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volume 104 issue 6• october 10, 2012 • santa monica college
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Milk: Does a body good?
Daniel McCarty Contributor A woman selects a gallon of lowfat milk at Ralphs grocery store on Tuesday.
anilec vita Staff Writer
Daniel McCarty Contributor Alessandro Canale of Santa Monica College (L) battles College of the Canyons’ Jamie Bent (R) for the ball in the opening moments of SMC’s victorious 2-0 win on Corsair Field at SMC on Tuesday.
For many years, doctors, government institutions and health organizations have encouraged drinking milk every day. Even today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends drinking three cups of milk daily for those over age 9. But over the last decade, some studies have associated milk with several health problems, leading some to question whether or not drinking milk is actually healthy. Milk is the first food consumed by humans when they are born, but there is a debate about whether or not it is necessary for humans to keep drinking milk after breastfeeding. Ad campaigns such as the National Milk Mustache “got milk?” Campaign, sponsored by the California Milk Processor Board, promote awareness of the nutritional benefits of cow’s milk, while other organizations such as the Dairy Education Board claim that “milk is a deadly poison” that contains cancercausing hormones.
Prop. 37 would require GMO labeling, issues remain rachel spurr Photos + Text
If the GMO labeling initiative Proposition 37 passes in the November election, California would be the first state in the nation to require labeling on genetically engineered crops or processed foods. According to the official voter information guide for California’s general election, supporters of the proposition say that the public has a “right to know” if their food contains “DNA that was artificially altered in a laboratory using genes from viruses, bacteria, or other plants and animals.” Opponents claim that regulations mandating labeling would be “expensive” and “deceptive.” While approval of Prop. 37 would be a significant milestone for supporters, it would only be the beginning of a long battle toward thwarting the issue of corporate control of seeds and the food system, according to David King, founding chair of the Seed Library of Los Angeles. In the past 50 years, through the
emergence of corporate agricultural business, seed saving and sharing among farmers has changed dramatically. What was once considered to be the basis of necessity for future planting and maintenance of rich biodiversity has now come under increasing threat. In an article entitled “The Control of Nature,” Vanity Fair reports that in 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court “extended patent law to cover ‘a live human-made microorganism.’” This ruling paved the way for genetically engineered seeds to be patented and privately owned. After the ruling, chemical company Monsanto began producing genetically engineered food crops in the U.S. “At some point Monsanto made a conscious decision to control the seed market,” says King. “Until the 1970s [and] ‘80s, Monsanto was primarily a chemical company. After that time they became a chemical company that buys seed.” Since then, over 140 U.S. farmers have been prosecuted by Monsanto for infringement of intellectual property rights over seeds,
according to a press release from the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association. Under these relatively new patent laws, if Monsanto seed mixes with a farmer’s own seeds through pollination or wind, it automatically becomes the ownership of that corporation. The OSGTA has fought back, saying that farmers “face legal intimidation and the loss of economic livelihood, all because America’s legal system has failed to adequately protect them from the real threat of genetic trespass that is inherent as a result of Monsanto’s patented GMO seeds and the natural biological functions of cross pollination from wind, insects or animals.” Genetically modified crops are usually given traits for either resistance to disease or insects, or tolerance to herbicides, according to a report from New York University. “In the field, GM has to be treated as a pesticide, because pesticide is built into it, so you have to wash your hands after
gmo continued on PG. 9
A study published in May in the journal “Nutrition Reviews” indicates that milk can contain hormones such as insulin-like growth factor 1, and states that “a high intake of milk and dairy products can increase the risk of cancer.” Yvonne Ortega, a registered dietitian and nutrition instructor at Santa Monica College, said that the fundamental reason why nutritionists recommend drinking milk is because they consider it highly nutritious and rich in calcium. “Milk seems to be the easiest way to obtain the adequate amounts of calcium,” Ortega said. “It is also a really excellent source of high-quality proteins, vitamins and minerals.” A regular intake of calcium and vitamin D in conjunction with exercise are essential for maintaining healthy bones, according to Ortega. “We reach our peak bone mass at the age of 30,” Ortega said. “Once we hit 30, unfortunately the absorption of calcium starts to decrease, and we begin to lose calcium storages. The adolescent years and early adulthood are the prime time to get that calcium and make the bones as dense as possible so people are not prone to osteoporosis as they get older.” However, it is not necessary to consume dairy to obtain adequate calcium, according to Ortega. Calcium can be found in green vegetables, nuts and beans, and is fortified into certain plant-based milks including rice, almond and soy milk. “As long as people consume at least 1,000 milligrams of calcium per day, people can go without drinking cow’s milk,” Ortega said. Plant-based milks have been increasing in popularity over cow’s milks, according to Ortega. One reason for this trend could be related to the possible connection between milk and the increased risk of some types of cancer. Ortega said that the insulin-like growth factor 1 amounts found in milk are small and are not a significant risk. “Our bodies naturally produce IGF-1, and technically, the IGF-1 in milk cannot be absorbed by the body, so people should not be worried about this factor,” Ortega said. But when it comes to the connection between milk and some types of cancer, the nutritionist has a different opinion. “My recommendation for people is that if cancer runs in their family—specifically
milk continued on PG. 8
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2 contents
volume 104 issue 6 • october 10, 2012 • santa monica college
E D I T O R I A L S TA F F Nathan Gawronsky······ Editor-in-Chief c o rs a i r. e d i t o r i n c h i e f @ g m a i l . c o m Amber Antonopoulos···Managing Editor c o rs a i r. m a n a g i n g @ g m a i l . c o m Amber Antonopoulos·· Health & Lifestyle c o rs a i r. l i f e s t y l e p a g e @ g m a i l . c o m Andy Riesmeyer·············· News Editor c o rs a i r. n e w s p a g e @ g m a i l . c o m Samantha Perez··· Arts & Entertainment c o rs a i r. c a l e n d a r p a g e @ g m a i l . c o m Muna Cosic················Opinion Editor c o rs a i r. o p i n i o n p a g e @ g m a i l . c o m David Yapkowitz············ Sports Editor c o rs a i r. s p o r t s p a g e @ g m a i l . c o m Ian Kagihara··········Multimedia Editor c o rs a i r. m u l t i m e d i a @ g m a i l . c o m Paul Alvarez··················Photo Editor Marine Gaste················ Photo Editor c o rs a i r p h o t o e d i t o r @ g m a i l . c o m Nathalyd Meza··············Design Editor c o rs a i r. d e s i g n t e a m @ g m a i l . c o m c o r s a i r s ta f f Fernando Baltazar, Nathan Berookhim, Kristine Bettencourt, Tiffany Bingham, Peter Cheng, Kou Collins, Samantha Conn, Henry Crumblish, Natalie Delfino, William Duggan, Rachel Duron, Tina Eady, Skya Eiland, Alberto Fernandez, Harrison Garcia, Amy Gaskin, Ryonn Gloster, Jennifer Gomez, Esteban Gonzalez, Deandre Hamilton, David J. Hawkins, Sam Herron, Annjelicia Houston, Zach Johnson, Eugene Jones, Richard Lewis, David Madrid, Juan C. Martinez, Ariana Masters, Ruth Mavangira, Raphael Mawrence, LeAura McClain, Manuel Mejia, Elizabeth Moss, Wayne Neal, Mikaela Oesterlund, Daniella Palm, Molly Philbin, Syney Pitcher, Shawnee Potts, Scott Roush, Allie Silvas, Rachel Spurr, Alex Vejar, Anilec Vita, Merissa Weiland, Livia Wippich, Michael Yanow, Arezou Zakaria FA C U LT Y A D V I S O R S S a u l Ru b i n & Gerard Burkhart A d I n q uiries : co rsai r. admana g e r@g m ai l . co m (3 1 0 ) 4 3 4 - 4 0 3 3
Juan Martinez Corsair Photography student Erica Meza shows her self-portrait polaroid pictures in the ghost town of Bodie, Calif. last Sunday during the biannual Santa Monica College Photography Department Camping Trip.
corrections:
An article last week titled “Iraqi war veteran champions public service,” contained several errors. The photo caption incorrectly implies that Liutenant Colonel Tammy Duckworth survived a helicopter crash that landed on SMC students and staff members; the crash occurred in Iraq, and neither SMC students nor staff members were harmed. The headline should read, “Iraq war veteran champions public service.”
