Volume106issue04

CORSAIR

volume 106 issue 4 • september 25, 2013 • santa monica college

FIRST COPY OF THE CORSAIR IS FREE, EACH COPY AFTER IS 25C

SMC joins

Coastal Cleanup Day see story on pg 9

SMC bookstore

to introduce textbook rental program pg 3

Food trucks

make a stop at Bundy campus

pg 8

New AS directors appointed pg 4

Scott Bixler Corsair the c orsair • thec orsaironline.c om • 19 0 0 pic o blvd. santa monica, ca 9 0405 •(310) 434-4340

2 contents

volume 106 issue 4 • september 25, 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 Albert Andrade········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 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., Trevor Angone, Fabian Avellaneda, Nathan Berookhim, Crislin Christian, 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, Jose Lopez, 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 FA C U LT Y A D V I S e R S S a u l Ru b i n & Gerard Burkhart

Nick Kovalenko Corsair Santa Monica College students participate in a hip-hop competition on the main campus quad on Thursday. Student activities are often held on the quad from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

SMC community!

if you have photos, feelings or opinions on what we publish, we want to hear from you! email, tweet, or facebook us. corsair.opinionpage@gmail.com ON THE COVER: A volunteer picks up trash during the Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday at the Santa Monica Beach.

A d I n q uiries : co rsai r. adc o nsul t an t @g m ai l . co m (3 1 0 ) 4 3 4 - 4 0 3 3

THIS SHOUT IS A

OUT

TO ALL STUDENTS The Associated Students wants to know what YOU think about AB955 and its controversial full-cost “contract education” program

Come voice your opinion at the next Board Meeting:  Monday. September 30th. Cayton Center, 2nd floor. 3:30pm.

Here to listen for extended coverage visit us at thecorsaironline.com •

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news 3

volume 106 issue 4 • september 25, 2013 • santa monica college

Bookstore rentals coming soon

Students could be able to rent textbooks from the on campus bookstore as soon as winter 2014.

Fabian Avellaneda Staff Writer West Los Angeles College, Glendale Community College and Amazon all have it, and soon Santa Monica College may join them, as plans to implement a textbook rental system may unfold as early as this upcoming winter semester.

“I really think it will be implemented starting winter session,” said David Dever, manager of the SMC bookstore. “We are now negotiating with several companies.

We want to start in a smaller venue like a winter session to work out the kinks before a full semester like spring.”

A plan to initiate a textbook rental system at SMC has been a topic of much discussion and interest for some time now.

With textbook prices as high as they are, the start of a rental system could mean a huge change for SMC students.

According to a report released in June from the U.S. Government Accountability Office’s website, the price of college textbooks has increased three times faster than the rate of inflation, resulting in an overall 82 percent increase in the last decade.

“I always look on Amazon, PostYourBook. com, and ask my friends if they own, or know someone that owns, the book I need,” said SMC student Stephanie Alonso.

“I’ve found those websites very helpful, and I have purchased several of my books off of students, so a rental system sounds great,” she said. “Once the class is over, I’ll just store the book under my bed, and it just sits there collecting dust until someone buys it off me.”

SMC student Peter Guerrero expressed a similar view.

“A rental system will help me as well as other students who struggle to get books,” he said. “College is already expensive

enough as it is, and a little help wouldn’t hurt.”

At West Los Angeles College, the rental system has a library of over 5,000 books available to be rented at up to 60 percent of the retail price, according to the college’s website. Any student enrolled in the current semester can participate in the rental system with a printout of the student’s enrollment fee, a credit or debit card, and a California or student ID. Once the textbooks are returned, however, the student does not receive any money back as “the rental price of the book reflects the cost of using the book for the semester as well as a significant saving over the regular price of the book,” according to West LA College’s website.

Here at SMC, Dever said they have tried other ways to help students receive the textbooks they need.

“We always try to buy books back from students, and what the college has done to help students is get cheaper loose-leaf books because publishers don’t have to add glue, gloss and nice photos to them,” said Dever.

Scott Bixler Corsair A Santa Monica College student reads a book while looking to purchase it for one of his classes while in the campus bookstore on Monday.

Many SMC students look across the street on Pico Boulevard at A&R Textbooks for bargains.

Marc Yoon, A&R Textbook’s manager, said that a rental system at the store has not yet been discussed.

“The SMC campus bookstore can implement a rental system, but we are separate and haven’t thought about it,” he said.

At the early stages of discussion about the rental system at SMC, talks were about charging students for half the book value, and if they did not return it in time, then they would pay the full price.

“We didn’t think that was a good system,” said Dever.

Since then, there are still contracts and paperwork to clear before official plans are finalized.

TOGETHER WE ARE NOT ALONE. WE START OUR JOURNEY, ASK THE QUESTIONS,

QUESTION THE ANSWERS, ENTER NEW

TERRITORY AND FIND OURSELVES.

TOGETHER WE INNOVATE.

However, the publishing companies know that these loose-leaf books cannot be resold, and next year students will have no choice but to buy another.

Dever said that publishing companies try to drive out the used-book sales so they can retain the market share. They do this by issuing new editions of textbooks as well as releasing them with single-use pass codes that allow the publishing companies to effectively kill the resale value of used textbooks with the knowledge that students need to get their hands on the books, whatever the cost.

for extended coverage visit us at thecorsaironline.com •

At CSU Channel Islands students have one-on-one access to all of their professors, and a supportive campus culture that’s perfectly suited for exploring ideas beyond the classroom, learning new subjects and finding future success.

TOGETHER WE INNOVATE joinus.csuci.edu/cor L to R: Darius Riggins, Admissions & Recruitment; Patrick Tafoya, Facilities Services; Ellie Tayag, John Spoor Broome Library; Jill Leafstedt, Associate Professor of Education; Carmen Gutierrez, ‘13 Early Childhood Studies, future Credential Program student; Monica Rivas, Academic Advising; Ryan Garcia, Academic Technology Services; Lt. Mike Morris, University Police.

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CSU Channel Islands - We Are Not Alone Santa Monica City College - The Corsair Insertions: September 2013

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4 News

volume 106 issue 4 • september 25, 2013 • santa monica college

Tutoring app expected for SMC Tina Eady Staff Writer It started with a horrible tutoring experience.

