Vol111 issue07

CORSAIR

MAY 4, 2016 | VOLUME 111 ISSUE 07 | SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

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PEELING BACK THE FLVR PROGRAM

PHOTOSTORY: TRUMP RALLY TURNS VIOLENT (p.6-7)

SMC STUDENT FILM "CORA" MAKES IT TO CANNES (p.8-9) EXPLORE MAYAN RUINS WITH SMC EDUCATION PROGRAM (p.10) THE CORSAIR • THECORSAIRONLINE.COM • 1900 PICO BLVD. SANTA MONICA, CA 90405 • (310) 434-4340

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CONTENT

VOLUME 111 ISSUE 07 • MAY 4, 2016 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

EDITORIAL STAFF nik lucaj

.................................... Editor-in-Chief

corsair.editorinchief@gmail.com

bailey peraita.......................... Managing Editor

corsair.managing@gmail.com adam robert thomas

corsair.news@gmail.com

.................... News Editor

...............Health & Lifestyle Editor corsair.lifestylepage@gmail.com alissa nardo

grace gardner

...........................Opinion Editor

corsair.opinionpage@gmail.com

......... Arts & Entertainment Editor corsair.calendarpage@gmail.com jacob hirsohn

............................... Sports Columnist

josh shure

corsair.sportspage@gmail.com

............ Multimedia Editor corsair.multimediadept@gmail.com alexander melendez

jose lopez

....................................... Photo Editor

corsairphotoeditor@gmail.com josue martinez

.............. Assistant Photo Editor

corsairphotoeditor@gmail.com ramses lemus

..................... Social Media Editor

socialmedia.corsair@gmail.com

alissa nardo................................ Design Editor

corsair.designteam@gmail.com

CORSAIR STAFF Daniela Barhanna, Ryanne Mena, Daniel J. Bowyer, Michelle Ayala, Troy Barnes, Luis Baza, Julia Bergstrom, September Bottoms, Siena Deck, Adriana Delgado, Jessica Dupree, Jerome Harris, Apostol Kanev, Ashleen Knutsen, Leyla Leiva, Ka Leong, Brian Lewis, Sebastian Mayorga, Chris Monterrosa, Manuel Portugal, Joseph Silva, Kyle Toelken, Julia Westman

Protestors march down Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles carrying a sign which says “LEGALIZE LA LUCHA,” Spanish for “Legalize, the fight continues.” On Sunday, thousands of people took to the streets in Downtown for the May Day International Workers march and rally, organized by the May Day Coalition. Following the Trump Rally in Costa Mesa, protestors held anti-Trump signs. People came out for various reasons, such as to support immigration reform, fight against racism and end police brutality.

(Josue Martinez)

FACULTY ADVISORS saul rubin

............................ Journalism Advisor

gerard burkhart.........................Photo Advisor

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

AD INQUIRIES: corsair.admanager@gmail.com (310) 434-4033

FRONT COVER Photo by Christian Monterrosa The FLVR program is a program that seeks to help homeless and needy students by giving out $5 food vouchers to the first 50 students who arrive every weekday morning having filled out the correct paperwork and self-identified as needy. Turn to page 4 to get the full story.

NIK LUCAJ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Well, it’s official. Cruz is out and Trump has all but sealed up the GOP nomination.

Most people have gotten used to the idea by now, taking some of the shock out of the announcement, but it doesn’t diminish the insanity of what has just happened. Donald Trump is actually going to be one of the two choices that Americans will have for President of the United States.

Nobody would have believed it nine months ago, but after being impregnated with the seeds of anger, America has birthed this arrogant demon baby.

This just speaks to the amount of political unrest felt within the population. People are so fed up with the state of things that they’re willing to elect a football with body hair. Bernie almost cracked the political landscape with his radically socialist views — something also thought impossible not too long ago — but ran into a candidate much stronger than the group of sweaty, suit-wearing apes that Trump faced. At this point, people who still believe that Bernie can win are in a class with people that deny the moon landing or think Tupac is alive and hanging out in Mexico.

That political unrest has boiled over into regularly occurring acts of violence at Trump rallies. And it’s not just Trump’s supporters, it’s his protesters as well. People are thirsting for the blood of their political adversaries so much that scenes are breaking out that look more like Arab Spring or the Gaza Strip than a Southern California political rally. And we should know, we were there.

Our photostory this week shows the harrowing images from Trump’s appearance in Costa Mesa where police were regaled in full riot gear, prepared for the human powder keg to explode. Punches were thrown, blood was spilled and state property was vandalized as people, most of whom couldn’t coherently state any reasonable point of view aside from “we’re right and they’re wrong,” were out looking to fight anyone who wasn’t wearing a similar shirt as them.

Also, our bloody video account of the rally got more views on YouTube than any other video we’ve put out by far, proving

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that violence draws attention. The next time you blame the media for pushing violent images for profit or movies for exploiting sex and gore, just remember that the demand creates the supply and it seems that those who don’t capitulate are doomed to fade into irrelevance.

In more local news, our staff photographer with a penchant for writing, September Bottoms, who originally set out six weeks ago with the goal of highlighting the homeless problem on campus by finding a homeless student to spotlight, found herself tumbling down the FLVR rabbit hole.

Assuming that the FLVR program — which is designed to help homeless and needy students eat by handing out five dollar food vouchers — would be the best place to look for a candidate, she began to realize that it had a curious lack of homeless students using it. She learned the ins and outs of the clearly altruistic, well-intentioned program and offers up a full report detailing both its flaws and successes.

On a lighter note, staff writer Aitana Balam takes us to the Mayan ruins of Central America when she talks to archaeology professor Brandon Lewis about the Latin America Education Program. This program gives students the opportunity to take a guided trip through the mysterious ancient world of Central America as they go on expeditions through the jungle and dive in the Great Barrier Reef. This trip sounds insanely interesting and if I had a few more dollars, I would be on that plane to Belize.

In A&E, we have the long read of the semester, a fantastic feature by Jacob Hirsohn exploring the story behind “Cora,” a Film 33 production that gained entry to France’s Cannes Film Festival. Jake takes us behind the scenes as he has an extended talk with writer-director Kevin Maxwell in this two-page feature.

We’re hitting the home-stretch of the semester at this point and we do our best to improve every single week. With only three issues left after this one, we’re going to aim to make each one of them count with the best and hardest hitting content we can find. Enjoy.

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VOLUME 111 ISSUE 07 • MAY 4, 2016 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

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CSEA REPRISES PROTEST OUTSIDE TRUSTEE MEETING Salary negotiations at an impasse between Classified staff and Board of Trustees JOSH SHURE SPORTS COLUMNIST Before spring break on April 10, The Corsair's Ashleen Knutsen reported on the protest by the SMC classified staff workers over wage increase negotiations taking place between the Classified staff and the Board of Trustees. A month later, they were back at it again.

A group of classified staff members once again gathered, signs in hand, at the parking lot entrance on 17th and Pico, to protest the May 3 Board of Trustees meeting due to a continuing standstill in negotiations.

