CORSAIR
MEMORIAL DAY
MAY 27, 2015 | VOLUME 109 ISSUE 13 SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
FIRST COPY OF THE CORSAIR IS FREE, EACH COPY AFTER IS 25
REMEMBERING THE FALLEN (PG. 4)
SILENT PROTEST AT ICC SOCIAL (PG. 3)
$40,000 SCHOLARSHIP WINNER TELLS HIS TALE (PG. 3 )
A.S. TENSIONS: ICC CHAIR SPEAKS OUT (PG. 6)
SPELLING BEE DELIVERS OFF KEY NOTES (PG. 8)
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CONTENT
VOLUME 109 ISSUE 13 • MAY 27, 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 Kira VandenBrande .....................Photo Editor corsairphotoeditor@gmail.com
PREVIEW
Second Annual Jay Boy Classic commemorates anniversary of Dogtown legend's passing
Juan Lopez ...................................... Digital Editor corsair.webeditor@gmail.com
PAULINA ERIKSSON HEALTH & LIFESTYLE EDITOR
Jhosef Hern ..........................................Illustrator corsaircartoon@gmail.com
On Saturday, May 23, skateboard company Z-Flex organized the second annual Jay Boy Classic was held at Venice Skate Park in Venice Beach, California. Jay Boy Classic started last year with the purpose of giving bowl skaters the opportunity to show off their skills and compete against each other for various prizes. Just as last year, this years arrangement attracted many locals as well as tourists who wanted to honor the skateboard legend Jay Adams and watch young talents perform on their boards. The bleachers were packed and crowds gathered around the bowl to cheer on each skater as they entered the bowl pulling off tricks that made the viewers throw their
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 Thomas Allen plays his highland bagpipe during the city's 77th Annual Memorial Day Observance at Woodlawn Cemetery in Santa Monica on Monday. (Tobias Sandstroem The Corsair)
hands up in the air. The loud crowd or music was not something that distracted 19-year-old Isiah Sanchez, who participated in the competition. All he could think about was having a good time. “I don't really think about anyone, I just skate,” he said. During an intense finals heat Sanchez was named the winner of the Bowl Jam. Being his first time participating in the Jay Boy Classic, he was not only stoked to win, but impressed by the whole arrangement. “I thought the event was rad. Everything was good,” he said after the event was over. In "Master Jam" the audience got to experience a flashback to the past as it was time for the older generation to take over
the spot light. Skate legends in their fifties like Steve Olson, Dave Hackett, and Pat Ngoho got the opportunity to enter in the bowl and prove that skateboarding has no age limit. “I think they are hella dope and have the best style,” Sanchez commented about the legends performance. The fact that they are still ripping is something that inspires him. "I'm going to skate forever,” he added. Another prestigious award was the “Spirit of Jay award” which went to Willy Lara, son to the third generation Z-boy Joe Contreras, who was also one of the judges at the event.
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR The curtain is beginning to close on this semester and on an entire era of The Corsair. I mentioned two weeks ago in this very section that there were some big changes coming, and now is the time to be clear about what those changes are. First, I am ending my tenure at The Corsair as editor-in-chief after these last two issues. It has been a wonderful, exhausting and educational ride that taught me a lot about journalism and a lot about myself. I did consider coming back for a third round, but alas, the powers that be have decided to take the paper on a different course. Next semester will see The Corsair slashed down to 10 issues if not less, with an emphasis on digital content. The details seem to suggest the print edition will now be a bi or triweekly instead of a weekly. The world is changing and our advisor feels the campus paper should adapt to the new digital culture dominating the market. At the helm to fill in the role of editor our advisor has designated the current A&E editor, Devin Page to sit in the captain's chair. This will be a great learning experi-
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ence for him. Before the transition takes place, we invite you to check out these last two issues of the spring semester. Our photostory this week reflects on the Memorial Day commemorations that took place on Monday. While many use the day for barbecues and get togethers, Memorial Day is meant to commemorate those who have died while in the armed forces. While much of mainstream culture uses occasions like Memorial Day to preach nationalist slogans and cheer on the image of the soldier, we should probably use such days to reflect on the cost of war and conflict. With the Middle East still unstable and the U.S. slowly becoming more and more involved in armed responses to the rise of groups like ISIS (itself a result of the 2003 Iraq War), we should ponder the real human cost of war. One of my favorite movies to revisit on Memorial Day is Oliver Stone's 1989 "Born On The Fourth Of July." Based on the memoirs of Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic, it stars Tom Cruise as Kovic, an idealistic young student in the 1960s who enlists to fight the Communist "menace" in Vietnam. While on patrol he's shot in the spine and @THE_CORSAIR •
returns paralyzed from the waist down, questioning the war and the excuses given by the powers that be for it. Stone, himself a Vietnam veteran, tells a timeless story that could be relevant for any generation. This week's issue also features a letter from ICC chair Maya Kaitel on the recent tensions in the Associated Students. The recent expulsion of ICC vice-chair Courtney King from the ICC Social she planned last week certainly raised eyebrows. And when King sent us a letter, which we ran last week, denouncing the A.S.'s advisor, it was almost inevitable that there would be a counterresponse. Even as the semester ends, there are still aftershocks of what has been a turbulent tenure. Even here at The Corsair, it has been two semesters of blood, sweat, and tears, but also much accomplishment. Stay tuned for our final issue next week where we will have many surprises and special features waiting for you.
