protesters Storm California Capital

Students draw ire at Board of Trustees meeting Nathan Gawronsky + Emelia Reyes Editor-In-Chief + Staff Writer

A sign is seen in front of a tree at the March in March rally.

Michael Price Corsair

A sense of revolution was in the air, as the sounds of cries and drumbeats filled the streets of Sacramento on Monday, March 5. City workers and politicians looked through their office windows in awe of the mass of students marching and chanting down the streets leading to the Capitol building.

Around 12,000 California college students and occupy supporters protested budget cuts enacted by Gov. Jerry Brown on public colleges and universities across the state, according to Harrison Wills, SMC AS President.

California Community Colleges have had an estimated $400 million deficit leading to reduced enrollment capacity and higher tuition fees, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education website. “This is a crisis. This is what a crisis looks like,” said Wills during an interview with The Corsair the day after the protest.

A host of politicians such as California State Assembly Speaker, John A. Perez, and Senate President pro tem Darrell Steinberg, were present at the [See MARCH, Pg.7]

Michael Yanow Corsair Superintendent and President of Santa Monica College Dr. Chui L. Tsang addresses the Santa Monica Community College District Board of Trustees and assembly on Tuesday night.

Standing in front of the Santa Monica College Board of Trustees (BOT) and the students and faculty assembled in the boardroom of SMC, Courtney Aravena, an SMC student, described herself as “poor,” with no financial aide, “nothing.”

“If you pass this measure, what happens to my education,” Aravena asked the Trustees before her, her eyes welled with tears and her voice choked with emotion.

Aravena, along with a large contingent of students, attended last night’s BOT meeting with the sole purpose of voicing their concerns over two items on the agenda. The items, described on the official BOT agenda as “Guiding principles for openenrollment contract education programs,” drew considerable ire from students, and not least of all the Associated Students.

By the end of the meeting, the BOT voted to postpone the motion, which elicited cries of “stop the cuts!” from the group of students.

AS president Harrison Wills claimed the item was part of an agenda to privatize education at SMC, and that the cost per unit could climb to $200. He did not offer details to this claim.

“What are we supposed to do?

We’re not going to outsource public services to private companies,” said Wills in his public comments to the BOT, drawing applause from students assembled in the adjacent room.

Mikhail Pronilover, a student who also spoke during the meeting, went as far as to describe the BOT as “shock troops” for a campaign to privatize public services, in this case public education.

In response to the claim

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that private companies would become involved in the measure, and therefore be in a position to provide courses at SMC, President and Superintendent Chui L. Tsang said “that must be a new initiative that I am not aware of,” and that he had “no knowledge” of it.

Nevertheless, Tsang was unable to calm the atmosphere of fear and mistrust. “You are literally taking students out of this community,” said Robyn Barrios, a student who spoke during the meeting. “I will stand and defend the students of SMC until I no longer can.”

The AS and students were still upset after the meeting, despite the motion to postpone the measure. “There will be a strong response and strong resistance if mission statements are not met,” said Wills. “We will have to take direct action to oppose this.”

Wills described “direct action” as students occupying public spaces, reaching out to media organizations, and petitioning local communities and elected officials to promote their position.

Pronilover also announced after the meeting that there would be an open gathering at the quad Thursday at 11:30 a.m.

The goal of the meeting is to create awareness for students, and to educate students in the issues surrounding class cancellations and unit prices escalating to “200 dollars per unit.”

Wills addressed the crowd of students at the end of the meeting: “I’m willing to give up everything for this.

“I’m tired of asking for permission for what’s rightfully ours.”

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OPINION|5

WEDNESDAY MARCH 7, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

Is the SMC library turning into a nursery?

Daniel Dokter Staff Writer Walking through the library, anyone looking to study in a soft, plush chair will be sorry to see all of the seating taken up by “student nappers.” Most college students can agree that we do not get enough sleep, and that even a brief nap in the library can be crucial to a student’s sleep schedule. But SMC needs to designate a specific area to nap in, so other students can get actual schoolwork done in the library.

The SMC library should crack down on this behavior so that students who need the library for study purposes can do so. After all, that is what the library was built for.

“It’s frustrating not finding any place to study,” said Jonothon Diaz, an SMC student. He goes on to explain that he does not mind other students sleeping in the library, just the amount of space they take up doing so.

Others will disagree and maintain that the library should allow napping because of the large workload and lack of sleep that many students face.

Common human experience and

scientific research both prove, after all, that the mind needs rest to function properly.

A little nap between studying for tests and attending classes goes a long way.

Sleeping in the library might be a hassle to students who come to study and do not find a place to sit, but at some point in their academic career they will be those students whose eye lids get heavier in the middle of the day.

