The Union, Vol. 73, Issue 4

EL CAMINO COLLEGE

ASO PLANNING ON INCREASING ASB PRICES BY $5 IN FALL p. 2

MAY 3, 2018 Follow us at @ECCUnion

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Like us at /ElCaminoUnion

SOFTBALL PLAYER DIAMOND LEWIS THROWS FIRST PITCH AT DODGER GAME p. 8

TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA

Send us an email at /eccunion@gmail.com

A LOOK INSIDE THE

SPRING ADVANCED DANCE CONCERT p. 6

David Gonzalez/ Union

NEWS

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 2

POLICE BEAT Zach Hatakeyama Editor-in-Chief

@ECCUnionZach

Student transported to Gardena Memorial Hospital Wednesday, April 25 An officer was dispatched to the South Gym where a student was feeling ill. Upon arrival, the student said they were feeling faint and was clutching their stomach. The fire department was requested and the student was later transported to Gardena Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Male student allegedly masturbates in Student Services Building Wednesday, April 25 at 4:07 p.m. Officers were dispatched to the Student Services Building after two students said they heard what sounded like a subject masturbating. The witnesses reported that they heard a zipper unzipping and saw the subject’s hands under a jacket in their lap.

Because no one saw the subject in the act of masturbating, they were not arrested but was given a 14-day stay away order from the campus.

Equipment stolen from construction site Friday, April 27 at 8:12 a.m.

An officer was dispatched to the construction site near Lot B, where the construction foreman said welding machines and power cables were missing, while no one had permission to take the items.

The items are valued at over $6,000.

MAY 3, 2018

ASB prices could increase by 33%

ICC members vote in favor of raising price of ASB sticker by $5 Faith Petrie Managing Editor

S

@ECCUnionFaith

tudents, faculty and staff could be paying another $5 for their ASB sticker in fall 2018 following a 13-4 vote Monday, April 30, during the InterClub Council (ICC) meeting.

The increase from $10 to $15 is not final, but will be proposed to the Board of Trustees and Academic Senate and then voted on by members of the student-government organization Associated Student Organization (ASO) according to ICC Vice President and ASO Student Trustee Kongdy Lam. ICC and ASO President Tiffany Ushijima said the price increase is being suggested to “help a long running problem.” That “problem” being a two year long, $80,000 deficit.

“We’ve come to a point where we’re either going to cut $80,000 in the budget which impacts a bunch of student programming or we’re going to have to revise,” Ushijima said. “Maybe ASO and ICC get a lesser percentage but even that can’t defray $80,000,” Ushijima said.

Lam said that ASB is responsible for dispersing funding to multiple programs on campus.

According to El Camino College’s website, ASB is specifically responsible for generating funds for the “athletic departments, the fine arts, Inter-Club Council, the

G Zach Hatakeyama/ Union Students at the Inter-Club Council meeting on Monday, April 30 asking questions about the ASB fee increase. student newspaper, and the student government programs.”

Ushijima said the proposal was initially introduced two meetings ago to the members of ICC, but was tabled the previous week and then reintroduced during Monday’s meeting.

At the start of the meeting, Lam decided to place the fee increase higher on the agenda because he knew that the topic was a “priority.”

Over the almost 40-minute discussion, questions were asked of

the cabinet from several different club members.

Black Student Union club member Wiley Wilson, 20, asked why the majority of the student population was not being informed of the proposed fee increase.

In response, Lam answered by saying, “What you’re trying to do is have 20,000 students know that (the fee) is going to increase $5 without (us) actually getting it approved.”

Lam said telling the entire student body would “create chaos.”

ASB BENEFITS • Discounts at theme parks including Knott’s and Universal Studios • Discounts at clothing stores including E.T. Surf and J. Crew • 10% off at businesses around El Camino including McDonalds, Ramona’s, Tilly’s and Wing Stop • Discounted AMC movie tickets

“You’re letting 20,000 students know what’s going to happen without (it) actually happening,” Lam said.

After the meeting, Wilson noted how some students may not know why the increase was necessary.

