CORSAIR
MAY 13, 2015 | VOLUME 109 ISSUE 11 SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
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VICTORY DAY
70 YEARS SINCE THE END OF WORLD WAR II (PG. 12)
SMC EVERYWHERE TAKES OVER THE QUAD (PG. 8)
FORMER A.S. DIRECTOR CHASES MUSIC CAREER (PG. 8)
RORY KENNEDY BRINGS DOCUMENTARY TO SMC (PG. 8)
SMC TRACK ATHELETE QUALIFIES FOR STATE (PG. 11)
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CONTENT
VOLUME 109 ISSUE 11 • MAY 13, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
EDITORIAL STAFF Alci Rengifo ...............................Editor-in-Chief corsair.editorinchief@gmail.com Jonathan Ramos......................Managing Editor corsair.managing@gmail.com Jose Gutierrez ................................News Editor corsair.newspage@gmail.com Yasha Hawkins .................................News Editor corsair.newspage@gmail.com Paulina Eriksson .................Health & Lifestyle corsair.lifestylepage@gmail.com Jonathan Ramos ........................Opinion Editor corsair.opinionpage@gmail.com James Powel ....................................Sports Editor corsair.sportspage@gmail.com Claudius West ............... Multimedia Director corsair.multimediadept@gmail.com Devin Page ..........Arts & Entertainment Editor corsair.calendarpage@gmail.com Brandon Barsugli .........................Photo Editor corsairphotoeditor@gmail.com
A demonstrator marches on behalf of shooting victim Brandon Glenn during a demonstration against gentrification and police violence that ended at the Venice Beach boardwalk on May 7, 2015 in Venice, California. Glenn was an unarmed homeless youth who was shot by Los Angeles police during an altercation in front of a bar on Winward Avenue near the beach. The incident has made many locals to become more vocal with their concerns over increasing gentrification of the neighborhood that they believe is related to the poor treatment of the homeless by authorities ranging from policy makers to the LAPD. (Jose Lopez The Corsair)
Kira VandenBrande .....................Photo Editor corsairphotoeditor@gmail.com Juan Lopez ...................................... Digital Editor corsair.webeditor@gmail.com Jhosef Hern ..........................................Illustrator corsaircartoon@gmail.com William Miguel ...........................Design Editor corsair.designteam@gmail.com
CORSAIR STAFF Carlos Espinosa, Alendy Galindo, Veronica Aviles, Jose Lopez, Josue Martinez, Mark Logarta, Ricardo Hernandez, Raymond Martinez, Michael Downey, Daniel Bowyer, Oskar Zinnemann, Christian Gianni Martin, Bailey Peraita, Chiaki Kudo, Kevin Monterroso, Jocelyne Ruiz, Josh Shure, Nerllyn Eskenassy, Tim Lee, Ryanne Mena, Ethan Singleton, Michelle Melamed, Jose Luis Balderas
FACULTY ADVISORS Saul Rubin & Gerard Burkhart AD INQUIRIES: corsair.admanager@gmail.com (310) 434 - 4033
FRONT COVER Red Army veteran Akvazad Rozalia holds flowers after a ceremony in Plummer Park on Saturday commemorating 70 years since the former USSR defeated Nazi Germany. At the age of 16 Rozalia was made to operate a katyusha machine gun in the battle against Nazi forces. (Carlos Espinosa, The Corsair)
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR So here we are with only three issues to go before this semester's printing cycle comes to an end. One constant in life is change and some big changes are coming soon to The Corsair, but it isn't the time yet to make big announcements. But with so few issues to go before summer, it's a startling reminder of how time flies. It feels like only yesterday that I walked into The Corsair determined to do just one thing: write. If my first semester at SMC felt like it dragged on, every semester since I joined the campus paper has felt like a fleeting, speeding moment. The last few semesters have been one chapter after another with different characters, friends, disappointments, achievements, heartbreak, happiness and experiences. I'll share more as we reach the finish line. Time does indeed fly as our cover story shows. It has already been 70 years since the fall of Berlin and the defeat of Nazi Germany. Last weekend we interviewed veterans of the Soviet Red Army that even-
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tually broke the back of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. Some of the veterans are already reaching their mid-90s, but they are some of the last, living connections to the defining event of the 20th century, World War II. Interviewing them reminded me of when I speak with my own grandmother, who is 95 years old. I've always been grateful that she has retained a perfect memory and remembers in fine detail all the adventures, wars, revolutions and family stories she has lived through. I spent Mother's Day simply listening to her describe the great peasant uprising in El Salvador of 1932, when the regime of Maximiliano Hernandez slaughtered 30,000 peasants, or when she went on an impulsive boat trip around the Western hemisphere and met aged survivors of the Mexican Revolution. History is our own kind of mass, collective memory, and we should always strive to record as much of it as possible. The veterans who attended the West Hollywood Victory Day event keep the memory of the struggles of World War II alive, but we ourselves are living through historic times that will define the world of the generations @THE_CORSAIR •
that follow us. The times we live in today will be memories recorded for history. And that is one of the reasons why I have loved working in and editing The Corsair: because it isn't just a campus paper, it is a record of things as they happen on campus and in our community. I will receive phone calls here and there from individuals who were interviewed for an article four or five years ago, asking their names be removed because they suddenly recall a comment or quote they don't want recorded in print or online. Most of the time we have to decline removing the name or quote because if the information is accurate, then it is recorded history. Our lives, our moments, our memories are history, and for the next three issues, we will try our best to record, document, experience, and live.