ALCI RENGIFO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
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NEWS
VOLUME 109 ISSUE 13 • MAY 27, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
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ICC Social marches on with subtle protest hard the whole semester planning this event, and I think she deserves to be here," she said. Among the planned and budgeted items for the event were custom made ICC mugs, which were given to all in attendance, food, tea, and a "silent disco" consisting of attendees wearing a set of headphones while everyone listened to the same music. In the wake of the removal of King from her duties as coordinator of the event, the food order was changed and the silent disco was dropped in favor of AS Director of Instructional Support Kishore Athreya deejayLahari Indraganti (front-left) and Inter-Club Council Chair Maya Kaitel (right) talk at the ICC Social as ICC delegates wear ing via Spotify. Kaitel hand-made ram horn pins in honor of ICC Vice Chair Courtney King in her absence at the ICC Social after she was told reports being able to cut not to attend the event by administration. (Juan Lopez The Corsair) the budget of the event by $998. JUAN LOPEZ commemorate ICC Vice Chair Courtney ICC Chair Maya Kaitel was given the DIGITAL EDITOR King, who was reportedly kept from attending responsibility of organizing the event, and the event by administration. The ICC Social, she enlisted different members of the AS Over a dozen Santa Monica College Inter- as well as Club Row and Club Awareness Day, to assist, including incoming board Club Council delegates showed up to the was organized and budgeted by King. members. "No matter what happens, it’s ICC Social with handmade ram horn pins King is known for wearing hand-crafted still going to go forward because we love in their hair. "I think they’re all wearing those ram horns. our clubs and we appreciate them and they horns without knowing the other side," said Lahari Indraganti of Chemistry Club and deserve to be rewarded," said Kaitel. Isaac Medeiros from UNICEF Club. Astronomy Club assisted King in some of the Incoming ICC Communications Officer The delegates were sporting the horns to planning. "I think Courtney King worked very Mariah Casillas said "We all came together
and for what it was, it went really well." It was the first ICC Social for both her and Kevin Picard, who also created the Improv Club with her and is incoming ICC Vice Chair. Incoming ICC Chair Paul Netro said of the event "I think it serves as a way for the members of the ICC, the delegates specifically to know each other in a more casual way," pointing out formalities in meetings from which delegates usually meet each other. "It allows people to express themselves in a different way." Indraganti noted the camaraderie of the AS board saying "everybody in the AS office has only been nice to me, so I can’t [see] what’s going on." She adds, "but i can see that [King's] been hurt." Kaitel said of the behind the scenes stresses, "I understand that Courtney is upset and I appreciate her passion for the event, but at the same time there is nothing to be done right now except for what she already knows that she has to do." "Things happen, and just cause she couldn’t be here for this one does not mean she’s not still part of the family," said Kaitel. In regards to the demonstration of horns, she said "It’s a fairy tea party, people can wear whatever they want. I understand that it’s in support of Courtney and I appreciate that they love their vice chair." King stated for the record after the event that the decision to keep her from the ICC Social was one made by Bridges in order to keep King from meeting disciplinary action from administration.