“It’s a lot of things that students do not understand and having a budget increase yes, some students are going to be angry because they don’t know what their student government is basically responsible for; what they do

actually,” Wilson said.

Another opposer of the proposal was Stefanie Friedrichsen, 26, who felt as though the fee increase was not fair to other students not involved with clubs.

“I personally don’t agree (with the proposal) because the majority of the students aren’t involved in clubs so I don’t think it’s fair that they have to pay for other students who are in clubs to do things,” Friedrichsen said after the meeting.

However, according to the ECC website, programs including the “athletic departments, the fine arts, Inter-Club Council, the student newspaper, and the student government programs” are also sponsored by ASB. The Union was not able to contact Gregory Toya, Director of Student Development. Rudi Lopez, Administrative Assistant Toya, said that the director was busy in meetings all day, and would not be able to comment by print deadline.

Breanna von Stein, Student Services Specialist at the Student Development Office, said that as a general rule she is unable to give interviews with The Union without prior approval from the director.

Lam said that he wanted to come to the ICC members in order to “not be shady” about the proposal of a price increase.

“We want to be transparent to all of the departments,” Lam said.

“ICC was the first stop for (a) student voice.”

ASO will be voting on whether the price increase will be put in place in “2 to 3 weeks,” Lam said.

GETTING YOUR MONEY’S WORTH WITH ASB • Where: McDonald’s (Across the street from EC) Savings: 10% discount on everything Example: If you go to this specific McDonald’s two times a week during the semester (16 weeks) and spend $5 every time you visit, you will save a total of $16 • Where: Pronto Auto Parts Savings: 10% savings on all purchases Example: If you pay to repair your car and spend $100 here, your ASB sticker will save you $10 and will cut your bill to $90. (prices are subject to change)

ASO to host movie night on campus

Black Panther is planned to screen on the Library Lawn Zach Hatakeyama Editor-in-Chief

@ECCUnionZach

El Camino’s Associated Student Organization (ASO) will host a movie night on the Library Lawn on Thursday, May 17.

Students are invited to watch a screening of the record-breaking film Black Panther. Admission is free and In-N-Out will be on campus serving $2 hamburgers.

“The ASO movie night is going to be a great way for the El Camino

community to come together and enjoy the last few weeks of the spring semester,” ASO member and co-chair of the event, Anam Khan said.

ASO is expecting a large turnout and expects to host similar events in the future.

“We are expecting about 200 to 300 students to come to this event, considering that Black Panther has been really successful,’ Khan said.

“Everyone will enjoy the burgers from In-N-Out.”

ASO MOVIE NIGHT Thursday, May 17 at 7 p.m.

Free Admission Popcorn, soda and $2 In-N-Out burgers Bring your own blankets

Academic Senate discusses new technology at El Camino

New technology includes program that helps students organize their schedules Sam Hill Senior Staff Writer

@ECCUnionSam

The Academic Senate met on Tuesday, May 1 to discuss changes being made around campus, including innovations in technology.

One innovation planned on being implemented in fall 2018 is scheduling tool Civitas.

“Civitas schedule planner is for students to use to input their personal, sports, or work schedules to help find them available classes

within their schedule,” Vice President of Academic Technology Pete Marcoux said.

“I think a scheduling tool would be perfect for students,” undecided major Shirley Richards said. “It used to be hard to find classes that match with my work schedule, so a little extra help would be awesome.”

In addition, there was a special committee report on the South Bay Promise program.

“We are nearing 800 students for the program,” ECC Vice Presi-

dent of Student Services Ross Miyashiro said. “We have room for 500 (students), so hopefully students qualify for the waiver so we can get more students admitted into the program.”

To see if you qualify for this program and wish to fill out an application, visit the EC website.

“Textbooks and classes are expensive,” English major Justin Stafford said. “Even the smallest amount of help makes a big difference, especially for students that are living by themselves.”

OPINION

MAY 3, 2018

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 3

Letter to the Editor:

A response to the editorial “Hungry for more food options” in Vol. 73, No. 3 published on Thursday, April 19.

