Warrior Life, Spring 2014

warrior life El Camino College || Spring 2014

TOUCHDOWN IN A NEW CITY FOOTBALL PLAYERS COME TO L.A. TO PLAY

STUDENT BY DAY, DANCER BY NIGHT

CATS OF EL CAMINO FELINES ON CAMPUS

PLUS INSTAGRAM PHOTOS OF EL CAMINO, spring 2014 || warrior life || 1 Q&As, AND RECIPES

letter from the editor The issue of Warrior Life you’re holding in your hands is the largest issue we’ve put out in 15 years. Needless to say, there were times I didn’t think I could do it.

Through the production of this magazine, I’ve had many surprises, but the biggest was that there are such inspiring, interesting stories on our campus, ones we tend to overlook.

These pages are filled with tales of success and triumph, obstacles and setbacks. A student started a company for amateur surfers. Athletes came from the east coast to play football on our team, one of the greatest in the state. A performer began his well-known YouTube channel. A dancer worked at nights to be able to pay to go to school during the day.

We sit in classes day to day, but we don’t think about what the person sitting next to us or across the room is going through.

As you read these stories, remember we’re from all walks of life, but we’re coming together at El Camino and we’re meeting people we might never have met otherwise.

I hope you enjoy this magazine as much as we have enjoyed the process of creating it for you.

Sincerely,

Jessica Martinez

editorial staff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jessica Martinez

PHOTO EDITOR

Patricklee Hamilton

WRITERS

Claudia Bermudez Roger Escobar Patricklee Hamilton Trent Ledford Dwight Maxwell Mario Sosa John Truax

PHOTOGRAPHERS Gilberto Castro Robert Chernetsky John Fordiani Patricklee Hamilton Rene Paramore Amira Petrus Charles Ryder

ADVISERS

Tom Amano-Tompkins Kate McLaughlin Cover photo taken by Rene Paramore on Avalon Boulevard in Wilmington, Calif.

Warrior Life is published every spring by El Camino College journalism students. The office is located in Room 113 of the Humanities Building at 16007 Crenshaw Blvd. Torrance, CA 90506.

Single copies of Warrior Life are free to the campus community and visitors. Additional copies are 25 cents and may be requested from the office or by calling 310-660-3328 during the fall and spring semesters. To advertise, contact Student Publication Advertising Office: 310-660-3329.

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table of contents

4

4 instagram 6

video gamers

7 q&a with Tom Fallo 8 alone in a new country 12

q&a with Michael Trevis

14

food for thought

16

touchdown in a new city

22

a youtube star is viewed

25

student by day, dancer by night

30

shooting more than the curl

34

the cats of el camino college

38

a dream come true

41

home away from home

44

take a little time to volunteer

46

contrasting worlds: a photo essay

50

editor’s pick recipe

16 30

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#eccwarriorlife This semester, we asked students to hashtag their photos of El Camino on Instagram with #eccwarriorlife. Here are some of the best.

@dayanaa_18

@ilsaayyy

@yskwhiskey

@angelapaul

@ryanjunge

@davidzonum

@mandeezyfbaby

@jjlmedrano

@masashi307

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THAT’S SO “CHEERLEADER WHO LIKE, CAN’T LIKE, SAY SMART STUFF.” you Think that’s mean? How do ? think “that’s so gay” sounds Hurtful. So, knock it off.

ThinkB4YouSpeak.com spring 2014 || warrior life || 5

Video gamers in the

Student Activities Center

by Trent Ledford

photos by Gilberto Castro

Joshua Yeldell, 18, business major

Danica Olson, 22, psychology major

Andrew Chong, 19, music major

Favorite game:

League of Legends

Favorite game:

League of Legends

Favorite game:

Hours he plays:

Hours she plays:

Hours he plays:

Sean Young, 22, game design major

Sharon Park, 20, theater major

Alejandro Gonzalez, 22, computer science major

Favorite game:

Favorite games:

Favorite game:

8 hours/day

The Last of Us

Hours he plays: 4 to 5 hours/day

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10 hours/day

Pokemon X and Kingdom Hearts

Hours she plays: 12 hours/day

Dota

2 hours/day

Pokemon Y

Hours he plays: 15 hours/day

Q&A with

Tom Fallo

At the start of the semester, you can find President Tom Fallo out near the library lawn greeting students and giving directions. He’ll retire in February 2016, but is in no hurry to leave the job.

WL: What was your favorite subject in school?

TF: It was economics. I love the social part of it.

WL: Is this the position you always wanted to achieve?

TF: No, it’s not. When I was a kid, there were different things I wanted to do and it would change all the time, but I knew I wanted to be in business.

WL: Do you have a special skill or talent?

TF: I have no talent or special skill. I am the worst singer there is. In college, I used to sing in the shower and the students would walk by howling at me.

WL: Are there cities in the United States you like?

TF: I love New York. I love the metro rail system out there, and I like to take public transportation when I go.

WL: What do you like to do to unwind?

TF: I like to exercise. I like getting on a treadmill in front of a television and put on something dealing with athletics and just tune everything else out.

WL: Is there something you’d like to see happen to help with education?

TF: I just want everyone to understand the human experience. Any student that helps another is helping the world.

Now, that also goes for students helping faculty or janitors helping students. A community college is supposed to help with not just education, but the community, too.

WL: Any message you’d like to give to the next president?

TF: Enjoy the job. It’s a wonderful experience. WL

by Dwight Maxwell

photo by Gilberto Castro

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alone in a new country

by Roger Escobar and Trent Ledford

photos by John Fordiani and Amira Petrus

International students come to El Camino every semester to further their education and experience life in America. Here are their stories.

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LENA RIECKMANN

L

ena Rieckmann is a part-time student from Germany who now lives in Manhattan Beach. She came to the United States as part of an educational component of her visa for one semester.

She chose to attend El Camino because it was the closest community college to where she lives, and she was told it was the best college to go to.

Rieckmann is an au pair, which means she does housework and takes care of kids in exchange for a room and board.

The most difficult thing that Rieckmann struggles with and hopes to improve since she started attending school in the U.S. is her English. She hopes that her English will improve significantly before she returns home.

Rieckmann hasn’t made many American friends, but she has made many other international friends that she can connect and relate with.

Rieckmann had a tough time coming to America.

Being a great distance away from her family was difficult and she looks forward to going home.

A

AKIRA HIMO

kira Himo is a singer from Morioka, Japan and attends El Camino full time. In his hometown, it snows a lot, so coming to Southern California was a change of pace to him.

Himo chose to attend El Camino because he had been told great things about the college.

In Japan, Himo didn’t have a large family and has no immediate family, so packing up his belongings and hopping on a plane to come to the United States to further his education wasn’t difficult for him because there wasn’t much he was leaving behind in his home country.

Himo lives in Torrance, a few miles away from EC. So far, he has made one American friend and a few international friends from a class that has students consisting of mostly international students, many of them being from both Korea and China.

Himo’s main concern with attending EC is finances because he pays as much as $4,000 per semester.

