homecoming
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2011 VOLUME D ISSUE 9
club row a frantic affair pg.4 corsairs sail home pg.6-7 huff and puff kicks off spirit week pg.11 DEFENSE FUELS COMEBACK VICTORY PG.12 FURTHER COVERAGE AT
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2|CONTENTS
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2011 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
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 Regan Dyl····················· News Editor c o rs a i r. n e w s 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 W R I T E R S Amber Antonopoulos, Vanessa Barajas, Eva Boguslawski, Jay Be Brookman, Aubryanna DiStefano, Maria Dimera, Morgan Doyle, Alyson Feldman, Janae Franklin, Jonathan Ghattas, Tabetha Harris, Myles Johnson, Luana Kasahara, Samanta Kubon, Jahnny Lee, Keijo Liimatainen, Zoie Matthew, Michael Mejia, Ashley Metcalf, Wayne Neal, Tatianna Paredes, Michelle Ponder, Melanie Rudkiewicz, Katherine Ruiz, Fatou Samb, Valerie Serrano, Mia Shilpi, Mai Sims, Ryan Sinko, Christina Sziatinsky PHOTOGRAPHERS Paul Alvarez, Chris Alves, Marisa Bojiuc, Jojo Cheung, Jeannie Cole, Ryan Cook, Reynal Guillen, Tiahna Hale, Cristina Maxwell, Marie Perez, Scott Smith, Silvia Spross, Lisa Weingarten, Michael Yanow, Sequoia Ziff FAC U LT Y A DV I S O R S S a u l Ru b i n Gerard Burkhart A d I n q uiries : corsair.adconsultant@gmail.com
Chris Alves Corsair Global Motion dancers perfom a mock-run through in full costume at the broad stage in Santa Monica, Calif. on Wednesday, Oct. 26.
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NEWS|3
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2011 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
lights, camera, action for recently second peeping tom incident this fall acquired By Vanessa Barajas + Myles Johnson · Staff Writers equipment Sophomore Melody Taban was on a came running around the corner, saying, the suspect: A tall white male with dark hair in the SMC bathroom break in the Science building’s “It was a mistake.” and eyes, wearing a black hoodie, skinny Broadcast second-floor women’s restroom the night jeans, and sandals. However according to of Sept. 26, when, on her way out, she Sgt. Jere Romano, all incidents should be Department heard a raised female voice threatening to reported directly to the police.
bathroom users beware
call the police. Another woman informed her that there was a man hiding in the next stall, and that he was trying to look into Taban’s stall. Despite multiple witnesses present, no one was able to get a good look at the man’s face. “I was shocked. I didn’t know what was wrong, I just couldn’t move, really. I was taken by surprise that it was even happening,” says Taban. “If the other girl didn’t see him peeping over the stall, I would have never known he was in there.” The incident comes after a similar episode occurred on Sept. 1, at a women’s restroom in the main campus library wherein the suspect was identified and arrested. However, according to Santa Monica College Police Sgt. Jere Romano, the suspect involved in Taban’s incident has not been caught, a contributing factor being the delay between the actual crime and the police report, which Taban admits happened hours after the event occurred. Nonetheless, Taban’s incident is listed in the campus police’s crime logs as one of four sex-related crimes within the last three months. “He didn’t want to leave the bathroom even though the girl kept yelling at him and threatening to call police. He kept saying, ‘I’d rather not get out of the restroom. I’d rather not leave,’” Taban said, referring to the suspect’s behavior. Emily Vance, another student at the scene, heard the screams and saw the small crowd of women exiting the restroom as the man
"i was
shocked. i didnt know what was wrong, i just couldnt move, really. i was taken by surprise that it was even happening."
After the incident, Vance and Taban told campus police their version of what transpired, as well as a full description of
“If you see it—report it; then get to a safe place, where you can see and approach us when we arrive,” said Romano. “We need the purest, most unadulterated information to come from the victim, or the eye witness in this case.” Vance feels that after so many incidents in such a relatively short period of time, that she now has to take a buddy to the rest room, advice that Romano reiterates. For the most part, Romano states that the campus is relatively safe which allows students to drop their guard, but he goes on to advise that students develop networks and let each other know where they plan to be. “Definitely be wary. I think a lot of people just get so lost in their electronic devices that they’re not alert to what’s going on around them,” said Romano. Taban, who has learned from the experience, recommends that others immediately call the police and notify them. “I would also recommend to take a picture with their cell phones,” said Taban. For her own personal assurance, Taban says that she is going to take a self-defense class that is offered at SMC, which she also recommends to other female students, as threatening situations tend to come unexpectedly. In the case of any emergency, crimes may be reported from any of the emergency call boxes located in parking lots and on all campuses. Also, an individual who reports a crime may remain anonymous if he or she desires.
new report fuels concerns of community college funding use By Christina Sziatinszky . Staff Writer A new report by the American Institute for Research, titled “The Hidden Costs of Community Colleges,”, found that California is ranked number one in statewide cost of attrition based on firstyear drop-out rates. The report concludes that over five-years, the U.S. spent an estimated $4 billion in federal, state, and local funds on full-time students who failed to complete a certificate or degree. In California alone, taxpayers spent $130 million dollars on these students in the 2008-2009 academic year, and an estimated $24 million to provide them with federal student aid. Texas, second in that category, spent $60 million, or less than half of California’s spending. Students who enter into community college typically expect to earn an associate degree or a certificate, but about a fifth of them do not return for their second year. Still, there is an ongoing debate about why students are unable to succeed at these institutions. Mark Schneider, the research institute’s vice president, believes it’s the job of the college to improve its students’ success rate. “We have to figure out what colleges are doing wrong,” says Schneider. “And we
have to find ways to help students finish their degrees.” Schneider feels that if students have paid tuition and invested their time in a degree, they should be given every opportunity to see its completion. According to collegemeasures.org, Santa Monica College falls fourth in first-year attrition cost behind Pasadena, Riverside, and Fresno community colleges. This study also estimates that 23 percent of first-year SMC students on a degree track do not return after their first year. College Measures indicates that a total of $4 million was spent on these SMC students from 2004 through 2009. Of that $4 million, $3 million was spent in the form of state appropriations and almost $1 million in student grants. The report takes into account that most students transfer to a four-year university, and that they are not included in these figures. Schneider suggests that incentive funding might improve the quality of education at community colleges. “If a college does a good job, they should be rewarded with more money,” he says. “And they should be penalized for doing a bad job.” The report explains that there is a debate about why community colleges have such low success rates. One explanation is
that with students’ numbers increasing, it becomes hard to meet their individual needs. Based on how many students annually, there are not enough teachers and classes to accommodate this varied student body. Many students are not getting into their classes and it takes them longer to earn their credentials. “Time is the enemy here—the longer students hang around, the more problems they face,” Schneider says. “A lot of this has to do with scheduling conflicts.” Many students have difficulty finding classes that fit their schedules, especially when they have jobs, families, or other responsibilities to attend to. The struggle to create efficient community colleges continues, as evident by a statewide task force that held its first town hall meeting last week at the L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce. At this meeting, they presented an overview of recommendations they plan to submit to the California Community Colleges’ Board of Governors, that includes prioritizing registration, tightening the criteria for fee waivers, and issuing performance score cards in areas such as completion rates as reported by the L.A Times.