Dear Editor, I read your article big dog about the slim food choices that students have here on campus. I got one suggestion. Instead of getting any other food truck why not get a taco truck. You know, the ones you see in Inglewood or Hawthorne. Firstly, it’s inexpensive. Secondly, it has variety.

I’m telling you man, if this actually goes through, get one that sells tacos, burritos, tortas, quesadillas; variety is something that students want so this, in my eyes, is a good idea to start with.

The concept of food trucks on the campus is a great idea. Mostly cafeterias are expensive on campus and the food variety is also not very good. Food trucks for different kinds of food will be great and these trucks will be handy in grabbing lunch without losing a lot of time. The rates of dishes on the trucks should be cheap and the college faculty should decide the rates of food according to the students convenience.

I think food trucks are a great idea to give students some options on the foods that we can eat. But if they were planning to do that they should make a survey that will determine the types of foods that students enjoy to eat. Also the food trucks must be affordable too. Therefore students have a lot of foods to choose from, because students have different diets and needs some of them may be vegan, so having food trucks is not a bad idea.

-Usman Khan

-Raymund Calado, nursing major

Love, Jim Velazquez

Dear Editor, I believe we should have food trucks on campus. I hate driving out of campus just to get food. It will be a lot easier and convenient for everyone if there was food trucks on campus. Only downside to all of this is that the food will probably be expensive.

Love, Celso Basurte, business major

Dear Editor, I read your writing about food trucks and I agree with you. But I think they should be simple food trucks like a taco truck because one, it can be cheaper, and also it can be quicker for us, the students, to get.

Fancier food trucks may take longer since they are more complex. And what if there are long lines? I also agree that if there were to be food trucks, that they would be on campus for a specific amount of time, because students aren’t on campus all day. We’ll see where it goes from here.

I agree that we should include food trucks because it could expand our food choices. Honestly, I believe more students would invest in the diverse food trucks.

Different food served outside the cafes would be a nice change. I would definitely be pleased with taco trucks, BBQ Trucks, chili cheese fries, anything mouth watering.

-Ariel Neal, veterinary science major

Sincerely, Anthony Martinez, business administration major

Dear Editor, I read your article about the food trucks coming on campus and I agree with your suggestion. I think food (trucks) are going (to) benefit the students and faculty that (don’t) have time to get something to eat. But (I) also think that it might also take a long time to get the food because very would want to get something to eat.

I hope if this does happen that their (are) food trucks all around campus for people to receive food fast. [SIC]

Dear Editor, My name is Jasmine Foreman and I read your article “Hungry for more food options” and I thought that it was pretty convenient, however, if the food is not tasteful we still have the option to get something else off campus. It all depends on the service, prices, and as well as if the food is delicious.

Sincerely, Jasmine Foreman, English major

Sincerely, Daisy Maldonado

Dear Editor, I read the article, “Hungry for more food options” saying community colleges are adopting to food trucks. I don’t think that is a bad idea because food trucks do provide diverse food options. They will be helping both the student and the people running the food trucks. Students will have more money in their pockets, while having a delicious meal. No student deserves to spend more than $6.00 for a meal, while they can get a meal for a cheaper price.

-Ana Alvarado, nutrition major

Dear Editor, Out of all of the food options on campus that I would like or care about, coffee is my priority. A little coffee shop (with) pastries maybe sandwiches? Also food resources on campus should hire students. It would benefit the community in many ways. Coffee is a priority because the coffee here is no bueno!

Sincerely, Nicolette Thompson, fashion design and merchandising major

No, I do not think it is a good idea for food trucks. Firstly, it would definitely be too (expensive) for student to purchase.

Secondly, it can lead to more littering on school campuses and more hassle with students trying to just get to class. Having food trucks would really be tempting to students; for instance one would rather get a meal from the truck than go to class or even make it one. I think this is a bad idea and we should not support.

-Ananda Boothe, accounting major

Dear Editor, Food trucks on campus would benefit students and (the) school in (a) variety of ways. It would benefit students and also make excellent money for the school.

