Issue 3, 9/20./12

Online Exclusive:

“The Walking Dead” invades Universal Studios

NIO U N

Features: Page 3

Warriors’ capture first victory of the season Page 8

EL CAMINO COLLEGE

Sept. 20, 2012

Legal disputes stall MBA Building completion

Monique Judge

Co-Opinion Editor

Financial woes, construction delays and litigious finger pointing have led to the new Math, Business and Allied Health Building not opening as scheduled for fall semester.

Tom Brown, director of facilities and planning services for EC, said a combination of several different factors contributed to the delays.

“The coordination of the trades is the greatest delay,” Brown said.

Coordination of trades, or subcontractors, is the job of Taisei Construction, the firm that won the bid to complete the project.

Brown said that because Taisei has not done a good job of coordinating their subcontractors, there have been “de-

Timeline of the MBA Building construction

lays” and “additional charges” with subcontractors having to come back a second or third time to complete their work.

Jaysen Van, operations risk manager for Taisei Construction, has a different opinion.

“I believe it is directly related to the defective plans and specifications, as well as the district’s failure to properly administer the project,” Van said.

Van said the original plans and specifications failed to identify existing underground utilities on the job site, and this added to the construction delays.

“The district’s architect failed to meet a standard of care,” Van said.

Brown said that to place the blame solely on the defective drawings would be a “great error,” but he did acknowledge that because of conflicts with the drawings, the district could be heading

into arbitration with LPA, the architectural firm that planned the project.

“A lot of this is a lot of finger pointing,” Brown said.

“It would not be a surprise to me if the contractor plans to blame the architect for some of the problems, just like I’m sure the architect plans to blame the contractor for some of the problems, and just like the college feels there is plenty of blame to go around.” Jo Ann Higdon, vice presi- dent of administrative services for EC, said.

Brown said that among the problems waiting to be resolved in the construction project are elevators that have not been certified by the state, an air-conditioning system that has neither been commissioned nor turned on, corridor lighting and flooring that needs to be installed, stairway handrails that need to be put in place, and painting yet to be completed.

Brown added that the painting has been delayed in part due to the painters recently walking off the job.

Van said that this is due to the subcontractors, including the painters, going bankrupt on the job.

Brown blamed the subcontractor bankruptcy issue on both Taisei and their subcontractors underbidding the job, and said that Taisei “definitely underbid.”

Fall 2011: original projected completion date of the MBA building

March 2010: Construction of MBA building begins, with a projected cost of $20.6 million, according to board of trustees agenda from March 15, 2010

Changes to financial aid limit Pell Grant Angela Songco Staff Writer

Van disagreed.

“Taisei was plus or minus two percent from the next lowest bidder, and plus or minus ten percent from all bidders. This is a provable fact,” Van said.

School administrators originally expected a bid of around $23 million, while Taisai’s winnig bid was $20.6 million, according to a March 2010 board of trustees meeting agenda.

Van added that the district realized a nearly $18 million windfall at the inception of this project, and instead of keeping those funds in reserve, reallocated them to other projects.

“I have no idea what he is talking about,” Higdon said. “I find it amazing that someone would say that.”

“How I reallocate funds after a bid is the college’s business; it is not the contractor’s business,” Higdon added.

Higdon said that the bond does allow for funds to be reallocated after a bid.

“Did the college benefit from a downturn in the construction industry? Absolutely. We had bids come in significantly lower than what we had originally expected. The taxpayers are getting a great buy,” Higdon said.

Van said that Taisei has taken a $6.5 million loss on the project.

“We do plan to pursue a claim against the district,” Van said.

“The college is absolutely determined that the building that is going to be built is going to be the building that we planned to have, and it is going to service our students and our faculty in the way it was intended, and frankly, if that means that the opening is going to be delayed a little, that is what is going to happen,” Higdon said.

August 2012: DE Smith, the subcontractor responsible for painting the MBA building, files for bankruptcy

October 2011: Taisai Construction cites issues with the architectural drawings provided

by LPA

Torrance, California

Spring 2012: Current projected completion date of the MBA building

Recent changes to federal financial aid policies have affected a large section of the student body, especially those who were not working towards a specific degree or certificate, a college official said.

“Some students had been on financial aid for a very long time without completing any program,” Hortense Cooper, director of the financial aid department, said. “With the changes, students and the institution are held more accountable for receiving federal dollars.”

Cooper said that as part of re-authorization of funds to higher education by congress, important changes in financial aid were put into place in July.

She said that one of the major changes in the program was the number of years a student could be eligible to receive a Pell Grant, which was the largest federal grant available for students.

“The lifetime eligibility of Pell Grant was reduced to twelve semesters or four to six years maximum eligibility,” she said.

Pell Grant eligibility used to be for 18 semesters or about nine years prior to the changes, she said.

Cooper said another change in the federal financial aid program is the requirement to have a high school diploma or its equivalent to be eligible to receive financial aid. In the past, as long as a financial aid applicant passed the ability–to-benefit test, the student could receive financial aid.

“The main concern with the diploma was to be sure that students who will really be working towards a degree will receive it,” she added.

Two students had opposing opinions on the issue.

Crystalyn Redd, 23, child development major, said that if students do not have the means to cover their educational expenses, it would be harder for them to pass their classes. She also said that some students have personal reasons why they had to take some time to finish their education but that those years helped them build maturity.

On the other side of the issue, Juan Carlos Valdovinos, 30, psychology major, said that these changes were good reinforcements so that students can have the guidance and motivation to move forward with their education.

“Some (students) just get money and stay here forever but these changes will help us stay on track,” he said.

Cooper said that many students had read about these changes but didn’t really understand how they affected them. She added that some students just did not read the information at all.

“Students need to understand these regulations that may affect them,” Cooper said. “It should not be ‘how much I am getting and when am I getting it’ mentality anymore.”

Measure E’s energy efficiency improvements could save up to $1 million Karly Daquila Staff Writer

NEWS LINE

Local facility bond Measure E, which is designed to create a “greener” and more efficient version of EC, will be a major item on the ballot this November.

In 2002, voters of the El Camino Community College district passed a facilities bond, enabling the construction of new buildings and remodeling that is seen now on campus. While the money

By Thomas Schmit

from the 2002 bond is almost gone, Measure E hopes to continue the work set in motion by the earlier bond.

“The people in the district will be giving money directly for the infrastructure of the college. You can see the infrastructure benefitting in the new building, the plumbing and the repairs.” Ken Brown, board of trustees member, said.

One major limitation of the bill is that the funds gained will not be usable for employee salaries or retirement funds.

Instead the money will only be used for facilities, equipment and improvements to the physical well being of the campus, Bill Beverly, board of trustees president, said However, despite that limitation, the bill is extremely important to the campus’s future, Beverly said.

“Measure E extends our bond. We know that specific money is 100 percent guaranteed to go into our campus.

That money can only be used for specified capital purposes,

but at least it goes directly into our campus,” Beverly said.

While that means the money won’t be usable as a means to increase the current number of courses at El Camino, the money saved by making improvements to the campus could quickly build to a substantial figure.

“Right now because of the facilities that have been completed to date from the 2002 measure, we have saved $100,000 in energy costs at El Camino. When we finish the

projects from the 2002 bond measure, the college will save $360,000 in energy costs,” Ann Garten, community relations director, said.

If Measure E passes and all projects are completed, not only will the college save nearly $1 million in annual energy costs, but also the college’s carbon footprint will be reduced greatly, Garten added.

“The residents who are voting on Measure E, will pay a certain portion in their property tax bill. Right now from the

2002 bond, people pay $16.88 per $100,000 of assessed value of their home (not market value). With the passage of Measure E this November, the property tax would increase by only $7 more per $100,000 of assessed value of their property,” Garten said.

Only those who live within the El Camino district (Hawthorne, Lawndale, Inglewood, Torrance, Redondo beach, Manhattan Beach and El Segundo) will able to vote on the measure in November, since it

will only affect them.

Current students at EC are “reaping the benefits from students from 10 years ago,” and now students in 2012 are able to make the same impact on future students by voting to support Measure E on during the November election, Garten said.

“The world isn’t about today, it’s about looking forward and thinking about providing for the students that will be here 10 years from now,” Garten added.

