Volume106issue10

CORSAIR

volume 106 issue 10 • november 5, 2013 • santa monica college

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Jose Lopez Corsair

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HOLLYWOOD CELEBRATES DAY OF DEAD pg. 6-7

CARE HARBOR BRINGS FREE HEALTH CARE PG. 12

SI: smc’s free peer tutoring program pg. 4

STEM TO introduce research COURSE PG. 4

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2 contents

volume 106 issue 10 • november 5, 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 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 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., Trev Angone, Fabian Avellaneda, Nathan Berookhim, Crislin Christian, Tina Eady, Paulina Eriksson, Jon Falcone, 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, Lauren Narvaez, Mark Popovich, Rachel Porter, Jonathan Ramos, Alci Rengifo, Cassandra Rubio, Emilio Sedeno, Dion To, Gintare Urbutyte, Lyan Wong

Scott Bixler Corsair Displaced travelers walk down Century Boulevard away from Los Angeles International Airport after the shooting Friday morning at the airport. At around 9:20 a.m., suspected gunman Paul Anthony Ciancia, 23, opened fire outside the security checkpoint, fatally shooting a Transportation Security Administration Officer, and continuing to fire shots before being apprehended by airport police inside Terminal 3. From the start of incident until midnight, about 1,550 scheduled flights and 167,050 passengers were impacted, according to LAX officials.

FA C U LT Y A D V I S e R S S a u l Ru b i n & Gerard Burkhart A d I n q uiries : corsai r. adc o nsul t an t @g m ai l . co m (3 1 0 ) 4 3 4 - 4 0 3 3

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: Caprice Leonard and Deborah Beckman share their colorful face painting, painted by artist Shawna Del Rio-Hernandez, at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery’s Dia de los Muertos event in Los Angeles on Saturday.

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news 3

volume 106 issue 10 • november 5, 2013 • santa monica college

Power preparation

Prep2Test, the orientation video that teaches students the importance of performing well on assessment tests, wins an award.

Henry Crumblish Opinion Editor What started out as a 45-minute video orientation on assessment testing at Santa Monica College quickly evolved into an outreach campaign to better educate and inform students on the importance of taking placement tests seriously.

The Prep2Test program was recently awarded the Promising Outcomes Work and Exemplary Research Award, or the POWER Award, for excellence in assessment. The annual award is presented by the Academic Senate for community colleges and the RP Group.

This is the Prep2Test program’s second POWER Award in three years, the first being awarded in 2010.

The Prep2Test program was launched in 2011 by Esau Tovar, counseling and assessment center faculty leader at SMC, who conceptualized the program and has worked in the assessment center for the last decade.

In 2010, a report called “One shot deal?” published by WestEd, a non-profit seeking the improvement of education, looked at placement practices of community colleges in California. SMC was sharply criticized for not communicating to students the importance of preparing for testing, and that placement tests are high-stakes tests due to the nature of student placement.

Although students are allowed to retest two weeks after their first attempt, they will eventually be locked into whichever levels they place. A low score on the placement test can have severe ramifications, and can set a student’s transfer back by as many as two years, Tovar said.

Students who do not do well can become overwhelmed and unmotivated due to the amount of work they have to do to reach college-level courses, something Tovar called the coolingout effect.

Tovar had the solution, but was not seeing the results he wanted and did not see anyone on campus taking initiative to prepare students.

“I used the ‘One shot deal?’ as a vehicle to substantiate what I knew all along, that we needed to do more,” said Tovar. “The central message of the program is take the assessment seriously, and more importantly prepare before testing.”

The theme of this year’s award was to create institutional change through assessment testing. Recent data suggests that students had a change of heart in their perception of assessment testing.

In 2011, 25 percent of students placed into college-level math at SMC. Two and a half years later, after the inception of Prep2Test, that number has risen to 33 percent. The campus has also seen a decrease in students placing in the lowest levels of math, from 66 to 56 percent, according to the SMC Prep2Test program data provided by Tovar.

However, within the 2012-13 school year, the amount of students requesting retests after their initial placement test has decreased from 15 percent to five percent, with 40 to 50 percent of students who retest placing one class higher, states the data.

“I’m not necessarily attributing the higher placement levels exclusively to Prep2Test,” said Tovar. “Recognition is great, but personally I’m more about students hearing the message, that there are consequences to not taking the test seriously.”

The Prep2Test program has expanded its content beyond

Career Opportunities .

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Help Wanted .

CENTURY CITY LAW FIRM seeking part‑time office assistant. General office duties and 70 wpm. E‑mail resume to rickeinc@yahoo.com

Room for Rent .

Hillside Residence Hall ‑ across from campus on Hilgard ‑ single, double, triple and quad rooms available ‑ 19 meals per week www.LosAngelesHillside.com 310‑208‑6544

Thieves continue targeting sleeping students

13-467 Trespassing of nonstudent 13-649 Petty Th

13-374 Batt:no 13-20 Grand 13-4 Tres 13Hit

crim e log

vanessa Barajas Health + Lifestyle Editor

Christophor McGovern Corsair The Prep2Test program recently received the POWER Award for preparing students for assessment tests.

the video to a condensed six-and-half-minute version of the orientation, an interactive Powerpoint and a cellphone app.

The narrated Powerpoint teaches students everything they need to know about the placement test, policies, the test’s content and format, and it even incorporates sample questions.

While the assessment app will be beta tested in December, the app will take some of the preparation material and condense it to be available to students anywhere.

SMC admits around 6,000 students every fall, and in an effort to further reach out to prospective SMC students, outreach counselors from the assessment center visited 20 local high schools with a presentation to encourage participation in Admitted Students Day, when busloads of high school students come to SMC to take the assessment test and talk to counselors regarding potential classes to take.

Tovar attributed the success of the program to an improved communication plan, feedback from students and a collaborative faculty effort.

Kiersten Elliot, dean of enrollment services at SMC, emails or “e-blasts” students, informing them that if they come prepared to take the test by a certain day, they will improve their enrollment date, Tovar said.

Students from more than 100 different countries have visited Prep2Test’s YouTube channel.

“I’m just happy that students are hearing the message somehow — I really don’t care how,” said Tovar. “It’s really the message to prepare. If they hear it from a parent, that’s great. If they hear it from a counselor, that’s fantastic as well.”

