CORSAIR
SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 | VOLUME 110 ISSUE 01 | SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
FIRST COPY OF THE CORSAIR IS FREE, EACH COPY AFTER IS 25
CHICKEN ON THE LOOSE!
CHICKEN TAKES OVER CAMPUS AND SOCIAL MEDIA. (PG 4)
TOO MANY PASSES, NOT ENOUGH SPACES (PG. 4)
5 NON FICTION BOOKS TO CHECK OUT! (PG. 6)
TECHNOLOGY MEETS ART (PG. 7)
FROM NEBRRASKA TO SMC WITH HOPES AND DREAMS (PG. 11)
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CONTENT
VOLUME 110 ISSUE 01 • SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
EDITORIAL STAFF Devin Page ....................................Editor-in-Chief corsair.editorinchief@gmail.com Yasha Hawkins...........................Managing Editor corsair.managing@gmail.com Alissa Nardo ......................................News Editor corsair.news@gmail.com Bailey Peraita ..........................Health & Lifestyle corsair.lifestylepage@gmail.com Oskar Zinneman ........................... Opinion Editor corsair.opinionpage@gmail.com Josh Shure .........................................Sports Editor corsair.sportspage@gmail.com Nic Lucaj ..............Arts & Entertainment Editor corsair.calendarpage@gmail.com Claudius West .................. Multimedia Director corsair.multimediadept@gmail.com Jose Lopez ...........................................Photo Editor corsairphotoeditor@gmail.com
The Santa Monica College grounds crew work on draining the pond of water that accumulated around the Clock Tower area of campus that was created by the heavy rain on September 15, 2015 (Dotan Saguy)
William Miguel ..............................Design Editor corsair.designteam@gmail.com
CORSAIR STAFF Miriam Ferrer, Lorenz Fraser, Tua Brooks, Tiffany Morgan, Chase Maser, Daniela Barhan, Carolyn Alfaro, Jeremy Sanders, Christian G. Martin, Ciara Buchanan, Kevin Colindres, Alexandra Obie, Adam Thom, Jake Hirsohn, Wynn Taylor, Hannah, Kovar, Semaj Harbin, Matthew Nichol, Frederick Riggs, Gina Abakians, Tarah Kelly, Madeline Shepp, Roxana Esquivias, Yesenia Sando, Samantha Ruvalcaba, Samuel Huntington, Ariana Kidd, Melina Guelli, Stephanie Irineo, Stefan Maduro
FACULTY ADVISORS Saul Rubin & Gerard Burkhart AD INQUIRIES: corsair.admanager@gmail.com (310) 434 - 4033
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR DEVIN PAGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
FRONT COVER The "Campus Chicken" walks around the grass area near the Clock Tower catching the attention of students on September 15, 2015. (Jose Lopez)
It's fall semester, a season of new harvest. And while we live in Southern California and leaves aren't exactly falling, we are still getting rid of old habits. That being said, here at the Corsair we are letting go of old leaves and developing new ones. With an entirely new staff and a mostly new editorial staff, this semester will be us finding our bearings. We are seizing the opportunity that we have with papers moving online and social media on the rise. In this week's issue, we meet new interim Dean of Student Life, Dr. Nancy Grass, former Communications Department Chair, as she discusses the importance of a good reputation and the Associated Students Board's plan to restore their reputation as the voice of the students. The A.S. has made some missteps in the past, but the new board is working on being more transparent and accessible to students.
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Artist Ann Page is hosting her exhibit "Recent Sculptures and Drawings" at the Broad Stage from September 1 to October 10. The eccentric artist discusses her art that is a cross between all things conventional and contemporary, but also avantgarde. Her exhibit proves to be anything but ordinary. In Health & Lifestyle, staff writer Grace Gardner meets with SMC Chabad Club students to learn about their experiences with Judaism and how it has shaped them in college. The Chabad Club offers a place for students to be study Judaism in a more approachable way. While religion is a hot topic right now, in Opinion, staff writer Derrick Riggs discusses his views on the war on Christianity. With attention-seekers like Kim Davis, Donald Trump, and Mike Huckabee in the center of the limelight, religious freedoms @THE_CORSAIR •
are being widely discussed right now by presidential candidates, media personalities and the like. This semester the Corsair staff hopes to still cater to the old fashioned readers who still enjoy our print edition, but also to those keeping up with modern sources of media. With more multimedia content, social media and a focus on the online, we hope to widen our audience and bring you news that you care about.