"We are asking for the same thing [3 percent wage increase]. They are offering less than what we asked for," said Mohammad Fakih, a classified faculty member who works as a computer maintenance employee at SMC. Since the last protest, the Board of Trustees has improved their offer, but they still won't agree to the classified staff's 3 percent demand.

"We told the district that we would not be accepting their 2.6 percent [offer] plus the $1500 [bonus]," said Robert Villanueva, the president of SMC’s California School Employees Association (CSEA) chapter, who works in the receiving warehouse on campus. "We went back and they declared last and final [offer] and said that we will go to impasse," said Villanueva.

The classified staff has held firm on their stance of asking for a 3 percent wage increase.

The Board of Trustees recently countered with a 2.6 percent increase, plus a one-time $1,500 bonus for all classified employees, which the CSEA has rejected. According to Villanueva, the 0.4 percent increase would only cost the school $108,000. On the other hand, the $1,500 bonus for all classified employees, which numbers in excess of 450, will cost the school about $680,000.

"What we are doing now is we are going to impasse. We will have an arbitrator come in and try to move things along since the two sides are at a standstill," said Villanueva. "Somebody will come in and kind of mediate. They will try to find some medium ground."

According to Villanueva, an impasse was filed April 26, and before the meeting on May 3, campus council notified him that a mediator will be assigned to the case. He believes that by the end of this week or early next week, the mediator will be in contact with the CSEA. These recent protests from the campus

in brief Ornamental Bike Brought down, possibly vandalized One of the two decorative metal bikes normally screwed onto the concrete blocks in the Pearl Street smoking section was discovered by members of the Corsair Editorial Staff in the early morning hours on Wednesday, May 4. The bike was found resting near its original position, but out of its moorings and on the ground.

Police were notified shortly afterwards. As of now, the individual or individuals responsible have yet to be identified.

Housing Mixer to simplify roommate search At the Monday Associated Students (AS) board meeting, the AS board officially announced that it will host a housing mixer in order to connect students in need of roommates.

Robert Villanueva, (center) president of the California School Employees Association, Santa Monica College Chapter, chats with Thomas Peters and fellow protesters in Santa Monica on Tuesday. (Ramses Lemus)

classified staff are not the first time the CSEA ask you to recognize our contributions and workers have had to picket over wage ne- compensate us accordingly. In the last 15 gotiations with the Board of Trustees. Six years, SMC classified staff's compensation years ago, they protested over their benefits has fallen from above 80th percentile in the when discussing the renewal of their contracts state, and is now currently in the low 50th which occurs every three years. percentile. You do a great job making sure "The last time we that administrators main"WE TOLD THE [picketed] was over bentain their status at being efits," said Villanueva. in the 90th DISTRICT THAT WE compensated "They wanted us to pay percentile, but apparWOULD NOT BE for a portion of our benently you do not have efits. Since the faculty same motivation ACCEPTING THEIR 2.6 the didn't and the administrawhen it comes to the PERCENT [OFFER] classified staff." tors didn't have to, we didn't think we'd have The meeting continPLUS THE $1500 to." ued as planned, covering The Board of Trustees [BONUS]" --ROBERT a number of issues, inheld a closed meeting a proposed Bond VILLANUEVA, SMC cluding before their scheduled measure. During his CSEA CHAPTER public meeting to discuss District Planning and the stalemate between Advisory Council PRESIDENT the two sides and decide (DPAC) report, Peter the stance of the school moving forward in Morse of the Faculty Association made a these negotiations. During the public meeting, comment on the issue, supporting the staff.

Chair Louise Jaffe opened by telling the Morse said, "When employee groups are public that there was nothing to report, and attempting to negotiate reasonable raises, confirmed that negotiations were ongoing. we frequently hear that the district can't afford During the public comment section of such raises. I'd like to stress that budgeting the meeting, Willis Hartman of the CSEA is about stressing priorities. Month after took the time to admonish the board over month on the board agendas there are items the issue. He said, "We are here tonight to that are new, large monetary outlays, or cost The mixer is scheduled for May 24 from 11:25

smoking on campus.

overruns. These are previously un-budgeted items and expenses, and yet they almost always pass without comment or opposition.

I would hope that the faculty and employee groups could feel that they are priorities as well."

In response, the board began asking DPAC members, including Morse, what they could do to ensure that faculty and staff felt valued.

Trustee member Nancy Greenstein followed this by thanking the classified staff employees for their consistent service before SMC Superintendent President Dr. Kathryn Jeffery commented on the issue.

Jeffery spoke about a number of emails she had received on the issue before she said, "Although we have not reached a point yet in the negotiation process where we can put a period at the end of a sentence, I think it's important for you to know that the deliberations have been thoughtful . . . we're trying to be very deliberative for reasons that relate not just to the CSEA, but the college as a whole from a financial and fiscal perspective."

After the meeting ended, Jaffe declined to comment on the ongoing negotiations due to privacy restrictions placed on private board meetings. However, she did indicate that reasons an agreement had not been reached were related to budgetary limitations.

The original price of the classes is $20.

a.m. to 12:35 p.m. at the clocktower quad. Students

She cited a discussion she had with SMCPD

“I did not see a reason to say no. They want

will wear stickers identifying themselves as having

Sgt. Jere Romano on the issue, where he said that

to promote fitness and health for students,” Brech-

rooms available, seeking a room, or looking for a

in the 15 years he’s been here, he’s only given 65

ensbauer said.

roommate — whatever their situation may be.

tickets.

The cycling studio is located on Olympic and

There will also be a roommate “speed dating” or

While SMC has technically been a smoke-free

19th, about 10 minutes walking distance from SMC.

“Q & A” to get to know potential roommates. Bev-

campus since 2007, students still continue to

“It almost felt like Equinox. It was super cool,”

erages will be provided by the Campus Kitchen.

smoke within the campus boundaries.

Johnathon Hughes said, ”If you look on Facebook at the SMC Webpage, I’d say 1 in 4 [of the students posting] is asking where to live, roommates, people looking for some place to transfer into housing … The whole idea behind it is to get students looking for a place to live in the same space as people looking for a place to move to.”

Money raised from fines for smoking offenses would go to AS.

Vie2 Cycling also provides free shoe rental to use while on the bikes.

“It’s not a money thing…it’s a discipline issue,” Haro said.

Cycling classes to be discounted for AS Members Director of Student Outreach Alexandra Brech-

Tiered ticketing for smoking violations?

ensbauer presented an offer to the AS board about an expansion of current AS membership

AS director of Sustainability Heather Haro

benefits at Monday's board meeting. The benefit

spoke at the AS meeting Monday about the pos-

would come from Vie2 Cycling as a 50% discount

sibility of creating a tiered ticketing system for

on cycling classes for students with AS stickers.

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Brechensbauer said.