Okky Jaya, Santa Monica College business major and Associated Students director of student advocacy, who hails from Indonesia, enlisted a tutor to help him with his English.

"The tutors expected me to know English, and I didn't know when I had errors, because they sometimes didn't tell me," said Jaya.

That is when the idea of Collegian, a phone app where students can order a tutor in any subject, among other services, was born.

The app would also feature a book exchange program and ride-finding service.

Jaya proposed the idea to the AS and President Ty Moura, who thought it was a good idea and initiated the committee of technology, of which Jaya became commissioner.

With the support of the AS, Jaya and computer science majors Hilal Habashi and Mojarad Ali developed the app.

Ali has the job of coding the app. AS director of activities Mathew Nicholson was recruited for taking care of the business side, and Alex Abramoff was brought on for

marketing. SMC student Sakib Kahn was also brought on for business and marketing.

The app was created to save students money by facilitating access to cheaper tutors. A tutor from University of California, Los Angeles or University of Southern California can charge $30 or more per hour to receive one-on-one tutoring. With the app, students can access tutors that charge "maybe $10 per hour," Jaya said.

A fraction of the money would go to the department that the tutoring was for.

"It's for students who need money for other stuff," Habashi said.

"I'm going to need it; my books were $700 this semester," said computer engineering student Anil Rayamaghi.

The app would be linked to the student's SMC email account, Habashi said.

Collegian would be free for SMC students, and they could log in from their phone or any computer.

Habashi mentioned the difficulties students sometimes face when seeking tutoring help in the math lab.

"They only solve one problem, and you have to get back in line again," he said.

"There's not enough one-on-one."

The app would display the names of tutors and ratings given by students, which rank

how well they explain the material and how well students felt prepared for the exams.

Students would be able to find tutors by adding class section numbers, and then choosing the tutor suitable for their particular class.

Using the school's databases, found in the library, may cause some delay. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act that protects the privacy of student records is part of the reason.

"But we came up with an alternative," Habashi said.

Creators of Collegian are considering a database retrieved from existing databases similar to PostYourBook.com, but are still working on obtaining permission from those sites.

Another alternative would be to "rely on computer user input," which means the student would sign onto a website separate from Corsair Connect, Habashi said.

"If you have a class with 120 students, you don't know everyone, but you can know who they are through the app," said Habashi.

Habashi expects a dummy of the site to be completed in December.

The project is looking for advanced web programmers and developers.

Officer collision near campus Elizabeth Moss News Editor Santa Monica College Police Department motor officer Albert Echeverria was in an on-duty collision near the Airport Arts campus Tuesday morning, according to a press release from SMCPD Chief Albert Vasquez.

Echeverria was on the 2800 block of Airport Way when he entered into a collision at 9:15 a.m.

SMCPD Sgt. Mark Kessler was called in to take his place.

Echeverria was transported to Reagan Medical Center in Westwood, where his injuries were treated.

The press release stated that Echeverria should have been released from the hospital by Tuesday evening.

Details about the collision are pending as the investigation is ongoing.

AS takes a new direction

Ramirez and Issa photos

by Arlene Karno Corsair Lyalina photo courtesy of Lyalina

Cassandra Ramirez

The Associated Students have managed to fill their vacancies.

The budget management, student affairs, and student outreach positions were selected after the board of directors deliberated for almost two hours during Monday's board meeting.

A total of seven students were nominated to vie for their respective director positions.

"I want AS to be known; I want people to recognize us," said Cassandra Ramirez, new director of student outreach.

Ramirez, an environmental studies major, is in her second

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Director of Budget Management

Elizabeth Moss News Editor year at SMC and second semester working for the AS. Business major Inayat Issa, new director of budget management, had the advantage of already having worked on the AS budget before the board elected him. AS President Ty Moura had asked Issa for assistance at the start of the semester, when the former budget management director left. Issa was working as Moura's main commissioner this semester.

"I hope to continue with what the previous board did," Issa said. "Why try to reinvent the wheel?"

Kyseniya Lyalina, new director of student affairs, worked

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as a commissioner for Samantha Ross, the spring semester's AS secretary.

Alex Abramoff, who ran for AS president during the elections in the spring, was among the nominees. During his pitch for director of student outreach, Abramoff reminded the board of his participation in campus activities, and that he was invested in creating a community within SMC. "The more hands you have pulling the string, the faster the string gets pulled," Abramoff said in his closing remarks.

The new directors took their seats immediately upon being appointed.

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opinion 5

volume 106 issue 4 • september 25, 2013 • santa monica college

Fingerprints off iPhone 5s lyan wong Staff Writer The iPhone, a coveted object of desire among the image-conscious masses, and the catalyst which revolutionized the smartphone industry, looks to revolutionize the market yet again.

Every iPhone reincarnation has been marked by months of hyped anticipation, followed by long lines of Apple devotees determined to be the first to get their hands on the latest model.

However, the release of the iPhone 5s has been met with some negativity this year, concerning one of the phone’s newest features — a fingerprint scanner — which has incited public outcry and impassioned internet debates.

The introduction of the scanner comes only months after the NSA datamining scandal, which has made many Americans rethink issues concerning technological privacy.

According to Reuters’ official website, the fingerprint scanner utilizes state-ofthe-art biometric technology, and removes the hassle of entering a password to unlock the phone. It is also used as a verification tool for buying music or applications from the iTunes and app stores.

An iPhone 5s user would simply need to tap their finger against the home button to access their phone or purchase items.

Despite the nerds out there crying doomsday, some analysts believe the fingerprint scanner will increase user security.

According to Apple’s official website, 50 percent of smartphone users do not set up a password for their phones.

The question is, should we trust Apple to safe-keep a biological stamp of our identity? Are the concerns justified, or are they just an embodiment of the paranoia that is rampant in our current sociopolitical climate?

The fingerprint data recorded by the scanner will only be stored on the phone, and it will not be transmitted to a database, eliminating concerns regarding information privacy, and identity theft, according to Apple.

