Volume 103 Issue 1 by Santa Monica College Corsair Newspaper

VOLUME 103 ISSUE 1 FEBRUARY 22, 2012

“Cesar and Ruben” showcased at Regional College PG. 6-7 We will always love you Whitney PG. 9 Healthy Eating near SMC PG. 10 Corsairs advance to playoffs

PG. 12

COVER PHOTO BY SCOTT SMITH

THE CORSAIR · THECORSAIRONLINE.COM · 1900 PICO BLVD. SANTA MONICA, CA 90405 · (310) 434-4340

2|CONTENTS

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

EDITORIAL STAFF

Nathan Gawronsky···············Editor-in-Chief corsair.editorinchief@gmail.com Nathalyd Meza··················· Managing Editor corsair.managing@gmail.com Fatou Samb································ News Editor corsair.newspage@gmail.com Amber Antonopoulos ··Health + Life Editor corsair.lifestylepage@gmail.com Janae’ Franklin·························· A & E Editor corsair.calendarpage@gmail.com Mia Shilpi······························· Opinion Editor corsair.opinionpage@gmail.com Roger Morante·························Sports Editor corsair.sportspage@gmail.com Paul Alvarez····················· Multimedia Editor corsair.multimedia@gmail.com Michael Yanow·························· Photo Editor Anisa El-Khouri························ Photo Editor Amanda Bojorquez··················· Photo Editor corsairphotoeditor@gmail.com David J. Hawkins·························Web Editor corsair.webeditor@gmail.com Nathalyd Meza························ Design Editor Alfredo Avila······························ Design Staff Elham Sagharchi························Design Staff corsair.designteam@gmail.com Jhosef Hern··································Illustration corsaircartoon@gmail.com S T A F F W R I T E R S Yair Avila Vanessa Barajas Jay Be Brookman Romero Campbell Christian Carrillo Peter Cheng Chelsea Cobbs Faye Crosswhite Henry Crumblish Freddie Diaz Sarkis Ekmekian Melina Flores Dylan Futrell Jonathan Ghattas Chavi Gourarie Erica Gunn Robert Gutierrez Justin Hinton Tea Jovanovic Luana Kasahara Brigette Martinez Zoryana Melesh Ebonee Minor Devan Patel Samantha Perez Andrew Riesmeyer Mai Sims Isabel Spiegel Susanna Svensson Christinia Sziatinszsky Cinthia Vera Israel Villacota Sophia Villegas Nadine Weiland Talia Wilson PHOTOGRAPHERS Angelica Aakesson Joseph Adamo Daniela Barhanna Jose Balderas Fabian Cooke Jeff Cote Sydney Forneret Marine Gaste Jonas Ganzoni Adrian Gaticia Amy Gutierrez Carrie Jesenovec Ian-Thomas Kagihara Asta Karalis Linda Konde Guy Mokia Michael Price Lisa Weingarten FACULTY ADVISORS Saul Rubin Gerard Burkhart AD INQUIRIES (310)434-4033 corsair.adconsultant@gmail.com

Carrie Jesenovec Corsair Eric Hayes (left) and Crystal Dominguez hug after Dominquez says yes to Hayes’s marriage proposal on the campus of Santa Monica College Sat. Feb 18, 2012 in Santa Monica Calif. Dominguez believes she was attending a post game award ceremony for the team but was a cover for Hayes to propose.

SMC LOOK AT ME NOW!

There are many talented and hard working students at SMC and we would like to highlight those individuals. If you or somebody you know has a talent such as singing, dancing, music, acting, etc. We want to feature YOU! In The Corsair Newspaper! Email us at: Corsair.calendarpage@gmail.com for more information and maybe you can be featured in our next issue!

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NEWS|3

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

$12.5M facility to move SMC in the forefront of early childhood education Peter S. Cheng Staff Writer

Santa Monica College won’t be one of the few California community colleges without a childcare facility for long. An estimated $12.5 million child care center will be built as part of the Santa Monica Civic Center complex and will serve up to 100 pre-school aged children. The multiple service facility will not only provide care for some of the children of SMC students and members of the community; it will provide a learning lab for the Early Childhood Education Department. The concept for the center has been around for quite some time. Irene Zivi, cochair of the Childcare and Early Education Task Force, says, “We’ve been climbing up hill for 25 years; now it’s moving so fast we can’t keep up!” The funding has been in place since June 9, 2009, and on Feb. 7 of this year, the Santa Monica College Board of Trustees voted unanimously in favor to approve a memorandum of understanding with the City of Santa Monica to move forward with the construction. The center should be open and ready in three to five years. SMC child care director, Jenny Trickey, says that there is no real way to tell how many students are in need of child care, but she gets “so many calls regarding

Marine Gaste Corsair Santa Monica College, the city of Santa Monica and The RAND Corporation agree to build a new facility located at the Santa Monica Civic Center for children of SMC students and employees.

childcare every day” that she is certain SMC is currently underserved. The center may not completely alleviate SMC’s childcare needs, but, Trickey says, “It’s a big step and we have a lot to learn.” According to the city of Santa Monica’s website, the ECEC is a joint venture between SMC, the City of Santa Monica, and The RAND Corporation, a nonprofit

research company. Its services will be available to the students of SMC and children of employees of all three. Funding for the project is also split between the three entities. SMC will pay $7 million from its 2004 voter approved “Measure S” bonds. The city will provide $5.56 million from its general fund according to city of Santa Monica’s website.