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you are here

600 full-time students

from

most are from

countries

JAPAN, KOREA, CHINA, AND VIETNAM

60

graphic illustration by Jessica Martinez statistics from Leonid Rachman of the International Student Program

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R

alph Rodriguez is pursuing a career in administrative law. Rodriguez is from Caracas, Venezuela. He has been in the U.S. with his wife and two sons for almost two years.

Rodriguez is here on a student visa and hopes to get his master’s in international law at UCLA as well as pass the bar exam. While still in Caracas, Rodriguez studied at Santa Maria University and earned his degree specializing in administrative law of government and business then became a lawyer.

Helping his country is one of his main concerns due to current hardships there.

However, even with Rodriguez being about 3,600 miles away, it is hard for him to escape the restraints his government has placed on him.

As a student here, he is only allowed $1,300 per month by his government and is only allowed to find work on campus. He cannot find any other type of income to support his family.

Regardless the difficulties Rodriguez is facing, he still stays positive about his outcomes here and for his country.

MASAHI KOIKE

RALPH RODRIGUEZ

M

asashi Koike is a full-time international student from Chiba, Japan. He’s been in the U.S. for almost three years. His interest in pursuing a major in film and the bright lights of Hollywood as well as his dream of one day attending the Oscars is what brought him to Los Angeles.

Koike decided to attend El Camino because of the warm welcome he received when he visited. He went through a culture shock when he first arrived with the change in food, different weather, and trouble with public transportation.

While in Japan, Koike’s mother did much of the house work, so being here alone was a complete change and Koike had to learn to cook for himself and do his own laundry.

He and a few of his fellow film students create small film productions that they shoot every week.

Koike is fluent in four languages: Japanese, Chinese, Spanish and English. He plans to finish this semester and then transfer to California State University, Long Beach and continue with film.

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Q&A with

Police Chief Michael Trevis

by Dwight Maxwell

photo by John Fordiani

Chief Michael Trevis is originally from East Los Angeles. He has more than 40 years of experience in law enforcement and during those years of experience, he’s been chief of police in Bell, Huntington Park and Maywood. He’s been married for 38 years and has one daughter. A place he likes to visit is Honolulu, Hawaii.

WL: Where did you get your education?

CT: I have an AA in Administrative Justice from East Los Angeles College. My bachelor’s is in Public Administration and my master’s is in Organizational Leadership from La Verne. Right now I am currently working on my doctorate.

WL: What did being named chief of police mean to you?

CT: It meant I am in a position to develop a partnership – a team concept between people. I’m giving hope to people and finding a way to improve the quality of life and not live in fear.

WL: Who are some of the people that inspired you to get to this position?

CT: It was local leaders. One person was Chief Heidke. He was the chief of Maywood in the ‘80s and is no longer with us. I like the way he communicated with people. For example, normally we would probably do this interview while I sit behind the desk. Heidke taught me to break that “psychological barrier” and simply sit with people and talk. There is also Chief Ed Ballinger who is still living and has since retired.

WL: When did you know that you wanted to be in law enforcement?

CT: When I was five years old, I watched a series called “Highway Patrol.” I knew I wanted to be in law enforcement from watching that show.

WL: What’s the best thing about being the chief of police at El Camino?

CT: Having the ability to network with students and faculty on this campus. El Camino has helpful people working at a proud organization for students’ success.

WL: When you’re done being chief, what do you want to be your greatest accomplishment?

CT: I want to leave knowing I helped the human race and made a difference in society.

WL: How many more years do you want to be chief?

CT: As long as I can keep my health I’ve got about 10 to 15 more years left in me.

WL: Any new changes coming to help with safety on campus?

CT: Yes, we want to get some more cameras installed here and at the El Camino Compton campus – more blue poles set up and of course just do good old fashioned police work. Prevention is the key. Students and staff seeing things and saying something, being a voice (mean a lot). We all play a part in helping keep the campus safe.

WL: What’s your favorite food?

CT: You mean besides coffee and doughnuts? Grilled chicken salad. WL

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spring 2014 || warrior life || 13

food for

thought

by Roger Escobar

photos by Charles Ryder

Bacon wrapped stuffed jalapeños fresh jalapeños grated pepper jack cheese bacon salt and pepper 1. Cut a thin slit into the side of your jalapeños.

2. Stuff jalapeños with grated cheese.

3. Wrap the jalapeños with bacon.

4. Place a pan over medium heat. Add bacon wrapped jalapeños until cooked through and soft.

5. Add salt and pepper to taste.

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Cold veggie pasta bowtie pasta chopped broccoli chopped cauliflower bean sprouts Italian dressing queso fresco salt and pepper 1. Boil 5 to 6 cups of water then add one bag of pasta and cook for about 10 minutes. Drain water out and pour pasta into a large bowl.

2. Boil about 5 to 6 cups of water. Add your pre-chopped broccoli and boil for 4 minutes.

Do the same for the cauliflower. Drain the water and add them to your pasta bowl.

3. Boil 3 cups of water. Add your pre-washed bean sprouts and cook until they become translucent about half a minute. Drain the water and add them to your pasta bowl.

4. Add Italian dressing to taste into your pasta bowl and toss everything around until it’s coated with the dressing.

5. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Optional: crumble queso fresco into your pasta bowl.

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TOUCHDOWN

16 || warrior life || spring 2014

IN A NEW CITY

THEY LEFT EVERYTHING THEY KNEW TO PLAY FOR ONE OF CALIFORNIA’S BEST JUNIOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACHES.

by Jessica Martinez

photos by Robert Chernetsky

spring 2014 || warrior life || 17

ABOVE: No 8, Nikorey Benyard, sophomore linebacker originally from Miami, celebrates a win against L.A. Harbor Oct. 5. LEFT: No. 12 Aaron Shockey, freshman quarterback from Fort Worth, Texas avoids a sack during a game against College of the Desert Oct. 26. RIGHT: No. 2 Shaquielle Wilson, sophomore linebacker from Fairfield, Florida, chases an opponent during a game against Hancock College Sept. 14.

OPPOSITE PAGE: No. 1 Jean Sifrin, tight end who attended high school in Miami, catches a ball during a game against Pasadena City College Sept. 21.

E

very fall, El Camino students watch football games with friends and with family, but most never think about where the players come from. Some come from 3,000 miles away to play for our team, one of the best in the state.

“I never thought in a million years I’d be playing football in California,” sophomore linebacker Nikorey Benyard said.

Originally from Miami, the 6-foot-3-inch 210 pound Benyard thought he would go to a Division 1 school after graduating from Miami Springs High School, but he ended up going to the University of South Dakota.

He was looking to leave that college, so he began getting in contact with EC’s coaches and moved to California and started attending EC in spring 2012, Benyard said.

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Another player on the team, sophomore defensive lineman Trayvis Peters, came to EC last spring from Miami.

The process to get athletes to play football at EC from out of state has been ongoing for decades. Coach John Featherstone and assistant coach Gene Engle started bringing in players from out of state in the ‘90s.

“I’d say probably for the first 10 years that we were here, coach Engle and I, we just went with local kids,” Featherstone said.

Local kids were, and still are, from Bishop Montgomery, El Segundo, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Junipero Serra, Lawndale, Leuzinger, Mira Costa, Morningside, North Torrance, Palos Verdes, Peninsula, Redondo Union, St. Bernard’s, South Torrance, Torrance, and West Torrance high schools, Featherstone said.