ALCI RENGIFO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
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NEWS
VOLUME 109 ISSUE 11 • MAY 13, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
SIXTH ANNUAL GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP SYMPOSIUM STIRS DISCUSSIONS ON CAMPUS RELATIONS
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Global Citizenship Symposium winners President's Award Raphael Rosalen Be Color First Place - ESL Essay Dongwoo Shin Dark Side Behind the Korean Dream First Place - Poetry Raven Kras Letter to Eleanor First Place - Research Jane Miyamura On Becoming a Global Citizen: One Simosa at a Time Second Place - Poster Ruby Resendiz, Anya Gumberg, Maria Cabrera Abad, Dimitry Larkin, Henry Conde, Aurelia Rhymer, Mariyam Jivani, Ethan de Cohen Investigation of the GAPDH Gene Family in Diverse Angiosperms
SMC student Leonardo Cerutti delivers a presentation which included some of his photography during the Global Citizenship Symposium on Friday. (Juan Lopez The Corsair)
JUAN LOPEZ DIGITAL EDITOR Seven students, stood in front of a classroom of their peers and members of Santa Monica College's Global Citizenship council, as a conversation stirred around the room. Professor Gordon Dossett asked participants what could be done to help build global citizenship on campus. "Walk up to a stranger and introduce yourself, that’s it," said Damian Tarelle Butts, who would win third place in poetry at the Global Citizenship symposium. Daria Fomchenkova, who would win second place for her ESL essay on the challenges of immigration within Ukraine, said that international students often have a problem feeling welcome. "International students feel hesitated," she said. "We feel like we don’t know everything about American culture." She and fellow second place winner, in poetry, Najla Butts, befriended each other when a professor had the class split into groups in the fall. They both did not realize the other was in the symposium until they compared schedules to find out they were both busy for the same reason. "Instead of going with the norm and what’s comfortable for you, choose someone else," said Butts to the room. "Choose someone that you maybe usually wouldn’t speak to, or that maybe doesn’t even know your language, or that you know may be new to the country. That’s what I did, and that’s how I established a friendship with Daria." The conversation circled the room during the sixth annual Global Citizenship symposium on Friday.. Students were reached through announcements from Corsair Connect, the school website, and professors in class to show off their work that related to Global Citizenship, particularly this year's theme of
Peace & Security. According to the council chair Eric Minzenberg, most, if not all, of the projects that were turned in were modified and polished class projects which the students were encouraged to enter by their professors. Some projects, such as research posters from STEM students, were worked on by groups of students. Minzenberg even pointed to a previous year's entry in which a group of students made a short film in an indigenous Honduran language, Garifuna. The Global Citizenship initiative aims to brings the campus together to discuss global issues ranging from peace, race, religion, food, poverty, and race. Minzenberg says that the council wishes to see students lead the discussion on these issues and more. "They are an integral part of this campus, national and international students," he said. "This college would not be the college that it is without all the different races, ethnicity, genders, etcetera that we have here." Fomchenkova added to her essay a few words of the importance of the date to her. The symposium was held on the 70th anniversary of World War II, in which her parents joined the allied forces under Ukraine and Russia to fight the Nazi regime. "Unfortunately 70 years later, my native country is in a state of undeclared war against her closest brother nation and ally Russia. It is an ongoing conflict, just like other conflicts in hot spots on the globe that are happening right now as we speak," she said. "We as global citizens must be aware of these violations of human rights and freedom and cannot be ignorant. Thank you for attention." The SMC Foundation provided the Global Citizenship with $3,000 to award the students who were chosen as win-
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ners. Out of 50 entries, 19 were chosen, with 37 winners in all receiving varying amounts of money that they were presented with at the symposium. The largest sum given was to the winner of the President's award, given to the entry which SMC president Chui L. Tsang, along with the council, felt exemplified the year's global citizenship theme. The winner was film student Raphael Rosalen who made a short film in which he and other participants throw paint at one another. "The world is a blank canvas," said Rosalen to the room after presenting his piece."In the video the colors mixed to create a diverse painting, giving the idea of layers of community." Rosalen found the ad on Corsair Connect and entered there. "I feel like a lot of people in the college don’t even know about this or kind of don’t care," said Rosalen. Council commitee member Nancy Grass Hemmert acknowledged the outreach problem had by all campus entities. "We've asked [the Associated Students] in the past to join us and be a cosponsor which would be a really helpful way to get the word out," said Grass Hemmert, noting that the asking usually takes place when the new A.S. board is just starting its term. "We could use the help of more faculty announcing it in their classes, because students do tend to listen to faculty." Grass Hemmert also emphasized the importance the symposium places on research. ”We wanted to encourage students to get their research minds on so that when they transfer, they’re really research ready,” said Grass Hemmert. "For art you might explore a topic or idea and the product of your art is the result of your research, so research can take many many many different forms." @THE_CORSAIR •
Second Place - Poster Joash Sigamoney, Alejandro Montoya, Manuel Larach, Sarah Sanchez Shores, Jaime Jaime, Monica Campos, Xuyi Long, Francisco Enriquez, Franklin Cortez Ultrasound Assisted Extraction and Quantification of Carotenoids from Sweet Yam Second Place - Research LeAnn Bogart A Taste of Peace and Security Second Place - ESL Essay Daria Fomchenkova Two Challenges of Immigration that Confront Ukraine Second Place - ESL Essay Xueying Zhang Immigration Challenges in China Second Place - Speech Sebastian Paulino The Real Issue with Climate Change Second Place - Poetry Najla Butts We Have a Voice Third Place - Art Jane Miramuya Peace on Earth, Goodwill to All Third Place - Photo Xiaojun Zhu, Zac Frappier, Xujia Chen, Siqi Zhang, Jameel Askari Earnest Malaysia Missing Flight Third Place - Poetry Damian Tarelle Butts Secure the Peace Third Place - Poetry Maritza Estrada Word to the Wise Honorable Mention - Poster Leslie Szabo Coral Bleaching: Fighting for Future Peace & Security of Global Ecosystems through Science and Bioremediation Honorable Mention - Essay Alex Sonnenschein A Brief Ethnography of Yoga Honorable Mention- Essay Leonardo Cerutti Global Citizen Journal
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NEWS
VOLUME 109 ISSUE 11 • MAY 13, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
Santa Monica Festival features music, food and eco-friendly messages
The Angela Robinson Group, hip hop dancers, perform at the 24th Annual Santa Monica Festival at Clover Park in Santa Monica on Saturday. (Veronica Aviles The Corsair)
Lionel Powell, “The Tree Man of Venice”, attends the 24th Annual Santa Monica Festival at Clover Park in Santa Monica on Saturday. (Veronica Aviles The Corsair)
OSKAR ZINNEMANN STAFF WRITER This past Saturday, the city of Santa Monica held its 24th annual community festival. Members of the community, local businesses, and city officials gathered in Clover Park to enjoy and provide a wide range of family-friendly activities including sports, fitness, food, music, and energy conservation. The event, which attracted nearly 8,000 attendees, was planned by Santa Monica's Cultural Affairs division, in conjunction with the Office of Sustainability and the Environment. The annual event represents "all elements of the community," according to Ashley Rodgers, one of the event planners. Their focus was to incorporate a healthy lifestyle into this year's festival by offering a large bike station, several types of fitness workouts, and tips on conserving water and energy,
all free of charge and available to all ages. In addition to community outreach, the event also featured a community marketplace, gourmet food trucks, workshops, and live musical performances, among other activities. A wide range of musical entertainment was provided by local artists such as Angelou, Mariachi Divas, QUITAPENAS, P.O.P Unplugged, and others. Another important factor of this year’s festival was environmental awareness — dozens of groups and foundations were present to help promote more sustainable options for residents in wake of climate change and California’s current drought. Among these groups was Santa Monica’s Office of Sustainability and the Environment (OSE,) one of the leading partners for the festival. They hosted an “Eco Zone,” where people could "discover sustainably smart solutions for daily living." Groups in the Eco Zone also included: Solar Forward, Tree
Sharon Kessler uses her sewing techniques with a hand crank sewing machine at the 24th Annual Santa Monica Festival at Clover Park in Santa Monica on Saturday. (Veronica Aviles The Corsair)
People, Heal the Bay, EcoMotion, and others. Beside a giant, black sphere of "CO2," city workers and Eco-Motion personnel engaged festival attendees with a myriad of information and activities dealing with everything from thermal energy to solar power. "The city of Santa Monica has a longstanding reputation of being an international leader in sustainable city planning," said OSE employee Joel Cesare in regards to the importance of energy conservation. "We feel there's an important need around the world for cities and individuals to do more to decrease their energy footprint and mitigate the effects of climate change [so we can] make sure that the future of Santa Monica has the same quality of live as the current." Going along with the theme of energy and water conservation, Santa Monica Mayor Kevin McKeown hosted a "Doggy Dishwasher Contest," to help encourage
citizens to come up with new and innovative ways to save water, such as letting your pets clear off your dishes. Owners brought their dogs up to the stage and waited to see which one could clean off a plate of peanut butter first. Though the dogs performed well, Mayor McKeown admitted there are much more practical ways to conserve water and power. Allison Ostrovsky, a cultural planner for the city of Santa Monica, said the purpose of these festivals is to "celebrate the city and all it has to offer by focusing on arts, culture and sustainability." She also described these events as "a showcase of the city." Her division, Cultural Affairs, is dedicated to "bringing the city's art scene to life for residents and visitors by supporting engaging and accessible cultural events for all ages throughout the year," according to their website. Ostrovsky said their mission is "a reflection of what's important to the city and the residents."