The RAND Corporation has provided $500,000 for development and has pledged continuing financial support as part of a land development agreement reached with the city in 2000. The ECEC will serve the involved parties in many ways. Retired SMC childhood education instructor and current co-chair of the task force, Betsy Hiteshew, has been active in the program since its inception. She hopes to see the ECEC develop into a “world class program” that brings SMC to the forefront of early childhood education. Without this center, SMC students currently do early childhood education research at other local colleges and private facilities. The city and members of the Child Care and Early Education Task Force see the center as part of a “cradle to career” network of education and childcare aimed at helping underprivileged students. The RAND Corporation will also use the facility to study childhood development and education. SMC Board of Trusties, Louise Jaffe, says, “It’s an opportunity. It can be much more than an ordinary early education center, we’re trying to create a system. It can play a huge role in educating our early childhood educators.”

Big Blue Bus System Makes Improvements, Students Still Say Too

Crowded

Andrew Riesmeyer Staff Writer

It is another busy day at the corner of Pico and 18th street as Santa Monica College students wait to board the Big Blue Bus, Santa Monica’s public transit system. They will be riding the crowded vehicle to other campuses, their homes, work places, and other locations. A collection of city buses fueled by diesel or natural gas carry almost 7,500 students each day, according to the Office of Sustainability at Santa Monica College. For those students, it is a vital asset at a college that is spread out over multiple campuses. August 2011 saw an increase in service by the city of Santa Monica after community meetings concluded that ridership numbers were on the rise, but some students are still finding difficulty in riding the bus. Service was stepped up to include more buses along Pico Blvd during the morning and afternoon rush hours. But according to Christian Valenzuela, a student who commutes by both bus and bike, it is still too crowded. “I have trouble getting on the bus all of the time, especially when I bring my bike. I’ve had to wait 20 or 30 minutes for the next bus.” For Genevieve Bertone, Director of Sustainability at Santa Monica College, higher ridership numbers is good news. “Recent numbers show that 50% of the student population per day are using the

Jose Luis Balderas Corsair A Santa Monica College student boards the Big Blue Bus Sunset Ride on February 15, 2012 at the Bundy Campus in Santa Monica, Calif. The new Big Blue Bus is just one of the many transportation options available to SMC students. Its new style includes green carbon fiber chairs and larger steps then its smaller counterpart, the Mini Blue Bus.

bus transportation system. More people than ever are riding the buses and using alternative transit.” Reflecting on the crowded system, she says, “Transition takes time, and it takes money. It doesn’t happen overnight.” The new Student Services Building, expected to open in the next 5 years on the corner of Pico and 19th street, will provide more relief to the burgeoning system. The building will house an underground parking garage, a commercial bike store, and a transit plaza with bus stops better equipped to deal with SMC’s mass transit needs. In 2008, SMC entered into an agreement with the city to provide transportation

to the various campuses of the school. Today the contract pays the Big Blue Bus $1.2 million, with half allocated to the Associated Students of SMC. Students can ride the Big Blue Bus anywhere for free with the purchase of an ID card and a $15 fee per semester. The Big Blue Bus program won American Public Transportation Association’s Outstanding Achievement Award in 1987, 1992, 1998, and 2000. Marcus Christophe, a Big Blue Bus driver for 9 years, says, “SMC students make up a good percentage of our riders.” He later on states that while buses do fill up, many do not realize the amount of non-student community members who are being served by them daily. Are

SMC students to expect an increase in buses anytime soon? “Probably not ,” says Christophe, “but they’re keeping track of it now with a computer system.” The computer system is in reference to the 2011-2012 school year which saw SMC implement a system where students are counted electronically when they swipe their cards to ride the bus. Data from this new system will be helpful at the end of the fiscal year when the contract between SMC and the Big Blue Bus is up for renewal. Bertone concludes, “They’re helping us solve a transportation crisis, we’re increasing their ridership. It’s a great partnership, and the Big Blue Bus has been really attentive to our needs.”

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4|NEWS

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

Santa Monica’s New Roads High School places 3rd in Green Cup Challenge

SMC no fee postponement option: Money is no object Sarkis Ekmekian Staff Writer The days when Santa Monica College students could pay their fees in small installments are gone. According to the SMC website, a new policy change which started in Fall 2011 compels students to pay their fees the same day as enrollment by midnight or lose their seat. SMC Board of Trustees member, Louise Jaffe, says this is just another measure, which stemmed from the budget cuts that hit California Community Colleges and public higher education institutions in the past months in addition to instances in which students continually postponed their fees and eventually did not end up paying them. “We’re trying to be fair and even-handed to provide education for those who want it, but we cannot add seats, we cannot afford to be wasting seats,” said Jaffe. “Our concern is to serve our students, and that is driving every reexamination.” SMC used to be able to offer more classes because it would receive program funding through state reimbursements, Jaffe explained. However, due to California’s now limited resources for community colleges, program costs are supported. Many students, who are not in possession of the immediate funds have been stressing over the new deadlines and are worried about not being able to make their payments on time. “I don’t think they should do that. We’re college students, we live paycheck to paycheck, or at least I do,” second year SMC student Meredith Gutierrez said. Jaffe mentioned that the school will be working with the financial aid office to make sure that accommodations are made for students whose aids have been delayed or other similar complications occurred. “I was lucky enough to have my fees waived but a lot of students don’t have that option,” First year SMC student, Laine Neil, said. “If I had to pay by those deadlines, I wouldn’t have been able to come here. It is a community college after all.” Many students still feel that the new deadlines are unreasonable and impractical, as they lack the financial resources to immediately pay their enrollment fees. “I don’t want to depress people, but if you get a class, take it,” Jaffe said. “Students need to be supportive of tax measures. Funding is what we need, every student who can, should vote.”