Most of the out-of-state players on the roster last fall were from Florida, usually from the Miami area. Featherstone said this is because the first group of Florida kids came from Miami and EC’s name spread like wildfire in the Miami school district.

The first player to play football at El Camino from out of state was from Miami. He played at El Camino, then returned to Miami and played at the University of Miami, Engle said.

“If one person does well, then the word gets back and there was a stream of kids who would contact us and they came out,” Engle said. “(People hear about EC) by word of mouth. And then it’s publicized. People look online at successful programs in California. We’re one of the more successful programs in California.”

EC remains the community college with the highest winning percentage in the 37 junior colleges from Bakersfield to San Diego under Featherstone’s direction, as he’s been the coach for 29 years.

“You get word of mouth, you get publicity, and then you get ranking,” Engle said. “I think those are the things that drive people to initially reach out and contact us.”

Engle said one of the main reasons players come from Florida is because the junior colleges in Florida don’t have football. They have other sports, but not football. This leaves Florida high school football players looking to four year universities in Florida and elsewhere, or at junior colleges in other states to continue playing.

“Ten years ago, 12 years ago, (kids in Miami) didn’t know anything about California. But now everybody knows everything,” Featherstone said. “They know about the JC system. They know which JC programs are the best. And we’re definitely one of the best.”

Featherstone said it’s illegal for coaches to leave the state to view potential players, so they view the players on film.

The coaches do this via Hudl, a “nationwide scouting service kind of thing,” Engle said. Players’ statistics along with videos of them are available to recruiters.

These videos tell coaches around the nation a lot and gives them an idea of how they play.

“We can kind of get a feel of how they rate with some of the guys we have now,” Featherstone said.

Engle said the coaches are contacted all the time, and that’s only increased with the explosion of the Internet. He said out-of-state schools and athletes contact every junior college in California by sending out mass emails.

“I would probably spend two hours a day if I looked at every film of every kid that contacted us,” Engle said. “We are bombarded daily by 30 or 40 kids from Florida, from Alabama, from back in New Jersey, wanting to come out here and play.”

Recruitment, from out-of-state to EC and EC to fouryear universities, is a busy process.

“It’s like Baskin Robbins. Take a number,” Featherstone said.

Still, it’s hard for young adults to move far from everything they knew.

“It’s hard for them to compete. They think it’s going to be easier, but there’s good football in California,” Featherstone said. “Sometimes, the kids come and they have visions of grandeur, that they’re gonna be NFL guys.”

Featherstone said he tells the players it’s a “long ways to California,” and a majority of them go back home because it’s difficult for them to compete on this level for the first time in an unfamiliar place.

“The first couple years (of recruiting from out of state), the kids were kind of homesick. I’d say a third of them would leave. The ones that were playing always stayed,” Featherstone said. “The ones that usually left were the ones that couldn’t get it done financially or they weren’t good enough to play for us. They don’t want to spend all that money if they don’t have to.”

Benyard didn’t worry about a big culture shock. He was lucky enough to have a friend who lived here to show him around and help him out.

“It was weird because I didn’t really know California like that,” Benyard said. “You know, getting on a plane and not really knowing nobody. But I had a best friend that showed me around and made me adjust.”

A problem with bringing kids in from out-of-state, Featherstone and Engle said, is finding a place to live.

“We just point them in the direction where they can go for some apartments,” Featherstone said. “They have to take care of that on their own.”

Featherstone said all of the responsibilities of getting a

spring 2014 || warrior life || 19

home fall on the players. They don’t just have to pay outof-state tuition (more than $200 a unit), but they also have to pay for room and board – and they usually have multiple roommates.

“A kid’s got to show up here, he’s got to get himself from the airport somehow, he’s got to find a place to live, and he’s got to do that pretty much by himself,” Engle said. “You know, coming out here, not knowing anybody, trying to get an apartment, that’s a nightmare.”

It was a difficult task for Peters, who didn’t know anybody when he moved here.

“Miami and California are like way different cultures,” Peters said. “You talk different, you look different. It was a whole different situation. It was like a whole new world.”

Benyard has been in California for two years and has enjoyed his journey despite leaving home and moving to a new place.

“It’s been a great experience,” Benyard said. “There’s always something to do. It’s been great.”

Peters has since made friends in the year he’s been here, including with the other players on his team.

“I was in a house full of dudes,” Peters said. “I didn’t know nobody. We’d work out, we’d come home.”

Both Benyard and Peters have plans to continue playing after they leave EC.

“

It’s hard for them to compete. Sometimes, the kids come and they have visions of grandeur, that they’re gonna be NFL guys.

”

Featherstone said they’ve had “probably 40 to 50 kids in the history of El Camino College” that have gone on to the NFL. Former Warriors now play for teams including the New England Patriots, the New York Jets, and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Once an EC Warrior himself on the football team, Featherstone has a paternal feeling with his team and keeps in contact with them as they grow older and move away from EC. “We see the kids on TV and they come back, you know, they’re good dads,” he said. “They’re good husbands. You see a lot of growth with our kids.” WL

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enroll in the program today!

Enroll in one of the production classes and become a member of El Camino’s award-winning student news organization. Shoot, write, edit and get published.

EC

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spring 2014 || warrior life || 21

A YouTube star is viewed

by Trent Ledford

illustration by Christián Chick

As the curtain opens,

the action starts and the light shines over him as he begins to sing and dance on a stage while a crowd watches him.

On stage, his passion for acting grows and Christián Chick becomes Mr. Dat Chick.

Chick became a popular social media personality with a Facebook page and YouTube channel where he posts his videos. The most viewed video has more than 11,000 views (as of midApril).

Chick, 22, mechanical engineer and Japanese major, said he always had an interest in acting. He was scouted at Narbonne High School to try out for an annual show.

“I was scouted by one of the stage directors to try out for the annual Broadway show they put on,” Chick said. “I got in and had multiple leads. I learned numerous songs and dance routines. I love being on stage and after that, I was surrounded by friends who shared my passion.”

MrDatChick is the first channel he started in 2010 and it is now used for posting behind the scenes videos. Another channel Chick has, MrDatChickTV, is for the action, drama, and comedy films. ChristianSeeChick, his third channel, is used for his creative project

22 || warrior life || spring 2014

and is a way for him to showcase his acting skills.

According to YouTube statistics, 100 hours of video are uploaded every minute. Because of this, it is getting tougher to become a star.

Chick was initially acting first, but to set him apart from competitors, he slowly started to direct after he began writing.

“I used to write a lot of short scripts then I started making short films,” Chick said.

Chick wanted to be an English major and changed his major shortly after declaring his major, but he still has a passion for writing.

“Ever since I tried advanced placement English classes in high school, I’ve fallen in love with writing,” Chick said. “I write short stories frequently.”

Chick feels like acting out his stories is the best way to help other people that are passionate about film, just as he is.

“I thought the best way to convey my stories to others was to act them out myself with the help of some friends,” Chick said.

“My strongest strength as an actor is that I’m a people person that can communicate well with everyone on set,” Chick said, “so I can get the best

idea of what character I’m supposed to portray.”