Signs that have been posted at the entrance of the Santa Monica College library and the staircases since 2009 implore students not to leave personal belongings unattended due to the recent increase of thefts in the library.

Last Monday, a Trek bicycle was stolen just outside the Admissions Building, after a student secured it and went to class. No one was caught in the act, and no witnesses have come forward.

On Tuesday afternoon, an Apple MacBook Pro laptop was stolen on the second floor of the library after a student left it unattended.

A black Apple iPhone 4G was stolen Wednesday between 2:30 and 2:45 p.m. on the second floor of the library after another student fell asleep on a desk with his phone laying inches away. There were no witnesses to the crime, and no one has come forward with further information.

Later that same day at 5 p.m. in the Humanities and Social Sciences Building, an Apple iPod MP3 player with headphones was stolen after a student left it unattended. No suspects were seen, and no one has come forward with further information about the theft.

Late Wednesday afternoon, a student set his Apple MacBook Pro beside him on the library’s east side basement level and fell asleep. After waking up, he headed to class and realizing he was missing his computer around 6 p.m., he returned to retrieve it. Students in the immediate area said they did not see a laptop.

At 1:15 p.m. on Thursday, a gray Apple MacBook Pro with a green case was stolen on the east side of the library’s basement level after a student left his laptop and personal belongings unattended while he went to use the restroom.

Upon returning, his laptop was gone and no witnesses have come forward.

“The Santa Monica College Police Department has stepped up uniform officer and cadet patrols in the library to deter thefts, but we need the college community’s assistance,” said Sgt. Jere Romano of the SMCPD. Stay alert, and if something or someone seems suspicious, call campus police immediately at (310) 434-4300.

Illustrations by Jhosef Hern & Vanessa Barajas Corsair

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Advertise in Corsair (310) 825-2221

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4 News

Supplemental Instruction, peer group tutoring

volume 106 issue 10 • november 5, 2013 • santa monica college

Students branch out with STEM Henry Crumblish Opinion Editor

Vanessa Barajas health + lifestyle editor The word is spreading about Supplemental Instruction, a free peer tutoring program ongoing since 2006 and available to all Santa Monica College students, with the support of President and Superintendent Chui L. Tsang.

The program, which pays students working as SI leaders, has not been widely advertised to students. A top priority of the SI manager is to do so.

The SI Manager Tony Prestby, newly appointed director of Supplemental Arlene Karno Corsair Instruction after a vote at the Board of Trustees meeting Tony Prestby, SI director, and Melanie Bocanegra, director of STEM Tuesday, is fully in charge of SI and has now been working at initiatives, pose for a photo on Tuesday at Santa Monica College.

SMC for one year.

Prestby’s role as manager is to help SI leaders practice student-teaching methods, such as preparing and organizing classes by writing up lesson packets, as well as knowing how to ask students open-ended questions.

“Students sometimes don’t understand what it’s like to understand the importance of every course they take in STEM and SI are two sequence,” says Prestby, who considers himself a basic skills student, and scored low on the math placement exam. different programs with Prestby says that, especially in math, if one does not different student outcomes. understand the concept, it will be that much more difficult to Melanie Bocanegra and understand the subject.

Tony Prestby coordinate to “I, myself, had homework problems Friday through Sunday, make sure that the most so I know the struggle,” he says.

5 things you should know about SI and STEM

1 2 3 4 5

The SI Classes Prestby explains that a typical SI session begins with an opening activity, the main activity – consisting of the most difficult material – and the closing activity. All SI classes are completely confidential for attending students. Names and attendance are not disclosed to their professors.

“We want students to go because they want to go,” says Prestby. “Students can go or not go without feeling like someone is checking up on them.”

SI classes are available to every SMC student at no extra charge, and are taught and led by the students recommended to Prestby by professors.

The weekly SI classes available to enrolled students are held in a group setting two to three times per week throughout the semester. The scheduled meetings are decided upon when students are available.

During the semester, SI leaders also attend every scheduled SMC class they are going to lead, acting as model students, so as to not make attending students feel pressured.

If a student needs to complete three courses in succession, but has trouble with the first or second prerequisites, getting to the third will prove challenging if the basic skills are not mastered.

“If students attend SI consistently, they have the chance to receive one letter grade higher than they would on their own,” Prestby says.

The SI Leaders To become an SI leader, the student is first referred to Prestby by the student’s professor, who recognizes a student who has mastered the subject and received an A or a B in the class he or she will lead.

“SI leaders have monthly training sessions to keep their skills updated and to learn new tactics,” says Prestby.

The SI leader is then assigned to the classes he or she will be teaching, and attends 16 hours of training before the beginning of the semester.

In short, student SI leader duties consist of attending the class he or she is tutoring, meeting with the instructor, creating mock exams, attending training, holding SI classes two to three times per week, and holding final review sessions.

Vanessa Reynoso, a second-year science major, is an SI leader for an introductory chemistry class.

She says the classes that offer SI sessions are those with higher fail and drop rates.

“Just being in the program, running the program has been fun and exciting as an SI Leader,” says Reynoso.

Working with her professor, Reynoso creates her own worksheets and tests for her SI sessions following each lesson taught in the class.

“More than tutoring, we add supplemental work but don’t have one-on-one sessions,” says Reynoso, reminding that SI is a group-learning environment.

Reynoso calls SI classes a great atmosphere and less intimidating for students to ask more questions.

challenging STEM courses have SI leaders and sessions.

Tony Prestby, formerly the SI manager, was appointed director of the newly institutionalized SI program by Chui L. Tsang after a vote at the Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday.

Supplemental Instruction will be advertised for the first time in the course catalog in the spring. It will also include Spanish 1.

Math students in sections 31, 81 and 84 can attend SI sessions to accumulate required lab hours.

Science 10, a new interdisciplinary research course, will pilot this winter. Students will conduct original research projects, and the course is designed to prepare students for real world laboratory research.

The 2014 SRI Summer Research Program, sponsored

by STEM and the Undergraduate Research Center at UCLA, is a paid 10-week internship, exclusively available to SRI students, that will allow them to live on campus.

“It’s really rewarding when students come up to me thanking me for understanding a concept,” Reynoso says. “It’s really nice.”

SI Availability and Offerings Currently, SI sessions are provided for certain accounting, economics, biology, chemistry, English and math classes.