Most of the students don’t have time to leave campus to purchase food, so food trucks would be a great option. Secondly, food trucks provide us with many more food options which is very beneficial for the students. Lastly, (the) school is making great money providing food services to students which is another significant factor.

Love, Anon Morris, kinesiology major

THE UNION Vol. 73, No. 4 May 3, 2018

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

Editor-in-Chief.........................................................................Zach Hatakeyama News Editor..............................................................................Zach Hatakeyama Opinion Editor....................................................................................Faith Petrie Arts Editor..........................................................................................Faith Petrie Sports Editor....................................................................................Ryan Guitare Photo Editor.....................................................................................Ryan Guitare Features Editor..........................................................................Zach Hatakeyama Social Media Manager........................................................................Faith Petrie Advertising Manager.........................................................................Jack Mulkey Adviser.............................................................................................Stefanie Frith Photo Adviser.......................................................................................Luis Sinco

The Union is published Thursdays by Journalism 11 and 14 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.

College Media Association Newspaper of the Year Award 2015 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, 2014

FEATURES

MAY 3, 2018

FIX

CAFFEINE

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 4

Photo Illustration by Zach Hatakeyama Atomic Cafe is open from 7 to 8:30 a.m. outside of Parking Lot C and moves in front of Student Activities Center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Monday through Friday.

Atomic Cafe caffinates El Camino students from mobile coffee shop Ryan Guitare Sports and Photo Editor

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@ECCUnionRyan

Ryan Guitare/ Union Atomic Cafe owner Sean Conniff (left) and his son Dillan Conniff at their mobile coffee shop in front of the Student Activity Center

Jaimie Woods/ Union Students playing at Atomic Cafe’s open mic. Dillan Conniff (right), the son of Atomic Cafe owner Sean Conniff, hopes to eventually showcase art along with music.

ver the past few years coffee has grown from just your morning cup of Joe, to get you up and going, to a whole lifestyle and culture.

Atomic Cafe Mobile coffee truck has brought this coffee culture to El Camino College.

Sean Conniff, 51, a resident of Redondo Beach, has made coffee a lifestyle with his mobile coffee truck Atomic Cafe Mobile and immersing himself into the growing coffee culture.

After working as a graphic designer for 15 years, Conniff was laid off from his job, and he decided to do what he had a love and passion for: making coffee.

“Coffee stood out as something I love and can share with everyone,” Conniff said.

Conniff created a Kickstarter to help raise money to get his project started. With a goal of $5,000 to help get his feet moving in the right direction, he reached his goal and a little more.

The inspiration for his Atomic Cafe Mobile coffee truck was from the original Atomic Cafe that opened up in 1946 in Los Angeles, California, known for being an iconic punk rock hangout spot.

The goal with Atomic Cafe Mobile was to bring back the 1950s and 1960s “mid-century space age aesthetic,” Conniff said.

Brian Fahnestock, Vice President of Administrative Services and the Food Services of El Camino said he “he heard people were unhappy about the coffee on campus” “People wanted more coffee options on campus,” Fahnestock

said.

Food Services reached out and got in contact with Conniff, asking if he would come out to EC and offer students hand-crafted specialty coffee.

Conniff’s mission is to bring, “better living through coffee” Atomic Cafe Mobiles, coffee, hand crafted espresso based drinks, and even ice blended drinks.

“Bananarama is my favorite drink. I like the banana and caramel, they taste really good together,” Chris Portillo, 20, film major at EC, and a regular at Atomic Cafe Mobile, said. “The vibe of the atmosphere is nice, and you’re outside in the sun.”

Some of the more popular drinks are vanilla lattes and cafe mochas.

“I use a dark roast coffee, it is 50 percent Ethiopian, 25 percent Colombian, and 25 percent Costa Rican,” Conniff said.

They also have an open mic, where people can come and play instruments ranging from drums, guitars, bass, and even a synthesizer.

Dillan Conniff, 26, the son of Sean Conniff, is a barista for Atomic Cafe Mobile and sometimes plays the instruments they have sitting out, encouraging the people to come jam.