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By Mel Rudkiewicz Staff Writer Recent upgrades to the Broadcasting department’s facilities allow students to learn like they already got the job. Over 18 months, Frank Dawson, chair of Santa Monica College’s Communication department, and Broadcast lab tech Brad Lemonds, researched what equipment might bring the department closer to the forefront of industry standards. Once Lemonds made the calculations, he and Dawson were able to write a proposal for new studio equipment. Dawson received a federal grant, known on campus as VTEA [Vocational and Technical Education Act], said Lemonds. The grant enabled SMC to purchase the system. “Technology is getting to the point where it’s very intricate to doing any kind of production” said Lemonds. He went on to explain the new “multicamera remote production equipment,” which includes three high-definition cameras, a switcher, an audio mixer, and a 52-inch flat-screen TV. The new switcher allows students to control and select cameras. “It allows us to do what we call multicamera remotes. It can be used in studio, thus being a multi-purpose system. Presently, the new equipment is mainly being used to videotape theater productions by Broadcast 46, the television production class,” Lemonds said. This class provides a foundation in video, audio and editing techniques. The new equipment will be a major component in the course curriculum. “It worked out really nice last Thursday night when we did the first play, ‘Cesar and Ruben.’ The new equipment hasn’t posed any difficulties for students to handle,” Lemonds said. With new equipment come new challenges, though. “The installation and learning process has been a curve,” Lemonds commented. Just having received the equipment over the summer, the department had to quickly turn from learning to teaching. “It’s proving to be a great success. The students are very enthusiastic,” Lemonds said. According to Lemonds, using this new equipment will give students the expertise in systems common to the professional world. “Even though the switcher is very small in its footprint, because it is computer-based, it will do a lot more than your typical analogue,” Lemonds stated. “The new equipment enables teachers and students to piece together components that were missing from the previous equipment.” Not many people at SMC are aware of the new equipment, and once word is out, it is likely to attract a greater interest for the course. Of the seven classes currently taught, only Broadcasting 46 and 48 will use this technology, but its scope will likely extend in the future.
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4|NEWS
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2011 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
homecoming club row a frantic affair By Juan Lopez . A+E Editor Before the throngs of students flooded the quad and many students had even arrived at school, tents and tables had already been lined up along the walkway. Only one club had started lacing their allotted area with festive décor. Four member of the I.D.E.A.S. of SMC arrived prior to 8 a.m. to put the decorating aside and concentrate on their fundraising efforts. Last Thursday, Club Row took place at Santa Monica College on a week that included Homecoming Week and Sustainability Week. The day took on the unofficial theme of Halloween, as most festivities were to take place over the weekend. Sustainability Week included a lecture from well-known environmental journalist and New York Times writer Andrew Revkin. “It was really inefficient, and we’re using student money to fund it,” said A.S. President Harrison Wills, in reference to the overlapping of A.S. funded events. “A lot of effort went into planning the events,” said Luis Gomez, vice-chair of the Inter Club Council. “Club Row was meant to never have a dull moment.” According to Gomez, Club Rows in the past have drawn more spectators to the club tents rather than the tables, making the amount of attention each set of clubs received uneven. The I.C.C. decided to physically split events into different areas in order to draw more crowds to their planned events, so the crowds would spread across the quad more evenly and “democratize” the event. The two main planned events at Club Row were a Homecoming Idol singing competition on the library steps next to the tents, and a club dance-off on a stage that was setup next to the tables. Between the two setups was a DJ tent from AMP Radio 97.1, which, according to Gomez, has not been done in past years. Refilwe Morake won the singing competition, but was unable to fulfill the winner’s duties of singing at the homecoming game. Runner-up Maggie Benjamin was then allowed to sing the
Scott Smith Corsair Professor Jim Murphy of the chemistry department displays the power of chemicals to a crowd in support of the Chemistry Club Thursday afternoon at SMC during Club Row on Oct. 27
national anthem. The first ever club dance-off had many club members battling it out for a cash prize for their own club. The Black Collegians even enlisted the participation of SMC president and superintendent Dr. Chui L. Tsang. Other clubs that joined in the dance-off were Nutrition Science Club, Ballroom Dance Club, and the Pre-Health Association. Public relations officer of Pre-Health, Ryan Aung, said: “It was very much at the last minute; the other officers came and said ‘hey man, you’re going to go on the stage.’” Kapisanang Pilipino, a Filipino club on campus, hit the stage with the same energy they project at all campus events. They took the stage to LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem” and gave out “banana hugs” at their table. One of the many clubs giving out candy was Japanese club JELA. “We still promote aid in Japan,” says club president Yu
Ueno. “But it’s been awhile, and people are forgetting about it.” Many of their club officers dressed in t-shirts dedicated to raising funds for Japanese relief. Instead of giving out treats, Nutrition Science Club used small bags of sugar to warn of the sugar amounts of various edibles, showing that a Krispy Kreme donut contained less sugar than a Vitamin Water. The Math Club provided their own version of scares to passersby through their math haunted house tent, in which those who enter must solve math problems to earn a slice of pizza. Graphic Design Club invited people in by accepting people’s redesigns of rapper Lil’ Wayne’s face tattoos’ for use on their project site where they make “Weezy” give “adveezy.” Chemistry Club gained much attention through various science experiments, including plating glass with silver, using silver nitrate. They held the attention of a large crowd prior to the dance-off with
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the promise of a gummy bear launch, delivering only a test tube trailing with white smoke and one severely tumbled and burned gummy. Members of M.E.Ch.A., a Latino club on campus, showed spirit by donning skeletal facepaint and dedicating an altar decorated with marigolds to fallen Hispanic icons such as Cesar Chavez and Frida Kahlo. One of the many Latino groups they are associated with, I.D.E.A.S of SMC, wore plain clothes despite their decorated tent. Club members bought and transported one hundred hamburgers from Tom’s Jr., a burger joint in South L.A. They, as many others, wanted to focus on raising funds for their clubs through sales, dropping their prices as the event closed. The tables and tents during club row are respectively judged for a chance to win a cash prize towards their club funds. The winners will be announced during the I.C.C. meeting on Thursday, Nov. 4 at 4 p.m. at the Cayton Center.