Beginning in spring of 2014, all classes offering SI sessions will be noted in the course catalog. Students can find more details on the SI website at smc.edu/si.

SI sessions are not available over the summer and winter semesters due to extensive hours and workload, says Prestby.

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Becoming a scientist, a doctor, or a researcher is not an easy task. A student would need to have experience and comprehensive knowledge within multiple fields of study.

The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math research initiative, or STEM, at Santa Monica College seeks to give students just that.

According to SMC’s website, STEM is a support program helping underrepresented students complete their studies at SMC, obtain their degrees and enter the workforce.

To participate in the opportunities provided by STEM, students must first register and apply to join the Student Research Initiative, which enrolls about 100 students a semester.

In order to become a part of SRI, students must attend two counseling sessions per semester, STEM workshops, peer mentoring with students from University of California, Los Angeles once a month, and a program orientation.

Melanie Bocanegra, director of STEM initiatives at SMC, said that the program is quite rigorous, but designed to keep students from discouragement, as well as providing them with a nurturing learning community.

“We’re trying to adjust the problem of students who want to be a STEM major and get very discouraged early on because the classes are hard,” said Bocanegra. “We don’t want that to be a deterrent. If you are interested in those areas, you should pursue them, regardless of how difficult they are.”

In 2011, SMC received a $5.8 million department of education STEM grant to fund and implement the program throughout the campus.

“The interesting part of the grant is it’s about bringing the STEM community together,” said Bocanegra. “In education, a lot of these disciplines exist separately. You would take algebra but you wouldn’t necessarily know that the bulk of chemistry involves a great deal of algebra.”

The program follows a cohort model, and brings together students of similar majors.

“Getting our faculty together and talking to one another really helps students,” Bocanegra said. “It gives them a more global picture of what science is.”

Starting this winter, STEM will offer a variety of new features and services to better advertise and integrate the curriculum into the student body.

STEM will introduce Science 10, a brand new interdisciplinary research course, and the first of its kind at SMC. Available to only 24 students as a pilot program this winter, the course will cover material from earth science, life science and physical science.

The class will meet Monday through Thursday with a laboratory on Friday. Bocanegra said she hopes to make the class available and listed within the spring 2014 course catalog.

Science 10 is designed to prepare students for a new internship sponsored by SMC, along with the undergraduate research center at UCLA. Slated to debut in the summer, the paid internship, the Summer Intensive Transfer Experience, will last 10 weeks, and is exclusively available to SRI students, who will have the option to live on campus.

The program, designed for peer support, also hosts STEM days on the quad where all STEM majors, and their equivalents at UCLA, set up tables and help prospective transfer students visualize where their education and majors will take them after transferring. The next STEM day is scheduled for Nov. 7.

“Ultimately, I think all people need to be informed about science and not fear it,” she said.

“Understand that it’s something worthwhile and benefits society. At times you should be wary of it, and you need to know why.”

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opinion 5

volume 106 issue 10 • november 5, 2013 • santa monica college

Santa Monica Airport in its final destination?

The fate of the airport remains unclear, but a park is not the logical solution.

S

Jonathan Ramos Staff Writer

anta Monica College media professor Jacquelyn Horwitz was on her way to teach a class at the Bundy campus when a private jet from the Santa Monica Municipal Airport flew a little too close for comfort.

“That thing was right above my head,” said Horwitz, while sharing her feelings of what she called a “highly dangerous” location for an airport. “Had there been a malfunction, I’d be dead.”

Debates about whether SMO should remain intact as a functioning airport have once again risen due to the Sept. 29 crash of a jet at the airport, which left four dead.

According to the Community Against Santa Monica Airport Traffic website, in 1984, the city of Santa Monica and the Federal Aviation Administration settled an agreement that gave airport control over to the city. That contract is set to expire in 2015.

Simon Luca Manili Corsair The entrance to the Santa Monica Municipal Airport is shown on Tuesday. Debates regarding the closing of the airport have been reignited among the Santa Monica community since the Sept. 29 plane crash.

Stemios Mharides, acting airport manager of SMO, said that the airport staff and management have no input on the fate of the airport, as it is the city council and the FAA that direct those decisions.

“Our sole responsibility is to take care

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of the operations of the airport,” said Mharides.

As far as the investigation of safety procedures and defects within the airport is concerned, Mharides said that it is the National Transportation Safety Board, and not the airport management that handles the investigation’s progress.

Residents against keeping the airport in place after 2015 have been weighing alternative options of a possible airport removal, and what that would mean for the city of Santa Monica.

The most speculated renovation would be to turn the airport into the largest park in Santa Monica, supported by the coalition group Airport2Park. According to the organization’s website, the park would allow a wide range of new activities such as walking, hiking, jogging, and cycling.

The plan even includes building a playground within the park. The intent of these organizations is pure, and I do agree with the sentiment for change.

The thought that an airport can remain operating in such close proximity to a residential area without any backlash or consequence is a fantasy within the mind of delusional individuals.

With SMC’s Bundy and Airport campuses being in such close proximity to the airport, the current location of the airport puts the lives of thousands of students at risk every single day.

“It’s just scary,” said Horwitz. “There are too many residents. There are too many students coming and going.”

An extremist would say that taking risks is a necessity for the advancement of an ever-growing world. But when the lives of thousands of students and residents alike are being jeopardized each time a jet flies onto the runway, the risk is hardly worth the reward.

The victor of this battle lies within whichever side tugs harder. There are environmentalists who believe the airport should be turned into an oasis for those looking to spend afternoons out with their white picket fence family, strolling down

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the park while smelling the fresh grassy product of mother nature.

Other, much more money-centered individuals, focus on the amount of zeros the airport provides to the city and the number of jobs it supports.

According to HR&A Advisors, Inc., SMO contributes around $275 million to the city’s economy, and it supports nearly 1,475 jobs.

That is indeed a hefty sum of money being deposited into the bank of Santa Monica’s many luxuries such as its businesses and schools. It must be hard to care about innocent lives at stake while the airport is stacking up money in the bank.

Still, one must maintain a sense of morality and realize that keeping the airport there is simply a bad idea. People who are proairport are likely to ramble about how it was simply one accident and how there is a low chance of it happening again.

According to a study by the Santa Monica Patch, there have been at least five accidents within the last decade that involved a plane missing the runway.