The $40,000 man Jonah Okike-Hephizbah on taking a major scholarship JOSE GUTIERREZ NEWS EDITOR Even sitting inconspicuously at a table next to the vending machines, third-year Santa Monica College Engineering major Jonah Okike-Hephzibah was met with a greeting from a fellow student who recognized him. “You’re the guy that was in the article, right? I’m happy to hear what’s going on for you,” the student told him, before OkikeHephzibah dispensed to him advice about applying for scholarships. Okike-Hephzibah would probably tell you that he’s just an average student doing what he has to do to further his education. This modesty is in direct conflict with the idea others have of him, now that he’s been awarded a $40,000 scholarship by the Jack Cooke Kent Foundation. “I’ve had a few people be like, ‘Oh, you were on the SMC page!’ or yeah, it’s really weird. I just tell them that anybody could do it,” he says. “You don’t have to be special. I’m definitely not special. I’m probably like your average student. You just have to really be disciplined and focus and work through everything.” Okike-Hephzibah deals with his fair share of obstacles himself, since he juggles his schoolwork and scholarship applications with school clubs, work, and being supportive of his family. “I have five siblings and my mom’s a single parent. I’m the oldest of the six kids she has, so they rely on me for a lot. I work here part time. And then most of the money goes to help them pay bills and stuff like that. It’s hard balancing course work and having time to support my family,” he says. “I’ve had [frustrating moments] a lot, but just seeing my family and like wanting to do better for them has been like a really big motivational course in my life and academic journey."
“Jonah’s kind of an example of [students who manage their time well],” says Melanie Bocanegra, director of the STEM program at SMC. “He works, he takes really difficult classes and he still has time to do STEM club and Engineering club, and he manages it all and he helps with family. But he has to have himself on a very strict timeline to get it all done.” Okike-Hephzibah even co-founded the BIY Robotics Club on campus with Club President Christopher “Reign” DeRenzo. “He shows excellent communication and networking skills by bringing new students to the club and actively participating in administrative meetings and workshop activities,” says DeRenzo. “No matter what is happening, Jonah will always bring a positive attitude that lights up the room and an open-minded opinion to every meeting which helps accelerate progress.” However, according to Okike-Hephzibah, he was not always a stellar student. “In high school, I was not the best student at all. I goofed off a lot. I focused on athletics more than I did on academics. I realized that wasn’t really going to take me anywhere. Especially since like if you’re an athlete and you get injured, that’s the end of your career sometimes,” he says. “I definitely was set on trying to go pro, or in some way in make money with it. I wasn’t all that good to be honest. I got a lot of minor injuries that started to add up and it’s starting to take a toll on my body and stuff. I got knee injuries from basketball and ankle injuries from volleyball.” Toward the end of high school, he decided to put a bigger emphasis on academics than sports. “A few of my friends were going off to four-year universities because they actually took academics seriously. I didn’t do too well, I didn’t really get accepted to places,” he says. “I did get a few scholarships for sports and stuff, but they were nowhere
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Jonah Okike-Hephzibah poses for a portrait as he shares one of his electronic projects in the Science Building on the Santa Monica College campus on Friday in Santa Monica. Okike-Hephzibah won the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship worth $40,000, which he can use to cover the cost of any four-year university he chooses to attend. (Jose Lopez The Corsair)
that I wanted to go to. Around that time, I was like, I should really just focus more on academics because there’s a lot more opportunities for success in academics.” Before high school, Okike-Hephzibah attended an academy in London, England, where he lived before moving out to California at the age of 11. Shortly after moving, he began to feel like an outcast, because he was bullied for having an accent. “I lost the accent when I came out here ten years ago. It’s very easy to pick up and lose things at that age… They would get me for not being able to understand me, and I kind of grew tired of that, so I decided to lose it,” he says. “It was a very easy process. I just listened to the way people were talking, and I’d mimic what they were saying. Eventually it became a habit. I do [regret it], I honestly do. I would sound probably like ten times smarter, too. People would believe everything I say.” Beyond school in London, high school, and SMC, Okike-Hephzibah is not completely decided on what school he wants to transfer to. “There’s a lot of conflict of @THE_CORSAIR •
interest,” he says. “If I go to one place, I have to give up certain things. If I go to another, then I get different things. I’m just trying to see which one is worth it.” Even though his school isn’t decided, he does have an idea of what he wants to do with his future. “I do want to start my own business sometime in the future,” says Okike-Hephzibah. “I’m not exactly sure in what yet. It’s definitely sure it’s going to be in engineering, but I’m not exactly sure what specific field yet.” Bocanegra, who Okike-Hephzibah often approaches for advice concerning any obstacles he’s tackling, agrees with the idea students have formed of him. “He’s so humble, I don’t think he even realizes how hard he works. I think he doesn’t like the attention and I think it shows in how he approaches his studies and work. It’s all just about the question at hand or understanding the material and not about making a name for himself,” she says. “I think it’s good to stay humble in any science field. He’s too humble, I think. He could brag a little more!”