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VOLUME 110 ISSUE 01 • SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
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DR. NANCY GRASS TAKES ON NEW ROLE AS INTERIM DEAN OF STUDENT LIFE ALISSA NARDO NEWS EDITOR Nancy Grass began teaching at Santa Monica College 14 years ago. It was then she bought her first box of paper clips. Every now and then, Grass receives documents bound by paper clips. She puts these in her original paper clip box. “None of these paper clips in this box are probably the original paper clips,” Grass said, displaying her porcelain box of paper clips. “They’ve probably been traded out over the years. But... I’m still working off that original box.” Grass did the math on paper clips: if 1,000 faculty members receive one box of paper clips each year, it adds up to $3000. To her, this money should go towards the students instead. "I keep [paper clips] in this little box... right in front of me where i sit. It’s a reminder that it’s public money," Grass said. "It’s students’ money, and we have to be very careful of what we do with the students’ money.” Grass prides herself in being responsible, ethical and cautious. As the new Interim Assistant Dean of Student Life, Nancy Grass has just one motto: “By the book.” As a dean of Student Life, Grass advises over the Associated Students Board, the Inter-Club Council and the Cayton Center. During her appointment, Grass looks to regain a powerful, positive reputation and solidify the campus’ trust for the AS Board. “In the last several years... [AS] made missteps,” Grass said. “The AS took a beating in the press, and took a beating on their image on campus. One of my personal goals I want to see happen is AS regain its reputation as a powerful voice for the student body.” Grass plans to rebuild trust between students and AS by advising with a “sense
of transparency.” To her, this means operating business in a “fair and open way,” figuratively and literally. With her open door policy, Grass faces confusion and shock from her AS Board and colleagues. When students and faculty warn Grass that she can be heard from outside her office, Grass firmly tells them the door stays open. “Someone came in and said ‘Nancy, they can hear you out there,’” Grass said “That’s okay with me... This is the work of the public. If we can't have my door open, then we shouldn't be talking about whatever we’re talking about. If you can't stand out in the middle of the quad and say it, don't say it.” Above all else, Grass stressed the need to properly enforce and follow rules before bending them. During the summer, Grass spent two months reading up on education codes. Immediately after learning bylaws and rules for herself, Grass began imparting her new knowledge unto the new AS board and Student Life staff during a three day-long seminar. “We’re kind of joking with ourselves, but we are calling ourselves ‘The Office of No Exceptions’,” Grass said. “We’re trying to get back to the zero line. Whether we like it or not, these are the policies, these are the rules, this is the constitution and bylaws.” Taking on the interim position, Grass stepped down as the Communications Department chairperson. This is Grass’ first fall semester working outside of the classroom since she began teaching in 1996. “I felt conflicted about not being in the class, but excited to try on a new leadership role,” Grass said. “It’s hard to walk away from teaching. [New roles] are a little bit uncomfortable, but I’m having a lot of fun too.” Vice president Mike Tuitasi approached Grass about the interim position in June. Though this position is a new role for Grass,
CALIFORNIA PUSHES TO MARRY SMOKING WITH DRINKING AGE
Alana Salem, a freshman at Santa Monica College smokes a cigarette at a designated smoking section jusrt off The Santa Monica College main campus on September 14, 2015. (Daniel Bowyer)
FREDERICK RIGGS STAFF WRITER Smoking in the state of California could soon change. For as long as most can remember, buying a pack of smokes or a tin of chewing tobacco has been legal for those who are 18 years or older.
The California Senate passed along a measure and multiple bills to the state Assembly to raise the legal age to purchase tobacco products to 21 and to enforce harsher taxes on said products. While counties in several other states have already raised the smoking age, the assortment of bills and measure would make
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Associated Students Dean, Nancy Grass Hemmert, speaks to The Corsair on September 3, 2015 from her office on the Santa Monica College campus in Santa Monica,Calif. It is Grass first year as Dean of the A.S. (Ramses Lemus)
she pulls from her experience as the Communications Department chair and her knowledge from her PhD in Leadership and Higher Education. “I understand the ethical responsibility of people working up here,” Grass said. “I think that’s part of the reason they hired me." While Grass committed to the position for this academic year, no plan concerning a permanent assistant dean has been discussed yet. No matter her position next year, Grass remains a tenured faculty
member. Watch Dean Grass at work at the AS Board meeting in Cayton Center on Mondays at 3 P.M. In the meantime, Grass’ office door remains open to all in the Student Life center. “All students are part of AS,” Grass said. “And what a crime if we are referring to our students with a rolled eye, curled lip. As educators, if they are going off the rails, we need to get them back on the rails because this can be a life changing leadership experience for students.”
California the second state in the country where the legal age, statewide, to buy tobacco is as high as 21. The proposed legislation is also seeking an additional two dollar tax per pack of cigarettes purchased. In addition, the State Board of Equalization would be allowed to charge an annual $265 licensing fee to tobacco vendors, up from the current one time fee of $100. Those who distribute tobacco products would see their yearly licensing fee of $1,000 increase to $1,200. The proposed legislation pushes ahead with help from a coalition of the American Lung Association, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, as well as a reestablished anti-smoking drive within the state as a whole. To little surprise, the grouping of bills face massive resistance from major tobacco companies and many who have become a dominant force in the state’s capitol. California has its sights set on deterring teens and young adults of the state away from tobacco products as it is well known the younger an individual is when they begin addictive habits or behavior, the harder it will be to later try and quit such behavior. However, some Californians that fit into the “young adult” demographic that these measures are aiming to protect, don’t feel that their ability to procure tobacco products will be inhibited in any significant way. ZuZu Jones, a young woman that grew up in Southern California and started smoking somewhere near her sophomore year of high school seems to agree that getting your hands on tobacco products is of little difficulty when you are under age.
“I don’t really think it is going to stop people, they would still find ways to buy cigarettes," Jones said. "I started smoking in tenth grade, when I was 16, and found ways to buy cigarettes so like, 18 never stopped me, so I don’t think 21 would stop people in the same way.” SMC became a smoke-free campus in 2007, save three designated smoke spots on the perimeter of the main campus. Even though the tax would set the price of cigarettes somewhere around ten dollars per pack, students at SMC don’t seem to think that this will slow down the tobacco industry at all. Student Ansar Muhammad said, “[The tax] would be kind of ridiculous. I mean I would still buy the cigarettes, but it would just be more of a pain to do so.” California is inching closer and closer to bumping the smoking age, this last meeting being the second time in the past three months that the state Senate has sent approved bills to the Assembly. Earlier this summer previous propositions were hindered on the Assembly floor only to have new versions of the legislation approved last month. If passed and signed by Gov. Jerry Brown, California would have the ninth highest cigarette tax in the country; even with the state’s public health care system already incurring roughly 19-billion dollars a year due to smoking related disorders. The list of bills and measure is expected to clear a major hurdle in the state Assembly as special sessions in congress do not have designated due dates on proposed legislation.
