CORSAIR
VOLUME D ISS U E 3
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Savage God Bruce Smith's new work takes a new face on the stage.
A & E
WEDNESDAY SEPT. 21, 2011
PG.4
Wicked Karaoke Contestants face off for tickets to musical event.
PHOTOSTORY
PG.5
Acrylamide: A coffee drinker's worst nightmare? The possible consequences of consuming a chemical found in roasted coffees and other food products.
HEALTH & LIFE
PG.7
Corsair Football Defense allows 53 points in the Corsairs first loss.
SPORTS
PG.8
D REAM A c t o n t o g o v e r n o r ' s o f f i c e By Fatou Samb, Valerie Serrano, and Katherine Ruiz Staff Writers
Governor Jerry Brown will soon decide the fate of the second part of the highly contentious California DREAM Act bill AB 131, which has put the state in the national debate concerning immigration. The proposed bill would give undocumented students in California access to state scholarships and loans for college, which they are currently denied. The bill was introduced on Jan. 11, by Assemblyman Gil Cedillo, and is awaiting the governor’s signature to become law. Opponents of the bill maintain that spending should be focused on important items such as infrastructure and job creation, and that the DREAM
Lisa Weingarten Corsair Gilbert Cedillo, representative of the 45th district, speaks about the importance of the Dream Act at being signed at his press conference on Friday, Sept. 16. “Undocumented students are equal to documented students. If you play by the rules, work hard throughout K-12, then you have the civil right to a college education,” said Cedillo.
Act’s proposed funding should be a low priority. Supporters say that undocumented students need this access in order to pursue their goals of a college education. “It’s incumbent upon us to provide these education services, because if we don’t, we’re going to create a subclass in America,” said Assemblyman Gil Cedillo, author of the bill and one of its prime supporters. “America is a democracy. […] If we create a subclass, it is going to be a subclass of illiterates who are going to be a burden on social services and be prone to criminal activity. There’s no benefit to us. We want people to be productive and constructive.” Supporters of the bill say that statefunded scholarships and loans are a significant means for financing costly college fees, and thus blocking illegal [See Dream, page 1]
Local mural sparks controversy Corsairs' first loss a big one
Michael Yanow Corsair Santa Monica College Corsair Alonzo Frederick looks for running room as Santa Ana’s Karl Eirich tries to bring him down on Saturday, Sept. 17 at Santa Ana Field. Santa Monica College lost 27-53 and brings their season record to 2-1.
By Wayne Neal Staff Writer
Paul Alvarez Jr. Corsair Retna and Risk, known graffiti artists, make a giant house mural at 825 Berkley St. in Santa Monica to raise awareness for Heal the Bay on costal clean up day. The owner of the house faced a $5,000 dollar-a-day fine for the mural.
By Zoie Matthew Staff Writer In a code of strange and cryptic characters, a gargantuan mural that mysteriously appeared at 825 Berkeley Street. on Thursday, September 8, stated: “Oceans @ Risk. Heal the Bay. Sea Shepherd. Mad Society. Restore and Protect the World's Oceans.” The mural is the brainchild of local developer and long time Heal the Bay volunteer Adam Corlin. After purchasing the Berkeley St. home for development
and finding out that construction couldn’t start for a few months, Corlin came up with a simple way to make use of the empty house. “I had this idea of doing some kind of art project to help the ocean,” said Corlin. Corlin got right to work. He acquired 150 white panels and installed them on scaffolding. Then, inspired by the recent “Art in the Streets” exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art, he contacted Kelly Graval, an artist who goes by the moniker [See Mural, page 3]
The Santa Monica College Corsairs lost their first game this season Saturday against the Santa Ana Dons (1-2), with a final score of 53-27. Defense has been the main focus for the Corsairs this season, as they only allowed a combined 20 points in their first two victories but the Dons’ offense proved to be too much, netting a total of 414 yards on offense. The Corsairs got an early lead with a 14yard touchdown pass from quarterback Alfonso Medina to tight end Aaron Boesch. Boesch finished the game with five receptions, 49 receiving yards and one touchdown. Medina had 267 yards passing and three touchdowns, while completing 27 of his 36 passes. The Dons answered right back with an 11-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Andrew McDonald to wide receiver Avery Williams. Williams finished the game with 18 receiving yards on two receptions and one touchdown. The Dons used a similar offensive style
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to that of the Corsairs by rotating two quarterbacks, which worked in succession to confuse the Corsairs’ defense and get their pass offense in full gear. Defensive coordinator Steven Garcia was not pleased with his defensive unit this week. He stressed the importance of focusing on the game and knowing assignments. “It was just a lack of focus on our part,” Garcia said. The Dons eventually took the lead on a 42-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Duke DeLancellotti to wide receiver Roger Mujica, for his only catch of the game. On the next drive, the Corsairs tied the game at 14 with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Medina to wide receiver Kris Comass. Comass finished the game with one touchdown on 38 receiving yards and four receptions. The tie would only be temporary, as the Dons scored on their next possession with an 11-yard touchdown rush by DeLancellotti and would go into the half with a 28-14 lead off a 53-yard touchdown pass from McDonald to wide [See Corsairs, page 12]
2|CONTENTS|
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2011 · SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
Dillon Francis filled Key Club withMoombahton tunes on Thursday Sept. 15, in West Hollywood. Attendees of the show danced in the crowded ventue until they were literally dripping with sweat.