Puente Mentor Training Workshop

CSU Long Beach Admissions workshop

Transfer Day Fair on Library Lawn

Transfer Admissions Guarantee Workshop

Personal Statement Workshop

Students interested in joining the Puente Mentor Program should attend the Puente Mentor Training workshop today in Humanities Room 208 from 6 to 7 p.m. For more details, call 310660-3593, ext. 3408

The Transfer Services Department will be hosting a workshop on CSU Long Beach Admissions next Tuesday from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Distance Education Room. To learn more, call 310660-3593, ext. 3408

Next Tuesday the Transfer Services Department will be hosting a Transfer Day Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Schauerman Library lawn. For more information, interested persons may call 310-660-3593, ext. 6137

Students involved in the Honors Transfer Program are encouraged to attend the TAG workshop next Wednesday from 3 to 5 p.m. in CommunicationsRoom 309.

Students in attendance will learn about the HTP TAG agreements.

Interested persons may contact the Transfer Services Department

Students interested in learning how to write a personal statement for transfer applications should attend the Personal Statement Workshop next Thursday from 1 to 2 p.m. in MCS 100A. For more information, interested persons may call 310-660-3593, ext. 3408

2 El Camino College Union POLICE BEAT

By Coree Heard

Student allegedly stole and then returned book

NEWS

Photography students receive acclaim Kyle Mounce Staff Writer

Sept. 11, 11 a.m.–Police responded to a call from the Bookstore. After a male student could not purchase a book because his credit card was declined, he slammed the book down and left the Bookstore. He returned an hour later, grabbed the book and ran out of the store. He returned again to bring back the book and apologize to the Bookstore staff. No charges were filed.

Bike reported stolen near Humanities Building Sept. 10, 11 a.m.–Officers responded to a call regarding a bike that was allegedly stolen from a bike rack near the Humanities Building.

A male student parked and secured his bike in the rack, but upon his return, he found his bike had been taken although the chain and lock were still intact. There were no witnesses and police do not have a suspect.

Altercation in parking lot gets physical Sept. 5, 4 p.m.–Officers responded to parking lot B after receiving a call about an altercation between a male student and a female student. When officers arrived, the female student alleged that during a scheduled visitation with their child in the parking lot the male student had encroached on her personal space. He said she pushed him and She said he slapped her.

The male student denied the claim and the female student refused to press charges. No arrest was made.

September 20, 2012

Courtesy of Gloria Plascencia “Alone in the Crowd” by Gloria Plascencia is a Photographer’s Forum magazine 2012 competition finalist photo.

After pitting their photos against other students from across the globe, six EC students will have their work featured in the book, “Best of College & High School Photography 2012,” Darilyn Rowan, photography professor, said.

The photographers featured in the book placed in the top 10 percent of a competition that had 16,000 entries from all over the world and was judged by several prestigious photography professionals, Rowan said.

EC students featured in the publication include: Joseph Clausen, Patricia Kim, Robert Long, Gloria Plascencia and Jason Riney, Rowan said.

“Being featured in the publication is a very big deal in the photography community, since Photographer’s Forum’s contest is world renown,” Rowan said.

“As an artist, being recognized in the publication is a great honor,” Long, 29, photography major said. “It’s motivation to know that if you keep doing something that you love doing, eventually you will be one of the best and be the best

that you can be.”

Long said this was the second year he had entered the contest, but his first time being published in the book; he had also been featured in the EC Myriad recently.

Long said that he intends to submit an entry into the contest next year and is confident in his repeated success. He added that he plans to continue improving himself and getting closer to becoming a professional photographer.

“I see myself owning my own studio and hiring other photographers to do other types of work,” Long said.

Plascencia, 52, photography major, said that this is her third time being featured in the book.

She said it is great to be published, but that she still remains focused on being published as a professional photographer rather than as a student.

Plascencia said that she is a fine art photographer who specializes in photographing natural landscapes, but that she is excited about a current project in which she portrays someone who is homeless in self-portraits.

“I like to tell a story with my images,” Placencia said. “I can find art anywhere I go.”

Board split delays vote on Proposition 30 Karly Daquila Staff Writer

After a difference of opinion over officially endorsing Proposition 30, the board of trustees suspended a vote on the matter until their next meeting, Jasmine Hormati, board of trustees’ student representative, said.

Only four out of the five board members with voting power were present at the meeting.

“The split between the board was caused because two members had concerns whether the money would come back to schools while the other two members felt very strongly that schools in California would in

fact benefit greatly from Proposition 30,” Hormati said. “Wanting more information to make an informed decision either way, we tabled the vote until the fifth trustee was present.”

Bill Beverly, board president, said that viewpoints expressed by board members during the discussion of Proposition 30 indicated that if a vote had been taken it would have ended in a tie.

Beverly said that his personal reticence in supporting Proposition 30 was due to the broad nature of the measure.

“The problem is that the measure itself doesn’t guarantee that the increases will result in supplemental money for education. In

other words, they still could take these tax increases but not give us more money because there is no guarantee,” Beverly said.

Without the passage of Proposition 30, schools and colleges face an additional $6 billion in budget cuts, affecting K-12 schools, community colleges, the California State University system and the University of California system, according to the California Voter Guide.

Hormati said that people had the power to help protect education by voting for Proposition 30 in November.

“Proposition 30 is really important because if it doesn’t pass, we’re going to have budget cuts,

which means less classes, less services for students and as a student rep. (representative), I think that is a really big issue,” Hormati said. “If it doesn’t pass, we’re going to be in a lot of trouble across California.”

Kenneth Brown, board member, said that although Proposition 30 has its benefits, there is no explicit language in the proposition that specifies the exact amount of money that will go directly to community colleges, but if Proposition 30 does not allocate necessary support there will be guaranteed cuts.

“It’s really important that the word get out to anyone of voting age that this is directly going to

affect them,” Brown said.

He added that it was the “duty” of voters to research the measures and candidates that will be on the November ballot.

The next board meeting is scheduled for Oct. 5 and will be held in the board room located in the Administration Building.

Meetings are open to the public.

“I am frankly not one that has a whole lot of faith or trust in them (politicians),” Beverly said. “So even if we base it (vote for Proposition 30) on the fact that if we get more money and there won’t be cuts, at the end of the day when they (politicians) go back to Northern California they can do whatever they want.”

EC alumnus has connection to the space shuttle soon landing at LAX Carl Martin

Staff Writer

As anticipation grows over the arrival of the space shuttle Endeavor in Los Angeles tomorrow, students should know that an EC alumnus was a member of its final space mission, Joe Holliday, earth sciences professor, said.

Holliday said U.S. Air Force Col. Michael Fincke was the mission specialist on Endeavours’ final 16-day space flight. He also completed two tours on the inter-

national space station.

“That’s amazing that he spent almost a year of his life out in space,” Holliday said.

He added that he has a picture of Fincke in the space station wearing a sweatshirt with El Camino printed across the front.

Finke was one of only two students majoring in geology when he attended EC in 1993 and although Holliday didn’t have him in any of his classes they have spent time together over the years, he said.

“He’s a really nice guy, not egotistic like Buzz Aldrin,” Holliday said.

He said that Fincke was a good example of the interesting career paths that many EC geology alumni pursue.

Holliday added that he was excited about having Endeavour here in Los Angeles.

“I’m hoping this is going to be a great opportunity to organize trips to the Science Center for the Science Club as well as my geology students,” Holliday said.

Accreditation back on track Monique Judge

Co-Opinion Editor

Four years after being placed on warning by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), the college has made progress toward ensuring it retains its accreditation status.

The college was initially placed on warning in February 2009 after an October 2008 visit from an ACCJC task force found the college lacking in several areas including student learning outcomes (SLO), which are meant to ensure that the college continues to make improvements in the delivery of student learning.

“The warning was from the 2008 accreditation visit and we cleared it up within the year in which we responded to those recommendations,” Jeanie Nishime, vice president of student and community advancement said.

According to a letter from the ACCJC posted on the EC website, the college was given two years to correct the issues the task force found concern with. The original due date for completion was October 2009.

During the October 2009 task force visit, it was found that the college had made substantial improvements in its processes for assessing institutional quality and making improvements.

“We addressed all the recommendations and those were all accepted by the commission,” Nishime said.

According to a December 2009 letter from the Commission available on the EC accreditation website, “All appropriate participants are now involved in the program review process,

all program reviews have been documented as completed, and the projected timetables showing scheduled program reviews through 2016 should meet the Commission standard.”

“In other words, we are in no danger of losing our accreditation,” Nishime said.

Each division of the college has at least one SLO facilitator whose job it is to ensure that all faculty are conducting course assessments, know when assessments are due and how to plan and carry out assessments.