For every one of these planes that narrowly misses its mark, a resident of Santa Monica is at risk of being treated to a special 3-D version of “Final Destination.”

The airport needs to go, but a park is not a logical idea either. The fact that SMO is a revenue machine for the city of Santa Monica should derail any hopes of park implications. A park would not be able to match the revenue that the airport currently generates, nor the jobs it employs.

A recreation center and even the long-shot of a National Football League stadium, have been speculated. These would make more ideal match-ups for SMO’s revenue and job employment.

Sadly, the airport is not going anywhere anytime soon. A park victory over SMO seems more like a pipe dream than a reality.

With no other options being considered, SMO will remain intact, while the lives of thousands of Santa Monica residents stay at risk every day.

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6 Photostory

volume 106 issue 10 • november 5, 2013 • santa monica college

Carla Hendrick (left) and Eve Carter (second from right) honor their family members who have passed on by making an altar in the traditional style at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery’s Dia d event in Los Angeles on Saturday. The creation of this altar was a group effort between Hendrick, Carter and friends who offered a special space on the altar for Eve’s mother, Romona Carte away six weeks ago.

Jazmin Olvera signs the name of a loved one who has passed away onto one of the many posters at the “Loteria” altar at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery’s Dia de los Muertos event on Saturday. This is an interactive altar where you get the opportunity to toss a small bag onto a table and where it lands will identify the poster where you will sign the name of your lost loved one.

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Saul Hernandez rocks the stage at the Hollywood Forever Cem los Muertos event on Saturday. Hernandez, the lead singer for Mexican rock band Caifanes, is on a solo tour that stopped in

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volume 106 issue 10 • november 5, 2013 • santa monica college

photostory 7

Shawna Del Rio-Hernandez, left, tests out on her hand some of the colors from her makeup kit with help from one of her associates at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery’s Dia de los Muertos event on Saturday.

de los Muertos er, who passed

Traditional dancers bless the four directions before they begin their ceremonial performance at Dia de los Muertos event at the Hollywood Forever Ceremony on Saturday.

Entertaining the Photos by Jose Lopez text by Henry Crumblish

metery’s Dia de the legendary LA.

Dia de los Muertos. The name alone conjures images of graveyards, skeletal face paint and lost loved ones.

The day, also known as Day of the Dead, is a traditional Mexican holiday where the living honor the lives of their ancestors who no longer walk the earth.

On Saturday, thousands descended upon the Hollywood Forever Cemetery to celebrate the 14th annual cultural celebration. Since its inception, the festival has become the largest Dia de Los Muertos event in the country.

Due to the flamboyant outfits and strange customs, many westerners often perceive Day of the Dead as a Mexican Halloween, not aware of the deeper meaning behind the sacred day.

Traditional celebrations involve building altars for deceased loved ones called ofrendas.

Brightly-colored sugar skulls, incense and marigolds decorate the altars, in an effort to

sacred

attract and guide spirits for one last rendezvous in the realm of the living.

While many in attendance view the festival as another day to party, there are others who respect the history and significance of the celebration.

“This isn’t my culture but I love it; it keeps you connected,” said Carla Hendrick , a Boston native who has been celebrating the holiday since the late 1980s.

Hendrick identifies with Mexican customs and beliefs regarding death more than her own heritage beliefs.

“Death is to be celebrated, not something to be afraid of,” she said.

Firmly believing in staying in touch with the dead, Hendrick urged her roommate Eve Carter to join her for some cemetery festivities.

“I believe we need to stay connected to the dead, and this is how you do it,” said Hendrick.

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This year, the presence of spirits was especially strong for Carter, who was in attendance to honor the memory of her mother Romona, who passed away only six weeks prior.

“I know last week I was having a hard time,” said Carter. “I came here and just had the best day ever. It really helped a lot.”

Despite the elaborate ofrenda, Carter was not in it for the attention or entertainment, and only informed guests she was honoring her mother if they asked.

“I’m proud of her; I really am,” said Carter. “I don’t have a doubt in my mind that she’s having a good time tonight.”

Dia de los Muertos is unlike anything typically found in American culture. The celebration brings people together from all cultures and walks of life. Hollywood Forever blurs the boundary between sacred traditions and mainstream entertainment.

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8 sports

volume 106 issue 10 • november 5, 2013 • santa monica college

Running Down Dreams Once recruited by top college programs, SMC’s Melvin Davis looks to climb to the top.

With

Trev Angone Staff Writer

a conferenceleading nine touchdowns, Melvin Davis has helped the Santa Monica College football team to a 3-0 conference record, 5-2 overall, and has them primed for a run at their third straight Pacific Conference championship.

“It’s all a blessing," Davis said. "I can’t do it without my team. If we play as a unit, everything goes as planned. We come out with a winning attitude; we’re rolling, and we want to keep it like that.

We just want to continue to go out there and do what we do best — play ball, have fun and win the games.”

Raised in Southern California, Davis has played organized football since before high school. From his pop-warner days with the Carson Colts to championship runs with the Narbonne High School Gauchos, Davis said he had many influences along the way, including his family and coaches from high school as well as at SMC. Throughout his career, Davis has not only been a standout on the field, but he has also become accustomed to playing for championships.

“I played for the Carson Colts, and every year, every team I played on, we played in the [junior] Super Bowl," said Davis. "That was a blessing in itself. That was every kid’s dream at that stage to go to the Super Bowl, and I was blessed enough to do that.”

Even during high school when the competition was bigger and stronger, Davis still found himself on teams fighting for championships year after year.

“When I got to Narbonne, the school wasn’t that good as far as football; it was always known as a basketball school, but as I went there, everything started to change," said Davis. "My junior and senior year, we made it to the CIF championship. Being at that stage alone is a blessing because it was something we had not seen, something that the fans had not witnessed, so just

getting there was an accomplishment."

Following high school, SMC was not exactly Davis' first choice.

He was recruited out of high school by the University of Washington, and if not for a technicality, SMC might not have even had the chance to acquire Davis.

“I was committed to the University of Washington out of high school, but one of my classes was not accredited, so I came to SMC," said Davis.

With junior college athletes only being allowed to play for two seasons, Davis is looking ahead for a future in football, with some high goals in terms of four-year schools that interest him.

"After this season, wherever the wind blows, whoever I think is the best option for me at that time, that’s who I’ll roll with," said Davis.