“I think they should have a place for others to nap because it’s kind of annoying not finding a place to study when I have work after school,” said Marissa Estrada, another SMC student and frequent library-user.

“I like to get as much work done as possible at school so I can rest at home.”

The SMC library does not have any future plans to make a special place for students to rest, so it looks like sleeping students will continue to dominate library seating intended for studying for quite a while.

Award Shows: More Bling Than Bang Christina Sziatinszky Staff Writer While hosting the Oscars, Billy Crystal said, “Nothing takes the sting out of these tough economic times like watching a bunch of millionaires giving golden statues to each other.”

The audience greeted it with laughs, amused by the opening joke – yet that’s basically what the Oscars are about.

Stars and Fans alike spend months looking forward to this day of glory, and Los Angeles works itself into a frenzy in the weeks of preparation that precedes each show.

But what else could one expect from the city that’s home to America’s entertainment industry, including tens of thousands of

actors, and major headquarters to several production sudios like Universal Studios, Paramount Pictures, and Warner Bros.

In Los Angeles, it is no surprise that the award show season is hyped up to be a phenomenal occurrence. Celebrations like the VMA’s, the Golden Globes, the Grammys, and the Oscars seem to take up more attention than presidential elections, according to the Media Market Journal, an estimated 35 million viewers tuned in just to watch this years’ 84th Academy Awards.

What really seems strange is how the red carpet coverage was just as long, if not longer, than the actual Academy Awards.

Shouldn’t the award show itself be more

Illustration By Jhosef Hern

important than its wardrobe aspect?

But who are we kidding? We live in America, where looks undermine talent any day.

This is how people know they live in a materialistic world: when “who wore what” and “who looked best” trump “who won” in an award show. Appearance matters most, with cinematic honors taking a backseat to aesthetics. People just can’t seem to get enough of Angelina Jolie’s leg or Jennifer Lopez’ dress “malfunction.”

Though award shows are often overrated, this doesn’t mean that the shows should not exist.

Actors and musicians should definitely be awarded for their work.

The public demands so much from the stars in entertainment, they should be applauded for having to deal with overly critical viewers and crazy, prowling fans.

Rising stars like Octavia Spencer (The Help) certainly deserve their Oscar wins.

It’s great these movies and actors praised, as they should be; but do there really need to be so many award shows for this to happen? This year has already seen so many ceremonies, including the SAG

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Awards, the Golden Globes, the Grammy’s and the Academy Awards; still to come are the VMA’s in June and the Emmys in September.

Having ten different ceremonies a year is unnecessary - fitting everything into one or two big award shows would do the trick.

And since it’s not enough to have millions of adult viewers praise stars at such a ridiculous number of award shows, they have to have a special day set aside just for kids and teens too.

Along with all the other shows dominating the entertainment awards sphere, there are also the Kids and Teen Choice Awards.

It would make sense if these shows were for young and rising performers, but the fact that adult artists attend these shows to win an oversized surfboard never ceases to amuse and confuse anyone who stops to think about it.

The Kids Choice Awards is scheduled to air March 31, and the Teen Choice Awards on August 5.

Just wait and see how millions of viewers will adhere to these showings as well, stretching the award show season throughout the year.

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6|PHOTOSTORY

WEDNESDAY MARCH 7, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

Photos by Michael Price Text by Christian Carrillo [continued from protestors, Pg.4]

steps of the Capitol to address the crowd and their concerns.

“Thank you for coming to your state Capitol,” Steinberg said.

“You own this place! You have the right to be mad!”

Steinberg admitted to the crowd that California made a mistake in making substantial budget cuts toward higher education funding, and that he was disconcerted by the state’s decision.

The angry crowd responded skeptically to Steinberg’s admittance of the state’s mistake, and yelled, “Show us!“ Steinberg explained to the crowd that the state legislators were in the process of concretizing a five-point plan that would subsidize higher public education and reduce tuition fees by two-thirds.

The response did not bring satisfaction to the crowd, which consequently entered the Capitol building and continued their protest inside. Leaders of the crowd were able to meet with assembly members and senators and made a list of requests that meet their educational needs in the hallways of the Capitol.

They demanded that legislators reform the state governance by restoring funding for public education, giving an amnesty to student debts, and raising taxes on the rich. “An oil extraction tax—not a tax on consumers at the pump—but on corporations who are having record breaking profits drilling oil off California’s coast,” is a new policy the state should implement, said Wills.

“The humblest thing we’re asking our elected officials to do is to go beyond their position,” Wills said.

The police subsequently arrested a majority of the student protestors after they refused to leave the building. “It’s a shame that people got arrested!” said SMC student Miguel Quintero.

