CORSAIR
volume 106 issue 3 • september 18, 2013 • santa monica college
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as PRESIDENT PLANS AHEAD pg. 3 SMCPD to hire new officers pg. 3
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volume 106 issue 3 • september 18, 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 Vanessa Barajas········ 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 Elizabeth Moss··············· News Editor Allie Silvas···················· News Editor c o rs a i r. n e w s p a g e @ g m a i l . c o m Jasmin Huynh····· 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 Henry Crumblish·········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 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 Sam Herron··················Photo Editor David J. Hawkins·············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 Cocoa Dixon················ Design Team Mikaela Osterlund·········· 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 Rubens Almeida Jr., Paul Alvarez Jr., Albert Andrade, Trevor Angone, Fabian Avellaneda, Lorentious Barry, Nathan Berookhim, Crislin Christian, Jenna Crowley, Tina Eady, Paulina Eriksson, Jon Falcone, Khalid Felix, Lorena Garcia, Vanessa Oliveira Gomes, Jimmy Janszen, Ludwig Jonsson, Arlene Karno, Michelle Kreel, Michael Lee, Josefin Lindstrom, Sumaya Malin, Simon Luca Manili, Reyna Mares, Jillian Montgomery, Lauren Narvaez, Daniela Orihuela, Belle Owen, Demetrius Palmer, Mark Popovich, Rachel Porter, Jonathan Ramos, Alci Rengifo, Tristan Reyes, Jonathan Riley, Cassandra Rubio, Emilio Sedeno, Dion To, Gintare Urbutyte, Mark Williams, David Lloyd Wilson, Lyan Wong
Arlene Karno Corsair Santa Monica College dancers rehearse in an advanced contemporary dance class on Thursday. Dance majors may audition for SMC companies “Synapse” and “Global Motion.” Look for upcoming performances this November.
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ON THE COVER: Santa Monica College Corsairs’ football player Eric Kyle finishes off a run during Saturday’s football game against the Chaffey College Panthers at SMC. Kyle gained 75 yards rushing during the game.
September 26th from 11:15-12:35
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news 3
volume 106 issue 3 • september 18, 2013 • santa monica college
Campaign promises take shape Moura and Van Dertol strive for an engaged and involved student body. Jonathan Ramos Staff Writer As students settle into their school routines, at least one student is already thinking of next semester. Ty Moura, the new Associated Students president, has already put in motion several initiatives to help the student body. With a plan for implementing “affordability, sustainability and awareness,” Moura wants to build on the Santa Monica College community. Moura has begun work on campaign promises such as lowering fees for student identification cards and prices in the cafeteria. “We already got a deal going with Eat Street where they’re serving this six-inch sub with chips and drink for, like, $6.50,” said Moura. Looking for a more affordable and healthier campus, Moura said she considers this deal just a “little part of the goal.” During her presidential campaign, Moura visited local businesses looking for deals to expand SMC’s discount network, while in return rewarding any cooperative business with advertisement space within the Cayton Center. The AS already has businesses like restaurants, a bike repair shop, and a car wash lined up for the discounts, Moura said. “We even have a doctor,” she added. A main focus of her agenda is that students enroll in governmentsubsidized health care. She said that the Affordable Care Act can be a great service to students in need of health care. Moura has been busy putting all of these plans into action, but she is not alone. Alexander Van Dertol, AS vice president who works alongside Moura, said they are trying to push ideas that will give students a bigger voice and encourage them to be more involved in SMC. Van Dertol said he is also working on a civic engagement
SMC graduate shows artwork in Los Angeles and New York. Elizabeth Moss News Editor
Arlene Karno Corsair Ty Moura, 2013-14 Associated Students president at Santa Monica College, kicks up her heels on Friday.
program, where students can search for volunteer opportunities. “We’ll have some sway as an institution rather than an individual trying to break into the volunteer world,” said Van Dertol. The program would also reward individuals for exceptional volunteering. Van Dertol mentioned that his goal is to “promote more longterm goals” for the students, rather than settling for immediate satisfaction. Moura said she wants to be able to help students become more engaged with each other while creating a better atmosphere around the campus. “I feel that a way for you to get engaged and involved is by making friends that are engaged and involved,” said Moura.
Emilio Sedeno Corsair Santa Monica College Police Department officer Albert Echeverria patrols the SMC campus on his motorcycle on Thursday.
New officers to be recruited
For the first time in two years SMCPD to hire officers. tina eady Staff Writer
Four new police hires are authorized for the Santa Monica College Police Department, but it could take several months to hire them, especially if they are in the military or have lived out of state. The officers slated for hire are not necessarily a part of the recent security changes that came about as a result of the June 7 shooting that ended on the SMC main campus. Sgt. Mark Kessler of the SMCPD said that with money from Proposition 30, they are “free” to hire police. “The new candidates are in the background phase of recruitment, which could take a few months depending on the recruit and how quickly information is obtained,” said Kessler. The department has hired three officers since January 2010, Kessler said. The hiring pool in which police officers come from other
Art alum invited to White House
agencies is not that large due to retirement. “It’s a big commitment,” said Carol Long, director of classified personnel at SMC. “We’re looking for a larger pool because we’re not filling the numbers as fast as we’d like to. If we bring more in the beginning then we can hire from within.” If a recruit passes the initial background check — which includes a physical agility test, an interview with the SMCPD, and interviews with neighbors of the candidates — the recruit receives a tentative offer of employment. Upon the recruit accepting the offer, a medical screening and a psychological assessment follows, including a polygraph test. This process can take a few months depending on the recruit. “If they were in the military, or come from another state, it could take even longer,” Long said. “It depends on how fast [the police department] gets a response.” This process is structured by the Commission of Peace Officers Standard Training, or POST, which develops and approves certain training and is the standard bearer for police officers. POST funding comes from the Peace Officers Training Fund, which consists of penalty assessments on traffic and criminal fines, according to the website.