A.S. BOARD APPROVES "SHAPESHIFTER" FUNDING YASHA HAWKINS NEWS EDITOR During Monday afternoon’s meeting, the final meeting of the semester, the A.S. Board approved $10,000 in funding for Film 33’s latest project, a short film called “Shapeshifter,” a short film about women and body image. They did so only to reconsider it around the thirty-minute mark. After hearing a pitch from producer Michael Osborne, director Kelly Thompson, and Joseph Sanchez, about the film’s subject matter, potential impact, and importance, as well as what was already covered by funding from other sources, the A.S. Board approved funding the project with only one abstention. Osborne and Thompson asked for $10,000, which would cover 50% of funds for the film and be used for cast and crew salaries, camera, wardrobe, insurance, sets and production costs. Another $10,000 comes from combined funding from their own fundraising and the SMC Foundation, which offered $5,000 to the class. However, this $5,000 is contingent
upon whether or not A.S. approves funding the project. What prompted the A.S. Board to reconsider the approval was the amount of funds left in the Special Projects account, the account that would typically fund such projects. With $40,000 left in the account, $10,000 would wipe out a quarter of that account. At the time of this week’s meeting, over 50 proposals were left to be considered, with 20 requesting at least $500 from the Special Projects account. The funding was already approved, and Osborne and Thompson had already left the room. Film 33 plans to begin filming on the 28th. They had to find some way to fund it. The A.S. Board also considered taking funds from its reserves and Student Success account, and also considered asking Osborne and Thompson to return next week, as up to two Board meetings are allotted for proposals. Taking funds from other accounts would require approval from Auxiliary Services. Ultimately, any A.S. Board action on the matter has
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been deferred until A.S. Director of Budget Management Hasun Khan meets with the Director of Auxiliary Services George Prather. Osborne and Thompson did meet with Khan after the meeting. This comes after the A.S. Board approved a funding a documentary from one of it’s own directors at last week’s meeting from the same account. Directors are allowed to submit proposals for events, and according to an instructional manual on submitting A.S. proposals those events can be in or out of the A.S. offices. Filming is even one of the given examples. In the other notable part of the meeting, the A.S. Board also approved to call for Joint Council to rescind approval of the current A.S. Constitution. As it stands, the only body that can make any changes to the A.S. Constitution is the Constitution Committee, which only makes the process longer than necessary when the necessary change is adding a comma or correcting a misspelled word.
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OPINION
VOLUME 109 ISSUE 11 • MAY 13, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
MONEY-GRUBBING HOLIDAYS CLAUDIUS WEST MEDIA EDITOR
As I begin writing this piece my children are walking out of the door to have breakfast with their mother. It's Sunday May 10, 2015; mother's day. By now there is not a single person who knows me well that expects a breakfast, brunch, call or any other acknowledgement on this day. Or, on any other holiday for that matter. About six years ago I gave up celebrating
holidays. Not because I am a bitter person or for religious reasons but as a means of doing something about my belief that the commercialization and cheapening of all things meant to be sentimental is a bad thing that should be reversed, not encouraged. When Anna Jarvis created mother's day in 1908 it had been three years since the death of her mother Jhosef Hern Ann. Ann was also a champion of a day of memorial for mothers before her death in 1905. There were other celebrations but none that gained mass popularity until Ann's daughter Anna pick up where her mother had left off. The original idea of the holiday was to remember and honor all mothers and motherhood. She marked the first mother's day with a truly heartfelt gesture, sending
SUPERHERO MOVIES HOLD A MIRROR TO OUR TIMES
Katt Marcia Hall
ALCI RENGIFO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF The numbers are in and as expected, "Avengers: Age Of Ultron," the sequel to 2012's first super hero super band film "The Avengers," has hit the $100 million mark in the United States. The success of "Age Of Ultron," and nearly every other Marvel or DC Comics film that hits the market, can be attributed to a number of obvious factors such as massive special effects, high quality production values, and the obvious cross-generational affection for the stories' characters. But if cinema, like most popular culture,
can be used to take the pulse of a society, the massive success of superhero movies in the last decade reveals how we live in times yearning for heroic stories and heroic characters, and how our daydreams are dominated by apocalyptic fears. Superhero movies have the ability to put on screen some of our darkest national fantasies and nightmares, and also some of our most romanticized ideals. In "Age Of Ultron" a band of imperfect but noble heroes unite to take down a merciless machine birthed out of artificial intelligence. But "Age Of Ultron" is only the latest in a string of major Marvel and DC releases that also serve as conduits for our national
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white carnation flowers to Andrew's Methodist Episcopal Church, her mother's place of worship. But, to Jarvis these flowers weren't just empty things given out of obligation or simply to feel good about ones self. As Anna explained "Its whiteness is to symbolize the truth, purity and broad-charity of mother love; its fragrance, her memory, and her prayers. The carnation does not drop its petals, but hugs them to its heart as it dies, and so, too, mothers hug their children to their hearts, their mother love never dying. When I selected this flower, I was remembering my mother’s bed of white pinks." There was a thought process to it, specifically, the thought of what that person, in this case, a mother, means to you. Memories, emotions and from that a physical display of all that she represents. Holidays are not this anymore. When Anna Jarvis began her campaign against the holiday she founded she spoke of the sincerity of the above gestures of honor, love and affection of mothers being replaced with lazy, empty gestures that served to line the pockets of floral companies and other profiteers while showing mothers only how lazy and thoughtless people can be. We live in a nation of people that is more and more disconnected from one another and from themselves everyday. A place where our sole goal is to gain riches in the form of capital, popularity and other trivial, fleeting things. Many of us have forgotten, or if you are younger, never learned the true value of memories, the immeasurable
value of time spent with a persons undivided attention. The feelings that stays with you long after the time has past. The words said that will never be forgotten. A smile. This is called nurturing a relationship and I would rather have a collection of close ones than a collection of cards, gifts and money. On holidays like this my children show why it is that us adults should be ashamed of our allure to commercial expressions of lazy love. Last fathers day, I got cards, generic words via text-because calling loved ones nowadays is way too much work-and other unmemorable gestures. The only thing that I kept: A hand drawn portrait made by my then four-year old. The memory, a admittedly cheesy song written and performed by my 10year-old. Did they do this for fathers day, sure, but their gesture was true and sincere. I'm not saying that you can't and shouldn't spend money, what I'm saying is if you are going to make a purchase this mothers day make it a thoughtful one. And by thoughtful I mean put more thought into it than "its mothers day and I have to buy something." Use this day, and preferably everyday, to show that those most important in your life that they are worthy of the most valuable things that you can give anyone. Thought and time. I promise you will never need to give them a gift receipt or have to worry about them asking for a refund. And, try to give these things more often as best you can. Then, you wouldn't need to remember which day is set aside to finally pay attention to your loved ones.