“I am happy to see that something is being done about the fee hikes and budget cuts that are being passed in California.”

A March in March protest against budget cuts on public colleges and universities took place last year in Sacramento.

This year’s protest attracted a greater number of SMC students, according to Wills. He said, “Almost the entire bus from SMC said that not only was it their first activist activity, they were universally inspired.”

Last year’s protest did not get as much attention as it should have, according to SMC student activist, Andres Anderson.

“We were duly ignored last year,” Anderson said. “We were in front of the Capitol and basically nobody came out. There was no real dialogue.”

Wills hopes that this year’s protest will have more of an impact and will force elected representatives to restore higher education funding. “If you want to restore hope, you fund education,” Wills said.

College students demonstrate for more classes, lower fees and more investment in education as a part of the March in M

General view of the state capitol during the March in March protest in Sacramento, Calif. on Monday.

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PHOTOSTORY|7

WEDNESDAY MARCH 7, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

Greg Washington, president of the Calif. State Student Association, speaks to crowd at the March in March.

March in Sacramento, Calif. on Monday.

A protester lends her support for betterfunded education.

Santa Monica College student Parker Jean, member of the SMC organizing committee for the March in March, rides the bus home with other SMC students from Sacramento.

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8| HEALTH + LIFESTYLE

WEDNESDAY MARCH 7, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

Adderall abuse on the increase among students Chavi Gourarie Staff Writer

When G speaks, you hear his private school education come through, although much has happened since. At Clover Park, he discussed prescription drug abuse, a topic he knows about firsthand. In order to be interviewed for this article, G spoke on condition of anonymity. In sure, articulate sentences, he drew a picture, not of Oxycodone, Xanax and Vicodin – the medications that receive as much press as the celebrities who overdose on them – but of the rampant use of Adderall, a prescription drug he has been selling to students at a number of Los Angeles colleges.

Adderall is a psychostimulant used in the treatment of ADD/ADHD. But on college campuses, it is better known as a “study drug,” and is often misused by ADD and non-ADD students alike to enhance academic performance.

Adderall, and similar drugs like Ritalin and Concerta, work by releasing dopamine into the neural pathways. These drugs stimulate the brain, allow it to hyperfocus, eliminate the need for sleep, and reduce appetite.

According to research conducted by Alan Desantis of the University of Kentucky, 34 percent of college students have taken stimulant drugs without a prescription. For juniors and seniors, the number is over 50 percent, and in fraternities, it is as high as 80 percent. Most students obtain the

drugs from friends who have received them legitimately. Others fake ADD symptoms, which are just a Google search away, to receive a steady, legal supply from doctors.

T, an SMC student who also agreed to an interview on condition of anonymity, was pre-med at a highly competitive university in New York.

She was nonchalant about the use of Adderall on her campus.

“Weed was to chill, coke was to party, and Adderall was to study,” she said.

During exam week, T would prepare for all-nighters with Powerade, two liters of water, and an Adderall pill.

“It would put you in a trench, in a zone,” she said of time-release Adderall, which enabled her to study for eight hours straight.

Adderall is an amphetamine, sharing a core ingredient with the notoriously addictive methamphetamine.

Just like meth and cocaine, it is legally a Schedule II drug, which classifies it as highly addictive and susceptible to abuse.

Possession is a felony offense in California.

G was prescribed Adderall in middle school after being diagnosed with ADHD. At 14, he tried marijuana for the first time, and has since experimented with and sworn off many drugs. Yet, he is incredulous that his first exposure to an addictive drug came under the sanctions of his parents and school.

“You know you’re on,” said G, his voice emphasizing the “on.” “No child should feel such a rush.”

When G was diagnosed nearly 10 years ago, he was but one of seven percent.

Today, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of children diagnosed with an attention disorder has increased to nearly 10 percent, thus flooding middle and high schools with legal drugs that can be potentially diverted for non-medical purposes.

J, an SMC student who spoke anonymously, tried Adderall for the first time as a high school freshman.

A socially awkward boy in her class gave his pills away to J’s friend in order to impress her. The boy didn’t get the girl, but J and her friend started “slanging” pills, and experimenting.

J has not used Adderall in the last six years, and is appalled by how socially acceptable it has become.

“People don’t realize that this is speed,” she said.

While Adderall is reportedly more stable and less addictive than meth, it carries the same risk of cardiac arrest and stroke, and is especially dangerous or fatal when interacting with other substances, like alcohol.

Ross Aikins, a postdoctoral fellow at the National Research and Development Institution in New York, did his dissertation at UCLA on prescription stimulant abuse.