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Receiving an invitation through an email from the White House to a dinner to celebrate modern art is not the most convincing way to be honored for your work. “I didn’t pay attention to it; I was going to delete it, and I sent probably three people that email just to make sure I wasn’t doing anything stupid,” said Santa Monica College alumnus Andrew Hem. But Hem’s invitation to the White House was not by chance. “The guy who did it didn’t tell me,” said Hem. “After I got the invite, one of the directors from the Smithsonian Museum said, ‘You probably got [the White House invitation] but I made a list of 10 or 20 artists and they ended up picking about five.’” Hem was among the five. He first began studying art at SMC, where he took figure drawing — now his favorite style — and painting. “I guess the rest of it was game over; I knew from then that I wanted to be an artist,” he said. “I started looking into art schools, and everyone at the time was saying, ‘Go to Art Center.’” Hem has shown his work from New York to Seattle to Los Angeles, gaining more recognition with every show. After graduating from SMC, he transferred to Art Center, a private arts college in Pasadena. Hem sold his first work to a gallery in Santa Monica. He met the curator at a flea market in Pasadena; his asking price was $1,000. “She said, ‘Nobody’s heard of you, how do you expect to sell it for this?’” Hem said. “It’s true, no one’s going to invest in you if you’re brand new. It has to be a progression. Once people have heard of you, you climb up that ladder.” Hem now spends his time painting, often until early morning hours, and lecturing at art colleges across the country, including his alma mater. While in art school, Hem’s distinctive style won the attention of animators from entertainment companies that visited Art Center to interview potential hires, but Hem turned them down when they told him his style was too strong and that he would have to get rid of it. “In the beginning, I was trying to figure out, ‘Am I going to make it?’” he said. “I just kept on painting, tried to not let it bother me — this huge loan started picking up. [Then, I] started paying for my loans. It’s been pretty awesome.’ A few years ago, Hem was asked by eBay to paint a mural on their building in downtown Los Angeles. Before that, he painted murals in Culver City and in Virginia, where he and other fine artists spent a week painting. Hem lives in Pasadena and has two studios out of his home. Hem will show at the Merry Karnowsky gallery on La Brea Avenue, starting on May 8, 2014.
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+ lifestyle 4 health
volume 106 issue 3 • september 18, 2013 • santa monica college
Love in a time of diversity
alci rengifo Staff Writer
In the maze of Santa Monica College, students of different cultures and ethnicities attend class, cram at the library and dine in the cafeteria. Inevitably, a glance, a stare or an exchange of words will signal a deep attraction between two people who may be of different ethnic backgrounds. Nationwide, interracial relationships are gaining steam, and the heart is overthrowing borderlines everywhere. The Pew Research Center reported in 2012, that interracial marriages in the United States have risen to about 48 million. California is first on the list of states with the highest percentage. The mingling of backgrounds has become so common that it can be difficult to find an interracial couple on campus made up solely of two races. Michael Sepulveda, half Guatemalan and half Caucasian, and Annel Flores, fully Mexican, enter the public library with the air of a couple appearing to be two close friends. In their case, language and tradition expose the small differences in backgrounds. “I’m pretty good at understanding Spanish, but speaking the language is my challenge,” says Sepulveda. “When I speak to her grandma or uncles, it gets challenging.” “His family is more open to other things, but for mine, they would prefer to stay within Hispanic culture,” says Flores. “He would be OK with it, but not as comfortable as with a Hispanic.” Flores says that other factors are more important than race when choosing a partner, such as, “comfort in being able to tell them whatever you can.” Popular culture has been exploring the idea of interracial couples for years, dating back to the 1960s when the Oscarnominated movie “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner” touched on the then-tricky topic of an African American man being engaged to a white woman. Today, films like “Our Family Wedding” have presented — in albeit comedic ways — the issue of African Americans marrying Hispanics. Splashed over tabloid covers, interracial celebrity couples like Kanye West and Kim Kardashian are doing their part to blur ethnic barriers and shift perceptions. Walberto Lozano, half Mexican and half Salvadorian, says he was fooled by his girlfriend of three years, Megan Garcia, because of her porcelain skin. “When I met her, I didn’t know she was part Mexican,” says Lozano, of his half Mexican and half German girlfriend. “I thought she’s white.” For Garcia’s parents, race did not matter. What mattered was a background check on Lozano to make sure he had a clean history. But for others who have found their soulmate in someone from a different culture, the experience also revealed the deep biases still ingrained in some small minds.
Jimmy Janszen Corsair Santa Monica College students Walberto Lozano (left) and Megan Garcia come from very different cultural backgrounds, but still find common grounds to maintain a healthy relationship.
SMC film professor Salvador Carrasco is Mexican, and his wife Andrea is half British and half Swiss. The year was 1988 when their relationship developed under hostile eyes at the Dakota building in New York. “As soon as her landlady found out that she was dating a Mexican, she gave Andrea an ultimatum – the room in one of the most coveted Central Park West addresses, or the Mexican,” says Carrasco. “Before sending her to hell, Andrea gave her the opportunity to meet me, which would have probably dispelled her biases, but the landlady flatly refused,” he says. “She wasn’t interested in meeting me, since all Latino men were the same.” James Stramel, who teaches a class on sexual ethics at SMC, says that interracial dating is a fact. “It’s a good thing that it’s becoming more socially acceptable,” says Stramel. “It shows people are becoming less concerned about race. It certainly doesn’t raise any moral problems.” Stramel emphasizes the effect interracial relationships will have on society. “It will have an increasing momentum,” he says. “As more couples start to get married, the more interracial children
they produce, the more racial boundaries are overcome and it will become less of an issue over time.” This reality can be seen even today in the highest office of the nation, the White House. President Barack Obama is half Kenyan and half Anglo-American. For singles still waiting to find that special someone, race comes second to other concerns. “Make sure you have a full background check on the guy,” says Donna Emlin, a Persian student at SMC. “Make sure he’s mentally stable.” For Aaron Jacobson, race does not matter at all when looking for a girlfriend. He says that for him, personality trumps all other considerations. The rise in interracial dating and the breaking down of barriers comes down to a very graceful, precise truth, says Stramel. “The reality of the experience of love trumps all of these other characteristics or categories that over the years various societies have loaded up with meaning – skin color, national origin, religion,” he says. “But what about the reality of their love as they experience it? Isn’t that more important than dogma or ideology?”
