CORSAIR
volume 107 issue 4 • March 19, 2014 • santa monica college
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2 contents
volume 107 issue 4 • March 19, 2014 • santa monica college
E D I T O R I A L S TA F F Henry Crumblish····· 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 Elizabeth Moss·Digital Editor-in-Chief c o rs a i r. w e b e d i t o r @ g m a i l . c o m David Yapkowitz······Managing Editor c o rs a i r. m a n a g i n g @ g m a i l . c o m Ronja Jansz···········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 Alci Rengifo····· 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 Jonathan Ramos······· 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 Trev Angone·············· 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 Jimmy Janszen············· Photo Editor Rachel Porter············· 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 Jhosef Hern····················Illustrator c o rs a i r c a r t o o n @ g m a i l . c o m Maggie Louie··············Design Team David Veta·················Design Team 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 Brandon Barsugli, Scott Bixler, Rob Black, Cesar Clarke, Alejandro Colmenares, Marlene Conner, Amalia Darin, My’sson Downs, Mia Duncans, Maurice Dwayne, Elin Ekdahl, Paulina Eriksson, Walter Flores, Darin Geesey, Rachel Gianuario, Jorge Gonzalez, Qalil Ismail, Shakeel Joyce, Sarit Kashanian, Nick Kovalenko, Aaron Leaureaux, Juan Lopez, Malin Lord, Jazmin Martinez, Devon Marque, Christophor McGovern, Delmy Moran, Adrien Piteux, James Powel, Yaddick Rivas, Elia Sanchez Patrick Shanleyw FA C U LT Y A D V I S O R S S a u l Ru b i n & Gerard Burkhart AD INQUIRIES: c o rsai r. admana g e r@g m ai l . co m (3 1 0 ) 4 3 4 - 4 0 3 3
Nick Kovalenko Corsair Rob Lowe speaks to guests of the Get In Touch foundation at their Pretty in Pink luncheon at the Casa del Mar hotel on Sunday.
On the cover: Santa Monica College tennis captain, Jessica Goldbeck, returns the ball to an opponent during a match against Ventura College on Thursday. Picture by: Brandon Barsugli
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Letters 3
volume 107 issue 4 • March 19, 2014 • santa monica college
Letter to the Editor To the Editor-In-Chief; In recent issues of the Corsair, it was stated that the Associated Students have denied funding requests to college departments’ initiatives and a consultant, due to the A.S. not being given proper credit in its previous investments. We would like to officially clarify that the trend of denying funding requests stem from our vision of what the Associated Students is for and its responsibilities. Having recognition for our volunteer work is nice, but our true concern on this issue is to safeguard student money and invest it wisely. Our budget is not for funding college departments and programs, but we do encourage them to ask for our partnership and co-sponsorship in projects that benefit students and provide them with opportunities to take on leadership roles within these projects. We will gladly support such partnerships, as we recognize their value in fostering student success. We wish to build a long-lasting, positive relationship with these departments so
that we can collaborate and work towards common goals to help the students. However, we will not fund 100 percent of the college’s departments’/programs’ proposals. We believe that responsibility belongs to the SMC Administration, for whom we hold great respect for. Our concern is that whenever the college instructs a department to come to us requesting 100 percent funding, we feel that they are not giving the A.S. and its members the same respect. During this Board’s term alone, the A.S. was requested to fully fund the Alumni Association and Athletics Department Homecoming event, the Career Services’ Resource Fair, Alumni Association’s SMC Everywhere, Arts Department scholarships, and a Consultant for Move LA, among others. In a couple of these events, our donation was even used to purchase advertising materials for a department, which in no way benefited the students. It genuinely seemed as though our funding was disrespected; as if student money is seen as free money for anyone to
take advantage of. Although, we do understand that these initiatives benefit students one way or another, we question whether we should fund everything that is presented to us. If the A.S. is here simply to fund anything and everything that benefits students in any way, then the Associated Students should also be responsible for funding all college resources. Although we appreciate these resources that SMC provides, they are the responsibility of the district, whereas the A.S. responsibility is to focus on student involvement, leadership, and growth. So we ask the students, should the A.S. fund every single request that comes to us? Is that a wise investment of your money? The leadership of the A.S. believes that student money should be for investing in student development and leadership, such as student clubs and organizations. We are more than happy to partner with college departments/programs in order to provide any resource necessary to aid students with their goals, projects and initiatives. That’s
what we are here for, to advance student led initiatives and provide a voice that represents the students’ best interest. That’s why we unanimously chose to invest one third of our unrestricted budget ($100,000) in Student Success Awards, which will further academic success. That’s also the reason why we invested in a brand new Student Lounge, so that students have a home on campus, which will make them more comfortable being on campus and inclined to engage in student life activities. We believe these actions will ultimately foster student success. We would like to extend an invitation to all students who wish to inform the A.S. what they expect from their leadership to please feel welcome to come and chat with us; you are the ones we represent and the ones who have the right to tell us how to invest your money. Sincerely, Your Associated Students Board of Directors.
Letter from the Editor Henry Crumblish Editor-In-Chief
I would like to take some time out to clarify the purpose of journalism and more importantly the role of The Corsair on campus. This semester, various groups have come knocking on the newsroom door, upset at the coverage they received from myself and the staff. The Corsair is not Santa Monica College’s cheerleader, or personal advertising agency. Our job is to keep the student body informed. A value that was instilled in me very early on when learning the rules of reporting is that journalism serves as society’s watchdog. It is our job to expose injustice and social inequity. As journalists we have the ability to alter the perceptions and opinions of our readers and it is a responsibility I do not take lightly. I love this campus and my writing career has taken me to every inch of our college, from the main campus to the satellite campuses, often times running into breaking news along the way. I have many friends scattered throughout just about every department, yet despite my personal feelings I can not paint stories or events in a favorable light just to please the parties involved.