EDITORIAL STAFF Jonathan Bue············ 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 Nathan Gawronsky····Managing Editor c o rs a i r. m a n a g i n g @ g m a i l . c o m Cathy Arias········ Life & Health Editor 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 Juan Lopez···················A & E Editor 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 Muna Cosic···············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 William Courtney·········· 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 Hector Mejia········· 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 Anisa El-Khouri············· Photo Editor Amanda Bojorquez········· 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 Jenya Romanovsky·········· Copy Editor Chris Aquino·················· Copy Staff c o rs a i r. c o p y e d i t s @ g m a i l . c o m Roger Morante················Web Editor David J. Hawkins···· Web Administrator c o rs a i r. w e b e d i t o r @ g m a i l . c o m Nathalyd Meza·············Design Editor Genesis Baltazar············ Design Staff Alfredo Avila················· Design Staff c o rs a i r. d e s i g n t e a m @ g m a i l . c o m FAC U LT Y A DV I S O R S Saul Rubin Gerard Burkhart W R I T E R S Betsaida Agustin Tarrin Andrews Amber Antonopoulos Vanessa Barajas Eva Boguslawski Jared Bonnici Jay Be Brookman Aubryanna DiStefano Maria Dimera Morgan Doyle Regan Dyl Alyson Feldman Janae Franklin
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|NEWS|3
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2011 · SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
DREAM Act to governor Mural causes local stir [From Dream, page 1] immigrants from having access to such crucial funds reduces their prospects for college education. Meanwhile opponents feel that offering state-funded scholarships to illicit individuals is an unwise allocation of already limited resources. “Until California is able to get its fiscal house in order, the State should focus its limited resources on vital services and resist the temptation to obligate itself to additional expenditures resulting from implementation of the DREAM Act,” said Michael J. Fell, Vice Chairman of Westside Republicans, in an e-mail sent to the Corsair. Advocates insist that undocumented immigrants who have consistently shown exemplary behavior and are good students must not be the ones to suffer the consequences of the system; that they should be given the right to pursue their educational goals with the assistance of government grants as they have the constitutional right to education. “It’s shocking to hear people say that undocumented students don’t have rights! In the area of education, undocumented students are equal to all other students. The rule of law actually protects undocumented students,” says Cedillo. “They’ve paid into the system like everybody else!” Santa Monica College is arguably the most cosmopolitan campus in the state; therefore, the DREAM Act is an important piece of legislation that holds the fate of a broad spectrum of
Peeping Tom Caught
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its students. “I think that community colleges were designed as open-access institutions. The more we can do to create access for all the students of California, the better off we are. To extend the DREAM Act expands our capacity to be an open access institution,” says political science professor, Eric Oifer. The first portion of the DREAM Act AB 130, permitting undocumented students the ability to get privately funded financial aid, was already passed on July 20. Since the DREAM Act has gained more public attention, Governor Jerry Brown is further pressured to make a decision, which will be sure to leave one side disappointed.
[From Mural, page 1] RISK, to help him out. “I’m not an artist,” said Corlin. “So I basically just handed RISK 150 white 4x4foot panels, and said ‘Have at it, Kelly, what do you want to do?’” Graval had an idea. “I basically picked 3 color pallettes” wrote Graval in an email to The Corsair. “One of magentas, oranges, and yellows for the sunset, one being black and purple for pollution, and the last blues, aquas, and greens for the water.” Graval also contacted another street artist friend of his, Marquis Lewis (also known as Retna). Lewis contributed the unique lettering, a code of his own design, based on a combination of Asian calligraphy, Incan and Egyptian hieroglyphics, Hebrew and Arabic script, and the Old English style of gang tagging. “The objective was to increase awareness to the cause by provoking interest,” wrote Graval. “Retna’s lettering is perfect because it provokes thought and with some research you can read the message.” After a summer’s worth of work, the mural was revealed. However, Corlin failed to do one thing acquire a permit. “They used scaffolding, which in the eyes of Building and Safety means it’s a multi-story structure,” said Chris Lee of the Reynal Guillen Corsair Building and Safety Division.“We issued a SMC student, Gwen Policarpio, phones in notice of order, which basically means ‘take to California state Governor’s automated it down.'" system in support of AB 131 on Tuesday, The notice urged him to remove it Sept. 20. AB 131, also called the "Dream immediately or risk fines of up to $25,000, Act", gives undocumented students accalling it, as Corlin recalls, “an unsafe cess to California state financial aid and addition and a public nuisance.” in-state tuition.
By Ashley Metcalf Staff Writer On Sept. 1 at 11:30 a.m., Santa Monica Police officers responded to the Santa Monica College Library regarding a report of a man using a mirror to look under stalls in the women’s restroom. The initial report from the library staff said that there were two victims who made
the complaint. The suspect was identified as Joshua Flores, 28, of South Gate, and arrested for loitering in the women’s bathroom and obstructing officers. Flores, who initially refused to give officers the correct information, is not a student of the College, nor an area resident. No matter where this happens it’s absolutely unacceptable, especially in the bathroom. It’s a place of what should be
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personal privacy,” said Sgt. Bottenfield of Santa Monica Police. ”There are sexual deviants everywhere in society, and unfortunately wherever you are, you can never let your guard down completely. Just be aware of your surroundings and try not to be too caught up in the moment, ‘cause that’s when they strike”. The alleged ‘peeping tom’ has been jailed on $10,000 bail. He has a pending court appearance.