However, Howard Stahl, computer science professor at Santa Monica College, does not agree.

“I wouldn’t do it,” he said. “I would not give them my fingerprint. If a hacker was to get to the location of the phone where the fingerprints are saved, they are able to put their fingerprints there instead of yours, and now you have been locked out of your phone.”

Too many risks come with the fingerprint feature that Apple introduced in their new models.

“There are a lot of concerns regarding that fingerprint,” Stahl said. “People might want to think carefully before they give Apple their fingerprint because there is no way to take it back.”

The fingerprint scanner has never been incorporated into a cellphone before, Stahl warned. There may be certain loopholes and initial hiccups that could be risky for a user’s privacy and security.

Nevertheless, SMC students seem nonchalant and unfazed by the potential virtual threats that the iPhone 5s may present. Many of them think the

Illustration by Jhosef Hern Corsair

convenience and the coolness factor outweigh the cost of a security breach.

“I don’t think it’s unsafe; I don’t mind,” said David Javidzid, an SMC philosophy major.

I was initially in favor of the fingerprint scanner when I first heard of it, because I thought it sounded nifty, reminiscent of those high-tech gadgets from science fiction movies.

Fantasy and conspiracy theories aside, Apple claims that fingerprints recorded by the scanner are perfectly safe due to the fact that they are stored locally on the phone and not saved in a database.

The fingerprint scanner is still a largely unexplored territory, and when you factor in loopholes, glitches and hackers into the equation, the iPhone 5s just is not worth the danger.

“It is a new feature, so some of it might just be rumors or innuendos, but hopefully it will get more clear once people get used to how it works, the way it works, how they are securing it, and whether it is really as secure as they say,” said Stahl.

I normally cannot wait to get my hands on the latest iPhone, but since Apple is insistent on the fingerprint scanner, I will be keeping my hands (and fingerprints) away from the iPhone 5s.

Staff Editorial

Keep your mind on your money

The California Legislature passed a bill on Sept. 12 that will increase minimum wage earnings from $8 an hour to $10 by 2016.

The proposed hourly $10 pay would increase California’s minimum wage by 25 percent, according to the California Chamber of Commerce.

The Golden State currently boasts the sixth largest minimum wage nationwide. In 2016, it would be the most profitable place to live for unskilled workers, which could partially offset the state’s expensive cost of living.

But some politicians have expressed doubts regarding the ambitious legislature.

“Such a significant increase in the minimum wage may jeopardize any economic recovery California is enjoying,” said Jennifer Barrera of the California Chamber of Commerce in a letter to lawmakers.

Working an eight-hour shift for $8 an hour simply is not worth it for any extended period of time, considering the fact it is impossible to live in California off a single minimum wage job.

Those who oppose the bill believe that businesses and business owners will have trouble covering the costs of employee salaries, and warn that a reverse effect could take place.

Instead of stimulating the state economy and producing more consumer dollars, employers may be forced to downsize and lay off workers in order to maximize profits.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, California’s unemployment rate is 8.6 percent, higher than the national average of 7.6 percent.

For all the wage slaves out there, they know how competitive the job market is

for extended coverage visit us at thecorsaironline.com •

on the west coast in 2013. However, in 2016, it will only worsen as thousands will migrate to California in search of a better life.

The proposed economic paradise could quickly deteriorate into a wasteland if employers make layoffs, combined with a flood of opportunistic relocators.

This historic decision has made the entire country contemplate the role of minimum wage jobs in our society. Is the system working as intended, or is this increase simply a bandage on a festering wound?

If you have the means, it is possible to never have to work for minimum wage and simply go straight into a career after college. However, for the majority of Americans, working a minimum wage job will be a necessity at least once in their lifetime.

In California, it is feasible to live off $10 an hour, but certainly not comfortable.

Many Californians rely solely on minimum wage jobs to survive, often being forced to work two jobs just to make ends meet.

This country still needs and relies on unskilled labor, but at the current cost of living, it cannot sustain life. We are left with Americans trying to survive using a system that was never intended to do so in the first place.

In the next couple years, working a minimum wage job will certainly be more enticing, but it still won’t be a viable longterm career path.

Minimum wage jobs are meant to be transitional jobs available to able-bodied citizens before they can learn a skill and earn big money.

Americans should never aspire to earn only $10 an hour, and neither should students.

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6 Photostory

volume 106 issue 4 • september 25, 2013 • santa monica college

Flying through history Photos & Text by David J. Hawkins Photo Editor

Planes roared over the sky in formation at noon on Saturday, signaling the opening of the Santa Monica Municipal Airport open house for the annual event showcasing what the airport has to offer to its community.

Historians, pilots, mechanics, and aviation safety personnel came together as volunteers to share knowledge and experiences.

Many Santa Monica locals want to see the airport close because of the noise from arriving and departing aircrafts on a daily basis.

Families and children attended the festivities held at the airport and visited the static display of aircraft, the Museum of Flying, and the observation deck where scheduled bus tours were held.

“What would we do without it?” said Shannon Colmenares, after mentioning the subject of the airport closing. “People knew when they bought their houses that the airport was here.”

The city of Santa Monica provided a Big Blue Bus to transport people around the airport as a guided tour.

Volunteer Robert Trimborn gave a detailed history of the Santa Monica airport.

“In 1922 Donald Wills Douglas opened a production facility along the north side of the airport which brought people, jobs, businesses and houses to the city of Santa Monica,” said Trimborn.

“There’s a lot of history here; Amelia Earhart and Howard Hughes flew out of here,” said

Jeff Faeth, a member of the board of directors of the Santa Monica Airport Association, an organization that plans activities to support the airport and preserve the history.

The south side of the airport is comprised mainly of general aviation, repair stations, art galleries, and small businesses, Faeth said.

The north side of the airport houses mostly large businesses and corporate aviation, providing a majority of the airport’s income.

The Civil Air Patrol has a unit based in Santa Monica, Cloverfield Composite Squadron 51, that conducts search and rescue operations, as well as a cadet program to mentor youths with interest in aviation. CAP members were present to educate attendees about the organization and the CAP aircraft, equipped and operated by a crew of four that searches for downed airplanes with emergency beacons.