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NEWS

VOLUME 111 ISSUE 07 • MAY 4, 2016 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

FLVR PROGRAM CHOOSES ACCESSIBILITY OVER ACCURACY relies on funding from the school district and thus the state of California, legally can not fund FLVR. California Government code section 8314 and the California constitution both specifically prevent Brenda De Angel wakes up in her shared public institutions like SMC from giving bedroom in downtown Los Angeles, throws gifts of public funds, including through on a pair of jeans and a flannel, puts her intermediary items like books or food, hair up in a messy bun and walks out of the directly to individuals. door, probably similar to other Santa Monica Tuitasi said, “The other part of it is College students. On her hour-long bus ride making sure students are connected to to school, the 18-year-old whips out the the resources they need, to make sure book “Just Mercy” by Brian Stevenson for that you're not just giving free money an English class. Says De Angel about her away...

Based on the data from Financial, packed morning ritual, “There’s just never Aid there are only 140 students [at SMC] enough time.” who identified as homeless, but they're Currently enrolled in 15 units, De Angel not reaching out to those students. You has devoted her entire life to school this don't even have to be an AS member." year after seeing several friends end up in After learning about FLVR, Lizzie less than appealing situations. With her Moore, the interim Dean of Institutional father losing his source of income after a Advancement for SMC, offered assistance recent work-related injury, her family has to Hughes in order to keep the program fallen on hard times. Stuck in these tough running after the end of the current secircumstances, De Angel had to get creative mester. when it comes to self support.

“I thought, 'Wow, this is really great One of the ways she's saving money is what they’re trying to do for students.'” by using the newly founded Free Lunch said Moore.

Voucher (FLVR) program. Like many other Moore is working to set up a payroll students at SMC, De Angel lines up outside deduction so that any staff members who of the Associated Students (AS) office in wish to support FLVR can donate to it the Cayton Center early each morning to as private individuals, theoretically cirwait for a $5 voucher so she can eat for the cumventing the "gift of public funds" day. problem.

According to Moore, this “I’m so thankful for the program,” De charitable payroll deduction is still in the Angel says, “I’ve told all of my friends developing stages. about it and urged them to try it.”

When asked about the lack of income For De Angel, the FLVR program is a qualification verification and the idea of saving grace. For the AS Board of Directors, SMC Students wait in line to receive a five dollar FLVR Program voucher in the Cayton Center Monday, May 2. (Chrisbreaking the stigma of poverty, Moore it's an achievement. At the May 2 AS board tian Monterrosa) said, “Well how is [FLVR] breaking the meeting, Student Trustee Jonathan Eady told stigma?

I guess I don’t know how its the board that at a recent conference for ‘breaking the stigma’ because if you’re hungry you’re hungry.

In multiple interviews, Hughes stressed that a key concept trustees, the program had gained SMC recognition from It doesn’t really matter what your status is.” of the FLVR program is to not only help those in need, but across the state.

Others involved in assisting Hughes to find future funding For the rest of the SMC student body though, the FLVR also to break a social stigma he feels exists surrounding have faith in Hughes and the students of SMC to make the program is still a relatively unknown measure from AS. homelessness. It's a stigma that he feels prevents potenright choice when it comes to how efficiently FLVR is What even fewer people know are the details of how the tially homeless students from taking the initiative to get the monitored. program functions, including potential flaws in the program's help they need. Hughes said, “Yes, anybody can come and Tom Peters, the political director for the faculty assouse [FLVR]. If people who can support themselves are using execution. ciation said, “I’m going to trust the directors of the AS to After an emergency meeting held on December 10, 2015, it too, then there is no barrier or social stigma for those low monitor it. If it needs monitoring, I think they should, but the FLVR program was approved by the AS board to begin income users.” we just want to help.”

The result of this open-to-everyone policy is that everyin Spring 2016 with a budget of $31,600. A pilot program Pride in the current success of the program seems to be for a potentially permanent measure, FLVR was pitched to one is using the FLVR program. Few of the students that a consistent theme when the discussion of FLVR arises. In the AS board as an endeavor meant to help homeless and have filed applications for FLVR vouchers have actually this case though, success seems to have been measured in needy students with the most basic necessity of life: food. self-reported as being homeless. the amount of people using the program, rather than whether According to records Hughes provided the Corsair, as This is achieved by handing out up to 50 daily vouchers to it is hitting its targets efficiently, as usage of the program students that can be redeemed in the school’s cafeteria for of April 1, a total of 232 individual students enrolled in jumped from 0 to 263 students a week through the first FLVR, many of whom have repeatedly received vouchers. $5 worth of food. It's first come, first serve. seven weeks of the program.

At $5 a voucher with a reserve of 1,000 vouchers for the Of those 232 students, 25 have self-reported as being homeAnd the program continues to grow. Recently, 20 extra Summer semester, the current AS budget allocation allows less, with an additional five reporting that they were living vouchers per day have been set aside for specific students for 5,320 meals for the semester. There was an additional out of their car. For a program originally meant to specifiwho claim to be most needy from their free form answers $5,000 approved for advertising of the program, according cally target homeless students in need, as stated by Hughes written on the application or who are aligned with other to the minutes of the AS meeting where the program was himself, only 12 percent of the students using the program programs at SMC such as Extended Opportunity Programs are self-reported as homeless. Again, this is contingent upon approved. and Services (EOPS).

In order to qualify for the program, students only have honest self-reporting from the applicants.

Hughes said, “I’m hesitant to say exactly what those Part of the reason AS can't actually check the status of to fulfill two requirements. First, a student has to fill out an criteria are because we’re not asking for people to bring in application form where the student indicates their need for students' potential lies is school policy. On this issue, AS or show us a picture of their homeless situation.” it which also collects demographic information that is being President Jesse Randel said that though every effort has Though he too is concerned about FLVR continuing past using to track the program's efficacy. Second, the student been made to identify homeless students on campus, state his term on the AS board, when asked about the success of must wait in the now familiar line that stretches out of the and federal laws protecting the privacy of students, like the the program Hughes said, “I think that everybody else [on Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), have AS office every morning in order to receive a voucher.

AS] would find it to be way more successful than my perFrom the minutes of both the AS Finance Committee hampered the ability of AS to identify homeless students sonal views on it, but I think it’s been an amazing success.” and board meetings where FLVR received approval, the specifically without them offering this information themRandel agreed with Hughes as well saying, "Philosophlanguage states that the vouchers are meant for "students selves.

Randel said, "It is somewhat on the honor system. I will ically, I feel fine about this program...I would rather give demonstrating need." Importantly, there is no method for AS to track or verify any of the information that a student admit that. But that's because we have an inability to create food to more people, some of whom may not need it, than provides on their application, which is self-reported. Thus, the necessary infrastructure... we're not allowed to look that less people, and leave out some people who may need it. I would rather overdo it than under-do it. That's my philosotruth or falsity of whether a student is successfully "dem- deeply into [students' lives]."