psyche. Comic books themselves have always served this function. Characters like Captain America were created during the scorched earth days of World War II while the X-Men's discriminated mutants were products of the restless 1960s and the era of the civil rights movement. In our time films like Christopher Nolan's "Dark Knight Trilogy" and "Captain America: Winter Soldier" respond to the anxieties of a post-9/11 world. In the documentary "A Pervert's Guide To Ideology," Slovenian philosopher and critic Slavoj Zizek draws a direct connection between 2008's "The Dark Knight" and the Bush era. If The Joker in that film represents the unchained chaos of fanatical terrorism, Batman's decision to create a computer system to monitor every phone call in Gotham City is parallel to the real world Patriot Act, NSA and other forms of mass government spying justified by the government with the excuse of combating terrorist threats. "The Dark Knight" went on to gross $1 billion, much more than the 2005 "Batman Begins" and miles beyond the last "Batman" film of the 1990s, the atrocious "Batman & Robin." It is quite possible that the reason superhero movies are such successful product is because they reflect the feeling that we live in a time without heroes, yet we still yearn for them. The world since 9/11, marked by wars, deep national divisions and disappointments has left us with few icons that survive past their initial start time. George W. Bush had sky high approval ratings immediately after the September 11, 2001 attacks when the country fell into a patriotic fervor, but when the subsequent Iraq War turned into a bloody quagmire, he left office shadowed by pure notoriety. His exit from office was marked forever by having to dodge a shoe thrown at him by one of the Iraqis he claimed to have liberated. Even the whole 2008 Obama "Hope" campaign was a desperate plea for a heroic savior. As journalist Max Blumenthal wrote on his blog in 2009, "During a time of economic decline, persistent cultural strife, deepening American involvement in far-off military conflicts, and rapid environmental
deterioration, is there any wonder that so many Americans believe in salvation fantasies promising them both a transcendent, everlasting future and violent retribution against perceived evildoers?" Consider this line liberal columnist Ezra Klein used in 2008 to describe then candidate Barack Obama, who was renowned for his eloquent (yet vapid) speeches: "not the Word made flesh, but the triumph of the word over flesh. Obama is, at his best, able to call us back to our higher selves." Since then the Obama years have seen some liberal polices passed but nothing earth-shaking, and the hopes of an almost New Deal-style change in American politics have proven hollow while the Middle East burns and new, dangerous conflicts arise. One man can't be blamed for it all, but the point is that in such times, popular culture reflects how all these recent events influence what we look for in our entertainment. Films like "Age Of Ultron" give us images of cities facing absolute destruction from inhuman threats. "Iron Man 3" featured a villain dressed like an Islamic radical, complete with a beard reminiscent of the stereotypical image of extremists. The film's arch villain, the Mandarin, even records videos reminiscent of the kind of propaganda we see in videos released by groups like ISIS. And in a post-Edward Snowden world, the theme of government secrecy is present in these films as in "Captain America: Winter Soldier," where a fascistic movement known as Hydra cloaks itself within the government institutions we are meant to trust. And in a film like "Man Of Steel," the original color and cheerfulness of Superman is replaced by a brooding, dark world where government can't be trusted but the hero is forced to make tough, even murderous choices to stop a major alien threat. Good movies are in the end, defined by how well they can capture an audience's attention, and the films listed above are entertaining above anything else. As the summer season comes around, let's eat popcorn and enjoy the spectacles on the big screen, but it is still worth looking deeper at what the movies we love, say about the times we live in.
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PHOTOSTORY
VOLUME 109 ISSUE 11 • MAY 13, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
Detail of vitamin and pure water from the water filter at an orphanage in La Morelos, Baja California, Mexico from The Pure Drift Org, an organization founded by SMC Students, Andres Rennella and Corey Einchenberger
Andres Rennella, Pure Drift founder, show the kids the importance of drinking water everyday while he adds vitamin sponsored by Purps at an orphanage in La Morelos, Baja California, Mexico
Water waste at an orphanage in La Morelos, Baja California, Mexico
Andres Rennella, Right, and Corey Eichenberger, Pure Drift founders, showing the orphans how the water filter works and why it's good to have pure water.