He found that students often did not recognize the dangers involved in mixing

Adderall with alcohol.

Less lethal, but perhaps more alarming, are the more common effects of dependence, both physical and psychological.

“You feel so successful and productive with the drug, that you feel less capable without it,” said Aikins. “You feel like you need it.

A lot of the students regretted taking it.”

He also raised the question of the ethical implications.

For example, when athletes take steroids, they are disqualified for cheating; so how is it different when a student takes a drug that allows them to stay up all night and whip out a paper in three hours?

Aikins said that many students were motivated to take Adderall because they felt they needed it to compete.

“If you didn’t take it, you were at a real disadvantage,” agreed T, who said she only took Adderall during exams, and always felt in control.

“I don’t regret taking it. I did what I had to do to get my grade.”

Back at Clover Park, G was reminiscing about his elementary school soccer coach.

Putting on a British accent, he asked an invisible group of nine-year-olds, “What does practice make?”

“Perfect,” they answered.

“No,” G countered in his British soccer coach persona. “Only perfect practice makes perfect permanence.”

Back in his own voice, wondering aloud, he considered the potential ramifications of a generation that forfeits discipline for pharmaceutically augmented success.

Inhalable caffeine stirs controversy

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Jacqueline Lainez, a first-year student at Santa Monica College, needs a daily dose of caffeine to get through her day.

For Lainez, a typical morning consists of waking up at 6:30 a.m., driving her sister to school before heading to SMC, getting stuck in traffic for over an hour, and then spending an additional hour looking for parking.

Individuals like Lainez hardly have time to stop at Starbucks for a quick coffee run, but now there is a new product on the market that is redefining the meaning of the term “instant coffee.” AeroShot, by Breathable Foods Inc., is a zero-calorie inhalant that delivers a dry, airborne shot of energy to use at any time and any place.

According to its website, each AeroShot contains 100 milligrams of caffeine and B vitamins dispensed in about four to six puffs, which is equivalent to the amount contained in an average cup of coffee.

The inhalant, which resembles a lipstick canister, is only currently available at stores in Boston and New York City, but can otherwise be purchased from the product website at the retail price of $2.99.

However, no legitimate statement has been released regarding its safety, which means the product hit the market before the Food and Drug Administration approved it.

Tamara N. Ward, FDA public affairs official, stated that AeroShot has been marketed as a dietary supplement, which means that it does not require FDA approval, but that its manufacturers are responsible for marketing a safe product.

“FDA does not review these products for safety or effectiveness prior to marketing,” says Ward. “If a safety issue arises, the FDA can investigate and take steps to have the product removed from the market.”

Although Breathable Foods claims that their product complies with FDA standards,

.

worries over its safety and legitimacy have driven it to be reviewed for approval.

As stated on CNN, New York Senator Charles Schumer raised concerns about the product being misused by kids and teenagers. Schumer sent a letter to the FDA urging them to approve AeroShot’s safety for consumers.

“We will cooperate fully with the FDA’s review,” says the CEO of Breathable Foods, Tom Hadfield, in a statement to the public.

The company says they are confident that the review will confirm AeroShot’s safety, and prove that the product complies with FDA regulations.

Cynthia Gonzalez, SMC professor of nutrition and registered dietitian, feels strongly about the dangers of AeroShot.

“If it could be absorbed through the nasal tissues, I would have great concern about its immediate access to the central nervous system and its impact there,” says Gonzalez.

“I would definitely not advocate inhalable caffeine for anyone,” says Carole McCaskill, SMC professor of nursing.

McCaskill claims that products like AeroShot can be dangerous to pregnant women, and can lead to fetal heart increase. “[As an alternative to AeroShot], I would recommend a short nap, perhaps in the car, or even in the library, and a moderate amount of coffee or tea for alertness,” McCaskill says.

If approved by the FDA, students can get a dose of caffeine whenever needed, even in places where beverages like coffee aren’t allowed, such as the library and in classrooms.

“It sounds like it could come in handy for anyone who’s in a hurry,” says Lainez.

“But I don’t think I’d ever use [AeroShot].

The fact that it’s inhalable makes me a little scared to even try it.”

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HEALTH + LIFESTYLE |9

WEDNESDAY MARCH 7, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

Author Eric Weiner invites SMC to discover “The Geography of Bliss” Nadine Weiland Staff Writer

Extroverts are happier than introverts.

Optimists are happier than pessimists.

Married people are happier than single people. People are least happy if they have to commute to work. Busy people are happier than those who are not. Wealthy people are happier than poor people, but only slightly.