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Corlin, however, did not intend to remove it just yet. Part of the project’s original intent was to raise awareness for the 27th annual California Coastal Cleanup Day, which took place on Sept. 17. “My plan was always to keep it up through Coastal Cleanup day, and to take it down as of coastal cleanup day,” said Corlin. The community seems to have offered an enormous amount of support to this decision. Multiple citizens hung signs on site in support of the art staying up, and Karen Hall, executive director of Heal the Bay, says that many people claim to have called the city council in protest. Whether or not it’s due to the community’s support, Hall, seems to think the city’s aggression on the matter seems to have waned. “Let’s just say the intensity has sort of died off, so he’s taking it down on the day the he was supposed to,” said Hall. “Overall there were really only a very small few of the ‘higher ups’ which opposed the mural, and it was purely because of personal vendettas,” wrote Graval. “It was eventually exposed which was a huge victory for Street Art!” On the whole, the people involved with the project seem to see the outcome of the controversy as positive. “Hopefully, in the end the most important thing is that we are bringing awareness to our cause,” said Corlin. Hall agrees, “I think it did what it was supposed to do, which was to get people talking,” she said.
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4|A & E|
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2011 · SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
Environmental Photography leaves an impression
Paul Alvarez Corsair Einhard Buchheim, a student worker, watches over the Environmental Photography exhibit as Mark Robancho views one of the seven issues in Drescher Hall at Santa Monica Collee.
By Mia Shilpi Satff Writer
The bright lights shining over the photographs on the wall, combined with the crowd in the small room, quickly heated up the gallery at the Environmental Photography: 7 Photographers, 7 Issues exhibit. The heat did not stop the crowd from talking excitedly as they read the information cards next to each of the seven sets of photographs.
A project set forth by Santa Monica College photography instructors Bob Ware, Larry Jones, and Gerard Burkhart, along with input from photographers from the Getty. The project is for seven SMC photography students to capture environmental issues of their interest. The projects range from broad topics like pollution in the Los Angeles water system, to specific topics like diapers. But all of the topics concern the same thing, and in the words of project
instructor Ware, they all have the same goal which is to “leave the viewer with an impression”. Paola Roblesgil, a student focusing her project on oil independence asked, “Can we really be independent from petroleum?” Photographs that show distant but everpresent oilrigs off the Pacific Coast are set against everyday items that are made from petroleum, like running shorts and bicycles, possibly implying the impossible independence from petroleum in a society that depends on it tremendously. Matthew Anderson, another exhibit participant, concerned himself more with the damage to local wildlife in his project on the Ballona Wetlands. His work portrays a shot of a jogger above a highly polluted river and that of a dead rabbit on the road with cars racing off in the distance. Nestor Miranda captured the extent of waste in the local Los Angeles waterways by biking 51 miles along Compton Creek, the L.A. River, and the Pacific Coast to get photos of animals calling these toxic environments their homes. Some of the projects have a more positive focus. Angie Graves’ project on choosing local food over processed food shined a light on the fact that because we live in L.A., it is much easier to do the former.
The families in her pictures are shown milking cows, growing vegetable gardens, and raising chickens. The more important photos are the ones not taken – “the average food item travels 1,500 miles before reaching an American table,” says Graves, "which wastes resources like oil." However, farming can be hard work, as Paulo Marquín captures in his project on organic farms, taking the romance out of organic food by demonstrating the human cost that supplements the high food cost of buying and eating organic. His photographs focus on struggling migrant farmers, who cannot afford to buy the very food they labor over. Simone Paz’s project on diapers documented the fact that the average baby will go through 8,000 to 13,000 diapers from birth to potty training. Paz suggests using cloth diapers, the non-disposable option, use two times less oil and three times less water. The last photograph of Jen May’s Pollution Solution project captures the biggest problem with the environment. It shows a garbage can with a ‘Keep Our Beaches Clean’ sign – and a bottle in the sand right next to it. Environmental Photography: 7 Photographers, 7 Issues is on display on the 2nd floor gallery of Drescher Hall until Sept. 30.
