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Park residents Peter Naughton (left) and Marian Giustino (right) stand at the front entrance to the Village Trailer Park moments before the protest that Naughton has organized. For almost a year, Naughton has led resident protests along Colorado Boulevard against the actions of the Santa Monica City Council and the developer, Marc Luzzatto. “The fight goes on,” Giustino said. “Winston Churchill said ‘never, never give up.’ That’s what we’re doing here.”
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volume 105 issue 12• may 15, 2013 • santa monica college
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CORSAIR
Trailer park residents battle to save homes from development reporting and photos by Amy Gaskin Resident Brenda Barnes stands in her doorway that she decorated with her grandson. Barnes vows to keep fighting. She previously worked as a staff attorney at the Rent Control Board and often leads meetings with residents to strategize steps against the proposed development. She has filed a number of legal actions against the developer, the city, and the Rent Control Board.
A hand-painted mailbox outside the home of Butch Rowlett and Suzie Sparks. Sparks often does craft projects and decorates the park to lift morale.
Some residents of the Village Trailer Park in Santa Monica have vowed to continue their fight against moves by a developer to force them out of their homes to make way for a large mixed-use project. For nearly seven years, the developer has tried to close the park, and City Council hearings have been long and contentious. Recently, the Council took its final vote and narrowly approved the project, thus rezoning the land on which the park sits. However, the next decision rests
with the Rent Control Board who can grant the necessary removal permit, and it is not clear whether they will do so. While some residents have moved out since the first attempts to close the park in 2006, the group that remains is determined. They say they will not give up their homes or their community. Some have filed lawsuits, and others are planning. Several residents have said that they will remain until the sheriff comes to evict them.
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2 contents
volume 105 issue 12 • may 15, 2013 • santa monica college
E D I T O R I A L S TA F F Amber Antonopoulos···· Editor-in-Chief c o rs a i r. e d i t o r i n c h i e f @ g m a i l . c o m Muna Cosic··············Managing Editor c o rs a i r. m a n a g i n g @ g m a i l . c o m Elizabeth Moss··············· News Editor c o rs a i r. n e w s p a g e @ g m a i l . c o m Molly Philbin··············Opinion Editor c o rs a i r. o p i n i o n p a g e @ g m a i l . c o m Merissa Weiland······· Health & Lifestyle c o rs a i r. l i f e s t y l e p a g e @ g m a i l . c o m Alex Vejar·········· Arts & Entertainment c o rs a i r. c a l e n d a r p a g e @ g m a i l . c o m David Yapkowitz············ Sports Editor c o rs a i r. s p o r t s p a g e @ g m a i l . c o m Daniella Palm·········Multimedia Editor c o rs a i r. m u l t i m e d i a @ g m a i l . c o m Paul Alvarez Jr.···············Photo Editor Mark Popovich···············Photo Editor c o rs a i r p h o t o e d i t o r @ g m a i l . c o m Jhosef Hern······················ Illustrator c o rs a i r. c a r t o o n @ g m a i l . c o m Allie Silvas····················· Web Editor c o rs a i r. w e b e d i t o r @ g m a i l . c o m Henry Crumblish··········· Design Team Mikaela Osterlund·········· Design Team Cocoa Dixon················ Design Team Gimlet Rivera··············· Design Team c o rs a i r. d e s i g n t e a m @ g m a i l . c o m c o r s a i r s ta f f Trevor Angone, Luis Arias, Fernando Baltazar, Vanessa Barajas, Lorentious Barry, Scott Bixler, Raul Cervantes, Sara Cheshm Mishi, Jeff Cote, Jenna Crowley, Tina Eady, Skya Eiland, Djon Ellams, Rachael Garcia, Amy Gaskin, Marine Gaste, Manon Genevier, Felipe Gouveia, Linda Harrell, David J. Hawkins, Sam Herron, Jasmin Huynh, Simon Luca Manili, Asha McClendon, Rona Navales, Andrew Nguyen, Kandace Santillana, Chanell Scott, HaJung Shin, Ryan Sindon, Niklas Thim, Eva Underwood
Paul Alvarez Jr. Corsair Terrell Owens and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson sit and talk after running routes at Corsair Stadium at Santa Monica College on Tuesday.
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news 3
volume 105 issue 12 • May 15, 2013 • santa monica college
SMC Rotaract student awarded $1,000 lorentious barry Staff Writer After completing a 30-minute application, Santa Monica College student Jeanette Pichardo walked away with a $1,000 scholarship. Pichardo, a member of the SMC's Rotaract Club, which is a branch of the Rotary Club, received the reward from Tom Loo, a noted lawyer and member of Santa Monica's Rotary Club. Pichardo is majoring in accounting and plans to transfer to California State University, Northridge next year. She has been attending SMC for four years. “I had no idea I was going to win,” said Pichardo. “It wasn’t until later that I found out that I was the only one who applied.” The Tom Loo Scholarship, a first of its kind, will be presented to Pichardo on June 7 at the Riviera Country Club in Santa Monica. Loo is a member of the Santa Monica Rotary Club and attorney for one of the top law firms in the United States. Loo graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California. “The Rotary Club is a community service organization,” said Loo. “The purpose of our organization is to help others, encouraging students and support the community.’’ A 3.0 GPA is not needed to qualify for a scholarship. “Students can join the Rotaract Club if they want to rub shoulders with doctors,
lawyers and a host of other professionals in the business community,” said Kelly Zhoo, president of SMC's Rotaract Club. SMC's Rotaract Club offers business opportunities and internships for students when they graduate, said Zhoo. Students can build their resume by becoming a member of the college branch. “The Rotary Club provided thousands of dollars in scholarships to thousands of students at Santa Monica College over the years, for as long as I can remember working for the college,” said Marcia Fierro, a staff member at SMC's scholarship department, who has been working in the SMC student scholarship office for 24 years. “This year, around 700 students applied for scholarships, and more than 50 percent of the students who applied were approved,” said Fierro. “The scholarships range from $250 to $2,000, but can be as high as $12,000 if a major corporation is writing the check.” Rotary International is a worldwide organization of professionals who provide humanitarian services in their communities. There are a little over a million members in more than 32,000 Rotary Clubs in 200 countries. The Bill Gates Foundation donated over 200 million dollars to the Rotary Club in their partnership to stamp out polio worldwide.