A Direct response
parker jean Associated Students President
This serves as a direct response to Nathan Gawronsky’s article ‘Thrusting Your Political Values,’ in volume 104 issue 5 of The Corsair. Unfortunately, it seems as though many of the facts about myself and the Associated Students Board of Directors have been skewed to achieve a demeaning appearance of our student government. This was apparent in reading the article ‘Thrusting Your Political Values,’ where Mr. Gawronsky not only bashes the third party presidential candidate [Jill Stein], but also accuses the board and myself of acts that are not true. It is time to hear both sides of the story. Firstly, I must reveal the situation leading up to Stein coming to our college, which Mr. Gawronsky never properly researched. Harrison Wills, just as most students on campus, is a member of the Associated Students, which is accessible by being enrolled at Santa Monica College and paying the $19.50 fee. Wills, just as any AS member can do, came to me with the intention of reserving a room to allow for the Green Party Presidential Candidate, Stein to speak on campus. I never even spoke with Stein herself about coming, but I thought it was a good idea to have a presidential candidate, regardless of what party they are from, to speak on campus. I wrote a proposal, without a dime of AS funding, to reserve the Cayton Center and allow Stein a brief few hours to speak. Just as I said when asked by Andy Riesmeyer, (the news editor of The Corsair) I am open to having any presidential candidate coming, but I do not plan on reaching out to anybody in particular. This means I didn’t plan on reaching out to all the presidential candidates, and I never did, not even Stein. Furthermore giving a candidate a room to speak is not an endorsement, it is simply allowing somebody the ability to speak on campus. It should also be noted than any AS member can reserve a room for a speaker. Believe me, I would love to host a presidential debate between President Barack Obama and former Governor Mitt Romney, but it would take
half of my term in office to achieve that, with only the small possibility that they actually come. This is why I have always said I didn’t plan on reaching out to any candidates. When I foreshadowed that The Corsair would skew much of the information, I sent both presidential candidates Obama and Romney formal requests to speak at our college. This is something that was not even done for Stein. To answer Nathan’s first question, “How does Stein coming to speak at Santa Monica College help the mission of our college?” I will start by addressing this in a more specific document, the AS constitution. Stated in Article I, Section II of the constitution “We promote creativity, collaboration and the free exchange of ideas.” The key phrase is ‘free’ exchange of ideas. The idea of allowing Stein, via a member of the Associated Students, reminded me how critical it is that students open their eyes to all presidential candidates, especially ones that much of the public are unaware of. It was a shame to see Mr. Gawronsky use names like “fringe candidate” to describe Stein. Talk about thrusting your political values. The bottom line is that there are reasons why these third party candidates seem as though they have no chance of winning. There is no proportional representation, and we have a private presidential debate commission that excludes alternate candidates. This is evidenced by Gary Johnson, the Libertarian presidential candidate’s lawsuit against the commission. They aren’t even allowed to speak. It is no wonder why nobody takes the third party candidates seriously. The fact is that I am actually the only registered Green Party member on our board. So to accuse the AS Board of being a ‘Green Party-affiliated AS leadership’ is simply false. And since when is allowing somebody a room to speak frowned upon? We are supposed to live in a democracy where all sides are allowed to speak, especially those who are suppressed. I am an advocate for all sides of the political spectrum to be heard. If any students have affiliation with a certain party, I urge you to write a proposal, and the AS can help your candidate speak.
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letter from the editor
nathan gawronsky Editor-In-Chief
It would appear that Parker Jean, our Associated Students president, has misinterpreted some of the concepts that I took umbrage with in my previous editorial, “Thrusting your political values.” Last week, the AS hosted an event in which Jill Stein, the Green Party presidential candidate, came to Santa Monica College to speak to students about education policy and a number of other issues. Since then, Jean has gone on the offensive, stating that I misrepresented facts in order to present a skewed and “demeaning appearance of the student government.” The intention of the article was neither to distort nor to give a demeaning appearance of the AS. For the record, it should be acknowledged that the AS has been tireless in recent weeks with work that is, largely speaking, solely for the benefit of the student body; specifically, registering new voters, and encouraging students to vote for their best interests. According to Jean, approximately 600 students have registered as a result of AS efforts, which is commendable. My perspective in last week’s editorial was that Stein’s visit had nothing to do with getting her elected, but rather to push the political views of the “Green Party-affiliated AS leadership.” To clarify, when I say leadership, I mean Jean and only Jean—not the entire AS. This could have been expressed more clearly. The issue with Stein’s visit to SMC on Sept. 26 was not the fact that Stein came to SMC. It was that only Stein came to SMC. Jean, as a Green Party member and someone who ran as a Green Party candidate for Los Angeles City Council, should have been more cautious about @t h e _ c o r s a i r •
the impression it would give for him to personally present this item on the AS Agenda. If he was attempting to be equitable, he kind of missed the mark. “They have their own agendas, I have mine. I have no intention to reach out to other candidates, but I’m extremely open to having other candidates come out here,” Jean said in reference to Stein’s visit. So if Jean didn’t personally invite her, as he now claims, perhaps he should have said “I have no intention of reaching out to any candidates.” But that’s just my humble opinion as an editor. As I have previously expressed, it would have been a great opportunity to have Stein participate in a symposium with other representatives of the political spectrum, so as to give students a well-rounded and informed view. It was my feeling that hosting Stein (whom I rightly consider to be a fringe candidate) gave a marginalized picture of the present election happening in the country today. Despite this, Jean should be applauded for having organized what he describes as a “state of education sit-in.” Jean, who spoke with me on Tuesday, said that members of all the political parties will come together next week to speak about their platforms on education. This sounds more like the “free exchange of ideas” that Jean speaks of so highly in his opinion piece “A direct response.” And it is our hope, as the editorial board, that events like this will continue up to Election Day and beyond. Apropos, our student president’s article charges that I am thrusting my own political views. On that, I’m afraid I stand guilty as charged. It is the function of an editorial to do just that, and on that, I am unapologetic. It’s in my job description.