"So far, I have teams on my radar like Oregon, Miami. I’d like to go to UCLA, USC, wherever.

I’m really not the pick-andchoosy type when it comes to the school, because at that stage, it’s just one step closer to where I’m really trying to go.”

Aside from football, Davis said he hopes to give back to his neighborhood in the form of a nonprofit community organization.

“I want to have a full staff, everything connected to my church, and help troubled youth, battered women and addicts — counsel them, show them there’s a different route to life," he said.

When he’s not barreling through opposing defensive lines, Davis said he is enjoying his surroundings like other college students his age.

“I like to play basketball, chill with the family, go out, try new things and restaurants," Davis said. "I like the Cheesecake Factory. Shanghai Reds is pretty good.

I’m real down to earth. A lot of people think because of my size that I’m kind of intimidating, but I’m real cool. I always have a smile on my face.”

Jimmy Janszen Corsair Corsairs’ running back Melvin Davis is being looked at by Division I college football teams such as UCLA.

for extended coverage visit us at thecorsaironline.com •

Moving on up Men’s cross country looks ahead to regionals.

Jonathan Ramos Staff Writer

After finishing in fifth place in the Western State Conference, the Santa Monica College men's cross country team is looking ahead to the Southern California regional championships.

"We've done really well," said head coach Eric Barron. "I think the men had a good training season throughout the summer, so they came into the season more fit to begin with."

Although not every member of the team directly attributed to the team's point score, Barron emphasized that they still played a factor on the team.

"There is a lot of depth on the men's team, so even though five guys score, we've probably had eight or nine people fill in a supporting role," he said.

Assistant coach Josh Garrett said he feels that if the team can remain healthy for the remainder of the season, then they have a legitimate shot at making the state meet for the first time in nearly a decade. Although making the regional championships would seem like a a milestone for other teams, Garrett said the team is exactly where it should be.

"It was expected, so it wasn't a surprise making it to that meet," he said. "We do everything we have to do to put ourselves in the best position to move forward and qualify for bigger meets."

The team has had its share of injuries this season, but welcomed the return of sophomore Stephen Loredo, a type of bone tumor called osteochondroma that resulted in him missing a portion of his freshman year.

"It's like an extra bone in your leg, which is why I got it cut out and wasn't running," Loredo said. "After the surgery, everything felt better."

Despite the injuries, freshman standout Mario Lopez has been the team's star runner from the beginning of the season.

Lopez has taken it upon himself to motivate the team and push their potential as far as he believes it can go. He did not go into the season looking to be a leader, but after support from veterans on the team, he found his role.

"Everyone saw me as the leader, and at that point, I took it upon myself to do what I had to do and talk to them like, 'Hey, you can do this,'" said Lopez. "With a couple of injuries, we were able to deal with the cards we got dealt."

As the team continues to progress, Lopez said they are able to maintain their competitiveness while also being able to have fun and relax as a team.

"We joke around a lot," he said. "We don't take anything too seriously, but the guys know that when I'm practicing, I'm practicing."

The difference in passion from his current crop of runners compared to past teams has been of exceptional enjoyment for Barron.

"The students themselves are taking the sport very seriously," said Barron. "As a coach, that makes things more enjoyable because you have athletes that respect the sport, want to do well, and are willing to make sacrifices to do that."

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sports opinion 9

volume 106 issue 10 • november 5, 2013 • santa monica college

Stop the cuts Sports programs should not be the first to get the shaft during budget cuts

A

Jonathan Ramos Staff Writer

s a student in high school, I was never the most outspoken nor the most popular on campus. I grew up with constant discouragement from my peers, who never failed to remind me that I was not good enough to fit in with the cool kids.

After joining the football team, I made friends and was able to gain self-discipline and a greater self-esteem that had eluded me for so many years. It showed me that working as a unit with a separate group of individuals, who were strangers at first, really helped in my social interaction with others.

With sports programs across the nation being among the first to receive the axe during school budget cuts, student-athletes everywhere are being deprived of what could be life-changing experiences as these programs are wrongly deemed expendable.

An athletic program does not serve solely as an excuse for barbaric activity. It should not be used as a scapegoat for a flawed education system. Whether hypocritical skeptics like it or not, school sports have a bigger purpose than providing just another extracurricular activity to a student’s resume.

In an email interview, Santa Monica College head football coach Gifford Lindheim describes sports as “a huge part of American culture.”

“It is viewed as a positive activity for kids to get involved in, teaching the values of teamwork, sportsmanship, toughness and skill,” says Lindheim.

Sure, some students don’t need sports teams or clubs to garner the attention that other students may never receive, but for anyone looking to find confidence in themselves, athletic programs are a useful asset.

Many people make the assumption that athletes just sit around and waste away what people think should be their number one priority of academics.

That is a ridiculous assumption, as these programs sometimes restrain certain students from potentially taking part in selfdestructive activities such as gang violence and drug use.

Students who might not be as socially active tend to make friends and are able to become more involved, rather than treading through school with no goals or purpose.

But the programs continue to be cut as schools attempt to preserve money and cannot think with all of their knowledge of what is best for students of alternative

Illustration by Jhosef Hern Corsair

solutions to fix their own self-imposed problems.

According to a Washington Post article, in 2012, the University of Maryland cut seven sports programs in an effort to eliminate a multimillion dollar deficit, which could rise to $17 million by 2017.

The article states that the programs were not able to raise the funds required to keep them, so therefore, the school was forced to eliminate them.

The programs given the boot included men’s and women’s swimming, men’s tennis, women’s water polo, acrobatics and tumbling, and cross country. A total of 131 student athletes were left unable to play their respective sports.

A single student might have depended on his or her sports team as a refuge away from

a troubled social life. Athletics programs also foster motivation for student-athletes to better themselves academically.

Livestrong, an organization that provides support for cancer patients and does outreach with various athletes, states on its website that sports assist children in attaining stronger self-confidence, and reduce anxiety and depression, all of which are essential to a student’s performance in school.

Whether it is football, baseball, basketball, soccer, or tennis, the underappreciated value that an athletic program can bring to a student is unparalleled.

Sports teams do have a purpose, one that no midterm nor placement test can ever match.

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

QUESTION THE ANSWERS, ENTER NEW

TERRITORY AND FIND OURSELVES.

TOGETHER WE INNOVATE.