The other looming questions about FLVR lies in its phy." onstrating need" is entirely reliant on trust from AS of the Both Hughes and Randel stressed that they understood potential longevity. With funding only provided for the students that apply. that while there may be flaws with the current execution of The bulk of the work for organizing the FLVR program current semester, Hughes and the rest of AS have been FLVR, including the potential for abuse, it should be rewas done by Johnathon Hughes, the AS Director of Student seeking a permanent method to keep the program funded membered that it is a pilot program and is subject to change Outreach. Hughes stated that his primary motivation for outside of AS approving it every year with funds provided based on feedback from the SMC student body. doggedly pursuing the program could be traced back to his through AS member dues.

In the end, students like De Angel are certainly seeing a While searching for funding, Hughes met with Mike childhood. After struggling with homelessness and poverty direct and much appreciated benefit from the FLVR program. in his youth due to an absent father and drug addicted mother, Tuitasi, Vice President of Student Affairs for Santa Monica Whether all the right people are receiving those benefits or Hughes said that he was an example of how someone could College, to discuss funding and accountability. Hughes whether they will continue to receive them next semester claims that Tuitasi “specifically said they’re not allowed to escape a cycle of poverty. are questions that are still waiting to be answered.

He said, “I feel like I’m an exception to the rule. I think give money to students. It’s seen as a gift which they are I am [an example of] how people come out of [poverty] and barred from giving.”

This "gift" aspect is a primary reason the school, which the public's perception of people who are [poor] is wrong.”

SEPTEMBER BOTTOMS STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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VOLUME 111 ISSUE 07 • MAY 4, 2016 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

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ASTRONOMY CLUB TAKES HOME TOP PRIZE AT CLUB ROW

The Respiratory Club demonstrates the difference between healthy and cancerous pig lungs during Club Row last Thursday. (Adriana Delgado)

TROY BARNES STAFF WRITER There’s one special day a year where you might have your face and attention buried in your phone while you type a text, and then out of the corner of your eye, you spot an astronaut strolling by. You might start questioning your sanity when you then see Chewbacca making a cup of boba, but when you see Buzz Lightyear and a giant minion selling donuts, you realize that there’s a reason for all of this nonsense.

This past Thursday, the SMC quad turned into the cacophony of activity that is Club Row. As the club members rushed around carrying canopies and decorations for their booths, most of the clubs had a creative way of meeting Inter-Club Council’s (ICC) “intergalactic” theme.

Orlando Gonzales Gudino-Guizar, the ICC vice chairman who was responsible for organizing the event along with the rest of Associated Students (AS) and ICC, had managed to put on this year's large Club Row while also saving a large amount of money.

"It's my first Club Row, and I got into the job in the middle of the term which was a little intimidating because I didn't know what was going on," Gudino-Guizar said. "Our budget was $8,500 which we [calculated] based on the cost of the last two Club Rows, and this year we've only spent $4,500. I tried to spend as much money as needed on the things that matter."

Angelique Hudec, who managed the Astronomy Club’s booth, said, “Since we’re the Astronomy Club, we figured intergalactic was really our theme. We actually have a spaceman and made a flag and everything."

While the only person dressed in fitting attire seemed to be their spaceman, their booth was decorated with stars and a galactic background.

“I feel like actually that there’s more pressure — like we’re expected to do better. We have high expectations,” said Karen Deleon

when asked about Astronomy Club having the advantage of the intergalactic theme this year.

Next to the Astronomy booth, the Alpha Gamma Sigma Club Honor Society had a long line of hungry students waiting to buy the burgers from In-N-Out they had for sale.

Their booth was strung with star streamers and metallic trim to fit their adaptation of the intergalactic theme which they called “Interstellar Superstars.”

“We tried to not spend too much money on decorations and make the most out of the In-N-Out we sell so we decided to go to the Rediscover Center in Culver City, which is a place for kids to make projects out of recycled material. So all of our decorations are from there and made out of post-consumer materials,” said Kamila Gonzalez, the booth manager for the AGS Club. “We have around 200 members and we’re one of the largest clubs on campus.”

Down the row from the AGS Club, the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Club, a rival honor society and the largest honor society on campus, had gone with a Star Wars theme and had Chewbacca and a Jedi giving out information and filling up the “Jabba” boba cups.

“We had a lot of members come to help today with the booth and to sell boba. We hope that our decorations are exciting and we can stand out from AGS,” Stephanie Ng said, one of the booth managers for the PTK Club.

The International Students Forum Club went eclectic with their theme and decorated their booth with tiny flags of all the nations they represent and a jet black background to represent deep space. Club President Sean Tsai created a cardboard rendition of Buzz Lightyear’s jetpack and chest piece while club member Omar Bishar adopted his idea of the “giant minion” with a cardboard chest piece advertising donuts.

“For international students when they first come, it’s really hard to make friends,

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SMC President Dr. Kathryn Jeffery (Left) talks with Astronomy Club member Curtis Corbett (Right) in the quad during the Club Row. (Kyle Toelken)

especially in class which is one of the only times you’ll interact with those kinds of people. It’s hard to get off campus and just hang out with each other. Ever since I joined this club, I’ve made so many friends and actually hang out with people,” said Tsai.

“We have over 100 members and every semester we add more. Our club has actually been around for 20 years."

After enjoying a singer from the opera club, SMC President Dr. Kathryn Jeffery spoke highly of Club Row. She said, "This gives me a chance to see the types of clubs we have here at the college — to see the level of interest there is among our students in club activity. It kind of helps me see the level of energy here at the college. So I'm looking forward to walking through and talking with people at their various booths, and just learning more."

Down the quad, where the smaller booths were set up and the powerful sound of the DJ playing Top 40 songs blared, the newly created Photography Club had their impromptu booth set up with cameras from different eras. They had forgone the inter@THE_CORSAIR •

galactic theme in an effort to get the exposure for their new club which was created earlier this semester.

“Club Row is better than putting flyers everywhere to get exposure and gain members, that’s for sure,” said Erick Meraz, a member of the Photography Club.

The German Club stuck out with their traditional lederhosen as costumes, and decorated their booth with flags and fliers advertising the club.

As things winded down, students wandered off to their classes, and clubs began to take their booths down. The ICC judges convened and gave the first place prize of $150 to the Astronomy Club. The money is deposited into the club’s allotment account from the AS and the club has the freedom to use it in whatever way they choose. The second place prize of $100 went to the AGS Club and the third place prize of $50 went to the Adelante Club. Honorable mention prizes of $40 went to 12 other clubs that participated in the event’s activities.

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PHOTOSTORY

VOLUME 111 ISSUE 07 • MAY 4, 2016 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

Esvin Rivers (left) argues with an anti-Trump protester (center) while Greg Donovan (right), the former "Ambassador to Beverly Hills," attempts to break it up outside the Trump Rally in Costa Mesa, on April 28. (Jose Lopez)

Many Trump supporters were sporting "Hillary for Prison" shirts. (September Bottoms)

Donald Trump charismatically addresses his supporters during his first Californ

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VOLUME 111 ISSUE 07 • MAY 4, 2016 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

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A Trump supporter stands bleeding after being attacked in response to allegedly hitting a woman during the anti-Trump protest that emptied into the streets after the rally.