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news 3
volume 104 issue 6 • october 10, 2012 • santa monica college
AS vacancies filled; sights set on Prop. 30 William duggan Staff Writer Directors of the Associated Students voted Monday to fill three vacancies on the board, which have come amid efforts to register potential new voters and promote awareness of the November elections. Vacancies of the three board seats— AS secretary, director of activities, and director of sustainability—have stressed the board early in the new administration of AS President Parker Jean, he said. The lack of an activities director has been a particular hindrance, as the AS pushes to register voters and raise awareness about Proposition 30, which is designed to raise sales and income taxes to fund public safety and education. The board voted on Monday to appoint candidates to the vacant seats. Samantha Ross was appointed secretary, Angie Vo will fill the role of director of activities, and Steven Johnson was appointed director of sustainability. Johnson was the only candidate to receive a unanimous vote. Newly appointed AS Secretary Ross spoke to The Corsair while educating students about Proposition 30 at the quad Tuesday. Ross, who is bilingual in English and Spanish, said that her abilities help her reach additional students. Jean expressed a degree of relief at filling the empty positions. “Now that we’ve filled everybody’s positions, we can have more people doing more work,” he said. He added that with
current directors having to carry less of a workload, he expected the board to regain some energy and momentum going into the November elections. Jean has organized what he described as a “state of education teach-in,” an event that will focus on public policy and its impact on public education. Assistant vice chancellor of UCLA Government & Community Relations is slated to speak at the event. There will also be an information session on Prop. 30, as well as a voter registration booth. Representatives from both the Democratic and Republican parties, along with advocates for third parties, will be there to address their respective party’s views on education and the role that government should play in it. The second presidential debate will also be shown. “Overall, we’ve had over 600 people register to vote,” said Jean. “I think that’s successful.” “Around campus, I think people are really starting to get the point about Prop. 30,” he said. Other proposals from the board, including bringing a Farmers Market to the campus, a retooling of the AS website, and an effort to increase outreach to students through e-mail and mobile devices, remain on the back-burner until the budget situation is resolved. “After Nov. 6, I’ll be able to focus on some more tangible goals,” said Jean. Until then, all efforts will remain concentrated on the passage of Prop. 30.
Prop. 30 meets opposition allie silvas & andy riesmeyer Staff Writer & News Editor
The calls to vote for the November ballot initiative Proposition 30 are everywhere. Advertisements in support are playing on TV, and the cries to “save education” can be heard at voter rallies across California. The effort to urge voters to vote for Prop. 30 is at Santa Monica College too, with the college saying it won’t have to lay off any employees and cut classes if the measure passes. It’s a battle cry heard over and over again on campus so much that it might seem ubiquitous as the solution to school’s budget woes—but who opposes the ballot initiative? Quite a few, actually; according to polling late in September, conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California, 40 percent of responders said they didn’t want the proposition to pass. Support for the proposition enjoyed a narrow lead at 52 percent. According to the ballot information website Ballotpedia, supporters have spent over $41.3 million trying to promote the proposition. Most of the money comes from union support like the California Teachers Association, who donated $7.7 million, and the California Service Employees International Union members, who donated $6.5 million. Only $3.1 million has been spent to defeat the measure, according to the site. A campaign called “Stop Prop 30,” sponsored by anti-tax organization Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association in the amount of $384,000, says the tax increase created as part of the proposition will hurt everyone in California. “The fact of the matter is, there is a lot of money in education, but we do not apply it very well,” said Jon Coupal of the Howard Jarvis Tax Foundation on KNX News Radio on Tuesday morning. Coupal also claimed that it is an overreach on the part of the governor to ask the
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people of California for more money, given the current state of the flagging economy. While many education administrators have pledged support for Prop. 30, Tom Bogetich, executive director at the California State Board of Education and Doug Boyd at the Los Angeles County Board have both argued against the proposal. “There are no requirements or assurances that any more money actually gets to the classroom, and nothing in Prop. 30 reforms our education system to cut waste, eliminate bureaucracy, or cut administrative overhead,” they said in a July statement. Critics fear that governmental bloat has allowed administrative salaries to increase exponentially while student services have been cut. They fear that Prop. 30 will give more money to the administrators who need to “backfill” unfunded mandates. They also said that while it moves money around, it doesn’t go to fix the systemic problems at the state level. Interim California Community College Chancellor Erik Skinner says even if approved, the initiative only prevents further cuts; it does not restore funding to previous levels. “It only stops the bleeding; it doesn’t heal the patient,” he said. But Prop. 30 proponents are singing the praises of the measure in trying to assuage fears. Representatives from the California Community College Chancellor’s office admit that not all revenue from Prop. 30 will go straight to classrooms. They say some will be used to pay off money owed from past years’ deferrals. A collection of elected officials has also joined the detractors, including Board of Trustees members from the Twin Rivers Unified School District, and the Santa Clarita Community College District. Additionally, a competing measure called Proposition 38 will raise income taxes on most Californians as opposed to Prop 30’s 0.25 percent tax increase, and graduated income tax increase for those making $500,000 and up. California already enjoys the second highest state tax rate in the nation at 8.2 percent. ®
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4 opinion
volume 104 issue 6 • october 10, 2012 • santa monica college
We can’t do away with the newspaper
Illustration By Jhosef Hern
william duggan Staff Writer The death of the newspaper has been somewhat anticipated for at least a decade now. Since the advent of the Internet, people have had the ability to access information instantaneously, and use online sources for virtually everything they need. This has cast doubt on the ability of the traditional press news to survive. According to a survey done by the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism, a third of Americans now get news on a mobile device at least once a week. The study shows that 73 percent of adults who consume news on their tablet devices read in-depth articles sometimes, including 19 percent who do so regularly. Similarly, 61 percent of adults who use their smartphones sometimes read longer stories, and 11 percent do so regularly. Digital and online news consumption continues to increase, surpassing both the newspaper and radio, according to a survey done by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. “The proportion of Americans who read news on a printed page— in newspapers and magazines —continues to decline, even as online readership has offset some of these losses. Just 23 percent say they read a print newspaper yesterday, down only slightly since 2010 [by] 26 percent, but off by about half since 2000 [by] 47 percent.”
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Newspapers are struggling more and more than ever before. The Boston Globe, The Los Angeles Times, and The New York Times have all had well documented financial struggles due in large part to plummeting ad revenues and subscriptions. Many local publications, such as the New Orleans based Times-Picayune, have drastically cut back print editions or have gone digital entirely. Others, like the Baltimore Examiner, the Oakland Tribune, and the Albuquerque Tribune, have disappeared altogether. Cable and online news content have gobbled up a tremendous amount of market share and with it, vast amounts of advertising dollars. If the companies that own traditional newspapers wish to not only survive, but return to profitability, it is essential that the business model be re-thought and revised to better suit the demands of a rapidly changing media consumer. More immediacy, interactive content, and a greater focus on delivering news via the most prevalent and most convenient platforms are essential steps to bringing long-term solvency to the legacy of news providers. However, one thing is often overlooked in the rush to modernize the traditional newspapers, and that is value. In the rush to deliver content as quickly and as conveniently as possible, much of the thought and discipline in reporting news accurately, fairly, and responsibly is
lost in translation. The simple act of sitting in front of a computer and physically hammering out the words that the public will read, forces a writer to think a lot about what it is he or she is putting on the page, and in the minds of their readers. A new survey, done by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, shows that cable television is also declining as a primary news source for the public. “The overall share of Americans saying they regularly watch local television news has slipped from 54 percent in 2006 to 48 percent today,” states the report. The slip of the newspaper and local television news is due to the increase of online media. Today, getting our newsfeed from smartphones and tablets has become the main media source. But that doesn’t justify forgetting about the newspaper, leaving it to tarnish and turn yellow—showcasing just how ancient it can be. Online media versus printed press is like a car with an automatic transmission and a stick shift. Automatic is more convenient for everyone, and easier to drive. The driver can eat a sandwich; apply make-up, or any number of distracting and dangerous activities and—if you’re lucky—still get to a location in one piece. On the other hand, it is very difficult to eat a sandwich while driving on a manual transmission. I know because I’ve tried. Sensationalism and instant news is a lot
easier, like driving an automatic. An outlet can pump out stories about fires, celebrities, sex scandals, and any number of easy and frivolous things. But when you try to text and drive, just like when you opt for ratings and money in reporting, it’s only a matter of time before you crash. The media landscape is changing. Things like car chases are exciting and boost ratings, thus making ads more profitable. But we must not allow the written record of our history to disappear. I still have newspapers from September 12, 2001 and newspapers from November 5, 2008. I will keep these printed papers with me as a reminder of things that took place and made history in my lifetime. One day, I will hand these printed papers to my children and grandchildren for posterity. Newspapers today may play a smaller role in our lives, but their presence is important and has always been invaluable. Events that have the potential to change our lives and the world forever can transpire on any given day. It is more important than ever for those who document and report for the public record to deliver quality work to the public. It is equally important to put it on paper, so that future generations can examine history in a tangible form. We won’t do away with automatic transmissions, and we surely won’t get rid of 24-hour news or smartphones. But we certainly can’t afford to do away with the newspaper either.