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NEWS
VOLUME 110 ISSUE 01 • SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
CHICKEN CROSSES SOUTHLAND TO GET TO SMC
The "Campus Chicken" walks around the table area near the HSS building catching the attention students on September 15, 2015 at Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, California. (Jose Lopez)
ARIANA KIDD STAFF WRITER Along with new students and staff, SMC welcomes another friend to class: the chicken on campus. Since its initial spotting on Welcome Day, people have been following and documenting the whereabouts of the bird on social media.
The chicken is often documented wandering around SMC during the day, typically on the main path cutting through the main campus. Judging by photos posted online, its usual location seems to be the tables by Drescher Hall. Students have moved to social media to document the campus chicken, posting photos on Instagram under the hashtag,
#campuschicken and #smcchicken. This chicken has also been a hot topic on the unofficial SMC Facebook group, as well as on YikYak. "The campus chicken is not famous because it's a chicken, but because it's something unexpected," student Dario Gentiletti said. "It's something out of the box, something that breaks our routine. It can't
PARKING PROBLEMS PEEVE PEERS
A pedestrian walks out of a full parking structure as a car enters to find parking on September 9, 2015 at Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, California. (Jose Lopez)
GRACE GARDNER STAFF WRITER Parking at Santa Monica College has been an issue "since the dawn of man," according to Jere Romano, Santa Monica College police sergeant. Many student this year have complained about the lack of parking spaces available. Santa Monica College is aware that parking is an issue and is actively looking for solutions. "There is a strong desire for change," Romano said. "The district doesn't want to say 'screw students'." According to Romano, this year's parking troubles are not the worst seen at SMC, though it may appear to be that way. The
first few weeks of the fall semester tend to be the worst time of the year to find parking because of the amount of students who end up dropping classes later on. The main reason for the influx in traffic, according to Romano, is that more people than just students are using the garages. In addition to enrolled students, those who come to use the pool, venders, prospective students, visitors for KCRW, class speakers and guests for a variety of clubs and programs park in the SMC parking lots. "To be a good school, you need those programs. So lots [of spots] go to those," Romano said. "We try to bring the world to you, but in doing that we have to inconvenience you in parking." Another feasible possibility for the de-
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crease in available spots is the steady increase in enrollment SMC has seen in the past few years. The current system for garage parking includes the use of a tangible permit that must be visible on the dashboard of the vehicle. The use of a permit does not guarantee a spot. "The permit is just a hunting license for a space," Romano said. According to Chris Benvenuto, director of Fiscal Services, when the parking garages on Santa Monica College were built, the school was issued a Certificate of Participation. This was essentially the agreement that the garage funds would be fronted for the school and then reimbursed by revenue produced by parking permits. The funds are in a restricted account @THE_CORSAIR •
be unpopular!" A huge majority of students want to keep the chicken on campus, and others even joked about the chicken being SMC's unofficial mascot. Student Christian Cervantes went as far as to post a petition on Change.org to make the campus chicken the official mascot over the Corsair. Many speculate as to where the chicken migrated from. According to grounds worker Hector Gutierrez, his colleagues found the chicken in a delivery truck arriving from San Fernando. "I took the chicken but I had no where to put it," Gutierrez said. "I brought her here with some feed and some water and she's still around." Jenny Cibrian, student and cafeteria cashier, has another theory in mind. “I haven’t seen it on campus," Cibrian said, "but during my commute I see a house that has chickens and roosters in a cage and they usually walk around on the front yard. Maybe the chicken escaped from there and came onto campus.” With its popularity there has also been some concern about the wellbeing of the chicken as well. With the temperature fluctuating between the high 90s and low 60s within the past week, the safety and health of the chicken could be at jeopardy by living outside. Though there are no reports of officials trying to capture the bird, there is always potential for the chicken to either be picked up by animal control or returned to its currently unknown owner. "I think it's better for everyone if she stayed here," Gutierrez said. "The students who are stressing out studying see the chicken walk by and smile or laugh, plus the police don't seem to have an issue with it either so it works out in the end." with the sole purpose of paying these parking structure expenses. Without the purchasing of parking passes, the debt would remain unpaid. In addition, SMC faculty is conducting a parking study to counteract the parking issue. The team includes Mike Tuitasi, vice president of Student Affairs, and Greg Brown, Facilities director. Next year, the permit system will be replaced by virtual parking management. The district will no longer be involved with the process. The license plate will become the permit. If you would want to change the "permit" to be applicable to another car, you'd have to change the license plate number online. This would clear up the issue with students accidentally leaving their parking permit out of sight on the dashboard. Cars parked in the lots without a visible permit receive a ticket for $53. However, if a student is able to articulate the reason why they do not deserve a ticket, it can be brought down to a $20 service fee. "You have to have compassion and empathy for students," Romano said. "A lot of time we understand where the student is coming from... There is no incentive for my department to write tickets." If students are not able to find a spot on the regular campus, they are encouraged to park at the Bundy campus. When the Bundy campus fills on occasion, students can park at the Airport Arts campus, which is about six blocks away. From there, they can take a shuttle (which comes every 15 minutes) to the Bundy campus, where they can then take the regular shuttle back to the main campus. Another option is to Uber/Lyft to school. SMC is currently looking for a drop off spot specifically for that purpose. The new metro system will likely clear up some of the traffic by providing another transportation method.