Tohoku tsunami radiation to reach U.S. coast? albert andrade Staff Writer
As 2014 nears, some are concerned about the plume of incoming radioactive material from Japan said to reach the U.S. coast. Since the Tohoku tsunami that ravaged Japan on March 11, 2011, a large plume of radioactive material traveling with the ocean’s current will reach U.S. coastal waters in 2014, and will peak in 2016, according to ocean current estimations from LiveScience. The Fukushima nuclear plant has leaked over 20 trillion becquerels — a measurement of radioactivity — of cesium-137, which has been linked to increased risk of cancer. In addition, over a year ago, Stanford scientists were beginning to find trace amounts of cesium-137 in live migratory bluefin tuna off the coast of California, according to Stanford News. These tuna, known to migrate with the same current pushing the radioactive material, were suspected by the scientists to be swimming in proximity of the Japanese fallout. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, cesium is a metal that may be
nonradioactive or radioactive. Cesium-137 is much more significant as an environmental contaminant than cesium-134, and is the most common form. The tuna were living examples of the migratory patterns that rode the current. Just under a year ago, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, traced to Japan, was found off the coast of British Columbia, Canada, according to a Harley-Davidson Museum press release. This discovery, along with many accounts of material that ended up on the shores, indicates that the radioactive material may end up reaching the coast of California in the near future. Although the North Pacific gyre circulates and dilutes the material across the Pacific to an insignificant point, the effect on the marine biology is speculative. “The radioactive debris coming up here is almost negligible — almost nothing — whereas possibly fish carried in this current are suspect,” says William Selby, a Santa Monica College environmental studies
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professor. According to the EPA, the radioactive cesium-137 has a half-life of about 30 years, meaning that it will not prove inert with time, but more specifically with space. “As you work your way from that, in a radius around that region, the ripple effect is less and less,” says Selby. “It’s like throwing a stone in the water; as that wave goes forward it gets smaller and smaller.” The water acts as a shield and diluting agent, according to the Food and Drug Administration. “In the case of a direct release into the sea, the amount of water in the ocean rapidly dilutes and disperses the radiation to negligible levels,” states the FDA. With the research of more than 32,000 specimens, it was found that the material in Japan, and some reaching the U.S. coast, poses no serious public health concerns. “If it is even by a washed up piece of kelp, or even anything that could carry radiation, it could affect all the other fish,” says Sergio Huitzil, a veteran fisherman. @t h e _ c o r s a i r •
Fishermen along the Santa Monica Pier may feel a mix of concern and apprehension since they act as the middlemen, consumers and purveyors, and if there was a spike in radiation levels of fish, they would remain unaware. “No one carries a radiation scanner with them,” says Huitzil. “We don’t do our own research, we just cut and filet the fish and put it right on the table so there is some sort of worry there.” In addition, the FDA and Customs and Border Protection screen all Japanese food products and conduct field examinations. However, with radioactive material that will not decay for another 30 years, the issue would likely need to be reexamined frequently. As the leak continues at the Fukushima plant, the Japanese government will continue to battle the lasting effects of the tsunami. “That area in the region of the power plant is still a disaster,” says Selby. “Just a total disaster.”
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health + lifestyle 5
volume 106 issue 3 • september 18, 2013 • santa monica college
Psychological Services to use grant for student success
Scott Bixler Corsair Psychological Services clerk Martha Whitfield helps Chanel Alvarez (right) take patient information and make an appointment on the phone, while Erik Cuellar (left) watches on Tuesday in the Psychological Services office at Santa Monica College.
jonathan Ramos Staff Writer Psychological Services is at least one place Santa Monica College students can go to release their thoughts, work on solutions, and talk about any issues that may be stressing them out and wearing down their mental health. Along with the efforts of Psychological Services to assist students, the department has been awarded the Student Mental Health Grant that can bring about new possibilities for what they are able to provide for the school. According to licensed psychologist and coordinator at SMC, Dr. Sandra Rowe, the grant comes from the California Community Colleges Student Mental Health Program, and will focus on special training for faculty and students during times of crisis. According to the CCCSMHP’s website, the main purpose for the grant is to focus on faculty and staff training, peer-to-peer support and suicide prevention. SMC was one of the 23 out of 112 community colleges selected for the grant. Psychological Services currently holds several workshops to assist students, faculty, or anybody who may be in need of help. The department provides counseling to students who may be having psychological issues that are interfering with their schoolwork, Rowe said. “It’s really mostly focused on helping students to be successful in school,” she said. According to licensed psychologist at SMC, Dr. Alison Brown, topics can range from healthy relationships, addiction, test anxiety and other kinds of outreach programs that Psychological Services offers. In an upcoming November workshop on suicide prevention, training will be available to teach students and faculty how to be able to talk to someone they suspect may be suicidal, Rowe said. Psychological Services has been a