Juan (right),14, drinks vitamin water from the the water filter donated by The Pure Drift Org at an orphanage in La Morelos, Baja California, Mexico
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VOLUME 109 ISSUE 11 • MAY 13, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
PHOTOSTORY
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Pedro, 10, watching the water filter proccess at The Orphanage at La Morelos, Baja California, Mexico. (Carlos Espinosa The Corsair)
CLEANSING THE WELL Project to bring clean water to communities in rural Mexico expands
CARLOS ESPINOSA STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Santa Monica College students Andres Rennella and Corey Eichenberger, founders of the non-profit Pure Drift, just returned from their last trip to Northern Baja, Mexico, where they installed water filters at a local orphanage in La Morelos. Come fall, the Pure Drift crew will embark on a four-month drive through Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America distributing water filters to communities in need. This recent trip was a reprise of the adventure this paper covered last November, in which the team traveled with a group from the SMC photo department to document the local people, and the quality of their local drinking water. Pure Drift has raised $4,200 of their $16,000 goal, so far, and are eager to spread
the word to local communities and businesses interested raising awareness of the ongoing international water crisis and contributing tools to make a difference. Through active involvement in social media, reaching out to businesses in the surf and adventure communities, and a Kickstarter campaign they will launch early this summer, Pure Drift hopes to raise the rest of the money needed. Donations will be used to buy filters - Pure Drift hopes to distribute 200 or more filters - and pay for trip expenses (permits and visas, gasoline, equipment, and food). If you want to contribute or donate with this project, you can learn how at www. PureDrift.org or find them on Instagram @ puredrift_ The Pure Drift Team Chris Curl,(left) Volunteer and Founders, Andres Rennella(right) and Corey Einchenberger (below) are SMC students working on the water filter at an orphanage in La Morelos, Baja California, Mexico. (Carlos Espinosa The Corsair)
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
HUSTLE & FLOW
Former A.S. director chases musical dream DEVIN PAGE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR For the average Santa Monica College student, focusing on schoolwork and transferring to a four-year university is the goal. However, for some people leading an average life is not a path to their liking. This is true for former SMC student and previous Associated Students Director of Instructional Support, Jeffrey Lewis, who follows some wise words from Will Smith, "Being realistic is the most commonly traveled road to mediocrity." Lewis, who left SMC last semester to pursue his dream of becoming a music artist, is not satisfied with living the conventional life of a student. "I've always had this belief if you have a dream you should stick to it no matter what, and I have to practice what I preach," says Lewis. SMC didn't have the specific music program he was looking for so he chose film classes so he could learn to direct his own music videos. Since he left SMC, Lewis is experiencing the highs and lows of being an aspiring recording artist. The highs are getting to do what he loves but the lows are sometimes having to be what he describes as a "starving artist." He currently works at a restaurant and this is his main source of income until he can start making money with his music. Doing the exact opposite, his sisters all have degrees from prestigious universities to hopefully secure their futures. Lewis says, "Sometimes I kick myself thinking would it be different if I stayed in school and just continued on with a film degree then go to law school?" Adversely, he realizes that his life wouldn't be the same without music. He continues, "But then the right side of my brain starts screaming and just reminds me that I'm out
VOLUME 109 ISSUE 11 • MAY 13, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
here for a reason and that my love for music will transcend all other options." Lewis wouldn't feel as confident about his decision to pursue music if it wasn't for the support of his parents. He hopes to call his mother one day and tell her that she never has to work again. While growing up in the rough streets of Detroit, he drew his passion from his experiences. He describes gritty tales of getting into fights, his family being robbed, having cars, stolen. "I have so much passion about the the things in my music because I've actually experienced them," says Lewis. While remaining true to who he is, Lewis hopes to leave his past behind and tour in Europe, living suitcase to suitcase. Hopefully, his debut album that he's working on, "The Sacred Covenant," will set him on that path. His debut album will release on July 20, his birthday, along with an EP, "Not Stoppin' 4 Nothin'," as a nice birthday celebration. "This is why I'm spending every day of my summer behind doors," Lewis says, explaining that he's a huge introvert. Lewis says he's lucky to be able to work with a producer that's a close friend. He records a track to send to his producer, Mike, who then constructs a beat around his voice and matches the tone. "It's rare, I feel, to find a producer who's willing to work with your voice and your vision like that," Lewis says. Mike agrees by saying, "It's funny because me and 'J' live on different coasts but we're always on the same wavelength." They believe in keeping their collaborations within the family for now so that they can focus on the craft. Lewis' influences range from oldies like Marvin Gaye, Chet Baker, Frank Sinatra, to Kid Cudi and Jimi Hendrix. Playing music all his life, Lewis can't imagine anything going differently. His excitement is reminiscent of that Christmas Eve feeling, "It's like a little kid who still believes in Santa Clause every time I record." Lewis hopes to change the face of music, full of saturation and auto-tune, but he will have to continue to dream big.
Jeffrey Lewis poses in headphones. Lewis left life at SMC to pursue a career in music. (Courtesy of Jeffrey Lewis)
His next performance will be at "The Mint" in Los Angeles on Thursday, May 21 where he hopes to draw a large crowd. Once again, Lewis references Smith,
"There is a certain delusional quality that all successful people have to have," and this is what drives him.
RORY KENNEDY PRESENTS "LAST DAYS IN VIETNAM" AT SMC
Rory Kennedy answers audience questions following a screening of her documentary "Last Days In Vietnam." (Kira VandenBrande The Corsair)
ALCI RENGIFO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Last Wednesday Art 214 was aglow with images from the final, tragic moments of the Vietnam War. Students and faculty were being treated to a special screening of the Oscar-nominated documentary "Last Days In Vietnam." The documentary was presented along with a Q&A moderated by SMC English professor David Burak featuring a special guest, the film's director, Rory Kennedy. The youngest child of the late Senator Robert Kennedy, her connection to the
history shown in the film is immediate. The film itself is a chronicle of how the Vietnam War came to an end as North Vietnamese forces made their way to Saigon and U.S. personnel and allies left the country. Figures ranging from Henry Kissinger to Vietnamese officials and former U.S. army pilots appear in the film recounting the end of a war that has marked the last four decades of American history. In one moment footage appears of President Gerald Ford addressing Congress, asking for funds to not only evacuate Americans in Vietnam, but Vietnamese allies and contractors. The scope of U.S. involvement in the conflict
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becomes blunt and clear. After the film Kennedy appeared from within the audience to speak before the audience and answer questions. "In part I was asked to make this film. PBS approached me and asked if I would be interested in a film on the final days of the war," explained Kennedy when asked what inspired her to make the documentary. "I felt so much had been done about Vietnam and started doing research on the final days and I realized how little I actually knew," she added. "The overwhelming, dominant response from audiences is 'I can't believe we don't know this story." Kennedy also drew parallels with the recent U.S. conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, saying that as those wars began to wind down, she felt there were lessons to be revisited from the controversial war that marked the generation of the 1960s. "Although this was an event that happened 40 years ago, it was still very timely." When discussing the craft of making the film, in particular its skillful merging of archival footage and an intense musical score, Kennedy said "The archival footage was particularly important to me. We wanted to transport people back to Saigon in 1975. The best way to do that was not through graphics or animation but by using as much 'real' as possible. I had a great team that went deep into archival houses to find footage and sound never used before." Kennedy also sought help from officials in the U.S. Navy and other departments to acquire testimonials and footage. "We were @THE_CORSAIR •
given a box of super 8 footage that had never been transferred before from the battleship Kirk," she revealed. "We transferred the footage and it was a treasure trove. You see helicopters being pushed over the deck." When asked what politicians should take from the film, especially with new conflicts brewing in the Middle East, Kennedy responded by saying that "it makes me happy when audiences make the connection between what happened here and what happened in Iraq. Questions about responsibility. We need to understand our investment in wars, especially what happens to people left behind." "The question is whether you get into a war or not," said Kennedy while emphasizing that dealing with situations such as the rise of ISIS in Syria and Iraq raises tough questions with few, if any, easy answers. "You can lose control, as we did here [in Vietnam]," said Kennedy. After "Last Days In Vietnam" became a success in the art house circuit and upon its airing on PBS as part of the American Experience program, Kennedy will now begin work on a number of different projects. "I have a lot of ideas," she said. "A whole gallery to choose from." A major amount of campus entities joined together to make the event possible including the Black Collegians, Latino Center, the SMC Veteran's Resource Center, The SMC Associates, Grit Initiative and the Film Studies & English Department.