There is a lot of competition for people on YouTube. Chick has entered competitions to showcase his film skills. One of the competitions he entered was Internet Icon, something similar to shows like American Idol and America’s Got Talent.

“It’s like American Idol except it’s different YouTubers from all over the U.S. and Canada coming together to compete at making videos every single day,” Chick said.

The show was judged by Ryan Higa of NigaHiga, Timothy Delaghetto, and film star Christine Lakin. He attended the event with his partner O’Hara.

They entered the video on Facebook and made it to the top 100 out of participants in North America.

“We met the amazing judges and the producers of the show and a wide array of amazing YouTubers that we just instantly got along with, especially Will Pacaro,” Chick said.

They didn’t win their competition but also didn’t walk away empty handed because they learned how to make their videos better.

Chick plans to write and direct a musical with his new crew and publish

spring 2014 || warrior life || 23

it later this year. In the future, Chick wants to explore playing more serious roles, ones different from his comedic roles on YouTube.

Chick’s favorite actors are YouTube actors.

He watches a lot of videos on YouTube daily looking for ways to im prove his channel.

Lany Tran, 20, business major, worked with Chick on one of his videos.

“He is a very fun guy to work with and he has a unique personality,” Tran said.

Chun Hoi Tan, 19, economic major, is a friend of Chick’s and a fan of his videos.

“Chick is a very chill guy with some crazy ideas,” Hoi Tan said. “He can always come up with something on the spot.”

In five years, Chick said he plans to be finished with his mechanical engineering major. In 10 years, he said he wants to continue posting YouTube videos even if he becomes a wellknown actor.

Arriana Young is a friend of Chick’s who appeared in a video of his. “In the future, I see him working at a station like Comedy Central,” Young said. WL

TOP: A screenshot from Christián Chick’s video “Punchline – The Full Fight.” SECOND FROM TOP: A screenshot from Christián Chick’s most viewed video, “Harlem Shake Official El Camino College Edition.” The video, as of mid-April, has more than 11,000 views. SECOND FROM BOTTOM: Christián Chick, in a video explaining his YouTube story. BOTTOM: Christián Chick, center, in his video titled “The Elephant in the Room.”

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student by

day...

...dancer by

night

This is the story of Sydnee Kennedy, EC student, as told to Warrior Life photo editor Patricklee Hamilton. story and photos by Patricklee Hamilton

spring 2014 || warrior life || 25

It wasn’t until after I danced

for the first time that I really noticed my body. It was as though I were observing my own routine invisibly from the audience. And as I stood in the center of the small square stage, I couldn’t help but notice the large rectangular oak framed mirror behind the bar which seemed to approve not only of my routine, but of my form. In one instant, the mirror had become my companion, my assistant, my confidante, my friend. I mean it actually happened just like that. I never thought I would be the girl on stage twerking on a tall, shiny eight-foot pole dropping it like a hot potato.

Can I get you a drink?

I’d always believed the higher the heel, the higher I would ascend throughout my own life in a sense that, as a woman, wearing sexy high heels would somehow create vast opportunities for me. The kind of opportunities that, in my mind, if I were to perform on stage long enough, money would miraculously fall from the heavens whereas I could pay not one but two bills all at the same time.

From my favorite television shows, like “Sex in the City” or “Girlfriends” to the reality of my own Real World, to me, there was always some level of glamour associated with high heels.

And that, I guess, could be worth my time.

he walked in and changed all of that. It was after his two drink minmum and a couple of lap dances when he gave me three crisp one hundred dollar bills then told me that he wanted to take me to IHOP so we could talk.

We arrived at the IHOP on Crenshaw and Stocker at about 3 a.m. and laughed until about 5:30. It was undeniably the best date I’d ever had. What’s crazy though, is that I didn’t make it a habit to date guys from the club, but I guess I saw something different in him, and he treated me like the queen of Egypt. Needless to say, I conceived our daughter two weeks later. He’s in jail and I am still dancing.

It is what it is

My daughter means the world to me. When she looks at me, I fight to hold back tears because I never want to let her down. Ever.

And although I dance, I would never want her to because dancing isn’t always as glamorous as it may appear to be.

I started stripping as a means to an end, I was broke and needed to pay for school and for food, and dancing in the club wasn’t too restrictive; I could come and go as I pleased. I moonlighted like this for about four months before I actually got around to telling my God fearing, sanctified, big-hat wearing, in church all day on Sunday-going, praise and worship-team singing, A child is born piano and organ playing, mother. For all I know, she After the birth of my probably thought the readaughter, I knew that whatson I hadn’t been at choir ever hopes and dreams I may rehearsal in a while was have had had to either take Sydnee Kennedy, 24, child development major, at a photo because of school. That shape or be forgotten. A sin- session in L.A. was a night I will never gle mother in college at EC forget and I can remember by day and dancing as a stripper at night meant one it like it was yesterday, and that was almost three and thing and one thing only: my plate, whether I ordered a half years ago. what was on it or not, was full.

She was reading her bible and listening to the Trinity My daughter’s father used to help, but stopped three Broadcasting Network on her C.Crane AM FM radio months after I started stripping. He claimed that he when I decided to walk in to her bedroom with enough didn’t want to support a woman that was showing hermental explosives to make a suicide bomber blush. self to other men. But I met him in the strip club. It was KABOOM! I told her. The blast was huge and I waited a Friday night and I was barely making my bar tab until for the fallout. Silence. I knew if there was going to be

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any collateral damage, I would have been the sole casualty. My mother gently placed her bible on her night stand, shut off her radio and segued in to her favorite chorus of Amazing Grace.

Big mistake After her bible came soaring across the room toward my head, I assumed at that point she was a bit angry – livid, actually, because my mother, God rest her soul, was a small woman and she could barely lift her cup of tea, let alone toss a bible. She had a bad case of, as she used to put it, “Ol’ Arthur” meaning arthritis, but like a shot put Olympian, she somehow mustered the strength to lift all 66 books and hurl them in a beeline for my head. That was indeed the toughest night of my life.

It was about a year before she passed away that she apologized and accepted my decision to dance, moreover, confided that she understood.

I miss my mother, and I think deep down she saw something in me that she avoided within herself when she was young.

As far as I know, she never danced.

My new associates

became very close. We became family.

The secret is out I was shocked and embarrassingly pleased to see just how many college-aged girls were dancing to make ends meet. It was like the song states: a meeting in the ladies room. It was somewhat comforting to know that I wasn’t the only girl in college by day and in g-string panties and high heels at night.

Wardrobe malfunction I had a whip, too, but the first time I used it in my routine, I didn’t actually know what I was doing and popped a man in the eye with one of its tassels. Thisguy could have made it rain for me that night had it not been for my clumsy self trying to look cute.

His voice scaled some three octaves to a full out falsetto.

He completely lost his composure and ran around in a circle screaming like a little girl until his boys and, of course, our management, corralled him into a private room.

And, although I never knew what they told him or how they compensated him, he never showed anger toward me. I was new, so what did they expect?

After class on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I’d take the 210 bus down Crenshaw Boulevard to Rosecrans, get off and wait for the 125 which would take me to the club.