Eric Weiner illustrates these findings on happiness in his book, “The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World.” Weiner, a foreign correspondent for National Public Radio, former business reporter for The New York Times, and self-proclaimed “grump,” began travelling around the world in search of different cultural perceptions and pursuits of happiness.

“I woke up one morning, and had one of those light bulb moments where I thought, ‘What am I doing?’” Weiner said, during one of his two lectures at Santa Monica College on March 1.

“I travel in the world an unhappy person, and I’m focusing on the least happy people in the least happy places,” Weiner said, of his work as a foreign correspondent.

“What if I spent a year travelling the world, seeking out not the miserable places, but the happiest ones? ” This thought led to his New York Times bestseller “The Geography of Bliss,” which has been translated into 14 languages.

SMC’s Global Citizenship initiative adopted the non-fiction book, along with the fiction book “Siddhartha” by GermanSwiss author Hermann Hesse, as the campus reads for 2012. The initiative was formed by the Academic Senate and SMC superintendent and president Chui Tsang.

Pete Morris, SMC geography instructor and faculty leader for the initiative, said its goal is to “engage students, faculty

Sustainable

Works

Alfredo Diaz Staff Writer Students gathered inside a classroom at Santa Monica College’s main campus last Tuesday for the first meeting of the spring Environmental Issues Lecture Series, entitled “Sustainable Works Grows For You.” SMC professor of geography and environmental studies William Selby introduced speakers Susy Borlido and Holli Fajack, both of Sustainable Works, a non-profit environmental organization.

“Many people say they worry about the environment, but don’t know what to do,” said Borlido, director of Sustainable Works’ Business Greening Program, which provides free services to businesses, aiming to help them become more efficient by saving money and resources.

Borlido explained how representatives help businesses save on energy and water bills, reduce waste, replace toxic chemicals with non-toxic ones, and purchase environmentally safe products.

“We usually see a reduction after a year,” said Borlido.

Two local businesses saw a drastic reduction in waste.

LEAF Lifestyle, a company that provides personal training and lifestyle services, reduced its energy use by 82 percent, and restaurant Bru’s Wiffle saw zero waste, Borlido claimed.

Borlido suggested that the best strategies for greening businesses lie within human behavior, such as using mugs instead of

and staff in a wide range of activities and discussions regarding global affairs and the meanings and actions of citizenship in the 21st century.”

For the third time, a Global Citizenship theme was chosen, along with related books selected by the English department for inclusion in lectures. Students, faculty and staff voted to make “Health, Wellness and the Pursuit of Happiness” this year’s

topic.

“I think people are happy with the books we have chosen, and excited about the potential to help students make the connections between the different courses that they are studying, ” said Morris, who uses “The Geography of Bliss” in one of his geography classes.

Susan Sterr, chair of the SMC English department, said in her introduction of

Carrie Jesenovec Corsair Eric Weiner signs his book “The Geography of Bliss” after giving a lecture at Santa Monica College last Thursday. Weiner’s book is a New York Times bestseller.

imparts

ecofriendly

strategies

Weiner’s lecture that the book “provoked thoughtful and very enjoyable discussions in the classrooms and circles across campus.”

According to English instructor Tara Tyson, who is teaching the book for the third time this semester, students seem to really embrace it, mainly because of its humorous and thoughtful tone.

“He is really trying to get to the heart of this topic that we – I think particularly in America – pretend that we embrace, but we actually don’t want to talk about, which is our own happiness,” said Tyson. “I think there is something that is really interesting and provocative for people.”

Weiner mentioned in his lecture that he was particularly interested in the relationship between happiness and place.

“Place matters; where we are affects who we are,” he said.

Before he began his quest for happiness, he always thought places like Tahiti, with its palm trees, beaches and “drinks with the little umbrellas,” were the happiest. To his surprise, he discovered that the happiest locations could actually be cold, dark places like Denmark, Sweden or Iceland.

Weiner asked audience members to close their eyes, and imagine plugging into a “happiness machine” that could create eternal happiness. Most people were not in favor of the idea, which was no surprise to Weiner.

“We don’t want our happiness to be too easy, and we don’t always want to be happy,” he said. “We want to experience unhappiness, not only to appreciate the moments of happiness, but because there is beauty in that as well.”

“Squash envy, get busy, experience gratitude on a regular basis, and don’t commute too far,” Weiner said.

at

SMC

lecture

paper cups. areas; energy, water, waste, chemicals, Their responsibilities include leading Borlido emphasized the three pillars that transportation, and food. Through the group discussions, preparing the week’s define sustainability; a strong economy student-led workshops, participants attend environmental topic, finding solutions to that is able to fund programs, a healthy field trips, prepare video and PowerPoint the topic’s issues, and providing support to society, and an environment with clean air presentations, and engage in group students.