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PHOTOSTORY
VOLUME 109 ISSUE 13 • MAY 27, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
North High School's Army JROTC members Jesse Casimiro, Jennifer Kaneshiro, Austin Oishi- Yamamoto, and Miles Atkins (front to rear) march out for the national anthem on Thursday for the Memorial Day event held by SMC Veterans Center. S WWII Vet Walter Bodlander and SMC vet Anthony Bibian before a moment of silence. (Michael Downey The Corsair)
Student Veterans Association's President Jennifer Garcia makes introductions during the SMC Memorial Day event before leading in the Pledge of Al-
Many generations of veterans gathered at Woodland
legiance alongside staffed sign language interpreter Crystal Lagunas on Thursday in the quad area of Santa Monica College. "I would tell them to never
Cemetery to attend the city’s 77th Annual Memorial Day
forget why it is that they are able to live in such a free and wonderful country today, someone bled and suffered the turmoil of war so that they didn't have
Observance on Woodlawn Cemetery in Santa Monica on
to," Garcia said when asked what she would say to someone who may have forgotten the true meaning of the holiday. (Michael Downey The Corsair)
Monday (Tobias Sandstroem The Corsair)
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PHOTOSTORY
VOLUME 109 ISSUE 13 • MAY 27, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
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TRIBUTE TO THE TROOPS MICHAEL DOWNEY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER For many people across the nation, Memorial Day weekend calls for barbeques, discounts, getaways with the family, and of course the summer kick off parties at the Jersey Shore. Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day 150 years ago, is our day set aside to remember and honor those who paid the ultimate price serving in the country's armed forces. Decoration Day, proclaimed by General John Logan in his 1868 General Order No. 11, was originally set to honor union soldiers until the end of World War I when it was changed to honor all those who died in any war. The official holiday Memorial Day was first recognized by the state of New York in 1873 and is now of course nationwide, although a few southern states like Texas,
Supporters joined to listen to personal stories by
Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Louisiana and Tennessee have their separate holidays to honor the deaths of Confederate soldiers. Santa Monica College Veterans Center held a Memorial Day service Thursday, May 21 in the quad area with special guest speaker, World War II veteran Walter Bodlander. Bodlander, introduced by SVA President Jennifer Garcia, shared his story on how he moved from place to place after the Nazis invaded his country before getting a Visa from the United States. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Bodlander volunteered for the armed services and was immediately sent to England. The war for him started with the landing on D-Day and ended in Normandy where he was wounded
Walter Bodlander, a WWII veteran, tells his story from his tour of duty in World War II during the SMC Memorial Day event on Thursday at Santa Monica College. Bodlander recieved two Bronze Star medals, the Combat Infantry medal, the Purple Heart and the French Medal of the Legion of Honor from his injuries sustained in Normandy. (Michael Downey The Corsair)
after fighting for 11 months. Garcia introduced others to speak including Iraqi war veteran Anthony Bibian, who shared his personal story and SVA Vice President Jaime Rincon, who held the POW/ MIA (prisoner of war/missing in action) ceremony. The memorial event was a start to a long weekend of memorial services held around the city of Los Angeles. Other venues included the national cemetery on Wilshire Blvd., Woodlawn Cemetery, Arlington National West (which holds memorials every sunday on Santa Monica Beach next to the pier) and many others. “We should honor our fallen heroes everyday, not just once a year,” said Garcia. “We should live in their honor everyday by being grateful and honorable Americans.”