Christina Sziatinszky Staff Writer With shorter days, longer nights, and temperatures reaching as low as 50 degrees, energy usage and utility bills tend to skyrocket during the winter season. However, Santa Monica’s New Roads High School demonstrated a 9.1 percent reduction rate in energy consumption while participating in the 2012 Green Cup Challenge, an annual four-week energy conservation contest among schools nationwide hosted by the Green Schools Alliance. Although it brought home the state title in the 2011 competition, New Roads School took third place this year, positioning itself behind Harvard Westlake and Turning Point schools, which respectively had 22.1 and 17.3 percent energy consumption drops, making Harvard Westlake School this year’s state winner. “It is not about winning the challenge,” said David Bryan, President and Head of New Roads School. “It’s about reversing the direction the world seems hell bent on heading towards.” Since 2007, the Green Schools Alliance has sponsored the GCC, which invites all K-12 schools to measure reduction on campus electricity use and greenhouse gas emissions. The GCC also supports any green campus’ efforts to make a proenvironmental impact through recycling and water preservation. According to its website, the GCC is designed to raise national awareness of climate change and the necessity for energy conservation. Its main focus is to support schools’ efforts to incorporate sustainability into their curriculum. With 116 schools in 22 states participating in the contest, the GCC keeps track of each school’s

progress by recording weekly usage of kilowatt per hour, the amount of power consumed or generated over a period of one hour. During the first week of the challenge, New Roads recorded a 17 percent reduction. For the second, third, and fourth week, a 6 percent reduction was noted. Despite the third place finish, Bryan is proud of students and faculty members at New Roads, whose continuous efforts contributed to a greener campus. With a recycling program in full swing, New Roads focused mainly on consuming less energy. The school’s efforts included shutting off computer monitors and avoiding electrical usage whenever they could. Students and staff at the school were modest in their use of heating and air conditioning systems and mostly used natural light in classrooms.. “We seek ways to make people aware of unconscious habits,” said Bryan. “Very few people would choose to waste; they just aren’t paying attention.” According to Bryan, the school invested in several light switch guards to prevent lights from being turned on inadvertently. The installations were made to draw people’s attention to their unconscious habits. “If we can get people to pay attention and realize the consequences of their actions, most people will take the better path,” said Bryan. As for next year’s challenge, New Roads has every intention of participating once more. “Whether or not we win again, we will keep moving in the same direction,” said Bryan.

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OPINION|5

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

Frisbee Ban on LA County Beaches is Really Much Ado About Nothing By Justin Hinton Staff Writer

The sky is falling on Los Angeles County’s beaches. No longer will frisbees be tossed; no longer will footballs be thrown. No, from now on, when you go to the beach, you must sit there motionless and silent. And the local government is enacting these measures—now. Well, not really. Last week L.A. County supervisors decided it was time to dustoff some old laws and update some policies. One of them, seemingly the most important to the community and the nation, was a “law” that regulated—and even banned--such activities as tossing balls and frisbees for recreational purposes on LA county beaches. The changed wording on these laws sparked a media firestorm, as social media sites like Twitter and news outlets such as the LA Times and Fox News ran as if their hair was on fire to get the story out as quickly as possible. It turns out they were all wrong (the media, that is); shame on them. In a time when lies have become truth and speculation has become some new form of dogma, something needs to be done. This story—which wasn’t true to begin with--has become the news darling of both conservative talk shows and the nightly news. Greg Toohey, 35, a beach lover and Senior Producer at Fox Sports Radio Network said, “We took it [the story] and ran with it. We did a whole show about the ‘Wussification’ of America.” And there you have it. This is where America is today: one giant “Twitterbomb” away from a nuclear, beachballinfused meltdown. Just stop it already. The La Times has since retracted their

“Rainbow writing on the wall”? Mia Shilpi Opinion Editor When SMC student Aldo Cos, 51, married his husband Greg Pottie in 2008 during the brief period gay marriage was legal in California, it was their second wedding, their first one having occurred seven years earlier in 2001. It had no legal binding at the time, limited family support, and in Cos’ words, “a lot of controversy in the church,” where the purely-ceremonial wedding was held. Yet their marriage, legal and otherwise, has lasted over a decade – far longer than most straight marriages, these days. The last few weeks have seen a surge in support for gay rights in America – Washington and Maryland legislatures both passed a bill for same-sex marriage with governors promising to sign them into law, JC Penny kept noted lesbian talk show host Ellen DeGeneres in the face of a protest and boycott, and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has reaffirmed the ruling overturning Proposition 8, which bans gay marriage. America is moving forward. But while America is moving forward, its pace has been slow, and there has been a lot of stumbling. Even when Massachusetts became the first state to allow gay marriage, people were getting arrested on sodomy charges in Texas – despite the fact that anti-sodomy laws have been ruled unconstitutional the year before in 2003. With all this support for gay rights in America today, many school districts refuse to extend anti-bullying policies to protect gay students, even in the face of high