Rachel Williams, full-time English instructor, is the facilitator of the SLOs for the Humanities Division.

“One hundred percent of our courses have SLO in humanities, and so do all our programs,” Williams said. “We are making sure we have done regular assessments.”

Williams added that a great deal of time has been spent making sure that student learning outcomes are in line with what the college faculty wants the students to learn.

“Our division is making really good progress. Everyone understands the importance the SLOs, and that there is a reason why we are doing it, and that it is important for our accreditation as an institution,” Williams said.

“We are at one hundred percent in terms of every course and every program having an SLO. We are on track to be at one hundred whenever our schedule says we will be,” Williams added.

The follow-up report from the college, which is due on Oct. 15, has been drafted by President Tom Fallo and is available for viewing on the EC accreditation website.

The arrival of Endeavour has peaked the interest of at least one student.

Lee Takeuchi, 19, astrophysics major, said he is a member of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Club and sees this as a chance to learn more about space travel.

“I’ll probably take the opportunity to go see Endeavour,” Takeuchi said. “Not only to learn about it, but the replacements being built by companies like SpaceX.” After completing a tour across the country mounted on a spe-

cially-built Boeing 747, the space shuttle will be landing at Los Angeles International Airport tomorrow, ushering in the end of the space shuttle program, according to NASA According to the NASA website, the plane carrying the shuttle will make low-level flyovers of areas in Northern California, including Sacramento and San Francisco before landing in Los Angeles.

Endeavour will remain at LAX for several weeks while it is be-

ing prepared for a 12-mile crawl through the streets of Ingelwood and Los Angeles to the California Science Center where it is scheduled to arrive Oct. 13 and will be put on exhibit Oct. 30, according to the science center’s website.

According to the science center Website. Endeavour was the newest of NASA’s space shuttle fleet and flew 25 missions from 1992 until 2011. It spent about 300 days in orbit and traveled over 1.2 million miles in space during its mission lifetime.

FEATURES

September 20, 2012

El Camino College Union

3

Celebrating Hispanic Culture through traditions Viridiana Vaca-Rios Editor-in-Chief

Mixing a combination of water and flour, she kneeds it until it becomes a “masa” (dough) and smoothly spreads it on maxan husks to make the traditional Guatemalan “tamales.”

In another part of the world, the vibrant colors and patterns flow freely across the stage as the Folklorico dancers sway their arms smoothly to the sounds of the Mariachi music.

Meanwhile, in the Puerto Rican islands, dancers break a sweat as they dance the night away to the salsa.

Whether it is music, food or celebrations, they are all traditions and although they are celebrated in different Latin American countries, they are all celebrated in the U.S. to celebrate as part of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes the

achievements of Hispanics throughout history.

It is also a time where Hispanic people take time to recognize their background and where their ancestors come from.

“I’m proud of my heritage for a lot of reasons. The culture is pretty amazing, the music, the traditions, even the way I look is something to be proud of,” Jaime Morales, 19, Architecture major said.

A few misconceptions about Hispanic Heritage Month is that only the Mexican culture celebrates this month and some may even associate it with Cinco de Mayo.

However, according to the U.S. Census, the term Hispanic is defined as “people who classified themselves in one of the specific Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino such as: Mexican, Mexican-American, Chicano, Puerto Rican or “Cuban.”

Students like Andrea Netro, 19, criminal justice major said being able to iden-

tify herself is important.

“I identify myself as a Latina,” Netro said. “My dad is from El Districto Federal and my mom is from San Luis Potosi.

We have Mexican-style parties like quinceneras, posadas and fiestas.”

Other students take part in celebrating the independence of the country where their parents came from.

“Well, my family always celebrates El Grito de Dolores. I just love the vibrancy and color of my heritage,” Amber Lopez, 18, liberal studies major said about her Mexican heritage celebrations.

Magaly Herrera, 18, sociology major, said she is proud of where she comes from as every aspect of her heritage is a part in who she is.

“Yes, I’m very proud of my heritage, the food, the music, it’s all an important part of being El Salvadorian,” she said.

Hispanic heritage within l.a.

El Camino is Spanish for "The Road." whichrefers to California's first road: "El Camino Real," which means "The King's Road," or "The Royal Road."

Plaza Mexico is surrounded by a church, government buildings, markets and museums. At the Plaza, there are fountains and a “kiosco,” which is a raised platform used as a stage. The purpose of the plaza design is to be able to have social gatherings and public entertainment. Plaza Mexico is located in Lynwood and offers a variety of places to shop and eat.

Olvera Street is in the oldest part of Downtown Los Angeles, California, and is part of the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument. Many Latinos refer to it as “La Placita Olvera.”

L.A. area events

Baja Splash Cultural Festival Live music from Mariachi to interactive percussion, crafts, cuisine, art, and educational shows about the amazing animals of Baja will be featured at the event. There will be the celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month with its10th annual bilingual festival featuring cultural dance performances from ancient Aztec to folk dances from Mexico and beyond.

When: Sunday and Monday Where: Long Beach Aquarium

Mapping Another LA: The Chicano Art Movement Beginning with the establishment of the first Chicano art gallery in 1969 in East L.A., Chicano artists launched a collective reimagining of the urban landscape through photography, graphic arts, murals and large-scale architectural plans, as well as through painting, sculpture, installation, and drawing.

When: Oct. 16 Where: UCLA Fowler Museum

Fiesta Mexicana IX Fiesta Mexicana is a long tradition of honoring L.A.’s local musical heritage.

Called variedad concert which means variety, the show features the Mariachi Monumental, Trio Casablanca and the voices of Roberto Romo, Cindy Luna and recording artist Belinda Gomez.

Banda Futura will also be playing at the event. When: Sept. 24 Where: Ford Amphitheatre For more information interested persons may call 323-461-3673.

Chanclaso The Los Angeles City Employees Chicano Association will host its annual Chanclaso reception in recognition of the significant contributions and achievements for Hispanic Heritage Month.

Josefina Salinas, from 92.3 FM Radio, will be the Mistress of Ceremonies. When: Friday, Oct. 3 Where: City Hall Third Floor Rotunda and Forecourt, 200 N. Spring St., Los Angeles Cost: Free Information: 213-847-2229 or RSVP@LACECA.org

Los Feliz, CA, also known as

Rancho Los Feliz, Spanish for “Feliz Ranch” is named for its land grantee José Vicente Feliz. The 6,647-acre Rancho Los Feliz was one of the first land grants in California.

EDITORIAL

4 El Camino College Union

September 20, 2012

Pell Grants should remain available to students

Illustration by Monique Judge

Pell Grant eligibility regulations have changed in a way that puts students who are unable to attend classes on a full-time basis at an unfair disadvantage.

The new regulations, which went into effect in July 2012, change the maximum Pell Grant eligibility from 18 semesters, or nine years, to just twelve semesters, or six years. The idea behind the changes is that many students have been on financial aid for years without making any progress toward their degree.

The problem with a blanket change such as this is that in addition to targeting the students that are taxing the system, it unfairly penalizes students that for various reasons cannot attend school full time in order to complete a degree.

Most college catalogs have a paragraph in them that suggests working students limit the number of units they take based on the number of hours they work per week.

According to the EC college catalog, “If employment requires 40 hours or more per week, students would limit their study program to 7 units or less each semester.”

Following that example, a student taking 7 units a semester would take roughly nine semesters just to complete an associate degree. The same student would require close to 17 semesters to complete a four-year program.

The way the regulations are set now, a student in that situation

The Issue • Should all students be held to the same set of standards for Pell Grants?

Our Stand • No. Each student should be judged individually.

would run out of aid eligibility before they completed their full program.

Should students be penalized for following direct advice from their college? No. Instead of lumping everyone under the same umbrella with this new policy, the Department of Education and individual col-

leges should instead focus on the students that are abusing the system, and allow students that are making steady progress towards degree completion to continue to receive their Pell Grants.

A lot of students have obligations that make full-time attendance in a college program impossible. To tell these students that they will only get aid through part of their program and then be on their own for the rest is unfair and unnecessary.

If school financial aid departments worked in conjunction with advisers and counseling departments to make sure that all students are on track with their programs, these problems would likely go away over time.

Limiting Pell Grant eligibility in this manner is not solving the problem it is meant to address; it is in fact causing more problems, and will hinder many students from being able to get an education.

This is definitely counterintuitive. The rules need to be changed.