constantly growing program, and Rowe and Brown took over in 2008. When the doctors arrived, they alone took on the task of assisting the college with approximately 35,000 students. “We realized after the first year that wasn’t going to work,” Brown said. The office has also been able to give training to predoctoral and postdoctoral interns in order to add help in the office, raising the staff count up to a total of seven. Students do not have to pay to utilize the services on campus, as long as their health fees are paid. Although they may not be able to commit to a student for the longterm, the program has been able to refer students to sources outside of the campus. “Sometimes students come in, and there is more going on than can be resolved in a few sessions,” said Brown. “So we spend a lot of time trying to connect students to outside referral.” Students are sometimes connected to local agencies that offer psychiatric services, said Brown. “A lot of students don’t have medical insurance, so the nice thing is that we do have very good resources here on the west side in terms of low-cost counseling,” said Brown. The main goal for the program is to help students be in a “place where they can be successful as students,” and “to just help them identify what’s going on,” said Rowe. “In the future, if they want to go and seek out more longterm therapy, they know what’s needed and they’ve had the opportunity to talk about it.” The Psychological Services department’s office hours are Monday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Taking care of your mind albert andrade Staff Writer Chances are that you or someone you know has some sort of mental illness. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in four adults in America is afflicted by mental illness. This past spring semester put mental health on the forefront of Santa Monica College’s attention with tragedies from suicides to bomb threats to shootings. But according to a statistic from the NIMH, 60 percent of adults suffering from mental illness do not receive any mental health services. People may not seek treatment for mental illnesses due to lack of awareness, overwhelming stigmas and insufficient knowledge. “People should not be suffering with these conditions that can be easily treated,” says Dr. Alison Brown of Psychological Services at SMC. “They are not going because of that shame and embarrassment that can come along with a mental illness.” The National Alliance on Mental Health defines mental illnesses as “medical conditions that disrupt a person’s thinking, feelings, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning.” Some signs of distress may include confusion, social isolation, dangerous behavior, restlessness, depression and more, according to SMC’s Psychological Services department. However, many people dismiss mental health issues because of stigmas. “Faculty, staff and students need to have more awareness of some of the signs of students that are in distress, instead of ignoring it, to find more information and figure out what’s going on,” says Dr. Sandra Rowe, coordinator at Psychological Services. The Psychology Club on campus was
involved with the department for the “Be Kind to Your Mind” mental health awareness week in May 2013, and is currently looking to coordinate more student involvement with the health departments at SMC. “It happens to everybody, and it’s just something that people should get help with and not be ashamed of it,” says SMC student and Psychology Club President Nara Sanchez-Galvan. “My great aunt died, who had schizophrenia. It was difficult trying deal with her illness and her not willing to get help.” Aside from services located within SMC, the department has a wealth of referral contacts, including the Edelman Westside Mental Health Center. Located at Olympic and Sepulveda, the center has implemented a Transitional Age Youth Program that has involved SMC students. “We have a dedicated staff and dedicated psychiatrists who provide medication, therapy, assistance, and linking to services with the community,” says Nilsa Gallardo, clinical program head at Edelman. The SMC community offers several forms of support both on and off campus, but the most important thing to incite change is the awareness of the realities, Brown says. “There’s this idea that you should just snap out of it — that it’s up to you to take care of yourself, and you shouldn’t have to see a doctor,” Brown says. “But you would never say that to anyone who has diabetes or a heart condition.” During the “Be Kind to Your Mind” mental health awareness week, the department invited students and faculty to participate in various workshops, including one focusing on international students, and one featuring a speaker who discussed cultural issues surrounding mental illness. The department is currently planning future events for the fall and spring semesters.
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6 Photostory
volume 106 issue 3 • september 18, 2013 • santa monica college
Miriel Paschel prays listening to the national anthem before the game against Chaffey on Saturday at Santa Monica College.
Home field advan
Emilio Sedeno Corsair Santa Monica College wide receiver Caleb Madden catches a pass to put the SMC Corsairs within the 10-yard line.
Santa Monica College cheerleaders perform a stunt on Saturday at Santa Monica College.
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photostory 7
volume 106 issue 3 • september 18, 2013 • santa monica college
Sam Herron Corsair SMC Corsair football player Eric Kyle (right) stiff arms Daniel Duarte (left) during a running play in Saturday’s football game with the Chaffey College Panthers at Santa Monica College.
David Yapkowitz Sports Editor
Following the dawn of a new and highly anticipated season, the Santa Monica College Corsairs football team recorded
their first victory of the early season, 30-27, in a thrilling match against the Chaffey College Panthers. The Corsairs stumbled early in their first game of the season against Mount San Jacinto on Sept. 7, and this past game was still a bit rocky, as SMC is still trying to smooth out their offense, while getting new players acclimated to the team. New freshman quarterback Steven Hamm went 16 for 31 for 203 yards and two touchdowns, and also ran in a touchdown of his own late in the third quarter to give the Corsairs a Nick Kovalenko Corsair
ntage
Nick Kovalenko Corsair
lead they would never relinquish. Turning to their defense, led by linebacker Dejuan Perryman, the Corsairs held off Chaffey, much to the delight of the home crowd. The Corsairs will take on the San Bernardino Valley College Wolverines next on Saturday, Sept. 21 at home in their last non-conference game before opening Pacific Conference play against the West Los Angeles College Wildcats on Sept. 28 on the road.
Nick Kovalenko Corsair Sports writers interview head coach Gifford Lindheim and kicker Tucker Jorgensen after the game against Chaffey on Saturday at Santa Monica College.
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+ Entertainment 8 Arts
volume 106 issue 3 • september 18, 2013 • santa monica college
English professors improvise poetry reading
Jimmy Janszen Corsair Santa Monica College English professor Will Doucet interacts with an audience member after presenting poetry in the Humanities and Social Sciences Building on Thursday.
Alci Rengifo Staff Writer Poet laureate of Los Angeles, Eloise Klein Healy, was scheduled to give a reading at Santa Monica College on Thursday, but she fell ill, which resulted in an improvised poetry performance by SMC’s English professors Will Doucet and Mario Padilla. The full details about what struck down Healy have not been released, SMC English professor and event organizer Hari Vishwanadha said. But the reading was carried on with an altered lineup when Doucet and Padilla presented an hour and a half of their own poetry and music to an audience that was apparently unaware that Healy was a noshow.