version of the original story. Thank you. Now, if only the millions of offending Tweeters could recount their tweets. This story is about much more than what is being discussed in the “news.” This story is about where society has currently evolved. America needs its news now, not later. It doesn’t even matter if it’s right or not; it just needs to be fresh and it needs to be fast—and – athe news organizations feel this way, too. They don’t care Daniela L. Berzuini Corsair about the news Group of rugby competitors play a pick-up game at Santa Monica beach in Santa Monica, CALIF, on Sunday, Feb. 19. The being right; it can players known as “The Beach Boks” have been playing every Sunday for the past 10 years however; despite the panic, the always be edited, as new ordinance wont stop them from their weekly tradition. was painfully seen by the jumpingsomething that is either misinterpreted or trust to deliver us with timely and useful of-the-gun stories information, has let us down. As it turns in regards to Joe Paterno, the Penn State misunderstood—or both, for that matter. When asked to comment on this out, this “frisbee” issue was nothing more football coaching legend, as well as Arizona “situation”, Mike Frazer, Chief Lifeguard than misinformation. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ “deaths”. This of the County of Los Angeles’ Lifeguard So, don’t worry; you’ll still be able to toss is just the tip of the iceberg as America Division, said, “We will continue to provide the old pigskin around at the beach this has also had to withstand such ordeals as professional and courteous service to Labor Day, and beach goers can still dodge whether or not Obama has a legal birth ensure safe recreational activities for all.” cigarette butts in the sand as they dive for certificate, which was largely fueled by That quote says it all; or it says absolutely frisbees. Everything will be okay on LA media negligence. Something must be nothing, depending on how you look at it. County’s beaches - at least until someone done so the public doesn’t get worked Once again the media, the thing that we on Twitter tells you it’s not. up into an uncontrollable frenzy over suicide rates among LGBT youth. And despite the New Jersey legislature passing a bill approving same-sex marriage, the state’s governor Chris Christie vetoed the bill, saying, “I encourage the Legislature to trust the people of New Jersey by allowing our citizens to vote on a question that represents a profoundly significant societal change.” [where is this quote from?] Yet even Christie’s ploy is just a stumble in the nation’s path forward. While bullying is a rampant problem among youth, homophobia overall is dying in America. Cos says, “I don’t experience [homophobia] in a hateful way – it’s more of an uncomfortable feeling with people who don’t agree with it…you get that kind of silence when people find out you’re gay”, adding how hatred against gays that was so accepted a decade ago is now condemned by most people today, adding that those who vehemently oppose homosexuality are a “dying breed.” When the Supreme Court ruled laws banning interracial marriage unconstitutional in 1967, 16 states had to be pressured into abandoning that bigotry. Yet at the same time, two-thirds of the country had already gotten rid of their anti-miscegenation laws or never had them in the first place, with some states having interracial marriage dating back eighty years prior to the ruling. The Supreme Court won’t rule on California’s Prop 8–but eventually, they will need to be the one to decide on gay marriage, likely through confronting the Defense of Marriage Act. And in the spirit of a nation moving forward, however slowly it is, they will have to agree that there is no legal reason to ban gay marriage. “This is going to end,” says Cos, very optimistic about the path of gay marriage. “Eventually, it’s going to be legal–not just in California, but everywhere.”

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2/6/12 12:47 PM

6|PHOTOSTORY

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

Scott Smith Corsair Carlos Padilla “Cesar Chavez” shows his love to Melissa Harding “Helen Chavez” in a performance of “Cesar and Rubin” at the M. Thatcher Allred Theater on the campus of Weber State College in Ogden Utah Feb. 11.

“Cesar and Ruben” showcased at Regional College Scott Smith Corsair Backstage, Jenny Gustavsson prepares herself before the show.

“Go, go, go!” yelled the Santa Monica College theater head to a bus driver as the students of the SMC production “Cesar and Ruben” boarded a shuttle an hour late for their 7 a.m. set-up call time. Upon arrival, the crew and actors for the production rushed to their assigned theatre in order to prepare for the day ahead. As the cast and crew try to make-up for lost time, the cast got ready for their mic-checks as they prepared for the first show of the day. It was soon realized that there was an issue with the microphones, and time was running out. “House will be opening in five minutes,” yelled Alicia Perez, the “Cesar and Ruben” stage manager. For seven days, 44 SMC theatre students competed and performed at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. This year, the SMC production of “Cesar and Ruben” was chosen as one of the featured shows during the festival. ACTF, which is held annually, invites college productions, complete with actors and crew-members, to compete for scholarships and awards along with offering educational seminars. “This is a great learning experience because I haven’t competed in something like this since middle school,”

Scott Smith Corsair Santa Monica College student and make up artist Ellis Allen adds the finishing touches backstage.

said cast member Sarah Cowan. Many of the other cast and crew members felt the same excitement of participating in the festival. “This is a great honor for the department, as well as for the college,” said Perviz Sowoski, director of “Cesar and Ruben” and SMC‘s Theatre Department chair. SMC’s theatre program receives many invitations to contests and competitions, however funding is a constant issue. “When Perviz told me that we were coming, I was like yay! But then—crap, how are we going to pay for this?” said Dani Nelson, a cast member. That’s when the SMC Administration stepped in and assisted financially with flights and transportation for the entire production team. “For the students, staff and faculty who attended the festival and participated in productions, workshops, competitions and auditions, this experience was once in a lifetime,” said Sowoski. SMC hired a driver to transport all of the “Cesar and Ruben” production equipment, costumes, and set safely to Ogden, Utah. However the original driver couldn’t make the trip, so SMC driver Grady Ross was called in as a substitute. “I didn’t know anything about this play when I got the call,” said Ross, who claimed to be active in many movements throughout the

60s and 70s, including the grapes and wine boycott led by Cesar Chavez. “For an old progressive, activist in the anti-war movement it was actually a shock and surprise that the universe would make me a driver for the truck for the play,” said Ross. Along with the cast and crew of “Cesar and Ruben,” other SMC theatre students participated in the many competitions offered through the festival. “This was so great to compete, especially since in this theatre community I think people don’t think as highly of community college actors. So it’s kind of nice to be able to represent SMC at this level,” said SMC Theatre student Anthony Cloyd, who later that night won the Regional Irene Ryan Competition, and will be advancing to the National competition at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. A total of four SMC students were awarded for their talents at the American College Theatre Festival, including Alicia Perez for top Stage Manager. who will also be advancing to the national competition. Spencer Tatum and Michelle Ramos were also awarded scholarships, and will be participating in summer theatre programs.