-See related article on Page 1

Measure E will benefit both EC and the surrounding environment A vote of yes on the measure will go a long way toward making the campus more green Measure E is a proposal to raise property taxes in Hawthorne, Lawndale, Inglewood, Torrance, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach and El Segundo, and send the money directly into the EC campus.

For students, this should be an easy decision. Most students aren’t homeowners and will remain unaffected.

For homeowners, having a top-of-the-line community college in the district can only raise property values. At $7 more per $100,000 of assessed property value, the tax increase is minimal.

A similar measure that passed in 2002 has been a great success and has already saved EC money.

This makes confidence in this measure come much easier.

Measure E will be dedicated 100 percent to physical plant changes. The money will be used to make the campus more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

Going green is the going theme right now.

Changes like these seem inevitable for a campus striving to be a premier institution. It makes sense to complete these projects now, especially in light of other proposed projects on campus.

This is not just about EC and its students.

As society moves forward in the 21st century, the emphasis is going to be on how big of a car-

bon footprint is being left behind.

Society’s daily routines may be easily overlooked, but with a growing population, every advance toward limiting resource waste can have an exponential impact on protecting the future.

It does seem a bit impractical on the surface because the areas that students tend to notice more readily are extended waits for counselors, the long lines at the cashier’s office, and the bookstore visits that cost them in both money and time.

However, more resources for staff could be obtained indirectly.

EC stands to save significant money by being energy efficient.

With the money the campus saves in the long run, more coun-

selors and desk clerks could be hired.

The measure will also be an equalizer in the process, by allowing for older buildings on campus to be upgraded.

The Humanities Building is an oasis of comfort on a hot summer day, but one might look at a classroom in the Manhattan Beach Boulevard Modules and wonder if it’s the same campus.

The MBBM rooms are each equipped with a giant air conditioning unit about the size of 1950s television set. When the units knock into action they grimace with the amount of energy surging through them.

Sitting in a class full of hybrid cars would be quieter, and they’re

still no match for the persistent California sun.

The MBBM classrooms also lack windows, which means no natural light and no fresh air circulating. The rooms rely purely on artificial air and light which can be costly in the long term.

Contrast that with the Humanities building.

The Humanities building has three floors of classrooms that each have at least one wall full of windows.

The building is fully air-conditioned, so students will always walk into a temperature regulated space.

There are bathroom facilities for both sexes on every floor of the building, and two elevators to

service students on opposite ends of the hallway; no other building on campus boasts that.

Learning in the Humanities Building is far easier than learning in an MBBM classroom.

It is worth mentioning that the EC Associated Students Organization passed a resolution supporting Measure E. While EC is making leaps and bounds into the future, there is still much room for improvement.

Measure E should be welcomed by anyone with a class in an older building.

The view from Crenshaw Boulevard is spectacular, but there are still a few neglected corners in our big campus.

-See related article on Page 1

DREAM act can give opportunities for students A zombie apocalypse is a real possibility CAMPUS INSIGHT I came into this country illegally, using my brother’s identity. I was a 14-year-old kid crossing the border to pursue the American dream.

Jesus Gonzalez Architecture major, 21 At the San Ysidro, an agent from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE began asking me a lot of questions. I didn’t understand him because I didn’t speak any English at all.

My aunt was translating everything for me. I was afraid of being caught, but fortunately we made it across the border with no problems.

In the beginning, it was hard for me. I had a new city and a new lifestyle to get used to. Being illegal means you have less opportunities to get a good education and find a good job.

Those first days, I really wanted to go back to home. I wanted to find a job and begin working, but they always asked for a Social Security number, and I did not have one.

When I did find a job, I drove myself to work, and many times I was pulled over. I got numerous “no driver’s license” tickets and had my car taken away, but I had to drive to work.

Paying for school was no easier, because tuition is expensive, and we all know it, but I work, and I am proud of the fact that I have paid for my education.

U

NIO

EL CAMINO COLLEGE

N

Vol. 66, No. 03 September 20, 2012

E -mail: eccunion@gmail.com Newsroom: (310) 660-3328 Advertising: (310) 660-3329

I first heard about the DREAM act from my father. I did some research on it and learned more. I felt a sense of pride for those that started the movement, because in some way they were fighting for the benefit of thousands of illegal students.

I then applied for the AB540 program, and I was excited about the possibility of being able to continue studying with the worry of financial burden.

A few months later, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals was approved and I now had the chance to work legally with a valid Social Security number. A valid SSN means a person has more chances of succeeding in this country.

As a student, it meant that I would be able to get the benefits of financial aid. It also meant I could receive a driver’s license.

I don’t know about you, but I plan to continue to remain alert to see what else awaits us, me and many other illegal immigrant students in the future.

Editor’s Note: To protect the identity of Jesus Gonzalez, his image has been omitted.

The views expressed here are the author’s and do not represent those of the Union, its staff, editorial board or advisors.

Editor-in-Chief ���������������������������������������� Viridiana Vaca-Rios Co-News Editor .....................................................Thomas Schmit Co-News Editor ...........................................................Philip Prins Co-Opinion Editor ������������������������������������������ Monique Judge Co-Opinion Editor ���������������������������������������������� Rigo Bonilla Features Editor ���������������������������������������� Viridiana Vaca-Rios Arts Editor �������������������������������������������������������������� Diane Vay Sports Editor ������������������������������������������������������Mary Alvarez Photo Editor ����������������������������������������������������������Philip Prins Advertising Manager ������������������������������������Stephanie Alcorn Adviser ����������������������������������������������������������Lori Medigovich Adviser ���������������������������������������������������������Kate McLaughlin Technical Support ����������������������������������������������������Don Treat

COMMENTARY Finally. The Department of Homeland Security has addressed the biggest threat to the American way of life since Dubstep and skinny jeans.

Rigo Bonilla Co-Opinion Editor “There are all kinds of emergencies out there that we can prepare for. Take a zombie apocalypse for example,” according to an article posted on the DHS’ official website.

The article goes on to list preventive measures for a zombie apocalypse and other disasters like having water, food, clothes and medication readily available.

Why President Barack Obama and presidential hopeful Mitt Romney haven’t addressed this issue is baffling.

Healthcare and taxes? Zombies. Foreign policy and the national deficit? Zombies!

With bath salts and face-chewing incidents coming to national attention recently and AMC’s hit series “The Walking Dead” returning for its third-season on Oct. 14, zombies are on the tip of America’s teeth.

The truth is that most of the time nobody listens to precautions unless there’s a gimmick. Compared to the rest of the world, Americans have it good with things like iPhones, giant televisions and Netflix.

Perhaps the American dream is the haze of denial

The Union is published Thursdays by Journalism 11 students at El Camino College, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance, CA 90506, and is free to the student body and staff.

Unsigned editorials and cartoons are the opinion of the editorial board and do not reflect the views of the student body, staff or administration. Letters to the editor must be signed and must be received one week prior to publication in the Union office, Humanities Building Room 113.

Letters are subject to editing for space, libel, obscenity and disruption of the educational process. Single copies of the Union are free; multiple copies can be requested through the Union.

we carry with us in our daily lives. Life is fragile.

It’s not exactly fun to think about scenarios in which our lives could drastically change for the worst in a day, unless of course you’re hypothetically strategizing for a zombie showdown.

Where would you get your water? How long would the food in your house last you? Would the freeways even be an option for evacuation, or would they be deadlocked in traffic?

Maybe the whole undead uprising idea is ridiculous, but anything can happen in this life.

For Californians a devastating earthquake is a very real possibility.

A terrorist attack is a possibility.

If some silly zombie-talk is what it takes for people to take a second and think about survival situations, it’s definitely worth the eye-rolls.

There are natural disasters and human tragedies every day around the world, it would be silly not to have thought about survival before the situation arises.

While life may seem secure with all this technology and convenience cushioning us from the harsh realities that life sometimes deals out, being prepared can only make us more comfortable.

So, whether it’s Mother Nature, the tides of politics or hoards of flesh-depraved undead, having a fallback plan can save your life.

Associated Collegiate Press Regional Pacemaker Award 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2012 California Newspaper Publishers’ Association General Excellence Award 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005 Journalism Association of Community Colleges General Excellence Award 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

OPINION

September 20, 2012

El Camino College Union

UP FOR DEBATE

Should GPA determine financial aid eligibility?

All students should have at least a 2.0

Carl Martin Staff Writer

The Spanish words el camino mean “the road” in English, but it should be the way to success, not the way to academic probation.