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By Reynal Guillen and Michelle Ponder Staff Writer A young farmer must decide whether or not to sell his farm and lose his sister to a manipulative mayor after his debt-ridden father commits suicide during a drought, in a high-tension, staged reading of "After Us the Savage God." The play, written by Santa Monica College public information officer Bruce Smith, was read and emotionally performed in the Theater Arts Studio Stage on Friday, Sept. 16. The audience was engulfed in a dramatic story as Matt (Logan Fahey) dealt with imminent foreclosure and Mayor Murd (Jeff Harlan), who has his eyes on Matt's emotionally despondent sister Clarissa, while offering to buy his farm. The dilemma posed to Matt is whether he should sell off to the mayor to revisit his lost dream of playing professional baseball or stay, protect his sister and try to keep the farm from being seized by the bank. Farmhand Bill, played by Robert Ray Shafer from the NBC series "The Office," reveals something about Murd that helps Matt make his decision in the final emotional scene. Smith's script at times uses water as a symbol of power, arrogantly dished out by the calculating mayor. Director Andre Barron guides the actors’ performances that lead the empathetic audience to feel the struggle with Matt and Clarissa in the last scene of the two-act plays. The dramatic reading was followed by a Q&A session with the actors, writer and director. Many audience members felt that the play reflected our current economic crisis with the role big businesses play in the
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Reynal Guillen Corsair Logan Fahey, as Matt Carter, holds an imaginary rifle in anger towards Jeff Harlan, playing the carpetbagger Mayor Charles Murd (on the floor).
lives of the lower class. The play was built on a medley of research and creative process. Smith was inspired by the plight of Alaskan farmers, many of which commit suicide. Without first hand experience, Smith used research to connect the pieces of the story. Smith went to professors on campus and his own research to find out if his story could be plausible in real life. The title of the play came as Smith viewed an art exhibit of evil and on one caption he saw the quote written by W.B. Yeats. The message, according to Smith, is "if we are not careful with our world then god will take over, we saw it happen tonight with this family."
|PHOTOSTORY|5
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2011 · SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
in · Staff Writer ' FranklM e a n a J By Photos by ar ie Perez
The five finalists in the "Sing for Your Wicked Tickets" contest, pose at the lobby of The Pantages Theater in Hollywood, with 104.3 MY-FM morning radio host Valentine.
Because of its huge success in the past, The Pantages and 104.3 MY-FM gave fans a special opportunity to celebrate the return of the Musical “Wicked” in Hollywood, CA. This year, 104.3 MY-FM and The Pantages Theatre sponsored a “Sing for Your Wicked Tickets” Karaoke contest and launch party in The Pantages theatre lobby in Hollywood on Sept. 17. Local wicked enthusiasts of all ages were invited to dress in the best “Wicked” costumes to celebrate the return of the Tony Award winning play for a chance to win four tickets for the upcoming performances starting Nov. 30. The event also gave all who attended
Eight-year-old Emma Lieberman takes the stage as the second participant of the Wicked karaoke contest to perform wicked musical single "Popular".
access to the best seats in the theatre without paying the extra Ticketmaster fee. “This type of event is the first we have done for the Wicked fans,” said Benny Aguayo, Marketing Manager for the Pantages. Food, drinks, and special prizes were also given out to the crowd for attending. The party was hosted by a popular 104.3 MY-FM radio personality Valentine, who is an avid fan of “Wicked.” The contest kicked off with a battle between 20 contestants singing some of their favorite songs from the play such as “Popular,” and “No Good Deed.” Five final contestants were chosen to battle in a singoff. and seven-year-old Kimberly Pidazo from Orange County took the top honor.
Randomly chosen with a raffle ticket to entertain the crowd as results of the "Sing for Your Wicked Tickets" were being made, was 14-year-old Allison Robinson dressed as one of the witches of the musical "Wicked" singing"Defy Gravity".
Friends and family of the participants in the "Sing for Your Wicked Tickets" karaoke contest sit on the floor of the Grand Lobby at the Pantages Theater cheering while waiting for the results.
Last to take the stage in the "Sing for Your Wicked Tickets" karaoke contest was Melanie Pfirman who ended up being a finalist singing "The Wizard and I ".
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6|OPINION|
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2011 · SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
Keep beauty pageants out of reach of children
By Aly Feldman Staff Writer Every Wednesday night on TLC, “Toddlers & Tiaras” showcases the competitive world of child pageants, as three families have their children judged on beauty, personality, and their “costumes.” On an episode that aired on Sept. 9, one of the toddler contestants walked on stage wearing a prostitute outfit with a yellow wig, high leather boots and a mini-dress that showed her midriff. The three-yearold toddler was trying to look like Julia Roberts’ character from “Pretty Woman.” The outfit that the tot wore was extremely disturbing to many viewers. Who wants to see a toddler dressed as a prostitute? I don’t, as I’m sure most wouldn’t either. The toddler’s mother, Wendy Dickey, told US Weekly magazine, in an interview, "I'm raising my child just as well as any mother does … I take my kid to church every week." Here’s the thing, Mrs. Dickey. Just because you are taking your child to church doesn't mean that you are raising her the
