CORSAIR
NOVEMBER 25, 2015 | VOLUME 110 ISSUE 09 | SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
FIRST COPY OF THE CORSAIR IS FREE, EACH COPY AFTER IS 25
CULTURES CROSS PATHS ON THE DANCEFLOOR (PG 12)
A WINTER CELEBRATION (PG. 3)
BRINGING BLACK STUDENTS TOGETHER (PG. 4)
THE LIFESTYLE OF A CAMPUS COP (PG. 6)
UNDEFEATED SEASON: 11-O (PG. 8)
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CONTENT
VOLUME 110 ISSUE 09 • NOVEMBER 25, 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 Jacob Hirsohn ............................... Opinion Editor corsair.opinionpage@gmail.com Josh Shure .........................................Sports Editor corsair.sportspage@gmail.com Nik Lucaj ..............Arts & Entertainment Editor corsair.calendarpage@gmail.com Adam Thomas...................Co-Multimedia Editor corsair.multimediadept@gmail.com
Construction workers renovate Santa Monica College's swimming pool in Santa Monica on Thursday. (Robert Rosmann/The Corsair)
Alexander Melendez .....Co-Multimedia Editor corsair.multimediadept@gmail.com
Ruvalcaba, Samuel Huntington, Ariana Kidd,
Jose Lopez ...........................................Photo Editor corsairphotoeditor@gmail.com Alexandra Perry ...................................Illustrator corsaircartoon@gmail.com William Miguel ..............................Design Editor corsair.designteam@gmail.com
Melina Guelli, Stephanie Irineo, Ryanne Mena, Carlos Espinosa, Ramses Lemus, Daniel J. Bowyer, Dotan Saguy, Tina Eady
FRONT COVER Global Motion World Dance Company dancers rehearse at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica, on Thursday. The Global Motion dance concert which will take place on Saturday and Sunday. (Josue Martinez/The Corsair)
FACULTY ADVISORS Saul Rubin & Gerard Burkhart
CORSAIR STAFF Josue Martinez, Chase Maser, Daniela Barhanna, Carolyn Alfaro, Jeremy Sanders, Kevin Colindres, Alexandra Obiekea, Adam Robert Thomas, Grace Gardner, Oskar Zinneman, Wynn Taylor, Hannah Kovar, Semaj Harbin, Andrew Olender, Frederick Riggs, Tarah Kelly, Roxana Esquivias, Yesenia Sandoval, Samantha
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR DEVIN PAGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF It's almost Thanksgiving, and while there is plenty to be thankful for, it seems the holiday is slowing dying. The idea of having a day in reflection of all the positive things in our lives is certainly honorable. But celebrating a holiday that is dishonoring the very people it's meant to celebrate is disrespectful. There is many instances of history being fabricated, and this is one of those instances. Thanksgiving was made into a mockery; a cute little fun holiday where kids are instructed to put on plays in school and show that Native Americans were thankful and sharing with the Europeans. And no one questions it. This holiday is stripping indigenous people of their dignity, and most importantly forgetting their history. The story of colonization isn't a pretty one, and you can't celebrate it just like you can't celebrate slavery. There's nothing to be celebrated, just remembered so that history doesn't repeat itself. Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrated by Americans largely based off a myth. No less ridiculous than Black Friday. Expect to read in the media about how Americans are greedy as there will surely be plenty of havoc during the holiday. But there are positive things to be extrapolated from the holiday. In my case, as a student, I have the opportunity to attend SMC. Not to invoke cliches, but students at a community college have a second chance at getting their education. We're not forced to spend 50 grand
in our first two years of college, we're not forced to decide our major. We're left the opportunity to figure things out. I'm thankful for the opportunities that SMC affords to me. I am thankful for my staff that helps me put out a print issue almost every week. A special thanks to the editors who put up with me, and for sticking it out to the end, even though we have a long way to go to be where we want to be. It's hard to be a journalist. It's even harder starting out as one in a newsroom where we aren't being paid. But it weeds out those people who are really cut out for it, and those who don't really want to be here. Working on this newspaper and updating the online edition with a small staff can test your patience, and create a whirlwind of emotions for the editors, but at the end of the day we are really happy with the work that we produce. And that's all that really matters.
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NEWS
VOLUME 110 ISSUE 09 • NOVEMBER 25, 2015• SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
WELCOMING KATHRYN JEFFERY SMC's New President
ALISSA NARDO NEWS EDITOR The Board of Trustees unanimously elected Kathryn Jeffery as the new president and superintendent of SMC on Nov. 17. It is projected that Jeffery will take office officially in Spring 2016. "SMC students can expect that I will follow a thoughtful, analytical, and informed approach to decision-making," Jeffery said. "I will be accessible, take time to talk with my new colleagues and with students, and will carefully listen to their perspectives." Jeffery, current president of Sacramento City College, has spent her 39-year career involved on many professional and community boards, including the U.S. Department of Education Task Force, Commission on Academic, Student, and Community Development appointed by the American Association of Community Colleges and
many others. Her resume also includes president of Hennepin Technical College in Minnesota, chief campus administrator at the College of Southern Nevada, Vice President of Columbia College in the Yosemite College District, and Dean for Faculty and Staff Diversity/Development and Dean for Student Services at the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. "I talked with students during my visit to the SMC during the interview process and have already received welcome emails from students," Jeffery said. "I have been student-centered throughout my career in higher education and expect that to continue and grow even stronger as I meet, engage with and learn from the diverse community of SMC students." The presidential search began around
former president Chui L. Tsang's retirement in June. The search committee, arranged by the Board of Trustees, narrowed down the contenders to four finalists: Larry Buckley, Kathryn Jeffery, Tim McGrath and Rachel Rosenthal. The finalists reached out and interacted with the SMC community at public forums on Nov. 12 and 13. There, Jeffery used her vast experience as evidence of her capability to fill the role as leader at SMC. “I have been privileged enough to serve in a variety of different settings,” Jeffery said at the public forum. “Multicampus colleges. Multi-college districts. So this has given me a view of higher education from a variety of different vantage points.” As the last contender to take the floor, Jeffery was noted for her honest approach to the community conversation. When asked how she would fulfill the role, Jeffery half-jokingly responded with: “You don’t really know how to do the job until you’re doing the job – so you have to hire me so I can know how to do it.”