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I want to make it clear to everyone that it’s our job to report on what is said in public forums. What you say in public is free game, and it’s in the best interest of public figures to be aware of their choice of words. It’s in the best interest of groups on campus to be on the same page when you know there is a Corsair reporter present. In addition to being the campus watchdog it is also our duty to scrutinize various groups on campus. I want to make it clear that I respect campus organizations and all the effort they put into improving our campus and the quality of life within it. When the faculty, campus police, AS, or even the Board of Trustees make mistakes, no one on Campus would ever know if it weren’t for the diligence of The Corsair. However, when we make mistakes it’s immortalized in print for the entire campus to see. At the end of the day we are all students, who put in hours of work every week into extracurriculars and activities pertaining to our respective groups. It is never the intent of The Corsair to be malicious or inaccurate. We strive for excellence and our work reflects that. If you don’t like what I have to say or what we print, I welcome you to write us a letter.
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4 news
volume 107 issue 4 • March 19, 2014 • santa monica college
Property damage in parking lot causes headaches Sarit Kashanian Staff Writer
With new improvements to the main campus this semester, one issue still remains—parking lot security. Students this semester continue to complain of damage caused to their vehicles. One of these students, first-year psychology major Ramtin Vafa, described two instances of his Mercedes C250 being keyed as well as being involved in a hit-andrun. One day during the fall semester, Vafa parked his car in the downstairs lot. About an hour later, Vafa returned to find a deep slash mark on his door, the perpetrator nowhere in sight. “Somebody was pissed off at me for whatever reason,” Vafa supposed. He reported the crime to a police officer who could not find the culprit but suggested that Vafa park in the upstairs lot where security cameras from the Humanities and Social Sciences building might be able to catch sight of his car. Later in the semester, Vafa noticed a long, shallow marking under the first. Once again he notified the police, who stated that their security cameras were not functioning at the time and therefore could not capture the keying. In between both keying events Vafa was the victim of a hit-and-run when he parked in the angled lanes towards the entrance of the lot. Police searched for evidence of
new damage to a car whose paint matched the scratches on Vafa’s car, but none was found. Parking lot horror stories such as Vafa’s are not uncommon. According to Sergeant Jere Romano of the Santa Monica College Police Department, officers have responded to 48 hit-and-run incidents within the current 2013-2014 academic year. On the first Monday of the spring semester, second-year student Nagar Pousti returned to her car in the morning when her friend pointed out a foot-long scratch on her Honda Pilot. “I was mad, I started screaming,” said Pousti. “I think I found the person but I’m not sure. The cops are trying to investigate.” First-year student Vivian Sabouhi was also victim of a hit-and-run. “It happened fall semester. I was parked and when I came back from class I saw my back bumper just full of white paint,” Sabouhi said. In Sabouhi’s case, there were no witnesses to document the offense toward her BMW 328i. The experiences of the aforementioned students are not unique, but instead recurring events, according to Pousti, “I have seen it happen so many times with my own eyes, to other cars.” To prevent the unnecessary time and money spent tending to damaged cars, Vafa suggests that the school beef up security measures. “At least put cameras in each corner, because even if someone is not getting
Liz Phillips Corsair SMC student Ramtin Vafa’s car is the victim of a hit-and-run in the Santa Monica College main parking structure last Thursday.
hit, one may literally go deal drugs in the parking lot and no one would even know. You can get away with anything.” However, implementing new security measures is unlikely to improve one’s ability to park without striking the car nearby, Romano pointed out. He would like students to become more involved in the process of safety themselves, encouraging
them to report any accidents they see. To contact the SMC Police Department after perceiving property damage to one’s own vehicle, students should call the nonemergency phone number at 310-4344608 or flag down the nearest Parking Enforcement Officer for assistance. To report a hit-and-run, call 310-434-4300.
Rachel Gianuario Corsair
Bread Factory eviction turns into legal battle Alci Rengifo Arts + Entertainment Editor
The case involving the closure of the Bread Factory has taken a new turn as former owner Soo Jeong Pak is now suing both Santa Monica College and the owner of Eat Street, located across from the vacant Bread Factory in the cafeteria. According to the most recent court filings, Pak is suing SMC for an amount of $1.4 million for applicable claims, as well as general and special damages. She is also seeking $1 million for exemplary and punitive damages. Depsite multiple attempts SMC’s Human Resources department was unavailable for comment. The court files on the case reveal a business partnership between Pak and Eat Street owner Hannah An that turned sour. According to court documents, in July 2009 Pak and An made an agreement to form Eatology, a joint restaurant company that would be made up of both of their businesses. This would bridge an alliance
between Eat Street and the now defunct Bread Factory in which both parties would split profits evenly amongst themselves. Pak alleges that An and SMC began to make business decisions without her knowledge. However, what those decisions were and how they contributed to the Bread Factory being unable to pay rent are still unclear. Pak is accusing SMC and An of being “conspirators” in a scheme in which An would eventually become the sole owner of both eateries and in essence, all of Eatology. In the court documents, Pak alleges that An and her husband “built an amicable relationship” with Charlie Yen, SMC’s director of contracts and event services and then went about weaving a plan to cut her out of the loop. Pak has now filed two separate lawsuits against both SMC and Eat Street. Eat Street management was not available for comment due to the ongoing nature of the court case. Among Pak’s many accusations is that the case has caused her “emotional distress”
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and “lack of sleep” and that she deserves compensation for this and alleged losses of income. The latest court hearing was on Thursday, March 13, at the Santa Monica Courthouse presided over by Judge Gerald Rosenberg. Pak herself was not present but instead a hired court appearance attorney, Kevin Jang in her stead. SMC’s own legal counsel, Louis Dumont, commented to Rosenberg that it is typical for Pak not to be present at the hearings. Even more frustrating for Dumont and Rosenberg was the fact that Pak does not appear to have a basic business or home phone number where she can be contacted. Since the case began in late 2013 she has been using the number to the self-help legal center in Santa Ana from which she has been hiring court appearance lawyers to appear in her place at scheduled hearings. The court file is full of statements by Dumont trying to reach Pak at numbers which turn out to be out of service. One very direct email contained in the file from Dumont to John Ahn, of the legal center in @t h e _ c o r s a i r •
Santa Ana, simply states “Mr. Ahn, do you know what Ms. Pak wants to do?” The reply from Ahn simply states in muddled, legal jargon that Pak is “taking time to think” about how to proceed in settling the lawsuit. The Corsair has attempted to call multiple numbers provided in the legal documents to no avail, receiving only answering machines, new owners, or endless ring tones. This appears to have been the same experience for the courts. It is also alleged by Pak’s representatives that she cannot speak English. In the court documents Ahn claims that Pak “does not speak and/or understand English.” When asked about this particular claim, former Bread Factory worker and SMC student Adam Marangakis said “the woman that I knew as the owner definitely spoke English.” Another SMC student and former Bread Factory employee named Oliver F. McCae said “She spoke English pretty well to us and she sure understood it.” On Thursday Judge Rosenberg adjourned and set April 22 for the next court hearing.