“right way.” Many parents have different standards and expectations when raising their children, but I'm sure that most parents want their children to be smart and not just “pretty” and stuck up. After watching this particular episode, not only was I nauseous from the message it represented, but I was also surprised at how ignorant and logically inept the parents were. These girls are dressed to look older, wearing makeup and hairdos that make their faces look like that of a 20-year-old. These are toddlers that should be playing hide-and-seek in the park and should not be strutting on stage in skimpy outfits. It is repulsive, these are children’s bodies decked out in glitter and tights, sexually exposing them on television. Melissa Henson, director of communications and public education for the Parents Television Council, wrote an article for the CNN website, stating that “instead of creating ratings-friendly buzz, TLC engendered outrage among millions of parents and grandparents who are tired of seeing children exploited for ratings
and robbed of their innocence by a greedy entertainment industry that will stop at nothing to make a buck.” The mothers of these toddlers are very pushy and want them to be in a pageant more than the girls themselves want it; it’s obviously helping the mothers fulfill some kind of self-indulgent dream. Not to mention, these mothers get a lot of attention when their child steals the spotlight. Being pampered and always the center of attention, these toddlers have very bad tempers. They always have to get what they want, which is something that makes them come across as snobby, stuck-up children. This is one of the main problems that stem from these children’s beauty pageants. These girls aren’t living a real childhood, but instead they’re living in a make-believe world where they can pretend that the whole world revolves around them and their needs. They aren't learning lifelessons, morals, or self-respect, which are the most important things a woman needs. Instead, these toddlers are learning that
beauty is all that counts and that to look beautiful, fake hair and teeth are needed, along with lots of make-up and skimpy clothes. Imagine what these little girls are going to be like when they get older. Some may need a bitter reality check. Others may think that the only way to be accepted in this world is to be perfectly presentable to everyone and to always wear a ton of make-up and hairspray. The point is that looks aren’t going to get you accepted into college or give you the fundamental knowledge that is needed to succeed in life. I’m not saying that all of them will grow this way, but many will live life based on how they were raised and by the environment they were exposed to throughout their childhood. A lot of people have very strong opinions about little girls being in beauty pageants. As I see it, it’s a very sad and terrible lifestyle for a child to start off on at such a young age. Not only are these pageants taboo but they also attract the wrong kind of attention.
Solar powered energy comes with a hefty price By Mel Rudkiewicz Staff Writer Residents of Santa Monica would like to support the city’s efforts to “go green” and become more “environmentally friendly,” but with the shaky economic situation at present, most people are trying to save money. Saving money on energy bills may seem an incentive; however, the initial cost of solar power would far outweigh its benefits. As it’s promised, solar power will save us money, so it should be something we can all consider upgrading to in the future. The Energy Upgrade California program earlier this year offered home owners rebates of up to $8,000 for the installation of solar panels on their homes, according to the Solar Santa Monica website. One wonders if they are offering large rebates, then how much does installation typically cost? Approximately, “prices in Santa Monica
have been quoted as low as $5.50 per watt AC,” according to the Solar Santa Monica website, and that “an average residential system of 3 kilowatts (kW) has thus gone from a gross price of nearly $30,000 to as little as $18,000.” Technically, the prices of solar upgrades have gone down, but so have the rebates from the California Solar Initiative (CSI). According to the Solar Santa Monica website, “in Santa Monica (SCE territory), the residential rate is at $0.65 per watt AC,” compared to the $2.50 per watt AC rebate rate in 2007. That’s a significant drop on solar power rebates. According to the Santa Monica City Council meeting minutes, “Santa Monica now boasts over 2.5 megawatts (MW) of solar electric systems installed on over 300 rooftops. These systems generate over 4,000,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) annually or over 2.5 percent of the community’s total annual electricity use.” We all want to save money, but it seems
that with the Solar Santa Monica Project we are outlaying money to save money. According to the Solar Santa Monica website, “residents, the city, businesses, the State and Federal Government are all contributing to this project.” We desire to improve efficiency in our buildings and “go green,” but we have already done that with energy-efficient light bulbs and energy-efficient appliances. Many people find solar panels quite unsightly on a neighbor’s roof. Technology, especially in the electronics field, is progressing in leaps and bounds, and what works satisfactorily today will likely be obsolete in a very short time. The Appraisal Institute informs consumers who decide to proceed with solar power, “that for every $1 reduction in annual electricity accounts, residents will gain an increase in their property value by $20. They inform property owners that should your solar system save you $500 per
annum, your property value will increase by $10,000.” This brings good and bad news. According to California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 73, homeowners are tax exempt for installed solar systems; but only up to 2009. Some may say that it is good that your home value will increase; however, in other cities—domestic and international— authorities are finding that the installation of solar panels on your roof actually reduces the value of your home and also limits potential buyers, as solar panels are perceived to be quite ‘ugly.’ Economically, outlaying large fees to purchase solar panels does not seem viable. Solar energy for consumers at present is not necessary but can be considered for environmental reasons. They are still in the inception stage. By waiting several years, we may be able to have affordable panels installed that fit aesthetically to our residences.