Sam Herron Corsair Santa Monica College student and Rotaract member Jeanette Pichardo walked away with a $1,000 scholarship after completing a 30-minute application. She was the only one to apply for the scholarship.
Suspect selfies, stolen Samsungs Vanessa Barajas Staff Writer
A case of petty theft occurred on May 1, when an estimated $500 Samsung Galaxy S3 cell phone was stolen after a student left it charging while he was studying. After falling asleep, he realized his cell phone was missing. The theft went unreported for six days until the student found the alleged suspect had snapped a photo of himself after seeing it on the cell phone's virtual storage space online. He then notified campus police who created a crime bulletin with his picture. As of now, the suspect in question is not known to be a student. Last Monday, a Samsung cell phone was stolen while a student was in front of the library, with his backpack resting on the benches. The victim claims to have had his cell phone inside his backpack. There were no witnesses and the victim does not know how the suspect managed to steal the cell phone. Security cameras were unable to record any suspicious activity since the incident occurred outside of the
Santa Monica College crime and theft
The recent cr that have be reported ha involved b students a Last wee crimes include theft a prope dam oth acc at
crim e log
library. There was a six-day delay in the reporting of a stolen text book, which went missing on Friday, May 3 in Drescher Hall. The book is described as an introductory Italian language paperback textbook. The female student forgot the book in her class and did not realize it was missing until the following day. No witnesses have come forward and A&R Textbooks, the bookstore across the street from the main campus on Pico, has been notified to look for it just in case someone attempts to sell it.
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4 Opinion
volume 105 issue 12 • may 15, 2013 • santa monica college
Letter to the Editor
This past Global Motion World Dance Company show “Poverty and Wealth” was considered a great accomplishment for all dance cast members. Personally, this semester’s show was the strongest out of all my four semesters being a dancer and student choreographer with Global Motion. It surprised me that there was such a negative report unless you were reporting on our run through rehearsal. I have heard constructive and positive feedback from many of the dance professors and fellow students of the dance department, which makes me question the validity of your article. Your article (May 8, “Global Motion Lacking”) seemed to be missing many components on how to write an accurate and fair critique of the Global Motion show. There was no criticism that we could take to apply to future performances. It was a novice perspective on a group of trained dancers. Many cast members took offense to this article because it was written as if you had no prior knowledge in partaking in cultural dance or in a cultural dance production. Mind you, cultural dance should not be viewed and described solely on movement technique, but on the love for the culture and for its representative dance. That is what distinguishes cultural dance from any other types of dance. I guarantee you that every single person in the dance cast of Global Motion danced with their entire heart on all three showings. This is why I am concerned and surprised by your article that implies “Global Motion [was] lacking” and that the “dancing itself was disappointing.” Many members also do not agree with the choice of wording. One example is the use of the word “routine” that belittled the tradition of the dance. Not only did
your terminology offend the dancers, but we are concerned that it has offended the cultures that we represent. According to Emily Queliz, “We are not cheerleaders doing routines. We are actually learning and representing these cultures with our entire hearts.” The first Filipino dance piece that used the bamboo sticks to “create a stronger and a more dramatic experience” was not worded with respect towards the cultural tradition. This wording implies that the dancers and the music were not strong on its own. Again, many of these pieces are actual traditional dances. In this case, the use of the bamboo in Filipino dance is not simply a recent creative addition, but an old tradition that symbolizes much more than a visual aesthetic. When describing the African dance piece, everyone definitely agrees on the exceptional talent of the musicians, but it was the dancers (who had spent many extra rehearsals working on perfecting their choreographer’s vision) that composed the majority of the piece. You seemed to have belittled the dancers’ efforts and cultural tradition by focusing on the props that were meant to enhance the dance; they were not meant to be the focal points compared to the actual dance and movement. What had lacked from your article was the focus on the people, which is what the subject of dance is all about. Global Motions is not only a show for the audience, but please keep in mind that it is an academic course. The dancers undergo the most growth compared to the audience. Global Motions allows the dancer to undergo not only the audition and rehearsal processes, but to learn a culture that is completely foreign to most of them and
that some have never partaken in. In the assigned eight weeks (meeting either once or twice per week), the students learn the culture and its dance. Many cast members also suggest that “The Corsair” assign one writer to report on both the article before and after the show, so as to report from an involved and knowledgeable perspective. This will help with creating a more accurate report. Ms. Mishi, from reading your other Corsair articles, I think you are an eloquent writer who is capable of excelling in journalism. However, it was apparent that you are not knowledgeable in the dance field. It concerns the dance cast of Global Motion that “The Corsair” is sending students who have done no prior research on the educational aspect of the Global Motions show and who have no prior dance performance experience. I am writing you in hopes that this can help you in your future assignments. This article does not reflect the many accolades that this newspaper has recently accumulated. I truly believe that Global Motions was falsely represented in “The Corsair” and I suggest more research in the dance field before publishing about it. The majority of readers will credit your name as knowledgeable in whatever subject you decide to write, so please write justly. Sincerely, Toni M. Pasion Global Motion World Dance Co. Student Choreographer & Dancer Approved and Supported by, Global Motion World Dance Co. Cast Members
A message to the ‘scholastic underdogs’ oliver fernandez contributor