A woman and child sit at a grave of a friend or loved one at the Los Angeles National Cemetery on Friday in Los Angeles. (Veronica Aviles The Corsair)
e
d
b
f
g
a
i
c h
The White Table: a)
A small round table is used, to show one soldier’s lonely battle against many.
e)
A POW/MIA flag posted to mourn the fact that many or our he roes will not return, and to pay tribute to them
b)
The table is covered with a white cloth to honor a soldier’s pure heart when he answers his country’s call to duty.
f)
A lay a napkin for the sorrow of captivity
c)
A lemon slice and grains of salt on a plate to show a captive soldier’s bitter fate and the tears of families waiting for loved ones to return
g)
Turned over a glass for the meal that won’t be eaten
h)
A white candle in place for peace
d)
An empty chair, representing no specific armed forces member, is set for those missing to join us
i)
A red rose in a vase tied with a red ribbon for the hope that all our missing will return someday from answering our nation’s call
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OPINION
Setting the record straight
VOLUME 109 ISSUE 13 • MAY 27, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE contract and no playlist Decorations: A few strings of roses, mugs and tablecloths that our rental company had informed me were out of stock. For those who attended the social, they can attest to the following arrangements at the party: Food: Finger sandwiches, assorted cakes, assorted cookies, brownies, cinnamon buns, hot tea, iced tea, and chocolates Music: DJ services provided by the A.S. Director of Instructional Support Decorations: Tablecloths, centerpieces, glitter and candy, strings of lights, strings of roses, mugs, and small potted plants The social used nearly $1,000 less than what it had been budgeted for. Draw what conclusions you may, these are simply the facts. From the view of an A.S. Director, there is more to consider than a party and who planned what and who was or was not able to attend. Recently, I have seen absurd claims that the A.S. Advisor and Associate Dean of Student Life, Dean Bridges, psychologically abuses directors, lures them into her office only to berate them, and does not follow through on her promises. You have all heard this viewpoint, now allow me to offer mine. I do not see Dean Bridges simply as an administrator- I see her as what an administrator should strive to be. Dean Bridges does not “psychologically abuse” the directors, she provides us with a safe
environment to talk about what is bothering us and comforts us with encouragements to follow our hearts and trust in our own instincts. Dean Bridges has empowered not only me, but also many other members of the A.S. Board as well to grow as leaders and as individuals. I have never once seen a time where Dean Bridges has rejected an idea or an event without putting in every effort to see if it is possible first. To take someone who has brought nothing but positive energy, innovation, inspiration and clear communication to the A.S. and to slander her with such harsh and blatantly false accusations is not something that I can consider acceptable. Even this, though, is something that I can consider a crime of passion, and though it is unacceptable, it is- to some extent- understandable. What is not understandable and completely inexcusable is to drag in the personal life of another student and fellow director simply to further one’s own hateful tirade. In the Fall semester, there were rumors that an A.S. Director had tried to commit suicide due to pressure that Dean Bridges had placed on them. These rumors were fueled by a misinformed Director, and have since been dispelled. The person who was rumored to have made an attempt on their own life came forth and acknowledged these rumors, making it abundantly clear that they did not try to harm themselves in any way, and that Dean Bridges did nothing
but help and support this individual. They went on to say that they did not appreciate these harsh and hurtful rumors being spread about them, and understandably so. To someone with a history of depression, these type of rumors can trigger the sort of reaction that no one wants to think about. To bring these rumors back- rumors that the entire A.S. Board as well as readers of the Corsair know to be both false and malicious- is unforgivable. We as student leaders have no right to reopen old wounds that could potentially cause dire harm to the students we were elected to represent. The health and safety of SMC students is a priority that must be placed above personal agendas. Those who do not realize this are not equipped with the maturity and judgment necessary to be student leaders. I would like to take this as a chance to apologize. I am sorry that the students of Santa Monica College have had to put up with the infighting and drama that has resulted from this year’s board. I am sorry that some members of said board have valued the fights over our students. I am sorry that we have spent valuable time fighting meaningless battles among ourselves instead of finding ways to better serve and represent you. I am confident that we leave you in good hands, and I look forward to the 2015-2016 Board, as I am sure that they will have learned from our mistakes.