Global Citizenship takes SMC beyond its campuses By Mia Shilpi Staff Writer Santa Monica College is so ethnically diverse that one has to stop and listen to the different students walking around campus. How many languages are spoken on-campus besides English and Spanish? Plenty, considering the 3,100 international students from all over the world, who study at SMC. This doesn’t take into account the thousands of students coming to SMC from dozens of ethnic communities in the Los Angeles area. The many ethnic varieties make SMC unique and the Global Citizenship is just an added bonus that promotes awareness to all the diversity. Whether you compare the city to a melting pot of nationalities or a tossed salad of cultures, it is nearly impossible to escape the wonderful diversity in Los Angeles. With SMC’s new Global Citizenship Initiative, the diversity is celebrated through themed discussions and lectures, which bring muchneeded global awareness and knowledge to SMC students. The Global Citizenship promotes the understanding of cultures outside the United State and “attitudes of
tolerance and respect for diversity and of anticipation and adaption toward global change; skillful command of the technologies that revolutionize the way we obtain information and interact with each other; and a commitment to act as responsible global citizens through political engagement, entrepreneurship and community service,” according to the SMC Global Citizenship website. Pete Morris, Global Citizenship co-chair, said the initiative is to “prepare students for the 21st century.” In a rapidly changing world, adaptation is the most crucial skill anyone can possess. Not to mention, with adaptation comes acceptance, which is just as important to posses for a better understanding of the world. SMC students, faculty and staff vote online for a yearly theme that promotes interdisciplinary connections between SMC students. The idea of the yearly theme is to get everyone discussing the same thing from one class to another. Past themes were water and food, which were a great success, and this year it’s Health, Wellness, and the Pursuit of Happiness. It’s a big jump in topics, but it follows the same idea - to get SMC students talking about the world and explore beyond their familiar realm. It’s important to comprehend and
be aware of global issues and occurrences. This year’s theme is more abstract than the last two, since it concentrates on the human beings’ body and heart, rather than just the physical needs like food and water. It’s a very broad topic, with two “common books” the Global Citizenship encourages everyone to read to promote discussions on this year’s theme. The books are “Siddhartha” by Herman Hesse, a novel on the path to enlightenment and “Geography of Bliss,” a travel memoir by Eric Weiner. Both books concentrate on finding, not just health, but happiness and wellness of the whole being, as well. In this environment, American apathy towards anything outside our borders is proving fatal and yet, the population proves to be stubbornly uninformed, choosing blissful ignorance over vital awareness. SMC is attempting to work past this by requiring Global Citizenship related courses, replacing a previous American Cultures requirement, broadening not just the classes a student can take for this requirement, but their minds as well. So is it working? Well, stop and listen to those languages around you, look at those faces from around the world. There’s no doubt Americans are probably among the most globally unaware peoples around the
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world. Going on Google and searching ‘stupid American’ will yield a million results about how Americans barely know there is a world outside America, let alone what is happening in it. The amount of things Americans do not know about the rest of the world is shocking. It is possible to become more aware of everything that is happening around the globe. It can be as simple as following international news instead of tuning it out and learning how to read critically instead of accepting what is read to you. SMC students can learn a lot from the Global Citizenship by following their road to global awareness. Students can also participate in the Student Research Symposium and Tournament by submitting work that they have completed for any of their classes at SMC that promote ideas of global citizenship. According to the SMC Global Citizenship website, it is important that the Global Citizenship program brings “awareness of the social, cultural, and environmental transformations taking place in our world of unprecedented global interconnection.” Morris said that we have a long way to go for that to happen and I agree, but with enough education and dedication, it isn’t impossible.
|HEALTH&LIFE|7
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2011 · SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
Ancient tradition of colonics poses possible benefits By Regan Dyl Staff Writer Today, people are increasingly looking to holistic remedies, alternative medicine, and ancient practices like yoga and meditation for health answers and a sense of wellbeing. With such interest in health alternatives, many treatments are on the rise, including colonics. The city of Santa Monica alone has seven locations providing this form of therapy. The first question for the uninitiated might be, what is a colonic. In short, it’s when a fluid, most commonly sterile water, is introduced into the colon and lower intestine as a wash to remove the contents of the lower bowel. This practice dates back to 1500 B.C., when the ancient Egyptians would enlist a hollow reed and swift river water to illicit a similar effect. Today, colonics are used for the obvious applications of relieving constipation, bloating, gas, and discomfort. Alternative therapists also purport it can improve skin quality, energy levels, virility, encourage weight loss and work to detoxify one’s system while improving overall health. It is even discussed as preventative therapy for cancer, ,primarily colon cancer. “Most people have the desired result,” said David Anderson, an employee of the Gentle Wellness Center of Santa Monica. “But it’s not a miracle. It takes work.” A single colon hydrotherapy session lasts 45 minutes and on average costs $100.
The recommended sessions for a thorough colon cleanse is three-to-four sessions in a seven-to-ten day period. A common idea found in hydrotherapy literature, explained by Anderson, is that our colon walls harbor remnants from its work in the form of hardened fecal matter and mucus. In the Gentle Wellness Center’s literature, it states, “Many of us have 10 to 20 pounds of impacted feces in our colon.”