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health + lifestyle 5
volume 107 issue 4 • March 19, 2014 • santa monica college
Women’s empowerment at SMC Liz Phillips Staff Writer
How much does gender impact your life? And how do we come together to bring true gender equality? These and other topics were discussed in the first three workshops presented at Santa Monica College in recognition of Women’s Empowerment Month. “Equality for women rolls into equality for everyone. It has an avalanche effect,” said Carlynne McDonnell, whose two previous workshops addressed cultivating leadership skills and honing one’s voice. Students not only listened to McDonnell, but also discussed with her their thoughts and perceptions of leadership, communication, and themselves. “This type of workshop is more interactive,” said Associated Students Commissioner Natalie Lei, “The communication between the presenter and participants is more dynamic.” These workshops come from McDonnell’s non-profit organization, Change In Our Lifetime, Incorporated, which was founded in Jan 2013. Their goal is to educate women about the inequality that exists in today’s society, draw them together, and give them the skills to work toward bringing change. “You need to know who you are every day, it’s like exercise. Every single day, work on your values, work on your integrity, work on how you feel about yourself,” said McDonnell. McDonnell has been doing workshops on leadership and organizational strategy for many years before starting Change In Our Lifetime, Inc. Her politically active parents served as role models, and nurtured her passion for the rights of not just women,
but all people. She is currently writing a book about the inequality of women in our society. In addition to McDonnell’s workshops, other events have been held on campus in honor of Women’s Empowerment Month. A workshop on Tuesday, March 13 was supposed to be given by Professor Melanie Klein, but a last minute change resulted in a informative talk given by Maryam Zar. Zar is a former correspondent for the Huffington Post in Iran, and founder of Womenfound, a non-profit organiztion started in 2010 designed to bring awareness to the struggles of women in underdeveloped parts of the world. “Feminism is about having equal rights and the freedom to chose your life’s direction without being subjected to discrimination because of what other people expect of you,” said Zar. While in the United States gender equality issues might be focused on topics such as equal pay, in many other parts of the world gender equality means the right to a basic education, or the right not to be dragged into the cycle of young marriage and unwanted pregnancies. Zar asked the mostly female audience, if they had ever felt as though their lives were subject to expectations placed on them by society because of their gender. Nods and murmurs of “yes” filled the room and were then punctuated by a story from AS President Ty Moura who described being prevented from playing soccer with the boys as a kid in Brazil because she was a girl. Attendee Kasin Hussain however had a differing opinion. “No, I don’t feel like society or anybody around me puts expectations on myself.”
Liz Phillips Corsair Maryam Zar shows various pictures and social media to students in a workshop she gave at Santa Monica College on Tuesday.
said Hussain. It is important to note that all of the events this month are not exclusively for women, and men have attended every workshop. “Men are very important to equality,” said McDonnell. “They are our partners in our society.” Events will be held throughout the month, presented by both the AS and the Feminist Club, including a closing workshop by McDonnell called “Creating A Gender Equal Life For Yourself ” on March 20, at
11:15 a.m. in the Cayton Center and a visit on March 27 from Marianne Williamson, currently running for the United States House of Representatives. “I’m very excited about the speech by Marianne Williamson,” said Lei. “She has been doing a lot of work for women empowerment long before she started running for Congress. You don’t always get a chance to have a candidate come over to the campus to give a speech. And it’s for free!”
ELECTIONS for the 2014-15 ACADEMIC YEAR Apply now through March 20th at 11:15am! Find application online: as.smc.edu > Elections serve your school get your own office help make smc the best yet Here to Help
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6 photostory
volume 107 issue 4 • March 19, 2014 • santa monica college
An eclectic visual variety of art for all to enjoy, was seen at to Santa Monica Airport Campus on Saturday, March 15th during the Santa Monica Art Walk.
Mia Duncans Corsair Mia Duncans Corsair
Guests enjoy an eclectic visual variety of art at Santa Monica Airport campus on Saturday, March 15 during the Art Walk
A walk through creativity Alci Rengifo Arts & Entertainment Editor
Tucked away like a secret maze was the 2014 Artwalk at the Santa Monica College Airport campus. The annual event hosts a variety of creations from local artists and Santa Monica College students. The small hangar across the street from the airport’s runway, which serves as SMC’s airport campus, was transformed into a tour of the inner thoughts, twisted fantasies and class projects of students involved in the Art Mentor program at SMC. A block down in another airport building, a vast gallery displayed diverse architecture, paintings, and sculptures from local artists charging up to $12,000 a piece. For a day, the artists of tomorrow were on display next to the already established big wigs of Santa Monica. The airport campus gallery had everything from a nude man made of duct-tape sitting on a chair to Jackson Pollock-style explosions on canvas. Mike Desh had one such painting hanging in Saturday’s gallery. He was one of 25 students selected by their instructors in the Art Mentor program to have their work unveiled to the public. When describing his piece, a splattering expression of colors and dripping strokes, Desh said, “a lot of it comes from working in my head. I have amassed a lot of visuals from experiencing the culture I’ve experienced which is very commercial-driven.” In another corner sat an apocalyptic canvas with an army of skull figures in cloaks. They were grim reapers marching in front of a background of fire with a goat-headed figure at the lead. This gothic vision was the work of SMC student Rory James. “It was basically an excuse to paint fire. Once I started painting the fire it just grew,” said James.