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HEALTH & LIFESTYLE
VOLUME 109 ISSUE 11 • MAY 13, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
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FORMER SMC STUDENT JOINS RELIEF EFFORT IN NEPAL Local Nepalese receive aid and supplies from aid agencies following the devastating April 25 earthquake (Photo courtesy of Matthew Childs)
ALCI RENGIFO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Former SMC film student Matthew Childs was on his way to Nepal for business when the shattering earthquake of April 25 hit, killing over 8,000 people and injuring more than 18,000. What began as a trip for a clothing line Childs works for turned into an effort to help with aid relief. Childs is still in the country and was able to make contact via e-mail with The Corsair as well as send over images he has captured. With wifi access limited in the country, Childs was able to communicate quickly what he could. How did you find yourself involved in the Nepal rescue effort? My friend Harry Marchant and I have been coming to Nepal for many years and love the people and the natural beauty of the Himalayan Mountains. Harry originally hired me to tag along on one of his trips to document the forming of his clothing company Native Nepal and to verify its fair trade and organic practices as well as the rich and diverse beauty of the culture. My involvement in the company has grown and I've now become art director in addition to taking on other various responsibilities. We travel here frequently for business and were enroute when the tragic earthquake hit near Kathmandu, the capital city. Luckily, I had taken a few extra days in Tokyo where I was working on another film project and was able to wait out much of the chaos directly following the earthquake. Harry was coming from India by land and was also able to wait a few days while we considered our options. After some consideration we decided the best thing was just fly in as planned and see how we could help and what needed to be done. The goal of our business is to help the people of Nepal structurally and financially through trade and practices that are in harmony with their culture and environment. At some point we had planned to incorporate a nonprofit village outreach program to help people in need and build schools etc. We just never imagined we would be doing it right at off the bat due to this disaster. How did your time as a film student at SMC influence your decision to go to Nepal or the work you're doing there?
The film program at SMC is truly a hidden gem in the world of film education. The head of the program, Salvadore Carrasco has done a really thorough job designing a program that not only builds the solid and practical foundation necessary for film production but also creates an expanded cultural worldview through the study of global cinema. The methodology and discipline necessary for narrative feature film work has been invaluable for me as I head out into the field doing "run and gun" style documentary work where people, resources and time are always scarce. Throughout the SMC program students are exposed to many different opportunities to try various positions and roles on set and to see what best fits their personality. I was one of those students that had a tough time deciding on a focus and found myself always trying different positions in class and on our produxtion shoots , weather it was operating the camera learning about lighting or taking on a more administrative role. All of that hands on experience was invaluable now that I am out traveling around the world and need to wear several hats at the same time. What would you like Americans to know immediately about the situation in Nepal? This is a very beautiful country with a rich and diverse history. The people here are all heart and often times go out of their way to assist one another. Despite a thriving tourism industry and being rich in natural resources they are still a very poor country that depends upon agricuture and their livestock to survive. This disaster made many of them homeless but they also lost their seed stockpiles, time necessary to plant and even many of their animals themselves. The good news is that a small amount of foreign investment or donations can make a very large impact here and the donations we've been receiving have been able to do some tremendous things, directly, in a short amount of time.
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A Nepalese woman waits for aid following the April 25 earthquake (Courtesy of Matthew Childs) A Nepalese girl bites into a food pack. Aid agencies are rushing to deliver food and supplies to victims of the April 25 earthquake (Courtesy of Matthew Childs)
How long will you be in Nepal? I was originally to be here for 3 weeks filming but now that we're directing the relief fund it's started to grow into a full time job I'll have to asses the situation and see how best I can help. I continue to document my experiences here through film and photography and I hope that my images will raise awareness and spread news of our continued efforts. I'll be showcasing my photographs and short film at fundraising gallery events in New York and Los Angeles this summer and will continue to update our relief work and adventures at nativenepal.com as well as our social media outlets. What can SMC students do to help with the aid efforts? People can donate through the Native Nepal Disaster Relief Fund we've started that delivers tents, food and supplies di@THE_CORSAIR •
rectly to villagers and makes sure all donations are used as intended. We have volunteers that shop for supplies, ride along in the trucks and verify delivery of supplies to villagers that many of the larger relief organizations have yet to reach. This also directly helps the local economy since we are purchasing from local merchants and factories. Besides donating to funds or charities of their choice people can purchase Nepalese goods or consider coming here for their next vacation. Nepal is a melting pot of Asian cultures and religions, a wonderful example of religious tolerance and multicultural celebration. Everyone thinks of Mt. Everest when They think of the Himalayan range but there are many, many smaller accessible treks around the Anapurna Range and local areas to explore. Not to mention paragliding and river rafting at a fraction of the cost we're used to paying in the United States.
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HEALTH & LIFESTYLE
VOLUME 109 ISSUE 11 • MAY 13, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
SMC Everywhere makes connections JONATHAN RAMOS & JUAN LOPEZ MANAGING EDITOR & DIGITAL EDITOR With one swing of the hammer Frankie Manes did what many students before him had tried and failed to do: hit the bell atop the High Striker three different times, winning himself an SMC Everywhere t-shirt. "Oh man, this is so amazing," said Manes, who's goal is to one day transfer to the University of Southern California. "I'm so glad I got out of class a littler early today, these kind of events really bring a school together." As a soon-to-transfer Communications major, Manes transferred from Los Angeles Pierce College to SMC. He was just one of many students enjoying SMC Everywhere, an event organized by SMC's Alumni Association on Tuesday. The event was filled with activities such as the High Striker and the velcro bounce wall, information tables on transfer opportunities, food vendors, and a guest appearance by outgoing SMC president Dr. Chui L. Tsang, all to celebrate past and future alumni of SMC. The event isn't all fun and games. The Alumni Association's goal is to get students involved with their Alumni Network. Mark Morale of the Alumni Association says the network would help connect students' "alumni life with their professional life" through Linkedin and Facebook sign ups. "SMC Everywhere is where we ask exiting students where they’re going, so we can contact them through our outreach tools," says Morale. "For those who simply leave to start their own business, maybe travel the world, whatever it is, they're still alumni at Santa Monica College, no matter what it is they go do." The Future Alumni Club spent the afternoon giving out pins with possible colleges students are transferring to as well as gold coins good for a sandwich and a drink, so long as they signed up to receive emails of future opportunities from the Alumni Association. President of the club Jasmine RiveraHackley was happy with the turnout, saying that although last year's event was deemed successful, it was encouraging to see what seemed like an even bigger turnout this year. "It really is all for students and this is like their event so I'm really happy that