Identity theft I’d place a call to my babysitter, who was actually Many girls who dance the daughter of another dancer wish to keep their identities that adored my baby. I trusted secret. In fact, you’d probably her. She was an English major never know a girl dances at a with a love for child behavior. strip club just by seeing her in She wanted to become a soschool or at a theater with her cial worker primarily to help friends. In other words, these children in broken homes. I Sydnee Kennedy, 24, child development major, at a photo girls don’t parade around in session in Los Angeles. admired that about her. mini skirts and stilettos totShe, too, went to EC, and ing a small see-through Hello we had many things in common: both our daughter’s Kitty purse with a pile of crumbled up ones, some lipfathers were MIA and we were both in college. But stick and maybe a condom. They are merely the girl most importantly, at the club she watched my back and next door and, in most cases packing an associate’s or I watched hers. Oddly, she didn’t need the money like a bachelor’s degree.

I did. For me, it was all about survival but for her, she To support the identities of these girls, club manloved being the star twirling around on stage. Her paragers live by the “what happens in here, stays in here” ents worshipped the very ground she walked on and rule. They understand that for many of the girls who she could do no wrong in their eyes. We bonded and strip do it for money to help with anything from school

spring 2014 || warrior life || 27

to rent. They also know that most of them will move on after they graduate. And so secrecy would be important.

“

A single mother in college at EC by day and dancing as a stripper at night meant one thing and one thing only: my plate, whether I ordered what was on it or not, was full.

Coming out

�

While I don’t mind sharing about my experiences as a stripper, many girls would be reluctant in a sense that it could potentially destroy anything from a reputation to a home. And while that may be true, bear in mind that eight out of 10 men fantasize about strippers as to wishing their own wives or girlfriends looked like a stripper, danced like a stripper and last but certainly not least, made love to them like a stripper.

Surprisingly, while most of the men who have these imaginations about their women being a stripper, chances are that she knows one or possibly could have slid in to a pair of stilettos herself. WL

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YOU JUST BLEW $10,000.

Buzzed. Busted. Broke.

Get caught, and you could be paying around $10,000 in fines, legal fees and increased insurance rates.

Buzzed driving is drunk driving. buzzeddriving.adcouncil.org

spring 2014 || warrior life || 29

Shooting more than the curl

by John Truax photos by Amira Petrus and by IFILMUSURF Before the first rays of sunshine creep over the horizon at dawn, Ryan Boyles, 26, economics major, is on his way to the beach with his camera and equipment ready to shoot the early morning surf session at El Porto nearby in Manhattan Beach.

He is taking an unconventional path in his own life, while paving a new road that will connect the lives of ordinary surfers with the services of professional photographers.

“IFILMUSURF is a middle-man between surfers who want footage of themselves surfing, and photographers who have the appropriate equipment and skill set to shoot them,” Boyles said, founder of IFILMUSURF. “Turns out there is always professional photographers who have thousands of dollars in equipment, but just don’t know where to go or who to shoot to make it worth their while.”

Raised by a single father for the majority of his adolescent years, Boyles had a unique childhood. He grew up in El Segundo and graduated from El Segundo High School in 2006.

At a young age, Boyles discovered he was not set out for the nine-to-five grind, and dedicated his time to being a self-proclaimed problem solving hustler. As a freshman at El Segundo High, he started a clothing company called ARORA Appeals. Although the company only lasted a couple of years, many T-shirts still live on in closets of local surfer kids.

Ryan Boyles, 26, economics major, scans the horizon for surfers while the fog rolls in during a sunset film session in March at El Porto, located in Manhattan Beach, Calif. (Photo by Amira Petrus.)

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TOP LEFT: Director of Marketing for IFILMUSURF Cameron Brown clears his head by taking flight.

(Photo by IFILMUSURF.) TOP RIGHT: After a long day of shooting, Ryan Boyles catches a few waves. (Photo by Amira Petrus.) LEFT: Local ripper and classic-style surfboard shaper Tyler Hatzikian, navigates his way through a heavy barrel at a local break. (Photo by IFILMUSURF.) RIGHT: Ryan Boyles shoots surfers at the beach.

(Photo by Amira Petrus.)

BOTTOM LEFT: A novice surfer catches possibly his first ride. (Photo by Amira Petrus.) BOTTOM RIGHT: Ryan Boyles’ girlfriend Andie Wasson, an El Camino student, frequently helps out with the filming process.

(Photo by IFILMUSURF.)

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Boyles’ father, Drew, is a successful entrepreneur who owns several businesses in multiple states. Drew Boyles is an alumni of USC Business School where he received his MBA. He has invested in start-up companies that have turned into multi-million dollar operations and has also done freelance consulting for other businesses such as Starbucks and Panda Express.

Drew Boyles taught his boys not only how to surf, but how also to be successful businessmen.

“Growing up, my younger brother’s and my relationship with him (my father) became what he was doing at work. I remember being 8 years old, going over a very complicated Excel document with him; it was a break-even analysis,” Ryan Boyles said. “And as kids, my brother and I were enjoying it. But at the same time I was learning how businesses work and how businesses failed.”

Ryan Boyles seems to be stepping into a booming business, because by the year 2017, the surfing industry as a whole will have an estimated worth of $13.2 billion, according to a 2011 report from Global Industry Analysts, Inc. In the vast world of surfing, expert photographers dedicate their time primarily to shooting professional surfers for magazines and documentaries. This leaves the average surfer lacking the connections or means to have such photographers shoot them at their local breaks, a virtually untapped market of millions of surfers in the U.S. alone.

IFILMUSURF plans to change this by bridging the gap between average joes and photo pros. Any surfer regardless of skill level can go to IFILMUSURF and make a free account which grants access to a wide array of well-qualified cameramen, Ryan Boyles said.

This free account allows the surfer to then book an appointment with an IFILMUSURF approved photographer.

All of whom are experienced in the art of surf cinematography; equipped not only with cameras, but with years of filming experience, Ryan Boyles said.

“

With surfing, it’s not about what you’re doing but how you’re doing it. Anything that has style needs to be seen to be appreciated.

”

The photographer will then meet the surfer at his or her desired location to begin the session. Sessions usually last around one to two hours, but depending on the condition of the wind and waves, can go as long as three to four hours.

Once the session is complete, all of the day’s footage will

be uploaded to the surfer’s account to be viewed personally or shared with friends, Ryan Boyles said.

With the extreme success of companies such as GoPro and YouTube, a new market has been created consisting of extreme sports enthusiasts who crave footage of themselves doing what they love, Ryan Boyles said.

As little as a decade ago, it was virtually unheard of to have a camera attached to a surfboard or even have footage of one’s self surfing. Now, cameras seem to be as common as the surfboards themselves but the lack of good quality personal footage is still quite evident throughout the surfing community.

“With surfing, it’s not about what you’re doing but how you’re doing it. Anything that has style needs to be seen to be appreciated,” Ryan Boyles said. “But, unfortunately, as awesome as a fixed mount camera is, it is limited in the sense that it only provides one close up camera angle and does not come close to telling the whole story of any given wave. That’s where we come in.”