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volume 104 issue 6 • october 10, 2012 • santa monica college
CDs: They’re not done yet
alex vejar Staff Writer You scream out of excitement and joy as you hear that your favorite artist or band is recording a new album. It’s been a while since they’ve put out new music, and even longer since you’ve seen them in concert. So, with every intension of getting that album in your hands—caressing it as if it were your most prized possession—you wait for its release like the dedicated fan you are. You wonder if you can somehow, against all odds, get that artist or band to sign their new CD for you at their show, and add it to your CD collection. But therein lies the problem; because of the rise of digital music downloads and the changed landscape of the music industry, CDs just aren’t popular anymore, and it’s rare to find people who become excited over holding an album in their hands. It’s even hard to find an actual retail music store these days. Obtaining music digitally has grown exponentially ever since the release of Napster in the late 1990s. Nowadays, music streaming services like Pandora and Spotify are making it easier to instantly listen to that new Coldplay or Lady Gaga song with the tap of an app. It’s obvious that buying, downloading, or streaming music online is easier, more convenient and increasingly more cost effective than the alternative; an actual CD. The error that most people don’t seem to understand that they are doing is that they are choosing convenience
over substance. Going to your local record store and picking up the CD of an artist you love is an unparalleled experience of satisfaction and joy. The feeling of ripping open the plastic covering and opening the case to reveal great artwork and liner notes, interestingly designed lyric sheets, artist or band photos, and touching words of gratitude and thankfulness is lost in digital media. Alyssa Mallen, a Santa Monica College student, still remembers her first CD purchase. It was her 7th birthday, and she had been waiting for the day she could buy the brand new Spice Girls album. “I was so excited to buy my first CD and was like ‘I’m one of the cool kids now!’” Another great thing about CDs is that they often are rereleased as deluxe editions of a previous release. For example, if an album had 10 songs on it, it could be re-released at a later time with extra songs that were not on the original album. In addition to more songs, there may be a DVD documentary about the artist or band making the album or going on tour. These extras are normally not available in a digital release. Deluxe editions of CDs often come with unique packaging, custom-made with the collector in mind. You won’t get any of that good stuff on iTunes or Pandora, so a physical album is your best choice. Santa Monica College student Sam Green said he downloads music online “99 percent of the time.” But he understands the value of getting a physical copy of a CD, compared to an online version. “I think CDs absolutely still have a place in the world, if only just for nostalgic
opinion 5
value, and to have something physical to hand to an artist and say ‘Will you sign this?’” Green also said that if he really likes a band, he will go out and buy their CD. Even with digital music on the rise, CDs are still going strong. In the first half of 2012, 61 percent of all albums sold were CDs, according to a report by the Nielsen Company and Billboard. This could potentially mean that people like SMC student Ashley Reese, whose trips to the record store have sentimental value, still have hope. “I remember going to the record store all the time,” Reese said. “That would be our thing when my parents got divorced. My dad would take us to the record store and the book store. He’d buy us a book and a CD.” Reese often goes to the record store and buys multiple CDs at one time, stating that she buys CDs from artists that she knows will deliver an album worth listening to in its entirety. CDs are not just something a person buys. They represent memories that we hold in our hearts, and reflect on the time we listened to that album for hours, basking in its glory. They remind us of a simpler time when we sat on our beds and sang at the top of our lungs, along with our favorite bands, while reading the lyric sheets that came in the CD case. In a digital world of ever increasing vastness, it wouldd be nice to have some things stay within the tangible. Even if CDs were to be replaced one day, let it be for something similar but better, the way Blu-Ray succeeded DVDs. Otherwise, we lose the little things that hold deep value and meaning.
Less cars on roads equals better air quality tina eady Staff Writer
There is an unwarranted fear that is embedded in the minds of Angelenos when the word Carmageddon is thrown into their lives. They freak out at the idea of a closed freeway, and the anticipation becomes so tense and overwhelming that they watch the news religiously for every minute’s update on Carmageddon. However, the freak-fest becomes nothing but over-exaggerated chaos, and Angelenos move on with their lives. But, Carmageddon gave University of California, Los Angeles researchers a chance to conduct studies on Los Angeles’ air quality during the shut down of the 405 freeway at Sunset Boulevard. Since there was less traffic jamming the streets of L.A., there was also less pollution congesting the air. The proof that less traffic reduces pollution should be considered and taken very seriously to achieve better air quality. During last year’s Carmageddon, Yifang Zhu, an associate professor of environmental health sciences at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, and Suzanne Paulson, a UCLA professor of atmospheric and oceanic sciences, conducted a study on L.A.’s air quality. The study, which was released Sept. 28, determined that air quality improved by 75 percent in Santa Monica and parts of West Los Angeles because of the lack of cars on the roads. Overall air quality across the region was 25 percent better than what it usually tends to be. Now, imagine better air quality being a part of our everyday lives; if little sacrifices were made in order to decrease L.A’s pollution dilemmas, then perhaps we could breathe cleaner air in the future. “Seeing such a dramatic reduction [in pollutants] in West L.A. was really quite surprising,” said Paulson to the Los Angeles Times. “It gives a very dramatic view of how clean the air could be.” “We must reduce vehicle miles traveled,” said Zhu, in a phone interview with The Corsair. She said vehicle use is “always on the rise and never on the fall.” Once there are less vehicles on the roads, then there is hope for a decrease in pollution. We can head in the direction to better air quality by educating the public on the benefits of clean energy, electric and
hybrid cars, and other environmentally friendly advancements. It’s important that the public understands the benefits of solving L.A.’s pollution calamity, which is considered the worst in the nation. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, “roughly one out of every three people in the United States is at a higher risk of experiencing PM2.5 related health effects.” Particular Matter, or PM2.5, are particles found in the air, including dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets. “There is no safe level of PM2.5 concentrations, where you would no longer observe health impacts, so any reduction is an improvement,” said Zhu in a UCLA press release. According to the L.A. Times, Sam Atwood, a spokesman for the South Coast Air Quality Management District, said that “the study’s findings were not all that surprising, but illustrate the ‘significant effect’ cars, and especially trucks, have on air quality. He estimated that vehicular traffic is responsible for about half of all air pollution.” There are alternatives we can all try to incorporate into our daily lives in order to contribute to better air quality. If residents were only to drive when it’s really necessary, then that would help decrease pollution. Taking public transportation, biking, or walking instead of driving would produce better air quality. Professor Eric Oifer, chairman of the Environmental Affairs Committee at Santa Monica College, said, “We should look at how we solve our problems as a reflection of our values.” He lamented over the fact that residents and city officials were in “crisis- mode,” calling the shut down of just one freeway for two days of Carmageddon, when there are numerous alternate roads to travel on. It’s unfortunate that rather than looking at pollution as the problem, traffic was considered the biggest problem. One way to reduce the number of cars on the roads is to continue increasing awareness of the effects of prolonged exposure to pollution. It is important to make the public understand the importance of using public transportation, biking or walking, whenever possible. It is also important for people to know the benefits of people to buy electric or hybrid vehicles.