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Jeffery's open and humorous approach, combined with her experience won SMC over in the end. In a more serious tone, Jeffery remains true to the idea that her leadership approach will adjust depending on the attitude and needs of the student body. "As I look forward to transitioning to the Superintendent/President position at Santa Monica College, I am most excited about the opportunity to meet with students and learn about their hopes and aspirations," Jeffery said. "This will help me better assess how SMC is helping students achieve their professional and personal goals and how I might contribute as well." Jeffery began her education career while still in college, working in student housing in a dorm at Oklahoma State University. After graduating, she became a part time counselor at Sacramento City College and moved up from there, eventually becoming the president of the college. "In the words of the SMC Student Trustee, Jonathan Eady, 'I am proud to be SMC!'," Jeffery said.
YULETIDE FUN AT WINTER WONDERLAND SAMUEL HUNTINGTON STAFF WRITER Students on campus experienced the rarest of all snow storms during The Winter Wonderland celebration, offering holiday fun one month before Christmas on the quad yesterday. The event was sponsored by the Associated Students Organization and organized by Amber Winters, Director of Student Activities with assistance from Alexandra Brechensbauer, Director of Planning. They aimed to offer a day of stress-free fun before students had to head home for the Thanksgiving Holiday and begin planning for finals, just a short few weeks away. The biggest draw during the event was the large inflatable snow globe photo booth. Students jumped around inside and posed for photos, all while being showered with fake snow. Students stood in line for mint flavored hot cocoa and four different types of bakery
Students dressed up as elves play inside a plastic snow globe during Winter Wonderland on the Main Quad on Tuesday. (Josue Martinez/The Corsair)
AS President Jesse Randel participates in the face painting activity held during Winter Wonderland at Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, CA, November 24, 2015. (Josue Martinez)
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fresh cookies, including decadent white chocolate macadamia nut and old fashion chocolate chip from Diddy Riese, the popular bakery in Westwood. Other activities included professional face painting with themes from the holidays and a crafts table for wreath making. The Music Appreciation Club performed a curated arrangement of songs and melodies. This included everything from a classical violin solo, a rendition of “Hello” by Adele - excellently executed by Sue Shin - and a few holiday classics including a performance of "Santa Baby." In addition to all of this, there was also a collection of small dogs for the students to play with. Supplied by a local charity that brings therapy dogs into nursing homes and children’s hospitals, the canines lightened the spirits of those in attendance. It was all quite the scene, though most of the students attending just happened upon it. “I saw the snowglobe and then I saw the line and that usually means free food,” said Monica Caris, a second year student studying Early Childhood Development, as she worked on making a double-bowed Christmas wreath. “It’s nice that the school pro@THE_CORSAIR •
vides things like this for the students. I like crafting and I’m attracted to shiny objects. I’m only here two days a week so it was nice to experience this.” Andrine Rygg, an exchange student from Norway, spending a single semester at SMC said that she discovered the event through Facebook. “I think the students are caught off guard,” said Sandra Franko, an SMC Alum who who was dressed as Santa Claus. “They're like 'is this free? Is this for us?'” It turns out that this was the first campuswide holiday event to take place in thirty years. “There was another Winter Wonderland, which I found out about through reviewing The Corsair archives,” said Brechensbauer. According to Winters, she began planning the event about eight weeks ago though things really got rolling in the last few weeks. Winters said, "Overall, the effort was worth it." “Seeing a girl walk away with a little tree and her Christmas wreath...I asked her if she liked the event, if she really enjoyed herself and she said, yeah, I loved it," Winters said. "And that moment when I was speaking with her, it made me feel like I succeeded here.”