IFILMUSURF can provide several different camera angles, including shots taken from photographers in the water and on the beach. Operating as a middle man allows IFILMUSURF to offer a wide variety of options to meet any surfer’s needs, Ryan Boyles said.

Personal footage can also be used for studying one’s surfing similar to the way football players watch tapes of their games. If a given surfer wishes to critique his or her surfing for an upcoming contest, it is much more likely he or she would use footage taken from a beach angle. In a surf contest, the judges sit on the beach to get the best perspective possible for fair judging of all competitors.

Competitive surfers need to see what the judges see if he or she wishes to critique and improve their surfing in the eyes of competition, Ryan Boyles said. The spotlight is now on any surfer who chooses it, regardless of experience or skill level.

“Most of our marketing is done at local surf contests and other events,” Cameron Brown, director of marketing for IFILMUSURF, said.

Brown is responsible for growing their social media pages on Instagram and Facebook along with creating brand recognition throughout the local surfing community.

IFILMUSURF recently organized and sponsored a beach cleanup that drew more than 40 participants to El Segundo Beach to pick up trash for a couple of hours on a Saturday afternoon in an effort to give back to their community.

Many successful entrepreneurs have had failing business ventures in their early years; neither Ryan Boyles nor his father Drew Boyles are exempt from that list.

IFILMUSURF is not Ryan Boyles’ first business venture and will not be his last.

“An entrepreneur says to himself, ‘OK, here is a problem. There is a demand for this and people want it,’” Ryan Boyles said. “I am going to create a solution and I am going to capitalize on it.” WL

spring 2014 || warrior life || 33

The

of El Cami

no College

by Mario Sosa

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photos by Gilberto Castro

H

ave you ever noticed furry felines scampering around campus?

Have you ever wondered the story behind the myriad of them? It is believed that these furry friends of El Camino started showing up as a result of people abandoning them.

This has been an issue that has been happening for decades.

Debbie Turano, president of the El Camino Cat Care Volunteers, which is made up of students, staff, and the community, says that in the 1980s, the campus decided to remove most of the feral cats at EC. During the time the campus had no cats, the rodent population grew quickly. After a while, as people continued to dump their cats on campus, the number of mice on campus decreased.

Since then, the cats have made the campus their home.

A way that the El Camino Cat Care Volunteers are able to maintain healthy cat colonies is by TNR, also known as trap, neuter, release. TNR first started in September 2010. It is the humane way to control the population and to avoid overpopulating.

Volunteers trap cats on weekends when there isn’t much activity on campus, and send them to be neutered at clinics that are paid for by local animal societies. They also make sure to provide them with vaccines that they may need in order to be rereleased on campus, healthy and danger free.

Since 2010, there have been 73 adoptions out of EC and 130 cats fixed. All of this is possible because of caring volunteers and cat lovers, such as Turano who are responsible for the cats being healthy and under control at EC. “Take care of the cats you have,” Turano said. “They’re your furry children.”

ABOVE: A feline relaxes in front of bougainvillea near Schauerman Library last fall. The cats are on campus in part due to people dumping them when they didn’t want to take care of them anymore. LEFT: A cat lounges in front of the Bookstore. Since 2010, there have been 73 El Camino cat adoptions and 130 trap, neuter, and release cats fixed.

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LEFT: A furry feline runs through the leaves near the Student Services Building. BOTTOM LEFT: A cat runs into a safe hiding spot near Schauerman Library. BELOW: An El Camino cat sits on the bricks outside the Music Building.

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ABOVE: An orange cat sits in the dirt behind bushes near the Bookstore. RIGHT: A scratched-up cat rests outside Schauerman Library. BELOW: A cat steps out of his hiding place and takes a look around a tree trunk near the Bookstore. This is an area with many cats due to the recent demolition of Murdock Stadium.

spring 2014 || warrior life || 37

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A dream come true DREAM Act: Two words that mean a lot for many immigrants who migrated to the United States in hopes of a better life as well as a set future. Not only do they do this for themselves, but for their families as well. There are many obstacles that hinder their road to a better life, though. They are not able to apply for jobs or enroll in universities, regardless of their intelligence. This is simply because of where they came from.

The DREAM Act is a bill that would grant permanent residency to some immigrants, who have lived their lives here obeying the law, with a clean record, and have graduated from high school in the United States, having lived here for at least five years since being minors.

One of the people writing this article is also a dreamer, so there is no better person to tell you about the struggle we have all been through. Behind some of our faces lies a burden on the heart that only a DREAMER can describe.

It’s like being in prison; We feel so trapped because our wings will only spread so far, and then we’re forced to stillness. That is how many undocumented dreamers feel.

This is why there is a club at El Camino called “Dreamers Ahead.” Its purpose is to provide dreamers with all of the necessary information needed to get ahead in this country.

In the club, dreamers meet up on a weekly basis to put their minds together and figure out ways in which they can grow in their education and community.

Kayla Arango, 22, business major, is the president of “Dreamers Ahead,” and has been for about two years. She arrived to the United States eight years ago, migrating from Colombia at the age of 14.

“The DREAM Act has enabled me to take my next step in education,” Arango said. “As I get ready to transfer out of El Camino, I don’t see how that would have been possible without the financial sid that I have received to pay for my college courses. That same economic help will be there to cover my tuition once I start attending a university.”

Like many other dreamers, she stays motivated by thinking of her family and younger siblings. The club is something meaningful, not only to her, but to other people.

The main goal of the club is to let people know the resources available to dreamers. Edgar Carpinteyro, 24, history major, has been in the club for about a year. When he transfers out of El Camino, he still plans to be involved with and help the club.

He joined because he saw opportunities to help others as well as to learn more on the movement. He said, “The club gives you more confidence knowing there are other people in the same situation as well. Knowing they want to succeed motivates you to want to succeed as well and be successful together as a community.”

Another member of “Dreamers Ahead” is Arango’s sister, Marimar Arango, 20, sociology major. To her, the DREAM Act is a big help for those who are not considered U.S. citizens, and is a sign of hope that things can change for immigrants.

The DREAM Act has helped her with her financial struggles, allowing her to continue studying and working hard.

“The DREAM Act has helped me a lot. If it was not for the DREAM Act, I probably would not go to school because I couldn’t afford it, and I’m sure that is the situation

by Claudia Bermudez and Mario Sosa

photo by Gilberto Castro

PHOTO: From left, Edgar Carpinteyro, Kayla Arango, and Marimar Arango are a part of “Dreamers Ahead,” a club on campus for those influenced by or interested about the DREAM Act.

spring 2014 || warrior life || 39

“

I have met other dreamers who thought they were alone. They shouldn’t be ashamed to be considered a dreamer, but carry the title with pride.

for many other undocumented students,” Marimar Arango said.

She has been in the club for about a year and a half, following in her sister’s footsteps. Her sister gave her knowledge and going to the meetings interested her, as she learned a lot more about the issues immigrants face.

With the DREAM Act only being in California, Marimar Arango wants to be able to speak for immigrants in other states who don’t have the opportunity to speak out. She is hoping that the DREAM Act expands so others have the same learning opportunities to better their lives.