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OPINION|5
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2011 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
Global Warming
Better believe it is true By Christina Sziatinszky . Staff Writer
The facts are as follows, people. Polar ice caps are melting, ocean levels are rising, and global temperatures are increasing. It is obvious that something is wrong with our planet and science proves that global warming is the cause. Global warming is happening in our world and part of the blame falls on human beings and their denial. Though many have tried to deny it, a massive study by the Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature project has concluded that global warming is real, and the climate skeptics had better believe it. Researchers found that average temperatures have been rising one degree Celsius, or 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit, every year since the mid-1950s. The rise in temperature is caused by greenhouse gases that are absorbed into the earth’s ozone layer. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, greenhouse gases trap heat and emit thermal radiation into the atmosphere. Even though these gases are necessary to keep the planet’s surface warmer than it otherwise would be, the concentration of these gases continues to climb, and it’s causing the earth’s temperature to increase above normal levels. This should deeply concern people everywhere, because it affects their future and the future of generations to come. Most of the warming that has occurred in the past decades is the direct result of human activity. The EPA states that more than half of energyrelated CO2 emissions come from large stationary sources such as power plants, while about a third comes from motor vehicles. This type of human activity affects not only humans, but animals as well. Remember those depressing commercials about the plight of endangered polar bears? Well, they were not a hoax. The warming is causing glaciers to melt, and species like polar bears, among many more, are suffering the consequences. They are unable to adapt, and these changes are leading them to extinction. It is foolish to think that our technological advancements wouldn’t come at a price to nature. “The best science shows with high confidence that the warming is primarily from greenhouse-gas increases, especially CO2,” said Richard Alley, a professor of geosciences at Pennsylvania State University. He is considered to be one of the world’s leading climate researchers, and an expert on global warming. Alley believes that, based on natural factors, the earth should be cooling, yet it is warming significantly. “CO2 interacting with Earth’s energy budget, together with the well-documented rise in CO2, caused mainly by fossil-fuel burning, explain the observed warming,” he said. It is also aided by the effects of other greenhouse gases that we produce, like methane and nitrous oxide.
SaMo parking meters to get an upgrade By Maria Dimera . Staff Writer
Photos by Amanda Bojorquez Corsair Santa Monica College student Fiona Chen, found putting change into a paring meter off of Pearl and 17th Street in Santa Monica.
A national inventory of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, published by the Environmental Protection Agency, shows that in 2008, the U.S. emitted slightly less than seven billon metric tons of greenhouse gases. Keep in mind that a million metric tons of CO2 is close to what an average American power plant. emits in a year. There are now seven billion people living on this planet, and with the growing technological advancements that are arising, did we really think there wouldn’t be massive consequences? The human race relies heavily on burning fossil fuels, forcing our planet into a downward spiral. So, why is global warming so hard for people to accept? We brought it upon ourselves and those who still remain in denial need to shake their delusional thinking and accept the fact that the future of the world is at stake. Power plants, industry, transportation and other man-made advancements all produce greenhouse gas. However, now that we know more of what is causing global warming, we can make the changes necessary to solve this problem. It is crucial that everyone knows that our world is in danger. The calamity is upon us, but there are measures that can help minimize its effects on earth. We must find ways to curb emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases. Simple things like using fluorescent light bulbs, conserving energy, recycling and driving hybrid cars can help minimize effects and slow the process of global warming. The future of the planet lies in our hands, so it is up to us to make a difference and save our planet.
illustration by darrin geesey
Fall 2010 was Anisa Tym’s first semester at Santa Monica College and, as most students know, it is important to come to school at least an hour in advance to avoid traffic jams and find parking. Tym did not believe that finding parking on Pearl Street would be much of a hassle, and her first day proved her wrong. She managed to snag an empty parking space, only to find out it had a broken parking meter. “I had nothing but bad luck on my first day. Not only was I trying to crash classes, but I was late trying to crash them,” Tym recalled. “I’ve always thought that you can park for free if a meter is broken, but I got a $50 ticket,” Tym said. Many students can relate to Tym’s situation, but the question - whether or not it is free to park at a jammed or broken meter - still hangs in the air. Santa Monica students passing by city parking meters that are soon Los Angeles parking enforcement officer Tammy to be replaced. The City of Santa Monica will be installing 6,100 Williams says that if a parking meter is out of parking meters throughout the Santa Monica area. order, one should still feed it with coins, even if time does not show up on the display window. traditional coin option. “If the meter says ‘fail,’ it usually resumes after a few minutes,” From January to June 2011, parking staff installed 75 new said Williams. “A lot of people just assume that it’s free to park meters in high-demand areas on Ocean Avenue, Arizona there, but it’s not.” Avenue and Main Street, as part of a trial program, according to Frank Ching, parking coordinator for Santa Monica, also the Santa Monica City Council report. Staff noticed improved confirmed that a jammed parking meter does not equal free customer service as malfunctioning meters would automatically parking. Still, how would a student know if they can park there alert meter-maintenance staff, and if one payment option is offor not, especially if they are desperate for a parking spot? line for some reason or other, the other two would still usually “People should try to find other parking spots, but if they get be available to customers. The pilot project also recorded an a ticket and want to contest it, take a picture of the meter as estimated 10-15 percent revenue increase due to the greater evidence when contesting,” said Ching. One can also report a number of customers using cards or the pay-by-phone option. broken meter to the Santa Monica Police Department. The project has been approved by the City Council, and Well, it is clear now that it is not advisable to park next to a “depending on how smooth the contract preparation and jammed or broken meter, unless of course one can spare the signing is, will deter when we can start,” Ching said. “We are time to contest a parking ticket. looking to execute things in December and be done around There are many reasons why a parking meter breaks down March sometime.” every now and then. Jammed and old meters are the most Old-school coin meters have long been due a facelift, especially common reasons. Suitably, on Tuesday, Oct. 25, the Santa around SMC, where the parking is rare and the enforcement Monica City Council discussed the purchase and installation heavily patrols Pearl Street and Pico Boulevard, looking to of new parking meters throughout the city. hand out tickets. Luckily, the majority of SMC students can at The project of replacing the current 6,100 traditional parking least take a picture of a broken meter and use that to contest a meters throughout the city will run a bill of approximately $4.5 parking ticket. The benefit of the new meters is the improved million with ongoing operating costs estimated at $612,000 choice of payment options, as many students prefer swiping a annually. It is suggested that the meters will be maintained and card to carrying coins. The wait for new meters shouldn’t last operated by the California-based company IPS Group Inc. much longer. With the last of the faulty, temperamental meters, The new single-space meters will provide electronic payment gone will be the excuse for the bevy of tickets, as the new meters options such as credit, debit pay-by-phone, as well as the have been successful in other parts of the city.