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NEWS
EDUCATIONAL POLICING AT SMC Cracking down on skaters while trying to maintain compassionate control ADAM THOMAS MULTIMEDIA EDITOR During a ride along with Corsair staff to discuss campus policing, a skateboarding student - oblivious to the world with his headphones on - flies past Officer Sean Gordon who yells, “Don’t ride your board on campus!” Interim Police Chief Mark Kessler, walking to a meeting, catches the culprit and calls it in. Collecting the student’s ID, Kessler checks to see if the student has already been issued a warning about skateboarding on campus before. The student hasn’t, so his name is written down in a citation notebook to be filed later. If he’s caught skating on campus again he’ll be issued a ticket costing $308 and penalized for a moving violation that can take a point
VOLUME 110 ISSUE 09 • NOVEMBER 25, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE off his license. This small incident is a perfect example of the Santa Monica College Police Department’s new crackdown of skateboarding on campus, in order to comply with general district policy BP 2460. The policy prohibits the use of roller skates, roller blades, skateboards, scooters, and “other human transporters” – a catchall term that means the law includes the popular new “hoverboard” two wheel personal scooters – while on campus. “Very simply put, we've seen over the last six months to a year, an exponential increase on the amount of skateboards and bicycle riding on campus. Which is a good thing,” said Sergeant Jere Romano, Shift Supervisor of the SMCPD and former US Marine. “We want you to take alternative transportation, just don't ride it in the middle of campus. We've seen a huge increase in people doing that, however there have been a couple injuries. People getting hurt.” Romano went on to state that the issue was less about potential danger to the skateboarders, and more about potential danger to pedestrians around them. “If they fall off their board, that thing just becomes a missile, and it takes off and can potentially hit some-
body” said Romano, who expounded upon a prior incident of a loose skateboard that hit an elderly citizen on campus, causing them to break their hip. But in truth, such enforcement seems more about legal liability to the school in case of such injuries, “[People are] litigious. They're not going to go after the student, they're going to go after the institution that's allowing it," said Romano. While the campus police know they have to start enforcing the policy on human transporters, they’re striving to maintain their general approach of “Educational Policing” by issuing warnings to students first. According to Romano, such a strategy was started over 20 years earlier by former SMC Superintendent/President Richard Moore. Romano said, “Our philosophy with education is to not be the hammer. To educate you so that you know what [an infraction] costs. So don't do it. We really don't want to be the hammer.” This educational approach seems to be paying off for the department. According to the 2015 Annual Security report, an annual release from the department in compliance with the Clery Act, crime at SMC was much lower in 2014 compared to 2013 in all areas
AN ODE TO BLACK COLLEGIANS
Jagaite Packard (left), President of the Black Collegians Program, stands next to nominated President, Precious Onouhah (right), at Santa Monica College on Thursday. (Robert Rosmann/The Corsair)
ANDREW OLENDER STAFF WRITER With over thirty thousand students at Santa Monica College, it is sometimes difficult for students to be able to collaborate with similar peers. Fortunately enough there are groups on campus for people with similar interests, ideas, even cultural backgrounds. The Black Collegians Program at SMC provides a safe space for like-minded students to come together, learn and succeed. This program is designed to assist students in transferring to four-year universities and obtaining their Associate Degree. The program offers services to set personal goals, while at the same time providing a sense of community for students. Black Collegians aids the development of students’ skills that are necessary for college success, and provides educational
and cultural activities where students can participate. A variety of scholarships are also given to active participants with at least a 2.5 grade point average. The program also has recommended courses that focus on Black issues and multiculturalism. The Spring 2014 Program Review and SMC Office of Institutional Research found that on average, black students who participated in the Black Collegians Program had statistically significantly higher GPAs than those who did not. This research also concluded that students who were in the Black Collegians Program and enrolled in a Black Collegians class tend to complete their classes and units at higher rates than students who did not participate in the Black Collegians Program or classes. Terrance Ware Jr. is the Black Collegians club ICC delegate, and also a sophomore
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at SMC. Ware says that the program “opens up a lot of windows and opportunities for networking.” The club and being part of the program is known to provide a sense of belonging for students. Black Collegians club advisor Sherri Bradford shares similar thoughts about the club’s importance concerning transferring, networking and socializing. Bradford, as a club advisor, supervises club meetings and provides leadership when needed. Bradford is a UCLA graduate one of the many dedicated staff members for the program. The Black Collegians also has its own counseling staff, who students can go to for academic advice and guidance. Chris Baccus, a USC graduate is one of the seven counselors for the program. According to Ware, “Baccus, along with many other members of the Black Collegians Staff can provide additional opportunities for
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except Drug Law Arrests. Romano is hesitant to say anything other than that it might “just be a good year”, but also acknowledges that working closely with students and faculty has yielded excellent results in preventing rather than reacting to incidents. All of this occurs in the middle of a highly charged national atmosphere concerning police abuse across the nation, which all of the officers that spoke to the Corsair are keenly aware of. However, the officers at SMCPD seem to feel that their informational approach should be able to bridge that gap. “What I believe is that the public needs to be educated more on what we do, and what's expected of them. I think that's what we need” said Gordon about trying to prevent incidents with students from escalating when confronted by police. “We can always do a better job,” said Romano about the efficacy of their style, “but we're letting people know that we're open to dialogue. Anything we do that is 'stormtrooper-ish' is just institutionalizing education. Those types of mannerisms would just crush creativity and art."
students involved with the program.” Ware describes the counselors as healthy role models for students. “They are relatable and are eager to listen to help you,” Ware said. The club’s weekly meetings try to focus on a trending topic for each week. Topics include public and foreign policy, along with issues relevant to the Los Angeles area. With the issue of racism still relevant to modern America, the members of the Black Collegians often take part in group discussions regarding racial issues as well. Every semester, one of the club meetings is dedicated to a business workshop, which guides club members on how to budget their own financial accounts, etc. On Nov. 3, the club’s topic was police brutality. They arranged for SMC police Chief Mark Kessler and police Captain Ray Bottenfield to attend the meeting to answer questions regarding the meeting’s theme. Questions were asked to the officers such as, “what image do you see when you hear police brutality?” According to Ware, the officers admitted that truth be told, there are good and bad cops. And that police officers are well aware of the advantages they possess. The meeting on Nov. 17 featured a speech given by SMC Communications professor, Rosalyn Kahn. Kahn has worked with TED talk speakers in training them, and has even performed her own speeches for “TEDx.” In her speech, Kahn believes that “ignorance is the biggest cultural barrier.” According to Ware, these club discussions and presentations allow all members of the club “to come together as one.” Ware goes on to explain that everyone has something to say and conversation allows for the knowledge of each club member to expand. This being so, the opportunity for black students at SMC to assemble and motivate each other to succeed, is advantageous. Activities coming up include workshops, field trips and even a winter formal dance on Dec. 4 in the SMC cafeteria. Requirements to be in the Black Collegians program is to attend at least three meetings/ activities, and attend two Black Collegians counseling appointments per semester. The Black Collegians program headquarters is located in the Black Collegian Center within the Counseling Complex.