“They are not alone. I have met other dreamers who thought they were alone. They shouldn’t be ashamed to be considered a dreamer, but carry the title with pride,” Marimar Arango said. “Try to get involved and inform others.

Unite as one club, and spread the word to those not aware of it.”

Dreamers, to be defined in the easiest terms, are people who wait for something almost impossible to change their life. It can be a woman who waits for her prince charming to come and change her life, or a young aspiring actor waiting for his big break, or perhaps a singer or songwriter who just wants to be heard.

Dreamers are our own classmates, whom we sit next to.

They do their homework. They know the answers to all of the questions our teachers ask us and some even tutor us.

Life for a dreamer is very difficult, especially in high school and college when they are discovering who they really are.

While in high school, Kayla Arango said that she did not have many friends and was not as social as she is now.

In high school, no one knew that she was undocumented, but once she told her friends about her “identity,” she felt as though the truth had set her free, and she could be the person she was destined to be, and not someone who had to hide her true colors.

A message that Kayla Arango has for all the dreamers that are still struggling is to not give up and create long term goals. There is always a way to accomplish your goals and make your dreams a reality.

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”

“Don’t be afraid. Don’t give up on your educational goals,” Kayla Arango said. “Even though it takes time, it’s worth the sacrifice and patience.”

To those who oppose the DREAM Act, she wants them to know that the dreamers are not asking for open borders.

They are looking for a compromise and an immigration reform.

Kayla Arango’s dreams are slowly coming true. She has applied to UCSD and UCSB. She is someone who is inspiring a community of young students, not only by being the president of “Dreamers Ahead,” but she also gives speeches at high schools, and writes for the Spanish newspaper La Prensa in Riverside.

It should be taken as a learning opportunity, where we can learn from one another. Why be limited by race and nationality? That would be like deterring others for having a past, something we all have in common.

I am a firm believer in the American dream, and grateful that my parents packed my suitcase for me when I was eight years old and decided to move to the United States.

There is not one day where I wake up without thanking the universe for allowing me to live in such a great country, regardless of all of its problems, and the negative impact the media gives to the United States. This is a country of entrepreneurs, entertainers, and people who cannot survive without each other.

In the end, I guess you can call us all dreamers, for we are not the only ones with dreams, but everyone else has their own as well. WL

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

A Dodger game on a mid-summer day taken from the third base upper deck section.

Growing up as a Latino in L.A., Roger Escobar went to Dodger Games and watched Laker games at family barbecues regularly. He became a fan, just as his family was and still is.

by Roger Escobar

A

photos courtesy of Roger Escobar

s a kid, Sundays were family days in my household.

We started off with church in the morning then to breakfast afterward and after that, it was straight back home for sports.

As the day progressed more family members would arrive and they didn’t come empty handed. They brought 24 packs of beer, carne asada, homemade potato salad and homemade chili. We were just waiting for the game to start.

With a Laker or Dodger game blaring from the living room TV set, great food all around, and younger cousins and me trying to sneak in sips of beer here and there, and the enjoyment of having all of my family under one roof, it wasn’t difficult to see why Sunday was a great day in my family.

Take a good look around Los Angeles and it’s clear that the majority of the occupants in this city are Latinos. Some arrived decades ago or others within the past 10 to 20 years.

However, regardless of when they arrived, there is always one thing that we all have in common – our love for sports. Generations of Latino immigrants have marked their

arrival in L.A. by embracing our local sports teams. There might have been struggle of adapting to the new way of life in a new country, but there was always the doors to Dodger Stadium and the Forum were always wide open.

Many of the Latinos in L.A. don’t really have a choice of what teams to root for when they first arrive here unless they already have a good knowledge of American sports.

But the teams we have here aren’t that bad to pick from.

We have our six-time major league baseball championship team of the Dodgers and our 16-time national basketball championship team of the Lakers and the Clippers.

Aside from those teams, we also have the professional hockey team of the Kings and two major universities with UCLA and USC. With all these great franchises set up around the city, picking one isn’t a difficult choice.

Like many of those Latinos, I myself am one of those second-generation fans that have been here for more than 20 years and, in that time, I have followed in the footsteps of my older family members and joined the ever-growing army of being Dodger and Laker faithful.

spring 2014 || warrior life || 41

it. The overall feeling of just being a fan and rooting for your team was always fun and still is.

Growing up in Hawthorne gave me the advantage of experiencing the Lakers and Kings firsthand since the stadium they called home, The Great Western Forum, was so close I could have ridden my bicycle up to it even though my parents would never let me. Los Angeles sports teams have always been a huge part of my family and continue to be to this day.

One of my uncles is a chef in a restaurant and doesn’t speak very good English other than talking about anything that has to do with food in the restaurant or how to make it. However, if you get him talking about the San Diego Chargers, he’ll name every player on the offensive line and share what defense in the NFL has been dominating recently.

The Latino fan base has a large impact on teams in the city. According to Dodger marketing demographics, the Dodgers attract more than one million Latino fans in a single season. That’s 42 percent of their fan base.

About half of the seats at games are filled with Latino fans. You see us with groups of friends, you see us in families, you see a boyfriend and girlfriend, you see us all wearing that Dodger blue and you see us proud.

We’re proud to be at Chavez Ravine on that sunny Escobar with his father at his first Dodgers game at Dodger Stadimidday game, calling out of work sick because we um in 1983. got free tickets at the last minute or huddled togethI was provided to a ringside seat in terms of experiencer on the infield for Friday night fireworks after the ing what Latino families and the way we rooted for and game. celebrated our teams.

Latino fans being everywhere at Dodger Stadium is the Once everybody in the family got together on the way it’s been for about three decades now starting back in weekend, the first topic of conversation was always about the early 1980s with “Fernandomania.” Fernando Valenzua midweek game or great play that was missed. And this ela was a Mexican pitcher discovered by the Dodgers wasn’t just back when I was younger, this continues to this scouting team in Mexico when he was 19. day and of course having a couple packs of beer and the When he arrived at Dodger Stadium and made his debut, barbecue going has always been part of it, too. it was the start of something magical that’s been going on When new family members would arrive in L.A., it for more than 30 years. Latino fans filled the stadium and wasn’t long before they caught on to what teams to root for gave L.A. a new heartbeat in those years and it’s continued and knew it wasn’t wise to speak bad about the Dodgers up until this day with Latino players on the Dodger rosters. or Lakers. However, a few family rivalries were born that Adrian Gonzalez, Yasiel Puig, Juan Uribe, and Hanley same way. I can recall uncles and cousins deciding to cheer Ramirez have all made a connection with the Latino fan for the rival teams or just a different team all together. base that’s much stronger here in the city from the charity Whether we were all watching a Raider game and some- work they do to just showing their face in the community. one decided to become a Rams fan on the spot or someone Tickets at $20 (and for the good seats), beer for reasonchanging Dodger blue for Angel red, it always happened. able prices, and a stadium that was so alive you felt it alBut, at the same time, it was these rivalries that made the most had a heart beat every time there was a called strike or game even that much more special. We weren’t yelling and an out is what Dodger Stadium is all about. Those days are cursing at the television anymore – we were yelling at each what paved the way for Latino fans now and what allows other. us now to take that trip up to Chavez Ravine and enjoy a Even if part of the family was divided when it came to game on a warm summer night. sports teams, that didn’t mean we wouldn’t have a great The Latino community as a whole is great for L.A. and time together. Just having everyone under one roof and enits teams. It gave the teams a deeper sense of togetherness joying the moment as a family was what made it all worth with the community. From “Fernandomania” in the ‘80s

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to the “Renew Blue” motto that is going on now after the Guggenheim partners bought the team and Earvin “Magic” Johnson as the new face of the organization, it is clear to see that the Latino fan base for the Dodgers is going strong and will always have a big part to play in the ball club.