The DC-3 aircraft monument, located on Airport Avenue and Douglas Loop, shows the symbolic representation of the rich aviation history that developed at the airport.

“Business jets help alleviate commercial traffic at other airports,” said Rachel Tanzer, a certified flight instructor who trains pilots transitioning from other aircrafts to Cirrus aircrafts, sold and maintained on the south side of the airport.

As a Santa Monica College alumnus, she would be disappointed to see the airport close because of its proximity to her history.

Joao Bellodi (left) and his son Joao Marko Bellodi ride the tour bus around the airport, pas

Matthew Colmenares plays with his aircraft carrier set on a bench at Saturday’s airport event.

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volume 106 issue 4 • september 25, 2013 • santa monica college

photostory 7

A soccer player walks across a Cirrus SR22 aircraft at the Santa Monica Municipal Airport open house on Saturday.

Major Benjamin Schick, a mission pilot for Civil Air Patrol, gives a boy and his parents a tour of the cockpit of a Cessna 172.

ssing a Challenger 300 aircraft.

A statue of Donald Wills Douglas and a monument of a DC-3 passenger plane is displayed at the Santa Monica Municipal Airport.

Civil Air Patrol cadet Narayan (left) tells Shannon Colmenares (center) and her son Matthew about the organization.

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+ lifestyle 8 health

volume 106 issue 4 • september 25, 2013 • santa monica college

Food trucks serve lunch at Bundy campus Tina Eady Staff Writer

Since construction began at the Academy of Entertainment and Technology satellite campus at Santa Monica College, food trucks have been brought to serve students during peak lunchtime hours at the Bundy campus in lieu of a cafeteria.

Students and staff from the AET campus temporarily moved to the Bundy and Airport campuses, where portable classroom modules and a parking lot were added to accommodate the volume of people.

Since there are more students on the campus, an experimental food truck program emerged and, if successful, will continue until AET’s scheduled completion in 2016.

Roy Ono, president of West Coast Finest Catering, was chosen by SMC to select food truck vendors to service the campus.

“My main concerns are cleanliness, honesty and being on schedule,” said Ono. He contracted the vendors to be at the Bundy campus from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the fall and spring semesters, rotating the trucks to be on campus throughout the week.

Complementing the diverse population at SMC, whether Greek, Argentinian, Cuban or American, the assortment of food trucks reflects that diversity.

From Monday through Thursday, the food trucks service an average of 1,200 to 1,400 students, Ono said.

Ono made sure to ask vendors to accept Visa and MasterCard.

“Parents give students, who are not working, credit cards so they can eat,” he said.

Andy’s Cart seemed to be a student favorite, serving hot

Arlene Karno Corsair Health and human development student Sandra Barnes, 17, and boyfriend Bryce Adelete 19, an aeronautics major, meet for a juice break on the Bundy campus of Santa Monica College.

dogs and gourmet sausages.

“We love the hot dog combo wrapped with bacon and grilled onions and peppers, and you get chips and a drink for $5,” said SMC staff member Ruth Casillas.

Andy’s Cart also featured “Weenie Wednesday” where

New flu vaccinating options DAVID LLOYD WILSON Staff Writer Early this month, the St. Louis College of Pharmacy announced that, for the first time, there will be a vaccine that protects against four strains of the flu virus.

Every year, scientists pick what will be the three most common forms of the flu during the winter season which are then formulated into an annual vaccine.

However, this year's vaccine has the three current flu forms plus one more version of the virus.

"The real need for the vaccine with four flu viruses comes if that additional virus begins to circulate," Clark Kebodeaux, assistant professor of pharmacy practice at St. Louis College of Pharmacy, stated in a press release.

"At this early point, it's not certain what types of flu will cause the most illnesses."

The vaccine will also be given through two forms of injections and a nasal spray for those needle-nervous individuals.

"To ensure the new style of vaccine, ask for a nasal spray instead of an injection," said Kebodeaux. "Some injections only include the three-strain vaccine. Going forward after this year, we'll know if the additional protection is necessary."

Several Santa Monica College students had mixed

N A T I O N A L

reactions about the new vaccines, from not wanting to take the flu vaccine at all to debating over the injection versus the nasal spray version.

"I hate needles," said SMC student Shannon McCourt.

"If everything could come in nasal spray, I would do the nasal spray."

However, SMC student Maurissa Dargan said she prefers the needle injection over nasal spray.

"I'd rather take the needle," she said. "I've never had things up my nose. I like what I know."

Kebodeaux stated that older adults, and those with chronic conditions like diabetes and asthma, need to receive an injection as soon as the vaccines arrive. The high-dose version of the vaccine for older adults protects against three versions of the flu virus.

"I encourage everyone to get any version of the flu vaccine," Kebodeaux said. "There will be plenty for everyone."

Some believed that receiving the flu vaccination was wise, especially before the flu season.

Elysse LeRoy, SMC student, receives a flu shot every year, even though she is scared of needles.

"Yes, I do think it is important to get vaccinated, because you want to stay healthy as long as possible and not miss any school," she said.

SMC student Julian Robinson said he believes that the flu

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students get two hot dogs for $4.

Tokyo Doggie’s chef has daily specials.

“The Philly Cheesesteak was a little pricey, but it was well worth it,” said SMC student Alex Sandoval. “It was like a teriyaki, like an Asian fusion.”

Kieran Cox, computer science major at SMC, bought a burger, fries and soda for $11 from The Aztec Truck.

“It’s good, but it’s almost a restaurant price,” he said.

From The Royal Velvet’s custom cupcakes to The Cheer Burger’s veggie wraps and Meat The Greek’s Mediterranean cuisine, the main concern is the number of customers the food trucks can serve.

“It’s the first real attempt to see if there is enough volume to support the trucks,” said Katharine Muller, SMC’s dean of external programs and institutional planning.

If the food trucks make a profit, SMC will solicit vendors to remain at Bundy. However, if the food trucks lose money, a different solution to the operation would have to be taken into consideration to provide students with food.

With the current changes undergoing at AET, programs that currently reside there would be negatively impacted, Muller said.