(Jose Lopez)

Left: Police form a riot line outside of the rally. (Chris Monterrosa) Below: Anti-Trump protesters begin to push on a police vehicle in an attempt to tip it over.

(Jose Lopez)

MAKING AMERICA FIGHT AGAIN Trump's first California rally elicits a violent protest ADAM R. THOMAS NEWS EDITOR

T

nia rally. (Christian Monterrosa)

he atmosphere was highly charged as thousands of supporters came to hear the highly controversial republican presidential nominee Donald J. Trump speak at a relatively unannounced rally at the Pacific Ampitheatre in Costa Mesa on Thursday, April 28.

Temperatures were already heating up for Trump's supporters while they waited in line for their favorite candidate. They led chants against republican rival Ted Cruz and "Social Justice Warriors," pumping themselves up for Trump's appearance. After being introduced by Tony Beall, the mayor of Rancho Santa Margarita, Trump finally appeared on stage and began delving into his now rote campaign stump speech. Excoriating international trade deficits with China, attacking the national media, and calling democratic rival Hillary Clinton "Crooked Hillary," Trump promised that he would build a wall along the USMexico border and "make America great again."

While Trump delivered this message to his fans, many of his opponents began congregating outside the venue. Hundreds of anti-Trump protesters came with signs and waved Mexican flags, denouncing Trump as a hate-monger as they engaged Trump supporters in fierce public debates. Emotions became increasingly heated as protesters and supporters clashed on rhetoric as the day wore on, but in the daylight hours the standoff remained peaceful.

After the rally let out and night fell, events quickly took a violent turn.

Throngs of anti-Trump protesters began blocking off intersections and marching in the middle of the street and soon after several clashes began between

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Trump's fans, those that hate him and police from the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

Multiple police cars were vandalized and damaged and, at one point, antiTrump protesters attempted to overturn a police cruiser.

Cole Bartiromo, a Trump supporter who arrived to get an autograph on a $500 bill by the former real-estate mogul, exited his vehicle and engaged the anti-Trump crowd. After yelling "fuck you, you illegal scum" during an argument, the crowd quickly turned on Baritromo, pushing and kicking at him. In the middle of the melee, Baritromo was struck directly in the face and quickly fled. Several protesters stated that he had struck a woman while Baritromo said they had taken his property.

Soon after, the police began riot-control procedures, funneling the crowds away from intersections and out of the road. The Costa Mesa Police Department stated afterwards that 17 people had been arrested for failing to disperse.

Following the night's violence, Trump headed north to deliver a speech at the GOP convention in Burlingame, where he was met with further protests, and more protesters were arrested. Four days later on Tuesday, May 3, Trump's closest primary rival, Ted Cruz, dropped out of the race for the Republican nomination, all but securing the position for Trump ahead of the GOP convention this upcoming July.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

VOLUME 111 ISSUE 07 • MAY 4, 2016 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

THE SMC FILM FAMILY TAKES "CORA" TO CANNES JACOB HIRSOHN ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

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hen Kevin Maxwell first told his grandmother he was going to make a film about her life, her first question was “How are you going to do that?”

It was a fair question. At that time, Maxwell had never made a film, and had only recently left a full-time government job, working with the Transportation Security Agency.

“No one in my family has been involved in any film or anything of that nature," said Maxwell. "So to them it was foreign. It was a different world, and I was like, ‘You know what? I don't know how, but I'm gonna get your story out there.’ And I assured her of it.”

Maxwell made good on his word. Cora Maxwell’s story has now been made into a short film titled “Cora,” produced at Santa Monica College.

If that wasn’t enough, “Cora” was recently recognized by one of the most prestigious film festivals in the industry, the Cannes Film Festival, becoming the second film produced by the SMC Film Production program, known as Film 33, to be accepted into Cannes.

Cannes, the legendary cinema event which takes place annually on the south coast of France, is known for premiering Academy Award-recognized films like “Taxi Driver,” “Pulp Fiction,” and “Apocalypse Now.” Fortunately, “Cora” won’t be competing with Francis Ford Coppola or the like for the Palme d’Or Award. Instead, it will compete in the Emerging Filmmakers Showcase at the American Pavillion against competing films from Chapman and NYU, two stalwarts of the showcase.

So how did Kevin Maxwell, a first time writer-director, get his film, produced on our humble stomping grounds, recognized by one of the biggest film festivals in the world?

Where most student films swap substance for style — showing their amateurism not in their technique, but in their lack of truth — “Cora” is a rich emotional tapestry. The story is a true one, and one at the core of its writer’s being.

It is a story set in Memphis, Tennessee in the mid-60s, centered around Maxwell’s grandmother Cora Maxwell, known only as Cora in the film. Cora is the owner of a restaurant called Cora’s Place and the breadwinner of her family. At work, she is terrorized by racially prejudiced police. At home, she is terrorized by an abusive husband.

In the end, she makes a decision few others could make. kay, how much time do I have?”

This is how Maxwell responds when asked why he chose to tell his grandmother’s story.

He speaks with passion and comfort when he tells the story of how he and his siblings ended up in the custody of his grandmother. It includes his mother succumbing to a serious medical condition, and the passing of his grandmother on his mother’s side only two months later.

“My grandmother, 60-something years old — we were going through this custody battle — so she comes in with this cast on her foot ‘cause she slipped and fell down with her home cleaning business — and she comes in with this cast, and she fights for us,” he said. “She fights for our custody, and she eventually gets custody of us and raises us. So she pretty much got me out of foster care. So as a child, I knew. I knew that I wanted to pay her back for something.”

Maxwell’s love and admiration for his grandmother is what brings every frame of his film to life. His desire to give her the recognition she deserves for everything she has done for him and his family is the very reason his internationally recognized film exists now.

“Imagine if you go through life, another 30 or 40 years, you're helping people, feeding people, making sure people are good financially, and you just go unnoticed,” he said.

“That's what I didn't want to happen to my grandmother. I didn't want her deeds, and her support of others, and my father and family, and things like that to go unnoticed. So I wanted to give her a voice and allow that to speak on its own.”

The film resonates with people beyond the traditional reach of a student film, and it is not just because of Maxwell’s connection to his grandmother.

“It had great heart, and it was such a compelling story in terms of this woman who was dealing with domestic violence at home, and also what was going on in the political climate,” said Latarsha Rose, the actress who portrays Cora. Rose is known for her appearance in “The Hunger Games,” as well as her role in the TV show “Being Mary Jane.” “I think they're human issues, and I think over time we still have lessons to learn, and we learn them and then we forget them.”

“Cora” comes packed with social relevance, an obvious

“O

benefit to its film festival success, present and future. But to Maxwell, these issues are ultimately secondary.

“My goal wasn't to talk about racism, it wasn't to talk about domestic violence. It was really to capture my grandmother’s story and inspire other people through it,” he said. “And it just so happens that she was around those things at those times. She was around the racism, she was dealing with the domestic violence, and she had to fight for it.”