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HEALTH & LIFESTYLE
VOLUME 110 ISSUE 09 • NOVEMBER 25, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
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INTERNATIONAL BARRIERS The performance pressure of college is harder on international students
International Students Isabel Svenson (left) and Elin Brodin (right) enjoy a cup of tea between classes at Santa Monica College on Thursday. (Daniela Barhanna/The Corsair)
DANIELA BARHANNA COPY EDITOR The notion that you will face obstacles as a student in a foreign country shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. The most common obstacles associated with being in a foreign environment are along the lines of homesickness, loneliness or social isolation and academic challenges because of the language barriers that may exist. These can lead to many students finding it difficult to understand lectures, and even falling behind in class, among other things. The pressure of successful academic performance on international students is not very unlike that for American students. In fact, all students regardless of studies find similar issues. Although, there is a bigger problem that puts an international student’s future on the line: finances but not quite in the way most people may think. In order to be able to study in a country like the United States as a foreigner most students are forced to take out a student loan to pay rent and other living expenses during their study but unlike other loans this one in particular is a very extensive. Because students coming to the States usually do so under an F-1 visa, which is the most common form of international student visa, unfortunately this visa prohibits them from working anywhere outside the campus of the school you’re attending. In rare circumstances there happen to be usually very few and coveted positions where working outside is allowable but even they are not allowed to work more
than 20 hours per week. In other words earning money to provide for oneself as an international student is not only difficult, it is nearly impossible, hence the grand loans. But there is a catch to this extensive student loan! Students from a country like Sweden for example are just like many other countries provided with financial aid from their government. In the case of Swedish students it is called the National Board of Student Aid (CSN), and according to CSN, in order to receive a student loan, you must, not only have studied fulltime each semester (12 credits), which is also a requirement to maintain your status as an F-1, you must also have passed at least 12 credits in order to receive funding for future semesters. In other words, failing is not an option.
“After everything is paid we barely have anything left to live on. Either the tuition [for international students] needs to be cheaper or we should be allowed to work...” Isabel Svensson is an international student at Santa Monica College from Sweden and one of many students affected
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by this, “I feel the pressure. It’s not like I walk around and think about it everyday, but it is in the back of my head.” she says. Discussions among international students are composed of this topics and whether or not this is a fair rule. “In one way I think it’s a good thing, otherwise people would come here and not take school seriously”, says Svensson, “It is why we are here, to succeed in school.” “But there should be exceptions,” says Elin Brodin, another international student at SMC, “If it for example is your last semester and you are close to being done and you get an F that should be okay… you shouldn’t be sent home for it.” Despite having a student loan that pays for both your tuition and living expenses, it apparently does so just barely. Many international students find themselves barely getting by after paying the enormous costs of tuition and setting aside 6 months worth of rent. “After everything is paid we barely have anything left to live on. Either the tuition [for international students] needs to be cheaper or we should be allowed to work,” says Svensson. That seems to be another taboo subject among internationals. According to The Seattle Globalist, many international students have, out of sheer desperation, turned to undocumented work. In other words, work illegally for a small pay, which is usually paid in cash under the table. This is a sad reality considering what an asset international students are to the U.S. According to the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers, international students studying at U.S. colleges and universities contributed with a whopping
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$30.5 billion to the U.S. economy and contributed to 373,381 jobs in the 2014-2015 academic year alone. Regardless of the laws this still hasn’t stopped people from all over the world coming here to study. “I think it’s hard, but worth it,” says Brodin, “you get the experience of living and studying in another country.” Alexandra Brechensbauer, a member of the A.S. Board of Directors at SMC, is still happy that there at least are possibilities to get this type of student loan, “for me it would have been impossible to study here without it.” But she does agree that the requirements on international students to succeed are a little too strict. “I had a friend who was depressed, and didn’t really manage to get any help,” says Brechensbauer, “she ended up failing many of her classes which resulted in her having to move back home against her will.” It is easy to say that one may as well consider studying elsewhere or in one’s own home country where the costs may be lower but traveling and studying abroad is something that so many young people dream of and if there is a possibility to make these dreams a reality. Why let the fear of half-helping finances stifle their success instead of helping them all the way? “I would have given a little more wiggle room,” Brechensbauer says. “It is most often young people moving away from home for the first time. Instead of denying them financial aid [for failing], I would give students a chance to actually improve their results. I think the demands are too tough!”
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PHOTOSTORY
VOLUME 110 ISSUE 09 • NOVEMBER 25, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
Officer Sean Gordon, walks down a hallway on the main campus on Monday.
Officer Sean Gordon, places a parking ticket onto the windshield of an illegally parked car at the main campus
On the Beat wit
parking structure on Monday.
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PHOTOSTORY
VOLUME 110 ISSUE 09 • NOVEMBER 25, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
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"It’s a trying time for law enforcement..."
Officer Sean Gordon, has a conversation with two students at the main campus parking stucture on Monday.
Officer Sean Gordon (right), reviews some paper work at the Headquaters of the Santa Monica College Police Department on Monday.
Santa Monica College Police officer, Sean Gordon, patrols the main campus parking structure looking for any illegally parked cars or suspicious activities on Monday.
RAMSES LEMUS & ADAM THOMAS STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER & MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
th the SMCPD
Before the sun rises the day begins for Santa Monica College Police Officer, Sean Gordon, who arrives at 5:30 a.m. Officer Gordon, a former LAPD officer, has been with the SMCPD force for a year and takes pride in working with the Santa Monica College community. As more than just an enforcer Gordon follows the SMCPD policy of “Educational Policing” —educating students on their rights when they are caught on an infraction. “We're not trying to arrest anybody that we come in contact with,” says Gordon. “[At] univer-
sities and colleges, we try to engage and educate. These are young adults and they may not know what they're doing is illegal or they may not know the ramifications of their behavior so we try to educate them. Charging them is always the last case because once you're in the system, it sucks.” After the morning briefing Officer Gordon patrols SMC and the outlying areas in both his squad car and walking around campus as his part to increase the presence of the law in students’ minds. The day is busy as it is long— opening doors for teachers locked out of classes, assisting
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SMPD on calls, issuing tickets to students illegally parked in handicapped spaces makes Gordon constantly on the move during his 10 hour shift with hardly any breaks. It’s not the hours, but a heavy sense of responsibility that weighs on Gordon especially after the many recent incidents of police malfeasance in the news. “It’s a trying time for law enforcement right now,” says Gordon. “Throughout the country we’re making hundreds of thousands of stops per day and if one goes wrong the media loves it. Stories of officers that do their job, that’s boring.” For Officer Gordon boring isn’t bad, but a job well done.