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6|PHOTOSTORY
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2011 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
Santa Monica College took on faculty and sta
CORSA
A banner-making contest commences Sa
off “Huff and Puff ” game, Club R
Chris Alves Corsair Santa Monica College’s “Idol” winner, Refilwe Morake, takes the main stage in front of the SMC Library singing the Star-Spangled Banner on Oct. 27. Morake was unable to perfom at SMC’s Homecoming game due to a scheduling conflict. Zoie Matthew Corsair Last year’s homecoming king Kayo Johnson passes on his title to the new king, Derrian Williams.
Chris Alves Corsair “MC” Kinesiology Department Chair Anna Collier dances with Santa Monica College Black Collegians member Russel Brown on campus at SMC.
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PHOTOSTORY|7
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2011 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
Michael Yanow Corsair cheerleaders perform during halftime of the “Huff and Puff” game in the quad on the main campus on Tuesday, Oct. 25. Students aff members of SMC in a flag football game that ended in a tie.
AIRS SAIL HOME!
anta Monica College’s 2011 Homecoming Week, followed by exciting events including the official kick
Row, a Black Collegian ceremony and culminating in a win at the Homecoming football game.
Paul Alvarez Jr. Corsair Harrison Wills the A.S. president breakdances at the Black Collegians ceremony in the cafeteria on the main campus of Santa Monica College.
Paul Alvarez Jr. Corsair Kris Comas of the Santa Monica Corsairs runs past Lamonte Collier of L.A. Valley College on a punt return on Oct. 29. The Corsairs would go on to win 26-22.
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8|A + E
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2011 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
Dance behind the stage of Synapse By Tabetha Harris . Staff Writer
Scott Smith Corsair Santa Monica College dancer Lindsay White is one reason why SMC’s Contemporary Dance Ensemble should not be missed.
Synapse is a contemporary dance company featuring modern dance styles of jazz, hip hop, and ballet in an abstract approach towards the universal expression of emotions and ideas. Founded at Santa Monica College 35 years ago by the first full-time dance faculty member Linda Gold, the program invited the now co-director and choreographer, Roberta Wolin-Tupas, as a guest. “It has been an amazing journey through the ups and downs of emotions and perspectives,” says WolinTupas. “Coming to Synapse is essentially discovering different forms of modern dance. Audiences will become enthusiastic about the range of possibilities and movements.” The dance company held arduous auditions at the start of the semester, and this weekend at the Broad Stage, Synapse will present their work to the public. This semester, Wolin-Tupas has conducted a dance piece titled “Beneath the Surface,” based on the true story of the Chilean miners who were trapped for over two months approximately 2,000 feet underground last year. “What they did to come to terms and exist out of what was happening to them is a miracle,” Wolin-Tupas says.
“They inspired hope for the human spirit.” Alongside full-time Scott Smith Corsair faculty member and SMC dancers show the layers of emotions that will be present as they rehearse at Santa Monica College on choreographer Jae Lee, October 13th 2011 in Santa Monica, Calif. Wolin-Tupas’ co-directing the dance world. Many of the dancers in Synapse agree has consisted of organizing and overseeing outside and student choreographers, as that, in the world of dance, the way you present yourself well as ensuring the quality of the dance pieces. “It’s can be critical. Synapse dancer Lindsay White, says, “It’s a really fun not just about entertaining the audience; modern dance experience. It can be very time consuming, and maybe is all about personal interpretation,” says Lee. “You are in the middle of everything you will want to throw in the translating your intentions into your movements. There is towel, or stop putting as much effort into it, especially if more freedom, and it is more unexpected.” you are working on both Synapse and Global Motion. Synapse and Global Motion concurrently offer But in the end you have become a better dancer, and you opportunities to SMC students by opening avenues for improve your skill so much that it enables you to become them to work on a professional level. “We have not let successful in the field.” the recent budget cuts affect our quality of education to Synapse will perform at the Broad Stage this Saturday students. Faculty members, including myself, have put in and Sunday Nov. 5 at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee premiere many extra hours.” at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5. The student dancers are getting to work with Student admission is $15, while at-the-door and general choreographers who have their own dance companies admission is $18. and faculty members that know of prestigious contacts in
NaNoWriMo memoir 50,000 words, 30 days By Mia Shilpi . Staff Writer November is National Novel Writing Month, a month-long challenge to write a novel of at least 50,000 words in 30 days. Described in its motto as “Thirty days and nights of literary abandon,” NaNoWriMo – as it’s known informally – is a massive challenge. Makers of writing software and coffee companies all look forward to a surge in customers as hundreds of thousands of participants from around the world fight off exhaustion and procrastination to pound out a novel in a single month. An entire cottage industry of ‘novel in a month’ books and programs exists specifically for this event. The challenge has its own website, www. nanowrimo.org, and a crest adorned with the symbols of a steaming cup of coffee, a computer, a stack of paper and crossed pens. The heraldry salutes what must be chosen weapons for anybody
who sets out to write a minimum of 1,667 words per day. A time of frantic creativity and aching fingers, NaNoWriMo is an intense experience, and this will be my second try at the challenge. It is open to everyone – one simply signs up on the website, then settles in to write and welcome inspiration. NaNoWriMo can be the perfect springboard for both aspiring novelists and writers of any other stripe. Divided into regions across the globe, writers can find events and support groups. Predictably, a city like Los Angeles hosts writers’ events every day, barring Thanksgiving. There are also events prior to November, one of which was held by USC, and events after, trickling all the way into January. The biggest regional event is the Great Train escape, from Nov. 18-21 is a cross-California event, with challenge participants called WriMos. Taking up an entire train car, challengers wrote through the
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Amtrak trip from San Diego to Oakland and a bus trek from Oakland to San Francisco, Writers also take part in The Night of Writing Dangerously, a 6-hour write-a-thon with dinner and drinks in the Juliana Morgan Ballroom. Along with this escape, there are a multitude of smaller ‘write-ins’, where WriMos can go to local bookstores and cafes to write the night away with their fellow writers. There are plenty of events, however, all of which can be found in the events calendar at tinyurl.com/NanoLACal. It is a tough challenge. Last year, only 37,500 out of over 200,500 participants managed to make the finishing cut of 50,000 words. Fewer still will achieve the event’s ultimate goal and have their work published. I myself only reached 20,000 words last year, which wasn’t even half. This year, I plan to win it.