Injunctions Aren’t Stopping The Injections
It’s one of the extremes on the drug lists being classified as a schedule 1 drug. In the words of the Drug Enforcement Administration schedule 1 drugs are, “defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Schedule 1 drugs are the most dangerous drugs of all the drug schedules with potentially severe psychological or physical dependence.” For such a dangerous drug, it’s growing in popularity. Why is that? Heroin is one of the cheapest and easiest drugs to make. A common household could be a bakery for it. Talk about economical addicts. Not only is it popular for the frugal addict, it’s a growing business. Heroin is one of the largest drugs being trafficked internationally. According to Vice, $50 million worth of heroin was seized by the feds in New York this week. Reportedly "to put it in perspective, this load was so large it carried the potential of supplying a dose of heroin to every man, woman and child in New York City," said NYC Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan. The business is becoming as the numbers show. This drug bust is just one of the many in the duration of the past 10 years. Each year it fluctuates, mainly because heroin addicts have a 14.3 times higher mortality rate meaning those who use end up dying and eventually another flock of younger people come in as the next generation to use. It’s a vicious cycle. Heroin changes you. The diaries of most heroin addicts, such as Kurt Cobain, are scribbles of near schizophrenic thoughts and their love/hate relationship with the drug. One use can lead to 30 minutes of euphoria and a lifetime of addiction. A majority of heroin addicts make failed attempts to become sober. Strangely enough, It’s not entirely their fault. The treatment for heroin addiction besides cold-turkey abstinence is taking another drug; suboxone or methadone, which is even harder to come by than your household heroin bakery. Suboxone and methadone have proved in numerous studies to be helpful and used as an antidote for the drug, yet they are the hardest to be prescribed. Doctors are limited to how many they prescribe and unfortunately the number of addicts casts a shadow over the
amount of prescriptions doctors are allowed to give. The discrepancy between addiction and treatment has now led to 2015 being another year of increased heroin users and deaths. CNN reports, “The number of deaths from heroin use is up by 39%.” Heroin is the fast track to death and the medical field isn’t doing their part. As with drug concerns, injunctions are usually enforced making it harder for access yet the law never seemed to stop an addict. Imprisonment of drug users has just proven to be counterproductive. In Argentina, Amsterdam, and Portugal all drugs are legal and their citizens are better educated on their effects this has led to a shift in the decline of usage and addiction. In stark contrast, America is attempting to make an Ironclad shield from the problem and it’s just worsening the problem. The U.S.’s treatment toward narcotics is disturbingly similar to Russia’s approach. Russia has enforced a “total war on drugs” and that hasn’t changed the six million and growing addicts. Drug users are developing new ways to get high faster than governments can enforce policies. As history repeats itself, the growing number of laws concerning drugs also correlates with an increase in users. That’s been proved by the prohibition period in the 20’s and 30’s proving that it only creates a booming business and creative ways to use behind closed doors. Addicts are becoming creative and finding common products that can be found in a grocery store to create a cheap high. Krokodil, a desomorphine costing around $3.00 to buy on the street is the combination of products you probably already have in your home. It's a cheaper fix to heroin with harsher side effects causing your skin to resemble a Crocodile after injecting. The other side effect is a 3 year life span estimate after using even once. There will always be a way around the law and addicts are now discovering that information on Internet forums concerning household items that can be utilized for your high. It isn’t long before you’ll realize that eye drops enhance the high running through your veins and there are cheaper ways to get high from making your own product like Krokodil to huffing paint.
MAYA KAITEL ICC CHAIR As the semester comes to a close and finals are waiting for us just around the corner, I feel that this is the appropriate time to reflect on the year that we’ve experienced and shed light on what has truly been happening up in the A.S. office. My name is Maya Kaitel, and I am your Inter Club Council Chair. At the beginning of the year, the A.S. had what we thought would be a perfectly functional board. Of course, things happen and people show their true colors and that brings us to where we are now. I’d like to offer some insight as to where that is. The ICC just had our social, which was a fairytale tea party. I was given the task to take over the tea party, as the Vice Chair, who traditionally has the job of planning the social, would not be able to attend. Many people were upset that the Vice Chair would not be able to attend a party that she had planned. When I was given the task approximately 72 hours from the event, the arrangements were as follows: Food: 100 croissants, hot water Music: Silent disco headsets that had no
Jhosef Hern The Corsair
BAILEY PERAITA STAFF WRITER Heroin usage is increasing globally and spreading at alarming rates in the U.S. In Los Angeles, smoking pot is as common as breathing oxygen. It’s the preferred recreational drug here in California from walking along Venice beach to the homes of banal citizens.
Out of all the drugs in the recreational spectrum it’s the most smelt, heard of and used but there’s a different story for other regions in the U.S. IntheSouthernStatesandNortheastregion, opioids such as heroin are the go-to substance and it’s becoming a global epidemic.