Are you that community college student who did not have the best grades in high school, which practically forced you to attend a community college? After you graduated high school, did you watch all your friends move forward with their lives as they attended big universities, while you went to a community college? Did this make you feel like you were missing out on the college experience that you have always wanted? Well, you are not alone. I am here to tell you that there is light at the end of the tunnel. There is still hope to get into a four-year university regardless of how poorly someone has done in high school — that is right, a second chance. Three out of every 10 Californians, age 18 to 24, are currently enrolled in a community college, according to a California Community Colleges Scholarship Endowment statement. I was part of that 30 percent, and, admittedly, I wasn’t too happy about it at first. Throughout high school, I never had the best work ethic or took school seriously, which affected my grades and resulted in me
getting denied to every university I applied to. Having bad grades was a horrible feeling, but being denied to all the universities I applied to was even worse. The first couple weeks attending Santa Monica College was exciting in many ways, such as living on my own and starting a new chapter of my life. However, as time went on, I would see all my friends I graduated high school with having so much of a better time than I was at their universities that they attended. Although community colleges have great programs and an education system that can further help students transfer to a four-year university, nobody wants to be stuck at a community college forever — I sure didn’t. As I attended SMC, I never got the experience of living in a dorm room, meeting tons of new people, or even going to “real” college parties. As many community college students can relate, this made me feel that my life was, in a way, “put on hold” by not attending a four-year university and not getting the college experience that all my friends were having. There was something missing, and I wanted to do something about it. Ultimately, that feeling motivated me to take school seriously to earn the grades required to transfer. Much of my interest in the University of Arizona, which is the college I now attend, I can credit to SMC's college fair. At the event I met Gil Gastelum, a representative for UA, and, because of how
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he talked to me about his school, I fell in love with it. With every phone call I made to Gastelum for more information about UA, and going to SMC's walk-in academic advising provided almost every other day, the possibility of me transferring to a university became more and more realistic. I knew it was not going to be easy, especially since I did not consider myself to be “book smart.” From spending Friday and Saturday nights at home doing homework to countless hours at the library, my life was consumed by schoolwork driven by my desire to attend UA. In just one year, and a 3.0 GPA, all my hard work paid off — I was accepted for transfer to UA for fall 2012. I am currently a sophomore majoring in business management. I was never the smartest kid in school growing up, nor did I get the best grades. For many of you who can relate to that, believe me when I say that hard work does pay off. Many students get discouraged being at a community college and tend to give up. But, for all of you thinking about transferring and do not think you are smart enough, I am here to tell you that you are wrong. A student's greatest weakness lies in giving up; the desire to succeed and the urge to reach your full potential are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.
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Staff editorial
Mayoral election:
It doesn’t matter if you can’t decide Seeing as many of the editors in the newsroom didn’t know when the Los Angeles mayoral election was, it wouldn’t be surprising if most of the student body didn’t know either. It is on May 21, by the way. The election is a campaign that does not really matter very much. Just 21 percent of registered voters in Los Angeles turned out for the primary, down from 34 percent the last time there was a primary with no incumbent, in 2001. The two liberal Democrats, Wendy Greuel and Eric Garcetti, have few apparent policy differences. They both would be the first-something mayor — Greuel would make history as the city’s first female mayor, and Garcetti would be the first Jewish elected mayor. They both have long-standing ties to publicemployee unions, and they both have created drama by releasing negative ads about one another. Moreover, Garcetti and Greuel both favor expensive projects, such as increasing film jobs support and building a rail tunnel from the San Fernando Valley to West Los Angeles. This leaves us to believe that both are unsure of how to fix pension costs issues of the county. It is evident that voters are having a tough time deciding between the two — a poll by the Pat Brown Institute of Public Affairs at California State University, Los Angeles shows Greuel with 46 percent of likely voters and Garcetti with 45 percent, and nine percent who are undecided; 12 days before the election. Basically, Garcetti and Greuel are fundamentally the same; although that is not necessarily a bad thing, it is useless to voters. The two candidates even agreed in a debate on May 5 that they were not so different on many of the plans they have for the city. Whether it is Garcetti or Greuel, the new mayor will face a $216-million budget gap and rising pension costs that could cripple municipal finances, which is as daunting as it sounds. It is difficult to engage roughly 4 million residents in the nation’s second-largest city to vote, but the lack of interest cannot be all due to voter apathy. For voters, it has been a struggle to differentiate the candidates in this runoff. The Los Angeles Times endorsed Garcetti in late April stating that “he lacks executive experience but is the candidate with the most potential to meet the challenge.” The Los Angeles Daily News supported Greuel for the same reason. Not even county news sources agree on who to pick, so how can we? At least this race has been a break from the current, tabloid-laden mayor Antonia Villaraigosa.
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volume 105 issue 12 • May 15, 2013 • santa monica college
Photostory 5
reporting and photos by Amy Gaskin Jack Fadem, 79, a Korean War veteran and father of eight, sits inside his home built in 1952. Fadem has a machine shop nearby. On his modest income, the relocation benefit being offered will not be enough to live on for the long term because the developer offers to subsidize the rental rates of apartments for only the first four years, Fadem says. “The seven choices he gives us are really not very good at all,” he says. “We’ll do the best we can, that’s all. But in the end, big money really is powerful.”
‘These are our homes’
Retired firefighter and veteran Vernon Van Wie, 91, steps outside his home after a meal has just been delivered to him. Van Wie first worked for the Santa Monica Fire Department in 1939.
Geri Meeks stands outside her home shortly before Christmas. Her husband, Ray, is a retired LAPD officer. Ray is ill with cancer, and the threat of losing their home has made their lives harder, she says. Geri sometimes participates in the protests, but says it is much more difficult now that Ray is ill.