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.

for extended coverage visit us at thecorsaironline.com •

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

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+ entertainment 10 arts

volume 106 issue 10 • november 5, 2013 • santa monica college

Synapse shows deeper meaning of dance

For the past weekend, Synapse performed a combination of contemporary dance at The Broad Stage.

S

Alci rengifo Staff Writer

ynapse, the Santa Monica College contemporary dance ensemble, stormed the theater with a series of fiery, powerful and stunning dance numbers that showed the unique capabilities of the human body to tell stories Saturday night.

After six weeks of preparation and six hours of rehearsal each week, the Synapse dancers showcased their new repertory by guest and faculty artists and student choreographers.

Once the house lights darkened, the audience was immersed in a world of movement and sound. The performances ranged from soft elegance to raucous, exhilarating romps framed by electronica, modern classical and even top 40 pop hits.

Among the standout moments were "Karadelik," by faculty choreographer Seda Aybay, featuring electronic music by Venetian Snares. For this piece, four dancers performed edgy choreography representing five characters who shared the repeating memory of a moment experienced together. It was a powerful expression of a group experiencing life and its trials.

"Wanna Just," by guest choreographer Andrew Pearson, was a joyous celebration of the different ways the body can move to a beat. To the pop song "Don't Stop The Music"

by Jamie Cullum, the dancers would pose in combinations that were fun, modern and sensual.

Heartbreak was an emotion captured with sharp, searing clarity in student choreographer Kardale Holland's "The Ultimate Love," an aching number where a couple falls in love only for the relationship to then turn abusive.

The choreography here was a beautiful example of body movement telling a story. The moment when the woman, played by Anastasia Sinitsyna, leaves the man, played

by Holland, who leaps after her in a flying motion, says it all. The music used here by Tom Tykwer, "The Cloud

David J. Hawkins Corsair Santa Monica College’s contemporary dance ensemble, Synapse, performs at the Broad Stage on Sunday.

Atlas Sextext," taken from the film, created a powerful atmosphere.

Some of the most astounding work was featured in the number choreographed by SMC dance instructor Angela Jordan. "Applause," danced to the song of the same title

by Lady Gaga, was a pure blast of exhilaration as dancers in black moved to a feverish rhythm with poses that were feral and sensual in front of a red background.

“Several students requested a Lady Gaga piece,” Jordan said backstage after the show. “I wanted to have hints of Lady Gaga, but not have it be an homage. I wanted it to be fun and entertaining.”

There was almost a cinematic power to this piece in the way the dancers created images through their movements; it was dangerous and alive. The audience was gasping and applauding every minute.

From modern pop to the richness of the past, the show also gave the audience a taste of the old world meeting the new. One performance by faculty choreographer, "Capriol Suite," reminiscent of the Renaissance through its music, dance, and costumes, featured a delicate hybrid of hip hop and Renaissance dance, accompanied by Peter Warlock's same-titled song.

The closing number was an emotional experience titled "Show Me The Way," designed by guest choreographer Jackelyn Lopez, whose recent loss of a family member

influenced her choreography. The performance was a unique work of catharsis through the dancing and music, "Church Lady" by Dennis Ferrer. The dancers, dressed in the traditional funeral colors of white and black, evoked the power of transcendence through suffering.

For both co-directors, Jae Lee and Roberta Wolin-Tupas, dance is complex in its deeper meaning and reflection of the dancers' diverse backgrounds.

"Everybody is different," said Lee. "They all come from a different background, with a different technique. Finding and cultivating their individual talent is the challenge. It's been great directing our SMC dance majors."

Wolin-Tupas hoped the audience would see that dance not only serves as entertainment, but mirrors emotions and themes that connect people.

"I want them to see the range," she said. "I want them to see the depth in dance, [and] the many different topics and emotions that are expressed. Dance is beyond just entertainment. It is trying to reach from one person's heart to another. It's a powerful means of expression."

Like Lee and Wolin-Tupas, Jordan said that dance is a means to reveal emotions, identity and messages.

"Dance is a vehicle to express your feelings and emotions," Jordan said. "It is a way to gain identity as a person and as a group of people. It is a cultural marker, a platform and vehicle for communication."

Movie brings Egyptian Revolution to Santa Monica A review on Jehane Noujaim's award-winning documentary of 2013, "The Square," and student commentary on the revolts in the Middle East.

Alci rengifo Staff Writer "The Square," a stirring, harrowing experience that takes the viewer inside the Egyptian Revolution of 2011 and its continuing aftershocks, is a chronicle of the human drama that drove the Arab Spring and defined the second decade of the 21st century.

Director Jehane Noujaim filmed the events on the spot that began in January 2011. The documentary focuses on three Egyptians from diverse backgrounds.

The first is Ahmed, a passionate young student, who quickly takes to the streets when the masses rise up against the U.S.-backed dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak.

Then comes Magdy, a family man, who is also a member of the Islamic political organization, the Muslim Brotherhood, and supports the upheaval, but is also committed to his party's vision of an Islamic state.

The third person the film follows is Khaleed, an actor, who became famous in the film "The Kite Runner," but now spends his time at the revolution's focal point, Tahrir Square, where he mobilizes the people against tyranny and provides a voice on international outlets such as CNN to explain the happenings on the streets of Egypt.

As the revolution unfolds and Mubarak falls, these three characters experience hope, friendship and then terrible heartbreak as social divisions emerge, and cultural ties are stretched thin. Above it all hovers the Egyptian Army, which insists on retaining power even if it means terrible bloodshed in the streets.

"The Square" is more captivating than most of the big budget, Hollywood movies now playing. It is such a powerful experience because it is real.

Noujaim mixes her team's footage with cellphone clips, YouTube videos and Skype conversations that show how the events unfolded month by month, sometimes day by day. There are moments that are astounding and visceral, particularly when the film takes the viewer inside the street battles where Cairo burned and people clashed with security forces.

These scenes are terrifying. There are moments when security forces storm toward the camera, their malevolent faces visible as they target the cameraman. The viewer can almost smell the tear gas or taste the blood. It is as if someone went back in time to the French Revolution and filmed inside the barricades of the Paris Commune.

But the great value of the movie is how it provides voices and faces to the ongoing struggle in Egypt. We have seen the shots of the crowds countless times on TV, but here the participants of the uprising become defined. Noujaim attempts to give a voice to the different social sectors fighting to tear down a decayed system.