There was no sign of protest and no voices of alarm. Instead, students and colleagues were riveted by the reading, expressing appreciation with occasional interjections. Doucet was the first to stand before a packed lecture room to read poems that captured everyday life from the grand to the small. After recalling his years as a college student in San Francisco, when he dated dancers and performed with a hip-hop crew, Doucet shared poems that revived his memories in the minds of the audience. In the world of Doucet’s poetry, a pedicure from a Korean beauty shop worker turned into an expression of erotic desire, Los Angeles became an isolated kingdom of steel drenched in rain with beaches that Doucet called “the lip of an empire,” and
police bullets were used as missiles aimed at a young, helpless girl in urban America. Following Doucet came Padilla with a high-energy presentation of his poetry and songs from his developing musical about the struggles of growing up as a Latino in contemporary America. Padilla proceeded to play musical songs with pounding ‘80s beats and soaring female vocals that conjure up early Tina Turner. SMC English professor Eleni Hioureas left the hall impressed by the display of depth and creativity. “I appreciated the empathy and compassion that Will Doucet exhibited in his poetry, and was charmed by the graceful rhythm of Mario Padilla’s poetry and music,” she said after the presentation.
Doucet said he hopes that students came away from the reading with a keener interest in the creative force of words. “I hope they gain a greater appreciation for the arts and for poetry,” he said. Doucet disagreed with the widespread conception that appreciation for the written word was dying out. “It’s overblown, to be honest,” he said. “I think a lot of youth today have a real appreciation for poetry, primarily because of the close relationship between poetry and hip-hop and the lyrical expertise of the emcees. Because of that, I think there’s been a resurgence of poetry.” As a poet in today’s society, Doucet said he feels “obligated to tell the truth, one’s own truth, and to be a member of the community.”
The never ending story of boy bands Jeanette Zhukov Staff Writer The fandom speaks. As the lights dim down, the surrounding voices shudder with excitement. The smell of popcorn wafts through the air as groups of eager girls whisper loudly at each other, “Zayn is my favorite!” and “I can’t wait to see Harry!” The previews are barely audible as the anticipation of the fans grows. When the main feature starts, screams and cheers break out from the crowd, as if they are at a concert venue instead of a movie theater. That is just a tiny speck of the phenomenon known as One Direction. The 3-D concert movie, “One Direction: This is Us,” raked in a worldwide gross of more than $51 million, according to Box Office Mojo website. With a third album coming out this November and a fan base of millions, One Direction prove the power of boy band success. “I feel like they’re my first [favorite boy band],” says Santa Monica College student Kevin Quiroz.
However, One Direction is just one of many that emerged from a large group of preceding boy bands, ranging from the Jackson Five to the Jonas Brothers. In 1996, the boy band known as *NSYNC came into the scene with songs like “Tearin’ Up My Heart” and “Bye Bye Bye.” After their last album “Celebrity” in 2001, the group soon faded away into obscurity, but left room for Justin Timberlake to dominate the charts as a solo artist. At this year’s MTV Video Music Awards, *NSYNC made a surprising comeback appearance, performing short bits of some of their most popular songs. That short VMA performance reignited and excited the group’s old fans again. “I really like their music because it’s catchy and *NSYNC is a classic,” says SMC student Farah Mynaf. Many older boy bands have made comebacks in the last few years, bringing excitement to their older fans who were able to see their favorite bands perform again. “Their fan base grows older, as do the boy bands,” says Mynaf. Leyla Hezav, who went to see the One Direction movie, describes some of the charms boy bands possess. “They have good songs, cute boys, and are really good
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entertainers overall,” she says. Another boy band trend that seems to be inevitable is the eventual fading away from popularity and sold-out arenas. While they may vanish from the charts, it is questionable if they vanish from the hearts of their fans as well. “Even though they aren’t as relevant anymore, I still think they’re great,” says Mynaf. “I’ll always like [*NSYNC] unless they do something crazy.” Quiroz says that it is all strategic marketing that makes boy bands appealing. “They’re very smart,” he says. “They know what girls want and what drives them crazy.” As the magic of the One Direction movie fades away, the harsh fluorescent lights of the theater lobby shine into the eyes of the tear-streaked and emotionally exhausted fans as they remove their 3-D glasses and dump them into the nearest recycling bin. But no matter how extreme the love of fans can be, times change and they move on from one boy band to the next. “Fans grow up and move on with their lives,” Quiroz said. “Until the next boy group comes along and changes all the rules.” However, one thing remains certain; as long as there is music, there will always be boy bands.
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volume 106 issue 3 • september 18, 2013 • santa monica college
arts + Entertainment 9
Hollywood director discusses life at SMC Nathan Berookhim Staff Writer Although Tom Shadyac owned a mansion and was flying private jets, he still felt as if something was missing. With movies like “Bruce Almighty,” “The Nutty Professor” and “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective,” the four-time award-winning director had become part of Hollywood’s culture of excess materialism where “money was God,” he said. In 2007, a bicycle accident impacted Shadyac’s health for months, and led to a shift in his perspective on life. Shadyac sold his 17,000 square-foot mansion, opened a homeless shelter in Charlottesville, Va., and became a benefactor for land preservation efforts in Telluride, Colo. The realization that led to his transformation also motivated Shadyac to write his first book, “Life’s Operating Manual,” in which he shares his thoughts on spiritual values and love as the ultimate guidance, and his criticism of capitalism and society’s self-destructive ideologies. Santa Monica College English professor
Catherine Edelmann and film studies professor Sheila Laffey invited Shadyac to SMC to discuss his book with students and people from the community last Wednesday evening. With shoulder-length hair, wire-rimmed round glasses, he sat on a table that was cornered with lit, white candles, and faced a lecture hall filled with about a hundred audience members. “I will mess you up — in a good way,” Shadyac said, and opened the discussion with the question on what the audience members love. Many in attendance were students who read his book in one of Edelmann’s English classes. In accordance with his belief, that the true meaning of education was to draw out the answers from within, Shadyac often responded to students’ questions with countering questions, and occasionally quoted “the prophets” and “the mystics,” as he called Buddha or Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Nathan Berookhim Corsair Students wait as Tom Shadyac signs a copy of his book, “Life’s Operating Manual,” for theater major Sharise Rogers.