Conniff also wants to include, poetry, and art shows along with his open mic.

Atomic Cafe serves most of the South Bay ranging from art events, city parks, festivals, and even schools and businesses.

Conniff and his son Dillan, are at El Camino, starting their morning at 7 to 8:30 a.m. at Parking Lot C and in front of Student Activities Center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Monday through Friday.

WATCH VIDEOS PROFILING ATOMIC CAFE MUSICIANS AND MORE AT ECCUNION.COM

ARTS

MAY 3, 2018

EL CAMINO COLLEGE 5

Mari Inagaki/ Union

Cast members (left to right) Rita Chavdarian as Bananas Shaughnessy, Vaughn Page as Billy Einhorn, Allie Barnum as Bunny Flingus, and Jared Gaxiola as Artie Shaughnessy rehearse the tragicomedy, “House of Blue Leaves” in the Campus Theatre. The show will debut on Friday, May 11, to Sunday, May 20.

Dark comedy focuses on celebrity obsession, fame

Tragicomedy, ‘House of Blue Leaves’ debuts Friday, May 11

Emma DiMaggio

Senior Staff Writer @ECCUnionEmma

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he Union spoke with the cast and crew of El Camino’s production of “House of Blue Leaves” which will run from Friday, May 11 to Sunday, May 20.

Of those interviewed were: Allie Barnum, 20, theatre major, who plays the role of Bunny Flingus, director Jerry Prell and assistant stage manager Jeilana Fernandez, 22, theatre major.

What should the audience expect from the House of Blue Leaves?

BARNUM: It’s unlike any other play they’ve probably seen. It’s a bizarre combination of comedy and tragedy, but blended in a really beautiful way. Expect to laugh and maybe cry.

PRELL: It’s a tragic comedy, so it’s a dark comedy. It’s edgy humor. Thematically, it’s about humiliation, celebrity obsession and fame, and the death of the American Dream.

FERNANDEZ: A lot of comedy, but they should also expect a deeper side. All of these characters, though at first can look really shallow, can look like they have one dimension to them, have a lot of layers and a lot of, strong diverse points of what’s driving them to go forward in this play.

What makes the House of Blue Leaves different from other plays at El Camino, especially in terms of cast size?

BARNUM: It’s a smaller cast than we typically do shows for.

We usually have bigger casts with more people in our plays and in this one we only have about nine people. It’s a different experience all together.

PRELL: This is different because this is the fourth show I’ve directed here, this is the smallest cast I’ve worked with.

It’s a different experience because you’re not working with as many different characters. This is more of an intimate play, so it’s really great to have the opportunity to not have a scene with 20 people, but to actually have scenes with two or three people. It becomes more personal and I think that’s way the play was written, and that’s the story of the play, so it’s really special that way that they’ve chosen a show that has a smaller cast, because usually they try to cast bigger shows. Other shows I’ve done here have had 16 to 20 actors on it. This one has 11 characters, three principal and six supporting and then two are more or less cameos.

FERNANDEZ: We are a very small play. I know the past few plays we’ve done, including the musicals, it’s been a large crew, a large cast, but we’re very small and very close knit. I think this touches on a lot of more relatable topics like mental health, how mental health can affect relationships. And I think with the few plays we’ve done here, it really touched on that topic. I think with our current climate, it’s important that we touch on something, even if this

play is a few years old, that it’s kind of relevant for what we’re going through today.

What makes the House of Blue Leaves different from other plays at El Camino?

PRELL: That’s an interesting question. It’s a tragic comedy. It’s not a pure comedy. It’s not a farcical comedy, though there is farce in it.

So, it’s serious. I mean, there are elements of this idea of the things that we are still experiencing. The play was written, first produced in the 70s, and many of the themes are still relevant today. For example, our obsession with celebrity and also this idea of “What is the American Dream?” which I think we’re always constantly asking ourselves. Is that still possible?

That idea of being able to make it if you work hard. One of the elements the playwright talks about is this aspect of humiliation, which he says is the core of comedy and tragedy. Humiliation definitely is a theme that runs through comedy, because we always like to see other people humiliated when it’s not us.