The new law even gives students a second chance by placing them on academic probation for the first time they drop below a 2.0 GPA. One chance should be enough.

Financial aid shouldn’t be entirely based on GPA. Not all students are coming from the same place, and they don’t all have the same goals.

Although many community colleges today are designed as stepping-stones to higher educational pursuits, and GPA does

Illustration by Karla Marmolejo

play a part, there are other reasons that a GPA might not be required.

Many students looking specifically for job skills are doing so due to layoffs from their previous jobs in which financial resources to pay for community college are probably a big concern already.

To hold a student who is returning to school for job re-training, in automotive mechanics for example, to a 2.0 GPA, could be a huge impediment to their academic success.

Not everyone who attends community college is looking to go on to a higher education.

Many students who do, may be going in at a disadvantage after already being out of school for a number of years.

In addition, these students are probably returning to school because of economic issues. Many are either training in other skills or to enhancing their current set of skills.

This type of policy could have detrimental impacts to these type of students and could possibly impair economic growth in the nation overall.

Community colleges today can be much more than just a stepchild of the higher education system, as President Barack Obama said.

President Obama recognizes that the value of community colleges in not only providing that path to higher education, but also in providing re-training and job skills in this ever-changing economy.

In 2009, Obama proposed a $12 billion plan to support community colleges in these type of efforts, but Congress only authorized $2 billion.

Just this year, Obama proposed another $8 billion plan, which Congress didn’t act on at all.

Obama’s plan alone could have trained more than two million new workers with skills leading directly to a job, according to a New York Times article in February.

As summer transitions into fall, the student lifestyle also changes with it COLUMN

Karly Daquila Staff Writer

Saturday marks the autumnal equinox, the first official day of fall. This signals the end of summer months and the segue into winter months.

While welcoming fall with open arms, I cannot wait to wear scarves and enjoy the beauty that is the season of fall.

“I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house. So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air,” Nathaniel Hawthorne, an American novelist, said.

CAMPUS CORNER

By Rigo Bonilla

Not all students share the same circumstances

Coree Heard Staff Writer

Every semester, California’s community colleges hand out fee waivers to students who prove their financial need, but the newly passed Student Success Act of 2012 changes that, requiring students to maintain a 2.0 GPA. Students should be able to maintain, at the very minimum, a 2.0 GPA. One of the main conversations students continue to have is how expensive everything is becoming, but there hasn’t been anything done about it, at least until now.

There is too much money being wasted on D average students every year who are rewarded for being undedicated.

The results of that great amount of money being abused are higher tuition rates, fewer classes, crowded classrooms and quite a few questions about whether community college students are serious about their education.

Community colleges give the opportunity, especially to low-income students, to attend school, and while some are taking advantage by working hard, others are dropping classes as soon as the money arrives.

What the Student Success Act will do for colleges all over California is weed out undedicated students before classes start; this will allow dedicated students to get the classes they need for them to meet their goal.

Once colleges stop investing in students who are not performing academically, the money can be used elsewhere.

The funds could be used for campus resources. For example, the Writing Center.

In past semesters, the Writing Center allowed students to print all their English related papers, but since last spring, those privileges have been eliminated.

It’s true that there are plenty of students who are not academically nor mentally prepared to attend college, but more campus workshops could send students up a better path.

5

Even though summer months are magical, the transitional beauty that comes with welcoming fall is almost more of an exciting time.

Fall is filled with cozy fashions, delicious coffee drinks, “Rockto- ber” and it shares a certain aura with the holiday season.

The current heat wave may have many thinking that I am insane for being as thrilled as I am for the autumnal season, but when considering the exciting things ahead, how can you not be?

The heatwave should be over soon-I hope.

Shifting from strappy summer styles into the expressive fall trends is one of the easiest fashion feats to accomplish, especially on a student’s budget.

For the ladies, opting to layer tights under summer cut offs and dresses is a great way to resourcefully wear warm weather trends while trying to keep warm on your way to an 8 a.m. math class.

CAMPUS VIEWPOINTS

By Rigo Bonilla and Mikey Williams

I have been noticing a growing trend among men.

The guys have been reaching for military inspired jackets to throw on over sweatshirts to keep warm. This is an inexpensively in- triguing piece that you can find at any thrift or surplus store.

While wearing a few scarves and cardigans, it only feels appropriate to be walking over the sunset colored leaves and browsing the upcoming concerts in the Los Angeles area.

With fall comes my favorite month: “Rocktober.”

It’s just around the corner, and it marks the beginning of concert season in the Los Angeles area.

A helpful tip to not miss your favorite artists coming to town is liking them on Facebook or signing up for email updates.

Getting on mailing lists will ensure that you will not miss the opportunity to experience your favorite bands and artists.

I am personally excited for The

First Aid Kit, a Swedish folk duo, to come to The Fonda Theatre Oct. 16 and M. Ward to be at the Orpheum on Oct. 21.

Thankfully, fall coffee drinks are on the shelves and ready to be served at my favorite coffee shops. Somehow, pumpkin spice makes any day better, even after a long night at one of your favorite con- certs.

Personally, the coming of fall symbolizes a new year.

With the beginning of the semester, I feel that this is a starting point to be productive, yet still be able to slow down and enjoy every moment, especially as we head into the holidays.

Growing up, my family has always been extremely festive around the holidays.

Fall signifies the start of the holiday season, filled with family, friends and festive traditions.

Fall is like a kickoff to the holidays. Though there may not be any holidays around the corner,

the rituals themselves like bundling up and chatting with friends on a cold September evening is as special to me as any calendar holiday.

Some may groan at the thought of losing their beloved summer, but I feel that we should welcome the change with open arms.

Throw on a scarf and get ready for the exciting things that fall has to offer!

Please connect with me by email at karlydaquila@gmail.com Follow me on Twitter @ECCUnionKarly

Brooke Matson President Associated Students Organization

Brooke Matson is the President of the ASO. The ASO will meet every other Thursday at 1:00 p.m. in the Administration Building, Room 233.

When is the next meeting?

The next meeting is this Thursday. The Thursday meetings are the most popular.

What is the purpose of the ASO? ASO is the student voice. It’s the student’s sole representation at the college, local, state, and federal level.

How can students join the ASO, and what’s the process?

Students can print out the ASO application form on the EC website. After filling it out, they can turn it into my box in the activity center.

What’s the most challenging part of running the ASO? Making sure that everything gets as much attention as it deserves.

What issues are the senate addressing this semester?

We just passed a resolution supporting Measure E. We will address Prop. 30 next.

What are your personal views on Measure 30?

It’s a good thing. Facilities will be updated, not just for us, but for future students.

Do you have anything you would like to tell the EC student body?

It’s an important election year.

Students have to be informed voters, no matter what their political beliefs are.

What’s the most rewarding part of being in the ASO? The most rewarding thing is feeling that i’m a part of something that is bigger than myself.

Join the conversation online at www.eccunion.com The views expressed in this column are those of the author. They do not represent the views or opinions of the Union, its staff, editorial board or advisers.

Should GPA determine financial aid elgibility?

REPORTED FROM CAFE CAMINO

Jamie Goya, 19, Pre-Med Biology Major

Frank Villanueva, 21, Music Major

Kacee Neria, 21, English Major

Lester Gandionco, 21, Japanese Major

Shantae Cole, 23, Chemical Engineering Major

Daniel Montoya, 19, Pre-Med Major

“No. Some people fall below a 2.0 GPA, not because they’re undedicated, but because they have lots of responsibility.”

“Yes. If your GPA is below a 2.0, that means you’re not putting in work. Why even waste money on those students?”

“No. It’s not always that people don’t apply themselves.

Sometimes people don’t have a good job or a goal.”

“Yes. All you need is a 2.0.

Financial aid should encourage students to put in effort. Financial aid is a privilege.”

“No. Everyone learns differently. Not all students are fast learners, and some have a bad semester.”

“Yes. The whole point is to help with school. If you’re not doing well, why should you get money that others could use?”

6 El Camino College Union ON THE SCENE

ARTS

Welding takes shape in a form of art some experience through welding.

“At first, when they get into the class, they can’t see it because they have never done this before,“ Newell said. “But that moment when they actually see it for the first time is great, because then you know that they can control and shape the metal which makes the ‘Heart’ project a lot easier for them.”

Amelia Soto, 20, arts major, may have been surprised when she heard the welding department is focusing on what may be considered a more delicate side of a utilitarian skill.