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people are enjoying it," she said. She explained that everything held during the event had something to do with inspiring students to progress in their scholastic careers, right down to the games. "Everything is very symbolic. So the High Striker is kind of like 'aim high, reach for the stars, reach for your dream.' The velcro wall is actually like 'make a plan and stick to it,' so everything kind of correlates with basically going out and achieving your dreams and reaching for the stars." Rivera-Hackley herself plans to transfer to the University of California Los Angeles as a sociology major. When she gets there, she will find the SMC to UCLA network, part of the Alumni Network outreach. SMC alum and UCLA Jewish Studies major Alex Abramoff is a signatory there who was present at SMC everywhere. "SMC Corsairs at UCLA are really trying to look out for students who are trying to come in," he says. "it’s no secret that getting involved is a secret," says Abramoff. "We know that we’ve got to be out here reaching out to the students." Soon-to-be Cal State Northridge graduate Francisco Contreras is an SMC alum who responded to the Alumni Association outreach. He signed up upon graduation, but didn't heed the call until now. "I’ve always had it in the back of my mind, I want to attend these I want to come, and now it’s the third year and i’m here," he says. "Even people i know of now are struggling to find a job, they’ve graduated and they can’t find anything," says Contreras. "But if we have a stronger connection within the alumni association then it’ll make an easy transition." "That's what it's all about," says Director of Student & Alumni Relations Deirdre Weaver. Funding for the event came from the SMC Foundation, monthly payroll donations, and alumni donations. "It’s really incredible that we have a foundation that will fund the areas that are not funded by the state," says Weaver. "I invited AS to be included in this, to come out and congratulate students and to come out and be congratulated for where they're going," said Weaver. "Do we need
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Santa Monica College student Denise Sandoval jumps on the Velcro wall at the SMC transfer event “SMC Everywhere” at Santa Monica College on Tuesday. (Kira VandenBrande The Corsair)
the support? Of course we do, but most important is that they get it, because it’s bigger than the money." Weaver points out that the main activity of SMC Everywhere is interaction between students and alumni. "We build everything around this idea [that] 'Your presence matters,'" says Weaver. Though the event may have been held to commemorate students moving on, another non-student member of SMC was in attendance to ensure a good time for the students as well as wind down on what many will say has been a successful nineyear run as SMC president. President Tsang spoke about a few things he wanted students to take out of the event and SMC in general. “I think they want
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students to be aware this community will always include them and they should always feel free to come back and feel comfortable to come back to the Santa Monica College Community," says Tsang. ”This is a good time for them to take action, to get connected for the future.” As a parting message to the future alumni of SMC, Tsang says students have certain values they should take from SMC. “I think they should always remember what they have learned here and continue to move on and do well," he said. "But one thing we teach on this campus is that always remember your part in this community and not only do you have the privilege of getting assistance but also you have the responsibility of helping others.”
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SPORTS
VOLUME 109 ISSUE 11 • MAY 13, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
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SANTA MONICA COLLEGE: FOOTBALL FACTORY? JOSH SHURE STAFF WRITER As Day three of the 2015 NFL Draft was well underway on May 2nd at the Auditorium Theater in Chicago, Illinois, late in the 5th round, with the 169th pick of the draft, the Carolina Panthers selected a 6'2, 228 pound, linebacker with long blonde hair from Texas State. The Panthers drafted the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2014 and finished second in the nation in combined tackles. The Panthers not only selected a talented linebacker, they selected former Santa Monica College Corsairs football player, David Mayo. Mayo played only a single season in 2011 for the Corsairs after not receiving any offers out of high school. "With David, we knew he was talented, but we see a lot of talented guys," said SMC football head coach Gifford Lindheim. "What set him apart was his work ethic, determination, and confidence in himself. Texas State was the only Division 1 program that offered him a scholarship out of SMC." Head coach Lindheim has been coaching talented players and helping them succeed here at Santa Monica College for the last six years. Lindheim has lead the Corsairs to four straight Conference Championship victories and 27 straight conference wins. "We have SMC players playing in colleges all over the country," added Coach Lindheim. Throughout the school's history, the SMC football program has been no stranger for producing high level football players. The list of notable former Corsair football players includes the name of NFL Hall of Fame Cornerback, Jimmy Earl Johnson,
as well as a trio of famous NFL wide receivers, Chad Ochocinco (formerly Chad Johnson), Steve Smith, Sr., and Isaac Bruce. Jimmy Johnson left Santa Monica College in 1958 to attend UCLA and later be drafted by the San Francisco 49ers where he played the entirety of his professional career. In recognition of the 5-time Pro Bowler, the 49ers eventually retired Jimmy Johnson's number, 37. The next former NFL player to have worn the blue and white was wide receiver Isaac Bruce. Bruce transferred to the University of Memphis from SMC back in 1992. With the 33rd overall pick in the 2nd round of the 1994 NFL Draft, Isaac Bruce was drafted the Los Angeles Rams. Bruce was a 4-time Pro Bowler during his 16 year career in the NFL (14 for the Rams, 2 for the 49ers). In 2009, 17 years after leaving Santa Monica College, Isaac Bruce became only the second player in the history of the NFL to achieve over 15,000 receiving yards over the course of a career, second only to Jerry Rice at the time and is now fourth. Bruce wasn't inducted into the Hall of Fame this last year on his first nomination; however, it is widely thought that one day he will take his place in the Hall. After Isaac Bruce graced the field for SMC, the next great Corsairs players came together almost as a pair. Though they came from different backgrounds, Steve Smith Sr. and Chad Johnson lined up as wide receivers for the Corsairs back in 1997. After the 1998 season, Steve Smith Sr. continued his football career at the University of Utah, while Chad Johnson had to wait till after the 2000 season to transfer Oregon State University.
David Mayo #34 of the Santa Monica College Corsairs leads the team with seven tackles with two tackles for loss against the East Los Angeles Huskies at Weingart Stadium on September 10, 2011 in Monterey Park, California. SMC won 26 – 20 in double overtime. (Michael Yanow The Corsair)
Though taking alternate paths, they both reached their ultimate goal in reaching the NFL when they both were drafted in the 2001 NFL Draft. Johnson went on to become a six-time Pro Bowler during his 10-year tenure with the Cincinnati Bengals and became a household name when he legally changed his name from Chad Johnson to Chad Ochocinco (his number was 85). Ochocinco finished his NFL career in 2011 after playing for the New England Patriots and is currently playing in the Canadian Football League for the Montreal Alouettes. Smith, on the other hand, is about to start his second season with the Baltimore Ravens after playing 13 seasons with the same team that drafted David Mayo, the Carolina Panthers. Steve Smith is a five-time Pro Bowler and currently sits in 14th place on the NFL all-time receiving yards list, 10 spots behind Isaac Bruce. Lindheim knew Smith personally before ever becoming the head coach at SMC. "I coached Steve Smith in high school
before he enrolled at SMC," remarked coach Lindheim. "You never would have guessed that he was the guy who was going to be playing in the league at a high level for over 12 years." The SMC football program has a few individuals to look out for in the years to come. From this last year's team, star linebacker Paris Bostick, is planning on playing for the University of Oregon Ducks football program this upcoming season. Also, a pair of Corsairs, Dejuan Butler and Melvin Davis, are transferring to play for the University of Hawaii in 2015. Looking ahead to this next season, SMC will welcome former University of Washington quarterback and once highly recruited, #1 dual threat high school quarterback in the nation, Troy Williams. Williams should be under center, tossing the pigskin for the Corsairs this upcoming season. Coach Lindheim stressed not to put too much expectations on any current or former players because, as he puts it, "you never know who will be the next David Mayo."