Vicente Zuco, 79, stands outside his home holding flowers from his visit with his sister. Zuco, an avid singer, has stacks of music in his living room and enjoys entertaining the residents during their meetings. “Why not leave us in peace?” Zuco pleads.
Savannah Sparks, 13, (center) moves some Christmas decorations that she, her brother Richard, 16, (right) and her mother, Suzie Sparks (left) have been painting. Savannah is an honor roll student. Suzie feels there is likely an inevitability to the park’s closing. She has only lived there a few years, and believes it is worse for the older residents. “I don’t think it’s right, especially when they bought these homes with the intention of dying here,” she says. “I think the stress alone is killing people.”
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6 Photostory
volume 105 issue 12 • may 15, 2013 • santa monica college
A notice of Removal Permit application and hearing from the Rent Control Board was delivered to residents on March 19, the same day that the City Council voted to approve the development.
Resident Jack Waddington (left) expresses his frustration with the developer’s actions at a residents meeting to plan the next steps while Marian Giustino, a long-time park resident, listens.
reporting and photos by amy gaskin Resident Peter Naughton, a land use planner, protests on Colorado Boulevard on most days and has been doing so for nearly a year. He says he is in it for the long haul. “Homes are sacrosanct,” he says. “A home is everything to a family. You can’t just demolish it on a whim.”
Residents Rally
Park residents have been organizing to prevent the removal of their homes. For almost a year, Peter Naughton has been staging regular protests at the park’s entrance along Colorado Boulevard. Naughton, a land use planner from Ireland, said he once had a job like Luzzatto’s. One day, he drove with his mother to see the site of a new freeway his company was developing. “She asked me, ‘What is going to happen to the people who live in these houses?’” Naughton said. “And I said, ‘That’s not my department.’ She said to me, ‘You don’t sound like my son anymore. There are families
living in those houses.’ When I came into this trailer park I thought I could make it up to my mother for the things I had done to destroy families when I was on the other side. I’m making amends to her for hurting her when I overrode her sensibilities and people’s homes.” Naughton’s wife, Brenda Barnes, previously worked as a staff attorney at the Rent Control Board, and said she believes the law is on the residents’ side. She has filed legal actions against the city, the Rent Control Board, and the developer. Barnes and Naughton hold frequent meetings to boost morale and to help residents strategize about how to save their homes from the development.
Peter Naughton, left, exits the community room after setting up food for the residents strategy meeting. Inside the room is his wife, Brenda Barnes, who will lead portions of the meeting. Savannah Sparks, 13, and her brother Richard, 16, look on after just having cleared the room of the Christmas decorations they had been painting with their mother earlier in the day.
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Photostory 7
volume 105 issue 12 • May 15, 2013 • santa monica college
Councilman Kevin McKeown (right) questions developer Marc Luzzatto (left) about whether he asked residents to sign a document forbidding them to speak at hearings or with city officials regarding the park’s proposed closure. In expressing his concern about the possibility, McKeown said, “I find that troubling because we value participation and free speech.”
Round One
Developer wins: Council narrowly approves project After some last minute discussions about the project’s density, relocation benefits, and about whether residents had been asked to sign agreements preventing them from testifying at the hearings, the City Council took its final vote and approved the project, 4-3. The developer, Marc Luzzatto, told The Corsair that his project will benefit the city because, among other things, it is near the soon-to-be-built rail station. “The idea is that it facilitates people riding to and from work to relieve the streets of traffic,” Luzzatto said. However, many Santa Monica residents who oppose the project have cited that the project will create more than 2,300 daily car trips, as estimated by the city. Proponents say that the development will bring much needed tax revenue to the city. According to Luzzatto’s estimates on file with the city, the assessed property value, upon which taxes are based, is currently over $4 million and is projected to be between $124 million and $182 million upon completion of the project. Many residents say they are not being adequately compensated for the value of their homes and even though there are a number of relocation choices, they do not feel they are comparable replacements to what they are losing. Each resident has a unique situation, and not all residents qualify for all options,
depending on income and other factors. “The relocation plan provides only short term support,” park resident Catherine Eldridge told the Council. A few former residents said they were pleased with their new situations and feel they were properly compensated. In explaining his “no” vote, Councilman Kevin McKeown said there were “more than enough reasons to vote against the project” including “bad design,” insufficient affordable housing, concerns about “how the relocated residents can pursue their grievances,” and “the questionable method” used to calculate the project’s density. Mayor Pam O’Connor, who voted for the development, was less concerned about the density calculation, citing the need for a more “holistic” approach. Citing similar concerns to McKeown’s, Councilman Ted Winterer said the plan is “best described as looking something like what a Minnesota architect would design to keep the Minnesota winter cold out rather than the Southern California sunshine and light and air in.” Current park residents expressed disappointment when the majority sided with O’Connor to approve the development.
Developer Marc Luzzatto is interviewed following a City Council meeting. “The relocation benefits I’m offering are more than fair,” he said.
Residents Ruth and Paul Lewis stand on their front porch. Lewis says that he signed a document which prohibits him from appearing at public hearings to oppose the park’s closure. When questioned by Councilman Kevin McKeown, Luzzatto said that he did not know whether Lewis had that provision.
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8 Photostory
volume 105 issue 12 • may 15, 2013 • santa monica college Rent Control Board Chairperson William Winslow listens to resident Peter Naughton’s concerns. “Agencies dump documents on unsuspecting, poor and lowincome people and expect them to respond as they were highly trained attorneys,” Naughton says.
Park resident Catherine Eldridge listens to comments. Court records show that Eldridge has a prior ruling from a judge allowing her home to remain in its space. The developer has proposed temporarily retaining a section of ten spaces where Eldridge’s home is located.