“I thought the welding students will only be focusing more on the career side of welding, or more mechanical,” Soto said. “I thought they’d be focusing on the basics.”

Although students like Soto may not have expected welding to have an artistic side to it, the welding courses prove otherwise.

The course offers more than an artistic view to welding as well as requires students to brainstorm various ideas as to how they may want to add art into their welding structures or figures.

Newell said it gives her students a sense of confidence in the accomplishment of their skill levels as welders.

For students like Krista Williams, 18, arts major, an artistic approach to welding comes as no surprise.

“My dad is a welder, and I’ve always seen it as an art,” Williams said.

Williams said that although welding may be considered a functional activity, it is also a form of art.

Some students who have a history in art like Vicente Lara, 21, computer science major, may even show interest in how art and welding can be incorporated together.

“I used to draw a lot,” Lara said. “Although I don’t have much time to draw, I would like to see more sculptures: especially metal sculpting.”

While the course may capture some interest of those related to the field of art, welding may require more than artistic knowledge.

“The art depends on how the person is; how they are, what they like, and their

Ashley Marie Patterson Monique Judge

Staff Writer

Art

While paper mache, glitter and glue are what usually come to mind when arts and crafts are involved, sparks and flames and metal can also be art.

Among the classes offered on campus there are also courses such as welding that incorporate art.

“Certain metals can be distorted and stretched,” Renee Newell, welding instructor, said. “Because of this, I like to show the students the more creative side of welding.”

When attending her courses, students are presented with a different approach in welding that takes them away from the thought of simply fusing metal together.

Through these courses, students learn how to express their emotions through Newell’s “Heart” project.

The “Heart” project is used to test the welding student’s skills of creativity with the use of some project materials provided for them.

“This project allows students to learn about control when it comes to heating the metal, how to identify different types of metals and which rods they need to use in order to get the result they are looking for,” Newell said.

She said showing students this side of welding could also surprise students, especially since welding is viewed as more ‘macho’ or masculine kind of skill.

“Personally, from my experience in welding, there are two forms of welders,” Eddie Rodriguez, 39, undecided major, said. “The first one I consider them classical welders who build buildings and bridges, which are structural; the second are the romantic welders.”

He said he refers to romantic welders as naïve welders who are not formally trained, yet display a certain knowledge of how to construct or build from within their hearts.

“I always like to see the moment when students can recognize the weld puddle, the joint where two metals can connect,” Newell said.

While metal may be melted together, it could also mold students into beginning

‘The Subterranean’ at the Torrance Museum On Saturday, “The Subtarraneans” will be on display for its opening reception at the Torrance Art Museum.

This exhibit will feature various artworks created by various artists. For the reception, the museum wil be open from 6–9 p.m. The exhibit is scheduled to run through Nov. 3. For more information, interested persons may call 310-328-5310.

‘The Red Market’ comes to Torrance On Wednesday, Scott Carney, an investigative journalist, will discuss his latest book, “The Red Market: On the Trail of the World’s Organ Brokers, Gone Thieves, Blood Farmers, and Child Traffickers.” This book will focus on the “red market,” where human bodies and body parts are traded in secret. The event will take place at the Katy Geissert Civic Center Library Community Meeting Room at 7 p.m. For more information, interested persons may call 310-618-5959.

Movies ‘America Parklands 2’ at Marsee Auditorium As part of the Discovery Travel Cinema series, the EC Center for the Arts presents “America’s Parklands 2,” a film that explores national parks from Alaska to the Florida Everglades. The film will be screened Monday, with showtimes at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the Marsee Auditorium. Tickets are $7, and may be purchased at the box office, via the Center for the Arts website, or by calling 1-800-832-ARTS.

September 20, 2012

Philip Prins/ Union Renee Newel, welding instructor, uses a cutting rod to carve the shape of a heart out of a metal plate. Newell has been teaching at the college for three years and uses her welding abilities to teach students and to fulfill her artistic vision through metal sculpting.

knowledge of welding and skill,” Rodriguez said.

He said the way a person creates a sculpture to weld also depends on their knowledge of how to use the equipment and material that he or she choses to use.

“Art is welding and welding is art,” Rodriguez said. “You have to have knowl-

Editor-in-Chief

‘Musical Obbligatos’ at the Campus Theatre

Musicians to perform at the Haag Recital Hall On Oct. 1, Kurt Festinger will direct student musicians as they perform in the Haag Recital Hall at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10, and may be purchased at the box office, via the Center for the Arts website, or by calling 1-800-832-ARTS.

Theatre American History under one stage On Sept. 28, the Torrance Theater Company will feature its first performance for “The Complete History of America (Abridged).” Directed by Gia Jordahl, the performances will include songs and sketches.

The performances are scheduled to run through Oct. 27.

Tickets will cost $25 per person. For more information, interested persons may call 424243-6882.

Fifth movie survives from more than a deadly virus Viridiana Vaca-Rios

Music

On Saturday, as part of the Artists-In-Residence series, the EC Center For The Arts presents “Musical Obbligatos.” Barbara Dyer, Dane Teter, Vicki Muto, Kenner Bailey, Larry Steen and Alex Smith will perform works by Meyerbeer, Mahler, Chabrier, Duparc, Mozart, Humperdinck, Delibes, Wolf and Bolling.

Showtime is 8 p.m. in the Campus Theatre. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased at the box office, via the Center for the Arts website, or by calling 1-800-832-ARTS.

edge from both sides because they go hand in hand.”

He said he views welding as an unlimited art form since various forms of art can take shape through melting metal.

“In welding, you can fuse any kind of metal together,” Rodriguez said. “That is the beauty of art in welding.”

Kyle Borden/ Union Hannah Klobuchar, 19, humanities major, uses photography to capture images of people in their native culture during her travels to other parts of the world.

Student captures different cultures through her photos

Victor Liptzin Staff Writer

Staring through her Nikon D90 camera, she travels the world and takes pictures of people in their native culture.

Hannah Klobuchar, 19, humanities major, enjoys taking pictures of people in countries like Uganda, Africa and Honduras in South America.

“I like immersing myself in a different culture, putting myself in a vulnerable position and getting to know different people and their backgrounds and capturing it through a photograph,” Klobuchar said.

She said the reason she does this is to express her feelings through photography and not through words.

While Klobuchar may have the option of taking photographs in the country, taking photos away from home on another continent may be what she considers a challenge for her photography skills.

“Being in a different country is like kind of being out of your comfort zone,” she said.

Klobuchar takes photos while she attends trips with organizations such as the Pennin-

sula Community Church and Living Water International, an organization that builds water wells in various countries, including Honduras.

Although she has already visited two countries, Klobuchar said she plans to visit more places around the world such as Israel, Australia, Italy, England and Paris.

“I think Hannah Klobuchar is a great friend and is great at capturing God’s creation,” Rocci Medawar, 19, arts major, said.

While Klobuchar takes photos during her travels, she also spends some of her time creating photo albums.

One example of a photo album that she created includes “The Beauty of the Honduran Heart,” an album built through a collection of photos during a medical mission.

Some of these medical missions offer medical assistance and hygiene instructions to villagers in Honduras.

The book features children and adult villagers washing hands.

“The photo that was the most compelling to me was with an elderly person’s hads washing in water and you see the water flowing through these beautiful aged hands,” Darilyn Rowan, photography professor, said.

Dressed in a tight black, leather bodysuit, she swings a long silver chain above her head and wraps it around one of the zombie’s neck, sending the sound of its bones crushing throughout the room.

With a mob of flesh-eating zombies chasing after her, she runs to the center of the annoyingly bright hallway and pulls the loaded gun out of her boot and shoots at everything coming her way.

The fifth and latest installment of the “Resident Evil” saga is no different than past films.

Milla Jovovich who plays the main protagonist, “Alice,” returns to do what she does best, rip the heads off of zombies and to save the human race from the Umbrella Corporation’s T-virus all while wearing a form fitting ensemble.

The beginning of the movies takes the viewer back to where the last movie, “Resident Evil: Afterlife” ended, atop of Arcadia with the remaining survivors of the zombie infection.

After what they believed to be the end of their struggle to find a safe haven, the beginning of “Resident Evil: Retribution,” kills that hope within the first three minutes of the movie as an army of the Umbrella Corporation attacks everybody in sight and captures Alice.

Soon after, Alice awakes to find that

she must escape before the “Red Queen,” the highly advanced and self-aware Umbrella computer system, terminates her.