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SPORTS
VOLUME 110 ISSUE 09 • NOVEMBER 25, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
BOWL GAME BLOWOUT The Corsairs have an undefeated season
JOSH SHURE SPORTS EDITOR Halfway through the third quarter, the Corsairs pulled a majority of their starters for the rest of the game. With nearly 20 minutes left of play, the result of the game was already inevitable. The Corsairs had no chance of losing and ended what has been arguably the best Santa Monica College football team in history. The Corsairs demolished the visiting Victor Valley College Rams, 63-0, to finish off the first undefeated season in school history since 1980. Several members of the previously undefeated Corsair team from 1980 came out to support the current team in achieving something that hasn't been done since they played. Former Corsair wide receiver, Gary Nobles Sr., who transferred to San Diego State out of SMC and eventually played a season with the Los Angeles Raiders was more than ecstatic to come out and support the current Corsairs team. "Both of my children currently go here," said Nobles. "It's a cool coincidence, but the first year my children attend SMC is the year that the football team goes undefeated since I played." The other members of the 1980 team that were in attendance were former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver, James Hood, former Detroit Lions and Indianapolis Colts de-
fensive back, Dwayne Galloway, former Corsair defensive back, Ricky Williams, and the defensive coordinator of the 1980 team, Don Weems. The Corsairs won in unbelievable fashion. SMC dominated all aspects of the game. After receiving the ball first, the Corsairs were forced to punt on their first possession. With the Rams driving onto the Corsairs' side of the field and close to scoring, linebacker Birdel Hodge leveled the Rams quarterback to cause a fumble that defensive lineman Freeman Coleman landed on for the recovery. From that game-changing turnover the Corsairs never looked back. Utah-commit, quarterback Troy Williams topped off his extraordinary season under center for the Corsairs by hurling 383 yards for 7 touchdowns and was awarded the SCFA American Division Championship Bowl MVP. "I had positive energy through the whole week, tried telling myself I was going to go out here and have a great game," said Williams. "God blessed me today and most importantly we got the win. We made history today and are one of the best teams to come through Santa Monica." Williams threw touchdown passes to five separate receivers, but it seemed he liked to single out Baxter Kirven who fin-
Santa Monica College Corsairs, Anthony Spinner (56) and Coleman Freeman (92), rally with their fellow teammates while holding up their trophy after the win against the Victor Valley College Rams during the SCFA Championship Game on the Corsair Field at Santa Monica College on Saturday. Corsairs defeat Rams 63-0 to become the SCFA American Division Champions. (Jose Lopez/The Corsair)
ished the night with 109 receiving yards and three touchdown grabs. On the defensive side of the ball, several players stood out. Linebacker Birdel Hodge led the way with 9 tackles, 5 sacks to push his season total to 15 and two forced fumbles. The other notable players of the game are linebacker Marquis Lomax who had two interceptions, Melvin Wilson IV who returned one of the six Corsair interceptions for a touchdown and Max Lyons returned a punt 70 yards for a touchdown. The Corsairs showed they were by far the better team on the night and one of the
Santa Monica College Corsair co-captain, JJ Castillo (6), is emotional after the Corsairs lose to Mt. SAC during the South Region Soccer playoffs at Mt. SAC in Walnut, CA, on Saturday. (Josue Martinez/The Corsair)
CORSAIRS LOSE NAIL BITER AGAINST SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA POWERHOUSE JOSH SHURE SPORTS EDITOR
Halfway through the third quarter, the Corsairs pulled a majority of their starters for the rest of the game. With nearly 20 minutes left of play, the result of the game was already inevitable. The Corsairs had no chance of losing and ended what has been arguably the best Santa Monica College football team in history. The Corsairs demolished the visiting Victor Valley College Rams, 63-0, to finish off the first undefeated season in school
history since 1980. Several members of the previously undefeated Corsair team from 1980 came out to support the current team in achieving something that hasn't been done since they played. Former Corsair wide receiver, Gary Nobles Sr., who transferred to San Diego State out of SMC and eventually played a season with the Los Angeles Raiders was more than ecstatic to come out and
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support the current Corsairs team. "Both of my children currently go here," said Nobles. "It's a cool coincidence, but the first year my children attend SMC is the year that the football team goes undefeated since I played." The other members of the 1980 team that were in attendance were former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver, James Hood, former Detroit Lions and Indianapolis Colts defensive back, Dwayne Galloway, former Corsair defensive back, Ricky Williams, and the defensive coordinator of the 1980 team, Don Weems. The Corsairs won in unbelievable fashion. SMC dominated all aspects of the game. After receiving the ball first, the Corsairs were forced to punt on their first possession. With the Rams driving onto the @THE_CORSAIR •
best football teams SMC has ever had. "These guys deserved a dominant performance, they deserved to finish it going away," said head coach Gifford Lindheim. "This was the perfect ending to the story." Since starting as the head coach in 2009, Gifford Lindheim has now won 5 straight conference championships, but has failed to win the end of the season bowl game; however, this year has been different. This year will see him etch his name into the Santa Monica College history books as the head coach that brought prestige back to the SMC football team. Corsairs' side of the field and close to scoring, linebacker Birdel Hodge leveled the Rams quarterback to cause a fumble that defensive lineman Freeman Coleman landed on for the recovery. From that gamechanging turnover the Corsairs never looked back. Utah-commit, quarterback Troy Williams topped off his extraordinary season under center for the Corsairs by hurling 383 yards for 7 touchdowns and was awarded the SCFA American Division Championship Bowl MVP. "I had positive energy through the whole week, tried telling myself I was going to go out here and have a great game," said Williams. "God blessed me today and most importantly we got the win. We made history today and are one of the best teams to come through Santa Monica." Williams threw touchdown passes to five separate receivers, but it seemed he liked to single out Baxter Kirven who finished the night with 109 receiving yards and three touchdown grabs. On the defensive side of the ball, several players stood out. Linebacker Birdel Hodge led the way with 9 tackles, 5 sacks to push his season total to 15 and two forced fumbles. The other notable players of the game are linebacker Marquis Lomax who had two interceptions, Melvin Wilson IV who returned one of the six Corsair interceptions for a touchdown and Max Lyons returned a punt 70 yards for a touchdown. The Corsairs showed they were by far the better team on the night and one of the best football teams SMC has ever had. "These guys deserved a dominant performance, they deserved to finish it going away," said head coach Gifford Lindheim. "This was the perfect ending to the story." Since starting as the head coach in 2009, Gifford Lindheim has now won 5 straight conference championships, but has failed to win the end of the season bowl game; however, this year has been different. This year will see him etch his name into the Santa Monica College history books as the head coach that brought prestige back to the SMC football team.