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A + E|9
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2011 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
SMC theater invites audience down “Rabbit Hole” By Amber Antonopoulos . Staff Writer It has been eight months since four-year-old Danny ran into the path of an oncoming car. His grieving family is left to cope with their loss as they struggle to rebuild their own relationships, and the teen driver of the car that killed Danny must come to terms with his guilt. This is the story of “Rabbit Hole,” a play marked by comic relief punctuating the heartache of each its complex characters. The torrent of character emotions, the subtexts within their dialogues, and their different ways of handling pain tell a palpable and lurid story. During the month of November, the Santa Monica College Theatre Arts Department will be performing the Pulitzer prize-winning David Lindsay-Abaire play, “Rabbit Hole.” “It’s so well-written. Every scene is impactful,” said director Adrianne Harrop, who has directed more than 40 plays at SMC and has taught theatre for over 32 years. The cast consists of five SMC theatre arts students enrolled in Harrop’s advanced production class. Becca, the leading role, is played by Amanda Korkunis, who works for Sony and has a degree in economics from UC Davis. Though she already has her degree, she takes acting classes at SMC, and stays active in local theater, as it is her “love.” “That’s something we talked about a lot, the facets, the many facets – like a diamond – of each character,” Harrop said. Despite the heavy, difficult material, “Rabbit Hole” is not a somber play. “There are, I hope, many funny parts in the play,” Lindsay-Abaire stated in the author’s notes, printed in the back of the published play. “They are important. Especially to the audience. Without the laughs, the play becomes pretty much unbearable.” Harrop hopes that the audience will feel “very full” and “enriched” upon seeing the show. “I don’t think I necessarily want to convey a message as much as to entertain people for a night or an afternoon,” Harrop said. “It’s good, thought-provoking entertainment.” The Santa Monica Public Library will also be screening the film version of “Rabbit Hole” preceding the opening of the show at SMC. The screening of the 2010 movie starring Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart will take place on Nov. 3 at 2 p.m. at the Montana Avenue Branch of the library. The SMC production of “Rabbit Hole” will open Nov. 4 at 8 p.m., with additional 8 p.m. shows on Nov. 5, 11 and 12, and 2 p.m. matinee performances on Nov. 5, 6, 12 and 13. Tickets are $10 for general admission to the 100-seat Studio Stage, and can be purchased at the door, if available, or in advance at the Theater Arts box office, or by calling (310) 434-4319.
By Janae Franklin . Staff Writer
“Come Fly Away” musical soars with Sinatra
“Luck Be a Lady,” “My Way,” and “New York New York” were just a few of the 27 hit songs from Frank Sinatra, which starred in the new dance musical, “Come Fly Away.” Choreographed by Tony Awardwinning choreographer Twyla Tharp, the blend of dance, music, and pantomime helped to create an intricate and confusing storyline for the audience to try and follow. The Southern California premiere for the musical was held at The Pantages Theater in Hollywood on Tuesday, Oct. 5. The crowd was filled with die-hard fans of “Ol’ Blue Eyes.” Attendees young and old could be heard singing and seen dancing along to their favorite songs. Throughout the play, four couples are featured as they fall in and out of love within a 1940s swing nightclub including
On-Campus Events Thursday, Nov. 3
Friday, Nov. 4
Dr. David Deamer: “Stars, Comets, Meteorites, and Volcanoes: How Life Can Begin on a Planet Like Earth”
“My Girlhood” Film Screening 7 p.m. @ Art 214
Saturday Morning Mash-Up: Prokofiev’s Peter & the Wolf 7 p.m. @ Art 214
“Special Observing Event: Jupiter and the Moon” Planetarium Show 8 p.m. @ Drescher 223
Benefit Concert: SMC Applied 11:15 a.m. @ Science 140 Music Program 7:30 p.m. @ The Broad Saturday, Nov. 5 Stage
“Health, Wellness, and Happiness” Photo Exhibit Opening Reception 6 p.m. @ Drescher 2nd Floor Photo Gallery Synapse Dance Theater 4 & 7:30 p.m. @ The Broad Stage “Troubadours”: Film and Director’s Q&A 7:30 p.m. @ The Edye Second Space
Sunday, Nov. 6 Emeritus Concert Band: “Come Hear the Band!” 3 p.m. @ The Broad Stage Synapse Dance Theater 7:30 p.m. @ The Broad Stage
Monday, Nov. 7
“Rabbit Hole” Opening Night 8 p.m. @ SMC Studio Stage
Tuesday, Nov. 8 Margaret Wertheim: “Physics on the Fringe: Outsider Science and the Role of Imagination in Theoretical Physics” 11:15 a.m. @ HSS 165
Thursday, Nov. 10 Won Son Choi: “Korean Traditional Dance Master Class” 10:30 a.m. @ Gym 104 Thomas Plate: “Inside the Asian Power Elite: Secrets to Asia’s Rise” 11:15 a.m. @ HSS 165 Dr. Rhea Anastas: “3rd Annual SMC/Otis Art Institute Joint Art Lecture” 7:30 p.m. @ The Broad Stage