“There’s really no way to keep those classes going with that level of construction, so we had to relocate the current programs to Bundy campus,” said Muller.

Muller added that construction at the AET campus includes remodeling the existing building and adding a parking structure. An additional building will house the radio station, KCRW, and the journalism department in addition to the current design and technology programs.

The food trucks are expected to serve Bundy’s students and staff until construction of the new AET building is completed, which is scheduled for April of 2016, Muller said.

shot promotes good health.

"Everyone should get them to prevent the flu," he said.

Robinson felt that the cost of a flu shot should not exceed $20.

"It's something that everyone should have, and I think that's a price that everyone can somehow work out," he said.

Dr. Glenn Gorlitsky, a Santa Monica physician, said that the three-strain flu vaccine is available at his private practice, but Walgreens and other pharmacies offer it at a cheaper cost.

"The three-strain for this season is out, very available," said Gorlitsky. "The four-strain is not as available. For children, we tend to use the nasal one. So, either would be fine. It would be preferable, but no urgency, to try to get the four-strain one."

Gorlitsky also said that his office ordered the four-strain vaccine, but they are currently waiting on its arrival.

An egg-free version of the vaccine will also be made available to adults ages 18 to 49 with egg allergies who decide to receive the flu shot.

As of now, it is unclear if any SMC sponsored vaccinations will be offered or whether the SMC student health fee, paid each semester by students, will cover the cost. Flu vaccinations have previously been offered to SMC students "at cost," SMC's Health Services coordinator Gloria Lopez told The Corsair in May 2012.

After various attempts to contact Lopez and Health Services, Lopez did not comment on whether the department would offer the new versions of the flu vaccine.

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health + lifestyle 9

volume 106 issue 4 • september 25, 2013 • santa monica college

Coastal Cleanup Day continues pollution fight Fabian Avellaneda Staff Writer Hundreds of volunteers marched across California coastlines, including Santa Monica Beach, on Saturday to pick up trash on International Coastal Cleanup Day. More than 11,000 people went to Santa Monica Beach to remove 24,000 pounds of trash by participating in one last summer event that stretched across the California coast, according to Heal The Bay, a nonprofit environmental organization.

For its 23rd year, Heal the Bay has coordinated the Coastal Cleanup Day in Los Angeles County, according to the organization's website.

Coastal Cleanup Day started in 1985 in the wake of an ever-increasing presence of marine debris along California coastlines.

Since then, over 800,000 people have banded together to dispose of more than 14 million pounds of trash on California beaches.

Santa Monica College participants occupied the beach near Bay Street, formerly known as The Inkwell. Crowds of people made their way to the site, including many SMC clubs and organizations.

Among the groups were Plastic Free SMC, EcoAction Club, The Center for Environmental and Urban Studies.

Scott Bixler Corsair Volunteers look for trash by sifting through the sand on the beach during the Coastal Cleanup Day at Santa Monica Beach on Saturday.

"This is my first time participating in something like this," said Elyzabeth Arellano, who attended with SMC's Phi Theta Kappa. "I wasn't really interested in sustainability in high school because they don't really talk about it, but here in college, you learn more about it."

Matt Bouffard, an environmental science major at SMC, gave a safety talk before the event, instructing participants to stay away

from sharp, hazardous materials and to stay in groups.

With a bucket and gloves in hand, all volunteers were instructed to mark a data card documenting every bit of trash collected. At the end of the event, prizes were awarded for categories such as, "Weirdest Piece of Trash."

"The smallest pieces of trash are the most dangerous," said Bouffard. "Marine life eat

these small items, think they're full, and ultimately starve to death."

It seemed that the bulk of the trash found consisted of small items. Up and down the Crescent Bay Park, paper trash, plastic items, glass, bottle caps and countless cigarette butts were found.

On one side of the Santa Monica Pier, cheers were heard as volunteers gathered in crowds to welcome back scuba divers, who went for a pier dive to collect trash beneath the surface of the ocean. As one group of divers made their way back to dry land, another was ready to dive in again.

Collecting trash from beneath the surface of the ocean was one of the 50 cleanup sites in LA County, according to Heal the Bay's website.

SMC student and Heal the Bay intern at the Santa Monica Pier aquarium, Ashley Navas, was pleased with the turn out of the coastal clean up event.

"I've always loved the aquarium and I've always loved animals," said Navas who has visited the aquarium since she was five years old. "The turn out is exactly how I expected."

The event came to an end around noon, and with buckets of trash in their hands, volunteers made their way to a booth with a pink flag where their trash would be weighed and taken away by Heal the Bay.

AltCar Expo fulfills imagination, innovation DAVID LLOYD WILSON Staff Writer A classic, red Volkswagen bug convertible was on display at last weekend’s 8th Annual AltCar Expo in Santa Monica’s Civic Center. It would have been ordinary except for the fact that it was electric-powered.

The Volkswagen was donated to the expo and has been in development for four years at Santa Monica High School through the Team Marine organization.

Big name companies such as Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Chevy, Ford, BMW and Mercedes-Benz were all present at the event, but there were many smaller names and individuals with intriguing ideas as well.

Displayed was a solar-powered boat, an electric scooter with a removable, rechargeable battery pack, electric bicycles, and a propane-powered school bus.

“I enjoy doing environmental activism,” said Patricio Tuerrero, Team Marine club member and Santa Monica College student who has been working on the Volkswagen for three years now.

“We’re basically a high school club,” Tuerrero said. “We teach people how our actions affect our environment.”

Tuerrero claimed that the electric car has a 100-mile range and can be charged in six to seven hours.

He said he worked on the Volkswagen for two years in high school and then one year at Los Angeles based Left Coast Electric, with the mentorship of Greg “Reverend Gadget” Abbott, the company owner.

Priced at $31,000 after incentives, the Chevrolet Volt was available for test drive by attendees at the expo.

“You get a combined driving range of 380 miles,” said Michael Strapazon, Chevrolet spokesperson, about the Volt. “The first 40 to 50 miles is all electric powered, getting 98 MPGs.” Chevrolet also offers an all-electric $18,000 Spark EV hatchback with incentives.