Shadyac gave the audience a unique point of view on life and values in society. “If things are shitty, then something in your life is being fertilized,” he said. As examples, he referenced the crucifixion of Jesus and the assassination of Gandhi, giving rise to the adoption of certain values by groups of people. In his book, as well as in the discussion, Shadyac criticized capitalism and some widely accepted values. Supply and demand were a perverted method of distributing resources, Shadyac said. He also said that money did not create society’s problems, but rather, society created its own problems. “There is a reason for all of this stuff,”
he said, referring to violent acts like 9/11 and the recent shooting at SMC. “The answer is right here in this room. The reason violence shows up is because we’ve chosen a violent ideology to pit ourselves up against.” His book not only gives the readers an insight on this perspective on current social issues, but also on spirituality. Sharise Rogers, one of Edelmann’s students at SMC, said that reading Shadyac’s book was life changing and thought provoking. “Our thoughts don’t create reality; God creates reality,” she quoted from the book. “We’re not completely in control,” she said. “Just have faith and hope that everything will work out.”
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10 opinion
volume 106 issue 3 • september 18, 2013 • santa monica college
Staff Editorial
“Yet another mass shooting”
Thirteen people were shot dead, and eight more were injured after a shooting rampage took place Monday on what should be one of our nation’s most fortified installations, the U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command. According to the Navy, the base is the largest of the Navy’s five-system commands, and the shooting occurred inside command headquarters, Building 197. The shooter, Aaron Alexis, a military veteran and contractor, had a valid base entry pass, which he used to enter Navy Yard, located a little over a mile from the White House and Capitol, and opened fire with high-calibre weaponry. This rampage marks the second mass shooting this year in which President Barack Obama was within close proximity. He was in Santa Monica at the time of the shooting that culminated on the Santa Monica College main campus on June 7. Obama, who made no mention of the Santa Monica shooting, had plenty to say about Monday’s rampage, calling the violence, “a cowardly act,” expressing his condolences, and ordering flags at half-staff. “We’re confronting yet another mass shooting, and today it happened on a military installation in our nation’s capital,” Obama said in his address Monday. “It’s a shooting that targeted our military
and civilian personnel.” The military’s job is to protect civilians, so if the largest military in the world cannot even protect its own headquarters from a mass shooting, then who can? “These are men and women who were going to work, doing they’re job, and protecting all of us,” Obama said. “They’re patriots. And they know the dangers of serving abroad, but today they face the unimaginable violence that they wouldn’t have expected here at home.” Apparently no one is safe in America anymore; not the police, not the Navy, and not even the government. As a society, we have become grievously desensitized to these incidents when the president won’t waste his breath on the loss of six lives back in June and deems 13 lives taken as, “yet another mass shooting.” Mass shootings last year in Newton, Conn. and Aurora, Colo. sparked national outrage, flooding social media with horrified responses and lingering in infamy. Recent shootings this year sadly seem like just another news story. The frequency with which these events are occurring suggests that the United States has lost the ability to prevent mass shootings. These days,
#SexySelfie
wearing little to no clothing and a good amount of makeup. Both types of selfies are judged as indicators of being vain or distasteful, but why? Are they any different than being shirtless or bikini-clad in pictures while having fun at the beach? If a guy can post a picture in a skin-tight muscle shirt after a sweaty workout, why is it difficult to accept the same picture from a girl in a sports bra? Many times, young women will attack men for being desperate when they post positive comments on a racy picture. But when a man posts an equally suggestive photo, many of the same women will fawn and ogle over it. We are surrounded by this type of culture in 2013, and there shouldn’t be a double standard when it comes to posting selfies. It is not fair for all of society to classify people by the type of pictures they like to share through social media. It is unacceptable to frown upon a sultry picture from a female but praise a male’s revealing photo as being confident. There’s nothing wrong with posting a picture of your body, but you must realize what you are unintentionally signing up for. Whether it is made known or not, many people will have comments about your photo, and that cannot be undone just by deleting it afterward. People should not be afraid of wanting to share a certain photo with their friends, but they should be prepared for judgment as well. Remember that there is a boundary between your public life and your private life. The minute you choose to cross that line, you cannot blame any negative outcomes on that one picture. No one should be shamed for what content they choose to share, especially if the photo poses no actual harm to anyone. That does not mean to start uploading pictures of yourself in your birthday suit, but if you took a particularly risqué picture that you just cannot keep to yourself, remember to compose yourself to handle rude and hurtful comments. One important thing to consider is that selfies are not and should not be used as a judgment of a person’s character, self-respect or intelligence. Selfies
dion to Staff Writer The tag, #SelfieSunday, is seen all over Twitter, Instagram and now even Facebook has decided to step up its game by adding real-time hashtags, linking users to millions of strangers all around the world. So who sees these pictures besides the people they were intended for? With iPhones and Androids handling about 90 percent of handset sales worldwide, it is no surprise that new applications are constantly being developed, and given firsthand access to smartphone users. Over the last couple of years, new smartphone apps have been established which solely require the use of a device’s camera or the pictures stored on said device. You may have some of these downloaded on one of your devices. I know I certainly did. I recently lost my iPhone, and with that, also lost access to my social media accounts for Snapchat, Vine and my personal favorite, Instagram. Though these apps each have their own specialties, they are all used to share photos and videos to other users within that network. With so much media to display every second of our lives, it can be hard to resist sharing that one photo of yourself where the lighting is perfect and your hair falls flawlessly. When you are constantly flooded with selfies on every social networking platform, the temptation to post one of your own becomes only two taps and a caption away. But what are the boundaries when it comes to posting selfies, and who decides them? After all, once a selfie is uploaded, anyone you have allowed can see it, and maybe others you did not necessarily want to share it with will see it. Many guys will post obnoxious pictures wearing snapbacks, flexing for the camera, shirtless in front of a mirror, but then again, so will many girls. Girls are notorious for posting selfies posing seductively,
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it is not a matter of if a shooting rampage will happen in America, but a matter of when and where. Similar to the SMC shooting, initial reports suggested the possibility of multiple shooters involved in the Navy Yard incident. Later reports indicated Alexis acted alone, leaving authorities baffled in their investigation to find a motive. This level of confusion is wholly unacceptable. If we as a society cannot stop shooting rampages, then we need more accurate and precise protocols when they do occur. Every second of confusion in a crisis situation is a possible life lost. It does not matter whether the lives lost are civilians, students, or military personnel, they are all a tragedy, and each innocent life taken should be acknowledged as such. “Obviously we’re going to be investigating thoroughly what happened, as we do so many of these shootings, sadly, that have happened, and do everything we can to try to prevent them,” Obama said. As demonstrated by Monday’s rampage, not even the government can protect its people from a shooting rampage. Unfortunately, until changes are made in this country, Americans will just have to bite the bullet.