We enjoy that. That’s an idea going back to the Silent Era and even before. You think about movies, you know, somebody slipping on a banana or stepping into an uncovered manhole, and being hurt and humiliated. We laugh at somebody else’s pain. Those are elements. I mean, the play takes place on the day, this is historically factual, that Pope Paul came to New York on October 4, 1965, so it’s a period piece that takes place in the 60s in Queens, New York.

Mari Inagaki/ Union

Director Jerry Prell watches as the cast rehearses a scene from the tragicomedy, “House of Blue Leaves.”

“It’s a tragic comedy so it’s dark comedy. It’s edgy humor. Thematically, it’s about humiliation, celebrity obsession and fame, and the death of the American Dream,” Prell said.

SHOW DATES - Friday, May 11 at 8 p.m.

- Saturday, May 12 at 8 p.m.

- Friday, May 18 at 8 p.m.

- Saturday, May 19 at 8 p.m.

- Sunday, May 20 at 3 p.m.

Ticket prices are $10 with an ASB sticker and $15 without.

Mari Inagaki/ Union

Allie Barnum, who plays Bunny Flingus, rehearses a scene in the Campus Theatre. “It’s unlike any other play (the audience has) probably seen. It’s a bizarre combination of comedy and tragedy, but blended in a really beautiful way. Expect to laugh and maybe cry,” Barnum said.

ARTS

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 6

The student-choreographed Spring Advanced Dance Concert was held in the Marsee Auditorium from Thursday, April 26 to Saturday, April 28.

MAY 3, 2018

David Gonzalez/ Union

DANCE LIKE NO ONE IS WATCHING The student-choreographed Spring Advanced

Dance Concert took place from Thursday, April 26 to Saturday, April 28 and featured genres like ballet and hip-hop.

Mari Inagaki/ Union

Students at the Spring Advanced Dance Concert performing a piece titled, “The Book of Woman” on Thursday, April 26.

Mari Inagaki/ Union

Students at the Spring Advanced Dance Concert performing a piece titled, “Not Van Gogh’s Fault.”

David Gonzalez/ Union

Students on the Marsee Auditorium stage during the Spring Advanced Dance Concert.

May 3, 2018

SPORTS PHOTO ESSAY

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 7

Warriors during the National Anthem before game against Compton College at El Camino College on Tuesday, April 24.

Jaimie Woods / Union

EC Warriors en route to CCCAA playoffs

Warrior Kenneth Haus pitching against Compton College on Tuesday, April 24.

Jaimie Woods/ Union

Warriors baseball finished the season with a 24-16 overall record, and a 13-9 record in conference.

Jaimie Woods / Union Warrior Jose Ruiz Jr. walking up to the batters box at the game versus Compton College on Tuesday, April 24.

El Camino Warriors play against Compton College on Tuesday, April 24.

Jaimie Woods / Union Jaimie Woods / Union Warrior Jose Ruiz Jr. on second base at game versus Compton College on Tuesday April 24.

SPORTS

EL CAMINO COLLEGE UNION 8

May 3, 2018

E N I SH T H G BRI For EC infielder Diamond Lewis, the sky is the limit, and her journey is just getting started with a .492 batting average Diamond Lewis hits a line drive versus Mt. SAC at home on Wednesday, April 18.

Melanie Chacon

Special to The Union @ECCUnionMelanie

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all, athletic, with shoulder length black and burgundy braids and a welcoming smile, Diamond Lewis walks confidently to home plate. Before she steps into the batter’s box, she takes three practice swings, looks at her bat, then up at the sky and says, “breath.” She then steps inside the rectangular box marked with white chalk, clears the dirt with both feet, and settles into her batting stance.

Diamond Lewis is an 18-year-old softball player and biology major at El Camino College. She’s a righthanded pitcher and third baseman for the Lady Warriors with stats that have earned her favorable notice.