build a space where we can come together in community and have a space where people can dialogue,” said Reygoza lamenting that old ways of getting together have been replaced by a culture of meeting at Starbucks while feeding a consumerist machine. Across the street in another large building was the main gallery of Artwalk 2014. In one space there was a wonderful, nostalgic exhibit involving mechanical and electronic typewriters. The times have changed so rapidly that an instrument that was such a common tool half a century ago now looks like a relic from another age. Visitors could even sit down in front of a Corona typewriter and peck out a few words on a sheet of paper. Another massive, indoor gallery displayed major works from local artists, some ranging from canvas works to surrealist sculptures. Walking wbetween the gallery halls was the group Critical Brass which played New Orleansstyle brass numbers. Critical Brass, led by lead vocalist, “Schwee”, were introduced to the event by Allison Ostrovsky, Director of Cultural Affairs in Santa Monica. “It’s actually the most beautiful day we’ve had for Artwalk in the last five years,” said Ostrovsky. “It’s usually rainy and cloudy. It’s a great turnout. Mia Duncans Corsair We’ve added another food truck and the brass Artists put down their paintbrushes for a short time to marching band was fantastic.” Ostrovsky hopes that the event will continue to display their work for all to see at the Santa Monica Art draw visitors, not only for the art walk, but for Walk at the SMC Airport Campus on Saturday. the area surrounding it. “What we’d love our visitors to walk with is In another corner of the gallery a small teepee discovering this airport and that it’s a creative made of molten metallic substances stood above space. We have a gallery, a theater and even a small, Medieval figurines. This was the work restaurant,” said Ostrovsky. “It’s a special place of SMC student Lily Reygoza who wanted to in Santa Monica, a lot of people drive by and express a utopian vision. don’t realize what’s in here.” “The concept behind it is that I want to “Obviously heavy metal music influenced me.” SMC student and artist Pace Porter-Fusada had his own brand of dystopian visions on display in carefully rendered, detailed Photoshop canvases that imagined futuristic, post-apocalyptic sci-fi worlds of ruined cities and men in gas masks. “I can do one of these in two or three days,” he said. “I just want to create a world you can fall into. That’s what video games and movies can be all about.”
“It’s a special place in Santa Monica, a lot of people drive by and don’t realize what’s in here.” -Allison Ostrovsky Mia Duncans Corsair A Santa Monica resident enjoys the art on display at the Santa Monica Art Walk on Sautrday at the SMC Airport campus.
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photostory 7
volume 107 issue 4 • March 19, 2014 • santa monica college
“I just want to create a world you can fall into.” - Rory James
Mia Duncans Corsair Four-year-old Kenji gets in on the art action at the Santa Monica Airport Campus on Saturday during the Santa Monica Art Walk.
Mia Duncans Corsair Art is displayed at the Santa Monica Art Walk on Saturday at the Santa Monica College Airport Campus.
Mia Duncans Corsair A sculpture by Jackie Nach is on display at the Santa Monica Art Walk on Saturday at the SMC Airport campus.
Mia Duncans Corsair Santa Monica resident, Rebekah Gould admires the artwork on display at the Santa Monica Art Walk which took place at the Santa Monica Airport Campus on Saturday,
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8 opinion
volume 107 issue 4 • March 19, 2014 • santa monica college
Why the Ukraine crisis matters Alci Rengifo Arts + Entertainment Editor As we continue our daily routine at Santa Monica College, focusing on grades, exams, and parking headaches, dangerous storm clouds are now gathering far away in Eastern Europe. What happens all over the world should matter to the average student because it affects all of us in one way or another. We have a large community of veterans on this campus who fought in an Iraq War launched from Washington, D.C. and now Emperor Obama and his majesty the Russian Tsar, Vladimir Putin, could be driving the world toward an even greater catastrophe. It is tragically fitting that this year marks 100 years since the start of World War I in August 1914. Now once again the world’s egomaniac rulers are close to starting a major war over territory and influence. The Ukrainian uprising that began in November and culminated in the overthrow of pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych because he favored closer ties to Moscow over an economic union with the European Union (plus rampant corruption and other economic woes), has morphed into a dangerous beast threatening the stability of Europe and the world. The new Ukrainian government, backed by the United States and its allies, is composed of weak-kneed bureaucrats as well as thugs like Dmitry Yarosh, leader of the fascist party Right Sector which was responsible for much of the extreme violence during the protests. According to the Russia Today, a proposal was submitted to the Ukrainian parliament, suggesting that Right Sector be transformed into a regular unit of the armed forces. With no true revolutionary alternatives, violent parties with toxic ideologies are filling the void. The Miami Herald reported that another Right Sector leader, Igor Mazur, has called for liberating Ukraine from “Jewish oligarchs.” As Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky wrote when the Nazis rose to power in Germany, “capitalist society is puking up the undigested barbarism.” But this is just the tip of the iceberg. A deed with greater implications for us all just took place in Crimea, a region located in the eastern half of Ukraine. Crimea is a majority Russian-speaking population that also identifies itself as ethnically Russian. Crimea used to be a part of Russia until 1954 when Soviet premiere Nikita Khruschev annexed it to Ukraine. Russia has now sent about 22,000 troops into Crimea to secure its current naval base there, according to the British newspaper The Guardian. On Sunday Crimeans voted in a referendum where 96 percent voted in favor of joining Russia and separating from Ukraine and its new government. On Tuesday, Putin officially signed papers annexing Crimea to Russia. Howls of protest have been heard from the White House and European Union. The new government in Kiev, the Obama administration, and the EU are refusing to recognize the vote, because votes only count when they go our way, or if you’re a
Jhosef Hern Corsair
friendly medieval regime like Saudi Arabia, that’s fine too. Our blowhard Secretary of State John Kerry now threatens Russia on a daily basis. Like warlords storming heaven to the sounds of Wagner’s “Ride Of The Valkyries”, President Obama, denied the chance to bomb Syria, and other leaders such as Germany’s Angela Merkel are now threatening Russia with sanctions and other economic punishments. On Tuesday morning reports trickled in of a Ukrainian soldier being shot dead possibly by Russian troops in the port city of Simferopol in Crimea. Ukraine’s new Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk stated according to The Guardian “the conflict had moved from the political to the military stage.” Professor and scholar of Russian studies at New York University, Stephen Cohen appeared on CNN last week claiming the crisis is the “most serious we have faced since the Cuban Missile Crisis.” It boils down to this: The U.S. and its “allies” (they have no choice when Caesar calls) support the new Ukrainian government, even if it has a few deranged fascists. Russia is determined to secure Crimea as a buffer zone between itself and the new regime in Ukraine and in essence a closer U.S. presence near its borders. It’s not about good guys vs. bad guys, it’s about two big powers fighting over their zones of influence with Ukraine’s beleaguered masses caught in the middle. So why should we care? As students we have enough problems finding parking on this campus and trying to get accepted into universities with four letter abbreviations. Consider the following: If economic sanctions against Russia don’t work (and they won’t, Russia is too much of an economic player on the world stage and supplies Europe with most of its natural gas supply), there will be two options: Let Crimea join Russia, or war.