The Lakers have been a championship franchise for decades in the NBA. Latino fans have been a huge part of the Lakers fan base for decades but it wasn’t until “Showtime” came to The Great Western Forum in Inglewood that it truly exploded.

With Magic Johnson leading the charge for the Lakers at the Forum, the fan base in the city just grew and grew to the huge following we have today.

Like my uncle with his NFL knowledge, my father-inlaw is almost the same way. His English isn’t very good.

He immigrated to L.A. in his early teens and even though he loves soccer more than any other sport, he can sure chop it up with me about the 1980s Lakers.

Like many older Latinos here, he can remember the days when he would go to the Coliseum to watch the then Los Angeles Raiders play and he makes sure to make fun of me for being such a Kobe Bryant fan as opposed to the “Showtime” Lakers of the ‘80s.

He can name all of the starters for the Lakers from the ‘80s as well as some of the bench players. Although the Lakers and Kings have since packed their bags and moved to the Staples Center downtown, the following of Latino fans has not backed down, it’s just grown over the years.

There is even a certain time of the year the NBA has adopted as “Latino Nights” in which teams go as far as changing their team names from English to Spanish.

No matter how many fans L.A. teams may have, it’s safe to say that many of those fans are Hispanic and for some franchises, it is almost half of the total fan base.

We will always have a love for sports and an even deeper love for teams right here in our own community and as long as our family roots are dug in deep with the home team, we will never stop cheering them on. WL

Escobar’s family around a barbecue before an NBA Finals game.

spring 2014 || warrior life || 43

take a little in your

by Jessica Martinez

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Beaches in nearby cities are often dirty, and one way to spend a breezy Saturday morning is doing clean-up to help your city.

Heal the Bay is a nonprofit organization that works to keep our local beaches, all located on Santa Monica Bay, free of waste. “Nothin’ but Sand” is a monthly event, with the location differing each month.

It’s every third Saturday, from 10 a.m. to noon. The one this month, on May 17, is at Hermosa Beach.

The biggest event, and, according to the organization, the biggest volunteer day on the planet, is Coastal Cleanup Day, usually in September. Last year, 11,000 Angelenos removed trash that day.

According to healthebay.org, “Anyone can help clean the beach – all you need is a signed waiver.”

For more information on how to sign up to help throughout the year, visit www.healthebay.org.

time to volunteer community illustration by Eugene Chang

Alondra Park is a 53-acre park right next door to El Camino and serves nearly 250,000 citizens of the South Bay. The park is close to the ocean and has a lake and woodlands, according to its website.

It has many volunteer programs that include positions in the botanic gardens as well as guides for tours. The minimum age to volunteer is 14, and a monthly minimum amount of hours isn’t necessary. To volunteer, an application must be completed and each applicant must undergo a background check.

The park has events going on year round, with upcoming ones including a Youth Fishing Derby May 10 and the annual two-day Hawaiian Festival July 19 and 20.

For more information on how to volunteer, visit www.parks.lacounty.gov and search for Alondra Park.

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contrasting worlds xit The 110 S e y e ff a onto G n Street in Sa iles m 2 1 , Pedro ino. m a C l from E ene (Photo by R .) re o Param

A view of the South Bay from Los Arbol es Park, also known as Rocketship Park, in To rrance, eight miles fro m El Camino. (Pho to by Rene Paramore.)

ton, six Arbutus Street in Comp Oleander Avenue and i.) an rdi (Photo by John Fo miles from El Camino.

otos by

by Dwight Maxwell ph Paramore John Fordiani and Rene When you step on campus, what do you see around you? There is a vast amount of people on campus but as you keep walking your eyes get a glimpse of different cultures.

Have you ever forgot a pencil and turned to your left and asked, “Do you have one I can borrow?� without knowing the person you ask is a Compton

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resident? We give high fives to a tutor from Hermosa Beach who helped you pass that math test.

Sharing a breakfast burrito with your classmate from Inglewood and studying before a test is given by the professor from Palos Verdes is what El Camino is all about.

TOP: Gateway Plaza Fanfare Fountain in San Pedro, 13 miles from El Camino. (Photo by Rene Paramore.) RIGHT: Graffiti on a wall on 67th Street and 11th Avenue in Los Angeles, seven miles from El Camino. (Photo by John Fordiani.) BELOW: Cliffs of Palos Verdes, 15.5 miles from El Camino. (Photo by Rene Paramore.)

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LEFT: A run down home off of Cressey Street and Wilmington Avenue in Compton, six miles from El Camino. (Photo

by John Fordiani.) ABOVE: Sepulveda Street in San Pedro looking west toward Palos Verdes, 12 miles from El Camino. (Photo by Rene Paramore.)

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LEFT: Redondo Beach Pier in Redondo Beach at dusk, six and a half miles from El Camino. (Photo by Rene Paramore.) ABOVE: Graffiti in Wilmington off of Pacific Coast Highway between Watson and Blinn avenues, 11 miles from El Camino.

(Photo by Rene Paramore.)

The Vincent Thomas Bridge, which links San Pedro and Terminal Island, 16 miles from El Camino. (Photo by Rene Paramore.)

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Editor’s Pick The editor shares her fave fettuccine recipe FETTUCCINE WITH CHICKEN, BROCCOLI, AND LEEKS Makes 4 servings 1 pound of fettuccine 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter 1 leek 1 head of broccoli 1 1/2 cups of heavy cream 1 tablespoon of lemon zest 1 rotisserie chicken Salt and pepper 1. Slice the light green portion of the leek into thin pieces. Steam the broccoli in the microwave for three minutes and shred the whole chicken. Zest the lemon.

2. Cook the fettuccine according to the directions on the package. When finished, drain the pasta and put it back into the saucepan.

3. Melt the butter in a skillet and add the leek, salt, and pepper for 4 minutes. Add the heavy cream and half of the lemon zest and let sit for 10 minutes.

4. Add the chicken and broccoli to the skillet and stir for 1 to 2 minutes.

5. Combine the pasta and the skillet ingredients and add the rest of the lemon zest.

Serve immediately.

Editor’s note: This is a dish my mom started making a year ago, and it’s still one of my favorites.

Photo by Jessica Martinez

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The “It’s Not Like I’m Drunk” Cocktail 2 oz. tequila 1 oz. triple sec 1/2 ounce lime juice Salt 1 too many 1 automobile 1 missed red light 1 false sense of security 1 lowered reaction time Combine ingredients. Shake.

Have another. And another.

Never underestimate ‘just a few.’

Buzzed driving is drunk driving.

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