“It is essential,” said Steve Ellis, manager of Fuel Cell Vehicle Sales and Marketing of American Honda Motor Company. “[Honda is] biased to zero emissions electric vehicles.”

Today’s consumers have been realizing the longterm savings available with fuel-efficient vehicles.

“The cost advantage must be there for today’s customer,” said John O’Dell, senior editor of Fuel Efficiency and

Green Cars Edmunds website.

There are several different types of offers giving budgetminded customers real choices. The Nissan Leaf seats five adults with a base model priced at $20,000 after incentives.

“The Nissan Leaf doesn’t pollute,” said Paul Scott, Leaf specialist at Nissan of Downtown LA. “It uses 100 percent domestic energy from sunlight falling on your roof.”

Consumers save $2 per gallon driving a natural gas vehicle such as a Honda Civic natural gas vehicle, said Charles Haas, senior market adviser of Clean Transportation, Low Emission Vehicle, Southern California Gas Company.

“It drives just like a regular gasoline vehicle, but you’re saving money every month,” said Haas.

He also said that policymakers and car manufacturers should broaden what is defined as a natural gas vehicle.

“We brought out four bi-fuel prototype vehicles,” said Haas. “They run on compressed natural gas, as well as gasoline. It provides confidence to the driver that they have that back fuel, as well.”

Alternative fuel vehicles go back 100 years, said Mark Emilio Sedeno Corsair Sanford of Petersen Automotive Museum. He said the Toyota provides an actual display of how the new Rav4 EV museum has a 1917 Detroit Electric car on display that is will look both inside and out. fully electric.

But some of the energy-efficient and clean-gas vehicles may seem pricey to some.

“The cost difference tends to go away in 2040,” said Enid Joffe, president co-founder of Clean Fuel Connection Incorporated.

Joffe said he sees a commitment to saving energy and cleaning up the environment compared to 30 years ago.

SMC students receive a free haircut* “There are millions of people working at Sassoon Academy on... on the next technology because whoever discovers it is an instant billionaire, so WEdnESdAy, OCTOBER 9, 2013 I’m very excited when I meet with these To schedule your complimentary cut people at Cal Tech, or some of these call | 310.255.0011 ext.1 research institutions,” Jon H. Coleman, fleet sustainability and technology manager of Sassoon Academy | 321 Santa Monica Blvd Ford Motor Company. “Someone’s going to Santa Monica, CA 90401 crack the code.”

Santa Monica’s continuous advertising Please allow 2 - 3 hours for your appointment. and featured events about pollution and *We ask that students be open to a new look. sustainability have so far reflected the city’s SASSOON.COM effort to improving the environment and lowering energy costs.

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10 sports

volume 106 issue 4 • september 25, 2013 • santa monica college

Corsairs lose pivotal matchup

Crislin Christian Corsair Corsairs’ Eric Kyle, #28, makes a run with the ball against the San Bernadino Valley College Wolverines at Santa Monica College on Saturday.

Trevor Angone Staff Writer As the game came to an end, the cheers and roars from the opposing sideline sounded more like a jovial celebration of a bunch of pirates, while the Corsairs’ sideline resembled that of a plundered ship.

The Santa Monica College football team took to their home field Saturday afternoon in an early season matchup against the San Bernardino Valley College Wolverines.

The Corsairs were attempting to put together back-to-back

wins, but things did not go as planned as they came up short, 42-21. The Wolverines led wire-to-wire, opening the game on a 14-0 run and finishing the first half up, 27-7.

Adding to SMC’s misfortunes was an apparent knee injury to starting quarterback, Steven Hamm, with only minutes left in the first half.

“It’s rough leaving my team out there, but I’m glad it’s nothing serious with my ACL or anything,” said Hamm.

“I’m looking forward to getting back, and I’m going to do everything I can to get back as soon as possible.”

Taking the reins for the Corsairs was backup quarterback Jerry McConnico. The young quarterback had surprising

control of the offense, going 11-20 for 94 yards as he led the Corsairs into the red zone on multiple occasions.

“It was good getting out there, but at the end of the day, we need to execute at all costs and get the ball in the end zone to win games,” said McConnico. “It’s always terrible when someone as important to this team as [Steven] Hamm goes out, but I’ve been preparing to play since day one so I’ll be ready to go if I have to.”

As the third quarter winded down, the Corsairs still trailed 27-7 with a huge 4th and 4 coming up on the Wolverines’ 16-yard line.

Enter Melvin Davis.

Following his blocker toward the weak-side pylon, Davis broke off multiple defenders on his way to an impressive 16-yard touchdown, cutting San Bernardino’s lead to 13.

After the touchdown run, SMC head coach Gifford Lindheim elected to attempt an on-side kick, hoping to take the Wolverines by surprise. Though the kick was well executed, the Corsairs could not get to it in time giving the Wolverines excellent field position.

Though Davis would add his second touchdown of the game to start the fourth quarter, the Corsairs’ defense could not stop the Wolverines rushing attack, surrendering over 200 rushing yards on the day as well as a third rushing touchdown midway through the fourth quarter extending the Wolverine’s lead to 42-21.

The early turnovers and a potent rushing attack from SBVC proved too much for the Corsairs to overcome. Not to mention the Wolverines’ kicker,who was perfect on the day, hitting impressively from 43 and 52 yards, while SMC had their lone attempt blocked from 27 yards.

“Today we were not as good in the plus-minus column,” said Lindheim. “We can’t win games when we lose the turnover battle. We have to improve the kicking game.

We have to convert those opportunities and be better in conference play.”

The Corsairs will attempt to get back on track at West LA College next Saturday at 1 p.m. in their first Pacific Conference matchup of the season.

Selim Baccouche: Not your average lineman trevor angone Staff Writer Selim Baccouche is not your typical freshman recruit.

Many words can be used to describe his journey to the Santa Monica College football defensive line, but average is not one of them.

Most SMC recruits are taken from one of many impressive high school programs in the Los Angeles area, with a handful of players coming from other regions of California, and a small number from of out of state.

But Baccouche’s road to the Corsairs started more than 5,600 miles away in a small town just south of Paris, France. With a population of just over 25,000, Savignyle-Temple is where Baccouche first started playing football about two years ago.