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The stakes are incredibly high. Imagine if Ukraine’s new rulers get trigger happy and decide to fire on those Russian soldiers in Crimea and the Russian bear decides to go all the way into Ukraine. What if the U.S. decides it needs to jump in and then total war spreads over Europe? Third World War anyone?
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Still not convinced? OK, let’s say there is no war...yet, and Russia fights back against U.S. sanctions with it’s oil/gas sanctions against the West. Get ready to pay $20 for each gallon of gas next time you go out clubbing. Paying attention yet?
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Opinion 9
volume 107 issue 4 • March 19, 2014 • santa monica college
“Vaping” gets vaporized
Jimmy Janszen Desk Editor Electronic cigarettes are known to be a safe alternative to the negative health effects of cigarette smoking. Yet, the Los Angeles City Council has decided to ban a safer alternative to smoking in public places. The city is slacking off on societal progression by banning E-cigs. They are putting a halt to a groundbreaking technology that can potentially help people that routinely smoke tobacco cigarettes to kick their habit completely. Smoking e-cigs, or “vaping”, as people have began to call it, consists of inhaling flavored nicotine-mixed liquid that heats up into a vapor that when exhaled, leaves virtually no odor. Los Angeles is jumping on the bandwagon along with New York City, Washington D.C. and five other states by enforcing anti-smoking laws. But the act of smoking is not the same as vaping. Smoking involves using a butane filled lighter to ignite tobacco ladent with chemicals such as tar, lead, and methanol, while vaping simply involves heating up ingredients like oils, flavor extracts, and water. Although these facts are well known and easily accessible, City Council members are inexplicably looking past the obvious advances e-cigs provided for an individual and the city as a whole. In a six-month study conducted by the medical journal Lancet, analysts compared E-cigs to nicotine patches and discovered that e-cigs are statistically comparable in aiding smokers to quit. The facts seem to be incorrectly construed by Los Angeles City Council who unanimously banned the use of
E-cigs in public areas by using terms such as, “smoking” and “lighting up “ in reference to vaping at a Council meeting on Tuesday. 4th district Councilman, Tom LaBonge expressed his especially educated response at the meeting by saying, “I am just not a fan of e-cigarettes, and I don’t want it becoming the latest rage”. As of now, the city of Santa Monica is not affected by Los Angeles’s ban on e-cigs however, Santa Monica City officials are slowly pushing to classify e-cigs as tobacco cigarettes, ultimately banning vaping in public parks, restaurants, and work Cesear Clarke Corsair environments. SMC student, Amber Harvey smokes her electronic cigarette near campus while she does her homework on In a letter addressed March 10. to California Attorney General Kamala Harris, Lucero doesn’t enjoy being put in the same vaporizing wherever they please. Representative for Santa Monica Henry A. area as smokers. “It’s a hassle,” Lucero As of now there is no legal action to ban Waxman has proposed classifying e-cigs as says “smoking areas smell bad and I don’t the use of e-cigs in Santa Monica, but with tobacco cigarettes, expressing his concern want to have to be thrown into a corner of the recent ban in Los Angeles, the Santa for e-cigs becoming a gateway to cigarettes. smokers only to inhale water vapor.” Monica City Council may feel pressured to While Waxman’s concern is real, his logic Personally, I don’t smoke. But I understand keep up with it’s neighboring metropolis. is inverted. E-cigs are a crutch to help the benefits e-cigs can provide to an With a strong voice, the citizens of Santa people quit smoking cigarettes, not an individual who is addicted to cigarettes. Monica can keep the use of e-cigs in public invitation to take up smoking tobacco. Los Angeles City Council, on the other places, knowing it is not harmful to the Ironically, the recent ban is now forcing hand, does not understand the perks public, but helpful to a person addicted to people who smoke e-cigs to vape in the behind vaping. They’d rather be quick to cigarettes. same areas as people who smoke cigarettes. judge, than read the facts and listen to the Progress means finding practical solutions, SMC student and e-cig owner Rachel many voices that support the benefits of not irrational responses.