“Discover Colburn”: Colburn School of Performing Arts 7:30 p.m. @ The Broad Stage
“Realignment: It’s Not Just for Chiropractors Anymore” 7:00 p.m. @ Bundy 123
a live swing band lead by Rob Cookman. Each couple’s relationship unfolds through different scenes, each set to its own Frank Sinatra song. “You Make Me Feel Young,” which featured Ron Todorowski and Maullauri Esquibel as Marty and Betsy, was a fun and sweet scene in which the characters’ innocent love for each other drowns out the sinful and problematic setting of the nightclub. In contrast to that innocence, the very sensual scene set to “Makin’ Whoopee” put the entire ensemble cast to work simulating sex. The best performance of the night featured Marceea Molina and Martin Harvey as Kate and Hank performing to “That’s Life.” Kate, the club tramp, reaches her low point and is aimlessly stumbling around in a drunken state when her love interest throughout the play, Hank, comes to
save her from her destructive behavior with a fight. The intensity of the dancers’ moves drew the audience in. Molina and Harvey’s aggressive moves recreated the struggle of a very physical lovers’ quarrel. All of the music was from the catalogue of Sinatra, and if an audience member doesn’t know his music, they can still somewhat follow the play. Tharp choreographed great pieces that involved some elements of acting that assisted in fostering chemistry within the couples. Although the dancing was beyond beautiful, this musical should be renamed a “Dance-sical” because it consisted only of dancing and music, “Come Fly Away” didn’t involve any actual singing or acting. This unusual musical was interesting to view but, a musical fan might not be able appreciate that dancing is the center focus of this play rather than singing.
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10|HEALTH + LIFE
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2011 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
Santa Monica satisfies yogi stretches By Katherine Ruiz . Staff Writer Photos by Jeannie Cole Corsair
Santa Monica College student JR Reeves (front) holds side plank pose in a mixed level yoga class on Thursday, Oct.27
Professor Elaine Roque (left) motivates Santa Monica College student Eduardo Estrada in yoga class on Thursday, Oct. 27
Aside from the beach, the weather and the restaurants, one of the less obvious pleasures of living in Santa Monica is the countless yoga classes and studios it has to offer. Along with the physical benefits of yoga, Mayo Clinic states that yoga also helps reduce stress and anxiety. Some well-known types are bikram, hatha, vinyasa and iyengar. Figuring out which style fits your lifestyle best may help you get the most out of your yoga routine. Hot 8 yoga studio located on 1422 2nd St. offers many discounts for students interested in hot yoga. Deanna Ainsworth, the director of Hot 8 yoga, says: “Doing yoga in the heat is very detoxifying and cleansing. We’re massaging into the organs, and it gives a deep relief. Also, you are not as sore afterwards.” While taking this type of yoga, employees at Hot 8 say it is important to prepare yourself before practicing hot yoga. It is recommended that prospective and practicing yogi hydrate thoroughly and monitor their electrolyte and trace mineral levels with a healthy diet. “A lot of time, students think ‘Oh I don’t have time to work out, only study.’ But you do have time, you just have to choose it and make time for it,” said Kaitlin Huwe, a UCLA student and an employee at Hot 8 yoga. Donation-based yoga studios are helpful to those unwilling to commit to one studio. Bhakti Yoga Shala studio presents one such opportunity. “Bhakti yoga is a path of yoga. It’s
the path of heart, love and devotion, combined with vinyasa flow, a yoga where we connect our breath, movement and body,” said Tracy Sachs, a Bhakti instructor, Another donation-based facility, Bryan Kest’s Power Yoga, has two studios, one at 1410 2nd St. on the first floor, and the other on the second floor at 522 Santa Monica Blvd. Classes at Bryan Kest’s Power Yoga is directed towards yogis into physically-challenging and fast-paced yoga. “I like it because it really gives me a really good workout. It has a lot vinyasa, which is breath with movement,” said Keyling Sabillon, a student at Power Yoga. Like many other Santa Monica yoga studios, Yogis Anonymous offers a $17-drop-in rate. You can also look into attending classes on campus that offer the same benefits as local studios. “I used to be easily distracted before, especially when I would be doing my homework,” said International student Vaimiti Herlaud, a communications major at Santa Monica College and a certified yoga instructor. “Since I’ve been really into yoga, it’s helped me keep my focus and control my stress. I learn to focus my breathing during my practice to really get into it, control it and challenge myself. I use this technique in my daily life and school now, and it seems to work very well.”