“I grew up close to Paris,” said Baccouche.

“It’s a small city. Everyone knows each other.

I miss it. Two years ago I had my first game in France and I fell in love with it. Next thing I knew, I was trying out for SMC and now here I am.”

Before trying out for the defending Pacific Conference Champion Corsairs prior to the 2013 season, Baccouche had stints with two different Division III football teams in France, one very close to his home in

Savigny-le-Temple.

“I had to relearn a lot of things when I came to SMC, but I’m very thankful for what I learned from all my coaches back home,” said Baccouche. “Watching film on last year’s championship team had a big impact on me.”

Baccouche now finds himself under the tutelage of head coach Gifford Lindheim as well as defensive coordinator Steve Garcia.

“Coach Garcia and Coach Giff have helped me a lot; the whole team has,” he said. “Since I started playing for SMC, I’ve become a better player.”

The coaching that Baccouche spoke of is already turning out results. In Saturday’s game against the San Bernardino Valley College Wolverines, he recorded a half a sack and helped a teammate bring down SBVC’s running back for a tackle for loss.

He also recorded six tackle assists.

“I was glad I was able to contribute defensively,” he said. “We have a good defense; we just need to live play by play and have a short memory.”

With impressive progression in a relatively short amount of time, it seems Baccouche could have a good shot at making the jump to a Division I or Division II program. But

for extended coverage visit us at thecorsaironline.com •

Amy Gaskin Corsair Santa Monica College freshman defensive end Selim Baccouche, 22, moved to Los Angeles from France a year and a half ago. “This is like my second family here,” he says.

when asked about making the transition after SMC, he insists on taking it one day at a time.

“I want to walk before I run, take it one game at a time,” said Baccouche. “But at the end of the day if I can get a scholarship I’ll be very thankful.”

Baccouche’s older brother, whom he credits with giving him the opportunity to attend SMC, set out on a journey of his own just to see his younger brother play on Saturday, starting in China and then passing @t h e _ c o r s a i r •

through France on his way to Los Angeles.

“My brother really supports me while I’m at school and away from home,” said Baccouche. “I love my parents, my brother, my stepsister, my whole family. It’s hard to be far from them.”

If the Corsairs wish to come back from an early 1-2 start, they may need Baccouche, especially if he can infect the SMC defensive unit with the same type of determination he has shown thus far in his budding career.

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volume 106 issue 4 • september 25, 2013 • santa monica college

arts + entertainment 11

Halloween horror at Universal Studios Hollywood gintare urbutyte Staff Writer Fear, horror, and ear-wrenching screams.

If that is what you are seeking this Halloween, then Halloween Horror Nights is the place to visit.

Regardless of age and height, the Universal Studios’ Horror Nights in Hollywood will suck you in with scare and dread until you find your way out to escape the horror of the park.

If you want to experience the mix of horror, there are few tips to follow to enhance the experience.

Horror Nights just opened their doors last Friday with the Eyegore Award ceremony, honoring filmmakers and musicians who have greatly influenced the horror genre with their work.

The award ceremony began with the red carpet arrivals, where celebrities such as Danny Trejo of “Machete,” Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath, his wife Sharon Osbourne of Britain’s “X Factor,” and Melissa McBride of “The Walking Dead” took photos and gave interviews. Among the celebrities, the creative director of the Halloween Horror nights, John Murdy, also walked on the red carpet.

The hit television series “The Walking Dead” was not only the inspiration for this year’s Horror Nights but also received an Eyegore Award which cast member McBride accepted on behalf of the show.

The legendary heavy metal band, Black Sabbath, received an Eyegore Award as well for its contribution in shaping the path for the heavy metal genre. The band was also honored with the creation of a 3-D maze inspired by the lyrics and darkness of the music.

Other recipients of the award for their careers in horror included Jason Blum, producer, and Leigh Whannell, actor and writer, of “Insidious” and “Insidious: Chapter 2.” Bruce Campbell and Danny Trejo, both veterans in horror, also joined the list of the Eyegore recipients.

Murdy, whose imagination is the heart of Horror Nights, showed an interest in horror after seeing “Frankenstein” at age 4 with his mother. Murdy then began creating Halloween nights for the neighborhood kids in his parents’ garage.

After starting his career at the Universal Studios in 1989, Murdy worked his way up from tour guide to creative director in 2005.

Since then, he has been creating Halloween Horror Nights.

“I’m a huge horror movie fan, so when

Jose Lopez Corsair Guests of the park take a photo with a Norman Bates lookalike at the Psycho house on the opening night of Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights.

Jose Lopez Corsair Fionna Dourif, “Curse of Chucky” actress, poses with Chucky on the red carpet at the Eyegore Awards on Friday.

I was given the opportunity to try to bring Halloween Horror Nights back to Hollywood, I jumped on it,” said Murdy.

The main scare attractions in the park are the rides, the mazes, and the scare zones.

The themes of the scare zones range from “The Purge” and “Curse of Chucky” to clowns and three-meter high monsters.

Mazes are designed after the mythical boogeyman El Cucuy, Universal monsters, and mainstream horror movies.

The Walking Dead tram offers the opportunity to walk on some of the back lot sets, such as a plane crash and the house from the Hitchcock movie “Psycho.” The tram takes park visitors over a few hills down to the lot and drops them off at the Walking Dead maze to experience the zombies.

Standing at the entrance, guards with black security vests and chainsaws greeted the incoming crowd. But do not be fooled, as some of them might be disguised zombies.

Throughout the walk, zombies can be seen eating human flesh as survivors run away to find shelter.

Another destination worth visiting is Black Sabbath 13 where visitors can hear the band’s music playing in the background while walking around with the option to experience it with 3-D glasses.

The Revenge of the Mummy coaster and the Jurassic Park, Transformers and Simpsons rides offer relaxing but wet alternatives to the horrifying mazes and scare zones.

For those who are looking for some laughter, check out Bill & Ted’s comedy show whose topics touch on the year’s biggest pop culture and news events such as current celebrities, politicians and popular fictional characters.