Rate My Professor, Friend or Foe? Elin Ekdahl Staff Writer In our well-developed digital society, it’s possible for us to find out about the quality of almost anything. Thanks to Yelp, we’ll never have to suffer through a terrible meal again. Due to Rotten Tomatoes, we can make sure that all of our movie-going experiences are spectacular. The unpleasant surprises and the terrifying uncertainty that comes with new experiences is all but gone. Thanks to a page called “Rate My Professor” it is possible to avoid bad teachers. Students can easily, anonymously rate a professor whose class they’ve attended, and affect the overall rating of the professor, for all prospective students
to see. Information that students are encouraged to provide include the importance of attendance, textbook use, helpfulness, and similar things that inform new students of the professor’s teaching style. There is also space to give one’s opinion about the professor’s appearance. Whether a professor is “hot or not,” is expressed with the existence or absence of a hot pepper. Whether this is relevant information, just a fun fact, or simply a hurtful and unnecessary way to humiliate a human being doing their job, is for each of us to decide. One of the parameters that affects the professor’s overall score is “easiness.” Consequently, if a student thinks that a good grade from the professor requires a lot of work, the professor’s overall ranking
Jhosef Hern Corsair
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will go down. Students should be careful to take the teacher ratings with a grain of salt, and read the comments along with each different parameter carefully. But there is no doubt that the “easiness” is the desirable trait in teachers. This makes it seem as though the webpage is not designed for those who want to learn, but for those who want a good grade, whatever the cost may be. Jose “Tony” Medina, a Santa Monica College sophomore, says that difficulty does not make him shy away from classes since high expectations give him motivation, and preparation for higher levels. “Sometimes I would want to [take easy classes], but I know deep down that it’s not going to help me in the long run,” Medina said. Another problem with Rate My Professor, is bias. Bias is the reason that SMC math teacher DiEm Nguyen has not yet looked at her rating. She thinks that students would most likely give a bad rating to a professor that gave them a bad grade, and good ratings to the ones that gave them good grades. This raises another issue. When students are influenced by the ratings on Rate My Professor, the demand for classes taught by professors who are generous with their grades will increase. Easy classes might fill up quickly, and difficult classes might get canceled. @t h e _ c o r s a i r •
Therefore, it is possible that teachers, consciously or subconsciously, may make classes easier, or give students higher grades than they deserve. Along with the frustration of not having enough students in their classes, teachers, if they care, might have to deal with their own reputations being affected by this website. As first-year student Gabby Hagh pointed out, Rate My Professor also affects your digital footprint. “When you google your name, you want good things to come up, not horrible comments,” she said. Still, Rate My Professor does have it’s benefits. Being able to read about a professor’s way of teaching to figure out whether it suits you or not is something very valuable. The possibility for a professor to read feedback from students can also lead to positive change. It can allow teachers who acknowledge what their students might prefer, to modify their teaching methods to bring out the success in their students. The benefits of Rate My Professor are without question, but students should still be mindful to the harm it can cause to an education. International students that pay a fair amount of money to attend SMC, or to any of the students that want something back for the time that they’ve invested in their education, not getting anything, apart from an A, out of a class, is incredibly frustrating. Having easy teachers can make school a lot of fun, but make it too easy, and you might not be in college very long.
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+ entertainment 10 Arts
volume 107 issue 4 • March 19, 2014 • santa monica college
Kooks cook things up Elizabeth moss Digital Editor-In-Chief The Kooks casually strolled onto the blue hued stage of The Troubadour on a Monday night, amidst deafening cries. A short intro was followed by a blast of “See The World”, off of the 2006 album Inside In/Inside Out. The British group formed in 2004 and consists of lead singer Luke Pritchard, lead guitarist Hugh Harris, bass guitarist, Peter Denton, and Paul Garred on drums. During the concert, The Kooks performed tracks from all three of their existing albums as well as three new songs. The Kooks’ performance mimicked their studio recordings almost perfectly, adding of course the crowd cheering and building acoustics. But the band’s loyalty to their studio sound made the performance seem unauthentic. The fans didn’t help create the experience: most people standing in front of the stage sang along while looking either through their phones or around at other attendees. Pritchard’s effort at wooing female
audience members was at times laughable. At one point he turned his back to the crowd and drew his hand up his back, lifting his shirt to the audience. The band’s stage presence can starkly contrast with what they’re singing about. In a song off their new album, Junk of the Heart, Pritchard sings, “Don’t believe in the things that don’t believe in you/ Or the things that you do will come back on you.” Startlingly insightful for a guy that lifts his shirt up to get girls to scream. But at the same time, these are the guys that brought you “Jackie Big T*ts” (curiously absent from that night’s set list) and “F&$# the World Off.” Still, though, at the end of the set I found myself wanting to catch the band’s attention as they left the stage. They all missed me except Garred and Pritchard, who, being the last to leave, grabbed my outstretched palm and clasped it for a second before letting go and walking up the dark stairwell to the quiet of backstage. I didn’t wash my hand that night.
Elizabeth Moss Corsair The Kooks frontman Luke Pritchard sings to audience at the Troubador in West Hollywood on Monday, March 10.
Rocking out while helping out Elin Ekdahl Staff Writer
When Hunter Ackerman, lead singer of Hunter and The Dirty Jacks, walks in to Santa Monica’s Harvelles Blues and Jazz club before his band’s gig on Tuesday night, he immediately draws the attention of the entire room. With a big smile on his face and a shofar filled with a mysterious beverage in his hand, he cheerfully hums a melody and proceeds to greet and embrace a few strangers nearby. The band’s drummer, Brian Lara, is already on stage setting up his equipment. Jon Siembieda is carrying his guitar into
the club through the backdoor. “We’ve been playing here since January of 2013,” Siembieda says. “We decided when we took over Tuesday nights, we wanted to do something different and meaningful with music.” That something different is helping feed the homeless in Santa Monica, as well as teaching music to foster children with the money they raise at Harvelle’s by turning the night spot into a non-profit entity. “Music is what kept me going through high school,” says Lara. “So for me, helping with the music lessons is important.” Hunter believes music is becoming a disappearing art. “It’s the art form that’s being neglected
by the school system,” Hunter says. “Foster children are the ones that already started below the starting line by most people’s living standards, so why not start there?” Right now, it’s only Tuesday nights that are non-profit, customers pay five dollars at the door or can provide two cans of food to get in to the club. However, within the next 90 days, Hunter and The Dirty Jacks are hoping to turn both Harvelles in Santa Monica and Harvelles in Long Beach into music venues that are non-profit seven nights of the week instead of just one. “They’re going to be non-profit benefit concert venues and we believe that will lead to bigger acts that will want to play here,” Siembieda says. After the lights have been dimmed and the first guests have walked through the entrance into the murky, red-lit room which has an underground rock bar atmosphere, Hunter and The Dirty Jacks walk on to the stage. They introduce themselves and launch right into the first song of the night. At the end of the bar sits supporter and
friend Holly Covella with a drink in her hand and her eyes fixed on the stage. “This gives me a reason to come out,” she says. “I come here almost every Tuesday.” Another visitor tonight is saxophone player Gunther Klaus from Canada. Halfway through the show, Klaus goes on stage to play a couple of songs with the band. Klaus is impressed with the work that is being done at Harvelle’s, and agrees that music is in need of all the support it can get. The band puts on a great show. Hunter’s originality and charisma captivates the crowd. The singer moves in rhythm with the music, blows kisses into the crowd and occasionally picks up a large, oddly shaped glass container from which he drinks a mysterious pink liquid. With a mixture of rock and blues, charming personalities, and a good cause to fight for, Hunter and The Dirty Jacks hope to be able to keep spreading their gospel of bringing music education to underprivileged children and feeding the poor.