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HEALTH & LIFESTYLE
VOLUME 110 ISSUE 01 • SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
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HOMELESSNESS ON THE WESTSIDE The Juxtaposition of Crime and Vulnerability
A man who identifies himself as J.R. poses in front of Santa Monica city hall. An area of town where he, along with many other members of the homeless community consider a safe place to stay. (Andrew Olender)
ANDREW OLENDER STAFF WRITER Try to imagine a life without shelter, no security, and no guarantee of safety. A life that involves going to sleep fearful of being robbed, attacked, or even worse. A kind stranger offers to buy you a new pair of shoes, but you reject the offer, knowing they will be stolen off your feet in your sleep. Unfortunately, this is the true reality of our homeless community here in Santa Monica. For the most part, Santa Monica is a safe city to live in. Low crime rates and little to no gang activity make it a pleasant community to reside in, but for the home-
less it’s a different story. According to the city of Los Angeles' biennial homeless census, as of May 2015, approximately 44,359 homeless people were currently in Los Angeles County, 70 percent of them unsheltered. With this significant amount of the homeless unsheltered, all of these people are vulnerable to being attacked or robbed. Santa Monica however, has over 30 homeless service locations across the city; including showers, housing, food, and medical facilities. In an interview with a man who identi-
RELIGION AND COMMITMENT Exploring Judaism in College GRACE GARDNER STAFF WRITER Every Friday at sundown, Jewish homes are enlightened physically and spiritually as candles are lit to welcome the Shabbat into their home. As the earth spins, region by region joins from New Zealand to the U.S., until Jewish households across the world all unite in religious ceremony until the next sundown. Santa Monica natives, Rabbi Eli Levantasky, his wife Meril, and his children participate in this ritual regularly, inviting along anyone else who wishes to join them. As a family, they run Santa Monica's local Chabad with a welcoming "open door" policy. Shabbat is widely popular at Santa Monica College, known for its large amount of international and out-of-state students. For those students who observe Judaism and wish to continue doing so throughout college, the Rabbi's place is a "home away from home." However, not all students continue to observe Judaism in college. "Generally, in college it's probably the most difficult time to be a part of their tra-
dition, heritage, so on," said Levantasky. According to Zohar Cohavy, a student at Santa Monica College, "Once they see they don't have to do that anymore, when they're not required to follow the religion, and all the rules (there's a lot) then they just leave it. But that's not everyone, to be honest." Cohavy was born of Jewish parents in the Los Angeles County. He attended Jewish schools from kindergarten through high school. And now as a college student, he does not identify with Judaism. "I kind of stopped thinking religion was such a value I wanted to spend my time with," Cohavy said. "I guess I just kind of saw it as a waste of time. I could be doing something else." That being said, as the Levantasky family light their candles, Cohavy is at home studying. Cohavy says one of the biggest issues young people have with Judaism is that it's time consuming and comes with a lot of commandments, also referred to as Mitzvahs, with Shabbat being "the main rule people don't follow."
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fies himself as J.R., he explains that homeless individuals choose to stay in Santa Monica because of the sense of safety the city provides. J.R. assures that their safety is not absolute. “Someone tried to steal my bag in my sleep last week while I was sleeping," says J.R. He uses the term “vamps” or “vampires” to describe the people who go out to steal anything they can get their hands on. These individuals will go out of their way and assault, and in extreme cases even murder "It's hard to be jewish," Levantasky said. Many Mitzvahs conflict with general obligations such as work or school. Levantasky explained that during Shabbat, a Jewish person is not supposed to do any work, which includes not using electricity, driving a car and doing homework. This tradition is generally followed by conservative, orthodox, or reform Jews. The Chabad club at SMC has found a way to combat the difficulties by presenting a more approachable form of Judaism for the hectic schedule of a college student. "The policy is no pressure," Levantasky said. "Students can join without worrying that someone will push them to do things they don't want to do." "Thats how it should be, but when I grew up, if you don’t follow the rules, you’d get in a lot of trouble," Cohavy said. Like Cohavy, Brandon Yashouafar has spent his life surrounded by Jewish people until he started school at SMC. In the midst of all of the cultural variety that comes with public schools, he wants to attend more events to get more involved. "I feel like it would be good if I get another foundation of Judaism around me, just so I don't stray from my own roots," Yashouafar said. Most Jewish students grow up with a strong sense of community around them. Yet during the transitioning period @THE_CORSAIR •
to get what they want. Whether it is food, valuables, clothing, or sex. And these real life "vampires" are not just some young-adult book series either. Dee Quincy originally moved from Africa as an international student, and now roams the streets of Santa Monica. “I try to keep to myself,” Quincy says., “being a woman is hard. People steal and provoke you everyday.” Quincy told a story of a man trying to make an advance to her, and beat her because she didn’t go through with it. Felicia Mallon, an outreach Specialist at OPCC’s Daybreak location explains that it is common for homeless people not to sleep out in the open at night. Instead, they find refuge from a late night bus ride or a 24-hour restaurant. “I do not know of any one of my clients who has not been either attacked or stalked," says Mallon. According to Mallon, The OPCC is partnered with UCLA's rape treatment center. This gives victims specific physical and psychological treatments they might not normally receive. Mallon explains the importance of the SPDAT, a questionnaire intended to place and categorize homeless individuals and families and determine how faculty will assess their needs. The questions are chosen to see how vulnerable the individual may be. An example of one of the questions would be “Does anybody force or trick you to do things you don’t want to do?” These questions provide the OPPC with necessary information for the homeless individual, while at the same time, raising awareness of homeless on homeless crime in our community. This awareness is crucial to the quality of life of the homeless community in Santa Monica. Going to sleep with a guarantee of security is something most people tend to take for granted. The safety of Santa Monica’s homeless community continues to be a growing concern as special interests groups make an effort to make the city as safe as possible for all citizens.
between high school and college, some may have not a loss of tradition, but the loss of community. "The places I want to go don't have that big of a Jewish community," Yashouafar said. "If it comes to worse, two to three years of straying away... if that's what it has to take to get the kind of education I want, then that's something that I have to sacrifice." Anna Eyfer, the current president of Chabad Club, describes a "geography game" in which two Jewish people name other Jewish people they know, with the result almost always being that the two know at least a few of the same people. Her involvement with Judaism has only blossomed over the past couple of years after her high-school friends invited her to a Jewish Youth group called BBYO. "I went to an event and I fell in love with it," Eyfer said. "I just fell in love with Judaism." Eyfer was raised in a "non-Jewish" household, but wanted to explore Judaism. "If I were to be raised in a Jewish household. I am not sure how connected I would be. I am a very open minded person, but I like to experience on my own time," Eyfer said. Eyfer attends Shabbat dinner every Friday and various other events, continuing to learn about Judaism. In a time where religion is hard to commit to, she like many others make the effort.