"The Square" lets the viewer hear the ideas, hopes, and conflicts raging between friends and family. The gallery of characters is memorable. Aida, a chain-smoking revolutionary, is probably the sharpest of the bunch when she warns the men around her that with the army in charge there is no real revolution.

She knows that this is one of the great tragedies of the Egyptian Revolution — how the regime was taken down in a time of political, ideological vacuum.

This year, the elected government of Mohamed Morsi was overthrown by the army which has re-established a hardline regime. In the movie, it becomes clear why the cycle has repeated itself. The revolutionaries chant "bread, freedom and social justice," but unlike their counterparts in Latin America, they have not formed clear alternatives.

for extended coverage visit us at thecorsaironline.com •

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The Muslim Brotherhood and then the army fill the void, provoking more rage when they respectively abuse the powers of the state.

The great struggle, now setting the Arab world on fire, will be defined by what emerges when the storm settles.

At Santa Monica College, students from the Middle East live with these issues.

Amirah Majrashi is from Saudi Arabia, a land ruled by a monarchy that has tried to make sure the flames of the Arab Spring do not reach its shores.

"In the countries where [upheaval] has happened like Libya and Egypt, there has not been educational stability," Majrashi says. "The governments never helped their people.

"I think the Arab Spring is necessary because if you want change, you have to be the change," she adds. "I hope all these countries reform and build themselves up in a way that is beneficial to everyone."

Esin, who wished not to disclose her full name, is from Turkey, where earlier this year, a mass uprising shook the Tayyip Erdogan government to its core.

"They were fighting dictatorship in the Arab countries," Esin says about the Arab Spring. "But now radical religious parties are taking control."

"If I were in Turkey right now, I would support them," Esin says about the recent outbreak of the protest in her own country. "They are not supporting any specific political party. Many groups are involved, including gay and lesbian groups. We just want democracy, and right now the government is trying to limit freedoms."

"The Square," which only plays in three theaters in the U.S., opened on Friday at Santa Monica's Laemmle's Monica Fourplex theater at the Third Street Promenade, showing through Nov. 8. /thecorsairnews •

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volume 106 issue 10 • november 5, 2013 • santa monica college

health + lifestyle 11

Hand sanitizer may cause fatality if ingested Due to its alcohol content, hand sanitizer carries the potential for abuse, and can be deadly if consumed in large amounts.

Lauren Narvaez Staff Writer

It

comes in small bottles, wipes and sprays. There are even dispensers located in buildings right on Santa Monica College’s campus.

Hand sanitizers have become a popular way to clean hands when a sink and hand soap are not within reach. With convenient packaging and small sizes, it is an easy on-the-go product.

But is it really safe and effective?

Recent reports have announced that hand sanitizer’s potential toxicity can have harmful, sometimes even fatal effects.

SMC student Nicole Thompson said she always uses hand sanitizer, especially when she is not at home.

“Even after I wash my hands in the public restrooms, I put some on because it makes my hands feel cleaner,” she said. “It’s always in my purse or backpack. It’s one of the things I don’t leave my house without.”

Thompson added that she uses hand sanitizer up to three times a day.

Health Canada, the Canadian federal health agency, is looking into the two recent deaths that have been linked to hand sanitizer ingestion.

The two Bodico hand sanitizer bottles found on the scene and tested contained methanol, an unlisted ingredient, and not ethyl alcohol, which was labeled as the active ingredient, according to a Health Canada advisory.

Methanol is a highly poisonous substance, which can cause death in children if two tablespoons are ingested, and in adults if two to eight ounces are

consumed, according to the National Institutes of Health’s website.

So why would anyone drink hand sanitizer? As reported on the The Globe and Mail, ingestion of hand sanitizer is on the rise, and used by teenagers to try and become intoxicated. Since the hand sanitizer has high amounts of alcohol and is available for a person of any age to purchase, it is an easier way for the underage to get drunk.

But while some are drinking it, others are actually using it to clean their hands. Hand sanitizer has become widely popular, especially among those with children.

“I have two kids, and I pack the non-alcohol hand sanitizer in their backpacks,” said SMC student Taylor Allen. “I can’t always be there to remind them to wash their hands, so it calms my mind a little knowing they have that with them.

They think it’s fun to put it on because the gel is slimy.”

There are many different forms of hand sanitizer, including those that are alcohol-free, which use the antibacterial ingredient triclosan. Others can use a natural alternative with the ingredient witch hazel, a natural skin antiseptic.

While there are no known side effects of witch hazel, triclosan is an ingredient added to many consumer products, and is used to reduce or prevent bacterial contamination, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

Although animal testing showed a shift in hormone regulation, the FDA reported that there is no evidence that triclosan added to antibacterial soaps and body washes provides extra health benefits over soap and water. The FDA advised concerned consumers to wash with regular soap and water.

With potentially misleading labeling and

Arlene Karno Corsair A Santa Monica College student uses hand sanitizer in the SMC bookstore on Tuesday.

Dispensers like these are seen around campus, and students often use pocket hand sanitizer bottles.

confusing information, it is hard to tell if hand sanitizer is an effective way to keep hands clean.

But until further information is released, hand sanitizer will remain on store shelves to be purchased by consumers.

FDA moves to keep food safe for animals After hundreds of dogs died from eating pet food, a new proposal has been made to produce plans and prevent hazards in pet food as part of the Food Safety Modernization Act.

F

or the first time, the Food and Drug Administration is proposing rules that would govern and regulate the production of all animal foods, protecting them from disease-causing contaminants.

Under the proposed rule, facilities manufacturing, processing, packing and holding animal food would be required to practice procedures that can minimize or prevent hazards that are likely to occur, according to the FDA. “I think it’s sad how it takes something bad to happen for action to be taken,” said Santa Monica College student Manuela Penaloza.

The announcement stems from the FDA’s ongoing investigation on the cause of almost 600 dog deaths believed to be linked to pet jerky treats imported from China.

“I’m careful of what food I give my two dogs, but I didn’t know there were so many dangers in pet food,” said Penaloza.

“This is one of the most elusive and mysterious outbreaks we’ve encountered,” said Dr. Bernadette Dunham, director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, in a statement on

Fabian Avellaneda Staff Writer the agency’s website. “Our beloved four-legged companions deserve our best effort, and we are giving it.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a healthy diet is just as important for animals as it is for humans. Salmonella outbreaks, for example, are not just linked to “people food.”