Round Two
Taking on the Rent Control Board at City Hall
reporting and photos by amy gaskin Resident Peter Naughton enters City Hall to attend the Rent Control Board hearing for the required Removal Permit. “The force is with us,” Naughton says. “I think that my experience of the last three years has been that we can’t fail. Everything is helping us win this. Even setbacks are what is meant to happen to make us win in the end. I really believe that.”
More battles at City Hall, Rent Control Board postpones vote
Residents Peter Naughton and his wife Brenda Barnes leave the City Council meeting in December, where the Council rescinded its previous approval of the development. Councilman Kevin McKeown summarized that meeting by saying, “Given where the residents were until about 12:45 this morning, that was a home run for them.” The Council’s final vote, however, was won by the developer.
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Although the Council has approved the development, the matter is now before the Rent Control Board, who must grant a removal permit before development can proceed. After hearing from members of the public and the developer, the five-member Board unanimously decided more time was needed before voting. Park resident Calvin Normore urged the Board to consider their decision with care. “Your staff has pointed out both that you have discretion about permits to remove rent control, and you have a duty to exercise it responsibly,” Normore said. @t h e _ c o r s a i r •
“There are still so many questions in my view that we need time on,” Board member Todd Flora told his colleagues. “There’s not even agreement on how many residents are even still there.” “I’m certainly not prepared to vote without some strong recommendations to this developer that regardless of how far they think they’ve come, and regardless of how wonderful and magnanimous they and their friends think they’ve been, we have a responsibility to preserve the affordable housing stock in this city,” Flora said. The Board will consider the matter again on May 23.
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arts + Entertainment 9
volume 105 issue 12 • May 15, 2013 • santa monica college
Art program showcases students Alex Vejar A+E Editor
From afar, it looked like a garden-variety dress on a mannequin. But upon closer inspection, the real message of the art piece comes through. Words like "trafficking," "victimization" and "violence" were written on cards showing seemingly-malnoursished children, depicting the horrors of the fashion-making industry The Santa Monica College art department had the opening reception for its annual student exhibit at the Pete and Susan Barrett Gallery at the SMC Performing Arts Center last Friday. Various art techniques, such as paintings, sculptures and prints, were displayed at the exhibition. "It's not just one medium, it's all the classes in the department," said Mirian Winsryg, the gallery director who has been teaching at SMC since 1987. Winsryg said that it is important for students to have their work shown for others to see. "In the art world, you want to have that experience," she said. "It's part of the experience of being an artist that you actually show your work. Otherwise, why do you make it?" The faculty from the department choose at least two works from students in their classes to show at the exhibit. For the last three years, the art in the showcase follows a specific theme. This year, it was Poverty & Wealth, Want & Waste: The Unevenness of Globalization.
Students who had work showcased in the gallery were present at the opening reception, and had lots to say of what it felt like to be a part of the exhibition. "It's kind of surreal just cuz I've never had my work showcased in a legit gallery before," said SMC student Michelle Rhee. "It's nice to be a part of the SMC art community." Brandon Otani, SMC student since 2006, has shown at the student art show before as a part of the Art Mentor program. "It's cool to be on display again," Otani said. Tara Gruchalski, 20, has been an art student at SMC for three years. She feels the art program on campus has helped her in a lot of ways. "It really helped me kind of try to hone in on what I was good at, what my strengths were, what I needed to work on and what school I wanted to go to," said Gruchalski, whose work was on display last Friday. "It's been a really holistic experience." Art department chair Ronn Davis said the program's objective is to prepare students to transfer to four-year colleges, as well as developing the skills of young artists. Felipe Gouveia Corsair "Our goal is to put you in a place where creativity is now an integral part of your everyday life," Davis said. Jody Rudy and daughter Emma Rudy, a Santa Monica College The next showing of student art will be the exhibition for art student, look at an art piece at the opening reception of the Art Mentor Program this June. the art department student exhibit, at the Pete & Susan Barrett Gallery at the SMC Performing Arts Center on May 10.
Film brings art and motherhood together Jasmin Huynh Staff Writer Work, motherhood, art, change, and friendship. These are the themes in Mary Trunk's documentary “Lost in Living,” which showed the lives of four women and their daily ups and downs as mothers, artists, daughters, and friends. Between work, family and change, they are “lost in living.” On May 9, Trunk screened her documentary, which she directed and produced with Ma and Pa Films, at Santa Monica College. Trunk filmed for over seven years, witnessing the women's struggles and successes to balance their responsibilities toward their families with their passions for art. “[As a mother], you are always pulled into different directions — motherhood, art,” she said. “And within those, there are all these other choices. There is the friendship, and the work, and the change,
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and all these different themes that make things [go] in different directions. And when you become a mother, you often don't get to choose.” Over the years, Trunk has heard different stories of bad marriages, best friends and regretful mother-daughter relationships. But they all share one similarity — art as an outlet to offset their daily duties. Trunk's own life as a mother and artist inspired her to start this seven-yearlong project. Like her other films, the documentary was prompted by the struggles she went through and that helped her to discover and express her thoughts, she said. When Trunk moved to Los Angeles with her 1-year-old daughter, she said she “felt lost in the toddler life of taking care of a child.” “I had to kind of jump-start my creative urges,” said Trunk. Trunk said that she not only used the movie as a way to express her creativity, but also as a means to tell stories that needed to be heard, but are not always told.