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Professor Stuart Cooley, an SMC earth science professor and member of the Enivoronmental Affairs Committee, said he thinks we should all buy electric cars. “We need legislative policy that makes it illegal to drive these air-polluting cars, and illegal for manufacturers to make them.” A strong policy is needed that would shift automobile manufacturers to re-tool their factories and workers to build more sustainable cars.
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American auto manufacturers are slow on changes to make cars more energy efficient, and there is still relatively little demand from consumers. Oil companies put a lot into maintaining America’s reliance on nonrenewable energy. When consumers realize the effects of driving these non-renewable, gas burning pollutants, then we can talk about change, but hopefully that won’t happen before it’s too late.
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6 photostory
volume 104 issue 6 • october 10, 2012 • santa monica college
Artist named “Mear One” paints.
Skip Martinez spins a wheel to win various prizes at the Venice Originals sk
Kiefer Hoyos-Vega helps customers at the Venice Breakwater clothing booth during the Abbot Kinney Festival in Venice on Sunday.
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volume 104 issue 6 • october 10, 2012 • santa monica college
photostory 7
Amir Magal paints tribal artwork onto the human canvas of Erica Oshun Kelly.
kateboard booth.
Art is the main attraction at the Abbot Kinney Festival.
Abbot Kinney Festival allie silvas Staff Writer Venice native Kathleen Mahoney remembers when Abbot Kinney Boulevard was West Washington Street. Although the city has undergone many changes since she was growing up, she returned to the annual Abbot Kinney Festival to once again experience the unique culture of Venice. Vendors and artists lined Abbot Kinney Boulevard between Venice Boulevard and Main Street on Oct. 7. Handmade jewelry, clothing, and varied art pieces were among the items taken home by this year’s festival attendees. Help Ink sold their positive and inspirational designs on posters and t-shirts, available for $15 each. The organization, which was started a year ago, donates 40 percent of all proceeds. So far, almost $4,000 has been donated to 20 different charities.
Music from DJ Rectangle drew attention to artist Mear One, as people danced and observed the artist at work. Mear One started the day with an empty canvas and free-styled a painting during the festival. He said he is often inspired by human liberation, and he aims to motivate others to “think about deeper stuff than American Idol.” Amir Magal is trying to “unite the tribe one mark at a time” by using a tribal painting style to start a social movement. He stood along Abbot Kinney painting anyone who was interested in the style. Before painting a subject, he made an initial connection with them, and used their energy as he painted Hebrew and tribal symbols on their face and body. Magal says he has painted people from all walks of life. The trend has recently gained popularity from supporters like Jason Mraz, who was painted before a musical performance.
Photos By Paul Alvarez Jr. Corsair
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+ lifestyle 8 health
volume 104 issue 6 • october 10, 2012 • santa monica college
California bans sexual orientation change efforts elizabeth moss Staff Writer
At age 5, Kirk Murphy was enrolled in experimental therapy at UCLA. Inside the testing room, toys were laid out for him— dolls and a crib set on one side, guns and soldiers on the other. Playing with girl toys deserved punishment; playing with action figures warranted praise. The effects of this therapy followed him throughout his life. At age 38, he killed himself. The events of Murphy’s life, documented in a series that premiered on CNN, inspired Sen. Ted W. Lieu to pursue a bill that would protect young homosexuals from undergoing therapy that seeks to change their sexual orientation.
from milk on PG. 1 breast cancer or prostate—they should limit the consumption of milk in their diet,” Ortega said. “If they are not at risk, I would not worry too much about drinking milk.” According to Mark McAfee, owner of raw-dairy farm Organic Pastures, not all types of milk should be linked to cancer and disease. “The problem is not the milk, but the producers,” McAfee said. “The truth is that the big producers don’t follow the right procedures, and they get away with it because they pasteurize the milk.” McAfee said that raw milk, which is unpasteurized and still contains bacteria, can be beneficial for health because it improves the immune system and reduces the risks of allergies. Raw milk does not contain hormones associated with cancer and, according to McAfee, is safe to drink because raw milk farmers pay attention to the cows’ diet and health, and the milk is tested constantly. “You have to be very cautious when you are treating milk, and these producers usually combine the milk of different cows,
“I concluded that reparative therapy was evil,” Lieu said in a phone interview with The Corsair. Signed into effect by Gov. Jerry Brown on Sept. 29, Senate Bill 1172 will ban licensed health professionals from practicing sexual orientation change efforts on youths under age 18. “The outcomes are potentials for suicide,” said Dr. Mona Navarro, a psychology professor at SMC, who also owns a private practice in Westwood. “It becomes a situation where they have to choose between their family and their identity.” Navarro discussed the illegitimacy of these therapies, and their lack of medical proof. “It’s not a true, research-based protocol,”
said Navarro. In 2009, the American Psychology Association published research on sexual orientation change efforts, ultimately concluding that they “are unlikely to be successful and involve some risk of harm.” Similar risks outlined in the bill itself include lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender adolescents being more than eight times more likely to attempt suicide if rejected by family. Brian Laffan, president of Gender Sexuality Alliance, said that the bill is a “step in the right direction” for California legislation, adding that LGBT children are often brushed aside. “There’s a blind side to kids in the LGBT community,” Laffan said. “It gives kids the
spotlight.” However, there are some loopholes to the bill. “I do think people are going to get around it,” said Navarro. “You can have the Christian pastor at church do conversion therapy. People can call it a different thing.” According to Lieu, the bill “does not apply to religious institutions.” He said that a priest does not have the same doctor-patient relationship with members of his congregation, so the responsibility is different. “The other reason for the law is to tell parents that it doesn’t work for your kids,” Lieu said. “My hope is that most people will follow the law.”
and treat it poorly because it is going to be processed afterward,” McAfee said. Dairy-free diets are growing in popularity not only among lactose-intolerant individuals and vegans, but also among people who are concerned about the hormones in milk. Eliminating dairy can also result in reducing cholesterol and sodium levels, and potentially losing weight. Maria Flores, an SMC student, stopped drinking milk after reading about the weight loss benefits of dairy-free diets in a magazine. “I was having a hard time losing weight,” Flores said. “I tried different diets, but none of them worked, so I decided to go dairyfree, and so far I’ve lost 12 pounds since I started the diet. It is not easy, because I do miss eating some food, but it’s worth it.” Caleb Adams, a business major at SMC, agreed that avoiding dairy can be difficult. “Going dairy-free can be challenging because there is much to learn about ingredients, label-reading and cooking techniques,” Adams said. But Adams decided to go dairy-free to improve his health. “As a child, I spent a lot of time with abdominal pain, and as I grew up, the problem got worse,” Adams said. “My
doctor only prescribed me pills that did not work. I decided to go dairy-free after I noticed that the pain grew stronger when I would drink milk or eat yogurt, so I stopped and pain went away almost immediately. Westwood nutritionist Martha Pájaro said that milk should not be considered harmful. “Milk helps more people than it hurts,” Pájaro said. “Many humans are adapted to consume dairy all their lives.” Pájaro said that she does not want to take a side in the “milk battle.” “There have been studies that highlight the risks of consuming dairy products, but there have also been several studies that prove the benefits of dairy and calcium,” Pájaro said. “These results only prove that humans are different, and if one thing is good for someone, it can also be bad for someone else.” For Pájaro, moderation is the key to drinking milk without negative consequences. Pájaro and Ortega agreed that extremes can be negative when it comes to the elimination of milk from a diet. “When people go dairy-free, they eliminate the group entirely, so they eliminate the
nutrients too,” Ortega said. “We don’t want to eliminate the group, we want to find a healthy substitute for the group.” Ortega explained her recommendations for people who drink cow’s milk and plantbased milks. “If people choose to drink the plant milk versions, they should make sure that the product is unsweetened,” Ortega said. “Producers usually add sugar to improve the flavor. Also, people should buy calciumfortified milk so that they do ingest the calcium and vitamin D they need.” “For the ones who drink cow’s milk, I recommend non-fat or low-fat,” Ortega said, adding that there is no difference between the calcium and vitamin D levels in milk, regardless of the percentages of fat. “The only difference is the saturated fat and the amount of cholesterol.” Ortega said that all types of milk, including soy and almond, have chemicals like titanium dioxide, which makes milk whiter. “Unless you get it straight from a cow, or you are processing the soy yourself, you are going to get chemicals in the milk,” Ortega said. “What I do is buy organic, fat-free milk, and I make sure the cows are not given hormones.”