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SPORTS
VOLUME 109 ISSUE 13 • MAY 27, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
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BLACKOUT: DODGERS TV ABSENCE DIVIDES GENERATIONS M.M. SMITH CONTRIBUTING WRITER Two young boys watch baseball on TV while mom cooks dinner and dad tinkers in the garage in Rancho Cucamonga. The two boys, Dominic and Isaac Larson, eight and six years old are watching the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim's starting pitcher Hector Santiago strike out Colorado Rockies infielder Troy Tulowitzki on TV while dad, Keith Larson, 40, listens to Vin Scully describe Dodgers starter Carlos Frias walk Miami Marlin Martin Prado on a transistor radio in the garage. Scenes like this have become the norm as the Los Angeles Dodgers enter their second season of blackout in the Los Angeles area. Time Warner Cable (TWC), who paid 8.35 Billion dollars for 25 years of exclusive rights to broadcast Dodger games over the channel “SportsnetLA” has been unable to come to an agreement with any competing television providers. “I take them to Dodger games about once a month, but because we can’t watch the games on TV the boys have gravitated to the Angels,” Larson said. Though Larson is disappointed in the generational shift from the Boy's of Summer to the Halo's, he is truly saddened that his sons, like the majority of LA, can not hear the legendary voice of Vin Scully. "I grew up with Vin Scully in my living room night after night. I feel like he is part of my family in a way. Nothing against the Angels broadcast team, but it saddens me to think my kids may not get to share Vin Scully’s final seasons with me,” Larson said. In 2011 and 2012, TWC established the
blueprint for their Dodger strategy by purchasing the broadcast rights to the Los Angeles Lakers for $3 Billion over 20 years. TWC then turned around and, with public pressure, negotiated a deal with all regional competitors to carry the Lakers channels for $3.95 per subscriber by the second week of the NBA season. Cut to January 28, 2013 when Time Warner Cable outbid Fox by $2 Billion to gain broadcast and advertising rights for the Los Angeles Dodgers for $8.35 Billion over 25 years. This time around, however, smaller providers such as AT&T U-Verse and Verizon Fios have waited on the sidelines to see what DirecTV will do. Charter Communications, which owns Charter Cable announced plans to negotiate for access rights on Tuesday. Notorious for driving a hard bargain, DirecTV has dug in their heels in this battle with TWC. Despite pressure from Mayor Garcetti, the public, and the FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, neither side, TWC or DirecTV, is blinking. The closest to an agreement they have come has been an offer by TWC for binding arbitration to establish a fairmarket price for SportsnetLA. DirecTV has ignored the offer. A spokesman for TWC emailed the following: “We want all Dodger fans to have access to SportsNet LA. Despite our repeated attempts, other providers are unwilling to engage in any discussions. If Dodger fans want to enjoy SportsNet LA this season, we
encourage them to switch to a provider that carries the network. SportsNet LA is available on fair terms consistent with its value. We know that the rates for the network owned by this iconic franchise are in line with what other RSN’s around the country charge.” Multiple efforts to reach DirecTV and Los Angeles Dodger representatives for a statement or interviews were unanswered. Follow up questions sent to TWC regarding specifics were ignored. Major League Baseball controls the live streaming rights to all MLB games. Clearly the Guggenheim Baseball Management group had an idea as to what the television rights worth on the open market before making their bid to purchase the Dodgers. This time, however, their business acumen has angered fans and the price TWC paid for the broadcast rights is almost impossible to overcome and break even, much less turn a profit, selling the channel to other providers. To make matters worse, minority owner and spokesman Ervin “Magic” Johnson enraged fans by saying the Dodger Brand has “not been hurt” by the LA television blackout. “I think the Dodgers are the most to blame. If they really wanted their fans in LA to see their games they could get all parties in a room and get a deal done," Dodger fan for 50 years Dave Adair of Manhattan Beach said. "That might mean subsidizing the purchase price paid to TWC, but so be it. The Dodgers have the money to bridge the gap and get the deal done.”