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HEALTH & LIFESTYLE
VOLUME 110 ISSUE 09 • NOVEMBER 25, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
THRIVING THROUGH MENTAL ILLNESS RYANNE MENA STAFF WRITER In today's society, mental illness carries a stigma which fosters a negative perception onto those living with one. As much as mental illnesses are hindering, one in four Americans are suffering with one, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Despite self-oppression, a negative perception, and a variety of daily struggles that one goes through with a mental illness, many succeed living happy and purposeful lives. Everyone’s story is different. Everyone has their own struggles and highs and lows, and many also come out the other side, living a life they only dreamed about living. For some, it didn't seem possible to continue living. But many have also used that morbid feeling as motivation to fight for a life they want despite the struggles they have faced. That is the story James Otis continues to live out every single day. James Otis is a man of many talents: a non-violent activist, art seller and real estate expert, just to name a few. As an outsider looking into the wondrous life of James Otis, it comes as a surprise to hear of the mental illnesses he suffers with: bi-polar disorder 1 and minor schizophrenia. He is also a recovering alcoholic, who has been sober for over 20 years. Not only has he o ve r c a m e the struggles that come along with these illnesses, he has also used them to forever benefit his life in a way that would not have been possible otherwise. James Otis, whose great great grandfather invented the elevator, comes from an affluent family with many successes. Growing up in a family like that, James always felt a great ordeal of pressure to succeed in his life aspirations. Although he struggled with the pressures of life at home, he had not yet experienced his mental illness. The first signs became apparent in his early 20’s, which is the age that three-quarters of people begin to experience symptoms, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. It was in the midst of studying at the University of Texas that he had experienced his first manic episode. Otis checked himself into the Austin State Hospital, where the doctors were unable to diagnose him with bi-polar disorder. “I knew something was wrong, however didn’t know what was wrong,” said Otis. Looking back on his 20s he recalls always having incredible amounts of energy, but no depression. People with bi-polar disorder experience not only manic episodes, but also a great deal of depression, so Otis could not yet have been diagnosed. Otis' mental illness was exacerbated later when his life took an intense turn. In 2009, Otis had obtained 5 personal items that had belonged to Mahatma Gandhi: his glasses,
his sandals, an eating bowl, a pocket watch and a large round plate. His plan was to put the items up at an auction house in New York and then donate the proceeds to pacifist causes. However, when the Indian government had been informed with this information, they vowed to stop the auction from happening at any and all costs. Otis then received a lot of backlash from the
people of India, including death threats to him and his two children. The five items were then sold to an Indian billionaire, Vijay Malliya, the owner of the Indian airline Kingfisher Airlines. However, the uproar from India that was caused by this incident put him in great depression along with severe mania. The day the auction ended, he flew to India where he then fasted for 23 days to show how sorry he was to the millions of Indian people he had offended. When he returned back home, he was very manic and very depressed which then lead to another immediate hospitalization. It was then that James Otis realized and accepted the seriousness of his mental illness.