Jose Lopez Corsair Santa Monica College astrophysics major Jessica McCrite, 21, has fun taking a selfie in the cafeteria on Tuesday. She is one of only two women majoring in astrophysics at SMC.
are just pictures that touch only the surface of the person. You can study a picture but never truly know every angle to that person. It is wrong to assume that people are the sum of their selfies. I have felt a strange disconnection from the social media world since losing my phone. With my replacement phone incapable of shooting pictures from the front, taking selfies is no longer a regular hobby for me. There is nothing wrong with taking, sharing or posting pictures of yourself. Just remember that judgment absolutely goes both ways, and think about that before your selfie is sucked into the cyber world.
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sports 11
volume 106 issue 3 • september 18, 2013 • santa monica college
Football wins home opener Trevor Angone Staff Writer As the fog rolled over Corsair Stadium, the Santa Monica College Corsairs fought their way to a 30-27 victory over the Chaffey College Panthers, behind an offensive attack led by quarterback Steven Hamm, and a stout second half defensive performance highlighted by linebacker Dajuan Perryman. It took some time for the Corsairs to find their rhythm defensively, allowing 20 points in the first half. But despite Chaffey’s impressive output the first two quarters, SMC managed to match the Panthers thanks to a one-yard touchdown run from running back Melvin Davis as time expired in the first half. “When we’re in a crucial moment, I have to give our team the opportunity to grow and take ownership,” said head coach Gifford Lindheim. “They’re telling me they can do it, and I have to believe in them.” Though the Corsair defense had a hard time containing the Panthers in the first half, that was not the case in the second. They held Chaffey to only seven points the last two quarters, shutting the Panthers out in the final 27 minutes of the game.
“We were trying to find ourselves most of the game when it came to the run defense,” said Lindheim. “The best coverage is a great pass rush, and the best pass rush is great coverage. It works together.” The defensive unit put their stamp on the game just before the start of the fourth quarter, right after the Panthers moved the ball all the way down to the Corsairs’ threeyard line. On second and goal, Perryman made a game-saving tackle for a loss, pushing the Panthers all the way back to the SMC 10-yard line, which led to a missed field goal, preserving the win. “I went down there and had to make a play for the team, get the offense back on the field so we could make something happen, run that clock out,” said Perryman. Getting the offense back on the field was definitely a concern for the Corsairs all game long. The Panthers finished the game with a 15-minute advantage in time of possession, 35 minutes to SMC’s 20. Despite Chaffey having the ball an entire quarter longer than the Corsairs, Hamm eventually had his way with the Panthers,
Women’s soccer can’t finish
Nick Kovalenko Corsair Steven Hamm, protected by his teammates, runs for the pass during the game against Chaffey on Saturday at Corsair Stadium.
going 16 for 31 in the air for 203 yards and two touchdowns. Hamm also added 101 yards on the ground rushing for one touchdown as well. “The QB [quarterback] option is a huge part of our game plan,” said Hamm. “It’s what opens up bigger runs and breaks, which it did. The drives to end the first half are what got the momentum going.” Though there were some correctable mistakes, all in all it was an impressive
DAVID LLOYD WILSON Staff Writer
The Santa Monica College Lady Corsairs soccer team fought hard, but ultimately fell short in a tough loss to the Ventura College Pirates, 1-0, for their third consecutive loss. There were many outstanding defensive plays on both sides of the field, especially by Monique Boe, Lady Corsairs' goalkeeper and tricaptain. She made save after save, except for one. "I'm gonna lose sleep over that," said Boe. "The body doesn't matter, just make saves." It was a bullet shot by the Pirates' sophomore forward, Macey Herrera to the upper left corner pocket of the goal. Boe had both hands on the David J. Hawkins Corsair ball, but it was just too hot to handle. Santa Monica College Corsairs’ women’s soccer player Brenda That is the way the whole game Reyes keeps the soccer ball away from Ventura defenders on went, incredibly physical with both Friday.