Many of us have 10 to 20 pounds of impacted feces in our colon. Such an explanation would account for the repetition needed in a complete cleanse. Louretta Walker, a certified colon therapist, supported this claim, saying the goal is, “To move further and further into the colon.” Mary Lynne Stephanou, Master of Scienceprofessor of Life Science Anatomy and Physiology at Santa Monica College, was asked about colonic therapy, and its purported cleansing effects on the gastrointestinal tract., “That just doesn’t happen with typical individuals.” She went on to explain that a healthy gastrointestinal tract, or GI tract, has a
mucus lining which allows waste to move easily through the system. “It’s a no stick surface,” professor of Anatomy Sandra Hutchinson said in support. Hutchinson went on to explain that a concern about colonics is the possibility of disturbing the natural bacteria found in the GI tract. “Indigenous bacteria helps create vitamin K and B12 which would be washed away,” Hutchinson said. Common risks associated with colonics are electrolyte imbalance, the removal of important bacteria, infections that could result from the use of contaminated water, and bowel dependence due to overuse of colonics or laxatives. The use of something like a colonic is not unheard of in traditional medicine. Ida Danzey, Associate Dean of Health Sciences at SMC, explained that enemas are commonly used as prep for surgery and for cleansing the bowels. Her main concern was that of a “one size fits all” view. She explained that when administering an enema, the liters and type of fluid used vary depending on many factors, such as preexisting conditions and age. She hopes that similar practices are used by hydrocolon therapists. When asked about the benefits of colonics, popular health expert Dr. Oz summed it up in an interview on a New York City radio station by saying, “There is no additional health benefit to getting a colonic over eating the right
foods. So I give myself an oral colonic.” Though a strange expression, this idea of maintaining a healthy system through good eating practices is one reiterated by most health professionals. So while colonics can be a helpful method for many, what makes a truly healthy person begins with what goes in the mouth,... not necessarily what goes in the other end.
Have a Q? Each week we will be answering your questions in our Health and Life column. Please send your questions to the Corsair at corsair.lifestyle@gmail.com
A world of caffeine addicts By Maria Dimera Staff Writer Skipping breakfast from her daily morning routine would be no problem for Santa Monica College student Alexandra Samuelson. Sacrificing her morning coffee, however, would wreak havoc. As a second-semester music major, Samuelson says, “An average morning for me is waking up, getting a cup of coffee and then having a cigarette. It’s pretty much the same routine day in, day out. I just can’t function without coffee.” Many of us can identify with Samuelson. For many, drinking coffee is a ritual to start the day, while others might turn to certain teas, Coke, or an energy drinks such as Red Bull. The common thread within all these morning rituals is caffeine. Although people regularly turn to these beverages in order to get re-charged, there have been numerous reports and studies declaring that the consumption of caffeine has a long list of side effects. According to Understanding Nutrition, a textbook used in some nutrition classes offered at Santa Monica College, caffeine is a stimulant that elicits a number of physiological and psychological effects in the body. The benefits of caffeine include the enhancement of alertness and reduction of fatigue. However, upset stomachs, nervousness, irritability, headaches, diarrhea, and sleep disturbance are only some of the side effects that have been reported. Beverages containing caffeine should be used in moderation and in addition to other fluids, not as a substitute
for them. “Consuming caffeine within three to five hours of bedtime will disturb the sleep of most people,” says Tim Roehrs, director of research at the Sleep Disorders Center of the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit to the Health Action Newsletter. Caffeine interferes with adenosine, which is believed to be the brain's natural sleep regulator. According to Roehrs, caffeine consumers could have disrupted sleep, affecting the many benefits of a good night's rest. “The next day they’ll feel tired, so they’ll consume more caffeine to stay alert. And that may disrupt their sleep the next night,” said Roerhs. Caffeine expert Roland Griffiths of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine also said in the Health Action Newsletter: “Caffeine isn’t just any additive. It’s a pharmacological agent, a drug, and it leads to physical dependence in people who use it regularly.” This means that after a week of consuming caffeine every day, most people will experience headaches, fatigue, or decreased alertness if they stop. A pharmacological active dose of caffeine is defined as 200 milligrams. An 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee contains an average 95 mg of caffeine, whereas a decaffeinated cup only contains 2 milligrams. Keep in mind that caffeine is not only found in beverages but also in candy bars, ice cream, yogurt, some oatmeal, and other drugs. Unlike calorie counts, there is no requirement to state the amount of caffeine presented in any foods. Although the Food and Drug
Administration
lists
caffeine
as
a
Hailey Maxson, a local Starbucks barista,
multipurpose GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) substance, some caffeine drinkers do not take into account the amounts of caffeine they are taking.
comments on her clients: "I'm literally a drug dealer. I deal with addicts all day long."
Scott Smith Corsair A Santa Monica College Student enjoys a chiled coffee beverage as she waits for her next class.
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8|SPORTS|
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2011 · SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
Corsairs lose game 27-53 [From Corsairs, page 1] receiver Joshua Webb. At the beginning of the third quarter SMC marched downfield in position for an early score, but Medina fumbled and Dons linebacker Dylan Reda returned the fumble 77 yards for a touchdown. The Dons completed the two-point conversion and went up 36-14, a lead which the Corsairs would never be able to recover from. “The best coverage is a pass rush, and the best pass rush is good coverage,” said SMC head coach Gifford Lindheim who was disappointed in the team’s defensive play. The Corsairs were unable to get any kind of pressure on the Dons quarterbacks, and allowed a total of five touchdown passes. The Corsairs totaled nearly 400 yards of offense, and had more first downs and over double the possession time than the Dons had, but were unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities. On the defensive side, lineman Karl Buchanan led the Corsairs with 10 tackles, three going for a loss. Michael Yanow Corsair The Corsairs next game is at home against San Bernadino Valley at 1 p.m. this Santa Monica College Corsair Alonzo Frederick looks for running room as Santa Ana’s Drew Amos tries to bring him down on Saturday, Sept. 17 at Santa Ana Field. Santa MoniSaturday. ca College lost 27-53 bringing their season record to 2-1.