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Since then, he has learned a lot about how to properly take care of himself and his mental health, which includes regular and consistent therapy, taking prescribed medication and a balanced diet. Despite having a serious mental illness, James Otis lives a life where he is happier and more content than he ever thought was possible. He is only one of the 13.6 million people who suffer from a serious mental illness, according to NAMI, and he is one of many working rigorously to live happily. Another such example is Logan Howard, a sophomore student at P i e r c e
Illustration by AJ Parry
College. In her early teenage years, Howard was diagnosed with several mental illnesses and disorders, so she knows first hand how difficult living with one can be. “I struggle with OCD, bi-polar and depression. So mental illness affects me strongly every single day. Some days I don’t want to get out of bed, some days I’m super happy, but every single day I struggle,” she said. She also feels frustrated by the stereotypes projected onto herself and others who suffer from mental illness. “It is not a choice, @THE_CORSAIR •
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it is not laziness, it is not a character flaw; it is an illness just as cancer or a cold. It needs to be addressed delicately and people who have it should be comfortable enough to come forward,” she added. Living day to day life can be especially difficult for a working student. “For example, if I have a test the next day and I’m feeling very depressed, I won't want to study, won't want to get up and sometimes don’t even want to go to school. But overall, school has given me an outlet of hope for life. Learning new things each and every day has helped me with my depression and shown me that there’s a lot to this life to love and learn”. Logan is living proof that it is more than possible to carry out one’s aspirations and goals while also living with a mental illness. While victims of mental illness receive significant prejudice from outside forces, there are also many people in the world who have a great understanding of their struggles. Margar e t Dunham, a psycholo g i s t located in Santa Monica, has an immense knowledge on mental illnesses of many sorts. “I think many people are uneducated about it and are afraid of the idea of mental illness, and the problem, as a public health issue, is vast with no easy solution,” she said. Her knowledge on the matter enables her to have a much greater understanding and a sense of empathy and care for those who suffer with mental illnesses. She knows that there is not nearly enough light shed onto this issue. “It is wrong to stereotype people. Every person suffering from a mental illness has different family of origin attachment styles, different brain chemistry, different symptoms and coping mechanisms, and a different genetic makeup. All people with bipolar disorder are not the same, for example. Obviously it distorts or colors the way the public regards people with mental illness, creating prejudice which can increase the shame and tendency to hide from the community and not seek help when needed.” It just goes to show how much power knowledge can really have, as it can erase stigmas and misconceptions about many things. All it takes is awareness of the subject at hand. Asking for or accepting help for something as serious as a mental illness is not anything to be ashamed about, despite any negative stigmas or stereotypes one may have heard. No matter how the media or society may portray or talk about mental illness, it is an underrepresented issue that is very important to address. If knowledge of mental illness can become more widespread, the knowledge of methods towards mental health can too.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
VOLUME 110 ISSUE 09 • NOVEMBER 25, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
FIVE PODCASTS THAT WILL MAKE YOU SMARTER NIK LUCAJ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR As radio begins its dark descent into irrelevance, podcasts are quickly spreading as the format that many Americans go to in order to get their “talk radio” fix. Whether you’re a leaf-eating liberal or a cocked and loaded conservative, you can find a podcast tailored to even the narrowest point of view. Just a few years ago, podcasts were those obscure things that hipsters listened to so they could stay ahead of the trends. Now
they have become insanely popular and that popularity is constantly growing. According to the Pew Research Center, in 2015, the number of people age 12 and older who have listened to at least one podcast is 33 percent, a number that has steadily risen since 2006. The thing that podcasts seem to do better than other forms of multimedia is, through sheer volume, teach you about any subject
you can dream of. Physics, sports, sex, music, magic, comedy, pop culture, etc.. You can literally find a podcast on anything. But if it’s just some general knowledge and interesting point of views that you’re looking for, then here are five podcasts that will make you smarter and expand your knowledge of the world around you.
THE JOE ROGAN EXPERIENCE Most people know Joe Rogan as the guy from “Fear Factor” and the UFC. But many will also know him as the host of his massively popular podcast which won "Comedy Podcast of the Year" in 2012. This amazing podcast runs the gamut, discussing just about everything including psychedelic drugs, astrophysics, martial arts, geology, galactic colonization, neuroscience, nutrition, physical fitness, psychology, and big game hunting. His guests include comedian friends like Bill Burr, astrophysicists like Neil DeGrasse Tyson, UFC fighters, doctors, scientists and rappers like Everlast and Immortal Technique. Rogan truly is the Everyman. While he himself says that he simply parrots the words of smarter people, Rogan is an incredibly clear thinker who can interview on-the-fly with the best of them. And when you’re recording live three-hour podcasts, you have to be able to hold a
conversation. He does a great job of allowing the experts to vamp on subjects while he asks the correct follow-up questions to keep them going. Oh and Rogan is a stand-up comedian who will have your eyes watery from some of his jokes. The shows where he teams up with one to two other comedians are laugh riots with non-stop punch lines that rival any stand-up act. His off-the-cuff, unapologetic style also mixes surprisingly well with some of the more milquetoast guests he has as he gets them to loosen up with his genuine laughter and gentle demeanor. This podcast alone can change lives. It gives you everything you need in one place and promotes a healthy lifestyle, both physically and mentally. As long as you don’t mind the fact that he does every podcast slightly stoned, “The Joe Rogan Experience” is something to behold.
COMMON SENSE WITH DAN CARLIN Spoiler alert. This is not the only time that Dan Carlin appears on this list. Why? Because he offers one of the more unique, unbiased and logic-driven point of views on history and current events that you will find anywhere. Carlin is a former television and radio journalist who made his foray into podcasting for the freedom that it allowed as some of Carlin’s commentary can be considered a little too radical for traditional public forums. Of course that’s ridiculous. Carlin simply looks at everything from every possible angle and sympathizes with all sides. He’s not certain about every one of his opinions and forgoes the loud, boisterous persona adopted by many political pundits
in favor of a more intelligent, well-thoughtout approach. Each show is well researched and he takes a Chomsky-esque approach, leaving his pro-American tendencies at the door, and dives deep into every issue facing us at the moment with a clear mind. He stays surprisingly moderate while at the same time viciously kicking down the doors of those he deems as acting immorally or talking out of both sides of their mouths. Somehow, he never comes off as preachy or haughty and is, more often than not, simply positing ideas and viewpoints as something to consider. Whether you agree with him or not, and many will not, Carlin is always an interesting, erudite listen and will open eyes to new trains of thought.
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OPINION
VOLUME 110 ISSUE 09 • NOVEMBER 25, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
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FREAKONOMICS RADIO “Freakonomics Radio” is another WNYC podcast based off the book, “Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything,” which also spawned the documentary of the same name. Freakonomics takes a look at the world through the eyes of an economist. Now while that sounds like one of the most boring things you can possibly listen to, host Stephen J. Dubner is able to explore interesting facets of the most prosaic things. Similar to Radiolab, “Freakonomics Radio” explores one subject in-depth for each episode but from an economic, numbers-oriented point of view. They discuss incentives, supply and demand
and trickle down effects but with things that you wouldn’t generally associate with economics. Episode titles include “Am I Boring You?,” “Should Kids Pay Back Their Parents for Raising Them?” and “The Folly of Prediction.” This podcast simply offers the same thing that the rest of the podcasts on this list offer: a different way to look at things. And it does it in an entertaining and engaging way. You’re ears are constantly at attention and each episode offers something new. If you’re looking for a more mathematical take on things, “Freakonomics Radio,” will more than satisfy.