The different paths that these four women take and the decisions that they make are not supposed to serve as guidelines or directions for other women, Trunk said. “It is about a situation and the people,” she said. “It is not an argument or a statement on what you should do. The voices of women and mothers are super important in this film. It's about story.” Trunk developed compassion for her subjects by filming, observing and listening to them for more than half a decade. As a result, her subjects developed trust in her, she said. “You learn compassion more than anything, because when you make a film where you are really listening to people and not engaging in conversation so much, you have to accept them for who they are,” Trunk said. “In doing that, you are learning about people. They are going to divulge and trust you in a way they wouldn't otherwise. That's a real gift.” The honesty and frankness in the stories of the four women in the film seemed to give some female viewers a sense of
affinity and encouraged them to share their thoughts. “What I appreciate the most is the honesty and transparency of the movie,” said Elsa Mora, artist and mother of two children. “That's why I think it's extremely relevant to everybody. Suddenly I realize that probably every single mother in the world is going through the same time but we don't talk about our frustration because we feel embarrassed. I am part of a huge thing. I am connected to something else and it makes me feel good.” Maize Connolly, another artist and mother who attended the screening, could relate to the subjects in the movie. “This was probably the most relevant to my own life movie that I could have seen right now,” Connolly said. “It's about the things that I am doing, which are balancing being a mother and an artist. I'm taking away a feeling of community with other people experiencing what I've been experiencing. But I haven't been sharing as much. Now I'm thinking I should.”
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+ Lifestyle 10 health
volume 105 issue 12 • may 15, 2013 • santa monica college
Students prescribed psychological services Niklas Thim Staff Writer Since the tragic event happened on May 4, when Santa Monica College student Tian Lu committed suicide on campus, the psychological services provided by the school have been a topic of discussion. However, many students are not even aware that SMC offers free psychological help. To raise awareness of these services, an open house was held in the office for psychological services Monday, kicking off SMC's Mental Health Week. About 50 students and professors came by the office, where refreshments and free massages were offered. Even though many of the visitors came looking for the free snacks, all of them left with a little more information about the different services provided. The office is open between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, with walk-in hours from 10 a.m. to noon and 3 to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 10 to 11 a.m. on Fridays. However, appointments are recommended because of high demand. "There are only six of us, and over 30,000 students," said Dr. Amy Rosenblatt, a psychologist at SMC. "Because of that, we have volunteers from Didi Hirsch Mental Health Center and Family Services of Santa Monica once or twice a week." Only short-term treatment is offered on campus, and if students are in need of further care, they will be referred to a nearby clinic. According to the office, 34 percent of community college students in the country suffer from depression, and eight percent have considered suicide in the past year. No problem is too small for the doctors, and they welcome all students. "We never turn a person down. Anyone who comes in will get some kind of service," said Martha Whitfield, a clerk at the student services. "And if you haven't paid the health fee, we will let you get one appointment anyway.
Rachel Porter Corsair Psychologist Dr. Amy Rosenblatt (left) shows SMC student, Samantha Casale (right), the broad range of services that SMC has to offer at the Psychological Services Open House on Monday.
The purpose is to help everybody." The staff at the psychological services office have noticed an increase in students seeking help this past week. Professors have also sought help on how to see the different signs of depression in their students. The waiting list for an appointment is approximately 3040 names, but crisis situations are always highest priority. "If someone comes in and says that he or she is thinking about suicide, or might hurt others, we make an appointment for that person right away," said Rosenblatt. Appointments are about 50 minutes and only for individual students, not group sessions. With a growing number of international students at SMC, a common problem can be the language barrier between student and doctor. "We have had Mandarin and Spanish-speaking doctors. We are hoping to get a Swedish doctor for next year," said Whitfield. "International students are our number one priority. Most of them come here alone, and it might be a tough cultural shock for them."
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Everything is confidential and the staff will not give out any information, unless students shows signs of hurting themselves or others. Some may wonder how to go about reporting a friend or classmate who may discuss taking their own life. "You can always come to us if you suspect that a friend might be suicidal. We tell you how and what to ask that person," said Dr. Sandra Lyons Rowe, a psychologist. "We don't approach a person, unless it's an emergency. It's always better if a friend takes that step." The office has previously arranged workshops, both for students and professors, where they learned about the typical signs and how to approach a possibly suicidal person. These workshops will return if they get enough requests, said Rowe. The students anonymity is very important, and the staff do what they have to do in order to keep students protected. "If someone asks us if a person comes here for help, we will tell them no, no matter if it's a relative or professor," said Rosenblatt. The files on each student can only be accessed by Whitfield, who files them, and the doctors. Every file is terminated after eight years. The students can not access their own files. Apart from personal counseling and crisis interventions, the office also provides services for problems with alcohol and other substance abuse. The doctors in the office are not allowed to give out prescriptions. If a doctor thinks a student is in need of medication, he or she will be referred to a psychiatrist. The office is closed on weekends, but they provide phone numbers for different hotlines, depending on the students' situations, which can be called at any time. If a student is in need of help, contact the psychological services at 310-434-4503, or visit their office in the Liberal Arts Building, Room 110. You can also reach a 24-hour Suicide Prevention Hotline at 310-391-1253.