Nick Kovalenko Corsair Hunter Ackerman, lead singer of Hunter & The Dirty Jacks, prepares for a gig in Harvelle’s Blues Club in Santa Monica on March 4.
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Arts + entertainment 11
volume 107 issue 4 • March 19, 2014 • santa monica college
Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem preview Delmy Moran Staff Writer
“Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem will be taking over the space of the former Terminator 2 ride,” says Project Director and Producer, Jon Corfino. “Since we had extra space we decided to add a separate section called Super Silly Fun Land as well, which is an amusement park inspired play zone from the movie Despicable Me.” The “Despicable Me” films have become a big hit since the first movie premiered in 2010. Because of the big fan base, Universal Studios Hollywood has created a simulator ride based on the movie. But it’s not just any kind of ride. Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem continues the movie’s plot and gives audiences a chance to become participants in the movie. “The whole ride is about letting Gru turn us into minions for his next mission. The ride was made to be very interactive with the audience,” says Corfino. On Friday, The Corsair was given exclusive access to the construction site at Universal’s lot where the ride is being finalized. Although some areas remained closed off and covered up, still not ready for showtime, enough of the ride was ready to give invited guests a sneak peek. Access was first given to a recreation
of the character Gru’s home. Everything was done with incredible detail. Paintings on the wall resembled those in the movie and there were even drawings made by the characters Margo, Edith and Agnes. Gru’s SR-6 shrink ray was also present, it is the device he uses in the movie for his evil plan. Visiting press was then taken into a room where Gru appears talking on a big screen and reveals his evil scheme. “Gru gives us body scans as the floor starts
vibrating under us, and at this point we haven’t even gotten to the ride yet,” says Corfino. When visitors reached the ride there was a big screen and simulator seats waiting to begin the experience in 3D. “This the, these? seats are very highly articulated. They rise up perfectly choreographed with the action on the screen and we do have lots of 4D effects such as wind, water and laser lights,” explains Corfino. The ride features characters from the film such as Gru, the three girls, Dr. Nefario, and of course the adorable, hugely popular Minions. When the ride begins, attendees go through Gru’s
evil plan and find themselves getting into a little bit of trouble. Things seem to be going wrong until the girls Margo, Edith and Agnus show up to remind Gru that it is their one-year anniversary since they were adopted. He realizes this and the ride becomes a big celebration. When exiting the ride, guests are lead into a room where they’re given a chance to dance along with all the minions. A disco ball is placed in the center of the ceiling and the place becomes one big party. “Waiting for us outside the exit is Super Silly Fun Land, where in the movie, it’s where Gru first falls in love with the girls, so this place is very significant,” says Corfino. When completed the new attraction will include a wet play area, the ride Silly Swirly, a dry playing area, restaurants, and a store with memorabilia from the Despicable Me movie franchise. Although the ride might be considered very similar to the one already found at Universal Orlando, Universal Studios Hollywood has more space and added the extra feature of Super Silly Fun Land, which is the first time Universal Studios Hollywood has built an actual “theme land” in their park. Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem is scheduled to open to the general public this April.
Image Courtesy of Wallpaperzon.biz
Vidiots going strong after 29 years In addition to conversations and lectures, Vidiots also hosts regular community events like a monthly spoken-word event called Talespin, and even a monthly movie trivia night. Co-founder Patricia Polinger said, “We wanted to be a place where people in the community can come together.” Sabrina Champi has a lifetime membership and has been visiting Vidiots with her 10-year-old dog Frank since he was a puppy.
digital disc. Even employee Robbie McCluskey found his way to Vidiots as a fan. “I was really surprised when I came,” said McCluskey. “I didn’t know that the Santa Monica community was so close, because it’s not like that in most other parts of Los Angeles.” McCluskey, along with co-worker Ryan Marker started the store’s Movie Trivia Night the first Saturday of each month at
Hollywood and the studio system. Some of their biggest fans included previous guests Huston, David O. Russell, and Jurassic Park star Laura Dern who has been invited In an age of mobile devices, apps, and for an upcoming event. They even have streaming services, video stores are going studios with membership accounts. the way of the Dodo bird. “My first week I took a call from Christian With even large video stores like Bale and he was asking for a bunch Blockbuster and Hollywood Video closing of movies,” said McCluskey. “He was shop, on Pico Boulevard, Vidiots is holding researching a character.” the line. Producer Jonathon Fong of Muse Located just a few blocks West of Santa Productions described how Monica College, Vidiots the company has an account first opened in 1985 with a for research. He found their focus on foreign, art, and selections very helpful when hard-to-find titles. It started researching material by film in one small store-front, director Monte Hellman. being successful enough “I watched all of his[Monte throughout the years to have Hellman] movies and I multiple expansions, at one rented them here. I don’t point including a 35 seat think you can do that through screening room called the Netflix.” said Fong. Vidiots Annex. The store hasn’t changed Though many of these too much over the years, but online streaming services they always make sure to like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and stay up to date with all new Amazon Prime have posed a releases. major challenge to traditional “We have more new releases video stores, Vidiots has I would say than Netflix in survived by keeping strong terms of breadth of titles,” ties with its community. said co-founder Cathy Vidiots has always held Tauber. events in the store since its One thing that has had to founding. But now, thanks in change are the co-owners part to the formation of the roles within the foundation. Vidiots Foundation, the store “We have to focus more has been able to continue on fundraising, we’re used not only hosting filmmaker to making decisions on our events, but also reach out to Nick Kovalenko Corsair the surrounding community. Jonathan Fong, “looking for movies that you couldn’t find on Netflix” at Vidiots in Santa Monica, a video-rental store own for all these years, it’s different.” said Tauber. The foundation was formed famous for its wide selection of rare and exotic movies, on Friday. Now answering to a board two years ago and as of “It’s come in handy over the years,” said the start of the year. of supporters, they both are optimistic February, the store has officially been Vidiots has amassed a strong following about the direction of the foundation. donated to its own foundation, thus making Champi. “I’ve moved around but I always seem to come back here.” over the years thanks not only to their wide They are also working on turning customer it a non-profit entity. Local bartender and self-proclaimed film selection and community involvement, but film book donations into a free film book In this year alone, Vidiots in conjunction with radio station 89.9 FM KCRW, has buff Ellis Hoffmeister actually moved to also to a bevy of myths that include Quentin library. Tarantino being a former employee and ”We love to teach screenwriting to middle been able to host conversations with actress Santa Monica just for the store. “I’m that much of a film junkie,” said secret celebrity backers, one name tossed schoolers, we love to have film festivals,” Anjelica Huston, directors David O. said Polinger. “This is a way that having Russell, Oliver Stone, Davis Guggenheim, Hoffmeister, who owns a Blu-ray, multi- out being Elton John. Even if those specific rumors may not the foundation can help sustain the whole and production designer Jeannine region DVD player, and a VHS player for those titles that never found their way onto be confirmed, Vidiots has strong ties to thing.” Oppewall.