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PHOTOSTORY
VOLUME 110 ISSUE 01 • SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
FIVE NONFICTION BOOKS EVERY COLLEGE STUDENT SHOULD READ
explore the psychology of decision making. Using numerous studies and examples, Gladwell posits that person's first instinct is usually the correct one and how too much information can lead to overload and paralysis by analysis. He begins with the example of a forged Ancient Greek statue that fooled the experts
NIK LUCAJ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR College is an important period in a person's life as it's generally when they get their first taste of independence. The thoughts, opinions and beliefs gathered through the first 18+ years will get challenged often by the variety of views and ideologies floating around on campus. This is a forging process, where through a fair amount of pain, opinions are shaped and honed into legitimate ideas formed less from ignorance and more from reason. With time also being an issue for students, stretched between classes, homework, jobs and partying, making sure to get the most out of every book you read is hugely beneficial. Here are five nonfiction books that will teach a thing or two about life.
A Demon-Haunted World
But this isn't just a book of debunking supernatural claims. He also delivers fascinating scientific facts and touches on the flaws of our education system and how it has created a barrier between science and the general public.
Letters to a Young Contrarian Christopher Hitchens
Manufacturing Consent Noam Chomsky and Edward S. Herman
"Manufacturing Consent" is a convincing and well researched case against the American mass media and the propagandistic model it follows. Chomsky and Herman assert that what the American people assume is a free media is actually controlled by a number of factors including advertis-
Carl Sagan
Do you believe in Bigfoot or the Loch Ness monster? How about government conspiracies? Think that tin foil hat is going to protect your brain from alien overlords looking to molest you? Either way you should read this book. In "A Demon-Haunted World," Sagan, narrator and co-writer of the the original Cosmos television series, aims to teach detached skepticism, a cornerstone of scientific thinking, and gives you the tools to discern what's fact and what's a pile of... well, you know. Methodically working his way through each widely believed myth and pseudoscience, he uses logic to expose the fallacies and contradictions inherent in each of them while never coming off as disrespectful or condescending to those who believe. He doesn't claim to know all the answers but he does shift the burden of proof back to the believer since, as it stands, you cannot prove a negative.
anyone who reads it is huge. It describes the struggle that every artist goes through to create and articulates it with a clarity that few can match. The artist's main enemy is identified as "Resistance." Using interesting anecdotes and simple language, Pressfield shows how to overcome this cunning foe and spend some sweet quality time with your muse. While aimed at artists, the lessons in this book can be applied to all hobbies, passions and careers. Every house should have a copy of this book.
at the Getty even after a 14 month investigation to confirm its authenticity. After purchasing it, it was soon discovered to be a fake only because experts kept insisting that something just felt off about it, even though they couldn't explain it. First impressions however, are not always correct. In the chapter titled "The Warren Harding Error" he talks about former president Warren G. Harding who is regarded by many to be one of the worst U.S. presidents. Harding won his office by simply being tall, handsome and looking presidential. Gladwell uses this example to lead into experiments which test race and gender bias based on initial associations. "Blink" helps shed light on what's going on when we make decisions and allows us to be more aware of our prejudices.
ers, ownership and the very government sources that they rely on for information. Using case studies over a number of years, they break down how all the major outlets have covered foreign events involving tragedies and injustices in both allied and enemy countries. They show that overwhelmingly allies are covered with far more leniency than the countries where it benefits U.S. interests to make the government look villainous. The danger lies in the subtlety of this propaganda but the evidence here is laid out clearly enough to illuminate the issue and allow people to think more critically about where they get their news.
The War of Art Steven Pressfield
Steven Pressfield's "The War of Art" is small in size but the impact it can have on
Blink
Malcolm Gladwell In "Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking," Malcolm Gladwell, who also authored the bestselling Outliers, delves deep into the human subconscious to
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While at times a masturbatory homage to his own legend, "Letters" is a perfect introduction to the great polemicist's relentless writing style and disdain for those who seek to deceive the masses for personal gain. Written as a series of letters giving advice to a fictional student, Hitchens extols the virtue of sticking to your convictions no matter how unpopular they may be with the majority. A fierce and merciless critic of religion, warmongering politicians and groupthink, his sentences are haymakers aimed at the chins of dogmatists and demagogues. He advises his student, "Don't be afraid to be thought arrogant or selfish. Picture all experts as if they were mammals. Never be a spectator of unfairness or stupidity. Seek out argument and disputation for their own sake; the grave will supply plenty of time for silence. Suspect your own motives, and all excuses." Hitchens stresses that being a contrarian is not about what you think but how you think and he also makes sure to warn against the dangers of certainty saying that constant self-evaluation is required to avoid the pitfalls of zealotry. This erudite manifesto on independent thought will serve to harden the resolve of any who have been ostracized for thinking differently. "Any fool can lampoon a king or a bishop or a billionaire," he writes, " A trifle more grit is required to face down a mob."