The most prominent potentially disease-causing pet foods are jerky pet treats, according to the FDA. A report on these treats issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services stated that as of Sept. 24, more than 3,600 dogs and 10 cats have reportedly become ill from eating jerky pet treats.

“I’ve had some pets in my life, and I’ve only seen a few get sick, but I never thought it could have been the food that caused it,” SMC student Mayra Cendejas said.

The new proposal would be a part of the Food Safety Modernization Act, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama on Jan. 4, 2011.

“FSMA aims to ensure the U.S. food supply is safe by shifting the focus from responding to contamination of the food supply to preventing

for extended coverage visit us at thecorsaironline.com •

it,” according to the FDA. According to a summary of the proposed rule by the FDA on its website, the protective measures would apply to domestic and imported animal food, including pet food, animal feed, raw materials and ingredients.

The summary also states that facilities producing animal food will be required to have plans outlined for identifying hazards, specify the steps to reduce or prevent those hazards, spot and record monitoring procedures and results, and specify the actions to take to correct the problems.

“I love my dogs, and I think that a lot of people would agree that they aren’t just animals and they’re really like a part of the family,” said Penaloza.

This new law is just a proposal and will be open for public comments for 120 days, according to the FDA. However, with recent recalls and animals becoming sick from food given to them by their owners, whether or not the proposal passes, pet owners still have options when choosing pet food.

The CDC states that the basic maneuvers for preventing illness from pet food is to check for recalled pet food and always wash hands.

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+ lifestyle 12 health

volume 106 issue 10 • november 5, 2013 • santa monica college

Care Harbor brings free health care to LA

Free health care services were provided to thousands at the Los Angeles Sports Arena from Thursday through Sunday.

I

Alci rengifo Staff Writer

nside the vast, cavernous Los Angeles Sports Arena, a hidden city was actively alive.

Care Harbor provided free health care services to nearly 3,000 low-income and uninsured patients from Oct. 31 through Nov. 3.

The event was sponsored by an array of groups, including Dignity Care, LA Health and the Buddhist organization Tzu Chi. In the center of the arena, everything from dental work to vision care was provided to those who received the coveted wristbands which gave people access to the free health care one day before Care Harbor began.

There were rows of chairs where dental volunteers pulled teeth and provided fillings and cleanings. A mobile vision clinic inside the arena was used to check eyesight and look for signs of diseases such as diabetes.

Throughout the arena hallways, rooms were turned into spaces for a women’s clinic and mammogram checks. The Paul Mitchell cosmetology school was present providing free haircuts, shampoo and makeup.

Merrill Rubens, the director of operations for this year’s Care Harbor, spoke about the logistics of the social operation.

“It’s been going great, almost eerily smooth,” she said. “Most people’s priority is to get dental care. Dental is the highest demand, and then vision comes next.”

Rubens said that there were about 700 volunteers at the event, and that the University of California, Los Angeles is a big supporter who brought plenty of doctors and dentists.

Physician’s assistant Ricardo Perez showed up to work at 5 a.m. at Care Harbor.

“For me, it means a lot to help other people, especially coming from a Third World country,” said Perez. “Here in the states, we forget that there are a lot of people in need.”

Caroline Romero, an emergency medical technician, came to volunteer with her mother who is also an EMT. “My experience has been great,” Romero said. “I would certainly do it again.”

Caroline’s mother Elena Romero was also present as an interpreter.

“I want to instill in my daughters early in their careers that they need to give back to their community with their talents and their training,” she said. “It’s not always

about money. You need to give back to your community.”

Among the attendees seeking care, there were other offers such as free telephones with special features for the visually and hearing impaired, provided by the Los Angeles Telephone Access Program.

Students from the Paul Mitchell cosmetology school took a break after giving about 500 hair cuts per day.

“This was the greatest day of my life,” said Paul Mitchell volunteer Enn Washington.

“I was having such a low month, and this picked me back up.”

Some individuals broke down into tears through the simple gift of a haircut after learning that some had not cut their hair in months, or even years.

“This was so good; it’s of such benefit for me at least,” said Maria Melgar, who attended Care Harbor with her daughter and son-in-law.

Waiting for his wife to receive a dental cleaning, Pascual Sanchez spoke about his experience the day earlier when he had a tooth pulled, happily showing off the gap.

“The service here was excellent, and the whole team was great,” said Sanchez.

“What they are doing is a great help for our minority community, which is mostly lowincome. It’s so important. This program should be extended to the entire country.”

Natalie Mevins, medical director of Care Harbor, has also worked to try to bring health care to countries like India.

“The most frustrating part is realizing that we have a Third World country right here,” said Mevins. “A lot of the things we see in India or Mexico, we see here with our indigent population.”

Mevins pointed out that many patients at Care Harbor are working poor who may have up to three jobs but still cannot get insurance, noting that she hopes the impending Affordable Care Act will change this reality.

“For people who have insurance they have no idea what it’s like for those who don’t have it,” said Mevins, “Our level of empathy is sometimes somewhat lacking because it’s hard to understand what it’s like to be hungry if you’ve never had to starve.”

“My hope is that these big events won’t be necessary anymore in the future,” said Mevins.

Michael Yanow Corsair Patients receive free dental care on Thursday at Care Harbor LA at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. The event housed 1,760 dental services, according to a press release.

Michael Yanow Corsair A dentist examines an X-ray at Care Harbor LA on Thursday at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. In addition to dental services, 2,730 other medical services were performed.

I want a school that reflects my world.

Apply to CSUDH today at CSUMentor.com, and join the growing community of international students choosing to finish their degrees on our campus.

CSUDH welcomes students from around the world with: • Scholarships for international students • Convenient campus location in the heart of L.A.

CSUDH

connects

• Dedicated International Student Services office • Wide selection of quality degree programs • Easy way to transfer credits toward your CSUDH degree • Attractive and affordable university housing

Learn more at CSUDH.EDU/International.

Michael Yanow Corsair Filogonio Valencia Flores, with the help of a phoropter, has his vision checked at Care Harbor LA at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena on Thursday. Care Harbor is an annual event held over four days, serving thousands of people with free medical, dental and vision care. The event this year hosted 1,293 eyecare services.

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