Seeking 1st, 2nd or 3rd generation Japanese volunteers suffering from moderate to severe facial acne. California Clinical Trials, with 26 years of experience, currently seeks 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation Japanese volunteers suffering from moderate to severe facial acne for the purpose of testing the effectiveness of an investigational acne cream medication. This study is all out-patient.
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health + lifestyle 9
volume 104 issue 6 • october 10, 2012 • santa monica college
SMC maintains its “green” reputation
Rachel Spurr Corsair The Organic Learning Garden offers a choice of organic seeds for the fall at SMC.
from gmo on PG. 1 planting the seed,” said King. “The plant itself is the pesticide so you wouldn’t want it on yourself, but at some point it’s harvested and, suddenly, it’s food.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that this year, 93 percent of all soybean crops have been genetically modified in some way, as well as 88 percent of all corn crops. The Organic Consumer’s Association reports that 75 to 85 percent of processed foods in the grocery store contain GMOs. At the Organic Learning Garden at SMC, garden coordinator Dana Morgan explains that organic seeds are not genetically modified. “I emphasize the importance of learning to grow from seed in the Organic Learning Garden,” says Morgan. “We need to understand our essential connection to the seeds we eat and grow.” According to research group MapLight,
THE NE W SCHOOL new york CiTy
a nonpartisan organization dedicated to “revealing money’s influence on politics,” as of Oct. 3, Prop. 37 advocates have spent $4.1 million on the “Yes on 37” campaign, while opponents have spent over eight times as much, contributing $34.5 million to the “No on 37” effort. The highest contributor to “No on 37” is Monsanto—who works closely with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on GMO projects in Africa—weighing in at over $7 million, followed by chemical giant DuPont at almost $5 million. Also on the list at over $1 million each are PepsiCo, Nestle and Coca-Cola, all users of high fructose corn syrup. The main donors for “Yes on 37” include Mercola.com Health Resources at $1,100,000 and Nature’s Path Foods at $610,709. The Organic Consumer Organizations’ Committee for the Right to Know about GMOs and Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps have each contributed over $300,000.
Take Charge. Design The Course of sTuDy ThaT’s righT for you MeeT our Counselors on your CaMpus Tuesday, October 16 Fall College Fair Fountain Quad 10:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Join our online ChaT Thursday, November 8 6:00 p.m. RSVP at newschool.edu/TransferToday
$100,000 sCholarship funD Visit our website to learn about our new $100,000 scholarship fund for community college transfer students.
www.newschool.edu/TransferToday Undergraduate Programs FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT Photograph: Martin Seck
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Juan Martinez Corsair Genevieve Bertone, director of sustainability at Santa Monica College, speaks at the Environmental Issues Lecture Series last Tuesday about the beach clean-up that the Center for Environmental & Urban Studies held during Earth Week.
henry crumblish Staff Writer Santa Monica College is often hailed as a respected transfer school with a large, diverse student body, but the college is also becoming known as one of the most environmentally-conscious campuses in the nation. The fall Environmental Issues Lecture Series continued last Tuesday, where future green job opportunities and challenges for local environmentalists were discussed, and SMC’s advances in sustainability were highlighted. “SMC is one of the greenest schools in the country,” said Genevieve Bertone, SMC’s director of sustainability. Bertone stressed the importance of sustainability for the environmental benefits and improvements in human health and community. According to data presented from the Center for Environmental & Urban Studies, SMC is home to not only more than 35,000 students, but also over 1 million worms. The worms are used for their composting ability, as the decomposers can consume 3 tons of preconsumer waste each year. “SMC is a great human laboratory for sustainability,” said Bertone. All student events at SMC are now “zero-waste” events. An emphasis is placed on using biodegradable materials at student events, and clubs work with vendors to ensure minimal waste. The college is working toward “greening” the curriculum for the student body by adding new courses, including environmental psychology, environmental ethics, and environmental history. Bertone said that SMC has four “student learning outcomes,” and that all classes should reinforce these outcomes, which are necessary for the school’s accreditation. The outcomes intended for students are critical thinking, taking responsibility, diversity and tolerance, and the ability to live a sustainable and ethical lifestyle. All students are expected to have an understanding of the outcomes and benefit from them before graduating. “We’re changing the paradigm for working both inside and outside the system,” said Bertone, who went @t h e _ c o r s a i r •
on to explain some of the many environmentally friendly features of the campus. For instance, underneath the quad is a 75,000-gallon rain attachment system that collects rainwater for reuse. In 2010, Chevron completed a comprehensive energy retrofit for boilers as well as lighting, including the installation of 408-kilowatt solar panels atop SMC’s parking structures, the largest solar panel system in Santa Monica. The college is home to green-certified businesses such as The Coffee Spot and TCBY, and avoids cleaning products that use hazardous waste materials. Dana Morgan, SMC English professor and coordinator of the Organic Learning Garden who was recently honored with an Eco-Hero Award, spoke at the lecture. Morgan said that she fell in love with the garden and her newfound teaching abilities. “Through our connections with people, we believe in a different kind of learning— hands-on learning,” Morgan said. As Morgan spoke, she handed out scarlet runner beans from a basket, and encouraged those in attendance to take the beans to grow for themselves to see the “beautiful red flowers” produced by one seed. “It’s all about education for me,” said Morgan. “Save the seed; grow the seed.” Erick Zavala, a third-year SMC student, delayed transferring from SMC to help the Organic Learning Garden materialize. “It was hard to get people focused on learning when there was no garden,” said Zavala. Club Grow members are eligible for a plot in the 1,300 square-foot garden, and can plant from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. It takes five students to apply for one of the garden’s 13 plots. “I feel a lot more empowered,” said Zavala. “I don’t have space at home, and I’ve never taken a class, or even notes on gardening.” From garden clubs to garden worms to green curriculums, SMC’s environmentalism is becoming more farreaching. “I came to SMC because of the environmental thinking, and that was in 1997,” said Morgan.