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PHOTOSTORY
VOLUME 110 ISSUE 01 • SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
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TECHNOLOGY MEETS TRADITION IN NEW ANN PAGE EXHIBIT ALISSA NARDO NEWS EDITOR A flurry of bright colors, bold patterns and busy textures. The meeting of plastic and wood, pencil and print, synthetic and natural. The surreal collection clashed against the stark white walls. Hipsters and art aficionados alike occupied the gallery, praising the avant-garde art work before them. Technology and tradition fuse in Ann Page’s “Recent Sculptures & Drawings” exhibit at the Barrett Art Gallery, which opened Sept. 1. On display are Page’s latest works, where she embraces the marriage between all things conventional and contemporary, creating an avant style reflective of the 21st century. Whether it be through medium, concept or even physical dimension, Page’s idea of breaking convention appears in every piece. “When looking purely at what passes across my visual field I see that, formally speaking, it is not broken down into visual categories of two-dimensional illusion and three-dimensional forms, or color versus chiaroscuro, or concept versus object, or expression versus pure physicality,” Page said, “but that it is a simultaneous and changing, intersecting and interdependent, overlapping, non-isolatable orchestrated phenomenon in process.” Page’s sketches are vividly-colored and almost amoebic. Pieces range from small, threedimensional printed sculptures paired to-
Jesus Rodriquez, a freshman art major at Santa Monica College attends a lecture and gallery showing of work by Ann Page at the Broad Stage and The Pete & Susan Barrett Art Gallery on September 11, 2015 in Santa Monica, California. Ann Page spoke abouthr art work that blurs the lines between art and technology. (Daniel Bowyer)
gether with their abstract studies to large drawn collages of geometric spheres with plants. Notably, Page's set "Branching IV" features two pieces of the same plant: one pixel-esque drawing and one photograph manipulated to look like a sketch. This manipulation of media encompasses the overarching theme of technology meeting tradition in art. Page’s consistent use of layering in her pieces creates a sense of depth throughout the exhibit. Where artists typically limit their pieces to the two-dimensional, Page tears
into and builds upon her canvases, blurring the line between picture and sculpture. She also toys with the idea of the natural consistencies and irregularities in both organic and man-made patterns. “The illusory exists within the threedimensional, color and form coincide in light, the concept rests within the object and the expression is the pure quality and essence of that segment of orchestration in relation to our own thought patterns,” Page said. “We can see/understand only one visual/mental degree at a time, but within
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each degree is everything.” Though her concepts can be hard to digest, Page’s grand pieces make up for the fact that you probably do not understand what she is talking about. Page is currently an associate professor of the Practice of Fine Arts at USC Roski School of Art & Design, where she teaches three-dimensional prototyping to her students as a contemporary tool for artists. She earned both her BA and BFA in Fine Arts from the John Herron Art Institute in Indianapolis.
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PHOTOSTORY
VOLUME 110 ISSUE 01 • SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
Brian Waters emerges from one of the pools at the Venice Beach skate park. (Dotan Saguy)
SKATE IS LIFE
DOTAN SAGUY PHOTOGRAPHER
Also known as Dennis "Polar Bear" Agnew Memorial Skatepark and surrounded by beach sand and palm trees, Venice Skate Park is an icon of California and the skateboard culture. The park is set in the heart of the area formerly known as Dogtown, historic birthplace of the skateboard movement. It is designed to mimic the empty private swimming pools that the original mischievous residents of Dogtown used to skate in illegally. Unlike in the old days, today’s Venice Skatepark emanates a much more friendly atmosphere where eight-year-old skateboarders mingle with older pros and everyone gets along most of the time. According to Brian Waters, a local Venice Skatepark regular, "People get along here most of the time but I've seen a lot of fights too." That said, the police station is across the way so things don't get too out of control. Some of the skaters like Nate Smith live just down the street but others like “Caveman," Dion Van Gysel and Dylan Brasch from Las Vegas are only spending the day here before driving up the Coast to San Francisco. Watching the skaters practice their daring tricks over and over, it's a wonder how they don’t suffer more injuries.
Ivan Torres (right) who was recently injured as he is getting back into skating re-injures himself at the Venice Skate Park in Venice Beach. Him and his friends skate for a local skate shop. (Dotan Saguy)
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VOLUME 110 ISSUE 01 • SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
PHOTOSTORY
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"Caveman" (left), Dion Van Gysel (center) and Dylan Brasch traveled from Las Vegas to spend the day skateboarding in Venice Beach. (Dotan Saguy)
"Caveman" a 19 year old from Las Vegas shows off one of his tricks while his friends Dion (left) and Dylan (center) watch approvingly. (Dotan Saguy)
Skaters watch as others ride their skateboards at Venice Skate Park under the harsh mid day sun. (Dotan Saguy)
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10 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
VOLUME 110 ISSUE 01 • SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
SMC'S $72 DECAL DIFFERENTIAL IS AN IDIOT TAX ON STUDENTS ADAM THOMAS STAFF WRITER One of the many prerequisites to either transfer out or gain your AA here at Santa Monica College is math. So in the interests of helping everyone practice their math skills, let's do some right now. Which costs more? 85 dollars for a product? Or 13 Dollars for its equivalent? Because for the one-time price of $85, you too can be one of the many people clogging up the packed parking structures on the main campus of SMC with your Fall 2015 parking decal! The decal connotes the privileges of: - Likely not getting a spot after circling around the lot for half an hour during prime hours for most available classes! - Experiencing the immense frustration of giving up on trying to find one of the supposedly existing 33 spaces in the structure only after wasting your gas and time! - Realizing that taking your chances on the veritable ticket minefield of parking on the supposedly public streets in the surrounding neighborhood offers less risk than even trying to find parking whatsoever! What a deal! Of course for the $13 it costs to get a Student ID, you could always follow the advice laid out by the SMC official website and get a free satellite campus parking decal, then take the shuttle over to the main campus. It's free with the ID and they run every 15 to 30 minutes! Apparently this is the solution the administration has come up with to the perennial parking problems that have plagued SMC for years. Which seems strange if you've been doing the math so far, because mathematically there's absolutely no incentive to buy a main campus parking pass, and another to pick up a Student ID and a free satellite campus pass. You'll spend around the same amount of time on parking every day, but you're saving $72! There's a term for this kind of thing: idiot tax. Broadly speaking, an idiot tax is any amount of money someone who doesn't