Unlike the past movies, where Alice is busy trying to save everyone, this film focuses on Alice’s escape.

During her escape, she undergoes a series of “tests” that resemble places around the world, taking her to Moscow, Japan, New York City and a little place that is called “Suburbia.”

In these experimental “tests” provided by the Umbrella Corporation, she tries to escape in order to keep with her same goal; to find the people responsible for spreading the T-virus and infecting millions.

With the help of a group of friends who are trying to save her (as Alice is the key to saving the world, obviously) they encounter many Umbrella- made zombies to keep them from escaping.

During the course of the movie, Alice finds herself battling once again with finding what is real and what is not as new characters and memories re-surface such as Rain Ocampo, played by Michelle Rodriguez.

For those who enjoy the “Resident Evil” sequels, they will not be disappointed as the movie is filled with plenty of hungry and frightening looking zombies, the highly infectious T-virus and plenty of enemies attempting to kill the superwoman of them all, Alice.

RISING

STAR

Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Publicity “Resident Evil: Retribution” was released in theatres Sept. 14. This movie will be the fifth addition to the “Resident Evil” series.

September 20, 2012

ON DECK

By Mary Alvarez

CROSS-COUNTRY Saturday at 10:45 a.m. at Central Park, Huntington Beach Golden West Invitational

FOOTBALL Saturday at 6 p.m. at EC vs. Long Beach City College Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. at L.A. Harbor College

MEN’S SOCCER Tomorrow at 2 p.m. at EC vs. Orange Coast College Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Pasadena City College Sept. 28 at 4 p.m. at Mt. San Antonio College Oct. 2 at 4 p.m. at EC vs. Cerritos College

WOMEN’S SOCCER Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Pasadena City College Sept. 28 at 2 p.m. at Mt. San Antonio College Oct. 2 at 2 p.m. at EC vs. Cerritos College

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL Tomorrow at 6 p.m. at EC vs. Fullerton College Sept. 28 at 6 p.m. at EC vs. East L.A. College Oct. 3 at 6 p.m. at L.A. Harbor College

MEN’S WATER POLO Tomorrow and Saturday at San Diego Mesa College at 4:15 p.m.

SPORTS

El Camino College Union

Warriors feel the heat in San Diego

7

Zachary Weber Staff Writer

This past weekend the Warriors had a two-day competition at the San Diego Mesa Invitational against four colleges Friday and Saturday.

Tarryn Luafalemana, outside hitter, had a balanced game with eight kills, 11 digs and three blocks in the second match of tournament.

At the tournament, the team beat Cuesta College in five sets 25-20, 22-25, 26-28, 25-21, 15-5, and Riverside College 22-25, 2516, 23-25, 27-25, 15-5. The team lost to Bakersfield College 1925, 29-31, 24-26 and Grossmont College 16-25, 25-27, 25-18, 2225.

The first game of the weekend was against Cuesta College, and the Warriors had a difficult time, but were able to edge Cuesta out.

“We played inconsistent, we did not come ready to play,” Le Valley Pattison, coach, said.

Nigeria Owens, middle blocker, had 18 kills and seven blocks, and Elise Tizon, outside hitter, added 11 kills and six digs.

The second match of the tournament was against Riverside and it was a tough game, but the Warriors ended up with a win.

“We were happy to win,” Pattison said.

“We started out slow.”

“I think the heat affected everyone,” she said.

She said some people dealt with it better than others.

Owens added nine kills and two digs.

In the third match of the tournament, the Warriors lost to Bakersfield in three games on Saturday.

The weather might have had an effect on some of the players, but they knew that it was not an excuse.

The games took place inside the gym at San Diego Mesa Col-

Nicole Echeverri dives for the ball against College of the Canyons last week while Tarryn Luafalemana, No. 28, stays in position to make a kill.

lege, which had no air conditioning.

“We lost to Bakersfield in the third game,” Tizon said.

“There is no excuse, but I think the heat contributed to our loss.

And the 106-degree temperature was not helping the team to perform well,” Tizon said.

Britney Kronberger, middle blocker, got some playing time and Pattison said she was encouraged to see that.

Nicole Echeverri, outside hitter, had 11 kills and five digs.

In the final game, the Warriors went up against Grossmont, but came up short.

“Grossmont was a good; team

Filip Kostic, 19, utilities position, attempts to receive the ball at last Wednesday’s game against Chaffey College.

Kyle Borden/ Union

Men’s and women’s water polo teams turn out in second match Karly Daquila Staff Writer

After losing to Chaffey College in its season opener, the women’s water polo team hosted a four-team tournament, competing against L.A. Valley and Santa Monica.

L.A. Valley beat the Warriors in a score of 11-10.

While in the closing game against Santa Monica, the Warriors finished strong with a final score of 14-11.

“After being a little sluggish in the first half, EC put together a big third quarter lead by sophomore Alexis Solaro,” Corey Stanbury, coach, said.

Alexis (Solaro) took control of the game and beat Santa Monica by three goals, Stanbury added.

Douglas had an outstanding day with 12 saves against L.A. Valley and seven more against Santa Monica,” Stanbury added.

“I knew going into this weekend I had to really step it up with blocks and help out my team,” Shanese Douglas, sophomore, goalie, said.

Douglas said the team put in the hard work on the field and she wanted to do her part in the goal.

“That game against L.A. Valley was either my best game or close to it,” she said.

“Something I think that helped me tremendously before this weekend was on Thursday I worked with the two guy goalies Stephen (Sorbom) and Tanner (Castro) doing speed drills and technique drills,” Douglas added.

The men’s and women’s water polo South Coast Conference took place Wednesday, Sept. 12, at EC. Both teams were up against Chaffey College, and played at “a very high level,” Stanbury said.

This was the women’s team’s first game of the sea-

son and resulted in a loss, 17-10, to Chaffey College.

“On Wednesday, since it was our first game playing together as a team, I feel like we were still trying to get use to playing with each other,” Douglas said.

The first half was a little rocky for the whole team, but in the second half the team started to work together, she added.

“The Warriors had great plays, we just didn’t have enough time to make the push that we wanted,” Douglas, goalie, said.

The women’s team had a rough start in the first game of the season, Douglas added.

After a rocky start in opening game last week against Fullerton, the men’s defense was intense (1-1, 1-0) allowing Chaffey College to score three times within the first half of the game.

“The men’s water polo team works incredibly close together and gives a high performance,” Stabury said.

The men’s team win, 18-8, against Chaffey College in the South Coast Conference.

Stephen Sorbom stopped 10 shots, one of which he took with his face to ensure a lockdown defense in the third quarter.

Freshman Adam Rudow made five goals against Chaffey, the most of the entire game by one player.

The men’s team’s next match is tomorrow and Saturday in the San Diego Mesa Invitational.

The women’s team will be competing at the Mt. San Antonio Tournament tomorrow.

“Overall, our team just keeps getting better and better with every game we play,” Douglas said.

“I know this season with the addition of some really great players plus our super awesome returners we have a shot to place high in conference,” Douglas said.

it was a close game, we were not making plays we needed to work on our ball control,” Pattison said.

“We were not executing when the pressure was on late in the game,” Pattison said.

Tizon led the way with 14 kills and 12 digs. Echeverri chipped in with 10 kills and 11 digs.

After a tough loss to Cypress, the Warriors rebounded as they dominated College of the Canyons and swept them in three games.

The Women’s volleyball team beat College of the Canyons 2520, 25-14, 25-19. Luafalemana led the way with six kills, nine digs and two blocks. Nigeria Owens contributed with five blocks and

nine digs.

Pattison was pleased with the teams’ performance, but knows they still have some work to do.

“We took care of the ball a little bit better, we still made some errors on passing that we need to clean up,” Pattison said.

“We just need more time together; we are kind of learning each other tendencies,” Pattison said.

The Warriors’ defense was huge in its success against College of the Canyons.

“Blocking,” Luafalemana said.

“Our blocking was much better and our serves were much better.”

Towards the end of the third

Kyle Borden/ Union

game, Pattison started to pull some of the starters.

“It was good to see contributions from people who haven’t been yet,” Liz Hazell, assistant coach, said.

Suekalena Tafao entered the game for the first time this season.

Towards the end of the third set College of the Canyons made a comeback and wasn’t going down without a fight.

“We have to take care of the ball when the score is in 20s. You can’t make errors in the 20s,” Pattison said.