Sustainable Works is located at 1744 and water. discussions.

Pearl St. inside the SMC Center for SMC helps fund Sustainable Works, Workshop leaders must attend two eightEnvironmental and Urban Studies, which which also receives funding from the Santa hour training sessions to further enhance sponsors the lecture series.

Monica Sustainable City Plan, their leadership skills. program participants, and grants from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Holli Fajack is the director of Sustainable Works’ Student Greening Program.

The peer-to-peer program educates students on ecological issues, and prepares those who want to enter environmental fields.

Like Borlido, Fajack emphasized the human element necessary for sustainability.

She said that students should make use of the 17 water stations located on the SMC campus by bringing their own water bottles.

She also illustrated the benefits of SMC’s carpool program, Zimride.

Fajack coordinates Student Sustainability Workshops, Joseph Adamo Corsair which consist of 15 to 25 Holli Fajack of Sustainable Works speaks to Santa Monica College students in the first meeting of the students, who learn how Environmental Issues Lecture Series on Feb. 28. to resolve issues in six key

.

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10|ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

WEDNESDAY MARCH 7, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

Josh Sanseri Brings Rock n’ Roll Back to SMC Faye Crosswhite Staff Writer

The soothing melodies of the Decemberists’ The Crane Wife reverberated throughout Studio B, as Josh Sanseri brought his photographs to life. He meticulously stretched printed canvas onto frames, in preparation for his upcoming exhibition, “Rock n’ Roll’s Not Dead, It Just Smells Funny.”

The show will run from March 10-30 in SMC’s photography gallery on the second floor of Drescher Hall. All are welcome to attend the opening reception in the gallery on March 10, from 6-8 p.m.

Sanseri, a full time professor at SMC, also runs a successful freelance photography business, from which this compilation of work was born. The school has provided exhibition space for Sanseri, “which is big enough,” he said. Production costs aside, artists are often forced to spend thousands of dollars out of pocket for their work to be seen in a gallery.

The photographs lining the walls feature recognizable names, including Deadmau5, Michael Franti, the Avett Brothers, the Flaming Lips, Tom Morello, The National, The Streets, Little Dragon, and Built to Spill. Music and photography buffs are warned: Sanseri’s exhibition may just blow your mind.

Much of this work stemmed from Sanseri’s close relationship with the San Francisco based production and promotion company, Another Planet Entertainment.

Since its inception in 2003, Another Planet has hosted such events as the Outside

Lands and Treasure Island music festivals.

In addition, they are responsible for an wabundant number of performances by the likes of musical acts such as Radiohead, Dave Matthews Band, Daft Punk, Phish,

The White Stripes, and many more.

While Sanseri mentioned that some of his most memorable shoots involved some of his favorite artists, like The National and the Flaming Lips, he also said: “Dealing

Arlene Harrison Contributor Josh Sanseri, Professor of Photography at Santa Monica College, assembles a wooden picture frame in the SMC photo studios for his upcoming gallery shows “Rock & Roll’s Not Dead, It Just Smells Funny.” Sanseri states he “enjoys the hard work of framing his photos.”

‘Project X’ Movie: Not Going Down with the Classics

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Faye Crosswhite Hangover,” both movies deal with similar Staff Writer subject matter. In all honesty, it’s extremely There he stands on the roof of his house, difficult to not draw parallels to movies overlooking the monster of a party he like “Superbad.” This serves as proof that and his friends have created. A couple there is no originality in “Project X”; the thousand strong; girls topless in the pool, little originality found in the film tries too drugs aplenty, music blaring, drinks flowing hard to convince you of its freshness. and a dog named Milo running around.

While “The Hangover,” “Superbad,” Suddenly a news helicopter shines its and “Risky Business,” had characters spotlight on Thomas. He looks up, flips you sympathized with and developed a them the middle finger and jumps from the relationship with, “Project X” has none. roof to a moon bounce below.

You don’t find yourself rooting for the Nima Nourizadeh’s directorial debut boys because there is not “Project X” is the all too enough back-story for a familiar tale of three high personal connection to school friends, Thomas be established.

(Thomas Mann), Costa The lack of character (Oliver Cooper), and JB development is (Jonathan Daniel Brown), disturbing; these boys trying to pull off the show complete disregard mother of all parties; the for everything without a one to end them all. trace of guilt or regret.

The DJ is hired, the girls Perhaps the most are invited, security is in troubling thing about place and all that’s left “Project X” is that it is for people to show up. severly lacks comedy Almost simultaneously, relief. Sure there are as if carefully planned moments where you find out, herds of people yourself laughing out flock to Thomas’ tiny loud, but given that the courtesty of warner bros. neighborhood street in film is considered a comedy, Pasadena and the party begins. there is not enough humor.