Illustration by Jhosef Hern
understand probability willingly spends on something they think will benefit them in some way, when in reality the item being purchased is useless, or the probable outcome is that they're going to spend more money on the item than necessary. Think lottery tickets, spoilers on mid-range sedans, or updating to the next iPhone when your current version works just fine. Such bizarre incompetence is of course, being generous about the Administration's intentions concerning parking at SMC. If you're the type to trend to a cynical view, it's easy to see the system as cruelly fraudulent to the student body. Especially if you keep looking at the cold, hard, facts. The parking structures at SMC's main campus can only hold so many spots. If you go by the rarely accurate lot counter, there are 1800 spots between the two main structures (though many are reserved for faculty, so the number actually less for students). According to SMC's 2013 Student Transportation Survey, roughly 45% of SMC students drive to school either alone or in carpools, with 30% of the student body commuting alone. It can be assumed at
THE "WAR ON CHRISTIANITY" JACOB HIRSOHN STAFF WRITER Of the many people frustrated by the prolonged piece of performance art that has been Trump 2016, perennial Republican candidate Mike Huckabee must be one of the angriest. A candidate just as toxic and hateful has flown largely under the radar simply because he’s got a shred of tact and a human haircut. Sometime last month, Huckabee must have been in the middle of another sleepless night, looking in the mirror thinking, “how do I get everyone to pay attention to me?” He may have knelt by his bed and looked to the skies; asked God to send him an angel. In the morning, his prayers were answered. A video was released of Rowan County clerk Kim Davis refusing to issue a marriage license to two men, and Huckabee had his moment of clarity. He realized that while Trump was serving as a general in the war on immigrants, he and Davis
would be foot soldiers in the battle to save Christianity and religious freedom in America. What Huckabee and Davis didn’t realize is that we are all granted the right of religious freedom, not religious importance. I don’t care what Mike Huckabee and Kim Davis believe. The Supreme Court’s ruling to legalize gay marriage wasn’t made in opposition to Christianity; it was made regardless of it. Huckabee fired the first shots of the Battle of Kim Davis on twitter, announcing his allegiance to her and his respect for her cause right off the bat. Quickly, he became more organized. He started to feature #ImWithKim in his tweets; every great 21st century underdog has a hashtag (or at least that’s what his grandkids tell him). He tweeted #ReligiousLiberty at one point, because his grandkids are busy, and don’t
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least that many are looking for parking somewhere at or near school. Considering the current enrollment average is somewhere over 30,000 students per semester, even a conservative estimate of half the non carpooling commuters gives us a rough estimate of 5,000 students or more paying for parking decals, a number that would mean decals are comically oversold for amount of spaces actually available. Yet, there would be almost zero congestion if the same policy on enrollment into classes were applied to parking spaces. When there are limited spots available for something, limiting the amount of people that can purchase a decal seems the obvious, logical step. Or basically - stop selling spots you don't have! But of course, if the SMC Administration does nothing then: - They gain even more money from those who bought decals at the start of a semester only to drop out later, naturally. - The school and the city gain more revenue from potential parking enforcement violators both on campus and off, as there are more potential students available to
violate the rules. - The constant complaints from the student body about lack of parking spaces are a convenient justification for more funding from the state to alleviate the problem, especially when the real problem isn't with the number of spaces, but overselling. - Suggesting to the student body that they park at satellite campuses as a solution to the problem doesn't actually solve it but it makes it seem like you're doing something, and once the satellite campuses become just as congested due to the "helpful" suggestion, you now have justification to start charging for them, too! On further reflection it sure seems like just as your average student has every incentive not to buy into this idiot tax, the SMC Administration has every incentive to do absolutely nothing about the situation. But then, that would be the cynical approach to this situation. One that's all to easy to consider after you've tried to deal with parking at SMC.
have time to fully explain to him what hashtags are for. Kim Davis was put in jail because she was breaking the law. The court ordered her to issue the marriage license and she refused; all pretty straightforward stuff. Huckabee started posting the link FreeKimDavisNow.com, which lead to a website featuring a petition in her favor. In a true example of transparency that every political candidate should aspire to, the link now redirects to Huckabee’s campaign site. Another link popped up, FightForReligiousLiberty.com, which also brings you to MikeHuckabee.com; the smallest of hints as to what the fight is really for. Huckabee’s rhetoric about religious liberty is not only disingenuous, but incorrect. First off, if there were a War on Christianity, it would be a losing battle. Given that a large majority of religious people in America are Christian, the matchup wouldn’t be fair. Also, every president in the history of our nation has either been Christian or didn’t identify their religion. Christians have run this nation, and still do, so their troops would probably be way
more organized. I understand Huckabee is talking more of a philosophical war, but that isn’t less silly. There are wars, philosophical and physical, being fought against multiple groups in this country. Innocent people are being murdered because of their race, gender, or sexual orientation; Huckabee doesn’t care about that though. He cares about the group that he thinks he belongs to; the marginalized. He thinks Christians’ voices are being erased; that their say in the direction of the country is being reduced. In that sense, he may just be right. The voice of the American Christian is being turned down ever so slightly, but to suggest it is the result of a “War on Christianity” is foolish. No, this shift in power is not happening in opposition to Christianity, it is happening regardless of it. The people who have been marginalized since the birth of America, not just since earlier this year, are starting to claim their rightful airspace. The only reason Christians are losing some of theirs is because they are the ones who have been holding it all.