Acclaimed author speaks at SMC Simon Luca Manili Staff Writer
Gilbert Gaeta is a struggling, workingclass Latino father who is raising his 13-year-old daughter, Ana, while working as a fork-lift operator. He struggles to save money for a wedding ring for his girlfriend Joyce, so they can marry and move in together, and Joyce can escape from her abusive father. Ana is being bullied regularly at the local laundromat and begs her father to buy a washing machine and dryer. Gilbert is torn between buying the ring for Joyce or the laundry machines for Ana. These characters are from the novel "This Time Tomorrow" by Michael Jaime-Becerra, who spoke at Santa Monica College last Wednesday to discuss his writing and career. In a packed lecture hall, the crowd applauded as Jaime-Becerra began discussing his journey to becoming an author. Jaime-Becerra grew up in El Monte, California and graduated with a Masters of Fine Arts in creative writing from University of California, Riverside in 2001, according to the school's website. He is currently working as a associate professor in the creative writing department at UC Riverside. Jaime-Becerra rose to prominence in 1996 when his early poems and short stories were compiled in a collection titled, "Look Back And Laugh." He followed up with a second collection of short stories and poems, "Every Night is Ladies Night." During the lecture, Jaime-Becerra spoke of the family struggles that the main characters have to endure in "This Time @t h e _ c o r s a i r •
Tomorrow." His debut novel was the finished product of seven years' worth of hard work. "Sometimes I had written entire chapters and realized that my story had not progressed to where I wanted [it] to, so I had to redo it," he said. Jaime-Becerra's novel has won two Best Book Awards, one from the San Francisco Chronicle and one from the Washington Post. During the question-and-answer portion of the lecture, Jaime-Becerra explained what inspired him to write his novel. He said that his traditional-strict Mexican upbringing influenced his story. He and his wife were raised similar to the characters in his novel. "You don't move out of your parents' house until you're married," said Jaime-Becerra. Even though he works both as a professor and author, writing is his primary passion. "I enjoy both, however writing is harder, but more rewarding," said Jaime-Becerra. "Teaching is very comfortable for me as it comes naturally." Writing novels has always been a dream of his since he was young. As a child, Jaime-Becerra's parents would often take him to the library to read books. "They didn't care what I read as long as I was reading," he said. This inspired his early passion for writing. The biggest influence in his career, however, was 1980s Los Angeles Dodgers star pitcher Fernando Valenzuela. "I remember watching the '81 World Series as a kid and seeing him perform at that level at such a young age, that I felt like I could be the best at whatever I chose to do."
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sports 11
volume 105 issue 12 • May 15, 2013 • santa monica college
Playoffs a priority for men’s soccer
David J. Hawkins Corsair Duncan Bochicchio (right) makes a difficult goal between the defender and goalkeeper as the Corsairs’ men’s soccer team have their practice on Tuesday.
Trevor Angone Staff Writer In fall 2012, Santa Monica College fielded a men’s soccer team for the first time in over 20 years. The team narrowly missed the playoffs, and head coach Tim Pierce believes it was still successful. “For the first season, I think it went really well,” said Pierce. “We had a winning record and a great group. It was a good group to get SMC soccer going again.” After finishing fifth in the Western State Conference last season with an overall record of 9-6-5, the Corsairs' main goal going into next season is breaking into the
playoff pool. “We have a great group of guys. Last year our biggest goal was to learn how to play with each other, this year our biggest goal is getting into the playoffs,” said returning goalkeeper Patrick Acosta. One of the teams the Corsairs will definitely have to go through to win the conference title this season is the Oxnard Condors. Oxnard was last season's conference champion. SMC managed to tie Oxnard during their regular season matchup. “They’re circled on our calendar,” said Acosta. In order to bolster the roster and compete with the elite teams in the conference, SMC will be looking to the incoming freshman
In the wake of Jason Collins rona navales Staff Writer Machismo and masculinity have long been associated with sports. Stanford University graduate and current National Basketball Association player Jason Collins took a huge leap recently when he publicly announced he was gay. Going forward, it is a challenge that Collins will have to be prepared for. Santa Monica College head basketball coach Jerome Jenkins said he believes that it is time for the general public to become more open. “That’s what America is all about really,” said Jenkins. “I think it’s a matter of everybody being accepting of one another and how they want to live. I’m all for it, I have no problems or issues with it, people are people. I may have worked with a player, that I wouldn’t be shocked if I found out years later.” Although he views Collins' announcement as courageous, Jenkins said he believes that
it might not be as easy for a college student athlete. “I don’t think that everybody has the same platform that he has, him being a professional athlete, he has a strong platform behind him,” said Jenkins. “So right now I think it might be a little tougher for some student athletes that don’t have the same platform or the same support system.” Coming out as an athlete is a very sensitive subject, which is why Jenkins said he plans on bringing up the conversation to his team. “I teach my guys to respect each other as well as our opponents,” said Jenkins. “The only way you will be on my team is if you can play the game of basketball, so I teach my guys to respect each other regardless. I'm not just going to distance somebody because of how they choose to live off of the basketball court.” Jenkins said that it is important to start this dialogue with his team so they can continue
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and transfers to help the Corsairs get to the next level. “We have a big crop of incoming freshman this year as well as a few transfers. Everybody’s kind of fighting for a spot, but when the season rolls around, we’ll know who the starting 11 are,” said Pierce. Although the program finished with a winning record last season, they are currently looking for their next great goal scorer after one of last year’s standouts, Alessandro Canale, who recently transferred to the University of California San Diego. One forward who might be able to fill those shoes is Rafael Silva. Originally from Brazil, Silva started playing at six years old, but due to the lack
of organized soccer in Brazil, he came to SMC to pursue his passion. “I had a scholarship to play in Missouri, but I preferred to play for SMC,” said Silva. “Last year was a learning experience, this year we know how to play with each other and we need to prove ourselves.” With such a big group of veteran players, most coaches would be focused on strategizing for the upcoming season, but wins and losses are not the only things that matter to this coaching staff. “I think there’s a handful of guys that have a chance at playing at the next level, but whether or not they play ball, I want them to go on as student’s and pursue their degrees,” said Pierce.
to grow and learn tolerance for everyone. “Society is going to keep expanding so we as people have to keep adapting instead of running from it,” said Jenkins. “I think these are some of the tough issues that people did not really want to deal with but they just keep coming so we have to deal with these issues.” Michael Ratliff, one of Jenkins' players said he does not believe that anyone should worry about Collins' lifestyle off the court. To him, all that should matter is the game. A gay teammate would not sever the bond that he and his teammates have forged at SMC. “At the end of the day it’s still basketball, it’s still a sport,” said Ratliff. “Everyone on my team is my brother. How they choose to live their life is how they choose to live their life. At the end of the day, they're still my friends and I still care about all my teammates, it wouldn't change anything.” For SMC volleyball player Zane McFarlane, it is difficult to be an openly gay athlete. Originally from a small town in Northern California, McFarlane grew up in a very conservative environment. Since moving to Los Angeles, he said he has found people to be more accepting.