RADIOLAB This two-time Peabody Award-winning podcast is, as it says in its iTunes description, “an investigation told through sounds and stories, and centered around one big idea.” One listen to this podcast will tell you why it’s so lauded. Hosts Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich take you on a journey each show through stories that generally relate to one subject but in completely different ways. The shows cover themes like “Galapagos,” where they show how fragile the evolutionary chain is and how the introduction of one tiny bug can spell death for one creature and life for another, or “Patient Zero,” where they talk about how one infamous woman called Typhoid Mary caused the death of thousands with her reckless dismissal of doctors
orders and how the introduction of HIV into the human species may have been caused by monkey hunters ingesting blood with a mutated super-virus. The production value for this WNYC product is top-notch and the stories are told in an artistic and unique way. It’s a basic interview format heavily edited with numerous sound clips to create an exceedingly deep feeling experience that you wouldn’t expect from an audio show. The formula has been copied numerous times and it’s not hard to find “Radiolab” clones out there. With an entertaining mix of science, music and good journalism, “Radiolab” is second to none when it comes to podcasting. Download and enjoy.
DAN CARLIN’S HARDCORE HISTORY Ah, our old friend Dan Carlin. If you’re starting to suspect that I have a man crush on him, you’re spot on. He brings his extraordinary oratory talents to world history where his raspy, mellifluous voice and ability to build drama are a perfect fit for telling old war stories. While he constantly reiterates that he is not a historian, he certainly has all the qualifications. Each episode, some of which run as long as four hours, is abundantly researched and perfected over the course of a few months. His perfectionism comes through in his work, as the three-plus hours go by in a flash and give you a true, deeprooted understanding of whatever event he’s discussing — mostly because one episode is rarely enough for him. His recently finished series on World War I, called “Blueprint for Armageddon,” spans six episodes and 20-plus hours starting with Gavrilo Princip’s assassination of the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sara-
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jevo in 1914 and ending with the Treaty of Versailles in 1918. He mixes his own commentary and thoughts with interesting first-hand accounts and the viewpoints of other historians. He amplifies the grisly details but never seems gratuitous in his description of violence and war. By talking about them as regular humans instead of as deified heroes and villains, he makes historical figures much more relatable and their decisions, both good and bad, much easier to understand. Carlin has a unique gift for presenting history to the masses in a colorful, digestible way. I can only imagine how awesome his bedtime stories would be. If you’re a fan of history, or even if you’ve been sullied by monotone Social Studies teachers and want to give it another shot, Carlin is the best in the business at whisking people away to the past.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
CROSSING CULTURAL BOUNDARIES Global Motion showcases dances from all over the world CAROLYN ALFARO STAFF WRITER As the attendees entered the theater and filled the seats, you could see their excitement for the show to start. When the curtains opened and the bright green background came alive, everything quieted to a dead silence. The audience was ready to experience the festive celebration of other cultures. "Global Motion" was beginning. The Broad Stage Theater opened their doors once again on Saturday for the annual "Global Motion" dance ensemble which showcases dances from various cultures. Founder Judith Douglas said, “With everything going on with Paris and terrorism in the world, I would like the audience to recognize and accept people’s differences.” Since dance is a universal language, Douglas wanted her audience to learn about other cultures and accept that we are all different — that the ignorancebased violence around the world needs to stop because every culture is unique and wonderful. And that is exactly what the dancers conveyed through their performances. The first performance that commanded people's attention was the piece called "Madness," an American lyrical jazz routine that connected with everyone in the audience. The purple-to-dark purple gradient background complemented the performance in which the dancers wanted to
VOLUME 110 ISSUE 09 • NOVEMBER 25, 2015 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
portray something powerful — liberation from the struggles that one has been through or is going through in life. This routine had a strong connection with the happening around the world which could be seen through the emotions on the faces of the dancers. The second routine that got a strong message across was called "Untitled," a Cambodian dance that told the story of a relationship between two people. It was one of the performances that had the audience shouting and cheering when it was finished. Attendee Luciano Gauna said, “I really enjoyed this piece because it is something I had never seen before. Because the connections between the dancers was so strong, it made me reflect on the relationship I have with my girlfriend.” The West African Global Motion World Dance Company dancers rehearse at the Broad Stage on Thursday. The Global Motion dance concert which will take place on Saturday routine, "Djigene," also and Sunday. (Josue Martinez/The Corsair) had a standing ovation at the end. As the last performance, "Djigene" Smith, who also performed in "Untitled," By the end of the night, the Broad Stage was the perfect way to end the night. This said, “I want the audience to feel motivated. was lit up not only by the bright yellow routine had strength and power from the If the audience is able to take anything away background of the stage, but by all the cheerbeat of the drums to the movements that from this experience, I would like for them ing and applauding as well. These perforeach dancer hit. This performance was all to feel inspired and motivated.” mances not only taught the audience about about empowering women. Throughout As "Djigene" came to a close, that was the different cultures around the world by the dance, there was a fierceness that all the exact feeling in the audience. Attendee showing each one's uniqueness, but it also the women dancers portrayed and there Cindy Gonzalez said, “Out of all the per- united everyone in the theater in enjoying was strength, not only in their movement formances this was my favorite. I loved the the entertainment and art of dance. but also in their facial expressions. beat of the drums and seeing how the perOne of the dancers in this piece, Jazmine formers moved. It was very energetic.”
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