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teams playing like their lives were on the line. Lady Corsairs' Jennifer Tobias dashed up and down the field, taking several shots on Ventura's goalie, Katelyn White. "I'm a runner, track and cross country last year," said Tobias. "Push it to the limit and fight for it." Joe Pehanich, head coach of the women's soccer team, was very vocal and encouraging, as he formulated and reformulated strategies on the spot. "It was hard fought; we couldn't quite pull it out," said Pehanich. "Unfortunate on the one goal, but the rest of the game was solid." Lady Corsairs tri-captains Suzie Scribner and Nicola Berry set the stage for a very intense, physical game in which men's soccer coach Tim Pierce even jumped up off the sidelines in protest over a call. "A very physical game, it's nothing
we can't take," said Scribner. "We were short players today, we had no subs. We had to take it, and then keep playing." One yellow card was even assessed to Lady Corsairs’ sophomore forward, Marlene Conner, who was very frustrated with the referee. Despite the loss, the team took some positives out of the game. "The performance is good, improvement every time with team play going into conference," said Pehanich. "It's still preseason." The loss drops the Lady Corsairs to 1-3, and near the bottom of the Western State South Conference, although the season is still early. The Lady Corsairs will take to the field next at home on Friday, Sept. 20 at 3 p.m. against the fourtime Foothill Conference champion San Bernardino Valley College Wolverines.
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performance, especially late in the third and fourth quarters, when SMC needed to muster everything they had left after an already exhausting game. “We’re still not at our full potential, but when we get there, we are going to be making some big plays,” said Hamm. The Corsairs will try to start a small winning streak at home next Saturday, Sept. 21 at 1 p.m. against San Bernardino Valley College.
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12 sports
volume 106 issue 3 • september 18, 2013 • santa monica college
Men’s soccer ends in a tie Gintare Urbutyte Staff Writer
David J. Hawkins Corsair Santa Monica College Corsairs’ Batuhan Taylan, right, challenges a defender from El Camino College on Friday. Both teams scored one goal each, resulting in a tied game.
The Santa Monica College men's soccer team recorded their second tie of the season last Friday with a 1-1 finish against the El Camino College Warriors. The Warriors started off with aggressive attacks, making the Corsairs work tirelessly on the defensive end, and kept the ball on SMC's end of the field for the majority of the first period. After the first period, the Corsairs came back full of energy and encouragement with well-planned attacks and great passes. Oskar Martinsson, a freshman forward from Sweden, scored the first goal of the game in the second period to put SMC up, 1-0. “We had a pretty good talk in the locker room, and Coach [Pierce] told us we need to pen up and we need to make some better runs behind the defenders and take it easy,” said Martinsson on the team's energy following halftime. The Corsairs played energetically until they suffered a critical blow to freshman midfielder Orhan Basak who injured his knee. The injury sparked a small outrage from head coach Tim Pierce, who berated the referees for what he felt was more than just an accidental injury. The sudden loss of Basak threw the Corsairs off balance and gave the Warriors a late advantage which resulted in El Camino scoring a goal and tying up the game. Kevin Alonzo, the Corsairs’ sophomore goalkeeper, was unable to hold off the Warriors offensive attack on the gametying play. “I was feeling pretty good until they scored,” said Alonzo. “That is a dangerous lead to hold, especially with a team like
that – that just attacks, attacks, and attacks. We tried our best, one little mistake cost us, and we paid for it.” According to Alonzo and Martinsson, the team has a good base defensively, but they need a little more work with their offensive attacks. “We need help up top,” said Alonzo. “We've got to score more goals to win,” added Martinsson.
“We had a pretty good talk in the locker room, and Coach [Pierce] told us we need to pen up and we need to make some better runs behind the defenders and take it easy." — Oskar Martinsson, SMC forward, on the team's energy after halftime Following Friday’s tie, the Corsairs defeated Oxnard College, 3-0, in their first conference game of the season on Tuesday. The win brings their record to 2-1-2, and near the top of the pack in the Western State Conference in the early goings. They will match up next against the Moorpark College Raiders at home on Friday, Sept. 20 at 1 p.m.
David J. Hawkins Corsair Santa Monica College Corsairs’ Oskar Martinsson, right, battles for a header against the Oxnard College Condors on Tuesday at Santa Monica College. The Corsairs defeated the previously undefeated 2012 Western State Champions by the score of 3-0.
Joe Pehanich leads women’s soccer team Lauren Narvaez Staff Writer Joe Pehanich, who has played soccer since he was 3 years old, was an obvious choice for head coach of the Santa Monica College women’s soccer team. “It was an honor to have Aaron [Benditson] and Tim [Pierce] recommend me,” said Pehanich. “I feel blessed to have this position.” Bendtison was the previous women's soccer coach, and Pierce is currently the head coach of the men's soccer team. Pehanich's coaching career started with the North Valley Soccer Club in Northridge, Calif. From there, he went on to coach many soccer clubs, including the girls under-19 division of the Chivas USA league in 2010. He also served most recently as an assistant coach on the SMC men's soccer team. Voted the most valuable attacker and earning a four letter in high school, Pehanich
shows the passion he has for soccer on and off the field. He has played with various minor club teams, including the California Heat, where he played alongside current professional player, Landon Donovan. It was during that time when Pehanich was recruited to California State University, Northridge, but shortly after training began, he stopped playing and started looking into coaching. “I was just drawn to coaching,” said Pehanich. As a geography major in college, Pehanich has always been interested in traveling and has used that in conjunction with his passion for soccer. He had the opportunity to play in many other countries including Brazil, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Croatia and France. He also played professional indoor soccer for a year for Valencia Club de Futbol. His experience and knowledge in soccer
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is evident in his coaching style. Staying positive and setting a good example for his players, Pehanich always maintains his calm during games. “My coaching style is based on being positive and to always be in their corner,” he said. “I view myself as somebody who is out there to give them ideas as a coach and how I would like them to play.” While Pehanich allows his team to improvise, he still maintains and stresses team structure. “I give them the freedom to do things their own way, but there is a nice template for our system and I expect them to play within it,” he said. The Lady Corsairs have gotten off to a rough start this year at 1-3, but Pehanich said he continues to be optimistic. “My plan is just to have a positive season and a positive environment,” he said. “I just want a program based on positivity. We really just want to do good in conference.”
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Colette Blonigan Corsair Santa Monica College Corsairs’ women’s soccer head coach, Joe Pehanich, encourages his players after a game against the Sierra College Wolverines on Friday, Sept. 6.
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