You can't detect any lack of interest in discussing the racism or domestic violence in Maxwell's film, because he is interested in them. But for the purposes of this film, he's interested in how they affect his grandmother. His passion for his grandmother's story is what drives the narrative of the film, as well as what drove the film to be made.

“Any project I work on, what really motivates me and galvanizes me is, it’s gotta have heart and it’s gotta be true,” said David Field, one of the producers of “Cora.” “[Kevin’s] grandmother was so important to him, and her story... was motivating him more and more. I heard the story about his grandma and, man, it’s just an unbelievable story — this true story of heartache and torment, but triumph, where she succeeds against all odds.”

Maxwell's passion was matched

by Field, which then seemed to be Kevin Maxwell, writer and director of CORA, poses for a photo after talking with The Corsair about his matched by anyone else who was film. (Ramses Lemus) caught in the project's web.

During a production meeting not long after, another “It's all about your passion, and producer on the film, Juan Felipe Zuleta, approached Maxwell how much you believe in your project, and how much work with the idea of approaching AS to complete their funding. you’re willing to put into it, because you believe in what “Everytime I talk about it I get the chills,” said Field. “I you have to say. And that was there from day one,” said saw people feel the energy. After we pitched for $5,000, head of the Film Production program Salvador Carrasco. one of the women on the board said, ‘Would you mind if “This project meant a lot for them... and you just felt they we gave you $10,000?’” would do anything to make this happen.”

While the rest of the AS board initially walked back that Cora’s story continued to resonate with people throughenthusiasm, granting only the proposed $5,000, the film out the film’s run, from the Film 33 class to Cannes. However, was later approved

by AS for another $5,000. before “Cora” could make it from point A to point B, it “It was probably one of the most shocking moments of needed help from SMC, specifically from the Associated my life.

I had never really seen anybody be that supportive.

Students Board of Directors.

Everybody raised their hands.

Everybody was wowed by Two weeks before principal photography was set to kick the story,” said Maxwell. off, a crowdfunding campaign that production was relying Despite the consistency of the support behind his film, on to cover costs fell short of its goal.

Maxwell never stopped being surprised by it.

“We just knew that this machine was already running “I wasn't used to support like that, nobody pooling reand there was nothing we could do to stop it," said Maxwell. sources in to help me make something come to life. So it "We brought too many people together. We already had our was really amazing how that happened,” he said. “But that's cast, Latarsha, Joe Holt. We had all these people scheduled, what made me stick to the script, if you will. To fight it out, so there was no way we could stop... We were just like, and just move forward.”

‘Wow, what are we going to do?’"

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The w“Cora” crew huddles up and plans in between shooting scenes. (Courtesy of Sung Chau)

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

VOLUME 111 ISSUE 07 • MAY 4, 2016 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

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Maxwell talks to actors Willie C. Carpenter and Latarsha Rose while shooting on the set of "Cora.” (Courtesy of Sung Chau)

Film 33 produces a short film every semester. The film is written, directed, and executed entirely by students, with only advisory from Carrasco.

“Cora” is one of six films produced by Film 33 in its brief history, and is the 2nd to be admitted to the Emerging Filmmakers Showcase following “Solidarity,” a short film written and directed by Dustin Brown which played at the festival in 2014.

“I saw the growth from the students from the beginning to the end,” said Rose. “They got to see the working intensity of what happens on the fly.“ “What we have achieved in the film program here is to create a collective sense of ownership about the project," Carrasco said. "Sure, we talk a lot about Kevin, of course, because he wrote and directed it and there were David and other producers involved, but really the film was made by the 25 students in the class. And I do believe the great majority of them see the film as theirs."

This sort of attitude is reflected, perpetuated even, by the man at the helm of the project. When talking to Maxwell, it is almost impossible to get him to talk about himself.

Regardless of the question, he has a tendency to start listing off names of people who made his film happen from executive producer Anne Spielberg, to the makeup artist, to the script supervisor. Maxwell has all of their names on the tip of his tongue at all times.

“I'm telling you, having a strong team is everything.

Without them, I wouldn't have been able to do it,” said Maxwell. “These people...Santa Monica College as a whole really pushed me through these challenging times.”

Field said, “I owe so much to SMC. When they say it's a special place, it really is.” or an artist who is equal parts humble and shy, Maxwell shows no fear of wearing his heart on his sleeve.

At the AS meeting on May 2, Maxwell and Field were approved $5,000 of funding to help them attend Cannes later this month. Upon receiving this news, Maxwell read an emotional thank you poem into a microphone to a Cayton Center packed with strangers — a bold act that would leave anyone vulnerable — and did it with confidence.

It’s this type of vulnerability that made “Cora” possible, and made it resonate with people in the way it does. In the time we talked, his mother’s medical crisis and the death of her mother were not the only hardships he shared.

“It's always tragedy that pushes you into taking action,”

F

he said. “So an officer of mine, who was a colleague, a co-worker [at the TSA], a close friend... he dies in a motorcycle accident. I did the investigation, I looked into his bag, saw his blood all over his bag — it was crazy. Right after that, a few weeks later, I get a call about my grandmother, who had just had a stroke.”

It was during this time, with Cora in the hospital, that Kevin realized he had to tell her story.

“It was those moments that made me reevaluate everything," he said. "When I went in there to talk to her, she

"...AND YOU JUST GO UNNOTICED. THAT'S WHAT I DIDN'T WANT TO HAPPEN TO MY GRANDMOTHER." started to tell me these stories. I was on the side of the bed...

I was editing a project, and I'm like, ‘Grandma, how did you get so strong?’... And it was her stories that really pushed me.”

About two weeks before he was due to start shooting “Cora,” tragedy struck Maxwell’s life again.

“I lost another colleague and co-worker in the line of duty. He got shot at TSA at the airport. I was devastated, seriously. This guy really supported me, and helped me try to figure it out,” he said.

After this tragedy, Maxwell was left reeling with little time to recover before his passion project was set to launch.

Only days away from production, he excused himself from a meeting with Carrasco and some other members of his team.

“I walked into a restroom just to scream, and get it out of me ‘cause I was hurting,” he said.

Later, Carrasco pulled him aside to ask him why he excused himself so suddenly. Maxwell was honest with him, and Carrasco met him with the advice he needed to hear.

He told him that when he enters the world of his film, he has to leave behind everything else that is bothering him.

He can’t let his life affect his work.

“The fact that he acknowledged it, the fact that he saw it, that he paid attention to what I did — it gave me this extra energy to keep going,” Maxwell said.

After hearing Carrasco's words, he felt he was able to compartmentalize.

“Everybody saw the surface of me, but nobody knew what I was battling inside,” he said.

In this moment, maybe even without knowing it, Maxwell gave himself the biggest compliment he ever could: he compared himself to his grandmother.

“But then, it also kept me reminding me about my grandmother too. It was the same thing. She was battling all of this stuff inside. She would go to work, nobody would know she was getting beat at home. She had to stay strong. She compartmentalized. And that's what I used to get through this whole journey ‘cause it was really difficult man. It was the support.”