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PHOTOSTORY|7

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

Scott Smith Corsair Christopher Brisson portrays Robert F. Kennedy during Santa Monicaâ€™s performance of Cesar and Ruben.

Scott Smith Corsair Santa Monica College Student Anthony Cloyd and former Santa Monica College Student Celia M. Rivera, who now attends USC perform to a packed house in the finals for the Region VIII Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship at Weber State College in Ogden, Utah. They won the regionals and will now perform in the finals in Washington D.C.

Scott Smith Corsair Spencer Tatum, a Santa Monica theater student, won a scholarship for a Cal State summer theatre program.

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8|A + E

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

Movie Review: This Means War

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

“This Means War“ is a cliché-driven action-romance comedy that you can’t help but feel as though you’ve already seen before. No, this is not another action movie where the good guys try to catch the bad guy, which the opening act leads you to believe. It is only a few minutes later that you realize that the whole story is about two CIA agents (Tom Hardy and Chris Pine) who fall for the same woman (Reese Witherspoon). Tuck (Hardy) and FDR (Pine) are partners and best friends until they discover that they are both dating Lauren (Witherspoon). As they compete for her love, through a series of reconnaisance work using their spy intelligence and high-tech gadgets, which might the be most entertaining part of the whole movie, both Tuck and FDR end up becoming enemies. The efforts of director McG (Charlie’s Angels, Terminator Salvation) and writers Simon Kinberg (Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Sherlock Holmes) and Timothy Dowling (Role Models, Just Go With It) resulted in a mix between comedy, romance and action movie that fails to completely satisfy any of these genres. It is no wonder actors like Bradley Cooper or Seth Rogan passed on it. The storyline is rather predictable, lacking in originality, but it still manages to entertain you and it spares viewers the sappyness usually attached to such movies. At the center of the story is divorced Tuck, who has a child. Having been out of the dating game, he finds himself to be too much of the nice guy and a bit clumsy when it comes to women. On the opposite spectrum is his best buddy FDR, a first-class womanizer with everything figured out. Both meet Lauren, who suddenly finds herself torn between them. Not knowing that the both of them know each other makes this movie something you have already seen before. However, it is Chelsea Handler, who plays Lauren’s friend, who ends up adding to the movie with her witty advice. Witherspoon plays the next-door darling well, which she proved in “Legally Blonde,“ and the scene where she is dancing and singing in the kitchen in her underwear makes her definitely crushworthy. Hardy and Pine provide plenty of eyecandy for the female audience. The story tries to add another layer of complexity with the villain Heinrich, played by German actor Til Schweiger (Inglourious Bastards), who is trying to hunt down the two agents to avenge the death of his brother. But this side story does not distract the audience from the main theme of the movie; two egotistical best friends competing for the love of the same women and discovering that their friendship is most important. All in all, “This Means War“ is light and predictable entertainment that guarantees a few laughs and can be watched by anyone on a Friday or Saturday night on TV when there is nothing else to do. But don’t waste your money on movie tickets—it’s simply not worth it.

Even as they won one of Grammy night’s biggest awards, their name remained a mystery Dylan Futrell Staff Writer

February Events

“Von Eber”? “Bon Jovi”? “Bonny Bear”? Pronounced (pronounced BONE Ee-VER) The Wisconsin-based band took home both the Best Alternative Music Album for their 2nd album at the 54th Grammy Awards “Bon Iver, Bon Iver” and, more prominently, Best New Artist, upsetting Hip-hop sensation Nicki Minaj and dubstep progenitor Skrillex. On the lastest episode of Saturday Night Live, singer Justin Timberlake portrayed frontman Justin Verno for a skit. Looking more like a substitute teacher in his tweed jacket than a Grammy-winning musician. Verno during his ad-libbed acceptance speech had some of the country collectively scratching their heads. “He definitely had that ‘creepy next door neighbor’ vibe going on,” Said, Kyle Bittman, SMC student. “I thought he was Bon Jovi’s son.” According to The National Academy of Recording Arts and Science, the award is eligible for artists who have

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“released, during the Eligibility Year, the first recording which establishes the public identity of that artist.” This is hardly true for Vernon, who made waves in 2007 with the universally praised debut “For Emma, Forever Ago”. The album catapulted him into the Indie music spotlight forming an intense fan base and cementing his band into the music festival circuit. Student and fan Jesi Nicoloro, is surprised at the band’s relative obscurity. “A lot of people have heard him, they just don’t know who he is.” She said. In fact, Bon Iver’s win has a hint of déjà vu from last year’s show, where the relatively unknown jazz artist Esperanza Spalding beat out Justin Bieber and Drake for the prize. Some recipients of the Best New Artist award, including Christina Aguilera and this year’s big winner Adele, have achieved massive mainstream success after winning. Bon Iver’s front man and award recipient, Justin Vernon, with his distinctive, moody soundscapes, appeared uninterested in achieving such wide success. “I [made songs] for the inherent reward of making songs, so I’m a little uncomfortable up here right now,” Vernon

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said in his acceptance speech. Fans like Nicoloro were satisfied with Vernon’s reaction. “I’m happy it didn’t get to his head,” she said. “He was pretty mellow [during the speech.]” However, the indie rocker was not as humble last year, when he called the awards “unimportant” and asserted that “people spend too much time thinking about it.” According to a New York time blog interview in 2011. In fact, the New Artist award has been a hindrance for some recipients, a stamp of a one-hit wonder and not much else. The Best New Artist victims include: Hootie & the Blowfish(1996), Evanescence(2004), and Milli Vanilli(1990), who had their Grammy stripped after being exposed for lip synching. Combined with the fact that well known acts such as the Eagles, Elton John, and Elvis Costello have lost the award and led long, fruitful careers, it’s not far-fetched to believe how artists could see the award as a curse of sorts, giving artists a sudden 15 minutes of fame before fading into obscurity.