After finding success with the Lakers network, and perhaps counting on a proposed merger with Comcast to give them some negotiating clout, TWC overpaid for the Dodger television and advertising rights. Most industry analysts estimate they paid somewhere between $700 million and $1 billion over market value. With AT&T and Verizon falling in line with DirecTV and refusing to pay the $5-persubscriber asking price turn a bad deal into an absolute nightmare. DirecTV has shown a history of driving a hard bargain. Disputes with AMC, TWC and with local affiliates around the country show that DirecTV plays hardball when negotiating contracts. “It comers down to greed,” says Grunions Bar and Grill of Manhattan Beach owner Robert Koch. “Greed from the Dodgers for taking $8 Billion from Time Warner, greed from Time Warner thinking DirecTV would pay and charge their subscribers $5.00 each month. But if I had to blame someone it would be Time Warner. They made a bad deal and now have dug their heels in…” Major League Baseball is not responsible for negotiating contracts with local providers, but the fact remains: MLB controls the streaming rights to all MLB regular season games. The fact that Dodger fans in Los Angeles cannot stream Dodger games is because of MLB policy. The question is now raised of just how much power corporations will have over access to events, and how high the cost will be.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
VOLUME 109 ISSUE 13 • MAY 27, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
SPELL IT OUT
"The 25th Putnam County Spelling Bee" delivers one big cliché
DEVIN PAGE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Santa Monica College's Theater Department aimed high with their interpretation of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," a musical production originally performed on Broadway. Directed by Janie Jones, "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" is a musical that delves deeper into education and takes a look at the kids that don’t fit in. Through lively musical performances and over the top acting, the character’s personalities came to life. The story starts off with a flashback scene of Rona Peretti (Natalie Kahn) at the spelling bee, spelling her way to a trophy. Reminiscing on her glory days, Rona becomes conscious and introduces the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. The students check in and everything seems to be going well except Olive (Hayley Howe) doesn’t have the $25 entrance fee. She has a nonexistent relationship with her parents and neither answer the phone when she calls. Attendance is taken and the story takes an interesting turn, three names are called of former theater students who receive walk on roles to participate in the production. Coincidentally, it happened to be theater students as any person in attendance could enter to win a chance to participate in the musical with the stipulation that you have to be willing to be made fun of. The contestants start the spelling bee and immediately some begin to fumble with the words, although the three special guests are given easy words so they can
Aaron Bertucio as Leaf Coneybear performs at The 25th Annual Putnam Country Spelling Bee at the Santa Monica College Theatre on Main Campus on Wednesday, May 20. (Carlos Espinosa The Corsair)
remain on stage. As each contestant steps up to the mic, Rona introduces a strange fact about them before they have to spell their word. Amusing dialogue ensues about the characters’ lives as they struggle through being an adolescent. Inappropriate humor was a big theme of the show and the director held nothing back with the jokes about boners and pop culture references. While most of the characters represent
clichés, there are standout characters like Leaf Coneybear (Aaron Bertucio). Leaf is a whimsical character who dresses in his pajamas and a cape and carries around a little devilish teddy bear who would randomly scream into the mic like he was the lead singer of an emo punk band. When Leaf would go up to the mic and attempt to spell a word, he would get stunned and fall into this state of paralysis where he would magically come up with the spelling of the word.
The rest of the characters battle with social awkwardness, puberty overachievement, divorced parents and even an LGBT couple. The musical takes a look at social issues and even highlights the hard of hearing by having SMC Student Nura Ferdowski sign the whole production. Wit and charm are what carried this musical instead of the typical cliché love story that exists in most musicals. For a bit there was no mention of any feelings or love until Olive started to flirt with science
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The 25th Annual Putnam Country Spelling Bee will be playing at The Santa Monica College Theatre on Main Campus until May 31. (Carlos Espinosa The Corsair)
genius Barfee (Julian Schwartzman), but he shrugged off any initial advances. It isn’t until the end of the musical where they share a brief moment of flirtation. The musical doesn’t reveal any new outlooks or revelations, however, it does offer compelling storytelling and shows that no matter how different the characters are, they can all share in camaraderie over something they are equally passionate about. Where the musical fell flat wasn’t the acting but arguably the most important, the singing. While there were times where the songs actually advanced the storytelling, there were just as many moments where it felt like the characters were singing their every thought. To give it some perspective, they fit over 20 musical numbers into a production that was less than two hours long. While the director could have used this
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opportunity to weave the story in a more subtle way, it spelled out every last word in a way that felt like one huge pun. In the small time slot there were some strong musical numbers such as “The I Love You Song,” a ballad that talked about Olive’s parents being from different worlds, and even though they weren’t always there for her, they love her. “I Speak Six Languages” was another interesting number that is relatable to college students. It’s if you’ve ever thought about being carefree and less responsible, just questioning one’s self in a practical way. The takeaway from the musical should not be that it was bad or that all musicals are inherently bad, but that you have to have the capacity for them. If you like quirky, fun musical productions then you should be in for a treat.
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