It does not take long to realize that the On a positive note, one thing that really hundred or so invited guests have multiplied stands out is the film’s soundtrack. The ten-fold, taking the party to a destructive music played throughout the film is on cue, level. The film’s boiling point is a Mexican upbeat, and gets you in the mood to party. standoff between police and a lunatic drug Songs from Pusha T, J-Kwon, Kid Cudi, dealer. Neither of the two parties had been and Wale transport you to the crazy, out of invited to the shindig,—then again 99% of control rager. the party-goers weren’t either.

To put “Project X” in the same category There is no doubt we’ve seen a movie as its predecessors is an insult. While other like this before. Back in the ‘80’s we had movies succeed in givng us a storyline and a young Tom Cruise pulling off one dynamic characters to root for, Project X heck of a party in “Risky Business. Most leaves us with flat characters, a flat plot, recently we’ve had “Superbad” and “The and very loud bass line.

with clients can be hard. The more famous they are, the harder they can be to work with.”

Conversely, he said that “up and coming artists; those who are just on the fringe,” were far easier to deal with.

Though music is obviously the common thread throughout the project, Sanseri remarked that his backstage shoots were relatively quiet; only the ambient sounds from the concerts being played provided a soundtrack while he worked.

“Tom Morello however played guitar during the shoot,” Sanseri said. “He kind of provided his own music.”

The show will feature about fifty different pieces compiled from nearly five years worth of work.

The photos showcase the musicians and bands in various environments; some backstage at music festivals, others in concert, or at their private studios, and many more at outdoor locations in and around the San Francisco area.

So why does Rock n’ Roll smell funny, you ask? In short, it doesn’t! The title of the exhibit pays homage to one of Sanseri’s favorite musicians, Frank Zappa, who in his heyday made the exclamation that “Jazz isn’t dead, it just smells funny.”

“People say that Rock n’ Roll’s dead, that it’s not like it used to be,” Sanseri explained. “I’m just making the point that it’s not really dead, it’s just different. It’s not the same.”

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SPORTS|11

WEDNESDAY MARCH 7, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

Controversial call in conference match drops SMC Men’s Volleyball to 4-5

Adrian Galicia Corsair Santa Barbara City College Freshman Aquiles Montoya (17) spikes the ball against the defense of Santa Monica College Jason Mallek (12) and Roy Tsang (13) last Friday. SBCC won the best of five.

Sophia Villegas Staff Writer The Santa Monica College Men’s Volleyball team lost 3-2 during their fifth set due to a controversial call at home against the Santa Barbara City College Vaqueros last Friday.

The two evenly matched teams played an outstanding game with the scores 23-25, 2521,29-27, 18-25, and 19-21, and the fifth game deciding the match.

The Vaqueros were given the win after Corsairs sophomore outside hitter, Connor Corgiat, went up for the kill; however the ball was blocked by the Vaqueros, which caused the ball to land out of bounds.

The Corsairs were called for hitting the ball

into the net.

The Corsairs came into the match looking strong, but fell short in their first set 23-25. The SMC offense was led by Charlie Schmittdiel’s explosive serves and attacks, and the Corsairs rallied back to win the next two sets at 25-21 and 29-27.

Schmittdiel led the way with 23 kills and 7 aces.

Sophomore Fabio Calesso had seventeen kills, Conner Corgiat had 15 kills, and Zane McFarlane boasted thirteen digs.

With the match 2-1, the Vaqueros responded by taking the fourth game at 18-25.

In the last and final set, the Corsairs took an early lead 5-3, but the Vaqueros came back to take the lead 10-8.

.

A kill by Fabio Calesso tied the match at 15-15.

The rally continued until the score was 19-19.

Corsairs Paul Myers missed a key serve that landed out of bounds and gave the Vaqueros a match point opportunity. The Vaqueros then won 21-19 when the Corsairs hit the ball into the net.

Assistant Coach Yarive Lerner was very proud of the team effort. “Those guys have played the best they have all year,” said Lerner. “The whole team deserves to be acknowledged for their tremendous effort.”

The Corsairs are halfway through the season, holding a record of 4-5. Their next match will be home against El Camino on Wednesday, March 7 at 6 p.m.

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12|SPORTS

WEDNESDAY MARCH 7, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

athlete of the week: francisco casillas Sarkis Ekmekian Staff Writer

corsair

track

& field grade level:

Sophomore

hometown:

Photo by Michael Yanow

Moreno Valley, California

How did you get into Track and Field?