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A + E|9

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

NAACP pays tribute to the talented and innovative Devan Patel Staff Writer For those that tuned into the two hour broadcast hosted by Anthony Mackie and Sanaa Lathan on NBC, they were treated to a show greatly highlighted by tributes to the Black Stuntmen’s Association, George Lucas, and the late Whitney Houston. The event, which celebrates the outstanding performances and achievements of people of color in a variety of categories including arts and entertainment, education and philanthropy; spent the majority of the broadcast focusing on tributes despite handing out awards to 45 different categories. The honoring of the Black Stuntmen’s Association was an early highlight of the show as the association was presented with the President’s Award.

The group was honored for being pioneers in breaking down racial barriers in the stuntman industry. Several early members of the association were on hand to accept the award and were greeted with a standing ovation from the crowd as well as overwhelming cheers. Filmmaker and Philanthropists George Lucas was also honored and presented the Vanguard Award. Lucas, known for movies such as “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones,” drew attention and support to one of his latest films, “Red Tails”. Because his cast and crew were primarily African-Americans which caused many movie distributors and studios not to support the project financially. The audience was clearly moved by the tribute to Whitney Houston. Following a video of the 1994 Image Awards in which Houston was presented with the most outstanding female artist award by Denzel

N AT I O N A L U N I V E R S I T Y

Washington, Award-winning Gospel artist; Yolanda Adams belted out “I Love the Lord.” As the camera panned through the crowd, emotions were clearly high as some crowd members were visibly moved and engaged in the song. The event, which took place at the Shrine Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles, offered little in terms of surprises when it came down to handing out awards. “The Help” collected the night’s top film prizes as the movie was awarded most outstanding motion picture, most outstanding supporting actress through the performance of Octavia Spencer, and most outstanding actress through the performance of Viola Davis. The film “Jumping the Broom” was also well represented in the winner’s column as Laz Alonso was honored as the most outstanding performing actor alongside Mike Epps, who won most outstanding

supporting actor. Due to the time constraints, only a few awards presentations in television were actually broadcast. Of those presented on television, Tracee Ellis Ross won most outstanding actress in a comedy series for her role in “Reed Between the Lines,” Regina King won most outstanding actress in a drama series for her role in “SouthLAnd”, and Archie Panjabi won most outstanding supporting actress for her role in “The Good Wife.” “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne,” despite being cancelled, won best comedy series for a fifth consecutive year while “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit” won the honors for best drama series. LL Cool J, well known for his musical talents, was awarded most outstanding actor in a drama series for his role on “NCIS: Los Angeles” for a second consecutive year.

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Mai Sims Staff Writer At 48, Whitney Houston was found dead in her hotel bathtub at the Beverly Hills Hilton on February 11, the day before the 54th Grammy’s. The official cause of death still remains unknown. Houston was one of the ﬁrst African-American women to ever make the cover of Seventeen-magazine, and was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the number one awarded female act of all time in 2009. Houston also had seven consecutive number 1 hit singles. Not only did she take home over 400 awards, she was the inspiration for many new artists that wanted to follow in her footsteps. Her accomplishments were great, but her less ﬂattering moments, such as the Notorious “Crack is Whack” interview with Diane Sawyer in 2002, and her skeletal appearance while performing at the Michael Jackson tribute concert in 2001, sometimes overshadow her overall greatness. Even if it’s a bitter-sweet memory, the memory of Whitney Huston will live on. Because of her immense accomplishments as an artist, she will remain immortal through her distinctive voice and music.

“Wow, she was a diva who wanted to dance with somebody. I grew up with her voice, and she will never be forgotten, she is a part of the history of human kind.” Sabah Benyaich, Music enthusiast and Whitney Houston fan.

“She’s like the god mother of music. If you love music, you can’t deny the talents that have brought all the others out......” Marwa Omari, SMC Music Major.

“She was the voice of the 80s and 90s love songs.” – Nidia Moreno, Music enthusiast “Her voice and her singing helped me through some tough times back in the day, especially that song with George Michael.” Donny Kumar, SMC student

Illustration by Jhosef Hern

We will always Love You Whitney

THE UNIVERSITY OF VALUES

“There is no way this diva will be forgotten, even if you loved her or hated her, she left a mark on all of us.” Linnea Selling, Whitney Houston fan

“She reminds me of when I was growing up as a teenager, and my ﬁrst boyfriend.” – Emelie Forsgren, SMC Graduate.

“What she did for me, and for music, will never be forgotten. She is going down as one of the greatest in the books.” Elizabeth Stuardo SMC student

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10|HEALTH + LIFE

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

Local, healthy fare abounds near SMC Susanna Svensson Staff Writer

Jeff Cote Corsair Andrew V., a Thyme employee, helps a customer at the counter on Feb. 17, 2012, in Santa Monica, Calif.