SPORTS

8 El Camino College Union

September 20, 2012

Warriors’ defense gets the team its first victory Sam Tedla

Staff Writer

Philip Prins/ Union Terrell Dolberry, sophomore running back, prepares to reverse directions to avoid Darius Andres, linebacker for the Pasadena City College Lancers. The Warriors beat the Lancers 46-27 in the team’s first win.

The Warriors redeemed itself in a wellrounded effort against Pasadena City College in last Saturday’s game.

“We got fired up this week with this win.

We got our swag back,” Ivan McLennan, linebacker, said.

The Warriors defense had 11 tackles, four sacks and six quarterback hurries that resulted in an interception by defensive back Royshaun Lewis and a forced fumble

by Austin Johnson.

“We had a good game on defense, but I think our d-line had a great game,” McLennan said.

After allowing Alan Hancock to run for 293 yards last week, the Warriors held Pasadena to 93 yards on the ground.

“We basically just were group tackling.

Then one player was with someone the rest of the defense came in and finished off the tackle,” McLennan said.

“We learned that everyone has to gang tackle, 11 hats on the football,” McLennan added.

Austin Johnson led the defense with three sacks, 15 tackles and 3.5 which were tackles for loss.

“We’ve got some young guys on defense who can run and fly around you,” John Featherstone, coach, said.

Early on, the defense only allowed six points to Pasadena.

Pasadena’s offense did not score its first touchdown until the fourth quarter.

“We discussed this all week. The de-

fense gave us good field position, and it was time to reward them,” Kenneth Holmes, wide receiver, said.

“I thought Jesse (Scroggins) and Nick (King) did a nice job,” Featherstone said.

“They both scrambled when they had to.”

Jesse Scroggins had 152 yards on seven of 12 pass attempts and two touchdowns.

Nicholas King had on four of seven pass attempts and a touchdown.

“It felt good. We practiced hard trying to get our timing down, right and we finally got it in the game,” Holmes said.

“We had good blocking from the offensive line which gave us time to convert on those throws.”

Kenneth Holmes led the receiving core with 112 yards on three catches and two touchdowns.

The Warriors’ run game led the offense with 217 yards with 41 rushing attempts.

Terrell Dollberry had 72 yards on 11 rushing attempts including two touchdowns.

“Some of our backs have been banged up so this was the week we knew we were going to run them,” Featherstone said.

“Obviously if you can get your running game going then all your play action, screens and draws start to work,” Featherstone added.

After their stout performance against Pasadena, the Warriors will look to ride this momentum against Long Beach City College, Saturday at 6 p.m.

“The kids are fired to play another arch rival in Long Beach here at home,” Featherstone said.

Men’s cross-country team places sixth at Costa Mesa Invite Brooke Buckaway Staff Writer

After running against several Universities of California and California State Schools in last week’s meet, the cross-country team faced a new kind of competition at the Southern California Preview in Costa Mesa last Saturday.

“The competition is extremely good. The team that won is the favored team and the defending state champions,” Sean Sheil, assistant coach, said.

Among the runners for the men’s 4-mile course was American River College, defending state champions, and the top two long distance runners in the country.

“The runners are testing themselves to see what they can do. We’re learning, they’re learning as they go and when they run with those guys, that’s what they have to do,” Sheil said.

Tyler Caracoza, 18, engineering major, admitted that the team did not do as well as it had hoped but is

using this race to better prepare itself for the future.

Caracoza placed 46th with a time of 22:16.54.

“I think we did decent to not so great because our guys were tired,” Caracoza said.

“I could have moved up in certain places and taken the middle parts of the race with more tenacity, but,

“I was a little disappointed because I got caught in the front group and I knew that would be trouble for me because I would have to keep that pace.”

—Reo Miranda runner overall, I think I did pretty well,” Caracoza added.

As a team the Warriors did not reach their high expectations, although placing sixth overall and run-

ning against some of the top athletes in the country.

“We got a few rookie mistakes from the guys,” Dean Lofgren, coach, said, “If you’re going to take the lead from these guys you better be ready because the level that we compete against here is very good.”

Reo Miranda, 17, undecided major, said he felt the heat of the sun as well as the competition when he ran with the lead pack from American River College in the second mile and placed 34th with a time of 21:57.10.

“I was a little disappointed because I got caught in the front group and I knew that would be trouble for me because I would have to keep that pace,” Miranda said.

“I eventually fell back on the third mile and just tried to hold on from there on out,” Miranda said.

The women’s team demonstrated its ability to power through the competition by placing 11th in the women’s 5,000 meter course.

Brittany Householder, 19, psychology major, ran after being out for three weeks due to a knee injury

and placed 132nd with a time of 23:31:48.

“This week was my first week back and my knee was hurting me Monday and Tuesday so Thursday was my only running day this week,” Householder said.

Being the only returning runner on the women’s team, Lofgren and Sheil project Householder to be one of the leading runners for the future meets and encourage her to push through her injury.

“Not running for a long time takes out all the hard work you put in,” Householder said.

“For not having all of that my time was pretty good,” she added.

Although not meeting their expectations for this meet, the cross-country team has high hopes for Saturday’s meet at the Golden West Invitational at Central Park in Huntington Beach.

“It’s early in the season and we are here to get a feel for the competition,” Lofgren said. “It’s a learning experience.”

Women’s soccer team triumphs against Alan Hancock College Zachary Weber Staff Writer

Looking to recover from a disappointing loss in last Wednesday’s game, the women’s soccer team did exactly that, as it shutout Alan Hancock at home last Friday.

The team dominated Alan Hancock beating the Bulldogs easily, 5-0.

This was the teams’ first win of the regular season and in Friday’s game it was evident that the team had regrouped and was determined to win.

“We got off to a great start and we finally started to play well as a team,” Jaymie Baquero, coach, said.

“We talked a lot more and we were a lot more organized,” Jasmine Brink, defender, said.

Baquero said she knew that her team would finally implement what it has been practicing and would work together as a team instead of individual players.

“We know we had to play as a unit and we knew we could,” Baquero said.

“There wasn’t one player who stood out. Everyone contributed; it was a total team effort,” Baquero added.

Even after the women’s soccer team’s victorious win, the team knows that there is still work to be done to have successful outcomes.

“The key is to continue to work hard and be on the same page going forward,” Baquero said.

The Warriors loss, 4-1, to Golden West on Wednesday.

Freshman goalkeeper Alyssa Heely

made some great saves but it wasn’t enough to hold off Golden West.

“We need to keep on working as a unit. We need to build a little bit more cohesion. We are finally getting everyone eligible and healthy,” Baquero said.

“We still have a long way to go; we still have a lot of games left, and we’re just looking to progress and get better,” Baquero said.

“We need to keep working together as a unit. We need to build a little bit more cohesion.”

—Jaymie Baquer coach

The men’s soccer team bounced back from a defeat on Wednesday by tying, 2-2, against Rio Hondo College.

It was a physical game and the Warriors didn’t back down.

The team’s intensity was up which helped the Warriors score the first goal in the first half taking the lead 1-0.

In the second half, the Warriors scored again, taking a commanding 2-0 lead.

Towards the end of the second half, the Warriors relaxed and Rio Hondo got back in the game.

Rio Hondo scored two goals, which

in the end cost the Warriors a win.

Ozzy Rodriguez, middle fielder, is not disappointed with the team’s effort and grit.

“I’m very satisfied. We elevated our mindset it shows we want to win,” Rodriquez said.

“Our intensity was up. Even though it was hot we were dominating on defense,” Rodriguez said.

Playing as a team is what helped the Warriors get on the board first.

“The level of unity mainly is the fact that we scored first,” Nolan Dean, goalie, said.

In Tuesday’s game against San Bernardino Valley College, the men’s team scored the only goal, giving them the 1-0 lead.

“It’s good because we needed it.

We were coming off a draw at Rio Hondo, and I feel that we shouldn’t have lost at Victor Valley,” Shaun Nagano, midfielder, said.

“We got to keep our intensity up.

We are all friends now, towards the beginning of the season we were all strangers, so I think our chemistry is getting better,” Nagano added.

Going forward, the Warriors have plans to make the post season, and any loss may cost the men’s team the chance for a spot in the conference.

“This is a must win. We are trying to get into the playoffs,” Dean said.

The men’s and women’s soccer teams will begin their South Coast Conference on Tuesday at Pasadena City College.

Michael Williams/Union Dennis Chaidez becomes airborne to win possession of the ball against a player for the Alan Hancock College team Friday at Murdock Stadium. The Warriors defeated the Bulldogs with physical play 5-0.