I have always played soccer, but I decided to try Cross Country during my freshman year of high school. My junior year I bet my coach that I could sprint the 200 and 400m races, and I ended up coming second in our league in both.

What came after high school?

I ended up quitting soccer and running track for Riverside City College, but I didn’t get along with the coach there.

I didn’t like his methods, so we ended up getting into arguments and he ended up eventually kicking me off.

What did you do after leaving the Track Team?

I didn’t do anything for two years, and I actually was smoking cigarettes for two years. I was at a pack, and then a pack and a half a day. It was then that I decided I needed to do something.

I needed to get out of there. I ended up moving from Moreno Valley to the Westside because my sister convinced me to. I decided I needed to do something to get away from cigarettes, so I decided to run track again.

What do you like about running and track and field?

It relieves my stress.

What is your greatest sports memory?

Last weekend we had a meet. We were about 30 meters behind and I was the anchor. I ended up catching up to everybody right in the back-stretch, and I ended up flying away from everybody. That’s definitely one of my best memories. Other than that it would be going to state in high school, and then going to the semi-finals and nationals for soccer.

Who has been your biggest influence?

My sister, Yannina. Out of everyone I’ve known, she’s gone through the most and has still come out on top.

She has shown me that no matter what happens, no matter how fair or unfair life is, you’ve got to play with the cards your dealt and keep on pushing.

If you could have lunch with anyone, who would it be?

It would definitely be Bruce Lee,

major:

Liberal Arts high school:

Ranch Verde High School

because he’s the master of life. He taught me how to relax, how to stop trying to force things, and just go with the flow. Everything about the way he lived, his philosophy and teachings, is just perfect.

Who is your favorite professional athlete?

Olympic and World Champion runner Carl Luis.

What is your favorite music?

I listen to country, techno, rock, and rap but before my meets I listen to Taking Back Sunday and Pierce the Veil.

SMC updates banner to honor football champions of the past Devan Patel Staff Writer

for the conference championship.

Tiebreaking rules allowed Citrus For the more than eight years, there to represent the conference in the had been a notable omission amongst Divisional Championship, but SMC the various championship banners was still recognized by the conference that grace the walls of the Corsair as the co-champion because it tied Pavilion. for first place at the conclusion of the Earlier this week, the football regular season. championship banner was updated While it seems like a long time to include SMC’s most recent for the omission to be corrected, championship, the 2011 American there were contributing factors in Pacific Conference Championship, as delaying the discovery. According well as the 2003 Western Sate South to Cascio “the records are sporadic Division Championship from eight at best” when describing the lack of seasons ago. depth and longevity in Joe Cascio, Project the information available Manager of SMC on community college Athletics, saw no malice athletics. in the omission and Also contributing to the attributed it to being delay was the conference “nothing more than a realignment that had been clerical error.” caused by the creation of Following the completion the Southern California of the 2011 season, Football Association Cascio and the athletic following the 2007 department had been season that had rendered Jose Balderas Corsair looking into the last time The new football banner recordkeeping from prior SMC had won a football hangs in the SMC gym. years obsolete. championship.

For those concerned “We did some research and saw it,” about the costs of updating the banner Cascio said. at a time when the school is strapped In 2003, SMC football under late for cash, there is only a miniscule cost Head Coach Robert Tayler finished for the material used. the regular season with a 6-1 record in Cascio sees the moment for SMC conference play and an overall record and its athletes as “nothing but of 7-3. positive anytime we can acknowledge The 6-1 mark tied Citrus College champions of the past.”

Do you have a favorite pair of shoes for races?

I like to wear pink when I run. This year my spikes are pink. I actually have bright neon pink socks too.

They’re knee high but I don’t think I’m going to wear them this year!

Corsair: Do you have any pre-race rituals?

I always try to talk to other people just to lighten the mood. It gets my mind off of the fact that I have to run a race. It takes the pressure off. I try not to obsess over the race, and I just go out and do my thing. It’s a lot easier to run when you’re not freaking out about stuff, so I just casually have conversations.

Do you follow a strict diet to stay in shape?

I eat three meals a day and try to stay away from fast foods. My diet includes proteins and carbs like meat and pasta.

What advice would you give to someone just starting track and field?

I would just tell them that it’s going to hurt at first. Even if you’re not the fastest, it benefits you in the end because it teaches you how to be disciplined, and how to tolerate pain. It gets fun, as long as you have a unified team.

“He’s a tremendous athlete, and very talented,” said Head Track Coach Larry Silva. “I guess in a nutshell he probably was a loose cannon when he came here, but he has learned to take care of himself. He has learned to respect his body, and it shows in practice.”

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