Reckless Curiosity by zoie matthew A Practical Guide for the Urban Adventurer EXPLORATION #1: Abandoned Nazi Compound The setting: WWII Los Angeles, high in the Santa Monica mountains. The plot: Winona Stephens, wife of a wealthy engineer and silver miner, becomes infatuated with a mysterious German Nazi called “Herr Schmidt” who claims to have magical powers. Under Schmidt’s influence, she convinces her husband to spend $4 million on a 50-acre self-sufficient compound to serve as a safe haven for American Nazi sympathizers until the Germans conquer Europe. Then it can become the command center from which they begin their takeover of weakened United States. I know it sounds like the setup for a paperback spy thriller, but it’s not. It’s history, and proof of it lies only a hop, skip and jump away from Santa Monica College. Right next to Topanga State Park lay the dilapidated ruins of this shady chapter of local history. I first heard about the site from a friend, and after doing some Googling, discovered three archived LA Times articles investigating the compound’s
history. The articles revealed that though historians have pieced together the story using a combination of documents and oral histories, making the details admittedly sketchy, it’s likely that the tale is at least partially true. Apparently, Los Angeles was rife with Nazi activity during World War II, and many American Nazi groups considered it to be a key place to spread propaganda and further their campaigns. The story has it that the couple ran out of money before they could finish the compound, but traveling down the trail, there’s still plenty of evidence of the immense infrastructure they created for a completely self-sustaining community. “They created a whole environment of their own,” local historian Thomas Young told the LA Times in 1990. At the site, you can scramble inside and atop a 20,000-gallon fuel silo, look down into a 395,000-gallon water tank, walk through the horse stables, and investigate the ruins of the power plant that was built. There are also remains of a few buildings
on the property, but they are too decrepit to identify. One graffiti-covered concrete structure had some catwalks that were super fun to climb, and nearby there are two concrete enclaves with rusty metal hatches. Bomb shelters, perhaps? One particularly impressive sight is the enormous pile of metal that I can only assume is what remains of a machine she’d mentioned in the Times articles. The now caved-in structure is pretty stunning. The scraps of rusty metal look almost intentionally placed, hanging from odd places and creating strange forms, resembling modern art statues. Even more interesting to behold, is the bright-pink bougainvillea bush that has somehow managed to flourish in the middle of it all. One part of urban exploration that is always fascinating is seeing a man-made structure slowly being conquered by nature. So even if the site’s story is halfway legend, this is definitely a location worth investigating. Anyway, isn’t the mystery half the fun?
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SUGGESTED EXPLORING SUPPLIES: sturdy shoes, water bottle,
Swiss
army knife, and a camera.
DIRECTIONS: Take Sunset west of the 405. Turn right onto Monaco Drive. Continue to roundabout, and take the Capri Drive North exit. This will become Casale Road, then Sullivan Fire Road. Park in the neighborhood and walk up the dirt road. Continue past the Rustic Canyon trail sign for approximately one mile until you see an iron gate. This is the entrance. Begin your expedition! Two things to keep in mind: Set aside about two to three hours for this adventure. When you reach the fork (past the concrete water silo), stay to your left. Have fun!
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SPORTS|11
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2011 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
huff
and puff kicks off
spirit week By Jonathan Ghattas and William Courtney Staff Writer + Sports Editor
This year’s Homecoming spirit week kicked off with the second-annual Huff and Puff football game last Tuesday, Oct. 25. The game, which pitted faculty and staff against students, took place on the lawn of the main campus quad. While students and staff alike watched from the sideline, Department Chair of Kinesiology and Athletics Anna Collier provided commentary for the game, and it was her booming voice that ultimately drew the onlookers toward the unique event. “You’re introducing homecoming, you’re introducing a fun event between the faculty, staff, and students that people don’t usually have,” said Collier. The game was played in an eight-on-eight format, and after the first couple series, it was clear that in such a small space, scoring would be very difficult. According to Collier, the game was played in the quad
Michael Yanow Corsair Santa Monica College students watch the “Huff and Puff” game in the quad on the main campus on Tuesday, Oct. 25. Students took on faculty and staff members of SMC in a flag football game ending in a tie.
to attract a larger audience. Before the game it was all smiles, but when playing actually began, both sides showed their competitive streak. The faculty and staff wanted to defend their title from last year, while the students sought redemption. The students went into halftime up 6-0 after Wayne Neal returned an interception for a touchdown. Despite all sorts of trick plays and gimmicks by the staff, they were unable to score. During halftime, the cheerleading squad performed with some of the football players. In doing so, they projected a sense of unity—something that Santa Monica
Surfing in style By Mai Simms . Staff Writer
ZJ Boarding House hosts its third-annual Haunted Heats For the innocent passersby, the scene near lifeguard tower 26 on Santa Monica beach this past Saturday, would have been both strange and amusing. The sun shone on clowns, bumblebees, skeletons, zombies, pirates, and other characters who surfed the waves in the third-annual Haunted Heats, a Halloween costume surfing event hosted by ZJ Boarding House. “Weather-condition-wise, this was the best year,” said Victor Shaw, manager at Santa Monica’s ZJ Boarding House. In last years’ Haunted heats, the weather was not as good as this year, but for the surfers, the weather is not too essential for this special event. “The participants make up for it all,” Shaw said. “This year’s costume winner was dressed up as Rafiki from the Lion King,” said Shaw. The winner was dressed in a headto-toe handmade costume of the wise and spiritual baboon from the Disney movie. He even wore a stuffed Simba around his neck. The event requires no skill level, and anyone could sign up to surf before the Oct. 25 deadline. “We try to cut it at 50, but every single year we end up with like 70 to75 participants,” Shaw said. “It’s hard, how can you say no to someone who is dressed up as an ape from head to toe? You can’t do that.” “It’s amazing what people put into it,”
said Shaw about the amount of effort participants put into their costumes and into the event. “Not only do they come in costumes, they have to surf in them for 25 minutes!” This year, over 50 surfers participated in five different heats that took place from 8 a.m. to noon. Residents from all over Santa Monica and Los Angeles also came to watch the unique Halloween surf event. Jenny Tumala, a California native, sat on the beach and watched her surfer friends hit the waves in their best Halloween attire. “I participated last year,” Tumala said. “This year the weather is better, but it was awesome last year, too.” Tumala, who claimed to feel under the weather, made the effort to come out to the event but unfortunately wasn’t able to surf. “I just had a flu, and my doctor told me I shouldn’t surf just yet, since the water is so cold still, so this year I’m just another spectator.” William Carlson, a Santa Monica resident, explained how he heard of the event through his surfing neighbor. Just a couple of months ago, Carlson moved here from Ohio, where surfing is almost nonexistent. “I just thought I had to come check this out,” Carlson said. “Next year, when I’ve learned how to surf a little bit, I will definitely participate.”
College Associated Students President Harrison Wills felt was key for the attendees. “We want to start building school spirit here. Instead of just waiting, we want to have it now, we want to experience that excitement and appreciation for our own school,” said Wills. During the second half, men’s water polo coach Brian Eskridge led the comeback for the faculty and staff, throwing a touchdown pass to tie the game. Along with his touchdown, Eskridge had two interceptions, which earned him M.V.P. honors for the staff and faculty. After that, no one would score again,
as both teams picked up the defensive effort and stopped each other on every possession after that. The game would end on an interception by Wills in the end zone, which would secure a tie for the students. Collier felt the game presented a great environment for interaction on both sides. “It helps the students see the faculty and staff in a different light,” said Collier. Wayne Neal earned M.V.P honors for the students with his scoring interception return. The game’s M.V.P. honorees were rewarded with $100 gift certificates to the SMC bookstore.