After frequenting the Eat Street salad buffet four times a week, or visiting the Subway across the street every other day, Santa Monica College students might find themselves in search of a greater variety of nutritious food near campus. In the areas surrounding the SMC main campus, there are several places where students can find fresh, healthy food at reasonable prices. Z Garden is a Mediterranean restaurant located just a short walk from the main campus at 2350 Pico Blvd. The restaurant, which just opened in November, serves wholesome, fresh Mediterranean cuisine with an assortment of vegetarian options. Prices are affordable, and SMC students can get a 10 percent discount with their student ID and cash payment. For students with some time to kill, Ocean Park Boulevard, which runs parallel to Pico Boulevard about a half-mile south, is lined with plenty of healthy eating spots. Thyme Cafe and Market is located a few blocks from SMC at 1630 Ocean Park Blvd. At the cafe, students can enjoy gourmet foods dining in or taking their order to go. The cafe serves freshly prepared sandwiches, seasonal salads, daily-made soups, and homemade pastries at moderate prices. Vegetarian options are available. Gourmet soup, lasagna and chowder, all made without additives, are also available in the market section. A block further up the street at 1741 Ocean Park Blvd., Cafe Bolívar, with its art-covered walls and rich scent of roasted Latin American coffee, offers students an escape from the busy campus. The cafe serves signature sandwiches, homemade soups and salads at inexpensive prices. In addition to locally roasted coffees, students can also enjoy loose leaf teas and exotic

juices. Mrs. Winston’s Green Grocery at 3150 Ocean Park Blvd. houses an extensive variety of healthful options that are natural, fresh and free of preservatives. The large salad bar offers an array of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free alternatives. The store also has a juice bar, where students can fuel up on fresh juices, smoothies and fruit shakes. For those who would rather prepare their own meals, there are at least five farmers markets in Santa Monica, providing shoppers with garden-fresh, seasonal produce from local farms. The largest farmers market takes place on Arizona Avenue between 4th and Ocean every Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. “At the farmers market, you’re in touch with the different seasons,” said Philip Ollo, a part-time SMC student who has been working as a vendor for Tutti Frutti Farms, a vegetable farm based in Lompoc, Calif., for seven years. “You directly meet the people who grow your food. With the stores you get a disconnection; you don’t know who grows it.” On Saturdays, Santa Monica shoppers can choose from two different farmers markets. The Santa Monica Downtown Market is located on Arizona Avenue, between 4th and 2nd Streets, and can be visited between 8:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Not far from SMC at Virginia Avenue Park, located at 2200 Pico Blvd., students can find organic fruits and vegetables between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Another farmers market can be found in Heritage Square on 2640 Main St. every Sunday between 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. “Everything we sell is certified organic and locally grown,” said Ollo. “It’s as sustainable and fresh as you can get.”

students benefit from tax time Andrew Riesmeyer Staff Writer

Springtime has arrived at Santa Monica College, and while the prospect of more sun, warmer temperatures and a fruitful academic semester are on the horizon, something else is looming over the heads of many students: taxes. A growing number of ways to complete and file taxes has made the complex process simpler than ever before. Some benefits available to students, like the American Opportunity Tax Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit, aim to save taxpaying students money and potentially qualify them for a tax refund. According to the Internal Revenue Service, the American Opportunity Tax Credit, designed to give a tax break of up to $2,500 per student annually, was established as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. “The full credit is available to individuals whose modified adjusted gross income is $80,000 or less, or $160,000 or less for married couples filing a joint return,” according to the IRS. “Students who haven’t yet earned a bachelor’s degree will find the American Opportunity Tax Credit the most helpful,” says Maria Elena Cabral, senior tax advisor at an H&R Block tax services office in Santa Monica. “A full 40 percent of the credit is refundable. That means that the student can get a reduction of up to $1,500, and $1,000 back in the form of a refund.” For students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree and are continuing their education, Cabral recommends the Lifetime Learning Credit, which provides up to $2,000 in tax deductions for certain income qualifications. Cabral says that in addition to tuition and enrollment fees, students can claim any books, supplies or equipment needed for class. “Students don’t always know how they can benefit,” says Cabral. ”Most of the time they are getting a substantial refund back.” In a poll of 25 SMC students conducted

by The Corsair, seven said they filed taxes on their own, while 18 either had their parents file for them, or didn’t pay at all. Of the seven who filed on their own, all but one student used a professional tax service. “It feels good to be able to file them myself,” says sophomore Josh Wheeler. “I can save money, and know exactly what’s going into my tax document.” Because the system of taxation is so complicated, many resources are available to aid in the preparation of documents. Taxpayers have the option of utilizing a professional tax service, or software services like TurboTax and Quicken, which help to simplify the process of filling out the various forms. W Scott Russell, a tax preparer at Jeff Russell & Associates in Beverly Hills, says that around 10 percent of their business comes from tax-filing students. “We offer rates that are actually often more competitive than what they would find online,” says Russell, illustrating the benefits of working with a certified public accountant. “We can examine each situation on a case-by-case basis to help find deductions, and maybe save someone more money than if they just used an automated service.” Numbers from the IRS show the majority of tax revenue is divided between federal programs like Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare, defense spending and interest on national debt. “I don’t pay taxes,” says an SMC student who wishes to remain anonymous. “I should, but I just don’t.” While considered a nuisance to some, payment of income taxes is required by law. Failure to pay taxes, or to disclose income on tax documents, can result in an audit from the IRS and other penalties and fines. “Students should be filing taxes,” says Cabral. “They can receive deductions and benefits offered to them by their status at educational institutions. Everyone wants to get money back.” No matter which service is used, one thing remains the same—taxes are due by Tuesday, April 17. Andrew Reismeyer Corsair Santa Monica College sophomore Maddy Boudousque reviews her tax documents on the kitchen floor of her apartment in West Los Angeles, Calif. on Feb. 17, 2012

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SPORTS|11

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

lady corsairs end season with loss but “stick together” in the end Michael Yanow Corsair Santa Monica College guard Kim Alvarez (4) dribbles the ball up court against the pressure by Citrus College guard Julia Tani (2) at Corsair Pavilion Gym on Saturday, February 18, 2012 in Santa Monica, California. Citrus won 57-41 ending the season for SMC.