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+ entertainment 10 arts
volume 104 issue 6 • october 10, 2012 • santa monica college
SMC Symphony orchestrates masterful show to a full house molly philbin & David Yapkowitz Staff Writer & Sports Editor
The drum began to thud and the snare of the Aaron Copland piece, “Fanfare for the Common Man,” sounded like thunder. Trumpets blared out an “Assembly of the Buglers”-esque tune, which excited the crowded hall at the Eli and Edythe Broad Stage on Sunday, Oct. 7. With the audiences’ full attention, opening conductor FangNing Lim wrapped up the piece and silently introduced the Santa Monica College Symphony Orchestra by gesturing for them to stand. The SMC Symphony is a college/ community orchestra that performs two concerts each semester on the Broad Stage at the Performing Arts Center. There are 24 registered SMC students in the orchestra, as well as community members, professionals and some returning unregistered students, said SMC music department chair James Martin. Violinists and cellists filled vacant sections of chairs and set up stands with their sheet music, and a Steinway and Sons grand piano rose from the ground on a platform. SMC faculty member Lin-San Chou glided toward the piano in a floor length, dark blue strapless dress. Chou played with her hands, anxious to perform, as the orchestra, conducted by Martin, began Mozart’s “Elvira Madigan.” Northwestern University employee Deborah Williams said she believes that Chou has a long career ahead of her. Williams’ brother taught Chou at Ohio State University. “She was able to play a pretty quick paced piece,” Williams said about the solo Chou had in “Elvira Madigan.” “She did it beautifully, it didn’t seem mechanical.” Chou spoke highly of the SMC orchestra and said she is looking forward to the next time she gets to share the stage with them. She received three flower bouquets by the end of the evening. Some mingled outside the hall, but most waited in their seats for the second half. A harp was wheeled onto the stage, which made the orchestra seem more complete, but without the leading presence of the piano
Livia Wippich Corsair Faculty artist Lin-San Chour performs Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major on Sunday at the Broad Stage of SMC’s Performing Arts Center.
in the second half, the pieces were strewn together. The second half of the concert opened with the entire orchestra performing “Symphonie Fantastique” by Hector Berlioz. Berlioz’ piece is lengthy, and takes about half an hour to perform in its entirety, but the orchestra pulled it off in amazing fashion. Divided into five different parts, the piece took the audience through the opiuminduced journey of a young man in love. Beginning with an upbeat rhythm, the first couple of movements include the young man meeting his love and taking a journey through the countryside. The smooth and
relaxing sounds lull the audience into a comfortable state, unaware of the impending danger that lies ahead. The fourth movement completely changes tune as the opium takes over. Feeling as if his love is unrequited, the young man embarks deep into darkness. The audience marches with him to the guillotine as he imagines himself being executed. The haunting melody is complete with a fierce percussion section as the procession marches on. Transitioning into the fifth and final movement, the young man is killed, only to awaken to a gathering of witches. The fast
paced, quick tempo transports the audience into their celebration of man’s death. Wild rhythms and powerful tunes resonated throughout the room as witches of all sorts come together for the festivities. The melodies, at times frightening, kept the audience on the edge of their seats. The piece ends in dramatic fashion, building up to a climax that had the audience explode into furious cheers and applause. The audience was pleased with the concert, but Chou’s piano piece, accompanied by the orchestra, dominated the after-show talk. “There’s nothing like a little Mozart on a Sunday,” Williams said.
Preview: Peter Schaffer’s “Yonadab” at SMC arezou zakaria Staff Writer Its 1,000 B.C. Yonadab is a cynical man, questioning the existence of God and religion. The wheels of deception are turning in his head. How will he bring down the house of King David? During the month of October, the Santa Monica College Theatre Arts Department will perform Peter Shaffer’s most daring and most personal theatrical play, “Yonadab.” “It’s the most grand theatrical spectacle. It’s the most autobiographical play he has written,” says Adrienne Harrop, director of “Yonadab.” Harrop has directed more than 40 plays at SMC, and has taught theater for the past 33 years. She has directed other great Shaffer plays such as “Amadeus,” “Equus,” and “The Royal Hunt of the Sun.” The only play missing from that collection was “Yonadab.” Finally, after 27 years, and thanks to Lorraine Broderick, a mutual acquaintance
of Harrop and Schaffer, Harrop acquired the rights to “Yonadab.” “’Yonadab’ has a juxtaposition of modern and ancient that’s just exceptional,” says Harrop. The cast consists of ten SMC Theater Arts students, two of which are international students from Sweden. The role of Yonadab was first popularized by Alan Bates in 1985. In this production, that roll will be portrayed by James Asdell, Harrop’s former student. “I have an exceptional cast that will take this play to the next level,” she said. Because this play deals with serious adult content such as murder, incest, and rape, viewer discretion is advised. The SMC production of “Yonadab” will open Oct. 12 at 8 p.m. with a special preview on Oct. 11 at 8 p.m. Additional matinee and evening performances continue through Oct. 21. The shows are priced at $15 for general admission, and $12 for seniors and students.
Fernando Baltazar Corsair Adrienne Harrop shows off one of the costumes that will be worn in the play “Yonadab,” a play originally written by Peter Shaffer.
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Arts + entertainment 11
volume 104 issue 6 • october 10, 2012 • santa monica college
DTLA’s new Grand Park opens with exciting spectacle Annjelicia houston Staff Writer
S
A year ago, City Hall, in downtown Los Angeles, was the makeshift residence of the Occupy L.A. Movement. Group members were united in their discontent for the state of the economy, but divided in their purpose. On Saturday, Oct. 6, over 100 people sat in the middle of Spring Street. in front of City Hall with a clear purpose, albeit a different one: To celebrate a historic moment in the city of Los Angeles, as it opened the final two blocks of the new Grand Park. Grand Park is downtown’s newest and most innovative design. Located in the center of the Cultural and Civic Center, the park is 12 acres in size, spanning over four city blocks between Grand Avenue. and Spring Street. The purpose of the new park is to bring the people of Los Angeles, from all different cultures and backgrounds, together, to enjoy the lush green area of land dotted with various amenities open for all. The idea for Grand Park has been floating around since 1950. But only after the Grand Avenue Authority, a joint powers authority between the County of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency, was formed in 2003, did the design and planning begin. In July 2010, construction in the downtown Los Angeles area commenced. Two years and $56 million dollars later, the park was finally finished. Families, couples, the young, the old, and people from various backgrounds could be
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seen everywhere, with the buzz of excitement and curiosity permeating the air. The block party celebrated the park opening, and included an incredible itinerary for people to enjoy. First, the crowd was treated to an exquisitely choreographed performance located at the fountain on Grand Avenue, where dancers glided effortlessly in the fountain waters to a wonderful musical composition. “This is one of the coolest things I’ve seen done in Jennifer Gomez Corsair Los Angeles,” said UCLA “A Fanfare for Grand Park,” featured a dance choreographed by Jacques Heim, a performance in the student Caitlin Ward. “Of Arthur J. Will Memorial Fountain at the Grand Park Block Party in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday. course the park is amazing, The city of Los Angeles has something and flying through the air in a performance but just the effort going into celebrating the park, and the diversity beautiful that it can be proud of and that’s that reminded people of Cirque Du Soleil. And while the diversity of the crowd is what stuns me,” she continued. “We’re great. We’re definitely going to keep coming all here, witnessing history. I just wish there back. It’s so family oriented and diverse, but definitely resonated with the guests, there if you want to just come alone and relax, you was one Angeleno who was taken aback by were more trees,” she laughed. the renovation of the downtown area. Next up was a jazz performance by the can do that here too,” she added. The countdown for the opening began at “They’ve done a fine job reinventing the Cuban band Dos Y Mas, between Grand area,” says Patty Marenco, “ It used to be Avenue and Hill Street. People sat eating 7 p.m. Fireworks shot into the air around City such a mess over here.” “I moved here in food they purchased from the various vendors around the park and listening to Hall, and the crowd moved into the newest ’92 from Hawaii with my husband and it section of the park where they would be did not look anything like this,” she said. the captivating performance. Grand Park is officially open to the “I’m in complete awe,” Julie Chan said, as able to watch the most anticipated event of public. With events similar to the ones she wiped ketchup from her smiling sons’ the night, the Bandaloop performance. Dancers performed fluid and elegant seen Saturday night planned each month, face. “I came with most of my family. At first we didn’t think it was going to be this routines, suspended hundreds of feet in the Grand Park is sure to be the destination air on the side of the City Hall building on for many people of all backgrounds in Los exciting, but this is truly something else. Spring Street. Twisting, turning, flipping Angeles.