Sports Opinion
Does cheer deserve our support? By Janae Franklin Staff Writer Just recently, The Today show on NBC featured a segment posing the question “Is Cheerleading a Sport.” Jenna Wolfe, an NBC correspondent, decided to go out and interview cheerleaders to find the history of cheer and even participated in a stunt. She realized all the hard work that goes into cheerleading and decided right there that cheer is a sport. After much research and interviewing, I’ve decided that although I would love to be recognized as an athlete; I don’t want cheerleading to be considered an NCAA sport until the proper regulations are implemented and enforced. Yes, I want it to be a sport that is not considered a joke and I want to be a real athlete. According to the NCAA website, they are actually not considering cheerleading as a sport but, “stunting” as the alternative, where two teams would compete in a “stunt down”. Each team would be allowed a certain amount of time to showcase their most elite stunts and out-perform the other team. No dancing, tumbling, or actual cheering would occur. I don’t agree with taking certain aspects from cheer in order to make it an official sport. It’s like taking tackling out of college football or dribbling out of basketball. The sport wouldn’t be the same. Why does cheerleading have to be altered from its former state in order to be considered an NCAA sport? Although cheer has always been considered a female-dominated activity, many males are now prominent in it and many all-male teams have been forming and competing recently. This debunks the argument of Title IX, which
requires sex equity for extracurricular sports at an educational institution. Many people may be rolling their eyes as they read this article but, we are athletes just like a football, soccer, or basketball player. Cheer demands that you use all of your muscles to throw, jump, and tumble while you keep up crowd morale. “Cheer is like a fulltime job…when your not here you’re still practicing,” said Talia Bagnerise SMC cheer captain. Memorization of different cheers for different sports and dance routines, endurance and stamina are all required to cheer. “I practice 10 1/2 hours a week, I have to watch what I eat […] it mixes gymnastics, dancing it’s a total fitness activity,” said Ryan Barner President of the University of California Competition Cheer Club. “I believe the homogenization of cheer will hurt cheer as a sport,” said, Rey Lazano coach of the California State University, Long Beach Cheer Team. “If it is regulated, many intercity kids on cheer squads that maybe focus on dancing and cheering because they can’t afford to pay for gymnastics would be shut out from the possibility of competing or cheering at a university,” said Lazano. “Fear, as a coach, is that if it is considered a sport then it will be about the scholarship program and not cheering for your school’s team,” said Lazano. The benefit of making cheer a sport would allow many schools to offer more financial support to cheerleaders as athletes and not voluntary students. This may include the use of athletic trainers on campus for injuries, which is a service not available for non-athletes. If the level of experience and difficulty was raised, then not everyone would be at the level, unless they could afford the training. Teams that are located
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK by Jonathan Ghattas
OLYVIA PATTERSON Year: Sophomore Sport: Soccer Position: Forward (Captain) Hometown: Chatsworth, CA Major: Political Science
Corsair: Greatest sports memory? Olivia: My junior year in high school when we won the city championship. Corsair: Who influences you? Olivia: My mom. She's been a great role model for me. As for soccer, I would have to say Wayne Rooney (England) and Alex Morgan (USA). Corsair: If you could have lunch with anybody, who would it be? Olivia: Comedian Chelsea Handler. Corsair: What is your favorite movie? Olivia: My favorite comedy movie would have to be "Superbad." I also really liked "Man on Fire" and "The Town." Corsair: Favorite hobby? Olivia: I enjoy drawing during my freetime, listening to artists such as Jay-Z, Eminem, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and other types of rock and rap. Other than that, I just try and enjoy my personal life. Corsair: If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Olivia: I would want the power to have exact change no matter what I buy. So if I buy a Lamborghini, I would have exact change for it. Corsair: Favorite family tradition? Olivia: Thanksgiving. I come from an Italian family, so on that day we just have a table full of delicious food that my mother and aunt cook up.
Michael Yanow Corsair Santa Monica College Corsair cheerleaders preform a stunt during the game against the Santa Ana College Dons on Saturday, Sept 17 at Santa Ana Field.
in underprivileged neighborhoods or schools focus more on dancing and cheering for their teams. By making a standard for cheer, those cheerleaders wouldn’t be able to compete, because they would lack the resources for gymnastic and tumbling training. This would create a socioeconomic gap within the sport of cheerleading, which is based on the uplifting of others' spirits. So yes, I want to receive respect as an athlete, but not at the expense of changing the sport.
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Corsair: Plans after SMC? Olivia: I am definitely trying to play at the next level in college, so I would like to transfer to a four-year school, preferably USC or Cal State Long Beach. Patterson has scored two goals and has had two assists in the team’s first five games this year, where they have gone 0-5. Last year, Patterson scored 12 goals and had eight assists, and helped lead the Corsairs to finish second in the Western State Conference with a record of 12-35. She is looking forward to a rematch with El Camino College, who knocked out Santa Monica College in the playoffs last year. Another big game is against rival Pierce College, as Patterson and the Corsairs look to prevent the Brahmas from achieving another first place finish in their division.