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West LA, Encino, and Irvine Graduate Campuses
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. THECORSAIRONLINE.COM 074618.13_PEPUNI_BSM_Santa_Monica_CC_MECH Trim: 5.185” x 8.5” TM: EG AS: MV
ROUND #: MECH
Bleed: NA Color Space: B&W AD: JB dA: eM Date: 10/24/11
12|SPORTS
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2011 - SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
defense
fuels comeback
victory By Wayne Neal . Staff Writer The Santa Monica College Corsair defense came through big for the second consecutive game, as they held the L.A. Valley College Monarchs scoreless in the second half on their way to a 26-22 victory in SMC’s annual homecoming game this past Saturday. The Corsairs (6-2, 4-0) entered Saturday on a three-game winning streak, with all three wins being in conference play, while the Monarchs went into the game (4-4, 2-2). Before the game, SMC Head Coach Gifford Lindheim put on an old boxing match - Sugar Ray Leonard’s win over Marvin Hagler, to remind his team that “in order to be the champ, you have to beat the champ.” The L.A. Valley Monarchs are last years Pacific Conference winners. Despite the inspirational video, the Corsairs came out looking sluggish, especially on defense, where they gave up 138 rushing yards in tzhe first half. The Monarchs scored off rushing touchdowns from Michael Johnson, Morey Croson, and Malcolm Thomas. The Corsairs’ inability to stop the running game lead to a 22-13 halftime deficit. “We were shooting ourselves in the foot,” said defensive lineman Karl Buchanan. The Corsairs offense would score twice in the second quarter, with a five-yard touchdown run by running back Myles Johnson and a 34-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Alfonso Medina to
Scott Smith Corsair #21 Myles Johnson of Santa Monica dives into the endzone against L.A. Valley after an impressive cutback against the grain to score the first touchdown of the day to bring the Corsairs closer, they would trail 15-6 after this score, in Santa Monica on Oct. 29.
wide receiver Kris Comass, that gave the Corsairs’ defense momentum going into halftime. During halftime, SMC capped off the Homecoming celebration with a contest in which two participants tried to punt a football over 40-yards into the bed of a pick-up-truck. A $10,000 prize would be awarded to the participant who made the kick, but neither one came close. Coming out of the half, defensive lineman Martin Perry reminded his team what defense coordinator Steven Garcia said. “Man up,
it’s time to go.” They certainly responded - by holding the Monarch offense scoreless with only 39 total yards in the second half. A one-yard run by Medina in the fourth quarter would pull the Corsairs within two points. Minutes later, the SMC defense forced a critical fumble, leading to a fouryard touchdown run by running back Daniel Pipkin, which put the Corsairs up 26-22. Both teams would go scoreless to end the game. “That’s the heart of a champion,” Lindheim said about his team’s defense.
The Corsairs travel to Glendale next Saturday, looking to go 5-0 in conference play.
the power of pink by roger morante
In the world of sports, people may wonder why athletes wore so much pink during the month of October. While football presents the most obvious example, the idea translates to other sports. Divers are seen in pink Speedos, swimmers with pink swimming caps, pink basketball and volleyball uniforms, and pink soccer socks. The trend has even attained celebrity endorsement, with LeBron James attaching his name to pink basketball shoes. The reason for these swathes of pink is for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which, falls in on the month of October. It focuses on this cancer’s circumstances, causes, as well as early detection. Women are encouraged to get mammograms to detect cancer as early as possible. This new pink fashion bucks up against common stereotypes, such as the concept that pink is a strictly feminine color. Here at Santa Monica College, the Corsairs football team took the initiative to augment their normal blue fashion, and in October, many of SMC’s football players wore pink. “The pros wear [pink] all the time,” said Alonzo Frederick, a six-foot, 200-pound running back for the Corsairs. “You see it on Sundays, so we just want people to be aware of breast cancer. We support curing
it.” Frederick wasn’t the only Corsair football player to support his teammates in wearing pink during football games. “Basically, it’s breast cancer month,” said wide receiver Kris Comas, an imposing wide receiver who has had nine touchdowns in eight games so far this season. “I have a family member, and she’s a survivor. She has cancer right now, so I’m doing it for her and for everybody that has breast cancer. “ Two years ago, the pink fad really started to add some soft fashion to the NFL. The American Cancer Society website mentions that besides players, NFL coaches and referees wear the color too. “I have pink gloves, pink sleeves, pink chin strap, pink shoe laces, and pink braces,” Comas said about all the pink gear he wears. “The braces are about to come off, and this is my last color and I just thought I should go with pink just because it’s October. I asked the dentist, ‘can I get the color pink?’ And he said, ‘OK, sure.’” Comas likes to smile, and when he does, his pink braces flash proudly. Pink has become fashionable amongst some of the largest of football players here at Santa Monica College. “If you know how to wear pink, it looks
.
staff writer
Pink adds element of flair to SMC football
really nice on people,” said Bryan Polio, the Corsairs’ formidable lineman who believes that the pink accessories make an honorable fashion statement. “I wear pink stockings with white socks on top, or pink sleeves or wristbands, and basically we are just showing support, there’s no looks or anything,” Polio said. I mean, you can make yourself look nice, but we’re just showing support.” Finding and purchasing these items seems to be quite easy, too. “Some of us shop in the girls’ section,” said Polio. “And we get our spandex in the girls’ section—I mean they make pink football gloves and stuff like that. It’s like a real big thing. “ Some Corsair football players think that wearing pink leggings is not as fashionable as other items. “I don’t wear the leggings, but I wear the gloves,” said Comas. “I wear the pink halfsleeves I found in the male department at Nike Town.” “Everybody has a different type of swag or flavor or whatever they want to call it,” said Frederick. “I think it’s a nice touch on Paul Alvarez Jr. Corsair some people, but I think that some people In October, athletes wear pink to help overdo it,” said Frederick. “But it’s all raise awareness for Breast Cancer good. As long as we’re winning, that’s all Awareness Month. that matters.”
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