Of course, with Kevin Maxwell and “Cora,” it was always about the support. o how did a first time writer-director get his short film into Cannes?

If you ask him, he will obviously give the credit to someone or something else.

“Essentially everything you see in our film was some divine work man,” he said.

With the “Cora” crew just weeks from heading to Cannes, the idea of adapting the short into a feature-length-film hangs in the air.

Given that Kevin Maxwell is still young and about to see his film at a festival for the first time, it may be fair for his grandmother to ask him, “How are you going to do that?”

With the passion he carries for her story, and the seemingly divine amount of support he attracts wherever he goes, it may be unwise for Cora, or any of us, to question him at this point.

S

The “Cora” crew sets up for a take, using the skills learned in the SMC Film 33 course. (Courtesy of Sung Chau)

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10

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

VOLUME 111 ISSUE 07 • MAY 4, 2016 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE

A look inside SMC's Latin America study abroad program wasn’t winning. Her name was Christel.

Partially deaf and blind, Christel was struggling to play the game. Realizing this, Lewis, who was calling out numbers, mouthed to the student helping Most Angelinos are familiar with only one kind Christel, “What number?” The student mouthed back of jungle: the urban jungle full of concrete, cars and the last number she needed to win. Lewis then loudly cellphones. The constant sound of car horns and announced her winning number. engines boom as you walk down the street. As a Not being able to hear him, Christel didn’t know college student, one tends to be locked into this manshe won. The student gently rested her hands on her made world that seems to have no escape. shoulders and said, “Christel, Christel! You won!”

However, there may be.

Upon hearing this, Christel began to cry.

Envision a land of fresh air untainted by smog. A As she sat there, sobbing from immense joy, the place covered green for miles and miles, stretching students and Lewis were struck by the beauty of this so far that the eye can only see dense tropical forest. moment.

Lewis believes that this was perhaps one of As you wander through the jungle, the sound of wildthe few happy moments in the last 15 years of Chrislife hums through the trees to your ears as a bead of tel’s life.

Touched by this, Lewis and the students sweat falls from your forehead. It’s true adventure, began to cry. something one can only imagine living in the middle Three days later Christel passed away. of a city.

“We gave Christel the last moment of joy she ever But this is no far-fetched fantasy. It's a reality for had,” Lewis said in a delicate voice. “To the extent many Santa Monica College students who participate that we can, we want to give back. We want to thank in SMC’s Latin America Education Program. the people of Belize.” He paused for a moment then This summer Dr. Brandon Lewis, archeology prosaid, “It’s a powerful experience and this is going to fessor, and Dr. Alexandra Tower, botany professor, be part of it.” are taking bold students to Belize and Guatemala on Lewis leaned back in his chair and took a sip of a three-week study-abroad trip. Being an interactive his coffee. He suddenly became upbeat again and program, students will explore Ancient Mayan ruins, said, “We are so committed to having SMC change the heart of the southern Maya Mountains, the Great Temple One at Tikal, arguably the most famous of the Mayan temples, is one of the sites your life that we will actually try to fund a significant Barrier Reef of Belize and many other locations. students visit during the Latin America Education Program trip. (Courtesy of Brandon Lewis) portion of the overall expense so that you can experiMuch more than a visit to a foreign country, this ence this." about marine ecology while they snorkel in the Great Barrier program is a journey into an enigmatic world known He was referring to the Global Citizenship Scholarship Reef. All of this and more is planned so that students can to a select few. which covers $500 to $1,000 of the $2,800 cost of the trip. get a comprehensive look at Latin America.

For Lewis, Latin America isn't such a mystery because Even better, many students qualify for this award. This This broad examination of the territory also includes he is a frequent visitor of the region. It has a special place means for numerous students, joining this program is feameaningful interaction with local peoples.

Participants visit in his heart and sparks within him an incredible passion. To sible. the Octavia Waight Elderly Clinic, a senior care facility in share his passion with SMC students is one of his greatest The Latin America Education Program has been recogBelize which takes in elderly people who are living on the joys. nized for changing students’ lives. It could be the hike streets.

As Lewis began to talk about this, his tone sud“The lives of many of my students change during this through the rainforest, the exploration of Mayan ruins or denly altered.

He spoke slowly and softly and recollected trip,” Lewis said. “Afterwards, I speak to them and almost the witnessing of unique wildlife. Or maybe, it’s the time an emotive story. all of them say that it’s one of the most meaningful trips spent at Octavia Waight and the moments shared with people Last year, Lewis found himself at Octavia Waight with they’ve ever taken. I’m so proud of the students.” like Christel. nervous students.

As western visitors, students are unfamilAs one of the nation’s foremost Mayan archeologists, The application deadline was recently extended to May Lewis takes students to some of the most famous Mayan iar with the plight of the elderly in Latin America. The 13, giving newly interested students an opportunity to apply. foreign setting, language and people are often beyond the archeology sites. These include La Milpa, Lamanai, XuThe program is open to all SMC students. To apply online, comfort zone of many students.

But during the 2015 trip nantunich and the Actun Tunichil Mucnal Cave. The most go to SMC’s official website and visit the Study Abroad last summer, like every other before, students were able to impressive is Tikal, considered the mecca of all Mayan Program’s page. connect with the locals on a deeply personal level. archeological sites.

Perchance, your life could be changed too. But be foreAs a part of the visit, students play bingo with the elderly In addition to this, students will hike through the jungle warned, the program is not for the faint of heart — it’s for and they play until everyone wins.

But on this visit, while and learn about the rainforest ecology from Tower, who is those full of heart. everyone else had already won, one saddened resident just a distinguished tropical biologist. Students will also learn AITIANA BALAM STAFF WRITER

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Santa Monica College

OPINION

VOLUME 111 ISSUE 07 • MAY 4, 2016 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

OP-ED DUEL

DOES FEMINISM ATTACK MASCULINITY? Feminism helps masculinity Thanks to the “Rape IS Rape” campaign by the Feminist Majority Foundation, they successfully changed that definition to include When most people hear the word “femi- all forms of penetration in the FBI’s Uniform nist,” the first thing that comes to their mind Crime Report, thus protecting men as well. is probably something like, “a bunch of These laws against sexual violence have also man-haters screaming about women’s issues.” brought attention and justice to males who Either that or they release a huge sigh at the are sexually abused in prisons in the U.S. sheer uttering of the word. every year.