But it was not always that way. “It was definitely scary to come out just because I knew the mindset of people in small towns,” said McFarlane. Though McFarlane is open and accepted by his teammates, he completely understands why it is very difficult, especially for his boyfriend who is on a Division I baseball team. Both have experienced the same pressure from coaches to be very masculine. “They tear you down on purpose,” said McFarlane. “In baseball, it's easy to fail. My boyfriend is not out.” While challenges still remain, McFarlane hopes that Collins, given his high profile, may make it easier for athletes moving forward. To him, Collins can be someone to look up to. “It will make it more acceptable, especially since he is an NBA player,” said McFarlane. “It shows that it is okay to come out of you're a gay athlete.” Jenkins echoes McFarlane's sentiments. “We're here to play basketball, we're here to win, we're here to go to school, we're here to get out of here,” said Jenkins. “That's the bottom line for me.”
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12 sports
volume 105 issue 12 • may 15, 2013 • santa monica college
Mark Popovich Corsair Jessica Goldbeck is a freshman and the fifth-ranked singles player for the highly successful Santa Monica College women’s tennis team.
Great season for Jessica Goldbeck
Raul cervantes Staff Writer Playing every day, five hours a day, attending multiple camps, it was only a matter of time before Jessica Goldbeck began to rake in victory after victory. Her whole life, Goldbeck has been playing tennis, consistently being a top contender in the sport. "I stated to get serious about the game five years ago," said Goldbeck. On the heels of a very successful season, Goldbeck emerged as a leader for the Santa Monica College women's tennis team. She was recently named as an honorable mention to the Western State Conference All-Conference team. Goldbeck's tennis career began with her father, and she credits her family for shaping her into the player she is today. "My dad and grandpa played tennis, so they got me to play," said Goldbeck. "I wasn't really fond of it at first, but as I grew older I found myself liking it more." Before coming to SMC, she played for Taft High School in Woodland Hills. Having gained such an extensive knowledge in tennis, Goldbeck sees the game become more of a mental one, rather than physical. One of the toughest matches for Goldbeck, she said, was a challenging mental one against an opponent from Mount San Antonio Community College. "The girl I lost to was really consistent, and it was frustrating. I was making too many mistakes. She would just return the ball and let me beat myself," said Goldbeck. Being a freshman, Goldbeck found some
difficulty in adapting in the early stages of the year. "In the beginning of the season I was really nervous, and wasn't playing to my full potential," said Goldbeck. "But as I got to know my teammates and the coach more, I found my game. I wasn't as prepared as I should've been, but my game kept getting stronger as the season progressed." Despite the team's success, there are some aspects that Goldbeck said she believes could have been improved upon, specifically practice. "I think we could've practiced more than we did," she said. "That was the only thing wrong with the season." After qualifying for the State Championships this season, Goldbeck expressed her excitement to return, and have an even stronger performance next year. "I did well, but I'm excited to go back next year, and have better results," said Goldbeck. With her college career just beginning, Goldbeck is eager to continue to play for SMC, but is excited to play at the next level as well. She expressed her hopes to begin talking to schools during the upcoming semesters. "I would love to play at the university level, but for right now I don't know where. I'm not really talking to any schools yet," said Goldbeck. Moving into her sophomore year, Goldbeck hopes to perfect her game and have even better results than this past year. "I have a lot to work on," said Goldbeck. "I need to work on my consistency, and just perfecting my shots."
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David J. Hawkins Corsair Terrance Luevano is a runner for the Santa Monica College Corsairs track team.
Terrance Luevano: Burning up the track Trevor Angone Staff Writer He never had aspirations for being a track star, he did not even like running. He was more likely to be found on a baseball diamond or a basketball court. But after years of urging from his parents and friends, Santa Monica College freshman Terrance Luevano finally started to run and he has not looked back. “My running career started in the spring of tenth grade when I summoned the courage to join the track team,” said Luevano. “As soon as I started, I realized what a great stress relief it was.” Primarily a long distance runner, Luevano participates in the 800-meter relay and the 1,500-meter relay, and occasionally the 3,000-meter relay and 4x400-meter relay. After joining the track team his sophomore year of high school, it did not take long for Luevano to start realizing his potential. In his first season at Venice High School, he lettered for the varsity team as a junior, which he described as “very satisfying.” He also placed third in the 800-meter relay league championship. Most recently, he finished second in an 800-meter relay for SMC. Supporting Luevano are his parents, both of whom competed in the Olympic trials and had been trying to get their son to follow in their footsteps from a young age. “My parents tried to get me to run with
@t h e _ c o r s a i r •
them when I was growing up but I never did,” said Luevano. “It’s funny, because as soon as I did start running, I regretted not doing it from day one.” Sporting an impressive resume on a less than normal experience, Luevano said he is hoping to become the type of prospect upper level college coaches look to develop. With a self described, “ability to lead” as well as, “increased determination and confidence,” Luevano said he wants to put himself on Division I radars, but he is trying to focus on right now more so than the future. “I want to continue running while I’m in college, if I progress enough, I would like to go pro or maybe try to qualify for the Olympics someday,” said Luevano. “But right now I’m just focused on running in college and doing well academically.” As far as academics go, Luevano said he is pursuing a degree in anthropology, which he displays a natural passion for. He is able to recommend a number of different classes in the subject he said is very enjoyable. When Luevano is not burning up the track, he said he enjoys reading and partaking in outdoor activities with friends to stay in shape during the offseason. He said that right now he and his teammates have taken up a newer way of offseason conditioning. “The whole team has been playing a lot of ultimate frisbee during the offseason,” said Luevano. “Just all the sprinters and distance runners throwing the frisbee around.”
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