Arrive at the park early to avoid long waiting lines at the entry and the rides. Most of the mazes and Halloween-themed rides have a wait time of up to two hours.

However, a front-of-the-line pass can shorten waiting time. In addition to this benefit, a VIP pass allows access to back lots of the studios, where visitors can explore sets.

General tickets can be purchased at a price of $69, front-of-the-line passes at $139 and VIP passes at $229.

Buying tickets online can save up to $25, depending on the day of the visit.

If carpooling is not an option, the Big Blue Bus to the underground metro line goes straight to Hollywood.

Brazilian Jazz invades The Broad Stage alci rengifo Staff Writer On Friday night, tenor saxophonist Robert Kyle and his band filled the concert hall of Santa Monica College’s Edye Second Space with the hybrid sound of Brazilian music fused with American jazz.

Enhancing the intimate atmosphere of The Edye, the small concert room that hosted an audience of approximately 40 people was softly lit with a few overhead lights focused on the stage.

Kyle was accompanied by his band, which consisted of vocalist Carol Bachiryta, drummer Walter Rodriguez, bassist Hussein Jiffry, and guitarist, who goes by Capital.

Kyle and his band played two sets, a total

of three and half hours, creating a time capsule where various sounds from across the years came to life.

The band took pieces and lyrics from influential American jazz musicians like Charles Mingus, combining them with traditional Brazilian music.

The music ranged from exhilarating to moody and joyful to melancholy with various fusions of Afro-Brazilian rhythms, tribal percussion and classic jazz melodies

by American musicians.

The band set the room on fire with a piece by jazz pioneer Dizzy Gillespie, to which Bachriyta sang passionately, while Rodriguez was pounding the snare and bass drum like a man playing for his life.

But while American icons were resurrected

for extended coverage visit us at thecorsaironline.com •

in sound and rhythm, it was the Brazilian music that always overshadowed.

“There’s a world of goodness to get out of Brazilian jazz,” Bachiryta said in between sets. “It’s a very alive form of art. It’s not like a pop song where you do it the same way every single time.”

“These are live drums, live musicians listening to each other, we never do a song the exact same way twice,” she added.

Kyle said that Brazilian jazz has a versatile quality.

“Brazilian jazz is very subtle and there are many layers to it, every time you listen to the same song you will find new things,” he said.

“It can be very complex and very simple.”

In an interview during the break after the

@t h e _ c o r s a i r •

first set, Kyle advised music students to have an open mind to different genres and types of music, and said that pursuing music as a career required full attention and hard work.

“If you’re a student of music, you want to open your mind to all different styles of music, different flavors, different rhythms, different harmonies, all that can inform what you do with your music,” he said. “If you’re driven, do it, don’t have something to fall back on. If you want to play music, work your ass off.”

SMC student Christopher Washington appreciated the entertainment aspect of the show and also the learning experience.

“The music was elegant and had luxury,” he said. “It gave me more variety in music and reminded me of finer living.”

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+ entertainment 12 arts

volume 106 issue 4 • september 25, 2013 • santa monica college

An American Tango travels through time at The Broad Stage alci rengifo Staff Writer On Saturday, the Santa Monica College Broad Stage was illuminated by the music, dancers and dazzling colors of “An American Tango,” a ballet that tells the love story and journey of one of America’s greatest ballroom dance couples, Frank and Yolanda Veloz.

Those attending the show were treated to a whirlwind of technicolor artwork and lighting, nostalgia for dance and music of the twentieth century, and dancing that defied the conventional notions of ballet.

The ballet completely restrained from dialogue between the dancers. The entire story was narrated solely by the character named Auggie, played by Joseph Fuqua.

Against the backdrop of the late 1920s, the ballet charted the rise of Frank and Yolanda from humble roots in New York City during the gangster era to glam and glory as dancing stars in Hollywood.

Film clips were projected on giant screens between the scenes enhancing the atmosphere taking the audience through moments and snapshots of Ellis Island, the gangland era, Beverly Hills and Hollywood.

However, “An American Tango” did not only portray Frank’s and Yolanda’s glorious development to famous dancers, but also presented their journey’s dark sides.

It showed how wealth and fame tore the dance partners and lovers apart and depicted Frank’s affair with another woman and Yolanda’s consequent rage and despair.

For Guy Veloz, son of Frank and Yolanda and writer of the ballet, bringing the story of his parents to the stage was a true labor of love and reflection.

“It was a mixture of heaven and hell,” Veloz said during a pre-show reception.

“I can’t even talk about it without getting emotional; I’m crying right now,” he said, with his voice starting to crack.

“This show isn’t just about my parents. It’s about an entire era.”

“An American Tango” is not merely about the Veloz family.

It also tells the story of music in 20th century America by crossing through different time periods in the scenes and in the accompanying music, which ranges from popular jazz of the 1920s to rock ‘n’ roll conquering the airwaves in the 1960s.

Nick Kovalenko Corsair Yolanda Veloz (Leila Drake) and Frank Veloz (Jack Stewart) perform “An American Tango” on Saturday at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica, a ballet that tells the love story and journey of one of America’s greatest ballroom dance couples.

different to go from ballet to social dancing.”

Guy Veloz’ sister, also named Yolanda, is the curator of their parents’ original vintage dance hall costumes and dresses, which are displayed at the performances.

For her, the romance of their parents’ time has not been lost and even impacts the present generation. “[Young people] will understand the romance of those yesterdays,” she said. “That era may be gone but it’s alive.

We can bring it back.”

“An American Tango” was performed on Sept. 21-22 at the Broad Stage. It was produced and presented by the dance company State Street Ballet based in Santa Barbara.

The music in “An American Tango” offered an escape from the kind of products that currently dominate the airwaves.

“A lot of the music being released right now is bad,” Veloz said. “The music companies are pumping out garbage. No one has to even know a musical skill.”

The ballet also introduced the audience to a variety of dance styles, combining classical ballet with popular ballroom dances from the ‘20s and ‘40s like the tango and Charleston.

“You get to see the whole history of modern dancing in this show,” said director William Soleau. “It was a real challenge to make the ballet dancers look like ballroom dancers. It’s

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