TEACH-IN Voter Registration Workshop
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Proposition 30 Presentation
Register. Find your polling place. Learn about candidates and ballot measures.
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Listen to different parties speak about their stance on education.
Debate Tournaments
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STUDENT PERKS
Catered by Chipotle! Stay for the Presidential Debates at 6:00 pm. Tuesday, October 16, 2012 at Cayton Center, 4:30 - 6:00 pm
Paid upon enrollment, your Associated Students fee of $19.50 entitles you to:
Big Blue Bus transport
FOOD TRUCK FUNDRAISER Hosted by the Student Veterans Association Tuesday, October 16, 2012 at the Quad, 10:30 am - 1:00 pm
SMC Club Funding Discount Movie Tickets
at 9 participating theaters
$15 worth of Free Printing at the A.S. Computer Lab
VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION Honor and thank military personnel who have served the United States. Thursday, November 8, 2012 at the Quad, 10:30 am - 1:00 pm
ICS T E L H T A SMC !
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for extended coverage visit us at thecorsaironline.com •
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12 sports
volume 104 issue 6 • october 10, 2012 • santa monica college
Running behind
cross country
WOMEN’S volleyball
Learning experience for Corsairs in loss to College of the Canyons kou collins Staff Writer
Michael Yanow Corsair Santa Monica College runner Fernando Alvarado runs during the Western State Conference Preview at Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area on Thursday in Los Angeles. Alvarado finished 30th overall, and SMC placed fifth in the men’s meet.
manuel mejia & rachel duron Staff Writers Home field advantage wasn’t so helpful for the Corsair cross country teams last week, as they ran at Kenneth Hahn Regional Park at the Western State Conference Preview on Friday afternoon. With near perfect weather conditions for running, the men’s team kept up a better pace throughout the meet than their fellow women, who appeared to struggle. The Lady Corsairs were first to race, running a total of three miles. They did not place in the top fifteen runners, who were rewarded with T-shirts. The men however ran a total of four miles, which is just one extra lap around the park. The men were not able to place in the top 15 either. The ladies had a hard time keeping up with the top runners, but freshman Inez Alvarez, who came in 84th place, stated, “The hope for my team this year is to make it to the state finals.
We have been putting in a lot of hard work and dedication this year.” “Because we were hosting the meet, I felt like I needed to work ten times harder. I need to represent my school well,” said Alvarez. Even though, the Corsairs did not place at the very top, their overall scores ranked them right in the middle of the 10 teams for men and 13 teams for women. The men’s cross country team ranked 5th out of ten averaging 23:43, and scoring 111. The women’s cross country team ranked 8th out of 13, averaging 24:02 and an overall score of 212. “By and large, the teams are looking good. We have put in a lot of miles and hard work and trained for this meet,” said cross country Coach Eric Barron. The cross country teams will travel to Santa Barbra to race against the Gauchos in the Santa Barbara Invitational, to prepare for the conference championship which will be held on the same course on October 23.
sports briefs
men’s soccer
The sun is shining on the SMC men’s soccer team once again. The Corsairs got back in the winning column yesterday, coming out on top over the College of the Canyons Cougars 2-0. In the first 45 minutes, the Cougars were not able to score on the Corsairs, setting the tone for SMC’s defense. Coach Tim Pierce made that an emphasis going into Tuesday’s game. “We put five defenders in the game, and attacked with our other five. Our five [defenders] sat home and did a job and concentrated on executing that game plan,” Coach Pierce said. Late in the second half, the Corsairs got to work offensively. Just under the 18-minute mark, forward Alessandro Canale scored the first goal of the night with a header during a free kick. Not long after, forward Rafael Silva was able to score off an assist from Canale,
essentially ending the game. SMC allowed a whopping five goals during their last game against Citrus College. This game, they didn’t’ allow any. “The defense had an outstanding game today,” Canale said. Last night’s win puts the Corsairs at fourth in the Western State conference. Their next game is Friday, October 12 against Oxnard College. Oxnard is currently undefeated in conference play, putting them at first, but SMC is confident they will come out with a victory. “I think if we come out with a similar strategy [as Tuesday’s game], we can come out with a win,” Canale said. Coach Pierce feels his team can match up well, stating that SMC is the only team that has been able to play Oxnard to a draw. “We’re going to give them hell.”
Coming off a 2-2 tie against LA Pierce College, the SMC women’s soccer team followed it up with a 1-0 victory over Bakersfield on Tuesday afternoon. Sophomore sensation Meg Pierce scored the Corsairs only goal of the match. Pierce was called for a yellow card during the game for protesting a call. The win improves the Corsairs to 2-1-2 in the Western State South Conference, and 5-2-4 overall. They currently sit at fourth in the conference behind Citrus, Canyons,
and LA Pierce respectively. SMC suffered a brief scare when sophomore Vianca Barajas appeared shaken up after suffering a blow. Barajas lay face down on the field for a few minutes, but was able to walk it off and return to action. The Corsairs take to the road for the next two games, Friday Oct. 12 against Glendale College at 5 p.m. and Tuesday Oct. 16 against LA Valley College at 4 p.m.
women’s soccer
-Alex Vejar
Staff Writer
-David Yapkowitz Sports Editor
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It’s always important to look at the positives in life, even when things seem bleak. Positive thinking can propel one out of a tough slump. That is what the Santa Monica College women’s volleyball team is going to have to do after a tough loss to College of the Canyons last Friday. The Corsairs lost in three consecutive sets to an impressive Cougars team. The Corsairs trailed much of the match, which was a complete turnaround from their previous game against Glendale.. Santa Monica College pulled off an impressive victory against Glendale on Wednesday, by winning 3 sets to 1. Coach Nicole Ryan believes that the team might have gotten too comfortable after the win. Ryan also stated that Canyons’ offense was a lot different than what SMC is used to seeing. The Corsairs came out of the gate slow, allowing the Cougars to score very quickly in the first set. In the second set, it seemed that SMC was the aggressor by scoring the first two points. However, the Cougars regrouped and went on to victory.
“The more the girls play with each other, the more comfortable they get, and they’re starting to figure out how to play as a team,” Ryan explained. Even though SMC did not win, Ryan believes that the offense is getting better, and the loss is a learning experience for the future. She also believes that SMC has a shot against every team they play. “This is definitely a learning experience; you learn from your mistakes,” outside hitter Hannah Pope said. “We had small mistakes that we made, and little errors that we will focus on fixing in practice.” This was SMC’s first loss in their conference, and they are now one and a half games out of first place in the Western State South conference behind Canyons and LA Pierce. As the team continues to play together, the chemistry will grow, and SMC can be a formidable team. “We need a fiery leader on the court,” Ryan said. “The more and more we play together, we’ll figure out who that will be.” Even with a tough loss, SMC is thinking of the positives that came out of the game instead of dwelling on the defeat. The Corsairs look to find a ‘fiery leader’ on Wednesday at home against West LA at 7 p.m.
woMEN’S volleyball SCHEDULE wednesDAY OCT. 10TH AT 7 P.M. VS. west l.a.*
friday OCT. 19TH AT 7 P.M.
FRIDAY OCT. 12TH AT 7 P.M. @ pierce college
FRIDAY OCT. 26TH AT 7 P.M.
VS. bakersfield*
VS. glendale*
wednesDAY OCT. 17TH AT 7 P.M. @ citrus college
* HOME GAME
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