However, the fact is that feminism is not The most prominent fact of all however about hating men, and it's not focused on must be the general equal treatment of men issues that only affect women. Feminism is and women in many aspects of life. Feminism about dismantling the hatred of feminine includes everyone. It has helped break ocqualities, and the acceptance of vulnerabil- cupational stereotypes such as nurses and ity in both sexes. teachers being female or pilots and doctors For example, we all know that violent being male. It has helped draw attention to crime can go both ways. the importance of men Women can be abusive and women’s reproductoward men and women tive health, with much "WE NEED TO BE just as much as men can. from organizaMORE SUPPORTIVE support However, if we focus on tions like Planned Parthe majority of sexual OF THE EXPRESSION enthood. This includes abuse cases (associated testing and treating OF FEMININITY, AND the with violent males) the of HIV and other sexudiscussion is mainly ACKNOWLEDGE THE ally transmitted diseases, about the abused and not of which are not VULNERABILITY AND both the abuser. We hear about limited to either gender. the woman first, and what Thanks to the Family DISCRIMINATION she was wearing, as if and Medical Leave Act BOTH GENDERS the issues of gender are all workers are entitled a “women’s issue.” to 12 weeks of unpaid FACE." Somehow we forgot leave within a 12-month about the men. What we period. This can be to have failed to do, and what we should do, take care of a loved one, including yourself, is focus on the abuser, not the victim. and allows men to spend more time with When we then finally do bring our per- their children, which was a right they previpetrators to justice, we act as if this is an ously did not have. A request for leave could individual problem — that the attacker or previously result in the termination of one’s the abuser is some kind of an anomaly, instead job. of looking at the bigger picture. This is a It is time we realize that gender equality much bigger problem. Abusive men don’t is not a battle between the sexes. It sets men just appear out of nowhere; they are our free from the stigmas of masculinity and the sons, brothers, and fathers, and they are being societal expectations for them. We need to produced by our society. be more supportive of the expression of Look at the world of sports, or the struc- femininity, and acknowledge the vulnerabilture of some of our families and our col- ity and discrimination both genders face. leges. It is easy to see how boys learn from We should raise our boys and girls to an early age that aggression is a positive trait believe that it is okay to show emotion, it is to have as a male, as many sports encourage okay to care, it is okay if you want closeness it, or how being a dominating male earns and it is okay whether you want to play with you the “head of the household” title in a dolls or trucks. Perhaps then we could raise family, while our mothers more often take our children to be humans, not genders. care of the home. Look at every single film from our childhoods that has taught us that girls play princesses, often portrayed as vulnerable and dependent on males, and men often play the role of the savior, expressing minimal emotions. If men do show emotion, they are considered “wussies” or “wimps.”

That’s where feminism comes in. Many people still see the movement as empowering for women only. However, feminism actually shifts our focus from women to men, demanding equality for all.

In 1976, in the case Craig v. Boren, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional to treat women differently from men under the law. The case was about the drinking age policy in Oklahoma that allowed women to drink at the age of 18 and men at the age of 21. The law had suggested that men were more aggressive and irresponsible by nature, hence the higher drinking age. It’s termination was a win for feminists because it furthered gender equality by dismissing the idea that men are fundamentally more hostile than women.

Feminist activists have also helped change the definition of rape.

Up until 2012, the FBI’s definition of rape was “the carnal knowledge of a female, forcibly and against her will”.

DANIELA BARHANNA COPY EDITOR

11

Feminism hurts masculinity GRACE GARDNER OPINION EDITOR The other day upon paying for a male friend of mine’s lunch, I caught myself saying “Yeah, screw gender norms” to no one in particular, with a sense of pride in the fact that I had defied the rules of gender. The cashier across the counter from me responded with a look that unapologetically expressed that he had no idea what the hell I was talking about.

In my small bubble that is liberal Los Angeles, anything that dismantles evil, socially constructed gender norms is a win.

By undercutting his masculinity, I had won this game of gender warfare and equalized the playing field.

However, it’s come to my attention that these petty attacks on our culture do not further a woman’s place in society. Media rhetoric has long suggested to me that I’m still struggling to achieve equality as a woman.

But as far as I can tell, I’ve been an equal in this society since I was born. So here I am, taking hits at this guy's masculinity in the name of gender equality. And for what purpose? What am I fighting for? It’s not equality, but the elimination of gender itself.

Gender may be the biggest institution up for debate this year, second to big banks.

And one can not begin to examine the role of gender in our society without simultaneously discussing the growing, changing social movement that is feminism.

Because we are such a progressive country we often find that any social movement, like civil rights or women's suffrage, is inherently right. Unlike women’s suffrage, feminism does not have an objective such as achieving voting rights but is a mobile sentiment that continues to evolve without objection, largely due to the desire to remain politically correct. Any critique of it is immediately labeled as irrational conservatism, misogyny and even male supremacy.

If you’re talking about the original concept of feminism, this isn’t an unreasonable reaction. Feminism initially attempted to further women to a place in society where they could do everything that a man could do, such as voting, becoming president, being the lead role in an action film or being the breadwin-

ner of a household. However, feminism no longer asks for opportunity, but for a change in how we personally conduct and view ourselves. It’s about identity and personality. Whats more, it’s about culture. It’s in our culture to have the man pay for the meal or open the door, to be the breadwinners of a household or to be athletic.

Feminism today seeks to promote gender equality by eradicating these practices and eliminating traditional gender. In reality, there is little work to be done in terms of gender equality.But with the angst of feminism still pulsing through society's bloodstream, and no further work to be done, feminism has set its sights on masculinity — a reminder of the past oppression of women in America. When feminists talk about eliminating societal gender roles, what they’re really talking about is eliminating the presence of masculinity.

This sentiment is clear when participating in a conversation about gender and consequently feminism. I, as a woman, can engage in these conversations freely. On the other hand, I’ve witnessed my male counterparts attempting to participate in these conversations countless times, only to have their point completely invalidated with the slick, P.C. phrase, “Says the straight male.” Notice how someone with an alternate sexuality would not face the same criticism. That’s because it’s not men that new age feminists oppose, it’s the masculinity.

It’s the very existence of masculinity that is perceived as a threat to gender equality.

By keeping the masculine voice boxed out of the conversation surrounding gender, women control the gender narrative and maintain their place in society. The consequence of this is that there is really no other group that is marginalized and invalidated more acceptably than the straight (often white) male.

The idea that feminism is used to help men is total BS. Feminism today not only attempts to silence masculinity, but to eradicate it’s role in society. This is due to a sense of insecurity women feel in terms of their place in the world. Historically, our country has been a patriarchy run by masculinity.

That's an intimidating concept considering the fact that women have only recently reached a role equal with men in society.

However, we can still have these traditional practices and include the male perspective without inequality. The existence of masculinity is not an inherent threat to the advancement of women. We need to be able to appreciate the progress women have made and release insecurity of losing it.

Gender norms don’t hinder our ability to have societal equality between the sexes.

Gender norms are just one thread in the fabric of American life. To attack masculinity is to attack our culture. To eliminate it would lead to real inequality, tipping the natural balance of masculinity and femininity. If feminists truly want to achieve “equality between the genders,” they’re clearly misinformed.

Gender is a cultural concept that provides different guidelines for behavior. Sex is how we identify the body you were born with. By diminishing the existence of masculinity, you may achieve equality of the sexes via the creation of a genderless society. However, the current equality between the genders would cease to exist.

Illustration by Andrew Khanian

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VOLUME 111 ISSUE 07 • MAY 4, 2016 • SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

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