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SPORTS
VOLUME 110 ISSUE 01 • SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
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FREEMAN COLEMAN: OMAHA TO SANTA MONICA JEREMY SANDERS STAFF WRITER “I can’t settle until I’m a Hall of Famer in the NFL.” This is what has driven Freeman Coleman, a 6’2, 295lb defensive lineman, to develop into a dominant force for the Santa Monica College Corsair’s defense. From an early age Coleman realized that he could go far in football and since then his mindset has been, “I’m not going to stop until I get what I want.” The intrinsic motivation Coleman is essential in his quest for greatness. At Millard South High School in Omaha, Nebraska, Coleman showcased his tremendous talents as a football player. With the support of his family, Coleman achieved such honors as All State, Super State, and All Team Nebraska, in addition to being an All State wrestler. As a high school recruit, Coleman was able to garner interest from many schools, including top tier programs such as Kansas State University and University of Illinois, as well as going on visits to the legendary football programs, University of Michigan and University of Nebraska. Despite the attention he received from numerous programs, Coleman was unable to receive any scholarships due to academic issues. Despite having the opportunity to walk on to a football team at a university, Coleman decided to take his football career in a different direction. Going the community college route and proving to himself that he could make it at a NCAA Division One university seemed a better fit for Coleman. Initially following his time in high school, Coleman enrolled at Iowa Western College, which at the time was home to one of the best junior college football programs in the nation. However, he did not feel that it was a good fit for him. “Great program, great team. I just didn’t feel the coaches had my best future interest in mind,” Coleman said. Following his brief time at IWC, Coleman began to look elsewhere. He started to reach out to programs across the nation in order to find the best fit for him. That’s when he stumbled upon Santa Monica College and head coach Gifford Lindheim. “Something about coach Giff and the program lured me in and I wanted to come here,” Coleman said. He had come to the realization that in order to achieve something, he needed to leave home. Coleman knew that this was an opportunity to see how far he could go by himself. Despite having to leave his family, a great source of support and motivation, he knew moving across the country was the right decision. Coleman began to develop a new sense of family with his teammates. Over the course of Coleman’s time at SMC, they have bonded and now spend most of their days together. Coleman described how they “go out, hang out, eat together, ride around together, practice together extra, and lift together.” The relationships Coleman has built with his teammates have been a strong support during his large transition from a Midwestern state like Nebraska to California. California has not only provided Coleman with new friends, a new school, and a new place to play football, it has taught him things that cannot be learned in school or on the football field. Coleman specifically credits the diversity in California as being the reason for his new found respect and appreciation of people. Along with his new perspective, a drastic shift in Coleman’s attitude towards academics occurred. Coleman is enveloped in his business management major. He is diligent about managing his time effectively and
knows he needs to dedicate time to studying. If football does not develop into a career, Coleman wishes to pursue becoming a sports agent so that he can still be a part of something he’s loved his entire life. But Freeman Coleman’s life still revolves around football. He is very dedicated to his craft, and works hard to maintain a consistent level of practice in order to be able to achieve what he desires for himself.
...he knew moving across the country was the right decision. As Coleman has adjusted to California and become more comfortable with his teammates, he has developed into a leader for the defense. He said, “I try to be the best leader I can be for my team. Let them know that I ride with them on and off the field.” He has become increasingly more vocal with his teammates, trying to instill in them hope and helps them see that they can all be great. Coleman actively tries to assist teammates with understanding schemes as well as teaching them the precise ways
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of doing things. He is willing to exert such effort so that the team can achieve his vision. “I want my boys to be a wrecking crew, I want my boys to be unstoppable,” says Coleman. His impact for the Santa Monica Corsairs is by no means limited to his off the field leadership. Coleman plays all positions throughout the defensive line and is effective in run stopping as well as rushing the passer. As a freshman, Coleman had a tremendous season tallying five sacks and earning himself Second Team All-Conference honors. His achievements last season are in no way satisfying for Coleman, who is hungry for more. “This year I’m going for First Team (All-Conference) and if there is any more I’m gonna knock that out the park as well,” said Coleman. The loss to Southwestern in last year’s Pacific Division Championship Bowl game still lingers with Coleman. His main goal is to win a championship. Coleman described the approach the team is taking in order to overcome last year’s loss is revolving around studying film and understanding who they are. Although they are not going to forget about last year,
they don’t live off of last year. The team is focused on fulfilling their potential and making sure that they are doing their jobs correct. The talent and dedication possessed by Coleman have set himself up for success. The opportunity to transfer to a D1 university is readily available. Schools that are interested in him include Colorado State, Fresno State, Ohio University, Texas State, Ball State, and North Carolina State. In a transfer school, Coleman is mainly looking for, “a great business program, a powerhouse football team and a good location with good people.” More specifically in regards to football, he is looking to stay with a team environment he is familiar with. He would like a dominant coaching staff, a 4-3 defense, and the ability to capitalize on his versatility as a football player by being able to move around to different positions on the defensive line. Freeman Coleman is a commodity that Santa Monica College is lucky to have on campus. He continues to open doors for himself and is helping bring his bright future closer to fruition.
Santa Monica Corsair Defensive Lineman (Sophmore), Freeman Coleman (#92), poses for a photo on the Corsair Field during football practice on Monday afternoon Sept. 15, 2015 at Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, California. Freeman Coleman is originally from Omaha, Nebraska and attended Millard South High School. (Scott Bixler)
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VOLUME 110 ISSUE 01 • SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
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