Juan lopez Staff Writer
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12 sports
volume 107 issue 4 • March 19, 2014 • santa monica college
Corsairs drop the ball in final inning Henry crumblish Editor-In-Chief
In sports it’s not how you start the game, it’s how you finish. The Santa Monica College Corsairs found that out the hard way on the final out in a critical conference game against the Bakersfield College Renegades. With the score tied at 4-4 and one out to go in the seventh inning, the Lady Corsairs all but had the game locked up, except a costly defensive error that should have closed the game sealed SMC’s fate. Following the error in the outfield, the Renegades put runners on first and second with two outs, setting the stage for freshman shortstop Erin Huckaby who knocked a two RBI double that ripped victory from the Lady Corsairs clutches. SMC Head Coach Daniel Soto attributed Thursday’s loss to a history of slow starts for the Lady Corsairs. The Renegades scored three runs in the first two innings while SMC struggled to catch up. “We continue to not look ready when we come into games, we take three to four innings to get into games,” said Soto. “We have to get better at being ready to go from the opening bell. We’re just not and because of that we’re playing catch up.” The loss to Bakersfield leaves the Corsairs with a 10-9 overall record, and 2-2 conference record. Offensive standout Christine “CP3” Padilla was disappointed with her play on
Thursday despite hitting a double, stealing a base, and scoring a run. She was the last at bat for the Lady Corsairs with two runners on, and took the loss personally. “I’m disappointed with the last at bat but I gave it my all and that’s all I can say.” said Padilla. This is the second game this season the Lady Corsairs have dropped in the seventh inning, but Soto still has hopes for his burgeoning program. “Defensively our infield has been playing lights out all season long and our outfield needs to catch up.” said Soto. Moving forward with the season, Soto hopes to bring a new energy to his group of girls that hasn’t been seen in SMC softball in recent years. “It’s frustrating, but we’re still learning how to win,” he said. “The girls are still trying to figure out how good they are.” The Lady Corsairs will need to start closing out conference games if they hope to make a push for the playoffs this year. The team is 3-1 in tournament play and has potential to become a contender in the conference under Soto’s tutelage. “We’ve given away three or four games that we should’ve won, not could’ve, straight up should’ve won,” he said “We’re an average team right now, but I think we’re a good team,” he said. The Lady Corsairs next game will be against College of the Canyons Thursday March 20, 2:30 p.m. at John Adams Middle School.
Brandon Barsugli Corsair SMC softball outfielder Liz Lopez runs down the ball in a game against Bakersfield on Thursday.
Women’s tennis remains undefeated, clinches playoffs Qalil Ismail Staff Writer Resistance was futile as the Santa Monica College women’s tennis team traveled to Santa Barbara City College in an attempt to push their perfect season record to 6-0. “Going into the match I felt comfortable and thought the team was prepared,” said Head Coach Richard Goldenson. Goldenson’s level of comfort toward the match was well founded as SMC won five of the six singles matches and all three doubles matches, steamrolling their way to a perfect 6-0 record on the season. Captain Jessica Goldbeck made light work of her Vaquero opponent sweeping the match 6-0 and 6-0. “The team has improved significantly,” said Goldbeck. Goldbeck’s flawless victory was not the only perfect performance of the day. Lady Corsairs Mary Ashmore and Izabel Nazdracheva also finished with perfect scores defeating their opponents 6-0 and 6-0 respectively. SMC standout Victoria Mamatova secured her match 6-0 and 6-3 after some slight resistance in the second set by her SBCC opponent Kenzie Usher. Mamatova may not have posted a perfect singles score on the day, but she and Ashmore, her doubles partner, did post the only perfect doubles score of the match, defeating their Vaquero counterparts 8-0. “Our team has great chemistry, works
hard and is prepared for everything,” said Mamatova. Performing so well on the road bodes well for the Lady Corsairs. If they plan on making a run at another state championship, they will undoubtedly have to win on unfamiliar ground. “I was pleased with the performance. They played smart and doubles were solid.” said Goldenson. “I’m not satisfied just maintaining, but maintaining improvement.” Since beating Santa Barbara, SMC won their tightest matchup of the season, narrowly defeating second place Glendale Community College 5-4 and improving their overall record to 7-0. The win clinched a playoff spot for SMC and guaranteed them at the very least, a share of the Western State Blue Conference title. But if the Lady Corsairs can win at least one of their final two matches, they will be in sole possession of the conference crown for the fourth time in the last five years. The Lady Corsairs have two regular season matches remaining on the schedule before playoffs begin. SMC will travel to Ventura College on Thursday March 20, and will host Antelope Valley College in the regular season finale next Tuesday, March 25. *Sports Editor Trev Angone contributed to this story.
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