Diamond was featured in the March 26, 2018 edition of Sports Illustrated magazine’s “Faces in the Crowd.” It was Liz Hazell, El Camino College’s volleyball head coach, who nominated Lewis for the mention in the renowned sports magazine.

“It was a shock, honestly. I was happy, but like, OK Diamond, that’s a step. Let’s keep going to your bigger goal because you don’t want to stop there or be satisfied with what’s going on,” Lewis said.

Diamond has a few copies of the magazine at home. She says her mother, Maryanne Nancy posted the story to all of her social media accounts. Her family was excited for her, but they also felt the same as she did, saying, “OK, what’s the next step?”

Her next step was onto the baseball diamond at Dodger Stadium.

Diamond was asked to throw out the ceremonial “first pitch” by the Dodgers organization on April 11.

“This is everything you worked for,” Diamond recalls thinking as she stood on the pitcher’s mound at Chavez Ravine. “This is what them long days (brought) when coach had to kick you off the field because you wouldn’t listen, because all you wanted was grounders.”

Her hard work and dedication was not unnoticed by her former high school coach, Diane Brouhard, varsity head coach at Alexander Hamilton High School in Los Angeles.

“Diamond led by example. She had questions, wanted longer practices, more reps during drills, constant critical analysis of her swing

“Diamond led by example. She had questions, wanted longer practices, more reps during drills, constant critical analysis of her swing and other skills . . . more, more, more.”

—Diane Brouhard, Lewis’s former coach

and other skills . . . more, more, more,” Brouhard said.

Lewis’ competitive spirit and self-motivating nature is anything but average. Attributes that she has cultivated since birth. She says when she was younger she was cocky, but that’s how it was growing up in her house with two brothers, one younger, Christian, and one older, Aaron, and a very strong mother.

“You strike out, you’re a loser” she said, describing how her and her brothers joked with one another. “It wasn’t me just competing with the players on the field, it was also me competing at my house.”

It was that same drive that motivated her to pursue softball. Diamond has played the game since she was nine years old. But it wasn’t until she hit high school that she realized, “OK, this is something I actually love. I’m not just doing it to be the best. This is something that can change my life and it really brings me joy,” she said.

Although Diamond said she wasn’t heavily recruited her senior year, she does remember when Jessica Rapoza, ECC softball head coach, stopped by one of her practices and also watched one of her games at Hamilton High.

Diamond liked how friendly and welcoming coach Jessica was and she soon decided, “Yeah I want to play for her.”

Jack Kan / Union

Coach Jessica recalls being told about Lewis. “I heard about (Diamond) from a local high school coach...I chose to recruit her because she had such great energy with her teammates and she had a great mix of athleticism and intelligence,” said Rapoza.

Diamond said that once she got to El Camino, “Everything was different. The speed of the pitches, the cheering in the dugout, everybody being on the same skill level,” she continues, “Everybody going out there and playing for a purpose instead of going out there just to play because they want to get out of P.E. or something.”

Diamond describes her first season here at ECC as “a life changing experience.”

While she treasures her involvement at El Camino, Diamond

“This is what I’m made for. This is what God has called me to do and I’m going to do it,”

Jack Kan / Union Diamond Lewis fields a ball hit to third base at the El Camino versus Mt. SAC at home on Wednesday, April 18.

—Diamond Lewis, Warrior’s infielder

knows there is more for her after this.

“This is what I’m made for. This is what God has called me to do and I’m going to do it,” Lewis said.

Diamond believes she has a bigger calling than just being an athlete. She wants to make a difference.

“As long as I can influence somebody else and be an impact on somebody’s life, then that’s all that matters,” Lewis said.

Diamond has set her goals high and she has an incredibly determined attitude. She plans to try-out for the USA Softball Junior Olympic team, and she wants to go on to play for Team USA in the future softball Olympic games. And then one day, play professionally for the United States Specialty Sports Association.

“I’m a firm believer in God and I believe that he is working with me the same way that I am working with him. Our project is not over,” Lewis said.

Jack Kan / Union Diamond Lewis is all smiles at a game versus Citrus College on Friday, April 6.