GENESIS SMITH QUALIFIES FOR STATE FINALS IN TRIPLE JUMP GEORGIA SONO STAFF WRITER Unlike the previous week where he had teammates to soothe his anxiety, Santa Monica College track and field athlete Genesis Smith calmly warmed himself up for his triple jump heat alone. "I should have warmed up earlier," Smith said as he stretched his body. Despite showing great signs of nervousness and restlessness the previous week, Smith remained calmed as he warmed up in the same spot he did in the Southern California Regional the week prior. On Saturday, Smith, the sole representative for the SMC track team, qualified for the triple jump state finals at the California Community College Athletic Association Southern California Regional Finals. According to SMC head coach Larry Silva, Smith was unable to execute many technical parts of the run in practice during the week. However before the run, "everything fell together harmoniously," Silva said. The coach mentioned that "everything they had practiced during the week was right on [during the warm-up]," as he described the experience as a "pleasant surprise." In the final round, Smith qualified himself with a jump of 14.04 meters, improving 0.66 meters from his preliminary jump. This was enough to reach the A-standard necessary for the State Championship that will be held this weekend at the College of
San Mateo. Head coach Larry Silva did not receive word that Smith had qualified until Monday afternoon as only six athletes qualified at the A standard in the Northern California Community College Championships. "I would like to thank everybody for their support" Smith said. West Los Angeles Cougar freshman athlete Palacio Zain won the event with a distance of 14.45 meters. The Mount San Antonio College Mounties men's team and the Cerritos College Falcons won the day with 160.5 and 133.5 points respectively. Smith was responsible for all four of the Corsairs' points. Looking forward to this weekend's state finals, it appears that Smith will face tough competition for the gold in San Mateo. College of the Sequioas Giants freshman athlete Tacuma Anderson-Richards lead all athletes in either the Northern or Southern California regionals with a distance of 15.66 meters. In order to win at the finals, Silva said Smith would need to, "[have] a significant improvement over the week" and "if he can do [what he did at regionals] again this week, then anything is possible." The state finals will be held at the College of San Mateo on May 15-16.The triple jump event will take place on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
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Genesis Smith jumps 14.04m on Saturday during the SoCal Finals at Cerritos College in Norwalk to land him a spot in the state finals next weekend in San Mateo. Smith is the only member of the Santa Monica College Track & Field team to advance through SoCal Prelims this year. (Michael Downey The Corsair)
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HEALTH & LIFESTYLE
VOLUME 109 ISSUE 11 • MAY 13, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
HEROES OF THE RED ARMY Russian veterans celebrate 70 years since the fall of Nazi Germany
A boy stands by a Jewish memorial to World War II victims in Plummer Park as locals commemorate 70 years since the fall of Berlin and the end of the war (Carlos Espionisa The Corsair)
A Russian violinist wearing the uniform of his veteran father performs a Russian folk song during a ceremony commemorating 70 years since Victory Day (Carlos Espinosa The Corsair)
MAY 9, 1945 BERLIN FALLS ALCI RENGIFO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Even now, within the serenity of old age, their eyes light up when they remember the Great Patriotic War, as World War II is called in Russia. On Saturday veterans of the Red Army in West Hollywood celebrated 70 years since the Soviet Union conquered Berlin and ended the reign of Nazi Germany in Europe. It was a war that would cost the USSR 27 million lives, more than any other country involved in the conflict. Hosted by West Hollywood's Russian Advisory Board and the Los Angeles Russian Jewish Network, the event entitled "The 70th Anniversary Of Victory In Europe Day," took place at Plummer Park's Fiesta Hall as local politicians, veterans and flag-waving members of the local Russian community sang songs, heard testimonials and reflected on the legacy of World War II. One such veteran was Akvazad Rozalia, who smiled holding red roses, her vest decked with medals emblazoned with the hammer and sickle and the faces of Lenin and Stalin. During the war Rozalia operated a katyusha machine gun at the age of 16 when the Nazi invasion began. And even if the beginnings of alzheimer's have slowed her steps, Rozalia's family make sure to keep her story alive. Translating for her, her niece Vina said "the lesson
she wants everyone to take from the war is "This feels great," said one veteran who too was a gallery of medals and recognition. to have bravery, to have courage but to also declined to give his name because, as he With a cheerful squint he said "but I reput it, the confidential nature of his work member everything everyday. The battles be kind to others." "She went to war because she believed in the Red Army during the war. His chest were hell." For the next generation aged in her country, because she was and still secretive man said "this so patriotic," said Vina. Inside the hall children pergeneration should avoid war. formed dressed as soldiers and Make it not happen." nurses, holding flowers, in a small Back inside special guests such drama about the war. To the sound as West Hollywood mayor Lindsey of old radio broadcasts they P. Horvath paid their respects to marched to the national wartime the heroes of the Red Army. "My song composed by Aleksandr grandfather fought in World War Aleksandrov, "The Sacred War," II in the U.S. Army, my family is which proclaimed Arise, vast a part of your family," she said. country, arise for a fight to the SMC photography student death, against the dark fascist Veronika Katcha from Kalininforces, against the cursed hordes. grad, Russia, came to honor the Another veteran present who veterans and memory of the war. answered this call back in 1941 "I didn't expect it to be this big. was 92-year-old Makvei who Even the younger generation is fought in Leningrad and worked here to pay their respects." gathering intelligence. Also Katcha recounted what Victory decked in Soviet medals, he Day is like in Russia itself. "It's a struggled to speak, but his eyes major major celebration in Russia. opened wide with a clear thought. From like 7 A.M. all the streets "There should be no more war, are closed and people bring only peace," he said with a frail flowers to the memorials. There voice. "Young people should are a lot of fireworks. In Moscow always try to be honest," he added. there are a lot of soldiers everyHis niece Marina shared how where. It's the biggest celebration Makvei was the youngest and I've seen in my life." therefore the last in their family Starting the day by watching to go fight in the war and now the great military parade in they are proud to see him reMoscow via internet, Katcha was spected and honored by younger happy to see Russia's sacrifice generations at events like these. commemorated in the United "People not even related to him Makvei, a 92-year old Red Army veteran, sits outside in Plummer Park States. "I'm grateful there is someare giving him flowers and saying after a ceremony honoring Russian veterans of World War II. (Carlos thing like this going on in Los 'thank you,'" said Marina. Espinosa The Corsair) Angeles."
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