Dylan Frutell Staff Writer After an arduous season riddled with tough losses, the Santa Monica College women’s basketball team finished the year 8-20 with the loss to Citrus College on Saturday night. First quarter Citrus went up 27-17, but the Corsairs came back in the second holding the Fighting Owls to only three points, adding points of their own, until SMC only had a six point deficit at 30-24. In the end Citrus won the game 57-41. “Our plan was to play better defensively, but they just had more intensity,” said Corsair Head Coach Lydia Strong. While the Corsairs kept the score close early on, Citrus’ dominant defense and physicality proved too much for the team. Guard Jasmyn White said that the team has “kept conflicts” to a minimum, and they “didn’t have any kind of drama” this season. White added that this type of camaraderie can be rare on woman’s team. In fact, according to forward Katt Johnson, through their oncourt struggles, the team has become a tight-knit “family.” “Coach is like our grandma,” Johnson said. “She makes sure we take our vitamins, do our stretches correctly, stuff like that. She cares about us.” Strong holds the belief that the next season looks promising for the Corsairs. “I’m very optimistic about next season,” Strong said. “I like the girls we have, and we’re getting some new players as well.” However, with three weeks to go until off-season training starts up, Strong remains clear about where the team’s priorities lie. “The season’s over. It’s time for everyone to get some rest,” Strong said. “Including me.” Freshman Guard Kim Alvarez led the Corsairs against the Fighting Owls with 13 points, six assists, and two steals while Forward Kat Johnson had 12 points and two steals.

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12|SPORTS

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2012 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE

Corsairs advance to playoffs despite conference loss

Athlete of the Week By: Samantha Perez

photo by: carrie jesenovec

Criss Rodriguez Year: Sophomore Sport: Tennis Hometown: Havana, Cuba Major: Sports Psychology

Corsair: How did you get into tennis? Criss: My family got me into it, I was four years old. My dad played tennis a long time ago and my mom is a tennis coach. Corsair: What is your greatest sports memory? Criss: Probably when I made the Cuban national league when I was 12 years old. I had to move away from home and it was really a crazy experience. I was the youngest member and the only girl. Corsair: Who influences you? Criss: My dad, definitely. He’s my coach and he’s always been my idol. Corsair: Do you have any favorite professional tennis players? Criss: I like Kim Clijsters and Rafael Nadal, of course. Corsair: What is on your “Workout” playlist? Criss: I have a lot of Cuban music on my “Workout” playlist. I like La Charanga Habanera, they’re a Cuban band. I also have Rihanna and Nicki Minaj on there but I relate more to Spanish music. Corsair: What is your favorite hobby? Criss: I like to relax a lot. I am always really tired so when I can relax I do. Corsair: What was the last movie you watched? Criss: I watched “Safe House” with a group of friends from work. It was really good but Denzel shouldn’t have died. Corsair: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Criss: Rome or just Italy in general. I always see it in the movies and it just looks so romantic. Corsair: What’s the best advice you can give to someone who has just started playing tennis? Criss: Definitely work on your serve. The serve is the hardest shot in tennis and it all depends on you. If you’re going to play tennis, do it to do it right and do it for you. I went through a phase where I didn’t want to play tennis because I felt pressured into it by my family, but I learned that I loved to play and now I play for me. Corsair: What are your plans after SMC? Criss: I plan on transferring and hopefully playing for a four year university. I want to stay local so maybe CSUN. If I had to go out of state I would go to Florida International University since my mom lives in Florida. The Corsairs are coming off a winning 2011 season in which they finished as California State Champions. Criss was ranked #6 in the state and her doubles team was ranked #1 in California.. In her last match against Saddleback College, Criss was victorious, going 6-1, 6-3 in a best of three matches. The Corsair’s next match in the Western Conference is February 21st against Allan Hancock College.

Christian Lopez Staff Writer Despite a huge effort by point guard Lee Lark and the rest of the SMC Men’s basketball team, the Corsairs were unable to obtain a victory against the number one seeded Citrus College on Saturday night. “While the loss was disappointing, the game itself shows that this team is capable of competing with anybody in the state,” said Joe Cascio, Athletic Director of Santa Monica College. Early in the first quarter, Julian Wheeler hit two three-pointers to put the Corsairs up 6-0, but the Fighting Owls struck back, and by the half Citrus was on top 43-41. With 4 minutes and 23 seconds left in the ball game, the Corsairs’ Travis Damuth stole the ball and took it down the court for the wide open dunk. The crowd went wild as the Corsairs only trailed behind by four points at 73-69. But the Fighting Owls took control after that and went on to win the game 86-75. Wheeler finished the game with 29 points and Lee Lark had 15 in the Corsairs’ loosing effort against the 2011 State runner up Citrus College. Even with the loss, SMC finished the regular season at 15-12, 6-6 in Conference, and is the 18th seed in Southern California. The loss did not harm the Corsairs’ chance of entering the playoffs, and they are ready to play the 15th seeded El Camino College today at El Camino College at 7 p.m. “They’ve seen us and we’ve seen them,” said Corsair Head Basketball Coach Jerome Jenkins. “We just got to go out and play Corsair basketball and see what happens.” The loss to number 1 seeded Citrus Collage may have given the Corsairs the warm-up they needed to compete in the playoffs and overcome El Camino in their first round of the playoffs. “I feel good about our chances going forward,” Cascio said. “The winner moves onto play the number two seed Mt. San Antonio College.”

Carrie Jesenovec Corsair Julian Wheeler (3) of Santa Moncia College fights for a shot in a game between Citrus College on February 18, 2012 in Santa Monica, Calif.

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